Historian and author Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., familiar to PBS fans as the host of Reconstruction, African American Lives, and Finding Your Roots as well as the Peabody Awardwinning The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross, brings a new documentary series to PBS this February, The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song. The series features interviews with more than 70 religious scholars, pastors, and gospel artists to give a compelling and comprehensive account of the Black church's origins and transformation in America. The Black church has been, and continues to be, the cornerstone of the Black community in America, and Gates, a renowned scholar with hundreds of books, articles, and documentary films to his name, says this may be the most important story he has ever told.

The four-hour, two-part documentary looks at the Black church from its earliest days on American soil four centuries ago to the prayer vigils led by Pastor Traci Blackmon during Black Lives Matter protest marches today. Senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church and newly elected Congressman Raphael Warnock is one of the many interviewees. The Black church, says Gates, was the place where our people, somehow, made a way out of no way. And its the place, after a long and tiresome journey, to which we can always return and call home.

Producer and co-director Stacey Holman hopes that viewers will learn through this series about the Black religious experience in America, about its theological development and its ties to economic and social justice movements. But she hopes that it can provide more than just information: She hopes it will inspire its viewers to renew their faith, to reflect on how the church has encouraged them through song or preaching.

Are you planning on tuning in? Our free discussion guide highlights important themes and questions. Download it today.

In a country that has historically afforded its citizens from the African diaspora tragically few safe spaces, the Black church has always been more than a sanctuary; its been a place to nourish the deepest human needs and dreams of the African American community. And, as Gates shows over the course of this series, the Black church cant be defined by a single role: It is a springboard for social activism, a refuge, a shield, a source of strength, and a force for change. It is a wealth of talent that has given this nation some of its greatest orators, a nurturer of educational institutions now ranked among the worlds best, and a home to music that lifts souls and lends its rhythms to American song and literature to this day.

The Black church has produced familiar namesAretha Franklin, Fredrick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr.and introduced less-known but no less important historical figures such as Prathia Hall, Louisa Noel, and Absalom Jones. All of these people are products of a place that preached a crucified Christ who affirmed Black dignity in the midst of a racist American culture.

The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song airs February 16 and 17 at 8:00 p.m. CST/9:00 p.m. EST on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and on the PBS Video app. You can now preorder the companion book written by Henry Louis Gates, available everywhere books are sold on February 16.
WASHINGTON  The Justice Department has withdrawn a lawsuit it brought in October against a onetime friend and aide to Melania Trump over her book, one of several cases in which the Trump administration went after former allies who wrote critical memoirs.

The Biden administration requested on Monday to dismiss the case against the friend, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, which Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered. That brought to an abrupt end a lawsuit whose filing had prompted accusations that Trump administration officials were abusing their power over the machinery of federal law enforcement to enact retribution.

Ms. Wolkoffs book, Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady, depicted the then-first lady as selfish and shallow. The book contains no classified information, but the Justice Department accused Ms. Wolkoff of violating a nondisclosure agreement.

A department official said its new leadership had evaluated the case and concluded that ending it was in the best interests of the United States based on the facts and the law.
13 schools to receive grants for new computers and digital devices to inspire, motivate and empower students through new technology skills

Announcement Highlights:

From more than 730 applicants, 13 elementary and secondary schools across Canada have been awarded grants of up to $10,000 each from Best Buy Canada, in partnership with Samsung Canada.

have been awarded grants of up to each from Best Buy Canada, in partnership with Samsung Canada. Recipients will use grants to integrate technology into the classroom, empowering students to gain skills needed to advance their education.

BURNABY, BC, Feb. 9, 2021 /CNW/ - Best Buy Canada is proud to announce the 13 elementary and secondary schools, selected from more than 730 applications, to receive a combined $128,000 in funding for tech-based curriculums through the Best Buy School Tech Grant program. Through these grants, students will be able to access the latest technology to help keep them motivated and focused as they move towards post-secondary education.

"During these challenging times we understand that it is more important than ever to provide students with access to technology." said Karen Arsenault, Best Buy Canada's Social Impact Manager. "The key to success for our recipients was the passion of the teachers and principals who outlined how much additional technology would impact their students by helping to build a foundation of tech skills that will prepare them for their future."

As part of this program, Best Buy Canada is excited to team up with Samsung's Solve for Tomorrow program, which provides technology to boost interest and proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) learning among teachers and students. Through this partnership, Samsung has selected two schools to provide custom curated technology packages to enhance their STEM programs.

"While we have always embraced technology as a force for good and recognized it as an impactful, meaningful and helpful tool, now more than ever, it is evident how important technology is to connecting students to learning opportunities," said Jennifer Groh, Director, Corporate Marketing and Citizenship, Samsung Canada. "We are proud to partner with Best Buy Canada as part of our Samsung Solve for Tomorrow program and look forward to seeing how teachers and students apply this technology to inspire STEM learning."

The schools receiving a Best Buy School Tech Grant are:

Terry Fox Secondary  Port Coquitlam, BC

South Rutland Elementary  Kelowna, BC

Liidlii Kue Elementary School  Fort Simpson, NT

Brightview School  Edmonton, AB

St. Gregory School  Regina, SK

 Heydon Park Secondary School  Toronto, ON

Roger Neilson Public School  Peterborough, ON

 Carson Grove Elementary School  Gloucester, ON

Jean- Nicolet - Montreal-Nord, QC

- Montreal-Nord, QC Ecole du Campanile  Quebec, QC

Edith Cavell  Moncton, NB

The schools receiving a Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Technology Grant are:

Stride Avenue Community School  Burnaby, BC

Catholic Central High School  Windsor, ON

Best Buy Canada focuses its social impact on supporting youth to connect with technology to inspire, motivate and empower their education. Over the past 12 years, Best Buy has provided more than $2.2 million to 225 Canadian schools to purchase new technology, in addition to offering post-secondary scholarships and supporting youth with hands-on tech learning opportunities.

In September, Best Buy will offer the opportunity again for elementary and secondary schools apply for this program. Educators interested in being notified when grants are next available can email [email protected] .

For more information about Best Buy's social impact, visit www.BestBuy.ca/SocialImpact .

About Best Buy

A wholly owned subsidiary of Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY), Best Buy Canada Ltd. is one of Canada's largest and most successful omni-channel retailers, operating the Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile and Geek Squad ( www.geeksquad.ca ) brands. With more than 170 Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores across Canada and an expanded assortment of lifestyle products offered through BestBuy.ca , Best Buy is a leader in Total Retail, catering to customers how, when and where they want to shop. Best Buy Canada is committed to making a positive impact in the community with programs and partnerships that support youth to connect with technology to advance their education. For more information, visit BestBuy.ca .

About Samsung Electronics Canada Inc.

Samsung Electronics Canada inspires Canadians to reach their full potential through a transformative ecosystem of products and services that deliver innovation and distinct design to every aspect of their connected lives. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, virtual reality and wearable devices, tablets and digital appliances. Dedicated to helping make a difference in the lives of Canadians, Samsung's award-winning corporate giving initiatives support public education and health-related issues in communities across the country. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

Follow Samsung Canada at facebook.com/SamsungCanada, or Instagram @samsungcanada or Twitter @SamsungCanada.

SOURCE Best Buy Canada Ltd.

For further information: Media contact: Anjee Gill, Communications Specialist, [email protected], 604-456-8260

Related Links

www.bestbuycanada.ca


New Delhi, Feb 9 : The officers of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Commissionerate, Delhi East, have unearthed a multi-layered network of fictitious firms being used by their operators to generate and pass on fake ITC (input tax credit).

Through the use of extensive data analytics, officers of Delhi East GST were able to identify and unravel a network of 46 fake firms which were operating since 2017 and had passed on fake ITC to multiple beneficiaries, a finance ministry release said.

The investigation revealed that the fictitious firms were being controlled by Arvind Kumar and his associates. He was arrested on January 17 and is now in judicial custody.

The key associate of Kumar, one Kamal Singh (alias 'Kamal Solanki'), had been absconding for the past one month. However, through persistent efforts the officers could finally apprehend Singh who has confessed to have been involved in the racket of fake billing, the release added.

The operation involved raising fake invoices of Rs 541.13 crore involving fake ITC of Rs 82.23 crore, which is expected to increase as the investigation progresses, the release said.

Kamal Singh has been arrested under Section 69(1) of the CGST Act, 2017 and produced before the Duty Magistrate on Tuesday, who remanded him to judicial custody of 14 days till February 23. This is the second arrest made in the investigation.

Since the inception of GST Central Tax, Delhi Zone has made 21 arrests in various cases involving GST evasion amounting to more than Rs 3,791.65 crore.

NAMIBIANS trying to cut down sugar consumption can now enjoy a non-sweet, smooth and sugarless peanut butter courtesy of budding entrepreneurs.

During the outbreak of Covid-19 last year and the subsequent lockdown, it became clear that dependence on imports would sometimes be unsustainable should there be another crisis impacting on trade.

Since then, the entrepreneurial spirit was kindled among Namibians, and this led to a huge rise in new ventures as people had a lot of time on their hands and they needed to survive.

NamYum - a Namibian made organic peanut butter, was one of those ventures.

Founded by Natascha Chanakira and her husband Nigel Mubica, NamYum is a 100% organic, Namibian-made peanut butter.

Chanakira said that when the government announced the closing of the borders last year, there was a panic because of the impending food shortage - among items that were cleared off the shelves was peanut butter.

"We saw it as an opportunity to start [manufacturing] a food product and do something of our own in Namibia," said Chanakira.

NamYum bread spread is yet to get to the local supermarkets.

According to Chanakira, customers at the moment can only purchase directly from the couple, but they also take advantage of the Inspire Market hosted by Inspiration Tables.

The Inspire Market is a platform where small business owners and creatives have the opportunity to showcase and sell their products and services.

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The half day event takes place every weekend at the Old Power Station in Windhoek.

Chanakira says that their biggest challenge is access to local supermarkets.

"As much as it is said there is a need to support local products, trying to get into the offices of the people that will get your peanut butter on the shelf is very difficult. You don't know who to approach," she said.

Team Namibia assists entrepreneurs to acquire shelf space, and NamYum is yet to approach them, The Namibian understands.

Chanakira added that she has made extensive efforts to get her product tested but has received a blase attitude from those she approached for assistance.

"It is like nobody is interested. Inspire Market is the only one who welcomed our new product," she sad

According to the November 2020 Namibia Trade Statistics Bulletin published by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), South Africa still remains the biggest import source of goods for Namibia with 42,2% market share by November 2020.

Last week, Agribank Namibia chief executive officer Sakaria Nghikembua warned that Namibians cannot depend on South Africa for food indefinitely.
The Australian sharemarket moved back towards a 11-month peak on Wednesday as a solid first-half result for Commonwealth Bank demonstrated the strength of the nations economic rebound, but perhaps also reminded investors of the damage done in the first place.

The ASX 200 finished 0.5 per cent higher at 6856.9 to within touching distance of Mondays heights, with a rising US futures market and improved commodity prices providing a strong tailwind for local equities.

Investor fervour was reserved particularly for buy now, pay later firms Afterpay and Zip Co, while the wider tech sector, global miners, and biotech CSL also gained ground.

The major banks weighed on the market, led lower by Commonwealth Bank. The lenders 1.5 per cent drop to $86.12 came even after it delivered a surprisingly strong interim dividend of $1.50 per share.

CMC chief markets strategist Michael McCarthy said while the result was laced with positives - such as an increase in business and residential housing lending - it was still a mixed bag as cash profit fell 10.8 per cent to $3.9 billion.

The result is showing damage, but perhaps not as much as the market was expecting, Mr McCarthy said.

Given the strength weve seen in the sector over the past five to six weeks a lot of the good news here has already been priced in.

And now given the leverage to the overall economy that the banks enjoy, that big run up in prices has made them vulnerable to a sell no matter how good their results are.

Mr McCarthy said earnings season and a flurry of corporate news would continued to create winners and losers, but it was underlying optimism pushing the market higher - perhaps blindly so.

We are out of any sort of reasonable valuation territory, and that is not just in Australia, Mr McCarthy said.

All around the globe stocks are trading at historic highs in terms of any traditional valuation measure. We are out of any rule of thumb, this market is running on sentiment. And that sentiment is wildly positive.
Crown Resorts and its controlling shareholder billionaire James Packer have suffered a humiliating reprimand at the hands of the special inquiry by Patricia Bergin, SC, into their casino business but they have only themselves to blame.

The damning final report of the 10-month inquiry set up by the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority has found that Crown  through its subsidiary Crown Sydney Gaming  is not suitable to hold the licence for the second Sydney casino at Barangaroo.

The inquiry was set up on the back of explosive reports by a Herald, Age and 60 Minutes investigation, which raised allegations that Crown engaged in money-laundering, breached gambling laws, and partnered with junket operators with links to drug traffickers, money launderers, human traffickers, and organised crime groups.

In her final report, Ms Bergin, a former NSW Supreme Court judge, described as corporate arrogance Crowns slow and grudging response to the allegations  some of which were discussed internally six years ago.

She said it took 14 months after the Heralds stories were published before Crown appointed an external investigator to examine the claims.
North Korea and Iran resumed cooperation on the development of long-range missiles in 2020, according to a UN report that also confirmed Pyongyang continues to violate various nuclear resolutions.

The annual report, produced by an independent panel of UN experts, was submitted to the Security Council on Monday and seen by AFP.

It said Tehran denies any such missile cooperation with North Korea.

But according to an unnamed member state, North Korea and Iran "have resumed cooperation on long-range missile development projects," the report states.

"This resumed cooperation is said to have included the transfer of critical parts, with the most recent shipment associated with this relationship taking place in 2020."

The report's experts monitor the multiple sanctions imposed on Pyongyang to attempt to force it to suspend its nuclear and ballistic weapons programs.

In a December 21 reply, Iran stated the "preliminary review of the information provided to us by the (experts) indicates that false information and fabricated data may have been used in investigations and analyses."

In their assessment of North Korea, the experts said Pyongyang "maintained and developed its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions."

Pyongyang last year announced preparation for testing and production of new ballistic missile warheads and development of tactical nuclear weapons.

"It produced fissile material, maintained nuclear facilities and upgraded its ballistic missile infrastructure. It continued to seek material and technology for these programs from overseas," the expert report states.

The experts also investigated cases in which North Korea acquired ships, sold fishing rights and continued to export coal in violation of sanctions.

North Korea's border closure due to the pandemic may have hampered those shipments, however.

The experts also found that North Korea had continued to import more refined petroleum than is allowed under its 500,000-barrel limit, sometimes by using "elaborate subterfuge."

Story continues

"According to imagery, data and calculations received from a member state covering the period 1 January to 30 September, in 2020 these illicit shipments exceeded the annual aggregate 500,000-barrel cap by several times," the report states.

Last year, like the year before, the US presented satellite imagery and data to show North Korea was surpassing its quotas.

China and Russia, North Korea's main supporters, have rejected the US claims and say petroleum imports are much smaller.

prh/wat/to
Virus Outbreak Variants Reinfection This 2020 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19. According to research released in 2021, evidence is mounting that having COVID-19 may not protect against getting infected again with some of the new variants. People also can get second infections with earlier versions of the coronavirus if they mounted a weak defense the first time. (Hannah A. Bullock, Azaibi Tamin/CDC via AP)

Evidence is mounting that having COVID-19 may not protect against getting infected again with some of the new variants. People also can get second infections with earlier versions of the coronavirus if they mounted a weak defense the first time, new research suggests.

How long immunity lasts from natural infection is one of the big questions in the pandemic. Scientists still think reinfections are fairly rare and usually less serious than initial ones, but recent developments around the world have raised concerns.

In South Africa, a vaccine study found new infections with a variant in 2% of people who previously had an earlier version of the virus.

In Brazil, several similar cases were documented with a new variant there. Researchers are exploring whether reinfections help explain a recent surge in the city of Manaus, where three-fourths of residents were thought to have been previously infected.

In the United States, a study found that 10% of Marine recruits who had evidence of prior infection and repeatedly tested negative before starting basic training were later infected again. That work was done before the new variants began to spread, said one study leader, Dr. Stuart Sealfon of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

Previous infection does not give you a free pass, he said. A substantial risk of reinfection remains.

Reinfections pose a public health concern, not just a personal one. Even in cases where reinfection causes no symptoms or just mild ones, people might still spread the virus. That's why health officials are urging vaccination as a longer-term solution and encouraging people to wear masks, keep physical distance and wash their hands frequently.

Its an incentive to do what we have been saying all along: to vaccinate as many people as we can and to do so as quickly as we can, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. governments top infectious disease expert.

My looking at the data suggests ... and I want to underline suggests ... the protection induced by a vaccine may even be a little better than natural infection, Fauci said.

Doctors in South Africa began to worry when they saw a surge of cases late last year in areas where blood tests suggested many people had already had the virus.

Until recently, all indications were "that previous infection confers protection for at least nine months, so a second wave should have been relatively subdued, said Dr. Shabir Madhi of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

Scientists discovered a new version of the virus thats more contagious and less susceptible to certain treatments. It now causes more than 90% of new cases in South Africa and has spread to 40 countries including the United States.

Madhi led a study testing Novavaxs vaccine and found it less effective against the new variant. The study also revealed that infections with the new variant were just as common among people who had COVID-19 as those who had not.

What this basically tells us, unfortunately, is that past infection with early variants of the virus in South Africa does not protect against the new one, he said.

In Brazil, a spike in hospitalizations in Manaus in January caused similar worry and revealed a new variant thats also more contagious and less vulnerable to some treatments.

Reinfection could be one of the drivers of these cases, said Dr. Ester Sabino of the University of Sao Paulo. She wrote an article in the journal Lancet on possible explanations. We have not yet been able to define how frequently this is happening, she said.

California scientists also are investigating whether a recently identified variant may be causing reinfections or a surge of cases there.

Were looking at that now, seeking blood samples from past cases, said Jasmine Plummer, a researcher at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Dr. Howard Bauchner, editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Medical Association, said it soon would report on what he called the Los Angeles variant.

New variants were not responsible for the reinfections seen in the study of Marines  it was done before the mutated viruses emerged, said Sealfon, who led that work with the Naval Medical Research Center. Other findings from the study were published in the New England Journal of Medicine; the new ones on reinfection are posted on a research website.

The study involved several thousand Marine recruits who tested negative for the virus three times during a two-week supervised military quarantine before starting basic training.

Among the 189 whose blood tests indicated they had been infected in the past, 19 tested positive again during the six weeks of training. Thats far less than those without previous infection  almost half of them became infected at the basic training site, Sealfon said.

The amount and quality of antibodies that previously infected Marines had upon arrival was tied to their risk of getting the virus again. No reinfections caused serious illness, but that does not mean the recruits were not at risk of spreading infection to others, Sealfon said.

It does look like reinfection is possible. I dont think we fully understand why that is and why immunity has not developed in those cases, said an immunology expert with no role in the study, E. John Wherry of the University of Pennsylvania.

Natural infections can leave you with a range of immunity while vaccines consistently induce high levels of antibodies, Wherry said.

I am optimistic that our vaccines are doing a little bit better.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 09.02.2021 - Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis began his Africa trip with an official visit to Algeria from 7 to 9 February 2021. He was received by Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad and Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum in Algiers. Talks centred on diversifying bilateral relations, regional security, and management of the COVID-19 pandemic. During his visit, the head of the FDFA also met with members of the new Swiss-Algerian Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Cassis' visit to Algeria follows the adoption by the Federal Council of two regional strategies  Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Sub-Saharan Africa. The MENA strategy prioritises strengthening relations with countries in North Africa. The current talks provided an official forum for the ministers to discuss the challenges affecting both regions covered by the two strategies. Key issues were peace and security in the Sahel and migration. Swiss and Algerian support for the UN peace process in Libya was also discussed.

Economic cooperation and vocational skills development

On 8 February 2021, Mr Cassis met with Health Minister Abderrahmane Benbouzid. The discussion focused mainly on the current pandemic and the contribution by Swiss companies to reforms under way in the Algerian hospital sector. Two agreements between these companies and the Algerian health ministry were signed in the presence of Mr Cassis and Mr Benbouzid.



Mr Cassis then held talks with members of the new Swiss-Algerian Chamber of Commerce on economic cooperation between the two countries. The new body is expected to support and accompany the Algerian government in its economic transition. The meeting concluded with a visit to a vocational training programme.

Meeting with Algerian parliamentarians

Mr Cassis was accompanied on his trip by two members of the National Council's Foreign Affairs Committee, Elisabeth Scheider-Schneiter and Nicolas Walder, who held talks with the President of the National People's Assembly of Algeria, Slimane Chenine, and other members of the Algerian parliament's foreign affairs commissions.

Close ties with Switzerland

Switzerland and North Africa are connected by their geographical proximity and by cultural ties, particularly the French language. Swiss-Algerian relations also have historical roots. Switzerland's good offices played an important role in negotiating the 1962 Evian Accords, which brought an end to the war and paved the way for Algeria's independence. Switzerland opened an embassy in Algiers that same year. Since then, the two countries have enjoyed very close relations.

Mr Cassis also invited his counterpart, Mr Boukadoum, to pay a visit to Switzerland in the near future. The last time the head of the FDFA was in Algiers was in 2006.

Following his official visit to Algeria, Mr Cassis will travel on to Mali, Senegal and The Gambia.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html





POTTSVILLE  The citys streets department does not expect to activate another snow emergency or parking ban this week despite upcoming snow in the forecast.

Superintendent of Streets Tom Whitaker said this weeks snow does not look like it will be as severe as last week.

At this point, looking at the snow thats coming this week, none of the events would be large enough for us to activate the snow emergency parking ban, Whitaker said.

Whitaker said for forecasts of 1-3 or 2-4 inches, they typically do not call for a snow emergency with parking bans. Last weeks storm far exceeded the emergency conditions, he said.

Under a level one snow emergency, 3-6 inches or more, a parking ban is put into effect on snow emergency routes. In Pottsville, the snow emergency routes are Centre, East Norwegian, Laurel Boulevard-Centre to Second, Laurel Boulevard-Ninth to 12th, Mauch Chunk, Nichols, Peacock, West Market, Seventh Street-Howard to Mahantongo, and 16th Street-Market to Elk.

When a snow emergency is called, residents have eight hours to move cars from these streets. After eight hours, cars will be towed at the expense of the owner.

On snow emergency routes, the purpose is to have the snow either removed or pushed back far enough so that when people park there, it doesnt interfere with emergency apparatus or normal traffic, Whitaker said.

Whitaker said they are still working on clearing snow in some areas, but the process has been delayed, as the crews who remove the snow are the same ones who have to plow the streets.

Every time it snows, were delayed a day, so were a couple days behind on snow removal, Whitaker said. When were not plowing snow and maintaining the vehicles, we try to come out and do snow removal.

The downtown business district has been cleared, so Whitaker said they are working on other areas now.

Whitaker said this weeks snow should not cause any more delays or restrictions.

It just looks like a lot of small events that we can handle without restricting parking, Whitaker said. At this time, it doesnt look like were going to have enough snow this week, but that could change.

According to AccuWeather, snow Tuesday may accumulate 1-2 inches during the day with a winter weather advisory from 1 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Thursday, 1-2 inches may accumulate during the day, with another possible 2-4 inches at night. Friday morning snow may reach up to an inch.

Whitaker advised people to use caution and be patient.
For nearly 17 months, the Trump administration tried to deport the mother and daughter from El Salvador. The Biden administration may finish the job.

They are being held at a family detention center in remote Dilley, Texas, but have repeatedly been on the verge of deportation. The Friday before Christmas, both were driven to the San Antonio airport and put on a plane, only to be pulled off when attorneys working for immigrant advocacy groups filed new appeals.

Also Read | Scarcity on high seas hurting Indias exports

I have faith first in God and in the new president who has taken office, that he'll give us a chance," said the mother, who goes by the nickname Barbi."

She left behind two other children in El Salvador and asked not to reveal her real name so as not to draw the attention of criminal gangs there.

Barbi's daughter was 8 when they crossed the U.S. border in August 2019 and will turn 10 in a few weeks. It's not been easy," she said.

It's unlikely to get easier anytime soon.

President Joe Biden rushed to send the most ambitious overhaul of the nation's immigration system in a generation to Congress and signed nine executive actions to wipe out some of his predecessor's toughest measures to fortify the U.S.-Mexico border.

But a federal court in Texas suspended his 100-day moratorium on deportations, and the immigration bill is likely to be watered down as lawmakers grapple with major coronavirus pandemic relief bill as well a second impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump.

Even if Biden gets most of what he wants on immigration, fully implementing the kind of sweeping changes he's promised will take weeks, months  perhaps even years.

That means, at least for now, there is likely to be more overlap between the Biden and Trump immigration policies than many of the activists who backed the Democrat's successful campaign had hoped.

It's important that we pass policies that are not only transformative, inclusive and permanent but also that they are policies that do not increase the growth of deportation," said Genesis Renteria, programs director for membership services and engagement at Living United for Change in Arizona, which helped mobilised Democratic voters in a battleground state critical to Biden's victory.

Federal law allows immigrants facing credible threats of persecution or violence in their home country to seek U.S. asylum. Biden has ordered a review of Trump policies that sent people from Central America, Cuba and other countries to Mexico while their cases were processed  often forcing them into makeshift tent camps mere steps from American soil.

He also has formed a task force to reunite immigrant children separated from their parents and halted federal funding to expand walls along the U.S.-Mexico border.

On Saturday, the Biden administration began withdrawing from agreements with El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras that restricted the ability of people to seek U.S. asylum.

But those orders likely won't help Barbi and her daughter. They sought asylum, but were denied because of a Trump administration rule barring such protections for people who crossed other countries to reach the U.S. border. That measure has since been struck down in court.

Still, Barbi and her daughter, like others who have been held for months at Dilley, could be removed from the country at any time.

Advocates who originally commended Biden for championing immigration reform now worry that not enough will be done.

Omar Jadwat, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Immigrants' Rights Project, called it troubling" that Biden's efforts did not include immediate action to rescind and unwind more of the unlawful and inhumane policies that this administration inherited  and now owns."

Biden administration officials have pleaded for more time, saying Trump's policies are too wide-reaching to be rescinded overnight. But simply returning to pre-Trump practices  if Biden is able to actually achieve that  won't be enough for many activists.

President Barack Obama was called the deporter-in-chief" for removing a record number of immigrants during his eight years in office.

His administration also built the detention center where Barbi is being held, as well as a similar facility in equally rural Karnes City, Texas, 95 miles to the east.

Biden has banned private prisons, but his order doesn't apply to lockups like those in Dilley or Karnes City.

Far from advocating their closure previously, Biden as vice president Biden flew to Guatemala during a 2014 surge of unaccompanied minors heading to the U.S. border and personally warned that his country would increase detention of families.

Another policy left untouched by Biden dates to March, when Vice President Mike Pence ordered the implementation of emergency health measures that sought to effectively bar immigrants entry into, or impose their speedy removal from, the U.S. to prevent the spread of the virus.

Those restrictions have remained despite pending asylum claims and little evidence that sealing borders would curb the pandemic  and 183,000 immigrants have been removed from the U.S. under them since October 1.

A White House spokesperson said the goal was to return the full U.S. asylum process back to a pre-Trump normal as much as possible," but noted that we are living in the confines of the pandemic."

Kennji Kizuka, a senior researcher and policy analyst for refugee protection at Human Rights First, said with people who are in danger, the U.S. has a legal obligation to not return them to a place where they would face persecution, or torture or other harm."

That's not something you can defer because it's inconvenient in your policy plan," Kizuka said.

Biden's pledges to make quick improvements had raised hopes that are now fading along the border. The day before his Jan. 20 inauguration, immigrants staged a protest in the Mexican city of Nogales that ended with them heading to a border crossing into Arizona and asking to be processed for U.S. asylum.

A Customs and Border Protection officer said no but added, Try again tomorrow."

They came back the next day  but nothing had changed.

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Vijayawada: The first phase of gram panchayat polls went off peacefully with average poll percentage registered at 81.67 in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday.

As the polling started at 6.30 am in all 12 districts, the turnout of voters was sluggish during the initial hours and soon picked up pace and a large number of voters started to turn up at the polling booths to exercise their franchise.

Accordingly, when the average state poll percentage was registered at 11.28 at 8.30 am, it soon picked up pace and registered at 34.28 by 10.30 am. By 12.30 pm, the average poll percentage was 62.02 and by 2.30 pm, it was 75.55. By 3.30 pm at which time, the polling was concluded, the state average was 81.67.

District-wise poll percentage includes: Srikakulam-75.77, Visakhapatnam-84.23, East Godavari-82.80, West Godavari-80.29, Krishna-85.06, Guntur-83.04, Prakasam-80.92, Nellore-80.62, Chittoor-83.47, Kadapa-78, Kurnool-83.55 and Anantapur-82.80. The highest poll percentage in the state was registered in Krishna district at 85.06 and the lowest was at Srikakulam at 75.77.

The State Election Commission held polling for election of sarpanchs to 2,723 gram panchayats and also for 20,157 ward members for a total of 3,249 positions of sarpanch and 32,502 positions of ward members. The remaining positions 525 sarpanchs and 12,185 positions of ward members were elected unanimously. Election was not held for the position of sarpanch at Velicharla gram panchayat in Nellore district as no nomination was filed.

Meanwhile, state election commissioner N. Ramesh Kumar expressed satisfaction over successful completion of gram panchayat polls in phase-1 in the state and also for huge turnout of voters with enthusiasm to exercise their franchise. He said that the election was held by and large peacefully compared with previous times, barring a few incidents. He appreciated the District Collectors, SPs, observers and the polling staff for conduct of elections peacefully. He wished the same trend to be continued in the next phase of polls in the state.

With regard to stray incidents during the polling, police took a sarpanch contestant of Kothapalli gram panchayat of S.R. Puram mandal in Chittoor district for allegedly pouring water in the ballot box. In Kadapa district, police took some people into custody on charges of distributing nose studs to women to influence them at Duvvuri mandal. In Prakasam district, police seized cash when it was being distributed to the voters at Sudivaripalem of Inkollu mandal. So was the case at Thokalapudi village of Veeravasaram mandal in West Godavari, as the police caught a sarpanch contestant on charges of distribution of cash to the voters.
New Delhi, Feb 9 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted protection from arrest to Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor and senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai and five other scribes in cases relating to their tweets on the Republic Day tractor rally violence in the National Capital.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde and comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian also issued notices and sought responses from the Centre and others on the pleas filed by Tharoor and journalists Sardesai, Mrinal Pande, Zafar Agha, Paresh Nath, Vinod K Jose and Anant Nath.

"Nothing is going to happen," asserted the top court bench after issuing notices to quash the multiple first information reports (FIRs) pending against them across the country including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana and Delhi.

The stay on the arrest will continue till the next date of hearing, after two weeks.

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal, on behalf of the Congress MP Tharoor, sought an order saying "no coercive action till the Supreme Court takes up the case".

The FIRs were lodged over tweets and reports on the Republic Day violence during the farmers tractor rally in the National Capital.

Tharoor and others were charged under laws related to sedition, promotion of enmity, and criminal conspiracy.

They had been accused of posting false, misleading posts accusing the Delhi police in the R-Day incidents.

UNI JW SB 1520
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 06:00:28|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Oct. 2, 2020 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that U.S. withdrawal in 2018 "did nothing to encourage meaningful change, but instead created a vacuum of U.S. leadership."

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department said on Monday that it would reengage with the UN Human Rights Council as an observer.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that President Joe Biden had instructed the department to reengage with the UN Human Rights Council "immediately and robustly."

He said the United States in the immediate term would engage with the body as an observer.

Blinken noted that U.S. withdrawal in 2018 "did nothing to encourage meaningful change, but instead created a vacuum of U.S. leadership."

The Trump administration announced its withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council in June 2018, accusing the council of being a "hypocritical and self-serving organization" and biased against Israel. 
Keanu Reeves is known for a plethora of action roles. Starring in the successful franchises of The Matrix and John Wick, the actor started his career playing more offbeat type of characters. With 80s films like Rivers Edge and Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure giving Reeves some visibility in Hollywood, the action genre didnt seem like a natural fit.

When Reeves was presented with the part of Jack Traven in the 1994 blockbuster Speed, he initially wasnt bowled over by the idea of playing a hero cop trying to stop a bomb from detonating on a bus.

Keanu Reeves | Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage

Keanu Reeves had a creative ambition at a young age

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Reeves moved to Toronto with his mom and sister when he was 6 years old. The aspiring actor decided to drop out of high school before graduation.

I feel really fortunate in a way, because I knew what I wanted to do, and a lot of kids that age dont, he told the Guardian in 2019. But I had a creative ambition and I did it.

Now a full-fledged A-lister, Reeves has starred in a wide variety of films from comedy to sci-fi thrillers. When asked in 2000 what he movies he was most proud of, the Point Blank actor already had an impressive list to his name.

RELATED: Why Keanu Reeves Really Turned Down Speed 2: Cruise Control

Rivers Edge, Permanent Record, Bill and Teds, I Love You to Death, Little Buddha, Tune in Tomorrow, The Last Time I Committed Suicide, The Matrix, The Devils Advocate, he told Rolling Stone. I like a lot of Johnny Mnemonic . . . . I like the version of Feeling Minnesota thats not in the movie.

I didnt quite get it, Keanu Reeves said of Speed

When Reeves was presented with the script for Speed, he wasnt jumping at the chance to take on the role.

I didnt understand it, he revealed to Rolling Stone. I didnt quite get it.

Reeves manager, Erwin Stoff, used their time together on a 12-hour flight to convince him to do the film.

His argument was, So what, its a bomb on a bus. Who cares? Stoff recalled, sharing that Reeves ended up accepting the offer. He found a reason to do it. He actually found beauty and a simplicity and grace in that character. None of that existed in the script. But he found it. What I remember him saying to me is, You know what, this is a guy who gets up every morning and means to do good in the world. And I think thats what people responded to.

Keanu Reeves studied Hamlet while making Speed

Reeves admitted that his role in Speed was not his most challenging, though it allowed him time to pursue other parts.

While I was making it, I learned Hamlet I had room, he shared, adding a small description of Speed. It aint Shakespeare.

The John Wick star had already appeared in Kenneth Branaghs 1993 movie Much Ado About Nothing, and was set to play Hamlet onstage in Winnipeg in 1995. Reeves was able to prep in between takes of the action film.

RELATED: Speed Turns 25: What You Didnt Know About the Keanu Reeves/Sandra Bullock Blockbuster

I do love it, he said of Shakespeares works. Its like this kind of code that once you start to inhabit it with breath and sound and feeling and thought, it is the most powerful and consuming and freeing at the same time. Just, literally, elemental in sound, consonants and vowels.

While Speed may not be on Reeves list of personal top picks, the film brought in a whopping $350.5 million worldwide and skyrocketed him to superstar status.
Celia Gourley, who survived an IRA bomb attack in which she lost her legs and part of a finger, has been described as a "remarkable woman" following her death at her home in Lisburn on Friday.

Mrs Gourley had twice been honoured by the Queen, first with an MBE and then an OBE.

Working for the Industrial Development Board, she was the victim of a "mistaken identity" attack on June 2, 1991 when the Provos planted a booby-trap under her car.

The IRA said Mrs Gourley was not the intended target.

UUP justice spokesman Doug Beattie MLA paid tribute to Mrs Gourley.

He said that she "typified the grace and resilience of victims seriously injured during our Troubles through a vicious terrorist campaign".

"Largely a forgotten group, who were not even entitled to an investigation as part of the Stormont House Agreement, Celia packed her life doing the best for Northern Ireland as part of the Industrial Development Board, ADAPT NI, or as vice chair of the NI Prosthetics Forum," he said.

"Sadly, she has passed away before the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme was finally realised.

"Northern Ireland will be a lesser place without Celia, and her beloved Wallace High School, family and friends will mourn her loss."

As a former pupil of the college, Mrs Gourley was also a governor and trustee who funded bursaries and scholarships for students.

The school said she showed "sincere commitment, enthusiasm and a keen eye for detail" in the roles she played.

Wave Trauma Centre, which helps Troubles victims, said: "This is very sad news.

"Members of the Wave Injured Group met Celia and have fond memories of her.

"The thoughts and prayers of all at Wave are with Celia's family."

Mrs Gourley was predeceased by her husband Robert (Bob) and is survived by her brother Adrian.

Her funeral is private due to current regulations, with a service of thanksgiving expected at a later date.

The family has asked for donations to the Northern Ireland Hospice if desired.
A Copenhagen court on Tuesday handed down a 21-month prison sentence to Peter Madsen, a Danish inventor convicted of murdering the Swedish journalist Kim Wall in 2017, for an attempted escape from jail last year.

Mr. Madsen had already received a life sentence in 2018 for the killing and dismemberment of Ms. Wall aboard his submarine, a gruesome murder that shocked Denmark.

Last October, Mr. Madsen escaped from Herstedvester Prison, on the western outskirts of Copenhagen, a jailbreak captured in sensational images on live TV. Using a mock gun and wearing a fake explosive belt, he threatened prison staff and made it about half a mile outside the prison walls, before being captured by armed police officers. Footage of his capture also showed bystanders at the scene screaming profanities at Mr. Madsen.

At the sentencing on Tuesday at Glostrup City Court, on the outskirts of Copenhagen, Mr. Madsen was also ordered to pay about 20,000 kroner, or about $3,200, to a psychologist whom he threatened to kill during the escape attempt, according to Ekstra Bladet, a Danish tabloid.
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[February 09, 2021] United Steelworkers Urges Province, Feds to Intervene at Laurentian University

The United Steelworkers union (USW) is supporting calls for the Canadian and Ontario governments to stop the insolvency proceedings at Laurentian University and to provide the long-term, stable funding needed to ensure the university's sustainability. "Laurentian University's students, employees and their families should not have to pay for a scandal caused by years of administrative problems and a deliberate erosion of public funding," said Marty Warren, Ontario Director of the USW, which represents thousands of employees at other universities in the province. Given that Laurentian has a tri-cultural mandate to support French, English and Indigenous communities - part of its unique role in the economic, social and cultural fabric of northeastern Ontario for over 60 years - both the federal and provincial governments share responsibility in securing the university's future, Warren noted. "We agree with Laurentian's students and employees that the federal and provincial governments have a responsibility to intervene to stop the insolvency proceedings, to provide an infusion of short-term financing and to commit to sustainable, long-term funding," he said. In addition to an erosion of public funding, he Laurentian University Faculty Association (LUFA) attributes the financial crisis to years of arbitrary, unilateral and secretive decision-making by the university's administration and governance, combined with a longstanding lack of transparency, accountability and consultation, he noted.



The Ontario government, which has four representatives on Laurentian's Board of Governors who are supposed to ensure good governance and oversight, has had a direct role in the scandal, Warren added. "It is shocking that the Ontario government pretends to have been caught by surprise at the scope of the financial crisis at Laurentian, when their representatives have been serving on the board all along," he said.

"Why was this situation allowed to get to this point?" The USW is supporting a campaign by Laurentian's students, professors and other staff, demanding the immediate intervention of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, federal Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages Melanie Joly, Ontario Premier Doug Ford (News - Alert) and provincial Minister of Colleges and Universities Ross Romano. "Our universities are not profit-driven, private corporations. They are public institutions operating under the oversight and mandates of our governments," Warren said. "Our governments have the responsibility to defend the education of students and the jobs of employees." Click here to view a letter from USW local unions, representing 12,000 university employees in Ontario, in support of the campaign by Laurentian University students, faculty and staff. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005873/en/

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The 2020 election may be in the rearview, but Michigans top election official and the states Republican-led legislature have only just begun discussing how to change the process for future cycles.

Last week, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson pitched a legislative agenda to advance the will of Michigan residents who backed increased access to absentee voting in 2018. She said the November election was the most successful and secure in history, noting she opposes efforts that would make it harder to vote in-person and absentee.

In the legislature, senators serving on the chambers Oversight Committee are in the midst of an ongoing probe into the states elections system, and the Michigan House Elections and Ethics Committee is starting to take up election-related reforms this week. Senate Oversight Committee Chair Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, has said his goal is to clear up confusion with the states election law and give people more confidence in the systems integrity.

Election hearings are back as lawmakers look to clear up confusion, initiate reform

Many of the ideas that have been floated so far arent novel concepts, but after an election cycle where supporters of former President Donald Trump questioned Michigans election system while repeating unfounded claims of fraud and irregularities, negotiations about meaningful changes to the process could be more complicated.

Some of the main concepts being suggested to change Michigan election procedure so far include:

More time to process ballots

In the November 2020 election, 57% of total votes cast were absentee  about 3.2 million of the states 5,568,097 ballots  contributing to record-high voter turnout in Michigan.

Even before the pandemic hit, Michigans local clerks were expecting a big uptick in absentee ballots. The passage of 2018s Proposal 3 opened the door to no-reason absentee voting for the first time, allowing any registered voter to drop off their ballot early or vote by mail.

Prior to the election, clerks asked for additional time to process those ballots. Ultimately, lawmakers approved a bill allowing election officials in communities with at least 25,000 residents to start processing absentee ballots a day early, but ballot-counting still went well into Wednesday in some of the states biggest cities.

Both Republicans and Democrats have since expressed openness to giving clerks more time to pre-process absentee ballots so the final results dont take days to tally. Benson is pushing for two weeks, although its unclear if Republican lawmakers would agree to that timeframe.

Related: One big winner in Michigans 2020 election cycle: No-reason absentee voting

Related: Michigan clerks to state lawmakers: We need more time to count November ballots

Mailing absentee ballot applications

One of Bensons most controversial decisions during the 2020 election cycle was to mail all registered voters in Michigan absentee ballot applications, citing COVID-19 concerns.

The move was heavily criticized by many Republicans, including former Secretary of State Ruth Johnson. In her current role as Senate Elections Committee Chair, Johnson, R-Holly, called the preemptive mailings and the option allowing voters to request an application online into question.

Bensons right to mail the absentee ballot applications was upheld in the Michigan Court of Claims, where Judge Cynthia Diane Stephens dismissed three consolidated lawsuits against Benson claiming she acted outside her powers when mailing the applications ahead of the August and November elections.

Benson is now advocating for that policy to become permanent, although its likely to be a tough sell in the legislature. Shed like to see absentee ballot applications mailed every two years during federal election cycles.

How absentee ballots are deepening the divide between Michigan Democrats and Republicans

Counting late ballots if theyre postmarked on time

Benson also proposed allowing mailed-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted, even if they arrive late due to postal delays.

In September 2020, Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens issued a ruling allowing ballots delivered up to two weeks after the election to be tallied. An appeals court later reversed that ruling, requiring ballots arrive by 8 p.m. Election Day to be counted.

The issue was brought to the fore as voting rights advocates expressed concern some absentee ballots wouldnt be counted because of delays at the U.S. Postal Service.

Johnson and former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land fought against letting late ballots be tallied in court, arguing that counting delayed ballots would violate the Constitution by taking the decision out of the hands of the U.S. Congress or state legislature.

Overhauling the Qualified Voter File

Shoring up Michigans list of eligible voters and modifying who has access to it is high on the list of potential election improvements for legislative Republicans.

Rep. Matt Hall  who led a series of oversight hearings in the aftermath of the 2020 election, including a hearing featuring Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani  recently suggested prohibiting third-party organizations from having digital access to the states online voter registration website or Qualified Voter File.

Hes also pitching a plan to require the Secretary of State to update and correct voter rolls and give county clerks the authority to remove dead people from the Qualified Voter File, and said the state should follow recommendations outlined in a 2019 audit of the Bureau of Elections.

In previous testimony to the legislature, county clerks have suggested giving them the authority to remove dead voters from the file would make it easier to keep the list up-to-date.

November election was secure, Michigan county clerks tell state lawmakers

Beefing up punishments for absentee ballot fraud

Republican lawmakers have reintroduced legislation adding penalties for fraudulently submitting multiple absentee ballots or sending in an absentee ballot using another persons information.

Proposals being considered in the House would have made it a felony to knowingly send in an absentee voter ballot application with another persons name and personal information, unless expressly authorized by law to do so. Submitting an absent voter ballot application with the intent to obtain multiple absentee ballots would also become a felony under the legislation.

Similar legislation was vetoed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last session, who said the bills could muddy the waters and confuse voters about whats actually illegal.

Whitmer vetoes bills to make absentee ballot application fraud a felony

Requiring more training for election workers

Across the board, building additional training for people overseeing the states election process into state law seems to be a popular idea.

Benson included a call to mandate training standards for election challengers and election workers in her legislative agenda.

Both Hall and McBroom have also endorsed improving training standards, and Hall also called for additional standards for clerks, including implementing signature verification guidelines.

Letting overseas military and spouses vote electronically

Another reintroduced reform proposal from the last legislative session would let active-duty military serving overseas, as well as their spouses and voting-age dependents, cast absentee ballots electronically.

Currently, military voters serving overseas have to print out their ballot and mail it back  an extra step that can be difficult for people serving in areas with little to no mail service.

Last sessions legislation was supported by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and initially earned bipartisan support in both chambers. But changes made to the bill in the House raised security concerns from some Republicans, and the bill was never ordered enrolled in the Senate.

Senate Democrats moved to enroll the bill and send it to the governor, but the chamber ultimately voted along partisan lines to postpone reconsideration of the legislation, effectively killing it for the term.

Changes at the local level

Rep. Ann Bollin, the new House Elections and Ethics Committee chair, has reintroduced legislation from last session that would change how voting precincts are set.

Her legislation would increase the maximum number of electors allowed in a precinct from 2,999 to 5,000, and allow precincts to be consolidated for any election except the November general election so long as it occurred at least 60 days before an election and didnt change the polling place for an election precinct. It would also require local clerks to maintain a permanent absent voter list.

Another bill from Bollin would require cities and townships with two precincts and more than 6,000 electors to have an absent voter counting board for both precincts, and require an absent voting counting board for each precinct for cities and townships with more than three precincts.

Making Election Day a holiday

Benson supported making Election Day an official state holiday in her legislative agenda.

Shes previously encouraged companies to make the day a company holiday or allow employees to take paid leave to give them additional time to vote.

Banning open carry at the polls

Weeks before the November election, Benson issued a directive instructing local clerks to ban the open carry of guns at all polling places on Election Day.

A group of Michigan pro-gun organizations quickly sued to invalidate it, and the ban was struck down in the courts despite appeals from Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Benson included an open carry ban at polling places in her legislative agenda. Shes previously said the idea is to protect voters from intimidation.

During court proceedings, gun rights groups argued the directive amounted to the demonization of gun owners by asserting the mere presence of a firearm is enough to intimidate a voter.

Related coverage:

In unusual hearing, Rudy Giuliani asks Michigan lawmakers to take back your power

Michigan elections bureau provides 1,100 documents in response to legislative subpoena

GOP-led committees in Michigan authorize subpoena for election information

Michigan House gives oversight committee subpoena powers to continue election probe

Michigan Republicans want election reform. That usually means opposing absentee ballot expansion

Giulianis pitch to upend electoral process isnt convincing Michigan legislative Republicans

Republicans repeat election fraud claims in 7-hour hearing, but we are learning nothing new, Dems say

Michigans top GOP lawmakers acknowledge Trumps loss, wont interfere with electoral vote

Paper ballots verified election results, says Dominion CEO in Senate oversight hearing
Shortages of essential products in Cuba triggered a spike in the shipment of packages from the United States. According to a simple survey conducted in 48 hours, there is a perception that it is very urgent to help family and friends on the island, but that this is increasingly difficult.

85% of the respondents had sent at least one package in the last few months. Medicines, hygiene and personal care items, and foods were the main items shipped.

Parcel delivery is generally done through travel agencies. Activity was way up between March and December 2020. Those customers whose packages were sent by air had better luck. Others shared unsatisfactory experiences.

The situation is expected to get worse. As of February 6 the Cuban Government is forcing international travelers to go through isolation at a designated institution. Thus, "mules" will be forced to stay longer on the island, which will boost the costs for agencies that often cover their travel expenses. The foreseeable result will be a decrease in mule travel, and even more delays.

The delays thus far have been due to Covid-19 and the suspension of flights. By plane it takes a few weeks because they are sent with the so-called 'mules', but by boat they take months. They are received at Planta Habana, and Cuba proceeds to distribute them with an inefficiency that delays the process even more," said Jose Pedro, who has been working at travel agencies for 25 years.

In June 2020 Elias Pineiro sent some cereal, dehydrated milk, custards, jellies and food "for an old child." Cuco, her 104-year-old father, received those products in January, 2021 - six months later.

Also in June, Osvaldo Gallardo bought a microwave and a pressure cooker through Cuballama for his mother-in-law in Camaguey. The two appliances cost him about $400, and the shipping, just over $80.

They told him the items would arrive in three months. Five months later the mother-in-law notified him about a call from Cubapacks, saying that the microwave was in Camaguey, but that "the truck had broken down on the central highway." They asked her if she could go pick it up. She asked about the cooker, and they told her that they only had the microwave, that "maybe they gave the other pot to some other people by mistake."

"This was all in early December. I started to complain, and I have spoken with Cuballama three times," says Gallardo. They always say the same thing. They blame Cubapack. "Now it's February and the pressure cooker has still not arrived."

Gallardo is upset, and he has made this clear over the phone. "The people in charge of the company are ripping me off. They do business with the Cuban state, a bunch of thieves, so they are too. I pay here, not in Cuba, and they don't give me a penny back. They haven't compensated me for extra expenses, or for the inconvenience caused, or time wasted."

Jose Pedro explains that, "when a package is sent to Cuba by any means, travel agencies in the United States don't control its handling once it reaches the port [on the Island], because there is no 'liability insurance' and certainly no 'Inland Marine' insurance.

Waiting for the package

There are no guarantees in Cuba on almost nothing. Janet Hernandez is aware of this. But, as the pandemic rages on, and the Cuban state does not guarantee stable supplies of anything, even bread, in six months she has sent 16 packages of three pounds each, at $20 a pound; plus a 10-pound package of medicines, for which she paid $50, all from Cubamax.

"Of those packages, there are two that do not have a tracking number. All the others have been registered with Aduana de Cuba (Customs). " Her family has received a total of four: two in Havana and two in Camaguey.

"To pick up the two packages, which we knew were in the province, my father visited the Post Office, and waited in line, for four to six weeks. They refused to open the bags to give them to him. One day when he arrived with the number, they told him that the package was about to be returned to Havana, because the name on it was unclear."

Added to these inconveniences is Correos de Cuba's steep price hike. "The same package of medicines that used to cost 10 pesos to get from the postal service now costs 95, under the new economic measures," says Hernandez.

Despite all the hassles, Hernandez refuses to desist. The agency told him that the packages were being sent by plane now. But, whether travelling by air or sea, when it comes to Cuba some rusty links must be removed from the "port-transportation-internal economy chain."

Many of us continue to struggle with it. As a group, we share a need. As individuals, we worry.

My grandmother and in-laws are still waiting for the medicines that I sent in September through Majesty Eagle. My uncle is also waiting for the saw blades and the coffee that my cousin sent with International American Travel, supposedly by plane.

When I scan the URL code on the invoice for the shipment of medicines, it takes me to a Cubapack site that says that my package arrived at Mariel on October 3, and to look for it at Correos de Cuba. The tracing concludes with: "No shipment with that code was found", either in 2020, or in 2021.

Answers in Cuba: "It must not be there, tell your relative to ask for it somewhere else." "That's still not in the system, so Customs has not checked the container." "They're waiting to fill a truck with the packages from Cienfuegos, at some point they will arrive."

A contact at Customs said that there are hundreds of packages with their data erased, whether by time or doctoring. Nobody knows any longer to whom they belong. And either the Customs officials nor the Post Office employees care.

After six decades of waiting for packages to arrive on the island, waiting a few months for one from outside, that still may arrive, is a cause for hope.
SHANGHAI, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SOUL, a social networking app sought-after among Generation Z, has teamed up with the iconic Canadian coffee house Tim Hortons China. The platform has created the trending topic "100 Moments Where Coffee Saved Your Day", to encourage its users to exchange their thoughts with the opportunity to win SOUL user exclusive coffee coupon codes. The lucky winners will be able to visit Tim Hortons shops for a cup of latte. As the coffee topic goes viral, SOUL users have taken to the app in droves to share their personal stories about work, life and above all, coffee. Their experiences highlight the "can-do" spirit that defines this generation.

Since their respective launches, both brands have thrived by taking root in the minds and hearts of young people. Tim Hortons, established in 1964, made its foray into the Chinese mainland market in 2019, and its exceptional coffee and freshly baked goods have since drawn in a large number of young Chinese coffee drinkers who are unable to resist the charm of coffee culture. In tandem, SOUL, which came online in 2016, prides itself on providing an emotionally connected social platform where more than 100 million users can express themselves authentically and meet like-minded people, ushering in a Gen Z driven social networking wave.

With a vision to diversify the way people find friends, SOUL continues to keep a finger on the pulse of the Gen Z culture, and give full play to its social networking ecosystem as well as engaging content. This has allowed SOUL to launch innovative marketing campaigns to inspire original content creation and build up brand awareness, both of which will, in turn, generate more inspirations for its marketing endeavors. Harnessing the popular coffee culture, SOUL and Tim Hortons have joined forces to bring the magic of online emotional connections offline, in a bid to reach a wider audience of young people.

Focusing on more than just marketing, the popular social platform has inspired and energized young people to participate in charitable acts for the public good. On World Mental Health Day, SOUL hosted an art-for-charity exhibition entitled "Special Doesn't Mean Lonely" featuring paintings jointly crafted by SOUL volunteers and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder. Combining aesthetic beauty and the warmth of charity, their paintings offer a glimpse into the inner world and extraordinary artistic talent of this special group of individuals. In late December, SOUL held "Different Socks Day", a philanthropic event dedicated to raising public awareness of those with special needs, and introduced a wide range of in-app activities, attracting hundreds of thousands of young users.

Every day, SOUL is enriched with high-quality original content posted by millions of young people, who express themselves genuinely and share fascinating life moments to spark new friendships. This blossoming social content ecosystem is built on top of the app's soul-based recommendation system  an innovation that distinguishes SOUL from its traditional peers. Taking care to diminish the importance of appearance, SOUL puts individual characteristics, such as hobbies and personalities, at the center, and recommends would-be like-minded friends to create intriguing content using big data and AI. It also features a decentralized content distribution system which gives less weight to trending topics, allowing every user a fair chance to show their interesting soul.

Such innovative designs have made possible a stress-free space for users, so that they can walk out of their existing social circles, browse varied content and enjoy heart-to-heart communication with accurately recommended friends. SOUL topped the most downloaded social networking list in the China App Store, in which it still retains a leading position, and today is home to more than 100 million users in China, with more than 30 million MAUs. Internationally, the app is also available in North America, Japan and Korea in its tailored versions. In the social media landscape, dominated by established players, a new social wonderland for Gen Z is taking shape.

SOURCE Soul App

Related Links

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[February 09, 2021] Faraz Siraj of Code42 Recognized on CRN's 2021 Channel Chiefs List

Code42, the Insider Risk Management leader, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Faraz Siraj, Code42 vice president of channel sales, to its 2021 list of Channel Chiefs. The prestigious CRN Channel Chiefs list, released annually, recognizes leading IT channel vendor executives who continually demonstrate outstanding leadership, influence, innovation and growth. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005968/en/ Code42 vice president of channel sales Faraz Siraj has been named to the 2021 CRN Channel Chiefs list. (Photo: Business Wire) Faraz's background with RSA (News - Alert) Security, Cisco's Security Organization and ThreatQuotient reflects his ability to lead, understand and scale channel partner businesses within the dynamic security landscape. His prior experiences are crucial to his role at Code42 where in 2021 he is leading the company's "channel-first" go-to-market strategy, delivering its Incydr data risk detection and response solution through the channel and growing strategic relationships across existing and new partners. "As part of our 'channel-first' go-to-market strategy, Code42's investments in the program signal its deep commitment to the channel as part of aggressive growth goals, and I could not be more excited to lead and advance our efforts," said Faraz Siraj, Code42 vice president of channel sales. "Today, every company is exposed to Insider Risk as employees go about getting their work done - it happens when employees accidentally or intentionally expose, leak or mishandle data. As we expand our channel program, it is imperative that we continue to educate channel partners and their customers about the increasing importance of Insider Risk Management strategies and leveraging new approaches and technologies to mitigate insider risks in our cloud-based world of distributed workforces." The 2021 Channel Chiefs are prominent leaders who have influenced the IT channel with cutting-edge strategies, programs and partnerships. All honorees are selected by CRN's editorial staff based on their dedication, industry prestige and exceptional accomplishments as channel advocates. "CRN's 2021 Channel Chiefs list includes the industry's biggest channel evangelists, a group of individuals who work tirelessly on behalf of their partners and drive growth through the development of strong partner programs and innovative business strategies that help bring business-critical solutions to market," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "The Channel Company is proud to recognize these channel influencers and looks forward to following their continued success." CRN's 2021 Channel Chiefs list will be featured in the February 2021 issue ofCRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs.



Additional Code42 Resources Take a spin through an interactive demo of the Incydr data risk detection and response solution in our free sandbox environment.

Visit code42.com to learn more about our award-winning Incydr solution.

Join the conversation with Code42 on our blog, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

Download a complimentary copy of the Gartner (News - Alert) "Market Guide for Insider Risk Management Solutions" report now.

Read our book, Inside Jobs : Why Insider Risk is the Biggest Cyber Threat you can't Ignore.

Read how Code42 customers are using Incydr to mitigate insider risk on Gartner Peer Insights. About Code42

Code42 is the Insider Risk Management leader. Native to the cloud, Code42 Incydr rapidly detects data loss, leak, theft and sabotage as well as speeds incident response - all without lengthy deployments, complex policy management or blocking employee productivity. With Code42, security professionals can protect corporate data and reduce insider threats while fostering an open and collaborative culture for employees. Backed by security best practices and control requirements, Code42's Insider Risk solution is FedRAMP authorized and can be configured for GDPR, HIPAA, PCI (News - Alert) and other regulatory frameworks. More than 50,000 organizations worldwide, including the most recognized brands in business and education, rely on Code42 to safeguard their ideas. Founded in 2001, the company is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and backed by Accel Partners (News - Alert) , JMI Equity and Split Rock Partners. Code42 was recognized by Inc. magazine as one of America's best workplaces in 2020. For more information, visit code42.com. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter (News - Alert) , LinkedIn, and Facebook.  2021. All rights reserved. Code42 Software, Inc. Code42, the Code42 logo and Incydr are registered trademarks or trademarks of Code42 Software, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All other marks are properties of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005968/en/

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Bank Unions have threatened to go on strike on March 15 and 16 against the government's plan to privatise

C H Venkatachalam, General Secretary, All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) said that a meeting of United Forum of Bank Unions was held at Hyderabad today.

The meeting adopted a Resolution urging upon the Government to reconsider their standpoint and find amicable solutions to the demands of the farmers.

The meeting discussed the various announcements made in the Budget regarding measures such as privatisation of IDBI Bank, two public sector and one general insurer, setting up of a bad bank, disinvestment in LIC, allowing FDI in Insurance Sector up to 74 per cent, aggressive disinvestment and sale of public sector undertakings, etc.

"The meeting observed that all these measures are retrograde and hence need to be protested and opposed," said Venkatachalam.

He said, after deliberations, the meeting decided that intensive struggle programmes and agitational actions have to be launched to fight back these policies of the Government.

The Unions have called for a strike on March 15 and 16, further strikes will be decided looking at developments, said Venkatachalam.
Kamala Harris, she of the never-far cackle and the constant pantsuit affectation, is a few heartbeats away from the presidency, after all. Her inner workings, as manifested in her day-to-day penmanship, are thus of more than interest.

While her cursive writing, excerpted here and there from documents scribbled during or after meetings in her past affiliations in California, indicate a grounded, mindful person, her swooping descenders show a flair and exuberance that indicate an appetitive person, someone given to emotional excess and sexual interest. Her hard-inked words indicate a forceful, no shilly-shallying personality who wants to be understood, without any doubt of what she wants.

She does not appear as tentative as her W.H. mate does in his wavering, weak, tentative pennings, for which we're not quite sure we're grateful, because neither person in the people's House is ideal, as the first fortnight regrettably demonstrates in spades.

This pairing has not brought about anything remotely like "unity," although it is true that Kamala Harris, the unliked first candidate to drop out of the presidential sweepstakes, has never made that great a declaration about unity, either for or against, though Ms. Harris's announcement on the Colbert program over a year ago did seem to support the continuation of violence and rioting in our major cities, which, she announced with careful enunciation to a shocked audience, "will continue, even after the election." "And they should," she ended ominously, putting to nuanced rest any thought that she might be in favor of riot cessation and the turbulence, arson, maiming, and destruction these her supporters were "parenting" in city after city, some hundreds of such violent explosions in one year, unstoppered by any Democrat, unstemmed by Ms. Harris.

In fact, Ms Harris was on record raising millions to bail out the functionally terroristic brutes of BLM and unstopped fascistic Antifa. For the small businesses razed, burnt to the ground, perhaps never to rebuild, she had not a syllable of empathy or remorse.

Not really a recommendation for sympathetic next-but-one country leader.

Her signature, however, indicates a wild sense of her own privilege, inimitable value, and ego.

In her regular script, though, her initial "K" is beyond histrionic, swelling and swooping all over the page, bearing little resemblance to the lessons taught in grade school on how to formulate a capital "K" or, for that matter, the letter "H."

If you did not know initially that her name is Kamala, you would not be able to discern in fact what her name was, since it in no way resembles a "K." In that it reveals a proclivity for drama, as the woman does in real life; it demonstrates that this is an overweening ambitious person. The residual "H" is also indecipherable, as the writer clearly has a well developed sense of who cares what you think? in her critically important signature.

She is unwilling to relinquish her place on the paper, as evidenced by her peculiar scrawled "H"  or whatever that line drawing represents. The final touch is the strongly aggressive dot or smudged point as the act of aggressive finish.

The body of her script, however, shows someone with firm grip on her wants and wishes. She does not drift from the center line, neither above nor below, in the grouping of her letters.

In her "f" formations, moreover, we see the makings of a writer, as she forms figure eights with each "f" formed. As she underlines, crowds words together in notes, she indicates opportunism, parsimony, a willingness to skip steps and make things easier for herself, not something most people would argue with, incidentally, but also not something all persons manifest so obviously in their writing.

Her "t" crossings show a relatively balanced ego (contrasting with her actual signature) but show a tendency to dictatorial behavior. Many of her "t" crossings have barely any tail to the left, and much firm extension to the right. A bit of pushiness, dictatorial impulse.

In that her letters are smoothly formed, she shows a healthy physiognomy as reflected in the arches and garlands of her words. On the other hand, her margins are niggardly to left, a little better to right, indicating she is limited in her generosity instincts. Spaces between words are larger than usual, showing that Kamala's thought processes are orderly but not blizzard-fast. Her straight up-and-down slant gives us the telltale that she is not overly emotional, takes herself as independent, not given to bending over backwards in circumstances others might yield.

All in all, she does not appear to be a psychopath, which is one worry people could entertain in observing her ambition. She seems stable on the whole, though a drama queen in the clinch, shown by her assertive, no-holds-barred signature flourishes.

Would she be the ideal choice for president, should anything happen to the current disturbing White house occupant?

Not really.

But then, neither would we have selected the octogenarian-manque occupant, himself, based on his handwriting  and dictatorial behavior and orders since his heedless ascent to the people's House in January 2021.

And hearkening back to Obama's space-cadet egotistical hand, we see how that egotist worked out, just as his clarion cursive suggested would be the case.
The West should continue to influence Russia diplomatically to make it change its course and realize that the occupation of Donbas and Crimea will become increasingly costly to the Russian state budget, according to Alexander Vershbow, former NATO Deputy Secretary General and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia.

He said this on Monday, February 8, during a virtual workshop "Can Biden get Putin out of Ukraine?" which was held by the Atlantic Council.

Vershbow answered a question from an Ukrinform correspondent about how a controversial visit by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell to Moscow last week could change the West's policy towards Russia and, in particular, support for Ukraine.

"The visit by Mr. Borrell was clearly an embarrassment, I think, for Europeans, and that's what I'm seeing in the European commentaries on this. The fact that they [the Russians] expelled the European diplomats right in the middle of his meeting with Foreign Minister [Sergei] Lavrov was a real provocation. I don't think Borrell reacted forcefully enough at the time. But I think it does suggest that Russia feels besieged by the West. Of course, it only has itself to blame in terms of its aggressive behavior to Ukraine, threats against Belarus and sending Mr. [Alexei] Navalny back to jail after failing to assassinate him," Vershbow said.

He noted that such circumstances make the prospects for improving relations with Russia pretty bleak for the West. But this does not mean that the West should not challenge Russia diplomatically, both in terms of a wide range of bilateral relations and the Donbas issue, he said.

"[The West should] make clear that the price of prolonging the status quo will continue to rise for Russia, and the cost of occupying Donbas may not be all that much for the Russian state budget. If the Russian taxpayers heard a little bit more about this from the Voice of America or other information sources, they might begin to wonder whether this kind of adventurism is in their long-term interests," Vershbow said.

He stressed that the key to achieving such a result is to show Russia that Western sanctions will not only stay in effect, but they will get more stringent "if Russia continues to dig in." With this development, NATO-Ukraine relations will get closer, and Russia will be able to clearly understand that the presence of these occupied territories does not mean a "veto" on Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

"Another thing is to make clear to the Russian people that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is leading them down the wrong path. I think that could, maybe not immediately but in time, convince Putin to cut his losses in the war in Donbas. I think the Biden administration is going to make very clear that we are not going to forget about Crimea," Vershbow said.

Photo: NATO
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Over 60 members of the pro-Biafran movement, IPOB, have been freed after spending about five months in prison custody in Owerri, Imo State.

Their lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who confirmed this to PREMIUM TIMES, Friday, said they were freed on February 1, after the Chief Judge of Imo State, Ijeoma Agugua, granted them bail.

Mr Ejiofor said the 67 IPOB members were unlawfully thrown into prison since last year, after their arraignment in a magistrate court which, he said, refused to listen to their application for bail, about four times.

They were arrested on their way to a burial by some soldiers. After hours of interrogation, they were handed over to the police and the police detained them, Mr Ejiofor said.

No doubt about it, they had disclosed their identity as IPOB members.

The police, however, in August, when they paraded the arrested IPOB members, said that they were on their way to meet a native doctor to fortify them against bullet-penetration.

Isaac Akinmoyede, the then commissioner of police in Imo State, said it was believed that the arrested IPOB members were planning an attack on security agencies, with the aim of snatching weapons.

It must interest you to know that the proscription of IPOB is a subject of appeal in the Court of Appeal, the lawyer to the IPOB members, Mr Ejiofor said.

We have an application for stay of execution (on the proscription order), he said.

Mr Ejiofor said IPOB remains a lawful organisation until the case against its proscription is ultimately thrashed out at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

The IPOB members are at all times exercising their rights as provided under the law, including their right to freedom of association.

The lawyer, who thanked the chief judge for being courageous enough to free the IPOB members, said the magistrate court did not have the jurisdiction to listen to the case, in the first instance, and that no charge was filed against the IPOB members.

He accused some powerful persons in the Imo State Government of having a prejudice against IPOB and using the judiciary to hunt down its members.

He said the freed IPOB member would definitely seek redress against their unlawful detention.

PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately reach the Commissioner for Information in the state, Declan Emelumba, as he did not respond to calls and a text message seeking his comment.

IPOB, which enjoys great following in the South-east, has been agitating for an independent state of Biafra, and has frequently clashed with security agencies, including the Nigerian Army.
Shortages continue to hinder the states coronavirus vaccine distribution process despite efforts by the federal government to increase shipments to the Empire State. We know theyre not making it in the basement of the White House, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday. Yet, the state might not need as many vaccines as previously thought.

An increasing body of research suggests that people who have previously been infected with the coronavirus might only need one of the two shots that people need to achieve near-complete protection against COVID-19. This could free up nearly 1.5 million vaccine doses if the federal government approves changes to the current distribution rules.

Time to discuss policy changes, Florian Krammer, a professor of microbiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, tweeted Monday following the release of new research conducted in Seattle. The study appears to confirm previous research in New York and Maryland. The three studies have yet to undergo the peer review process.

The latest research examined how a single dose of the new vaccines increased antibody levels among convalescent plasma donors who previously had COVID-19. Our results strongly suggest that boosting pre-existing immunity through vaccination with (the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines) will lead to an increase of neutralizing antibody responses not only against the vaccine-matched strain but also against emerging mutant variants, reads the research. If subsequent research confirms the finding, it could mean that nearly 1.5 million vaccine doses would not be needed to inoculate New Yorkers who previously tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has resisted recent calls to change its guidelines that currently recommend two shots. The CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is scheduled to meet Feb. 24-25 in Atlanta. An agenda for the meeting has yet to be released, and the CDC did not respond to a request for comment on how it might handle future changes to vaccine guidelines. It had previously shown a willingness to alter vaccine plans in exceptional circumstances where it may become necessary to mix vaccines from different manufacturers.

But before the new research can go before the CDC, more research is needed to prove that giving a single dose would actually protect previously infected people against COVID-19, according to Wafaa El-Sadr, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health. It is premature to call for policy change, she said in an email. These are encouraging, albeit preliminary, data.
[February 09, 2021] Pandemic propels proptech in Asia

SINGAPORE, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Real estate companies have ramped up their investment in technology in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, finds a survey of some of the biggest property players in Asia. The survey by independent news source Mingtiandi, in collaboration with technology company Yardi Systems, finds 70 percent of real estate companies are scaling up their investment in property technology, or proptech. The results of the survey, Tech adoption in Asian real estate, builds on a similar report from Mingtiandi in 2017. "Our latest survey results unearth a major shift towards proptech adoption in our region," says Yardi's Regional Director, Bernie Devine. "Change was underway well before 2020, but COVID-19 has heightened the urgency and amplified the risks of inaction." Proptech  innovative technology that reimagines property's core processes and business models  is turning real estate on its head. Metaprop, one of the world's largest early-stage proptech venture capital firm, predicts that proptech innovation will deliver $205 billion of new value to the global real estate industry over the next five years alone. "Real estate leaders are rolling out technology to support more frequent and accurate reporting, deeper data analysis, and technology that underpins safety and efficincy," Devine explains.



A total of 180 real estate specialists  more than a third with assets valued at over US$1 billion  took part in the survey in August 2020. Thirty-nine percent of respondents were from Hong Kong, 26 percent from Singapore and 12 percent from China. Among the key findings, 35 percent said Asia was still trailing the West in terms of tech adoption, but this was down from 56 percent in 2017. Thirty percent said the region was leading the way  up from 12 percent three years previously.

"There's a growing perception that Asia is closing the gap with the West. Location shapes perceptions more than any other factor, with just six percent of respondents in mainland China believing that Asia lagged the world's leaders," Devine says. Respondents named big data analytics (55%), artificial intelligence (42%), business process automation (32%) and the Internet of Things (32%) as the top technology plays for Asia's property industry over the next five years. However, Mingtiandi's survey also suggests some quarters of the real estate sector remain skeptical of the power of technology as an agent of change, with 77 percent believing real estate trails other industries. The region's real estate companies, many of them family-owned, are still slow to adopt new tools. In the era of big data, 56 percent are still reliant on Excel spreadsheets for their work processes. "But as we start to achieve far superior levels of efficiency and insight from more sophisticated software, digital will dominate. We expect the property companies that seize the lead now will establish an unassailable position in the market in the years ahead," Devine concludes. Download Tech adoption in Asian real estate About Mingtiandi Mingtiandi is the independent source for Asia real estate intelligence, helping more than 100,000 unique visitors per month make informed decisions and gain an edge over the competition. Since beginning daily distribution in 2012, Mingtiandi's list of newsletter subscribers has grown to more than 10,000 decision makers from companies including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and more. About Yardi Established in 1984, Yardi has grown over the last three decades to become the leading provider of high-performance software solutions for the real estate industry. Today, Yardi employs 7,000-plus dedicated professionals working in more than 40 offices throughout Asia, Australia, North America, Europe and the Middle East. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/737275/Yardi_Logo.jpg

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The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is taking another step to help job seekers find quality employment.

Skills in Scranton, the workforce development affiliate of the chamber, plans to launch Workforce Wednesday, a new program geared toward matching employers with potential candidates.

Each Wednesday, a different chamber member, who is seeking to add to its staff, will be featured.

Were continuously talking to local businesses and the issue of workforce kept coming up over and over again, said Brianna Florovito, the chambers workforce and entrepreneurial development specialist. Businesses seem to be having a really difficult time recruiting employees, and we figured what better way to help our members than to individually feature them and their jobs.

The virtual program will kick off Feb. 17 with Barry Callebaut, the worlds leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate products, which has offices in Dunmore.

HR Manager Kerri Greco is hopeful the company will gain much-needed visibility through the program.

Weve been in the area for a little over three years and I think some people still dont know about Barry Callebaut, she said. Were looking forward to the opportunity for job seekers in the area to learn more about us.

The Dunmore location has about 300 employees, between full-time and temp workers, and is undergoing an expansion, Greco said.

Florovito said the Workforce Wednesday program is expected to continue through at least June, and Tobyhanna Army Depot and Benco Dental have already signed on to be featured in upcoming sessions.

She added the organization will continue reaching out to members who have posted positions on the chambers new job board to gauge their interest in participating.

To register for the upcoming session, visit the chambers website. Those who sign up will be able to ask questions through the chat function on Zoom. Each session will also be livestreamed on the chambers Facebook page and posted on the organizations website.

Companies interested in showcasing available job opportunities should contact Florovito at bflorovito@scrantonchamber.com.
A teacher accused of raping two pupils at a Windhoek school last week claimed in court yesterday that the charges against him were the result of a plot.

After being informed of the charges he is facing, teacher Ariestides Kamatuka (53) remarked to magistrate Linus Samunzala in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court that "these things" were a plot against himself. He also said he would, through his lawyer, have countercharges against the two complainants in his case.

The magistrate informed Kamatuka he was charged with two counts of rape, with the prosecution alleging that he raped a 19-year-old pupil and a minor boy at Jan Mohr Secondary School in Windhoek. Both incidents are alleged to have taken place on Wednesday last week.

Public prosecutor Rowan van Wyk also told the magistrate the 19-year-old complainant has made a statement to the police in which he said he had no objections to Kamatuka being granted bail, on condition that Kamatuka should not be allowed to be in his environment or contact him and that he should also not be teaching at any other school.

The state noted the complainant's sentiments, but was objecting to the granting of bail to Kamatuka, Van Wyk said. He added that there was a fear Kamatuka would abscond and not stand trial if released on bail, given the nature of the charges, and that he would interfere in the investigation of his case.

Kamatuka tendered his resignation from his post as mathematics teacher at Jan Mohr Secondary School on Friday last week.

His case was postponed to 5 March for further investigations to be carried out and to give him time to get legal representation.

Samunzala directed that Kamatuka would remain in custody in the meantime.

Kamatuka made his first court appearance following his arrest on Friday shortly after a protest organised by the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso), the #ShutItAllDown movement and the Popular Democratic Movement Youth League was held at the school yesterday.

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The protesters were calling for the removal of teachers accused of sexual violence at Jan Mohr and other schools countrywide.

Although the protesters were not violent, they tried to lock the school gate with a chain, and police officers used pepper spray to stop them.

The Landless People's Movement Youth Command Element also yesterday called for the implementation of a national sex offender registry which can be used to identify people convicted of crimes of a sexual nature.

Meanwhile, Nanso, through lawyer Kadhila Amoomo, is demanding the suspension of all teachers who have been accused of sexual and gender-based violence acts, including impregnating teenage girls, pending a disciplinary hearing.

The organisation has charged that the education ministry grossly neglected its duty to create a safe environment for pupils by failing to take stern action against those accused of sodomy and any other sexual and gender-based violence acts.

In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Nanso says it wants pupils to go through counselling. The organisation is further asking that the police's gender-based violence investigation unit and social workers should be deployed to Jan Mohr Secondary School and all other schools where such allegations were reported.

The ministry has seven days to meet these demands, the letter says.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and senior Congress politician Ghulam Nabi Azad, whose Rajya Sabha term is ending this month, on Tuesday said that "I am a proud Indian Muslim. Muslims should be proud of this country but the majority community should take steps forward towards the minority." Azad said, "I never visited Pakistan but I know the problems and circumstances in that country and I hope those problems do not come to haunt the Muslims of India and after seeing the fate of Muslims in many countries I feel proud of being a Hindustani Muslim." He said, "I have been in Parliament and state assembly for 41 years and got a chance to work with Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as party Presidents." He said the Congress gave him a chance to interact with many big leaders including Jyoti Basu.

The retiring Rajya Sabha members from Jammu & Kashmir urged the house that issues of J&K should be considered and statehood should be restored soon for the benefit of the people of the state.

Azad thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his kind words and also said that he first cried when Sanjay Gandhi, then Indira Gandhi and later Rajiv Gandhi all died unnatural deaths and he also wept after a cyclone in Odisha.

Prime Minister Modi also got emotional while bidding farewell to Azad and saluted him in the Rajya Sabha. Azad is one among four members retiring from the Upper House this month.

The Prime Minister, while referring to Azad's contribution to politics and the House, said: "You are retiring from the House, but I will not let you retire and my doors are open for you and I will need your contribution and advice." Modi said the person who will replace Azad will have a tough task to match his contributions. "He is concerned about his party but more about the House and the country," said Modi.

Modi also recalled his relations with the Congress leader when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Modi said, "When there was an attack on Gujarati tourists in Kashmir, Azad was the first to inform me and was almost crying." Azad during his speech was also emotional while mentioning the incident and said that he prays that militancy is finished in the country.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu too said that Azad was retiring from the House but not from public service and he hoped that "he gets re-elected soon to the House." Speaking on the occasion, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said that Azad was the most experienced leader of the country and handled so many ministries. He also said that Azad raised the profile of the the Leader of Opposition in the House.

"When he was the parliamentary affairs minister he had good relations with the opposition and all other political parties," said Pawar.

Azad is set to retire on February 15 and will demit the post of the Leader of Opposition in the Upper House. The terms of two Peoples Democratic Party MPs -- Nazir Ahmed Laway and Mir Mohammed Fayaz -- will end on February 10 and 15, respectively, while Azad's term ends on February 15 and BJP's Shamsher Singh Manhas' term ends on February 10.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text

NEW YORK: Adult film star Stormy Daniels, who had once filed a legal suit against Donald Trump, has now regretted her alleged affair with the former United States President. In a new podcast with former rival Michael Cohen, Daniels has expressed regrets over her alleged affair with Trump in 2006, saying it was the worst 90 seconds of my life.

She said this while replying to a question from the audience at the Stand-Up NY comedy club in Manhattan: Did you have sex with the president with or without a condom? Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, had created a sensation by claiming that she slept with Donald Trump in 2006, a few months after Trumps third wife Melania gave birth to son Barron.

While Donald Trump categorically denied the allegations made by Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign, his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen arranged a USD 130,000 hush-money payment for the porn star.

Cohen was later charged with breaking campaign contribution rules over that payment and a similar one made to Playboy model Karen McDougal, in addition to tax evasion and lying to Congress. He was sentenced to three years in jail.

Daniels also slammed the mainstream media for often referring to her as a former porn star. Im not former! she said adding, Im not retired or washed up. Ive directed over 100 movies, including three of the five most expensive porn movies ever made, and I wrote, produced, directed and starred in them.

And Ive been stripping for 20 years, she went on to add. She begged to be referred to as Stormy Daniels, not her birth name of Stephanie Clifford.

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As is often the case with labour laws, what may appear workable on paper, may not be so on ground.

The new Labour Codes will allow companies in India to be flexible in the number of working hours per day. It is proposed that companies will be allowed to have up to 12 hours of working per day.

48 working hours per week

This is subject to a maximum of 48 working hours per week, as per a labour ministry proposal.

However, industry experts believe that this extension of workdays can be taken only by a handful of companies.

Rituparna Chakraborty, Co-founder and Executive Vice President, TeamLease Services, said that there is a misconception that the government is giving a four-day-work week.

"The government is not saying anything. It is merely giving an option to companies to get employees to work for extended hours," she said.

Three consecutive holidays per week

Apurva Chandra, Union Labour and Employment Secretary, said at a briefing on February 8 that if a company opts for 12-hour working per day for its employees, there would be three consecutive holidays in a week.

Labour unions have raised concerns about the 12-hour proposal, saying that this could lead to exploitation of worker rights and could potentially affect their health.

However, Chandra clarified that the new labour laws will not compromise the health and welfare of workers. He had also said that the implementation of codes on wages, industrial relations, occupational safety, health and working conditions and social security, will ensure social security for all employees.

The government is merging 44 labour laws into four broad codes, which will cover all aspects related to worker safety, working hours, benefits, and compensation.

Will companies implement a four-day week?

Human resource experts said that there could be no more than a handful of companies who could implement a 12-hour-work week.

"If you look at the mathematics, if an office is not open for one whole day, then there are a lot of overhead costs like electricity, pantry, air conditioning that can be saved. But it is an organisation's choice," added Chakraborty.

But large manufacturing and real estate firms who work on projects, will be unable to do so. Moneycontrol spoke to human resources (HR) heads of three companies, two in electrical goods manufacturing and one in the construction industry, who said that this would not be feasible on a mass scale.

"When we are in the process of manufacturing, there is no question of keeping the factory shut for one day. Some machines need to be operated round-the-clock and a 12-hour-workday means three-day holidays. This is not sustainable," said the head of HR at an electrical goods company.

Could suit white-collar corporate offices

He suggested instead, that only white-collar jobs in corporate offices can have a system of four-day working.

A few industry experts are also of the few that implementation of 12-hour working per day could also reduce female workforce participation. India's female workforce participation rate stood at 20.33 percent in 2020, according to data from International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Delhi-based labour relations expert, Vipin Bose, said that 12-hour-days will dissuade women from joining the workforce.

"The reality is that there is a societal bias against working women. If you give the option to companies to increase the number of daily working hours to 12, then women will drop out. Considering that there is research to show that gender diversity is leading to more productivity, companies will not choose this option," he added.

Bose also said that the fact that four-day week would also mandate three days of consecutive leave, is another factor that will demotivate Indian employers from opting for it.

Companies seek legal advice

Corporates have already started approaching lawyers and industrial relations experts to study the pros and cons of the proposed labour laws.

Niranjan Sekhri, an HR lawyer at Pune-based, BRT Legal Advisors, said that while the four-day workweek is slowly catching up in the developed markets of Europe, it is still some distance away from being implemented for Indian workers.

In Europe, countries like Sweden offer a four-day working week with a cap of 32 hours per week.

"We have had some discussions with companies about extending the working hours. However, the cons seem to be higher since this will mean that business operations will have to stay shut for 72 hours every week. This is not a viable option," he added.

Based on the recommendations received from all stakeholders, the government will finalise the laws. It is likely that these new labour rules will be implemented from April 1, 2021.
Cyanide-filled fake teeth and cigarette packs concealing cameras are among the hundreds of Soviet spy gadgets going under the hammer at a Beverly Hills auction this week.

Many retro espionage devices in the sale by US-based Julien's Auctions - known for Hollywood and pop culture memorabilia - would not be out of place in a classic James Bond movie, including microphones hidden within pens, ashtrays and porcelain plates.

'The people that actually created these things were the pioneers of miniaturization,' said director of gallery operations Kody Frederick.

'Everybody now carries a camera, everybody now has a microphone,' but many of the auction's spy gadgets hail from an era when cell phones were 'as big as six bricks,' Frederick told AFP news agency.

Cyanide-filled fake teeth (pictured) and cigarette packs concealing cameras are among the hundreds of Soviet spy gadgets going under the hammer at a Beverly Hills auction this week

Many retro espionage devices in Saturday's sale by US-based Julien's Auctions - known for Hollywood and pop culture memorabilia - would not be out of place in a classic James Bond movie, including microphones hidden within pens, ashtrays and porcelain plates. Pictured: A cigarette pack containing a hidden camera

Miniature cameras fitted inside women's handbags, belt buckles, shoe brushes, bird boxes, signet rings and ties - and used by real secret agents - are all going on the block. Pictured: A 'rectal concealment capsule'

Miniature cameras fitted inside women's handbags, belt buckles, shoe brushes, bird boxes, signet rings and ties - and used by real secret agents - are all going on the block.

'People are looking to get their hands on really unique, different pieces from a time when digital didn't exist and analog was the way of life,' Frederick added.

Other items include a hotel room 'bug' listening device hidden in an ashtray and a Soviet version of the Enigma code cipher machine known as the Fialka.

Following the fall of the Soviet Union, many of the items were discarded in Eastern Europe.

Historian and collector Julius Urbaitis, 57, who worked as a consultant on the HBO series Chernobyl, amassed the remarkable group of gadgets over a 30-year period, procuring almost 400 items in that time.

Following the fall of the Soviet Union, many of the items were discarded in Eastern Europe. Pictured: An ashtray containing a hidden 'bug' listening device

Historian and collector Julius Urbaitis, 57, amassed the remarkable group of gadgets over a 30-year period, procuring almost 400 items in that time. Pictured: A Soviet version of the Enigma code cipher machine known as the Fialka

Hidden cameras: This necktie is just one of a host of Soviet gadgets being sold at auction which, at one time, concealed cameras and microphones

Subminiature Minox Riga cameras (pictured) used by Adolf Hitler's army intelligence services are on also going under the hammer

The items were put on display at the short-lived KGB Espionage Museum in New York, where Urbaitis was curator. The museum opened in 2019 but closed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Among those for sale this Saturday, both on-site in California and online, are a fake tooth containing deadly cyanide expected to fetch up to $1,200.

'The tooth was designed to shatter when bitten a certain way so that captured agents could end their own lives when necessary to avoid torture or the release of compromising information,' explains the auction catalog.

The collection includes a replica of the 'Bulgarian umbrella' used in 1978 in London to fatally poison Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov in one particularly infamous Cold War episode.

It is estimated at between $3,000 and $5,000.

The collection includes a replica of the 'Bulgarian umbrella' used in 1978 in London to fatally poison Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov in one particularly infamous Cold War episode

The umbrella, which conceals a poisoned syringe, is estimated at between $3,000 and $5,000.

Historian and collector Urbaitis (pictured holding the 'Bulgarian Umbrella') worked as a consultant on the HBO series Chernobyl

But other initially announced items including a lipstick tube and a pen designed to fire bullets had to be withdrawn due to California's gun laws.

Spy enthusiasts will have to content themselves with clandestine devices used to store sensitive microfilm or other documents, including cufflinks, high-heeled shoes, hollowed-out coins... and even a 'rectal concealment capsule.'

During the Cold War, tensions flared between the United States and the Soviet Union resulting in a rivalry that lasted for decades, drew in several other countries and brought the two super powers to the brink of nuclear war.

The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 was one such flashpoint and some items from before and after Cuba's Communist revolution are also going under the hammer including Ernesto 'Che' Guevara's 1942 school report card, and letters signed by him and fellow Communist revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.

One Castro missive contains plans to infiltrate Havana, and is predicted to draw bids up to $1,500.

Further objects relate to the US-Soviet space race, such as NASA spaceship designs, vintage astronaut equipment and archive film stock including footage of the low-gravity testing of 'various fecal and urine collection devices.'

Several items from the Cuban revolution are also included in the auction. Pictured: Photos of revolutionary leader Ernesto 'Che' Guevara

A signed second edition of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro's early political manifesto History Will Absolve Me is also going under the hammer


The trial began on March 9, 2020.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Yenin says the UN International Court of Justice will hand down a final ruling on the MH17 downing case by late 2023.

"When we talk about the MH17 case, we must clearly distinguish between the tracks within which the investigation of the tragedy is taking place. The first is the criminal-legal bloc, this is the court in The Hague, which is holding hearings on progress of further investigation, which were postponed until April. Another area, in which Russia is being prosecuted as a state, in particular under the Terrorist Financing Convention, is Ukraine's lawsuit against Russia in the International Court of Justice. And all these processes run in parallel lines, they have differences, but they are all aimed at bringing to justice both the Russian government, its military-political leadership, and specific perpetrators," he told Ukraina 24 TV channel.

Yenin says it remains unclear when exactly the MH17 downing trial will complete in the Netherlands.

"We can only proceed from the schedule of court hearings, the fourth stage of hearings has been defined, i.e., in fact, almost all of 2021 is set aside for them. We should not forget the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) continues its work, and we cannot rule out additional charges. Regarding the hearings in the UN International Court of Justice  we are seeing attempts by Russia to hamper transition to the consideration on merits, referring to COVID-19 and difficulties in formulating their legal position. Today we have a schedule of all procedures in court that are sent to lead to a final ruling by late 2023," the official said.

Background

Malaysia Airlines' MH17 Boeing 777 heading from Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur was shot down on July 17, 2014, over Russia-occupied territory in Donetsk region. All 298 people on board who were citizens of 10 countries were killed in the crash. The majority of the victims, 196, were citizens of the Netherlands. The Dutch Safety Board October 13, 2015, issued a report on the causes of the accident. It was revealed that the plane had been shot down by a Buk anti-aircraft missile system.

The Joint Investigation Team in its report published on September 28, 2016, confirmed that the plane had been downed by a Russian-made Buk brought to Ukraine from Russia.

Read alsoMH17 downing: Netherlands not to blame Ukraine for open skies over DonbasOn June 19, 2019, JIT investigators accused four Russia-controlled military intelligence officers of involvement in a missile attack that shot down MH17. The first four suspects in the MH17 case are Russian terrorist Igor Girkin (AKA "Strelkov"), who in the summer of 2014 was the so-called "Minister of Defense of the Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR"); Russian General Sergei Dubinsky (nom de guerre "Khmuryi"), who led the "DPR intelligence;" Oleg Pulatov (nom de guerre "Gyurza"), who in 2014 headed "the 2nd division of the GRU of the DPR;" as well as Leonid Kharchenko (nom de guerre "Krot"), who was a leader of the "reconnaissance battalion" of Russia-led forces.

The MH17 trial process began on March 9, 2020.

Reporting by UNIAN
Biden admin. to keep US embassy in Jerusalem, recognize it as capital of Israel

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The Biden administration plans to keep the U.S. embassy to Israel in Jerusalem, upholding a controversial decision by former President Donald Trump.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview with CNNs Wolf Blitzer that he recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The interview was followed by the release of a CQ Roll Call report Tuesday that cited an unnamed Biden administration source saying that the U.S. will not move the embassy out of Jerusalem, despite Palestinian opposition.

The U.S. position is that our embassy will remain in Jerusalem, which we recognize as Israels capital, the source was quoted as saying.

The ultimate status of Jerusalem is a final status issue which will need to be resolved by the parties in the context of direct negotiations.

In his interview with Blitzer, Blinken was asked directly if he recognizes Israel as the capital of Israel.

I do, yes, the secretary responded. And more importantly, we do.

Blinken was asked if he would support Palestine locating its capital in East Jerusalem as part of a potential peace agreement.

What we have to see happen is for the parties to get together and negotiate these so-called final status issues, he said.

The Biden administration's confirmation comes days after the Senate voted 97-3 in favor of a congressional budget amendment that kept the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.

The only nays to the measure were Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Democrat Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Democrat Tom Carper of Delaware.

Many, including Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, urged President Joe Biden to keep the embassy in Jerusalem. In May 2018, the Trump administration moved the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move to officially recognize Israels claim to the city as their capital.

"In order to correct the discrepancy that unfortunately now exists between our two branches of government and send an unequivocal message to our allies in Israel, I urge you to confirm ... that your Administration will continue to implement U.S. law and maintain the American Embassys location in Jerusalem," wrote Hagerty to Biden days earlier, as reported by The Hill.

In 1995, Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital and to set aside funds to relocate the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The status of Jerusalem has been a major point of contention during the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with each side making claims to the ancient city as their rightful capital.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke at the ceremony opening the embassy, told then-President Trump that by recognizing history, you have made history.

Thank you, President Trump, for having the courage to keep your promises, stated Netanyahu. Thank you, President Trump and thank you all for making the alliance between America and Israel stronger than ever.

Several protests by Palestinian nationalists and others took place on the day of the ceremony, while critics argued the move was counterproductive to peace in the region.

Trump has consistently stated that resolving the conflict is a top priority for his administration while ignoring continued warnings that moving the U.S. embassy would dramatically undermine that goal, stated the Muslim Public Affairs Council in 2018.
Kia CEO Song Ho-sung speaks during the company's CEO Investor Day event, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Kia



By Baek Byung-yeul



Kia has vowed to improve its electric vehicle (EV) sales, and will release 11 EV models by 2026, while transforming itself into a total mobility company, the Hyundai Motor Group affiliate said Tuesday.



The carmaker held a CEO Investor Day event online and unveiled its future vision focusing on EVs and mobility.



The company recently unveiled its new logo, removing "Motors" from its corporate name to distance itself from combustion engines and stress its transformation into a mobility company.



Kia CEO Song Ho-sung said the change in its corporate name shows "Kia's commitment to total transformation."



"Kia Motors will pass into history. We will greet the coming mobility era with our new name Kia, and Kia will go beyond the manufacturing and sales-driven business to solidify itself as a brand offering innovative mobility experiences to customers," he said.



Under its new vision, Kia introduced what he called the "Plan S" strategy, which centers on the transition to EVs, strengthening the purpose-built vehicle business and expanding future mobility services. To achieve that goal, Kia will invest 29 trillion won ($26 billion) by 2025.



"By 2030, eco-friendly vehicles such as EVs, HEVs and PHEVs will make up 40 percent of all sales for Kia, with an annual sales target of 1.6 million. As part of this, Kia aims to boost EV sales to 880,000 in 2030 and become a top global seller," the company said. HEV stands for hybrid electric vehicles, while PHEV stands for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.



The carmaker also set a 2021 goal of achieving a 3.7 percent share in the global automotive market. To accomplish that goal, Kia has to sell 2.92 million cars, up 12 percent year-on-year.



Kia said it will launch various new models to achieve that goal. The new K7 sedan will hit showrooms in the first quarter, while a redesigned Sportage SUV will be released in the second quarter. The company's new EV, codenamed CV, will be introduced in the third quarter.



In the U.S. market, which accounts for the largest portion of Kia's sales and profits, the company plans to sell 640,000 cars, up 9.2 percent year-on-year, to secure a 4.1 percent market share. The company hopes sales volume will increase thanks to the rising popularity of its SUV models including the Telluride.



In Europe, which has been severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kia will focus on selling EVs including the CV to continue to meet the CO2-emission requirements there. "Last year, Kia was able to meet CO2-emission regulations by boosting the green car contribution to sales to 26 percent. In 2021, we expect it to take up 30 percent of sales to satisfy regulations," the company said.



The UK governments antitrust regulator was hit by 150 personal data breaches in the last two years, as hackers targeted its trove of sensitive business information.

The Competition and Markets Authority found 81 cases of unauthorized disclosure of information and 40 devices were lost or stolen -- two of them unencrypted -- according to freedom of information documents.

The watchdog handles internal business reports, copies of emails and other internal data. Leaks could potentially allow interested parties to profit from such data or even attempt to influence the outcome of a takeover, although there was no evidence that the CMAs investigations were compromised.

The CMA declined to give further details, including whether any deals were affected.

Also read: China tech firms look to bolster legal defence amid regulatory crackdown: Sources

The number of breaches was higher than the 145 recorded in the previous two-year period from 2017 to 2018. They also included two hacks and four cases of malicious software. There were 11 successful phishing attempts, in which fraudsters pose as legitimate counter-parties to access sensitive information.

Five of the CMA breaches were reported to the UK data regulator, the Information Commissioners Office, as they incurred risks to peoples rights and freedoms. Three of those were considered risky enough to result in individuals being informed, and were followed up with procedural or technical changes to address the underlying causes, the CMA said.

An ICO spokeswoman said the five cases came about because data was sent to the wrong people. She said the data watchdog didnt believe the incidents described involved leaks of deal information, but such an incident may not involve personal data in any case, and would therefore not be reported to us or fall within our remit.

Since Brexit, the CMA is in charge of regulating UK mergers and acquisitions. The body employs about 840 people, according to its most recent annual report.

Read more: Google changes targeted by rivals in complaint to UK regulator

The breaches may have been accidental or deliberate. They could have included data being accessed by people outside the CMA, the loss or unauthorized alteration of personal data, staff accessing information they shouldnt have or sending it to the wrong place, or being tricked into releasing data they shouldnt.

The CMA takes any data breaches extremely seriously and continually reviews its processes to ensure the strongest possible safeguards are in place, the watchdogs spokeswoman said by email. For this reason, we have fostered a no-blame culture for the reporting of security incidents and staff are encouraged to  and do  record even minor incidents, which can lead to a higher level of reports.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Memories of the 2007 terror attack in Kashmir on tourists from Gujarat made both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad emotional in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, as the House bid farewell to Leader of Opposition Azad who is among four members retiring from the Upper House this month.

The Prime Minister recalled the incident to highlight the humane side of Azad.

Modi, who was the then Gujarat Chief Minister, recalled that tourists from Gujarat had been attacked in Jammu & Kashmir and then J&K Chief Minister Azad was the first to call him to inform him about the incident and Azad was crying and his tears would not stop.

"I will never forget Azad's efforts and Pranab Mukherjee's efforts when people from Gujarat were stuck in Kashmir due to a terror attack and the same night, Ghulam Nabi ji called me from the airport about the despatch of the bodies," Modi said.

Azad while remembering the same incident, just two days after he became J&K Chief Minister, said "this was the terrorists' way of welcoming the CM and at the airport, when I reached one child who had lost his family members grabbed my legs and I too cried loudly - 'Oh God, what have you done? How will I answer these children, these people who came to visit and were on a leisure trip and are going back with bodies." A visibly moved Azad during his speech said that he prays that militancy is finished in the country.

Azad said he was always supported by Kashmiri Pandits and during his tenure as Chief Minister he had said no one would work in partisan ways.

The Prime Minister, while referring to Azad's contribution to politics and the House, said: "You are retiring from the House, but I will not let you retire and my doors are open for you and will need your contribution and advice." Modi said the person who will replace Azad will have a tough task to match his contributions. "He is concerned about his party but more about the House and the country," said the Prime Minister.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed

UK PM gets married in London

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Tributes to devoted nurse after Covid-19 tragedy Tributes to devoted nurse after Covid-19 tragedy

Tributes have been paid to devoted Norwich nurse, mother and Catholic Cathedral steward Estrella Catalan, who died last Friday at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital where she worked, after a month-long battle against Covid-19. Eldred Willey reports.

Emergency Department Staff Nurse Estrella, aged 52, who had been receiving treatment in the hospitals Critical Care Complex, lost her battle against Covid-19 on February 5. She had worked in Accident & Emergency and was also an important member of the acute stroke team. Altogether she had worked at the hospital for nearly 20 years, since arriving from the Philippines. Colleagues and friends have flooded social media with touching tributes.



An active member of the St Johns Cathedral parish, where she served as a steward, Estrella leaves behind a husband, Melvin, and sons John and Josh. Their middle son, Vince, sadly died two years ago.



They are a lovely family, said Matthew Fernandez-Graham, Director of Finance and Resources for the Diocese of East Anglia. We got to know them through Estrellas son Josh. She was part of the Filipino team which organised the Sinulog Festival for the Baby Jesus.



Canon David Paul from St Johns Cathedral said: Estrella was a really devoted member of the Cathedral congregation and community. She worked tirelessly to help others. The outpouring of support for her family is testament to how many lives she touched.



During her last hours, Fr Leo led the rosary with other members of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital nursing team as Fr Simon anointed her. Her passing leaves a hole in the lives of many, but we especially remember her family: we offer our prayers for her husband Melvin and their children, and all who grieve Estrellas passing. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.



Just a month ago Estrella gave an emotional interview to the BBC from her hospital bed. I want to help, she said. But I don't know when. I don't mind working and doing even extra shifts to help the trust, but I'm here as a patient. I'm helpless."



Two online fundraising pages for Estrella and her family have already generated over 47,000 from 2,700 donors.



Colleague and friend Jenelyn Bales set up one page, which says: To her colleagues, Estrella is most caring, conscientious and hardworking person a department could ask for. She puts the needs of others first before her own. Her selflessness and dedication carried on even when she was on her hospital bed, she still thought and talked about when she could go back to work to help patients and colleagues throughout this pandemic.



You can support the family through these links:



www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-estrella-catalan



www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/estrella-catalan-2021



Norfolk and Norwich chief executive Sam Higginson said: Estrella was a hugely respected, loved and dedicated member of the Emergency Department team and the Acute Stroke Team. She was a wonderful person and a caring and conscientious nurse, who loved to teach and mentor students; she will be terribly missed.



We know this will be a huge shock to our staff and over the coming days and weeks we will formulate a fitting memorial to Estrella in collaboration with her family, friends and colleagues.



This is a heart-breaking reminder of the situation we are facing every day to help others and we want to thank our staff for their ongoing courage and commitment during the pandemic.



Colleagues at the NNUH and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn have paid tribute with a minutes silence and clapping.



Estrella's funeral is planned for March 5 and there will be a vigil for the night before to allow family, friends and colleagues to go to St John's Cathedral to pay their respects.



Pictured above is Estrella Catalan and, below, with her family.





Eldred Willey, 08/02/2021

Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research

Dubendorf, St. Gallen und Thun, 09.02.2021 - The former Empa scientist Kristyna Kantnerova receives the METAS Award 2021 in analytical chemistry, awarded by the Swiss Chemical Society, for her PhD thesis. In her research, she took a closer look at the well-known greenhouse gas nitrous oxide and developed a method for identifying and quantifying very rare, doubly substituted nitrous oxide isotopocules (isotopically substituted molecules)  an important step towards a better understanding of their formation and how to curb nitrous oxide emissions in the long term.

Nitrous oxide (N2O), better known as laughing gas, is considered one of the major drivers of climate change, accounting for 6% of global warming. The sources of the greenhouse gas are well known and are related to agriculture and the use of fertilizers, to biomass burning, but also to natural emissions from soils and oceans. N2O reduction remains a challenge because the gas is formed by different microorganisms and the contribution of different metabolic pathways to the overall emissions cannot be accurately determined to date. As part of her PhD thesis at Empa, Kristyna Kantnerova developed a new analytical method to identify nitrous oxide molecules containing two rare isotopes of nitrogen and oxygen. In the long term, her work should contribute to a better understanding of the biochemical N2O cycle. For her work, she received the METAS Award, worth CHF 5,000, which is awarded to young scientists in Switzerland who make outstanding contributions in the field of metrology in chemistry or biology. Determining N2O's fingerprint The isotopic composition of N2O changes depending on the formation or decay path. Nitrogen has two stable isotopes, oxygen has three  thus a total of twelve different N2O isotopic compounds can be formed. The ratio of these isotopic compounds, also called isotopocules or clumped isotopes, is characteristic and is considered a kind of fingerprint for the respective formation pathway. To decipher this fingerprint, Kantnerova developed a new analytical method based on quantum cascade laser absorption spectroscopy (QCLAS). QCLAS is an established technique in atmospheric chemistry to detect trace gases. However, until now, researchers have lacked spectroscopic tools to distinguish between the doubly isotopically substituted N2O compounds. Pioneering work for atmospheric and environmental science Part of her PhD thesis was, on the one hand, the theoretical basis of the doubly substituted N2O isotopocules and, on the other hand, the development of a novel analytical method. She even traveled to the US to "tinker" with her quantum cascade laser absorption spectroscope, together with the instrument's manufacturer. In addition to the international collaborations during her PhD thesis  a grant enabled Kantnerova to spend three months in Yokohama, Japan  the young scientist is pleased to be able to make an important contribution to atmospheric and environmental research: "It's great that I was able to combine my interest in laser spectroscopy with my research and then lay a foundation for better understanding N2O and its reactions in the atmosphere and environment in the long term." Kristyna Kantnerova is now continuing her research at ETH Zurich as a postdoctoral researcher in "Sustainable Agroecosystems" group. ----------------------------------------------------------- International Day of Women and Girls in Science Thursday, February 11, is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This day was launched in 2015 by the UN Organization for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women ("UN Women") and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. Currently, 30 percent of researchers and 35 percent of all students in STEM (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology) subjects worldwide are women. The reasons for this are bias and stereotypes that girls and women still face. In order to achieve scientific and technological progress that works for everyone in the future, gender equality is essential.

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Phone +41 58 765 46 87

joachim.mohn@empa.ch



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Iran Launches COVID-19 Inoculation Campaign With Russian Vaccine

02/09/21

Report by RFE/RL; photos by Mehr News Agency

Iran has kicked off its vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using the Russian-developed Sputnik V vaccine. "The first person to receive the Russian Sputnik vaccine is my own child," Health Minister Saeed Namaki said at a ceremony at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Hospital, broadcast live on television on February 8.







COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Tehran, Iran

Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi said that medical personnel treating COVIV-19 patients, the elderly, disabled, and veterans would be among the first Iranians to receive the jab.

The first batch of Sputnik V arrived in Tehran on February 4, and Iranian authorities have said two more shipments were expected by February 18 and 28.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told AFP that the country had purchased 2 million doses of the vaccine.



COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Yazd, Iran

Peer-reviewed, late-stage trial results published in The Lancet medical journal last week showed the two-dose regimen of Sputnik V was 91.6 percent effective against symptomatic COVID-19.

Namaki has said the country will also receive 4.2 million doses of the vaccine developed by Anglo-Swedish firm AstraZeneca and Oxford University, purchased via the World Health Organization-backed mechanism COVAX.

Iran is also working on locally developed vaccines.



COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Qazvin, Iran

The coronavirus has infected more than 1.4 million people in Iran, the country hardest hit by the pandemic in the Middle East, and killed over 58,500, according to health authorities.

With reporting by AFP
Photo via Dane County Sheriff

The dark web, an encrypted section of the Internet, is full of purported hitmen offering to kill for the right price.

The assassins are almost always scam artists, but it appears that three journalists investigating the more sordid corners of the web helped thwart a murder-for-hire plot.

Federal prosecutors announced Monday they had charged Kelly Harper, 37, of Columbus, Wisconsin, with using the Internet to hire someone to commit murder.

According to a complaint filed by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Wisconsin, one of the journalists saw the targets name and address posted on a dark web site, along with this chilling message: the target needs to be killed, he is a white 5 foot 5 male, dark brown short hair, blue eyes, weighs 165 pounds. It was accompanied by his cell phone number and pictures of the mans vehicle.

The complaint went on to say that the murder-for-hire site administrator responded to [the suspects] message and requested proof of payment in the form of bitcoin. [Suspect] responded by sharing a screenshot of a bitcoin wallet with a value of approximately $5,633.87.

The journalists, who were not named, also found a bitcoin payment from the suspect to a second murder-for-hire website administrator, according to the complaint.

After the journalists alerted the target about what they had found, his girlfriend reported the situation to the FBI. Agents were able to trace an IP address, email, and phone number linked to the bitcoin wallet to Harpers residence.

The feds then questioned Harper who allegedly admitted to paying bitcoin to the administrator of a murder-for-hire dark web site in order to have [the target] killed, the complaint says.

The court documents do not indicate a motive for the alleged plot.

Harper is being held at the Dane County Jail. Several relatives reached by phone declined to comment. Social media postings by Harper indicate that she has at least three children, and public records show she has also lived in Arizona.

Story continues

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After three days of a free-speech bonanza that included discussions of the ruling Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) genocidal policies in Xinjiang and Tibet, its crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong, and its military threats against democratic Taiwan, China's internet censorship machinery finally cranked into gear and banned the audio chat app Clubhouse.



"The [Clubhouse] app was blocked for users in China around 7.00 p.m. Beijing time [on ]," the GreatFire.org website, which monitors Chinese internet censorship, said via its Twitter account.



"The Clubhouse website is still accessible, but the resources that the app needs to access in order to function are blocked," it said.



The block came after the app opened a rare window of opportunity for users in China to speak freely in Clubhouse's moderated audio forums, in Mandarin, and beyond the Great Firewall of government censorship.



Unprecedented conversations were being had on normally banned topics between China-based users, who are fed the CCP's official narrative on most topics for much of the time, and activists in less censored countries, as well as those in democratic Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang, according to user accounts posted to social media.



News of the ban was greeted with dismay among some Chinese users.



"Walled in, just two days after we got the fire going," commented one user. "So it's a 404 already?" wrote another.



"That was so fast - we were in a group at the time of the ban and got frozen," said another.



A Clubhouse moderator who asked to remain anonymous said China-based users would need some way of circumventing the Great Firewall to join chat forums in the app from now on, and that Chinese government censors would be patrolling Mandarin-language chatrooms with more than 300 participants, and issue warnings to moderators to avoid "sensitive topics."



Li Hengqing, a former student leader in the 1989 democracy protests, said Clubhouse had taken off after Tesla founder Elon Musk had promoted it on social media, but its use had been limited from the outset to iPhone users with phones bought overseas, as Chinese app stores didn't carry it.

'There are concentration camps in Xinjiang'



One of the most groundbreaking chats was titled "There are concentration camps in Xinjiang," during which Mandarin-speakers from around the world shared information about the mass incarceration of at least 1.5 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in "re-education camps," part of a set of CCP policies described as genocide by the U.S. government.



"You can't stop these young people, because they need to break open the Great Firewall, open windows and look out at the world," Li told RFA.



But he said many had been expecting the ban from the start.



"We definitely thought that a total block on Clubhouse was just around the corner," he said. "[But] just , around 5,000 people were exposed to the truth [about Xinjiang] ... This was something they couldn't tolerate."



U.S.-based activist Zhou Fengsuo, who founded the rights group Humanitarian China, said he had taken to Clubhouse to talk about his experiences of the 1989 democracy movement on Tiananmen Square, and its brutal suppression in a People's Liberation Army (PLA) killing spree on the night of , 1989 and the days that followed.



"People were cautious when they first joined, but then they would engage very strongly when they saw that so many others shared their views," Zhou said.

"Many people may have been brainwashed, whether its about or Xinjiang, but the truth is so powerful, that people were able to inspire each other through the collective power of the forum."



"This is what the government fears," said Zhou.



One Clubhouse user from China, who gave only a nickname Alex, said via social media that he had wept for joy several times during the conversation he took part in.



"This is the first time I have come across so many people who speak the same language," Alex said. "We got together and talked about the things I care about the most; stuff that I have never dared to say in Chinese before ... Thank you."



Filtering out Fifty Center Army

As an invitation-only platform, Clubhouse was able to filter out much of the usual interference, insults and online abuse from CCP supporters, known as the Fifty Cent Army.



A black market for invitations sprang up soon after Musk's high profile conversation with RobinHood app president Vlad Tenev was livestreamed on YouTube, with invitation codes changing hands on the auction site Taobao for up to 400 yuan apiece.



By , the Taobao listings for Clubhouse invitations had been deleted, and people with China-registered phones were unable to receive invitation codes.



Hong Kong-based users said some had managed to listen in to conversations using a VPN from China.



Shortly before the ban, Chinese political cartoonist Badiucao, who lives in Australia, hosted a chatroom on Clubhouse titled "Has anyone been called in to drink tea over Clubhouse?" in a reference to being called in for questioning by the state security police. As of Feb. 7, it seemed that not many users had.



Former Sina Weibo social media censor Liu Lipeng, who now lives in California, said the authorities were more likely to seek to control Clubhouse activity by blocking it, rather than by retaliating against those who used it.



"This kind of block mostly happens through the Great Firewall, which is a distributed network, so maybe it will still work on some nodes and not on other," Liu said. "But eventually, it won't work at all."



He said there were also security concerns over the fact that the invitations were texted to phones in China, most of which are now registered in the real names of their owners.



"Mobile phone numbers in China all need a real nam, so text messages and verification codes can all be intercepted," he said. "You are very likely to become exposed to your mobile phone service provider."



He said that even if users continued to listen in through VPNs, Chinese government censors are already likely to have infiltrated the chatrooms, and that the use of VPNs by regular users has also been banned.



Reported by Malik Wang and Poon Ka Ching for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Wang Yun for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
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.
ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DataGen, a healthcare analytics company, announced that it has hired Al Campanella as its new president. With more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, including leadership positions in large, integrated health systems and advisory firms, Campanella will leverage DataGen's nearly 20-year track record of providing timely, accurate and actionable analytics as it expands its offerings to its nationwide customer base.

"The healthcare industry's continued adoption of new technology, as well as new payment models, catalyzed by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, further points to the need for retrospective and prospective analytical modeling to help achieve better health outcomes and performance," said Campanella. "DataGen has a long history of success thanks to its team of talented professionals and the company's ability to deliver innovative solutions through detailed policy analysis, interactive dashboards and reporting tools."

"As the healthcare industry continues to move toward more risk-bearing models, we are poised to grow in response to that shift. I am excited to join DataGen at such an important moment in the healthcare industry's evolution," remarked Campanella.

"We're extremely enthusiastic about Al's hire," said Bea Grause, president of the Healthcare Association of New York State, of which DataGen is a subsidiary. "His deep understanding of the needs of the healthcare industry will only make DataGen's capabilities that much stronger. We're excited to use that knowledge to help DataGen's clients thrive."

About DataGen

For more than 20 years, DataGen has been an essential partner to healthcare organizations across the country, illustrating the financial implications of payment policy changes and promoting a pragmatic view of how changes will affect revenue and profitability. DataGen provides data analytic support to hospitals, health systems, state hospital associations and other healthcare groups across the nation as they strive to improve quality, outcomes and financial performance. Drawing on specialized health policy and payment expertise, as well as in-depth understanding of the power of analytics to drive change, DataGen simplifies the complexities of healthcare payment change. Website: www.datagen.info .

Media Contact

Boh Hatter

(410) 534.1161

[email protected]

SOURCE DataGen

She's a hard-hitting newsreader and journalist.

But Charlotte Hawkins proved she was also a dancing queen as she twerked to the Good Morning Britain theme tune on Tuesday, leaving her GMB co-stars stunned.

The presenter, 45, wore a red checked baby-doll style dress as she busted her moves in the TV studio, live to the nation.

Twerking! On Tuesday Charlotte Hawkins, 45, TWERKED to the Good Morning Britain theme tune, leaving her GMB co-stars stunned and viewers branding her dancing 'cringe'

Introducing the show, Piers Morgan was visible unimpressed over Tik Tok videos circulating online, of people dancing to the theme.

'I don't think any video has excited the team more, or made something in me slightly die' said Piers.

'We got very excited by that,' insisted Susanna, while Charlotte insisted: 'We're going to do this! We're going to recreate this!'

And, as the GMB theme tune began playing, Piers could be heard gasping 'oh my god' as Charlotte confidently strolled onto the floor and started to dance.

Dancing diva: The presenter wore a red checked baby-doll style dress as she busted her moves in the TV studio, live to the nation

What's going on? As the GMB theme tune began playing, Piers Morgan could be heard gasping 'oh my god' as Charlotte confidently strolled onto the floor and started to dance

Jokers! 'The things that people will do to try and get a bit more airtime' quipped Piers after Charlotte attempted to Twerk

'The things that people will do to try and get a bit more airtime... It's baffling why Brendan Cole got kicked off Strictly after that,' quipped Piers, in a nod to her turn on the BBC competition with the professional dancer in 2017.

Piers then added: 'Actually your dancing skills have improved a bit.'

But Charlotte was already ready for another go, which saw her attempting to twerk, which was met with audible approval from her co-stars.

Charlotte pointed out: 'And a twerk at the end!' while Piers yelled out: 'Work it baby, work it baby.'

Sharing the fun: GMB posted the clip to their Twitter account and Charlotte reshared the video to her own Twitter feed

GMB posted the clip to their Twitter account and Charlotte reshared the video to her own Twitter feed, adding: 'Doing my bit to put a smile on everyone's faces this morning!!'

But some fans of the show were less than impressed, with many branding the moment 'cringe' and claiming that GMB are simply 'desperate' for viewers.

One viewer tweeted: 'GMB always finds a way to turn it into a cringe-fest. Everything from the arguing and and shouting, suzanna pouting and licking her teeth.

'Trying to parade Laura across the BIG WALL OF WEATHER like she's some catwalk model. And now this. Cringe cringe cringe!!!!'

Someone else wrote: 'Twerking???? I wouldn't give up your day job,' while another pointed out: 'Thats...... Not twerking.'

Yikes! Some fans of the show were less than impressed, with many branding the moment 'cringe' and claiming that GMB are simply 'desperate' for viewers

'What did I just see?' asked one perplexed viewer as someone else tweeted: 'GMB desperate for ratings.'

'Sad, sad to see that a intelligent woman has to twerk on TV and a man can stay in his chair and be a bully. Maybe it is time for two women presenting @GMB,' suggested another.

However, there were some who found the moment entertaining, with one viewer tweeting: 'Loved it Charlotte, could you do a dance and twerk every morning to brighten up our days.'

Loving it! However, there were some who found the moment entertaining

'What a great way to start your day watching Charlotte twerking she is stunning I think Susana and Laura should join her,' wrote someone else.

Proving she doesn't take herself too seriously, Charlotte also shared a photograph of herself in her eye-catching frock and pointed out how similar she looked to a bus.

Sharing a side-by-side image, she tweeted: 'In other news this morning I appear to have come dressed as a Routemaster bus...'
Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Middle Belt Forum, MBF, and Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, yesterday rose in support of Nobel laureate , Professor Wole Soyinka, asking President Muhammadu Buhari to act fast on the herders' crisis to avert another civil war in the country.

Prof. Soyinka had, in BBC Pidgin Service on Saturday, urged the President to tackle the activities of herdsmen across the country to stave off a civil war.

"We may enter a phase of serious skirmishes which get more and more violent and may develop into civil war and a very untidy mercy one. That's my biggest fear," the nobel laureate had told the President.

Aside from calling on members of the international community to be interested in the herdsmen crisis and intervene to salvage the country from the present mess, National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, said while featuring on Arise TV's 'The Morning Show' yesterday that the group was in support of Soyinka's declaration.

Asked whether the Nobel Laureate and others with similar comments were beating the drums of war, Odumakin said: "The Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, is (well-) known. You cannot say that he is beating the drum of war or he is an alarmist.

"People are painting the reality that is on the ground. If what is happening in the South-West today, let's say some Yoruba boys had gone to do one per cent of that in the north, there would have been a war in this country by now.

"So, when Professor Wole Soyinka is warning President Buhari now that if you don't speak up now, what is going on will lead to civil war, he is not just talking in vain."

Odumakin said President Buhari was maintaining 'civil silence' over the heinous crimes committed by killer herders, while the Presidency continues to act as the mouthpiece of the herdsmen.

"But the world and the international community should be interested in Nigeria at this moment and get Nigeria out of this mess.

"It is clear now that the possibility of internal solutions is getting limited, we don't have an authority in leadership that can get us out of this mess. And the implication of a war in Nigeria for the rest of the world is very serious.

"Therefore, they should get on their feet now and begin to get interested in Nigeria to get us out of this mess that we are in," he said.

Reacting in a similar vein, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, did not only throw its weight behind Soyinka's call on the President but also said it had actually, before now, made a similar call on the President to act fast.

National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Emmanuel Yawe, said: "We made a similar call on January 23 this year on the President and the governors of the South West to act swiftly on this issue to avert a civil war. The call by Prof Soyinka is just a re-echo of what we did almost two weeks ago."

Also reacting yesterday, the National President of Middle Belt Forum, MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu said Prof. Wole Soyinka's warning was timely and perfectly correct."Speaking in Makurdi, Dr. Pogu cautioned that the unity of the country would be threatened if armed herders were allowed to continue their attacks on a monolithic South West and urged the President to listen to the voice of reason and act fast."He said: "Prof. Soyinka's call was timely and perfectly correct. These armed herders did the same thing unchallenged in the Middle Belt and nothing happened despite the accusations of collusion with the security forces.

"Now they have gone to a monolithic group, which is the South West, and in such a monolithic group, they are no match to the structures on ground.

"If they continue the attacks the way they have been going about it in the Middle Belt and other parts of the country with impunity, certainly a civil war will erupt and it is going to be an unfortunate situation. "So it is high time President Buhari woke up to address the issue unless he never cared in the first place.

"But a President who cares, seeing the clear handwriting on the wall, coupled with the escalation we are witnessing on daily basis, as we move forward, will address the nation and do something very quickly."

"It is unfortunate but it is good that people like Prof. Wole Soyinka are speaking on the matter, at least the man might listen to the voice of reason, seek wise counsel and save the country from going down the drain.

"The warning is timely because a civil war in the country now would mean total balkanization of this country. May God help us."

Put sentiment apart, treat killer herdsmen as terrorists, PANDEF tells Buhari

Similarly, the Pan-Niger Delta Elders Forum, PANDEF, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to shun sentiment and treat killer herdsmen as terrorists.

National Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Ken Robinson, urged the President to be firm in taking decisive action against the killer herdsmen.

He said: "It is not far from the truth because the ramification of a group of persons forcibly occupying other persons' land and forests will definitely bring up reactions as we are beginning to see now. And when people begin to react, it is possible that there could be counter reactions in other parts of the country and that could snowball into large scale ethnic crisis in the country.

"PANDEF and other well meaning individuals in the country have been calling on the President to be firm with the issue of these herdsmen.

"We understand that the President was or is a patron of Miyetti Allah and he himself is also a cattle rearer, I think his own cattle is not roaming about and occupying other people's land.

"He should be firm and put sentiments apart and stop this soft approach on this people who are marauders.

"They are not herdsmen, they are terrorists, they are killers. So why are we dealing with them with soft gloves? Drastic actions should be taken against them.

"Of course, we do not also support a situation where people in the guise of protesting these herdsmen do things that are unlawful."

In his reaction, elder statesman and prominent Igbo leader, Mbazulike Amechi, called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to ignore the call by Prof. Wole Soyinka to avert civil war in Nigeria and the country's disintegration due to herdsmen crisis.

Amechi specifically told the President that if he continues to ignore the calls made by Wole Soyinka and other statesmen who are not politically motivated by their calls, advise and admonitions, he is putting a stop to Nigeria, which he will stand to regret.

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He said: "You know that Prof. Wole Soyinka has been a crusader of justice in Nigeria. When the crisis started in Nigeria, when the Biafran War was about to start and other crisis that led to the Civil war, he told the government the truth at that time and they arrested him and clamped him into the prison, they punished him for telling them the truth.

"He is not a man that will be silenced; he is doing the same thing he did to government at that time by telling them the truth of the possible things that will happen in the country if the government fails to address the herdsmen crisis and caution the Fulani herdsmen and their Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association if Nigeria, MACBAN, handlers, and their patrons. "President Buhari should do that now. I fully endorse what Soyinka said; yes, Soyinka is right and you will recall that I have been making similar calls for peace to reign in the country, and if Buhari continues the way he is going, he is putting a stop to Nigeria.

"Politicians will not like to tell him the kind of truth people like us will always tell him; we are not asking him for anything, we only want him to hold the country together and not to allow it disintegrate under his watch.

"I have made the call last week and I am making it again that the country should not disintegrate under his watch, the politicians are not interested is saving the country with him, they are only interested in the money they make from his government and what they will gain from his administration."

Vanguard News Nigeria




Haiti - FAd'H : The army confirms its support for the Moise government





Since Sunday, February 7, there has been a virtual paralysis of activities in the capital, where the Haitian National Police are widely deployed.



The radical opposition despite the failure of its coup attempt, proclaimed as provisional President another judge of the Court of Cassation Joseph Mecene Jean-Louis https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32974-haiti-flash-haiti-has-2-presidents.html after the arrest of Me vickel Dabresil who was to be installed as provisional President https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32966-haiti-flash-coup-foiled-all-official-details.html .



The High Command of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAD'H) expresses in a note "its deep concerns regarding the evolution of the political situation in the country, arising from the dangerous turn that events take on the occasion of the 7th February 2021."



Faced with the excesses of certain sectors of national life, Lieutenant-General of the Armed Forces, Jodel Lessage assures us that "the remobilized Haitian Armed Forces [450 soldiers] intend to fully assume their responsibilities by remaining faithful to their constitutional mission which consists of ensure national security, defend territorial integrity, democratic order and the rule of law."



Adding that "In this troubled situation, the Armed Forces of Haiti reaffirm their determination to respect the Constitution and the legitimate authorities democratically elected by the population" to whom he asks to remain calm while maintaining confidence in the republican institutions.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32974-haiti-flash-haiti-has-2-presidents.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32966-haiti-flash-coup-foiled-all-official-details.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Failure to prioritise the vaccination of frontline police officers against Covid-19 would be 'a deep betrayal and will not be forgiven or forgotten', federation leaders have warned.

An open letter has been sent from all 43 branches of the Police Federation of England and Wales to officials in Westminster and the Welsh Assembly.

The groups reacted angrily after Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Monday that police officers would not be prioritised over the groups already identified for getting vaccines first.

The Police Federations of England and Wales have described the failure to prioritise frontline officers for vaccines as a deep betrayal. Pictured: Camden PC John Fabrizi (left) and colleague PC Michael Warren (right) from the territorial support group who both died last month

The letter said: 'It shows that warm words and platitudes mean very little from the Government.'

Police leaders are arguing that the need for frontline officers to be in close contact with the public puts them at high risk of infection and spreading the virus.

A recent survey by the Police Federation of England and Wales suggested that one in three officers had been threatened with deliberate Covid-19 infection by members of the public in the last six months.

The letter reads: 'The level of incidents of people weaponising the virus - by coughing or spitting at them - has increased considerably during the pandemic.

'On behalf of the Government, police officers are putting their lives on the line every day and run a very real risk of becoming infected and exposing colleagues, family members as well as the public.

'This seriously threatens the resilience of the police service if officers are off sick or required to isolate, taking them away from their duties.'

How at least eight Met Police officers have died from coronavirus Sukh Singh , forensic command police constable (January 25, 2021)

, forensic command police constable (January 25, 2021) Met Detention custody sergeant, unnamed (January 25, 2021)

John Fabrizi , Camden police constable (January 24, 2021)

, Camden police constable (January 24, 2021) Michael Warren , Territorial Support Group police constable (January 19, 2021)

, Territorial Support Group police constable (January 19, 2021) Chris Barkshire , traffic police community support officer (January 11, 2021)

, traffic police community support officer (January 11, 2021) Ramesh Gunamal , Forest Gate public access officer (May 9, 2020)

, Forest Gate public access officer (May 9, 2020) Charles Harding , police community support officer (2020)

, police community support officer (2020) Sophie O'Neill , call operator (2020) Advertisement

It claims that it would take 'less than a day' to vaccinate the entire police service and that it is not about officers 'jumping the queue'.

The letter ends: 'Police officers have done everything asked of them, now it is time for the Government to step up and protect those who have been on the frontline throughout this pandemic.

'Anything less would be a deep betrayal and will not be forgiven or forgotten.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'We are grateful for the tireless efforts of all our key workers, including police officers, at this difficult time. They are keeping us safe and ensuring that vital services carry on.

'We are following advice from the independent JCVI to vaccinate the most vulnerable people in cohorts 1-4 first.

'They advised the immediate priority should be to prevent deaths and protect health and care staff, with old age deemed the single biggest factor determining mortality.'

At least eight Met police officers have died from coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.

The most recent death last month was of an unnamed custody sergeant, while another four included three police constables and a traffic police community officer.

Meanwhile at least three Met workers died during the pandemic last year, led to increased calls to prioritise frontline police officers for Covid vaccines.

Ramesh Gunamal, a public access officer for the Met in Forest Gate, died in May last year

Tributes were paid to PC Fabrizi who was 'much loved' and did 'so much good in one lifetime'

Camden PC John Fabrizi died on January 24, just under a week after the death of his colleague PC Michael Warren from the territorial support group on January 19.

Camden Police said PC Fabrizi was 'much loved' and did 'so much good in one lifetime'.

Pc Michael Warren, 37, joined the Met in 2005 and had served as a TSG officer for the last four years.

He was classed as 'vulnerable' and had been shielding at home, working remotely to help his team and died on January 19, the Met said.

Traffic police community support officer Chris Barkshire died on January 11 while PC Sukh Singh from the Met's forensic command died on January 25.
Winston Churchill was not considered as one of the all time most influential speakers, but the most influential speaker. Few knew that as a youngster, the man whose soaring oratory would mean so much to so many suffered from a stammer, a speech disorder that is notoriously difficult to overcome. But the strains of war showed even on the man called Britain's Bulldog. He suffered a mild heart attack in December 1941, two years later, he contracted pneumonia.

Once Churchill was speaking in Parliament and was slightly muddled and incoherent in his speech. A rather unattractive lady MP on the opposite benches declared to Churchill: 'Sir, you are drunk!'. To which he replied 'Madame that may be true, but in the morning I shall be sober whereas you will still be ugly'.

His war time speech: "We Shall Fight on the Beaches", is one of his most inspiring speeaches

,, ..

@ 00:52 When he said Ahnyradawaweegointrytodo, thaisresolvuminmajsee government

I could only comprehend.... , ,, speech disorder...

Here is the full speech by Winston Churchill

Full text:

When Napoleon lay at Boulogne for a year with his flat-bottomed boats and his Grand Army, he was told by someone, "there are bitter weeds in England." There are certainly a great many more of them since the British Expeditionary Force returned. Sir I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone.

At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majestys Government-every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation.

The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength.

We shall go on to the end,

we shall fight in France,

we shall fight on the seas and oceans,

we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air,

we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,

we shall fight on the beaches,

we shall fight on the landing grounds,

we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,

we shall fight in the hills;

we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in Gods good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.
J-10 fighter jets of China's People's Liberation Army Air Force Ba Yi aerobatics team perform an aerial display during the Singapore Airshow media preview in Singapore on Feb. 9, 2020. (Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)

Chinese Regimes 6th-Gen Fighter Jet Aimed at Attacking Taiwan: Leaked Documents

As the Chinese regime continues to intimidate Taiwan by repeatedly breaching the islands airspace and escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, it is developing an advanced fighter jet aircraft in secret.

The Epoch Times recently obtained a military document from a trusted source which unveiled details of a concept fighter jet project, driven by Chinas military-civil fusion strategy. It also reveals that the Chinese military is developing the new generation fighter jets for attacking Taiwan and competing with the United States.

Several countries around the world are developing a sixth-generation fighter aircraft that is more advanced than the fifth-generation fighter aircraft currently in service, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, India, Japan, Taiwan, and Russia.

The Chinese regime is also developing its own version of a sixth-generation fighter. The Epoch Times recently obtained a document issued by Chinas Ministry of National Defense in 2017, in accordance with Beijings 13th Five-Year Plan. The document revealed the CCPs pre-research plan for sixth-generation fighter aircrafts, with a focus on developing an unmanned combat system.

Screenshot of the Sixth-generation Fighter Aircrafts Pre-research Plan issued by Chinas Ministry of National Defense in 2017. (Provided to The Epoch Times)

Chinas Fighter Jet Design: Japanese Anime and Transformers

The document clearly states that it is a military-civil fusion project, meaning, private companies would cooperate with the military to develop the technology.

The sixth-generation aircraft is dubbed the Sky Master, which is a structure with attack functions and intelligent functions that can combine and configure. The document says that taking a look at Gundam will help to envision what the prototype looks like. Sky Master and Gundam are characters in the Japanese animation series, Gundam.

In an interview with Chinas state-owned CCTV in 2017, the general designer of the Chinese fighter jet F-20, Yang Wei, revealed that the appearance of the Chinese sixth-generation fighter jet is sci-fi-like, which he said could resemble the robots in the American Hollywood film, The Transformers.

Aimed at Taiwan and US

In the appendix of the document, it introduces the use of a combat system called WAH-la in the new generation fighter aircrafts, which can be installed in manned and unmanned dual-purpose attack helicopters. The document claims, If fighting against Taiwan, WAH-la can reach the opposite shore with a squad of combatants within a distance of 160 kilometers [99 miles] at 210 kmh [131 mph] in 45 minutes  to achieve the purpose of liberating Taiwan at low cost.

The Chinese regime considers Taiwan a part of its territory, even though the island has been governed as a distinct entity for more than seven decades. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its fold, by military force if necessary.

The document states the sixth-generation aircraft has a combat system called WAH-la that can be used in fighting against Taiwan. (Provided to The Epoch Times)

The pre-research plan also appended a project proposal. It analyzed American concept fighters and pointed out where the new Chinese generation fighters can surpass it. It claimed that at the time, although the United States has more than 500 fighters with unmanned systems, it has not developed the technology of an air processing system to allow the fighters to operate in a swarm.

The integration of an air data processing system and a distributed combat system is a revolutionary new concept. It is also the goal of this project, the document stated.

It is unclear what is the current status of the sixth-generation jets development.

The document proposed to use the model of military-civil fusion project J-31 to develop the sixth-generation fighters. This refers to Chinas J-31 fighter jet, developed by Shenyang Aircraft Industry Group (abbreviated as Shenfei). Shenfei is a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). It has developed a number of fighter jets for the Chinese military.

The Pentagon last year identified 31 Chinese companies, including AVIC, as owned or controlled by the Chinese military. Then-president Donald Trump issued an executive order banning U.S. investments into these companies.

The Trump administration also highlighted the potential for Chinas military-civil fusion strategy to target U.S. tech innovations and acquire them through outright theft, intelligence gathering, forced tech transfers, or academic collaborations.

Yuan Zhige contributed to this report.
Myanmar's new military junta, warned that "democracy can be destroyed" without discipline, and that people who "harm the state's stability, public safety and the rule of law" could face legal action. The US State Department said that it was very concerned about military-imposed restrictions, while New Zealand announced the suspension of high-level military and political contacts with Myanmar.

Myanmars new military junta, which overturned the results of democratic elections when it seized power last Monday, has warned the public not to destroy democracy following three days of protests. In a statement on the government-run MRTV channel, the military warned that democracy can be destroyed without discipline, and that people who harm the states stability, public safety and the rule of law could face legal action.

It came as concerns are growing that the junta will crack down on tens of thousands of people protesting against the February 1 coup, after the military imposed a curfew and restrictions on public gatherings in the second largest city, Mandalay, amid threats to use live ammunition against demonstrators.

The military has disbanded the National reconciliation and Peace Centre (NRPC), the leading internal peace process mechanism of the previous National League for Democracy (NLD) government, while arresting some of its civilian leaders. The Tatmadaw (military) has informed the ethnic armed groups that future peace talks will be continued only with the military-formed peace committee.

Also read: PM Modi and US Prez Biden discuss climate change, security in Indo-Pacific region

Meanwhile, a curfew from 8 pm to 4 am was imposed on Monday in seven townships in Mandalay  Aung Myay Tharzan, Maha Aung Myay, Amarapura, Patheingyi, Pyigyitakon, Chan Aye Tharzan and Chan Myay Tharzi. Some reports said that martial law has been imposed in the seven townships in Myanmar.

Access to the internet and social media have been severely restricted following the overthrow of the government and tens of thousands of people on Monday took to the streets for the third consecutive day of widespread protests against the coup.

The US State Department said that it was very concerned about military-imposed restrictions on public gatherings and offered support for the countrys peaceful protests. New Zealand announced the suspension of high-level military and political contacts with Myanmar on Tuesday, the first major international move to isolate the countrys ruling junta following a coup.

Also read: PM Modi to hold talks with Afghan Prez Ashraf Ghani today; Shehtoot Dam agreement on agenda
From left: Liam, Gerard, Roisin, Rory and Eamon Cairns enjoy Roisin's 11th birthday party. Within an hour of this picture being taken Gerard and Rory lay dead, killed by loyalist gunmen

A public inquiry should be ordered into "shocking" television documentary evidence of suspected collusion in the loyalist terrorist murders of two young brothers, the High Court was told on Tuesday.

Counsel for the father of Gerard and Rory Cairns claimed no action has been taken since a convicted killer interviewed in the programme admitted involvement in a previous aborted bid to kill members of the family.

Fiona Doherty QC said: "It's not only scandalous, it's not only illegal, it's inhumane."

The brothers, aged 18 and 22, were shot dead after gunmen broke into their home at Bleary, near Portadown, in October 1993.

No-one has ever been brought to justice for the killings carried out by the UVF's notorious Mid Ulster unit, headed at the time by Billy "King Rat" Wright.

Even though subsequent Police Ombudsman and Historical Enquiries Team (HET) investigations found no evidence of security force collusion, the family continued to believe the murderers were protected.

Those suspicions were reinforced by a BBC Spotlight documentary broadcast in October 2019.

In the programme one of Wright's former associates, Laurence Maguire, claimed some police officers provided information to help the murder gang target potential victims.

Maguire indicated that he had been part of a four-man team who took part in an aborted plan to "murder any male occupant" of the Cairns household a year before the brothers were killed.

He also named Wright and Robin Jackson, both now deceased loyalist leaders, as accompanying him in the earlier, thwarted operation, the court heard.

According to the programme Wright and Jackson were believed to be state agents.

Gerard and Rory's bereaved father, Eamon Cairns, is taking legal action in a bid to have the Secretary of State compelled to hold a public inquiry.

"What emerges from that programme is shocking," Ms Doherty submitted.

"It confirmed all the suspicions ever held by the Cairns family, and served in their minds to undermine all previous investigations into the murders and their faith in them."

Maguire, believed to be the first person in Northern Ireland convicted of directing terrorism, was in prison when the killings were carried out.

But counsel argued that his information is crucial.

"We have a man making an on-air recorded admission to conspiracy to murder," Ms Doherty said.

Sixteen months later, she contended, no action has taken over those alleged confessions.

"There's no evidence that the police ever alerted Eamon Cairns to the fact there had been this (earlier) planned aborted attack," the barrister continued.

Mr Cairns now wants a public inquiry into his sons' deaths because "he's been through everything else".

"The information that comes from Maguire potentially undermines the results of previous investigations," Ms Doherty added.

"How can we be sitting 16 months after a man admitted conspiracy to murder, and admitted to having additional information about actual murder, and we know nothing about it?

"The people who saw their two sons, their two brothers, dead in the living room, how can they know nothing about it?"

Tony McGleenan QC, for the Secretary of State, described the legal challenge as "misconceived".

He stressed the family's complaint centred on alleged flaws in the Ombudsman and HET investigations, or apparent inactivity since the documentary was broadcast.

"Those are matters the Secretary of State cannot remedy," Mr McGleenan said.

"The Secretary of State doesn't have a means of investigating and doesn't have a responsibility to do that."

Mr Justice McFarland reserved judgment in the application for leave to seek a judicial review.
It's not the sort of thing you put on the welcome sign on the outskirts of town.

It's not the sort of thing you put on the welcome sign on the outskirts of town.

"Selkirk: boring and proud of it."

But when it comes to showing municipal leadership on climate change, flashy is not part of the equation in the community of about 10,000 located 40 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

"I believe my job is to make climate change boring and routine because routine gets done," says Selkirks chief administrative officer Duane Nicol. "Boring gets done."

Nicol has been Selkirk's CAO seven years. In that time, he's made an effort to integrate climate-change thinking into every aspect of the city's operations. Preparing the city and creating policy for a warmer future is everybody's job, he says.

And Selkirk's council and administration have consistently opted for steady progress and fiscal responsibility. No headline-grabbing plans for monorails here.

Instead, there are staff-education programs across departments, a multiyear tactical guide and a program to track, maintain and upgrade city assets.

Nicol breaks all of this down broadly into three categories: pipes, plans, and trees.

Bored yet?

Modelling and projections Selkirk has done in partnership with the University of Winnipeg's Prairie Climate Centre suggest the community is looking at a drier future. But when the rain comes, there's going to be a lot of it.

That's where the pipes come in.

"A big component of our adaptation plan is to redo our water, wastewater and stormwater master strategies because when they were developed, they were not developed with a changed climate in mind," Nicol says.

One of the biggest undertakings involves separating stormwater from wastewater; it's currently collected together and funnelled through a treatment facility.

"We end up spending a lot of money cleaning rainwater, essentially," says Selkirk asset management and geographic information systems technician Megan Jakilazek.

"Separating them will save us money," she says. "But also, if we have an increased number of storm events with high intensity, we wont be overwhelming our water-treatment system."

MIKE SUDOMA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS "I believe my job is to make climate change boring and routine because routine gets done," says Selkirks chief administrative officer Duane Nicol.

Human-built infrastructure isnt the only way the city is preparing for these deluges of water. There are ongoing investigations into the amount of trees and green space needed to help absorb excess moisture during extreme rainfall events.

"I think one of the policies that makes me the most excited is the prioritization of natural assets," Jakilazek says.

"We have a bylaw that states that we will prioritize natural assets in place of (human-made) infrastructure if the service is going to be the same. So, I think thats really big for a small city in Manitoba to do that."

The city is in the process of formally recognizing all of the benefits trees provide and assign their dollar value not just during massive downpours, but also during intense summer heat, when green space can help to mitigate against the heat-island effect normally experienced in mostly concrete cities.

Selkirk started the process in 2019 by taking a complete inventory. By adding a dollar value, planners thinking about removing a given tree, for example, will be forced to consider the economic consequences.

"We default to built infrastructure in many cases because an engineer said it would work. Well, the nature-based response is typically far more cost-effective and adds all these ancillary benefits. But the ancillary benefits are never valued, so they never make it into the bottom line," Nicol says.

By integrating these kinds of system-wide changes in thinking, Nicol says eventually every aspect of budget preparation and strategic planning will be climate-focused.

The plans in "pipes, plans and trees" take many forms.

Selkirk relies on groundwater for what eventually comes out of residents' taps, and more droughts are expected in the future. The city is monitoring its aquifer in order to better understand risks to the drinking-water supply down the road.

Selkirk is also playing hard to get for developers hoping to create large suburban neighbourhoods similar to those that have sprung up recently in Winnipeg and other cities across the country as administrations with dollars in their eyes dream of expanding the size of their property- and business-tax pools.

"Development for developments sake is stupid," Nicol says. "It doesnt make your community stronger and it just chases that Ponzi scheme that most municipalities fall into. And were not doing it, were not playing that game."

Selkirk seeks more settlers Click to Expand The Selkirk concept plan includes 5,000 new housing units in a mixed-use urban village. The densification of the development would make it more economically sustainable. (submitted) Posted: 7:00 PM Aug. 12, 2020 What do you do with 326 acres of undeveloped land? The City of Selkirk has some big ideas. Last summer, the growing burg purchased the large plot, which is within its urban limits, for about $3.2 million. Its potential seemed endless, said Tim Feduniw, the city's director of sustainable economic development. Read Full Story

Instead, Selkirk is pursuing urban development plans focusing on density. Smaller homes mean less space to be heated. With more density comes more efficient transit, less reliance on vehicles and shorter distances travelled, ultimately a likely path toward lower emissions.

To that end, in 2019, Selkirk purchased 326.5 acres of land in its west end, preparing for expansion, but on its own terms, as outlined last year in a strategy envisioned for the area.

There is likely to be a mandate for how much land must be devoted to public green space. One section is designated for the creation of a mixed-use village that will include residential and commercial space, but no single-family homes. In other sections, the strategy anticipates the inclusion of a variety of housing sizes and types; any single-family homes will be pre-approved for secondary suites.

A key requirement listed in the land development strategy is that developers "demonstrate leadership in sustainable forms of development and green technologies to mitigate and adapt to climate change."

Deputy mayor John Buffie acknowledges that he was likely the member of council who most needed to be convinced to go along with the climate-conscious path the city is taking.

But he says many conversations he had with Nicol turned him into a believer that even small actions are meaningful when it comes to climate change.

SUBMITTED / FREE PRESS FILES Selkirks West End plan involves the development of the 326.5 acres of land purchased last year.

Understanding the moral argument to endorse the strategy led him to worry that the plans might cost residents an arm and a leg. But he says hes been impressed with Nicols ability to get it done in a fiscally responsible way.

"Of course, nothings free," Buffie says. "Theres always going to be a cost to implementing the ideas that he has. But the costs are not, by any means, exorbitant. Certainly not significant enough that wed turn away and say, No, thats not something we want to do anymore."

As an example, he says the development strategy planned for the west end is good climate policy but that isnt the primary reason he supports it.

"It becomes a budget issue," he says. "Getting more people to use the same piece of infrastructure helps you to maintain it and repair it as you go along.

"All-in-all, its affordable and at this point in our world its the right thing to do."

Tim Feduniw, the citys director of sustainable economic development, is excited about the co-ordination of the mission across the city's administration. Through the policy direction, Selkirk has created a brand for itself, one he is happy to market to the business world.

"Were not trying to be everything to everybody," Feduniw says. "Were articulating our brand, our values, our principles and what we are as a community. Were confident in our identity."

He works with private companies to help them see where they fit into this picture. He uses the example of the Gerdau steel mill; hes working to attract related businesses that can work with the recycled materials from the plant in a circular-style local economy.

As were looking to attract more residents to Selkirk, were looking to specifically attract individuals who are interested in and are passionate about environmental protection and being climate-conscious.  Selkirks CAO Duane Nicol

"As were looking to attract more residents to Selkirk, were looking to specifically attract individuals who are interested in and are passionate about environmental protection and being climate-conscious," Nicol says.

Feduniw calls it "a dream" to work for a city with this kind of vision after having worked in bigger places in Canada. And he says its even more inspiring to see from polling data that residents seem happy to be along for the ride.

"The environment is a good thing, and for us its not a trending thing," he says.

"We have a compass that weve all agreed to, and that weve all bought into."

sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca
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)

Trump Offered to Deploy 10,000 National Guard Troops in DC Ahead of Jan. 6: Mark Meadows

Former President Donald Trump offered to deploy 10,000 National Guard troops in Washington D.C. prior to Jan. 6, the day of the Capitol building breach, according to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.

Meadows told Fox News Sunday Morning Futures that although Trump had been vocal about offering Capitol Police and National Guard presence at the Capitol on multiple occasions last month, his offer was rebuked every time.

We also know that in January, but also throughout the summer, that the president was very vocal in making sure that we had plenty of National Guard, plenty of additional support because he supports our rule of law and supports our law enforcement and offered additional help, Meadows told host Maria Bartiromo.

Even in January, that was a given, as many as 10,000 National Guard troops were told to be on the ready by the Secretary of Defense Meadows said. That was a direct order from President Trump and yet here is what we see  all kinds of blame going around but yet not a whole lot of accountability.

That accountability needs to rest where it ultimately should be and thats on Capitol Hill Meadows added.

The Pentagon and the office of Washington D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser didnt immediately respond to requests for comment by The Epoch Times.

Democrats allege that the president incited the violence at the Capitol in a speech he delivered near the White House on Jan 6. In his address, Trump used the words fight like hell in reference to his teams legal efforts around election integrity. The Democrats allege that Trump used the words to incite his followers to commit violence.

House Democrats, joined by 10 Republicans, voted on Jan. 13 to approve a single article of impeachment against Trump for incitement of insurrection, making him the first president to be impeached twice. When the Senate trial opens on Feb. 9, he will become the first former president to stand trial.

Meadows described the impeachment effort against the former president as political theater.

Its really about Democrats trying to once again make a political point, he said. This whole impeachment is designed to remove someone from office. President Trump is a private citizen at this point. And yet they cant stand it. They have to continue to go ahead and try to put forth some kind of narrative that scores political points.

He added, But we have seen it before. The American people are not going to have it. We have already had 45 senators say that this is unconstitutional. But its more than that. Its a violation of due process. Its not what our founding fathers set up. And it sets a very bad precedent of future officeholders.

Attorneys for Trump on Monday set out their defense for his Senate impeachment trial, arguing that the Senate has no jurisdiction to try a former official, that the Houses charge against the 45th president is deficient, that their client was deprived of due process and had his right to free speech violated by the article of impeachment.

In the 78-page trial memorandum, the attorneys posit that the Senate taking up the impeachment amounts to a bill of attainder, an act that the Constitution prohibits the legislature from taking because it would amount to inflicting punishment without a jury trial. The defense also contends that the incitement accusation is contradicted by the plain text of the transcript of the presidents Jan. 6 speech.

The Article of Impeachment presented by the House is unconstitutional for a variety of reasons, any of which alone would be grounds for immediate dismissal. Taken together, they demonstrate conclusively that indulging House Democrats hunger for this political theater is a danger to our Republic democracy and the rights that we hold dear, the trial memo, authored by Bruce Castor, David Schoen, and Michael van der Veen, states.

Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report.
Nearly 12 crore doses of Covid vaccine to be available in June: Health Ministry

Expert panel to submit report soon on priority individual for COVID vaccine

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Feb 09: An expert committee set up to develop the criteria for identifying significant comorbidities present in a person, which would make that person priority individual for COVID-19 vaccination, will finalise its report in the next few days, Niti Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul said on Tuesday.

Apart from Oxford-AstraZeneca ''s Covishield vaccine and Bharat Biotech''s Covaxin vaccine, there are other vaccines that are in the pipeline, Paul stated.

"The criteria (to identify people with comorbidities) has been developed by a committee. We are expecting the final report in the next few days," he told PTI.

Paul, who is also the chairman of the National Expert Group On Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) said this committee has gone deeply into it and looked at which comorbidities -- the presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions in a patient -- should be kept in mind.

"They are also looking at how to ascertain this, who will certify it, where will the person has go to get the priority vaccine," he said, adding that so the procedural and process issues have also been discussed.

"In this regard, not only the expert committee has met, but also we have had discussions with the state governments," Paul said.

I am Shiva, my body gave birth to corona: Mother who killed daughters in AP tells cops

According to the government, vaccination 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.

Replying to a question on the perception that that there is an extra push by the government for Bharat Biotech''s Covaxin vaccine, Paul said, "We are not pushing one vaccine (Covaxin) versus the other (Covishield), both vaccines are being pushed, both vaccines are being promoted."

"And we want you to take the vaccine whichever vaccine is allotted to you," he added.

The Niti Aayog member pointed out that apart from Oxford-AstraZeneca ''s Covishield vaccine and Bharat Biotech''s Covaxin vaccine, there are other vaccines that are in the pipeline.

"We have Zydus Cadila''s DNA based Indian vaccine which is in the phase 3 trial and we hope that its phase 3 trial will be completed in a month or two and this vaccine could be made available," he said.

Paul said Russia Sputnik V vaccine for COVID-19 has been now extensively studied outside India and has shown promising results.

"Sputnik V bridging trial is almost in the final stages and this vaccine, once available, will be manufactured in the country," he said.

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

According to Paul, there are two other vaccines, one is by Hyderabad-based Biological E and another is by Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals which are in early trial phase.

"So there is a pipeline of vaccines within our own country," he noted.

More than 58 lakh beneficiaries have been vaccinated till now in India.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 15:24 [IST]
Does Your College Have Anything To Do With The Pay Package You Command?

College Placements are not really the true indicators of quality of the graduate a college produces. Graduates from certain colleges may command a premium entry level salary. However, over a period of time, with a work experience of about five years or more, his/her salary evens out with that of the graduates from any other renowned colleges.

For instance, of the 60 engineering colleges in Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India, some graduates may land into their dream jobs with a hefty pay-package. However, none of these colleges produce graduates who can command an average salary anywhere close to that of an IIT graduate. Even with 5 years of corporate exposure an IIT grad commands Rs 15 lakh per annum of pay package, while most other graduates from the top 100 colleges in India command an average salary of Rs 10 lakh per annum.

IITs indeed still continue to produce the best engineering graduates in the country. However, this does not mean there is no talent pool beyond the IITs .The compiled list of 'Top 100 Engineering Institutes' suggests the same. This comprehensive survey, based on the real worth of a graduate that each college has produced is the first one of its kind. The colleges here have been ranked based on the quality of talent and the performance of their graduates in the corporate world.

The presence of a large number of technical institutions across the country often makes it difficult for the potential students to make the right choice. Also, the IT organizations are always looking to hire from a variety of quality Institutions. To Bridge this gap between the Industry and the Academia, SiliconIndia.com consulted HR managers, collected data from the various recruitment firms and Job boards. Also, over 3000 working professionals who completed their engineering in 2006 were interviewed for the same purpose. After an extensive and exhaustive research, the list of top 100 engineering institutes was compiled.

"We believe that despite the various criteria's, the quality of a college lies in the performance of the graduate. This is assessed by the pay package they command in the corporate world after a period of 5 years. This is the real value a college adds to the graduate," says Harvi Sachar, CEO, SiliconIndia.com.

This list is integral to the students and the corporate organizations. It allows the companies to look beyond IITs and hire quality engineers from various colleges. The annual average salary of a graduate after five years in the industry is provided for the students to make a choice as per their interest and caliber at the very start of their career.

The 'Top 100 engineering colleges in India 2011' provides the companies with an insight so that they can reach out to the right colleges and thereby promote industry growth by hiring deserving graduates. The list holds a good amount of credibility and helps the students and the companies select better.

The supplement is easily available in almost all the news-stands and the list is available for download on the website.

http://www.siliconindia.com/education/engineeringcollege/top-100-engineering-colleges-in-india.php?location=cs#1

*Additional Information* 

Kindly note that according to our survey, in Jharkhand:

Birla Institute Of Technology, Mesra; Jharkhand is ranked 9th among the 'Top 100 Engineering Colleges 2011'.

Also, BIT, Mesra is ranked 4th and NIT, Jamshedpur 8th are among the Top 10 Colleges in the Eastern India.

In the 'Top 50 M.Tech Colleges across India' BIT Mesra, Ranchi is ranked 3rd.

Article provided by SiliconIndia.Com.

Contact: Kornica Dhar

Pr Manager, SiliconIndia.com

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone No.: +91- 8043112-146

[10:00 A.M - 6:30 P.M]

http://www.siliconindia.com/
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Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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
BATTLE CREEK, MI  A Bahamian national in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement died Friday at the Calhoun County Jail.

Jesse Jermone Dean Jr., 58, had been admitted to the jails medical monitoring unit on Thursday, Feb. 4 after making health complaints to jail staff earlier that day, a news release from ICE states.

Dean was pronounced dead at 11:38 a.m., Friday, Feb. 5, officials said.

The death appears to have resulted from natural causes, and not be related to COVID-19, Calhoun County Deputy Health Officer Brigette Reichenbaugh, told MLive in an email.

Reichenbaugh said an autopsy will be performed by the Calhoun County Medical Examiner, and the death is being investigated by the Michigan State Police as an outside agency, per protocol for situations like this.

ICE is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is undertaking a comprehensive, agency-wide review of this incident, as it does following all deaths in custody, a statement from the department states.

Dean was arrested by ICE on Dec. 31 after being released from North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin at the completion of a 30-year federal sentence on charges of conspiracy to possess cocaine, possession of cocaine, conspiracy to import cocaine, importation of cocaine and use of a communications device in the commission of a felony, the release states.

ICE has notified the Commonwealth of Bahamas Consulate of Deans death and consular officials have notified Deans next of kin.

Also on MLive:

Releases of ICE detainees in Calhoun County a step forward, but not enough, attorney says

Sheriff runs $6M jail boarding business that holds ICE detainees

Drive-by protest planned to urge ICE to release detainees during coronavirus outbreak

ICE proposes another plan for immigrant detention center at Ionia
In odd years, the election turnout is always lower and at this point, were expecting a poor turnout even though its early in terms of those voting (at the mobile unit) before Feb. 23, Cunningham said from his office Monday morning. We track votes and in terms of early voting, weve only seen something in the low to mid-40s in terms of the number of voters, and requests for mail-in votes arent high.
Left out. Pregnant Lauren Burnham attended her anatomy scan alone on Monday, February 8  and husband Arie Luyendyk Jr. was not happy about it.

Read article

Sitting in [this] parking lot while @laurenluyendyk is getting the anatomy scan, the former Bachelor, 39, captioned a black-and-white selfie on his Instagram Story taken from his car. In my opinion, its BS husbands arent allowed. Just doesnt make sense. Every doctor has their own set of rules. There is no consistancy [sic]. Men are honestly being discriminated against. We should have a right to see our own babies.

The Bachelorette alum called his absence fking ridiculous, concluding, You can pack a stadium full of people, fill airplanes, but I cant watch a monitor from six feet away.

Courtesy of Arie Luyendyk Jr/Instagram

Read article

The former reality star went on to post Burnhams video from her appointment. Anatomy scan today, the Instagram Story footage read.

The couple announced in December 2020 that they are expecting twins. The following month, their cotton candy sex reveal showed that they have both a baby girl and a baby boy on the way.

One month ahead of their pregnancy announcement, Luyendyk Jr. tested positive for COVID-19. Many of you have been wondering  why weve been so absent on social media and why Im sitting, like, 25 feet away from the girls, the race car driver wrote on his Instagram Story in November 2020. Its because I actually tested positive for COVID, like, nine days ago. Tomorrow I get to go in and see if Im all clear. Its been rough, Ive gotta say. Its not been easy. Ive been on the other side of the house.

Courtesy of Arie Luyendyk Jr/Instagram

The Netherlands native added that his wife, 29, had been really sweet amid his diagnosis. He explained, Shes been keeping me fed. She just slides some food outside and then I go get it.

Read article

When the Bachelor Nation members took their daughter, Alessi, 20 months, Christmas tree shopping later that same week, Burnham defended their public outing.

Courtesy of Arie Luyendyk Jr/Instagram

Aries quarantine period is over per CDC guidelines and doctor advice, the Shades of Rose designer told her Instagram followers at the time. He even got a negative test before rejoining Alessi and I in the house to make me feel more comfortable even though thats not necessary according to the CDC. Hes cleared!
Modulaire Group is the leader in European modular services and infrastructure. We create smart spaces for people to live, work and learn. Our business is designed to help customers find the right space solution, no matter what their requirements. Modulaire Group has operations in 25 countries with approximately 250,000 modular space and portable storage units and 3,400 remote accommodations rooms. The company operates as Algeco in Europe and Scandinavia, Elliott, Advante and Carter Accommodation in the United Kingdom, BUKO Huisvesting, BUKO Bouw & Winkels and BUKO Bouwsystemen in The Netherlands, Ausco in Australia, Portacom in New Zealand, and Algeco Chengdong in China.

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.
Lawton, OK (73501)

Today

Generally cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy this evening with thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 62F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Are women in Italy victims of sexism?

Italy is a deeply religious Catholic country, and the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of its most cherished figures. On streets, in homes, and in churches and cathedrals, Mary is honored through art, shrines, and religious jewelry.

As such, the importance of the mother is manifest in the Italian family model, where the mother is cherished as a beacon of matronly warmth and nurturing. The idea of the Italian mother has turned into an international stereotype--a strong, capable woman who spends her days cooking for doting children. Though respect for women appears to be a natural facet of Italian culture, in reality, Italy has a long history of sexismand its effects are alive and well in modern society.

Sexism in the Law: A Brief History

For much of the 20th century, women in Italy were not granted the legal rights of their male counterparts. During the Fascist Period, women were seen as subservient and inferior to men. AsSuch rhetoric limited women to the roles ofThey were barred from getting a university education, participating in politics, and working sophisticated jobs.Nonetheless,According to Bezzone, tens of thousands of women worked in the Resistances defense groups, making up an estimated 20 percent of the Resistance.

It wasnt until 1945 that all women were granted the right to vote in national elections. Though the fight for equality would have more superficial victories in the following years, such as the Italian Constitutions legal recognition of gender equality in 1948, on paper, women still lacked rights within their families and over their bodies. Womens rights were largely intertwined with their husbands or fathers rights. Divorce was illegal until 1970, and women were too frequently trapped in violent relationships. It was not until 1975 that Law 151/1975 declared husband and wives equal within their marriages. Rape within marriage was not legally recognised until 1976 with Sentence no. 12857. Today, it is widely recognised that the majority of rape perpetrators are acquaintances, partners, or ex-partners of their victims. These cases are every bit as legitimate as random attacks, and certainly more common. In 1978, first-term and medically necessary abortions were legalized with Law 194/1978, but around 70 percent of Italian gynecologists are currently registered as conscientious objectors to abortion. As a result, many women must go to unsafe and unregulated measures for an abortion.

Until 1996, as an emblem of Italys patriarchal culture, rape was classified as a crime against public morality. Instead of a human violation, it was viewed as a form of dishonor against the family. This classification was enacted under fascist leader Benito Mussolini in 1936, and was ultimately dismantled in 1996 by lawmakers including his granddaughter, Alessandra Mussolini. As of today, rape is formally classified as a crime against a person.



Stalking was not a legal offense until 2009.

Everyday Sexism in the 21st Century

After years of protests from the Italian feminist movement, in 1996, Law 66/1996 declared that sexual violence was a crime punishable with five to ten years in prison.While some cases of sexual harassment fall under this definition, one criticism of Italian legislation is that sexual harassment does not have its own criminal classification. Instead, it is lumped in with general harassment and discrimination.

But the biggest silencer of harassment and assault victims isnt the law, its social norms. Many acts of harassment and abuse are normalised in Italian society. Catcalling and street harassment are everyday occurrences across Italy, and because they always have been, street harassers are rarely punished. A 2018 Istat study found that around 44 percent of Italian women had experienced sexual harassment in their lifetimes. Of the women who experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, 80 percent did not report their cases to anyone at work.

According to Statista, in 2018 alone, 16 percent of Italian women reported experiencing harassment in the form of insistent staring in public. One in ten women reported being whistled at in the street. Less frequent forms of public harassment included insistent approaching, sexual insults, and stalking, each of which was reported by 5 percent of women. Two percent of women reported being subjected to exhibitionism.

Dissmissioni in Bianco: Blank Resignations

A System That Doesnt Support Survivors

Until 2016, the practice of(blank resignations) was commonplace.was the practice of employers requiring employees--usually female employees--to fill out a resignation notice at the time of hiring, with the date left blank. Therefore,, an employer could easily issue her resignation without contest. In 2016, Italys New Jobs Act banned the practice for its discriminatory nature.Looking at Italian laws today, one would expect Italian society to be as feminist as other progressive Western countries. In practice, however, Italys bureaucratic systems make it complicated to take a sexual violence case to court.

One controversial aspect of rape cases in Italy is the querela. If a rape victim wants to press charges against an attacker, they must make a formal request to the state, called a querela. A querela is permanent. It requires the state to take action, but it cannot be withdrawn by the victim under any circumstances.

Femicide in Italy

MikeDotta / Shutterstock.com

High Unemployment Rates and Inequality Levels

Why Italys #MeToo Movement Didnt Stick

Wall of Dolls protest in Navigli district protesting against female physical and sexual violence, throughout the world by

The problem with the querela, as pointed out by the Michigan Journal of Gender and Law, is thatIn countries like the United States, legal teams can review evidence and contextual facts before deciding to take a case to court. In Italy, if a victim does not have substantial evidence against an attacker but wants to proceed with a querela, they could be subjected toMany victims opt to save themselves from further trauma by avoiding court entirely. The worst incarnations of Italys sexism are represented by itsAccording to ANSA, as of 2020, one woman is murdered every three days in Italy. The Guardian reports that femicide is often a result of a woman trying to leave her partner or spouse. Unsurprisingly, the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns created extremely dangerous conditions for women in domestic violence situations. As Wanted in Rome reported earlier this year,during the countrys first lockdown. Ph:In 2014, an analysis published in conjunction with, titled The Policy on Gender Equality in Italy This is manifest in Italianthe gender pay gap, and the lack of female leadership in top-level politics. According to a 2017 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), though Italys gender pay gap is around 5 percent, its gender employment gap is exceptionally high. The report states: Fewer than half of working-age Italian women are in employment and, at 18 percentage points (p.p.), the gender employment gap in Italy is one of the largest in the OECD. As for the political sphere, according to Statista, only 14.4 percent of Italian mayors are women.The Policy on Gender Equality in Italy states, Italy lacks of a proper gender infrastructure at central level to promote, coordinate and monitor gender equality initiatives. In 2017, in the height of the #MeToo movement in the United States,wrote an article for the Washington Post titled Having a misogynist leader has consequences. And no, I dont mean Trump. Her article details why the short-lived. As she explains, Italys ingrained Catholicism makes Italian culture patriarchal to begin with--as in many religious cultures, the father is seen as the head of the household and the mother is seen as the caregiver. While this isnt necessarily dangerous in and of itself, when culture puts an emphasis on women's subservience, the power structures are easily manipulated, leading to objectification, the normalisation of harassment, and in the worst cases, targeted violence. When powerful figures like formerand former Italian, notorious for his multiple sex scandals and objectifying comments about women, show the public that it's okay to value women only for their bodies, sexist mentalities are given permission to permeate daily life. (Ph:Alexandre Rotenberg / Shutterstock.com)Siri writes, The cultural phenomenon of [Berlusconis] personal machismo signaled to Italian men that it was acceptable and even normal to objectify and diminish women The result is that the already present and strong sexist Italian culture now seems almost impossible to reverse.

The Italian #MeToo movement, called #QuellaVoltaChe (#ThatTimeWhen), never found its footing in mainstream society despite Italian activists attempts to bring injustices to light. Siri attributes this to Italys high bar for sexual harassment. As she describes, objectifying comments in the workplace and in everyday settings are brushed off as compliments or jokes. Many of the sexual harassment and assault survivors who came forward with the #QuellaVoltaChe movement were subjected to scrutiny and further harassment. When Italian actress Asia Argento came forward with her own #QuellaVoltaChe stories, including an assault by Harvey Weinstein, she was viscerally attacked online. Newspaper Libero Quotidiano published an opinion piece calling Argento and other Weinstein accusers opportunists, titled Prima la danno poi frignano e fingono di pentirsi, First they give it then whimper and pretend to repent."

Despite backlash against #MeToo and #QuellaVoltaChe, according to a Statista study, 67 percent of adults in Italy credited the movements with improving national workplace conditions for women.

Denim Day: A Symbol of Italys Fight Against Rape Culture

Every year on a, women all over the world wear denim to recognize Denim Day . Denim Day, formally organized by the non-profit Peace Over Violence, was started after the. According to the Denim Day Campaign website, [The] rape conviction was overturned because theremove her jeans, thereby implying consent.

In the days following the Court ruling, female members of Italian Parliament wore jeans to work as a form of protest. Since then, wearing denim on Denim Day has signified solidarity with rape victims and has symbolized the ongoing fight to end sexual assault and rape culture. In 2008, the Italian Supreme Court finally reversed its ruling on the 1999 case, dissolving what had come to be known as the jeans alibi. According to the Independent, the ruling followed a convicted rapists attempt to appeal his case to the Supreme Court because, as in the 1999 case, his victim was wearing tight jeans. As described by Richard Owen of the Independent, The court upheld the one-year jail sentence given to the man for sexual assault, ruling that jeans cannot be compared to any type of chastity belt.

Denim Day 2021 is on 28 April.

Empowerment Movements and the Ongoing Fight for Equality

All of the advances Italy has made towards a more equal society would not have been possible without thewho fought and continue to fight for equality. Since Italys first feminist movements for the right to vote, feminists have had to speak against the sexist values present in their culture, cities, and in many cases, in their homes. Though Italys feminist movement continues to gain momentum, there is still a long way to go.Luckily, Italy has some wonderful activism initiatives. The non-profit organization, inspired by Argentinas Ni Una Menos, actively fights against femicide, domestic and sexual violence, and gender-based inequality. Non Una di Meno host many protests for reproductive rights and equal treatment for women, among other feminist causes. More information can be found on their website

Also in Rome, Casa Internazionale delle Donne, the International House of Women, is a non-profit feminist organization dedicated to uplifting women and womens initiatives in the local community and beyond. As stated on the organizations website, Its objective is creating a national and international hospitable community. The organization works on promoting the rights, culture, knowledge, experiences and policies produced by and for women. Casa Internazionale delle Donne hosts events and courses, and has countless amenities and resources available for women. Learn more from their website.
There is no place for Sasikala, Dhinakaran in party: AIADMK

Why it is not yet time to write Sasikalas political obituary

Sasikala arrives in Chennai to a rousing reception after 23 hour road trip from Bengaluru

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Chennai, Feb 09: Expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala on Tuesday arrived here, 23 hours after her departure from Bengaluru, where she had served a four year jail term in a corruption case and also underwent treatment for COVID-19.

Sasikala returns: TN Police restrains from using ADMK Flag | Oneindia News

The 65 year-old former confidante of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa arrived at T Nagar around 7 am on Tuesday. She had left the Karnataka capital by car on Monday morning and was accorded a grand reception by her supporters all along the way, till she reached the city this morning.

Before reaching home, she visited the residence of AIADMK founder and late Chief Minister M G Ramachandran at Ramapuram here and paid floral tributes to his portrait and garlanded a statue of the popular leader installed there.

I am a slave to the people of Tamil Nadu: V K Sasikala to enter active politics

She was accompanied by her nephew and Amma Makkal Munntera Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran. Earlier, she underwent her sentence in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case at the Parapana Agrahara central prison in Bengaluru since February, 2017 and was set free on January 27.

However, she remained at the Government Victoria hospital, where she had been admitted after testing positive for COVID-19 while under judicial custody.

She was discharged from the hospital on January 31 after which she stayed at a resort, about 35 km from Bengaluru. On Monday morning, she left the resort, accompanied by Dhinakaran.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 11:46 [IST]
Upper West Side Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Our goal was to create a true resource for our patients with information about aftercare, insurance, and the surgical procedures that we provide.

Nam Park, DDS, MD and the team at Upper West Side Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in New York City are pleased to announce the release of the practices new responsive website: https://www.uwsoralsurgery.com.

Dr. Park is proud to be on the cutting edge when it comes to oral surgery technology and techniques, and now his practice also has a state-of-the-art website that makes it easier for patients to find the information they need. Some of the many services that Upper West Side Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery offers are:



Cone beam scanner three-dimensional imaging

Ultra-quiet cordless electric handpieces

Three-dimensional digital impressions

Three-dimensional guided implant planning

Advanced bone regeneration methods

IV sedation for adults and sevoflurane inhalation sedation for children

Additionally, Dr. Park is the only fellowship-trained oral and maxillofacial surgeon in private practice in Manhattan, making his practice a vital destination for patients seeking exceptional care. In his fellowship, Dr. Park trained with Dr. Jeffery Posnick, a world-renowned craniomaxillofacial surgeon. His extensive training and years of experience working in private practice have given him the ability to solve complex orofacial problems.

Accessibility is at the forefront of the new design. Patients will notice a modern aesthetic and intuitive navigation on the site, but further enhancing the sites usability is a responsive design that adjusts the layout for different devices. Whether a user is on a laptop, desktop, tablet, or smartphone, theyll be able to easily connect with the practice.

According to Dr. Park, "Our goal was to create a true resource for our patients with information about aftercare, insurance, and the surgical procedures that we provide. Our streamlined and progressive approach empowers patients to request an appointment online, communicate with us via email, and find the forms they need to fill out before their appointment."

While Upper West Side Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery has been focusing on refreshing the practices web presence, Dr. Park and his team have also been hard at work implementing COVID-19 safety protocols to protect the health of patients. The practice is proud to not only meet government and American Dental Association guidelines for infection control, but exceed them.

About Nam Park, DDS, MD

Dr. Nam Park is a dual degree, board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon. He earned his DDS degree from the School of Dental Medicine at Columbia University and his MD degree from State University of New York College of Medicine. In addition to his practice at Upper West Side Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. Park is an attending surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital and he has served internationally with Healing the Children to provide surgical care to underprivileged children with cleft lip and palate.

About Upper West Side Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Upper West Side Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery offers a wide range of oral surgery services, including dental implants, extractions, orthognathic surgery, oral pathology, and more. To learn about the practice or request an appointment, visit the new website at https://www.uwsoralsurgery.com, schedule a visit to the office at 140 W. 69th Street, New York, NY 10023, or call 212-466-6984.
Apple Inc supplier Wistron Corp could restart operations as early as next week at its factory in southern India which was damaged during staff protests in December, three government officials said on Tuesday. The Wistron plant in the Narasapura industrial area of Karnataka state was shut after contract workers angry over unpaid wages destroyed property, equipment and iPhones on Dec. 12, causing millions of dollars in losses to the Taiwanese company. Apple put Wistron on probation after its audit of the plant found violations of 'Supplier Code of Conduct'. A reopening of the ...
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A consumer-focused healthcare landscape demands investments in technologies, people and processes that drive business value and Hendrick expects its partners to deliver excellence. In 2020, Hendrick Health once again received CHIME Digital Health Most Wired recognition, one of only 15 hospitals in Texas to earn this year's honor. "The survey and award highlight our efforts to innovate and improve quality healthcare, including the increase of patient access and analytics to improve care for our patients and their families," said Duane Donaway, Director of Technology for Hendrick Health.

Parlance speech-recognition solutions enable callers to quickly connect to people, departments or patient rooms. Parlance is also designed to connect employees across all Hendrick Health hospitals, as well as provide custom applications for employee information, such as HR. "Technology plays a large role at Hendrick and our goal was to improve the patient experiences by implementing a simple voice-driven tool," said Donaway. "By eliminating the cumbersome phone trees, Parlance has reduced the time and effort to contact other employees or departments by simply picking up the phone and speaking."

As part of the managed service, Parlance takes ownership of maintaining a health system-wide directory, which is updated daily and contributes to excellent connection rates for both internal callers and healthcare consumers.

About Parlance

For over 25 years, organizations nationwide have depended on Parlance to modernize and improve the first 30 seconds of every caller's journey and remove barriers to service. With Parlance, people can speak naturally and connect directly to the resources they need. No confusing menus, no numbers to press, no long hold times. Parlance relieves the burden of routine transfers and poor self-service, so business operations are optimized, and live agent effort is saved for more complex calls.

About Hendrick Health

Hendrick Health was founded in 1924 as a not-for-profit healthcare institution in response to a community need for quality healthcare. Today, Hendrick offers innovative treatments and preventive healthcare measures for a full range of clinical areas including cardiovascular care, neurology and neurosurgery, neonatal and pediatric intensive care, orthopedics, women's health and cancer services.

Alexandra Karasic

Marketing Director

Parlance

[email protected]

781-700-6263

SOURCE Parlance Corporation

Related Links

http://www.parlancecorp.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.
The Oregon Department of Corrections will begin immunizing inmates statewide starting Wednesday.

Jennifer Black, a department spokeswoman, said 5,000 Moderna vaccines had arrived Monday. She said starting Tuesday, they will be shipped to each of the states 14 prisons.

The effort to vaccinate inmates will begin Wednesday, with COVID-19 vulnerable prisoners getting priority, Black said. The vaccination clinic will continue on Thursday if necessary, she said The department expects to receive another 5,000 doses next week.

The vaccines will be offered to inmates but wont be required, corrections officials said.

Black said the agency estimates about 75% of inmates will get vaccinated. Oregons prisons currently house nearly 12,600 inmates. Some have already been vaccinated.

We have communicated that vaccinations will decrease the number of cases inside Oregons prisons and help us open visiting, she said in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Gov. Kate Brown last week authorized the Oregon Health Authority to provide the state prison system with 10,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine for its inmate population after a federal judge ordered all inmates in Oregons prisons be prioritized for the vaccinations.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckermans ruling addressed the explosive rise of the virus in the prisons, where the infection rate is 28% compared to 3.3% of the rest of the population.

Beckermans decision followed motions filed Jan. 21 by seven inmates requesting the federal government to intervene and immediately compel the state to vaccinate all inmates. The same inmates first filed a class action lawsuit in federal court last April seeking protection against the spread of the coronavirus.

Inmates across the state have described poor conditions as 3,413 cases of COVID-19 and 42 deaths have been confirmed in prisons to date.

-- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie
Jan Kubis, the new UN envoy to Libya, thanked the Egyptian government on Tuesday for backing a political solution in Libya as he addressed the third round of the Libyan constitutional track dialogue, which is being held in Egypts Hurghada from 9-12 February

The dialogue, attended by two delegations from the Libyan parliament and Supreme Council of State, aims to discuss arrangements for holding a referendum on a draft constitution prepared by the Constitutional Assembly tasked with writing a new Libyan charter.

The new UN envoy highlighted the importance of the dialogue, saying a Libyan agreement on the arrangements for the constitutional referendum directly affects the lives of citizens.

Kubis took over the post of UN Libyan envoy in January, succeeding Stephanie Williams, who served as acting UN Libya envoy in 2020.

During the dialogue, the head of Egypts committee on Libyan Affairs called for exploiting the positive developments Libya is currently witnessing in light of the election of a new executive authority and the outcome of the 5+5 Military Commission meetings.

The 5+5 Joint Military Commission is an effort adopted by the UN Security Council as a track to settle the conflict in Libya, bringing five military officials from each of the eastern and western camps in the country.

Meanwhile, Emad Al-Sayeh, the head of Libyas Supreme National Elections Commission (SNEC), confirmed the SNEC's readiness to hold the constitutional referendum.

During the deliberations, the heads of the two Libyan delegations thanked the Egyptian president and government for their support, affirming that Egypt only aims to help the Libyan state achieve stability.

The dialogue comes days after the UN-led Libyan Political Dialogue Forum chose a new interim prime minister, Abdel-Hamid Dbeibah, and a new head for the countrys Presidential Council, Mohammad Younes Menfi; a step that Egypt has hailed.

Participants at the second edition of the meeting in January agreed to hold a constitutional referendum and discussed arrangements in preparation for Libyas general elections, which is scheduled for December this year.

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Christian neurologist details ethical parameters of brain-reading technology

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Amid an increasing Big Tech push to implant devices into the human brain, a Christian neurology doctor has detailed the ethical parameters of mind-reading technology that companies like Facebook seek to utilize.

Dr. Travis Losey, the vice-chair of the department of neurology and co-director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Loma Linda University in southern California, said in an interview with The Christian Post that when it comes to the use of brain interface technology, the purpose should be to heal something that was harmed by disease or a disorder.

"The core ethical issue with the brain-computer interface is similar to issues with medication, he offered. I think it's only ethical to use medications when they are being used to restore function that has been lost or affected by a disease. The same principles would apply to brain-computer interfaces.

In a December company meeting with Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other top executives of the social media giant, Facebook Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer previewed a sensor device he claimed can read "neural signals coming from my brain, down my spinal cord along my arm, to my wrist.

The social media executive was heard on leaked audio footage talking about how the new device can read brain activity, the latest in moves to merge digital technology and humans.

According to Schroepfer, the sensor could be used for typing, holding virtual objects or controlling characters in a video game.

"We all get the privilege of seeing the future because we are making it, he was quoted as saying by BuzzFeed News.

Schroepfers comments are the latest development in Facebooks quest to produce a brain-reading device. In 2017, the companys now-defunct research lab announced plans to produce a brain mouse that would allow users to control augmented reality components with a noninvasive brain interface.

In 2019, Facebook purchased CTRL-Labs, a neural interface startup company, to join Facebook Reality Labs, its augmented and virtual reality arm.

CTRL-Labs developed an experimental wristband that purports to give computer users the ability to operate the machines by thinking. The purpose of Facebooks acquisition of CTRL-Labs is to be able to build this kind of technology, at scale, and get it into consumer products faster.

Yet more broadly, a key question remains whether technology researchers will be able to convince regulators and society that humans should be allowed to be wired to machines in this way.

Losey told CP that three generations of these devices exist.

The first of which, he said, was developed to treat diseases like Parkinson's, where the computer would stimulate the brain all the time to restore the normal balance of function.

The second generation was developed for conditions like epilepsy, where the technology detects the seizure pattern and stimulates the brain to interrupt that pattern.

"Those devices have been shown to be extremely effective for many of our patients and are allowing them to do things they weren't able to before, like going back to work and driving, the neurologist detailed. They make a big difference in allowing a person to resume their normal activities."

The third generation of devices, which are still under development, is intended to help those who have suffered strokes and spinal cord injuries. The devices read the signal the brain is trying to send and then use the computer to replace the lost function, Losey described.

"One area where it's hard to say what Elon Musk is doing as his groups hasn't published a lot. But the little bit that they have is aiming at the third thrust, which is restoring normal function, Losey said. So if that turns out to be what they do, I would applaud. Once we start talking about futurists, it sort of goes into science fiction a little bit, so it's hard to say tangibly what's practical and what isn't.

Asked about how Christians should think about the lofty topic of neuroethics in light of the rapid speed of technological advances and emerging ethical quandaries, the doctor said that there is no higher calling for a Christian than to help people affected by disease. He said believers should enter the field to ensure that these technologies are used appropriately.

Losey added that Christians should engage the National Institutes of Health, which oversees the use of these neurological devices.

According to a 2019 CNET report, Musks Neuralink startup used "sewing machine-like technology this year to drill small holes into brains and insert super-slender electrodes called threads, steering clear of blood vessels as they go."

Neuralink was reportedly designing its electrodes to not only "read" from neural activity but "write" signals into the brain, amid scientists stating goals of restoring senses like touch or vision.

Musk said that the technology was placed inside a monkey's brain and that the animal was able to control a computer through its thoughts. He aspired to have it implanted in a human being by the end of the year, though receiving the approval to do so from the Food & Drug Administration "is quite difficult," he noted.

"Even in a benign [artificial intelligence] scenario, we will be left behind. Hopefully, it is a benign scenario" in which superintelligent AIs surpass but don't wipe humans out, Musk said.

"With a high-bandwidth brain-machine interface, I think we can go along for the ride and effectively have the option of merging with AI, Musk is quoted as saying.

In a 2018 interview with CP, neuroethics scholar Fabrice Jotterand warned against saying all technology or artificial intelligence is inherently bad and that it is a mistake to conflate AI with transhumanism.

But concerning transhumanism, whose proponents push the merging of computer technology with the human brain, Jotterand argues that it teaches that "the body is totally irrelevant to our identity as a human being" and "becomes something you can manipulate at will and doesn't have any normative stand in defining who we are."
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Katie Chai, 18, of Charlotte and Michael Chen, 12, of Raleigh today were named North Carolina's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Katie and Michael will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are North Carolina's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Katie Chai

Nominated by Charlotte Latin School

Katie, a senior at Charlotte Latin School, helped start a grassroots effort to address the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in her city by using 3D printers to make more than 100,000 face shields, which were ultimately distributed to health care workers across North Carolina and in 12 other states. As the daughter of two doctors, Katie was really worried about her parents' safety when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March of 2020. "Our quarantine dinner conversations mainly revolved around our communal and nationwide shortage of PPE," she said. But one night her father showed her an article about engineers in Italy who were 3D printing parts for their respirators. Having taken some engineering classes in school, Katie wondered whether face shields could be made with her school's 3D printer.

She immediately called her engineering teacher, who agreed to help. Within three days, they had printed and laser-cut their first face shield in the school's engineering lab. Five days later, they delivered 40 shields to a local hospital. To ramp up production, Katie sought donations through GoFundMe and media interviews, drove around town to buy supplies, and began assembling shields with her family every night. As word of her project spread, more than 400 volunteers offered to help with the assemblies, and other high schools, universities, businesses and local engineers began producing shields with their own 3D printers. In a little over a month, Katie's initiative raised more than $114,000 and delivered more than 106,000 face shields to protect healthcare workers.

Middle Level State Honoree: Michael Chen

Nominated by Triangle Math and Science Academy

Michael, a seventh-grader at Triangle Math and Science Academy, has made more than 580 mask "buckles" with his 3D printer to lessen the discomfort that wearing face masks for extended periods can cause behind the ears. In March of 2020, Michael and his family had many conversations about COVID-19. "My mother showed us images of healthcare workers with sores on their faces left by the masks they needed to wear for long hours," Michael said. "But what wasn't visible were the sore marks behind the ears. This can be very painful for the mask-wearer." He wondered if there was a way he could use the 3D printer he had purchased earlier to solve that problem. Could he make something that could keep the mask's elastic ties from touching the area behind the ears and still keep the mask on tight?

After some research, Michael discovered mask buckles, a piece of plastic worn on the back of the head that allows a mask wearer to anchor the ear elastic strings there instead of behind the ears. With a design that would fit different head sizes and hairstyles, Michael began making his buckles for healthcare workers in his community and for a cardiologist friend who was working on the frontlines in New York. As news of his project spread, he began getting requests for mask buckles from other area hospitals and physicians. The most difficult part, Michael said, was filling a request for 250 buckles just as his printer broke down. Luckily, he had two neighbors who offered to use their own 3D printers to help fill the order, often printing all through the night, he said.

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

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Rye Brook, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - Here To Serve Holdings Corp. (OTC Pink: HTSC) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the value of the company's portfolio of equity securities has grown substantially from a value of $1,187,625 as of December 31, 2020, to a value of $3,367,025 as of yesterday, an increase of 184%.

Paul Riss, the Company's CEO, said, "Our Executive Industries business has profited by accepting equity securities for our services, in lieu of cash. In three engagements, we were paid in shares of common stock for work we performed for OTC-listed companies. As of yesterday, we owned securities from our largest customer for more than one year, and our ownership in that one stock is now worth $2,100,000. Furthermore, the stock has significant daily volume, exceeding $450,000 in trading yesterday."

The Company searches for undervalued assets and accepts shares of common stock as a fee for its corporate advisory, SEC compliance, consulting, and marketing services. Although this activity builds asset value on the Company's balance sheet, it may prove to be more valuable as a non-dilutive resource to fund the Company's drilling and exploration program for nickel and gold in its 177 single cell mining claims in mineral-rich sections of the Timmins mining camp.

Nickel is a crucial battery metal in the electric vehicle ("EV") supply chain. Many governments, consumer groups and companies, such as the Biden Administration, EV100, and General Motors, have committed to make EV transport the new normal in this decade. Industry experts project the world does not have enough nickel production to supply the EV battery market, and the Company seeks to supply battery metals from its rare land position adjacent to rich world-class deposits.

About Here To Serve Holding Corp.

Here to Serve Holding Corp. is a holding company that hunts for undervalued assets in the mining, real estate, and securities industries. Run by an experienced team of professionals with diverse backgrounds, the Company formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Fortune Nickel and Gold Inc. Fortune is dedicated to the global acquisition, exploration, and development of mining properties in prolific jurisdictions. Fortune recently acquired mining projects known as the Gowan and Beck- Ottaway properties located in the Timmins mining camp in Ontario, Canada. The Timmins mining camp lies at the heart of the Abitibi greenstone belt, which contains some of the world's largest deposits of gold, silver, copper, zinc, nickel, platinum-group metals, and industrial minerals such as talc. Fortune believes its projects have substantial gold and nickel potential.

For more information:

Please call Investor Relations with any questions at 855-4NICKEL (855-464-2535) extension 1.

The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74007
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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The MIT Sloan CIO Symposium is pleased to announce the launch of the first ever digital edition of the nation's premier CIO conference, in light of the ongoing health crisis. Global CIOs are invited to learn how to shift their enterprises into high gear within our ever-changing, digitally-transforming world at the 18th annual MIT Sloan CIO Symposium The Big Reset: Digital Enterprises Shift Into High Gear .

The 2021 program will begin April 5, 2021 and happen weekly, with new topics, interactive panels and events, through May 28, 2021. Registration is now open for this exclusive CIO event, with early-bird savings of up to 50 percent available through March 1, 2021.

This year's event will bring together hundreds of CIOs, senior IT executives, technology innovators and MIT academic thought leaders from across the globe. The full series will consist of virtual panels and round-table discussions, town hall-style meetings, and opportunities for networking and collaboration around topics such as digital transformation, building an enterprise in the world ahead, better jobs in the age of intelligent machines, breaking down barriers to AI adoption, innovation, blockchain, AI, supply chains and more. Attendees will learn how to leverage these insightful technologies to create nimble organizations in our continuously changing world.

By purchasing a ticket to the 2021 Symposium, attendees will also be invited to become a part of the new MIT Sloan CIO Community , hosted on the Mighty Network platform and accessible via the web or mobile app. Members of the community will be able to connect with others, participate in discussions, watch recordings, and attend panel discussions from anywhere in the world. The Symposium ticket entitles attendees to 2 years of community membership and ongoing discussions and events that will continue throughout the year. The community is dedicated to helping members build relationships with other technology executives year-round.

"We are pleased to launch the first-ever digital edition of the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium in 2021," said Allan R. Tate, Executive Chair, MIT Sloan CIO Symposium. "Much of the workforce has been forced into the digital space over this past year, a major shift, and leadership must adapt. The pandemic proved how vital a CIO is to an organization as they deploy technology to benefit employees and end users. More and more CIOs are becoming accountable for the digital performance of enterprises around the world. The leadership of CIOs is helping enterprises adapt to the big reset. This year's Symposium will offer attendees insights on the innovative technologies and strategies needed to navigate that, as well as virtual networking opportunities through our new MIT Sloan CIO Community."

The MIT Sloan CIO Symposium is organized by the MIT Sloan Boston Alumni Association and will take place virtually for the first time this year. For more information and to register, please visit www.mitcio.com .

Editor's Note:

Journalists interested in a press credential should contact Erin Vadala ( [email protected] or 978-468-3076), Warner Communications.

SOURCE MIT Sloan CIO Symposium

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http://www.mitcio.com


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BOSTON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FundCount, LLC, a worldwide provider of accounting and investment analysis software, today announced that it earned top honors as "Best Client Accounting System" at the 2021 WealthBriefing Swiss Awards. This marks the fourth consecutive year that FundCount has won the accounting system award.

FundCount earned top honors as Best Client Accounting System at the 2021 WealthBriefing Swiss Awards.

Now in its 8th year, the WealthBriefing Swiss Awards recognize best-of-breed providers in the global private banking, wealth management and trusted advisor communities. Winning companies were those deemed by an independent judging panel to have demonstrated innovation and excellence in their chosen category.

According to the judges, "FundCount is evidently built on family office expertise and tackles the challenges of creating visibility over the component parts of the overall family 'nested entity' structure. The easing of administration and potential for automation as a result is clear," they said.

"As a unified system with all investor and investment accounting, general ledger and reporting on a single platform, FundCount provides a holistic view of investment activity plus transparency into underlying data," said Alex Ivanov, CEO and founder of FundCount. "It makes achieving that single source of truth a reality. We are pleased that the judges recognized this unique value that FundCount brings to family offices."

Editor's Notes

About FundCount

Founded in 1999, FundCount provides integrated accounting and investment analysis software that improves operational efficiency and delivers immediate, actionable intelligence to single and multi-family offices, fund administrators, hedge funds and private equity firms around the world. FundCount is headquartered in the U.S. with five offices on four continents. For more information, visit www.fundcount.com.

About ClearView Financial Media Ltd ("ClearView")

ClearView Financial Media was founded by Chief Executive, Stephen Harris in 2004, to provide high quality 'need to know' information for the discerning private client community. London-based, but with a truly global focus, ClearView publishes the Family Wealth Report group of newswires, along with research reports and newsletters, while also running a pan-global thought-leadership events programme.

Media Contact:

Abby Friedman

[email protected]

+1 908 904 1926

SOURCE FundCount
It was a race against time for many businesses and shoppers in the capital Kigali on the evening of the first day of reopening following a three-week lockdown.

The lockdown has been lifted and replaced with a raft of tough restrictions designed to help contain the spread of Covid-19, with businesses now required to close at 5p.m while curfew starts at 7p.m.

But some traders in downtown Kigali closed as early as 4p.m on Monday, to afford themselves enough time to go catch a bus and head home in time.

At the Downtown Bus Terminal, passengers formed long queues awaiting buses, which are restricted to carry half their normal capacity to ensure social distancing onboard.

"The closing time is too early because that's around the same time we usually do business, that's when people are returning from office and come to shop," said Justine Ingabire, who deals in shoes close to the bus terminal.

She added: "We are actually not waiting until 5p.m to close, most people are closing an hour earlier and then head down to the bus terminal, remember everyone is supposed to be home by 7p.m."

Another passenger, Elie Havugimana, who sells footwear for children on the same block, said he had served only one client the whole day as opposed to previously when he would attend to an average of 20 buyers a day.

"Clearly, we are still grappling with the effects of Covid-19. But this is necessary in the fight against the pandemic, our hope is that people comply with preventive measures against the virus so that business hours can be extended as soon as possible," he told The New Times.

Generally, there was minimal activity and movement on the first day of reopening in areas that are usually teeming with people and business activity.

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Only few businesses like hair salons saw a huge turn up of clients.

Business operators in the Nyabugogo, a major business hub for the city, told The New Times that they suspect most office employees worked from home on Monday given the reduced flow of shoppers.

Public offices remain closed with employees working remotely, while government has asked private employers to recall not more than 30 per cent of their staff to office and let the bulk of workers continue to work from home on any given day.

Traders in Nyabugogo, a key gateway to the city, also reckon that the ban on travel between Kigali and the countryside has also affected their business.

Nyabugogo bus terminal is used by most commuters heading to or departing from the city.

Meanwhile, markets and malls reopened but with not more than 50 per cent of their usual occupants.

'Generally, return to business is slow because strategies against Covid-19 are still very restrictive," said Pauline Mukamwezi, a fruits vendor in the main Nyabugogo market.

Across Kigali, schools, gyms, sweeping pools and recreational centres remain closed as government looks to significantly roll back a surge in Covid-19 infections seen in the days leading to the lockdown. Restaurants and cafes are open but only for delivery and takeaway services.

New confirmed infections in Kigali have dropped in recent days, a trend which officials attributed to the lockdown.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com

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Somalia's international community have called on the political leaders to resume dialogue urgently to reach an agreement permitting national elections to take place, as president Farmaajos term lapsed.

In a statement, the International community said parallel process or partial elections that lack broad agreement, would not obtain the support of partners

"We call upon Somalia's leaders to resume their dialogue urgently to reach final agreement permitting national elections to take place as soon as possible,"

"We call on Somalia's political leaders to build on the positive aspects of the Dhusamareb discussions, and continue to work together to agree implementation of elections in the national interest," the statement read in part," the statement added.

The international community also welcomed President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo's speech on Sunday in parliament.

In a separate statement, the US embassy in Somalia urged the countries stake holders to find an agreement to allow the conduct of elections immediately.

"The United States urges President Farmaajo and Somalia's national leadership to act now to resolve the political impasse that threatens Somalia's future and find agreement with Federal Member State leaders to allow the conduct of parliamentary and presidential elections immediately," the statement read.

It also warned political gridlock has 'resulted' in a disappointing lack of progress in fighting al-Shabaab and improving security.
NEW YORK, N.Y.-- Rockefeller Center in Manhattan is calling serious artists, and aspiring creators from the five boroughs to show their love for New York City by submitting designs specialized for a flag.

The initiative, titled The Flag Project, celebrates the medium of photography and invites New Yorkers and non-New Yorkers alike to submit their photos, 83 of which will be produced as 8-foot by 5-foot flags across the Rockefeller Center campus that will be flown together as a temporary exhibition on display from March 27  April 25, 2021.

Last year, the work of five Staten Islanders was incorporated in the display. Those who wish to submit images can feature faces, objects, or textures of the City, even if the photograph was taken in a studio or somewhere outside of NYC. All are welcome to participate from professional photographers to those who take candid shots of themselves and their families, and children who may have only ever taken photos on smartphones.

Applicants can submit their photos via Rockefeller Centers website from February 8 - 26, 2021.

Tishman Speyer and Aperture Foundation, the world-renowned New York-based not-for-profit foundation and multiplatform publisher, are the creative minds behind this years project, and winning submissions will be selected by Chris Boot, Executive Director of Aperture.

The Flag Project at Rockefeller Center. (Photos by Tishman Speyer.)

The Flag Project is a free, outdoor exhibition at Rockefeller Center. The flags are open to the public and can be viewed at any time. The initiative was created by Tishman Speyer in an effort to unite New Yorkers and celebrate community, art, and the City during the early phases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For most of the year, the flags at Rockefeller Center represent the nations recognized by the United Nations. For special occasions, all of the flags are uniform, such as American flags on the Fourth of July, rainbow flags during the annual Pride celebration, and silver and gold flags during the holiday season.

For more information about The Flag Project, visit rockefellercenter.com
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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Board Chairman and CEO of Pfizer Pharmaceutical Corporation Albert Bourla held a phone conversation to discuss the issues related to the conclusion of a contract for the supply of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to Ukraine as soon as possible, the president's press service reported on Monday evening.

Thank you for doing your best to speed up the supply of Pfizer vaccine to Ukraine. We are ready to create all the necessary conditions for the use of the vaccine. COVID-19 still remains a major challenge for the world. We appreciate that pharmaceutical companies are fighting for us on the frontline," Zelensky said.

He informed about the current epidemic situation in Ukraine and the government's plans to launch vaccination against COVID-19.

"Ensuring vaccination of the population of Ukraine with a safe certified vaccine is one of our priorities," Zelensky said.

Albert Bourla, in turn, said he would do everything possible to ensure that Ukraine receives the first batches of vaccine under contract as soon as possible.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Ukrainian Ministry of Health is planning to start vaccination against COVID-19 in February 2021. The ministry plans to vaccinate 50% of the population of Ukraine in 2021-2022.

Ukraine will receive 8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine within the COVAX Facility. The delivery of the first batch of 117,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine is expected in mid-February.

Ukraine also signed an agreement to purchase 1.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the Chinese company Sinovac Biotech.

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(Image: PIB in Uttarakhand)

The death toll from the Uttarakhand glacier disaster rose to 31 with five more bodies being recovered, officials said on Tuesday as multiple agencies raced against time to reach about 30 workers trapped inside a tunnel in a power project site and 175 people remained missing.

Two of the bodies were recovered from the debris in Raini village, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officials said, two days after a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier possibly burst its banks and triggered an avalanche and floods in the Alaknanda river system.

The State Emergency Operation Centre said five bodies were found in the morning, taking the death toll to 31, and estimated that 175 people are still missing.

With the hours ticking by inexorably, fears escalated about those missing since the disaster struck on Sunday morning, according to officials who stepped up efforts to locate survivors.

The missing people include those working at NTPCs 480 MW Tapovan-Vishnugad project and the 13.2 MW Rishiganga Hydel Project and villagers whose homes nearby were washed away.

Teams of the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) coordinated efforts to rescue about 30 people who were working in a tunnel at the Tapovan-Vishnugad project when the waters came rushing in.

The workers have been trapped in the 12-ft-high and about 2.5-km-long 'head race tunnel' (HRT).

"Clearing of debris and slush continued the whole night. About 120 metres of the tunnel entrance stretch is now clear, ITBP spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said in Delhi.

"The height of the accumulated slush has reduced more. ITBP personnel are waiting to enter as soon as any movement deep inside the tunnel is possible, he said.

A senior official added that the rescuers have not been able to make any contact with those stuck inside but are hopeful for "signs of life".

Relief is also being distributed by helicopters among villagers cut off due to the washing away of a bridge in the avalanche at Malari.

About 100 ration kits have been distributed in the affected areas of 13 villages with a total population of around 2,500, officials said.

The villages that lost road connectivity in the wake of the calamity are Raini Palli, Pang, Lata, Suraithota, Suki, Bhalgaon, Tolma, Fagrasu, Long Segdi, Gahar, Bhangyul, Juwagwad and Jugju.

On Tuesday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat undertook an aerial survey of the affected areas, visited the ITBP hospital in Joshimath, about 295 km from Dehradun, and met the 12 workers who were rescued from a small tunnel in Tapovan on Sunday evening.

The priority is to get to those trapped inside the tunnel and save as many lives as possible, he said.

Rawat also visited some of the affected areas to meet residents of the disaster-hit villages.

Additional heavy machines could be pressed into service to expedite the process of clearing the tonnes of debris inside the tunnel, blocking the path of rescue personnel.

The clearing of slush and debris is a painstaking exercise but the multi-agency group of rescuers are there in large numbers and taking turns to dig in deeper with the help of heavy machines, officials said.

The teams have been working since Sunday to clear the tunnel and rescue the trapped.

As the temperature dipped to freezing levels at the site, awash with slush, silt and debris, bonfires were lit at multiple locations to keep the rescuers warm.

The tunnel has become the focal point of rescue operations.

While the ITBP has deployed as many as 300 personnel for conducting rescue operations at this site, many NDRF, SDRF and Army personnel are also present.

The ITBP and other rescuers are carrying tall wooden planks which are being used by rescuers to wade in through the slush and will later also help create a platform to pull out the trapped people using ropes.

Pandey had earlier said these teams are ready with dragon light sets, oxygen cylinders and stretchers to provide immediate medical help to those trapped inside.
Ukraine has doubled funding for the medical system to be able to fight COVID-19.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said this during the All-Ukrainian Forum "Ukraine 30. Coronavirus: Challenges and Responses" in Kyiv on February 9, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The funding for our medical system has doubled over the last two years. Almost 66,000 beds have been equipped for the treatment of patients with coronavirus. God forbid that they are ever used, but the medical system is prepared. There are almost 57,000 beds equipped to provide oxygen, 6,000 ventilators, medicines, and the moral readiness of our doctors to fight the coronavirus, Shmyhal said.

According to him, Ukraine has one of the lowest mortality rates among European countries. According to the head of government, a significant merit of this is precisely the doctors who managed to develop treatment protocols and save people.

As Ukrinform reported, the All-Ukrainian Forum "Ukraine 30. Coronavirus: Challenges and Responses" is held in Kyiv on February 8-10. The three-day event became a platform for dialogue on the pandemic and its overcoming. The event is held with the participation of President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, representatives of the government, the Verkhovna Rada, the European Union, as well as representatives of the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The participants in the forum discuss the government's plans for 2021 on overcoming the pandemic, in particular, measures to restore the economy, help vulnerable groups, adapt education, and cooperate with international financial organizations.

ish
JETSTAR is considering using Changi Airport as its key overseas long-haul hub, amid growing speculation it could act with its 45 per cent Qantas-owned Singaporean affiliate, Jetstar Asia, to offer joint services into Europe. The Qantas subsidiary's chief executive, Alan Joyce, said Jetstar still planned to start services to Europe late next year, despite the delivery of its first Boeing 787-800 being delayed another three months. Jetstar is not expected to receive the first of its 15 787s until May nest year at the earliest, after Boeing said its Dreamliner program was running nine months behind schedule due to "start-up issues". It is expected Jetstar will first deploy the fuel-efficient jets on routes into northern Asia, including Japan, before using them to destinations in Europe such as Rome and Athens. Mr Joyce also said that while there was an "opportunity" for Jetstar Asia to acquire long-range jets, there were "no firm plans" to do so.

Earlier in the day Jetstar Asia's chief executive, Chong Phiat Lian, said the Singaporean carrier was considering beginning long-haul services within three years. Since its launch in late 2004, the loss-making airline has operated a fleet of A320s to destinations within five hours of Singapore. "The European operations will be initially operated by Jetstar Australia," said Mr Joyce, who declined to be drawn on speculation Jetstar Asia could one day operate the second leg of some flights to Europe on behalf of Jetstar. Aside from Singapore, Jetstar has also considered using Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok as hubs. However, the benefit of Singapore is that it is also fed by Jetstar Asia's intra-Asian network. Aside from allowing Jetstar to drive its cost base down further, Jetstar Asia will be able to fly to more destinations in Europe than its Australian sibling. This is because it can utilise the far more liberal air rights Singaporean carriers have into Europe. Mr Joyce said it made sense for Jetstar to build a long-haul hub in Asia, noting there were now only three "end-to-end" carriers operating between Europe and Australia - Qantas, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. "It's very hard to compete against the hub carriers," he said, in a veiled reference to the growing dominance of Singapore Airlines and Emirates on the so-called kangaroo route.
NASHVILLLE, Tenn. Fans of Morgan Wallen are buying up the country stars latest album after a video showed him shouting a racial slur last week.

Wallens sophomore record, Dangerous: The Double Album retains its top spot for a fourth week on Billboards all-genre albums chart, less than a week after Wallen apologized for using racist language.

The country music industry acted swiftly to publicly rebuke him and radio stations and streaming services removed his songs from their playlists. But fans responded by playing him even more.

Billboard reports that his latest album sold 25,000 copies during the week ending Feb. 4, an increase of 102%, according to MRC Data. Billboard reported that that the albums streaming numbers slightly increased by 3%, representing roughly 160 million on-demand streams. Song downloads from the album also went up by 67%.

Wallens popularity had skyrocketed in the last year and songs like Seven Summers and Wasted on You earned him crossover success on pop radio. His album was already setting streaming records and is the first country album to spend four weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart since 2003, when Shania Twains album Up! spent five weeks at the top.

Hannah Karp, Billboards editorial director, said that some uptick in interest in his music is coming from people who are curious about Wallen in the wake of the scandal and media attention. But she said that also shows how his fans are responding to decisions to remove him from the radio as well.

His fans are likely streaming him more because they cant hear him on the radio anymore, said Karp. Some fans may be streaming him more in addition to show their support for him, which is something that super fans and fan armies often do.

Karp noted that in general album sales and downloads are much smaller than streaming numbers for all artists, so it doesnt take much to cause large percentage jumps in sales.

Karp said that it may be too early to predict the long-term consequences for Wallen.

We havent seen the full effect of radio dropping his music from playlists. Radio is a really powerful driver of consumption, so its possible that will end up in decreasing streaming and sales eventually, she said.

Kristin M. Hall of The Associated Press wrote this story.
Posted Tuesday, February 9, 2021 10:57 am

Just one day before the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, seized on the opportunity to defend her yes vote on impeachment during a virtual town hall with constituents.

The range of comments she received Monday spoke to how divisive her vote proved to be in the district  while some said they were proud of her decision, others condemned her. Herrera Beutler said she was happy to field criticism, including that of a man who said she should be removed from office for denying Trump due process.

First of all, an impeachment trial is not the same as a criminal trial or civil suit  so when you talk about due process, its not the same thing, she said. Hell have his day in court. Literally, it starts tomorrow.

Herrera Beutler broke down impeachment proceedings into two components: the Houses vote on articles of impeachment, and the subsequent Senate trial, which is a process outside the criminal realm. Representatives votes to impeach, she said, are basically a question of whether there is enough information to investigate.

And I would say, hell yes, theres something to investigate, she said.

Herrera Beutler was on the House floor during the Jan. 6 insurrection that left five dead after a pro-Trump mob broke into the Capitol and forced lawmakers into hiding in an attempt to halt the counting of electoral votes, which had been certified by all 50 states. The attack was preceded by a rally in which Trump told supporters to march to the capitol to take back our country.

Leading up to the speech there were certainly calls for violence. There were calls to overthrow the process, Herrera Beutler told listeners. The president himself said things like were never going to give up, well never concede, it doesnt happen, you dont concede when thefts involved.

But the sixth-term congresswoman said theres room for debate around whether Trumps words that day directly incited the insurrection. Whats more damning, she said, and indicative of the former presidents motives, was his inaction during the hours-long attack.

Herrera Beutler described Republicans calling for the commander-in-chief to step in to no avail. One heated conversation between House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Trump was chilling, Herrera Beutler said.

He said well, Kevin, I guess theyre just more upset about this election theft than you are, she said. The president was basically saying nah, Im OK with this.

Did he send anyone in to help? No. But he did place calls to senators while they were in lockdown. And you know what he said? He said can you do something to further delay the electoral counting?

The inaction, she said, was a direct violation of Trumps oath to protect the Constitution, considering the counting of electoral votes is the actual Constitution in progress.

Thats as impeachable as it gets, in my books, Herrera Beutler said.

The final straw for the Battle Ground Republican was a tweet Trump sent later that day which read these are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long.

The tweet was taken down by Twitter, which later suspended Trumps account permanently.

Herrera Beutler told listeners that the attack was a terrible personal experience, and that shes just sorry that my children had to see it.

She also repeated her denunciation of baseless claims of widespread election fraud that underpinned the events of Jan. 6. She said shes shocked at how many people didnt know the truth.

I think thats on all of us elected leaders. I really do, Herrera Beutler said. I think we need to be honest with the people we serve and with the people in our own party.

Vaccinations

Clark County Health Officer Dr. Alan Melnick also joined Herrera Beutler during the town hall to field questions on vaccinations, many of which came from older constituents struggling to acquire a dose of the life-saving medicine.

While Melnick cited the state Department of Healths hotline (1-800-525-0127), he also echoed what public health officials have been voicing across the state: that demand for the vaccine is simply outweighing supply.

To put it in context, Melnick said Clark County has more than 89,000 people now eligible for the vaccine due to their age. Yet the county is only receiving 1,500 to 5,000 doses each week. Plus, some people in the first phase of eligibility  health care workers and emergency responders  are still waiting for a dose.

But Melnick  who works with several counties in Southwest Washington  said hes working with the state to learn more about allocation and potentially get more doses locked in for rural areas. He said Pacific County, for example, is seeing fewer doses than he would like considering how many older Washingtonians live there. Herrera Beutler said shes also going to bat with the governors office to ensure equitable distribution.

To speed up vaccination across the state and country, Herrera Beutler also told constituents that shes pushing to break off a chunk of a major COVID-19 relief bill stuck in Congress. Of the $1.9 trillion in the proposed stimulus bill, she said, $160 million specifically targets vaccine distribution and acquisition.

So were just saying pull that piece out and pass it now, she said. We cant wait.
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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) (OTCQB: SSVFF) reported today that it has identified Bonanza-grade silver mineralization on a second target within the Mina La Bocona zone at the Cerro Las Minitas project, Durango Mexico. Drilling on the East side of the Cerro tested the down-dip projection of the La Bocona Chimney which was historically mined by artisanal miners to approximately 210 metres depth. Bonanza grade assays from drill hole 20CLM-131 returned:

15.1m down-hole (8.0m est. TT) averaging 1,072g/t Ag, 18.8% Pb and 7.5% Zn (2040g/t AgEq; 51.7% ZnEq) which includes subintervals of

1.1m down hole (0.6m est. TT) grading 3,180g/t Ag, 58.8% Pb and 2.3% Zn and 1.6m down hole interval (0.8m est. TT) grading 2,340g/t Ag, 35.9% Pb and 1.6% Zn;

Additional mineralized intervals intersected further down-hole include:

16.1m down-hole (8.5m est. TT) averaging 121g/t Ag, 2.5% Pb and 2.5% Zn (311g/t AgEq; 7.9% ZnEq) which includes 3.0m down hole (1.6m est. TT) grading 413g/t Ag, 8.7% Pb and 9.3% Zn (1,103g/t AgEq; 28% Zn); and

1.0m down-hole (0.5m est. TT) averaging 59g/t Ag, 0.6g/t Au and 3.37% Cu (489g/t AgEq)

Drill hole 20CLM-131 is one of four holes which tested the extension of the La Bocona Chimney over an approximate area of 60m x 140m and between the 210-metre mining level and roughly 350 metres below surface. Mineralization is open to depth and partially open along strike.

Select intercepts from other holes which tested the Chimney include:

20.9m down-hole (9.0m est. TT) averaging 212g/t Ag, 0.64g/t Au, 3.7% Pb and 3.3% Zn (512g/t AgEq; 13.0% ZnEq) which includes 7.4m down-hole (3.2m est TT) grading 287g/t Ag, 1.64g/t Au, 4.6% Pb and 4.8% Zn (763g/t AgEq; 19.3% ZnEq) from Drill hole 20CLM-129; and

6.4m down-hole (4.3m est. TT) averaging 146g/t Ag, 0.19g/t Au, 2.9% Pb and 1.6% Zn (320g/t AgEq; 8.1% ZnEq) which includes 0.8m down-hole (0.5m est TT) grading 809g/t Ag, 0.4g/t Au, 17.1% Pb and 9.1% Zn (1,741g/t AgEq; 44.1% ZnEq) from drill hole 20CLM-128.

The mineralization identified in the La Bocona Chimney is the second, thick sulphide lens with Bonanza-grade silver identified in the Mina La Bocona target area and the third high-grade lens identified on the eastern side of the Cerro. It is located just 150 metres to the west-northwest of the Muralla Chimney and the previously reported drill holes 20CLM-125 (33.2m est TT averaging 435g/t AgEq; see NR-01-21) and 15CLM-078 (several zones including 5.6m est TT averaging 528g/t AgEq and 3.6m averaging 1077g/t AgEq; see NR-10-15). Significantly, none of the mineralization identified on the east side of the Cerro either historically or as part of this current exploration program has yet been incorporated into the current Mineral Resource Estimate for the project.

Drilling has now resumed on the property with one drill targeting lateral and down-dip step-outs of drill hole 20CLM-131 at the La Bocona Chimney and a second targeting step-outs of drill hole 20CLM-125 at the Muralla Chimney. Drilling will continue to test and extend these two sulphide zones, the near surface oxide mineralization adjacent to the Muralla chimney and the South Skarn target as well as testing additional targets further to the to the northwest of the Bocona Chimney and the recently acquired El Sol claim.

Rob Macdonald, Vice President Exploration stated: "The identification of a third near-surface sulphide lens, with Bonanza- grades of silver, on the east side of the Cerro is significant as it not only demonstrates the continued exploration potential of these targets but also the clear potential to identify the critical mass of mineralization necessary to support a mining scenario. Drilling has now identified compelling sulphide and oxide intercepts within an 800 metres strike-length that require additional drilling. A further 400 metres remains to be tested on the east side of the Cerro and further drilling is warranted on the newly acquired El Sol Claim which will all be part of the continued 2021 drill campaign."





Figure 1: Plan Map of the Area of the Cerro showing the distribution of the CLM deposits and the location for new drill targeting, at the Mina La Bocona, South Skarn and Las Victorias targets.



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5344/73991_2d23323fa401ebda_002full.jpg

South Skarn and Muralla Chimney Targets

Additional assay results have also been received from both the Muralla Chimney and the South Skarn Target, located 500 metres to the south of the Mina La Bocona target, highlights of which include:

9.2m down-hole (4.1 est. TT) averaging 205g/t Ag, 0.16g/t Au, 4.0% Pb and 0.9% Zn (377g/t AgEq; 9.5% ZnEq) which includes 1.3m down-hole (0.6m est TT) grading 575g/t Ag, 0.05g/t Au, 9.9% Pb and 2.2% Zn (972g/t AgEq; 24.7% ZnEq) from Drill hole 20CLM-134 in the Muralla Chimney;

6.6m down-hole (4.4m est. TT) averaging 95g/t Ag, 0.7% Pb and 1.2% Zn (174g/t AgEq; 4.4 % ZnEq) which includes 1.0m down-hole (0.7m est TT) grading 398g/t Ag, 0.16g/t Au, 2.7% Pb and 4.0% Zn (679g/t AgEq; 17.2% ZnEq) from drill hole 20CLM-126 in the South Skarn target; and

1.6m down-hole (1.0m est. TT) grading 327g/t AgEq, 5.6% Pb and 11.5% Zn (960g/t AgEq; 24.4% Zn) from drill hole 20CLM-130 in the South Skarn target.

Approximately 8,600 metres of drilling have now been completed as part of the 2020-21 exploration program. Drilling has resumed to start the 2021 exploration season.

The CLM Project remains one of the larger undeveloped silver-lead-zinc projects in the World and is wholly owned, unburdened by royalties, fully financed and fully permitted.

Table 1: Select Assay intervals from Mina La Bocona and South Skarn target area.

Hole #

From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) Est Tr Thck

(m) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Cu

(%) Pb

(%) Zn

(%) AgEq

(g/t) ZnEq

(%) Notes

New Mina La Bocona Assay Results 20CLM-131 280.5 280.9 0.4 0.2 469 0.18 0.02 11.3 32.1 2101 53.3 and 299.9 315.0 15.1 8.0 1072 0.61 0.39 18.8 7.5 2040 51.7 and inc. 310.7 311.8 1.1 0.6 3180 0.29 0.33 58.8 2.3 5148 130.6 and inc. 312.5 314.1 1.6 0.8 2340 0.08 0.51 35.9 1.6 3575 90.7 and 319.3 335.4 16.1 8.5 121 0.06 0.10 2.5 2.5 311 7.9 33.5% Dilution inc. 330.7 333.7 3.0 1.6 413 0.18 0.36 8.7 9.3 1103 28.0 and 347.1 351.4 4.3 2.3 36 0.21 1.47 0.1 0.1 226 5.7 40% Dilution inc. 350.4 351.4 1.0 0.5 59 0.60 3.37 0.0 0.1 489 12.4 20CLM-128 254.2 255.1 0.9 0.6 460 0.21 0.24 9.4 12.6 1291 32.8 and 257.4 258.5 1.1 0.7 232 0.10 0.06 4.2 4.5 554 14.0 and 265.8 267.0 1.3 0.8 423 0.17 0.22 7.5 2.9 807 20.5 and 284.9 291.3 6.4 4.3 145 0.19 0.03 3.0 1.7 321 8.2 28% dilution inc. 290.5 291.3 0.8 0.5 809 0.41 0.11 17.1 9.1 1741 44.1 20CLM-129 244.3 265.2 20.9 9.0 212 0.64 0.06 3.7 3.3 512 13.0 inc. 248.3 255.7 7.4 3.2 287 1.64 0.09 4.6 4.8 763 19.3 and 269.1 275.7 6.6 2.8 51 0.10 0.29 0.8 2.3 208 5.3 45.5% dilution inc. 274.5 275.7 1.2 0.5 188 0.16 0.57 3.7 9.1 739 18.7 20CLM-132 190.5 191.1 0.6 0.4 70 0.30 0.02 3.0 3.1 308 7.8 and 238.4 241.6 3.2 2.0 20 0.04 0.12 0.0 6.5 293 7.4 and 271.1 272.7 1.6 1.0 112 0.08 0.01 2.0 0.8 212 5.4 20CLM-134 11.9 16.2 4.3 1.9 11 0.74 0.01 0.5 0.2 95 2.4 Oxide, 29% dilution 20CLM-134 69.5 73.6 4.1 1.8 46 1.90 0.01 3.4 2.3 400 10.2 Oxide inc. 72.0 73.6 1.6 0.7 85 4.33 0.03 7.4 5.4 885 22.4 20CLM-134 215.1 215.5 0.4 0.2 1230 0.06 0.08 28.9 8.5 2472 62.7 20CLM-134 248.4 257.6 9.2 4.1 205 0.16 0.00 4.0 0.9 377 9.5 inc. 251.7 252.9 1.3 0.6 575 0.05 0.01 9.9 2.2 972 24.7 20CLM-134 289.2 290.9 1.7 0.8 82 0.06 0.02 1.5 0.4 151 3.8 New South Skarn Assay Results 20CLM-126 559.2 565.8 6.6 4.4 95 0.06 0.06 0.7 1.2 174 4.4 46.6% Dilution inc. 564.8 565.8 1.0 0.7 398 0.16 0.24 2.7 4.0 679 17.2 20CLM-130 207.8 209.3 1.6 1.0 327 0.03 0.03 5.6 11.5 960 24.4 Oxide and 558.8 559.7 1.0 0.6 159 0.07 0.07 0.8 7.6 498 12.6 and 563.1 571.7 8.6 5.5 58 0.04 0.09 0.1 2.3 167 4.2 inc. 563.7 564.1 0.5 0.3 89 0.07 0.16 0.1 9.0 470 11.9 20CLM-133 228.0 229.3 1.3 0.8 373 0.54 0.04 3.9 3.6 685 17.4 and 232.4 233.2 0.8 0.5 281 0.11 0.09 2.8 4.2 554 14.0

Analyzed by FA/AA for gold and ICP-AES by ALS Laboratories, North Vancouver, BC. Silver (>100ppm), copper, lead and zinc (>1%) overlimits assayed by ore grade ICP analysis, High silver overlimits (>1500g/t Ag) and gold overlimits (>10g/t Au) re-assayed with FA-Grav. High Pb (>20%) and Zn (>30%) overlimits assayed by titration. AgEq and ZnEq were calculated using average metal prices of: US$20/oz silver, US$1650/oz gold, US$3.25/lbs copper and US$0.9/lbs lead and US$1.15/lbs zinc. AgEq and ZnEq calculations did not account for relative metallurgical recoveries of the metals. Ore-grade composites are calculated using a 80g/t AgEq cut-off in sulphide and 0.5g/t AuEq in the oxide gold zone Composites have <20% internal dilution, except where noted; anomalous intercepts are calculated using a 10g/t AgEq cut-off.

Cerro Las Minitas Project

The Cerro Las Minitas project is an advanced exploration stage polymetallic Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu Skarn/CRD project located in southern Durango, Mexico.

The Cerro Las Minitas project as of May 9th, 2019 contains a Mineral Resource Estimate, at a 175g/t AgEq cut-off, of(1)

Indicated - 134Moz AgEq: 37.5Moz Ag, 40Mlb Cu, 303Mlb Pb and 897Mlb Zn

37.5Moz Ag, 40Mlb Cu, 303Mlb Pb and 897Mlb Zn Inferred - 138Moz AgEq: 45.7Moz Ag, 76Mlb Cu, 253Mlb Pb and 796Mlb Zn

A total of 150 drill holes for 67,375metres have been completed on the CLM Project with exploration expenditures of approximately US$27.0 million equating to exploration discovery costs of approximately C$0.09 per AgEq ounce to the end of 2020.

About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is an exploration and development company with a focus on the discovery of world-class mineral deposits. Our specific emphasis is the 100% owned Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in the heart of Mexico's Faja de Plata, which hosts multiple world-class mineral deposits such as Penasquito, Los Gatos, San Martin, Naica and Pitarrilla. We have assembled a team of highly experienced technical, operational and transactional professionals to support our exploration efforts in developing the Cerro Las Minitas project into a premier, high-grade, silver-lead-zinc mine. The Company engages in the acquisition, exploration and development either directly or through joint-venture relationships in mineral properties in major jurisdictions. Our property portfolio also includes the Oro porphyry copper-gold project located in southern New Mexico, USA.

Robert Macdonald, MSc. P.Geo, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and supervised directly the collection of the data from the CLM Project that is reported in this disclosure and is responsible for the presentation of the technical information in this disclosure.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Lawrence Page"

Lawrence Page, Q.C.

President & Director, Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

For further information, please visit Southern Silver's website at southernsilverexploration.com or contact us at 604.641.2759 or by email at ir@mnxltd.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Southern Silver Exploration Corp. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

1 The 2019 Cerro Las Minitas Resource Estimate was prepared following CIM definitions for classification of Mineral Resources. Resources are constrained using mainly geological constraints and approximate 10g/t AgEq grade shells. The block models are comprised of an array of blocks measuring 10m x 2m x 10m, with grades for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn values interpolated using ID3 weighting. Silver and zinc equivalent values were subsequently calculated from the interpolated block grades. The model is identified at a 175g/t AgEq cut-off, with an indicated resource of 11,102,000 tonnes averaging 105g/t Ag, 0.10g/t Au, 1.2% Pb, 3.7% Zn and 0.16% Cu and an inferred resource of 12,844,000 tonnes averaging 111g/t Ag, 0.07g/t Au, 0.9% Pb, 2.8% Zn and 0.27% Cu. AgEq cut-off values were calculated using average long-term prices of $16.6/oz. silver, $1,275/oz. gold, $2.75/lb. copper, $1.0/lb. lead and $1.25/lb. zinc. Metal recoveries for the Blind, El Sol and Las Victorias deposits of 91% silver, 25% gold, 92% lead, 82% zinc and 80% copper and for the Skarn Front deposit of 85% silver, 18% gold, 89% lead, 92% zinc and 84% copper were used to define the cut-off grades. Base case cut-off grade assumed $75/tonne operating, smelting and sustaining costs. All prices are stated in $USD. Silver Equivalents were calculated from the interpolated block values using relative recoveries and prices between the component metals and silver to determine a final AgEq value. The same methodology was used to calculate the ZnEq value. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves until they have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resource estimates do not account for a resource's mineability, selectivity, mining loss, or dilution. The current Resource Estimate was prepared by Garth Kirkham, P.Geo. of Kirkham Geosciences Ltd. who is the Independent Qualified Person responsible for presentation and review of the Mineral Resource Estimate. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and therefore numbers may not appear to add precisely.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73991
Through seven days across six continents and 24 times zones, a unique and remarkable edition of the world's Biggest Virtual Culinary Battle for Hope connected 50 countries of the world through state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure. The Closing Ceremony, also held on the online platform, saw the same grandeur and glitter as in other years with live streaming of the event happening on the giant screen at the IIHM Global Campus in Kolkata. The Kolkata campus transformed into the YCO Global Studio, that became the nerve centre of all activity through the seven days of this mega culinary event. The winners, connected over video conferencing at different ends of the world and sitting in different time zones, rejoiced and celebrated their win on video, as their names were announced by Prof David Foskett, the Chairman of the Jury, YCO and Padma Shri Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, the Principal Judge of YCO.

Organised by the International Hospitality Council (IHC) in association with the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), YCO 2021 was a technological marvel that broke the barriers formed by the pandemic and consequent lockdown across the world. YCO 2021 proved to the world that it is way beyond any pandemic and has stood as inspiration and showed the guiding light to the entire global hospitality industry that this is the year to Bounce Back from the setback of the last year.

Highlights of the Young Chef Olympiad 2021 can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUNL0jQACWY

Apart from the three winners, YCO 2021 had a long list of special category winners. The Plate Trophy round held between the participants ranked 11 to 20 in the competition, went to Andzhela Boeva of Bulgaria. The Best Chicken Dish went to UAE, while the Best Vegetarian Dish went to Tunisia. The Best Afternoon Tea Eclairs Award went to Hong Kong.

Six Mentor Awards were given away based on each of the mentor's recommendations about their respective participants. The awards went to Colombia, Spain, Canada, Namibia, Equatorial Guinea and Italy. The six Best Young Chef Ambassador Awards went to Bangladesh, Bulgaria, India, Barbados, Gambia and Iceland. The Participants were also marked on Best Hygiene and Kitchen Practice maintained during competition and this award went to Canada. The Kitchen Cut Award for best recipe nutritional analysis and costing presentation. The entries were judged by Chef John Wood, the founder of Kitchen Cut and the award went to Nepal.

Continuing from YCO 2020, the Sustainability Award, embracing the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, was presented to six countries this year. They were Iceland, New Zealand, Equatorial Guinea, Bulgaria, Jordan and Sri Lanka. A special award of The Spirit of YCO 2021 was given away this year to Barbados.

YCO 2021 had a brilliant panel of 20 esteemed judges from around the world. Led by Prof David Foskett, Chairman of the Jury and Chief Judge, Chef Brian Turner, celebrity TV chef and President of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts. Chef Andreas Muller, Programme Director (International Cuisine) at VTC, Hong Kong, was Deputy Chief Judge, Michelin-starred chefs Chris Galvin and John Wood, the Founder and Director of Kitchen Cut, Sicilian Chef Enzo Oliveri, were senior judges of the competition among several other iconic culinary professionals from around the world. Other renowned chef judges of the competition included Chef Stuart Littlejohn, Executive Chef of Oxford and Cambridge Club, UK, Chef Stephen Hogan, Executive Chef, The Corinthian Palace Hotel, Malta and others.

YCO 2021 was indeed a technological wonder that left everyone awestruck by the scale and organisation by IIHM. From the Opening Ceremony, the cook-offs, the United World of Young Chefs and Closing Ceremony saw seamlessly connection of participants, mentors and judges from different geographies and time zones together at the same time on the same platform. However, for this to happen, the technical team at the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) put in a huge amount of effort and ideas. IIHM Global Campus in Salt Lake, Kolkata, was transformed into the YCO Global Studio where Young Chefs from 50 countries from across the world were seamlessly connected on the same online platform. "YCO 2021 has brought a lot of hope to many people around the world and that is the most important thing today. Hope, unity and positivity is the spirit of YCO that unites the world. Bounce Back is the mantra of 2021 and YCO 21. We can confidently say that hospitality industry is bouncing back and YCO 21 is showing the path and giving hope to everyone. The young chefs of the world have overcome all barriers to make this competition happen. The commitment, passion and hard work of judges is what makes this culinary competition possible," said Dr Suborno Bose, Chairman, YCO.

Closing Ceremony of YCO can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcnmXazRTPs

About IIHM

IIHM (International Institute of Hotel Management) is the largest chain of premier hospitality and hotel management schools across India that started its journey in 1994 at Kolkata. IIHM is a part of Indismart Group, the conglomerate that operates the Indismart Hotels. IIHM campuses are located across ten national and international cities with the associate institute IAM-IHM located in Kolkata, and Guwahati. Students passing out of IIHM are armed with an international degree from the University of West London and equipped with global hospitality skills that enable easy placements in any hospitality brand across the world. IIHM is dedicated to its pursuit of excellence in teaching and placements. Real time experience is the key to success in hospitality and that makes the institute popular. In recent years, IIHM has been instrumental in organizing the Young Chef Olympiad, a unique idea and initiative inviting young culinary talents across the world to participate in the biggest cookery reality shows of all times.

The institute has bagged several prestigious awards in the past 24 years. The list includes the Best Education Brand Award from Economic Times consecutively in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. It was also featured in Forbes Magazine as Great Indian Institute and Great Place to Study consecutively in the year 2018 and 2019. IIHM was also awarded as one among the World's Greatest Brands & Leaders 2015-16 by URS International (IMEA - Process Reviewer PriceWaterhouseCoopers PL) and also received the Best Institute in Hospitality Education 2017 Award by Assocham from Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Hon'ble Minister of State for HRD (Higher Education), Govt. of India.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1435577/Winner.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1419597/IIHM_Logo.jpg

SOURCE International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM)
One of Washingtons leading conservative constitutional lawyers publicly broke on Sunday with the main Republican argument against convicting former President Donald J. Trump in his impeachment trial, asserting that a former president can indeed be tried for high crimes and misdemeanors.

In an opinion piece posted on The Wall Street Journals website, the lawyer, Charles J. Cooper, who is closely allied with top Republicans in Congress, dismissed as illogical the claim that it is unconstitutional to hold an impeachment trial for a former president. The piece came two days before the Senate was set to start the proceeding.

Since the rampage, Republicans have made little effort to excuse Mr. Trumps conduct, but have coalesced behind the legal argument about constitutionality as their rationale for why he should not be tried, much less convicted. Their theory is that because the Constitutions penalty for an impeachment conviction is removal from office, it was never intended to apply to a former president, who is no longer in office.

Many legal scholars disagree, and the Senate has previously held an impeachment trial of a former official  though never a former president. But 45 Republican senators, including Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader who is said to believe that Mr. Trump committed impeachable offenses, voted last month to dismiss the trial as unconstitutional on those grounds.


(Natural News) Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.) has introduced legislation that would etch into law the mandatory bullying of gun owners across the country.

Known as the Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act, HR127 is Lees way of punishing believers in the Second Amendment for daring to own a firearm.

If passed, tens of millions of otherwise law-abiding citizens in America would become felons overnight. Here is the gist of some of the bills most ominous points, which would apply to every new gun purchase or ownership transfer:

 Licensee must be 21 and complete a 24-hour gun safety training course along with a psychological evaluation

 Licenses required even for antique firearms

 Military style gun licenses require additional 24-hour safety course

 Anyone indicted of a crime with a sentence lasting longer than one year has licenses immediately revoked

Also specified in the bill are provisions that reject from gun ownership approval people with depression or addiction. Anyone who has ever seen a therapist or undergone any type of mental health treatment would likely also be rejected.

Owning a gun under Lees legislation will only be possible for rich people

Another provision of the bill is that gun owners would need to pay $800 annually for insurance fees to the attorney general. Guns have the potential to go off and hurt people, after all, so Lee and her supporters want to require insurance coverage.

There is no grandfather clause, meaning this applies to anyone that owns a gun at all, not just those who purchase a new firearm after this passes, wrote former Libertarian Party vice presidential candidate Spike Cohen in a Facebook post.

This fee will certainly go up each year. Its yet another barrier for those in poverty to be able to defend themselves.

As for ammunition and magazines, the bill would ban all .50 caliber and larger ammunition right out of the gate. It would also prohibit all magazines that hold 10 or more rounds.

This ammo is mostly used for hunting and is rarely used against people, Cohen added. The most common handguns and rifles use magazines that exceed this arbitrary limit, which means tens of millions of law-abiding gun owners become felons overnight.

Illegal ownership of even a single round of banned ammo will result in up to $100,000 in fines and 20 years in prison.

Big Government wants to know how many guns you have and where you store them

Perhaps the most concerning element of the proposed bill for those who already own a cache of firearms is the mandatory nationwide firearms registration and database portion.

No matter when a gun was purchased, it will have to be registered with the federal government under penalty of up to $150,000 in fines and 15 years in prison. Each weapons serial number, make, model, date of manufacture, and owners identity will have to be input into a database maintained by the attorney general.

Even the precise location of where each weapon is stored will have to be procured  you know, just in case the feds decide they want to come confiscate it because your conservative views constitute domestic terrorism.

Names and information of all those who may have access to the firearms shall be collected as well, warns Cohen. This information to be accessible by state, local, and federal police, military, as well as state and local governments.

Lees bill was already presented last year, though in a stripped-down version that was denied. This year, it contains a whole new level of tyranny that make it the most dangerous threat to the Second Amendment in quite some time.

More related news about the lefts assault on firearms can be found at SecondAmendment.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheFreeThoughtProject.com

NaturalNews.com

Churning the communal cauldron: Handlers in Italy, Canada, UK fan the Khalistan movement

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 09: The agencies have been speaking about an outside hand that is desperately looking to fan violence amidst the farmer protests.

Repeated statements are being made by pro-Khalistan elements from countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom on the farmer protests. The government has even asked Twitter to suspend accounts that are putting out such content which threatens national security.

Since the past decade the Intelligence agencies have been warning that there are desperate attempts being made by the ISI to push the Khalistanis and revive terror in Punjab.

Khalistan, the real intent: Why demand for repeal of farm laws is just an excuse

Punjab has been buzzing with activity for the past three years now. Nearly 20 modules have been busted. Further there has also been a call for the Referendum 2020, which promises to liberate Punjab from government rule.

In addition to this, the ISI has sent in several Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists into Punjab, with the brief to activate terror modules. This is a clear attempt to help the revival of the Khalistan movement, a counter-terror official tells OneIndia.

In all the modules that have been busted, it became clear that there was an ISI link. All of them were in some way or the other linked to Kashmiris. In this regard the police had also arrested Kashmiri students from Jalandhar.

After the Punjab Police led by K P S Gill had wiped out terrorism from Punjab, all the top leaders of the Khalistan groups had fled to Pakistan. They were sheltered and trained by the ISI. IB officials have been saying for long that the ISI was waiting for the right time to launch these persons into India.

While the terrorists trained in Pakistan, their sympathisers ran campaigns in other countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Italy. The idea was to build up a narrative and also collect funds to sponsor the movement. Recently many sympathisers of the Khalistan movement led by a group called Sikhs for Justice held the London declaration of Referendum 2020. This was yet another attempt to build up the narrative for a separate Khalistan state.

The National Investigation is seized off a probe involving the killing of several Hindu leaders in Punjab.

The NIA probe revealed that the plan was hatched in Pakistan, while the funds came in from Canada, UK and Italy.

In Punjab there have been such murders galore and the year 2017 has seen five such incidents. In 2016, there were two such incidents. The NIA probe into these incidents suggest that the mastermind is a person called Gursharanbir Singh who is a British national. He is the one who roped in Ramandeep and Hardeep Singh and directed them to kill Hindu leaders.

The handlers who directed the killing of RSS and other Hindu leaders have been traced to Italy, Canada and the United Kingdom. The Punjab police which is probing the case learnt that there is a systematic approach that has been followed to eliminate Hindu leaders by ISI agents. The motive behind the killings is to destabilise the state, the police say.

The Khalistan infiltration: What we are witnessing in Delhi is exactly what SJF planned

The ISI wants to cause communal tension in Punjab. Once the state becomes volatile then it could be used as a platform to launch the Khalistan forces, the police also said. The police got information about the modus operandi following three very high profile arrests.

Recently the NIA took over the probe into the killing of two persons-Satpal Sharma and his son Ramesh Kumar at Ludhiana. An NIA officer explained to OneIndia that the during the investigation it was found that killings of Satpal Sharma, his son Ramesh Sharma and Durga Gupta were part of trans-national conspiracy hatched by senior leadership of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF).

Eight incidents of such killings were executed as part of this conspiracy between January, 2016 and October, 2017 in Punjab. The objective of the conspiracy was to destabilize the law and order situation in Punjab and to revive the fledgling terrorism in the state.

It was found that the conspiracy had its foot-prints in several countries including, Pakistan, UK, Australia, France, Italy and UAE. As part of the conspiracy, large amounts of funds were supplied through Italy, Australia and the UK to the perpetrators of the Killings/ Attempted Killings, viz. Hardeep Singh and Ramandeep Singh.

These funds were used by them to purchase weapons for executing the killings and other logistics. The conspiracy included recruitment and training of Hardeep Singh and Ramandeep Singh in Italy, Dubai and UAE.

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

Accused Hardeep Singh is a permanent resident of Italy while accused Ramandeep Singh belongs to Ludhiana. Both these persons were trained by one Gursharanbir Singh, a UK national. Another UK national, Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been arrested in the case was involved in the funding of the conspiracy. Day to day co-ordination of the conspiracy was done by Pakistan based Harmeet Singh @ PhD.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 9:17 [IST]

New Delhi: Bilateral talks were held between the heads of India and Afghanistan through video conferencing on Tuesday. PM Narendra Modi in his address emphasized the regional problems. During this negotiation, a contract was signed between India and Afghanistan on the Shahtoot Project Dam. During this, PM Modi said that the history of India and Afghanistan has been linked with each other. Be it food or literature, both have moved forward with a thought. PM Modi said that the relationship of the two countries is also related to rivers.

PM Modi further said that both countries have been working for development for two consecutive decades. PM Modi said that India is working on many projects in Afghanistan, which shows our friendship. PM Modi said that no external power can stop our friendship. In Afghanistan, innocent civilians are being targeted. There is a need for peace in the area, in such a situation, violence has to stop. Both India and Afghanistan want to see their region free from terrorism.

The Shahtoot dam being built at a cost of 286 US million dollars will be prepared in Kabul. India is going to build it. With this dam, the people of Kabul will get water for farming and drinking.

Also Read-

Rehana Fathima Can use Social Media Without Hurting Religious Sentiments: SC

India injects 60 lakh corona vaccinations in 24 days: Health ministry

Farmers' protest: Celebs' tweet will be investigated, Javadekar says 'Patriotic crime in Maharashtra?'
The Telegraph

An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.
"I couldn't be more excited to offer home cooks and chefs alike my favorite seasoning blends, which make it easier than ever to create super flavorful recipes," said Drummond. "Inspired by the dishes I've made for my family through the years, my line of pre-mixed spices makes it a cinch to season and add excitement to your busy weeknight dinners. I use them daily in my own kitchen, and I know you'll love them, too!"

Carefully developed by Drummond, The Pioneer Woman line includes a variety of spice blends that take every type of recipe to the next level, including:

Tex Mex Cowgirl Seasoning: A southwest-inspired blend loaded with Hatch green chilies, cumin, Mexican oregano, cilantro and a zest of lime for fajitas, tacos or quesadillas.

A southwest-inspired blend loaded with Hatch green chilies, cumin, Mexican oregano, cilantro and a zest of lime for fajitas, tacos or quesadillas. Drummond Ranch Grill Seasoning: The perfect seasoning for any thick-cut steak, it is a rustic blend of coarse salt, Himalayan pink salt, minced garlic, cracked peppercorn and coriander.

The perfect seasoning for any thick-cut steak, it is a rustic blend of coarse salt, Himalayan pink salt, minced garlic, cracked peppercorn and coriander. Anything Goes Everyday Seasoning: Great for brightening up chicken or veggies, this all-purpose blend features coarse sea salt, celery, black pepper, onion, garlic and a burst of lemon zest.

Great for brightening up chicken or veggies, this all-purpose blend features coarse sea salt, celery, black pepper, onion, garlic and a burst of lemon zest. Cowboy Lemon Pepper Seasoning: This zippy, fresh blend of lemon, peppercorn, garlic and other savory notes adds a fresh zest to any recipe.

This zippy, fresh blend of lemon, peppercorn, garlic and other savory notes adds a fresh zest to any recipe. Frontier Chipotle Ranch Seasoning: A unique twist on Buffalo seasoning that blends chipotle and Marash chili peppers with sour cream, cheddar cheese, tomato and other zesty ingredients.

A unique twist on Buffalo seasoning that blends chipotle and Marash chili peppers with sour cream, cheddar cheese, tomato and other zesty ingredients. Prairie Pot Roast Savory Beef Seasoning: A savory blend of coarse salt, garlic, onions, rosemary and thyme adds an unmistakable Burgundy wine flavor to any roast.

"Old World Spices is excited to partner with The Pioneer Woman to launch her new seasonings line and is eager to see fans' reaction as it becomes available on grocery shelves across the country," said Ken Rhodes, EVP of Sales at Old World Spices. "Consumers will love the signature flavors used by Ree Drummond in some of her favorite recipes."

"As The Pioneer Woman brand continues to expand into many areas of our consumers' homes, we're thrilled to bring them the most popular seasoning blends directly from Ree," said Jeff Cohen, CEO and Co-Founder at Earthbound. "With this new launch, fans can now add Ree's signature flavors to their recipes at home."

The current varieties in The Pioneer Woman line are available for purchase online through Walmart.com and Amazon.com. The Pioneer Woman seasonings will be available for in-store purchase at Kroger this spring, as well as at local retail chains across the United States.

About The Pioneer Woman

Ree Drummond is the creator of the popular, award-winning "The Pioneer Woman" website, a New York Times best-selling cookbook author, and the host of her own show on the Food Network. Since launching her career in 2006, Drummond has grown her brand into a dynamic and successful company, all while being a wife and mother to four kids and a lovable pack of dogs on her ranch outside of Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

Shop The Pioneer Woman products on Walmart.com.

For Press inquiries, contact [email protected].

For more information on products/licensing, contact [email protected].

SOURCE The Pioneer Woman

Related Links

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/


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Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 48F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Frustrated Kenin struggles in Aussie Open defence

TENNIS: An angry Sofia Kenin made a scratchy start today (Feb 9) to her Australian Open title defence with an unconvincing victory over wildcard Maddison Inglis.

Tennis

By AFP

Tuesday 9 February 2021, 09:36AM

Sofia Kenin of the US hits a return against Australias Maddison Inglis during their womens singles match on day two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne today (Feb 9). Photo: AFP.

The fourth seed prevailed 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 26 minutes, with the American vocal throughout and frustrated with her patchy performance.

Im obviously not happy with the way I played, said Kenin, who made 27 unforced errors. Being the first round, there were nerves for me but Im happy to get through.

The 22-year-olds return to the scene of her stunning breakthrough Grand Slam title, where she beat Garbine Muguruza in three sets, has been rocky after losing in the warm-up Yarra Valley Classic in the quarter-finals to the Spaniard.

She left the court then in tears and later declared she was troubled by a left groin injury, which she said might have been attributed to the mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine on arrival in Australia.

Moscow-born Kenin, playing with the roof open on Rod Laver Arena, appeared to move freely but struggled against the gritty Australian during a tight first set marked by long baseline rallies.

She eventually shrugged off the 23-year-old Inglis, who has not won a Grand Slam match in four attempts.

Kenin next plays Latvias Anastasija Sevastova or in-form Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, who was runner-up in the warm-up Gippsland Trophy.

Serena, Osaka off to flying starts

Yesterday, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka wasted little time in breezing into the second round.

Japans Osaka, the third seed, struck the first serve on Rod Laver Arena against Russias Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the womens singles and strode to touch racquets with her opponent at the net just 68 minutes later after a 6-1, 6-2 victory.

I was really nervous coming into this match. I just wanted to play well, Osaka told a smattering of spectators on the socially-distanced centre court. She will face Frances Caroline Garcia in the second round.

Williams started her quest for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title in style with a 6-1, 6-1 romp past Germanys Laura Siegemund in 56 minutes.

This was a good start, it was vintage Serena, said the 39-year-old, playing an unparallelled 100th match at the tournament and turning heads by sporting a vivid, one-legged catsuit.

She will play Serbias Nina Stojanovic in the second round.

But 2016 Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber was the first significant casualty, the 23rd seeded German losing 6-0, 6-4 to 63rd ranked American Bernada Pera on Margaret Court Arena.

The tournament is known as the Happy Slam for its convivial atmosphere but the pandemic has overshadowed the event this year with fewer spectators, mandatory mask-wearing and fans unable to circulate freely around the grounds.

Australia has largely contained the virus, but officials are desperate to avoid further problems from COVID-19.

Wawrinka through

Preparations had to be hastily rearranged as late as last Wednesday when a coronavirus case at a tournament hotel - the citys first local infection in 28 days - forced a suspension of play.

Hundreds of players and officials were tested and all were negative.

While Kerber exited early, there were no problems for the 2014 mens champion, Stan Wawrinka, as he reached the second round for a 16th straight time with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win against Portugals Paulo Sousa.

Its always amazing and special to come back here. Winning my first Grand Slam was something unbelievable, amazing memories, said the 35-year-old Swiss 17th seed.

Milos Raonic, the 14th seed from Canada also enjoyed serene progress through to the second round with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 win over Federico Coria of Argentina.

But Gael Monfils, the French 10th seed, is out after being stunned 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 by Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland, the world number 86, in three hours and 46 minutes.

Raonic - who reached the semi-final at Melbourne Park in 2016 and the last eight a year ago, before losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic - next plays Corentin Moutet of France.

Top womens seed Ashleigh Barty, defending champion Sofia Kenin and 20-time mens singles Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal all to begin their challenge for this years Australian Open today.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 2021 / Reviv3 Procare Company (OTCQB:RVIV), an emerging global e-commerce brand in the premium hair care products industry, today announced that it has engaged investor relations specialists MZ Group (MZ) to lead a comprehensive strategic investor relations and financial communications program across all key markets.

MZ Group will work closely with Reviv3 Procare management to develop and execute a complete capital markets strategy designed to increase the company's visibility throughout the investment community. The campaign will highlight how Reviv3 Procare has successfully grown sales amidst a pandemic, while shifting its sales mix towards a subscription-based direct-to-consumer model.

MZ has developed a distinguished reputation as a premier resource for institutional investors, brokers, analysts and private investors. The firm maintains offices worldwide and was recently ranked No. 7 in the world in business communication by an IR magazine survey.

Lucas A. Zimmerman, Senior Vice President at MZ North America, will advise Reviv3 Procare in all facets of corporate and financial communications, including the coordination of roadshows and investment conferences across key cities and building brand awareness with financial and social media outlets.

Ted Haberfield, Chairman & President of MZ North America, commented: "Although 2020 was a challenging time for many companies in the $90 billion hair care market due to professional salon closures, Reviv3 Procare continued to invest in its business and refocused on its high growth direct-to-consumer sales. The result was a record setting second quarter fiscal 2021 with an incredible 139% sequential revenue growth and six months sales of nearly $1 million. Reviv3 Procare has taken advantage of cost cuts and reduced competition to streamline operations and expand its distribution and sales channels in key global markets. We look forward to sharing their story with our wide network of institutional investors and family offices."

Lucas A. Zimmerman added: "Reviv3 Procare is a rising star in the e-commerce world and a true hidden gem of the OTC Markets, boasting rapidly growing revenue, high customer retention rates, strong gross margins and healthy free cash flow generation. The Company's return on marketing spend is impressive, and when paired with the successful shift in sales mix from distributors to subscription-based, direct-to-consumer sales, corporate-level margins should notably increase. Positive reviews from thousands of satisfied returning customers are a testament to the truly unique consumer experience that Reviv3 Procare has been able to create.

"2020 was a pivotal year as we increased investment to the strongest sections of our business, more than doubling sales quarter-over-quarter while expanding margins," said Jeff Toghraie, CEO and Chairman of Reviv3 Procare. "Our proprietary, 3-part hair care system and complementary product lines continue to see strong consumer demand given our unique blend of true efficacy and a premium consumer experience, supplemented by an unrivaled level of customer service. As we move into 2021, we will focus on expanding our presence in key global markets while further refining our highly effective approach to advertising. We look forward to working closely with the entire team at MZ Group to communicate our value proposition to the broader investment community, building long-term value for our shareholders."

For more information on Reviv3 Procare, please visit the Company's investor relations website at www.reviv3.com. To schedule a conference call with management, please email your request to RVIV@mzgroup.us or call Lucas A. Zimmerman at 949-259-4987.

About MZ Group

MZ North America is the US division of MZ Group, a global leader in investor relations and corporate communications. MZ North America was founded in 1996 and provides full scale Investor Relations to both private and public companies across all industries. Supported by our exclusive one-stop-shop approach, MZ works with top management to support the clients' business strategy in six integrated product and service categories: 1) IR Consulting & Outreach - full service investor relations and roadshow services; 2) ESG Consulting - reporting technology platform and audit and reporting guidance; 3) SPAC Advisory - providing critical and timely guidance through business combination; 4) Financial & Social Media - lead generation and social media relations; 5) Market Intelligence - real time ownership monitoring; 6) Technology Solutions - webhosting, webcasting, distribution services, conference calls, CRM, and board portals. MZ North America has a global footprint with offices located in New York, Chicago, San Diego, Aliso Viejo, Austin, Minneapolis, Taipei and Sao Paulo. For more information, please visit www.mzgroup.us

About Reviv3 Procare Company

Reviv3 Procare Company (OTCQB: RVIV) is an emerging global e-commerce brand in the $90 billion hair care products industry. The Company is a predominantly direct-to-consumer marketer of premium hair and skincare products under its in-house Reviv3 Procare brand - selling products in the United States, Canada, the European Union and throughout Asia. To learn more, please visit the Company's website at www.reviv3.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The use of words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "confident that" and "believes," among others, generally identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, and management's beliefs, projections, and current expectations subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other things: (i) Reviv3's ability to grow net sales and adjusted EBITDA as anticipated; (ii) our ability to fund our operating expenses (iii) potential difficulties or delays Reviv3 may experience in implementing its cost savings and efficiency initiatives; (iv) Reviv3's ability to compete effectively with other hair and skincare companies (v) the concentration of Reviv3's customers, potentially increasing the negative impact to Reviv3 by changing purchasing or selling patterns (vi) changes in laws or regulations in the United States and/or in other major markets, such as China, in which Reviv3 operates, including, without limitation, with respect to taxes, tariffs, trade policies or product safety, which may increase Reviv3's product costs and other costs of doing business, and reduce Reviv3's earnings. Potential investors are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, Reviv3 does not assume any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Investor Contact:

Lucas A. Zimmerman

Senior Vice President

MZ Group - MZ North America

949-259-4987

RVIV@mzgroup.us

www.mzgroup.us

SOURCE: REVIV3 PROCARE COMPANY

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628526/Reviv3-Procare-Engages-MZ-Group-to-Lead-Strategic-Investor-Relations-and-Shareholder-Communication-Program
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reiterated on Tuesday that the US must take the first steps to honor international nuclear deal agreements.

"Any day that the US resumes fully implementing its commitments under the nuclear deal, we are ready to completely fulfill our responsibilities under the deal as well," said Rouhani, addressing ambassadors of foreign countries, on the eve of the 42nd anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader who has the final say on all matters of state in Iran, on Sunday urged the United States to lift all sanctions if it wants Iran to live up to commitments under its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

However, President Joe Biden has said the US won't be making the first move.

"There is no doubt about who should come forward and take the first step in this path (return to nuclear deal)," said Rouhani.

In response to former President Donald Trump's so-called "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran, the country began to gradually violate its atomic commitments under the nuclear deal.

It also threatened further provocations in a bid to increase its leverage and get Biden to prioritize a return to the deal as he moves to dismantle Trump's legacy.

As part of those steps, Iran has begun enriching uranium closer to weapons-grade levels and said it would experiment with uranium metals, a key component of a nuclear warhead.

Iran insists that all breaches of the pact are easily reversible.

Israel insists Iran maintains the ambition of developing nuclear weapons, pointing to Tehran's ballistic missile program and research into other technologies.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
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A group of Massachusetts lawmakers are calling on Gov. Charlie Baker to fire his undersecretary for climate change over a video that surfaced last week in which he says the state needs to break the will of consumers so they stop emitting.

In light of what eight state representatives described as insensitive and offensive remarks made by Undersecretary for Climate Change David Ismay last month, the lawmakers sent a letter Monday evening to Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito demanding the environmental official be immediately dismissed from his position within the administration.

Let us be perfectly clear: these comments are callous, insensitive, and point to a major, insurmountable disconnect between this appointed member of your administration and the very public he is supposed to be serving, the legislators wrote in their letter.

Ismay, who works in the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, was addressing the Vermont Climate Council at its annual meeting on Jan. 25 and talking about Massachusetts efforts to curb carbon emissions when he made the since-criticized comments.

During the meeting, Ismay pointed out the strides Massachusetts has made in reducing air pollution over the years before saying the only significant block of polluters left were residents in state, who he referred to as, the person across the street, the senior on fixed income.

The state official was caught on video saying that it was time to turn the screws on such residents and break their will, so they stop emitting. He closed by saying, We have to break your will. Right, I cant even say that publicly.

The video clip was published by the right-leaning Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance on Feb. 4. Ismays remarks were called out by Baker a day later at a press conference, the State House News Service reported.

At the press conference, the Republican governor also discussed his veto last month of a sweeping climate change response bill the would have updated the states carbon emissions goals, aiming to make Massachusetts net neutral by 2050. Baker claimed he vetoed the bill partially because it would slow down housing production.

First of all, no one who works in our administration should ever say or think anything like that, Baker said of Ismays comments. Secondly, Secretary [Kathleen A.] Theoharides is going to have a conversation with him about that. And third, one of the main reasons we didnt sign the climate bill when it got to our desk was because we were specifically concerned about the impact it was going to have on peoples ability to pay for many of the pieces that were in it, which means it also doesnt represent administration policy or position.

The eight lawmakers who penned the letter calling for Ismays dismissal include state Reps Donald Berthiaume, Nicholas Boldyga, David DeCoste, Peter Durant, Colleen Garry, Marc Lombardo, Joseph McKenna and Alyson Sullivan. All the legislators are Republicans, except for Garry, a Democrat.

In the midst of this terrible pandemic, with record unemployment plaguing our state and major economic upheaval threatening our very way of life, the last thing this administration should be doing is turning the screws on the senior on fixed income and the person across the street, " their letter said. The general public is lucky to have an opportunity to glean insights into his true feelings on these issues before further harm could be done.

Related Content: Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker vetoes climate bill that sets carbon emissions targets ahead of 2050
Elderly Oregonians across the state ran into major obstacles the first day residents 80 years and older could schedule COVID-19 vaccinations, with metro-area appointments disappearing in hours.

In the Portland area, seniors -- or perhaps just as often, their adult children or younger friends helping them -- began flooding the states vaccination scheduling website hours before it officially began filling appointments at 9 a.m. Monday.

As many as 5,500 managed to secure coveted vaccination slots over the next week, but many also gave up defeated. After an intense 2  hours, all online appointments in Portland had been snapped up for the next eight days. Appointments online were still available by calling 211, the regional resource service, into the afternoon, but many callers reported hours-long waits or being abruptly disconnected.

Local health providers who run the Portland areas two vaccination clinics couldnt say on what date new appointments would open up for booking. It appears, however, that the next available appointments wont likely be until Wednesday, Feb. 17.

Greg Smith, a Milwaukie man who tried unsuccessfully Monday to schedule his 95-year-old mother for a vaccination, said he expects the competition will grow even more fierce by then. Thats because people 75 and older become eligible Feb. 15, ballooning the pool of Oregonians scrambling for scarce shots. Eligibility will expand to younger age groups in the following weeks -- 70 and older Feb. 22, and 65 and older March 1.

The likelihood of her getting a vaccine in the next month seems more and more remote, Smith said.

Oregon Health Authority officials said this week theyve devoted 20,000 of the 52,500 first doses arriving in the state from the federal government to seniors 80 and older. There are 168,000 seniors in that age group statewide and about 35,000 of them already have been vaccinated, most because they live in nursing homes, long-term care facilities or receive in-home care. That leaves about 133,000 Oregonians this week vying for the 20,000 doses.

Gov. Kate Brown and Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen warned Oregonians last Friday there would be hiccups and chaos in the vaccination scheduling process, and advocates criticized the state for not developing an adequate plan to reach seniors. Brown and Allen asked older residents to be patient during the weeks or even months before theyre inoculated because demand far outstrips vaccine shipments from the federal government.

Due to a disjointed and sometimes feeble public education campaign, many people who tried to book appointments Monday ran into a series of surprises. Some were unaware the scheduling process was set to open at 9 a.m. or that in the Portland area appointments could be made online through covidvaccine.oregon.gov and then through a Lets get started chat tool.

Others who figured out exactly where they needed to go said they also encountered roadblocks, such as web pages that wouldnt advance to the next step to allow them to schedule an appointment.

I would describe it as a wasted, very frustrating day, said Darlene Carlson, an 80-year-old Portland resident who waited on hold for 2  hours after calling 211. The line ultimately hung up on her, she said.

I just dont think it should be this difficult, Carlson said.

Carlson also said she tried to book an appointment online but kept running up against a page that asked her to enter a Legacy Health username and password that she didnt have. Her adult daughter encountered the same roadblock, and Carlson said she couldnt get anyone on the phone from her health care provider, Kaiser Permanente, who could help.

Another big surprise came for those who actually were able to schedule appointments. Although Oregons governor said the states eldest residents would become eligible for vaccinations beginning Monday, no same-day appointments were available at the Portland areas two vaccination clinics at the Oregon Convention Center and Portland International Airport.

With the exception of a solitary appointment Tuesday, which appeared to be a fluke that local health providers couldnt explain, the earliest appointments were available starting Wednesday.

Its unclear how many seniors -- if any -- across Oregon received shots Monday. The Oregonian/OregonLive asked the Oregon Health Authority for that information but an agency spokesman said he couldnt yet say.

In some rural parts of the state, seniors ran into dead ends with no immediate prospects of securing shots in the arm. Some counties told seniors they were being waitlisted or told them to fill out an interest form and officials would be in touch.

Meanwhile, Southern Oregon health care provider Asante, which has been vaccinating residents of Jackson and Josephine counties, said it could provide no first doses this week for seniors or anyone else after the Oregon Health Authority cut off its weekly supply.

Our goal is to vaccinate anyone who wishes to get the shot, but our hands are tied by lack of vaccine, Asante spokesperson Lauren Van Sickle in an email.

The state has not told us why first-dose allocations were not sent to us, she added. However, we are very aware that the Portland area received more doses.

The state  or more specifically, Brown  has been the subject of criticism for weeks now over the vaccine rollout. Brown and the health authority are scrambling to earmark vaccines for seniors in part because of the governors decision to make an estimated 152,000 daycare, preschool and K-12 employees eligible for a first dose Jan. 25. Thats despite a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January to immediately start vaccinations of Americans ages 65 and older.

Oregon is among the very last in the nation to open up vaccinations to all seniors. A limited number of counties had begun offering up vaccine to all seniors over a certain age by late January, including Deschutes County for anyone 75 or older, but within days of that news breaking a few found their shipments from the state were dramatically cut back or put on hold.

Allen, the health authority director, said last week that it could be early May before the state has enough vaccine to fully inoculate with two doses 75% of the seniors ages 65 and older who wish to be. He said the state might open eligibility to people with underlying conditions and some essential workers in early April -- and to the general population by July.

The process for booking vaccination appointments varies from county to county. The state set up covidvaccine.oregon.gov, which includes a link with more links to county websites, some which include information on how to schedule appointments. Residents who are unsure if theyre eligible also can find out if they qualify by visiting the states website getvaccinated.oregon.gov.

Residents also can email ORCOVID@211info.org with questions or call 211 to schedule an appointment in some areas of the state.

Despite the troubles that many ran into Monday, thousands of others were able to snag appointments.

Peggy Sigler, who lives outside Canby, said she booked a time slot for a 92-year-old relative who has mobility issues. It was a relief, she said, to secure a slot at the airports drive-through site. But she still worries it will be an hours-long ordeal exposing her and her loved one to prolonged close contact inside a car before either one of them is vaccinated.

She thinks itd be smart for public health officials to provide clinics throughout the region so elderly residents dont need to travel so far.

But its not lost on her that her family is one of the lucky ones. Sigler said she knows many other seniors might not have been able to figure out how to book an appointment -- and they might not have anyone in their lives who can help them.

She doesnt use a computer, Sigler said of her relative. " ... A flip phone is the extent of her technology.

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-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee
By Jana Kadah

Bay City News Foundation

The largest COVID-19 mass vaccination center in the state opened Tuesday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara and Gov. Gavin Newsom and local officials took to the field to celebrate the kickoff.

The vaccination site, which opened for appointments at noon Tuesday, currently has the capacity to vaccinate 5,000 people per day, with plans to increase capacity to 15,000 people per day.

The stadium would only be open to residents of Santa Clara County or health care workers who work in the county. Currently, residents 65 years and older in addition to health care workers are eligible for the vaccine.

"Santa Clara County is among the leaders [in terms of vaccine administration]," Newsom said at Levi's Stadium. "I'm honored to be here joining their partners and joining community leaders that are making this site possible."

County Supervisors Cindy Chavez and Susan Ellenberg as well as state Assemblymember Ash Kalra, D-San Jose, joined the governor on the stadium's field to tout the new site.

Ellenberg said the site will help get residents across the county get vaccinated quicker and ensure more equitable access to the vaccine.

"Levi's Stadium is an important site because of its central location in the county, proximity to public transportation and ability to serve a large number of residents every day," Ellenberg said.

In fact, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority as of Monday started providing front-door services to the stadium and suspended fare collection on all buses and light-rail vehicles in the system.

The VTA also increased the frequency of seven bus routes that stop near or at Levi's Stadium because social distancing guidelines limiting capacity on buses.

The 55, 57, and 59 bus routes go to Levi's Stadium and the VTA's Orange and Green light-rail lines provide service to the site as well.

Dr. Jennifer Tong associate chief medical officer for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, said the new site expands the county's ability to vaccinate at scale.

Levi's Stadium is Santa Clara County's fourth mass vaccination site, joining two in San Jose and one in Mountain View.

So far, the county's health system has provided more than 113,000 first doses and have more than 40,000 vaccine appointments scheduled in the week ahead.

"This is joined by about 100,000 doses also administered to date by other providers in our county," Tong said.

Chavez noted that the addition of Levi's Stadium is part of the county's multi-faceted approach to getting as many people vaccinated as possible.

"One of the best ways [for efficient vaccine administration] is to have a layered approach. One is something big and mighty that's happening here," she said. "Two, are all of our community clinics that are really reaching deep into the community to make sure that people have access. And three, making sure that we're being creative and innovative for those people who can't get to where we need them to be that we go to them and get that vaccine in their arms."

Tong said, "We have built both the infrastructure and the human power to get vaccines and arms as quickly as possible."

So really, the main problem holding counties and the state back from getting more people vaccinated is supply.

"Supply is the issue. That is the constraint," Newsom said.

In the next week, California is expected to have a little over 1 million vaccines -- roughly the equivalent number of doses that we received a week ago, the governor said.

In the following week, Newsom predicted that California would get 50,000-100,000 more vaccines as well.

But County Executive Jeff Smith said more vaccines could be coming California's way.

"The president has promised an extra 20 percent allocation to all the states," Smith said. "We know that a new vaccine is on the horizon with Johnson & Johnson. We know that more Moderna is being made, more of the Pfizer is being made."

Newsom said the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which would only require one dose and is easier to store, could be available by the end of the month.

The Biden administration also announced that it will be sending a million doses to California pharmacies directly and may begin sending vaccines directly to community clinics as well, Newsom said.

But despite the lack of supply, the state has still expanded vaccine administration.

Vaccinations are now averaging just shy of 175,000 doses administered on a daily basis.

"I remind you, that's more than double where we were a few weeks ago and more than triple where we were three to four weeks ago," Newsom said.

The governor also rejoiced in case counts, hospitalizations and deaths significantly going down statewide.

The positive news comes as the state works on a plan to reopen elementary schools within the next month and start gradually reopening the economy.

Teachers and parents have voiced concerns over schools reopening, as teachers are not eligible for vaccination yet and because of the lack of supply, Newsom said he is unsure when they would be able to be vaccinated.

"We need to be honest with people ... it's very unlikely that we'll be able to accomplish that, very idealistic goal, [to vaccinate teachers] before the end of the school year," Newsom said.

The only way he could see it working without significant increase in vaccine supply is if "we took them away from the vast majority of others are seniors and are most medically vulnerable."

"That's the unfortunate position we're all in," Newsom said.

Eligible residents in Santa Clara County can book an appointment at Levi's Stadium and other vaccination sites at sccfreevax.org.

The county has also instituted a "no wrong door" policy, allowing all residents 65 years and older to get vaccinated at any site or private health care provider, regardless of their insurance.

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THE minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Albert Kawana, has rejected a request by the wet horse mackerel sector to fish inside the 200-metre depth limits.

In a letter seen by The Namibian to the Wet Landed Horse Mackerel Association, Kawana said the status quo for the demarcations of fishing grounds should remain and be adhered to.

The 200-metre depth limit is a conservation measure put in place as a rebuilding plan for fish stock recovery and to create a safe environment for juvenile fish.

"We do not want to experience what happened to our pilchard industry which was exploited to the point of depletion. Today, the government, the industry, the workers, and the economy, in general, are paying the price," said Kawana.

According to the sector, in several meetings held towards the end of 2019, the ministry's research department determined that a portion of 50 000 to 80 000 tonnes of the total allowable catch (TAC) can be caught inside the 200-metre depth limits with no adverse effect on the biomass.

Jason Angala, the chairperson of the Wet Landed Horse Mackerel Association says during the last three to four months the wet fish RSW vessels have not found adult fish outside the 200m depth limits.

"We respectfully make this submission as wet landed operators as we are a minority in terms of quotas and have no conflict with freezer operations except for fighting for survival," said Angala.

If the request was granted, Angala believes going forward their operations should provide permanent jobs as well as all-year-round income for their staff which has been difficult since the onset of non-fishing operations during the winter period.

The minister told the sector that his new style of operation on matters of interest to all stakeholders is to always engage the industry, inclusive of the workers through their recognised unions.

For the matter to be further entertained, Kawana asked the sector to table their proposal to the Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations to allow all relevant stakeholders to express their views.
Rishikesh: Indian rescue crews struggled to reach trapped victims on Sunday after part of a glacier in the Himalayas broke off, releasing a torrent of water and debris that slammed into two hydroelectric plants. At least nine people were killed and 140 were missing in a disaster experts said appeared to point to global warming.

Video from Indias northern state of Uttarakhand showed the muddy, concrete-grey floodwaters tumbling through a valley and surging into a dam, breaking it into pieces with little resistance before roaring on downstream. The flood turned the countryside into what looked like an ash-coloured moonscape.

Officials said the glacier breaking sent water as well as mud and other debris surging down the mountain. AP

More than 2000 members of the military, paramilitary groups and police took part in the search-and-rescue operation, including soldiers expert in mountaineering, working into the night under bright halogen lights, authorities said.

The flood was caused when a portion of Nanda Devi glacier broke off in the morning, releasing water trapped behind it, authorities said. It rushed down the mountain and into other bodies of water, forcing the evacuation of many villages along the banks of the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers.

A hydroelectric plant on the Alaknanda was destroyed, and a plant on the Dhauliganga was damaged, said Vivek Pandey, a spokesman for the paramilitary Indo Tibetan Border Police. Flowing out of the Himalayan mountains, the two rivers meet before merging with the Ganges River.

Pandey said at least 42 workers were trapped in two tunnels at the Dhauliganga plant. Twelve were rescued from one of the tunnels, while at least 30 others were still stuck inside the other, he said.

An additional 140 workers at the two plants were missing, Pandey said. Surjeet Singh, a police official, said at least nine bodies were recovered.

Paramilitary forces have gone 150 meters down in the tunnel to rescue people. The operation is expected to continue until we bring these people out alive, said Pravin Alok, a spokesman for the State Disaster Relief Force.

The floodwaters also damaged houses, said Ravi Bejaria, a government spokesman, though he had no details on the number and whether any of the residents were injured, missing or dead.

Click to reload

At least nine people are dead and more than 100 are missing in India after a landslide.

It all started sometime around 10 in the morning. We heard a bang, which shook our village, Dinesh Negi, a resident of Raini village, told The Associated Press by phone. He said they watched from high above one of the rivers as the water turned muddy and surged in a torrent.

We knew something wrong had happened, Negi said. We could see the fury of the river.

Video showed rescuers in camouflage uniforms and bright yellow or red helmets, using ropes to reach victims. A man who was pulled from a muddy hole threw his arms in the air, and rescuers laughed and exulted with him. Rescue workers comforted victims lying in a row of stretchers in the open.

Scientists have long known that global warming is contributing to the melting and the breakup of the worlds glaciers.

Anjal Prakash, research director and adjunct professor at the Indian School of Business who has contributed to UN-sponsored research on global warming, said that while data on the cause of the disaster was not yet available, this looks very much like a climate change event as the glaciers are melting due to global warming.

A massive flood of water, mud and debris flowing after a portion of Nanda Devi glacier broke off in Tapovan area of the northern state of Uttarakhand. AP

Uttarakhand Police Chief Ashok Kumar said officials immediately alerted residents in the area and evacuated them to safer places. Downstream, popular tourist spots on the banks of the Ganges were shut, and all boating activities were stopped.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the nation prays for everyones safety in Uttarakhand.

In 2013, thousands of people were killed in Uttarakhand after heavy rains triggered landslides and floods, washing away thousands of houses and roads and cutting communications in many places.

AP

NHLANGANO  A bogus pastor has been arrested after allegedly raping a woman he had called to pray for.

The woman *Nana met the pastor on Facebook. She alleged that the pastor invited her on Facebook and soon after she accepted his request, the pastor told her that she needed prayer to overcome her challenges.

She stated that the pastor requested her number to arrange a meeting for the prayer session.

Nana alleged that they spoke on WhatsApp until on Saturday when they had to meet at Mtsambama, where the bogus pastor resided.

When she got there, the pastor started praying for her and would quote verses from the Bible. Nana alleged that around 4pm, she requested to leave as it was getting late.

Demons

He told me the demons inside me were not out yet and should I leave, they would kill me because they were already angry, she alleged.

She stated that the pastor then offered her a place to sleep, stating that even other people he prayed for slept over if there was a need.

The woman alleged that the pastor then informed her that he just had a revelation that Nana had a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

She alleged that she told the pastor she didnt and she did not feel any discomfort, but the pastor insisted he would show her.

She stated that the pastor then changed his tone and ordered her to remove her clothes and lie down on the bed. She alleged that he first touched her and stepped out which was when she tried to escape.

She alleged the pastor caught her and dragged her back to the house and made her take a bath.

He then allegedly sexually violated her.

She alleged that thereafter, he made her sleep in the same bed with him which was when she tried to call her relative, who did not answer her phone.

Nana then raised the alarm through a WhatsApp status which was also seen by a Hluthi based police officer she knew.

She stated that the police officer responded swiftly and she was able to give him enough information moments before the bogus pastor woke up.

He just woke up and asked me what I had done. He took my phone and read all the messages, but before he took it he said his spirits had told him that I have reported him to the police, alleged Nana.

She alleged that the pastor dressed up and stepped out which was when she fled.

Nana said she ran towards a homestead and moments later; three men came to the homestead to attack her as they thought she was a criminal.

However, she managed to narrate her ordeal before they could harm her.

The men are said to have gone to fetch the bogus pastor whom they found in a neighbouring homestead.

Morning

The men are said to have taken the pastor and Nana, and stayed with them till morning while waiting for the police.

The pastor is said to have tried to escape as he pretended to be receiving a call from the police and left them, but was later apprehended.

Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the incident.

She stated that the man was arrested and would appear in Nhlangano Magistrates Court.

*Not her real name
Uitenhage  A burst tyre is enough to put a police vehicle out of action for over seven months

Police in KwaNobuhle, Uitenhage, say they struggle to do their duties as they only have seven working vehicles.

Meanwhile ten vehicles have stood idle at the station for many months, mostly due to minor faults such as a burst tyre or a faulty light.

The local police forum says it has raised the issue with SAPS before.

A faulty light, a burst tyre, small dents or leaking oil are among the minor faults that have left ten police vehicles out of service for many months at KwaNobuhle police station in Uitenhage.

The vehicles are three double cabs, three single cabs, four four-seater cars.

According to police officers, they have only seven working vehicles to serve the 100,000 residents of the township.

A warrant officer, who did not wish to be named, said, "Residents are always complaining about poor service delivery at this station."

He said police had made an application in July last year for a burst tyre to be replaced on one vehicle, but were still waiting for the new tyre.

He said the station's management "will do the whole procedure of procurement for mere [front] lights for six months or so".

"We don't have enough vehicles," said the officer.

A member of the KwaNobuhle Community Policing Forum, who also did not want to be named, said the issue of faulty police vehicles had been raised with SAPS before.

"Meanwhile, community members sit ... waiting for one of the four vans that we depend on, while ten police vehicles are in the backyard ... getting rusty," she said.

"Last year, a brigadier who saw this fleet of vehicles shouted at everyone, 'Why is the police station a scrapyard now, what's going on?'" she said.

Police spokesperson Captain Gerda Swart said that the issue was of an organisational nature and the provincial office would respond.

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Vedantu, a pioneer in LIVE online tutoring in India, today announced the appointment of Mohit Mathur as Biz Excellence Head. In his new role, Mohit will bring in process and operating model efficiencies to build a fast growth trajectory. Based out of Bangalore, his key responsibility will be to drive high-level excellence programs and initiatives with functional heads, while collaborating with cross-functional teams for seamless delivery. He will report to Arvind Singhal, Chief Operating Officer, Vedantu and will work with him very closely to build excellence in Vedantus business processes.

Prior to Vedantu, Mohit was part of e-commerce giant Flipkart and Sterlite Technologies, and has held various strategic roles in Process Transformation, Data analytics, Technology, and Consulting for nearly two decades in organizations like Tesco and i2. With more than a decade of experience, Mohit is best suited to build on Vedantu's process efficiencies and take the organisation to its next phase of growth.

Arvind Singhal, Chief Operating Officer, Vedantu said, As we look towards creating impact at scale, Mohits extensive background and skills will further strengthen our overall efficiencies and build value for our stakeholders. We believe that his deep leadership background is precisely the kind of expertise we need to bring to Vedantu to succeed in all spheres. I welcome Mohit to Vedantu and look forward to work with him.

On his appointment, Mohit Mathur, Biz Excellence Head, Vedantu said, Embarking on a new journey with Vedantu and the EdTech sector, I am excited to take on different challenges and learn from them. I look forward to building on the organizations strengths and taking them to the next level.
UK industry body The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has warned the countrys meat businesses may have to re-configure the way they work to deal with post-Brexit trading rules for exports to the European Union.

And it suggests this could lead to job losses in the UK industry.

Barriers to trade are now so great that UK companies are setting up shop in the EU, taking jobs and GDP with them, the BMPA said.

UK firms exporting to the EU from 1 January have had to deal with additional paperwork and customs rules even though the UK and EU agreed a trade deal just before Christmas.

Delays have ensued as a result and the BMPA said today (9 February) the impact is being felt by UK meat exporters.



The new border and customs regime has all but halted small, mixed, just-in-time deliveries of British pork chops, sausages and other meat products to supermarkets and customers in the EU and Northern Ireland, it said.

Broadcaster the BBC reported today UK supermarket groups with stores in the EU are facing supply problems because of the post-Brexit rules on exports. Similar problems have been reported in Northern Ireland which, because it has a border with EU member Ireland, has to check goods arriving from mainland UK at customs points.

The BMPA said: The problem is that its now not viable to send a single lorry load of mixed products from different UK businesses to different EU or Northern Irish customers to stock their shelves for the following few days.

We did hear of a lorry going to Northern Ireland taking just four pallets of a single product (it should have been carrying 23) to get supplies to a supermarket, but thats not sustainable.

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BMPA CEO Nick Allen said: "The new system is adding an average of 30 hours into the process; and the costs to ship these loads are now around 60% higher than last year.

"This is caused by a combination of additional charges from HMRC and their French counterpart, extra customs agents' and veterinary charges to process the paperwork and haulage charges that have risen four-fold due to delays at the border. On top of that, freight insurers are raising premiums or simply refusing to insure loads."

Allen said that a load could be delivered into an EU hub and then further distributed to customers but suggested this is not viable for all but the very largest meat companies.

"One unintended consequence is that British firms are now registering EU businesses to bypass the export problems meaning Britain is now losing jobs and business," he said.

"Because of this situation, consignments of British meat heading to customers on the continent are still below 50% of normal volume, with some companies doing no exports at all. And this inability to export the parts of the carcass that Brits don't buy means that meat processing becomes less profitable which will eventually hit livestock prices for British farmers."

Allen is calling for co-operation between the UK and the EU to "re-negotiate and re-design the system from top to bottom".

He added: "Whatever is being discussed by [UK Cabinet Office minister] Michael Gove and [European Commission vice president] Maros Sefcovic to ease trade barriers with Northern Ireland should also apply to trade with the EU."

just-food asked the UK government for a response to Allen's request.

A spokesperson said: "All exports of live animals and products of animal origin to the EU now require an Export Health Certificate signed by an official vet. We've always been clear that there would be new processes for traders, and we continue to support them in their transition to these new arrangements.



"We are working closely with British meat processors to ensure they can take advantage of the opportunities and changes being outside the single market and customs union will bring, and overall businesses are adjusting well to the new rules and continue to trade effectively."


Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad speaks during a news conference in New Delhi Sept 15, 2019 (PTI)

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on February 9 in his farewell speech said that every Indian Muslim should be proud that we are in India.

Azad, whose term as Rajya Sabha member ends on February 15, has been a member of the upper house for 28 years. He was a member of Lok Sabha for 10 years and was Chief Minister of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir assembly for three years.

"I am among those fortunate people who have never been to Pakistan. Looking at the state of affairs in Pakistan or even in other Muslim countries of the world, I think, every Muslim should feel proud that we are in India," Azad said in his speech laced with Urdu couplets.

READ: Congress looks for Leader of Opposition as Azad's Rajya Sabha term ends

Azad, a former minister in the UPA government said, the Opposition could not keep fighting over issues, which he learned from former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, during his tenure as LoP.

The easiest working of the House was when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was LoP. People chose us to make rules for them. These rules would not pass if we keep arguing. I learned a lot from Atalji, how to break a deadlock, how to run the House, he said.

Azad spoke in the upper house after other members recounted his political journey from Jammu and Kashmir to New Delhi.

In his speech, Azad recalled his days in Srinagar's SP College when there were more people to celebrate August 14 (Pakistan independence day) than those celebrating August 15.

"I was among few who would celebrate India's Independence Day. We used to stay away from college for days after the event fearing for ourselves," Azad said.

Azad, 71, turned emotional while praying that militancy ends in Kashmir. He used Pakistan's poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz's lines to express hope.

"Dil na-umeed to nahi, nakaam hi to hai, lambi hai gham ki shaam, magar shaam hi to hai (the heart may be hopeless but its not been unsuccessful, the evening is long, but will end)," Azad said.

Earlier, the members bid adieu to the four members of the house from Jammu and Kashmir whose term is ending. Mir Mohammad Fayaz, Shamsher Singh, retiring on February 10, and Ghulam Nabi Azad and Nazir Ahmad Laway, retiring on February 15.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke into tears in Rajya Sabha during his farewell speech to members including Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The Prime Minister turned emotional when he recalled a call by Ghulam Nabi Azad to him when Gujarati tourists were killed in Kashmir in a blast in 2007. Both Azad and Modi were chief ministers then.

Azad also thanked Prime Minister for not minding the criticism as leader of opposition in the house.

There were times when we had verbal fights. But you [PM Modi] never took my words personally," Azad said.


A. Charles Chuck Peruto Jr., a defense attorney with a flair for the flamboyant, pointed Tuesday to the revolving doors at the citys Criminal Justice Center and said thats how his clients view the system under District Attorney Larry Krasner.

Announcing his bid for the Republican nomination to challenge Krasner, Peruto cast the DA as an oblivious outsider who hasnt tried to stem the surge in murders, shootings, and other violent crimes.

If you dont believe punishment is a deterrent to crime, then leave, Peruto said. Because youre stupid. Crimes must have consequences.

Peruto lambasted Krasner for firing experienced prosecutors when he took office in 2018 and then hiring aides with Ivy League pedigrees but little knowledge of Philadelphia. He vowed to rehire Krasners cast-offs to create an elite unit to handle all gun cases.

One of those fired prosecutors, Carlos Vega, is already challenging Krasner in the May Democratic primary. Peruto said he wont go forward with his campaign if Vega wins.

Unfortunately, I dont think Carlos Vega is going to be able to get the money that its going to take to beat Larry Krasner, said Peruto, a lifelong Democrat who voted for Krasner in 2017 but became a Republican last year, he said, out of disgust for how the District Attorneys Office now operates.

 READ MORE: The money race between DA Larry Krasner and challenger Carlos Vega kicks into high gear

Peruto said he won the unanimous endorsement of the Republican City Committee in a vote Saturday and expects to be the only GOP candidate in the primary. He was joined Tuesday by a handful of Republican ward leaders.

State Rep. Martina White, who chairs the Republican Party in the city, called Peruto a strong candidate with commonsense ideas in a statement last month.

While Peruto is well-known in media and legal circles, he acknowledged many Philadelphia voters know him only by tragedy.

The Girl In the Bathtub was how the city came to see the accidental death of Julia Papazian, a paralegal and paramour of Perutos who died in his home in 2013 while he was out of town.

That death, detailed in a Philadelphia Magazine story and then recast as a Lifetime movie, prompted a grand jury investigation that infuriated Peruto, who saw it as an effort to smear his reputation. The grand jury in 2014 said it found no evidence of criminality in the death.

Peruto said he absolutely expects that incident to be weaponized during the election.

People love gossip, said Peruto, vowing to offer a full explanation on his campaign website.
H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media

DANBURY  A local man is facing felony and misdemeanor charges after police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance on the citys west side early Saturday morning.

Xavier Michael Bishop, 25, was arrested after police say he broke into a womans home on Midfield Road, broke several items of furniture and assaulted her.
Rwanda and Central African Republic (CAR) are committed to cement bilateral cooperation between the two countries, including areas such as economic development, the two foreign ministers have announced.

They made the remarks on Monday, February 8, in Kigali during a press briefing related to the working visit of Sylvie Baipo Temon, Central African Republic's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The visit is in line with boosting further both countries' bilateral relations.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Biruta said that CAR is Rwanda's partner which is going through difficult [security] problems, stating that Rwanda is committed to continue supporting the country to ensure that it becomes secure and achieves sustainable development.

Rwanda in December last year sent a contingent of protection force to CAR, in addition to the Rwandan troops already deployed under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

"The armed groups were threatening to harm our soldiers who perform well to counter those groups that wanted to topple the Central African Republic authority. Therefore, it was necessary that we send more troops to boost their defence," he said.

He added that the protection force also had a mission to ensure a peaceful election period in the country, indicating that the target was achieved because the election was held, with Faustin Archange Touadera being re-elected President of CAR.

On her part, Minister Temon thanked Rwanda's soldiers and those from other countries for helping repulse attacks from armed groups that sought to destabilise democratic election processes.

Learning from Rwanda's experience

Sharing Rwanda's experience, Biruta said that the Genocide against Tutsi in 1994 claimed over a million lives, and left the country in ruins.

"But, there are initiatives that were set up which contributed to the rebuilding of the country. They include fostering unity and reconciliation, demobilization or reintegration of former soldiers and members of armed groups, and they were fruitful as they enabled the country to implement development initiatives," he said.

This experience, he said, can help Central African Republic to get rid of the persisting problems it has been facing.

"They can engage in dialogue [to reach common ground], unity and reconciliation initiatives, and demobilise the members of the armed groups, as well as be able to execute livelihoods projects," he said.

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Minister Temon said that the fact that Rwanda suffered the Genocide and was able to move ahead gives a great lesson.

"We would like to learn from Rwanda's experience to confront a bitter past. The current results [in Rwanda] are encouraging, and they help to rekindle hope for the reconstruction of the country," she said.

Expanding partnership

Biruta said that it is not enough to conduct military activities to restore security, and elect leaders.

"There is a third aspect regarding development activities so that jobs get created and people get employment for their livelihoods, and promote investment," he said.

He said that, last week, on February 3, 2021, Rwanda's national carrier RwandAir launched flights to CAR's Capital city Bangui, pointing out that there were Rwandan investors among passengers onboard the maiden flight in order to explore investment opportunities in the country.

The airline will be operating two weekly flights from Kigali to Bangui-M'poko International Airport, on Wednesdays and Sundays.

"They went to consider areas of investment in the country, which can support development there for the country to be able to rebuild itself," he said.

She indicated that they would like to reinforce and extend bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and CAR to various domains, pointing out that the CAR is mobilising investors to come and venture in the country.

"There is no development without peace, and there is no peace without development. They should rather go hand in hand," she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 11:09:22|Editor: huaxia

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RABAT, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Sinopharm vaccine is effective in older people and Morocco will continue using it to vaccinate the population aged 60 and over, authorities said Monday.

Available data from the Moroccan vaccination campaign showed no increase in adverse effects on the vaccinated people aged 60 and over compared with others receiving the Sinopharm vaccine, Moroccan Health Ministry said in a statement.

So far, only eight people in this age group have reported minor adverse effects after receiving Sinopharm doses, which is equivalent to 2.2 cases per 10,000, it said.

A phase III clinical trial of the Sinopharm vaccine, partly carried out in Morocco, included people aged 60 and over and showed good tolerance in this population, the statement said.

The phase III clinical trial showed an overall efficacy of 86 percent and good safety, it added.

Morocco launched a nationwide vaccination campaign at 3,000 locations on Jan. 29 after securing acquisition of 66 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from China's Sinopharm and Britain's Oxford University and AstraZeneca. Enditem
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The owner of a dog that last month attacked a 3-year-old girl inside a Spring restaurant has been arrested, according to Harris County court records.

Jennifer Romano, 46, on Monday was booked into Harris County Jail on felony charges of injury to a child and tampering with evidence in connection with the attack. During a hearing late Monday, a judge set bond at $5,000 for the first charge and $2,500 for the second charge with the condition that Romano stay away from the victim and victim's family.

Romano is the owner of Kingston, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier who on Jan. 9 lunged and bit Ronin Waldroup on the face at the Loose Caboose restaurant. In the probable cause hearing, Romano appeared to be wearing a shirt with a large photo of a dog's face.

Now Playing: Video: OnScene TV, Laura Duclos

The girl was taken to the emergency room at Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands, where she was treated for deep lacerations, puncture wounds and tearing to the skin on the right side of her face. She was sedated and received 14 stitches. She may have to receive plastic surgery to repair disfigurement to her face, court records say.

Witnesses said Romano fled the scene after the unprovoked attack. A Montgomery County judge ruled Jan. 26 to euthanize the dog, rejecting arguments from Romanos defense attorney that the dog could be re-trained.

In charging papers filed Monday, a Harris County Sheriffs Office investigator said the dog had previously bitten two people in separate incidents, including one within 12 months of the Jan. 9 attack.

Further, the investigator said Romano concealed Kingston from authorities while they were trying to seize the dog.

Romanos attorney, John Kovach, could not immediately be reached for comment Monday night. Representatives for Waldroups family declined to comment Monday.

After three days of testimony, Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Matt Beasley ruled that Kingston should be put down. The dog has since been euthanized.

During the hearing, Kovach argued that the dog should be given a second chance in part because Romano relies on him for emotional support.

Beasley, however, said Romano demonstrated a lack of care and responsibility when she fled from the restaurant following the attack.

The sheriffs office investigator spoke to multiple witnesses to the attack, which occurred while both parties stood in line at the restaurant at 26403 Preston Ave.

One witness said Ronin Waldroup was standing about 1 to 2 feet behind the dog when it turned around and bit her face. The witness said Romano pulled on the dogs leash as it released the girl from its bite.

Another person, identified in court documents as Perry Muras, was seen on video entering the restaurant with Romano. He told investigators that he believed the girl grazed the dog before the attack. He admitted that he and Romano fled to his car because (Romano) wanted to protect Kingston, charging documents say.

He said Romano told him it was the little girls fault as they drove to her apartment.

Muras also told police that Kingston bit his right forearm a couple of years ago inside Romanos house.

Witness Muras said Defendant should have known Kingston could be aggressive even if unprovoked, charging documents say.

Another woman told police she used to live with Romano. She said Kingston bit her face, injuring her lip, in an unprovoked attack in June 2020. The same woman said Romano owned numerous dogs that all have service animal vests.

Kingston had been wearing a service dog vest during the attack, authorities said.

Romanos doctor previously wrote a letter stating that service animals help Romano with her general anxiety disorder, but did not specify Kingston by name. During the recent hearing, friends and relatives testified that Romano also has bipolar disorder, depression and hypertension, and takes multiple medications.

Dogs that only provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. The act defines a service animal as a dog trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.

In recent years, Romano has been named in multiple lawsuits surrounding a different pit bull, Gus, she claimed to be rehabilitating through her now-defunct business, Maggies House Rescue.

In a previous bite case in 2013, a Montgomery County judge ruled that Gus caused serious bodily injury and ordered the dog euthanized.

Romano's next court date is set for 9 a.m. Wednesday in the 248th District Court.

Anna Bauman contributed to this report.

julian.gill@chron.com
The Telegraph

An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.

JNU has made great contribution to the cause of learning in India; it has also played a seminal role in the life of significant contention- the proper calling of intellectuals  over the years but sadly the students of this premier university are being discussed for their intellectual daring which extended no further than a pledge to dismember their own motherland and a clever application of their assiduously acquired knowledge of "subaltern studies and dialectical materialism" to fox and hoodwink plain, blunt policeman.

To these inestimable achievements one more has been added  it has produced an orator of outstanding merit in Kanhaiya Kumar. Kanhaiyas very significant omission of Chandrasekhar in his speech, a former JNU student union president, who had stirred the conscience of people of Bihar by his fearless fight in favour of the lowest of the low against criminal warlords shows great awareness of currents and cross currents of contemporary politics even before he has entered the choppy waters. Chandrasekhars martyrdom had got mixed up with issues of pragmatic politics. His cause was just, but he was not too careful in the choice of the enemy!

The political parties are no doubt celebrating but would it be mere intellectual Ludditism or cussedness to raise the very quotidian, very banal but very topical issue? Even though as a body of thought Marxism still provides useful insights in the way our world works, one thinks much less of it than what was thought of decades ago. It now belongs to the archeological museum of the history of knowledge.

The university famous for its "left-Centric student politics" burdens the participants with a certain intellectual and moral posture. "Once a JNU student, always an activist" http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/once-a-jnu-student-always-an-activist/article4282272.ece is perhaps too optimistic a view which may not be shared by all. They are not scarred for life by their brief flirtation with the precious ideology at the university. People like Chandrasekhar and others of his tribe are the precious drops in the ocean. Most others are absorbed in the job market as IAS officers, journalists, politicians and professors, coping with the compulsions of their respective professions with sweet docility, just like everyone else.

The torrent of writings about JNU by former students, teachers and those currently studying there - every media outlet is keen to air their views - confirms me in my belief that the government overestimated their dangerousness. Yogendra K Alagh, former Vice Chancellor of JNU, has to say (In the Mumbai edition it is captioned Argumentation is JNUs Power) (HT Feb 24, 2016). "This is the reason that JNU students do so well in the UPSC exams for the higher civil services. I found out when I chaired a committee set up to develop the recruitment and training policies for the higher civil services. They are all trained in disciplined argumentation and would breeze through any discussion." http://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/jnu-students-are-first-among-equals-idealistic-and-inquisitive/story-0BHwIrGwSgFaiYEeazOEaJ.html . "The university is known to have a long tradition of alumni who now occupy important political and bureaucratic positions." - Wikipedia

JNU attracts a large number of students form backward states, notably Bihar, who come here aspiring to make it to the IAS or other service but are swept off their feet by the grandeur of the setting as this lyrical outburst of one of the former students suggests:

"Entering JNU, for me, was like entering a zone of freedom, overwhelming freedom. At the very first glance, JNU was like a vast expanse to spread ones wings in  long-winding roads and overgrown valleys, the facility of being outdoors late into the night (what that could mean to a young girl!), milling in and around the library till 11 pm, mess meetings (no pun intended) after dinner, the chance to befriend anyone from anywhere, any class, caste or nationality (thanks to JNUs admission system based on multiple deprivation points), and above all, the possibility of falling in love across all social barriers In JNU, we learnt quickly, through our little adventures and misadventures, the profoundly serious lesson that a free mind depended on a physically and socially free space. We also felt morally tortured by the fact of our privilege as JNU students. To compensate, we became involved in politics outside campus".

Living like royalty at tax payers expense, lording over a thousand-acre campus which could easily house at least two dozen average universities, or ten thousand primary schools for poor children - all their comforts taken care of at a parasitically low rate, they are bound to develop a self-image and feel driven to live by this image of themselves. "Morally tortured by the fact of our privilege as JNU students. To compensate, we became involved in politics outside campus". Their protest is, indeed, an acid by product of privilege and good living.

That helps me connect with my memories of ten, twelve years back when I was invited to the Patna University. On my return journey I made a detour to visit the hostel where I had spent two years as an undergraduate boarder long time ago. Not that things were princely then but now the place was in complete shambles. I came across a group of students loitering in the corridor, introduced myself to them and tried to start a conversation. It is always invigorating to know what the young people are reading, thinking, what are their aspirations, how do they feel about the world around them. My queries were met with brief dismissive answers. All that they wanted me was to speak to the authorities, to get something done. Now I wonder whether their revolutionary ardour was stilled by pedestrian concerns like toilets, and mending of leaky roofs, the appointment of another mess contractor because the old one had run away and they were forced to eat outside!

Exploring this theme further in my imagination I wondered whether the charismatic teachers, if by some magic were transplanted in this dismal setting, would they still be able to ignite the same intellectual curiosity, the same iconoclastic impulse or "a free mind depended" necessarily, "on a physically and socially free space."

Brecht suddenly made sense to me,

"Among the highly placed.

It is considered low to talk about food.

The fact is: they have

Already eaten.

The lowly must leave this earth

Without having tasted

Any good meat."

I had quoted another former JNU student in my last post, who abandoned his faith to quit the ABVP, who spoke of a Brahminical order of intellectual hierarchy in which the Marxists were at the top and everybody else at the bottom. Those who fight for the rights of the underprivileged, for the Dalits of the social order were equally assertive of their rights to keep the ideologically unsophisticated  the Dalits of the intellectual order- and all shades of the "other" at bay. This may itself be a form of "unfreedom" because if the avant-garde of the university thinks it is freedom to promote the dismemberment of the nation, some people may claim the right to be retrograde, revanchist, superstitious, reactionary.

The arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar is one act of folly that the government will repent at leisure. How much of it was professional ineptness, how much the eagerness of a retiring police commissioner anxious to please, and how much of it was an administration under onus to be seen as decisive, I cannot tell. But we have a full blown controversy which, if it has lowered the image of the government, it has not left JNU totally unscathed either. The best course would have been to leave the kids alone. They are such a privileged lot that they will seek police help for making revolution!

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
As our company continues to grow, we need to be responsive to our customers needs and this new building with adaptive infrastructure will enable us to be efficient and cost effective in all our program activities.

Rock West Composites (RWC) has moved this month into its new corporate headquarters at 7625 Panasonic Way in San Diego, California, a facility more than three times larger than its previous headquarters. While the company retains its locations in Salt Lake City, UT and Tijuana, Mexico, RWCs former San Diego location on Precision Park Lane will be vacated in favor of the new building.

With 107,000 sq. ft. of total space, there is 20,000 sq. ft. of office space, 80,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space, and an additional 7,000 sq. ft. for general warehouse use. The entire space is not fully utilized, and the company is positioned for significant growth. This building will house the corporate offices, engineering, product development, and manufacturing centered around prototyping and production.

The plant will be able to accommodate large scale composites production and significant new capital equipment with the intention of growing the companys already expansive capabilities to meet the space requirements of the expanding business. Its location is also close to the border with easy access to the companys Tijuana plant, which specializes in high-volume production. The new facility has an adaptive infrastructure that allows for rapid refitting of manufacturing areas to accommodate new program requirements. There are clean room areas with varying levels of classification to accommodate customer needs.

We are excited to start the new year in our new location, said Jim Gormican, CEO of Rock West Composites. As our company continues to grow, we need to be responsive to our customers needs and this new building with adaptive infrastructure will enable us to be efficient and cost effective in all our program activities.

To visit Rock West Composites website, go to https://www.rockwestcomposites.com.

About Rock West Composites

Rock West Composites provides composite products for a variety of markets and customers. Specializing in carbon fiber composites, RWC offers in-stock products, including tubes, plates and complementary materials, as well as custom products and solutions, such as product development, engineering services, prototyping, and manufacturing. Manufacturing processes include filament winding, roll wrap, resin infusion, bladder molding, modified closed mold, and compression molding processes. Rock West Composites has facilities in San Diego, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Baja California, Mexico. https://www.rockwestcomposites.com/
UK PM gets married in London

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Even answering machine messages sound frustrated in the search for COVID-19 vaccines.

We do not have any COVID-19 vaccine at this time, and we are not expected to receive any more at this time, says the recorded voice who answers at Family Pharmacy of Carbondale. If you have any questions about this, please call Gov. Wolfs office along with our local representatives.

Most Lackawanna County pharmacies and medical care providers listed as vaccine sites on the state Department of Health website have turned to answering machines to take names and numbers of callers. Some, including Old Forge Pharmacy, stopped taking names because of overwhelming demand.

As of Feb. 5, we are suspending the COVID-19 vaccine waiting list. We will reopen vaccine appointment scheduling when we receive more vaccine doses, a recording answering at Old Forge Pharmacy explains.

Almost a month after Gov. Tom Wolf expanded the list of people eligible to receive the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, some local providers have vaccines for people who signed up early enough, but even many of the early registrants face weeks more of waiting. For those without an appointment, the wait could stretch several months unless the vaccine supply increases.

The state will need about eight million vaccine doses to administer the two doses necessary to immunize the four million Pennsylvanians currently eligible, according to state Department of Health senior advisor Lindsey Mauldin. The state has received only 2.4 million doses.

So far, Pennsylvania providers have administered more than 1.3 million vaccines, including more than 302,000 people who have received both doses. In Lackawanna County, providers have administered 31,610 vaccines, which includes 8,546 who received both doses.

At the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Wolf expanded the eligibility list Jan. 14 to include people 65 and older and people 16 to 64 with high-risk medical conditions. Wolf said state officials expected the federal government to correspondingly increase vaccine supplies but that never happened.

President Joseph Biden announced an increase Tuesday of 5% to the nations weekly vaccine supply, the third in the last month. Also, Wolf and Democratic and Republican state House and Senate leaders formed a task force to communicate better about vaccinations and issues that arise. House Democrats named Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, D-114, Waverly, registered nurse, as their task force representative.

The Times-Tribune called telephone numbers of more than 15 providers listed on the Health Department website to gauge their vaccine status. One, the Wright Center offered appointments to established patients. Most rely on answering machines.

A recorded message at Allied Services Rehab Hospital on the Morgan Highway says the hospital has more than 8,000 people on its waiting list. Hometown Healthcare of NEPA in Covington Twp. has about 9,000 people waiting, a co-owner said.

Old Forge Pharmacys owner and pharmacist Lori Montella-Slocum has 1,200 people on her waiting list and received only one shipment of 300 doses, which she used in six days. She has received zero vaccines from subsequent orders, she said.

We had to stop taking requests, because I havent received vaccines, Montella-Slocum said. I think its been two weeks. Im going on the third week. And Im listed on the Department of Health website as having it ... So I dont know if Im getting any tomorrow, how many Im getting, if theyre going to allocate me any.

Allyson Favuzza, co-owner of Hometown Health Care of NEPA in Covington Twp., said five minutes after Wolf expanded eligibility the phone started ringing off the hook and by 5 p.m. we had about 523 phone calls.

With only her and two other staffers, she recorded an answering machine message, estimating that 99% of phone calls these days are about the vaccine.

Hometown Health Care has received 1,400 doses  all Moderna vaccines  and will run out of first doses this week after vaccinating about 1,000 people at a clinic at North Pocono High School recently, Favuzza said.

The first week, she ordered and received 200 doses. The week Wolf expanded eligibility, she ordered and received 1,000. The week after that, she ordered 1,500 and received 200. Since then, she has ordered 1,500 and received none. The uneven rollout and the lack of warning the eligibility list would expand frustrate her, she said.

We love to help the community, but, you know, its difficult, Favuzza said.
Police investigations into circumstances under which one Hardad Mubiru, a journalist attached to BTM TV in died, have revealed that he was involved in robbery in which another victim died in Kanyanya Quarter Zone.

Mubiru's body was last night found in Kanyanya Quarter Zone but police say he was involved in a fight with another person who had interned to rescue a female robbery victim. Police identified the man as Hussein Kato who is said to have died following the fight with Mubiru.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango said Mubiru was moving in a group of five other people which attacked an unidentified woman to rob her at around 8pm on Saturday.

"The woman made an alarm which prompted Kato intervene and rescue her. The fight ensued, but Mubiru's gang was about to overpower Kato when he also made an alarm. The four men took off and left Mubiru fighting with Kato. Kato overpowered Mubiru and beat him badly," Superintendent of Police Onyango said.

Mubiru's gang returned and beat up Kato, but he was able to escape and when he reached his home he narrated the story to his wife.

"Kato's wife called a Special Police Constable Fred Ssempala attached to Kanyanya Police Station. SPC Ssempala arrived and took Kato to Kanyanya Clinic, but he died on arrival," Mr Onyango said.

Hundreds of metres from the scene, where the fight happened, eyewitnesses told police that they saw Mubiru crawling on the ground.

Related

Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesman, Mr Luke Owoyesigyire said the residents didn't help but closed their doors since they didn't know what had happened to him.

"On the February 7, 2021 at 8am, police at Kanyanya received a call from one Sseruyange that there was a body of a male adult, who was later identified as Mubiru," he said.

Police said his body was not found with "any serious injuries."

"We are waiting for a postmortem report today to understand what caused his death," Mr Owoyesigyire added.

Friends pay tribute

All is left of Mubiru are memories from colleagues and friends who worked with him.

"On behalf of the BTM TV management, we would love to send our condolences to the family of Mr Mubiru Hardad. We pray the lord protects and heals the wounds that are in place and may his soul rest in eternal peace," BTM said in a statement.

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Mr Abubaker Lubowa, a Daily Monitor photojournalist said he last saw Mubiru at the beginning of this month shortly after he had joined BTM TV.

"It's sad we have lost a colleague Hardad Mubiru cause of death not yet known but his body has been found lying by the road side. Last saw him at the beginning of this month and had joined BTM TV after leaving Red Pepper. We used to call him Hadad Rasta. Inalilahi Wainailahi Rajiun," Mr Lubowa posted on his Facebook wall.

Kampala-based lawyer who is also the Kyadondo East MP-elect, Mr Muwada Nkunyingi, said Mubiru was a common face at National Unity Platform (NUP) media briefings and had great interest in party presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi's ongoing Supreme Court partition filed against President Yoweri Museveni's victory last week.

"He did many inquisitive interviews at the Supreme Court on the day the Presidential petition was filed (February 1, 2021)... . In a country troubled with multiple scenes of Kidnap and disappearance of people, especially on political divergence, one may think that possibly his coverage of NUP activities may be the trigger since many other journalist were time before beaten, injured or mimed on duty," Mr Nkunyingi said.

"R.I.P Hadad Mubiru, you have gone too soon. Uganda Police Force I implore you to find the murderers and face the law," said Joseph Makumbi.
The best that we can hope for by May is a limitation of 50 guests or less, Provost Norberto Grzywacz said in an update Friday, referring to the limits on gatherings set by Illinois reopening plan. We would need more than 120 commencements over 40 days to cater to all students not including guests such as parents and friends.
The Telegraph

An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.
New rallies in Yangon despite military warnings

WORLD: Protesters started rallying across Myanmars largest city of Yangon today (Feb 9), defying warnings from the military threatening action against large gatherings.

Myanmarmilitary

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 9 February 2021, 09:50AM

Protesters hold signs as they take part in a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon yesterday (Feb 8). Photo: AFP.

Since the junta staged a coup on Feb 1 and ousted Myanmars leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power, waves of dissent have swept the country  with hundreds of thousands amassing in major cities.

By yesterday, the military issued a stern warning on state TV, vowing to take action... against offences that disturb, prevent and destroy the states stability.

Curfews and a ban on gatherings were also announced for hotspot areas across the country, including Yangons San Chaung and Kamayut townships  the main spots where protesters converged in recent days.

But in San Chaung township, about 200 teachers defied the orders today, carrying banners saying We are teachers, We want justice and waving a three-fingered salute  a gesture borrowed from pro-democracy movements across Asia.

Free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi! they yelled as they marched down the main road, where cars passing by honked their horns in support.

Down with the military dictatorship!

Across town, another group gathered in front of the headquarters of Suu Kyis National League for Democracy party.

Wearing red  the NLDs colours  the protesters carried Suu Kyis portraits and chanted for the military to free her.

Despite a tarnished reputation in the West for her handling of the Rohingya crisis, Suu Kyi remains an immensely popular figure in the country, with her party sweeping more than 80% of the votes in Novembers election.

But the army said the polls were marred by widespread voter fraud  the reason they have used to justify the military coup.
Harry Thomas Little is is seen arriving at Downing Centre Courts in Sydney, Monday, February 8, 2021.

A police officer was driving at 133km per hour in a 70-zone a second before he crashed into a grandmother, leaving her with a severe brain injury, his trial has heard.

But Harry Thomas Little, 42, honestly believed he had his lights and sirens on, his lawyer says.

The senior constable has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm after his highway patrol car slammed into the driver side of Sydney woman Gai Vieira's Mercedes in September 2018.

Ms Vieira had been turning right onto Cronulla's six-lane Kingsway at the same time Little tried to chase down a Volkswagen whose driver was suspected of illegally using their mobile phone.

'Whilst driving at 133 kilometres per hour ... the crown case is that this police car did not have its police siren on or its police lights on,' crown prosecutor Carl Young told Little's District Court trial on Tuesday.

Ms Vieira, wife of millionaire horse racing mogul Bert Vieira, suffered a severe brain injury 'from which she will likely never recover', the prosecutor said.

Gai Vieira (pictured) had been turning right onto Cronulla's six-lane Kingsway at the same time the police officer tried to chase a Volkswagen driver suspected of illegally using their mobile phone

Police officer Harry Thomas Little was recorded driving at 133.5km/h one second before he hit the driver side of Gai Vieira's Mercedes (scene pictured)

The Sydney jury hearing the case is expected to focus on the 45 seconds between the Volkswagen driver driving past Little and him colliding with the then-68-year-old grandmother.

Little, who joined the police force in 2002, was stationed near Kingsway when he received a radio call about the driver's suspected use of a mobile phone.

But he was not immediately able to turn into the arterial road due to traffic, the jury was told.

By the time he did, the Volkswagen was about 20 seconds past the senior constable's location.

It's agreed that Little accelerated quickly to 122km/h, 'braked heavily and slowed' to about 73km/h to move around an L-plater and then accelerated again once back in the right lane.

The police car was recorded at 135.4km/h about one to two seconds before impacting Ms Vieira's car.

Harry Thomas Little (pictured) has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm at court on Monday

Little hit his brakes as Ms Vieira crossed the three westbound lanes, but his car was still travelling at 87km/h when it collided with the driver door of the Mercedes.

The Crown will be required to prove Little was driving in a manner dangerous to the public and was doing so without an honest or reasonable belief that he was not driving dangerously.

'A key part is that a fully marked police vehicle, even if travelling at speed, might create an expectation that other vehicles will get out of the way, or at least give way to that vehicle,' defence barrister Hament Dhanji SC said in his opening address.

Little honestly believed he'd switched his lights and sirens on after passing the L-plater, Mr Dhanji said, adding his client may give evidence.

Ms Vieira (pictured) has been left with severe brain injury 'from which she will likely never recover'

Experienced officers are due to tell the jury the in-car panel used to activate police lights and sirens does not always respond in the manner the operator expects.

If the Crown hadn't excluded the possibility Little believed the lights were on, Mr Dhanji said the jury would 'judge the driving as if the lights were on'.

He warned the case was not about proving 'simply that things could have been done differently (or) that Mr Little did not have to pursue the Volkswagen'.

'There's no doubt in this room that everyone including Mr Little wishes he didn't pursue that car.'

The trial is expected to hear from the L-plater, his supervisor, other drivers on the road at the time and Little's colleagues.

The trial is expected to run for seven days.

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The last time a California governor chose a new attorney general, Donald Trump had just been elected president. As Democrats geared up to make California the "Resistance State," newly appointed state attorney general Xavier Becerra quickly went to work suing the Trump administration.

He kept it up at a mind-boggling clip, filing 110 lawsuits over the next four years.

With a Democrat now in the White House, the attorney general who broke records suing Trump has been nominated for a cabinet position by President Joe Biden. If he's confirmed, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom must pick a new attorney general for a decidedly different time.

California's next attorney general will likely turn the focus inward. The office has huge responsibilities within the state, including consumer protection, gambling and firearms regulation, internet privacy enforcement and criminal investigations.

"AG's are really an often unknown, often overlooked, but very critical component to state and national governance," said Samantha Corbin, a Sacramento lobbyist whose "Age of AG's" podcast examines attorneys general around the country.

Under a new law signed last year, the California attorney general also will be tasked with investigating all deadly police shootings of unarmed civilians. It's one reason civil rights advocates are pressuring Newsom to appoint an attorney general who will take a more active role in rooting out police misconduct -- something Becerra largely declined to do.

"I really would like a robust Department of Justice taking the lead on this issue to hold police accountable," said Kate Chatfield, senior legal analyst at The Appeal, which advocates for progressive changes to the criminal justice system.

The attorney general is also the state's top cop, and traditionally comes to the job with a law enforcement background. So Newsom is also facing pressure from prosecutors and police -- though they are more discreet about it.

"At such a critical time, with so many issues facing law enforcement and our communities, above all else we need an Attorney General with public safety experience who can bring groups together to find solutions," Eric Nunez, president of California Police Chiefs Association, said in a statement to CalMatters.

Newsom has been very guarded about his process for picking the next attorney general, and did not answer a reporter's question about what qualities he seeks. With a potential recall looming, it's likely the governor wants a strong ally in the office -- not a political climber who might take a stab at challenging him in a future election. But he also probably wants a good politician who can successfully win re-election in 2022.

And then there's the question of how far left Newsom wants to go. Will he pick a progressive attorney general who helps him shore up his liberal base? Or a more moderate Democrat who keeps him in good standing with law enforcement?

Newsom has said he won't announce his pick until after the U.S. Senate confirms Becerra as secretary of Health and Human Services. A confirmation hearing date has not been announced.

Here's a look at top contenders to be Newsom's state attorney general choice, and a caveat: There's a chance that his ultimate pick is not listed here. An appointment like this is a secretive process with no requirements for the kinds of public disclosures that take place in an election. The last time California went through this exercise -- in 2016, when then-Gov. Jerry Brown replaced then-attorney general Kamala Harris after she was elected to the U.S. Senate -- the selection of Becerra came as a complete surprise.

Rob Bonta

Current job: Assembly member representing Oakland and Alameda

Selling points:

Bonta and Newsom have been allies in making some changes to the criminal justice system. Both pushed for a legal marijuana marketplace (approved by voters in 2016) and an end to the use of cash bail (overturned by voters in 2020). They also worked together to phase out California's use of private prisons, something Newsom called for in his 2019 inaugural speech that Bonta wrote up as a bill that the governor signed into law.

Bonta has won endorsements from prominent civil rights advocates, including Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza and attorney/CNN personality Van Jones. Numerous ethnic advocacy groups are asking Newsom to recognize California's growing Asian-American population by tapping him. His Filipino heritage would make him a historic pick.

Liabilities:

He's among the Assembly's most liberal Democrats, and is often at odds with law enforcement. Choosing him might damage Newsom's relationship with police.

Ethics attorneys have questioned Bonta's pattern of raising money for groups that employ his wife. A CalMatters investigation found that he helped his wife's nonprofits raise more than $560,000, largely by soliciting donations from companies that lobby the Legislature. He also asked interest groups to donate to a foundation he created, which in turn loaned $25,000 to his wife's employer. The arrangement is legal but controversial. Said former chair of California's political watchdog agency Ann Ravel: "I think it is highly inappropriate and should be illegal."

Darrell Steinberg

Current job: Sacramento Mayor

Selling points:

Steinberg has substantial experience as a political leader in periods of upheaval. During six years as leader of the state Senate, Steinberg helped broker a bipartisan deal to fix the state's massive budget deficit and craft a plan to reduce the prison population after a federal court ruled prison crowding unconstitutional. He led the historic effort to suspend three fellow Democratic senators indicted on criminal charges. As mayor, he's been in the middle of the debate over how to improve policing since 2018, when Sacramento officers killed an unarmed Black man in his grandparents' backyard, sparking massive protests. Steinberg eventually introduced reforms, creating an inspector general to investigate police shootings and a new system for routing non-criminal 911 calls to social workers instead of police.

He and the governor are friends: Steinberg endorsed Newsom early in his gubernatorial campaign; Newsom appointed him to lead a panel pursuing strategies to reduce homelessness.

Liabilities:

Local activists have criticized Steinberg for not doing enough to hold police accountable or provide shelter for homeless people. Police complain he hasn't given them enough say in his reforms.

During his final year as Senate leader, three staff members lost their jobs after the Sacramento Bee revealed a pattern of nepotism among administrators and security personnel. The FBI raided the Capitol and two senators were sent to prison for corruption, while a third was convicted of perjury. Steinberg was not implicated in his colleagues' crimes, but he was the face of a troubled institution.

Adam Schiff

Current job: Member of Congress representing Los Angeles; chair of the House Intelligence Committee

Selling points:

Schiff developed a national profile for his leading role in the first impeachment of President Donald Trump, earning him accolades as an up and coming Democrat (and multiple nicknames from the Twitter-obsessed president). Being a Trump antagonist gives him a sheen of political stardom and could play well with California voters.

His robust campaign warchest could demonstrate that he's prepared to run for statewide office. His close relationship with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- The New York Times called him one of her "most trusted confidants" -- could help him build trust with Newsom, as the governor and Pelosi have family connections that go back generations. Axios reported that Pelosi has given Schiff her approval to seek the state appointment.

As a moderate Democrat and a former federal prosecutor, Schiff would likely be welcomed by law enforcement.

Liabilities:

His tough-on-crime record makes him unpopular with progressives -- and out of step with Newsom's more liberal criminal justice record. As a state lawmaker in the late 1990s, Schiff wrote legislation permitting longer prison sentences and allowing 14-year-olds accused of rape or murder to be tried as adults without input from a judge. In Congress, he voted for the Patriot Act that widened police power to surveil Americans, and to expand the federal death penalty. Newsom issued an executive order to halt executions in California.

Diana Becton

Current job: Contra Costa County district attorney

Selling points:

As part of a cadre of progressive prosecutors who advocate reduced sentences, ending cash bail and prohibiting the trying of juveniles as adults, Becton aligns with many of Newsom's positions and would likely please his liberal base. After George Soros and other liberal donors poured millions into a handful of California district attorney races in 2018, she was the only winner of the bunch. Among her swift changes: requiring her office make a public report on every fatal police shooting.

The Legislature's Black caucus has endorsed her for attorney general, calling her "the transformative candidate for these turbulent times." The women's caucus also recommended her.

Liabilities:

Attorneys in Becton's office have openly accused her of political retaliation and criticized her leadership style, contributing to what the Bay Area News Group described as an exodus of at least a dozen employees. In one case, prosecutors chastised her plea deal that freed a man from death row without adequately testing two rape kits. Office conflicts boiled over at a public hearing over her reprimand of a deputy district attorney.

Amid the pandemic restrictions prohibiting parties that bring multiple households together, Becton hosted a backyard wedding in August with about 30 guests, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Jeff Rosen

Current job: Santa Clara County District Attorney

Selling points:

A career prosecutor who has led one of the state's largest district attorney's offices for the last decade, Rosen has the resume of a traditional attorney general. He heads an office of more than 600 people tasked with prosecuting crime in Silicon Valley, including the high-profile rape trial of Stanford student Brock Turner.

Last year, Rosen announced changes meant to bring more racial equity to his county's criminal justice system. He said he would stop seeking the death penalty and work to end the use of cash bail in California -- putting his stances in line with Newsom's. The policy changes earned him cautious praise from criminal justice reform advocates.

Yet Rosen still has support from the more conservative side of his profession. The California District Attorneys Association praised Rosen's "surpassing legal acumen and unassailable integrity," in a letter to Newsom that CalMatters obtained. A spokesman for the association said Rosen was one of several attorneys the group recommended, and that it wouldn't release their names out of deference to the governor's difficult decision.

Liabilities:

Before turning against the death penalty, Rosen actively campaigned for it in 2012, when Californians voted to retain it. Nor was that the only time he's been at odds with progressives. In 2018, he challenged a law that prohibits charging juveniles under 16 as adults, a change activists had pushed for. After the Turner case, Rosen opposed recalling the judge who issued a light sentence -- a stance outraged voters rejected by tossing the judge.

Goodwin Liu

Current job: Associate justice of the California Supreme Court

Selling points:

Liu gained national prominence a decade ago when Republicans in the U.S. Senate blocked his nomination to the federal court, dealing then-President Obama his first major defeat in judicial nominations. Gov. Jerry Brown then appointed him to the California Supreme Court, where he has cemented his reputation as a liberal jurist, writing decisions that favor workers over employers, and becoming what UC Berkeley law school dean Erwin Chemerinsky called "the court's leading voice on criminal justice reform."

He's endorsed by labor leaders, legal scholars and some criminal justice reform advocates, including a former prison inmate who met Liu when the judge took his staff to visit San Quentin.

Liabilities:

It's unusual for a high-level judge to move on to an elected office like attorney general, so the potential for Liu to be successful in politics is unknown. Although his supporters have framed his lack of political experience as an asset, he would likely begin his tenure as attorney general without the political infrastructure to help him win reelection next year.

Anna Caballero

Current job: State senator representing a rural region including Salinas and Merced

Selling points:

Caballero has strong relationships with law enforcement, experience leading a state agency and a background providing legal services to needy Californians. In 2019, she played a role in negotiating the state's landmark law limiting police use of deadly force -- by carrying an alternative bill that police unions backed. It didn't make the changes that civil rights advocates sought but served as a tool that helped forge compromise between the two sides, which Newsom wanted. In the end, he signed both her bill to require conflict de-escalation training for officers, and the other bill that limited the circumstances when police can shoot. She spoke openly about her fear, as a Latina mother, that her teenage son could be harmed by police, telling CalMatters that she told him: "'They're going to see you as a Mexican kid.'"

California has never had a Latina attorney general, and Newsom likes making history.

Liabilities:

Caballero represents a rural swing district and may be more conservative than most Democratic voters statewide. By plucking her out of the state Senate, Newsom would force a special election that Republicans could have a shot of winning.
Texas GOP Representative Ron Wright died on Monday with COVID-19 battle during the recent office campaign.

GOP Rep. Ron Wright died from COVID-19 while receiving cancer care

Wright, 67, last month tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized for the past two weeks in Dallas. His team reported in a statement that Wright "passed away peacefully" with his wife Susan at his side on Sunday.

"Ron continued his fast wit and optimism until the very end, as friends, family, and many of his constituents will know," the statement reads." "Ron never lacked the desire to get up and go to work, to motivate those around him, or to offer fatherly advice, despite years of painful, sometimes debilitating treatment for cancer."

According to Politico, Rep. Ron Wright's death comes less than two months after the House lost another member: Rep.-elect Luke Letlow (R-La.), who died of coronavirus, too. Over the past year, hundreds of representatives have already tested positive for COVID-19, and in December, lawmakers began obtaining the vaccine.

In a statement, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said, "For Ron, public service was more than a job, it was a calling," "The difference he was able to make over the past two decades will keep living on in every life he touched."

Read also: Biden Does Not Want Trump To Receive Intelligence Briefings, Claims He Might 'Slip and Say Something'

In 2019, after running for the Arlington-Fort Worth area seat vacated by Rep. Joe Barton, Wright first went to Congress. In 2020, with 53 % of the vote, he won. It is now likely that a special election will be held in 2021 to pick a new delegate for the suburban area, which has been more Democratic in recent years. In 2012, Mitt Romney won the district by 17 %. Trump won it in 2016 by 12 points and again in 2020 by just 3 points.

Sunday, almost two weeks after contracting COVID-19, Texas Republican Congressman Ron Wright died. According to a statement issued by his office, Wright, the first former member of Congress who died of the infection, had also been receiving cancer care for years.

He and his wife, Susan Wright, have been at Baylor Hospital in Dallas for the past two weeks after being diagnosed with COVID-19. On January 21, after he had come into touch a week ago with someone who had the disorder, Wright issued a statement revealing he had tested positive, CBS News reported.

Earlier that week, Wright confirmed he and his team members had come into touch with someone who, after the House vote to impeach President Donald Trump, tested positive for the virus.

Read also: Senator Patrick Leahy Rushed to the Hospital Hours After Being Sworn In to Preside Trump Impeachment Trial

Who is GOP Rep. Ron Wright?

In 2018, Wright faced a crowded Republican primary with occupying the seat in the Sixth Congressional District, which came open after Republican Joe Barton announced he would not seek re-election in the wake of a national controversy. Previously, Wright served as the chief of staff and district director for Barton.

The US House District 6 included Fort Worth and extended south of Dallas, as per USA Today. Wright revealed, after his tenure in local politics, that he would run for Congress. His goals included border protection, repairing "our broken immigration system," and restructuring of taxes.

In a 2018 interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Wright said that he should be chosen for the spot because he has the "willingness to say no to the Washington establishment."

In the Republican runoff, Ron Wright defeated Jake Ellzey and then overcame Democrat Jana Lynne Sanchez in the general election by about 8%. He defeated Democrat Stephen Daniel comfortably to secure last year's re-election. His wife, Susan; his sons, Derek and Justin; his daughter, Rachel; his brother, Gary; and nine grandchildren survived Wright.

Read also: Trump Appointee Sues Joe Biden, Urges Him to Resign Before Term Ends

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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Stephanie Hernandez of East Hartford, Conn is one of 25 newly hired production technicians assembling American-made drones at Aquiline Drones in Hartford, Conn. "Our goal is to not only position our country as a leader in the multi-billion-dollar global drone industry, but also, to reestablish America's manufacturing dominance. This is in perfect harmony with our companys powerful strategic vision of making Connecticut the drone capital of the nation.

Aquiline Drones (AD) meets the increasing demand for "Made in America" drones by opening the first drone manufacturing and assembly plant in Connecticut. The Hartford-based aviation cloud solutions provider and commercial drone manufacturer now produces Drone Volt's Altura Zenith and Hercules 2 drones  re-branded by AD as the Spartacus line of drones: Spartacus MACKS and Spartacus HURRICANE.

Last year, AD signed exclusive U.S. manufacturing, sales and distribution licensing agreements with Drone Volt (ALDRV.PA), a French drone manufacturer of professional civilian drones. AD also entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Drone Volt and Aerialtronics through a 10% stock/equity swap with these entities. Under the terms of a five-year deal with Drone Volt, Aquiline Drones becomes the sole manufacturer of the Pensar smart camera - a multispectral sensor, complete with artificial intelligence and edge computing capabilities, along with manufacturing the above-mentioned drones.

"Growing data security concerns over foreign-manufactured technology, mainly from China, has created an immediate need for increased drone production capacity in the United States," said Barry Alexander, Chairman & CEO of Aquiline Drones. "Our goal is to not only position our country as a leader in the multi-billion-dollar global drone industry, but also, to reestablish America's manufacturing dominance. This is in perfect harmony with our companys powerful strategic vision of making Connecticut the drone capital of the nation.

Alexander notes that AD now has a team of twenty-five technicians working in its new 7,000 square foot, state-of-the-art, drone manufacturing and assembly lab. This manufacturing team projects to double in the coming weeks to address the rapidly accelerating market demand for American-made drones.

Amid the pandemic, AD has employed several of its new manufacturing employees with the support of Capital Workforce Partners (CWP), a Hartford-based workforce organization with a statewide reach dedicated to helping businesses find, retain and grow the most qualified talent. CWP helps adults develop skills necessary to thrive in the state's job market and directs them to employers seeking those talents.

Another highly effective platform utilized in identifying new employees was CT Hires, an online employment service hosted by the State of Connecticut Department of Labor. Besides receiving in-bound applications and resumes, CWP and CT Hires have been essential tools for AD's hiring efforts. According to Alexander, "we are only as successful as the community which sustains us, and while we are in the process of changing the drone landscape on a global level, we are particularly committed to efforts supportive of our local community in whatever capacity necessary."

AD occupies 15,000 square feet in the Stark Building, a historic architectural landmark located in Hartford's financial district. The company is now constructing a street-level showroom and retail store for drones and sensors, as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of various drone models. To address the economy's growing demand for commercial drone technologies, ADs company-wide manufacturing expansion plans include:



Adding a second shift of production workers

Moving into a larger facility in Bridgeport, Conn

Sourcing of specific components from American-only suppliers.

"To quickly scale our commercial drone production capacity, our team decided to consolidate all manufacturing operations at our downtown Hartford headquarters to avoid the logistical challenges of managing a separate facility," explained Alexander. "Safety and performance are key areas of focus in the UAV industry and this process enables us to maintain stringent quality control throughout the production cycle."

Igniting the spark to build a new drone manufacturing ecosystem in the U.S. was The American Security Drone Act of 2019/2020, legislation co-authored by Connecticut Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy. This development paves the way for U.S.-based drone manufacturers - such as Aquiline Drones - to enter a red-hot industry growing at 13.8% annually. According to the FAA, drones represent the fastest-growing segment in the entire transportation sector.

ADs new venture also comes on the heels of the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ's) announcement on October 9, 2020, officially banning the use of DOJ funds to purchase or operate any drone from 'covered foreign' countries. China is estimated to originate more than 70% of the global share of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) drones.

"We are delighted to be establishing ourselves as the domestic manufacturer in this terrific industry - building an entire drone ecosystem, pushing the limits of technology development and delivering useful capabilities, previously imagined, but never before seen," said Alexander.

About Aquiline Drones

Aquiline Drones (AD) is an American drone and cloud solutions company located in the financial district of Hartford, Connecticut. Founded by highly experienced aviators, systems engineers, IT gurus, and business strategists, AD delivers a vertically integrated blend of products and services. Its ecosystem includes a hybrid aviation cloud with edge capabilities for commercial drones, US-based drone manufacturing, 'maintenance-repair-overhaul' services, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) solutions for large enterprises and governments.

Complimenting the company's technology is its superior line of Spartacus AI drone products, a robust UAS training academy, and the country's first 'drone-on-demand' service, enabling customers to order drone services through a proprietary mobile app. AD's full-spectrum of technological solutions are widely applicable across industries and environments for superior, real-time data processing, modeling, and insight. Visit http://www.aquilinedrones.com for more information.
MYRTLE BEACH  Rep. Tom Rice may very well be the most interesting member of the South Carolina delegation to the U.S. Congress since he garnered international attention for supporting the impeachment of former President Donald Trump.

And despite thousands of angry calls, the notoriety and dozens of interviews, he took the stage at the Post & Courier Pints & Politics at Tidal Creek Brewhouse event to discuss his impeachment vote, the pandemic recovery effort and the future of the conservative party as Rice faces a tough party primary in 2022.

This is nothing new. Its a part of the job, Rice said. Every two years we have to answer to the folks who elect us.

Rice has made one other virtual public appearance since the impeach vote, holding a town hall meeting where several members of the community had a mixed response to his vote for impeachment. Some called it the end of his political career, while others praised his moral stance.

On Monday, he answered questions diving further into his decision from the Post & Couriers Thomas Novelly and Schuyler Kropf.

Rice stood by his vote and explained that it was a vote of conscience following the final weeks of Trumps presidency. The Jan. 6 riots that resulted in the death of a police officer weighed heavily on his mind as he cast the vote to impeach Donald Trump for his actions that led to the riot and how he handled the fallout of the violence.

When I got back to Washington I asked my staff to pull together everything the president was doing that day, Rice said. I got those materials and studied them. The more I read, the more angry I got.

The vote immediately sent shockwaves across South Carolina resulting in the congressman being censured by his own party. The censure comes during a split within the state GOP  the far-right wing and more moderates. Rice believes most Republicans support opening up the party to a wide array of supporters.

Ive talked to the county chairs and we all want the same thing. I believe in the Republican party platform, Rice said. I believe it will uplift more Americans than any other platform. I believe they got too tied up in this one man.

Rice did not support removing Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from her committee assignments following her support for violence against Democratic members of Congress. Rice overall supports more bipartisanship in the coming term from both sides of the aisle, but thinks majority party members shouldnt remove minority party members from committee assignments.

Her voters knew about her opinions and her voters voted her in. If we are going to start excluding members of Congress because we dont like their opinions, where is that going to go? Rice said.

Rice will seek re-election despite the mounting opposition against him, as he has drawn four potential challengers.

While Rice has spent a lot of time explaining and defending his impeachment vote as of late, he still has his job representing the people of the 7th Congressional District to tend to.

More immediately Rice hopes to get the nations economy back to where it was ahead of the pandemic. Rice, a tax lawyer by trade, was instrumental in many of the Trump Administration's tax and economic initiatives.

Rices platform from the beginning, he said, fought to make the United States more competitive in the global economy  similar to the Make America Great Again slogan that later became the central rallying cry for Trump.

Notably, Rice is a supporter of Interstate 73 being extended into the Grand Strand. He sees it as an imperative to attracting a more diverse economy and growing the job market. While Trump promised a billion-dollar infrastructure package, it never came to fruition. Rice hopes future infrastructure bills dont forget I-73 and growth needs in smaller states.

Focusing on economic reform has been a hallmark of Rices legislative career, with his campaign slogan often being jobs, jobs, jobs, Rice fought to have the tourism industry included in federal programs to help deal with the pandemics recovery. While the industry didnt get all the financial protections he advocated for, he hopes to see the latest round of government aid benefit the Grand Strand community.

They put a requirement in a PPP program that your revenue had to be 25 percent less year over year, Rice said. That excluded a lot of industries that didnt need it as badly as the hospitality industry.

Pints & Politics is a speaker series put on by the Post & Courier to discuss the latest issues facing the Palmetto State. Check postandcourier.com for more information about upcoming events.
WASHINGTON  The impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump has presented a number of novel constitutional questions. One of those was mundane: Who should preside over it? Could it even be Vice President Kamala Harris, who campaigned to defeat him?

That duty ultimately fell to Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, who serves as president pro tempore of the Senate. It was Leahy who gaveled the Senate into session Tuesday, opening senators service as jurors in Trumps trial.

But that wasnt necessarily constitutionally dictated. For a time, some wondered if Harris might hold the gavel as president of the Senate.

Although impeachment is provided for by the Constitution, the document is largely silent on procedures. What is spelled out is that the chief justice of the Supreme Court presides over Senate trials of a president.

But though Chief Justice John Roberts sat in the presiding officers chair for Trumps first impeachment trial, in early 2020, he is absent for this one. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said that was Roberts call.

It was up to John Roberts whether he wanted to preside with a president whos no longer sitting, Trump. And he doesnt want to do it, Schumer told MSNBC last month.

Schumer then explained that Leahy was presumed next up.

Traditionally, what has happened is then the next in line is the Senate pro tem, Schumer said. Thats the most senior senator on the majority side and thats Sen. Leahy, who is a very experienced man and a very fair man.

Trumps defense team pointed to Roberts absence as evidence the proceedings were invalid. House impeachment manager Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., tried to deal with that argument during Tuesdays debate on the constitutionality of the trial.

There is only one person who is president of the United States at a time. Right now, Joseph R. Biden Jr. is the 46th president of the United States, Cicilline said. The normal rules of any impeachment of anyone other than the sitting president apply, and under those rules, the president pro tem, Sen. Leahy, can preside.

The role of the president pro tem is to preside over the Senate in the absence of the vice president. In the modern era, that has been the case most of the time  the vice president rarely comes to the Capitol except to break tie votes.

Vice presidents have presided over impeachment trials, according to NPR. Vice President Thomas Jefferson presided over a 1799 trial of a senator and Vice President Aaron Burr oversaw an 1805 trial of a Supreme Court justice. But there have no modern examples, and some scholars have debated whether it is permitted under the spirit of the Constitution.

Its not clear whether Harris was even asked by senators to preside over Trumps trial. A White House aide queried by The Chronicle pointed to the lack of any modern precedent for her to do so.

The optics would be awkward at best, as Harris would be in the position of overseeing the trial of a president she campaigned against over allegations he incited an insurrection to interrupt the certification of her election. One potential consequence of a conviction would be a follow-up Senate vote forbidding Trump from running against the Democratic ticket in the 2024 campaign.

Leahy put out a statement in late January confirming he would hold the job. That arrangement has presented its own questions. As a sitting senator, Leahy is also a juror in the trial.

But the presiding officer is not exactly like a judge in the case. Leahy, for example, does not dictate how the proceedings will unfold. That was set out in an agreement between Schumer and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Senators themselves can vote on disputes. The presiding officers role is mainly ceremonial to keep things moving, much like the turns senators take in the chair during daily Senate business.

A Twitter account affiliated with Trump tweeted criticism of Leahy presiding Tuesday afternoon.

Imagine having a trial where the judge had already voted to convict the defendant? Thats what happens in banana republics, third world dictatorships and now the United States Senate. SAD! Trump War Room tweeted.

But Leahy sent a letter to his colleagues Tuesday pledging to be impartial in his role.

As many of you know, I did not ask or seek to preside over this trial, Leahy wrote, saying he had studied the issue and consulted with the Senate parliamentarian. He said any questions put before him to decide during the trial would be subject to a vote of the full Senate.

As have past presiding officers, I will enforce the Senate rules and precedents governing decorum and do what I can to ensure this trial reflects the best traditions of the Senate, consistent with the oath each senator took to do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, Leahy wrote.

There may be one role for Harris as the trial goes forward. If there are any votes on procedures that deadlock, she would break the tie.

Conviction requires a two-thirds majority of the 100-member body, however, meaning Harris would not vote in any scenario on Trumps guilt.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
London, Feb 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Feb, 2021 ) :Human rights groups have urged the new US administration to drop its case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, ahead of a Friday deadline for Washington to appeal against a court ruling that barred his extradition from Britain.

Twenty-four organisations including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International USA and Reporters Without Borders wrote an open letter demanding a change of course by President Joe Biden's Department of Justice.

"Journalists at major news publications regularly speak with sources, ask for clarification or more documentation, and receive and publish documents the government considers secret," the letter said.

"In our view, such a precedent in this case could effectively criminalise these common journalistic practices." Under former president Donald Trump, the DoJ filed 18 charges against Assange relating to the 2010 release by WikiLeaks of 500,000 secret files detailing aspects of military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The US claims he helped intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning steal the 2010 documents before exposing confidential sources around the world, behaving in a reckless way well beyond normal journalistic practice.

He faces a possible 175-year sentence if convicted but Assange and his lawyers have long argued the case against him is politically motivated.

However, revelations that Assange had sought to coordinate with Trump's campaign team in 2016 have not endeared him to Biden's Democrats in Washington, after WikiLeaks also leaked internal party emails that helped tip that year's election to the Republican.

In 2010, when he was vice president, Biden called Assange a "high tech terrorist" who had put lives at risk.

Last month, a London judge refused to grant a US request for Assange's extradition but then refused him bail, pending any DoJ appeal against her verdict.

The 49-year-old Australian has been held at a high-security prison since he was convicted in 2019 for skipping bail, following his forcible removal from Ecuador's embassy in London where he had sheltered for seven years.
As Nigeria searches for a mega carrier that will stand the test of time, meet the desired requirements for operational reciprocity and balance up the Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA), stakeholders in the nation's aviation industry have advised domestic airline operators to merge with one another.

According to them, merger is the only way domestic airlines can function smoothly, beating the 10-year ceiling for closure and also make economic impact consistently.

Reports have indicated that except for Aero Contractors, that was initially managed by British technical partner, hardly is there one Nigerian domestic airline that had up to 10 years lifespan.

It becomes even more worrisome in an era that, COVID-19 safety measures will add to the costs of operation.

Despite these challenges of high mortality coupled with other operational factors, domestic airlines, over the years, have not found the need to merge due to reasons that experts attribute to personal ego.

Speaking on the need for local airline to merge, former commandant Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) group Captain John Ojikutu noted that the refusal to merge is primarily caused by ego coupled with the fact that there are some loopholes in the government policies.

Advising the government, Capt Ojikutu said, "Individual egos is the cause. Government policy on private airline operators is not well defined, this has created the recklessness in the management of their earnings and carelessness about their debts especially to the government services providers."

According to Ojikutu, a review of the policy should restrict their operations in the domestic routes for minimum of four years and with good economic or commercial audit reports of another four years, before they can be approved for regional routes.

Explaining further, Ojikutu, an aviation security expert said, "Further progression into continental routes should also be considered only with clean economic or commercial audits of another four years; same for approval into intercontinental routes. For any of them to enjoy government financial intervention or designated as a flag carrier, it must sell minimum 40 per cent of its shares to the public, quoted on NSE and showing always good annual financial returns to the shareholders."
New Delhi, Feb 9 : In a big relief to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai and five other journalists, the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed their arrest in multiple FIRs against them over their alleged tweets in connection with violence in Delhi during the tractor rally on Republic Day.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi Police, contended before a bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde that tweets published by Tharoor and others had a horrendous effect and insisted that he could bring on record material to establish this.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, submitted before the bench, "What prejudice will be caused if protection from the arrest is given to the petitioners". He cited that sedition has also been added.

The counsel for petitioner argued: "What have they done to get charged with sedition?" Mehta opposed this argument saying that wrong tweets and reporting about a farmer being shot dead when he died of accidental injuries, had an horrendous impact during the violence.

Mukul Rohatgi, representing The Caravan magazine, said that the client has already withdrawn the tweet and put out a correct version, yet FIRs have been lodged against the journalists. Rohatgi insisted that his client has not hurt any religious sentiments.

The bench noted that petitioners will not be arrested till the next date of hearing.

Mehta, who was appearing for the Delhi Police, assured the court that these accused will not be arrested till next date.

The top court reiterated that all the petitioners should be protected from arrest till next hearing. Mehta said he cannot give assurance on behalf of other state governments.

The accused in the FIRs are Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and scribes -- Rajdeep Sardesai, Anant Nath and Paresh Nath, Mrinal Pandey, Zafar Agha and Vinod K. Jose. The FIRs have been lodged against them for their alleged misstatements and wrong reporting on the tractor rally violence on Republic Day.

On January 30, Delhi Police had filed a case against Tharoor, Sardesai, The Caravan and others.

The FIR filed in Delhi was filed on a complaint by city resident Chiranjiv Kumar. He complained that Tharoor and the others misled people on the death of a protester in central Delhi's ITO when thousands of farmers entered areas in the national capital, including the Red Fort, which was not part of the agreed route to carry out the tractor rally.

Earlier, Tharoor and six journalists were booked by the Noida Police for sedition, among other charges, in connection with the violence during the tractor rally in Delhi. Journalists Mrinal Pande, Zafar Agha, Paresh Nath and Anant Nath have also moved the top court challenging the FIRs.

The petitioners have challenged these FIRs, which claimed that they published alleged misleading tweets on violence on Republic Day.

Madhya Pradesh Police have also filed a case against Tharoor and the six journalists over their alleged misleading tweets in connection with violence during the tractor rally in Delhi.

On January 26, thousands of protesting farmers deviated from the agreed route to carry out the tractor rally and clashed with the police in several parts of the capital. The farmer unions had decided to carry out a tractor rally to highlight their protest against the three farm laws, as they insisted the Centre to repeal these laws.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Multiple agencies are working at rescuing over 30 workers feared trapped inside a big tunnel at Tapovan. (Image: PIB in Uttarakhand)

Climate Change? Glacier lake outburst flood? Natural disaster? Manmade calamity? Deforestation? Dams? Roads? Greed? Gods?

The jury is out on what caused the latest Himalayan disaster, when a part of Nandadevi glacier broke off in the Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on February 7 morning, causing massive floods in the Dhauliganga and Rishiganga rivers.

At the time of writing, at least 19 people have been killed, and 150 are missing. The floods also caused major damage to the National Thermal Power Corporation's (NTPC) recently commissioned Tapovan Vishnugad 520 MW hydro-electric project and the under-construction 13.2 MW Rishiganga mini-hydel project, as well as to several homes, roads and at least half a dozen bridges. Most of the missing persons were workers deployed at NTPC's hydropower site.

While media and commentators were quick to attribute the disaster to Climate Change and melting glaciers, specifically GLOFs (glacial lake outburst floods), activists and experts in the Himalayan region have blamed the ecological destruction caused by the unholy rush to build ill-advised dams and roads in this fragile region for the loss of life and property.

Meanwhile, international geologists and glaciologists studying satellite imagery say the cause of the flooding disaster to be a landslide and not a glacial outburst. Dan Shugar of the University of Calgary, who specialises in high altitude glacial and geologic environments, used satellite images from Planet Labs, captured before and after the disaster, and identified a steeply hanging bit of a glacier which likely developed a crack and caused a landslide, triggering an avalanche and the subsequent flooding. Images from the Copernicus Sentinel 2 satellite also showed the formation or opening of a crack in the Nanda Devi glacier that is believed to have triggered the landslide.

The truth is that Uttarakhand's upper reaches, source of several small rivers that feed the Ganga, already has 16 dams, and another 13 are under construction. The Uttarakhand government has proposed another 54 dams on these rivers. On the Dhauliganga River, eight back-to-back new hydel projects are proposed in addition to NTPC's Tapovan project. Blasting of mountains, stone quarrying and digging of tunnels in the fragile mountain system base for the two back-to-back under-construction dams on Rishiganga and Dhauliganga rivers has played havoc with the local ecology.

Incidentally, the Tapovan project started in 2006 and was scheduled to be commissioned in 2013, but the devastating flood in 2013 affected the construction process. Earlier, the project's cost was estimated to be Rs 2,978.5 crore, which was later revised to Rs 5,867.4 crore due to time and cost overruns. The NTPC has already spent more than Rs 4,467 crore on the site.

Although further investigations are required, the fingerprint of Climate Change cannot be ruled out; after all, the India Meteorological Department has recorded January 2021 to be the warmest January in Uttarakhand in six decades.

According to the UN intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC), in many high mountain areas, glacier retreat and permafrost thaw are projected to further decrease the stability of slopes, and the number and area of glacier lakes will continue to increase. Floods due to glacier lake outburst or rain-on-snow, landslides and snow avalanches, are projected to occur also in new locations or different seasons.

The Indian Space Research Organisation's resource centre on Himalayan glaciers reveals that glacier melting in the Central Himalayan catchment area, where Chamoli is located, has increased in the first 20 years of this century.

According to the Hindu Kush Himalayan Monitoring and Assessment Programme (HIMAP), co-ordinated by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), glacier retreat (and some advance) in the face of Climate Change will make the fragile mountains more prone to natural disasters such as landslides, and will make the impact of other natural disasters, such as earthquakes, far greater.

Variations in rainfall will continue to rise, setting in place the possibility of catastrophic flooding. At the same time, springs have been reducing their flows in the hills, which may increase, leading to drought among communities that already have higher-than-national-average rates of poverty.

Ironically, lest we forget, Chamoli, home to Badrinath, Hemkund Sahib, Nandadevi Biosphere reserve and Valley of Flowers, is also the birthplace of the Chipko movement, and the famous slogan of Sunderalal Bahuguna, Ecology is the permanent economy.

We were warned.
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Griffin Thompson, 17, of Boiling Springs and Marley McLaurin, 11, of Surfside Beach today were named South Carolina's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Griffin and Marley will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are South Carolina's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Griffin Thompson

Nominated by Boiling Springs High School

Griffin, a senior at Boiling Springs High School, founded a nonprofit organization called "Lil Lifesaverz" dedicated to improving public health and youth health literacy in his community and throughout South Carolina, through instructional health curricula, CPR/first-aid training, and free health screenings. "I am passionate about public health in my community," said Griffin. This passion led him to volunteer at a free medical clinic, where he witnessed the inequities of American healthcare. "I saw people of all ages, walks of life, and cultural groups whose needs were not being met by the traditional healthcare system," he said.

Griffin began researching public health issues, and after recruiting two professors and a public health professional as mentors, he drafted a youth health literacy curriculum for at-risk teens. Then he established a 501(c)3 organization and authored another curriculum on COVID-19 prevention, which was shared with all public school districts in South Carolina. As his initiative gained momentum, Griffin built a website and began preparing promotional materials, raising money, and attracting volunteers and partner organizations to help him teach CPR and first-aid to children and conduct free health screenings in underserved areas. He is now planning a health fair for the spring of 2021 that will address the specific needs and interests of diverse communities.

Middle Level State Honoree: Marley McLaurin

Nominated by Palmetto Academy of Learning and Success

Marley, a sixth-grader at Palmetto Academy of Learning and Success, started a service club that has raised more than $42,000 and recruited a hundred kids for over 20 service projects benefiting local and national charities over the past three years. "My mother always said, 'If you see a need, meet a need'," said Marley, "so I grew up looking for ways to help others." When she realized that her schoolmates weren't familiar with volunteering, Marley decided to form a club that could connect kids with community service opportunities in her area. But when she discovered that most charities and community groups didn't want help from kids, Marley resolved to organize her own projects.

The first one was a food drive to stuff backpacks for kids from food-insecure households. In subsequent projects, Marley led other young people in collecting leftover Halloween candy for troops overseas, creating an anti-bullying contest and assembly for local schools, and hosting a fashion show and clothing drive to benefit children in foster care. She also has undertaken projects to raise funds for families struggling with medical bills, and to provide supplies to animal shelters. "I am determined to crush the mindset that kids are not capable of more than hosting lemonade stands, and prove that kids with big hearts can do big things" said Marley.

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

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Ruins of majestic historical gateway unearthed near Persepolis

02/09/21

By Afshin Majlesi, Tehran Times

The ruins of a majestic historical gateway, built upon the order of Cyrus the Great, who was the founder of the mighty Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550 - 330 BC), have been unearthed near the UNESCO-registered Persepolis in southern Iran, Iranian researchers said on Monday. Supervised by a joint mission of Iranian and Italian archaeologists and cultural heritage experts, the dig uncovered vestiges of a massive gateway measuring 30 by 40 meters with a height of approximately 12 meters.

They (archaeologists) succeeded in proving that Cyrus had ordered the construction of the gateway near Persepolis in Tall-e-Ajori and that this magnificent gateway had been put into operation during the reign of his son Cambyses.

"The building had a corridor in the center, which was in form of a rectangular room measuring eight by twelve meters, and inside this central room, there were four living chairs. And the central corridor opened on both sides to the Achaemenid campus," IRNA quoted senior Iranian archaeologist Alireza Askari-Charoudi as saying on Monday.

The discovery was made during the tenth excavation season jointly supervised by the Italian archaeologist Pierfrancesco Callieri from the University of Bologna, and his Iranian counterpart Askari-Charoudi from the University of Shiraz. The first season was held in the Iranian calendar year 1390 (2011).

The gateway is made of [brick and] clay materials and the whole exterior has been decorated with painted bricks. The lower parts and the plinth of the walls are decorated with [themes of] lotus flowers, the body, and facade of the walls are embellished with various colored panels of mythical animals, symbols, and belief symbols of ancient Iranians, Elamites and Mesopotamians," the Iranian archaeologist explained.

"More importantly, the central room bears inscriptions in Babylonian and Elamite (cuneiforms)," he added.

Talking about the age of the monument, the top Iranian archaeologist said: " The sum of written documents, building materials, motifs used to decorate the facade of the building, the Carbon 14 (C-14) dating method, and some other evidence reveal that this structure was built after 539 BC in honor of the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus the Great."

The empire, founded by the Persian kings Cyrus and Darius, stretched from the Balkans to Central Asia at its peak. It was the first state model based on diversity and tolerance of different cultures and religions.

Once Cyrus and his army entered the city of Babylonian, they did not burn it to the ground (as usually happened with conquered cities at this period) but he freed the population from forced labor obligations, sent back to various shrines statues of gods, and allowed the people who had been brought to Babylon by the Babylonian kings to return to their homes. By this act, he was effectively allowing people to pursue unmolested their own religious practices.

The royal city of Persepolis ranks among the archaeological sites which have no equivalent, considering its unique architecture, urban planning, construction technology, and art.

Persepolis, also known as Takht-e Jamshid, whose magnificent ruins rest at the foot of Kuh-e Rahmat (Mountain of Mercy), was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire. It is situated 60 kilometers northeast of the city of Shiraz in Fars province.

The city was burnt by Alexander the Great in 330 BC apparently as revenge to the Persians because it seems the Persian King Xerxes had burnt the Greek City of Athens around 150 years earlier.

The city's immense terrace was begun about 518 BC by Darius the Great, the Achaemenid Empire's king. On this terrace, successive kings erected a series of architecturally stunning palatial buildings, among them the massive Apadana palace and the Throne Hall ("Hundred-Column Hall").

This 13-ha ensemble of majestic approaches, monumental stairways, throne rooms (Apadana), reception rooms, and dependencies is classified among the world's greatest archaeological sites.

Persepolis was the seat of the government of the Achaemenid Empire, though it was designed primarily to be a showplace and spectacular center for the receptions and festivals of the kings and their empire.

The site is marked by a large terrace with its east side abutting the Kuh-e Rahmat ("Mount of Mercy"). The other three sides are formed by a retaining wall, varying in height with the slope of the ground from 13 to 41 feet (4 to 12 meters); on the west side, a magnificent double stair in two flights of 111 short stone steps leads to the top. On the terrace are the ruins of several colossal buildings, all constructed of a dark gray stone (often polished to a marble-like surface) from the adjacent mountain.

According to Britannica, the stone was cut with the utmost precision into blocks of great size, which were laid without mortar; many of them are still in place. Especially striking are the huge columns, 13 of which still stand in the audience hall of Darius I (the Great; reigned 522-486 BC), known as the apadana, the name given to a similar hall built by Darius at Susa. There are two more columns still standing in the entrance hall of the Gate of Xerxes, and a third has been assembled there from its broken pieces.

In 1933 two sets of gold and silver plates recording in the three forms of cuneiform-ancient Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian-the boundaries of the Persian empire were discovered in the foundations of Darius's hall of audience. Several inscriptions, cut in stone, of Darius I, Xerxes I, and Artaxerxes III indicate to which monarch the various buildings were attributed.

The oldest of these on the south retaining wall gives Darius's famous prayer for his people: "God protect this country from foe, famine, and falsehood." There are numerous reliefs of Persian, Median, and Elamite officials, and 23 scenes separated by cypress trees depict representatives from the remote parts of the empire who, led by a Persian or a Mede, made appropriate offerings to the king at the national festival of the vernal equinox.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi came out in strong defence of the three controversial agricultural reform laws brought in by his government and urged the protesting farmers to end their agitation. Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks on the Presidents address in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Mr Modi said: End your protests and we will all sit together and talk. We are ready for talks and I am inviting you again for a dialogue from this House. The PM added that agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar was in talks with the farmers union leaders. Taking on the Opposition, the PM said the Congress had taken a U-turn on the farm laws, reading out the words of former PM Manmohan Singh. He added: Those who are not listening to what we are saying will hopefully listen to Manmohan Jis words. You should, in fact, be proud of the fact that Modi has to do what Manmohan Singh said long ago. Mr Modi assured farmers that MSP tha, MSP hai  aur MSP rahega (the minimum support price will remain). No one should spread misinformation, he added. The PM hinted that there was a conspiracy behind the protests and said FDI could be termed Foreign Destructive Ideology, and that the country should be aware of this. With the protests against the farm laws having gone international, with tweets by pop icon Rihanna and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg supporting the agitating farmers, Mr Modi said: In the last few years, we have witnessed a new category of protesters Andolan jeevi, who one can see in every agitation. We need to protect this country from these Andolan Jeevi, who are actually parjeevi. They dont have their own strength, but they join all agitations. Talking about the Oppositions protests against the farm laws, the PM said: A lot was discussed in the House but mostly it was on the protest, not on the solution you can oppose the procedure but could have explained to farmers that it is high time for these farm reforms but now they are saying they were not consulted before, like fufaji uncle who gets angry for not being invited to a wedding this happens in large families. Mr Modi added that the earlier framework did not work favourably for the farmers and alleged the Opposition parties had kept silent on the core issues of farmers. Mr Modi said the number of marginal farmers with small landholdings had increased from 51 per cent in 1971 to 86 per cent at present. Taking a did at the internal strife within the Congress, Mr Modi said that while he was happy that Ghulam Nabi Azad had praised his government (on the holding of elections in Kashmir), he cautioned the Congress not to do the opposite just because Mr Azad had said so. He said: I hope your party takes it in the right spirit. They shouldnt make the mistake of doing just the opposite considering it as the view of the G-23. The Congress, meanwhile, hit back at the PMs assertions. Rajya Sabha MP Mallikarjun Kharge said: In the wake of the farmers agitation, we expected the Prime Minister would take back the laws and bring them back to Parliament after consulting with all stakeholders. But he didnt mention that. He only said people are agitating without understanding the laws. Is it possible? He added: He (PM) is misleading everyone by saying that people dont know what is in the laws. Are we all fools?
The Council of the Law Society of Kenya has suspended its President, Nelson Havi, accusing him of failing as a leader.

In a decision on Monday, eight members of the council said they have lost confidence in Mr Havi's leadership.

They moved to suspend him, pending an Annual General Meeting next, at which members will decide whether to remove or retain him.

"In the interim, having lost confidence in him: no scintilla of confidence remaining, we acted to conserve the best interest of the members, the rule of law, public interest and the reputation of the society," the council said.

"Suspending him is a mammoth task but the interests of the members of the society outweighs his individual interests."

The accusations

Mr Havi was suspended for reasons including failing the leadership and integrity test, bringing dishonour and disrepute to the society and the dignity of office of its president, and causing it to lose face nationally and internationally.

The eight council members said his conduct during the Special General Meeting on January 18 was "underwhelming, if not pathetic".

They said the chaos at the meeting made news headlines that day and featured prominently on social media platform, bringing the society to great disrepute.

During the SGM held at the LSK's Gitanga Road offices in Nairobi, members present voted to suspend all council members. The meeting later turned chaotic and was characterized by shouting matches.

Lawyer Adrian Kamotho later moved to court and successfully convinced it to reverse the decision to suspend the council.

The council members accused Mr Havi of failing to act honestly and in the best interest of the society and causing it financial losses.

They also accused him of suppressing the more than 3,000 members from voting online, resulting in a disastrous SGM that they said cost millions of shillings.
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jessica Chang, 16, of Hudson and Luke Sarver, 11, of Wheelersburg today were named Ohio's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Jessica and Luke will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are Ohio's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Jessica Chang

Nominated by Hathaway Brown School

Jessica, a senior at Hathaway Brown School, created a youth organization that is working to promote civics education among middle-level and high school students across the country. As the first American citizen in her family, Jessica has a strong interest in civics and politics. So when she volunteered to tutor middle schoolers, "I was shocked by the level of disengagement of my students," she said. Jessica concluded it wasn't because they were inherently apathetic, but because schools are often reluctant to teach civics subjects that might stir controversy. "I believe education cannot be complete without a basic understanding of your rights and duties as a citizen," she said.

Jessica decided to form a student-run group to counter the trend toward "civics deserts" in schools. She crafted a mission statement, built a website, and began recruiting like-minded students. Over the past two years, she has assembled a team of 45 students from schools across the country who work on a variety of projects to expose more young people to civics. They've developed a civics curriculum that has been taught at schools and summer programs, published articles on social and political issues, and hosted virtual conferences. Jessica's organization, called "The Catalyst," also partners with other student and civic groups to raise awareness, funds and supplies for various causes. "Our goal is to inspire students to care about their communities and create change," said Jessica, "and then to provide them with the resources and empowerment to do so."

Middle Level State Honoree: Luke Sarver

Nominated by Ohio Connections Academy

Luke, a sixth-grader at Ohio Connections Academy, volunteers in a variety of ways to raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes and support those with the condition. "Since my younger brother has Type 1 diabetes, I know just how hard it is," said Luke. "It impacts our entire family and I knew I wanted to help people like [him]." After his brother was diagnosed, Luke's mother founded a diabetes nonprofit, and Luke eagerly signed on to help with the group's many activities.

Over the past five years, Luke has assisted with bimonthly meetings, and helped staff a booth at an annual conference of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He has volunteered each year at a day camp for 20-30 kids with Type 1 diabetes, making sure they feel welcome and have all the supplies they need. He has helped conduct fundraisers that have generated more than $22,000 for diabetes causes, including serving food at a benefit dinner and at a motorcycle event. In addition, Luke has promoted public awareness of Type 1 diabetes by speaking on a radio show, helping to make a video for social media, participating in informational fairs, and posting fliers at organizational events. Luke's volunteer work, he says, "can bring some kindness to the world and even possibly save a life by raising awareness of the seriousness of Type 1 diabetes."

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

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UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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
Amid the agitation against the Centre's agri laws, the will on Wednesday launch its outreach campaign in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh with party general secretary Vadra attending a 'kisan panchayat' in

Vadra will be participating in the kisan panchayat at Chilkhana under the party's 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' campaign that will be started in 27 districts of the state, media convenor of UP Lalan Kumar said.

He said that several prominent party leaders will be participating in the 10-day programme.

The campaign is starting in 27 districts including Saharanpur, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Meerut, Bijnor, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Hathras, Mathura, Agra, Firozabad, Budaun, Bareilly, Rampur, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheir, Sitapur and Hardoi, Lalan said.

The has been vociferously supporting the farmers' agitating against the new agri laws and is hoping to make inroads in the state where assembly elections are due next year.

(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.)
It is a well-known fact that 75% of searchers never move past the search engines first page of results, which demonstrates the significance of search ranking on the website as well as business performance.

DesignRush, a B2B marketplace connecting brands with agencies, ranked the companies that specialize in helping websites rank higher on search engines, driving organic traffic and growing brand visibility.

The top SEO companies in February are:

1. Ignite Visibility - ignitevisibility.com

Ignite Visibility is a wholesale digital marketing agency based in San Diego.

The company offers a wide variety of digital services including SEO, paid media, social media and email marketing, conversion rate optimization, Amazon marketing, digital PR, website development and design.

2. Hedges & Company - hedgescompany.com

Hedges & Company is the top-ranked automotive SEO and paid search agency focused exclusively on the auto parts and OEM parts aftermarket.

They work with automotive manufacturer brands and eCommerce retailers, growing revenue and visibility.

3. seo-nerd GmbH - seo-nerd.com

seo-nerd is the Berlin-based SEO and online marketing agency established in 2014 that offers a full-service search experience optimization, including technical, on-page and off-page SEO.

The company also provides digital marketing services such as content, social media and influencer marketing.

4. KitelyTech - kitelytech.com

Expertise: SEO, PPC, Digital Marketing and more

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Expertise: Website Design, AD services, SEO and more

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Expertise: SEM, SEO, Website Design and more

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Expertise: WordPress, SEO, Social Media Marketing and more

8. Tillison Consulting - tillison.co.uk

Expertise: AD services, PPC, eCommerce SEO and more

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Expertise: Digital Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Branding and more

10. Growth Hack Consulting - wearegrowthhack.com

Expertise: Content Marketing & Copywriting, Amazon Marketing, Website Design and more

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Expertise: Digital Marketing, PPC, Web Design and more

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Expertise: Social Media Marketing, WordPress, email Marketing and more

13. GautamSEO - gautamseo.com

Expertise: PPC, Digital Marketing, SEO and more

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Expertise: Content Marketing & Copywriting, Digital Marketing, Social Media Marketing and more

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Expertise: Influencer Marketing, SEO, Website Design and more

16. E29 Marketing - e29marketing.com

Expertise: AD Services, Social Media Marketing, Creative agency and more

17. B-Young Social Media Co. - b-young.me

Expertise: Social Media Marketing, Creative Agency, SEO and more

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Expertise: Influencer Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Branding and more

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Expertise: email Marketing, SEO, Website Design and more

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Expertsie: SEO, Social Media Marketing, Website Design and more

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Expertsie: email Marketing, Website Design, PPC and more

23. TFA - t-f-a.co.uk

Expertise: Branding, Creative agency, AD services and more

24. AlchemyLeads SEO - alchemyleads.com

Expertise: Content Marketing & Copywriting, SEO, Website Design and more

25. TheTheory - thetheory.io

Expertise: Branding, Content Marketing, SEO and more

26. HB IT Solutions - hbitsolutions.co.za

Expertise: Website Design, SEO, Responsive Web Design and more

27. Whales Ventures - whales.ventures

Expertise: Social Media Marketing, PPC, SEO and more

28. Peak District SEO - peakdistrictseo.co.uk

Expertise: SEO, PPC, Creative agency and more

29. Simplico- simplico.hr

Expertise: Branding, AD Service, SEO, and more

30. York Business Solutions - yorkbizsolutions.com

Expertise: Email Marketing, SEO, Website Design and more

31. World Web Technology - worldwebtechnology.com

Expertise: SEO, PPC, WordPress and more

32. Vesa Solutions- vesasolutions.com

Expertise: Content Marketing & Copywriting, Branding, SEO and more

33. Shugert - shugert.com.mx

Expertise: SEO, Website Design, Video Production and more

34. Seotonic Web Solutions Pvt Ltd - seotonic.com

Expertise: Social Media Marketing, PPC, Content Marketing & Copywriting and more

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Expertise: Branding, Graphic Design, SEO and more

Brands can view the top SEO companies by location, size, average hourly rate and portfolio on DesignRush.

About DesignRush: DesignRush.com is a B2B marketplace connecting brands with agencies. DesignRush features the top agencies around the world, including the best Digital Agencies, Logo Design, Branding, Digital Marketing, Website Design, eCommerce Web Design Companies and more.
GALVESTON  A North Dakota man was sentenced to prison Tuesday for attempting to strangle a woman he was dating on a cruise ship off the coast of Galveston.

Hector Blanco, 45, was ordered by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown to serve three years in prison followed by two years of supervised release for his assault conviction. Blanco, a resident of Watford City, N.D., pleaded guilty to the crime last year, admitting to attempting to strangle and suffocate a woman while aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in 2018.

No excuse can justify Hector Blancos violent actions that turned a dream vacation into a dreadful nightmare for his victim, said Perrye K. Turner, a special agent for the FBI. I am extremely proud of FBI special agents in the Texas City Resident Agency and our victim specialists who provided compassionate support to the brave survivor who reported this crime.

Authorities say Blanco intentionally assaulted the unidentified victim in his cabin aboard the Liberty of the Seas cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean, a 7-night cruise that departs from Galveston towards the Western Caribbean Sea.

On Nov. 18, 2018, Blanco and the woman were in a cabin aboard the ship when he placed his hand and then a bath towel over her mouth. He then twisted a towel around her neck and dragged her on the floor of the cabin. Blanco tripped and the woman was able to run out of the cabin and report the incident to security personnel on the cruise ship.

At the time of the assault, the cruise ship was roughly 45 miles from Galveston in the Gulf of Mexico, but still within U.S. maritime jurisdiction. The FBI conducted an investigation of the assault and Kenneth Cusick of the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.

Blanco remains free on bond and will voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility in the near future, according to the U.S. Attorneys office.

nick.powell@chron.com

El Fasher / El Geneina / El Obeid / ED Damer  Widespread violence erupted in the North Darfur capital El Fasher yesterday as multiple buildings were set on fire. In El Geneina, a massive fire broke out at a Ministry of Education building that was used as a shelter for people who fled the recent violence in the city. In North Kordofan, protests against the high living costs continues and in River Nile state, the sit-in of railway workers entered its second day.

People from the city told Radio Dabanga that the violence followed the arrest of the shepherds who were accused of killing the farmer Mahdi Matar on Saturday at his farm, east of El Fasher.

Various buildings were set on fire, including the Public Prosecution building, and there were several reports of injuries.

Eyewitnesses said that civilians carried firearms and sticks through the city's market. This led to the closure of market and pharmacies.

The authorities also closed all roads leading to the governor's house and fired tear gas at various occasions. They have further announced a curfew from 6 pm to 6 am.

El Geneina fires

On Monday, a massive fire broke out at a Ministry of Education building that is currently used as a shelter for the displaced people of El Geneina. This happened the day after the visiting government delegation met the demands of the Arab tribesmen sit-in and demanded that the displaced leave the temporary shelters and return to their camps.

The fire destroyed the tents of the displaced, their possessions, and the food provided by humanitarian organisations.

A displaced person at the shelter told Radio Dabanga that the centre is hosting hundreds of displaced people, mostly women and children, including 40 pregnant women and 46 families.

He also stressed the need for further assistance to the displaced.

El Geneina is still recovering from last month's violence, which left at least 163 people dead and 130,000 displaced as large groups of Arab tribesmen attacked El Geneina and caused widespread destruction. The violence was triggered by the killing of an Arab herdsman by a member of the Masalit tribe.

Fire at the temporary centre for the displaced in El Geneina (social media)

North Kordofan protests

In North Kordofan, high school students from El Obeid took to the streets in massive demonstrations against the high costs of living and transportation crisis. The demonstrations became violent as a number of buses were set on fire and various shops in the market were looted.

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Mohamed Ahmad, a leader from Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), told Radio Dabanga that school students carried out a peaceful march protest outside the government secretariat to denounce the economic situation and chant slogans against the state governor. When the protesters returned to Freedom Square, near the city's market, they were confronted by the police, who used tear gas and chased them.

The North Kordofan state government declared a state of emergency and a curfew in all parts of the state from 6 pm to 6 am. They also suspended all studies.

The government issued a statement yesterday to condemn the violent events that accompanied the demonstrations, including the burning and looting of property. They announced the formation of a committee to investigate the events.

The El Obeid Resistance Committees and a number of other parties also condemned the acts of violence but said that they guarantee the right for peaceful demonstration.

Sudan has witnessed a wave of protests in the past weeks over the steep increase in bread and fuel prices, the transport crisis, and the use of excessive force by authorities in response to these protests.

River Nile state workers sit-in

In River Nile state, the sit-in by the Railway Workers Union entered its second day yesterday. Hashim Khadar El Zaki, director union, told Radio Dabanga that the sit-in will continue as they have not received any response from the central government regarding their demands. These demands include additional wages for the months of May to August 2020 and secure pensions.
Truong Dinh Hoe, secretary general of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said the EVFTA, which took effect last August, has opened up opportunities for shrimp exporters.

Analysts said that 2021 would be favourable for shrimp exports, thanks to more orders from abroad.  Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Industry and Trade

The Minh Phu Hau Giang Seafood JSC (in Hau River Industrial Park in Hau Giang Provinces Chau Thanh District) in early January exported its first batch of shrimp in eight containers to the EU, the US, and Japan at prices 4-5 per cent higher than in the Asian market.

Le Van Diep, deputy director of Minh Phu Seafood Group, said the group would continue targeting choosy markets, especially the EU, to take advantage of the recently signed the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Truong Dinh Hoe, secretary general of the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said the EVFTA, which took effect last August, has opened up opportunities for shrimp exporters.

Shrimp exports reached US$3.85 billion last year, up 15 per cent year-on-year despite difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to VASEP. Shrimp exports are set to reach $4.4 billion this year, a rise of 15 per cent over 2020.

Analysts said that 2021 would be favourable for shrimp exports, thanks to more orders from abroad.

Also in January, the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Seafood Processing Import - Export JSC (Baseafood) exported its first eight containers of seafood, worth some $700,000, to Canada, the US, Australia and others.

Meanwhile, exports of vegetables and fruits reached only $3.26 billion last year, a drop of 13 per cent year-on-year.

China remains the largest export market of Viet Nams vegetables and fruits, accounting for about 56 per cent of market share, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Viet Nam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said that exports of vegetables and fruits plummeted last year due to a sharp fall of imports from China, a decrease of about 25 per cent compared to 2019.

Vegetables and fruit exports depend heavily on the COVID-19 situation. Nguyen predicted they would reach $3.7 billion this year.

The first batches of seafood exports are a promising sign this year for export prospects, especially the agricultural sector.

Exports of farm produce reached more than $40 billion last year, a record figure.

Last years export growth of 6.5 per cent can be viewed as a bright spot in the nations economic picture, with the growth attributed to the signing of a number of free trade agreements (FTAs).

Though challenges will continue this year due to the pandemic, a target of $42 billion worth of total exports in 2021 has been set by the agricultural sector.

New generation FTAs

Exporters need to study the technical barriers of each country and region regarding product quality standards, labour factors, the environment, and other aspects to respond to FTAs requirements in the fastest and most effective manner, experts said.

Do Thang Hai, deputy minister of Industry and Trade, said participation in FTAs has helped the import and export market expand and diversify. FTAs have contributed to boosting the countrys GDP to more than 300 per cent and increased import-export turnover by 350 per cent, he said.

On January 1, the UKVFTA, a bilateral FTA with the UK took effect, bringing the countrys total number of valid FTAs to 15.

To capitalise on market opportunities opened up by these FTAs, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has directed businesses to prepare to exploit existing and new FTAs to participate more deeply in global value chains.

Viet Nam has trade relations with more than 230 markets, including FTAs with 60 economies.

Viet Nams goods exports were valued at $27.7 billion in January, up 0.2 per cent from the previous month, and 50.5 per cent from the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office of Viet Nam.

Six items enjoyed export revenues exceeding the $1 billion benchmark last month, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of total exports.

Viet Nam had a trade surplus of $1.3 billion in the month, according to the General Statistics Office of Viet Nam.  VNS

List of FTAs joined by Vietnam as of December 2020 List of FTAs joined by Vietnam as of December 2020 in which Vietnam has joined cover most continents. They comprise nearly 60 economies which altogether make up ~90% global GDP.
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The Incheon-Jeju ferry service, which was halted after the tragic sinking of the ferry Sewol in 2014, will resume in September.

The Incheon Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries said Tuesday that Hydex Storage, which was picked as the operator in 2019, will complete a new ferry by September.

The 27,000-ton Beyond Trust is four times the size of the Sewol, has a crew of 40 and can carry up to 810 passengers and 200 TEU of cargo. It is 170 m long and 26 m wide.

The new ferry service will leave Incheon at 8 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and arrive in Jeju at around 9 a.m. the following day.
The Tennessee Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee condemns the recent decision by the Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) system to begin phasing in face-to-face instruction in the midst of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

Metropolitan Nashville Public School bus

The plan to return to in-person learning in the second largest school district in Tennessee was announced by Metro Nashville/Davidson County Schools Director Adrianne Battle on Monday, February 1. By Thursday, students with special needs had returned to their classrooms. The reopening plan is set to move forward at seemingly breakneck speeds with pre-K to fourth grade students scheduled to return to classrooms this Tuesday, February 9. The plan indicates that all grades will be phased in by March 3.

Prior to the recent reopening, Davidson County, where Nashville is located, was one of only two counties to keep schools remote throughout the pandemic. Currently, only schools in Memphis/Shelby County are slated to remain remote for the time being.

While we support the decision for schools in Memphis to remain remote, the reopening in Nashville should be taken as a warning to teachers, school workers, students, parents and the broader community in Shelby County. Without educators developing their own independent organizations to fight against school reopenings, the pressure from state officials and school boards will force them into unsafe and potentially deadly working conditions.

According to the MNPS website, the phasing in will continue as long as the COVID Risk scorea score calculated based on the transmission rate, 7-day positivity rate, and 7-day average of new cases per 100,000 residentsremain below 7. However, the day prior to the plan being announced, the COVID Risk score was already at 6.9.

Within the same week as the plan to reopen schools was announced, the local news reported the death of Don Breedwell, a 65-year-old MNPS teacher, who passed away from the virus. There have also been confirmed cases of the more infectious and lethal B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19, first discovered in the UK, in Nashville.

At a recent press conference, Republican Governor Bill Lee stated, We have prioritized teachers in the vaccination process, as you know, behind health care workers and the elderly. They are the first in lines for vaccines. Lees administration has estimated that teachers in Tennessee would be scheduled for vaccinations in March.

Since Lee has continuously advocated for all schools to open for in-person classes immediately, the scheduled vaccination would take place after a substantial section of Nashville teachers were already exposed to the virus. Teachers in most other counties have been working under unsafe conditions for months.

In an expression of distrust in the ability of the MNPS to open safely, local Nashville news outlets have reported that teachers have signed up to receive the vaccine in other counties and have driven to rural districts in an attempt to get vaccinated before in-person classes begin.

The drive to rapidly reopen schools before the vaccine is widely distributed puts large sections of the population at risk for contracting COVID-19, and potentially suffering long-term debilitating symptoms or even death. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Association Between Statewide School Closure and COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality in the US, found that, school closure was associated with a significant decline in both incidence of COVID-19 and mortality.

Lees drive to reopen the schools is not based on any coherent public health policy, but an economic policy to get kids in school so that their parents can return to work. To accomplish this goal, Lee and his Republican cohorts have attempted to use every possible method to pit parents against teachers and threaten districts that do not reopen.

In a completely hypocritical stunt last month, Lee held a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly to address learning loss allegedly caused by virtual instruction. A week after the special session, the governor took a more direct approach to reopening by threatening to withhold funds if Nashville and Memphis schools did not reopen.

While Lees pressure on MNPS to reopen schools reflects the thuggish political approach taken by Republicans, the Tennessee Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee warns that teachers should put no faith in the Democratic Party to fight against the unsafe reopening of schools.

The Democrats, from the Biden administration down to mayors of major cities, have expressed their support for the reopening of schools in order to reopen the economy. Bidens director of the National Economic Council, Brian Deese, made this clear with the statement, We need to get the schools open so that parents can get back to work.

Chicagos Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot is similarly pushing for schools to reopen, with her administration threatening retaliation against teachers that refuse to teach in-person. On Sunday, Lightfoot and the leadership of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) announced a tentative agreement to begin a phased-in reopening of schools throughout February, which has provoked widespread opposition among rank-and-file Chicago educators.

The role of the various teachers unions has in fact been to negotiate the reopening of schools, instead of organizing any serious struggle against the return to work under unsafe conditions. This has been the case in Chicago, where the CTU has worked to prevent a strike against the return to in-person learning. The Tennessee Educators Association (TEA)which is affiliated with the National Educators Association (NEA)has been equally egregious in failing to mount any collective actions, even as they note that over 16,000 educators have contracted COVID-19 since July.

The Metropolitan Nashville Educators Association (MNEA) has similarly responded to the announcement of schools reopening by issuing a blog post detailing the MNPS plan.

The Tennessee Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee upholds the unity of the working class in response to the pandemic. The ability of COVID-19 to run rampant throughout schools, factories and other workplaces puts a pressing need to establish connections and develop a collective action in response to the pandemic. We encourage teachers to join our committee and to start reaching out to Amazon workers in Murfreesboro, autoworkers at the Nissan Smyrna plant, healthcare workers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and beyond.

We reiterate our core demands to contain the pandemic and save lives:
A Pennsylvania State Police trooper has died after suffering a medical emergency while on duty.

Trooper Monty Mitchell, 45, was assigned to the patrol section of Troop C in DuBois, where he suffered a medical emergency in the station parking lot during his shift around 9 p.m. Monday, according to the state police

Station personnel called 911 and attempted life-saving measures, but they were not able to revive him. He was pronounced dead at the hospital about an hour later, according to police.

Our department today feels the heartache of the sudden loss of a colleague and friend, said Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Robert Evanchick. We ask Pennsylvanians to keep Trooper Mitchell and his loved ones in their thoughts during this difficult time.

Mitchell enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police in November 2007. Before serving in DuBois, he had also been assigned to Troop G in Huntingdon and Troop C Ridgway.
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Much has changed in 57 years. Perhaps the biggest change is that we had one TV in the living room back then. This is probably why the Sullivan show was so popular  because it had something for everybody.

On this day in 1964, an estimated 73 million Americans saw the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. It all started at 8:19 P.M., when Paul sang, "Close your eyes and I'll kiss you"  the famous first line from "All My Loving."

Down in Cuba, our family waited for "el telegrama," or the official notice to leave the country. It was a long ordeal of paperwork and bureaucratic steps intended to hurt people, like our family, for disagreeing with the regime. We missed the whole Beatles show and did not even hear about it until we arrived in the U.S. eight months later. I remember listening to my first Beatles song in Jamaica, where our family was waiting to get our permission to travel to the U.S. It did nothing for us because we were so focused on getting to the U.S. that a song by a British group went in one ear and out the other. Besides that, all I remember was something about holding a girl's hand.

Years later, I read about Fred Kaps. Who was Fred Kaps? He was a popular magician and the man who followed the Beatles on their first appearance on U.S. TV. The poor man had to deal with hundreds of girls in the audience who could not get enough of the Beatles. As we understand, he did it well and entertained many with his magic act. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time!

It was a great night, but we missed it in Cuba. In other words, we had no idea that a bunch of Cuban girls were screaming at the TV in Miami. We went to bed and woke up the next morning and heard nothing about it.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).

Image: Nationaal Archief Jac. de Nijs / Anefo.
The importer, Ukraine-based Lekhim, cited, among other things, delays in obtaining an export license from the Chinese government.

Ukraine's plan to roll out a Chinese-made coronavirus vaccine from next month faces possible delay because of regulatory hold-ups in a further risk to the country's slow-moving vaccination program.

Reuters reported this with reference to a letter written by the importer.

Read alsoZelensky, Pfizer chief discuss supply of COVID-19 vaccine to Ukraine

In the February 3 letter, seen by Reuters, the importer, a partner of vaccine developer Sinovac Biotech, asked Ukrainian authorities to be allowed to delay the first shipments of its COVID-19 vaccines to April.

The importer, Ukraine-based Lekhim, cited delays in obtaining an export license from the Chinese government and the late adoption by Ukraine's parliament of a special vaccine registration law.

"The consequences of these events were the delay in the coordination of the delivery schedule between JSC Lekhim and Sinovac Biotech and the postponement of the delivery of the vaccine in Ukraine," said the letter.

COVID-19 vaccine for Ukraine

Ukraine plans to launch a COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the middle of February 2021.

On December 30, 2020, Ukraine signed a contract for the supply of 1.9 million doses of China's Sinovac vaccine.

On January 30, 2021, Ukrainian Deputy Health Minister, Chief Medical Officer Viktor Liashko said Ukraine would receive 117,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine within the COVAX (the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility) in February.

From the middle of February to the end of June 2021, Ukraine will obtain 2.2 million to 3.7 million doses of an AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine.

On February 5, Health Minister Stepanov said shipments of 12 million doses of vaccines produced by AstraZeneca and Novavax to Ukraine had been confirmed.

In December 2020, the Health Ministry's coronavirus task force approved a COVID-19 immunization plan under which at least 50% of Ukrainians (20 million people) are to be vaccinated during 2021-2022.

First to get vaccinated will be healthcare workers, the elderly, and seriously ill patients.

Reporting by UNIAN
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Dont tell her its Christmas.

Thats what Elaine Wight told the staff who were caring for her 95-year-old grandmother on Christmas Day at Bishop Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Syracuse.

That would just break her heart, to know that she was alone on Christmas,' Wight said.

Wight is among thousands of family members across New York pleading with state health officials to let visitors back into nursing homes, which have been mostly off limits since the coronavirus pandemic began.

They have support from some legislators and nursing home operators, who agree that loneliness is taking an increasingly harsh toll on residents health and must be addressed despite the deadly threat that Covid-19 still poses. State legislators plan to vote as early as this week on a bill to allow more visits.

Wights grandmother, Eva Stagnitta, has not had a visitor for 11 months. She has Alzheimers disease. Her close-knit family worries that loneliness will accelerate the decline of a matriarch for whom family was the top priority.

You just grieve every day,' Wight said. I drive 45 minutes (to work), and there are some days I just cry the whole way.'

After nearly a year, loneliness has become a cruel and toxic byproduct of the campaign to keep the coronavirus out of nursing homes. The question is what to do about it.

Covid-19 continues to cut a deadly path through nursing homes, especially in Upstate communities like Syracuse, despite extensive efforts to block it. The virus has killed more than 13,000 nursing home residents statewide. In Onondaga County, more than 200 nursing home residents have died in just the past three months, records show.

Because of that devastation, state health officials are reluctant to ease their current restrictions, which allow visits at nursing homes only when they have been free of Covid-19 for at least 14 days. Few large facilities can meet that criterion.

Proponents of more visits say nursing homes are much better equipped to allow safe visits than they were when the pandemic spurred a lockdown last spring.

Elaine Wight dances with her grandmother, Eva Stagnitta, at Eva's nursing home before visits were halted by Covid-19.Provided Photo

Tests are widely available, as demonstrated when 6,700 fans were screened before a recent Buffalo Bills playoff game. Masks, gloves and gowns are no longer scarce. With oversight from nursing homes, family members could enter facilities as safely as the staff do, they argue.

They need their loved ones

Despite extensive precautions to keep Covid out of nursing homes  including testing employees twice a week  the virus has gotten in. Since banning visitors has not shielded homes from the virus, state officials should revise their policies to acknowledge the harm of isolation, said Stephen Hanse, president of a state trade group representing nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Theres always a middle ground,' Hanse said. At the end of the day, nursing homes and adult care facilities are caring for people who need their families. They need their loved ones, and they need to see them and be with them.

Experts say the loneliness of being isolated from their families or other visitors is harmful to nursing home residents. Some say its a comorbidity,' like heart disease or diabetes. Besides keeping nursing home residents from getting lonely, visitors can assist with their care and communicate with staff more effectively in person.

The longer the isolation drags on, the more some experts question the price of lockdowns.

Karla Abraham-Conley, left, poses with her mother, Rosemary Abraham, in 2009. Rosemary died in October 2020, six months after Karla was last allowed to visit her at a Utica nursing home.Provided Photo

In a May 30 editorial published by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Dr. Joanne Lynn, a long-term care expert, wrote that policymakers should take a practical approach that balances the harm of isolation against the threat of Covid-19.

Many nursing home residents and their families might prefer to take their risks with Covid-19  rather than enduring a barren, but longer, survival,' Lynn wrote. At the least, we should be asking residents and their families for their well-informed preferences before imposing severe isolation measures indefinitely.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has taken more flak over nursing home deaths than probably any other aspect of his pandemic response.

Critics insist that his policy  including a March 25 directive for nursing homes to accept Covid-positive patients discharged by hospitals  caused the virus to spread and increased the death toll. Cuomos health department said the March 25 directive, which was reversed seven weeks later, mirrored instructions from federal health officials. The health department also produced a controversial study concluding that the order did not contribute to nursing home fatalities.

Perhaps influenced by that controversy, the state health department at this point remains focused on trying to keep the virus out of nursing homes.

Due to continued community spread and concerns of introducing a virus to a facility, visitation is limited to facilities that have been COVID free for 14 days,' said Gary Holmes, a health department spokesman.

Holmes said state officials will continue to assess their policy. In the meantime, the rollout of vaccines is the surest path to resuming normal visitation, he said.

As we have from the beginning, well use science and data to review all policy decisions, and were encouraged by a safe and effective vaccination program that has already provided a first dose to more than 75% of nursing home residents statewide, Holmes said last week.

Is legislation the answer?

The states requirement of 14 days free of Covid effectively blocks visitation at most nursing homes, said Hanse, president of the New York State Health Facilities Association. A single positive Covid case in a facility means every resident is cut off from visitors. The larger the facility, the worse the odds.

Hanse said the health department should work with nursing homes on a more flexible approach.

A one-size-fits-all statewide policy doesnt work,' he said. What we really need are resident-centric policies that take into account the importance of safeguarding their health and well-being while enabling them to see their loved ones.'

Advocates for families, including Syracuse-area state Sen. Rachel May, said the health department should make a greater effort to increase visitations. She has proposed a solution.

May sponsored legislation that would allow each family to choose one or two representatives to visit their loved one in a nursing home, subject to similar testing, training and PPE requirements that nursing home staff observe.

A companion bill passed the Assembly health committee last week by a 26-0 vote. May said she expects the legislation to pass both houses soon.

But the legislation is no quick fix. Even if its signed by the governor  an uncertainty  it would take 90 days to go into effect.

Elaine Wight said she worries about the effect of isolation on her grandmother, Eva Stagnitta.Provided Photo

Given the immediacy of the problem  people are dying because of isolation,' May said  she hopes that Gov. Cuomo will pre-empt her bill with an administrative directive allowing more visitation.

One of my hopes with the bill is that it will jog them to do an executive order,' she said.

Weddings, but no nursing home visits

Holmes, the health department spokesman, declined to comment on Mays legislation.

Some family members look at the states willingness to allow restaurants to reopen and sporting events to resume and wonder why nursing homes dont get more leeway.

You can have a wedding for 150 people,' said Karla Abraham-Conley, of Utica. But you cant go in (to a nursing home) and see your mother or your father?

Abraham-Conley said she visited her mother, Rosemary, every day until visits at her nursing home were cut off because of Covid-19. Her mothers health worsened after Abraham-Conley was no longer present to advocate for her, she said. In October, six months after their last in-person visit, Rosemary Abraham died.

Abraham-Conley helped organized a protest in October at the state Capitol, where sign-carrying demonstrators rallied for more access to nursing homes. Shes working on a second protest planned for March with the theme, Isolation kills, too.'

James Mikesell, a rehabilitation psychologist who consults at two Syracuse-area nursing homes, said he doesnt take a position on whether or how the state should modify its policy on visits. Thats up to the public health experts.

But he said there is no doubt that isolation creates additional stress for nursing home residents.

Psycho-social supports and family supports are known to have beneficial effects on those who are in rehabilitation or in long-term care facilities,' he said. Thats a given. We know this.

As the pandemic-related isolation drags on, Mikesell said, he has observed increased cases of anxiety, confusion and depression among some residents.

May said she has been pushing for more visitation since early August. Thats when the state Legislature held hearings in which families, health officials and others testified about issues at nursing homes.

At one hearing, former state Sen. Michael Balboni, who now directs a trade association representing nursing homes in the New York City area, urged state officials to reconsider the restrictions on visiting.

Loneliness is a comorbidity,' Balboni said. It is what is making people sicker.

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
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A first case of the COVID-19 variant first spotted in Brazil has been found in Switzerland, where the British variant is already spreading rapidly, authorities said Tuesday.

Virginie Masserey, head of the health ministry's infection control department, said the number of cases of new virus variants detected in Switzerland had doubled in the last week to 4,411 cases.

While the specific mutations have not been sequenced in most of those cases, she said 1,692 had been determined to be the more contagious variant first found in Britain, known as B.1.1.7, while 69 cases involved the variant discovered in South Africa, B.1.351.

And "yesterday, we were informed that a first case of the Brazilian variant (P7) has been detected in Switzerland," Masserey told reporters, without providing further details.

Switzerland, a country with some 8.6 million inhabitants, has so far counted more than 533,000 COVID-19 cases, including over 8,900 deaths.

A partial lockdown and other restrictions in place in recent weeks have meanwhile helped drive down the number of new cases, hospitalisations and deaths, experts said.

On Tuesday, Switzerland counted 1,358 new cases and 42 new deaths in the past 24 hoursdramatically lower than the more than 10,000 cases and over 100 deaths registered daily in early November.

But the growing prominence of the new, more contagious variants has experts worried.

While the new variants still only account for a fraction of the overall cases, Bern epidemiologist Christian Althaus told public broadcaster SRF that they account for 60-70 percent of new cases spotted in Geneva.

In the rest of the country, they account for around 40 percent of new cases, the broadcaster reported.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
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Myanmar's police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons to quell demonstrations throughout the country on Tuesday, leaving two people in critical condition after anti-coup protesters defied a ban on public gatherings.

At least 20 protesters were injured occurred after police used rubber bullets in the capital Naypyidaw during the most serious clashes, according to a network of medics supporting the protests. In the northern city of Mandalay, witnesses said security forces blasted tear gas and water cannons and detained 36 people, while police threatened to disperse large crowds that gathered in the commercial capital of Yangon.

The at-times chaotic scenes showed the military regime losing patience with a youth-led protest movement that since the weekend has seen tens of thousands of demonstrators swarm streets across the Southeast Asian nation also known as Burma. They've used social media to quickly mobilize supporters with three main demands: the release of civilian leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi, recognition of the 2020 election results won by her party and a withdrawal of the military from politics.

The United Nations in Myanmar expressed strong concern over the actions of police and security forces, with Ola Almgren, the UN's resident and humanitarian coordinator in the Southeast Asian nation saying: "The use of disproportionate force against demonstrators is unacceptable."

As the protests began dissipating on Tuesday evening, military chief Min Aung Hlaing warned civil servants not to engage in politics.

"They can vote freely for their favorite parties, but they cannot participate in politics while on duty," he was quoted as saying in a Facebook post by Tatmadaw Information Team.

He also said Myanmar would work within the existing agreements for the repatriation of "displaced people" in Bangladesh -- referring to the country's Muslim Rohingya minority. Some 740,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar for neighboring Bangladesh since 2017, in a mass exodus provoked, as United Nations investigators noted, by security forces practicing "ethnic cleansing" and "crimes against humanity" with "genocidal intent."

On Monday Min Aung Hlaing defended the military takeover of the government by repeating claims of voter fraud in November's election that have been disputed by the election commission, international observers and Suu Kyi's party. He also reiterated that the army would hold an election after the year-long state of emergency and respect the outcome.

The coup reversed a decade of democratic progress that showed Myanmar's younger generation an alternative to the generals who have run the country for most of its history since it achieved independence from Britain in 1948. International pressure continued to grow, with the U.S. reiterating its plan to renew sanctions and New Zealand suspending high-level political and military contact with Myanmar.

Myanmar on Monday imposed a curfew and banned gatherings of more than five people, leading to tense standoffs throughout the day on Tuesday. Video footage from local news outlets showed protesters hurling debris at fleeing police vehicles in Mandalay as authorities used tear gas in an effort to disburse the crowd.

Protesters have vowed to continue demonstrations until their demands have been met. Myanmar's military has a history of deadly crackdowns against dissent: A United Nations report found 31 people were killed in 2007, while hundreds or possibly thousands were killed in 1988.
Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink collaborated with Vietnamese rapper Wowy to make a song about the Lunar New Year vibe in Vietnam.

Throughout the song, the ambassador raps several Vietnamese lines to wish people a peaceful new lunar year.

He also lists what should be done throughout Tet in Vietnamese traditions, including preparing the yellow mai and peach plants, of which flowers are signature for home decoration during Tet in Vietnam, cleaning up the house to welcome guests, and giving li xi (lucky money) to children.

He ends the video with the line saying "Tet den roi" which means Tet has arrived.

This is the Ambassadors fourth Tet in Vietnam, and he has always enjoyed this time of year. "Tet gives us an opportunity to slow down, reconnect with loved ones, and reflect on the passing year while looking ahead to the coming year," said the U.S. Consulate General in HCMC.

"Our two countries cooperate closely on everything from security, trade, and education, to war legacies, energy, and health, and now we can add music to the list," it added.

Tet is what Vietnamese calls Lunar New Year, which is so far the nation's biggest holiday and most important occasion for family reunion.

Real Madrid are prepared to sell Raphael Varane this summer if they fail to reach an agreement on a contract extension.

Varane signed his last deal at the Bernabeu in 2017 and his current deal runs until June 2022.

The France international has been a mainstay in the team's starting line-up since 2015, cementing a partnership alongside Sergio Ramos.

However, according to Marca, Real are prepared to let him go in the event they do not settle on new terms this summer.

Raphael Varane could leave Real Madrid this summer if he does not sign a new deal at the club

The front page of Tuesday morning's MARCA

The club still would prefer to sign the centre back on to new terms, but there are contingency plans in place should the least-preferred outcome occur.

Varane has previously expressed a desire to leave the club, and almost did so in 2019, when both Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain held an interest in the defender.

It is reported those two clubs would still be interested in his services, while Chelsea and Juventus have also been credited with having eyes on the former Lens defender.

Varane finds himself in a similar position to a couple of Europe's top defenders.

Team-mate Ramos is yet to agree new terms at the Bernabeu and could yet leave the club for nothing this summer. It is a similar situation with the 27-year-old Varane they are looking to avoid.

Zinedine Zidane recommended Varane to Real Madrid when the defender was still at Lens

Bayern Munich defender David Alaba is also in a similar boat, and is in the middle of a tug of war between Real Madrid and Chelsea, with reports suggesting he prefers a move to England.

Indeed, it would appear that Varane may be angling for the same, having recently joined forces with agency CAA Sports, who possess a strong presence in the UK.

Marca also reports that, should Varane fail to extend his deal before this summer, an offer of around 50million (44m) could convince them to part company.

Tokyo, Feb 9 : A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (SDF) submarine collided with a commercial vessel in the Pacific Ocean off the western main island of Shikoku, injuring three crewmembers on the submarine, the Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.

In the incident on Monday, the 84-metre-long Soryu scraped the hull of the vessel when it was surfacing, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying.

Government spokesman Katsunobu Kato told reporters here that the accident occurred off Cape Ashizuri in Shikoku's Kochi prefecture.

When contacted by Japan's Coast Guard, crew on the commercial ship said they did not feel the impact and the vessel did not appear to have sustained any damage, Kato added.

According to Coast Guard officials, the ship was from Hong Kong with a displacement of about 50,000 tonnes.

The submarine's antenna mast and other upper parts were slightly damaged but it was able to continue sailing.

Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said the submarine was carrying out routine training when it saw the commercial vessel through its periscope but was unable to avoid it in time.

As the submarine's communications equipment was damaged in the collision, there was an hours-long delay in reporting the incident by mobile phone, he added.

The Japan Transport Safety Board said it has started a probe into the accident.
Fire crews tackle blaze at former hotel

Fire crews have spent the night tackling a major fire in Dalby.

The fire broke out at the former Ballacallin Hotel in the early hours of this morning.

Police have closed the road between The Round Table and Glen Maye.

The fire services has asked residents in the nearby area to keep their windows and doors shut.

Photos

In Bolivia, bodies are piling up at homes and on the streets again, echoing the horrific images of last year, when a deadly surge in coronavirus infections overwhelmed the countrys fragile medical system. The Bolivian police say that in January they recovered 170 bodies of people thought to have died from Covid-19, and health officials say intensive-care units are full.

When 10 or 20 patients die, their beds are full again in a few hours, said Carlos Hurtado, a public health epidemiologist in Santa Cruz, Bolivias largest city.

The resurgence of the virus in Bolivia is part of a larger second wave throughout Latin America, where some of the worlds strictest quarantine measures are giving way to pandemic fatigue and concerns about the economy.

The International Monetary Fund said on Monday that it was revising its 2021 growth forecast for Latin America and the Caribbean to 4.1 percent from 3.6 percent. Warning that the surge in cases could threaten an economic recovery that is already expected to take longer than in other parts of the world, the fund predicted that regional output will not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2023.
The CSF is the largest surgical meeting in Canada, bringing together more than 1,000 general surgeons each year

During CSF 2021, Nextechs event production team will be on hand to manage all main stage video content as well as to coordinate subsequent breakout sessions

Nextech AR Solutions ( ) ( ) (FRA:N29) announced Tuesday that its Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) will be used to host the 2021 virtual Canadian Surgery Forum (CSF) in September.

The CSF is the largest surgical meeting in Canada, bringing together more than 1,000 general surgeons each year, and 2021 marks its 20th anniversary. The event seeks to connect surgeons from seven surgical societies representing key subspecialties, including general surgery, thoracic surgery, colon and rectal surgery, surgical oncology, hepatobiliary surgery, hernia surgery and trauma surgery.

CSF partners and exhibitors include the Canadian Association of General Surgeons (CAGS), Olympus, ( ), Medtronic ( ), Stryker (NYSE:STK), ( ) and others.

During CSF 2021, Nextechs event production team will be on hand to manage all main stage video content as well as to coordinate subsequent breakout sessions, offering guests a professionally produced, high-quality video streaming experience, the company said.

Nextech was one of the only platforms we tested that I felt could deliver on the objectives of all our stakeholders CSF manager Karen Norris said in a statement.

Our delegates will be engaged in the education sessions via the visually stunning virtual rooms and easy to navigate user platform. Our sponsors and exhibitors will be able to showcase their products and recent research and development via the augmented reality features of the platform. The CSF is delighted to be working with Nextech to design a virtual experience that engages all our event stakeholders to share research and advance advocacy efforts for the Canadian surgical community," she added.

The CSF also features a trade show for industry exhibitors. With the help of Nextechs VXP, more than 40 exhibitors will be able to network with attendees and showcase their technologies, products and offerings.

The CSF is [the] predominant event for the medical community in Canada, and were honored to be selected as their partner to create a scalable, reliable virtual venue, said Evan Gappelberg, CEO of Nextech AR.

Our scalable, secure and experiential solution is becoming a leading choice for professional associations and trade shows in the medical industry as we continue to land more and more events in the medical field. Our ability to provide the most comprehensive offerings, including significant revenue sponsorship and our exclusive 3D ad networks to virtual exhibitor booths gives us an edge over other event platforms.

Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel
The big day has finally arrived: After weeks of lead-up, the first session in Trump's impeachment trial will feature presentations from both sides over the Senates authority to hear the case, followed by a vote on the matter, which would require a simple majority, and is expected to pass in the Democratic-controlled chamber.

As many as five GOP senators, including Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, previously sided with Democrats on a question regarding the constitutionality of trying the former president, however at least 17 Republicans will need to join all 50 Democrats to reach the 67 votes required to convict Trump.

Presidents do not get a free pass to commit high crimes and misdemeanors near the end of their term, impeachment managers argued in a brief last week, regarding their contention that Trump incited the Jan 6. Capitol Riot, during which a small group of Trump supporters walked through an open door and 'stormed' the Capitol complex.

On Monday, Trumps lawyers said the president didnt incite the crowd and that the rioters who breached the Capitol did so of their own accord and for their own reasons," adding that Trump used the word fight a little more than a handful of times and each time in the figurative sense, making no explicit mention of rioting. Defense attorneys added that the president was exercising his First Amendment rights.

Democratic impeachment managers, acting as prosecutors during the trial, responded in their own five-page brief, saying Trump has no valid excuse or defense for his actions. His efforts to escape accountability are entirely unraveling."

This is how the trial is expected to unfold, via CNet:

Feb. 9: There will be four hours of debate equally divided between prosecutors and defense on whether the trial is constitutional, followed by a vote needing a simply majority to proceed

Feb. 10, 12:00 p.m. ET: House of Representatives will begin arguing its case; prosecutors and defense will have up to 16 hours each to present their arguments, with neither side permitted to present for more than eight hours per day

Feb. 12, 5:00 p.m. ET: The trial will break through Saturday

Feb. 14, 2:00 p.m. ET: The trial will reconvene Sunday

Arguments will be followed by four hours for senators' questions

If the House impeachment managers want to call witnesses or subpoena documents, there will be two hours of debate by each side followed by a Senate vote on whether to allow this

If witnesses are called, there will be enough time given to depose them, and for each party to complete discovery before testimony is given

Once witnesses and evidence is dealt with, there will be four hours of closing arguments divided evenly between the prosecutors and defense

Lastly will come the vote on conviction or acquittal, for which a two-thirds majority is required

Trump will not testify - having "immediately rejected" the opportunity following a letter from the House's lead impeachment manager, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) asking the former president to testify under oath. Trump attorney Bruce Castor called the letter a "publicity stunt" before announcing the refusal - which the House will allege "supports a strong adverse inference regarding [his] actions and inaction on January 6."

In the off-chance Trump is convicted in the Senate, there will be a separate vote to bar him from running again - preventing a potential 2024 bid. It would require a simple majority where Vice President Kamala Harris would serve as a tie-breaker if needed. They can further disqualify Trump from the benefits given to former presidents in the Post Presidents Act - including pulling Trump's Secret Service security detail, travel allowance and pension.

Impeached presidents also can't be pardoned, according to CNet, which notes that if acquitted, Trump would have access to all benefits of former US presidents, and would be able to run again for public office.

You cant book an appointment.

Thats what some callers say they are being told when they call the states vaccine hotline, even though state officials said Monday the system was set up to help to them secure a slot.

The representatives did not say the appointments were unavailable because they were all booked, frustrated people told NJ Advance Media. But instead, callers said they were told the workers didnt have the capability to make appointments at all.

The confusion comes after Health Department commissioner Judy Persichilli said at the governors Monday coronavirus briefing that the hotline had started making appointments.

She said more than 600 appointments had been booked through the hotline since Wednesday. Over the weekend, she said, the call center took more than 16,000 calls, registered 514 people with the New Jersey Vaccine Scheduling System (NJVSS) and made appointments for 286 people.

They started making first dose appointments last Wednesday, Persichilli said, noting she wasnt sure if second dose appointments were being made.

Faisel Muhammad of South Brunswick said he called the hotline on Tuesday and was turned away.

The person told me to wait for the second email after registering with NJVSS, that it will have a link for setting up an appointment, Muhammad said. No phone appointments.

Carol Rayside said when she called, a representative said they can only register people and could not make appointments.

Vincent Tamburro said his mother, who is over age 65, called the hotline and a representative told her they dont know why they arent able to schedule anything. And when he tried the hotline himself, the representative said she couldnt even get into the scheduling system.

We are becoming incredibly frustrated, the Wanaque man said.

Jane, 72, who didnt want to provide her last name, said she has called the hotline multiple times.

Initially I was informed there were operators to register and others to book appointments, she said. One time I was placed on hold for about an hour waiting for an appointment operator, only to be disconnected. (During) another call I was told that was incorrect. They only register.

When asked about the complaints, a spokeswoman did not answer questions about what the representatives were allegedly saying, but said vaccine supply is limited and demand is high.

As the Commissioner said in (Mondays) briefing, callers are getting through, people are being registered and appointments have been made for eligible individuals, spokeswoman Nancy Kearney said. As supply increases, more appointments will become available.

She said the call center has the same access to make appointments that is available to the public, but they are able to see all available appointments in the state at once.

As we continue to receive more vaccine from the federal government in the coming months, we anticipate more appointments will be available through the call center, Kearney said.

Others hotline callers reported other issues, including having trouble with the automated system.

Jack of Hunterdon County, who didnt want to give his last name, said when he called, the system told him to press one if hes already registered and would like to book an appointment.

You are told to hold on for a rep, then it says since you havent responded please hang up and call back. What a joke, he said. Thinking someone is going to speak with them when they are told to please wait for the next rep, then silence, and the recording says since YOU did not respond they hang up. You arent given a question to respond to!

Still others said they were on hold for 45 minutes or more, then they were suddenly disconnected.

The call center, which is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week, can be reached at (855) 568-0545.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com.
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Maputo  The Mozambican defence and security forces have killed six ringleaders of the islamist terrorists operating in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, according to a report in "Noticias de Defesa", an unofficial website that supports the Mozambican forces.

One of those killed was a Tanzanian national, and two were described as "Arabs". The operations in which they were killed took place in Macomia and Muidumbe districts, where the defence forces are driving terrorists out of their hideouts.

The "Noticias de Defesa" source says the terrorists are running short of supplies, and some of their main bases have been dismantled. As a result members of the terrorist groups are now deserting.

Three of the young terrorist recruits have abandoned the Cabo Delgado bush and plan to apply for the amnesty promised by President Filipe Nyusi to those who voluntarily leave the terrorist ranks. The three were apparently recruited in the neighbouring province of Nampula, and efforts are being made to return them safely to their home district of Memba.

Police sources said that recruits have been attracted to the terrorist cause, not because of any religious or ideological conviction, but because they have been promised large sums of money.

These reports are in line with claims made in late January that the jihadists are running out of food. A man who escaped from a terrorist camp in Manilha village, in Mocimboa da Praia district, told the independent newssheet "Carta de Mocambique" that "there are no conditions for survival" in the islamist bases.

There is no more food, he said, and the terrorists can no longer steal food from villagers, because they have all fled from the area.

This survivor claimed there had been a meeting in January between the local jihadists, and a Tanzanian citizen, apparently the commander of the group. The Tanzanian said they could no longer carry out armed attacks, because there was no money.

He advised the Mozambicans to return to their places of origins. The Mozambicans protested that this was impossible - they feared for their lives, if they were to show their faces in their home villages.

MIAMI, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Skincare brand Probiotic Action, available on Amazon, could be the answer to solving acne from mask-wearing. Topical probiotics have the power to mitigate mask acne-related flare-ups, which are a result from wearing face coverings.

An increase in inflammation and sensitivity causes mask acne, otherwise known as 'maskne'. It signals that the skin's microbiome is out of balance, with a lack of good bacteria. Probiotic Action harnesses the very best probiotic technology to strengthen the skin's ability to defend itself and restore balance.

Covid Mask Acne

Its collection, free from chemicals, works by coating the skin with naturally occurring Bacillus subtilis to fight harmful bacteria. The brand's products, including a cutting-edge fast mist, a purifying bentonite clay cleanser and an ultra-concentrated spray, create a natural glow to bring out your healthiest skin.

Leading dermatologists agree that topical probiotics are a powerful solution to mask-related acne. In January 2021, New York-based dermatologist Hardley King, MD, told Refinery29: "Early lab studies suggest that topical probiotics may regulate the skin's microbiome and restore barrier function. They will help strengthen the skin's natural ability to defend itself by forming a type of protective shield on the skin's surface. This makes the skin more resistant to damage from environmental stressors, and may be helpful for preventing maskne."

It is proven that the skin's microbiome is affected by the environment, including pollutants. Unlike the gut's anaerobic bacteria, the skin's aerobic bacteria needs oxygen to survive.

Probiotic Action Vice President, Fernando Perez, explains: "There are certain bacteria that thrive in places where oxygen is available, hence the term aerobic, whereas there are also bacteria that thrive through fermentation rather than cellular respiration. There are some probiotics that do not need oxygen to live, such as the probiotics which are found in yogurt. Those probiotics will not do anything to your skin if applied as yogurt because they cannot survive in the presence of oxygen; they are the anaerobes."

He adds: "However, there are certain bacteria, these are the probiotics in Probiotic Action, that do need oxygen to survive, and those are the ones you want to put on your skin."

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When Allentown started vaccinating health workers last month, people who werent tech-savvy had trouble signing up for appointments. Sites were sometimes overbooked. Clinic employees would be ready to vaccinate 500 people, health director Vicky Kistler said, and 600 would show up with appointments.

The city was using a registration software called PrepMod, which it could access for free under a state contract and, most important, synced with the commonwealths immunization record system. It sounded like the easiest option for scheduling thousands of vaccinations and saved workers hours of tedious work manually inputting demographic data that must be reported within 24 hours of vaccination.

But the challenges soon outweighed the benefits, Kistler said.

PrepMod was a bit cumbersome, she said. We were kind of under a crunch to get our clinics up and running.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health paid $852,000 for the software  and is now weighing whether to use it in soon-to-be-created mass vaccination clinics. But according to officials whose clinics serve five counties, the program has serious flaws: It cant create private appointment links, overbooks clinics, sends patients incorrect or conflicting scheduling reminders, and lets people make appointments even if they arent eligible for the vaccine.

Their complaints highlight one of the key problems with the vaccine rollout nationwide: the lack of a centralized scheduling and tracking system for the shots that need to get into millions of arms.

They also, officials in Southeastern Pennsylvania said, have added to the confusion surrounding the already fraught rollout and in some cases, have even slowed distribution efforts, something clinics can barely afford when vaccine supply is low and appointments scarce.

Not having enough vaccine is the biggest issue, but this is right behind it, Montgomery County Commissioners Chair Val Arkoosh said Monday.

 READ MORE: Montco, Chesco, and other counties got thousands fewer vaccine doses than expected last week

Despite repeated complaints to the state and software developer over the last several weeks, local officials said few fixes have come. Arkoosh said staffers in her county and others have shared their concerns with PrepMod representatives and asked for fixes, and so far thats not been coming.

PrepMods creator, Tiffany Tate, executive director of Maryland Partnership for Prevention, did not respond to calls from The Inquirer and emails to a company address were not answered. The Pennsylvania Department of Health said it was making requests to PrepMod for fixes in future versions of the software, but declined to describe the extent of the complaints about the system.

County officials said they and others participated in regular calls with PrepMod and with the Department of Health about the program. A state spokesperson declined to say how many requests for fixes the state has made, saying the Health Department could not comment while in contract with PrepMod.

In Allentown, the health bureau ditched the software within weeks and reverted to Schedule-Me, a service it had previously used that was familiar to residents.

To build the ship in the middle of the hurricane, Kistler said, is much harder than steadying your own boat.

Few alternatives

PrepMod was created by Tate under a subsidiary of her organization, a software company for health providers called Multi-State Partnership for Prevention.

Tate has run vaccine clinics in communities of color for years, and last spring offered the software to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the New York Times reported Saturday, but the Trump administration instead contracted with Deloitte. Tate, who according to the Times has sold PrepMod to 27 states and jurisdictions, has accused Deloitte and the CDC of stealing her intellectual property, claims the firm and the agency deny.

 READ MORE: City Council grills top health official on Philly Fighting COVID collapse and vaccine racial equity

Pennsylvanias Health Department offered the software to county and municipal health departments, which are not generally equipped for large-scale vaccine administration, and encouraged them to use it, hoping to save them money.

PrepMod offered a cost-effective and efficient solution that has the potential to not only support the departments COVID-19 mission but to support future department vaccination efforts, said Department of Health spokesperson Maggi Barton.

PrepMod has distinct benefits: Along with automatically sending patients racial and demographic data to the state record system, it also schedules and keeps track of patients second-dose appointments. The state has also offered free training, county officials said.

The Department of Health could not say how many counties are using the software.

Overall the system is fairly comprehensive, said Bethlehem Health Director Kristen Wenrich, but it does have some kinks that we have been actively trying to iron out with PrepMod.

 READ MORE: New Pa. health secretarys goals: Improving vaccine rollout communication and pushing feds for more doses

In California, vaccine providers have alleged that the software was slowing the rollout. In Maryland, Virginia, and Minnesota, people have scheduled appointments, not knowing that PrepMod was booking more slots than were available or allowing them to access a system for which they werent yet eligible.

Its not clear whether there are better alternatives. States have reported problems with the CDCs Deloitte-developed system, which the Times reported only 10 states are using.

But creating a different system is also fraught with challenges.

Were essentially building the plane as were flying it, said a Health Department spokesperson in New Jersey.

It worked with Microsoft to create its own software, but the NJ Vaccine Scheduling System has encountered technical issues  workers at the Gloucester County site gave shots last month to hundreds of extra people after appointments were double-booked. The spokesperson said Microsoft has worked to fix problems and the system has largely been efficient.

 READ MORE: These suburban Philly women hustled to get COVID-19 vaccination appointments for family. Now theyre helping strangers.

Chester County is using a system it already had in place called Acuity; so is Delaware County. In Philadelphia, most vaccine providers, including hospitals, are using their own scheduling programs, said Health Department spokesperson James Garrow. The city uses PrepMod at its relatively small clinics and has not run into issues, Garrow said.

Quite frustrating

Others havent been as lucky. When last weeks snowstorm cleared, Montgomery County staff meticulously rescheduled two days worth of canceled appointments. But PrepMod sent conflicting emails to residents, notifying them of appointments that didnt exist or sending double messages, a county spokesperson said.

In Bucks County, residents have also gotten appointment reminders showing incorrect times, officials said.

In Bethlehem, where the health bureau serves residents in both Lehigh and Northampton Counties, the system let people register for appointments even when clinics were already fully booked.

Counties have received reports of people having to start over and reenter all their data if their chosen appointment time gets taken while theyre registering. The system also reportedly functions poorly on certain internet browsers, and its difficult for counties to customize emails, officials said.

One of the most challenging problems: The software doesnt create unique appointment links that can be used only once. So people share their appointment links with friends and on social media, allowing ineligible people to sign up and thwarting counties efforts to offer appointments to residents in the order in which they signed up online.

 READ MORE: The (im)morality of line-jumping to get COVID-19 vaccine

As a result, staffers spend precious time canceling appointments made by people who arent eligible. The Allegheny County Health Department has been slowed by checking registrations and canceling anyone ineligible, Health Department Director Debra L. Bogen said last week. Like Arkoosh, she asked residents to stop sharing links, and also asked people to help their neighbors use it.

The online registration system is not easy to navigate and can be quite frustrating, she said.

Barton, the spokesperson for the Department of Health, said the counties are responsible for their own vetting processes.

She said the state is working with PrepMod and local health departments to recommend improvements and request software updates, but she would not provide specifics about conversations with PrepMod, any fixes the state has asked for, and whether or when the changes will be made.

Now, Montgomery County officials are considering whether to keep using PrepMod or find a different system, Arkoosh said. If they dont use PrepMod, staffers would have to do double data entry, which would be extremely time-consuming. But as long as they continue, theyre concerned about the effect on the rollout and disappointment for residents seeking appointments.

These issues, Arkoosh said, are creating confusion and distrust of the system.
The Center for Internet Security (CIS) celebrated its 20th year of creating confidence in the connected world. In preparation for our 20th anniversary, I reached out to the people who founded CIS, some of its first employees, and a handful of the very first volunteers. This outreach was a lot of fun as it gave me the chance to speak with some amazing people in our industry. As we shared fond memories, I captured some of their ideas and thinking from 2000 to help make the connection with what CIS is doing today.

Contributing to Cybersecurity Over the Past 20 Years

Over the years, CIS brought together three major components for the cybersecurity industry, starting in 2000 when our nonprofit company was founded:

1. CIS Benchmarks

Our first goal was to create security benchmarks by bringing together the best minds across the industry. We wanted to establish the most effective and usable security configuration for individual components of any information technology (operating systems, applications, routers, etc.).

2. A New Home for the MS-ISAC

In 2010, CIS was joined by the Multi-State Information Sharing & Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). The MS-ISAC, which started as a regional cooperative, had outgrown its home in New York State government, and brought what became a nationwide, 24 x 7 x 365, operational mission to CIS.

3. Adopting and Nurturing the CIS Controls

In 2015, the Council on CyberSecurity joined and brought in what we now call the CIS Controls. Of course, the CIS Controls today are a recognized international standard for cybersecurity, with a total of 171 Sub-Controls!

Other steps along the way included the U.S. Cyber Challenge in 2010, and the formation of the Election Infrastructure ISAC (EI-ISAC) in 2018.

A Consistent Vision

In speaking with the founders of CIS, the leaders of the components that joined later, and all of the early employees, volunteers, and supporters, I was really struck by the consistency of vision. Everyone spoke about the work to be done in the same way, no matter where it started:

Independent of any specific vendors interest, but cooperative with industry;

Improve the real practice of security, dont seek perfection;

Focus on measurement and management, not magic; and

Create value via consensus-building and sharing, not through protection of intellectual property.

And to a person, the goals were always very big and audacious. No one spoke of company growth or market share. Instead we focused on improving the nations security - the entire ecosystem - and the establishment of an international community. This consistency was not a result of hindsight, nor revisionist history. It was documented in the writings, vision statements, and presentations since 2000.

For me, the connection to CIS started in 2000 with CIS Employee #1 (when there was only one employee) and CEO Clint Kreitner. At the time, I was leading groups at the National Security Agency (NSA) that produced (among many other things) the NSA Security Guides. These were a sort of spiritual ancestor to CIS Benchmarks (along with DISA STIGS). When I was introduced to Clint, I knew I had found a kindred spirit, and I was blessed with a career-long partner and a life-long friend. And I had no idea that this would be come my professional home after retirement from Federal Service.

The Journey Continues

At the 20-year mark, we celebrate our founders vision, the work of our early employees and volunteers, and all the industry allies who started us on this journey. At CIS today, we create and support an astounding range of best practices. We also stand as a leading practitioner of security through our ISAC missions and our own IT enterprise. Our influence, and the trust that others have placed in us, extend across the nation, the globe, and throughout the industry. And our success as a business ensures that our work will be there to meet the challenges of the future.

The journey that started with a relative handful of people has become a movement - and a reason to celebrate - across our entire industry!

Happy Birthday, CIS

About the Author

Tony Sager

Chief Evangelist

Tony Sager is a Senior Vice President and Chief Evangelist for CIS. He leads the development of the CIS Controls, a worldwide consensus project to find and support technical best practices in cybersecurity. Sager champions the use of CIS Controls and other solutions gleaned from previous cyber-attacks to improve global cyber defense. He also nurtures CISs independent worldwide community of volunteers, encouraging them to make their enterprise, and the connected world, a safer place. In November 2018, he added strategy development and outreach for CIS to his responsibilities.
June 27, 2018

China's Port In Sri Lanka's Is Good Business - The NYT's Report On It Is Propaganda

'China's financial imperialism' is a relatively new genre in western journalism. China is providing loans to other countries to build infrastructure. If those countries can not pay back the loans, China offers to lease and manage the infrastructure built with its money. That somehow is supposed to create a "debt trap for vulnerable countries".

Yesterday the New York Times lamented about Sri Lanka's Hambantota Port Development Project:

Over years of construction and renegotiation with China Harbor Engineering Company, one of Beijings largest state-owned enterprises, the Hambantota Port Development Project distinguished itself mostly by failing, as predicted. With tens of thousands of ships passing by along one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes, the port drew only 34 ships in 2012. And then the port became Chinas. Mr. Rajapaksa was voted out of office in 2015, but Sri Lankas new government struggled to make payments on the debt he had taken on. Under heavy pressure and after months of negotiations with the Chinese, the government handed over the port and 15,000 acres of land around it for 99 years in December.

The port is in a strategic location right alongside the shipping lines between Asia and the Middle East and Africa.

The U.S. does not like it that China is building infrastructure in such a strategic position. Instead of competing with it in the same field it is betting on propaganda and a more militaristic approach.

The first warning flag that the NYT piece is part of such propaganda is the quoted statistic. Why is it using a 2012 number of 34 ship arrivals for a port that only opened in late 2010? Ocean ports do not develop in just two years. It takes decades to develop their hinterland and businesses. Unlike Sri Lanka's main port Colombo, which is specialized in container traffic and already congested, Hambantota was build to handle other goods:

In the first nine months of 2014, the number of vehicles handled at Hambantota crossed the 100,000 mark, up more than 300% compared to the same period in 2013, with the number of ship calls more than doubling to 161.

Currently about one ship per day, mostly large car carriers, arrive at Hambantota. Unlike container ships which stay only for hours, car carriers take a few days and to load and unload. Handling them requires a lot of personal. It is good business.

To show how "bad" the Chinese investment is the Times points to only 34 ships in 2012. But the 2017/18 number is at least ten times as big. Why wasn't the new number used?

The propaganda continues:

The case is one of the most vivid examples of Chinas ambitious use of loans and aid to gain influence around the world  and of its willingness to play hardball to collect.

Surely no other countries do such? Other countries do not use loans to gain influence? Other countries do not play hardball to collect?

The new government in Sri Lanka is less China oriented and more willing to listen to its big neighbor India. India does not like that its small neighbors develop with Chinese help. But it does not make the investments to compete with it. The Indian Center of Policy Research, also quoted by the NYT, is the loudest lamenter about "Chinas debt-trap diplomacy". It sets the tone of 'western' reporting. While it is partly financed by the Indian government its List of Granting Organisations (PDF, pg 47) also include the:

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USA; William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, USA; Ford Foundation, USA; Oak Foundation; the Asia Foundation, USA, NAMATI Inc. USA; Omidyar Network Foundation, USA;

The NYT gives more scary numbers:

The Central Bank estimated that Sri Lanka owed China about $3 billion last year. But Nishan de Mel, an economist at Verite Research, said some of the debts were off government books and instead registered as part of individual projects. He estimated that debt owed to China could be as much as $5 billion and was growing every year. In May, Sri Lanka took a new $1 billion loan from China Development Bank to help make its coming debt payment.

Are $5 billion big money for a country with some 22 million inhabitants? Not in this case.

Sri Lanka's net external debt to foreign countries is some $52 billion. The debt-to-GDP ratio is about 77%, lower than for most European countries. Over the last twelve years Sri Lanka received about $8 billion in loans from China some of which are already paid back. Its current obligations to China of about $5 billion are only 10% of its total obligations. All of the Chinese loans were bound to infrastructure development: power plants, ports, highways and airports. IMF loans Sri Lanka received come with political demands like increases of value added taxes. China does not set such conditions.

The whole NYT piece is based on old or partial numbers, cited without context, that do not reflect Sri Lanka's real economic position. The country may have a long term debt problem, but China is not the cause of it.

One may be critical of China's Belt and Road initiative which develops trade routes with the help of loans for infrastructure and long term leases. It is a form of commercial imperialism and many of its projects have some problems. But unlike 'western' financing it is neither bound to military allegiance nor does it come with overly political demands. The loans it provides are collateralized with the projects it is building. They create local employment and productivity. To call such loans 'predatory' or 'debt traps' is highly misleading.

Posted by b on June 27, 2018 at 11:12 UTC | Permalink

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Dozens of cats have been uplifted from a derelict building in Coromandel, after a self-styled rescuer swooped in to save them.

It's the latest twist in a saga that has included an SPCA investigation, several heated exchanges, and two animal owners living rough in their car so they could afford to house their pets.

Two weeks ago, locals in the coastal town of Thames described a cat prison where barren rooms were filled with meowing moggies and felines trying to escape through barred windows.

Cat owners Eve and Graeme Belmont told Stuff they had been breeding the animals for around four years, and denied they were doing anything wrong.

A fortnight later, their 48 cats were gone, uplifted by an Auckland animal welfare vigilante.

The SPCA says while the uplift is well-meaning, it's potentially unlawful for rescuers to take matters into their own hands.

The SPCA is the only approved charitable organisation in New Zealand able to enforce the Animal Welfare Act alongside MPI and Police.

But Charmaine Wolmarans of Pixie's Animal Welfare says she has no regrets.

I understand that it is hard. [The couple] love their animals, and theyve fallen on hard times, but these cats were in a horrific situation, says Charmaine.

She says the uplifted cats have since been diagnosed with a number of health problems including underlying respiratory issues, cat flu symptoms, eye infections, bad teeth, kidney issues, mastitis, and birth deformities from inbreeding.

While her organisation has a no kill policy, she says one cat with gaping wounds around its neck has to be euthanised.

CHarmaien is furious that action wasnt taken sooner.

Ive been in rescue for many years and Im quite gutsy and ballsy, but I broke down and cried when I saw these cats, she says.

They had been in those cages day in and day out, with not a toy, scratch pole or anything to entertain them.

Charmaine decided to act after reading the January 24 Stuff report.

On January 29, she drove to Thames from Aucklands North Shore and told Eve and Graeme Belmont she was prepared to take custody of the cats.

The conversation quickly became heated, with Eve refusing to give up her babies.

Graeme, however, agreed that Charmaine could take his nine ginger cats.

Graemes ginger cats were the first to be taken back to the Pixie Animal Welfare sanctuary. Photo: Dominico Zapata.

The next day, Charmaine went knocking again. This time, she had written up a contract to give her custody of the animals.

Worried his cats might be euthanised by the SPCA, Graeme says he signed the contract with the understanding it was a temporary agreement.

As soon as we find somewhere else we will be getting the cats back, he says.

Once the contract was signed, Charmaine proceeded to uplift the cats.

Photographs showed police officers at the scene at the time of the incident.

Charmaine says she has since spent more than $4000 on vet bills for the cats, and expects that figure to double.

Eve Belmont continues to deny the cats had been mistreated, and says she believes the uplift is "theft.

Graeme had no right to sign that contract, because they're my cats, Eve says.

We were working with the SPCA, and they were helping us and paying some of our vet bills.

She is sad to hear one of the animals had been euthanised, and says she didnt give Charmaine permission to kill her cat.

The SPCA says it did not condone animal welfare activists taking matters into their own hands.

SPCA investigations can be hampered by the actions of well-meaning members of the public or organisations when animals are removed from properties unlawfully or where relevant information is not passed on to our inspectors, the SPCA says in a statement.

SPCA inspectorate general manager Alan Wilson says the organisation had to act within the limits of the law, and that was not always well understood.

He says the SPCA often had to address "complex issues involving multiple agencies to provide help not just for animals but also for their owners.

Alan says SPCA inspectors are always willing to work with external rescuers, but cautions that unlawful actions by activists could hinder prosecutions.

-Stuff/Sharnae Hope.
The Bono East Regional Office of the Electoral Commission (EC) has received nominations of ten persons for the election of one of them as representative for the region as a member of the Council of State.



Mr Gabriel Dei Yeboah, the Regional Director of EC confirmed to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) through notice of poll at the Commissions Office on Monday at Techiman in the region.



The nominees are Mr Agyapong Adu-Baah, a 66-year old trader with Ordinary Level (OLevel) certificate, Mr Fred Zeini, aged 58 and a businessman with OLevel qualification and Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, the Paramount Chief of Techiman Traditional Area. He is 58-year old banker and holds LLB and BL degrees too.



The rest are Obrempong Kru-Takyi II, 45 years, a farmer with General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (A Level) as his highest form of education, Pimampim Yaw Kagbrese V, the Paramount Chief of Yeji Traditional Area and currently the President of Bono East Regional House of Chiefs. He is 69 years with an O Level certificate.



The others are Mr Alhassan Sulemana, a 23-year old self-employed, Mr Prince Amponsah, 27, with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and Nana Owusu Gyamfi, 76, farmer.



Professor Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, aged 71 is a consultant while Mr Godwin Kwadwo Amoako, 32, is teacher with Master of Business Administration qualification.



The Council of State in Ghana is a small body of prominent citizens, which advises the President on national issues.



Its membership, according to the Fourth Republican Constitution should include a former Chief Justice of Ghana, a former Chief of Defence Staff and a former Inspector General of Police.

Source: GNA









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ROME, FEB 9 - Italy will have the capacity to vaccinate 10 million people a month from Easter, according to the director of Italian drugs agency AIFA. Asked when mass vaccinations would start,Nicola Magrini told the Corriere della Sera newspaper that "from Easter onwards we could be able to vaccinate 10 million citizens or more every month." Magrini also explained the government's decision to authorise the AstraZeneca jab for the under-55s. He said data on its efficacy on 55-65-year-olds were "too few" to be able to make a decision. (ANSA).
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Feature Article

UK scientists build core components of global neutrino experiment

DOE/Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Editor's note: This is a version of an article originally published by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council.

Engineers and technicians in the UK have started production of key piece of equipment for a major international science experiment.

The UK government has invested $89 million (65 million) in the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, a particle physics experiment being built by the U.S. Department of Energy's Fermilab at locations in both Illinois and South Dakota. DUNE will study elusive particles called neutrinos in a bid to advance our understanding of the origin and structure of the universe.

DUNE will measure the so-called oscillations of the neutrinos as they travel at nearly the speed of light. An upgraded particle accelerator at Fermilab (outside Chicago) will accelerate subatomic particles and smash them into a target, forming a beam of neutrinos that will be fired 800 miles through the Earth's crust to a specialized detector being built deep underground in Lead, South Dakota.

As part of this investment, the UK is delivering a series of vital detector components built at the Science and Technology Facilities Council's Daresbury Laboratory, located at Sci-Tech Daresbury in the Liverpool City Region.

Fermilab and DUNE are funded and managed by the Department of Energy Office of Science.

A big contribution

Scientists will capture the neutrinos in a detector containing 70,000 tons of liquified argon gas held at ultralow temperature.

The tiny electrical signals of neutrino interactions will be read out by anode plane assemblies known as APAs - huge rectangular planes covered with thousands of copper-beryllium wires, about the width of a human hair.

Each APA stands at an impressive 2.3 by 6.3 meters, making them the largest individual components for DUNE, and they have to be built with millimeter precision.

Daresbury Laboratory - with its university partners in the UK - will ultimately produce 150 APAs for DUNE.

To meet this need, a large purpose-built APA factory was created at Daresbury inside a former accelerator hall, and 20 specific jobs were created for this task.

Making excellent progress

The Daresbury team has now started the production of the first APA for one of the ProtoDUNE detectors, a prototype in which researchers test the technology that will be used in DUNE's detectors.

The high-precision APAs will first undergo full testing in the ProtoDUNE-II detector at CERN before the full set of APAs for DUNE are built, a process that will take several years to complete.

"It is impressive that the project team continues to made excellent progress in such a challenging year," said Executive Chair of STFC Mark Thomson, professor at the University of Cambridge. "This development means that 2021 should be the year of the Final Design Review and beginning of mass production of APAs at Daresbury - a huge milestone for everyone involved and a major step towards the construction of this incredibly exciting neutrino experiment. I am deeply proud of the team at Daresbury for how hard they have continued to work in difficult circumstances."

United Kingdom collaboration

DUNE is the first large international particle physics experiment to be hosted in the United States. UK physicists from the Universities of Liverpool and Manchester contribute to the scientific leadership of the project.

"These detector components will play a key role in unraveling the mystery of neutrinos and their role in the formation of the Universe," said DUNE spokesperson Professor Stefan Soldner-Rembold, of the University of Manchester.

Excavation of the underground facilities in South Dakota have recently started

"The international team of neutrino physicists working on DUNE is excited to welcome the first of the large detector components built by the UK -- the biggest non-U.S. contributor to this global experiment," Soldner-Rembold said.

###

UK involvement with the DUNE collaboration is through STFC and 14 universities: Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, Imperial, Lancaster, Liverpool, UCL, Manchester, Oxford, Sheffield, Sussex and Warwick.

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.
By Bret Pallotto, Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.) (TNS)

A South Carolina man was charged Monday by Pennsylvanias top prosecutor with the killing of a Pine Grove Mills woman who was fatally shot in her home more than five years ago.

Christopher Kowalski, 34, was charged with one count of criminal homicide of Jean Tuggy.

Her former Wegmans co-worker admitted to the killing Monday in an interview with police, officers wrote in an affidavit of probable cause.

Jean died more than five years ago and her family has not had closure since, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement. Thanks to the diligent efforts of our lawyers, investigators and fellow members of law enforcement who never gave up on this case, the arrest of Christopher Kowalski is the first step toward putting her murderer behind bars. The Tuggy family has waited too long for justice, but we hope this news helps them heal.

The charge comes after a yearslong Ferguson Township police and state attorney generals office investigation. Tuggy, 60, died of a gunshot wound to the head Jan. 20, 2016, on Irion Street.

Kowalski and Tuggy developed a friendship during the nearly seven years they worked together. The two developed a romantic relationship, something Tuggy planned to end, police wrote.

Kowalski initially said his 9 mm pistol inadvertently discharged twice while the two planned to watch movies the day Tuggy died; once when the gun fell to the floor and once when he attempted to clear the weapon, police wrote.

But when pressed by investigators, Kowalski recanted and said he shot her twice because she was an easy target who wouldnt be able to fight back, police wrote. He also turned her oxygen off to ensure she was dead.

The truth is, I killed her, police quoted Kowalski as saying. I killed her because I was depressed, down and hopeless. I was having a midlife crisis.

Tuggy was discovered the day after the shooting by two friends who were concerned that she did not follow through on their plans. Happy Valley residents were encouraged to lock their doors as police searched for the killer.

Kowalski owned six 9 mm pistols at the time of the killing, including one that was sold to a gun dealership in Millheim nearly 10 months after the shooting, police wrote.

The firearm had several forensic similarities to the weapon used to killed Tuggy, though a report from a state police firearm and tool mark examiner said bullet comparisons were inconclusive due to insufficient matching individual characteristics and mutilations.

Kowalski moved from State College to South Carolina in 2016. Interviews with at least two of Tuggys friends and information from a church he attended also led police to Kowalski.

He was arrested Monday and is set to be extradited to the Keystone State for prosecution. A preliminary arraignment has not yet been scheduled.

A defense lawyer for Kowalski was not listed on a court document.

More:

Body found on I-80 IDd; homicide investigation underway

Cleveland serial killer Anthony Sowell dies of terminal illness in prison hospital
WASHINGTON  Only a fragment of Americans believe democracy is thriving in the U.S., even as broad majorities agree that representative government is one of the country's bedrock principles, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Just 16 percent of Americans say democracy is working well or extremely well, a pessimism that spans the political spectrum. Nearly half of Americans, 45 percent, think democracy isn't functioning properly, while another 38 percent say it's working only somewhat well.

The core elements of democratic government, including free and fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power, were put to a dire test by the baseless claims of election fraud advanced by former President Donald Trump. Those assertions of fraud were a root cause of the deadly violence at the U.S. Capitol last month, which damaged the country's reputation as a model for democracy.

Trump will face an unprecedented second impeachment trial in the Senate this week for his role in sparking the violence. About half of Americans say the Senate should convict the Republican former president.

"At every turn, it's gotten worse and worse," said Curtis Musser, a 55-year-old Republican-leaning independent in Clermont, Florida, who didn't vote for Trump. "You could see it brewing even before the election. And everything just kept spiraling downward from there."

The poll's findings are broadly consistent with how Americans graded democracy before the election. But there are signs that Trump's attacks on the democratic process, including his repeated and discredited argument that the election was "stolen" because of voter irregularities, resonated with Republicans.

In October, about two-thirds of those who identify with the GOP, 68 percent, said democracy was working at least somewhat well. That figure plummeted to 36 percent in January. Democratic views whipsawed in the opposite direction, with 70 percent reporting democracy working at least somewhat well compared with 37 percent in the fall.

Overall, about two-thirds of Americans say Joe Biden was legitimately elected president, but only a third of Republicans hold that view.

That debate is now playing out in Congress, with a clear split among Republican leaders like Sen. Mitch McConnell, Rep. Liz Cheney and others who have rejected Trump's claims and validated Biden's victory. Still, more than 140 House Republicans refused to accept Biden's victory, a sign of the far right's grip on the party.

GOP officials in several battleground states that Biden carried, including Arizona and Georgia, have said the election was fair. Trump's claims were roundly rejected in the courts, including by judges appointed by Trump, and by his former attorney general, William Barr.

Fred Carrigan, a 58-year-old industrial heating mechanic in Portland, Indiana, said he doesn't believe Trump's argument that the election was stolen. But he also views the push to impeach and convict Trump as an affront to democracy. A conviction would give senators the option to ban Trump from seeking office again.

"Trump didn't do himself any favors by telling them to go march. But he didn't tell them to vandalize the Capitol," Carrigan said. "I don't think it's impeachable. Impeaching him is petty. They are a bunch of children trying to prove who is right, when it doesn't matter in the big picture."

"All this shows is it's just going to get worse," he said.

Biden, a Democrat, has pledged to use the power of the presidency to promote democratic ideals.

In one of the first tests of that commitment, he was quick to condemn military leaders who staged a coup last week in Myanmar, threatening sanctions and blasting a "direct assault on the country's transition to democracy and rule of law."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, meanwhile, has said the Biden administration is "deeply concerned" by Russia's jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

An overwhelming majority of Americans, 70 percent, say they believe Biden respects democratic institutions at least a fair amount. But there is a stark political split with about 96 percent of Democrats saying Biden respects such institutions, compared with about 42 percent of Republicans.

Those are still much higher marks than Trump earned: 62 percent say the former president has little or no respect for democratic traditions or institutions. That view is held by 93 percent of Democrats and, notably, 27 percent of Republicans.

Linda Reynolds, a 64-year-old retired paper sales representative in Torrance, California, was a lifelong Republican until Trump captured the party's presidential nomination in 2016. With Biden in the White House, she's feeling better about whether the U.S. will again embrace democracy.

"We obviously have a lot of problems," she said. "But in the big picture, reason seems to have prevailed, hopefully in the eyes of the world."

While Americans are downbeat on the current state of democracy, they are unified that such a form of government is still the desired approach. Eighty percent say a democratically elected government is very or extremely important to the nation's identity.

Support persisted or was even higher for other central tenets of the nation's democratic government. Eighty-eight percent say a fair judicial system and the rule of law are very or extremely important, and 85 percent held similar feelings about individual liberties and freedoms as defined by the Constitution.

Those tenets of democracy are considered important by large majorities of Republicans and Democrats.

Despite dour views of how the U.S. is being governed today, the poll finds heightened optimism about the country's future. Nearly half, 49 percent, say things are headed in the right direction, compared with 37 percent in December and 25 percent in October. Optimism hit a low, 20 percent, last summer. Much of the surge in optimism came among Democrats, who are confident in Biden and his ability to govern and manage crises facing the country.

"We remain a great country and do a lot of good things," Reynolds said.

___

Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press writers Hannah Fingerhut and Emily Swanson in Washington contributed to this report.

___

The AP-NORC poll of 1,055 adults was conducted Jan. 28-Feb. 1 using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Workforce Opportunity Services (WOS)  a leading non-profit organization connecting individuals from historically underrepresented populations with transformative career opportunities announced an exclusive partnership with the Asbury Park Housing Authority (APHA) to launch a customized version of its popular Workforce Essentials Workshop, targeted to highly motivated, early-career professionals.

The online workshop, scheduled to begin on March 15, 2021, will run for four consecutive days; three hours a day for a total of 12 hours. Planned topics include:

Self-Esteem

Metacognition (Self-Awareness of learning or thinking)

Workplace Values

Business Culture

Since the fall 2020, the no-cost Workforce Essentials Workshop has empowered participants to move from entry-level positions to long-lasting personal and professional success. Based on 20 years of research-based workforce development experience, this fully online workshop has been designed to help participants develop their interpersonal skills through a series of self-assessments, live sessions, and offline reflective activities.

Jessica Miller, Director of Academics for WOS, stated that "This workshop presents a unique opportunity for WOS to collaborate with the APHA and provide residents with valuable strategies to strengthen self-esteem and self-acceptance and objectives to help them achieve personal, academic, and professional goals. We're proud to be able to provide the Asbury Park community with a locally based professional development resource."

Qaasim Johnson, Director of Housing for APHA also shared that, "We are excited to partner with Workforce Opportunity Services, Columbia University CTM and most importantly the residents of the APHA. We believe this partnership is the beginning of the process of change in our communities. We, you, cannot bring about desired change alone, team work is required. TEAM  Together Everyone Achieves More."

All students who successfully complete the workshop will receive a certificate of participation from Columbia University Center for Technology Management.

For more information on the workshop, please call, text, or email Sameerah Keith at

732-440-7468 or [email protected].

If you would like more information about WOS and our programs, or are interested in an interview with a WOS representative, please contact WOS media relations at [email protected].

475 Riverside Drive

Suite 1350

New York, NY 10115

Tel: 212-870-0241

About Workforce Opportunity Services

Founded in 2005, Workforce Opportunity Services (WOS) is a leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to developing the skills of untapped talent from underserved and veteran communities through partnerships with organizations dedicated to diversifying their workforce. Utilizing a scientifically-based model derived from research conducted at Columbia University, we recruit, educate, train, and place high-potential candidates with leading organizations around the world. To date, WOS has served 4,000+ individuals through partnerships with more than 65 corporations in 40+ locations worldwide. For more information, visit wforce.org .

About Asbury Park Housing Authority

The mission of the Housing Authority of the City of Asbury Park is to deliver on the promise of providing safe, clean, decent affordable housing to low, extremely low- and moderate-income individuals and families of Asbury Park, NJ and surrounding areas. This promise will be met by non-discriminatory innovative housing and business initiatives. With a focus on introducing tangible alternatives for sustainable housing, economic development opportunities and self-sufficiency programs offered to our community partners. It's with said partners that we will continue to work together to create Housing Excellence!

Additional Links

WOS on Twitter ( www.twitter.com/wforceorg )

WOS on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/wforceorg/ )

WOS on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/company/workforce-opportunity-services/ )

Media Contact:

Deborah Vanderlinder

212-870-2241

[email protected]

SOURCE Workforce Opportunity Services
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 17:44:32|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodian spokesman on Tuesday hailed China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for having enjoyed stability and remarkable development in various fronts over the past five years.

Ek Tha, standing vice-chairman of the Cambodian government's spokesperson unit, said he observed that Xinjiang's economic development has continued to improve while its people's livelihoods have been improved remarkably and a decisive victory has been achieved in poverty alleviation there.

"I see that all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are treated equally and they have fully enjoyed the rights to life and development," he told Xinhua in a written interview.

"I also congratulate Xinjiang on bidding farewell to absolute poverty, with a total of 3.06 million rural people lifted out of poverty and all 35 poverty-stricken counties removed from the poverty list," he added.

Xinjiang had reported no violent terrorist attack over the past four years in a row, according to a Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region report.

Tha said that under the leadership of the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xinjiang will continue to enjoy peace, stability and further development in all spheres, and the aspirations of people from all ethnic groups for a better life will be fulfilled.

He also praised the Chinese government for adhering to the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice and freedom for all mankind and getting rid of ideological prejudice. Enditem
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - Leveljump Healthcare Corp. (TSXV: JUMP) ("the "Company") is pleased to announce that, subject to regulatory consent, the Company has agreed to settle $37,500 of indebtedness (the "Debt Conversion") through the issuance of 125,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.30 per Unit to an arm's length trade creditor (the "Creditor"). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share ("Share") and one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant") entitling the holder to purchase one additional Share of the Company until December 13, 2023, at an exercise price of CA$0.45 per share.

The Company has entered into this transaction to allow it to use the retained cash for due diligence on prospective acquisitions in connection with its business plan. Additionally, as a result of this debt conversion, other than ongoing trade payables, the Company has no outstanding liabilities. The Creditor is arm's-length to the Corporation and there are no finder's fees payable.

The Debt Conversion will close following receipt of final acceptance of the TSXV. All securities to be issued pursuant to the offering will be subject to the applicable statutory, exchange and regulatory hold period of four months and one day and any other required resale restrictions. The securities to be issued have not and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws.

About Leveljump Healthcare

Leveljump Healthcare Corp. (TSXV: JUMP) is building a national medical diagnostic imaging company and brand, primarily by providing Teleradiology (remote radiology) services to its client hospitals and imaging centers. Additionally, JUMP plans to expand through the acquisition of independent healthcare facilities focused on diagnostic imaging as well as acquiring new disruptive imaging technologies.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

LEVELJUMP HEALTHCARE CORP.

Mitchell Geisler, Chief Executive Officer

info@leveljumphealthcare.com

(877) 722-6965

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the Company's business plans and the outlook of the Company's industry. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them 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. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release and the Company assumes no responsibility to update them or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances other than as required by applicable securities laws. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of the Company, Canadian Teleradiology Services, Inc., their securities, or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable).

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 release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73968

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is fighting from doorway to doorway, refusing to cede a single stronghold. He and his defense team are conducting a determined war of attrition in order to play for time, score points and continue battering and exhausting the prosecutors in the hopes that something will give  the indictment will collapse, the judges will accept the defense arguments.

On Feb. 8, Netanyahu and his legal team arrived to the Jerusalem District Court for the last pre-trial hearing. Netanyahu pleaded not guilty. After that, the court was set to schedule the beginning of the evidentiary stage. Then, Netanyahus lawyers asked for the next session to be postponed for after the March 23 elections. Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman, who presides over the three judge panel in Netanyahus trial, was unhappy with the request. In essence, you [Netanyahus defense team] are asking to defer the evidentiary stage by six months. We should have heard evidence long ago. Why are we seeking to press on, you ask? Because its been a year since the indictment was filed, she noted.

The trial had begun on May 24, 2020. Following various pre-trial motions and procedural delays, it resumed only on Feb. 8. This was to be the final stage before the main act: The evidentiary stage in this fateful legal drama when prosecution witnesses are scheduled to take the stand one by one to testify against him. As expected, Netanyahu denied the charges against him. He argued that not only was he innocent of all three unfounded charges  corruption, fraud and breach of trust in three cases  he was being framed based on a police investigation that had not been authorized legally by the attorney general. Throughout the lengthy hearing, his lawyers bombarded the judges with various and sundry arguments, which peaked with a demand to delay the evidentiary stage of the trial until after the elections.

A prelude to this demand was provided the day before by Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin, one of Netanyahus staunchest loyalists  the man who heads the legislative branch of government. Levin conveyed a barely veiled threat to the judges, arguing that if they schedule the evidentiary phase to begin prior to the elections, they could be influencing the democratic process.

This is the state of play in the trench warfare underway, with Netanyahu intent on distancing the evidentiary stage as far as possible from election day, while the prosecution is fed up with the attrition and delays intent on putting its witnesses on the stand before anything happens to set back their case.

The plot thickened when it transpired that one of Netanyahus attorneys, Boaz Ben Tzur, had been in contact with Israeli-American billionaire Arnon Milchan, and had suggested that he contacts Netanyahu. Ben Tzur currently represents Netanyahu in Case 1000. But in the past, Ben Tzur represented Milchan, in connection to one of the other cases Netanyahu was indicted on (Case 4000). In fact, Milchan could be called to witness against Netanyahu. The prosecution issued a stern letter to Ben Tzur, warning that it would take action against him on suspicion of witness tampering. Ben Tzur responded with an angry letter of his own, denying the allegation.

Channel 12 News reported Feb. 7 that Milchan had apparently tried to call Ben Tzur recently, but had dialed by mistake a different Boaz on his contact list  this one an investigator in the serious crime unit that investigated the Netanyahu-Milchan case. This slip further strengthened the prosecutions suspicions that Netanyahu or someone acting on his behalf was trying to influence the prosecution witnesses and destroy the states case, making the start of the evidentiary stage of paramount importance to the states case.

Others have a different take on the issue. They argue that Netanyahu is by far the best actor in the Israeli political arena and that the start of the evidentiary stage close to election day could actually benefit him rather than harm him. According to this theory, voters are familiar with the cases against Netanyahu and support for him has remained steady through three consecutive elections. The case has been widely covered in the media, including extensive reporting of witness statements against him, and will not surprise his supporters. On the contrary. They could achieve the opposite effect of presenting Netanyahu being haunted by the prosecution over such nonsense as accepting a few cigars and champagne and some positive news coverage while he was wholly devoted to bringing Israel millions of coronavirus vaccines and saving lives. The evidentiary stage, argue some of his consultants, could help shore up support for the beleaguered leader among his voters who will close ranks to defend him.

This argument  dubbed the second Israel theory  has been propounded in recent months by various journalists who claim the Netanyahu trial is an attempt by the Israeli elites, the political left and other anti-Israel forces to get rid of the great defender of the Jewish people. Netanyahu, who has become adept at exploiting the criminal indictments against him to deepen Israels social divide, could leverage the evidentiary stage in order to turn the elections into a class war of sorts.

Truth be told, despite his elitist, Ashkenazi upbringing and background, Netanyahu has been immensely successful in depicting himself as the ultimate representative of the second Israel, of Mizrahi Jews whose families originate from Arab lands, of right-wing ideologues. He depicts himself as an underdog hounded by a deep state of progressives, leftists and post-Zionist forces determined to topple him from power. The trailer for such a scenario was on display Feb. 8 when his admirers said that photos of Netanyahu depicting him sitting with his lawyers outside the courtroom, awaiting the start of the proceedings, amounted to public humiliation of a beloved leader.

This is all diametrically opposed to the truth. Netanyahus predecessor, Ehud Olmert, was also indicted on corruption charges, standing trial and going to jail without anyone claiming he had been a victim of some nefarious plot and without any attempt to sow public discord. Netanyahus fans either do not remember Olmert or choose not to remember him, or former Finance Minister Avraham Hirschson or other politicians tried and punished in the past. Netanyahus fans are intent on saving the prime minister, at any cost. Netanyahu is a master at maneuvering and manipulating them. He, too, is willing to pay any price to evade Judgment Day. Anyone who holds Israeli democracy close to their hearts should be very worried.

A former vet who is wanted to face multiple charges of sexual activity with animals and of having extreme pornographic material has appeared before the High Court this afternoon on foot of an extradition warrant.

Oliver Lown (35), with an address at Main Road, Kesgrave, Suffolk is wanted by authorities in the United Kingdom to face 12 offences, which also include making indecent images of children.

The warrant states that 1,219 extreme pornographic images, of which 1,067 are unique, were recovered from the hard drive of Mr Lown's laptop as well as 3,512 extreme pornographic videos, of which 3,511 are unique.

Other images recovered include 66 category A indecent images of which 43 are unique, 36 category B indecent images of which 26 are unique and 33 category C indecent images of which 23 are unique.

The warrant also states that Mr Lown is charged with offences including sexual penetration per vagina/anus by a person with a living animal, making indecent photographs of children and possessing extreme pornographic images portraying an act of intercourse /oral sex with a dead /alive animal.

Mr Lown was arrested by detectives from the Gardas extradition unit on Monday and taken to Letterkenny Garda Station following the endorsement of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by the police in Suffolk.

The former vet appeared before Mr Justice Paul Burns in the High Court today wearing a face mask, an orange jacket and trousers.

Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan of the Garda Extradition Unit told Aoife Carroll BL, for the State, that he was on duty yesterday in Kilmacrenan in Co Donegal and called to an address at Gortnaskea near Letterkenny at 6.37pm, where he arrested Mr Lown on foot of the warrant and cautioned him.

Det Sgt Kirwan said he introduced himself to Mr Lown and showed him his ID card.

He said that Mr Lown agreed that his name was Oliver Lown and that one of the aliases he used was Ollie Fraser Henderson, while his place of birth was in Ipswich in the UK.



The detective said he showed Mr Lown a photograph which he agreed was him.



Det Sgt Kirwan said he informed Mr Lown that he had an EAW for his arrest and showed him a copy of the original warrant, which had been endorsed by the High Court for execution.



The detective said he also informed Mr Lown of his right to consent to his surrender to the issuing state, namely the UK and gave him a copy of the EAW.



Outlining the offences facing Mr Lown, Det Sgt Kirwan said the warrant relates to 12 offences relating to images found on a PC laptop on April 4, 2019 in Kesgrave in Suffolk.

The detective said he read the precis [summary] of offences contained in the warrant to the respondent and asked him whether he knew what they were about, which Mr Lown indicated he did.

Mr Lown was then conveyed to Letterkenny Garda Station.

Det Sgt Kirwan said he was satisfied that the person named on the warrant was the person he arrested.

He told Kieran Kelly BL, for the respondent, that the warrant stated that Mr Lown seemed to be in breach of his bail in the UK.



After Det Sgt Kirwan gave evidence of Mr Lown's arrest, Mr Justice Burns said he was satisfied the person before him was the person to whom the warrant related.



The judge informed Mr Lown of his rights and told him that he is entitled to voluntarily surrender himself to the UK authorities between now and the hearing date.



Mr Justice Burns fixed February 26 as the date for the full hearing of the extradition case.



He remanded Mr Lown in custody until that date, when an application for bail is expected to be made.



The warrant states that PC Harvey accompanied by probation officer Chris Royal attended a house on Main Street, Kesgrave, Suffolk in the UK at 10.10am on April 4, 2019.

They were informed by the occupants that their son, Mr Lown, lived in the annexe above their garage with another man.

The warrant also stated that the other man is a registered sex offender and the purpose of the visit was to ascertain where he [the sex offender] was residing since he had not notified an address as per the Sex Offender Requirements.

The warrant further states that PC Harvey located Mr Lown in the annexe and a situation then unfolded whereby Mr Lown threw a laptop in a pond to evade its inspection by police and he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of possessing extreme pornography.

Mr Lown was also arrested on the same date for perverting the course of justice and possession of heroin.

The laptop was submitted to the Digital Forensic Unit and forensic examination was completed on the extracted hard drive, which included 1,067 extreme pornographic images and 3,511 extreme pornographic videos.

The warrant also states that police attended Burrell Road, Ipswich on August 29, 2019, where Mr Lown was present.

He was arrested on suspicion of making, taking, possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

He was also arrested on suspicion of Class B drugs. He was interviewed and responded "no comment" to all questions asked.

The warrant states that police arranged to meet Mr Lown at Martlesham Police Investigation Centre on November 27, 2019.

He did not attend, went missing and was circulated on the UK's Police National Computer as "wanted".
New Delhi, Feb 9 : As against China's aggressive image, India is steadily reinforcing its soft power and core philosophical values of compassion and generosity with the help of vaccine diplomacy.

The government has so far gifted over 62 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccines to its immediate and extended neighbourhood, out of the 170 lakh doses supplied to at least 20 countries across the world.

As per the Foreign Ministry's official data exclusively accessed by IANS, the government, in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, has distributed over 62 lakh doses of locally made AstraZeneca PLC vaccine among Bangladesh (20), Myanmar (15), Nepal (10), Sri Lanka (5), Afghanistan (5), Bhutan (1.5) and others.

In the extended neighbourhood, India gifted the vaccine doses to Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Bahrain, Oman, Barbados and Dominica.

About 60 per cent of global vaccine production comes from India, making it the largest producer of vaccines in the region. Apart from Covid-19 vaccines, India is the largest supplier of the DPT, BCG and Measles vaccines globally.

The WHO sources 70 per cent of its essential immunisation vaccines from India.

Apart from the grant, India has sold out 105 lakh doses to Bangladesh (50), Brazil (20), Morocco(20), Egypt (0.5), Algeria (0.5), South Africa (10), Kuwait (2) and UAE(2).

When the coronavirus pandemic broke out in January last year, all the big and advanced economies rushed to develop a vaccine for the deadly virus which has infected millions and killed over 2.3 million people across the world so far.

As of now, only ten vaccines including Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine produced by UK and Sweden and BBV152 produced by India's Bharat Biotech, are authorized for public use.

China, India's rival, has been in the race for vaccine-development too. After former United States' President Donald Trump's administration held Beijing responsible for the pandemic, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), desperately began to undo the damage to its image in the world.

However, Beijing's simultaneous aggression in its neighbourhood-rapid militarization of South China Sea, crackdown on pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, threats to occupy Taiwan, persecution of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province, occupation of Tibet and a violent face-off along the Line of Actual Control in India's eastern Ladakh, has not helped it much.

The new administration in Washington, has not radically changed the Trump administration's broader policy vis-a-vis China. In fact, the Joe Biden government is pursuing the previous government's efforts at strengthening the Quad grouping-US, Japan, India and Australia-to contain China's aggression in and outside Asia.

On the contrary, Modi has rapidly and deftly moved with 'vaccine diplomacy' to strengthen India's ties with its neighbours who often get manipulated by the CCP for investments and other favours.

Senior officials in the government here believe that this pushback by India to counter China's dominance will have a long-term impact. China's influence is slowly eroding the influence it enjoyed until recently and its negative image because of its imperialistic policies is only growing, sources in the government said.
Philadelphia launched a preregistration website for the coronavirus vaccine last month, allowing residents to get in the virtual line for inoculation.

But it also left some people out. Residents must have internet access to register, and the form is only available in English and Spanish.

Residents who are 75 or older, along with people with certain health conditions, are currently eligible for vaccination in Philadelphia. But many are struggling to sign up  or are registering on multiple waiting lists but still not getting appointments. And the citys bureaucracy has proven especially difficult for some of the most vulnerable to navigate.

The problem isnt unique to Philadelphia  Pennsylvanias vaccine rollout has also struggled to reach some groups. But the patchwork system for registering and making appointments has left out some of the citys oldest residents, as well as low-income or immigrant residents who face digital or language barriers, while residents who are better equipped to navigate the system get appointments.

A nine-person call center

City Councilmember Bobby Henon said at a hearing last week that even 311  a phone hotline specifically meant to help residents with a variety of government-related issues  added to the confusion for some of the more than 1,500 seniors who called his office.

Henon said 311 is letting people know what they have to go online, but the reason they called is that they cant go online.

Philadelphia Managing Director Tumar Alexander said the city is working to address that issue with 311 and have residents leave their phone numbers so the health department can get back to them.

The health departments call center (available at 215-685-5488), has only nine staff members answering phones to help residents complete the online form. Health department spokesperson James Garrow said the call center has been receiving three times its normal call load. The city is working to increase staffing and have 20 full-time workers taking calls, he said.

Garrow said the city also hopes the 311 call center can soon begin helping residents with vaccine registration.

This has to do with staffing and capacity, Garrow said. Weve seen in other cities and states that throwing open a call center without capacity to handle the influx of calls can lead to frustrating waits.

 READ MORE: No phone hotlines, multiple websites, long lines: Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is confusing in Pa. and N.J.

The city is also using the staff from its Philly Counts initiative, which helped find hard-to-reach residents to complete the U.S. Census, for vaccine outreach and communication. Alexander said those outreach workers were working in very vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities and can now apply that experience to the vaccine.

But even for residents who do manage to preregister online, the wait continues. Bob McCann, an 83-year-old in the citys Rhawnhurst section, said his daughter registered him and his wife online. But hes still repeatedly calling councilmembers, various city offices, and pharmacies. Hes desperate for an answer on when he may be able to get an appointment.

If you tell me Im not going to get the vaccine for five more years, at least we would have an answer, McCann said. Well we dont have an answer, and Ive become very upset.

Language barriers

Garrow said the city is working to add Chinese, Vietnamese, and French to the available languages for online registration.

Councilmember Maria Quinones-Sanchez said shes concerned about ongoing access issues in the citys immigrant communities due to language and literacy issues. She said she had to help many of her own family members sign up on the citys website, and urged officials during last weeks hearing to form a better plan for addressing inequities.

The numbers are still just going to continue to bear out that our communities that are most vulnerable are going to be last, she said.

Oni Richards-Warity, executive director of the African Family Health Organization, said at last weeks Council meeting that the city should partner with groups like hers to reach people who speak limited English or mistrust of the health-care system. Since the beginning of the pandemic, she said, the messaging was very much targeted not to that demographic.

 READ MORE: Lack of targeted outreach, translated materials leaves Latino community behind as Pa. struggles with vaccine rollout

Richards-Warity said her organization, which serves immigrant communities, has been trying to help communicate about the coronavirus and the vaccine but would like to have a formal partnership with the city.

Our staff are able to craft messages, she said, that resonate with our community.

Noted experts present scientifically-based guidelines for spina bifida care to the worldwide community of clinicians and investigators to improve patients' quality of life in this special issue of the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine

Amsterdam, NL, February 9, 2021 - Globally, nearly 300,000 babies are born with neural tube defects including spina bifida (SB) each year. This openly available special issue of the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine (JPRM) provides 20 important evidence- and consensus-based updates to key sections of the 2018 "Guidelines for the Care of People with Spina Bifida" issued by the Spina Bifida Association (SBA). These reflect current recommendations for the care of patients with SB across the entire lifespan, from prenatal counseling to adult care.

As a result of research advancements and improved team-based patient care, approximately 80%-90% of children with SB now live to adulthood in the United States. The Guidelines were written with this idea in mind and present the best evidence for what care should be delivered, regardless of the model or types of practitioners available.

"Medical evidence and clinical practice continue to change, and so it was time to update the most recent set of Guidelines to provide the best, most up-to-date recommendations, focusing not only on pediatric care, but also on safely transitioning young adults with SB from pediatric to adult healthcare services," explained co-Guest Editors Jonathan Castillo, MD, MPH, and Heidi A. Castillo, MD, both from Developmental Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Meyer Center, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. "Guidelines needed to be included and/or revised to reflect the needs of adults with SB. The goal was to provide a more holistic approach to care. It is not just a condition that affects health but affects all of life."

Judy Thibadeau, RN, MN, Director of Research and Services, Spina Bifida Association, Arlington, VA, added, "Pediatric and adult providers need to embrace the fact that adult providers will be needed and are important to the lives of people with SB."

The updated and expanded sections of the Guidelines presented in this issue move beyond more traditional issues of neurosurgical, urologic and orthopedic care, emphasize the continuum of care, health, wellbeing and quality of life, and include more background information about key topics and why they are important in the care of individuals with SB. They cover:

Bowel function and care

Central precocious puberty

Coordination of care

Family functioning in families with a child with SB

Health promotion and preventive healthcare service guidelines

Latex allergy

Mental health

Mobility

Neuropsychological care

Neurosurgical guidelines

Nutrition, metabolic syndrome, and obesity

Orthopedic guidelines

Prenatal counseling

Quality of life

Self-management and independence

Sexual health and education

Short stature and the effect of human growth hormone

Skin-related issues

Urologic guidelines

Women's health

"These Guidelines stress other issues that are important to successfully transition to adulthood including (but not limited to) family functioning, mental health, women's and men's health, and self-management skills in the broader societal and participation context," noted co-Guest Editor and SBA Medical Director Timothy John Brei, MD, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children's Hospital and the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. "These Guidelines acknowledge that one can have good medical health and still struggle in terms of independence and across the lifespan. So, they are not just about medical care across the lifespan, but 'life care.'"

Dr. Jonathan Castillo added, "Neural tube defects like SB have widespread global significance. Some countries manage the care of patients with SB better than others, particularly when it relates to the care of adults with SB. Therefore, global accessibility to the Guidelines and their updates is vital, as healthcare professionals embedded in local communities will seek to use this guidance to provide high-quality care with a view towards reducing healthcare disparities. Language differences, immigration, cultural beliefs, acculturation, local resources, and social determinants of health must be taken into account when Guidelines are implemented throughout the world."

SBA's Collaborative Care Network, through a cooperative agreement with the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), supported the production of the "Guidelines for the Care of People with Spina Bifida." These Guidelines were the culmination of three years of planning and work involving over 100 international experts using evidence-based research and consensus methodologies. The text of the Guidelines is openly available on the SBA website and the position papers in this special issue have been published as open access through the support of the SBA.

"It is the hope of SBA that these and future Guidelines will promote and standardize best practice regardless of the characteristics of individuals with SB or where their care is received. It is through providing better care that we will ultimately achieve a better future for all those living with SB," remarked Brad E. Dicianno, Associate Medical Director, SBA, and Director, UPMC Adult Spina Bifida Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA.

"These open access Guidelines are paramount towards educating individuals with SB and their medical providers," commented Editor-in-Chief of JPRM Elaine L. Pico, MD, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, CA. "With better health and these Guidelines distributed worldwide we are looking at a robust aging population of those with SB that must be attended to by knowledgeable medical providers."

"We are so thankful to the journal for its continued focus on SB. Truly, it is a gift to our community, and we are grateful and excited to be part of what has happened thus far. We can't wait to see where this takes all of us," commented Sara Struwe, MPA, President & CEO, Spina Bifida Association, Arlington, VA. "From our community to yours, thank you!"

###
The Telegraph

An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.
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New York, 09, Feb 2021: According to a new report published by Polaris Market Research the organic personal care market is anticipated to reach over USD 27,276.5 million by 2026. In 2017, the skin care segment dominated the global market, in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue during the forecast period.

A significant increase in disposable income, changing lifestyles, and initiatives by market players to promote natural and organic personal care products drive the growth of this market. Other driving factors include growing inclination towards use of natural and organic products, and increasing awareness regarding use of chemical free personal care products. Increasing demand from developing nations is expected provide numerous growth opportunities to the market players during the forecast period.

Get sample copy of this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/organic-personal-care-market/request-for-sample

There has been a shift towards e-commerce and consumers are increasingly purchasing organic personal care through online platforms. The variety of choices available coupled with ease of purchase offered by online platforms encourages consumers to buy organic personal care products online, supplementing the growth of the market. Improvement in lifestyle due to rise in income level, especially in the developing countries of Asia-Pacific fuels the demand for organic personal care market. Factors such as increase in per capita income and changes in consumer behavior are expected to accelerate the adoption of organic personal care in the coming years.

North America generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the global market throughout the forecast period. The increasing geriatric population in the region coupled with high disposable income drives the market growth. The increasing demand of organic personal care in the region is owing to high consumer awareness regarding the benefits of natural and organic personal care products and rising environmental concerns. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period owing to increasing disposable incomes in developing countries of this region, and rising awareness.

The different types of organic personal care products available in the market include skin care, hair care, oral care, cosmetics, and others. In 2017, the skin care segment accounted for the highest market share. Use of organic skin care products offers benefits and reduces the risk of skin irritations and allergies. Growing awareness regarding use of natural ingredients in skin care products is expected to support market growth during the forecast period.

Get discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/organic-personal-care-market/request-for-discount-pricing

The well-known companies profiled in the report include The Body Shop International PLC, Amway Corporation, Aubrey Organics, Oriflame Cosmetics S.A., Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Arbonne International, LLC, Aveda Corporation, Aveda Corporation, Burts Bee, The Hain Celestial Group, Yves Rocher, Bare Escentuals, Inc., and LOccitane en Provence among others. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers.


Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN on Monday that the deadly Capitol Hill insurrection hurt the U.S. standing as a nation that defends democracy and human rights.

Why it matters: The U.S. has traditionally been a leading voice in condemning political violence around the world. Many world leaders reacted with horror to images broadcast around the globe of rioting supporters of former President Trump on Jan. 6.

Support safe, smart, sane journalism. Sign up for Axios Newsletters here.

What he's saying: "There's no doubt that our ability to speak with that strong voice for democracy and human rights took a hit with what happened on January 6 and happened at the Capitol," Blinken told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

"But I've got to tell you I actually see the glass as half full on that, because we had a peaceful transition of power pursuant to our Constitution."

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There were no casualties in the past day.

The Command of Ukraine's Armed Forces has reported seven violations of the latest ceasefire agreement committed by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Monday, February 8.

"In the past day, February 8, seven ceasefire violations were recorded in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) zone," the press center of the Ukrainian JFO Command said on Facebook in an update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on February 9, 2021.

In particular, the Russian occupation troops fired proscribed 120mm and 82mm mortars, as well as an automatic grenade launcher near the village of Pivdenne.

Also, the enemy repeatedly used grenade launchers of various systems and automatic rifles near the town of Avdiyivka, as well as grenade launchers and rifles near the villages of Pisky and Vodiane.

Read alsoEach enemy shelling must see "mirror response"  Ukraine's chief negotiator on DonbasThe Joint Forces fired back, the report says.

There were no casualties in the past day.

Since Tuesday midnight, February 9, one ceasefire violation was recorded in the JFO zone. In particular, the Russian occupation troops fired rifles near Pisky.

The violations were reported to OSCE representatives through the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) of the ceasefire in Donbas.

The situation is under full control of the Ukrainian military.

Donbas ceasefire: Background

Participants in the Trilateral Contact Group (Ukraine, Russia, and the OSCE) on the peace settlement in Donbas on July 22 agreed on a full and comprehensive ceasefire along the contact line from 00:01 on Monday, July 27.

On the very first day of the newly-agreed truce, Russia's hybrid military forces mounted three attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.

Reporting by UNIAN
Amid the ongoing protests against Myanmar's military coup, police put in an effort to put an end to the demonstrations using water cannons and firing warning shots to thwart the crowds that took the streets despite the rules imposed illegalizing protests, Tuesday.

The United Nations Office in Myanmar has also expressed concern regarding the police crackdown after reports that many demonstrators were injured.

In a statement by the UN, numerous protesters against Myanmar's military coup in Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, and other cities have been injured, some of them severely, after security forces tried to disperse the crowns with force, The Canberra Times reported.

Moreover, Myanmar's U.N. Resident Coordinator, Ola Almgren, called out the use of "disproportionate force" against the protesters and labeled it as an unacceptable act.

In Myanmar's second-biggest city, Mandalay, witnesses stated that they heard the police fire two warning shots in an attempt to break up the crowds earlier in the protest. However, when it didn't work they used water cannons to drench the crowd.

Footage of the dispersal showed police hitting protesters with their batons as the demonstrators tried to flee the scene. Gunfire can also be heard from the videos that were uploaded, Bloomberg reported.

Based on recent reports, the police arrested dozens of people in the area.

Moreover, it was also reported that water cannons were also used by police in the capital Nat Pyi Taw in order to control the crowds rallying against Myanmar's military coup. According to reports, shots fired in the air and water cannons have been used in the capital for two days already.

There were also reports that rubber bullets were shot by police at the crowd in the capital which resulted in injuries on demonstrators.

Several photos circulating in social media also showed the photo of the alleged shooter who was an officer holding a short-barreled gun. Images of injured protesters also circulated.

In addition, some of the protesters took photos of bullet casings at the scene and posted them through social media.

READ ALSO: Florida Water Hack: FBI Hunts Down Person Behind Attempted Poisoning of Florida Water Supply

Meanwhile, according to the Associated Press, there were unconfirmed claims in social media that stated that the law enforcement used live rounds against Myanmar's military coup protesters leading to the death of some people.

Movement Against Myanmar's Military Coup

Protesters in Myanmar are on the streets to demand that the power should be given back to the civilian government. This was triggered after the military took over to block the Feb. 1 convention of the new Parliament session.

Moreover, the people are also demanding that Suu Kyi and other members of the governing party be released by the military.

Meanwhile, in the city of Yangon, thousands of people have already been demonstrating in the streets since Saturday. This is despite the increased security presence in the country after the military crackdown.

On the other hand, Myanmar's Ministry of Information stated that people should be more disciplined and avoid protests as it can destroy democracy.

For the first time since the protests, the state media acknowledged the demonstrations against Myanmar's military coup and said that these gatherings are endangering the stability of the country.



RELATED ARTICLE: Myanmar's Military Grabs Power, Imprisons Aung San Suu Kyi Accused of Election Fraud

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 17:48:12|Editor: huaxia

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XI'AN, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- China's Xi'an Satellite Control Center has completed a health check of 52 in-orbit BeiDou navigation satellites (BDS) ahead of the Spring Festival holiday, the Chinese Lunar New Year, the center said Tuesday.

This is the center's first comprehensive operation management examination of all BeiDou satellites since the completion of the BDS-3 system for global users. With the help of a self-developed satellite health assessment system, the staff at the center analyzed key data of the satellites from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2020.

"Any satellite malfunction may affect the navigation accuracy. Only by keeping the satellite in good working condition at all times can we assure they serve our daily life," said Lyu Pengliang, an engineer with the center.

Since it was put into service in July last year, the BDS-3 system has provided services for many industries, including transportation, agriculture and fishery.

The longest-serving satellite is the GEO-1 satellite of the BDS-2 system, which was launched on Jan. 17, 2010. "Customized health examination and diagnosis programs have enabled the BeiDou satellite to remain in service for three more years, despite its eight-year design life," said senior engineer Luo Chunyan.

During the weeklong Spring Festival holiday, which falls on Feb. 12 this year, the center will continue to carry out real-time monitoring of BeiDou satellites. Enditem
IT feels like a completely different world now, but just 12 months ago, Dail hopefuls in Limerick and across the country pounded the footpaths in the hope of securing a place in the Oireachtas.

Back then, it was adverse weather in the shape of Storm Ciara which many feared would wreak havoc on the first Saturday election in a century, not the closing in of a deadly virus which originated in China.

At a time when social distancing was not in the public lexicon, there were hugs of relief and tears of joy at Limerick Racecourse.

Political victors were hoisted shoulder high as the county and city returned its squad of seven TDs for the 33rd Dail.

In what was a seismic election which shook the establishment, Sinn Fein won the most votes as the electorate turned on Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.

But due in part to the fact Mary-Lou McDonalds party did not perhaps anticipate winning so many seats, it was the Soldiers of Destiny who finished one seat ahead, paving the way for a grand coalition deal between themselves, Fine Gael and the Green Party.

By the time, the government was eventually formed, and Micheal Martin finally secured the office of Taoiseach which he had craved for so long, there was disappointment, as Limerick was left without a seat at the cabinet table.

The three-party government meant that senior positions were at a premium. But there was still upset that Irelands third city was left without a voice at the top table.

When the junior ministries were announced a few days later, however, Fianna Fails Niall Collins was made Minister of State at the Department of Higher Education.

His County Limerick rival Patrick ODonovan received what many feel is the most senior of the junior portfolios, with the responsibility for the Office of Public Works.

In the city, the man of the moment was Thomondgate's Maurice Quinlivan, whose second tilt at Dail Eireann saw him top the poll, with 11,0006 first preference votes, smashing through the quota.

Storm Maurice was how the Leader hailed the win, a nod to Storm Ciara, which brought snow, winds and ice the same weekend to Limerick.

Mr Quinlivans vote haul left his old nemesis, a chastened Willie ODea  who received a massive 19,082 poll-topping votes in 2007  waiting until the second count to be elected, chalking up 9,198 votes, making a dash to Souths pub for a low-key celebration.

Speaking this week, the new polltopper pinpointed a moment in the build-up to election day when he felt things could be different for Sinn Fein this time.

I was out with around 40 people on a Sunday night, and we were at the St Brigids, St Patricks Road area, and the response we had was phenomenal. Another area was Wolfe Tone Street. We topped the poll in boxes in both those areas. But it was that event that everyone thought something special is happening here, he said.

Elsewhere in the city, Fine Gael TD Kieran ODonnell took the third seat, and then it was a battle royale for the final seat, with northside council rivals Frankie Daly and Brian Leddin going toe-to-toe.

Although Cllr Daly had led initially as the counts went on, it was a strong transfer from Labours Jan OSullivan  who bowed out after 22 years in the Dail  which saw the Green Party man over the line, Eamon Ryans party also benefitting from a move away from the Civil War parties.

In County Limerick, the Green wave was not felt as keenly  but the Sinn Fein surge did impact, as Seighin O Ceallaigh  who lost his council seat in underwhelming fashion the previous May  came from nowhere to find himself in the mix for the final seat.

Having opened up a clear lead after the first count, Mr O Ceallaigh of Bruff says he remained pessimistic.

I know the transfer game. I realised we were in with a shout, but it was going to be a very long night, he said. We expected to be there or thereabouts.

Ultimately, the rural Limerick constituency was one of the few in the country not to return a Sinn Fein TD.

Fianna Fails Niall Collins had to wait until the fourth count for his election, while Fine Gael's Patrick ODonovan was returned on the following count, his running mate Tom Neville missing out.

It was then time for history, as Richard ODonoghue became only the second ever Independent elected in Limerick.
More California elementary school students could begin returning to their classrooms by the spring if Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers settle their differences over when teachers and staff receive COVID-19 vaccinations, an agreement the governor suggested Monday could be reached in the next few days.

The moves in Sacramento come as school officials and political leaders face increasing pressure to reopen campuses that have been largely shuttered for 11 months.

Its becoming clear, however, that even a gradual reopening of campuses will be directly tied to a contentious issue: Should educators get a guaranteed place in line for COVID-19 vaccinations when there are not nearly enough doses to go around?

Newsom acknowledged Monday that his push to quickly open campuses  and curtail the academic and emotional toll on students  will require additional measures. He said he hoped a deal between his office and the Legislature would emerge within days.

We hope to get there this week, and we can announce some of that progress, Newsom said about a possible agreement with lawmakers. It includes a prioritization framework to get our teachers vaccinated.

Under existing state guidelines, school employees are eligible to receive a vaccine, but it is up to local health agencies to decide when they can make appointments.

The state and counties have received only a fraction of the vaccines they need to inoculate all health care workers, long-term care residents and people 65 and older  the groups that have been given permission to receive vaccines first.

In San Diego County, there are 620,000 people in the first vaccine phase, as well as roughly 500,000 people 65 and older who are currently eligible to get the vaccine.

The county is not yet offering the vaccine to teachers unless they qualify under another category, such as those age 65 and older.

Citing the local option to immunize teachers, the governor insisted that teachers already have been prioritized, but we want to clarify that further and that will be part of what we hope to announce.

Interviews with legislative sources suggest that lawmakers at the Capitol want a deal with the governor to give teachers and school staff the opportunity to receive the vaccine in phases before they return to the classroom under a model that allows for a gradual reopening  with the youngest students possibly among the first to return.

If such a deal emerges, it would conform closely to what teacher unions have been seeking and would also please many school district leaders.

At the same time, by offering immunizations to only a limited group of educators, state officials would hope to placate advocates from outside education  those who represent other groups with a strong claim for priority status.

Even though campuses in other states and other parts of California have opened without access to vaccines, their availability has emerged as a sticking point. And timing is key as the school year marches on. On one hand, infection rates are falling across California  increasing the likelihood of faster reopenings. Pushing up against that is the lengthy period needed to achieve full immunity after inoculation, about five to six weeks after the first dose.

Some experts and officials have said that an in-person school year could become a lost cause if teachers dont have the first dose in their arms by March 1.

For Newsom, the ground has shifted even since last week, when he insisted that vaccines were not essential to reopening. For evidence, he pointed to statements made that same day by President Joe Biden and the new leader of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But Newsom already was rowing against a powerful political current. His Dec. 30 proposal for $2 billion in grants to nudge campuses to open received a lukewarm response from legislators last month.

Members of the state Senate and Assembly met through the weekend in advanced conversations over funding to reopen campuses, said sources involved in the negotiations.

Under a plan coming together in the Legislature, school employees would receive vaccines before they return to in-person instruction. Teachers unions also are pressing lawmakers for immediate access to vaccines for teachers already working on campus. The sources requested anonymity because they were not authorized to reveal details about the discussions. Another point being considered would leave discretion over reopenings to local school district officials.

Newsom has supported a phased-in reopening from the outset but has not supported immunizations as a precondition. The administration also wants the flexibility for districts in counties in the purple tier  the states rating for areas with the worst health crisis  to reopen.

Schools in San Diego County that have not yet reopened are currently barred by the state from doing so until the countys case rate dips below 25 per 100,000 residents for elementary schools and 7 per 100,000 residents for middle and high schools.

In San Francisco, teachers and school district leaders reached a tentative agreement over the weekend covering key details of a return to campus. The pact lays out scenarios for health conditions that have yet to be met.

For K-12 campuses to reopen, the agreement would require San Francisco to enter the red tier of the states coronavirus health metrics and also for returning teachers to be vaccinated, according to the California Federation of Teachers, which is affiliated with the union local. Under the red tier, the seven-day average of daily infections would be 4 to 7 cases per 100,000 residents.

The case rate in San Francisco  adjusted to allow for statewide comparison  is 12.5 per 100,000.

The tentative San Francisco deal is stricter than recently revised state guidelines, relying instead on a previous version of state rules. The current state standard for reopening elementary schools is 25 per 100,000 with no vaccines required, meaning that San Francisco Unified is eligible to fully reopen its elementary schools without further delay. The standard for seventh through 12th grades  7 cases per 100,000  has not been achieved.

The proposed San Francisco agreement would allow schools to reopen without teacher immunizations if the city reached the orange tier, which would be 1 to 3.9 new daily cases per 100,000 residents.

It could be many months before vaccines would be approved and available for children younger than 16.

Biden has pledged to have the Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention release guidelines to give school systems minimum requirements to ensure the safety of students, teachers and other school staff who head back to classrooms. Biden has said he wants a majority of K-8 schools to reopen for in-person instruction within 100 days of his taking office, calling school closures a national emergency.
A Klamath Falls man pleaded guilty Monday to eight counts of mailing threatening communications after being accused of mailing Christmas cards with toxic pesticide powder to former coworkers, authorities said.

Kelly Michael Burns, 71, faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

According to court documents, Burns mailed four Christmas cards around Dec. 19, 2019 to his former workplace addressed to four coworkers with a white powder identified as carbaryl, a known pesticide toxic to humans, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a statement.

The cards contained violent threats and obscenities, the documents said. Burns wrote Merry Anthrax on the cards, threatening the powder to be anthrax.

Three people at Burns former workplace were exposed and had to undergo an extensive physical decontamination process and receive a high-dose antibiotic, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. One of the victims was 10 weeks pregnant when she was exposed. The company building was closed for further decontamination.

The U.S. Attorneys Office and court documents did not identify the name of the company, but other news outlets say it was a welding company that Burns worked at until April 2019.

On Feb. 13, 2020, Burns mailed cards with carbaryl to the same four recipients, including more violent statements and threats toward the recipients families, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

FBI handwriting analysts matched the handwriting on the cards mailed in December to Burns handwriting from a job application and tax documents.

A search of Burns residence found handwritten notes in which he threatened to kill a former coworker, sabotage his former workplace and conduct a drive-by shooting.

Burns was first charged last March 5 with mailing threatening communications and false information or hoaxes. He was then charged last month with eight counts of mailing threatening communications and will be sentenced May 6 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane in Portland.

As part of the plea agreement, Burns agreed to pay restitution to his victims as identified by the government before sentencing in the full amount of the victims losses as determined by the court.

-- Jaimie Ding

jding@oregonian.com; 503-221-4395; @j_dingdingding
Western Australias gambling regulator wont consider a damning report that found Crown was not suitable to hold a casino licence in New South Wales until it meets in two weeks time.

The Bergin report was tabled in the NSW Parliament on Tuesday and found Crown Sydney Gaming was not suitable to hold Sydneys second casino licence and its parent company Crown Resorts was not a suitable person to be a close associate.

The Crown inquiry report dropped on Tuesday. Credit:Joe Armao

The findings prompted calls from the Greens and independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie for the WA and Victorian Crown casinos to face similar inquiries.

The culture and operation of Crown Resorts in Western Australia and Victoria were part of the NSW assessment process and need to be assessed, said the Greens gambling spokeswoman, WA Senator Rachel Siewert.
A Minneapolis stock analyst staked an aggressive position in one of Wall Streets most polarizing debates  the value of carmaker Tesla Inc.  by saying its shares, which soared last year, could easily and quickly take another big leap upward.

A Minneapolis stock analyst staked an aggressive position in one of Wall Streets most polarizing debates  the value of carmaker Tesla Inc.  by saying its shares, which soared last year, could easily and quickly take another big leap upward.

The company is doing more than redefining the industry with its electric and self-driving vehicles, the analyst, Alexander Potter of Piper Sandler Cos., said. With a mercurial, driven leader in Elon Musk, Tesla is changing fundamental ideas about the transportation and energy industries, Potter said.

"You have got a management team, a CEO and a company that is designed to exploit inefficiencies in the way the economy works," Potter said. "Certain companies have that, certain companies dont. Tesla has it."

With a 104-page report called The Definitive Guide to Investing in Tesla, 1st Edition, Potter became the first analyst at a major investment bank to attempt to show why Tesla could soon become one of just a handful of companies worth US$1 trillion. Its already worth about US$800 billion, far more than any other auto company.

While Teslas US$32 billion in revenue last year was considerably smaller than the other trillion-dollar valuation companies, Potters call on its stock carries echoes of what pioneering analysts said about todays giants when they were smaller  Microsoft in 1995, Apple in 2003, Amazon in 2010.

In those moments, old notions of the direction and potential of those companies fell away and investors began to see something bigger in their future.

"If there wasnt an Apple or an Amazon, then Tesla wouldnt have an US$800 billion market cap," said Gene Munster, founder of the Minneapolis investment firm Loup Ventures. Working at what was then Piper Jaffray in the early 2000s, Munster was one of the first market analysts to forecast huge growth for Apple.

"There are very few markets that, when they get disrupted, it has massive impact on society," Munster said. "The smartphone obviously was one of those. And whats going to happen with the car and autonomy is going to be as transformative."

In one difference from those earlier moments, Potter made the projection after Teslas shares had experienced an explosion. They rose from around US$100 at the start of 2020 to over US$800 at the end.

With the new analysis, Potter lifted his target for Teslas shares to US$1,200 from US$515 previously, making him the most bullish of Tesla analysts at major banks.

His report came amid a swirl of other developments that show how quickly perceptions are changing about electric and self-driving vehicles and related demand for oil and gas.

In just the past two weeks, General Motors said by 2035 it would only be producing electric vehicles and used the Super Bowl to promote its transition. As well, news surfaced that Exxon and Chevron have explored a merger to contend with the expectation of future declines in oil. Norways sovereign wealth fund, one of the worlds largest investors, reported it sold its holdings in oil and gas exploration companies during 2020.

Shares in Tesla popped nearly six per cent last Monday, the day Potters report was published, and are up nine per cent since then. His analysis has been pored over on financial websites and TV and on dozens of message boards and YouTube video channels devoted to Tesla.

In an interview, Potter said the timing of the report was shaped chiefly by demand from Piper Sandlers main clients: managers of mutual funds and other portfolios at other investment firms.

Because Tesla was added to the S&P 500 index in late December, many professional investors who use the index to benchmark their performance must now try to understand the company. Potter has followed the company for years but the new report, written with colleague Winnie Dong, is his most comprehensive yet.

"In hindsight, we should have published one of these bigger reports on Tesla before now," Potter said. "But it wasnt until now that you had this really broad set of investors who needed that information."

Potter, 40, has been an analyst at Piper Sandler since 2008, chiefly tracking the auto industry and related manufacturing. He developed expertise in Chinas burgeoning auto market, now the worlds largest, and its effects on U.S. manufacturers.

After graduating from St. Olaf College, Potter spent time living and studying in China on a Fulbright scholarship. Until the coronavirus pandemic, he visited China three or four times a year doing research for Pipers clients. He devotes about 10 pages in the Tesla report to the companys prospects in China, where it has a factory as well as ambitious competitors.

In the report, Potter projects Teslas global car production will grow from about 900,000 units last year to nearly 5 million in 2025 and 9.3 million in 2030. That would put Tesla at the level of Volkswagen, which led the world last year with 9.3 million units, followed by Toyotas 8.8 million.

As car production grows, Tesla is likely to supply its software and self-driving technology to other manufacturers, including some upstarts, in the way that Microsoft did with personal computer makers and Google with smartphone makers. Potter said the company by the mid-2030s may well be valued by investors chiefly for its software. His report also plotted out more than a decades worth of growth in Teslas existing solar and energy storage business. It did not consider industries, such as insurance and building heating and cooling, that Musk has said Tesla might enter.

"Theres umpteen different ways this company could add value," Potter said. "And Im applying zero dollars of value in my $1,200 price target to most of them because I dont know how to articulate that exactly, just like nobody back in the 1990s knew about the iPhone."

 Star Tribune
[February 09, 2021] Voice Services Continue to Evolve with 5G Networks

BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mobile voice service continues to play an integral role in the world of mobile wireless communications. 5G Americas, the wireless industry trade association and voice of 5G and LTE for the Americas, today announced the publication of a white paper The Future of Voice in Mobile Wireless Communications, providing an update on radio access network evolution and cloud infrastructure evolution for voice services in the 5G ecosystem. As voice calls have moved from circuit-switched 2G/3G networks to 4G packet-switched Voice-Over-LTE (VoLTE) networks, customers have benefited from new features such as Enhanced Voice Services (EVS) codec-based HD voice, Video calling, and Rich Communication Services (RCS). The emergence of 5G networks is now opening the door to 5G Voice-Over-New-Radio (VoNR), which offers compelling new opportunities to improve call quality, reduction of operational costs for network operators, and faster network technology migration. Chris Pearson, President of 5G Americas said, The foundations for commercial grade VoNR have been laid out in 3GPP Release 15 and 16, so as more network operators launch 5G standalone networks, its reasonable to believe some commercial VoNR service could be available in late 2021 or early 2022. The migration path to VoNR offers several challenges to ensure that voice calling is not disrupted for consumers. Most of the wireless industry has been taking a phased approach to introducing 5G into the existing networks, so as 5G networks transition from non-standalone to standalone, an Evolved Packet System Fallback (EPSFB) will be a temporary solution that will eventually lead to full VoNR. Under non-standalone 5G networks, IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services, including voice calling, will utilize the LTE network without impacting the control plane signaling. When 5G standalone (SA) becomes mature, NSA and SA will coexist in operators networks, so will need to interact to ensure existing voice services, including E911 over NR, function properl. Beyond the network architecture, network operators will also have to consider the overall device ecosystem  as well as their existing infrastructure and spectrum allocation  and specific regulatory requirements for their region.



Said Pearson, While its important for operators to consider introducing VoNR service early and migrate their customers to it as soon as possible, we are still in the early stages and VoNR will continue to develop and evolve along with the evolution of 5G and beyond. The white paper, developed and written by a 5G Americas technical work group, provides an easy to read and understand reference document, and includes these topics:

Overview of 5G Voice Services

Device Ecosystem

Network Architecture

Regulatory Service Requirements

Overview and Comparison of 5G VoNR and EPSFB

OTT and Other Alternative Voice Solutions Over 5G

Interoperability & Roaming

David Krauss, Principal of Network Architecture at Ciena, and co-leader of the Working Group that developed the white paper, said, We often forget that the mobile computer we carry around in our pockets is still referred to as a phone. Wireless networks were first designed for voice, and it remains a critical real-time application today. Building a network that can adapt is crucial in managing reliable, high-quality and robust mobile voice services. Karri Kuoppamaki, SVP of Network Technology Development and Strategy at T-Mobile said, 5G offers a great deal of flexibility in managing voice traffic, as well as improved interoperability, roaming, enhanced quality through network slicing, and support for additional operator networks and virtual networks. Congratulations to Jun Liu from T-Mobile and the rest of the team working to push the wireless industry forward on this important milestone. The paper The Future of Voice in Mobile Wireless Communications is available for free download on the 5G Americas website. Blog post by Chris Pearson, and presentation slides are also featured on the 5G Americas website. About 5G Americas: The Voice of 5G and LTE for the Americas 5G Americas is an industry trade organization composed of leading telecommunications service providers and manufacturers. The organizations mission is to facilitate and advocate for the advancement and transformation of LTE, 5G and beyond throughout the Americas. 5G Americas is invested in developing a connected wireless community while leading 5G development for all the Americas. 5G Americas is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. More information is available at 5G Americas website and Twitter . 5G Americas Board of Governors Members include AT&T, Cable & Wireless, Ciena, Cisco, Crown Castle, Ericsson, Intel, Mavenir, Nokia, Qualcomm Incorporated, Samsung, Shaw Communications Inc., T-Mobile US, Inc., Telefonica, VMware and WOM. Contact:

5G Americas

Viet Nguyen

+1 206 218 6393

Viet.Nguyen@5GAmericas.org



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Many of Irelands craftspeople and makers are bringing their talents into homes and communities across the country as part of a nationwide campaign.

A giant glass quilt sewn together by makers across the country, community benches forged by blacksmiths and online workshops for children and adults are among some of the creative projects.

One of the leaders of the glass quilt project, Denmark-based Irish glass artist Aoife Soden, said it will be comprised of individual glass art pieces that will be knitted or attached into a large framework.

Up to 30 members of the Glass Society Of Ireland are involved in the creation of the unique art installation.

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The theme of the unique installation is A Breath Of Fresh Air.

We wanted to choose a theme that is very broad based and which encapsulated what a lot of different people living in different parts of the county or the world are currently experiencing during lockdown, Ms Soden said.

The idea of A Breath Of Fresh Air can be interpreted very literally or in a more abstract way.

It can relate to the distance people have to their families and loved ones, the emotional experience of living in isolation, what individuals see or feel while exploring their limited area or perhaps new experiences they have enjoyed or found challenging during this period.

This is a unique time in our lives.

With lockdown and restrictions, a lot of people are using the time to explore their surroundings and to see and experience things they may not have noticed before.

The work will then be displayed once it has been completed.

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The project is the part of Slaintecare-funded collaboration between the Design and Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) and Healthy Ireland.

The projects include online workshops, run by the Irish Patchwork Society, to teach people patchwork and quilting while members of the Irish Artist Blacksmiths Association are coming together to forge a bench that will be donated to a residential care unit.

Feltmakers Ireland are hosting a series of three online tutorials to members of the public, with participants contributing to a stained glass inspired felt piece to submit to the Evie And Us exhibition.

Cork Textiles Network are running a series of online stitch-based workshops, while the Quilters Guild Of Ireland is working with quilters to make quilts to benefit projects that support women and promote mental health.

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DCCI chief executive Rosemary Steen said: The Keep Well campaign is all about helping individuals and communities to stay healthy and well.

Now more than ever, its important for your wellbeing to find new ideas that connect with your creative side and bring your imagination to life.

Through our various programmes, we understand first-hand the impact that creativity through craft and design has on the overall wellbeing of citizens in our communities both at local and national level.

The Keep Well campaign helps us to provide vital opportunities for public engagement with DCCI Members and Membership organisations through education and outreach.
Classes in the Wilkes County Schools will start on Aug. 23 and end on May 25 in 2021-22 as a result of a calendar approved by the Wilkes Board of Education on Feb. 1.
Help India!

According to the 2011 census, the number of child labourers in India is 10.1 million. This is the story of one such girl Sunita from New Delhi and her efforts to lift herself out of poverty.

By Muskaan Lalchandani, TwoCircles.net

Support TwoCircles



New Delhi: Sunita, 24, is known by everyone in Sewak Park, in West Delhi  the national capital of India. Sunita was a child labourer, one among the whopping 10.1 million child labour workforce in India.

At the tender age of 12, she started working as a babysitter, Sunita told TwoCircles.net. Her employer was a working woman with two kids and a busy schedule. Sunitas day started at 8 a.m. every day as the kids, aged 3 and 5 respectively, needed her constant attention. The 13-year-old babysitter was required to do all the household chores, including cleaning the house and feeding the kids on time dutifully. The only task she wasnt able to perform was read out stories to the little children as she was illiterate.

Sunita wanted to learn the English alphabet. Sunitas employer, even though she had a busy schedule, would take out one hour every evening to teach her young children and Sunita, who she regarded as her sincere help, to read and write. The teenaged Sunita would work during the day and in the evening would learn the English alphabet with the help of her employer.

Being a keen learner, Sunita was able to differentiate between and enunciate the alphabets and one of her most memorable memories was to be able to write her name in Angrezi (English).

At 18, after having spent her childhood taking care of kids younger than her and learning easy words in English, Sunita wanted to open a parlour. I was fascinated with make-up and jewellery and wanted to spend the rest of my life making people beautiful, she told TwoCircles.net.

Her employer, whose children were grown up now, wanted to reward Sunita for her help and duties. She recommended Sunita as a hardworking and disciplined woman to a girls salon looking for employees. My madam decided to pay for my salon course so that I could learn and be trained in hair-cutting, make-up, and other services, she said.

Today, at the age of 24, Sunita is married and works at a high-end and reputed girls salon, which is located nearby her in-laws house. Sometimes, Sunita visits her old locality Sewak Park, and says she is always met with a warm welcome. Her two younger sisters are in 10th and 12th standard respectively and plan to go to college. The siblings help the parents around the house but do not work or are employed. The child labour at Sunitas house stopped at Sunita.

Like Sunita, many girls in West Delhi are without a birth certificate or an Aadhaar card and forced into child labour due to extreme poverty. Their parents dont remember their birth-date or year, and the girls are not aware of their exact age. These girls work as helpers at different homes, by doing chores like cleaning, cooking, washing dishes etc and earn a meagre income to support their families. Most of these girls drop out of school after 5th standard and some complete their schooling from open schools.

Child labour is a massive problem in India. India ranks poorly on the index which evaluates the well-being of children. India features in 25% of countries performing poorly in the area of quality of life for children. Facing adverse economic situations at home, these girls are forced to work in adverse conditions by taking up jobs like mining, glass-making, etc.

According to Observer Research Foundations (ORF) Child Labour Study Group, Child labour is abundant in the rural areas and is highest among socioeconomic categories such as OBCs (Other Backward Castes), Muslims, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes. The root cause is described as a lack of parental education and household financial problems.

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra have the highest occurrence of child labour with Uttar Pradeshs 22% workforce being children below the age of 14.

ORFs report on child labour also describes the lack of awareness about labour laws and rights leading to improper working conditions and malnutrition among these young lives. Childrens inability to raise voices against getting low wages is what makes them attractive to employees and they usually sit in cramped places for an unfair amount of working hours leading to health hazards.

In Indias Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, scores of families are involved in making and decorating bangles. The bangles they make are shiny unlike the futures of the little hands manufacturing them.

Little hands are better at manufacturing intricate and delicate bangles as described by employers at Firozabad. Glass making and designing is a risky task that requires the manufacturer to sit in tight places, inhaling toxic fumes. The dust used in polishing glass is extremely hazardous for the eyes and causes many respiratory problems.

In Indias Gujarat, a study by the Indian Committee for the Netherlands describes that almost half a million childrenthe majority of whom are girls from Dalit and Adivasi (tribal) families work on cottonseed farms. As is the case with the bangle industry, the delicate hands of little girls is what makes them a good fit for cottonseed farms.

India employees almost 80% Muslim child labourers as compared to the 19% Hindu, suggests ORFs report Retired at Eighteen.

The footwear industry of Agra, the glass industry in Firozabad, the silk weaving industry in Varanasi, the Zari industry in Bareilly, the handmade carpet industry in Mirzapur-Bhadoi, and the lock-making industry of Aligarh are known to have high concentrations of child labour.

The report puts forward some solutions and resolutions for the government of India to eradicate child labour, which the report maintains affects the economic well-being, quality of life, fundamental rights, etc. of the citizens of India.

Some of the suggestions put forward are Dilution of Clauses in The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016. For example, the amendment describes that a child can work in a family enterprise. Clauses like these disturb the well-being of children in states like Uttar Pradesh where children mostly work in their homes manufacturing items like bangles and glass. Another suggestion put forward is the introduction of cooperatives in areas with prominent child labour, financing smaller enterprises, and redirecting younger children to schools and the older children to initiatives, government bodies, and industries for skilling them.
"They have killed my only daughter. The only person we hoped would get us out of poverty."

These were the emotional words of Mr Elizaphan Nyaga, 62, following the death of his daughter, Ms Judy Wanjiku.

The Equity Bank Ruiru branch employee was pushed out of a Mwea-bound matatu by rogue crew in Juja on Saturday, some 30 minutes after she had boarded the vehicle in Ruiru.

The 26-year-old, whose career was just taking off and had planned to wed later this year, hit her head on the tarmac and was dead less than 18 hours later, in a row over Sh100 additional fare.

Fractured skull

On Monday, a post-mortem conducted at the Thika Level Five Referral Hospital revealed that Ms Wanjiku had three fractures in her skull that caused a swelling of the brain.

Ms Wanjiku, who was a beneficiary of Equity Bank's Wings to Fly scholarship programme for bright and needy students, had boarded the matatu in Ruiru at around 6.30pm on her way to Mwea in Kirinyaga.

She would have her journey cut short a few kilometres away.

According to family members, when Ms Wanjiku boarded the vehicle -- registration number KCZ 729C belonging to Memba Sacco -- she quarrelled with the driver and two touts over a rise in the fare.

Witnesses had told police that Ms Wanjiku had agreed to pay Sh400 and handed over a Sh500 note. But when the matatu got to Juja, the crew refused to give her back her change, prompting a quarrel. The vehicle stopped and the driver ordered her to alight.

Fare between Ruiru and Juja is usually Sh60, but the driver said she would have to pay Sh200.

Pushed out of matatu

Ms Wanjiku did not accept the new terms. The driver, with the help of his touts, allegedly pushed her out of the vehicle. She hit her head on the tarmac and was seriously hurt. Well-wishers rushed her to Equity Afia Clinic in Ruiru. Her brother, Mr Issac Muthua, Monday said that she was treated and discharged.

"By Saturday night, Wanjiku was quite well, she was even joking with her brother and boyfriend. When she went to sleep, she told them not to wake her up early as she had a headache and wanted to rest," Mr Eliud Wanja, the family spokesperson, told the Nation.

This would be the last time her family would hear from her.

Unconscious

By Sunday mid-morning, Ms Wanjiku was unconscious. She was found in her bed by neighbours who got curious when it was almost 10am and no one had seen her. Her brother was contacted, and, together with the neighbours, rushed her to the Thika Level Five Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Ms Wanjiku had graduated from the University of Nairobi with a first class degree in Agribusiness in 2019. Last year, she joined Equity Bank's Ruiru branch. She had been looking forward to a successful career, and her family was looking up to her to improve their fortunes.

"We have lost a bread winner. Someone we invested so much hope in. She had started getting us out of poverty and was about to start her family life," her father told the Nation Monday at the Thika Level Five Hospital mortuary.

"Now I have only been left with one son. I had been blessed with one daughter and a son," said Mr Nyaga as he wiped tears from his eyes before entering the autopsy room.

About to wed

Felix Muchiri, Ms Wanjiku's boyfriend, said she died when they were about to wed.

"My family had visited her family to pass my intention to marry Judy. The same day she was assaulted, she was coming to meet me. We had talked on phone. Even after being discharged from a hospital in Ruiru before her situation deteriorated, she told me that she was having a severe headache. I have lost a good friend," Mr Muchiri said.

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"We had dated for four years and we were to marry this year," Mr Muchiri disclosed.

Ms Wanjiku's friends described her as a go-getter and smart student whose drive was to get her family out of poverty.

"She was a go-getter who knew where she had come from and was eager to change the fortunes of her parents through education," Ms Marryanetta Wangui, who studied with Ms Wanjiku at the University of Nairobi said.

Ms Esther Gitau, another college friend, described her as a hard-working woman who scored a first class in her undergraduate studies.

"We have not arrested the driver and his conductor but we have traced the vehicle and towed it to a police station. Efforts to arrest the two are ongoing," said Juja OCPD Beatrice Migarusha.
Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. says it is legitimate for people to raise red flag over the COVID-19 vaccines which are yet to arrive in Ghana.



The vaccines, which according to reports have already been administered in some foreign countries, have become a topical issue as some critics believe it doesn't pass for an antidote to curb the current pandemic disease.



Skeptics are of a strong notion that the vaccines are, in themselves, another health disaster.



Touching on the COVID-19 vaccine development, Mr. Pratt noted that those who have doubts over the vaccines are not to be condemned.



He stated that it is legit for people to ask all relevant questions about the efficacy of the vaccines because the vaccines didn't go through adequate clinical trials.



He explained that, due to the emergency of the Coronavirus situation, the vaccine developers had to skip some trials in order to quickly come up with vaccines to treat the viral disease that has since claimed millions of lives and affected millions worldwide.



''We skipped a lot of the phases. There is however a cogent explanation for that. The explanation is that this disease has existed over a year; within this short period, it has killed more than 2 million people. We're heading to about 2.5 million dead people worldwide. So, if we have to wait to go through the phases - phase 1, phase 2, phase 3, phase 4, it might have very dire consequences. This is why I understand that some of the phases have to be skipped but the danger is still there. It present a danger," he said.



He, however, called on the skeptics to also minimize their questions and rather look at the brighter side of vaccines.



''Sometimes, we have to minimize the questions and scepticism because if care is not taken, we will face extinction as the human race," he stressed during Peace FM's morning show ''Kokrokoo''.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 17:30:44|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Oct. 23, 2019 shows the Stanari Thermal Power Plant in Stanari, northern Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). (Photo by Nedim Grabovica/Xinhua)

"This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has left most European economies struggling, whereas China continues to show sustained growth."



BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Ahead of the Summit of China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs), experts and businesses have voiced hope for stronger bilateral ties, saying China-CEEC cooperation has been an exemplar of transregional cooperation.

In a small town in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Stanari Thermal Power Plant has directly created hundreds of jobs. It is the first China-built power plant in Europe and "very very green," Aleksandar Milic, the plant's technical director, told Xinhua.

"Running the plant of this scale means maintaining connection with Chinese companies. We have been satisfied with our cooperation so far," Milic said. "We will keep the cooperation better in the future because it is the key to keeping the power plant stable, safe and helpful."

Ivana Antunovic, senior editor of state-owned Croatian Radiotelevision, said cooperation between Europe and China is now needed more than ever.

The Peljesac Bridge near Komarna is under construction, in Croatia, April 17, 2020. (Milan Sabic/Pixsell/Handout via Xinhua)

Considering the Port of Rijeka as a center of more intensive cooperation between the two countries, Antunovic said, "Europe ... should use Chinese builders more, especially after the excellent experience in the construction of the Peljesac Bridge."

"In the future, greater cooperation in the field of science and research should be achieved, and the experience of China regarding the production of COVID-19 vaccines should be used," Antunovic added.

Latvia's ABC Timber has established steady ties with China. "We have found quite a few good business partners in China. We are very happy to work with them," the company's CEO Valts Strazdins said. "In recent years China has become one of Latvia's largest export partners, for which we are thankful."

Expressing the hope that the summit will take the partnership further, Strazdins said, "This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has left most European economies struggling, whereas China continues to show sustained growth."

The 500th A320 aircraft assembled at the Airbus Final Assembly Line Asia (FALA) is pictured in Tianjin, north China, Oct. 29, 2020. (Photo by Zhao Zishuo/Xinhua)

For Airbus, it values its strong partnership with China and is willing to support the modernization of China's industry by further strengthening cooperation with China's supply chain and business partners, the aerospace giant's CEO Guillaume Faury told Xinhua.

Airbus is convinced that the China-EU investment agreement, the completion of whose negotiations was announced at the end of 2020, and strong momentum of China's economy will lay a solid foundation for the global recovery and create opportunities for cooperation, Faury said. 

The death has occurred of Lisa Walsh (nee Hearns)

Kilmeague, Kildare / Hollywood, Wicklow



Walsh (nee Hearns), Lisa, Kilmeague, Co. Kildare and late of Hollywood, Co. Wicklow, February 8th 2021, peacefully, surrounded by her loving family in the tender care of the staff of St. Brigid's Hospice, The Curragh, after a courageous battle with cancer fought with dignity, she will be sadly missed by her loving husband Shay, her two sons Mark and James, parents Joe and Bernie, brothers Joseph and Padraidh, sisters Olive and Maeve, father in law Jimmy, sisters in law, brothers in law, nieces, nephews and a wide circle of friends.

Rest In Peace

Due to current government guidelines, a private family funeral will take place for Lisa. Those would have liked to attend the funeral, but due to the current restrictions cannot, please leave a personal message for the family in the condolence section below. Lisa's Funeral Service can be viewed on Wednesday morning at 11am by clicking on the following link www.memoriallane.ie/livestream

Oliver Reilly Funeral Directors accept no responsibility for any live webcam interuptions or issues.

Lisa's family thank everyone for their support and kind messages since she became ill, but ask that due to current HSE restrictions the house be strictly private.

The funeral cortege will be leaving her residence at approx. 10.30am on Wednesday morning en route to the Holy Trinity Church, Allen, for 11am private funeral Mass. Those who would like to line the route, may do so in a safe and socially distanced manner. Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, to https://friendsofstbrigidshospice.ie/donate-now/

The death has occurred of Orla DUANE

Newbridge, Kildare



DUANE Orla February 7, 2021 (peacefully) in the loving care of the staff of the West Middlesex Hospital London. Formerly of Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Cherished mother of Dylan, Billie and Jude. Sadly missed by her brothers and sisters. Cremation this Friday (February 12) at Mortlake Crematorium, Richmond. Private family ceremony will take place later.

May she rest in Peace.

Please leave your condolence message on the RIP condolence section below, thank you.

The death has occurred of Sr. Marie Therese MALLON

Holy Family Convent, Naas Road, Newbridge, Kildare / Newry, Down



MALLON, Sr. Marie Therese (Holy Family Convent, Newbridge, Co. Kildare and formerly of Newry, Co. Down) - February 8, 2021. Deeply regretted by her nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, her extended family, the Community and Staff at Holy Family Convent, all Holy Family Members and many friends.



May She Rest in Peace



Due to Government advice and HSE restrictions on public gatherings, a private Funeral Mass will take place in St. Conleths Parish Church, Newbridge on Wednesday, February 10 at 11am and can be viewed onthe parish webcam at www.newbridgeparish.ie/ webcam/ Burial immediately afterwards in St. Conleths Cemetery, Newbridge.

The death has occurred of Anthony (Tony) Savage

Rose Lodge , Kilpierce, Enniscorthy, Wexford / Rathangan, Kildare



Peacefully in the loving care of the staff at Beechpark Nursing Home

Husband of the late Catherine (Noelle)

Sadly missed by his loving daughter Jenny (and her partner Howard) and Christine (and her husband Damien) grandchildren Molly, Poppy, Ryan, Jessica and Isabelle, sisters in law, brothers in law, relatives, neighbours and friends.

May Tony Rest In Peace

Due to current government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral will take place. Those who would have liked to attend the funeral, but due to current restrictions cannot, please feel free to leave a message in the condolence page below.

Removal on Tuesday to arrive at Mount Jerome Crematorium, Harolds Cross, Dublin, for funeral service at 3pm. Tony's cremation service will be available to view from 3pm at the following link;

https://vimeo.com/event/153499

The death has occurred of Micheal Patrick Behan

Leinster Lodge, Athy, Kildare



(06-01-1948 to 07/02/2021)

Micheal passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family. Needed, wanted and loved by all those close to him. We were so very blessed to have him. Predeceased by his parents Michael and Claire and brothers Patrick and James (Jim). Deeply mourned by his loving wife Vera, of fifty years, sons Gavin and Michael, daughters Sarah, Emily, Veralouise and Ruth, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, seventeen grandchildren, sisters Breada and Clare, extended family and many friends.

Micheal will be making his final journey from Leinster Lodge on Wednesday morning to arrive for Requiem Mass in St. Michael's Parish Church , Athy for 11am, limited to ten people. The cortege will journey via Ballyroe and Wright's Cross.

The Mass will be livestreamed, see www.parishofathy.ie. Burial afterwards in St. Michael's New Cemetery, Athy.

Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to The Irish Cancer Society.

Those who would have liked to attend the funeral but cannot due to current restrictions may leave a message in the 'Condolences' section below.


New Delhi, Feb 9 : In a relief to Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh Singh, the Supreme Court on Tuesday granted him protection against arrest in all FIRs registered against him in Uttar Pradesh.

The Supreme Court also issued notice on his plea for clubbing of all FIRs. Singh has cited eight FIRs filed in Lucknow, Sant Kabir Nagar, Khiri, Bagpat, Muzaffarnagar, Basti and Aligarh etc.

His lawyer Vivek Tankha contended before a bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan that since Singh was a Rajya Sabha member, the permission for his prosecution should have been given by the Chair of the Upper House. Tankha said that identical FIRs have been filed against the AAP leader at dozen places.

The top court noted that the UP government could approach the Rajya Sabha Chairman for prosecution sanction.

After a brief hearing, the bench directed that Singh should not be arrested in the criminal cases registered against him and adjourned the matter for further hearing in the third week of March.

On February 2, Singh failed to get immediate relief from the Supreme Court in a matter pertaining to non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued in a case lodged in Lucknow after his press conference on August 12 last year, wherein he alleged that the state government was favouring a certain section of society.

Singh has moved the top court to seek quashing of FIRs lodged against him in different districts of UP after his press conference, and claimed that these cases were a result of "political vendetta".

In his plea, the Rajya Sabha member said that he had merely highlighted certain social issues and the alleged apathy of the state government against certain section of society.

In a separate plea, the AAP leader also challenged the January 21 order of the Allahabad High Court to decline quashing of the FIR in Lucknow. The top court had then refused to pass any order without examining the High Court order and asked Singh's counsel to bring on record the order copy.

Singh's counsel had requested the bench that he should be protected in the backdrop of the NBW against him. The bench had replied that Singh can seek exemption before the trial court and also declined to issue any notice at this stage.
Tampere, Finland  Prosecution and defense went head-to-head on the reliability of news references to Gibril Massaquoi's whereabouts at the start the second week of the trial against him at the Pirkanmaa District Court in the Finnish city of Tampere.

Sierra Leonean Massaquoi is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity, including rape and murder, allegedly committed in Liberia during the country's second civil war in 1999-2003. The former spokesman and commander in the Sierra Leonean armed rebel group Revolutionary United Front (RUF) relocated to Finland in 2008, where he is being tried based on universal jurisdiction.

One of the charges by Finnish State Prosecutor Tom Laitinen centers on murders that Massaquoi allegedly committed and oversaw in the Waterside market area in Monrovia, Liberia. On a number of occasions, the charges allege, Massaquoi and the soldiers under his command killed civilians who were seen stealing supplies from shops at the market. The probable timing of the alleged events is between January and December, 2002, according to Laitinen.

Massaquoi's defense challenged these accounts on Monday, saying that the timing does not align with news of events as they reportedly happened during the civil war. Pointing to articles from CNN and The Guardian, defense lawyer Kaarle Gummerus argued that the kind of turmoil, hunger, and looting described by prosecution happened in Monrovia during the summer of 2003. No such reports exist from the prior year, Gummerus said, even though reporting on events in the region was detailed.
From the presidential election of 2016 to the presidential election of 2020, from the huge, mostly peaceful protest on Jan. 6 to facing our second presidential impeachment of the same president, it is all too clear that we are becoming two cultures. We are becoming two cultures that occupy one land. The last five years have shown us all that there are two distinct cultures in America. From extremely partisan elections to election fraud to impeachments to possible Deep State criminality, it is hard to see how these two cultures can become one again. It is hard to see how this ends well.

Once in America, about 35% of the population would consider themselves right of center, about 35% of the population would consider themselves left of center, and there would be 30% who would be in the center. As long as the center was big enough and broad enough, the center would hold the ends together. Now the center is not 30%, but probably closer to 10%. A political center of 10% will have a hard time holding everything together. The political center appears not to be broad and deep enough.

There is risk in oversimplifications and overgeneralities with little nuance. However, for the sake of the argument and with trepidation of being too generic and too simply stated, let's call the two opposing cultures the Patriots and the Progressives.

The Patriots are basically made up of conservatives, Evangelicals, and nationalists. The Progressives are mostly made up of the Deep State, socialists, and globalists.

Many Patriots and many Progressives have little in common, are entrenched in their own ideology, and their own cultures are so different that it is evident there must be compromise or there could be confrontation. It is much deeper than to think it is simply the coastal elites versus the flyover heartland.

Some Patriots believe that the election was stolen, that Trump had 10 million more votes than Biden, and that there were other countries involved that helped with this possible election coup.

Some Progressives believe that to question the election is illegal and treasonous, and the perpetrators might need to go to re-education camps.

Patriots believe that all citizens should be under one law with the same responsibility and consequences; Progressive leadership believes in a two-tiered system of justice, one for the Deep State elite and one for the masses.

Most Patriots believe that a tragedy is a tragedy, while Progressive leadership believe that a tragedy is an opportunity. Patriots believe in borders, fences, and the nation-state, while Progressives believe in open borders, zero fences, and globalism  except only to protect themselves in the City of Washington.

Most Patriots believe that our Founding Fathers were imperfect but still heroes, while Progressives believe that our Founding Fathers were nothing special and should become non-persons written out of history.

Patriots are usually pro-life, think schools and business should be opened and that our police are heroes. Progressives are mostly pro-abortion, some even to the point of infanticide, and are in favor of locked down schools and small businesses in the blue states, and many believe that the police are pigs.

Patriots believe, like Martin Luther King, Jr., in a colorblind society. Progressives believe there exists systemic racism.

Patriots believe that 1984 should be fiction, while Progressives believe that 1984 should be government. In Animal Farm, Patriots resemble Boxer and Benjamin, while Progressives appear to be Napoleon and Snowball. Patriots value the words of C.S. Lewis, while Progressives take George Orwell as a how-to guide. Patriots usually believe in two sexes, while Progressives often believe in a fluidity of multiple genders. Patriots ask where all the flu deaths went; Progressives quietly code those deaths, regardless of facts, as COVID.

Patriots believe that "Make America Great Again" is right, natural, and patriotic; Progressives believe that MAGA is racist, xenophobic, and hateful. Patriots believe in bringing the troops home and having few foreign wars. Progressives believe that not being the world's police force is selfish and reckless.

Patriots believe it appropriate to call the virus that came from China the "China virus," while Progressives believe that calling out China with the virus that came from China to be racist, anti-China, destructive, since it's Trump's fault anyway.

Patriots believe that the deadly riots in Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis, and the other cities were illegal and felonious, while the Progressives believe that those riots represented First Amendment free speech. At the same time, Patriots believe that the riots in Washington, D.C. were again illegal and felonious, while Progressives this time felt that those riots in D.C. were treasonous, seditious, and insurrection.

Patriots believe that illegally using the FBI, DOJ, and CIA to wiretap, surveil, and monitor political opponents are violations of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments; Progressive leadership believes that these acts were necessary, even if it means lying and falsifying documents to obtain FISA warrants.

Patriots usually believe that the religions of Judaic and Christian values are good for a society and culture, while Progressives believe that government is all the people need and that religion is just the opium of the people.

Patriots believe that America should strive to be energy-independent, while Progressives believe we should import and be energy-dependent on our enemy countries.

Patriots believe in the First and Second Amendments, while Progressives believe in the Orwellian "Ministry of Truth" and government giving you all the security you deserve.

Patriots believe in and value Jerusalem and Israel; some Progressives view them to be just another city and country in the Middle East.

The most troubling and worrisome thing about all this is that there really appears to be two cultures.

Both Patriots and Progressives seemingly feel that they are absolutely right and the other irredeemably lost. Warning signs go off because there is little crossover of opinions. Seldom does a Patriot have the same belief or value on an issue as a Progressive. And seldom does a Progressive believe and value an issue similarly to how a Patriot does. The common ground is getting smaller. Patriots look to the Constitution, the Bible, and our history books. Progressives look to Saul Alinsky, Marx, and China. The values, beliefs, religion, norms, and way of life are so different, so diametrically opposed, and so distant; one must wonder if the center ground can actually hold. Is there enough commonality in the sliver of the middle to keep it together? Or are the two sides so distinct, so opposing, and so full of animosity toward each other that the center eventually tears?

Can the center hold?

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License.
Amaravati, Feb 9 : In a major setback to Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner (SEC) Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar, the high court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on 'eWatch', an election monitoring app, until February 17, rendering it useless until then.

The court said the SEC cannot use the app until it procures a security certificate, and directed the SEC to reply to the queries raised by the Andhra Pradesh Technology Services (APTS), the nodal agency for conducting security audit and issuing a security certificate, without which no app can come into play.

The court took up the PILs filed against eWatch, which were heard by Chief Justice Arup Kumar Goswami and Justice Praveen Kumar.

C. Sumon, representing the state government, informed the court that based on the SEC's request, APTS conducted preliminary tests and sent a report about the security flaws and concerns detected in eWatch.

The APTS highlighted that allegedly the source code of Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Department was used in the development of eWatch.

Sumon apprised the court that the SEC has not allegedly produced any document to show that the social welfare department gave permission to use its source code.

In this regard, the APTS sought more information from the SEC and it was highlighted that if the source code was used without the knowledge of the social welfare department, then there is the possibility of a major cyber security threat to the department.

The APTS generally takes five days just to check the security worthiness of an app.

The election commission expressed its willingness to use the election monitoring app of the Election Commission of India (ECI) if it is allowed to do so while the SEC's counsel submitted that the app developed by the state government, Nigha, was not working.

The court enquired if the state government has any objection if the app developed by it is used by the SEC.

Sumon informed the court that he had no instructions on the status of the app developed by the state but said that the state will not have any objection.

Andhra Pradesh has witnessed a war of poll apps in the run up to the rural local bodies elections.

Earlier, three petitions were filed in the court challenging the app, which attracted criticism from the ruling YSR Congress Party as well as the BJP.

The petitioners as well as YSRCP leaders alleged that Kumar ignored ECI's CVIGIL app and the state government's apps and went for an altogether new app.

According to the plaintiffs, the State Election Commission allegedly did not have the required security certificate under the Andhra Pradesh cyber security policy and other government orders, while Kumar had failed to approach the relevant government agency to secure a security certificate.

Though the election commission's newly appointed secretary, Kannababu, said that eWatch was completely developed inhouse while launching it, the petitioners alleged that it is not clear as to who exactly developed the digital app.
MORRISVILLE, N.C., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HZO, Inc., the leader in thin film protective nanocoatings which safeguard electronics from the most demanding environments, is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Holder as Chief Executive Officer. He will assume day-to-day leadership of the company effective immediately, remaining on as a member of the Board of Directors.

Richard (Rich) Holder - CEO, HZO

Mr. Holder, an industry veteran with a track record of strategic leadership and execution, most recently served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of NN Inc, a diversified industrial manufacturing company. Prior to NN, Inc., he held a variety of leadership positions during his twelve-year tenure at Eaton Corporation, where he last served as President of Eaton Electrical Components Group. Previous to that he held senior positions at US Airways, AlliedSignal and Parker Hannifin. Mr. Holder is a past director of the Atlanta Federal Reserve Board and holds a Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Arts from Webster University.

"HZO plays a pivotal role in protecting everything from health wearables to smartphones, and autonomous vehicle to edge devices," said Holder. "With an extraordinary track record of growth and success, most recently named to Deloitte's Fast 500, I am honored to be asked to lead such an exciting enterprise."

Mr. Holder takes over for James Fahey who will be stepping down from his day-to-day CEO role for personal health reasons but will continue as a member of the HZO Board. Mr. Fahey has been instrumental at expanding HZO's global footprint, most recently into Vietnam, advancing the company's portfolio with new next generation nanocoatings, and extending the organization's footprint into automotive, medical devices, and the industrial/IoT sector.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors and employees of HZO, I want to thank Rich for his willingness to step-in and to Jim for the extraordinary job he has done fortifying HZO. Jim worked as long as he could through his illness. It is a lesson in fortitude and tremendous leadership," said Kamal Bherwani, Chairman. "We are fortunate to have both Jim and Rich as part of the company and wish Jim a speedy recovery."

ABOUT HZO

HZO is a global leader in delivering world-class protective nano coatings that safeguard electronics from the most demanding corrosive and liquid environments. The company brings together people, process, capital equipment and material science, leveraging an extensive patent portfolio to create unique solutions to meet specific customer requirements. Working with some of the largest companies across industries including consumer electronics, IoT, medical device and automotive, HZO delivers a better, more reliable and more durable water resistant and waterproof product that reduces costly returns, improves customer satisfaction and drives overall brand value.

SOURCE HZO, Inc.

Related Links

www.hzo.com


New Delhi:

Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the view of Amarnath Yatra terror attack. The team will be headed by DIG South Kashmir, SP Pani.

At least seven pilgrims were and 19 others injured after terrorists opened fire on a bus in Bantigoo area of Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district. Terrorists attacked the bus when a police party was escorting them.



At 8.20 pm on Monday, the militants attacked an armoured car of the police, an official said. When the police fired back, the militants fled, firing indiscriminately, the official added.



Ministry of Home Affairs called an emergency meeting and the security was beefed up in the Jammu and Kashmir. A high alert was also issued.

ALSO READ | Amarnath terror strike: 2 Pakistanis among 4 terrorists involved in attack, says govt

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Tonight, RTE Investigates: Covid-19 - The Third Wave takes viewers into the heart of Tallaght University Hospital, where once again frontline staff face enormous challenges in the latest surge of Covid-19.

Revealing the true picture behind the ongoing headlines and daily numbers, the compelling documentary shows doctors and nurses fighting to keep Covid patients alive in the current third wave.

The Third Wave has brought the pandemic to significant new levels in Ireland. Going behind-the-scenes, the documentary reveals patients and staff confronting what is, for many, the greatest challenge of their lives.

The increased spread of the virus during December left hospitals facing a massive spike in the number of cases requiring critical care.

By mid-January ICUs were full with many hospitals forced to use their surge capacity. In Tallaght University Hospital some operating theatres were converted into ICU wards.

The virus is now affecting more younger people. They are presenting at Emergency Departments a lot sicker and in greater numbers than before.

Witnessing history, RTE Investigates filmed at the peak of the pandemic in January for this feature length documentary. Giving true insight to the daily news reports, capturing the anguish faced by thousands of families across Ireland and featuring hope that vaccines bring for the future.

Nearly a year on since the virus took hold across the world, medical approaches to treating Covid-19 patients have changed significantly.

Following on from the powerful Inside Irelands Covid Battle documentaries filmed at St James's Hospital last summer, the RTE Investigates team return, going behind the scenes in another Irish hospital to see what has changed on the frontline six months later in Ireland.

Gareth's story

Gareth Grainger, 41, suffers from asthma. He, his wife and their three children all tested Covid positive five weeks ago. He started getting symptoms and thought he wasnt too bad, but then he went downhill and felt he could hardly breathe.

Gareth's wife Hazel Grainger recalls: "The noises that came out of my husband bringing him into that hospital in the car, I thought he was going to die in the car. Thats how bad he was. Thats how bad he got, so quick. He was terrified. And going in he said 'Hazel, will I come out of here'. And I said 'of course you will Gareth, of course you will'."

Dr Aidan Grufferty of Tallaght University Hospital, who treated Gareth, said of his experience: "Quite a typical young person, early 40s, struggling and has been struggling, trying to self-care at home but reaching a point in the disease course and typically around this kind of day nine, day 10 that has a deterioration where they cant sustain their breathing at home."

Gareth's condition deteriorated after he arrived in hospital as he struggled to breathe. When a bed opened up in ICU, Gareth was immediately taken there. For Gareth being awake in the ICU and seeing everything going on was a very frightening experience at times. He didn't have emotional support from family like a normal ICU patient would have. As someone looking at patients who are very, very sick the psychological effect of that can be quite detrimental.

"My husband sent texts to everybody saying his goodbyes basically," Hazel said.

"We built our whole life together from the time we were kids. The whole thought of trying to rear three kids, or even not to have him by my side was just horrendous. Horrendous. I cant even put into words. My whole life was gone in a matter of seconds. Even though I was braced for it nothing braces you for this. Nothing, absolutely nothing."

Gareth experienced a number of set backs in ICU, but after a week he was finally well enough to be moved to another ward. Gareth has now moved on to Peamount Healthcare Rehabilitation facility as he continues to recuperate.

However, as viewers will see it is a revolving door in ICU, one out, one in as Gareths bay is immediately filled. The pressure on bed space is relentless. Only three of 12 operating theatres at the hospital were in functioning at times in January. The other nine have been repurposed as makeshift wards to take the overflow of non-Covid ICU patients.

Watch RTE Investigates: Covid-19 - The Third Wave tonight, February 9, at 9.35pm on RTE One and RTE Player.
The WSWS will continue to compile and publish statements of support for Chicago educators, and we urge our readers to send your statements here.

On Monday evening, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) House of Delegates voted by a margin of 85 percent to approve the deadly agreement reached with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot to reopen schools in the third largest school district in the US. The tentative agreement now goes before the full membership, which has until midnight Tuesday to vote on the plan.

The deal is deeply unpopular, and the union is increasingly discredited in the eyes of rank-and-file members. In an effort to stultify teachers opposition and browbeat them into accepting the reopening of schools, the CTU is promoting the lie that Chicago educators are isolated, and that a strike would not make a difference.

CTU President Jesse Sharkey set the tone for this abject surrender by stating Sunday, If we reject [the deal], we look down the other path. That looks like us being locked out and going on strike.  We should be clear theres risk down that path. Its a pandemic. Its cold. This wouldnt be an easy strike. This would be a strike in which the board would be calling people to work remotely. So, we need you to know people could cross a picket line by going home and logging onto their computer.

Seeking to bully teachers into submission, Sharkey warned, We very likely might face legal repercussions. In which case, if the strike was declared illegal, people could not make up the pay, and the board could levy fines against both individual teachers and the union.

The opposition to this miserable sellout is being spearheaded by the Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, which is fighting to unite Chicago educators with their class brothers and sisters across district, state and national lines. In a statement published Monday, the committee noted, The truth is we have the support of millions of parents, students, educators and workershere in Chicago, across the US and around the worldwho oppose the sacrifice of human lives for corporate profits.

From Pennsylvania to Sri Lanka, Finland, China, Brazil, Germany, Australia and all around the globe, teachers, workers and youth have been galvanized by the Chicago teachers actions. Not only are they inspired by what is happening in Chicago, but they have sent dozens of statements of support to the World Socialist Web Site to share with our global readership.

In a powerful expression of solidarity across state lines, on Monday evening multiple Philadelphia educators sent statements of support for Chicago educators to the WSWS after defying the dictates of the citys Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney that they return to classrooms.

Julianna wrote, Know that we are with you and are sharing widely with our family and friends. We support you and thank you for being leaders in the fight for safe schools! We have followed your example today and moved the needle ever so slightly in the right direction for Philly students and teachers. I sincerely hope you see good results soon! We will be watching and supporting! Much love, in solidarity!

Joan, another Philadelphia teacher, wrote, Virtual learning allows all to remain free from the threat of COVID infection. Return to in-person learning only when its safe. Barb commented, We are with you and support you! Beth wrote, I stand with you. Thank you for all that you are doing.

Michael, a worker in New Jersey, wrote, Thank you for standing up for the health and safety of teachers. We are behind you.

Wanda, a worker from Connecticut, stated, I'm in full support of the Chicago teachers and families. Lives have to become more important than corporate profits. Teachers, children and staff cant be replaced within their families. During a global pandemic where 400k plus have lost their lives to a deadly virus, SAFE working conditions have to be PRIORITY!

In the 21st century, why is learning remotely an issue? Provide the schools with the resources and safety precautions NEEDED to ensure theyre not risking their lives during this pandemic. Humanity before profits!

A tech worker from Seattle wrote, The Chicago teachers are taking a courageous stand to defend not just their lives and those of their students. The action of the teachers is a lightning rod that spurs the working class as a whole to mass strike action. The teachers are showing the path forward to the entire working class that to save lives, a full frontal assault on the anti-science and barely covered lies peddled by the ruling class is needed.

Teachers face the vilest form of treachery from their unions, and they must resolutely break from them. The state, the courts are not their friends, but their bitterest enemies. It is the working classfacing a catastrophe of biblical proportionsthat teachers must turn to. I have every confidence that Chicago teachers will prevail.

After the initial outbreak of infections in Wuhan, China, the pandemic was quickly brought under control there through aggressive lockdowns, testing and contact tracing. A worker from Tianjin City, China, wrote to the WSWS, Based on our experience in China there is simply no way other than keeping schools closed to protect yourselves, your students and the wider community from COVID-19.

Its precisely because our schools and non-essential businesses were closed until the epidemic here was ended that we are now alive, healthy and able to lead normal lives.

He added, China experienced a total of 85,000 infections and about 4,900 deaths until our epidemic ended, while the US with open schools and workplaces has 90,000 infections every three or four days, and over 3,000 deaths per day! School closures were a key reason that we survived and lived to tell the tale. Dont let the capitalist media or capitalist politicians fool you! They know how China conquered the virus. Its money, not your lives or your students, that they are concerned about.

Raimo, a worker from Finland, wrote to the WSWS, The pandemic is not under control, and schools are shown to show a role in the spread of the virus through communities. Safety, backed with science, takes precedence over return to normalcy. The school staff in Chicago have my full support.

Workers spoke not only to the fact that Chicago educators have science on their side, but that going to school under these conditions will not allow students the socializing they need. A security worker at CPS schools noted, School will now be run as a juvenile detention center. The students will not have any interaction with each other, they wont be able to casually talk and will have to line up against the wall walking down the hallway. Lunches will be in the classroom, where students must sit all day, with a window open, and they wont have any gym break. Why risk the students lives? With remote learning, everyone is safe.

Speaking to the potential that properly funded remote learning could offer, Leonor said, I have believed for a long time that children shouldnt be exposed to COVID and that online education should be expanded, including recreational/social interaction opportunities with other children to make up for direct contact. More resources should be allocated to schools, particularly public ones for this purpose. Our children are our future, and we must take all possible care to give them the best opportunities for their good development.

The ruling class is doing everything it can to shut down the possibility of a strike in Chicago because they are fully aware it could be the spark that sets the rest of the working class into motion.

Graeme, a government employee in Australia, commented on this crucial aspect of the Chicago struggle. Chicago teachers are showing the way. The fight against COVID-19 is not an industrial fight, it is a political fight for the interests of the entire working class. Fight to expand the strike beyond teachers to all US workers and workers internationally. Fight for a general strike to close down the schools and non-essential production with full living wages for all displaced workers!

Another worker, Toby, wrote, As Frontline HEROES caring for the brains of our future, you are an inspiration to all! Stand strong, shoulder to shoulder, and know that you have worldwide worker support. Thank you for your service and gathered voices!!

Chicago teachers have enormous support both internationally and in their own city. If the Tentative Agreement is rejected Tuesday and CPS moves to punish educators, they must proceed knowing they have the backing of the powerful working class in the third largest metro region in the US.

A Special Education Classroom Assistant (SECA) in the CPS schools wrote forcefully, Lets fight this to the end.

Alison, a Chicago resident, pledged to lend aid directly to teachers should they strike. Im a Chicago resident, but I dont have children, and I have had the privilege of working remotely since the start of the pandemic. I fully support the actions teachers and workers in Chicago are taking to protect their health and safety and their lives. I was wondering if the committee would be setting up a mutual aid network in case teachers and workers paychecks continue to be withheld? If so, Id like to show my support by contributing food, supplies or such cash as I am able.

Justine, a former high school teacher, echoed the sentiments of many, reminding Chicago educators who truly holds the power. As the foot soldiers of education, the rank and file of teachers are the elemental troops pushing corrupt officers (union leaders and politicians) out of their positions of powerso that regular teachers can then swiftly institute a sane humane policy of bringing viral load down to zero by applying the precautionary principle via remote learning.

Rather than allowing education managers to martyr mentors and mentees alike with their measly mitigation (justified only by money), the teachers rubric for ending endemic illness is instead the ONLY compassionate and effective means to overcome COVID-19. I applaud, toast and dance without reservation for my fellow fighters of informed action: School the system, my educated peers. This is their final test, and it is pass/fail.

Elizabeth Castillo is from Lakewood, California. Dear Chicago teachers, Im a registered nurse in California and urge all Chicago teachers to stand your ground and not allow the Chicago political leaders and union bosses to force you back to school during a dangerous raging pandemic.

As a nurse who is well aware of the dangers of being infected by COVID-19, teachers will not be safe until the virus is brought completely under control and herd immunity is reached by vaccinating at least 50-90 percent of the population, including children. The Democratic Party and unions are complicit in this social murder of the working class in the name of profits, but know that nurses are with you and will stand with you in this fight. In solidarity.

Every effort must be made to broaden the struggle in Chicago throughout the US and internationally. This is the spearhead of a powerful movement in defense of lives over profits. The WSWS will continue to publish statements of support for Chicago educators, and we urge our readers to send your statements here.
Georgia's secretary of state's office on Monday opened an investigation into a phone call between Donald Trump and the state's top elections official in which the then-president said he wanted to 'find' enough votes to overturn his loss in the state.

Walter Jones, a spokesman for Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, confirmed the investigation.

'The Secretary of State's office investigates complaints it receives,' Jones said.

'The investigations are fact-finding and administrative in nature. Any further legal efforts will be left to the Attorney General.'

Trump had refused to accept his loss to Democrat Joe Biden and focused much of his attention on Georgia, a traditionally red state that he narrowly lost.

During the January 2 phone call, Trump repeatedly argued that Raffensperger could change the certified results, an assertion the secretary of state firmly rejected.

'All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have,' Trump said. 'Because we won the state.'

The former president's senior advisor, Jason Miller, told DailyMail.com there was nothing unusual about the call, suggesting there is no need for an investigation.

'There was nothing improper or untoward about a scheduled call between President Trump, Secretary Raffensperger and lawyers on both sides,' Miller said.

'If Mr. Raffensperger didn't want to receive calls about the election, he shouldn't have run for Secretary of State,' he continued. 'And the only reason the call became public was because Mr. Raffensperger leaked it in an attempt to score political points.'

The office of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger opened up an investigation into a phone call between himself and the president

Trump attorney Bruce Castor (right) was seen in the Capitol on Monday

The Senate chamber on Monday was set up for Donald Trump's impeachment trial to begin on Tuesday - tables are set up around the dais for the defense and prosecution

The Democratic House impeachment managers, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, argued Donald Trump committed the 'most grievous constitutional crime ever'

TIMETABLE FOR THE TRUMP TRIAL Here is how the Trump impeachment will unfold: Tuesday 1pm: Senate comes to order with president pro tempore Patrick Leahy (D-VT) presiding over four hours of presentation - two from each side - on whether the trial is constitutional Tuesday 5pm: Senate votes on whether it is constitutional to move forward. If there are at least 51 votes to continue, which is certain, the Senate adjourns for the day Wednesday 9am: Deadline for motions from both sides which could be voted on before the trial begins Wednesday 11am: Deadline for responses to motions Wednesday noon: If there are motions, they must be voted on but if there are none the trial opens with Democratic impeachment managers beginning up to 16 hours over Wednesday and Thursday of outlining their case Thursday: Democrats end their case against Trump Friday noon: Donald Trump's team begin their defense with up to 16 hours to make their case on Friday and Saturday. An original plan to observe the Jewish sabbath in deference to Trump's attorney David Schoen has been dropped after he said it was unnecessary Saturday: Trump's team ends their defense case Sunday: At this point the Democratic impeachment managers and Trump's attorneys can ask to call witnesses if senators vote to allow them on a simple majority vote. If there are witnesses, the trial will adjourn for them to be deposed, which could delay it significantly. If there are no witnesses Senators have four hours to ask questions of both sides. Then the Democratic impeachment managers can put forward a motion to introduce all their background evidence and Trump's defense have an hour to argue against with both sides getting an hour in total, followed by a vote, with Trump's side then able to do the same. Unknown but as early as Presidents Day: Once questions are over there are two hours each for both sides to sum up. Then the Senate votes. Conviction needs a two-thirds majority: 67 senators assuming all are present. Advertisement

The secretary of state's office investigation stems from a complaint by George Washington University Law School professor John Banzhaf III, according to the investigative case sheet.

In an emailed press release sent January 4, Banzhaf said he had filed a complaint with the secretary of state's office requesting 'that this matter be fully investigated, and action be taken to the extent appropriate.'

The complaint suggests Trump may have committed one or more violations of Georgia law, including conspiracy to commit election fraud, criminal solicitation to commit election fraud and intentional interference with the performance of election duties, the release says.

Investigators will present their findings to the state election board, which will then decide how to proceed.

If the board believes there's evidence that a crime occurred, it could take action ranging from issuing a letter of reprimand to referring the case to Georgia's attorney general.

The news comes on the eve of Trump's second impeachment trial, which will run at least into next week as the Senate gave both sides 16 hours each to make their cases.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell announced a deal on the Senate floor Monday afternoon on how the trial will proceed. The two leaders noted all sides - Democrat and Republican, Trump defense and House impeachment managers - agreed on the procedure.

The well of the Senate was ready for the trial to begin on Tuesday afternoon - with tables for the prosecution and defense set up around the dais.

Trump's attorneys praised the agreement on how the trial will be run.

'President Trump and his counsel are pleased that there was bipartisan support on how to structure the impeachment trial.

'We appreciate that Senate Republican leadership stood strong for due process and secured a structure that is consistent with past precedent.

'This process will provide us with an opportunity to explain to Senators why it is absurd and unconstitutional to hold an impeachment trial against a private citizen,' he and his legal team said in a statement.

Senators will have to vote on whether or not to call witnesses, under the agreement. And each side would have up to 16 hours over two days to present their cases.

It also includes a four-hour debate on the constitutionality of the trial on Tuesday, followed by a vote on that question, similar to a vote led by Republican Senator Rand Paul last month.

The presentations will begin at noon on Wednesday, going up to 16 for the House prosecutors and 16 hours for the Trump defense team.

Starting Friday at 5 p.m. and all day Saturday, the trial will pause for the Sabbath, at the request of Trump's attorney David Schoen, an observant Jew.

The trial would reconvene Sunday afternoon.

'The structure we have agreed to is imminently fair,' Schumer said Monday on the Senate floor.

'I'm pleased Leader Schumer and I were able to agree to a fair process and estimated timeline,' McConnell said Monday on the Senate floor. 'This structure has been approved by both former President Trump's legal team and the House managers.'

Ahead of the announcement on logistics, Trump's lawyers lasted the trial as 'political theater' and charged Democrats cannot constitutionally impeach a former president.

The House impeachment team countered that Trump committed the 'most grievous constitutional crime ever.'

President Trump and his counsel are pleased that there was bipartisan support on how to structure the impeachment trial. We appreciate that Senate Republican leadership stood strong for due process and secured a structure that is consistent with past precedent. This process will provide us with an opportunity to explain to Senators why it is absurd and unconstitutional to hold an impeachment trial against a private citizen' How Trump's office responded to deal

The two sides gave preview to their forthcoming legal arguments the day before Trump's second impeachment trial is scheduled to begin in the Senate.

Trump's attorneys argued in their 78-page brief that the House impeachment managers are bringing an illegal case against the former president and claim his speech the morning of January 6th was not a call to insurrection.

'This was only ever a selfish attempt by Democratic leadership in the House to prey upon the feelings of horror and confusion that fell upon all Americans across the entire political spectrum upon seeing the destruction at the Capitol on Jan. 6 by a few hundred people,' attorneys Bruce Castor, David Schoen, and Michael T. van der Veen wrote.

Trump's lawyers charge Democrats impeached Trump for 'their own political gain.' Democrats, along with 10 House Republicans, charged Trump on one count of impeachment - inciting the insurrection - after the MAGA riot that left five dead and a wake of destruction in the Capital.

'Instead of acting to heal the nation, or at the very least focusing on prosecuting the lawbreakers who stormed the Capitol, the Speaker of the House and her allies have tried to callously harness the chaos of the moment for their own political gain,' they wrote.

'In bringing this impeachment in the manner in which they did, namely via a process that violated every precedent and every principle of fairness followed in impeachment inquiries for more than 150 years, they offered the public a master's class in the art of political opportunism,' they argued.

House impeachment managers released a simple response: 'The House states that each and every allegation in the Article of Impeachment is true,' the managers, led by Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, wrote in their four-page response.

'His incitement of insurrection against the United States government - which disrupted the peaceful transfer of power - is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a President,' they charged of Trump.

'The House will establish at trial that President Trump merits conviction and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States,' they added.

The brief from Trump's lawyers outlines their dueling defense arguments: The trial is unconstitutional and Trump did nothing wrong.

'In the past, Congress has acknowledged and exercised its duty to not impeach when an official is no longer in office. In the case involving the impeachment of President Richard M. Nixon, Congress decided not to impeach because he resigned from office,' the attorneys write.

Donald Trump's lawyers blasted the impeachment trial as 'political theater' and charged Democrats cannot constitutionally impeach a former president

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the bipartisan deal on how the trial will be conducted

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell announced that all sides supported the agreement: 'This structure has been approved by both former President Trump's legal team and the House managers'

Trump cannot be impeached because there is no office to remove him from, they argue.

'The only purpose of impeachment is to remove the President, Vice-President, and civil officers from office. When a President is no longer in office, the objective of an impeachment ceases,' they write.

They also argue the trial violates Trump's first amendment right to free speech and that the House rushed the impeachment process - Trump was impeached one week after the riot - which was a violation of due process.

'House Democrats completed the fastest presidential impeachment inquiry in history and adopted the Article of Impeachment over strong opposition and with zero due process afforded to Mr. Trump, against Constitutional requirements and centuries of practice,' they state.

They also throw references to two of Trump's favorite complaints: that then-President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden 'spied' on his 2016 campaign and that Hillary Clinton should be locked up.

'This is a dangerous slippery slope that the Senate should be careful to avoid,' the attorneys write of the Senate trying Trump while he doesn't hold federal office.

'Were it otherwise, a future House could impeach former Vice President Biden for his obstruction of justice in setting up the Russia hoax circa 2016. While he could not be removed from the Vice Presidency because his term ended in 2017, he could be barred from holding future office. The same flawed logic the House Managers advance could apply to former Secretary of State Clinton for her violations of 18 U.S.C  793. Impeachment cannot and should not be allowed to devolve into a political weapon,' they argue.

The FBI ran a counter intelligence operation of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign to see if Russia was trying to influence the election. Clinton was investigated by the FBI for using a private email server but was never charged with wrong doing.

Trump's lawyers also argue he did not incite the crowd to attack the Capitol when he held a rally outside the White House on the morning of the insurrection.

'President's Trump speech on January 6, 2021 was not an act encouraging an organized movement to overthrow the Unites States government,' they say.

They then go into detailed analysis of Trump's speech that morning.

'Of the over 10,000 words spoken, Mr. Trump used the word 'fight' a little more than a handful of times and each time in the figurative sense that has long been accepted in public discourse when urging people to stand and use their voices to be heard on matters important to them; it was not and could not be construed to encourage acts of violence Notably absent from his speech was any reference to or encouragement of an insurrection, a riot, criminal action, or any acts of physical violence whatsoever. The only reference to force was in taking pride in his administration's creation of the Space Force,' they claim.

They note the FBI, in its investigation, found the insurgency was planned days in advance.

'House Leadership simply cannot have it both ways. Either the President incited the riots, like the Article claims, or the riots were pre-planned by a small group of criminals who deserve punishment to the fullest extent of the law,' they write.

Democrats have countered that Trump's claims since Election Day - that the contest was fraudulent and stolen - stoked the flames of the attack.

Trump's second impeachment trial will begin Tuesday with a debate over whether it's even legal and will take Saturday off so one of his Jewish lawyers can observe the Sabbath.

Meanwhile, Democrats are struggling with impeachment managers' desire to call witnesses and party leadership wanting a speedy process. Trump, last week, declined an invitation from the impeachment managers to testify.

President Joe Biden is staying out of it.

Upon his return to the White House on Monday, after spending the weekend in Wilmington, Biden declined to answer when asked if Trump should lose his political rights: 'He got an offer to come and testify, he decided not to. Let the Senate work that out.'

Donald Trump's lawyers argue his January 6th speech is protected under the first amendment and was not a call for insurrection

President Joe Biden declined to talk about the trial when he returned to the White House on Monday

Some of the Democratic managers wanted to call Capitol Police officers who clashed with rioters last month, others wanted to hear from Trump officials who were with him in the midst of the riots

The president is keeping a packed schedule while the Senate hears evidence. He'll visit the Pentagon on Wednesday and the National Institute of Health on Thursday.

And White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that Biden won't watch the proceedings because 'we keep him pretty busy.'

'He will leave the pace and the process and the mechanics of the impeachment proceedings up to members of Congress,' she said at her daily press briefing.

Meanwhile, Democratic congressional leadership feels witnesses are not necessary since the actions and fallout Democrats are accusing the former president of inciting happened in plain sight and the prosecution could rely mostly on video.

Sources familiar with the nine impeachment managers' plan say they will use clips edited to dramatically intertwine Trump's remarks on January 6 with the ensuing Capitol riots shortly after in a blockbuster movie style sequence, Politico reported.

Schumer argued privately that Trump's alleged crimes took place in the public eye and can be shown and proven through video and tweets.

With this course of action, the whole proceedings in the upper chamber are expected to be completed in as little as a week  with the most likely outcome being Trump walking away unscathed, again.

'The story of the president's actions is both riveting and horrifying,' lead impeachment manager Jamie Raskin of Maryland told The New York Times on Sunday.

'We think that every American should be aware of what happened,' the Democratic representative continued, 'that the reason he was impeached by the House and the reason he should be convicted and disqualified from holding future federal office is to make sure that such an attack on our democracy and Constitution never happens again.'

Video clips weren't impeachment managers' first choice for presenting evidence.

Several managers wanted first-hand testimony to prove their case  while Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden's administration are eager to get the trial over with and go forward with the Democratic agenda.

Those against calling witnesses feel especially strong about the matter as it becomes increasingly clear the second impeachment effort against Trump will fall in the upper chamber.

Some of the managers argued calling witnesses could help sway some Republicans  although they even conceded it wouldn't pull over the 17 needed to successfully convict the former president for 'incitement of insurrection.'

Among the proposed witness list were Capitol Police officers to tell their stories about fighting off the pro-Trump mob, while others floated inviting Republican officials in Georgia who say they were pressured by the former president to change the state's presidential election count. There were also talks of calling former White House officials who observed Trump in the midst of the riots  including those who resigned in the fallout.

Also last week, the House impeachment managers formally requested Trump testify under oath in his Senate impeachment trial.

'You have thus attempted to put critical facts at issue notwithstanding the clear and overwhelming evidence of your constitutional offense,' Raskin wrote to Trump on Thursday.

'In light of your disputing these factual allegations, I write to invite you to provide testimony under oath, either before or during the Senate impeachment trial, concerning your conduct on January 6, 2021,' he continued.

The Maryland representative said Trump's testimony, which would include and direct and cross examination, could be held privately or publicly at any time this week.

'We would be pleased to arrange such testimony at a mutually convenient time and place,' Raskin said.

Trump's team responded with a public release claiming the latest was just a 'publicity stunt' from Democrats.

'Your letter only confirms what is known to everyone; you cannot prove your allegations against the 45th President of the United States, who is now a private citizen,' the statement put out by Trump's defense lawyers David Schoen and Bruce Castor read.

Some Democrats still advocating for witness testimony say while it may not change the outcome of whether Trump is convicted, it could at least potentially deter parts of the GOP electorate that still support him.

Democrats argue Trump 'incited an insurrection' in his speech before the riots where he said: 'You'll never take back our country with weakness,' urging supporters to 'fight like hell'

Impeachment managers also tried to compel the former president to testify, to which his lawyers responded was confirmation 'you cannot prove your allegations against' Trump

In a January 6 rally outside the White House, Trump continued to pedal his claims of election fraud to a crowd of thousands of his supporters who descended on Washington, D.C. to protest Congress certifying the Electoral College outcome for Joe Biden.

'You'll never take back our country with weakness,' Trump said during his speech before the Capitol storming as he urged supporters to 'fight like hell'.

Privately, 45 Republicans have already said the impeachment process is in itself unconstitutional because Trump is no longer president  exhibiting their clear desire to get the trial over with and vote against conviction.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul told 'Fox News Sunday' over the weekend the Senate impeachment trial is 'over before it starts' as Democrats need at least 17 Republicans to cross the line

'Is there any chance that the Senate will vote to convict Donald Trump?' Fox News' Chris Wallace asked Paul on Sunday.

'Zero chance of conviction,' the Republican senator responded. '45 Republicans have said it's not even a legitimate proceeding so it's really over before it starts.'

Another Republican argument against impeachment is that Trump's words were protected by free speech.

Paul said Sunday that free speech, a fundamental of the First Amendment of the Constitution, should not be punished.

'Are we going to impeach, and potentially criminally prosecute people for political speech when they say, 'Get up and fight for your country, let your voices be heard.'? Has nobody in this country heard of figurative speech?' Paul lamented.

He also argued that if Democrats want to use speech to prosecute people, they need to look within their own ranks.

'I think if we're going to criminalize speech and somehow impeach everybody who says, 'Oh, go fight to hear your voices heard,' I mean really we ought to impeach Chuck Schumer then,' Paul said during his interview on 'Fox News Sunday.' 'He went to the Supreme Court, stood in front of the Supreme Court and said specifically, 'Hey Gorsuch, hey Kavanaugh  you've unleashed a whirlwind and you're going to pay the price. You won't know what hit you if you continue with these awful decisions.'

'This inflammatory wording, this violent rhetoric from Chuck Schumer was so bad that the Chief Justice, who rarely says anything publicly, immediately said this kind of language is dangerous as a mob tried to invade the Supreme Court,' he added.

Republican Senator Rand Paul said Sunday the impeachment trial is a 'partisan farce' that has 'zero chance of conviction'

'So if people want to hold President Trump accountable for language, there has to be a consistent standard,' Paul said.

'And to my mind, it's a partisan farce because they're not doing anything to Chuck Schumer, not doing anything to Representative Omar, not doing anything to Maxine Waters. It's just not fair. It's just partisan politics under a different name.'

Trump's impeachment defense attorneys said Friday they also plan to show video during the trial this week showing Democrats inciting violence in the midst of the Black Lives Matter riots over the summer and also in general using 'inflammatory rhetoric' to encourage action against Republicans and Trump supporters.

'Well, you know, 2020 was somewhat of an unusual year, and it wasn't all due to COVID,' Trump's defense attorney Bruce Castor told Fox News on Friday, referencing the riots that overtook the country following the death of George Floyd and subsequent nationwide protests and riots.

'There's an awful lot of tape of cities burning and courthouses being attacked and federal agents being assaulted by rioters in the street cheered on by Democrats throughout the country  and many of them in Washington using, really the most inflammatory rhetoric that's possible to use,' he told Fox's Laura Ingraham.

'And certainly there would be no suggestion that they did anything to incite any of the actions.'

Sharmila met late Congress leader YS Rajasekhara Reddy's sympathisers from the united Nalgonda district of Telangana at the family's residence at Lotus Pond in Hyderabad on Tuesday

YS Sharmila, sister of Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday met with the supporters of her late father and former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy in Hyderabad, fuelling speculation about her entry into active politics in Telangana.

As per media reports, Sharmila said she will bring back "Rajanna Rajyam (Rajasekhar Reddy kind of regime)" to the state of Telangana, which is currently under the rule of Telangana Rashtra Samithi's K Chandrashekar Rao.

Sharmila's father, late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, widely known as YSR, was the chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh from 2004 to 2009. The Congress leader died in a chopper crash in September 2009. The former state of Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated into Telangana and the residuary Andhra Pradesh state in 2014.

According to news agency PTI, Sharmila met Rajasekhara Reddy's sympathisers from the Nalgonda district of Telangana at the family's residence at Lotus Pond in Hyderabad.

Though the outcome of the discussions was not officially announced, several participants told PTI that Sharmila sought to know about the present political situation in the district.

Several banners with portraits of Sharmila and Rajasekhar Reddy were erected at the residence. Jagan's image was conspicuously missing in the banners and flex boards, the news agency added.

According to a Hindustan Times report, a poster with the slogan YSR Samkshemam Sharmilamma Thone Sadhyam (YSRs welfare schemes are possible only with Sharmila) was circulating on social media since Monday morning.

The poster invited YSR's followers to come to Lotus Pond on Tuesday and carried a small map of Telangana at the right-hand corner with images of YSR, Jagan, Sharmila and her mother Vijayalakshmi.

"I want to understand the ground realities and to take their suggestions and the information they have. I called people from the Nalgonda district. This is just a connection (with them). The meeting will be held with people from every district," PTI quoted her as saying before the meeting.

Sharmila, however, did not directly respond when asked if she would launch a political party.

"There is no Rajanna Rajyam now. Why should it not come? We will bring Rajanna Rajyam to Telangana," NDTV quoted her as saying.

According to PTI, in response to a query, Sharmila said, "Jagan Mohan Reddy is doing his job in Andhra Pradesh and I will do mine in Telangana."

Sharmila and her mother Vijayamma had vigorously campaigned for the YSR Congress party during the elections in 2019. However, after Jagan's YSRC clinched a landslide victory and he took over the reins, Sharmila was out of the public eye.

A senior legislator of the YSR Congress party from Andhra Pradesh on condition of anonymity told PTI that Sharmila harbours political ambitions, but, it is not clear now as to where these developments (meetings and discussions) would finally lead to.

However, according to The Hindu, former YSRCP Telangana state unit chief Konda Raghava Reddy told the media that Sharmila would shortly launch a new political party in Telangana.

We will contest the next elections on our own and there is no need to forge an alliance with other parties, the report quoted Konda Raghava Reddy as saying. He added that the consultations would continue with well-wishers from other districts.

A YSR Congress worker from Utnoor in Adilabad said he strongly wants Sharmila to float a party in order to bring "Rajanna Rajyam" (Rajasekhar Reddy's regime) in Telangana also.

Though YSRC Party has its presence in Telangana, it did not contest in the last general elections. Sharmila undertook a "Padayatra" when Jagan was imprisoned in connection with a case in 2012.

Advisor to Andhra Pradesh Government Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, on behalf of the YSRCP, said the party has nothing to do with any move of Sharmila to form a new party.

Our leader (Jaganmohan Reddy) has clarified that his party cannot function in two states. We feel that Sharmila has still not made up her mind about launching a new party. If someone else has made a comment that she will float a party, we have to see their stature, the report by The Hindu quoted him as saying.

According to the report, Telangana Rashtra Samithi minister Gangula Kamalakar asserted that no one can compete with the TRS in the state and wondered about the need for "outsiders" to launch a party in Telangana. He questioned Sharmila's ability to impact Telangana politics when even Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has no political locus standi in Telangana.

According to the Hindustan Times report, Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, at the state executive committee of his party, without naming Sharmila, said that there were talks of a new regional party, but added that such a party would not survive for long.

The TRS is the only party after the TDP which has managed to sustain and survive, the report quoted him as saying.

Meanwhile, the Telangana unit of the BJP has reportedly said that Sharmila's party is being floated to help Chandrashekhar Rao. According to a report by the Times of India, BJP leader NVSS Prabhakar alleged that senior Congress leader KVP Ramchandra Rao come to the aid of the chief minister and is behind Sharmila to launch the party.

With inputs from PTI
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its celebration of Black History Month, NASA will host a virtual discussion at 12 p.m. EST Wednesday, Feb. 10, featuring a panel of current and past agency leaders. The prerecorded event will air on NASA Television and the agency's website, as well as via Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and the NASA App.

Spanning missions from Apollo to Artemis, "The Power of African American Leadership in NASA" will look at how African Americans in leadership roles have influenced change and helped drive mission success through lessons learned and discussions shared by current and past NASA leaders. The panel discussion, moderated by NASA Associate Administrator for Small Business Programs Glenn Delgado, will feature:

Brenda Manuel , retired NASA associate administrator for diversity and equal opportunity

, retired NASA associate administrator for diversity and equal opportunity Clayton Turner , center director, NASA's Langley Research Center

, center director, NASA's Langley Research Center Hildreth (Hal) Walker Jr. , NASA "Hidden Figure" who led the manufacturing, testing, and operation of the KORAD K-1500 ruby laser system for the lunar laser ranging experiment as part of the Apollo 11 Moon landing

, NASA "Hidden Figure" who led the manufacturing, testing, and operation of the KORAD K-1500 ruby laser system for the lunar laser ranging experiment as part of the Apollo 11 Moon landing Woodrow Whitlow , retired NASA associate administrator for mission support

, retired NASA associate administrator for mission support Vanessa Wyche , deputy center director, NASA's Johnson Space Center

The event is sponsored by the Black Employee Strategy Team at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, the African American Employee Resource Group at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the NASA Headquarters Chapter of Blacks In Government, and the NASA Headquarters African-American Coalition for Advocacy and Leadership.

For information about NASA's missions, programs and activities, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Besides speaking to Garrison's Assistant D.A.'s, Ferrie also spoke to press before he died. One common element of all the stories is the fact that David Ferrie was sick. He told reporters that he was suffering from encephalitis - although Lardner writes emphysema. The third article below, by David Snyder, adds a lot of color - and is similar to an earlier dispatch I posted.

David Ferrie in better days...

The first article to quote Ferrie was the New Orleans States-Item of February 18, 1967:

Here is an excerpt of the New Orleans Times-Picayune story (section on Ferrie starts on the left three paragraphs down) from of February 19,1967:

I love Ferrie's response to being told he will become a national celebrity - "What will being a national celebrity get me? Thirty-five cents and being a national celebrity will get you a hamburger. I want to be left alone to my flying."

Here is an article from the New Orleans States-Item from February 23, 1967, the day after David Ferrie died.

Interestingly, Ferrie wanted to arrange for a lie detector test in case he was arrested.

George Lardner, a reporter for the Washington Post, was the last person to see David Ferrie alive. Here is his in-depth report.

George Lardner was also questioned by William Gurvich, an investigator for Jim Garrison:
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Embarassed over the resignation of former NSUI in-charge Ruchi Gupta, who had accused Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal of delaying the reorganisation of several units and damaging the party, the students' wing of Congress has now written to interim party President Sonia Gandhi demanding to appoint its leaders with organisational background.

The letter was written by the office-bearers of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) after its general body meeting on February 1, signed by 17 out of the 22 office-bearers. During the meeting, the NSUI also passed a resolution to make Rahul Gandhi the next President of of the Congress.

The letter viewed by IANS stated that NSUI is seen as the 'nursery' of the Congress, providing the 'leadership and workers for tomorrow' for the party. But with no leadership at the moment, the youth workers are quiet with such a big responsibility on the shoulders of the students' body.

If futher asserted that the NSUI is walking on a very thin rope. The national office-bearers of the NSUI said in the letter that the youth of the country are associating themselves with the ideology of NSUI and Congress, but the students' body needs to do a lot more to get all of them on its side.

The NSUI leadership needs someone who has a clear direction to move forward, it said.

Slamming Gupta, who stepped down from the post of NSUI in-charge in December last year, the letter said, "The previous in-charge Ruchi Gupta was not very equipped with the knowledge of how to lead an organisation such as the NSUI forward, as she is from a non-organisational and non-political background. Few of her decisions could be termed as vindictive to say the least." The letter also alleged that "Gupta used media and social media to malign the image of the organisation which negatively affected the image of NSUI".

"It's our humble request that you please look that the in-charge NSUI gets has an organisational background, someone who understands the strength and the shortcomings of NSUI," it added.

Gupta had announced her resignation from the party on Twitter in December last year after accusing Venugopal of delaying the reorganisation of several units and damaging the party.

In the internal WhatsApp group of the national office-bearers of NSUI, Gupta had said: "I have resigned. As you know that important organisational changes have remained pending for very long." She also said that many other state units were waiting for reorganisation to make space for new activists.

"These continuing delays by General Secretary (Organisation) are damaging the organisation, but in the present circumstances, it is not possible to escalate repeatedly to Congress President (Sonia Gandhi). Thus the situation has become untenable," she had said, slamming Venugopal.

"I want to make sure that your hard work is not lost in the transition and will be sending a write-up on each of you to Rahul (Gandhi) ji," she had said.

Gupta was also a Joint Secretary in the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

(Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in)
One of the questions I'm regularly asked is, Pastor, can I commit a sin that God cannot forgive?

According to Jesus, there is one sin a person can do for which there is no forgiveness or pardon either in this age or in the age to come: blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. But what does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit?

Dr. David Jeremiah explains how the only way to understand these words is by seeing them within the context of the whole passage.

Here are 10 things you need to know about the unforgivable sin or "unpardonable sin".
VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - The Indiana Department of Education released their funding information today.

Schools across Indiana will receive 881 million dollars. Vigo County School Corporation will receive more than 13.5 million of that funding.

This money can be used for anything from building repairs to providing mental health services.

The schools have until the end of September 2023 to use this money.

"We don't just want to spend this money on things that help us in the short term.

We want to come out stronger as a result of Covid," said Bill Riley, the Director of Communications for the Vigo County School Corporation.

Planning allocations for each of Indianas public schools are available here, with planning allocations for each non-public school available here.
Imperial Valley News Center

Border Patrol Agents Arrest Convicted Sex Offender

Del Rio, Texas - U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Del Rio Station arrested a convicted sex offender, January 28.

Border Security is National Security and is vital to the safety of this great nation, said Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent Austin L. Skero II. I am extremely proud of our agents for preventing yet another predator from entering our communities.

Agents arrested Eduardo Bernal-Nava, 39, a citizen of Mexico, shortly after he illegally entered the United States. During processing, records checks revealed that Bernal-Nava was convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child and lewd acts with a child, in 2015, and was sentenced to 6 years, 8 months imprisonment. Bernal-Nava was most recently removed from the United States in 2020.

As a convicted felon, he faces a charge of 8 USC  1326  Re-entry After Deportation, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors Kamiah and Boise students with a $2,500 scholarship, silver medallion and invitation to virtual celebration for their work addressing the challenges of a changing world

NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jace Johnson, 18, of Kamiah and Christopher Jones, 12, of Boise today were named Idaho's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards logo

As State Honorees, Jace and Christopher will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are Idaho's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Jace Johnson

Nominated by Kamiah High School

Jace, a senior at Kamiah High School, played a leadership role in opening a teen center in his small rural community to provide local youth with a safe, fun alternative to substance abuse. Jace said his volunteering "sprouted from watching my community slowly deteriorate into a town riddled with drugs, crimes, and everything in between." As president and a founding member of the town's youth advisory board, Jace knew that with only a four-day school week and few extracurricular activities, it was too easy for young people to slip into drug and alcohol abuse. "I realized that not only did teens need activities to partake in, they needed a safe place to go," he said.

Story continues

So in 2017, he and fellow advisory board members decided to start raising money to open a teen center, primarily by hosting lunches and applying for grants. It took about a year to collect enough funds to rent space, furnish it, pay for utilities and buy supplies. Then community members donated a pool table, televisions, furniture, games and other items. Since opening in September 2019, the center has recorded thousands of teen visits and has hosted almost 500 youth events, including concerts, game nights, movies, theme park trips and tournaments. It also has provided classes in a wide range of activities from cooking to budgeting to sewing, subjects not offered in the area's school. Moreover, younger kids are able to spend time at the center on summer mornings to attend arts and crafts classes. Most importantly, data compiled by local law enforcement has shown a marked decrease in drug, alcohol and tobacco use among teenagers, said Jace.

Middle Level State Honoree: Christopher "Topher" Jones

Nominated by Hillside Junior High

Topher, a seventh-grader at Hillside Junior High School, has raised more than $15,000 through his "Lonesome Larry Project," a conservation initiative dedicated to saving sockeye salmon by selling sockeye-themed socks. When he was in fifth grade, Topher learned a lot about fish from his science teacher, and was fascinated by the fact that steelhead and salmon swim almost 900 miles from their home streams in Idaho to the ocean and then back to spawn. On a family trip to a fish hatchery, he discovered just how hard it is for fish to make that journey. In fact, he learned that one year, only one sockeye salmon survived the ordeal. The hatchery nicknamed that fish Lonesome Larry. "I knew this was a big problem," said Topher, "because if the sockeye don't return to their home streams to lay their eggs, the next generation of fish is lost."

So in 2019, he founded the "Lonesome Larry Project" to support sockeye salmon conservation  by selling red and blue socks emblazoned with the image of a male sockeye. First, Topher held a competition to design his salmon logo, and then enlisted the help of college students build a website. After his initial order of 2,000 pairs of socks arrived on his doorstep, Topher began selling them on his website, at sporting and fishing events, and through local businesses. All of his proceeds are being donated to the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund grants for conservation and research. The first grant was awarded last summer to build a kiosk near Redfish Lake explaining sockeye salmon recovery efforts.

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

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SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.
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Tucked between mountain ranges, the sprawling palace of Pablo Escobar was home to kangaroos, giraffes, elephants and other exotic animals  a private zoo of illegally imported animals that was the greatest ostentation of the feared drug kingpin as he reigned over the cocaine trade in Colombia.

Escobar and his Medellin Cartel are long dead, but one of the zoos prized specimens is flourishing in the tropical countryside and wetlands in and around the palace-turned-theme park  the hippopotamus. Like the man who introduced them to this country after obtaining them from a U.S. zoo, they are a source of endless controversy.

Government attempts to control their reproduction have had no real impact on population growth, with the number of hippos increasing in the last eight years from 35 to somewhere between 65 and 80.

A group of scientists is now warning that the hippos pose a major threat to the area's biodiversity and could lead to deadly encounters between the huge animals and humans. They say hippo numbers could reach around 1,500 by 2035 if nothing is done.

They say the animals need to be culled.

I believe that it is one of the greatest challenges of invasive species in the world, said Nataly Castelblanco-Martinez, an ecologist at the University of Quintana Roo in Mexico and lead author of the groups study.

The idea of culling the herd has already drawn some criticism and is likely to see more. There was an outcry years ago when three hippos wandered from the Escobar compound and were causing problems and one was killed by hunters sent after the animals.

The humans in this rural area have embraced the hippos as their own, in part because of the tourist dollars they bring in. For outsiders, it can be a puzzling bond, considering the aggressive animals kill more people per year in Africa than any other wildlife species. Here, elementary school students are used to walking past a sign that reads Danger  hippopotamus present.

But the experts say the government's attempt to keep down numbers by sterilizing some hippos just isn't enough.

Everyone asks, Why is this happening? Well, imagine a town of 50 people and you perform a vasectomy on one man and in two years on another man, obviously, that is not going to control the reproduction of the entire population, Castelblanco-Martinez said.

The scientists began working on the hippo population forecast last year after one of the animals chased and severely injured a poor farmer. Their study was published in the journal Biological Conservation in January.

Another study last year by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, found the hippos are changing the quality of the water in which they spend much of their time and defecate. As their population continues to grow, they could end up displacing native animals like the Antillean manatees, Castelblanco-Martinez said.

Escobar in the 1980s arranged for three female hippos and one male to be brought to his 5,500-acre (2,225-hectare) estate, Hacienda Napoles. After his death in a shootout with authorities in 1993, most of the exotic animals were relocated or died. But the hippos were abandoned at the estate due to the cost and logistical issues associated with transporting 3-ton animals and the violence that plagued the area at the time.

The hippos thrive in the fertile region lying between Medellin and Colombia's capital, Bogota. They live in the area around the Rio Magdalena  the Mississippi River of Colombia  spending the day mostly in the lakes and waterways and the night roaming endless grass pastures. Unlike in their native Africa, they have no natural predators in Colombia.

About 10 years ago, we realized that we have a giant population of hippopotamuses. We began to learn how the population was constituted, to see if there was an immediate solution, said David Echeverri-Lopez, a researcher at the regional environmental agency that oversees the hippos. We really began to realize the dimensions of the problem.

While Echeverri agreed that culling the hippos would be the best solution, he said the animals magnetic personality and government regulation may never allow it.

After the public criticism erupted more than a decade ago over the killing of the hippo by hunters, touched off by a photo showing soldiers posing with the hippo as a hunting trophy, the government instituted a ban on hunting hippos.

It decided to try sterilization, but that is a complex and expensive process. First, an animal must be tricked into entering a huge metal corral to be sedated. Then a team of wildlife experts must spend about three hours cutting through the animals thick skin and then try to find its reproductive organs, which is not easy.

The community keeps an eye on us to make sure that we are actually sterilizing (the hippo) and not doing anything else, said Gina Serna-Trujillo, a veterinarian who has conducted some of the sterilizations. They love them.

Serna said each procedure can cost around $8,500  a steep price for the regional environmental agency that oversees the animals. She said a documentarys production sponsored the cost of one procedure in 2019 and another film will do the same this year. No procedures were conducted in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Echeverri said the agency has conducted 10 sterilizations and relocated four juvenile hippos to Colombian zoos. Zoos in other countries have shown interest, but bureaucratic red tape has gotten in the way. This year, the agency hopes to be able to start carrying out a type of chemical sterilization that has worked on pigs.

Castelblanco understands the appeal of hippos, even describing a baby hippo as the most beautiful thing in the world, but said the discussions over their future in Colombia should not be ruled by warm feelings the animals generate.

We have other invasive species in Colombia that have undergone normal protocols, and no one ever makes a fuss because they are fishing lionfish, she said referring to a fish native to the Indo-Pacific that is now an invasive species in the Atlantic Ocean. You cant even talk about (culling hippos) because the rejection is staggering. ... I am being called a murderer.
Remittances fell by $200m for the year ended December 2020, highlighting the impact of Covid-19 within and without Uganda.

According to data from the Central Bank, Dr Adam Mugume, the Bank of Uganda executive director research, said remittances from abroad reduced to $1.2b down from $ 1.4b in the period ended December 2019.

However, he did not explain the cause of the reduction but indications are that Covid-19 could have had a big impacting eating away $200m and slowing down one of Uganda largest foreign exchange sources.

Remittances have been steadily growing over the past five years as Uganda increases its workforce abroad, especially in the Middle East, which in the last three years has overtaken other regions as Uganda's largest foreign exchange sources.

The Middle East alone has more than 150,000 immigrant workers from Uganda, however, majority are engaged in casual and homecare jobs.

The World Bank said late last year that the Covid-19 crisis would eat into money migrant workers send home, leading to a decline of at least 14 per cent by the close of 2020.

The decline, the World Bank said, will be sustained into 2021 with low and middle-income countries projected to experience a fall of 7.5 per cent or $470b within the period as a result of weak economic growth and employment levels in migrant-hosting countries, weak oil prices and depreciation of currencies in remittance source countries.

"The impact of Covid-19 is pervasive when viewed through a migration lens as it affects migrants and their families who rely on remittances," said Ms Mamta Murthi, the World Bank vice president for human development and chair of the migration steering group.

Remittances are a source of external financing for low and middle income countries.

In 2019, remittance inflows among low and middle income counties had touched a record high of $548b, which was larger than foreign direct investment inflows ($534b) and overseas development assistance ($166b).

The gap between remittance inflows and foreign direct investment is expected to widen given that FDI is expected to decline sharply. In a brief authored by Mr Dilip Ratha, the head of Knomad, it was noted that "migrants are suffering greater health risks and unemployment during the Covid-19 crisis", which weakens lifelines that depend on remittances.

This year, it is expected, for the first time in recent history that the stock of migrants will decline with new migrations slowing while returnee are projected to increase.

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Returnee migrants have been reported in all parts of the world following the lifting of lockdowns.

Rising unemployment in the face of tighter visa restrictions on migrants and refugees is expected to result in a further increase in return migrants.

Supporting returnees

According to Mr Michal Rutkowski, the World Bank director for social protection and jobs global practice, beyond humanitarian considerations, there is a strong case to support migrants who work with host communities on the frontline.

These, he says, should be achieved with supportive policy responses by host countries, while origin or transit countries should consider measures to support migrants returning home.

According to the World Bank migrant origin countries must find ways and programmes to support returnees resettle, find jobs or open up businesses.
Australia has recorded zero new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 across the entire country - as the deadly virus continues to plague the globe.

There were no cases of community transmission reported in each state and territory on Tuesday, after 38,212 of Australians were tested for Covid on Monday.

There were three infections recorded in hotel quarantine, two in NSW and one in Queensland.

Australia's coronavirus response has been the envy of the world, as life Down Under has returned to relative normalcy.

Australia has recorded zero new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 across the entire country. Pictured: Sydneysiders flock to Bondi Beach on Sunday

Life has returned to a level of normal for Australians. Pictured: The Big Bash final at the SCG on February 6

Zero cases of community transmission of Covid 19 nationwide today. That makes 18 of 21 days at zero Australiawide. All up 39,000 tests in the last 24 hours and total tests at 13.35 m. At the same time total global cases have reached 106 m & lives lost are sadly at 2.32 m.  Greg Hunt (@GregHuntMP) February 9, 2021

There have been only 28,860 infections across Australia and 909 deaths.

The figures are strikingly low when compared to other nations around the world.

On Monday, the UK reported 14,104 new Covid-19 cases. There have been more than 3.95million infections across the UK since the beginning of the pandemic.

The US has suffered 27million infections and 451,000 deaths, while India has endured 10million cases and 155,000 deaths.

There have been more than 106million cases worldwide, with over 2.32million deaths.

The good news comes after the virus had slipped out of hotel quarantine.

Victoria launched a testing blitz in Melbourne's north-west after a hotel quarantine worker's infection was discovered on Sunday.

Perth was plunged into lockdown last week due to one case - but residents are now allowed to cafes and bars once more

Australia's coronavirus response has been the envy of the world, as life Down Under has returned to relative normalcy. Pictured: Melburnians are seen in the CBD on February 4

It was the second case involving a hotel worker in less than a week, with the other infection linked to Melbourne's Grand Hyatt hotel as part of the Australian Open quarantine program.

NSW has recorded 23 consecutive days without a locally-acquired Covid-19 case but a returned traveller from South America contracted the virus after being released from quarantine.

Extensive investigations are continuing into the source of infection.

'All of this person's 10 close contacts have now tested negative to Covid-19,' NSW Health said in a statement on Tuesday.

The mystery case was first reported on Sunday and some experts have warned that Covid could be spread through hotel ventilation systems.

The person from the Wollongong area returned two negative tests during their 14-day quarantine period at the Sofitel Wentworth hotel, but returned a positive result after being contacted on day 16 by NSW Health.

Crowds are seen at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday as Australia continues to enjoy relative normalcy

'NSW Health thanks this person for their co-operation in continuing to undertake a range of comprehensive Covid -19 testing as we work to understand the timing and nature of the infection,' NSW Health said.

The person visited a number of venues in Wollongong and surrounding areas, last week as well as a cafe in Brighton Le Sands in southeast Sydney, before they were notified of the positive result late on Saturday night.

Perth was plunged into a hard five-day lockdown last week after a security guard tested positive to the virus.

Authorities have identified 527 close and casual contacts of the guard, who unwittingly roamed the streets of Perth while infectious.

All have now returned at least one negative test result, WA Health said in a statement on Monday.

A range of restrictions remain in place until February 14. All Perth and Peel residents must continue to wear masks while outside their homes except for during vigorous outdoor exercise.
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A string of sudden heists left UK cops hunting what they believed to be a sophisticated, dangerous and highly-professional criminal.

The robber terrorised bookies and bank staff with knives and hammers as he ordered that a backpack be stuffed with cash.

In less than 90 seconds he would be gone, leaving police with nothing to go on as the raider blended back into the streets as sirens wailed and blue lights flashed.

Over the course of four months he stole 11,000, and the police investigating the spate of robberies were none the wiser as to the suspect's identity.

The partial proceeds of one heist turned up when a tightly-wound roll of 20 notes, each marked with 'RH', was dropped into the begging bowl of a homeless man.

But the real story of this 'Robin Hood' who was, in his own mind, conducting a war against poverty and climate change, made Stephen Jackley a very unusual suspect.

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His crime spree in south west England came to an end after his botched attempted to buy a gun in the United States put him behind bars.

When US marshals suggested that their UK police colleagues search the suspect's apartment at the University of Worcester they found meticulous notes and diaries detailing his many crimes.

Journalist Ben Machell has just written a new book, The Unusual Suspect, about Jackley's bizarre robbery spree and the motivation behind it.

"You look at the bare facts of what Stephen had done and think 'that's kind of mad' - you think of it as a caper, on some level it is exciting," he told the Sunday World.

"As you get deeper into the story and get acquainted with Stephen and his past and the factors that led him to the point where he believed this was the thing he was obligated to do, then you start to understand that inner world."

The book details Jackley's early life and difficult childhood with parents who each had profound psychiatric problems and his own late diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome.

Machell's book follows how Jackley brandished a pellet gun and a knife as he tried but failed to force a courier to let him into a bank in 2007.

The next day he was more successful when armed with a hammer and knife he surprised two staff members at a bookies, stealing 825.

In just four months he carried out eight robberies and attempted robberies in which 11,000 was stolen and Jackley had become obsessed with acquiring a gun in his bid to reach his target of 100,000.

"What's interesting, in speaking to the police and the detectives who were involved in trying to work out who was behind this, is that when you listen to them you kind of understand why it was so hard for them to get anywhere near finding him," said Machell.

"The idea that someone with zero criminal record would start their criminal career doing bank heists, it just doesn't happen. Playing the percentages, as police forces have to do, this person was going to be someone who was doing crimes in the past," he added.

Jackley's spree came to end when a Vermont gun shop owner spotted his ID as a fake and called the police, landing the English student in a top security prison for ten months.

Deported back to the UK in 2009, Jackley pleaded guilty to 18 charges and got a 12-year sentence before being released from prison in 2014.

While Machell is convinced that Jackley himself was genuine in his motives and believe he was trying to change the world, it's not a view shared by the police who brought him to justice.

"I think the police that prosecuted him take the view these are fantasies, these are delusions. The idea he was going to hit the jackpot and use it to form some pan-global NGO to save the world, that was just not going to happen," said Machell.

"The reality is that he travelled a lot. He spent this money going to Istanbul, in fairness to try and buy a gun there, but he spent a week there, seemingly travelling around Europe. "

There was also the matter of the trauma suffered by the staff at the banks, building societies and bookies caught up in Jackley's robberies.

"The fact is he was putting guns into people's faces and threatened people with knives, leaving a lot of people really traumatised.

"I don't think the police had an interest in his motivations, they only cared about his actions, which again you say that's fair enough," Machell said.
Jania Bailey, CEO of FranNet, a top-ranked, international franchise consultancy with more than 100 consultants around the world, keeps a pulse on franchise market insights daily.

As 2021 shapes up to be another unprecedented year, Bailey has distilled some of that wisdom into a set of predictions for what the next big industries and trends will be in franchising.

Spoiler alert: Despite a precarious economy and an ongoing pandemic, franchising remains as strong as ever. Bailey identifies what happened to the franchising industry in 2020 and what to expect in 2021.

2020: Good Riddance? Or Good Momentum?

According to Bailey, the pandemic became an opportunity for franchises to weed out inefficiencies in systems and refocus on communication. Both the International Franchise Association and 1851 Franchise stepped up to inform and lead the industry in its moment of need.

The pandemic knocked the wind out of all of us initially, said Bailey. No one could have predicted or prepared for what we were hit with. As an industry organization, the IFA really rose to the challenge, as did Nick Powills and 1851Franchise, who offered webinars and a flood of information to the industry.

But the pandemic didnt harm all franchising sectors equally, and even within sectors, some concepts failed while others thrived. Bailey said this is one reason why investors seek out franchise brokers: to make sure they back the right horse.

We have our fingers on the pulse of the industry constantly, said Bailey. We know who is doing the right things, we know who is struggling. We are ahead of the learning curve, and for potential franchisees, thats insight they might not otherwise have.

Which Industries Will Dominate in 2021?

The data is in, and Bailey and her team are ready to declare 2020s winners and which industries are positioned to continue crushing sales and revenue goals in 2021.

First up is the home cleaning/restoration/insulation spaces. The era of remote work is upon us, and with professionals spending more time than ever in their home offices, the need for cleaning, handy work and insulation is higher than ever before. FranNet has seen these businesses dominate in sales and can lead potential franchisees to a winning concept in these spaces.

Similarly, educational franchises for children and particularly swim schools are mounting a charge. With the 2020 school year disrupted at a greater scale than ever before, parents are now even more willing to spend on their childrens education. The pandemic should rob no one of an instructive childhood, and franchise opportunities like swim schools afford parents an opportunity to teach their children real, vital life skills in a COVID-19 safe environment.

While large brick-and-mortar gyms have been hit hard by forced closures, smart, boutique fitness franchises have innovated at lightning speed to keep guests spending on fitness. From mobile fitness franchises to online classes or outdoor activities, this sector has produced dozens of hits. Franchisees looking to strike while the iron is hot can consult with FranNet on which concepts look likely to clear the bar.

Finally, expect to see a surge in health food concepts. When the pandemic disrupted our daily routine, Americans largely turned to fast food and pizza. Nobody can fault someone for eating comfort food in 2020, but eventually, functioning adults need to eat nutritious options. Healthy food franchises will take over in 2021 as people prioritize their health, according to Bailey.

Industry Trends and Forecasts for 2021

1) A Franchise Sales Bonanza

I think it's going to be a very strong year for franchising, said Bailey. The current unemployment numbers, asset values, and shifting public perspective in pandemic times has created something of a perfect storm for franchise sales in 2021.

We all know that franchising has good years when unemployment is high, she said. A lot of jobs that went away during the pandemic won't come back or will come back very slowly, which will result in an increase in franchise sales.

2) Working From Home for Good

Zoom calls are here to stay. Find a flattering background. As an industry person, I miss seeing my friends and seeing everyone and being a part of the networking, said Bailey.

While Bailey expects restaurants and in-person activities to perk back up over the summer and fall, Pandoras box has been opened on the convenience of working from home. Wait until the 3rd quarter for people to feel safe traveling for work.

3) Down to the Essentials

Businesses deemed essential retained a clear advantage throughout the pandemic. According to Bailey, theyll continue to thrive in 2021.

If a company is selling franchises, they should expect potential buyers to ask about how they performed during the historic pandemic.

I think one of the questions in validation a candidate will ask is, How did the business hold up during the pandemic? If franchisors have a good answer, that will bode well for them.

4) A Reckoning for Franchisors

I think this is going to result in the franchise industry needing to take a look at the requirements for someone to become a franchisor, said Bailey.

Theres nothing like a global pandemic to force a rethink of a massive industry like franchising. Some businesses, simply put, were not ready for the storm and perhaps should not have been selling franchises in the first place.

The pandemic showed us some of these undercapitalized start-up concepts were not prepared for any bump in the road, which is very unfair to young franchisees investing, said Bailey. When I see a closed sign, I realize that was someone's dream of business ownership that has been shattered. We need to continue to mature as an industry and not just sell concepts quickly to open and get royalties in.

For more insights from Bailey and her team at FranNet, contact the local office for a free consultation by visiting http://www.FranNet.com.

ABOUT FRANNET:

FranNet is North Americas most respected leader in matching individuals with franchise ownership opportunities. Founded in 1987, FranNet has more than 100 experienced consultants across the United States, Canada and Germany. FranNet uses a proprietary profiling and consultative process to determine a business model unique to each clients goals, skill sets and interests, and has matched thousands of prospective business owners to rewarding small business franchise opportunities. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, FranNet is the only locally-owned and operated franchised consulting firm.


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Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do

DJ Mark Page has 'vehemently denied' child sexual exploitation charges, his solicitor has said in a statement.

The former Radio 1 DJ appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Monday facing four counts relating to sex offences against children.

Two of the charges allege he facilitated or arranged the sexual exploitation of a child in the Philippines.

After details of the allegations were revealed by Teesside Live on Tuesday, Page's solicitor Henri Brandman of Henri Brandman & Co released a statement saying the 62-year-old would 'vigorously defend himself'.

The former Radio 1 DJ (pictured outside court) appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Monday facing four counts relating to sex offences against children

It read: 'I act on behalf of Mr Page in respect of the alleged offences in relation to which he appeared in the Teesside Magistrates' Court yesterday.

'Mr Page vehemently denies the alleged offences and will vigorously defend himself against the charges.

'He has had business, military and charitable interests in the Philippines for a number of years.'

Page, of Ingleby Barwick, Stockton-on-Tees, is charged with two counts of attempting to cause or incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and two counts of arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child aged 13-17 years.

The first charge accuses Page of attempting to incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity in Middlesbrough on August 8 or 9, 2016.

Two of the charges allege he facilitated or arranged the sexual exploitation of a child in the Philippines

The second alleges the same offence but says the girl was aged between 13 and 15.

The third charge accuses him of arranging sexual activity with a child in the Philippines between August 8 and August 19 in 2016.

The fourth charge alleges the same offence but says it happened between October 27, 2016 and October 28, 2016.

A short hearing was held at court on Monday where magistrates transferred the case to Teesside Crown Court, with the next hearing on March 8.

After details of the allegations were revealed by Teesside Live on Tuesday, Page's solicitor Henri Brandman of Henri Brandman & Co released a statement saying the 62-year-old would 'vigorously defend himself'. Pictured: Page in 1986

Page was granted bail until then.

Page, who is known as the voice of the Riverside Stadium, became the only ever Radio 1 DJ from Middlesbrough during a four year stint in the 1980s and was an award winner in the world of radio.

He has gone on to present on over 40 radio stations around the world.

He has also owned and ran the award-winning Garrison Radio. The network broadcast in twenty British Army bases in the UK for over a decade.
EMILY ST. LAWRENCE, Chariho girls lacrosse, senior: St. Lawrence tied a school record for goals in a game with nine in a win over Smithfield. St. Lawrence scored 17 goals for the week and has 32 for the season.

CARLY CONSTANTINE, Stonington softball, sophomore: Constantine singled home Shea OConnor with the winning run to hand Waterford, the states No. 2 ranked team at the time, its first loss of the season. For the week, Constantine was 5 for 15.

GREG GORMAN, Westerly baseball, junior: Gorman, a junior, hit a massive home run in a win against Barrington. The homer went over the fence in center field and landed in a nearby road. Gorman was 3 for 3 with four RBIs in the game. He is hitting .571 with 10 RBIs for the season.

BRADIN ANDERSON, Wheeler baseball, freshman: Anderson, a freshman, pitched a complete-game shutout to beat Grasso Tech. Anderson struck out three to earn the first win of his varsity career.

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Once in orbit, the spacecraft can begin its study of the red planets atmosphere and weather.

On Tuesday controllers at the mission operations center in Dubai first received word from the spacecraft that it had started firing thrusters to slow itself down and allow it to fall into the thrall of the gravity of Mars. Then, after the 27-minute burn was complete, they confirmed that the probe was in orbit.

Cheers erupted in the control room, where the missions managers sat at sleek computer consoles that would be at home on the bridge of a starship from Star Trek.
There were lines down Wilshire Boulevard. The artist Kerry James Marshall remembers seeing things in the packed galleries that he'd only ever seen in books. Nothing like it had ever been staged.

The exhibition, held in 1976, was "Two Centuries of Black American Art." Its genesis had not been easy: Two White curators at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art resigned when the board approved the proposal. Organized by artist and then university professor David Driskell, the show traveled from Los Angeles to Atlanta, Dallas and Brooklyn, attracting huge attendances at each venue.

A new HBO documentary, "Black Art: In the Absence of Light," begins with an account of this trailblazing exhibition, including footage from a contemporaneous interview with Driskell by Tom Brokaw, as well as others' recollections and commentaries.

Directed by Sam Pollard and debuting Tuesday, "Black Art" develops from this extraordinary - if belated - moment in the history of Black cultural visibility into a succinct, extremely watchable introduction to a bunch of powerful living artists who happen to be African American.

Black artists, it should go without saying, are not a monolithic group. Black artists make abstract and figurative art; they take photographs; they make videos, ceramics and sculptures. They are motivated by protest, on occasion, but also by beauty and truth; by technical invention, by confusion and dismay, by yearning and love. Why, then, was a show like "Two Centuries of Black American Art" necessary? And why, almost 50 years on, does a documentary like "Black Art" need to be made?

The answer to the first question is obvious, and Driskell dutifully answers it when it's put to him by Brokaw: The show was necessary, he says, because of earlier omissions. Because "mainstream" (White) neglect meant that people wouldn't see the work otherwise. And because without it, the canon would be incomplete.

All true. The best answer to the second question, however, feels subtly different. It has less to do with compensation paid toward an ideal of justice, more to do with sheer cultural energy. "Black Art," the documentary, cried out to be made because over the past 10 or 20 years, unprecedented resources have gone toward giving the best, the most promising and the most egregiously neglected Black artists their due. The resulting sense of discovery, of mutually reinforcing energies and of excellence brought to the fore is unmistakably a phenomenon. Almost (apologies to Harlem) a renaissance.

The most compelling moments of "Black Art" put us in the company of artists, usually in their studios, sometimes installing works in exhibitions or fielding questions from small kids at openings. Among the artists we hear from are Kerry James Marshall, Carrie Mae Weems, Kara Walker, Radcliffe Bailey and Theaster Gates. Weaving their (and many other artists') voices are, among others, Sarah Lewis, an associate professor at Harvard University and widely published author; Maurice Berger, the influential art critic who died in March 2020 of heart failure preceded by coronavirus symptoms; and Driskell, whom we see in his studio before his death the following month from covid-19 complications.

All three are eloquent, insightful narrators. Driskell's long perspective, his generosity toward the younger generation and his righteous delivery are tempered by a beautiful vulnerability revealed in the surrounds of his studio, where he talks unguardedly about influences (primarily Romare Bearden) and the struggle to find his own voice.

Lineage is a big theme. Just as Driskell recounts key conversations with his hero, Bearden, Marshall notes that one of his early teachers was Betye Saar, whose "Black Girl's Window" was an inspiration for his breakthrough work, "Portrait of the Artist as a Shadow of his Former Self." Another influence on that work was Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man," which leads Marshall into a lovely disquisition on his momentous realization that "Black is not the absence of color. Black is a particular kind of color."

The film pans out to address crucial moments in the historical reception of African American art. A notorious precursor to Driskell's "Two Centuries" exhibition was a botched attempt in 1969 by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to dedicate an exhibition to Black culture. The show was "Harlem on My Mind." Disastrously, instead of exhibiting Black art, it presented a socio-historical, almost anthropological view of a New York neighborhood just a few blocks uptown from the museum.

"Two Centuries," which was explicitly devoted to Black artists, was in many ways a rejoinder to "Harlem on My Mind." And its impact was enormous. Thanks to pioneers like Driskell, "museums now understand," Lewis says, "that they need to tell a counternarrative about American life and about Black art. They need to correct what stories haven't been told." They also need to make sure the people telling those stories and doing the work of those museums are more diverse because - as the hip-hop artist and prominent collector Swizz Beatz puts it: "We hate the way other people tell our story. There's always flaws in it because they didn't live it."

A key recent moment in the reception of Black art was the 2018 unveiling of the Obama portraits by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald. Both artists are interviewed in their studios in "Black Art." Sherald, who painted Michelle Obama, speaks beautifully about "the autobiographical ethic that all the most interesting work has." Addressing the recent surge in interest in African American art, which has been likened to a gold rush, she acknowledges that there are now a lot of galleries and dealers picking up Black artists. But: "I say it's because we're making some of the best work and some of the most relevant work."

I say she's right.

"Black Art" comes across as a sober-minded celebration, but it is by no means comprehensive (we hear nothing from some of the most influential Black artists of recent times, including Mark Bradford and David Hammons), nor is it uncomplicated. One of the artists it features - Walker - is feted around the world, but her confrontational subject matter has upset Black communities. They are not quoted on the subject here, but Saar and another prominent Black artist, Howardena Pindell, have sharply criticized Walker's treatment of racial stereotypes, antebellum violence and sexual humiliation in her silhouette wall pieces, questioning not only the work but the acclaim it has garnered among the White art establishment.

If Walker's work is hard to look at, it's because it exposes the ugly, racialized id of America's rampant self-mythologizing. But being hard to look at is not a disqualifier. And there's no doubt Walker's work has generated salutary debate.

So long as there is racial injustice, the urge to reveal instances of that injustice will conflict with a desire to avoid images of trauma. Cellphones, social media and a prurient culture thirsting for violent images have all contributed to what has been called the "hypervisibility" of images of violence against Black bodies and a consequent urge to recoil from such imagery. That urge is legitimate; the criticisms can and should come. But artists trying to deal with real phenomena - both the violence and the hypervisibility - should not be muted. As fellow artist Sanford Biggers says of Walker: "It's not always about being appreciated and liked. It's sometimes about being reviled and criticized."

The documentary could have done more to delve into these issues. Leaning away from controversy, it touches instead on other crucial aspects of the reception of Black art, from key exhibitions like "Black Male: Representations of Masculinity in Contemporary American Art" at the Whitney Museum in 1994-1995 to the outsize impact of the Studio Museum in Harlem and the effect of ambitious collectors and star power. (Beyonce and Jay-Z's video for their 2018 trap song, "Apes--t," filmed in the Louvre, is presented as a key moment.)

For all the light that is beaming down now on Black artists, Black culture in America continues to be afflicted by a paradox. Its contours were defined in a simple, heartbreaking question once posed by the actor Amandla Stenberg: "What would America be like if we loved Black people as much as we love Black culture?"

Justice and visibility - or vision and justice - are richly linked, as scholars like Lewis and Henry Louis Gates (one of the producers of this documentary; the other was the Studio Museum's Thelma Golden) have shown. But there are times, too, when we might want to uncouple ends and means and honor them separately.

The belated upswing in attention paid to Black artists is just, in itself - not simply because it may lead to wider justice. In a world beset by celebrity culture and distorted by the bulimic dynamics of social media, we need more than ever to pursue things precisely for themselves. This, I think, is what the artist Theaster Gates, in a powerful homily near the film's end, is getting at. "We're part of a continued renaissance," he acknowledges. But the question that most excites him is: "Do we have the capacity to be great makers in the absence of light? If Blackness has something to do with the absence of light, does Black art mean that sometimes I'm making when no one's looking?

"I don't want to work only when the light comes on," he continues. "My fear is that we're being trained and conditioned to only make if there's a light. And that makes us co-dependent upon a thing that we don't control. Are you willing to make in the absence of light?"
In January of 2021, the Oregon Legislature Emergency Board granted approximately two million dollars to the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal for distribution to the Oregon Fire Service. This funding is available to the Oregon Fire Service as a grant. The objective of the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Assistance Grant program is to improve the capacity and capability of fire protection districts and fire departments across Oregon. These jurisdictions protect Oregon communities and play a pivotal role in the prevention and suppression of wildland fires in the WUI. The WUI assistance grant is administered as a pass through award. The grant is intended for fire agencies with priority for those impacted by the 2020 fire season along with underrepresented and under-served communities. Although all Oregon fire jurisdictions are eligible to receive funding.


Sage Glendale We are excited to share all that our community has to offer residents, from our beautiful, brand new building, to an array of amenities and services. It has been built to a standard that resonates with todays aging population, said Elizabeth Whittington, executive director of Sage Glendale.

Sage Glendale, a luxury assisted living and memory care community, is pleased to announce that it has recently opened a new sales office on-site of the development. The centrally located new community plans to open mid-spring 2021 and is managed by Milestone Retirement for the Willis Group. Sage Glendale is located at 525 W. Elk Avenue, Glendale, CA 91204. It is open daily, to schedule a safe and personal appointment, please call 818-583-7826. Ask about introductory rates starting at $3995.00.

We are excited to share all that our community has to offer residents, from our beautiful, brand new building, to an array of amenities and services. It has been built to a standard that resonates with todays aging population. Our new residents will have the added benefit of helping to set the personality of Sage Glendale, said Elizabeth Whittington, executive director of Sage Glendale.

Sage Glendale, a 109-apartment community, features 81 Assisted Living residences located on the top three floors of the community. The second floor is dedicated to 24 private memory care studio apartments as well as four shared apartments, specifically designed for those living with dementia-related diseases, such as Alzheimers Disease. The centrally located urban setting has on-site parking and spectacular views of the Hollywood Hills from the five-story building.

Inspired by the warmth and prominence of the area, Sage Glendale will set a new standard in Senior Living. Assisted living and memory care residents will have 24/7 access to well-trained nurses and caregivers who will support the residents daily activities. Residents can look forward to a demonstration kitchen; delicious meals serviced restaurant-style in two elegant dining rooms throughout the day and evening, movie theater, card & game room, fitness center, two hair salons, spa/massage room, arts & crafts room, 24-hour emergency call system, scheduled transportation, social and education programs, weekly housekeeping and linen services, and beautifully landscaped grounds to enjoy.

The community strives to enhance residents experience with Milestones comprehensive caregiving training Milestones to Excellence program, ensuring clinical teams are trained in the companys best practices and expectations of care.

For more information, visit the website Sage Glendale at https://www.milestoneretirement.com/senior-living/ca/glendale/sage-glendale/

About Sage Glendale

Scheduled to open in mid-spring 2021, Sage Glendale will provide the finest in senior living with assisted living and memory care options for residents. Located in Glendale, California, the expertly trained staff will provide residents with the highest standards of senior care services amidst a beautiful, urban community. It is operated by Milestone Retirement, dedicated to creating an environment where residents, employees, and investors, all feel equally valued and respected. Milestone provides management services to over 38 communities offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and specialty care to residents across the U.S. For more information visit the website Sage Glendale.


U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick said the acting attorney general asked him Tuesday to resign, a common occurrence when the occupant of the White House belongs to a different party than his predecessor.

Patrick got word on a joint call from acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson with other U.S. attorneys, nearly all of whom also have been asked to resign no later than Feb. 28. Patrick said he planned to finish out the month.

This is not goodbye yet, as I have at least another 19 days representing the United States, he wrote in an internal email to his staff.

Patrick said ethics rules dont permit him to disclose where hes headed next.

Dozens of Trump appointees were expected to leave posts across the country, according to news reports.

Patrick, the son of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, has been the top federal law enforcement officer in the Southern District of Texas since Jan. 8, 2018. He oversees an array of criminal and civil matters and supervises more than 200 attorneys and 500 staffers covering an area that stretches from near the Louisiana border to McAllen.

His staff reflects new hiring he initiated and a major increase in prosecutions of cases involving drugs, gun smuggling into Mexico and suspected gang members accused of violent crimes.

Convictions on his watch include an election fraud cases against a Harris County judge and a former University of Texas regent who ran a prominent engineering firm. He led a marriage fraud prosecution against dozens of briefly acquainted couples and a case against the kingpin behind a lucrative overseas call center scheme that targeted immigrants.

His office also oversaw the monthlong fraud trial of former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, whose sentence later was commuted by President Donald Trump.

David Adler, who heads the Criminal Justice Act Panel, a group of about 100 lawyers who represent low-income federal defendants, said he was impressed by Patricks leadership.

He put good people in good positions, and he seemed sincerely interested in improving the relationship between the defense bar and prosecutors and reducing or eliminating pointless bureaucratic issues, Adler said.

Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal, who oversees judges in the same geographic area, said Patrick has been collaborative and helpful amid the challenges his tenure presented, including carrying out the courts responsibilities during COVID.

We thank him and wish him well, she said.

Patrick, a former district judge and Harris County prosecutor, also did criminal defense work as a solo practitioner and as senior counsel with HooverSlovacek.

A father of four, he graduated from Baylor University and South Texas College of Law.

gabrielle.banks@chron.com
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
OTTAWA  The Winnipeg-based National Microbiology Lab has cut ties with two scientists who sent virus samples to China and were accused of unspecified policy breaches, though the RCMP are still investigating.

OTTAWA  The Winnipeg-based National Microbiology Lab has cut ties with two scientists who sent virus samples to China and were accused of unspecified policy breaches, though the RCMP are still investigating.

Dr. Xiangguo Qiu and her husband, Keding Cheng, were walked out of the Arlington Street building in July 2019, over what Ottawa has only described as an administrative matter.

"The two scientists are no longer employed by the Public Health Agency of Canada, as of Jan. 20, 2021," Public Heath Agency of Canada spokesman Eric Morrissette wrote Monday.

"We cannot disclose additional information, nor comment further, for reasons of confidentiality."

Employees of the special pathogens unit told the Free Press supervisors verbally communicated the two had been fired, and would not provide their colleagues with an explanation.

Qiu had previously received one of Canadas top science awards, for her pivotal role in creating an Ebola vaccine at the Winnipeg lab, one of the few equipped to handle pathogens needing the highest level of containment.

In March 2019, Qiu sent samples of the Ebola and Henipah viruses to China. Internal emails suggest intellectual property protocols were not followed, though PHAC has denied this, without providing any further explanation.

The agency also claimed the shipment of samples were unrelated to agencys investigation of the two scientists.

The University of Manitoba had severed links with both scientists shortly after the incident got media coverage in 2019, without providing a public explanation.

Scientists at the lab continue to be critical of PHAC for its secrecy around the case. Conspiracy websites have tried to fill the vacuum, honing in on PHAC authorizing Qiu to travel multiple times to a high-security lab in Wuhan, China, the city where the novel coronavirus emerged.

No officials have produced credible evidence to link the emergence of COVID-19 to Qiu or the Wuhan lab.

PHAC had no response Monday to criticism around its lack of transparency. The agency also would not say whether the two scientists had been on the payroll for 19 months  which is what employees at the lab say theyve been told.

An ongoing Manitoba RCMP probe has still not led to any charges.

"The RCMP investigation is ongoing," media relations officer Tara Seel wrote Monday.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
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The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has secured global recognition from the Airports Council International World's 'Voice of the Customer' award.

The 'Voice of the Customer' initiative by the Airports Council International World recognises airports that continued to prioritise their customers and remained committed to ensuring that their voice was heard during the novel coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

The Director-General of ACI World, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, said that the BLR Airport has made efforts in gathering passenger feedback and commitment towards delivering a superior customer experience.

"The Kempegowda International Airport has made significant efforts in gathering passenger feedback through ACI's Airport Service Quality (ASQ) programme and this helped better understand the customers and demonstrate BIAL's commitment towards delivering a superior customer experience under trying circumstances," he said.

#WeAreHereForYou

Under the #WeAreHereForYou umbrella of BIAL, various campaigns were launched to spread the message and rebuild passenger confidence in air travel following the outbreak of the killer virus in 2020.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BIAL, Hari Marar said that they are honoured to receive the prestigious global recognition.

"We, at BIAL, are honoured to receive this prestigious global recognition. This recognition is a testimony to the tremendous efforts the team made to understand the needs and concerns of passengers. Our campaigns, built around customer concerns, aimed at showcasing the 'new' Airport experience and the measures taken to reassure them of a safe airport experience," he said.

The 'Voice of Pax' survey was conducted in phases to understand passenger perception towards the safety of air travel amid pandemic. Based on the data received, a series of campaigns were launched to drive awareness of the new contactless journey, maintaining personal hygiene, the efforts of the frontline team, initiatives to make BLR Airport safe during the pandemic, support government campaigns and apprise passengers about travel guidelines issued by both State and Central governments.

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The Securities and Exchange Commission charged former Minneapolis-area investment adviser Isaiah L. Goodman for allegedly defrauding his advisory clients out of approximately $2.25 million.

According to the SEC's complaint, from at least September 2018 to November 2020, Goodman, doing business through Becoming Financial Advisory Services, LLC, stole more than $2.25 million from at least 20 advisory clients. As alleged, Goodman falsely represented to these clients that he would invest their money in securities, including mutual funds and stocks for their retirement and investment accounts. Instead, Goodman allegedly misappropriated their money by using it for his own personal and business expenses, including home renovation and building expenses, car payments, and vacations. Goodman allegedly furthered the fraud by providing his clients with fake account statements and computer screenshots purporting to show that their funds were appropriately invested and their accounts had appreciated in value, and by making Ponzi-like payments to certain clients.

The SEC's complaint, filed in federal district court in Minnesota, charges Goodman with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and seeks injunctive relief, disgorgement with pre-judgment interest, and civil penalties. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota filed criminal charges against Goodman on February 8, 2021 in a parallel action.

The SEC's investigation was conducted by Devlin N. Su, and supervised by Amy Flaherty Hartman in the Chicago Regional Office. The SEC's litigation is being led by Timothy Stockwell. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
An Iranian cleric, Ayatollah Abbas Tabrizian has warned his social media followers not to "go near" anyone who's had the covid-19 vaccine, as they have turned to gays and homosexuals. Ayatollah Abbas Tabrizian took to Telegram, a social media app where he has 210,000 followers, to publish a homophobic rant over the weekend.



"Don't go near those who have had the COVID vaccine," he said. "They have become homosexuals." But his comments about the vaccine has been met with strong criticism from other Iranians including LBGT rights activists and health officials. "Like other clerics in the regime, also Tabrizian relates all the shortages [shortcomings] to sexuality," dissident Sheina Vojoudi told The Jerusalem Post.



"The clerics in Iran are suffering from lack of knowledge and humanity. "Actually, his goal of spreading nonsense is to try to scare people [out] of getting vaccinated, while the leader of the regime and other officials got Pfizer, and they don't provide it for the people with the excuse that they don't trust the West."



UK human rights activist Peter Tatchell said: "Ayatollah Tabrizian combines scientific ignorance with a crude appeal to homophobia." "He's demonising both the vaccination program and LGBT+ people without a shred of evidence.



"By seeking to scare the public into not getting vaccinated against Covid-19, he is fuelling the pandemic and putting lives at risk. "Typical of many Iranian religious and political leaders, his bizarre, irrational claims scapegoat LGBTs and put theological prejudice before scientific knowledge."

Meanwhile thousands of gay people have been executed in Iran from 1979 to 2019 and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javid Zarif has dismissed international outrage over its anti-gay policies, saying: "Our society has moral principles, and according to these principles we live...



"These are moral principles regarding the behaviour of people in general, and that is because the law is upheld and you abide by laws."













Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rinnai America Corporation, manufacturer of the number-one selling brand of Tankless gas Water Heaters in North America, announces the extension of Federal Tax Credits on residential energy efficiency products for their customers; qualifying products include tankless water heaters and boilers.

Homeowners who have made energy-efficient improvements, including an upgrade to a Rinnai Tankless Water Heater, may qualify for a $300 US federal tax credit known as the Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit. For a tankless unit to qualify, it must have a Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) of at least 0.82  all Rinnai condensing tankless water heaters and the V94Xi non-condensing tankless water heater qualify.

In addition, homeowners may qualify for a $150 US federal tax credit with an installed Rinnai Condensing M-Series or I-Series Boiler. All Rinnai Boilers meet the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AEUF) rating requirement of at least 95 percent.

The tax credit is retroactive, and products must have been purchased between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2021.

When claiming your tax credit, you will need to obtain a Manufacturer's Certification Statement from Rinnai. You may access this statement here.

For more information about this tax credit, as well as instructions on how to claim the tax credit, visit the Energy Star Website at: https://www.energystar.gov/about/federal_tax_credits/non_business_energy_property_tax_credits

About Rinnai

Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1974 and is headquartered in Peachtree City, Ga. Rinnai Corporation manufactures gas appliances including Tankless Water Heaters, a wide range of kitchen appliances and heating and air conditioning units. As the technology leader in its industry, Rinnai is the largest gas appliance manufacturer in Japan and is the number-one selling brand of tankless gas water heaters in the United States and Canada. Annual corporate revenues, including those of its subsidiaries, are in excess of $3.2 billion. With a global perspective to create 21st-century products for the home and business, Rinnai Corporation commits itself to safety and the pursuit of comfortable lifestyles. For more information about Rinnai's entire product line, visit www.rinnai.us.

###

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SOLON, Ohio -- Solon City Schools Superintendent Fred Bolden would like to be able to say that COVID-19 cases are trending down in his school district, as they are overall in Cuyahoga County.

But unfortunately, thats not the case.

On Monday (Feb. 8), Bolden told the Solon Board of Education that since Friday (Feb. 5), the district has had 10 students and eight staff members test positive for COVID-19.

Over the weekend alone, we had three students and two staff members test positive, he said. Because of those positive tests, weve had about 70 quarantines (for students and staff).

Bolden said he heard one report, in particular, that really upset him.

We had placed a student in quarantine, following the procedures from the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, and that student broke quarantine to meet with a friend, he said. That friend ended up getting COVID because the other person had COVID and didnt realize it.

Those kinds of things really make it difficult for us.

Bolden said he believes COVID fatigue is really setting in for us, and that has him very concerned.

It gets to all of us, he said. I dont know how many times Im sitting in a meeting and I want to rip my mask off because Im tired of wearing them. Theyre uncomfortable, theyre hard to breathe in (and) having to maintain the distancing.

I mean, Im getting really good at Zoom meetings, but I dont like to be good at Zoom meetings. I would prefer for us to be in a more intimate setting, where were clustered closer together and we can have people here at our (board) meetings, but thats just not the reality that were living in, he said.

On a more positive note, Bolden said all district staff members who wish to receive the COVID-19 vaccine will have their first opportunity to do so on Friday (Feb. 12).

That gives us some hope for being able to continue having school (in person), he said. Fortunately, theres no school on that day, which is helpful.

But the vaccinations alone arent going to be enough to prevent COVID-19 cases, Bolden said.

The (Cuyahoga County) Board of Health, the Ohio Department of Health and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) have said even with the vaccine, until you have widespread herd immunity, you still must maintain masking, sanitization and distancing protocols, he said.

Theyre very clear that were going to have to continue to do those things, even with people becoming vaccinated.

Its critical, now more than ever, that we maintain vigilance in following the protocols that we need to follow, he continued, because if we dont, were going to have more cases, and the numbers are going to increase, and its only a matter of time before something serious happens, and thats not what we want.

We want to keep all of our community safe and healthy as much as possible in this, and for us to do that, we have to really buckle down.

Board President Julie Glavin said, Well, buckle down and respect other peoples space, as well.

If youve been exposed, its your duty almost to make sure that youre not infecting someone else whos unsuspecting, she said.

And we all know its so hard; its hard for parents, and its hard to see kids not being able to do things. But, unfortunately, we just have to do this. I mean, it has to be a priority.

Since Jan. 11, students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade have returned to in-person learning five days a week. Also Jan. 11, students in grades 5-12 shifted to various hybrid schedules.

Fifth- and sixth-graders attend school in person four days a week and virtually one day a week, while students in grades 7-12 have a schedule of two days a week in person and three days learning remotely.

A fully remote learning option also has been available to all students since the school year began in late August.

The districts COVID-19 dashboard -- updated Monday (Feb. 8) -- indicates that the district has had 104 on-campus student cases, 37 all-virtual student cases and 73 staff cases since the school year started.

Another winning entry

Marin Wurst, a seventh-grader at Solon Middle School, designed the winning entry in the 2021 national Red Ribbon Week theme competition.

Bolden said Marins original design and concept -- Drug Free Looks Like Me -- will be the theme used as part of the annual Red Ribbon Week campaign in October in more than 100,000 schools nationwide.

Red Ribbon Week is the nations largest and longest-running drug awareness and prevention program, according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.

This marks the fifth time that a Solon Middle School student has won the national theme competition.

When I first looked at this out of context, it looked like a professional company had done it, Bolden said as he showed the board Marins design. Its just so well done.

Thats just the level of talent and hard work that we have in our kids, and Im so impressed by it. She just did an amazing job.

Each year, Solon Middle School art teacher Cheryl Holsapfel challenges her students to create theme ideas and submit them for consideration to the National Family Partnership Red Ribbon Week contest.

Marins theme was selected for the creative way in which it portrays how individuals keep their community safe, healthy and drug free, according to the National Family Partnership.

All segments of the community -- healthcare workers, police officers, educators, school bus drivers, parents -- are examples of what we can achieve through self-dedication, care and commitment, NFP said in announcing Marins winning entry.

The theme encourages everyone to use their voice to make a difference, no matter who they are, where theyre from or what they do.

In addition to the national recognition, Marin will receive $500 worth of Red Ribbon theme merchandise for her school, according to the Red Ribbon website.

To have one of our students being honored in this way for their artistic ability and creativity, its a feather in our cap -- or a ribbon, if you will, Bolden said.

Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun.
Construction works on a Rwf5 billion electric cable factory in Nyanza District, Southern Province have been completed with the plant set to begin operations next month.

Patrick Kajyambere, the Vice Mayor in charge of economic development in the district, told The New Times that machinery is now being installed and tested ahead of the official launch.

"The factory was constructed by Mark Cables Company but the district also owns shares in the factory," he said.

He said that the plant has the capacity to manufacture 5,000 kilometres of cables per year.

"It will supply both local and regional markets," he said.

The vice mayor said that the factory is set to employ between 1,000 and 1,500 people.

"There are more jobs to be created along the supply chain. Those who will come to transport the products will create business opportunities for those who want to invest in restaurants, accommodation and others," he said.

Meanwhile, the district is also set to get tile manufacturing factory. The factor will begin operations in December this year, according to officials.

This, he said, comes in the wake of a Rwf1.2 billion Integrated Craft Production Centre known as Agakiriro that is about to be completed.

"The centre will also host a garment factory that could also start in March all which need electricity materials," he said.

Demand and trade deficit

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Rwanda Infrastructure By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

According to trading data by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), strong local wire and cable market drivers include the need for electricity to be rolled out across the country, energy production from renewables, construction growth, and urbanization rate among others.

Rwanda spends $30 million on cable imports annually, according to available data.

The East African Community accounts for 11 per cent of the country's cable imports.

Local manufacturing of electric cables will thus bridge the deficit.

The cable factory in Southern province becomes the second cable factory in Rwanda.

At the end of 2018, the first $6 million cable plant by Alpha Cables started to manufacture cables in the Kigali Special Economic Zone with the capacity to produce more than 600 tonnes of cables annually.

The factory produces 50 tonnes equalling 1,000km of multi-core copper cables every month.

Government seeks to increase electricity generation capacity from 238.36 MW to 556 MW by 2024.

Access to electricity by population is set to increase from 56.7 per cent to 100 per cent by 2024.

The growing consumption of electricity is set to double the demand for electric cables.
Unleashing the power of memories yet again, Kingston Technology, a world leader of memory products and technology solutions, today announced the winners of the Kingston x CSD APAC Mask Design Competition. Kingston partnered with CSD, a leading brand of face masks, to unite art enthusiasts of APAC regions with the theme Theres Strength in Memory. Since the kick-off of the competition in November 2020, the campaign has reached and touched the hearts of 39 million people. The video featuring the immaculate designs of the top 10 finalists has accumulated over 625,000 views. Receiving the love and admiration from voters, Nguyen Dang Binh from Vietnam won the Best of the Best Award in the 3-Colors group, and Yman.S from Malaysia won in the Unlimited Colors group. Selected by the judges, the Special Award was given to Aljohn M. Matias (Philippines), Lilo Jong (Malaysia) and Teo Sze Ting (Malaysia).

Commenting on the exciting results, Kevin Wu, Kingstons sales/marketing and business development Vice President of APAC region, said, "We at Kingston have always strived to help our customers preserve and share their memories. We are grateful for all of the submissions and for our creative partnership with CSD, which has enabled us to bring these most personal captivating life experiences to life. Jonathan Chang, COO of CSD, then added, "Over the years, CSD has revolutionized face masks, making them an imperative part of health while adding character and personality into them. The exemplary designs from everyone who entered as well as the finalists truly echo the theme, Theres Strength in Memory. It is our honor to see that these unique stories are turned into wearable memories, hopefully spreading positivity to everyone during these challenging times.

The initiative gave wings to imagination and encouraged the artists to bring their profound as well as life-altering memories onto face masks. The Best of the Best Award winners will be receiving USD $5,000 prize money each, as well as a trophy and self-designed face masks. The Special Award winners will be receiving USD $1,000 prize money each and face masks with their designs will also be mass produced.

Selected as the Best of the Best from the 3-Colors group, Nguyen Dang Binh is a banker in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Voters were attracted by the joyous atmosphere in his design Doodling Paper as Nguyen Dang Binh illustrates his happy college memories through interesting faces, and reminds art lovers to follow their passion.

Selected as the Best of the Best from the Unlimited Colors group, Yman.S is a Senior Packaging Designer from Malaysia. His bubbly design Monster Nation incites positivity among voters as he turns the scary monsters dreaded in our childhood memories, which also represent the day-to-day hardship we face, into cute little monsters.

Perfect Imperfection by Bachelor of Fine Arts student Aljohn M. Matias in the Philippines was selected for the Special Award. He uses a minimalistic design to comment on the collective experience of meeting diverse groups of people and how these differences make us who we are, perfectly imperfect.

Love Memories Forever by multimedia Designer Lilo Jong receives the Special Award as well. She depicts the deep-rooted emotion of missing her family by using storage devices from different time periods to represent her family members. She wishes reunite with her beloved family members, together, just like in her artwork.

Strength in Memory by Teo Sze Ting, a freelance illustrator from Malaysia, was also selected for the Special Award. Through her powerful typography design with hidden messages, such as The year we fought together..., 2020, a year to remember, in the barcodes, she reflects on the memories of 2020 and encourages people to find strength and motivation from memories.

For more details please refer to: kings.tn/MaskDesignWinners
The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine does not defend the editorial policy of any media, including the 112 Ukraine, NewsOne and ZIK television channels, but at the same time advocates the observance of the rights of Ukrainian media and Ukrainian journalists guaranteed by law and therefore expresses concern about the extrajudicial application of restrictive measures against these television channels.

"The right of the government to legally protect the information space from fakes and propaganda is indisputable, especially in the context of a hybrid war unleashed against Ukraine. At the same time, the use of the NSDC sanctions tool and the termination of media operations must be based on public evidence and proceed in compliance with procedures specified by law," the union's secretariat said in a statement, adopted at the end of the online meeting on February 8 and 9, and released on its Facebook page on Tuesday.

The National Union of Journalists said that in accordance with their statutory tasks and powers, they protect the media in conflicts with the authorities, but at the same time they said that "freedom of speech does not give journalists grounds to abuse it, wherever they work." "And when any media allows itself to question the national statehood and territorial integrity of Ukraine, to justify the armed aggression committed against it  these actions should be timely assessed by the competent public agencies, without waiting for a convenient political moment," the journalists said in the statement.

The union condemns calls for violence against journalists and media workers and says that the owners and top managers of the media are primarily responsible for editorial policy, and the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting, which has the appropriate authority for this, should respond to the violations found. "At the same time, representatives of the journalistic union should be aware of the level of responsibility in working with words and facts, in preparing materials and programs, following generally accepted standards of the profession, without resorting to manipulations that turn journalism into a propaganda tool," the union said.

"Extrajudicial restrictive measures are a dangerous precedent. This instrument can be used to put pressure on other broadcasters or to adopt similar sanctions, for example, against the televison channels of the 1+1 group (Medvedchuk owns a share in them) or such 'Poroshenko's television channels' as Pryamiy and Channel 5, which, according to one official, often show 'agents of Russian propaganda," the journalist said in the statement.

The union said that freedom of speech in Ukraine provides for a broad discussion of social and political issues, but only on the basis of compliance with the law. The union also said that weakness and independent media, freedom of speech, freedom of expression are the hallmarks of every democratic state.

"We call on the authorities to respect this freedom, taking care of the reliable protection of the information space of Ukraine," the union said in the statement.
Summer may still seem an extremely long way off, but there's already a bizarre swimwear trend on the horizon as it appears the upside down bikini look is back.

Celebrities, influencers and bloggers fortunate enough to catch some sun have embraced the style which sees them wear their tops the wrong way round in a bid to showcase more underboob.

Leading the way is Kourtney Kardashian, who first wore an upside down bikini by European brand Sommer Swim, quickly followed by her sister Kylie Jenner.

Kylie donned a skimpy blue two-piece that scarcely contained her ample assets, while her sibling opted for a red version during their trip to Turks and Caicos this month.

Celebrities, influencers and bloggers fortunate enough to catch some sun have embraced the style which sees them wear their tops the wrong way round in a bid to showcase more underboob - including A-lister Kylie Jenner (pictured)

Kylie followed her older sister Kourtney Kardashian's look (pictured) during their trip to Turks and Caicos this month

But keeping ahead of the trends, their sister Kendall Jenner also sported a tiny paisley Sommer Swim bikini in March 2020 during a Bahamas beach break.

Australian influencer Tammy Hembrow divided her fans when she opted for an upside down bikini, with some saying the risque style looked 'too tight' and should just be worn 'correctly'.

British influencers including Natalya Wright and Ellie Brown also donned similar styles when escaping the UK to enjoy an autumn and winter break in sunnier destinations such as Dubai.

Natalya sported a white upside down bikini, teamed with a golden chain in an Instagram post in October 2020. She showcased her washboard abs as she slipped out of the water and onto the side of the pool, which looked over the Burj Khalifa.

Meanwhile in December, Love Island 2018 star Ellie Brown showed off her incredible curves in a mint green bikini as she reclined in a pool in Dubai.

But keeping ahead of the trends, their sister Kendall Jenner (pictured) also sported a tiny paisley Sommer Swim bikini in March 2020 during a Bahamas beach break

British influencers including Natalya Wright and Ellie Brown (pictured) also donned similar styles when escaping the UK to enjoy an autumn and winter break in sunnier destinations such as Dubai

Celebrity stylist Rochelle White told FEMAIL that the trend, which was first seen across social media in 2018, might be popular again because it's a good way to be sustainable and change the look of your bikini without buying a new one.

It also enhances a woman's underboob and highlights their assets in a 'different way', she explained.

'I think this look is being hyped thanks to being seen on the Kardashians, various models and influencers and of course social media', said Rochelle.

'It has been a trend that has been creeping in, I feel, since summer 2020. I feel that women want to enhance and show off more underboob and it provides a different way or look to your bikini.

Australian influencer Tammy Hembrow (pictured) divided her fans when she opted for an upside down bikini, with some saying the risque style looked 'too tight' and should just be worn 'correctly'

Natalya Wright (pictured) sported a white upside down bikini, teamed with a golden chain in an Instagram post in October 2020

'Some people could rock the same bikini but in a different style, it works well as a cost saving and sustainability item, which a lot of people are wanting to do and be part of.'

The bizarre trend, which involves tying a string bikini around your breasts, was first paraded by 27-year-old model and blogger Valentina Fradegrada in 2018.

The stunner shared a snap of herself modelling a black PVC number in Nevada, seductively pulling at the side of her bottoms with her thumb.

The bizarre trend, which involves tying a string bikini around your breasts, was first paraded by 27-year-old model and blogger Valentina Fradegrada in 2018. Pictured, an Australian influencer sporting the trend

Unlike the traditional triangle bikini top the suit leaves a gaping hole in the middle of your chest - highlighting more cleavage than usual - and also boasts ruching at the top of the triangular cup rather than at the base. Pictured, an Australian-based model wearing the style

Several brands across the world offer the swimwear as part of their spring/summer collections, however an 'upside down' bikini can be created with most of the tops already in your wardrobe. Pictured, an Australian-based influencer in the look

Unlike the traditional triangle bikini top the suit leaves a gaping hole in the middle of your chest - highlighting more cleavage than usual - and also boasts ruching at the top of the triangular cup rather than at the base.

Several brands across the world offer the swimwear as part of their spring/summer collections, however an 'upside down' bikini can be created with most of the tops already in your wardrobe.

The wearer simply ties a knot at the top of their chest with the halter straps and separates the 'triangle' portion of the material more than usual.

The only issue is that the bust is the only thing holding the bikini together since it isn't supported by the straps if you're making the style yourself.
Rosie Bentham has said her Emmerdale character Gabby Thomas is set to use her pregnancy to her advantage.

Gabby became pregnant after a one night stand with Jamie Tate, who has insisted their short-lived romance will not continue.

Bentham, 19, said the pregnancy is just what [Gabby] needs and she is mulling over using the baby to get her teeth into the Tate familys Home Farm via Jamies mother Kim.

(Tim Whitby/PA)

Shes got a strong head on her shoulders and she kind of thinks I can use this situation to my advantage and if Kims going to throw all this money and these opportunities at me, then yeah, Im going to take them, Bentham said.

If Gaby keeps this baby then theres going to be so many opinions thrown her way and is she going to ignore them or are they going to get to her? Who knows.

She added she is so excited about the storyline.

If she does carry on with this pregnancy, whos to say it is going to be smooth sailing? Bentham said.

She will take whatever Kim gives her and maybe she will just use the whole situation to her own advantage, she added.

Claire King (Ian West/PA)

Claire King, who plays Kim, said her character recognises some of her own qualities in Gabby.

I think she sees a lot of her when shes in younger in Gabby and she does see her somewhat as a mini-me, she said.

King added she is using Gabby, adding: Shes educating, shes manipulating, shes protecting. Shes being nice to Gabby for all the wrong reasons, basically.

Last month filming of Emmerdale resumed following a brief hiatus triggered by positive coronavirus tests among some of the workers on the soap.
With the growth in OTT services and platforms, one can get quite lost in the sea of content options. One can easily spend more time hunting for the right show or movie to watch than actually watching it. One way to ensure you get content recommended based on your preference is personalization. Amazon recently revamped its UI on the third-gen Fire TV Stick (review) and the Fire TV Stick Lite to offer personalization based on the user. It can support up to 6 different profiles, and you can learn more about it here. However, another smart TV UI is looking to offer personalization to its users - Xiaomi with its PatchWall UI.

Digit had the opportunity to sit down (virtually) with Eshwar Nilakantan, Category lead - TV, Mi India and Sudeep Sahu, Senior Product Manager, Mi India. During the course of the conversation, we spoke about a lot of things, including Xiaomis TV journey in India, the evolution of PatchWall as a UI and Xiaomis plans in the TV space.

When asked what the next big feature coming to PatchWall is, Sudeep tells us We are constantly working on what to bring as the next feature. There are a few areas where we would obviously like to focus onone being, personalization, where people can personalize based on the Mi ID. So, currently, we already have a log-in for signing in using the Mi ID, and the team is working to bring that feature (personalization). You can catch this part of the conversation at the 11 minutes, 13 seconds mark in the video below.

Why personalization makes sense as the next big feature for the Mi TV?

Xiaomis Mi TVs offers the best of both worlds - Vanilla Android TV UI for the techie in you and the PatchWall UI for those that want a seamless content experience. The biggest USP of PatchWall is that it presents content before the streaming services. With more than 25 content partners, the PatchWall UI is filled with content from a mix of service providers gunning for your attention. While Xiaomis TV UI has features like Top 10 in India and recently added the one thing thats missing is recommending content based on user preferences. If I like action movies, or I am a documentary buff or enjoy standup comedy, imagine the volume of content options I can get from Xiaomis partners without worrying about which service provider the content is available on. It could really be the next big step for the UI.

PatchWall has evolved to offer interesting features over the past few years. Lets look at some of them. A feature called Collections gives users access to curated movies across genres, actors, etc. On the Mi QLED TV 4K (review) Xiaomi also introduced a dedicated space to find HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision content making it easy to find content mastered for the specific HDR formats.

Xiaomi has ensured that Kids Mode is safe even when searching for a word like War. You can go back to our interaction and learn about Kids Mode starting at 9 minutes and 40 seconds. Eshwar Nilakantan Category lead- TV, Mi India tells us, Just to give you an example if you use War as a keyword you will get war documentaries or any content related to war. Or even the recently released movie, War. And if you do the same search (War), in Kids Mode, we will show Star Wars and other cartoons which are age-appropriate. Same search words, different results.

Personalization is the future of content consumption on Smart TVs. Google is looking to revamp the Android TV UI, and you can learn more about it here. LG is also revamping its WebOS and gave us a glimpse of the same at CES 2021. You can learn more about LGs new UI here.
Plastics made from crops such as maize or sugarcane instead of fossil fuels are generally considered sustainable. One reason is that plants bind CO 2 , which compensates for the carbon released into the atmosphere when plastics are disposed. However, there is a catch: With increasing demand for raw materials for bioplastic production, the areas under cultivation may not be sufficient. As a result, natural vegetation is often converted to agricultural land and forests are cut down. This in turn releases large amounts of CO 2 . The assumption that more bioplastics does not necessarily lead to more climate protection has now been confirmed by researchers at the University of Bonn in a new study. They found that the sustainability of plant-based bioplastics depends largely on the country of origin, its trade relationships and the raw material processed.

As in previous analyses, the scientists used a global, flexible and modular economic model developed at the University of Bonn to simulate the impact of rising supply for bioplastics. The model is based on a world database (Global Trade Analysis Project). For their current study, the researchers modified the original model by disaggregating both conventional plastics and bioplastics, as well as additional crops such as maize and cassava. "This is crucial to better represent the bioplastics supply chain in major producing regions and assess their environmental impacts from a life cycle perspective," emphasizes agricultural engineer Dr. Neus Escobar, who conducted the study at the Institute for Food and Resource Economics (ILR) and the Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn and is now based at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Laxenburg (Austria).

In the current study, she and her colleague Dr. Wolfgang Britz considered the loss of natural vegetation on a global scale. They made estimates of readily available land to be converted into productive uses at the region level and associated model parameters. In their previous publication, the Bonn scientists had already disaggregated the production of conventional plastics and bioplastics in Brazil, China, the EU and the U.S.  the countries that lead the way in bioplastics production. In their current study, they also included Thailand, which is home of carbon-rich forests. Experts expect the Asian country to become a leading global producer of biodegradable and biobased plastics in the near future. All these changes in the model are necessary to estimate global spillovers of policies or technologies, says Dr. Wolfgang Britz, who worked with his team on the extension of the model to derive sustainability indicators considering global land use change.

Factors such as country of origin and raw materials are decisive

The researchers simulated a total of 180 scenarios (36 scenarios per region) that varied according to the degree of bioplastics market penetration and other model parameters determining economywide responses. "We found that the carbon footprints of commercially available bioplastics are much larger than the values previously estimated in scientific literature and policy reports," says Neus Escobar.

The reason: CO 2 emissions resulting from changes in land use outweigh the greenhouse gas savings resulting from the substitution for fossil raw materials in the long term. With one exception, the bioplastics produced in Thailand save an average of two kilograms of CO 2 per ton. This is mainly due to the relatively smaller increase in bioplastics production that is simulated, which translates into minor adjustments in food prices and associated land cover changes. However, increasing production of bioplastics from cassava and sugarcane in Thailand to catch up with the other regions can result in the loss of carbon-rich ecosystems within the country.

None of the regions is clearly better positioned than another

The overall calculations show that none of the regions is clearly better positioned than another to become a hub for sustainable bioplastics production. The largest land footprints are estimated for Chinese bioplastics, while the European Union has the largest average carbon footprint: Bioplastics produced in the EU take an average of 232.5 years to offset global CO 2 emissions. Bioplastics production in the U.S. causes the greatest land and carbon spillovers, which means that the production generates greater agricultural land expansion, deforestation and carbon emissions in the rest of the world than within the country. Bioplastics production in Thailand and Brazil comes at the cost of forest cover loss to a large extent, which can lead to additional impacts on biodiversity.

"Our study shows that an expansion in bio-based production should be carefully assessed on a region-by-region case in order to understand potentially sustainability risks and trade-offs," says Neus Escobar. The authors emphasize that the proposed metrics can be used in the future to monitor the long-term sustainability of bioeconomic interventions globally. Among other things, the metrics could help identify where complementary policies are needed  for example, to prevent deforestation.


GOP Senators Ask Biden to Reconsider Canceling a Trump Regulatory Transparency Database

Twenty-one Republican senators want President Joe Biden to reconsider revoking his predecessors executive order telling federal agencies to publish guidance on how they interpret and apply regulations.

On his first day in the Oval Office, Biden revoked then-President Donald Trumps Executive Order 13891 that required creation of a public database of agency guidance documents, based on a bill in Congress with bipartisan support, the Guidance Out of Darkness (GOOD) Act.

Without explanation, you described this executive order as one of the harmful policies and directives that threaten to frustrate the federal governments ability to confront [the (COVID19) pandemic, economic recovery, racial justice, and climate change], and you claimedagain without explanationthat its revocation was necessary to provide federal agencies the flexibility to use robust regulatory action to address national priorities, the senators told Biden in a Feb. 8 letter.

Sen. Ron Johnson (Wis.), the ranking Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, initiated the letter, which was also signed by Sens. James Lankford (Okla.), Rob Portman (Ohio), Rand Paul (Ky.), Joni Ernst (Iowa), John Cornyn and Ted Cruz (Texas), Thom Tillis (N.C.), Kevin Cramer (N.D.), Dan Sullivan (Alaska), John Barrasso (Wyo.), Pat Toomey (Pa.), James Risch (Idaho), Mike Lee (Utah), Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Rick Scott (Fla.), Deb Fischer (Neb.), Bill Hagerty (Tenn.), Mike Braun (Ind.), Roger Marshall (Kan.), and Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.).

The signers noted that the GOOD proposal had been approved once by the House and twice by the Senate Homeland Security Committee in previous Congresses in which Johnson was chairman of the panel. Trump issued his executive order when it became clear that a legislative logjam would keep the GOOD proposal from reaching his desk.

The signers also noted that among supporters of the GOOD proposal when it was before the Homeland Security panel was then-Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Bidens vice president.

The revocation of an executive order with such widespread and long-standing bipartisan supportincluding the support of Vice President Harrisseems inconsistent with your stated desire for compromise and to reach across the aisle, and work together, the signers wrote.

Your revocation of Executive Order 13891 is also contrary to sound policy. The purpose of the executive order and the GOOD Act is to promote transparency and ensure that Americans affected by federal agency guidance know what those guidance documents are so they can more easily comply with them, the signers told Biden.

This policy addresses real problems with the growing administrative state that affect both everyday Americans and other regulated entities, like states and local governments. It is only fair that people, businesses and local governments know what is required of them.

Transparency will not undermine the fight against [COVID-19], economic recovery, racial justice, and climate change, and it is simply wrong to believe that Americans are better off not knowing which and how federal rules and regulations apply to them.

A spokesman in the White House press office didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

The executive order was part of Trumps efforts to reduce the regulatory burden on the economy, which, according to the Competitive Enterprise Institutes (CEI) Wayne Crews, costs consumers nearly $2 trillion annually, equal to the cost of Bidens proposed CCP virus recovery program.

Crews is the author of Ten Thousand Commandments, CEIs annual report on the scope and costs of federal regulations. He estimated in the most recent edition that the cost to each U.S. household of compliance with federal regulations is $14,000.

The total aggregate cost of federal regulations, according to Crews, is equal to slightly less than half of total federal spending in 2019, the last pre-CCP virus year.

Near the end of Trumps tenure in the White House, it was officially estimated that more than $144 billion in regulatory compliance costs were avoided in 2020.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - Crestview Exploration Inc. (CSE: CRS) (FSE: CE7) ("Crestview" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of their Phase 1 surface exploration program at the Divide and Castile Mountain gold properties located in Elko County, Nevada. Target concepts and exploration plan for the Phase 1 program were previously announced in a Crestview news release dated October 21, 2020. The reader is referred to this release for these details.

The Divide Project area is located approximately 2 km East of the company's Rock Creek Project in the Tuscarora Mountains. The Castile Mountain Project is located approximately 6 km to the Southwest of the historic Tuscarora mining town, on the eastern flank of the Tuscarora Mountains. All three of these projects (Rock Creek, Divide, and Castile Mountain) share the same gravel access road. These three gold projects are situated in a region with proven "world class" gold deposits (including Midas, Jerritt Canyon, and Gold Quarry), where the potential of finding large, high-grade gold deposits is favorable. All three properties have generated exciting gold and silver results from initial surface sampling programs.

At the Divide property, the company has confirmed gold and silver mineralization along a NNE-SSW structural trend with slicification, clay alteration, and iron oxide. Sampling was focused on this trend and included samples from outcrops, subcrops, dumps, and historic workings. Of the thirty samples collected, ten samples yielded values over 0.1 g/t Au with four of those samples containing more than 1 g/t Au (7.67 g/t; 5.04 g/t; 3.29 g/t; and 2.14 g/t Au). Additionally, eleven of the thirty samples yielded silver values greater than 25 g/t with six of those samples containing more than 100 g/t (970 g/t; 409 g/t; 312 g/t; 287 g/t; 196 g/t; and 187 g/t Ag). Please refer to the sample location map below.





Map 1

To view an enhanced version of Map 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7042/74008_d35e637d747e39c5_004full.jpg

The Castile Mountain sampling program consisted of nineteen chip and grab samples from silicified volcanic rocks and paleo sinter outcrops and subcrops across the property. Of the nineteen samples collected, nine samples yielded gold values greater than 0.1 g/t, with two samples containing more than 0.5 g/t (1.085 g/t and 0.633 g/t Au). The samples also contained strong anomalies in pathfinder elements, including As values up to 2170 ppm and Ba values up to 650 ppm. Please refer to the sample location map below.





Map 2

To view an enhanced version of Map 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7042/74008_d35e637d747e39c5_007full.jpg

A previous press release (dated January 16, 2020) described results from two surface sampling programs undertaken at Rock Creek. As a reminder to the reader, 98 surface samples have been collected at Rock Creek with two gold values over 0.5 g/t (0.543 g/t and 0.597 g/t Au) and several samples in the 0.1 g/t to 0.35 g/t Au range. Please refer to the sample location map below.





Map 3

To view an enhanced version of Map 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7042/74008_d35e637d747e39c5_009full.jpg

V.P. of Exploration, Justin Lowe, commented that, "The results from the Divide and Castile Mountain properties are extremely encouraging." Adding, "We will be incorporating targets at both properties into our Rock Creek drilling campaign this Summer (2021)."

Additional field work in the Spring (2021) will be aimed at better defining the currently known target areas through the use of detailed mapping. Crestview intends to drill the identified targets during Q2, 2021.

QA/QC

Samples were collected using a rock hammer to collect representative rock chip samples weighing 1.5-2.5 kilos from each outcrop. Each sample was placed into a 2540 cm tight weave fabric type sample bag and locked in the truck until delivered directly to ALS Global Lab in Elko, Nevada.

The samples were prepared using ALS Global's prep 31 which consists of crushing to 70% less than 2mm, riffle split off 250g, pulverize the split to better than 85% passing 75 microns. Then samples were analyzed for gold by ALS using their Au-ICP 21 (Au 30g FA ICP AES Finish) and Au-GRA21 (Au 30g FA-GRAV finish) for samples greater than 5 g/t. Multi-element analysis for 35 elements was also done using ME-ICP41 (0.5-gram sample, 35 elements, with an Aqua Regia digestion and analysis by ICP-MS instrument).

The work was conducted and managed by M.J. Abrams; BS and MS Geology, CPG #11451; Idaho PG #570.

Brian T. Brewer, M.Sc., CPG #11508, is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

About Crestview Exploration Inc:

The Rock Creek, Divide, and Castile Mountain projects are situated in the Tuscarora Mountains of northern Elko County, Nevada. The company's Tuscarora properties combined comprise a total of 94 unpatented lode mining claims, with 74 claims at Rock Creek, 12 claims at Divide, and 8 claims at Castile Mountain.

The Tuscarora Mountains host the northern end of Carlin-trend mineralization, a cluster of major, large gold deposits. Newmont reported in December 2016 its total Nevada gold reserves at 25.4 million ounces. Barrick Gold Corporation describes the Goldstrike Property in northern Eureka County as its "flagship property,"' reporting gold reserves at year-end 2016 of 8.1 million ounces. The mine is one of the company's largest producers, and consists of a series of Eocene to Miocene volcanic centers, which have intruded, and locally covered sequences of upper and lower plate Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. Mineralized Eocene dikes have been found in many of the mines within the Carlin trend, and the temporal and spatial correlation with Carlin-type gold mineralization suggests a genetic link.

For further information please contact:

Glen Watson, Chief Executive Officer

Tel: 1-604-803-5229

Email: Glen@crestviewexploration.com

www.crestviewexploration.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain information that may be deemed "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address acquisition of the Property and future work thereon, mineral resource and reserve potential, exploration activities and events or developments that the Company expects is forward-looking information. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such 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 statements. There are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking information. These include the results of the Company's due diligence investigations, market prices, exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions.

Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For more information on the Company, investors are encouraged to review the Company's public filings at www.sedar.com. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward- looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74008
CBC

The Nova Scotia government twice refused to pay for a special RCMP team established to respond to the public inquiry into the mass shootings that killed 22 people in April 2020, newly released documents show. CBC News obtained correspondence between Mark Furey, who was the province's justice minister at the time, and Assistant Commissioner Lee Bergerman, the commanding officer of the RCMP in Nova Scotia, through freedom of information laws. The records show that in the summer and fall of 2020, Bergerman wrote to Furey asking for financial support to help pay for an "issues management team" being set up in the wake of the mass shootings. "As you may appreciate, public perception of the province fully funding the RCMP to respond to inquiry demands would not be favourable," Furey wrote in a Dec. 11 letter to Bergerman. In April 2020, a gunman disguised as a Mountie killed neighbours, acquaintances and strangers, including a pregnant woman and an RCMP officer. He travelled nearly 200 kilometres through rural Nova Scotia before being shot and killed by police at a gas station in Enfield, N.S., about 13 hours after the violence started in Portapique, N.S. Twenty-two people died on April 18 and 19. Top row from left: Gina Goulet, Dawn Gulenchyn, Jolene Oliver, Frank Gulenchyn, Sean McLeod, Alanna Jenkins. Second row: John Zahl, Lisa McCully, Joey Webber, Heidi Stevenson, Heather O'Brien and Jamie Blair. Third row from top: Kristen Beaton, Lillian Campbell, Joanne Thomas, Peter Bond, Tom Bagley and Greg Blair. Bottom row: Emily Tuck, Joy Bond, Corrie Ellison and Aaron Tuck. (CBC) Work on a joint federal and provincial inquiry is now underway. The mass casualty commission is examining the cause, context and circumstances of the massacre, including how police and various federal and provincial agencies responded. The RCMP has set up a team of officers, headed by Chief Supt. John Robin, tasked with collecting and passing along information required by the commission, said Cpl. Chris Marshall in a statement. He said part of the team's role will involve supporting members of the RCMP who are called as witnesses. "The third objective is to identify areas within the police response to this tragedy that may require further examination and possible action by the RCMP, whether from a training, policy, procedural, resourcing or equipment perspective. All of these objectives are a work in progress," Marshall said. 2 team members married to top Mounties Robin is married to the head of the Halifax District RCMP, Janis Gray. Another member of the team is Bergerman's husband, Mike Butcher, a retired RCMP officer who is now contracted by the force. Both connections were first reported by Frank Magazine. Butcher also spent 5 years working for the provincial police in British Columbia, and has been contracted as a public servant by the RCMP since 2009, said Cpl. Lisa Croteau. "He was seconded from the B.C. RCMP to the Nova Scotia RCMP project team in May 2021 because of his expertise in disclosure and policing," said Croteau in a statement. The provincial Justice Department confirmed Thursday to CBC News that the province has not committed any funding for the team. The Mounties said it is paid for jointly by the Nova Scotia RCMP and RCMP headquarters. Mark Furey, Nova Scotia's former justice minister, is shown on Jan 21, 2020. He announced the following month that he would not reoffer in the next provincial election.(Craig Paisley/CBC) The records obtained by CBC News show that initially Bergerman hoped the province would help pay for the additional staff. Over the summer, she sent a business case to Furey laying out the plans. But Furey felt the July 21 request veered too closely to asking for help paying for additional legal services. After seeking his own legal advice, Furey wrote to Bergerman that he determined there was "no contractual obligation for the province to financially support this proposal" given it already contributes to such services, according to an Oct. 28 letter. He advised Bergerman that should the team go ahead, "costs must be absorbed within your existing funding." Collecting documents for inquiry When Bergerman responded Dec. 1, the commanding officer disputed that the issues management team would be providing any legal services. She said the plan was for it to be made up of three RCMP officers, including a senior commissioned officer, and two public servants who would help organize information on the mass shooting investigation and documentation for the public inquiry, and liaise with the federal Department of Justice. This did not sway Furey. He declined, for a second time, to provide any funding in his Dec. 11 response. Marshall said since Bergerman's requests, the name of the issues management team was changed to the "RCMP project team responsible for the response to the mass casualty commission" and that the number of people working with it in Ottawa and Nova Scotia will fluctuate depending on the workload. Questions about independence Robin, the leader of the new RCMP team, prompted the commission to reiterate in early May that it is independent and that no Mounties are working for the public inquiry itself. The chief superintendent was handing business cards listing his role as being with the mass casualty commission to some people who were impacted by the mass shootings. In response, Emily Hill, a lawyer who works for the commission, issued a public statement clarifying that its role included "reviewing the RCMP's activities with respect to the mass casualty events and their aftermath." "We do not take any instructions from the RCMP. We are asking the RCMP to remove the card to avoid further confusion," Hill's statement said. A memorial pays tribute to RCMP Const. Heidi Stevenson, a 23-year member of the force and mother of two, along the highway in Shubenacadie, N.S., on April 21, 2020. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press) Marshall told CBC News at the time that Robin's business cards were being reprinted. Croteau said Robin is also conducting an internal workplace safety investigation and was talking to community members as part of that. Families calling for answers Work on the commission examining the mass shootings started last fall and public hearings are expected to be held this coming fall, though no dates have been set. The inquiry came about after family members of the victims called for answers about how such a tragedy could occur. Many families have been critical of the amount of information the RCMP has shared with them and with the public. There was immense public outcry last July when the federal government announced it was launching an independent review. Within days, the public safety minister announced a public inquiry would go ahead after all. Unlike a review, a public inquiry has the power to summon witnesses and require them to give evidence under oath. Paid millions extra for RCMP in 2020 Bergerman's requests for funding for the team responding to the public inquiry were not the only letters she sent to the provincial government asking for financial help. Nova Scotia contracts the RCMP for policing in many rural areas and under the provincial funding agreement, the minister of justice has the ability to approve additional spending in emergencies. Shortly after the mass shootings and through the summer, Furey agreed to pay for out-of-province officers to fill in for the 70 Mounties who took leave. In all, he approved $3.7 million to cover costs associated with bringing in those officers, but he declined to continue to approve the extra spending beyond the end of August. He also approved spending an additional $5.1 million on policing during the fisheries dispute in southwestern Nova Scotia between Oct. 14, 2020, and Dec. 19, 2020. Furey, a former RCMP officer, left his post as justice minister in February after announcing he wouldn't be reoffering in the next election. MORE TOP STORIES
Posted Monday, February 8, 2021 4:43 pm

On Monday, Feb. 1, lawmakers in the Washington state House of Representatives voted on a bill that would spend $2.2 billion of federal funds on COVID-19 relief.

State Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, was among 36 Republicans who reluctantly voted no on the Democrat-sponsored measure, as many felt the bill was not enough to provide real comprehensive relief to struggling businesses and families according to a release from Abbarnos office.

"I came to Olympia to help create opportunities to make small businesses better and families stronger  to invest in them  not allocate federal money just to make government bigger. I voted no because my priorities go so far beyond this legislation. This is just not enough," Abarrno said in the news release.

Abbarno said he would have preferred the REAL Recovery for Washington Act (House Bill 1334). HB 1334 is a measure sponsored by House Republican Budget Leader Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, who proposes $4 billion in relief. It would have used $1.8 billion in federal funding and $2.1 billion from Washington states rainy day fund.

According to the release, House Republicans offered six amendments that focused on providing more rental and utility assistance, helping child care providers, supporting small businesses, safely reopening schools and assisting students who have fallen behind.

"As the husband of a great middle school math teacher and a father of two elementary school-aged students, I know how important this is. It's really heartbreaking to see the needs in my community, from my wife's students and from my children's friends. But this legislation focuses on programs with federal money, rather than real relief that would make a difference in the lives of my neighbors," Abbarno said.

According to the release, Democrats rejected five of the six of the Republican amendments, choosing not to use any of the state's rainy day fund for COVID-19 relief and opting to only offer money provided by the federal government.

"I'm just utterly disappointed. My priorities are investing in people, empowering communities and creating opportunities for our businesses and families. This bill falls short from doing what we can," Abbarno said. "My vote sends a message to my district that this bill falls woefully short and does not measure anywhere near my commitment and promises to our communities  to lift families out of poverty through investments in them. Our community members have needs now. Unfortunately, my priorities were not the priorities of the majority."

The measure passed the House, 61-36.
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The Fortuna pipelayer, together with the Baltic research and Murman construction vessels, are to complete the construction of two lines of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the exclusive economic zone of Denmark by late April 2021, the construction operator Nord Stream 2 AG reports. Germany remains the largest buyer of Russian gas in Europe. It is followed by Italy, Great Britain, France and Austria.

The controversial Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline is in the interests of many European Union countries and the bloc shouldnt jeopardize the project over opposition to Russias imprisonment of Alexey Navalny, Austrias Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said, Bloomberg informs. I welcome that Germanys government continues to stick with Nord Stream 2, Kurz told Welt am Sonntag in an interview published Saturday. Its a European project. Whoever thinks it is only in Russias interest is wrong.

Nord Stream 2 will directly link Gazprom and European consumers and ensure the reliability of Russian gas supplies to Europe. From the Ust-Luga Leningrad Region, the gas pipeline will run along the bottom of the Baltic Sea and will reach Germany in the Greifswald region, not far from the Nord Stream exit point. The aggregate capacity of the two lines of Nord Stream 2 is 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Thus, the total design capacity of Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 is 110 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

In 2017, Gazprom, German Wintershall and Uniper, French ENGIE, Austrian OMV and Dutch-British Royal Dutch Shell signed an agreement on the construction of the third and fourth lines of Nord Stream 2. It was decided that five European companies will provide long-term financing in the amount of 50% of the total project cost. In September 2017, OMV CEO Rainer Seele said that Gazprom's European partners could revise the project financing scheme in connection with tougher anti-Russian sanctions by the United States. The American leadership has repeatedly stated that the pipeline "creates geopolitical risks due to the increased dependence of Germany on Russian gas." The US and other countries fear that this could give Moscow leverage over Berlin and other NATO allies.

Germany, Austria and other European countries will benefit from the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Kurz said, describing it as a very positive project. The EU would be in danger of weakening itself if it were to oppose the link now, Kurz was cited as saying. Still, the bloc must also protect the interests of Ukraine, which sees itself as loosing out from fewer gas flows, he said.

Late last year, Russian Ambassador to Austria Dmitry Lyubinsky noted Austria's constructive, independent and consistent position on the implementation of Nord Stream 2 with the participation of the country's leading energy concern OMV. They understand that the project is economically profitable for Austria, and they expect that the construction of the gas pipeline will be completed in accordance with the existing contractual basis and despite the illegal US sanctions, which pursue narrowly selfish goals - not only to push Russia back and push through its own LNG but also to strike on the competitiveness of the EU energy-intensive industry, " Lyubinsky told RIA Novosti. He stressed that the project is purely commercial in nature and is aimed at the uninterrupted supply of blue fuel to European partners, whose consumption has continued to grow in recent years. "Under the existing contracts, in January-September, 8.8 billion cubic meters of gas were supplied to Austria. We believe in the continuation of the half-century success story of Russian-Austrian energy cooperation," the diplomat added.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Frances President Emmanuel Macron on Friday vowed to put aside differences over the pipeline ahead of talks with U.S. President Joe Biden, saying they will work together on a more unified European energy strategy and will speak with one voice on Nord Stream 2.

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday (February 9, 2021) said that there is no danger of downstream flooding in Uttarakhand and that the rise in water level has been contained.

Amit Shah apprised Rajya Sabha about the avalanche in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand and said that these inputs were based on the information received till Monday 5 pm from the state government.

"It is observed from the satellite data (Planet Lab) of February 7, 2021, in the catchment of Rishi Ganga river at the terminus of the glacier at an altitude of 5600m a landslide triggered a snow avalanche covering approximately 14 sq Km area and causing a flash flood in the downstream of Rishi Ganga river," Shah said.

Shah said that the Centre is monitoring the situation and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also taken cognizance on the day of the incident.

My statement in Rajya Sabha over avalanche in Uttarakhands Chamoli district. https://t.co/mJx34YSEk3  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 9, 2021

He informed the upper house that an NTCP's hydropower project has been damaged in the flash flood. However, there is no danger now and the water level has decreased.

Shah stated that the efforts are on to save the people who are trapped in the tunnel, and the administration is working to find the missing people.

The Union Home Minister said that five teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 8 teams of the Indian Army, one medical team, two ambulance teams, Indian Navy dive team, Air Force and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are on the spot.

He said in the financial year 2020-21, Rs 1041 crore has been allocated to Uttarakhand under the State Disaster Risk Management Fund (SDRMF) and the first instalment of the central share amounting to Rs 468.50 crore has been released to the State Government.

(With inputs from PTI news agency)



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Photo: The Canadian Press An Emirati man takes video with his phone as from left to right, Dubai Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, celebrate after the Hope Probe enters Mars orbit as a part of the Emirates Mars mission, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

A spacecraft from the United Arab Emirates swung into orbit around Mars on Tuesday in a triumph for the Arab worlds first interplanetary mission.

Ground controllers at the UAEs space centre in Dubai rose to their feet and broke into applause when word came that the craft, called Amal, Arabic for Hope, had reached the end of its seven-month, 300-million-mile journey and had begun circling the red planet, where it will gather data on Mars atmosphere.

The orbiter fired its main engines for 27 minutes in an intricate, high-stakes manoeuvr that slowed the craft enough for it to be captured by Mars gravity. It took a nail-biting 11 minutes for the signal confirming success to reach Earth.

Tensions were high: Over the years, Mars has been the graveyard for a multitude of missions from various countries.

A visibly relieved Omran Sharaf, the missions director, declared, To the people of the UAE and Arab and Islamic nations, we announce the success of the UAE reaching Mars.

Two more unmanned spacecraft from the U.S. and China are following close behind, set to arrive at Mars over the next several days. All three missions were launched in July to take advantage of the close alignment of Earth and Mars.

Amals arrival puts the UAE in a league of just five space agencies in history that have pulled off a functioning Mars mission. As the countrys first venture beyond Earths orbit, the flight is a point of intense pride for the oil-rich nation as it seeks a future in space.

An ebullient Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAEs day-to-day ruler, was on hand at mission control and said: Congratulations to the leadership and people of the UAE. ... Your joy is indescribable.

About 60% of all Mars missions have ended in failure, crashing, burning up or otherwise falling short in a testament to the complexity of interplanetary travel and the difficulty of making a descent through Mars thin atmosphere.

A combination orbiter and lander from China is scheduled to reach the planet on Wednesday. It will circle Mars until the rover separates and attempts to land in May to look for signs of ancient life.

A rover from the U.S. named Perseverance is set to join the crowd next week, aiming for a landing Feb. 18. It will be the first leg in a decade-long U.S.-European project to bring Mars rocks back to Earth to be examined for evidence the planet once harboured microscopic life.

If it pulls this off, China will become only the second country to land successfully on Mars. The U.S. has done it eight times, the first almost 45 years ago. A NASA rover and lander are still working on the surface.

For months, Amal's journey had been tracked by the UAE's state-run media with rapturous enthusiasm. Landmarks across the UAE, including Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower on Earth, glowed red to mark the spacecraft's anticipated arrival. Billboards depicting Amal tower over Dubais highways. This year is the 50th anniversary of the country's founding, casting even more attention on Amal.

If all goes as planned, Amal over the next two months will settle into an exceptionally high, elliptical orbit of 13,670 miles by 27,340 miles (22,000 kilometres by 44,000 kilometres), from which it will survey the planet's mostly carbon dioxide atmosphere at all times of day and in all seasons.

It joins six spacecraft already operating around Mars: three U.S., two European and one Indian.

Amal had to perform a series of turns and engine firings to manoeuvr into orbit, reducing its speed to 11,200 mph (18,000 kph) from over 75,000 mph (121,000 kph).

The control room full of Emirati engineers held their breath as Amal disappeared behind Mars' dark side. Then it re-emerged from the planet's shadow, and contact was restored on schedule. Screens at the space centre revealed that Amal had managed to do what had eluded many missions over the decades.

Anything that slightly goes wrong and you lose the spacecraft, said Sarah al-Amiri, minister of state for advanced technology and the chair of the UAEs space agency.

The success delivers a tremendous boost to the UAE's space ambitions. The country's first astronaut rocketed into space in 2019, hitching a ride to the International Space Station with the Russians. That's 58 years after the Soviet Union and the U.S. launched astronauts.

Thomas Zurbuchen, NASAs science mission chief, tweeted congratulations, saying: Your bold endeavour to explore the Red Planet will inspire many others to reach for the stars. We hope to join you at Mars soon with Perseverance.

In developing Amal, the UAE chose to collaborate with more experienced partners instead of going it alone or buying the spacecraft elsewhere. Its engineers and scientists worked with researchers at the University of Colorado, the University of California at Berkeley and Arizona State University.

The spacecraft was assembled at Boulder, Colorado, before being sent to Japan for launch last July.

The car-size Amal cost $200 million to build and launch; that excludes operating costs at Mars. The Chinese and U.S. expeditions are considerably more complicated  and expensive  because of their rovers. NASA's Perseverance mission totals $3 billion.

The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms, is looking for Amal to ignite the imaginations of the country's scientists and its youth, and help prepare for a future when the oil runs out.

Today you have households of every single age group passionate about space, understanding a lot of science, said al-Amiri, the chair of the space agency. This has opened a broad realm of possibilities for everyone in the UAE and also, I truly hope, within the Arab world.
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) - A student is facing charges of armed robbery following an incident Monday night at Mississippi State University (MSU).

According to the university, the incident happened at approximately 10:14 at the Deavenport Hall residence hall parking lot.

Campus of Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi. Campus of Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi.

MSU reported no injuries and did not release specific details about the incident.

The university is not identifying the student at this time; however, Chief Communications Officer at MSU Sid Salter said the student did not have any prior issues on campus.

He also noted that the student had an excellent GPA, so the incident came as a surprise to faculty and staff.

As of Tuesday morning, the student remained in custody at the Oktibbeha County jail.
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Future Group stocks rallied in early trade today after the Delhi High Court stayed the implementation of a single-judge order to Future Retail Ltd (FRL) and various statutory authorities to maintain status quo regarding the Rs 24,713 crore deal with Reliance Retail.

While share of Future Consumer rose 8.86% at Rs 8.60, Future Lifestyle share gained 9.35% to Rs 90.60 on BSE. Future Consumer share is trading higher than 5 day, 20 day, 50 day and 100 day moving averages but lower than 200 day moving averages. The stock has lost 61.61% in one year and gained 0.82% since the beginning of this year.

Share Market Live: Sensex rises 100 points to record high, Nifty at 15,197; Titan, Asian Paints top gainers

RIL share too rose up to 1.97% to Rs 1,990 against previous close of Rs 1951.50 on BSE.

Future Lifestyle stock has gained after 4 days of consecutive fall. The stock opened with a gain of 9.99% today. The stock touched an intraday high of Rs 91.35, rising 9.99% on BSE. Future Lifestyle stock has lost 77.4% in one year and gained 4.37% since the beginning of this year.

Share of another Future Group firm Future Retail gained 9.84% to Rs 80.40 on BSE. The stock has gained after 4 days of consecutive fall. The stock opened with a gain of 9.97% at Rs 80.5 today. The stock trades higher than 5 day, 20 day, 50 day and 100 day moving averages but lower than 200 day moving averages. Future Retail stock has lost 76.42% in one year and gained 1.65% since the beginning of this year.

Share of Future Enterprises rose 9.9% to Rs 11.78 on BSE in early trade. Future Enterprises share has lost 46.21% in one year and gained 2.43% since the beginning of this year. The stock trades higher than 5 day, 20 day, 50 day and 100 day moving averages but lower than 200 day moving averages.

The court also turned down Amazon's request to keep its order in abeyance for a week so that it can explore appropriate remedies.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh passed in the interim direction on FRL's appeal challenging the February 2 order of the single-judge bench. While staying the February 2 order, the court said that statutory authorities, like National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Competition Commission of India (CCI) and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), cannot be restrained from proceeding in accordance with law with regard to the deal.

The court also issued notice to Amazon and sought its stand on FRL's appeal by February 26 when it will commence day-to-day hearing of the matter.

On February 2, the single-bench court of Justice JR Midha had blocked Future Group's deal with Reliance Industries after Amazon raised objections.

The court had passed the order while hearing Amazon's plea on an emergency award passed by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), which restrained Future from selling retail assets to Reliance.
Emirates Mars Mission

The United Arab Emirates is now the fifth nation to reach Mars.

Its Hope probe began orbiting the Red Planet on Tuesday, and it will use this vantage to study the Martian atmosphere. It will be examining the planet's climate, global weather and how hydrogen and oxygen gases are being lost to space.


[February 09, 2021] Mouser Stocks Industry's Widest Selection of Products

Mouser Electronics, Inc. is the industry's leading authorized New Product Introduction (NPI) distributor with the widest selection of semiconductors and electronic components. In the face of semiconductor shortages and other supply chain disruptions in the automotive and manufacturing sectors, Mouser's longstanding strategy to invest in and maintain strong inventory is helping meet the component needs of manufacturers around the globe. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005884/en/ In the face of supply chain disruptions in the automotive and manufacturing sectors, Mouser Electronics' longstanding strategy to invest in and maintain strong inventory is helping meet the component needs of manufacturers around the globe. (Photo: Business Wire) "As an essential infrastructure business and part of the global supply chain, Mouser continues to ship hundreds of thousands of components every week," explains Jeff Newell, Senior Vice President of Products at Mouser. "Because Mouser orders months in advanceof expected demand, we have done a good job trying to stay ahead of lead time extensions and product availability issues in our industry."



With over 1.1 million unique part numbers in stock or available to order, Mouser's broad inventory position allows customers to get what they need fast. Additionally, the distributor specializes in the rapid introduction of new products and technologies, giving customers the edge they need to reduce their time to market. Mouser's wide assortment of products from over 1,100 manufacturer brands also allows customers to find alternate products should the need arise. In spite of all the challenges faced in 2020, Mouser added over 70 semiconductor and electronic component manufacturers to its line card, and successfully introduced nearly 5,000 new products into the global marketplace.

"There's never been a more important time to buy from an authorized distributor. Fully operational at all 27 of our global locations, Mouser has the professionals and procedures in place to ensure an effective and efficient supply chain, free of counterfeit or gray market products," Newell adds. Customers can always expect 100% certified, genuine products that are fully traceable from each manufacturer. Mouser also has an advantage by shipping everything from its state-of-the-art distribution center in Texas; so all products are picked, packed and shipped from the same location, rather than from multiple warehouses in different countries. Start the search now on mouser.com. About Mouser Electronics Mouser Electronics, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is an authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor focused on New Product Introductions from its leading manufacturer partners. Serving the global electronic design engineer and buyer community, the global distributor's website, mouser.com, is available in multiple languages and currencies and features more than 5 million products from over 1,100 manufacturer brands. Mouser offers 27 support locations worldwide to provide best-in-class customer service in local language, currency and time zone. The distributor ships to over 630,000 customers in 223 countries/territories from its 1 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art distribution facilities in the Dallas, Texas, metro area. For more information, visit https://www.mouser.com/. Trademarks Mouser and Mouser Electronics are registered trademarks of Mouser Electronics, Inc. All other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005884/en/

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11 PLC, which until October 2016 was known as Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, hopes to delist its more than 360.592 million ordinary shares from the daily official list of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) by the end of the first quarter, in furtherance of a resolution passed at its last annual general meeting in October.

The purpose of delisting is to enable the company explore strategic opportunities, alliances and collaborations that can bolster earnings and/or provide synergized benefits with little or no regulatory obligations, the energy firm said in an explanatory statement issued Tuesday and obtained by PREMIUM TIMES.

Shareholders who do not consent to the exit proposal will be in the frame to sell their stakes at N213.90 per ordinary share, being the highest price at which 11 Plc shares have traded, six (6) months preceding the notice of the AGM at which the resolution to delist was deliberated, as provided by the rules of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

11 Plc will still maintain its public liability company status after delisting, even though its shares will no longer be eligible for trade on the bourse.

For the exit plan to materialise, both the Securities and Exchange Commission and the NSE have to give their approvals, after which dissenting shareholders will be settled and cease to be stockholders in the company.

11 Plc shareholders will be able to elect to accept the Exit Consideration from February 1, 2021 to March 1, 2021, the document said.

It added that the delisting would not affect the current employment contracts of staff and the composition of the board of directors.

ALSO READ: Nigerian court orders arrest of ExxonMobil chief

Socony Vacuum Oil Company, the precursor of 11 Plc, started marketing operations in Nigeria in 1907 through the sale of Sunflower Kerosene.

It transformed to a limited liability company in 1951, the same year it adopted the name Mobil Oil Nigeria Limited. In 1978, it was quoted on the NSE, assuming the identity: Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc.

NIPCO Investment Companys purchase of 60 per cent interest belonging to ExxonMobil in 2016 set in motion a corporate transformation process leading to the new name 11 Plc (pronounced as double one Plc).

Shares in 11 Plc closed trade in Lagos on Tuesday at N228 per unit, recording no price movement.
The sharply divided Nakuru County Assembly resumes sitting on Tuesday next week, with focus on debate on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Bill.

Already, some of the vocal ward reps, led by Kabazi MCA Peter Mbae, have indicated that they will vote to reject the Bill in the Jubilee-dominated assembly, which is split between supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta or his Deputy William Ruto.

A number of the Jubilee MCAs have in the past joined hands with President Kenyatta's critics in the region, including Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri, to visit DP Ruto's homes in Sugoi and Karen.

"I won't vote for BBI if my people don't know what it is and no copies on the ground. I'm ready to lose the car grant if that is what it takes. They had decided we are not worth it anyway and I have been paying for my car," said Dr Mbae.

At the same time, Dr Mbae said that it is important to separate the car grants, BBI and 2022 elections.

'No coercion or conditions'

"If we deserve the grants like MPs who got Sh7 million, let us get them without coercion or conditions. If we don't deserve it, let us save the taxpayers money," added Dr Mbae.

However, the assembly's Majority Leader Moses Ndung'u Kamau said all is set for the tabling of the constitutional amendment Bill on Tuesday, adding that he is confident the assembly will approve it.

Mr Kamau said the House Business Committee will first meet and allocate time for the BBI Bill before it is sent to the Legal and Justice Committee and also the Legislative Committee.

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"If all goes well, we shall advertise for public participation on Wednesday for the public to air their views for seven days and then we shall have a leaders' meeting before the Bill is brought again to the House for debate. By February 24, we shall have completed the legal process," said Mr Kamau, who is also the Elementaita MCA.

Opposed to the Bill

However, he admitted that some MCAs, some from Jubilee, are opposed to the Bill.

He said the assembly will invite experts to interpret the Bill to the 78 MCAs and have enough copies of the Bill to be distributed to residents in the 55 wards.

"We want MCAs who will support or oppose the Bill to debate from a point of knowledge and not be swayed by the current euphoria on the BBI document," said Mr Kamau.
(Newser)  Police say road rage may be to blame for the murder of a Yale grad student near the campus. Chicago native Kevin Jiang, who studied at the Yale School of the Environment, was shot to death Saturday night a few blocks from campus in New Haven, Conn., reports ABC News. Authorities are asking for the public's help in figuring out what happened to the 26-year-old. "We have developed information suggesting that this incident may not have been an actual random act, that he, in fact, was targeted," says New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes. Chicago's WGN says police are investigating road rage as a possible motive, reporting that a black vehicle left the scene of the shooting following a collision with Jiang's vehicle.

story continues below

A woman who lives nearby tells the New Haven Register that she heard two shots, followed by a pause, then at least five more shots. "When we finally looked outside, there was someone lying in the middle of Lawrence Street," she says. Jiang, who was in his second year of pursuing a master's degree, was pronounced dead at the scene. "The Yale community is grieving right now," said Yale President Peter Salovey on Monday, per ABC. "This is the loss of an extraordinary young man. He was committed to applying his talents to improving the world." Jiang, a former member of the Army National Guard, had gotten engaged just last month, per WGN. (Read more Yale University stories.)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9)  The emergency use authorization granted by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration to AstraZeneca's vaccine stays since the COVID-19 variant first identified in South Africa has not been detected in the country, FDA Director General Rolando Domingo said Tuesday.

Sa ngayon, wala namang epekto ito sa atin dahil ang variant na South African ay hindi pa naman nakikita sa Pilipinas, Domingo told a public briefing. "Andiyan pa rin naman ang ating EUA, walang pagbabago.

[Translation: For now, this does not have an effect on us because the South African variant has not been found in the Philippines...The EUA [of AstraZeneca] remains. There will be no changes.]

South Africa paused its mass rollout of British firm AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine after a study suggested it only offered "minimal protection" against mild to moderate cases of the B.1.351 variant, CNN reported on Sunday.

The B.1.351 variant carries mutations that could evade antibodies.

For its part, the Philippine health department said Tuesday it would be looking into the data on AstraZenecas vaccine efficacy against the B.1.351 variant.

Whenever there are these kinds of studies or publications that are being issued, of course we have to study it, the merits of the details of these studies, DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an interview with CNN Philippines The Source.

Vergeire said the government will continue on with the status quo on the inoculation plan unless the FDA issues a revision on the vaccine's emergency use authorization.

Until FDA provides us with a revision in these indications for AstraZeneca, we will follow that, and we do status quo, meaning we still continue on with this AstraZeneca inoculation, the Health official stressed.

After Pfizer, AstraZeneca was the second manufacturer to secure from the countrys drug regulator an EUA for its anti-COVID-19 shot. Its vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, showed an average efficacy of 70% against previously known variants after receiving two required doses, AstraZeneca said late last year.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine also appears to substantially reduce transmission of the virus, CNN quoted UK researchers as saying earlier this month.

The Philippines is expected to receive millions of AstraZeneca vaccine doses in the first quarter of this year, with the initial doses expected to be delivered this month.
GAY BAR

Why We Went Out

By Jeremy Atherton Lin

History, as it is taught, is a straight line of dominoes falling  the relentless clack of fact hitting fact, an orderly queue of causality stretching on forever. History, as it is lived, is a reeling spiral of flight and return; the iterative reawakening of new selves in familiar places; a never-ending interrogation of our own confused and confusing motives; a messy slather of dots on a graph where the center can be plotted only retrospectively.

Jeremy Atherton Lins beautiful, lyrical memoir, Gay Bar: Why We Went Out, cloaks this lived history in that learned history, examining an objective subject  gay bars  to create a highly subjective object: a book about his life, flensed down to just the bits that made it past the bouncer.

Each chapter focuses on one particular gay bar (jumping from London to Los Angeles to San Francisco and back), its history and its place in the trajectory of Atherton Lins life. Each bar stands in for the community that patronized it, and each community stands in for Atherton Lin himself at a certain moment in time. By posing his central question in the plural  why did we go out?  Atherton Lin emphasizes his membership in communities of people making similar choices, for similar reasons.

Yet Atherton Lin is always on the outskirts of those communities, taking shots at their centers even as he acknowledges their orbits, always standing in and athwart his subject. Early in the first chapter, in a dark back room full of chavs with their trackies pooled around their ankles, Atherton Lin tells us, I saw these men as being in their domain, depraved and sketchy, whereas I was just passing through.

Mr Zhao Yong, Deputy Ambassador of China to Nigeria has disclosed that Nigeria is China's major investment destination in Africa with a bilateral trade growth ranking first among China's top 40 trading partners globally.

Zhao made this known on Monday in Abuja while briefing journalists as part of activities to mark the commemoration of the 50 years of bilateral relations between both countries.

He said that Nigeria had surpassed Angola and South Africa to become China's second largest trading partner and largest export market in Africa.

The Chinese envoy said the trade growth between both countries had continued to grow amid the adverse effect of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020.

"In 2019, the trade volume between China and Nigeria reached 19.27 billion US dollars, which was 1,900 times that of 1971 when the diplomatic relationship was first established.

"And the bilateral trade growth rate is ranking first among China's top trading partners in the world.

"Despite the adverse effects of the COVID-19, the bilateral trade volume from Jan. to Oct. 2020 increased by 0.7 per cent year on year, which was 14 per cent higher than the trade growth rate between China and Africa as a whole.

"The Ogun-Guandong Free Trade Zone and Lekki Free Trade Zone have attracted a large numbers of Chinese companies to invest and operate in their businesses.

"The infrastructure projects built jointly by the two countries such as roads, ports and airport terminals can be seen everywhere," Zhao said.

Zho said the China-Nigeria bilateral relations had elevated to a strategic partnership with practical cooperation in various fields yielding results.

He added that in the past 50 years, the exchanges between China and Nigeria in the areas of culture, health and security had been increasingly dynamic.

He also said that in 2019, the number of Nigerian students studying in China rose to 6,800, standing as first in all African countries.

On the COVID-19 pandemic, Zhao said China provided timely medical aid to Nigeria in three batches and shared its experiences on epidemic prevention and control with the Nigerian government.

Zhao, however, noted that China was ready to make joint efforts with Nigeria to further strengthen the anti-pandemic cooperation to completely defeat the Covid-19.

He added that this year would be vital for China-Nigeria relations following the recent visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi in January to Nigeria.

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He recalled that during the visit, both countries jointly formulated a blueprint to boost bilateral cooperation for another next 50 years.

Zhao promised that China was committed to support Nigeria's development, security and safeguard its national sovereignty.

"China is ready to deepen the Belt and Road Cooperation; speed up the construction of key projects so as to help Nigeria accelerate the process of industralisation.

"Explore the cooperation in the areas of digital economy and green economy; expand military and security cooperation with a view to enhancing Nigeria's capacity of safeguarding national security.

"And closely coordinate with each other on regional and international affairs to safeguard the common interests of developing countries," Zhao said.

Zhoa also commended the China-Nigeria relations which he described as a pacesetter in China-Africa cooperation.
Facebook is expanding its efforts to take down false claims related to Covid-19 that are being spread on the social networking platform. The expanded list of false claims also covers Covid-19 vaccines and vaccines in general during the pandemic. Facebook will take down such false claims from Instagram as well.

Some of the false claims that it will remove are Covid-19 is man-made or manufactured, vaccines are not effective at preventing the disease they are meant to protect against, and its safer to get the disease than to get the disease. You can check out the expanded list here.

It is worth noting that Facebook already bars such claims as advertisements.

Facebook said that it would begin implementing the updated policy with immediate effect. The social networking company will be focusing on Pages, groups, and accounts that breach the new rules. The company warned that it would take down groups, pages, and accounts that are regular offenders of spreading such false claims.

ALSO READ: Facebook wants to help doctors fight COVID-19 with AI and X-rays

Users will have the option to ask for a review if they think their claims about Covid-19 or vaccines did not violate the policies. In case Facebooks third-party fact-checkers rate them as false, the posts will be labelled and demoted.

Apart from expanding the list, Facebook said it has also improved Search information on the Covid-19.

When people search for vaccine or COVID-19 related content on Facebook, we promote relevant, authoritative results and provide third-party resources to connect people to expert information about vaccines. On Instagram, in addition to surfacing authoritative results in Search, in the coming weeks were making it harder to find accounts in search that discourage people from getting vaccinated, the company said in a post.
The Biden administration turned down a meeting request with El Salvadors president on an unannounced trip to Washington last week, as criticism of the Central American leader mounts among Democrats, three people with knowledge of the decision said Monday.

The trip by Nayib Bukele which has not been previously reported, came after a senior White House official warned in an interview with a Salvadoran news outlet highly critical of Bukele that the Biden administration expected to have differences with him.

Bukele was quick to embrace former President Donald Trumps hardline immigration policies restricting asylum requests, which won him a great deal of U.S. support for his tough governing style in El Salvador, where he is popular. But like other world leaders befriended by Trump, he faces an uphill climb pivoting to the Biden administration, which is seeking to undo those policies and has signaled its relationship with El Salvador is under review.

The presidents surprise trip amid a pandemic posed a dilemma for U.S. policy makers, who were given little advance notice and are mostly avoiding in-person meetings due to the coronavirus and because many senior positions remain vacant, said the the three people, all of whom are in Washington and insisted on speaking anonymously in return for discussing internal decision-making.

In rejecting Bukeles request, the Biden administration wanted to ensure Bukele didnt try to tout any meeting as a show of support before legislative elections later this month where he's seeking to expand his power base, the people said. However, they did make an exception for Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno, who met in Washington with senior Biden officials 11 days before the Andean nations presidential election.

Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill said she was unaware of any request for meetings with U.S. officials during what she described as a short, private trip by Bukele to Washington.

There was no request, formally or informally, through the foreign ministry or our embassy in Washington, she told The Associated Press.

The three people didn't say how the request for a meeting was made. But they said the decision not to meet with Bukele was deliberate.

While the Biden administration hopes to eventually engage Bukele in its $4 billion plan to attack the root causes of migration from Central America, it has serious concerns about his respect for the rule of law and democracy, the people added.

Clearly conditions have changed for Bukele, said Jose Miguel Vivanco, the Americas director at Human Rights Watch in Washington. His popularity in El Salvador doesnt insulate him from legitimate scrutiny in Washington over his record on human rights and respect for the rule of law.

The State Departments Western Hemisphere section said the Biden administration values what it considers a strong relationship between El Salvador and the United States and will work closely with its partners to address challenges in the region. A spokesperson declined further comment.

During the visit to Washington, Bukele did meet with Luis Almagro, the secretary general of the Organization of American States, according to Hill.

The OAS, which last year announced it would send an observer mission to El Salvador for the Feb. 28 congressional election, didn't respond to a request for comment nor put out any statement about the visit. Almagro is known to regularly tweet about his meetings with visiting dignitaries and on the same day he met with Bukele promoted his participation in a Zoom call with diplomats from Colombia.

Bukele took office in 2019 as an i ndependent vowing to rescue El Salvador from the deep divisions left by uncontrolled gang violence and systemic corruption in both right- and left-wing governments that followed the end of a bloody civil war in 1992.

Polls say an overwhelming majority of Salvadorans approve of his tough approach, which is credited with reducing high levels of violence, and his allies are expected to win a majority in this months congressional vote.

But increasingly Democrats, but also some Republicans, have criticized Bukele for strong arm tactics like sending troops to surround Congress last year to pressure lawmakers to vote on funding for the fight against the gangs.

Over the weekend, two House Democrats, Rep. Norma Torres and Rep. Albio Sires, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Latin America, sent a letter to Bukele urging him not to stoke divisions in the interest of political gain.

The letter was prompted by the Jan. 31 killing of two individuals returning from a rally by Bukeles opponents from the leftist FMLN party. Police have arrested two FMLN members and a bodyguard who works for the Health Ministry as suspects.

Both Bukele and his opponents seized on the confusing incident, which is under investigation, to mutually accuse each other of inciting political violence.

It looks like the moribund parties have put into practice their final plan, Bukele wrote in the immediate aftermath of the killings, countering criticism on social media from opponents that his rhetoric was to blame for the deaths. Theyre so desperate not to lose their privileges and corruption.

The Biden administration last week terminated Trump-era bilateral agreements with El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala that required people seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border to go instead to one of the Central America nations and pursue their claims there.

Legislation passed last year and supported by Democrats curbs U.S. foreign aid to El Salvador to fund the purchase of U.S. military equipment. The State Department is also required to come up within six months a public list of corrupt individuals in Central America subject to sanctions, a move that could include some of the regions most-powerful politicians.

Juan Gonzalez, the National Security Councils senior director for the Western Hemisphere, said last month that the Biden administration expected to have differences with El Salvadors president and that any leader unwilling to tackle corruption wont be considered a U.S. ally.

Gonzalezs comments carried added weight because they were his first as head of White House policy toward Latin America and because they were made in an interview with El Faro, a frequent target of Bukele.

___

Joshua Goodman on Twitter: @APJoshGoodman
[February 09, 2021] Document Security Systems, Inc. Closes $39.7 Million Upsized Public Offering of Common Stock

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 09, 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 closing of an upsized underwritten public offering with gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $34.5 million as well as the simultaneous exercise of the underwriters over-allotment option for additional gross proceeds of approximately $5.2 million. The Company expects to receive total gross proceeds of approximately $39.7 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by the Company.

The Company issued 14,167,247 shares of common stock at a price of $2.80 per share. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with existing cash, to fund the development and growth of new business lines, acquisition opportunities, and general corporate and working capital needs. Aegis Capital Corp. acted as sole bookrunner for the offering. The shares of common stock were offered pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-230740), which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on May 8, 2019. A prospectus supplement relating to the shares of common stock was filed by the Company with the SEC. Copies of the prospectus supplement relating to the offering, together with the accompanying 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 a offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of, these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.



About Document Security Systems, Inc. DSS is a multinational company operating businesses focused on brand protection technology, blockchain security, direct marketing, healthcare, real estate, and securitized digital assets. Its business model is based on a distribution sharing system in which shareholders will receive shares in its subsidiaries as DSS strategically spins them out into IPOs. Its historic business revolves around counterfeit deterrent and authentication technologies, smart packaging, and consumer product engagement. DSS is led by its Chairman and largest shareholder, Mr. Fai Chan, a highly successful global business veteran of more than 40 years specializing in corporate transformation while managing risk. He has successfully restructured more than 35 corporations with a combined value of $25 billion.

Investor Contact: Dave Gentry, CEO

RedChip Companies Inc.

407-491-4498

Dave@redchip.com Safe Harbor Disclosure This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to the Company's ability to complete the financing, its intended use of proceeds and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include: the risk that the public offering of common stock may not close; risks relating to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the results of development activities; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel; our need for substantial additional funds; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in the section entitled Risk Factors in the prospectus and in our other filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, our reports on Forms 8-K and 10-Q, all of which can be obtained on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made and reflect managements current estimates, projections, expectations and beliefs. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.



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The Associated Press

A spacecraft from the United Arab Emirates swung into orbit around Mars on Tuesday in a triumph for the Arab worlds first interplanetary mission. Mission controllers at the UAEs space center in Dubai announced that the unmanned craft, called Amal, Arabic for Hope, reached the end of its nearly seven-month, 300-million-mile journey and began circling the red planet, where it will gather detailed data on Mars atmosphere. The orbiter fired its main engines for 27 minutes in an intricate, high-stakes maneuver that slowed the craft enough for it to be captured by Mars gravity.

After the engine firing, it took a nail-biting 15 minutes or so for the signal confirming success to reach Earth. Ground controllers rose their feet and broke into applause. Tensions were high: Over the years, Mars has been the graveyard for a multitude of missions from various countries.

Two more unmanned spacecraft from the US and China are following close behind, set to arrive at Mars over the next several days. All three missions were launched in July to take advantage of the close alignment of Earth and Mars.

Amals arrival puts the UAE in a league of just five space agencies in history that have pulled off a functioning Mars mission. As the countrys first venture beyond Earths orbit, the flight is a point of intense pride for the oil-rich nation as it seeks a future in space.

An ebullient Mohammed bin Zayed, the UAEs day-to-day ruler, was on hand at mission control and said: Congratulations to the leadership and people of the UAE for the indescribable joy of the arrival at Mars.

About 60% of all Mars missions have ended in failure, crashing, burning up or otherwise falling short in a testament to the complexity of interplanetary travel and the difficulty of making a descent through Mars thin atmosphere.

A combination orbiter and lander from China is scheduled to reach the planet on Wednesday. It will circle Mars until the rover separates and attempts to land on the surface in May to look for signs of ancient life.

A rover from the U.S. named Perseverance is set to join the crowd next week, aiming for a landing Feb. 18. It will be the first leg in a decade-long U.S.-European project to bring Mars rocks back to Earth to be examined for evidence the planet once harbored microscopic life.

If it pulls this off, China will become only the second country to land successfully on Mars. The U.S. has done it eight times, the first almost 45 years ago. A NASA rover and lander are still working on the surface.

For the UAE, it was the countrys first venture beyond Earths orbit, making the flight a matter of intense national pride.

For days, landmarks across the UAE, including Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower on Earth, glowed red to mark Amals anticipated arrival. This year is the 50th anniversary of the countrys founding, casting even more attention on Amal.

The celestial weather station aimed for an exceptionally high Martian orbit of 13,670 miles by 27,340 miles (22,000 kilometers by 44,000 kilometers). It was set to join six spacecraft already operating around Mars: three U.S., two European and one Indian.

Amal had to perform a high-stakes series of turns and engine firings to maneuver into orbit and achieve what has eluded so many before.

Anything that slightly goes wrong and you lose the spacecraft, said Sarah al-Amiri, minister of state for advanced technology and the chair of the UAEs space agency.

The success represents a tremendous boost to the UAEs space ambitions. The countrys first astronaut rocketed into space in 2019, hitching a ride to the International Space Station with the Russians. Thats 58 years after the Soviet Union and the U.S. launched astronauts.

In developing Amal, the UAE chose to collaborate with more experienced partners instead of going it alone or buying the spacecraft elsewhere. Its engineers and scientists worked with researchers at the University of Colorado, the University of California at Berkeley and Arizona State University.
In a horrific case of human trafficking, an 18-year-old girl from Chattisgarh was sold seven times in seven months to people in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh last year before she died by suicide in September. The police have arrested eight accused in the case.

Police officers of three states- Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are currently investigating the matter. The case came to light after men who abducted the teen from Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh called her parents and demanded money.

According to a report by NDTV, a mentally challenged man named Babloo Kushwah to whom the girl was forcibly married, is yet to be traced, the police said.

The victim was a resident of Jashpur in Chhattisgarh where she used to work with her father in fields. A relative took her to Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradesh in order to get her a job from where she was abducted.

After the call for ransom, the family members informed the police that the accused were threatening to kill her if the parents could not pay up.

Interrogation of two of the arrested persons named Pancham Singh Rai and his wife- distant relatives of the girl revealed that they had brought the girl from Jashpur to Chhattarpur promising her a job, senior police officer Sachin Sharma said.

Days later, they sold the girl for Rs 20,000 to Kallu Raikwar, a local in Chhatarpur, seven months ago. The last person to buy the girl was Santosh Kushwah, a local from Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh who paid Rs 70,000.

The victim was later forcibly married to mentally challenged Babloo Kushwah, son of Santosh. In September last year, the girl died by suicide in Lalitpur.

The Chhatarpur police are now investigating if more girls from tribal areas of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are being trafficked by the accused in other states.

This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)
The Pentagon logo behind the podium in the briefing room at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on Jan. 8, 2020. (Al Drago/Reuters)

Political Litmus Test for US Military Is Unnecessary, Unprecedented, and Dangerous

Commentary

Following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol building, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a stand down by all military units to give commanders time to address extremism in their ranks.

He ordered military leaders to discuss the importance of our oath of office; a description of impermissible behaviors; and procedures for reporting suspected, or actual, extremist behaviors.

I agree that the attack on the Capitol was unlawful and a direct assault on our democracy, and that the individuals who committed this criminal actsome of whom were active duty and former military personnelshould be prosecuted.

However, I disagree with Austin that our military personnel should stand down and be vetted for what he describes as impermissible behaviors. This sweeping action is unprecedented, unnecessary, and dangerous.

The vast majority of men and women who serve in uniform and the military are doing so with honor, integrity, and character, and do not espouse the sorts of beliefs that led to the kind of conduct that can be so detrimental to good order and discipline and, in fact, is criminal, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said.

If what Kirby says is true, then why subject the entire U.S. military to what I personally see as a political litmus test, not unlike what the former Soviet Communist Party did to their military and what the Chinese Communist Party is doing to their military.

Austin called extremism in the ranks a leadership issue, directly contradicting Kirbys statement that clearly shows this isnt a major problem in the military.

Who determines the definition of impermissible behaviors? For example, is voicing opposition to a liberal point of view and support for a conservative point of view impermissible? Are our troops now going to have to worry about what they say and how they say it to the very men and women they work with and who they must depend on when going into combat?

In all my years serving in the military, I can say that the Department of Defense and all branches of the U.S. military have been models for keeping widespread discrimination, extremism, corruption, and criminal behavioralong with other things that would disrupt the good order and morale of our militaryaway from the entire chain of command.

Hence, if this is the caseand it isthen why this sweeping order?

The only conclusion I can draw is that this administration is taking the first steps to politicize our military. Steps like this are taken in communist countries via political officers assigned to the ranks. Who will be asking the questions? Evaluating the answers? Reporting suspected questionable behavior? What is deemed as questionable behavior?

The better path to address issues related to suspected extremists or criminal behavior in the ranks is to investigate each allegation on a case-by-case basis. If our military personnel is going to be subjected to a political litmus test to address impermissible behavior, I believe that the same test should be applied to the members of each branch of government: executive, legislative, and judicial.

Theres where the leadership problem is, not the ranks of our fine military men and women.

Steven Rogers is a retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer and a former member of the FBI National Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Drivers can find more information about the Presidents Day Sale on Gale Toyotas website

Gale Toyota is offering an exclusive deal on the 2021 Prius Prime model in their new 2021 Presidents Day sale. Drivers near the Hartford, CT area or those who live locally in Enfield, CT can head down to Gale Toyota and earn a ton of great incentives for taking home the new Prius Prime.

The first offer that is listed for the 2021 Prius Prime is a deal where drivers can get 0% APR on the Prius Prime. That works out to paying $16.67 for every $1,000 borrowed. On top of this deal, Gale Toyota is also offering up to $2,500 in rebates on the 2021 Prius Prime.

The other deal that Gale Toyota is offering during its Presidents Day sale is $4,000 in customer cash that goes directly off the starting MSRP of the 2021 Prius Prime. If that does not sound appealing already, Gale Toyota is also offering an additional $1,000 in bonus cash for drivers who decide to take advantage of the amazing deals on the 2021 Prius Prime.

Gale Toyotas Presidents Day sale ends on March 1st, 2021, so drivers are encouraged to visit Gale Toyota as soon as possible to learn more about these deals on the 2021 Prius Prime. If drivers want to look up more information before heading to the dealership, they can visit the Gale Toyota website at https://www.galetoyota.com/ and then go under the Specials where they can find more information on the Presidents Day sale and any other deals that Gale Toyota may have going on as well.
At the heart of the report is the relationship between organised crime, money laundering and gambling, and more importantly what steps we can do to protect the community against some of these sinister elements.

Those are the words of the minister responsible for regulating casino gambling in NSW, Victor Dominello, following the explosive gaming licence inquiry that has left James Packers reputation shredded and Crown Resorts in existential crisis.

Allegations of money laundering through Crown Perth have been aired in an explosive NSW inquiry. Credit:Philip Gostelow

Much of that money laundering  potentially millions of dollars of it  happened through Perths Crown Casino.

Yet the regulator and politicians here in WA appear to have done diddly squat. Regulatory oversight of our lucrative monopoly casino looks a pathetic failure.
The Justice Department will ask US attorneys who were appointed by former President Donald Trump to resign from their posts as the Biden administration moves to transition to its own nominees, a senior official said Monday.

A total of 56 attorneys are expected to begin stepping down as early as Tuesday, while two with major roles have been asked to stay on.

One of them is David Weiss, the US attorney overseeing the federal tax probe involving Biden's son, Hunter Biden.

Acting Attorney Monty Wilkinson called Weiss, who runs the federal prosecutor's office in Delaware, and asked him to remain on the job, the official told the Associated Press.

US Attorney John Durham, who was appointed in October by then-Attorney General William Barr as a special counsel to investigate the origins of the Trump-Russia probe, will also remain in that capacity, the official said.

However, Durham is expected to resign from his other position as the US attorney in Connecticut.

The Justice Department will ask US attorneys who were appointed by former President Donald Trump to resign from their posts, as the Biden administration moves to transition to its own nominees, a senior official said Monday

David Weiss (left), the US attorney overseeing the federal tax probe involving Biden's son Hunter (right center at the inauguration), will remain in place

US Attorney John Durham (pictured), who was appointed in October by then-Attorney General William Barr as a special counsel to investigate the origins of the Trump-Russia probe, will remain in that capacity, the senior Justice Department official said

The Justice Department has been investigating the finances of Hunter Biden, including scrutinizing some of his Chinese business dealings and other transactions.

The tax investigation was launched in 2018, the year before the elder Biden announced his candidacy for president.

Hunter confirmed the existence of the investigation in December after a round of subpoenas was issued in the case.

Subpoena seeking documents from Hunter in December reportedly asked for information related to more than two dozen entities, including Ukraine gas company Burisma.

The senior official spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they could not publicly discuss the internal deliberations.

The transition process, which happens routinely between administrations, is expected to take weeks and would apply to a few dozen US attorneys who were appointed by Trump and confirmed by the Senate.

Many of the federal prosecutors who were nominated by Trump have already left their positions, some in recent weeks.

Wilkinson is also expected to vacate his post as soon as Biden's pick for attorney general, Merrick Garland, is confirmed by the Senate.

Biden tapped Merrick Garland (pictured) to serve as his attorney general

It's fairly customary for the US attorneys to leave their positions after a new president is in office, but the departures are not automatic and don't necessarily happen all at once.

In 2017, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked for the resignations of 46 US attorneys who were holdovers from the Obama administration.

The US attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president and are generally nominated with a recommendation from a home-state senator.

The 93 US attorneys are responsible for overseeing offices of federal prosecutors and charged with prosecuting federal crimes in their jurisdictions.

The Senate has yet to schedule a confirmation hearing for Biden's attorney general nominee, Merrick Garland, a federal appeals court judge who in 2016 was snubbed by Republicans for a seat on the Supreme Court.

CNN first reported that the Justice Department was seeking the resignations.
Foreign investors win nearly 90% of cases in Russia  Supreme Courts head

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

15:04 09/02/2021

MOSCOW, February 9 (RAPSI)  Foreign investors win about 90% of legal disputes in Russian Courts, according to the Supreme Courts Chairman Vyacheslav Lebedev.

In total, 9,400 out of 10,700 lawsuits previously filed by foreign investors were granted; that is 88%, Lebedev said during the meeting of judges of Russias general jurisdiction and commercial courts on Tuesday.

During the meeting he also pointed protection of labor rights. Last year, courts granted 97% of wage payment claims and 44% of reemployment lawsuits.




Nothing, a new consumer technology venture by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, on Tuesday said it has raised USD 15 million (about 109.3 crore) in funding led by GV (formerly Google Ventures).

The London-based company said it also plans to open up for its community and the general public an opportunity to invest in the company as part of the series A round and more details will be announced in the coming weeks.

The new round takes the total amount of financing raised by the company to over USD 22 million (about 160.3 crore). Previous investors include tech leaders and investors such as Casey Neistat (YouTube personality and Beme co-founder), Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman and Indian entrepreneur and CRED founder Kunal Shah.

Also read: You will never guess what Carl Peis new company is called

Nothing intends to use the proceeds from the latest funding to expand its team and operations, further invest in R&D, as well as launch its community and first products in the coming months.

"We are grateful to have a venture capital firm of this caliber help in building 'Nothing' together with us. We plan to aggressively grow the company, in particular our R&D and design capabilities, to realise our mission of removing barriers between people and technology, Pei, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Nothing, said.

Last month, Nothing had said it would unveil its first smart devices in the first half of this year.

"Carl Pei is a seasoned entrepreneur with marketing, hardware, and distribution experience that is key to bringing new devices to market. His vision for smart devices is compelling, and we have high confidence that with Carl's global mindset, the Nothing team will have a meaningful impact on the market for consumer technology," Tom Hulme, General Partner at GV, said.
The American Booksellers Associations Winter Institute has become an annual rite, marking the start of the new year of sales and promotions. The focus in 2021, as always, is on upcoming big books, but the conference also offers a Rorschach test for the industrys concerns, woes, and aspirations.

Last Januarys Winter Institute 15 in Baltimore was bookended by a pair of significant events. First was a standing-room-only panel to address the publication of Jeanine Cumminss American Dirt, which numerous booksellers criticized as cultural appropriation. Second was the meeting to discuss the launch of Bookshop.org, the online bookselling company founded by Andy Hunter and championed by the ABA. Both events were harbingers of what was to come: the massive protests prompted by the killing of George Floyd; the rising up of publishings younger generation to demand more equity, inclusion, and better pay; and the sudden shift among booksellers to prioritizing online sales given periodic closures due to Covid-19.

So, what does Winter Institute 16which is being held virtually February 1820portend? Events are planned that offer more examination of the trends of 2020: a rising awareness of diversity and inclusion issues in bookselling and the need to manage the growth in online sales while maintaining strong direct relationships with customers, in the real world and virtually. And, of course, publishers will be promoting their latest books: throughout the three days of WI16, publisher and business partner virtual booths will be open for booksellers to drop in and talk with reps about books and products. Former president Barack Obama, whose memoir A Promised Land helped seal a strong season of holiday sales for booksellers, will open the conference with a personal video message.

Were incredibly excited about this years virtual Winter Institute, says Allison Hill, CEO of ABA. Although wed love to be together in person, virtual programming allows us to bring everyone together even during these socially distanced times and gives us the chance to reach booksellers who wouldnt otherwise be able to attend in person. And wed be excited about this years event regardless of the format. WI16 is a robust schedule of poetry, authors, social events, expo booths, education, and, most importantly, critical conversations about the future.

Hill says the ABA expects more than 1,000 people to sign up for this years Winter Institute (the registration fee is $35). Several booksellers PW spoke with echoed her point that many will be able to participate this year who were not able to in the past, due to the cost, inconvenience, or inability to take time away from their stores.

Hill points out that there are other benefits to hosting virtual events. Weve been able to connect with authors and keynotes who wouldnt have been able to attend in person, she says. Weve been challenged to think differently and focus on quality not quantity. And weve been able to imagine a future in which in-person and virtual programming both exist for the benefit of all.

Keynotes

The conference kicks off with a conversation between author Brene Brown and bookseller Janet Geddis, owner of Avid Bookshop in Athens, Ga., entitled What Now!? that will address how booksellers can stay committed to their work even though their emotional resources may be depleted.

The second keynote, Novelist as Citizen, looks at both the future and the recent past: this panel discussion with authors Lauren Groff, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Colson Whitehead moderated by Michelle Malonzo (buyer at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Ariz.) examines roles for novelists in the fight for social justice.

The final keynote is a conversation between the ABAs Hill and Brian David Johnson, author of The Future You: Break Through the Fear and Build the Life You Want. Johnson , who was Intels first-ever futurist and is currently professor at Arizona State Universitys Global Futures Laboratory and School for the Future of Innovation in Society, will discuss how booksellers can think about, prepare for and, ideally, shape the future with their own best interests and those of their community in mind.

The pandemic is an opportunity, Johnson says. I think there is a boom coming as we get to the other side. There is a lot of pent-up consumer desire and a lot of desire for community, which is what booksellers do best.

Topics and trends

Bookseller education is a major feature of the event overall. This year, panels are limited to a handful a day and, as they are pre-recorded, wont allow audience interaction. Topics include managing digital growth, financial planning, and recognizing racist and harmful practices in the workplace. The panel titled Customer Experience and Hand-Selling/Upselling in a Hybrid World considers the myriad ways booksellers have found to connect with customers who cannot shop in-store.

The pandemic has urged booksellers to think outside of their comfort zone, says panelist Cristina Rodriguez, general manager of Deep Vellum Books in Dallas, who runs a hotline that offers personal advice in addition to recommending books. I try not to use traditional literary models of handselling, matching a backlist with a frontlist title, which only works for literary readers. A lot of people I get in the store are nontraditional or less consistent readers, so I tend to rely more on asking about their extracurricular activities outside of reading. That makes it more inclusive for people who might not be comfortable asking booksellers what to read next.

Another panelist, Rosa Hernandez, social media manager of Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, Wash., advocates having customers shop by appointment, as that not only keeps people a little safer during the pandemic but also gives booksellers more of an opportunity to sell to customers. If they are making an appointment, they want to buy books and interact with their favorite bookseller, she says.

Hernandez, who identifies as Latinx, says that last years controversy over American Dirt put into stark relief the industrys issues with diversity. She says that when customers are open to it, she steers them to books she feels are more representative of the experiences of people immigrating from Latin America to the U.S., such as Valeria Luisellis Lost Children Archive.

This year, Winter Institute is addressing a broad range of diversity and inclusion topics, including hosting a meetup for BIPOC booksellers and offering panels on LGBTQ romance writing and neurodiversity. Emily Autenrieth, owner of A Seat at the Table Books, a pop-up in Elk Grove, Calif., is part of the Neurodiversity at Work panel and is planning her new bricks-and-mortar store to be especially friendly to neurodiverse customers and booksellers. We will have wiggle stools, a multipurpose room with two doors and a divider, so we can turn part of that into a quiet room, and signage to say that we are neurodiverse friendly, she says. There are many issues that booksellers can learn about from the conversations on neurodiversity.

Annie Carl, owner of Neverending Bookshop in Edmonds, Wash., is disabled and has challenged the ABA to address the topics of disability and neurodiversity more seriously at this Winter Institute than at previous conferences. She says there are more neurodiverse booksellers in the community than may be apparent. You may not know it if you are working next to someone who is neurodiverse, because it is not something they may have chosen to share with you, she adds.

Carl notes that diversity and inclusion issues are complicated to address and she applauds the ABAs efforts over the years, though feels there is a long road ahead. Even within the disabled community there is a lot of inclusion or exclusionit feels like high school all the time. Ninety-nine point nine percent of us are unique, so we all have to work hard to keep supporting different voices and ideas, to keep working at that inclusion. And we need to keep in mind some dont want to be includedfor whatever reason.

Carl adds that the one thing a bookseller can bring to any interaction with a customer or colleague, or anyone facing potentially challenging circumstances these days, is empathy. Just dont say you understand their situation, whatever it is, because you dont, she says. Youre not living their life. Empathy and, really, kindness are enough.

Despite the challenges of the past year and the pandemic, the latest figures indicate independent bookselling has been surprisingly resilient: the ABA reports that 27 new stores have opened since September 1, bringing the total number of ABA member stores to 1,827, operating in approximately 2,300 locations.

Donna Paz, co-owner of Story & Song Bookstore on Amelia Island, Fla., who hosts a seminar for new and would-be booksellers just prior to Winter Institute (this year on Wednesday, February 17), confirms growing interest in people wanting to open a bookstore. This January, we had 30 requests for our guide, Owning a Bookstore: The Essential Planning Guide, which is more than weve ever had in 29 years weve been running workshops, she notes.

As for why this surge in interest is happening now, Paz gets philosophical: I think that past year has forced a lot of people into considering career changes. For many people opening a bookstore is a dream, and if we have learned one thing this past year, its that life is fragileso what better time to pursue it than now?

Below, more on Winter Institute 16.

WI16: Emphasizing Community

Though the pandemic bookstores that have opened since fall vary in size and focus, they share a commitment to their cities and towns and optimism about the future of bookselling.

WI16: Black Bookselling in 2021

Four black store owners reflect on how their businesses are changing.

WI16: Keynote Conversations

Keynote discussions look at whats ahead for bookselling and literature.

WI16: Adult Authors to Meet

More than 125 adult writers and illustrators will gather for the first virtual Winter Institute.

WI16: Childrens Authors and Illustrators to Meet

Kids and YA authors from publishers large and small play a growing role at virtual Winter Institute.
California State Capitol Building View Photo

Sacramento, CA  Mother Lode Republican Senator Andreas Borgeas says he is hoping that businesses and non-profits which receive COVID-19 grants or loans will not be hit with a big tax bill.

Currently, grants provided by the states COVID-19 small business relief grant program are considered taxable income. Borgeas has introduced Senate Bill 265 which would make grants for businesses and non-profits impacted by COVID-19 non-taxable.

People, businesses and entities that have received assistance during the pandemic should not be penalized by the state, said Senator Borgeas. SB 265 would assist struggling businesses that received COVID-19 relief funds by assuring that these grants and/or forgivable loans are tax-free.

It is a provision to his earlier Senate Bill 74, entitled the Keep California Working Act. That piece of legislation would allocate an additional $2.6-billion of surplus budget revenue as grants to businesses impacted by the pandemic.
Big clean up: The massive concrete structures of the new Rudisill Consolidation Sewer deep under the intersection in Fort Wayne will prevent future CSOs from polluting nearby rivers. With PENETRON ADMIX SB, the ease of dosing one pre-measured soluble bag per cubic yard of concrete simplifies the mixing procedure.

The December 2020 completion of Fort Waynes (IN) Rudisill Consolidation Sewer will help the city prevent further pollution of the St. Marys River due to unpredictable sewer overflow events. PENETRON ADMIX SB was specified to ensure a durable and waterproof concrete structure for the consolidation sewer.

Located in northeastern Indiana, Fort Wayne is the second-largest city in the state, with over 270,000 inhabitants. Situated at the confluence of the St. Joseph, St. Marys, and Maumee rivers, the city was initially established as a trading post for pioneers in the late 18th century and has grown into a center for the healthcare and defense industries.

The newly completed Rudisill Consolidation Sewer is a near-surface sewer that captures combined sewage and stormwater overflow. The completion of this $6 million project is part of the City Utilities 18-year Long Term Control Plan and an essential effort to better control combined sewer overflow events (CSOs), which occur during wet weather storms approximately 72 times a year in the Fort Wayne area.

Keeping Sewage Out of the River

Previously, the citys below-grade sewer pipe system dumped an annual average of 392 million gallons of combined sewage into the St. Marys River, says Christopher Chen, Director of the Penetron Group. The Rudisill Consolidation Sewer is an essential part of the overall effort to clean up the regions three rivers and stop the release of untreated water into the environment.

Built deep under the intersection of Broadway and West Rudisill Boulevard in close proximity to the St. Marys River (and approx. one mile south of downtown Fort Wayne), the new consolidation sewer takes the CSO from two pipes that previously dumped directly into the river and conveys the overflow to a drop shaft connected to the Three Rivers Protection and Overflow Reduction Tunnel* (3RPORT), which transports the CSO to the wastewater treatment plant.

During the early stages of planning, the DLZ Engineering team responsible for the design of the Rudisill Consolidation Sewer tapped Penetron for a proposal that would ensure waterproof and durable below-grade concrete structures. PENETRON ADMIX SB was ultimately specified to treat approximately 1,600 cubic yards of concrete, which was supplied by Irving Materials Inc. (IMI).

The concrete structures of the new consolidation sewer are massive, adds Christopher Chen. The bottom slab is three feet (91 cm) thick and the walls are 40 inches (>1 m) thick.

Making Concrete Impermeable to Moisture

Added to the concrete mix at the time of batching, PENETRON ADMIX SB reacts with moisture in the concrete to form an insoluble network of crystals that fill the cracks, pores and voids. This process takes place throughout the concrete matrix, making it impermeable to moisture and other elements and chemicals often found in untreated sewage that would typically cause concrete deterioration.

With PENETRON ADMIX SB, the ease of dosing one pre-measured soluble bag per cubic yard of concrete simplifies the mixing procedure, adds Christopher Chen.



The Three Rivers Protection and Overflow Reduction Tunnel (3RPORT) is currently under construction. Penetron will report on this project later in 2021.

The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives and distribution channels.

For more information on Penetron crystalline technology solutions, please visit http://www.penetron.com, email: CRDept@penetron.com or contact our Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700.
Carnavale Resources Ltd (ASX:CAV)(YBB.FF) is focused on acquiring and exploring high quality and advanced exploration and development projects prospective for strategic minerals associated with the electric vehicle battery sector and other new-age disruptive technologies, as well as nickel, gold and precious metals.

Carnavale Resources encouraged by strong aircore drilling results from Kookynie Gold Project

Carnavale Resources Limited (ASX:CAV) (FRA:YBB) is encouraged by results from a first pass 6,539-metre aircore drilling program at Kookynie Gold Project in the Western Australian Goldfields.

A total of 139 holes were completed at the underexplored project, targeting structurally controlled, high-grade gold mineralisation with the program completed on time and below budget.

All assays have been received and key results include:
Empower Clinics (CBDT: CSE-OTCQB: EPWCF) Chairman and CEO Steven McAuley joined Steve Darling from Proactive with major news the company has done a deal with Pharmacy giant Rexall to launch the first of multiple integrated healthcare centres within Rexall pharmacies commencing in Ontario, Canada.

McAuley telling Proactive centres will have services including Primary Care, Walk-in Physicians and telemedicine and virtual care options. Also available will be Chiropractors, Physio, Massage, Acupuncture and Nutritionists.


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BREMER COUNTY, Iowa - A semi driver had to be airlifted to Mayo Clinic after two semis collided Monday afternoon on Highway 218 in northeast Iowa.

The Bremer County Sheriff's Office said it happened at 4:27 p.m. when a Freighliner driven by Zoltan Pusenyak, of St. Paul, crossed the median and struck a Peterbilt driven by Isaac Snow of Hanover, Ontario, Canada.

Pusenyak was taken to by Air Care to the Mayo Clinic.

Snow was not injured.

Both vehicles are considered a total loss.
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February 8, 2021

New Book Says by Engaging in Rapid Frequent Screening We Can Control the Pandemic. The Pandemic Information Solution.

Toronto - Covid-19 is a global pandemic inflicting large health and economic costs. In his previous book, The Pandemic Information Gap: The Brutal Economics of COVID-19 (The MIT Press, 2020), economist Joshua Gans explains that those costs have been so large because governments and others have lacked the information needed to control the pandemic. Unless we know who is infectious, we can't break the chains of transmission, which results in the escalation of our problems. Pandemics, he writes, are information problems.

Now, in a follow-up book, The Pandemic Information Solution (Endeavor Literary Press, 2021), Gans, a professor at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, outlines the solution to the information gap. By engaging in rapid, frequent screening, we can control the pandemic and restore normality. We can lower the number of cases, break chains of transmission, and make it safe for people to interact again. This will require changing our mindset about testing, gathering the right information, and matching that information to the right decisions. We have the ingredients to do all these things. We just need to put them together in a scalable and sustainable system. This book is a guide to the issues and trade-offs that policymakers and other key decision-makers need to grapple with and follow.

The ideas in the book provide the foundation for the CDL Rapid Screening Consortium, an initiative based at the Rotman School's Creative Destruction Lab to bring rapid antigen screens to workplaces at scale.

Joshua Gans is a professor of strategic management and the Jeffrey S. Skoll Chair of Technical Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Rotman School, where is he also the Chief Economist for the Creative Destruction Lab. He has a PhD from Stanford University and an honors degree in economics from the University of Queensland. In 2012, he was appointed as a research associate of the NBER in the Productivity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Program. At the Rotman School he teaches entrepreneurial strategy to MBA and Rotman Commerce students.

###

He recently published The Pandemic Information Gap: The Brutal Economics of COVID-19 (MIT Press, 2020). His other books include Principles of Economics (Cengage); Core Economics for Managers (Cengage); Finishing the Job (MUP); Parentonomics (MIT Press); Information Wants to be Shared (Harvard Business Review Press); The Disruption Dilemma (MIT Press); Prediction Machines: The Simple Economics of Artificial Intelligence (Harvard Business Review Press); Scholarly Publishing and its Discontents; and Innovation + Equality (MIT Press).

Further information on The Pandemic Information Solution is available online at http://www. endeavorliterary. com/ pandemic .

The Rotman School of Management is part of the University of Toronto, a global centre of research and teaching excellence at the heart of Canada's commercial capital. Rotman is a catalyst for transformative learning, insights, and public engagement, bringing together diverse views and initiatives around a defining purpose: to create value for business and society. For more information, visit http://www. rotman. utoronto. ca .

For more information:

Ken McGuffin

Manager, Media Relations

Rotman School of Management

University of Toronto

E-mail mcguffin@rotman.utoronto.ca
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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has sealed a health centre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for issuing fake COVID-19 test results to unsuspecting individuals.

The Director-General of the NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu, while speaking at the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 (PTF) briefing, on Monday, said the centre has been collecting money from intending travellers and issuing fake results in return.

Mr Ihekweazu noted that COVID-19 test samples were collected by the centre but there was no evidence that the tests were carried out.

He said his agency swung into action following an investigative report by The cable Newspaper which showed the illicit racketeering of COVID-19 test results by officials of the Port Health Services (PHS) at the Abuja Airport.

Last week, the FCT Administration supported us in an investigation that ended up in the sealing of one of those testing centre in Abuja. This centre had been collecting funds from citizens and issuing fake results, Mr Ihekweazu said.

In these fake laboratories and testing sites, samples are collected but there is no evidence they are tested.

He said the act is fraudulent and can contribute to the spread of the COVID-19 virus which could lead to loss of lives.

He appealed to the general public to desist from patronising such centres and visit the NCDC COVID-19 site to get accurate information on accredited testing centres in the country.

He said his agency is fully committed to supporting all states and the FCT to ensure efficient testing of patients.

From our end, we are at the final stage of deploying a platform through which every private laboratory in the country will be reporting their results and every result out of Nigeria will be verified by any airline, embassy and foreign country, Mr Ihekweazu said.
Restaurants will no longer be allowed to sell pre-packaged meals through arrangements with supermarkets and other outlets, as Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley definitively closed this loophole yesterday.

Rowley said this would not be allowed to continue, as it defeats the purpose of the public health regulations. Restaurants and street food vendors were among those businesses ordered to close to limit the movement of people and curb the spread of Covid-19.
Coffee enthusiasts, a South Side Columbian shop is re-opening this weekend after it temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

Patricia Butler, owner of Coffeecionado, voluntarily shut her doors to the public once she saw how packed her coffee shop got during the holiday COVID-19 surge. She said it was a tough decision but the right one.

After over a month of no customers, Butler decided to re-open her spot at 502 W. Mitchell St. for weekend service only, starting this Friday  which happens to be her third anniversary.

READ ALSO: Rosella Coffee Co. latest business to close shop voluntarily due to COVID spike

"One of the main reasons I'm opening it is because people are starting to get vaccinated, especially the elderly who were my main concern," Butler said. "Now that they are getting vaccinated, I feel safer to open for the weekends."

When Butler announced the news of her temporary closure, she said she was pleased to see how her customers understood her decision. Now, she said, she's eager to welcome them back and serve up some of their favorite Columbian coffee.

"We have received so much love from our customers," Butler said. "They have shown us so much appreciation for what we did, and we are glad to be back. We missed ya'll."

Coffeecionado will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday through Sunday until further notice. During the week, Butler said she will still be hosting for her private roasting classes.

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
Jammu:

On Thursday, over 9,000 pilgrims visited the Amarnath shrine in south Kashmir and so the total number of yatris who visited the holy cave since the pilgrimage began in June reached to over 1.77 lakh.

A fresh batch of around 3,500 pilgrims escorted by the CRPF and the police have left Jammu in a convoy of 150 vehicles for Baltal and Pahalgam base camps of the shrine this morning, officials said.

Today, on the 15th day of the yatra, 9,197 yatris paid obeisance at the holy cave and, cumulatively, since the beginning of the pilgrimage, 1,77,134 yatris had darshan at the shrine, an official spokesman said.

Over 2,500 pilgrims are waiting at Bhagwati Nagar base camp for their onward journey to Amarnath.

A 44-year-old pilgrim from Maharashtra died near the cave shrine on Thursday, taking the death toll in the ongoing yatra to 19, which includes seven pilgrims killed in the Anantnag terrorist attack on Monday night.

Amid multi-tier security, the 40-day-long Amarnath yatra began from Jammu on June 28.

The government has mobilised a heavy security blanket of over 35,000 to 40,000 troops including the police, the Army, the BSF and the CRPF.

This years yatra will be eight days shorter than last years and will conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on August 7.

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolgatanga East in the Upper East Region, Dr Dominic Ayine, has explained that he was part of those who advised Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, NDC MP for Asawase in the Ashanti Region to apologise to the judiciary over the latters bribery allegation.



Alhaji Muntaka alleged on January 7, 2021 a Supreme Court Judge was persuading a female MP from the NDC Caucus in Parliament to vote for Professor Mike Oquaye during the election of the Speaker for the 8th Parliament.



However, after Alhaji Muntaka had published an apology, Dr Ayine stated that even though he knew what actually happened, he advised his colleague to retract the allegation and apologise in order to keep the democratic dispensation growing.



Our democracy is still fragile, we need to as much as possible ensure it grows very well, sometimes, when these issues happen, you have institutions locking horns or personalities in institutions locking horns, Dr Ayine, former deputy Attorney-General postulated.



Suggesting that all was not well between the legislature and the judiciary, he pointed out that if my colleague had not heeded my advice, several activities that would have led to proving such claim will rupture the cordial relationship between the two arms of government.



Giving a typical scenario, Dr Ayine noted that the judiciary drives an MP to a committee hearing or contempt proceedings, remember we are two coequal branches of government and the judiciary wouldnt have been able to say Parliament should not make an enquiry into the allegation.



If we were making an enquiry into this and it is public enquiry, youll find out the two arms of government are at loggerheads and fighting each other so Alhaji Muntaka should have investigated before making the claim public, he said.



Alhaji Muntaka on February 6, in a press release retracted an allegation a Supreme Court Justice tried to bribe an NDC MP-elect to influence her in election of a Speaker of Parliament.



In his statement, he apologised for any harm done to the image and reputation of Justices of the Supreme Court and members of the Judiciary and indicated that existing historic cordial relations between the legislature and the judiciary would not be affected by the allegation but continue to grow in the interest of the country.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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A popular brand of children's slap-band watches have been recalled over fears the batteries can cause internal burns and even kill children if they are swallowed.

Product Safety Australia has issued the an urgent recall of Kraisercraft branded slap band watches, which are made by a homewares company from Geelong, south-west of Melbourne.

The watches, which have faces featuring crocodiles and unicorns, were sold across Australia both in-tores and online from December 17, 2019, to January 31, 2021.

Children's slap band watches from Kaisercrafts (pictured) have been recalled over a battery compartment defect

A production fault means a child can easily access the battery if the face is removed, Product Safety Australia said in a statement.

Parents have been warned to confiscate the watches from their children immediately.

'They may suffer internal burn injuries, which can result in serious illness and even death.'

The batteries are also a choking hazard.

A Kaisercraft spokesperson confirmed the company had been issued with a recall notice for the watches.

'Kaiser Kids Slap Band Watches were sold at Kaisercraft stores between December 2019  February 2021. To err on the side of caution and ensure the safety of Kaisercrafts customers, the recall has been issued', the said.

'Kaisercraft encourages all customers who purchased a Kaiser Kids Slap Band Watch to stop using it and return it to their local Kaisercraft store for a full product refund.'
A MIDDLE aged couple who punched their nephew and attacked him with a handbag in a row that started in Slovakia claimed they saw red when they spotted him in a local supermarket.

Oskar and Maria Hangurbadzo, both 50, were told by a judge they should keep their troubles in Slovakia and not bring them to Balbriggan after they were convicted of assaulting Miroslav Pompa.

The couple, of Dun Saithne View in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to Section 2 assault on Mr Pompa on January 8, 2020 at Tesco Extra in the town. They have no previous convictions.

Balbriggan District Court heard Mr Pompa was at the self service checkout in the supermarket when Oskar walked up to him and punched him in the left side of his face.

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Maria then tried to assault him by swinging her handbag at him but he managed to grab the bag before it struck him.

The couple were then escorted off the premises by security staff and gardai arrived at the scene.

Defence solicitor Siobhan MacNeilis told Judge Dermot Dempsey the injured party is known to the couple.

He is their nephew and there had been a serious incident in Slovakia between the nephew and Maria.

When they were leaving the supermarket they saw him. They hadnt seen him in a year and they saw red.

Ms MacNeilis said Oskar accepts full responsibility and he shouldnt have hit him.

Read More

When asked by Judge Dempsey why Maria got involved, Ms MacNeilis said when Oskar carried out his actions she attempted to hit him with her handbag.

Ms MacNeilis said the couple have a total of 500 in compensation to offer to Mr Pompa as a token of remorse.

However, Judge Dempsey refused to accept compensation.

Instead he convicted and fined Oskar 150 and Maria 100 for the assault offence.

They should keep their troubles in Slovakia and not bring them to Balbriggan, remarked Judge Dempsey.









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Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do
NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lose the pretentious language, bewildering jargon, annoying acronyms, and numbing wordiness plaguing business and marketing communications today, and start writing and speaking with clarity, brevity and impact.

So says the new book Business Blather: Stop Using Words That Sound Good But Say Nothing! by business communications expert, award-winning copywriter and seven-time author Jerry McTigue.

Business Blather: Stop Using Words That Sound Good But Say Nothing! by Jerry McTigue

Citing numerous examples of entrenched writing and speaking conventions that produce ineffectual corporate babble, McTigue demonstrates how each excerpt can be expressed in a more powerful and incisive way.

The book goes on to show readers how they can apply their newly learned skills to a variety of business and marketing communications, including LinkedIn profiles, websites, emails, social media and print ads, presentations, press releases, white papers, and more.

Designed to be a quick-reading and entertaining reference, Business Blather attempts to reverse an almost cultish reliance on the ambiguous language and esoteric buzzwords that have dominated corporate discourse for decades.

"Whether you're a college student preparing to venture out into the business world, a CEO at the height of your career, or anyone in-between," says McTigue, "this companion guide will help you break free from the universal grip of business blather that confounds audiences rather than informs them."

Ronni Burns, Professor of Business Communication at NYU Stern School of Business, writes: "This book is a wonderful reminder of the impact of using simple, powerful language, whether it's in your emails, LinkedIn profile, or business mission."

Business Blather: Stop Using Words That Sound Good But Say Nothing! is available in both paperback and Kindle editions at https://amzn.to/2XMVn0E where visitors can take a "Look Inside."

For media inquiries, to request a review copy, or to ask about direct-from-the-publisher quantity discounts available to businesses, schools and other organizations, call 203-254-7789 or email: [email protected]

Web: pickmeupbooks.com

SOURCE Jerry McTigue
WASHINGTON - The Justice Department on Monday dropped a lawsuit that said a former senior aide to Melania Trump violated a White House nondisclosure agreement by publishing a memoir about the then-first lady.

The department's civil division gave no reason for the decision to voluntarily dismiss this suit, brought in October, against Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, author of "Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady." The lawsuit filed under the Trump administration had also sought to seize the profits of Wolkoff's book.

A Justice Department official did not elaborate, saying, "The Department evaluated the case and concluded that dismissal without prejudice was in the best interests of the United States based on the facts and the law."

In a statement by email, Wolkoff attorney Lorin Reisner said, "We are very pleased that the Department of Justice is dismissing this lawsuit."

Winston Wolkoff, 50, had a 15-year friendship with Melania Trump before she was ousted in 2018 as an unpaid senior adviser to the first lady in a scandal involving Donald Trump's $107 million inauguration. Winston Wolkoff has said she felt "betrayed" when news accounts focused on $26 million paid to her event-planning firm by the inauguration. Most of the money went to pay for events, and she personally retained $484,126, The Washington Post has reported.

Wolkoff and Simon & Schuster subsidiary Gallery Books had called the lawsuit a blatant attempt by then-President Trump and the first lady to use the Justice Department to pursue their personal interests, silencing and intimidating a critic from protected speech.

When the lawsuit was filed, the Trump administration said Winston Wolkoff entered a formal agreement that included, among other things, the handling of "nonpublic, privileged and/or confidential information."

In the book, marketed as a "scathing tell-all" since its release Sept. 1, Winston Wolkoff described what she viewed as mismanagement of Trump's inauguration. But the former right-hand events planner to Vogue editor Anna Wintour created a larger media storm in October by playing excerpts of phone conversations that she began secretly recording with the first lady in February 2018.

In the tapes, Melania Trump vented in profane language about her frustrations with critical media coverage, expectations about her role in planning Christmas decorations for the White House, defending the administration's separation of migrant children at the U.S.-Mexico border, and addressing adult film actress Stormy Daniels - with whom Trump has denied having an affair but Trump lawyer Michael Cohen admitted to paying hush money to silence.

Attorneys who have represented government whistleblowers and news media also had criticized the lawsuit, calling it an abuse of resources to punish a presidential critic, and saying the former first lady's office's agreement with Wolkoff restricting release of information beyond classified data is unenforceable.

Agence France-Presse

China has launched the world's biggest carbon trading system to help lower carbon emissions, but critics and analysts have raised doubts about whether it will have a signficant impact. China is the world's biggest emitter of the greenhouse gases that drive climate change, and the scheme is part of its efforts to decarbonise its economy by 2060. Here are a series of questions and answers on key parts of the emissions trading scheme (ETS):

How does it work?

The scheme, which launched on February 1, effectively puts a price on emitting carbon. It allows provincial governments to  for the first time  set pollution caps for big power companies, and lets firms buy the right to pollute from others with a lower carbon footprint.

However, in its first phase, the scheme only covers the electricity sector, involving 2,200 power producers, which is responsible for 30 percent of China's total emissions. Local governments issue a certificate for every metric ton of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas equivalent which a company is allowed to emit, and companies pay fines for not complying.

"Companies can either cut emissions or pay to pollute, but the latter will become pricier over time as governments issue fewer pollution permits," said Zhang Jianyu, vice-president of Environmental Defense Fund China.

And, in a rare move to improve transparency, companies involved in the trading system will have to make their pollution data public. But analysts have expressed concerns about the likely accuracy of the data, in a country with an authoritarian government that lacks transparency, and low fines for non-compliance.

Will it drive down emissions?

Not nearly as much or as quickly as first hoped.

Initial, broader plans would have covered 70 to 80 percent of China's emissions. These covered heavy polluters in seven other sectors including aviation, steel and petrochemical manufacturing. Pollution permits are also being given out for free instead of auctioning them  unlike schemes operating in the European Union or California  which means there is less incentive to slash emissions quickly.

Yan Qin, a carbon analyst at Refinitiv, warned that "in the short term this system is not going to drive emissions reductions".

Carbon is also expected to be priced very low under the Chinese scheme  about $6 a ton when trading starts  compared with about $36 in the European Union scheme and $17 in California by last year.

Li Shuo from Greenpeace China said these low carbon prices "aren't enough to push companies to invest in greening their operations".

Whether the ETS will help reduce emissions, in the long run, will depend on the stringency of the caps, expanding its scope and strict enforcement. A commission on carbon prices formed in 2017 and helmed by the economists Joseph Stiglitz and Nicholas Stern indicated that carbon needed to be priced at somewhere between $40 and $80 by 2020 and somewhere in the $50-100 range by 2030 if the markets and prices were to have any impact on investment decisions.

How is China setting emissions caps?

New rules issued by China's environment ministry in December are urging businesses to reduce carbon intensity  or the amount of pollution produced per unit of GDP  instead of slashing the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

Lauri Myllyvirta, a lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, said it was a "subtle but important difference" which could even make new coal power plants more economically attractive.

Pressure from the country's powerful coal lobby is weighing on efforts to curb emissions.

China relies on coal for 60 percent of its energy needs and since 2011 has burned more coal each year than the rest of the world combined, according to the US Center for Strategic and International Studies. Capacity keeps growing too, with three times more coal-power generation capacity added in China than in the rest of the world combined in 2020, data from the US think tank Global Energy Monitor showed.

What's next?

China is drafting a new climate change law that environmentalists say might address some of the shortcomings in the current carbon trading system.

Campaigners are also hoping that the current scheme gets rolled out across more industries, with stricter penalties.

"China... has set a long-term goal to be carbon neutral (but) the carbon market in its current form just isn't going to play much of a role in realising these ambitions," Myllyvirta said. "It could become an important tool in the future, and very fast, if the government decides to give it teeth."

Also read: World's biggest polluter China launches carbon trading system to bring down emission levels
Runsewe says Bobrisky is a nuisance to Nigerian, African values who is misleading other youth

The Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Olusegun Runsewe, has called on parents to instil African cultures and values in their children and wards, to make them become responsible adults.

Mr Runsewe gave the advice while speaking with correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

He admonished parents to always provide guidance to their children to make sure they won't live lifestyles that would negate African cultures and values in marriage, procreation, moral decency, and respect for elders.

Citing the lifestyle of a Lagos-based crossdresser, Okuneye Idris Olarenwaju popularly known as Bobrisky, Mr Runsewe said Bobrisky had constituted a nuisance to Nigerian and African values and misleading other youth, due to a lack of true African values in him.

According to him, the 29-year-old social media personality is nothing but a disgrace and disgust to Nigeria, and should not be allowed to continue with his fake life.

"Do you know that the so-called Bobrisky was going to set up the African Chapter of Gay and LGBT or whatever they call it in Nigeria during his recently aborted birthday party? People from over 70 countries arrived in Lagos for the event.

"They were all at Ikoyi, preparing to launch it. We got a hint of it and had to put a stop to the event. I seized all the food and gave them to IDPs. If they had launched that thing, Nigeria would have been destroyed by now.

"That was how the insurgency started and because it was not nipped in the bud, today we are facing the consequences of our inaction then.

"People said the man called Bobrisky is powerful and that anytime he comes to Abuja, he lodges in a presidential suite on the tenth floor of Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

"But I will not stand and see such a character perpetuate a culture that does not conform to our African values and norms.

"If he wants to continue with that way of life, then he should leave Nigeria. Our culture does not allow such personality in our society. So he should leave Nigeria."

Mr Runsewe reiterated that parents should not allow their children to be influenced by characters like Bobrisky, who claim to be female.

"Bobrisky started by saying he sells body creams and later he added that he got boobs. He went into many areas. He insults Nigerian women, claiming he is prettier than them. This is not African.

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"On his father's birthday, he dressed like a man. So you can see the deception by a fake personality living a fake life and deceiving Nigerian youth," he said.

Mr Runsewe said many organisations had lauded NCAC, including a female group from Kenya, for its stand against values that negate African culture and norms.

"That man is destroying Nigerian children. If we are not careful, in the next few years women will no longer have boyfriends or husbands again.

"This is because man to man is becoming the order of the day. In Abuja today, men stand on the streets waiting to be patronised by other men."

Mr Runsewe said NCAC and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs would soon meet to continue deliberations to seek the way forward in sensitizing the public on the menace.
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AT 79, president Hage Geingob might be too old for the AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine if what countries such as Germany and France have decided is anything to go by.

The two countries are among a number that will only administer it to 18-64 year olds, saying there is not enough evidence on how well it protects those older than 65.

Geingob last week said he is willing to be one of the first people to receive the vaccine, to reassure Namibians on its safety.

AstraZeneca stipulates that the vaccine is given to people older than 18.

Namibia is set to receive its first batch of the vaccine from mid-February and is expected to make an announcement on the age groups to get the vaccine this week, said health deputy executive director Petronella Masabane yesterday.

Health and social services minister Kalumbi Shangula said only 660 people participated in the trials.

"That is considered not enough to be relied on to determine if the vaccine is effective in people older than 65 years. That is now being determined with more studies," he said.

He said the same applies to those who are 16 year and pregnant women.

The Namibia Medical Regulatory Council will review the evidence published on the vaccine's effectiveness on the older population.

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention country director Eric Dzuiban yesterday said some countries had imposed an age limit, but this was not set by the manufacturer.

Namibia will receive its vaccine from the SK Bioscience which produces vaccines, varicella drugs, and other related products.

The chairman of the Africa Public Health Foundation, a foundation of Africa Centres for Disease Control, Bernard Haufiku, yesterday said the most reasonable way is to start administering it to the most vulnerable and most exposed persons.

"Start with healthcare workers, people over the age of 60 and those with comorbidities such as hypertension, heart diseases and diabetics. I wonder that if the vaccine can be given to a 64-year-old, why not someone over 65?" he asked.

"I understand the lack of scientific data but we all know the physiological differences between a body of a 64-year-old and someone over 65, are minute. So, from my perspective, if a 64-year-old can be safely vaccinated, so can a 65 year old or above, undergo a similar procedure," Haufiku said.

Haufiku said it would also be good to see the evidence European Union countries based their decisions on not to vaccinate those under 18 years or over 65.

Haufiku added that it remains the choice of every individual to take the vaccine or not.

"It shall or should not be forced upon anyone," he said.

Presidential press secretary Alfredo Hengari did not respond to questions at the time of going to print.

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa last week received one million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and has not set any age restriction on the administration of the vaccine although the Daily Maverick yesterday reported that the country might not even use it, seeing that it might be less effective against the South African variant.

According to the Financial Times: "The Oxford/AstraZeneca jab fails to prevent mild and moderate Covid from the South African strain, the study shows.

"The jab showed significantly reduced efficacy against the 501Y.V2 variant, which is dominant in South Africa," the article reads.

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The Times further said all Covid-19 vaccines so far have shown promising results against the B.1.1.7 variant that emerged in the United Kingdom, while the strain that originated in South Africa has been more worrying.

OTHER COUNTRIES

French president Emmanuel Macron last month announced that AstraZeneca will only be administered to citizens under 65 citing lack of evidence on its effectiveness on people older than that as the reason.

Other European countries that have taken a similar position are Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain and Poland, while Italy and Belgium restricted it for those under 55.

Switzerland has ruled out giving the vaccine for any age group. According to the BBC, the Swiss medical regulator said there was not enough evidence yet on its safety, effectiveness and quality to do so.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Bee Joyful Shop, downtown Kalamazoos zero-waste retail shop, has announced plans for second location about 100 miles east of its original store on the Kalamazoo Mall.

Owner Jessica Thompson said she was eager to keep expanding Bee Joyfuls eco-friendly footprint after having success in downtown Kalamazoo this year. Now, Thompson hopes to meet demand she has seen from out-of-town customers by opening a second location, near Ann Arbor.

Related: Shop selling zero waste plastic alternatives opens in downtown Kalamazoo

On a weekly basis, Thompson said, customers travel to her Kalamazoo storefront from across the state to grab reusable food wraps, vegan soaps and refillable shampoo and conditioner they can buy in bulk. She joked that the environmentalist in her hopes customers were carpooling on their treks to visit her store.

My dream was to expand since this was such a hit in six months, Thompson said. Wouldnt this be awesome if we had two or three places, strategically placed, so that people could get to them.

After scrolling through social media comments asking her to open new locations elsewhere in the state, Thompson narrowed it down to the places with the most demand and ultimately chose the Ann Arbor area.

The retailers new location will be in Dexter, about a 20-minute drive west of Ann Arbor. The shops new home at 3203 Broad St. fits the Bee Joyful aesthetic perfectly, Thompson said. She is excited to be right on the corner of Dexters quaint downtown, and inside a 1800s-era building.

Thompson has created a local network of new business owners on the Kalamazoo Mall, and was pleased to find the Dexter community already welcoming her with open arms.

Related: Four downtown Kalamazoo retailers who opened in 2020 stress importance of shopping local

Within an hour of the announcement, she said, she received phone calls from the mayor, chamber of commerce and neighboring business owners.

The new location is set to open in April. Last year, the Kalamazoo locations grand opening was also set for April but postponed due to the COVD-19 pandemic.

The Kalamazoo location of Bee Joyful Shop will continue operations 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Monday - Friday and from noon to 4 p.m. on weekends.

More on MLive:

Kalamazoo Menu founder joins BuyLocal to build grassroots Chamber for small business

YWCA in Kalamazoo creates career pathway to staff 24-hour childcare center

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[February 09, 2021] Air Liquide and Siemens Energy to develop a large scale electrolyzer partnership for sustainable hydrogen production

Both companies to initiate a European ecosystem for electrolysis and hydrogen technology

Franco-German cooperation supported by French and German Governments

Large hydrogen projects identified to lay the ground for industrial scale electrolyzer systems, one of these opportunities is the Air Liquide-H2V Normandy project in France with a capacity of 200MW

with a capacity of 200MW Joint application for funding of a large project under the European Union's Green Deal and joint participation of the German IPCEI-scheme for hydrogen PARIS, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Liquide and Siemens Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the objective to combine their expertise in PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolysis technology. They intend to focus their activities on these key areas: co-creation of large industrial-scale hydrogen projects in collaboration with customers, laying the ground for mass manufacturing of electrolyzers in Europe, especially in Germany and France, and R&D activities to co-develop next generation electrolyzer technologies. Hydrogen will play an essential role to achieve the European Union's objectives for CO 2 and greenhouse gas emission reduction. In order to meet rapidly growing demand and to lower costs, it is key to accelerate the production of sustainably generated hydrogen through large-scale PEM electrolysers. In the framework of their cooperation Air Liquide and Siemens Energy will jointly apply for large projects funding under the EU's Green Deal and Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) -scheme for hydrogen, funded by the French and German Governments. The IPCEI-funding is required to fast start those activities and meet the challenging timeline set out by the European Green New Deal, the EU Hydrogen Strategy as well as the French and German National Hydrogen Strategies. With this cooperation, Air Liquide and Siemens Energy will strengthen their core competencies enabling the emergence of a sustainable hydrogen economy in Europe and to initiate a European ecosystem for electrolysis and hydrogen technology together with other partners. The partners have already identified cooperation opportunities for large scale sustainable hydrogen projects both in France, Germany and other European countries. One of these opportunities is the Air Liquide-H2V Normandy project in France with a capacity of 200 MW, one of the mot ambitious European projects for hydrogen production from renewable energies.



Benoit Potier, Chairman and CEO of Air Liquide, said: "Hydrogen is a key enabler of the energy transition. In the context of an unprecedented acceleration in Europe of hydrogen technologies and markets, the time to scale-up is now, notably in France and Germany. The partnership between Air Liquide and Siemens Energy paves the way for the creation of a leading European ecosystem capable of supplying decarbonised hydrogen at competitive prices and promoting the emergence of a low-carbon society . We look forward to this Franco-German cooperation. " Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy, said: "Building up a sustainable Hydrogen economy will still require to amend the framework conditions in the energy market. However it will be through partnerships and collaboration that we can shape this market. We highly appreciate to co-create innovative solutions with Air Liquide. Collectively we will overcome the challenges that lie ahead to industrialize the technology and make sustainably generated hydrogen a success story."

Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of Economy, Finance and the Recovery, said: "Now, is the time to invest massively in order to develop new value chains and new technologies. Now, is the time to act. With "France Relance", 7 billion euros will be invested in hydrogen between now and 2030 to make our economy more competitive and more decarbonised. The ambitious project of Air Liquide and Siemens Energy is only the beginning of an industrial cooperation that must develop beyond a Franco-German alliance. The recovery must be above all a European recovery. I also salute Air Liquide's mobilization in the framework of the French hydrogen plan, notably through its participation and commitment within the National Hydrogen Council." Peter Altmaier, German Federal Economy Minister, said: "Hydrogen is a key element for the success of Germany's energy transition and crucial for European and global efforts to combat climate change. Germany is strongly committed to support the market ramp up of hydrogen technologies and is working hard towards European Hydrogen IPCEIs. Against this background, I very much welcome that Siemens Energy and Air Liquide join forces in this domain and I am looking forward to seeing strong Franco-German hydrogen projects coming online soon."

About Air Liquide A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 80 countries with approximately 67,000 employees and serves more than 3.7 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide's scientific territory and have been at the core of the company's activities since its creation in 1902. Air Liquide's ambition is to be a leader in its industry, deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability. The company's customer-centric transformation strategy aims at profitable, regular and responsible growth over the long term. It relies on operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation and a network organization implemented by the Group worldwide. Through the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitization, and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders. Air Liquide's revenue amounted to 22 billion euros in 2019 and its solutions that protect life and the environment represented more than 40% of sales. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, EURO STOXX 50 and FTSE4Good indexes. www.airliquide.com About Siemens Energy Siemens Energy is one of the world's leading energy technology companies. The company works with its customers and partners on energy systems for the future, thus supporting the transition to a more sustainable world. With its portfolio of products, solutions and services, Siemens Energy covers almost the entire energy value chain  from power generation and transmission to storage. The portfolio includes conventional and renewable energy technology, such as gas and steam turbines, hybrid power plants operated with hydrogen, and power generators and transformers. More than 50 percent of the portfolio has already been decarbonized. A majority stake in the listed company Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) makes Siemens Energy a global market leader for renewable energies. An estimated one-sixth of the electricity generated worldwide is based on technologies from Siemens Energy. Siemens Energy employs more than 90,000 people worldwide in more than 90 countries and generated revenue of around 27.5 billion in fiscal year 2020. www.siemens-energy.com. SOURCE Air Liquide

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U.N. agencies received approval from Ethiopia's government Monday to send 25 more staff members to embattled Tigray, a region where the United Nations says hunger is growing and much of the area has been inaccessible to humanitarian workers.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric called the clearance a first step towards ensuring that aid workers in Tigray can deliver and ramp up the response given the rapidly rising needs in the region.

A U.N. humanitarian report released Thursday said life for civilians in Tigray has become extremely alarming since fighting began in early November pitting Ethiopian and allied forces against those of the Tigray region, which dominated the country's government for almost three decades before Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018. Each side now views the other as illegitimate.

The government has said well over 1 million people in Tigray have been reached with assistance but some aid workers have reported having to negotiate access with a range of armed actors, even from neighboring Eritrea, and starvation has become a major concern.

As fighting enters its fourth month, international pressure has increased on Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous country and the anchor of the Horn of Africa, to allow aid workers, journalists and human rights experts into Tigray. Currently, communications are patchy and little is known about the situation for most of its 6 million people.

Dujarric pointed to recent positive engagements between the government and senior U.N. officials, including World Food Program Executive Director David Beasley, who just wrapped up a trip to Ethiopia.

Beasley reported that WFP has accepted the government's request to help authorities and aid partners transport aid into and within Tigray and also agreed to provide emergency food aid for up to one million people in Tigray, Dujarric said.

The U.N. spokesman said humanitarian workers are looking forward to receiving approval for 60 staff members from the U.N. and aid agencies who are in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, ready to go to Tigray, as well as rapid approval of future requests.

According to last week's report from the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, which is funded and managed by the United States, aid workers on the ground indicate a rising in acute malnutrition across the region. It said that only 1 percent of the nearly 920 nutrition treatment facilities in Tigray are reachable.

Many households are expected to have already depleted their food stocks, or are expected to deplete their food stocks in the next two months, the report said. It warned that more parts of central and eastern Tigray likely will enter Emergency Phase 4, a step below famine, in the coming weeks. Health care in the region is also alarmingly limited, the report said.

In a separate statement, the U.N special adviser on the prevention of genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, said she has received reports of serious human rights violations in Tigray, including extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, looting of property, mass executions and impeded humanitarian access.

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Myntra is India's leading platform for fashion brands and a pioneer in m-commerce play. An integral part of the Flipkart Group, Myntra brings together technology and fashion to create the best experience in the fashion and lifestyle space in India. The company has partnered with over 5000+ leading fashion and lifestyle brands in the country such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Levis, Wrangler, Arrow, Jealous 21, Diesel, CAT, Harley Davidson, Ferrari, Timberland, US Polo, FabIndia, Biba and many more, to offer a wide range in latest branded fashion and lifestyle wear. Myntra services over 27,000 pin codes across the country.

(Natural News) The Biden regime was forced to admit the other day that its green energy initiatives are not going so well because most of the technology in this sector is made in communist China.

Michael Regan, China Joes pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), confessed during his confirmation hearing that the United States is competitively disadvantaged when it comes to the green agenda because the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is already leaps and bounds ahead of the U.S.

Sen. Mike Braun (R-In.) asked Regan during the hearing about Chinas total disregard for the goals of green activists, which are heavily focused on addressing global warming and climate change.

All Regan could say was that during his time heading up the State of North Carolinas Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Tar Heel State, a national leader in solar installation, had to get most of its parts and supplies from the Chinese regime.

What we find is most of the parts we want to install come from China, Regan stated. Were finding that if we dont capture the market, were going to fall behind. I believe thats the same for solar as it is for cars.

According to China Joes climate team, green energy jobs will flourish once the fossil fuel industry is gone. Regans statements would seem to contradict that, though.

You look at solar panels, you look at wind turbines, how theyre made. China, we know from everything that they do being state capitalists  theyre going to do things to put their industries at a competitive edge and reap the benefits while theyre polluting the air, Braun told reporters.

Theres a lot we need to be careful with.

Green energy is a cover story for shifting control of transportation fuels from OPEC to China

According to Derek Scissors, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, communist China currently controls about 60 percent of the solar industrys entire supply chain. China is also the chief producer, at 75 percent, of polysilicon, a critical raw material used in the manufacturing of solar cells.

If the administration wants to greatly increase the use of solar, it faces the problem that China spends heavily to dominate world solar production. Either wed have to rely on Chinese suppliers when ramping up solar or the administration would have to use legal means to secure the supply chain, Scissors is quoted as saying.

In this sense, solar reflects the larger challenge facing build back better. The final stage of production may not be that important.

As reported by the Infinite Unknown Twitter account, communist China also control anywhere from 50-70 percent of the lithium, cobalt, and polysilicon that is mined and produced. These materials are used in the manufacture of electric vehicle (EV) batteries as well as in solar panels.

As we move to electric vehicles, we are essentially shifting control of transportation fuels from OPEC to China, that same account warns.

All of this aligns with an executive order signed by Beijing Biden, part of the name of which talks about tackling the climate crisis.

The EO basically undoes what President Donald Trump did to try to protect American infrastructure against a Chinese takeover  hence why we call him Beijing Biden and China Joe.

Now that Joe Biden is destroying U.S. fossil fuel projects, John Kerry says the unemployed workers can be the people that go to work to make the solar panels,' tweeted Center for Industrial Progress founder Alex Epstein.

But solar panel makers will remain in China  because Chinas mines and factories are cheaply powered by fossil fuels.

More related news about the green energy scam and its true purpose can be found at Hoax.news.

Sources for this article include:

NationalFile.com

NaturalNews.com
With great pleasure I wish to share with the readers of Bihar and around the world, a brief history of the Khuda Baksh Oriental Public library and its founder, as recorded by my eminent historian father, Syed Ahsan Shere.

Upon his return to India in 1934, after studying at the school of Oriental Studies, University of London, my father served as the Curator of Patna Museum and later on became the Secretary Of Khuda Baksh Oriental public library.

Even though I am a student of science, I had a keen interest in history. I had the distinct opportunity and privilege in going through my father's memoirs, and in doing so, I got a glimpse of this unique and a remarkable world-renowned Khuda Baksh Oriental public library and its founder.

Khuda Baksh was born on 2nd August 1842. He was brought up under the guidance of his father who dedicated his life for the betterment of humanity. When his father was on his death-bed in 1876, he entrusted his son to open a public library. Khuda Bakhsh, thus, inherited from his father love for books and dedication to public service. He made it a mission of life to establish a public library so as to fulfill his father's dream and desire. He made every effort to acquire rare books and manuscripts. The Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library was established in 1891.



The library is famous for its rare Arabic and Persian manuscripts, rich paintings and numerous volumes of rare books. Jehangir-Nama, Shah-Nama, Al-Quran, Tarikh-i-Khandan-i-Timuriya, Kitab-al-Hashaish and Al-Lumafi al-Tasawwuf are among the rare manuscripts in this collection. The manuscript of Diwan-i-Hafiz from the personal collection of Mughal emperors Humayun and Jehangir is also in the Khuda Baksh library. Kitab-Al-Hashaish is a revised Arabic version by Hunayn bin Ishaq of the Greek original dictionary of medicine listing the properties of medicinal plants. The manuscript of Kitab-Al-Tasrif describes in detail many methods and instruments of surgery with exquisite illustrations and is written in Arabic language with Mahgribi characters.

Also some of the rare collections are the oddities such as an inch-wide holy Quran. The Library also has a huge collection of more than 18,000 Arabic and Persian manuscripts and over 2000 rare paintings belonging to the Mughal and Rajput era. The Library is known for its extraordinary collection of more than 21,000 manuscripts, some of them extremely rare and richly illustrated, in Arabic, Pali, Pashtu, Persian, Sanskrit, Turkish and Urdu languages and also for its Mughal, Iranian, Central Asian and Rajput paintings. It has become a centre of research for the scholars of Islamic Studies, Medieval Indian History, West, South and Central Asian Studies, Mughal Architecture, Islamic Sciences and Mughal, Iranian, Central Asian and Rajput paintings. The Library also specializes in Islamic Studies, Tibb (Unani Medicine), Tazkira (Biography), Tasawwuf (Islamic Mysticism), Comparative religions, Medieval History, South East Asian History, West Asian History, Central Asian History, Medieval Science, Literature on Freedom Movement and National Integration as also Urdu, Persian and Arabic Literatures. Undoubtedly Khuda Baksh Oriental library is one of its kind in the world. "The Patna Oriental Public Library is one of the finest collections on Moslem literature in the World," remarked V.C. Scott O'Connor, an Orientalist of Edinburgh, England.

Khuda Baksh had struggled hard for years and paid fancy prices for rare manuscripts and books to build his precious collection. The British Museum once made him a magnificent offer for his collection but he declined. He told to O'Connor ... "I am a poor man and the sum they offered me was a princely fortune, but could I ever part for money with that to which my father and I have dedicated our lives...?" And as he said, his clear-cut features betrayed a single emotion; his large luminous eyes welled up with tears. "No" he said: "the collection is for Patna and the gift shall be laid at the feet of the Patna public".

Indeed we are fortunate to have this world renowned library with its unique collections located in Patna.

---------------------------------------

About the Writer:

Waris Shere is a former resident of Patna. He is the author of eight books including "THE STRUGGLE FOR PEACE". Professor Shere is a freelance journalist and was nominated for the "ORDER OF CANADA".

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9) The first batch of the much-awaited coronavirus vaccines may arrive in the Philippines on February 13, the Department of Health said Tuesday.

DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire confirmed to CNN Philippines that this was the indicative date agreed upon by the government and the organizers of the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility, which will be supplying the initial 117,000 Pfizer doses to the country.

So if ever this will come on February 13, three days after we will begin the rollout, Vergeire said in an interview with The Source. Maybe February 15 or 16 we can start the immunization if and when the vaccines arrive on that date theyve said.

Vergeire, however, clarified they are still waiting for the final confirmation from COVAX.

But what Im confident is that the commitment by the second or third week of February would push through, she said.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said the government is ready to start the COVID-19 vaccination drive by February 15, but also stressed that the target inoculation date will still depend on the arrival of the vaccines.

The Philippines is expected to receive 5.6 million doses of vaccines in the first quarter of 2021 through the COVAX facility, the global initiative that seeks to ensure nations equitable access to the products.

More hospitals to benefit from Pfizer vaccines

Meanwhile, Vergeire also confirmed more facilities in Metro Manila and other regions will benefit from the Pfizer vaccines.

Were going to provide other DOH-designated hospitals for COVID and that would include a specific hospital in Cebu and also in Davao, the Health official revealed.

Aside from referral hospitals, Vergeire also listed down some local government hospitals and five private hospitals as possible beneficiaries of the doses. However, no specific names were mentioned.

Officials earlier said the initial vaccines are expected to cover over 50,000 medical frontliners and hospital staff at the Philippine General Hospital, Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium or Tala Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, and the East Avenue Medical Center.
The two-star commandant of the U.S. Army War College has been suspended until the completion of an investigation, the Army announced Tuesday.

"Maj. Gen. Stephen J. Maranian has been suspended from his duties as the commandant of the U.S. Army War College," Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said in a statement.

Smith did not provide details about the subject of the investigation.

"This matter is under investigation and unrelated to his current position," Smith said.

Read Next: Army Special Operations School Drops 'III' Logo Adopted by Extremist Group

Maj. Gen. David Hill, deputy chief of Engineers and the deputy commander of the Army Corps of Engineers, has been assigned as the acting commandant of the war college, Smith said.

Maranian became commandant in July. Before this command, he had served as the deputy commander of Education at the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center; the provost at Army University; and deputy commandant at the Army Command and General Staff College, all of which are at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, according to his Army biography.

As the deputy commander of the Corps of Engineers, Hill was second in command of an organization of more than 36,000 civilian employees and 800 military personnel supporting 250 Army and Air Force installations and providing technical and construction expertise to more than 110 countries, according to his Army bio. Hill came to that post in July.

The War College, located at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, was created to develop senior leaders into skilled critical thinkers that can solve complex problems at the strategic level, according to the institution's website.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related: Fort Hood Top Enlisted Leader Reinstated after Probe Finds No Proof of Unprofessional Language
A new beer is about to released in Michigan, and it offers a taste of summer in a bubbly little brew that gets spiked with fresh fruit. Watermelon Spritz from New Holland Brewing Company will be available in six packs of cans starting February 8.

We wanted to explore the seltzer world but with an approach that was still appealing to the beer drinker and cocktail drinker, said Adam Dickerson, Brand Manager for New Holland Brewing Company. With a love for the aperitif spritz cocktails, we looked to create similar flavors with this recipe.

Watermelon Spritz is a hybrid of liquids, combining a fruity wheat beer with a bubbly seltzer, and then adding a punch of fresh watermelon. The resulting brew? Effervescent, bright, a bit tart, and complimented by loads of fruit. It comes in at an easy drinking 4.3% ABV.

It harnesses all the fruit forward flavors of a wheat beer and adds an effervescent pop of bubbles to make it fizzy, yet flavorful; bitter, yet sweet, explained Dickerson. We experimented with a ton of different fruits and felt that watermelon just worked so well with the flavors of the beer.

Watermelon Spritz is not just another entrant into the incredibly popular hard seltzer market according to Dickerson. It packs way more flavor, he said. The fruity profile of the wheat beer stands strong and the watermelon adds a tartness that keeps it refreshing.

Weve been incredibly excited about it, said Joel Peterson, Vice President of Marketing for New Holland. Anyone who follows the craft trends knows how incredibly hot seltzer is. We wanted to do it in a way that felt New Holland, whats a way that we could make this feel like ours?

Craft is at the center of everything New Holland does, whether its beer, spirits or food. While not a traditional craft beer, the Spritz still represents craft and craftsmenship Peterson said. He hopes that the Watermelon Spritz will welcome a new consumer to New Holland. The word Im centering around is inviting, he said. How do we be inviting? How do we both enhance someones experience, with a product or a flavor profile they might not have really experienced before, and also how do we welcome them in to what we are doing.

Watermelon Spritz is the newest offering from New Holland Brewing, which has been making beer since 1996, and is probably best known for their popular barrel aged Dragons Milk stout. They added a distillery to the company in 2005.

The brewery looked to their Dutch heritage as they developed a new brand message over the last year. They came up with For Gezellig Times, using a traditional Dutch saying to reflect what New Holland is all about.

During our rebrand last year, we did a lot of soul searching and research, Dickerson said. We were working on our brand message and trying to find something that really embodied our mission. When we uncovered this term, and its connection to our Dutch past, we had to embrace it. It is everything we hope to achieve as a brewery. We want to spark joy, foster connectivity, provide moments and products that bring people together and do it with an unwavering cheerfulness that can only be found in Holland. We brew beer for Gezellig times.

Peterson said Its all about creating the setting for great times to happen.

Dickerson explained more about this term in a press release. A term that is used often in Dutch culture, Gezellig loosely translates to an atmosphere that allows for good times to happen. It is joyful, gregarious, social and cheerful.

Watermelon Spritz isnt the only new beverage youll see from New Holland this year. On May 6, their new Summer Ale, a tart, dry hopped IPA will be released. Theyll also have three limited beer releases in their brewers best series. Dickerson also said to look forward to very special beer releases that will only be available at their pubs. I wont reveal all the secrets, but fans can expect to see some next-level ipas, juicy sours, bold pastry stouts and some wild experimental stuff, he said. Were really taking the shackles off and allowing our innovation team to pump out some really exciting brews.

New Holland Brewing Company

Pub on 8th

66 E 8th Street,Holland, MI 49423

(616) 355-6422

Grand Rapids brewpub/The Knickerbocker

417 Bridge St. NW,Grand Rapids, MI 49504(

616) 345-5642

Saugatuck tasting room

201 Culver St.,Saugatuck, Michigan 49453

616-294-3436

New Holland Brewing will launch a new light beer, Lightpoint Functional White Ale, on March 1. The beer has 86 calories and two grams of carbohydrates per can. (Courtesy photo)

More Michigan Beer News:

Bells releases Cold Hearted just in time for Valentines Day

This new Michigan Brewery App puts all your favorites in one place

Michigan craft beer trends, what to look for in 2021

Non-alcoholic beer creating a buzz in Michigan

Amys Top 10 Michigan beers of 2020

Gonzos Top 10 Michigan beers of 2020

Kalamazoos One Well Brewing tucks heaters under tables to create a warm situation

Beer can shortage means some popular brews will be in bottles only

Want to pass along a Michigan beer story idea or tip? Feel free to email us:

Amy Sherman: asherma2@mlive.com

John Gonzalez: gonzo@mlive.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.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Travellers arriving in Britain from abroad will have to take two coronavirus tests during quarantine, the government is expected to confirm on Tuesday.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is due to announce that people told to isolate at home will be required to get a test two and eight days into a mandatory 10-day quarantine period.

The new measures, which critics say come too late to curb the spread of the virus, are aimed at halting new variants.

But the health ministry said Britain's response had been informed by experts leading to "some of the toughest border regimes in the world".

"Enhancing our testing regime to cover all arrivals while they isolate will provide a further level of protection and enable us to better track any new cases which might be brought into the country, and give us even more opportunities to detect new variants," a spokesman said.

Environment Secretary George Eustice confirmed that announcements on the new quarantine regime would be made in parliament later on Tuesday.

"We have to be ever mindful of the risk of other variants entering the country," he told BBC radio.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government has been under pressure to tighten rules for international travellers, following criticism the regime was too lax.

New mandatory hotel quarantine rules for travellers returning from dozens of countries deemed "high risk" from COVID-19 are due to start from February 15.

The new rules will require all UK citizens and permanent residents returning from countries on a travel ban list to self-isolate in a government-approved facility for 10 days.

Other visitors from the 33 countries currently on the list, which includes all South American nations and South Africa, are currently barred from visiting Britain under virus lockdown rules.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado has entered final default judgments against defendant Seth A. Leyton and relief defendant Coddington Family Trust in connection with a prime bank scheme orchestrated by Daniel Dirk Coddington.

The SEC's complaint filed on December 12, 2013, alleged that Coddington defrauded investors by soliciting investments in a purported trading program involving Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMOs) that Coddington told investors would produce annual returns ranging from 250% to 475%. In fact, the complaint alleged, the trading program did not exist, and the majority of investor money was misappropriated. The complaint further alleged that Leyton, the owner of a securities brokerage firm, assisted Coddington by opening brokerage accounts that enabled Coddington to misappropriate investors' CMOs. Specifically, the complaint alleged that Leyton opened brokerage accounts at his brokerage firm to enable investors to transfer their CMOs to the defendants, delayed the return of the CMOs to investors, and sold or assisted in the selling of the CMOs contrary to the terms of the investment agreements with investors. The complaint also alleged that Coddington transferred funds illegally obtained from investors through the fraudulent scheme to the Coddington Family Trust. The SEC charged the Coddington Family Trust as a relief defendant in the 2013 action.

Leyton and the Coddington Family Trust did not answer or otherwise respond to the SEC's complaint. In its orders entering the default judgments, the court found that Leyton aided and abetted violations of the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and permanently enjoined him from future violations. The court also ordered Leyton to pay disgorgement of $176,964, prejudgment interest of $69,374, and a civil penalty of $176,964. Finally, the court ordered the Coddington Family Trust to pay disgorgement of $1,591,962 and prejudgment interest of $665,220.

The SEC also sought, and the court granted, dismissal of its claims against defendant Stonerock Capital Group LLC and its president, relief defendant Joanna I. Columbia, because the disgorgement that the SEC sought from Stonerock (which is now defunct) and Ms. Columbia was included in a judgment against her former husband, defendant Michael B. Columbia.

The SEC previously obtained judgments against Merlyn Curt Geisler, Marshall D. Gunn, Jr., and Michael B. Columbia in connection with their roles in the alleged prime bank scheme, and dismissed its claims against Coddington (who passed away in January 2019) and others, including several entities that are now defunct. The SEC's case is continuing against Jesse W. Erwin, Jr., Lewis P. Malouf, and Daniel Scott Coddington. The litigation is being led by Leslie J. Hughes and Stephen C. McKenna, and supervised by Gregory A. Kasper.

Jan Ernst Matzeliger: The Henry Ford of Shoes

Suppose that I figured out a way to revolutionize the shoe industry. An invention of my own design would double shoe production and cut shoe prices in half. It would provide thousands of new jobs for mostly young or poor people. I could do it without a penny of taxpayer money. Indeed, I faced some major disadvantages to overcome, not the least of which was the fact that Im a poor immigrant from Dutch Guiana (now Surinam) and my mother was a black slave.

If you met me, knowing what I have just told you about myself, which of the following would you want to say to me?

You didnt build that! You need to pay more taxes and be regulated. Were you motivated by greed? Who did you exploit along the way? Youre a hero!

If you answered 1, 2, 3, or 4, that probably says a lot more about you than it does me, and it isnt good. If 5 was your answer, go to the head of your Sociology class.

Of course, I (Lawrence Reed) cannot lay claim to any of the accomplishments cited above. But a remarkable young man named Jan Ernst Matzeliger (1852-1889)certainly can. If you wear shoes, you owe him a debt of gratitude.

Born in 1852 in Paramaribo, Matzeliger was the son of a Dutch engineer and a Surinamese black woman who was a household slave. Jan grew up working in his fathers workshops, where he exhibited a very promising aptitude for handling and fixing machines.

At the age of 19, he spent his savings sailing the world on a merchant ship before he settled two years later in Philadelphiawithout a job or friends and speaking only Dutch. But he learned English and made friends fast. When offered employment in a shoe factory in 1877 in Lynn, Massachusetts, he grabbed it. His English was then so good that he taught Sunday school at one of the few churches in the city that welcomed blacks into its congregation.

Shoes in those days were made as they had been for centuriesmostly by hand, one at a time. It was a laborious task, as one author explains:

For proper fit, the customers feet had to be duplicated in size and form by creating a stone or wooden mold called a last from which the shoes were sized and shaped. Since the greatest difficulty in shoe making was the actual assembly of the sole to the upper shoe, it required great skill to tack and sew the two components together. It was thought that such intricate work could only be done by skilled human hands.

Matzeligers inventive mind zeroed in on the solution. If a machine could be developed that would automate the lasting processattaching the sole to the upper shoethe result would be an explosion in productivity. It took him several years of trial and error but such a machine is precisely what he invented and received a patent for in 1883.

In 1883, Jan Ernst Matzeliger invented a lasting machine, which attached the sole to the upper shoe. Up till then, this task had been done manually and was very time-consuming. (Public domain)

The most expert shoe laster, using standard hand tools, would be lucky if he could turn out 50 pairs of shoes in a day. With Matzeligers machine, he could produce upwards of 700. It was like going from horse and buggy to a Ferrari overnight.

Two years later, the young inventor sold a working model and the rights to replicate the machine to venture capitalists, who paid him the equivalent in todays money of about $400,000. In no time, it became the standard throughout the industry. Important elements of it are still in use in shoe factories today.

Tragically, Matzeliger had worked so hard on the invention, often going without food so he could afford materials, that he put his health in jeopardy. He contracted tuberculosis and died at the age of 36 in 1889.

The University of Houstons John Lienhard describes Matzeligers final five years as happy ones:

Hed gained membership in the North Congregational Church. Hed gained friends. He taught Sunday school, and he taught oil painting. He also poured out his inventive genius on new machines. Meanwhile, hed cut the cost of making shoes in two. When tuberculosis claimed him, his will left a big piece of his fortunes to the Church thatd seen beyond the color of his skin. He made special provisions for his drawing instruments, his Bible, and his technical booksthe things thatd really mattered to him. In 1984, Lynn, Massachusetts, finally named a bridge after this good and quiet man whod done so much for the city, whod done so much for all America. Finally, they honored this triumph of the mind, against all odds.

In September 1991, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 29-cent stamp in memory of Jan Ernst Matzeliger. It was an honor he richly deserved.
Investigators seek house arrest for municipal lawmaker in rally sanitary violations case

 Facebook.com

12:00 09/02/2021

MOSCOW, February 9 (RAPSI)  Investigators have filed a motion seeking to place Moscows municipal lawmaker Konstantin Yankauskas charged with incitement to violation of anti-coronavirus sanitary requirements during unauthorized rallies under house arrest, the Basmanny District Courts press service has told RAPSI.

The defendant faces house arrest until March 23.

Earlier, several persons, including employees of a foundation established by Alexey Navalny, Lyubov Sobol and Oleg Stepanov, Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina and Navalnys brother Oleg and Anastasia Vasilyeva, the head of the medical workers' union Alyans Vrachei (Doctors' Alliance), were put under house arrest as part of the same case.

According to police, coronavirus-positive persons ordered to isolation were identified among participants of the Moscow rally. A criminal case over violation of sanitary and epidemiological rules was opened over this fact.
Mumbai, Feb 9 : The Aditya Birla Education Academy (ABEA) has collaborated with Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) to offer scholarships for CTY's online programmes for advanced learners in India.

Both ABEA and CTY aim to identify and support the needs of bright young learners in India through these online programmes at reduced rates up to August 2021.

Through this cooperation with CTY, Aditya Birla Education Academy is providing a 5% scholarship on tuition fees and reduction in the application fees up to August 2021.

This scholarship can be availed by only the first 50 advanced learners who apply to ABEA. Students in grades 2 through 12 can qualify through participation in the CTY Talent Search and demonstrating high ability in either quantitative or spatial reasoning (for math and science courses) or verbal reasoning (for humanities and writing courses).

Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson, Aditya Birla Education Trust, said, "We, at Aditya Birla Education Academy, are dedicated to offer unique, rigorous and relevant courses to learners in the country who are looking to upskill themselves in this dynamic environment. In this endeavour, we are happy to extend our cooperation with the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth with a special scholarship to fulfil the learning needs of bright young minds in India to enrol in CTY's Online Programmes for advanced learners. I am confident that students will find tremendous value in these enriching courses." Samuel Robfogel, Senior Director for International Initiatives at CTY, said "CTY is committed to providing students with high ability around the globe with the optimal level of challenge to help them develop their academic talents. We are pleased to cooperate with Aditya Birla Education Trust to advance this work in India."
Posted Monday, February 8, 2021 4:46 pm

Centralia resident and former Oakville and Chehalis Post Office employee Steven Craig has completed his third book  All Present and Accounted For  which tells the 1972 story of the U.S. Coast Guards cutter Jarvis that was caught at sea in a life-threatening storm and the crews efforts that saved the ship.

Throughout Craigs 38 active and reserve years in the Coast Guard, he heard stories from those aboard the Jarvis about how it came dangerously close to disaster during a storm. He decided the story of the Jarvis cutter crew needed to be told.

I interviewed 35 of the former crew members, Craig said. The story is nonfiction and 100% true. The names in the book are all accurate. Everything is based on the ship log entries or the crew members memories.

In November of 1972, the Coast Guard cutter Jarvis hit a severe storm near Alaska and the crew was forced to anchor the ship.

Due to the rough seas caused by the storm, the anchor was dragged on the ocean floor, leaving a hole in the bottom of the ship. The crew repaired the hole as best they could and decided to try to make it back to Honolulu, but when they got out into the open ocean, 50-foot waves tore the patch off the ship and the engine room filled with about 13 feet of water.

Of course it disabled the ship and they were floating without power. It was toward the end of November, so it was freezing temperatures  snow, sleet and freezing rain coming down, Craig said. And they were just bobbing around in those tremendous oceans.

The Jarvis crew sent out an SOS while the ship was headed toward a rocky shoreline that would sink the ship. Jarvis crew members told Craig that boarding lifeboats was considered but the waves were too high and many crew members said they would rather die on the ship than in a small boat in the ocean.

At 7:04 p.m., for one of the few times in Coast Guard history, a MAYDAY call for help would come from a Coast Guard vessel. This is the incredible story of the grounding and near sinking of the USCGC Jarvis and how her crew fought to save their ship  and themselves  from disaster, states the book's description on Amazon.

Craig gathered information about the Jarvis and the near-disaster from former crew members, family members, essays and the ship logs acquired through a Federal Archives Center in California. Craig said it took about a year to write the book and often when he felt he was close to finishing he would hear from another crew member with more information.

I wanted to get the whole story from the bridge to the engine room. A lot of the guys only had memories of what happened in their section and didnt know what was going on with the rest of the ship, Craig said. After getting the whole picture, a lot of guys said they didnt know it was that bad.

Craigs book All Present and Accounted For can be purchased at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis or on Amazon.com, where the book received 4.7 out of 5 stars based upon 112 global reviews.
South Africa Pauses Roll-Out of Covid-19 Vaccine

South Africa is to suspend its rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after initial trials showed "disappointing" results against the new B.1.351 variant of Covid-19. The country has received 1 million doses of the jab from the Serum Institute of India and had planned to start using it to vaccinate frontline healthcare workers from mid-February. The study, involving around 2,000 people, found the vaccine offered "minimal protection" against mild and moderate cases of Covid-19. "We have decided to put a temporary hold on the rollout of the (AstraZeneca) vaccine. More work needs to be done," Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said at a press briefing on February 7, 2021. He said scientists would be studying whether or not the AstraZeneca vaccine was effective in preventing severe disease and death against the new variant. The government will instead offer vaccines produced by Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer in the coming weeks. Many African nations had been planning to use the AstraZeneca shot owing to its affordability and the fact that it can be kept in ordinary refrigerators, Deutsche Welle reports.

In addition to the shock announcement of the halted vaccine roll-out, TimesLive is quoting health department deputy director-general Anban Pillay as saying in a question session after the briefing that health authorities discovered that the vaccine delivered from India have an expiry date well before what had been planned for. He is quoted as saying that vaccines usually have a six-month shelf-life but the vaccines the country had received were marked as expiring in April 2021.

Bengaluru, Feb 9 : Seven-time Janata Dal (S) MLC, Basavaraj Horatti, who had entered the fray as the ruling BJP supported candidate for the post of the Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council, was declared 'elected unanimously' on Tuesday.

Horatti was declared 'unanimously' elected as the opposition Congress did not propose the name of its candidate Naseer Ahmed during the election process.

Horatti (74), who started as a physical education teacher in the Lamington High School in Hubballi, did is Bachelor of Arts degree and before doing Masters in physical education. He has been a member of the Council for more than 40 years now, starting from 1980. He had served as the Chairman (acting) of the Council from June 22 to December 12, 2018.

Both Horatti and Naseer Ahmed had filed their nominations on Monday. The election was necessitated following the resignation of Congress' K. Prathap Chandra Shetty as the Chairman on February 4 to preempt a no-confidence motion against him by the ruling BJP with JD(S) extending support to it.

Horratti's election was certain as the BJP and the JD(S) had joined hands for the posts of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman. As per the arrangement, BJP MLC M.K. Pranesh was on January 29 elected as the Deputy Chairman with the backing of JD(S), and now the ruling party returned the favour by supporting the regional party nominee, Horatti.

With a combined strength of 44 (BJP: 31, JD-S: 13) in a house of 75 members, Horatti's victory was a foregone conclusion. But the Congress had fielded Ahmed on Monday only to 'expose' the JD(S). The Congress had tasted defeat on January 29, when Pranesh was elected after defeating senior Congress leader K.C. Kondaiah. At that time too, the Congress had said that it fielded its candidate only to 'expose' the JD(S).

Currently the ruling BJP is the single largest party in the Council with 31 seats, followed by Congress (29), JD(S) (13), one Independent and one vacant (due to the death of Dharme Gowda).
Theres gangsters, and then theres the yakuza.

Japans organised criminals make the Mafia look like amateurs in comparison. Described by academics as being some of the most sophisticated and wealthiest criminal organisations in the world, yakuza syndicates like the Yamaguchi-gumi and the Sumiyoshi-kai are particularly fearsome, with their own unique rituals, code of honour, and intense brutality.

Needless to say, yakuza bosses (known as oyabun, or family heads) arent the kind of guys you want to mess around. They demand nothing but the absolute best  and that holds true for their rides, too. In Japan, theres only one choice of automobile for the man whos really made it in life, whether thats a CEO, a drug dealer or the Emperor of Japan.

That car? The Toyota Century: a car so refined and so luxurious that they make a Rolls-Royce look like a Kia in comparison.

Now, the prospect of a gaijin becoming a yakuza boss is less likely than Donald Trump expressing humility. Thankfully, you can do the next best thing and buy one of their cars. Tokyo Prestige, an auto dealer based in Adelaide who specialises in rare Japanese imports, have just announced theyve got a 2001 Toyota Century up for sale. A land yacht to beat all land yachts, this is one special whip  and tastier than a hot bowl of ramen on a cold Hokkaido night.

First things first: Lexus might be Toyotas designated luxury marque but the Century sits above Lexus in the Japanese brands hierarchy. Despite this, theyre less expensive than you might think. The premium, full-size luxury sedan costs less than $250,000 new in 2021, or about half as much as a Bentley Flying Spur. Unlike other ultra-luxury cars however, the Century has never been sold officially outside of Japan, making this South Australian import a rarity.

The second notable thing about this second-gen Toyota Century is the engine: this rather conservative-looking sedan boasts a V12 engine, the 5.0L Toyota 1GZ-FE. To date, the Century remains the only Japanese front-engine, rear-wheel-drive production car equipped with a V12, and the 1GZ-FE is the only V12 Japans ever made. First-gen and third-gen (current) Centuries only have V8s, which makes the second-gen Century rather special.

Despite the huge engine, the car only makes around 206kW  wimpy, when you consider that a third-gen Ford Focus RS, for example, makes 261kW from a 2.3L turbocharged inline-four. But the V12 isnt designed for performance, its designed for comfort. Even electric cars would struggle to beat the smooth, refined power delivery of the Century with its 1GZ-FE. Hell, the engines spookily quiet  its because, like a Rolls-Royce, the Century is designed with the comfort of its passengers in mind. You dont want to perturb a moody yazuka boss, basically.

RELATED: I Was Chauffeured To Work In The Latest Rolls-Royce & Its Ruined Me For Life

That theme of comfort is reflected throughout the vehicle, which features numerous  very Japanese  touches that reminds you this is a car for only the most discerning customers. Its got pillowy smooth air suspension to absorb even the biggest bumps. The exterior door handles open the doors electrically since the sound of the door being opened mechanically is perceived as being too obtrusive. You know. Unlike a team of bodyguards with full-body tattoos.

The rear seats recline and the front passenger seat has a fold-down centre section so that a passenger in the back may stretch their feet forward  of course, a yakuza driver isnt going to complain about his boss stinky feet. The rear seats are equipped with a massage system, and the entire car is upholstered in wool. Why wool, and not leather? Simple: its cooler in the humid Japanese summer and its quieter. Yes, really.

Now, how much would you expect to pay for all this JDM luxury? Six figures? Maybe a bit more than a late-model Infiniti? Try $29,980. Youd barely have to do any contract killings to be able to afford that! Plus, being a Toyota, you can expect it to be much more reliable than a Maserati or a Mercedes-Benz  although we dont envy the mechanic who has to work on that V12

All well say is this: get in quick. It would be seriously dishonourable to pass up on the chance to roll around like a Japanese made man.

Check out this ludicrous thing on Tokyo Prestiges website or on Carsales.

Read Next
Newport News wants to hear your coronavirus vaccination questions.

The city is hosting a Facebook Live panel discussion at 7 p.m. Wednesday to answer questions about the vaccine and the citys effort to get the vaccine to everyone who wants it.

Panelists include Newport News Mayor McKinley L. Price and Fire Chief Jeff Johnson along with Dr. Mike Dacey, president and chief operating officer of Riverside Health System and Irene Ferrainolo, population health manager of the Peninsula Health District.

The city has been operating a temporary clinic at Christopher Newport University in partnership with York County and Riverside Health System. The clinic is only open to 1a and 1b essential workers with an appointment.

The city will make announcements on its website and through the news media when the vaccines are available to the general public.

City employees, state and local police and employees at Newport News and York County schools have been receiving the two-part Moderna COVID-19 vaccination at the clinic. The shot is optional.

After touring the clinic last week, Gov. Ralph Northam said Virginia was ready to put shots in arms, but the state is receiving fewer doses than hes requested.

After registering for the vaccination through the Virginia Department of Health, it may take four to five weeks to receive an appointment. The health department is encouraging those interested in receiving the vaccine to contact their primary care physician and pharmacist to see if the vaccine is available sooner.

Intake forms for the vaccination are available on the Peninsula Health Districts website www.vdh.virginia.gov/peninsula/ for people 65 and older, frontline essential workers and people younger than 65 with underlying medical conditions.

To submit questions or comments for the panelists, email cityinfo@nnva.gov or tune in on Facebook during the live-stream event on the citys page. The program will also be available live on Newport News TV (Cox 48/Verizon 19) and at www.nnva.gov/nntv.

Jessica Nolte, 757-912-1675, jnolte@dailypress.com
ALTON  Dan Herkert on Tuesday launched his for Alton City Clerk.

Herkert said a few months ago he learned long-time Alton City Clerk Mary Boulds would not be seeking re-election. After talking with close family and friends, he circulated petitions to be on the April ballot.

Having worked in both the private and public sectors, I bring a wide-range of experience to this campaign, he said. My professional career has allowed me the opportunity to work with a diverse group of stakeholders to build consensus around various causes and projects, and Ill use those experiences to work with other elected officials and the public to make government more effective and efficient.

In my view public service is a calling, not a career move, said Herkert. Its about working together to build a stronger future for our community and having a government thats responsive to the needs of the public.

Herkert said, if elected, he plans to focus on increasing government transparency, technology upgrades to make city government more accessible to residents, civic engagement and continuing the offices tradition of professional, dedicated public service.

Herkert said he started to work at his fathers small sawmill the summer he turned 8, working there through college and ultimately managing the business day-to-day operations.

He graduated from the University of Illinois at Springfield with a bachelors degree in Political Studies and worked in Illinois and other states for various candidates and causes. He returned to Madison County and began working as a communications consultant for private sector companies, political candidates and government officials.

In 2013, he joined Alton Mayor Brant Walkers staff, serving nearly two and a half years as chief of staff, city council coordinator, deputy Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act officer. He also worked with the Alton Amphitheater Commission.

He then returned to the private sector, focusing his consulting work on marketing, communications and government relations. Since 2017 Herkert has been a member of the Alton Amphitheater Commission, acting as its treasurer.

He is the son of Kathy and Paul Snow Herkert and is a member of VFW Auxiliary Post 1308, Knights of Columbus Council No. 4417. He is a former member of the Sons of the American Legion.

For more details visit www.DanHerkert.com or www.facebook.com/FriendsOfDanHerkert.
Sixty-eight years ago, the Chief John Ross Chapter, NSDAR and the Chattanooga Womans Press Club, supplemented by a $2,000 grant from the Tennessee Historical Commission, unveiled a memorial to the longest-serving Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Chief John Ross. The bronze bust, created by Belle Kinney Scholz, Tennessee native and renowned New York sculptor, was installed on the Hamilton County Courthouse lawn.Prior to the Chattanooga ceremony, the bust of Chief John Ross was unveiled in a special ceremony held at the New York Times building in New York City, hosted by Julius Ochs Adler and featuring remarks by the sculptress. Special guests from Chattanooga, members of the Tennessee Society in New York, representatives of New Yorks national lineage societies and the press attended and enjoyed a reception following the event.Mrs. Scholzs sister, Mrs. Herman Renner of Chattanooga, was in attendance along with her husband, Dr. Renner.The bust was described in a Dec. 31, 1952 Chattanooga Daily Times article as showing Chief Ross as a young man, as he was during his residence in Chattanooga . . . about 30 inches tall and about 41 inches in width. If it were a full-length figure, it would be over 10 feet high. It is further described as depicting the founder of Rosss Landing as a man of great determination and character with a brooding expression, dressed in evening clothes of the period as Chief Ross was accustomed to dress.Other works by Belle Kinney Scholz include the John Sevier statute in the U. S. Capitol, the Andrew Jackson and James K. Polk busts in Tennessees Capitol building and the Victory Statute on the Legislative Plaza outside Nashvilles War Memorial Building.Chief John Ross, who died Aug. 1, 1866 in Washington, D. C., is remembered for his historic fight to prevent the Cherokee Removal, including a successful U. S. Supreme Court challenge. Unfortunately, Chief Justice John Marshalls decision was not enforced by President Andrew Jackson and Chief Ross was forced to work with government officials in implementing the plan that would move the Cherokees to Oklahoma Territory after their lands had been seized by the Georgia government.Son of Daniel Ross, Scotsman, and his wife, Mollie McDonald, Scots and Cherokee, Lt. John Ross and the Cherokee Brigade had gained fame after joining Major General Andrew Jacksons forces at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend during the War of 1812. From 1819 to 1826 Chief Ross served as president of the Cherokee National Council as the Cherokee became more integrated into U. S. society as farm owners, educated-oriented and participants in their own representative government. In 1828, Chief Ross became principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, under a constitution that he had helped draft. When he refused to sell Cherokee lands and force his people to relocate to the Oklahoma Territory, his fight was met with force by Georgia officials and a refusal by his former wartime colleague to intercede. Chief Ross was imprisoned for a period and, during one of his absences to Washington, D.C. to fight for Cherokee recognition, his family was forced from their home and his lands confiscated.By 1838-39, Chief Ross had no choice but to execute the removal process in a difficult journey later recognized by the Cherokee as the Trail of Tears. Upon reaching the west, Chief Ross was instrumental in the creation of a new 1839 Cherokee Constitution and would be reaffirmed as chief under the new government, a position he would hold for the remainder of his life.Linda Moss Mines is the Chattanooga-Hamilton County historian, regent of the Chief John Ross Chapter, NSDAR and vice-president, Education of the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center.
Cedarhurst, NY Prosthodontist, Dr. Michael Klein Presents at the PAOMS Study Club This innovative treatment, backed by their industry-leading in-house technology, allows Drs. Klein and Waltuch to remove a tooth, place a dental implant, and restore it with a natural-looking crown all in the same appointment.

Renowned prosthodontist and author, Dr. Michael Klein of Advanced Implant Dentistry and Oral Restoration in Cedarhurst, NY, recently lectured at a Pennsylvania Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Centers (PAOMS) sponsored seminar. During the presentation, Dr. Klein discussed the "Benefits of Ultra Clean Surface" and the evidenced-based role this technique plays in enhancing immediate load dental implants.

Dr. Klein pioneered and holds several patents for technology used in computer guidance for dental implant surgery. He coauthored a book, The Atlas of Oral Implantology, as well as numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed clinical research on implant dentistry. Dr. Klein speaks nationally as well as internationally on a variety of topics related to evolving dental implant technology. In addition to the PAOMS lecture, Dr. Klein presented recently in Washington, Texas, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr. Klein provides advanced, expert dental implant care at Advanced Implant Dentistry and Oral Restoration along with Dr. Allon Waltuch. Dr. Waltuch also lectures globally on the proven association between dental implant technology and improved outcomes in patients with tooth loss.

Drs. Klein and Waltuch continually raise the bar on advanced technologies offered at their Cedarhurst, NY practice. We do what we do so people can function in their daily lives, eating, chewing, and smiling. We have the ability to individualize the treatment to the best option for each patient, said Dr. Klein.

Two of the innovative tooth replacement services that set Advanced Implant Dentistry and Oral Restoration apart are their teeth-in-a-day solution and in-house dental lab. This innovative treatment, backed by their industry-leading in-house technology, allows Drs. Klein and Waltuch to remove a tooth, place a dental implant, and restore it with a natural-looking crown all in the same appointment.

The first step in same-day tooth replacement is to create a virtual mock-up of the restoration customized to the patients mouth and smile aesthetics. Then a natural-looking and comfortable temporary prosthesis is created on site and placed on the day of treatment. Once healing is complete, the patient returns to receive their final dental implant prosthesis and leaves with a beautiful new smile made with advanced, strong materials that can endure for many years.

The in-house dental lab, state-of-the-art tools, and vast expertise in dental implant techniques helps ensure superb quality control and outcomes from start to finish. The advanced technology in our office allows us to provide patients with faster, more predictable, and safer treatment, added Dr. Waltuch.

Learn more about why Drs. Klein and Waltuch are sought after by professional organizations around the world and patients in the Cedarhurst, NY area for their expertise and skill in tooth replacement solutions, by visiting http://www.advancedimplantdentistry.com or calling 516-665-1249.

About Advanced Implant Dentistry and Oral Restoration

Advanced Implant Dentistry and Oral Restoration has provided cutting-edge dental care to Cedarhurst, NY since 1989. Dr. Michael Klein is the Director of Advanced Implant Dentistry and Oral Restoration in Cedarhurst, New York and has pioneered the technology used in computer-guided dental implant surgery. A prosthodontist, Dr. Klein completed specialized training in restoring complete function and esthetics to patients smiles. Dr. Allon Waltuch received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery, his fellowship in Oral Implantology, and his certification for Esthetic Dentistry from New York University. Drs. Klein and Waltuch value state-of-the-art technology that allows them to treat patients with precision, accuracy, and the highest quality results. As a result, Advanced Implant Dentistry and Oral Restoration has an in-house lab offering the most innovative technology in dentistry and providing patients with the ability to complete treatment in just one day. To learn more about Drs. Klein and Waltuch and the services offered at Advanced Implant Dentistry and Oral Restoration, call the office at 516-550-4393 or visit their website at http://www.advancedimplantsli.com.


Most of the new features of version 9 detailed here are exploited by the new Ginette NY site template that you can visit as a demonstration, but of course also use to create a modern online store that complies with all the regulations.

Support of the "Click & Collect"

This new delivery method works in conjunction with TOWeb 9's new Backoffice order status tracking system. It includes a single default free delivery area and places orders directly in the "Ready to Pick" state in your Backoffice when chosen by your customers.

Tracking status of your orders

It is now possible to monitor and modify the status of your orders from your Backoffice but also inform your customers by email when the status of their orders changes. For example, you can send a tracking number when shipping, or mark a Click & Collect order as "Ready for Pickup" to let the customer know they can pick it up at your store.



A new Backoffice

All the management screens of the various i-Services have been grouped together in a new and unique centralized Backoffice from which you can now directly consult your sales statistics, monitor and modify the status of your orders, manage your online stock, your download files and also carry out the maintenance of your site.

Personalization of cookie consent

It is now possible to offer a personalized cookie consent policy on your site to be in compliance with GDPR. By activating this, your visitors will be able to accept or refuse certain cookies used on your site in order to preserve their privacy.

Such a configuration for your site can be done from the new "Options > Cookies & Privacy" screen.

Paragraphs aside background images

Each paragraph can now be positioned to the left or right of its background image with customizable width, margins, opacity and background color so that your texts always remain readable.

Save your web pages in PDF format

Whether it is a single page of your site or an article (composed of several pages), you can now export your topics (including unpublished ones) to a file in PDF format directly from the "Save as PDF" button located at the bottom of their content and also decide for each paragraph whether or not they should be included in your PDF file.

Lottie Animations

You can now add Lottie animation files very easily in paragraphs of your web pages to bring dynamism to your site. Lottie files are animated images in SVG format that adapt to any screen size.

A different photo for each web page

TOWeb 9 themes now allow you to display a different image at the start of each page on your site. By using such introductory images, you will allow your visitors to better differentiate your pages at first glance and facilitate their navigation on your site.

All you have to do is add all your photos in the "Slider" of your "Theme", and then select each photo to indicate which page it corresponds to.

Photo wall for your albums

The new "Portfolio Grid" option for the index page of a photo album allows a display like a "wall" by presenting the photos nested one in the other and thus minimize the wasted spaces. It is possible to choose a display on 2 or 4 columns, adjust the spacing and choose a maximum width.

Custom buttons in your theme

TOWeb offers predefined buttons with different styles for leading social networks, but if the social networks you use are not listed or if you just want to add more buttons pointing to your secondary sites or those of your partners, you can now do that by adding more buttons from the "Theme" screen.

Direct download of an image

It becomes possible to set a "Download" click action on an image displayed in reduced size on your page so that it can be directly downloadable in large format by a simple click of the visitor.

Country flags in your multilingual website

In your multilingual sites, the language button and its drop-down menu can now display country flags so that your visitors can easily locate and select the language they want.

Several options, such as the shape of the flag (rectangular, circular, etc.) and its size, will allow you a better integration into the theme of your multilingual site.

Accelerated loading of your web pages

The "lazy loading" technique displays pages faster by downloading images only when they are visible. TOWeb 9 offers you to use this (or not) on your site with 2 possible operating modes. As for other resources used in your site (such as scripts, CSS files, and fonts), there are new options to preload them, reduce page rendering hangs in modern web browsers, and also ensure that your texts stay readable while web fonts are loading.

All these options improving the performance of your site are available in the new "Publish > Performances" screen.

Support for new image formats

The images on your site can now be automatically converted by TOWeb

in Progressive JPEG format allowing to obtain files smaller than standard JPEG ones and be displayed progressively as they are downloaded

and in WebP format which offers an even higher compression rate without loss of quality and supported by modern web browsers.

These two optimizations can be used at the same time and are available in the new "Publish > Performances" screen.

Temporary deactivation of your site

This new feature allows you to temporarily put your site "out of service" directly from your Backoffice, without needing TOWeb, by using your smartphone for example. This may be needed in the event on your website (maintenance, technical problem, inventory, etc.). The site will then be replaced by a configurable information message for your visitors, except yourself, by entering your IP address in order to be able to reactivate your site from your Backoffice.

Cash on Delivery

This new payment method ("Cash on Delivery" or "CoD") is offered in TOWeb 9 among the other manual and deferred payment methods (cash, check, transfer, etc.). The payment can be made by yourself (if the delivery is also made to your point of sale by click & collect) or by a third party service (such as the COD delivery service).

Coupon applicable on your shipping costs

A new option "Apply the reduction only to shipping costs" in the coupon management window makes it possible to offer rebates capped at the amount of shipping costs, which was not possible before. For example, a DELIV10 reduction coupon of $10 on shipping costs that only reduces its amount by $3 if the shipping costs do not exceed this amount. Likewise, if you wish to offer free shipping costs from a certain order amount, use this new option and give the coupon a very high amount value (like $9999), so the shipping costs will always be offered once the threshold is reached.

Add to cart notifications

New options allow you to configure notifications of add to cart in order to improve the user experience of your customers: ephemeral notification, animation of added items that "fly" to the cart, display only on new items.

This can be configured from TOWeb in the "Options > e-Commerce > Shopping Cart > Options" step.

QR code generation

From the Publish step of TOWeb 9, you can now print or export a QR code image containing the URL address of your website to use it on your commercial documents (for example your business cards) or if you create a site for a restaurant, to print your QR code and place it on the tables so that your customers can read your menu directly from their smartphone.

Demonstration: with your smartphone, scan the QR Code that you see next to this text to visit the QRMENU site template

Spell check

When editing paragraphs, misspelled words are now underlined in red. This new function will allow you to spot misspellings or words unknown to TOWeb and should subsequently be enhanced with a spell checker in a future update of TOWeb 9.

Multilingual sites are automatically supported and this function can be activated or deactivated from the "Options > TOWeb" screen.

Securing backups of your sites

It is now possible to protect the backups of your TOWeb sites with a password which will be requested during the restoration. Be careful, if you forget the password, your encrypted backup will no longer be used or restored by anyone (not even us!)

Buttons with predefined styles

Possibility to select and apply to the Theme of your site different styles of predefined buttons with rectangular or rounded corners, color gradients, shaded or illuminated effects, effects of slight displacement when hovering, etc.

This new function is accessible from the Theme's CSS editor in "Site > General > Buttons > Default button > Buttons > Predefined button styles"

Objects placed next to paragraph text

This new arrangement allows you to place an object (such as an image for example) vertically centered on the left or right side of your texts. Complementing the other layouts (in particular the one with an object embedded in the text) and the possibilities of aligning paragraphs between them, it will allow you to save time and vary the presentation of your pages.

This current paragraph for example as well as all the others of this TOWeb 9 new features page are using this new layout.

Support of 71 new Google fonts

Alata, Alatsi, Almarai, Baloo 2, Baloo Bhai 2, Baloo Bhaina 2, Baloo Chettan 2, Baloo Da 2, Baloo Paaji 2, Baloo Tamma 2, Baloo Tammudu 2, Baloo Thambi 2, Balsamiq Sans, Baskervville, Be Vietnam, Bebas Neue, Bellota, Bellota Text, Big Shoulders Display, Big Shoulders Text, Caladea, Calistoga, Chilanka, Comic Neue, Commissioner, Courier Prime, DM Mono, Epilogue, Gayathri, Gelasio, Girassol, Gotu, Grandstander, Grenze Gotisch, Gupter, Ibarra Real Nova, Inria Sans, Inria Serif, Inter, Jomolhari, Jost, Kufam, Kulim Park, Kumbh Sans, Manjari, Manrope, Mansalva, Mulish, MuseoModerno, Odibee Sans, Oxanium, Piazzolla, Public Sans, Recursive, Red Rose, Rowdies, Sansita Swashed, Sen, Solway, Sora, Spartan, Sulphur Point, Syne, Syne Mono, Syne Tactile, Tomorrow, Trispace, Turret Road, Varta, Viaoda Libre, Vibes

But also:

A new version of the publication module even more efficient in updating your site's files on your web space

3 additional choices of new presentations of your products in the index pages of the catalogs with the possibility of also displaying photos in larger size

The possibility of entering titles on your links and buttons which will be displayed when the mouse is hovered and will thus allow you to give more information/details to the visitors of your site

Improvements of the user interface such as the possibility of using F10 key to hide or display the top bar of TOWeb and thus allow a larger workspace (especially on Windows tablets and computers with small screens) as well as better visibility of certain options such as the flags added to facilitate the change of the interface language.

What's New:
Weve seen aircrafts flyby in the sky countless times. And at times, when you manage to capture them, they appear like a tiny speck on our screens -- nowhere close to what we imagined it to look like.

Instagram: Cosmic_Background

However, now a California-based astrophotographer, who was actually trying to capture the sun captured a glimpse of an aircraft pass in front of the fiery-orange sun on this camera, creating a one-of-a-kind that you cant stop gawking.

This rare moment was captured by Andrew McCarthy who captured this splendid image with the help of a telescope which was fitted with a hydrogen-alpha solar filter that particularly highlights the chromosphere (a layer of the suns atmosphere).



I was shooting the sun in hydrogen-alpha light, so as the plane passed you could see the contrails scatter the light from the sun, while the plane was invisible unless covering the disc. This video and the above image are available on my patreon in HD https://t.co/VUjYIQJy0b pic.twitter.com/nMP8I3AOuL  Andrew McCarthy (@AJamesMcCarthy) January 18, 2021

McCarthy was originally trying to capture images of the Suns prominences. In case you didnt know, prominences are the loopy thread-like structures that are often seen in a suns edges. The reason a hydrogen-alpha filter is needed to make this work is that it helps in filtering out all the lights from the sun but leaves behind the red light emitted by excited hydrogen atoms. This causes the fiery colours of the chromosphere and prominences.



McCarthy said in a statement while sharing the video and image on Instagram, When you take pictures as often as I do, the likelihood of happy accidents increases. Like this plane interrupting my shot of our sun yesterday afternoon. Completely unplanned, yet it added something to the image that made it uniquely beautiful.

He added, notice how the plane is only visible when covering the sun, but the contrails are easily visible regardless. This is due to the contrails scattering the suns hydrogen alpha light, which my scope is sensitive to. It creates the illusion of a vanishing plane!.

Instagram: Cosmic_Background

In case you think youve heard the name Andrew McCarthy before, youre not wrong. A few months ago, he also captured one of the sharpest images of the Moon.

What do you think about the image? Tell us in the comments below.
( ) said it has raised around 1.15mln to accelerate its growth trajectory through strategic investments.

The blockchain and open finance venture firm said it raised the funds through a placing and subscription of 15.4mln new shares at a price of 7.5p each, a 3.4% premium to its closing price on Monday.

The shares were subscribed and placed with new and existing shareholders, while each share also came with a warrant to subscribe for a further new share at an exercise price of 15p which is valid for two years.

Coinsilium said the funds will be used primarily for strategic investments, particularly in the non-fungible token (NFT) and open finance sectors, to accelerate growth.

THE first woman to head a banking institution in Namibia was once told by a teacher: "Jy is dom."

This is Afrikaans for "you are stupid".

Now heading a multimillion-dollar entity, Ester Kali, the chief executive officer of Letshego Namibia and the current chair of the Bankers Association of Namibia, yesterday recalled the incident, saying what people believe about one is not always decisive.

She, however, acknowledged that although she wasn't a top achiever at school, this didn't keep her from achieving success.

Kali's voice now roars, telling young girls and women that nothing is impossible.

She was speaking at a Bank of Namibia event in the capital.

The event was in celebration of women taking over the reins at four of Namibia's biggest banks with a combined value of more than N$90 billion.

Other than Kali, Bank Windhoek's seasoned banker Beronice Hans, recently appointed Nedbank Namibia managing director Martha Murorua, and the incoming chief executive officer of Standard Bank Namibia, Mercia Geises, were also saluted.

The four women shared their stories on their journeys up the corporate ladder.

All echoed the importance of having the quality of delivering solid performance - regardless of one's gender.

As a trailblazer, Kali was appointed chief executive officer in 2014.

In 2016, Bank Windhoek followed suit when they announced the appointment of Hans as its managing director.

Last year, with the economy battered by Covid-19, Nedbank Namibia appointed Usakos-born and raised Murorua as new managing director, and Standard Bank late last year placed its vote of confidence in Geises, who is expected to take over from Vetumbuavi Mungunda in May.

The governor of the Bank of Namibia, Johannes !Gawaxab, commended the women on their individual achievements.

"We now live in a different world where there is an overwhelming realisation that our daughters are just as capable as our sons," !Gawaxab said.

The governor said the fact that four out of the top five commercial banks in Namibia now have female managing directors has made Namibia a leader on the continent in this regard.

"I must say this is indeed a success story, a story of excellence in the financial sector, in line with the transformation agenda of the sector which I am proud to tell," he said.

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Last year The Namibian reported that the financial sector is being dominated by women and that the traditionally male-dominated leadership has seen major changes in recent years.

"We all know women had to work twice as hard as men to reach the top. These leaders have not only shattered the glass ceiling, but their achievement is inspirational," said !Gawaxab.

He lauded the women for going through the ranks of the banking sector, pledging that "here and now these gains will never be reversed, and this sector, and the country, will always embrace inclusivity and diversity in its totality," he said.

Murorua said her journey has been one of calculated risk, consistency, going the extra mile, putting in time and rising from every fall.

With that, and the mentorship of both male and female experts before her, she was able to rise.

Geises and Hans used to work together at Standard Bank Namibia before Hans moved to secure the top seat at Bank Windhoek.

"This created a spot for me," said Geises, and following suit, she will now head Standard Bank Namibia, which she said will also have a largely female-led executive.

Hans said Namibia has made great strides in ensuring women are empowered.

"We as Namibia are an example to the world," she said.

Hans said the message is clear that no one should be limited by race or gender, and anything is possible with the right amount of dedication, discipline and sacrifice.
DUBLIN, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Hearing Aids Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

In-depth Analysis and Data-driven Insights on the Impact of COVID-19 Included in this Global Hearing Aids Market Report



The hearing aids market by revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 4% during the period 2021-2026.



The global hearing aids market is currently observing high innovations in hearing technology. Increased digitalization of devices and improvements and enchantments in device designs to deliver high-quality sound outcomes to patient groups are increasing the penetration of hearing devices. The design is becoming highly innovative and is influencing the existing treatment modalities of audio disorders. The introduction of wireless technology such as Bluetooth, electromagnetic compatibility (telecoil), and frequency modulation (FM) compatibility benefits hearing aid users with better sound quality, improved localization, convenience, and vastly increased connectivity. Sophisticated wireless devices enable users to connect with personal electronic devices and stream signals directly to hearing aids. In addition, smart hearing aids can pair up with other digital devices in many ways such as smartphones, tablets, or any other smart electronic device. Therefore, with the rising hearing loss patient population and the growing focus on improving sound efficiency and comfortability, the demand for innovative and breakthrough products such as wireless/smart devices are increasing among various patient groups.



The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the hearing aids market during the forecast period:

Strategic Mergers & Acquisitions

Growing Demand for Wireless & Smart Hearing Aids

Increasing Focus on Hearing Aids Retail Business

Increasing Availability of Advanced Hearing Aids

The study considers the present scenario of the hearing aids market and its market dynamics for the period 2020-2026. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The report offers both the demand and supply aspects of the market. It profiles and examines leading companies and other prominent ones operating in the market.



Global Hearing Aids Market Segmentation



The global hearing aids market research report includes a detailed segmentation by product, hearing loss, technology, patient group, technology, distribution, geography. The prevalence of hearing loss across the globe is a major factor contributing to the growth of behind the ear (BTE) segment. These devices offer durability and can easily fit with thin tubing, leaving the ear canal open to natural sounds. Therefore, these models offer a wide range of safety, efficacy, and flexibility to users with mild, moderate, and major hearing loss, which is increasing adoption.



The growth in the sensorineural hearing loss patient population and the availability of a wide range of advanced BTE and ITE hearing aids are increasing the prevalence of hearing aids across the globe. With the growth in the aging population, which is at a high risk of developing sensorineural hearing loss, the segment is expected to grow steadily during the forecast period.



Digital hearing devices hold sway in the global hearing aids market. These devices constitute over 90% of the market share and are expected to dominate during the forecast period. Owing to the increasing demand for invisible, advanced features, and aesthetically appealing devices as well as the rising need for the advanced and enhanced listening experience, major market players are focusing on introducing technologically advanced digital hearing aids. The development and commercialization of new technologically advanced devices with Bluetooth, wireless connectivity, iOS & Android compatibility, artificial intelligence (AI), and remote-controlled functions are increasing the demand for digital hearing devices. Increased diagnosis rates and the awareness of the availability of new treatment options for hearing loss are further fueling the market growth during the forecast period.



Around 15% of the adult population across the world has a degree of hearing loss, with 25% aging 65 years and above. The incidence of hearing loss increases significantly with the growing age, and the adult population is highly susceptible to ailments. Hearing loss in older adults is fast becoming a major public health challenge worldwide. The growing burden of the elderly hearing-impaired population has led to the growing usage of hearing aids in this patient group, thereby contributing to the growth of the market during the forecast period.



The increasing demand for technologically advanced hearing aids is encouraging large retailers to procure innovative products from manufacturers. This is directly contributing to the growth of retailers in recent years. Conventional retail chains, specialty stores, multi-line retailers, and direct online sales channels are covered under retailers. Online retail is becoming another popular medium for buying hearing aids. Conventional independent practices include autonomous audiology clinics, ENT clinics, and large and medium private hospitals that sell hearing aids to patients with a minimal profit margin. These facilities procure these devices either directly from manufacturers or reputed suppliers at discounted rates based on long-term relationships and financial tie-ins. However, in recent years, independent audiology centers face challenges in terms of price negotiations to offer hearing aids at a discounted rate to the large patient population. The increase in the target population with hearing loss and associated risk factors requiring timely diagnosis is encouraging physicians in several independent healthcare settings to sell hearing aids, thereby accelerating the growth of the independent practices segment.



INSIGHTS BY GEOGRAPHY

Hearing aids are the most widely used products in Europe due to their easier accessibility, reversibility, and lower-cost usage for hearing loss patients than corrective surgical treatments. The high disposable income is one of the major reasons for the high adoption of hearing aids among European households. With the rising prevalence of hearing loss in both the adult and elderly population, the adoption rate of these devices has also increased at a steady rate over the past years. In addition, the region offers established healthcare infrastructure, and people have access to advanced healthcare facilities for treating hearing loss. Further, the introduction of several government assistance programs for hearing aids is positively influencing the growth of the market.



By Geography

North America

US

Canada

Europe

UK

Germany

France

Italy

Spain

APAC

China

Japan

South Korea

Australia

India

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Argentina

Colombia

Middle East & Africa

& Saudi Arabia

South Africa

Turkey

UAE

INSIGHTS BY VENDORS

Sonova, WS Audiology, Demant, GN Store Nord, and Starkey are the key players in the market. Advances in Technology, particularly for digital hearing aids, are leading to rapid change in the global hearing aids market. Market players compete in terms of product portfolio, innovations. Vendors, especially global players, are increasingly focusing on pursuing organic and inorganic growth strategies such as product innovations, M&A, and emerging companies to expand their presence, enhance product portfolio, and improve expertise in the market. Such initiatives will complement vendors' growth strategies, thereby gaining traction among end-users in the market.



KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED

1. What is the hearing aids market size and growth forecast?

2. Which segment is likely to contribute to the growth of the hearing aids market growth?

3. Which region is expected to hold the highest market share in the hearing aids market?

4. What are some of the growth opportunities for existing players in the market?

5. Who are the key players in the global hearing aids market?



Companies Mentioned



Sonova

WS Audiology

Demant

GN Store Nord

Starkey

Arphi Electronics

Audina Hearing Instruments

Century Hearing Aids

Eartechnic

Eargo

ExSilent

Horentek

IN4 Technology

InnerScope Hearing Technologies

IntriCon

Loreca Hearing Aid

NewSound Hearing Aids

RION

SeboTek Hearing Systems

Zounds Hearing

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/hjw76v



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This study highlights the need to protect patients with dementia, especially those who are Black, the authors wrote.

Maria Carrillo, chief science officer of the Alzheimers Association, which runs the journal that published the study, Alzheimers and Dementia, said in an interview, One of the things that has come from this Covid situation is that we should be pointing out these disparities.

The study was led by researchers at Case Western Reserve University who analyzed electronic health records of 61.9 million people age 18 and older in the United States from Feb. 1 through Aug. 21, 2020. The data, collected by IBM Watson Health Explorys, came from 360 hospitals and 317,000 health care providers across all 50 states and represented a fifth of the American population, the authors said.

Rong Xu, a professor of biomedical informatics at Case Western and the senior author of the study, said there had been speculation about whether people with dementia were more prone to infection and harm from Covid-19.

We thought, We have the data, we can just test this hypothesis, Dr. Xu said.

The researchers found that out of 15,770 patients with Covid-19 in the records analyzed, 810 of them also had dementia. When the researchers adjusted for general demographic factors  age, sex and race  they found that people with dementia had more than three times the risk of getting Covid-19. When they adjusted for Covid-specific risk factors like nursing home residency and underlying physical conditions, the gap closed somewhat, but people with dementia were still twice as likely to become infected.
The Covid-19 pandemic is hampering efforts by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform to contain the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the northern regions following a delay in the delivery of vaccine doses from Botswana.

Namibia imports its FMD vaccine from Botswana Vaccine Institute.

The disease first broke out at Onamulunga crush-pen in Olukonda constituency, Oshikoto region on 28 December 2020.

It then spread to other regions such as Oshana, Omusati, Ohangwena and Kunene which were declared disease management areas (DMAs) and strict measures were instituted.

A further case of the disease was detected at Okadhiya crush pen in Uuvudhiya constituency in Oshana region on 6 January.

Chief veterinarian, Albertina Shilongo told The Namibian the ministry is engaged with the first round of vaccination in some areas although others in Ohangwena region are yet to get the vaccine as the ministry is experiencing a delay with procurement from Botswana.

"We started vaccination in early January and we are still conducting the first round in some areas of Oshana, Oshikoto, Omusati and Kunene regions. Ohangwena region will follow after we are done with the other regions.

"In Oshikoto where it (FMD) was first detected, we only managed to vaccinate the animals in the areas close to the veterinary cordon fence and Etosha National park. We do not have enough doses to vaccinate all animals in the affected regions at once; we are busy in the process of procuring vaccine from Botswana.

Once the vaccine doses arrive, we might be able to vaccinate all the animals within a very short period but for now, farmers must bear with us and remain patient as we try to contain the disease outbreak," said Shilongo.

She said the ministry has been able to vaccinate most of the animals in Kavango West and East regions for the second round, however only a few areas regarded as low risk areas were left out and the ministry plans starting the vaccination in those areas.

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"Once the vaccine arrives, we will vaccinate all the livestock in the affected regions because in the past three years, the ministry only targeted high risk zones such as areas close to the veterinary cordon fence and international borders. Now the risk of infection is very high and we can only contain it if we vaccinate all the animals," she said.

Shilongo added that cattle in the north are at high risk of contracting FMD because of their constant movement between Angola and Namibia.

Many Namibian farmers own cattle posts in Cuando Cubango province in Angola. She said in December last year a farmer in Ohangwena region moved 35 cattle from a post in Angola to plough his mahangu field, however, after a few days, the animals started salivating and getting weak, prompting him to report the matter to the veterinary officers in the region, and the animals were found to be infected with FMD.

"Farmers with cattle in Angola are strongly advised not to bring their animals into Namibia, unless it is for vaccination purposes and they must report to the veterinary offices before they bring the animals into the country," she said.

The public is also warned against slaughtering affected cattle.

Shilongo noted that a complete movement restriction of all live cloven-hoofed animals within and out of DMAs has been imposed.
"Goodwill Industries International is implementing a member-led vision for transformation for its 156 nonprofit Goodwill organizations across the United States and Canada. We are doing so at a time when these organizations are being called upon to address the soaring need for employment services in communities across the country. Strong financial leadership will be essential as we work to scale support for local Goodwill organizations effectively," said Steven C. Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "Kim Tran has deep financial experience and leadership at Fortune 50 companies as well in the nonprofit sector, which will be invaluable to leading through us through this strategy."

Tran most recently served as CFO of Inteleos, a global medical ultrasound certification and education organization. She was CFO for United Way of the National Capital Area and held senior leadership positions at several nonprofit organizations, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation and United Way Worldwide.

"As the leading workforce provider in the country, Goodwill is positioned to be a leader in helping people move forward from the coronavirus pandemic," said Tran. "I am excited to be part of the Goodwill mission and will draw upon my experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit business worlds to bring and expand vital services to underserved communities."

Tran received an MBA in finance from Columbia University and a bachelor of science in business from Eastern Illinois University. She is a chartered financial analyst.

Tran is devoted to civic engagement, in particular regarding refugee resettlement, for which she has worked and volunteered for many years, including serving on the board of Boat People SOS, a Falls Church, VA, organization. She is also an ambassador for Columbia University's MBA admissions program.

Tran is fluent in both French and Vietnamese.

Marla Jackson, who previously served as GII's CFO, has moved into a role supporting local Goodwill members as GII's vice president of performance excellence.

ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL

Goodwill Industries International is a network of 156 community-based, autonomous organizations in the United States and Canada with a presence in 12 other countries. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps people earn employment, Goodwill is recognized with GuideStar's highest rating, the Platinum Seal of Approval.

Local Goodwill organizations offer skills training, job placement and other community-based programs. Many services are funded by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 3,300 stores and at shopgoodwill.com. Last year, more than 22 million people used computers and mobile devices to access Goodwill services, and more than 1.5 million people received in-person services.

For more information or to find a Goodwill location near you, visit goodwill.org, or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube: GoodwillIntl.

SOURCE Goodwill Industries International

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With more than 20 years of strategy, marketing and consumer research experience and having worked with a wide spectrum of leading global, multi-national and local brands, Dhatchani Christian has been appointed as managing director at Delta Victor Bravo.

Dhatchani Christian

Congrats on your appointment. How do you feel about it?

How and when did this come about?

What excites you most about joining Delta Victor Bravo?

Also, Im proud to be part of the ethos of the company, which is about helping businesses find new paths to growth through sustainable business transformation - helping them lead with higher purpose and innovate to serve people and society in more meaningful ways.

Your career spans over 20 years. What are your biggest highlights?

What do you love most about your career, the industry and what you do?

The nature of strategy consulting is that were always exposed to new industries, new contexts, new problems to tackle.

You recently returned from a four-year stint in the UK. What fresh new approach will you bring to Delta Victor Bravo?

What noticeable differences are there when comparing the UK market to South Africa?

I find that businesses in South Africa are more connected to the concerns that have deep societal impact.

Innovation and creativity is key, especially in the time of Covid-19. What can organisations no longer ignore when it comes to strategy?

Good strategy has always needed to be connected to what drives the customers and societies that those businesses serve. But in current times its no longer possible to continue with business as usual while ignoring the fundamental impacts that a Covid environment is likely to have on customer behaviour, spending patterns and points of engagement over the long term.

Her fundamental understanding of business, gained through formal study combined with the breadth of her agency and client side experience, has given Dhatchani Christian distinctive ability to formulate insightful and practical solutions that create significant value for clients.Thank you. Its great to be back in South Africa, and Im really excited to be joining the team of eclectic and individually brilliant people we have at Delta Victor Bravo. I look forward to the challenges and triumphs well face together as a team, and the impact well no doubt make for our clients as we find new ways to help them grow.I had worked with David Blyth (founder of Delta Victor Bravo) previously at Yellowwood. We have a great working relationship and have been in contact throughout my time in the UK. My return to SA towards the end of last year coincided with his plans for how hed like to grow the business and his team going forward.Firstly, its the team that I am joining and that weve all had the benefit of working together previously. Were a small and agile business with lots of energy. We know each others strengths and theres a level of trust there thats allowed us to hit the ground running. Its a powerful dynamic.Its something that connects all of us within the Delta Victor Bravo team and drives us forward; that the work we do has impact beyond our clients top line growth.Ive had the benefit of quite a varied career within marketing, which has rounded my perspective and allowed me to approach a problem from many different angles. Im grateful for my time in consumer research, and the ability to always bring the customer into the room that that instilled in me, and also for the need to think about practical solutions and bottom line impacts that working on client side has brought.But its my time in strategy consulting that stands out as a highlight, as its allows me to pull it all together, and draw from all aspects of my experience to tackle the problems were brought onboard to help solve. Flexing that muscle in different geographies has been exciting and gratifying. But if I think about the highlights it would come down to individual projects; the ones where weve been in the trenches with clients, working together as one team, where we come out on the other end having shifted something substantially within the business for the better and all proud of the work weve done.Id have to say the constant mental stimulation, and the opportunity to be continuously challenged and learn is what I love most.It can be a frenetic pace and energy, but one that I love. Theres also the satisfaction of working with clients over the long term, forming trusted relationships where we become partners and advisors to their businesses. And finally because of the nature of the work we do, I enjoy that were so connected and in touch with how consumers and society are changing and evolving. It makes for an exciting day at the office!Honestly, my experience in the UK has taught me that the quality of thinking and approach to strategy solutions that Ive been exposed to in South Africa has been world-class. Thats certainly the case for the great people that we have working at Delta Victor Bravo, so I wouldnt say that Id want to change anything in terms of how we approach strategy. I will say that I noticed a more conscious approach in the UK to balancing the pressure of work with the rest of life. Thats something that Id like to learn from and set an example for here.I suppose the most obvious difference is that because there are many global businesses headquartered in the UK and Europe, youd find that the forefront of thinking in terms of innovation in many industries emerges in these markets early on, e-commerce and fintech being good examples.Perhaps because there is more onus on the private sector here to play a role in helping address these issues, I find our innovation and how business adapts to society is more conscientious and purposeful, and in some ways more personal as a result.I think we can agree that Covid-19 has turned nearly every aspect of life on its head. Physical patterns of behaviour have changed, and because of this everything from how people live and work, to how organisations interact with their customers, how customers choose and purchase products and services, how supply chains deliver these products has had to adapt.At a time when businesses might be more concerned with cost-cutting, adapting internal processes and driving productivity, its actually growth through innovation and thinking differently about their business models, ways to market and how better to services their customer bases that needs to take priority.
He's the man celebrities go to when they want to achieve a stunning transformation.

But on Tuesday, Jono Castano enjoyed a well-deserved break and treated himself to a pampering session in Sydney.

The 30-year-old celebrity trainer shared a series of photos to Instagram as he had his hair cut and his nose waxed.

Pamper time! Celebrity trainer Jono Castano (pictured) enjoyed a pampering session as he got a stylish haircut and his nose waxed on Tuesday

In one photo, Jono relaxed as he sat in front of a mirror while his barber restyled his hair.

He also shared another picture of himself moments before he had the inside of his nose waxed.

Jono was recently catapulted into the spotlight after working with Rebel Wilson on her 'year of fitness'.

Over the past year, the Australian actress has lost around 30 kilograms (66.1lbs or 4.7 stone).

That looks painful! He shared one picture of himself moments before he had the inside of his nose waxed

Last year, Jono unveiled his top three fitness tips on how to keep the holiday kilos off during the Christmas period.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Jono explained: 'It's all about creating the balance.'

'If you're at a party or planning on going out, you've got to be self-set on a certain amount of drinks for the night and be back on track the next day.'

Pumping iron: Jono was recently catapulted into the spotlight after working with Rebel Wilson (left) on her 'year of fitness'

He added: 'There's different tips I share with my clients, but at Acero [his fitness company] we are all about the balance. I encourage people to have as much fun as possible.'

Meanwhile, for those looking to lose weight, Jono recommends documenting fitness goals on social media and 'moving' at least 45 minutes a day.

His approach promotes a '#45Daily' idea, which involves working out for 45 minutes and rethinking how you move.

'Forty-five minutes is enough time to go to the park, go to the gym or go for a swim. The amount of calories you could burn in 45 minutes will contribute to your goal,' he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 10:20:07|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Monday that nearly 1,500 illegal migrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast during the past week.

"In the period of Feb. 2-8, 1,487 migrants were rescued/intercepted at sea and returned to Libya," IOM said.

So far in 2021, a total of 1,956 illegal migrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast, including 185 women and 124 children, IOM said.

IOM also said that 20 illegal migrants died while 67 others went missing on the Central Mediterranean route in 2021.

Due to the state of insecurity and chaos in the North African nation following the overthrow of its leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, chose to cross the Mediterranean from Libya towards Europe.

In 2020, 323 migrants died and 417 others went missing on the Central Mediterranean route, while 11,891 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, according to IOM. Enditem
Musician Nathan Nzanga has marched in Portland, Chicago, and his hometown of Seattle.

The rapper also has written songs that reflect why he protests, compositions calling for change and telling his story as an African American and as the U.S.-born son of immigrants from Congo. A film starring Nzanga and featuring his music that was released online in January adds his artistic perspective to the social justice movement.

I feel like God gave me the gift of being able to tell stories," Nzanga told Reuters, speaking via Zoom from his bedroom in Seattle decorated with posters of such figures as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Nelson Mandela. Im trying to find ways to make sure we see the human in one another."

The 13-minute film Nzanga made with director Caleb Slain, titled enough," opens with the song Truce." Nzanga, now 22, wrote it when he was a teenager at summer camp in 2016.

Nzanga followed the news between camp activities and learned of the death on July 5, 2016 of Alton Sterling after he was shot in a convenience store by police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. On July 6, a police shooting during a traffic stop in Minnesota killed Philando Castile. On July 7, a gunman killed five law enforcement officers during a demonstration against police brutality in Dallas before being shot and killed after a standoff with police.

It seems like every day we add a few more names to the list," Nzanga wrote in Truce," adding, Im scared that Im the next one that theyll hit."

Vanderbilt professor Michael Eric Dyson, whose book Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America" was also inspired by those July events, told Reuters that Nzangas art forces us to think and reflect in a serious way."

The film is named for and includes another of Nzangas songs, one he wrote following the May 25, 2020 death in Minneapolis of George Floyd, who died after he was pinned to the ground by a white police officer, pleading for air until he became unresponsive.

Every time something like this happens, we see ourselves in the person that the police decided not to treat like a human," Nzanga said.

After Steven Cleveland, a professor of ethnic studies and history at California State University East Bay, saw Nzangas film, he set out to use enough" to start conversations about race, violence and policing in classrooms at his university and others across the country.

The vision for this is to go into spaces and be able to bring both sides of the story so we can begin to have dialogue and build us up and move us to places where we can get sustainable, transformative change that we need," Cleveland said.

In enough," a Black American is seen not in his dying moments, but fully. Nzanga was interviewed once a year as he progressed through school, as part of what started as a documentary project in 2001.

As a round-faced boy, Nzanga describes bickering with his little brother and relates the time he and his family had to open their bags for searches as they left a shop, while white customers did not. The boy grows into a young man who empathizes with the fear police officers express, but argues that the racism Black people endure is the heart of the matter.

Nzanga is in full voice in the film, not gasping for air. As he raps in enough": Cant love me if you dont know me. Cant know me if you cant hear me."
New Delhi: In what will buttress Indias green energy credentials, the government is looking for giving a mandate to industries such as fertilizer, steel, and petrochemicals among others for green hydrogen usage. The plan is part of the proposed National Hydrogen Energy Mission.

The draft Mission document has already gone through consultation process and is expected to be finalized in February 2021. Thereafter, it will go through inter-ministerial consultation and Cabinet approval process," the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) said in a statement on Tuesday.

Also, as part of government strategy of boosting gigawatt (GW) scale solar PV domestic manufacturing, MNRE will take the production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the union cabinet approval.

This comes in the backdrop of the government articulating its plans to impose a basic customs duty of 40% on modules and 25% on solar cells imports from 1 April 2022. The government also plans to build three large manufacturing zones for power and renewable energy equipment by offering incentives to the manufacturers, as stated in the union budget documents.

The EFC (expenditure finance committee) meeting for formulating a scheme in this regard has already been held. It will now be taken to the Cabinet for final approval," the MNRE statement said.

Wafers and ingotsbuilding blocks for manufacturing solar cells and modulesare key to Indias ambitious clean energy plans. India plans to encourage self-reliance and reduce dependence on Chinese equipment. India has a domestic manufacturing capacity of 2GW for solar cells and 10GW for modules.

Under the PLI Scheme 10,000 MW capacity of integrated solar PV manufacturing plants (from manufacturing of wafer-ingot to high efficiency modules) will be set up by Q4 of 2022-23 with the direct investment for around Rs. 14,000 crore," the statement added.

India plans to build green hydrogen plants that will run on electricity produced by green energy sources and help reduce dependence on fossil fuels for mobility. They will provide grid-scale storage solutions and provide feedstock for ammonia production.

The aim is to develop India into a global hub for manufacturing of hydrogen and fuel cells technologies across the value chain. Toward this end, a framework to support manufacturing via suitable incentives and facilitation aligned with Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat will be developed," the statement added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November announced plans to launch a National Hydrogen Energy Mission, buttressing Indias green energy credentials with the carbon emission-free next-generation fuel.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech said, It is now proposed to launch a Hydrogen Energy Mission in 2021-22 for generating hydrogen from green power sources."

There has been a growing traction for the new age fuel, with firms such as state-owned Indian Oil Corporation, Greenko and Adani Group planning green hydrogen foray.

The Government of India will facilitate demand creation in identified segments," the MNRE statement said.

Major activities envisaged under the Mission include creating volumes and infrastructure; demonstrations in niche applications (including for transport, industry); goal-oriented Research & Development; facilitative policy support; and putting in place a robust framework for standards and regulations for hydrogen technologies," the statement added.

The government plans to invite bids for setting up green ammonia projects within six months to reduce import dependence, with state run Solar Energy Corp. of India Ltd calling bids for it, power and new and renewable energy minister Raj Kumar Singh told Mint in an earlier interview.

Hopefully, we will be one of the earliest nations to transition to green hydrogen and green ammonia and set up a pathway and roadmap for transition," Singh had said.

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Aurora Innovation Inc., a Silicon Valley-based autonomous-driving startup with at least a $10 billion valuation, has agreed to a long-term strategic partnership with Toyota Motor Corp. and its supplier Denso Corp. that aims to mass produce autonomous vehicles and launch them on ride-hailing networks, including Ubers, over the next few years.

The first model that will be equipped with the Aurora Driver, the companys hardware, software and sensor suite, is the Toyota Sienna minivan, with testing of an initial fleet to begin this year. Toyota, which overtook Volkswagen AG as the worlds top-selling automaker in 2020, is also an investor in Uber Technologies Inc. and has a formidable brand that has long been associated with high volume manufacturing and safety. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Toyota will gain an observer seat on Auroras board.

This is a really exciting set of developments, said Sterling Anderson, Auroras Chief Product Officer, in an interview. The company is a key player in the intensely competitive self-driving vehicle industry. Were partnering with the largest automaker and the largest ride hailing network. Its not just the development of the vehicle, but development of the service.

Aurora is one of several leading startups racing to commercialize its self-driving technology, along with Alphabet Inc.s Google unit, which was later renamed Waymo, Amazon.com Inc.-owned Zoox Inc. and General Motors Co.s Cruise LLC. Toyota, which has long preferred to develop new technology in-house, has been coy about its autonomous ambitions. The Japanese carmaker struck a similar agreement with Chinese driverless startup Pony.ai Inc. in 2019, which it firmed up last year with a $400 million investment.

Toyota is dedicated to creating and realizing mobility for all by focusing on technology that will move people safely and responsibly, a vision Aurora shares with us, Keiji Yamamoto, operating officer of Toyota and President of Connected Company, said in a statement.

Aurora is testing on public roads in California, Pennsylvania and Texas, with an initial focus on completing long-haul, commercial trips. The companys three co-founders have a deep history in the self-driving industry. Chief Executive Officer Chris Urmson previously led the autonomous team at Alphabet Inc.s Google unit, which was later renamed Waymo. Anderson directed Tesla Inc.s Autopilot efforts, and Chief Technology Officer Drew Bagnell, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon, was part of the 2015 academic exodus that formed Ubers Advanced Technologies Group.

The startup has struck several deals in recent months. In December, it acquired Uber Technologies Inc.s autonomous division in December. The merger boosted Auroras employee count to about 1,600, including hundreds who are based in Pittsburgh, an epicenter of robotics thanks to the talent pipeline at Carnegie Mellon University. Aurora also entered into a strategic partnership with Paccar Inc., the maker of light, medium and heavy-duty trucks, last month.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Tugboats return to their base after assisting the 'Toro Orient' through Newcastle Port on July 30, 2015 in Newcastle, Australia. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Worlds Biggest Coal Export Port Loses Funding Over Climate Change

ANZ will no longer fund the worlds biggest coal export port at Newcastle on the back of the banks new climate change policy that stops loans to the coal sector.

The Port of Newcastle, which supports 9000 jobs and contributes AU$1.5 billion to the national economy, will now receive funding by National Australia Bank (NAB) according to The Australian.

This comes under the agreement of a transition program for the port to diversify and become more sustainable.

The Port of Newcastle, co-owned by The Infrastructure Fund and China Merchants Port Holdings Company, aims to reach 100 percent renewable energy by the end of this year and transition all its vehicles to electric by 2023.

A Port of Newcastle said in a statement to The Epoch Times that sustainability was a core part of their business strategy and culture.

We are working with responsible lenders who are interested in helping businesses like Port of Newcastle become more sustainable and diversify, they said.

This is crucial to a business that supports our local, regional and national economies.

Large coal stocks await loading for export at Port Waratah Coal Services on Newcastle, Australia, on April 12, 2007. (Corey Davis/Getty Images)

ANZ announced on Oct. 2020 their plan to support the Paris Agreements goal of transitioning to net zero emissions by 2050 (pdf).

It involves exiting all direct financing of any coal-fired power generation and thermal coal mines while reducing exposure to companies without transition or diversification plans by 2030.

The bank has already increased its direct lending to the renewable sector from $900 million in 2015 to $1.5 billion in 2020, or 60 percent to 87 percent of its power generation lending portfolio.

An ANZ spokesman did not comment on their decision to halt the funds and told The Epoch Times that they do not publicly discuss their customers specific details.

Last year we released an updated Climate Change Statement that outlined how we will support our customers transition to net zero emissions by 2050, including engaging with our largest emitting business customers on their low carbon transition plans, they said.

ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott said in a briefing last September that they would have massive concerns about the viability of businesses that are not considerate of the climate change goals.

If we really dont see an alignment of values, we would move to exit that customer over time, Elliot said.

CEO of ANZ Shayne Elliott speaks at the ANZ annual general meeting on Dec. 17, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Nationals senator Perin Davey told The Australian that the growing tendency of banks to prioritise climate change was against the national interest.

The risk is that if our financial institutions move away from investing in higher-emitting industries that those industries will just seek finance offshore, Davey said.

Agriculture minister David Littleproud slammed ANZs climate change commitment back in October, saying regional Australians should reconsider using banks that impose crippling new carbon targets and penalties on Australian farming families and industries.

Banks are not and should not try to become societys moral compass and arbiter, Littleproud said.

We cant let un-elected, profit-driven financiers from Pitt Street dictate to society how to produce food and fibre or how we run our economy.

David Littleproud speaks during a press conference at Parliament House on January 05, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. (Rohan Thomson/Getty Images)

NSW energy minister Matt Kean echoed this sentiment, telling Sky News that as a private company, ANZs fiduciary duty was to their shareholders and customers, not managing the Australian economy.
A medic takes sample of a local man during a mass testing in HCMC's District 1, February 8, 2021. Photo by Ho Chi Minh City CDC.

The Health Ministry confirmed Tuesday evening 13 new cases related to ongoing outbreaks of Covid-19 community transmissions and three imported infections.

Of the locally transmitted cases, six are in the northern province of Hai Duong, epicenter of the outbreak that began January 28 after 55 clean days.

Two new patients in Hanoi, one in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai and two in the northern province of Hung are also linked to the Hai Duong hotspot.

Hung Yen thus has been added to the list of localities that the new wave of community transmissions has spread to.

The remaining two community transmission cases are in Ho Chi Minh City, both employees of the Tan Son Nhat International Airport and related to the ongoing cluster at the airport with 30 previously confirmed cases.

The source of transmissions at the airport outbreak is yet to be identified.

With the 13 new cases, Vietnam has registered 483 community transmissions in 13 cities and provinces in the latest wave.

Hai Duong alone has 327 cases, followed by neighbor Quang Ninh with 53 and Vietnam's two biggest cities, HCMC and Hanoi, with 33 and 28.

The three imported cases, quarantined on arrival, are people coming from Japan, the U.S. and Costa Rica.

Vietnam has recorded 2,069 Covid-19 cases so far, 557 of them active.
A 5% accountability pay boost for wearing body cameras. A 5% residency differential for living within city limits. A $2,400 annual clothing and maintenance allowance. Triple overtime for appearing in court for two consecutive days an officer would normally have off.

These are some of the demands the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 has put forward for the next Philadelphia Police Department contract  an agreement that has drawn elevated public scrutiny after last years protests calling to defund the police. After City Council resolved to hold a hearing on the contract last year, the FOP sued to stop it. The hearing, in November, lasted more than seven hours and drew nearly 100 speakers.

The city has proposed its own contract changes, including a push to require officers live in the city; rules limiting back pay or reinstatement for officers who are fired or disciplined; and a new performance management system. One notable change would bar arbitrators from overturning discipline for proven misconduct. Another would permit the department to freely transfer anyone who can no longer fulfill police duties, or demote them to a civilian post. And still another would let the department unilaterally set procedures for the board that handles police discipline.

A city spokesperson emphasized that the proposal is just a draft but that the changes would be critical in terms of improved accountability for wrongdoing.

Reform advocates saw the citys pitch as a good first step. But some said the measures do not reflect the urgency that led them to march last summer and fall  and to seek a ballot measure installing a new police oversight commission, which passed with 79% approval in November.

The disciplinary process is deeply flawed, said the Rev. Mark Tyler, who leads Mother Bethel AME Church and is codirector of POWERs Live Free campaign. For advocates, the entire disciplinary process needs to be thrown out and we need to start all over again.

As for the FOP proposal, Tyler was dismayed at the idea of accountability pay for wearing body cameras. If what the FOP is requesting is more money because they will be more accountable, thats outrageous, he said.

FOP president John McNesby declined to comment, saying, We dont discuss what were doing in the papers about our contract.

Charles Katz, director of Arizona State Universitys Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety and an expert on body-worn cameras, said its not unprecedented for police to tie a pay increase to body camera implementation: Las Vegas Metro Police did so. But its not typical, he said, since using body-worn cameras is now the standard of care being practiced by police officers across the nation.

Research has shown police benefit from the technology. Now many police officers argue they wont go out on the street without body-worn cameras, he said. They want that as evidence they are doing the job right.

The evidence is hazier about residency requirements. The FOP wants a 5% pay increase for officers who live in the city. The citys proposal would simply require a Philadelphia residence for officers hired in the last several years, and ban those who live in the suburbs from taking police vehicles home.

That is one of those reform measures that sounds really good, said Michael Jenkins, who heads the University of Scrantons Center for the Analysis and Prevention of Crime. But, he said, research has not proven it improves the quality of policing.

To John Hollway, of University of Pennsylvanias Quattrone Center for Fair Administration of Justice, the disciplinary reforms proposed are helpful. But, he warned, eliminating arbitration may be only part of the solution.

If arbitration was where people fought before, maybe now theyll fight upstream, he said. Giving more ability to the department to remove officers who clearly shouldnt be on the job is a good thing, but it doesnt mean that one change is going to all of a sudden solve every problem.

Some of those could be addressed by the Police Oversight Board, once it is established. City Councilmember Curtis Jones last week introduced legislation for a civilian body with subpoena powers and a mandate for transparency.

Tyler said he would like to see the board be staffed by full-time elected officials, a proposal he acknowledged would cost more than $20 million.

We believe that should not be new money, but that money should come directly from the Police Departments existing budget, he said. The citizens should not be held responsible for the lack of accountability.
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has denied accusations made by federal prosecutors in New York, that he shielded drug lords, including Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, in exchange for bribes, and sought to flood the streets of the United States with drugs.

The president, whose brother Juan Antonio 'Tony' Hernandez was convicted of drug trafficking in October 2019 in New York, was implicated when his name had come up in a previous investigation in the drug trafficking case of Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez.

Fuentes Ramirez, who was arrested while attempting to board a plane at Miami International Airport on March 1, 2020, is accused of conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the United States and of killing several people to protect his business.

On Monday, representatives for President Hernandez, who has not yet been charged, tweeted staunch denials of any involvement in the case.

'The claim that Pres. Hernandez supposedly accepted drug money from a Geovanny Daniel Fuentes Ramirez, or gave protection or coordination to drug traffickers is 100% false, and appears to be based on lies of confessed criminals who seek revenge and to reduce their sentences,' said one message.

'This and other opportunistic allegations are contested by the essential fact that during the Hernandez Administration, cocaine trafficking through Honduras fell from 87% to 4% from 2013 to 2019, as recognized by the publications of the Department of State [INCRS)] of those years,' the second message said.

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez is being investigated by federal prosecutors in New York for his alleged ties to drug traffickers, including Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman. The jailed Mexican drug lord reportedly provided $1 million to Hernandez's campaign and in return El Chapo's drug shipments were protected in Honduras

Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's is being linked by federal prosecutors in New York to Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who received $1 million from the notorious drug lord ahead of his presidential campaign in 2013

Hernandez was identified as 'CC-4' or 'co-conspirator 4' in court documents filed last Friday.

Former Honduran mayor Amilcar Alexander Ardon told prosecutors that former Congressman Juan Antonio 'Tony' Hernandez guaranteed to provide protection for El Chapo's drug shipments in exchange for $1 million ahead of Juan Orlando Hernandez's 2013 presidential campaign.

For the last several years, prosecutors in the U.S. Southern District of New York have been building cases against drug traffickers up to the Honduran security forces and politicians who protected them.

'This criminal investigation has established that corruption is endemic in Honduras, and given the target set at issue, assistance from the Honduran government in support of these ongoing prosecutions has hardly been forthcoming,' the prosecutors wrote. 'For example, the Honduran government has provided only limited records in response to a treaty request for evidence relating to Tony Hernandez and not honored extradition requests relating to other charged co-conspirators -- and potential witnesses against the defendant and CC-4.'

Juan Antonio 'Tony' Hernandez (pictured in 2017) was convicted in a massive drug conspiracy case in a New York City federal court in October 2019. He is the brother of Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez

A tweet issued by the Honduran's presidential account dismissed accusations made in a New York federal court last Friday that link President Juan Orlando Hernandez to drug cartels

Honduras' presidential Twitter account hailed the Central American nation's efforts in combating cocaine trafficking

At another point, the U.S. prosecutors contested arguments made by Fuentes Ramirez's lawyers. 'The defendant's complaints about the government's investigation ignore the realities of developing evidence of drug trafficking and acts of violence in Honduras in connection with an investigation targeting, among others, high-ranking officials such as CC-4,' the document said.

Federal investigators said that Fuentes Ramirez allegedly paid President Hernandez $25,000 sometime in 2013 so that he could grant protection.

Last month, prosecutors in the same case filed motions saying Honduras' president took bribes from drug traffickers and had the country's armed forces protect a cocaine laboratory and shipments to the United States.

The documents quote Hernandez as saying he wanted to `shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos by flooding the United States with cocaine.'

Prosecutors have previously alleged that Hernandez fueled his political aspirations with money from drug traffickers. In exchange, Honduran security forces allowed them to move cocaine through the country, a major transshipment point for South American cocaine en route to the United States, the prosecutor say.

Hernandez, who had been president of congress before being elected president in 2013, was reelected in 2017 to a term that ends in January 2022.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 15:11:04|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Tuesday confirmed two new imported COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the kingdom to 476, said a Ministry of Health (MoH) statement.

The new cases were detected on a 19-year-old Cambodian woman returning from the United States and a 26-year-old Chinese woman, the statement said, adding that both arrived in Phnom Penh on Feb. 7 via a connecting flight in South Korea.

"The two women were tested positive for the COVID-19 upon their arrivals," the statement said.

Currently, one patient is undergoing treatment at the Chak Angre Health Center and the other at the National Center for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control, it added.

The statement said 90 passengers on the same flight have been placed under a 14-day mandatory quarantine at designated quarantine facilities in the capital.

The Southeast Asian nation has so far recorded a total of 476 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with zero deaths and 457 recoveries, it added. Enditem
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The lead counsel for the Electoral Commission in the ongoing election petition, Mr Justin Amenuvor, has described the temperament of the third witness of former President John, Mr Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo, as ungovernable character.



While cross-examining Mr Mettle-Nunoo (Rojo) on Monday, 8 February 2021 at the Supreme Court, Mr Amenuvor attacked the character of Mr Mahamas third witness by making reference to his past conduct within the Strong Room of the Electoral Commission (EC) during the 2008 general elections, where Mr Mettle-Nunoo threatened to go at Mr Kwabena Agyapng one-on-one for, allegedly, attempting to, according to him, change the results at the time.



Asked if he recalled that event and if it, indeed, happened, Mr Mettle-Nunoo responded: That is correct and I told him that in the face because he was trying to change the results.



Mr Amenuvor then said: I am putting it to you that, that character of yours is what you have just displayed for the court, after the petitioners witness had insisted he was telling the truth to the court and that it was rather the Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Mensa, who had not been truthful to the nation, as far as her declaration of the 2020 presidential results is concerned.



In a riposte, Mr Mettle-Nunoo said: I have a temperament for fairness, I have a temperament for telling the truth, I have a temperament that makes me want to fight to defend the integrity of my name.



Mr Amenuvor had riled up the witness when he put it to him that his statement and testimony to the court were a bad explanation for the bad job you did on behalf of the petitioner at Strong Room of the EC.



You are being judgmental, Mr Mettle-Nunoo fired back, asserting: I was performing a function that was supposed to protect the interest of my presidential candidate and I did it based on my knowledge, past experience and a certain sense of high maturity in the strong room.



He said: If I had misconducted myself, this country would be [at] war by now. You need to appreciate that. It is my very mature handling of the situation. And dont forget, the EC Chair said that she was going to declare the results in 24 hours and there were so many anomalies.



It is your client that you are representing, that is being untruthful. She is supposed to declare credible election results and she declare multiple results. It is your client that is being untruthful to the people of Ghana



Mr Amenuvor then ends his cross-examination, saying: You have a temperament known as ungovernable character.

Source: classfmonline.com









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An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.

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Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
[February 09, 2021] CDS Visual Expands Support in Europe

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CDS Visual today announced an agreement with Walpole Partnership to partner together in support of the EMEA Configure/Price/Quote (CPQ) visualization market. CDS Visual continues to expand its CPQ Visualization offering, including support for 3D visualization, dimensioned drawings, downloadable CAD files and augmented reality experiences of configured products. These solutions are integrated to leading CPQ software products and drive tremendous additional ROI for companies using CPQ, as well as expanding CPQ use into product areas and sales channels for which traditional text entry of configuration information isn't ideal. With over 100 years of experience in technical and business roles directly related to CPQ, Walpole Partnership provides unparalleled expertise implementing CPQ for their UK and EMEA customers. Walpole Partnership's engagemen in the CDS Visual System Integrator Partner Program is expanding their capabilities further by adding CPQ Visualization to the services they can provide their CPQ customers and further increasing the ROI of their CPQ systems.



"Changes in the selling environment are driving the need for companies to present their products online and give their prospects all the information they need to make a buying decision, including companies selling configured products. CDS Visual solves that challenge, creating an information-rich and immersive online buying experience for customers. Seeing truly is believing." said Bill Butler, Chief Revenue Officer for CDS Visual. "Partnering with Walpole Partnership to combine our capabilities and provide local service and support to UK and EMEA customers will accelerate adoption of CPQ Visualization and increase revenues significantly for our joint customers." Walpole Partnership's Managing Director, Andy Pieroux, said "We're excited to help bring the benefits of CDS' industry leading 3D visualisation tools to CPQ users in EMEA. It's a perfect time for businesses to take advantage of online representations of their products so they can reach their customers in new and dynamic ways."

About CDS Visual:

CDS is the worldwide leader in CAD-based CPQ visualization technologies, and is headquartered in San Jose, CA. Their products integrate with all leading CPQ software products. (408) 550-8820

290942@email4pr.com



About Walpole Partnership:

Walpole Partnership is a highly experienced IT consultancy, specialising in Configure, Price and Quote (CPQ) technology. Their CPQ experts advise, implement and support CPQ software to help businesses optimise their sales process. +44 20 8123 9966

290942@email4pr.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cds-visual-expands-support-in-europe-301224270.html SOURCE CDS Visual

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NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSE American: DSS) ("DSS"), a multinational company operating businesses focusing on brand protection technology, blockchain security, direct marketing, healthcare, real estate, and securitized digital assets, today announced it entered a joint venture ("JV") with Coinstreet Partners ("Coinstreet"), a global decentralized digital investment banking group and digital asset financial service firm, and GSX Group ("GSX"), a global digital exchange ecosystem for the issuance, trading, and settlement of tokenized securities, using its proprietary blockchain solution. This JV collaboration forms a unique partnership of three key leaders in their field, combining traditional capital market experience, Fintech innovations, and business networks from three continents, North America, Europe, and Asia, to capitalize on unique digital asset opportunities.

Document Security Systems, Inc., Coinstreet Partners and GSX Group Collaborate to Develop Digital Asset Exchange Business in the US

The newly formed JV will first pursue a digital securities exchange license in the US. Moving forward, this JV will be the key operational company building and operating a digital securities exchange that utilizes the GSX STACS blockchain technology, serving corporate issuers and investors in the sector.

Frank D. Heuszel, CEO of DSS, commented on the news of the new JV, saying:



"We have been looking for the right opportunity to accelerate our digital asset business and believe this collaboration will provide a strong foundation for success. The transformative potential of digital securities is extremely exciting, and we look forward to pursuing the massive opportunity in the US for a secondary market in securities tokens."

A key facilitator in the new JV, Samson Lee, Founder & CEO of Coinstreet Partners commented:

"For the past 4 years, Coinstreet has been focusing on primary market activities for STO and digital assets in the international market. We are delighted to establish a strategic partnership with DSS and GSX to develop a digital asset exchange in the US. This is a major step forward for Coinstreet, and it will allow us to vertically integrate our primary market services with regulated secondary trading venues in the US, which is a very important market for us."

Story continues

Nick Cowan, CEO of GSX Group, added on the deal's conclusion:



"Through this strategic joint venture, we are realizing our vision to establish a paradigm shift in the capital markets. With the help of our new partners, DSS and Coinstreet, and using our underlying bespoke blockchain for securities, the GSX STACS network, we believe this new exchange will provide some exciting opportunities for US and global issuers."

According to a survey from the World Economic Forum, 10% of the world's GDP will be tokenized by 2027 -- with an estimated market capitalization of US$24 trillion. With increased clarity in the regulatory framework and many positive developments in the industry, such as wider adoption of digital assets from financial institutions and innovative digital security offerings from large enterprises, both asset tokenization and digitized securities are gaining much momentum for new growth in the financial industry.

Through their JV collaboration, DSS, Coinstreet Partners, and GSX Group could become the next digital asset exchange to secure FINRA registration as an alternative trading system (ATS).

Please click these links for Chinese, Japanese and Korean versions.

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 US$25 billion.

For more information on DSS visit http://www.dsssecure.com.

About Coinstreet Partners (Coinstreet)



Founded in 2017, Coinstreet is an award-winning, AI-powered decentralized investment banking group, a premium financial services firm for private wealth, and a professional consultancy firm in the Digital Asset and FinTech sectors, providing a business eco-system for the new era of digital economy. Coinstreet focuses on five key business segments: (1) Digital Asset Investment Banking, (2) Digital Asset/Wealth Management & Private Banking, (3) Digital Asset Global Distribution Coordination, (4) Asset Tokenization & Security Digitization Management Solution, and (5) Decentralized Finance & DLT Solution.

Coinstreet is a co-organizer of Global Online Investor Roadshow ( www.GOIR.info ) - the next generation, institutional scale, online private placement platform for private equity, alternative investments, and digital asset opportunities; and a co-organizer of TADS Awards ( www.TADSawards.org ) - the world's first international award for Tokenized Assets and Digitized Securities sector.

For more information on Coinstreet, visit https://coinstreet.partners/

About GSX Group

GSX Group, that owns and operates the Gibraltar Stock Exchange (GSX) is a growing Fintech ecosystem of digital securities exchanges. GSX Group seeks to build a digital ecosystem to exploit the next evolutionary stage in capital markets development: the tokenization of economies facilitating the adoption by, and convergence between, issuers and investors.

For more information on GSX Group, visit https://www.gsxgroup.global/

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 management's 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 management's 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.

Cision

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SOURCE Coinstreet Partners
(Article L.233-8 II of the French Commercial Code Article 223-16 of the General Regulation of the Financial Markets Authority)

Regulatory News:

Europcar Mobility Group (Paris:EUCAR):

Date Total number of

shares(1) Total number of voting rights Theoretical(2) Exercisable(3) 10/31/2020 163 884 278 164 742 357 155 826 818 11/30/2020 163 884 278 164 671 529 155 853 490 12/31/2020 163 884 278 164 700 108 155 934 569

(1)The share capital is comprised of 163,884,278 ordinary shares.

Europcar Mobility Group S.A. bylaws include a clause imposing an obligation of declaration of crossing of threshold additional to the one related to legal thresholds.

(2)Pursuant to the second paragraph of Article 223-11 of the AMF General regulations, the total number of voting rights is calculated on the basis of the total number of shares having voting rights attached, including the treasury shares which are shares deprived of voting rights.

(3) The total number of exercisable voting rights is calculated excluding the shares deprived of voting rights. The declarations concerning the crossing of thresholds (1) must be addressed to: Europcar Mobility Group, Relations Investisseurs, 13 ter boulevard Berthier, 75017 Paris.

About Europcar Mobility Group

Europcar Mobility Group is a major player in mobility markets and listed on Euronext Paris. The mission of Europcar Mobility Group is to be the preferred "Mobility Service Company" by offering attractive alternatives to vehicle ownership, with a wide range of mobility-related services and solutions: car rental and light commercial vehicle rental, chauffeur services, car-sharing and private hire vehicle (PHV rental to "Uber like" chauffeurs).

Customers' satisfaction is at the heart of the Group's mission and all of its employees and this commitment fuels the continuous development of new services.

Europcar Mobility Group operates through a diversified portfolio of brands meeting every customer specific needs and use cases, be it for 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week or longer; its 4 major brands being: Europcar the European leader of car rental and light commercial vehicle rental, Goldcar the low-cost car-rental Leader in Europe, InterRent 'mid-tier' car rental and Ubeeqo one of the European leaders of round- trip car-sharing (BtoB, BtoC). Europcar Mobility Group delivers its mobility solutions worldwide solutions through an extensive network in over 140 countries (including wholly owned subsidiaries 18 in Europe, 1 in the USA, 2 in Australia and New Zealand completed by franchises and partners).

Further details on our website:www.europcar-mobility-group.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209006034/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations

Caroline Cohen caroline.cohen@europcar.com 33 1 76 36 86 02

Press Relations

Valerie Sauteret valerie.sauteret@europcar.com +33 6 72 93 31 05

Vincent Vevaud vincent.vevaud@europcar.com
LONDON  For years, landlords have had the upper hand in Londons real estate market, pushing up rents as businesses clamored for prime locations near offices, tourism hot spots and transport hubs and as the citys population grew and grew. Restaurants were often locked into leases with clauses that allowed the rent to only go up. Retailers faced increasingly exorbitant rents.

Over the course of a year, the pandemic has brought a halt to this arrangement, shifting the power balance between commercial property tenants and landlords.

Confronting the alternative of having empty properties, some landlords have loosened their terms, with offers of rent holidays or other concessions. But in other cases, changes have been forced on property owners by struggling tenants who, in increasing numbers, have turned to an option in Britains insolvency law known as a company voluntary arrangement. The result has been slashed rents or a switch to leases that fluctuate based on the tenants earnings.

Seeing their prospects dwindle, some property owners are saying the leasing system is outdated and are calling for more transparency and cooperation with their tenants. And a coming legislative review by the British government could bring more change.
SARASOTA, Fla., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MoneyShow.com, the largest independent multi-media investment education destination for investors and traders, announced yesterday the launch of its newly redesigned website. The website represents a transformative change for MoneyShow as it pivots to delivering over 1,500 hours of in-depth investing and trading advice and strategies from world-renowned experts in the form of virtual expos, virtual learning, digital courses, articles, and only four face-to-face conferences.

The site, organized by topic, allows investors to discover actionable investing and trading advice and recommendations from their favorite money experts. Featuring a veritable who's who of the investing and trading community, MoneyShow's roster of 1,000+ experts include the likes of Steve Forbes, Arthur Laffer, Jim Rogers, Anthony Scaramucci, John Bollinger, and many more. MoneyShow experts cover the whole gamut of relevant topics on stocks, bonds, funds, ETFs, commodities, economics, strategies, and trends for market timing.

"MoneyShow is proud to be celebrate our 40th anniversary by launching our redesigned website, MoneyShow.com. Over four decades we've added 340,000 free MoneyShow.com members to our community of 1.3 million passionate investors and helped them build wealth by connecting them with money experts who guide them to gain insights that, over time, empower them to outperform the market," said Kim Githler, Chair and CEO of MoneyShow.

New features and content on MoneyShow.com include:

Follow the Expert  Investors can follow their favorite experts and receive alerts with links to newly released content from the experts they follow.

Investors can follow their favorite experts and receive alerts with links to newly released content from the experts they follow. Virtual Expos  Every other week, MoneyShow will host 2-3-day virtual events on its proprietary platform, featuring world-class financial intelligence delivered to investors' home, office, or mobile device.

Every other week, MoneyShow will host 2-3-day virtual events on its proprietary platform, featuring world-class financial intelligence delivered to investors' home, office, or mobile device. Virtual Passes  For investors and traders who can't make it to the live Virtual Expo or for those who want to watch content at a later date, MoneyShow has packaged all of the content from each virtual expo into a comprehensive on-demand bundle for $49 .

For investors and traders who can't make it to the live Virtual Expo or for those who want to watch content at a later date, MoneyShow has packaged all of the content from each virtual expo into a comprehensive on-demand bundle for . Virtual Learning  To ensure there are no barriers to entry, several of the most popular videos from each Virtual Expo will be posted free in the Virtual Learning section of MoneyShow.com.

To ensure there are no barriers to entry, several of the most popular videos from each Virtual Expo will be posted free in the Virtual Learning section of MoneyShow.com. MoneyMasters SM Courses  Up to 100 in-depth tutorials that allow investors and traders to take a deep dive into the hottest financial topics and understand the experts' strategies and get actionable advice, will be released in 2021.

Up to 100 in-depth tutorials that allow investors and traders to take a deep dive into the hottest financial topics and understand the experts' strategies and get actionable advice, will be released in 2021. MyMoneyShow Dashboard  This all-new feature is where MoneyShow.com members can personalize their experience by collecting content from the experts they follow, get article and video recommendations based on their interests, and watch MoneyMastersSM courses or videos they purchasedall in one convenient location.

To view the newly redesigned MoneyShow website, visit www.MoneyShow.com.

About MoneyShow

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As part of its commitment to support Kuwaits strategic industries, Equate Group, a global producer of petrochemicals and the worlds second largest producer of ethylene glycol (EG), hosted a delegation from the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) and Kuwait Industries Union (KIU), at its complex in Shuaiba, Kuwait on February 1.

The PAI was headed by General Manager, Abdulkarim Taqi Abdulkarim, while the KUIs was headed headed by Chairman, Hussein Al-Kharafi.

Equate Group extended the invitation to its strategic partners, as it continues to promote partnership efforts in support of national strategic industries that contribute to the development and diversification of the economy a statement said.

Naser Aldousari, President and CEO Equate Group, said: We would like to extend our gratitude to the PAI and KIU for their ongoing support and valuable cooperation as together, we continue to enhance the status of Kuwaits strategic industries  this partnership is a true reflection of our achievements as Partners in Success.

Abdulkarim Taqi, General Manager, PAI, said: Equate Groups ongoing contribution towards the diversification of the countrys transformational industries is highly commendable. We will continue to provide the facilities and incentives that are required to support its endeavors, as part of our commitment to developing and advancing the regions industrial activity.

Commenting on the success of the partnership, Hussein Ali Al-Kharafi, Chairman, KIU, said: Equate Groups contribution to the regions economic development sets an example for the industry. The partnership between public and private sectors, and foreign investors represents Kuwaits industrial sectors high potential, the regions national technical competencies and the necessary infrastructure required to support these activities.TradeArabia News Service
Qualcomm unveiled its fourth generation 5G modems, including the worlds first modem to offer wireless speeds of up to 10 Gbps. Thats the X65, theres also the more affordable X62 modem.

These are based on 3GPP Release 16, which is branded as 5G phase 2. Interestingly, Qualcomm advertises the upgradable architecture of these modems, meaning software updates can enable new 5G features in the future (this is similar to the updatable GPU feature also from Qualcomm).

he X65 offers peak download speeds up to 10 Gbps using an impressive 1,000 MHz bandwidth (this is with 10 carrier aggregation). The X62 meanwhile tops out at 4.6 Gbps and 400 MHz (it still supports both sub-6 and mmWave).

The X65 and X62 are designed to work with the new QTM545 mmWave antenna. It can transmit at a higher power than previous designs and supports all global mmWave frequencies, including the brand new n259 band (41 GHz).

Qualcomm developed the worlds first AI antenna tuning technology. It can detect the users hand grip more accurately (by 30%), which helps improve data speeds, coverage and battery longevity.

To that end theres also 5G PowerSave 2.0, which leverages Release 16 features like Connected-Mode Wake-Up Signal. Basically, this allows the modem to sleep for longer, waking up only when necessary. This reduces power usage by about 10%. Also, Smart Transmit 2.0 allows for higher upload speeds and improves coverage while keeping within RF emission regulations.



The X65 modem  QTM547 antenna module  Fixed wireless access modem (reference design)

Qualcomm has sent out X65 and X62 samples to manufacturers. Expect the first devices with the new 5G modems to be out by late 2021. These will make their way to smartphones, of course, but they will also be used in fixed installations, Qualcomm calls this fiber through the air.

For more details on the companys 5G plans, check out Episode 2 of Whats Next in 5G:

We are reaching a significant milestone with the Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System, unleashing connectivity up to 10 Gigabits per second and support for the latest 5G specifications that will play a critical role in enabling new 5G use cases not only for redefined premium smartphone experiences, but also opening a new realm of possibilities for 5G expansion across mobile broadband, compute, XR, industrial IoT, 5G private networks and fixed wireless access, says CEO-elect Cristiano Amon.

Source
Oregon U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump in November 2017, was among the U.S. attorneys nationwide directed Tuesday to step down as the Biden administration seeks to replace them.

On an all-U.S. Attorney call this morning, Acting Attorney General Wilkinson instructed most presidentially-appointed U.S. Attorneys, U.S. Attorney Williams included, to submit resignations effective February 28, 2021, said Kevin Sonoff, a spokesman for the Oregon U.S. Attorneys Office.

Our office is taking all necessary steps to ensure a smooth transition and will provide more information soon.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Asphaug is expected to take over the top prosecutors job in an acting capacity on Feb. 28 before a new appointment is made.

Until U.S. Attorney nominees are confirmed, the interim and acting leaders in the U.S. Attorneys Offices will make sure that the department continues to accomplish its critical law enforcement mission, vigorously defend the rule of law and pursue the fair and impartial administration of justice for all, Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson said in a statement Tuesday.

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden is working with U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley to appoint a selection committee to interview and recommend candidates for the job. They will then recommend finalists to forward to the Biden administration for selection, according to the two Democratic senators.

Both senators thank Billy Williams for nearly six years of service to Oregon in this post as the states chief federal law enforcement official, according to a joint statement from the senators offices.

In a statement, Williams called it an incredible honor to serve the people of Oregon.

In more than 20 years with this office, I have had the distinct privilege to engage with countless colleagues, friends, community members, law enforcement partners, litigants, and others committed to making our communities better, safer places to live and thrive, he said. There is still much work to do in our collective pursuit of justice and equity for all, but I am proud of what weve accomplished together. Most of all, I am grateful to have worked with so many federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers who daily put themselves at risk to protect Oregonians. You have and always will be a great inspiration to me.

Among the names that have surfaced as potential successors to Williams:

Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Gabriel, deputy chief of the offices criminal division who has worked as a federal prosecutor since 2007 and previously did civil litigation and criminal defense work for two law firms.

Renata Gowie, chief of the offices civil division who recently had been a candidate for a federal appellate judges seat.

Dwight Holton, a former acting U.S. attorney in Oregon who previously worked as an assistant federal prosecutor in New York and Portland before heading the Lines for Life nonprofit that works to prevent substance abuse and suicide.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Knight, a veteran federal prosecutor and former deputy district attorney who unsuccessfully ran for the Multnomah County district attorneys seat this year.

Donna Maddux, who spent eight years as a federal prosecutor after working for the Oregon Department of Justice for 10 years, is just months into a new job doing data privacy and cybersecurity law for a private firm.

Vivek Kothari, who does civil litigation as an associate with the firm Markowitz Herbold and co-founded the Oregon Clemency Project last year. He previously spent five years as a federal prosecutor in Atlanta.

John Hummel, who was first elected Deschutes County district attorney in 2014 and then re-elected in 2018. He previously served as state and federal policy director for the Oregon Primary Care Association.

Williams, 64, served as acting and interim U.S. attorney after replacing Amanda Marshall in April 2015 before he was appointed by Trump on Nov. 17, 2017, and confirmed by the Senate in March 2018. He joined the U.S. Attorneys Office in October 2000 after serving as a Multnomah County deputy district attorney.

In the last month, Williams has been seeking to hold on to his job, requesting letters from supporters to submit on his behalf as he expressed his desire to remain in the seat.

Yet all of the Trump-era appointees confirmed by the Senate were asked to submit their resignations, except two top prosecutors in Delaware and Connecticut who are overseeing Trump-era investigations.

Connecticut U.S. Attorney John H. Durham will continue as special counsel in the investigation of the origins on the Trump-Russia inquiry, but is being asked to resign as U.S. Attorney, according to The Hartford Courant. Delawares U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss, whose office is directing a tax investigation of Bidens son Hunter Biden, will remain in office.

It is common for new presidents to replace U.S. attorneys and the request for Williams departure was long anticipated.

In recent years, Williams has clashed with Portland city officials.

His decision last year to maintain the federal deputization of 50 Portland police officers, despite the citys objection and request to drop the federal authority granted to local officers, has led to a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice.

In July, he called it nonsensical political theater for Portland city officials to bar local police collaboration with federal officers during protests and urged local residents to demand that violent extremists stop attempting to breach the fence put up around the federal courthouse. He also has pursued rare federal civil disorder charges against more than a dozen people involved in last years demonstrations.

In February 2019, Williams called it a mistake that defies logic after the City Council voted to withdraw Portland police from the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force.

When he first took over the office, Williams oversaw the federal prosecution of Ammon Bundy and other leaders of the 41-day armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Oregon.

Bundy and six other defendants charged in the armed takeover were acquitted at trial in October 2016, found not guilty of conspiring to prevent federal employees from doing their jobs through intimidation, threat or force. A second trial resulted in guilty verdicts on at least one felony charge against each of four other defendants who played more minor roles in March 2017.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
A worker and a returned traveller have tested positive for coronavirus at Melbourne Airports Holiday Inn, forcing an entire floor of people into isolation and prompting a further review of the states hotel quarantine system.

The case is the third for the Holiday Inn in less than a week and the fifth in less than a fortnight across three Victorian quarantine hotels. Three of those are confirmed to be the more infectious British variant of COVID-19.

The new cases did not trigger any tighter community restrictions on Tuesday afternoon but contact tracing interviews and genomic sequencing were still being carried out on Tuesday night.

The Health Department updated its list of exposure sites late on Tuesday night with seven venues in Sunbury, including Cellarbrations and several stores in the Sunbury Square Shopping Centre. Anyone at those venues at the specified times must get tested and isolate for 14 days.
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In China, it is common for social media companies to wipe content considered politically sensitive

The repression of Muslim Uighurs, the Tiananmen Square crackdown, and S&M hook-upsnothing was off-limits in the rambunctious, unfiltered chatrooms of Clubhouse, before China's censors silenced the conversation.

For around a week, robust, open discussion on China pinballed across the American audio app, recently lent an air of exclusivity after an endorsement from Elon Musk.

It offered mainland and Chinese-speaking users a rare space to dissect taboos across politics and society, a plurality of voices normally muted inside China by the Communist Party.

Then late on Monday, an error message appeared to Chinese users logging on without a VPN to establish a secure connection, a telltale sign that state censors had got hold of the debate.

"Under Xi, the ban was a matter of time," said Lokman Tsui, a communications professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, of the reflex to scrub unregulated social media sharpened under China's President Xi Jinping.

Users took to Clubhouse chatrooms and other social media platforms to lament the block, which closed a brief window for freewheeling exchanges in a country where overseas networks such as Twitter and Facebook have been banned.

Asked about the ban, a Chinese foreign ministry official said Tuesday he was unaware of specifics but added: "While China's Internet is open, the Chinese government manages it in accordance with the law and regulations."

Although Chinese versions of global platforms have emerged and become part of daily life, Chinese users are aware that content posted on them is monitored and censored.

It is common for social media companies to wipe content considered politically sensitive, including protests and criticism of the government, with users devising measures like screenshots and deliberate typos to skirt censors.

'Living a lie'

On Clubhouse last Saturday, however, more than 1,000 users flocked to a chatroom on the mass incarceration of Uighurs and other Turkic-speaking Muslims in China's western Xinjiang region.

Rights groups believe at least one million people are incarcerated in camps in Xinjiang, but Beijing has said they are vocational training centres aimed at reducing the appeal of Islamic extremism.

At least three people identifying as Uighurs shared personal stories in the Clubhouse chat and several others said they were Han Chinese who had lived in Xinjiang.

A woman said her views changed after living abroad exposed her to more information on Xinjiang.

"I had only been living in a huge lie," she said.

Rights groups believe at least one million people are incarcerated in camps in Xinjiang

But some struck a more defensive note, with a man countering that "re-education camps" were necessary.

Moderators allowed time for people to talk in the Chinese-language chatroom without interruption, in a conversation that ended the following afternoon.

On Monday, more than 2,000 users gathered in another chatroom discussing the bloody crackdown on Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, a taboo topic in China.

One said the environment was "dangerous for both sides", referring to civilians and authorities, while another called it outdated to claim that studentswho participated in the movementwere easily "brainwashed".

People from Hong Kong and Taiwan also pitched in on, or moderated, China-related topics.

But the frank exchanges were not limited to big questions of politics.

The night after the Xinjiang chat, in another room, gay men swapped explicit stories of booty calls.

Some talked about engaging in unexpected S&M hook-ups, and others shared anecdotes about taking dates home only to be found out by their parents.

But the door soon slammed shut on unfettered discussion.

The space for free online discussion has "been drastically reduced" since 2013, the year Xi became president, added Emilie Frenkiel, associate professor at Universite Paris Est Creteil, who researches political participation and representation in China.

But she added that the chance for open discourse on sensitive topics with other Chinese-speakers like Taiwanese counterparts "even though very risky, is so rare that... many are still willing to seize it".

A search for "Clubhouse invites", previously for sale on a Chinese online marketplace, no longer turns up results.

Since the ban, Chinese speakers returning to the app discussed ways to circumvent the "Great Firewall", and a chatroom ironically praising a pro-Communist Party editor continues defiantly.

But the wider lament was for the end of a precious space for debate which flickered but was never allowed to flare.

"I came here because it did not have speech censorship," one user said.

Explore further China blocks Clubhouse app that gave rare access to uncensored topics

 2021 AFP
Employees will have an option to work for four days a week in the country soon. The labour ministry has decided to allow companies to offer flexibility by incorporating changes in the labour codes. The government has clarified that companies may have the option to choose for a four-day week but employees will have to adjust to longer shifts.

Labour secretary Apurva Chandra has said many companies are interested in providing a four-day work shift. "We have tried to give flexibility in working days. It is entirely possible that some employers may want to provide a five-day week. We have also come across employers who said they are keen to provide a four-day working week," Chandra said, reported Business Standard.

Also read: New labour laws are pro-business, anti-workers

He clarified that companies can't increase the workings hours beyond the mandated 48-hour limit for the week. Companies enabling four-day workweek will have to provide three days of consecutive holidays after that, said Chandra. Companies will have the flexibility to either allow four, five or six-day workweek, he said, adding that companies and employees must agree to the four-day week schedule.

He said unions would opposed the move only if companies don't allow employees a three-day consecutive leave. Notably, the Centre had passed four labour codes in Parliament in September 2020, following draft rules formulated in December. The government received comments concerning these rules in January.

Chandra has said the ministry is giving final touches to the labour rules and that states are also coming with the draft of their own rules. Though India Inc has hailed the newly-enacted three labour codes, claiming it will spur much-needed investment and create more jobs in the country, some believe the law is tilted in favour of employers.

The labour law reforms make hiring and firing easy for companies. It makes it difficult for unions to go on strike without prior 60-day notice. Experts say it will make the future uncertain for employees. Some, however, disagree saying millennials prefer easy and flexible employment terms.

Also read: The ugly side of automobile industry: Over 500 scarred for life in Gurgaon-Faridabad cluster

Also read: What stops India from taking care of its crisis-hit workers?

Also read: Industrial Relations Code 2019: Balance tilts in favour of industry; makes trade unions jittery
Google's Android 12 is coming this year - this fall, if the company sticks with its past release timing. Before that, we should see a few betas, the first of which, again going on what happened for past versions, should appear within a few weeks.

While we patiently wait for all that, today a bunch of screenshots that are said to depict some aspects of Android 12 have been leaked, and - brace yourselves, a redesign is coming. New features too. These screenshots allegedly come from a document that Google made to summarize the changes in the new version.

The looks here are certainly reminiscent of iOS to some degree, as are some of the new privacy features - like the icons that show up in the top right to let you know that an app is using your camera or microphone. If you tap those icons you'll get a pop-up telling you which app is using what. There's also going to be a quick way to disable the camera or mic with just the tap of a toggle. These camera and mic usage indicators are apparently going to be mandated by Google to be included by all OEMs once they release their respective updates to Android 12.





The Quick Settings icons either aren't finalized or they will change shape based on activity, which looks weird - does the Wi-Fi icon turn fully round when connected, alongside changing color? Maybe. There are just four Quick Settings icons this time around, which makes them bigger and easier to access, but buries the others while leaving plenty of white (or rather in this case, cream) space. The background colors are probably going to be dependent on theme, and we're not sure if this is the new light theme or not.





New widgets are also on the way, with a new Conversations widget that highlights recent messages, missed calls, and activity statuses. In its smallest size, this will only show one item at a time.





Other things expected to land in Android 12 are app pairs, the 'double tap on the back of your phone' gesture, sharing Wi-Fi passwords with nearby devices, an improved theming system, emoji updates decoupled from system updates, and an app hibernation feature.

Source
SAN FRANCISCO  Fresh off a winning Super Bowl ad and a role at the center of a recent stock market frenzy, Reddit announced Monday that it had raised $250 million in new funding, valuing the social news startup at $6 billion as it aims to turbocharge user growth and double its workforce.

The investment is a shot in the arm for Reddit, which since 2003 has focused on building digital communities around topic-based message boards. The latest funding, led by Vy Capital with participation from previous investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital and Tencent Holdings, doubles Reddits valuation from its last financing in 2019.

Reddit, which is based in San Francisco, said the funding built on the success of its burgeoning advertising business, as brands and marketers are attracted to the sites powerful and active community members.

We have come a long way in recent years to focus more on the needs of the hundreds of thousands of communities that make up Reddit, the company said in a blog post. We have dedicated ourselves to Reddit because we believe in the power of communities that provide a sense of belonging and connection as real as the ones we make offline.

Reddit has been highly visible in recent days. Last month, shares of the video game retailer GameStop soared as users of Reddits WallStreetBets forum, which is known as a subreddit, egged one another on to buy the stock, partly to entrap hedge funds that had bet the stock would fall.

That sent GameStops stock on an extraordinary and volatile ride. After a flurry of media attention, the WallStreetBets forum ballooned to more than 7 million members. Multiple book and film option rights have been shopped over the saga, with the prospect of fame and money embroiling the forums moderators in bitter disputes.

Reddit was also widely praised for a five-second commercial that aired during the Super Bowl on Sunday, which became one of the most talked-about ads on a day that was crowded with talked-about ads. Reddits spot, which required viewers to pause their television screens to read it, proclaimed, Wow, this actually worked. Viewers scrambled to grab screenshots of one of the shortest-ever Super Bowl ads to post to social media.

Reddit has had its share of controversy over the years. The company has long been criticized for its laissez faire approach to content moderation, which allowed racist, sexist and troll-filled communities to flourish. At one point, Reddit refused to remove subforums dedicated to racist commentary, citing the need for free and unfettered speech.

In recent years, the company has changed its tune on content moderation. Since Steve Huffman, a Reddit co-founder, returned as CEO in 2015, the startup has overhauled and fine-tuned its content policies. Reddit has barred communities of Nazis and other far-right contingents. In June, it banned The_Donald, a subforum dedicated to supporters of then-President Donald Trump, which the company said had repeatedly broken its rules against harassment and other behavior.

Reddit said it planned to use the new injection of capital to expand its community of more than 50 million daily active users. That includes courting more influencers and content creators, a move it made when it bought short-form video platform Dubsmash, a rival to TikTok, in December. Reddit, which has more than 700 workers, also said it would double that number this year.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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In 1927, a young man by the name of Richard Wright  who would later become one of the most prominent African American authors of the 20th century  arrived in the Gap area of Chicago. It was during the Great Migration when over a million Black people left the Jim Crow South and came north.

Wrights journey informs The Voodoo of Hell's Half-Acre: The Travelin' Genius of Richard Wright from Natchez to Chicago. The free multimedia theater presentation, written by Lasana Kazembe, revolves around the life, art, and legacy of the novelist and poet. Filmed at The Cabaret  incorporating jazz, poetry, spoken word, and visual art  Voodoo premiered online Feb.10 and a fully edited version will be broadcast on WFYI Public Television sometime this spring.

[Wright] settled in the Gap area of Chicago, which is right around 35th and State Street, right around that area, which is the infamous Black Belt area, says Kazembe, assistant professor in the School of Education and in the Africana Studies Program at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis. I know that area ... I'm from an area farther south, but that history was just there. So as a poet, as a historian, as a writer, I'm always looking for ways to make these connections, and to make the history alive. So I thought it would be wonderful to do a production that brought these various elements together.

Kazembe wrote what he calls his blues poetry opera in 2015, and he conceived it in a coffee house in Chicago where he used to go to write and study.

People who know me know that I am a serious student of [poet] Amiri Baraka and, throughout his life, he had this thing that he would do where he would develop these jazz operas. His jazz operas were really consisting of him reading poetry, alongside major jazz artists in New York and he did about maybe five or six of these jazz operas.

Kazembe is also a serious student of Wright, who wrote Black Boy, Native Son, Uncle Toms Children, and many other works. I have a decades-long love affair with Richard Wright's work in literature, he says. I started reading it when I was around 15 when I first encountered it. And so it's been just an ongoing affair and he's just such a major imprint, a deep, deep imprint, and a long shadow still on the culture. I teach Africana studies as well so I've always been fascinated with the way Black History happens. Specifically, Black American history.

He conceived of a work in poetry, music, and narrative.

But then I wanted to add additional multimedia elements, he says. At the time we did it in Chicago I was working with a group of musicians there and 2015, 2016. And we did about eight concerts in Chicago. We would have images; young little girls jumping rope, roller skaters, just all kinds of just wild multimedia stuff going on. That was the impetus back then.

The performances, Kazembe says, generated nice, intimate crowds at Transition East studio in the South Shore area of Chicago. The musical aspect of the performance in that space featured the conga, the djembe drum, the talking drum, and cello.

This time around we don't have those elements; we have different musical elements: sax, upright bass, piano, says Kazembe. We didn't have piano before and now we have piano  And I wanted it but I couldn't get it but now I have it; vocalists. So we have two vocalists. And then in the first configuration, I did all of the poetry, plus the narration is prose narration. And now we have an independent narrator.

The production features some of the best-known players in the Indy jazz scene, including Jazz Kitchen regular Rob Dixon on saxophone  also serving as the musical director  and Steven Jones on piano. Filling out the rhythm section are Brandon Meeks and Kenny Phelps. Allison Victoria and Okara Imani are the vocalists, and Asante Childrens Theatre Director Keesha Dixon will serve as the narrator.

Indianapolis visual artist Shamira Wilson will also be on stage.

The Richard Wright presentation was a fabulous way to revisit his work, and the legacy of his writing, such as Black Boy, says Wilson. Typically my work is very solitary so it was also great to be in community with talented musicians and artists that I'm honored to work with for the first time. Being live on stage, this presentation stretched me to paint more quickly and to capture the spirit of the music and spoken words which resulted in a piece based on Wrights experiences and writings on migrations.'

You just might hear reverberations of the Black Lives Matter protests of the summer of 2020 in the performance. When Wright arrived in Chicago, it was only eight years after the Red Summer, in 1919, that Kazembe describes as an intense period of racial terrorism all across the country.

So, this is the Chicago that he comes into, says Kazembe, setting the scene. It's smoldering, it's tense, it's divided, its hostile, its rigid. [Its also] chock full of these opportunities, more so than downside, but it's also got this other edge to it. He came to this realization afterwards that hes left the Jim Crow South for the Jim Crow North. The only thing thats really changed is the zip code and climate So to that degree, to that extent, there's some definite alignment between the strife and the racial terrorism of that era. And right now, it's like all history is a current event.

For Kazembe this performance is only one part of a project funded by a New Frontiers of Creativity and Scholarship from Indiana University. The final products will include a scholarly article, the development of a language arts curriculum, and a public exhibition in images and Haiku as Wright was a prolific Haiku writer. Kazembe, who has published books through Third World Press, expects to see The Voodoo of Hells Half Acre appear in book form.

WFYI Public Broadcasting is filming and producing the performance, but the production was substantially delayed by COVID-19.

The late journalist and host of the WFYI arts program Curious Mix, Jill Ditmire, whose death was announced on Feb. 1, acted as a matchmaker between Kazembe and Rob Dixon and the principals at WFYI who would produce Voodoo.

Kazembe had reached out to Ditmire recently to update her on the production. She told me she had been in a bad car accident, and was at home, had been off of work for a while because of that, he says. She was looking forward to going back to work.

The performance is dedicated to her memory.
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There have been 106.9 million cases of COVID-19 confirmed worldwide since the beginning of the pandemic. There have also been over 2.3 million deaths, a conservative estimate by all accounts. After the massive winter surge, cases have been steadily declining primarily due to containment measures put into effect by many countries after seeing their health systems approach near collapse or falter altogether.

Teachers including Amanda Thornton, left, conduct their classes online from laptops during freezing temperatures outside the Joseph Greenberg School in Philadelphia, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Still, the seven-day moving average of cases remains exceptionally high, with more than 457,000 cases each day. Although it is encouraging that the death toll is following the fall in cases, it still stands at an abominable 12,712 average deaths per day. The dominance of more infective and lethal variants of the coronavirus that are also immune-evading will assuredly, in the context of the global policy of herd immunity, lead to future waves of infections. There remains an abundance of energy in the virus to burn for some time.

So far, more than 130 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines have been administered worldwide. The United States, according to Bloombergs vaccination tracker, has vaccinated over 40 million people who have received at least one dose, accounting for about 12 percent of the population. For the first time, the number of vaccinations has outpaced the number of infections. However, this should be taken as a cautionary statistical anomaly rather than a determined global response to the virus.

According to the director-general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, more than 75 percent of all vaccinations administered thus far have occurred in just 10 countries, which account for 60 percent of global GDP. Many of those vaccinated in these countries are at lower risk of severe disease or death.

Meanwhile, almost 130 nations representing more than 30 percent of the worlds population have yet to receive a single injection, underscoring the deep inequity that characterizes global capitalist relations. Dr. Tedros noted during Fridays press briefing, All governments have an obligation to protect their own people, but once countries with vaccines have vaccinated their own health workers and older people, the best way to protect the rest of their own population is to share vaccines so other countries can do the same.

Vaccine nationalism not only threatens to prolong the pandemic and global economic downward spiral. Without a coordinated international effort to suppress the virus, new and even more virulent lineages of the SARS-CoV-2 may evolve. The overwhelming surge of cases a little more than a month ago in Johannesburg, London and Manaus, Brazil, have confirmed the viruss deadly nature and how political efforts to return to economic normalcy have contributed to this extremely disturbing development.

Speaking to CNN, Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, cautioned against self-congratulation over the dip in numbers. Given the rising cases of new variants, he compared the present situation in the United States to being in the eye of the hurricane.

Ive been on Zoom calls for the last two weeks about how were going to manage this. The big wall is about to hit us again, and these are the new variants. This could be really very dire for our country as we head into the spring. Now, were in a race. Were in a race to see how quickly we can vaccinate the American people.

A report from Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, published this week on a preprint server for health sciences, found that the B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the UK has a doubling time of a little over a week. It has an infectious rate 35 to 45 percent higher than the wild type of the virus.

The report found the variant was first detected in the US in early November and had spread to more than 30 US states by January. Scientists predict that UK variant will account for 50 percent of cases by March 23. Florida, with the most B.1.1.7 variant cases detected in any state, is expected to reach the 50 percent milestone by March 8. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that six cases of the South African variant have been detected across three states, while three cases of the Brazilian variant, also known as P.1, have been found across two states.

Over the weekend, South Africa announced it was suspending plans to vaccinate frontline health care workers with the AstraZeneca vaccine. South Africas Minister of Health, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, explained that a small study conducted among 2,000 volunteers vaccinated with this vaccine found that it offered minimal protection against mild to moderate disease caused by the variant that accounts for 90 percent of COVID-19 infections in the country.

The AstraZeneca vaccine appeared effective against the original strain, but not against the variant. We have decided to put a temporary hold on the rollout of the vaccine  more work needs to be done, the minister said.

Evidence is also emerging that the South African variant is both more contagious and virulent. The hope is that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, still awaiting emergency authorization in the US and which has shown adequate results against this variant, will be rolled out soon.

Oxford University, an AstraZeneca partner, issued a statement to the effect that the yet to be peer-reviewed study was too small and involved a low-risk population with an average age of 31, making the preliminary conclusions of the study premature and inconclusive. Protection against moderate-severe disease, hospitalizations or death could not be assessed in this study, they added.

The race to vaccinate the population against SRAS-CoV-2, while variants of the virus are allowed to continue to spread, does not take into account the danger posed by these mutations and is a potential recipe for disaster. As these more contagious and virulent lineages of COVID-19 become more dominant, mitigation measures must be implemented immediately and an international strategy initiated to vaccinate the most vulnerable. Scientists predictions imply that the hurricane alluded to by Dr. Hotez will make landfall and more suffering and avoidable deaths will ensue.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Daniel Andrews is 'pretty good at spin' after his extraordinary claim that Victoria does hotel quarantine better than New South Wales.

The Victorian premier declared there are 'higher standards' with safety procedures at Victoria's quarantine hotels - when compared with the neighbouring state.

'This is not about boasting, it's just a fact,' he said on Tuesday.

Mr Andrews made the bold assertion as he jumped to the defence of Victoria's revamped quarantine program amid fears the virus has leaked from hotels.

There have been five Covid cases across three Victorian quarantine hotels within a week, with three confirmed to be the more infectious UK strain of the virus.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said her Victorian counterpart is 'pretty good at spin' after he claimed his state's hotel quarantine program is better than New South Wales'

Ms Berejiklian told 2GB's Ben Fordham on Wednesday morning that NSW residents would not want her to 'lower myself' to Mr Andrews' statement.

The NSW premier said she is 'someone who likes to deal with the facts' after the radio host played her a snippet of Mr Andrews' comments.

She explained her state will go back to welcoming 3000 Australians each week from next week - with many of the returned travellers from other states and territories.

Ms Berejiklian admitted NSW's program was not perfect but said the state continues to do the heavy lifting for the rest of the country.

'No system, no matter where you are, is perfect,' she said.

'You can't ensure perfection when there's thousands and thousands of people involved from police to health to border force to ADF to the cleaners to the hotel workers to the travellers themselves to the security guards.

Daniel Andrews declared there are 'higher standards' with safety procedures at Victoria's quarantine hotels - when compared to NSW

'It is a mammoth operation every single day and all I know is NSW has welcomed more than half of all the Aussies coming back home when other states have been in lockdown or refused to take people.'

Ms Berejiklian concluded with: 'That's all I'll say.'

'Is the system in NSW perfect? No and I would never boast about it.'

Fordham pressed further and asked the NSW premier how she would categorise Mr Andrews' assessment that Victoria has a more superior system.

She replied: 'I think success is measured by how many people you are able to bring in.'

'He's [Daniel Andrews] pretty good at spin and that's all I'll say.

'People of NSW don't want me to lower myself to those types of statements.'

Victoria's quarantine program was relaunched with stronger safety measures after a deadly second wave of Covid infections claimed the lives of more than 800 people last year.

The outbreak was linked to breaches in the hotel quarantine program.

Ms Berejiklian announced further easing of restrictions in her state on Wednesday.

Greater Sydney will revert to the one person per two square metre rule for all venues, except for gyms, from 12.01am on Friday.

Weddings and funerals will still be subject to a 300 person cap.

Masks will only be mandatory on public transport from Friday, meaning hospitality workers will no longer have to wear them while on shift.

The NSW government still strongly recommends the use of face masks in indoor spaces where social distancing is not possible.

A hotel worker is seen at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport on Monday

More Victorians have been forced into isolation and another review of the state's hotel quarantine system is underway after two new cases of COVID-19 were linked to a Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport.

A food and beverage worker and a returned traveller tested positive on Tuesday after an authorised officer working at the same hotel tested positive on Sunday.

The returned traveller had tested negative several times during her stay, which ended on Sunday. She got tested again on Monday after learning of the outbreak.

The woman did not leave home other than to get tested and only one primary close contact has been identified so far.

The food and beverage worker worked on the same floor as the returned traveller and was identified as a close contact of the positive authorised officer.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the three Holiday Inn cases were likely linked to a floor with known COVID-positive guests.

That includes a family of three, one of whom has been transferred to intensive care.
Lawyers of fifth President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko have announced the closure of the case on the embezzlement of $100 billion by the U.S. politicians and Poroshenko.

"As we know, on January 25 of this year, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine [NABU] closed the criminal proceedings, registered at the request of MP Kuzmin [Renat Kuzmin] and a group of parliamentarians [...] on the fact that a group of the U.S. politicians - Obama, Biden, as well as Petro Poroshenko, embezzled $100 billion," Poroshenko's lawyer Ihor Holovan said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

According to him, the application of the MPs was registered in December 2019.

"This story is a vivid example of how these provocative statements and investigations are fabricated by the influence agents of the aggressor state - the Russian Federation," Holovan said.

He said that in December 2019, MP of the Opposition Platform - For Life faction Renat Kuzmin and a group of MP appealed to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine about Poroshenko's possible commission of criminal offenses. The reason for the application, as the lawyer emphasized, was the information of the Russian media and bloggers with reference to the alleged statement of Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani about the embezzlement of $100 billion.

"Giuliani's tweet itself is not about embezzling $100 billion. There is nothing like that," Holovan said.

He said: "This slander was in order to harm relations with the United States, to influence the elections in the United States, and to harm in some way presidential candidate Mr. Biden at that time."

Holovan drew attention to the fact that the NABU did not register the proceedings at the request of the MPs, and the investigation was launched after the corresponding decision of Pechersky District Court of Kyiv.
International tourists will be allowed to enter Australia freely by this time next year, Tourism Minister Dan Tehan hopes.

Australia's borders have been closed since March due to the coronavirus pandemic, with only citizens, residents and exempted foreigners allowed to enter.

Mr Tehan said the ban on overseas tourists - who spent $45billion a year in Australia before coronavirus - could remain in place for the rest of 2021.

International tourists will be allowed to enter Australia freely by this time next year, Tourism Minister Dan Tehan hopes

Tourism is Australia's fourth largest exporting industry and directly employed 666,000 Australians, about five per cent of the workforce, in 2018-19.

'Our hope is that by this time next year we'll have international tourists back,' Mr Tehan told Seven Network show Sunrise on Monday.

In the meantime, Mr Tehan said the government was considering setting up travel bubbles with Singapore and 'potentially with Japan, if they can get the virus under control again.'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he is looking to set up travel bubbles with Pacific countries after allowing New Zealanders to enter in October.

'We are working on countries like Vanuatu, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Fiji and so on,' he told radio 2SM on Monday.

Mr Morrison wants travel with these countries so workers can come over to Australia to pick fruit and vegetables as farmers suffer a chronic labor shortage due to a lack of backpackers who normally do this work.

'We're really frustrated in not being able to get workers out there in rural Australia. Largely because backpackers aren't here in the same numbers they usually are,' he said.

Pacific nations have had very low levels of coronavirus for months but Mr Morrison said he needs greater assurance that their testing is up to scratch before any bubbles begin.

'We don't have full confidence yet that they are just going to a complete what's called a green lane.

'But we're working with them to ensure we can just lift that confidence. We'll be seeking to support them with their testing over there and I hope we can make some real progress on that soon. I'd love to see a Pacific bubble,' he said.

Mr Morrison wants travel bubbles with Pacific countries so workers can come over to Australia

However, Mr Morrison warned that it may not be a two-way bubble that allows Aussies to go on holiday straight away.

'One of the things I'm concerned about is Australians going there... if the virus got into one of those Pacific countries, their health systems aren't the same as ours,' he explained.

But the prime minister said his confidence will increase the longer Australia goes without major community transmission.

'The risk of us infecting those Pacific nations, I think has significantly lessened over recent months,' he said.

Late last month Australia closed the border the New Zealand for five days after a South African variant of Covid-19 was detected in a returned traveller after her 14 days of isolation.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who is considering opening her border to Australians, said she was disappointed by the move.

'In that instance, we didn't believe the border needed to be closed, and it was, and that had significant commercial implications.

'Our expectation was that the border wouldn't close in that situation - and it did.'

She said it left her with 'a lot of questions' over how a two-way travel bubble would work.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured on Monday) said he is looking to set up travel bubbles with Pacific countries after allowing New Zealanders to enter in October

State of the borders New South Wales: Closed to 'areas of high concern' in VIC Victoria: People from Peel, Perth and South West WA must self-isolate Queensland: Closed to some 'hotspots' in Perth Tasmania: Closed to people who have been at 'high risk premises' in NSW and VIC Northern Territory: Closed to three Melbourne suburbs South Australia: People from Peel, Perth and South West WA must self isolate. People from Greater Melbourne must do hotel quarantine ACT: Closed to people who have been at exposure sites in VIC Western Australia: VIC and NSW residents must self-isolate As of February 9 Advertisement

In January Health Department Secretary Brendan Murphy said Australia's borders will likely remain closed to high-risk countries like the UK and US for the whole year.

The professor said 'substantial border restrictions' will continue throughout 2021 and quarantine of returning Australians will be in place for 'some time'.

Australia is one of few countries in the world to ban its citizens from leaving the country and those who are returning from overseas must quarantine in a hotel at their own expense for two weeks.

Asked if the borders would re-open this year, Professor Murphy told the ABC: 'It is a big open question. I think the answer is probably no.

'We will go most of this year with still-substantial border restrictions, even if we have a lot of the population vaccinated, we don't know whether that will prevent transmission of the virus and it is likely that quarantine will continue for some time.'

Professor Murphy said there was still too much uncertainty to accurately predict when it would be safe to open the country to overseas arrivals.

'One of the things about this virus is that the rule book has been made up as we go. I was very careful early on, I remember saying this to the Prime Minister, I don't want to predict more than two or three months ahead,' he said.

'The world is changing so at the moment we have this light at the end of the tunnel, the vaccine, so we will go as safely and as fast as we can to get the population vaccinated and we will look at what happens then.'

Australia is due to start vaccinating the population in late February. The vaccines available are proved to reduced illness and death but it is not clear if they will stop mild infections from spreading.

Under current health orders outgoing travel is forbidden until March 17 this year.
Peter Ben Embarek, of the World Health Organization team holds up a chart showing pathways of transmission of the virus during a joint press conference held at the end of the WHO mission in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

The coronavirus most likely first appeared in humans after jumping from an animal, a team of international and Chinese scientists looking for the origins of COVID-19 said Tuesday, saying an alternate theory that the virus leaked from a Chinese lab was unlikely.

A closely watched visit by World Health Organization experts to Wuhanthe Chinese city where the first coronavirus cases were discovereddid not dramatically change the current understanding of the early days of the pandemic, said Peter Ben Embarek, the leader of the WHO mission.

But it did "add details to that story," he said at a news conference as the group wrapped up a four-week visit to the city.

And it allowed the joint Chinese-WHO team to further explore the lab leak theorywhich former U.S. President Donald Trump and officials from his administration had put forward without evidenceand decide it was unlikely. The Wuhan Institute of Virology is home to many different virus samples, leading to allegations that it may have been the source of the original outbreak, whether on purpose or accidentally.

Embarek, a WHO food safety and animal disease expert, said experts now consider the possibility of such a leak so improbable that it will not be suggested as an avenue of future study. But another team member, Danish scientist Thea Koelsen Fischer, told reporters that team members could not rule out the possibility of further investigation and new leads.

Liang Wannian speaks during a joint-press conference with the World Health Organization team at the end of the WHO mission in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

China had already strongly rejected the possibility of a leak and has promoted other theories. The Chinese and foreign experts considered several ideas for how the disease first ended up in humans, leading to a pandemic that has now killed more than 2.3 million people worldwide.

Embarek said the initial findings suggest the most likely pathway the virus followed was from a bat to another animal and then to humans, adding that would require further research.

"The findings suggest that the laboratory incidents hypothesis is extremely unlikely to explain the introduction of the virus to the human population," he said.

Asked why, Embarek said accidental releases are extremely rare and that the team's review of the Wuhan institute's lab operations indicated it would be hard for anything to escape from it.

He also noted that there were no reports of this virus in any lab anywhere before the pandemic. Liang Wannian, the head of the Chinese side, also emphasized that, saying there was no sample of it in the Wuhan institute.

Marion Koopmans, of the World Health Organization team, speaks during a joint press conference held at the end of the WHO mission in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

The mission was intended to be an initial step in the process of understanding the origins of the virus, which scientists have posited may have passed to humans through a wild animal, such as a pangolin or bamboo rat. Transmission directly from bats to humans or through the trade in frozen food products are also possibilities, Embarek said.

The WHO team's visit is politically sensitive for Beijing, which is concerned about being blamed for alleged missteps in its early response to the outbreak. An AP investigation has found that the Chinese government put limits on research into the outbreak and ordered scientists not to speak to reporters.

Still, one member of the WHO team, British-born zoologist Peter Daszak, told The Associated Press last week that they enjoyed a greater level of openness than they had anticipated, and that they were granted full access to all sites and personnel they requested.

Koelsen Fischer said she did not get to see the raw data and had to rely on an analysis of the data that was presented to her. But she said that would be true in most countries.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. looked forward to seeing the report and the underlying data from the WHO investigation.

Marion Koopmans, right, and Peter Ben Embarek, center, of a World Health Organization team look over at their Chinese counterpart Liang Wannian, left, during a WHO-China Joint Study Press Conference held at the end of their mission to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

The teamwhich includes experts from 10 countries who arrived on Jan. 14visited the Huanan Seafood Market, the site of an early cluster of cases in late 2019.

Marion Koopmans, a Dutch virologist on the team, said that some animals at the market were susceptible or suspected to be susceptible to the virus, including rabbits and bamboo rats. And some could be traced to farms or traders in regions that are home to the bats that carry the closest related virus to the one that causes COVID-19.

She said the next step would be to look more closely at farms.

Liang, the head of the Chinese team, said the virus also appeared to have been spreading in parts of the city other than the market, so it remains possible that the virus originated elsewhere.

The team found no evidence that the disease was spreading widely any earlier than the initial outbreak in the second half of December 2019.

Marion Koopmans, right, and Peter Ben Embarek of a World Health Organization team chat each other during a joint press conference at the end of their mission to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

"We haven't been able to fully do the research, but there is no indication there were clusters before what we saw happen in the later part of December in Wuhan," Liang said.

The visit by the WHO team took months to negotiate. China only agreed to it amid international pressure at the WHO's World Health Assembly meeting last May, and Beijing has continued to resist calls for a strictly independent investigation.

While China has weathered some localized resurgences of infection since getting the outbreak under control last year, life in Wuhan itself has largely returned to normal.

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Healthcare workers are experiencing severe burnout as they face into the second year of the Covid-19 global pandemic, the Oireachtas Health Committee will be told.

In a series of statements nurses, doctors and hospital consultants detail the extreme pressure they are being put under as they battle to save the lives of people infected by the virus.

The Irish Midwives and Nurses Organisation (INMO) will tell the committee that a survey of their members found 82pc of respondents said the experience of Covid-19 had a negative impact on their mental health.

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Meanwhile, nine out of 10 nurses and midwives described feeling mentally exhausted when off-duty since the pandemic commenced.

INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha also branded the HSEs vaccination programme haphazard in her opening statement to the committee.

The roll-out commenced in a haphazard manner, not focused on the locations or workplaces with the highest infections or geographically bordering areas with high community infection, she said.

Put simply, the vaccines' initial distribution seemed to be based on the HSE's administrative areas, rather than by where the virus was most prevalent.

Meanwhile, Anthony Owens of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) said it is deplorable that is has been almost a year since the first case of Covid-19 was diagnosed in Ireland and there has been no substantial and systemic action taken to address a recruitment crisis in the health service.

As a consequence, our waiting lists have grown and stress and burnout is prevalent among the medical workforce, he said.

He said there is no doubt staffing shortages are impacting significantly on the mental health of medics.

Long working hours, excessive workload, redeployment, requirements to cover for absent colleagues, inability to get proper rest and take proper breaks, and difficulties in accessing childcare are all contributing to high rates of stress and burnout among doctors, he warned.

Mr Owens said morale is at an all-time low among public health specialists and it beggars belief they would have to ballot for industrial action during a pandemic to have their long-running grievances considered in a serious fashion.

Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) vice president Prof Rob Landers will tell the committee a shortage of consultants has resulted in excessive workloads being carried by understaffed medical and surgical teams to the detriment of patients.

This has not only meant the curtailment of services to patients, but it has necessitated doctors working additional hours on top of their full week and already onerous on-call rosters at night and weekends, Prof Landers said.

He said it is vital that primary and secondary schools are reopened for the children of all healthcare workers as is the case in the UK and Northern Ireland.

Also, financial support should be provided to pay for the increased child-minding needs that have arisen due to reduced school hours, he added.

Prof Landers said a large majority of respondents to a survey of his members said that Covid-19 has a moderate or severe impact on their workload, general wellbeing and mental health.

More than one fifth of respondents are experiencing symptoms of burnout and work-related stress. This includes feelings of physical exhaustion, mental exhaustion, feelings of detachment from their work and feelings of reduced professional ability or accomplishment, he added.

He also said more than a quarter of his members said Long Covid appears to be prevalent among staff who have contracted the disease and is a major concern for them.

Read More




By Joan Didion

Knopf. 192 pp. $23

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Joan Didion has been consecrated in her own lifetime. In the five decades since "Slouching Towards Bethlehem," her work, particularly her nonfiction, has been widely celebrated. In 2013, President Barack Obama awarded her the National Humanities Medal. She was the subject, in 2017, of a Netflix documentary, "The Center Will Not Hold." "South and West," published the same year, showed that even her notes would sell. This April, the Library of America will release the second volume of its definitive edition of her work. What has fixed her in the collective imagination?

Partly the chilled prose - ahead of its time, anticipating both the personal essay boom and the numbed affect that would become typical of Generation X. But also her extraordinary insight. Nathaniel Rich, prefacing "South and West," wrote that she "saw her era more clearly than anyone else, which is another way of saying that she was able to see the future." In his introduction to "Let Me Tell You What I Mean," her slim new volume, Hilton Als suggests that it's Didion's "feeling for the uncanny" that distinguishes her contribution to American nonfiction.

Reading many of the essays freshly anthologized here, it's hard to argue with these sentiments. The clarity of Didion's vision and the precision with which she sets it down do indeed feel uncanny. Her writing has often revealed what was previously hidden, parsed what was unconscious, be it the miasmic unease of the late 1960s or the subterranean structures of national politics. Reading her now, she does seem prophetic, as manifested, for instance, in her concerns in 1968 about the weaknesses of the "traditional press," whose unspoken attitudes and "quite factitious 'objectivity'" come "between the page and the reader like so much marsh gas." Perhaps those iconic sunglasses were really X-ray specs.

"Let Me Tell You What I Mean" collects 12 pieces written between 1968 and 2000. These include half a dozen columns for the Saturday Evening Post alongside essays on subjects ranging from Robert Mapplethorpe and Ernest Hemingway to Hearst Castle and "Why I Write" ("entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear").

The bad news first: You'll want more. The Saturday Evening Post articles are bite-size, trailers rather than the whole movie, and some later articles have been conspicuously overtaken by the passage of time - an essay on Martha Stewart in the New Yorker, for instance, written four years before her prison time. Meanwhile, the absence of anything post-2000 is cause for regret. Oh, for Didion's take on the Obama years. The alt-right. The Trump presidency. (Notwithstanding her nephew Griffin Dunne's suggestion that she's bored by Trump - "He doesn't have any subtext.")

Still, admirers have much to celebrate.

There are wicked reminders, for instance, of her acid humor. In an account of a Gamblers Anonymous meeting, she observes, "I had not heard so many revelations of a certain kind since I used to fall into conversations on Greyhound buses under the misapprehension that it was a good way to learn about life." In "Pretty Nancy," a swipe at then-Gov. Ronald Reagan's wife, a taciturn, almost Beckettian exchange between Nancy and her 10-year-old son is gleefully transcribed by a Didion waiting to pounce on "a woman who seems to be playing out some middle-class American woman's daydream, circa 1948."

Her distinctive rhythms, her ability to distill the essence of a thing: these are refined pleasures indeed. Writing about the evolution of that immaculate style in "Telling Stories," she recalls her time writing captions for Vogue: "We were connoisseurs of synonyms. We were collectors of verbs. ... Less was more, smooth was better, and absolute precision essential to the monthly grand illusion. Going to work for Vogue was, in the late 1950s, not unlike training with the Rockettes."

Perhaps Didion's flair for pithy summary derives from these editing drills at Vogue. Often her articles end with a grace note of quiet devastation, a cogent detail or observation that brings her subject into focus. Attending a reunion of the 101st Airborne Association at the height of the Vietnam War, she catches a wistful father recalling his European experiences in an earlier war. "'I got to see Paris, Berlin, got to see places I'd heard about but never dreamed I'd see. Now I've got a boy, well, in four years maybe he'll have to go.' Walter Davis broke open a roll, buttered it carefully, and put it down again, untouched. 'I see it a little differently now,' he said."

Didion once wrote that her advantage as a reporter is that "people tend to forget that my presence runs counter to their best interests." This is also an incalculable advantage to her readers. Her bewitching blend of humility and disdain and her unsentimental yet compassionate eye are welcome tonics for frenzied times.

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Arrowsmith is based in New York and writes about books, films and music.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli stressed that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has given clear directives to the government to strengthen continuous cooperation with Iraq.

The premier's remarks came on Monday during his meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein in the presence of Egypt's Ambassador to Iraq Ahmed Nayef al Delimi.

Madbouli asserted that the president has directed to exert all efforts needed to support development in Iraq, particularly after reaching a deal on the reconstruction of the Arab country.

The premier said he follows up with the respective ministers the promotion of cooperation with Iraq after his visit to Baghdad in October.

Madbouli reiterated that he also follows up cooperation-linked agreements concluded during the Cairo-hosted tripartite ministerial meetings of Egypt, Iraq and Jordan in December.

On his part, Hussein conveyed the greetings of Iraqi Prime Minister Mostafa Al Kazemi to Madbouli, hoping to increase bilateral cooperation.

Hussein also extended thanks to the Egyptian government for paying attention to the Iraqi community in Egypt, particularly in terms of offering medications to counter coronavirus.
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First and foremost, kudos to the team: they well deserve a heart-felt congratulations on their success and it is hardly surprising that the people's mandate has given them, with Mr Kumar as the leader at the helm of affairs, the opportunity to lead Bihar for the second time.

It's a pleasure to see a dedicated civil engineer in action as the CM of a state so vital to the long-term economic and political future of the country. It's definitely more reassuring than the likes of more medievally oriented and century-old mindsets which managed to bring this once prestigious state on the verge of a meltdown.

I am not a structural or civil engineer but I have read extensively on flood and disaster management: available best practice guidelines and evidence. I would only make a few pertinent comments regarding flood control strategy for the Kosi and other rivers:

The USA implemented policies in 1970s to control flood erosion. It obviously has a significant 'lag time' to achieve the desired effects, say 5-10 years.

They found that planting trees and shrubs and Conservation tillage achieved maximum reductions over the years (Source).

To put this in perspective, I think the Kosi action plan team should be looking at not only preventing deforestation along the river, but also actively promoting afforestation activities of fast-growing shrubs, especially close to river banks, canals and other bodies.

On searching for information on drainage into the Kosi from Nepal, there are many feeder rivers that make the Kosi: Hence the name- Saptakoshi. Previous experiments and tests have confirmed that the 'Arun' tributary/feeder into Kosi brings the maximum amount of sediment into the Kosi. This alters the course of the river over years/decades, leading to floods.

Bringing technology to the rescue: Active reforestation measures can be combined with 'Gabion Technology' to shore-up river beds/banks. The whole package of Gabion meshes, reinforced baskets and walls would essentially make our water resources safe for decades to come. This could involve, but not limited to: Dams, Erosion control, Gravity bank protection, Light bank protection with geosynthetic MAC-MAT technology & Natural Combines for environmental restoration, River/stream bank protection, Rockfall netting, Soil conservation.

Reinforced cross-linked polymers or simple jute-based products can also dramatically cut-down the cost of base materials prior to using gabion pre-formed steel meshes (reinforced with locally available rocks to decrease transport costs).

This hopefully will be a long-term solution to the Kosi problem. The meshes will reinforce the banks of the rivulets/river/ and it will have enhanced protection over time as vegetation grows into the wire/rock mesh. It is also more malleable as it only is steel wires/meshes with rock between them (That's Gabion technology in a nutshell!), so it does not have cracks appearing it as may happen with concrete/water seepage into concrete etc. It is a very natural system which takes into account of water seepage and the wall but prevents the soil erosion. Over years, the sediment/erosion will reduce and lead to a more naturalized flow of the river. At this later stage, guessing over 10-20 years construction of a major dam may even be beneficial as the river flow would have become more predictable with a decreased sediment load flowing into the river.

Stopping illegal sand-mining will also help: May be creating registered sand vendors and all construction companies signing up to only source materials from registered vendors.

Cost issues: According to my own research: Rs 75 lakh-Rs 1 crore per kilometer of mesh using gabion technology. The river has a total length of 729 km. This will have to involve meshing in higher catchment areas, especially "Arun" tributary within Nepal as this is where the main bulk of sediments is coming from. So, in essence, a Rs 700-1000 crore investment might bring long-term solution to this problem. Readers may recall that the damage caused by the recent floods were estimated at more than 1000 crores.

And lastly, providing communities with renewable sources of energy to reduce dependence on wood. Heartening to see lot of available ranges of solar operated lanterns, street lights etc. at a nominal cost. This could offer us a cheap and cost-effective solution to empowering standalone families in remote locations with reduced dependence on fossil fuels/cutting trees etc.

Who knows we may prevent another Kosi!
Psychotherapist banned from studying trans regret appeals to European human rights court

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A psychotherapist is taking a university in the United Kingdom to the European Court of Human Rights for not approving him to study cases of people who have surgery to reverse gender reassignment because it is not a politically correct topic.

Bath Spa University in England refused permission to 61-year-old James Caspian, a registered U.K. psychotherapist with 10 years of experience in therapy for transgender individuals, to do the study as part of a masters dissertation because engaging in a potentially politically incorrect piece of research carries a risk to the University.

According to the Christian Legal Centre, the universitys ethics subcommittee added that [a]ttacks on social media may not be confined to the researcher but may involve the University.

The title of Caspians proposed research, which he submitted to the university in November 2015, was, An examination of the experiences of people who have undergone Reverse Gender Re-assignment surgery.

The university initially accepted the proposal, but he couldnt find people willing to take part, BBC reported at the time.

Caspian then amended the proposal by including those who had transitioned to men and reverted to living as women without reversing their surgery. The ethics committee rejected the proposal.

In January 2017, Caspian asked the university to refund his course fees, but the school refused to do so.

By last June, every avenue of legal proceedings had been blocked, the statement issued by the legal organization states.

Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, Caspian has appealed the ECHR, which is likely to decide on the case's admissibility in the first half of this year.

I have been faced with no alternative but to take this case to Europe, Caspian said in a statement. Too much is at stake for academic freedom and for hundreds, if not thousands, of young people who are saying that they are being harmed and often silenced by a rigid view that has become a kind of transgender ideology and permits no discussion.

The application sent to the ECHR states that the procedural history of Mr. Caspians claim fits the very definition of suffering from excessive formalism and a fundamental lack of flexibility.

If a university  a place for the exchange of ideas, discussion, dissent, questioning, research and critical thinking  is unable to tolerate the risk of criticism, where then are left the most basic tenets of academic and intellectual freedom of enquiry? Caspian asks. The implications for a democratic society of the suppression of information and discussion are deeply worrying.

The psychotherapist says he feels morally obliged to speak out because people are telling me that theyve been harmed, and my profession should do no harm.

Christian Legal Centre Chief Executive Andrea Williams stated that over the past decade, thered been a 3,000% spike in young girls and women being referred to Gender Identity Clinics.

This is a phenomenon taking place in every Western nation with many regretting the life-changing decisions they subsequently make, Williams stated. Why? That was the question James Caspian wanted to research.

But thanks to the current climate, such attempts to research, explain and answer are denounced and silenced, Williams argues. Caspian will finally have the opportunity to have justice served and to set a crucial legal precedent at the ECHR.

The psychotherapists legal battle comes soon after the U.K. High Court ruled that transgender children should not receive the controversial drugs unless they understand its long-term risks and consequences.
Policy pronouncements on corruption without legal backing is frustrating the war against graft, further delaying prosecution of offenders, an anti-corruption body has said.

In an interview with 263Chat, Transparency International Zimbabwe programs director Tafadzwa Chikumbu said even in the presence of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) or special units, connected persons were not properly prosecuted due to legal gaps.

He added that this was compounded by the 'silorisation' of the fight against corruption, as Parliament and Judiciary and the Executive were failing to coordinate properly.

"As Transparency International Zimbabwe we are still pushing for the enactment of those pieces of legislation specific to corruption to ensure that corruption crimes are properly prosecuted.

"We have high risks of corruption and Illicit Financial Flows from across all sectors of the economy sector, we feel this is an issue that calls for strong legal reforms," said Chikumbu.

Zimbabwe scored 24 out of a possible total of hundred in the TI Corruption Perception Index an annual index which ranks countries in terms of how business leaders or executives perceive public sector corruption.

Chikumbu said while the nation nominally improved its ranking moving one place up to rank 157 out of 180, the lowly score on the CPI was an indication on its own.

"As we reflect on how 24 as a score is closer to zero than hundred it really show a gloomy picture in terms of how the fight against corruption is going," he said.

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According to the African High Level Panel on IFFs, corruption however only accounts for five percent, criminal activities 35 percent, while commercial transactions account for the 60 percent of the US$50 billion lost in the continent annually.

Chikumbu said government should make it more difficult for individuals to enrich themselves illegally and to transfer such proceeds abroad, by strengthening Parliament, revenue authorities or forensic institutions like Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) so they play a leading role.

"Corrupt government officials and companies are gaining undue advantage, through facilitation payments (bribes) paid, money embezzled from tax collection and budgetary allocations.

"We do believe that parliament as an institution is one key body that is responsible to ensure transparent and accountability across different sectors, and can effectively curb corruption.

"As TI Zimbabwe we regard the institution as an integral body that directs how government should work in due regard to the Constitution and other subsidiary legislation," said Chikumbu.

With Zimbabwe heavily reliant on the mining sector the transparency watch dog has upped the ante for accountable operations in a sector prone to IFFs and corruption. From 2000-2009, more than half (56%) of IFFs from the African continent arose from oil, precious metals and minerals, iron and steel and copper.

Africa lost over US$854 billion in illicit financial flows between 1970 and 2008 corresponding to a yearly average of about US$22 billion, illicit outflows approximately 7-10 times the amount of Official Development Assistance (ODA) poured into developing countries (GFI).
Margao : , Feb 9 (IANS) ATK Mohun Bagan came within a point of league leaders Mumbai City FC with a 2-0 win over Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Fatorda Stadium on Tuesday.

In a first for Bagan this season, two first-half goals signalled the downfall for a beleaguered Bengaluru FC who were punished for their defensive mistakes, gifting two setpieces for the Kolkata side to convert. Roy Krishna scored from the penalty spot in the 37th minute after which Marcelinho scored in the 44th minute from a direct free-kick.

Bagan stand second with 33 points from 16 games while Bengaluru FC remain sixth with 19 points, four points adrift of the top-four with one less game to play.

It was Bengaluru who looked more confident with the ball in the initial stages but Bagan got things under control. Bagan pressed aggressively, forcing BFC into mistakes.

They were fierce with their attack and Marcelinho forced an early save from Bengaluru's Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The Brazilian darted into the BFC goal but his shot was saved by Sandhu.

While Bengaluru had more possession, Bagan attacked better and had more shots at goal. Gupreet was constantly called upon with him keeping Krishna out early on. He came up with another fine save, getting a hand to Carl McHugh's fierce shot which should have found the back of the net.

After a series of raids, Bagan were awarded a penalty when Pratik Chaudhari brought down Krishna in the penalty box after the Fijian was set through on goal by Marcelinho. Krishna sent Sandhu in the wrong direction to put his side ahead.

Habas's side went two goals ahead just before the break. Once again, Bengaluru conceded from a set-piece. Harmanjot Khabra committed a foul on David Williams just outside the box. Marcelinho's freekick snuck past Gurpreet as the Brazilian scored his second goal in three games.

Bengaluru continued to dominate possession but lacked attempts on goal. Bagan continued to find the right time to pounce on opportunities. Sandesh Jhingan tried a powerful strike which Gurpreet once again kept out.

Bengaluru had to wait until the 87th minute for their first real chance. Sunil Chhetri managed to get past Jhingan and struck a low shot at goal but Arindam Bhattacharja dived to his right to deny the BFC skipper.
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Remote Is the New Rule

The trend towards remote working has been steady for some time, and recent events are accelerating that pace. According to 2012 Gallup research, 39% of the U.S. workforce was working off-site at least part- time. By 2016, that number had risen to 43%. Its fair to assume that if the question was asked in 2020, that number will have grown dramatically.

While its impossible to predict what happens next, its clear that remote working will now be a more permanent function in many organizations. Whether its employees working from home, students engaging in distance learning, or family and friends catching up using web and video conferencing, there is in fact a new normal emerging: remote connectivity and collaboration.
The US government has continued to press Turkey over alleged human rights abuses committed by its proxies in northeast Syria, but according to a new watchdog report, Washington is not fully satisfied with Ankaras response.

The State Department remained deeply concerned by alleged rights violations in parts of Syria seized during Turkeys military operations against Kurdish fighters in October 2019, according to a quarterly inspector general's report on Operation Inherent Resolve, the official name for the US mission against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq.

US officials received reports of killings, torture, kidnapping, extortion, arbitrary detentions and denial of water access to half a million civilians in areas under the control of Turkey-backed Syrian opposition groups. Of particular concern, the report said, was documented violence against displaced Kurds as well as Yazidis in Afrin and Christians in Ras al-Ain.

Turkish officials informed the US government that they take this matter seriously and support investigations of the allegations by the Syrian opposition, the report said, adding that the State Department did not find its engagements with Turkey satisfying.

Why it matters: In the more than one year since Turkey launched an incursion into northeast Syria, rights groups continue to document abuses carried out by the Syrian National Army (SNA), an umbrella group of both moderate and hard-line Syrian rebel factions allied with Turkey.

Turkeys border operation targeting the Peoples Protection Unit (YPG), a Kurdish militia that makes up the backbone of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, sent a wave of refugees spilling across the border into neighboring Iraq. The State Department estimates more than 70,000 civilians who fled during the Turkish offensive remain displaced, many of them afraid to return to SNA-controlled areas where arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances and confiscation of property are commonplace.

Whats next: Turkeys actions in northeast Syria have complicated an already tense relationship with the United States, which in December sanctioned Ankara over its acquisition of Russias S-400 air defense systems.

The NATO allies got into a tit-for-tat last week after the Biden administration condemned Turkish officials for their use of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and recent arrests of student protesters.

A senior Turkish official then accused the United States of involvement in Turkeys 2016 coup attempt, prompting a stern rebuke from the State Department, which called the comments "inconsistent with Turkeys status as a NATO ally and strategic partner of the United States."

During their call last week, the White House said national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalim discussed managing disagreements effectively. According to the Turkish readout of the call, the war in Syria was among the topics discussed.

Know more: Cengiz Candar writes that hopes for a reset in US-Turkey relations are unrealistic given the state of human rights in Turkey. For more on the country's Syrian rebel proxies, read up on a recent Human Rights Watch report accusing Ankara of transferring Syrians to Turkey on dubious terrorism charges.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 17:27:15|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders have extended festive greetings over the phone or via other means to veteran comrades ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and the other leaders wished the veterans a happy Spring Festival, good health and long lives.

The veteran comrades spoke highly of the remarkable achievements made by the whole Party, military and Chinese people of all ethnic groups under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core over the past extraordinary year.

They also called on the entire Party, military and Chinese people of all ethnic groups to rally even closer around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, strive to secure a new victory in fully building a modern socialist country, and celebrate the centenary of the CPC with great achievements. Enditem
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David M. Shribman is the former executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. His email is dshribman@post-gazette.com.

(Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson Chief Executive Officer Alex Gorsky told CNBC on Tuesday that people may need to get vaccinated against COVID-19 annually over the next several years, like seasonal flu shots.

"Unfortunately, as (the virus) spreads it can also mutate," he said in an interview.

"Every time it mutates, it's almost like another click of the dial so to speak where we can see another variant, another mutation that can have an impact on its ability to fend off antibodies or to have a different kind of response not only to a therapeutic but also to a vaccine," he added.

Last week, Johnson & Johnson said it asked U.S. health regulators to authorize its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, and added it will apply to European authorities in the coming weeks.

The drugmaker's application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) followed its Jan. 29 report in which it said the vaccine had a 66% rate of preventing infections in its large global trial.

Gorsky told CNBC the company was "extremely confident" that it will meet its target to deliver 100 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine to the United States by the end of June.

J&J is continuing work on a two-dose coronavirus vaccine, Gorsky said. It expects two-shot vaccine data from clinical trials in the second half of the year, he added.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

For the last two days or so, Alia Bhatt has been enjoying along with her besties at various beach locations in the Maldives. Pictures of her chilling out have gone viral.

But as her boyfriend, Ranbir Kapoors uncle, Rajiv Kapoor passed away, Alia right away cut short her vacation and rushed back to India on a special flight.

Right after landing, Alia has gone to pay her respects to the Kapoor family and was seen with Ranbir and his family members. The funeral of Rajiv Kapoor will happen tomorrow.









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Source: Reuters

India has ordered 10 million more doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII) and 4.5 million more of a homegrown one from Bharat Biotech, company representatives told Reuters.

Just the two shots have been used in what India calls the world's biggest immunisation programme to cover 300 million people by August, starting with healthcare and other workers to reach the elderly and those with existing conditions by March.

SII, the world's biggest vaccine maker, had supplied 11 million doses for the inoculation campaign, which has covered 6.3 million front-line workers since it began on January 16.

"The second order is already in place, it's for 10 million doses," an SII spokesman said, adding that the figure was part of the 100 million doses the company has agreed to sell to the government for 200 rupees ($2.74) each.

Follow our LIVE blog for 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

Bharat Biotech, which developed its vaccine with the state-run Indian Council of Medical Research, has supplied 5.5 million doses. A Bharat Biotech spokeswoman said it was selling 4.5 million more.

India's drug regulator says SII's COVISHIELD vaccine is about 72 percent effective, while Bharat Biotech says COVAXINs last-stage trial results are expected by March.

The regulator is expected to approve Russia's Sputnik V and Cadila Healthcare's ZyCov-D vaccines in the next few months.

India's infections rose 9,110 in the last 24 hours to stand at 10.85 million, the world's highest tally after the United States, though they have fallen sharply from a mid-September peak of nearly 100,000.

The health ministry said a daily toll of less than 100 deaths over the last four days took the total to more than 155,000.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
A Delhi court on Tuesday remanded Punjabi actor-activist Deep Sidhu, accused in the Republic Day violence case, to seven days' police custody.

Deep Sidhu was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Prigya Gupta at Tis Hazari court. Police had sought 10 days' custody of the accused, which was opposed by Sidhu's lawyers.

The police sought his remand on the grounds that locations in Mumbai, Punjab and Haryana need to be visited, in-depth scrutiny of his mobile phone has to be conducted and other conspirators have to be arrested.

The court was apprised that Deep Sidhu is the main instigator in the case. "Videos show that he entered the Red Fort with supporters carrying 'lathis' and flags. He was at the ramparts where the religious flag was unfurled. He provoked the violence at Red Fort."

Counsels representing Sidhu opposed the remand applications filed by police and said that their client was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Deep Sidhu was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell on Tuesday morning. He was held from near Karnal.

He is accused of fuelling chaos and clashes when a tractor rally by farmers protesting against the Centre's three farm laws descended into violence on Republic Day.

During the clashes, a section of protesters had entered the Red Fort and hoisted a Sikh religious flag. He absconded after the incident. Last week, police had announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information on Sidhu.
An east Alabama man is behind bars after authorities say he attacked his wife at their Wedowee home and used a circular saw to cut her neck and throat.

Kyle Young Waters, 35, is charged with attempted murder and domestic violence.

Court records made public this week chronicle the attack that happened on Feb. 3 in Randolph County.

Charging documents state that the couple on that night went out to dinner together.

Afterward, they went to a storage building behind their home where they had consensual sex on a mattress in a loft in the outbuilding, according to the documents.

While the victim was looking over the loft at the ground below, investigators stated, Waters pushed his wife out of the loft. She fell eight feet and landed on the cement floor.

Waters then jumped on his wife, according to authorities.

He allegedly banged her head repeatedly into the cement floor and then started stabbing her with shards of broken glass, records state. The victim tried to fight back and was able to get the glass shards from him.

That, police say, is when Waters grabbed a Ryobi circular saw, placed the blade on her neck and cut her throat. There was an excessive amount of blood at the scene and on the saw,' according to the criminal complaint.

Investigators recovered the glass shards, which also were covered in blood. Waters, police said, had numerous injuries to his hands when he was taken into custody.

Randolph County sheriffs investigators on Tuesday said the victim was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. She underwent surgery and is expected to survive.

Waters is being held in the Randolph County Jail with cash bonds totaling $110,000.
A three-day drive-through vaccination program for the Latino community was one of the many events held this weekend. The said program was held in hopes to close the class gap in vaccine distribution in Southwest Denver.

The event started on Friday outside Saint Cajetan Catholic Church and was set to be done on Sunday. A large part of the church's congregation is Latino, according to a CBS Local report.

"We started thinking about, what are some places we can actually utilize in the communities that need it the most where we can set up a site?" State Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez was quoted on a report.

Gutierrez was also reported to have helped the event. The drive through vaccination program was planned by a group of Latina leaders around the Denver area.

This was the second one of the drive-through vaccination programs. The first one was held at Servicios De La Raza last weekend.

Among the group who organized the event include State Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, State Sen. Julie Gonzales, city council members Amanda Sandoval and Jamie Torres, and Denver Public Schools board member Angela Cobian.

Some high school and college students were also involved in the program. The National Jewish Health and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment also helped in getting the vaccines and administering it.

Related story: Fauci Says Vaccine Rollout Speeding Up, More Delivered Doses Expected in a Week

Latino Communities

In Los Angeles, a community clinic in a Latino neighborhood provides health services in Boyle Heights and Pico-Union.

The clinic is also serving communities that are disproportionately affected by the pandemic, which is pre-dominantly Spanish-speaking Latino and Indigenous people from Mexico and Centra America.

The clinic received a shipment of Moderna vaccines from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health last month, which are 100 shots for the clinic's 12,000 patients, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

However, the COVID-19 vaccines are in short supply. The decision of how to prioritize vaccination has becoming an increasingly uptight matter, especially to those communities hit hardest by the pandemic.

In California, Latino residents have been widely affected by the pandemic, with an estimated 40 percent of the state's population, representing 55 of its COVID cases, with 46 percent of its deaths from COVID-19.

Despite being widely affected by the pandemic, Latinos are not getting enough doses of the vaccine.

State officials said the reason for the lower vaccination rates in diverse communities is that many health care workers were prioritize for the first batch of the vaccines. Most of the health care workers are white.

However, even vaccine distribution to those 70 and older shows that there is still a wide racial disparity. Nearly 75 percent of the 70-plus group who have been vaccinated are white.

Just 3.5 percent are Latino and 1.2 percent are Black. In addition, about 18 percent are not identified by race or ethnicity, according to a CPR report.

The disparity is also shown at local levels. In Denver, wealthier and white neighborhoods have much higher vaccination rates for residents 70 and older than neighboring areas with more diversity.

Related story: WHO Releases COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan
Police check the fake gasoline on a vessel in Vinh Long Province, February 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Thai Ha.

Police have arrested 26 people involved in a ring making and trading counterfeit fuel in the Mekong Delta's Vinh Long Province.

A large team of 500 police officers raided an islet in the middle of the Hau River last Saturday and found people making fake fuel. The gangsters resisted fiercely, crashing a large boat into the police canoe as they tried to escape from the islet in My Hoa Commune, Binh Minh District. However, the police prevailed.

Simultaneously, other police officers raided a series of gasoline stations in Ving Long, Long An, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Vung Tau and HCMC, nabbing suspects related to the ring.

In all, the police arrested 26 people, seized two 2,500-ton vessels, five 400-1,000-ton vessels, six tankers, 2.68 million liters of gasoline, four barrels of chemicals and some documents and papers.

The 26 will be investigated for smuggling, producing and trading in counterfeit goods and illegal invoices and receipts.

Nguyen Huu Tru, 56, a Vinh Long resident, has been identified as the rings leader.

Police bust a gas station in Trang Bom District of Dong Nai Province for selling fake gasoline, February 6, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Thai Ha.

The large-scale raid was made after police in Dong Nai received reports from locals on low quality gasoline being sold by several stations in the province.

Dong Nai police detected a fake gasoline production ring and collaborated with colleagues in other southern provinces and the Ministry of Public Security to bust it.

Investigators later found that the ring had established companies and operated several gas stations to sell the counterfeit products they produced.

Members of the ring used vessels to buy gasoline from wholesalers and then moved the product to a facility on the Vinh Long Islet before using chemicals and solvents to make the 95-octane grade gasoline A95.

The fake fuel was distributed to warehouses across different provinces before being retailed.

According to investigators, around one million liters of fake gasoline were being provided to the market each day.

The ring operated efficiently, assigning specific tasks for each member at every step  from pumping the gasoline to legalizing papers and transporting. This had made it very difficult to bust it, police said.

In 2019, Trinh Suong, a fuel tycoon, was arrested for running a fake gasoline manufacturing and trading ring.

Suong, 52, was caught by the police in Central Highlands province of Dak Nong. Following his arrest, investigators discovered six facilities making and selling the counterfeit product in HCMC and the Mekong Delta's Can Tho, Hau Giang and Soc Trang.

Since early 2017 until his ring was busted, Suong had spent VND3 trillion ($129 million) on mixing toluene with solvents and artificial colors to make fake gasoline.

Every month, the ring had sold up to six million liters of the fake fuel, earning up to VND130 billion ($5.57 million), police had said.

Two recent developments seem to have affected Indias relationship with Sri Lanka. Last week, Sri Lanka pulled out of a joint partnership agreement with India and Japan to develop the much-hyped East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Colombo port, sending shockwaves both in New Delhi and Tokyo. On the same day, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) returned US$400 million currency swap facility, which it availed in July 2020 to meet its emergency needs during the Covid19 induced lockdown.

The ECT deal has been mired in controversies for over two years. After Gotabaya Rajapaksa became Sri Lankas President in November 2019 and his elder brother, the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa led his party to a two-thirds victory in the August 2020 Parliamentary elections, to outmaneuver China, India walked the extra mile to retain its hold and influence over its southern neighbour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Gotabaya Rajapaksa in New Delhi. Sri Lankas Foreign Affairs Minister Dinesh Gunawardena also travelled to New Delhi to cement the relationship. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval made a few visits to Colombo to persuade Sri Lanka not to fall into a Chinese trap.

For the record, the Sri Lankan government reiterated that India is its closest neighbour and a family, whereas China is just a friend. Even after the collapse of the ECT deal, PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has maintained the same stand saying Sri Lankas relationship with India is still robust.

In an interview to Sri Lankas leading English newspaper Daily Mirror, he said: No, there wont be any issue. We maintain healthy relations with India in this regard. There are two schools of thought regarding this investment project. Alienation of state assets is not the policy of this government. Quite a number of Buddhist monks oppose it. They have already come out.

However, India and Japan have firmly told Sri Lanka to honour its commitment regarding their partnership in the ECT project. Sri Lanka is maintaining that the ECT will have no foreign players and it will be developed with their own funds and domestic borrowings.

Sri Lanka has been hit hard by the Covid19 induced lockdown and its economy is in crisis. Local experts feel that it is not in a position to fund the project on its own and the Chinese might enter through backdoor to checkmate their traditional rivals and neighbours, India and Japan.

In the last 15 years, China has invested heavily in Sri Lankas infrastructure projects, triggering panic in New Delhi. China has its footprints everywhere. Hambantota port in the deep south to Colombo International Financial City (CIFC) is being built on the land reclaimed from Indian Ocean. The ruling Rajapaksas also share an excellent personal rapport with the Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Sri Lankan media, both Sinhalese and English, have carried several news reports pointing fingers at China, in the last two months. The port workers trade unions went on a strike opposing any foreign partnership concerning the ECT and some see a Chinese hand behind this.

According to a Sri Lankan shipping expert who does not want to be named, China does not want Colombo port to grow because of its investment in the Hambantota port. China owns Hambantota port. If ECT becomes big with India and Japanese partnership, Hambantota will lose business. Thats why they are playing dirty games in Colombo, he said.

He also blamed the militant attitude of Sri Lankas port trade unions for the current fiasco.

To blunt the Sri Lanka has been sold out to China arguments, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has stated that he will revisit even the Hambantota agreement with China, implying both India and China are equal and Sri Lankas sovereignty is non-negotiable.

But there are not many takers for this. Some dub it as a gimmick and he is just playing to the gallery.

Shashi Danatunge, former chairman of Ceylon Shipping Corporation (CSC), said that recent developments signal a shift in Sri Lankas foreign policy.

Speaking to News18 over phone from Colombo, Danatunge said: It is in a way anybody can see it that way. The ECT is very important and the most lucrative project for anybody. Naturally, Sri Lanka does not want to hand it over to anyone. But, there may be many other issues involved.

South Asia is the most unsettled region in the World since independence from the British over 70 years ago. Maybe, genetically or culturally we are not compatible. Our reluctance to partner shows that. There is also a deep mutual suspicion. Unlike the European nations, we have not come closer in the last 70 years. We have not become close partners. Sadly the region is still under the influence of our colonial past, Danatunge said.

Sri Lanka, which is mobilising the support of other nations to defend itself before the United Nations concerning its Human Rights issues, is now wooing the Islamic countries in the World. Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, is visiting Sri Lanka soon and he is likely to make some statements in this regard. Sri Lanka and Pakistan share a closer relationship and both have fallen into a Chinese debt trap in the recent years. Backing Sri Lanka on human rights issues would be a tightrope walk for India.

Business aside, Sri Lanka cant really afford to offend India, because of Tamil issues and geopolitical reasons. Since Sri Lanka has already plunged deeper into a Chinese debt trap, its not so easy to wriggle out of the current messy situation.

Its a catch 22 situation.

[February 09, 2021] Adapdix announces SoftBank funding for next-generation edge AI platform

PLEASANTON, Calif., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Adapdix Corporation, the digital transformation leader in Edge AI automation and intelligent control software, today announced that it has received funding from SoftBank's Opportunity Fund, pushing the total investment amount secured by Adapdix up to $10 million. The new funds will be used to build the next generation Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform for the edge, enabling real-time predictive analytics and maintenance for enterprises. Chad Harris, an investor from SoftBank's Opportunity Fund, said, "We are excited to support Adapdix in its AI innovations and to participate in its development of new solutions for the edge  we believe the result will be a real game changer. The SB Opportunity Fund is investing at this early stage because we recognize the differntiation of Adapdix' technologies and believe that it has the potential to become the leader in the fast-growing edge AI market."



Anthony Hill, Founder and CEO at Adapdix, said, "This investment is validation of our vision for our next-generation AI platform. With the SB Opportunity Fund joining the team of investors, we now have the ability to scale up the business and develop the required ecosystem of partners and suppliers." Adapdix' EdgeOps is a software-only solution that combines advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) analytics with a distributed, edge-based architecture. By enabling control where the AI data is, at the edge, Adapdix helps to increase model accuracy, reduce network cost and congestion, and cut latency.

As the first predictive analytics solution based on an industrial-grade data mesh technology, Adapdix enables ultra-low-latency, predictive maintenance and control. Adapdix' EdgeOps will initially focus on serving manufacturing companies in the semiconductor, electronics and automotive sectors, with more industries planned for the future. About Adapdix Adapdix provides an innovative software platform for enterprises, that optimizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) at the edge. The company's customer-centric Adapdix EdgeOps platform provides previously unmatched performance increases in uptime of equipment, reduction in supply chain and logistics cost and increases in remote worker control and productivity. Founded in 2015, Adapdix is headquartered in Pleasanton, California  see www.adapdix.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1434648/Adapdix_Corporation.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1359461/ADAPDIX__Logo.jpg SOURCE Adapdix Corporation

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Professor Shane Higgins, master of the National Maternity Hospital, has said that pregnant women should strongly consider getting the Covid-19 vaccine.

Prof Higgins was responding to an American study that found pregnant women who had Covid-19 were at higher risk of serious illness, hospitalisation, and death.

However, he told Newstalk Breakfast there was a stark difference in Ireland, he said where pregnant women were effectively cocooning, isolating, and taking the virus very seriously.

While the international evidence to date was that pregnant patients were at greater risk of hospitalisation with an increased risk of pre-term birth, that was not the experience among the maternity population in Ireland, he said.

"Weve delivered nearly 7,000 babies since the start of the pandemic here at the National Maternity Hospital," Prof Higgins said.

Weve had just over 80 positive cases and theyve all done very well.

Any positive cases had been very mild with very few of them symptomatic, he added.

The availability of vaccines had raised new concerns for expectant parents, acknowledged Prof Higgins, but the evidence was mounting that vaccines were safe for pregnant women in high-risk groups.

All the evidence would suggest that if a woman had a high-risk pregnancy then she should strongly consider getting the vaccine, he said.

My advice is that when the vaccine becomes available to any pregnant woman, she should consider strongly getting it.

"It's a non-live vaccine, and it's been recommended across the world that high-risk pregnant women should get it.
It is a common misconception that Vardhaman Mahaveer was the founder of Jainism. But now it is proven by many Indian and western scholars and historians that he was not the founder but a reformer who reformed and refined previous teachings of Parshwanath, the 23 rd Jain Teerthankar (Prophet).

Vardhman Mahaveer was born in 599 BC in Kundgram near Vaishali of Bihar in India. He was born to Siddharth and Trishala. Siddharth belonged to a high-ranked Warrior family of Nath Clan. Vardhman Mahaveers mother Trishala was daughter of Chetak, the mighty and famous Lichchhavi king of Vaishali. Vardhman Mahaveer had an elder brother named Nandivardhan. Vardhman Mahaveer had 6 maternal aunts, who were married to various kings of Eastern India. Thus Vardhman Mahaveer was related to various kings and eventually it helped him to promote his reformed Jainism.

Vardhman Mahaveer received all the education required for a prince. He was a fast learner and easily learned about literature, art, philosophy, military and administrative sciences. But he was not interested in worldly things and wanted to renounce them. But his parents didnt permit him to do so.

When Vardhman Mahaveer was 28, his parents died. Now he was free to leave the palace, but his brother Nandivardhan asked him not to leave suddenly and requested to stay with him for some more time. To respect elder brother Nandivardhan, Vardhman Mahaveer decided to stay with Nandivardhan until the age of 30. In those two years, Vardhman Mahaveer practiced self-discipline and practiced almost an ascetics life.

At the age of 30, he donated all his personal possessions to needy and poor people and left his home. He wandered on his bare feet in jungles and strange places. He meditated there, and almost all the time he spent there he never spoke to anybody. He rarely took food and fasting was a common thing for him. Some tribal people harassed him for a long time, but he never reacted.

After 12 years of his search for the truth, Vardhman Mahaveer became a naked monk. He took his first meal after becoming a monk from a Slave woman Chandana who was bought by a merchant from the slave market and persecuted by his wife. Vardhman Mahaveer traveled to the various parts of northern India, without using any vehicle. These parts included todays Bihar, Jharkhand, western Bengal, Orissa, and eastern Uttar Pradesh of India. He taught and preached the way of life that one should adopt. He announced a silent war against animal sacrifices. All kinds of people, including kings and queens, rich and poor, men and women were attracted towards his teachings. Many scholarly Bramhins like Indrabhuti Goutam, Agnibhuti, Vayubhuti and others joined Vardhman Mahaveers mission with their thousands of pupils. Indrabhuti Goutam and others compiled all the teachings of Vardhman Mahaveer. Shrenik Bimbisar, who was a famous and mighty king of Rajgrahi also became a disciple of Vardhman Mahaveer. Shrenik asked thousands of questions about soul, rebirths, meditation, Shraman tradition and history etc. to Vardhman Mahaveer and got answers from him. These questions and answers were written down by Indrabhuti Goutam which are preserved till today in Jain literature.

Vardhman Mahaveers teachings belonged to the ancient and pre Aryan Shraman tradition. He did not believe in the creation theory and the mighty God. According to him no one has created the universe and it is there from infinitive past and will remain there forever. Only changes will take place. It was almost a scientific approach of Vardhman Mahaveer. According to his philosophy anybody can become a God by destroying his Karmas. He told: instead of finding out an imaginary God, try to become a God, the highest stage of mankind.

One of his famous doctrine is Anekantvad i.e. pluralism. According to it, every truth has many angles or viewpoints. Every observer observes some truth and he is not totally wrong. But the whole truth could be told only after considering all the viewpoints.

He never believed in classes and castes. According to him, a person becomes great by his own deeds and it has nothing to do with in which community, class, or caste he is born. One of his famous quotes is: Eko Manuss Jaai which means that all mankind is one. Even a outcasted could join as a monk in Vardhman Mahaveers Sangh. Chandana, the slave woman also became a nun and eventually she became the head of all nuns in Vardhman Mahaveers sangh.

Vardhman Mahaveers teachings were based on the Right Knowledge, Right Faith, and Right Conduct, which are called as Three Jewels of Jainism. Some of his teachings include:

Ahimsa (Non Violence): Not to kill any living creature, nor to cause for killings and avoid all types of violence, even hurting others by words. Vegetarianism became a must thing for the disciples. However, he was not against the unavoidable unknowingly killings in routine works by layman like farming etc. He was not against the violence by layman in protection of oneself, his family, village, or the nation.

Truth: To speak truth only, not to lie. But one should not speak a bitter truth, which will hurt others.

Non Stealing: One should not steal anything, which belongs to others. One should not take the things, which are not given by the possessor.

Non possession: One should not possess things more than his requirements. Excess money should be donated for noble cause.

Celibacy: One should control his sexual desires. One should not involve in extra marital relations.

For Vardhman Mahaveer the final goal of life for everybody was to reach nirvana (Moksh) or salvation. Nirvana was nothing but breaking the cycle of birth, life and death. Vardhman Mahaveer attained nirvana at the dawn of a no moon day at Pavapuri in Bihar when he was 72 years old (527 B.C). On the same day, his chief disciple Indrabhuti Goutam attained Keval Gyan, i.e. omniscience or ultimate knowledge.

The news of Vardhman Mahaveers nirvan spread all over and the chieftains of 14 kingdoms gathered at Pavapuri. They took part in the funeral of Vardhman Mahaveer. As this was not an occasion of sorrow but of joy as now Vardhman Mahaveer was free from birth and death, the kings decided to celebrate this day every year as a festival of lights, which is celebrated even today all over India.

Editor's Note:

Mahavir Shrimandhar Chavan

Post Box 58

199 Mumbai-Pune Road

Chinchwad East, Pune 411019

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The author Mahavir Shrimandhar Chavan is a Jain activist, scholar of Jain History and runs many Jainism discussion groups on net. He is a freelance writer for Newspapers, magazines and online media. He runs several discussion groups on Internet, related to Ancient History, Jainism and Oriental Studies.

He has written 3 books in Marathi and Hindi and many articles in English on Internet. Presently he is writing an English novel on the life of Chandragupt Mourya. His writings are based on facts and many of his articles are appreciated by western scholars. Generally he writes by his pen name Mahavir Sanglikar.

He speaks fluent English, Marathi and Hindi languages.

Pictures for this article were provided by the author.
Social media users have been captivated by the plight of a woman named Tessica Brown, her decision to use Gorilla Glue instead of hair spray and a harrowing, monthlong quest to undo a seemingly permanent hairstyle.

It all started when Brown ran out of her usual hair spray, Got2b Glued. In a pinch, she opted to use a different product she had on hand to finish off her hair: Gorilla Spray Adhesive, made by Gorilla Glue.

Bad, bad, bad idea, she said in a TikTok posted last week that cautioned others against making the same mistake.

After more than 15 washes, various treatments and a trip to the emergency room, her hair still hadnt moved.

My hair has been like this for about a month now  its not by choice, she said in the video.

Browns hair mishap has intrigued internet users who became invested in her predicament and have rooted her on virtually, leaving messages of encouragement and ideas in the comment sections of her posts.

Her original video has been viewed nearly 16 million times on TikTok and nearly 2 million times on Instagram, and has been widely shared across other social platforms.

The situation has elicited communal cringes and sympathy for Brown, who has become known as the Gorilla Glue Girl, as days have passed and various remedies failed to help.

You have to keep us updated," one user commented under her Instagram post. "Im too invested now. Im going on the journey with you.

Brown has brought her followers along with her through several attempts to get rid of this forever ponytail, as she described it on Instagram.

In a second video, Brown demonstrated an attempt to wash it out: She filled her palm with a generous amount of shampoo, slathered it over her head and rubbed furiously. She wiped off the suds, which did not appear to have penetrated the glue layer, and seemed to be close to tears.

She later posted on Instagram that a combination of tea tree oil and coconut oil that she left on her head overnight was an epic fail.

This is the life Im living at this moment, she said in the video. This is the life that I guess Im going to have to live.

Brown did not respond to interview requests Sunday.

Some users suggested natural remedies, many involving apple cider vinegar or various rubbing alcohol or acetone concoctions. A woman who identified herself as a licensed stylist suggested applying glycerin to her hair, letting it sit about 30 minutes and then massaging it to loosen the glue.

We are very sorry to hear about the unfortunate incident that Miss Brown experienced using our Spray Adhesive on her hair, Gorilla Glue said in a statement Sunday. It called what happened a unique situation because the product was not intended to be used in or on hair because it is considered permanent.

We are glad to see in her recent video that Miss Brown has received medical treatment from her local medical facility and wish her the best, it said.

On Saturday, Brown posted a video of the St. Bernard Parish Hospital in Chalmette, Louisiana, and shared a photo of herself on a hospital bed.

A later video showed another woman, a TikTok user named Juanita Brown, applying acetone and sterile water to Tessica Browns head. It was unclear if the treatment worked.

Skin and hair experts have weighed in on TikTok and other social media platforms with suggestions.

Tierra Milton, the owner of She and Her Hair Studio on Staten Island, said that if someone in Browns predicament walked into her salon, she would likely recommend that she shave her head.

I wouldnt even try to salvage it because were talking about an industrial product that is used for other purposes besides hair, Milton said. Women all across the board, all walks of life, should seek professional help when it comes to hair care regimens.

Dr. Dustin Portela, a dermatologist, suggested starting with acetone to break down the glue, or using Goo Gone, a product that helps remove bandages and adhesives. Coconut oil, sunflower oil or Vaseline warmed in hot water could also work, he said, but he added that solutions should be tested on a small area first.

Obviously Gorilla Glue is designed  and any super glue  not to wash out easily with soap and water, he said. They formulate the product with bonds to withstand the most common types of things, so I knew she was going to have an incredibly difficult time.

Adhesives like Gorilla Glue are not meant to be used on skin, Portela said. They can be irritating and could cause rashes like contact dermatitis. If all else fails, he said, going to a salon to have her head shaved might be the best solution.

I think thered be a lot of anxiety that anybody would have if they were in that situation, he said. Now more than ever we just need to have compassion for people and try to help them. And she deserves all the help she can get right now because its a really unfortunate situation.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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One of L.A. District Attorney George Gascon's signature reform initiatives took a hit Monday when a judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the DA from ordering his prosecutors to seek shorter prison sentences in current cases. Gascon had directed his prosecutors to seek the dismissal of almost all three strikes, gun, gang and other so-called sentencing enhancements.

The ruling amounted to a split decision, as Superior Court Judge James Chalfant said Gascon will be allowed to prohibit his prosecutors from filing most sentencing enhancements in future cases.

In citing parts of the decision he disagreed with, the DA said he will file an appeal.

With regard to current cases, Chalfant agreed with a key argument in a lawsuit filed by the Association of Deputy District Attorneys, the union that represents 800 frontline prosecutors: that under state law a prosecutor can only seek dismissal of enhancements based on the circumstances of a specific case, not in response to a policy directive.

By forcing prosecutors to illegally seek the dismissal of enhancements, Gascon has been putting them in danger, the judge said. "Deputy district attorneys have incurred trial courts' ire and need not wait until one of them is sanctioned or disciplined by the State Bar," Chalfant wrote. "There is a real prospect of sanctions and an employee should not be forced to choose between his or her job and complying with the law."

The ruling could affect hundreds of criminal defendants for whom Gascon had sought the removal of sentencing enhancements. The DA has argued enhancements have been a big contributor to mass incarceration and exacerbated racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

'ALMOST UNFETTERED DISCRETION'

In refusing to block Gascon's blanket ban on using enhancements in future cases, Chalfant said the DA "has almost unfettered discretion to perform his prosecutorial duties and the public expects him to evaluate the benefits and costs of administering justice in prosecuting crimes."

Gascon "was elected on the very platform he is trying to implement and any intrusion on this prosecutorial discretion is not in the public interest unless clearly warranted," the judge wrote.

The ruling makes two exceptions: Chalfant said that under the law, prosecutors must initially file previous strikes under the Three Strikes law, which carry a sentence of 25 years-to-life, and they must file any special circumstance allegations that would result in a sentence of life in prison without parole.

Enhancements for using a gun, being a member of a gang or inflicting great bodily injury during the commission of a crime can add many years to a prison sentence.

Chalfant's order will remain in effect until the resolution of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys' lawsuit. But how a judge decides on a preliminary injunction signals his belief that a particular side will win at trial.

The prosecutors' union hailed the ruling, saying the judge "ruled as we expected in holding that the District Attorney cannot order his prosecutors to ignore laws that protect the public from repeat offenders. This ruling protects the communities which are disproportionately affected by higher crime rates and those who are victimized."

'SCIENCE AND DATA, NOT FEAR AND EMOTION'

In a statement announcing his intention to appeal, Gascon argued that Chalfant's ruling "requires my office to apply the Three Strikes law contrary to the current practice in Los Angeles County and other jurisdictions across the state." Asserting that he was elected last November because voters want "a system of justice based on science and data, not fear and emotion," the DA said his directives "are a product of the will of the people, including survivors of crime, and a substantial body of research that shows this modern approach will advance community safety."

Summer Lacey, criminal justice director and senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, said she was "disappointed" by the ruling. But she was heartened that Chalfant concluded that Gascon can ban most enhancements in future cases.

The case brought into stark relief two key questions facing L.A.'s criminal justice system: how best to address injustices; and whether locking people up for less time will threaten public safety.

In his directive ordering an end to their use, Gascon argued enhancements have fueled mass incarceration of mostly Black and Brown men, "[t]here is no compelling evidence that their enforcement improves public safety," and that "[i]n fact, the opposite may be true."

"California's mass incarceration problem can be tied directly to enhancements and the extreme sentencing laws of the 1990s," Gascon declared on Dec. 7, his first day on the job.

Many prosecutors believe enhancements help protect the public by putting criminals away for longer periods of time. They often play a key role in plea negotiations; prosecutors use them as a powerful bargaining chip, sometimes offering to drop enhancements in exchange for a guilty plea.

Gascon's policy on sentencing enhancements is just one of many that have outraged much of the law enforcement community. The new DA also has promised to support the early release of up to 20,000 state prison inmates who had their sentences lengthened because of enhancements, and he's moved to end the use of cash bail.

Another key part of his agenda includes reviewing more than 600 police shootings for possible prosecution of the officer or Sheriff's deputy involved.

Gascon ousted incumbent DA Jackie Lacey in last November's election; the race was closely watched by criminal justice reformers around the country. While reformers hailed Gascon's victory and his initiatives, there's been a sharp backlash from his own prosecutors, law enforcement leaders, and even the national conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, which called him a "rogue" prosecutor.
TEMPE, Ariz., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alex Taylor, president and CEO of Cox Enterprises, Inc., will speak at the Economic Club of Phoenix (ECP) virtual event on Thursday, Feb. 18, from noon to 1 p.m. The public is invited to attend the free event that will be hosted live on Zoom by Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business.

Taylor serves as vice chairman of Cox Enterprises' board of directors and has held numerous positions across the company during his 21-year career at Cox. As chief operating officer of Cox Enterprises, Inc., he oversaw its long-term growth and investment plans and its major subsidiaries  Cox Communications, Cox Automotive, and Cox Media Group. Prior to this, he served as senior vice president of field operations for Cox Communications and executive vice president of Cox Media Group, where he oversaw television, radio, newspaper, and digital properties, and led the creation of the company's first cross-platform newsroom.

Giving back and serving local communities is at the heart of the Cox culture. Taylor serves as a board member of the Food Well Alliance, Atlanta Committee for Progress, and PATH Foundation. He's also a member of the Carter Center Board of Councilors and on the Vanderbilt Board of Trust.

Cox Enterprises, Inc., is a multi-generational family business that started in newspapers and has grown into a leader in the broadband, automotive services, and media industries. With nearly 50,000 employees in the United States and abroad, Cox serves millions of customers every day.

About the Economic Club of Phoenix

The Dean's Council, a group of prominent business executives, founded the ECP in January 1985 in conjunction with Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business. Thirty-five years later, the club remains the premier luncheon speaker series in the Valley designed to enhance the discussion of economics and business, labor, and public sectors in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

More information about the ECP and its speaker series can be found at econclubphx.org.

About the W. P. Carey School of Business

The W. P. Carey School of Business is one of the top-ranked business schools in the United States. The school is internationally regarded for its research productivity and its distinguished faculty members, including a Nobel Prize winner. Students come from more than 100 countries and W. P. Carey is represented by alumni in over 160 countries. Visit wpcarey.asu.edu.

For more information/media contact:

Shay Moser, W. P. Carey School of Business

[email protected], (480) 965-3963

SOURCE W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University

Related Links

https://wpcarey.asu.edu



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Around 1:30 p.m. on Friday, a plant operator at a water treatment facility in Oldsmar, Fla., noticed his mouse dash around his screen. For three to five minutes, police said, he tracked the arrow as it clicked open one software function after another until it finally landed on the controls to the water's levels of sodium hydroxide, also known as lye.

Then, he watched the hacker who'd taken control of the system raise the levels of sodium hydroxide by more than 100 fold, according to police - a hazardous level that could sicken residents and corrode pipes.

The operator was able to quickly fix the levels moments after the hack, police said.

"At no time was there a significant adverse effect on the water being treated," Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said at a news conference on Monday. "Importantly, the public was never in danger."

But the near-miss incident was the latest alarming sign that critical infrastructure in America is vulnerable to cyberattacks. In July, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned that infrastructure like water and power plants, emergency services and transportation systems make "attractive targets for foreign powers attempting to do harm to U.S. interests or retaliate for perceived U.S. aggression."

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, hospitals nationwide have seen a surge in cyberattacks. In December, it was revealed that Russian hacking groups were behind massive breaches at the U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments.

In a tweet on Monday, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said he was asking the FBI to "provide all assistance necessary" in the investigation into the Oldsmar attack. "This should be treated as a matter of national security," he wrote.

In Oldsmar, a city northwest of Tampa with about 15,000 residents, a plant operator first noticed someone remotely accessing the computer system at around 8 a.m. on Friday. The employee didn't think much of it, Gualtieri said, because supervisors commonly used the software - which the sheriff told Reuters is called TeamViewer - to "monitor the system."

In a statement to The Washington Post, TeamViewer spokesman Patrick Pickhan said the company was aware of reports of the hack, are "monitoring the situation" and condemn "any malicious behavior" on its software.

"We don't have any indication that our software or platform has been compromised," Pickhan said. "TeamViewer stands ready to support relevant authorities in their investigation of the technical details such as how the cyber criminals potentially obtained login credentials, which are set and encrypted solely on the device."

Immediately after the hacker changed the sodium hydroxide from about 100 parts per million to 11,100 parts per million on Friday afternoon, the employee reversed the change and notified a supervisor who ensured "steps were taken to prevent further remote access to the system," Gualtieri said.

The water treatment plant contacted the sheriff's office who opened an investigation in partnership with the FBI and Secret Service, Gualtieri said.

Oldsmar extracts its water from the ground and treats it with chemicals to make it drinkable at a local water plant, Gualtieri said.

Sodium hydroxide is used to help balance the pH of the water, which is often fairly acidic when it's extracted from the ground, according to Haizhou Liu, an associate professor of chemical and environmental engineering at the University of California at Riverside.

"Typically in the finished drinking water, the pH is slightly basic," Liu said in an interview with The Post late Monday. "So they use sodium hydroxide to make the pH slightly basic."

The sodium hydroxide is also used to prevent the pipes that transfer the water from deteriorating, Liu added.

"It's corrosion control strategy," he said. "It makes sure the pipes stay intact."

But excess levels of sodium hydroxide could accelerate corrosion, Liu said, which would force the city to buy new piping at a "huge economic cost." If ingested, the contaminated water with a concentrated level of lye could "damage the human cells," he said.

At the news conference, Gualtieri pointed out that lye is the main ingredient in liquid drain cleaners. "This is dangerous stuff," he said.

Oldsmar Mayor Eric Seidel said Monday that the water management facility has alarm systems and several checkpoints that would have caught the change in the pH of the water had the plant operator not fixed the hacker's changes.

"The protocols that we have in place, the monitoring protocols, they work - that's the good news," Seidel said. But the incident was a reminder that water systems are vulnerable. "These kinds of bad actors are out there," Seidel added.

Gualtieri said the sheriff's office contacted government-run critical infrastructure entities in the Tampa area, alerted them to the hack, and encouraged them to update their security protocols.

"Water systems, like other public utility systems, are part of the nation's critical Infrastructure and can be vulnerable targets," Gualtieri said.

So far, police have not identified suspects but said they are following a few leads. Authorities also don't know if the hacker was foreign or domestic and are unclear of the motive.

One thing Gualtieri is certain of is that the hacker knew what he was doing.

"In order to get into the system, somebody had to use some pretty sophisticated ways of doing it," he said.
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Oman Air has appointed Madina Al Balushi as Country Manager, Bahrain and Najma Al Naamani as Sales Manager, Sri Lanka.

Both will represent Oman Air in the Kingdom of Bahrain and Republic of Sri Lanka after gaining wide experience in Commercial Division; these stations have been served by Oman Air since 16 and 11 years respectively.

Al Balushi and Al Naamani are both Omani nationals entrusted to run Sales function in Oman Air outstation network, and they represent the future vision of Oman Air Management in encouraging Omani ladies to move into frontline revenue generating roles. They will take on the challenge of further strengthening Oman Airs revenue growth in Bahrain and Sri Lanka by utilising their experience gained whilst spending many years in various Commercial roles.

Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, Abdulaziz Al Raisi, commented: "Oman Air is proud that it remains a leader in the Omanisation programme, and is recognised as one of the leading companies in the Sultanate offering women a safe and supportive work environment. Omani Women comprise a vital and increasing proportion of our workforce. They are represented at almost all levels in the company, furthermore they continue to make important contributions to the ongoing success of Oman Air. I would like to thank all the Oman Air women, who helped to ensure that Oman Air continues to be the airline of First Choice," Al Raisi added."

Women currently comprise of more than 32 per cent of Oman Air's workforce. The airline pursues a proactive policy of recognising talented and qualified women, and providing the necessary support for them to excel within their chosen careers. Women are well-represented in a range of roles, including engineering, airport management, airport services, marketing, customer services, cabin crew, flight operations, sales and communications. - TradeArabia News Service
NEW DELHI : Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday said New Delhis development assistance has iconic presence across his countrys landscape, and thanked India for being a true partner in development", at a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ghani also highlighted Indias contribution to rebuild Afghanistans economy during the signing of a pact between India and Afghanistan for building the $300-million Shahtoot Dam on the Maidan river tributary of Kabul river. Foreign minister S. Jaishankar and his Afghan counterpart Haneef Atmar signed the pact on behalf of the two countries.

The project was held up for years after Pakistan expressed concerns over reduced water flow into its territory. The dam was part of several new development initiatives unveiled by India last November. India has also taken up community projects worth $80 million in Afghanistan as part of the programme, which seeks to develop the remotest corners of the country through schemes directly impacting the lives of its citizens.

The Shahtoot Dam will have a storage capacity of 147 million cubic metres of water, and will meet the drinking water needs of around two million residents of Kabul, which has a population of about six million. It will also help irrigate around 400 hectares of agricultural land in Chahar Asiab and Khairabad districts in Kabul province.

At the 2020 Afghanistan Conference, Jaishankar had said India will be constructing the dam as part of its initiative to launch more than 100 development projects worth $80 million in Afghanistan.

Since 2001, after US-led forces ousted the Taliban from power, India has extended $3 billion in aid for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The projects undertaken so far include the construction of the Afghan parliament complex, and underscore Indias support to the Afghan government headed by Ghani.

In his remarks, prime minister Modi expressed concern over increasing violence in Afghanistan and called for a comprehensive ceasefire to end hostilities. He promised Ghani of Indias full support in the development choices of Afghanistan.

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Moving up in the range you get the LE trim ($24,745), SE ($26,145), SE with Panorama Package ($27,145), SEL ($27,395), and SEL with Touring Package ($29,495). The prices exclude a $1,195 destination charge.On the outside, the 2022 Eclipse Cross has been thoroughly redesigned, featuring a more striking Dynamic Shield grille, new light units, plus a revised rear hatchback. Overall, the crossover has gained an extra five inches in length, now measuring 178.9 inches (4,544 mm).There are plenty of novelties on the inside as well, with LE, SE, and SEL trims now getting heated seats (for driver and front passenger). A heated steering wheel, meanwhile, is standard on the SEL trim, with the SEL with Touring package adding heated rear seats. Buyers also get a light grey leather seat option with black accents , available exclusively on SEL models, which also come with an optional power passenger seat.The new 8-inch infotainment system is available on LE, SE and SEL trims, and now comes with a pair of tuning knobs for easier use. This unit also features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration as standard. Its worth noting that entry-level ES models only get a 7-inch display.Buy an Eclipse Cross SE or SEL and you also get sat-nav with an industry-first embedded what3words integration.As a global addressing system, what3words divides the world into a grid of three-meter-by-three-meter squares, each of which is assigned a unique what3words address. The system allows pinpoint navigation, even in remote, unpopulated areas, offering greater accuracy and specificity than street address-based systems, explains the carmaker.As for active safety, the updated Eclipse Cross comes with standard Forward Collision Mitigation with Pedestrian Detection and Lane Departure warning across the board, while Automatic High Beam and rain-sensing wipers are standard on LE, SE, and SEL trims. However, only SE and above trims offer you Blind Spot Warning with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert at no extra cost.There's only one available engine option at the time, a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline unit.
Not all superheroes wear capes: some prefer dresses. Cartoonist Steven Appleby drew on his own cross-dressing to create August Crimp, who transforms into "Dragman" whenever he puts on women's clothes.

Appleby's first graphic novel, "Dragman", won the special jury prize at France's prestigious Angouleme international comics festival last month.

The hero discovers that putting on women's clothes makes him able to fly -- and his heart soar.

Yet he is ashamed of his secret passion and decides to ditch his dresses and accessories to be a conventional dad.

But when his young neighbour calls out for his help, it's time to slap on the makeup and save the day.

"I put things from my experience in my life in the book," Appleby, wearing deep-red lipstick, a blond wig and elegant black-and-gold dress, told AFP at his south London studio.

The 65-year-old artist said he is "relaxed about pronouns" and goes by "Steven" and "he" but sometimes also "Nancy and "she".

His studio is a warm, cocoon-like space with candles burning and music playing. There are large drawings on the wall, many of them nudes.

- Shame and fear -

Like his superhero, Appleby discovered his interest in cross-dressing when he was young, while studying at art college.

The book takes an incident from his own life when he discovered a discarded stocking in his student flat.

"I found the stocking down the back of the sofa and put it on, and I suddenly thought: 'Oh I could dress up. And then I could look like a girl,'" he said.

He found this enjoyable, but also felt "immediately guilty and full of shame and fear that my flatmates would discover it".

In another autobiographical detail August Crimp's wife, Mary, is a carpenter, as was Appleby's wife, Nicola Sherring, when they met.

They had two children together, are still married and "very good friends", while no longer a couple, said Appleby,

Story continues

It was Sherring who did the watercolours for "Dragman."

The main difference between Appleby and his hero, he said, is that "I told her I like to dress in women's clothes when we first met.

"She didn't mind and then we would go shopping for clothes," he added.

"Eventually she realised... as well as being a fun thing it was also an obsession and that became more difficult."

The couple still lives in the same house along with Sherring's new partner and they raised their children together.

"Nicola is an amazing person... because she's able to allow that situation," he said.

Despite his supportive family, it took a long time for him to accept his identity. He took the plunge around 13 years ago, since when he has only dressed as a woman.

"I think it was fear that stopped me, fear of embarrassing my children," he said. But in fact they "didn't really notice".

- 'Be true to your own style' -

Appleby came up with the idea for "Dragman" in 2002 and began drawing a comic strip in The Guardian daily.

At the time he was still not "out" as a cross-dresser and said the strip was "a way for me to playfully put it into the world without sort of saying 'I am a transvestite'".

After the novel "Dragman" came out, Appleby received messages of thanks from other cross-dressers.

"One sent me a message saying that he just told his wife that he liked to wear women's clothes," he said, adding that the response was positive.

But he never told his parents. His mother was Canadian and met his English father during World War II.

He grew up in an old vicarage in Northumberland in northeast England, going to boarding school, then art college, he dropped out for two years to play keyboards in a rock group called Ploog.

"All in all it was a disaster but it was fun," he said.

At the Royal College of Art in London, he was taught by Quentin Blake, who famously illustrated Roald Dahl's children's books.

Blake's advice was to be "true to your own style".

"Dragman" is Appleby's ironic take on the superhero comics he enjoyed reading as a child, particularly "Batman".

"And I think 'Catwoman' had an influence on my dressing up," he added with a cherry-lipped smile.

pau-am/phz/jj
The ideal place to buy your second home is somewhere where you want to spend a getaway, a vacation, or your retirement. It could also be the place that gives you some of the best business opportunities and a good return on your investment. A home abroad managed with reasonable care is about the safest investment in the world. It has proven to be certainly true for a lot of HNI homebuyers. Most of the high-net-worth individuals are businessmen who travel frequently for work/business, they invest in a second home abroad to take care of their requirements with regard to business meets or leisure trips.

London is usually the number 1 option for investors. It is a business-friendly location, and it is undoubtedly a place that will bring a return on your investment since the currency fluctuations are limited and provides a sense of safety, stability, and security. In London, you can find a wide range of properties, where the investor can choose from, and therefore meet his/her needs. In addition, if one wishes to rent their property, rental returns tend to rise over time.

London is a city with some of the best and most well-known universities globally and often HNIs choose to buy a property in order for their children to study or find a job there. This is one of the major reasons why people choose London as a place to buy their second home. It is a fantastic place to live, work, study, and enjoy life.

However, in the last few years, Cyprus, the island with over 300 sunny days, has become a choice for Indians too. Nearly 40% of the properties sold in Cyprus are bought by overseas investors. The level of unemployment is among the lowest, which has resulted in the surge in demand for rental apartments. The low taxes, low traffic and related congestion, and very high quality of living have led many HNIs to gain a Permanent Residency on the island. One of the most important factors that make non-EU investors consider Cyprus as their base is the geostrategic location of the island. Cyprus is centred amongst three continents; Africa, Europe, and Asia. Its unique position on the map allows it to be considered as an important trade centre, active in facilitating the shipment of goods in and out of Europe.

Furthermore, the tax benefits in Cyprus are extremely favourable supporting investments into the country. With a corporate tax rate as low as 12.5%, and for those who permanently reside on the beautiful island there is zero tax on global gains for 17 years. The savings made through these tax invectives will help to facilitate more growth for your existing businesses. Cyprus also allows for a robust succession plan of these investments, by enforcing a 0% inheritance tax. This allows your real-estate investments to be passed down from generation to generation.

Cyprus also provides a high level of education and universities that collaborate with some of the top universities in the UK like the Imperial College as well as the St. Georges University of London (Medical Programme). The cost of education in Cyprus is very low if compared to the cost in other countries within the EU.

The Caribbean islands of Grenada, Dominica and St. Kitts are other popular investment and holiday destinations for many, they have witness a rise in property prices over the years. The main attraction for investors here are the extremely efficient personal tax systems, making these small countries ideal for HNIs.

Given the current trend due to the pandemic, the Investment theme' has shifted from living a life with holidays and business travel to a more holistic vision of shifting at a base that includes safety, access to robust healthcare, and quality education along with an exotic lifestyle and business opportunities. These destinations have successfully managed to emerge most practical and profitable for second-home buyers.

Nish Bhatt, Founder & CEO, Millwood Kane International

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Johannesburg  PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has warned his South African government would deal decisively with individuals involved in corruption during the response to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

His threat, carried in a weekly letter on Monday, comes after a damning report released last week by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into procurement during the coronavirus state of disaster.

He said this made for "disturbing reading."

"At the same time, it provides encouragement that unlawful deeds are being uncovered and action is being taken against those who are responsible," Ramaphosa stated.

The president said all involved in wrongdoing would be dealt with "harshly and appropriately."

"They will not get to enjoy their ill-gotten gains, as steps have been taken to recover stolen money, including the freezing of bank accounts."

Ramaphosa disclosed that a number of civil litigation cases had been instituted and specific cases referred to for prosecution.

"Contracts found to be unlawful have been cancelled," the president said.

Government entities have been directed not to make payments to the service providers pending the outcome of investigations and/or civil proceedings.

There have been referrals for disciplinary action against implicated officials.

"This is a practical demonstration of our determination to deal decisively and swiftly with corruption," Ramaphosa assured.

He said similar action was being taken against individuals and companies implicated in maladministration and fraud around the COVID-19 Temporary Employment Relief Scheme.

This includes employers who pocketed the benefits owed to their staff, or hid TERS funds paid to them by mistake.

"A number of hard lessons have been learned in this entire process," said Ramaphosa.

South Africa is dealing with the worst outbreak of COVID-19 in the continent.

Some 1,48 million cases have been recorded, including 46 290 deaths.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Joe Biden on Monday, during a phone call, set up an ambitious agenda to take the bilateral relationship to the next level.

While speaking to ANI, Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu informed, "PM Modi and President Biden had a warm and wide-going discussion today. In light of our shared qualities and regular key interests, we are focused on propelling India-U.S. Vital Partnership and intently cooperating with similar nations in gathering local and worldwide difficulties - COVID-19 pandemic, financial recuperation, clean energy and environmental change, battle against psychological oppression, participation in the Indo-Pacific and past."

READ | PM Modi Fires 'G-23' Jibe At Cong While Thanking Ghulam Nabi Azad: 'Take In Right Spirit'

READ | PM Modi To Reply To 'Motion Of Thanks' On The Presidents Address In Rajya Sabha Today

India & US bilateral relationship

The leaders agreed to continue close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, including support for freedom of navigation, territorial integrity, and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad. The President underscored his desire to defend democratic institutions and norms around the world and noted that a shared commitment to democratic values is the bedrock for the US-India relationship. They further resolved that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld in Burma. The leaders agreed to stay in close touch on a range of global challenges and look forward to what the United States and India will achieve together for their people and for their nations.

After being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, Biden so far had a phone call with nine foreign leaders. Traditionally the new American president makes first phone calls to the leaders of two neighbouring countries Canada and Mexico.

Thereafter, Biden called leaders of close American allies, including Britain, France, Germany, South Korea, and Australia. In between, he called Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was necessitated due to the extension of the New Start Treaty for another five years.

Modi is the first foreign leader, whom Biden has spoken with beyond neighbours and key NATO allies, reflecting on the significance his administration attaches to ties with India.

READ | Joe Biden Says Decision On 2020 Tokyo Games 'has To Be Based On Science'

READ | PM Modi & President Biden Commit To Work Together On COVID-19, Climate Change And Economy

(With Agency Inputs)

PM Modi and President Biden speak on phone, commit to cement ties between the two nations
The coronavirus vaccination drive kicked off in Sri Lanka today, a day after India gifted 500,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine to the island nation.

The drive began at the Army Hospital in Narahenpita as frontline workers fighting the novel coronavirus were vaccinated with the 'Made in India' Covishield vaccines.

Also Read | Covid vaccination faces slow start

The coronavirus vaccination drive was formally launched at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases with the participation of State Minister of Primary Health Services, Pandemics and Covid Prevention, Dr Sudarshini Fernandopulle, and India High Commissioner Gopal Baglay, reports news agency ANI.

The first Covid-19 vaccine was reportedly given to Dr Ananda Wijewickrema, a specialist at the hospital. The hospital staff was then vaccinated.

Taking to Twitter, Indian High Commission in Sri Lankasaid, "Made in India vaccine was administered in various hospitals in Colombo. This drive was formally launched at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. Hon'ble MOS Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, High Commissioner and various other dignitaries attended the event."

India is one of the world's biggest drug-makers and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring coronavirus vaccines.

The Oxford-Astrazenecas Covishield vaccine is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. This has been approved for emergency use by the Sri Lankan government.

Last week, Sri Lanka's drug regulatory body -- National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA)--gave a go-ahead to Oxford Astrazeneca's vaccine.

The AstraZeneca-Oxford Covishield vaccine developed in the UK is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII).

India on Thursday sent a total of 5 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Sri Lanka under the "Vaccine Maitri" initiative.

After receiving the consignment of vaccines, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa tweeted: "Received 500,000 COVID-19 vaccines provided by people of India at BIA today (28). Thank you! PM Shri Narendra Modi and people of India for the generosity shown towards People of Sri Lanka at this time in need."

Both India and Sri Lanka have also put up a joint fight in dealing with the coronavirus crisis with both nations being the largest contributors to the Covid-19 Emergency Fund for SAARC. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had complimented Sri Lanka's leadership on containing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sri Lanka plans to first vaccinate about 150,000 health personnel and 120,000 tri-forces, police and other security personnel, who are in the frontline fighting against the virus.

Vaccinations will be conducted at Colombo National Hospital, Colombo North and Colombo South Teaching Hospitals, Mulleriyawa Base Hospital, Homagama Base Hospital and National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Sri Lankan Ministry of Health said.

Sri Lanka has recorded over 61,000 Covid-19 cases so far. As many as 297 people in the country have succumbed to the virus.

With agency inputs

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Classifying a death as suicide may be easiest for medical examiners and coroners in the western United States, which reports the highest suicide rates officially. Suicide by firearm is the leading method there, and usually clear in terms of evidence.

By contrast, suicides by drug overdose, spurred primarily by the opioid epidemic in the remainder of the country, are less obvious to investigators.

But a new West Virginia University-led injury mortality study combines most drug overdose deaths with all suicides into an expanded self-injury category. Exposing a mental health crisis that has unraveled across the United States over the past two decades, study data have direct implications for suicide prevention efforts.

Ian Rockett, professor emeritus of epidemiology in the WVU School of Public Health, spearheaded the research that examined fatal self-injury in the United States from 1999 to 2018. Measuring self-injury mortality (SIM)--suicides plus estimated "non-suicide" drug self-intoxication deaths--circumvents suicide misclassification and more accurately accounts for fatal self-injuries.

Broadening the definition of SIM to encompass most drug overdose deaths, even if they don't meet the standards used by medical examiners and coroners to classify them as suicides, shows the whole nation is afflicted by a mental health crisis. On the other hand, if we only represent SIM by registered suicides, this crisis misleadingly appears concentrated in western states." Rockett, Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center

Rockett, also adjunct professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, elaborated on differences in suicide classification between regions.

"Suicides likely have been easiest to detect in the west because the leading method is shooting and it is highly lethal," he said. "The remainder of the country has been more severely affected by the opioid epidemic through the opening decades of the 21st century. Our previous research indicating substantial overlap with a more hidden suicide epidemic, led me to develop SIM in collaboration with a very talented group of multidisciplinary researchers and practitioners about six or seven years ago. That the suicide epidemic was most pronounced in the west and the opioid epidemic elsewhere in the nation -- West Virginia stands out -- motivated us to look at SIM versus suicide rates across the country as a whole and across time."

The findings appear in Lancet's EClinicalMedicine. Other WVU researchers joining Rockett on the study were Brian Hendricks, research assistant professor of epidemiology, and James Berry, chair of the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry.

The research team tapped into cause-of-death data for all 50 states and Washington, D.C. from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research.

After broadening the SIM definition, they found the national annual average percentage change in the SIM rate was 4.3% versus 1.8% for the suicide rate. By 2017-2018, all states except Nebraska posted a SIM rate of at least 21 deaths per 100,000 population. All located in the west, only five states had a rate that high in 1999-2000.

"Despite victims sharing many common risk factors, suicide and drug overdose deaths tend to be treated separately in the scientific literature, media, health care system, and by funding agencies and prevention programs," Rockett said. "Among these risk factors are unemployment, family discord, unmanaged and mismanaged physical pain, and various psychiatric disorders that include alcohol and other substance use disorders.

"While most people dying by overdose may not have intended to die, they were engaging in repetitive, intentional, self-injurious behaviors that they understood markedly increased their chances of dying prematurely. Calling these deaths 'accidents' (the forensic classification most often used in the U.S.) or 'unintentional' (the term used by the CDC) mischaracterizes what occurred, even if consistent with the classification criteria used by medical examiners and coroners."

Early data indicate the COVID-19 pandemic is making the national mental health crisis worse.

"Opioid and other drug-overdose deaths continue to rise in spite of medical efforts to make life-saving medications for opioid use disorder available to patients and communities," said co-author Hilary Connery, from McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School. "Many persons suffering drug use disorders become hopeless--they relapse frequently, continue to experience relationship losses, health consequences, and economic instability, and they frequently suffer other mental disorders, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other anxiety disorders. We know that people with addiction have 10 times the rate of suicide compared to those without addiction."

Another of Rockett's co-investigators, Eric Caine, professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center, underscored that this work has major implications for future suicide prevention efforts. It is especially important to deploy programs "upstream" when groups and individuals can be helped with fundamentally distressing problems long before they ever become suicidal, he said. Recognizing a patient's full story - risk factors, long-term health history, socioeconomic experiences - is key to providing lifesaving, comprehensive care.

"Ultimately it is less about 'classifying suicide' and more about understanding that suicide and overdose fatalities reflect common social and psychological risk factors that were present long before death," Caine said.

"There are large groups of persons in our country who have suffered adverse early life experiences, family and social turmoil, economic hardships and life disappoints, as well chronic ailments; many die prematurely. Our goal must be to eliminate or mitigate those circumstances. Separating these groups using misclassified or misleading postmortem labels does little to enhance prevention. We need to focus on the lives of persons in these groups long before they get close to dying if we aspire to overcome these tragic losses of life."
Uttarakhand glacier burst: 70 from UP, including 34 from Lakhimpur Kheri, missing

India

oi-Deepika S

Lucknow, Feb 09: At least 70 people from Uttar Pradesh are feared missing in the glacier burst at Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district that triggered an avalanche and a deluge in the Alaknanda river system that washed away hydroelectric stations on Sunday, officials said.

Of the 70 people, 34 are from Lakhimpur Kheri district alone.

''As of now, 70 people from Uttar Pradesh are feared missing, including 34 from Lakhimpur Kheri, nine from Saharanpur and five from Shravasti,'' Relief Commissioner of Uttar Pradesh Sanjay Goyal told PTI on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sent a team of three ministers to Uttarakhand for better coordination with the state in carrying out relief works after the disaster, an official spokesperson said here.

A portion of the Nanda Devi glacier possibly burst through its banks in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday, leading to an avalanche and a deluge that ripped through the Alaknanda river system in the upper reaches of the ecologically fragile Himalayas. Thirty-one bodies have been recovered so far and around 175 people are missing.

Union minister Amit Shah share details of glacier burst in Uttarakhand's Chamoli

''The chief minister has formed a committee of three ministers and sent them to Uttarakhand for better coordination with the state. The ministers are Suresh Kumar Rana, Vijay Kashyap and Dharam Singh Saini,'' the spokesperson said.

Adityanath has also constituted a team of officers led by Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Awanish Kumar Awasthi to ensure coordination in carrying out relief works, he said, adding that a control room has been established at the Relief Commissioner's office.

Control rooms have also been set up in districts affected by the tragedy and administration, police and irrigation department employees are deputed there.

''We will meet Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and work will be done in coordination to cremate those who lost their lives in the tragedy,'' Rana said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 17:08 [IST]
Dan Polster has been a federal judge in Ohio since 1998, when his nomination by President Bill Clinton was confirmed by the Senate. He is presiding over more than 2,700 lawsuits by local governments and Indian tribes who accuse pharmaceutical companies of contributing to drug abuse in their distribution of opioid painkillers. He has drawn praise from both of Ohios senators, Republican Rob Portman and Democrat Sherrod Brown.

Now Polster, 69, is one of more than two dozen federal judges who are taking senior status, allowing them to reduce their caseloads while creating vacancies for President Biden to fill. Those who have spoken publicly have denied any partisan motives  understandably, since they remain on the bench  but Polster alluded to the need for the judiciary to show strength in a time of turmoil.

Ive always been proud to be a judge, but never more than in the past year, when our branch stood up big time  it doesnt matter who appointed you, Democrat or Republican  under some real stresses to our democracy, he said in an interview. Asked why he was stepping back now, Polster said he plans to maintain his caseload and noted he had been eligible for senior status four years ago.

But it seems like no coincidence that, out of 24 federal judges who have taken senior status or announced intentions to do so since election day, 17 were appointed by Democratic presidents. Most of them were eligible for senior status during Donald Trumps presidency but chose to wait.

The 24 include three U.S. District Court judges in the Bay Area: Phyllis Hamilton, the districts chief judge, and William Alsup, both Clinton appointees, and Jeffrey White, appointed by Republican President George W. Bush. Including judges who had already taken senior status or retired before the election, more than 70 vacancies await Biden, most of them in district courts.

Four years earlier, after Trumps election to succeed Democrat Barack Obama, 16 of the 25 federal judges taking senior status were Republican appointees. In 2009, after Obama succeeded Bush, 14 of the 26 transferring to senior status had been appointed by Democratic presidents.

In this particular election, there were more (judges) who were waiting to see how it turned out than Ive ever seen in 40 years, because things have been so polarized, said Jeremy Fogel, a former federal judge in San Francisco and now executive director of the Berkeley Judicial Institute at UC Berkeley Law School.

Fogel said some judges in both parties were concerned about Trumps periodic verbal attacks on the judiciary when it ruled against him. He also said he expects the current count of 24 to increase substantially when federal appeals court judges who have remained at their posts since the election start announcing their transfer to senior status.

On the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, the nations largest appellate court, nine of the 29 active judges, all Clinton appointees, are eligible for senior status, as are four appointees of Republican presidents.

Trump, aided by rapid confirmations in a Republican-controlled Senate, appointed 54 appeals court judges in four years  one less than Obamas eight-year total  including 10 to the Ninth Circuit, whose once strongly liberal majority has been considerably reduced. Trumps selections have also swung majorities in three other circuits, the Second in New York, the Third in Philadelphia and the 11th in Atlanta, from Democratic to Republican appointees.

Those changes might be reversed if some veteran judges took senior status and remained on the court alongside Biden appointees confirmed by the Democratic-controlled Senate.

As one unidentified Ninth Circuit judge told the Los Angeles Times after the November election, Clinton judges across the country have just been holding on for a Democratic president who could appoint their successor.

Federal judges become eligible for senior status, at full salary, when they are 65 or older and have enough years on the bench to total 80  a 70-year-old, for example, can take senior status after 10 years on the bench. More than 600 federal judges now hold senior status and handle about 20% of the courts caseload. As lifetime judicial appointees, they can maintain that status indefinitely.

The Chronicles inquiries to judges about their reasons for taking senior status produced few responses, though there may be hints in the letters the jurists sent to Biden declaring their change of status.

Congratulations on becoming our new president, Alsup, of San Francisco, said in a letter Jan. 21, a day after Biden took office. While it has been an honor and a privilege to serve on the bench, I feel it is time now for me to go senior, said the 75-year-old judge, who was appointed by Clinton in 1999 and has been eligible for senior status since 2013.

Alsup has written noteworthy rulings, including one in 2018 that prevented Trump from abolishing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the program created by Obama that allowed young undocumented immigrants to work legally in the United States. Biden has proposed legislation that would allow DACA participants to become U.S. citizens. Alsup also has overseen Pacific Gas & Electrics probation from the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion and ordered the utility to improve its forest-management practices to avoid causing more wildfires.

The judge didnt elaborate on why this was the right time. Neither did Carlos Lucero, a 1995 Clinton appointee to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, and author of a ruling striking down Utahs ban on same-sex marriage in 2014, a year before the Supreme Court issued a similar ruling nationwide.

It seemed like the right time to take senior status, Lucero, who has been eligible since 2008, said by email.

One who discussed personal reasons for cutting back his workload was White, a federal prosecutor, Justice Department lawyer and private attorney in San Francisco before Bush appointed him to the bench in 2002. Based in Oakland, he is generally conservative in criminal cases but less so on social issues. One 2014 ruling, later overturned by the Supreme Court, upheld a state law requiring antiabortion clinics known as crisis pregnancy centers to notify their patients that the state made abortion available at little or no cost.

Ive been working full tilt for a number of decades, White, 75, said in an interview. I feel like the time has come where I can cut back a little bit, enjoy life with my family, while still carrying a substantial caseload.

I cant speak for others, he said, but theres no political implication to what I did.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
A Brookline rabbi is reaching out to local Holocaust survivors to help them book COVID-19 vaccine appointments in Massachusetts.

Rabbi Dani Eskow, CEO at OnlineJewishLearning, has been booking appointments and answering questions for Holocaust survivors in the greater Boston area who have reached out for her help.

This is a vital initiative, said Emily Reichman, director of community engagement at JCRC.

There are 3,500-4,000 survivors living in MA, and most of them live in Greater Boston, Reichman said in an email. Many of them are particularly vulnerable and isolated right now, living on their own without access to on-site opportunities to receive a vaccine.

The program is organized through American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors & Descendants of Greater Boston.

Holocaust survivors or their loved ones can fill out a six question Google form online to receive the help from Eskow. The form asks for names, birthday and contact information.

American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors has a wonderful opportunity for Holocaust survivors to receive the COVID 19 vaccine. If your parent or grandparent is a survivor please request an appointment using the form below. https://t.co/Nycvnq1WrF  Boston JCRC (@BostonJCRC) February 9, 2021

Massachusetts entered Phase 2 of the states vaccine rollout on Feb. 1, allowing people 75 years or older to start getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The virus is especially lethal to seniors.

Within a matter of hours, 10,000 appointments at super vaccination sites were all booked on the first day they became available online. More appointment slots have continued to be made available since then.

Some, however, are still finding the process frustrating and disappointing. Some call centers have been set up across the state. Gov. Charlie Baker also said there will be more information about a state-wide in-progress call center and other resources the administration will make available to help older adults.

But sometimes, local residents are having to take matters into their own hands.

Over the next few days, Rabbi Eskow will be contacting some of the survivors in our community beginning with those who live on their own, said Janet Stein Calm, president of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors & Descendants of Greater Boston.

If people have limitations leaving their homes, Eskow is also working with them to find other options.

Transportation services are also offered for anyone needing a ride to the vaccination site at no cost to the survivor thanks to a very generous donation, Calm said in an email.

Many of the appointments will likely be at Congregation Kehillath Israel on Harvard Street in Brookline, however, there are other options.

On Monday, the state announced there were 55 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll to 14,753. There were also 1,276 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of active cases to 58,439.

Nearly 1,000 people who survived the Holocaust died from COVID-19 in Israel last year, according to the Associated Press.

Related Content:
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: IAF) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund, today announced that it will pay on March 31, 2021, a stock distribution of US$0.15 per share to all shareholders of record as of February 19, 2021 (ex-dividend date February 18, 2021).

Your Fund's distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy") is to provide investors with a stable quarterly distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital. In March 2020, the Board determined the rolling distribution rate to be 10% for the 12-month period commencing with the distribution payable in June 2020. This policy will be subject to regular review by the Board.

This stock distribution will automatically be paid in newly issued shares of the Fund unless otherwise instructed by the shareholder. Shares of common stock will be issued at the lower of the net asset value ("NAV") per share or the market price per share with a floor for the NAV of not less than 95% of the market price. The valuation date for this stock distribution is March 22, 2021. Fractional shares will generally be settled in cash, except for registered shareholders with book entry accounts at Computershare Investor Services who will have whole and fractional shares added to their account.

Shareholders may request to be paid their quarterly distributions in cash instead of shares of common stock by providing advance notice to the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds their shares if the shares are in "street name" or by filling out in advance an election card received from Computershare Investor Services if the shares are in registered form. To receive the quarterly distribution payable in March 2021 in cash instead of shares of common stock, the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds the shares must advise the Depository Trust Company as to their full and fractional share requirements by March 19, 2021 and written notification for the election of cash by registered shareholders must be received by Computershare Investor Services prior to March 19, 2021.

Under U.S. tax rules applicable to the Fund, the amount and character of distributable income for each fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related Rules, the Fund may be required to indicate to shareholders the source of certain distributions to shareholders.

The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distribution for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the Rules adopted thereunder. The table has been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The table includes estimated amounts and percentages for the distribution to be paid on March 31, 2021 as well as the estimated cumulative distributions declared fiscal year to date (11/01/2020 - 01/31/2021), from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated composition of the distributions may vary from quarter to quarter because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.



Estimated

Amounts of

Current

Quarterly

Distribution

per share ($) Estimated

Amounts of

Current Quarterly

Distribution per

share (%) Estimated

Amounts of Fiscal

Year to Date

Cumulative

Distributions per

share ($) Estimated

Amounts of Fiscal

Year to Date

Cumulative

Distributions per

share (%) Net Investment Income $0.0225 15% $0.0420 15% Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains* $0.0045 3% $0.0084 3% Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains $0.0450 30% $0.0840 30% Return of Capital $0.0780 52% $0.1456 52% Total (per common share) $0.1500 100% $0.2800 100% *includes currency gains









The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the Distribution Policy.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions in 2021 will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The following table provides the Fund's total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Fund's annualized and cumulative distribution rates.

Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 01/31/20211 11.73% Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV2 8.80% Fiscal Year to Date (11/01/2020 to 01/31/2021) Cumulative Total Return on NAV1 17.34% Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV2 2.20%

1 Return data is net of all fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. 2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of January 31, 2021.

While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.

Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2010, the Fund may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Fund during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Fund, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the terms of the distribution policy. The final determination of the source of all distributions will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report distributions for federal income tax purposes.

To the extent stockholders elect to receive cash under the Distribution Policy, there may be a resulting decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. Cash elections under the Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. The Fund's Board of Directors has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

In the United States, Aberdeen Standard Investments is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments Australia Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Ltd., Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Advisors LLC and Aberdeen Standard Alternative Funds Limited.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact [email protected]

aberdeeniaf.com

SOURCE Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc.

Punjabi Actor-turned activist

Punjabi actor-turned activist Deep Sidhu, an accused in Republic Day violence at the Red Fort has been arrested, news agency ANI quoted Delhi Police Special Cell on February 9.

Police said Sidhu has been arrested from an apartment in Punjab. Later in the day, Delhi Police sought 10-day Police custody of Deep Sidhu from a Delhi Court.

Hundreds of protesters broke loose from a planned tractor rally by farmers on the city outskirts and stormed Red Fort on January 26, with others breaching barricades and clashing with police in other parts of the capital.

Sidhu was seen handing over a 'kesri' flag to a man to hoist it on the ramparts of the Red Ford alongside the tricolor inviting criticism for the farmers protest against the controversial agricultural reform laws underway at several border points of Delhi for more than two months now.

Follow our LIVE BLOG on Farmers' Protest Here

Sidhu was accused of instigating a group of farmers to storm the Red Fort on Republic Day and has been named in an FIR by Delhi Police. A reward of Rs 1 lakh was announced on information about Sidhu by Delhi police.

READ: Meet Deep Sidhu, Punjabi actor-turned-activist accused of instigating farmers at Red Fort on Republic Day
Oblivious to the drastic lifestyle changes of humans this past year, Cupid is full of excitement. His biggest fete is approaching. His bow buffed and polished, his arrows dipped in his mysterious magic potion, he is anxiously waiting to aim in our direction on Valentines Day.



He is sure to hit a million beating hearts, stir our blood by the arrows of divine movement, snatching our breath by its divine perfection, and we will be thankful for it.



Celebrating the feast of love will be somehow tricky this year. Dressing up to dine and dance is out of the question. Cards are plentiful, but handled by too many. A fresh bouquet of red roses is more than pleasant, but will soon wither away. Chocolates are the perfect aphrodisiac, but it will only add to the waistline that has already suffered under the confines of isolation, but do not despair. We have found the best alternative to express your passion to your beloved: perfume.



Perfume has more romantic power than all of the above, and it lasts longer.



Fragrance is the gift that keeps on giving.



There is that magical frisson of excitement when you smell a desirable fragrance. Its that je ne sais quoi about our sense of smell that is omnipotent and immediate. Maybe it creates an impression of how we wish others to perceive us, fresh, crisp clean or sultry and seductive.



The hormone balance in our body is stimulated and the chemicals eventually find their way to the limbic section of the brain.



Even a small amount of fragrance compounds taken by respiration, causes indirect physical effects by activating olfactory memory.



Why is scent so powerful?



The olfactory system is located in the same part of our brain that effects emotion, memory, creativity and that part of the brain processes smell which interacts with the regions of the brain that are responsible for strong emotional memory.



It also has very close access to the amygdala, another part of the brain which processes emotion.



There you have it. Our sense of smell is our most primitive sense, so powerful, it cannot be turned off.



A recent study by Rockefeller University, New York, found that we remember 35 per cent of what we smell, five per cent of what we see and two per cent of what we hear. According to the Sense of Smell Institute, the average person is able to distinguish 10,000 different odours.



The ancients discovered that a long time ago. Modern science has backed them up. Scent interacts with regions of the brain that are important in the direction of human behaviour. It reduces stress, relieves pain and depression, energises and even kills disease causing microbes.



So, what are you waiting for? Without hesitation, shop for that beautifully designed tiny bottle that is pleasing to the eye, promising endless passion and romance.



Perfume, from the Latin per fumare, or through smoke, is a strange but accurate description.



Early man offered the greatest sacrifice to his gods: slaughtered animals. To mask the stench of burning flesh, he stacked smelling leaves, woods and plants to deodorise the carcass.



In time wisdom prevailed. The animals flesh was eaten and the smoking fragrances became the symbolic offerings. The transition from incense to perfume occurred 6,000 years ago in the Middle East.



Ancient Egyptians and Sumerians literally bathed in oils and alcohols of aromatic herbs, flowers, trees and plants. Egyptians used balm in religious ceremonies, while Cleopatra bathed in milk and rosewater.



The first recorded perfume chemist was a woman, naturally. Her name was Tapputi as is found on a 1200 BC Cuneiform tablet in Mesopotamia.



The perfume industry owes a lot to Tapputi. She invented methods for scent exhaustion, and the most ground-breaking techniques of using solvents.



The Greeks and Romans learned of Egypts euphoric perfumes. Greeks prohibited the sale of fragrant oils to women, but males copiously embraced it. Discrimination began early in history.



Roman emperor Nero was partial to roses, spending the equivalent of $260,000 on raw oils, rose water and rose petals in one night. Even he wanted to smell like a bunch of fresh roses.



Strangely enough, it was the Islamic Culture that contributed significantly to the development of Middle Eastern perfumery which in later years greatly influenced Western perfumery in scientific developments and chemicals.



Perfume came to Europe in the 1200s from Andalusia in the West and the Crusaders from Palestine in the East.



While perfumery prospered in Italy during the Renaissance, France quickly grabbed the industry cultivating flowers in the town of Grasse in Provence, known as the worlds capital of perfume.



Gabrielle Chanel, (Coco) created a special floral scent of ylang ylang and neroli with a heart of blends of jasmine and rose above a base of sandalwood and vetiver. It was unlike any other on the market. The name came from the fifth bottle designed. She launched it on the fifth day of the fifth month in 1921. Five was her lucky number indeed as she collected $15 million during her lifetime from the sales of Chanel No 5.



This precious elixir has been the highest selling perfume ever since.



Remember what Marilyn Monroe wore at bedtime.



There are hundreds of choices and two distinct varieties: floral and spicy.



The best-selling products are Chanel, Dior and Lauder.



Choose according to the personality of your Valentine.



Cupid suggests the best accomplice to his arrow is a bottle of perfume.







With one breath of perfume, I forfeit my kingdom. With a second I forfeit my soul.



Anonymous

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 February , 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Health officials in Toronto, Sunday, detected the Brazilian variant of COVID-19 in a patient, making Canada's first identified case of the more virulent mutant strain. The COVID-19 positive resident, who had returned from Brazil, was hospitalized at Toronto Public Health (TPH). In a statement, Canadas TPH said that the South African coronavirus variant was found in Canada's largest city for the first time, although, the variant had been previously detected elsewhere in Canada. "Scientists and medical professionals are concerned that the variant of COVID-19 detected in Canada is more transmissible than the original coronavirus," Toronto Public Health said in a statement.

@TOPublicHealth is reporting that a resident has tested positive for the P.1 COVID-19 mutation known as the Brazilian variant of concern. The individual, who is hospitalized, recently travelled from Brazil. This is the first case of P.1 variant of concern reported in Toronto  City of Toronto (@cityoftoronto) February 7, 2021

First COVID-19 cases linked to Brazilian and South African variants of concern identified in Toronto. News release: https://t.co/cd5i8CSS6j pic.twitter.com/aI31s18Xrm  City of Toronto (@cityoftoronto) February 7, 2021

Meanwhile, in an official remark from Toronto City Hall, Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, said: It was inevitable the variants of concern would emerge in Toronto. The UK variant  B.1.1.7  is confirmed. Screening indicates the South African variant B.1.351 and the Brazilian variant P.1 are here too. De Villa stated that Canada was in a position of great uncertainty with respect to variants, calling the situation alarming. Citing the death projections by the Centre for Disease modelling at York University due to the Brazilian variant, the medical officer of health stated, variants of concern become the dominant strain in Toronto there is an even greater likelihood of case counts increasing, given increased transmissibility is proven by science to be true.

Read: Brazil COVID Variant Already In UK, Confirms Top Scientist Prof Wendy Barclay

Read: Gov. Joao Doria Criticises Brazil's Federal Govt Over Coronavirus Response

"The threat of COVID-19 has not gone away and unfortunately, lifting of restrictions will not make it go away. Decisions to reopen do not come with guarantees  except that cases of COVID-19 will rise when we interact again more frequently," Medical Officer of Health, Dr Eileen de Villa said at Toronto Hall address. "I understand the value of preparing for the time we can lift restrictions. From a public health perspective in Toronto, that time is not now," she added.

Deaths projected to rise beyond 9,200

Further, she informed that by May 2021, based on transmission rates seen in Toronto in January, the fatalities will rise to almost 5,500. If transmission increased by 10 per cent, the model finds Torontos death toll would rise to slightly more than 9,200 fatalities, de Villa said. The more transmissible variants of the coronavirus were first detected in Britain, South Africa, and Brazil and were dubbed as "variants of concern" by the World Health Organization (WHO). Canada's national microbiology lab has to date reported 23 cases of the B117 virus variant first identified in the UK and two cases of the variant first reported in South Africa, via genome sequencing.

For almost a year, Canadas borders have been closed to foreign travelers. Less than 2% of COVID-19 cases are linked to returning Canadians. However, due to new variants, we are strengthening border measures to keep you and your family safe. More here: https://t.co/WS4w2AsVbe pic.twitter.com/7Kf8XG7Shd  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 30, 2021

Read: US: First Case Of Brazil Coronavirus Variant Identified In Minnesota

Read: Minnesota Case Marks 1st Detection Of Brazil Variant In US
Fugitive Sandesaras of Sterling Biotech Continue To Do Business with Indian Oil PSUs

In one more shocking twist to the controversial goings-on at major corporate defaulter Sterling group, it has been revealed that the fugitive Sandesara family is not only dictating terms to Indian public sector banks (PSBs) but has also continued to do business with the State-run oil companies.

According to whistle-blower Captain Sukhpal Singh, while the Sandesaras have been declared fugitives by the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in September 2020, Indian Oil Corp Ltd (IOC) is importing oil from Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Ltd (SEEPCO) from Nigeria, a group company of the Sandesaras.

Quoting data obtained from the Indian customs department, Mr Singh claims that in December 2020, crude oil was imported via tanker Front Dynamic. "It was 1,30,341 mt of Okwuibome crude oil valued at Rs365.80 crore, which was imported by IOC. The tanker landed at the Vadinar port in India. Another tanker Folegandros-I is headed for Paradeep port in Odisha. Its last port was TULJA, which is SEEPCO, Nigeria's loading terminal. It is owned by Atlantic Bluewater, and one of the supposedly attached assets as per Enforcement Directorate (ED)," he says.

Total business with SEEPCO Nigeria since Jan-2018 till Apr-2020 by Oil PSUs - Rs 5435 Crores



After declaration of Sandesaras as FEOs - about Rs 1000 Crores



Since 2013 - about Rs 12,000 Crores



All this is from Indian Customs data just FYI



Actual recovery to date....  Sukhpal Singh (@sukhpalss) February 4, 2021 Whilst Sandesaras have been declared as FEOs by PMLA court in Sept-2020, Indian Oil PSU - IOC has still been doing oil business with Sandesaras SEEPCO Nigeria, after Sep-2020 as well... TO DATE



Pursuing the matter...@MonaAmbegaonkar @SaketGokhale @drshamamohd @soutikBBC https://t.co/si2plgBqmF  Sukhpal Singh (@sukhpalss) January 14, 2021

Captain Singh also requested the apex court to direct Andhra Bank, now Union Bank of India, and other lender banks and members of the consortium of banks in the Sterling Biotech Ltd case to take charge on the movable and immovable assets of SEEPCO, both present and future, oil receivables of SEEPCO and the offshore trust and retention accounts into which receivables from the oil trade will be deposited and all other such bank accounts.

Read: Exclusive: Fugitive Sandesara of Sterling Biotech Dictates Terms to Indian Public Sector Banks ) As reported by Moneylife, the four politically powerful promoters of the Sterling Biotech group (Nitin Sandesara, Chetankumar Sandesara, Dipti Chetan Sandesara and Hiteshkumar Patel) have been absconding from India after running up over Rs15,600 crore of bad loans. They continue to manipulate the judicial system, string banks along and, now, have come up with a proposal to delay their one-time settlement (OTS) of Rs2,638 crore to December 2021. (

The Sterling group is under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), enforcement directorate (ED) and the serious frauds investigation office (SFIO) for fraud and money laundering.

Captain Singh, the whistle-blower, has also filed an intervention application before the Supreme Court in the Richmond Investments Pvt Ltd and Andhra Bank case. On Monday, the bench of justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and justice BR Gavai, accepted an oral prayer made by additional solicitor general (ASG) Madhavi Divan and allowed ED and CBI to join the petition as parties.

ASG Divan, during the hearing, also opposed an extension sought by Mukul Rohatgi, counsel for the promoters of Sterling group. The senior counsel informed the bench that the promoters have paid Rs371 crore, which he contended was more than the liquidation value of the company.

The next hearing in this matter is scheduled on 22 February 2021.

In a letter to finance minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman dated 2 May 2020, Captain Sukhpal Singh alleges that Indian banks, despite having first ranking charge on the present and future movable and immovable assets of SEEPCO, Nigeria, are not taking any steps to implement their rights over these assets.

The global companies of the group include, Sterling Global Oil Resources Pvt Ltdn Mauritius (SGORPL), Sterling Biotech Ltd (SBL), Sterling SEZ & Infrastructure Ltd (SSEZ), Sterling Port Ltd (SPL) and PMT Machines Ltd (PMT), and Indian banks had, in the past, extracted some hold over these resources of Sandesaras for failure to pay their outstanding loans.

Captain Singh has also filed an intervention application-IA before the SC in this matter. He says, the Nigerian companies of Sandesaras are doing well and Indian banks have legal rights over their assets and can even seize consignments at the place of discharge.

The admitted claims of PSBs like Andhra Bank (now Union Bank of India), Bank of India and, Bank of Baroda and State Bank of India (SBI) against Sterling group are about Rs2,772 crore as against original claims of Rs5,732.08 crore. "This is public money and it is the duty of the PSBs to recover this amount from the defaulter," Captain Singh says.
Military aircraft, including MI 17, have conducted six sorties to transport rescued people from the site

A multi-agency rescue operation that involves Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, state police, fire and disaster response force is in full swing to save those stuck in the tunnels.  PTI

New Delhi: Twenty-six bodies have been recovered so far while 171 people remain missing in Uttarakhand where an avalanche triggered glacier burst, causing massive devastation in the Chamoli and neighbouring regions. The glacier burst on Sunday led to flooding and the heavy flow of water and silt damaged five dams in the downstream areas. Major rescue operations by multiple agencies are underway in the state, particularly in the two tunnels in Tapovan where, according to Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar, 32 persons are trapped in one tunnel and 121 in another are missing.

A multi-agency rescue operation that involves Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, state police, fire and disaster response force is in full swing to save those stuck in the tunnels.

A joint team of NDRF, SDRF and Army is conducting a rescue operation. The team has reached the 130-metre mark in Tapovan tunnel, it may take two-three hours to reach the T-point. Efforts are underway to safely rescue those who are stuck in the tunnel, Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said on Monday evening. Thirty-two workers belonging to Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri are stuck in Tapovan.

Military aircraft, including MI 17, have conducted six sorties to transport rescued people from the site. Six scientists visited the site for preliminary observation on the disaster.

Mr Rawat quoted scientists to say that the areas where avalanches struck on Sunday was not prone to such activities and the calamity might have been caused by an "abrupt sliding down" of millions of tonnes of snow from a hill, rather than due to a glacier burst.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asserted that his government is taking all measures to support the people of Uttarakhand. He also assured a delegation of state MPs that the Central government is working to further strengthen infrastructure there to deal with any natural disaster in future. Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP president J.P. Nadda were also present at the meeting.

Mr Modi said several institutions of the Central government are part of the rescue mission and state bodies are also working effectively. Noting that the Himalayan state is vulnerable to natural disasters, Mr Modi asserted that the government is working to further boost the state's infrastructure to deal with such a crisis.

The Uttarakhand glacier burst has caused an estimated loss of Rs 1,500 crore at the NTPC's 480 mw Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project and has put a question mark on its scheduled commissioning in 2023, Union power minister R.K. Singh said after visiting the site.

"The project was scheduled to be commissioned in 2023. But there is a question mark now on how long it will take to desilt it as lakhs of tonnes of silt is lying at the project site," Mr Singh said.

He underwent knee surgery last month.

And Liev Schreiber reportedly had to have further surgery on his leg after injuring himself during a fight scene while he was filming for Across The River And Into The Trees.

The actor, 53, was pictured hobbling on crutches in Veneto on Monday as he headed to the doctors, where he is said to have undergone keyhole surgery before returning to Venice in the evening.

Ouch: Liev Schreiber reportedly had to have further surgery on his leg on Monday after injuring himself during a fight scene he was filming for Across The River And Into The Trees

The Spotlight star donned a white face mask and appeared in pain as he used his crutches to walk down the street.

Liev's girlfriend Taylor Neisen, 27, meanwhile, was spotted heading to a florist where she picked up a huge bouquet- presumably to give to the actor once he had returned home.

The couple have been going strong ever since they started dating in 2017, following his divorce from Naomi Watts.

Thoughtful: Liev's girlfriend Taylor Neisen, 27, meanwhile, was spotted heading to a florist where she picked up a huge bouquet, presumably to give to the actor

The thespian was married to the actress, 52, for 11 years and the couple share two children Sasha, 13, and Kai, 11.

Back in January, the actor told a fan on Twitter he had just had knee surgery and he is said to have aggravated the injury further after filming a fight scene last week.

MailOnline has contacted Liev's representatives for comment.

Injured: The actor, 53, was pictured hobbling on crutches in Veneto on Monday as he headed to the doctors, where he is said to have undergone keyhole surgery

Liev has been busy shooting scenes for Across The River with his onscreen love interest Maltida De Angelis, who plays an 18-year-old Italian contessa called Renata, over the past few weeks.

The actor plays US Army Col. Cantwell, a hero who faces news of his illness with stoic disregard.

Set in WW2 he commandeers a military driver to facilitate a visit to some of his old haunts in Venice.

As Cantwell's plans begin to unravel, a chance encounter with a remarkable young woman begins to rekindle in him the hope of renewal

Based on the last full-length novel by Ernest Hemingway, the movie captures a fleeting moment of immortality where time stands still.

Four years ago The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Pierce Brosnan would play the lead role with his GoldenEye director Martin Campbell at the helm.

However the current director is Spanish filmmaker Paula Ortiz and this September it emerged in Deadline that Liev is playing the colonel.
Lawmakers Challenge HSBC on Hong Kong Activists Frozen Accounts

An international coalition of lawmakers has written to HSBC Holdings Chairman Mark Tucker, calling on the bank to unfreeze Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Huis accounts.

In a letter, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group of legislators from countries including Britain, Australia, Japan, and the United States, criticized the bank for its freezing of accounts belonging to activists associated with Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement.

HSBC has failed to give evidence of any court order or police warrant to carry out this action and have refused to publicly respond to concerns raised by Hui and his family, according to the letter.

The letter added it was highly concerning that Huis family members accounts have also been frozen, despite not having been subject to any charges.

An HSBC spokeswoman said the bank was unable to comment on individual cases, but the Hong Kong Police explained publicly in early December the reasons for instructing banks to freeze accounts related to Mr. Hui and his family.

The bank also said it had no choice but to comply with specific legal instruction by police authorities in Hong Kong to freeze the accounts of somebody under formal investigation.

Hui, a former Hong Kong lawmaker, said in December his local bank accounts appeared to have been frozen after he said he would seek exile in Britain to continue his pro-democratic activities.

British lawmaker Chris Bryant told the banks Chief Executive Officer Noel Quinn last month that HSBC was aiding and abetting one of the biggest crackdowns on democracy in the world, during a hearing.

By Juby Babu and Lawrence White
UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Emma Thompson, 17, of West Des Moines and Davin Holste, 13, of Shenandoah today were named Iowa's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Emma and Davin will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are Iowa's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Emma Thompson

Nominated by Valley High School

Emma, a senior at Valley High School, has helped more than 60 senior citizens in her area learn to use their computers and phones more effectively through her student-led volunteer program, "Teen Electronics & Cyber Help for Seniors" (TECHS). When Emma's grandparents have a technology problem, they go to her. They're usually about basic but important functions like managing apps, determining how much data they've used, setting up WiFi connections and transferring and updating contacts, said Emma. "Although these are simple problems for me to fix and teach them to do, they are quite difficult for my grandparents and very frustrating." So when a local retirement center needed help supporting residents in using their devices, Emma stepped up. Due to COVID-19, the program shifted gears to comply with local regulations.

Realizing that during the pandemic it was more important than ever for seniors to stay connected with the outside world, Emma designed a website, contacted four school districts to recruit student volunteers, developed a training program for them and developed promotional materials, which she delivered to senior facilities. To comply with COVID-19 restrictions around in-person visits, Emma addressed the most common tech problems on a YouTube video and a Facebook page. Volunteers met virtually with seniors and, in some cases, were able to meet outdoors in socially distanced events. Since she started, Emma's 26 student volunteers have solved more than 170 technology problems for senior citizens in her community.

Middle Level State Honoree: Davin Holste

Nominated by Shenandoah Middle School

Davin, an eighth-grader at Shenandoah Middle School, volunteers in numerous ways to make his community a better place to live. "When I moved to my town a few years back, our community said that there was a lack of volunteerism," said Davin. "This motivated me to work with my community."

Davin has cleaned parks, posted water-pressure readings on fire hydrants, and made flag posts for a cemetery. He also has helped with a "Shop with a Cop" program to buy gifts for children in need at Christmastime, assisted with many food drives, and volunteered to help with a local Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast. At his church, Davin has helped provide Christmas gifts for children in need overseas. Recently, he also made a video to help students return to school safely after being sequestered at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Volunteering has helped make me a better person," said Davin. "I learned that I can make a difference if I work my hardest."

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.prudential.com



A top ally of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has urged residents of big cities to gather in residential courtyards on Sunday evening with their mobile phone torches on.

Leonid Volkov said the protest will start at 8pm local time and last for 15 minutes.

Mr Volkov wrote in a Facebook post that the new rally format  similar to the tactics opposition supporters employed during protests in neighbouring Belarus  could prevent Russian police from interfering and allow anyone to participate.

The protest will coincide with Valentines Day.

You will raise your phone flashlights  and someone, maybe, will bring candles  and form a heart shape with them You will take a picture of it from above, from one of the apartments, and post it on Instagram. Lets have social media feeds filled with thousands of shining hearts from dozens of Russian cities, Mr Volkov wrote. No OMON (riot police), no fear.

Mr Navalny, 44, an anti-corruption investigator and Russian President Vladimir Putins most prominent critic, was arrested on January 17 upon returning from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from a nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin. Russian authorities have rejected the accusation.

His arrest and jailing sparked nationwide protests, with tens of thousands of people rallying across Russia for two weekends in a row in the largest outpouring of discontent in years.

Russian authorities responded with a harsh crackdown. More than 11,000 people have been detained, and hundreds have been handed jail terms. Several of Mr Navalnys close allies face criminal charges and are under house arrest.

Last week, a Moscow court ruled that while Mr Navalny was recovering in Germany, he violated the probation terms of his suspended sentence from a 2014 money laundering conviction and ordered him to serve two years and eight months in prison.

We have already become the majority, but Putin divides us by cordons so that we can't see each other and see how many of us there are Leonid Volkov

Even before that ruling, Mr Navalny rejected the 2014 conviction as political persecution and the European Court of Human Rights called it arbitrary and manifestly unreasonable.

In the wake of the heavy police crackdown, Mr Volkov said that protests should pause until spring, as trying to maintain rallies every weekend would only lead to many more arrests.

However, on Tuesday he cited the need to adopt something that is stronger than fear of repressions and to hold a demonstration that police would not be able to derail.

Mr Volkov wrote: We have already become the majority, but Putin divides us by (riot police) cordons so that we cant see each other and see how many of us there are. We need to find a way to overcome that.

Asked whether the oppositions call to gather in courtyards can be considered unlawful, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was hard to say, but assured reporters that if someone in Russia violates the law, they will be held accountable by law enforcement.
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cayden Anderson, 18, of Horace and Sawyer Anderson, 11, of Fargo today were named North Dakota's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Cayden and Sawyer will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are North Dakota's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Cayden Anderson

Nominated by Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons

Cayden, a senior at Sheyenne High School, created "calm down kits" for classrooms at an early childhood learning center to help teachers and other staff members teach coping and focusing skills to their young students. "As a volunteer church preschool teacher, I've become increasingly aware of the struggles that young children, especially those with anxiety or sensory-related disorders, face when learning emotional intelligence and coping skills," said Cayden. After researching ways that children can be taught to recognize their emotions and calm themselves down, she decided to assemble "calm down" kits based on those strategies and donate them to West Fargo Early Childhood Center.

Cayden first surveyed teachers at the center to determine their needs, and identified activities and materials that have proven useful in calming young children. The next few months were spent collecting donations, shopping for supplies and preparing the kits. They included age-appropriate books about emotions, sensory bottles, pinwheels, laminated materials, supplementary binders and documentation for parents. Cayden delivered 20 kits plus extra supplies to the childhood center, which are now being used by classroom teachers, speech language pathologists and an occupational therapist to benefit more than 150 students. "When children learn to control their emotions and develop calming skills, they will know how to act in a way where they can safely express what they are feeling," she said.

Middle Level State Honoree: Sawyer Anderson

Nominated by Oak Grove Lutheran School

Sawyer, a sixth-grader at Oak Grove Lutheran School, has raised well over $100,000 to dig water wells in communities in need overseas by selling homemade cookies and self-designed handbags, along with a book she wrote and illustrated to educate other children about the scarcity of clean water in parts of Africa. When her father returned from a church trip to Zambia, he told Sawyer about kids there who had been injured or drowned while trying to get clean water. "All of this just to get water, when we can simply go to the tap or refrigerator," she said. "I instantly thought that it wasn't fair. Every child should have clean water."

Sawyer asked if she could sell cookies at her grandmother's garage sale, hoping to raise $50 for the cause. After collecting more than three times that amount, she continued to sell cookies, eventually raising nearly $5,000. Then she designed a handbag made of a colorful African wax fabric  like one her father had brought back  and got 100 volunteers at her church to sew them. More than 300 bags were sold for $50 each, and one was auctioned off for $6,250 at a charity auction. Next, Sawyer wrote and illustrated a children's book about the challenges that poverty-stricken villages in Africa face in getting safe water. More than 6,000 copies have been sold, each generating $60 with matching funds from two charitable organizations. In addition, Sawyer has spoken at more than 90 schools, churches, businesses, service clubs, nonprofits and other groups, explaining the need to provide clean, pure water to communities in need overseas.

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.prudential.com


Credit: Dave HoganOver the last year, Rolling Stones members have revealed in multiple interviews that the band has been working on songs for a new album, and now guitarist Keith Richards has hinted that it may not be too long before fans get to hear some of that material.

In a recent message posted on his social media sites, Richards shared a photo of him playing an electric bass guitar accompanied by a note that reads, "About last night! New music on the horizon!"

Last April, The Stones released the single "Living in a Ghost Town," and in a Rolling Stone interview this past September, frontman Mick Jagger told the magazine that he was working on several other tracks that the band began recording before the COVID-19 crisis, from the same sessions that yielded "Ghost Town."

In addition, Richards told U.K. magazine Classic Rock in an interview published last month that during the pandemic he's been "sit[ting] around writing songs, basically, or parts of songs."

In other Stones news, guitarist Ronnie Wood recently made available lithographic prints of the hand-drawn set lists he created for all of the concerts the band played during its 2019 No Filter Tour of the U.S. and Canada. The prints are priced at $100 each, and can be purchased at DigitalStores.co.uk.

About last night! New music on the horizon! pic.twitter.com/6XsOL6rknk  Keith Richards (@officialKeef) February 5, 2021

By Matt Friedlander

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.

CHICAGO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cushing & Co., a printing company specializing in wide format display graphics, today announced the launch of Sepia Studio, an in-house creative division. Established to address customer requests for a full-service graphic design and print experience, Sepia Studio has already been hired to complete several projects.

Establishing Sepia Studio addresses evolving client needs and market demand. Cushing began serving the Chicago market in October 1929, printing blueprints for architects, engineers, and construction firms. Pivoting to color graphic imaging two decades ago, projects have grown in complexity, and many require graphic design consultation.

"New businesses and our existing clientele increasingly expect an all-inclusive print and design experience," said Joseph X. Cushing, Executive Vice President at Cushing. "Offering creative services cements our commitment to address their needs."

Sepia Studios is led by creative professionals Amanda Eich and Julia Kaufman. Amanda brings over twenty years of design experience working with consumers and small businesses. Her work has appeared on the shelves of major retailers, including Target. Julia has over seven years working as a freelance graphic designer and print professional.

"Incorporating the client's story and understanding their objectives is at the core of every project. It's a philosophy we bring to all creative endeavors," says Amanda Eich, Lead Designer at Sepia Studio. "We love sharing a client's story using the tools in our toolbox, which is a knowledge of good design, material applications, practical printing experience, and a track record of using marketing budgets efficiently."

Recently named a Wide Format Impressions Rising Star for 2020, Julia Kaufman knows what successful projects include. As Cushing's Graphics Supervisor, her graphic design acumen influences hundreds of installations on an annual basis.

"Thoughtful design is the foundation of every successful brand and I am excited to bring customer ideas to life," said Julia Kaufman, Managing Designer at Sepia Studio. "Oftentimes, knowledge of the print industry can change the course of a design project for the better, and I plan to bring my print expertise to this new division."

Initial design services include brand identity, marketing collateral, environmental graphics, and social media/digital design. We believe good design begins with a conversation and offer consultation on every project.

About Sepia Studio

At Sepia Studio, our mission is to be your brand partner; to help you realize your vision and bring your brand to life with thoughtful collaboration and creative design. We provide results oriented graphic design that helps businesses grow their brand and attract clients. Good design starts with conversation. Call us or schedule an appointment to discuss your design needs. Your design is more than pixels and paper. There's a story behind every project. We want to tell it. Visit Sepia Studio online.

About Cushing

Since 1929, Cushing has assisted businesses, large and small with printing & graphic solutions. From beginnings in blueprinting and digital imaging to an evolution into large format environmental graphics, the family-owned business has transformed with technology. A city of Chicago-certified Women's Business Enterprise (WBE), business-to-business professionals count on Cushing for print services that increase sales and enhance brand awareness. Browse our website to meet the faces behind the fonts.

SOURCE Cushing

Related Links

https://www.cushingco.com


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The Image Sensors Market is forecast to reach $29.13 billion by 2025, by growing at a CAGR of 8.71% during the period 2019-2025. The growth of the Image Sensors Market can be attributed to increasing applications of image sensors in automotive and industrial segments. The Image Sensors market is anticipated to hugely benefit from the upcoming wave of new technologies in the industrial and automotive sectors in the form of Industry 4.0 and autonomous vehicles.

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Image Sensors Market Report Coverage

The report: Image Sensors Market  Forecast (2019-2025) , by IndustryARC covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the Image Sensors Market.

By Technology: CMOS, CCD, CIS, Others By Application: Consumer Electronics, Medical Devices Surveillance

Consumer Electronics,, Industrial, Security and, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive, Others. By Geography: North America, South America, Europe, APAC, RoW





Key Takeaways

The market is highly consolidated with the top players including Sony Corporation, Samsung, Omni Vision Technologies, On Semiconductor, STMicroelectronics accounting for major share in the Image Sensors Market in 2018.

CMOS image sensors are anticipated to grow at an extremely fast pace in the technology segment owing to the advantages in terms of manufacturing, cheaper costs, and lower circuit complexities. These features drive the usage of CMOS sensors in smartphones, digital and industrial cameras.

The industrial image sensors market is set to grow at a CAGR of over 10% in the forecast period 2019-2025 fuelled by the Industry 4.0 applications.

in the forecast period 2019-2025 fuelled by the Industry 4.0 applications. Automatic Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are anticipated to drive the growth of image sensors market in the APAC region. Favorable governmental regulations coupled with the consumer demand for safety features in automobiles are driving the usage of automotive cameras and image sensors. Inquiry Before Buying





Image Sensors Market Segment Analysis - By Technology

CMOS image sensors hold a major share in the image sensors market globally. They find varied range of applications covering costumer electronics, security and surveillance, automotive and others owing to the advantages offered by them in terms of compactness, higher frame rates low power consumption and importantly the costs over the other types of image sensors. Additionally, the emergence of multi camera equipped smartphones has impelled the market for the CMOS sensors in the recent past.





Image Sensors Market Segment Analysis - By Application

Large scale usage of image sensors in Industrial applications are one of the biggest growth factors for the image sensors market globally. The Industrial Image Sensors market is poised to grow at a CAGR of 10.94% in the forecast period 2019-2025. The forthcoming wave of Industry 4.0 will make use of image sensors for automation of manufacturing processes to achieve efficient production through a network of vision systems that will monitor operational processes. Going forward, image processing is poised to have a great significance in Industry 4.0, as industrial cameras incorporated with image sensors and machine vision systems will take part in inspection, predictive maintenance, process control, robot guidance systems, and track and trace applications.





Image Sensors Market Segment Analysis - By Geography

APAC is one of the largest market for image sensors and it can be attributed to the growing adoption of Advanced Driver Assistant Systems (ADAS) in automobiles. Governmental regulations for vehicle safety coupled with consumer demand for active safety features are poised to impact the image sensors market positively. In India, the government has disclosed its plans of mandatory inclusion of ADAS systems for all the cars by 2022 along with Electronic Stability Control. In China, the number of automotive camera installations accounted for over six million units in 2017, which is anticipated to cross 30 million units by 2021 . Trends such as these present excellent growth opportunities for the automotive image sensors market in the APAC region.





Image Sensors Market Drivers

Medical Imaging

Medical diagnostics is a surging application field for image sensors. Growing scope for imaging diagnostics in the medical industry is anticipated to improve the market for medical image sensors, which is mainly driven by the applications of image sensors in endoscopy and X-ray imaging. Emerging endoscopy solutions such as capsule endoscopy and disposable endoscopes are poised to further fuel the growth of the market. An increase in therapeutically treated ailments such as cancer and gastrointestinal diseases coupled with growing patient preference for minimal abrasive surgeries are boosting endoscopy applications globally.

Dual and Triple Cameras in Smartphones

Smartphones of consumer electronics segment are driving the image sensor market growth with growing adoption of dual, triple, and quadruple camera set ups. Penetration of dual camera smartphones increased from 3% in July 2016 to 42% in July 2018. Owing to the stiff competition amongst the market players, companies are forced to tinker with traditional camera setups and grab consumer attention with new features and technological developments, which is leading to an increase in the number of image sensors used in smartphones.





Image Sensors Market Challenges

Optimal Performance at All Temperatures

The image sensors achieve best image qualities at a particular temperature and a given read speed. Outside those ranges the image sensors are still functional, however, cannot achieve their best performance. This is a major technical challenge for the image sensors that limits the growth of the market. As we move towards autonomous systems such as autonomous vehicles and smart manufacturing, it is essential that the image sensors give optimal performance at all conditions.





Market Landscape

Partnerships and acquisitions along with product development and up gradation are the key strategies of the players in the Image Sensors market. In 2018, the market for the Image Sensors is highly consolidated with the top 5 players accounting for majority of the market share. The major players in the Image Sensors Market include Sony Corporation, Samsung, OmniVision Technologies, On Semiconductor, STMicroelectronics, Panasonic Corporation, Canon Inc., SK Hynix Inc., Galaxycore Inc., Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Pixelplus Co., Ltd., and Sharp Corporation among others.

Partnerships/Mergers/Acquisitions/Developments

In May 2019, Microsoft Corporation announced a strategic partnership with image sensors giant Sony Corporation. This partnership will involve joint development of intelligent image sensor solutions and its integration with Microsofts Azure AI technology.

In February 2019, U.S.-based Company Light, a leader in advance computational imaging, partnered with Sony Semiconductor Solutions for the development of multi-image sensors for smartphones built with four or more cameras.

In May, 2019 Samsung unveiled industrys highest-resolution image sensor with 64 megapixels for the smartphones. The 64-megapixel ISOCELL Bright GW1 is part of the companys 0.8 micrometer image sensor line up which is currently the smallest available pixel size in the market.

R&D Investments/Funding

MultiVu in May 2019 announced that they have received $7m as seed funding for the development of 3D imaging solutions using a single image sensor instead of the usual practice of two sensors. The company believes that the project will make 3D imaging solutions more affordable.

In October 2018, Sony announced plans to invest $5.3 billion into production of image sensors over three years through fiscal 2020, and position itself for the rise of technologies such as autonomous driving and Internet of Things.





Image Sensors Market Research Scope:

The base year of the study is 2018, with forecast done up to 2025. The study presents a thorough analysis of the competitive landscape, taking into account the market shares of the leading companies. These provide the key market participants with the necessary business intelligence and help them understand the future of the image sensors market. The assessment includes the forecast, an overview of the competitive structure, the market shares of the competitors, as well as the market trends, market demands, market drivers, market challenges, and product analysis. The market drivers and restraints have been assessed to fathom their impact over the forecast period. This report further identifies the key opportunities for growth while also detailing the key challenges and possible threats. The key areas of focus include the types of image sensors market, and their specific applications in the consumer electronics, industrial, medical, and security and surveillance sectors.
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
Workers wearing protective gear are seen in the compounds of The Jade Boutique Hotel, where members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic are due to complete their quarantine, in Wuhan, China, on Jan. 28, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Jurys Still Out on Whether China Was Transparent in WHO Probe: State Department

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Feb. 9 that the jurys still out on whether the Chinese regime gave full transparency to the World Health Organization team currently in Wuhan to study the origin of the pandemic.

I think the jurys still out. I think clearly the Chinese, at least heretofore, have not offered the requisite transparency that we need, Price said at a press briefing, when asked whether he believed the Chinese regime gave the WHO team full cooperation.

Earlier on Tuesday, the team of experts said that based on their findings, it was extremely unlikely that the virus could have accidentally escaped from a lab. U.S. officials in the Trump administration have hypothesized that the CCP virus may have leaked from a virology lab in Wuhan.

Peter Ben Embarek, a Danish scientist who led the WHO investigation of the virus origin in Wuhan, said that the team will focus their efforts on studying the possible transmission from bats to humans and the risk of transmission through frozen foods.

The findings suggest that the laboratory incidents hypothesis is extremely unlikely to explain the introduction of the virus to the human population, and therefore not a hypothesis that we advise to suggest future studies, he told reporters during a three-hour-long press conference on Tuesday in Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus first broke out.

Peter Ben Embarek speaks during a press conference to wrap up a visit by an international team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) in the city of Wuhan, in Chinas Hubei province on Feb. 9, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Price, in response to Embareks remarks, said that the United States will make a judgment upon scrutinizing the full WHO report.

We are going to base our conclusions on nothing other than the data, nothing other than the science, and based on that, well come to a conclusion, he said.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a Fox interview on Tuesday, said that he continues to think theres significant evidence  that this [virus] may have very well come from that laboratory.

I must say the reason we left the World Health Organization was because we came to believe that it was corrupted, it had been politicized. It was bending a knee to General Secretary Xi Jinping in China, he added.

The Trump administration announced plans to withdraw from the international body in July last year, amid criticism that WHO was parroting its propaganda and acting at the behest of the Chinese regime. But President Joe Biden reversed the decision upon taking office.

I hope thats not the case here with what theyve [WHO team] announced today, Pompeo said. Ill look forward to seeing their reports and analysis, but I dont believe its the case that they got access that they needed. I know they didnt get access they needed in a timely fashion.

The high-profile WHO investigation was delayed for months as the agency negotiated access with Beijing, which spread disinformation around the virus in an effort to deflect criticism of its early virus handling.

After the WHO team landed in Wuhan in mid-January, the 14 experts spent their first two weeks in quarantine while reviewing research and conducting phone interviews. They subsequently made visits to hospitals, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the wet market that Chinese authorities first believed to be the source of the virus, and a Chinese propaganda exhibition. Media received limited direct access to the experts, who mostly gave vague answers to questions about their trip.

Workers place barriers outside the closed Huanan Seafood wholesale market during a visit by members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team, investigating the origins of the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Wuhan, Chinas central Hubei province on Jan. 31, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

The conclusion of the investigation, Embarek said, was that they did not find evidence of large outbreaks that could be related to cases of COVID-19 prior to December 2019 in Wuhan or elsewhere. The missions findings, he said, did not change dramatically the picture we had beforehand but added details to the story.

In a comment echoing Chinese officials narratives, he suggested that while the Huanan Seafood Market saw one of the earliest COVID clusters, the virus could have come from elsewhere, including frozen meat. But he said an intermediary animal host remains the most likely source.

Pompeo questioned whether the team was given full access to investigate. I hope they got to see all the data  talk to the doctors, interview them in private, in a place where they can actually tell the truth about what took place, not under the supervision of a Communist Party person sitting in the back of the room making sure that they toe the Communist Party line.

Fox host Bill Hemmer asked: So nothing has changed in your view that it came from the lab?

Not a thing, Pompeo replied.

In January, the State Department under the Trump administration released a fact sheet stating that there was reason to believe several researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology had fallen ill with symptoms similar to COVID-19 prior to the first identified infection case, contradicting the labs denial of the issue. The State Department also criticized Beijings excessive secrecy around the origin of the virus.

Chinese officials have repeatedly suggested that the outbreak may have originated outside China, pinning the blame on Italy, India, the United States, and imported products from Norway.

Some Chinese experts, however, have challenged whether virus particles on food packaging can spread the disease, with one assessing the probability of infection to be lower than an air crash.
The Virginia House and Senate have passed legislation to establish a consumer data protection law in the state, though, unlike the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the Virginia bill includes language to exclude entities that are covered by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), including credit unions.

The chambers must reconcile their bills by Feb. 11, after which the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act will head to the governor for enactment.

NAFCU has continuously advocated for a federal, national privacy and data security standard so credit unions are not subject to multiple privacy frameworks; for more information, the association developed a whitepaper that outlines a set of six key data privacy principles.

In its advocacy on the CCPA, the association specifically called for an exemption for credit unions as the industry already complies with the federal GLBA for consumer data security and privacy. The association has also asked the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) to provide interagency guidance related to the GLBA to help credit unions and other financial institutions comply with data privacy laws to ensure credit unions are not unnecessarily burdened by conflicting state laws.

Neighbours are feuding over a proposed $9million mansion with a rooftop pool after locals claimed it would invade privacy and create a 'jail-like feeling' in the area.

Couple Melinda and Robert Patterson want to build the four-storey home at 37 Knightsbridge Parade West in the ritzy Gold Coast of suburb of Paradise Point.

Gold Coast City Council found it breached height regulations and ordered work to cease in January.

Couple Melinda and Robert Patterson want to build the four-storey home (centre brown building) on 37 Knightsbridge Parade West in the exclusive Gold Coast of suburb of Paradise Point. Pictured: An artist's design of the final look

But Ms Patterson plans to fight the decision in the Queensland Planning and Environment Court, according to documents seen by the The Courier Mail.

More than 60 residents objected to the building in the sought-after suburb on the Coomera River, where homes sell for as much as $45million.

Residents argue the house's proposed rooftop, which has a pool and amenities area, will invade the privacy of neighbouring homes, according to documents filed with the court.

'As a result, the development was considered to be a four-storey dwelling house and therefore exceeded the city plan height overlay provision by one storey,' the documents read.

In the documents, they also argued the building's 'bulk' will create a 'jail like feeling' for neighbours if the build goes ahead.

Gold Coast City Council said the the rooftop deck and pool must be removed for the building be approved.

The Pattersons' proposed home was initially approved by private certifiers before the Gold Coast City Council found it breached height regulations and ordered work to cease in January. Pictured: The property's construction site

But Ms Patterson's lawyers argued the home would not negatively impact neighbours and only has a technical fourth storey since the basement is slightly elevated one metre above ground level.

They also argued the rooftop deck actually complied with the council's 'uplift provisions' and provided an 'important leisure and recreation function'.

The Pattersons' proposed home was initially approved by private certifiers before the build was blocked by council.

Their case will now be heard in the Queensland Planning and Environment Court later this year.
MPs attacked the decision by US Congress members Tom Malinowski and Don Beyer to form an Egyptian Human Rights Caucus to mark the 10th anniversary of the Egyptian revolution on 25 January.

Parliament Speaker Mohamed Abul-Enein said forming the bloc was an attempt to intervene in Egypts domestic affairs, and that US representatives should stop weaponising human rights to do so.

Abul-Enein noted that the bloc had been formed at a time when the Egyptian state is working hard to improve public freedoms and civil rights.

We should send a message to Congress that Egypt respects human rights and that the state is doing its best to improve the economic and social conditions of its citizens. Human rights is not just a matter of freedom of expression but concerns meeting peoples needs in terms of food security and housing, and improving the quality of life, said Abul-Enein.

Ashraf Rashad, leader of the majority Mostaqbal Watan (Future of the Homeland) Party, denounced the way some foreign parliaments, particularly the US Congress and the European Parliament, use human rights as a pretext to intervene in Egypts domestic affairs.

It is unacceptable to use loaded terms like political detention and forced disappearance as an excuse to intervene in domestic matters, said Rashad.

He added that Congress should better take care of Americas own affairs rather than discussing the affairs of other countries.

According to Rashad, the term political detainees is inaccurate because the Egyptian judicial system has deep roots and is empowered to follow the correct legal procedures to achieve justice and defendants have the right to defend themselves at every stage of an investigation.

Head of parliaments Human Rights Committee Tarek Radwan singled out US Congressman Tom Malinowski, accusing him of using the caucus to support Muslim Brotherhood activists and Islamist movements.

Malinowski has recently announced the formation of the so-called Egyptian Human Rights Caucus and wants to use this forum to allow members of the Muslim Brotherhood to hold hearing sessions and conferences inside Congress. This represents a violation of the UN Charter which states that no country has the right to directly or indirectly interfere into the internal and external affairs of any other country, said Radwan.

Malinowski was lending himself to an initiative that will allow the Muslim Brotherhood to deceive American policymakers and public opinion by introducing its members and officials as political activists defending human and civilian rights. It is a dangerous game, said Radwan, because when you open the door of Congress to groups that espouse Islamist Jihadist, you will only hurt American national security.

US politicians need to draw lessons from the wars in Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, and Libya where the US supported Islamist jihadists and opened dialogue with political Islamist movements. The result caused great harm to the US and Western countries in the terms of the proliferation of terrorist movements, said Radwan.

It is playing with fire to forge contacts with such movements because this is the way you help them infiltrate American society and threaten American national security. And the same Islamist movements endanger the stability and security of Egypt and other Arab countries which is why the Muslim Brotherhood was designated a terrorist organisation.

In Radwans words: The US and the West must recognise that the Muslim Brotherhood was the progenitor of Islamist terrorist organisations such as Hasm, the Army of Islam, Islamic State, Al-Qaeda and Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, all of them designated terrorist organisations by the United States and most Western countries.

Egypt-US relations were a central issue in the statement delivered by Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri to MPs on 26 January.

Egypt will never allow outside interference in its affairs and fully respects human rights, said Shoukri. He added that Egypt-US relations stand on solid foundations, are not determined by partisan concerns and Cairo remains keen on reinforcing relations with Washington across the economic, commercial, and military fields.

He underlined that the two countries have a mutual interest in fighting terrorism and that trade between Egypt and the US increased by 76 per cent between 2016 and 2019.

America ranks third in terms of foreign investments in Egypt. US investments in Egypt have reached $22 billion, placing Egypt as the top African recipient of US investment, said Shoukri.

US Congress member Don Beyer said Egypt remains a key ally, but its human rights record  including the years-long detention of my constituent Aya Hijazi  remains a major concern, and we must demand better of our closest allies.

Malinowski said the Egyptian Human Rights Caucus will reflect and help shape the growing consensus in Congress that we need to rebalance our relationship with this important country.

Malinowski and Beyer previously served in the US State Department. Malinowski, a Democrat representing New Jersey, was former assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labour under the Barack Obama administration.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 February , 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Senior House Democrats on Monday night proposed sending $1,400 stimulus payments to Americans with up to $75,000 in annual income, rejecting an earlier plan under consideration to sharply curtail the benefits.

House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., released legislation that would send the full stimulus payment to individuals earning $75,000 per year and couples earning $150,000 per year. Congressional Democrats had explored curtailing that benefit to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for married couples, a position embraced by Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a conservative Democrat.

The broadening of stimulus check eligibility among middle class households is the latest sign that Democrats are moving ahead without Republican support on President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion economic relief package, which would also extend unemployment benefits, send hundreds of billions to schools and local governments as well as strengthen vaccine delivery and health care. The final bill needs to be passed by both chambers of Congress, which could happen within weeks.

Compared to prior plans, Democrats are accelerating the rate at which the stimulus payments decline for higher-income earners, a move intended to prevent wealthy Americans from receiving the benefit. Under the new plan, singles earning $100,000 a year and couples earning $200,000 would receive no stimulus payments.

The proposal comes amid days of internal disagreements among Democrats over how to structure the next round of stimulus payments, a core component of Bidens stimulus plan. The legislation still must be passed through the House and Senate, and it is unclear whether Manchin or other conservative Senate Democrats will object to the proposal.

Along with the stimulus payments, the House Ways and Means Committee released details Monday of other significant parts of the aid package, including a new child income tax credit for millions of American households. That benefit would offer $3,600 per child over the course of a year for each child younger than 6 years of age, as well as $3,000 per child for each child ages 6 to 17. Those child tax benefits would diminish for singles earning more than $75,000 a year and couples earning over $150,000.

The measure would also extend federal unemployment benefits, now set to expire in mid-March, through the end of August and increase the benefit amount from its current level of $300 a week to $400. Bidens initial plan called for funding additional unemployment benefits through September.

Additionally, Democrats included a $15-per-hour minimum wage in the package, although Biden has said that provision faces long odds in the Senate.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a report on Monday that estimates the minimum wage hike would cost 1.4 million jobs but lift 900,000 people out of poverty, intensifying the debate over that controversial provision.

Our nation is struggling, the virus is still not contained, and the American people are counting on Congress to meet this moment with bold, immediate action, Neal said in a statement.

The bill would also dramatically increase premium subsidies for Americans receiving their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act for two years, said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy for the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit group.

The design of the checks have emerged as one of the most hotly debated provisions in the rescue package. Centrist lawmakers such as Manchin have called for narrowing the payments to prevent them from going to higher-income Americans, arguing that those who have not lost their jobs do not need help. That idea was met with increasing resistance from other members of the party, including Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senate Budget Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as well as House lawmakers in the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Asked about the new thresholds after Neals plan was released, Manchin did not immediately attack them and said he was just trying to make sure that people (receiving them) are truly in need.

Manchin has influence over the issue, because the Senate is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, so Democrats need his vote as they aim to push the legislation forward without Republican support.

Federal investigators are currently hunting down the man behind the shocking Florida water hack where the perpetrator tried to poison the water supply of Pinellas County remotely through a computer hack.

According to the authorities who are in the case, the breach was first noticed on Sunday by those who were monitoring the water plan in Oldsmar in Tampa Bay.

Based on the investigations, the Florida water hack was being executed by a hacker or hackers who were controlling the mouse of the computer system. It was also noted that the hack targeted the level of sodium hydroxide in the water supply to poisonous levels.

The sodium hydroxide or lye levels were adjusted by the hacker from 1,000 parts per million to 11,100 parts per million.

In a report by Tampa Bay Times, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri of Pinellas County stated that the sudden increase in the levels of lye is very significant and potentially dangerous.

Sodium Hydroxide

Lye or sodium hydroxide is the main ingredient in making liquid drain cleaners. It is a highly corrosive chemical and ingestion or contact with large amounts may cause irritation to the eyes, skin and even temporary hair loss.

Moreover, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that swallowing lye can cause severe damage to the stomach lining, mouth, and throat. In effect the ingestion of the chemical may cause nausea, vomiting, chest and abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

Gualtieri also said that while he is not a chemist, he can tell that if the significant increase in amount of lye in the water system is surely not safe for drinking water.

READ ALSO: Will You Need to Pay Taxes for Stimulus Checks? No, IRS Announces Stimulus Money is Tax-Free

However, he also emphasized that it has not come to a point when the Florida water hack had huge adverse effect on the water that was being treated, stressing the point that the public was never in danger, CBS News reported.

The water plant in Oldsmar supplies water to more than 15,000 residents and businesses in the area. Luckily, the operator inside the water plant was able to immediately reduce the levels of water into safety.

At the moment, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Secret Service cyber units are hunting down the culprit behind the hack. They are also trying to figure out if it was done within the US or from overseas.

Two Days Before Super Bowl LV

Concerns rose that the target of the hack was the thousands of people who went to the Super Bowl as it happened just two days before the big sporting event just about 30 miles from the venue, Raymond James Stadium.

Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Seidel of Oldsmar stated that what is now important is that nobody got hurt and that authorities are already looking for the man behind the Florida water hack, BBC reported.

On the other hand, cyber experts have warned that while it is not unusual for hackers to get into infrastructure, doing something dangerous such as trying to poison the water supply is a whole new story.

At the moment, the water plant monitors are still tracking the source of the Florida water hack, while the motive for the hack still remains unknown.



RELATED ARTICLE: Thousands of Maskless Buccaneers Fans Celebrate Super Bowl Win, Authorities Fear Potential COVID-19 Super Spreader

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New Delhi: Former actress and now activist Somy Ali, who moved to Mumbai at the age of 16 in her pursuit to follow her heart and marry superstar Salman Khan in her recent interview has opened up on her life journey.

Somy Ali told Bombay Times that after watching Maine Pyar Kiya in 1991, all she wanted was to marry Salman. "It was 1991 and I was 16. I saw Maine Pyar Kiya, and I went, I have to marry this guy! I told my mom that I am going to India tomorrow. She, of course, sent me off to my room, but I kept pleading that I have to go to India and marry this guy  Salman Khan. That night, I had a dream that I have to go marry Salman because he is going to be my saviour. Since she wouldnt relent, I called my dad. Of course, I didnt tell him why I wanted to visit India."

"I told him that we have relatives in Mumbai and I wanted to meet them. I also told him that my biggest dream is to see the Taj Mahal, which I must admit, I havent seen to this day (laughs!). I was born in Pakistan and had lived there for a few years before I move to Miami, so I spent a week there, and then landed in India and checked into a five-star hotel. People used to make fun of me because I was this struggling actor, who was staying at a plush hotel", she quipped.

Opening up more on her initial days in Bollywood, Somy Ali added, "I was every directors nightmare and refused to go for rehearsals. I was different from others. I was too Americanised and too much of a tomboy. I was such a misfit in the film industry. I had no interest in pursuing a film career, and my only goal, which sounds preposterous at this age, was that I have to marry Salman."



However, the former actress also shared her trauma which she bore during her childhood. "I grew up in a home in Pakistan, where I witnessed domestic violence. I have no qualms about admitting that a house help sexually abused me from the age of five to nine. Then, when I moved to the US at 11, I was a victim of rape, and later, domestic violence, too. For me, it was like taking all the bad that I had endured and building something good out of it, in the form of this organisation. See, you can be sorry for yourself, or make sure that whatever happened to you doesnt happen to others."

Somy Ali is now an activist, working for women rights, victims of domestic and sexual abuse. She is the founder and president of No More Tears USA and is happy working for the society.
The head of the Center for Civil Liberties Oleksandra Matviychuk has told UNIAN about the ongoing persecution of lawyers in Crimea, the general strategy of the occupying power regarding the Ukrainian peninsula, and what should be done to protect victims of Russian war crimes.

You recently said you were founding of a rights network to support lawyers working on politically motivated cases in the occupied Crimea. Could you tell us more? Who is set to become part of the network, what are your primary tasks?

Lawyers working in Crimea and Russia in the interests of political prisoners or in relation to other forms of political persecution are subjected to pressure, threats, raids, breaches of legal secrecy and privacy, fines, even arrests, and efforts to strip them of licenses. The "Non-Liberty Barometer" in the occupied Ukrainian peninsula is gradually reaching a critical point. When they start persecuting those who protect victims of political persecution, it means that the red mark on that "barometer" has already lit up.

Together with our partners (the Ukrainian Bar Association, the U.S. Bar Association, the Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers, the Moscow Helsinki Group), we have this ambitious idea to build an international network of lawyers to support and protect colleagues suffering from persecution. After all, it's not enough to simply document such cases, draft reports, and recite them on international platforms. Therefore, we will further pay special attention to collective action in solidarity.

Do you plan to cooperate with the Bar Council of Ukraine?

There is a vision of the network, but we are in the process of shaping it up, we're only at the beginning of our path. We are open to working with individual lawyers and associations that are willing to invest their skills, knowledge, and time to protect colleagues in the occupied Ukrainian territories, as well as in Russia.

Should the Bar Council of Ukraine somehow be expressing solidarity with colleagues in Crimea? Maybe they already are?

Even if Ukrainian bar associations did something in Crimea, the efforts were so rare that I can't even think of an example. And that's given me trying to keep track of everything on this topic. The issue of Crimea and Crimean lawyers is not on top agenda of Ukrainian bar associations, and this is an issue. Why should Dutch, Belgian and French lawyers fight for lawyers in Crimea, while Ukrainian colleagues do nothing special about it? We hope to change their attitude. We are very grateful to the Ukrainian Bar Association, which joined our efforts.

So is that persecution of lawyers (raids, fines, etc.) in Crimea a result of rulings by the so-called courts?

I would divide persecution into two categories. First it's action carried out using formally legal repressive mechanisms. These are unlawful arrests and raids, interception of communications, wrongful surveillance, wiretapping, and fabricated cases.

There is also a range of illegal mechanisms. For example, in the occupied peninsula, there are widespread campaigns to compromise targets or persecution where media refer to them as "Devil's advocates protecting terrorists." Again, there are cases of illegal abductions. Let me remind you how the abduction of human rights activist Emir-Usain Kuku unfolded. He was attacked by unidentified perpetrators, thrown into a car, and beaten. Fortunately, there were witnesses to the abduction, so the activist was later released. It turned out the kidnappers were FSB operatives, while no formal report was drawn on his detention.

Of course, there is a difference between lawyers' practices and human rights. But such methods are definitely illegitimate. Even Russia's repressive legislation provides for norms that would allow ill-treatment, torture, and beatings.

So such wrongful practices by unidentified men seems to be a common practice targeting lawyers, right?

Cases where lawyers are abducted and illegally held incommunicado (contrary to the guarantees of procedural status, without notifying the defenders or relatives) are common in Russia. In the occupied Crimea, such abductions have so far only targeted public activists. One can recall the tragic story of the abduction of Crimean Tatar activist Ervin Ibragimov. There is a CCTV footage showing men sporting Russian patrol police officers push Ervin into a van. Years have passed since the incident, while his whereabouts remain unknown to this day.

You know, situations are special and extremely complicated. It's constant pain of families remaining in limbo, between despair and some hope.

It should also be understood that Crimea is now a testing ground for Russia's repressive tactics. If certain practices from mainland regions have not yet reached the Crimea, they might be introduced in the occupied Ukrainian territory in a while.

So is the situation in occupied Crimea a bit better than in Russia?

I will not say that in Crimea things are better. But in certain regions of Russia it is even worse than in Crimea.

When we were working on the case of the already released Mykola Karpiuk and Stanislav Klykh, which was being considered by a jury, we had a conversation with our Russian colleagues. They told how a jury in Chechnya once decided to hand down a ruling that differed from the one expected of them. At night, jury members were taken out to the woods, where everything was "explained" to them - the next day they all reconsidered their decision.

The question is not where it is better or worse. It's bad everywhere. The question is what we can do to support colleagues who have enough courage to work in politically motivated cases in Russia. It is now an authoritarian country that despises human rights, with no respect for an independent legal profession.

Are there lists of lawyers whose rights are being violated in Crimea and Russia? Are you aware of all such cases?

Our organization has been working with political prisoners for seven years already, so we do know lawyers working on these cases. All the more so if lawyers themselves are victims of persecution. As it was with Emil Kurbedinov, Nikolay Polozov, and Lilia Gemedzhi.

By the way, Lilia Gemedzhi's case isn't over. She is the lawyer for convict Server Mustafayev, who is a coordinator with the "Crimean Solidarity" NGO, now prisoner of conscience, as per Amnesty International. Now Lilia has been targeted in a court ruling, which could bring grounds for prosecution and cost her the license.

We have already seen the same attempt to recall the license of Emil Kurbedinov. The intervention of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Courts and Lawyers has delivered a "cooling effect" in this story.

That is why we invited Lilia Gemedzhi to address a recent international online discussion on the work of lawyers in Crimea and Russia, attended by the UN Assistant Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers. It was an attempt to draw attention to the topic as a whole and to Lilia's case in particular.

You mentioned fabricated cases targeting lawyers. What articles are usually incriminated? This cannot be terrorism.

In fact, you are very close. Emil Kurbedinov was accused of propaganda or showcasing of paraphernalia or symbols of extremist organizations, for a post on a social network. Branding Crimean Tatars and calling them all terrorists is a tactic Russia pursues. After all, they use anti-terrorist legislation to persecute civic journalists, human rights activists, and members of the Crimean Solidarity initiative.

You see, we are in a state of international armed conflict, which has multiple dimensions to it. Even an information domain... When we talk about persecution of Crimean Tatars, Russia declares in the international arena: "We're not persecuting Crimean Tatars, we're exposing terrorists." Against the background of these statements, people anxiously think of Syria, ISIS, the image of terrorist attacks in European countries. After all, terrorism is a huge problem that cannot be solved within national borders.

That is why I say that Russia is waging a hybrid war applying sophisticated technology. Few talk about this important point, but the question must be raised at the international level. International cooperation and coordinated action are required. Because when Russia, which is part of a number of international organizations involved in fighting terrorism, replaces the concept of combating dissent, it doesn't simply oppress dissenters. It also undermines joint efforts of the international community in the actual fight against terrorism.

Russia should have long been asked to withdraw from all these international organizations or at least faced a number of strict requirements.

But does it make sense in putting into international limelight the issue of persecution of lawyers? I remember when Mykola Polozov spoke at a PACE session a few years ago about the pressure on lawyers and repression in Crimea, and upon his return he was immediately detained by the FSB. For me, it was a telling story.

You need to understand the context. After World War 2, a global security system was built. Certain things laid down back then (such as the veto power of permanent members to the UN Security Council) were indicators of delayed inefficiency, so one day the system was doomed to fail crash tests.

Even before the occupation of Crimea, we were convinced that international mechanisms protecting human rights could not stop those violations here and now. Had they been able to, chemical weapons would not have been used against the civilian population in Syria. A thousand Muslims would not have been slaughtered in Myanmar. Sanctions would have been imposed on Russia back during the first Chechen war.

After the occupation of Crimea, in the eyes of many foreign politicians, this system has lost its significance, even at a symbolic level. Powers have begun a major arms race and continue their work on nuclear capabilities. After all, they saw that the memoranda and resolutions of the UN General Assembly ensure no protection if they face a powerful and aggressive neighbor.

Indeed, international organizations are unable to provide an adequate response to challenges of modern times. But we can't give up, so we try to set the mechanisms in motion through people's energy.

The Center for Civil Liberties is known for launching mass campaigns where anyone can join the efforts to protect political prisoners in Russia and Crimea, Donbas POWs. We've had the "LetMyPeopleGo", "SaveOlegSentsov," and other campaigns. I still often hear someone question our work. People ask, what public actions bring as, after all, people don't get released the next day. I do not tire of explaining that one of the goals of our campaigns is to keep the issue on the agenda. If we fail to hold periodic public demonstrations, no one in the world will pay attention to our problems.

In 2014, when we had 11 political prisoners (now there's 101, despite the release of several dozen), I met with the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights. Having the opportunity, I appealed to him: "Here, we have eleven political prisoners in Russia and the occupied Crimea." He asked, "thousand?" Then I realized the categories people working globally operate. It takes much effort to draw their attention to our "hundreds and dozens".

That is why we are strengthening human rights efforts with international institutions with a strong public demand. Energy allows our "vehicle" to move in the right direction.

Indeed, Polozov spoke at the PACE session, and then he was arrested by the FSB. Because it's about a long game, part of a great strategy and a constant media focus. After all, foreign politicians, even in countries friendly to Ukraine, don't go to bed or wake up with Ukraine on their mind. Until recently, our people were like that, too. Let us honestly admit that prior to the Russian-Ukrainian war, Ukrainians, in a broad sense, weren't too interested in, say, war in Syria, although the level of destruction, pain, death, and torture is many times higher there.

What can Ukrainian law enforcement do to support lawyers and their clients who are being persecuted by occupation authorities in Crimea?

Persecution of lawyers and their clients (activists, civic journalists, disloyal or allegedly disloyal citizens) is part of a strategy consisting of the three intertwined trends.

The first is the transformation of the former resort into a powerful military base. Hence the growth of the military contingent, deployment of military hardware, and putting life in Crimea "in militarized mode".

The second one is the forced resettlement of population in order to alter the demographic composition. A military base doesn't need people who lived under Ukrainian democracy. After all, they are beginning to understand that Russia on TV is not the same Russia that came in following the infamous "little green men". Therefore, there are campaigns aimed to colonize Crimea by residents of mainland Russia, replacing the potentially disloyal locals.

The third trend is about how it's being done, including through the mechanisms of repression. It is difficult to live in conditions of non-liberty, where children in schools are instructed to tell on their parents if those consider Crimea part of Ukraine. It's so hard to live this way, so people flee even if they love their small homeland a lot.

Such a purposeful policy by the Russian Federation and war crimes is a matter of violation of international humanitarian law. Taking this into account, it's important to not only think about individual cases or open criminal cases into facts of persecution, but to rise to a whole different level. That is, we need to accumulate these cases in general and lay the foundations for changing the situation in the long run.

Apart from law enforcement, I have an appeal to the Ukrainian parliament, which hasn't found time to establish responsibility for war crimes. We don't even have liability established for crimes against humanity.

What should the Verkhovna Rada do?

As rights activists, we have drafted a bill that amends the Criminal Code and lays down liability for war crimes. It passed the first reading, back in the previous parliament convocation. In the new convocation, the draft was also adopted at first reading only. It was supposed to be put up for a vote in February, but it's not on the agenda, apparently, due to some kind of delay.

People who have survived war crimes in Crimea and Donbas are now waiting for Ukrainian law enforcement and courts to receive a legal instrument to restore justice. It is difficult for me to explain to them why Ukrainian parliament finds time for a bunch of other laws and loud addresses, while failing to pass a law related to war criminals. What's the hindrance? It can't be Putin, right?

The second appeal is to ratify the Rome Statute. In December last year, the prosecutor with the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that her office had closed a six-year preliminary study of international crimes committed in Ukraine and was ready to ask the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber for permission to launch a probe. When the ISS decision is made (of course this will take time), they will be able to open field offices in Ukraine, interrogate witnesses on their own, collect evidence, and issue arrest warrants. As we have not yet ratified the Rome Statute, Ukraine, not being a member of the ICC, will have no influence on the process. So far, Ukraine has only obligations as the country that sent a one-time declaration, and no rights that full-fledged participants enjoy. This weird situation needs to be fixed.

Iryna Petrenko

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China has warned Australia to stop interfering in its legal affairs after confirming a journalist accused of illegally supplying state secrets overseas has been arrested.

Melbourne single mother Cheng Lei was detained in August last year but China's decision to arrest her on Friday signals the start of a formal criminal investigation.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne on Monday said Canberra has raised strong concerns with Beijing about of the detention of Cheng, a former anchor for the Chinese state-owned English-language news channel China Global Television Network.

'We continue to seek assurances of her being treated appropriately, humanely and in accordance with international standards,' Senator Payne said.

China has formally arrested Australian journalist and television anchor Cheng Lei (pictured) on suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets overseas

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin (pictured) warned Australia to stop interring with the country's handling of cases following Ms Lei's arrest

In a stinging rebuke of Senator Payne's comments, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said its investigation is being carried out in accordance with the law.

'China is a country governed by law. China's judicial authorities have been dealing with cases independently and the rights of the person involved are fully protected,' Mr Wang said.

'We hope the Australian side will respect China's judicial sovereignty and stop interfering in China's handling of cases in accordance with law in any form.'

Senator Payne denied the government was interfering in China's legal system and said Australia would always stand up for the interests of its citizens.

'It is entirely appropriate for Australia to observe that she deserves the basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and human treatment to be met in accordance with international norms,' Senator Payne told ABC radio on Tuesday.

'That doesn't constitute interference with the Chinese legal system.'

Cheng Lei (pictured) was detained in August last year but was formally arrested on Friday

Australia's Foreign Minister Senator Marise Payne (pictured) said the country would always stand up for the interests of its citizens

Senator Payne said she would not speculate on why Cheng had been arrested on national security grounds.

However, Chinese police swooped on Cheng last year after she began criticising the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

There is also speculation her arrest could be linked to strained diplomatic relations between Australia and China.

Liberal senator James Paterson, who chairs the parliament's intelligence and security committee, said he hoped Cheng's arrest was not part of a tit-for-tat political spat.

'If it were the case, it would amount to the Chinese government admitting that it takes political hostages in a retaliatory way,' Senator Paterson told ABC radio.

Another Australian, writer and pro-democracy advocate Yang Heng Jun, has been detained in China for more than two years accused of espionage. His case is before the courts.

Cheng was born in China but moved with her parents to Australia as a child.

She studied commerce in Queensland before working for several major companies in Australia.

Ms Lei (pictured with her children) had been working as an anchor for the Chinese state-owned English-language news channel China Global Television Network

After moving to China, she worked as a high-profile business anchor on China Global Television Network. Videos of Cheng were removed from Chinese websites after she was detained.

Her two young children are being cared for by their grandmother in Melbourne.

Cheng's niece Louisa Wen, speaking on behalf of the family, said the children were devastated by their mother's absence.

'I feel like the children don't fully understand the situation, so it's probably quite tough on the kids wondering what's going on,' she told the ABC.

'Every time we do something fun, we're thinking of her and how she can't enjoy these things with us.'
DGAP-News: Mogo Finance S.A. / Key word(s): Annual Results

Mogo Finance S.A.: Unaudited 12M 2020 results on 15 February 2021 - Invitation to earnings call on 17 February 2021



09.02.2021 / 12:15

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Mogo Finance S.A.: Unaudited 12M 2020 results on 15 February 2021 - Invitation to earnings call on 17 February 2021



Riga, Latvia, 9 February 2021. Mogo Finance and its group companies (the "Group"), specialized in used car financing, cordially invites investors and analysts to an earnings call with the Management Board on 17 February 2021, 15:00 CET, following the publication of its unaudited 12M 2020 results on 15 February 2021.

CEO Modestas Sudnius and CFO Maris Kreics accompanied by CRO Julija Lebedinska-Litvinova Ph.D. will present and comment on the unaudited results by means of a presentation. The presentation will be held in English.

Please register: http://emea.directeventreg.com/registration/7928336

The presentation for the earnings call will be available here as of 17 February 2021, at 09:00 CET.



For more information, please contact:

Mogo Finance

Maris Kreics, Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Email: maris.kreics@mogofinance.com



About Mogo Finance:

Mogo Finance is one of the leading and fastest-growing used car secured financing companies on a global scale. In selective markets, the Company also utilizes consumer lending as a strategic capital allocation vehicle to leverage its performance and customer base. Recognizing the niche underserved by traditional lenders, Mogo Finance provides financial inclusion and disruptively changes the used car and consumer financing industry across 14 countries. Up to date the Company has issued over EUR 585 million secured loans and running a net loan and used car rent portfolio of over EUR 192 million. Mogo offers secured loans up to EUR 15,000 with a maximum tenor of 84 months making used car financing process convenient, both for its customers and partners. Wide geographical presence and diversified revenue streams grant Mogo with unique scale and pace unmatched by its rivals. Mogo Finance operates a multi-channel fintech approach through its own branch network, more than 2,000 partner locations and a strong online presence. Physical footprint enriched with excellent customer journey makes Mogo Finance top of mind brand in its industry. A state-of-the-art car portal supports cross-selling potential from re-possessed cars to leasing and vice versa. Established in 2012, with headquarters in Riga, Latvia, Mogo Finance operates in Baltics and Europe with a strong focus on GDP-dynamic countries in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. Operating regions also include the Caucasus, Central Asia and Eastern Africa.

www.mogofinance.com



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The information contained herein is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa or any other countries or otherwise in such circumstances in which the release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, the bonds in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this announcement may come are required to inform themselves of and observe all such restrictions.

This announcement does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The bonds have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or under the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

This announcement does not constitute a prospectus for the purposes of Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (the "Prospectus Directive") and does not constitute a public offer of securities in any member state of the European Economic Area (the "EEA").

This announcement does not constitute an offer of bonds to the public in the United Kingdom. No prospectus has been or will be approved in the United Kingdom in respect of the bonds. Accordingly, this announcement is not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of this announcement as a financial promotion may only be distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons in (i), (ii) and (iii) above together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, Relevant Persons. Any person who is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this announcement or any of its contents.

PROFESSIONAL INVESTORS ONLY - Manufacturer target market (MIFID II product governance) is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (all distribution channels). No PRIIPs key information document (KID) has been prepared as the bonds do not constitute packaged products and will be offered to eligible counterparties and professional clients only.
Michael Nancollas, a recently retired hand surgeon, vaccinates Ed Maloy, of Pittsfield, against COVID-19, during a clinic at Berkshire Community College. Before starting his work with the Medical Reserve Corps, Nancollas was far more used to giving cortisone injections than vaccine shots.
A school claims noise and dust from rock breaking in an adjacent development site will interfere with its ability to provide classes for 22 special needs pupils who are expected to return later this month.

The board of management of St Patrick's National School in Dalkey, Co Dublin, has brought a High Court challenge to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council's decision to allow certain activities as part of its planning permission for the development of 105 apartments at Harbour Road.

Winterbook Homes Ltd got permission for the apartments from An Bord Pleanala as it was a strategic housing development which does not require to go to the local authority first. The council was, however, required to approve a construction management and environmental plan before construction started.

The school says the council refused to take account of information it submitted before that plan was approved. The council, it claims, said it was precluded from doing so by law.

As a result, the school is seeking a court order quashing the management plan the council agreed with the developer on December 9 last.

It also seeks declarations as to the legal rights or legal position of the school in this situation along with an order protecting it from costs should it lose the case. It also seeks a stay on the rock breaking/excavation work pending determination of the proceedings.

On Tuesday, Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted the school permission, on a one side only represented basis, to bring the challenge and adjourned the matter to the High Court strategic infrastructure list next week. Winterbrook Homes is a notice party.

Reverend Bruce Hayes, chair of the board of management, said in an affidavit demolition works began on the site in November prior to a construction management plan being agreed. The school has a total of 102 pupils, including 22 with special needs making them particularly vulnerable to noise and vibration, he said.

Noise and dust, including dust clouds from demolition work coming into the playground, were extremely disruptive to the functioning of the school and posed health risks, he said.

In December, works re-commenced and continued until early January and once again led to significant levels of noise and dust.

Correspondence followed and Revd Hayes believed from discussions with Waterbrook that it was minded to agree to limit rock breaking/excavation outside the school hours of 8.30am to 2pm on weekdays.

However, the management plan the developer agreed with the council subsequently appeared deficient in many respects including the omission of facts relevant to noise mitigation measures, he said.

For example, it did not appear to take into account that under Covid-19 measures, schools have to keep their windows open, he said.

The predicted impact of noise levels, the management plan claimed, would be mitigated by the fact the school has block cavity walls. However, this did not take account of the fact that there are large windows in the school, along with the playground, facing the development site, Revd Hayes said.

House Democrats unveiled a proposal Monday that would cap direct payments for individuals making up to $100,000 a year and couples making up to $200,000.

House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal, a Massachusetts Democrat, released legislation that would provide $1,400 checks to individuals earning $75,000 a year and married couples earning $150,000 a year  the same income thresholds in Bidens $1.9 trillion emergency plan released in January. The plan has a faster phase-out than in previous proposals, capping payments at $100,000 for individuals and $200,000 for couples.

The plan by House Democrats may not be the final version of the income eligibility requirements as lawmakers negotiate a bill they hope to pass before Mar. 14, the day that $300 weekly unemployment benefits approved in Decembers coronavirus package expire. That timeline has added to lawmakers desire to go with the budget reconciliation route, a process that allows for expedited consideration of legislation on spending, taxes and debt and would enable Democrats to pass the bill without any GOP support.

While it is still our hope that Republicans will join us in doing right by the American people, the urgency of the moment demands that we act without further delay, Neal said in a statement.

Reconciliation would allow Democrats to bypass the 60-vote requirement needed to break a filibuster  meaning just a simple majority is needed to pass the bill. Democrats hold a narrow majority in the Senate, split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, as Vice President Kamala Harris serves as the tie-breaking vote.

In order for the bill to pass, Democrats will likely need the vote of Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, who has said that he wants to limit payments for those truly in need.

So if they can show that $75,000 and $150,000 is truly in need, then hed support it, Manchin said about House Democrats, Politico reported.

Some Republicans have opposed the cost of Bidens plan and have called for more targeted relief.

Story continues

A group of 10 Republican senators, led by Maines Susan Collins, released a plan on Feb. 1 that includes $1,000 direct payments to Americans instead of the $1,400 checks proposed by Biden. The plan would provide $1,000 stimulus checks for individuals making up to $40,000 a year and phase them out completely when income reaches $50,000. Joint filers would get $2,000, with the payments phasing out beginning at $80,000 a year with an income cap at $100,000.

Biden said on a call with Democrats on Feb. 3 to hold steady on the size of the $1,400 checks  but that he would be open to reducing the income requirements for the payments, Forbes reported.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen indicated Sunday that there could be a compromise between Democrats and Republicans by capping the income eligibility for individuals at around $60,000 a year.

If you think about an elementary school teacher or policeman making ($60,000) or $ 65,000 a year, it certainly seems appropriate that they can use that help to address the extra burdens from the pandemic, Yellen said on Face the Nation.
Monday, February 8, 2021 at 10:07PM

by Claudio Alves



Tomorrow we'll know which 15 films made the Academy's shortlist in the Best International Feature Film category. In this series of capsule review trios, I've looked at 27 films whose quality spanned from shoddy propaganda to caustic masterpiece. To end in a round number, I'd like to shine a light on three films that are very unlikely to be chosen by AMPAS. Three features whose singular oddness and inspiringly weird ideas deserve to be celebrated, even though one of them can be called faultless. Join me, as I try to describe the wonders of an Indonesian horror flick with historical ambitions, a Senegalese tragedy with Shakespearean proportions, and a Thai coming-of-age tale centered on the ideologies inherent to minimalist interior design

IMPETIGORE (Indonesia)

Are children responsible for their parents' crimes? Is it the present generation's duty to atone for the crimes of the past? At what point do we stop being accountable for the suffering upon which our privileges are built? Such questions are hard to answer, and rare is the film that dares make them, be it a hard-hitting expose or a drama enshrined in Oscar-y prestige. As always, genre pictures have more liberty to explore difficult themes, approaching them obliquely. At first, Joko Anwar's Impetigore may look like any old horror movie, but there are profound depths to its nightmares. Following a young woman traveling from the city to the country in order to visit her family's old properties, the movie quickly shows us a hostile rural community, the threat of violence hanging in the air. However, the directions in which it takes that premise are excitingly complex, as are the registers its actors are willing to experiment. Somewhere between classicism and exploitation, the cast plays Grand Guignol as if it were Greek tragedy and happily eviscerate their characters before our eyes. It's a harrowing spectacle that culminates in an inspired climax, its story reaching the emotional echelons of opera, before disappointing with a needless coda. That fault notwithstanding, it's a fantastic and fantastically gory exercise in horror, full of memorable images and a couple of great performances. Jason already wrote about Marissa Anita's "Funny Best Friend", but I'd like to give special praise to Christine Hakim. That grande dame of Indonesian drama delivers a disquieting vision of maternal obsession curdling into a vengeful rage. She's frighteningly great! B

NAFI'S FATHER (Senegal)

In Mamadou Dia's feature debut, the conflict between two brothers grows like cancerous tissue spreading over their community. Tierno's on his way to becoming an imam and sees the religion as a conduit for peace, self-knowledge, and self-reflection. On the other hand, his older brother, Ousmane, regards it as a stepping stone to power and uses fundamentalism as a tool. When greed meets opportunistic fanaticism, tragedy is soon to follow. Dia's meandering narrative structure shows the gradual process by which the claws of fundamentalist Islam close over the brothers' village, tensions rising steadily but unnoticed until it's too late. It should be said that, despite its premise, Nafi's Father isn't a film that endorses moral binaries. None of the characters are without fault. Even Tierno, our honored protagonist, is painted with shades of hypocrisy due to the patriarchal behavior he shows towards his daughter, Nafi. It's around the young woman that the denouement of this portentous tale unfolds, when blood is spilled and tears are shed, long prayers sung to a God that doesn't answer back. There's a pageant-like formality to the fatalistic proceedings, a verve of theatricality that recalls the Bard's sorry stories of family dispute ended by death. That quality also transposes to the actors' performances and the design of the feature. Alassane Sy is remarkable as Tierno, embracing the tonal contrasts and contradictions with stoic aplomb, poetic showmanship. As for the costumes, Salimata Ndiaye's creations masterfully articulate the village's social evolution, the way religion can be a freeing miracle and a merciless chain, its transcending power and propensity for violence, its beauty, and its horror. B

HAPPY OLD YEAR (Thailand)

Back from studying abroad, Jean returns to Thailand like a cloud of resentment ready to strike with thunder anyone who comes too close. Despite her dark mood, she speaks with passion and opens the film with mellifluous words on the spirituality of minimalism, peace contained within its clean lines and empty rooms. It turns out that she wants to remodel her family's house and the adjoining shops where her father used to sell and fix musical instruments. Over the years, the place has been overrun by endless piles of objects, a mess so thick it's difficult to walk through it. Looking at the space, one might be prone to agree with Jean's will to KonMari the clutter away, but things start to become tricky once the apparent trash starts revealing secret stories and sentimental value. Director Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit has long been fascinated by the capacity of objects to retain memories, affective remembrances, the essence of humanity. In Happy Old Year, he avoids experimentalism, tackling said ideas through a more conventional narrative, tying his meditations to the evolution of his protagonist, her hang-ups, her shattered dreams, the pain of loss, the burden and necessity of selfishness. It's a more complicated tale than it might appear at first, and it's difficult not to feel like all the characters involved are right in some regard. Happy Old Year is a film full of generosity towards every person and every knick-knack, but while such quality is commendable, it also can get the picture in some trouble. Specifically, the flick's too long and unyieldingly repetitive. Still, gorgeously shot and even more impressively designed, this is a fascinating conundrum, a character study unlike anything I've seen. B

As said before, none of these titles seem particularly primed to hit it big with AMPAS. Maybe Happy Old Year will benefit from some more exposure thanks to its Netflix release, but that's it. Impetigore, being a horror movie with little to no pretensions of being "elevated", is almost surely out of the running. As for Nafi's Father, it seems like nobody's talking about it even if it's already time that Senegalese cinema gets some Oscar love. They've only been submitting since 2017 but their movie history is quite rich, just Ousmane Sembene's filmography would have made for a collection of just nominations and even a couple of victories.

Previously in this series:
Bengaluru, Feb 10 : Maintaining the trend, 513 recoveries outnumbered 366 new Covid cases in Karnataka in a day, while only 2 deaths due to the infection occurred in this tech city, said the state health bulletin on Tuesday.

"With 513 patients discharged during the day, recoveries rose to 9,25,167, while 366 new cases on Monday increased the state's Covid tally to 9,43,212, including 5,785 active cases," said the bulletin.

Only 2 patients died due to the virus in Bengaluru Urban district, taking the state's death toll to 12,241 and the city's toll to 4,408 since the pandemic broke out in March 2020.

"No casualties related to the coronavirus were reported from any of the remaining 30 districts across the southern state," claimed the bulletin.

In Bengaluru, 195 fresh cases were registered on Monday, taking the city's Covid tally to 4,00,887, including 3,763 active cases, while 3,92,715 recovered till date, with 326 discharged in the last 24 hours.

Of the 143 patients in the intensive care units (ICUs), 71 are in Bengaluru hospitals and 10 in Kalaburagi, while the rest are spread in the remaining 29 districts across the state.

Out of 60,485 tests conducted in the day, 4,589 were through rapid antigen detection and 55,896 through RT-PCR method.

Positivity rate for the day was 0.60 per cent and case fatality rate was 0.54 per cent across the state on Monday.

Meanwhile, 3,276 healthcare workers were vaccinated across the state, achieving 22 per cent of the target though 1,02,273 registered for the shot.

In Bengaluru, 3,276 took the jab, accounting for 18 per cent of 17,802 registered beneficiaries.

Gadag district registered highest percentage (59) of vaccination with 918 of the 1,546 registered warriors taking the shot, while lowest percentage (7) was in Bidar district, with only 245 of the 2,719 targeted workers given the vaccine.
Kenya's Defence Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma (centre) with Director General, Kenya Coast Guard, Vincent Naisho Loonena (left) during a tour inside a U.S. Naval Ship which is deployed along the Eastern Coast of Africa to provide Maritime Security.

The US government has deployed the first naval ship to Eastern Africa in over a decade to boost maritime security and allow freedom of navigation in the region.

The Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4) arrived at the Port of Mombasa for a visit on Monday evening as part of its 2021 African coast deployment.

"Our visit to Mombasa confirms our resolve and commitment to the preservation of security and stability in Kenya and Africa. Kenya is a close US strategic partner in Africa," said Captain Michael Concannon, the commanding officer.

The port visit will see Kenyan officials and military leaders engage on how best to improve security in the East and the Horn of Africa.

"The visit is a mark of the deep, enduring relationship between the United States and Kenya. We are grateful for our close military co-operation," Eric Kneedler, the charge d'affaires ad interim at the US Embassy in Nairobi, said in a statement.

US commitment

The deployment is a demonstration of US commitment to African countries through interoperability training and boosting maritime security.

The ship supports security co-operation missions and operations in and around the African continent.

Homeported in Souda Bay, Greece, the vessel conducts missions by the US Africa Command (Africom) in the Mediterranean and the waters around East, South, and West Africa, which include the southern Mediterranean.

Its rotational crew swap allows unlimited operations in the Africa area of responsibility.

US Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and inter-agency partners, in order to advance US national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.
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An East St. Louis man on release from prison is facing a slew of charges after a car chase through parts of Illinois and Missouri.

A Pike County deputy pulled over a sport utility vehicle about 6 p.m. Friday on Monroe Street in Pittsfield, but the driver took off, according to reports. The deputy pursued the SUV to near Detroit, where the driver turned around and started back toward Pittsfield.
No Covid-19 deaths in last 24 hours in 15 states, union territories: Govt

Fifteen states and Union Territories have not reported any death due to Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, the government said on Tuesday, indicating the pandemic could be waning in the country. Seven states and Union Territories have not reported a fatality in the last week, said government officials at a press conference in Delhi. India remains the second most-affected nation in terms of Covid-19 cases, but deaths due to the disease are declining and recoveries increasing. There is a 55 per cent decline in average daily Covid-19 deaths reported in the last five weeks, said Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary in the Union Read more

Up to 10% of IPO issue to be reserved for policyholders: MoS Finance

Up to 10 per cent of the IPO issue size would be reserved for policyholders, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur said on Tuesday. The government will remain the majority shareholder and will continue to retain management control safeguarding the interest of policyholders, he said. "In the Finance Bill 2021-22, it has been proposed to have a reservation on a competitive basis, to an extent of up to 10 per cent of the issue size, in favour of life insurance policyholders of LIC," Thakur said in a written reply to a query in the Rajya Sabha. Read more

Bank Unions plan to go on strike against on March 15-16

Bank Unions have threatened to go on strike on March 15 and 16 against the government's plan to privatise Banks. C H Venkatachalam, General Secretary, All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) said that a meeting of United Forum of Bank Unions was held at Hyderabad today. The meeting adopted a Resolution urging upon the Government to reconsider their standpoint and find amicable solutions to the demands of the farmers. Read more

Amazon-Mukesh Ambani spat tests India's allure for foreign investors

The tussle between two of the worlds richest men -- Jeff Bezos and Mukesh Ambani -- to dominate Indias estimated $1 trillion retail market is testing foreign investor patience with flip-flopping court rulings. This week saw new developments in com Inc.s legal battle to block Ambanis Ltd. from acquiring Future Retail Ltd.s assets, in what would be the countrys largest retail-sector deal. Last week, a single judge at a high court in New Delhi restrained Future Group firms from selling their assets. On Monday, a set of judges at the court overruled that decision. can appeal the latest ruling in the countrys Supreme Court. Read more

Alphabet's VC arm backs OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei's 'Nothing' Company

The co-founder of smartphone brand OnePlus said Alphabet Inc.s venture capital unit not only led the latest funding round for his new company, but entirely financed it. said his London-based startup -- called Nothing -- was developing a pair of wireless headphones as well as a suite of smart, connected consumer electronics. The headphones would be released in the summer with other products following later in the year. Pei has big-name investors from earlier raises, including Kevin Lin, co-founder of com Inc.s Twitch; Steve Huffman, co-founder and CEO of Reddit; and Tony Fadell, who created the iPod at Apple Inc. and went on to found Nest Labs, now owned by Alphabet Inc.s Google. Read more
Orange Business Services, a network-native digital services company, has announced that it will design and build a new data centre to provide cloud services for Egypts New Administrative Capital'.

The Administrative Capital for Urban Development (ACUD) project has been designed as a smart sustainable city located 45 km east of Cairo on a greenfield site, covering a total area of 700 sq km mid-way to the seaport city of Suez.

The project will be implemented in collaboration with Orange Egypt, which will supply the required infrastructure and services, following their appointment as the projects prime contractor by ACUD  owner and developer of the New Administrative Capital.

According to the plans, it will become the new administrative and financial capital of Egypt, housing the main government departments and ministries, as well as foreign embassies, with a population of around eight million people.

ACUD has defined a masterplan for the smart sustainable city based on five main pillars: safety, connectivity, integration, digitalization, and replicability.

The ICT strategy is an essential component in the fulfillment of ACUDs vision, and the new fully secured data center will be a cornerstone of the new city.

The services offered by the data centre are planned to start on schedule, in the first half of 2021, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Once implemented, Orange Egypt will also manage and operate the new data center to host and run smart services for the private sector, as well as citizens of the new city, for five years.

Orange Business Services said the smart city services to be supported comprise traffic management, management of smart utilities, such as electricity, water and gas supply, video surveillance and smart building services.

Also included are innovative solutions, such as cloud-on-demand for companies and triple-play services for residents, it stated.

Sahem Azzam, VP (Middle East, Africa) and Turkey, said: "Orange Business Services is especially pleased to be selected as the trusted digital partner to this visionary and transformational project. Cairo is not only one of the oldest and greatest cities of antiquity, but also the largest city in North Africa."

"We have built extensive experience in the development of major smart city projects across the Middle East and especially in the GCC, through our smart city center of excellence at our regional headquarters in Dubai," noted Azzam.

"Orange has operated in Egypt for decades and our knowledge and understanding of the environment will allow us to fully adapt the design of the infrastructure to the needs of the new city," he added.

Hisham Marhan, the Chief Enterprise Line of Business Officer, at Orange Egypt said in addition to investing in smart city projects, Orange has provided many services to the smart city sector through various partnerships - the most prominent of which is the New Administrative Capital, where the new data center is now being built.

"It is expected to be one of the largest centres in the Arab world and Africa, with investments of more than $135 million, and aims to enhance data and host all smart city platforms of the Administrative Capital in a secure and integrated way," noted Marhan.

"What gave Orange the edge is the expertise, as well as the local and international teams it possess that qualify it to provide these services with high efficiency, as well as to manage and operate these projects in accordance with international standards," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Storm: Protesters climbing walls at the US Capitol on January 6 following an address by Mr Trump. File Photo: Stephanie Keith/ REUTERS

Donald Trumps tweets will be used as evidence against him at his impeachment trial as Democrats launched a slick made-for-television production to set out their case.

The former presidents social media posts  calling the election rigged, claiming he really won it, and vowing to stop the steal  will be spliced with footage of him speaking at rallies and scenes of chaos and violence engulfing the US Capitol building on January 6.

Democrat prosecutors will attempt to directly link the tweets on election fraud to the deadly mob attack on the seat of US democracy in Washington.

Last night, Mr Trumps lawyers filed a 78-page response accusing Democrats of political theatre, calling his trial unconstitutional and saying that he was not responsible for the actions of a small group of criminals.

A Gallup poll showed a narrow majority of the American public  52pc  believed Mr Trump should be convicted in the Senate trial, which was set to begin today and be over within the week.

However, Republican senators rallied around Mr Trump calling the trial unnecessary, and making clear it would end in an acquittal.

A two-thirds majority in the Senate would be needed to convict Mr Trump on a single charge of inciting insurrection. The Senate is currently split 50-50, meaning 17 Republicans would have to join the Democrats in order to convict  an unlikely outcome.

In addition to arguing he was not responsible for the riot, Mr Trumps legal team is expected to focus on constitutional objections to the trial.

Read More

That would allow Republican senators to publicly condemn the former presidents actions while at the same time acquitting him.

In eve-of-trial arguments Mr Trumps lawyers accused Democrat prosecutors of trying to exploit the situation to silence a political opponent.

They acknowledged that Mr Trump did tell supporters to fight like hell hours before violence erupted but they said that he had meant that in a figurative sense.

With the result of the trial in little doubt, the primary audience for Democrat prosecutors will not be the jury of 100 senators but the voting public.

They hope that their visually based case will resonate with television viewers and hopefully horrify Republican voters into turning their backs on Mr Trump should he try to re-enter politics in the future.

The video footage, put together by an outside production company, will be played on screens in the Senate chamber and broadcast on television.

Mr Trumps lawyers also plan to use film footage in their presentation, showing Democrat politicians making incendiary speeches, along with images of mob violence in their areas of the country last summer.

There is a sense of urgency surrounding the proceedings among Democrats who want to hold the former president accountable and Republicans who want it over as fast as possible.

The nine House impeachment managers leading Mr Trumps prosecution have made clear in an 80-page brief they will argue that his role in inspiring the crowd to action began long before the speech he gave that day.

They assert that the violence was virtually inevitable after Mr Trump spent months falsely claiming that the election had been stolen from him.

He amplified these lies at every turn, seeking to convince supporters that they were victims of a massive electoral conspiracy that threatened the nations continued existence, the House impeachment managers wrote.

After refusing to take the honourable path and admit defeat in the election, they wrote, Mr Trump summoned a mob to Washington, exhorted them into a frenzy and aimed them like a loaded cannon down Pennsylvania Avenue.

Evidence to bolster the Democratic case has emerged in federal criminal cases filed against more than 185 people in the aftermath of the insurrection.

Court documents show that more than two dozen people charged in the attack specifically cited Mr Trump and his calls to gather that day in describing on social media or in conversations with others why they decided to take action by coming to Washington. ( Telegraph)

Read More

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
RIAA backs new group claiming to represent independent artists [Op-Ed]

Mike Masnick looks at the RIAA backed group, the Digital Creators Coalition, an organization that claims to represent the interests of independent artists while acting as a lobby for some of the industrys largest gatekeepers.

Op-Ed by Mike Masnick of Techdirt

A few days ago, a friend asked if Id ever heard of the Digital Creators Coalition, an apparently new group that claimed to be representing independent artists. I was unfamiliar with it, and its website provided basically no information about who was actually behind it, beyond this vague statement on its who we are page:

The Digital Creators Coalition (DCC) is a group of associations, companies and organizations that represent individual creators, independent producers, small-and-medium-size enterprises (SMEs), large businesses, and labor organizations from the American creative communities. We contribute significantly to U.S. GDP, exports and employment  collectively employing or representing millions of American creators, and contributing billions of dollars to the U.S. economy.

Right but uh who? Theres no named staff. Theres nothing that shows who these associations, companies, and organizations actually are. Though, if you click through on the website to their comments page, it takes you to two separate letters that were sent nearly a year ago to negotiators trying to sort out a US-UK trade agreement, asking for the most extreme versions of copyright possible, including copyright term extension, secondary liability on websites that host content, no language on balance or fair use (yes, they explicitly say neither term should be mentioned). Its insanity.

Of course, that letter also reveals who they are, and its a whos who of industry associations that lobby for the interests of the largest gatekeepers, and not, as the organizations website suggests, small and independent creators:

I mean, youve got basically all the copyright maximalist extremist groups there: the RIAA, the MPA, the Authors Guild, Creative Future, the Recording Academy, ASCAP, SoundExchange, NMPA, the IIPA. Not surprisingly, but incredibly disappointing is that the News Media Alliance is there. The News Media Alliance used to be the Newspaper Association of America, and, as such, youd think would be supportive of free speech and the 1st Amendment. Considering how much newspapers rely on fair use, youd think it would be odd that theyre now against fair use. But, over the past few years, the leaders of the News Media Alliance have become so obsessed and infatuated with GOOGLE BAD! that apparently they have no problem throwing their lot in with copyright maximalists against their own members interests. The organization literally came out against fair use a few years ago, and has since become just as bad (in some ways worse!) than some of the other organizations here.

But, just as if to prove that this group has nothing to do with small and independent creators, and is just a front for the big gatekeepers who screw over small and independent creators, the RIAA itself put out a press release announcing this groups official launch. Oh, and in case there was any doubt who is really behind this group, a simple whois lookup on who registered the website reveals all:

Yup. This organization set up to supposedly support small and independent artists was literally set up by the RIAA itself.

This would be the same RIAA whose chairman and CEOs key claim to fame is that while he was a Congressional staffer, he snuck four words into an unrelated bill that literally would take the copyrights from artists and give them to record labels. No one realized he had done this until after it was passed and became law, at which point, the RIAA immediately hired him, and where hes moved up the ranks until he was in charge. This move set off a huge fight with tons of artists screaming about how the RIAA had actually stolen their copyrights out from under them, and Congress had to go in and fix this.

Thats whos protecting the interests of small and independent creators? Dont make me laugh.

This is also the same RIAA made up of the major labels who have a long and detailed history of screwing over some of its biggest artists through creative accounting (the only thing the RIAA really does that is creative) to make sure it never needs to pay artists and to keep them tied to the system. These are not the friends of independent artists.

Notice who is not a part of this coalition? Any of the companies who have made it possible for actual small and independent artists to make, distribute, promote, build an audience, and make a living these days. No Apple. No YouTube. No TikTok. No Kickstarter. No Patreon. No Spotify. No Bandcamp. No Substack. Odd, isnt it? Then again, maybe not.

But seeing as this group is now officially launched you can expect to see a bunch of bullshit quotes from them that gullible reporters will repeat without question, saying that its a group to support artists. Dont believe them. This is an organization to support the copyright maximalism of groups that have spent decades screwing over independent artists.

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We know that what happens in the mouth doesn't stay in the mouth - but the oral cavity's connection to the rest of the body goes way beyond chewing, swallowing and digestion.

The healthy human oral microbiome consists of not just clean teeth and firm gums, but also energy-efficient bacteria living in an environment rich in blood vessels that enables the organisms' constant communication with immune-system cells and proteins.

A growing body of evidence has shown that this system that seems so separate from the rest of our bodies is actually highly influential on, and influenced by, our overall health, said Purnima Kumar, professor of periodontology at The Ohio State University, speaking at a science conference this week.

For example, type 2 diabetes has long been known to increase the risk for gum disease. Recent studies showing how diabetes affects the bacteria in the mouth help explain how periodontitis treatment that changes oral bacteria also reduces the severity of the diabetes itself.

Connections have also been found between oral microbes and rheumatoid arthritis, cognitive abilities, pregnancy outcomes and heart disease, supporting the notion that an unhealthy mouth can go hand-in-hand with an unhealthy body.

What happens in your body impacts your mouth, and that in turn impacts your body. It's truly a cycle of life." Purnima Kumar, Professor, Periodontology, The Ohio State University

When the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) themed this year's annual meeting around dynamic ecosystems, Kumar saw an opportunity to put the mouth on the map, so to speak, as a vibrant microbial community that can tell us a lot about ourselves.

"What is more dynamic than the gateway to your body - the mouth? It's so ignored when you think about it, and it's the most forward-facing part of your body that interfaces with the environment, and it's connected to this entire tubing system," she said. "And yet we study everything but the mouth."

Kumar organized a session at the AAAS meeting today (Feb. 8, 2021) that she titled "Killer Smile: The Link Between the Oral Microbiome and Systemic Diseases."

The oral microbiome refers to the collection of bacteria - some helpful to humans and some not - that live inside our mouths.

Kumar has led and collaborated on recent research further explaining the link between oral health and type 2 diabetes, which was first described in the 1990s. She was the lead author of a 2020 study that compared the oral microbiomes of people with and without type 2 diabetes and how they responded to nonsurgical treatment of chronic periodontitis.

The team found that periodontitis allows bacteria - rather than the human host - to take the reins in determining the mix of microbes and inflammatory molecules in the mouth. Treating the gum disease led to eventual restoration of a normal host-microbiome relationship, but it happened more slowly in people with diabetes.

"Our studies have led up to the conclusion that people with diabetes have a different microbiome from people who are not diabetic," Kumar said. "We know that changing the bacteria in your mouth and restoring them back to what your body knows as healthy and friendly bacteria actually improves your glycemic control."

Though there remains a lot to learn, the basics of these relationship between the oral microbiome and systemic disease have become clear.

Oral bacteria use oxygen to breathe and break down simple molecules of carbohydrates and proteins to stay alive. Something as simple as not brushing your teeth for a few days can set off a cascade of changes, choking off the oxygen supply and causing microbes to shift to a fermentative state.

"That creates a septic tank, which produces byproducts and toxins that stimulate the immune system," Kumar said. An acute inflammatory response follows, producing signaling proteins that bacteria see as food.

"Then this community - it's an ecosystem - shifts. Organisms that can break down protein start growing more, and organisms that can breathe in an oxygen-starved environment grow. The bacterial profile and, more importantly, the function of the immune system changes," she said.

The inflammation opens pores between cells that line the mouth and blood vessels get leaky, allowing what have become unhealthy bacteria to enter circulation throughout the body.

"The body is producing inflammation in response to these bacteria, and those inflammatory products are also moving to the bloodstream, so now you're getting hammered twice. Your body is trying to protect you and turning against itself," Kumar said. "And these pathogens are having a field day, crossing boundaries they were never supposed to cross."

The exact mechanisms of the links between the oral microbiome and specific diseases are complex and still being investigated, but the secret to a healthy mouth is no secret at all: Prevention of oral disease is as simple as brushing and flossing, and visiting the dentist twice a year for a professional cleaning, Kumar said.

The Office of the U.S. Surgeon General announced in 2018 that it had commissioned an update to its 2000 report on oral health, which was the first to be published on the topic.

Kumar said the national emphasis on oral health as an integral element of overall well-being bolsters her argument that the mouth should be an "equal opportunity player" in determinants of health.

"Putting the mouth back into the body - that's my goal here," she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-10 03:50:46|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Tuesday started the nationwide vaccination campaign against COVID-19, using Russia's Sputnik V jabs. Meanwhile, the total COVID-19 cases in Israel crossed the 700,000-mark.

The first person to receive the vaccine in Iran was Parsa Namaki, the son of Minister of Health and Medical Education Saeed Namaki.

Under the Iranian health ministry's plan, the first group to be inoculated are medical and service workers employed at the intensive care units for treating COVID-19 patients.

At the second stage, people aged over 65 with underlying diseases will be vaccinated.

Iran announced 7,640 new infections on Tuesday, leading to an overall count of 1,481,396 cases in the country, while its death toll climbed by 89 to 58,625.

In Israel, the total number of COVID-19 cases surged to 700,479 on Tuesday with 6,574 new cases added, Israel's Ministry of Health said.

The death toll from the COVID-19 in Israel increased by 31 to 5,202, while the total recoveries rose by 2,757 to 626,070, the ministry said.

The number of people vaccinated against the COVID-19 in Israel has surpassed 3.57 million, or 38.4 percent of the total population, since the vaccination campaign began on Dec. 20, 2020.

Turkey on Tuesday reported 8,636 new COVID-19 cases, including 659 with symptoms, as the total cases in the country reached 2,548,195.

The death toll from the virus in Turkey rose by 98 to 26,998, while the total recoveries climbed to 2,437,382 after 8,109 more recovered in the last 24 hours, according to Turkish Health Ministry.

In Iraq, the health ministry reported 1,994 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily record in 2021, bringing the tally to 632,257.

The ministry also reported eight new deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 13,134, while the total recoveries in Iraq climbed by 977 to 602,018.

A member of the parliamentary health committee, Jawad al-Musawi, told the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the epidemiological situation in the country is under the control despite the recent daily increase of infections.

Morocco recorded 536 new COVID-19 cases and 16 more deaths, taking its total infections to 476,125 and its death toll to 8,424. The total recoveries from the disease in Morocco rose by 1,035 to 456,032.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported 3,310 new coronavirus infections, taking its tally to 332,603. The total deaths from the virus in the UAE rose by 17 to 947, while the tally of recoveries surged by 3,368 to 313,060.

Lebanon registered on Tuesday 2,886 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections in the country to 324,866.

The death toll from the infectious virus in Lebanon increased by 60 to 3,737, while the tally of recoveries soared by 5,356 to 211,879, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

Caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hassan said on Tuesday that Lebanon had done all logistic preparations for the COVID-19 vaccination campaign set to start on Sunday, as Lebanon is expected to receive its first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines by the end of this week.

Kuwait reported on Tuesday 1,002 new COVID-19 cases and six more deaths, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 172,996 and the death toll to 975.

The Kuwaiti Health Ministry also announced the recovery of 591 more patients, taking the total recoveries in Kuwait to 162,711. Meanwhile, it said 9,310 coronavirus patients are currently receiving treatment.

In Oman, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 136,187, with 197 new cases registered on Tuesday. The total recoveries in Oman rose to 128,089, while the death toll increased by one to 1,536, according to a statement issued by the Omani Health Ministry.

The Qatari Health Ministry reported 477 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 155,002.

The tally of recoveries in Qatar climbed by 158 to 147,191, while its death toll rose by two to 253, according to a ministry statement. Enditem
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NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sharon Kim, 18 and Cenna Peterson-Robertson, 10, both of Anchorage, today were named Alaska's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Sharon and Cenna will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are Alaska's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Sharon Kim

Nominated by West High School

Sharon, a senior at West High School, spearheaded a project to keep some of her community's most vulnerable citizens safe during the COVID-19 pandemic by making and distributing face masks. Last spring, as schools and businesses began to shut down, Sharon thought about those who could not work from home, including her father, a nurse in an oncology unit who had to go to the hospital every day. Masks and other protective gear were in short supply everywhere then. "I worried about his safety along with countless other healthcare and public service workers who continued to do their duty for the sake of our community," said Sharon. "I had to do something and take action quickly."

What she did was found a youth-led initiative called "MaskMissionAK." She began by recruiting fellow students to sew homemade masks and help communicate the importance of wearing them. She then contacted various nonprofits to assess their mask needs, created a website and used social media to solicit donations and offer tips on staying safe during the pandemic. She developed a mask template, taught herself to sew, and raised almost $2,500 from a grant and a GoFundMe campaign to buy supplies. So far, Sharon and her fellow volunteers have donated well over 1,700 homemade masks to healthcare workers, first responders, children in foster care and people experiencing homelessness, among others. "Each time I donated a mask, a sense of relief comes as I envision that single mask could help save a person's life," she said.

Middle Level State Honoree: Cenna Peterson-Robertson

Nominated by Turnagain Elementary School

Cenna, a fifth-grader at Turnagain Elementary School, assembled more than 500 gift bags to cheer up her neighborhood's senior citizens and others who have to stay home because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and are feeling the effects of isolation. Cenna's grandmother, a chaplain for the local police department, started the project to help brighten the lives of older people isolating at home. As soon as Cenna heard about the gift bags, she pitched in to expand the initiative. "I like to help those in need," said Cenna. "Many people are afraid because of the virus. I want them to feel not alone."

To make her bags, Cenna shops for snacks, treats, and games she thinks will interest the recipients. She then adds a personal note to each bag. "So many people are sad and lonely," said Cenna. "I want them to know someone cares and that they are not facing this pandemic alone. I want to put a smile on their face."

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

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http://www.PRUDENTIAL.com


analysis

Simeon Nyachae, who passed away in early February at the age of 88, was among the men who shaped Kenya and made it one of Africa's leading economies. For Kenya's first 40 years of independence he was highly visible in government and helped to craft an economy oriented to the private sector that also was favourable to both large and small-scale agriculture.

Nyachae held senior leadership positions under all three of Kenya's first presidents - Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki - from 1963 to 2007.

Nyachae was among the favourite sons of Musa Nyandusi, who was the senior chief in Kisii District in western Kenya and supervisor of its other chiefs. This was the highest government post an African could hold in the colonial government. As independence approached Nyandusi was able to influence an appointment for Nyachae as district assistant (or officer) - which had been the entry grade for British colonial officers - in Kisii. He then moved to Machakos district bordering the capital Nairobi.

After independence President Kenyatta made Nyachae district commissioner for Nyandarua. He was then promoted to provincial commissioner for the Rift Valley, the largest of the country's eight provinces. Subsequently, he was moved to Central Province, the president's home province outside Nairobi.

As Kenyatta was a strong centraliser and ruled through the civil service, these positions were equivalent to a governor or prefect. He was effectively in charge of the local activities of other government officials. The places where Nyachae served gave him considerable authority over the transformation of "White Highlands" estates from European hands into African-held small and large farms. This meant that his position was highly political.

Under President arap Moi, Nyachae rose in 1979 to the office of chief secretary and cabinet secretary, from which he retired in 1987.

Moi was much less of a centraliser than Kenyatta had been. He was interested in seeing a better distribution of resources among Kenya's ethnic (or tribal) regions. To this end, Nyachae formed an alliance with Harris Mule, then the permanent secretary in the ministry of planning, and together they shepherded the "District Focus for Rural Development" into policy in the mid-1980s.

This involved devolving significant financial authority and responsibility to district county councils. In turn this presaged the decentralised structure provided by the current Kenyan constitution promulgated in 2010.

The purpose of both changes was to give Kenya's multiple "tribes" greater control over the local distribution of government resources. In this way Kenya sought to mitigate the intensity of "tribal" competition for national political office which had been building up over the years. Indeed, it boiled over into considerable violence after the 2007 elections.

After retirement from the civil service, in 1992, Nyachae was elected a member of parliament from his home in Kisii and was re-elected in 1997. As an MP, Nyachae served in Moi's cabinet, first as agriculture minister from 1992, and then as water minister. After the 1997 election, he served in finance before moving to industry.

He broke with Moi and contested the presidency in 2002, but lost to Mwai Kibaki. Nonetheless, President Kibaki appointed Nyachae as minister of energy in a government of national unity. In 2005 Nyachae chose to retire from public life for health reasons.

Wealth and interests

With financial support from his father, Nyachae had begun a very small bakery even before he joined the civil service. At Kenya's independence, most African leaders of the independence generation were given opportunities by Kenyatta to take over previously European parts of the economy.

They had privileged access to farms in the 'White Highlands', loans, government permits, contracts, and the like and became instantly wealthy. Nyachae was no exception. His bakery expanded, he acquired at least two large farms, and other businesses he established did well.

As was true for other members of the new African elite, the agricultural commodities they produced were largely the same as those of small farmers. By pursuing public policies that profited their farms, they were helping a large number of poorer Kenyan farmers as well. This Kenyan coincidence of large and small-holder agricultural interests was very unusual in Africa and a part of the key to its economic success.

Nyachae shared those interests and thus joined in promoting business, agricultural and rural development policies with long-term, broad benefits that reached widely in the economy. Furthermore, unlike many others he was a 'nationalist', in that he was concerned with the welfare of all parts of the country and much less focused on immediate personal gain or in advancing sectional (that is, 'tribal') advantage.

Nyachae's wealth also gave him the economic independence to risk government displeasure when he wanted to quietly oppose political measures he found unwise. He believed strongly in supporting the interests of the presidents he served, but when others with political influence tried to gain unseemly advantage at government expense, Nyachae was willing to interfere. Several times he blocked conspiracies to remove dedicated civil servants who were in the way.

He believed the efforts he made to stop corruption were behind Moi's decisions to transfer him to minor cabinet portfolios from being minister of agriculture and later of finance.

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Ultimately, particularly around the Goldenberg corruption scandal in which senior government officials were implicated, he lost influence with President Moi and broke with him in 1999.

Round the clock manager

Nyachae always served at the intersection of politics and administration. Nevertheless, he was more of a firm manager than a politician. In addition to being a 'nationalist' he was known for his exceptional drive, long hours, self-discipline and the speed with which he wrote memos.

More important, his success as a manager came from the support he provided gifted civil service professionals in gaining links to presidential support and in his willingness to take risks in opposing misguided endeavours of lesser politicians.

Nyachae is survived by numerous children and their offspring, but he insisted when I last spoke to him that it was contrary to Gusii tradition to enumerate them. He had four wives and was very proud of the effort he put into keeping their children united under his leadership. In this he was successful, as witnessed by the many occasions until the very end in which they were there to support him.

David K. Leonard, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of California, Berkeley
If history is any guide, the next act of Jeff Bezos, the man who turned a crazy-at-the-time idea to sell books over the internet into a $1.67 trillion behemoth, could be more consequential than the last.

Mr. Bezos announced last week that he will step down as chief executive of Amazon, though he will continue to have a great deal of control over the direction of the company as its executive chairman and largest shareholder. His move will enable him to spend more time on other interests and find ways to spend a personal fortune that, thanks to Amazons booming stock price, is now about $195 billion.

That staggering number brings to mind another titan whose name became synonymous with immense wealth: John D. Rockefeller. Mr. Bezos anti-monopolist critics frequently compare him with the Gilded Age mogul, but there are other parallels, too.

As Mr. Bezos did with internet commerce, Mr. Rockefeller brought innovative and cost-conscious management principles to an emerging market  petroleum  and built an empire. Long considered the richest person who ever lived, Mr. Rockefeller claimed a fortune that at one point was the equivalent of nearly 2 percent of the United States economic output.


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SHANGHAI, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- eBaoTech Corporation (eBaoTech), announced that Trust Insurance Cyprus, a subsidiary of Trust Holding, successfully launched, on January 17, 2021, eBaoCloud DigitalCoreTM (DigitalCore) in production for end to end life cycle operations of its general insurance business, replacing a legacy system that has been in use for decades. Since its launch, the new platform has been operating smoothly with strong user satisfaction and operation efficiency boost.

Headquartered in Cyprus, Trust Holding, a fully owned entity of Nest Investments Holding, is a leading regional insurance group with business in more than 7 countries across Middle East, North Africa and in Cyprus. Trust Holding selected DigitalCoreTM for system modernization, to increase its business agility, connectivity/innovation capabilities and operation efficiency in the digital age. eBaoCloud DigitalCoreTMis designed for digital insurance with strong connectivity and API orientations. Its successful launch provides a strong platform for Trust Insurance Cyprus to accelerate its digital transformation.

Marwan Bataineh, Group Chief Technology & Information Officer of Nest Investment Holding commented, "We are so excited that the new digital platform went live during these exceptionally circumstances and challenges we are facing from the COVID-19 pandemic. The teams from Trust in Cyprus and Jordan, and eBaoTech in Shanghai and Wuxi had to collaborate and work remotely through the whole year with a 6 hour time difference. I am so glad that with the strong support from our Board of Directors, our management team and the dedication and professionalism of the joint teams, we successfully launched the new digital platform as a backbone to enable our innovations and growth. We look forward to the implementation of DigitalCore to all insurance subsidiary companies of Trust Holding Group".

Christos Christodoulou, CEO of Trust Cyprus added, "We want to express our great appreciation and respect to eBaoTech's team for their professional and methodical approach to make this project a success. Their commitment and dedication was remarkable and beyond our expectations. With the new policy admin platform in place, we are now able to offer a better service to our Agents and Customers. We now have much stronger connectivity capabilities to increase our services and user experience to our agents and policy holders. We feel that with a strong technology partner such as eBaoTech we will maintain and increase our leading position in the new technological era."

Kamel Abunahl, CEO of Trust Holding highlighted, "This is a big success for both organizations and a great team work. We are glad of our decision to choose eBaoTech as our long-term partner for the transformation of our Group Insurance companies into the new digital era. Today, by using eBaoTech's DigitalCore, we have one more tool to enable the Group Companies to advance further faster with better controls. This is the first step of a long journey and future cooperation with eBao".

"We are much honored to be the technology partner of Trust Holding insurance operation and we are very grateful for their management team's continuous support and trust. We look forward to working with Trust Insurance as a long term partner to support their business growth in the Middle East region," added by Woody Mo, CEO of eBaoTech.

About Trust Insurance Cyprus

Trust Insurance Cyprus provides optimum insurance services on an international level for over a decade.

Since August 2009, it has extended its dynamic presence in the Cyprus Market with a capital in excess of  8.000.000, residing in the top tier of the industry. The company's successful growth is a motivation for significant future movements in creating innovative ideas as to become one of the leading insurance companies within the Insurance Industry. For more information, visit: https://www.trustcyprusinsurance.com/

About Trust Holding

Trust Holding was founded in 2007. It has set its vision to focus on growing its role and relationship with its subsidiaries to being an active support hub helping respecting operations to enhance their economic value in their respective markets on local and global views. Trust Holding have presence in the MENA region, North Africa and Europe such as Algeria, Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Cyprus.

About eBaoTech

eBaoTech is a technology solution provider for global insurance industry. Our mission from start is to "make insurance easy". We have business in more than 30 countries across all continents, serving numerous insurers, agents, brokers, InsurTech startups and others in the insurance ecosystem. eBaoTech offers two groups of solutions: eBao Cloud including SaaS and PaaS solutions and eBao Software for traditional insurance carriers' core systems. For more information, please visit www.ebaotech.com.
Police witnesses at the resumed hearing of the case on the Kaduna sex party, yesterday told a Kaduna court during cross examination that there was no sex party on December 27, 2020 at Asher restaurant and lounge, Kaduna.

The Kaduna State Government had since demolished the one-storey restaurant and lounge allegedly used for the sex party, during the Yuletide.

The presiding Judge, Chief Magistrate Benjamin Hassan, however, adjourned the case to February 22, 2021 for continuation of hearing while the bail granted the suspects continues.

Two of the police witnesses who carried out the arrest, made presentation in court.

Prosecuting police officer, Shola Olodowa, however gave contradicting evidence of what transpired on the said date.

ASP Alfa Yahaya, who led the operation and arrested the five suspects, told the court that they visited the location purportedly for the sex party with two hilux vehicles with eight personnel of operation Yaki who were armed.

According to Yahaya, "When we got there, we saw crowd of people, more than 50 not observing social distancing, not wearing face masks, no provision of hand sanitizers with many of them half naked, drinking and playing loud music. Many of them jumped the fence when they sighted the presence of police. We arrested the organizer and the two DJ's and took them to our station.

"I can identify three of the defendants but they were not half naked and I cannot say for those half naked because they jumped through the fence. We did not see any sex party on that day (27th December, 2020 and those who jumped through the fence were those not observing social distancing."

Detective Adamu said he was called that there was going to be a special operation by the officer in Charge who asked the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, who sent him a flyer of the said sex party on whatsapp.

Vanguard News Nigeria
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High near 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 44F. Winds light and variable.

A Netflix reality star who is the son of a former Attorney General has been arrested after a drunken rampage on a flight during which he allegedly yelled: 'Do you know who my mum is?'

Matthew Mawhinney, whose mother is Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Scotland, was returning from filming in the Caribbean for the hit Netflix dating show Too Hot to Handle.

He and two costars were escorted off the British Airways jet at Heathrow after being arrested by a team of police officers, according to The Sun.

Matthew Mawhinney, pictured with his ex Tina Stinnes, has been arrested after a drunken rampage on a flight

The trio have been released pending police enquiries after they were taken into custody.

Matthew is the son of Lady Scotland who was Attorney General under Gordon Brown between 2007 and 2010.

The star was allegedly confronted over the group's behaviour on the return flight where he was overheard bragging about his family connections.

Matthew had been filming on the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean before flying to Miami where the group waited four hours for their connection to Heathrow.

The Netflix star's mother is Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Scotland who served as Attorney General under Gordon Brown

They had reportedly been knocking back drinks before boarding the BA208 flight where they continued their revelry among the other passengers in the World Traveller economy cabin.

Witnesses said the group were 'running amok', ignoring Covid rules, insulting stewardesses, performing press-ups and banging the toilet doors.

Their unruly behaviour prompted the captain to leave the cockpit and confront them, and they were banned from drinking any more booze.

A passenger told The Sun: 'The group were drunk and behaved in an abhorrent fashion at 30,000ft.

'Due to Covid rules passengers are asked to stay in their seats and wear masks, but the group refused.

'When Matthew Mawhinney was told to calm down he slurred: "Do you know who my Mum is?"

Baroness Scotland, 65, is the sixth Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations after she was elected in 2015

The captain radioed for police to meet them on arrival at 10.45am on Sunday and issued 'final warning' letters to the cast members.

They could now face bans from British Airways.

Members from the show's production team travelled on the same flight in the higher-end Traveller Plus cabin and were not involved in the antics.

They were returning from filming the second series of Too Hot to Handle which sees singletons competing to find love without touching each other.

Mawhinney previously dated Love Island star and Spencer Matthew's ex Tina Stinnes and were seen soaking in the sun in Antigua in 2019.

He has frequently shown off his lavish lifestyle on social media, including snaps of im partying at Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace, Marlborough House and cosying up with Bill Clinton.

His mother Baroness Scotland, 65, is the sixth Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations after she was elected in 2015.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that two men and a woman were arrested on suspicion of being disruptive on board an aircraft, and they have since been released under investigation.

Netflix and the cast members refused to comment to The Sun.
She recently returned home from a sun-soaked trip to Dubai with her reality star sisters.

And Frankie Sims looked sensational as she flaunted her figure in sexy lingerie sets while promoting her Valentine's Day collection with Nikki Intimates Lingerie.

The TOWIE star, 26, slipped into a selection of sizzling black underwear ensembles, ensuring to work all her angles as she put on a very sultry display.

Not your usual WFH: Frankie Sims turned up the heat as she channeled her inner geek while rocking a lacy lingerie set from her Nikki Intimates collection

Frankie exuded confidence as she rocked a semi-sheer black bra with a delicate lace pattern and matching thong in one snap.

The beauty wore her long caramel tresses curly, letting them cascade down her back, as she posed with a pair of wide-rim glasses and her laptop.

Cheekily captioning her snap, she penned: 'Sometimes a geek'

She also turned up the heat in another lingerie set from her collection as she donned a scooped lace bra and matching suspenders for a second shot.

Sizzling: The TOWIE star, 26, looked sensational as she flaunted her figure in another sexy set, adding some suspenders and stockings to complete her Valentine's Day ready look

Frankie ensured all eyes were on her very ample assets and slim physique as she leaned towards the camera and tilted her head.

The reality star added a pair of black stockings and some stylish gold jewellery to complete her Valentine's Day ready ensemble.

She also treated her 274K followers to another stunning image as she posed in a pretty structured pink bra and matching pants while holding onto some flowers.

It appears Frankie has recently returned home to Essex, while her sisters Demi and Chloe are living it up in Tulum, Mexico.

Pretty: She also donned a bubblegum pink set with a structured bra and semi-sheet lacy detail on the cup as well as matching bottoms

The beauty and her sister Demi headed out to Dubai, while Essex was in Tier 4 restrictions which permitted essential travel only.

Dozens of reality stars flocked to the UAE despite consistent rules throughout the UK, advising against international travel, save for work or education.

On December 20, London and surrounding areas were plunged into Tier 4, which saw travel abroad for leisure 'not permitted'.

Since then, there's been a huge backlash towards influencers who have jetted abroad during the pandemic under the guise of work.

In January, 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.'
Blogs - GeorgianJournal

Everything is possible in Georgia 2018-12-15 15:30:36+04:00 Martina Polek blogs, Georgian news, Georgia country regions, Georgia travel, Marshrutka, Georgian Hospitality

Welcome to the presidential election circus in Georgia 2018-11-19 17:07:45+04:00 Presidential election, Politics, Ivanishvili

The two sides of Georgia 2017-11-07 16:47:42+04:00 Discover Georgia, Travel to Georgia, Blogger on Georgia, Simone Herrmann

Mentally Ill or Not? 2017-10-18 10:20:22+04:00 Mancho Busse, Georgian dance

Shall We Dance? 2017-06-22 13:12:25+04:00 Mancho Busse, Georgian dance

Are We the Same or Just Getting Better? 2017-06-12 12:45:56+04:00 Middle age women, blog

5 Techniques for Finding Your Inner Creativity 2017-03-02 12:51:13+04:00 Alzheimers Disease

A suitcase full of wine and a heart full of memories 2017-03-01 13:11:18+04:00 Discover Georgia, Travel to Georgia, Blogger on Georgia

Five Reasons to Visit Georgia in 2017 2017-01-27 13:44:46+04:00 Discover Georgia, Khinkali, Ushguli, Batumi

PROMISING FUTURE OF COLLABORATION 2016-12-07 12:53:20+04:00 GeorgiaItaly relations

Moral Inversion - Pre-election period in Georgia 2016-10-07 17:02:19+04:00 Its a condition when you dont have principles, hard values and create your own ideology solely based on negative actions of others, thus not creating anything new. As a result the negative actions

Americas Trump Card 2015-12-05 10:15:03+04:00 Like it or not, the name of the 45th American President will most likely be Donald Trump.

Clock is not counting down, it is adding up! 2015-10-30 13:29:30+04:00 On Saturday for the ceremony in Charleston, instead of wedding gifts, the Managing Editor of Georgian Journal, Will Cathcart along with his wife Tika Gogia, asked guests to donate contributions to cystic fibrosis in either U.S. or Georgia

A Protectionist Perspective: Ensuring A Georgian Future 2015-10-24 10:23:24+04:00 Unlike many of my compatriots, I view my country as a sentient creature, a single organism.

Back in BSSR 2015-10-23 12:03:25+04:00 I remember that when I was a schoolgirl, they told us we have to be ready to give our lives for the motherland. Nobody told us that people must be happy, that life has some other meanings or goals.

Thank you, father, for saving me from USSR! 2015-10-22 15:34:29+04:00 On the 11th of October, the population of Belarus has elected Alexander Lukashenko to serve his fifth term as president
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Palma Ceia SemiDesign, a fabless semiconductor company specializing in wireless connectivity solutions, today announced Bo Liu has joined the company as senior director of Engineering in China. Liu reports to Executive Vice President, Program Management Kevin Steptoe.

"Bo will be responsible for all engineering activities in China and be directly involved in driving the success of our customer and partner engagements there," Steptoe said. "His strong technical background, and international experience in telecom GPU, CPU and SoC design, will be of great benefit to the company."

Before joining Palma Ceia, Liu served as senior director for wireless IC Design at Shanghai Artosyn Microelectronics. Previous experience includes engineering roles with Advanced Micro Devices, Huawei, Freescale and Alcatel. He was also principal engineer at worldwide ASIC design consultancy and semiconductor solution provider Sondrel, where his assignments included projects for Intel and Cisco.

Liu holds BS and MS degrees in Electronic Engineering from Xidian University in Xi'an, China.

"The developments Palma Ceia has made in Wi-Fi technology make this an exciting time to join the company," Liu said about joining Palma Ceia. "Our Wi-Fi HaLow and Wi-Fi 6 offerings will enable some of the latest applications in IoT, smart factory and other domains."

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




New Delhi, Feb 9 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday assured the Lok Sabha that the Centre is taking all necessary steps to normalise the situation after the devastation caused by avalanche in Chamoli.

The state government is being provided will all possible help in relief and rescue operations, he added.

When the House assembled at 1600 hrs, Mr Shah made a statement in the Lok Sabha "regarding an avalanche in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand".

The Union Home Minister said the Central Government is monitoring the situation, PM himself is monitoring it.

'Both the control rooms of the Home Ministry are monitoring the situation round the clock and Uttarakhand is being provided with all the possible help,' Mr Shah said.

Mr Shah said as per the information received from the Uttarakhand government yesterday till 1700 hrs, 20 people have lost their lives and six people have been injured.

According to the information, a total of 197 persons are missing, including 139 working in

NTPC's under construction project, apart from 46 employees working in Rishiganga project and 12 villagers.

The state government has collected this information through various sources, in which change is possible, he said.

On February 7, a sudden rise was seen in the water level of the Rishi Ganga and NTPC's power plant also got hit.

The Union Home Minister further informed that 12 people of NTPC project were safely rescued from one tunnel.

He said 15 people of Rishiganga project were also rescued at the time of incident.

Mr Shah said 25-35 people were feared trapped in second tunnel of NTPC project and efforts are

underway on a war-footing to rescue them.

He said the State Government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakhs each for the next of the kin of the deceased.

Mr Shah said five helicopters of the Air Force have also been deployed in the operation. One control of

the Army has also been set up at Joshimath, he said.

After Mr Shah's statement, the Lok Sabha stood in silence in memory of the victims.

UNI NY SB 1802
VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI  A former Paw Paw insurance agent pleaded no contest last week to embezzling money from an elderly client who had dementia.

Brian Lietzau, 60, pleaded no contest on Friday, Feb. 5, in Van Buren County Circuit Court to one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult  $50,000 or more, but less than $100,000.

Lietzau is the former owner of Farm Bureau-Lietzau Insurance in Paw Paw. Authorities alleged in 2018 he stole $270,000 from a elderly female client, starting in 2012, after being granted durable power of attorney, according to a news release from Michigan Attorney Dana Nessels office.

Related: Insurance agent stole $270,000 from client with dementia, attorney general says

Lietzau, according to the initial 2018 complaint, wrote checks to himself from the clients account and converted those funds for his own use. Several of the transfers were said to have occurred while the client was in the hospital, and after she had passed away.

As part of Lietzaus plea deal, additional felony charges against the defendant were dismissed. Lietzau, who will surrender his insurance license, also agreed to pay restitution of $70,000 to the estate of the now-deceased victim, according to Nessels office.

We expect and trust our agents to work on our behalf, not exploit our finances for their own personal uses, Nessel said in a statement.

Im grateful the victims estate is guaranteed reimbursement through this plea and I appreciate the professionals at the Department of Insurance and Financial Services for their hard work in serving the people of this state by bringing this matter to my office.

Between November 2012 and November 2013, Lietzau served as fiduciary and power of attorney for the victim in the case. During that time, he converted her funds to his own personal use, according to a joint press release from Nessels office and the Department of Insurance and Financial Services.

The State of Michigan is committed to protecting the elderly from those who would prey on them, and we will aggressively investigate and seek prosecution of these crimes, DIFS Director Anita Fox said. We are pleased to partner with the Attorney General to bring this case to a close for the benefit of this family.

Fox asked all Michiganders to help protect seniors and vulnerable adults by reporting suspected fraud to DIFS online or by calling 877-999-6442. For more information about detecting and preventing elder abuse, visit the Michigan Department of Attorney Generals Elder Abuse Task Force website.

Lietzau is scheduled to be sentenced March 15 by Van Buren County Circuit Judge Kathleen Brickley.

He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and/or a fine of $15,000, or three times the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater.

Also on MLive:

Boyfriend of Battle Creek woman missing since June to stand trial for murder

Female polar bear killed by male bear at Detroit Zoo while attempting to breed

Lake Michigan shoreline transformed into winter wonderland of ice
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Quantum Genomics (Euronext Growth - FR0011648971 - ALQGC), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of a new class of drugs that directly targets the brain to treat difficult- to-treat/resistant hypertension and heart failure, today announced that Orient EuroPharma Co. Ltd (OEP) has acquired an equity interest in the company.

Last September, OEP and Quantum Genomics announced the signing of an exclusive licensing and collaboration agreement to develop and market firibastat in Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. As a follow-up to this agreement OEP acquired a minority stake in the capital of Quantum Genomics, thus strengthening the cooperation between the two companies.

"This investment further demonstrates Orient EuroPharma's confidence in our company. We are delighted to be welcoming a new shareholder with strong expertise in the pharmaceutical industry and positioning that is complementary to our own. This supports our strategy of bringing a new, unique and globally patented therapeutic class of drugs for the treatment of difficult-to-treat/resistant hypertension and heart failure to market," said Jean-Philippe Milon, Chief Executive Officer of Quantum Genomics.

OEP today subscribed to a reserved capital increase of 870,000 euros, at a price of 4.83 euros per share, which corresponds to the volume-weighted average price of the last twenty trading sessions, without any discount. The shares issued are subject to a mandatory three-year lock-up period.

Settlement and delivery of the new ordinary shares and their admission to trading on the Euronext Growth market in Paris are scheduled for February 25, 2021 at the latest. The new shares are subject to all statutory provisions and are treated in the same way as the old shares. The new shares bear rights and will be admitted to trading on the Euronext Growth Paris market under the same ISIN code FR0011648971 - ALQGC.

About Quantum Genomics

Quantum Genomics is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of a new class of cardiovascular medications based on brain aminopeptidase A inhibition (BAPAI). Quantum Genomics is the only company in the world exploring this innovative approach that directly targets the brain. The company relies on 20 years of academic research from the Paris-Descartes University and the laboratory directed by Dr. Catherine Llorens-Cortes at the College de France (French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM)/ the Scientific Centre for National Research (CNRS)). The goal of Quantum Genomics is to develop innovative treatments for complicated, or even resistant, cases of hypertension (around 30% of patients have poor control of their condition or receive ineffective treatment) and for heart failure (one in two patients diagnosed with severe heart failure dies within five years).

Based in Paris and New York, Quantum Genomics is listed on the Euronext Growth exchange in Paris (FR0011648971- ALQGC) and trades on the OTCQX Best Market in the United States (symbol: QNNTF).

For more information, please visit www.quantum-genomics.com, or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn

Contacts

Quantum Genomics Contact@quantum-genomics.fr

So Bang (Europe) Financial and Media communication

Quantum-genomics@so-bang.fr

LifeSci (USA) Dan Ferry

Financial Communications

+1 (617) 535-7746 | Daniel@lifesciadvisors.com Mike Tattory

Media Relations and Scientific Communications

+1 (609) 802-6265 | mtattory@lifescipublicrelations.com

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GOVERNMENT received a total of $7.37 billion from oil, gas and quarrying/mining companies in fiscal 2018, with the largest payment of $2 billion coming from majority State-owned National Gas Company (NGC).

However, for the period 2019 to 2020, unaudited figures indicate a declining trend in revenue.
After nearly 20 years at the helm, the director of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Neal Benezra, is stepping down, the museum announced on Tuesday.

Benezra, 67, said he was leaving because 19 years is a long time, and the time feels right to begin our succession planning.

What we are announcing is the beginning of a transition, he added, not a departure.

But his decision comes at a challenging moment in the 86-year history of the museum, which Benezra helped expand into one of the largest contemporary art institutions in the country.

Over the last year, SFMOMA has had to reckon with what employees have called structural inequities around race. Its senior, and longest-serving curator, Gary Garrels, resigned over comments he had made in a meeting that some considered racist. And Benezra had to apologize to employees after limiting comments on a former staffers Instagram feed.
Philadelphia Police Officer Gregory Campbell was allegedly intoxicated Saturday night and driving at least 70 miles per hour in his Dodge Dart when he blew past a stop sign and slammed into a house down the street from the headquarters of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5, breaking a womans legs and collapsing her lung while she was lying on the couch with her husband, according to court documents.

The 53-year-old woman, a mother of three, was dragged and pinned under Campbells car and was hospitalized in critical condition, the criminal complaint states. Her 45-year-old husband required medical treatment for less severe injuries to his arm, hand, hip, leg, and back.

One of their dogs was killed.

The impact of the crash left the couples house, on a tidy block of Comly Road in the Far Northeast, looking as if it had been partially bulldozed. A jagged hole revealed splintered wood, dangling shards of sheet rock, and overturned furniture.

We are grateful for everyones thoughts and prayers, said one of the womans sons, who did not want to be identified. Outside of that, we have no comment. We ask that everyone respect our privacy.

Investigators are still retracing the steps that Campbell, 27, made in the hours leading up to the accident.

Multiple law enforcement sources said Campbell is believed to have attended a beef and beer fund-raiser that was held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Crispin Tavern, on Holme Avenue near Ashton Road, for the family of James OConnor IV, a police corporal who was fatally shot while serving an arrest warrant in Frankford last year.

At some point, Campbell  who was off-duty  ended up at the 7C Lounge, a bar and restaurant inside the FOPs sprawling headquarters on Caroline Road, about five miles from Crispin Tavern. On its website, the FOP touts the lounge as a refuge for cops: Every hero needs a hide-out!

About 8:20 p.m., Campbell smashed into the couples home on Comly Road, which has a 30 mph speed limit and sits across the street from the stop sign on Caroline Road.

I dont know where he was prior [to the accident], said FOP President John McNesby. I think theres still some confusion. I have not spoken to the guy. Im talking to my folks here, and theyre still not sure whether [Campbell] was here or not.

McNesby said the union is cooperating with accident investigators.

Campbell, who worked in the 14th District in Germantown, was charged with driving under the influence, aggravated assault, and criminal mischief, and released on bail on the condition that he not drink or drive.

He could not be reached, and it was unclear if he had obtained an attorney.

On Monday afternoon, a police cruiser was still parked at the accident scene. A thin layer of snow covered debris that had been scattered across the lawn. At the FOPs headquarters, meanwhile, a digital sign flashed: BACK THE BLUE.

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said on Sunday that the department would conduct a full investigation.

The consequences of choosing to drive while under the influence are enormous, and all too often, life-changing, Outlaw said. A family should always feel safe in their home, and yet the actions of this individual shattered that reality.

The fact that the offender, in this case, is a Philadelphia police officer is appalling. Police officers must be held to a higher standard  even while off-duty  and I assure the victims and the public that a complete and thorough investigation will take place. My prayers remain with this family.

Campbell joined the force in March 2018 and made a base salary of $63,999, according to City of Philadelphia payroll records from 2019.

A woman who said she was Campbells mother, reached at the familys home, said no one there would have any comment.

District Attorney Larry Krasner said of Campbells crash: We are very actively investigating where he was coming from, under what circumstances, including immediately before the accident. We expect to have some definitive information within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Campbell is the latest police officer to face criminal charges. In recent months, the department has announced the arrests of at least a half dozen other current or former officers for a range of alleged criminal offenses, including murder, assault, robbery, DUI, terroristic threats, vandalism, public drunkenness, statutory rape, and sexual assault of a minor.

Inquirer staff writers Mensah M. Dean and Rita Giordano contributed to this article.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed in a telephone call to strengthen Indo-Pacific security through the Quad grouping of countries that is seen as a way to push back against China's growing assertiveness in the region.

India, United States, Japan and Australia are members of the Quad, an informal group that Washington has been promoting to work as a potential bulwark against China's increasing political, commercial and military activity in the Indo-Pacific, diplomats say.

Biden spoke to Modi on Monday night in his first call since taking office last month and noted that India-U.S. ties were held together by a shared commitment to democratic values.

"The leaders agreed to continuing close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, including support for freedom of navigation, territorial integrity, and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad," the White House said in a statement.

China has denounced the Quad as an attempt to contain its development and urged the United States to drop its "Cold War mentality".

Last year, the four countries held joint naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal after New Delhi dropped its hesitation for fear of antagonising Beijing.

Modi told Biden he would work to elevate the strategic partnership between the two countries, the Indian foreign ministry said in its readout of the call.

India is locked in a military standoff with China over their disputed mountainous border since April and public opinion has hardened against Beijing after soldiers were killed in a clash there.

Japan's Sankei newspaper reported over the weekend that the leaders of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia plan to hold a summit, in a further tightening of ties between the four powerful democracies.

Biden and Modi also agreed to work closely to fight COVID-19, renew their partnership on climate change and defend democratic institution and norms around the world, including in Myanmar, where the military seized power last week.

Short link:


(Natural News) Conservative Americans who identify as such or who supported former President Donald Trump are in for a rough two-to-four years depending on whether the Republican Party a) can collectively grow a spine, and b) start behaving like the Party of Trump, because Democrats are coming for them.

Newly empowered after stealing Trumps reelection victory, which we now know for certain actually happened, the Marxist Party is preparing full-on to take away all political power from conservatives and erase them from the culture under the color of law.

As reported by The Epoch Times, Democratic senators have introduced new legislation amending Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act that would require Big Tech platforms to spy on users and then report extremist activity to federal nannies:

Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) on Feb. 5 introduced the Safeguarding Against Fraud, Exploitation, Threats, Extremism and Consumer Harms (SAFE TECH) Act to reform Section 230 and allow social media companies to be held accountable for enabling cyber-stalking, targeted harassment, and discrimination on their platforms.

The Democrats proposal creates a series of carve-outs to Section 230 protections, including by making the liability shield inapplicable to ads or other paid content, to instances where content and services delivered via the platforms are discriminatory, likely to cause irreparable harm, may have directly contributed to a loss of life, or where they directly enable harmful activity.

Section 230 has provided a Get Out of Jail Free card to the largest platform companies even as their sites are used by scam artists, harassers, and violent extremists to cause damage and injury, Warner said in a statement.

Passed in 1996 as the internet was becoming a thing, Sect. 230 sought to allow online platforms to develop without having to worry about being sued over content that users posted. It also gave the developing platforms leeway to remove content  to censor, like a publisher, but without having to worry about the same liabilities as a publisher.

Democrats want the platforms to ban more speech  especially conservative pro-Trump speech; Republicans generally want platforms to stop censoring people just because they dont like their political, cultural or social positions and views on issues. (Related: Situation Update, Feb. 8th  A philosophical framework for human freedom.)

Its obvious that [Section] 230 well look at, House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson said in a warning to Big Tech to become more Stalinesque in their operations. If the companies dont assume the interest in policing their own platforms, then you leave government no choice.

In the days following the Jan. 6 riot, which was preplanned and had nothing to do with former President Trumps speech, the Big Tech platforms banned him anyway, leading top Republicans to double down on their efforts to get rid of their Sect. 230 protections. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) proclaimed he was more determined that ever to curtail liability protections for big tech companies after Trump was banned.

Twitter may ban me for this but I willingly accept that fate: Your decision to permanently ban President Trump is a serious mistake, Graham said on Twitter. The Ayatollah can tweet, but Trump cant. Says a lot about the people who run Twitter.

Im more determined than ever to strip Section 230 protections from Big Tech (Twitter) that let them be immune from lawsuits, he added.

Some Democrats are balking at the reforming Section 230 including Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, one of the provisions original authors.

Unfortunately, as written, it would devastate every part of the open internet, and cause massive collateral damage to online speech, Wyden said recently.

Heres the thing: Democrats have already shown a penchant to favor censoring Trump and anyone who backs him. This new bill is about achieving more of that under the guise of stopping extremism.

We should never let would-be tyrants define the issue or debate when it comes to our liberties.

See more reporting like this at Tyranny.news.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NewsTarget.com
In a constant effort to bring our mission to a wider audience, the United States Navy Memorial is utilizing digital outreach through the SITREP series.

The United States Navy Memorial was honored to have Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Russell Smith as the featured guest for its February 3rd SITREP (Situation Report). The SITREP Speaker Series seeks to provide the public an intimate view of the ongoing operations of the United States Navy by interviewing top leaders in the organization. Previous speakers include high profile members of the Navy, such as Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Kenneth J. Braithwaite, Assistant SECNAV James Geurts, and Rear Admirals Karl O. Thomas and Bruce L. Gillingham.

MCPON Smith began his military career as an airman in 1988, later becoming a weapons technician and intelligence specialist. A veteran of numerous tours across the globe, MCPON Smith has been awarded the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation medal, and other honors. In the continuing mission to honor and inform the world about the goings on of the United States Navy, USNM is proud to welcome MPCON Smith as the latest speaker to the SITREP series.

It is the Navy Memorials honor to deliver on our mission to inform the public about the service of our Sailors by having the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy on our program, said Rear Admiral Frank Thorp, USN (Ret.), President and CEO of the Navy Memorial. The American public gained a great perspective from MCPONs experience and forthright observations.

In a constant effort to bring our mission to a wider audience, the United States Navy Memorial is utilizing digital outreach through the SITREP series. This livestream is a unique opportunity for Navy leadership to address a national audience. Viewers have the opportunity to ask questions live during the broadcast about what the Navy is doing to defend our freedom and protect our way of life. With this unprecedented amount of transparency into the minds of Navy leadership, the United States Navy Memorial aims to bring the American people into the choices of military leaders. For more information on the SITREP speaker series, visit NavyMemorial.org.

The future of the Democratic Governance Facility - a donor funded aid pool - rests on a brief that Finance Minister Matia Kasaija sent President Yoweri Museveni, after the latter questioned how the fund was authorised to be operated exclusively by a foreign mission in Uganda.

In a January 2 letter to the Finance minister, President Museveni directed that the activities of DGF be suspended, saying it was "unacceptable" that the fund was not only "irregularly and unilaterally" set up but was also a foreign mission designed to subvert his government.

"The foreign mission and its co-funders have been given free rein by the Ministry of Finance to choose which activity, entities and amounts to finance without the knowledge or consent of the government. Indeed, a big percentage of these funds have been used to finance activities and organisations designed to subvert Government under the guise of improving governance," President Museveni wrote.

"I am therefore directing you to immediately, suspend the activities of this fund, until the Cabinet has fully reviewed this matter and a new governance structure in which the elected representatives of the people of Uganda have appropriate oversight, has been put in place and approved by me," he added.

The European Union and five other countries from the bloc - Austria, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden - fund the DGF to the tune of Ush500 billion ($135.7 million).

The Fund supports more than 70 mostly civil society organisations but also as number of state agencies and institutions, all now staring at a potentially bleak future.

"We have sent a brief to the president, whose contents I cannot share," Mr Kasaija told The EastAfrican.

A source close to the president say he is sensitive to "not very well known" funds bankrolled by Europeans and Americans, setting up shop in Kampala; the source cites a trade facilitation fund which in 2010 approached the Ministry of Trade for endorsement, but President Museveni was uncomfortable with the group, thinking they were spies or agents of money laundering outfits.

The DGF saga comes at a time when the country has emerged from a dirty presidential election, in which foreign governments and key donors such as the US, EU, Canada and the United Kingdom have faulted security agencies which reigned terror on the opposition and their supporters, killing and kidnapping many, during the campaigns.
The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, has said his visit to Moscow last week showed that Russia is heading down a "worrisome, authoritarian route," and warned the Kremlin it could face new sanctions over the jailing of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny.

Speaking to the European Parliament to report on his trip to the Russian capital, Borrell said on February 9 that the Kremlin has no intention of developing constructive relations if human rights are part of the conversation.

"There seems to be almost no room for the development of democratic alternatives...[and] they are merciless in stifling any such attempts," Borrell said after visiting Moscow from February 4-6.

"The current power structure in Russia, combining vested economic interests, military and political control, leave no opening for democratic rule of law," he added.

Relations between Moscow and the EU have been sorely strained by Russias 2014 annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea and its support for separatist formations waging a war against Kyiv in parts of eastern Ukraine, the EUs rejection of a disputed presidential election in Belarus and its criticism of a brutal crackdown by the government of strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka, and other issues.

Most recently, the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny with a military-grade nerve agent, and his subsequent detention upon returning from Germany where he was being treated for the attack, has put relations between the 27-member bloc and Russia at a crossroads.

Borrell said Russia was trying to drive a wedge between some EU members and that while further policy steps may include new sanctions, the bloc must avoid permanent confrontation with Moscow.

"It will be for the member states to decide the next steps, but yes, this could include sanctions," Borrell said, noting concrete proposals will likely be discussed at an EU foreign ministers' meeting on February 22 and at an EU summit in March.

During Borrell's talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, which Borrell described as heated, Moscow expelled three EU diplomats from Germany, Poland, and Sweden, prompting tit-for-tat expulsions by the three EU member countries.

Borrell said he only learned about the expulsions from Russia via social media during his visit, which included a news conference in which Lavrov chided the EU as "an unreliable partner."

Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa
Sunny Leone was reportedly questioned by the Kerala Police over a complaint filed in a cheating case. The actress was interrogated at a private resort in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The complaint was filed by an event manager in Kochi with the Kerala DGP.

The complainant, R Shiyas, filed the complaint claiming that Sunny Leone had taken Rs 29 lakh for attending various inaugural events in the state, but did not fulfil her side of the bargain. The complaint also revealed that Leone's manager took money in several instalments from 2016 and agreed to attend five functions.

A report in Bollywood Hungama said that the actress has admitted to taking money but did not intend to cheat the event manager. Sunny has claimed that the event manager could not comply with her scheduling dates.

Sunny reacted to the case reports saying, "Half information is as dangerous as misreporting. And this is yet another case of the same. I want to set the record straight. As an artiste, work is worship for me. I was nothing but gracious, understanding, even moving my schedule multiple times over the organisers. But they wouldn't commit to set date. It is customary that to lock an actor's time, an advance has to be paid upfront, which wasn't done till the nth hour."

She went on to add, "There's absolutely no chance that if I have set a date and time for an event, I wouldn't show up. But due to a lack of timely payment from their end coupled with the fact that they dilly dallied on finalising the date, I bowed out. I have other commitments in Poovar. These are testing times and we have been shooting round the clock, putting ourselves at risk, to make sure the industry is back on its feet. Such slanderous claims and unethical behaviour on part of the event co-ordinators are deeply hurtful and unsolicited."

"I have already given the statement to the investigating officers and they are investigating the co-ordinators as well. Let law take its course," she concluded.

ALSO READ: Sunny Leone On Being Bullied As A Kid: Some Of That Bullying Has Carried Through My Entire Life

ALSO READ: Sunny Leone Doesn't Agree That Female-Centric Films Are Not Being Made In Bollywood
President Joseph Biden, Jr. rejoins the anti-Israel United Nations Human Rights Council as announced by U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Monday through a statement, reversing what former President Donald Trump has done three years ago.

"The United States will engage with the Council as an observer will have the opportunity to speak in the Council, participate in negotiations, and partner with others to introduce resolutions," Blinken said.

Breitbart reported that Trump withdrew from the council in 2018 after exhausting efforts for reform against its anti-Israel program specified in its Agenda 7.

"We recognize that the Human Rights Council is a flawed body, in need of reform to its agenda, membership, and focus, including its disproportionate focus on Israel," Blinken pointed out. "However, our withdrawal in June 2018 did nothing to encourage meaningful change, but instead created a vacuum of U.S. leadership, which countries with authoritarian agendas have used to their advantage."

Blinken explained that the decision is out of perceiving engagement with the Council and its members "in a principled fashion" as "the best way" to improve it out of the belief that "when the U.S. engages constructively with the Council, in concert with our allies and friends positive change is within reach."

As per Breitbart, the U.S. will have until end of the year as a non-voting observer status and is actually eyeing to become a full member of the Council during its General Assembly while it works on establishing closer relations with the United Nations. It actually seeks one of the full member seats held currently by Austria, Denmark, and Italy that come for election this October when the General Assembly takes place. During the General Assembly, the United Nations decides in a vote to fill its three-year term vacancies at the 47-member-state council.

Biden's decision to rejoin the Council, however, has met a lot of negative criticism especially from David Friedman who was former U.S. Ambassador to Israel under Trump's Administration.

"Well here's a terrible policy: rejoining the UNHRC," Friedman told Breitbart.

"Who is leading the U.N.'s commission on human rights? China, which places its undesirables in concentration camps, Russia that jails its dissidents, and Cuba! Who is the permanent target? Israel," he pointed out. "Donald Trump and Nikki Haley got it exactly right by withdrawing!"

Haley, former United Nations Envoy under Trump, described the United Nations Human Rights Commission as a "bully pulpit for human rights violators" since Israel has, unlike any other country, received resolutions against it basically for its "very existence."

"No other country--not Iran, not Syria, not North Korea--has an agenda item devoted solely to it. Agenda Item 7 is not directed at anything Israel does. It is directed at the very existence of Israel. It is a blazing red siren signaling the Human Rights Council's political corruption and moral bankruptcy," Haley revealed to Breitbart.

Haley said China, Cuba, Eritrea, Russia, and Venezuela "make a mockery of the Human Rights Council." Yet despite this, Trump was not able to convince the 125 members of the Council to make the necessary reforms especially on Agenda Item 7 because the "authoritarian regimes are happy with the status quo."

"In the end, the United States couldn't convince enough countries to stand up and declare the Human Rights Council was no longer worthy of its name," she ended.

Having completed a large number of development projects in Afghanistan, India continues to help the conflict-ridden nation in the direction of developing it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan Prez Ashraf Ghani are scheduled to hold summit-level talks today. As per sources, Shehtoot Dam agreement is likely to be signed today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold summit-level talks with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani today. Sources suggest that India and Afghanistan are expected to sign an agreement on Shehtoot Dam today that will make clean drinking water accessible to over 2 million citizens of Kabul, the water can also be used by the people for irrigation practices.

India has pledged to help in Afghanistans development and has already committed $80 million worth projects to the landlocked nation. India has committed about 150 development projects in Afghanistan so far, Shehtoot Dam will be built on the Kabul river basin.

Union Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar announced in November 2020 that India will build Shehtoot Dam on the Kabul river basin. Having completed a large number of development projects in Afghanistan, India continues to help the conflict-ridden nation in the direction of developing it.

Also read: The Sunday Guardians Daily Edition Launch: The Sunday Guardian, Now available every day

Also read: PM Modi and US Prez Biden discuss climate change, security in Indo-Pacific region

India had constructed a 218 km road starting from Delaram to Zaranj along the Iranian border to provide alternative connectivity for Afghan through Iran. India also built the Salma Dam and the Afghan Parliament building that was inaugurated in 2015.

Also read: Opposition essential for democracy, mustnt engage in conversations that demotivate India: PM Modi in Rajya Sabha
P_Wei/Getty Images

Disney announced it will tentatively host a food festival at California Adventure Park in mid-March.

The "all-new, limited-time ticketed experience" will also feature "unique, carefully crafted entertainment experiences."

Disney recalled about 1,000 employees who were laid off or furloughed due to the pandemic to work the event.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Disney announced on Monday plans to host a food festival tentatively scheduled for mid-March after the state lifted its stay-at-home order last month.

In a letter commemorating the 20th anniversary of the California Adventure Park, Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock said the "all-new, limited-time ticketed experience" will feature "world-famous food and beverage offerings from around the resort, the latest merchandise and unique, carefully crafted entertainment experiences."

The event will have "limited capacity and enhanced health and safety measures in place," Potrock added. The food festival prompted the company to recall about 1,000 employees who were laid off or furloughed because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"This past year has presented extraordinary challenges, but that has not curtailed in any way our ability to move forward with a spirit of optimism," Potrock said in the memo to employees.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a regional stay-at-home order in early December of last year as COVID-19 infections surged in the state. Newsom lifted the order on January 25 "as projected ICU availability over 4 weeks in all regions rose to over 15%," according to a press release.

Disneyland and its rides will still remain closed amid the ongoing pandemic. California reported nearly 10,500 cases and more than 200 deaths on Monday. More than three million cases have been reported in California, and the death toll in the state surpassed 44,000.

Read the original article on Insider
New Delhi, Feb 9 : The Delhi Police on Tuesday sought 10-day remand of Punjabi actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu, who is accused of instigating violence at the Red Fort in Delhi on Republic Day after the proposed farmers' tractor rallywent awry on January 26.

Sidhu, who was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police from near Karnal on Tuesday morning, was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Prigya Gupta at the Tis Hazari court in the national capital. The police told the court that he is the main instigator in the case.

"He is one of the instigators and one of the main rioters. We have to search the people who were handling social media. He was with Jugraj Singh, who hoisted the flag. The rioters were armed with lathis, swords etc.," the court said.

The court has allowed the police to interrogate the accused and tell it how many days' custody they want. Pursuant to this, Sidhu was taken to the back of the courtroom for questioning.

Sidhu is accused of fuelling chaos and clashes when a tractor rally by the farmers protesting the Centre's three farm laws went rogue on Republic Day.

During the clashes, a section of protesters had entered the Red Fort and hoisted a religious flag. Sidhu was absconding ever since the incident. Last week, the police had announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information on Sidhu.
Romania's representative to the World Health Organization, Social Democrat MP Alexandru Rafila said on Tuesday that the bogey had been raised in the past that opening schools would result in higher numbers of COVID-19 infections, and advised a "real prioritization of the activities that need to be kept open" in the context of the pandemic, according to AGERPRES.

"Unfortunately, public health measures, public health recommendations have been very often used for a political agenda and this wasn't a very good idea, because it created confusion, at least among the population," Rafila told the online debate 'COVID testing in Romania, one year since the onset of the pandemic' organized by media outlet DC News.

Rafila argued that according to surveys, in-person school activities don't have a significant effect on the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

"Regarding schools, this bogey has been tossed around, that the opening of schools would lead to a rise in the number of cases and so on, despite very solid studies that showed that opening schools does not significantly influence the evolution of the epidemic," he said.

The MP underscored that the decision to close schools did not consider the effects of this move on the students' mental health.

"I don't think that Romania will further stay completely protected from the wave of infection that roams the European Union. We'll see what happens in March - April. But I hope that we will be able to make a real prioritization of the activities that must be kept open and that have a favorable impact on people's health, because otherwise we will continue to stand out from other countries with measures that have nothing to do with public life, but with other considerations I don't want to comment on," Rafila cautioned.



By Emanuel Pastreich





The lawyers employed by Donald Trump have amassed an impressive pile of arguments to defend him against charges that he incited a mob of his supporters to stage an armed insurrection in the Capitol and to murder people in an effort to stop the selection of his democratically elected opponent. It is not popular in the fickle fairyland of Washington D.C. to defend Donald Trump, let alone to praise him. But at this sad hour in our nation's history, that is precisely what must be done.







Sadly, the impeachment trial scheduled for February 9th is unlikely to touch on either the true violations of the Constitution and of Federal law by the Trump administration, nor on Donald Trump's significant accomplishments in office.







Like the last impeachment trial of Donald Trump, which focused on ambiguous and amorphous Russian collusion, and left untouched the criminality of the entire executive branch (over which Trump had little control), this trial has one clear purpose: warning all American politicians that the system is ready to tar and feather them in the corporate media, attack them for things that they did not do and then take them down any way it feels like with the entire world as a captive audience.







In other words, the president of the United States in the years ahead will resemble the emperors of the late Roman empire who reigns rarely lasted for more than a few years; men who were batted around by the generals in the manner that a cat plays with a mouse.







The sprawling executive branch has as its tentacles consulting firms, military and law enforcement contractors, and a host of lobbying and influence peddling groups that assume that corruption is a day's work well done. None of those players are going to be on Trial for Valentine's Day. To blame their sins on Donald Trump, and then present to the world "pay to play" Joe Biden as a progressive breath of fresh air, is true alchemy.







For all his sins, from poor taste in clothing, to the garish interiors at his hotels, to his associations with organized crime and his pandering to audiences who craved the sensational, Trump was a man who simply tried to outsmart the system from within for personal benefit, but also for certain honorable principles. Sadly, he became a prisoner of the system in the process. He was accused of trumped up or exaggerated sins, his true mistakes were overlooked and his real accomplishments were buried forever.







The case against Donald Trump







Donald Trump, a man who had never served in public office before he became president, a man who knew little about financial and social policy, or international relations, a man who was obliged to turn to a handful of cynical political players, and to the cunning multi-billionaires behind the curtains, for advice in his fantastic "Battle with the Deep State"  a show perfect for The Sahara  was bathetic and tragic at the same time.







I dispute, however, the assumption that Trump was inherently less qualified for office than Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama, or Joe Biden, three individuals deeply linked to global finance, weapons manufacturers and to a host of other parasitic organizations hell bent on tearing the United States (and the world) apart for profit. The fact that such global parasites interacted with these supposedly noble men through Harvard University's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs did nothing to dilute their criminality. None of these politicians should have ever been considered as candidates for that office.







The recent orgy of media coverage about Trump has nothing to do with his real mistakes, but is rather a cynical ploy to make the Biden administration's progressive-tinted Trojan Horse Corona police state legitimate and also to create a new enemy for the public imagination: the MAGA-hat wearing ignorant racist Trump supporter. That last creation is the first step towards tarring anyone who questions the criminal conspiracies that are in full swing today in America with the term "domestic terrorist" and locking them up if the newly appointed

sees fit.







Trump's rise to political power was a result of his success in real estate development, his management of casinos, his speculation in various shaking business deals and his effective use of sensationalist television to gain a loyal audience. It is not necessary to explain that one cannot be involved in construction and casinos at that level without being linked to racketeering and money laundering, to prostitution and organized crime.







In a healthy and functional democracy, such baggage would have been enough to disqualify Trump early on.







But the mainstream Democrats and Republicans who raked in money from global investment banks that make a killing in the promotion of forever wars (in the name of peace), who push through dangerous free trade agreements, and who participated in the rape of the Federal Reserve, are even more diabolical. The in-your- face obnoxiousness of Trump is more honest than the cultivated, culturally sensitive, ethnically diverse Ivy League graduates who used their empathic image to hide from us the brutal war these global financial institutions are conducting against ordinary people.







Donald Trump was guilty of violations of the Constitution and of Federal Law during the course of his administration that deserve impeachment. Period.







At the same time, however, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama were all guilty of numerous acts in violation of the Constitution and Federal Law worthy of impeachment. If anything, the real question is why American intellectuals have decided to let the bloated, sprawling and putrid executive branch get away with all this institutionalized criminality and to demonize anyone who exposes the inner workings of the system.







The Democratic and Republican congressmen who gather like jackals for the impeachment trial, men and women who looked the other way as global financial powers robbed the Federal Reserve of 10 trillion or more and then had the nerve to say the economic crisis was a result of a "COVID19" virus, should be on trial too.







Trump's tragic mistakes







Trump's decision to run for president can be traced back to the White House Correspondents Dinner on April 30, 2011. He was subject to pointed mockery by Obama intended to humiliate him in public and destroy his political career.







Trump's anger was written all over his face because he is not really a politician.







Why was Trump so mad?







Personally, I am not convinced that Trump's "Birther Movement," that tried to prove that Obama was not an American citizen and that he was a secret Muslim, was either appropriate or accurate. Ultimately, I do not know.







I fear, however, that many Americans do not understand the underlying motivations for that campaign. The strategy was sensationalist, like the pro wrestler at heart that Trump is, but the means of political attack that Trump employed was not entirely his choice.







Most of the corrupt deals made by the Obama administration with global finance are protected from public scrutiny (even though public funds were used) because the transactions were rendered classified, or because non-disclosure agreements make it impossible to make those actions public. In many cases, secret laws passed by Congress make the discussion of these corrupt actions illegal. The post-Bush age in America is defined by a politics of the unspeakable.







Trump went after Obama over the birther issue, and after Biden over the election fraud, not because it was his necessarily his strongest card, but because it was the only card he was permitted to play, the only thing he could say that the media would report. He made the best of the hand he was dealt.







It was the attitude of Obama on that evening that riled Trump. Obama, a man parachuted into the 2008 presidential campaign out of nowhere to serve the interests of the super-rich, showed obvious contempt for Trump and his supporters.







Trump wanted to nail the slick Obama for his blatant corruption, but he could not.







When Trump condemned foreign wars openly, he was labeled a budding Nazi by the liberal press. Obama, by contrast, hedged his words about foreign interventions so as to avoid offending General Dynamics and had been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for embracing American militarism and renouncing his lukewarm critique of the Iraq war.







Running for president as an outsider was the best way to get even, Trump thought to himself, to become the person who replaced that well-groomed toy of financial elites would be the only way to top that roasting. As the French say "La vengeance?est un?plat qui se mange froid" (revenge is a dish best served cold).







Trump knew that if he wanted to win the presidency as an outsider, he would have to tap into the anger boiling up over the corruption in Washington D.C., and the elitist politics of Obama. Part of that response had racist overtones, but much of it did not.







Although Trump had some money, he was a small fish in the increasingly decadent Washington milieu. After he drove back to Trump Hotel after that brutal Obama "roast" he thought about which power players he could get on his side who would be able to match the backing of the investment banks that Democrats (and Republicans) relied on to get them over the top in the money game.







He came up with a list of hungry outsiders who were willing to take a risk on Trump's populist rhetoric, and anti-Washington posture, because they too did not have the political influence that they felt their money deserved. Although there were more, let us identify four important groups of supporters that pushed hard to get Trump on the map, and who did not care about his opposition to free trade or his appeals to the working man.







The four groups, however, did not care about Donald Trump personally, and when he was set up at the end of his presidency to be diagnosed with the bogus "COVID19" and then accused of starting the clown-operated false flag "Capitol Insurrection," those forces had no interest in helping out.







I suspect that Trump thought that he, like a master surfer, could somehow ride the converging waves that would be unleashed by these powers and drive this "band of rivals" forward so as to achieve something of value while enhancing his own brand.







The following four groups latched onto Trump as a chance to shake up Washington and get their piece of the pie.





1) David and Charles Koch (Koch Industries)







The Koch brothers poured their coal and petroleum billions into funding "libertarian" ideology as a means of hiding the end of the regulation of business under the sheep's skin of personal "freedom." They paid off in every manner any public intellectual or politician that was willing to take their tempting bait. The result was a massive increase in pollution and the end of environmental policy in the United States.







The Koch brothers were remarkably creative, setting up a devious think tank, the Charles Koch Institute, that seduced various "anti-war" figures with its big funding and media exposure and thereby gave legitimacy to their corporate agenda.







The Koch brothers supported Trump, and introduced him to their lacky Mike Pompeo (who had close ties to the Christian right) in return for a promise from Trump to get the government out of the regulation business and to pursue ludicrous policies regarding climate change. The Koch brothers wanted to get the sort of respect in Washington DC that global players like Exxon and BP were receiving and to muscle in on energy policy previously determined by mainstream corporations.







2) Betsy (Prince) DeVos and Erik Prince







Although the start of Trump's relationship with the Prince family remains opaque, Betsy (Prince) DeVos (married to the heir of the Amway fortune) and her brother Erik Prince (CEO of the private mercenary corporation Academi) latched on to Trump early on and gave him a big push.







Betsy (Prince) DeVos demanded that she be made secretary of education and quickly used that position to destroy public education for the vast majority of Americans as part of a larger plan to both make all education into a for-profit industry and to render much of the population so poorly educated that they would be incapable of opposing the corporate takeover of the country. Trump let her do what she wanted with almost no interference.







Erik Prince demanded a chance to push forward a radical privatization of the military that would allow his mercenary groups to get contracts for work previously limited to the military itself, or to the big-time military contractors. Early support for Trump gave Erik carte blanche for extending his mercenary operations around the world, getting into some serious fights with military officers along the way.





The Princes also linked Trump up with another pillar of the Trump administration,

, the CEO of Renaissance Technologies. The "silent billionaire" Mercer was the financier who backed Steve Bannon's innovative strategies for stirring up support through racist and anti-immigrant reporting at his Breitbart News (mixed with a good dose of truth) and he laid the groundwork for Trump's sudden media takeoff.





3) Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson







Donald Trump had links to Israel through his son-in-law Jared Kushner and through interactions with various Zionist businessmen from way back (including ties to Russia), but he did not take any strong stands on Israeli policy and he received support in his campaign from many Americans who were deeply hostile to Israeli influence in Washington D.C. and who were demanding an investigation into the 9.11 incident.







But Trump's old pal Sheldon Adelson was a man with the deep pockets, the strong connections in Israel and around the world, and the strategic mind necessary to put Trump over the top. Adelson is one of the top dogs in casinos globally and was probably one of the people Trump called up early on. He gave his enthusiastic backing and his phone calls made Trump's bid viable.







Adelson quickly lined Trump with core figures among Christian Zionists who supported the most radical policies of Israel without conditions and set up Mike Pompeo (also linked to the Koch brothers) to be a central policy player. Adelson probably also played a role in introducing to Trump another rising Christian Zionist, Vice President Mike Pence.







Christian Zionist churches across the United States play a critical role in delivering votes and raising money for conservative causes. Trump's willingness to readily embrace the more extreme demands (like the US recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel) of these churches meant that ministers of these churches readily backed him in spite of his multiple marriages and his lax and indulgent style.







Adelson did not spend those hours at his rolodex for nothing. He wanted his pound of flesh and he got it. Trump allowed Pompeo to craft all foreign policy and to override the concerns of other conservative backers who were far more doubtful about this blind embrace of Israel, and especially Adelson's demand for full support in any Israeli military conflict with Iran.







4) The "War with China" lobby









The promotion of military conflicts and the sales of overpriced weapons systems is an exquisitely bipartisan show and even the peacemakers and "socialists" cannot function in Congress without a thumbs up from these big boys. For a total outsider with an unimpressive reputation, and no political experience, there was not much room at the trough for Trump.







A bit of sniffing around, however, revealed that there was one group in the military industrial complex that was extremely unhappy in spite of the bloated defense budget and who were looking for someone to champion their unpopular cause during the Obama years.







That group was the weapons manufactures who supply the big heavy equipment like aircraft carrier groups, fighter planes, nuclear weapons and missile defense systems. Donald's Rumsfeld's "War on Terror" had introduced the dangerous concept of a "revolution in warfare" and much of their big hardware was considered outdated by security experts. Big ships and planes were in danger of ending up in the dust bin of military history. The new focus on intelligence fattened up their rivals and cost them some big military contracts as the Pentagon increasingly mimicked the CIA.







In addition, a push by new upstarts like Boston Robotics to lock them out permanently and make satellites, drones, robots and AI the focus for military spending had them seeing red.







Although these contractors liked Russia as an adversary, only a massive Pacific War with China scenario could justify the piles of hardware that they wanted to produce. No surprise that these groups were pushed over the edge when Obama proposed military-military cooperation with China, including inviting China to participate in the RIMPAC naval exercises in Hawaii.







The "war with China" faction is not a specific corporation or individual. They are large sections of Northrop Grumman, Lockeed Martin, General Dynamics, Raytheon and other contractors who stood to benefit from a return to carrier strike groups, fighter planes and preparations for massive amphibious landings. Those companies also include units who are not interested in that market.







Trump offered to to dump the one-China policy of Nixon in the dustbin of history and to adopt aggressive actions in East Asia that would kick of a "new Cold War." This group fell in line behind Trump and gave him the security credentials that he had previously lacked.







Trump's achievements







Looking back on the four years of Trump, much of the damage attributed to him was rather the product of natural process of institutional decay that was sped up by the mind-numbing spiritual gangrene that has infected the American political system since the 9.11 incident. Trump must take responsibility for allowing criminal figures like Mike Pompeo to run the show, to strip the government of expertise and to push for war with China and Iran, but Trump was most certainly not the mastermind of what happened.







He felt as he was under house arrest himself at the White House when the big boys got into fights  and he was keenly aware that the powers that be were more than happy to throw him under the bus  as the ultimately did  to achieve their goals.







And yet, as foolhardy as Trump's bid to use these outcasts from the DC banquet of spoils as a means to take control of the Republican Party, and then topple the corrupt system from within may have been, the following efforts suggest that at some level Trump maintained a commitment to setting things right, and that he tried to address issues that other politicians were afraid to touch.







The following Trump actions will not come up at the impeachment trial, but they should.







1) Commitment to 9.11 truth





In his

with Fox 5 News on September 11, 2001, Donald Trump made comments that opened up serious doubts concerning the 9/11 conspiracy theory that Arab terrorists holding paper cutters took down three skyscrapers with two planes. Trump continued address this issue in private and he was not afraid to maintain close ties with 9/11 truth activists.







His willingness, as president of the United States, to tolerate, and even to encourage, the discussion of the scientific problems with the official story of the 9/11 incident was risky for his health and it alienated him from mainstream politicians, Democrat and Republican. His willingness to take on this impossible task represented a sincere loyalty to his supporters  a solidarity that that he never gave up even as he hobnobbed with the rich and powerful.







2) Trump's demand for the release of classified documents concerning the Kennedy Assassination







Donald Trump used executive orders in October of 2017 in an attempt to force the CIA and the FBI to release all remaining classified documents concerning the Kennedy assassination of 1963. The criminal conspiracy in global finance, industry and government to kill Kennedy is obvious to anyone who has looked into the case even superficially. Yet the Federal Government still refuses to release the remaining documents that will make clear for the world what happened, and exactly who was responsible for what.







Trump's push to get the papers released was not a favor for historians and conspiracy buffs.


Instagram logo - Jenny Kane/AP

Police in France arrested five people on Tuesday over death threats against a teenager who was forced to leave school and go into hiding for making anti-Islam comments on social media.

The case of Mila triggered a fresh debate over freedom of speech in France.

The five were being held on suspicion of cyber-harassment and "issuing death threats following an investigation by France's national task force for the fight against online hate speech, according to prosecutors.

The furore erupted in January 2020 after Mila, then 16, got into a heated exchange on social media that ended in her receiving a torrent of death threats and being taken out of school for her own safety.

During a live chat with followers of her Instagram account, she rebuffed repeated advances by one online suitor, saying she was lesbian, prompting insults about her sexuality.

Then the attacks took a religious bent, with zealots online reportedly accusing Mila of insulting "our God Allah, the one and only" and hoping that she would "burn in hell."

She then posted fresh footage criticising religion in general and Islam in particular. In a clip she said: "I hate religion. The Koran is full of hate, Islam is s--t, that's what I think. I am not racist, not at all.

"You cannot be racist towards a religion. I said what I thought, you will not make me regret it."

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Her remarks unleashed a torrent of abuse as two online camps slugged it out over her right to criticise religion at #JeSuisMila and #JeNeSuisPasMila.

Prosecutors in the city of Vienne in southeastern France launched an investigation in November after Mila posted another tirade, this time on the TikTok platform.

That was handed over to the national task force and led to the arrests of the five who are aged between 18 and 29.

President Emmanuel Macron last February defended the teenager, saying the right to blaspheme was enshrined in the constitution.

"The law is clear. We have the right to blaspheme, to criticise and to caricature religions," he said.

Story continues

Mr Macron added that children needed to be better protected against "new forms of hate and harassment online".

The debate over freedom of speech came under fresh scrutiny in France following the murder by an Islamist in October of schoolteacher Samuel Paty who had shown his class caricatures of the Prophet Mohamed in Charlie Hebdo.

On Monday, French prosecutors said that they were investigating threats allegedly made to a teacher who has been placed under police protection after warning of the spread of radical Islam.

Didier Lemaire told French media the threats began after he wrote an open letter saying the state did not do enough to protect Samuel Paty.

Mr Lemaire teaches philosophy at a high school in Trappes, a poor Paris suburb with a large Muslim population often cited as a frontline in the government's efforts to curb radicalism.
Today was a big day for Xiaomi, with the company unveiling the Mi 11 for global markets. At the phone's Chinese launch back in December, MIUI 12.5 was also unveiled, along with China-specific update plans. Similarly, today we have an idea of what to expect regarding MIUI 12.5's rollout in international markets.

The first batch of devices will get MIUI 12.5 globally in April or May. These phones are the Mi 11, Mi 10T, Mi 10T Pro, Mi 10, and Mi 10 Pro. Then, starting in June, the following handsets will join: Mi 10 Lite 5G, Mi 10T Lite, Mi Note 10 Pro, Mi Note 10, Mi Note 10 Lite, Redmi Note 9T, Redmi Note 9 Pro, Redmi Note 9S, Redmi Note 9, Redmi Note 8 Pro, and Redmi 9.

More smartphones will follow after that in the second half of the year. Although the numbering doesn't imply it, this is not an overly small update - we're thinking Xiaomi may have intentionally wanted to avoid 13 for now.

MIUI 12.5 comes with a complete revamp of the system UI which reduced its CPU usage by up to 22% and power consumption was lowered by up to 15%. This enables "frictionless" performance and graphics, which is most visible in screen gestures that should be smoother than ever.

In previous iterations of MIUI, gestures and other tasks were rendered on a single thread, resulting in a queue of tasks competing for CPU usage, so an overload could cause lags. In 12.5, gestures have their own dedicated thread, making sure no other tasks interfere with them, guaranteeing an instant response.

MIUI 12.5 also has many more uninstallable system apps than its predecessors, the vast majority of such apps can now be uninstalled, while a small number of apps that are "engraved in the system core" can be hidden.

Source | Via
UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

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2 people die in Armenia road accident

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61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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

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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"

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Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

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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

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New Delhi, Feb 9 : The Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it is not in favour of one-time relaxation to UPSC exam aspirants who are age-barred, as it will be discriminatory to other candidates.

Scores of petitioners, who had exhausted their attempt in October 2020 exam amid Covid-19, had moved the top court urging it to grant them an extra chance.

Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, representing the Centre, submitted before a bench headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar that initially the government was not willing to give an extra chance, but it mellowed its stand after a suggestion from the bench.

After a detailed hearing in the matter, the top court reserved its verdict on a plea seeking an extra chance for UPSC aspirants, who exhausted all attempts last October, against the backdrop of mental and physical trauma due to the ongoing pandemic.

"During this pandemic, while everyone had a choice to save their attempt by leaving the exam in 2020, while taking care of their health, the last attempters were given no choice at all and had to sit for the exam, despite the lack of opportunity to prepare," the petitioners have argued.

Raju stressed that the government is not willing to dilute its stand on age-barred candidates, and insisted that these are policy matters beyond purview of the court. "This is not the exam where you prepare at the last minute. People prepare for years together," he submitted.

Agreeing to the final attempt, the Centre had said: "Relaxation, only to the extent of providing one extra attempt for Civil Service Examination (CSE), specifically limited to CSE-2021, may be granted to only those candidates who appeared for CSE-2020 as their last permissible attempt and are otherwise not age-barred from appearing in CSE-2021." The top court, however, pressed that the government should consider giving age-relaxation as a one-time measure. The Centre had told the top court that no relaxation can be granted for CSE-2021 to those candidates who have not exhausted their permissible number of attempts or to those candidates who are otherwise age-barred from appearing in CSE-2021 as per the prescribed age limits of different categories, or to any other candidate for any other reason whatsoever.

Senior advocates appearing for petitioners had argued if anyone which requires consideration, it is the age barred group. On Monday, senior advocate C.U. Singh, appearing for a petitioner, argued that if all the 2,236 candidates, had lost their last chance last year, are age-barred, and if this is not relaxed, all SC/ST candidates, and handicapped candidates would be excluded and for this category of candidates, there is no limit in number of attempts.

Similarly, senior advocate Shyam Divan, representing some petitioners, also pressed upon the issue of age bar relaxation.
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A man holds a sign depicting the shooting of a protester by a policeman during the Oct. 1 , 2019, protests in Hong Kong, China, on Oct. 2, 2019. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

China Among 31 Countries Repressing Its Citizens Abroad: Report

It is the first global-scale investigation on how some governments grind down democracies and influence diaspora and exiles who live beyond their sovereignty.

The report (pdf) released by Freedom House on Feb. 2 reveals that 31 origin states are conducting physical transnational repressionincluding through detention, assault, physical intimidation, unlawful deportation, rendition, or suspected assassinationin 79 host countries.

The 31 origin states include Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Nicaragua, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Venezuela.

Of the 31 states that engage in the physical methods of repression, at least 26 also use nonphysical, everyday tools, including digital threats, spyware, and coercion by proxy, such as the imprisonment of exiles families.

An estimated 3.5 million people worldwide are targeted for assault on a daily basesincluding in democracies like Canada, the United States, the UK, and Australia.

Six countriesChina, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Canadas NATO ally Turkeyare responsible for aggressive operations, including employing the use of physical attacks or secondary tactics of intimidation and coercion in diaspora communities around the world.

The report says China conducts the most sophisticated, global, and comprehensive campaign of transnational repression in the world. Its tactics are marked with three distinctive characteristics. First, China targets multiple ethnical and religious groups, such as Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghur Muslims, and Tibetans, which totals in hundreds of thousands globally.

Adherents of Falun Gong, a spiritual meditation based on the tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, have faced constant reprisal from China and its agents.

Sun Yi on the run from Chinese authorities in Beijing. (Courtesy Flying Cloud Productions)

The report cited the story of Sun Yi, a Falun Gong practitioner who had survived a Chinese labor camp and become a high-profile witness of the Chinese Communist Partys abuses. In October 2017, during his detention, Sun snuck a letter into a Halloween decoration he was forced to make in the labor camp. The letter eventually got into the hands of a woman who purchased the product in the United States, who exposed the atrocities.

In October 2019, Sun sudden suddenly died of kidney failure in Indonesia. Some colleagues consider his death suspicious, but no autopsy was performed.

Like Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghur Muslims have been imprisoned on a massive scale in Chinas Xinjiang province. The House of Commons committee on Canada-China relations has heard about the intimidation of Uyghur Muslims, and declared the CCPs repression to be an act of genocide.

Freedom Houses report states that some Uyghurs who have sought sanctuary in Canada have not found it.

The family of a Uyghur woman in Canada is put in a labour camp in China; when they are released, they call and warn their exiled daughter to keep quiet as a Chinese official looks on, the report states.

The report also notes that Tibetans in the United States and Canada have been subjected to intimidation and espionage by Chinese agents, including by a New York City police officer of Tibetan descent who was arrested in September 2020 for working with Chinese officials to spy on the Tibetan community.

The case resembles recent incidents of surveillance and intimidation of Tibetans in Sweden, Switzerland, and Canada. The same top-shelf spyware used against Uighurs has also been used in campaigns against Tibetans, the report says.

The CCPs intimidation extends beyond the government to a network of proxy entities called anti-cult associations, including Chinese student groups in Canada. The proxies have taken part in harassment and physical attacks against CCP critics and members of religious ethnic minorities.

With files from The Canadian Press

[February 09, 2021] Evidence Partners Bolsters Its Growth Plans with the Appointment of Katy McFee as Executive Vice President of Sales

The Appointment Completes Year-long Recruitment of Executive Team to

Drive the Company's Business Strategy OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 9, 2021 /CNW/ - Evidence Partners Inc., a pioneer in AI-enabled literature review automation software and creator of DistillerSR , today announced the appointment of Katy McFee to the role of Executive Vice President of Sales. With more than 15 years of sales and management experience, Ms. McFee has a proven track record in scaling businesses and leading high-performance teams. Prior to Evidence Partners, Katy was Vice President, Sales at Fullscript, a rapidly growing health-tech company, and has played integral roles in the revenue growth of DNA Genotek (acquired by Orasure Technologies), Sigma Aldrich, Roche Diagnostics, and Spartan Bioscience. "I am pleased to welcome Katy to Evidence Partners," said Peter O'Blenis, CEO, Evidence Partners. "Katy's proven sales leadership and scale-up experience combined with her strong bioscience background make her the ideal choice to lead our Sales organization in addressing our growing markets. Katy is joining at an ideal time as we are seeing tremendous growth among our enterprise customers, many of whom are the world's top-20 largest medical device and pharmaceutical companies." In addition to Ms. McFee, and over the past year, the company has added Jean-Francois Pouliotte as Vice President, Customer Success, Bob Barclay as Vice President, Human Resources, Chris Wright as Vice President, Global Marketing and Communications, and Mark Priatel as Vice President, Engineering to its executive team. In the last year alone, the company grew its workforce by 48 per cent and plans to grow it by an additional 80 per cent in 2021 with further investment in sales, customer success, and engineering. Literature reviews are a fundamental cornerstone of evidence-based research. The challenge with them is that they are difficult, time consuming, and error-prone. DistillerSR automates the management of literature collection, triage, and assessment using AI and intelligent workflows. The cloud-based platform securely produces transparent, audit-ready, and compliant literature reviews faster and more accurately than traditional error-prone manual methods, which primarily use spreadsheets. As a result, healthcare researchers can make more informed and time-sensitive critical health policies, clinical practice guidelines, and regulatory submissions. About Evidence Partners

For more information about Evidence Partners and DistillerSR, visit www.evidencepartners.com .







Evidence Partners is a registered trademark of Evidence Partners, Inc.  DistillerSR is a trademark of Evidence Partners, Inc.

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Posted Tuesday, February 9, 2021 10:31 am

The outlook seemed almost rosy when Dr. Joshua Schiffer and his colleagues set out to determine how factors like vaccination rate, vaccine effectiveness and social distancing might combine to bring the novel coronavirus pandemic under control.

"I was actually feeling pretty optimistic," said Schiffer, an infectious disease physician and researcher at The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. His team's mathematical modeling suggested that if the vaccine was rolled out quickly enough, there probably wouldn't be a major fourth wave of infections in the spring and summer.

Then they factored in a new, more infectious variant of the virus and the picture changed significantly  for the worse.

Under almost every scenario they could envision, a fourth wave now appears likely.

But the model did zero in on the most effective tools to flatten the curve of coronavirus infections during that surge: a rapid pace of vaccination and a willingness to quickly impose restrictions when virus cases start to climb.

The findings confirm what public health experts have been saying for the past few months: Bringing the pandemic under control is now a race between vaccinations and the new variants.

"It seems we are right on the edge when considering whether a big next wave will happen," Schiffer said. "We should definitely be vaccinating around the clock once supply allows."

The only situation where a fourth wave might be avoided, according to the model, requires what seems like an unlikely confluence of conditions: a supercharged vaccination rate in excess of the Biden administration's current target of 1.5 million shots a day; vaccines that remain highly effective, even against new variants; and governments and a populous willing to double down on masking and social distancing rules.

A one-dose vaccine, like Johnson & Johnson's, could also be a game-changer if it's approved soon for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration, Schiffer added.

All models are hypothetical and uncertain, and Fred Hutch's isn't meant to make predictions about how the pandemic will unfold or how many people will die or become infected.

"I think there are just too many unknown variables at this point," Schiffer said. "What we're trying to say is: Here are the policy levers that would theoretically allow you to control this."

The group's preliminary results were posted on the preprint server medRxiv last week and have not yet been peer-reviewed.

But the prospect of a fourth wave propelled by new variants is something many scientists and modeling groups are warning about.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) forecasts that the so-called U.K. variant, which is roughly 50% more transmissible, will outcompete the original strain of the virus and become dominant across the country by late March.

Almost 700 cases involving new strains have been diagnosed in 34 states, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a briefing Monday. A new analysis of genetic sequences suggests infections caused by the variant are doubling every 10 days.

After revising its model to account for two new variants from the U.K. and South Africa, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington is forecasting an additional 200,000 deaths nationwide through June 1  about 23,000 more than if the variants were not spreading rapidly. In Washington state, the forecast is for an additional 1,400 deaths.

Widespread mask use and maintaining social-distancing measures could reduce the U.S. death toll by 30,000, the model says  but many jurisdictions, including portions of Washington state, have been relaxing restrictions.

"What we're seeing is sobering and will require us to continue taking this pandemic very seriously," IHME director Dr. Christopher Murray said when announcing the new results on Jan. 29. "Getting vaccines out quickly is essential and masks are still one of the best tools we have to keep transmission low and avoid the worst possible outcome."

The Hutch model focuses on King County but can be applied nationwide and to other states, Schiffer said. It assumes that the U.K. variant, which has been documented in five Washington infections, is present at low levels and spreading silently.

In all the modeled scenarios, the variant becomes the dominant strain by early summer.

One of the clearest findings in the new report is that delays in imposing what the modelers call "partial lockdowns" when cases start to spike could be dangerous.

"What's clear is that if you wait a week or two, that's a huge amount of time because of exponential growth," Schiffer said.

One bright spot is that hospitalizations and death rates are likely to be lower during any fourth wave than in previous surges because many older people are getting vaccinated.

King County is currently administering about 10,000 vaccine shots a day. According to the model, that number may need to be increased by at least 60% to prevent a major summer spike in infections that could conceivably be larger than any previous wave.

Statewide, the current vaccination rate is about 28,000 per day. That's still far short of Gov. Jay Inslee's goal of 45,000 per day  and even that may not be enough to subdue the fourth wave, according to The Hutch analysis.

Rapid vaccination is also the best way to reduce the need for additional restrictions, Schiffer pointed out.

"It would absolutely be better to vaccinate more quickly than we are and we should shoot for it ... when we have enough shots."

At Monday's White House coronavirus briefing, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, stressed that existing vaccines appear to be highly effective against the U.K. variant, though less so against the South African variant.

South Africa suspended use of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca because of its poor performance against the new strain that predominates there and that appears able to dodge some antibodies.

"The hope is that we will get the virus under much better control by the time there's any indication [the South African variant] might become dominant," Fauci said. "It gets back to vaccinating as many people as you possibly can and implementing the public health measures."

___

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Donald Trump's second impeachment trial is starting, an undertaking like no other in U.S. history. The defeated former president stands charged by the House with inciting the deadly mob attack on the Capitol to overturn the election in what prosecutors argue is the ``most grievous constitutional crime.''

Trump's lawyers are insisting as the Senate trial opens Tuesday that he is not guilty of the sole charge of ``incitement of insurrection,'' his fiery words just a figure of speech as he encouraged a rally crowd to ``fight like hell'' for his presidency. The Capitol siege on Jan. 6 stunned the world as rioters stormed the building to try to stop the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's victory. Five people died.

With senators gathered as the court of impeachment, the trial will begin with debate and then a vote on whether it's constitutionally permissible to prosecute the former president, an argument that could resonate with Republicans keen on voting to acquit Trump without being seen as condoning his behavior. The House prosecutors will argue there is no ``January exception'' to a president's actions just before he leaves office and that the trial has ample precedent, according to aides familiar with the arguments and granted anonymity to discuss them ahead of the trial.

It appears unlikely that the House prosecutors will call witnesses, in part because the senators sworn as jurors, forced to flee for safety, will be presented with graphic videos recorded that day. At his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump has declined a request to testify.

The first president to face charges after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors while in office, Trump remains a challenge to the nation's civic norms and traditions even in defeat. Security remains extremely tight at the Capitol.

Acquittal is likely, but the trial will test the nation's attitude toward his brand of presidential power, the Democrats' resolve in pursuing him, and the loyalty of Trump's Republican allies defending him.

``In trying to make sense of a second Trump trial, the public should keep in mind that Donald Trump was the first president ever to refuse to accept his defeat,'' said Timothy Naftali, a clinical associate professor at New York University and an expert on Richard Nixon's impeachment saga, which ended with Nixon's resignation rather than impeachment.

``This trial is one way of having that difficult national conversation about the difference between dissent and insurrection,'' Naftali said.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that Biden will be busy with the business of the presidency and won't spend much time watching the televised proceedings. ``He'll leave it to his former colleagues in the Senate,'' she said.

In filings, lawyers for the former president lobbed a wide-ranging attack against the House case, dismissing the trial as ``political theater`` on the same Senate floor invaded by the mob.

Trump's defenders are preparing to challenge both the constitutionality of the trial and any suggestion that he was to blame for the insurrection. They suggest that Trump was simply exercising his First Amendment rights when he encouraged his supporters to protest at the Capitol, and they argue the Senate is not entitled to try Trump now that he has left office.

House impeachment managers, in their own filings, asserted that Trump had ``betrayed the American people'' and there is no valid excuse or defense.

``His incitement of insurrection against the United States government _ which disrupted the peaceful transfer of power _ is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president,`` the Democrats said.

Under an agreement between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the opening arguments would begin at noon Wednesday, with up to 16 hours per side for presentations.

The House managers will argue the case like a ``violent crime prosecution,'' according to one of the aides familiar with their preparation, telling a succinct story beginning with Trump's false claims the election was stolen and ending with the attempt at insurrection on Jan. 6. They will show videos of the violence and lay out the day's events in a personal way, since they were themselves fleeing the rioters as it happened.

Trump's defense team has said it plans to counter with its own cache of videos of Democratic politicians making fiery speeches

After that there are hours for deliberations, witnesses and closing arguments. The trial is expected to continue into the weekend and next week.

A presidential impeachment trial has been conducted only three times before, leading to acquittals for Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and then Trump last year.

Typically senators sit at their desks for such occasions, but the COVID-19 crisis has upended even this tradition. Instead, senators will be allowed to spread out, in the ``marble room'' just off the Senate floor, where proceedings will be shown on TV, and in the public galleries above the chamber, to accommodate social distancing, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

Trump's second impeachment trial is expected to diverge from the lengthy, complicated affair of a year ago. In that case, Trump was charged with having privately pressured Ukraine to dig up dirt on Biden, then a Democratic rival for the presidency.

This time, Trump's ``stop the steal'' rally rhetoric and the storming of the Capitol played out for the world to see. The trial could be over in half the time.

The Democratic-led House impeached the president swiftly, one week after the most violent attack on Congress in more than 200 years. Five people died, including a woman shot by police inside the building and a police officer who died the next day of his injuries.

Initially repulsed by the graphic images of the attack, a number of Republican senators have cooled their criticism as the intervening weeks have provided some distance.

Senators were sworn in as jurors late last month, shortly after Biden was inaugurated, but the trial was delayed as Democrats focused on confirming the new president's initial Cabinet picks and Republicans sought to stall.

At the time, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky forced a vote to set aside the trial as unconstitutional because Trump is no longer in office. The 45 Republican votes in favor of Paul's measure suggest the near impossibility of reaching a conviction in a Senate where Democrats hold 50 seats but a two-thirds vote _ or 67 senators _ would be needed to convict Trump.

Only five Republicans joined with Democrats to reject Paul's motion: Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

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The megahit Spanish drama Money Heist, also known as La Casa de Papel, will return for a fifth and final season. Season 4 of the much loved web show ended on a much dramatic note with The Professor in peril and the gang surrounded from all corners. Season five is expected to premiere by the end of year and fans are already tripping over fan theories. One such theory has led them to think that Angel Rubio might join the gang of robbers in the series finale.

Angel was introduced in season ones first episode as lead investigator Raquel Murillo's partner and they were seen coming together to stop The Professor from carrying off his heist at the Royal Mint of Spain. As Raquel had joined the robbers and he is not very fond of the new main investigator, Alicia Sierra, fans think Angel might also join the robbers.

Money Heist/La Casa De Papel had left the audience with a lot of questions at the end of Part 4 and while the show is known for taking unexpected turns, it will be interesting to see how The Heist will come to an end.

Season five is shot in Spain, Denmark and Portugal, with actors Miguel Angel Silvestre and Patrick Criado joining the cast featuring Ursula Cobero (Tokyo), Alvaro Morte (The Professor), Itziar Ituno (Lisbon) and Pedro Alonso (Berlin) among others.

"We've spent almost a year thinking about how to break up the band," said creator and showrunner Alex Pina, adding: "How to put the Professor on the ropes. How to get into situations that are irreversible for many characters. The result is the fifth part of La Casa de Papel'. The war reaches its most extreme and savage levels, but it is also the most epic and exciting season."
Nearly half of all Romanians (49.5%) consider that the information regarding the anti-COVID-19 vaccine and the national immunization offered by the authorities is useful, but insufficient, according to a survey done by INSCOP Research and Verifield, in partnership with the Social Innovation and Communication Research Center (CoRe) within the Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences Faculty of the Babes-Bolyai University, according to AGERPRES.

The research was done on demand, part of an independent research project initiated and coordinated by the STRATEGIC think-tank Thinking Group - The Association of Strategic Thinking.

From the information they have, 56% of respondents believe that the national campaign of vaccination against COVID-19 was well and very well prepared, 39.3% say it was bad and really bad and 4.1% do not know or have not replied.

Most Romanians (51.6%) trust in the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (USA-Germany), and 44.1% in the Moderna vaccine (USA), 38.5% in the AstraZeneca vaccine (United Kingdom - Sweden), 17.8% in those developed by China and 17.7% in the Sputnik vaccine (Russia).

Regarding the order established in the vaccination strategy for specific population groups, 85.5% of respondents agree with this, 11.6% do not agree and 2.6% did not know or did not answer.

The research also shows that 49.8% of Romanians consider that the Church, regardless of creed, should support the vaccination campaign, 46.3% that it should not support it and 4% did not know or did not answer.

The involvement of the Army in the national vaccination campaign is considered a good and very good idea by 65.9% of Romanians, a bad and very bad idea by 30.1% and 4% did not know or did not answer.

In the event in which the epidemiological data will indicate the need of a seasonal anti-COVID-19 vaccination, just like the one for the flu, 57.6% responded that they will get immunized yearly, 37.2% that they will not get vaccinated and 5.2% did not know or did not reply.

According to the survey, 73.2% of respondents have a good opinion of the EU's decision of negotiating and acquiring the anti-COVID-19 vaccines, which are for immunizing the population of all member states, 22.5% think it was a bad idea and 4.3% did not know or did not reply.

The survey was carried out during the period of January 13 - February 3, through the method of phone interviews, the volume was of 1,200 people, with an error of 2.8% and a confidence degree or 95%.
UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi bid an emotional farewell to senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad whose term in the Rajya Sabha is coming to an end on February 15. Azad has served as the Leader of Opposition in the Upper House since June 8, 2014. During his address, the PM recalled their interaction after a grenade was lobbed by terrorists at a bus carrying tourists from Gujarat in Jammu and Kashmir in 2006.

Azad, who was serving as the J&K CM, immediately called Modi after the incident. Talking about their conversation, the PM mentioned that the senior Congress leader's tears would not stop. Afterwards, the then Chief Minister of J&K called him from the aircraft when the bodies of the terror victims were sent back and stayed in touch till the plane landed in Gujarat. It is pertinent to note that Azad was one of the 23 signatories to the letter that called for structural changes within the Congress party.

A teary-eyed PM Modi remarked, "When you were the Chief Minister, I also served as the Chief Minister of a state. In that period, we were very close. You can hardly find an incident where we had no contact. There are many people from Gujarat among the tourists that visit Jammu and Kashmir. On one occasion, terrorists attacked them. At least 8 people died. The first call I received was from Ghulam Nabi Azad. His tears were not stopping on the phone. At that time, Pranab Mukherjee was the Defence Minister. I called him and asked whether the aircraft of the forces can be made available to ferry the dead body. It was very late. Mukherjee sahab said that I will make the arrangement. On that night, Ghulam Nabi ji again called me from the airport. He was worried about them akin to how someone is worried about one's family members."

Read: After PM Modi's Farewell, Athawale Tells Outgoing Azad 'will Bring You Back If Cong Won't'

#WATCH: PM Modi gets emotional while reminiscing an incident involving Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, during farewell to retiring members in Rajya Sabha. pic.twitter.com/vXqzqAVXFT  ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

Read: PM Modi Fires 'G-23' Jibe At Cong While Thanking Ghulam Nabi Azad: 'Take In Right Spirit'

Here are some of the visuals from the aforesaid incident:

From ANI Archives 30 July 2007: Then J&K CM Ghulam Nabi Azad sees off terrorist attack victims from Gujarat



Earlier today, PM Modi got emotional in Parliament when referring to this incident pic.twitter.com/2v5LVAXU1c  ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

Read: 'Red Fort Incident Against Democracy': Ghulam Nabi Azad Seeks Action Against Perpetrators
New Info on Trigg County Officer-Involved Shooting

By West Kentucky Star Staff

CADIZ - Kentucky State Police have released more information in an officer-involved shooting Monday night north of Cadiz.Detectives said at around 7:40 pm, Trigg County Dispatch received a call of a possible intoxicated driver on Bush Road. When deputies located the man, he reportedly brandished a gun and fired it.Deputies responded by returning fire, striking and wounding the man.

The man was transported to an area hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. No one else was injured during the altercation.

The investigation is conducted by Kentucky State Police, Post 1 and the Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team.
(Newser)  Chinese authorities are blocking access to Clubhouse, a social media app that allowed users in China to discuss sensitive topics with people abroad, the AP reports. The move adds Clubhouse to thousands of websites and social media apps to which the ruling Communist Party blocks access in an effort to control what Chinas public sees and reads; others include Facebook, Twitter, and other social media, news, human rights, and activism websites. Service to users in China was interrupted at about 7pm Monday in Beijing, according to GreatFire.org, a nonprofit group in the United States that monitors Chinese internet filtering and tries to help users circumvent it. President Xi Jinpings government refuses to acknowledge the existence of its internet filters, but researchers abroad trace blockages to servers within state-owned China Telecom Ltd. through which internet traffic into and out of China is required to pass.

story continues below

Xis government promotes what it calls internet sovereignty, or the right of political leaders to limit what their public sees online. Clubhouse temporarily gave Chinese users an uncensored forum to talk about politically sensitive issues. Unlike many other social media apps, it uses oral conversation, which allowed users in China to talk directly to people in Taiwan, the self-ruled island claimed by the Communist Party as part of its territory, and others abroad. Topics for recent discussions included Xinjiang region in China's northwest, where the Communist Party has interned more than 1 million ethnic Muslims. The service requires users to be invited to join and to give their names and phone numbers. That prompted warnings that Chinese users might face official retaliation. There has been no indication whether anyone in China has been punished for using the service. The Washington Post notes Clubhouse soared in popularity after Elon Musk joined last week. (Read more China stories.)

As a novice Jesuit in 2005, the Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., visited the University of Scranton to speak to students about vocations.

The president of the university, the Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., asked for a meeting with his new Jesuit brother.

I was so impressed by him. He took time out of his schedule to meet with me, Marina said.

Pilarz, just two years into his first tenure as president, offered parting words that stuck with Marina for the last 16 years: Who knows? With any luck and with Gods grace, you may join us here in Scranton someday.

School leaders announced Tuesday that Marina  a teacher, pastor and scholar with more than 20 years of experience in higher education  will become the 28th president of the University of Scranton.

Father Marina belongs in Scranton, said Pilarz, who announced in August that this would be his last academic year as president, as the symptoms from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis advance. He understands well what makes Scranton special. He believes deeply in Catholic and Jesuit education.

Pilarz announced his diagnosis of the progressive nerve disease, known as ALS or Lou Gehrigs disease, in 2018, just a few weeks before his second inauguration. He also served as president from 2003 to 2011.

Marina, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, will take over the beloved presidents duties this summer, as higher education continues to face unprecedented challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tuesdays announcement, broadcast live on YouTube, included remarks from Marina and other college leaders hundreds of miles apart.

Calling it the privilege of a lifetime, Marina said he will work to shepherd the university through the challenges of the pandemic, while embracing the values of community, family and faith he has already found in Scranton.

The 58-year-old Phillipsburg, New Jersey native spent 17 years in higher education before he took action on a feeling that stirred inside  an ember that continued to burn. As a doctoral student at Fordham University, he met the Jesuits and began the discernment process at the age of 42. He felt like he belonged. He feels the same way at the University of Scranton.

There is no other feeling like that, when you know youre home, he said.

A university committee of trustees and representatives from the faculty, staff, student body, alumni and administration conducted a national search for the next president.

Since 2016, Father Marina has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of education at Le Moyne College, where he oversees the Jesuit colleges three academic schools, honors program, library, campus life, student housing, conduct and Title IX compliance, diversity and inclusion programming, global education, student success and support services, disability services and several other areas.

He launched the schools first doctoral program in educational leadership, worked on the strategic plan and established the schools Quantitative Reasoning Center and the Writing Center.

His prior experience includes serving as the dean of the School of Continuing Education at Providence College, assistant dean for the College of Science and Mathematics at Montclair State University and assistant dean for Metropolitan College at St. Johns University.

In addition, he taught religious studies at Providence College and mathematics at St. Johns University. He served as pastor of the Church of St. Francis Xavier and as associate pastor of the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, both in New York City.

Father Marina brings a vast array of experience that will affirm the Catholic and Jesuit values upon which the University of Scranton has already been built, Diocese of Scranton Bishop Joseph C. Bambera said in a statement. We are blessed that he has chosen to share his unique gifts and experiences with the students, faculty and staff of the University of Scranton. With a proven track record of being a knowledgeable and respected voice in higher education, Father Marinas presence will serve the University of Scranton well as it continues to distinguish itself as an academically rigorous, socially responsible learning community where students become men and women for others.

Marinas research interests include leadership and organizational change and, in the area of theology, scripture and the question of nonbelief. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in administration and supervision from Fordham University, a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology from Boston College and a Master of Science in secondary education from St. Johns University. He earned a Bachelor of Science in physical sciences, with a theology minor, from St. Johns University.

On behalf of the search committee, I want to say how pleased and excited we are that Father Marina has agreed to lead our beloved university, said trustee Kathleen Sprows Cummings, Ph.D., who served as chairwoman of the search committee. I am so very grateful to my colleagues on the committee for their thoughtfulness and dedication throughout the search process. Father Marina has our full and enthusiastic support as he prepares to begin his service this summer.
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After losing a national election, its natural that a political party goes through a period of soul-searching and internal turmoil.

The Republican Party, though, has taken it to another level.

President Donald Trump brought most of the GOP along for the ride during his conspiracy-fueled attempt to overturn the election.

His loyalists have been scouring the landscape searching for Republicans to censure or primary for insufficient loyalty to him.

The most famous Republican House freshman mused not too long ago about a space laser starting the 2018 California wildfires.

And Trump has maintained his hold on the party seemingly effortlessly.

This dismaying chapter has led to declarations that the party is doomed and calls to split it up.

A former chair of the Washington state Republicn Party wrote in an op-ed in the Seattle Times urging, as the headline put it, Lets form a new Republican Party. This prompted a Chris Cillizza item at CNN headlined Should Republicans disband the GOP?

Theres been a spate of articles by erstwhile Republicans announcing they are done with the party.

Jonathan Last wrote a piece in the New Republic titled The Republican Party is dead. It is the Trump cult now. Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker declared, The party isnt doomed; its dead.

This seems a mite premature about a party that represents roughly half the country and is on the cusp of a majority in the House, tied 50-50 in the Senate, and in control of the governorships in 27 states and both the governorship and state legislature in 22 of those.

If we are going to consider this geographically diverse collection of officeholders  whose careers in many instances predate Trump and will outlast him  a mere personality cult, the word cult has lost its meaning.

The fortunes of our political parties ebb and flow, and their iterations change over time, but they are deeply embedded institutions of our public life.

As Dan McLaughlin, my colleague at National Review, points out, the Republican Party has, since its inception, been a fusion of a classic liberal wing with a more populist, elemental conservatism.

Whats different about Trump is that he represents the ascendance of the populist wing after it had long been in a subordinate position in the party. Even he, though, retained key traditional policy priorities of the GOP, from tax cuts and judges to religious liberty and abortion.

That said, the party does need to get beyond Trump, who is a three-time loser now  in the 2018 midterms, in his 2020 re-election campaign and in the Georgia special elections. In electoral terms, all the winning stopped circa November 2016.

It if feels now as though the post-Trump GOP will never arrive, American politics moves quickly. Richard Nixon resigned in 1974, leaving the GOP in utter disarray  and yet Reagan won a landslide six years later. The tea party movement sprang to life from nowhere in 2009 and had disappeared by 2016, subsumed into the Trump phenomenon.

There will inevitably be an overwhelming controversy in the Biden administration or a crisis that moves us beyond the politics of the Trump presidency and the immediate aftermath.

New issues will emerge, and there are plenty of talented, ambitious Republican politicians who think they are better suited to win a presidential election and serve as president than Donald Trump 2.0. The incentives are for them to slipstream behind Trump for now, but that wont always be true.

The temptation to splinter from the GOP might be alluring to elements of both the populists and the Republican traditionalists, but this a dead end.

The Republican Party is the only plausible electoral vehicle for any sort of right-of-center politics in America. It is worth fighting over, and it will be.

That struggle is sure to be toxic and unpredictable  except for the fact that at the end of the day the Grand Old Party will still be standing.

@RichLowry
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This is the second year TISSIUM has been included in the program for late-stage startups.

TISSIUM, a privately-owned medtech company developing biomorphic programmable polymers for tissue reconstruction, announced today it has been named a French Tech 120 company for the 2021 program. French Tech 120 is a growth-stage program by La French Tech, built to provide government-backed support for the 120 fastest growing companies in France.

This is the second year in a row that TISSIUM has been chosen to participate in this government-backed program designed to stimulate growth and create opportunities in France.

By naming TISSIUM to the program, La French Tech is recognizing TISSIUM as a promising French company that will receive support during its period of hypergrowth, including unlimited access to services related to international development, funding, go-to-market support and others.

In 2021, TISSIUM is expanding its reach to increase its focus internationally, especially in the U.S., and it has recently added to its global leadership team to focus on partnerships and regulatory preparedness as a result. TISSIUM is also dedicating resources to continue the growth of its platform to include polymers applicable to nerve repair, and applications related to the hernia and cardiovascular issues.

"We are elated once again to participate in the French Tech 120 program for 2021, especially in light of our ongoing strategic goals and recent activities that will result in the further expansion of our growing business. As we continue to seek opportunities with potential partners and position ourselves within the tissue reconstruction space, this occasion to participate in French Tech 120 with La French Tech will offer the support we need to achieve our goals, and we are appreciative of the recognition and the opportunities it will present for a second year in a row," said Christophe Bancel, CEO of TISSIUM.

About French Tech 120

Launched in September 2019 by the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, the French Tech 120 program illustrates the French government's desire to become the best possible support for the French Tech ecosystem.

The French Tech Mission brought together some 50 French Tech Correspondents within administrations and public services capable of supporting the growth of startups. The list of services, intended to grow continuously, covers five categories: international development, financing, access to the market, recruitment of talent and support in all relations with the administration. The French Tech 120 is aimed at innovative companies that have been established within the past 15 years, and that have not yet done an IPO or been purchased. Participants are selected according to objective criteria based on fundraising and turnover.

About TISSIUM

TISSIUM is a privately-owned medtech company based in Paris, France that is dedicated to the rapid development and commercialization of a unique biopolymer platform to address various unmet clinical needs.

The company's platform is based on a proprietary polymer family with unique properties including the ability to conform to and integrate with surrounding tissue to enable tissue reconstruction. Furthermore, the polymer building blocks enable customization to match tissue-specific requirements for different therapeutic areas. The company is developing a portfolio of solutions for peripheral nerve, gastrointestinal, ENT and cardiovascular applications. The company also develops delivery and activation devices for enhanced performance and usability of its family of polymers.

TISSIUM's technology is based on world-class research and intellectual property from the laboratories of Professor Robert Langer (MIT) and Professor Jeffrey M. Karp (Brigham and Women's Hospital), who co-founded the company in 2013. For more information, please visit: www.TISSIUM.com and @TISSIUMtech.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005660/en/

Contacts:

PRESS

Europe

Brice Epry Chief of Staff

Tel: +33 1 76 21 72 28

contact@TISSIUM.com

Twitter: @TISSIUMtech

U.S.

Marion Janic

Tel: +1 646-537-5649

mjanic@rooneyco.com
The following are bits from a very instructive 1991 debate on the floor of the Lok Sabha between CPI(M)'s Nirmal Kanti Chatterjee and then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao.

NKC: "... if there are one lakh washing machines in the country, that means we are depriving approximately one lakh partial employment in the country. It is not only directly, indirectly also by producing this kind of goods, employment is affected. Similarly, one can take the example of dust cleaners.."

PVNR (a little later): "... Coming to technology, Nirmal Babu has told us something about appropriate technology. If you have a washing machine, how many people are you throwing out of employment? The only thing is, if you have a lakh of washing machines being made, to how many are you giving employment, on the other side?..."

NKC: "...Those resources which are utilised for producing washing machine, could be utilised for other purposes."

PVNR: "That is the point. If you take that as the criterion, then you will remain a country of maid-servants only."

Seen through modern eyes, this exchange may seem embarrassing for one side. But one must realise that in 1991, people thought that this was a serious policy question and not funny at all.

On Monday, in his speech to the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to frame his difficulties with the new agricultural laws in terms of the struggles faced by every reformer before him. How to address insecurities of people about something new. And how to deal with an opposition that refuses to have vision.

The Prime Minister's effort appears to consist of four parts, each with its own separate function. First, he explained how the usual means of farmer welfare, such as debt relief or crop insurance, do little or nothing for small and marginal farmers. The number of people with small holdings has continuously been increasing. They now make up around 68% of Indian farmers. Unless there is vast, sweeping reform in the agriculture sector, it becomes almost impossible to raise their incomes.

In doing so, the Prime Minister quoted extensively the views of venerable farmer leaders, starting with HD Deve Gowda and going back to the Late Charan Singh. He also made a reference to an important episode where the historical record needs to be fixed, giving Lal Bahadur Shastri proper credit for his role in ushering the green revolution.

Indeed, in the mid-1960s, when Shastri sought to improve the productivity of Indian farmers, he wanted to import high-yield varieties of crops and special fertilisers from abroad. His own cabinet colleagues, the Left parties and the public at large had been deeply uncomfortable about the idea. In fact, it was a struggle for him to get even the foreign exchange needed for these transactions. As is their habit, the Left parties labelled him an agent of American imperialism.

The echoes of this rhetoric in the so-called "farmers' movement" on the borders of Delhi cannot be missed. But Shastri was right. The green revolution ended India's food crisis, including the need for food aid from America (the so called PL-480 wheat). And Punjab benefited the most.

The second part was to corner the opposition parties. For this, the Prime Minister appeared to take two different approaches. The first was to repeat the fact that these reforms had been on the agenda of every party. This is well-documented and a few quotes from Dr Manmohan Singh would suffice. For a long time now, political parties have known that such reforms are in the interest of the farmer and the nation. They have implemented versions of these reforms whenever possible, including in opposition-ruled states. To oppose these reforms simply for the sake of opposing makes no sense.

The second strategy was more subtle. The Prime Minister praised the contributions of Lal Bahadur Shastri, Chaudhary Charan Singh and Deve Gowda. By not mentioning the Nehru-Gandhis, he sought to cut off and isolate the Congress party from the rest of the opposition. The most clever of all was when he referred to Subhas Chandra Bose as the first Prime Minister of India, head of the Azad Hind government.

The third part consisted of reaching out to farmers directly and soothing their concerns. The case of dairy farming, which unlike grain farming is relatively free of controls, was the case in point. This makes for an easily relatable example for farmers and most of the rural population. India has the most productive dairy industry in the world as well as a robust chain of supply and value addition. The milk sells; the animal stays with the farmer. Why would anyone fear losing their land because of these new agricultural laws?

And then, the big assurance. "MSP is here to stay. Nobody can take it away."

The fourth and final part was to warn the nation against the antics of professional protesters, who he called "andolanjeevis". Unlike farmers who help us put food on our table, these people contribute nothing. They bring nothing to the table. They only get a cut, every time we get chaos and disruption. This time, they are playing with an even bigger fire than usual. Punjab has seen some difficult episodes in the 1980s. It is very important that we do not open up old wounds.

At the moment, it seems unlikely that the PM's speech will make the opposition back away from this issue. But the clear message from the Modi government is that the reforms will go through, sooner or later. In fact, this will be followed up with other far-reaching reforms in banking, insurance, electricity and infrastructure.

A number of people have drawn parallels between the current situation and the 2011 Lokpal movement. This is tempting but rather misguided. For one, people of a certain group tend to overestimate the role of the 2011 movement in deciding the fate of UPA2. But more importantly, the 2011 movement was against corruption. It was an issue that everyone could relate to. A decade from now, even a hundred years from now, people will agree that corruption was bad.

About the farm laws, not so much. Good sense is likely to prevail, eventually. Possibly in just five years or less, everyone will agree that agricultural reform was a positive thing. It's how the story of independent India has always unfolded. Economic reform has always done good for our nation. As a matter of fact, the critics of these laws risk being judged very harshly by history. They must remember that their words on the floor of Parliament are going into the official record. And some day, just like those communists militating against washing machines, they might get laughed at.
Scientists and astronauts may be making some space-breaking discoveries in the International Space Station (ISS), but it is also a thriving environment for several bacteria. However, not all bacteria are bad and with this information, researchers from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) conducted a study to analyze how the presence of bacteria in space works and what are the possibilities of it turning dangerous.

A study conducted by NASA in 2015 found that samples from an air filter and a vacuum dust bag from the space station had opportunistic bacterial pathogens that are mostly safe on Earth but can lead to infections that result in inflammations or skin irritations. In general, researchers found that the human skin-associated bacteria Corynebacterium and Propionibacterium (Actinobacteria) but not Staphylococcus were more abundant on the station than in Earth-based clean rooms.

The research was necessary to understand the nature of the communities of microbes, the microbiome, in the space station to manage astronaut health and maintenance of equipment. To prevent any outbreak of deadly infection, however, astronauts reduce the possibility through periods of quarantine prior to their mission.

The study published in Microbiome Journal in 2015 was led by Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group from the California Institute of Technology, Kasthuri Venkateswaran, Aleksandra Checinska, the study's first author, Parag Vaishampayan and Alexander J. Probst of the University of California, Berkeley, Duane L. Pierson of NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, James R. White of Resphera Biosciences, Baltimore, Deepika Kumar, Victor G. Stepanov, and George E. Fox of the University of Houston, Texas; Henrik R. Nilsson of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and Jay Perry of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama.

Even though cleanliness is highly taken care of in space comparison between ISS and an ultra-clean laboratory on earth showed that Actinobacteria made up a larger proportion of the microbial community in the space station than in the cleanrooms of earth. The researchers concluded that it is due to the more stringent cleaning regimens possible on Earth.
Police Seek Help with Murray Burglaries

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MURRAY - The Murray Police Department is asking for the public's help with an investigation into three recent burglaries.On Tuesday, officers responded to a call regarding found property on South 12th Street. While investigating the items, officers learned that a business on South 12th Street had been burglarized.A short time later, authorities learned that a second business on South 12th Street had been burglarized, as was a third nearby business.Anyone with information is asked to contact the Murray Police Department. If you would like to leave an anonymous tip, contact the Murray Calloway County Crime Stoppers at 270-753-9500.
A Guatemalan man was arrested Thursday after federal agents found more than 10 pounds of cocaine on him worth more than $335,000 on I-10 near Mobile, authorities said Monday.

Mobile County sheriffs deputies assisted U.S. Border Patrol Agents on the vehicle stop on I-10 eastbound when they found about 10 1/2 pounds of cocaine hidden in a spare tire of the stopped 2020 Dodge Caravan.

The drugs worth more than $335,000 were found after Border Control agents decided to search the vehicle when the suspect displayed nervous behavior and had several inconsistencies in his story.

The alleged smuggler, only identified as a 44-year-old Guatemalan national in the country on a visitor visa, was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Border Patrol said.
Although more teens are getting the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, parents' hesitancy is growing, a new study finds.

From 2012 to 2018, more doctors recommended their patients get vaccinated with the HPV vaccinefrom 27% to 49%. But at the same time, the number of parents who were reluctant to have their kids vaccinated increased from 50% to 64%, researchers found.

"Overall, more U.S. teens are getting the HPV vaccine, and the nation is making progress towards reaching the HPV vaccination goals; however, if parental reluctance continues to grow, the current rate of our progress might plateau or possibly decline," said lead study author Kalyani Sonawane. She's an assistant professor in the department of management, policy and community health at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.

"In the long term, the lost opportunity to protect our teens from HPV might contribute to cases of HPV-associated cervical, oropharyngeal, penile, anal, vaginal and vulvar cancers in the future," Sonawane said.

Parents' reluctance to have their kids vaccinated rose more for girls, from 54% to 68%, compared with 44% to 59% for boys, the researchers noted. The report was published online Feb. 9 in the journal Pediatrics.

To increase the number of boys and girls who get vaccinated, doctors need to strongly recommend it, Sonawane said.

"Further improvements in provider recommendations can be made, given that it is the most important factor for improving HPV vaccine uptake," she said. "Providers should be prepared to tackle hesitancy by conveying the importance of HPV vaccination to parents and debunking vaccine misinformation. Increasing vaccine confidence in parents will be key to attaining HPV vaccination goals in the U.S."

The reluctance is largely due to safety concerns, Sonawane said. In a study, she and her colleagues found that the most common reason parents cite for their reluctant to HPV vaccine is concerns regarding adverse effects.

"The public message about the HPV vaccine should highlight that the vaccine protects against cancers. It is important to emphasize to parents that the vaccine offers protection for up to six cancers, because data indicates that many people are not aware of this fact," Sonawane said.

In another study, Sonawane found that less than one-third of Americans know that HPV causes anal, penile and oral cancers.

Sonawane added that the anti-vaxxer movement is likely contributing to the growing reluctance of parents to have their children vaccinated, and she is concerned that the "negative coverage of the COVID vaccine will trickle down to HPV vaccine and affect perceptions regarding vaccines."

HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that is the cause of most cervical, vagina and vulva cancers, penis cancer and cancer in the back of the throat. It can take years for these cancers to develop, but children can be protected by getting the HPV vaccine at ages 11 to 12, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

One pediatrician unconnected to the study noted the importance of the marketing for the vaccine.

"When this vaccine first hit the market, they didn't focus the messaging around it being a cancer preventer vaccine. They focused on the sexually transmitted infections," said Dr. David Fagan, vice chairman of pediatric administration-ambulatory at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y.

Fagan believes, however, the message should be that the vaccine prevents cancer. "Wouldn't you, as a parent, want to do everything you could for your child to prevent the possibility of your child getting a cancerthis vaccine does that," he said.

He also thinks that the quality of the recommendation is key to convincing parents to vaccinate their children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is doing a lot to educate pediatricians in motivational interviewing techniques, Fagan said.

The tetanus booster, the meningitis vaccine and the HPV vaccine are those recommended for adolescence.

Evidence shows, if you offer the HPV in first or second place as opposed to third place, parents are more likely to opt for it, Fagan said.

"If you do tetanus, meningitis, HPV, they are less likely to accept HPV, but if you put HPV first or even second, there's evidence that there's better uptake. So messaging is really, really important," he said.

The vaccine is safe, Fagan said. A study has shown that no serious side effects have been seen since the vaccine was released.

"You know these things on social media about the safety of the vaccine, obviously that's crazy stuff," he said.

"I tell parents if this vaccine was unsafe, it would have been pulled from the market," Fagan said. "Additionally, you would be reading about multimillion dollar legal settlements in the press, and that has not happened. So the take-home message is this vaccine is safe and effective in preventing cancers caused by HPV."

Explore further 8 things to know about the HPV vaccine

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Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High 51F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy with showers. Low around 45F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Pennsylvanias tax revenues fell $162 million short of projections for January due to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Millions of Pennsylvanians continue to face uncertainty about how to be vaccinated against the disease, which also is crucial for getting the economy back on track.

Thousands of businesses remain on the brink of closure despite a recent $145 million relief bill for restaurants, taverns and small hotels  for some establishments, the funds came too little, too late. Unemployment continues to plague thousands.

In Harrisburg, The Associated Press has reported that state lawmakers have been sure to take care of  of course, state lawmakers.

The Legislative Audit Advisory Commission reported Thursday that for the 2019-20 fiscal year  including January through June 2020  the Legislature increased its own spending from $362 million to $392 million, more than 8%. In a yet appalling act of hubris during a public health and economic crisis, the Legislature increased its own reserve funds from $172 million to nearly $200 million.

According to Republican legislative leaders, such a massive reserve fund is necessary to keep the Legislature operating in case it gets into a budget impasse with Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.

The reserve, however, is a self-fulfilling prophesy. It not only enables, but invites such an impasse. It is just one aspect of the Legislatures bad governance, beyond its own unjustifiable size and cost.

Executive branch agencies are required to return to the Treasury any unspent money from their operations. The same rule should apply to the Legislature.

Taxpayers do not give the Legislature money to sit on for the purpose of guaranteeing budget impasses. State money should be used to fund government operations.

After it returns the $200 million to taxpayers, the constitutional amendment-happy majority should propose a new one, prohibiting the Legislature from maintaining reserve funds no greater than 8% of its operating budget  the same figure that state law applies to school district surpluses.
Spains health minister, Carolina Darias, announced today that passengers on flights and ships arriving in the country from the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa will continue to be subject to restrictions. The aim is to prevent the arrival of more-infectious variants of the coronavirus that have been detected in those countries.

Current rules state that only Spanish citizens or people with other nationalities who have official residency in Spain or Andorra can fly or sail into the country from the United Kingdom, Brazil or South Africa. This restriction will be extended until March 2. A negative PCR test or similar carried out within 72 hours prior to arrival is also required.

Passengers traveling from Brazil and South Africa, meanwhile, are also now being given antigen tests in the airport according to the minister, in an attempt to strengthen the health controls.

There are currently no direct flights between South Africa and Spain, meaning that the restrictions will apply to passengers whose journeys begin there and make a stopover in a third country.

Meanwhile, travelers from Spain to England will from Monday onward have to not only present a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before travel and isolate for 10 days, but will also have to take two more tests  on the second and eighth day of quarantine. The cost of these three tests will have to be paid for by each passenger. Travelers to England from 33 high risk countries, including South Africa, Brazil and Portugal, will soon be required to self-isolate in hotels for 10 days, also at their own cost.

Portugal restrictions

On Tuesday, the Spanish government opted to extend controls along its land border with Portugal until March 1, given that the neighboring country is still struggling to bring down coronavirus infections and deaths. The countries governments had closed the border on January 28 for all non-essential travel, with some exceptions.

Basque Country

Outdoor seating at a bar in Vitoria, in the Basque Country, where food and drink establishments will be able to reopen. Inaki Berasaluce / Europa Press

Bars and restaurants in the Basque Country will be able to reopen from Wednesday onward, despite an order from the regional government to close them in municipalities where there are high rates of coronavirus infection.

The regional High Court on Tuesday accepted a request from hostelry associations to temporarily suspend the measure, on the basis that the activity of such establishments is not a genuine and serious element of risk for public health, as the regional government had argued when ordering the closures. The regional government will be able to appeal this move.

The ruling is a blow to the regional government, which in January adopted measures that included the closure of establishments where the 14-day cumulative number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants is 500 or above. A total of 84 municipalities were in this situation, 46 of them with more than 5,000 inhabitants (including the capitals of Vitoria, Bilbao and San Sebastian).

This is the third time that judges have put a stop to measures taken by the Basque regional government. Previous incidents of this kind prompted the lehendakari, as the regional premier is known, to call on the central government to implement a new state of alarm giving the countrys regions more legal powers to introduce coronavirus restrictions, something that was approved in October for a six-month period.

Catalonia

Election posters in Premia de Dalt, Barcelona, ahead of a regional election on February 14. Joan Sanchez

In Catalonia, the general secretary for public health, Josep Maria Argimon, confirmed that teachers in the region will be considered essential workers and as such will receive the Covid-19 vaccine over the next three months.

This will put teaching staff in Catalonia on the same level as emergency workers and pharmacists, who will start to receive their inoculations against the coronavirus from this week onward.

Teaching staff are not getting left out, said Argimon during an interview with Catalunya Radio. They are part of this group of [essential workers] but not all of them will be able to get the vaccine on the first day. This is a collective that we are planning on vaccinating over the coming three months.

Catalan elections

Also in Catalonia, the regional government has estimated that around 14,000 people who are currently positive with Covid-19 could take part in the upcoming regional election on Sunday, February 14. That was according to the general secretary for public health, Josep Maria Argimon, also while speaking on Catalunya Radio. The government is estimating that around 70,000 close contacts of these positive cases could turn out to vote, given that each positive is thought to have an average of 4.5 contacts. It would be better if they stayed home, but they also have the right to vote, the secretary admitted.

The pandemic has already had an effect on the polls, with 25,000 members of the public who had been randomly selected to man voting stations filing reasons as to why they should be excused from the duty. The regional government has stated that 99% of the 9,139 voting stations in the region will be properly manned and functioning, with the minimum staffing level necessary of a president and two members.

During Tuesdays press conference after the weekly Cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Maria Jesus Montero called on residents of Catalonia to participate in the election, and sought to reassure citizens that the process would take place with all of the guarantees needed to protect peoples health and right to vote.

Based on reporting by Rafa de Miguel, Mikel Ormazabal and Bernat Coll.

English version by Simon Hunter.
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The $33.5 billion proposal would breach four dams on the Lower Snake River by the end of the next decade.



SEATTLE (AP)  A Republican congressman has proposed removing four hydroelectric dams in the Northwest as part of a sweeping new plan to address the decades-long problem of how to save salmon populations without upending a system that provides power to millions of people.

The $33.5 billion proposal from Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho would breach four dams on the Lower Snake River by the end of the next decade, freeing up the waterway for long-ranging salmon that are also a key food source for orcas. The plan, which was unveiled late Saturday, would pay for finding ways to replace the dams' key roles in energy, agriculture and transportation.





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Nanocovax, a Vietnamese Covid-19 vaccine, is said to have an effect on coronavirus variants following the first phase of human trials, according to Vietnam Military Medical University.

The first phase of human trials for Nanocovax, which began last December, recently ended with 120 vaccine shots administered to 60 volunteers. The volunteers were split into three groups to be injected with three vaccine doses: 25 micrograms, 50 micrograms and 75 micrograms in two shots, 28 days apart.

Preliminary findings revealed Nanocovax shots are safe, generate high immune response and have an effect on coronavirus variants, the government news portal on Tuesday cited Vietnam Military Medical University under the Ministry of National Defense, which oversaw the trials.

Most volunteers have enjoyed stable health following the shots. Some side effects include pain at the site of injection or light fever. Further analysis is underway to determine the proper doses for the second phase of human trials, expected to begin after the Lunar New Year Festival in mid-February and involve 560 volunteers committed for six months.

Vietnam has recorded the presence of at least two coronavirus variants so far: one originated from the U.K. and the other from South Africa. The U.K. variant, believed to be up to 70 percent more transmissible than ordinary strains, was deemed responsible for outbreaks that started in the northern Quang Ninh and Hai Duong Provinces late last month.

Vietnam is currently working on four Covid-19 vaccines produced by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC, the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals, the Vaccine and Biological Production Company No. 1 and the Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals.

Covivac of the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals is expected to commence human trials after the Lunar New Year Festival.

Besides producing domestic vaccines, Vietnam also reached a deal to receive 30 million doses of a vaccine produced by AstraZeneca, a BritishSwedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, the U.K., within the first half of this year. The country is also stepping up negotiations with the U.S.s Pfizer and Moderna, along with other vaccine manufacturers in Russia and China.
A Melbourne hotel quarantine worker has contracted the highly-contagious UK strain of Covid-19 - forcing more than 100 of her close contacts into isolation.

Twelve Australian Defence Force workers and nine police officers are among those who have been ordered into self-quarantine after working with the woman at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport.

The woman is the second hotel quarantine worker in the city contracted to have been diagnosed with the deadly respiratory illness in less than a week.

The authorised officer, aged in her early 50s, had previously tested negative after shifts on Wednesday and Thursday before having two days off.

She tested positive after her shift on Sunday, and has since been working with contact tracers who identified three potential exposure sites in the city's northwest.

More than 100 people have been identified as close contacts of a woman infected with Covid-19 they worked with at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport

Health workers test for Covid-19 at Royal Melbourne Showgrounds on Monday. The hotel quarantine worker tested positive after her shift on Sunday

No other local positive cases have so far stemmed from the two infected workers.

But Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed on Tuesday morning genomic testing had shown the worker had the UK strain of the virus.

'It is the UK strain,' he said.

'Further to that particular outbreak there are eight social close contacts that are very close to this particular worker.

'They are all isolating and have been tested.'

The revelation comes as a returned traveller at a Melbourne quarantine hotel was transferred to intensive care after testing positive to the virus.

'We send our best wishes to that person,' Mr Andrews said.

Victoria had no new local or international infections on Tuesday.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday genomic testing had shown the worker had the highly-infectious UK strain of the virus

There are 15 active cases, with 12,816 test results.

Another 17 people, up from 15 earlier on Monday, have been deemed social and household close contacts and will follow the same routine.

Testing capacity has been increased near the exposure sites which include a bottle shop, cake shop and clothing store.

New pop-up testing centres have appeared in Brighton and Clayton, while opening hours have been extended at eight other sites from Monday.

Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville, who is responsible for the state's quarantine program, said the woman did not appear to have breached any infection control protocols.

A hotel worker at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport on Monday. Victoria had no new local or international infections on Tuesday

Victorian COVID-19 testing commander Jeroen Weimar said authorities were assuming the 'worst-case scenario', that the woman contracted a complex strain while working in the program'.

It follows another hotel quarantine worker at Melbourne's Grand Hyatt hotel testing positive for the infectious UK strain on February 3.

Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton tested negative on Monday after reporting a runny nose, sore throat and headache.

A hotel guest looks out from a window at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport on Monday. The worker tested negative after shifts on Wednesday and Thursday before then testing positive after her shift on Sunday

He also signed off on Sydney's Cumberland area - encompassing parts of Auburn, Parramatta and Holroyd - moving from an 'orange' to 'green' zone from 6pm on Monday.

It was the last remaining NSW local government area to change to a green-zone classification under Victoria's 'traffic light' permit system.

Meanwhile, the Australian Open got off to a subdued start on Monday with an attendance cap, overcast weather and no school holidays making for an unusually quiet day one at Melbourne Park.

It was supposed to be a moment to celebrate the tireless efforts of volunteers, and former Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, during last summers horrendous bushfire season.

But a mural depicting Mr Fitzsimmons in Erskineville has become embroiled in a backlash that has nothing to do with him or the bushfires.

Less than 24 hours after it was unveiled on Monday in a ceremony attended by Mr Fitzsimmons, NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman and artist Sid Tapia, the mural was defaced by graffiti artists angry at the initiative it was commissioned to promote  Graffiti Removal Day.

In an apparent reference to the initiative, in which residents are encouraged to volunteer to clean up graffiti in their local area, some of the vandalising text read: Mural removal day.

Supreme Court allows California churches to hold indoor services at limited capacity

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After months of legal battles over Gov. Gavin Newsoms COVID-19-related restrictions, churches in California can finally restart their indoor worship services, though only at 25% capacity, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday night.

We are not scientists, but neither may we abandon the field when government officials with experts in tow seek to infringe a constitutionally protected liberty, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.

Even if a full congregation singing hymns is too risky, California does not explain why even a single masked cantor cannot lead worship behind a mask and a plexiglass shield, Gorsuch added. Or why even a lone muezzin may not sing the call to prayer from a remote location inside a mosque as worshippers file in.

Justices Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor dissented.

Under the Courts injunction, the State must instead treat worship services like secular activities that pose a much lesser danger, Kagan wrote. That mandate defies our caselaw, exceeds our judicial role, and risks worsening the pandemic. In the worst public health crisis in a century, this foray into armchair epidemiology cannot end well.

She added, Given Californias mild climate, that restrictionthe one the Court today lifts for houses of worship alonedoes not amount to a ban on the activity.

The ruling came in a case led by South Bay United Pentecostal Church in the San Diego area, noted Politico, which reported that the court released a similar order in a parallel suit filed by Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena. The churches argued that they should have the same freedom as shopping malls and retail businesses that are allowed to operate at 25% of their capacity.

Chief Justice John Roberts took a middle path and voted, along with Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, to lift the ban on indoor worship while retaining the restriction on singing, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The applicants bore the burden of establishing their entitlement to relief from the singing ban. In my view, they did not carry that burdenat least not on this record, Barrett wrote.

Roberts wrote, The States present determinationthat the maximum number of adherents who can safely worship in the most cavernous cathedral is zeroappears to reflect not expertise or discretion, but instead insufficient appreciation or consideration of the interests at stake. Deference, though broad, has its limits.

Last month, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied South Bay United Pentecostal Churchs request to overturn the states COVID-19 restrictions on indoor worship gatherings while acknowledging that the congregation was suffering irreparable harm due to the temporary ban.

Although South Bay has demonstrated irreparable harm, it has not demonstrated that the likelihood of success, the balance of equities or the public interest weigh in its favor, U.S. Circuit Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw wrote in the courts opinion at the time. Although there is no record evidence that attendance at South Bays services in particular has contributed to the spread of the virus, the record does evidence outbreaks tied to religious gatherings in San Diego County and in the Southern California region.

In November, a California judge ordered San Diego to reopen strip clubs while the county carried on with its restrictions on worship services and in-person learning at schools.

The state of California has faced numerous lawsuits stemming from the governors gathering restrictions as well as restrictions on other activities.
One person, one vote. Thats the dream of American democracy  and, sadly, the myth. The most powerful American lawmaking body patently violates that principle.

The United States Senate explicitly was designed to be undemocratic. It represents states, not people. Population-wise, some states are the size of large cities, others the size of large countries. If Wyoming were a city, it wouldnt even make the list of the nations most populous 25 municipalities. More people live in California than in Canada or Australia. Wyoming and California each get two senators, meaning some voters have 70 times more Senate representation.

Half of the nations people have only 18 senators representing them, but there are 52 senators from the 26 smallest states, home to 18% of Americans.

The skew isnt random. White Americans have, on average, nearly twice as much representation in the Senate as Black and Hispanic Americans. How can this be? The largest states  California, Texas, Florida and New York  are among the most racially and ethnically diverse. Most of the smallest ones  Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Maine and Vermont  are homogenous. Seven of the 10 least populated states also are among the whitest top 10.

It matters. Wyoming, where 89% of the people are white, receives 50 times more in federal expenditures per person than California, which is only 40% white. Vermonts Rutland County receives about $2,500 per person in federal largesse, while the folks in New Yorks similarly-sized Washington County get $600. (To remind: Vermonts 600,000 people, 94% of whom are white, have two senators. So do the 19 million New Yorkers, 58% of them white.)

Unlike many other countries  with undemocratic upper houses of the national legislature that are less powerful than the lower, peoples houses  our Senate exerts near-total control over federal legislating: The Senate version of a bill prevails over the House-passed version, at least partially, 82% of the time. And the Senate is the exclusive gatekeeper for all treaties and nominations, including the Supreme Court.

The Senate should represent people, not states. But to simply mandate equal representation, wed have to chuck the whole Constitution. Thats not happening. Ours is the most difficult to amend or update of any such charter in the world. Not only that, but Article V guards the Senate against alteration, saying each state must agree before being deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.

The only way to make the Senate more representative within the constraints of the Constitution is to right-size the states. And the Constitution gives us four options to adjust for dramatic state population disparities.

 Add states. Nearly two-and-a-half centuries after American revolutionaries fought for representation, more than 4 million American citizens remain deprived of Senate representation  the people of Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands and Washington, D.C. Offering statehood would be fair to their citizens. If all the potential new states have majorities of people of color, their senators would help balance out the Senates disproportionate whiteness.

 Subdivide states. Congress could give blanket permission for any state with more than 13 times the population of the smallest state (the original ratio between the largest and smallest colonies) to break into smaller states, so long as no resulting state is smaller than the smallest state. Thirteen times the population of Wyoming, now the smallest state at 580,000 people) is 7.5 million, which would now comfortably accommodate more than three new states from a subdivided Texas and more than five states spawned by California.

 Combine states. Congress could give blanket permission for any state with less than 1% of the national population to join an adjacent state or part thereof. Right now, that would apply to the 21 states that are each home to fewer than 3.3 million residents. Several sit side by side, creating an opportunity to join together. Theyd still be small states. Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont combine for 3.3 million people; there are altogether 3.4 million in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming; and merging Nebraska and the Dakotas would yield a state of 3.6 million.

 Redraw the map. If we want to dream, imagine Congress grants states the opportunity to participate in a collective redrawing of boundaries. States would opt in by the next census, at which time an independent redistricting commission would take into account history, culture and communities of interest to set state lines that make more sense to the people living there and that result in more equally sized states  say, all within a range of 1 million to 5 million people.

States resulting from this process would have more unified sets of values and policy priorities, and their residents would feel better represented by their leadership. For example, many residents of eastern Oregon are eager to join Idaho, which matches them in geography, economy and culture better than coastal Oregon.

Some political magic would be required for right-sizing. But these options could be accomplished without a constitutional amendment. They require building the right alignment of political movements and momentum to tip a series of ordinary majority votes in state legislatures, the House and the Senate.

Its not an easy path, but not impossible. A first step is to raise awareness about the lopsided power held by the Senate, especially during the push for other reforms such as removing the filibuster  the very thing, ironically, standing in the way of D.C statehood and a Senate that looks a little more like America.
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe.

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ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns wide receiver Rashard Higgins and offensive tackle Jedrick Wills pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to a lesser charge of speeding during a drag racing incident in Westlake.

Higgins, 26, and Wills, 21, each paid a $250 dollar fine to resolve the incident that happened about 9:30 a.m. Jan. 5 on Crocker Road near Coventry Drive, according to Rocky River Municipal Court records.

Higgins and Wills took off together in their own cars and sped side by side of each other, according to a Rocky River police report.

Police pulled them over and found a marijuana joint in one of the cars, the report says, though its unclear which car it was found in. Police destroyed the joint and gave a warning, the report says.

Higgins attorney, Kevin Spellacy, previously told cleveland.com that most area police departments no longer cite people for possessing small amounts of marijuana.

Watch the traffic stop here.

Read more crime stories on cleveland.com:

Three teens arrested in armed carjacking of Uber driver in Parma, police chase

Officials identify man stabbed to death on East Cleveland street

Man claiming hes armed comes away empty after demanding tacos at Akron Taco Bell

Akron man sent to prison for rape, kidnapping of teens

Lorain man dies after being shot in his home; suspect in custody

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Governor Gavin Newsom said last week that California schools can begin to reopen even if all teachers are not vaccinated for COVID-19. The head of the CDC and the Southern California chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics delivered a similar message.

Local educators are pushing back on the idea, arguing the state has not yet done enough to prioritize the health and safety of teachers and students.

"We want our kids back in school," said Tammy Scorcia, president of the Alhambra Teachers Association, the union that represents teachers in Alhambra, Monterey Park and parts of San Gabriel and Rosemead. "But we also want to make sure that our teachers are vaccinated."

She argued the governor's comments were "irresponsible" and didn't take into account the realities of classroom learning with young students. The district has 19 schools, from K-8 through high school.

Tammy Scorcia, president of the Alhambra Teachers Association, at a food distribution event on Feb. 6, 2021. (Libby Denkmann/LAist)

"The kids are there and you're supposed to social distance," Scorcia said. "But if a kid has a problem, [teachers] are not going to think about how to take care of that child, they're just going to do it."

Scorcia spoke at a Saturday morning drive-up food distribution event where the union, the president of the Alhambra Unified school board and city council members handed out groceries to needy families. The district says it has given out roughly two million meals since March 2020, with free grab & go bags including breakfast, lunch and supper for kids 18 and under.

On top of conducting online classes every day, teachers and district staff have volunteered their time to deliver food to students and their families during the pandemic, said Alhambra Unified Board of Education president Ken Tang, who is also an elementary school teacher.

Immigrants living in the United States without documentation are not eligible for CalFresh or federal food stamps so, "We are filling that gap," Tang said.

COVID-19 is deepening the inequalities between wealthy schools and districts such as Alhambra Unified, where more than two-thirds of the close to 17,000 students in the district are considered "socioeconomically disadvantaged," according to the California Department of Education, and almost a quarter are English language learners.

"Last year, a third grade student said to me, 'Mr. Tang, I'm sorry, but I can't do the work because I'm helping my mom sew masks so we can pay rent,'" Tang recalled.

When it comes to reopening, community spread is major a concern in districts with more crowded housing, he added, citing a Princeton University study that found children and young adults may be transmitting the virus to a greater degree than previously believed.

Alhambra Unified Board of Education president Ken Tang helps city councilmember Adele Andrade-Stadler load formula and diapers into a car during a food distribution event organized by the Alhambra Teachers Association on Feb. 6, 2021. (Libby Denkmann/LAist)

"Many of our kids don't just live with their parents," he said. "Some live with their grandparents, or multiple families. Those are the types of challenges that no one's really thought about."

The head of United Teachers Los Angeles has also called for vaccinating all LAUSD teachers as a prerequisite to reopening schools.

On Monday morning, L.A. Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner laid out a road map to reopen Los Angeles classrooms that includes vaccinating 25,000 LAUSD teachers and staff, and hitting benchmarks for a declining number of cases in the county.
Imperial Valley News Center

CBP Officers in Chicago Seize Shipments Containing Counterfeit Money from China

Chicago, Illinois - At Chicagos International Mail Facility (IMF) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized two parcel arriving from China that held different denominations of counterfeit currency totaling more than $136,000.

On January 28, officers at the IMF held two parcels for inspection that were arriving from the same shipper in China. The officers inspected the shipments to determine the admissibility of the parcels and its contents. The first shipment contained 957 counterfeit $100 dollar bills and 44 counterfeit $50 dollar bills totaling $97,900. In the second shipment were 384 counterfeit $100 dollar bills. In total, $136,300 of counterfeit currency was seized under Counterfeit U.S. Currency, Coins or Government Securities.

One shipment was heading to Auburn Hills, Michigan and the other package was heading to Independence, Missouri. Even though these counterfeits were going to be used as prop money, it is a violation of federal law to reproduce currency. Violators can be arrested. The counterfeit currency was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Secret Service for investigation.

Our CBP officers encounter a wide variety of criminal activity, said Shane Campbell, Area Port Director-Chicago. In this case, our officers were able to take $136,000 of fake currency out of circulation where it could have done harm to other businesses and individuals financially.

According to the Secret Service, special agents and investigative analysts from around the country continue to work closely with state and local law enforcement partners to minimize risks by informing the public and apprehending those responsible for passing counterfeit currency. Both consumers and retailers can protect themselves from inadvertently receiving counterfeit currency by quickly glancing at the note.

CBP conducts operations at ports of entry throughout the United States, and regularly screens arriving international passengers and cargo for narcotics, weapons, and other restricted or prohibited products. CBP strives to serve as the premier law enforcement agency enhancing the Nations safety, security, and prosperity through collaboration, innovation, and integration.
Ravi Teja, Mahesh Babu, and Ajay Devgn also extended their solidarity with the bereaved families

A part of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday having resulted in the death of many with even more people missing. Personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Indian Air Force were sent for rescue missions in the hilly terrains.

Many Indian film stars took to Twitter to express their grief about the incident. Priyanka Chopra, who hails from a military family, tweeted praising the efforts of the rescue forces.

She also appreciated the help extended by every person on the ground. She wrote: Words are not enough to applaud your work.

Priyanka said her thoughts were with everyone who has been affected by the tragedy.

See the post

In a time of such a devastating crisis, its heartening to see the work being done by NDRF,ITBP,IAF & every single helping hand involved in the #Uttarakhand rescue mission.Words are not enough to applaud your work. My thoughts are with everyone whos been affected by this tragedy  PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) February 8, 2021

She also included the contact number of the Disaster Operations Center in another tweet. She urged people to use 1070 or 9557444486 numbers in case of distress. Akshay Kumar extended his thoughts and prayers for everyones safety via Twitter.

Terrifying visuals of the glacier burst in #Uttarakhand, thoughts and prayers for everyones safety   Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) February 7, 2021

Alia Bhatt took to her Instagram story to term the incident as tragic and prayed for the safety of anyone affected by the glacier burst. She also shared the emergency helpline numbers.

Sonu Sood tweeted in Hindi on Sunday. He wrote that We are all with you, Uttarakhand.

      sonu sood (@SonuSood) February 7, 2021

Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu lauded the efforts put in by ITBP officers in the rescue of workers caught in flash floods. He also wrote that he was praying for the safety of everyone involved.

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of #Uttarakhand at this time. Praying for everyone's safety and well-being. A big salute to the @ITBP_official jawans deployed for search and rescue operations.   Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) February 7, 2021

Ravi Teja was also quick to extend his solidarity through social media.

Praying for the people of #Uttarakhand battling a tough time. Hoping everyone trapped in the affected areas is rescued and brought to safety.  Ravi Teja (@RaviTeja_offl) February 7, 2021

Ajay Devgn asked if climate extremes were inching closer to us, extending his prayers for those affected.

Is it our worst fears on climate extremes that are closing in on us? My thoughts & prayers are with the people of #Uttarakhand at this crucial hour. Hope we rescue as many as possible   Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) February 7, 2021

Renowned music composer AR Rahman also spoke about climate change and hinted how it was responsible for the glacier burst.

Kartik Aaryan said he was disheartened at the incident.

Very disheartened to hear about the glacier burst in Chamoli. Praying for everyone's safety.#Uttarakhand   Kartik Aaryan (@TheAaryanKartik) February 8, 2021

Shraddha Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh saluted the personnel for their bravery too, moreover sending their prayers.

Distressing to hear about the glacier breaking off in #Uttarakhand Praying everyones safety there   Shraddha (@ShraddhaKapoor) February 7, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic that shuttered cities around the world did not just affect the way we work, study and socialize. It also affected our mobility. With millions of workers no longer commuting, vehicle traffic across Canada has plummeted. This has had a significant impact on the quality of air in major Canadian cities, according to a new study by Concordia researchers.

A paper published in the journal Science of the Total Environment looked at downtown air quality monitoring station data from Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and St. John's. It compared the cities' concentration levels of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide measured between February and August 2020 to the figures recorded over the same period in 2018 and 2019. They also used satellite imagery and urban transportation fuel consumption figures to investigate emissions traffic congestion data provided by tracking technology embedded in phones and cars worldwide.

Not surprisingly, the researchers found that emission levels dropped dramatically over the course of the pandemic. The most noticeable drop-off occurred in week 12 of 2020 -- the one beginning Sunday, March 15, when national lockdown measures were implemented.

"We saw traffic congestion levels decrease by 69 per cent in Toronto and by 75 per cent in Montreal, compared to the same week in 2019," says the paper's lead author, Xuelin Tian, a second-year MSc student at the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science. Her co-authors include fellow student Zhikun Chen, her supervisor Chunjiang An, assistant professor in the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Zhiqiang Tian of Xi'an Jiaotong University in China.

Less gasoline means less pollution

The paper notes that motor gasoline consumption fell by almost half during the pandemic's early weeks, with a similar, corresponding drop seen in carbon dioxide emissions. Motor gasoline consumption added 8,253.52 million kilograms of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere in April 2019, according to the authors' data. That number dropped to 4,593.01 million kilograms in April 2020.

There have also been significant drops in the concentration levels of nitrogen dioxide in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal since the beginning of the pandemic. Similarly, concentration levels of carbon monoxide, closely linked to the transportation and mobile equipment sectors, dropped. In Edmonton, carbon monoxide concentration levels fell by as much as 50 per cent, from 0.14 parts per million in March 2018 to 0.07 in March 2020.

Emissions began to grow again over the summer, but the researchers have not yet had a chance to examine data from the second lockdown that began in late fall/winter 2020.

Aside from providing a kind of snapshot of a particularly unusual period, the data can also help governments assess the long-term impact of replacing gas-burning vehicles with electric ones on Canadian city streets.

"This pandemic provided an opportunity for scenario analysis, although it wasn't done on purpose," says An, Concordia University Research Chair in Spill Response and Remediation.

"Governments everywhere are trying to reduce their use of carbon-based fuels. Now we have some data that shows what happens when we reduce the number of gasoline-powered vehicles and the effect that has on emissions."

###

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) provided support for this study.
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Washington, Feb 9 : A Pentagon watchdog has found that ineffective implementation of social distancing and the premature release of sailors from quarantine were the primary causes of the massive Covid-19 outbreak onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier last year.

The Navy had appropriate plans in place to counter a potential outbreak of an infectious disease, but the leadership of the aircraft carrier did not fully implement the required measures, the Defence Department's Inspector General said in a report released on Monday.

The vessel's leadership also "allowed social gathering areas to remain open" and continued to conduct urine tests for illegal drugs despite the threat posed by Covid-19 and procedures outlined by the Navy, the report said.

The Roosevelt had just completed a port call in Da Nang, Vietnam, when it reported its first Covid-19 case on March 24, 2020.

At least 1,271 sailors of the 4,800-member crew aboard the aircraft carrier were infected with the virus last spring.

One crew member died.

Brett Crozier, the vessel's commander, wrote a letter to his superiors outlining the dire situation and pleading for help to evacuate the ship.

Crozier was relieved of his command after his letter leaked to the media.

The then-Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said at the time that Crozier was removed because he sent the "non-secure unclassified email" to a "broad array of people".
violating students' right under the California Constitution to attend public school

discriminating against students on the basis of wealth in violation of the California Constitution's equal protection clause

violating the state law that requires school districts to "offer in-person instruction to the greatest extent possible"

These counts are in addition to the original allegation that the district's reopening plan is inadequate and doesn't meet the basic requirements set by the state.

Herrera is now seeking a court order requiring the school district to, among other things, stop depriving San Francisco school children of their constitutional rights and to offer in-person instruction to the greatest extent possible, as the law requires. Herrera intends to file a motion for an emergency court order, known as a preliminary injunction, later this week.

"We're pleased the school district and its unions finally seem to be making some progress on reopening, but it's not nearly enough," Herrera said. "There are more questions than answers at this point. We have not seen an agreement, but our understanding is that it still doesn't cover classroom instruction. Which kids will be able to go back? When will they be able to? How many days a week? How many hours a day? These are just some of the questions the district hasn't answered for parents. Our public school families are dealing with mental health and education crises on top of a pandemic. It's not sustainable. That's why we have gone to court. I took this step only as a last resort. The reality is 54,000 public school children are suffering across our City. Just sticking with the status quo and hoping the district came up with an effective plan wasn't working. Hopefully the prospect of court scrutiny will focus the district's attention like nothing else could have. Let's get this fixed."

"All children in California have a right to attend a public school and to be treated equally, regardless of their wealth," Herrera said. "That is not happening in San Francisco right now, where SFUSD's own data show the achievement gap is widening. A large number of kids, many of them from low-income families, aren't getting to see their teachers. The educational damage caused by remote learning  particularly for low-income students  is likely to have severe and lifelong consequences. We need to fix this situation before things get worse."

As Dr. Jeanne Noble, director of COVID-19 Response for the University of California San Francisco, recently stated: "Every place you looksigns of social phobia and isolation all the way up to suicide attemptsscreams crisis."

State Law Requires In-Person Learning

Last summer the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 98 and Governor Newsom signed it into law. Senate Bill 98 amended and added various provisions to the California Education Code to clarify the obligations of school districts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The legislature specified that remote learning may be offered in two circumstances: 1) as a result of an order or guidance from a state or local public health officer or, 2) for pupils who are medically fragile or would be put at risk by in-person instruction, or who are self-quarantining because of exposure to COVID-19.

Except where those conditions are met, a local educational agency is required to "offer in-person instruction to the greatest extent possible," which SFUSD is failing to do. Neither state nor local public health officials currently require remote learning in San Francisco. In fact, the consensus among public health officials is that schools can reopen safely, with masks, physical distance, hand washing and proper ventilation. Vaccinations are not a prerequisite. City health officials have already approved 114 private and parochial schools for reopening, and more than 15,800 students in San Francisco have been attending in-person school for months. Less than five cases of in-school transmission have been reported, according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Right to Attend Public School

California school children have a constitutional right to a free education in our public schools. As far back as 1874 in the Ward v. Flood case, the California Supreme Court noted that: "The advantage or benefit thereby vouchsafed to each child, of attending a public school is, therefore,  a right  a legal right."

The California Supreme Court in a 1984 case, Hartzell v. Connell, found that this right is not limited to academic subjects, but instead extends to "the practical training and experience  from communicative skills to experience in group activities  necessary for full participation in the 'uninhibited, robust, and wide-open' debate that is central to our democracy."

Widening Achievement Gap

Although schools can safely reopen with the appropriate protections in place, SFUSD is keeping children out of school despite the inevitable consequences for low-income students and the school district's awareness that remote learning is causing educational disparities between low-income students and their more affluent peers.

SFUSD's own research and data show students of color and low-income students are having higher incidents of absenteeism and experiencing notable learning losses as compared to previous years. The district's review, contained in a report titled "SFUSD Fall 2020 Attendance and Academic Performance during COVID-19 Pandemic" (Jan. 14, 2021), indicated that of 910 students who have missed more than 60% of classes, 70% are from low-income families.

Those learning losses have severe consequences for students and the City. For example, children who are chronically absent in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the third grade. Students who cannot read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than proficient readers to drop out of high school.

By high school, irregular attendance is a better predictor of school dropout than test scores. Indeed, studies suggest that a student who is chronically absent in even a single school year between the eighth and twelfth grades is over seven times more likely to drop out of school than a student who is not chronically absent. Studies also show that 70% of these student dropouts will never return, and of those that return, only a small fraction will end up graduating from high school.

The San Francisco Unified School District is a separate legal entity from the City and County of San Francisco. SFUSD is established under state law. It does not answer to the Mayor or Board of Supervisors. The City Attorney does not represent it. The school district is governed by the Board of Education, an independently elected body with seven members.

The case is: City and County of San Francisco v. San Francisco Board of Education et al., San Francisco Superior Court case number CPF-21-517352, filed Feb. 3, 2021. Additional documentation from the case is available on the City Attorney's website at: sfcityattorney.org

SOURCE San Francisco City Attorney's Office
Lviv is interested in promoting its products on the Israeli market  meeting of Ambassador Korniychuk with Mayor Sadovyi

Measures to promote the products of Lviv enterprises on the Israeli market and projects to preserve the Jewish heritage in Ukraine were the subject of an online meeting between the Ambassador of Ukraine in the State of Israel Yevhen Korniychuk and Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi. The Embassy of Ukraine reported this at Facebook.

The parties discussed promising projects in the framework of Ukrainian-Israeli relations in the field of economy, investment, culture and education. An exchange of views took place on measures to promote the products of Ukrainian companies on the Israeli market, in particular, the city of Lviv. After the lifting of the quarantine, the interlocutors agreed to work out the organization of a visit of a delegation of Lviv to Israel, which would include a group of Ukrainian medics, - the message says.

During the conversation were presented the projects implemented by the city in order to preserve the Jewish heritage.

Ambassador Korniychuk offered to assist in involving international Jewish organizations in the implementation of joint projects, - the Embassy said.

During the meeting it was discussed the introduction of online courses on the study of the Ukrainian language in Israel, Mayor Sadovyi expressed readiness to facilitate the search for professional teachers.
UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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

If microblogging giant Twitter thought that controversies about its role in the spread of conspiracy theories in the US  not to mention anger at the account suspension of former president Trump  would be the end of its woes, recent events in India and Mexico may have given it pause for thought.

Ongoing protests among Indias famers about laws aimed at deregulating the countrys agricultural markets and encouraging private competition have led to the use of a #ModiPlanningFarmerGenocide hashtag. Twitter has been asked to block 257 accounts using the hashtag under Section 69A of India's IT Act. The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has also asked the company to block 1,178 accounts believed to be linked to Khalistan (a Sikh separatist movement) sympathisers and those backed by Pakistan.

Twitter had suspended some high-profile accounts earlier this month but quickly decided to unblock them saying that the content is free speech and newsworthy. This led to a non-compliance notice. Now the company is reportedly hoping to discuss the issue formally with IT and communications minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Meanwhile, MeitY and some other government departments have set up accounts on native micro-blogging site Koo.

And now Mexico is also looking at ways to manage Twitters output. According to Reuters, a prominent senator from Mexicos ruling party has used freedom of expression as a reason for the proposed regulating of major social media networks, including Twitter and Facebook. The reform is apparently aimed at establishing the grounds and general principles of the protection of freedom of expression in social networks.

More accurately, the proposed amendment to the federal telecommunications law would grant Mexicos telecoms regulator oversight in establishing a framework for the suspension and elimination of accounts on social networks.

Ricardo Monreal, the leader of president Lopez Obradors MORENA party in the upper house, proposed the legislation. Lopez Obrador has been critical of social media recently, so it will be interesting to see whether he supports this move.

Led by the Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, a delegation from UNWTO has concluded an official visit to Morocco to discuss the programme, calendar and facilities to be prepared for this statutory meeting that will focus on Education and Youth, Rural Development and Digital Innovation.

The Minister of Tourism of Morocco, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, and her team accompanied the delegation during this three-day visit and expressed their commitment to organizing an historic General Assembly to showcase the importance of restarting international tourism in a safe and more sustainable way.

The Prime Minister of Morocco, Saadeddine Othmani and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita welcomed the UNWTO Secretary-General in Rabat highlighting the importance of the celebration and the high-level support of the host country. The delegation was also received by the Governor of Marrakesh-Safi region, Karim Kassi Lahlou, and other local authorities and representatives of the private sector of the area that will be strongly involved in the preparations for this meeting.

Secretary-General Pololikashvili thanked the Prime Minister and his government for their hard work to ensure that the Assembly will be a success on the back of the unprecedented crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said: Tourism is adapting to the new reality and we face the future with optimism and with the backing of our Members.

Image Credit: UNWTO
No matter how talented the executive, or how highly incentivised, a salaried manager brings a different mindset to the role and has a different relationship with the organisation and external parties than the founding entrepreneur. The external voices gain more weight and the internal voices more freedom once the visionary founder exits or, in Bezos case, moves from the executive suite to the boardroom. Loading Will the markets who backed Bezos from Amazons $US382 million IPO in 1997 and applauded a strategy that saw him plough billions into a complex web of expansions - always prioritising market shares and global ambitions over profits - be as tolerant of Jassy? Jassy, who has worked closely with Bezos for most of Amazons history, presumably shares much of his strategic vision and ambitions for the group but second-generations managers tend not to be as driven as founders.

They also confront different challenges. The day-to-day management of a $US1.7 trillion company with nearly 1.3 million employees, global operations and a portfolio of businesses as diverse as Amazons is all-consuming. Moreover, Amazon now faces challenges generated by its own scale and style. Challenger companies are given a lot of leeway by regulators, customers, communities and employees. While Amazon remains a disruptor, a dominant $US1.7 trillion company doesnt get the same latitude to operate as it did when it was seen as a challenger. Where startups can undermine their established competitors by selling products or services at a loss to build market share  as Amazon has done throughout its history  when a company owns about half the e-commerce activity in the US that looks like predatory behaviour. Amazon is both a retailer and a marketplace for third parties. For much of its history the inherent conflict didnt provoke much scrutiny. Thats changing, with regulators in the US and Europe starting to focus on claimed abuses of Amazons insights into the performance of competitors products and services on its platforms.

Big Tech is generally on the nose in the US. Legislators and regulators are bringing anti-trust suits and threatening to break up companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon. Regulators in the US and Europe are taking tougher lines on data privacy. Governments around the world are focused on getting the big tech companies to pay more, or at least some, tax. Amazons employees have been complaining about their working conditions  Amazon is a very demanding employer  and threatening to unionise. Amazons next chief Andy Jassy will face a number of challenges. Credit:Louie Douvis Jassys cloud computing business, which dominates its sector and generates more than 60 per cent of Amazons profits, is facing intensifying competition from companies like Microsoft and Google. The groups foundation e-retailing platform, which has ravaged retailers around the globe, is facing stiffer competition from the surviving bricks and mortar retailers that have learned from it and invested heavily in their supply chains and fulfilment and are leveraging their physical presence  their store networks  into a different and more competitive omni-channel model.

The myriad of challenges that will confront Jassy signal that Amazon has moved into a different and more complex phase of its development and perhaps Bezos decision recognises that the groups leadership structure needs to change and mature to respond to them. That doesnt mean Amazon is a mature company. When Amazon released its 2020 results last week they showed a 38 per cent increase in sales to $US386 billion and an 84 per cent increase in net income to $US21.3 billion. When the pandemic hit the sharemarket last March Amazon was valued at $US850 billion . Its now worth double that amount, reflecting its status as one of the biggest, if not the biggest, beneficiaries of the big shift online by businesses and households in response to the pandemic. Some of that increased online activity is structural and permanent, with Amazon arguably the biggest beneficiary. Under Bezos, Amazon saw itself as a global platform and logistics business that carried and serviced its proprietary businesses alongside those of third parties.

It could be expanded, almost without limitation, into new categories like artificial intelligence, healthcare, financial services and advertising. The possibilities were endless. There is too much momentum in the business for it to stop innovating or competing but the regulatory risks to its growth and ability to commercially exploit its innovation in the ways it has historically are growing rapidly, along with the risk  shared by the other big techs  that lawmakers and competition regulators will seek to disaggregate it, undermining its scale and the network benefits of synergistic businesses. Loading Perhaps Bezos saw what the next phase of Amazons future might look like and decided that the fun part of building one of the worlds greatest commercial empires is behind it and, even though there is plenty of scope for growth and innovation, Amazons CEO is going to spend an inordinate amount of time on unproductive and tedious and unproductive wrangling with external parties. Like many successful entrepreneurs before him, he may well have looked at that unappealing prospect and decided that he could have more fun and use his energy more productively on smaller or more entrepreneurial ventures while still providing counsel and a guiding hand for the phenomenon that he created.
This is the moment a petrol station employee kicks and beats a suspected shoplifter with a stick in London.

The incident was filmed at a Little Waitrose Shell garage in north London.

In the clip, two petrol station employees are seen arguing with an alleged thief about a bag which they claim he has stolen.

This is the moment members of staff at a Shell Filling station in north London confront a man they suspect of being a shoplifter

Footage captured from inside the store shows a member of staff struggling with a man

One of the staff members appears to kick the man in the back according to the footage

One of the garage staff waves a long stick as they quarrel with the man.

The two staff members then force the man out of the store with one of the employees kicking out as they approach the door.

The pair chase the man away from the garage. As they do so, the petrol station employee grabs the stick from his colleague and lashes out at the man.

In the footage, one of the staff members warns the man against returning to the shop.

It is unknown when the incident took place but the video is believed to be recent - with the footage being uploaded last night by UB1UB2 on social media.

MailOnline has approached the Metropolitan Police.

A spokesperson for Shell told MailOnline: 'We are aware of this incident at Shell Little Waitrose Muswell Hill and are actively investigating the situation with the Retailer.

'We are appalled and in no way condone this behaviour as the safety of our customers, Retailers and their staff is of the upmost importance to Shell'.
Members of the National Guard patrol at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 9, 2021. (Reuters/Joshua Roberts)

National Guard Protection of Capitol to Cost $483 Million Through March: Pentagon

Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby said Monday that the estimated cost for National Guard protection of the U.S. Capitol complex through March 15 will cost taxpayers a total of $483 million.

Kirby said at a Department of Defense (DoD) press briefing that the breakdown of the costs is $284 million to cover personnel and $199 million to cover operations.

Tens of thousands of National Guard troops deployed to Washington to assist with security in the wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. Around 5,000 troops are expected to remain in the city until March 15 as former President Donald Trumps Senate impeachment trial poses security concerns, Politico reported, though it is unclear if there is any specific threat.

Republican lawmakers have questioned the need for National Guard troops around the Capitol Hill complex.

Last week, 42 House Republicans sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) urging her to remove the barricades surrounding the Capitol.

Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), the primary signatory of the letter (pdf), said in a statement that the request is for Pelosi to remove what some fear is poised to become permanent military-style fencing.

In particular, we are concerned with recent reports that the fencing surrounding the Capitol may become permanent, they wrote.

We are willing to have an honest debate about providing Capitol Hill Police with the resources they need to be better prepared without turning the Capitol into a permanent fortress, they wrote, and urged Pelosi to take down the barbed wire fencing and send the National Guard troops home.

Its time for healing and its time for the removal of the fencing so the nation may move forward, they said in the letter.

Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) told Fox News on Monday that lawmakers are still waiting for an explanation as to why National Guardsman are still on duty around the Capitol complex more than one month after the breach.

We still have National Guardsmen out there, away from their families, away from their jobs, supplementing the police, and yet we cant get a briefing on what is this dire threat that requires so many people. We still dont have answers, he told the outlet.

Acting Army Secretary John Whitley said at the end of January that the U.S. Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies in Washington had issued requests to the National Guard for follow-on assistance.

National Guard members will be postured to meet the requirements of the supported civil authorities up to and including protective equipment and arming if necessary, Whitley said at the time.

National Guard service members will provide security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support, Whitley said.
A must see presentation on the rich history of the Montgomery County Sentinel, all 164 years of it, at the January 25th Montgomery County Historical Society Conference.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced on Valentines Day 2021 that they would be welcoming their second child.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting their new daughter to arrive in the summer, but did not share details of exactly when Meghans due date is.

The announcement was an especially happy one after Meghan revealed she had suffered a miscarriage last summer.

In May, while giving a speech about Covid vaccine equity and gender equality at the Global Citizens Vax Live concert, Meghan said the birth of her daughter will be a feeling of joy we share with millions of other families around the world.

This wont be the only new royal baby to arrive this year  Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi announced in May they are expecting a baby in the autumn.

Meanwhile, Beatrices sister, Princess Eugenie, gave birth to a baby boy in February, named August Philip Hawke Brooksbank.

With the impending arrival of two more royal babies this year, we took a closer look at some of the most bizarre royal birth traditions.

Royal babies are delivered by a royal gynaecologist

As per tradition, a royal child is delivered with the assistance of at least one royal doctor.

The current royal surgeon-gynaecologist is Alan Farthing, while the royals consultant obstetrician is Guy Thorpe-Beeston.

Both medical professionals helped deliver the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges three children, Prince Louis, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Royal gynaecologists Marcus Setchell (C) and Alan Farthing leave the Lindo Wing following the birth of the son of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at St Mary's Hospital on July 22, 2013 in London, England (Getty Images)

Sir Marcus Setchell, who was Queen Elizabeth II's surgeon-gynaecologist and who delivered Prince George, has since retired.

In his only interview about Prince Georges birth, Sir Marcus described the midwifery team as perfectly wonderful.

During an interview on Woman's Hour' BBC Radio 4, the gynaecologist added: "You just keep reminding yourself that although it's very important, for the couple and the about-to-be-born baby, it's just another healthy young couple giving birth to a hopefully very healthy baby.

"And I constantly reminded myself of that so that the pressures of the hundreds of media people outside the hospital didn't affect me, at least not more than minimally."

The parents dont always have custody of their children

A law enacted more than three centuries ago means that the sovereign has full legal custody of their minor grandchildren.

The law, called The Grand Opinion for the Prerogative Concerning the Royal Family, was introduced by King George I in 1717.

George I did not get along with his son, the future George II, explains royal expert Marlene Koenig previously to The Independent.

Members of the Royal Family attend the 2018 Trooping the Colour (Getty Images)

I believe it came about when the Prince of Wales [George II] did not want to have the godparent for his son that his father wanted - so George I got Parliament to come up with something.

An annual register published in 1772 states that the then King had the care of the royal children and grandchildren, and the presumptive heir to the crown.

However, while law dictates that the Queen legally has custody of her minor grandchildren, Koenig doesnt think she would ever act upon the right.

I would doubt that the Queen would interfere. [Its] more of a formality, she says.

I think the Queen has let her children raise their kids.

The birth announcement is displayed on an easel

A royal birth is traditionally announced via a bulletin placed on an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.

The framed typewritten bulletin, which is commonly brought out of the Privy Purse door after it is driven to the palace by car from the birth, is signed by the medical team which attends the royal birth.

Senior footman Olivia Smith (L) and footman Heather McDonald place a notice on an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in London to formally announce the birth of a baby boy to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital on April 23, 2018 in London, England (Getty Images)

It includes details as to the babys gender, time of birth, as well as a status confirming the health of the mother and child.

Following royal births at the Lindo Wing in recent decades, it has also become tradition for the new parents to present their child on the steps of the hospital wards entrance.

Royal babies are wrapped in a G.H. Hurt & Sons blanket

For their first appearance to the world, royal children are traditionally wrapped in a blanket made by Nottingham-based knitwear company G.H. Hurt & Sons.

Prince Charles was the first royal to be bundled in a blanket by the company following his birth back in 1948.

Prince George and the Duchess of Cambridge on the steps of the Lindo Wing, St Mary's Hospital (Getty Images)

In 2013, Prince George was wrapped in one of the companys ivory white merino wool shawl and Princess Charlotte was bundled in a scalloped edge wrap in 2015.

Prince Louis, meanwhile, was wrapped in the companys Nottingham Lace Knitted Baby Shawl following his birth.

The name isnt announced for days

Following an appearance outside the Lindo Wing, it has become common practice among the royal family not to release the childs name for several days.

After Prince George and Princess Charlotte were born, the public waited two days before learning their respective names.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Register The Birth of Their Son Prince George of Cambridge In London (Getty Images)

However, it was another three days before Prince Louis name was announced on 27 April to the world.

The child will wear a special christening gown

It is customary for the royals to pass down a christening robe for the newest member of the family to wear at their christening.

For George, Charlotte and Louis christenings, the trio each wore a replica of an original robe made in 1841 for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa.

The original gown was made from white silk with a handmade lace overlay and was worn by 62 royal babies over the course of its 163 years of royal service. It was hand-washed with spring water after each christening ceremony and stored in a dark room until its next use.

(Getty Images)

George VI and the Queen wore the white lace dress, as did Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry. The last royal to wear the original gown was Lady Louise Windsor, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex's daughter, in 2004.

Prince George became the fourth royal child to be christening in the gown, which was reportedly replicated with the help of the Queens personal wardrobe advisor, Angela Kelly, in 2011

Zara Tindalls second daughter, Lena, was the most recent royal to wear the gown at her St Nicholas Church in Cherington, Gloucestershire.

Gun salutes follow the birth announcement

It is customary for a birth announcement to be followed by a royal gun salute.

Following Princess Charlottes birth, volleys were fired by soldiers in Hyde Park and the Tower of London to honour her arrival at 08:34 BST on 2 May.

At 14:00 BST, soldiers from The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery rode out in a procession from Wellington Barracks, near Buckingham Palace, to fire 41 shots.

The Honourable Artillery Company fire a 62 round Royal Gun Salute outside the Tower of London to celebrate the birth of the royal baby on July 23, 2013 in London, England (Getty Images)

The Honourable Artillery Company also fired a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.

Royal babies dont automatically receive royal titles

Like other royal babies, the babies will not have a royal title unless granted by the Queen.

A Letters Patent passed by King George V in 1917 reads: "The grandchildren of the sons of any such Sovereign in the direct male line (save only the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales) shall have and enjoy in all occasions the style and title enjoyed by the children of Dukes of these Our Realms.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (L) and Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, watch a musical performance at Canada House, the offices of the High Commision of Canada in the United Kingdom, during an event to mark Commonwealth Day, in central London, on March 11, 2019. (Getty)

The Queen previously issued a Letters Patent for Prince William and Kate Middletons children.

In December 2012, the Queen issued a Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm declaring all the children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales should have and enjoy the style, title and attribute of royal highness with the titular dignity of Prince or Princess prefixed to their Christian names or with such other titles of honour.

This explains why Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis all have HRH titles.
I try not to bet on politics; its better to gamble on March Madness, the best sporting event in America. But heres a wager I would make: The two Republican House members from Washington state who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump will not only survive their next election but do even better in 2022 than they did last year.

Thats right: The gutsy stand to remove a mad president will actually help Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler and Dan Newhouse win reelection, which is how it should be for the rare politician who chooses country over party.

They will win because Washington is one of the few states where voters have designed a method to keep extremists from both parties on the fringe of politics. Its something the rest of the country could learn from.

In other words, how can we save the Republican Party, now in the midst of a fight over its confused and darkened soul? Take it away from Republican Party activists and give it to the people. We already have a way to make it work.

Hear me out. In Washington, along with California, the top two vote-getters in a congressional primary, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election. Sometimes two Democrats make the final. Sometimes two Republicans. Often, its one of each, with partisan zealots left out.

In my home state of Washington, the Trump fanatics, conspiracy theorists and misinformation merchants who dominate the GOP are in a lather over the votes by Herrera Beutler and Newhouse to impeach Trump.

Turning a blind eye to this brutal assault on our Republic is not an option, Newhouse said last month in announcing his decision.

Im not afraid of losing my job, Herrera Beutler said. But I am afraid that my country will fail.

Republicans in her district, a moderate to conservative swath of southwestern Washington, called her vote shameful, and they vowed to primary her. Good luck with that.

In a top-two primary system, Herrera Beutler will almost certainly make the runoff, even if another Republican gets more Republican-leaning votes in the primary. But in the general, shell pick up independents and many Democrats, as she did in the past. She won by 13 percentage points last November, in a district that Trump carried by 4 points.

Removing the leverage to knock out Herrera Beutler in the primary allows her to be more accountable to her constituents than to her party. Little wonder that shes also a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.

Newhouse has already survived an attack from the far right, in 2014, when he got only 26% of the primary vote, versus 32% for the right-winger. Still, that was enough to make it to the November election, where he beat the extremist with the help of Democrats and independents. He has won by wide margins since then.

Kim Wyman, Washingtons Republican secretary of state, said the top-two (or four) open primary system encourages higher turnout and promotes candidates with a broader reach. You have to appeal to a wider group of voters than your base, she told me. For a lot of states, this is a radical concept  giving voters the choice and the power.

With top-two primaries, the incentive is actually to take more risk; the more voters you appeal to of all political stripes, the better your chance of winning office.

The downside of the top-two system is that it might leave, say, a majority-Democratic district without a Democratic candidate in the general election. If something like a half-dozen Democratic candidates were to split the primary vote equally, it could allow two Republicans to get just enough to make the general.

In that instance, one-party choice can mean no choice for the party left off the general election ballot. This system also makes it very hard for minor-party candidates to advance.

The parties hate this system. Which is why all three states that have these types of races had to do it by vote of the people. (In November, Alaskans voted in favor of top-four primaries. Nebraska has top-two primaries for state legislative races.)

In a heavily one-party state, this system probably wouldnt save a profile in courage. Rep. Liz Cheney, now under ferocious attack by Trumpers in Wyoming for her vote to impeach, might be doomed in a state that Trump took by 43 points.

But such primaries could protect Rep. Dan Valadao of California, another one of the 10 Republicans on the side of impeachment. President Joe Biden carried his district, but Valadao attracted enough votes from both sides to win.

In the big picture, Republicans are likely to continue gerrymandering districts in key states that are crucial to the makeup of the next Congress. Theyll resist voter-driven reforms to open the system, because those changes take power from the zealots.

Lonely are the brave. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, another of the 10 Republicans to vote for impeachment, is urging his party to confront how much we peddle darkness and division. Several states have found a way toward the light.

TIMOTHY EGAN is a columnist for The New York Times.
LATEST Feb. 18, 11:00 a.m. The Girl & The Fig has reopened. For the full story, see here.

Feb. 10, 4:30 p.m. The Girl & The Fig is temporarily closing after receiving threats and backlash over former employee Kimi Stout's allegation of being pressured to quit for wearing a Black Lives Matter mask to work, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.

President John Toulze told The Chronicle that he ultimately made the decision to shut down after seeing plans for a protest outside the restaurant circulate on social media, citing concerns over the staff's safety.

The Girl & The Fig has also released a new statement on its Facebook page:

--

On Sept. 3, 2020, Kimi Stout showed up to her server job at The Girl & The Fig, a popular French-inspired restaurant in Sonoma, wearing a Black Lives Matter mask. By the end of her shift, she no longer had a job.

For a while, Stout kept what had led to her departure from the highly acclaimed 24-year-old restaurant  which has served esteemed guests including Lady Gaga and some Bachelor contestants  mostly private. But on January 1, 2021, she decided to post a video on her Instagram. Filmed on her last day at the restaurant, she is seen taking off her The Girl & The Fig T-shirt, throwing it in a garbage can, and raising two middle fingers to the sky, with the words Black Lives Matter superimposed over the screen.

On September 3rd, 2020, I was forced out of my position as a server at The Girl and the Fig restaurant in Sonoma, CA for refusing to remove my Black Lives Matter mask after a new mask policy was put into place.  Happy New Year, friends. Spend your money selectively, she wrote in the caption.

Just last week, Stout switched her Instagram account to public, and after popular comedian Jazmyn W shared Stouts video on her Instagram story, the views and comments of support started to pour in. But this story actually dates back even further. In August, just a few months after Stout returned to work at The Girl & The Fig for outdoor dining after being laid off in March, she says a manager pulled her aside. Stout was wearing a BLM mask.

He said, you're not in trouble by any means, said Stout. However, we just wanted to let you know that we did have somebody complain about your mask and they were very aggressive about it.

After offering her a different mask to change into, citing her safety as a concern, Stout declined. She says the president of the company, John Toulze, stopped by at the end of her shift to offer his support for her decision to keep wearing the mask. And so she continued to wear BLM masks to work every shift, and didnt hear anything new about it until September 1.

I got a text notification saying new mask policy in place, everybody sign, said Stout. ... I'm not saying that they wrote the policy for me, but I felt very targeted when I read it. I decided that I was going to wear my mask anyway, because as far as I knew, the president of the company, I had his 100% support.

In a statement, Toulze confirmed that the restaurant created a new formal face mask policy for employees in September 2020, specifying that staff should wear a The Girl & The Fig branded mask provided, or a plain black or blue surgical mask to provide flexibility but still align with the dress code.

The policy was added to our formal dress code which details the required attire or uniforms for all staff. For example, in standard business conditions, we require servers and runners to wear plain blue jeans and a long sleeve, button down and collared white shirt with our signature green apron provided by the company, continued Toulzes statement.

When Stout came into The Girl & The Fig on September 3, she wore her BLM mask. About halfway through her shift, she says Toulze asked her to turn her mask around to hide the logo. When she declined, she says he asked her to stop by his office after work.

He told me, We have a new mask policy in place, and we need you to abide by that, recalled Stout. And you know, I can't make exceptions, because if I make an exception for you, someone may come in tomorrow with another political mask, and I just can't have that. We can't be aligning ourselves anywhere politically.

After some back-and-forth, Stout says that Toulze told her that if she showed up wearing the same mask to work the following day, she would be sent home.

I regret to say that I told him, you know, let's just call it now, said Stout. I don't want to cause a scene. I don't want to cause drama.

Courtesy of Kimi Stout

Toulze initially agreed to a phone interview with SFGATE about Stouts departure from The Girl & The Fig, but about 40 minutes before the scheduled interview time, Novel Public Relations, which represents The Girl & The Fig, sent an email saying the interview was canceled.

Unfortunately, it is against company policy to provide any details about personnel or employment history for employee privacy reasons, read the email.

Additionally, The Girl & The Figs Instagram account  with its nearly 14,000 followers  went private. A few days later, a statement from Toulze was sent to SFGATE via the PR agency (which you can read in full at the bottom of the article):

We were disappointed to learn that a valued employee no longer wanted to continue employment with The Girl & The Fig after we created the face mask policy and resigned because they could not use their uniform to express support for this important cause.



The Girl & The Fig is founded by diverse ownership and prides itself on employing and supporting a diverse workforce. We support the Black Lives Matter movement and sincerely agree that we all have a responsibility to take action to dismantle systemic racism and injustice in our society.

When asked to clarify what Toulze meant by diverse ownership, the press representative responded that two of the three owners of The Girl & The Fig are Jewish, were raised in Philadelphia, and have experienced cultural discrimination and antisemitism in various forms throughout their lives.

The Girl & The Fig did not respond to questions regarding whether they had received any customer complaints about employees wearing BLM masks, or whether they consider supporting BLM to be a political stance. (In July 2020, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel released an advisory opinion that the Black Lives Matter movement isnt political or partisan, clearing the way for federal employees to support it while on duty.)

The Girl & The Fig is located on the bottom floor of the Sonoma Hotel, which also provided a statement to SFGATE regarding the incident: The Sonoma Hotel has leased space to The Girl & The Fig for almost 21 years. Over that time we have always had a positive relationship with the restaurant, staff and ownership team, wrote Sonoma Hotel co-owner Tim Farfan in a statement. We are a separate entity and are not aware of operational or staff issues at The Girl & The Fig. We know The Girl & The Fig ownership team to be responsible and conscientious community members that embrace inclusiveness and diversity, and use their resources to support important community causes.

Clashes between companies and their workers over Black Lives Matter mask and T-shirt bans have become a recurring theme in the wake of a national reckoning with racial injustice, spurred by the police killing of George Floyd. Five employees of various Whole Foods stores across the country told Business Insider that they had worn Black Lives Matter clothing, and were told by management to remove it or leave work. On a local level, after an employee at the Whole Foods Market on Berkeleys Gilman Street spoke out about being asked to remove her Black Lives Matter mask at work, a few hundred people gathered in front of the grocery store to protest.

Despite criticism, Whole Foods held fast on its dress code, which bans clothing with visible slogans, messages, logos or advertising. Other companies, however, chose to reverse course after initially forbidding clothing items supportive of the movement. Taco Bell apologized to an employee who was fired for wearing a BLM mask, clarifying that it was not actually against the company's policy. Starbucks also changed its policy and lifted a ban on Black Lives Matter paraphernalia in June.

While Stout was eligible for collecting unemployment after she left The Girl & The Fig, and has since found a new job, she says the experience of being forced out of her job affected her deeply.

Its just cognitive dissonance, said Stout. It really affected me that they preached, you know, inclusivity and family and together we're stronger. And yet they disagreed with me so much that during a pandemic, they forced me out.

She says that The Girl & The Fig has been very vocal about expressing support for the Sonoma County community amid recent devastating wildfires, echoing sentiments of #SonomaStrong and love is thicker than the smoke. But from her perspective, that support didnt seem to extend to the Black Lives Matter movement. She suspects this is an issue indicative of the community at large.

Stout pointed to an op-ed from decade-long Sonoma resident Maurice Parker in the Sonoma Index-Tribune published in July called Sonoma is not Hallelujah. In the column, Parker catalogues his experiences with racism as a Black man in an interracial marriage living in Sonoma.

"My mere presence in local restaurants ruins the meals of many customers, he writes.  those diners will give my wife and me uncomfortable stares to clearly signal their opposition to our invasion of their sacred space. This is very common."

He writes that hes learned hearing Black members of the community share their experiences with racism can be difficult for Sonomans, who "view themselves as being fair minded, egalitarian and hospitable."

So, looking at the bigger picture, Stout isnt seeking sympathy on her end.

I want this to be about Black Lives Matter, said Stout. I don't want it to be about me and oh, this girl lost her job. Don't worry about me: worry about the fact that a very busy restaurant actively forced out somebody showing support for marginalized lives.

You can read The Girl & The Figs statement in its entirety below:

the girl & the fig prides itself on providing delicious food and drink that meets the highest standards of quality, freshness and seasonality to provide an exceptional dining experience for our guests. We pride ourselves on providing all who work with us a friendly, cooperative and rewarding environment that encourages long-term, satisfying growth. We also are committed to providing a caring environment in which every staff member feels respected by each other and treats each other the way they want to be treated.

the girl & the fig, the fig cafe & winebar and the girl & the fig CATERS! created a formal face mask policy for employees in September 2020. The policy specified that staff should wear a the girl & the fig branded mask provided, or a plain black or blue surgical mask to provide flexibility but still align with the dress code. The policy was added to our formal dress code which details the required attire or uniforms for all staff. For example, in standard business conditions, we require servers and runners to wear plain blue jeans and a long sleeve, button down and collared white shirt with our signature green apron provided by the company.

We seek to have every customer who comes through our doors leave impressed by our restaurants and excited to come back again. We believe that the professionalism of the girl & the fig dress code supports an exceptional dining experience and ambiance.

However, we recognize that after a year of devastating social injustice occurring across the country, face masks have become another opportunity for self-expression and visible displays of support for important issues including the Black Lives Matter movement. We were disappointed to learn that a valued employee no longer wanted to continue employment with the girl & the fig after we created the face mask policy and resigned because they could not use their uniform to express support for this important cause.

the girl & the fig is founded by diverse ownership and prides itself on employing and supporting a diverse workforce. We support the Black Lives Matter movement and sincerely agree that we all have a responsibility to take action to dismantle systemic racism and injustice in our society.

We stand behind the girl & the figs face mask policy as we truly believe its important to a premier dining experience, but we are committed to working with our employees and the public to identify impactful ways the girl & the fig can support important social justice issues including Black Lives Matter in our community. We have a long history of supporting marginalized communities outside the restaurant including significant donations and collaboration with groups like La Luz and Out In The Vineyard.

We are proud of our history of community engagement, but also recognize that there is more learning and listening we can do to show support for the Black community. We are committed to growing from this experience and continuing to provide an exceptional dining experience at the girl & the fig.
Abrupt snow slide or glacier burst: What caused the Uttarakhand calamity

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Dehradun, Feb 09: Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat quoted scientists to say that the areas where avalanches struck on Sunday were not prone to such activities, and the calamity might have been caused by an "abrupt sliding down" of millions of tonnes of snow from a hill, rather than due to a glacier burst.

He also appealed to people to not make the tragedy an occasion for building an "anti-development narrative", as he left for the flood-hit areas of Chamoli for an on-the-spot assessment of relief and rescue operations.

Govt planning to build 825-km all-weather roads in Uttarakhand: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

He made the statement on the cause of the tragedy after holding a meeting here with Isro scientists and officials of the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on finding out the exact reason for the calamity that has left at least 20 dead and over 150 missing.

He said Isro officials showed him pictures in which no glacier is visible at the place where the burst started, but only a naked hill can be seen.

Something is visible on the top of it, he said, adding it might have been the trigger point from where the huge amount of snow slid down, causing the flashflood in the Rishiganga and Dhauli Ganga rivers.

"According to the scientists, the area where the calamity struck is not prone to avalanches and apparently it was not caused by a glacier burst as initial reports suggested," he said.

"It was due to millions of metric tonnes of snow sliding down abruptly from a trigger point on the top of a naked hill," Rawat said.

Uttarakhand glacier burst: 26 bodies recovered, 197 missing; experts study cause

The area had received snowfall in the days leading up to Sunday when the disaster struck.

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

Before he left for the flood-affected areas, he tweeted, "I am leaving for disaster site and will spend night in the region itself. Our relief & rescue operations is continuing in full swing & we are getting help from all quarters. I request everyone to not use this natural disaster as a reason to build anti-development narrative."

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 9:57 [IST]

A healthcare worker suffering from diabetes and in remission from breast cancer has sued a hospital over its refusal to allow her work from home following the onset of the pandemic.

In legal proceedings against St Jamess Hospital in Dublin and the HSE, the woman claims her request was turned down even though it was supported by reports from two consultants attached to the hospital.

The 65-year-old, who is a type 1 diabetic, claims she was left with no option but to resign.

The High Court yesterday gave her permission to bring judicial review proceedings seeking orders quashing the hospitals decision not to allow her work from home or cocoon, and directing she be reinstated.

This followed an application on an ex-parte, or one side only, basis.

Mr Justice Charles Meenan also made an order prohibiting the womans identification.

The healthcare assistant became concerned about her working environment in April last year after she was identified as a close contact of someone who contracted Covid-19.

She claims that due to her underlying conditions, she requested she be moved to a safe working environment.

It is alleged this request was refused, as was a request to be allowed to work from home.

When she inquired about the possibility of being allowed to cocoon, she claims she was informed she did not fit the criteria.

The court heard the woman had three medical opinions which supported her request.

One of these was from a GP and two were from consultants attached to the hospital.

Consultant endocrinologist Marie-Louise Healy supported the healthcare assistants intention to work from home, advising that she should continue to self-isolate as much as possible to avoid contact as her immune system was compromised by her condition.

John Kennedy SC, for the woman, said although she discussed her request with a member of occupational health staff, the response to it was prepared by an official who did not meet with her or interview her over the phone.

He said this official reached the conclusion his client was unfit to work from April 2 to June 5 due to Covid-19 anxiety, but did not fit the criteria for cocooning.

The barrister said the consequences for his client were significant.

She had been determined to work at the hospital until the age of 67 but was forced to retire in order to maintain an income after her pay stopped in June.

She wants to go back to work. She wants the decision that was made refusing to allow her cocoon for a period of time to be quashed and she wants the ability to go back and continue to do her job for the next two years, said Mr Kennedy.

He said the hospital had failed to provide his client with sufficient reasons for its decision and had breached fair procedures.

A copy of the assessment carried out in respect of her request had been sought from the hospital. However, this had not been received.

Mr Kennedy said there had been an obligation on the hospital to provide his client with a Covid age.

A Covid age is ones normal age, but then combined with your vulnerabilities to show where you fit within that criteria, he said.

Someone aged 65 would be considered to be at the end of the moderate Covid age bracket, but his clients vulnerabilities would have placed her in the high or very high bracket of risk.

However, the barrister added the position was now changing rapidly and, although he did not know where his client would be in the vaccine queue, a return to work had become a possibility.

Adjourning the matter for a month, the judge said there were a number of factors in the case which would be helped by early engagement between the parties.
"If we cannot come together for the federal government to provide us with soldiers and police to enter the bush and kill all the bandits, it will be difficult to succeed in the fight against banditry"

The governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has warned that insecurity will continue to escalate in the northwest of Nigeria as long as the states refused to coordinate their policies in dealing with banditry.

Mr El-Rufai spoke to BBC Hausa on Monday following Saturday's mass killings by suspected bandits in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The bandits stormed a village in the area around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and killed 18 residents and robbed others.

The governor said attempts were made at cooperation among governors in the northwest on tackling banditry but that it did not succeed because the governors adopted different policies in addressing the challenge.

"As a result, every state is fighting in it own way. If we cannot come together for the federal government to provide us with soldiers and police to enter the bush and kill all the bandits, it will be difficult to succeed in the fight against banditry," Mr El-Rufai said.

"There is no synergy among the governors in the northwest on how to end the banditry. But Kaduna is collaborating with Niger State on modalities to end the killings by the gunmen.

"State like Zamfara adopted a policy of dialogue with the gunmen, giving them amnesty, which I don't believe in. With this, we have differences on how to tackle the situation," the governor said.

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"We sat together with the governors in Katsina but we disagreed on how to tackle the criminality. Some believed on dialogue while others didn't.

"It is deceitful to believe that a person who is now counting millions as gains from ransom will embrace dialogue and return to his previous lifestyle where he saw little money occasionally," Mr El-Rufai said.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how the governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, said his dialogue with bandits has significantly reduced killings in his state.

Mr Matawalle said he will sustain the dialogue with the hoodlums as a result of its success.

"The peace process was the only way to address the security situation in the state and a lot of success has been recorded since the commencement of the peace process," the governor said on Friday.

He said Allah instructed the Muslim Ummah to dialogue with one another to resolve crisis, insecurity and injustice in order to foster unity, understanding and love.

"My administration inherited the insecurity from the past administration but with peace dialogue initiative, the situation has been reduced to a minimum level, which now makes citizens of the state move freely without any fear of attacks or kidnapping as was the case before," the Zamfara governor said.
Sheryl Prentice is a reporter for the News Sun. Share your news tips and story ideas with her at sprentice@kpcmedia.com or call 260-347-0400, extension 1134.
This is the sixth in a "Letter to President Biden" series aimed at conveying policy recommendations in an open letter from politicians, scholars and experts to the new U.S. president following his Jan. 20 inauguration.  ED.



By Ramesh Thakur



Dear Mr. President,




Tunis/Tunisia  The Center for Research, Studies, Documentation and Information on Women (CREDIF) will launch Tuesday, an awareness campaign to fight against digital violence against women, which coincides with the Safer Internet Day, celebrated annually on February 9.

CREDIF said in a statement released Monday that this awareness campaign aims to break the silence around this form of violence that is increasing in Tunisia and around the world.

This awareness campaign, which will continue until February 19, 2021, is based on the recommendations of a study developed by CREDIF on the theme "Violence against women on social media which found that 4 out of 5 women have been exposed to digital violence on this platform.

The programme of this campaign includes radio programmes on the theme of violence against women, testimonies of women victims of digital violence and the impact of this form of violence on their psyche in daily life, in addition to advice to Internet users.
Apples hold over their ecosystem is quite well known within the tech community. However, a new change within the iOS 14.5 public beta might suggest otherwise. Siri now reportedly allows users to set third-party music streaming apps as the default, instead of being forced to Apple Music.

Previously, every time an Apple user used Siri to play audio and trigger a command for anything music related, iOS would open Apple Music. Understandably, this caused a lot of frustration among users, many of whom are subscribers to other streaming apps such as Spotify, YouTube Music, etc.

In iOS 14.5 public beta, Apple is allowing the default music streaming app to be changed to a service other than Apple Music. When the user triggers Siri to play a song for the first time on iOS 14.5 public beta, Siri will ask you which service would the user like to use.

The feature isnt working perfectly however. It seems to work only with certain phrases, and other times, it will default back to Apple Music. Apple will likely polish the feature by the time the stable release of iOS 14.5 comes out.

Source | Via
Thousands more people in Manchester will be tested for coronavirus after four new cases of the Kent variant were detected there.

Some 10,000 extra tests will be rolled out in the region from Tuesday, after four people from two unconnected households were found to be infected with the mutation, Manchester City Council has said.

This follows similar surges in testing in Worcestershire WR3, an area in Sefton PR9, and areas in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, after variants were found in these locations.

Extra testing sites will be set up, and volunteers will be offering doorstep swabs to anyone aged over 16 who is living, working or studying in the affected areas - which includes postcodes in Hulme, Moss Side, Whalley Range and Fallowfield.

'Surge testing' has been ordered in several areas to tackle the South African and Kent variant of coronavirus. Parts of Manchester have now been added to the list

A local resident hands over their completed coronavirus test kit as part of surge testing for the South African variant of Covid-19, in West Ealing, west London

Those who have been vaccinated should also take a test, the council has said.

The rollout will use PCR swabs, which take a few days to return results, and anyone who tests positive will be asked to self-isolate and pass on details of their contacts to NHS Test and Trace.

Manchester City Council said it is working with Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace to investigate the spread further and take action to limit the number of people exposed.

WHERE IS DOOR-TO-DOOR TESTING BEING OFFERED? London W7: Hanwell (South African variant) N17: Tottenham (South African variant) CR4: Mitcham (South African variant) West Midlands WS2: Walsall (South African variant) WR3: Worcestershire (South African variant) WR9: Worcestershire (South African variant) East of England EN10: Broxbourne (South African variant) South East ME15: Maidstone (South African variant) GU21: Woking (South African variant) North West PR9: Southport (South African variant) Liverpool (Original variant with E484K mutation) M14 4, M14 7, M15 5, M15 6, M16 7, M16 8: Manchester (Kent variant with E484K mutation) South West Bristol (Kent variant with E484K mutation) Advertisement

David Regan, public health director at Manchester City Council, said: 'We all know that the virus will change over time and it's important that we investigate new strains to understand how they might spread.

'This is exactly what we're doing with the intensive testing in parts of Manchester, with local testing units and people going door to door to offer people tests.'

Those living or working in postcodes M14 4, M14 7, M15 5, M15 6, M16 7, M16 8 should check the council's website for more information.

Last Tuesday, extra coronavirus testing was deployed into certain neighbourhoods in Woking in Surrey, Walsall in the West Midlands, as well as parts of London, Kent, Hertfordshire and Lancashire.

A few days later, 'surge testing' was also announced in Worcestershire.

Over the weekend, a million people in the North West of England were told to take a Covid test if they have a runny nose, as part of a clampdown on a mutated virus detected in the region.

Residents in the Liverpool city region, Preston and Lancashire were urged by health bosses to get swabbed if they have even the slightest suspicion they are ill.

It comes after more than 40 cases of an altered strain of the original virus, which carries a mutation experts fear makes vaccines less potent, was spotted in the three areas.

Despite the frantic bid to try and stop the mutated variants spreading in Britain, scientists have warned the cases identified so far are likely just the 'tip of the iceberg'.

Door-to-door and mobile testing began in Britain at the start of the month as part of urgent efforts to swab 80,000 people.

This came after 11 cases of the variant were identified in people who had no links to travel - suggesting it may be spreading in communities.

It comes as Department of Health figures show another 333 Covid victims were recorded today, the lowest 24-hour toll since December 27 and a drop of 18 per cent on the 406 last Monday.

Another 14,104 infections were also added to the official tally. The daily figure has dropped by a quarter week-on-week, with today's number lower than at any time since December 8.

Analysis shows infection rates are lower than at any time since before Christmas in all four nations of the UK.

While the big picture shows infections are falling in most parts of the country, the decline is slow and positive tests were still rising in 17 areas in the week ending February 3.

One of those areas was Rutland in the Midlands, where new infections more than doubled from 180 per 100,000 people to 386.

And in another glimmer of hope that Britain could be freed from lockdown restrictions within weeks, another 278,988 people got their first dose of a vaccine yesterday.

Despite being one of the slowest days of the rollout so far, it means 12.3million Britons have now been immunised.
Mr. Ousman Mohammed Cham, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), has informed the Public Enterprise Committee (PEC) that the company has taken great strikes to provide effective and efficient service to the populace.

He informed the Parliamentarians last week during their appearance before the select committee, for the presentation of their activity reports and financial statements, for scrutiny and consideration.

He said the NAWEC Board, is fully aware of its multiple accountability requirements, to both the Executive, Legislative and to their customers, and they have very realized their mandate to provide services and to contribute to the economic development of the country.

He said: "In response to these requirements, we have undertaken great strikes to bring right kind of competences to NAWEC, to improve our efficiency and effectiveness, to solve the dis-service provision to the people of the Gambia".

He said they had promised the PEC that the backlog of the said reports were to be cleared before 2021,but unfortunately, COVID-19 struck and has derailed their preparation process, thus they had no alternative but to submit their 2020 Financial Statement, while the Activity Report was pending.

The Board said: "Today we have converged here to provide the activity report and we plan to ensure that activity reports for 2018 and 2019 are presented to the committee. We apologise for not being able to deliver as promised, but we are all aware of the challenges we face during the lockdown".

On their part, the Management of NAWEC said: "we have a responsibility to the committee to present our reports annually (audited financial statement and annual reports). We submitted our audited financial statements for 2017 and the annual report was outstanding due to some technical issues that we had which were later resolved, and the report is now ready for submission".

Management said: "The report for 2018 and 2019 are still outstanding. We intended to complete the reports before the end of 2020, but we faced series of challenges due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic, which has compelled us to scale down the number of our staff (especially from the finance department) during the State of public Emergencies".

Management averred that this had given them a lot of challenges in terms of meeting the deadline, to the External Auditors to submit some of the documentations that they required from the management, but added their report would be finalized and submitted to the committee.

Management said: "we might not be able to submit our 2019 audited account before end June. Is a serious challenge and we understood that the report should have been submitted last week but we are doing everything possible to complete the backlog, and have a fresh start with 2022 that would be on track without backlogs".

The management told the committee that, for 2021, they would be submitting all the reports for 2018, 2019 and 2020. But for 2018, they would submit that by next week Friday to the committee.

Halifa Sallah, Chairperson of the Committee, told the management and Board that their restriction is that they would start session starting on the 22nd of March 2021, thus they need at least a period of three weeks to write their reports.

He said: "We cannot also prolong otherwise we will be inefficient. We listen very carefully to views expressed by the public enterprises, and we have gauged their performance against the provisions establishing their manner of operations".

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He said with respect to the audited accounts, section 39 of the public enterprise act states that, the accounts of the corporations shall be audited annually by the auditor general, and the audited accounts of the public enterprises should form part of the Auditor General's overall annual reports to the National Assembly.

He said: "What we have seen is that corporations have been trying to tidy up their accounts and that is really not the objective. The objective is to give true and fair state of operation, so that the challenges could be identified and recommendations made to move them to greater viability".

After due consultation among the committee members, the committee finally considered that the NAWEC Board and Management reappear before PEC, and submit their 2018 reports by 12th February 2021, and the report for the year ended 31st December 2019, no later than 29th March 2021.
5 churches burned down in a village in Kenya

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An association of churches and Christian clergy has demanded an investigation after unidentified arsonists destroyed five churches and threw human feces onto the buildings in one village in western Kenya, according to reports.

St. Monica Church in Otamba village in Nyaribari Chache area of Kisii County was burned on Jan. 20, followed by similar attacks on three other churches  100-member Worldwide Church, Seventh Day Adventist and Legio Maria  the following day, Morning Star News reported.

The fifth church, 250-member Kenya Assemblies of God, was burned down on Jan. 24, the U.S.-based Christian persecution news website said.

Apart from setting the churches ablaze, the arsonists also committed the heinous acts of scooping human feces onto the buildings to discourage the faithful from attending their ruined churches, a source was quoted as saying. A majority of the church members were afraid to attend services [in or near the ruins] in the aftermath of the burning of the churches, fearing that the arsonists might follow them right into their homes, risking the lives of their families.

The Church and Clergy Association of Kenya has demanded an investigation. We demand the investigating authorities to get to the bottom of the matter and expose the agents of such heinous acts. What is the motive behind this and who are these mercenaries acting for? it said in a statement, according to The Standard.

The churches will need to spend millions of Kenyan shillings to rebuild.

Kenya was ranked 49th on Christian support organization Open Doors 2021 World Watch List of countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

While its a Christian-majority country, persecution has spread in Kenya, Open Doors says. Particularly, Christians with a Muslim background in the northeast and coastal regions live under constant threat of attackeven from their closest relatives. Our research revealed that Christians were attacked and forced to flee their villages, and Islamic extremist group al-Shabab has infiltrated the local population to monitor the activities of Christians in those areas.

Organized crime is also a serious problem in the country, Open Doors adds. Corrupt officials often fail to take measures against persecutorsincreasing the potential for further incidents against Christians.

In the countrys northeast, the al-Shabab terrorist group is a constant threat.

Al-Shabaab has fought for years to overthrow the Somali government. The group has been responsible for attacks on both sides of the Somalia and Kenya border as it has long vowed to retaliate against Kenya for sending in troops to Somalia to fight the group.

In April 2015, al-Shabaab carried out one of its deadliest attacks when it stormed the campus of Garissa University. On that occasion, militants were said to have separated Muslims from non-Muslims and proceeded to execute all non-Muslim students. At least 148 people were killed in the attack.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Rising global temperatures are causing frozen Arctic soil permafrostin the northern hemisphere to thaw and release CO 2 that has been stored within it for thousands of years. The amount of carbon stored in permafrost is estimated to be four times greater than the combined amount of CO 2 emitted by modern humans.

Research results from an international team, which includes a researcher from the University of Copenhagen among others, suggests that the newly discovered phenomenon will release even larger quantities of CO 2 than once supposed from organic matter in permafrosta pool of carbon previously thought to be bound tightly and safely sequestered by iron.

The amount of stored carbon that is bound to iron and gets converted to CO 2 when released is estimated to be somewhere between two and five times the amount of carbon released annually through anthropogenic fossil fuel emissions.

Iron doesn't bind organic carbon after all

Researchers have long been aware that microorganisms play a key role in the release of CO 2 as permafrost melts. Microorganisms activated as soil thaws convert dead plants and other organic material into greenhouse gases like methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide.

What is new, is that the mineral iron was believed to bind carbon even as permafrost thawed. The new result demonstrates that bacteria incapacitate iron's carbon trapping ability, resulting in the release of vast amounts of CO 2 . This is an entirely new discovery.

"What we see is that bacteria simply use iron minerals as a food source. As they feed, the bonds which had trapped carbon are destroyed and it is released into the atmosphere as greenhouse gas," explains Associate Professor Carsten W. Muller of the University of Copenhagen's Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management. He elaborates:

"Frozen soil has a high oxygen content, which keeps iron minerals stable and allows carbon to bind to them. But as soon as the ice melts and turns to water, oxygen levels drop and the iron becomes unstable. At the same time, the melted ice permits access to bacteria. As a whole, this is what releases stored carbon as CO 2 ," explains Muller.

The study has just been published in Nature Communications.

Absent from climate models

Although the researchers have only studied a single bog area in Abisko, northern Sweden, they have compared their results with data from other parts the northern hemisphere and expect their new results to also be valid in other areas of permafrost worldwide.

"This means that we have a large new source of CO 2 emissions that needs to be included in climate models and more closely examined," says Carsten W. Muller.

Even though carbon stored in permafrost has a major impact on our climate, researchers know very little about the mechanisms that determine whether carbon in soil is converted into greenhouse gases.

"The majority of climate research in the Arctic focuses on the amount of stored carbon and how sensitive it is to climate change. There is a great deal less of a focus on the deeper mechanisms which trap carbon in soil," says Carsten W. Muller.

Researchers remain uncertain about how much extra carbon from soil could potentially be released through this newly discovered mechanism. Closer investigation is needed.

Explore further Bacteria release climate-damaging carbon from thawing permafrost

More information: Monique S. Patzner et al, Iron mineral dissolution releases iron and associated organic carbon during permafrost thaw, Nature Communications (2020). Journal information: Nature Communications Monique S. Patzner et al, Iron mineral dissolution releases iron and associated organic carbon during permafrost thaw,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20102-6
2021 Honda Rebel 1100 DCT Editor Score: 87.25% Engine 18.0/20 Suspension/Handling 12.5/15 Transmission/Clutch 9.75/10 Brakes 8.0/10 Instruments/Controls 4.5/5 Ergonomics/Comfort 7.5/10 Appearance/Quality 9.0/10 Desirability 8.5/10 Value 9.5/10 Overall Score 87.25/100

I get it. I understand all of us dont want to be seen in public, especially in certain publics, on a Honda NC750X virtue signalling our tiny, 745cc 60-mpg carbon footprint. Nor does everybody want to assert their elite adventurousness aboard an Africa Twin in $2000 worth of Gore-Tex regalia if theyre not all that interested in striking off into the hinterlands  especially if they already live there. You might get away with those things in California, but everybody doesnt live in Lala-land. Only 12% of Americans. And plenty of them arent interested in being Power Rangers either.

For a helluva lot of American motorcyclists, tradition is important, and a lot of people want something that looks traditional on the outside, even if its verging on revolutionary inside. I think thats kind of whats going on with Hondas new Rebel 1100.

The profile says cruiser, but a slightly closer look reveals Hondas done trying to copy Harley with fake cooling fins on flaccid V-twins and plastic chrome gewgaws (though the Fury et al remain in the lineup). The new Rebel wears its 1084cc Unicam parallel Twin and cooling system outside its pants for all the honest world to feel, even as the Honda badging remains subdued.

Closer inspection of the DCT version also reveals the absence of a clutch lever and shifter. Before this Rebel, the only way to get an automatic trans was via the aforementioned Hondas in paragraph one, or in a scooter or Gold Wing. If the goal has been to recruit new riders, thats downright baffling. Hats off to Honda for making at least some effort. Hondas Euro website says the dual-clutch transmission technology has reached its 11th year of production, and more than 140,000 Honda two-wheeled vehicles equipped with DCT have been sold in Europe since 2010.

DCT!

Ya just plink the thing into D for Drive with your right thumb, and from there Hondas Dual Clutch Transmission will do the rest; the one in the Rebel must be about Generation 3. Setting the ride mode to Standard, Sport, Rain, or User gives the trans its marching orders on when to shift. Or, at any time, a light touch of the paddle shifter at your left index finger gets you an instant upshift. Downshifts are instigated with your left thumb, and no worries if youre heeled over in a tight left at the time; shifts up or down are seamless and smooth. Its still easy to honk the horn when you want to signal a turn and vice-versa, but the downshifter at least stands alone. Using the paddles quickly becomes reflexive.

Africa Twin Power

Honda tells us this 270-degree crankshafted AT engine is from the 2020 version: The same attributes that make it a good Adventure motor serve it well in cruiser guise as well. The Unicam head keeps the weight mostly low, and with the heavier engine parts toward the bikes center of gravity. The heaviest bit might be the flywheel mass, which Honda says is 20% heavier for 32% more inertia. Weve got revised cam timing and lift, designed to change volumetric efficiency between cylinders for a unique pulse feeling at 4,000 rpm, and the thing does make a unique nasal Canadian goose honk through its tuned airbox and exhaust when you whack the throttle open, along with eye-opening acceleration.

New riders will love not having to clutch, but on this one, they need to be made aware that opening the throttle in first gear results in going somewhere immediately, especially in Sport mode. With no clutch to modulate, low-speed parking lot maneuvers require making sure the trainee is also well acquainted with how to drag the rear brake to maintain balance.

American Honda doesnt deal in such crassities as horsepower numbers, but Honda of Italy is all over it: 87 hp at 7,000 rpm with 72 ft-lbs torque at 4,750 rpm for the Rebel it says, versus 102 hp @7500 rpm and 77 ft-lbs @ 6,250 rpm for the Africa Twin.

So the Rebels giving up 7% of the ATs torque  but getting there 1500 rpm sooner. In a cruiser, that seems like a good trade-off. A couple of riders in our group were able to keep the front wheel a foot or two in the air into second gear: There is wheelie control, but turning off traction control disables it as well.

We havent ever managed to run a DCT bike on the Dynojet yet, but the editorial butt dyno registers about 80 rear-wheel horsepower, and 72 ft-lbs of torque almost seems like a conservative estimate. If you want your power right now from a stop, the Rebel delivers, especially in Sport mode. As for top speed, it feels like its fixing to blow through the Ton with ease right when the governor kicks in at 100 mph. Its probably for your own good, son.

Ergonomy

Somebody on the ride said, mid controls suck, and somebody else answered not as much as forward controls. I agree. The Rebel had my hip flexors concerned at first, but even my old body adapted pretty quickly to the highish pegs beneath the 27.5-inch seat. I could hang my 30-in legs atop the pegs when droning along to stretch them out, and I think the optional passenger pegs would work well too as a seating option. For 58 me the handlebar was a bit forward; later I was able to rotate it down and rearward a smidge, where it was just about perfect. For me, the thick seats a fine shape and comfortable enough. Overall, in spite of the cruiser appearance, the Rebel has you in a reasonably okay posture for attacking curves, a thing it does surprisingly well.

Its also not bad at running along at 80 or 85 mph on the freeway at 5000 rpm: Youre sat down low enough behind the fuel tank and instrument pod that they do deflect a bit of windblast, and the magic that is standard electronic cruise control means you can give either hand a break as needed. Also, this is a smoooooth-running Twin. Honda says: The secondary vibrations are neutralized by the reciprocal movement of the pistons, while the primary inertial and coupling vibrations are canceled out by the use of biaxial countershafts.

The intended milieu of the cruiser, though, is cruising, and for blathering around town the Rebel, especially the DCT, is king. The low seat is swell for stop-and-go. I was initially miffed that we werent lane-splitting through city traffic on our official Honda SoCal press ride, but after a while I stopped minding because sitting there low on the Rebel on a nice days as easy as sitting in a car with an automatic. I have to say, the cruiser people may be on to something; I think the Our Time ladies were checking me out even more than usual. Short bikes make you look taller. Oh yess go GPTB. Im a bad boy, a Rebel

Theres really nothing in particular that stands out on the Rebel, but Honda did a nice job with the round-tube frame and the deep paint on the seamless tank on top of it. Those fenders are real steel, and it being a Honda, there are zero unsightly wires or dangling participles. Obviously its a cruiser, but this Hondas not trying to be anything its not or to hide anything its ashamed of. Its elemental.

Suspense

The downside of cruising is the same as it ever was. As long as the pavements smooth, all is swell. But where there be bumps, the bigger ones are going right up your spinal column and attempting to dislodge whichever of your internal organs are still connected to it. You just cant absorb bumps with your legs and feet nearly as well as you can on a non-cruiser.

The 43mm cool purple nitrided fork up front does nice work, and the dual-rate piggyback-res shocks out back do the best they can with their 3.7 inches of wheel travel (both are preload-adjustable), but youre still taking some pretty heavy body blows over the big bumps unless you pull yourself up by the arms when you see them coming. Some of them sneak up on you. Ouch.

For sporty backroad use, the suspensions dialled. With 4.3 inches of trail, a 59.8-in. wheelbase, that fat 18-in. front tire and its low cg, the Rebels more about stability than quick handling. But that doesnt mean its not as fun as any other motorcycle to throw at corners. Honda claims its got 35 degrees of lean in both directions, but it feels like more. The footpegs dont begin to drag until it feels like youre going plenty fast for the Dunlop D428 cruiser tires. For a sportbike, 509 pounds is a bit porcine; for a cruiser its pretty light. (The last Sportster 48 we tested [my kid did nice work on that one!] claimed to weigh 551 lbs. Indian specs 555 lbs. for its Scout Bobber.) If you did opt for the 6-speed manual Rebel, its 22 lbs lighter, at 487. (Hondas claimed weights have been very close to our measured ones lately.)

The DCT doesnt care if you decide to bang it down another gear midcorner (in fact it doesnt bang at all or upset the chassis in the least) to make the giant angry goose honk again, but the engines so torquey in the middle its usually faster to just leave it in the gear youre in.

Back on the gas, you can count on the DCT to upshift again every time the LCD tachometer that runs around the perimeter of the big single instrument gets to 7. Youve got Rain, Standard, Sport and User modes, and once youve loaded your chosen levels of power, traction control, engine braking and DCT function into User, it stays that way even after you turn off the ignition.

Maybe you wanna short-shift? Bink the paddle with your left index finger. Instant shift every time. Earlier DCTs I rode didnt always downshift when you wanted them to: With the Rebel version, every time I was about to thumb the downshift paddle  be it braking into a corner or coming to a stop  the DCT would do it for me, complete with throttle blip, like it read my mind  sometimes even two rapid downshifts into tight corners.

I like Sport mode, but when youre just cruising along, it holds gears longer than you want before upshifting. Thats not even a problem, since by now youre reflexively fingering the upshift paddle. You could switch into Standard or Rain mode to get lower-rpm upshifts and the less aggressive shifting program, but then youre getting less throttle response too. If youre just getting started on this bike, thats probably not a bad thing. Anyway, its all easy to figure out even without consulting a millennial, and easy to see on the LCD display.

DCT in short, is awesome 99% of the time. Additional benefits, says Honda, include durability (no damage due to poorly engaged gears), inability to switch off, reduced stress in urban driving, reduced rider fatigue and more concentration on driving in terms of cornering trajectories, braking and acceleration points. Pretty much spot-on.

Im not normally a cruiser guy, but then the Rebel 1100s not a normal cruiser (neither was the sweet Rebel 500 we tested last year). This one goes around corners like a sportbike when you ask it to, goes as fast as you ever need to go (as long as thats not faster than 100), and its as convenient to run around on as a scooter, thanks to the DCT. Youll need a cup holder for your coffee somewhere. Naturally, Honda already has nice saddlebags you can order up at time of purchase, along with a bunch of other things including heated grips, a batwingish fairing and windshield, etc.

And the price is right too. Honda says its Rebels 300 and 500 have been big successes.

But when owners of those bikes want to move up the ladder, theyve had no choice but to defect to a different brand: 64% of Rebel 300 trade-ins and 73% of Rebel 500 traders moved to other brands, Honda laments. Now that the 1100 is here, theyve got an excellent reason to ride right back to the Honda dealer at trade-in time.

And for $9,999, this one should draw a lot of riders of other brands too. (Sounds like by this time next year, therell also be a standard style Honda with this engine and DCT for them to look at, probably called something like NT1100.)

Thereve been a lot of unmemorable cruisers to try to remember over the decades, but Im pretty sure the Rebel 1100 is the most fun Ive had riding one, by a pretty fair margin. (Is the Triumph Rocket 3 a cruiser?) Whatever category you want to put it in (style without stereotypes, Honda says), it feels like a high-functioning bi-partisan motorcycle even us coastal elites can get behind.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 48F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
A brick home on Washington Street in Foster Twp. was damaged by fire Monday evening.

Dark smoke poured from the attic windows and roof and from second floor windows on the double home at 148-150 Washington St. as volunteer firefighters raced to the neighborhood around 5:15 p.m. in below freezing temperatures.

Fearnots of Foster Twp. Fire Chief Dan Balliet said several neighbors called Luzerne County 911 confirming smoke was coming from the building after the initial 911 dispatch that mobilized firefighters. Not long after, Balliet saw heavy smoke coming from the residence at the corner of Wyoming Street as he made his way from South Street in Freeland. The house is a block off Route 940 (Centre Street) in Freeland.

I went right to a second alarm at that point, Balliet said.

Their first alarm dispatched Foster and neighboring Freeland firefighters, while the second alarm brought in help from Hazle Twp. Fire and Rescue, Valley Regional Fire and Rescue, White Haven and Sugarloaf fire companies. Balliet said he asked for the extra help due to the fire conditions and to establish an auxiliary water supply should firefighters encounter frozen hydrants. Those water tanker trucks were staged at Citterio on Hazle Street, about a block from the house.

Firefighters ended up not having problems with hydrant water.

Balliet had praise for Freeland firefighters and civilians who dug out hydrants from the snow in the neighborhood after the latest storm and helped save the home from more damage.

Certainly appreciate the civilians, because there are a lot of them that make sure the hydrants are cleared, he said.

Initially it was reported that people were trapped, but no one was in either side, the chief said. One of the first responders on scene was a Freeland firefighter who lives in the area, he said.

Firefighters set up aerial ladders and hoses and hoisting ladders to the building. The house was filled with smoke when firefighters entered but they found the flames and extinguished them, Balliet said. The balloon-style construction of the building allowed smoke to travel from the attic to the basement, he said.

He said the fire appears to have started in the 148 side though a Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal was called to investigate the cause and origin.

Fire damage was limited to the attic on the 148 side while smoke and water damage was experienced throughout that half of the home. On the 150 side, Balliet said there was a little fire damage but mostly smoke.

The home is repairable, he said. One side appeared to be vacant while the 150 side appeared to have at least two people living there. Their dog ran from the house during the fire and his owners and people in the community were searching the neighborhood, Balliet said.

The small brown dog with black on his snout and around his eyes is named Stumps and was still missing Tuesday. Jared Drauschak, one of his owners, asked that people call if they sight him to 570-436-1848 or 570-710-4873. Approaching the dog may cause the canine to get scared and run off.

No injuries were reported.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia, speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 5, 2021. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images)

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Criticizes Capitol Attackers Who Ruined GOPs Jan. 6 Objection Plans

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) denounced on Tuesday the people who attacked the Capitol and said they ruined Republicans ability to object to the electoral certification.

The attack RUINED our objection that we spent weeks preparing for, which devastated our efforts on behalf of Trump and his voters, she wrote in a series of tweets.

She continued: They placed pipe bombs at the RNC and the DNC the night before. They did NOT just target one party. They targeted Republicans and Democrats. They were against the government ALL together.

Greene was referring to FBI officials allegations that explosive devices were set down at the headquarters of the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee on Jan. 5, coming a day before the incident.

The freshman GOP lawmaker also wrote that she was very upset, scared, and terrified for ALL of us during the incident and said she made a video telling people to stop and they should protest peacefully.

I will be forever grateful to my Republican colleagues who bravely helped the police protect us and blocked the door. They courageously risked their lives against the attackers trying to get in. pic.twitter.com/xnIrdSOkrK  Marjorie Taylor Greene  (@mtgreenee) February 9, 2021

I will be forever grateful to my Republican colleagues who bravely helped the police protect us and blocked the door, Greene added on social media. They courageously risked their lives against the attackers trying to get in.

She made the comment ahead of the start of former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial in the Senate. Ten Republicans joined all Democrats in the House to impeach Trump last month for allegedly inciting an insurrection, which Trump has denied via his lawyers.

Greene then moved to defend Trump, who gave a speech to supporters on Jan. 6.

This impeachment trial [is] a circus for the Democrat media mob to entertain the masses that they have brainwashed and addicted to hate, so they dont see the Dem policies being rapidly forced into place that are destroying our lives, stealing our freedoms, and putting America last, Greene tweeted Tuesday.

The former presidents lawyers, in court documents filed on Monday, argued that the trial should be dismissed, arguing that it is unconstitutional to conduct an impeachment trial of a former president and is unconstitutional to lump several charges into one impeachment article. They also said that his speech on Jan. 6 was protected under the First Amendment.

Last months impeachment was only ever a selfish attempt by Democratic leadership in the House to prey upon the feelings of horror and confusion that fell upon all Americans across the entire political spectrum upon seeing the destruction at the Capitol on January 6 by a few hundred people, Trumps lawyers wrote. Instead of acting to heal the nation, or at the very least focusing on prosecuting the lawbreakers who stormed the Capitol, the Speaker of the House and her allies have tried to callously harness the chaos of the moment for their own political gain.

Democratic impeachment managers led by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) are expected to make the argument that Trump was singularly responsible for the Capitol breach, saying that the former president should not be able to hold office in the future.

The Framers intent, the text of the Constitution, and prior Congressional practice all confirm that President Trump must stand trial for his constitutional crimes committed in office, House Democrats wrote in response on Monday. Presidents swear a sacred oath that binds them from their first day in office through their very last. There is no January Exception to the Constitution that allows Presidents to abuse power in their final days without accountability.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Lisa Bitel, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

(THE CONVERSATION) On Feb. 14, sweethearts of all ages will exchange cards, flowers, candy, and more lavish gifts in the name of St. Valentine. But as a historian of Christianity, I can tell you that at the root of our modern holiday is a beautiful fiction. St. Valentine was no lover or patron of love.

Valentines Day, in fact, originated as a liturgical feast to celebrate the decapitation of a third-century Christian martyr, or perhaps two. So, how did we get from beheading to betrothing on Valentines Day?

Early origins of St. Valentine

Ancient sources reveal that there were several St. Valentines who died on Feb. 14. Two of them were executed during the reign of Roman Emperor Claudius Gothicus in 269-270 A.D., at a time when persecution of Christians was common.

How do we know this? Because, an order of Belgian monks spent three centuries collecting evidence for the lives of saints from manuscript archives around the known world.

They were called Bollandists after Jean Bolland, a Jesuit scholar who began publishing the massive 68-folio volumes of Acta Sanctorum, or Lives of the Saints, beginning in 1643.

Since then, successive generations of monks continued the work until the last volume was published in 1940. The Brothers dug up every scrap of information about every saint on the liturgical calendar and printed the texts arranged according to the saints feast day.

The Valentine martyrs

The volume encompassing Feb. 14 contains the stories of a handful of Valentini, including the earliest three of whom died in the third century.

The earliest Valentinus is said to have died in Africa, along with 24 soldiers. Unfortunately, even the Bollandists could not find any more information about him. As the monks knew, sometimes all that the saints left behind was a name and day of death.

We know only a little more about the other two Valentines.

According to a late medieval legend reprinted in the Acta, which was accompanied by Bollandist critique about its historical value, a Roman priest named Valentinus was arrested during the reign of Emperor Gothicus and put into the custody of an aristocrat named Asterius.

As the story goes, Asterius made the mistake of letting the preacher talk. Father Valentinus went on and on about Christ leading pagans out of the shadow of darkness and into the light of truth and salvation. Asterius made a bargain with Valentinus: If the Christian could cure Asteriuss foster-daughter of blindness, he would convert. Valentinus put his hands over the girls eyes and chanted:

Lord Jesus Christ, en-lighten your handmaid, because you are God, the True Light.

Easy as that. The child could see, according to the medieval legend. Asterius and his whole family were baptized. Unfortunately, when Emperor Gothicus heard the news, he ordered them all to be executed. But Valentinus was the only one to be beheaded. A pious widow, though, made off with his body and had it buried at the site of his martyrdom on the Via Flaminia, the ancient highway stretching from Rome to present-day Rimini. Later, a chapel was built over the saints remains.

St. Valentine was not a romantic

The third third-century Valentinus was a bishop of Terni in the province of Umbria, Italy.

According to his equally dodgy legend, Ternis bishop got into a situation like the other Valentinus by debating a potential convert and afterward healing his son. The rest of story is quite similar as well: He too, was beheaded on the orders of Emperor Gothicus and his body buried along the Via Flaminia.

It is likely, as the Bollandists suggested, that there werent actually two decapitated Valentines, but that two different versions of one saints legend appeared in both Rome and Terni.

Nonetheless, African, Roman or Umbrian, none of the Valentines seems to have been a romantic.

Indeed, medieval legends, repeated in modern media, had St. Valentine performing Christian marriage rituals or passing notes between Christian lovers jailed by Gothicus. Still other stories romantically involved him with the blind girl whom he allegedly healed. Yet none of these medieval tales had any basis in third-century history, as the Bollandists pointed out.

In any case, historical veracity did not count for much with medieval Christians. What they cared about were stories of miracles and martyrdoms, and the physical remains or relics of the saint. To be sure, many different churches and monasteries around medieval Europe claimed to have bits of a St. Valentinus skull in their treasuries.

Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome, for example, still displays a whole skull. According to the Bollandists, other churches across Europe also claim to own slivers and bits of one or the other St. Valentinus body: For example, San Anton Church in Madrid, Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin, the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Prague, Saint Marys Assumption in Chelmno, Poland, as well as churches in Malta, Birmingham, Glasgow, and on the Greek isle of Lesbos, among others.

For believers, relics of the martyrs signified the saints continuing their invisible presence among communities of pious Christians. In 11th-century Brittany, for instance, one bishop used what was purported to be Valentines head to halt fires, prevent epidemics, and cure all sorts of illnesses, including demonic possession.

As far as we know, though, the saints bones did nothing special for lovers.

Unlikely pagan origins

Many scholars have deconstructed Valentine and his day in books, articles and blog postings. Some suggest that the modern holiday is a Christian cover-up of the more ancient Roman celebration of Lupercalia in mid-February.

Lupercalia originated as a ritual in a rural masculine cult involving the sacrifice of goats and dogs and evolved later into an urban carnival. During the festivities half-naked young men ran through the streets of Rome, streaking people with thongs cut from the skins of newly killed goats. Pregnant women thought it brought them healthy babies. In 496 A.D., however, Pope Gelasius supposedly denounced the rowdy festival.

Still, there is no evidence that the pope purposely replaced Lupercalia with the more sedate cult of the martyred St. Valentine or any other Christian celebration.

Chaucer and the love birds

The love connection probably appeared more than a thousand years after the martyrs death, when Geoffrey Chaucer, author of The Canterbury Tales decreed the February feast of St. Valentinus to the mating of birds. He wrote in his Parlement of Foules:

For this was on seynt Volantynys day. Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.

It seems that, in Chaucers day, English birds paired off to produce eggs in February. Soon, nature-minded European nobility began sending love notes during bird-mating season. For example, the French Duke of Orleans, who spent some years as a prisoner in the Tower of London, wrote to his wife in February 1415 that he was already sick of love (by which he meant lovesick.) And he called her his very gentle Valentine.

English audiences embraced the idea of February mating. Shakespeares lovestruck Ophelia spoke of herself as Hamlets Valentine.

In the following centuries, Englishmen and women began using Feb. 14 as an excuse to pen verses to their love objects. Industrialization made it easier with mass-produced illustrated cards adorned with smarmy poetry. Then along came Cadbury, Hersheys, and other chocolate manufacturers marketing sweets for ones sweetheart on Valentines Day.

Today, shops everywhere in England and the U.S. decorate their windows with hearts and banners proclaiming the annual Day of Love. Merchants stock their shelves with candy, jewelry and Cupid-related trinkets begging Be My Valentine. For most lovers, this request does not require beheading.

Invisible Valentines

It seems that the erstwhile saint behind the holiday of love remains as elusive as love itself. Still, as St. Augustine, the great fifth-century theologian and philosopher argued in his treatise on Faith in Invisible Things, someone does not have to be standing before our eyes for us to love them.

And much like love itself, St. Valentine and his reputation as the patron saint of love are not matters of verifiable history, but of faith.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/the-real-st-valentine-was-no-patron-of-love-90518.

President Joe Biden makes his way to board Air Force One before departing from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Feb. 5, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Obama Ethics Chief Says Biden Should Address Conflict of Interest With Brother

A top ethics lawyer during the Obama administration said this week that President Joe Bidens administration should clarify ethics rules after it was revealed his brothers law firm was using the sibling relationship in promotional material.

Frank Biden was hired by Berman Law Group as a senior adviser in 2018. Since then, the Florida-based company has touted his ties to Joe Biden. In one post in 2018, the firm wrote that Joe Bidens brother joins The Berman Law Group. In an advertisement that ran on the day Joe Biden was inaugurated, the firm said Frank Biden shared his brothers commitment to environmental and social justice.

I think there is a problem here, and its an appearance problem, admittedly, but appearance matters in a period when were trying to rebuild after what was inarguably the most unethical presidency in our history, Walter Shaub, former director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, said during an appearance on CNN.

While Biden pledged to keep distance between his family and the White House during the presidential race, his brothers law firm has undercut that.

I think its not enough for the White House to tell us they have a mysterious process of some sort. Id like them to tell us what that process is. And although its not required by the rules, were in a period when were rebuilding from ethical failures, so Id like to hear the President say that he has asked his brother to stop touting the connection to the White House, Shaub said.

Now, he cant control his brother, but he certainly can reassure us that he has asked him. He can share what the process they put in place is, and he can also ask that all of his political appointees will refrain from dealings with the law firm and defer to career government officials to handle any matters that arise. I think that would go a long way to resolving the appearance concern, and I hope theyll do that, because they havent done it yet.

The White House didnt respond to a request for comment on Shaubs remarks.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters last month that the president is committed to ensuring we have the most ethically vigorous administration in history, and that includes restrictions on whathow his image can be used, and that is something that hes conveyed publicly and privately as well.

Its the White Houses policy that the Presidents name should not be used in connection with any commercial activities to suggest or in any way they could reasonably be understood to imply his endorsement or support, she added.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on Feb. 8, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Other ethics lawyers have called on the Biden administration to implement strong ethics rules, including Richard Painter, an ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration.

The Berman Law Group didnt turn a phone call. Frank Biden told CNBC via email that he never used my brother to obtain clients for my firm.

Our firm has long been involved [with] this lawsuit. Social justice is something I have been involved in for years. I will never be employed by any lobbyist or lobbying firm, he added.

In the Jan. 20 ad, Frank Biden was quoted as saying: My brother is a model for how to go about doing this work. One of his central tenets is that one should never question another mans or womans motives or assign blame to them. That way, you avoid creating a disparity that prevents any kind of coming together. You can of course question someones judgement, and thats what were doing by bringing this to court.

The firms biography page for Frank Biden says he was involved in his brothers election campaigns as an advisor and unpaid campaign coordinator. He also served in the Clinton administration.

Joe Biden has faced scrutiny over family members. His son Hunter Biden was involved in business in both Ukraine and China while his father was vice president and still holds a stake in a Chinese firm. During the same time period, Frank Biden was utilizing his last name to push a charter school through. More recently, Bidens son-in-law Howard Krein has been closely involved with the COVID-19 response, stoking concerns.

Joe Biden has promised to keep family away from government.

Were going to run this like the Obama-Biden administration, he told People magazine in a recent interview. No one in our family and extended family is going to be involved in any government undertaking or foreign policy. And nobody has an office in this place.
Not so much as we might think has changed and thats why Revolutionary Road is still powerful and relevant. Parts of Fairfield County are wealthier than ever, yet unhappiness, perhaps especially among the young, is an ongoing problem.

by Andy Piascik

Connecticuts Fairfield County has for many years been a place of contrasts. It has cities that, even in their bustling heydays, were places where poverty and defeat lived amidst booming factories. It has also historically been a place where both the fairly well-to-do and the richest of the rich live in towns that, beginning in the 1940s, came to be known as suburbs. Both the industrial cities and the green suburbs of Fairfield County have been the subject of much literature, and Richard Yatess 1961 Revolutionary Road is one of the best and best-known novels about the latter.

The novel is set in 1955 and is the story of Frank and April Wheeler, a couple with two children who live on Revolutionary Road in a moderately upscale Fairfield County town. Frank commutes by train five mornings a week to Manhattan, where he is employed as a salesman at Knox Business Machines. While he is paid well enough to afford a lovely home (April is a stay-at-home mom), Frank hates his job, feels diminished by it and never passes up an opportunity to make fun of it.

At first, Frank and April are drawn to living in a nice house on a tree-lined street. Before very long, however, they fall into regularly making fun of their neighbors. They come to see there is something hollow at the core of the suburban dream. It becomes important to both of them to believe that they are better than their surroundings, and also to believe their coming to live on Revolutionary Road was a twist of fate they had no control over.

Paris

Both Wheelers had previously lived for an extended period in Manhattan, Frank in Greenwich Village no less, in an apartment where the two of them enjoyed many good times in the early years of their relationship. That experience in the capitol of American bohemia informs the contempt they develop for their suburban town, and out of their unhappiness comes Aprils idea that they move to Paris so Frank can find himself.

Their neighbors and Franks colleagues at Knox greet the Paris idea with shock, skepticism and not a small bit of resentment. The resentment is not so much over the possible loss of friends and a co-worker but over the fact that the Wheelers, in proposing to chuck it all, make clear what they all seem to know: their well-constructed lives in the comfortable Connecticut suburbs have not produced happiness.

A Kindred Spirit Whos Institutionalized

There is, for example, Shep Campbell. Campbell and his wife Milly are the Wheelers best friends and they echo the jokes the Wheelers make about their other neighbors and their surroundings. The Campbells have made their peace with their lot, though, even as Shep lusts after April and is completely unable to connect with his four television-obsessed young sons. It is only from John Givings, the insane, institutionalized son of local busybody Helen Givings, that the Wheelers receive affirmation for their plan.

Frank is never as enthusiastic about Paris as April. He seems aware in a way she is not, or at least is unwilling to accept, that he has found himself and what he is is a salesman at Knox Business Machines. Events soon cause the Paris plan to unravel, heated arguments and recriminations ensue followed, ultimately, by tragedy.

No Escape From Unhappiness

The Connecticut suburbs play a crucial role in Revolutionary Road. As they were then and in many ways remain today, any number of Fairfield County towns are held up as the ultimate badge of success for an upper level professional family. They are places where problems are supposed to be absent or at least easily solve-able. While its likely no one ever believed that to be the case, the toll unhappiness takes is greater because of the promise.

At the same time, Revolutionary Road is not only about the empty promises of happiness in the Connecticut suburbs. It is easy to imagine similar dramas such as the Wheelers taking place in Greenwich Village; easy to imagine because they happen there all the time. Yates seems equally to be getting at something bigger about the emptiness of life in the United States at the moment it had attained, within its very real self-defined limits, the best for the most. Fairfield County represents all that the country as a whole aspired to be in the 1950s, and the people in Revolutionary Road who live there find it is seriously lacking.

Not so much as we might think has changed and thats why Revolutionary Road is still powerful and relevant. Parts of Fairfield County are wealthier than ever, yet unhappiness, perhaps especially among the young, is an ongoing problem. While those problems are not on the scale of young people in Connecticuts poorest cities, problems that are often questions of life and death, they remain a blight on the American Dream.

Other novels of the time set in Fairfield County cover similar ground, most notably Sloan Wilsons The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit and Laura Hobsons Gentlemens Agreement. What distinguishes Revolutionary Road is that it ends in tragedy and defeat. There is no uplifting finale, not even a small whiff of overcoming all the trouble and turmoil, just defeat and death. It is perhaps for that reason that neither the novel or the 2008 film adaptation that starred Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, no less, were well-received.

Bridgeport native Andy Piascik is a long-time activist and award-winning author whose most recent book is the novel In Motion. He can be reached at andypiascik@aol.com.
The new Biden Administration has largely been focused on fulfilling its election promises in its first month in power. After reversing an extensive list of Trump policies via executive orders, Biden is now focusing on the Middle East. In stark contrast to his predecessor, Joe Bidens administration is taking a reserved and diplomatic approach towards the ongoing crisis in the Middle East region. While the new administration is yet to fully address Iranian Sanctions or the JCPOA-agreement, it has stepped up the pressure on some Arab countries by temporarily blocking U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In yesterdays historic speech, Biden addressed U.S. military support for the Saudi-led anti-Houthi alliance currently fighting in Yemen. International media has been largely focused on the perceived hard-line position taken by Biden. By removing full-scale offensive military support for Saudi forces, Washington seems to be pushing for a diplomatic solution to the conflict, in which Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others are fighting a proxy war against the Iranian supported Houthi forces. Diplomatic sources indicate that the move is a "routine administrative action", noting that it was standard for incoming administrations to review large arms deals initiated by outgoing administrations. Still, Bidens moves are not going to go down very well in the respective Arab Gulf capitals. Other major players, such as Egypt, Israel, and Jordan will be watching Bidens moves carefully in the coming months. Among the sales that have been put on hold is a massive $23 billion (19 billion) deal to supply the UAE with 50 Lockheed-Martin F-35 stealth fighter jets. The deal was made in the final days of the Trump presidency, after the November 6 election. It remains unclear whether or not other Trump arms deals are also going to be targeted, such as the December 29 2020 approved potential sale of 3,000 precision-guided missiles, worth as much as $290 million, to Saudi Arabia.

The reaction from Arab governments to yesterdays Biden speech have been very positive, as was expected. None of the countries involved are willing to put their relationship with Washington at risk. Saudi Arabias Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel Al Jubeir, stated that Bidens historic speech confirms Americas commitment to work with friends and allies on resolving conflicts. Hi words carried a tacit but clear undertone that Washington not forget the larger picture, which includes both Iran and Iraq, and focuses on both geopolitics and energy.

Related Video: The Silver Squeeze Conspiracy

In the coming weeks and months, the Biden Administration will be focusing on the JCPOA agreement and its constraints. While Democrats and European nations may be hoping for a fast revamp of the Iran deal, there are significant hurdles in the way of achieving such a feat. First of all, the former JCPOA agreement has already been attacked by several European nations due to a lack of control mechanisms. Secondly, Irans growing missile capabilities, which have already been used in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon, are a major concern for any potential JCPOA signatories. Thirdly, Irans current posture with regards to nuclear enrichment will discourage Washington, France, and Germany from coming to the table. While none of these issues are particularly new, Bidens position on all of them remains unclear, and will likely depend on his broader foreign policy in the Middle East.

The Biden Administrations role and relationship with the Arab Gulf states is yet to be established. The postponement of arms deliveries and the blockage of so-called offensive arms to Saudi Arabia, and potentially others, could be setting the scene for a potential political crisis in the region. If this relative aggression towards Arab Gulf nations is combined with a more positive attitude towards Iran, without adressing the concerns of Saudi Arabia-UAE-Israel and Egypt, then Washington will risk losing its key allies in the region. Since the Obama era, the traditionally friendly security and economic relationships between Washington and the GCC region have been severely weakened. A new perceived pro-Iranian and anti-Arab strategy could lead to Washington coming under fire in the Middle East.

It is not only U.S. interests in the region that could be threatened by a new course of action in the Middle East, but also the U.S. and European economies. A new pro-Iranian vision of the Middle East could give birth in the GCC arena to a willingness to increase already growing cooperation with Russia, China, and India. Strategic posturing could also result in a less lenient approach from Arab oil nations towards Bidens energy strategies and the U.S. shale recovery. OPEC+ is evidence of the growing economic strength of non-U.S. economies. Broad support from the U.S. for a new JCPOA agreement and increasing pressure on Arab regimes would only increase this new economic force and could also lead to a very volatile oil and gas market. President Biden will have to play his hand carefully in the Middle East to avoid global economic and geopolitical ramifications.

By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com

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Pittsfield Schools Plans Return to Hybrid After February Break

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Interim Superintendent of Schools Joseph Curtis delivered hope in his weekly update to Pittsfield Public School students, staff, and family on Friday of plans to return all students to in-person hybrid learning after February break.

This plan will be presented to the School Committee on Wednesday and, if approved, it will be provided to all families on Friday along with options for parents/guardians who want their children to continue in remote learning.



Two weeks ago, the School Committee voted that career and vocational students Grades 10-12 would return to classrooms on Feb. 1; certain special education classes including Stearns first and second-grade inclusions begin Monday, Feb. 8, and all other students return no sooner than the week of Feb. 22 "or as soon as realistically possible.



That week, the state Department of Public Health's weekly update on COVID-19 data for the previous 14-day period in the city showeed a positivity rate as of 3.32 percent and there were 29.4 cases of the virus per 100,000 people.

"On an additional positive note, our daily local health data continues to improve," Curtis said, announcing that the city has now reported a percent positivity rate of 2.3 percent as of Feb. 2. "This demonstrates a continued gradual decline in our overall percent positivity."



On Feb.1, Mayor Linda Tyer in her State of The City address said current public health data is beginning to look promising. At the time, the 14-day positivity rate rested at 3.5 percent, taking Pittsfield out of the high-risk red zone and into the yellow zone.



Last week, the United Educators of Pittsfield spoke out about feeling blindsided by the School Committee's vote to return to in-person hybrid learning. The union is accusing the committee of privately debating and then approving the change, filing an Open Meeting Law complaint with the School Committee and the city clerk in relation to the Jan. 27 vote.



"This deliberate effort to deny parents the information they need to make informed decisions about the health and welfare of their children is a clear violation of the state's Open Meeting Law," said Melissa Campbell, the president of the UEP.



The School Committee now has 14 business days from the complaint's date to respond. The UEP is asking for revocation of the votes, a return to remote learning, and compensation to teachers affected.



On Monday, Curtis said he had no comment on the situation as the School Committee and the UEP are addressing it formally.

In a letter dated Feb. 4 to the UEP Executive Board, School Committee Chairwoman Katherine Yon said the union quoted a portion of the memorandum of agreement that "does not accurately reflect the agreement of the parties when viewed as a whole."

She said Curtis had been the committee's representative in talks and that the union leadership had attended a meeting on Jan. 25 with administration about the items on the committee's agenda for Jan. 27.

"The assertion that the Committee's deliberation 'behind closed doors' in executive was in some way inappropriate is also inaccurate. As you are aware, unless the UEP specifically authorized the Committee to discuss the UEP's proposals in Open Session (which it did not), the Committee was legally prohibited from doing so," she wrote, adding that the committee is open to returning to proposal-based talks. "In closing, the Committee made its decision based upon the available medical data related to both COVID-19 and student health and learning. In the Committees judgment, it is no longer appropriate to continue in the remote only phase."

Curtis on Friday also announced the district, in partnership with the Board of Health, the mayor's office, and County Ambulance, will be conducting a pilot testing event for Taconic High School staff and some career and vocational-technical education students.



This will be conducted at Taconic for staff and students who are attending in-person learning such as cosmetology, health technology, and culinary.



"Again this is a closed testing event specifically for the staff at Taconic High School along with selected students in our CVTE program," Curtis added.



He strongly urged Pittsfield residents to stay strong during the February break that runs from the 15th to the 19th, avoiding traveling over the vacation because of exposure to airports, public transit, hotels, and rest stops which are hot spots for COVID-19.



"We must continue to adhere to strict safety protocols," he said. "Including wearing a mask, hand washing/sanitizing, not participating in large gatherings, and not traveling during February vacation."



The last day of school is now Monday, June 21, because of snow days that the city has recently experienced.


A Wisconsin woman has been charged after she paid a 'dark web' hitman $5,000 in bitcoin currency to kill a man, federal prosecutors say.

Kelly Harper, 37, was arrested in Columbus on Friday after she allegedly admitted to the FBI that she used a murder-for-hire site on the dark web to arrange for someone to kill the victim.

Harper is married and is believed to have four children, according to her social media and online records.

The FBI has not confirmed Harper's relationship to the victim.

According to a federal complaint, Harper had posted the victim's name and address on the murder-for-hire site located outside of Wisconsin back in December.

She allegedly wrote: 'The target needs to be killed, he is a white 5 foot 5 male, dark brown short hair, blue eyes, weighs 165 pounds.'

Kelly Harper, 37, was arrested in Columbus on Friday after she allegedly admitted to the FBI that she used a murder-for-hire site on the dark web to arrange for someone to kill the victim

The post included details about the victim's car, where he worked and his cellphone number

Harper also added photos of the victim and his car, the complaint says.

The administrator of the site responded to Harper's messages and requested proof of payment in bitcoin currency.

Harper shared a screenshot of a bitcoin wallet with the value of $5,633.87, according to the complaint.

The FBI was tipped off to the plot on January 12 by the victim and his girlfriend after being contacted by local journalists who had discovered the posts on the dark web site.

Authorities went to the victim's home in Sun Prairie that day and spoke with him and three journalists. Two of the journalists were not present and were on a video call.

Harper is married and is believed to have four children, according to her social media and online records. The FBI has not confirmed Harper's relationship to the victim

According to a federal complaint, Harper had posted the victim's name and address on the murder-for-hire site located outside of Wisconsin back in December

The journalists told the FBI they had discovered the victim's name on the murder-for-hire site and had subsequently contacted him.

After the journalists alerted the victim to the plot, the man's girlfriend informed local police and filed a complaint with the FBI's National Threat Operations Center.

The journalists also uncovered another bitcoin payment allegedly made by Harper to a second murder-for-hire site. The details of that payment was not included in the complaint.

The FBI analyzed the transfers and linked it to an IP address, email and phone number associated with Harper's bitcoin wallet, the complaint says.

Harper's home was raided last Friday and agents uncovered screenshots from the murder-for-hire dark site and the images of the victim she allegedly sent the administrator.

Harper, who remains in custody at the Dane County Jail, is facing 10 years in prison.
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.
Please, people of Trinidad and Tobago, I beg you to take Covid-19 very seriously. I dont want anyone of you to feel the pain I feel.

The weight of that tearful plea from Indian restaurateur Gautam Khanna ripped the heartstrings from the body in one forceful pull, on a quiet Wednesday morning in Arima.
Japan-based SoftBank Group Corps Vision Fund is hiring the head of Microsoft's venture fund, Nagraj Kashyap, as its managing partner.

This is the first major appointment following a string of departures from the fund, the Financial Express reported.

Kashyap is set to join the Vision Express Fund in the United States as per a statement from SoftBank. Previously, he had served the head of ventures at Qualcomm Inc. before joining Microsoft in 2016, the report said.

In November 2020, a number of executives stepped down from Softbank Group. Soon after the string of departures the board was set to be reduced to nine members once the changes were implemented.

At the time, Softbank's founder Masayoshi Son said one of the aims of these changes is to separate management and operations. This is because there is an increased focus on investments rather than managing its own companies.

According to the report, there has been a number of changes within the fund.

Among senior roles, Managing Partner Colin Fan said he would be leaving his post to become an adviser to SoftBank Investment Advisers and Jeff Housenbold, the managing partner involved in bets on startups including DoorDash Inc. and dog-walking app Wag, also reported he would be leaving Vision Fund.
A woman finally has her massive mango-sized 'love handle' lipoma removed in The Bad Skin Clinic.

Tonight's episode of the show, which airs on Quest Red, focuses on Rosie, from the UK, who for the past 10 years has has been living with an enormous, melon-sized lipoma on the side of her waist.

As she admits, the massive bulge has taken its toll on her self-esteem and has stopped her doing the things she enjoys.

'I do get paranoid, you can see people looking at you. I used to be a social butterfly, now I just hide in the corner,' she says. 'It affects my self-confidence, I just think people will be looking at me and staring at it, going 'oh what's wrong with her? God help her.'

In tonight's episode of Quest Red's The Bad Skin Clinic, Rosie (pictured), from the UK, finally has her massive mango-sized 'love handle' lipoma removed

Rosie says that the massive bulge (pictured) has taken its toll on her self-esteem and has stopped her doing the things she enjoys

Dr Emma (pictured, right) says Rosie's lump looks like a 'good love handle' - adding that from the scan itself it looks like it's going between the muscles

Visibly protruding from her waistline, the bump has been a major cause of concern for Rosie's health over the years.

'So when I first discovered it many years ago, everybody thinks a lump is the big C, you know, so it did really scare me,' she says, revealing that at first she thought the lump was a lot more serious. 'But the doctor's got an MRI and that clarified that it wasn't, that it was a large lipoma.'

Over the past decade, Rosie's husband Martin admits that he's seen a change in his wife, as her confidence has noticeably dipped as the lipoma has grown bigger.

'Seeing how she's changed so much over the years, it's been difficult, it's been hard,' he says. 'Her confidence has dropped an awful lot. Definitely in the last five years it's really started to get bigger. It's really just ballooned, and for me that's got scary.'

WHAT IS A LIPOMA? Lipomas are non-cancerous lumps caused by an overgrowth of fat cells. They can form anywhere on the body, but are most common on the neck, shoulders, abdomen and back. They are usually just under the skin, shaped like a dome and soft to touch. They occur in about one in every 1,000 people in the US. and about one in 100 people in the UK. Doctors are unsure of what causes lipomas, but believe it may be due to an inherited faulty gene or physical trauma Most do not cause any pain unless they are deep in the body and press on nerves or organs. If a lipoma affects the bowels, it may cause constipation and nausea. Most lipomas do not need removing, but surgery may be necessary if the growth is large, causing symptoms or unsightly. Source: Cleveland Clinic Advertisement

But Rosie hopes to put 10 years' worth of upset behind her when she pays a visit to Dermatological Surgeon Dr Emma Craythorne at her Harley Street clinic.

'It was just a small lump, but then just gradually it kept growing and growing,' Rosie explains to Dr Emma.

Asked what size the lump was to start with, Rosie casts her mind back.

'It was about five-by-three they told me at the time,' Rosie says.

But armed with a copy of Rosie's most recent MRI scan, Dr Emma has some startling news.

'It has got a lot bigger than that, it's got three times the size of that,' she reveals.

Popping on a mask and a pair of gloves, Dr Emma inspects Rosie's lipoma for herself.

'Oh gosh, that is a good love handle,' Dr Emma smiles as Rosie reveals the lump. 'From the scan itself it looks like it's going between the muscles.'

After finishing her examination of the lipoma, Dr Emma offers Rosie her thoughts.

'I love removing lipomas, I love opening it out and seeing what's inside,' she starts. 'There's a slight problem with your one that will stop me doing it, and it's the fact that it goes in between the muscles.'

Talking things over, Dr Emma explains that due to the size of the lipoma, Rosie will need to put under general anaesthetic to have the lump safely removed, something she doesn't do at her clinic. Thankfully, Dr Emma knows just the man for the job.

'My colleague, who is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Richard Young, he does operate on people while they are asleep, and does a beautiful job on removing lipomas,' she says.

Rosie hopes to put 10 years' worth of upset behind her when she pays a visit to Dermatological Surgeon Dr Emma Craythorne at her Harley Street clinic (pictured)

Rosie explains that she used to be a social butterfly but just hides in the corner due to the embarrassment of her lump (pictured)

With a plan of action in place, Rosie leaves the clinic feeling elated, ready for Mr Young to remove her lipoma once and for all.

'I had no idea that it was going to be so complicated, and I was very happy that Dr Emma was able to refer me. I'm so delighted,' she says.

Fast forward five weeks, and it's the day of Rosie's surgery.

'I'm here today to get my lipoma on my right-hand side removed,' Rosie says. 'I've waited a long time for this day to come, and I'm very, very excited.'

With Rosie brought into the operating theatre, it's time for Mr Richard Young to get to work.

'Rosie's going to have a general anaesthetic, because the lipoma's a little bit large for a dermatology outpatient removal,' he says. 'I think it'll take about an hour, hour and a half of surgical time, and then during the procedure we're hopefully going to take the lump away for her.'

With Rosie out for the count, Mr Young makes his first incision.

Dr Emma (pictured) explains that due to the size of the lipoma, Rosie will need to put under general anaesthetic to have the lump safely removed, something she doesn't do at her clinic

After removing the lipoma from Rosie's muscle, Mr Young gently lifts the orange bundle of fat out of the wound, and plops it into a tray (pictured)

'We've measured Rosie's lump on the scan, and it's about 12 centimetres by about seven, a little bit like a big mango, so it's quite a ball of fat,' he says, opening up Rosie's skin.

With the lipoma coming into view, Mr Young removes the stringy fibres keeping the lump in place. Clamping open the incision wound, he works at freeing the lipoma from the muscle wall.

After removing the lipoma from Rosie's muscle, Mr Young gently lifts the orange bundle of fat out of the wound, and plops it into a tray.

'There we go,' he says, breathing a sigh of relief. 'It's fairly sizeable, and it looks like it came out in one!'

After putting in deep stitches and repairing the skin, it's job done for Mr Young, and Rosie is wheeled away to recovery.

'It's great finally not to have a big lump sticking out now of my side, it's brilliant,' Rosie says after she comes to. 'The first thing I'm going to do when I get home is wear a nice fitted top and a nice fitted dress. It feels like I have a waistline again!'

The Bad Skin Clinic airs tonight at 10pm on Quest Red, available to stream on discovery+

[February 09, 2021] John Sheehan and Bob Madaio of Sharp Recognized as 2021 CRN Channel Chiefs

MONTVALE, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America (SIICA), a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation (SEC), today announced that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company , has named John Sheehan, Senior Vice President of Channel Sales, and Bob Madaio, Vice President of Marketing, to its 2021 list of Channel Chiefs. The prestigious CRN Channel Chiefs list, released annually, recognizes leading IT channel vendor executives who continually demonstrate outstanding leadership, influence, innovation and growth. This is the fourth consecutive year that John has been named a CRN Channel Chief. The recognition is a direct result of his hard work with the Sharp channel sales team. He has led key initiatives to keep resellers engaged in training and building a sales pipeline, as well as innovative programs aimed at incentivizing resellers. Named as a Channel Chief for the first time, Bob was honored for his influential leadership in providing real-time program modifications to maximize dealer success during the pandemic, thus ensuring success for channel partners. Under his leadership, the Sharp marketing team quickly introduced channel promotions to help drive business, reward partners and increase channel sales and service skills, including multiple webinar series, in which Bob also directly presented numerous sessions. "It comes as no surprise to the Sharp family that both John and Bob have been named Channel Chief, said Mike Marusic, CEO and President, Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America. "Although 2020 was unpredictable and challenging, they both showcased incredible initiative and innovative, out-of-the-box thinking that helped us achieve great successes throughout the year. We're proud of the work they've done for Sharp and the dealer community and look forward to more of their exceptional leadership to help guide us to continued growth moving forward." The 2021 Channel Chiefs are prominent leaders who have influnced the IT channel with cutting-edge strategies, programs and partnerships. All honorees are selected by CRN's editorial staff based on their dedication, industry prestige, and exceptional accomplishments as channel advocates.



"CRN's 2021 Channel Chiefs list includes the industry's biggest channel evangelists, a group of individuals who work tirelessly on behalf of their partners and drive growth through the development of strong partner programs and innovative business strategies that help bring business-critical solutions to market," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "The Channel Company is proud to recognize these channel influencers and looks forward to following their continued success." CRN's 2021 Channel Chiefs list will be featured in the February 2021 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs .

About Sharp Imaging and Information Company Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America, a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation, markets Sharp's business products, including its new Synappx family of collaboration applications that help address the workforce's increased expectation of secure accessibility, ease of use and mobility; its full line of multifunction printers (MFPs); and professional display products, including the award-winning AQUOS BOARD interactive display system. For more information on Sharp's business products, contact Sharp Electronics Corporation, 100 Paragon Drive, Montvale, N.J., 07645. For online product information, visit our website at business.sharpusa.com. Become a fan of Sharp business products on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram and watch us on YouTube . About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter , LinkedIn, and Facebook .  2021. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/john-sheehan-and-bob-madaio-of-sharp-recognized-as-2021-crn-channel-chiefs-301224872.html SOURCE Sharp Electronics Corporation USA

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A US court has asked for a joint status report on the prospects of work authorisation for H4 visas, in view of the decision of the Biden Administration to withdraw the move of Trump-era to rescind work authorisation to certain categories of spouses of foreign professional on H-1B visa.

Judge Tanya S Chutkan has asked for the joint status report by March 5.

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-4 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) has earlier said that the proposed rule titled, 'Removing H-4 Dependent Spouses from the Class of Aliens Eligible for Employment Authorisation,' was being withdrawn.

The Court has asked for the joint status report by March 5



"In light of recent Executive and Administrative actions, the parties shall meet, confer and file a joint status report by 3/5/21 advising the court: 1) whether the current dispute has been mooted or the parties anticipate that it will be mooted; 2) whether the parties wish to stay this action for any reason, including the parties' negotiations over resolving this dispute; or 3) whether the parties agree that this litigation should continue as anticipated pursuant to the federal rules, local rules or a scheduling order, the judge said.

The report shall be accompanied by a proposed order as appropriate; wrote Judge Chutkan in the US Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit.

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 holders who have secured work authorisations are 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.

It is normally issued to those who have already started the process of seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident status.

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.

The 2015 rule was challenged by Save Jobs USA in a federal court.

During its four years, the Trump Administration had told the court that it plans to rescind the order that gives work authorisation to spouses of H-1B visas. However, it did not rescind the 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.)
JC Foundation Trust has recently launched a JNews & Media website (www.jnews.media) providing a platform for regional and jewish communities to get latest news on various categories at a click of a button. The major focus is on worldwide political news divided into 5 sections like US News, UK News, Asia News, Europe News and World News. I had an idea of starting a news & media site for the 
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.
Days after Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed this years virtual World Economic Forum, emphasizing the importance of global cooperation in fighting the covid pandemic and saving the world economy, Beijing declared its intent of conducting military exercises in the South China Sea in the Gulf of Tonkin, just east of Vietnam. This is the new Chinese style of diplomacy, wherein the world is supposed to take the rhetoric of cooperation more seriously than the countrys aggressive actions. The Communist Party of China would have the world believe that even its malevolent actions against weaker, smaller states are actually about the greater global good.

At the World Economic Forums virtual event, The Davos Agenda, Xi Jinping wanted the world to focus on multilateral cooperation, even as he targeted the US and its allies for ideological prejudice". In some ways, Xi was once again trying to do what he did in 2017 when he delivered the keynote address at Davospositioning China as guarantor of the world economic order by signalling a willingness to take on a bigger role in global leadership at a time of growing American isolationism. But in 2017, it was Donald Trump at the helm of the US, while now President Joe Biden wants to make America globalist again.

So, calling for a rejection of isolationism and ideological prejudice", the message from the Chinese leader was one of engagement on Chinese terms. And sure enough, his speech was followed by actions in the South China Sea, after a US carrier group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt entered those waters on Saturday to promote freedom of sea navigation. Xis message was aimed primarily at the Biden administration, which is still trying to settle in, and the contours of its China policy are only just about beginning to emerge. Given the Trump administrations explicit posturing vis-a-vis China on issues ranging from trade, the Indo-Pacific, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan to the South China Sea, it is important for Beijing to lay down a clear marker for the new US administration. Beijing seems unsure about how relations between the two countries will shape up under President Biden.

Xi, therefore, made his preferences clear when he suggested that we should respect and accommodate differences, avoid meddling in other countries internal affairs and resolve disagreements through consultation and dialogue." Referring to the last few years, the Chinese leader also said that history and reality have made it clear time and again that the misguided approach of antagonism and confrontationbe it in the form of a cold war, hot war, trade war or tech warwill eventually hurt all countries interest and undermine everyones well-being."

While Biden has suggested that he would like his country to engage with the world once more", there is every likelihood that his China policy will take its cues from his predecessor. And thats what China remains worried about. Terming Trumps approach to China a strategic misjudgement", Chinas top diplomat Yang Jiechi recently urged the Biden administration to rise above the outdated mentality of zero-sum, major-power rivalry and work with China to keep the relationship on the right track." Jiechi reminded the US that Beijing expects Washington to honour its commitment under the three Sino-US joint communiques" and abide by the One China principle, as these issues concern Chinas core interests, national dignity as well as the sentiments of its 1.4 billion people", thereby constituting a red line that must not be crossed."

While the Biden administration might be keen on working with Beijing on big issues such as covid response, economic recovery and climate change, the tech and trade rivalry with China that sharpened under Trump is not going anywhere in a hurry. In his first foreign policy speech after taking office, Biden made it clear that America will confront Beijings economic abuses, counter its aggressive, coercive action to push back on Chinas attack on human rights, intellectual property, and global governance." In the Indo-Pacific, new secretary of state Antony Blinken has re-committed the US to the defence of the Philippines, reaffirmed the strength of the United States-Thailand defence alliance, rejected Chinas maritime claims in the South China Sea, and pledged to stand with Southeast Asian claimants in the face of Beijings pressure. This followed the Biden administrations assurances to Japan over the defence of the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which China claims and calls the Diaoyu. Blinken has also underlined the importance of cooperation, including through multilateral organizations and mechanisms like the Quad, to tackle shared challenges in his outreach to regional US partners like Australia, Japan and India.

The stage is set for continuity in Americas China policy, despite there being serious concerns in the Indo-Pacific about Americas future posture towards China and the region. Biden and his team may need some more time to fully make up their mind about China, but regional powers are clear about the challenge they face. If the US wont respond adequately and in time, then regional players will have to marshal their own resources to manage the consequences of Chinas rise. It was Barack Obamas eight years in the White House that allowed China to emerge the menacing power it is today. For the Indo-Pacific, giving Biden any more time is a luxury the region cant afford.

Harsh V. Pant is professor of international relations, Kings College London

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Prosecutor Michelle Jatkiewicz said in court Friday she was facing an April 19 deadline under Indianas Criminal Rule 4, which is designed to prevent a certain amount of delays before trial while a defendant is in jail. If a trial was further pushed, Hodge would have to be released, she said.
Ukraine is calling on Twitter to remove a "blue check" verified account of the Russian Foreign Ministry's office in Crimea, accusing the social-media giant of promoting Kremlin propaganda.

Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Volodymyr Yelchenko, sent a letter to Twitter asking the company to deactivate the Russian account, the embassy in Washington said on February 8.

The account of "Russian occupation authorities in Crimea cannot be described as official and legitimate," the diplomatic mission said on Facebook.

Moscow illegally annexed Crimea in early 2014 and later threw its support behind pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine's east, where some 13,200 people have been killed in an ongoing conflict.

The account in question describes itself as the "official twitter account" of the Russian Foreign Ministry's representative office in the city of Simferopol, Crimea's second-largest city. The account has nearly 12,000 followers and a "blue check" verification.

Twitter gives blue checks to accounts of public interest deemed "authentic" and pledged last year to improve the process of identifying verified profiles.

First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzheppar wrote on Facebook that Ukraine's diplomats have been "working out the necessary steps" to counter Russian attempts to legitimize aggression against Ukraine online.

She accused Twitter of promoting Russian "propaganda and disinformation aimed at undermining the sovereignty of Ukraine as well as the legitimization of the 'Russian' status" over Crimea.

As the virus has rampaged through Israel in recent months, it has shaken the assumptions of some in the insular ultra-Orthodox world, swelling the numbers of those who decide they want out.

Organizations that help ultra-Orthodox who have left the fold navigate their transition from the highly structured, rules-based lifestyle into modern Israeli society have noted a rise in demand for their services.

Experts attribute the departures to a breakdown of supervision and routine, a rise in internet use during the pandemic and generally more time for questioning and self-discovery.

For many, breaking away means being cut off by their families and leaving a tight-knit support system for an unfamiliar culture. In extreme cases, parents of offspring who leave sit shiva, observing the traditional mourning rituals as if they were dead.
Ambition, desire, struggle for power and vulnerability - common threads that run through the lives of five modern Indian women living in Mumbai, the city of dreams. Follow them as they steer their lives through obstacles in their careers and relationships, all while trying to break free from the shackles of society. Will they succumb to everything that stands in their way or will they build a bond strong enough to help them shatter barriers together and take charge? To get the answer, watch Netflixs upcoming series - Bombay Begums - about the five ambitious boss women played by Pooja Bhatt, Shahana Goswami Amruta Subhash, Plabita Borthakur and Aadhya Anand along with Rahul Bose, Vivek Gomber and Danish Husain amongst others.

Talking about the series, Creator and Director Alankrita Shrivastava said, "Bombay Begums is a story about Indian women that I hope women in India, and across the world will connect with. The series explores the complex journey of working Indian women who are ambitious for power and success, but have many other battles to fight too. It's the story of their daily hustle, the story of their dreams - sometimes buried, sometimes fulfilled. It's the story of glass ceilings shattered, and also of the hearts broken in the process. I have tried to create a world that reflects the realities of urban working women. I hope audiences relate to the characters and find pieces of their own journey reflected in the story. I am excited and proud that Bombay Begums is coming on Netflix on the occasion of International Womens Day."

Get ready to watch the begums from Bombay rise on International Womens day i.e. March 8, 2021 exclusively on Netflix!
Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, better known as Amotekun, have arrested no fewer than 15 persons for illegally mining gold in Owo Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects, who were from the northern part of the country, were said to have been apprehended in about 50 different locations in the local government.

The suspects included Shuaibu Yahaya, Habbi Usman, Kabiru Waheed, Mohammed Nurudeen, Mohammed Sulaman, Ali Mustapha and Ismaila Wahab.

Others are Musa Zeehed, Gabbar Musa, Sule Adamu Abba Suleman, Usman Kebiru, Yahaya Danladi, Usman Ali and one Zekeri.

The state Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said the arrest was part of efforts to end criminality in the state.

According to him, the suspects were apprehended by the Amotekun corps in collaboration with local hunters.

He said, "The arrest took place at a forest reserve in Owo. It was in the course of the exercise we discovered the illegal mining locations. We noticed that they (the suspects) had gone far in 50 different locations, where they were mining.

"Nobody would have believed that Ondo State has this quality of gold until we got to the locations where the gold robbers were living and performing illegal mining."

Adeleye said the culprits would be prosecuted after proper investigation.

One of the suspects, Shuaib from Kebbi State, said he was introduced to the 'business' by his friend Yunisa, adding that they used a local method to mine in the locations.

He said, "I have been involved in the act since 2019. I came to look for a job and I was introduced to the business by one of our leaders, who is at large. He brought me to Ondo State for this job because I wanted to make some money."

On how they mined, he explained that after digging deep into the ground, "We got the black gold and separated the sand from the gold with a flat sieve with a rug. The rug will do the separation as we pour the sand on it.

"I am the second best in getting the gold, as it is of a very high quality. We only get it out and send back home to our boss who sells them and later pays us. The gold in the land is of high quality gold; mostly we get 25 carats and 20 carats gold and we make good money," he added.
Korea should maintain diplomatic balance



The escalating U.S.-China rivalry is certainly a cause for concern, particularly for South Korea. This reminds us of an old Korean saying: A shrimp gets hurt when whales fight. Imagine what would happen if the G2 economies engage in a new Cold War confrontation.



South Korea, for its part, hopes that the new U.S. administration under President Joe Biden will mend ties with China to step up cooperation for mutual benefit. But that hope seems to be a far cry from the harsh reality that the two global giants are gearing toward a fiercer confrontation than ever before.



Biden's recent remarks about China bring more worries than hope. He said in an interview aired Sunday by CBS that China is in for "extreme competition" from the U.S. under his administration. But he said the new relationship he wants to forge with China need not be one of conflict.



The U.S. president even described Chinese President Xi Jinping as "very bright" and "very tough" but without "a democratic, small D, bone in his body." This description could indicate that he will raise the issue of human rights with China. Biden has already vowed to stand up for democratic values and restore a rules-based international order, and so is expected to continue former President Donald Trump's hardline policy toward Beijing. Even worse, he could take a tougher stance on China than his predecessor.



The rising tension was also felt Saturday during phone talks between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi. Blinken reportedly touched on sensitive issues such as the situations in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan. China has invited international criticism for violating human rights of the Uighur minority in Xinjiang, and suppressing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Beijing has also clashed with Washington for the latter's support for self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims is part of its territory.



Blinken reaffirmed his position that the U.S. would work with its allies to cope with China's threat to the stability of the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan. He made it clear that Washington will stand up for democratic values and human rights in such places as Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong. He also called on China to join the international community in its condemnation of the military coup in Myanmar.



However, Yang reportedly countered Blinken by saying that China won't tolerate any foreign interference because Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet were internal affairs. He also urged Washington to respect the "One China" policy regarding Taiwan which he said is the "most sensitive, most important and core issue" between the two countries.



In a nutshell, the Biden administration is likely to go beyond Trump's trade and technology war with China to cover human rights and other issues. In this situation, concerns are growing that South Korea might be caught in the crossfire from the mounting superpower rivalry.



The Moon Jae-in administration should strive to strike a diplomatic balance between the U.S. and China to better protect its national interests. South Korea is heavily dependent on the U.S.  its traditional ally  for security. On the other hand, it relies on China, its largest trading partner, for economic growth. Seoul must work out a new strategy to cope with a possible situation in which the country is forced to choose between Washington and Beijing.


VH1 chose not to leave Love & Hip Hop fans hanging and launched a series of specials, including Love & Hip Hop Family Reunion. While each of the cast members showed up with a spring in their step and love in their hearts, it became clear not everything was peachy.

Whos in the lineup for this reality miniseries? VH1 brought each city to the family reunion table with Trick Daddy, Trina, Yandy Smith-Harris, Mendeecees, Apryl Jones, Bambi, Erica Dixon, Fizz, Joy Young, Judy Harris (Mendeecees mom), Karlie Redd and her daughter Jasmine, Momma Dee, Ray J, Paris, Scrappy, Sierra, and Yung Joc.

Heres a look at which LHH family members are experiencing fractures in their relationships and how this may play out over the remaining five episodes.

Bambi Benson and Lil Scrappy of Love & Hip Hop attend 2019 BMI Holiday Event | Prince Williams/WireImage/Getty Images

Scrappy, Bambi, Momma Dee

Bambi and Scrappy are married with two children now, but Momma Dee is still running interference. During the welcome cookout, she told Sierra she heard Scrappy say maybe he and Bambi should get a divorce.

We need to fix it, Momma Dee said to Sierra. Once word got back to Bambi (via Sierra), she was adamant that she didnt want her mother-in-law gossiping to people at a BBQ. Behind the scenes, she admitted theres some truth to it.

Later, at the girls night party, Bambi didnt want to approach Momma Dee on the spot, but she changed her mind. She pulled her aside.

In her confessional, Momma Dee admitted she accidentally texted Scrappy his ex-girlfriends phone number and claims thats why Bambi is upset. When Scrappy saw them talking, he went over and learned Momma Dee told Joc and Sierra that he and Bambi are headed for a divorce. Scrappy was pissed and ready to leave.

Momma Dee said, Im just trying to fix their marriage.

Say it with your chest or dont say it at all #LHHFamReunion pic.twitter.com/wOgn0pY7Fc  Love & Hip Hop (@loveandhiphop) February 9, 2021

RELATED: Love & Hip Hop Stars Sierra Gates and BK Brasco Are Getting Married

Karlie and Sierra

Karlie Redd was still upset with Sierra from the last season of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta. She said Sierra mocked her about her relationship with Arkansas Mo.

Karlie admitted to getting back at Sierra in the blogs and implied Sierra is a clout chaser. Sierra asked to talk, but Karlie refused. Karlie said in her confessional that she feels Sierra hasnt been a true friend. On the flip side, Sierra doesnt want to beef.

Toward the end of the episode, Sierra asked Karlie for a sidebar, but Karlie wanted neutral mediators. Yandy and Bambi helped sway the conversation.

Sierra apologized again and Karlie said Sierra has never shown her the same level of love. Sierra said she messed up. Karlie harped on it and said she doesnt want to hear excuses from her about being a bad friend. After some tears, they finally make up.

While the ladies get turnt at Trina's pajama jam, Karlie & Sierra put their recent beef behind them with a heart-to-heart chat.



Are you glad to see them moving forward? #LHHFamReunion pic.twitter.com/y1I2N00l96  Love & Hip Hop (@loveandhiphop) February 9, 2021

Karlie and her daughter Jasmine

Jasmine has been on the show before, but this time, she shared something about her relationship with her mom. She said she was raised by her grandmother and Karlie didnt spend enough time with her. That affects their bond today. Viewers will seemingly learn more in future episodes.

Yandy and Judy

Yandy wanted this weekend getaway to be about her and hubby, but Mendecees sprung his mother on her at the last minute.

Ms. Judy tagged along for the family reunion and it was a total surprise to Yandy. With Mendecees recently getting out of prison, everyone is pulling for his attention and the couple hasnt had time to themselves.

Mendecees called for a family meeting and Judy says Yandy took him away from her. Shes upset she hasnt really seen him after his release from prison. But according to Yandy, shes been with them nonstop. Mendeecees wants intimate time with Yandy but he doesnt want to snub his mother. Theyll surely find a way to make peace.

Tune in for VH1s Family Reunion special each Monday at 8 p.m. EST.
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UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

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Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

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Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

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Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

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Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

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US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

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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

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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

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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

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Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

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Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

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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

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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

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Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

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France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

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Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

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Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he had spoken to Biden to talk about regional issues and the shared politics of India and USA. Over the phone call, Prime Minister Modi also stated his commitment to a rule-based international order.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the new United States President Joe Biden on Monday had a telephonic call, Prime Minister Modi informed in a tweet. This was the first phone communication between US president Joe Biden and PM Modi after Bidens inauguration.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he had spoken to Biden to talk about regional issues and the shared politics of India and USA. Over the phone call, Prime Minister Modi also stated his commitment to a rule-based international order.

A statement issued by the Prime Ministers Office read that PM Modi and Prez Joe Biden reiterated the importance of working with like-minded countries to ensure a rules-based international order and a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, the communique read.

Also read: PM Modi to hold talks with Afghan Prez Ashraf Ghani today; Shehtoot Dam agreement on agenda

Spoke to @POTUS @JoeBiden and conveyed my best wishes for his success. We discussed regional issues and our shared priorities. We also agreed to further our co-operation against climate change.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 8, 2021

Also read: Chamoli glacier disaster: 15 people rescued so far; ITBP intensifies search ops at Tapovan tunnel

White House also issued a statement stating that President Biden, in the phone call with PM Modi underscored his desire to defend democratic institutions and norms around the world and noted that a shared commitment to democratic values was the bedrock for the U.S.-India relationship.

PMO also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also welcomed US President Joe Bidens judgment regarding the Paris Agreement. PM Modi also addressed the goals that India aims to achieve in the area of renewable energy.

Also read: The Sunday Guardians Daily Edition Launch: The Sunday Guardian, Now available every day
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White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on Feb. 8, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Psaki Dodges Question About Laid-Off Pipeline Workers, Green Jobs

White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Monday dodged a question from a reporter about when unemployed Keystone pipeline workers can expect new green employment.

The move to scrap construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline could directly eliminate an estimated 11,000 jobs and affect another 60,000.

The action was part of a series of executive orders signed by President Joe Biden on his first day in office affecting permits signed over the past four years that do not serve the U.S. national interest, including revoking the presidential permit granted to the Keystone XL pipeline.

The president has said he has plans for mine reclamation and cleanup projects that would create new jobs where workers are laid off.

Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry said on Jan. 28 that Biden wants to make sure workers in the energy industry have better choices in jobs that pay better and are cleaner. Kerry gave an example of being a solar power technician instead of a miner. He disputed that dealing with climate comes at the expense of energy workers, adding that there is a lot of money to be made in the creation of new healthier jobs in sectors such as green hydrogen and geothermal heat.

On Monday, Fox News Peter Doocy asked Psaki at a White House press conference, When is it that the Biden administration is going to let the thousands of fossil fuel industry workers, whether its pipeline workers or construction workers who are either out of work or will soon be out of work because of a Biden [executive order], when it is and where it is that they can go for their green job?

I would certainly welcome you to present your data of all the thousands and thousands of people who wont be getting a green job, Psaki responded. Maybe next time youre here, you can present that.

But you said that they would be getting green jobs. So Im just asking when that happens, Doocy shot back, before citing AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka who had criticized Bidens revocation of the Keystone XL permit.

The Laborers International Union of North America said the Keystone decision will cost 1,000 existing union jobs and 10,000 projected construction jobs, the reporter continued, referring to a report published on Jan. 20.

There are people living paycheck to paycheck. There are now people out of jobs once the Keystone pipeline stopped construction its been 19 days since that [executive order]. So what are these people who need money nowwhen do they get their green job?

A depot used to store pipes for the planned Keystone XL oil pipeline is seen in Gascoyne, N.D., on Jan. 25, 2017. (Terray Sylvester/Reuters)

Psaki responded by saying that Biden will share more details of a plan to create green jobs in the weeks ahead.

The president and many Democrats and Republicans in Congress believe that investment in infrastructurebuilding infrastructure thats in our national interests, that boosts the U.S. economy, creates good-paying union jobs here in America, and advances our climate and clean energy goalsare something that we can certainly work on doing together, the press secretary said.

Psakis response was met with widespread criticism on social media, including from Fox News Laura Ingraham.

Psaki Translator: I have no flipping idea where these green jobs are going to come from or how much taxpayers will be fleeced to create them, Ingraham wrote on Twitter.

Bidens energy policies since Jan. 20 have been heavily criticized by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

He said at a Senate session on Jan. 28 that the Biden administrations actions so far are the wrong prescription, including the decision to revoke authorization for the Keystone pipeline, the decision to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, and other actions taken in the name of addressing climate change.

Theres nothing green about a tsunami of pink slips for American workers, or carting Canadian crude around in trucks and trains instead of a pipeline, McConnell said. This piecemeal Green New Deal is the wrong prescription. Wrong for the environment, wrong for national security. And most of all for the working Americans who will soon be formerly working Americans if this keeps up.

He added, China, Russia, and our other competitors must be thrilled, absolutely thrilled, that our new government is essentially declaring war on some of our own economic foundations to satisfy a craving for symbolic gesture.

Willfully throwing our own people out of work, reducing our domestic energy security, raising costs and prices for working familiesall for no meaningful impact on global temperatures.

The Republican senator praised the policies of the Trump administration saying, The last four years prove that growing our prosperity, reducing emissions, and expanding domestic energy are actually not in tensionwe can achieve all three.

The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report.
NORWALK  Norwalk Hospital recently received $2.7 million in COVID-19 relief funding from Gov. Ned Lamonts office.

The funds will be administered once the hospital provides proof of financial expenses incurred from COVID-19 treatment and prevention, according to a statement from the governors office.

Last week, the governors office administered a total of $40 million to non-governmental, short-term general hospitals based on certian requirements of facilities treating COVID-19 patients, according to the statement. Of the $40 million distributed to 25 hospitals around the state, Norwalk Hospital received $2.7 million.

This funding recognizes the frontline role Connecticuts hospitals and their dedicated employees have played throughout this pandemic, Lamont said. Our hospitals have needed to adapt to new protocols and infection control measures, while also ceasing elective procedures during the crest of the first wave of COVID-19, which had the effect of increasing costs and decreasing revenues, not to mention the physical, mental, and emotional toll this pandemic has taken on their staff.

Norwalk Hospital will be designating the funds for various COVID-19 related costs including needed staffing, equipment and supplies including personal protective equipment, signage and educational materials, hospital spokesperson Andrea Rynn said.

Since receiving its first does of the COVID-19 vaccine in December, Norwalk Hospital vaccinates between 200 to 250 people daily, Rynn said.

abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com
Sydney City councillor and one-time Member for Wentworth Kerryn Phelps has announced she will run for lord mayor in the upcoming local government elections.

The decision will pit the Double Bay GP against former ally-turned-political rival, Clover Moore, who has also confirmed her bid to secure a historic fifth term at the helm of the council.

Dr Phelps, an independent, said she expected a tough campaign ahead of the September poll, following Cr Moores 17-year tenure.

Sydneys lord mayor race this year will be a clash between bitter rivals Clover Moore (left) and Kerryn Phelps. Credit:SMH

I am up against an incumbent with massive resources but its time to place the City of Sydney in new safe hands and to bring in an era of enthusiasm, energy and most of all to put the City of Sydney community at the forefront, Dr Phelps said in a statement announcing her decision to run.
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Nkenge Harmon Johnson nailed it when she said Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt has done better to meet the moment than any other prosecutor in the state (Portland protests shape District Attorney Mike Schmidts young tenure: Now what?, Jan. 30). For the past 2 decades, elected district attorneys in Oregon have fervently supported harsher and harsher penalties for crimes, drafted and worked to implement statutes that criminalize a shocking amount of behaviors and ignored the clear data that those policies do not reduce crime.

These punitive measures do not have a deterrent effect, and worse, they perpetuate systemic racism in the criminal legal system. Those lock them up policies have so spectacularly failed that when Schmidt ran on his reform platform, Multnomah County supported this vision by a massive 77% of the vote. Then, when Rod Underhill retired as DA in the midst of one of the greatest civil protests of our time, Mike Schmidt rose to the moment, held tight to his deeply held principles and addressed the problem head-on with transparency and courage. This is why we elected him, and what we hoped hed do, and demonstrates real leadership. Leaders seize the moment to create real and meaningful change, even when it requires personal risk and sacrifice. Mike Schmidt is such a leader, and I am proud that he is our DA.

Roey Thorpe, Portland
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An HQ-16 medium-range air-defense missile system attached to an air defense brigade under the PLA 77th Group Army launched a rocket into the air at a military shooting range in desert area in late August, 2020. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Hu yonghui)

By Liu Xuanzun

China successfully conducted a land-based, mid-course antiballistic missile (ABM) technical test on Thursday in a move experts said showed China's mastery of the technology as the country's antiballistic missile system gradually matures and becomes more reliable.

China conducted the test within its border, and the test reached the desired objective, the country's Ministry of National Defense announced on Thursday in a statement.

The test is of defensive nature and is not aimed at any country, the statement reads.

It was the fifth land-based ABM technical test China has publicly announced and the fourth land-based, mid-course ABM technical test publicly known.

Mid-course is the most vital phase in the interception of a ballistic missile, and a mid-course ABM means to intercept the missile while it is in its free flight phase outside of the atmosphere, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Thursday.

While the duration of the mid-course phase is relatively long, the great difficulty of an interception lies in the high trajectory, Song said, noting that the target of interception is usually intermediate-range or intercontinental ballistic missile.

China has already mastered the mid-course ABM system, and conducting the latest test shows that the system is becoming mature, and the success rate and reliability of interceptions are increasing significantly, which is very important for China to build a complete ABM system, Song said.

The flight of a ballistic missile usually consists of three phases in time order: boost phase in which the rocket booster will power the missile into sky, mid-course phase in which the booster stops as the missile traverses outside of the atmosphere, and reentry or terminal phase in which the missile reenters the atmosphere and dives on its target.

It's technically easy to intercept a ballistic missile in the boost phase, because the missile is still close to the ground and accelerating, but it is difficult to get close to the launch site which is usually deep in hostile territory; in terminal phase, the interception is challenging because the speed of the diving missile is very high, observers said.

Known ABM tests were carried out by China previously in 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2018, according to media reports and official statements.

As the Chinese military enhances its combat-preparedness, it is very important to establish an effective and complete anti-missile system, particularly against intermediate-range and intercontinental missiles which are usually equipped with nuclear warheads, so that China's national security can remain assured, analysts said.
A test train runs on the Lianyungang-Xuzhou high-speed railway in East China's Jiangsu province, on Jan 8, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

The last leg of an east-west high-speed railway corridor traveling through three time zones opened on Monday, as the longest east-west high-speed railway passage in China's high-speed railway network.

The 3,422-kilometer railway passage starts from the coastal city Lianyungang in East China's Jiangsu province and ends at Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, passing through the provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

It is a decadelong project as the first section of the route, from Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, to Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, was put into operation in 2010. The last section of the route - the 185-km line from Lianyungang to Xuzhou, Jiangsu province - opened on Monday.

Passengers can travel from Lianyungang to Xuzhou within an hour thanks to the new section.

There is no direct railway service from Lianyungang to Urumqi as China's direct bullet trains usually travel within 2,500 km to ensure safety.

The passage will provide strong support for the development of the New Eurasian Continental Bridge Economic Corridor, according to a statement by the China State Railway Group, the national railway operator.
[February 09, 2021] Catapult Systems Announces 2021 Modern Data Culture Summit Featuring Keynote From Microsoft

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Catapult, a leading digital solutions and services firm, today announced the 2021 Modern Data Culture Summit taking place on March 10 and 11. The two half-days of virtual learning will focus on how to create a successful data-driven culture within organizations in order to improve overall organizational performance. Catapult and Microsoft join forces for the two-day virtual event composed of 17 informative sessions. Microsoft's Erwin Visser, Sr. Director Partner Strategy, kicks off the first day as the keynote speaker. The rest of the day outlines a framework for building a data culture, including sessions on measuring data maturity, citizen data developers and data protection. Thursday, March 11, will feature ten unique sessions across two attendee tracks, one for business executives and one for technical roles. Topics include using AI/ML methods to unlock business value from unstructured data, designing meaningful business metrics, using ML Ops to consistently deliver value, how to avoid data projects from failing, and much more. This summit is intended to help attendees make insights and the continual pursuit of an adaptable data driven culture a key part of their organization's strategy," said Sid Atkinson, Director of Catapult's Data & AI Practice. "As society's behaviors and conditions continue to rapidly change, Catapult sees the need to move even further into an analytics and data-centric culture so that you are better situated to make informed decisions in the face of change. We created this summit to help introduce concepts, methods and tools that can help companies innovate and improve their data estates and roadmap for data adoption. I hope this summit is beneficial to all who attend."



Click here for a full agenda and to register for the Modern Data Culture Summit. ABOUT CATAPULT

Catapult is a Microsoft-focused solutions and services firm that specializes in imagining, building and sustaining digital transformation and cloud-based technologies that people love to use. Catapult has consistently been recognized as a leading Microsoft partner for its expertise in digital transformation, including as the 2020 MSUS Partner Award Winner Azure  DevOps, Top Microsoft 365 Security Partner for FY20, and named a finalist of the Data Analytics 2020 Microsoft Partner of the Year Award. Catapult has offices nationwide.

For additional information:

Mindy Russell

VP, Marketing

Catapult Systems

512-577-7737

mindy.russell@catapultsystems.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/catapult-systems-announces-2021-modern-data-culture-summit-featuring-keynote-from-microsoft-301224829.html SOURCE Catapult Systems

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The UN mission to the Central African Republic (CAR) says a humanitarian aid convoy reached the countrys capital, Bangui, after a 50-day blockade by armed groups who cut off the citys key highway.

By Vatican News staff writer

The UN mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) on Monday announced the arrival of the first convoy of humanitarian aid to Bangui, since the blockade of the capital by rebels 50 days ago.

Announcing the development with a post on its Twitter account, MINUSCA said its air and road escort enabled the delivery of the humanitarian aid from the Beloko border post to the CAR capital.

On 19 December, armed groups which occupy large territories of the country launched an offensive on the capital, cutting off a key highway, leaving many trucks stranded at the border with neighboring Cameroon.

As the country is completely landlocked in the heart of the continent, roads are essential for a significant percentage of CARs imports, including food and other supplies. The offensive by the armed groups forced over 200,000 civilians to flee and brought parts of the country to a standstill, stalling flows of food and driving up prices of some basic commodities.

Violent attacks

The Central African Republic has been ravaged by violence since the 2013 ouster of President Francois Bozize by a coalition of armed groups. After a two-year transition led by a temporary government, the CAR returned to constitutional democracy with the election of President Faustin-Archange Touadera in 2016. In the following years, efforts to restore stability continued and a 2019 peace deal between armed factions in the country went some way toward curbing the violence.

The latest crisis in the country was sparked by a court decision in early December to bar former President Francois Bozize from running for office in the 27 December 2020 elections. The court justified its ruling on the basis that Bozize is under UN sanctions and is subject to an international warrant for his alleged involvement in crimes during his tenure.

Following the announcement, armed groups launched attacks on several towns, causing hundreds of deaths, destruction to property and massive displacement of the population. The CAR requested additional military assistance from other countries to help quell the violence.

However, the violence further escalated since the announcement of incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touaderas victory at the December elections with 53.9% of the vote, enough to render a runoff unnecessary.

Humanitarian aid

To meet the urgent needs of the CAR in 2021, humanitarian actors plan to assist 1.84 million people and they will need $444.7 million, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Frustrations are mounting in rural parts of North Alabama because it's getting harder to get the vaccine and most places are out.

Jessica Butler lives in Mississippi but her 73-year-old mom lives in the Shoals.

Butler said she's had this day marked, the day her mom could get the vaccine in Alabama but she said the only thing she's been able to get her mom is on waiting lists.

"I went to the website to see if she could make an appointment and it appeared as though none of the counties in North Alabama you could even select to get an appointment on the platform and it's been a lot of asking around," said Butler, as she described trying to navigate the Alabama Department of Public Health's website.

Butler said she's had more success getting answers by calling around to friends in the area and pharmacies.

"It's a little too much word of mouth for my preference. I'd like it to be a little more standardized and more accessible and all of that," said Butler.

Butler said there is a lot of confusion on where people in the Shoals can get the vaccine right now the only two places are Franklin and Lauderdale County Health Departments. They are doing first-come, first-served and you'd wait in your car for the shot.

Helen Keller Hospital and the North Alabama Medical Center don't have vaccines, either.

There were a few pharmacies in the area that had some doses of vaccine, but all of those have been used or spoken for. The Colbert County Health Department is out of first doses. They won't get any new doses until March, according to the health department. If you got your first shot there you can still get your second shot at the health department. They have enough vaccines for that.

"Today I'm starting to feel more pessimistic about it, because today is the eligibility day. I've got her on one waiting list in her hometown at a pharmacy and they told me everything they had was spoken for appointment-wise, which is common. That's what happened in mississippi here," said Butler.

Butler and her husband both have underlying health conditions and they were able to get their vaccines where they live in Mississippi because they qualified. Alabama is not allowing people under the age of 65 with underlying health conditions to get the vaccine yet.

"I feel lucky and blessed that we got ours and it's not lost on me how thankful I am that we got it. There is a little bit of guilt, I'll be honest. Here I am, I have mine already and my mom is in Alabama in another state waiting on hers," said Butler.

Butler said while she and her husband were in line to get their vaccines in Mississippi they noticed tags from Tennessee and Texas. She said if it is impossible to get her mom vaccinated in Alabama she might see if she can get the vaccine in Mississippi.

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The results of the recent United States Presidential Elections made a controversy and are still affecting Americans in the present time.

And it is not beyond the knowledge that the Trump Administration also has solid supporters who wants him to be reelected and once again take charge of the American domain.

Recently, a photo that became viral online suggests that the previous administration might organize a coup against the current administration taking control in the White House.

Snopes reports that a Facebook post that has gathered the attention of the people online on February 2, 2021, shows that the former US President Donald Trump sits on his desk while video conferencing with essential people.

They add that the Facebook user implied that the photograph shows that Trump is planning a Military Coup in taking back the White House following his moving to his Mar-a-Lago Club situated in Palm Beach, Florida.

Read also: Donald Trump Rejects Request for Testimony in 'Unconstitutional' Impeachment Trial

The post has made the Trump supporters hopeful in his return to the White House and is affirmative about the alleged coup. A commenter shares her sympathies, saying that the military is in control and knows that Trump will be back.

Another commenter expresses his thoughts about why Trump is hated so much. This only means that the photo stirred different sympathies from the supporters and even the non-supporters of the previous administration.

Will There be a Coup?

Basing on the photo that became viral, no. There will not be a coup, and the circulating photo is not taken recently.

Snopes reports that the photo's headlines and comments possess misleading information, especially the hinting that the military will take part in the coup to help former President Donald Trump get back to the post.

They emphasized that the photograph in Mar-a-Lego has nothing to do with the recent Presidential election and a 2021 military coup because the Photo was taken during Christmas eve of 2017.

This Christmas Eve, President Trump talked with members of the U.S. military via video teleconference. All five branches of the military are represented during the call with troops from various bases around the world. pic.twitter.com/GN0cqC8asV  The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) December 24, 2017

This was attested by a tweet from the White House saying that the former President conversed with the US military members through a video teleconference, and all the five branches of the military are represented during the conference with the troops from all the bases from around the world.

Some commenters in the post attested that the photo was from 2017 and even posted some supporting details, but the poster and some supporters still did not agree.

Misinformation is rampant is taking a roar, especially in times of turmoil. The important thing is that the Trump administration is not planning a military coup, basing on the photo that has gone viral.

Verifying information must be reiterated to avoid conflicts and misunderstandings among people that will further divide the nation and prevent from working as one.

Related article: Palm Beach Town Attorney Backs Donald Trump's Residency at Mar-a-Lago

WATCH: Dan Rather Explains How President Trump Incited a Coup from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
The second Trump impeachment trial begins today: Heres everything you need to know, including how to watch, what to expect and more.

When is the Trump impeachment trial? What time does the impeachment trial start?

Former President Donald Trumps second impeachment trial begins Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 1 p.m. ET, in the U.S. Senate at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. The trial is expected to last into the weekend and possibly longer.

What channel is the Trump impeachment trial on? Heres how to watch:

Live coverage of the impeachment trial will broadcast on PBS, C-SPAN, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. ABC, CBS, and NBC will also be providing special coverage in their evening and morning newscasts.

The trial will also be streaming live through the apps and websites for ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC and PBS. Free livestreams are also available on YouTube, Facebook, and through Newsy (via FuboTV, Philo, Sling TV and YouTube TV). Heres C-SPANs live online stream:

What is Trump charged with? Will he be convicted?

Trump has been charged with article of impeachment for incitement of insurrection. Hes accused of encouraging a pro-Trump mob to storm the U.S. Capitol, which led to five deaths and dozens of injured police officers. Several insurrectionists have been accused of threatening to kill lawmakers, chanting Hang Mike Pence! and searching for people like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as they objected to the results of the 2020 presidential election, which President Joe Biden won, and interrupted Congress Electoral College count.

Two-thirds of the Senate must vote to convict Trump, which appears unlikely as 45 Senate Republicans voted to dismiss the trial. The Senate is currently split 50-50, and Democrats have a slight majority with Vice President Kamala Harris, but Dems would need 17 additional votes to convict the former Republican president.

56 Trump supporters storm U.S. Capitol

What to watch for:

According to the Associated Press, lawyers for Trump are arguing that the trial is unconstitutional and that the former president was exercising his free speech rights when he told Make America Great Again supporters to fight like hell.

Tuesdays proceedings will begin with a debate to dismiss the trial before it even begins; Republicans have argued that an impeachment to remove the president from office is irrelevant because Trump is no longer president. Democrats say legal scholars  including conservatives  argue the trial is valid under the U.S. Constitution, citing an 1876 impeachment trial of a secretary of war who had resigned and noting that Trump was impeached before he left office.

A vote will be held later Tuesday evening on whether to dismiss it, with arguments expected to begin Wednesday. The House managers will present their arguments first, with each side allowed up to 16 hours to make their case, with up to eight hours per day.

Defense arguments are likely to begin Friday, according to the AP, with arguments that fight like hell did not literally mean to fight with violence.

Witnesses are currently not expected to appear at the trial, presided over by Senate Pro Tem Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Trump has declined a request to testify.

Will any Republicans vote to convict Trump?

Democrats are expected to appeal to Republicans in an effort to sway at least 17 of them to convict Trump, potentially barring him from holding future office.

Susan Collins of Maine, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania have all criticized Trump and voted in favor of having the impeachment trial. GOP senators retiring in 2022, like Toomey, Rob Portman of Ohio, Richard Burr of North Carolina and Richard Shelby of Alabama, may also be free of political consequences from voting to impeach Trump.

Trump is the first U.S. president to be impeached twice. He was first impeached in December 2019 on two articles of impeachment, for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Trump was acquitted in January 2020 by the then GOP-controlled Senate; Romney was the only Republican who voted to convict him for abuse of power.
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SEATTLE (AP)  Dozens of Washington state hospitals learned N95 respirator masks believed to be purchased from 3M Company are counterfeits that were not manufactured by the company.

The Washington State Hospital Association on Friday alerted the state's hospitals about a notification from 3M that some masks were knockoffs, The Seattle Times reported.





. . .
On Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that the stimulus package from Joe Biden, which includes a third $1,400 stimulus check for qualified Americans, would be approved by Congress "before the end of February."

Pelosi expressed hope that stimulus check will be passed by end of February

In late December, former President Donald Trump signed into law a $900 billion relief package that provided federal unemployment insurance that would expire on March 14. Lawmakers have set the date as an unofficial deadline for more COVID-19 assistance to be approved.

Early Friday morning, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting a tie-breaking vote on a funding bill, the Senate endorsed Biden's $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. It would encourage Democrats without Republican support to pass the bill.

In another vote to deliver the bill, the House will now need to approve the amendments, and Pelosi expressed hope that Congress will pass the law before March 14, Newsweek reported.

"Absolutely. Without any question. Before then," Pelosi said on Friday at a press conference.

Read also: Biden Says Minimum Wage Increase Won't Likely to Include in COVID-19 Relief Package

Pelosi confirmed that on Monday, Democrats would "resume to work on the specifics of the bill" "Hopefully in two weeks time we'll send something over to the Senate and this will be done long before the expiration of initiatives," she added, noting that Congress will "finish their work before the end of February."

Democrats have prioritized bringing more relief to Americans, but Trump's impeachment trial, expected to begin in the second week of February, could prolong the process. After Senate Republicans pushed to reduce the volume through talks, Biden promised that the bundle would contain $1,400 individual payments.

Read also: Third Stimulus Check: When and How Much You Could Get If You Qualify

More Americans could get a $1,400 stimulus check

According to The Sun, Americans earning more than $50,000 will be eligible to receive the $1,400 stimulus checks proposed under the yet-to-be-defined salary cutoff. The White House said it was open to talks over who should be entitled to obtain payments for the coronavirus relief package but failed to convey the wage limit.

It is uncertain exactly who will be entitled to receive a stimulus payment. The president's original plan ensured that single individuals earning up to $75,000 and married couples earning up to $150,000 were qualified for maximum payments. Speaking at a press conference Friday, Biden said his administration remained committed to $1,400 stimulus checks as part of the COVID-19 relief program.

That money will raise the sum of recent relief to $2,000, an amount supported by many in Congress when combined with the $600 payments accepted in December. The nation will return to full jobs next year, Yellen said, if Congress passes the $1.9 trillion proposal. Otherwise, unemployment will continue for years, she said.

Republicans on Capitol Hill opposed the COVID-19 relief proposal of the president, worrying that after the $4 trillion in assistance Congress approved last year, it would unnecessarily raise the national debt, Reuters reported.

Republican Senator Roger Wicker, speaking on ABC News "This Week" program, said he felt his party would accept anything in the $600 billion to $700 billion range. Biden has said he wants to win bipartisan approval for his initiative, but in terms of what needs to be achieved, Republicans are falling well short of the target. He said Democrats would decide alone if needed.

Read also: IRS Could Start Sending Out the Third Stimulus Checks as Early as First Week of March

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - For the second consecutive day, new coronavirus cases in the United States fell below the 100,000 mark.



With 86,646 additional people diagnosed with the viral infection on Monday, the total U.S. cases rose to 27097106, as per data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. This is the lowest since October 27.



Cases have continued to decline over the last four weeks. An average of 119,900 new cases were reported between January 31 and February 6. That is a drop of nearly 20 percent from the previous week, but still dramatically higher than the last summer's peak.



With 1465 new deaths, the national total rose to 465072.



As of Sunday, 80,055 COVID patients are in hospitals. Out of this, 16,174 patients are admitted in Intensive Care Units. This is the lowest since November 19, according to COVID Tracking Project.



The number of people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 has dropped by 21000 in 10 days. In the last week, hospitalizations have decreased by 10 percent or more in 40 states, according to the U.S. collaborative volunteer-run effort to track the pandemic.



New COVID-19 hospital admissions also continued to decline. An average of 9,977 admissions per day were reported between January 30 and February 5, a fall of nearly 17 percent from the earlier week.



The national average positivity rate fell below 7 percentage after several weeks. Out of nearly 1.40 million people who were tested for coronavirus on Monday, only 6.93 percent were diagnosed with the disease.



Despite the drop in cases, there are signs of increases in some states such as Montana.



Although hospital admissions and cases are consistently dropping, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky urged everyone to keep their guard up. 'The continued proliferation of variants remains of great concern and is a threat that could reverse the recent positive trends we are seeing,' she said at a White House briefing.



Speaking alongside her, Dr Anthony Fauci said that as of February 7, a total of 699 variant cases have been confirmed across 34 U.S. states. Almost all of these cases are the B117 strand, first reported in the UK.



Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in an interview Sunday with 'Axios on HBO' that the Biden administration is considering a rule requiring people to possess Covid-19 negative test results to be allowed to domestic air travel.



On Monday, the New Orleans Veteran Affairs department said it delivered its 20,000th dose of COVID-19 vaccine to 111-year-old Lawrence Brooks.



As communities are being vaccinated across the country, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris virtually toured State Farm Stadium, a COVID-19 vaccination site in Glendale, Arizona.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Hackett described the current flooding which is wreaking havoc on farms in the Midlands particularly in South Roscommon as 'climate change... happening before our very eyes'.

Encouraging farmers to drain their fields was a mistake and some lands are meant to flood, Minister for State Pippa Hackett told the Seanad last week.

She said flooding is widespread across the country, pointing out that on her own farm in Offaly, she has noticed water lying in parts of fields I have never seen water in before.

As a farmer, it is very difficult to accept these floods, particularly if one has crops underwater or animals on the land, said the Green Party Minister

Initial thoughts might be to drain these fields to prevent future flooding in these areas, but all this will achieve is to move the problem onto someone elses land further downstream.

She described the current flooding which is wreaking havoc on farms in the Midlands, particularly in south Roscommon, as climate change... happening before our very eyes.

We know that some lands are simply meant to be wet  bogs and those with peaty soils, for example  and some lands are meant to flood, if we think about our many callows.

However, in the past, we have not accepted this and instead we have tried to force this land to be something it is not meant to be, and this had knock-on effects.

It is not just farmlands, but lands chosen for housing, road development, forestry and wind farms. How we use our land in the future will be critical.

Hackett said the millions, if not billions, of euro spent on flood defences should be spent supporting farmers and landowners implementing nature-based solutions.

For decades, we have been encouraging farmers to drain fields, remove hedges and scrub and kill every weed in sight in order to maximise productivity and squeeze as much out of land as possible, she said.

This has required financial investment from the State and from farmers, and while it has delivered economic return for some, we know it has not delivered for the environment.

Things are changing, she said, adding that the Government is now asking many farmers to consider a future going in the opposite direction.

The ministers comments come as Roscommon Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice attacked Fianna Fail and Fine Gael over the Governments Climate Change Agenda, which he said appeared intent on penalising the agricultural sector at every turn.

One week we are listening to news about rewetting land, the next week reports of a scheme to chop straw into the ground, he said.

Let no one be fooled, if this continues they will aim to rewild land that farmers have reclaimed over the years.

These are the same parties who will come knocking on your door telling you how great you are and that you are the backbone of the country  while they are steadily pulling rural Ireland apart bit by bit.
[February 09, 2021] Compute Health Acquisition Corp. Announces Full Exercise of Over-Allotment Option and Closing of $862,500,000 Initial Public Offering

Compute Health Acquisition Corp. (the "Company") (NYSE: CPUH.U), a newly formed special purpose acquisition company, today announced the closing of its initial public offering of 86,250,000 units, including 11,250,000 units sold pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option, at a price of $10.00 per unit. Total gross proceeds from the offering were $862,500,000, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses. The units began trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the ticker symbol "CPUH.U" on February 5, 2021. Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock and one-quarter of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant may be exercised for one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share following the later of 30 days after the completion of the Company's initial business combination and 12 months from the closing of the Company's initial public offering. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the shares of Class A common stock and warrants are expected to be listed on the NYSE under the symbols "CPUH" and "CPUH WS," respectively. The Company is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The Company intends to focus on healthcare businesses that are already leveraging, or have the potential to leverage, computational power, with an emphasis on companies in the medical device space, including imaging and robotics, and companies operating in the virtual care space, including telehealth, care delivery and next-generation payor and provider models. The Company's management team is led by Omar Fink, Jean Nehme and Joshua Fink. Goldman Sahs & Co. LLC acted as the sole book-running manager for this offering. Copies of the final prospectus related to the initial offering by the Company may be obtained for free by visiting Edgar on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC (News - Alert) ") at www.sec.gov or from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, Attn: Prospectus Department, by telephone at 866-471-2526, facsimile at 212-902-9316 or by emailing prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com.



A registration statement relating to the securities was filed with, and declared effective by, the SEC. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the use of proceeds from the Company's initial public offering and the listing on NYSE of the shares and warrants underlying the units. These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including, without limitation, general market conditions. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in the expectations of the Company with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the prospectus related to the Company's initial public offering. About Compute Health Acquisition Corp. The Company is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The Company intends to focus on healthcare businesses that are already leveraging, or have the potential to leverage, computational power, with an emphasis on companies in the medical device space, including imaging and robotics, and companies operating in the virtual care space, including telehealth, care delivery and next-generation payor and provider models. The Company's management team is led by Omar Fink, Jean Nehme and Joshua Fink. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005878/en/

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Hyde follows family tradition, takes home PIAA gold in shot put

"It's awesome," Hyde said. "It really feels like a tradition, now. It will be cool to see our names next to each other in the record books."
(Newser)  "Stealthing" during sex may soon be illegal in California, making it the first state to deem the practice a crime. The Los Angeles Times reports that Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia introduced a bill this week that would classify nonconsensual removal of a condom (ie, without your partner's OK) during intercourse as sexual battery, making the remover of the condom liable for damages. Sexual battery, per California's Civil Code, is when a violator "acts with the intent to cause a harmful or offensive contact with an intimate body part of another, and as a result, commits a sexually offensive act." "It's disgusting that there are online communities that defend and encourage" the practice, "but there is nothing in law that makes it clear that this is a crime," Garcia said Monday, per GV Wire, which notes the practice has been called a "rape-adjacent" one.

story continues below

"A lot of women [compare] it to feelings of experiencing rape," a John Jay College of Criminal Justice psychology professor tells the Times. "It violates the trust you had in your partner." Garcia tried to pass similar bills in 2017 and 2018, but her office says they never got anywhere because of concerns about sending too many people to the state's prisons. Garcia, who's been at the forefront of California's Me Too movement, faced sexual misconduct accusations of her own, after an ex-staffer said she'd inappropriately touched him during a softball game. An investigation by the Assembly cleared Garcia of wrongdoing. Advocates for victims of sexual violence are pleased that Garcia is once more bringing the issue into the spotlight. "This is an act that's a violation of someone's autonomy," says an attorney with the Fierberg National Law Group. "There's the risk of pregnancy, there's the risk of STIs, but also inherently it's changing the entire nature of the sexual encounter." (Read more sexual battery stories.)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-10 01:45:14|Editor: huaxia

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TASHKENT, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan will introduce a ten-day visa free regime for tourists from China including its special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, as well as Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman starting from March 1, a presidential decree published on Tuesday said.

According to the document, to be eligible to use visa-free regime, travelers from these countries should provide a return air ticket or ticket to a third country.

Last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Uzbekistan temporarily cancelled the 7-day visa-free regime for Chinese tourists introduced in 2019.

The decree instructs the government to take immediate measures to develop domestic and pilgrimage tourism in the Central Asian nation by granting tax and other privileges to tourist companies and hotels.

For example, if foreign tourist groups of at least 10 people stay at least five nights in Uzbekistan, 30 percent of the cost of air and rail tickets of tour operators will be compensated by the Uzbek government.

Domestic tour operators, travel agents, as well as accommodation facilities will see their income tax rate cut by half, the document said.

In an effort to popularize pilgrimage tourism, and promote the heritage of Islamic scholar Imam Bukhari, the authorities were tasked to develop a concept of a satellite TV channel to broadcast in Indonesian, Bengali, Malay, Turkish, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Pashto and other foreign languages.

Uzbekistan plans to attract more than 9 million foreign tourists by 2025 and increase the share of its tourism industry from 2.3 percent of the country's gross domestic product in 2017 to 5 percent in 2025. Enditem
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Photos courtesy of Bravo

Bravo's "Top Chef" returns April 1, and two Houston chefs will be in the kitchen whipping it up.

Dawn Burrell and Sasha Grumman will be among 15 "cheftestants" competing for the coveted title of Top Chef, $250,000, a feature in "FOOD & WINE" magazine and an appearance at the annual "FOOD & WINE" Classic in Aspen.
The bus driver who suffered burns after liquid was thrown in his face in Logan, south of Brisbane, has been released from hospital and suffered no permanent damage, the bus workers union says.

The man, aged in his 30s, allegedly had a chemical liquid thrown through his window from a passing car on the opposite side of Drews Road in Loganholme on Monday morning.

The injured bus driver was treated at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Credit:Tony Moore

He was treated for burns to his face and eyes and taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in a stable condition, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said.

Police continue to investigate, but initial information about an acid-like substance being used were not believed to be correct. Instead, a substance more like bleach was believed to have been used.

Tourists walk along an olle trail on Jeju Island in this undated file photo. / Courtesy of Jeju Olle Foundation



By Jun Ji-hye



More than 100,000 people are expected to travel to the southern resort of Jeju Island during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, angering many who followed the advice of the health authorities and refrained from visiting their families and relatives amid the COVID-19 pandemic.



This is raising concern among officials and residents of Jeju as the visitors may bring the coronavirus to the island.



This year's Lunar New Year holiday, or Seollal in Korean, is one of the country's key traditional holidays, running from Thursday through Sunday.



The Jeju Tourism Association (JTA) expects 143,000 people to visit the island during the holiday, despite government pleas to refrain from unnecessary travel to stem the spread of the contagious disease.



The number is down by about 30 percent from a year earlier, but JTA officials deem it still to be too many amid the prolonged public health crisis.



"I decided not to visit my parents living in Busan to comply with the government's social distancing rules," said Cho Hye-jin, a 37-year-old housewife in Seoul. "I think those planning a trip during the holiday are so selfish."



Jeju officials are expressing concern over the possibility of a resurgence in infections on the island which had begun to see a brief lull in new cases only recently after suffering from a rapid increase in numbers from November to January.



The recent emergence of new variants of the coronavirus, which are known to be more transmissible, is adding to the concerns.



Amid the growing worries, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province strongly advised tourists to go through COVID-19 testing within the three days prior to their departure and to only visit if they test negative.



Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong warned that the province will take stern measures including exercising its right to indemnity against those who arrive on the island without having been tested and are later confirmed to have the virus when they were staying on the island.



"We should minimize contact and movement during the holiday to prevent any resurgence of infections," Won said during a media briefing last week. "We will adopt a zero tolerance stance toward people who violate our antivirus measures during their stay on the island."



The province said it will exempt those who submit their negative test results from admission fees at 29 public tourist attractions, including Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) that was designated a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 2007.



The province has taken strict antivirus measures since last year, including mandating visitors arriving at airports and seaports, and who have a body temperature over 37.5 degrees Celsius, to have a coronavirus test and remain isolated until the results come out.


STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- If the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has taught us anything, its that nearly everything -- from business transactions to gym classes -- can be completed remotely.

And this new virtual world along with the mandates that have kept some businesses -- like boutique fitness studios and restaurants barely making ends meet since March 2020 -- have generated a not-so-surprising outcome: Dozens of empty storefronts now exist along Staten Island commercial strips.

This is extremely evident along Hylan Boulevard, on the strip from Grasmere to New Dorp.

Trattoria Romana closed on Nov. 22, 2020. The Dongan Hills restaurant is seen here in its final days. (Staten Island Advance)Pamela Silvestri

Trattoria Romana's storefront is now vacant. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel)

Between national retailers -- like Justice, New York & Co and Mandee -- filing for bankruptcy and small mom-and-pop restaurants, such as Trattoria Romana, closing after numerous years in business, there are dozens of vacant storefronts along Hylan Boulevard.

The pandemic laid bare one fundamental change that was already in place across all industries, and that is doing everything remotely, said Abraham Unger, who has a Ph.D., and is director of urban programs and associate professor of government and politics at Wagner College, Grymes Hill.

We can bank online; we can order food online -- whether from a restaurant or a supermarket. ...As of 2019, right before COVID, 70% of Americans were already making some use of online banking. By September of 2020, during this pandemic, 91% of Americans were banking virtually. Why should retail branches maintain their leases if theyre not getting any customers walking through the door? he added.

This Nissan business has moved, and this building at Hylan Boulevard and Parkinson Avenue is currently for rent. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel)

VACANT STOREFRONTS

If you take a drive along the Hylan Boulevard commercial strip, youll see an array of vacant storefronts, including those that formerly housed HSBC bank, Northfield Bank, Trattoria Romana, Capital One Bank, KFC, McDonalds, and Renaissance catering hall. While some businesses, like the Renaissance, which was destroyed in Hurricane Sandy, have been vacant for several years, others, such as the former KFC, were recently vacated.

A 2011 file photo of the New Dorp Applebee's, which shuttered during the coronavirus pandemic. (Staten Island Advance) Staten Island Advance

The Hylan Commons in New Dorp has lost many stores. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel)

And in Hylan Commons shopping plaza, which is anchored by TJMaxx, five storefronts -- all formerly occupied by national retailers and Applebees -- have closed over the last year. This includes the Justice, and New York & Co. Chapter 11 bankruptcies that shuttered those chain stores. In addition, a 56,000-square-foot building on Hylan Boulevard that formerly housed ShopRite, which has moved to The Boulevard shopping center in New Dorp, is actively seeking a tenant.

ShopRite moved to a larger location in New Dorp's The Boulevard shopping center. The former building, also in New Dorp, is for lease. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel)

These closures are a combination of a lot of stores that were already closing or closed before the pandemic and those that closed due to the pandemic, said Linda Baran, president of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce (SICC). I would say Applebees and KFC were definitely related to the pandemic, because you are seeing a lot of these larger companies making financial decisions at this time. Things [for businesses] werent that great before the pandemic, and this just made it worse.

Many businesses have closed along Hylan Boulevard. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel)

HARDEST-HIT INDUSTRIES

The businesses hardest hit by the pandemic were service-related industries -- all which have dealt with having to be shuttered amid coronavirus mandates.

These jobs [service-related industries] will take longer to come back, if they ever do, said Richard LaRocca, associate professor of finance for the Nicolais School of Business at Wagner College.

The Congressional Budget Office [CBO] just released its 2021 outlook. The CBO expects 3.7% GDP growth with unemployment falling to 5.3% in 2021. They estimate that the unemployment rate will continue to gradually decline over the next five years, with the number of people employed returning to its pre-pandemic level by 2024. So, it remains to be seen if Staten Island has the economic capability to meet or exceed these national estimates, he added.

McDonald's on Hylan Boulevard in Grasmere has closed. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel)

TECHNOLOGY IS A GAME CHANGER

The fact that Amazon can guarantee you a same-day or one-day delivery for a myriad of products has made doorstep delivery easier than ever before. And during the pandemic, people have relied on Amazon and other big online retailers for purchases, making online shopping -- for everything from toilet paper to food -- part of the new normal.

The former KFC on Hylan Boulevard at Jaques Avenue is closed. January 27, 2021 (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel)

In fact, many real estate experts said they believe that the underlying cause of store closures stem from the technology revolution. And the coronavirus just sped up the amount of closures, they said.

Technology has disrupted every market segment, said James Prendamano, CEO/associate broker of Casandra Properties Inc., which has two Island-based offices. This has resulted in what we call the decentralization of real estate. We are seeing this in major cities across the country, and this explains why there are so many emerging markets in what would have historically been called secondary locations.

PRE-VIRUS TRENDS

While some vacancies are coronavirus-related, others are just extensions of trends that were already happening in retail pre-virus, and Covid-19 just magnified them for us, said Scott Plasky, senior vice president, investments at the Manhattan-based Marcus & Millichap, a real estate investment company that has closed over $60 million worth of deals involving Staten Island properties.

The Northfield Bank on Hylan Boulevard is closed. January 27, 2021 (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel)

Over the past 24 months, pre-virus, Capital One Bank began shutting a lot of NYC stores. That is not specific at all to Hylan Boulevard; they have strategically gone out and shut locations all over the city as a way to cut down on square footage they believe they no longer need, said Plasky.

Hylan Boulevard, and Staten Island in general, is no different than any market in New York right now. With so much money being spent online, and with politics and basic economics working against a lot of these retailers in New York -- $15 minimum wage, small business tax, rising property taxes, etc... there is only so much a tenant can pay in order to turn a profit right now. And with national retailers giving back a lot of space, there is going to be this period of high vacancy that will lead to a drop in rents, he added.

HSBC Bank, formerly at 1413 Hylan Blvd. is permanently closed. (Staten Island Avance/ Jan Somma-Hammel)d

RENT PRICES/WALK-IN TRAFFIC

Some of the vacancies have to do with high rents and lack of walk-in traffic during the pandemic, experts said.

[There is a] decentralization of real estate across all major cities, said Prendamano.

Companies recognized several years ago the same tourists they used to reach through their flagships in Manhattan, they were now able to reach in a far more intimate, targeted, and direct way on their cell phones. ... A major part of what retailers rely upon is for the city to deliver masses of tourists and shoppers. Once the forced closures hit, everything changed. Conversely, the landlords were reliant upon the retailers to cover debt service. I believe this problem can be fixed, but it has to be done at the federal and bank level, he added.

These three businesses along Hylan Blvd from Benton Avenue have been shuttered. The corner space formerly housed Trattoria Romana. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel)

STILL A DEMAND FOR RETAIL SHOPS

Despite all these factors working against brick-and-mortar retail, real estate professionals said there is a demand for commercial space across the borough.

A view of Hylan Boulevard from Alter Avenue. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel)

Last month we signed four leases for new businesses. The entrepreneurial spirit and demand on Staten Island remains very strong, said Prendamano.

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Coming out of the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, TrinityP3 Australia and New Zealand has experienced significant growth in demand across all services. Beyond their tender management, there has been increased demand to assist organisations in aligning their internal and external marketing capabilities and services. TrinityP3 Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Nathan Hodges says; The impacts of the pandemic have forced plenty of marketing organisations to 
A top ally of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has urged residents of big cities to gather in residential courtyards on Sunday evening with their mobile phone torches on.

Leonid Volkov said the protest will start at 8pm local time and last for 15 minutes.

Mr Volkov wrote in a Facebook post that the new rally format  similar to the tactics opposition supporters employed during protests in neighbouring Belarus  could prevent Russian police from interfering and allow anyone to participate.

The protest will coincide with Valentines Day.

You will raise your phone flashlights  and someone, maybe, will bring candles  and form a heart shape with them You will take a picture of it from above, from one of the apartments, and post it on Instagram. Lets have social media feeds filled with thousands of shining hearts from dozens of Russian cities, Mr Volkov wrote. No OMON (riot police), no fear.

   .

   .

  . pic.twitter.com/T3IgLtQSZj  Leonid Volkov (@leonidvolkov) February 9, 2021

Mr Navalny, 44, an anti-corruption investigator and Russian President Vladimir Putins most prominent critic, was arrested on January 17 upon returning from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from a nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin. Russian authorities have rejected the accusation.

His arrest and jailing sparked nationwide protests, with tens of thousands of people rallying across Russia for two weekends in a row in the largest outpouring of discontent in years.

Russian authorities responded with a harsh crackdown. More than 11,000 people have been detained, and hundreds have been handed jail terms. Several of Mr Navalnys close allies face criminal charges and are under house arrest.

Last week, a Moscow court ruled that while Mr Navalny was recovering in Germany, he violated the probation terms of his suspended sentence from a 2014 money laundering conviction and ordered him to serve two years and eight months in prison.

We have already become the majority, but Putin divides us by cordons so that we can't see each other and see how many of us there are Leonid Volkov

Even before that ruling, Mr Navalny rejected the 2014 conviction as political persecution and the European Court of Human Rights called it arbitrary and manifestly unreasonable.

In the wake of the heavy police crackdown, Mr Volkov said that protests should pause until spring, as trying to maintain rallies every weekend would only lead to many more arrests.

However, on Tuesday he cited the need to adopt something that is stronger than fear of repressions and to hold a demonstration that police would not be able to derail.

Mr Volkov wrote: We have already become the majority, but Putin divides us by (riot police) cordons so that we cant see each other and see how many of us there are. We need to find a way to overcome that.

Asked whether the oppositions call to gather in courtyards can be considered unlawful, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was hard to say, but assured reporters that if someone in Russia violates the law, they will be held accountable by law enforcement.
Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy was seen back on location for another day's filming on Tuesday.

The sixth season continues to film following delays amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Cillian, 44, was back at Portsoy harbour in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in the role of Thomas Shelby.

Walking on the dock of the bay: Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy was seen back on location for another day's filming on Tuesday

The BBC drama has been running for eight years and has enjoyed huge popularity but the sixth season has been confirmed as the final one, with Cillian back in his flat-cap as he shot the snow-tainted sequence on the docks.

He cut his usual sombre stance as he strolled along carrying a satchel, a black dog strolling alongside him.

Wrapped up against the wintry chill, Cillian added a suit, tie, and overcoat to his look, but rehearsed in added layers as he wore a massive waterproof over the rest of his costume.

Despite the freezing temperature and the snowy remnants, it was an otherwise bright day, with the sun beaming down on the chilly harbour.

Companion: He cut his usual sombre stance as he strolled along carrying a satchel, a black dog strolling alongside him

Picturesque: Despite the freezing temperature and the snowy remnants, it was an otherwise bright day, with the sun beaming down on the chilly harbour

Crew were mostly all wearing masks and the BBC has said that the production complies with the latest restrictions.

Peaky Blinders tell the story of a family set in 1900s England, centering on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps, led by their fierce boss Shelby.

The show is expected to return 'in another form' after filming draws to a close on its sixth and final series.

Show writer and creator Stephen Knight believes it can be extended, possibly as a feature length spin-off.

Resuming: Crew were mostly all wearing masks and the BBC has said that the production complies with the latest restrictions

On location: Peaky Blinders tells the story of a family set in 1900s England

Speaking to LADbible at the Peaky Blinders Festival in Birmingham in 2019, he said: 'I would [consider doing a film].

'The end scene is the end of this as a television series the way it is now, but it's certainly not ruling out spin offs or a movie.

'So I think there's something about Peaky where it's a world, lots of people have different interpretations of that world, so I'm all for keeping the spirit going.'

Director Anthony Byrne, who previously worked on series five and will contribute to the sixth, also insisted the show could work as a big-screen theatrical production.

Brrr: Cillian was no doubt feeling the cold as he commenced filming in Scotland

Raising the flag: The scene is set to film here for the entirety of the week

He said: 'I think a film 100 percent could work, but I'd rather watch six hours than two. Simple as that. You can go deeper into characters and spend more time in their world I think.'

In a statement, Knight said: 'Peaky is back and with a bang. After the enforced production delay due to the Covid pandemic, we find the family in extreme jeopardy and the stakes have never been higher.

'We believe this will be the best series of all and are sure that our amazing fans will love it. While the TV series will be coming to an end, the story will continue in another form.'

Meanwhile, Executive Producer for the BBC Tommy Bulfin said of the show: 'We are very excited that filming for Peaky Blinders has begun and so grateful to everyone for all their hard work to make it happen.

'Steve's scripts for series six are truly remarkable and provide a fitting send-off which we are sure will delight fans.'
Donald Trump arrives at the Stop The Steal Rally on 6 January 2021 in Washington, DC ((Getty Images))

Donald Trump's lawyers will reportedly use claims from the Gateway Pundit in their impeachment defence that allege "anti-Trump" groups were the primary perpetrators of the Capitol insurrection.

Mr Trump's impeachment brief attempts to argue that the Capitol rioters entered the building "of their own accord" and that some were actually anti-Trump, rather than the pro-Trump mob that has been widely reported and well known pro-Trump figures identified.

The citation for the claim is a Gateway Pundit article alleging a Boogaloo member that aligns with the Black Lives Matter movement was among the rioters at the Capitol on 6 January.

Conspiracy theories alleging that the Capitol rioters were actually Antifa members in disguise circulated in the hours after the attack occurred. Sen. Matt Gaetz, a Trump ally, lied to the Senate just hours after he and his colleagues were evacuated from the chambers, blaming the incursion on Antifa despite having no evidence to back his claim.

The Gateway Pundit is a conservative website that has amplified right-wing conspiracy theories in the past.

Twitter recently suspended the account of Jim Hoft, the website's founder, for violating its "civic integrity policy".

The outlet previously published false information suggesting sexual assault allegations had been filed against Robert Mueller in the midst of the Russia investigation. The outlet was also named in Dominion Voting System's defamation lawsuit for publishing false voter fraud claims.

In the brief, Mr Trump's lawyers claim that Mr Trump could not have incited the riot because he was too far away from the Capitol at the time. However, Mr Trump's speech was livestreamed, so it would not have been impossible for participants closer to the Capitol to have heard his instructions to walk to the building.

Mr Trump's impeachment trial is set to begin on Tuesday, and is expected to last about a week.

Story continues

The likelihood of Mr Trump being convicted is small, as a majority of Republican Senators have indicated they believe the impeachment trial to be unconstitutional.

So far, no Republican Senators have committed to vote to convict Mr Trump. However, five GOP Senators did vote against their colleagues when Sen. Rand Paul challenged the constitutionality of the proceedings.

GOP Sens. Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Pat Toomey all voted in favour of the proceedings.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also said he would be open to conviction in Mr Trump's trial.

If the former president is convicted, he could be barred from holding public office ever again.

Read More

Why Trump-loving Republicans like Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley might surprise you at the impeachment trial

Democrats fire back at Trumps lawyers ahead of impeachment trial, saying he betrayed the American people

Donald Trump impeachment timeline 2021  what to expect when trial starts

Video of QAnon Shaman saying Capitol rioters responded to Trumps orders could be used in impeachment hearing

Jamie Raskin: Lead Trump impeachment trial manager was made for this moment

Mary Trump offers withering two-word assessment of her uncles impeachment trial
Tony Dobrowolski's main focus is on business reporting. He came to The Eagle in 1992 after previously working for newspapers in Connecticut and Montreal. He can be reached at tdobrowolski@berkshireeagle.com or 413-2810-2755.
There are two chambers, a primary chamber where the decedent goes and a secondary chamber, Copas said. The state of Illinois requires the primary chamber hit a certain temperature before the (case) is put in. Once you insert the case, it is a completely self-contained unit. It protects from any smoke or odor because of the secondary chamber.
Integration of these new data assets will enable Equifax clients to benefit from higher rates of automated, digital income verification, to carry out more granular assessments of affordability and expenditure and offer more predictive and inclusive credit scoring, by using the most up-to-date information available.

For consumers, this combined data approach will improve an individual's ability to demonstrate their creditworthiness by enabling information that isn't currently used to be taken into consideration. This approach enables financial inclusion for those with 'thin' credit files, increasing their potential access to credit at a time of great financial uncertainty.

"This is a really exciting development for Equifax and the acquisition of AccountScore, our long-term partner in open banking, is a natural next step as we continue to expand our data and analytics capabilities," said Patricio Remon, President of Europe at Equifax. "AccountScore is a pioneering company with a proven track record of building innovative Open Banking platforms and this signals our commitment to continuously evolve and embrace strategic innovation to support our clients' digital transformation, and will bring many benefits for their customers."

"More than 2.5m UK consumers and businesses now use Open Banking-enabled products to manage their finances, access credit and make payments. This growth is helping to empower a generation of consumers, giving them more control over their own financial information, offering them greater access to a wider range of financial products and making it much easier to complete simple digital applications."

"AccountScore and Equifax have an established and successful partnership, having collaborated on a number of products and offerings over the last two years," said Emma Steeley, CEO at AccountScore. "This acquisition allows AccountScore to accelerate its growth and reach new customers, backed by a powerful global company."

"Open Banking is going from strength to strength, with the adoption in both the consumer and SME markets growing rapidly each month. We have seen lenders power improved credit decisions and account management processes using Open Banking to ultimately better service their customers."

The acquisition positions Equifax at the forefront of the latest trends in Smart Data, including the transition of Open Banking to Open Finance, to incorporate data on additional financial services products such as insurance policies, pensions and mortgages.

Regulatory approval for the acquisition has been received from the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

For More Information:

BEN SHEIDLER

[email protected]

ABOUT EQUIFAX:

At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employees, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by more than 11,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 25 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region.

Equifax Ltd is a credit reference agency and one of the Equifax group companies based in the UK. Equifax Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For more information, visit Equifax.co.uk and follow the company's news on LinkedIn.

ABOUT ACCOUNTSCORE:

AccountScore Holdings Limited (AccountScore) is a highly innovative global data and analytics business that provides actionable insights and analytics on bank transaction data for clients. Providing reliable, accurate and easy to understand transaction data analytics on data either sourced through consents.online (AccountScore's AISP) or directly imported. AccountScore's subsidiary Consents Online Limited (consents.online) is a registered Account Information Service Provider ("AISP"), regulated by the FCA, which provides branded Open Banking as a Service ("OBaaS") and has access to APIs from banks to collect transaction data and provides the consumer with a portal to give them control over viewing and managing related data consents.

SOURCE Equifax Inc.
AGS Transact Technologies (AGSTTL) has partnered with Mastercard to provide a pan India contactless cash withdrawal experience at ATMs. In a first, Mastercard cardholders will be able to withdraw cash by scanning a QR code displayed on the ATM screen of all participating Banks. The partnership aims to provide a more secure banking experience to customers in India.

AGS Transact Technologies will enable this contactless QR-based cash withdrawals on all ATMs in its network in a phase-wise manner. Enabled by AGS Transact Technologies, these QR based ATMs powered by Mastercard will help users to digitally locate the nearest enabled ATM and withdraw cash by scanning a QR code using their banking app on the mobile phone.

It will be a simple 4 steps process at the nearest enabled ATM  Open banking app, Scan QR displayed on ATM screen, authenticate withdrawal amount on banking app by entering mPIN and Pick-up cash from ATM - without the need to insert the physical debit/credit card into the ATM or entering an ATM Pin. This will minimize any physical contact, making it a cleaner withdrawal option vis-a-vis regular cash withdrawals, especially during current times of COVID-19.

Ravi B Goyal, Chairman & MD, AGS Transact Technologies Limited said, We are delighted to partner with Mastercard to spearhead customer-centric solutions focusing on contactless payments. We are confident that the QR based cash withdrawal will be a gamechanger towards increasing the adoption of contactless technologies."

"As a trusted partner in this journey, we have designed customer-friendly solutions to provide seamless transactions, without any breaks in the transaction process in case of multiple cardless withdrawals, Goyal added.

Commenting on the partnership, Vikas Varma, Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, Mastercard said, Mastercard is committed to develop safe, secure, and more convenient ways to make payments with its technology and expertise. During these unprecedented times, there is a need for contact free cash withdrawal as people want to maintain a balance between protecting themself and continue to make transactions essential to maintain daily lives."

"Mastercard is pleased to partner with AGS Transact Technologies to introduce Cardless ATM powered by Mastercard. Mastercard Cardholders will be able to withdraw cash safely by eliminating the need to use a physical card or touch an ATM PIN pad, while providing the security of an EMV transaction, making it safe, quick and easy for people to access cash, he added.

The partnership will allow the Mastercard cardholders to access any participating Bank ATM in the country and carry out three transactions without any additional charges making it a scalable option for banks providing a consistent experience to their consumers.
Scottsdale, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - TriStar Gold Inc. (TSXV: TSG) (OTCQX: TSGZF) (the Company or TriStar) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Mark Isto to the Board of Directors as an independent director. Dr. Quinton Hennigh will be standing down from the Board of Directors but will continue to support the Company as a member of the technical advisory committee.

"First, I would like to thank Quinton for the years he has given this company, and it's important to point out that we will continue to benefit from his expertise and experience through his role as a member of the technical advisory committee," says Nick Appleyard, TriStar's President and CEO. "Mark's addition to the Board shows that the Company is advancing, his experience in developing and operating large-scale open pit gold mines will be invaluable."

Mr. Isto has also been awarded 300,000 incentive stock options, granted for a 5-year period starting on February 8, 2021, each option allows the holder to purchase one common share of TriStar at an exercise price of $0.25 and vest immediately.

Mr. Isto has 38 years of experience in mining engineering, mine management, and project development on a regional and global basis. Mr. Isto is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Royal Gold Corporation.

Previously he served as Vice President, Operations for First Nickel Inc. and Senior Vice President in the Projects Group at Kinross Gold Corp. He served as Mine General Manager of Golden Sunlight Mines, Inc. (Placer Dome America) and previously held numerous other management positions in Placer Dome's global operations, including Chief Engineer, Mine Superintendent, Project Director and Senior Advisor over a nearly 25-year career with Placer Dome.

Mr. Isto holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering from Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology, as well as a Master of Business Administration degree in Business Administration from the University of Nevada - Reno.

About TriStar

TriStar Gold is an exploration and development company focused on precious metals properties in the Americas that have the potential to become significant producing mines. The Company's current flagship property is Castelo de Sonhos in Para State, Brazil. The Company's shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol TSG and on the OTCQX under the symbol TSGZF. Further information is available at www.tristargold.com.

On behalf of the board of directors of the company:



Nick Appleyard

President and CEO

For further information, please contact:

TriStar Gold Inc.

Nick Appleyard

President and CEO

480-794-1244

info@tristargold.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. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements under Canadian securities legislation which are not historical facts and are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects" or "it is expected", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward looking statements in this press release include statements about the Company's plans to complete a pre-feasibility study on the CDS project, the results of further in-fill drilling on the CDS property, the ability of the Company to complete the current in-fill drilling program, the results of further exploration target identification and the anticipated effects of the COVID-19 virus. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's reasonable expectations and business plan at the date hereof, which are subject to change depending on economic, political and competitive circumstances and contingencies. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause a change in such assumptions and the actual outcomes and estimates to be materially different from those estimated or anticipated future results, achievements or position expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's plans to change include changes in demand for and price of gold and other commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments in Brazil; effects of the COVID-19 virus on all aspects of the Company's business, the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of the Company's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining or development activities; the speculative nature of gold exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; and the risks involved in the exploration, development and mining business. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company 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 required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73937

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opinion

They are no longer the safe estates that were preferred residential areas for low-income earners in Nakuru. Kivumbini, Paul Machanga, Kaloleni, Shauri Yako, Flamingo, Ojuka, Kimathi and Manyani estates are perhaps the most dangerous in the cosmopolitan town.

They have a reputation for violent crime. Criminal gangs run the show, and the accounts from the estates are chilling.

"I was going to visit my friend at Kivumbini Estate in Nakuru East. I alighted from the matatu and was walking. Suddenly, some men approached me, two of them walked by my side and one pierced my back with a sharp object... " recalls Mr Didmus Olweny.

"I was shocked. I couldn't scream. I was soon surrounded by hooded young men. I could see sharp knives pointed at me. The piercing intensified as they ransacked my pockets and took my valuable documents."

This is not an isolated case in this area. Sadly, such incidents are rarely reported at the nearby Bondeni Police Station.

Notorious gang

Mr Olweny lived in this estate in the '60s and '70s and never experienced such muggings. But those were the glory days, when the town's economy was booming and jobs were aplenty. Not anymore.

"It's wise to avoid visiting this estate after nightfall. Criminal gangs have taken over the once safe Kivumbini estate," says Mr Olweny, a retired Kenya Railways employee.

Last December, four people were killed in the estate in a stabbing incident thought to have been started by two rival gangs. It is these same gangs, it appears, that are to blame for the increase in violent crime. Here, muggings, house break-ins and swindling of money through mobile transactions are rampant.

A notorious gang known as "Confirm" reigns supreme here. So daring are the gang leaders that they even recruit school children. 'Confirm' has cells in other neighbourhoods in the town such as Kwa Rhoda and Bondeni.

In a bid to address the problem, the Nakuru County Assembly, in conjunction with national government and other stakeholders, such as Mid Rift Human Rights Network, has drafted a Peace Bill that will be tabled this year.

Unemployment

"We shall have a council at the county level made up of all stakeholders on peace issues and will have representatives at the village, ward, sub-county and county levels headed by the County Commissioner because that is where people are and matters of insecurity affect them," offers Kabazi MCA Peter Mbae.

Dr Mbae says selected elders will be trained on peace and conflict issues and how to engage the council on early warning signals.

But what motivates young people to join these gangs? Unemployment and bureaucracy while applying for Youth Development Fund has led many to such misadventures.

"I never imagined that after my university education, I would join a gang. I once tried to apply for Kazi Mtaani job but failed due to corruption. I saw my colleagues living luxurious lives and that is how I was lured to 'Confirm'," says Pato, a former Criminology student at a public university.

Dr Mbae says the county must move from the management of violence to prevention. The chairman of the security of committee in the assembly, Stanley Karanja, says poverty is what drives the youth to crime.

Youth radicalisation

"Nakuru will soon become a city and as leaders, we must ensure it remains a hub for investment by coming up with the legal framework that will train more peace ambassadors to stem the rising violence amongst the youth," says Mr Karanja, also the Naivasha East MCA.

Nakuru County Chief Officer in charge of Public Service, Training and Devolution, Paul Githinji Kinyanjui says peace is the bedrock of the development of the county and the youth must be part of that engagement.

"If we don't engage our youths in our social, political and economic development agenda, we are likely to fail as a county and country," he offers.

Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui says his government is committed to supporting the initiatives to end youth radicalisation and violence in the low-income areas.

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"As Nakuru gears up to become a city, security is key to attract investors both local and international and my government is committed to working with key stakeholders to address issues of violence and extremism among the youths," offers Mr Kinyanjui.

White Eagles gang

Mr Njenga Miiri from the National Counter Terrorism Centre notes that Nakuru town occupies a crucial place in the development of the country as it leads to Western Kenya and the Great Lakes Region.

The government is revising the national strategy for countering violent extremism launched in 2016 to ensure it's anchored in the security infrastructure.

Nakuru County Commissioner Erastus Mwenda Mbui says the government has put in place measures to arrest the situation.

In Naivasha, the administrator's eyes are firmly on a gang called White Eagles.

"These gangs are a security threat to investors and the government is determined to flush them out. We know who is funding 'Confirm' and the government is prepared to secure Nakuru from crime," offers Mbui.
Children with anxiety should be allowed a staggered return to school, Love Island star Dr Alex George has said.

The A&E doctor and newly-appointed Government adviser said teachers should allow children days off for their mental health as they return to their desks later this year.

Dr George told BBCs Newscast: As children are integrated back to schools, we need to be a little bit more flexible about the time of transitioning back.

You cant just expect someone whos very anxious to go back to school, will go back to normal.

It might be that that child needs a bit of time to integrate slowly back in the classroom, so that rather than chucking them in and exacerbating the problem, we do it gently.

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He told Adam Fleming on the BBC Sounds podcast: If youre happy and you feel good, and youre engaged and you feel supported at school and youve been able to take time when you needed to, youre probably more likely to not only be academically successful but take care of yourself physically as well.

Dr George, who has spoken publicly about the suicide of his 19-year-old brother, Llyr, added: We do need to find a way to make sure that children whove gone back to school whove lost loved ones, who are in trouble, they need to have somewhere to go, somewhere that the teacher can tangibly reach out to to support them.

Children and adolescent mental health services do an incredible job, but they are utterly overworked and theyve got too many referrals.

In January, Dr George said his number one goal for 2021 was to help bring meaningful change to mental health education at schools across the UK.

He urged his Instagram followers to help him meet the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet to make it happen.

Dr George later met with Boris Johnson and told him he wants to break the stigma about mental health, before beginning his unpaid role within the Department for Education.

Mr Johnson has said he hoped it would be safe to begin the reopening of Englands schools from March 8.
You are here: China

China launched a campaign targeting copyright infringement of movies to be screened during the upcoming Spring Festival movie-going season.

Initiated by copyright and film regulators and police authorities, the operation will focus on fighting against illegal recordings of cinema films, among other violations.

The Spring Festival holiday, typically one of the busiest moviegoing periods of the year in China, starts from Feb. 11. Seven domestic movies, including "Detective Chinatown 3," are slated for release on the Spring Festival which falls on Feb. 12.

During the campaign, regulators will step up efforts to crack down on illegal filming and recording in cinemas, as well as the spread of pirated films.

Cinemas, online streaming service providers and film associations are also encouraged to take part in copyright protection.
New Delhi: In a bizarre incident, a man allegedly tried to kill his boss by spiking his drink with saliva he bought from a COVID-19 patient. The incident reportedly took place in Turkey's city Adana where a car dealership owner named Ibrahim Unverdi filed a criminal complaint against one of his employees alleging that the latter stole money from him before infecting his drink with the deadly virus.

Unverdi said that on the morning of the incident, he had given the accused 215,000 Turkish Lira (Rs 22 lakh) which he obtained from the sale of a car. Instead of taking the money to the office, the worker, who had worked for three years in the car dealership, stole it saying he needed it to repay a loan shark.

"I told him to take the money to the office. He even had the key to my safe, I completely trusted him, Unverdi was quoted as saying by LADbible.

"Later, I called him multiple times and could not reach him. He answered the next day. He said that he needed the money and stole it because he owed it to a loan shark, he added.

Unverdi learned from another worker that the accused had bought saliva from a Covid-19 patient for 500 Turkish Lira (Rs 5,000). He said he was lucky he did not take the drink. He further claimed that after the issue was reported in the press, the accused started sending him threat messages.

"I could not kill you with the virus. I will shoot you in the head next time," one of the messages read, according to Unverdi.

Following the incident and subsequent threats, Unverdi and his wife have been given police protection.

"Me and my kids can't leave the house. We seem to be in prison in our own home, Unverdi's wife Dilek said.

Live TV
Tata Steel, the countrys oldest steel producer, reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 3,698 crore in the December quarter as against a loss of Rs 1,029 crore in the corresponding period last year on the back of increased revenue, which was aided by both higher steel prices and volumes. The profit was ahead of consensus estimate of Rs 3,353 crore, according to Bloomberg, mainly led by the India operations.

The companys net sales in the period under review stood at Rs 38,806 crore, up 12 percent from same period last year on improved demand for steel in the domestic market, and were largely in line with expectations of Rs 38,982 crore.

"The recovery in the global and Indian economy has led to sharp improvement in steel demand in India. We pivoted our deliveries to domestic markets, to cater to the requirements of our local customers by reducing exports. All the segments, especially automotive, have performed extremely well supported by our continuous focus on strong customer relationships, superior distribution network, brands and new product developments," T. V. Narendran, chief executive officer and managing director was quoted as saying.

In India operations, deliveries grew 8 percent on quarter-on-quarter basis and 4 percent on year-on-year basis to 4.16 million tonne. Exports shrank below 11 percent of overall deliveries. Sales witnessed strong momentum but was constrained by lower opening inventory, informed

The companys consolidated earnings before, interest, taxes, depreciation and ammortisation (EBITDA) in the quarter gone by stood at Rs 9,540 crore, more than double of Rs 3,659 crore in the same period last year.





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"In Europe, our underlying performance has improved quarter on quarter while the reported EBITDA was negatively impacted by few one offs. We remain committed to arrive at a strategic and sustainable solution for Europe, though in the immediate term, we will focus upon business performance and cash flows," said Narendran.

The company's consolidated EBITDA increased 53 percent sequentially and 2.6x on year-on-year basis with improved realization across key entities, it said in a release. It was the highest ever consolidated quarterly EBITDA, said



Consolidated EBITDA per tonne, a measure of profitability, was amongst the best at Rs 13,876, as compared to Rs 8,396 in Q2'FY21 and Rs 5,003 in the year-ago quarter.

"Our key subsidiaries Tata Steel BSL and Tata Steel Long Poducts have also reported the highest ever profitability in recent years," Koushik Chatterjee, executive director and chief financial officer was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile a 4.6 percent drop in companys expenses in the December quarter compared to year ago also lent some support to the EBITDA. On the other hand, tax expense of Rs 1,572 crore as against Rs 621.04 crore in the same period last year ate into the profits of the company.





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An employee separation compensation of Rs 228.84 crore in the period under review (part of exceptional item) also further ate into the bottomline of the company. Overall, exceptional items totalled Rs 329 crore in the year ago period as compared to Rs 154 crore in the recently concluded quarter.

The company generated consolidated free cash flow was Rs 12,078 crore during the third quarter driven by strong operating performance, disciplined capital expenditure and working capital management.

With regard to capital expenditure the company continues to prioritize the same and has spent Rs 1,394 crores during the quarter. The company has also decided to restart work on pellet plant and cold roll mill complex at Tata Steel Kalinganagar. Both the pellet plant and cold roll mill complex, once completed, will expand margin, it said.





As part of the enterprise deleveraging plan, Tata Steel has completed reduction of net debt by Rs 18,609 crore in the first nine months of the current financial year. During the third quarter, the company reduced the leverage by Rs 10,325 crore. As part of the continued de-leveraging strategy further deleveraging is being undertaken in 4QFY21, it said.

Following the termination of the discussions with SSAB on Tata Steel Netherland (TSN), the company will be focusing on performance and cash flows in the immediate term. Tata Steel is committed to arrive at a strategic and sustainable resolution for its European portfolio.

Tata Steels IJmuiden plant is among the most environmentally efficient and cost competitive steel producers in Europe. The process to separate Tata Steel Netherlands and Tata Steel UK is currently underway, informed Tata Steel.

The were announced post market hours in India. On the London Stock Exchange, Tata Steel's GDR price was up 3 per cent following the announcement, at 9 pm India time.
A missing 10-year-old girl is back home safe thanks to a pair of attentive city sanitation workers, Louisiana authorities say.

The two men were on their trash route early Monday when they spotted a gray car ducked off in a wooded field in St. Martin Parish, about 50 miles west of Baton Rouge, according to a video posted online. Inside the car was Jalisa Lassalle, 10, who authorities said had been kidnapped the night before.

I thank God, trash collector Dion Merrick says in the clip as officers lead the accused abductor, 33-year-old Michael Sereal, away in handcuffs. He blessed us to find that little girl.

Jalisa was reported missing from New Iberia on Sunday, and an Amber Alert was issued later that evening, KATC reported. It was Merrick and fellow city worker Brandon Antoine who spotted the sedan described in the alert as they worked their morning shift, New Iberia police said in statement announcing that the 10-year-old had been found safe.

Both men are employees with Pelican Waste & Debris, the sanitation company confirmed in a Facebook post.

In a Facebook livestream, Merrick recalled what was going through his mind. He remembered hearing about the Amber Alert for the missing girl.

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Something told me. I said, whats that car doing way ducked off in the field like that? Guess what. Thats the dude with the little girl, he says in the video.

At one point in the video, an officer thanks Merrick and Antoine for their help and asks them to stick around for further questioning.

Sereal was arrested at the scene and booked into jail on a charge of aggravated kidnapping, according to police. Hes a registered sex offender and was convicted of carnal knowledge of a juvenile in 2006, the Acadiana Advocate reported, citing an Iberia Parish registry.

Merrick said he was just doing my job, but he is thankful for being in the right place at the right time.

People act like they see stuff by they dont want to say nothing. But shes safe now, Merrick says in the video. Thank God man, because I got a little girl. Im on my job doing what I got to do.
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Low-income mothers feminize their children in the womb by adjusting their hormones, whereas high-income mothers masculinize their children, a major study based on finger length, led by a Swansea University expert, has found. The study was based on the relationship between the length of a person's index and ring fingers, known as the 2D:4D ratio. What is significant about the new report is that the team examined the ratio in relation to parental income. Credit: John Manning, Swansea University

Low-income mothers feminize their children in the womb by adjusting their hormones, whereas high-income mothers masculinize their children, a major study based on finger length, led by a Swansea University expert, has found.

The phenomenon is an unconscious evolutionary response aimed at boosting their offspring's chances of successful reproduction.

It helps, in part, explain associations between low income, low levels of testosterone before birth, and major causes of mortality such as cardiovascular disease.

The study was based on the relationship between the length of a person's index and ring fingers, known as the 2-D:4-D ratio. A longer ring finger is a marker of higher levels of testosterone, whereas a longer index finger is a marker of higher levels of estrogen. Generally, men have longer ring fingers, whereas women have longer index fingers.

The 2-D:4-D ratio is a widely-debated measure that has been the subject of over 1000 studies, but what is significant about the new report is that the team examined the ratio in relation to parental income.

Led by Professor John Manning of Swansea University, with colleagues in Austria and Jamaica, the team tested a hypothesis about evolutionary influences on the mother and her children. This suggests that for higher-income mothers, sons have higher reproductive success compared to daughters. For lower-income mothers, in contrast, daughters will be more reproductively successful. Known as the Trivers-Willard hypothesis, its senior author, Professor Robert Trivers, was also involved in this new study.

The team used data from over 250,000 people from around 200 countries, who were taking part in an online BBC survey. Participants were asked to measure their index and ring fingers and given instructions on how to do this accurately. They were also asked to indicate their parents' income level.

The results showed:

Children of parents of above-average income had a low 2-D:4-D ratio, with longer ring fingers, which indicates high testosterone and low estrogen before birth, hallmarks of a more masculinized fetus

Conversely, the children of parents of below-average income had a high 2-D:4-D ratio with longer index fingers, which indicates lower testosterone and higher estrogen before birth, markers of a more feminized fetus

These effects were present for both men and women

Professor John Manning of Swansea University's A-STEM research team in sport science, lead researcher on the study, said:

"Our results show that mothers with high income may secrete high levels of testosterone relative to estrogen early in pregnancy, thereby masculinizing their male and female children. In contrast, women with low income may secrete low levels of testosterone, which will feminize their male and female children.

This is an evolutionary response, which mothers will not be aware of, let alone able to control. It is geared towards giving their offspring the best chance of reproductive success.

For high-income mothers, the advantages of high testosterone for their sons are likely to outweigh its disadvantages for their daughters. For low-income mothers, the fitness gain from feminized daughters is likely to outweigh the fitness loss for feminized sons.

This pattern is consistent with the Trivers-Willard hypothesis."

Professor Manning explained how the findings could shed light on susceptibility to disease:

"These patterns suggest important effects on public health which are linked to poverty.

Low testosterone and high estrogen in male fetuses may predispose those men, as adults, to diseases linked to poverty such as heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure.

It is well known that poverty is closely associated with poorer health. What our research indicates is that this link can be replicated across generations".

More information: J.T. Manning et al, Parental income inequality and children's digit ratio (2D:4D): a 'Trivers-Willard' effect on prenatal androgenization?, Journal of Biosocial Science (2021). J.T. Manning et al, Parental income inequality and children's digit ratio (2D:4D): a 'Trivers-Willard' effect on prenatal androgenization?,(2021). DOI: 10.1017/S0021932021000043
I couldnt rule out that there wouldnt be further changes, whether its in the next few hours or a day or a month. The Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport where the female hotel quarantine worker contracted the virus. Credit:Penny Stephens COVID-infected returned traveller in intensive care Victorias zero new cases come after 12,816 tests were carried out across the state on Monday. For the first time in months, a COVID-positive case has been hospitalised in Victoria after a person staying in hotel quarantine was taken to intensive care.

Thats a returned traveller, not a community case but, of course, we send our best wishes to that person and their family, Mr Andrews said. The last time someone was in hospital with COVID-19 in Victoria was November 22, and the last time a patient was in intensive care with the virus was October 10. More than 150 close contacts of Holiday Inn worker in isolation Meanwhile, more than 150 close contacts of the Holiday Inn worker, who tested positive on Sunday, have been identified and are isolating.

Loading At least 136 hotel quarantine workers at the Holiday Inn have been identified as close contacts of their colleague. A further 17 non-work close contacts were also identified on Monday. Health authorities are still awaiting test results from eight very close contacts of the woman. So family and others that are very, very close to this particular worker. Theyre all isolating, theyve all been tested, Mr Andrews said. We have no results back yet. We are working through those. It is fairly recent. No new potential COVID-19 exposure sites have been listed by the Health Department after venues the woman visited in Maidstone, Taylors Lakes and Sunshine were identified in the early hours of Monday morning.

Aerosol transmission the working theory, Andrews says It is hoped the genomic sequencing will also give authorities clues as to how the woman, who wore a surgical mask and face shield and spoke to hotel residents through a perspex screen, contracted the virus in the cold hotel, which is not a dedicated health hotel for confirmed COVID-19 cases. The womans case is the third reported leak within the states hotel quarantine system this month, and epidemiologists have raised concerns they may be the result of airborne transmission of the virus. A 26-year-old hotel residential support officer, who had been working at the Grand Hyatt Hotel for the Australian Open, tested positive last Wednesday night. And a returned traveller who was staying at the Park Royal quarantine hotel at Melbourne Airport was infected last week by a family of five after viral particles spread from their room.

Victorian authorities also have a working theory that the cases are the result of aerosol transmission, Mr Andrews said. He said there was still no definitive advice confirming airborne transmission, but he acknowledged that Victorias public health team was concerned about it. Premier Daniel Andrews addresses the media on Tuesday. Credit:Justin McManus [Theres] no definitive advice, but theres a working theory and very significant concerns about aerosol transmission, particularly of these [more] infectious strains. They do present us with a very significant challenge, he said. The Premier defended Victorias stringent and evolving quarantine protocols.

As this virus changes, then our public health response has to change, he said. Weve had engineering reviews of all the airconditioning systems in all the hotels that we use. Weve ripped out the airconditioning in a number of these places and put new, new systems in, weve changed the way air flows. We rip up all the carpet in the common areas  so [in] hallways for instance  and lino [linoleum] is put down, so we can clean shared spaces where there could be a transmission to industrial standards. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has also hosed down suggestions that a major overhaul to the current quarantine hotel model was needed, saying that some case leakages were inevitable and accounted for by other measures.

We have said since the earliest days a year ago, that there would be cases, he said on Monday. We have always said hotel quarantine is the inner ring of containment, followed by testing, tracing, and distancing. Where anybody indicates that there is only one line of defence, that would be inaccurate. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Quarantine workers to be paid for getting tested on non-work days Mr Andrews said hotel quarantine workers were not contractually required to get tested on their days off, but he was confident they would still agree to get tested and flagged it could be made mandatory.

He said workers would be compensated for the time it took to undergo a test, which could amount to a few hours pay. Changing worker contracts to mandate testing on their days off would take time and must go through a fair process, he said. I dont actually think that anybody is going to be non-compliant with our request. At this stage, its not compulsory. But I think the view of the workforce is that its a smart thing to do. Its a very important thing to do and itll be a hassle for people on their day off to go and spend two, three hours going and getting a test, but its a really important part of it. I dont think anyones going to have to sit down with their manager and say why didnt you get tested yesterday. I think people will respond, and they already are. And as soon as weve got anything to update in terms of performance  how many people have been testing  well be more than happy to do that.

New gathering restrictions to stay for some time Mr Andrews said the 15-person limit on household visitors each day was likely to be in place for some time while health authorities deal with the implications of the highly virulent UK strain. He was more circumspect about how long Victorians would be required to wear masks in indoor public places and workplaces, saying they had played an important role in recent outbreaks. I apologise to the community that there is a degree of discomfort, but its nothing compared to what this getting away from us would look like and feel like, Mr Andrews said.

The Premier said he and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton would later this week discuss when to allow more workers to return to their CBD offices. Under current restrictions, up to 50 per cent of private-sector workers and 25 per cent of public servants are allowed back into offices across the state at any one time. The state government abruptly parked plans to allow up to 75 per cent of workers back to offices last week after the Grand Hyatt worker tested positive. But the Premier is sceptical about whether increasing the cap to 75 per cent and eventually 100 per cent will necessarily trigger a flood of workers back to the CBD.

Its not every worker, its not five days a week, but I think there is a percentage of people whose productivity has not been harmed by [working from home], he said. [For example] I will not be in the office as often as I used to be. Some meetings that I would always have done in person, I will do from home or Ill do that from a regional office or a suburban office. I could be wrong in that maybe everyone will flood back to the office once we have 100 per cent [but] I doubt that. Professor Sutton also revealed he had tested negative to COVID-19 on Monday after isolating at home with symptoms.
When Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court to disenfranchise voters in four states, including Michigan, by overturning the will of the voters in electing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the 2020 election, few people in the 7th Congressional District were surprised to learn that their representative Tim Walberg had signed on to support it:

In the flood of specious legal claims asserted (and repeatedly rejected by state and federal courts) in the course of the presidents unsuccessful campaign to overturn the election, the most outrageous may have been Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons attempt to block Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin from casting their states Electoral College votes for Biden. In a lawsuit filed directly with the U.S. Supreme Court, Paxton asked justices to let the four states legislatures  all controlled by Republican majorities  decide how to allocate their electoral votes. The court dismissed the Paxtons initiative in an unsigned order  but only after four of Michigans seven GOP congressmen  Bergman, Huizenga, Moolenaar and Walberg  had signed a brief urging the court to effectively disenfranchise 2.8 million Michigan voters.

Even after the violent sacking of the U.S. Capitol Building and murder of a Capitol police officer by Trump supporters on January 6th, Walberg voted against holding Donald Trump accountable for inciting the seditious riot.

Those of us living in the 7th were not only not surprised by Walberg attempting to disenfranchise 2.8 million of our fellow Michiganders. We were outraged. Individuals and groups across the 7th District made our opinions heard through emails, phone calls, and letters to the editor. One group, Saline Indivisible, undertook an effort to ask Rep. Walbergs donors to stop supporting him financially. They sent a very calmly and politely worded letter to his financial backers:

To whom it may concern;

Dear ___________, As a resident of Michigan District 7, I am writing to you regarding future donations to Representative Walberg. According to FEC records, I see that you have donated to his recent campaign and I am highly concerned about his recent behavior. Between joining the Texas lawsuit attempting to throw out valid votes of Michigan residents and his choice to object to the counting of other states Electoral College votes, once again disenfranchising more voters. Although I understand he is disappointed that President Trump lost the election, to continue to object after the election fraud rhetoric resulted in the storming of the Capitol is unpatriotic and unacceptable. Due to his actions, I respectfully request and hope that you will consider suspending donations to Walberg and his campaign in the future and donate to other, more honorable, conservative candidates in the future who would put country above his or her political ambitions. I hope you consider this letter in the spirit in which its intended, which is for the good of our country. I am writing as a member of Saline Indivisible and while we trend toward liberal membership, we believe that all good people want the best for our country. We are also happy to have productive conversations across the aisle. We will not write to you again but if you would like to reach us, you can email [email protected] Thank you for your time. Respectfully, First name, last initial

Member: Saline Indivisible

Well, that bit of civic engagement was a bridge too far for Mr. Walberg. Today, he sent out this fundraising letter, calling the citizen activists of Saline Indivisible far-left, extremist, blinded by their hatred, fringe, and disgusting. He even called their effort to hold him accountable political intimidation.



Click image to embiggen

Tim Walberg has been safely ensconced in a heavily gerrymandered district for years. He barely campaigns each cycle because he knows that, no matter what he does or who hes running against, he doesnt have to worry about getting re-elected. In fact, most of us believe that, once his district is redrawn in a more fair way by Michigans amazing new independent redistricting commission, he will retire from politics. He draws a pension from the state of Michigan from his time as a state legislature and, once hes out of Congress, hell have a pension from that, too. Why would he run if he actually had to work for it?

The truth is, Tim Walberg is terrified of his constituents. He knows that his ideas and political positions are widely and wildly unpopular and, if it werent for his gerrymandered political safety, he would have been tossed out of his job several cycles ago. After redistricting, Michigan and the citizens of the current 7th Congressional District will be well-rid of this un-American member of the Republican Sedition Caucus.

Hat tip to Steven, the man behind the excellent Take Care, Tim website and Twitter feed.
Kathmandu, February 9

Experts and stakeholders have said Nepal could also face a similar disaster as in Uttarakhand of India whereas dozens of people have been killed and hundreds are missing after a glacial lake outburst flood on Sunday.

Water resources expert Deepak Gyawali says Nepals glacial lakes are also in the same range, hence the risk is equal for both the countries. In almost every 10 years, there have been big flood events. Therefore, we cannot say such a disaster cannot happen in Nepal anytime.

Likewise, another expert Ajay Dixit says, Of late, the rate of snow melting is increasing, which raises the volume of glacial lakes. It is likely that such incidents could be quite frequent in Nepal.

A study report launched by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) informs there are more than 3,000 glacial lakes in Nepal.

Of them, 21 are at a higher level of danger, according to Bikram Shrestha, a senior hydrologist in the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. Meanwhile, 26 lakes on the Tibetan side can also cause harm to the Nepali population, according to him.

Thugasi between Manang and Lamjung districts, Imja in Solukhumbu, Barun in Makalu and Tsho Rolpa in Dolakha districts are considered most dangerous glacial lakes in Nepal.

In a bid to minimise the risk, the government lowered the water level in Tsho Rolpa and Imja lakes last year whereas there is a plan to do so in four glacial lakes every year, according to him. Tsho Rolpa and Imja have also been equipped with alert systems.

Shrestha complains the government has not provided sufficient budget for the efforts targeted at minimising risks of the glacial lake outbursts.
Villagers look at the remains of Tapovan Hydro-Electric Power Dam that was swept away after part of a Himalayan glacier broke off Sunday sending a devastating flood downriver in Tapovan area of the northern state of Uttarakhand, India, Tuesday, Feb.9, 2021. (AP Photo/Rishabh R. Jain)

When Ravi Chopra saw the devastating deluge of water and debris crash downstream from a Himalayan glacier on Sunday, his first thought was that this was exactly the scenario that his team had warned the Indian government of in 2014.

At least 31 people have died, 165 people are missing many more are feared to have died. The deluge first smashed into a small dam, gathering more energy as it grew heavier from the debris it collected along the way. Then, it smashed into a larger, under-construction dam and gathered even more energy.

Chopra and other experts had been tasked by India's Supreme Court to study the impact of receding glaciers on dams. They had warned that warming temperatures due to climate change was melting the Himalayan glaciers and facilitated avalanches and landslides, and that constructing dams in this fragile ecosystem was dangerous.

"They were clearly warned, and yet they went ahead," said Chopra.

Scientists had first suspected that a glacial lake had burst, but after examining satellite images now believe that a landslide and avalanche were the more likely cause of the disaster. What isn't clear still is whether the landslide induced an avalanche of ice and debris, or whether falling ice resulted in the landslide, said Mohammad Farooq Azam, who studies glaciers at the Indian Institute of Technology at Indore.

A view of the remains of Tapovan Hydro-Electric Power Dam that was swept away after part of a Himalayan glacier broke off Sunday sending a devastating flood downriver in Tapovan area of the northern state of Uttarakhand, India, Tuesday, Feb.9, 2021. (AP Photo/Rishabh R. Jain)

What is known though is that mass of rock, boulders, ice and snow came crashing down a 2-kilometer (1.2 miles), near vertical mountain slope on Sunday. And now scientists are trying to figure out if the heat produced during this crash due to friction would be enough to melt the snow and ice to result in the flood of water, he said.

Experts say that the disaster underscores the fragility of the Himalayan mountains where the lives of millions are being altered by climate change. Even if the world was to meet its most ambitious climate change targets, rising temperatures would melt away a third of the Himalayan glaciers by the end of the century, a 2019 report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development found. Himalayan glaciers are melting twice as fast since 2000 as they were in the 25 years before due to human-caused climate change, a 2019 paper published in Science Advances found.

Whether this particular disaster was caused by climate change isn't known. But climate change can increase landslides and avalanches. As glaciers melt due to warming, valleys that were earlier crammed with ice open up, creating space for landslides to move into. In other places, steep mountainous slopes may be partially "glued" together by ice frozen tightly inside its crevices. "As warming occurs and the ice melts, the pieces can move downhill more easily, lubricated by the water," explained Richard B. Alley, a professor of earth sciences at the Pennsylvania State University.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel clear debris after a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier snapped off Sunday morning, releasing water trapped behind it in Tapovan, northern state of Uttarakhand, India, Tuesday, Feb.9, 2021. After examining satellite images, scientists believe that the Himalayan floods in northern India were linked to a landslide and an avalanche. It is still unclear what the exact cause is, but climate change is likely a factor, experts say. (AP Photo)

With warming, ice is also essentially becoming less frozen: Earlier its temperature would range between minus 6 degrees Celsius to minus 20 C and it it is now minus 2 C (from 21.2 degrees Fahrenheit to minus 4 F earlier to 28.4 F now), said Azam. The ice is still frozen, but is closer to its melting point, so it takes less heat to trigger an avalanche than some decades ago, added Azam.

Another threat from warming temperatures is that of a glacial lake burstingwhat some first suspected was the cause of Sunday's disaster. The hazard posed by these expanding lakes becoming more susceptible to breaches can't be ignored, said Joerg Michael Schaefer, a climate scientist who specializes in ice and especially Himalayan glaciers at Columbia University.

The water the lakes release into rivers contain the energy equal to "several nuclear bombs" and can provide clean, carbon-free energy through hydropower projects.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel clear debris after a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier snapped off Sunday morning, releasing water trapped behind it in Tapovan, northern state of Uttarakhand, India, Tuesday, Feb.9, 2021. After examining satellite images, scientists believe that the Himalayan floods in northern India were linked to a landslide and an avalanche. It is still unclear what the exact cause is, but climate change is likely a factor, experts say.(AP Photo)

The water the lakes release into rivers contain the energy equal to "several nuclear bombs" and can provide clean, carbon-free energy through hydropower projects, Schaefer said. But the setting up power plants without looking uphill and mitigating the risk by siphoning water from the lakes to control levels was dangerous, he said.

"The brute force of these things just kind of just really mind blowing," especially if they break, he said. "You cannot tame that tiger. You have to prevent that."

The Uttarakhand state government said it continually faced "acute power shortage" and was forced to spend $137 million each year to buy electricity, documents submitted to India's Supreme Court show. The state has the second-highest potential for generating hydropower in India, but experts say that solar energy and wind energy offered more sustainable and less risky alternatives in the long-run.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel clear debris after a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier snapped off Sunday morning, releasing water trapped behind it in Tapovan, northern state of Uttarakhand, India, Tuesday, Feb.9, 2021. After examining satellite images, scientists believe that the Himalayan floods in northern India were linked to a landslide and an avalanche. It is still unclear what the exact cause is, but climate change is likely a factor, experts say. (AP Photo)

In this June 23, 2013 file photo, Indian army soldiers help people stranded due to monsoon flooding and landslides climb down a mountain in Govindghat, India. The ecologically sensitive Himalayan region is prone to flash floods and landslides. More than 6,000 people are believed to have been killed in floods in 2013 which were triggered by the heaviest monsoon rains in decades. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)

In this Dec. 15, 2013 file photo, workers make a foot bridge six months after walls of melted glacier, mud and debris came crashing down the mountainside at Vijaynagar in Rudraprayag district in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India. More than 6,000 people are believed to have been killed in floods in 2013 which were triggered by the heaviest monsoon rains in decades. Experts say that Sunday's disaster underscores the fragility of the Himalayan mountains where the lives of millions are being altered by climate change. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh, File)

In this Sept. 27, 2019 file photo, exile Tibetan school children carry posters as they join worldwide demonstrations calling for action to guard against climate change in Dharmsala, India. After examining satellite images, scientists believe that Sunday's Himalayan floods in northern India were linked to a landslide and an avalanche. It is still unclear what the exact cause is, but climate change is likely a factor, experts say. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia, File)

Development was needed for the upliftment of the impoverished region, but experts said that the paradigm shift was necessary so that executing such projects take into account the ecological fragility of the mountains, and the unpredictable risks posed by climate change.

For instance, during the 2009 construction of the second dam that got hit by flood water on Sunday, workers accidentally punctured an aquifer. Enough water for 2-3 million people to drink drained out at the rate of 60-70 million liters of water every day for a month and villages in the area faced water shortages, the 2014 report found.

Development plans need to "go along with the environment" and not against it, said Anjal Prakash, a professor at the Indian School of Business who has contributed to research into the impacts of climate change in the Himalayas for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

"Climate change is here and now. It is not something that is going to happen later on," he said.

Explore further 140 are missing after glacier breaks in India's Himalayas

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Some of the world's largest airlines intend to implement a 'health passport' next month in an effort to revive the aviation sector and get passengers travelling again - and to do so safely.

The Travel Pass is an International Air Transport Association (IATA) initiative and consists of a mobile application, currently under development, which will allow travellers to store and manage Covid-19 test or vaccination certificates.

The association considers the app to be key to reopening borders without quarantines and reactivating the aviation sector. They say that currently the traveller is faced with fragmented and diverse Covid-19 testing requirements for entry and exit, as well as the variety of different types of tests (PCR, LAMP, antigen and spectroscopic) required by governments.

Passengers are confused and need accurate information. But they don't know where to find it, nor do they understand it, even if they find it, it said.

IATA incorporates 290 companies from 120 countries that move 82 per cent of world air traffic, and points out that it expects the application to be available in the iOS and Android stores next March.

"The goal is to give governments the confidence to reopen borders without imposing quarantines on incoming travellers," it said.

Digital passport

The Travel Pass will comprise a global registry of health requirements in which the traveller can find precise information about test and vaccination needs for each destination.

It will also have a registry of testing and vaccination centres at the place of departure that meet the standards for the testing and vaccination requirements of the destination.

There will be a module that will allow passengers to create a "digital passport" to store vaccination certificates and verify that they are sufficient for their travels, and enable the users to share these certificates with airlines and authorities to facilitate travel.

IATA says that the Travel Pass will be free for passengers to download and use and make it clear that governments, not airlines or IATA, are the ones that establish the rules on entry requirements for travellers.

The association reminds passengers that it will always maintain control of the privacy of its data, since the IATA Travel Pass simply links the entities that need verification with the test or vaccination data when travellers allow it. "No verification will go to an airline or a government without their authorisation," it pointed out.

The first cross-border pilot projects are currently under way, although IATA plans to launch this tool at the end of March. Singapore Airlines is already testing the IATA Travel Pass.

We are in the final stages of planning a trial with International Airlines Group, one of the largest airline groups in the world. In addition, Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways are working to test the solution in the coming months, it said.
The United States has demanded the immediate and full restoration of the democratically elected government in Myanmar and said that America stands with the elected representatives of the Asian nation.

"It is fair to say that we stand with the duly elected representatives of the people of Burma in their efforts to speak for the people of the country. We join them in demanding the immediate and full restoration of the democratically elected government," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference.

"We stand with the people of Burma, support their right to assemble peacefully, including to protest peacefully in support of the democratically elected government, and the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, to receive, to impart information both online and offline," he said.

Myanmar's military last week took control of the country for one year and detained top political figures, including de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi The military accused Suu Kyi's government of not investigating allegations of voter fraud in recent elections. Suu Kyi's party swept that vote and the military-backed party did poorly. The state Election Commission has refuted the allegations.

The United States, he said, is very concerned about the military's recent announcement restricting public gatherings.

"We strongly support the right of all individuals  in Burma and around the world  to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, including for the purposes of peaceful protest," he said.

Price said the US is taking a very close look at the policy measures that we could potentially enact should the military not change its course.

"We are moving quickly in that measure, and were doing so I think consistent with the principle that I outlined with Matt in a very different context: making sure that whatever we do to hold the military to account for this coup, that we don't add to the humanitarian concern of the people of Burma. So were doing that in this case as well, he said.

Republican leader Mitch McConnell on Monday came out in support on the people of Burma. Over the weekend hundreds of thousands of protestors stood up across Burma in defiance of the military coup.

For a week now, the military has detained hundreds of civil society leaders and democratically elected officials -- some on mysterious or obviously specious charges, and others without charge at all, he said in his remarks on the Senate floor.

Their actions were illegitimate from the start. And their treatment of these political prisoners is showing the world of the military regimes disdain for the rule of law. In the face of this tyranny, and with the memory of how brutally the military has dealt with protestors in the past, the public unity of so many of Burmas people is a powerful display of courage, he said.

In far-flung cities and towns, members of the countrys diverse ethnic groups -- from the Burman majority to the Shan and Rohingya minorities -- have rallied around the democratically-elected government. They are demanding justice and an end to military rule, McConnell said.

I've been encouraged over the past week by the diplomatic efforts undertaken by the administration to demonstrate the United States condemnation of the military's flagrant assault on political rights. Today, its time to follow up with meaningful costs on those who aid and abet the suffocation of Burmese democracy, he said.

Last week, Senators Todd Young and Ben Cardin, both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a resolution condemning the February 1 military coup in Burma. The resolution calls for an end to the military action and for those elected to serve in parliament to resume their duties without impediment.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
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Bangladesh Army chief Gen. Aziz Ahmed participates in an Army full honors wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Feb. 4, 2021

Human rights groups are urging the United Nations to review its links with Bangladeshs armed forces in light of a TV news documentary alleging corruption by senior government officials, including the Bangladeshi army chief who is set to visit U.N. Headquarters this week.

The joint call from Human Rights Watch and six other rights advocacy groups came as more media outlets in the South Asian nation pressed the government to explain allegations in an Al Jazeera documentary that linked Bangladesh Army chief Gen. Aziz Ahmed to corrupt deals.

Discussions about increasing Bangladeshi troop deployments in U.N. missions should be put on hold pending the results of the U.N.s comprehensive review of its ties with the military, the rights groups said in a statement issued Friday.

Bangladesh is the U.N. member-state that contributes the most uniformed troops to the world bodys peacekeeping operations, but the United Nations should assess those ties and thoroughly vet Bangladeshi peacekeepers to ensure they have no records of rights abuses, said Brad Adams, Asia director for New York-based Human Rights Watch.

The U.N. said Bangladesh should investigate the Al Jazeera allegations, but we said, No, the U.N. should investigate them. It is up to the U.N. to ensure that peacekeepers have not violated human rights, he told BenarNews on Monday.

Gen. Aziz, who held talks with his U.S. counterpart in Washington last week, was scheduled to meet with U.N. officials in New York this week to discuss increasing Bangladeshs role in U.N. peacekeeping, the rights groups said in their statement.

Al Jazeeras investigative report, released last week, had secretly filmed a brother of the general saying that he can deploy Bangladesh security forces for his own personal and political purposes, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an elite paramilitary unit, the rights groups said.

RAB has long battled allegations of complicity in extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture. Last October, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators urged the then-Trump administration to impose sanctions on the battalions senior commanders.

We dont want the U.N. to be short of peacekeepers and the answer to that is proper vetting. In Bangladesh, not all armed forces have committed human rights abuses, but RAB, on the other hand, anybody from that is suspect and the U.N. has to come up with a system where they can state with confidence that people from RAB werent involved in abuses, Adams said.

Michael Kugelman, senior associate for South Asia at the Wilson Center, a Washington think-tank, agreed, saying the U.N. should not ban Bangladeshi peacekeeping forces outright.

[B]ut if it finds there are current Bangladeshi peacekeeping troops that were involved in the crimes, they should be banned. Better that than removing them now, which could end up penalizing innocents and depriving the U.N. of much needed troop strength, Kugelman told BenarNews.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for U.N. Peacekeeping Operations confirmed that Gen. Aziz was to visit U.N. Headquarters on Tuesday.

Peacekeeping officials routinely meet with defense personnel from countries that contribute personnel to our operations. The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations will be meeting with General Aziz Ahmed tomorrow at Bangladeshs request, the spokesperson said in response to an emailed query from BenarNews.

The report by Qatar-based Al Jazeera claimed that the Bangladeshi military had secretly purchased surveillance equipment manufactured by an Israeli company, although Bangladesh does not recognize Israel and forbids nationals or engaging in commerce with Israelis.

The Bangladesh Army rejected these claims, saying the equipment was procured from Hungary for one of the army contingents due to be deployed in U.N. peacekeeping missions.

On Thursday, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general, said the United Nations was aware of the Al Jazeera report concerning allegations of corruption against senior officials in Bangladesh, when a reporter asked him about it during a daily press briefing.

The allegations of corruption is a serious matter that should be investigated by the relevant authorities, Dujarric said.

The U.N. had not identified a requirement for such surveillance equipment in peacekeeping agreements, he said, noting that no such equipment had been deployed with Bangladeshi contingents in peacekeeping operations.

General visits the Pentagon

According to Adams and Kugelman, U.S. Army officials should not have met with Gen. Aziz last week.

Given the emphasis that the Biden administration has placed on strengthening democracy and on calling out cases when they are abused, the meeting wasnt a good look. That said, the administration may have brought up the allegations in the meeting, Kugelman said.

HRW has long urged the U.S. government to not have public meetings with other nations security forces that have a long record of rights abuses, unless foreign governments can show they are taking steps to address them, said Adams, who was interviewed for the Al Jazeera documentary.

Even before the Al Jazeera report, we have given the previous administration and the Biden administration recommendations that include not having such meetings, which can serve as propaganda meetings for those countries and their security forces, Adams said.

It makes it look like they are all best friends. If they do have a meeting, they should push them on human rights.

It was a case of unfortunate timing that Al Jazeeras report coincided with a trip to the U.S. by Gen. Aziz, Adams said.

We urged the U.S. to cancel the meetings with Aziz but they did not, they said they were routine, regularly scheduled meetings. They need to explain why they went ahead, he said.

BenarNews contacted the U.S. Army spokesman for a further response to the one it was provided last week.

Thanks for your follow-up query. I dont have anything to add to our earlier statement, Lt. Col. Curtis J. Kellogg said in an email on Monday.

Last week, he had said that the army was aware of the allegations against Gen. Aziz in the Al Jazeera report.

As part of our ongoing defense and security cooperation, we host visitors from partner-nation armies, U.S. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Curtis Kellogg told BenarNews.

Voices from Bangladeshi media

Meanwhile, more Bangladeshi media outlets  which were mostly silent about the Al Jazeera report initially  said it was in the national interest to reveal those who abuse their positions of power.

After the recent Al Jazeera sensational expose, the question making the circuits now is, whose men are they? said an OpEd in the daily newspaper Prothom-Alo, referring to the documentary, which also alleged that the fortunes of Gen. Aziz and his brothers have been long intertwined with those of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Whose men they are or whose man anyone wants to be, is an absolutely personal matter. But there are many men lurking around whose identities need to be revealed in the interests of the nation, the OpEd said, playing on the documentary's title, "All the Prime Minister's Men."

The Bangladeshi foreign ministry and the army last week dismissed Al Jazeeras allegations, with the former calling the report false and defamatory and propaganda against the country.

The government is said to be considering legal action against Al Jazeera, said New Age, an English-language daily, in an editorial.

[B]ut what the government now should come up with is a refutation, substantiated with credible explanations, if there is any, of the allegations that the reportage has brought forth, the New Age editorial said.

The government appears to owe the nation a few explanations.
After nearly eight days of military taking power of Myanmar, New Zealand on February 9 announced the suspension of all high-level military and political contacts with the Southeast Asian nation. Marking the first international move against Myanmar after the coup, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern took the stringent decision of isolating the countrys ruling junta. Unveiling the measures, she also called for the entire international community to strongly condemn what were seeing happen in Myanmar, according to Radio New Zealand. The military seized power of the country on February 1, arresting prominent leaders of the civilian government and declaring a state of emergency for a year.

"After years of working hard to build a democracy in Myanmar, I think every New Zealander would be devastated to see what we've seen in recent days led by the military," she told reporters. "Our strong message is we will do what we can from here in New Zealand as New Zealand foreign ministry announced the measures on Tuesday.

Aotearoa New Zealand does not recognise the legitimacy of Myanmars military-led government. Following last weeks coup, we are suspending high level engagement with Myanmar amongst a range of other measures. https://t.co/D3rJPQX1FT  Nanaia Mahuta (@NanaiaMahuta) February 9, 2021

Kiwi nation decides to impose a travel ban on senior Myanmar military figures. Ardern reportedly also said that New Zealand wanted the UN Human Rights Council to hold a special session just to discuss the developments in Myanmar as its the most renowned face for the years-long democratic movement a Nobel Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi has been arrested by the military, the Tatmadaw. Now she is facing up to three years in jail after being charged with minor import/export offences.

Read - Myanmar Workers In Seoul Protest Against Army Takeover

Read - US Demands Immediate And Full Restoration Of The Democratically Elected Government In Myanmar

New Zealand to maintain its aid programme

Ardern, however, mentioned that New Zealand would maintain its aid programme with Myanmar which mainly consists of agricultural, educational and renewable energy spending because it is disconnected with the military. As per reports, she further told the reporters that This will mean being very cautious about the way that we enter into aid programmes in Myanmar from henceforth.

Moreover, New Zealands ambassador, Steve Marshall and his Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) staff were also plucked out of the Southeast nation as the COVID-19 pandemic tightened its grip. Ardern noted that the aid programme functional in Myanmar is not an insignificant one. She said,  $42 million from 2018 through to 2021. And so you would just want to make sure that that was managed in an appropriate way by MFAT staff.

Read - Myanmar Military Coup: Martial Law Declared In Seven Townships In Mandalay

Read - Pope Demands 'prompt Release' Of Myanmar Leaders Detained By Military




African finance ministers have called for $500 billion in Special Drawing Right and an extension in the Debt Service Suspension Initiative to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The call was made during a virtual meeting convened by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) on February 6, according to a statement by the ECA on Tuesday.

According to an IMF Factsheet, the SDR is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement its member countries official reserves.

So far, SDR 204.2 billion, equivalent to about $281 billion, has been allocated to members.

The value of the SDR is based on a basket of five currenciesthe U.S. dollar, the euro, the Chinese renminbi, the Japanese yen, and the British pound sterling.

Also, according to the World Bank, the DSSI is an initiative by the bank and the IMF urging the Group of 20 (G20) to help countries concentrate their resources on fighting the pandemic and safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of people.

The members of the G20 are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.

The initiative took effect on May 1, 2020 and has delivered about $5 billion in relief to more than 40 eligible countries.

In all, 73 countries are eligible for a temporary suspension of debt-service payments owed to their official bilateral creditors.

The implementation of the initiative is being supported by the World Bank and the IMF, by monitoring spending, enhancing public debt transparency, and ensuring prudent borrowing.

However, an extension of the initiative was initially announced in Oct. 2020 until June 30.

According to reports, payments covered are not forgiven but delayed, with a repayment period of five years and a one-year grace period.

The African finance ministers, however, called for additional liquidity, better market access and more concessional resources, given the prolonged nature of the pandemic.

Ghanas Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Ken Ofori-Atta said: We all know that the COVID-19 pandemic will persist for the next two to three years.

Why are we extending the DSSI for six months and not 24 months?.

Mr Ofori-Atta said the cascading effects of COVID-19 were a frightening thing for a finance minister to witness when they dont have the means to respond.

On access to the markets, Egypts Minister of Finance, Mohamed Maait, said: theres a strong case for vulnerable countries to access the markets at affordable rates to afford essentials such as PPEs and food for their populations.

Equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines was highlighted as an imperative for building forward better.

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The Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, said the world stands to lose an estimated $9 trillion if only the rich get COVID-19 vaccines.

Forty per cent of this loss will be in advanced economies, she said.

Mrs Georgieva noted that in order to build forward better, there was a need for bold and immediate action for response, recovery, and reset of African economies.

She added that liquidity and financing response is the bridge to vaccines and recovery.

Now is the moment to demonstrate that SDR allocation can be part of a comprehensive support framework, together with debt reduction, debt relief and policy support actions in the countries.

She also urged the ministers to prepare for a focused and practical discussion during the 2021 Spring Meetings, following the call to triple concessional financing.

Georgieva stressed that it was critical in the spring meetings conversations last year.

The meeting agreed on the need for a concerted effort to accelerate reforms to increase revenues, improve expenditure and manage debt to attract more private sector investments into Africa.

(NAN)
WASHINGTON - The Senate prepared Monday to launch a historic second impeachment trial of Donald Trump on the accusation that he instigated the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot, with Democratic and Republican leaders agreeing on a rapid timetable that could bring the proceedings to a close within a week.

The charge is serious and the circumstances are unprecedented - it is the first impeachment trial for an ex-president as well as the first time any president has been impeached and tried twice. But there is little drama surrounding its outcome: The majority of Republican senators have signaled that they will not be voting to convict a former president.

IRONY: Dan Crenshaw apparently forgot the commercials he shot in 2020

Under a deal negotiated by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., there still exists the possibility that senators could vote after four days of arguments to extend the trial by calling witnesses and examining testimony that could shed new light on Trump's actions and motivations surrounding the events of Jan. 6.

But that appeared exceedingly unlikely Monday, with Democrats wanting to move quickly to pass President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion pandemic relief proposal and Republicans seeking to get past the internally divisive debate over Trump as soon as possible. Several Senate aides, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions, said they expect an acquittal vote as soon as Feb. 15, Presidents' Day.

Schumer said Monday that the deal would "allow for the trial to achieve its purpose: truth and accountability" - and force Republicans to go on the record

"The merits of the case against the former president will be presented, and the former president's counsel will mount a defense," Schumer said. "Ultimately, senators will decide on the one true question at stake in this trial: Is Donald Trump guilty of inciting a violent mob against the United States, a mob whose purpose was to interfere with the constitutional process of counting electoral votes and ensuring a peaceful transfer of power?"

Washington Post photo by Salwan Georges

In a new filing Monday, the nine House impeachment managers said the evidence for Trump's conviction was already "overwhelming" and vowed to prove their case in the coming days.

CONGRESSMAN PASSES: Texas Rep. Ron Wright dies after contracting COVID-19

"We live in a Nation governed by the rule of law, not mob violence incited by Presidents who cannot accept their own electoral defeat," they said.

McConnell and Trump's defense team also praised the trial agreement in brief statements.

"This process will provide us with an opportunity to explain to Senators why it is absurd and unconstitutional to hold an impeachment trial against a private citizen," Trump's lawyers said, hours after they filed a 78-page legal brief - their most complete legal defense of Trump's conduct to date.

In it, they relied heavily on the challenge to the constitutionality of impeaching a former president, as well as a First Amendment defense of Trump's rhetoric leading up to the riot - which sought to disrupt the final congressional certification of Trump's loss.

Mindful that they need to persuade 34 Republican senators to secure an acquittal, Trump's lawyers cast their defense in a political light, calling the rapid impeachment effort the culmination of a long Democratic campaign to "silence a political opponent and a minority party" through impeachment.

"The Senate must summarily reject this brazen political act," Trump attorneys Bruce Castor, David Schoen and Michael van der Veen wrote. They said the lone impeachment article was "unconstitutional for a variety of reasons, any of which alone would be grounds for immediate dismissal."

The defense team added: "Taken together, they demonstrate conclusively that indulging House Democrats hunger for this political theater is a danger to our Republic, democracy and the rights that we hold dear."

The nine House impeachment managers filed expansive arguments in favor of Trump's conviction last week, accusing him of "a betrayal of historic proportions" by promoting the false claim that he, not Democratic candidate Biden, won the November election. Trump then stoked anger among his supporters, summoning them to Washington and finally directing them toward the Capitol as Congress met to count the electoral votes, the managers said.

"If provoking an insurrectionary riot against a Joint Session of Congress after losing an election is not an impeachable offense," they wrote, "it is hard to imagine what would be."

Trump's attorneys outlined their rebuttal to that charge Monday: Simply put, Trump was engaged in free speech protected by the First Amendment when he questioned the election results - highlighting "electoral integrity issues essential to his career that he has consistently advocated, a position unpopular with his political opponents."

"The attempt of the House to transmute Mr. Trump's speech - core free speech under the First Amendment - into an impeachable offense cannot be supported, and convicting him would violate the very Constitution the Senate swears to uphold," they wrote.

In a brief filing Monday, the managers criticized that free-speech argument as "utterly baseless," saying Trump's false claims and incendiary rhetoric were entitled to no such protection.

"When President Trump demanded that the armed, angry crowd at his Save America Rally 'fight like hell' or 'you're not going to have a country anymore,' he wasn't urging them to form political action committees about 'election security in general,' " they said, quoting the Trump defense's words.

The Democratic managers wrote: "The House did not impeach President Trump because he expressed an unpopular political opinion. It impeached him because he willfully incited violent insurrection against the government."

The decision on whether to convict Trump and potentially bar him from future office is now in the hands of an evenly split Senate, with 67 votes out of 100 needed to secure a conviction.

The trial is already on track to be markedly different from Trump's first impeachment trial last year, which lasted three weeks in a GOP-majority chamber, with Chief Justice John Roberts presiding.

This time, Democrats are in charge, and senators of both major political parties are eyeing a more rapid proceeding. Instead of Roberts, Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt. - the Senate president pro tempore - is expected to preside.

Once the rules for the trial are adopted, the proceedings will begin Tuesday with a four-hour debate over whether the Constitution allows the Senate to try a president who has left office.

Trump's legal team, some legal scholars and many Republican lawmakers have embraced arguments that it is unconstitutional to do so. In a signal that theory alone could be enough to win an acquittal, 45 of 50 Republican senators backed Trump on that question in a test vote last month - meaning another 12 Republicans would have to be persuaded that the trial is constitutionally permissible for the managers to have any hope of conviction.

Congressional Democrats and more than 150 constitutional scholars - including a founder of the conservative Federalist Society - say post-presidential impeachment, conviction and disqualification from holding future office are permitted. That view got an endorsement Sunday from an influential Republican lawyer, Charles Cooper, who said in a Wall Street Journal opinion article that removal was only a "mandatory minimum" punishment for an official convicted of impeachment.

"Given that the Constitution permits the Senate to impose the penalty of permanent disqualification only on former officeholders, it defies logic to suggest that the Senate is prohibited from trying and convicting former officeholders," wrote Cooper, who has represented numerous prominent conservative politicians and causes. He is representing House Republicans in a constitutional challenge to a proxy voting system instituted by Democrats.

After the debate, senators will vote Tuesday on the constitutional argument against impeaching a former president. While there are almost certainly enough votes to jump past that initial hurdle, an outcome short of a 67-vote majority could reinforce the likelihood of an acquittal and put the proceedings on a glide path to a final verdict.

After the vote on constitutionality, opening arguments will begin Wednesday, with the House managers and the Trump defense team each entitled to up to 16 hours, spread over two days, to present their cases.

The trial will recess Friday evening through Saturday to honor Trump lawyer David Schoen's request to observe the Jewish Sabbath.

Instead, Schoen said in a letter to the Senate, he has chosen not to participate during that interval.

Schoen said he changed course because of concern "about the delay in the proceedings in a process that I recognize is important to bring to a conclusion for all involved and for the country" and said "adjustments" had been made on the Trump defense team to allow for late Friday and Saturday sessions.

When the defense completes its arguments, senators will be entitled to a four-hour period in which they can ask written questions of the parties. That will be followed by two hours of debate on whether the parties should be permitted to subpoena witnesses or documents, followed by a vote on that question.

Should the Senate vote to subpoena witnesses or documents, the trial schedule would be upended, and senators probably would have to negotiate a new timetable for the completion of the trial, probably extending the proceedings for weeks.

It could pose a dilemma for Democrats who pushed strenuously - and unsuccessfully - for witnesses and documents a year ago during Trump's first impeachment trial. Now, with the trial putting a Democratic president's governing agenda on hold, they are taking a different view.

"The core of the case here is the president's own words that incriminate him, show his guilty intent, his undeniable actions - not just speech - in inciting an assault on the Capitol," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told reporters last week.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., a moderate who has strongly criticized Trump's actions surrounding the Capitol riot, said Monday that witnesses would be more appropriate in a potential criminal trial rather than in the Senate proceedings, which he called a "political trial."

"The purpose is basically for history to know the seditious insurrection that happened and [Trump] being very much involved and responsible," he said. "That's what the trial will show."

Members of the Trump defense team and Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, have warned that if Democrats allow the managers to call witnesses, they could call witnesses of their own - extending the trial further.

"You open up Pandora's box if you call one witness," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who has advised Trump on his impeachment defense, said in a Feb. 1 Fox News interview.

Should the Senate vote to skip witnesses, the proceedings would move quickly to four hours of final argument and to an optional period of private Senate deliberations before a final vote on conviction.

In last year's trial - on abuse of power and contempt of Congress charges surrounding Trump's attempts to force Ukraine to investigate Biden's son - the Senate chose not to deliberate as a group before holding the final votes. Trump was acquitted on both articles, with only one Republican, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, voting to convict.

This time, several other Republicans are believed to be in play for a possible conviction vote - starting with the five who backed the constitutionality of trying a former president in last month's test vote: Romney, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Sen. Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania. But that group falls far short of the 17 Republican votes that would be needed, in addition to 50 Democratic votes, to secure a conviction.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., floated a possible Trump censure resolution last month - a suggestion that quickly sputtered. But he said at a Washington Post Live event Monday that the weight of the trial could support a third option beyond conviction or acquittal.

"The evidence could be so graphic that it might make some Republicans say, 'We have to do something,' and Democrats . . . might decide, maybe it shouldn't be impeachment or nothing, maybe there is an alternative we could consider," Kaine said. "So I think it's still very much a live option."

- - -

The Washington Post's Tom Hamburger and Paulina Firozi contributed to this report.
In a horrific incident reported from Bihars East Champaran district, a 12-year-old girl was allegedly gang raped and murdered. Now, a video clip has gone viral where the accused can be seen incinerating the victims dead body.

In the video clip, the mother of the victim can be heard crying for her deceased daughter.

The minor girl was gang raped by four people on 21st January when she was all by herself at home.

The victim is a resident of Nepals Barbardiya and was putting up with her father who worked as a night guard at the local market.

The victims father was allegedly intimidated by the accused if he told the police about the incident.

An audio recording has also gone viral where the SHO of Kundwa Chainpur police station Sanjiv Ranjan can be allegedly heard telling the accused to cremate the victim's dead body in order to destroy evidence.

The SHO told a local leader Ramesh Sah to do away with the minor girl's dead body before the victim's family approach the police.

On 3rd February, the deceased victim's father approached the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) in Motihari to register a compliant.

In the meantime, the SP of East Champaran Navin Chandra Jha has stated that four people have been charged with rape and murder. While seven others have been booked for the destruction of evidence. Two of seven have been taken into custody.

The SHO has also been suspended for the delay in filing an FIR and not sending the dead body for autopsy regardless of having knowledge of the crime.

Also Read: UP: Woman brutally thrashed, paraded naked after her son elopes with girl
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The Cabinet will today discuss proposals to allow for the naming of child victims of crime.

The Government is to support legislation from former attorney general Michael McDowell which will lift a ban on naming murdered children and their killers.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee will bring a memo to Cabinet proposing to support a private members bill from Senator McDowell which will be put before the Seanad. Ms McEntee believes supporting Mr McDowells legislation will resolve the issue quicker than the Government tabling legislation.

The Justice Ministers spokesperson said she was acutely conscious of the pain and difficulty this is causing so many people, including parents who want to remember their children and preserve the legacy of their children.

She has arranged for Mr McDowells bill to be heard in Seanad time allocated to the Government next week.

Fianna Fail TD Jim OCallaghan has also been involved in discussions with Ms McEntee and Mr McDowell.

The aim of the bill is to allow for the identity of a child to be published in any proceedings involving the death of a child.

The bill also allows for the publication of the identity of a person accused of murdering a child. It will also allow for publishing the identity of an adult victim who was a child at the time of an offence.

The Court of Appeal made a ruling on October 29 which rejected an application by media outlets that sought to name a woman accused of killing her three-year-old child.

The court found a section of the Children Act preventing the identification of a child where someone is charged with an offence against them did not exclude cases where a child is deceased.

The ruling meant a child killed by someone can no longer be identified publicly once someone is charged.

It also means a person accused of killing a child cannot be identified if doing so also identifies the child.

Parents of murdered children have spoken out against the court ruling.
Border Patrol Agents Rescue Man North of Superstition Mountain

Ocotillo, California - U.S. Border Patrol agents from the El Centro Sector successfully rescued an illegal alien that was lost in the desert near Ocotillo Monday night.

At approximately 11:35 p.m., El Centro Sector Radio Communications Dispatch received call from Imperial County Sheriff's Office communications of a distress call from a man who had made an illegal entry into the United States, stating he was lost and did not have any water. Border Patrol agents began a rescue operation provided only with GPS coordinates from the phone call.

Agents encountered the man northwest of Superstition Mountain, at approximately 1:10 a.m. The agents determined it was the man who had placed the distress call. The man appeared to be in good health, requiring no medical attention. Agents provided water and took him into custody.

The man was determined to be an illegal alien from Mexico and was transported to the El Centro Station immigration rally point where he was expelled back to Mexico.
Hope springs eternal as MLB spring training is set to begin next week.

The 2021 New York Yankees will look very much like the 2020 Yankees, especially after re-signing second baseman DJ LeMahieu to a six-year, $90 million contract.

LeMahieu, who led he majors with a .364 batting average in 2020, returns as part of a right-handed heavy lineup powered by slugging right fielder Aaron Judge.

Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

MLB.com ranked the top dynamic duos in the majors and listed the LeMahieu-Judge combo No. 9. Heres why:

Judge and Giancarlo Stanton were supposed to be the Yankees second coming of Ruth and Gehrig, but injuries have intervened. Turns out, its LeMahieu who has truly lifted this lineup the last two seasons, including a 2020 in which he led the league with a .364 average, .421 on-base percentage and 1.011 OPS. The Yanks wisely did not let him get away. And if they can keep Judge (.891 OPS, nine homers in the shortened season) on the field, thats a lot of lumber.

Here is MLB.coms list of top 10 fearsome twosomes:

1. Angels: Mike Trout (7.1) and Anthony Rendon (5.3) Combined projected WAR: 12.4

2. Dodgers: Mookie Betts (5.7) and Cody Bellinger (5.6) Combined projected WAR: 11.3

3. Padres: Fernando Tatis Jr. (5.9) and Manny Machado (4.6) Combined projected WAR: 10.5

4. (tie) Astros: Alex Bregman (5.9) and Carlos Correa (4.0) Combined projected WAR: 9.9

4. (tie) Nationals: Juan Soto (5.9) and Trea Turner (4.0) Combined projected WAR: 9.9

6. Braves: Ronald Acuna Jr. (5.3) and Freddie Freeman (4.4) Combined projected WAR: 9.7

7. Blue Jays: George Springer (4.5) and Bo Bichette (4.1) Combined projected WAR: 8.6

8. Red Sox: Rafael Devers (4.3) and Xander Bogaerts (4.2) Combined projected WAR: 8.5

9. Yankees: Aaron Judge (4.3) and DJ LeMahieu (3.8) Combined projected WAR: 8.1

10. As: Matt Chapman (4.9) and Matt Olson (3.1)Combined projected WAR: 8.0

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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Yes, Theyre Open is a web series highlighting local bars and restaurants that are open for takeout, delivery, pickup or dining during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Live streams from the featured restaurants are broadcast on the Advance Facebook page every weekday around 3 p.m.

On Wednesday, the Advance/SILive.com visited Dolce Fantasia at 1210 Forest Ave., which is open for pickup and delivery from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. Visit dolcefantasia.us for more information.

The restaurant also expects to open a South Shore location by the spring.

YES, THEYRE OPEN: Dolce Fantasia is open for pickup and delivery at 1210 Forest Ave. The restaurants hours are Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visit dolcefantasia.us. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Staten Island restaurant owners: If you would like your establishment featured for free as part of Yes, Theyre Open, email reporter Victoria Priola at vpriola@siadvance.com.

WANT MORE YES, THEYRE OPEN?

Check out the listings below or check out all of our previous coverage here.

Applebees Bricktown Way, 2720 Veterans Road West

The Pizza Parlor, 6 Sneden Ave.

Mona Lisa Pizzeria, 839 Annadale Road

District Bar NYC, 2 Sneden Ave.

Pinos Pizzeria, 1026 Rossville Ave.
Authorities in the northern Vietnamese province of Hai Duong have imposed a VND20 million (US$873) fine upon a man for escaping from a local quarantine camp.

Dam Van Hop, 44, has been slapped with the penalty in accordance with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control, Tran Ho Dang, chairman of the Peoples Committee in Hai Duong City, capital of the namesake province, confirmed on Monday.

Hop is a direct contact of a COVID-19 patient and was quarantined at Hai Duong University.

However, competent authorities discovered on the morning of February 5 that the man had run away from the facility.

Hop was later tracked down and sent back to the quarantine camp.

In relevant news, a married couple in Hai Duong City was fined a combined VND20 million on Sunday for failing to fill in health declarations after coming into direct contact with a COVID-19 patient.

On the same day, police in Chi Linh City, Hai Duong Province, booked a 63-year-old man for failure to wear a face mask in public and disturbance of public order.

Vietnam has documented 2,053 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday morning, with 1,472 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
HOME Affairs Deputy Minister, Khamis Hamza Khamis said on Monday the bill to amend some traffic laws will soon be tabled to control and decrease road accidents.

He said there are some traffic laws and regulations, which require amendments to address road accidents, especially the ones caused by reckless drivers.

For the time being, he said, a number of awareness programmes in collaboration with other stakeholders and road safety ambassadors are being implemented to address the problem.

The deputy Minister was responding to a question posed by Jackline Andrew (Special Seats-CCM), who wanted to know the government's plans in addressing road accidents, especially the ones involving motorcyclists famously known as 'bodaboda'.

She said the number of accidents involving bodaboda riders has been recorded as high, implying the nation is losing a great manpower from time to time.

"I would like to know if there is any strategic plan to address this problem, because a number of people perish in road accidents... it is obvious, most of motorcyclists are ignorant of traffic rules and regulation," she said.

In response, Mr Khamis said the government through the traffic police department has been conducting a number of awareness trainings to road users including motorcyclists on proper use of the roads for their own safety.

He said in a number of media outlines like television, radio, newspapers, posters, leaflets as well Trade Fair and Farmers exhibitions the campaigns have also concentrated on defensive driving and respect to traffic rules.

Between January and December last year at least 399 radio and television programmes were aired with the Police force taking the lead and that also included more than 638,275 motorcyclists from 7,760 centres countrywide receiving awareness trainings.



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Colorado will be punching above the state's weight Tuesday when the Senate launches only the fourth impeachment trial of an American president, with two of the state's congressional Democrats set to argue Donald Trump incited a mob to attack the Capitol last month as part of an attempt to overturn the election.

opinion

This is an extraordinary moment for all nations as we wrestle with huge, interlinked challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, economic uncertainty and a range of security threats. To meet these challenges and come out stronger on the other side, we need to work together more closely than ever.

The UK has a unique offer for East Africa -- and that is what I have been discussing during my visit to the region last week, meeting leaders in Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia.

The first element of our offer must be working together to tackle Covid-19. The UK has been at the forefront of global efforts to develop a vaccine and we used our influence with the World Bank to secure $12 billion of funding to get vaccines to developing countries.

I saw this partnership in action at Kenya Medical Research Institute labs in Nairobi, where UK and Kenyan expertise is coming together to do vital testing on Covid-19 vaccines, as well as vaccines for diseases like Malaria, Rift Valley Fever and Ebola.

Second, we are deepening our trade partnerships and supporting countries to build free and open economies. Last January we held our Africa Investment Summit in London, delivering commercial deals between UK companies and African partners worth over 6.5 billion, spanning sectors including infrastructure, energy, retail and tech. These are all on track.

We have signed trade agreements with 15 African countries. In December we signed a trade agreement with Kenya and that deal is open for other members of the East African Community to join. There are enormous opportunities for African businesses in the UK, as a significant market for goods from across the region. For example, when we drink tea or coffee or buy flowers in the UK, there is a high chance that they come from East Africa.

Third, we are building our partnership on security, which is a pre-condition for prosperity. In Kenya I saw how British troops are working alongside African peacekeepers to tackle Al-Shabaab's murderous campaigns and remove the improvised explosive devices which destroy the lives of innocent Somali men, women and children.

In Sudan we are supporting the process of bringing an end to decades of conflict and making the transition to stability and democracy. I reaffirmed our support for this vital transition with Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Sovereign Council Chair Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Burhan. I was also humbled to meet some of the Sudanese activists whose courage set the country on the path to democracy.

UK officials were deployed earlier this month to selected polling stations in Uganda to observe polling and inform our understanding of how the processes of election day ran. We urge the Ugandan government to thoroughly and swiftly investigate all complaints raised.

In Ethiopia, as well as discussing the country's reform agenda, I visited a humanitarian staging post in Gondar which delivers aid to conflict-stricken Tigray. It was heart-breaking to see the piles of humanitarian supplies for people who have lost everything. I discussed with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed the imperative for unfettered humanitarian access to Tigray. Those responsible for human rights violations -- on all sides -- must be held to account, if we are to build a lasting peace.

The UK will continue delivering aid direct to Tigray while also supporting Sudan in accommodating refugees from the conflict.

Fourth, we want to work together to tackle climate change, which is vital for security, resilience and sustainable development in the region. The impacts of climate change are already hitting East Africa hard, with 2020 bringing floods, droughts, and locust swarms.

The UK was the first major economy to make a legal commitment to reach net zero emissions and double our international climate finance. We are encouraging leaders to bring forward ambitious, game-changing commitments when we host the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November this year. That must include supporting Africa nations' work towards resilience and adaptation, and building green, clean and thriving economies.

Fifth, the UK is a longstanding leader in development -- the World Bank said the UK is the only country to meet the needs of the world's poorest during the pandemic. As 'Global Britain' we want to go further, supporting vital causes which can change lives for the better around the world. Our support for girls' education is a good example.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines East Africa Business Coronavirus By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

As the largest donor to major global education funds we support millions of girls across Africa to get a proper education.

Later this year Prime Minister Boris Johnson will co-host, with Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta, a conference to boost funds for the Global Partnership for Education. Our target, working with our partners, is to get 40 million more girls into primary and secondary school and get one third more girls reading by the age of 10 by 2025.

I want to continue to build our partnerships across the region, on all of these vital issues, in the spirit of respect and friendship. We share many aims and values -- from supporting open, democratic societies to tackling climate change and championing sustainable development.

Working together we can come through the current challenges and seize the opportunities of the future -- for the benefit of us all.

The author is UK's secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and First Secretary of State.
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North, obviously. Even though it looks like it was done at one of those Paint and Sip/Corky Canvas type places.



Edited at 2021-02-09 09:44 pm (UTC)

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you know what, i'm not an artist or an art critic so i'll just say that art is about expression and having fun :)

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North did not paint that.



I refuse to believe it, since I would love to be able to paint that well and I cant.



Im petty af.

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I'm not sure how a 7 year old could paint that either but hell, if she did then she really does have talent.

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https://akiane.com/ There was a girl who was on Oprah when she was a kid who claims to have had a vision from Jesus when she was like 4 and could suddenly paint masterpieces. And there was evidence she was indeed the one painting them. She peaked at age 8 or so, though, and has been mostly forgotten to time. If you scroll through her gallery, though, it has stuff she painted / drew starting at age 4.

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omg that is crazy!!

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It was definitely one of those she held the paintbrush but had a teacher guiding her step by step like a Sip and Paint place for adults.

Its not like she painted this solo sitting in her room.

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You can definitely do it - it's just a certain technique which adds so much dimension with relatively minimal effort: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew6ujcZoe-Y&ab_channel=PeterDranitsin

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No, it's entirely possible. You can seriously get the same results by following a single Bob Ross video. It's actually not difficult when you're watching someone else do it and following along.



My six year old cousin managed to paint half a picture before he got bored and it looked professional af lmao it was mindblowing. His nine year old brother did the same.



You could probably do it to! All you really need are the supplies and patience. Don't even need experience or creativity tbh

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I saw a TikTok from teens in Calabasas who showed off their exact painting and said it was the same class they took as a kid so it's definitely North surprisingly.

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Its impressive

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My paint skills aligns with Holmes.

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kind of a weird post no?

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Everyones a critic.

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wank on wank on wank.

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I love this doc

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Does anyone have an update on her? This story was wild and her dad is suspicious as fuck

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zero chance North painted that and Kim didn't show a video of her doing it

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Maybe the nanny didn't film it? Would that be a reason to get fired in that household?

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I would rather put Katies paintings on my wall.

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same

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They're really beautiful tbh, same

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mte, that second one especially. they're both beautiful.

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agreed. I like art thats atmospheric, especially in spaces you want to feel a specific way

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Thats actually cool about the art teacher. I wonder what her process is that she gets such good results out of everyone (or if its just the effect of one-on-one time aka another example of the arts being cost prohibitive)

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It's a peeve of mine when people who can't paint figuratively paint abstractly like this, but I know it's petty and probably illogical.

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I agree it's petty, but only because I have the same pet peeve 

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Guilty as charged, haha. Probably why I enjoy abstract paintings



Edited at 2021-02-09 10:23 pm (UTC)

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but like why tho

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It just feels similar to when folks don't know how to write in meter or rhyme and go straight to "I was out in the night/Alone with my thoughts" or whatever. Feels like you're lacking the development of some muscle in between. I don't really care though, people should do what they like.

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Yeah, it is pretty illogical. I'm one of those people and frankly I don't understand the point of trying to gatekeep creativity and expression. I'm just having fun and allowing myself to be expressive in this format that I used to tell myself for years wasn't for me because I'm not "talented". Painting is something that kept me sane during my darkest moments of lockdown.

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i mean everyone is free to express themselves artistically regardless of their technical skills



but i see so many people create the exact same type of abstract paintings around me, that remind me of these ones by Katie, maybe with a few distinct shapes thrown in there so it doesn't seem very.... self expressive to me. I admit it annoys me too, especially when I see people sell them and try to get exhibitions lol.

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i just realised that talent and skill are as much a product of rich privilege as from innate talent. imagine if we'd all had art/music/language lessons from infancy, who knows what we might be able to do.

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This video of Fai Khadra talking about his favorite artists makes me really hate rich people.



https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/fai-khadra-on-his-love-of-contemporary-art-and-being-a-minimalist-at-heart



If I had all the time and money from my rich parents, I too could know all about the art world. I wish I knew more about art but it seems so exclusionary.This video of Fai Khadra talking about his favorite artists makes me really hate rich people.If I had all the time and money from my rich parents, I too could know all about the art world.

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yep. i hate this myth that creativity is purely innate.

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This. Especially with visual art, but even more so with music. Instruments can be incredibly expensive, and so is the cost of a tutor and the availability of the time to practice outside of having a tutor depends so much on class. Growing up in an apartment complex? Your neighbor is likely to not want to hear your seven-year-old trying to learn violin, even in the daytime. Grew up somewhere rural? Gonna be hard to find that tutor. Good luck if your school can't afford a music program, too.



Related, but I think about this a lot because of this Audre Lorde essay with this quote:



Of all the art forms, poetry is the most economical. It is the one which is the most secret, which requires the least physical labor, the least material, and the one which can be done between shifts, in the hospital pantry, on the subway, and on scraps of surplus paper. Over the last few years, writing a novel on tight finances, I came to appreciate the enormous differences in the material demands between poetry and prose. As we reclaim our literature, poetry has been the major voice of poor, working class, and Colored women. A room of one's own may be a necessity for writing prose, but so are reams of paper, a typewriter, and plenty of time.

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they wouldn't let us take home anything in elementary school except for a mini-xylophone and then in middle + high school you were forced to take your instrument home if you were in orchestra/marching band to practice. there wasn't jack shit my neighbors could say about the screeching coming out from my apt as long as it wasn't at night.

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Literally so true

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absolutely. there's so many fields where you'll never reach the tippy top unless you start as a YOUNG child.

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You're right, the other issue is simply time/energy. When I was younger I worked long hard hours and had no time or energy left to do anything creative, which is really depressing cos I have a strong creative urge! I also did not earn enough money to pay for supplies or lessons or anything.



Now I'm older and my job is WFH I'm going to vocal lessons and it has done a lot for my mental health to be creative!!



Edited at 2021-02-09 10:16 pm (UTC)

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I don't read biographies on creatives anymore specifically for this reason. Idk if it was common knowledge, but finding out Gertrude Stein and her brother were able to hold their salons because they had an allowance from their rich brother/inheritance from their rich dad drove me fucking crazy.

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I'm am forever bitter that the US doesn't teach foreign languages early.

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former graphic design major here working professional in the creative field - this is 100% accurate.



i could also go on a rant about how weird and entitled kids who went to big private art schools like RISD or SCAD are. i went to a commuter state school and we don't have any pipeline into high-paying, well-recognized jobs the way expensive private art schools do. my former mentor said he hated hiring these students at his old ad agency because they just lacked any sort of empathy and holistic views about the world outside of their very narrow, privileged lenses. they're just insufferable as you'd imagine lol.

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I think about this with tik toks sometimes. Like I've seen some amazing tik toks from people that could probably due huge things if they had money and access.

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Honestly it breaks my heart to think of all the kids who could've thrived in the arts but were denied the opportunities and resources to do so because of their socio-economic background.

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i still remember the first time this finally landed on me, i was absolutely mind blown. i'm originally from a very rural area and we had a new classmate that came from a wealthy background and from a big city - she had tons of material we had never even heard of at that point and had a tutor for every class, plus both parents held fine art degrees along with their other degrees. there was no way we could compete lol. it was a huge eye opener.

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Yeah, when I learned about where Gaga went to high school, I was like "Oh."



Access to and encouragement in the arts is not available to a lot of people. Who knows how many creatives are out there, with no outlet.

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exactly



it honestly erodes all artistic fields that people are not given equal chances, not as a small kid but also later on when you're trying to make your talent into a career.

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If thats Mt. Hood...a commitment to the aesthetic has been made.

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I was legit comparing the first two paintings in the post for like a full minute before I saw the cut

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Lol! Me too. And I read North but was thinking of Stormi? (Kylie's baby). So basically I was thinking Katie Holmes was being pitted against a toddler's painting.

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lolol same here

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Same! I liked the first one better.

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The sponsor of a bill that would gradually boost Louisiana's gas tax by $660 million per year said Monday he is confident the effort is feasible in 2021 despite the failure of previous efforts to go anywhere.

State Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, who is pushing the measure, said he has traveled the state meeting with lawmakers and held multiple Zoom calls with economic development groups, Rotary Clubs and other civic organizations.

"The response has been tremendous," McFarland told the Press Club of Baton Rouge.

Despite high hurdles, group plans to push for gas tax hike A coalition of contractors and others said Wednesday they plan to push a $300 million per year gas tax hike in 2021 after an earlier effort di

However, state transportation chief Shawn Wilson last month stopped just short of dismissing chances for approval of a gas tax hike this year.

He said recovery from the coronavirus pandemic will be the top issue of the legislative session, which begins April 12.

DOTD chief skeptical for any gas tax hike in 2021 Louisiana's transportation chief Monday stopped just short of dismissing chances for a gas tax hike in 2021 that is being pushed by industry groups.

Gov. John Bel Edwards, who backed the gas tax increase pushed by Wilson in 2017, has said he doubts the legislation can attract the two-thirds majority needed in the House and Senate.

McFarland said raising the gas tax would help the state recover from the pandemic by creating construction jobs needed to launch major projects funded by the higher rates.

That list includes construction of a new bridge across the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge and the widening of Interstate 12 in Baton Rouge to six lanes between the I-10/12 split and the Mississippi state line.

"This is a perfect opportunity," he said.

The new Louisiana gas tax faces massive hurdles; here's why these roadblocks are familiar While a new push to boost Louisiana's gas tax is underway, this one faces the same massive hurdles that have killed earlier efforts.

McFarland's plan would boost the gas tax by 10 cents initially  $300 million per year  and 22 cents by 2033  $660 million per year.

The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

He said it includes needed accountability measures absent from previous bills, including legislative audits that would be turned over to a panel of lawmakers and others.

Louisiana has a $15 billion backlog of road and bridge repairs and a $13 billion list of proposed projects.

McFarland said the new revenue would be split, with 60% for road and bridge preservation in both urban and rural areas and 40% for new capacity.

Senate President Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, has expressed skepticism on whether any gas tax hike is feasible in 2021.

McFarland said he has kept both Cortez and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, updated on his efforts to round up support for his plan. "They have encouraged me to continue to go out and work on this reform measure," he said.

Boosting the gas tax would require the support of 70 of 105 House members and 26 of 39 state senators.

The 2017 effort, which would have raised the gas tax by 17 cents per gallon, emerged from a House committee before dying without a vote on the House floor.

A 2019 push died with little fanfare.

Motorists now pay 38.4 cents per gallon, including 20 cents in state charges.

McFarland said Louisiana's gas tax is the seventh lowest in the nation and that Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama have all raised their rates recently.

He said a higher gas tax would also generate an additional $780 million per year in federal matching funds initially, and more later.

"My bill brings a balance of reform with revenue," McFarland said.
When you're involved in an accident as a passenger you can take paths to receive just compensation. This compensation could come in the form of damages for your medical bills and other accident-related costs. The liable driver's insurance can pay the costs described above for another person or people that are injured in a car accident where you're found liable.

Third-Party Claims

Injured passengers can make a claim against the policy of the driver or owner of the car they were riding in at the time of the accident. They also can file a claim against the policy of the driver or owner of another vehicle involved in the accident.

Both of these claims are considered third-party claims because they are being made on an insurance policy that doesn't belong to them. Passengers sometimes have to make multiple claims when insurance coverages are insufficient.

All claim owners need to be responsible for the accident. Passenger victims also won't be able to recuperate more than the claim is worth. The insurance policies will work in tandem to fulfill the claim.

Steps Passengers Can Take After An Accident

The information you gather after being involved in an accident as a passenger will be vital. Auto accident lawyers advise that you collect the insurance information from your driver and all of the drivers who were a part of the accident.

Being involved in an accident can be frightening but reconciliations can be made for your injuries. Collect a copy of the accident report and information from any witnesses because it will help with filing claims for your injuries.

Be aware that car accidents are bewildering. Even if you feel fine, you may have suffered injuries like whiplash or other internal injuries. It will support your claim if you visit a doctor as soon as you can, especially if you're experiencing any symptoms.

Passengers Filing Insurance Claims

Once you've sustained injuries as a passenger in a car accident you'll want to file a claim with the driver's insurance policy. Personal injury protection, medical payments, bodily injury, and no-fault policies may provide the coverages for passengers.

When the accident is the fault of the other drive you can file a claim against their insurance. States dictate a minimum amount of insurance coverage for each vehicle you own. It's possible that passengers won't be eligible if their injuries do not meet certain statutes as set by no-fault laws.

When the fault of the accident is unclear it can be difficult to go through the other driver's insurance. The number of drivers and the lengthy process of proving who's at fault complicate matters even more. Seek the experienced counsel of a car accident attorney for support if necessary.

Another last resort for passengers in an accident could be filing a claim against their own personal injury protection policy. Your coverage could provide the necessary financial support in your time of need. However, this may be a last resort because your insurance premiums could increase.

FAQ About Passenger Injury Claims After A Car Accident

The outcomes of an accident can be unclear. The following questions can help you through the process of filing the right claims and getting the compensation you deserve as an injured passenger:

Can passengers sue in a car accident?

Injured passengers are legally permitted to file an insurance claim. The claim you're able to make may depend on the state you're in. When necessary these passengers can file personal injury lawsuits to recover damages.

What types of damages can passengers claim?

The cause and extent of your injuries will decide the damages you could recover. Potential damages could include property damage, pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages.

What are no-fault laws?

Some states put no-fault laws in place to make it more difficult for a driver to be sued by an injured party in a no-fault accident. No-fault laws remove the liability to the parties involved. Insurance companies pay compensation to the victims based on the insurance coverage of the drivers.

No-fault policies were created to protect the insured and uninsured. Policyholders are protected by their coverages and drivers don't have to worried about being sued in a no-fault crash.

What happens when there are multiple drivers involved?

Every individual injured in the accident will file a claim against the negligent driver. If the combined value of the case exceeds the negligent driver's coverage, then everyone will have to settle for fewer damages.

What if the injured passenger and the driver are related?

When passengers are insured under the same policy as a relative driving the car, then they won't be allowed to pursue liability claims. The passenger is considered insured under the policy and an insured person can't pursue liability claims against policies that insure them.

What can passengers do to prevent injuries?

The Insurance Information Institute reports that seatbelt usage reduces the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45%. Seat belts also decrease the risk of moderate-to-critical injuries by 50%. Light truck occupants see a reduced risk of 60%-65%.

Are passengers at higher risk for injuries?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that backseat passengers are 46% more likely to die in a car crash than front-seat occupants. The backseat is still regarded as the safest place for children.

However, as the age of the backseat occupant increases so does the risk of injury. Backseat riders sometimes neglect to wear their seatbelt. In the event of an accident, this decision could lead to severe injuries or death.

What can help my case as a passenger?

Gather any documents and evidence pertaining to your case and your injuries. Photos of the crash site, medical bills, witness statements, and police reports can help you build a stronger case.

Hiring a professional personal injury attorney could prove fruitful in your case. Personal injury attorneys can conduct an investigation and determine who's liable. They'll also be experienced with the courts and laws concerning your case.
Great white shark at Isla Guadalupe, Mexico, August 2006. Credit: Terry Goss/Wikipedia

Researchers have discovered a "dramatic increase" in the number of great white sharks swimming in Monterey Bay in recent years, including an area off Santa Cruz County where a surfer was killed last year, according to a new study published Tuesday.

Juvenile great white sharksyounger animals that are between 5 and 9 feet longthat traditionally concentrated in warm waters off northern Mexico and Southern California have moved north since 2014 as water temperatures have warmed, the study found.

Where once there were no juvenile white sharks spotted in the ocean between Manresa State Beach in Aptos and New Brighton State Beach in Capitola, now there are dozens seen every year, according to research from scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Duke University and California State University Long Beach. They swim there in groups between April and October, sometimes within a few yards of the shoreline and other features such as the "Cement Ship," a dilapidated boat off a pier at Seacliff State Beach. The sharks have been photographed regularly swimming near people, who often have no clue that the powerful creatures are so close by.

"I've seen sharks right under surfersjust a few feet away," said Chris Gularte, chief pilot with Specialized Helicopters, a tour company in Watsonville that regularly flies over the area. "When the water is warm and they come in the bay, you can see them swim near people all day long. Standup paddlers and kayakers will go right up to them and not realize they are there."

Gularte said he has not seen sharks from his helicopter in more famous Santa Cruz surfing spots such as Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz or Pleasure Point near Capitola. He said he has seen increasing numbers of the sharks off the Salinas River mouth and in San Francisco Bay.

In one tragic interaction last May, surfer Ben Kelly, 26, of Santa Cruz, was bitten about 100 yards from shore at Manresa State Beach in Aptos. The bite occurred behind his right knee, hit an artery and he bled to death. An investigation by state wildlife biologists found the shark was at least 10 feet long, bigger than the juveniles that have mostly congregated a few miles north.

Researchers said Tuesday that such attacks are rare. The influx of young sharks into Northern California, they said, is indicative of broad ocean changes underway due to climate changes that are affecting many species.

"What's been going on here has been really strange and different and unusual and not what we are used to," said Kyle van Houtan, chief scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. "Monterey Bay is famous for cold water, kelp, otters, anchovies and whales. One thing that hasn't been here are juvenile white sharks. But in the past five years or so that has totally changed."

In Southern California, scientists last year tagged 53 juvenile great white sharks with transmitters, said Chris Lowe, a marine biologist with Cal State Long Beach. The tags send a signal when they come near four special buoys off Santa Barbara, Huntington Beach, Long Beach and San Clemente, and lifeguards on the beach receive a text alerting them sharks are in the area.

Lowe said he is working with officials from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to try to establish a similar system from Seacliff State Beach to New Brighton State Beach, an area locals increasingly call "Shark Park."

He noted that great white sharks generally avoid people, and when they do bite somebody, it's almost never a sustained attack. It's a one-time bite, and then they leave.

"We really don't know the motivations of the sharks when these things happen," he said. "At best we think the shark made a mistakethey thought they were going after a fish or a seal."

After they are born, great white sharks stay in warm waters near the shore to feed on fish, rays and squid, said Sal Jorgensen, a marine researcher with UC Santa Cruz and co-author of the study, which was published in Scientific Reports, a peer-reviewed journal from the publishers of Nature.

After two or three years, they grow larger than 10 feet long and swim out to deeper, colder waters. Their teeth widen and become more serrated. They reach sizes of 17 to 19 feet long and eat sea lions and other marine mammals, often in colder waters in places such as the Farallon Islands.

The "shark nurseries" where they grow have typically been south of Santa Barbara County. But after the Pacific Ocean off the West Coast warmed considerably in an event known as "the Blob" in 2014, warmer conditions have moved northward, the scientists found. The warm conditions endured through El Nino events in 2015-16 and 2018-19 and continue today.

Tyler Fox, a pro surfer who has surfed in the Aptos area for years, said he has noticed a change.

"People are spotting them more and more in the water there," said Fox, publisher of Santa Cruz Waves magazine. "A couple of my buddies had one swim within 10 feet. The frequency of encounters has definitely increased."

Fox said surfers he knows did not go back to the area off Manresa Beach after Kelly's death. But now, particularly in the colder months when the sharks aren't believed to be around, surfers have returned. He said he surfed there Sunday.

"There are always fluke situations, but I believe in that particular zone, they are cruising around, hanging out and getting warm," he said. "They are not in hunting mode. They are not coming at you like you see in Jaws with a fin coming straight at you. I think it's fairly safe."

Explore further New study finds climate change shrinks and shifts juvenile white shark range

2021 MediaNews Group, Inc.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne, who unexpectedly ended up playing a part in the election overturn effort in the last days of Donald Trump's presidency, claims in a lengthy blog entry that Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani was regularly 's***-faced' while coordinating the legal effort.

Byrne, who was spotted at the White House and featured in angry White House clashes over strategy, says Giuliani had imbibed heavily hours before his infamous Republican National Committee press conference where what appeared to by hair dye was pouring down the side of his face.

'Almost every evening, and many early afternoons, Rudy was s***-faced,' Byrne wrote on his 'deep capture' blog, although he attributed the alleged information to others.

He described getting a call from Giuliani to share his own writings on alleged voter fraud hours before the infamous press conference where Giuliani and lawyer Sidney Powell described an elaborate scheme of vote fraud.

He says he waited 45 minutes at a Georgetown restaurant, and delivered the paper but didn't see Giuliani.

'Later, people in that room told me what happened when my paper arrived. First, in the 90 minutes between 11:30 PM and 1 AM, Mayor Giuliani imbibed three triple Scotches on ice. Those relating this story could not vouch for what he had drunk before 11:30,' he said.

Former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne claims Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani had multiple cocktails the night before taking part in an infamous press conference where what appeared to be hair dye ran down his face. However, Byrne wasn't there, citing 'people in the room'

Former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne ended up playing a role in last-ditch efforts to try to overturn the election results held inside the White House

Giuliani appeared with lawyer Sidney Powell, who sketched out a conspiracy involving Venezuela, China, Cuba and voting machines and technology

In Byrne's telling, he himself had produced a pure 'distillate' of various voter fraud information and claims that he wanted to get before Giuliani and other lawyers heading Trump's election overturn effort.

He reportedly clashed with Giuliani and White House lawyers when he showed up at the White House before the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

He took part in one meeting Axios dubbed the 'craziest' of the entire Trump presidency. He told Trump White House lawyers who had advised he had run out of options were selling him short. 'They've already abandoned you,' he said.

The article has one source describing Giuliani as the 'voice of reason' inside the meeting as Powell, former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn, and others spun conspiracy theories about the election.

On his blog, Byrne made other assertions about Giuliani's alleged drinking, attributing information to 'colleagues.'

'Over the next month and a half, a number of my colleagues interacted with Rudy from time to time, afternoons and evenings, and weekends.

'Nearly all mentioned two things: the inordinate amount of attention he was paying to his daily podcast, and his drinking. His own staffers were bringing it up to us. Something was clear to all who were around him: almost every evening, and many early afternoons, Rudy was s***-faced. That, and his podcasts, were the only guarantees in Rudys life.'

DailyMail.com reached out to a Giuliani spokeswoman for comment.

Many of those who helped steer Trump's effort in the final weeks are running into personal difficulties, with several recounted by the DailyBeast.

Powell and Giuliani named in a massive $2.7 billion lawsuit by the Smartmatic vote services company that also names Fox News.

Trump loyalist Lin Wood could face a probe for voting outside of his domicile even while inveighing against election fraud

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, an attorney for President Donald Trump, arrives for a New Year's Eve party hosted by President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago property, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Palm Beach, Fla.

MyPillow exec Mike Lindell, who also showed up at the White House, holding a document that mentioned martial law, could be the next figure to get slapped with a suit. Like Trump, he has been kicked off Twitter.

Trump loyalist Lin Wood, who earned retweets from the president while forwarding baseless claims of a stolen election, is reportedly under investigation for voting in Georgia  the site of Trump's furious fraud claim  while writing in an email that he lived in South Carolina.

The state bar in Georgia is evaluating his law license and wants to conduct a mental evaluation.

Byrne also blasted the effort Giuliani was overseeing as Trump's lawyer. Trump and his allies ultimately would lose dozens of suits before the Capitol riot during the Jan. 6 electoral count.
Equity mutual funds witnessed an outflow of Rs 9,253 crore in January, making it the seventh consecutive monthly withdrawal, primarily due to massive pullout from the newly created flexi fund category.

Also, investors pulled out Rs 33,409 crore from debt mutual funds last month after investing Rs 13,863 crore in December, data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India showed on Tuesday.

Overall, the mutual fund industry witnessed a net outflow of Rs 35,586 crore across all segments during the period under review, compared to Rs 2,968 crore inflow seen in December on investment from hybrid and other schemes.

As per the data, the outflow from equity and equity-linked open-ended schemes was at Rs 9,253 crore in January compared to Rs 10,147 crore in December.

Barring multi-cap, sectoral and dividend yield funds, all the equity schemes have seen outflow last month.

The newly created flexi cap category saw maximum outflow to the tune of Rs 5,934 crore.

Overall, equity schemes had witnessed an outflow of Rs 12,917 crore in November, Rs 2,725 crore in October, Rs 734 crore in September, Rs 4,000 crore in August and Rs 2,480 crore in July, which was their first withdrawal in over four years.

Before this, such schemes had attracted Rs 240.55 crore in June.

Apart from debt funds, Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) witnessed an inflow of Rs 625 crore last month, higher than Rs 431 crore seen in December.

The asset under management (AUM) of the mutual fund industry was at Rs 30.5 lakh crore in January-end from Rs 31.02 lakh crore in December-end.
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Eliot Latray, 16, of Great Falls and Michael Andersen, 14, of Bozeman today were named Montana's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Eliot and Michael will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are Montana's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Eliot Latray

Nominated by Great Falls High School

Eliot, a sophomore at Great Falls High School, spent a month last fall securing personal protective equipment (PPE) for members of two Native American tribes and for students and staff at his high school, and solicited donations of reusable water bottles for children at an elementary school who couldn't use drinking fountains because of COVID-19. A member of the Little Shell tribe and a descendent of the Blackfeet tribe, Eliot knew that the coronavirus was having a significant impact on minority communities. "I have a deep love for my people," he said. "I did not want to see Natives hit as hard in Montana as I had seen them affected in the southwestern United States."

When Eliot heard that a nonprofit organization in Bozeman had PPE available to share, he attended a Zoom meeting to learn more. Then he made a list of contacts who could help him distribute the 100 masks and 100 face shields he obtained to the Little Shell Tribe's headquarters, the Blackfeet Head Start program and Great Falls High School. He also began contacting businesses and organizations to see if they could donate reusable water bottles for children at a local elementary school. He was able to collect 48 bottles from a medical clinic, and then purchased 20 more. But his project also inspired a local businessman to donate enough bottles for an entire school, and prompted the public school foundation to buy 1,000 bottles to keep children well hydrated.

Middle Level State Honoree: Michael Andersen

Nominated by Sacajawea Middle School

Michael, an eighth-grader at Sacajawea Middle School, started the "Share Our Stories Holiday Campaign" last Christmas to spread holiday cheer and connect students with older generations through letter writing and stories of holidays past. It all started when Michael realized that, because of COVID-19, he would not get to see his grandparents at Christmastime. "I was sad about the time we would be missing and worried about them during the pandemic," Michael said. "I really wanted to find a way to connect with them and have a real-life conversation like I was there in person." Then he had an idea. First, he would recruit young people to write letters to a family member or someone else of another generation, asking them to share a holiday memory or story from when they were younger. Next, after the older person responds, both letters are posted on social media or a website.

To begin, Michael met with school officials and then made a presentation at a school-wide staff meeting. He made instructional packets for teachers and students, and built slideshows to explain his idea and instruct others on how to participate. He recruited volunteers to help him prepare the materials, worked in classrooms to help students write letters, reached out to organizations for sponsorships, designed a website, and spread the word through social media and interviews with reporters. Initially, Michael's goal was to create 500 connections between young and old in his community. Instead, more than 1,000 letters were exchanged, "affecting people in a wonderful way throughout this saddening time," said Michael.

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.PRUDENTIAL.com


Cowbell Cyber, an AI-powered cyber insurance provider for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs), has launched Cowbell Connect, its partner program which offers policyholders with risk management services to address and mitigate cyber incidents.

Cowbell Connect is part of Cowbells closed-loop approach to cyber risk management that bundles cyber coverage with risk assessment, quantification, and mitigation as well as pre- and post-breach services.

Cowbell Connect partners range from data aggregators, cybersecurity vendors and service providers to digital aggregators and risk mitigation services:

Data Aggregators that contribute to Cowbells ability to continuously assess risk. This includes Advisen, Dun & Bradstreet, DarkOwl which are augmenting Cowbells own proprietary attack surface monitoring scanners.

that contribute to Cowbells ability to continuously assess risk. This includes Advisen, Dun & Bradstreet, DarkOwl which are augmenting Cowbells own proprietary attack surface monitoring scanners. Cloud Providers that manage a significant infrastructure footprint for their clients such as email, collaboration tools, application services and computing capacity. This includes Microsoft 365, Azure, AWS and Google. Cowbell integrates with these partners through APIs to bring cyber risk insights to policyholders and recommendations on how to improve their risk profile.

that manage a significant infrastructure footprint for their clients such as email, collaboration tools, application services and computing capacity. This includes Microsoft 365, Azure, AWS and Google. Cowbell integrates with these partners through APIs to bring cyber risk insights to policyholders and recommendations on how to improve their risk profile. Cybersecurity Platforms that manage and monitor specific aspects of a business security. This includes Qualys for vulnerability, compliance and container security; Safeguard for providing security and compliance to social media, collaboration and chat communication channels; and Security Studio for MSSPs.

that manage and monitor specific aspects of a business security. This includes Qualys for vulnerability, compliance and container security; Safeguard for providing security and compliance to social media, collaboration and chat communication channels; and Security Studio for MSSPs. Training Providers , such as Wizer, that bring on-going security awareness training to insureds employees and build the first line of defense against phishing email and ransomware attacks.

, such as Wizer, that bring on-going security awareness training to insureds employees and build the first line of defense against phishing email and ransomware attacks. Managed Service Providers that handle security for many businesses in the form of consulting services, managed services, or outsourcing.

that handle security for many businesses in the form of consulting services, managed services, or outsourcing. Incident Response Services that are part of its claim panels and bring offer help on ransomware incidents, forensic, legal and recovery activities in the aftermath of an incident.

that are part of its claim panels and bring offer help on ransomware incidents, forensic, legal and recovery activities in the aftermath of an incident. Digital Platforms and Ecosystems: Cowbell integrates bidirectionally with a host of channels, platforms and ecosystems including reinsurers, brokers and agents, aggregators, and networks.

Cowbell integrates bidirectionally with a host of channels, platforms and ecosystems including reinsurers, brokers and agents, aggregators, and networks. Industry Associations including Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIAB), the Insurance Agency Owners Alliance (IOAO), the Insurance Connector, and the Stay Safe Online program.

Cowbell Cyber offers standalone, admitted, individualized cyber insurance for businesses with up to $1 billion in revenue. Cowbell Insurance Agency is currently licensed in 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia and provides SMBs with admitted cyber insurance on AM Best A rated paper with up to $15 Million in coverage.

Topics Mergers Cyber Risk Management
While oil and gas will certainly be needed for decades to come, the oil and gas division may not be Chevrons (NYSE:CVX) top business in 20 years, although it will still be a very big part of the U.S. supermajors operations, chief executive Michael Wirth told CNN Business in an interview published on Monday.

Big Oil, especially the European majors, have rushed to announce increased investments in renewable energy, and some even plan to reduce their overall oil and gas production. BP, for example, said last year that it would boost its investment in low-carbon energy ten times to US$5 billion a year and reduce oil and gas production by 40 percent by 2030.

The biggest oil corporations in the Americas, including U.S. supermajors Exxon and Chevron, have not promised to become net-zero emission businesses by 2050, unlike all major oil firms in EuropeBP, Shell, Eni, Equinor, Total, and Repsol, which have raced to announce green strategies over the past year.

In the Americas, Occidental Petroleum became the first major U.S. oil firm to announce a net-zero emissions goal at the end of last year.

For Chevron, Oil and gas will still be a very big part. Will it be the biggest part? Time will tell, Wirth told CNN Business in the interview.

Chevron will not be investing in solar and wind power, Wirth told CNN. Related: How U.S. Sanctions Against Venezuela Backfired

This is in contrast with European oil majors, who are building solar and wind power portfolios as they look to capture larger shares of the electricity market.

Chevrons bet is on carbon utilization technologies, renewable natural gas, and reducing emissions from its operations.

We increased actions to advance a lower carbon future, abating emissions in our operations, starting up our first renewable natural gas plant and investing in low-carbon technologies like our recent announcement with carbon utilization start-up, Blue Planet, Wirth said on the Q4 earnings call last month.

Oil and gas will still be a large part of the energy system, and somehow demand will need to be met. And we think it should be met by those that can do it in a way that has the lowest carbon impact, the executive said on the call.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

Google will release its next version of Android - Android 12 (unconfirmed name) - this year. Ahead of the launch, Google shares documents and source code with major partners in order to give them time to prepare for the release. Now, a leak of Android 12 design mockups has given us the first (possible) look at the visual overhaul that the next version of Google's operating system may come with.

Last month, it was reported that the Mountain View, California-based giant was working on an in-depth theming system for Android 12. The design concepts that show the first mock-up of Android 12 were reportedly leaked from Google's briefings with OEM partners and show a sand-coloured theme pulled from a similar-coloured wallpaper of hills and dunes. The color likely depends on the current theme and/or whether or not Dark Mode is enabled. It shows that the sand accents are used to colour everything from the search bar to the widgets. The first mockup also shows several 'Conversation' widgets for Recent Messages, missed calls, or activity statuses. The widgets measure 2x1 and include the sender's profile image and the message preview.

Other highlights also see the extensive theming extending to app icons as well. From what can be seen in the mock up images, the icons for pre-installed apps like Phone, Clock, Camera, and more will match with the wallpaper. The Pixel launcher also seems to have been moved towards the left and shows weather above the day and date.

The images also show a black strip at top, above the search field. This, according to reports, could be a new UI elements that better prompts users about how to exit by dragging down. The widgets menu also seems to be changed, with the Android 12 mockup showing widgets in a list instead of a carousel.

The notification panel also takes up the same sand-coloured theme, further hinting at Google's more aggressive theming technique. The notification cards are now more rounded from the edges and the quick settings buttons on the top are very large.

On the privacy front, Google is taking a similar approach to Apple's iOS. It will alert users when their microphone or camera is being used. There will be a green pill in the top-right corner of the status bar that will shrink into a dot. When tapped from the notification panel, more information is provided with links into the settings. A new unified Privacy settings page will let users Disable camera, Mute microphone, and turn on/off Location at high-level.

While this mock-up gives us a fair idea of what Google may have in store in terms of UI changes, it is to be taken with a pinch of salt as everything is subject to change throughout the preview period. These mockups are meant to convey to smartphone makers on what changes may be witnessed.
Donald Trump's second impeachment trial kicked off Tuesday in Washington, D.C., with a debate over whether it's even constitutional to prosecute a former president. The Senate voted 56-44 to proceed, with six Republicans joining Democrats who supported moving forward with the trial.

Eaerlier, House prosecutors opened with a powerful video montage that tied Trumps rhetoric to the deadly Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol. Trumps lawyers argued that it was political speech protected by the First Amendment.

Senate lawmakers will ultimately decide whether to convict or acquit Trump on the charge that he incited the riot.

Yahoo News is providing an uninterrupted live stream of the proceedings as well as instant analysis from our reporters at the trial, the White House and elsewhere.
Screenshot shows a news report published by Reuters on Feb. 4, 2021.

China has donated or is in the process of donating COVID-19 vaccines to Guinea, Syria, and Zimbabwe to help promote the fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across the world.

Guinea's foreign minister Ibrahima Khalil Kaba said on Feb. 3 that China will donate 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Cuinea, according to a news report published on Feb. 4. Another news report published by Reuters on Feb. 4 said China to donate 150,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Syria as aid. Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa said in a televised address on Feb. 4 that China donated 200,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines to Zimbabwe, according to a news report published by Bloomberg on Feb. 5. The donation helps kick-start Zimbabwe's roll-out of vaccination, which will firstly inoculate health-care workers and those at highest risks with such vaccines as China's Sinopharm vaccine.

"We applaud China for contributing to our national vaccine deployment strategy," said Mnangagwa.

As the global epidemiological situation of COVID-19 is still complicated, several countries have started rolling out nationwide vaccination to curb the pandemic, but the access of COVID-19 vaccines to many other countries have still been restricted.

To help promote international cooperation on and fair distribution of vaccines, China has joined the WHO-led COVAX initiative and decided to offer 10 million vaccines, mainly to help meet the urgent needs of developing countries. China has exported or is in the process of exporting COVID-19 vaccines to 22 countries, said Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, at a daily press briefing on Feb. 8.

[ Editor: SRQ ]
ALBANY, N.Y. (UPDATED)  The New York State Department of Health has provided updated statistics on COVID-related nursing home deaths, both inside and outside of the facilities.

Last week, the Supreme Court ordered the state DOH to release more detailed information after Sen. Jim Tedisco and Empire Center filed a lawsuit seeking the full disclosure of data regarding COVID-related deaths among nursing home residents in New York.

The state had previously reported a death only as a nursing home death if it occurred in the facility. If a nursing home resident died in a hospital, he or she was not counted in the total COVID-related deaths for that facility.

On Feb. 4, the state DOH released updated statistics on nursing home deaths, which included residents who died outside of the facility. However, Tedisco and Empire Center are seeking numbers directly from the Health Emergency Response Data System that the state uses to collect data from the nursing homes, to compare and confirm the death totals reported by the state DOH. That information is expected to be provided by Wednesday.

A Sunday press release from Empire Center read:

"The additional data posted this weekendbroken into separate reports for assisted living facilities and other adult-care facilitiesgive a fuller picture of the pandemics overall impact, but fall far short of what the court ordered the department to release.

"The Empire Center requested death counts for each day and in each facility, as the state has been collecting them throughout the pandemic. Among other things, these numbers would allow a closer analysis of the impact of the Health Departments March 25 policy memo compelling nursing homes to admit coronavirus-positive patients."

The updated number of local COVID-related nursing home deaths are listed below by county, as of Feb. 4:

Oneida County

Deaths at facilities: 136

Deaths outside facilities: 53 Total: 189

Total county deaths: 353

Herkimer County

Deaths at facilities: 43

Deaths outside facilities: 5 Total: 48

Total county deaths: 78

Otsego County

Deaths at NH facilities: 10

Deaths outside facilities: 2 Total: 12

Total county deaths: 32

To read the full report, click here.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9)  The Anti-Terrorism Acts chilling effect has been one of the issues raised against the controversial law, but Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said this may be hard to prove.

On the second day of the high courts oral arguments on petitions seeking to junk the anti-terrorism law, Leonen once again debated with his former student, law professor Alfredo Molo III, who represents the petitioners.

Leonen pointed out that Molos clients, including retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, did not cower in fear and stop their advocacies despite claiming that the vague and overly broad provisions of the law would chill people into silence.

As a matter of fact, the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Act caused a big protest in the University of the Philippines despite restrictions brought by the coronavirus pandemic, Leonen said.

The magistrate said that while there is always discomfort in dissent, the petitioners are not chilled."

Molo disagreed.

Chilling effect within the concept of constitutional law does not refer to an absolutely chilled population. It refers to that pause in the writer as he composes his words. It is the hesitation inside the mind of the speaker because of a vague and overbroad law. He doesnt know whether the next word he will say will be criminal or in this case, mark him as a terrorist, Molo explained.

"Justice Carpio is not afraid but it would be another thing to suggest that there is no pause, there is no hesitation," he added.

Leonen answered, He is not afraid but he is chilled? To me, that doesnt seem logical.

He reiterated that the issue is "very subjective" and asked Molo to further explain his argument in the written memoranda the parties will submit to the Supreme Court.

RELATED: Aetas blocked from joining petitions vs. Anti-Terrorism Act

Terrorism an evolving, no ordinary crime

In repealing the Human Security Act of 2007, the Anti-Terrorism Act expanded the definition of terrorism. Under the previous law, an act of terrorism is committed when crimes such as piracy, rebellion, and murder are done to sow widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace, in order to coerce the government to give in to an unlawful demand.

The main problem with the Anti-Terrorism Act is it makes no mention of any predicate crime, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno argued. This sets it apart from the laws of other countries and international organizations.

READ: Diokno tells SC: Only the Anti-Terrorism Act punishes based on persons state of mind

Under Section 4 of the assailed law, a person commits terrorism when engaging in acts that intend to endanger someone or to damage public or private property, and certain other actions when the purpose is any of the following: intimidate the public, the government, or any international organization; create an atmosphere of or spread a message of fear; seriously destabilize or destroy the fundamental political economic or social structures of society; and create a public emergency or seriously undermine public safety.

Advocacy, protest, dissent, and similar exercises of civil and political rights are not considered terrorism as long as they are not intended to endanger a person or create a serious risk to public safety, the law states.

Because of this definition of terrorism, the entire law should be struck down as unconstitutional, Diokno said.

Meanwhile, Associate Justice Alexander Gesmundo noted that there is no universal definition of terrorism until now probably because it continues to evolve as a crime." For instance, he said there are cyber-attacks now, crimes which were unheard of decades ago.

Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando meanwhile backed another contentious provision which allows the pre-trial detention of suspected terrorists for up to 24 days.

Thats in recognition of the fact that terrorism is a different kind of offense where police would need to dig deeper. Its not just any ordinary crime," he said.

RELATED: Aetas blocked from joining petitions vs. Anti-Terrorism Act
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Benin City  NIGERIA has been dubbed giant of Africa but she has not been able to attain food sufficiency for her citizens hence several reports of billions of dollars being spent annually to import food to support local production.

With the continuous clashes between farmers and criminal herdsmen, alternative sources for food production are being sought and one of such is greenhouse farm which is being pioneered in Nigeria by Wells Hosa Greenhouse Farms limited situated at the outskirt of Benin City. The farm sits on 26 hectares of well-tended land with 14 greenhouses.

READ ALSOFire guts a section of Ahmadu Bello Stadium Gymnasium Hall -Official

It is believed that with greenhouse technology, Nigeria can meet her food sufficiency and export to other countries.

A visit to the farm a few days ago showed a facility that is ready to lead the pack in providing the perfect alternative to food sufficiency and reducing the effect of farmers herders clash on food production and this could be achieved through public-private-partnership or multinational participation to achieve quality agro-produce.

General Manager of the farm, Bright Okunbo, speaking through the Deputy Managing Director, Jose Lugo, said replicating greenhouse farming is the way to go.

The farm currently grows different varieties of fruits and vegetables including Roma, cherry and beef tomatoes, bell pepper, habanero pepper, and cucumber and it has displayed the potential of feeding a section of the society, according to Mr Lugo.

He said "You need to get the right greenhouses, designs, right components, and the technology. The technology we are applying here is not the same you will apply in places like Abuja; you need to do the adjustment according to the site. This is the most important aspect of it. For me, biotechnology is the future of Nigeria," he added.

Continuing, he said "Twenty years ago in Mexico, we started to build greenhouse farms like what we have in Wells farms. As at that time, we had about 2,000 hectares in the country. Twenty years later Mexico has more than 50, 000 hectares but today is a completely different story; instead of exporting oil it now exports food to other countries of the world," he stated.

On his part, the Business Development and Marketing Manager of the farm, Clement Albert-Umoru, said Nigeria would become a major player in the global agriculture market if the greenhouse technology can be promoted.

"I honestly think it is the way to go. The greenhouse technology is in an enclosed environment to prevent intruders from coming in and eating up your crops or the kind of issues we have in open-field agriculture. Yes, if the government decides to enter this kind of business the country will be better for it.

"The biggest advantage in greenhouse farming lies in the potential to utilise space. For example, if you need 100 hectares for cattle and you use the same land for crops in the greenhouse it shows you can get the full potential and capacity of what you planted. If few states invest in this it can feed the entire country," Mr Albert-Umoru explained.

Mr Albert-Umoru, however, noted that one of the teething problems confronting greenhouse farms in Nigeria is the difficulty in procuring soluble fertilizers owing to the ban placed on it by the Federal Government.

He said "Every business has it's ups and downs. For a hydroponic farm of this nature our biggest challenge is actually acquiring soluble fertilizers. We want to use the medium to appeal to the government to ease the legislation on the ban on fertilizers in Nigeria because if we must go far on this bio-tech agriculture we need soluble fertilizers for this kind of farming.

"No doubt, the future of this country is fully agriculture because we have not tapped up to 10% of the potential in agriculture in the country. We also want to see how we make the name and bring other people on board so we can replicate the same in the state and other people can join."

In terms of replication, he said "Other states and private sectors come to see if they can replicate this but of course you know everything involves money. We need to maximize what we have here first. So when we see people commit money into it to show their seriousness for partnership we are ready. We have had some states show interest but when they hear about the cost implication of doing full hydroponic they step out but the interest on return is very high.

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Umoru stated, "Our products are already in the United Kingdom, Holland, and France and we would get to the stage where we can get our products around the world and compete with people who started planting it and that is the focus," he said.

The company's Admin Manager, Kingsley Erinmwionghae, said in line with its vision of deploying technology in achieving quality agro-produce, the farm ensures that state of the art facilities were implored to achieve a high yield of crops for the local and foreign market.

He said the success of the greenhouse and the harvest was made possible with the careful adoption of hydroponic technology for growing plants in a controlled environment using mineral nutrient solutions in water without any soil.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 22:25:49|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- British Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Tuesday announced tough fines and jail terms of up to 10 years for those breaking quarantine rules designed to prevent new coronavirus variants from entering the country.

Hancock announced fines of between 5,000 pounds (about 6,872.6 U.S. dollars) and 10,000 pounds (about 13,745.1 dollars) for failing to quarantine in a designated hotel.

Anyone who lies on their passenger locator form about having been in a country on the "red list" will face a prison sentence of up to 10 years, Hancock told lawmakers in the House of Commons, lower house of the British parliament.

He also announced that from next Monday, all international arrivals will be required by law to take further coronavirus tests on day two and day eight of their quarantine.

"If either of these post-arrival tests comes back positive they'll have to quarantine for a further 10 days from the date of the test," he said.

The health secretary also unveiled a fine of 1,000 pounds (about 1,374.5 dollars) for any international arrival who fails to take a mandatory coronavirus test, and a fine of 2,000 pounds (about 2,749 dollars) for failing to take a second one.

Meanwhile, from next Monday, arrivals from "red list countries" must pay 1,750 pounds (about 2,405.4 dollars) for their own hotel quarantine, transport and testing, said Hancock.

The British government has secured 4,600 hotel rooms and are working on getting more, he added.

Hancock stressed that those placed in hotel quarantine will "need to remain in their rooms and of course will not be allowed to mix with other guests".

There would be "visible security in place to ensure compliance alongside necessary support", he said.

"We must strengthen our defenses" further and responding to new strains is "mission critical", he added.

Previously, Britain has banned all travel by non-British or Irish passengers from more than 30 "red list countries" where there is a risk of known variants. Those countries include South Africa, Portugal and South American nations.

The latest development came amid rising concerns over the spread of coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa. A trial has found the Oxford-AstraZeneca's vaccine had limited efficacy against mild and moderate disease from the variant.

Hancock said Monday this week that evidence showed that the existing vaccines have some effect against new variants, particularly preventing serious illness and mortality, so the existing vaccine rollout is "mission critical" for tackling new variants.

Work is being done with the existing vaccine suppliers on potential booster jabs targeted specifically at the new variants to strengthen this protection further, he said.

Another 14,104 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 3,959,784, according to official figures released Monday.

The country also reported another 333 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 112,798. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test.

England is currently under the third national lockdown since outbreak of the pandemic in the country. Similar restriction measures are also in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines. Enditem
Tunis: PM against president not swearing in ministers Mechichi turns to court after Saied refuses to schedule ceremony

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, 09 FEB - A conflict between Tunisian Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and Tunisian President Kais Saied is growing increasingly bitter, after Saied's refusal to schedule a swearing-in ceremony for 11 new government ministers following a cabinet reshuffle.



Imed Ghabri, spokesperson for the capital's administrative tribunal, said the court has received official correspondence from the president's office for a consultation on the legal problem that currently surrounds the swearing-in of the new ministers, who have already passed a confidence vote in the Tunisian Parliament on 26 January.



Ghabri said in a statement to local radio broadcaster Mosaique FM that the consultative chambers of the administrative court will examine this case and give their opinion on it, in compliance with their consultative functions.



Last week, Mechichi said he had sent a letter to the president formally asking him to set a date for the swearing-in ceremony, but sources close to the president said there was a formal error in the sending of the letter.



Saied maintains the government reshuffle violated Article 92 of the Tunisian Constitution.



In addition, he said some of the proposed ministers are involved in cases of conflict of interest, one in particular of corruption.



Complicating the situation is the fact that in Tunisia the Constitutional Court has still not yet been established.(ANSAmed).




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[February 09, 2021] Massachusetts Business Coalition Launches to Improve Outcomes in Early Child Care and Education

Today, 70 Massachusetts CEOs and business leaders announced the launch of the Massachusetts Business Coalition for Early Childhood Education, a business coalition focused on early child care and education. Leading the coalition as Co-Chairs are: Jon Bernstein, Regional President of Boston for PNC (News - Alert) Bank; Roger Crandall, Chairman, President, and CEO of MassMutual; Linda Henry, CEO of Boston Globe Media Partners; Bridget Long, Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education; and Bob Rivers, CEO and Chair of the Board of Eastern Bank. Raising awareness about the need for a more robust and sustainable network of early child care and education has become increasingly urgent due to the devastating financial impacts caused by COVID-19 on an already fragile system. Without greater funding, high-quality child care, already too limited, runs the risk of becoming more so, and burdening more women and people of color with additional roadblocks to advancing their careers. In addition, lack of access to early child care and education creates learning and developmental gaps, even before kindergarten, that are harder to overcome as a child grows up, and often disproportionately puts the most vulnerable children as well as children of color at greater risk. The coalition will: advocate for policies and programs that make early child care and education more readily available to Massachusetts workers; identify opportunities to improve program access, affordability and quality; collaborate around employer best practices for supporting early childhood needs; and focus on advancing equitable child care solutions. The research indicates a compelling need and opportunity in each of these areas: Employer concerns 91% of Massachusetts employers surveyed in the Fall of 2020 by a group of Massachusetts business associations report significant concern about child care and school issues adversely impacting employee engagement, attendance and productivity.

76% of employers also are deeply concerned about the disproportionate impact of these issues on women in the workplace.

A recent statewide survey by Beacon Research of nearly 600 families found that 79% of parents are concerned they will not be able to work without formal child care arrangements and 76% indicate the quality of their work will suffer due to child care challenges. Racial and gender inequities Women of color historically represent a disproportionate share of women in the labor market, and consequently they are, on average, more challenged by the growing instability of the child care sector.

Most of the 6,700 early childhood programs struggling to operate in Massachusetts today are small businesses, and the vast majority are women-owned and women-led. Working families Massachusetts families already shoulder the burden of the most expensive child care, on average, in the nation. The annual cost of center-based child care for a family with both an infant and a four-year-old is $34,381 in Massachusetts, making the Commonwealth the least affordable state for families of infants or toddlers in center-based care.

An increasing percentage of families with young children (71%) have all parents in the workforce, yet the lack of available, affordable and stable early childhood care limits professional opportunity and personal income. Children High-quality early childhood eucation leads to phenomenal academic and lifetime gains, such as vastly improved high school graduation rates (four times more likely to graduate) and college attendance rates (twice as likely to attend).

Since 80% of brain development occurs during a child's first three years, and 90% by age five, missed opportunities during the earliest years of a child's life have significant impact.



Fragile system Since COVID-19, nearly 20% of programs in Massachusetts have not reopened and those that are operating are struggling with sustainability due to significant drops in enrollment and attendance.

This follows a 25% decline in programs during the decade before the pandemic, according to the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. "Quality child care and early learning programs are fundamental to the success of our local economy," said Jon Bernstein, Coalition Co-Chair and Regional President of Boston for PNC Bank. "All children deserve high-quality early learning experiences that prepare them for school and will have a lifelong positive impact. This is why, for 16 years, PNC has committed its resources to high-quality early childhood education; with a mission to impact school readiness and contribute to stronger, smarter and healthier children, families and communities."

"Investing in early childhood education provides a massive return on investment and generates societal and economic benefits for years to come," said Roger Crandall, Coalition Co-Chair and Chairman, President and CEO of MassMutual. "Even more importantly, it addresses a fundamental inequality in our current system. By making sure all young children have access to quality early childhood education, we can stop achievement gaps before they start, while also having positive effects throughout the economy." "The deficiencies and inequalities of the early childhood education sector fall too harshly along the lines of gender and race," said Linda Henry, Coalition Co-Chair and CEO of Boston Globe Media Partners. "Women, and increasingly women of color, represent almost 100% of the early childhood education workforce. Women still are far more likely than men to bear responsibility for child care within their family, and four times as many women as men left the U.S. Labor Market in September 2020 alone, due, in part, to shouldering an outsized share of child care responsibilities. This is detrimental to the healthy development of our children and economy, and it's a challenge we look to solve." "We know children who receive high-quality early childhood education reap the benefits into adulthood and throughout life," said Bridget Long, Coalition Co-Chair and Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. "This is because those benefits are delivered at the most critical stages of brain development. For the sake of our youngest learners and their families, as well as the future of the Commonwealth, we must ensure access to high-quality early childhood education for all." "The business community has a unique opportunity to help lead in an area that betters the lives of children, their parents and families, and the educators who care for them, with obvious benefits to our employees and companies," said Bob Rivers, Coalition Co-Chair and CEO and Chair of the Board of Eastern Bank. "This is not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing - it's good business to invest in a stronger workforce and stronger communities. It's long overdue for the local business community to step up and drive meaningful change in early childhood, and we thank all the businesses that already have committed to this important work and ask others to join with us." For media inquiries or to join the Massachusetts Business Coalition for Early Childhood Education, contact Tom Weber, Executive Director, at t.weber@easternbank.com, or visit the coalition website (Website URL: http://www.maroundtable.com/MBCECE/main.html). Business coalition members currently include: Abt Associates

Arlington Advisory Partners

BayCoast Bank

Berkshire Bank & Berkshire Bank Foundation

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

BMC Health System

Boston Celtics & Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation

Boston Children's Hospital

Boston Globe Media Partners

Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company

Cape Cod Five

Charlesbank Capital Partners

Colette Phillips Communication, Inc.

Comcast

Cove Hill Partners

Dedham Institution For Savings

Dell (News - Alert) Technologies

Drew Company

Eastern Bank

Emerson College

Ernst & Young

ForFuturing

GBH

General Dynamics Mission Systems

Greylock Federal Credit Union

HarborOne Bank

Harvard Graduate School of Education

Inkhouse

JLL

KPMG LLP

Leader Bank

Liberty Mutual

Locke Lord LLP

M&T Bank

Manulife

Mass General Brigham

MassMutual

MFS Investment Management

MJM Advisory Services

Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries

National Grid

Needham Bank

New Bedford Economic Development Council

Nutter

PeoplesBank

PNC Bank

PR Restaurants LLC

Precision Value and Health

Prior Consulting

Putnam Investments

PwC

Rapid 7

Red Sox Foundation

RSM

Sanofi Genzyme

Seamen's Bank

South Shore Bank

Specialized Healthcare

State Street Corporation

Synlogic

The Berman Company

The Castle Group

The Davis Companies

Tufts Health Plan

Unistress Corporation

University of Massachusetts

Verizon (News - Alert)

Waters Corporation



The coalition also is collaborating with a number of Massachusetts business associations. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005653/en/

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CBP Officers Seize 400 Lbs. of Meth in Two Smuggling Attempts at Calexico Port

Calexico, California - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico West Port of Entry intercepted two narcotic smuggling attempts in the same day, preventing more than 400 pounds of methamphetamine from entering the United States.

U.S. CBP officers prevented a 400 pound

methamphetamine smuggling attempt

Saturday.

Total value of the seized narcotics is estimated at $1.2 million.

Narcotic interdiction continues to be a high priority at the Calexico ports of entry as demonstrated by these two significant seizures caught within hours of each other, said Calexico Port Director David Salazar. These impressive drug seizures are examples of the remarkable job Calexico CBP officers do every day to prevent illegal drugs from entering the country.

The first interception occurred at about 4 p.m. on Saturday, when CBP officers were alerted by a K9 to a 2005 Nissan driven by an 18-year old Mexican citizen waiting to enter the United States.

During the inspection, the vehicle was driven through the X-ray imaging system where an operator advised officers of anomalies in the doors, seats and rear quarter panels of the vehicle. Upon further examination, officers removed a total of 194 packages of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of $600K, from the dashboard, bumper, doors, seats, rocker panels, rear quarter panels and firewall of the vehicle.

The second smuggling attempt occurred about an hour later on the same day, when a K9 alerted to the trunk area of a 2019 Toyota driven by a 33-year old U.S. citizen waiting to make entry into the United States.

The driver and vehicle were escorted for further inspection. X-ray imaging system was utilized to screen the vehicle to which the operator observed anomalies in the vehicle as it went through. CBP officers seized a total of 57 packages of methamphetamine, weighing more than 200 pounds, from the gas tank, spare tire, quarter panels and floor of the vehicle.

CBP officers arrested both subjects and turned them over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further disposition.

CBP officers seized the vehicles and narcotics.

Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

CBP officers at the border crossings in Southern California stop illegal activity while processing millions of legitimate travelers into the United States
Lastly, in Catholic education we are taught to be the best version of ourselves within our faith. We are taught to act nicely towards others because God is in all of us, and when we help each other, we help God. For example, in our parking lot we have a drop off for clothes. If I donate some of my clothes, I am helping people who need clothes more than me. If I see someone alone, I should talk to them so they do not feel lonely. God wants us to reach to people who are lonely. In addition, we are taught our faith is most important. Faith is not only taught in Theology class. Our teachers help us live our faith by bringing or showing us how it applies in our History, English, Science, and other classes. We begin class with prayer, and we are able to celebrate Mass every Friday at school.
Southeast Texas this week started the task of vaccinating 11,000 residents.

Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said previously that, at that rate, he hopes the region will be able to vaccinate everyone on the waiting list in less than a months time before being able to open that waiting list to more types of residents. At this time, vaccination appointments are limited to residents in categories 1A and 1B, which includes first responders as well as people 65 and older and those with underlying health conditions, with a few additional exceptions.

To make the vaccination process run more smoothly, Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel issued some Southeast Texas vaccine registration tips.

At a glance To sign up for a vaccine waiting list in Southeast Texas*: Visit vaccine.beaumonttexas.gov; or Call (409) 550-2536. The phones will be manned from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick asked residents to be patient if they experience a busy signal or other capacity-related issue. *The city of Beaumont's 311 service is no longer taking sign-ups for the vaccine waiting list. See More Collapse

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the process:

How can I tell if Im registered?

The website being used to add Southeast Texas residents to the waiting list, vaccine.beaumonttexas.gov, offers a feature that allows residents to check their registration. The tool requires residents to input their registration number and last name.

Related: Officials try to build vaccine interest in SE Texas

Most health departments have asked that residents who signed up another way before the website was set up to refrain from signing up a second time.

However, McDaniel asked Hardin County residents to go ahead and register through the online portal if they havent yet received their first vaccine dose.

Do I have to have an email address to register?

The portal will allow registration without an email. However, residents will be unable to access advanced online features, McDaniel wrote in his tips.

He also added that means the health department would have one fewer way to contact the resident. As a result, there could be a delay in scheduling a vaccination appointment.

Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox

How will I know when I can schedule a vaccination appointment?

As health departments receive vaccine allocations, residents next in line will receive an email, phone call and/or text message inviting them to schedule an appointment.

Residents can then log back in to the vaccine portal, click on their profile and schedule an appointment.

At this time, only residents who are in categories 1A and 1B are eligible to be vaccinated, even if someone not in this category receives a vaccination notification. Hardin County also is vaccinating educators.

If all time slots are full, residents will be notified the next week to again try to schedule an appointment.

Once a resident has registered, they will receive a confirmation email with forms to complete and bring to the clinic.

Related: COVID vaccine could arrive at select CVS stores by Feb. 11

Every time I try to fill out the form, I get an error message that says, this may be spam.

For security purposes, the form does not allow the use of the auto-fill feature. To avoid this error message, individuals attempting to register must type their information into each field.

Do I have to be vaccinated where I live?

No, the state not require vaccine doses to be given where an individual resides. The region-wide collaboration allows individuals to specify where they want to receive the vaccine.

The online form allows residents to say which county or city theyd like to be vaccinated in.

Im not in categories 1A or 1B. Can I still register to be vaccinated?

Each health department has taken a slightly different approach on this.

McDaniel wrote that all county residents can register, but appointments are exclusive to these priority groups.

Related: SE Texas launches region-wide vaccine waiting list

Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames previously has encouraged anyone in the city to go ahead and register so it can have a better idea of how many vaccines actually are needed.

Port Arthur Public Health Director Judith Smith said the city isnt actively dissuading anyone from registering.

However, the rest of the region has asked only residents in the priority groups to register.

I just cant figure out the online form.

If you are unable to register online and do not have someone to help you do so, thats OK, McDaniel wrote.

In that case, call the Southeast Texas Regional Operations Center call center Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (409) 550-2536. Wait times may be high depending on call volume. The center will not be open on holidays.

How will we know how many vaccine doses have been used?

Jefferson County Tax Assessor-Collector/Voter Registrar Allison Getz said the operations center on Tuesday expects to begin putting out daily vaccination totals.

Those statistics are expected to be broken down by health department and show how many theyve done each day.

kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/KaitlinBain
ADA, MI  Flying on a bombing run with his crew in his B-24 Liberator bomber, affectionately named the Rugged Buggy, Norius Crisan remembers the day in 1943 well.

Crisans plane  part of one of the bomber squadrons in Europe during World War II  was shot, which destroyed the aircrafts left wing while some 18,000 feet in the air. Crisan was forced to parachute behind enemy lines.

Soon after being shot down, he said, the enemy captured him and eventually loaded him into a box car for interrogation. He was taken to a stalag, a shorter term for the German prisoner-of-war camps.

Its been 78 years, but Crisan recalls the details and the horrible aftermath like it was yesterday.

The Kent County man, who lives not far from the family farm where he grew up, shared his war stories during an interview with MLive/The Grand Rapids Press just days before his 100th birthday. Hes set to enjoy a Zoom call with family on his birthday Saturday.

In 1943, when he was being held as a POW, it was the thought of seeing his family and his faith that saw him through.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, Crisan said. And he says, Dont worry, Im going to take care of you. And it was the good Lord. So from then on, I figured, well, the good Lord is going to take care of me, so nothing bad is going to happen to me.

Life as a prisoner of war was dehumanizing, with prisoners often surviving on minimal food. Crisan would go on to escape camps on two occasions before being captured again, he said.

Crisan would stay in a total of three stalags  Stalag 17B, Stalag Luft I and Stalag 7A  during his capture. These Stammlagers, which was shortened to stalag, or main camp, were prisoner-of-war camps held in and around German territory during the war.

In a daring effort, Crisan would escape two of these camps before facing recapture. He said he fled the first after joining a work detail that left the compound, darting behind a hay stack with his engineer and planning to break for the Baltic Sea.

The duo would be found and captured once more when guard dogs pointed them out to guards, sending them back once more to the grim stalag. Escape was a difficult, risky affair, so many hoped for true liberation.

And as the war progressed, he could hear the Allies coming to his rescue.

We could hear Gen. Pattons army, guns firing, Crisan said. And we knew that he was going through France. And after two days... Pattons army comes crashing through and freed us. And we all went bonkers, you know, we couldnt realize what happened.

Crisan weighed 92 pounds when he was rescued and had to recover in France before his return home. He gained 10 pounds, the minimum required to return back safely, and flew back to the United States. Crisan was a POW for more than two years, extending from the day his plane was shot down on May 13, 1943 until the end of the war in 1945.

Well, it was like being reborn again, you know, seeing all of the family, Crisan said.

But not everyone was there. His family lost his older brother, Nick, who was a tank commander under Patton  killed on his 30th birthday.

Norius Crisan's military service started just before WWII when he was in his 20s, and would go on through two other wars.

Nick was one of three of Crisans brothers to serve in WWII  Theodore serving the Navy and Lawrence serving the Army Air Corps.

Post-war, Crisan was moved to the reserves, but spent time owning a jewelry store until the Korean War brought him back into an active-duty plane. Around the time of the Korean War, he flew C-130 transport planes and C-141 strategic airlifters for two tours. Crisan also had a hand in serving the United States during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War.

He then returned home to fly commercial cargo planes. He continued to fly until his late 80s.

Since then, Crisan has been keeping things much quieter. He says he keeps physically spry by being outside and working out, and keeps mentally sharp with puzzles and religiously watching the NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.

Sharon Humphries, one of Crisans three daughters, said her father is a hero and one of the kindest people she knows.

I feel his life is so worth celebrating as he is truly one of those heroes who put country above himself, Humphries said.

With Crisan set to turn 100 this weekend, he doesnt want much. He asked for a three-layer German chocolate cake, a Zoom call with his family and for people to stay healthy during the pandemic.

The only thing is that I want is everybody to be safe and go by the guidelines, Crisan said. And that way, you protect yourself and protect others.

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The Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) and Roche Products Saudi Arabia (RPSA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a new partnership that will see the two entities collaborate on initiatives to develop the kingdoms healthcare and life sciences sector.

Under the MoU, RPSA will work together with MISA to enable the industrys growth potential by facilitating investment opportunities and capacity building of local talent; developing policy and regulation; and enhancing healthcare delivery in the kingdom through establishing public-private partnerships with organizations across the life sciences ecosystem.

The MoU was signed at MISA headquarters in Riyadh by representatives from MISA and RPSA in the presence of Khalid Al Falih, Minister of Investment for Saudi Arabia. During the ceremony, MISA and RPSA shed light on the strategic objectives behind the new partnership and discussed how the MOU will target Saudi Arabias biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing, research and development, clinical care and diagnostics offerings.

A variety of projects are already under way as part of RPSA and MISAs new collaboration, including a policy alliance to enhance the personalised healthcare and clinical trials landscapes in the kingdom and unlock their investment potential. RPSA also plans to operate a range of educational initiatives under the MOU, including a graduate program and on-site professional training at their facilities across the country.

Al Falih said: Saudi Arabias nascent biotechnology and life science industries will play a central role in driving our post-pandemic economic recovery. The Ministry of Investment is enabling these critical sectors of tomorrow through launching regulation that is designed to attract investment which harnesses and develops their untapped growth potential. The past 12 months have shown us that Saudi Arabia has one of the G20s most resilient economies  we recorded a 12% increase in FDI in the first half of 2020 despite a challenging economic backdrop. We look forward to collaborating closely with RPSA as part of this new strategic partnership to harness their world-leading expertise, develop the long-term capacity of our national healthcare landscape, and enable Saudi Arabias continued economic transformation through Vision 2030.

A multinational biotechnology and pharmaceutical giant headquartered in Switzerland, RPSA has been active in Saudi Arabia for over 30 years and became a fully operational legal entity in 2018 with the support of the Ministry of Investment. The company has already contributed significantly to developing Saudi Arabias life sciences capacity and recently established a multi-industry consortium with other private sector healthcare providers to optimize sector innovation and enhance patient experiences.

Dr Abdulrahman Sabra, General Manager of Roche Products Saudi Arabia, said: Today we celebrate our partnership with MISA, a valuable alliance that will enable us to continue in our journey to serve patients across the kingdom. As a multinational pharmaceutical company, our innovation, cutting-edge technologies and personalized approach to healthcare are the cornerstones that support us on our mission. We acknowledge the importance of having public-private partnerships, and we believe that this will be an integral part in collaborating with the authorities towards their commitment to enhance the healthcare ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and in the realisation of the kingdoms Vision 2030.

Prioritised for development as a strategic industry of the future in line with Vision 2030, healthcare and life science disciplines, such as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, are set to benefit from a range of pro-business incentives being introduced across Saudi Arabias investment environment in the near future, such as Special Economic Zones. The latest regulations will build on previous incentives, which include 100% foreign ownership for healthcare companies, to help unlock opportunities and attract investment that enables infrastructural development and capacity building across the kingdoms nascent life sciences industry. - TradeArabia News Service

Cameron is a smart businesswoman, she said. She saw a niche in Napa that no one was doing and took charge to capitalize on it. Cameron is fun to work with and Im super proud of her and proud to be the business that started her.

Roblees initial amateur efforts started with kits. She then progressed to watching YouTube tutorials.

I guess that sounds like a Millennial thing, she said with a laugh. But its a great resource. Since I love being creative, I enjoy customizing balloon art for customers.

Why wouldnt a customer just order a kit and do it themselves?

What I make is professional. You pay for an expert in any field and this is no exception. My clients time is valuable. A kit balloon arch may look easy and turn out okay, but I take it to the next level and use high quality materials. I know what will last and take the time to get it right.

Small arches start at $150; from there she charges by the foot depending on the complexity the client wants.

Some customers, such as Monday Bakery, needed the balloon creation to match a particular color of mint. Roblee likes those challenges.
Credit: Southwest Research Institute

A new study out this month suggests that Jupiter's Trojan asteroids may be more peculiar than previously thought. The Trojan asteroids are rocky objects which orbit the sun just ahead of and just behind the gas giant, in gravitational sweet spots known as Lagrange points. The swarm ahead of Jupiter, known as the L4 (Greek) group, is slightly larger than the L5 (Trojan) swarm behind, but until now, astronomers believed that there was otherwise little differentiation between the two swarms. The paper released this month appears to change that.

The research team, using data from the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) based in Hawaii, has discovered unexpected variations in the shape of the Trojans. This new study suggests that objects in the L4 population are actually more elongated than those in the L5 population, on average.

Why does this matter? Well, the difference "may imply a different collisional evolution within each cloud," the paper suggests. The L4 swarm's larger population means objects within it have had had more opportunities to collide with one another. As one Trojan slams into another, larger objects are worn down or broken into smaller pieces. Over billions of years of impacts, the result is that more L4 objects have been battered into eccentric shapes than those in L5.

This discovery is a lesson learned regarding the evolutionary history of the solar system, and the Jupiter Trojans may have plenty more to offer scientists in that respect in the near future. In order to get a closer look at these primordial remnants of the early solar system, NASA is set to launch a robotic spacecraft to visit the Trojans later this year. The mission is named Lucy, after the fossilized remains of an early human ancestor found in Ethiopia in 1974. Lucy taught paleontologists about the evolution of humans, and in a similar way, the Lucy spacecraft will be able to teach astronomers about the early history of the solar system.

In this image, Jupiters Trojan asteroids are shown in Green. The L4 group is labelled Greeks, because these objects are usually named after Greek heroes of the Trojan War, while the L5 asteroids are labelled Trojans, as they are named after Trojan heroes. Credit: Wikipedia Commons

One of Lucy's key objectives is to understand the composition and diversity of Trojan objects. It is believed that these asteroids represent the leftovers of planet formation, so learning about their structure, age, and component materials will help us to understand the ingredients which went into making the planets we see today, possibly including the organic materials that found their way to Earth in its infancy.

Lucy will take advantage of lessons learned from previous missions, carrying instruments similar to those flown on NASA's New Horizons, which flew past Pluto in 2015, and OSIRIS-Rex, which is currently bringing a sample back to Earth from Asteroid Bennu. Using a series of clever gravity assists, Lucy will be able to visit more targets in a single mission than any solar system probe before it, flying past at least eight asteroids over 12 years, starting with one in the main asteroid belt, then bouncing back and forth between objects in the L4 and L5 swarms.

Lucys orbital trajectory. Credit: Southwest Research Institute

Careful planning and a bit of astronomical luck means that Lucy will even get the chance to visit two targets in the L5 swarm that travel in high-inclination orbits, making them normally very difficult to reach. The binary pair, Patroclus and Menoetius, will pass within reach of Lucy in 2033, making for a spectacular finale to Lucy's primary mission.

Since this video was recorded, asteroid Queta has been added to the mission profile, following its discovery in 2020. Credit: Universe Today

Lucy will launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida on an Atlas V rocket in October. The complete mission timeline is as follows:

October 16, 2021: The three-week long launch window opens.

April 20, 2025: Main asteroid belt object (52246) Donaldjohanson.

August 12, 2027: L4 object (3548) Eurybates and its satellite, Queta.

September 15, 2027: L4 object (15094) Polymele.

April 18, 2028: L4 object (11351) Leucus.

November 11, 2028: L4 object (21900) Orus.

March 2, 2033: L5 object (617) Patroclus and its partner, Menoetius.

Whatever else Lucy might discover, it is clear that a combination of ground-based astronomy and spacecraft flybys are opening up a new chapter in our understanding of planetary formation, and the Trojans probably have more surprises in store for us in the years to come.

Explore further Lucy mission now has a new destination

More information: Comparison of the physical properties of the L4 and L5 Trojan asteroids from ATLAS data. Comparison of the physical properties of the L4 and L5 Trojan asteroids from ATLAS data. arxiv.org/abs/2101.04602
Long live the food hall, industry experts say, even though the first food hall slated to open in the Charleston area is dead.

The food hall operator who was supposed to set up 16 stalls at Garco Mill, a mixed-use restoration project between Virginia and OHear avenues in North Charleston, frankly got overwhelmed with his existing businesses during COVID-19, one of the buildings developers said.

So everything got put on hold, state Rep. William Cogswell of WECCO Development of Charleston said, explaining the 25,000 square feet set aside for the food hall has now been converted into office and restaurant space.

Its possible that the 12,500 square feet reserved for food service could host a smaller food hall, rather than one or two restaurants, but Cogswell said nothings been decided.

Were going to work with local restaurant groups to see who might be the right fit, he said. Candidly, we havent been actively soliciting: Everybody seems to be trying to deal with the current economic situation, so we havent been pestering them.

When Garco Mill announced in early 2018 it had partnered with the company behind Atlantas popular Krog Street Market, plans called for a full lineup of regional, specialty retailers and restaurants.

We are incredibly excited to become a part of the Charleston culinary scene, David Cochran of Paces Properties told The Post and Courier at the time. The food hall at Garco Mill will provide restaurateurs and retailers with an opportunity unlike any other.

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North Charleston isnt the only Southern city to lose its projected first food hall to the pandemic. An 18-vendor food hall that was supposed to open in Richmond, Va., was called off last summer in deference to the unknowns that the restaurant industry is facing for at least the next year.

The business model hit a complete standstill all over and were not sure when it will come back, Cogswell said.

Still, the 223 food halls already operating across the country have weathered the pandemic relatively well, research firm Cushman & Wakefield reports. At least 75 percent of food halls kept up operations during lockdown, functioning as ghost kitchens.

(Workshop, the downtown Charleston venue that recently announced it plans to close in coming months, was closer to a food court than a food hall since it didnt mix food service with food retail: Butchers, cheesemongers and kitchenware dealers tend to turn up on the tenant lists of successful food halls.)

Cushman & Wakefield predicts food halls will flourish in the near future because theyre sized to promote social distancing, designed to facilitate the social experiences that customers crave, and better positioned than full-fledged restaurant spaces to bounce back when one renter fails.

As Cushman & Wakefield sees it, Food halls will be where the industry rebuilds first.
In a first for the country, the Indian Army is using its dogs for quick detection of COVID-19 to cut downtime delays associated with regular diagnostic techniques. The canine members of the armed force are known for their pronounced olfactory capability and have earlier helped in explosive and narcotics detection, search and rescue operations, and other challenging tasks. Now, they have another job.

Two dogs--two-year-old cocker spaniel Casper and one-year-old Jaya, a 'chippiparai', which is an indigenous breed from Tamil Nadu, have been trained to detect COVID-19 by sniffing samples of sweat and urine, senior Army officials said. A demonstration of their skills using real samples was held on Tuesday on the premises of the 48 Military Veterinary Hospital at Delhi Cantonment. Their handlers were wearing full PPE kits.

#WATCH | Delhi: Indian Army dogs have been trained for real-time detection of COVID19. Cocker Spaniel named Casper seen participating in a live demonstration. Jaya and Mani, two dogs of indigenous breed Chippiparai, were also present. pic.twitter.com/18YdHX9Xfw  ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

Lt Col Surinder Saini, the instructor at the Dog Training Facility of the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre in Meerut, said these dogs are "pioneering canines" of not just the Army, but of entire India. "Countries like the UK, Finland, France, Russia, Germany, Lebanon, the UAE and the US have already trained dogs for detection of COVID-19. Dogs have been previously used abroad to detect malaria, diabetes and Parkinson's disease, but this is the first time canines have been used for medical detection in India," he told reporters.

Indian Army dogs trained to detect COVID19 using sweat & urine samples. Labradors & indigenous breed Chippiparai being trained on urine samples & Cocker Spaniels on sweat samples. Based on samples' data tested till now, sensitivity is over 95%: Colonel Surender Saini (trainer) pic.twitter.com/jficT6fNhE  ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

To a question on where the dogs are being deployed, Saini said that after their training in September, the dogs were deployed at the Army's transit camp in Delhi in November. From December, they are being deployed at the transit camp in Chandigarh from where troops move to large areas, including the Ladakh region, under the North Command.

"Army dogs were successfully trained on specific biomarkers emanating from urine and sweat samples of positive patients. These samples do not contain a living virus, but only volatile metabolic biomarkers, which the dogs have been trained to detect. Prior to bringing in front of them, to avoid any surface contact transmission to people handling the dogs, the samples are first exposed to UV rays," Saini said.

"This is the first time in India that the olfactory capability of canines are being used to detect tissues infected with pathogens releasing volatile metabolic biomarkers," he added.

The Indian Army has around 1,200 dogs, out of which nearly 700 are deployed, a senior official said. "Besides these two dogs, eight other dogs, including four labradors, are also undergoing training," Saini said. One-year-old Mani, another chippiparai dog undergoing training, also showed his skills during the demonstration. Mani is the elder brother of Jaya.

"The use of such canines in the detection of COVID-19 can assist in quick and real-time detection of the disease, and help in cutting downscale of RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests, both of which take time. And, in the Army, time is of the essence. Besides, these dogs can be used at live events to screen people," the instructor said.

Saini said the dogs have sniffed out 22 positive cases of COVID-19 from 800 samples at the Delhi transit camp and nearly 3,000 samples at the Chandigarh transit camp. "Their response time after detection is one second or even less, and accuracy rate is over 90 per cent," he said. The dogs have been trained to sit next to a sample kept in a container if it is positive for the disease and move forward after sniffing if it is negative, he added.

Positive and suspected samples were obtained from the Military Hospital, Meerut Cantonment, and the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Subharti Medical College, Meerut, for the purpose of the training, officials said. "The sensitivity and specificity of both the dogs obtained from the screening of 279 urine and 267 sweat samples during the initial trial procedure was found to be very high," a senior official said.

Scientifically, it is evident that infected body tissues release "unique volatile metabolic biomarkers", which are used as disease signatures for detection of disease by medical detection dogs, he said.

A concerted effort has been made to train an indigenous breed of dog under the prime minister's initiative of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' besides a cocker spaniel to detect the "volatilome of COVID-19 disease from urine and sweat samples of positive cases by comparatory method", the official said. These dogs are constantly monitored by their handlers, and their body temperature is recorded in the morning, and the evening, the officials said.
One of San Franciscos most eccentric and loved dive bars is hanging on for dear life.

Its been a nightmare, Specs' co-owner Maralisa Simmons-Cook told SFGATE. Its pretty bleak.

Specs' has been a favorite North Beach watering hole of artists, poets and musicians for more than 50 years and was a bar for years before that, marking the site of a speakeasy and one of San Franciscos first lesbian establishments.

Simmons-Cooks grandfather, Richard Specs Simmons  a merchant mariner who once almost drowned at sea under the Golden Gate Bridge  opened the eclectic joint in 1968. Since then, the spot has been a glorious, bawdy counterculture dive; a welcoming oasis of poetry, character and cheap cocktails in a city turning fast to high-end cocktail lounges and wine bars.

Once described by the Chronicle as a home to a menagerie of misfits, from strippers and poets to longshoremen and merchant marines, the bar is officially named Specs Twelve Adler Museum Cafe.

The museum part of the name makes more sense when you step inside. Oddities and curios cover nearly every square inch of its old walls. Treasures include a mounted Alaskan king crab, quirky historical posters and other signage, American Indian artifacts, the Examiner story of the founders Golden Gate rescue, a stuffed mongoose fighting a stuffed cobra, a fake Egyptian sarcophagus of Specs' and, of course, the bar's famous mummified walrus penis.

Specs' is in an existential crisis right now, and after struggling through 11 months of closure, they need some help.

Back in March, Simmons-Cook  who owns and runs the bar with her mom, Elly  turned to crowdfunding to pay the rent.

We immediately started a GoFundMe, she says. We were already in not great financial shape, weve never brought in a ton of money, always just floating above breaking even.

Our patrons dont have a lot of money though, its not a fancy cocktail bar, we dont bring in drinkers who can donate a ton of money online, so theyve mostly been smaller individual donations.

The donations have helped push back any announcement of closure, so far. Costs include utilities, rent, city fees, union dues, taxes and insurance.

The first GoFundMe did well, we got to $80k, but its hard asking people to donate again. In March, our bookkeeper said we need $100k just to make it to May. Weve stretched not a lot of money a long way.

The most frustrating thing for Simmons-Cook is that despite Specs' officially being heralded as one of the city's first nine legacy businesses in 2016  a registry that recognizes longstanding, community-serving businesses as valuable cultural assets to the city  that hasn't led to financial support during the crisis.

Places like ours are 60, 70 years old and registered as a legacy business, and sure, all the emotional support and care is there, but we haven't seen the financial support.

Elly Simmons/ Go Fund Me

We have not been able to pay full rent. Thankfully, the eviction moratorium has saved us for now.

Thats going to mean a huge sum of back rent to pay when the bar finally lets people in again.

Its going to be a really tough six months when we do reopen, Simmons-Cook says. We havent been told any rent will be forgiven, and its very high. A lot of rent will be owed. Its a nightmare.

The idea of adapting a century-old bar space on a slanted alley for outdoor dining and drinking is nearly impossible, and a huge risk. It's something that may be easier for newer, more recently built-out bars, according to Simmons-Cook.

The most historic, oldest and loved places just dont have the resources to adapt, she says. People come to the bar to be inside that room, they come for the bartenders, the community and the poetry and the music.

The idea of serving a cheap gin and tonic outside doesnt feel right, she says. The alleyway is slanted and its the entrance to an apartment building. And we just dont have enough money to risk it.

She believes bars have been ostracized, sometimes unfairly so, through the COVID-19 pandemic.

People see bars as a cesspool for COVID-19, but it depends on the venue. When we do reopen, there will be like 12 people inside, whereas there were 200 people inside some restaurants that were able to reopen for indoor dining in the fall. Were at the bottom of the pile for whos going to get anything.

The crowdfunding, alongside an initial PPP loan, has helped, and Simmons-Cook is also hopeful for a second PPP loan and a California relief grant.

Though she has mixed feelings about asking folks for money through crowdfunding, its one of very few options left.

Crowdfunding has gotten us through, so far. Its hard. I'm trying to push it but it's hard. A lot of people have already donated three or four times. You cant keep asking.

The bars second fundraiser through Gofundme is currently at nearly 30% of its $30,000 goal.

I do want to remind people  OK, weve hit 10 months and we still need your help, I hope its the same realization for the city.

[The city] should be asking  how many of these historic places still exist? How can we help them?

Specs' didnt qualify for indoor dining when that sector briefly reopened in September 2020, as they dont have a kitchen  though a giant round of cheese was always on offer to patrons over the years.

The wheel of cheese didn't count, she laughs. I don't know why. That was my dinner many nights growing up.

She says neither her mom nor her are in the financial position to take out a loan. I ask her if shes thought about the idea of Specs' not making it through the other side of this.

My mom and I have had some deeper conversations. I'm torn between the bleak financial reality versus having so much at stake wrapped up in this. Its my family, it was my grandfathers, and its been around so long. Weve made it so far through COVID now, I refuse to let it close.

---

Its North Beach Month at SFGATE. Well be diving deep into the neighborhood for the entirety of February as part of a new series where well be highlighting a different corner of San Francisco every month this year. Read more things North Beach here and here.

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SFGATE reporter Michael Moffitt contributed to this story.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. The regular four-day sitting has kicked off in the Armenian Parliament.

16 issues are on the agenda of the session.

The MPs will debate at first hearing the drat Criminal Procedure Code, the bill on Higher Education and Science and a number of other draft laws and legislative packages.

The lawmakers will also debate the election of the president of the Court of Cassation.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
New Delhi, Feb 9 : At a time when the new cases of Covid-19 have been manifesting a downward trend nationally, its unabated transmission in two Indian states -- Kerala and Maharashtra -- have become a cause of worry.

The data of last one week by the Union Health Ministry showed that both the states account for 71 per cent of the fresh caseload of the week with Kerala making up almost half of the total.

Of the total 80,536 new cases reported in the duration, Kerala and Maharashtra accounted for 56,932 whereas the southern state logged 39,260 cases (49 per cent) alone.

Speaking on the matter, Dr. Randeep Guleria, Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, evoked the possibility of an undetected mutant strain of Sars-CoV-2 circulating in the two states.

"We will have to investigate whether any mutant strain of coronavirus is under circulation in the state which is causing spurt in the daily infection," he told IANS.

In respect of Kerala, Guleria, who is also a member of the National Covid-19 task-force, acknowledged that the state did a fairly good job in controlling the transmission when pandemic hit the country. However, he added that the situation deteriorated since the restrictions were lifted in the state.

"Kerala did initially good in controlling the measures through putting restrictions. However, since they have opened up, the more number of cases are being reported there," Guleria said.

He also observed that the demography of the state could be possibly not letting the viral infection wane from the community since a significant amount of the population living in Kerala are elderly and are more susceptible to contract the Covid-19 disease.

"A large number of people there (Kerala) are elderly and suffer with comorbid conditions. This fact could also be impacting the emergence of Covid-19 in the state," said Guleria.

As per the latest national family health survey (NFHS) report, the level of asthma (4,806 per 1,00,000 population) in Kerala is twice as high as the level reported for India as a whole (2,468 per 1,00,000 population).

Dr, Lalit Kant, former head, epidemiology and communicable diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) told IANS that demography plays a huge role in disease spread. "Age structure of the population and presence of chronic illnesses among them are few of the deciding factors of a disease spread," he said.

Dr. Kant said the prevalence of chronic illnesses and the share of elderly population is quite high in Kerala and Maharashtra. He quoted NFHS-5 findings which indicated that every third person in Kerala and every fourth person in Maharashtra is obese. "In Kerala, up to 38 per cent of the population was found obsese while it was reported 25 per cent in Maharashtra," Kant said.

"Similarly, Diabetes is also quite high in both states. Kerala accounts for 27 per cent while 12 per cent in Maharashtra found exhibiting the disease," he added.

Former ICMR chief also shared that 30 per cent of Kerala's population are patients of hypertension while its prevalence in Maharashtra's population is around 25 per cent.

As per NFHS-5, the projected percentage of population above 60 years in 2021 of Kerala is 16 per cent while it is 11 per cent in Maharashtra.

Few days ago, the Centre deputed two multi-disciplinary teams to Kerala and Maharashtra to take stock of the ground situation and recommend necessary public health interventions to the states for containment of Covid-19 pandemic there.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed

KATHMANDU : Chairperson of the Nepal Communist Party's splinter faction Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' said on Tuesday that his party has appealed to the international community, including India and China, to extend support to its ongoing struggle against Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli's "unconstitutional and undemocratic move" to dissolve Parliament.

Nepal plunged into a political crisis on December 20 after Oli, in a surprise move, dissolved the House of Representatives, amidst a tussle for power with Prachanda. His move to dissolve the 275-member House sparked protests from a large section of the NCP led by Prachanda, also a co-chair of the ruling party.

"The House of Representatives must be reinstated if we are to consolidate federalism and democracy and take the peace process to the logical conclusion," Prachanda said during an interaction with a select group of international media representatives based in Kathmandu.

"I believe that the Supreme Court would not endorse Prime Minister Olis unconstitutional and undemocratic move to dissolve the House of Representatives," he said ahead of his faction's massive protest rally in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

He also warned that if the House is not reinstated, the country would plunge into a grave political crisis.

Prachanda said that his party has appealed to the international community, including neighbouring India and China, to extend support to their ongoing struggle against Oli's unconstitutional move of dissolving the House of Representatives.

"We have conveyed to the international community that Olis move has resulted in the demise of democracy and we seek support from the international community including India, China, European Union and the US to protect hard earned federalism and democracy," said Prachanda.

India has described Oli's sudden decision to dissolve Parliament and call for fresh elections as an "internal matter" that is for the country to decide as per its democratic processes.

However, China sent a four-member high-level delegation to Nepal in December to prevent a split within the ruling party. The team - led by a Vice minister of the Chinese Communist Party, Guo Yezhou - held separate meetings with several top NCP leaders before returning home without much success in its mission.

When asked whether Oli, 68, known for his pro-China leanings, took the decision to dissolve the House under foreign influence, Prachanda said, "we need not drag foreign elements in our internal matter, as such things are largely determined by internal situation rather than external environment."

Commenting on Olis recent activities such as worshipping at the Pashupatinath temple, donating 30 crore to the temple from the government's coffer, talking about building Ram temple in Madi of Chitawan where he had made controversial remarks regarding Lord Rams birth place, Prachanda asked, "whether Oli is the chairman of a communist party or a Hindu organisation?"

He also accused the Oli-led government of engaging in corruption and adopting totalitarian attitude by breaching all democratic norms and values.

The Prachanda-led faction had been holding anti-government protest rallies and public gatherings in various parts of the country, including Kathmandu.

Oli, who is the chairperson of a faction of the NCP, has said he was forced to dissolve the House after knowing that the Prachanda-led faction was planning to file a no-confidence motion against him and introduce an impeachment motion against President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

Oli-led CPN-UML and Prachanda-led NCP (Maoist Centre) merged in May 2018 to form a unified Nepal Communist Party following victory of their alliance in the 2017 general elections.

The Prachanda-led faction, which is currently launching agitation to get official recognition from the Election Commission as the legitimate NCP, will hold a massive rally here on Wednesday in a bid to show its strength.

After breaching the Constitution by dissolving the House, the election being conducted under the present circumstances would be unconstitutional, Prachanda said.

Olis move that breached the constitutional provision has dragged the entire country towards political instability, said another chairperson of the splinter-faction Madhav Kumar Nepal.

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The next steps for the City of Winnipeg to mitigate emissions from the Brady Road landfill remain unclear, as a report on the prospects is being put before councillors this week.

The next steps for the City of Winnipeg to mitigate emissions from the Brady Road landfill remain unclear, as a report on the prospects is being put before councillors this week.

The report, compiled by city administrators, considers four options to use methane produced at the landfill for functional purposes to offset greenhouse gas emissions from other sectors.

The south-end Winnipeg site is the second-largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in the province.

Coun. Brian Mayes  chairman of the water and waste, riverbank management and environment committee that will be fielding the report  says, for years, the prospect of piping such gas to the University of Manitoba's Fort Garry campus for heating has been a favoured proposal.

However, the report ranks this option as the worst of the four choices on an economic basis: on a 20-year time horizon, it would have a negative return on investment to the tune of $12.5 million.

"I do want to hear from the U of M though, because for years thats been discussed at city hall and this is saying thats not viable, but I dont want to rush this. I know U of M students, U of M (administration) have talked about this for years," Mayes told the Free Press on Monday.

Mayes is in favour of exploring the potential for federal or provincial funds to be used to shift the math in this projects favour. He said as the committee approaches a decision point, cost cant be the only consideration  the most climate-conscious choice should be made.

However, city administrators were unequivocal in the report: such a project with the U of M "would result in net revenue losses to the city from project inception and should not be pursued."

Alternatively, the report recommends further study of a project that would involve the construction of a refinement system that would convert methane produced at the landfill into commercial-grade gas that could then be sold on the open market.

The report suggests this option would make money for the city over the course of 20 years, with a return of approximately $21.4 million. It recommends using $2.5 million allotted in the citys capital budget for the Brady landfill site to develop a business case for such a facility, as well as engineering and design specifications.

The committee will address the Brady landfill report at its Tuesday meeting.

"The city has been accused of not doing anything on climate change, so its good were trying to make some positive steps here," Mayes said.

Since 2013, flaring has been used at the landfill to deal with methane produced by the decomposition of organic materials. By burning the methane, it is converted into carbon dioxide emissions which are far less potent. Upgrades to the flaring system were made in 2017, and again in 2019.

The latest emissions report shows data from 2018, when Brady Road landfill produced roughly the same level of emissions it did in 2004 (approximately 400 kilotonnes of CO2 equivalent). However, emissions have decreased from a peak in 2012. Emissions rose year over year in 2017 and 2018.

sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik
Palghar : , Feb 9 (IANS) The police have started scanning the bank and stock market trading accounts of Indian Navy sailor Surajkumar M. Dubey, who was allegedly kidnapped in Chennai and later burnt alive in Palghar, attempting to unravel the motives behind the ghastly crime, official sources said here on Tuesday.

Ten teams of the Palghar Police are racing to crack the case with one team in Chennai securing and analysing the CCTV footage obtained from the vicinity of the Chennai Airport from where Dube, 27, was kidnapped on January 31.

As stated by the police earlier, Dube, who was working as a leading seaman with the INS Agrani in Coimbatore, was a regular player in the stock markets and had run up a huge debt of over Rs 2.30 million from family and friend circles.

"We are examining each entry in his bank accounts and demat accounts and have found that he invested hugely in stocks," said a police officer.

The Palghar Police have taken it as a challenge to crack the case, 10 months after the infamous mob lynching of two Sadhus and their driver in April 2020, for which they have been targeted by the opposition BJP.

Palghar Superintendent of Police, Dattatraya Shinde, is personally directing the probe teams comprising 100 personnel, one of the biggest numbers deployed for any single case in recent times.

"The most confounding aspect is who brought him all the way from Chennai to the remote district of Palghar, a distance of around 1,500 km, what was the route taken, and why he was dumped and burnt here," said the officer, requesting anonymity.

There is also the mystery of 13 calls Dubey got from a particular number seeking details of his Raipur-Hyderabad-Chennai flight on the night of January 30, which could provide some clues on his abductors-cum-killers, the officer added.

Besides the Palghar Police, even the Naval police have launched their own independent probe into the incident.

The local villagers, who saw Dube in a semi-burnt state after he came to drink water following the alleged murderous attempt on him in the Vavji-Valjipada forests in Gholvad on February 5, had alerted the police.

Initially, he was rushed to a private hospital in Dahanu and then to the INHS Asvini Hospital in Mumbai where he succumbed to his injuries. However, he gave a dying declaration to the Palghar Police which is helping the investigations.
Yazmin Oukhellou posted a cryptic quote on Instagram on Tuesday after it emerged she had split for good from her boyfriend James Lock.

The heartbroken TOWIE star, 26, told her followers 'sometimes our lives have to be completely shaken up' as she shared a clip on a sun lounger in a yellow bikini.

MailOnline revealed Yazmin and James, 34, have ended their relationship after a string of furious rows, with the pair now staying at different hotel rooms in Dubai.

Heartbroken: Yazmin Oukhellou posted a cryptic quote on Instagram on Tuesday after it emerged she had split for good from her boyfriend James Lock

Yazmin failed to raise a smile as she panned the camera down to show off her surgically-enhanced cleavage and toned stomach in the tiny halterneck two piece.

The reality star donned a pair of Dior designer shades for the sultry Instagram reel.

Alluding to her split from James, Yazmin wrote: 'Sometimes our lives have to be completely shaken up, changed and rearranged to relocate us to the place we are meant to be.'

Devastated: The heartbroken star, 26, told her followers 'sometimes our lives have to be completely shaken up' as she shared a clip on a sun lounger in a yellow bikini

Busty: Yazmin failed to raise a smile as she panned the camera down to show off her surgically-enhanced cleavage and toned stomach in the tiny halterneck two piece

Cryptic: Alluding to her split , Yazmin wrote: 'Sometimes our lives have to be completely shaken up, changed and rearranged to relocate us to the place we are meant to be'

James is planning to fly home while Yazmin stays in the UAE.

A source revealed to MailOnline that James and Yazmin are currently living in the same Dubai hotel but in separate rooms after frustrations in their romance reached a climatic point last week.

An insider said: 'James and Yazmin haven't been in a good place for a while now and living together in Dubai only put further strain on their relationship.

It's all over: A source revealed to MailOnline that James and Yazmin are currently living in the same Dubai hotel but in separate rooms, with James wanting to fly home

'Arguments between them have intensified and turned nasty, resulting in the couple deciding between them to go their separate ways  and this time, for good.

'James plans to return to the UK for TOWIE filming but Yazmin has work in Dubai so is staying put.'

A spokeswoman for Yazmin said: 'I can confirm James and Yazmin have split up.

'It's an amicable split and both of them are certain that it's time to move on with no animosity.'

The Essex couple has experienced a tempestuous relationship, splitting up and reconciling on a number of occasions after they first started dating in 2017.

'Arguments between them have intensified': The TOWIE couple have agreed to cut ties after their relationship turned toxic

'Work trip': :The couple flew out to Dubai sparking controversy due to the U.K's travel restrictions

They split in 2019 after Yazmin accused James of betraying her by partying with a group of women in a hotel room in Turkey, where the couple were on holiday together.

A year after their bitter breakup they got back together, confirming their romance by kissing on a beach in Mallorca.

Yazmin eventually took James back after the pair failed to keep their distance from each other amid filming for TOWIE and sharing the same group of friends.

Last year, Yazmin said: 'I feel like the things that went wrong in the relationship before, we now know to put right this time. I look at that as a test run  and now this is the real run.'

They are currently in Dubai despite the UAE being added to the UK's 'red list' of countries, with many influencers and reality stars flying home the last fortnight.

Last week it was announced that beach clubs, hotels and shopping malls are limited to 70 per cent capacity while bars and pubs have been temporarily shut down.

Mandatory hotel quarantine stays are also being implemented by the government from February 15 for those returning from the UAE to the UK.

Yazmin insisted she and James have been in Dubai for 'work purposes.'

She said in late December: 'Just so those of you know, me and James have come to Dubai because I am launching something very exciting here in the New Year, so I've had to come now to get everything set up and we will be keeping you posted.'
BUDAPEST -- Hungary's last independent radio station has lost an appeal to keep its license after the countrys media regulator said it had violated a compulsory registration law.

Klubradio President Andras Arato said on February 9 that its appeal at the Metropolitan Court in Budapest to force the media regulator NMHH to issue a temporary broadcasting license has been turned down.

"The decision, although expected, was shameful and cowardly," Arato said, adding that while the radio station stop broadcasting via the airwaves, it will continue its programming online.

Klubradio broadcasts mainly in Budapest. Its news and talk content is often critical of Prime Minister Viktor Orbans government.

In September 2020, NMHH, comprised solely of Orban's supporters, refused to extend Klubradios seven-year operating license, which expires on February 14, saying the station "repeatedly infringed" on the compulsory registration law by twice submitting documents late.

Such violations usually incur fines and the NMHH's announcement raised new concerns about political pressure from the government on the media in Hungary.

Hungary was already under EU investigation for undermining the independence of the judiciary, media, and nongovernmental organizations, and risks losing access to tens of billions of euros in funds from the bloc.

The EU member state is ranked 89th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders 2020 World Press Freedom Index.

With reporting by AFP
PORTLAND, Maine, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the spirit of Valentine's Day is all about celebrating partnerships, although not romantic, it's only appropriate that two female founders in the wellness industry decided to use the special holiday to celebrate a partnership of a different kind.

Betoken CBD Bath Bomb - Go Away I'm Fizzy

Liz Kirby, the founder of Betoken CBD, and Leigh Carr, the founder of Hari Om Hemp, teamed up to create a luxurious CBD bath bomb that dropped just in time for Valentine's Day. The co-created CBD bath bomb is appropriately named, Go Away, I'm Fizzy, as a fun tongue-in-cheek nod to Betoken's mission to make 'adulting' easier and taking intentional time for self-care.

The two founders came together to leverage their individual expertise as wellness entrepreneurs in a united effort to create an innovative CBD-infused bath bomb that contains a blend of 25mg full-spectrum hemp, essential oils from Jasmine, Lavender and Geranium and topped off with pink Himalayan sea salt to provide an indulgent, relaxing, and rejuvenating at-home spa experience for the user.

"When Leigh and I came together to formulate the CBD bath bomb, we were able to tap into the creative energy of two professional women working together to create an innovative product that all women could benefit from and use. Through the collaboration, we saw organic growth by tapping into each other's built-in audience, making our collective reach, influence, and engagement expanded exponentially," explains Liz as to what motivated the collaboration from both a personal and business standpoint.

Liz also provides a new take on how to use the Go Away, I'm Fizzy CBD bath bomb as the perfect Valentine's Day gift to both give and receive. Give the gift of a CBD-infused bath experience to a romantic partner or to a friend as a Galentine's Day gift to enjoy at their leisure, or surprise someone with a romantic at-home spa night that includes the CBD bath bomb, scented candles, soothing music, and a sweet treat.

Another innovative and unique way to gift the CBD bath bomb, especially in times of social distancing, is to create a virtual Valentine's Day date night. Liz suggests having both partners enjoy a relaxing night-in while connecting through video technology. Ultimately, the strategic collaboration between the two female founders is indicative that just because we're socially distancing, doesn't mean we can't still form meaningful partnerships, in business, friendship and in love.

ABOUT BETOKEN

Betoken is the only CBD company designed exclusively for grown-ups. What was once a routine morning 5K is now the source of chronic knee pain. Where falling asleep was once a matter of head hitting pillow, it's now a tossing and turning fiasco. Products are formulated to help people sleep, chill, and feel better.

CONTACT

Contact Mikayla at [email protected] or call 866-783-5750 with questions or to schedule an interview.

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[February 08, 2021] Global IoT Security Market Size, Shares, Growth, Segments, Industry Analysis & Outlook 2020-2026

The Infinium Global Research analyzes the IoT Security Market over the period of 2020 to 2026. This report also provides detailed qualitative and quantitative analyses of the market dynamics, market size and future trends in global iot security market. It will help a lot of decision makers to develop strategies and find new opportunities in the global markets of iot security. The report covers market changing aspects including drivers, restraints, opportunities, and trends expected to encouragement the expansion of the iot security market during the period. the global IoT security market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 22.2% over the forecast period of 2020-2026.







"We are Now Including the Impact Analysis of the COVID-19 on this Premium Report and the Forecast Period of this Report shall be Revised to 2020-2026." The Section on the Impact of COVID-19 on this Market is Included in the Report for Free. To Know More Request Sample of this Report: https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/sample-request/18315 Critical Infrastructure Are Driving the Growth of the iot Security Market Growing security concerns for critical infrastructure are driving the growth of the IoT security market. The IoT is expected to contribute to the creation of new customer value by connecting various devices to a network and enabling data gathering and analysis. The increasingly connected devices will create technical problems such as attacks with a broader scope. Hence, IoT security is one of the key requirements for critical infrastructure. Furthermore, a growing number of IoT security regulations provides a growing demand for the market. A number of industry bodies are developing security standards for IoT. This practice is designed to support those efforts and relevant published cybersecurity standards. For example, the EU General Data Protection Regulation requires personal data to be processed securely. However, expensive IoT security solutions are affecting the growth of the market. Moreover, growing data risks in IoT networks provides a significant growth opportunity for the IoT security market. Besides the gigantic importance and wide applications of IoT although the existing core network security is mature enough still, some security concerns exist which are more harmful in the context of IoT, like Denial of Service and Distributed denial of service must be presented at this layer.



Enquire Here Get Customization & Check Discount for Report @ https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/customization/18315 The Benefits of Iot Disruptive Technologies in Various Sectors is Driving The Growth of The Market in This Region The Asia Pacific dominated the IoT security market. The emerging markets are already matching the pace in adopting new technologies like IoT, 5G, AI, and cloud to drive new business models. Furthermore, government initiatives introduced various policies and initiatives to leverage the benefits of IoT disruptive technologies in various sectors is driving the growth of the market in this region. Additionally, the development of smart city technologies is again contributing to the growth of the IoT security market in the Asia Pacific region. The Government of India has Many start-ups in India are also using these technologies to create new and innovative business models. The tech-savvy consumers along with growing smartphone and mobile internet penetration are driving IoT applications in the Indian market.





IoT Security Market: Segmentation The report on the global IoT security market covers segments such as component, deployment, security type, and end user. On the basis of component, the sub-markets include solution, and services. On the basis of deployment, the sub-markets include on-premise, and cloud. On the basis of security type, the sub-markets include application security, network security, cloud security, endpoint security, and other. On the basis of end user, the sub-markets include it and telecom, manufacturing, BFSI, transportation and logistics, energy and utilities, and others.



IoT Security Market: Competitive Landscape The report provides profiles of the companies in the market such as Cisco Systems, IBM Corporation, Infineon Technologies AG, Siemens AG, Digi International, Intel Corporation, Gemalto, Fortinet, ZingBox Inc., Forgerock, and Mocana.



Browse Complete Report@ https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/ict-semiconductor/global-iot-security-market Reasons to Buy this Report: => Comprehensive analysis of global as well as regional markets of the iot security.



=> Complete coverage of all the product type and applications segments to analyze the trends, developments, and forecast of market size up to 2026.



=> Comprehensive analysis of the companies operating in this market. The company profile includes analysis of product portfolio, revenue, SWOT analysis and the latest developments of the company.



=> Infinium Global Research- Growth Matrix presents an analysis of the product segments and geographies that market players should focus to invest, consolidate, expand and/or diversify. As a community-building service, TMCnet allows user submitted content which is not always proofed by TMCnet editors. If you feel this entry is of inferior quality or wish to report it for some reason, please forward the URL to "webedit [AT] tmcnet [DOT] com" with your comments.

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COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. (AP)  State regulators have fined an excavating company $14,400 for workplace safety violations discovered after three workers, including a father and son, died in August while working on a northeastern Indiana sewer project.

The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration imposed the fine on Jan. 29 against Fort Wayne-based Crosby Excavating Inc. after an inspection found three serious safety violations and one repeat safety violation.

Jason R. Ball, 48, and his son, Bronson Ball, 21, both of Columbia City, died along with Douglas M. Kramer, 43, of Fort Wayne, on Aug. 25 after they became trapped about 20 feet below ground inside a manhole while working on a storm sewer project in Columbia City.

The men were pronounced dead at the scene after firefighters pulled them out of the manhole and medics were unable to revive them.

Whitley Countys coroner found that each man died from asphyxia caused by a low-oxygen environment and subsequent drowning inside the sewer, which the Columbia City mayors office has said contained 5 feet of water. The deaths were ruled accidental.

IOSHAs investigation determined that Crosby Excavating failed to properly train the crew on the project and did not effectively limit access to part of the worksite. It also found that workers were not protected by helmets while on a project with risk of head injury from impact, falling or flying objects or electrical shock.

The state agencys findings included that Crosby Excavating Inc. did not ensure that the employees possessed understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of their duties.

The company has 15 days after receiving IOSHAs mailed safety order to pay the fine or to contest it, said Stephanie McFarland, a spokeswoman for the Indiana Department of Labor.

A telephone message seeking comment was left Tuesday for Crosby Excavating.

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A vacant North End property will once again host a Knights of Columbus quarters while also featuring 23 one-bedroom affordable senior housing units, under a public-private partnership outlined on Monday.

MassDevelopment issued $6.4 million in tax exempt bonds, which were purchased by Eastern Bank, on behalf of an affiliate of East Boston Community Development Corporation and Affirmative Investments Inc. The developers are using the proceeds to receive a 99-year lease at 41 North Margin St.

The project involves a building renovation, the addition of two floors where the housing units will be located, and a 1,600 square foot addition that will serve as the new quarters for the Ausonia Council 1513, Knights of Columbus.

Plans call for the housing units to be rented to households earning no more than 60 percent of the area median income. Federal low-income housing tax credits will provide about $4.7 million in equity for the project.

MassDevelopment is proud to help bring affordable senior housing to one of the most historic neighborhoods in Boston, through East Boston CDC and Affirmative Investments, Inc., said MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera. The Knights of Columbus headquarters played such an important role in the life of the neighborhood so we are honored and excited to see the property continue its legacy as a safe and affordable home for many area seniors.

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Police said a 20-year-old UTC student who was shot and killed on March 19, 2020, died after there was a robbery at gunpoint and he resisted turning over any items to the robbers.

Jakob Demoss, 20, and Israel Ackerman, 21. are charged in the killing and robbery of Tanner Holman.

Officers who went to the scene on MLK Boulevard said they found the student with a gunshot wound to his neck, and he was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police said witnesses told them a black male wearing a white hoodie came into the living room and pointed a gun at everyone inside. A second suspect was also said to run past the entrance of the living room into the kitchen. The witnesses said the first suspect shouted, Give me all your phones, give me all your (expletive).

Several girls at the residence handed over their purses. The gunman then demanded the cellphone of Holman's girlfriend. At this point, he said no and lunged at the robber. The gunman shot him and left the scene.

In September, police spoke to a witness who had knowledge of the event. The witness said another witness told them Israel Ackerman killed a UTC student, and gave details that were not public knowledge at the time. The witness told police Ackerman and the other suspect were looking for money, and after the shooting, Ackerman and the other person stripped their clothing and placed them into trash bags.

When police viewed pictures of Ackerman, they said those pictures matched a description given to them by the witness. After search warrants for phones were obtained, police found Ackermans location data matched the place and time of the homicide.

On Feb. 1, police interviewed a witness, who said Ackerman and Demoss went to smoke some weed before going back to an Airbnb in Red Bank in March. Other witnesses on the scene had previously said a man named Jakob had been hanging around the residence, and that Tanner Holman was known to deal drugs.

Police had interviewed Demoss that March, and he told them he had been in the area earlier the day before. But he told them he left for Pikeville around 7 p.m. Police used geolocation information from Snapchat to confirm he was at the MLK residence at the time of the homicide, and he headed toward Red Bank afterward. Geolocation info also showed Demoss and Ackerman both going to the same Airbnb location before and after the homicide.

Demoss was arrested on Sunday night and is facing charges of first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, and aggravated robbery.

Ackerman was taken into custody in Lake County, Fla. He will be extradited back to Chattanooga.

The victim was a junior mechanical engineering student.




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MIDDLETOWN  A distrust of the health care system, as well as perceived inequities in medicine, have led people of color to be wary of the COVID vaccine, officials said Tuesday during a clinic at Cross Street AME Zion Church.

The coronavirus is ravaging the Black community, said state Rep. Quentin Phipps, D-Middletown, a longtime parishioner. Cross Street is at the forefront of making sure our entire community is getting the vaccine, he said, as volunteers milled about the church hall, inoculating some 50 congregants in the 75-and-older population.

The clinic, the first held at the facility, is an example for everyone, especially younger individuals who care for, and look up to, their older family members and friends, Phipps said.

It was pulled together in less than a week, according to Middletown Acting Health Director Kevin Elak.

The elders  thats wisdom and experience, Phipps said. They know what its like when you dont have access to quality health care. Phipps said he looks forward to returning to our true community spirit of being neighbors, being together, congregating, worshiping together. Thats what this is about.

Lacy Flowers, 79, was among those waiting the required 15 minutes to gauge his bodys reaction to receiving his dose. He wasnt nervous to get the shot, he said, adding that he was feeling good.

The event was coordinated by the city, senior center and Middletowns Ministerial Health Fellowship, which advocates in many ways for people of color, said the Rev. Robyn Anderson, president of the association. She termed it a faith-based clinic.

The church is ingrained in the lives of the Black community, she said. They need to come to a place that they trust and feel comfortable. Clergy have always been trusted messengers, said Anderson, who was among those who led an outreach campaign.

People never forget the Tuskegee syphilis study, even more so, how theyre treated when they come into medical facilities. Some of them have felt [doctors and others] didnt have their best interests at heart, Anderson said.

A big part of COVID outreach is meeting people where they are, she said. We have to go where they are in the community. Even those who are not members of the church, they trust the church.

If the church is offering it, it must be safe, Anderson said.

AME Zion also has volunteer COVID-19 crisis workers who visit people at home, Anderson said, sharing information and dispelling myths.

The church has held womens health conferences for years, and supplies information on diabetes, mental health, high blood pressure and other conditions to congregants, Phipps said, and Cross Street has always been a leader in public health.

Anderson already has gathered the names of 70 eligible people interested in getting the vaccine. These clinics will take place on a weekly basis, according to Elak.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz stopped by to observe the process. As of Feb. 3, 45 percent of those 75 and older in Connecticut had been vaccinated, she said.

I think were closer to 50 percent by now, if not more, she said.

Connecticut is the fourth best state in the country for the number of vaccine doses given out, Bysiewicz said. Weve gotten 517,081 total doses out, 387,174 first doses and 29,907 second doses.

Weve got a total of over a half a million doses out there, but you seen how massive this effort is, because now that were allowing the 65- to 74-year-old people to get vaccinated, that adds 350,000 people to the pool, Bysiewicz said.

Phipps is urging people to make an appointment as soon as they are eligible. The moment we can get this vaccine, we need to take it, he said.

Registration is done through the online Vaccine Administration Management System. Once that is done, people will receive an email with instructions on how to make an appointment locally.

For information, visit vams.cdc.gov or call Connecticuts Vaccine Appointment Assist Line at 877-918-2224.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aberdeen Global Infrastructure Income Fund (NYSE: ASGI) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund, today announced that it will pay on February 26, 2021, a distribution of US $0.1083 per share to all shareholders of record as of February 19, 2021 (ex-dividend date February 18, 2021).

Your Fund's distribution policy is to provide investors with a stable monthly distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital.

Under U.S. tax rules applicable to the Fund, the amount and character of distributable income for each fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related Rules, the Fund may be required to indicate to shareholders the source of certain distributions to shareholders.

The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distribution for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the Rules adopted thereunder. The table has been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The table includes estimated amounts and percentages for the distribution to be paid on February 26, 2021 as well as the estimated cumulative distributions paid fiscal year to date (10/01/2020- 01/31/2021), from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated composition of the distributions may vary from month to month because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.



Estimated Amounts of Current Monthly Distribution per share ($) Estimated Amounts of Current Monthly Distribution per share (%) Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per share ($) Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per share (%) Net Investment Income $0.0173 16% $0.0866 16% Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains* $0.0368 34% $0.1841 34% Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains - - - - Return of Capital $0.0542 50% $0.2708 50% Total (per common share) $0.1083 100% $0.5415 100%

*Includes currency gains

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy").

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions in 2021 will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The following table provides the Fund's total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Fund's annualized and cumulative distribution rates.

Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ended 01/31/20211,2 8.65% Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV3 6.12% Fiscal Year to Date (10/1/2020 to 01/31/2021) Cumulative Total Return on NAV1 11.84% Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV2 2.04%

1 Return data is net of all Fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan.. 2 The Fund launched within the past 5 years; the performance and distribution rate information presented reflects data from inception (July 29, 2020) through January 31, 2021. 3 Based on the Fund's NAV as of January 31, 2021.

While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.

Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2010, the Fund may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Fund during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Fund, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the terms of the distribution policy. The final determination of the source of all distributions will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment

experience during the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. The Fund's Board of Directors has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

In the United States, Aberdeen Standard Investments is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments Australia Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Ltd., Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Advisors LLC and Aberdeen Standard Alternative Funds Limited.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact [email protected]

aberdeenasgi.com

SOURCE Aberdeen Global Infrastructure Income Fund

Atlanta is a massive market, and businesses must take their SEO seriously if they want to be found over their competitors. This means using a combination of proven techniques and new, cutting-edge tactics to really make a difference.

SEOblog.com, a fast-growing website providing the latest SEO news, tips and resources and helping business owners connect with leading SEO agencies, has released its exclusive 2021 ratings naming the best SEO companies in Atlanta.

SEOblog analysts determined the 15 best SEO companies in Atlanta based on dozens of key quantitative and qualitative factors. SEOblog industry experts examined each Atlanta digital marketing agencys website, industry experience, market presence, client list, portfolio, expert certifications and authorship, among other factors in its ranking system.

SEOblog has provided an in-depth view of companies in a particular city or focus area on various directory pages to help business owners find the expert help they need to grow. This was a new, free offer added by SEOblog in 2019.

Atlanta has several of the nations top SEO agencies that provide a very competitive digital marketing landscape.

The Atlanta SEO market continues to expand as businesses realize the critical need for organic growth, said Don Dodds, founder and managing partner of M16 Marketing. As part of our digital marketing strategy, we focus on helping our clients increase their ranking, reach and revenue using both local and national search engine optimization tactics.

Lori Newman, creative director and web designer at Newman Web Solutions, added, Atlanta is the fourth fastest-growing region in America, and there are a lot of SEO companies in Atlanta that claim to be the best, which makes Atlanta's SEO industry unique. For this reason, staying on top of SEO strategies is a priority for us so we can stay ahead of our competition.

Rusty Rich, website development manager at UpSwell, also added, Atlanta is full of young thinkers who don't have the time to sift through your site, so the key focus for SEO in Atlanta is all about site speed and technical optimization like structured data. We make sure sites load fast and we always make sure the contact info and location information is easy to find for search engines and the site visitor.

Jordan Klekot, president of Precision Creative, also added, Atlanta is a massive market, and businesses must take their SEO seriously if they want to be found over their competitors. This means using a combination of proven techniques and new, cutting-edge tactics to really make a difference.

SEOblog.com rankings are updated regularly as the market shifts and new players emerge. SEOblog.com has published more than 2,300 agency listings, with more added every day. There is no fee to participate, and the website welcomes all qualified agencies to apply.

SEOblog.coms 15 Best SEO Companies in Atlanta in 2021:

Qiigo, UpSwell, LYFE Marketing, Panorama Press, Cardinal Digital Marketing, Make It Loud, Rearview Advertising, Brightfire, Nichelabs, Blue Light Labs, M16 Marketing, Newman Web Solutions, Precision Creative, Leads Near Me and ShiftWeb Solutions.

Link: https://www.seoblog.com/best-seo-companies/atlanta/

About SEOblog.com

SEOblog.com is a leading thought leadership site with a rich history of publishing educational and informative articles about SEO and digital marketing topics. In early 2019, SEOblog.com answered the call from buyers of digital marketing services that lacked unbiased, informative online resources and launched a comprehensive directory to highlight the best SEO companies in the United States -- https://www.seoblog.com/best-seo-companies/. SEOblogs mission is to connect businesses with qualified digital marketing agencies while also offering further SEO education, best practices and industry trends.

SEOblog.com is a one-stop shop for educational SEO and digital marketing content, research, ratings and reviews for the best agencies in each local market across the United States. The website will be increasing its coverage of U.S. SEO agencies and accepting more guest blog posts in the coming months. Contact SEOblog if youre interested in getting involved.
By Ramesh Bhushal

On 22 May, 1911, at around 6.30 pm, the erstwhile King of Nepal Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah inaugurated Nepals first and South Asias second hydropower in Kathmandu by turning on the lights in Tudikhel located at the centre of the city. The Chandra Jyoti Electric Power station, named after the then Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher Rana, had an installed capacity of 500 kilowatts and took about four years and nearly one-million-days of work to complete. Built to light the palaces of the autocratic Rana rulers, the power station used water from two spring sources 12 kilometres south of Kathmandu.

This was only 30 years after the installation of the worlds first hydropower plant on Fox river of Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1882, and a year before China built its first hydropower plant in 1912 in Yunnan province.

Despite this early start, Nepal failed, and built its second hydropower project only 28 years later. In 1939, a second hydro project of 640 kilowatts was built in northeast of Kathmandu. This was built to allow the autocratic rulers to live in luxury, rather than to provide electricity for the general population. The country only produced one megawatt of electricity in the first 50 years.

Over the past century, Nepal's hydropower development has been sluggish, with current power production only at 1,400 megawatts. Nearly one third of the countrys power is met by importing energy from India  its southern neighbour.

Sadly, the history of the oldest hydropower dam has been almost forgotten and it now only delivers water to residents of the southern Kathmandu valley. In 2011, the government of Nepal declared it a living heritage site but not much has been done to preserve the area. The old palace and guest houses have cracked or crumbled into pieces. The power station has been poorly maintained and the road reaching the site is yet to be completed. Rusted old metal pipes are scattered near the water storage pond. As one local said, We Nepalis dont understand the value of precious things."
Syracuse, N.Y.  Syracuse police are asking for the publics help to find a 19-year-old wanted in a homicide case from last summer.

Jariel Pinet, of Syracuse, is one of two people still wanted in the murder of 24-year-old Draquan Draskii McDonald and attempted murder of a 55-year-old woman, Syracuse police said.

Jonathan Sanchez, 19, and Angel Rosario, 15, were indicted by an Onondaga County grand jury last week. They both face murder and attempted murder charges, as well as illegally possessing two 9 mm guns and one .40-caliber gun, according to the indictment.

Police have not yet named the fourth person suspected in the deadly shooting July 26 near Washington Square Park on the citys North Side.

READ MORE: 31 people were murdered in Syracuse in 2020: Here are the victims

A spray of gunshots was fired shortly after 6 p.m. that day near the park. McDonald died shortly after he was shot in the back near Wolf and Park streets; the 55-year-old woman also was shot in the leg, but survived.

Syracuse police say Pinet is a suspect in the case, and ask anyone with information about his whereabouts to call their warrant squad at (315) 442-5230.

Police described Pinet as 5 feet, 4 inches tall, about 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Pinets last known addresses were 306 Herbert St. and 50 Ponderosa Drive.

He is wanted on second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon charges.

Sanchez remained in jail Tuesday; Rosario, a juvenile, is not listed as an inmate, records show. The names of juveniles held in custody are not normally listed in the countys public inmate records.

Have a tip or a story idea? Contact Catie OToole: cotoole@syracuse.com | text/call 315-470-2134 | Twitter | Facebook
Africa SDG report adds index on leaving no one behind

February 09,2021 | Source: SDG

The 2020 edition of the Africa SDG Index and dashboards report, published by the Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), shows the status of 52 African countries in terms of progress towards the 17 SDGs. The 2020 edition also introduces a new index on the 2030 Agendas overarching ambition of leaving no one behind. The SDG indexes, dashboards, and related reports use the most recent publicly available data from official sources such as the World Bank, World Health Organization, and International Labour Organization, as well as research centers and NGOs. The data in the 2020 Africa Index are aligned as closely as possible with official SDG indicators, as well as some measures of the African Unions (AU) Agenda 2063, for a total of 97 indicators covering all 17 SDGs. Most countries that score highly on the SDG Index also have better scores in leaving no one behind.



According to the analysis in terms of the current status and trends toward achieving the SDGs:



- SDG 13 (climate action) is the only Goal for which most African countries are on track. SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production) is also an area of better performance for Africa overall.

- The goals facing the greatest challenges are SDG 3 (good health and wellbeing), SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions).

- Tunisia is the top-ranking country in Africa, with the findings showing that the country is 67% of the way towards achieving the SDGs.

- In terms of sub-regions, North Africa performed the best overall, and Central Africa performed the worst overall.

- Seychelles and Equatorial Guinea are not included in the Index due to insufficient data coverage.



The leave no one behind Index and Dashboards, new in the 2020 edition, aim to reveal inequalities hidden by the averages shown in the overall SDG Index. However, the authors explain, since the underlying data are not disaggregated, this analysis does not capture other common inequalities including those related to geography (urban/rural), ethnic or racial, or the status of the vulnerable population groups such people with disabilities, migrants, and older people. The analysis finds significant coherence between the overall SDG ranking and the leaving no one behind rankings. Most countries that score highly on the SDG Index also have better scores in leaving no one behind, and have less inequality within their populations. A few countries that have low LNOB scores still show good performance on the SDG Index due to good scores on environmental goals, but they face more issues related to social inequalities, the authors report.



On responding to COVID-19 in 2020, the report indicates that countries in Africa have reallocated resources and took early measures to lock down activity and curb the spread of the virus. In Sub-Saharan Africa, this prevented the speed of growth in cases and mortality that occurred elsewhere. The authors suggest that all countries should adopt a sustainability approach to rebuilding from the pandemic, and that governments in Africa are relatively well positioned to do so following significant efforts to incorporate the SDGs into national strategies and development plans, identify units of government to coordinate SDG implementation, and select specific SDG targets for prioritization. The lack of funding and resources is one of the most important challenges both in terms of SDG implementation and monitoring, the authors emphasize. The progress and challenges that African countries are facing in implementing the SDGs will be discussed during the seventh session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in March 2021. This event will be convened under the theme Building forward better: towards a resilient and green Africa to achieve the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. Agenda items will include a regional review of, and follow up to, implementation of the two Agendas.

Theme(s): Post Harvest Technology and Trade, Freshwater ecosystems and threats, Landing Centres, Others, Communities and Organisations, Coastal Ecosystems and Threats, Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods, Fisheries Development and Aquaculture, Fisheries Resources.
With Valentines Day just around the corner, the homegrown passion economy driven short video platform, Bolo Indya launches #DesiRomance campaign to celebrate the much-awaited Valentines week in Indian style across its 14 languages. Starting from Feb 6th, the week-long campaign will demonstrate and capture the journey of love of its creators and users, who will be encouraged to create exciting UGC videos, sharing their experiences, love proposals, heartbreaks, etc full of fun, humor, and creativity to cherish their love with an Indian-twist.

On Rose & propose day, which is on February 7-8th, the #Kahinkisirose challenge will be live to invite Bolo Indya users to recognize their favorite creators and share rose emoticons with them on the most liked videos as gratitude to express their love & fondness towards their favorite creators. On Sorry Day, creators can upload quirky and fun videos using #SorryDarling to express everyday fights that couples go through in a relationship. The best UGC videos as well as creators who receive the highest number of roses will be given gift hampers from Bolo Indya's Special Moments team.

"Bolo Indya's Special Moments team" is the newly created moment marketing team that works closely with B2C brands to promote them directly as well as indirectly through various campaign activations happening on the platform from time to time. The week-long Valentines' day campaign is expected to create higher traction on the platform in the backdrop of the majority of its audience within the age range of 18-35 years and the event is closer to their hearts. The campaign will boost the content creation using various interactive tools currently live on the platform including its recently launched dubbing feature, lip-sync tools, special effects videos, slow- mo and many more.

Bolo Indya is supported by an easy UI, robust editing tools, and advanced filters. Bolo Indya has witnessed exponential growth in the past few months driven by its newly launched feature, Bolo Meets. Bolo Meets is attracting a large number of creators to monetize their content via the Bolo Indya platform; in line with the passion-driven creator economy.

Launched in May 2019, Bolo Indya, the passion economy driven short video content platform has over 68 lakh monthly active users across Android, iOS, and OEM Appstore with over 28 lakhs creators creating close to 20 lakhs videos daily. The platform is already present in over 14 languages with good penetration in tier 1/2/3 and 4 cities.


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

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

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

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

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

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The founder and leader of the Alive Chapel International, Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako has charged the leader of Alabaster International Ministry, Prophet Kofi Oduro to render an unqualified apology to President Akufo-Addo for brandishing him as a hypocrite.



According to him, Kofi Oduro calling President Akufo-Addo names is immaterial at the moment but rather the compliance to the measures put in place by the government especially when everyone contributed to the recent hike in the Covid-19.



Speaking to the media in his office, Bishop Salifu Amoako found it prudent that Ghanaians after going through some hardships and lockdown decided to celebrate at the end of the year, lowering their guards with regards to the safety protocols.



but because we are human beings and are capable of making mistakes we did not follow the safety protocolseverybody contributed to the rising of the Covid-19 cases; the rallies and political campaigns. Those who travelled from abroad as part of the spread of the Covid-19 and the Christmas festivity also contributed to the spread of the Covid-19. But in all of these, the President came to talk to us that we should manage the situation we all find ourselves in very well so that it does not escalate, he indicated.



To him, President Akufo-Addo sought to encourage Ghanaians to make efforts to manage the Covid-19 situation in the country without speaking against anybody to warrant the verbal attack of Pastor Kofi Oduro.



He wondered why the leader of Alabaster International Ministry will go haywire on President Akufo-Addo when he [the President] being a spiritual leader did not touch churches in his new restrictions to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.



if Kofi Oduro goes the extra mile to speak against the President and his council of state who advises the President, I think it is wrong. Pastor Kofi Oduro, you and your church, you owe the President an apology, he charged.



It is not difficult to apologise; it is only arrogant people who find it difficult to say I am sorry. I am sorry can save your life and your family and so I feel that Pastor Kofi Oduro, you owe the President some apology. Accept your mistake and find a way to apologise that your utterance was in a bad taste, he chided.



He also used the occasion to plead with the members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) especially, Hopson Adorye to forgive Pastor Kofi Oduro for speaking against President Akufo-Addo in that manner.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Eat your heart out Iron Man.

You don't have to be a superhero to drive Audi's awesome new sporty all-electric e-tron GT grand tourer.

However, with prices ranging from 79,900 to nearly double that for the hottest RS version at 133,105, a super bank balance may help.

Nevertheless, for that money you will imbued with certain automotive super-powers, including the ability to accelerate from a standing start to 62mph in a supercar performance time of just 3.3 seconds and enjoy a range of up to 296 miles.

And with zero-emissions, you're arguably already doing your bit to help save the planet.

Audi's superhero electric car: This is the new Audi e-tron GT, a luxurious grant tourer that was previewed in the 2019 film, Avengers Endgame

Even vegetarians and vegans can enjoy its leather-free interior option.

Super-cool Hollywood actor Robert Downey Jnr drove an early prototype of the new battery-powered GT on screen in the Marvel movie Avengers Endgame where he plays billionaire industrialist Tony Stark, secretly the fully armoured flying Iron Man superhero. The star even drove himself to the movie's premiere in one, posing alongside it for photographs.

But now the light disguise has finally come off Audi's new lightning-fast electric flagship that is set to hit showrooms in Spring as the German car-giant launches not one but two key versions to the world, along with detailed specification, pricing and technology for the cruiser with supercar pedigree and acceleration.

With the UK highlighted as one of the key markets, the standard Audi e-tron GT quattro starts from 79,900, rising to 106,000 for the 'ultra-high' specced Vorsprung trim.

From there, however, it's only a relatively short hop to the racing-inspired Audi RS e-tron GT priced from 110,950 but rising to 125,340 for the Carbon Black trim and a whopping 133,105 for the Carbon Vorsprung.

In the USA, the e-tron GT quattro is priced from $99,900 for the Premium Plus, the e-tron GT quattro Prestige costs from $107,100 and the RS e-tron GT from $139,900.

Robert Downey Jnr attending Audi Arrives At The World Premiere Of 'Avengers: Endgame' on April 22, 2019 in Hollywood, California

Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jnr, seen (left) in Avengers Endgame exiting the Audi e-tron GT. The production car looks almost identical to the concept used in the film two years ago

Production of the new model has already begun at Audi Bollinger Hofe, Neckarsulm, South West Germany

Audi's motto has long been 'Vorsprung durch Technik', broadly translated as a leap forward through technology, and the new GT certainly has a host of new technology worthy of a Marvel Avenger as well as a few superpowers of its own  including night vision and laser lights.

Audi design chiefs said the new GT takes its inspiration from the grand tourers and muscle cars of the 1950s, 60s and 1970s, as exemplified by the low profile and aerodynamic shape mixed muscular rear haunches and fearsome all-electric pulling power that combine elegance with potency.

They say it 'brings Vorsprung durch Technik to the road while being 'powerful, sporty, confident, and emotional.'

The standard Audi e-tron GT quattro starts from 79,900, rising to 106,000 for the 'ultra-high' specced Vorsprung trim

A racing-inspired Audi RS e-tron GT is priced from 110,950, rising to 125,340 for the Carbon Black trim and a whopping 133,105 for the Carbon Vorsprung

In the UK, the GT quattro will ride as standard on 20 inch wheels, the RS on larger 21 inch wheels to give it added presence

Standing 4.99m long, 1.96m wide and just 1.41m high stretched over a 2.90m wheelbase, Audi says its proportions share 'the dimensions of a classic grand tourer.'

Built at an environmentally-friendly boutique factory at Bollinger Hofe, near Neckarsulm in South West Germany, UK versions of the GT quattro will be equipped with LED headlamps featuring striking 3-D look daytime running lights and dynamic front and rear indicator lights as standard. Super-intense lighting is available from Audi's laser-light which activates from 43.5 mph and doubles the range of the high beam.

In the UK, the GT quattro will ride as standard on 20 inch wheels, the RS on larger 21 inch wheels to give it added presence.

Propulsion for the all-wheel drive or 'quattro' GT is from two electric motors  one on the front axle and a second more powerful one on the rear axle. In normal mode that will give the RS a total combined 598 horse-power (440kW) and the GT Quattro 476 horse-power (350kW)

However, if you apply the launch control which gives an additional 2.5 second burst of energy from standstill, that increases the total available power for the RS to a mighty 646 horse-power (475kW) and the GT quattro to 530 horse-power (390kW).

Standing 4.99m long, 1.96m wide and just 1.41m high stretched over a 2.90m wheelbase, Audi says its proportions share 'the dimensions of a classic grand tourer'

Propulsion for the all-wheel drive or 'quattro' GT is from two electric motors  one on the front axle and a second more powerful one on the rear axle. In normal mode that will give the RS a total combined 598 horse-power (440kW) and the GT Quattro 476 horse-power (350kW)

With charging ports behind both front wheels, the GT can charge overnight on a 11kW AC charger as standard. A more powerful optional 22kW is to follow shortly after launch

On a fast-charging DC terminal, charging up to 80 per cent is achievable in under 23 minutes, says Audi. A five minute charge will get you 62 miles

That added boost enables the RS to accelerate from rest to 62mph in just 3.3 seconds up to a top speed restricted to 155mph. The GT quattro will manage the same in just 4.1 seconds up to a top speed of 152mph. This is aided by the short-ratio first gear in the GT's two-speed automatic transmission which allows for the stunning acceleration. In normal mode, the car will start off for greater efficiency in second gear.

Electric all-wheel drive is the default setting for all driving modes, except for 'efficiency', when front-wheel drive is prioritised. But Audi notes: 'On slippery road surfaces or when high power requirements or fast cornering demand it, the electric motor for rear wheel drive is also activated in this mode around five times faster than with a mechanical Quattro drivetrain.'

Other modes where all-wheel drive is the standard setting include leisurely 'comfort' and feisty 'dynamic.' The vehicle will also 'sail' or cruise when the driver takes his or her foot off the peddle. But energy released from braking can also be recuperated and re-used to power the battery and car.

Powering the new GT is a 85kW lithium ion battery configuration comprising 396 pouch cells arranged in 33 modules.

With charging ports behind both front wheels, the GT can charge overnight on a 11kW AC charger as standard. A more powerful optional 22kW is to follow shortly after launch. On a fast-charging DC terminal, charging up to 80 per cent is achievable in under 23 minutes, says Audi. A five minute charge will get you 62 miles, it adds.

Fully charged the GT quattro will have a range of 296 miles  enough to get you from North London to Newcastle  with the more powerful RS managing 283 miles. However, given the temptation to drive these cars somewhat more enthusiastically rather than economically and frugally, I suspect the figures that owners will achieve will be somewhat less.

The sporty but minimalist cockpit-like interior has a dashboard  with 12.3 inch screen plus a 10.1 inch infotainment screen

The cockpit is designed to face towards and surround the driver who is separated from the front passenger by a wide centre console housing the gear selector switch

Adaptive 'three chamber' air suspension lowers body by up to 22mm and raises up to 20mm. It is standard on all but the entry level GT for which it is an option as part of a package

The sporty but minimalist cockpit-like interior has a dashboard  with 12.3 inch screen plus a 10.1 inch infotainment screen - designed to face towards and surround the driver who is separated from the front passenger by a wide centre console housing the gear selector switch.

As well as traditional leather, buyers also have the option of two 'vegan' leather free-interiors with 119 recycled plastic bottles and textiles, creating the artificial Dinamica fabric in every sporty low-slung and cosseting seat. Depending on the model bought there are three versions of seats  8, 14, and 18 way electrically adjustable -with the latter also having ventilation and massage capability.

To help create extra legroom and comfort in the rear, passengers have the benefit of a sunken 'foot garage' which dips into a space in the battery cells beneath the floor.

As the electric car would in ordinary circumstances be almost silent, Audi has created a package of synthesised sounds for it to help enhance the driving experience. Sound engineers have used everything from electric drills and guitars to flying model helicopter drones and elongated tubes to create the GT's soundtrack. Two control units and amplifiers in the luggage compartment generate interior and exterior sounds which go out via two loudspeakers. The intensity of the sound changes according to the driving mode and dynamic profile selected. In 'Sport' mode the sound is 'sporty and voluminous'.

As well as traditional leather, buyers also have the option of two 'vegan' leather free-interiors with 119 recycled plastic bottles and textiles, creating the artificial Dinamica fabric in every sporty low-slung and cosseting seat

Depending on the model bought there are three versions of seats  8, 14, and 18 way electrically adjustable -with the latter also having ventilation and massage capability

To help create extra legroom and comfort in the rear, passengers have the benefit of a sunken 'foot garage' which dips into a space in the battery cells beneath the floor

As well as a foot garage, Audi says adults will be comfortable in the second row with plenty of head-room available

A series hi-tech engineering aids and driver assistance systems help keep the new GT rooted to the ground across a range of driving conditions. High performance brakes, including carbon fibre ceramic brakes, help bring the car and its awesome power safely to a stop. There are three enhanced safety packages bundled as : Tour, City Assist, and Parking Assistance.

Adaptive 'three chamber' air suspension lowers body by up to 22mm and raises up to 20mm. It is standard on all but the entry level GT for which it is an option as part of a package.

There are nine exterior colours including new Tactical Green with plenty of opportunities to bling it up with gloss black and carbon fibre trim.

The honeycomb 'radiator grille' matches the body colour and is used to hide sensors, as there's no traditional engine to cool.

The windshield is made of noise-insulating glass as standard, as are side and rear windows in higher spec models.

Audi has created a package of synthesised sounds for it to help enhance the driving experience. Sound engineers have used everything from electric drills and guitars to flying model helicopter drones and elongated tubes to create the GT's soundtrack

The honeycomb 'radiator grille' matches the body colour and is used to hide sensors, as there's no traditional engine to cool

That added boost enables the RS to accelerate from rest to 62mph in just 3.3 seconds up to a top speed restricted to 155mph. The GT quattro will manage the same in just 4.1 seconds up to a top speed of 152mph

The e-tron GT Quattro and RS versions are connected to the outside world via 11 hidden antennae which help with navigation, media and smartphone connections. Higher specced cars feature a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system.

Night vision assist and surround cameras are optional.

Exterior designer Philipp Romers said having Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jnr on board from the early inception of the GT  as well as in the Avengers movie - was 'really cool'.

He said: 'It was a big honour, not only to have the car in the film but to have Robert Downey Jnr reveal the original show car in Los Angeles and to drive it to the premiere of the movie. That was really cool.'

Director of Audi UK Andrew Doyle said: 'The new e-tron GT quattro and RS e-tron GT are products of the same assiduous Vorsprung durch Technik approach to electrified driving, but embody it in a highly emotive and exciting new Grand Tourer format that exploits the technology's incredible performance potential even more fully. This will be invaluable as a means of hastening its wider acceptance.'
Supplier News

9 February 2021

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Set for a grand opening in March 2021, Azure Palm Hot Springs features 40 room accommodations with relaxation-enhancing amenities that include in-room mineral water soaking tubs and balcony views of the majestic Mount San Jacinto. However, while aiming to sever any distractions to achieving tranquility, Azure Palm Hot Springs stewards recognized that today's guests lifestyles routinely require access to reliable Wi-Fi. The resort therefore selected HIS due to its experience and specialization in implementing advanced Wi-Fi networks for the hospitality industry. Standing out from competing providers for the resort in particular was HIS' expertise in deploying access points to ensure high-quality Wi-Fi coverage throughout the resort. This was achieved using advanced Ruckus access points and HIS knowledge in installing the devices within strategic areas in order to create a strong and consistent signal for both guestrooms and public areas.

"Even for a resort such as ours where the goal is to provide guests with a means to escape daily life and find serenity from their immediate surroundings, effective and reliable Wi-Fi is still essential for those that may need to stay in touch with friends and family or for any other suddenly arising purposes," said Richard Lambakis, Director of Sales and Marketing at Azure Palm Hot Springs. "HIS' professionalism and unique knowledge of hospitality business needs provided us with the confidence in being able to fully meet this industry-wide requirement."

To ensure that guests can continue to receive a peaceful and hassle-free resort experience, HIS also provides Azure Palm Hot Springs with instant access to its 24/7 support services. Able to provide swift assistance for an array of issues including login difficulties and Wi-Fi driver card configurations, HIS support representatives ensure that any troubleshooting scenario is immediately addressed before it has the potential to affect satisfaction rates and guest peace-of-mind.

For more information about the full range of technology solutions available from Hotel Internet Services, please contact Gary Patrick at 866-265-7575 Ext. 705 or email [email protected].

For more information about the resort and day spa at Azure Palm Hot Springs, please contact Maria Lease at 760-251-2000 or email [email protected].
South Africas Ambassador to the Holy See shares his impressions of the Popes annual audience with the diplomatic corps in the Vatican.

By Linda Bordoni

Known as the Popes State of the World address, the annual papal meeting with ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, is a privileged occasion for the diplomats to hear, first-hand, what the Holy Fathers thoughts are regarding their particular parts of the world and his aspirations for the year to come.

The long and complex discourse typically paints a fresco of the current state of world affairs, highlighting areas of crisis, war, suffering and need, while encouraging and guiding action and diplomacy for peace and development.

Even if you werent in the Aula delle Benedizioni for Pope Francis address on 8 February 2021 to the diplomatic corps, you wouldnt need a crystal ball to guess that the covid-19 pandemic and its far-reaching effects would be dramatically present in many of his considerations.

This was confirmed to me shortly after the audience with the diplomats by George Johannes, Ambassador of South Africa to the Holy See, who told me that although Pope Francis touched on many painful and even tragic issues, he came away from the audience feeling energized and comforted, encouraged to look ahead and see the light at the end of the tunnel:

Listen to the interview with Ambassador George Johannes

This is one of the best speeches that I've heard for a very long time, said Ambassador Johannes, because it was very comprehensive and it brought together so many different themes, and what was key was our inter-connectedness.

Inter-connectedness

The ambassador said that, in line with Pope Francis many exhortations to never forget we are One Human Family and that we must care for Our Common Home, the Pope eloquently highlighted how in the past years there has been a tendency to build walls, to isolate each other and pursue selfish interests, while the covid-19 pandemic has forced us to realise that we are all inter-connected and that no one is saved alone.

What interested me a lot, he said, was that he clearly outlined the position of the Holy See on international economic and political relations, and what made me very happy was that he outlined clearly the spirit of sharing and dialogue.

Ambassador Johannes said Pope Francis spoke at length about the setting up of the Vatican's Covid-19 commission that, he explained, goes well beyond the health issues of the pandemic: It's focusing on welfare rights and on the fact that more and more people are actually on the streets, that more and more people are poor, are having serious social and political problems in their lives.

What really struck him, Ambassador Johannes told me, was that the Pope went to great lengths to highlight how prior to the pandemic everything was selfishness, and subjected to a culture of waste while the pandemic has reminded us of the value of human existence.

Covid reminded us about the value of life

Covid confronted us to look at the two unavoidable dimensions of human existence: sickness and death and reminded us about the value of life.

This he said, led him to talk about other pandemics: the pandemics of war and exclusion and of the need to look to the call of the poor and the marginalized and of how impellent it is for us to restructure society.

Paradoxically, he agreed, the Pope is saying that although the pandemic, the virus, has pushed us apart because of health precautions, it has forced us to take stock of our inter-connectedness: he was talking about the world being fragile and he also mentioned this issue in terms of climate change, and the problems that we have in Africa.

Ambassador Johannes said the Popes speech spanned the continents with more than a mention of the critical situations in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, the Korean Peninsula, the Holy Land, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, where he hopes to visit very soon.

The Pope's Copernicum revolution

What is interesting he says there is a need for a new Copernican revolution, for turning the economy upside down and creating a new kind of economy, one that brings life not death! Pope Francis - Johannes reiterated - really was my man today!

The twelve-page long speech included references and reflections on religious freedom, terrorism, the importance of interreligious dialogue and the fundamental need for dialogue and mutual understanding, the ambassador said, and it concluded with a reference to Dantes Divine Comedy in which man is led from pain and suffering into a condition of bliss.

One rather beautiful and touching part of his discourse, Ambassador Johannes noted, pertained to Italy when the Pope expressed his appreciation for how Italians, who were the first in Europe to have to deal with the grave effects of the pandemic, never lost heart.

The Pope, he said, revealed that he urged them build a society in which no one is discarded or forgotten reiterating that 2021 is a time that must not be wasted.

A vision in which society is based on fairness

This resonates with me personally, the ambassador said, because my vision is very much of a society which is non-capitalist based, but a society which is based on fairness and human capitalism where we share each others strengths, resources, good will, etc.

I see me and Pope Francis being on the same wave-line, Ambassador Johannes concluded: and that is why I came out of the audience feeling good, feeling energized, and happy also to see how well he looked! One can only say long may he live and long may he go on because we really need him!
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A tight-knit community is in mourning after a 4.5 metre male crocodile was found dead and entangled in fishing equipment.

Port Douglas Yacht Club, in Queensland, announced it was a 'sad day' for the Dickson Inlet and Port Douglas habitats after the 'king of the inlet' was found floating entangled on a mooring line.

'However, upon securing him and bringing him ashore it became apparent to us that he was in fact caught up in not one, but two crab pots,' the club wrote to Facebook on Monday.

'And then entangled on the rope and steel wires of a mooring line.

A tight-knit community is in mourning after a 4.5 metre male crocodile was found dead and entangled in fishing equipment (pictured)

'Tragic end to the big fella. He was approx 4.5 metres long and an old boy.'

Distressing pictures showed the ropes tied around the lifeless crocodile's body.

Club manager Sam Leo told the Cairns Post it took about one hour to untangle the crocodile.

Mr Leo explained crocs are known to get their snouts caught in crab pots.

'He must've gone into a death roll not knowing what was going on because the steel mooring line was wrapped about six times,' he said.

The manager said the dead reptile was the designated 'big, dominant' crocodile in the area.

Port Douglas Yacht Club, in Queensland, announced it was a 'sad day' for the Dickson Inlet and Port Douglas habitats after the reptile was found floating entangled on a mooring line

'From all accounts, he wasn't an overly aggressive crocodile,' Mr Leo said.

'King of the inlet'

'It's left a large void in the history of big crocs up here. He would've been around for decades.'

Mr Leo said club members and the wider sailing community are 'croc wise' and understand the environment they are in.

Port Douglas Yacht Club's Facebook post was flooded with comments paying respect to the crocodile's life.

'Not a good ending for poor old fella,' one read.

'Those pics are quite disturbing. That's very sad,' another commented.

A third said: 'No king of the inlet.'

'Tragic end to the big fella. He was approx 4.5 metres long and an old boy,' Port Douglas Yacht Club said

A number of locals also debated what would happen to the habitat now the king was gone.

'Removing such a dominant player in an estuary will lead to an interesting power play over the coming months. A tragic shame crab pots and a mooring line were his undoing,' one person wrote.

Port Douglas Yacht Club replied: 'Our sentiments exactly. Being the king, who knows what this will bring.'

'Sad day for the inlet habitat,' another comment read.
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday launched a $1.96 billion rail project linking neighbouring Niger as the country looks to boast its economy

Abuja, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Feb, 2021 ) :Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday launched a $1.96 billion rail project linking neighbouring Niger as the country looks to boast its economy.

The government has recently begun a series of large-scale infrastructure projects and Buhari said this 284-kilometre (176 miles) train line approved in September 2020 was crucial in linking the country to the rest of West Africa.

"The project, when completed, would serve import and export of goods for Niger Republic and other countries in the sub-region through Nigerian ports," Buhari said in a virtual address.

Nigeria will earn revenue through expansion of trade and commerce, while Niger will benefit from transportation logistics, the president added.

The Portuguese construction company Mota-Engil is to lead the project, which is to link the northern Nigerian city of Kano to Maradi in Niger.

Although Nigeria's senate last year approved a nearly $23 billion foreign loan request by Buhari to revamp the country's crumbling infrastructure, the rail project comes at a time when the country is under financial pressure.

Buhari was reelected for a final four-year term in 2019 on pledges to boost the economy and create jobs for Nigeria's young and expanding population. But the government has consistently failed to fulfil its ambitious spending targets.

As Nigeria entered a recession late last year, the International Monetary Fund warned that the country was at a critical juncture.

With current policies in place, "Nigeria's recovery is expected to be weak," the IMF said.
There's a reason the left doesn't want COVID ever to end.

First, it became a pretext for blue-state officials to shut down businesses, churches, and schools.

Now it's morphed into a pretext for Orwellian spying on Americans and their every personal move. It's all about control.

At the same time, the Biden administration is also encouraging illegal immigration.

It comes down to "your papers, please" for Americans, based on purported concerns about COVID, but for unvetted foreigners, never mind about the passport.

This comes with open borders, amnesty, and "free" health care serving as incentives for them to come on in.

That's some central planning from the party of Big Government. Or more to the point, Biden has his priorities.

Here are some of the specifics:

Joe Biden in one of his first executive orders called for the study of COVID passports. According to the New York Times:

One of President Biden's executive orders aimed at curbing the pandemic asks government agencies to "assess the feasibility" of linking coronavirus vaccine certificates with other vaccination documents, and producing digital versions of them.

Meanwhile, Biden's Transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, has even more ideas. He has followed through with calls for proof of negative tests before anyone is allowed to travel on airlines.

According to the Daily Wire:

Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said during an interview on Sunday that the Biden administration is in active conversations with the CDC about whether it will require American citizens to have a negative coronavirus test before they are allowed to fly to another U.S. state. Buttigieg made the remark when asked during an Axios interview what he thought "of requiring a COVID test before someone flies even domestically[.]" "Well, there's an active conversation with the CDC right now, what I can tell you is this going to be guided by data, by science, by medicine, and by the input of the people are actually going to have to carry this out," Buttigieg responded. "But here's the thing, the safer we can make air travel in terms of perception as well as reality, the more people are going to be ready to get back in the air."

This is quite an imposition.

Multiple factors make both his and Biden's ideas useless.

To start, the vaccines are only about 75% to 90% effective. That means one out of four or one out of ten vaccinated people is perfectly likely to super-spread.

Two, with all the violations of lockdown orders demonstrated by Democrats convinced they're above the law, how long do we wait before one of Biden's relatives gets on without his vaccination passport? It's inevitable, owing to the Democrats' record on COVID. And after that, how long before we read of a criminal ring, possibly connected to corrupt elements in a government agency, getting caught selling COVID passports? We suspect not long at all.

Three, it's true that Americans should be COVID-free before any airline travel. The question here is why COVID detection devices aren't deployed on the people entering the plane instead of requiring every individual to prove their innocence which is highly inefficient? The whole idea reeks of inefficiency.

The fourth issue is a disturbing one  it's how the data gathered will be used. Sure, they'll say everything is safe...before the next hack. And we already know that Bank of America hands over customer data to lawmen, even on people under no subpoena or criminal charges.

As columnist Dan Carlson writes:

But we ought to be concerned about what this could lead to. In many ways, COVID-19 is a practice run. You can bet interested parties are gathering all kinds of data about how people react to pandemics and emergency health directives. And somewhere some entity is taking note of those who comply, those who don't, those who advocate for more government oversight, and those who advocate for personal liberty. You may think you're neutral, but you're already placed in one camp or another based on digital tracking of what you do and say every day.

Yet the most corrupted aspect of this is the Biden administration's exemption for illegals. Illegals by their nature don't carry official documents permitting entry. If there's no need for permission to enter the U.S. to work and draw benefits, rest assured that the government won't be interested in requiring a COVID passport for illegals, either. It's a raw contradiction of politics and political priorities.

Illegals are exempt from any basic official control. But to Biden, Americans are in need of more of it. It's all about control and, very specifically, whom to control.

Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License.

Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- This time is different may be the most dangerous words in business: billions of dollars have been lost betting that history wont repeat itself. And yet now, in the oil world, it looks like this time really will be.For the first time in decades, oil companies arent rushing to increase production to chase rising oil prices as Brent crude approaches $70. Even in the Permian, the prolific shale basin at the center of the U.S. energy boom, drillers are resisting their traditional boom-and-bust cycle of spending.The oil industry is on the ropes, constrained by Wall Street investors demanding that companies spend less on drilling and instead return more money to shareholders, and climate change activists pushing against fossil fuels. Exxon Mobil Corp. is paradigmatic of the trend, after its humiliating defeat at the hands of a tiny activist elbowing itself onto the board.The dramatic events in the industry last week only add to what is emerging as an opportunity for the producers of OPEC+, giving the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and Russia more room for maneuver to bring back their own production. As non-OPEC output fails to rebound as fast as many expected -- or feared based on past experience -- the cartel is likely to continue adding more supply when it meets on June 1.CriminalizationShareholders are asking Exxon to drill less and focus on returning money to investors. They have been throwing money down the drill hole like crazy, Christopher Ailman, chief investment officer for CalSTRS. We really saw that company just heading down the hole, not surviving into the future, unless they change and adapt. And now they have to.Exxon is unlikely to be alone. Royal Dutch Shell Plc lost a landmark legal battle last week when a Dutch court told it to cut emissions significantly by 2030 -- something that would require less oil production. Many in the industry fear a wave of lawsuits elsewhere, with western oil majors more immediate targets than the state-owned oil companies that make up much of OPEC production.We see a shift from stigmatization toward criminalization of investing in higher oil production, said Bob McNally, president of consultant Rapidan Energy Group and a former White House official.While its true that non-OPEC+ output is creeping back from the crash of 2020 -- and the ultra-depressed levels of April and May last year -- its far from a full recovery. Overall, non-OPEC+ output will grow this year by 620,000 barrels a day, less than half the 1.3 million barrels a day it fell in 2020. The supply growth forecast through the rest of this year comes nowhere close to matching the expected increase in demand, according to the International Energy Agency.Beyond 2021, oil output is likely to rise in a handful of nations, including the U.S., Brazil, Canada and new oil-producer Guyana. But production will decline elsewhere, from the U.K. to Colombia, Malaysia and Argentina.As non-OPEC+ production increases less than global oil demand, the cartel will be in control of the market, executives and traders said. Its a major break with the past, when oil companies responded to higher prices by rushing to invest again, boosting non-OPEC output and leaving the ministers led by Saudi Arabias Abdulaziz bin Salman with a much more difficult balancing act.Drilling DownSo far, the lack of non-OPEC+ oil production growth isnt registering much in the market. After all, the coronavirus pandemic continues to constrain global oil demand. It may be more noticeable later this year and into 2022. By then, vaccination campaigns against Covid-19 are likely to be bearing fruit, and the world will need more oil. The expected return of Iran into the market will provide some of that, but there will likely be a need for more.When that happens, it will be largely up to OPEC to plug the gap. One signal of how the recovery will be different this time is the U.S. drilling count: It is gradually increasing, but the recovery is slower than it was after the last big oil price crash in 2008-09. Shale companies are sticking to their commitment to return more money to shareholders via dividends. While before the pandemic shale companies re-used 70-90% of their cash flow into further drilling, they are now keeping that metric at around 50%.The result is that U.S. crude production has flat-lined at around 11 million barrels a day since July 2020. Outside the U.S. and Canada, the outlook is even more somber: at the end of April, the ex-North America oil rig count stood at 523, lower than it was a year ago, and nearly 40% below the same month two years earlier, according to data from Baker Hughes Co.When Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz predicted earlier this year that drill, baby, drill is gone for ever, it sounded like a bold call. As ministers meet this week, they may dare to hope hes right.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.
Fever and losing the sense of taste or smell are not the most common symptoms of people who test positive for coronavirus, a testing survey has found.

People infected with Covid in England were more likely to feel fatigued or to develop head or muscle aches.

However, current NHS Test and Trace rules mean people only suffering those signs of the illness would not be able to get a swab test. Tests are reserved for people who have a new cough, a fever or anosmia  which is a change in, or loss of, their sense of smell or taste.

Almost half of people don't get any symptoms at all, the Office for National Statistics said, and a maximum of one in three get the most common sign  a cough.

The Department of Health has already admitted it only detects a fraction of people with coronavirus through its testing scheme.

Experts and doctors have repeatedly called for more symptoms to be included in the list so more cases can be weeded out. The World Health Organization and officials in the US recognise other less common symptoms such as muscle pain and diarrhoea.

A broader definition of who is eligible for a swab might increase the positive rate but it could also lead to huge demand from people who have extremely common complaints  for example, only a tiny proportion of people with headaches are likely to have coronavirus and many more will have colds or simply be tired or dehydrated.

Office for National Statistics testing shows that fewer than half of people testing positive for coronavirus had any symptoms at all, with cough the most common at almost 30% in England

Experts and doctors have repeatedly called for more symptoms to be included in the list that make someone eligible for a swab test - which currently only includes cough, fever and lost smell or taste (pictured left, a woman swabs her own throat at a centre in West Ealing, London)

The ONS report, which was based on random community testing of around 9,000 people rather than people who came forward for swabs, found that 47 per cent of positive cases had symptoms.

This was similar in other parts of the UK, at 55 per cent in Wales, 47 per cent in Scotland and 38 per cent in Northern Ireland.

WHICH SYMPTOMS ARE MOST COMMON? Office for National Statistics data for England, between October and January, shows these were the most common symptoms among people testing positive for coronavirus: Symptom % of people Cough Fatigue weakness Headache Muscle ache Lost taste/ smell Fever Sore throat Loss of taste Loss of smell Gastrointestinal Short of breath Nausea/vomiting Diarrhoea Abdominal pain 29.4% 28.11% 27.78% 22.02% 20.03% 18.92% 18.61% 17.14% 16.23% 14.24% 10.48% 8.79% 6.03% 5.91% Advertisement

Most common symptoms among those who did get them were coughs, fatigue and weakness and headache.

Those symptoms each affected more than 25 per cent of people who were testing positive, the survey found.

By comparison in England, 19 per cent of people developed a fever and 22 per cent said they lost either their sense of taste or smell.

Swab tests were done by people across the UK between October 1 and January 30 and they were asked to describe any symptoms they had had within seven days of the test.

Symptoms of coronavirus appear to have become more common with the arrival of the new variant, first found in Kent, which spreads faster and is now dominant in England.

A report in January found that 53 per cent of people infected with that variant had symptoms, compared to 48 per cent of those who caught an older version.

Cough, sore throat, fatigue and muscle aches all became more common with the new variant, while the loss of taste and smell became less common.

Doctors and experts have called for the criteria for coronavirus testing to be widened in the UK repeatedly over the course of the pandemic.

But policy makers must balance the benefit of picking up more positive cases that would have otherwise been missed with the risk that the testing system would become overwhelmed by people with symptoms unlikely to be coronavirus.

Only a small percentage of people even with the three main symptoms actually have coronavirus  currently only about 5.5 per cent of tests taken by members of the public are positive, according to Public Health England data.

This rose to 18 per cent at the height of the second wave over Christmas and the new year, but this still meant eight out of 10 people who thought they had the virus did not.

Scientists at King's College London who lead the ZOE Covid Symptom Study app have repeatedly called on ministers to expand their list.

Their app allows users to log symptoms whenever they suffer them and then whether they test positive for the virus, revealing other warning signs.

The team masterminded the push to get the NHS to include anosmia  or loss of taste and smell  in the symptoms list after it was previously excluded at the start of the pandemic.
More deets here on tragic circumstances confronting clerics in rural Kansas.

Check-it . . .

DODGE CITY, Kan. - The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City has stepped away from his duties after being accused of abusing a minor, the diocese announced Monday. Bishop John Brungardt denies the allegations and will cooperate with the investigation, the diocese said.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - Universal PropTech Inc. (TSXV: UPI) ("UPI" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that is has entered into an agreement on February 5, 2021 with LuminUltra Technologies Ltd. ("LuminUltra") to deploy their GeneCount Rapid SARS-CoV-2 surface testing solution for UPI's current and past customers which total over 2,000 facilities including certain aviation assets in Canada today. The Agreement provides UPI the ability to provide testing services employing LuminUltra's GeneCount qPCR tests as a service.

Chris Hazelton, President and CEO of UPI commented: "We are very excited to bring LuminUltra's highly reputable SARS-CoV-2 surface testing solution to our customer base in Canada to ensure workplaces are sanitary and safe," Mr. Hazelton continued: "We had committed strategically to expanding our product mix and investing in key technology to enhance our Trusted Advisor status with our customers. Coupled with our recent announcements, the addition of LuminUltra's surface testing technology to our suite of services, we are well on our way to meeting that commitment to customers and shareholders."

UPI's wholly owned operating subsidiary, VCI Controls, will utilize the LimunUltra GeneCount qPCR test in order to provide audit support for the efficacy of the various indoor air quality equipment it is installing in customer facilities. In this way, VCI Controls will be able to provide clients with data demonstrating the real world effectiveness of the air sanitization equipment it installs, along with peace of mind for owners and staff alike that Covid-19 is not present in their facilities.

LuminUltra provides testing solutions for clinical diagnostics, surface, and wastewater testing. LuminUltra, through its rapid, accurate and portable qPCR tests help safeguard and protect environments by providing verification of disinfection protocols to confirm the absence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This helps identify early warning signs which enables the execution of swift response including contact tracing and human testing.

Fully Portable Manual Testing Using GeneCount Q-16

To view an enhanced version of this image, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5341/74003_45bb8bd3e4ec081a_002full.jpg

LuminUltra's GeneCount qPCR COVID-19 testing solutions are comprised of multiple, flexible components that provide a complete laboratory-grade point-of-need solution. The tests yield results in under two hours that are simple to interpret and possess industry leading accuracy and sensitivity. This gold standard testing method applies the same principles used in human clinical tests. Results are achieved without having to be sent to a lab.

LuminUltra serves some of the most well recognized and reputable companies across the globe including ExxonMobil, EcoLab, and Suez among many others.

"We are pleased to be working with the Universal PropTech team," says Pat Whalen, LuminUltra President & CEO. "VCI's experience and long-standing track record is impressive. We're confident that integrating LuminUltra's gold-standard qPCR technology into their offerings for government and aviation facilities will ensure a multi-faceted approach to managing COVID-19."

About Universal PropTech Inc.

Universal PropTech Inc. (TSXV: UPI) is a leading building innovation company, selecting, integrating, deploying, and maintaining PropTech in healthy buildings. As trusted advisors, we provide holistic evidence-driven solutions and services for building developers, owners, and operators in Canada. UPI operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, VCI Controls Inc. ("VCI"), a leading supplier and integrator of PropTech healthy building solutions and services. VCI is an industry leader in the acquisition and deployment of intelligent building technology, including the integration of all building systems utilizing the latest in communications technologies and standards. VCI's business focuses on digital controls and mechanical services, performance monitoring, and energy efficiency solutions.

With headquarters in Toronto, Universal PropTech Inc. has offices across Canada including, Halifax, Montreal, and Ottawa. For more information, visit www.universalproptech.com.

About LuminUltra

Founded in 1995, LuminUltra is a biological diagnostic testing company headquartered in Canada with operations in six countries. It is widely recognized globally as a leader in developing tests and reagents for environmental, industrial, and diagnostic monitoring and is a key supplier of COVID-19 clinical testing reagents to the Government of Canada. Customers in over 80 countries trust LuminUltra's technology, production reliability, and history of customer service excellence to deliver their essential services in a safe-state. At the same time, LuminUltra fosters a culture of innovation and agility and is on an accelerated growth path, acquiring multiple companies in recent years and forming a partnership with the specialized private equity firm XPV Water Partners.

Contact Information

Universal PropTech Inc.

Chris Hazelton

President and Chief Executive Officer

chazelton@universalproptech.com

(647) 300-2957

LuminUltra Technologies Ltd

Jessica Stutt

Director of Communications and Marketing

Jessica.stutt@luminultra.com

(506) 260-6716

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information provided in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "forecast", expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project", or similar words suggesting future outcomes. The Company cautions readers and prospective investors in the Company's securities not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as, by its nature, it is based on current expectations regarding future events that involve a number of assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company.

The forward-looking information included herein is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information included herein is made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("Exchange"), nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74003

He started growing marijuana as a teenager and for four decades earned a modest living from his tiny plot tucked at the base of these rugged mountains of western Mexico.

He proudly shows off his illegal plants, waist-high and fragrant, strategically hidden from view by rows of corn and nearly ready to be harvested.

Ive always liked this business, producing marijuana, the 50-year-old farmer said wistfully. He had decided that this seasons crop would be his last.

The reason: free-market economics.

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The loosening of marijuana laws across much of the United States has increased competition from growers north of the border, apparently enough to drive down prices paid to Mexican farmers. Small-scale growers here in the state of Sinaloa, one of the countrys biggest production areas, said that over the last four years the amount they receive per kilogram has fallen from $100 to $30.

The price decline appears to have led to reduced marijuana production in Mexico and a drop in trafficking to the U.S., according to officials on both sides of the border and available data.

People dont want to abandon their illicit crops, but more and more they are realizing that it is no longer good business. Juan Guerra, the states agriculture secretary

People dont want to abandon their illicit crops, but more and more they are realizing that it is no longer good business, said Juan Guerra, the states agriculture secretary.

For decades, the U.S. and Mexican governments looked for ways to reduce marijuana cultivation. They paid farmers to grow legal crops or periodically sent Mexican soldiers to seek out and eradicate drug fields.

But those efforts failed, because marijuana was still more profitable than the alternatives.

As recently as 2008, Mexico was providing as much as two-thirds of the marijuana consumed in the U.S. each year, said Beau Kilmer, co-director of the Drug Policy Research Center at the Rand Corp. think tank.

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U.S. growers, however, have been spurred on by the increasing number of states that have lifted restrictions on the drug.

NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >>

In 1996, California, the nations biggest producer, became the first state to legalize it for medical purposes. Twenty-two states have followed suit over the last two decades. Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington have also allowed cultivation and sale for recreational use.

Though federal law still criminalizes production and possession, the U.S. Justice Department has backed off its enforcement efforts when they clash with state law.

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The relaxed legal environment has upended the old business model.

Changes on the other side of the border are making marijuana less profitable for organizations like the Cartel de Sinaloa, said Antonio Mazzitelli, the representative in Mexico for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Although Mexico remains a major supplier of marijuana to the U.S., its market share is thought to have declined significantly. Alejandro Hope, a security and drug analyst in Mexico City, estimated that Mexican marijuana now accounts for less than a third of the total consumed in the U.S.

There is little reliable data on marijuana production in Mexico. But two key measures  how much is destroyed in the fields and how much is intercepted at the U.S. border  strongly suggest it has been in decline.

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The Mexican government is on pace to eradicate about 12,000 acres this year, down from more than 44,000 in 2010, according to the Mexican attorney generals office.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized about 1,085 tons of marijuana at the border in 2014. In the previous four years, that figure hovered around 1,500 tons. Seizures are thought to represent a tiny fraction of the amount that gets successfully imported.

In addition, the number of U.S. arrests by federal agents involving foreign-grown marijuana dropped from 4,519 in 2010 to 2,367 in 2014, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The number involving domestically produced marijuana held relatively steady over that time with an average of 1,536 arrests per year.

U.S. and Mexican growers compete not only on price but also on quality. Legalization has expanded the market for more expensive specialty strains, which are more powerful than standard Mexican product because of a higher concentration of THC, the ingredient that delivers the high.

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Mexican marijuana is deemed lowest on the totem pole and very few people who consider themselves aficionados or connoisseurs would admit to smoking it, said Daniel Vinkovetsky, who writes under the name Danny Danko for High Times magazine. Its typically brown, pressed tightly together for transport, and full of seeds.

Access to better quality American cannabis has led many to turn their backs on imports from Mexico and beyond, he said.

Ethan Nadelmann, who runs Drug Policy Alliance, a nonprofit based in New York that promotes decriminalization of drugs, said he expects that Mexican exports of marijuana will continue to fall as legal cannabis proliferates. More and more, the U.S. is going to grow marijuana here, he said.

From 2013 to 2014, the legal market grew from $1.5 billion to $2.7 billion, according to a report this year from the ArcView Group, a cannabis industry investment and research firm based in Oakland. Illegal sales are thought to be many times that.

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The shifting market has forced small-scale marijuana farmers in Mexico to look for ways to supplement their incomes.

In remote Sinaloa, a 47-year-old farmer named Emilio tends four marijuana plots with his sons. He inherited the business from his father. Their municipality, Badiraguato, is famous for being the birthplace of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, the worlds most-wanted drug lord and head of the powerful Sinaloa cartel.

But there is little sign of the cartels wealth in their village, official population 1,000, a two-hour drive from the main town square on a crumbling mountain road. Emilio never finished primary school and doesnt know how to read or write. His house has dirt floors. Like the other farmers interviewed for this story, he spoke on condition that his full name not be published.

One of his neighbors, 55-year-old Efrain, said he stopped cultivating marijuana a few years ago and now supports his family as a day laborer. The middlemen who used to purchase his crop barely come around anymore.

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If someone comes to buy it here, they want it really cheap, he said.

But Emilio said he cant afford to give up on marijuana.

Even though its not really considered good business anymore here, theres nothing else to do, he said.

His wife and daughter work occasional shifts at a greenhouse where tomatoes are grown for commercial sale  part of a government project to give families a chance to leave the drug business. The work, sporadic and seasonal, pays about $12 a day.

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Guerra, the Sinaloa agriculture secretary, said the government has a responsibility to provide more as legalization sweeps the U.S.

The Mexican drug cartels are already adapting.

For one, they are moving to compete in the high-end marijuana market, according to the 2015 National Drug Threat Assessment produced by the DEA. Law enforcement reporting indicates that Mexican cartels are attempting to produce higher-quality marijuana to keep up with U.S. demand for high-quality marijuana, it said.

In one of the more telling signs of how legalization has transformed the industry, the DEA has found instances of high-grade marijuana being smuggled from the U.S. into Mexico, an agency official said.

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I dont really have a sense of the amount or scale, but we have seen instances of it occurring, said the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the subject.

More significant, experts said, the cartels are likely to shift resources away from marijuana toward other drugs that are illegal in the U.S., including heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine. A 2010 Rand study estimated that marijuana accounted for 15% to 26% of cartel revenues.

Emilio already farms a few patches of poppies used to produce heroin.

They are a more labor-intensive crop than marijuana and require more water and a bigger investment upfront. Poppy takes longer, he said. And if you neglect it, the crop is useless.

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But it may be a safer bet than marijuana: High demand for heroin in the U.S. has been driving up prices, and there is little chance it will be legal any time soon.

Bonello is a special correspondent.

Cecilia Sanchez in The Times Mexico City bureau contributed to this report.

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Colorados pot industry is a cash business. A small credit union wants to change that.
Joe Biden is determined to appease Iran, and the appeasement has already commenced. Its public manifestation centers now on Yemen, and the Houthi rebels there.

The Houthis have long received considerable Iranian financial and military support, including in recent years cruise missiles and drones. They have used Iranian weaponry not just against the government of Yemen, but also against Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Irans arch enemies and allies of the U.S.

Thus, as John Bolton says, the Houthis are a threat to the oil-producing Gulf monarchies. As is Iran, of course.

Bolton explains:

In effect, Iran is trying to encircle its Arab enemies, chief among them Saudi Arabia, by installing a friendly regime in their backyard. Among the Arabian Peninsula states, Yemen is the poorest and most notably the only one without oil. Armed conflict and political hostility are the rule, not the exception, there.

The Trump administration recognized the threat posed by the Houthis, but didnt do much about it. According to Bolton, direct U.S. involvement in the Yemen conflict ended with the 2018 suspension of in-flight refueling of Saudi air operations in Yemen. And Trump didnt designate the Houthis as terrorists until his last day in office.

Team Biden may wish Trump had done more. That way, the new administration could more dramatically signal its willingness to back Iranian interests and sell out Saudi Arabia.

As it is, Biden must settle for small gestures. Thus, he announced last week, in his first presidential foreign-policy address, that we are ending all American support for offensive operations in the war in Yemen, including relevant arms sales. (Emphasis added)

But, as noted above, there is no direct American support for offensive operations in that war. We do sell arms to Saudi Arabia and the UAE but for general use, as I understand it, not for use in Yemen.

Its not clear which of these sales will be deemed relevant to the war in Yemen and thus cancelled. Bolton worries that Bidens phrasing calls into question the separate U.S. campaign against Al Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula, which threatens both Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Biden is also removing the Houthis terrorist designation. But that simply restores the status quo as of January 18.

Accordingly, Bidens gestures arent even table stakes for sitting down with Iran. At best, they may be the fee you pay to get in the room where the table is.

By paying that fee so eagerly, Biden invites Iran to raise the table stakes and to insist that the U.S. pay a very high price once the real game begins. As Bolton says:

Bidens decision to inhibit the Saudis and placate the Houthis will not contribute to peace, but will instead inspire the latter to further stiffen their position. Biden is following Obamas utterly erroneous notion that appeasing Iran will induce it to engage in more civilized behavior on nuclear and other issues, and that Yemens Arab neighbors are the real threats to regional peace and security. In fact, Tehran and its allies will be delighted that the Biden administrations giveaways have begun, and you can anticipate the mullahs to ramp up their bloody and destabilizing mischief throughout the region and the world.

Nor can Bidens Yemen policy be justified on humanitarian grounds. Bolton explodes that notion:

Listing the Houthi as terrorists, for example, was not an obstacle to the distribution of food or medical assistance, or to peacefully resolving the conflict. The obstacle is that the Houthis are terrorists, seeking, with Iran, tactical advantage over their local enemies while reducing the external support they can call upon. At a bare minimum, U.S. pressure to bring peace and save civilian lives should be applied in an even-handed, not one-sided, manner. Doing that, however, might offend the terribly sensitive mullahs Biden is assiduously courting.

In sum:

Iran has Biden right where it wants him. The losers are the Yemeni people. And, ultimately, the United States.

Unfortunately, Biden seems quite comfortable being in that position.

BUFFALO, Minn. (AP)  A 67-year-old man unhappy with the health care he'd received opened fire at a clinic Tuesday, killing one person and wounding four others, and bomb technicians were investigating a suspicious device left there and others at a motel where he was staying, authorities said.

All five victims were rushed to the hospital, and a hospital spokeswoman confirmed the one death Tuesday night. Three remained in stable but critical condition and a fourth had been discharged.

MercyOne North Iowa sends our thoughts to the patients and staff at the Allina Clinic in Buffalo, MN. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and their families and hope that those who were affected by this tragedy will recover as soon as possible. - Statement from MercyOne North Iowa

The attack happened Tuesday morning at an Allina clinic in Buffalo, a community of about 15,000 people roughly 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Minneapolis. Authorities said Gregory Paul Ulrich, of Buffalo, opened fire at the facility and was arrested before noon.

Though police said it was too early to tell if Ulrich had targeted a specific doctor, court records show he at one point had been ordered to have no contact with a man whose name matches that of a doctor at the clinic.

As authorities searched the clinic for more victims, they found the suspicious device and evacuated the building, Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer said.

It was not immediately clear whether that device exploded, but TV footage showed several shattered plate-glass windows at the clinic. Deringer said suspicious devices were also found at a local Super 8 motel where Ulrich had been staying, and there were at least two shattered windows there as well.

Hennepin County Medical Center spokeswoman Christine Hill said Tuesday night that a person brought to the hospital after being shot at the Buffalo clinic had died. Hill said she could not release any other details.

Police Chief Pat Budke became emotional and had to pause during a news conference as he told reporters our heart breaks as a community." While an exact motive wasn't immediately known, Budke said Ulrich has had a long history of conflict with health care clinics in the area.

All I can say is, its a history that spans several years and theres certainly a history of him being unhappy with health care ... with the health care that hed received, Budke said.

Budke said Ulrich's history led investigators to believe he was targeting the clinic or someone inside but that it was too early in the investigation to know if it was a specific doctor. He said the shooting did not appear to be a case of domestic terrorism.

None of the information that we have from our past contact with him would indicate that he was unhappy with, or would direct his anger at, anyone other than people within the facilities where he had been treated or where they had attempted to give treatment, Budke said.

Deringer said Ulrich was well known to law enforcement before the attack, and there were calls for service dating back to 2003.

Court records for Ulrich list a handful of arrests and convictions for drunken driving and possession of small amounts of marijuana from 2004 through 2015, mostly in Wright County, including two convictions for gross misdemeanor drunken driving that resulted in short jail sentences. A 2018 charge of violating a harassment restraining order was dismissed last April when the prosecutor said Ulrich was found mentally incompetent to proceed.

An order issued in 2018 and 2019 in the harassment case showed Ulrich was to have no contact with a man. The order didn't identify that man beyond giving his name, but the name appeared to match that of a doctor listed on the clinic's staff list.

It was not known if that doctor was among Ulrichs victims. A phone call placed to the doctor's home listing went unanswered Tuesday.

A court services agent who conducted a pre-sentence investigation wrote in a June 2019 filing that he had just learned that Ulrich had applied to police for a permit to purchase  apparently meaning a permit to buy a gun  but had not yet been approved. The agent said he highly recommended that Ulrich not be allowed to have use of or possession of any dangerous weapons or firearms as a condition of his probation.

Ulrich also had raised concerns for a local church. According to an August 2019 update on the website of Zion Lutheran Church, the church obtained a no trespassing order for Ulrich after the pastor received a disturbing letter. Church staff were given a picture of Ulrich and told to call 911 if he appeared on any of Zions properties.

The FBI sent its bomb technicians to the scene, and the Minneapolis Police Department sent its bomb squad. Members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' enforcement group and special agents from the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension also responded.

The clinic is set off at the edge of Buffalo near an old red barn with flaking paint. Dozens of emergency vehicles and law enforcement officers carrying guns were on the scene, setting up a perimeter. TV footage showed little activity at the clinic itself.

Hours after the attack, law enforcement cordoned off a small mobile home park near the citys Pulaski Lake, about a mile from the clinic, and searched a mobile home where Ulrich had lived. Officers went in and out of the home wearing rubber gloves. Several neighbors who declined to give their names described Ulrich as argumentative and said they tried to avoid him.

Tom Potter, a 43-year-old who lives in the neighborhood, said Ulrich was nice to Potters kids yet described him as an odd guy.

Hed get into fights with neighbors, accuse them of stealing stuff, Potter said.

He said Ulrich spent a lot of time on a bench by the lake, listening to a radio, fishing and always drinking.

Another neighbor, Walter Rohde, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that he was shocked to hear Ulrich was suspected of shooting people. He said Ulrich helped him build a shed over the summer and would often come over to sit at his fire ring in the evenings to chat.

I just knew him as a kindly old man, Rohde said.

Rohde said Ulrich was unemployed, living on disability.

Most doctors listed on the clinics website are family practitioners. It wasnt immediately clear if the clinic gives COVID-19 vaccinations. Allinas website says it gives the shots to staff and older patients at only three sites throughout its extensive system.
BAKU -- Azerbaijan has filed a lawsuit against Armenia with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), accusing Yerevan of human rights violations during its almost 30-year occupation of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts, and during the 44-day conflict over the disputed region in 2020.

A member of Azerbaijan's parliamentary committee on legislation policies, Kamal Cafarov, said on February 8 that Baku also accused Yerevan of not undertaking measures to find out the fates of some 3,800 Azerbaijani nationals who went missing during the initial war over the breakaway region in the 1990s.

In addition, in its lawsuit Azerbaijan raised the issue of Armenia's alleged use of ballistic missiles, white phosphorus munitions, and cluster munitions during shelling of Azerbaijani towns and villages located far from the conflict zone last year.

According to Baku, such shelling resulted in the deaths of 93 civilians, including 12 children and 28 women, while 423 civilians were injured and 264 apartment blocks and 9,294 private houses were destroyed.

Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan, but its territory and seven Azerbaijani districts surrounding it were controlled until early November 2020 by ethnic Armenian forces from the early 1990s.

The two sides have skirmished regularly over the years, but In September, Azerbaijan launched a military offensive that resulted in Baku regaining control of the surrounding districts, and parts of Nagorno-Karabakh itself.

The sides agreed to a Russia-brokered cease-fire on November 10, resulting in in the deployment of 2,000 Russian peacekeeping forces to the conflict zone.

Yerevan has not officially commented on the European Court case.

With reporting by Turan
The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a reply from the government on a plea seeking transfer of cases from several High Courts to it, challenging the Centre's notification to declare five communities -- Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis -- as minorities.

The High Courts at Delhi, Meghalaya and Guwahati are already seized of the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. In October 1993, the notification was issued under this Act, which declared the five communities as minorities across the country. The transfer plea filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay argued as a result of this notification, majority population of Sikhs in Punjab and Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir have received benefits, which were originally meant for minorities.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde and comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian issued notices to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice and Ministry of Home Affairs. Senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan represented Upadhyay in the matter in the top court.

Upadhyay had moved the top court seeking transfer of all cases from the High Courts to itself, in order to decide the issue.
KALAMAZOO, MI  The DNA of a former Kalamazoo man discovered in a previously untested rape kit in 2016  three years after the man sexually assaulted the teen victim  has resulted in a conviction.

Roosevelt Johnson, 64, of Memphis, Tennessee, pleaded no contest Dec. 18 to first-degree criminal sexual conduct as a habitual offender, fourth offense. He was sentenced Monday, Feb. 1 in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court by Judge Pamela Lightvoet to serve 35 years in prison.

The crime, which had not been reported initially, was discovered in 2016 through the work of the Kalamazoo County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative team, a joint news release from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting stated.

The kit had previously gone untested because it was believed the only evidence inside it was of the victim engaging in consensual sex with another minor. Once the kit was tested, it revealed two DNA profiles  that of the other minor and a match for Johnson, who has a history of domestic violence, the release states.

Too often sexual abuse of children goes unreported because children are afraid that no one will believe them, said Erin House, special assistant attorney general who leads the Kalamazoo SAKI team. This victims family began to recognize signs that something was wrong with this child almost immediately after the rape, but the truth of the trauma of what had occurred did not come out until the SAKI team became involved.

Related: Previously untested rape kits could bring charges in Kalamazoo County

The Kalamazoo SAKI project was established in 2017 and is funded by the Michigan Legislature. It involves a partnership between the Attorney Generals Office, the Kalamazoo County Prosecutors Office and the YWCA of Kalamazoo. The goal of the program is to address previously untested sexual assault kits and, when possible, provide resolutions for victims.

Mr. Johnsons rape of this young victim, who was barely a teenager at the time, is deserving of every day of the sentence that he received, Getting said. His incarceration is a fitting punishment and is one that will protect other young girls and women from him.

A warrant was authorized by Gettings office for Johnsons arrest in May of 2019. He was arrested 10 months later in Memphis and extradited to Kalamazoo, where he was arraigned last March, court records state.

Getting praised the work being done by House and the Kalamazoo SAKI team and credited the partnership with the attorney generals office for bringing this case and others to justice.

Related: 2009 WMU sexual assault case latest result of rape kit testing

To date, according to the attorney generals office, the Kalamazoo SAKI team has brought seven cases to completion, resulting in convictions in each case. At this time, there are 11 cases being prosecuted, involving a total of six defendants in Kalamazoo County.

Kalamazoo SAKI currently has 35 active investigations and 60 open cases not yet reviewed or investigated.

Our communities must be protected against those who commit sexual assaults against children and other vulnerable victims, Nessel said. I appreciate the hard work put into resolving this case by the Kalamazoo County Prosecutors Office and the SAKI team and their commitment to pursuing justice on behalf of sexual assault victims.

The Michigan Legislature funded the testing of all 3,600 untested rape kits across the state in 2013.

Related: Testing begins on 1,819 rape kits found across Michigan

In 2016, funding was expanded to include financial support for the investigation and prosecution of these cases. The program has expanded over the years to also include six counties, with state funding for both the Washtenaw and Wayne counties sites being authorized in fiscal year 2020.

Other counties, in addition to Kalamazoo County, include Calhoun, Ingham and Jackson.

This case serves as a difficult reminder of the prevalence of child sexual abuse in our community and the need for education and support for children and families so these kinds of secrets can be brought to light more quickly, House said.

Also on MLive:

Police, victim advocates team up for proactive approach to domestic violence intervention

Victim, ex-cop reach settlement in civil suit over alleged rape

Man arrested in 2002 kidnapping, rape of girl, 4, police say
Ireland has escaped Storm Darcy which dumped a lot of snow in Europe and the UK but Met Eireann says we will not avoid 'accumulations' in the week ahead as the bitterly cold weather pushes east over the country.

Covid-19 testing had to be stopped at the weekend in the Netherlands was hit by its first major snowstorm across Europe in a decade as cold weather from Russia pushes further east over Europe. A Code Red alert was declared by forecasters there who named the storm on Friday. Darcy brought snow to other European countries.

The storm did not hit Ireland but the cold weather has hit and Met Eireann expects the bitter conditions to deliver snow from the start of the week in parts and spreading elsewhere as the week progresses with 'accumulations' later this week.

The cold front from the east, which is similar to the Beast from the East in 2018, is holding off weather from the Atlantic but this will not last.

Met Eireann's summary national outlook sums up what is expected when the two meet over Ireland this week. "Very cold with wintry showers out to midweek. More widespread falls of sleet and snow later in the week".

The forecaster says the snow will begin on Monday falling in the eastern half of the country but it will spread more extensively through the week though some respite is expected at the weekend. Thusday is looking like it will bring the most snow.

"A very cold day on Thursday as rain, sleet and snow spread northeastwards across the country, with accumulations leading to hazardous conditions," said the forecaster.

Just like the Beast from the East, the cold front could hang around for weeks.

Met Eireann's official forecasting partners in the UK says in its long term forecast to March 7 that wintry conditions could persist.

"There remains a greater than the normal threat of disruptive winter hazards for all areas through this period, with snowfall possible for all areas, but most likely in the east," said the Met Office.

Storm Emma followed the Beast from the East in 2018. It struck Ireland between late February and early March causing significant snow.

Met Eireann said last week it is on high alert for the cold weather and warned of significant and lasting snowfalls depending on where the Atlantic weather meets the cold front. SEE MORE IN WEATHER SECTION.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS WEEK'S WEATHER BELOW TWEET.

Here is the latest cloud and rain forecast from our HARMONIE weather model. It covers the period from now until 06:00 on Wednesday.



More weather forecast information for the coming days and outlook period can be found here: https://t.co/9gKN6SVok4 pic.twitter.com/flofkssLJp  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) February 8, 2021

MET EIREANN NATIONAL FORECAST Issued at 8.20 am on Monday, February 8.

MONDAY: Very cold and breezy today. Scattered showers of sleet and snow will move in over the eastern half of the country, with largely dry conditions and sunny spells elsewhere. Highest temperatures of just 1 to 4 degrees with an added wind chill factor in mainly fresh easterly winds.

Very cold with showers of sleet and snow drifting further inland and becoming more frequent at night. Lowest temperatures of -3 to +1 degrees with widespread sharp frost and icy stretches forming under clear spells. Moderate to fresh easterly winds, strong at times in the southwest.

TUESDAY: Another cold and breezy day tomorrow, Tuesday. It will be bright in many areas with sunny spells, but scattered showers of sleet and snow will continue through the day, most frequent over the eastern half of the country. Afternoon temperatures of just 1 to 3 degrees, again with an added wind chill factor in mainly fresh easterly winds.

Very cold tomorrow night with frost and icy stretches forming under long clear spells. Scattered showers of sleet and snow will become confined to the east and northeast, with largely dry conditions elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of -4 to 0 degrees in a light to moderate northeast breeze.

Wednesday: Wednesday will be another cold but rather bright day. It will remain dry in many areas but scattered wintry showers will continue to affect north Leinster and east Ulster. Frost and ice will linger through much of the day as afternoon temperatures reach just 1 to 3 degrees in a light to moderate easterly breeze.

Isolated wintry showers in the east and northeast on Wednesday night but mainly dry elsewhere to start. However, a band of rain, sleet and snow will gradually push into the southwest overnight. Very cold again with lowest temperatures of -3 to +1 degrees, with widespread frost in moderate easterly winds.

Thursday: A very cold day on Thursday as rain, sleet and snow spread northeastwards across the country, with accumulations leading to hazardous conditions. Quite breezy also with fresh southeasterly winds. Afternoon temperatures of just 0 to 3 degrees generally.

Further falls of snow in Ulster and Leinster on Thursday night, with outbreaks of rain elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 in fresh southeasterly winds.

Friday: There is some uncertainty in the exact details for Friday. Current indications suggest that sleet and snow will continue for a time in Ulster and north Leinster with outbreaks of rain elsewhere. Highest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees over Ulster, Leinster and north Connacht and 6 to 10 degrees elsewhere.

Further outlook: Less cold at the weekend with showers or spells of rain.
Chamoli : , Feb 9 (IANS) Even as ITBP ADG (Western Command) Manoj Singh Rawat on Tuesday reviewed the ongoing rescue efforts at the Tapovan Vishnugad hydroelectric project, rescuers had dug in and moved about 120 metres into a blocked tunnel in an effort to reach around 3 dozen persons feared trapped nearby.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) said that only a stretch of 50-60 metres was left to be cleared after continuous effort through the night to reach a bent in the tunnel where these men were said to be stuck in a vehicle. Rescuers had deployed sniffer dogs to reach out to the trapped persons.

"Our initial target was to clear debris from 180 metres from the tunnel's mouth, from where there is a bend to the right side where over 30 persons are feared stuck. These people were riding a vehicle when flash flood hit the project," ITBP Spokesperson Vivek Pandey told IANS.

Earlier report had quoted police as saying that a 140-metre stretch had been cleared of debris.

More than 200 ITBP personnel had reached the spot soon after a glacial mudflow on Sunday morning triggered a massive flash flood at Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, hitting NTPC's Tapovan and Rishiganga hydro projects.

"Around 170 persons are still feared missing. There is information about recovery of 30 bodies from different locations. Three bodies were recovered from Reni village on Tuesday morning," Pandey said.

Earlier, state authorities were quoted as saying on Monday evening that 197 persons were still missing whereas 26 bodies had been recovered.

The NDRF, ITBP and state authorities are involved in search and rescue operation along with the Army. The Centre is monitoring the situation.

One column of Engineering Task Force (ETF) of the Army along with rescue equipment were deployed in the area. The Army men along with ETF personnel opened the tunnel mouth at Tapovan. Besides, a team of scientists flown to Dehradun on Sunday night also visited the spot.

Rough terrain, low temperature and debris in the tunnel are posing a major challenge for rescuers.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
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Soleil Moon Frye and Jason Goldberg are seeking to offload their Southern California mansion as they divorce after 22 years of marriage.

The actress and the reality TV producer are seeking $5.995 million for the 5,000-square-foot residence in the exclusive celebrity enclave of Hidden Hills.

The couple purchased the property just three years ago for $2.56 million and have since remodeled the home built in 10975, according to Dirt.com.

Punky Brewster star Soleil Moon Frye and reality TV producer Jason Goldberg are seeking $5.995 million for their Southern California mansion as they divorce after 22 years of marriage

The couple, pictured in 2017, purchased the property just three years ago for $2.56 million and have since remodeled the home built in 10975, according to Dirt.com

The five-bedroom, five-bathroom house is situated on just over an acre of land in the guard-gated community north of Los Angeles.

The residence sits at the end of a long driveway with a motor court.

The impressive front door opens onto an open space living, dining and kitchen area with a large vaulted ceiling.

The five-bedroom, five-bathroom house is situated on just over an acre of land in the guard-gated celebrity enclave of Hidden Hills north of Los Angeles

The impressive front door opens onto an open space living, dining and kitchen area with a large vaulted ceiling

The white walls and black-framed sliding glass doors are paired with reclaimed wood floors, and there's a fireplace at one end of the expansive space

The main level includes a primary bedroom with wood floors and walls and it comes complete with soaking tub in the same room

The home's white walls and black-framed sliding glass doors are paired with reclaimed wood floors

The white walls and black-framed sliding glass doors are paired with reclaimed wood floors.

There's a fireplace at one end of the expansive space.

The kitchen features rustic wood accents and custom white cabinetry along with white marble counters.

The kitchen opens onto a wrap-around covered porch.

The main level also includes an en suite guest bedroom and a primary bedroom complete with soaking tub in the same room.

The main level includes a wrap-around porch accessible from every room

On a lower level are three en suite guest bedrooms that also include lots of reclaimed wood

On a lower level are three en suite guest bedrooms and a family room with access through glass doors to the swimming pool and spa.

The backyard boasts grassy lawns and trees as well as a small orchard of fruit trees.

The lucky buyer will become neighbor to Kris Jenner and Khloe Kardashian, legendary sportscaster Vin Scully, make-up mogul Jeffree Star and former Full House star and convicted felon Lori Loughlin.

The residence is situated on just over an acre of land and boasts a swimming pool and spa
The FBI and the Secret Service have joined Florida law enforcement in trying to hunt down the suspect who hacked into a city's water supply and tried to load it with 'dangerous levels' of a chemical found in drain cleaner.

The hacker breached the system at the city of Oldsmar's water treatment plant last Friday using a remote access program shared by plant workers.

It exposed a danger cybersecurity experts say has grown as systems become both more computerized and accessible via the internet.

Authorities did not have a suspect as of Tuesday but said they were continuing to follow leads.

Investigators say it wasn't immediately clear whether the hacker was domestic or foreign.

The hacker breached the system at the city of Oldsmar's water treatment plant in Florida last Friday using a remote access program shared by plant workers. Image courtesy of WTSP

The hacker tried to load it with 'dangerous levels' of a chemical found in drain cleaner

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki addressed the hacking incident on Tuesday during her briefing, acknowledging the Secret Service's involvement and saying cybersecurity was a main focus of the Biden administration.

'As was announced earlier today, the FBI and Secret Service are undergoing an investigation,' she said.

'That's something we'd certainly defer to them on their specific findings of that investigation. I will say broadly speaking that the president, the vice president and members of our national security team are focused on elevating cybersecurity as a threat that has only increased over the past several years.'

Florida senator Marco Rubio has called on the FBI to treat the investigation as a matter of national security.

The hacker who breached the system managed to briefly increase the amount of sodium hydroxide by a factor of one hundred (from 100 parts per million to 11,100 parts per million), according to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.

Sodium hydroxide, also called lye, is used to treat water acidity but the compound is also found in cleaning supplies such as soaps and drain cleaners.

It can cause irritation, burns and other complications in larger quantities.

Authorities say a supervisor saw the chemical being tampered with and was able to intervene and immediately reverse it.

Gualtieri insists the public was never in danger but admitted the intruder took 'the sodium hydroxide up to dangerous levels'.

The city of Oldsmar, which has a population of about 15,000, is located about 15 miles from Tampa.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri (right) and Mayor Eric Seidel (left) announced news of the hack on Monday. Gualtieri insists the public was never in danger but admitted the intruder took 'the sodium hydroxide up to dangerous levels'

The sheriff said the intruder was active for three to five minutes. When they exited, the plant operator immediately restored the proper chemical mix

A plant worker had first noticed the unusual activity at around 8am on Friday when someone briefly accessed the system - named TeamViewer - but thought little of it because co-workers regularly accessed the system remotely, Gualtieri said.

But at about 1.30pm, someone accessed it again, took control of the mouse, directed it to the software that controls water treatment and increased the amount of sodium hydroxide.

The sheriff said the intruder was active for three to five minutes. When they exited, the plant operator immediately restored the proper chemical mix.

'The guy was sitting there monitoring the computer as he's supposed to and all of a sudden he sees a window pop up that the computer has been accessed,' Gualtieri said.

'The next thing you know someone is dragging the mouse and clicking around and opening programs and manipulating the system.'

Other safeguards in place - including manual monitoring - likely would have caught the change in the 24 to 36 hours it took before it reached the water supply, the sheriff said.

Oldsmar officials have since disabled the remote-access system and say other safeguards were in place to prevent the increased chemical from getting into the water.

Officials warned other city leaders in the region - which was hosting the Super Bowl - about the incident and suggested they check their systems.

Experts say municipal water and other systems have the potential to be easy targets for hackers because local governments' computer infrastructure tends to be underfunded.

Florida senator Marco Rubio called the FBI to treat the investigator as a matter of national security

Robert M. Lee, CEO of Dragos Security, and a specialist in industrial control system vulnerabilities, said remote access to industrial control systems such as those running water treatment plants has become increasingly common.

'As industries become more digitally connected we will continue to see more states and criminals target these sites for the impact they have on society,' Lee said.

The leading cybersecurity firm FireEye attributed an uptick in hacking attempts it has seen in the last year mostly to novices seeking to learn about remotely accessible industrial systems.

Many victims appear to have been selected arbitrarily and no serious damage was caused in any of the cases - in part because of safety mechanisms and professional monitoring, FireEye analyst Daniel Kapellmann Zafra said in a statement.

'While the (Oldsmar) incident does not appear to be particularly complex, it highlights the need to strengthen the cybersecurity capabilities across the water and wastewater industry,' he said.

What concerns experts most is the potential for state-backed hackers intent on doing serious harm targeting water supplies, power grids and other vital services.

In May, Israel's cyber chief said the country had thwarted a major cyber attack a month earlier against its water systems, an assault widely attributed to its archenemy Iran. Had Israel not detected the attack in real time, he said chlorine or other chemicals could have entered the water, leading to a 'disastrous' outcome.

Tarah Wheeler, a Harvard Cybersecurity Fellow, said communities should take every precaution possible when using remote access technology on something as critical as a water supply.

'The systems administrators in charge of major civilian infrastructure like a water treatment facility should be securing that plant like theyre securing the water in their own kitchens,' Wheeler told the Associated Press via email.

'Sometimes when people set up local networks, they don't understand the danger of an improperly configured and secured series of internet-connected devices.'
Tonga Omonuri Mixed Primary School in Nyamira County has been closed for a week following a dormitory fire on Sunday night.

More than 700 pupils returned home as the management made arrangements for alternative accommodation for the boys affected by the fire.

Nothing was salvaged from the facility which housed 150 pupils following the fire that started at about 7.30pm.

Nyamira South Deputy Commissioner, Mr Julius Otieno, said the decision to close the school was reached at a meeting convened to look into the cause of the fire.

Second incident

The incident came barely two weeks after a fire destroyed another dormitory at the school.

"We arrived at the decision so that we can plan well on how to prevent similar incidents. This is the second incident in less than two weeks. We don't want to leave anything to chance," said Mr Otieno.

In the first incident, the fire broke out in a boys' dormitory at around 8pm and spread quickly. Its cause is yet to be established.

There were no injuries in both incidents.

Principal's transfer

Mr Otieno said that the school's board of management will be disbanded and the head teacher, Mr Charles Ombui, transferred immediately.

Learners in Standard Eight and Grade Four will report back on Sunday while the rest will return to school on February 22.

Police visited the scene of the fire accompanied by a team from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Delivering an impassioned speech in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, National Conference leader and former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah appealed to the treasury benches not to create discrimination in the country in the name of 'Ram' or 'Allah', saying all these names belong to one God before whom we bow.

Speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, Abdullah said God has made us all the same whether it is Hindus or Muslims.

"You go to a temple, I go to a mosque, some visit Gurudwara or Church...A doctor never looks at a bottle of blood and asks whether the blood is that of a Hindu or a Muslim. Ram belongs to the 'vishva' (whole world)," the National Conference leader said.

The leader continued, "Ram belongs to the whole world. Ram belongs to all of us. The way Muslims have held on to the Quran, the Quran is not just ours." The veteran leader also urged the government to take the farmers' issue seriously and resolve their issues as soon as possible by consulting those sitting on protest at Delhi's borders for more than 70 days seeking withdrawal of three contentious farm laws terming them as "black laws" or "anti-farmer".

"Laws were made by us. If they (farmers) want that the laws be repealed, we should consider it. What will you lose if you talk to them?. We are here to get solutions, not to create obstacles. Please find a solution," Abdullah urged the government.

The leader said that these farm laws are not a religious scripture that changes cannot be made.

"Why cannot you talk to the farmers? Let us respect everybody in the nation. All have played major role in the struggle of freedom fight and everybody is behind developing this country." Talking about August 5, 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated from Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said "you (government) took the decision and imposed it without consulting us".

He thanked the government for restoring 4G services in the Union Territory but claimed that not even one of the 50,000 jobs promised to the people of Jammu and Kashmir had been delivered.

He congratulated Indian scientists for developing Covid-19 vaccine Abdullah , meanwhile, accused MPs in the treasury benches for questioning the stature of political visionaries such as Jawaharlal Nehru, suggesting that such kind of politics is not good.

"I feel really bad when we see that we are pointing fingers at Jawaharlal, Sardar Patel, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and other leaders. Tomorrow, you may not be in power. Will we talk about this PM then? This is not the Indian tradition. Respect the one who has gone.

"I have seen Sardar Patel and even Gandhiji. My father was sent to jail by Jawahar but they wept when my father met him after being released from prison," the leader said.
"Kids enjoy seeing where their food comes from and who cares for the animals, so I'm excited to showcase my family's dairy farm and share our dairy story," said Nunes. "Dairy plays an essential role in a sustainable food system, and Wisconsin dairy farmers have dedicated their lives to feeding communities across the nation."

Each year, 90,000 fourth grade students study a robust Wisconsin unit as part of the Social Studies curriculum. Students learn about Wisconsin's heritage, culture, careers and communities, making the state's $45.6 billion dairy industry a natural fit.

"It's important to help kids understand why Wisconsin is America's Dairyland and that dairy is good for their bodies, our community and the environment. This virtual farm tour is an excellent tool for the fourth-grade curriculum, and we're thrilled to offer it as another learning opportunity from home," said Suzanne Fanning, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

The virtual farm tour is geared toward grades 3-5 with an emphasis on fourth grade and is available for download at WisconsinDairy.org/Farm-Tour.

About Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin: Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin exists to be a tireless advocate, marketer, and promoter for Wisconsin dairy farmers and to drive demand for Wisconsin's dairy products. The organization represents Wisconsin farm families and works to increase the sale and consumption of Wisconsin milk and dairy products, as well as build trust in dairy farmers and the industry. Organizational initiatives include generating national publicity, managing digital advertising, and driving sales, distribution and trial through retail and foodservice promotions. Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin also supports in-school education about the benefits of dairy and funding for the Center for Dairy Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For more information, visit our website at WisconsinDairy.org.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's (DATCP) mission is to partner with all the citizens of Wisconsin to grow the economy by promoting quality food, healthy plants and animals, sound use of land and water resources, and a fair marketplace. The agency is responsible for inspecting food businesses and lodging and recreational facilities, working with counties to assist farmers in protecting the state's environmental resources, protecting animal health, promoting Wisconsin products at home and abroad, and enforcing Wisconsin's consumer protection laws. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, DATCP is focused on two main goals: helping to keep food on Wisconsin shelves and supporting the essential industries it serves. To that end, the agency is in constant communication with stakeholders in the agriculture community, including the dairy industry. For more information, visit datcp.wi.gov.

About Alice in Dairyland: Alice in Dairyland is a contract employee of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). She serves one year as Wisconsin's agricultural ambassador educating media, students and communities about the state's $104.8 billion agriculture industry. Visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Growing_WI/AliceInDairyland.aspx for more information about the Alice in Dairyland program.

SOURCE Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin

Related Links

https://wisconsindairy.org


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The Ondo State government on Tuesday faulted the figure for the COVID-19 situation in the state released by the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC).

The rejection was contained in a statement issued by the Acting Commissioner for Health, Jibayo Adeyeye, in Akure.

According to the NCDC, Ondo State has 2,506 cases of COVID-9. 2,080 people have been discharged while 55 have died from the infection.

The state currently has 371 active cases, the NCDC said.

But in his statement, Mr Adeyeye said the NCDC report created an impression that the state was now the most severely affected state in the country.

This is far from the truth, he said.

The true picture is that the figure recently declared for the state is a cumulative of arrears for several days due to delay in getting results from the testing laboratories.

The current situation report with regards to COVID-19 in the state includes 18,443 as total number of samples collected since inception, 2,491 confirmed cases, 2,395 recovery cases.

The total number of deaths from COVID-19 is 54, case of fatality rate goes to 2.2 per cent and current test positivity rate is 20 per cent.

Though the government is concerned about the rate of infection in the state, nonetheless, the data indicates that the state is clearly not the most affected in the country, he said.

The commissioner said the government would continue to do everything possible to bring down the rate of infection to the barest minimum.

He urged the people to ensure compliance to all laid down COVID-19 safety rules.

(NAN)
BULAWAYO has closed all of its Covid-19 quarantine centres owing to shortage of public space to accommodate returnees.

At the peak of the first wave of the deadly virus last year, the city had seven quarantine centres including Bulawayo Polytechnic and United College of Education as major centres for those who were returning mostly from South Africa and Botswana.

The other quarantine centres were Youth Centre, Townsend High School, Gifford High School and Standard Hotel.

Bulawayo provincial welfare officer, Fanwell Dzoma revealed that the city was now using Esigodini and Bubi districts for quarantine services.

For now, there is no quarantine centre for Bulawayo, those in need of quarantine are now being accommodated at either Inyathi Public Training Centre in Bubi or Eskhoveni Public Service Training Centre at Esigodini, Dzoma said during an online reform indaba meeting hosted by Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) on transparency and accountability of Covid-19 resources.

The challenge why we no longer have a quarantine centre in Bulawayo is because we dont have a public institution that can cater for returnees, who need to be quarantined.

Of cause, we have been using these polytechnics and schools, but when they opened, we then had the challenge of where to put these returnees.

As a result, it was decided that since we dont have public institutions like the other districts or provinces like Bubi and Esigodini, so we may now have to use those public institutions.

Dzoma said after schools and colleges opened around September last year, they opted for Khumalo Hotel, however, the idea was aborted as the government was losing lots of money through bills.

He said since all returning residents are now required to provide Covid-19 PCR certificates at all entry points, quarantine centres were no longer very necessary.

Another issue now is most of these returnees that we were receiving from the past weeks are being tested at the border and most of them are now coming with their results.

From the border, they are transported to Bulawayo and they go to their homes, they no longer need quarantine if they are negative but for those that are positive, they go to Inyathi or Eskhoveni but they are very few, Dzoma added. Daily News
Research shows that people in societies where money plays a minimal role rate themselves as being as happy as those in some Scandinavian countries. Credit: Sara Minarro

Economic growth is often prescribed as a sure way of increasing the well-being of people in low-income countries, but a study led by McGill and the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technologies at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) suggests that there may be good reason to question this assumption. The researchers set out to find out how people rate their subjective well-being in societies where money plays a minimal role, and which are not usually included in global happiness surveys. They found that the majority of people reported remarkably high levels of happiness. This was especially true in the communities with the lowest levels of monetization, where citizens reported a degree of happiness comparable to that found in Scandinavian countries which typically rate highest in the world. The results suggest that high levels of subjective well-being can be achieved with minimal monetization, challenging the perception that economic growth will automatically raise life satisfaction among low-income populations.

Measuring happiness

To explore how monetization affects people's sense of well-being, the researchers spent time in several small fishing communities, with varying degrees of monetization, in the Solomon Islands and Bangladesh, two very low-income countries. Over a period of a few months, with the help of local translators, they interviewed citizens in both rural and urban areas a number of times. The interviews, which took place both in person and through phone calls at unexpected moments, were designed to elicit information about what constituted happiness for the study subjects, as well as to get a sense of their passing moods, their lifestyle, fishing activities, household income, and level of market integration.

In all, the researchers interviewed 678 people, ranging in age between their mid-twenties and early fifties, with an average age of about 37. Almost 85 % of the study participants were male. The disproportionate number of men in the study was due to the fact that cultural norms in Bangladesh made it difficult to interview women. In the Solomon Islands, responses to the study questions from men and women were not significantly different. However, this is not necessarily applicable to the situation in Bangladesh, as men and women's social realities and lifestyles differ so much. Further research will need to address whether gender-related societal norms impact the association found in this study.

Early stages of monetization may be detrimental to happiness

The researchers found that in the communities where money was in greater use, such as in urban Bangladesh, residents reported lower levels of happiness.

"Our study hints at possible ways of achieving happiness that are unrelated to high incomes and material wealth," says Eric Galbraith, a professor in McGill's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the senior author on the study, which was recently published in PLOS One. "This is important, because if we replicate these results elsewhere and can pinpoint the factors that contribute to subjective well-being, it may help us circumvent some of the environmental costs associated with achieving social well-being in the least developed nations."

"In less monetized sites, we found that people reported a greater proportion of time spent with family and contact with nature as being responsible for making them happy," explains Sara Minarro, the lead author on the study who is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at (ICTA-UAB). "But with increasing monetization, we found that the social and economic factors commonly recognized in industrialized countries played a bigger role. Overall, our findings suggest that monetization, especially in its early stages, may actually be detrimental to happiness."

Interestingly, while other research has found that technology and access to information from faraway cultures with different lifestyles may affect people's sense of their own well-being by offering standards to which people compare their own lives, this did not appear to be the case in these communities.

"This work adds to a growing realization that important supports for happiness are not in principle related to economic output," adds Chris Barrington-Leigh, a professor in McGill's Bieler School of the Environment. "When people are comfortable, safe, and free to enjoy life within a strong community, they are happyregardless of whether or not they are making any money."

Explore further Money can buy happiness: New study on income and happiness finds growing divide

More information: Sara Minarro et al, Happy without money: Minimally monetized societies can exhibit high subjective well-being, PLOS ONE (2021). Journal information: PLoS ONE Sara Minarro et al, Happy without money: Minimally monetized societies can exhibit high subjective well-being,(2021). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244569
The Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue came under fire in the last week over what was described as a hush-hush policy in relation to Covid-19 outbreaks in the Meat Processing Sector.

It comes after a number of large outbreaks at plants in Cork and Waterford in recent weeks.

Cork-based Senator Tim Lombard hit out at the lack of information provided to the local community in Bandon after a significant recent outbreak of Covid-19 at an ABP meat plant.

Speaking at a hearing of the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee he said leaving it up to the meat plants to decide to inform communities about the situation is not good enough.

"The community of Bandon only heard that nearly 70 workers at a local plant were diagnosed as having Covid... through a leak to the media, he said.

"We need to work on protocols because they are not there at the moment and it is literally left to how one particular plant or organisation wants to deal with the matter. We need to have some direction in order that information is given to communities in the event of an outbreak.

Minster McConalogue said there continues to be intensive and ongoing engagement between his Department and the meat factories on the issue.

However, he said as with wider society in recent weeks, there have been particular challenges for all in respect of infection rates and the increased challenge of trying to ensure that the significant infection rates do not impact upon employees.

"The serial testing is continuing," the Minister assured committee members.

Sinn Fein TD Martin Browne said he would "take the Minister at his word that testing is ongoing, but asked why there is so much secrecy.

"Workers in these plants have contacted us with concern about their working conditions and members of the public in the area ask us questions continually.

"It seems we have gone back to the very start, whereby everything is kept hush-hush," he said.

The Minister responded by highlighting the same protocols apply to meat factories as apply to any other business or location where outbreaks occur.

"In terms of communication, there are protocols for staff to self-isolate and take precautions. The difference with meat factories is that we have ongoing serial testing as an additional aid to oversee infection rates and to work with the factories to ensure they are minimised.

"They have gone to very significant lengths to put in place protocols to ensure their staff are kept safe and it is paramount that this continues in the time ahead," he said.
Jenna Coleman has revealed she almost turned down The Serpent because she felt the role should be given to a French actress.

The actress, 34, has won acclaim for her role as French-Canadian Marie-Andree Leclerc, the girlfriend of a serial killer, in the BBC One and Netflix series.

However, she admitted in an interview with Radio Times that she was reluctant to accept the role and spent months practicing 'like My Fair Lady' to perfect her French.

Starring role: Jenna Coleman has revealed she almost turned down the role as Marie-Andree in The Serpent because she felt it should be given to a French actress instead

The Serpent follows the horrific story of Charles Sobhraj, who preyed on and murdered Western tourists throughout Southeast Asia during the 1970s.

Jenna portrays the timid Marie-Andree as well as her alter ego, Monique, who helps boyfriend Charles, played by Tahar Rahim, trap his victims on their travels.

She said: 'I was doing All My Sons at the Old Vic at the time, and I said, "There's no way I can take this on  you need to cast a French actress."

Plot: The Serpent follows the horrific story of Charles Sobhraj, played by Tahar Rahim, (right) who - with the help of his girlfriend Marie-Andree - preyed on and murdered Western tourists throughout Southeast Asia during the 1970s

'I've been a fan of Tahar since he starred in the movie A Prophet more than a decade ago.

'The script had these scenes where we flip in and out of French and English, so you need to believe them as a bilingual couple. I was asking, technically, how can we make this work?'

In order to prepare for the role, which required her to learn French-Canadian, Quebecois, the actress worked with a French teacher to learn her lines phonetically.

She compared the method to something like of 'My Fair Lady' as she spent a few weeks simply training muscles in her mouth for better pronunciation.

Accent: The actress, 34, admitted in an interview with Radio Times that she was reluctant to accept the role and spent months practicing 'like My Fair Lady' to perfect her French

'It wasn't a case of just learning the lines in French  it was about the delivery, the muscularity,' she said.

'It was a beast, an absolute beast. The accent uses different parts of the mouth to English speakers, so it was like My Fair Lady  I spent the first four weeks just training muscles in my mouth to get certain sounds.

'Fabien [Enjalric], my amazing French teacher, taught me the lines phonetically.

'When people speak naturally, they condense their language, and in the time I had, this was the only way that I had to get to that point where I could embody the character and not stumble with the pronunciation.'

In character: To prepare to play Marie-Andree, which required her to learn French-Canadian, Quebecois, the actress worked with a French teacher to learn her lines phonetically

The star's Quebecois accent has been met with mixed reactions, with some viewers claiming they couldn't get to grips with it, while others complemented her on her skills and even asked if she spoke fluently.

In the Radio Times interview, Jenna also revealed they encountered so many difficulties while filming, including delays and freak accidents, it left the cast and crew thinking the production was cursed.

Out now: Jenna Coleman's interview appears in this week's issue of Radio Times

'Tom Shankland, the director, said making The Serpent was like Michelangelo doing the Sistine Chapel,' she said.

'He's been trying to make it for years, it got delayed, then we got there in monsoon season and then there were freak accidents happening on set.

'It got to the point where our crew called it 'the Serpent curse' and went to the temples to get it lifted.

'We were finishing shooting in Kanit House [Sobhraj's apartment complex] just before it was going to be demolished, and Tahar said: 'What else can go wrong?' '

'That night coronavirus was on the news. We had four days in Bangkok then Karachi, Bombay and Paris left to shoot.

'I don't even know how they came up with this, but we ended up shooting the rest in Tring in Hertfordshire. My last scene of the whole mad, wild journey was my hand just ringing a doorbell in Tring. I thought, 'This cannot be how it ends.' '

Jenna Coleman's interview appears in this week's issue of Radio Times.


Each time I bought a house, I thought for sure it was my forever home. But guess what? I purchased six "forever homes" in 16 years. So much for forever!

Through those sometimes happy, sometimes horrifying years, I learned a lot about what to doand what not to dowhen buying or selling a home, forever or not.

Whether you're a fresh-off-the-boat first-time home buyer or purchasing what you could swear is your final property, here are a few lessons I'd love to impart.

Lesson No. 1: Your first house is rarely your forever home

Our first forever home realtor.com

How long 'forever' lasted: 10 months (2002)

Price we paid: $90,000

Price it was sold for: $117,000

Like my parents and brother before me, I assumed my fiance and I would rent an apartment first. But my husband-to-be had other ideas.

Why wait? he said. If we can buy a place, it makes sense, and its a good investment.

A few weeks later, we toured a townhouse in West Deptford, NJ. Even though we were young, our life paths still unformed, I truly felt we could live there happily ever after. That's before we realized that the walls were so thin, we could hear our neighbors' toilet flush, their dog yipping all day, and even their getting amorous in bed.

We lasted in this forever home a mere 10 months, at which point I landed a dream job an hour's drive away. That seemed to be as good an excuse as any to sell this failed forever home and move on.

Lesson No. 2: Your vow to stay there forever can wear off fast if the house skyrockets in value

Our second forever home Keri Kelly

How long 'forever' lasted: Two years (200305)

Price we paid: $157,000

Price it was sold for: $234,000

After we sold the townhouse for a small profit, we stumbled upon a gorgeous split-level house in Cherry Hill, NJ, with a garage near my new office. Even better, we could easily afford it.

This split-level became our mansion, and we cherished our time there. But two years after we bought it, we made the mistake of checking our home's estimated value online.

The house is worth $80,000 more than we paid for it, I screeched to my husband. We started wondering whether we should cash in and sell it.

Its only a house, my husband pointed out. "We can always find another one."

A few days later, we put our second forever home on the market. We were going to be rich!

Lesson No. 3: If your forever house appreciates, so do others nearby

Our third forever home Keri Kelly

How long 'forever' lasted: One year (200506)

Price we paid: $212,000

Price it was sold for: $215,000

Our dream house went under contract faster than we could say "rash decision," at which point we started shopping around for a new place. That's when we were hit with an unwelcome reality: Our forever home wasn't the only house that had appreciated; the rest of the local housing market was priced sky-high, too.

They want how much for this house? we found ourselves asking our real estate agent over and over.

Worse yet, since it was a hot market, homes in our hometown were selling sooner than we could even tour them and decide whether one was right for us.

After our billionth walk-through, we decided to put in an offer on a place in Maple Shade, NJ, that would gobble up all of the cash we made from our last house and then some. But it did have one perk: a basement. Neither one of us had ever lived in a home with a basement. We pictured ourselves renovating the basement and hosting pingpong parties galore.

This overpriced house became our third forever home, and our first truly terrible decision. We never hosted one party in the basement, because we quickly found out why the previous owners kept it unfinished: It flooded after every drizzle.

Lesson No. 4: When a forever home seems too good to be true, it probably is

Our fourth forever home Keri Kelly

How long 'forever' lasted: Eight years (200716)

Price we paid: $238,000

Price it was sold for: $161,000

Two years, three sump pumps, and four carpet replacements later, my husband came home with some bad news: His job was no more. Thankfully, a few months later he found a new job, but it was far away, which meant we'd have to move to Cape May County in New Jersey.

It turned out to be an opportunity of a lifetime. We were moving to the beach! But since our rash decision/wet basement house was sold for less than what we put into it, we couldnt afford a house, townhouse, or even a condo in one of the beautiful coastal island towns. So we shifted our house hunt to less expensive, off-shore locations nearby.

Eventually we came across a beautiful brand-new Cape Cod. After swooning over the house, we walked a few blocks to Delaware Bay, where we enjoyed an unforgettable sunset. We were madly in love, and made an offer on the property even though we both had gut feelings that something wasn't adding up.

It was a very bad decision to buy that house. The reason? Due to an improperly subdivided lot, the house was riddled with title issues. Yet this problem wasn't picked up at closing, so we had no idea what we were getting into until after moving in. Eventually, we had to hire an attorney to sort out the huge mess. The blunder cost us a bundle.

Lesson No. 5: A fixer-upper isnt always fixable

Our fifth forever home Keri Kelly

How long 'forever' lasted: Two years (201618)

Price we paid: $160,000

Next, my career and a family members illness moved us close to our hometown of Cherry Hill again, and into our fifth forever home.

Im so nervous about buying another house again, I told my husband as we toured houses.

Why dont we start small? my husband suggested. "We can find something below our budget, and we can slowly work on it. That way, if it ends up a bad decision, it wont crush us like the last one did."

We bought a 100-year-old home with wisdom, history, and strong bones. But it soon became clear that it's not as easy to fix up a fixer-upper as Chip and Joanna Gaines make it look on TV.

This time, we didn't sell our fifth forever home. Instead, we rented it out to a sweet couple who happened to love hundred-year-old money pits filled with amateur renovations. Timed alongside a job promotion at work, my husband and I took advantage of this opportunity to buy our sixth forever home (sigh).

Lesson No. 6: In today's ever-changing world, 'forever home' is a fantasy at best

Forever home No. 6 realtor.com

Price we paid: Over $300,000

How long 'forever' will last: Who knows?

I refuse to call our current home our forever home, but this one would definitely qualify if we were to utter those words ever again.

Will we live here forever? I hope so, but it's really impossible to say. With six forever homes under our belt, we've learned that careers shift and fade, basements flood, family members call for help, and pretty much all plans and circumstances can change almost before the ink on those closing documents is dry.

And that's OK. After all, nothing lasts forever.

The post Why We Bought 6 'Forever Homes' (and Counting) So Far appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : The Supreme Court has clarified that SBI Fund Management, and not SBI Mutual Funds, will be responsible for distribution of Rs 9,122 crore to unitholders of the six wound-up Franklin Templeton schemes. The SBI Fund Management also sought protection from any liability arising from the fund distribution exercise.

A bench comprising Justices S. Abdul Nazeer and Sanjiv Khanna allowed the SBI Fund Management to become a party in the case, as it clarified that there was a clerical error in the previous order which said that the SBI Mutual Fund will be the disbursing entity.

The petitioners' counsel, during the hearing, raised concerns on the distribution mechanism, and prayed before the top court that fund distribution should be done as per the Net Asset Value (NAV).

The top court noted that unitholder who are dissatisfied with wound-up schemes can raise their grievances on the next date of hearing on February 17. SBI Funds Management is the asset management company of SBI Mutual Funds, which sought the fund house should bear all expenses in connection with the distribution of funds.

SBI Fund Management moved the top court seeking its approval to disburse the funds among the unitholders of the mutual funds' schemes and also sought protection from any liability, which could arise out of the distribution exercise.

The petitioners' counsel contended before the top court that the asset management firm should move the SEBI, rather than approaching the court.

On February 2, the Supreme Court had directed Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund (FTMF) to distribute Rs 9,122 crore among unit-holders of the six schemes that were shut by the mutual fund house in April last year and said the distribution of funds need to be undertaken by the SBI Mutual Fund and completed within 20 days. The apex court had said the unit-holders should be repaid in proportion to their respective share in assets of the scheme and the distribution of funds would be undertaken by SBI Mutual Funds as agreed by both Franklin Templeton Trust and the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
Vaccinated Britons could get scannable QR codes as soon as next month, allowing them to travel abroad as part of coronavirus 'vaccine passport' schemes funded by the taxpayer.

At least eight firms have been awarded Government grants to develop schemes that would allow users to carry digital proof that they have received an approved Covid-19 jab.

The projects, given a total of 450,000 between them, aim to provide a way to get people back to work and reopen international travel without the risk of fuelling the pandemic.

The grants have been dished out by InnovateUK, a non-departmental public agency which claims it 'operates at arm's length from the Government'.

Logifect, a Kent firm handed 62,000 in grants, has designed a phone app linking to a digital passport that includes a photo of them. It is due to launch next month, The Telegraph reports.

London-based iProov and Mvine, in Surrey, have been given 75,000 for their joint effort, according to the newspaper. They are developing digital 'certificates' that would provide people with confirmation of their vaccinations.

Executives at all three firms have said they plan to pitch their technologies to the Government before the current national lockdown ends.

Number 10 has publicly denied it is going down the route of controversial vaccine passports, which are feared could make voluntary vaccination mandatory by proxy.

Critics also argue it would in effect create an 'apartheid' system between those who have the virus and those who do not.

However, sources say ministers are coming round to the idea that some form of system could be useful in the future as a risk-averse way of keeping the economy open.

Vaccinated Britons could be given scannable QR codes that allow them to travel abroad as part of coronavirus 'vaccine passport' schemes funded by the taxpayer

At least eight companies have been awarded Government grants to develop schemes that would allow users to carry digital proof that they have received an approved Covid-19 jab. Pictured: Care worker Felicia Melody gets vaccinated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca covid vaccine at the Med Mart pharmacy in Borehamwood today

Another of the recipient projects is led by Enduring Net, which is working on a 49,678 decentralised system that can digitally provide 'proofs of individuals' Covid-19 credentials', which will include proof of vaccination.

EAS Technologies' project was given 173,876 to develop an accreditation platform that hopes to be used by organisers of the 'world's largest sporting organisations, events, and facilities'.

Covid vaccine centre in Hackney has to close early because of 'really low uptake' A Covid vaccination centre in London has had to reduce its opening hours because not enough people are coming forward for the jab. The John Scott inoculation hub in Hackney, East London, claimed 'really slow patient uptake' forced it to close at 2pm on three days last week. The centre, which is open to patients from 40 GP surgeries, had been administering vaccines from 10am until 8pm every day until the sudden drop-off in appointments. Health chiefs fear vaccine hesitancy among black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) groups is behind the poor uptake in the diverse inner London borough. Around 45 per cent of Hackney's population is made up of people from BAME backgrounds, predominantly of black African or Caribbean ethnicity. Numerous surveys have shown minorities - who studies have shown are up to three times as likely to die from Covid - are more reluctant to get the jabs due to a mistrust in the Government. And a report over the weekend suggested twice as many white over-80s had been for a jab compared to elderly black Britons. Dame Donna Kinnair, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing said today officials had been too slow to shut down anti-vaxx myths online. Other vaccine hubs and GP practices have already began jabbing the over-60s after successful roll-outs in their areas. Health officials could move to lower risk groups if uptake remains low in Hackney  but the priority remains the over-70s, NHS staff, care home residents and workers. NHS City and Hackney clinical commissioning group said staff have been phoning eligible patients who have not turned up to try to convince them. Advertisement

A short description on the funding page suggests the project will be used for proving staff and contractors at events have been vaccinated, but could also provide a 'track and trace' system for those attending the events.

It is believed the projects will look at different areas of society such as healthcare settings and public spaces and how passport schemes could help remove the potential danger of unvaccinated people coming into contact.

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.

Airline Qantas and over-50s travel company Saga have suggested that people wanting to travel with them in future will have to have taken a Covid-19 vaccine before they embark.

UK ministers have contradicted each other on the issue of vaccine passports since they were touted at the end of 2020.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove has said they are 'not the plan', but vaccine tsar Nadhim Zahawi has admitted the Government is 'looking at the technology'.

However, Mr Zahawi has since said there are 'absolutely no plans for vaccine passporting' and said 'mandating vaccinations is discriminatory and completely wrong'.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock last month also denied plans to implement passporting, telling the Spectator: 'It's not an area that we're looking at.'

Department of Health sources told MailOnline in December the schemes were 'exploratory work' and the systems were not being introduced imminently.

'It is about looking at ways we could use this in future,' the source added. 'It is looking at whether it would be possible,' they said at the time. 'There are no plans to introduce immunity passports.'

It comes as tens of thousands nurses have yet to receive a Covid jab, despite the Government aiming to have vaccinated all frontline health staff by next week.

Some 15 per cent of nurses across the country have yet to be given a single dose of the coronavirus vaccine, a poll by the Royal College of Nurses found.

And the number of nurses working in care homes and in the community without the vaccine is greater still, with 44 per cent of agency staff and 27 per cent of temporary staff yet to receive a jab.

The survey of 24,370 nurses comes days before the Governments February 15 target for vaccinating 15million Britons in the first four priority groups, which includes all health and social care staff and over-70s.

RCN chief executive Dame Donna Kinnair told The Guardian that the findings were 'extremely worrying'.

She said: 'Our survey suggests many thousands of nursing staff have yet to be given their Covid vaccine less than a week before the governments deadline.

'With only days to go, every effort must be made to reach all nursing staff to ensure their protection and that of the patients and vulnerable people they care for.'

The survey found just seven per sent of all nurses have received two doses of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.

Scaling the 15 per cent of nurses who have yet to have their first dose to the RCN's 450,000-strong membership would suggest around 75,000 nurses have yet to be vaccinated.

Of that 15 per cent, just under half (45 per cent) of staff had been offered a vaccine but were either waiting for an appointment or had chosen not to take one.

In total, three per cent of all nurses surveyed were hesitant to accept the vaccine  which would account for some 13,500 staff if scaled up to the RCN's membership.
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Maputo  The discovery that the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 is not effective against the South African strain of the coronavirus is a "bucket of cold water" poured over the hopes of the region, declared Mozambique's Deputy National Director of Public Health, Benigna Matsinhe, on Monday.

The South African health authorities announced on Sunday that they were stopping the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine, after it was discovered not to be effective against the variant given the scientific name 501Y.V2.

This variant of the virus, first discovered in South Africa, is now circulating widely in Mozambique. In January, the Health Ministry announced that about 70 per cent of the samples tested from the previous month showed the presence of the South African variant.

The news that South Africa had halted the rollout "is not very pleasant", said Matsinhe. The Astra-Zeneca vaccine is easy to conserve, and so many African countries had intended to use it. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Vaccine Alliance, GAVI, were also banking on AstraZeneca - and it is WHO and GAVI who are the main funding agencies for coronavirus vaccination in Africa, through the COVAX initiative.

"This is a huge bucket of cold water, but we are sure that the pharmaceutical companies will do something", Matsinhe told a Maputo press conference. She noted that while some of the vaccines must be kept at extremely low temperatures (as low as minus 70 degrees Celsius), the AstraZeneca vaccine, can be conserved at between two and eight degrees, which is well within Mozambique's capacities.
YamChops Experiences Explosive Growth of Online Sales of Plant-Based Meats & Assortment of Vegan Foods

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - Plant&Co. Brands Ltd. (CSE: VEGN) (FSE: VGP) (OTC Pink: VGANF) ("Plant&Co" or the "Company"), a modern health and wellness company curating delicious plant-based foods, is pleased to provide an update on the recent acquisition of various Canadian corporations doing business as YamChopsTM~ Grown Not Raised TM ~ ("YamChops").

YamChops, which specializes in the preparation, distribution, and retail sales of over 20 plus proprietary plant-based meats, chicken, pork, fish, and various other vegan food products, experienced 689% increase in online sales in the second half of 2020 versus the same period in 2019. The increase of sales from the YamChops website is attributable to local marketing efforts, the increasing popularity of plant-based foods, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"While YamChops had a great year in 2020 across its wide selection of plant-based foods, we wanted to highlight the online sales from our website as research shows that both plant-based food and online shopping are two of the fastest growing segments in the food industry," said Shawn Moniz, CEO of Plant&Co. "YamChops is known for its high-quality foods that taste great, and its customer service that is second to none. Products such as Crabless "Crab" Cakes, Montreal Style "Steak" and Chick*n Schnitzel are leading the online sales revolution. We will leverage the success YamChops achieved in 2020 in both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) revenue channels and build on the recent growth in popularity of these healthy meat and dairy product alternatives to expand our newly acquired business."

Once featured on TV's famous Dragons Den, named NOW Magazine Reader's Choice Award for "Best Butcher & Best Deli" in Toronto, and recently recognized in a Wall Street Journal article as a leader in the race for a piece of the faux-meat market, YamChops is North America's first Plant-Based Butcher Shop. For over 12 successful years, it has specialized in the development, preparation, and distribution of plant-based meats and other vegan food products. YamChops has a retail location in the heart of Toronto's food district, a dynamic website, and it enjoys a high demand on five of the most popular food delivery platforms: Uber Eats, Skip the Dishes, Door Dash, Corner Shop and Ritual One.

Plant&Co's strategy is to leverage their existing distribution networks and B2B relationships for large and bulk ordering of plant-based product already in place with nation-wide distributors and retailers, such as Grande Cheese, United Natural Foods Inc (UNFI), Whole Foods, London Drugs, Save On Foods, Organic Garage, Nature's Emporium, Choices Markets, The Big Carrot, Natural Foods Ambrosia, and Natures Fare Markets, to rapidly grow and expand the 20 plus proprietary plant-based products of YamChops to new and emerging markets not only in Canada but to the explosive US markets. YamChops currently has B2B distribution to Sobey's London, Pusateri's, and Nature's Emporium.

Today, plant-based food products have entered the mainstream and are included on shopping lists of many consumers across North America. The sales of plant-based meats in North America, a food category that did not exist a decade ago, grew to almost US $800 million in 2019, up 37 per cent from 2017. According to research firm Euromonitor International, plant-based meats sales could reach over US $2.5 billion by 2023.

About Plant&Co. Brands Ltd.

Plant&Co. Brands Ltd. (CSE: VEGN) (FSE: VGP) (OTC Pink: VGANF) is modern health and wellness company curating delicious plant-based foods. For more information please visit: www.PlantandCo.com.

About YamChops

YamChops is a plant-based butcher shop based in Toronto, Ontario. Vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians and even meat enthusiasts love visiting the beautifully curated shop located in the heart of Toronto's food district. Whether customers sample YamChops' Tunaless "Tuna", Chick*n Schnitzel, Szechuan "Beef", Montreal Style "Steak", or browse their vegan grocery market assisted by its knowledgeable staff, customers will have an unforgettable experience at YamChops vegan butcher shop. YamChops' mission is to provide extraordinary plant-based foods and provide extraordinary service to its customers, with a vision to expand its plant based culinary experience and make YamChops the destination of choice for all consumers. For more product information please visit: www.YamChops.com.

About Holy Crap Foods Inc.

At Holy Crap Foods Inc. our mission is to create products that create a healthy gut through simple, quality ingredients that ultimately feed the connection between gut and mind. Holy Crap is an organic breakfast cereal for today's consumer that expects their food to work hard for them. Our great tasting cereal helps maintain a healthy gut which creates a happy mind. For more information on the healthy and high-quality breakfast cereals visit: www.HolyCrap.com.

For additional information, please contact:

Shawn Moniz

Chief Executive Officer

Plant & Co. Brands Ltd.

ir@plantandco.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 press release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. "Forward-looking information" in this news release includes information about the expectations, intentions, plans and future actions of the Company and YamChops. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Plant&Co. or YamChops described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73996

While the State Election Commission has notified elections for 3,249 sarpanch posts and also for 32,502 ward members in 3,249 gram panchayats, people have elected their village heads unanimously in 525 gram panchayats. (Photo: DC/ Narayana Rao)

Vijayawada: People will exercise their voting right in the Phase-1 of the gram panchayat polls in the state on Tuesday. The election will be conducted for 2,723 sarpanchs and 20,157 ward members in 12 districts of the state barring Vizianagaram on Tuesday.

While the State Election Commission has notified elections for 3,249 sarpanch posts and also for 32,502 ward members in 3,249 gram panchayats, people have elected their village heads unanimously in 525 gram panchayats. The elections for 12,185 ward members too have been unopposed. With no nominations filed at the Velicharla gram panchayat in Nellore district for the sarpanch post, 2,723 gram panchayats are up for grabs in the Tuesdays elections. With no nominations filed for 160 ward members, the election will be held for 20,157 ward members only.

As many as 7,506 contestants are vying for 2,723 sarpanch posts and 43,601 contestants for 20,157 ward member positions  making the election a two-candidate fight at most places.

Panchayat raj and rural development principal secretary Gopala Krishna Dwivedi told media persons that they had completed making all requisite arrangements for the conduct of gram panchayat polls in phase-1 on February 9 in the state.

We appeal to all the voters to take part in the elections by exercising their franchise in a democratic spirit. We have introduced the option of NOTA which means None of the Above to enable the voter to officially register a vote of rejection for all contestants in the fray. However, the number of votes for NOTA will not be counted, he said.

Polling will be held from 6.30 am to 3.30 pm and the counting of votes will start from 4 pm onwards and the results will be declared soon after completion of counting of votes by late in the night.

Elaborate arrangements have been made by both the state government and the State Election Commission for the conduct of gram panchayat polls. The elections will be conducted at 29,732 polling stations. Of these, 3,458 have been considered sensitive and 3,594 hypersensitive.

The authorities have arranged ballot boxes of three sizes  18,608 big-sized boxes, 8,503 medium-sized and 21,338 small. About 1,130 officials have been appointed as returning officers stage-1, 3,249 officials as returning officers stage-2, 1,432 officials as assistant returning officers, 33,533 as presiding officers and 44,392 as polling staff for the conduct of polls in a free and fair manner. About 519 zonal officers, 1,121 route officers and 3,047 micro observers have been appointed.

The authorities have arranged face masks, hand sanitisers and hand gloves at the polling stations as per Covid-19 protocol for the polling staff and the voters. In case any polling staff found to be Covid-19 positive, PPE kits are also arranged.

The state police have made elaborate security arrangements for the conduct of polling without any untoward incidents. Thirteen officials, one each for a district, from the office of commissioner and panchayat raj department have been sent to be in touch with district officials to help them conduct the polls while a command and control centre is set up at the commissioners office to keep a close tab on the elections.

Polling to be held in districts and revenue divisions accordingly: Srikakulam-Srikakulam, Tekkali and Palakonda; Visakhapatnam-Anakapalli; East Godavari-Kakinada and Peddapuram; West Godavari-Narasapuram; Krishna-Vijayawada; Guntur-Tenali; Prakasam-Ongole; Nellore-Kavali;

Kurnool-Nandyal and Kurnool; Anantapur-Kadiri; Kadapa-Jammalamadugu, Kadapa and Rajampet and Chittoor-Chittoor.

The United Arab Emirates has become the first Arab nation and only the fifth nation overall to place a spaceship in orbit around Mars.

The country's space probe, called Hope, officially entered Mars orbit at around 16:15 GMT on Tuesday, marking the completion of a 493 million km journey from Earth.

Hope will be the first probe to provide a complete picture of planet's atmosphere and its layers, according to the UAE.

It will answer key questions about the loss of hydrogen and oxygen gases into space, over the span of one Martian year (687 Earth days).

It's arrived ahead of two other spacecraft from NASA and China  although unlike those crafts, Hope is an orbiter probe and won't be landing on the planet's surface.

China's orbiter and rover combo  named Tianwen-1  will arrive into Martian orbit tomorrow, followed by NASA's Perseverance rover on February 18.

  



Mission Accomplished #__ pic.twitter.com/BxPQiJM0Sq  HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 9, 2021

Named Hope, the probe started the complex process of entering Martian orbit at just before 16:00 GMT - following a 500 million km race from Earth

Illustration provided by Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre depicts the United Arab Emirates' Hope Mars probe during its approach

It's arrived ahead of NASA and Chinese spaceships, also on their way to the Red Planet - but unlike those crafts, this one won't be landing as it is an orbiter probe.

MARS ORBITAL INSERTION: A COMPLICATED PROCESS Entering Martian orbit isn't an easy process, according to scientists. The stresses on the spacecraft of all engines firing at once are far beyond those at launch The probe fired its rockets to rapidly decelerate to achieve Mars Orbital Insertion (MOI). During the MOI the spacecraft rotated to position for a deceleration burn of 27 minutes, and slowed down from its cruising speed of 121,000 km/h to 18,000 km/h. The stresses on the spacecraft of all engines firing at once are far beyond those at launch. It happened with a 20-odd-minute radio delay to Earth - so the probe had to manage on its own. Advertisement

The UAE, China and the US took advantage of a period last July when Mars and Earth were favourably aligned to launch their exploratory missions to the Red Planet.

'Success! Contact with #HopeProbe has been established again. The Mars Orbit Insertion is now complete,' the Hope Mars Mission Twitter account posted.

Hope started the complex process of entering Martian orbit today just before 16:00 GMT  seven months after its blast-off from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center on July 19 last year.

This 'most critical and complex' manoeuvre involved Hope firing its engines and slowing itself down sufficiently to be captured by the gravity of the Red Planet  known as the fuel burn and 'Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI)' phase.

By firing Hope's engines for 27 minutes, the fuel burn reduced the speed of Hope from more than 121,000 km an hour to approximately 18,000 km an hour as it entered the 'capture orbit' and disappeared behind Mars' dark side.

Signals from the spacecraft, confirming a successful orbital insertion, arrived 11 minutes later at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, Dubai.

Hope re-emerged from the planet's shadow, and contact was restored on schedule after a nervy wait, sparking jubilant celebrations in the city.

Hope will remain in this phase for about two months, during which further testing of its instrumentation will take place, until it is ready to enter the 'science' orbit  when its data collection work begins.

In science orbit, it will be in an especially high position  13,670 miles by 27,340 miles (22,000 kilometres by 44,000 kilometres) above the Martian surface  and provide regular updates on the Martian weather.

It will survey Mars' atmosphere, around 95 per cent of which is made up of carbon dioxide, around the entire planet, at all times of day and in all seasons.

In science orbit, it will complete one orbit of the planet every 55 hours.

While it will be in daily contact with Earth during the capture orbit phase, in its science orbit, contacts will take place two to three times a week.

Each pass will be six to eight hours long, which is the only time the UAE team will have to download any data and send the probe any new updates or instructions.

Omran Sharaf, Emirates Mars Mission (Hope Probe) project director, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, said: 'MOI was the most critical and dangerous part of our journey to Mars, exposing the Hope probe to stresses and pressures it has never before faced.

'While we have spent six years designing, testing and retesting the system, there is no way to fully simulate the impacts of the deceleration and navigation required to achieve MOI autonomously.

'With this enormous milestone achieved, we are now preparing to transition to our science orbit and commence science data gathering.'

Also known as Amal  which is Arabic for Hope  this is the first deep space mission for the Gulf nation, which has long-term ambitions for a Martian colony.

Pictured: Dubai's Burj Khalifa is lit up in red with a slogan reading 'Mission accomplished' in Arabic on February 9, 2021 as the UAE's 'Al-Amal'  Arabic for 'Hope'  probe successfully entered Mars' orbit, making history as the Arab world's first interplanetary mission

People celebrated the arrival of the Hope Probe to Mars at Burj Plaza, in front of the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, in the Gulf emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Pictured: People look to a big screen board displaying the arrival of the Hope Probe into Mars orbit at Burj Plaza  in front of the world's tallest building  in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Hope launched first on July 19 from Japan and is designed to take readings from the Martian atmosphere over the span of an entire Martian year - or nearly two Earth years

The UAE Mars Hope satellite launched from Japan on July 19 and entered Mars' orbit on February 9. It will monitor the weather on the Red Planet

Sensors will help reveal the secrets of Martian climate UAE's Amal orbiter will have three sensors on-board to help astronomers learn more about Mars's climate. The third sensor will be an ultraviolet spectrometer for measuring oxygen and hydrogen levels One will be a high-resolution camera dedicated to tracking dust movements and the ozone of Mars. This will scan a range of light frequencies. Another device will specifically focus on infrared and was built by scientists at Arizona State University. This IR camera will measure both the upper and lower atmosphere. The third sensor will be an ultraviolet spectrometer for measuring oxygen and hydrogen levels. Advertisement

Hope will provide the first planet-wide picture of Mars' weather system and climate throughout the Martian year, a UAE spokesperson said.

'The data collected during this time will be open to scientists globally, contributing to humanity's shared understanding of our second-closest planet.'

Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, said she hopes the mission will be in a position to share data by September.

'One of our primary objectives is to ensure that we share the data as soon as we are comfortable, as a science team, that the data is usable by scientists and the data is correct.

'We hope to release the data at the latest in the beginning of September, and it will be data from the capture orbit that has been captured around Mars, and also from the beginning of our science phase.'

She added: 'A lot of what we're hoping to discover from the data of this mission is new, and this is a highly complimentary mission to other missions so we truly hope that others' missions around Mars will utilise also our data.

'And there's actually talks with a few teams, who have spacecrafts around Mars, to see how we can further collaborate and expand all of our science so analysis capabilities utilising more and more data.'

Hope is to be followed by the NASA Perseverance rover and the China Tianwen-1 rover-orbiter combination craft.

Unlike Hope, these craft will be searching for signs of ancient life on the Red Planet's rusty red surface, which is thought to have once been Earth-like.

Tianwen-1 is due to enter Mars orbit on Wednesday, February 10, but it will remain paired in orbit until May, when the rover separates to descend to the surface.

Once the rover gets to Mars, it will survey the composition, types of substance, geological structure and meteorological environment of the Martian surface, and look for signs of alien life.

China successfully launched Tianwen-1 on July 23 aboard a Long March 5 Y-4 carrier rocket from Wenchang Space Launch Centre on the southern island province of Hainan, China.

Both the UAE and China are newcomers to Mars, where more than half of Earth's emissaries have failed.

China's mission includes a Mars orbiter, that will carry the lander and rover until release, a lander, that will parachute down the the surface carrying the rover, and a rover that will study the planet's soil and atmosphere for signs of life

Perseverance, which was the last of the three to blast off last July, will land on the Martian surface on February 18.

The one-ton Perseverance rover is larger and more elaborate than Tianwen-1's rover, but it will similarly prowl for signs of ancient microscopic life.

'To say we're pumped about it, well that would be a huge understatement,' said Lori Glaze, NASA's planetary science director.

About the size of an SUV, the rover will dive in straight away for a harrowing sky-crane touchdown at the 30-mile-diameter Jezero Crater  an ancient river delta that seems a logical spot for somewhere that once harboured life.

Perseverance rover fires up its descent stage engines as it nears the Martian surface in this NASA illustration

Perseverance is carrying seven instruments that will analyse samples from the surface, including an advanced panoramic camera, a ground-penetrating radar and an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for analysis of chemical elements.

The NASA rover, which launched from Florida on July 30, will set the samples aside for retrieval by a fetch rover launching in 2026.

Under an elaborate multi-billion plan still being worked out by NASA and the European Space Agency, the geologic treasure would arrive on Earth in the early 2030s.

One of the biggest questions is whether life has existed beyond Earth, and Mars is a good place to start investigating, given that evidence points to it once being full of water, warmer and with a thicker atmosphere.

Future missions, including from the European Space Agency and Japan, will bring samples of Martian soil and rock back to the Earth for study.

SpaceX is planning to send an uncrewed mission to Mars using its Starship rocket by 2024 and with a crew by 2026.

There are currently six spacecraft operating around Mars  three from the US, two from Europe and one from India, but the UAE has made it seven with its mission.
RAPID CITY, S.D., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CrossLink Publishing is pleased to announce the release in paperback and eBook formats for the Amazon Kindle, the Barnes & Noble Nook, and the Apple iBookstore of Death and a Crocodile by Lisa E. Betz of Morgantown, PA.

Tracy Higley, historical fiction author of The Incense Road, says "Death and a Crocodile" has everything I love in historical fictiona feisty heroine, a fascinating setting, and mysterious goings-on. Betz's story is an intriguing journey into ancient Rome, with a character facing challenges similar to our own. Recommended!

Death and a Crocodile Lisa E. Betz

Death and a Crocodile is a lighthearted mystery set in first-century Rome, featuring an amateur sleuth, a cast of eccentric characters, and an unrepentant, sausage-snatching cat. When Livia's father dies under suspicious circumstances, she sets out to find the killer before her innocent brother is convicted of murder. She may be an amateur when it comes to hunting dangerous criminals, but she's determined, intelligent, and not afraid to break a convention or two in pursuit of the truth. Plus, she's adopted a radical new faith that encourages her to that believe a woman and a handful of servants can actually solve a murder. Can she uncover the culprit before powerful men realize what she's up to and force her to stop? Or will her snooping land her in deadly peril?

Death and a Crocodile (ISBN: 978-1-63357-316-1, Trade Paper, 321 pages, $16.95, FICTION/CHRISTIAN/HISTORICAL) from CrossLink Publishing, is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever fine books are sold.

About the Author:

Lisa E. Betz worked as an engineer, substitute teacher, and play director before becoming an award-winning mystery writer. She draws inspiration from thirty-five years of leading Bible studies to create fast-paced mysteries set in the first-century world of the early church.

About the Publisher:

CrossLink Publishing is a traditional Christian publishing company based in Rapid City, SD. CrossLink publishes a variety of bible study, meditation, and spiritual growth books distributed by Baker & Taylor Publisher Services. For more information, visit CrossLinkPublishing.com.

CONTACT:

Rick Bates, Managing Editor

CrossLink Publishing

888-697-4851

[email protected]



SOURCE CrossLink Publishing
She is expecting her first child with her partner Charles Drury in July.

And Pregnant Lauren Goodger enjoyed a romantic stroll with her beau, 23, in the British countryside on Monday.

The former TOWIE, 34, bundled up in a black coat and Louis Vuitton scarf as she posed for a series of snaps with Charles on their walk amid Storm Darcy.

Smitten: Pregnant Lauren Goodger bundled up in a black coat and Louis Vuitton scarf as she enjoyed a romantic stroll with her beau, Charles Drury, in the British countryside on Monday

She rocked cream sheepskin boots and full coverage make-up as her caramel tresses cascaded down in a straight hairdo.

Meanwhile her boyfriend sported a hooded padded jacket and skinny jeans.

He wrapped his arm around Lauren and shared a tender kiss during their loved-up outing.

Storm Darcy brought chaos to Britain on Monday, with up to a foot of snowfall and 50mph winds causing crashes, rail cancellations and vaccination centre closures amid 'Beast from the East II'.

Glamorous display: The former TOWIE, 34, rocked cream sheepskin boots and full coverage make-up as her caramel tresses cascaded down in a straight hairdo

Most of England and Scotland is now covered in snow, with temperatures plunging as low as -7C in Scotland as a 'bitterly cold' weather system swept in from Ukraine and the Black Sea.

Lauren confirmed she is expecting her first child with Charles on January 18, three months after announcing their relationship.

She admitted her new boyfriend was initially skeptical after she told him her pregnancy test had returned a positive result.

Lauren said of her happy news: 'It's exciting and were really happy. It's difficult, but we've just got through it.'

Sweet: Meanwhile her boyfriend, 23, sported a hooded padded jacket and skinny jeans as he wrapped his arm around Lauren and shared a tender kiss during their loved-up outing

Recalling the moment she discovered she was pregnant, Lauren explained: 'I was in bed not well with a cold and I was meant to come on that day and Im always quite regular.

'We went and bought a test from a bargain shop and I did it - I couldnt believe it! I rang him and he was like: "Youre lying, youre joking." He didnt believe the test! I did a digital one as well and he walked around with it in his bag for about three days.'

The happy news comes after Lauren moved Charles, who previously dated Katie Price, 42, into her Essex home in late October within weeks of meeting him.

A source told The Sun: 'Charles has moved into her Essex home and they're really loved up. She's head over heels for him - friends can't believe how fast she's fallen for him. Everyone's hoping she's finally found The One.'

Lauren also recently admitted she would be up for doing a Mummy Diaries-style reality show in the future to document her journey through to motherhood.

When one fan asked her on Instagram: 'Would you do a first time mum show like Sam/Billie and Ferne - Yours would be great x', she replied with a nodding GIF, suggesting that this would definitely be something she would consider.

Lauren was quizzed by one fan on how her bump is 'so big already'.

The media star shared a picture of herself out and about, and replied: 'I do have a bump I did straight away it's hormones but it's not as big as some pics.'
Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong held a phone talk on February 8 with Dmitry Medvedev, Chairman of the United Russia party and Deputy Chair of Russias Security Council.

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong holds a phone talk on February 8 with Dmitry Medvedev, Chairman of the United Russia party and Deputy Chair of Russias Security Council (Photo: VNA)

Medvedev congratulated Vietnam on the success of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), and Nguyen Phu Trong on re-election as the Party General Secretary.

He held that the congress is an important milestone for Vietnam with the definition of major tasks for the country to continue boosting economic development for happiness and prosperity of Vietnamese people, contributing to maintaining peace and security in the region and the world.

He conveyed the regards from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong, while highly evaluating the sound partnership between the two parties and countries, and affirming that Russia attaches much importance to the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam.

For his part, Party General Secretary and State President Trong thanked President Putin, Medvedev and the United Russia party as well as Russian people for their warm sentiment towards Vietnam, which manifests the trust and friendship and comprehensive partnership between the two parties and nations.

He briefed the United Russia party leader on major outcomes of the 13th National Party Congress, affirming that the Party and State of Vietnam stick with its policy of paying great attention to reinforcing and strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.

The relationship between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the United Russia party has created an important foundation for the promotion of the partnership between the two countries in a deep and effective manner, benefiting both sides and contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world, he said.

Trong and Medvedev discussed a number of measures to boost bilateral ties in the future. Medvedev said that Russia is willing to work with Vietnam in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and all other aspects./.VNA
TORONTO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Battle North Gold Corporation (TSX: BNAU)(OTCQX: BNAUF) ("Battle North" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its 2021 construction plans for the Bateman Gold Project1 (the "Project"). The Company also announces the appointment of Vice President, Human Resources Rachel Pineault.

CEO Comment

Battle North President and Chief Executive Officer George Ogilvie, commented, "I'd like to welcome Rachel Pineault to the Battle North Management Team. Rachel brings significant experience in human resources and has been involved in building 5 mines in Canada. Her addition comes at a very important phase of Battle North's progression, as we embark on the significant growth of our organization in short order."

"Construction on critical path items has commenced at the Bateman Gold Project and we are excited that the Board has approved the full construction of the Project, with the potential to be pouring first gold by the end of the year. In addition, we have commenced drilling of highly-prospective targets on our regional Red Lake Properties and we will be providing an overview of our 2021 exploration plans shortly."

2021 Bateman Gold Project Construction: Red Lake's Next Gold Mine

Battle North is advancing its shovel-ready Bateman Gold Project to become the next gold producer in the Red Lake gold mining camp. The Company's Board of Directors have approved construction of the Project as described in the Feasibility Study1, including the 2021 construction budget. The Company anticipates spending approximately C$59.1 million towards initial capital development in 2021, including underground development, construction of an ammonia reactor, upgrades to the tailings management facility ("TMF"), camp and mill and the purchase of stationary and mobile equipment. As of January 31, 2021, Battle North has spent approximately C$4.0 million on critical path construction items, as described below. The Company also plans to spend approximately C$17.8 million on capitalized operating cost expenditures in 2021, including continued infill drilling, site maintenance and underground development. As previously disclosed, on December 22, 2020 Battle North signed a commitment letter for a US$40 million credit facility with Macquarie Bank Limited ("Credit Facility")2. The Credit Facility, in concert with our strong cash balance, is expected to fully fund the Bateman Gold Project to Commercial Production.

Based on the current construction schedule, the Company is currently targeting the processing of ore at the Project by end of 2021 and the achievement of Commercial Production by the end of 2022.

___________________ 1 For more information on the Project and its Feasibility Study, including capital requirements and production profile, see the Technical Report for the Project dated January 27, 2021 (the "Project Technical Report"), available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on its website at www.battlenorthgold.com. 2 For more information on the Credit Facility see news release dated December 22, 2020, available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on its website at www.battlenorthgold.com

Critical Path Construction Items

At the end of November 2020, Battle North had commenced activities on key work streams that are critical to the Company's plan of achieving Commercial Production by end of 2022. These areas are as follows:

Underground Capital Development: In the Feasibility Study 1 , approximately 8,600 metres (" m ") of underground capital development prior to Commercial Production was envisaged. This amount of development is expected to enable 9 to 12 months of development flexibility ahead of stope production. 3,300 m of underground capital development is planned for 2021.



To-date, the Company has completed approximately 100 m of underground capital development. The contractor has completed the construction of the surface portal and is currently advancing the ramp decline. In addition, the contractor has also been advancing the ramp incline between the 244 m and 183 m Levels, which will connect to the decline from surface. Once the connection has been made, the ramp provides another point of access to transport equipment, personnel and material to and from the underground, as well as the Project's fully-operational shaft. The Company is also advancing the development on the 610 m Level that will ultimately be used to establish a fresh-air raise from the 610 m Level to the 305 m Level as part of the underground ventilation system.



Pictures of the portal and ramp decline construction and ramp incline development, respectively, are set out below.





In the Feasibility Study , approximately 8,600 metres (" ") of underground capital development prior to Commercial Production was envisaged. This amount of development is expected to enable 9 to 12 months of development flexibility ahead of stope production. of underground capital development is planned for 2021. To-date, the Company has completed approximately of underground capital development. The contractor has completed the construction of the surface portal and is currently advancing the ramp decline. In addition, the contractor has also been advancing the ramp incline between the and Levels, which will connect to the decline from surface. Once the connection has been made, the ramp provides another point of access to transport equipment, personnel and material to and from the underground, as well as the Project's fully-operational shaft. The Company is also advancing the development on the Level that will ultimately be used to establish a fresh-air raise from the Level to the Level as part of the underground ventilation system. Pictures of the portal and ramp decline construction and ramp incline development, respectively, are set out below. Wastewater Treatment: Before recommissioning the Project mill, the Company will need to build an ammonia reactor to enhance its existing wastewater treatment plant. The ammonia reactor will process wastewater from the mill, where ammonia is produced as a by-product of the cyanide destruction circuit, and from the underground workings, which contain small amounts of ammonia from the ammonium nitrate (" ANFO ") explosives used within the mine. Battle North has selected the supplier for the equipment and is finalizing the designs before construction commences. The ammonia reactor construction is expected to be completed in Q4/2021.



The Company is also planning to upgrade its TMF. This includes buttress support in key areas as well as adding another lift to the current TMF configuration. The design work is being finalized and construction is expected to commence later this spring.





Before recommissioning the Project mill, the Company will need to build an ammonia reactor to enhance its existing wastewater treatment plant. The ammonia reactor will process wastewater from the mill, where ammonia is produced as a by-product of the cyanide destruction circuit, and from the underground workings, which contain small amounts of ammonia from the ammonium nitrate (" ") explosives used within the mine. Battle North has selected the supplier for the equipment and is finalizing the designs before construction commences. The ammonia reactor construction is expected to be completed in Q4/2021. The Company is also planning to upgrade its TMF. This includes buttress support in key areas as well as adding another lift to the current TMF configuration. The design work is being finalized and construction is expected to commence later this spring. Camp Upgrades: The 242-person camp on the Bateman Gold Project property had been in care and maintenance for more than 5 years. The Company commenced work to upgrade the camp to allow for the safe accommodation of personnel and to permit social distancing in the common areas under the Company's COVID-19 protocols. The camp upgrades are nearing completion and the camp is expected to begin accommodating personnel by the end of Q1/2021.





The 242-person camp on the Bateman Gold Project property had been in care and maintenance for more than 5 years. The Company commenced work to upgrade the camp to allow for the safe accommodation of personnel and to permit social distancing in the common areas under the Company's COVID-19 protocols. The camp upgrades are nearing completion and the camp is expected to begin accommodating personnel by the end of Q1/2021. Battle North has assembled an in-house Engineering Procurement Construction and Management team ("EPCM team") that will oversee construction of the Project.

Updates on Other Key Construction Items

Other key construction items that the Company plans on completing prior to achieving Commercial Production include:

The purchase and mobilization of equipment including 30- and 50-tonne trucks, LHDs (various sizes between 2.5 to 6 yard), 1- and 2-boom jumbo drills, scissor lifts, rock bolters, jacklegs and stopers;

Minor upgrades to the mill;

Minor upgrades to the underground infrastructure (shaft, pumping, loading systems, etc.)

Upgrade of sewage treatment for the site infrastructure; and

Additional office buildings and a dry facility.

The Company has also taken additional measures to enhance the safety of employees and on-site contractors including installation of a COVID-19 rapid test equipment, which is currently operational.

For photographs and videos of the Bateman Gold Project construction, please visit the "Media Centre" section of the Battle North website at https://battlenorthgold.com/investors-and-news/default.aspx#media, or the Company's Facebook and Instagram pages.

Stope Development, Mining and Production

The Company anticipates stope mining and the processing of first ore later this year. As part of the stope planning, Battle North also expects to complete additional infill-drilling of the planned stopes prior to mining.

Appointment of Vice President of Human Resources

The Company has appointed Rachel Pineault as Vice President, Human Resources. Rachel brings more than 25 years of progressive senior management experience, successfully leading, developing, and implementing strategic human resources initiatives and aboriginal engagement within Northern communities.

Prior to joining Battle North Gold, Rachel was Director of Human Resources - Canadian Operations at Kirkland Lake Gold, where she developed and implemented initiatives to drive business plans and support operations. Rachel previously held the position of Vice President, Human Resources and Aboriginal Affairs at Detour Gold Corporation, where she led the human resources function on both the corporate and mine site levels. Earlier in her career, she managed the Human Resources and Aboriginal Affairs portfolio for De Beers Canada  Victor Mine where she held accountability for full workforce ramp-up and developed a sustainable business model to bring long-term benefits, including training and educational initiatives, to impacted communities.

Rachel is a Board member for Wahgoshig Resources Inc. (Wahgoshig First Nation), sits on the International Advisory Board for the Goodman School of Mines at Laurentian University, and is a past Executive Member of Northern College's Board of Governors.

About Battle North

Battle North is developing the Bateman Gold Project to become the next gold producer in the renowned Red Lake gold district in Ontario, Canada and controls the 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

Picture 1  Portal construction and Ramp Decline Excavation from Surface

Picture 2  Ramp Incline Development Between the 244 m and 183 m Levels

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 "advancing", "anticipates", "assumption", "budget", "contemplating", "contingencies", "development", "embark", "estimate", "expected", "exploration", "factors", "feasibility", "phase", "finalizing", "forecast", "forward", "future", "goal", "growth", "may", "need", "path", "pending", "plan", "potential", "progress", "project", "prospective", "risk", "schedule", "shortly", "shovel-ready", "strategic", "study", "subject to", "target", "testing", "trend", "ultimately", "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 2021 construction plans and 2021 budget for the Project (including activities (such as construction and completion of the ammonia reactor, buttressing and lift of the tailings management facility (or TMF) and other such upgrades, recommissioning of the mill, camp upgrades, stope mining and in-fill or definition drilling, stockpiling), timing or schedules for advancing and completing such activities, related costs and expenditures and funding thereof, and milestones (including processing of ore, pouring first gold and Commercial Production, and the prospective timing thereof)); the Feasibility Study for the Project and results thereof (including development and construction plans and schedules and forecast expenditures); 2021 exploration plans including drilling of targets on the Company's regional Red Lake Properties and the prospectivity of such targets; the US$40 million Credit Facility with Macquarie Bank Limited (the "Credit Facility"); funding of the Project including to Commercial Production; and future updates on such an other matters from the Company.

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 herein, as well as the Project Technical Report, the Company's annual information form dated March 27, 2020 ("2020 AIF") 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 available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on its website at www.battlenorthgold.com, as well as: (1) permitting, exploration and development at the Project being consistent with the Company's current expectations including the maintenance of existing permits, licenses and other approvals and the timely receipt of other permits, licenses and other approvals necessary from timetotime; (2) political and legal developments being consistent with its current expectations; (3) the completion of necessary work, evaluations and studies, and provision of services, on the timelines currently expected (notwithstanding the risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors described below including COVID-19) and the results being consistent with the Company's current expectations; (4) development and construction at the Project being consistent with the Company's expectations including budget, forecast cost and expenditures, and schedule thereof; (5) the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and the U.S. dollar being approximately consistent with current expectations; (6) price assumptions for gold; (7) prices for diesel, natural gas, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (8) the accuracy of the Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates in the Project Technical Report (including ore tonnage and grade estimates) and the Company's internal models; (9) labour and materials costs being consistent with the Company's current expectations; (10) continuing amenable relations with key stakeholders including local communities and First Nations; (11) the closing of the Credit Facility substantially on the terms of the Commitment Letter previously announced; and (12) the Company's ability to meet future debt obligations and/or complete future financings to raise additional capital as and when needed to fund ongoing operations and construction of the Project.

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: not closing the Credit Facility; the sufficiency of the proceeds of the Credit Facility, together with cash currently on the Company's balance sheet, to fund the Project to Commercial Production; gold price fluctuations; possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery or throughput rates; uncertainty of Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates; inability to realize exploration potential, mineral grades and mineral recovery estimates; actual results of exploration activities including their impact; delays in completion of exploration and other drilling or plans, and any modelling, re-interpretations or studies, for any reason including insufficient capital and other risks, uncertainties, contingencies and factors identified herein; labour issues at the Company or third parties, such as government and regulatory agencies, suppliers and service providers, including labour shortages and/or work curtailments or stoppages as may result from COVID-19; conclusions of economic, geological or structural evaluations and models including those reflected in the Project's Feasibility Study and Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates; changes in Project parameters as plans continue to be refined; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents and other risks of the mining industry; delays and other risks related to operations; the ability to obtain and maintain permits and other regulatory approvals (as well as the timing and terms thereof) and to comply with such permits, approvals and other applicable regulatory requirements; the ability of Battle North to comply with its obligations under material agreements including Project development and construction contracts and any current or future financing agreements; the availability of financing for proposed programs and working capital requirements on reasonable terms and in a timely manner; the ability to close the Credit Facility substantially on the terms of the Commitment Letter previously announced; the ability to meet, repay, or refinance, or replace, or renegotiate current and future debt obligations on reasonable terms and in a timely manner including the closure and reclamation surety bond; the ability of third-party service providers and other suppliers to deliver on reasonable terms and in a timely manner; risks associated with the ability to retain key executives and key operating personnel; cost of environmental expenditures and potential environmental liabilities; relations with local communities including First Nations; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; cost of supplies; market conditions and general business, economic, competitive, political and social conditions; our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or obtain adequate financing to fund our capital expenditures and working capital needs and meet our other obligations; the volatility of the Company's share price, and the ability of our common shares to remain listed and traded on the TSX; epidemics, pandemics and other public health crises, including COVID-19 or similar such viruses; the impact of any merger, acquisition or other strategic transaction involving the Company including any acquisition or other change in control of the Company; the "Risk Factors" in the 2020 AIF, the risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors identified in the Project Technical Report and the 2020 MD&A (and accompanying financial statements). 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 Project 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 has been read, verified and approved by Mike Willett, P.Eng., the Company's Vice President of Operations and Projects, who is a Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

SOURCE Battle North Gold Corporation

Related Links

http://www.battlenorthgold.com/


Tata Motors share fell over 4% today after the auto giant's subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover's (JLR) sales for January in the UK fell 42.8% . The large cap stock touched an intraday low of Rs 322.15, falling 4.08% against previous close of Rs 335.85 on BSE. Tata Motors share stands higher than 5 day, 20 day, 50 day, 100 day and 200 day moving averages.

The share has risen 87.44% in one year and gained 77.14% since the beginning of this year. Market cap of Tata Motors stood at Rs 1 lakh crore on BSE. Share of Tata Motors closed 3.20% or Rs 10.75 lower at Rs 325.10. In UK, JLR sales fell to 4,542 units from 7,938 units (YoY).

Jaguar's UK sales fell 60.7% to 914 units against 2,325 units (YoY).

Land Rover UK sales declined 35.4% to 3,628 units against 5,613 units (YoY) In a month, the share has climbed 64.26%. The recent spike in the share came after the auto firm reported a 25.27 per cent rise in sales for January.

Share Market Live: Sensex rises 400 points to record high, Nifty at 15,230; ONGC, HDFC, Titan top gainers

From Rs 262.60 on January 29, the stock has climbed to Rs 325.10, implying a rise of 23.8% during the period.

Total sales rose to 59,959 units in January against a total of 47,862 units in the same month last year. Domestic sales rose 28 per cent to 57,742 units against 45,242 units in January last year. On February 1, FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced a voluntary vehicle scrappage policy to phase out old vehicles in her third budget speech.

The phasing out of old vehicles will be a good move for the auto industry since it will lead to more demand for new vehicles particularly e-vehicles.

Tata Motors' overall share of electric vehicles in its 2020 sales stood at 43.3%. The firm has said that EVs' contribution is 'poised for further growth in 2021 and beyond.

Why Tata Motors share rose over 28% in three days

Meanwhile, Motilal Oswal has given a buy call on Tata Motors with a target price of Rs 350. The stock trades at 3.4x FY22 EV/EBITDA and 1.4x P/BV. The brokerage has maintained a Buy call on the stock.

By Aseem Thapliyal

'Nothing is going to happen. Where is the danger,' said the apex court bench headed by CJI SA Bobde. The matter has been adjourned for two weeks

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday stayed the arrest of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and six journalists including Rajdeep Sardesai in connection with FIRs lodged against them for their alleged "misleading" tweets on the violence during the farmers' tractor rally in Delhi on the Republic Day.

A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde issued notices and sought responses from the Centre and others on the petitions filed by Tharoor, Sardesai and journalists Mrinal Pande, Zafar Agha, Paresh Nath, Vinod K Jose and Anant Nath.

When the bench said it was issuing notice in the matter, senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tharoor, said that no coercive action be taken against the petitioners in the meantime.

Nothing is going to happen. Where is the danger, said the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.

We will hear you after two weeks and stay the arrest in the meanwhile, the bench said.

On 30 January, Delhi Police had filed a case against Tharoor, Sardesai and others.

Earlier, Tharoor and six journalists were booked by the Noida Police for alleged sedition, among other charges, over the violence during the farmers'' tractor rally in Delhi, officials had said.

Madhya Pradesh Police had also filed a case against Tharoor and the six journalists over their alleged ''misleading'' tweets on the violence during the farmers'' tractor rally in Delhi.

On January 26, thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with the police in the national capital during the tractor rally called by the farmer unions to highlight their demand for the repeal of the three farm laws.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-08 23:19:41|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Feb. 8, 2021 shows a damaged dam near the Dhauliganga hydro power project after a glacier burst in Chamoli district in India's northern hilly state of Uttarakhand. As many as 24 dead bodies, all men, have been recovered in India's northern hilly state of Uttarakhand till Monday evening, an official at the local disaster management office said. (Str/Xinhua)

NEW DELHI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- As many as 24 dead bodies, all men, have been recovered in India's northern hilly state of Uttarakhand till Monday evening, an official at the local disaster management office said.

Upper reaches in the state had been hit by a glacier burst on Sunday morning, leaving over 200 people missing, mostly laborers at two hydropower projects.

"The dead bodies have been recovered between the spot where the glacier burst and downstream till the Srinagar area in the state," added the official.

According to him, the relief and rescue work would continue through the night.

Meanwhile, local media quoted state Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat as saying that a joint team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the Indian Army was conducting the rescue operation.

The team had reached the 130-meter mark in one of the tunnels which is nearly 1,800 meters long. "It may take two to three hours to reach the T-point in the tunnel. Efforts underway to safely rescue those who are stuck in the tunnel," Rawat added.

The tunnel located near the glacier burst site is said to be filled with several feet high slush and debris. Heavy machinery is being used to clear the tunnel and rescue the workers trapped inside it.

A dog squad is also being used to find the survivors, if any. Enditem
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - Provenance Gold Corp. (CSE: PAU) (FSE: 3PG) (the "Company" or "Provenance") and Palayan Resources, Inc. (OTC Pink: PLYN) ("Palayan") are pleased to announce preparation and commencement of work for their initial drilling program on Provenance's Silver Bow gold and silver property in Nye County, Nevada. The drill rig is being mobilized following some clearing and road work with drilling anticipated to begin by the end of the week. By funding this initial drilling program, Palayan will earn a 49.5 percent interest in the Silver Bow project.

The Silver Bow project hosts a gold and silver system that extends across the five-kilometer length of the property, with numerous small historic mines and prospects across the property. Provenance has identified multiple targets on the property which hosts both open-pit and deep deposits of gold and silver.

Drilling will focus on a central portion of the property on which a small historic mine produced high-grade gold and silver from a shallow vein. The vein is associated with thick zones of lower grade breccia mineralization. Historically, miners produced extremely high-grade gold ores from veins on the claim. Provenance confirmed this with random dump samples that returned 293 g/t Au, 12.4 g/t Au and 10.2 g/t Au. The breccia portion of the target was tested in 1993 with three holes which returned typical intervals of 45 to 82 meters of 0.13 to 1.03 g/t Au and 5.6 to 75.8 g/t Ag. No known historic drilling has occurred on the high-grade vein zone.

The initial drilling program will be 20 reverse circulation holes from 12 locations that are spaced out along the exposed mineralized ridge.

Rauno Perttu, CEO of Provenance, stated: "We are excited to initiate drilling of this property. We believe the property hosts extensive open-pit and underground gold and silver mineralization. Our initial program is designed to begin to define a portion of the potential open-pit mineralization in the central portion of the property. I have confidence in the success of our initial program and believe this is only the beginning of an expanding successful exploration program."

Rauno Perttu, P. Geo., a Qualified Person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101), and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this News Release.

About Provenance Gold Corp.

Provenance Gold Corp. is a precious metals exploration company with a focus on gold and silver resources within North America. For further information please visit the Company's website at https://provenancegold.com or contact rclark@provenancegold.com.

On behalf of the Board,

Provenance Gold Corp.

Rauno Perttu, Chief Executive Officer

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange, nor its regulation services provider, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to proposed activities at the White Rock gold project, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74060
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After spending a week in captivity, the three Chinese expatriates kidnapped on a mining site in Ifewara area, Ife East local government of Osun State, have regained their freedom.

The three expatriates were taken away from a mining site in the community on February 1 after their police escort was killed.

It was said that the Chinese miners had a disagreement with some labourers before the abduction.

This newspaper also gathered that the kidnappers reached out to the relatives of victims, demanding N500 million as ransom.

PREMIUM TIMES could not, however, tell as of the time of this report if the ransom was paid or how the expatriates regained freedom.

But the police said no ransom was paid to the kidnappers.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria, Yemisi Opalola, the police spokesperson in Osun, said the miners were released on Sunday.

Ms Opalola, a superintendent of police, said the kidnappers set the Chinese free when they realised that the police were closing in on them.

She said no arrest had been made in connection with the incident.
One of the major issues of our time is the Lefts attempt to ban conservative speech where it now matters most: on social media platforms. The Left monopolizes social media outlets, and if an upstart competitor rears its headParler, sayit is crushed by an obviously-illegal combination or conspiracy in restraint of trade. (See Section 1 of the Sherman Act.) Good luck litigating that for the next ten years while you have no revenue, and while the Left solidifies its control.

What to do about this threat to our freedom? Action at the federal level is impossible, since the Democrats love having private companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google do their bidding. And why wouldnt they? Those fabulously profitable companies expect, no doubt correctly, that enforcing Leftist orthodoxy on their platforms will buy immunity from antitrust scrutiny in any Democratic administration. If you are a Silicon Valley monopolist, whats not to like?

There is only one solution: action at the state level. Free-speech advocates control something like 30 states, and if we act intelligently, we can stop the Left-wing oligarchs in their tracks. I wrote about this idea here, here and here. The key is to get well-conceived and well-drafted statutes passed in multiple states. In Minnesota, a bill couched in terms of anti-discrimination is making its way through the process. I have already endorsed this proposed law:

Columbia Law School professor Phil Hamburger, renowned for his book Is Administrative Law Unlawful?, has drafted another very good bill. It incorporates our idea of banning discrimination on a number of groundsrace, sex, religion, political orientationand adds some further elements:

I commend Phils bill to the attention of pro-freedom legislators everywhere.

Other bills, some good, some not so good, are making their way through various state legislatures. Ron DeSantis, happily, has entered the lists. His press conference on this subject drew national attention, and his lineYou can whiz on my leg, but dont tell me its rainingmay go down in history. But to my knowledge, they are still drafting in Florida, and we dont yet have a finished bill to comment on. Likewise with another bellwether state, South Dakota.

I am fine with different states taking different approaches; in fact, that is desirable. We cant know at this point what will work best. What is essential is that 30 statesor, more realistically, 10 or 15enact solid, well-drafted laws that seek to rein in the unholy Democratic Party/Big Tech monopoly alliance. Time will tell which approach works best. But that said, I commend the Minnesota bill, and Phil Hamburgers, to all state reps and staffers who are reading this post. I think we have hit on the best angle to take down the left-wing tech monopoly.
Michigan Senate Republicans unveiled a $2 billion plan Tuesday for spending some  but not all  of the federal coronavirus aid available to the state for vaccination efforts, returning schools to in-person learning and other relief for residents.

Similar to a plan supported by Michigan House Republicans, the Senate Republican proposal would not immediately allocate all of the billions in federal COVID-19 aid available to the state. Unlike the House-passed plan, however, the Senate proposal would not tie any of the federal education funding to a bill giving local health departments more authority in determining coronavirus restrictions.

To be spent, any federal funding Michigan is eligible for needs to be allocated by the legislature with approval from the governor.

How to spend federal coronavirus money may be the next big battle between Whitmer and Republicans

The Senate plan includes $110 million for vaccine distribution, one-third of which would be tied to improving the governors poor vaccine rollout, per a press release from Appropriations Chair Jim Stamas office. The rest of the funds will be held in reserve under the plan.

Under the plan, $170 million would go towards boosting pay for direct care workers, $220 million would fund emergency rental assistance and $25 million would fund mental health services and substance abuse prevention.

Schools would receive $450 per pupil to address learning loss associated with school closures, and $75 million would fund increased COVID-19 testing for students, teachers and staff. An additional $110 million in testing funds would be appropriated when the Whitmer Administration finalizes their plan, according to a news release.

The Senate proposal also includes $300 million in grant funding for businesses impacted by COVID-19 closures and $150 million for funding the Unemployment Trust Fund. Another $50 million would go towards reimbursing Michigan businesses charged licensing and inspection fees by the state.

Senate Appropriations Chair Jim Stamas, R-Midland, said in a statement the plan funds the states most pressing needs and sets aside additional resources without issuing a blank check for the governor to use without a detailed plan.

This plan is responsive and responsible. It helps meet the dire needs facing our state and our people while also being smart in how we spend federal assistance dollars, Stamas said.

The Senate plan now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee and would need signoff from the House and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Michigan House clears $3.5B coronavirus spending plan over objections from Democrats

Discussions on how to spend federal COVID-19 dollars are far from over. There are significant differences between the Senate proposal and the House-passed plan, and both are vastly different from the $5.6 billion plan Whitmer proposed last month.

During a Tuesday afternoon news conference, Whitmer said she spoke with the four legislative leaders to make the case for her spending plan, adding, I dont know if Id call it a negotiation by any stretch.

Now that the Senate has released their thoughts, she said she hopes we progress toward a moment where we got some conversation on this subject, but that hasnt happened in any sort of meaningful way at this juncture.

These are funds that were sent to Michigan by the federal government, Whitmer said. Other states are deploying these resources to support their children, to support businesses that are struggling, to roll out their vaccine distribution. Michigan is sitting on them, because were waiting on the Legislature to appropriate these dollars.

Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, was also critical of the proposal, arguing the Legislature would do better to use as much of the federal relief funding as possible before it gets caught up in Lansings political budget games.

The federal dollars would supplement the states current budget, which runs through Sept. 30 of this year. Whitmers administration is expected to roll out a budget proposal for the next fiscal year on Thursday.

Read Whitmers $5.6B plan to fund coronavirus recovery for Michigan schools, economy

Young said the bills purpose is to address the situation in which someone drives to a neighboring state for marijuana and within 30 days  with elements of marijuana still in their system  is in an accident but didnt cause an accident he or she would be charged with a felony under Indiana law.
The late-winter ritual of state budget hearings is getting a coronavirus makeover in Pennsylvania this year.

The House Appropriations Committee announced Monday that its three-week, department-by-department review of Wolf Administration budget requests will open in the main House chambers starting Feb 16, in order to give presenters and committee members a chance to follow all relevant social distancing protocols.

Because the Capitol building is technically closed to the public under Gov. Tom Wolfs emergency rules, this is also the first time in memory that the hearings will be closed to in-person attendance by members of the public.

Thats a different thing, however, than being closed to the public, Appropriations spokesman Neal Lesher said, noting all of the sessions will be broadcast by the Pennsylvania Cable Network and live-streamed on the Internet by the Republican and Democratic caucus staffs.

In addition, credentialed media - who have continued to have access to the Capitol throughout the closure - will be able to cover the hearings in person if they wish, Lesher said.

The last three days of scheduled House Appropriations hearings: March 2 through 4, will be held in the Forum Auditorium.

The Houses budget hearings have traditionally taken place in the majority caucus room, located right off the Capitols Main Rotunda, often playing to relatively packed rooms of members, lobbyists and issue advocates, and reporters.

Lesher said masks will be required for all members, staff, and testifiers. The House floor will be cleaned and sanitized between hearings. The full schedule of the House hearings can be found here.

And in another change for 2021, the Senate Appropriations Committee has delayed the start of its hearing schedule to the week of March 8, and it will then proceed into April. The Senates hearings are tentatively scheduled to take place in the Senate chamber.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patrick Browne, R-Lehigh County, said the intent of new dates - in the past, the House and Senate reviews have run concurrently, giving the whole process a two-ring circus feel - is to get the hearings moved closer to the start of earnest budget negotiations between the administration and legislature.

The new budget - and all related tax and fiscal legislation - is supposed to be in place for the July 1 start of the new fiscal year.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is asking for community support during the annual Woods Giving Day.

Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods College will host its sixth annual Woods Giving Day on February 9th

It's usually held the Tuesday after Thanksgiving but they wanted to do something different.

New this year, local businesses are getting involved.

When you visit Little Bear Coffee Company, Federal Coffee, 5th Street Nutrition, Culvers, or Chick-fil-a tomorrow, proceeds from certain menu items go back to the college.

Click on this link to give online https://giving.smwc.edu/
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohios pandemic law that reclassified municipal income tax rules to tax people based on their principal work location - not where they may be working remotely during coronavirus - is now the subject of two more lawsuits.

The Columbus-based conservative think tank Buckeye Institute said it filed suits Tuesday against the cities of Columbus and Cincinnati, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, on behalf of suburban residents working remotely - an Ohio Department of Health employee from Westerville and a Blue Ash resident in the financial field.

These suits are in addition to a pending suit filed against Columbus and Yost in July - all making the general argument that it is illegal to tax people where they neither work nor live.

The new suits take on an additional argument.

In both cases, according the the Buckeye Institute, the plaintiffs (Eric Denison of Westerville and Josh Schaad of Blue Ash) often worked remotely ahead of the pandemic and in the past had received refunds on taxes collected by Columbus and Cincinnati for work performed outside those cities.

Now, however, they are not able to get those refunds, said Robert Alt, president and chief executive officer of the Buckeye Institute.

It clearly raises this additional question: Why are you working where you are working, " Alt said. Before, it was where is the work being performed.

The law approved in March as part of wide-ranging pandemic legislation said that during Ohios emergency declaration and until 30 days after it ends any day in which an employee performs personal services at a location, including the employees home ... because of the declaration shall be deemed to be a day performing personal services at the employees principal place of work.

In Denisons case, he has been working in Groveport, not at home or in Columbus since March, but has been taxed in Columbus, the suit said.

A spokeswoman for the Columbus mayors office said the city could not comment on pending litigation. Messages were left seeking comment from the Cincinnatis mayors office and the Ohio attorney generals office.

Lingering questions have muddied the tax issues statewide, including for dozens of communities in Northeast Ohio.

The Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA), which administers taxes for most cities and villages in Greater Cleveland and others elsewhere, has amended its current refund form to allow people to submit claims for refunds if they have been working at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

But RITA is making no promises to pay those refunds, instead cautioning on the form:

A refund of the tax withheld for your pre-COVID-19 work municipality, while you worked from home or another location, may not be available until litigation over this issue is completed. ... RITA will hold your request for refund in a suspended status until this litigation is concluded.

Should the conclusion of this litigation determine that a refund is allowed, your request for refund will be processed at that time. Should the conclusion of the litigation determine that a refund is not allowed, you will receive a notice that a refund is not available to you.

The Cleveland-run Central Collection Agency (CCA), which administers taxes for Cleveland and other communities, has a downloadable refund form on its website but there are no changes this year specifically to address COVID work situations.

The amount of money that is at stake depends on individual circumstances.

For example, someone making $50,000 who lives in a township without an income tax but works in city where the income tax rate is 2%, would pay $1,000 over a full year in local income taxes. That potentially could be refunded.

But some people receiving such a refund would then have to turn around and pay taxes to their residency city, if they are working there. The gains for these people would range from a full refund to perhaps nothing at all, depending on the tax rates and normal credits for their home city.

The Cincinnati suit quotes from the citys published policy: Therefore, there is no refund opportunity when filing a tax return for 2020 if you are working at home due to COVID-19.

Cities across Ohio are bracing for big hits to their budgets if the refunds are ordered.

The Ohio Mayors Alliance expressed concern for additional changes, advocating in a Monday news release that state priorities should include preserving stability for local governments by maintaining previously passed COVID-related provisions. This includes avoiding tax policy changes or funding cuts that would create further financial instability in the middle of a pandemic.

Previous stories

Explaining Ohios maze of city income tax rates and credits, and why you should log where youve been working

RITA income tax filers can claim a refund for working at home during coronavirus, but might not get the money

Clevelands fortunes exiting the coronavirus pandemic could take a hit without income taxes from suburban commuters
(Natural News) Prior to the public revelation that Lincoln Project co-founder John Weaver is a homosexual pedophile who for many years used his executive position to try to groom young boys for sex, many prominent Hollywood celebrities were going gaga with worship towards his organization on social media.

Some of the biggest promoters of the Lincoln Project include Will & Grace star Debra Messing, Star Wars star Mark Hamill, former professional wrestler Dave Bautista, and Ghostbusters actress Leslie Jones. Another is comedian Chelsea Handler, who disturbingly tweeted that she has become sexually attracted to the @ProjectLincoln.

Other Hollywood celebrities who have gushed with praise towards the Lincoln Project include well-known names like Rob Reiner, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Jason Bateman, and Jennifer Aniston, all of whom donated to the group. Harrison Ford, Sam Elliott, and Martin Sheen all helped narrate Lincoln Project videos.

On Oct. 23, 2020, pop star John Legend tweeted a Lincoln Project video containing footage of President Donald Trump promising a health care plan. The footage was from Jan. 2017, three years prior, so Legend mocked Trump by writing, Im beginning to think he has no healthcare plan.

Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista has on numerous occasions, along with fellow Marvel star Chris Evans, tweeted Lincoln Project videos with nasty captions aimed at Trump.

What a creepy lying ignorant piece of [poop], Bautista tweeted in one of them, with a feces pile emoji instead of the word poop.

This actual meatball wants to fire the U.S.s top infectious disease expert during a pandemic, whined Evans in a follow-up tweet about Trump, which included his own hand-selected Lincoln Project video.

Fauci is a man of science. Other folks from the scientific community need to stand up for Fauci before this dunce cap replaces him with Lil Wayne.

What skeletons might be hiding in closets of celebrities who praised Lincoln Project?

On June 25, 2020, comedian Jane Lynch tweeted all praise to the Lincoln Project for doing all the heavy lifting of ensuring that Trump was not reelected president.

Whatever your politics this is wonderful, tweeted Zoolander star Ben Stiller, praising Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson for his great work with the Lincoln Project.

Jamie Lee Curtis five days later encouraged her followers and fans to donate both to Joe Biden and to the Lincoln Project. Filmmaker Judd Apatow joined her by telling his followers that it was important for them to learn how to vote, make a plan, and tell a friend to do the same thing.

Scrubs star Zach Braff on Oct. 16, 2020, tweeted a pro-female video from the Lincoln Project with the caption, Beautiful. Actress-director Elizabeth Banks did much the same thing, calling a Lincoln Project video she shared on Oct. 8, 2020, pretty genius.

The infamous Alyssa Milano of course also tweeted her praise for the Lincoln Project, claiming that Trump was probably freaking out about it. Milano jokingly encouraged her followers to retweet said video.

Other questionable celebrities who have been caught promoting the Lincoln Project in suspicious ways include washed-up pop star Cher, Bette Midler, Julia Louis-Dreyfus of Seinfeld fame, Adam Scott, Sophia Bush, Jim Gaffigan, Padma Lakshmi, Bradley Whitford, Stephen King, Josh Gad, Ellen Barkin, Vincent DOnofrio, Matthew Modine, Ken Jeong, Mia Farrow, John Leguizamo, Ron Perlman, Henry Winkler, Ava DuVernay, Mira Sorvino, Kristen Johnston, Wanda Sykes, Eric Roberts, Ana Navarro-Cardenas, Sandra Bernhard, Steve Schmidt, Christina Applegate, Ken Olin, and Joshua Malina.

All the people you would expect, wrote one Breitbart commenter. The leftist trash who had no problem with Weinstein and Epstein for decades.

More of the latest news about the stolen 2020 election can be found at Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

Breitbart.com
"It is impactful for the interns to have someone relatable they can work with to see what's possible for them." Teri Murphy, Search Influence account coordinator and second year YouthForce mentor.

This spring, Search Influence will welcome a cohort of six interns from YouthForce NOLA. YouthForce NOLA is a nonprofit organization that collaborates with businesses to prepare young people from underserved communities in New Orleans for fulfilling careers in high-demand industries. Search Influence and YouthForce NOLA have had a long-standing partnership that dates back to the internship program's inception in 2015. Since that time, Search Influence has hosted more than 10 interns, with two continuing to work at the agency after completing their internships.

Search Influence and YouthForce NOLA are working together to safely resume their partnership during the coronavirus pandemic. Currently, Search Influence's employees are working remotely, and the YouthForce NOLA intern cohort will join the team virtually. The six high school students participating in the internship program attend public charter schools in New Orleans: Booker T. Washington High School, Livingston Collegiate Academy, and the New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy.

"As a digital marketing agency that is actively involved in developing local talent, being a part of this program is a wonderful feeling," said Search Influence co-founder and COO Angie Scott. "For our interns, understanding how to navigate and thrive in professional environments will be critical to their success in the future."

The interns who are joining Search Influence will learn about many aspects of digital marketing, including:



Account management

Editing websites and web content

Quality assurance processes

Sales

Each YouthForce NOLA intern will be paired up with a mentor who will guide them throughout the experience. The mentor coordinates training with agency subject matter experts and offers feedback as they progress through the program.

"I love working with the interns because I recognize how important professional experience is for a young person trying to navigate what their career and 'adult life' will look like," said Teri Murphy, an account coordinator at Search Influence and second time YouthForce mentor. "I think it's impactful for the interns to have someone relatable they can work with to see what's possible for them."

To learn more about Search Influence's services and its partnerships with other nonprofit organizations, visit their website at http://www.searchinfluence.com or call (504) 208-3900.

Search Influence is a digital marketing agency based in New Orleans that serves local and national clients. With ROI-focused marketing strategies that help optimize the potential of each client, Search Influence offers search engine optimization, paid digital advertising, social media marketing, and other made-to-measure strategies that elevate a business's connection with its target customers.


New Delhi, Feb 9 : A Pakistani politician is receiving high praise from China for his comments on 'economic development and progress' in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, an area in Western China infamous for crimes against humanity committed against Muslim Uyghurs and other members of ethnic and religious minority groups.

In an interview to China's state-run press agency Xinhua over the weekend, Chairman of Pakistan's Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Mushahid Hussain Syed had asserted that the Uyghur Muslim community groups in Xinjiang are "leading their lives in peace" and some western politicians are trying to "destabilize" China by peddling fiction.

"I have been to mosques in Kashgar. I have been to the Grand Bazaar at Urumqi. We had music programmes (events), dancing away with different communities who live in Xinjiang involving Uygurs, Han Chinese, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and Uzbeks," he said in the interview.

While several governments and human rights groups all over the world have criticised the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) heavily for exhibiting profound hostility and increasingly repressive treatment of the Uyghurs, Sayed sees it as a false alarm.

"Xinjiang is a very pluralistic, dynamic, (and) fast growing region of China, which is the core of the Silk Road Economic Belt. There is an incremental rise in the living standards of the people of Xinjiang, including the Uygur community," the Senator, who also heads a Lahore-based think tank named Pakistan-China Institute, said.

The comments catapulted his popularity in Beijing which had last month been accused by the United States of committing an ongoing "genocide" against the Muslim Uyghurs and systematically destroying them.

"It has also proven that the lies on Xinjiang concocted by a handful of anti-China elements in the West are nothing but a farce to malign and smear China. Their attempts to interfere in China's internal affairs will not succeed," said Wang Wenbin, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, on Monday.

The latest development further strengthens the belief of Uyghurs who have always accused several Islamic nations for largely ignoring the cries of their brethren in Xinjiang. They believe that the silence is a result of massive Chinese investment in various projects, like it is being done in Pakistan through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

"Many of the nations which uphold themselves as 'guardians of the faith' are participating in China's Belt and Road initiative, benefiting from Chinese infrastructure investment. These countries see China as an ally over the 'infidels in the West'. Decades of Chinese investment, coupled with a mutual distaste of both India and the USA, have silenced government Pakistan on the Uyghur struggle," the Organization for World Peace, a community of advocates and experts focusing on victims of warfare, mentioned last year.

US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback has also repeatedly called on the Muslim-majority nations to "get their courage back" and confront China which has been accused of detaining one to two million Uyghurs in a network of high-security indoctrination and prison camps in Xinjiang since 2017.

On Monday, the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), in partnership with the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) and Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP), obtained an authoritative legal opinion on the treatment of Uyghurs by Chinese authorities. In what is the first legal opinion published by barristers pursuant to formal instructions, leading lawyers at Essex Court Chambers (London), led by Alison McDonald QC, conclude that the available evidence credibly establishes that crimes against humanity and the crime of genocide have been committed.

"This is a landmark moment for Uyghurs. This authoritative determination sets out the widespread crimes against humanity faced by Uyghurs and most significantly finds that there is a clear and credible case that genocide is being perpetrated against my people. The finding is clear: there is an intent to destroy Uyghurs," said Rahima Mahmut, UK Director of the World Uyghur Congress.

Ironically, the Pakistani politicians are telling the world at the same time that the region is experiencing peace like never before.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
San Antonio officials downgraded the coronavirus risk to residents to moderate on Monday, as the winter surge has continued to loosen its grip on the city.

The infection rate declined for the fourth straight week, to 61.3 cases per 100,000 people, down from 70.1 the previous week and 103.4 at the height of the surge. The positivity rate, or the portion of tests that come back positive, improved for the fifth week in a row, dropping 1.7 percentage points to 9.7 percent.

Were moving in the right direction, said Mayor Ron Nirenberg at the daily coronavirus briefing.

On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus transmission declines in San Antonio with improvements to positivity, case rates

Area hospitals were caring for 917 people with COVID on Monday, 254 fewer than a week ago. It was the lowest number of coronavirus patients since just before Christmas, when the surge was still accelerating toward a peak of 1,520 patients on Jan. 18. Of those hospitalized, 75 had been admitted in the past day, while 351 were critically ill and 209 were breathing with the support of a ventilator.

Officials reported just 235 new cases, a number thats likely low due to delayed reporting from the state laboratory. Nirenberg said the full number of cases from Sunday and Monday was expected to be reflected in Tuesdays count.

The seven-day average for new cases has fallen to 922, down from 1,447 a week ago and 2,260 at the height of the surge.

To date, at least 183,436 Bexar County residents have contracted the virus.

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District reported one new COVID death from the past two weeks, that of a Hispanic woman in her 70s who died at a Baptist hospital. At least 2,362 residents have succumbed to the virus since March, and further deaths are expected even as the surge continues to abate.

On ExpressNews.com: Tracking COVID-19 - coronavirus by the numbers in San Antonio and across the country

However, officials said they would not know the full effects of potential transmission from Super Bowl parties, the upcoming San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo and spring break until the end of March. Nirenberg said no citations were issued in response to 31 inspections for possible violations of health rules on Sunday.

Dr. Junda Woo, medical director of Metro Health, said at the briefing that while the positivity rate has declined, it is still nearly twice the 5 percent threshold health officials would like to reach. That, she said, coupled with the still-limited availability of vaccine, means that residents should still continue to exercise all the recommended precautions against the virus.

We should remember that just because there is a vaccine, if we dont have it in peoples arms, that doesnt mean we can relax as much as we like to, she said.

Nirenberg said an effort to partner with community organizations to administer vaccines to high-risk residents on the near East, South and West sides has secured appointments for more than 5,400 people. The San Antonio Fire Department is also entering its second week of administering vaccines to homebound seniors, in partnership with Meals on Wheels and the San Antonio Housing Authority.

On ExpressNews.com: Hospitals full. Thousands infected with coronavirus each week. San Antonio pays the price for failing to flatten the curve.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the county has struck a deal with Walgreens to vaccinate about 1,900 county employees later this week who are eligible to receive the vaccine.

Officials said they would welcome the addition of a federal vaccination site in San Antonio, an idea raised Monday by Gov. Greg Abbott.

Although Nirenberg said the plan was in early stages, he argued that San Antonio would be an appropriate site for such a venture, due to the citys high mortality rates from COVID and large share of residents who are older or have chronic health conditions.

San Antonio should be at the top of the list, Nirenberg said. We have a vulnerable population that needs to be vaccinated.

lcaruba@express-news.net
 Flash

China is providing vaccine aid to 53 developing countries including Pakistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Monday.





China has exported or is in the process of exporting vaccines to 22 countries, the spokesperson told a routine press briefing.





China has taken concrete steps to honor its pledge to make vaccines global public goods, once available, with greater affordability and accessibility in developing countries, Wang said.





China has joined COVAX and decided to offer 10 million vaccines to COVAX, mainly to help meet the needs of developing countries, he added.





Reiterating China's support for domestic companies in promoting vaccine research, development and manufacturing with their foreign counterparts, Wang said China supports relevant companies to export vaccines to countries that are in urgent need, accept and have authorized the emergency use of Chinese vaccines.





"Pakistan was the first country to receive Chinese vaccine aid. Cambodia received China's vaccine aid yesterday and Laos did today. Vaccine aid to Equatorial Guinea will be shipped tomorrow. Meanwhile, the first batch of vaccines exported by China to Peru arrived today," the spokesperson said.





"China will continue its vaccine cooperation with relevant countries, offer support within its capability and make concrete contributions to securing a victory against the pandemic as soon as possible and to building a global community of health for all," he added.




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NEWTOWN - Ashley remembers that Dec. 14, 2012, was a big day, because she had picked out her own school clothes for the first time, and because it was her turn to hold her second-grade teachers walkie-talkie during recess.

Before that morning was half over Ashleys world of sunshine and rainbows had been transformed into one where everything was just sad and scary.

The thing about this trauma specifically is because we were so young, you dont really grow away from it, you grow around it, said Ashley, now 15, speaking publicly for the first time about surviving the Sandy Hook massacre in a video released by a gun violence prevention group. As you grow up, itmoves with you.

As such, she says in the video, I cant even express how, how angry, how emotional it makes me when extremists deny the deaths of 26 first-graders and educators at Sandy Hook School. At the same time, she speaks with hope in the video that If  we continue to fight long enough and hard enough things will change.

Ashley, who was given partial anonymity to use only her first name in an agreement between her family and the nonprofit Guns Down America, can be seen in the seven-minute video speaking candidly and collectedly about what happened when a 20-year-old gunman shot his way into her locked school and committed the worst crime in Connecticut history.

It was so loud, but we were trying so hard to be quiet  it freaked us out so badly, she said. Mrs. Clements dragged over a desk, and she was trying to read a book to us but her hands were shaking a lot, so it was really hard to stay calm.

Abbey Clements, the teacher Ashley speaks of, was instrumental in encouraging the teenager to share her story and experience the power in telling your truth.

At a time where we still have Sandy Hook deniers and conspiracy theorists and school shootings, there is such power in her truth, Clements told Hearst Connecticut Media on Monday. I think she felt good about that fact that (Guns Down America) gave her time and space to tell her story.

Igor Volsky, the co-founder and executive director of Guns Down America agreed. Volsky interviewed Ashley, wrote the narrative text for the video, and released it to the progressive news outlet, NowThis, which posted the video on Friday.

Its easy to forget she is 15 given how incredibly mature and eloquent she is, Volsky said on Monday. I was happy to hear her urge President Biden to really prioritize gun violence prevention and live up to the promises he made when he visited Newtown.

Ashleys video was released at the end of a week dominated by headlines about a freshman GOP congresswoman whose support of conspiracy extremism and Sandy Hook denial led the Democrat-controlled House of Representative to remove her from the Education and Labor Committee.

Although Ashleys video was taped before the Feb. 4 House vote to strip U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of her committee assignments, the purpose of asking Ashley to respond to conspiracy extremists was not to single out the embattled congresswoman, but to shine a light on how conspiratorial lies traumatize victims, Volsky said.

Its so invalidating, Ashley says on the video. Its incredibly invalidating to everything our community has gone through, to everything other communities have gone through.

Sandy Hook students have not been as outspoken as certain parents and adults in Newtown because the students were so young when the tragedy struck. Select students have been more vocal publicly about their experience - particularly after they were inspired by the example of the Parkland students March for Our Lives movement.

Clements, who teaches fourth grade in Newtown, says she is proud of all her students, but particularly impressed with Ashley.

It was really incredible to see the sensitivity and the perspective she had as a person so young going through that, Clements said. Her voice is so important right now when we have members of congress who are denying her truth.

One of the worst parts of that morning eight years ago was after the shooting stopped, Ashley said.

The police came and got us, and they told us to line up and put our hands on the person in front of us...and close our eyes, and they led us out of the building, she says on the video. And I know a few of my friends didnt close their eyes and they are still so scarred because they saw their classmates.

rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342
TORONTO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Retained executive search firm Caldwell (TSX: CWL) today announced a major enhancement to its Pan-European recruiting capabilities in the medtech/diagnostics sector with the addition of Ulrika Hagle as a partner in Caldwell's Life Sciences and Healthcare Practice and based in the firm's London office.

"Ulrika has been advising senior leaders and non-executive boards in medtech and diagnostics on talent issues for more than 20 years," said John Blank, managing partner of Caldwell's Life Sciences and Healthcare Practice. "Her extensive expertise in this area, particularly related to international talent management in medical devices and diagnostics companies, will be an invaluable addition to our team."

Ms. Hagle joins Caldwell from Korn Ferry, where she held positions of increasing responsibility culminating in co-leader of the firm's Global Medical Technology & Diagnostics Practice with a special focus on EMEA and APAC. Previously, she served as leader of Heidrick & Struggles' medical devices and diagnostics practice in Europe. She began her executive search career in Brussels.

Prior to her career in recruitment, Ms. Hagle spent 11 years in the consumer goods industry. One of her last positions was brand development director, Europe, based at Whirlpool's European headquarters in Italy. Earlier, Ms. Hagle held various marketing positions with Unilever. She has also worked for a diagnostics start-up company in the U.S.

A Swedish national, Ms. Hagle has lived and worked in the UK, the US, Singapore, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden. She earned a degree from University of Lund, Sweden and has conducted additional studies at Bennington College in the U.S. and at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

"We are delighted to have Ulrika joining the Caldwell team," said John Wallace, chief executive officer. "I have known Ulrika for more than 15 years and can attest to her commitment to superior execution and client service. Her vast experience in the life sciences and healthcare space - on an international level - strengthens our ability to serve our clients in a more holistic fashion. It is gratifying to see professionals in the search industry recognizing the exciting opportunity that Caldwell represents, and we look forward to making further strategic partner additions in the months to come."

About Caldwell

Caldwell Partners is a technology-powered talent acquisition firm specializing in recruitment at all levels.

Caldwell, a retained executive search firm, enables clients around the world to thrive and succeed by helping them identify, recruit and retain the best people. Our reputation - 50 years in the making - has been built on transformative searches across functions and geographies at the very highest levels of management and operations. We are a leading licensed certified partner of The Predictive Index (PI), an award-winning talent optimization platform with a suite of talent strategy and assessment tools that - when integrated with our search process - helps clients hire the right people, then manage and inspire them to achieve maximum business results as fast as possible.

IQTalent Partners offers consulting, candidate sourcing, candidate research, and full lifecycle recruiting to its clients. Using a unique on-demand business model, IQTP augments the client's in-house talent acquisition team in a partnership without commissions or long-term contracts. Founded in 2009 with a mission to find a better, more cost-effective, and efficient way for organizations and candidates to find a match, the company has partnered with more than 300 corporations from Fortune 500s to startups. IQTP's IQTalent Xchange is an original market concept using advanced artificial intelligence combined with human expertise to create a passive candidate marketplace. The proprietary talent exchange platform includes more than 300 million global professionals, offering clients unprecedented access to the most qualified candidates.

Caldwell's Common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CWL). Please visit our website at www.caldwellpartners.com for further information. For further information, please contact:

Contact: Caroline Lomot, Caldwell, clomot@caldwellpartners.com, +1 516 830 3535

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1435400/Ulrika_Hagle.jpg
The Lagos State Government has warned residents that it would no longer condone any abuse of building laws in the state.

The warning followed the spate of buildings collapse and flagrant disobedience to the regulations guiding the erecting of buildings in the state.

The state government said it has noticed that many residents are building without due recourse to state agencies for approval and warned the people to desist from violating building regulations.

Speaking after the Lagos State Enforcement Team (LSET) has demolished some structures erected without compliance to the state building laws and regulations at Banana Island, Ikoyi, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, said the enforcement became necessary because the state government felt the need to do something to halt the growing illegality.

The places visited by the LSET had been served the stop work notice by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LSBCA). Despite the notice, construction works were still going on.

At 102 Close, K Zone, a section of the lagoon has been reclaimed with just the provision of a narrow drainage for water to flow. As a result the concrete and perimetre fence erected facing the lagoon were pulled down while the building was sealed and the gate locked.

Also at 306 Close, three two-storey buildings under construction were pulled down for lack of approval to build as the development encroached on the state shoreline.

Apart from the buildings and fences that were pulled down during the enforcement exercise, two people caught doing illegal dredging activities within the area were also arrested.

Salako said that the LSBCA would continue its monitoring to ensure that building laws and regulations of the state are complied with.

He said: "The governor was here yesterday (Sunday) with the strong instruction that land reclaimed beyond what was approved should be demolished. We would continue to monitor to ensure that building laws and regulations are complied with.

"The gradual takeover of the waterways is a problem. In our master plan, the regional highway ought to pass through a route but there is gradual encroachment on the way.

"In terms of climate change, gradual reduction in the capacity of the lagoon to flow freely and the consequence the state would be made to grapple with in the future. If there is heavy down pour today, residents in Parkview Estate, on the other side of the lagoon would be in crisis because their community would be flooded. This is because people built beyond what was approved."

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Speaking on why the two-storey buildings were pulled down, Salako explained that the two-story buildings were pulled down after the developer had been served the stop work notice for three times.

He said: "The buildings that were pulled down are had peculiar case because the owner and developer could not provide approval and clearance to reclaimed land he got from the State Land Bureau and Ministry of Waterfront.

"They blew up their survey. This means more land metres were taken. And the 30 metres set back the developer was to observe was not adhered to. Also, the property is under a high tension wire. In all, the development has disobeyed all building laws in the state."

Speaking during the enforcement exercise, the Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure and Development, Mr. Kabiru Ahmed Abdullahi, said: "Enough is enough. We cannot continue to fold our arms and watch the degradation of the environment and continued blockage of the water channels on the waterfronts.

"We will clean it up and we will bring all the perpetrators of this act to book in line with the provisions of the laws.

"Banana Island has its own original boundaries. And those original boundaries are recognised and approved. So any development or reclamation beyond those original boundaries would not be allowed."
MODESTO, Calif., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Honey bees and native pollinators will find more forage in California's almond orchards this spring as a result of the almond community's five-point Pollinator Protection Plan. Announced one year ago by the Almond Board of California (ABC), this plan expands the industry's long-standing commitment to researching, protecting and improving bee health.

One of the five tenets of the Pollinator Protection Plan  increasing floral diversity on farm  led the Almond Board to create and fund the Bee+ Scholarship program which provides grants to farmers to help offset the cost of planting forage and habitat in and around their orchards. This effort led to 135 new almond farmers joining Project Apis m.'s Seeds for Bees program and added pollinator habitat to 14,778 acres of almond orchards, a 22% increase to the footprint of almond pollinator habitat in the last year.

Another component of the Bee+ Scholarship encouraged farmer participation in Pollinator Partnership's Bee Friendly Farming program. To date, 54,202 acres of almonds have been Bee Friendly certified, meaning farmers are actively protecting pollinator populations by implementing positive, incremental changes on-farm.

"As a partnership designed by nature, almonds take our responsibility for honey bee health seriously," said Josette Lewis, PhD, chief scientific officer for the Almond Board. "Through these efforts, we diversify and expand the nutritious forage that honey bees find in almond orchards each year while extending our efforts outside the orchard to benefit native pollinators too."

Ben King, a fourth-generation almond farmer based in Colusa, Calif., has planted cover crops on his farm for more than five years. "It comes out of a love for bees," King said, "and recognizing the importance of taking what nature gives you and acting as a steward."

As almonds are the first commercial crop in North America to bloom, King notes that "almond orchards are the first stop for the honey bees, and the trees' pollen is their first major source of nutrition. As a result, hives regularly leave stronger as they move on to pollinate other crops across the country, an effect amplified with the addition of more floral biodiversity via cover crops."

By investing in blooming cover crops, King has not only seen a benefit to pollinators, but also to the overall health of his orchard, especially as it relates to soil. "Soil is the foundation of farming and by planting pollinator habitat you are creating a healthy ecosystem," notes King. Cover crops also provide positive impacts on carbon sequestration and can improve the amount of moisture that can be stored in the soil.

"It's clear this is the path forward," King said. "But there is a long-term investment associated with making these changes. Luckily, the Almond Board is progressive and supports these initiatives on farmers' behalf."

In 2020, ABC invested more than $750,000 in activities that directly benefit pollinator health. This included $300,000 in incentives and technical assistance to expand pollinator forage and habitat on-farm. ABC will continue to invest in providing tools and options to farmers to continue expanding pollinator habitat in 2021.

Bolstering these efforts, ABC and the University of California, Davis have partnered to publish a cover crop management guide for almond farmers. The culmination of years of research on the management and benefits of cover crops for both pollinators and soil health, this practical guide will be released this summer and drive adoption of a practice which promotes biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

This work builds upon a longstanding commitment to pollinator health. Since 1995, the California almond community has supported 126 research projects  more than any other crop group  to address the five major factors impacting honey bee health, including varroa mites, pest and disease management, lack of genetic diversity, pesticide exposure, and access to forage and nutrition.

To learn more about the mutually beneficial relationship between almonds and bees, along with the California almond community's commitment to protecting pollinators, visit Almonds.com/Bees.

About the Almond Board of California

California almonds make life better by what we grow and how we grow. The Almond Board of California promotes natural, wholesome and quality almonds through leadership in strategic market development, innovative research, and accelerated adoption of industry best practices on behalf of the more than 7,600 almond farmers and processors in California, most of whom are multi-generational family operations. Established in 1950 and based in Modesto, California, the Almond Board of California is a non-profit organization that administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. For more information on the Almond Board of California or almonds, visit Almonds.com or check out California Almonds on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and the Almond Living Magazine.

Contact:

Hannalea Resnik

[email protected]

(212) 601-8217

SOURCE Almond Board of California

Related Links

https://www.almonds.com



Psalms in Clear English: a faithful and impressively exact translation that places true understanding of the psalms within the grasp of its readers. Psalms in Clear English is the creation of published author, Ron Banuk, a chaplain and aircraft engineer who graduated from Northeastern University in Boston in 1967.

Banuk writes: It is my hope that the increased understanding of the psalms imparted by this book will enhance your sanctification for the tasks God has set before you so you can preach the Kingdom of God and teach the glories of His Messiah.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Ron Banuks new book is a delightfully accessible re-working of some of the Bibles most important psalms. By simplifying and modernizing the arcane and often confusing language used in both the King James Version and the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Banuk has made these critical scriptural teachings accessible and understandable to readers of all ages and backgrounds.

View a synopsis of Psalms in Clear English on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Psalms in Clear English at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Psalms in Clear English, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
In an extremely rare phenomenon called Superfetation, a woman experienced a 'double pregnancy' where she got pregnant for the second time with her daughter while already being pregnant with her son.

39-year-old Rebecca Roberts conceived her twins --daughter, Rosalie and son, Noah -- three weeks apart. Their visibly different sizes make it hard to believe that both are twins, which make them a medical wonder. The phenomenon of Superfetation is incredibly rare as there are only about a dozen such cases that have been documented across the globe.

According to Daily Mail, the mother, resident of Trowbridge, Wiltshire, was stunned when she found out that she was having twins as two scans done earlier showed no signs of a second foetus. Talking to the news website, Roberts said that she had no idea that it was possible to conceive again while being pregnant.

It is reported that the twins were delivered early by performing caesarean at her 33 weeks last year in September. There seemed to be a problem with Rosalies umbilical cord. While Rosalies twin brother weighed 4lb 10oz after birth, Rosalie only weighed 2lb 7oz and was kept in the hospital.

The baby girl was finally discharged at Christmas from the hospital, about two-and-a-half months later after her brother. It is reported that she weighed 7lb 4oz when the midwife visited her last week attheir home.

Roberts lives with her husband Rhys Weaver, 43, and runs a childrens clothing firm. The couple also has a daughter named Summer who is 14. The couple had tests to rule out chromosomal or genetic reasons but later were informed that the reason behind the double pregnancy might have been a fertility drug she was taking that may have caused her to release an egg while already being pregnant.

However, some experts are still skeptical if superfetation exists.

The last case of superfetation reported was in 2016 when an Australian woman got pregnant twice in 10 days. The mother gave birth to twin girls 10 days apart.
Police are investigating the death of a seven-month-old girl in a south-east Queensland home last week.

Emergency services were called to the home in Murgon, 175 kilometres north-west of Brisbane and 70 kilometres west of Gympie, about 9.30am on Friday.

The babys mother was trying to revive her when paramedics arrived. Police said the pair were home alone at the time and the mother phoned triple-0.

Paramedics rushed the baby to Murgon Hospital, where she was declared dead soon after arriving.

The police services child protection detectives are investigating.

Brasilia, Feb 9 : One of the hardest-hit countries in the world, Brazil's overall Covid-19 death toll has surged to 232,170, after 636 more people succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said.

Brazil's death toll is the second highest in the world after the US, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Ministry said that in the same period, an additional 23,439 people tested positive for the virus, which increased the total caseload to 9,548,079, the third largest globally following the US and India.

The northern state of Amazonas, one of the pandemic hotspots, had the highest number of single-day fatalities of 113, raising its death toll to 9,116, while the caseload surged to 283,658.

Sao Paulo, the most populous and the hardest hit state in the country, has reopened public schools with face-to-face classes, but attending in person is not mandatory.

Some 3.3 million students started the school year with building occupancy rates limited to 35 per cent and the option of distance learning.

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Both Covid lockdowns have been hard to deal with - but in different ways, according to Niamh Armstrong, a Year 10 student at St Louise's Comprehensive School in west Belfast.

The 14-year-old pupil says she had a particular reason for anxiety during the spring lockdown last year.

"At the time my sister was pregnant and I was worried about trying to keep her safe," she says. "It's a lot different this time - in a way, it's harder, but in another way it's just different, because now we have my nephew with us."

Niamh says that this time round, she is finding the pressure of schoolwork harder to deal with, and admits she has found it overwhelming at times.

But what has really helped has been the Blues Programme delivered by Action for Children, aimed at helping to support young people to focus on their wellbeing and mental health during lockdown.

Action for Children says one in eight children and young people are struggling with emotional difficulties, and a Youth Wellbeing Survey revealed that anxiety and depression is 25% more common in children compared to other parts of the UK.

When schools closed for lockdown, Action for Children adapted their resources to deliver remote sessions and also created Bouncing Back, a new offering to help meet the specific needs that came with the pandemic.

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The charity is now urging Education Minister Peter Weir to bid for some of the unspent 300m in Covid funding to invest in school programmes that support the emotional wellbeing of young people.

Emma O'Neill, Blues Service coordinator, says: "Our Bouncing Back virtual programme was set up as a direct response to the pandemic and the demand from schools to offer continued assistance to the needs of children and young people during these difficult times.

"Bouncing Back focuses on building resilience and addressing young people's emotional wellbeing needs.

"It's a vital resource for the times we're currently facing as we see higher rates of mental health and wellbeing problems in young people across Northern Ireland."

Niamh says many of her friends are feeling the impact of the lockdown worse than she is: "My friends are finding the lockdown situation a lot harder as they're used to going out more and going to the cinema - so it's hard for them."

She is now several weeks into the Blues Programme which is being delivered in remote classroom sessions to Year 10s in her school.

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The programme is an evidence-based six-week group intervention for 13 to 19-year-olds which is based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy and aims to reduce mental health symptoms and boost confidence.

Using early intervention and prevention strategies, young people have the opportunity to learn and practice skills proven to be effective in decreasing mental health symptoms that they can then use both in their current day to day lives and in the future.

"I think it's good that you're able to talk about your feelings, but you're also able to hear about other people. We have activities both inside and outside school, and some of our mentors get involved in some of the activities and help us through it," Niamh says.

"For example, you have a mood diary - you have to say a trigger that would have made you upset. Each week, every task is different - one week, we have to come up with positive counter thoughts and the next week you're adding a bit more to the counter thought to turn your negative feelings into better feelings."

Niamh says that coming up with a positive take on an upsetting situation - a positive counter thought - can really change your mood.

"If you're thinking 'Oh, I failed a test and I feel a bit depressed', to change your mood, you say to yourself 'I did my best and that's all I can do'.

"So your feelings beforehand might have been sad and angry, but your thoughts are now a bit more relieved, less stressed and a bit happier."

Since young people returned to the classrooms in September 2020, the Blues Bouncing Back programme has supported 1,500 young people across Northern Ireland.

Ahead of the pandemic, almost one in two young people aged 11-19 years had experienced at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (47.5%) and the pandemic has added more layers of stress on the whole population, Action for Children says.

Recognising the need for a recovery plan, the charity created resources to help young people focus on their wellbeing and mental health during lockdown, when they're missing so many of the familiar parts of their daily lives.

Declan Brown (46), pastoral vice principal at St Louise's, says students are still following their timetable, albeit from home, and it means the teachers are able to check in with them regularly.

"We want to have as much normality as possible in terms of learning, and we had a lot of feedback recently through surveys from parents who think that, compared with last lockdown, keeping them busy has been really useful," he says.

He says some children are struggling with the constraints of lockdown and many are feeling overwhelmed for a range of reasons, including workload and the lack of individual time face to face with teachers.

"It's a patchwork of different feelings and emotions, a range of different pressures, whether school based, social based or emotionally based, and they change from day to day."

Mr Brown says the children taking part in the Blues programme work through a series of sessions, allowing them to recognise their emotions, internalise things differently, and change their actions based on their feeling and emotions and turn them into positive actions.

It's vital that schools don't just work on their own and pastoral leaders in the area have been meeting up through the West Belfast Area Community Learning to sharing ideas and practices to find a way forward.

"It's useful, not just for schools to act in isolation, but to get together and share expertise and knowledge of what's out there to share with students together," Mr Brown says.

Another Year 10 pupil at St Louise's, Emma Donaghy, says she found lockdown harder the first time, but the programme is proving beneficial.

"A lot of the time, it was very overwhelming and scary, and you didn't really know what was going to happen next," she says.

"I felt a bit at the time like I didn't know what was going to happen and how much schoolwork we were going to get that week, so it was a struggle.

"We're now doing more live lessons where you can communicate with your teachers, and it really helps having more communication this lockdown.

"The Blues Programme helped to improve my view of the current situation, to think more positively about it.

"It helps to think about what you have - there's more time with your family when you're in lockdown and more Facetime with your friends, which is good.

"It helps to take away the positive side of things.

"The Blues Programme helps us get the opportunity to talk about our feelings and learn coping strategies.

" You take the triggers and emotions and feelings and try to look at it in a much more positive way.

"It really does help with your coping mechanisms.

"If you change your thoughts and actions, your feelings will be more positive - they are all connected in some way, so if you start thinking in a more positive way, the outcome will be more positive.

"Then if you reward yourself for using the strategies they've given us, you're more likely to use them again."

Emma admits that some of her friends are struggling as well.

"It's hard not being able to see your friends, because you would have seen them every day at school," she says.

"I think everybody at the moment is feeling lots of different emotions and this helped, to talk about your mental health.

"It's a really sensitive subject so the more you talk about it the more comfortable you will feel about opening up to people."

A Year 11 student at Strabane Academy who chose not to be identified, undertook the Bouncing Back programme during lockdown and found it very useful.

"I think everyone could benefit from the Bouncing Back programme. The sessions can really help your mental health in a lot of ways.

"I learnt how to recognise my triggers for low moods and was taught some methods of refocusing your mind on something positive when those triggers hit," she says.

Action for Children says the evidence suggests that early interventions are key to limiting longer term impacts.

In light of the recent admission that 300m in Covid funding at Stormont has yet to be allocated this financial year and the call from the Finance Minister for proposals for bids "as a matter of urgency", Action for Children are calling for the Education Minister Peter Weir to bid for funds to invest more in school programmes that support the emotional wellbeing of our children and young people.

NI Director at Action for Children, Lorna Ballard, said: "We know from our services that many 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 and fears about their future - all the while being bombarded by social media and depressing headlines.

"The government must commit to adequate funding and specialist services to tackle the surge in demand caused by the pandemic and stop a generation of children from suffering in silence.

"Our own school programmes show how vital it is to step in early with support to stop problems in their tracks and dial down the agony these young people face."

File image: The social audio app Clubhouse is pictured near a star on the Chinese flag in this illustration picture taken on February 8, 2021. (Image: Reuters/Florence Lo/Illustration)

One by one, the chatroom participants took the digital microphone as thousands quietly listened in.

A Chinese man said he did not know whether to believe the widespread reports of concentration camps for Muslims in the far western region of Xinjiang. Then a Uighur woman spoke up, calmly explaining that she was certain of the camps existence because her relatives had been among those interned. A man from Taiwan chimed in to urge understanding on all sides, while another from Hong Kong praised the woman for her courage in coming forward.

It was a rare moment of cross-border dialogue with people on the mainland of China, who are usually separated from the rest of the online world by the Great Firewall. For a short time, they found an open forum on the social media app, Clubhouse, to discuss contentious topics, free from the usual constraints of the countrys tightly controlled internet.

By Monday evening, the inevitable happened: The Chinese censors moved in. Many mainland users reported receiving error messages when they tried to use the platform. Some said they could only access the app by tunneling through the digital border using a VPN, or virtual private network. Within hours, more than 1,000 users had tuned in to hear a discussion about the ban in a chatroom titled Walled off, so now what? Searches for Clubhouse on popular Chinese social media platform Weibo were blocked.

To many users in mainland China, it was a brief window into an unfettered social media. Under Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, the government has been ramping up its efforts to assert near-total digital control over what its citizens read and say online. Government-paid commenters and nationalist trolls frequently flood Chinese social media with propaganda and vitriolic messages that make it difficult to have open, public discussions about topics deemed sensitive by the government.

It was only a matter of time, Alex Su, 30, an editor at a technology startup in Beijing, said in a telephone interview.

Su added that in her brief time on Clubhouse, she had been especially moved by a conversation in which Uighurs recounted personal stories of being discriminated against in Xinjiang.

That is really the kind of information that we dont usually get access to in the mainland, Su said.

Its unclear how many mainland Chinese users were registered on Clubhouse. While it was unblocked, the app was only available on Apples operating system, putting it out of reach for the vast majority of Chinese who use Android. Users had to switch out of Apples China app store to download Clubhouse.

The app is also invite-only, which had prompted a small black market for invitation codes to emerge in recent days. Before the app was blocked, the going price for one code was up to 300 yuan, or about $46.

That did not stop thousands of Chinese users from flocking to the platform, which provides audio chatrooms that disappear when the conversations end. In recent days, several Chinese-language chatrooms had been filled to the 5,000-user capacity. Some said they were connecting from the mainland, while others identified as Chinese people based overseas. Many said they were from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Seemingly every topic on Chinas censorship blacklist had been discussed. In one chatroom, participants debated which Chinese leaders were responsible for the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. In another, users shared experiences of their encounters with the Chinese police and security officials.

In a third, participants sat in silence as they mourned the one-year anniversary of the passing of Li Wenliang, the doctor who was reprimanded for warning about the coronavirus in Wuhan, China. He died of the same illness, and his death prompted the hashtag freedom of speech to spread widely on Chinese social media.

The apps sudden popularity in China had prompted many to wonder how long the government would allow the party to last. Social media companies operating in China must keep tabs on the identities of users, share data with police and adhere to strict censorship guidelines.

Most major Western news sites and social media apps like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are blocked outright in China, and VPNs are increasingly difficult to access within the mainland. The homegrown social media platforms that are permitted in China, like WeChat and Weibo, are tightly regulated and monitored by censors.

Clubhouse is exactly what Chinese censors dont want to see in online communication  a massive, freewheeling conversation in which people are talking openly, said Xiao Qiang, founder of China Digital Times, a website that tracks Chinese internet controls. Its also a reminder that when there is an opportunity, many Chinese have a desperate need to talk to each other and to hear different view points.

Clubhouse didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Created last year by Silicon Valley venture capitalists, Clubhouse quickly took off, and as of December it had around 600,000 registered users. The app was envisioned as an exclusive virtual space for people to mingle, and its user base includes celebrities, DJs and politicians.

It was not until Elon Musk, a tech billionaire who enjoys a cult following in China, made an appearance on the app last month that Chinese interest began to surge. Some in Chinas tech circles have already pledged to launch similar online conversation platforms.

The Chinese-language chatroom topics are not all political. As with their English-language counterparts, there have been lively discussions on dating, job seeking and music. Several Chinese coders set up their own room to nerd out.

But some of the most popular Chinese-language chatrooms have centered on the most contentious topics. In one chatroom focused on relations between mainland China and Taiwan, a moderator invited people from both sides of the strait to take turns speaking.

Some Taiwanese people spoke about how even after working in the mainland, they felt they still didnt fully understand the culture. It created, they said, a big gap between the two sides, especially on political issues.

Several users from mainland China spoke about how they had been taught in school from a young age to believe that Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as its territory, was an inextricable part of China.

At times, the conversation went off the rails, as when one man who identified as Taiwanese chimed in to curse out mainland Chinese people, before quickly signing off. But for the most part, users said that the apps use of moderators and real-time voice sharing promoted a civility and intimacy lacking on other popular social media platforms like Twitter and its Chinese equivalent, Weibo.

Compared to some Chinese who I have met, those on the app did not give me a sense that they were taking advantage of me, Erin Chiang, 29, a human resources specialist in Taipei, said in an interview. I felt like they showed basic empathy as human beings.

As the popularity of Clubhouse soared in China, so did the criticism. State media signaled its displeasure.

There is never freedom of speech when it comes to China on overseas social media, where one-sided opinions can easily suppress voices that debunk lies, The Global Times, a state-backed nationalist tabloid, wrote in an English-language editorial Monday, referring to Clubhouse.

Others called the app, with its elite users, an echo chamber of opinions  a point also acknowledged by many participants during the discussions.

Most of our mainland compatriots will not use the app in the end, Ren Yi, a Harvard-educated Chinese blogger who goes by the pen name Chairman Rabbit, wrote on Weibo on Saturday. With the concentrated and explosive growth of overseas high-level Chinese users in the future, the content and trends will become more and more one-sided.

But for Vinira Abdgheni, the Uighur woman who spoke up about her relatives being interned, the app was far from one-sided. If anything, she said, it was a relief to have an opportunity to confront fellow Chinese who may still have been harboring doubts about the abuses back in her home region of Xinjiang.

Ive tried so many channels to vent my frustrations, Abdgheni said in a telephone interview from Tokyo, where she now lives. So I thought while I had this opportunity to speak, I better do it because Ive never wanted to be a silent person.

By Amy Chang Chien and Amy Qin. Paul Mozur contributed reporting. Claire Fu contributed research.

c.2021 The New York Times Company

The Infratil Board today announced that Jason Boyes will succeed Marko Bogoievski as Infratil Chief Executive Officer and a Director effective from 1 April 2021 with Mr Bogoievski stepping down after 12 successful years as Infratils CEO and a Director.

Mark Tume, Infratils Chair, said that with the strong portfolio positions and a positive investment outlook, the Board view this as a good opportunity to implement the succession plan.

Early investments in emerging infrastructure themes have been a hallmark of Markos strategy. These include Fuel Distribution (Z Energy), Data & Connectivity (CDC Data Centres and Vodafone NZ), Global renewables development platforms (Longroad Energy and Galileo Green Energy) and more recently Healthcare (Qscan).

Jason joined Morrison & Co in 2011, after a 15 year legal career in corporate finance and M&A in New Zealand and London. He led the successful IPO of Z Energy in 2013, and has been instrumental in numerous Infratil investments since, including the acquisition of Vodafone NZ and subsequent capital raise in 2019, and the establishment of Longroad Energy in 2016 and Galileo Green Energy in 2020. He is currently the Chair of both those businesses, and is leading Infratils strategic review of its stake in Tilt Renewables. Jason is based in Wellington and has been leading the firms recent European expansion, having previously held the roles of Head of Legal, Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Morrison & Co. He is a member of Morrison & Cos management and investment committees.

Mr Bogoievski said he was pleased to make the transition with Infratil in excellent shape.

When Infratil was formed in 1994 with $50 million of capital, it had a single minority stake in Trustpower. Today we have over $7 billion invested in established platforms in several sectors across New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Europe, and have delivered consistent results over a long period of time to our shareholders.

Mr Boyes said he is looking forward to his new role.

Im excited about the challenge and opportunity to lead Infratil at an important time in its history. Infratil has an outstanding track record, an enviable portfolio of assets, and is well positioned to take advantage of the current environment. I look forward to working with the portfolio companies to support their plans and strategies.

Infratil considers that Mr Boyes will not be an independent director. Mr Boyes will not be paid fees in his capacity as a Director or receive any remuneration from Infratil for his role as CEO, Mr Boyes remuneration as CEO will be paid by Morrison & Co.

Please see the link below for details:

Infratil announces Jason Boyes as its new Chief Executive Officer

Source: Infratil Limited

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Bihar Chief Minister is all set to expand his cabinet on Tuesday.

The recently elected members of the state legislative council (MLC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shahnawaz Hussain and Vikassheel Insaan Party's Mukesh Sahni are expected to get ministerial berths in today's cabinet expansion.

At present, Bihar has 15 ministers, including the chief minister. In the House of 243 MLAs, the cabinet can have 36 ministers.

On November 16, Janata Dal (United) president was sworn in as Chief Minister of Bihar for the fourth straight term at a ceremony here in which saw attendance by Union Home minister Amit Shah and BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda.

Kumar Janata Dal (United) (JD-U)] formed the government under the umbrella of the Democratic Alliance (NDA), in alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM).

BJP leaders Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi were also sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar, replacing Sushil Kumar Modi who had been Nitish Kumar's deputy for 15 years.

Governor Phagu Chauhan administered the oath of office to Kumar, along with a 14-member council of ministers.

The NDA has secured a 125-seat majority in the 243-seat strong Bihar Legislative Assembly of which BJP won on 74 seats, JD(U) on 43 while eight seats were won by two other NDA constituents. The RJD, on the other hand, emerged as the single-largest party with 75 seats while the Congress only won 19 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.)
China ready to export Sinovac Biotech jabs, PM told

THAILAND: China has informed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha that it is preparing to export its COVID-19 vaccine to Thailand, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said yesterday (Feb 8).

ChineseCoronavirusCOVID-19drugshealth

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 9 February 2021, 09:13AM

Acting Chinese Ambassador Yang Xin pays a courtesy call on PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to extend his best wishes for Chinese New Year. Government House. Photo: Bangkok Post.

The premier was informed by Acting Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Yang Xin that the vaccines manufactured by Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech have been approved for exports and that the doses will be delivered as soon as possible.

The announcement followed recent media reports which said Chinas drug regulators have given Sinovacs COVID-19 vaccine conditional market approval.

Mr Anucha said the update was relayed by Mr Yang during a courtesy call with Gen Prayut, in which the premier extended his well-wishes for the upcoming Chinese New Year holidays.

Gen Prayut told Mr Yang that Thailand is committed to securing the doses it needs to ensure the national vaccination programme runs smoothly.

To date, the government has purchased 26 million doses from the UK-based AstraZeneca and two million doses from Chinas Sinovac. Recently, the government reserved an additional 35 million doses from AstraZeneca.

Mr Anucha said the prime minister congratulated China on its COVID-19 response and reaffirmed the countrys readiness to work with Beijing on economic and social rehabilitation.

Mr Yang told the prime minister that Thai-Chinese relations have continued to grow despite the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting the sustainability of ties between the two nations.

According to Mr Anucha, both sides also agreed to pursue deeper economic cooperation especially on e-commerce and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project.

30 million Thais to be vaccinated this year

Meanwhile the Ministry of Public Health is pledging to have 30 million Thais vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the year.

If everything goes to plan, we can start administering at least five million doses per month and later, up to 10 million doses per month, to complete 61 million doses in 2021, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, chief of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), said yesterday.

This is the largest vaccination programme in our history and we need to get all our staff ready to do the job.

The DDC is preparing to soon launch the mammoth three-phase programme, with two million doses given by the end of next month. The second and third phases will follow from June onwards, using 61 million doses of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine.

The way ahead has become clearer since news broke that Chinese health officials recently approved the vaccine for general public use, paving the way for the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to speedily approve its second vaccine for emergency use.

The FDA last month already approved the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University/AstraZeneca. The first 200,000 doses should arrive this month and will be given to people in high-risk areas, especially Samut Sakhon province, the epicentre of the recent infection outbreak.

It is envisaged that 20,000 doses of the initial batch will be administered to frontline health workers. The remaining doses will be given to high-risk groups in Samut Sakhon, including those aged over 60, patients with non-communicable diseases, and vulnerable groups.

A total of 600,000 doses are planned next month for high-risk people in maximum-control provinces, plus provinces bordering Myanmar and areas in the South; 200,000 doses will be used as second jabs for those in the first group.

One million more doses are due to arrive in April, of which 600,000 will be given as second jabs and 400,000 reserved for those in urgent need.

Dr Opas was confident 50% of the population would be vaccinated this year and said the injections would be performed at thousands of public and community hospitals.

Central storage sites at the Department of Disease Control and the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) will be responsible for distributing the vaccine nationwide.

The Public Health Ministry has also developed what it is calling an Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI), a mandatory process to trace the vaccines side-effects and efficacy.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the country will use more than one or two vaccines.
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In a sign that cruisers are desperate to sail again, a world voyage costing upwards of 38,000 ($52,000) a person has sold out in just one day.

The 2023 odyssey on Oceania Cruises ship Insignia will take 180 days to circumnavigate the globe from San Francisco, visiting 96 destinations in 33 countries across four continents, including Antarctica.

But even with prices of up to 74,000 ($102,000) a person for a penthouse suite, the 684 berths were snapped up within hours of going on sale. A fifth of guests even extended the mammoth voyage to 218 days.

A world voyage costing upwards of 38,000 a person on Oceania Cruises ship Insignia, pictured, has sold out in just one day

Insignia, built in 1998 but given a 25million ($34million) refit two years ago, boasts four restaurants as well as eight lounges and bars

The response to our epic around-the-world voyage clearly illustrates the enthusiasm that experienced travellers have for immersive and memorable travel experiences, said Bob Binder, president of Oceania Cruises. Despite the challenges the world faces today, travellers are clearly bullish on the future and are embracing these new opportunities to travel the world and create lifelong memories.

Insignia, built in 1998 but given a 25million ($34million) refit two years ago, boasts four restaurants as well as eight lounges and bars. Of the 342 suites and cabins, nearly 70 per cent have balconies.

Leaving California on January 15, 2023, the ship will visit Central and South America, Antarctica, Africa, the Middle East and Asia before returning on July 13.

The itinerary includes more than 60 Unesco world heritage sites and 20 overnight stays in ports. Highlights include an Argentinian tango exhibition, a visit to a South African vineyard, a Bedouin meal in the Arabian Desert, a Burmese monk ceremony in Burma and a candlelit evening in a Vietnamese cave.

During the nearly six-month cruise, Insignia will cross 24 time zones, visit 27 islands, cruise three oceans and 14 seas, and pass over the equator four times.

During the nearly six-month cruise, Insignia, pictured, will cross 24 time zones

Leaving California on January 15, 2023, Insignia will visit Central and South America, Antarctica, Africa, the Middle East and Asia before returning on July 13

As if all that were not enough, some guests have decided to add another 38 days by joining beforehand in Miami on December 28, 2022, and carrying on to New York after the trip ends in San Francisco.

As a premium line, Oceania normally attracts a lot of repeat passengers, but a third of the bookings for the world cruise came from people who had never sailed with the brand before.

The quick uptake from our loyal repeat guests and new first-time guests alike underscores the tremendous pent-up demand for immersive, destination-focused cruises and the strong allure of our acclaimed small-ship experience that features the finest cuisine at sea and an unmatched reputation for service from our warm and welcoming staff, said Mr Binder.
[February 09, 2021] FundCount Wins Best Client Accounting System at the WealthBriefing Swiss Awards 2021

BOSTON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FundCount, LLC, a worldwide provider of accounting and investment analysis software, today announced that it earned top honors as "Best Client Accounting System" at the 2021 WealthBriefing Swiss Awards. This marks the fourth consecutive year that FundCount has won the accounting system award. Now in its 8th year, the WealthBriefing Swiss Awards recognize best-of-breed providers in the global private banking, wealth management and trusted advisor communities. Winning companies were those deemed by an independent judging panel to have demonstrated innovation and excellence in their chosen category. According to the judges, "FundCount is evidently built on family office expertise and tackles the challenges of creating visibility over the component parts of the overall family 'nested entity' structure. The easing of administration and potential for automation as a result is clear," they said. "As a unified system with all investor and investment accounting, general ledger and reporting on a single platform, FundCount provides a holistic view of investment activity plus transparency into underying data," said Alex Ivanov, CEO and founder of FundCount. "It makes achieving that single source of truth a reality. We are pleased that the judges recognized this unique value that FundCount brings to family offices."



Editor's Notes About FundCount

Founded in 1999, FundCount provides integrated accounting and investment analysis software that improves operational efficiency and delivers immediate, actionable intelligence to single and multi-family offices, fund administrators, hedge funds and private equity firms around the world. FundCount is headquartered in the U.S. with five offices on four continents. For more information, visit www.fundcount.com.

About ClearView Financial Media Ltd ("ClearView") ClearView Financial Media was founded by Chief Executive, Stephen Harris in 2004, to provide high quality 'need to know' information for the discerning private client community. London-based, but with a truly global focus, ClearView publishes the Family Wealth Report group of newswires, along with research reports and newsletters, while also running a pan-global thought-leadership events programme. Media Contact:

Abby Friedman

290948@email4pr.com

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Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information, Kamran Bangash on Tuesday said that Law Minster Sultan Muhammad Khan voluntarily tendered his resignation for the sake of transparent inquiry after his appearance in the leaked video

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Feb, 2021 ) :Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information, Kamran Bangash on Tuesday said that Law Minster Sultan Muhammad Khan voluntarily tendered his resignation for the sake of transparent inquiry after his appearance in the leaked video.

He said that Chief Minister Mahmood Khan categorically stated that there would be no compromise on accountability and transparency in Khyber Pakthunkhwa.

He said that independent commission would hold an inquiry into the leaked video.

He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had laid a foundation for a real change by expelling 20 MPAs from the party on charges of receiving bribes during 2018 senate elections.

He appreciated Chief Minister Mahmood Khan for taking a timely action over the leaked video.

Kamran Bangash said that the importance of holding senate elections through "Show of hands" was now felt more to ensure transparency.

He said that those involved in horse-trading in the name of democracy had been exposed. He said that those involved in such corrupt practice of buying MPAs in senate elections would be also brought justice.

Bangash said that no compromise would be made on transparency and accountability process.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Continuing its streak of low numbers of single-day coronavirus cases, India reported 9,110 new infections and 78 deaths in the last 24 hours on Monday, the lowest in nine months so far, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data said.

The overall tally mounted to 1,08,47,304 while the COVID-19 death toll reached 1,55,158, health officials said.

The country had recorded its lowest 8,821 cases on June 2 last year and 75 COVID-19 deaths on April 30, 2020. The lowest new cases in 2021 were recorded on January 19 -- 10,064 cases.

For around two weeks now, India has recorded less than 15,000 new infections daily. Also, the daily COVID-19 death toll has been below the 200-mark for more than a month now.

Active cases at present total 1,43,625 as 14,016 patients were cured and discharged. Till now, 1,05,48,521 persons have been cured.

The recovery rate has increased to 97.25 per cent, while the fatality rate is down to 1.43 per cent.

A total of 20,25,87,752 samples have been tested till February 8, including 6,87,138 on Monday, said the Indian Council of Medical Research.

More than 6 million (62,59,008) doses of corona vaccine have been administered in India since the drive began on January 16 after the approval for 'Covishield' and 'Covaxin'.

As per the Health Ministry, India has the fastest vaccine administration rate, even though many countries had launched their immunisation campaigns before India.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Iran's intelligence minister suggested on Tuesday that Iran would consider developing a nuclear weapon if crippling economic sanctions on his country arent lifted.

Such a statement is unusual for a senior Iranian official. The countrys leaders maintain that their nuclear program is used only for peaceful civilian purposes and often cite Supreme Leader Ali Khameneis apparent religious ruling banning the production of nuclear weapons.

The Islamic Republic sees them as religiously forbidden and does not pursue them, Intelligence Minister Seyyed Mahmoud Alavi said in an interview. But a cornered cat may behave differently from when the cat is free. And if they push Iran in that direction, then its no longer Irans fault.

The landmark nuclear deal struck between Iran and world powers in 2015, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), sought to extend the time it would take Tehran to amass enough enriched uranium to develop a nuclear weapon.

But since former President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the agreement and reimposed harsh economic sanctions in 2018, Iran has gradually breached the terms of the deal. Last month, Iran said scientists at its Fordow nuclear plant were enriching uranium at 20% purity, far beyond the JCPOAs 3.67% limit.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said recently that Irans so-called breakout time has been reduced to a few months. He warned that time could drop to a matter of weeks if Iran continues lifting nuclear restraints in violation of the JCPOA.

If Iran resumes full compliance with the deal, President Joe Biden has pledged to rejoin the multilateral pact as a starting point for negotiations over a longer and stronger agreement that could restrict the countrys missile program and proxy activity in the region. But the two sides are at an impasse, with both Washington and Tehran demanding the other make the first move.

The Biden administration says it wont ease sanctions until Iran returns to full compliance, but Irans leaders say they wont roll back their nuclear program unless the US lifts sanctions. On Sunday Khamenei, who has the final say on such matters in Iran, described Tehran's current position on the nuclear standoff as his final and irreversible decision.
(Newser)  It's impeachment, take II. The Senate on Tuesday begins the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump. Barring surprises, the smart money points to a short trial, maybe lasting a week, that results in Trump's acquittal. Democrats (and a few Republicans) accuse Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, but Trump's lawyers say he didn't encourage violence, was just exercising his First Amendment rights about the election results, and can't be impeached anyway because he's out of office. How things are expected to play out:

Tuesday: At 1pm Eastern, the Senate will begin a four-hour debate on whether the trial is constitutional given that Trump is a former president. As Vox notes, this holds little suspense because Democrats have the numbers to prevail. The vote will set the stage for Wednesday's opening arguments.

story continues below

Arguments: House impeachment managers will go first, beginning at noon Wednesday, and their arguments are expected to last into Thursday. The House team is led this time by Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, per USA Today, which has a look at him and the eight other impeachment managers.

House impeachment managers will go first, beginning at noon Wednesday, and their arguments are expected to last into Thursday. The House team is led this time by Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, per USA Today, which has a look at him and the eight other impeachment managers. The defense: Trump's legal team is expected to begin their arguments on Friday and run into Saturday, per the AP. Originally, the Senate was going to skip Saturday to honor the Jewish Sabbath, as requested by one of Trump's lawyers, but that request has been withdrawn, reports CNN. This late development was throwing the weekend schedule into flux.

Trump's legal team is expected to begin their arguments on Friday and run into Saturday, per the AP. Originally, the Senate was going to skip Saturday to honor the Jewish Sabbath, as requested by one of Trump's lawyers, but that request has been withdrawn, reports CNN. This late development was throwing the weekend schedule into flux. Questions: After the arguments wrap up, senators get four hours of questions, a big reduction from the allotted two days in the first trial, notes the Hill.

After the arguments wrap up, senators get four hours of questions, a big reduction from the allotted two days in the first trial, notes the Hill. Wild card: Will witnesses be called? If so, this could delay the trial beyond a week. As of Tuesday morning, however, witnesses looked unlikely. Instead, the final vote is expected to happen early next week, after closing arguments.

Will witnesses be called? If so, this could delay the trial beyond a week. As of Tuesday morning, however, witnesses looked unlikely. Instead, the final vote is expected to happen early next week, after closing arguments. Biden: As all this is happening, don't expect to hear much from President Biden, reports Politico. The White House strategy appears to be to keep Biden as far removed from the developments as possible. His spokesperson isn't even saying whether he will receive daily updates.

(Read more Trump impeachment stories.)
CHICAGO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Automotive Engine Management System Market by Vehicle Type (Passenger Car, LCV, & HCV), Engine Type (Gasoline & Diesel), Components (ECU, Sensors- Temperature, Position, Oxygen, & Knock), Communication Bus & Region - Industry Trends & Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, and the market size is expected to grow from USD 58.8 billion in 2020 to USD 63.2 billion by 2025. Stringency in emission norms and increasing vehicle production are projected to drive the Engine Management System Market.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Automotive Engine Management System Market"

125  Tables

57  Figures

186  Pages

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=76423601

Sensor segment will hold the largest share of the Engine Management System Market

Increase in demand for better engine performance has propelled the growth of the engine sensors market. Today, almost all the vehicles that are manufactured are equipped with an engine ECU and sensors. Thus, there is tough competition between automakers to provide optimum engine performance while keeping tab on emission. This competition has increased pressure on OEMs to deliver technologically advanced automotive engine management systems. Also, the stringency in emission norms, have increased the demand for oxygen, pressure, temperature and knock sensors connected to engines. Thus, the increasing demand for stringent emission norms has also driven the growth of sensors and is expected to grow further in coming years.

Gasoline is the fastest-growing segment for engine management system as it is witnessing increasing demand in passenger car segment

The Gasoline Engine Management System Market segment is estimated to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. In addition, the implementation of Euro 6 and EPA Tier 3 norms, have forced OEMs to decrease the production of diesel-powered passenger cars. Alternatively, the adoption of EV is facing challenges such as limited battery range and higher charging time. Owing to which, the gasoline passenger cars is witnessing growth mainly North America and Europe region.

Moreover, similar trend can be seen in Asia Pacific region owing to upcoming regulations like China 6 a and 6b and India's BS-VI, the markets for gasoline vehicle are expected grow at a prominent rate in the coming years and boost the market for engine management system for gasoline vehicles.

Request FREE Sample Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=76423601

Asia Pacific is estimated to be the largest geographical segment of the Engine Management System Market

The upcoming emission norms in Asia Pacific are the most prominent driving forces for the Engine Management System Market. For instance, China implemented China 6a & 6b, India implemented BS VI norms in 2020. Also, At the same time, the demand for luxury cars has increased considerably. The increase in demand for vehicles, especially premium passenger cars, has accentuated the need for better emission technologies and better engine performance. Thus, the market for engine management systems in the region is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

The Automotive Engine Management System Market is dominated by global players and comprises several regional players as well. The key players in the Engine Management System Market are Robert Bosch (Germany), Continental AG (Germany), Denso (Japan), BorgWarner (US), and Hitachi Automotive (Japan), Infineon technologies (Germany), Hella (Germany), Sanken (Japan), NGK spark plug (Japan).

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Automotive Diagnostic Scan Tools Market by Workshop Equipment, Vehicle, Handheld Scan Tools (Scanner, Code Reader, Digital Pressure Tester, TPMS Tool, Battery Analyzer), Offering, Connectivity, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025

Automotive Shielding Market by Shielding (Heat, EMI), Heat Application (Engine, Turbocharger, Battery Management, Fuel Tank), EMI Application (ACC, ECU, LDW, BSD, AEB, FCW, DMS), Material Type, Vehicle (PC, LCV, HCV), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025

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Vietnam confirms 16 more Covid-19 patients, total tally reaches 2,069

16 more people have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, raising the total number of patients in the country to 2,069, the Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday evening.









Illustrative photo





According to the ministry's report, 13 of the new patients are infected in the community including two in Hanoi, two in Ho Chi Minh City, six in Hai Duong, two in Hung Yen, and one in Gia Lai provinces.

Hung Yen has become the 13th locality to report locally-transmitted Covid-19 cases in the country.



Three imported patients are Vietnamese people who recently returned from Japan and the US. They have been quarantined upon arrival in Long An Province and Ho Chi Minh City and are now being treated at local hospitals.

With these new infection cases, the number of imported Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 2,069, including 1,176 locally-transmitted cases with 483 cases reported since the new outbreak started in Hai Duong on January 28.



As of 6 pm on February 9, a total of 1,474 Covid-19 patients had recovered and been discharged from hospital. There have been 35 deaths, most of them being the elderly with serious underlying diseases.



At present, as many as 99,854 people who had close contact with Covid-19 patients or returned from virus-hit areas are being monitored at hospitals, quarantine facilities, and at home.
The UK's head of counter-terrorism policing has urged the Home Office to consider relaxing positive discrimination laws to ensure police can hire more BAME recruits.

Neil Basu raised the issue at the last National Policing Board meeting chaired by the home secretary Priti Patel, who reportedly stood firmly against the idea.

Minutes from the meeting seen by The Times revealed that Basu told the board it 'may be worth looking at the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 around positive discrimination if recruitment is to increase diversity at pace'.

Police Commissioner and Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Neil Basu

Recent figures reported that police forces all across the UK had failed to hire a representative number of black, Asian and minority ethnic police recruits despite a high number of BAME applicants.

Across England and Wales only 7.5 per cent of UK police are BAME, showing an underrepresentation of the 14.5 per cent of the population from BAME backgrounds.

Kit Malthouse, the policing minister, quickly shot down Mr Basu's suggestion during the meeting, with Priti Patel also among those who rejected the idea of changing the Equality Act 2010 in favour of ethnic minority candidates, The Times reports.

Home Secretary Priti Patel during a foot patrol with new police recruits around Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. January 28, 2021

However the idea does have precedent; when the Police Service of Northern Ireland formed in 2001 a positive discrimination model saw a temporary change in the law to allow one Catholic officer recruited for every Protestant officer.

Under the Equality Act 2010 positive discrimination, recruiting or promoting a person solely because they have a relevant protected characteristic, is illegal in the UK.

This is also true of setting quotas to recruit a particular proportion of people with protected characteristics, meaning the police is unable to set quantitative targets for diversity.

A government source told The Times that they have aims to diversify policing but said 'the whole problem about positive discrimination is it's not the best candidates for the job. That's why it's illegal.'
Latin America and the Caribbean region launches 10-year Action Plan to restore ecosystems

February 09,2021 | Source: India Education Diary

Latin America and the Caribbean today adopted regional plan containing 10 actions to promote the recovery of terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems in the next decade. The Action Plan for the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration was agreed today at the XXII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean, as part of a decision to prevent future pandemics and accelerate sustainable recovery in the region through the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems. This collaborative effort, aimed at reverting the negative impacts of degradation that are already underway, as well as those that are likely to emerge in the near future, is in line with the UN Decade on Ecosystem restoration (2021-2030), a global initiative to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide. The Decade, which was introduced by the government of El Salvador, is led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO).



The region is particularly rich in terms of biodiversity, with seven of the most diverse countries in the world. Yet, in spite of protecting 24.2 per cent of its land and 17.5 per cent of its marine areas, many ecosystems have been significantly degraded, threatening the peoples well-being, the countries potential for adaptation to climate change and, ultimately, a sustainable future. Healthy ecosystems underpin sustainable development. With the adoption of this Action Plan, Latin American and Caribbean countries will have better conditions and more effective cooperation mechanisms to recover their ecosystems, halt biodiversity loss, and to advance regionally towards the 2050 vision of living in harmony with nature, said Leo Heileman, UNEP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.



Ecosystem restoration encompasses a wide continuum of activities that contribute to protecting intact ecosystems and repairing those that are already degraded. Such activities include, for example, enhancing organic carbon in agricultural soils, increasing fish stocks in overfished zones, remediating polluted sites, restoring ecological processes, restoring biodiversity, and conserving fauna and flora that can assist in the restoration process. Globally, the economic benefits of restoration interventions are up to 10 times greater than the size of the investments required. On the other hand, inaction can be up to three times more costly, said Leo Heileman.



The Action Plan launched focuses on cooperation mechanisms and outlines 10 actions following 3 pathways:



- Regional movement will be achieved by promoting public awareness, giving visibility to ecosystem restoration champions and bringing ecosystem restoration to schools;

- Political engagement will be pursued by supporting leadership in ecosystem restoration, developing an innovative financing strategy, and promoting high-level regional dialogues, and

- Technical capacity will be built by encouraging investment in long-term scientific research, ensuring access to knowledge, promoting collaboration, and training professionals in ecosystem restoration.



The overarching vision is that, by 2030, the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean will have significantly advanced in defining policies and plans and implementing projects to restore marine, terrestrial and inland water ecosystems at a spatial scale that is relevant to revert the negative impacts of degradation.

Theme(s): Landing Centres, Communities and Organisations, Fisheries Development and Aquaculture, Fisheries Resources, Post Harvest Technology and Trade, Coastal Ecosystems and Threats, Freshwater ecosystems and threats, Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods, Others.
Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do
The first block train that departed from Turkey carrying exported goods destined for Russia reached its final stop on Tuesday.

The train left the Turkish capital Ankara on Jan. 29 en route to the Kaluga region near Moscow on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway.

It carried around 4,000 units of white goods produced in Turkey by consumer electronics maker Arceliks subsidiary Beko in a total of 15 containers in 15 wagons.

Turkeys ambassador to Moscow, Mehmet Samsar, who spoke at the event organized on the arrival of the export train, said the economic relations between Turkey and Russia constitute a large part of the overall ties between the two countries.

"Those ties are being maintained in every field and are further deepening," Daily Sabah cited him as saying.

Samsar stressed that their work regarding reaching the trade target of $100 billion (TL 709.67 billion) put forth by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin continue.

He added that the BTK railway is an important element of the modern-day Silk Road and thus making the export trains using the line important as well.

The BTK rail line connects Azerbaijans capital Baku on the Caspian Sea to Turkeys eastern border city of Kars via the Georgian capital Tbilisi. It also connected to Chinas Iron Silk Road that reaches out Europe before traveling through Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan to Baku via train ferries. The trains cross Georgia to enter Turkey via the BTK and then reach the western coast of Turkey before entering Europe.

The Europe-bound rail lines are part of the wider Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)  an ambitious initiative connecting China, Asia, Europe and the Middle East and covering a large trade and investment area  by Beijing.

The Turkish diplomat further said this train will not only play a role of a trade bridge between the country but will create a friendship bridge between the people of both countries.

Sergey Pavlov, first deputy managing director at Russian Railways, who also spoke at the event, said this very first Turkey-to-Russia block export train will significantly boost bilateral trade.

On Jan. 29, when the Russia-bound export train left Turkey, the country also sent off a third export train to China, which carried boron containers.

The first train using the BTK, which reduces both time and the costs of local exporters, initially hit the tracks on Oct. 30, 2017.
An artist said she was left $10,834.30 out of pocket after holiday house operators told her to cancel her booking because of the Northern Beaches Covid outbreak, but then refused to return the cost which included a $350 cleaning fee.

Jessie Breakwell booked a week in a Palm Beach guesthouse in Sydney, and said she was promised a 50 per cent refund if she cancelled the Stayz booking.

The guesthouse owners then failed to refund the money and refused to answer calls or emails, the Melbourne painter has claimed.

An artist (pictured) said she lost $10K after holiday house operators told her to cancel her booking because of the Northern Beaches Covid outbreak, but then refused to return the cost and even charged $300 for a cleaning fee

Jessie Breakwell booked a week in a Palm Beach guesthouse in Sydney (pictured), and said she was promised a 50 per cent refund if she cancelled the booking on Stayz

The artist said after it was announced the Northern Beaches would go into lockdown, she was promised a 50 per cent refund if she cancelled the booking on Stayz (pictured, the home she booked)

Ms Breakwell told Daily Mail Australia she booked the holiday after a 'hard year', but didn't expect it to turn into a 'complete disaster.'

'It was a treat, I'd had such a hard year and so had my poor family members, my partner had, we were just trying to have a nice holiday and it just turned out to be a complete disaster,' she said.

The well-known artist claimed she was promised a 50 per cent refund if she cancelled the booking on Stayz after it was announced the Northern Beaches would go into lockdown.

'[I was told] listen, if you go cancel your booking we will give you [50 per cent] back and I was pretty furious,' Ms Breakwell told Daily Mail Australia.

'But eventually I agreed to it and I cancelled my booking and then they sort of strung me out for a bit.'

The artist claimed the guesthouse operators, who she said live on the property, cut off communication and did not refund any money after she threatened them with legal action.

'If they cancelled the booking I would've got my funds back, so they made me cancel it and I'm just so trusting,' Ms Breakwell said, adding she contacted them '20 or 30' times.

'It was completely illegal for me to go into the area ... so really they cancelled my booking, I didn't cancel their booking.'

After posting her ordeal to her Facebook page, which has 19,000 followers, Ms Breakwell (pictured) said she was refunded a $718.30 'HomeAway Service fee' from Stayz after paying them $1274.71 for their service

'I gave over $30,000 worth of refunds, 100 per cent back, no questions asked ... because I know it's the right thing to do,' the painter (pictured) said about her masterclasses which were cancelled because of Covid

After posting her ordeal to her Facebook page, which has 19,000 followers, Ms Breakwell was refunded a $718.30 'HomeAway Service fee' from Stayz.

The mother of a nine-year-old daughter said she paid back $30,000 to her own clients after her country-wide painting masterclasses were cancelled, which is why she was so shocked not to receive a refund.

'I gave over $30,000 worth of refunds, 100 per cent back, no questions asked ... because I know it's the right thing to do,' she said.

The listing has been removed from Stayz and other booking sites, but an existing advertisement on Travel City says it has three bedrooms and boasts a sauna, fireplace and is one kilometre from the beach.

'The cancellation policies on Stayz are set by individual hosts and not by Stayz,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

'We encourage all travellers to read the cancellation policies on each property page before making a booking. Travellers are also reminded of the cancellation policy before the final booking step on the site.'

The Daily Mail contacted the owner of the property, but they declined to comment.

Correction: A previous version of this article stated
Restaurants, bars and gyms in the Portland area appear poised to reopen to inside activities Friday, according to preliminary state data.

Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties all appear likely to have fewer than the 200 cases per 100,000 residents over a two-week period, which would qualify those businesses to welcome customers back indoors.

State officials posted preliminary statistics Monday morning suggesting as much: Multnomah recorded 194.6 cases per 100,000 residents; Washington had 165.6 and Clackamas saw 185.2.

But Gov. Kate Brown and the Oregon Health Authority have not certified final numbers, however, making it impossible to declare with 100% certainty that affected metro businesses will be allowed to reopen. Brown plans a formal announcement Tuesday after state epidemiologists finish their work, with any potential reopenings effective Friday.

While I cant confirm any risk levels today because OHAs epidemiology team is reviewing the latest data for accuracy, we do anticipate to see improvements this week, Liz Merah, a spokeswoman for Brown, said in an email.

Restaurants, bars and gyms generally have been closed to in-person activities since November because of surging case counts. Twenty-four counties, including all of the Willamette Valley, are currently in an extreme risk tier that generally prohibits indoor dining, indoor exercise at gyms and indoor visits at long-term care facilities, among other restrictions.

Oregons four-tier matrix is based on per capita case counts and test positivity rates for counties with at least 30,000 residents. To reopen impacted businesses, large counties must have less than 200 cases per 100,000 residents over two weeks and a test positivity rate below 10%.

State officials only review the data to make changes every two weeks, and the last time that happened on Jan. 26, Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties had too many cases.

But infections have fallen since then, reaching daily case counts not seen since early November.

The latest preliminary data for counties with at least 30,000 residents shows 10 would be in the high-risk category allowing inside dining and exercise while 10 would be in extreme risk, where those activities are prohibited.

Businesses in high-risk counties could reopen for indoor dining, drinking and exercise at 25% capacity or a maximum of 50 people, whichever is smaller.

But the data isnt finalized and state officials can still revise the statistics for various reasons, including to remove cases linked to jails or prisons. The metrics are often closely watched, with business owners in Clatsop County assuming several weeks ago they would be allowed to reopen only to later learn they barely missed the cutoff.

Reopening restaurants, bars and gyms in the metro area to in-person activities is likely to help struggling businesses. But doing so comes with risk, as drinking and dining without masks is thought to be a potential means of spreading the virus.

-- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt
SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. (WTHI) - Climate change is a priority for president Joe Biden.

The Paris Climate Agreement is a sticking point for one group in the Wabash valley.

This agreement is aimed at limiting global warming among many other things.

Back when Biden was still a presidential candidate, the Sisters of Providence wrote him a letter.

Sister Barbara Battista says the agreement is also about climate justice.

"Advocating for climate justice is important to us to the sisters of providence because it's so integral to the survival and thriving of the human community. I mean without a planet to live on we would not get very far," Sister Battista.

She listed off some of the things she wants to see done.

"We want actual progress we want all persons brought to the table. Representatives from all communities from those in power from those not in power from regular consumers. Everyone should be represented at the table where decisions are made," says Battista.

An agricultural economics professor at Purdue University says this is a good thing for the state of Indiana.

"For Indiana, some of the studies are showing that the number of heat spells could double by 2050," says Dr. Dominique van der Mensbrugghe.

The full letter is on the sisters of providence website.
Shares of Aavas Financiers, on Tuesday, surged 12 per cent intra-day and hit a record high of Rs 2,320 on the BSE on expectation of earnings improvement. The stock of the housing finance company surpassed its previous high of Rs 2,113, touched on January 5, 2021.

Thus far in the month of February, has outperformed the market by gaining 28 per cent, after the government, in the Budget 2021-22, extended the affordable housing tax holiday up to March 2022. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 6 per cent during the same period.

Additional deduction of Rs 1.5 lakh on interest on housing loan for affordable housing has been extended on home loans till March 31, 2022. The scheme was first introduced in the 2019 budget and has seen extension since then.

The extension on deduction on payment of interest by one more year will help in offering the much-needed convenience for the home buyer. Affordable housing tax holiday extension up to March 2022 will boost the recent momentum in housing demand.

is retail, affordable housing finance company, primarily serving low and middle income self-employed customers in semi-urban and rural areas in India. The Company's product offering consists of home loans for the purchase or construction of residential properties, and for the extension and repair of existing housing units.

In the October-December quarter (Q3FY21), reported strong earnings, with 26 per cent year on year (YoY) growth in profit after tax to Rs 85.6 crore. The past quarter was characterized by stable disbursements on a YoY basis, margin improvement, and a moderately higher GS3 ratio.

The company disbursed Rs 764.5 crore during the quarter registering 2 cent YoY growth and 15 per cent quarter on quarter growth. At the same time, the collection efficiency for the month of December was 98.8 per cent, reaching pre-Covid levels. With the Covid-19 vaccination drives beginning in India & other countries across the globe, the management hope that the worst is behind and can look forward to 2021 with renewed albeit cautious optimism.

Analysts at Motilal Oswal Securities believe Aaavas has built a sustainable business model to scale up profitably across geographies over the long term. Its technology adoption and relentless focus on asset quality have made it a standout v/s peers. This is evident in the healthy asset quality performance in Q3FY21 (the first complete quarter post the lifting of the moratorium on term loan EMI payments). Disbursements have resumed to YoY levels  we forecast a 20 per cent AUM CAGR over FY2023E. Decline in NIM (due to yield pressure) would be offset by improvement in the expense ratio, the brokerage firm said in results update.

At 10:26 am, the stock was trading 10 per cent higher at Rs 2,275 on the BSE, as compared to 0.33 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. A combined around 210,000 equity shares have changed hands on the counter on the NSE and BSE, so far.
New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern and (R) Australian Prime Minster, Scott Morrison speak to media at a press conference held at Admiralty House in Sydney, Australia on Feb. 28, 2020. (James D. Morgan/Getty Images)

China Would Like to Split New Zealand From Allies: Expert

An Australian expert has said that China would love to be able to split New Zealand from its more traditional allies of Australia, America, Canada, and the United Kingdomthe countries that comprise the Five Eyes alliance.

Associate Prof. Salvatore Babones from the University of Sydney told The Epoch Times that China would like to see a more isolated New Zealand.

China would dearly love to split New Zealand from the Five Eyes alliance, Babones said. New Zealand has long been the weak link in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, and the Ardern government seems much more strongly committed to maintaining its trade relationship with communist China than to maintaining its security relationship with the free world.

Babones comments come as Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Five Eyes Alliance is really important in a world in which, he alluded, other forces have differing views about how the world should run.

Chief among them is a world order dominated by nations that dont adhere to international rules held up by the liberal democracies that participate in it.

Morrison said that Australia and its Five Eyes allies are liberal, free-market democracies with business-led economies that share values and interests on security issues and intelligence.

These democratic nations, he told SkyNews, work together to support our region and see them be sovereign and independent, that we can keep open seas, that there arent parts of the worlds oceans or seas that are inside and outside clubs.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives at Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 17, 2020. (Reuters/Issei Kato)

Morrison doesnt take the view that every system of government is as good as the other. If that was the case, you know, wed flip a coin each day, and decide which way you run the country on you know, are we going to run under an authoritarian regime or liberal democracy.

He added he was a supporter of liberal democracies: Nope. Liberal democracy all the way. Forever.

Bilateral relations across the Tasman Sea grew tense briefly when New Zealand Trade Minister Damien OConnor said on Jan. 27 that Australia should follow his countrys lead and handle its diplomacy with Beijing more respectfully.

OConnor was later accused by Australian and New Zealand politicians of running Chinese Communist Party lines. Australias Trade Minister downplayed the incident and reaffirmed the strong relationship between the neighbouring countries.

L: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern looks on during a press conference in Wellington, New Zealand on March 17, 2020. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images) R: Prime Minister Scott Morrison attends the meeting of the Council of Australian Governments meeting in Sydney, Australia on March 13, 2020. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

Prof. James Laurenceson from the University of Technology in Sydney said that the likelihood of China successfully splitting New Zealand from its allies is next to zero.

Laurenceson told The Epoch Times that New Zealand, Australia, and the United States have a close relationship because it serves their interests.

Its not surprising they wont always engage with China in the same way, Laurenceson said. This was never the intent of the ANZUS alliance or the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing arrangement.

Certainly, New Zealands new Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has assured Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom that it will remain a staunch ally.

In her inaugural foreign policy speech, Mahuta said that she believed the key to New Zealands foreign policy stance was relationships. Singling out Australia, she noted that the key to New Zealands foreign affairs was Australia.

The trans-Tasman relationship is critical for New Zealands prosperity and security, Mahuta said. Australia is our only formal ally and an indispensable partner across the breadth of our international interests.

Further, she noted that New Zealands relationship with the United States is integral to the countrys defence and security, while New Zealands relationship Canada and the UK were strong and enduring.

Mahuta also noted New Zealands relationship with China saying she was seeking a mature relationship where both countries have practical expectations of each other.

Frustrations are mounting in rural parts of North Alabama because it's getting harder to get the vaccine and most places are out.

Jessica Butler lives in Mississippi but her 73-year-old mom lives in the Shoals.

Butler said she's had this day marked, the day her mom could get the vaccine in Alabama but she said the only thing she's been able to get her mom is on waiting lists.

"I went to the website to see if she could make an appointment and it appeared as though none of the counties in North Alabama you could even select to get an appointment on the platform and it's been a lot of asking around," said Butler, as she described trying to navigate the Alabama Department of Public Health's website.

Butler said she's had more success getting answers by calling around to friends in the area and pharmacies.

"It's a little too much word of mouth for my preference. I'd like it to be a little more standardized and more accessible and all of that," said Butler.

Butler said there is a lot of confusion on where people in the Shoals can get the vaccine right now the only two places are Franklin and Lauderdale County Health Departments. They are doing first-come, first-served and you'd wait in your car for the shot.

Helen Keller Hospital and the North Alabama Medical Center don't have vaccines, either.

There were a few pharmacies in the area that had some doses of vaccine, but all of those have been used or spoken for. The Colbert County Health Department is out of first doses. They won't get any new doses until March, according to the health department. If you got your first shot there you can still get your second shot at the health department. They have enough vaccines for that.

"Today I'm starting to feel more pessimistic about it, because today is the eligibility day. I've got her on one waiting list in her hometown at a pharmacy and they told me everything they had was spoken for appointment-wise, which is common. That's what happened in mississippi here," said Butler.

Butler and her husband both have underlying health conditions and they were able to get their vaccines where they live in Mississippi because they qualified. Alabama is not allowing people under the age of 65 with underlying health conditions to get the vaccine yet.

"I feel lucky and blessed that we got ours and it's not lost on me how thankful I am that we got it. There is a little bit of guilt, I'll be honest. Here I am, I have mine already and my mom is in Alabama in another state waiting on hers," said Butler.

Butler said while she and her husband were in line to get their vaccines in Mississippi they noticed tags from Tennessee and Texas. She said if it is impossible to get her mom vaccinated in Alabama she might see if she can get the vaccine in Mississippi.
TORONTO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Denison Mines Corp. ("Denison" or the "Company") (TSX: DML) (NYSE: DNN) is pleased to report the results from the 2020 exploration and expansion drilling program focused on the area proximal to the high-grade Phoenix uranium deposit ("Phoenix") at the Company's 90% owned Wheeler River Uranium Project ("Wheeler River"). During the program, 19 drill holes were completed for a total of approximately 7,400 metres  all of which were located outside of the extents of the mineral resources currently defined at Phoenix. The results from the program were highlighted by the intersection of high-grade uranium mineralization in Zone C, where no mineral resource is currently estimated:

5.69% U 3 O 8 over 5.0 metres in WR-328D1, located approximately 22 metres northeast of historic mineralized hole WR-368 ( 1.59% U 3 O 8 over 2.0 metres ); and





in WR-328D1, located approximately 22 metres northeast of historic mineralized hole WR-368 ( ); and 8.84% U 3 O 8 over 2.5 metres in WR-767D1, located approximately 35 metres to the northeast of WR-328D1.

The mineralization in WR-328D1 and WR-767D1 represent the best mineralized intersections returned to date from exploration drilling at Phoenix Zone C. View PDF version

Andy Yackulic, P. Geo., Denison's Director, Exploration, commented, "The grades and thicknesses of the mineralized intersections from the 2020 Phoenix Zone C drilling represent a significant upgrade compared to historical drilling at Zone C. With each successive hole at Zone C, Denison's exploration team becomes more optimistic about the prospect of delineating an additional mineralized zone that could potentially be incorporated into future development plans for the Phoenix In-situ recovery ("ISR") operation."

This press release constitutes a "designated news release" for the purposes of the Company's prospectus supplement dated November 13, 2020 to its short form base shelf prospectus dated June 2, 2020.

Phoenix Zone C

Zone C is the southwestern-most mineralized zone at Phoenix (see Figure 1). Prior to the 2020 drilling program, Zone C was defined over a strike length of approximately 250 metres by only five mineralized intersections. Historic exploration drilling at Phoenix was largely focused on the delineation of Zone A and Zone B. As a result of the lack of historical drilling at Zone C, no resource estimate exists for the mineralization previously identified at Zone C.

The 2020 drilling program was designed to test the continuity and extents of known mineralization at Zone C. Eleven drill holes were completed at Zone C in 2020 for a total of 4,600 metres. Three of these drill holes returned uranium mineralization, successfully extending the mineralized zone's strike length by approximately 20 metres to the southwest and delineating a potential high-grade mineralized "core." Mineralized intersections from 2020 drilling at Zone C are outlined in Table 1 and illustrated in Figure 2.

With Denison's recent decision to adopt a freeze wall design and phased mining approach, as part of the ISR mining operation planned for the Phoenix deposit (See Denison's news release from December 1, 2020), it is possible that further exploration could result in the delineation of a mineral resource that could become a future mining "phase" at Phoenix. Additional drilling will be required to determine the extent of uranium mineralization at Zone C.

Table 1  Phoenix Zone C Mineralized Intersections

Hole-ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) U 3 O 8 (%) WR-328D11,3,4 376.4 381.4 5.0 5.69 WR-767D11,3,4 382.0 384.5 2.5 8.84 WR-7712,3,4 376.5 377.5 1.0 0.89

Notes: (1) Intersection interval is composited above a cut-off grade of 1.0% U3O8;

(2) Intersection interval is composited above a cut-off grade of 0.1% U3O8;

(3) WR-328D1 was drilled at an azimuth of 333.7 and an inclination of -80.3. WR-767D1 was drilled at an azimuth of 310.4 and an inclination of -79.3. WR-771 was drilled at an azimuth of 310.0 and an inclination of -79.5.

(4) Lengths indicated are the down-hole length and do not represent the true thickness of mineralization. True thickness is estimated to be approximately 98% of stated downhole length.



Phoenix Zone A and Zone B

Eight diamond drill holes totalling 3,796.0 m were completed to test the extents of known mineralization at Zones A and B. While several drill holes intersected weak uranium mineralization, the only notable potential extension of existing mineralization was reported in drill hole WR-765D1 in Zone B  which intersected 0.36% U 3 O 8 over 3.5 metres (from 401.3 to 404.8 metres), drilled at an azimuth of 332.3 and an inclination of -79.6, approximately 15 metres east of WR-333 (which previously intersected 14.6% U 3 O 8 over 6.0 metres).

Sampling and Assay Procedures

Drill core with anomalous total gamma radioactivity (>300 counts per second using an RS-120 or RS-125 scintillometer) was sampled over 0.5 metre intervals. Sampling is undertaken on site by splitting the core in half, with one half submitted for analysis and the other half retained in the core box for future reference. Uranium chemical assays are performed by the Saskatchewan Research Council ("SRC") Geoanalytical Laboratories located in Saskatoon. Sample preparation involves crushing and pulverizing core samples to 90% passing -106 microns. Splits of the resultant pulps are initially submitted for multi-element ICP-MS analysis following partial (HNO3:HCl) and total (HF:HNO3:HClO4) digestions. Samples with  1,000 ppm U (partial digest) are re-assayed for U 3 O 8 using an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited method for the determination of U 3 O 8 weight percentage. Pulp splits are digested using aqua-regia, and the solution analyzed for U 3 O 8 weight percentage using ICP-OES. In addition to internal checks by SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories, the Company has rigorous quality assurance and quality control ("QAQC") procedures, including the insertion of standard reference materials, blanks and field duplicates. The assay data is subject to verification procedures by qualified persons employed by Denison prior to disclosure. For further details on the assay, QAQC and data verification procedures, please see Denison's Annual Information Form dated March 13, 2020, filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

About Wheeler River

Wheeler River is the largest undeveloped uranium project in the infrastructure rich eastern portion of the Athabasca Basin region, in northern Saskatchewan  including combined Indicated Mineral Resources of 132.1 million pounds U 3 O 8 (1,809,000 tonnes at an average grade of 3.3% U 3 O 8 ), plus combined Inferred Mineral Resources of 3.0 million pounds U 3 O 8 (82,000 tonnes at an average grade of 1.7% U 3 O 8 ). The project is host to the high-grade Phoenix and Gryphon uranium deposits, discovered by Denison in 2008 and 2014, respectively, and is a joint venture between Denison (90% and operator) and JCU (Canada) Exploration Company Limited (10%).

The Wheeler River Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") was completed in late 2018, considering the potential economic merit of developing the Phoenix deposit as an ISR operation and the Gryphon deposit as a conventional underground mining operation. Taken together, the project is estimated to have mine production of 109.4 million pounds U 3 O 8 over a 14-year mine life, with a base case pre-tax NPV of $1.31 billion (8% discount rate), Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 38.7%, and initial pre-production capital expenditures of $322.5 million. The Phoenix ISR operation is estimated to have a stand-alone base case pre-tax NPV of $930.4 million (8% discount rate), IRR of 43.3%, initial pre-production capital expenditures of $322.5 million, and industry leading average operating costs of US$3.33/lb U 3 O 8 . The PFS is prepared on a project (100% ownership) and pre-tax basis, as each of the partners to the Wheeler River Joint Venture are subject to different tax and other obligations.

Further details regarding the PFS, including additional scientific and technical information, as well as after-tax results attributable to Denison's ownership interest, are described in greater detail in the NI 43-101 Technical Report titled "Pre-feasibility Study for the Wheeler River Uranium Project, Saskatchewan, Canada" dated October 30, 2018 with an effective date of September 24, 2018. A copy of this report is available on Denison's website and under its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

Denison suspended certain activities at Wheeler River during 2020, including the EA process, which is on the critical path to achieving the project development schedule outlined in the PFS. While the EA process has resumed, the Company is not currently able to estimate the impact to the project development schedule outlined in the PFS, and users are cautioned against relying on the estimates provided therein regarding the start of pre-production activities in 2021 and first production in 2024.

About Denison

Denison is a uranium exploration and development company with interests focused in the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan, Canada. In addition to the Wheeler River project, Denison's Athabasca Basin exploration portfolio consists of numerous projects covering over 250,000 hectares. Denison's interests in the Athabasca Basin also include a 22.5% ownership interest in the McClean Lake joint venture ("MLJV"), which includes several uranium deposits and the McClean Lake uranium mill, which is currently processing ore from the Cigar Lake mine under a toll milling agreement, plus a 25.17% interest in the Midwest and Midwest A deposits, and a 66.90% interest in the Tthe Heldeth Tue ("THT," formerly J Zone) and Huskie deposits on the Waterbury Lake property. Each of Midwest, Midwest A, THT and Huskie are located within 20 kilometres of the McClean Lake mill.

Denison is engaged in mine decommissioning and environmental services through its Closed Mines group (formerly Denison Environmental Services), which manages Denison's Elliot Lake reclamation projects and provides post-closure mine care and maintenance services to a variety of industry and government clients.

Denison is also the manager of Uranium Participation Corp., a publicly traded company which invests in uranium oxide and uranium hexafluoride.

Qualified Persons

The technical information contained in this release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Andrew Yackulic, P. Geo., Denison's Director, Exploration, who is a Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this news release constitutes 'forward-looking information', within the meaning of the applicable United States and Canadian legislation concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Denison. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'plans', 'expects', 'budget', 'scheduled', 'estimates', 'forecasts', 'intends', 'anticipates', or 'believes', or the negatives and/or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would', 'might' or 'will be taken', 'occur', 'be achieved' or 'has the potential to'.

In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information pertaining: the interpretation of the results from the 2020 Phoenix exploration program, underlying assumptions and the Company's intentions with respect thereto; the results of the PFS and expectations with respect thereto, including the duration and scope of impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and affiliated operational adjustments; development and expansion plans and objectives, including plans future mining phases for the project described in the PFS; and expectations regarding its joint venture ownership interests and the continuity of its agreements with its partners.

Forward looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Denison to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For example, areas of interest for further exploration selected based on interpretation of current and historic exploration may not result in findings of significance after further testing. Denison believes that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be accurate and results may differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information. For a discussion in respect of risks and other factors that could influence forward-looking events, please refer to the factors discussed in Denison's Annual Information Form dated March 13, 2020 or subsequent quarterly financial reports under the heading 'Risk Factors'. These factors are not, and should not be construed as being exhaustive.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Any forward-looking information and the assumptions made with respect thereto speaks only as of the date of this news release. Denison does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information after the date of this news release to conform such information to actual results or to changes in Denison's expectations except as otherwise required by applicable legislation.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves: This press release may use terms such as "measured", "indicated" and/or "inferred" mineral resources and "proven" or "probable" mineral reserves, which are terms defined with reference to the guidelines set out in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves ("CIM Standards"). The Company's descriptions of its projects using CIM Standards may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Follow Denison on Twitter @DenisonMinesCo

Figure 1 - Phoenix Deposit  2020 Exploration Drilling

Figure 2 - Phoenix Zone C  2020 Exploration Drilling

SOURCE Denison Mines Corp.

Related Links

http://denisonmines.com/s/Home.asp


The toll from the Uttarakhand glacier disaster rose to 31 with five more bodies being recovered, officials said on Tuesday as multiple agencies raced against time to reach about 30 workers trapped inside a tunnel in a power project site and 175 people remained missing.

Huge boulders embedded in the debris inside the Tapovan tunnel are causing the biggest hindrance to the ongoing search operations at the NTPC's damaged hydel project site, ITBP deputy commandant AK Dabral said.

Around 25 to 35 people are feared trapped in the tunnel since the avalanche hit Joshimath area of Chamoli district on Sunday with rescue efforts by multiple agencies focused on reaching them as soon as possible.

The combined rescue team has reached up to 130 metres inside the tunnel but there is a lot of debris clogging it, he said. People feared trapped inside the tunnel should be around 200 metres, he said.

Personnel of the army, State Disaster Response Force, National Disaster Response Force, Sashastra Seema Bal are coordinating and working with a defined strategy to get to those trapped inside, Dabral said.

However, some feel that more sophisticated equipment should be engaged to expedite the rescue operations.

Kedarnath MLA Manoj Rawat said excavators and Pokland machines should be brought in to speed up the process.

'Collapse of weakened rock mass may have caused flash floods'

A rock mass weakened over a period of time due to freezing and thawing of snow must have led to the creation of a "weak zone", triggering its collapse, which resulted in the formation of a temporary dam that eventually breached, causing the deadly floods in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday, initial observations by scientists of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) suggest.

Kalachand Sain, Director of the WIHG, said the incident occurred adjacent to the Raunthi glacier. The area also has glaciers that feed the Rishi Ganga river, which ultimately joins the Dhauli Ganga.

Sain said the avalanche must have taken place in the wee hours of Sunday while the temporary dam must have breached between 10-11 am.

Two teams comprising five glaciologists of the WIHG are at the site conducting observations. The teams carried out a helicopter survey of the area on Tuesday to find clues as to what led to the massive flash floods that swept everything on the way.

"Our observations suggest that the rock mass may have weakened due to freezing and thawing over a period of time. This sometimes leads to the development of a weak zone and fractures," Sain said.



The area also witnessed precipitation in the preceding three days, followed by clear weather on the day of the event, which caused a freezing and thawing effect.

"The event occurred due to a slide of a large rock mass beneath the hanging glacier at 5,600 metres above sea level. It was observed that a huge rock and glacial ice masses collectively moved rapidly down the valley, taking away along with them all the snow and other loose material coming their way," Sain said.

The steep slopes of the mountains in the region further increased the intensity of the crash. The stretch of the avalanche was about three kilometres with an average slope of 37 degrees, before reaching the "Raunthi Nala/Gadhera" floor at an altitude of about 3,600 metres.

Thus, the rock-and-snow avalanche was able to entrain a vast amount of water and sediment.

"It seems that the materials blocked the water to the Raunthi Nala stream, causing a temporary water impoundment. The impounded water was eventually breached, which might have caused the catastrophic flash floods," Sain said.

An institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the WIHG studies the Himalayan environment and its geology. Sain said an initial report will be sent to the DST.

Earlier, this morning, two bodies were recovered from the debris in Raini village, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officials said, two days after a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier possibly burst its banks and triggered an avalanche and floods in the Alaknanda river system.

Toll at 31, around 175 missing

The State Emergency Operation Centre said five bodies were found in the morning, taking the death toll to 31, and estimated that 175 people are still missing.

Of the five bodies discovered in the morning, two were recovered from the debris in Raini village today, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officials said.

With the hours ticking by inexorably, fears escalated about those missing since the disaster struck on Sunday morning, according to officials who stepped up efforts to locate survivors.

The missing people include those working at NTPCs 480 MW Tapovan-Vishnugad project and the 13.2 MW Rishiganga Hydel Project and villagers whose homes nearby were washed away.

Teams of the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) coordinated efforts to rescue about 30 people who were working in a tunnel at the Tapovan-Vishnugad project when the waters came rushing in.

The workers have been trapped in the 12-ft-high and about 2.5-km-long ''head race tunnel'' (HRT).

"Clearing of debris and slush continued the whole night. About 120 metres of the tunnel entrance stretch is now clear," ITBP spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said in Delhi.

"The height of the accumulated slush has reduced more. ITBP personnel are waiting to enter as soon as any movement deep inside the tunnel is possible," he said.

A senior official added that the rescuers have not been able to make any contact with those stuck inside but are hopeful for "signs of life".

Relief is also being distributed by helicopters among villagers cut off due to the washing away of a bridge in the avalanche at Malari.

About 100 ration kits have been distributed in the affected areas of 13 villages with a total population of around 2,500, officials said.

The villages that lost road connectivity in the wake of the calamity are Raini Palli, Pang, Lata, Suraithota, Suki, Bhalgaon, Tolma, Fagrasu, Long Segdi, Gahar, Bhangyul, Juwagwad and Jugju. On Tuesday, Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat undertook an aerial survey of the affected areas, visited the ITBP hospital in Joshimath, about 295 km from Dehradun, and met the 12 workers who were rescued from a small tunnel in Tapovan on Sunday evening.

Additional heavy machines could be pressed into service to expedite the process of clearing the tonnes of debris inside the tunnel, blocking the path of rescue personnel.

The clearing of slush and debris is a painstaking exercise but the multi-agency group of rescuers are there in large numbers and taking turns to dig in deeper with the help of heavy machines, officials said.

The teams have been working since Sunday to clear the tunnel and rescue the trapped.

As the temperature dipped to freezing levels at the site, awash with slush, silt and debris, bonfires were lit at multiple locations to keep the rescuers warm.

The tunnel has become the focal point of rescue operations.

While the ITBP has deployed as many as 300 personnel for conducting rescue operations at this site, many NDRF, SDRF and army personnel are also present.

The ITBP and other rescuers are carrying tall wooden planks which are being used by rescuers to wade in through the slush and will later also help create a platform to pull out the trapped people using ropes.

Pandey had earlier said these teams are ready with dragon light sets, oxygen cylinders and stretchers to provide immediate medical help to those trapped inside

'Personnel trying hard'

The chief minister said the pace of rescue operation at the Tapovan tunnel has slowed down due to the flow of slush but efforts are on to reach those trapped inside by drilling through the debris with the help of ropes. "Undaunted multi-agency security personnel are trying hard to make their way through the tunnel. Let us see how many lives we can save," Rawat told reporters.

Meanwhile, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday gave Rs 11 crore as financial aid from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to the Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Fund in the wake of the glacier tragedy in the hill state.

In this hour of tragedy and crisis, the Haryana government stands with Uttarakhand, and every possible help will be given to the state to deal with the disaster, Khattar said in an official statement.

With inputs from PTI

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A fired-up security guard threatened to get physical with a gang of young bike riders after catching the teenagers hooning through a shopping centre.

The confrontation was captured on a GoPro attached to the helmet of one of the nine boys as they rode inside Melbourne's DFO factory last Saturday afternoon.

The group of boys performed wheelies and narrowly dodged customers as they zipped through the bargain shopping centre.

Two male security guards stopped the group outside a Strandbags store, with one allegedly attempting to kick the bike of a 16-year-old boy.

Two security guards tried to escort a group of teengers riding their bikes out of DFO South Wharf in Victoria (pictured)

A group of teenage boys rode their bikes inside DFO South Wharf last Saturday at around 2.30pm

When the boys asked why he tried to strike them, he responded, 'because you're a d**khead'.

Despite the guards calling police, the boys sped off across the bustling outlet centre to the concern of nearby shoppers and staff, before finally making an exit.

But the security guard met them outside, telling them to 'get the f**k out, get out'.

The group of teenagers engaged in a yelling match with the guard, before meeting with a police car outside the centre.

Around 12 young teenagers surrounded the cop car and retold the events inside.

One of the security guards was spoken to by Victorian Police as he continued to swear at the group of teenagers (pictured)

Polcie were called to DFO South Wharf last Saturday (pictured) after reports of teengers riding their bikes inside the shopping centre

The guard engaged in another verbal battle with the teenagers.

'I'm here four days a week. The amount of people that threaten me, I really don't give a f**ck', he said in the YouTube video.

The guard was flanked by two colleagues who grabbed him by the arm, as he continued to swear at the group of boys.

'I don't care if you kids are acting like d**kheads', he said.

Police arrived and grabbed the guard by the other arm, moving him away from the teenagers as they began to clap and cheer.

'He's a good cop', one of the bike riders said.

A spokesperson for Vicinity Centres, told Daily Mail Australia the incident is under police investigation.

'We are assisting Victoria Police in relation to an incident at DFO South Wharf last week, Saturday February 6', the spokesperson said.

'The safety of our customers, retailers and our team is always our priority.'

Victoria Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that they responded to an incident in South Wharf.

'Police responded to reports of a group of youths riding bikes through a food court in South Wharf on 6 February', a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

'The youths were spoken to by police and moved on when requested to. Police are making follow up enquiries regarding the incident.'
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - Butte County Public Health is looking for help administering Covid-19 vaccine doses as the county ramps up its rollout.

Public Health officials say anyone with a current medical license can sign up to become a volunteer.

Some community members who are waiting to get the vaccine say they hope more people will step up to help.

"It's very frustrating, we're between 65 and 75, and we feel it's really important in our age group to get this," said one woman, who did not want to disclose her name. She says she has been trying to get a vaccine for weeks but has been unsuccessful. She hopes more volunteers will help speed up the process.

Jodi Putnam, who is a Division Director for Butte County Public Health says the county has vaccine clinics planned and when they receive enough doses to support the clinics, they will need help from volunteers.

Putnam says people can sign up through the Disaster Healthcare Volunteer Program.

"Anybody who has a current medical license can sign up and become a volunteer," explained Putnam. "They can go on and sign up it'll ask them a bunch of questions to prequalify them to make sure they are eligible, once they get into the program it takes a while because there is a background check. They do go through and check everybody's license to make sure they are up to date, and once that process is done, we get a list and can start calling people."

The Disaster Healthcare Volunteer (DHV) program is a statewide system to identify volunteers for deployment in disaster response and recovery activities.

Healthcare providers with an active license, public health professionals, members of a medical disaster response team in California, and individuals without medical training can register. You must choose the Butte County Unit during the registration process.

Once applications are processed, Butte County Public Health will alert DHV members with a request to volunteer. Volunteer positions will be open as soon as the end of February and may continue for several months.

Click here to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine in your area.
[February 09, 2021] As Growth Accelerates, Seniorlink Expands Leadership Team with the Appointment of Matt Marek as President

BOSTON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Seniorlink, Inc., a leading tech-enabled health services company, is pleased to announce that Matt Marek is joining its executive team as President and Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. Thomas Riley will continue as CEO, the position he has held for the past decade. Marek joins Seniorlink after almost five years as President and CEO of Further, a leader in medical account innovation and provider of financial services for healthcare spending accounts, based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Further was created as a capability inside of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and was launched as an independent company when Marek assumed the role of CEO in 2016. During his tenure, Marek expanded Further's national footprint, securing exclusive relationships with nine insurance plans. In 2020, Further served almost 1 million members across 50 states. Marek will help shape strategy for Seniorlink and will oversee operations as the company continues to expand its partnerships with state governments and managed care providers nationwide. Seniorlink's expansion comes amid growing demand for home and community-based services and supports where family caregivers play a pivotal role. More than 53 million Americans are caring for loved ones with disabilities, or who are aging or chronically ill, and heir ranks have grown steadily since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.



"For 20 years, Seniorlink has provided family caregivers with solutions that combine human touch, unique care paths and simple but effective technology, allowing them to care for their loved ones, with confidence, at home," says Seniorlink CEO & Chairman Thomas Riley. "As the needs of this community grow, we are doubling our efforts to create new solutions that allow us to reach many more families. While we have made significant progress, opening our eleventh state in early 2021, Matt's leadership and reputation as an industry innovator will help us to expand our reach even more." Prior to his role as President and CEO at Further, Marek spent 10 years at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, serving in a variety of roles, including Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Sales Officer. He has also worked at United Healthcare and Progressive Insurance. Marek is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Business Administration.

"Seniorlink's unique model of care allows families to receive the support they need, where they need it  at home," Marek said. "I am excited to join Seniorlink as it meets accelerating demand for what I believe will be our country's most important resource for healthcare moving forward: family caregivers." About Seniorlink

Seniorlink is a tech-enabled health services company focused on keeping care in the home, where family caregivers play a pivotal role. The Company's solutions combine Vela, Seniorlink's collaboration technology, with evidence-based clinical protocols and the human touch of dedicated care teams working in partnership with family caregivers. Seniorlink's solutions lead to improved outcomes, cost savings and improved consumer engagement and satisfaction for health plans and providers. For more information, please visit www.Seniorlink.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/as-growth-accelerates-seniorlink-expands-leadership-team-with-the-appointment-of-matt-marek-as-president-301224353.html SOURCE Seniorlink, Inc.

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Increased prevalence of chronic diseases, surge in geriatric population, and advancements in technology drive the growth of the global home medical equipment market.

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research recently published a report, titled, "Home Medical Equipment Market by Functionality (Therapeutic Equipment [Home Respiratory Therapy Equipment, Home IV Equipment, Home Dialysis Equipment, and Other Home Therapeutic Equipment), Patient Monitoring Equipment [Blood Glucose Monitors, Blood Pressure Monitors, Holter Monitors, Peak Flow Meters, Apnea Monitors, Heart Rate Monitors, Baby Monitors, Electronic Thermometers, and Coagulation Monitors], and Mobility Assist & Patient Support Equipment (Wheelchairs, Mobility Scooters, Walking Assist Devices, Medical Furniture, and Bathroom Safety Equipment) and Distribution Channel (Pharmacies, Retail Medical Stores and Online Retailers): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027". As per the report, the global home medical equipment industry was pegged at $30.54 billion and is expected to reach $56.45 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2020 to 2027.

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Major determinants of the market growth

Increased prevalence of chronic diseases, surge in geriatric population, and advancements in technology drive the growth of the global home medical equipment market. However, complications associated with use of medical equipment and limited expertise for home-based users hamper the growth of the market. On the contrary, untapped potential in the emerging economies is expected to open lucrative opportunities for the market growth.

Covid-19 scenario:

The demand for home medical equipment increased during the pandemic as patients preferred to treat themselves at home and avoided hospital admittance as much as possible.

However, the lockdown regulations imposed by governments forced manufacturing companies to shutdown all activities, which created the supply-demand gap and challenges in disruption of medical equipment.

The therapeutic equipment segment dominated the market

By functionality, the therapeutic equipment segment held the largest share in 2019, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global home medical equipment market, owing to preferences for homecare equipment over others as they provide better results. However, the mobility assist & patient support equipment segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period, due to high prevalence rate of chronic diseases and technological advancements.

The online retailers segment to manifest the highest CAGR through 2027

By distribution channel, the online retailers segment is projected to register the highest CAGR of 7.0% during the forecast period, due to the surge in traction toward e-commerce for medical equipment among consumers and increase in availability of several home medical equipment. However, the retail pharmacy segment held the lion's share in 2019, contributing to more than two-fifths of the global home medical equipment market, owing to the ease in availability of various kinds of medical equipment such as mobility devices, respiratory devices, and others in the pharmacy.

For Purchase Enquiry at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/4424

North America held the lion's share

By region, the market across North America dominated in 2019, accounting for more than two-fifths of the market, owing to availability of advanced technology, affordability along with growth in awareness about the benefits of homecare medical devices, increase in the geriatric population, and rise in prevalence of various life-threatening diseases. However, the global home medical equipment market Asia-Pacific is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 7.4% from 2020 to 2027, due to the improvement in the purchasing power of patients in countries such as China and Japan.

Major market players

Abbott Laboratories

B Braun Melsungen Ag

Baxter International Incorporated

Becton, Dickinson and Company

General Electric Company

Hill-Rom Holdings Incorporated

Johnson & Johnson

Medtronic plc

Smith & Nephew plc.

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We have also published few syndicated market studies in the similar area that might be of your interest. Below are the report title for your reference, considering Impact of Covid-19 Over This Market which will help you to assess aftereffects of pandemic on short-term and long-term growth trends of this market.

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Jayne Millard, Executive Chairman of the Board, Turtle & Hughes Women working together, supporting each other, can do extraordinary things. We are sisters in the common belief that we dont need seats at the table. We build our own tables. -- Turtle & Hughes Executive Chairman of the Board Jayne Millard

Jayne Millard, Executive Chairman of the Board at Turtle & Hughes, Inc., one of the largest privately-held industrial and electrical distribution companies in the nation, will be inducted into the Womens Business Enterprise Hall of Fame for her dedication to womens business growth and resilience. A virtual induction ceremony, hosted by the American Institute of Diversity & Commerce (AIDC), will be held Wednesday, March 10, 2021.

As the leader of a fourth-generation family business, which was headed by her grandmother and mother before her, Millard has witnessed the power of womens leadership throughout her life, and actively deepened the companys commitment to diversity among its employees and suppliers. This extends to top management with CEO Kathleen Shanahan at the helm.

This award is a tribute to the women in my family  my grandmother who ran the company for 40 years after her husbands death and my mother who taught me to lead with humility and always value our employees. I also learned through the Womens Business Enterprise National Council and Women Presidents Educational Organization that women working together, supporting each other, can do extraordinary things. We are sisters in the common belief that we dont need seats at the table. We build our own tables, Millard said.

"We congratulate Jayne Millard for her contributions to women at all stages of their personal and professional growth. She has exemplified the continuing impact of mentorship inside and outside her company. It is with great respect and admiration that the WBE Hall of Fame showcases and honors Jayne for her outstanding record of advocacy and support for women's business development," said Bill Alcorn, AIDC President.

The WBE Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization recognizing the contributions of women entrepreneurs in their communities, as well as their accomplishments within their industries.

While most business leaders would agree that 2020 was a challenging year, thanks to Jaynes visionary leadership, Turtle & Hughes nimbly pivoted into areas of growth such as PPE and health care. At the same time, we prioritized the safety of our employees and adapted a seamless hybrid workforce to fulfill customer needs. This underscored our ability to champion diversity within our organization and with our suppliers, Shanahan said.

Growing up in the family business, Millard formally joined Turtle & Hughes in 1991 and was named Vice President of Marketing in 1999. She became CEO in 2010 and Chairman in 2016, sharing the Co-CEO position with Shanahan in 2018, and last year becoming Executive Chairman of the Board, on which she has served since 1986. Under Millards leadership, the company has doubled in size and achieved a two-year digital transformation positioning it as a leading omni-channel provider in the industry.

For this dynamic impact in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Millard received the 2020 Women in Industry Trailblazer Award from the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED). For its collaborative culture, Turtle & Hughes was named the 2020 recipient of a Best Place to Work Award by NJ BIZ. Millard received the 2012 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in New Jersey, and has served as a National Judge in this prestigious event.

Millard is a graduate of the Harvard University Owner/President Management Program (OPM). She received an M.B.A. from Dominican University of California and is a graduate of the Eugene Lang School of the Arts. She is a member of the board of The Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance and Make-A-Wish International.

She is also a member of the Women Presidents' Organization and the Committee of 200 renowned for fostering, celebrating and advancing women's leadership in business.

In its 12 years of celebrating women-owned businesses and their successes, The Womens Business Enterprise Hall of Fame is recognizing 14 inductees at the virtual ceremony.

About the WBE Hall of Fame

The WBE Hall of Fame (WBEHF) is a nonprofit organization launched in 2009 to recognize the contributions of women entrepreneurs in their communities, as well as their accomplishments within their industries. Through a network of womens business development organizations, corporate and government advocates and women-owned enterprises, WBEHF spotlights best practices and insights, as women create businesses that help build a stronger economy. For more information, visit wbehf.org or call 469-219-3313.

About the American Institute of Diversity & Commerce

Dallas-based American Institute of Diversity & Commerce (AIDC) is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization that focuses on education, research, best practices, validation and recognition of performance in diversity and inclusion. AIDC was established to recognize and honor individuals and organizations  nonprofit and for-profit  that demonstrate outstanding performance in these areas. https://wbehf.org/about/

About Turtle & Hughes

Turtle & Hughes has close to 100 years of market experience and ranks among the top 20 electrical distribution companies nationwide. It is an independent, woman-owned business that services the industrial, construction, commercial, electrical contracting, export and utility markets. Turtle & Hughes Integrated Supply division (THIS), services Fortune 100 companies operating nationwide, and in Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico. https://www.turtle.com/
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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.
At least 50% of seats should remain empty.

The Cabinet of Ministers, Ukraine's government, has decided to slightly loosen coronavirus-related quarantine restrictions by allowing certain types of public events.

This is stipulated in a government resolution dated February 5, which amends another resolution on imposing the nationwide quarantine.

In particular, the following events are now allowed in Ukraine:

reception of visitors by subjects of activity in the field of culture, namely these are public scientific, educational and professional thematic events if at least 50% of the seats remain vacant (there should be a free seat next to, in front and behind) in each separate hall. Or if organizers of such events cannot ensure limitations on the number of visitors, there should be one person per five square meters indoors.

Read alsoGovernment not to gather this week to decide on future quarantine in Ukraine

Quarantine in Ukraine

On February 3, it was reported that the government would decide on the return to the so-called adaptive quarantine in the near-term outlook.

The adaptive quarantine was first introduced in Ukraine on August 1. Then the country's regions were divided into red, orange, yellow, green zones, taking into account bed occupancy in hospitals, the average number of COVID-19 tests, newly confirmed cases per day, and dynamics of their growth.

If the adaptive quarantine is re-imposed in Ukraine, Kyiv will always be in the orange zone as a capital city.

Reporting by UNIAN
By Robert Stack

The Raise the Wage Act, recently introduced to Congress, will spark another debate about raising the national minimum wage. But it also shines a light on wage discrimination against people with disabilities, something New Jersey has failed to address.

New Jersey is one of a handful of states that have already passed a $15 an hour minimum wage law. Yet we didnt stop the practice of allowing employers to pay people with disabilities subminimum wages. The Raise the Wage Act backed by the Biden administration would gradually phase this practice out, assuming it passes into law. We urge New Jersey lawmakers not to wait on an uncertain political outcome and act now to end this discriminatory practice.

Wage discrimination against people with disabilities has been codified by federal law since 1938 under the ironically titled Fair Labor Standards Act. Through an out-clause  Section 14(c)  in the Act, companies currently can apply for an exemption to pay workers with disabilities less than the current minimum wage. While adjustments were made to this law since its enactment, they only have lowered the standards further, lessening the wages allowed for the disabled.

The reasoning behind this inequity is that employing people with disabilities is a charitable gesture and that the wage should be adjusted for work product quality, as well as labor efficiency and productivity. The fact that a worker may have a disability is by itself not sufficient to warrant the payment of a subminimum wage under existing law.

However, the disparity in the application of this policy and the limited consideration of individual ability simply creates legalized accommodation of substandard wages for people with disabilities. The result is workers with intellectual and developmental disabilities are often placed in sheltered workshops and not encouraged enough to transition to more conventional work environments.

Advocates and families have challenged this for decades. A blanket pass for employers to treat people with disabilities as a substandard class of employees is nothing less than sanctioned institutional discrimination.

That is why the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights called for an end to subminimum wage in its September 2020 report, noting this policy is inconsistent with the civil rights protections to which people with disabilities are entitled. But only six states have ended or are in the process of phasing out subminimum wages for people with disabilities: New Hampshire, Maryland, Alaska, Texas, Oregon and Nevada. New Jersey is not among them.

This should not be viewed as an indictment of New Jersey companies that have generously embraced the disabled community. They have partnered with many organizations on workforce development, training and employment. We in the disability community have welcomed their support and involvement and sincerely recognize their contributions.

Many people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities lead productive and fulfilling lives, and employment plays a critical part in the quality of their lives. In addition to economic support, individuals develop a sense of purpose and direction that is supported by the community setting and camaraderie provided through involvement in the workforce. That would not be possible without the support of good corporate citizens.

But the institutionalized discrimination of any community cannot continue. The substandard wage class created by the loopholes in current law must be addressed now. The unemployment rate for people with disabilities was already 7.3% in 2019, almost double the national unemployment rate of 3.7%, before the pandemic struck.

We applaud and support the Biden administrations push to end the subminimum wage. But we also need New Jersey lawmakers to act now to end this shameful discrimination.

Robert Stack is the founder and CEO of Princeton-based Community Options, Inc., which provides housing and employment supports for thousands of people with disabilities in over 40 offices across 10 states.

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REDDING  A goat dressed as Tom Brady lined up on the runway.

Ten other baby goats in chic princess costumes, onesies and other attire waited too, some looking confused, others fidgeting in anticipation.

It was the finale of the Farm Frolic and Goat Gallop, an event held Saturday at the Jibe-iT farm, where residents styled and raced baby goats. The festivities included a baby goat costume contest, runway parade and competitive gallop race.

It was a hoot, it was a riot, said Ashley Bishop, event coordinator with the First Church of Christ.

Bleating maas and clashing laughter echoed around the farm that morning as children coddled baby goats and adult goats ran around stealing lettuce from tables.

About 100 people attended the event, Bishop said. In a normal year, the First Church of Christ hosts close to a dozen events, but since the pandemic, everything is pending right now, she said.

Bishop still wanted to provide some sort of experience for the community and thought of her friend, Karleen Oosterwal, who owns Jibe-iT, and recently came into a newborn litter of baby goats.

Oosterwal thought about how children are stuck in their houses during the pandemic.

What would be more fun than to gather up these goats and race them? she said.

The two developed the Farm Frolic event, an animal experience that didnt require children to reach through a fence to play with goats.

They invited community members and prepared the farm for a socially distanced event using hay bales and fence lines to separate groups, and required participants to wear masks and remain with their immediate family or cohort.

Families arrived with masks on and were handed a baby goat as they headed into the farm.

Families had time to dress their goats appropriately before the debuting parade and race. They marched through the snow and showed off the primed racing goats on a runway, a video from the event shows.

One goat even tried to disguise itself as a panda, but its head stuck out of the onesie too much, giving him away.

The baby goats were lined up on one end of a barn-way track for the final test of glory-- an intense race over a 50-foot stretch with several hurdles in between.

At the sound of Go, the hooves were off. The baby goats legs sped through the dirt, fur in the wind as they leapt over wooden beams, rushing to the finish line. Blaring baas could be heard as children and adults yelled and cheered for their prospective goats.

It got loud, we were just having such a good time laughing and laughing at these goats, Bishop said. And cheering. You cant not cheer when you see them running. Everyone was screaming and yelling which, of course, made the baby goats run faster.

Baby Brady came in first place at the finish line, winning the gallop by poking his nose over the line at the final moment.

It was a wonderful event, it was fantastic, Oosterwal said.
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Tata Steel on Tuesday reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 3,989 crore for October-December quarter on higher revenue and better realisations. The company had posted a net loss of Rs 1,166 crore in the year-ago quarter.

Its total revenue grew 11.5 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 39,594 crore. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 160 per cent to Rs 9,540 crore, highest ever in a quarter.

EBITDA per tonne more than doubled to Rs 13,876 from Rs 5,003 in the year-ago period. It stood at Rs 8,396 in preceding July-September quarter.

"Consolidated free cash flow was Rs 12,078 crore during 3QFY21 and Rs 20,588 crore in the first nine months of the current financial year driven by strong operating performance, disciplined capital expenditure and working capital management," Tata Steel said in a release.

Also read: CCI launches probe against steel companies over alleged price cartelisation

The company's production rose to 7.20 million tonnes from 6.99 million tonnes a year ago, while deliveries declined to 6.88 million tonnes from 7.31 million tonnes.

Tata steel said it has decided to restart work on pellet plant and cold roll mill complex at Kalinganagar, Odisha. On completion, the plants will expand margins.

As part of its enterprise deleveraging plan, "the company reduced the leverage by Rs 10,325 crore" during October-December. "As part of the continued de-leveraging strategy further deleveraging is being undertaken in 4QFY21," it said.

On its India operations, Tata Steel said crude steel production grew 3 per cent YoY to 4.60 million tonnes, while domestic deliveries grew 4 per cent YoY to 4.16 million tonnes.

"Achieved the highest ever quarterly EBITDA of Rs 8,811 crore with 46 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) and 2.14x YoY growth; driven by higher prices, better product mix, lower exports and operating efficiency initiatives," it said.

Following the termination of discussions with SSAB on Tata Steel Netherland (TSN), the company said it will focus on performance and cash flows in the immediate term

Commenting on the results, Tata Steel CEO and Managing Director T V Narendran said steel demand saw a sharp improvement in India during the quarter, and the company pivoted its deliveries to domestic markets to cater to the requirements of local customers by reducing exports.

"In Europe, our underlying performance has improved quarter on quarter while the reported EBIDTA was negatively impacted by few one offs. We remain committed to arrive at a strategic and sustainable solution for Tata Steel Europe, though in the immediate term, we will focus upon business performance and cash flows," he added.

Also read: JSW Steel's Q3 net profit rises multi-fold to Rs 2,669 crore

Also read: Duty cut on steel products could reduce steel prices by 10% in near term: ICRA
The Justice Department is expected to ask 56 US attorneys appointed by former President Donald Trump to submit their resignations, according to CNN.

Two attorneys expected to be saved as part of the move are top prosecutors involved in sensitive cases, who started investigations during Mr Trumps time in office.

In a call on Monday night, acting attorney general Monty Wilkinson asked Delaware US attorney David Weiss, who is overseeing the tax investigation into President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden, to remain in his role, according to CNN.

While John Durham, who was appointed by former attorney general William Barr to investigate the origins of the investigation into alleged collusion between Mr Trump and Russia, will continue on that task, but is expected to resign as US attorney in Connecticut.

Read more: Follow live Trump impeachment updates

Acting US attorney for Washington, DC, Michael Sherwin, who was appointed by Mr Barr, will also stay on to continue his investigation into the Capitol riots on 6 January.

Of the 94 US attorneys serving in the US, 25 of them are in acting positions after several of Mr Trumps appointees resigned following his defeat in November 2020s presidential election.

Officials in the Justice Department have scheduled a call with US attorneys on Tuesday to discuss the transition, which is expected to take weeks to implement.

Although the request will apply to 56 of the US attorneys appointed by Mr Trump, the move is seen as standard for a new administration.

At the start of Mr Trumps presidency, his first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, asked 46 of US attorneys appointed by former President Barack Obama to resign.

Although a minority of those attorneys were able to stay in their role for a few more weeks, a majority were made to leave their position immediately.

Mr Biden has still not been able to schedule a confirmation hearing for Merrick Garland, his nominee for the position of US attorney general, as Mr Trumps second impeachment trial clashed with the proposed date.

The Independent has contacted the Justice Department for comment.
The legislation known as Wealth Amnesty allows the legal entrance of the funds, gold, securities and other market capitals into Turkey, without being subject to tax, with the condition to be declared until June 30, 2021.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005466/en/

(Photo: Business Wire)

While there was 1% or 2% tax in the past applications, with the current law, applicants started to benefit from this practice with 0% tax advantage. Natural and legal persons who have reported their wealth abroad to a bank or brokerage house in Turkey until June 30, 2021, will benefit from Wealth Amnesty if they bring these assets to Turkey within the 3 months as of the date of declaration.

Bayram Tekce, Chairman of Tekce Overseas Gayrimenkul AS, the leading real estate company in overseas property sales, evaluated the regulation: From the real estate market side, we saw the different effects of the Wealth Amnesty. Last year, some foreign investors received Turkish Citizenship through investment to benefit this opportunity that applied to Turkish citizens and they brought their capital to Turkey. This had also a significant influence on the increase of the amount of foreign capital that come to Turkey. Some of our customers have also benefited from Wealth Amnesty in this regard. The recognition of this right to foreigners with the latest regulations, further increases the interest of international investors in Turkey. We still have a few customers that we run the process before the deadline.

Bekir Yener Yldrm, Chairman of BYY Finance and Neo Asset Management AS, one of the leading companies in portfolio management and investment fund establishment for foreign investors, stated that: We have seen the positive effects of the Wealth Amnesty also on the financial markets. Turkey has a highly developed venture capital and real estate investment fund infrastructure. Advantageous tax benefits are also provided to investors who buy such capital market instruments. The monetary funds that enter the country without tax with the Wealth Amnesty, both gain a second tax advantage by turning to venture companies and real estate investment funds in the country, and foreign investors benefit from the transparent, reliable and corporate structure of the capital markets.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005466/en/
Loading McLachlan said McGuire should be congratulated on his tenure at the AFLs biggest club. Eddies priority has always been his family and Collingwood, in that order, and today he has put them first and leaves after a great tenure, allowing someone else to come in to take the club further, McLachlan said. He should be congratulated on his tenure and the decision. AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder also released a statement acknowledging McGuires contribution to the club and the game. Yet he also accepted now was not the time to laud McGuires contributions other than to say he left his club better than he found it.

Eddies actions today showed his commitment to put the Collingwood Football Club first and to ensure the focus for the club was on moving to implement the 18 recommendations of the Do Better report, Goyder said. The clubs board will meet in the coming days to choose a replacement, with Peter Murphy strongly favoured for the job. Mark Korda, who has been on the board since 2007, is also likely to push for the position. I try my best and I dont always get it right, but I dont stop trying, McGuire said. It is because we have so much going on, so much good to do and with the interruptions and pressure from COVID-19, that I committed to continue my presidency until the end of this season. However, I dont think its either fair or tenable for the club or the community [to remain]. People have latched on to my opening line last week and as a result I have become a lightning rod for vitriol but worse, have placed the club in a position where it is hard to move forward with the implementation of our plans in clear air.

Loading He said his sole motivation as president had been to heal, unite, inspire and drive a new social conscience. He listed a long series of programs run by Collingwood for the community, and said: we are not a racist club, far from it. It is why Im so proud of our club and the people every day and every week who benefit and who are inspired by the very purpose of the being of Collingwood and that is to be a beacon of hope for all people, particularly those at their lowest ebb or who have been socially isolated and left behind. He said: I committed myself to making Collingwood the best place it could be.
It isnt a lack of words that makes this story difficult to tell. Instead, its because there is so much to tell, its hard to know where to begin. Karl and Erika Pellinats love story is an example of Gods beautiful timing, and yet it began with the horrors of war.

Captured by the Russian Army as WWII was ending and forced at gun point to join thousands of other young men on a march to a prison camp, young Karl jumped into a cold, wet sewer pipe and hid for 14 hours until the soldiers passed by. He fled to a nearby farmhouse where the sympathetic owners gave him shelter while advising him on a safe place to swim across a river to avoid capture.

After ducking through small towns for several weeks, Karl finally made his way home to Berlin, where he earned an engineering degree and worked to rebuild the ravaged city. As life under Russian occupation became increasingly difficult and a new wall began to separate East from West Berlin, Karl realized if he was to live as a free man, he must make yet another escape.

Standing across from the heavily guarded border between East and West Berlin, Karl asked God for help, and within the hour, a passing truck backfired, causing the guards to be distracted. Karl seized the opportunity and sprinted for the wall where he dove over a thick barricade of barbed wire. It was once again, Gods perfect timing that brought him to freedom.

Erikas story had similar elements of danger and along with her family, fled from the Russian Army in 1945. Reunited after three weeks of confusing separation, Erikas family settled into a refugee camp. Her siblings later died and after a few years of working in a childrens hospital, Erika made the decision to attempt an escape from Berlin. Taking only a few possessions and layering what little clothing she had, Erika left everything else behind, including her parents.

After suffering unspeakable hardships, both Karl and Erika were brought together once again by Gods good timing. The two decided on the same day to attend the same Lutheran church and join the same choir. Love at first sight was bliss after such harrowing years of suffering. After their first and only date, Karl left on a pre-planned trip to America in search of work. Staying in touch the old-fashioned way, with paper, ink, envelopes and stamps, their long-distance courtship blossomed. Erika finally joined Karl in Chicago, where they were married.

To strangers, Karl and Erikas heavy German accents often seemed stern, yet their gentle spirit and love for others drew new friends to them everywhere they lived. Karl was awarded a patent used by IBM mainframes in the steel industry. Their son Martin completed the family as they were transferred over the years to Pennsylvania, Illinois, South Carolina, Michigan and Kentucky. Everywhere the Pellinats lived, they made church involvement a priority and joined the choir as well as many community groups.

Karl and Erika Pellinat in their retirement home of Fairhope, AL

The hardships of their childhood and teen years could have easily left Karl and Erika bitter and angry, but instead, they focused on the joy they found in their new country and with one another. Always good listeners, they helped those around them and entertained in their home  often turning a regular evening into an impromptu party by wearing German attire and serving homecooked native dishes. The charismatic couple drew people to them with their joy for life and willingness to help anyone in need.

Their faith, which was once forbidden, played a strong role in the Pellinats story. Recognizing how they had been blessed, they gave back more kindness to others than they ever received. After 28 years with IBM, Karl and Erika retired to Fairhope, AL where they again made friends and served others. In order to keep the historical lessons of war alive, the Pellinats shared their story with students in area schools. You can see their presentations on YouTube by searching for; Karl Pellinat, My Life in Germany and Erika Pellinat, My Two Escapes.

Since they first met in Hamburg, Germany, Karl often referred to Erika as his American Hamburger. The two proudly drove themselves to Atlanta at the ages of 89 and 83 to be sworn in as official US citizens.

It wasnt unusual to see the two holding hands and strolling arm in arm, even after moving into an assisted living facility. Their tenderness for each other was evident to all who knew them and Erika was heartbroken when Karl died of natural causes on November 17, 2020 at the age of 96. Erika clung to her son Martin for comfort, then unable to bear the thought of losing Karl, Erika passed away seven days later on November 24th.

Together, the Pellinats defied death by bravely turning their backs on the Greater German Reich. Trusting Gods timing helped them focus on a future full of hope. Making every day a celebration, the couple found love in America, in their son, and in each other. Valentines Day is only one day on the calendar, but Karl and Erika made their perfectly timed love last for a lifetime.

Karl and Erika Pellinat made their retirement home for two decades in Fairhope, Ala. Linda Higbee Smith and Martin Pellinat contributed to this story.
Group executive director of BUA Group, Kabiru Rabiu has advised the federal government to create National Rice Development Council (NRDC) just like the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC).

Rabiu made this suggestion during the inauguration of the Nigerian Sugar Institute (NSI) in Ilorin, Kwara State.

According to him, NSDC's supervisory and coordination role in the sugar industry has been highly beneficial and is a model that should be replicated in other sectors.

"Currently the NSDC coordinates the activities of the Nigerian Sugar sector through monitoring of the backward integration and import substitution programme that has seen significant investments in various Cane-to-Sugar projects by private operators in the industry," he said.

Kabiru Rabiu, who was a pioneer chairman of the NSI where he led the implementation committee for the Institute, expressed happiness that the institute had finally seen the light of the day. He also stressed the importance and benefits of the institute on the sugar sub-sector in reducing the skills gap in the industry and attaining better technologies and techniques in sugarcane production and processing.

It should be noted that Rabiu first recommended the establishment of the institute during a Nigeria industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council (Industrial Council) meeting chaired by Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo in 2018.

Speaking directly to the minister of industry, trade and investments, Otunba Niyi Adebayo who was present at the occasion, Rabiu noted that whilst so much intervention and successes have been made in the rice sub sector, a lot more could be done through the introduction of a single coordinating body like the NSDC that can help the government in formulating policies and monitoring progress for Rice. This, he said will help Nigeria move faster towards attaining adequate rice production and processing whilst reducing prices and boost competition.

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In his remarks on the sugar institute, the minister of industry, trade and investment, Adebayo stated that the federal government was ready to partner with private investors in sugar production in the country. He said that investment already made by the federal government and the private sector in the industry was capable of creating thousands of jobs in agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

Executive secretary of NSDC, Dr Latif Busari, said that the newly inaugurated Nigeria Sugar Institute (NSI) in Ilorin, would aid the ongoing drive towards achieving a virile and competitive sugar industry for the country.
February 09, 2021 Claims Of Chinese 'Debt Trap Diplomacy' Are Propaganda - (Told You So) In June 2018 we debunked a New York Times piece which accused China of 'financial imperialism'. China's Port In Sri Lanka's Is Good Business - The NYT's Report On It Is Propaganda The core of the NYT piece was about the Chinese financed development of the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka: 'China's financial imperialism' is a relatively new genre in western journalism. China is providing loans to other countries to build infrastructure. If those countries can not pay back the loans, China offers to lease and manage the infrastructure built with its money. That somehow is supposed to create a "debt trap for vulnerable countries". Yesterday the New York Times lamented about Sri Lanka's Hambantota Port Development Project:

...

The port is in a strategic location right alongside the shipping lines between Asia and the Middle East and Africa.

bigger There were several inconsistencies in the NYT piece. It used old statistics to claim that the port was rarely used. However up-to-date statistics proved the opposite. It also lied about Sri Lanka's debt burden only 10% of which was to China. Thirty two months after Moon of Alabama debunked the piece, and twenty nine months after Peter Lee (aka Chinahand) did similar in greater detail, The Atlantic sets out to do the same: The Chinese Debt Trap Is a Myth

The narrative wrongfully portrays both Beijing and the developing countries it deals with. It notes that the New York Times anti-China propaganda piece was often used by the Trump administration to attack that country: The Trump administration pointed to Hambantota to warn of Chinas strategic use of debt: In 2018, former Vice President Mike Pence called it debt-trap diplomacya phrase he used through the last days of the administrationand evidence of Chinas military ambitions. Last year, erstwhile Attorney General William Barr raised the case to argue that Beijing is loading poor countries up with debt, refusing to renegotiate terms, and then taking control of the infrastructure itself. But the NYT's central claim of 'finance imperialism' was completely wrong: Our research shows that Chinese banks are willing to restructure the terms of existing loans and have never actually seized an asset from any country, much less the port of Hambantota. A Chinese companys acquisition of a majority stake in the port was a cautionary tale, but its not the one weve often heard. With a new administration in Washington, the truth about the widely, perhaps willfully, misunderstood case of Hambantota Port is long overdue. The Atlantic piece is well researched and it thoroughly destroyed the case the New York Times had tried to make. It also caught the NYT in an outright lie. The original NYT piece had claimed in its second paragraph: feasibility studies said the port wouldnt work

bigger The Atlantic authors however found two studies that said the opposite: It was the Canadian International Development Agencynot Chinathat financed Canadas leading engineering and construction firm, SNC-Lavalin, to carry out a feasibility study for the port. We obtained more than 1,000 pages of documents detailing this effort through a Freedom of Information Act request. The study, concluded in 2003, confirmed that building the port at Hambantota was feasible, and supporting documents show that the Canadians greatest fear was losing the project to European competitors.

...

We reviewed a second feasibility report, produced in 2006 by the Danish engineering firm Ramboll, that made similar recommendations to the plans put forward by SNC-Lavalin, arguing that an initial phase of the project should allow for the transport of non-containerized cargooil, cars, grainto start bringing in revenue, before expanding the port to be able to handle the traffic and storage of traditional containers.

bigger They also found, just like MoA did, that the port debt to China was not relevant for Sri Lanka's payment problems: Sri Lanka owed more to Japan, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank than to China. Of the $4.5 billion in debt service Sri Lanka would pay in 2017, only 5 percent was because of Hambantota. The Central Bank governors under both Rajapaksa and Sirisena do not agree on much, but they both told us that Hambantota, and Chinese finance in general, was not the source of the countrys financial distress. The authors of the Atlantic piece, who are professors at John Hopkins and Harvard, conclude that there is no Chinese 'financial imperialism'. The whole concept is wrong: The notion of debt-trap diplomacy casts China as a conniving creditor and countries such as Sri Lanka as its credulous victims. On a closer look, however, the situation is far more complex. Chinas march outward, like its domestic development, is probing and experimental, a learning process marked by frequent adjustment. After the construction of the port in Hambantota, for example, Chinese firms and banks learned that strongmen fall and that theyd better have strategies for dealing with political risk. Theyre now developing these strategies, getting better at discerning business opportunities and withdrawing where they know they cant win. Still, American leaders and thinkers from both sides of the aisle give speeches about Chinas modern-day colonialism. 'Financial imperialism' and 'modern-day colonialism' is what the U.S. exercises when it blocks IMF and Worldbank loans or binds them to political conditions. China is so far not known for doing such. Thanks to The Atlantic for debunking that anti-China dreck the NYT had put on its frontpage. Just one question: What took you so long? h/t Ian Goodrum Posted by b on February 9, 2021 at 18:20 UTC | Permalink Comments
OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 8, 2021 /CNW/ - The Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

Robert W. Armstrong, Q.C., Privacy Counsel for the Calgary Police Service, is appointed a Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta. Mr. Justice Armstrong replaces Mr. Justice W.A. Tilleman (Calgary), who elected to resign effective January 12, 2021.

Quote

"I wish Justice Armstrong every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve Albertans well as a member of the Court of Queen's Bench."

The Hon. David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Biography

Justice Robert W. Armstrong, Q.C., grew up in Edmonton, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree (with distinction) from the University of Alberta. He then attended the University of Calgary Faculty of Law, graduating with an LL.B in 1998. He articled with the Court of Queen's Bench and the Court of Appeal of Alberta, and was called to the bar in 1999.

Mr. Justice Armstrong had a civil litigation practice with the firm JSS Barristers, where he focused on professional negligence claims, employment law, administrative law, and privacy matters. In 2015, he left private practice to join the Calgary Police Service as in-house Privacy Counsel. Mr. Justice Armstrong also served as a sessional instructor in Civil Procedure for the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary from 2011 to 2014. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2016.

In addition to his practice, Justice Armstrong served as a bencher of the Law Society of Alberta from 2015 to 2020, including a term as President of the Law Society in 2019-20. He also served on the Board of the Alberta Lawyer's Insurance Association from 2017 to 2021. Throughout his career, he has enjoyed volunteering and speaking in a variety of forums, including the Canadian Bar Association, the Legal Education Society of Alberta, and the Law of Policing Conference.

Justice Armstrong lives with his partner, Phil, in Calgary, where they enjoy cooking, curling, and volunteering as a foster family for rescued dogs awaiting adoption.

Quick facts

At the Superior Court level, more than 430 judges have been appointed since November 2015 . These exceptional jurists represent the diversity that strengthens Canada . Of these judges, more than half are women, and appointments reflect an increased representation of visible minorities, Indigenous, LGBTQ2+, and those who self-identify as having a disability.

. These exceptional jurists represent the diversity that strengthens . Of these judges, more than half are women, and appointments reflect an increased representation of visible minorities, Indigenous, LGBTQ2+, and those who self-identify as having a disability. The Government of Canada is committed to promoting access to justice for all Canadians. To improve outcomes for Canadian families, Budget 2018 provides funding of $77.2 million over four years to support the expansion of unified family courts, beginning in 2019-2020. This investment in the family justice system will create 39 new judicial positions in Alberta , Ontario , Nova Scotia , and Newfoundland and Labrador .

is committed to promoting access to justice for all Canadians. To improve outcomes for Canadian families, Budget 2018 provides funding of over four years to support the expansion of unified family courts, beginning in 2019-2020. This investment in the family justice system will create 39 new judicial positions in , , , and and . Federal judicial appointments are made by the Governor General, acting on the advice of the federal Cabinet and recommendations from the Minister of Justice.

The Judicial Advisory Committees across Canada play a key role in evaluating judicial applications. There are 17 Judicial Advisory Committees, with each province and territory represented.

play a key role in evaluating judicial applications. There are 17 Judicial Advisory Committees, with each province and territory represented. Significant reforms to the role and structure of the Judicial Advisory Committees, aimed at enhancing the independence and transparency of the process, were announced on October 20, 2016 .

SOURCE Department of Justice Canada

For further information: For more information, media may contact: Rachel Rappaport, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Justice, 613-992-6568, [email protected]; Media Relations, Department of Justice Canada, 613-957-4207, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.justice.gc.ca


press release

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) will present its submission on the Auditing Profession Amendment Bill to Parliament's Select Committee on Finance at 09h00, Tuesday 09 February 2021 on a virtual platform.

The Auditing Profession Amendment Bill will be a critical tool in the fight against the state and corporate capture and corruption. Auditors have a legal and fiduciary duty to ensure good governance in both the public and private sectors. It has been extensively shown at the many Commissions of Enquiry into state capture, that numerous auditors were not only complicit but in fact in many cases helped to facilitate the industrial looting of the state and private sector companies.

Workers are now paying the price in the collapse of key SOEs and municipalities, the disintegration of badly needed public services, and in many cases lost wages and retrenchments. Workers in the private sector have not emerged unscathed as supposedly clean listed companies were fleeced, and here too workers lost wages and jobs. Workers' hard-earned pensions too were pickpocketed when they were invested in such companies.

The Auditing Profession Amendment Bill includes many progressive provisions, such as:

 Prohibiting practicing auditors from serving on the Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors (IRBA) and its investigating and disciplinary to avoid conflicts of interest.

 Capacitating IRBA to conduct search and seizures of auditors as needed; and

o Despite noise from some dubious voices in the auditing fraternity these must be defended and retained. Criminals do not need diplomacy. IRBA must be fully capacitated to undertake search and seizures whenever needed.

 Empowering IRBA to institute disciplinary procedures and impose sanctions, including deregistering offending auditors.

COSATU is however worried that the Bill does not go far enough in two instances. Key amendments needed to strengthen the Bill include:

 Deleting the provision reducing the minimum number of required IRBA meetings annually from 4 to 2.

o This proposed reduction in statutory required board meetings in the context of cleaning up the state and economy is reckless at best.

 Inserting a new clause formalising IRBA's rule requiring the mandatory rotation of auditors.

o This must be elevated to a legal obligation not merely an informal rule that can easily be deleted if dubious elements return to power.

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 There have been worrying governance noises recently at IRBA. This is extremely dangerous and deeply worrying.

o The 10-year rotation period for this mandatory rotation of auditors must be reduced to 5 years.

 10 years is too long given the extent of corruption and incestuous relationships between many auditors and those they are paid to audit.

The government must be bold in dealing with corruption and the inexcusable failures of auditing firms to uphold the legal duties. The timidity the state has shown at times in dealing with corrupt elements will not enable us to clean up the state. Parliament needs to address these concerning gaps in the Bill.

COSATU supports the speedy passage of this progressive Bill and that it be significantly strengthened.

For further information, please contact: Matthew Parks COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator

Cell: 082 785 0687

Email: matthew@cosatu.org.za
Democratic lawmakers prosecuting Donald Trump on a charge of inciting the deadly Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol opened the former president's historic second Senate impeachment trial on Tuesday by presenting graphic video depicting the violence perpetrated by a mob of his supporters.

The first day of the dramatic proceedings in the 100-seat Senate will end in a vote on the question of whether holding a trial after Trump has left office, as he did on Jan. 20, violates the U.S. Constitution, which allows for impeachment for "high crimes and misdemeanors." Democrats hope to disqualify Trump from ever again holding public office.

The video presented by the team of nine House of Representatives Democrats showed Trump's followers throwing down barriers and hitting police officers at the Capitol. It also showed the moment when police guarding the House chamber fatally shot protester Ashli Babbitt. Five people including a police officer died in the rampage.

The video interspersed images of the Capitol violence with clips of Trump's incendiary speech to a crowd of supporters moments earlier urging them to "fight like hell" to overturn his Nov. 3 election defeat. The mob attacked police, sent lawmakers scrambling for safety and interrupted the formal congressional certification of President Joe Biden's victory after Trump had spent two months challenging the election results based on false claims of widespread voting fraud.

"If that's not an impeachment offense, then there is no such thing," Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin, who led the prosecution, told the assembled senators - serving as jurors - after showing the video.

In another scene, a rioter sifting through the contents of the desk of a lawmaker can he heard saying, "There's got to be something here we can use against the scumbags."

Trump was impeached by the Democratic-led House on Jan. 13 on a charge of inciting an insurrection. He appears likely to be acquitted thanks to support from fellow Republicans in the narrowly divided Senate. Convicting him would require a two-thirds majority, meaning that at least 17 Republicans would need to join the Senate's 48 Democrats and two independents in voting against Trump. That is a tall order.

Trump is the only president to go on trial in the Senate after leaving office and the only one to be impeached twice.

The trial was held with extraordinary security around the Capitol in the wake of the siege including armed security forces and a perimeter of fencing and razor wire.

'POLITICAL SPEECH'

Trump's defense has argued he was exercising his right to free speech under the Constitution's First Amendment when he addressed supporters before the Capitol attack.

"We can't possibly be suggesting that we punish people for political speech in this country," Bruce Castor, one of Trump's lawyers, said as the defense team began its presentation.

"We are here," Castor said, because the Democrats who control the House do not want to face Trump as a political rival in the future and because Democrats fear that American voters will want Trump back as president in 2024.

Castor said the storming of the Capitol "should be denounced in the most vigorous terms" and the rioters should be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible - reflecting the defense contention that "a small group of criminals" - not Trump - were responsible for the violence.

Senate Democrats are expected to prevail in Tuesday's vote on the constitutionality of the trial. A Republican effort to block the trial on those same grounds was defeated 55-45 last month.

"Presidents can't inflame insurrection in their final weeks and then walk away like nothing happened. And yet that is the rule that President Trump asks you to adopt," Democratic congressman Joe Neguse told the senators.

Most of the senators at the trial were present in the Capitol on Jan. 6, when many lawmakers said they feared for their own safety.

Democrat Raskin wept as he recounted how relatives he brought to the Capitol that day to witness the election certification had to shelter in an office near the House floor, saying, "They thought they were going to die." Raskin said his 24-year-old daughter never wants to return to the building.

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy called the Democrats' speeches "a very good opening."

"The arguments they gave were strong arguments," said Cassidy, one of the Republican senators who voted last month that a post-presidency impeachment trial would be unconstitutional.

Most legal experts have said it is constitutional to have an impeachment trial after an official has left office.

The trial could provide clues on the Republican Party's direction following Trump's tumultuous four-year presidency. Sharp divisions have emerged between Trump loyalists and those hoping to move the party in a new direction. Meanwhile, Democrats are concerned the trial could impede Biden's ability to swiftly advance an ambitious legislative agenda.

One year ago, the then-Republican-controlled Senate acquitted Trump on charges of obstructing Congress and abuse of power for pressuring Ukraine to launch an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter in 2019.

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PRINCETON, N.J. and ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Miami International Holdings (MIH), the parent holding company of MIAX, and MidChains, an upcoming virtual asset trading platform, today announced that MIH has completed a follow-on equity investment in MidChains' parent holding company, MEEG Holdings Limited. The parties previously announced MIH's initial investment and intent to pursue joint technology licensing and product listing opportunities.

Based in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), MidChains is seeking to provide one of the world's first fully regulated and supervised ecosystem infrastructures for virtual asset trading under the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) regulatory framework. MidChains is expected to launch trading operations in Q1 2021, subject to FSRA approval.

"MIH is pleased to complete its follow-on investment and excited to be part of the new exchange that MidChains is seeking to launch in 2021," said Thomas P. Gallagher, Chairman and CEO of MIH. "We are very impressed with the team that co-founders Basil Al Askari and Mohamed Al Hashemi have assembled, and we are eager to have MidChains contribute to MIAX's product development process as part of our partnership."

"We thank MIH for its additional investment and continued vote of confidence in MidChains," commented Mr. Al Askari, co-founder and CEO of MidChains. "Having the backing of a diversified, multi-asset exchange group such as MIH has been very beneficial during the approval process, and MIH's industry expertise will remain an important resource once we launch trading operations. We are thrilled to have partnered with MIH and to begin working together on the various initiatives that we have planned."

Continued Gallagher, "We also look forward to collaborating with our co-investors, Mubadala and ADQ, and are committed to being an active partner with all those involved with MidChains. As divisions of two of the world's leading sovereign wealth funds, Mubadala and ADQ present MIH with a special opportunity and we are excited by the prospect of working with both of them."

Added John Smollen, Executive Vice President and Head of Exchange Traded Products and Strategic Relations at MIH, "The completion of our MidChains investment is part of a global strategy that MIH began several years ago. Our completed acquisition of the Bermuda Stock Exchange in December 2020, coupled with our previous investment in LedgerX, puts MIH in a strong position to be a significant, global competitor in the crypto and token marketplaces. Abu Dhabi is going to be a market leader in these markets and MidChains will be part of it."

For further information regarding MIAX, please visit www.MIAXOptions.com or contact MIAX Trading Operations at TradingOperations@MIAXOptions.com.

For further information regarding MidChains, please visit www.midchains.com.

Corporate Communications Contacts:

Natalie Kay, Karma Agency

215-790-7806

nkay@karmaagency.com

About MIAX

MIAX's parent holding company, Miami International Holdings (MIH), operates and manages Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC (MIAX), MIAX Pearl, LLC (MIAX Pearl) and MIAX Emerald, LLC (MIAX Emerald and together with MIAX and MIAX Pearl, the MIAX Exchange Group), the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, LLC, a Designated Contract Market (DCM) and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO), and the Bermuda Stock Exchange.

The MIAX, MIAX Pearl and MIAX Emerald options exchanges leverage MIAX's industry-leading technology and infrastructure to provide their member firms with traditional pricing and pro rata allocation (MIAX), maker-taker pricing and price-time allocation (MIAX Pearl) market structures, and a hybrid market structure with maker-taker pricing and pro rata allocation (MIAX Emerald).

MIAX serves as the exclusive exchange venue for cash-settled options on the SPIKES Volatility Index (Ticker: SPIKE), a measure of the expected 30-day volatility in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).

Under MIAX Pearl's exchange license, MIAX Pearl Equities provides its members with best-in-class performance through a combination of high determinism, low latency and high throughput. MIAX Pearl Equities has maker-taker pricing and a price-time allocation model.

MIAX's executive offices and National Operations Center are located in Princeton, NJ, with additional offices located in Miami, FL.

To learn more visit www.MIAXOptions.com.

About MidChains

MidChains is an upcoming virtual asset trading platform and custodian based in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and is licensed by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) under the virtual asset regulatory framework. The trading platform seeks to provide one of the world's first fully regulated and supervised ecosystem infrastructures for digital asset trading and investing (virtual assets, security tokens, stable coins) with a membership and direct access public exchange.

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The press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities of Miami International Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the Company) or MEEG Holdings Limited (together with MidChains, MEEG), and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer; solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

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Dehradun, Feb 9 : Deepak Pharswan on Tuesday went back to the disaster-hit Tapovan hydel project area of Chamoli district, where he had a narrow escape two days ago, to see the ongoing rescue operation and search for his missing friend.

Pharswan (27), a native of Rinji village near Tapovan, was fortunate that he managed to save his life by climbing a hill, moments before the deluge struck the 520 MW NTPC's Tapovan-Vishnugad project on a tranquil Sunday morning. But his friend Manoj Singh Negi (22) was not so lucky. Negi, who was also working close to where Pharswan was operating a cement-mix plant, lost his balance while climbing the same hill and was swept away in the raging waters.

"It was around 10.40 a.m. on Sunday. We were both working together at the dam site when a sudden gush of violent wind swept the area. Sensing trouble, I saw some people running towards the hill. I too ran very fast," said Pharswan.

"When I was climbing the hill, I saw Negi following me. But within seconds, he was gone," said Pharswan in a choked voice. "He (Negi) is my close friend as we used to work together at the dam site," said Pharswan.

Pharswan said within 10-20 seconds a big wall of water hit the project site and brought death and destruction to the area.

Negi was the sole bread-winner of his family comprising his parents and two sisters. Negi's father has stopped working due to old age. The family members have still not lost all hope. "We all believe in miracles. My friend will come back," said Pharswan.

Just like Negi, nearly 197 people are still untraceable after the Sunday morning disaster. Most of them were working on the two projects.

On Monday, Union Power Minister R.K. Singh said NTPC has been asked to pay a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the family members of all those who lost their lives in the disaster. In addition, the state government will provide Rs 4 lakh as compensation. "We are not bothered about compensation. Bring our son Ranjit Singh back," said a worried Raunaq Singh of Reni village in Chamoli district where scores of people had gone missing after the disaster.

Dozens of people from Reni village used to work at the Rishi Ganga project which has been completely destroyed in the floods. A pall of gloom has descended on the village. Most of the villagers of Reni are bemoaning the losses and helplessly watching the dam site. "We are having sleepless nights," said Om Dobhal of Reni village.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text

Kangana Ranaut's controversial tweets on the ongoing farmers' protest has landed her in legal trouble. According to reports, Harshvardhan Patil, an advocate, has filed a complaint against the actress in Belagavi district in Karnataka for insulting farmers and calling them 'terrorists' in her tweet.

The complaint filed on February 6, is in reference to Kangana Ranaut's comment on Rihanna's tweet on the farmers' protest.

The American pop star had shared a news article on the farmers' protest and tweeted, "Why aren't we talking about this? #FarmersProtest." In response, Kangana had attacked her with a series of posts on her Twitter page.

One of Kangana's tweet read, "No one is talking about it because they are not farmers they are terrorists who are trying to divide India, so that China can take over our vulnerable broken nation and make it a Chinese colony much like USA... Sit down you fool, we are not selling our nation like you dummies."

According to a report in The Quint, Patil who hails from a reputed farming family in Belagavi, has referred to this tweet of the Manikarnika star and said, "People like Kangana Ranaut who do not possess any knowledge about farming activities and the problems faced by our farming families are involved in making unwanted and unwarranted comments on the entire farming community of India time and again. Sir, the said Kangana Ranaut who is heard to be an actress instead of sharing compassion towards the farming community, is addressing them as "terrorists" etc."

Patil accused Kangana of trying to provoke and incite other citizens of India to attack and assault the farming community and their families, posing them to be traitors. He also argued that the actress insulted the Indian armed forces and their families too by referring to the nation as "vulnerable" and "broken".

The Belagavi-based advocate had further requested to book Kangana under multiple sections of Indian Penal Code in his complaint. Also, he has urged the police to take action to suspend the actress' Twitter account.

ALSO READ: Kangana Ranaut On Challenging Diljit Dosanjh To Say He Isn't Khalistani: Youth Have Been Misled

ALSO READ: Kangana Ranaut Reacts To Violence At Protesting Farmers' Tractor Rally: Did My Best To Avoid This But I Failed
Sales slowed during the pandemic but were still up 20% between mid-March and the end of May compared with the same period last year, ThredUp said in June. The company has declined to comment on more recent financial results because it is in a quiet period after announcing in October it confidentially filed for an initial public offering.
Govt pursuing target of doubling farmers' income by 2022: Narendra Singh Tomar

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Feb 09: The government has been pursuing the target of doubling farmers' income by 2022 and several interventions taken are showing a "positive impact", Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told Parliament on Tuesday.

In 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government had set a highly ambitious target of doubling farmers incomes by 2022. An inter-ministerial committee on "Doubling of Farmers' Income" was set up in April 2016 to recommend strategies to achieve this goal.

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Tomar said the committee submitted its report in September 2018. After acceptance of the panel's recommendations, the government has set up an 'Empowered Body' to review and monitor the progress.

Responding to a query whether the target fixed for the year 2022 can be achieved at the present annual growth, the minister said, "The government has been pursuing the target of doubling farmers' income." He said the implementation of various recommendations of the committee and comprehensive interventions of the government are "having a positive impact on growth of agriculture and income of farmers".

The government has adopted several developmental programmes, schemes, reforms and policies that focus on higher incomes for the farmers, the minister said responding to a separate query on the same topic. All these policies and programmes are being supported by higher budgetary allocations, non-budgetary financial resources by way of creating corpus funds, and supplementary income transfers under PM-KISAN.

The latest major intervention includes the 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat- Agriculture package' which includes comprehensive market reforms and creation of 'Agricultural Infrastructure Fund' worth Rs 1 lakh crore.

BJP promises to double farmers' income, but stands against them during crisis: Sachin Pilot

The minister was also asked about state-wise details of the income/wages earned per year by farmers from the base year till date and the annual growth percentage required to achieve the targets fixed for the year 2022. He replied that the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) during its 70th round had conducted 'Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of Agricultural Households' in rural areas in the crop year 2012-13 (July-June).

"There has been no further assessment of the farmers' income thereafter," he said. As per the NSO survey results, the average monthly income per agricultural household from all sources was estimated to be Rs 6,426, he added.

The minister also mentioned that the committee on doubling farmers' income recommended seven sources of income growth. These include improvement in crop productivity; improvement in livestock productivity; resource use efficiency or savings in the cost of production; and increase in the cropping intensity.

Diversification towards high value crops, improvement in real prices received by farmers, and shift from farm to non-farm occupations are also included, he added.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Enrollment among Staten Islands six operating charter schools has increased substantially  by 17%  during the 2020-2021 school year compared to the year prior  as public school enrollment declines citywide, preliminary data from the New York State Education Department shows.

The data released by the state Education Department earlier this month shows enrollment numbers for students in charter schools in the 2020-2021 school year so far  representing an enrollment increase of 17%, or 306 students, among the six charter schools on Staten Island.

The dramatic increase can be attributed to newer charter schools on Staten Island  three opened between 2018 and 2019  that are adding new grades of students to their rosters each year.

District public school enrollment on the borough saw a decline of 1.7% this school year, the data shows.

Staten Islands charter schools currently operating include: New World Preparatory Charter School in Port Richmond; Bridge Preparatory Charter School in Sunnyside; Hellenic Classical Charter School in Bulls Head; and three Integration Charter Schools in Bloomfield: Lavelle Preparatory Charter School, New Ventures Charter School and The Lois & Richard Nicotra Early College Charter School.

Nearly all of Staten Islands charter schools have seen a growth in enrollment this school year. Only one charter school, New Ventures Charter School, saw a decline in enrollment during this school year  losing seven students, or 5% of the student population, since the 2019-2020 school year.

New World Prep had an enrollment increase of 11% when 63 more students were enrolled this school year. Lavelle Prep saw an 8% increase, or the addition of 57 students.

The Nicotra Early College Charter School added 37 more students to its roster, or an increase of 27%. The school first opened in the 2018-2019 school year, and continues to add new grades each year until it expands to 12th grade by the 2022-2023 academic year.

Bridge Prep Charter School and Hellenic Classical Charter School, which both opened in 2019, saw the largest inclines in enrollment this year  as both also added new grades of students.

Bridge Prep added 71 more students  an increase of 82%  from 87 students in the 2019-2020 school year to 158 students this school year. Hellenic Classical Charter saw an uptick of 120% in enrollment numbers  adding 86 more students this school year. Last year, 71 students were enrolled, and this year 156 students attend the charter school.

ENROLLMENT ON STATEN ISLAND

Enrollment of public school students from pre-K to 12th grade on Staten Island has declined by at least 1.7% compared to last school year, the preliminary data shows  but is less than the citywide decline, which is down 4%, or a loss of 43,000 students, compared to the 2019-2020 school year, according to unaudited data from the city Department of Education (DOE).

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.

The majority of Staten Island public schools experienced a decrease in students since last school year.

Of the 78 Staten Island schools listed in the states data, 48 experienced a decrease in enrollment, while 30 schools either had an increase in students or no change in enrollment, state data shows.

School Zone: A new newsletter with the updates you need as our schools try to get back to normal. Enter your email address here and hit "subscribe" to receive this weekly newsletter:



SEARCH YOUR SCHOOL

Using the Advances interactive tool below, you can search to see how enrollment changed in your school in 2020-2021 compared to the year prior. This tool also includes numbers for charter schools on Staten Island.

To use the search tool:

1. Type the first few characters of your schools name in the first field, for example PS 3 or IS 75. (Note: You must not use periods, as in PS 50. It may not work if you use periods. If you are searching for a charter school, simply begin to type the name.)

2. A list of schools will appear; simply choose your school from the list.

The search results will show final enrollment figures for 2019-2020 and preliminary figures for the 2020-2021 school year so far. The results also show how enrollment changed year-over-year, according to state data.

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Delegates were concerned with the public good, the Natl. peace & harmony, the internal tranquillity of the States and the safety, liberty and happiness of the Community. They intended for the president, as the commander in chief, to pacify civil hatred, resentment and insurrection, not to incite them to hold onto power.

They wrote the language of the impeachment powers with a demagogue like Mr. Trump in mind. As incisive political scientists steeped in history, they understood that demagogues are the singular poison that infects and kills republics and democracies.

As Hamilton warned in Federalist No. 1, these free forms of governments typically die at the hands of ambitious, unscrupulous orators who rise to power on angry and malignant passions, avarice, personal animosity, party opposition and the bitterness of their invectives. These dangerous politicians, Hamilton said, have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people; commencing demagogues, and ending tyrants.

To safeguard the American people from such politicians, the delegates empowered the House to impeach a president and the Senate both to remove him and to bar him from future office.

Mason was a strong advocate of the Constitutions impeachment powers. On the seventh day of debates, he declared that some mode of displacing an unfit magistrate must be incorporated into the national charter for two crucial reasons. One was the fallibility of electors, or voters  that is, they might elect a demagogue  and the other, the corruptibility of the man chosen. In another speech, Mason said of the indispensable instrument of impeachment, No point is of more importance, and he asked, Shall any man be above justice?

What has happened to us today, to our ethics, to our standards of presidential decorum and leadership, to our fidelity to the Constitution and belief in justice, to our political courage and historical understanding of the dangers of demagogues to democracies, for there to be even a remote chance that the Senate, after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, will acquit Mr. Trump, allowing him to run again in 2024?

The revolutionaries who took up arms against King George III were willing to break their bonds with the British Empire and die for the liberties and rights they would write into the Constitution. Todays Republican senators must at least be willing to break with their party and disappoint some of their constituents  and, yes, perhaps lose their jobs in coming elections  to serve the larger interest of protecting the nation.

Those senators who vote to convict and disqualify Mr. Trump will be remembered, in the words of Madison, as impartial umpires & Guardians of justice and general Good. History will thank them for their integrity, wisdom and honor. They will be lauded, like those who helped create the nation, for the sacrifices they made.

Eli Merritt is a visiting scholar at Vanderbilt University, where he is researching the history and psychology of demagogues and writing a book about the American Revolution.

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State House, Freetown, Monday 8 February 2021 - In the presence of His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio, a set of newly appointed public servants recently approved by parliament has subscribed to the oath of office as required by law.

Dr Turad Senesie is new Minister of Lands and Housing, Rev. Dr Jonathan Titus Williams is the Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr Sao-Kpato Hannah Isata Max-Kyne is now the Commissioner for the National Commission for Social Action, NaCSA and Mr Jimmy Batilo Songa is her deputy.

Dr Sao-Kpato Hannah Isata Max-Kyne is now the Commissioner for NaCSA

Dr Senessie, on behalf of the new appointees, described their appointments as landmark moments for them because they had been called upon to serve the people of Sierra Leone.

He assured President Bio that they would be focused and would take the responsibilities very seriously, adding: "We want to thank you, Your Excellency, for the trust you have bestowed on us among many others you could have chosen."

In his brief remarks the President congratulated his new staff and encouraged them to work assiduously because his government had promised the people and must deliver.

Dr Turad Senesie is the new Minister of Lands and Housing

"We have to deliver. No excuses. We have to deliver, not only because we have promised but also because it is the only way to move this country forward," he noted.

He also admonished them that the government's vision and mission was quite clear and that he was certain they would play their part and bring development even though they had a daunting task.
ZANZIBAR President Dr Hussein Mwinyi on Monday ordered for an instant formation of the corruption and economic sabotage court, to intensify the country's crusade against bribery and embezzlement of public resources.

"We have to use all our energies and resources to suppress the corrupt and economic saboteurs...this special court has to take off instantly," President Mwinyi ordered.

Addressing the legal professionals on the Zanzibar Law Day here, Dr Mwinyi approved the recruitment of more magistrates to preside over cases in the envisaged special division of the high court.

Earlier, Chief Justice (CJ) Omar Othman Makungu proposed the establishment of the corruption and economic sabotage court, asking the president to endorse employment of more magistrates.

"Recently, we have seen suspensions of some senior government officials pending investigations over their alleged embezzlement of public resources...many of these investigations will hopefully end up in court," said the CJ.

Responding, Dr Mwinyi said: "Creation of the corruption court cannot wait, it has to start immediately."

The president demanded amendments of legislations to accommodate demand of the current Zanzibar society, which yearns for speedy provision of justice.

He decried undue case delays, challenging magistrates and judges to speedily but fairly determine cases. "Case delays increase costs to both complainants and respondents," he said.

The president asked CJ Makungu to take stern measures against lazy, corrupt and case delaying magistrates and judges, charging, "Justice delayed is injustice."

He said although the judiciary remains independent as one of the state pillars, it doesn't imply that magistrates and judges have to ignore their ethics.

President Mwinyi reminded the case handlers to take into consideration the plight of destitute Zanzibaris and "Never give rulings that favour the haves against the haven't."

He asked wananchi to as well voluntarily comply with the law to relieve the magistrates with the burden of presiding over many cases.

"If we all live harmoniously and obey the laws willingly, there will be no pile up of cases in our courts," he argued.

Minister of State, President's Office, Constitution, Legal Affairs, Public Service and Good Government Haruna Ali Seleiman, speaking at the event, said Zanzibar is on the final stages of opening the country's own law school.

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Meanwhile, the Zanzibar special court for sexual offenses officially took off, almost 32 days since President Mwinyi ordered its creation.

CJ Makungu said he had officially created the court through the legal notice. "The court starts its operations today; this is a special court, with special magistrates, special registry and it requires special prosecutors," he declared.

President Mwinyi ordered the creation of the special court for sexual offences to intensify the crusade against escalating woman and child abuses during his meeting with stakeholders at the Sheikh Idrissa Abdul Wakil on January 7, 2021.

"This problem (of sexual abuses) is huge and a great shame to the country," President Mwinyi fumed, imploring the entire Zanzibar community to join hands in the fight against the social vice.

Justice Makungu described the special court as part of the solid foundations for speedy and fair handling of sexual abuse related cases.

He proposed the reinforcement of the police, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) office and other key stakeholders, warning the police against framing charges against innocent wananchi.

The CJ asked wananchi to appear before courts to adduce evidences in sexual abuse cases, saying: "There is no conviction in the absence of evidence."
ULAN BATOR, Feb. 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Feb, 2021 ) :Three people were killed after a heating pipe burst in Mongolia, the country's National Emergency Management Agency said Tuesday.

The victims were two men and a woman in their 40s, the agency said.

The accident happened in the Bayangol District of the country's capital Ulan Bator on Monday night when one pipe of the heating system blasted, it said in a statement. Further investigation into the case is underway.
NEW DELHI : Johnson & Johnson is interested in manufacturing its Covid-19 vaccine in India, a government official said on Tuesday.

India also has no concern over the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine that is being used in the country's massive inoculation campaign, Vinod Kumar Paul, member (health and nutrition), NITI Aayog, said.

Separately, the Serum Institute today said the Indian government has ordered 10 million more doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for its citizens.

The world's biggest vaccine-making company had earlier supplied 11 million doses to the government's inoculation campaign that began on Jan. 16.

"The second order is already in place, it's for 10 million doses," an SII spokesman said, adding that the figure was part of the 100 million doses the company has agreed to sell to the government for 200 ($2.74) each.

The Indian government is currently using AstraZeneca's Covishield vaccine from the Serum Institute and COVAXIN from Bharat Biotech. The two shots have been used in what India calls the world's biggest immunisation programme to cover 300 million people by August, starting with healthcare and other workers to reach the elderly and those with existing conditions by March.

The regulator is expected to approve Russia's Sputnik V and Cadila Healthcare's ZyCov-D vaccines in the next few months.

India's infections rose 9,110 in the last 24 hours to stand at 10.85 million, the world's highest tally after the United States, though they have fallen sharply from a mid-September peak of nearly 100,000.

The health ministry said a daily toll of less than 100 deaths over the last four days took the total to more than 155,000.

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The scoping study results identify the potential to realise cash flow from surface mining within the Chinook Project.

The scoping study is an early-stage technical assessment of the Chinook Project

Montem Resources Corps ( ) scoping study on the Chinook Coking Coal Project in the Crowsnest Pass area of Alberta, Canada, indicate an economically and technically viable project with upside justifying progressing to a pre-feasibility study (PFS).

The results of the scoping study identify the potential to realise cash flow from surface mining within the Chinook Project.

On the strength of that study, the company will now execute plans to conduct additional drilling, engineering and environmental work to produce a PFS for Chinook.

Multi-mine hard coking coal producer

Montem managing director and chief executive officer Peter Doyle said: We are pleased to have completed this scoping study, which identifies the potential to realise cash flow from surface mining within the Chinook Project.

We have focused on Chinook as it sits in Category 4 lands and has the advantage of brownfield development.

The board believes the positive result from the scoping study underscores our potential to be a multi-mine hard coking coal producer.

We will now execute plans to conduct additional drilling, engineering and environmental work to undertake a PFS for Chinook.

Leverages on existing infrastructure

The scoping study is an early-stage technical assessment of the Chinook Project and was undertaken as a desktop exercise by specialist consultants, including RPMGlobal and Sedgman Canada Ltd.

The 2021 Chinook Project scoping study expanded on earlier conceptual mine planning work completed by Montem in 2018 and 2020 and identified multiple zones of low-ratio mineable hard coking coal, suitable for open-cut mining

The study leverages on existing rail, power, and road infrastructure adjacent to the project.

As the proportion of indicated resources underpinning the engineering study is less than 70%, the resulting financial analysis of the study is not able to be released to the market, in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Project financing

Chinook Project mine financing is planned to be achieved through a mix of equity and debt.

The equity portion is planned to be sourced from cashflow expected through the sale of coal from the Tent Mountain Mine.

Montem is undertaking a restart at the Tent Mountain Mine, with planned coal sales beginning in 2022/2023.

The Chinook Project is expected to start about five years after the Tent Mountain Mine re-start.

An assessment of various funding alternatives for the Chinook Project has been made based on precedent funding transactions in the coking coal mining industry and there is a reasonable basis to believe that requisite future funding for development of the Chinook Project will be available when required.

Global debt and equity finance availability for high-quality coking coal projects remain robust.

Preliminary talks with financial advisers

Montem has conducted preliminary discussions with financial advisers with proven track records of raising equity and debt financing for the construction of new coal projects, giving the company confidence that the project has a reasonable likelihood of being financed.

It has also conducted preliminary discussions with financial institutions capable of financing up to 100% of the construction cost, again providing confidence the project has a reasonable likelihood of being financed.

Also, Montem has conducted preliminary discussions with potential offtake partners concerning the option of significant pre-sale financing to again add confidence the project has a reasonable likelihood of being financed.

Highly attractive

Montem has a current market capitalisation of about $49 million with an uncomplicated, clean corporate and capital structure.

It also owns 100% of its five steelmaking coal projects in the Crowsnest Pass area of Alberta.

Further, 100% of the forecast HCC production from Montems projects, including the Chinook Project, remains uncommitted.

These factors are expected to be highly attractive to potential strategic investors, offtake partners and conventional equity investors.

They also deliver considerable flexibility in engagement with potential debt or quasi-debt providers.

Next steps

The 2021 scoping study, 2020 resource estimate and 2020 coal quality assessment all provide outlines of required work to better understand the Chinook Project.

Immediate work programs Montem is focusing on are associated with the gathering of extensive amounts of information to develop a better understanding of the surface and subsurface conditions of the project site and its coal seams.

These work programs will comprise geological exploration for resource upgrading and coal quality determination, geotechnical drilling, sampling and analysis for improving the parameters associated with the design of stable pit slopes and dump slope designs, geotechnical evaluations for the civil works associated with construction of the mine and its facilities and infrastructure and the gathering of background data from the project area that will be needed in developing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for mine development.

Montem is planning an extensive exploration program at Chinook beginning in 2021.

This program will aim to provide the underlying information required to complete the PFS for Chinook.

Unaffected by policy reinstatement

Separately, the company indicated that its projects  The Tent Mountain Mine and the Chinook Project  will not be affected by the Government of Albertas decision to reinstate the Coal Development Policy for Alberta.

Montems Tent Mountain Mine and Chinook Project are wholly within Category 4, and all of Montems coal resource estimates (JORC 2012) are within Category 4 and are therefore unaffected by the Coal Policy rescission.
(Natural News) Own a large tech company and also want to form your own government to oversee it? Well, then come on down to Nevada, where Gov. Steve Sisolak is offering Big Tech corporations the opportunity to own and operate their own smart cities with almost no rules.

In an effort to jumpstart his states fledgling economy, which was all but completely destroyed by his oppressive Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, Sisolak has announced a plan to launch Innovation Zones where technology firms will be allowed to set up their own governments, complete with school districts, government services, and even taxation schemes.

Large tracts of land that meet certain minimum requirements would be handed over to the tech giants to do with as they wish. New businesses at the forefront of groundbreaking technologies would finally be able to run their own little worlds free of that pesky public government that exists most everywhere else.

Sisolak pitched the concept during his Jan. 19 State of the State agenda. While the alternative form of local government component has not yet been introduced in the legislature, Sisolak is hopeful that those loose ends can be tied up after his plan is already in motion.

While the traditional method of luring companies for economic development purposes has been to offer tax abatements or other publicly funded incentive packages, which is how Tesla Inc. was steered towards Nevada, Sisolaks new plan is to just skip all that and give tech companies their own cities.

Big Tech: leading the way to global oligarchy

One company specifically named by Sisolak as one that has expressed interest in his program is Blockchains, LLC. This company has committed, once legislation is passed, to developing a smart city on a large piece of land in an area east of Reno.

Doing things the old way  you know, with traditional local governments that work for We the People  is inadequate alone to draw resources to Nevada, Sisolak insists. Rather than simply reopen his state, Sisolak would rather just give it over to the tech corporations and call it a day.

The Governors Office of Economic Development would be in charge of overseeing applications for the zones, which would be exclusively limited to companies that work in blockchain, autonomous technology, the Internet of Things, robotics, artificial intelligence, wireless, biometrics and renewable resource technology.

Each zone requirement would award applicants at least 78 square miles (202 square kilometers) of undeveloped, uninhabited land within a single county, but separate from any other city, town or tax increment area.

A qualifying company would have to have a least $250 million in its investment coffers, as well as plans on the books to invest an additional $1 billion in their zones over a 10-year period.

Initially, these zones would operate normally under the jurisdiction of their location counties. After a while, though, the reins would be handed over to independent governmental bodies established by the corporation occupying it.

According to reports, each zone would have a three-member supervisor board procured with the same powers as a typical county commission. The business occupying the land would be afforded significant control over this membership board.

As we previously reported, Big Tech is also in the process of merging with Big Pharma, which means the pharmaceutical industry will also have the opportunity to establish its own governments.

The biometrics qualifier means that any drug company working on implantable medical devices could theoretically qualify to be granted land in Nevada to start a new pharmakeia-controlled smart city.

If you would like to learn more about how Big Tech wants to control all areas of your life and livelihood, visit Tyranny.news.

Sources for this article include:

MyNews4.com

NaturalNews.com
"This could be really, very dire for our country as we head into the spring," Hotez said of the variants. "Now, we're in a race. We're in a race to see how quickly we can vaccinate the American people."

On Sunday, the US surpassed 27 million reported infections, according to Johns Hopkins University data. More than 31 million Americans have so far received at least their first dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, according to CDC data, as officials work to ramp up vaccinations across the country. More than 9 million people have so far received both doses of a vaccine, according to the data.

And a third vaccine could be on its way to the US market soon: Johnson & Johnson asked the Food and Drug Administration for an emergency use authorization of its vaccine last week.

What we know about variants and vaccines

But Covid-19 variants have also complicated things for some vaccines. Here's what we do know.
Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha), the largest healthcare network in the UAE, has signed an agreement with King Fahad Specialist Hospital (KFSH-D), Dammam, KSA, aiming to aims to foster healthcare benefits between both institutions.



The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed under the patronage of Dr Abdulaziz Al Ghamdi, Chief Executive Officer of the First Health Cluster in Eastern Region, KSA; Sehas Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Gareth Goodier, and the Chief Executive Officer of King Fahad Specialist Hospital-Dammam, Omar Sharif.



The MoU aims to establish training programs, exchange administrative and clinical knowledge and expertise, as well as promote services in the fields of medicine, academia, and clinical research.



Dr Gareth Goodier said: Throughout Sehas legacy, we have seen the power of partnerships facilitate the exchange of best-practice, knowledge and clinical expertise, ultimately contributing to the elevation of the provision of healthcare to the nations community. We are pleased to continue this journey by partnering with King Fahad Specialty Hospital, breaking down geographical borders and collaborating with our neighbours to bring world class, unparalleled healthcare to the region.



The collective focus of both leading healthcare organizations is to solidify and embolden regional collaboration to elevate the delivery of healthcare in both communities. The resulting MoU opens the path for future partnerships that leverage both countries ambition to deliver high quality healthcare in all aspects, including stem cell transplantation.  TradeArabia News Service


[February 09, 2021] VHS Learning Opens 2021 Summer School Registration

VHS Learning has opened registration for its summer 2021 courses. The summer program begins June 16 and offers more than 36 online high school courses for credit recovery and enrichment. Courses are either eight weeks or four weeks long and are instructor-led and include NCAA-approved options. Eight-week courses begin on June 16. Four-week courses are offered in two sessions. The first series of four-week courses starts June 16. The second series begins July 19. The summer program offers core math, social studies, history and English courses as well as a variety of electives for enrichment such as JavaScript programming, creative writing, personal finance, and solar energy design. Students in grades 7-12 can enroll in the summer courses. "VHS Learning's summer courses have a proven track record of helping students recover credits they need to graduate," said Carol DeFuria, President & CEO of VHS Learning. "Taking courses over the summer can help students who are behind catch up on concepts they missed during the school year, and summer courses also give students who want to explore a subject of interest the ability to complete their coursework during the summer, when they have more time. Because VHS Learning summer courses can be accessed day or night, students can still meet work and other summer commitments while achieving their academic goals." VHS Learning has a 25-year reputation for educational quality, including rigoros professional development for the certified teachers who provide summer course instruction. All VHS Learning teachers complete graduate-level Online Teaching Methodologies (OTM) training to learn best practices for online teaching and learning, and 81% of VHS Learning teachers possess a master's degree or higher.



VHS Learning course design and delivery standards were the model used by the National Education Association when they created the first standards for online learning. In 2019, in collaboration with the international nonprofit Quality Matters, VHS Learning helped update the National Standards for Quality (NSQ) in three areas: Online Courses, Online Teaching, and Online Programs. "We take a lot of pride in the quality of our courses and instruction," DeFuria continued. "And our summer school teachers are ready to help students catch up and stay on track with their academic studies."

Additional information and registration for VHS Learning summer courses is available at https://go.vhslearning.org/l/86702/2021-01-27/6v2g5w About VHS Learning VHS Learning is a nonprofit organization with 25 years of experience providing world-class online programs to students and schools everywhere. Offering more than 250 unique online courses, including 24 AP courses, credit recovery and enrichment courses, and a selection of dual-credit options, VHS Learning is accredited by Middle States Association Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges ( ACS (News - Alert) WASC), and Cognia. Courses are approved for initial eligibility by NCAA. For more information about VHS Learning please visit https://www.vhslearning.org/ and follow on Twitter (News - Alert) at @VHSLearning. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005823/en/

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Donald Trump's impeachment trial begins on Tuesday, with his legal team setting out to argue both that the trial is unconstitutional and the former president blameless for the Capitol riot, and the prosecution painting a picture of a man whose words incited a mob to attack the seat of government in an insurrection that cost five people their lives.

The nine Democratic impeachment managers for the House, which impeached Trump last month, argue that he alone was responsible for inciting the mob who interrupted the presidential electoral count.

'The evidence of President Trump's conduct is overwhelming,' the nine managers, who will serve as prosecutors, wrote in a brief.

'He has no valid excuse or defense for his actions.'

Donald Trump is the first president in U.S. history to have been impeached twice by the House

Trump's lawyers argue his January 6 speech is protected under the First Amendment and was not a call for insurrection

Trump attorney Bruce Castor (right) was seen in the Capitol on Monday

Several of the roughly 200 people charged following the riot have tried to shift at least some blame onto Trump as they defend themselves in court or in the court of public opinion.

Lawyers for Trump argue that he was exercising freedom of speech when he told his supporters to 'fight like hell' to overturn his defeat.

TIMETABLE FOR THE TRUMP TRIAL Here is how the Trump impeachment will unfold: Tuesday 1pm: Senate comes to order with president pro tempore Patrick Leahy (D-VT) presiding over four hours of presentation - two from each side - on whether the trial is constitutional Tuesday 5pm: Senate votes on whether it is constitutional to move forward. If there are at least 51 votes to continue, which is certain, the Senate adjourns for the day Wednesday 9am: Deadline for motions from both sides which could be voted on before the trial begins Wednesday 11am: Deadline for responses to motions Wednesday noon: If there are motions, they must be voted on but if there are none the trial opens with Democratic impeachment managers beginning up to 16 hours over Wednesday and Thursday of outlining their case Thursday: Democrats end their case against Trump Friday noon: Donald Trump's team begin their defense with up to 16 hours to make their case on Friday and Saturday. An original plan to observe the Jewish sabbath in deference to Trump's attorney David Schoen has been dropped after he said it was unnecessary Saturday: Trump's team ends their defense case Sunday: At this point the Democratic impeachment managers and Trump's attorneys can ask to call witnesses if senators vote to allow them on a simple majority vote. If there are witnesses, the trial will adjourn for them to be deposed, which could delay it significantly. If there are no witnesses Senators have four hours to ask questions of both sides. Then the Democratic impeachment managers can put forward a motion to introduce all their background evidence and Trump's defense have an hour to argue against with both sides getting an hour in total, followed by a vote, with Trump's side then able to do the same. Unknown but as early as Presidents Day: Once questions are over there are two hours each for both sides to sum up. Then the Senate votes. Conviction needs a two-thirds majority: 67 senators assuming all are present. Advertisement

Trump's lawyers said he was speaking only in a 'figurative sense' when he told followers to go to the Capitol and 'fight like hell' as Congress was formally certifying Biden's election win.

Trump's use of the word 'fight,' the defense said, 'could not be construed to encourage acts of violence.'

'Notably absent from his speech was any reference to or encouragement of an insurrection, a riot, criminal action, or any acts of physical violence whatsoever,' they wrote.

Trump's lawyers said he could not be held responsible for the actions of 'a small group of criminals - who had come to the capital of their own accord armed and ready for a fight.'

The arguments against conviction are expected to be persuasive with Senate Republicans, most of whom have signaled that they will vote to acquit.

The trial is expected to last into the weekend and possibly longer.

Trump's office said in a statement his legal team was satisfied with the structure of the trial.

Schoen sent a letter to Senate leaders late on Monday asking them to proceed with the trial over the Jewish Sabbath this weekend even though he will not participate - but the Senate schedule remained unclear.

It will begin at midday on Tuesday and could go late into some evenings.

On Tuesday the former president's legal team, led by David Schoen and Bruce Castor, will begin proceedings by arguing that only a sitting president can be impeached.

The Senate will debate the constitutionality of the trial for four hours on Tuesday and then hold a vote on whether to dismiss it.

The effort to dismiss is expected to fail, because only a simple majority of votes is needed - which the Democrats have.

The Senate is currently balanced 50:50, but Kamala Harris as vice president will cast the deciding vote.

That will allow arguments in the trial to begin on Wednesday.

Democrats point to the opinion of many legal scholars  including conservatives  who say the trial is valid under the Constitution. They point to an 1876 impeachment trial of a secretary of war who had resigned and note that Trump was impeached before he left office.

Trump's lawyers dismiss that precedent and say language in the Constitution is on their side.

Yet on Monday one legal scholar cited by Trump's lawyers said Trump's defense team misrepresented his work 'quite badly.'

Michigan State University law professor Brian Kalt told Reuters in an email that his research was 'definitely not' accurately described in a 78-page document filed by Trump's lawyers on Monday, the day before his second impeachment trial begins.

Kalt has joined other legal scholars in arguing the Senate trial is constitutional.

'They didn't have to be disingenuous and misleading like this,' Kalt said later on Twitter, adding that 'in several places, they misrepresent what I wrote quite badly.'

David Schoen, one of Trump's lawyers, said he had not intended to misrepresent Kalt's work.

'Ultimately Professor Kalt did not agree with our position, but he did explain it well and we wanted to give him credit for that,' Schoen told Reuters.

'I can assure you that it was never our intention to in any way mislead as to Professor Kalt's position.'

Chuck Schumer, laden with bags, is pictured arriving at his office on Monday

Protesters are seen outside the Capitol on Monday night on the eve of Trump's trial

On Wednesday at noon, the arguments will begin for and against impeachment itself.

There will be up to 32 hours of trial debate - 16 hours for each side - and the Senate would vote on whether to allow witnesses if House prosecutors want any, Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, said.

The Democrats are expected to try and take advantage of the senators' own experiences, tapping into their emotions as they describe in detail  and show on video  what happened as the mob broke through police barriers, injured law enforcement officers, ransacked the Capitol and hunted for lawmakers.

Defense arguments are likely to begin Friday.

While the Democrats are expected to appeal to the senators' emotions, Trump's lawyers have signaled they will try and tap into raw partisan anger.

They repeatedly go after the Democrats personally in the brief, describing their case as a 'selfish attempt by Democratic leadership in the House to prey upon the feelings of horror and confusion' and another example of 'Trump derangement syndrome' after four years of trying to drive him out of office.

Trump, in February 2020, holds up a newspaper showing the Senate acquittal of his first trial

After the 32 hours, Senators will be allowed to ask questions.

Then they will vote.

Five Republican senators voted with Democrats two weeks ago not to dismiss the trial on constitutional grounds. Those senators so far appear the most likely to vote to convict Trump.

The five senators, all of whom have harshly criticized the president's behavior, are Susan Collins of Maine, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

Democrats appear to have little chance of persuading 17 Republicans to find Trump guilty, the minimum number that they would need for conviction.

But some GOP senators who voted in favor of the effort to dismiss, such as Rob Portman of Ohio and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, have said they are coming into the trial with an open mind.

Democrats are likely to focus, too, on senators who are retiring in 2022 and will have less to lose politically if they vote to convict.

The Democratic House impeachment managers, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, argued Donald Trump committed the 'most grievous constitutional crime ever'

The Senate chamber on Monday was set up for Donald Trump's impeachment trial to begin on Tuesday - tables are set up around the dais for the defense and prosecution

Trump, who is currently at Mar-a-Lago, is said to be more focused on punishing his enemies

In addition to Toomey and Portman, also retiring are Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby and North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr.

The chief justice of the United States normally presides over the trial of a president, but because Trump has left office, the presiding officer will be Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, who is the ceremonial head of the Senate as the longest-serving member of the majority party.

Once the senators reach a final vote on the impeachment charge - this time there is just one, incitement of insurrection - each lawmaker will stand up and cast their vote: guilty or not guilty.

A second impeachment acquittal by the Senate - as expected - would be a victory for Trump, and would prove he retains considerable sway over his party, despite his efforts to subvert democracy and widespread condemnation from his GOP colleagues after January 6.

Still, acquittal may not be the end of attempts to hold him accountable.

Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, floated a censure resolution after last months vote made clear that Trump was unlikely to be convicted.

While they havent said yet if they will push for a censure vote after the impeachment trial, Kaine said last week that 'the idea is out there on the table and it may become a useful idea down the road.'
The historic second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump starts Tuesday in the U.S. Senate, with Trump accused of inciting insurrection a month ago by urging his supporters to confront lawmakers at the U.S. Capitol as they were certifying that Democrat Joe Biden had defeated Trump in the 2020 election.

The protest turned into mayhem, as about 800 supporters of Trump stormed past authorities into the Capitol, smashed doors and windows, ransacked some congressional offices and scuffled with police. Five people were left dead, including a Capitol Police officer whose death is under investigation as a homicide and a rioter shot by a police officer.

The 100 senators  50 Republicans and 50 Democrats  hearing the impeachment case against the single-term president are in a unique position: many of them were witnesses themselves to the chaos of January 6 as they fled the Senate chamber for their own safety.

With a two-thirds vote needed for conviction, 17 Republicans would have to turn against Trump, their Republican colleague, for him to be convicted, assuming all 50 Democrats vote to convict. As such, Trump almost certainly will be acquitted, just as he was a year ago when he was accused of soliciting the president of Ukraine to dig up dirt against Biden ahead of last Novembers election.

Whatever the outcome, however, Trump stands alone in more than two centuries of U.S. history as the only president to be impeached twice.

A week after the storming of the Capitol, the House of Representatives voted 232-197, with 10 Republicans joining all 222 Democrats, to accuse Trump of incitement of insurrection. Then, on January 20, Biden was inaugurated as the countrys 46th president and Trump, no longer in power, flew for the last time on Air Force One to his Atlantic coastline mansion in Florida, where he has stayed since.

Trump has declined a request from Democrats to testify in his defense at his impeachment trial and is not expected to attend it. The trial could last a week or longer.

The nine Democratic House impeachment managers bringing the case against Trump  several of them former prosecutors  claim that Trump, by urging his supporters to contest his election defeat at the Capitol, was "singularly responsible" for the riot that ensued.

Trump urged supporters to come to Washington on January 6, saying it would be wild. At a rally near the White House shortly before his supporters walked 16 blocks to the Capitol, Trump continued his weeks-long barrage of unfounded claims that election fraud had cost him another four-year term.

At one time in speaking for more than an hour, Trump told his supporters to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard by marching to the Capitol.

But he also exhorted them, saying, Our country has had enough. We will not take it anymore and thats what this is all about. To use a favorite term that all of you people really came up with, we will stop the steal.

And we fight, he said. We fight like hell and if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore.

Ahead of the trial, the House impeachment managers said in a legal brief, "President Trump's responsibility for the events of January 6 is unmistakable" and that the former president's "conduct must be declared unacceptable in the clearest and most unequivocal terms," even though he is no longer in office.

The U.S. Constitution allows for the removal of officials found guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors. Trumps two experienced trial lawyers he hired  David Schoen and Bruce Castor  have argued that since Trump is no longer president, and therefore could not be removed from office, his impeachment trial is unconstitutional.

The Senate, however, has conducted impeachment trials of former officials, not allowing them to avoid a trial for possible wrongdoing by resigning, as happened in an 1876 case, or in Trumps case, by leaving office as his term ended. Moreover, the House impeachment lawyers argue that Trump incited the insurrection and was impeached by the House while he was still in office.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, a staunch Trump supporter, attempted to block the trial on such constitutional grounds, but five Republicans joined all 50 Democrats in voting 55-45 to proceed with the trial. But the vote also signaled Trumps seeming Republican support for acquittal remains significant, more than enough to block his conviction.

Paul says there is a zero chance of conviction. If Trump were to be convicted, the Senate, on a simple majority vote, could bar him from ever holding office again.

On Tuesday, as the trial starts in earnest, lawyers for Trump and the House managers prosecuting him again are expected to debate the constitutionality of holding the trial. But assuming the Senate votes to go ahead with it, House managers would begin to present their case on Wednesday, likely showing some of the clips of hours of videos of the mayhem.

Then the presidents lawyers would respond with his defense. Later in the week, the Senate could debate whether to call witnesses if the House managers decide they want to have witnesses testify how they felt Trump had urged them on to confront lawmakers certifying Bidens victory.

Trumps lawyers have mounted a vigorous defense and contend that the former president bears no responsibility for what occurred January 6.

In a brief filed Monday, they contended that the case against him amounts to "political theater" brought by anti-Trump Democrats. Trumps lawyers suggested that he was simply exercising his constitutionally guaranteed right of free speech when he disputed the election results and argued that he explicitly encouraged his supporters to engage in a peaceful protest.

"Instead, this was only ever a selfish attempt by Democratic leadership in the House to prey upon the feelings of horror and confusion that fell upon all Americans across the entire political spectrum upon seeing the destruction at the Capitol on Jan. 6 by a few hundred people," the lawyers wrote. "Instead of acting to heal the nation, or at the very least focusing on prosecuting the lawbreakers who stormed the Capitol, the Speaker of the House (Nancy Pelosi) and her allies have tried to callously harness the chaos of the moment for their own political gain.

In response, the House Democrats prosecuting Trump said, We live in a nation governed by the rule of law, not mob violence incited by presidents who cannot accept their own electoral defeat.

The evidence of President Trumps conduct is overwhelming, the managers wrote. He has no valid excuse or defense for his actions. And his efforts to escape accountability are entirely unavailing. As charged in the Article of Impeachment, President Trump violated his Oath of Office and betrayed the American people.
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Marry a couple of crowd-pleasers, and the result is a new wine that has success written all over it. Prosecco rose, which was approved by the Italian government as an official wine category last year, has started arriving in American shops, making it widely available in time for Valentines Day. Its celebratory, easy-drinking, food-friendly and modestly priced enough to make it the evenings pour.

More than half of the nearly 350 Prosecco producers in Italy have been playing around with a rose version for years, unofficially, and its arrival to America comes at a good time. The thirst for rose wines continues to climb in double-digit percentages, in terms of both volume and value. In the first half of 2020, the United States was the leading Prosecco export market worldwide, accounting for about 24 percent, with sales totaling around $150 million. Prosecco rose might not excite wine snobs, but theyre not the drinkers that drive a mass market.

Though 28 Prosecco rose producers are currently exporting it to the United States, according to the Prosecco DOC Consortium, a trade organization that helped win the new designation, as of January only a few of the wines are stocked in American shops. Another 19 brands are expected to arrive by the end of the year. Bottles are priced from about $12 to $22.

Unlike many Proseccos, which tend to have more similarities than differences in color, bouquet, flavor and fizz, the new roses cover a broad spectrum; there are choices to be made. Take color: It can be the palest blush, in the trendy Provencal style, as exhibited by Mionetto and Bisol 1542 Jeio. Others, like Gancia, show a deeper magenta-pink. The bouquets tend to be floral  Gancias, which also hints of raspberries, was the most assertive of my samples.
NEW DELHI: Amid a spat between the Union government and US-based social media major Twitter over posts about farmers protest, National Democratic Alliances key Cabinet minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday joined homegrown microblogging platform - Koo.

I am now on Koo. Connect with me on this Indian micro-blogging platform for real-time, exciting and exclusive updates. Let us exchange our thoughts and ideas on Koo," railways, commerce & industry, consumer affairs and food and public distribution minister Piyush Goyal said in a tweet.

Also Read | India should worry about its public debt

The development comes in the backdrop of the governments notice to Twitter on 2 February, accusing it of unilaterally unblocking more than 250 accounts that had been suspended over the farmers agitation. The ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY), in a notice issued to Twitter said the company had violated an order to block 257 accounts associated with the farmers agitation on the borders of Delhi.

Twitter is obliged to follow the Indian governments directives and could face penal action for non-compliance, senior government officials said.

A company official had told Mint it had restored Twitter accounts, after briefly blocking them, as per company policy which favours free speech.

MeitY has also opened its official account on Koo, which is being positioned as an alternative to Twitter. Koo said it has verified handles of the MeitY, MyGov, Digital India, India Post, National Informatics Centre (NIC), National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), Common Services Center, UMANG app, Digi Locker, National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on its platform.

Other eminent personalities on Koo are - Union minister for information technology, law, electronics and communication, Ravi Shankar Prasad, chief minister of Karnataka BS Yediyurappa, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Bollywood celebrities Ashutosh Rana, Ashish Vidyarthi.

Founded in March 2020, Koo calls itself as an inclusive micro-blogging platform that caters to various local languages where people from different regions in India can express themselves in their mother tongue. It targets users between 25 and 30 years of age. In August 2020, it won the AatmaNirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge that was launched to promote existing Indian apps as well as the development of new apps.

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The former owner of an Oildale honky-tonk who left town in 2017 under mysterious circumstances  even as the bars well-known vintage neon sig
It's Bribery 101. You go to a foreign official, put a bag of unmarked bills on their desk, say you're going to step outside for a minute, and, crucially, give them an overexaggerated wink. That kind of offer is hard to ignore. Especially when, instead of leaving a bag of cash, you're dropping off two wild apex predators.

Public Domain "Sorry, I couldn't find a big enough briefcase to fit them in."

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Since the Founding Fathers had fought an entire war to be freed from Europe's oppressive influence, it made sense that they'd want it in writing. So when enacting the new Constitution in 1787, they added a clause banning foreign emoluments or: receiving lavish gifts from overseas monarchs in obvious attempts to bribe the president. But it turns out that they needn't have worried as much about sinister kings as eccentric sultans. Something President Martin Van Buren realized when a couple of them made him an offer he couldn't refuse. An offer to start his own zoo.

In 1840, The United States was visited by the first-ever Arab envoy to the New World: an emissary of Oman's Said bin Sultan Al-Busaidi, also known as Said the Great. And as newcomers, they obviously hadn't gotten the memo on the new gift-giving policy. When the ship Al-Sultanah docked in New York City, it immediately presented President Van Buren with a wealth of pearls, Kashmir scarves, an ornate sword, and, most problematically, a pair of thoroughbred horses. Van Buren immediately wrote a diplomatically sensitive message to the sultan, explaining that he couldn't take the reins of the horses (or even feed them, for that matter) without breaking the law.
JERUSALEM  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel pleaded not guilty on Monday in his trial on bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges, a case that has dominated Israels political life and sparked a debate about the state of Israeli democracy and the countrys legal system. It has also contributed to a split in Mr. Netanyahus own political party and could define the buildup to next months general election  Israels fourth in two years.

Here are details about the charges and their context.

When did the process start?

The police investigations that led to Mr. Netanyahus trial began in 2016, and the police formally recommended he be prosecuted in February 2018. He was indicted in November 2019 and the trial itself began in May 2020  but has since been delayed several times by coronavirus restrictions.

The trial combines three separate cases, known as Cases 1000, 2000 and 4000. Mr. Netanyahu has been cleared of involvement in a fourth case, Case 3000, which concerns the governments procurement of German-made submarines.
After American Thinker queued up my "Impeachment Trial Preview" for publication on its busy pages, even more novel questions tumbled out, if one can believe it, about the second impeachment trial of former president Donald John Trump.

C-SPAN is expecting the trial to start on 1:00 P.M. EST on Feb. 9, 2021. People can watch live or whenever is convenient "on demand" on C-SPAN's special web page.

Impeachment managers sent from the U.S. House of Representatives to the U.S. Senate have threatened to, and really already did, violate the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

They are asserting violations of the Constitution by Trump while themselves violating it.

On Feb. 2, 2021, new attorneys representing Trump filed an "Answer" to the articles of impeachment, but not (yet) an actual trial brief. Trump's attorneys and others challenge the trial as unconstitutional because Trump has left office.

Yet on Feb. 4, 2021, the impeachment managers asked Trump to testify in the upcoming trial.

In other words, if Trump took the bait, he would be legitimizing an unconstitutional proceeding. Democrats believe their own propaganda about him. They thought Trump could not resist out of ego. By showing up to testify, Trump could destroy his legal objection to the unconstitutional trial, as Jason Miller suggested.

Trump's "Answer" denied the factual allegations. This is overwhelmingly typical, requiring the prosecutors to prove their case. Yet House "prosecutors" want to force Trump to prove his innocence. Democrats are accustomed to just asserting things. Trump's lawyers quickly rejected the invitation.

The letter from the impeachment managers' leader, Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), threatened Trump:

If you decline this invitation, we reserve any and all rights, including the right to establish at trial that your refusal to testify supports a strong adverse inference regarding your actions (and inaction) on January 6, 2021.

Although reported only indirectly on Fox News, Raskin apparently said Trump's refusal shows his guilt after being rebuffed.

However, the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits anyone from being "compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself." The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly made clear that it is a violation of the Fifth Amendment for a trial court to draw an adverse inference from a defendant's decision not to testify. See Carter, Estelle v. Smith, 451 U.S. 454 (1981); Mitchell v. United States, 526 U.S. 314 (1999); Carter v. Kentucky, 450 U.S. 288 (1981), at least at the guilt phase.

But this is impeachment. Yet the courts routinely treat some proceedings as "quasi-criminal." Democrats are threatening criminal prosecution. This is a problem because the jury pool in Washington, D.C. voted 95% for Biden. (Conservatives without regard to race need to move into D.C. Only about 341,000 D.C. residents voted in 2020.)

Moreover, the U.S. Supreme Court holds that the threat of drawing an adverse inference from a defendant not testifying would cripple Fifth Amendment rights. Therefore, an inference would harm constitutional rights.

Also, it is the Senate that decides what rules will apply and what factual assertions to believe. Raskin as prosecutor has no right to decide what inferences the Senate will make. Yet he clearly assumes that power.

Famous law professor Jonathan Turley, a Democrat before his party swerved sharply to the left, condemned this bullying:

The Supreme Court has been adamant that the type of inference sought by Raskin is abhorrent and abusive in courts of law. In Griffin v. California, 380 U.S. 609 (1964), the Court reviewed a California rule of evidence which permitted adverse comment on a defendant's failure to testify.

And:

The statement conflicts with one of the most precious and revered principles in American law that a refusal to testify should not be used against an accused party.

Professor Turley also reads into this exchange that the impeachment managers are not prepared to prove their case, having rushed the impeachment through without witnesses.

Meanwhile, watch for this also: clearly the main reason Democrats want to proceed with impeachment is to make sure they don't have to face a rematch with Trump in 2024. Democrats are likely to argue that they can disqualify Trump from holding future office without a two-thirds vote. Many have already said they can disqualify Trump on a simple majority vote even if they fail to get two thirds of the votes for removal.

The Constitution 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[.]

But it also says:

And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

Therefore, "judgment," meaning "convicted," requires a two-thirds vote of the U.S. Senate. Disqualification arises only from a judgment, which requires a two-thirds vote.

There are enough novel issues at stake to fascinate us for weeks, but the trial is likely to be short.

Jonathon Moseley is an attorney in Virginia.

Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of image by Tom Childers, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0, and public domain source.
Two teenage boys have been arrested over a break-in at the unit belonging to Jennifer Board, who was killed when a car hit her motorbike in the north Queensland city of Townsville on Friday.

The break-in, two days after Ms Board died, occurred about 1am on Sunday at the unit on Corcoran Street in the suburb of Currajong.

A police body-worn camera captures the arrest of a teenager over the break-in at Jennifer Boards unit. Credit:QPS

The two alleged offenders ran from the unit when they disturbed a man who was staying there.

A 15-year-old local boy was charged with burglary and committing an indictable offence and three counts of stealing. He was denied police bail and was set to appear in Townsville Childrens Court.
Israel: UN calls for end to 'enhanced' interrogations Experts appeal, bring those responsible to justice

(ANSAmed) - ROME, 09 FEB - UN human rights experts said the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" or the adoption of "exceptional measures" during interrogations in Israel runs the risk of provoking forced confessions, which international laws banning torture and mistreatment aim to prevent.



The UN human rights experts appealed to Israel to ensure accountability for those responsible for torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.



The call comes after the attorney general last month ended investigations into the Israeli Security Agency's "enhanced interrogation techniques" used against Samer Al-Arbeed, a Palestinian who was arrested in 2019 on charges of involvement in a bomb explosion.



Al-Arbeed, according to information found by the UN experts, was in good health when he was arrested on 25 September 2019 after an alleged attack in the occupied West Bank in August, during which a 17-year-old Israeli girl was killed and her father and brother got injured.



Within 48 hours, the UN experts said, Al-Arbeed was hospitalised with life-threatening injuries and now "suffers irreparable physical and psychological conditions".



"We are alarmed at Israel's failure to prosecute and punish those responsible for the torture and ill-treatment perpetrated against Mr Al-Arbeed," the experts said.



"Addressing such abuse is not at the discretion of the government or the judiciary, but constitutes an absolute obligation under international law," the experts said.



"Allowing individual agents the 'necessity defence' against criminal prosecution is a grave loophole within the Israeli judicial system that effectively excuses the coercive interrogation of persons suspected of possessing information on military operations. This misguided defence provides de facto impunity for investigative measures amounting to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment," they said. (ANSAmed).




New Delhi, Feb 9 : The latest tragedy in Uttarakhand resulting in around 170 people missing definitely requires introspection on the development of the hill State. The damage of four hydropower stations, including the NTPC-owned Tapovan Vishnugad, the private project of Rishi Ganga, Pipal Koti of state-owned THDC, and Jaypee Groups Vishnuprayag has brought construction of big dams into sharp focus.

Uttarakhand's main source of development is hydel power. The potential of the former is to a tune of 20236 MW. Highlighting this, a World Bank report has termed it as the state's most important strategic assets. Obviously, the State and its residents, deem it fit to tap this potential not just for their betterment but also for the larger good of the nation as they cater to energy needs of residences and industries in other States and mega cities.

But given its rather fragile ecology, are big dams in Uttarakhand sustainable? According to the Indian metrological department, the Bureau of Indian Standards categorises Uttarakhand as a V seismic zone, the most active zone. The Indian plate, a part of the Indo-Australian plate, colliding with the Eurasian plate, has created several fault lines, making the region earthquake prone.

That said, new technology is being consistently developed to overcome this hazard. A position paper by the International Water Power & Dam Construction, states that "technology is available for building dams and appurtenant structures that can safely resist the effects of strong ground shaking. Storage dams that have been designed properly to resist static loads prove to also have significant inherent resistance to earthquake action. Many small storage dams have suffered damage during strong earthquakes. However, no large dams have failed due to earthquake shaking".

Yet, the paper adds that "there are still uncertainties about the behaviour of dams under very strong ground shaking, and every effort should be made to collect, analyse and interpret field observations of dam performance during earthquakes".

Seized of this danger, the government's Uttarakhand Vision 2030, is eyeing green power for the State. The vision has set broad goalposts of meeting 15 per cent energy demand from renewable sources instead of present 3.2 per cent and importantly save 25 per cent energy consumption to meet Government of India's commitment to meet 40 per cent of energy requirements from renewable energy.

For the former, the micro-hydel, solar, co-gen, biomass will be tapped. To meet the second target, there will be replacement of CFLs and incandescent lamps with LED bulbs, switchover to energy-efficient devices, installing of solar energy heating systems in government offices, schools, colleges, hostels, housing complexes, hotels and hospitals and industries requiring hot water for processing; and implementation of energy conservation building codes among others.

The way forward for Uttarakhand is Small Hydro Power (SHP) projects. Projects up to 25 MW station capacities are categorised as SHP, and these provide clean energy. Besides requiring minimal submergence, rehabilitation and minimal impact to environment they accrue other advantages like promoting local industries in remote areas and assisting self-employment.

The region with several rivers and canals spells tremendous potential which is enhanced by the availability of ice fed and rain fed rivers and natural incline in the state. SHPs can play a critical role in national energy scenario and, in particular, for remote and inaccessible areas. For example, the remote area of Badrinath, power supply is through an SHP.

The state needs to take a close at sustainable livelihoods aspect too, to enhance social and human development which is equitable while conserving natural resources and environment. The emphasis will need to move to horticulture, sustainable tourism and opting for MSME. This coupled with SHP and information technology will spur growth.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Police in Kampala are investigating circumstances under which one Hardad Mubiru, a journalist attached to BTM TV died.

Mubiru's body was last night found in Kanyanya Quarter Zone but detectives say they are trying to establish how he died.

Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police spokesperson, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire said they received Mubiru's death report at around 8pm Sunday.

"On the February 7, 2021 at 8am, police at Kanyanya received a call from one Sseruyange that there was a body of a male adult, who was later identified as Hardad Mubiru, a journalist with BTM news, in Kanyanya Quarter Zone. The Officer in Charge of Kanyanya Police station responded with the scene of crime officer and cordoned off the area to facilitate investigations," he said.

According to one of the residents in the area, Mubiru was seen crawling near the scene the previous night of February 6, 2021, ASP Owoyesgyire said.

"She says she didn't know the intentions of the person so she decided to enter her house and locked inside. In the morning, they found him dead. The body was conveyed by police to the mortuary,' he added.

Social media users had claimed that Mubiru had been shot dead.

However, police said his body was not found with "any serious injuries."

"We are waiting for a postmortem report today to understand what caused his death," Mr Owoyesigyire added.

Friends pay tribute

All is left of Mubiru are memories from colleagues and friends who worked with him.

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"On behalf of the BTM TV management, we would love to send our condolences to the family of Mr Mubiru Hardad. We pray the lord protects and heals the wounds that are in place and may his soul rest in eternal peace," BTM said in a statement.

Mr Abubaker Lubowa, a Daily Monitor photojournalist said he last saw Mubiru at the beginning of this month shortly after he had joined BTM TV.

"It's sad we have lost a colleague Hadad Mubiru cause of death not yet known but his body has been found lying by the road side. Last saw him at the beginning of this month and had joined BTM TV after leaving Red Pepper. We used to call him Hadad Rasta. Inalilahi Wainailahi Rajiun," Mr Lubowa posted on his Facebook wall.

Kampala-based lawyer who is also the Kyadondo East MP-elect, Mr Muwada Nkunyingi, said Mubiru was a common face at National Unity Platform (NUP) media briefings and had great interest in party presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi's ongoing Supreme Court partition filed against President Yoweri Museveni's victory last week.

"He did many inquisitive interviews at the Supreme Court on the day the Presidential petition was filed (February 1, 2021)... . In a country troubled with multiple scenes of Kidnap and disappearance of people, especially on political divergence, one may think that possibly his coverage of NUP activities may be the trigger since many other journalist were time before beaten, injured or mimed on duty," Mr Nkunyingi said.

"R.I.P Hadad Mubiru, you have gone too soon. Uganda Police Force I implore you to find the murderers and face the law," said Joseph Makumbi
The Telegraph

An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hannah Guan, 14, of San Antonio and Orion Jean, 10, of Fort Worth today were named Texas' top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Hannah and Orion will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are Texas' top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Hannah Guan

Nominated by Basis San Antonio Shavano

Hannah, a sophomore at Basis San Antonio Shavano, started a nonprofit organization that provides free online math tutoring and academic camps for students from underserved communities. The child of a single immigrant mother, Hannah knows firsthand the day-to-day struggle that often keeps students from doing their best in school. "I grew up in the poorest metro area in the nation," she said, an area with "very few educational resources." But everything changed for Hannah when her mother signed her up for a math club in sixth grade. Suddenly, the girl who hated math discovered she had a real talent for the subject, and was winning math competitions around the country and even abroad. As her skills grew, she began to think about and research the way math is taught in the U.S., "with the emphasis on the very exams on which students underperform, disproportionately affecting students from underrepresented groups," she said.

So three years ago, Hannah started "San Antonio Math Include" to provide greater access to STEM education for students from different backgrounds and cultures. She developed a model to teach live classes and summer camps online, which have now involved nearly 150 volunteers and more than 5,000 students in 322 schools in 28 states and four other countries. But online instruction is a problem for students who don't have access to the internet, so Hannah wrote a report to raise awareness of this digital divide, and raised money for scholarships to help narrow it. In addition, as a member of the San Antonio Youth Commission, Hannah is working to introduce artificial intelligence curricula to local schools.

Middle Level State Honoree: Orion Jean

Nominated by Chisholm Ridge Elementary

Orion, a fifth-grader at Chisholm Ridge Elementary, collected more than 600 toys for kids at a children's hospital, and provided more than 40,000 meals for people in need, after winning a national speech contest in which he encouraged people to "Race to Kindness." Realizing that "the best way to spread kindness is to lead by example," Orion started planning a series of "race" events after winning his contest, beginning with the "Race to 500 Toys." For that toy drive, he researched toys that are both fun and budget friendly and then posted a wish list on a website that his mother created. Using his contest prize money, along with donations received through the website, Orion began shopping for toys. He also set up toy collection boxes at his school and a community center. In just over a month, Orion accumulated more than 600 toys, which he unboxed, sorted and delivered to a Dallas children's hospital last fall.

Orion wanted to do something even bigger for his second "race," so he embarked on the "Race to 100,000 Meals." Partnering with an organization that collects food for the hungry, Orion filled "snack packs" with fruit, granola bars and bottles of water, and appealed to others to do the same. He then helped organized local drop-off events and pack all of the donated sack packs into delivery trucks. Drop-off events also ended up being held in other states by people inspired by Orion. At last count, Orion was well on his way to reaching his 100,000-meal goal.

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

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Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do
Renowned Swiss watch maker Rado has won top honours at the German Design Award 2021 in Gold

(most prestigious award) for its ultra-thin watches range -True Thinline Les Couleurs Le Corbusier.

The award was bagged by Rado in the Excellent Product Design  Luxury Goods category.

Known as the Master of Materials for the way it has revolutionised traditional watchmaking, Rado leads the industry by introducing high-tech ceramic, ultra-light high-tech ceramic, colourful high-tech ceramic and Ceramos to its design-led collections, said the Swiss brand in its statement.

An award-winning designer with numerous prestigious international prizes to its name, and considered the most forward-thinking design player in the watch industry today, Rado has always been a pioneer and leader, setting the standard and raising the bar, it added.

The German Design Award introduced in 2012 is the premium international award from the German Design Council and is one of the most renowned design awards in the world.

Each year, top-class entries from product and communications design, which are each ground-breaking in the international design landscape in their own way, are presented with awards in the three categories Excellent Product Design, Excellent Communications Design and Excellent Architecture.

With this richly coloured collection, Rado pays tribute to a real design legend. The True Thinline Les Couleurs Le Corbusier celebrates the work and, in particular, the pioneering colour theory of the visionary architect with a unique range of nine models made from solid high-tech ceramic.

Each individual piece represents one of the colours from the nine groups of Le Corbusiers colour theory. And each one features our groundbreaking monobloc case made from injected high-tech ceramic, which has revolutionised traditional watchmaking.

On the new model, the jury of the German Design Award, said: "The clear, timelessly elegant design language of the ceramic watch, together with the unique colours of Les Couleurs Le Corbusier collection, forms a fascinating and harmonious unit of extraordinary aesthetic quality."

"At the same time, the watches appear wonderfully young and fresh thanks to the colours. A surprising edition that adds a youthful facet to the classic image of the traditional Rado brand," the jury added.-TradeArabia News Service
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 06:53:32|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The ineffective implementation of social distancing and the premature release of sailors from quarantine were the primary causes of increased COVID-19 infections onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier last year, a Pentagon watchdog has found.

The Navy had appropriate plans in place to counter a potential outbreak of an infectious disease, but the leadership of the aircraft carrier did not fully implement the required measures, the Defense Department's inspector general said in a report released Monday.

More than 1,200 sailors of the 4,800-member crew aboard the aircraft carrier were infected with the coronavirus in spring las year. One crew member died.

Brett Crozier, the vessel's commander, wrote a letter to his superiors outlining the dire situation and pleading for help evacuating the ship.

Crozier was relieved of his command after his letter leaked to the media. The Navy leadership at that time said he was removed because he sent the letter through an unsecured email. Enditem
Dehradun, Feb 9 : Rescuers dug overnight through debris and move about 140 metres into a blocked tunnel of the Tapovan Vishnugad hydroelectric project though there was still no contact with persons still trapped there, police officials said on Tuesday.

After overnight excavation at the project site on Dhauliganga river in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, jawans of the Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police entered the tunnel that was blocked due to mud debris brought by Sunday morning's flash flood.

"The next few hours are very crucial and we may be able to open the blockade today itself," state DGP Ashok Kumar said.

Officials said special equipments would be used to speed up rescue operation inside the tunnel.

The state government last evening said that 197 people were missing whereas 26 bodies have been recovered so far.

The missing included persons feared trapped inside the tunnel.

However, confusion persisted on the exact number of persons rescued so far. While the state disaster control centre said in a statement that 27 persons were rescued, top police officials maintained that only 12 had been evacuated so far.

Jawans of the Army, ITBP, NDRF and SDRF entered the tunnel along with sniffer dogs on Monday morning in the biggest rescue operation in the hill state since the 2013 Kedarnath disaster in which over 5,000 persons were killed.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat again visited the disaster sites at 13.2 MW Rishiganga and 480 MW Tapovan Vishnugaud power projects on Monday evening as well as an ITBP hospital at Joshimath to ask after the health of injured workers.

While all the rescued persons were rushed to the ITBP hospital in Joshimath, two persons with bone fractures were taken to a government hospital in Gopeshwar, the district headquarters of Chamoli.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text

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An international team of experts wrapping up a month spent in China investigating the Covid-19 pandemic's origins will brief the media in Wuhan on Tuesday, the WHO announced.

"The international team working to understand the origins of the Covid-19 virus is completing its four weeks' stay in Wuhan, China and together with their Chinese colleagues will participate in a press conference," the World Health Organization said Monday.

Also Read | India should worry about its public debt

The briefing will be held at 3:30pm (0730 GMT) at a hotel in the city, the Chinese foreign ministry said. It will be live-streamed in English on the UN health agency's digital and social media platforms.

The first Covid-19 cases were detected in Wuhan in December 2019.

Scientists think the disease -- which has gone on to kill more than 2.3 million people worldwide -- originated in bats and could have been transmitted to humans via another mammal.

But there are no definitive answers so far and top WHO officials have played down the chances of the sensitive mission finding them on the first attempt.

They have said the Wuhan visit will likely throw up many more questions that need answering.

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Two brothers have revealed how they spent five years growing their hair in order to donate their long locks to a charity that makes wigs for children who have lost their hair.

Kaleb Tekabework, 11, and his nine-year-old brother Aaron, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were inspired to stop cutting their hair after watching a documentary in April 2016 about a young cancer patient who received a wig of hair from another girl.

Then just seven and five, the brothers decided to grow their own curly locks until they were long enough to do the same, despite being teased at school over their appearance.

Their 19in tresses were cut off earlier this month and sent to charity Wigs for Kids, which provides wigs and hair replacement options to children who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, burns and other medical issues.

Kaleb Tekabework, 11, and his nine-year-old brother Aaron, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were inspired to stop cutting their hair after watching a documentary in April 2016 about a young cancer patient who received a wig of hair from another girl

After almost five years of growth, the brothers' 19in tresses were cut off earlier this month

The hair was sent to charity Wigs for Kids, which provides wigs and hair replacement options to children who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, burns and other medical issues. Pictured, Aaron with his hair

The brothers, pictured after the haircut, said they wanted to try regrowing their hair again

The boys also raised $3,415 for children's cancer research at Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences.

Kaleb said: 'Growing our hair for four-and-a-half years was stressful because we would always just get our hair tangled swimming and then have to stand for hours to untangle it.

'And we've been through a lot of bullying and teasing at school, but it also gave us a reason to explain why we were growing our hair.

'I just kept reminding myself of why I'm growing my hair. I've just kept going because no matter what I wanted to accomplish and reach my goal.'

Mother Senafikish, who is a nurse, recalled the moment her sons began growing their hair, saying: 'They were so inspired that they asked me if they can also grow and donate their hair to that little kid they saw in the movie.

'When I told them it was possible they immediately decided to do that. Ever since then their hair hasn't been cut and is taken care of every day.'

Mother Senafikish, who is a nurse, recalled the moment her sons began growing their hair and said she was proud of their determination. Pictured, the family together

Kaleb revealed growing their hair was stressful because it would get tangled and they went through a lot of bullying. Pictured: Aaron and Kaleb before their haircuts

Senafikish said her sons immediately began growing their hair, after she told them it was possible to do what had been done in the documentary. Pictured: Kaleb before his hair cut

The boys grew their locks until it was 19 inches long, putting up with bullies and extended showers, and drying time, for nearly half their lives.

Senafikish said: 'I'd have to groom it every day for school and wash it every week, and when it gets longer and longer it gets harder to brush.'

Aaron and Kaleb went to the barbers for the first time in their lives on World Cancer Day on February 4 to have their hair ceremonially chopped and donated.

Aaron said: 'We pretty much just got a haircut, but it was our first time in a barber shop so we were a bit nervous, at the end it was pretty fun though.

'We took a picture with our hair saying goodbye I'll miss you!'

Wigs For Kids lets them track the hair and where it ends up.

Aaron added: 'I want to meet them because the only thing I've been thinking about for the past four-and-a-half years was meeting the person and seeing them smile!'

Kaleb (pictured) and Aaron grew their hair until it was 19 inches long. Pictured, at the barber's shop

Aaron holds onto his and his brother's hair after the dramatic haircut earlier this month

The brothers who plan to grow their hair long again for more wigs, are going to have a break to try out some new styles first.

Kaleb said: 'I'm probably going to wait one or two years so I can try different types of hairstyles, because the only types I've had so far are ponytails!'

'We look like boys now!' added Aaron.

Senafikish is very proud of her sons determination.

She added: 'We were inspired by our sons. Their willingness to give part of their body to someone who is in desperate need of it was such a meaningful act of charity and selflessness.

'What has always amazed us is that despite many people including their peers at school commented about their hair and mistakenly referred to them as 'girls', they don't talk about it unless specifically asked why they are growing their hair.

'They know why they are doing this and they are determined to go through the pain of grooming hair daily and the bullying by their peers.

'This for us was the very essence of giving selflessly and from the heart with the only motive being doing something kind for someone else and see them smile.'

You can donate to Kaleb and Aaron's fundraiser here.
ALBANY  An accomplice of convicted fraudster Michael P. Fish illegally hacked into computer accounts to steal naked photographs and videos from dozens of unsuspecting female students at SUNY Plattsburgh, court papers showed Tuesday.

Nicholas Faber, 25, of Rochester, who graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2017, pleaded guilty Monday to felony charges in U.S. District Court for crimes between 2017 and 2019 to access the school email accounts of the students.

Fish, 25, who pleaded guilty to similar crimes last May, is additionally facing separate charges after he allegedly fabricated self-serving letters to a federal judge in the names of his mother, grandparents, a priest and an aide to U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik.

Both Fish and Faber admitted in their plea agreements that they committed computer crimes and aggravated identity theft -- and Fish admitted he possessed child pornography.

Fish and Faber illegally accessed email accounts to get into the social media accounts of female college students to steal their private photos to sell to interested buyers. Fish distributed collages mixing sexually explicit photos with innocuous photos of the students at graduations. Fish, who identified names of the women whose images he traded, possessed information from more than 100 students at Plattsburgh and elsewhere, court papers show.

Faber communicated online with people he understood were accessing online accounts of college-age females and stealing their photographs and videos. Faber identified by name women whose materials he possessed and was willing to trade. He solicited and received stolen materials that showed naked women, including some he knew personally, his plea agreement said.

Faber admitted he asked people to break into more than 50 online accounts of specific females whose photographs and videos he wanted to see, at times supplying email names, to receive naked photos. He tried to break into more than 24 accounts of females he knew, successfully gaining access to 10 accounts without authorization.

When Faber got into accounts, the plea agreement said, he looked for and stole any photographs or videos and traded them with other people online.

He used a private network service to conceal his identity.

Faber's plea agreement said he and Fish -- identified as "Individual 1" -- engaged in detailed conversations online on how to break into female students' accounts.

On Nov. 27, 2018, Fish told Faber he lost his prior unauthorized access to GroupMe messaging chats among a group of sorority women after one of the women changed her password.

We can try getting into another, Faber told Fish.

The next day, Fish logged onto and reset the passwords for female students at SUNY Plattsburgh.

On Jan, 12, 2019, Faber asked Fish: Hey man any snapchats you want me to try to get into?

He also told Fish he would ask a friend how he does it if you wanted to try, explaining the steps used.

Faber cautioned Fish: If you do sorority girls you gotta do it smart cause they talk. You know?  I need phone number and snap name.

Fish explained that he had hacked into a few accounts because their emails were linked to their Plattsburgh accounts. Fish said he simply needed the security questions.

The crimes forced the college to spend more than $35,000. It needed to identify accounts that were compromised, review computer logs, reset passwords and notify students and parents, prosecutors said.

Fish is scheduled to be sentenced March 19, Faber on June 9.

Both cases are before U.S. District Judge Mae D'Agostino.

CLEVELAND, Ohio  When the world locked down, people adopted dogs.

Now, after months of ownership, after vet bills and chewed-up furniture and early morning walks in the cold, are dogs being returned to shelters in record numbers?

Nope.

Sharon A. Harvey, president & CEO of the Cleveland Animal Protective League, says the organizations post-adoption returns rates actually decreased, from 8.9% in 2019 to 6.4% in 2020.

With more people working from home, adopters had more time, and maybe patience, to allow an animal to settle in and adapt to a new home, Harvey said.

Also, because of COVID-19 restrictions, shelter populations were smaller and animals spent more time in foster homes. That meant volunteers got to know dog personalities and behavior better and that was helpful in guiding adopters and making better matches.

Karly Salter said she had no intentions of adopting her Sheprador, Charlie so quickly after losing her beloved German Shepard, Bentley, at the beginning of the pandemic.

Charlie, was one of the many dogs adopted throughout the pandemic and found a loving home!

We had no intentions of adopting so quickly, but in May of 2020, we brought our girl home from Paws and Prayers Rescue in Cuyahoga Falls. Truthfully, she rescued us from the sadness we felt after Bentlys passing and helped us to see the light in the midst of all the craziness that was occurring in the world, Salter said.

Related: Want a dog? After initial rush of adoptions, Northeast Ohio shelters now have pets for you

Nationally, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says after April, adoption rates began to level off and are now generally holding steady with current adoption rates similar to this time in previous years

At this point, we have not seen an increase in owner surrenders or stray intakes at the ASPCA Adoption Center in New York City, and based on our conversations with animal welfare professionals across the country, that trend is not currently evident on a national level, spokesman Alexander Craig said. We encourage any pet owner looking to rehome an animal to first reach out to their local animal shelter, who can often provide assistance which would enable the pet to stay in a safe and loving home.

The Northeast Ohio SPCA Shelter and Clinic also didnt see high rates of animal return in the shelter.

Some people went back to work sooner than anticipated, or some lost their jobs suddenly, but that is an abnormality, said Development Director Stefanie Merkosky. While early in the pandemic, the Parma clinic saw 10-15 dog adoptions a day, now they are down to 4-5.

GRIN Rescue president Lisa Krime says she noticed the volume of dogs decreased throughout the pandemic.

The volume of dogs during this pandemic coming into our care has been extremely low. Additionally, we have a fairly rigorous adoption application process which in addition to the application includes a phone interview, vet check, and home visit, Krime said.

At the Cuyahoga County animal shelter, pet adoptions are still going very strong, said Administrator Mindy Naticchioni. The adoption return rate has held steady.

Cleveland.com asked readers to send photos of dogs they adopted in the last year, and they delivered. Meet a few of the pandemic pups:

Ruthie Bader Ginsbark found her forever home during the pandemic!

Carmen Becker says she had two senior dogs and also lost one of them, and not too long after a friend at the Cleveland Animal Protection League sent her a photo of the Chihuahua and Beagle mix, named Ruthie Bader Ginsbark.

She is a 3-year-old mix, we did her DNA and she is mostly Chihuahua and Beagle with some Jack Russell, Boston Terrier, Chow Chow, and Cattle Dog! Basically, she looks like a black lab in a wiener dog body  which is absolutely adorable, Becker said. Also by doing her DNA we were connected with her son, Larry, and a cousin, Arthur. We were big fans of the real RBG and Ruthie is honored to share her name. We cant imagine our family without her, she is very loved.

Allison Graceffo adopted her Golden Retriever, Crux, after he was training to be a service dog but ultimately didnt make it.

Crux was one of the lucky dogs who was paired with a loving home during the pandemic.

We adopted him from 4 Paws 4 Ability near Cincinnati. He was in training to become a service dog and didnt pass, so they call them Fabulous Flunkys and put them up for adoption. Its a really neat program and we lucked out with a 1-year-old Golden Retriever that had a lot of training! Graceffo said.
ALBANY  Republican lawmakers from across New York on Tuesday stood unified in their continuing calls for investigations of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's policies governing the handling of the coronavirus pandemic in nursing homes.

The political pressure was outlined during a news conference at the state Capitol hosted by state Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay and U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, a western New York Republican. Reed joined the two legislative leaders, who echoed their calls from the last two weeks for subpoenas and investigations at the state or federal level into the state Department of Health, to highlight Reed's support for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the same questions.

Make no mistake about it. These 15,000 deaths of our New York state residents, these mothers, fathers, grandfathers, deserve justice," Reed said.

Reed and the other GOP members of Congress from New York, led by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, penned a letter to the Justice Department calling for it to issue subpoenas and investigate the matter. The federal agency last year opened an inquiry into Cuomo's nursing home policies, but it went nowhere and did not delve into the pandemic response at hundreds of privately owned nursing homes in New York. Republicans are asking President Joseph R. Biden to revive the inquiry and demand "all documentation and communications related to (Cuomo's) nursing home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic."

I have hope in Washington, D.C., given our relationship with the Biden administration, given our longstanding commitment to working across the aisle  that when we issued the letter demanding that the department of justice do its job, that the (Justice Department) will follow up on our letter and pursue the investigation of our nursing home scandal to its conclusion," Reed said Tuesday, adding that concerns over the nursing home policies were bipartisan.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, said when the report was released that she found it "deeply disturbing and gravely worrisome."

"I dont think New York is isolated. I think this disease went like wildfire through assisted living facilities across the country and across the globe. And so I would like to have hearings on how can we improve the care that older Americans are getting, especially during the pandemic," she said. "I want to do a full investigation in the Aging Committee about what's happened across the country, and what we can do to keep our older Americans safer."

Richard Azzopardi, Cuomo's senior advisor, emailed the Times Union a statement responding to Reed: "Tom Reed joined the rest of his far-right extremists to empower a QANON conspiracy theorist who made death threats against Speaker Pelosi and said that 9/11 never happened and against impeaching Trump. With the impeachment trial starting today, of course he's trying to change the subject. "

State-level Republicans have been continuing to call for subpoenas of Cuomo's administration. State senators have tried to force votes in two committee hearings, efforts that were squashed by the Democratic chairs. And the Assembly GOP is seizing on a legislative law by circulating petitions to try to peel off enough Democratic votes in the relevant committees to force investigative hearings and subpoenas to be issued by the Legislature. If a majority of committee members support hearings or the issuance of subpoenas, the issue can be forced to a vote despite the wishes of the leadership-backed committee chairs.

Were trying to hold their feet to the fire because really theres no excuse for why were not holding hearings on this issue," Barclay said. He added that he found it "somewhat offensive" and "irritating" that his Democratic colleagues accused Republicans of pursuing the issue for political reasons.

The issue of nursing home coronavirus policies boiled over in late January when state Attorney General Letitia James' office released a report saying that Cuomo's administration had undercounted COVID-19 deaths of nursing home residents by as much as half. The study was based on a sample of nursing homes.

This is just the tip of the iceberg," Ortt said.

He said that Democrats have opposed efforts to subpoena health Commissioner Howard Zucker for testimony and for data and communications about policymaking because they say that existing bills being pushed are enough to address problems, and that it wouldn't be constructive to revisit the issue.

To only do the bills that have already been proposed would really "miss the point of the AGs report," Ortt said, referring to a push to hold government officials accountable for their decision-making. Nothing Ive seen thus far would address that aspect. Its a good start, but we need to go much further.  Its hard to determine the path forward if we dont know the full story of what happened and how we got here.
Shares of Torrent Pharmaceuticals dipped 8 per cent to Rs 2,545 on the BSE on Tuesday after the company reported its December quarter (Q3FY21) results, with flat consolidated revenue growth at Rs 1,995 crore, mainly due to 23.4 per cent year on year (YoY) decline in US formulations to Rs 292 crore.

The company said that the US sales was impacted by price erosion on base business & base impact of Sartan portfolio discontinuation. However, domestic revenues grew 7 per cent YoY at Rs 930 crore driven by market recovery, continued momentum in chronic brands & strong recovery in subchronic brands, it said. Brazil de-grew 8.5 per cent YoY to Rs 173 crore. Germany business grew a robust 21.0 per cent YoY to Rs 265 crore.

Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) increased 12 per cent YoY at Rs 607 crore, while margins expanded 296 bps YoY to 30.4 per cent mainly due to lower other expenses amid lower travel and promotional spends. Profit after tax jumped 18 per cent YoY to Rs 297 crore.

Torrent Pharmas Q3 results were mostly in line with I-direct estimates (albeit skewed) on all fronts. While growth in India and Germany was mostly offset by decline in the US and Brazil, overall profitability was higher YoY amid lower on-ground activities and a lower tax rate. Overhang pertaining to two US focused plants notwithstanding, Torrent continues to impress thanks to its robust margin profile that can be attributed to global portfolio that comprises around 65 per cent branded generics, ICICI Securities said in a note.

With consistent free cash flow (FCF) generation, moderation in core capex, we expect the leverage situation to improve substantially, the brokerage firm said.

The recovery in the Domestic Formulation (DF) / Germany business was offset by decline in the US and currency headwinds in Brazil. Reduced opex kept profitability at elevated levels, according to analysts at Motilal Oswal Securities.

The brokerage firm reduce EPS estimates for FY21/FY22/FY23 by 4 per cent/8 per cent/6 per cent, factoring in an increase in operational expenses with the resumption of promotional activity by MRs in the DF segment and the lack of new approvals due to USFDA-imposed regulatory issues at Dahej/Indrad. While the outlook for its key geographies is expected to improve over the medium term, the current valuation largely captures the upside. Hence, we maintain a Neutral stance on the stock, it said.

At 12:48 pm, was trading 7 per cent lower at Rs 2,555 on the BSE, as compared to 0.7 per cent decline in the S&P BSE Sensex. The trading volumes on the counter jumped an over 9-fold with a combined 1.75 million equity shares changing hands on the NSE and BSE.


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As a follow-up to Allen Porters letter of Feb. 9, I agree and would like to add points of my own about doing away with oil and gas.
NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Peru's mining industry has been on the upswing in recent years and is headed higher still as investors continue to pump money into projects. The country's mining construction portfolio now totals $56 billion and will likely continue to grow following the new mining minister's vow to streamline the permitting process. The renewed interest in the sector presents an excellent opportunity for precious metals producers like Rio Tinto plc (NYSE: RIO), Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE: GOLD) (TSX: ABX), Fortuna Silver Mines Inc (TSX: FVI) (NYSE: FSM), and Gold Fields Limited (NYSE: GFI). It also creates a favorable opportunity for exploration companies like Oro X Mining Corp. (TSXV: OROX) (OTCPK: WRPSF).

Oro X Mining is a gold exploration company focused on developing its gold projects in mining friendly Peru. The company underwent some significant changes throughout 2020, including a name change , new management, numerous acquisitions, and a capital raise.

Gaining a Stake in Peru's Prolific Mining Regions

When the Peruvian government named Jaime Galvez as the new head of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM), the minister vowed to streamline the consultation period prior to granting mining licenses as part of a set of planned reforms to Peru's mining regulations. The potential changes will not only speed up current projects, but it will guarantee existing operations as well as promote investment and exploration.

The reforms bode well for Oro X Mining, which has acquired two promising gold projects in the region. In October 2020, the company completed the acquisition of the Coriorcco and Las Antas options in Peru, two high-grade gold exploration assets located within an established metallogenic belt in the San Juan de Lucanas Mining District. At the same time, Oro X Mining announced the closing of a $6.25 million private placement, which it plans to use for exploration at its 2,000 hectare past-producing high-grade Coriocco gold project.

Oro X Mining's flagship Coriocco project has 17 known mineralized veins at surface with widths ranging from 1.0 to 2.5 meters (m) within a 700m by 800m zone. Previous exploration activity at the property includes surface channel sampling and follow-up trial mining completed in 2010 to 2011. Three portals were developed and over 400m of sub-horizontal mining were completed on three veins up to 60m below surface within the silica cap of the Coriorcco dome structure. Previous historic development on two of the tested veins exploited over 7,500 tonnes of material averaging 7.5 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, while limited surface rock sampling by the previous operators include:

22.90 g/t Au; 19.25 g/t Au; 14.20 g/t Au; 13.05 g/t Au

Average grade from surface sampling 1.91 g/t Au over 181 samples

Past Production Points to Bright Future for Peru's Mining Industry

The mining industry in Peru has been historically important to the nation for over 500 years and has been home to a large number of high-grade gold and copper projects. In 2019, Peru tied with Ghana as the seventh largest gold-producing country. Peru is also the second-largest copper producing country with estimated copper mine production of 2.4 million metric tons and the second-largest silver producer.

Although gold giant Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE:GOLD) (TSX:ABX) is no longer focused on projects in Peru, the company contributed to the country's position as one of the top gold producers on the planet. Prior to closing its Lagunas Norte mine in 2019, 2018 production totalled 245,000 ounces of gold, while the company's Pierina mine produced 97,000 ounces of gold in 2013 prior to its closure.

Rio Tinto plc (NYSE:RIO) has also had a mining history in Peru that dates back to the 1990s. Some of the copper giant's most significant deposit finds include Pampa de Pongo, Carhuacayan, Yanque Accha, and Pukaqaqa. Last year, Rio Tinto was in talks with First Quantum Minerals to team up to develop La Granja, one of Peru's largest untapped copper deposits. However, a deal has yet to materialize.

Fortuna Silver Mines Inc (TSX:FVI) (NYSE:FSM) is one precious metals producer that has continued to work within the region. In 2019, the company's Caylloma mine in Peru produced 900,000 ounces of silver, 28.7 million pounds of lead, and 45.6 million pounds of zinc.

Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:GFI) is another precious metals producer with a stake in mining friendly Peru. In 2018, the company announced its plan to invest $240 million to extend the mine life of its Cerro Corona mine, which has now been extended until 2030. In 2017, the Cerro Corona mine produced 5.1 million grams of gold.

It will be exciting to see how the new mining regulations benefit Oro X Mining Corp. and the development of its Coriocco gold project.

For more information on Oro X Mining Corp. (TSXV:OROX) (OTC:WRPSF), please visit this link.

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UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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

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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

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for an Atmanirbhar Bharat, aka self-reliant India last year. Since then, several local developers have built and released Made in India apps. One such app is Koo - an Indian alternative to Twitter. Several ministers and celebrities have started signing up for the Indian social networking app. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who holds portfolios including Law and Justice, Electronics and Information Technology and Communications portfolios along with Railway Minister Piyush Goyal are among the prominent names who have joined Koo. So what is Koo? How does the Twitter alternative work? Here is everything you need to know:

What is Koo?

Koo, as mentioned above, is an Indian alternative to Twitter. The Indian micro-blogging website was developed by Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidawatka in March 2020. Much like Twitter, Koo is a micro-blogging platform that can be used to express your views and opinions on various topics. It also won the AatmaNirbhar App Innovation Challenge held by the Government of India in August 2020.

The app supports multiple Indian regional languages. At the time of writing this, Koo supports Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Oriya and Assamese.

Users on Koo can share posts, audio, video, photos on the platform. Like Twitter, Koo also allows users to chat with each other via DMs. You can also conduct polls on the micro-blogging website.

How to download Koo?

Koo is available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Users can download the social media app on their iPhone and Android devices. The app has an average rating of 4.7 stars on Google Play Store and 4.1 on the iOS App Store.

On Android, the app has received over 49,400 reviews and over a million downloads at the time of writing this.
Puberty blockers yield 'the most insidious child sterilization programs ever devised,' doctors say

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Endocrinologists are pushing back against a recent statement by the Pediatric Endocrine Society which asserts that puberty-blocking drugs are "reversible" and effective at alleviating the distress of "having the wrong puberty."

The Tuesday statement from the Pediatric Endocrine Society, which was couched in concern for "transgender and gender diverse youth and their families," spoke against public discourse that delegitimizes self-expressed gender identities. Such negative discourse, the group said, undermines the rights of youth who identify as the opposite sex to express their identity as they wish and to receive "gender-affirming" therapies and medical treatments.

The statement goes on to assert that adolescents "with maturity to understand the consequences of this treatment, can initiate hormone therapy," and claims that puberty blockers are supported by medical evidence to improve the well-being of persons who self-identify as transgender. Chemical puberty suppression is described as a "reversible treatment that decreases the distress of having the wrong puberty."



Such claims are patently false, said Michael Laidlaw, an endocrinologist based in Rocklin, California, in a Wednesday interview with The Christian Post. "What these medical societies have created is an institutionalized childhood pathway toward sterility."

When asked by CP if he could explain why organizations that are ostensibly out to help children would recommend treatments that disrupt the normal process of puberty, he said it's critical to understand that, with respect to this topic, medical organizations like the Endocrine Society, Pediatric Endocrine Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics have been taken over by the most radical elements of the profession.

"These radical trans activists were involved in writing the Endocrine Society guidelines in 2009 and 2017. These are low to no quality evidence guidelines, and anyone can read for themselves the poor evidence they have for these treatments for children and adolescents. There is no long-term evidence for benefits for these treatments. These drugs are not FDA approved for this condition. They have created a pathway toward sterility," Laidlaw stressed.

Laidlaw recounted a Dutch study of 70 children who were on puberty-blocking drugs, every one of which continued on to cross-sex hormones. Most of them went even further and underwent masculinizing or feminizing surgical procedures.

"All of those who started on blockers and went to cross sex hormones are infertile. Those who had gonads removed are sterilized," he said.



One postoperative patient, a trans-identified female, died as result of a flesh-eating bacteria, a disease called necrotizing fasciitis, following a vaginoplasty.

The Pediatric Endocrine Society's statement comes on the heels of the case of 7-year-old James Younger, a boy at the center of bitter custody dispute in Texas. Younger's legal mother, Dr. Anne Georgulas, a pediatrician in Coppell, Texas, insists the boy is female and intends to transition him to a girl named Luna, a name Georgulas picked herself. James is a twin to his brother, Jude. Georgulas became pregnant with the twin boys by using eggs from a third-party donor.

The child's father, Jeffrey Younger, has long argued that both social and medical gender transitioning of James is a heinous form of child abuse. He had been documenting his story on his website, Save James, before a family court judge ordered him to take it down.

A jury initially awarded Georgulas sole conservatorship of James on Oct. 21.

However, amid massive public outcry, Judge Kim Cooks ultimately awarded joint conservatorship to both parents and forbade them from speaking further about the case to the press after issuing a gag order. Younger's website was ordered to be shut down under the terms of the gag order.

"This is the pathway to sterility that young James has been put on," Laidlaw said, commenting on the case, "because the social transition has the psychological effect of convincing the child that they are in the wrong body.

"The puberty blockers are a drug induced model of not only blocking essential aspects of development, but also solidifying the belief that they must take wrong sex hormones to escape from their situation. These wrong sex hormones are very dangerous and have blood clot, cardiovascular, and cancer risks."

Thus, young children who experience all of this have been brainwashed since youth, have been drugged and psychologically damaged by puberty blockers, and then made even more confused, depressed and even psychotic by cross sex hormones, he continued. Many ultimately go on to seek relief by having breasts and testicles and penises and ovaries surgically removed.

"This is the pathway to sterilization that these radicals have been after. They have succeeded in convincing the greedy dupes at the highest levels of our medical societies to go along with it. And now they are hiding the truth from the American people and dressing it up as science. But it is one of the most insidious child sterilization programs ever devised," Laidlaw asserted.

Dr. William Malone, an endocrinologist from Twin Falls, Idaho, emphasized that the statement regarding the treatment of gender dysphoric children and adolescents contravenes both scientific literature and common sense.

"No child is born in the wrong body, but for a variety of reasons some children and adolescents become convinced that they were," Malone said in a Wednesday interview with CP.

"Until very recently, these children and adolescents were supported and cared for with counseling. With counseling, or even watchful waiting, an average of 85% of these children would have resolution of their distress by early adulthood. There are currently 10 studies in the medical literature demonstrating this."

Yet a dreadful shift has occurred in recent years, one from exploratory, supportive counseling to what is now referred to as gender affirmative care, which has had "catastrophic" consequences, the Idaho doctor continued.

"The most notable risk is that of infertility, especially if puberty is blocked in early stages. Women who take male dosages of testosterone are known to have significantly increased risk of heart disease," he said.

"Mastectomies and genital surgeries are for all practical purposes irreversible. The longer term, higher quality studies show shockingly high rates of successful suicide for those who have undergone masculinizing or feminizing hormonal and surgical interventions. The exact cause of this is unknown."

Speaking to the change in practices within the medical establishment, Malone elaborated that, at present, urging for caution and additional research before abandoning an established treatment that has a high success rate, professional medical associations like the Endocrine Society have inexplicably adopted a scientifically unsupported, highly risky approach to treating gender dysphoric children and adolescents.

"As a consequence of this bad decision, we are beginning to see many young adults begin attempts to reverse the damage that has been done by hormonal and surgical treatments. As a result, investigations into gender clinic practices have begun in the U.K., and are being considered in Australia and Sweden," he said.

"Highly respected doctors from these countries are stating that we are in the midst of a medical scandal of unparalleled significance."
Cambodian media bodies have expressed deep concern over a new directive from Cambodian police that bans journalists from filming, recording and live-streaming active police investigations of criminal activities. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its Cambodian affiliate the Cambodian Journalists Association (CamboJA) in calling on authorities to ensure journalists rights and press freedom are upheld in Cambodia.

District security guards prevent journalists from taking photographs and conducting interviews outside the Phnom Penh Municipal Court during the trial of former CNRP members and affiliates on January 13. Credit: Panha Chhorpoan / CamboJA

The directive, announced by Phnom Penh municipal police chief, Sar Thet, on January 21, will prevent journalists from capturing footage of police investigations, identifying or locating suspects, or recording officers performing other duties. Any journalist found to be violating the order would face legal action.

Three national media associations, as well as the IFJ, issued an open letter to Cambodias information minister, Khieu Kanharith, requesting the government clarify this directive in the interest of upholding the fundamental rights and freedoms of journalists guaranteed under international law and in Cambodias constitution.

On January 18, three days before the decree was declared, Kanharith threatened journalists with arrest for collecting information in prohibited areas. On February 6, the police chief told CamboJA the new directive was aimed at preventing reporters and citizens from interfering in police questioning, particularly through live-streaming on social media.

Cambodias independent press has been in steep decline in recent years amid a government crackdown on dissidents and critics in the aftermath of the 2013 elections. Many journalists have experienced harassment and have been forced to stop recording, photographing or broadcasting during events in which police were on duty.

The directive, which became effective immediately, increases the influence of authorities over journalists in the field, and could contravene Article 41 of Cambodias constitution and the 1995 Press Law which protect and guarantee the right to freedom of expression, press and publication.

At least one incident has already been recorded where police cited the new directive at several journalists covering a roadside dispute.

The statement said: We call on the government to explain clearly this latest directive, discard all unnecessary orders, laws and directives that inhibit journalists' work, and ensure that all journalists can exercise their rights to report freely and without fear.

The IFJ said: This is a disturbing proposal that contravenes Cambodias own constitution and is at direct odds with international standards by blocking journalist access to report in the public interest.

BBC star Gary Lineker was today accused of 'mocking the poor' after joking about his 1.3million salary in response to the corporation ramping up the cost of the licence fee.

The former England player, 60, responded to news of the hike from 157.50 to 159 on Twitter with 'But, but I've just taken a pay cut', followed with a zany face emoticon.

But his attempt at a joke misfired badly and saw him described as 'heartless' and 'missing the mood of the public'.

Even fans, who said they usually supported him, thought the comment was ill-advised adding 'Your timing isn't great, Gary'.

It comes just months after three million over 75-year-olds were told they would no longer get free TV licences.

Dennis Reed, director of pensioner pressure group Silver Voices, who campaigned against it, told MailOnline: 'There will be some of our members who respond angrily to those comments. I would welcome the support from all celebrities for our cause.'

Gary Lineker has again provoked strong opinions over on of his social media tweets online

Lineker posted the remark on Twitter last night and prompted some angry responses

Jamie Sense said he would cancel his licence fee after Gary Lineker made the remarks

Paul Stead said there were people struggling daily who might think the rise was too much

Barrister Edward Levey QC likened it to businessman Gerald Ratner's disastrous speech

And on Twitter social media users formed a chorus of disapproval over the remarks.

Paul Stead said: 'Poor joke that. It's okay for you millionaires but there is a lot of people who struggle daily and have to rely on foodbanks so even though the rise is nothing to you and other millionaires it's a lot of money for some people.'

DJ Doc Scott took a harder line adding 'I usually like you and like what you have to say but on this you can go and f*** yourself, is that 'funny' enough for you?'

Jamie sense said: 'And with one heartless tweet Gary has just cancelled the extra income the BBC would have likely made.

'As he is mocking the poor it is now a moral obligation from me and I'm sure many others to cancel the licence with immediate effect. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!'

Another declared: 'I know you are having banter, and I for one don't mind that. But in these desperate times, where a lot of people are struggling financially and mentally, your timing isn't great Gary.'

And Barrister Edward Levey QC weighed in to add: 'I really hope this is your Gerald Ratner moment.'

Ratner saw 500million wiped from the value of his jewellery firm after he told an audience the secret of a beloved low-cost item: 'How can you sell this for such a low price?, I say, because it's total crap.'

Pensioners all have to pay for TV licences now Up to 750,000 pensioners are refusing to pay for a TV licence in protest after free licences for over-75s were scrapped. The protesters, who make up 14 per cent of the UK's population of their age range, have ignored the flurry of reminders they have been given and are holding strong. The BBC is now facing a 117million funding shortfall unless the over-75s fork over the 157.50 fee. Over-75s were able to watch terrestrial channels live for free for 20 years, until the Government scrapped the scheme last year. The UK's full basic state pension in 2020 was just 134.25 per week. Plans to decriminalise non-payment were postponed, leaving the over-75s in the lurch. While the BBC claims it couldn't afford to reinstate the concession, critics have denounced this and said the corporations can make savings. In 2019/20 the BBC generated 4.94billion - 71 per cent of which came from licence fees. The corporation also gets money by selling its programmes to other countries - Planet Earth generates 200million a year. Advertisement

Lineker's comments angered community nurse Racheal Giuliano who has worked through the Covid-19 pandemic.

The mum-of-two - who specialises in dementia and palliative care - said she is facing being kicked out of her home for missing a TV licence direct debit.

She fumed: 'I'm an NHS nurse, worked all through the pandemic.

'Me and my two children are facing homelessness and TV licensing are taking me to court for a missed direct debit.

'I hope you manage to survive with your pay cut.'

She said she questioned if she could be taken to court and added: 'Explained it to the inspector that came to the house.

'But as I had a BBC channel on it was deemed a breach as the licence was not renewed due to the failed direct debit.

'Paid it on the spot. Got told to change my plea to guilty to avoid more fees.

'It's been a long nightmare.'

The BBC announced yesterday the annual TV licence fee was to increase by 1.50, from 157.50 to 159 in April.

In 2022 it will be the government who decides how much it will cost a year.

In September Lineker denied claims BBC's director-general Tim Davie ordered him to tone down his Tweets.

But rubbished ever being told to stop political tweeting by BBC chief Mr Davie - who is planning a radical shake-up of the national broadcaster, reported The Times.

In a debut speech Mr Davie said: 'If you want to be an opinionated columnist or a partisan campaigner on social media then that is a valid choice, but you should not be working at the BBC.'

Lineker said the BBC knows 'that I tweet carefully'. He said: 'I think the BBC trust me. I know where the land lies - you can't hold the BBC in disrepute.'
A slim majority of Americans back the Senate convicting former President Donald Trump at his impeachment trial for inciting an insurrection, new polling found.

A CBS News/YouGov survey that was released Tuesday found that 56 per cent of Americans believe Trump should be convicted, with the same percentage saying the ex-president encouraged violence at the Capitol.

Polling on the matter falls in line with party preference, with just 8 per cent of Trump's 2020 voters believing he should be convicted, as well as 17 per cent of survey respondents who said they were Republicans.

A majority of Americans believe President Donald Trump should be convicted by the Senate and believe he was responsible for the violence at the Capitol Building, but the number of Democrats is much bigger than the number of Republicans and Trump supporters

New polling found a slim majority of Americans believe Trump should be convicted by the Senate in his second impeachment trial, but Republicans are still very supportive of the ex-president

Breaking down the question of whether Trump encouraged violence at the Capitol, while 56 per cent believe he did, just 21 per cent of self-described Republicans say so, compared to 88 per cent of Democrats

While just 15 per cent of respondents said they were interested in a new Trump political party, that number more than doubles among Republicans, with 33 per cent expressing yes and another 37 per cent who said maybe

On the question of whether Trump encouraged violence, while 56 per cent said so overall, just 21 per cent of Republicans agreed.

Among Democrats that number was 88 per cent, with 54 per cent of independents believing so too.

Ninety-two per cent of Trump voters and 84 per cent of Republicans viewed the impeachment trial, which kicks off Tuesday, as a 'distraction.'

And 81 per cent of Trump voters, as well as 71 per cent of Republicans viewed GOP lawmakers who voted in favor of Trump's impeachment as 'disloyal.'

In general, there wasn't much appetite for Trump for start his own party - with just 15 per cent of respondents saying yes.

However, among Trump's 2020 voters, 37 per cent said yes, they would join a new Trump party, while 37 per cent said maybe. Among Republicans, 33 per cent said yes and 37 per cent said maybe.

Trump's lies about election fraud have seeped in to his voters' beliefs, as just 26 per cent of Trump's 2020 voters said they believed President Joe Biden was the legitimate winner of the race. Among Republicans the total was 34 per cent.

Republicans were more prone to think of Democrats as 'enemies' than the other way around

Democrats were more likely to see Republicans as 'political opposition'

Among Biden voters that number stood at 99 per cent.

Republicans were more likely to view Democrats as 'enemies' - parroting language Trump often used - than the other way around.

Pollsters found that 57 per cent of Republicans viewed Democrats as 'enemies,' while 43 per cent saw them as opposition.

The survey than found that 59 per cent of Democrats viewed Republicans as political opposition, while 41 per cent said they were enemies.

Members of both parties, however, said they found violence unacceptable.

Overall, 91 per cent of all respondents agreed.

That included 94 per cent of Biden voters, 91 per cent of Trump voters, 93 per cent of Democrats and 89 per cent of Republicans, the poll found.

The CBS News survey was conducted by YouGov between February 5 and 8 with 2,508 Americans interviewed.

It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.3 per cent.
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.



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Holly Street Capital Ltd. (TSX-V: HSC.P) (Holly or the Company), a capital pool company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (the Exchange), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement dated February 5, 2021 (the Amalgamation Agreement) with Southern Sky Resources Corp. (Southern Sky) in respect of a proposed business combination (the Proposed Transaction). It is anticipated that the Proposed Transaction will constitute the Qualifying Transaction of Holly in accordance with Policy 2.4  Capital Pool Companies of the Exchange (the CPC Policy). This announcement updates the news release issued by the Company on September 17, 2020.

About Southern Sky

Southern Sky is a private company existing under the laws of Ontario and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Immediately prior to closing of the Proposed Transaction, Southern Sky will have 20,500,000 common shares (the Southern Sky Shares) outstanding, and 200,000 options exercisable to acquire Southern Sky Shares.

Southern Skys material asset consists of its right to acquire a net 75% interest in a mineral exploration project, Project X, totaling approximately 584.39 hectares located in western Colombia (the Property) pursuant to an option agreement (the Option Agreement) dated June 12, 2020 between Southern Sky and private Colombian company.

Project X (five-year option to acquire a net 75% interest)

Project X is an advanced gold exploration property which sits in the Cordillera Occidental of Colombia. A total of 14 historic drill holes were completed on the property during 1997  1998. A summary of the significant data is located in the following table:

Drill Hole From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) Gold

(g/t) DH  1 0.0 18.9 18.9 3.56 DH  2 0.0 80.0 80.0 2.1 including 0.0 22.5 22.5 4.5 DH  4 0.0 451.0 451.0 0.7 including 303.0 325.5 22.5 3.72 DH - 5 0.0 29.0 29.0 2.61 DH - 6 40.5 42.0 1.5 3.64 DH - 7 0.0 157.0 157.0 0.95 including 5.5 14.5 9.0 2.9 DH - 8 37.5 45.0 7.5 0.75 And 103.5 159.0 55.5 0.4 And 171.0 180.0 9.0 0.89 DH - 9 17.0 104.0 87.0 0.41 DH - 10 129.0 136.5 7.5 3.9 And 292.5 307.5 15.0 1.72 DH - 11 196.5 216.0 19.5 1.13 DH - 13 0.0 6.0 6.0 0.55 And 79.5 109.5 30.0 0.8 DH - 14 55.5 106.0 51.0 0.71 and 216.0 220.5 4.5 0.68

Note that the drill hole assay data above was taken from historical press releases of another company which were disseminated prior to National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) being enacted and Southern Sky was not able to locate these drill cores for independent verification.

Over the last eighteen months, Southern Sky has been working with a publicly traded company, Zonte Metals Inc. (TSX:V-ZON) (Zonte), whereby Zonte provided technical advice and permitted Southern Sky to secure a five-year option agreement with a Colombian private company that holds Project X. Southern Sky has the rights to acquire a net 75% interest in the property and Zonte retains the rights to a 25% carried interest until a production decision. Southern Sky shall be the operator of Project X.

Zonte personnel have completed a number of due diligence visits to the property over the last seven years. This included sampling known mineralized structures, confirming drill pad locations and confirming with the local association the previous drilling program. Geologically, the property appears to be a porphyry system with numerous breccia and vein structures. Southern Sky is in the process of mapping and sampling the property with local geological consultants and has conducted a geophysical survey. Southern Sky has also completed a NI 43-101 technical report (the Technical Report) in respect of Project X.

Terms of the Option Agreement for Project X

Pursuant to the terms of the Option Agreement, Southern Sky may acquire a 100% interest (net 75% interest) in Project X by paying a total of US$1,500,000 and issuing 1,500,000 Southern Sky Shares to the vendor as follows:

a) US$10,000 upon signing the letter of intent with the vendor;

b) US$40,000 and issue 50,000 Southern Sky Shares upon regulatory approval;

c) US$75,000 and issue 125,000 Southern Sky Shares upon 1st anniversary of regulatory approval;

d) US$100,000 and issue 175,000 Southern Sky Shares upon 2nd anniversary of regulatory approval;

e) US$125,000 and issue 250,000 Southern Sky Shares upon 3rd anniversary of regulatory approval;

f) US$150,000 and issue 300,000 Southern Sky Shares upon 4th anniversary of regulatory approval; and

g) US$1,000,000 and issue 600,000 Southern Sky Shares upon 5th anniversary of regulatory approval.

It is anticipated that, following the Proposed Transaction, the requirement to issue Southern Sky Shares under the Option Agreement would be satisfied by issuance of Holly Shares (as defined below) on a one-to-one basis. The underlying vendor maintains a 1% net smelter return on production.

Summary of Financial Information of Southern Sky

The following table presents selected financial statement information on the financial condition and results of operations for Southern Sky. Such information is derived from the audited financial statements of Southern Sky for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. The information provided herein should be read in conjunction Southern Skys audited financial statements, which will be contained in the filing statement to be filed on SEDAR in connection with the Proposed Transaction.

As at December 31, 2019



As at December 31, 2018 Current Assets $ 54,991 $ 6,095 Other Assets $ 1,200 $ 523 Total Assets $ 56,191 $ 6,618 Current Liabilities $ 515,375 $ 354,152 Total Liabilities $ 515,375 $ 354,152 Total Shareholders Equity (Deficiency) $ (459,184 ) $ (347,534 ) Total Liabilities and Equity $ 56,191 $ 6,618

*Southern Sky's accounting policy is to expense exploration expenditures as incurred, rather than capitalizing them.

Additional Information Regarding Southern Sky Resources Corp.

Southern Sky has acquired beneficial rights over mineral properties in Guyana since 2011. Southern Sky acquired all of the shares of Guyana Au Corp Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Guyana, in December 2016. Guyana Au Corp. Inc. is the 100% beneficial owner of the Aurora South Property, which it acquired on August 29, 2011. Historic work performed on the Aurora South Property includes an airborne geophysical program flown over the property in 2011 by a previous joint venture partner of Southern Sky. No other work has been completed by Southern Sky on this property and Southern Sky does not intend to further explore this property.

Roger Connors, a resident of Toronto, Ontario, is the only control person of Southern Sky and is expected to be the only control person of the Resulting Issuer.

Summary of the Proposed Transaction

Pursuant to the Amalgamation Agreement, the parties will complete a three-cornered amalgamation whereby 2812239 Ontario Inc. (Holly Subco), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holly, will amalgamate with Southern Sky, and Holly will acquire all of the issued and outstanding Southern Sky Shares. The shareholders of Southern Sky will receive post-Consolidation (as defined below) Holly common shares (the Holly Shares) in exchange for their Southern Sky Shares, resulting in a reverse takeover of Holly by Southern Sky. The amalgamated corporation resulting from the amalgamation of Holly Subco and Southern Sky will be wholly-owned by the Resulting Issuer (as defined below).

Prior to the closing of the Proposed Transaction, Holly will consolidate its outstanding Holly Shares on the basis of one (1) new Holly Share for each two (2) old Holly Shares (the Consolidation), such that, prior to closing of the Proposed Transaction, Holly Street will have approximately 3,755,000 Holly Shares issued and outstanding. It is intended that Holly Shares will be issued to holders of Southern Sky Shares on the basis of one (1) post-Consolidation Holly Share for every one (1) Southern Sky Share, resulting in the issuance of an aggregate 20,500,000 post-Consolidation Holly Shares to the shareholders of Southern Sky. Based on the issue price under the Concurrent Financing, the deemed price for Southern Sky under the Proposed Transaction is $8,200,000.

It is anticipated that the resulting entity (the Resulting Issuer) will continue the business of Southern Sky under the name Southern Sky Resources Corp. or such other name determined by Southern Sky (the Name Change). The business of the Resulting Issuer will be primarily focussed on the exploration of the Property.

Assuming there are no dissenting Holly shareholders and that the Concurrent Financing (as defined below) is fully subscribed, there will be: (i) approximately 30,318,750 post-Consolidation Holly Shares issued and outstanding; (ii) the Holly shareholders will hold 3,755,000 post-Consolidation Holly Shares immediately following completion of the Proposed Transaction, representing approximately 12.39% of the issued and outstanding post-Consolidation Holly Shares; (iii) former Southern Sky shareholders will hold 20,500,000 post-Consolidation Holly Shares, representing approximately 67.61% of the issued and outstanding post-Consolidation Holly Shares; and (iv) investors in the Concurrent Financing will hold 6,063,750 post-Consolidation Holly Shares, representing approximately 20% of the of the issued and outstanding post-Consolidation Holly Shares.

The post-Consolidation Holly Shares to be issued pursuant to the Proposed Transaction will be issued pursuant to exemptions from the prospectus requirements of applicable securities legislation. Certain common shares of the Resulting Issuer to be issued pursuant to the Proposed Transaction are expected to be subject to restrictions on resale or escrow under the policies of the Exchange, including the securities to be issued to Principals (as defined under Exchange policies), which will subject to the escrow requirements of the Exchange.

The completion of the Proposed Transaction remains subject to a number of terms and conditions, including, among other things: no material adverse changes occurring in respect of either Holly or Southern Sky; the parties obtaining all necessary consents, orders and regulatory and shareholder approvals, including the conditional approval of the Exchange subject only to customary conditions of closing; the Consolidation, Name Change and any other corporate changes requested by Southern Sky, acting reasonably, shall have been implemented; completion of the Concurrent Financing described below; Southern Sky shall have provided the Technical Report; and other standard conditions of closing for a transaction in the nature of the Proposed Transaction. There can be no assurance that all of the necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals will be obtained.

Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, it is anticipated that the Resulting Issuer will be listed as a Tier 2 Mining Issuer on the Exchange, with Southern Sky as its primary operating subsidiary.

Concurrent Financing

In connection with the Proposed Transaction, Southern Sky will arrange a private placement (the Concurrent Financing) of 6,063,750 subscription receipts of Southern Sky (the Subscription Receipts) at a price of $0.40 per Subscription Receipt for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $2,425,500, which will be held in escrow by a subscription receipt agent. Upon satisfaction of the escrow release conditions, which includes completion of the Proposed Transaction, each Subscription Receipt is expected to be exercised, without payment of any additional consideration and without further action on the part of the holder thereof, for one Southern Sky Share. Southern Sky may pay finders fees in connection with the Concurrent Financing, in accordance with the policies of the Exchange.

The proceeds of the Concurrent Financing will be used to fund (i) expenses of the Proposed Transaction and the Concurrent Financing, (ii) the exploration and other expenses relating to the Property, and (ii) the working capital requirements of the Resulting Issuer.

Summary of Proposed Directors and Officers of the Resulting Issuer

It is intended that concurrent with the closing of the Proposed Transaction, the board of directors and management of the Company will be reconstituted. The first directors of the Resulting Issuer will be Roger Connors, Kyle Stevenson, Joel Freudman and Dominic OSullivan. These directors shall hold office until the first annual meeting of the shareholders of the Resulting Issuer following closing, or until their successors are duly appointed or elected. The first officers of the Resulting Issuer will be Roger Connors as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Victor Hugo as Chief Financial Officer and Monique Hutchins as Corporate Secretary.

Additional biographic information about the proposed directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer is provided below.

Roger Connors  Chairman, President, CEO and Director

Mr. Connors is an entrepreneur and consultant based in Toronto, Ontario with 27 years of experience managing private and public resource companies including Kimber Resources Inc. and National Gold Corp., which merged to form Alamos Gold Inc. Mr. Connors has since been focused on acquiring exploration and development stage gold projects in underexplored regions of South America.

Mr. Connors holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Acadia University.

Victor Hugo  Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Hugo possesses over 20 years of experience working with public companies in the manufacturing and resource sector with responsibility for accounting, budgeting and financial reporting. Mr. Hugo is currently a Senior Financial Analyst at Marelli Support Services Inc.

Mr. Hugo is a CPA, CMA and has a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours, specializing in accounting and cost and management accounting from Potchefstroom University in South Africa.

Monique Hutchins  Corporate Secretary

Ms. Hutchins is the Managing Director of DSA Corporate Services Inc. and has over fifteen years of corporate secretarial, corporate governance, client relationship and marketing experience. She was previously the Director of Business Development & Marketing and Corporate Secretary at Independent Review Inc., an organization that runs Independent Review Committees that is a part of the governance structure of every investment fund in Ontario. She has previously held senior roles at Kingsdale Shareholder Services and Institutional Shareholder Services.

Ms. Hutchins is a member of the Chartered Governance Institute of Canada (CGIC) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from John Molson School of Business, Concordia University.

Kyle Stevenson  Director

Mr. Stevenson has 16 years experience in finance, marketing and investor relations to board. Mr. Stevenson has filled several high-profile roles over the years, including; Founder/President/Director of Millennial Lithium Corp., CEO/Director RuralCom Capital., a licensed Canadian telecom provider acquired by Investel Capital Corp. in 2016 and Founder/President/Director of High North Resources Ltd., an oil and gas producer focused on western Canada.

He graduated from the University of Victoria with his B. Comm. in 1998.

Joel Freudman  Director

Mr. Freudman is the Chief Executive Officer of Holly. He is also Founder and President of Resurgent Capital Corp. (2016 to present), a merchant bank focused on Canadian micro-capitalization issuers, and a director and officer of several publicly-traded and private companies, including acting as Co-Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of TRU Precious Metals Corp. (TSXV:TRU; OTCQB:TRUIF). Previously, he was Legal Counsel at Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. (2015 to 2017); Counsel at Royal Bank of Canada (2014 to 2015); and a Securities/M&A Associate at Peterson & Company LLP (now called Peterson McVicar LLP) (2012 to 2014), a law firm focused on publicly-traded junior mining issuers.

Mr. Freudman holds a B.Comm. from the University of Toronto and a J.D. from Western University.

Dominic OSullivan  Director

Mr. OSullivan is currently the Chairman of Tajiri Resources Corp. Mr. OSullivan is an experienced gold exploration geologist. He most recently discovered the 1.65Moz Karouni gold deposit in Guyana, which is currently producing 100,000 oz per annum for Troy Resources Ltd. He was the founder of Azimuth Resources, which was acquired by Troy Resources for US$180M.

No insiders of the Resulting Issuer are expected other than the board, management and control persons as set out herein.

Sponsorship of a Qualifying Transaction

Sponsorship of a qualifying transaction is required by the Exchange unless exempt or waived in accordance with Exchange policies. Holly intends to apply for a waiver from the sponsorship requirements pursuant to the policies of the Exchange, however, there is no assurance that a waiver will be provided.

Other Information relating to the Proposed Transaction

The Proposed Transaction will not constitute a Non-Arms Length Qualifying Transaction (as such term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) for Holly. Accordingly, the Proposed Transaction will not require the approval of the shareholders of Holly.

No finders fees are payable in connection with the Proposed Transaction.

The Proposed Transaction will require the approval of the shareholders of Southern Sky. Southern Sky intends to hold a shareholder meeting to seek all necessary approvals.

In accordance with the policies of the Exchange, the Holly Shares are currently halted from trading and will remain so until such time as the Exchange determines, which, depending on the policies of the Exchange, may not occur until completion of the Proposed Transaction.

In connection with the Proposed Transaction, McMillan LLP is acting as legal counsel to Holly and Miller Thomson LLP is acting as legal counsel to Southern Sky.

Further updates, including financial information regarding Southern Sky and details regarding the proposed fourth director of the Resulting Issuer, will be provided in a subsequent press release. Also, additional information concerning the Proposed Transaction, Holly, Southern Sky and the Resulting Issuer will be provided in the Filing Statement to be filed by Holly in connection with the Proposed Transaction and which will be available in due course under Hollys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

Annual General Meeting Results

The Company is also pleased to announce that at the Companys annual general meeting held on January 25, 2021 (the AGM) shareholders passed the following resolutions:

the number of directors of the Company was set at three (3);

the three (3) members re-elected to the Companys board of directors were: Trumbull Fisher, Joel Freudman and Damian Lopez;

Charlton & Company, Chartered Professional Accountants, were re-appointed as auditors of the Company for the ensuing year; and

the Companys 10% rolling stock option plan was ratified and approved for continuation.

In accordance with the recent amendments to the CPC Policy which became effective on January 1, 2021, at the AGM disinterested shareholders of the Company also approved the following:

the removal of the consequences associated with the Company failing to complete a qualifying transaction within 24 months after the date of listing on the Exchange; and

the amendment of the Form 2F CPC Escrow Agreement dated November 29, 2019 among the Company, Olympia Trust Company and certain securityholders (the Escrow Agreement) to reflect the minimum escrow term permitted by the CPC Policy.

Further information regarding the resolutions passed at the AGM can be found in the Companys management information circular dated December 16, 2020, which is available on the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About Holly Street Capital Ltd.

Holly is designated as a Capital Pool Company under the CPC Policy. Holly has not commenced commercial operations and has no assets other than cash. Hollys objective is to identify and evaluate businesses or assets with a view to completing a Qualifying Transaction. Any proposed Qualifying Transaction must be approved by the Exchange and, in the case of a Non-Arms Length Qualifying Transaction, must also receive majority approval of the minority shareholders. Until the completion of a Qualifying Transaction, Holly will not carry on any business other than the identification and evaluation of businesses or assets with a view to completing a proposed Qualifying Transaction.

Holly is a portfolio company of Resurgent Capital Corp. ("Resurgent"), a merchant bank providing venture capital markets advisory services and proprietary financing. Resurgent works with promising public and pre-public micro-capitalization Canadian companies. For more information on Resurgent and its portfolio companies, please visit Resurgent's LinkedIn profile at https://ca.linkedin.com/company/resurgent-capital-corp.

For further information regarding Holly and the Proposed Transaction, please contact Joel Freudman, Chief Executive Officer, at (647) 880-6414.

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.

Qualified Person

Jack King, P.Geo. is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the contents and technical disclosures in this press release. Neither Mr. King nor the Company has verified the technical information in this press release.

Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable pursuant to Exchange Requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, 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 the management information circular or 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 a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

All information contained in this news release with respect to Holly and Southern Sky was supplied by the parties, respectively, for inclusion herein, and Holly and its respective directors and officers have relied on Southern Sky for any information concerning Southern Sky.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements, including statements relating to the completion of the Proposed Transaction, the proposed business of the Resulting Issuer, the completion of the Concurrent Financing, degree to which historical drill results are reflective of actual mineral resources, Southern Sky or the Resulting Issuer completing its mapping and sampling program at Project X obtaining regulatory approval for Project X, Southern Sky or the Resulting Issuer satisfying terms of the Option Agreement and acquiring net 75% interest in Project X, the proposed directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer, the completion of the Consolidation, the completion of the Name Change, Exchange sponsorship requirements and intended application for waiver therefrom, shareholder, director and regulatory approvals, and future press releases and disclosure. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance of each of Holly and Southern Sky may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Although each of Holly and Southern Sky believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements herein are reasonable, they can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward looking statements herein will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, each of Holly and Southern Sky disclaims any intention and assume no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements herein to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise.
Dive into the background of the nine impeachment managers Speaker Nancy Pelosi chose to present the case to the Senate in the second impeachment trial of former President Donald J. Trump, and a common thread will emerge: deep experience in the law.

All equipped with law degrees, the nine managers include Democrats who served as notable characters in Mr. Trumps first impeachment trial and some who have spoken out forcefully against Mr. Trump in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Previous impeachment trials have shown that the role of impeachment manager can bring valuable recognition to representatives and elevate their political profile. Lindsey Graham, now the senior senator from South Carolina, served as an impeachment manager in the Senate trial of President Bill Clinton. Representative Adam Schiff of California served as the lead manager in Mr. Trumps first impeachment trial.

The six men and three women whom Ms. Pelosi chose reflect the geographic and demographic diversity within the Democratic caucus.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- San Francisco real estate developer Postcard Properties today announced its partnership with Kasa, a national flexible accommodations provider, to manage the much-anticipated Hotel Castro, opening in June 2021. Kasa will oversee day-to-day operations of the hotelthe first of its kind in the Castro Districtand bring the intimate, neighborhood-centric vision for the property to life.

Leveraging their luxury residential development expertise, Postcard Properties has designed a newly constructed, 6,000-square-foot, 12-room hotel that celebrates its famous surroundings. A rooftop lounge, private guest room balconies and retro 1970s decor all draw guests' attention to the history and present-day vibrancy of the Castro. The lobby-level food and beverage concept Lobby Bar, from the team behind local favorite Hi Tops, is set to become an essential addition to the neighborhood's already-lively and inclusive dining and nightlife scene.

"Everything about this project is influenced by the Castro's storied history," said Gannon Tidwell, managing partner at Postcard Properties. "It's the inspiration behind the architecture, the decor, and we will be working with members of the community as much as possible to bring the experience together."

Kasa offers accommodations in more than 40 markets nationwide, including San Francisco where they are headquartered. They will bring their virtual service model to the Hotel Castro, where they will use proprietary technology to give guests full access to check-in, check-out, housekeeping, room service and other hotel amenities through digital channels. This will allow Hotel Castro support staff to offer 24/7 service while ensuring a private, intimate experience for guests.

"We look forward to using all the tools at Kasa's disposalour technology, our experience, our local rootsto offer guests unique moments at this beautiful property," said Mike Millas, senior director of strategic finance at Kasa. "The Hotel Castro is an exciting expansion of our boutique hotel management platform, and we're thrilled to bring our distinct vision of world-class hospitality to this world-class neighborhood."

The Hotel Castro expects to begin accepting reservations in Spring 2021.

About Kasa

Kasa is a national accommodations brand with roots in real estate and technology. The company partners with property owners to transform multifamily and boutique hospitality properties into professionally managed units that offer trustworthy and comfortable accommodations to business and leisure travelers alike. Kasa was founded in 2016 in San Francisco by a team that includes technology, hospitality and real estate professionals. For more information, visit http://www.kasa.com .

About Postcard Properties

Postcard Properties is real estate investment and development firm based in San Francisco. The company invests in value-add real estate opportunities in highly desirable locations throughout California. The Postcard portfolio consists of lifestyles assets which enhance communities and improve peoples' experiences where they live, work and play. Founded in 2010, the Company has acquired and managed several real estate investments to include residential, office, mixed-use and hospitality.

For more about Kasa:

[email protected]

SOURCE Kasa

Related Links

https://www.kasa.com


[February 08, 2021] SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS IRTC, PEN, QS, SWI INVESTORS of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits

NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors of pending deadlines in the following securities class action lawsuits: SolarWinds Corporation (SWI)

Class Period: 2/24/2020 - 12/15/2020

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: March 5, 2021

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-solarwinds-corporation-securities-litigation QuantumScape Corporation (QS)

Class Period: 11/27/2020 - 12/31/2020

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: March 8, 2021

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://ww.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-quantumscape-corporation-securities-litigation



Penumbra, Inc. (PEN)

Class Period: 8/3/2020 - 12/15/2020

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: March 16, 2021

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-penumbra-inc-securities-litigation iRhythm Technologies (IRTC)

Class Period: 8/4/2020 - 1/28/2021

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: April 2, 2021

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-irhythm-technologies-inc-securities-litigation

If you purchased shares of the above companies and would like to discuss your legal rights and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact us toll-free (844) 367-9658 or visit the case links above. If you wish to serve as a Lead Plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court on or before the Lead Plaintiff Motion deadline. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com



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There may be greater CO2 emissions associated with thawing Arctic permafrost than ever imagined. An international team of researchers, including one from the University of Copenhagen, has discovered that soil bacteria release CO2 previously thought to be

Rising global temperatures are causing frozen Arctic soil-- permafrost--in the northern hemisphere to thaw and release CO2 that has been stored within it for thousands of years. The amount of carbon stored in permafrost is estimated to be four times greater than the combined amount of CO2 emitted by modern humans.

Research results from an international team, which includes a researcher from the University of Copenhagen among others, suggests that the newly discovered phenomenon will release even larger quantities of CO2 than once supposed from organic matter in permafrost--a pool of carbon previously thought to be bound tightly and safely sequestered by iron.

The amount of stored carbon that is bound to iron and gets converted to CO2 when released is estimated to be somewhere between two and five times the amount of carbon released annually through anthropogenic fossil fuel emissions.

Iron doesn't bind organic carbon after all

Researchers have long been aware that microorganisms play a key role in the release of CO2 as permafrost melts. Microorganisms activated as soil thaws convert dead plants and other organic material into greenhouse gases like methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide.

What is new, is that the mineral iron was believed to bind carbon even as permafrost thawed. The new result demonstrates that bacteria incapacitate iron's carbon trapping ability, resulting in the release of vast amounts of CO2. This is an entirely new discovery.

"What we see is that bacteria simply use iron minerals as a food source. As they feed, the bonds which had trapped carbon are destroyed and it is released into the atmosphere as greenhouse gas," explains Associate Professor Carsten W. Muller of the University of Copenhagen's Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management. He elaborates:

"Frozen soil has a high oxygen content, which keeps iron minerals stable and allows carbon to bind to them. But as soon as the ice melts and turns to water, oxygen levels drop and the iron becomes unstable. At the same time, the melted ice permits access to bacteria. As a whole, this is what releases stored carbon as CO2," explains Muller.

The study has just been published in Nature Communications.

Absent from climate models

Although the researchers have only studied a single bog area in Abisko, northern Sweden, they have compared their results with data from other parts the northern hemisphere and expect their new results to also be valid in other areas of permafrost worldwide.

"This means that we have a large new source of CO2 emissions that needs to be included in climate models and more closely examined," says Carsten W. Muller.

Even though carbon stored in permafrost has a major impact on our climate, researchers know very little about the mechanisms that determine whether carbon in soil is converted into greenhouse gases.

"The majority of climate research in the Arctic focuses on the amount of stored carbon and how sensitive it is to climate change. There is a great deal less of a focus on the deeper mechanisms which trap carbon in soil," says Carsten W. Muller.

Researchers remain uncertain about how much extra carbon from soil could potentially be released through this newly discovered mechanism. Closer investigation is needed.

###

Facts:

1,700 billion tons of organic matter, built up over thousands of years, are contained in Earth's permafrost. [link: https:/ / cenperm. ku. dk/ facts-about-permafrost/ ]

] The amount of carbon stored in permafrost is estimated to be four times more than the total amount of CO2 emitted by humans in modern times.

Microorganisms exist everywhere, in every environment and are central to countless natural processes. In relation to the processes here, climate gases are released into the atmosphere, which is why microorganisms play a key role in climate and climate change.

The study was conducted in the Stordalen mire in Abisko, northern Sweden, and in the laboratory, in a collaboration between the University of Tubingen, the University of Bristol and the University of Copenhagen.

Contact:

Carsten W. Muller

Associate Professor

Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management

University of Copenhagen

Mail: cm@ign.ku.dk

Mobile: +45

Michael Skov Jensen

Journalist

The Faculty of Science

University of Copenhagen

Mail:msj@science.ku.dk

Mobile: +45 93 56 58 97
A 67-year-old local man who was well-known to police opened fire at a Minnesota health clinic, wounding five people who were rushed to area hospitals, US authorities said.

The attack happened Tuesday morning at an Allina clinic in Buffalo, a community of about 15,000 people roughly roughly 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

Kelly Spratt, the president of Buffalo Health, said during a news conference that five people were wounded and were rushed to hospitals, but that he did not know any of their conditions.

The alleged shooter was identified as Gregory Paul Ulrich, of Buffalo.

Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer said Ulrich was well-known to authorities before the attack.

We have had several calls for service dating to 2003, Mr Deringer said.

Public online court records for Ulrich list a handful of arrests and convictions for drunken driving and possession of small amounts of marijuana from 2004 through 2014, mostly in Wright County, including two convictions for gross misdemeanour drunken driving that resulted in short jail sentences.

Police Chief Pat Budke said the attack did not appear to be an instance of domestic terrorism, though he did not elaborate.

Governor Tim Walz said at an earlier news conference that some improvised explosive devices were part of the attack, though he did not say whether any were detonated.

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At this time it appears it was a single individual, Mr Walz said.

Again, (its) too early to tell motives or reasons why.

North Memorial Health spokeswoman Abigail Greenheck said multiple victims were brought to its hospital in Robbinsdale.

She did not say how many or what condition they were in.

The FBI sent bomb technicians to the scene. Members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms enforcement group and special agents from the states Bureau of Criminal Apprehension also responded.

The clinic is set off at the edge of Buffalo near an old red barn with flaking paint.

Dozens of emergency vehicles and law enforcement officers carrying guns were on the scene, setting up a perimeter.

TV footage showed little activity at the clinic itself, but several shattered plate-glass windows could be seen.

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At least two windows were shattered at a nearby motel.

More than three hours after the attack, police moved to cordon off a neighbourhood about a mile from the clinic.

At least a half-dozen police vehicles were gathered near a small mobile home park near Pulaski Lake in the city.

A woman from the sheriffs office who declined to identify herself said they were executing a search warrant in connection to the clinic shooting.

She declined to give any additional information.

A state Department of Public Health spokesman said he did not immediately know if the clinic has been administering Covid-19 vaccinations.

An Allina spokesman referred all questions to the Buffalo police and the Wright County Sheriffs Office.
State produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation ( Admarc) has rebuffed agriculture commodity trader, AHL to retrench 40 percent of its staff as one way of restructuring.

Lately, AHL has been sailing through turbelent financial waters.

This led to the company failing to pay salaries of its workers for four months triggering waves of protests.

However, AHL proceeded to obtain a K6 billion bail out from Admarc to be used in servicing all outstanding debts as well as to embark on restructuring process.

Among others the company wants to lay off some junior staff members.

Alexander Kusamba Dzonzi board chairperson for Admarc has asked AHL to fix the financial mess at Malawi Leaf first where money amounting to K42 billion is said to have gone missing before proceeding to retrench junior staff members.

Dzonzi has also tipped AHL to focus on rebuilding the public image of one its subsidiary companies Malawi leaf before the company embarks on a restructuring drive.
 Flash

Ukraine will be included primarily in the supply of COVID-19 vaccines as part of the global COVAX initiative, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in his online speech at the opening of the all-Ukrainian forum "Ukraine 30. Coronavirus: Challenges and Answers" in Kiev on Monday.

"Last week, COVAX published its forecast for the distribution of vaccines among the countries participating in this initiative, and together with UNICEF and other organizations, we will work to distribute these vaccines as soon as possible. And Ukraine is one of the countries that will be included in the first deployment wave of the COVAX initiative to vaccinate health workers, seniors, those who are directly in touch with COVID-19 patients," the WHO head said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who also took part in the forum, said that Ukraine has already reached agreements on the supply of vaccines with Sinovac Biotech, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Novavax companies.

The country's Ministry of Health has approved a plan for vaccinating the population against COVID-19, under which 50 percent of the population, or 20 million people, will receive the vaccination in 2021-2022.

The approved plan sets four stages of vaccination, giving preference to the most vulnerable groups of citizens, the ministry said earlier.

At least 8 million doses will be donated to Ukraine as a member of the COVAX initiative. Meanwhile, the country will purchase the rest of the vaccines from manufacturers.

A total of 1,246,990 COVID-19 cases, with 23,644 deaths, have been registered in Ukraine as of Monday, while 1,075,743 patients have recovered, according to the ministry.
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On Friday, a new year is born in the Chinese calendar. It is an important festival and holiday period. Last year, the Lunar New Year arrived in January, and the travel associated with itsomehow only to international destinations but not within Chinagave rise to a lot of things that the world has endured over the past 12 months. As of now, in some parts of the world, that experience endures. In others, it threatens to return. Some placeslike Indiaappear to have put it behind them. But none can be sure.

China locked down Wuhan and Hubei province to prevent the virus from spreading. Based on publicly available information, by doing so, it appears to have succeeded remarkably in containing the spread of the virus last year. In the process, it exported its lockdown template to the rest of the world last March, starting with Italy. Lockdowns were a non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) explicitly rejected by the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University and the World Health Organization in separate reports published in September and October 2019, respectively.

A National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) working paper, titled Four Stylized Facts About Covid-19 and published in August 2020, states that a failure to account for those four stylized facts may have resulted in overstating the importance of policy-mandated NPIs for shaping the progression of the deadly pandemic.

In a recent interview, Neil Ferguson, a famous epidemiologist at Imperial College London, told Unherd.com that had China not shown that cities and countries could be locked down, other countries would not have thought of it as an option. The worldwide collateral damage of that precedent is inestimable and still rising. Data will be tallied for years and decades to come.

Another NBER working paper, The Long-Term Impact of the Covid-19 Unemployment Shock on Life Expectancy and Mortality Rates, published in December 2020, noted the following: The size of the covid-19 related unemployment to be between 2 and 5 times larger than the typical unemployment shock, depending on race/gender, resulting in a 3% increase in mortality rate and a 0.5% drop in life expectancy over the next 15 years for the overall American population. We also predict that the shock will disproportionately affect African-Americans and women, over a short horizon, while white men might suffer large consequences over longer horizons. These figures translate into a staggering 0.89 million additional deaths over the next 15 years."

Many commentatorsso-called experts and othershave intoned dramatically that there was blood on the hands of their favourite politician who left office on 20 January 2021 for his allegedly bungled policy response to the virus. They could be right about blood on hands, but they are focusing on the wrong ones.

The predictions of Fergusons models were dire, contrary to later assertions. They took into account a spontaneous public-safety response to the spreading virus and also lockdown measures. Yet, they predicted a catastrophically high number of deaths in the US and the UK that never materialized, thankfully. His track record on projected deaths from swine flu and the mad cow disease is no better. They were equally dire but never materialized. Yet, his covid models drove the decisions of scientists and policymakers in major nations of the West in March-May 2020.

Imperial College London has prided itself on being the academic partner of China in the West. Chinese President Xi Jinping even visited the college in 2015.

On paper, China grew 2.3% in 2020, with its fourth-quarter growth estimated at 6.5%. Its rebound in 2021 is expected to exceed 8%. Analysts behind the China Beige Book have pointed out that its growth in 2020 was achieved through a downward revision of 2019 numbers. In its annual Article IV assessment of the Chinese economy for 2020, published in January 2021, the International Monetary Fund reckons that Chinas true fiscal deficit was 18.2% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020, and that it would be at 13.8% by 2025. Chinas true general government debt was 91.7% of GDP in 2020, rising to 112.7% by 2025.

The Asia Society Policy and Rhodium Group collaborate to produce a China dashboard every quarter. The winter 2021 update was released in January. Despite the Asia Society leaderships close ties with China, the report pulls no punches. The role of state-owned enterprises is resurgent and it says that the party-state was intolerant of private firms becoming too influential.

The dashboard assesses progress on the Sixty Decisions of the Chinese Communist Party issued in November 2013. It has consolidated these decisions into 10 clusters. In the seven years since the decisions were put out, according to the dashboard, six have seen reform run backwards (or stalled), on balance, while four have seen some modest advancement.

These form the backdrop to the story of a Chinese economy that has recovered and is poised to wrest leadership of the global GDP sweepstakes from America in the next few years.

V. Anantha Nageswaran is a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. These are the authors personal views.

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Pope Francis insisted that spiritual health is just as important as physical health and urged authorities to respect and protect religious freedom in their fight against the spread of COVID-19.

On Monday, Pope Francis wrote an address to the members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See in which he emphasized the need of civil authorities to respect and defend freedom of worship.

"Freedom of worship, furthermore, is not a corollary of the freedom of assembly," he argued. "It is in essence derived from the right to freedom of religion, which is the primary and fundamental human right."

"This right must therefore be respected, protected, and defended by civil authorities, like the right to bodily and physical health," he insisted. "For that matter, sound care of the body can never ignore the care of the soul."

According to Breitbart, in line with the efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus, numerous implications were done "for a number of fundamental freedoms, including religious freedom, restricting public worship and the educational and charitable activities of faith communities," Pope Francis noted in his address.

During the coronavirus pandemic, many countries have categorized activities into "essential" and "nonessential" activities. Religious activities often fall into the latter category, Pope Francis denounced.

"It must be recognized, however, that religion is a fundamental aspect of the human person and of society, and cannot be eliminated," Pope Francis claimed. "Even as we seek ways to protect human lives from the spread of the virus, we cannot view the spiritual and moral dimension of the human person as less important than physical health."

Pope Francis also mentioned in his address that he knows everyone, including himself, is looking forward to the resumption of normal daily routines and personal contacts as soon as possible.

The number of crises that humans are currently experiencing can not be solved "unless we safeguard the transcendent dignity of each human person, created in the image and likeness of God," the Pope concluded.

The Pope's address followed on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last Friday regarding the banning of indoor church services in California.

In the Supreme Court's opinion regarding the 6-3 majority in the case of South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the "federal courts owe significant deference" to the public health officials, but there will be limitations.

"The state's present determination - that the maximum number of adherents who can safely worship in the most cavernous cathedral is zero - appears to reflect not expertise or discretion, but instead insufficient appreciation or consideration of the interests at stake," Chief Justice Roberts wrote.

Justice Neil Gorsuch also noted that since the coronavirus outbreak, California has openly pressed stricter measures on religious institutions than those of other businesses.

"When a State so obviously targets religion for differential treatment, our job becomes that much clearer," Gorsuch said. "As the Ninth Circuit recognized, regulations like these violate the First Amendment unless the State can show they are the least restrictive means of achieving a compelling government interest."

"Drafting narrowly tailored regulations can be difficult," he concluded. "But if Hollywood may host a studio audience or film a singing competition while not a single soul may enter California's churches, synagogues, and mosques, something has gone seriously awry."

Related Egypt's Sisi follows up on developments in Bardawil Lake project in North Sinai Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed on Tuesday with Board Chairman of the Dredging, Environmental and Marine Engineering NV (DEME) Company Luc Bertrand, along with a number of the company senior officials the national project for the comprehensive development of Bardawil Lake in North Sinai.

The Bardawil project comes within the governments strategy aimed at developing Egyptian lakes and restoring their previous condition.

The Bardawil Lake project, which was launched in 2017, targets increasing the lake's productivity and preserving its fish reserves by enforcing hunting laws to prevent all fishing violations. The project's objectives also include allocating designated villages for fishermen in order to raise their standards of living.

For the DEME Head, Luc Bertrand expressed his companys aspiration to cooperate with Egypt in developing the Bardawil, given the lake's unique location on the Mediterranean Sea and its high-quality fish wealth, its expected to have a wide positive impact on developing the North Sinai region, providing job opportunities, restoring the environmental balance of the lake, improving water quality and achieving food security.

The development of the Bardawil is positioned to integrate with a bigger strategy of the Sinai Peninsula development, a national venture which Egypt has allocated for an amount of 275 billion Egyptian pounds ($15.6 billion) and is estimated to be completed by 2022.

The lake project is significant for its anticipated contribution in boosting fish production on national levels as well as the unlocking of numerous work opportunities.

Aside from DEME, El-Sisi also met a number of other CEOs of Belgian companies on Tuesday including Antwerp Port Authority and Fluxys, the natural gas transmission system operator.

The meeting was attended by Egypts Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly, the Ambassador of Belgium Francois Cornet D'Elzius, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Mulla and Commander of the Navy Lieutenant General Ahmed Khaled.

Lake plans

Lake Bardawil is a large, very saline lagoon on the north coast of the Sinai Peninsula. The lake, which spans 30 km long and 14 km wide, is one of three major lakes of the Sinai Peninsula.

It is a shallow lake with only three metres in depth., It is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a narrow sandbar, which makes the lake an environment attractive to different fish species.

The lake development projects will be carried out in three stages. The first will be the development of 30 million cubic metres, while the second and third phases will see the development of 40 million cubic metres in each.

The project targets increasing fish production close to 50,000 tons per year.

The government intends to set up a development plan to restore the ecological balance and improve water quality, through a management plan to fishing processes, increasing production by importing fish nutrients and breeding algae as a source of food for fish.

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TORONTO, Feb. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Excellence Canada, an independent not-for-profit corporation, announced today its newest standard: the Organizational Excellence Standard (OES). Through the OES, Excellence Canada sets the bar for performance excellence and wellness in todays dynamic work environment.



The OES is a robust yet flexible framework that uses a data-driven assessment to find gaps and opportunities for continual improvement in all private and public sector organizations, businesses, and institutions. Through OES implementation and certification, organizations will adopt best practices for sustained excellence and peak performance.

Excellence Canadas OES is the exciting product of 36 years of experience, setting standards and working with thousands of organizations to successfully implement them, combined with months of research into the Future of Work and how organizations can successfully address todays unique challenges while preparing for the future.

Organizations have anticipated the impacts of globalization and technology on workflow and performance for over a decade. However, nothing prepared businesses for the sudden change that COVID-19 forced overnight.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has severely affected individuals, families and organizations. As a result, Excellence Canada recognized that we needed to develop a revised and more robust framework that will help organizations deal with the new realities of the 'Future of Work' such as how, where and when people will work, said Allan N. Ebedes, President & CEO of Excellence Canada. The Organizational Excellence Standard does this. We have also increased the focus on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. We are grateful for the input and expertise of numerous partners from coast-to-coast across Canada who helped us develop the OES."

Excellence Canada helps organizations identify solutions customized for each workplaces unique challenges, by adopting the Organizational Excellence Standard.

Organizations can implement and complete the OES and certification with outcome-based recommendations for programs, measurements, consulting, training, and initiatives to improve their overall excellence. OES solutions are purposely flexible, giving organizations the tools to innovate and adapt as new challenges arise.

The overarching goal of the OES is not only to address the challenges of 2021 but also future-proof workplaces by building a workforce culture of excellence that embraces continual improvement.

The biggest value in pursuing this Standard is that it takes the guesswork out of what a leading organization should be and should do, and instead, orients all staff to thinking and speaking about excellence in one common language for one common goal, said Martin Stefanczyk, Program Manager, Corporate and Strategic Initiatives, Town of Aurora

At a high-level, Excellence Canada focuses on the six drivers of organizational excellence: Leadership, Planning, Customers, Our People, Processes, and Partners.

Excellence Canadas Organizational Excellence Standard includes desired outcomes for:

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Agility and adaptability

Enterprise risk management

Crisis management

Pandemic planning

Digital transformation

Financial wellness

Mental and Physical wellness

The OES aligns with other Excellence Canada awards and programs, providing organizations with an opportunity for greater competitive advantage. Organizations that meet the OES criteria can apply for national recognition under the prestigious Canada Awards for Excellence Program.

Interested parties should join us for a live webinar that explains the new Standard in greater detail:

The Why, What, and the Why Now of the OES

Register now for a one-hour complimentary webinar taking place on February 11, 2021 at 1 pm EST.

Learn about first steps toward implementing the OES through a Senior Leadership Presentation or perform a Baseline Assessment against the OES criteria. Schedule a conversation with an OES Advisor.

About Excellence Canada

Excellence Canada is an independent, not-for-profit corporation committed to advancing organizational excellence across Canada. They have helped businesses thrive for over 36 years with their highly effective programs and practices. Their vision is to promote and enable excellence in every organization in Canada and sustain that excellence throughout all sectors of the economy.

As the national authority on Organizational Excellence, Healthy Workplace and Mental Health at Work, Excellence Canada provides excellence frameworks, standards, consulting, and independent verification and certification to organizations of all sizes and sectors. It is also the custodian and adjudicator of the prestigious Canada Awards for Excellence program.

Media inquiries:

Niki Marusic, VP of Marketing

1-416-251-7600 ext. 231

Email niki@excellence.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0f23861d-119f-4f63-acb2-455407b01a83
[February 09, 2021]

Synergy One Lending Welcomes Top Producers Travis Newton, Mike Wilbur and Ben Nelson

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Synergy One Lending welcome Travis Newton, Mike Wilbur and Ben Nelson to the growing Synergy One team. Travis and Mike will run the production team as Area Managers while Ben will continue his role as Sales Manager. The trio have each been recognized as top 1% originators Nationwide.

"We are overjoyed at the opportunity placed before us by Aaron Nemec and Steve Majerus. This move gives us the autonomy to make decisions at the local level while also providing an incredibly robust fintech platform as we begin to build a Billion dollar team here in Oregon," said Travis.

Synergy One President, Aaron Nemec added, "These guys are some of the absolute best in the business, and it's an honor to partner and grow with them!"

Synergy One Lending is based in San Diego, CA, is currently licensed in 38 states and has Operational HUBS in Roseville, CA, Boise, ID, Denver, CO and Dallas, TX. To learn more about Synergy One Lending, reach out to Aaron Nemec or Ben Green.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/synergy-one-lending-welcomes-top-producers-travis-newton-mike-wilbur-and-ben-nelson-301225083.html

SOURCE Synergy One Lending
Thiruvananathapuram, Feb 9 : Kerala's opposition Congress and BJP on Tuesday took on the CPI-M over a "suspected" dilution in the ruling party's stand on the entry of women aged between 10 and 50 to the Sabarimala temple.

Even as the issue is before a seven member bench of the Supreme Court, the Congress last week said that if it wins the coming Assembly polls, it will bring legislation on women's entry to the hilltop temple.

In a reaction, CPI-M Central Committee member M.V. Govindan, indirectly referring to the issue, said that "it was impractical to implement dialectical materialism in a society which was not even ready to accept materialism".

This statement from Govindan was seen as a bid to win back the Hindu votes and then came the statement from CPI-M Politburo member M.A. Baby saying that a fresh affidavit on this would be given in the apex court. However, soon he backtracked and said what he meant was that once the verdict comes, there will be a detailed talk with all sections to decide the way ahead.

Soon after the apex court had allowed entry of all women into the temple a couple of years ago, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had moved the implement the verdict, and even went to the extent of heralding a "renaissance movement".

But the issue had sparked off strong protests and led to confrontations between hardcore believers and the police. At one point, two women in the hitherto banned age group were able to get darshan, with a strong police force accompanying them.

The CPI-M's stand came to haunt it as the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Vijayan and the CPI-M, who were expecting to win 19 out of the state's 20 seats, had to remain content with one. The general belief was it was a huge backlash by the Hindu voters, which decided to teach Vijayan and the CPI-M a fitting lesson for trying to dilute the tradition of Sabarimala.

Following the CPI-M leader's statements, BJP's state President K. Surendran said that it is not for people like Baby "who are sidelined in the party" to come out with such statements and instead Vijayan should come clean on what their stand is.

"The need of the hour is Vijayan should apologise to the believers for their wrong stand that they took and then decide on a fresh affidavit. Baby's statement means nothing, as he is only an 'outsider' in the party," he said.

Leader of Opposition and Congress veteran Ramesh Chennithala expressed surprise in the dilly-dallying of the CPI-M on the issue, asking if Vijayan has laid down his position as the leader of the renaissance movement.

State Congress president Mullapally Ramachandran said all these are nothing but a tactical move by the CPI-M and they should first discuss with all concerned before, they make any move.

Hitting back, state Culture and Devasom Minister and senior CPI-M leader A.K. Balan said the Congress and others are trying to rake up passion for securing votes in the upcoming Assembly polls.

Joining issue was the powerful Nair Service Society, the socio-cultural body of the Hindu Nair community, whose General Secretary Sukumaran Nair, in a statement on Tuesday, blamed all the three political fronts for trying to score political points with the elections round the corner and pointed that each of these political outfits had time to work towards for upholding the interests of the believers.
The Challenge three-time competitor and Celebrity Big Brother champ Stephen Bear has been under fire for the past few months due to his alleged involvement in a revenge porn case with ex Georgia Harrison. Following the accusations, Bear announced he was expecting twins with his 18-year-old girlfriend. However, fans began blasting the 31-year-old reality star after discovering he used a picture from the internet for his announcement.

Stephen Bear attends a photocall for Just Tattoo Of Us: Can You Deal With The Reveal? pop-up tattoo parlour | Karwai Tang

Stephen Bear won Celebrity Big Brother before competing on The Challenge

London native Stephen Bear made his reality television debut at the age of 21 as a contestant on competition series, Shipwrecked, where he placed fifth.

He then appeared as part of Ex on the Beach U.K. series 3 and 5, where Bear established himself as a polarizing character. His popularity landed him a spot in Celebrity Big Brother series 18, and he went on to win the competition.

RELATED: The Challenge Star Georgia Harrison Accuses Ex Stephen Bear of Secretly Recording Her and Posting It

The reality star then appeared in the U.K. shows Celebs Go Dating and Just Tattoo of Us before joining the cast of MTVs The Challenge for its 33rd season, War of the Worlds.

He competed in three seasons back-to-back but didnt return for season 36s Double Agents. Its unclear if the 31-year-old will compete in The Challenge again.

Bear under fire following revenge porn allegations

During War of the Worlds, Bear met U.K. rookie Georgia Harrison, and they fell for each other, even though he had a girlfriend at the time. He broke up with her to pursue things with the other rookie, although things didnt work out with them either.

The two seemingly called it quits for good in the summer of 2019. A year later, Harrison accused her ex of filming their sexual interactions and sharing the video, both without her knowledge.

RELATED: The Challenge Star Stephen Bear Arrested in Connection With Ex Georgia Harrison Revenge Porn Allegations

She reached out to the platform where he allegedly posted the clip, OnlyFans, and asked them to remove it as she claims it was filmed without her consent. In response, the company deactivated his account. Bear attempted to return using different usernames, but fans continually reported until he switched to another platform.

Following her accusations, he vacationed in Dubai for a few weeks. When he returned, police took him into questioning for his involvement in the revenge porn case before releasing him on bail. According to the Essex Police, Bear has a court date on Feb. 10.

Bear admits to lying about having twins, upsetting fans

The 31-year-old began publicly dating 18-year-old social media influencer Tia McAlister, whom many initially believed was underage, shortly after returning to the U.K.

A couple of weeks after the arrest, Bear posted a picture of an ultrasound depicting twins, captioning it, Wasnt expecting two. Think its time I grow up. Very soon after his announcement, fans found the same ultrasound picture on the internet.

His followers quickly began calling him out for faking the pregnancy and thought he posted it because hes desperate for attention. Others blasted him for faking it, calling his prank an insult to the people who cant have children.

Bear later admitted in a YouTube video that he was not expecting kids and claimed the backlash surprised him. The Challenge 36 airs Wednesdays at 8/7 Central on MTV.

RELATED: The Challenge: Stephen Bear Responds to Revenge Porn Accusations, Calls Himself the Victim in Statement

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The O Mon II thermal power plant has received investment registration certificate

The investment registration certificate was presented to the developers at a ceremony organised on February 8.

Previously in late December 2020, the prime minister approved the investment planning of O Mon II thermal power plant.

The project is expected to provide power for the national power grid while simultaneously contributing to attracting foreign and domestic investment, promoting socioeconomic growth in Can Tho and the Mekong River Delta Region.

The construction of the project is expected to come into commercial operation in 2024-2025 in order to suit the construction scheme of the Block B Gas Power Project chain.

The thermal power project has become the largest foreign direct investment (FDI) project in Can Tho so far. This project contributed to increasing the total registered FDI capital in the city to $2 billion with 85 projects, seven of which come from Japanese investors with the total registered capital of $1.34 billion.

Tai Miura, general director of Marubeni Asian Power Vietnam Co., Ltd. said that the company highly appreciated the support of the province, departments, and relevant authorities during the process to complete investment procedures.

He added that Can Tho is the first investment destination of Marubeni in Vietnam since 1970 with the Tra Noc Thermal Power Plant.

The O Mon II project is located in the O Mon Power Complex, which is a 660MW fuel-burning power station in Can Tho. The power station also has three proposed gas-burning combined cycle units totaling 3,150MW in capacity. And the fuel-oil units were scheduled to be switched to natural gas, which would ultimately bring the total gas-fired capacity to 3,810MW.

The power station comprises of four power plants. The O Mon 1 plant, which has a capacity of 660MW, is already operational. O Mon II, III, and IV are currently being proposed for approval. O Mon I currently relies on fuel oil but will switch to natural gas in 2021.
Kisumu  Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang' Nyong'o has formed a 20-member committee to oversee the resettlement of more than 3,000 people rendered homeless in Kibos and Bandani following demolitions by the Kenya Railways Corporation.

Speaking on Sunday after visiting the affected residents, majority of whom are members of the Nubian community, Prof Nyong'o said the committee, will help build a new mosque, among other structures at the new site at Kunya where the county is resettling the families.

A mosque was among buildings demolished prompting condemnation from top Muslim national leaders.

He said his government had put up a makeshift dispensary at the camp and had mobilized well wishers to deliver thousands of mattresses, bales of blankets, tons of sugar and assorted foodstuff to the camp.

The Governor also ordered the Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company to connect water to the site.

Prof Nyong'o said he was upset by the Kenya Railways Corporation's decision to carry out the demolitions without consulting the county government.

He noted similar demolitions have been done in Muhoroni.

"It is a sad day for the people of Kibos, Bandani and Muhoroni. I want to assure them that the County government will help them to settle down," said Prof Nyong'o.

He said that out of the 20 members of the committee, 10 will be picked from the affected community while the rest will be from City Hall.
It's enough to give you the shivers.

It's enough to give you the shivers.

Never mind the wind chill, much of Boissevain was without power for a few hours early Tuesday as the temperature plunged to almost -35 C.

Judy Swanson, head of Boissevain-Mortons council, woke up around 4 a.m. to discover her home was chilly. She figured it got down to 16 C by the time the furnace kicked back on.

On its online outage map, Manitoba Hydro said the outage started at about 3:30 a.m., and full power wasn't restored to the western Manitoba town until around 8:30 a.m.

Swanson and her husband threw another quilt on the bed until the power came on just before 7 a.m., but she said being without heat made her think about people who sleep on the street during winter.

"We often, in the rural areas, were very privileged in lots of ways, we have what we need here, but to think that there are people in this world that dont have that  it gives you food for thought when all of a sudden you dont have heat and energy in your home," Swanson said.

None of Boissevains 1,600 residents is without a place to sleep, she said.

Meanwhile, Manitoba Hydro cancelled several planned power outages in Winnipeg due to frigid temperatures.

Seven maintenance outages  when power is turned off to allow crews to work on electrical infrastructure  scheduled for this week were delayed due to the weather, Hydro spokesman Bruce Owen said Tuesday.

One now-called-off event Wednesday would have left 68 homes in Winnipeg's Fort Rouge neighbourhood without power for hours.

Amid the extreme temperatures Winnipeg has experienced this week (Environment Canada noted it at -35 C with the wind chill at the airport Tuesday afternoon), the Crown corporation said it considers the safety of its customers.

"We also consider the safety of our staff working outside for extended periods, and whether the planned work can be rescheduled when its safe," Owen said.

All but one of the seven planned outages were related to work at the Hydro complex at Stafford Street and Grant Avenue.

However, such maintenance work still needs to go ahead  next week, weather permitting  so some homes in the area will be temporarily without power for a few hours.

"The maintenance work is critical and is required so the station operates more efficiently and to reduce any future unplanned, longer outages in the area," Owen said in an email.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @erik_pindera

NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Grace Davie, 16, of Sanford and Miranda Torrey, 12, of Lisbon today were named Maine's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Grace and Miranda will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are Maine's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Grace Davie

Nominated by Sanford High School

Grace, a junior at Sanford High School, serves as the student representative for the Sanford Backpack Program, which provides food to students from food-insecure households, and created an initiative that presented nearly 250 families with boxes of holiday treats and other items this past December. Grace got involved in the backpack program at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. "I realized that I had more time than I thought I had," she said, "and began to think about how I was spending my time and was it meaningful?" When she learned that the pandemic was making the need for food-filled backpacks more critical than ever, Grace began volunteering every Thursday to get food out to students with limited access to reliable food sources.

By autumn, she had been appointed to the backpack program's advisory board, and began wondering what she could do to make the Christmas season special for the program's clients. "I wanted to come up with a way for them to experience joy in a holiday season that might present more obstacles then normal," she said. Her conclusion: a "box of joy" filled with holiday treats, basic food items, paper goods, toiletries and other gifts. With the assistance of her mother and sister, Grace collected empty banana boxes from a supermarket, decorated them, and then asked sponsors in the community to fill them with 30 items from a list she provided. Although her initial goal was to assemble 100 boxes, Grace ended up brightening the holiday for more than 245 families with her "boxes of joy."

Middle Level State Honoree: Miranda Torrey

Nominated by Philip W. Sugg Middle School

Miranda, a seventh-grader at Philip W. Sugg Middle School, is an enthusiastic and active volunteer who has served her community in a variety of ways since she was 6 years old. "I learned early on that it's important to consider what other people deal with," she said. "I saw so many struggling just to put food on their tables or take care of sick family members. There are so many ways that we can help our community."

She has read to young children at a local library, visited schools to promote anti-bullying education, held an event that generated $1,300 for Make-a-Wish Maine, and participated in many community events advancing a wide variety of causes. But perhaps Miranda's most impactful project has been a Facebook page called "Kid's Speak," where young people can go to talk about anything that affects them. "I want kids to know that they aren't alone, that we are all just trying to figure things out," she said.

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.prudential.com



She celebrated 22 years of sobriety last week,

So there was no excuse for Jamie Lee Curtis when she put popcorn in her ear instead of her AirPod.

The actress, 62, posted a photo to her Instagram on Sunday showing the snack inside her ear and shared: 'So I'm definitely over this whole isolation thing. I picked up my ear pod and put it in my ear and was trying to figure out why I couldn't hear.'

'I couldn't hear': Jamie Lee Curtis posted a photo showing herself with popcorn in her ear after she distractedly mistook the snack for her AirPod and she joked about it on Instagram

On February 3, Curtis had used Instagram to mark the milestone in her sobriety journey and to offer support to those still struggling with addiction.

She hared a throwback photo of herself as a young actress posing with a shot of tequila and in the accompanying caption, she wrote: 'A LONG time ago In a galaxy far, far away I was a young STAR at WAR with herself. I didn't know it then. I chased everything. I kept it hidden. I was as sick as my secrets.'

She went on: 'With God's grace and the support of MANY people who could relate to all the 'feelings' and a couple of sober angels...I've been able to stay sober, one day at a time, for 22 years.

'I was a high bottom, pun kind of intended, so the rare photo of me proudly drinking in a photo op is very useful to help me remember. To all those struggling and those who are on the pathMY HAND IN YOURS.'

'My hand in yours': Curtis marked 22 years of sobriety on February 3 by posting a throwback photo of herself with a bottle of tequila and offered support to others struggling with addiction

Milestone: Curtis, 62, shared: 'With God's grace and the support of MANY people who could relate to all the 'feelings' and a couple of sober angels...I've been able to stay sober, one day at a time, for 22 years'

Famous family: The actress is the daughter of Hollywood legends Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, pictured together in 1984

Curtis was raised in Hollywood as the daughter of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh and made her acting debut in 1978's Halloween directed by John Carpenter.

She has since reprised the role of Laurie Strode five times, most recently in 2018's Halloween, and returns for another face off with serial killer Mike Myers in Halloween Kills, slated for release in October.

Her other credits include Trading Places, A Fish Called Wanda, Blue Steel, True Lies, The Tailor Of Panama and Knives Out.

Horror classic: Curtis made her acting debut in 1978's Halloween directed by John Carpenter

Back for more: She has since reprised the role of Laurie Strode five times, most recently in 2018's Halloween (pictured), and returns for another face off with serial killer Mike Myers in Halloween Kills, slated for release in October

It was towards the end of 1998, 14 years into her marriage to Christopher Guest with whom she shares two children, that Curtis was first confronted with her addiction to alcohol and painkillers.

In an interview with Variety published in November 2019, she recalled how while she was making dinner for her family, she took five Vicodin pills washed down with wine.

A friend who was staying at her home saw her and confronted her.

'The jig was up,' Curtis said. 'Now I knew someone knew. I had been nursing a secret Vicodin addiction for a very long time  over 10 years.'

A couple of months later, she told Variety, she came across an article in Esquire magazine by writer Tom Chiarella titled 'Vicodin, My Vicodin' and it inspired her to attend a recovery meeting.

She has been sober ever since.
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kishigo, a US-based leading manufacturer of High Visibility Safety apparel and accessories, is supporting healthcare workers across the United States by keeping them safe in high traffic environments as they administer Covid-19 testing and vaccines.

Kishigo Safety Vest - Covid Vaccine

As Covid-19 Vaccine Centers are being established in large parking lot venues including amusement parks, sporting venues and colleges, visibility of healthcare professionals and staff has never been more important, especially with vehicles only feet away. Kishigo supported the Los Angeles County Public Health Department's recent opening of five larger vaccination facilities located at the Pomona Fairplex, The Forum, California State University, Northridge, L.A. County Office of Education and Six Flags Magic Mountain with high visibility vests, t-shirts and jackets differentiating healthcare workers from the traffic zone, even in low lighting.

"As an essential local PPE company, Kishigo worked closely with Statewide Safety Systems to rapidly deploy safety workwear to Los Angeles County," says Elke Hirschman, General Manager at Kishigo. "Working with health county officials and our distributor partners across the United States to keep our healthcare professional safe in traffic conditions is imperative and priority one for Kishigo," added Hirschman.

Businesses operating any parking lot services, including curbside food delivery, grocery pick-up and health services need reflective workwear to ensure employees are visible in parking lots to reduce the risk of a workplace accident.

ABOUT KISHIGO

Established in 1971, Kishigo is the most trusted brand in high visibility workwear including vests, pants, t-shirts, jackets, masks, flame resistant apparel and accessories. For over 50 years, Kishigo's pledge to your safety is reflected in the uncompromising commitment to innovation, quality and service in everything we make and do as we outfit municipalities, cities, states and private industries across the United States.

For additional information on Kishigo or how to implement workplace safety, visit www.kishigo.com or call 1-800-338-9480.

CONTACT:

Lisa Reickerd

Sr. Director of Marketing

[email protected]

949-553-5632

SOURCE Kishigo

Related Links

http://www.kishigo.com



Washington, Feb 9 : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has confirmed that the country is ready to "re-engage" with the UN Human Rights Council, following the 2018 withdrawal by the former Donald Trump administration which accused the body of being "hypocritical and self-serving".

In a series of tweet confirming the move, Blinken said: The UN Human Rights Council is flawed and needs reform, but walking away won't fix it. The best way to improve the Council, so it can achieve its potential, is through robust and principled US leadership. Under President (Joe)Biden, we are re-engaging and ready to lead.

"When it works well, the UN Human Rights Council shines a spotlight on countries with the worst human rights records and can serve as a beacon for those fighting against injustice and tyranny. That's why the US is back at the table.

"When we work closely with our allies and friends, we are able to call countries with the worst human rights records to account in the UN Human Rights Council. US leadership matters." In a separate statement, Blinken noted that US withdrawal in 2018 "did nothing to encourage meaningful change, but instead created a vacuum, which countries with authoritarian agendas have used to their advantage", Xinhua news agency reported.

"To address the Council's deficiencies and ensure it lives up to its mandate, the US must be at the table using the full weight of our diplomatic leadership," the Secretary of State added.

The Trump administration announced its withdrawal from the UN body in June 2018, saying the Council had also been biased against Israel, needed a number of reforms, and that some of its members countries such as China, Cuba and Venezuela, were accused of human rights abuses.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed Blinken's announcement.

His spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Guterres looked forward to "hearing the crucial voice of the US across the Council's urgent work".

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
TORONTO, Feb. 9, 2021 /CNW/ -- Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Investment Company Limited (TSX: FAP) (the "Company"), a closed-end investment company trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, announced today that it will pay a monthly distribution of CAD 2.25 cents per ordinary share on February 26, 2021 to all ordinary shareholders of record as of February 19, 2021 (ex-dividend date February 18, 2021).

The policy of the Company's Board of Directors is to maintain a stable monthly distribution out of net investment income and realized capital gains supplemented with paid-in capital as required. This policy is subject to regular review at the Board's quarterly meetings.

The following table sets forth the estimated amounts and the sources of the distributions. The figures in the table below have been computed based on international financial reporting standards. The table includes estimated amounts and percentages for the distribution to be paid on February 26, 2021 as well as the estimated cumulative distributions declared fiscal year to date (11/01/2020 - 01/31/2021), from the following sources: net investment income; net realized gains; return of capital; and return of par. The final composition of the distributions is subject to change and may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies. Although a portion of any distribution may be recorded as a return of capital, the full amount of the distribution (other than a return of par) will be foreign income for Canadian income tax purposes.



Estimated

Amounts of

Current

Monthly

Distribution per

share (C$) Estimated

Amounts of

Current Monthly

Distribution per

share (%) Estimated

Amounts of Fiscal

Year to Date

Cumulative

Distributions per

share (C$) Estimated

Amounts of Fiscal

Year to Date

Cumulative

Distributions per

share (%) Net Investment Income $0.0191 85% $0.0765 85% Net Realized Gains $0.0034 15% $0.0135 15% Return of Capital - - - - Return of Par - - - - Total (per common share) $0.0225 100% $0.0900 100%

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Company's investment performance from the amount of the Company's current distribution.

The amounts and sources of distributions set out above are estimates only and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions made in 2021 will be made after the year-ended 2021. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts of distributions for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Company's results during the remainder of the calendar year and are subject to any changes to applicable tax regulations. Information for tax reporting purposes will be provided to the Company's shareholders on a Form T5 in February of 2022.

The Company previously announced that the Cook Islands Parliament recently passed legislation that removes the tax exemptions for Cook Islands international companies, like the Company, subjecting these companies to the Cook Islands company tax regime and a tax on company profit of 20%. Under grandfathering provisions, there is no immediate impact on the Company and the Company will not be subject to the new rules until its fiscal year commencing November 1, 2021. The Manager and the Board have been evaluating alternative Company structures and the potential to re-domicile the Company in order to mitigate the tax effect on shareholders. This review is nearing completion and an update will be provided as soon as they are in a position to do so.

Information in this press release that is not current or historical factual information may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Such forward-looking information reflects the Investment Manager's beliefs, estimates and opinion regarding the Company's future financial performance, projects and opportunities and market conditions as at today's date. Implicit in this information, particularly in respect of future financial performance and condition of the Company, are factors and assumptions which, although considered reasonable by the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Shareholders are cautioned that actual results are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including general economic and market factors, including credit, currency, political and interest-rate risks and could differ materially from what is currently expected. The Company has no specific intention of updating any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Aberdeen Standard Investments ("ASI") is the marketing name in Canada for Aberdeen Standard Investments (Canada) Limited ("ASI Canada"), Aberdeen Standard Investments Luxembourg SA, Standard Life Investments Private Capital Ltd, SL Capital Partners LLP, Standard Life Investments Limited, Aberdeen Standard Alternative Funds Limited, and Aberdeen Capital Management LLC. ASI Canada is the administrator of the Company and is registered as an investment fund manager in Canada where required. ASI Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., the sub-administrator of the Company.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Company's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the Company. There is no assurance that the Company will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact [email protected]

aberdeenfap.com

SOURCE Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Investment Company Limited

For further information: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., Investor Relations, 800-992-6341, [email protected]
KYODO NEWS - Feb 8, 2021 - 07:55 | World, All, Coronavirus

Cambodia on Sunday received its first batch of 600,000 doses of novel coronavirus vaccine donated by China.

Prime Minister Hun Sen, together with his Cabinet members, welcomed their delivery by a Chinese military aircraft at Phnom Penh International Airport.

Hun Sen told reporters that China will donate a total of 1 million doses of its Sinopharm vaccine, half of which will be given to the Health Ministry with the rest going to the Defense Ministry.

In addition to Cambodia, China is providing COVID-19 vaccines to such Asian developing countries as Pakistan, Nepal, the Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, Sri Lanka and Mongolia.

Cambodia, a country of some 16 million people, has managed to control the pandemic, recording just 474 infection cases with no deaths as of Sunday.
Posted Monday, February 8, 2021 4:25 pm

I am responding to the recent letter to the editor from Sheryl Issacson, Chehalis, dated Feb. 3 which was titled, More than one side is to blame for unrest.

My quick response is, no, only Trump and his fanatical supporters who committed the insurrection at our Capitol are to blame. Even Mitch McConnell, Senate Republican leader, blamed Trump for the riot at the Capitol saying, They were provoked by the President and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government which they did not like. But we pressed on. We stood together and said an angry mob would not get veto power over the rule of law in our nation, not even for one night. We certified the peoples choice for their 46th president.

Trump has spent years undermining and questioning the legitimacy of our democratic norms and institutions, including our elections. When Obama was reelected, Trump said the election was a total sham. Prior to the 2016 election, Trump said it was rigged, unless he won. Then when he won the Electoral College but lost the popular vote, he said the election was rigged because he hadnt won the popular vote.

Trump promoted the Stop the Steal protest in D.C. as early as Dec. 19 and promised it would be wild. Even though Trumps excellent lawyers with so much evidence of fraud filed lawsuits in every state, all of the lawsuits were dismissed, many by judges appointed by Trump. Even the Trump-appointed Justices to the Supreme Court failed to hold in his favor. Republican governors and secretaries of state, many of whom were Trump supporters, said the election was free and fair, as did Trumps Attorney General William Barr.

However, every day after the election, Trump and his minions continuously pushed baseless theories of a rigged, stolen election, inciting the mob who committed the insurrection. And at his speech just prior to the insurrection, Trump promised he would be marching with the mob to the Capitol, but of course, he didnt.

Comparing the Black Lives Matter protestors to the mob that committed the insurrection at the Capitol is a false analogy. The BLM protests were against racial injustice, police brutality and white supremacy. The Trump supporters committed an insurrection (a revolt against our established government). They most certainly were not lovers of our Constitution.

Furthermore, the BLM protests did not occur only in Democratic states, they occurred in all 50 states and in many countries around the world. Additionally, our friends/relatives who are in the police and state troopers in various states across our country have told my husband and me that there are problems with racial bias and white supremacy within their departments. It is a real problem that must be addressed.

Normal political rhetoric did not incite this insurrection. The blame can be squarely placed at the feet of Trump and his fanatical supporters.

Susan Miller

Onalaska
More Tan Son Nhat employees test positive for SARS-CoV-2

Two more staff at the Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCM City have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, while Hung Yen Province has become a new locality in the country to report community cases.



Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son work with authorities in HCM City about the new outbreak on February 9






Japanese engineering group Chiyoda has won a massive contract worth $13 billion to develop liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants in Qatar, Nikkei Asia reports.

Chiyoda won the contract with French peer Technip.

The plants are due for completion from 2025 to 2027 and will be fitted with carbon capturing equipment that will reduce carbon emission by more than 25%.

The consortium per the contract, will provide plant design and cover procurement and construction.

It will also build four processing megatrains  or liquefaction plants each with the capacity to produce 8 million tons of LNG a year.

The trains will be completed in phases starting in 2025, Nikkei Asia notes.

Qatar hopes with upon completion of the four trains, to increase its yearly LNG production capacity to 110 million tons from 77 million currently.

The contract is not the first by Chiyoda in a Gulf country. It has built oil and gas plants in Qatar since the 1970s. The company has been involved in constructing a total of 14 LNG trains.
Police departments across the Shoreline are joining forces to collect diapers for families in need.

Its really a true need that most people dont even think about and I think its something that everyone can relate to, especially if youre a parent, said Clinton Chief of Police Vincent DeMaio.

The 4th annual Shoreline Diaper Drive, in conjunction with Bare Necessities, runs through Feb. 15.

Drop-off locations for diapers and wipes are Branford, Guilford, Madison, Clinton, East Haven, North Branford, in addition to Connecticut State Police Troop F in Westbrook. The Madison Coffee House, 724 Boston Post Road, Madison, also is a drop-off location.

In addition, an Amazon account has been created to order diapers and wipes that will be sent directly to Bare Necessities. Orders can be placed by visiting the Bare Necessities, Law Enforcement Diaper Drive Wish List at amzn.to/3cme0kC.

Bare Necessities is a nonprofit that provides diapers and wipes to Shoreline communities through food pantries, social service agencies and other community service agencies. The organization has distributed some 997,333 diapers and 1,216,335 wipes since its creation in November 2015.

There is a need on the Shoreline, said Tina Bascom, president and founding member of Bare Necessities. One in three families in the United States has a diaper need. Thats a staggering figure when you think of that.

Madison Police Department Capt. Joseph Race said his department sees this when they are out in the community.

People sometimes have the idea that because its the Shoreline that theres no need and its not true, he said. You just dont where that need is, whether its the food pantry in town or this diaper drive or our food and toy drive that we do every year.

We know the families, he added. Obviously were in contact with families on a regular basis that have real needs, that people would never imagine, and if we can do this and help them in some way, were so glad to help.

The biggest demand is for size 4-6 diapers, along with wipes. Donations also are welcomed.

Monetary donations go a long way because were able to get diapers at a really discounted rate, so its really helpful, Bascom said.

Bascom said she looks forward to working with local law enforcement agencies every year, but this years drive is especially important, as the organization saw the number of families needing assistance jump 160 percent by the end of 2020.

I think its extremely important that we all do our part in assisting the families in need for the diaper drive, said Branford Police Department Lt. Corrianne Carangelo.

Were just very happy to be a part of such a great event and were looking forward to seeing the results and we look forward to competing with our neighboring agencies to get the most diapers and wipes, she said.

Race said the diaper drive is successful because of support from the community.

I will always say a great thanks to the residents of Madison because they are so incredibly generous, Race said. When we put on these events this town comes through time and time again and I cant thank them enough.

Bascom appreciates all the police departments commitment to the drive.

The police departments are always excited, she said. This year they seem so much more determined and so much more excited because they just know, and they feel, that because of COVID its going to be the best ever.

Last years drive netted the organization 29,650 diapers and 36,431 wipes, in addition to monetary donations.

DeMaio said the importance of diapers cannot be underestimated.

Its just a basic necessity to be able to keep children clean and healthy, he said. Its a little piece, but it means so much to all these families here, in all of our communities along the Shoreline.

Bare Necessities is located at 24 W. Main St., Suite 414, Clinton; 203-928-7558; barenecessitiesct.org.

Contact Sarah Page Kyrcz at suzipage1@aol.com.
HAINESPORT, N.J., Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) America in collaboration with other Indian / Allied American organizations and Gurudwaras have led an initiative for the United States to send a strong message to the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi's Government, over the unprecedented increase in human rights abuses at India's farmers protests across the New Delhi borders of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur. In a letter addressed to US President Joe Biden, the organizations have detailed how the Modi Government has disregarded farmers who are directly affected by three farm laws that were recently passed in India. Many organizations working in the civic space, interfaith and human rights aspects have joined in this call. The letter expresses concern on various twitter handles that are proposing a repeat of the 1984 pogroms against the Sikh community, which many see as a genocide. The Modi government is allowing such twitter handles to gain support among their nationalist vocals, and is thus implicit in this call for genocidal pogroms against the Sikh farmers and their supporters.

Citing India's farmers issue as a national security concern and directly impacting US-India relations, the letter called for the Biden-Harris Administration to condemn the use of mercenaries and suppressive tactics used by the Modi government and immediately take action in relation with farmers lives being lost in the protest due to excessive weather and health conditions. The letter calls for the President to release an official statement recognizing the farmers for their stand against laws that are designed to harm their livelihood. The letter further urged the US President to initiate monitoring the situation at the borders, and send a direct message to India saying that the US is doing so. It also calls upon President Biden to urge the Indian government to immediately stop violence on protesters and consider their demands. The organizations collectively believe that a strong statement is immediately needed in order that India's Government may rein in its thugs and other extra-governmental paramilitary operatives that support Modi's majoritarian and fascist regime.

Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) America Representative Boota Singh Kharoudh said, Democracies like India should refrain from introducing such laws that serve to divide the nation, such as farm laws, and other that has been passed without consideration from people.

The letter to President Biden also expresses the disregard of affected people, as a systemic pattern by the Modi government. This was also evident during the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act, and the abrogation of articles 370 and 35A in the case of Jammu and Kashmir. During the protests that followed, the Modi Government brutally suppressed all dissent by using draconian measures against peaceful protesters. The Modi government routinely uses terms such as terrorists, tukde-tukde gang, Pakistanis and Khalistani in defaming anyone opposed to their policies. It is something which the Modi government builds majoritarian and fascist support around. Prestigious US organizations; USCIRF, US Congressional hearing on CAA and Jammu and Kashmir and State Department in its annual reports have noted the serious human rights violation under Modi government.

Contact info: Bhupindar Singh, Representative to US Government and UN, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) America, Email: [email protected], Cell: +1 646 286 1704

SOURCE Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) America
NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to release the admit cards for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2021 this week. Candidates seeking to appear in the engineering entrance exam will be required to login to the official NTA portal for JEE Main 2021 at jeemain.nta.nic.in using their registered credentials to download the admit cards. The first phase of the JEE Main 2021 will be conducted between February 23 to 26.



Here's how to download JEE Main 2021 admit card:

Step 1: Visit the official website of NTA at jeemain.nta.nic.in.

Step 2: Click on the link available on the Homepage which reads: 'JEE Main 2021 Admit Card'. You will be redirected to a new page.

Step 3: Enter the Application Number, Password in the input field provided and click on 'Sign In' button.

Step 4: Click on the link available to download the Admit Card.

Step 5: Save the PDF and take a print out for future use.

The JEE Main 2021 Admit Card will include particulars of candidates including Name, Roll Number, and other important information such as date of exam, shift timings and exam centre. Candidates appearing in the JEE Main 2021 are mandatorily required to carry the admit card to the exam centre.

This year, candidates will be eligible for admission to various technical institutes irrespective of the marks scored in Class 12 Board exams. They will only need to obtain the passing certificate.

Live TV
SHENZHEN, China, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TCSA participated in the high-level International Symposium: The Post-Covid Era: Redefining and Redesigning the Global Economy Management, hosted by the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee, St. Petersburg State University of Economics, Hamburg Institute of International Economics, and The Frenkel -Zuckerman Institute for Global Economics, February 9th - 10th, 2021. Marc Uzan, Executive Director of the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee; Mr. Igor Maksimtsev, Rector of St. Petersburg State University of Economics (UNECON); Mr. Henning Voepel, Director of Hamburg Institute for International Economics (HWWI); Mr. Jihad Azour, Director Central Asia and Middle East Department, International Monetary Fund; and Mr. Kairat Kelimbetov, Governor of AIFC, attended the online conference. Constructive and critical questions were proposed during the meeting. Topics discussed included how the current pandemic has changed the world economy in multiple dimensions, prospects of BRICS countries, Eurasian economic integration, and the future of global finance and trade after Covid-19. Together with other economic and academic experts, TCSA shared its insights on Data-Empowered Macroeconomic Governance System, Precise Improvement of Governance Efficiency, etc.

The online conference was internationally recognized by global financial experts and well-known academic and governmental counterparts worldwide. During the webinar, Ms. Mengya Li, the Director of TCSA Global Affairs, explained the significant challenges in modern macroeconomic governance, including the obscurity of current economic policies worldwide and the lack of value anchor in existing monetary systems. Given the current circumstances, especially under the profound influence of the current Covid-19 pandemic, Ms. Li indicated that all countries' macroeconomic governing bodies ought to understand the value of a data-empowered governance system and the importance of a precise improvement of macroeconomic governance efficiency. To clarify the concepts and achieve future macroeconomic goals, a national data collection network consisting of algorithmic units with multidimensional algorithmic platforms and data transmission systems was introduced. After being filtered by such an algorithmic unit, heterogeneous data is automatically homogenized.

According to Ms. Li, the Infrastructural Algorithmic Platforms have helped local governments in China increased their fiscal revenue to more than 60 billion RMB through the application in actuarial calculation and allocation of financial resources of urban infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Infrastructural Algorithmic Platforms have also highlighted the necessity of accurate measurement of government expenditures and the precise benefits of public goods for citizens, thereby resolving cyclical fiscal risks and establishing a fiscal actuarial balance mechanism.

About TCSA: https://tcsa.cloud/
[February 09, 2021] Livestorm Video Communication Platform Releases Its Public API and Develops an Integrations Ecosystem of 100+ Apps in the Next 12 Months

BOSTON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Livestorm, which is transforming online events with the first end-to-end video communication platform, announced the release of its public API. The API will provide Livestorm's customers and integration partners with a new way to access their data, automate processes, and connect Livestorm with any other leading marketing or sales applications with just a few lines of code. Livestorm enables businesses to connect, engage and capture actionable insights in one place. The browser-based platform doesn't require a download, or set up and allows businesses to host meetings or events in a browser (desktop or mobile) from two to thousands of participants. 4,000+ companies from startups to Fortune 500 companies rely on Livestorm, including brands such as Honda, Pipedrive or Intercom. Livestorm is currently integrated with over 20 apps such as Pipedrive, HubSpot and Intercom, and plans to roll out 100+ additional integrations in 2021. The API will let customers access their data to automate internal processes, and will also give autonomy to partners that are building integrations directly on Livestorm. Livestorm customers already began using the new API during a late 2020 beta testing period to tap into these apps and run their events more efficiently. "Livestorm has been instrumental for us in running more engaging live events," said Francesco Pongiluppi, full-stack developer at Future Education Modena. "With the new API, we were able to significantly automate the process for the creation, organization and review of our online events." In the next months, Livestorm will also launch and fuel its public API documentation, accessible on developers.livestorm.co, to provide developers with the tools and knowledge to easily build integrations with the video communication platform. By the end of the year, Livestorm expects to multiply the amount of integration partners by five.



Livestorm Co-founder and CEO Gilles Bertaux said, "Livestorm is building out a full ecosystem to manage external or internal events from start to finish. That means not only offering video to host meetings or events but providing the capabilities to adapt Livestorm to any organization stack. We want each team using Livestorm to customize their workspace according to their needs and the tools they use every day. We're excited to launch our public API to accelerate the amount of integrations that our customers can leverage with Livestorm. It represents yet another step towards building a complete workspace platform rather than an IT video solution." Livestorm now operates in 100 countries and has more than one million connected users on its platform each month. The four-year-old company grew its revenue by 8x between its Series A in 2019 and its Series B in November 2020.

After tripling its workforce in one year, Livestorm is hiring 100 more professionals across engineering, sales, support and marketing. About Livestorm Livestorm is transforming online events, with the easiest way to incorporate video into any type of communication, to attract, engage and educate their audience. Livestorm is the first video communications platform that allows businesses to host meetings, webinars or events with two to thousands of people completely in a mobile or desktop browser. The Livestorm platform manages online events from end to end, from promotion and registration through post-event ROI analysis. More than 3,500 companies from startups to Fortune 500 companies rely on Livestorm, including brands such as Honda, AB Tasty, Pipedrive, Spendesk, Front and Revolut. Learn more at https://livestorm.co/. Contact: Michelle Faulkner Big Swing Communications 617-510-6998 michelle@big-swing.com Related Links www.livestorm.co View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/livestorm-video-communication-platform-releases-its-public-api-and-develops-an-integrations-ecosystem-of-100-apps-in-the-next-12-months-301225009.html SOURCE Livestorm

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"We would like to thank all our partners for their contributions to this achievement in Brazil," said Lisa Zhang, Marketing Director at Growatt. Zhang also attributed the success to the company's significant increase of investments in Brazil in recent years. "Committed to the development of solar energy in Brazil, we have set up a technical support center in Sao Paulo and call center in Maringa and built a much stronger local team to provide outstanding customer service."

In 2019, the company partnered up with Aldo Solar, the largest PV distributor to promote its advanced PV solutions among the Brazilians. With its extensive distribution and service network in place, Growatt has achieved exponential growth in the distributed generation sector in Brazil. "At Growatt, we are customer-oriented. We are dedicated to providing comprehensive and professional training in latest PV technologies, installation, monitoring, troubleshooting etc. In addition, our team has been working closely with our partners to develop products and solutions that meet the specific demands of the Brazilian market," added Zhang.

Growatt has added to its product offerings MAC 15-36KTL3-XL inverter that is tailored for three-phase solar PV application at 220V in Brazil. Besides, the company will launch a new generation single-phase inverter MIN 7-10KTL-X in the country later this year according to Zhang. "We'll continue to provide high quality products and services for the Brazilians and with such a comprehensive range of PV inverter solutions, we aim to become the No.1 inverter brand for distributed generation solar energy in Brazil."

About Growatt

Growatt is a global leader of smart energy solutions and provides residential, commercial and large scale PV inverters, energy storage, microgrid systems and smart energy management solutions. Founded in 2010, Growatt has established an extensive network with 14 branches worldwide. Growatt ranks among global top 10 PV inverter suppliers according to IHS Markit and Wood Mackenzie.

SOURCE Growatt

Related Links

www.growatt.com


Khartoum / Kassala / El Gedaref  Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Representative of the European Union (EU). Pekka Haavisto, who arrived in Sudan on Saturday for a two-day official visit, today visited camps harbouring refugees from the Tigray conflict in neighbouring Ethiopia. Since his arrival, the EU envoy has met with Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, Minister of Foreign Affairs Omar Gamareldin, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Yasir Abbas, and the Acting Wali (governor) of Kassala state El Tayeb El Sheikh.

The European Union said in a statement that Haavisto's visit will focus on consultation over tensions in the region, to help in reducing tensions between Sudan and Ethiopia, and how the international community could provide support in finding peaceful solution to crises facing the region.

Haavisto is no stranger to Sudan, as he participated as EU Special Representative at the signing ceremony of the Constitutional Document, and worked earlier as EU Special Representative in Darfur.

At a meeting with Prime Minister Hamdok, other senior cabinet ministers and EU Ambassador, Robert Van Dool in Khartoum yesterday, Hamdok affirmed Sudan's "unshakeable" position of not considering war against Ethiopia because of the border issue, as Sudan considers a settled since 1902.

Hamdok briefed Haavisto on Sudan's position regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and its impact on Sudan.

Haavisto described the meeting as excellent and discussed a number of issues including the EU's support for the democratic transition in Sudan and the economic reforms in the country.

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He called for speeding up the formation of the Legislative Council as it considered one of the important structures of power.

Refugees

Today, Haavisto and his delegation were received by the Acting Wali (governor) of Kassala state Al Tayeb El Sheikh during a visit to Kassala and El Gedaref states to inspect the situation of Ethiopian refugees at Um Rakoba Camp.

El Sheikh underlined the necessity of intervention by the international community for provision of needs of the refugees. He also indicated to continued influxes from Eritrea into the state.

Haavisto expressed appreciation to the government and people of Sudan "for receiving and hosting the refugees for long decades which reflects hospitality of the Sudanese people".

The Finnish Minister pledged to urge the international community, donors, and the European Union, to provide every possible support to the refugees, the host communities, and governments of Kassala and El Gedaref states.
Irish mobility startup Brite has partnered with London-based mobility insurance provider Zego to expand its fleet offering of e-mopeds, e-scooters and e-bikes across Ireland.

The partnership between Brite and Zego means that businesses, university campuses and delivery services that use its fleet of e-vehicles will be automatically insured, as Brite becomes the first micromobility company in Ireland to provide full coverage to its riders.

The partnership with Zego will see Brite share trip data, which will enable the insurtech to price its insurance based on usage. The flexibility in Zegos product also stands to have a positive impact on Brites cash flow, reducing large upfront costs and freeing up funds which can then be channelled into growth, expansion, and further product development.

Brite launched in 2019, offering zero-carbon shared vehicles to businesses, delivery services and university campuses in select cities across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The company plans to expand its multi-modal fleet this year following the Irish Governments announcement to draft legislation on e-scooter and e-bike regulation. Brite has been in contact with Irish local and national Government offering its support on this legislation, with a call for minimum safety standards, such as comprehensive insurance for riders, which Brite now provides with its B2B offering.

Zego, founded in 2016, specializes in usage-based insurance for fleets, tailored for businesses, priced on how the fleet is actually used, not guess work. This includes courier fleets, private hire and new mobility operators. The company currently dominates the kick scooter insurance market in the UK, and has a strong presence in the Irish market through partnerships with its ride-hailing firms. The company recently became the first UK insurtech to obtain a European broking license, helping it to grow in EU territories.

The team at Zego has helped us address key safety concerns around our network connected e-scooters, e-bikes and e-mopeds which has allowed us to focus on running our business and achieving our goals, said Colin Barry, CEO and founder of Brite Mobility.

Were big believers that adopting micro mobility services will help corporations, governments, and others not only achieve their carbon emission goals but also move their people around in a safe and efficient manner, without having to deal with traffic and the costs associated with parking cars and vans in our cities, he added.

Micromobility has become a hot topic as businesses and consumers around the globe shift their focus to reducing carbon emissions and making more sustainable choices.

It is companies like Brite that are going to help our cities become far more sustainable over time, particularly in Ireland. At Zego, we are pleased to be aligned with these types of businesses, and are looking forward to a long-lasting relationship with Brite, commented Ines Feracci, director of B2B at Zego.

Source: Zego and Brite

Related:

Topics Mergers InsurTech Tech Startups
Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Police on Monday identified the man suspected in a string of attacks on older adults in Oaklands Chinatown, including the violent shoving of a 91-year-old man that was caught on camera and widely circulated on social media.

Yahya Muslim, 29, was arrested Saturday and charged with assault and battery in connection to three Chinatown attacks on Jan. 31. He is being held in Santa Rita Jail on $210,000 bail.
The 'QAnon Shaman' Jacob Chansley was arrested on January 9 on six federal charges including violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds for his role in the riots

The QAnon Shaman's lawyer has blasted Donald Trump for his 'non-stop propaganda', insists he did incite the Capitol riots last month and said his client was one of 'millions' clinging onto the president's every word.

Attorney Albert Watkins made the comments during an appearance on CNN with Chris Cuomo on Monday night, in which he also likened Trump to Jim Jones, the infamous cult leader who organized as mass suicide of himself and his followers in his Jonestown jungle commune in Guyana, on November 18, 1978.

The interview, held on the eve of Trump's second impeachment trial in the Senate, began with Cuomo reading a statement issued by the Shaman - real name, Jacob Chansley - earlier Monday, in which he expressed his 'disappointment' in Trump.

'I am deeply disappointed in former President Trump. He was not honorable. He let a lot of peaceful people down,' Chansley's statement read in part. 'I deeply regret and am very sorry I entered into the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. I should not have been there.'

After Cuomo asked Watkins what Chansley meant by 'let a lot of peaceful people down,' the lawyer stepped in to aggressively attack Trump.

'One of the things that you missed out and others have missed out on is the propaganda,' Watkins said of the former president. 'Trumps tweets, his social media exploitation, what he said day in, day out, that we all permitted, included untruths, misrepresentations, out and out lies. Not every now and then, every day. Not once a day, multiple times daily.'

Chalsey's (left) attorney Albert Watkins (right) made the comments during an appearance on CNN with Chris Cuomo on Monday night, the eve of Trump's second impeachment trial in the Senate for 'inciting insurrection'

Watkins said Chansely (shown above inside the Capitol) is one of 'millions' of Americans who held onto the every word of Trump, and bought into his 'propaganda'

Watkins added that for Chansley, and 'millions of Americans' like him, 'they truly did hang on every word of their president, our president, the person that we permitted day in, day out, to speak to us in ways and in fashions that simply werent true.'

Cuomo then quizzed the attorney about Chansley's beliefs now, and whether he still believed that the election was 'stolen' from Trump, as he regularly claimed, without evidence.

'So this is a process,' Watkins said. 'The answer is yes. The process, though, is not something that Jake is going through alone. The process of unwinding from years of Trump, years of lies.'

Cuomo interjected that Watkins was making it sound like Chansley was being 'de-programmed from a cult'.

'Well, I'd liken the entire thing to 1978 and Jim Jones down in Guyana,' Watkins responded, in reference to the American priest-turned-cult leader who orchestrated a mass suicide of himself and his followers in his jungle commune at Jonestown, Guyana on November 18, 1978.

Watkins continued: 'This is very real for these people. These are our brothers and sisters and our families. Theyre millions of Americans. The unwinding process is not going to be completed at the end of this week, whenever this impeachment trial is concluded.

'Its a process thats going to require patience and compassion,' Watkins went on. 'People who are introspective like my client and smart like my client and alone and able to exploit that time alone, hes moved through it more quickly than most of my white-collar crime defendant clients.'

A skeptical-seeming Cuomo then quipped: 'That says something, especially for a guy wearing horns on his head.'

Watkins likened the MAGA phenomenon to Jim Jones (right), the American protest-turned-cult leader who orchestrated a mass suicide of himself and his followers in his jungle commune at Jonestown, Guyana on November 18, 1978

During the riots, Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick died of injuries sustained in the attack after he was bludgeoned with a fire extinguisher. A total of 125 officers of its 2,300-strong force were assaulted during the rampage

Who was Jim Jones and what was the Jonestown Massacre? Jim Jones was an American cult leader, and preacher healer who started the Peoples Temple in Indiana during the 1950s. In 1963, Jones moved his congregation to California to start a new socialist Eden, telling them the world would be engulfed by nuclear war by July 1967. At the height of its popularity during the 1970s, the Temple had a membership estimated in the thousands. Growing paranoid from the media scrutiny over the Temples activities, Jones and his followers moved to an jungle settlement in Guyana, later dubbed Jonestown. Concern over the welfare of those in the encampment prompted Congressman Leo Ryan to visit it in November 1978. After checking out the settlement, Ryan was shot to death along with four other people by Temple gunmen at an airstrip. Following those murders, Jones commanded his followers to drink cyanide-laced punch, starting with the children first. In all, 900 people died in Jonestown, including Jim Jones, who was found with a gunshot wound to his head. Until the September 11th attacks, the massacre represented the largest number of American civilian casualties in a single non-natural event. Jonestown is seen above Advertisement

Chansley was recently transferred to DC from a jail in Phoenix, where he was arrested on January 9 on six federal charges including violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

In his statement Monday, similar to the comments made by Watkins, Chansley said that his 'time in jail has permitted me to start to reanalyze my life.'

'I am deeply committed to ahimsa, a basic principle of non-violence which applies all living creatures, large and small. There was a lot that happened over time which led up to January 6, 2021. I am working on coming to grips with that.'

In addition to expressing his 'disappointment' in Trump, he continued: 'I have to leave judging him up to other people. It is my aim to focus on what is important at this time. What is important is for me to apologize.

'I deeply regret and am very sorry I entered into the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. I should not have been there. Period. I am sorry for having aroused fear in the hearts of others. That was wrong. Period.

'Please be patient with me and other peaceful people who, like me, are having a very difficult time piecing together all that happened to us, around us, and by us. We are good people who care deeply about our country.'

The statement was issued just one day before Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate, where the former president could be convicted for 'inciting insurrection' and barred from ever holding federal office again.

In interviews late last month, Watkins previously stated that Chansley would be willing to testify during the trial, so Senators can hear the voice of someone who was incited by Trump.

In a statement issued on January 29, Watkins said his client was 'horrendously smitten' by Trump but now feels like he was 'betrayed by the president.'

Chansley told investigators he came to the Capitol 'at the request of the president that all "patriots" come to DC on January 6,' according to court records.

He, and at least four other people who are facing federal charges stemming from the riot, have suggested they were taking orders from Trump.

Chansley made more headlines last week when a judge ruled that he should be given organic food while awaiting trial, having gone on hunger strike for nine days.

He claimed eating non-organic food is against his religious beliefs and makes him physically ill.

DC federal Judge Royce Lamberth ruled on Jacob Anthony Chansley's request on Wednesday, calling it 'a choice between starvation, death, and consuming something contrary to his long-held faith'.

Rev. Al Sharpton, an iconic civil rights activist and founder of the National Action Network, however, called the ruling an example of the 'double standard in the criminal justice system, and in the detention system.'

Donald Trump's trial in the Senate is due to begin later today.

He became the first president in history to be impeached by the House of Representatives on January 13. The House voted in an overwhelming majority to charge Trump with incitement of insurrection for his role in the January 6 attack on the Capitol.

A handful of Republican senators have argued they believe the trial is unconstitutional, as Trump is no longer in office and therefore cannot be removed from it.

Democrats on the other hand have countered that failing to hold Trump accountable would set a dangerous precedent for future presidents that they can evade punishment for their actions, so long as they come during their final days in office.

Chansley made more headlines last week when a judge ruled that he should be given organic food while awaiting trial

To successfully convict Trump, 67 senators would need to vote in favour of the motion  meaning at least 17 Republicans would need to vote to convict, should all Democrats be in support.

If the 67 vote total is reached, the chamber could then hold a second vote as to whether to bar Trump from holding federal office ever again. In that vote, only a simple majority would be needed.

A poll released by ABC/Ipsos on Sunday found that 56 percent of Americans believe Trump should be convicted and banned from office.

Despite telling the crowd gathered in Washington DC on January 6 to 'march on the Capitol' and 'fight like hell', Trump has denied any involvement in stoking the riots.

During the riots, Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick died of injuries sustained in the attack after he was bludgeoned with a fire extinguisher. A total of 125 officers of its 2,300-strong force were assaulted during the rampage.

Four protesters died. More than 150 of the rioters have also since been arrested.
An irate passenger has been filmed berating a Sydney bus driver and pounding his protective screen after he asked her to wear a face mask.

Face masks are currently mandatory on public transport in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, and Wollongong, with breaches attracting a $200-on-the spot fine.

Footage posted on TikTok on Monday shows the woman standing at the front of the bus arguing with the driver after he asked her to abide by the Covid-19 regulation.

The woman then pulls out her phone and starts taking photos of the bus operator, prompting him to defensively raise his hand up to protect his face.

A woman has been filmed (pictured) abusing a bus driver in Sydney on Monday after he asked her to wear a mask

'I'll take a photo of you, I'll take a photo of you. I'll take you down because you made me miss my appointment!' She screams.

The woman then repeatedly strikes her palm against the bus driver's screen, causing the perspex to violently shake inches from his face, as she yells 'why' with each blow.

'That's enough. Get off,' the bus driver demands.

The woman storms off the vehicle and takes a few steps before turning back to continue her onslaught of abuse through the closed door, screaming and bashing her hands against the bus.

As she protested outside, the calm bus driver called out 'have a nice day' before pulling the bus away from the kerb to continue on his route.

The video has gone viral racking up more than 54,000 views, with many commentators condemning the woman's behaviour.

A Transport for NSW spokesperson said the incident is under investigation.

The woman then pounded the driver's protective screen (pictured), causing the perpex to shake violently inches from the man's face

'Transport for NSW has been made aware of an incident that occurred on a metropolitan bus service involving a female passenger and a driver,' they told Daily Mail Australia.

'Transport for NSW expects all customers travelling on our services to respect frontline workers who have continued to do an incredible job maintaining full service levels across public transport throughout the pandemic.'

While drivers can let passengers know a mask is mandatory when travelling on public transport, Public Health Orders, including the face mask mandate, are enforced by NSW Police.

Last May, the Transport Workers' Union successfully rallied to have spit screens installed on buses in Sydney to protect drivers from Covid-19 and frustrated customers amid the pandemic.
Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do



THE employer of the man who fell to his death at Walvis Bay last weekend while installing solar panels at a salt company, is investigating the incident, including claims of possible negligence.

The late Leonard Petrus (34) was a casual worker for Windhoek-based Alensy Energy Solutions, which was contracted by Oranje Soutwerke to install solar panels at its processing plant at Walvis Bay. While doing the work on Saturday afternoon, the roof collapsed, and Petrus fell five metres to his death.

Alensy's general manager, Nils Seiler, told The Namibian that the company is "deeply sorry" about what had happened and assured the puplic that an investigation is underway.

He said that Petrus was an experienced contractor who had done work for the company since 2018 - on a casual basis. According to him, Petrus also received training in installation safety.

"We have very strict procedures in place when it comes to safety, and this will demand a serious investigation to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again," he said, after being asked about allegations of workers' concerns about the safety of the working area.

The Namibian understands that workers had allegedly informed the project supervisors that the roof on which they were working was unstable, but this was allegedly ignored.

"We have, however, not received reports of such claims yet," he said.

Erongo crime investigations coordinator Erastus Iikuyu confirmed the incident.

"While on the roof, the asphalt roofing on which he was standing broke, causing him to fall. He succumbed to injuries on the scene," said Iikuyu. "No foul play is suspected at this stage."

Seiler said he was set to meet Petrus' relatives yesterday to express his company's condolences.

Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 23:14:54|Editor: huaxia

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DHAKA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank and the government of Bangladesh Tuesday signed a 200 million U.S. dollars financing agreement to help 3.6 million people access hygienic sanitation facilities and about 600,000 people access clean water in rural areas.

The agreement was signed by Fatima Yasmin, secretary of Economic Relations Division of the government of Bangladesh, and Mercy Tembon, World Bank country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, on behalf of their respective sides.

The Rural Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) for Human Capital Development project will help improve water and sanitation services in rural areas in parts of the country.

Following a market-driven approach, the project will help build a more hygienic model, offset pit latrines for safe sanitation; and large and small piped water schemes for clean water.

It will provide microcredits to both the households and entrepreneurs for water and sanitation facilities. About 309,000 of the poorest households will receive fully subsidized toilets.

Besides the household water connections, it will construct around 3000 community piped water schemes. Enditem
Two engineers work on L'Ralph, the most complicated instrument that will fly on the Lucy mission to Jupiter's Trojan asteroids. It is actually two instruments in one. The Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC), will take visible light color images. The Linear Etalon Imaging Spectral Array (LEISA), will collect infrared spectra. Credit: NASA/Goddard/Barbara Lambert/Desiree Stover

With less than a year to launch, NASA's Lucy mission's third and final scientific instrument has been integrated onto the spacecraft.

The spacecraft, which will be the first to explore the Trojan asteroidsa population of small bodies that share an orbit with Jupiter-is in the final stages of the assembly process. Just five months ago, at the beginning of the Assembly, Testing and Launch operations (ATLO) process, the components of the Lucy spacecraft were being built all over the country. Today, a nearly assembled spacecraft sits in the high bay in Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colorado.

"A bit over a year and a half ago, I was excited to hold the first small pieces of metal that were destined to travel to the Trojan asteroids," says Hal Levison, principal investigator from the Southwest Research Institute. "Now there is an actual spacecraft, nearly ready to go. It is incredible."

The final instrument, L'Ralph, was built by NASA's Goddard Space Center in Greenbelt, Maryland and was received at Lockheed Martin on January 21 and integrated on to the spacecraft on January 26. L'Ralph is the most complicated instrument that will fly on Lucy, as it is actually two instruments in one. The Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC), will take visible light color images of the Trojan asteroids. The Linear Etalon Imaging Spectral Array (LEISA), will collect infrared spectra of the asteroids. Both of these components will work together to allow Lucy to determine the composition of the Trojan asteroids and provide insight into the early history of our solar system.

The L'Ralph instrument experienced significant COVID-19 related delays, particularly when construction had to be halted when Goddard was placed under stage 4 COVID restrictions in April of last year. However, both the L'Ralph team at Goddard and the ATLO team at Lockheed Martin rose to the challenge and developed a new schedule that allowed everyone to work safely while keeping the spacecraft on track for its originally planned October 16, 2021 launch.

"The L'Ralph team has done an outstanding job to deliver a fantastic instrument," says Dennis Reuter, L'Ralph instrument principal investigator, from Goddard. "Doing what they did under normal conditions would have been remarkable. Doing it under the actual conditions that had to be dealt with is amazing."

L'Ralph has been installed on Lucy's Instrument Pointing Platform. This platform provides the spacecraft significant flexibility during the encounters-the instruments can point at the Trojan asteroids during the high-speed flybys while the high gain antenna remains pointed at Earth-as well as carrying out fine adjustments and out-of-plane pointing to get the best data possible on these elusive objects.

Lucy's other two scientific instruments, L'TES and L'LORRI, designed and built at Arizona State University, and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, respectively, as well as the two Terminal Tracking Cameras have already been installed on the platform. Now that L'Ralph is installed, the platform itself will be installed onto the spacecraft busmaking Lucy one step closer to ready for her 12-year-long journey to the Trojans.

"Lucy ATLO has been tremendously successful and having L'Ralph delivered and integrated onto the Instrument Pointing Platform is a great start to the new year," said Donya Douglas-Bradshaw, mission project manager from Goddard.

Explore further NASA's first mission to the Trojan asteroids integrates its second scientific instrument
[February 09, 2021] HEICO Corporation Announces Regular Quarterly Conference Call

On February 23, 2021 after the NYSE closing, HEICO Corporation (NYSE: HEI (News - Alert) .A) (NYSE: HEI) will release its financial results for the first quarter ended January 31, 2021. The earnings release will be available through the Internet on the Company's website at http://www.heico.com. In order to assist interested parties in scheduling their participation in HEICO teleconferences, the Company issues advance notices of conference calls. HEICO will hold a conference call on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time to discuss its first quarter results. Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call should dial: US and Canada (877) 586-4323, International (706) 679-0934, wait for the conference operator and provide the operator with the Conferenc ID 4390965. A digital replay will be available two hours after the completion of the conference for 14 days. To access, dial: (404) 537-3406, and enter the Conference ID 4390965.



The Company has two classes of common stock traded on the NYSE. Both classes, the Class A Common Stock (HEI.A) and the Common Stock (HEI), are virtually identical in all economic respects. The only difference between the share classes is the voting rights. The Class A Common Stock (HEI.A) carries 1/10 vote per share and the Common Stock (HEI) carries one vote per share. The stock symbols for HEICO's two classes of common stock on most websites are HEI.A and HEI. However, some websites change HEICO's Class A Common Stock symbol (HEI.A) to HEI/A or HEIa. HEICO Corporation is engaged primarily in the design, production, servicing and distribution of products and services to certain niche segments of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries through its Hollywood, Florida-based Flight Support Group and its Miami, Florida-based Electronic Technologies Group. HEICO's customers include a majority of the world's airlines and overhaul shops, as well as numerous defense and space contractors and military agencies worldwide, in addition to medical, telecommunications and electronics equipment manufacturers. For more information about HEICO, please visit our website at http://www.heico.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209006123/en/

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As Donald Trumps Senate impeachment trial began Tuesday in Washington, his lawyer, former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor, had two other big-name Philadelphia attorneys backing him up.

But Michael T. van der Veen and William J. Brennan dont exactly have lengthy records supporting Republican causes in court or offering full-throated public defenses of the former president.

As recently as two years ago, according to a former client, van der Veen described Trump as a fing crook  a statement the lawyer has since denied making.

But in marketing emails for his firm last year, van der Veen railed about what he described as a campaign by Pennsylvania Republicans to unfairly and illegally intimidate voters. And in the run-up to the 2020 election, he represented a client suing Trump, arguing that the administration was suppressing mail voting with last-minute changes at the U.S. Postal Service.

Donald Trump doesnt want you to be able to vote, read one Aug. 20 email the firm obtained by The Inquirer. Its time to stand up for whats right.

Justin Hiemstra, the 24-year-old former client who recalled van der Veen making the crude remark about Trump in an interview Tuesday, said it came while the lawyer was defending him against charges that he tried to illegally hack into a government database to steal the presidents tax returns.

Im not sure if [those comments] were made to make me feel more comfortable, or if they were his actual opinions, Hiemstra said. But he definitely came off as fairly anti-Trump in the context that I knew him.

Van der Veen, 57, of Exton, didnt respond to multiple texts and phone calls Tuesday and Wednesday seeking to verify Hiemstras recollections. But a day after this story was first published, a Trump surrogate emailed a letter, signed by van der Veen and addressed to another news outlet. The comments about President Donald J. Trump being attributed to me by a former client in your story yesterday are false, van der Veen said.

In an earlier joint interview Tuesday, just hours before the start of the impeachment trial, both van der Veen and Brennan, 63, of Jenkintown, said their decision to join Trumps defense had nothing to do with partisanship or their personal views about the former president.

Im approaching this just like any other case, van der Veen said. I have a client who is in need of and who deserves the best representation he can get, and thats what were giving.

 READ MORE: Montcos Bruce Castor and Madeleine Dean bring very different approaches to Trumps impeachment trial

Brennan  a prolific defense lawyer and fixture in Philadelphia courtrooms  has built a reputation over decades as an attorney not afraid to take on tough cases. A member of the elite American College of Trial Lawyers, hes defended judges accused of corruption and priests charged with sexually abusing children.

Neither of us have any personal or political agenda here, he said. Were trial lawyers and this is what we do.

Still, he expressed reservations last month when it surfaced that one of his clients  Joshua Macias, the Virginia-based founder of Vets for Trump  had attended the Jan. 6 Trump rally that led to the Capitol attack that Trump was impeached for inciting.

What I saw inside the Capitol building was a disgrace, Brennan said at the time, adding that his continued representation of Macias would depend on whether investigators uncovered evidence that he was involved in the insurrection.

Brennan said Tuesday that he anticipates he and van der Veen will play more of a supporting role during the trial, letting defense team leads Castor and Alabama lawyer David Schoen do most of the speaking.

It was only in December that Castor joined van der Veens firm, which is focused on personal injury, pro bono, and criminal defense. Neither man could have imagined at the time that within roughly a month, the new partner would land the law offices highest-profile client ever.

Less than two weeks ago, Trump turned to Castor to lead his Senate defense, upon a recommendation from his cousin, Stephen Castor, the lead House Republican lawyer during Trumps first impeachment.

Since then, van der Veen, Brennan, and Julianne Bateman  a younger associate at the firm  have spent hours huddled in conference rooms in Philadelphia and Washington with Castor and Schoen, working out strategy and drafting briefs.

For the last eight days, weve thrown everything we have got at this, van der Veen said.

 READ MORE: Pa. Republicans are stumped by Trumps pick of Bruce Castor for his impeachment defense. Others see a natural choice.

Some of the earliest results of their work emerged Monday, in a brief Castor, Schoen, and van der Veen filed with the Senate, laying out a preview of their case. It centered on questions about the constitutionality of trying a president after he has left office and whether Trumps remarks, which Democratic House impeachment managers have said incited the Jan. 6 attack, are protected by the First Amendment.

Missing was any reference to Trumps baseless yet relentless claims that the election was stolen from him by widespread fraud  sentiments that had been included in an earlier defense brief that falsely stated there was insufficient evidence to disprove them.

Van der Veen had not added his signature to that legal filing.

In fact, just three months earlier, he had argued the opposite in his case against the Postal Service, lambasting Trump efforts to paint voting by mail as rife with fraud despite having no evidence to support those claims.

Castor has since said he doesnt anticipate relitigating the election as part of Trumps impeachment defense. And van der Veen maintains he sees no conflict between his position in the Postal Service case and his representation now of one of its named defendants.

Nor does he see a problem with his prior representation of Hiemstra, the former Haverford College student charged in 2019 with using the schools computer lab in an attempt to steal Trumps tax returns.

Brennan represented Hiemstras codefendant and fellow student Andrew J. Harris in the case, which he described as a college prank.

Both men pleaded guilty and were sentenced to two years probation, after admitting they came close to illegally obtaining the documents by faking a student loan application for Tiffany Trump  who had recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.

The plan failed. But in defending Hiemstra in federal court in Philadelphia, van der Veen noted that Trump had yet to release his returns despite vague assurances during the 2016 campaign that he would do so once his legal team gave him the all clear.

My client, van der Veen told reporters at the time, thought that he could get the tax returns that were promised to him by the candidate.

Now, in the midst of what could be the biggest case of his career, van der Veen said hes ready to give the same level of defense to Trump.

My firm treats all of its clients the same, he said. Whether theyre in a trial on a national stage, or whether theyre in the Court of Common Pleas. They all get our best representation.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump was horrified when violence broke out at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, as a joint session of Congress convened to confirm that he lost the election, according to his defense attorneys.

Trump tweeted calls for peace "upon hearing of the reports of violence" and took "immediate steps" to mobilize resources to counter the rioters storming the building, his lawyers argued in a brief filed Monday in advance of Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate. It is "absolutely not true," they wrote, that Trump failed to act swiftly to quell the riot.

But that revisionist history conflicts with the timeline of events on the day of the Capitol riot, as well as accounts of multiple people in contact with the president that day, who have said Trump was initially pleased to see a halt in the counting of the electoral college votes. Some former White House officials have acknowledged that he only belatedly and reluctantly issued calls for peace, after first ignoring public and private entreaties to do so.

The assertion that Trump acted swiftly and out of genuine horror as his supporters ransacked the Capitol is largely a side note to his lawyers' defense. In their 78-page brief, they focused on two legal arguments: that the Constitution does not allow for the conviction of an impeached former officeholder and that Trump's speech to the crowd on Jan. 6 was political rhetoric protected by the First Amendment.

In a test vote earlier this month, the majority of Republican senators indicated that they will be receptive to a defense based on the question of whether the proceedings are constitutional.

But the decision by Trump's attorneys to also assert a claim about Trump's reaction that day in a footnote to their legal brief could give the House impeachment managers an opening as they prosecute their case. Among the possible witnesses who could rebut the contention that Trump moved quickly to rein his supporters are Republican senators who will now sit as jurors in the impeachment trial  some of whom have spoken publicly about their failed attempts to get the president to act expeditiously when his supporters invaded the Capitol.

"It took him awhile to appreciate the gravity of the situation," Sen. Lindsey O. Graham, R-S.C., one of Trump's most loyal supporters, said in an interview with The Washington Post two days after the riot. "The president saw these people as allies in his journey and sympathetic to the idea that the election was stolen."

 READ MORE: Montcos Bruce Castor and Madeleine Dean bring very different approaches to Trumps impeachment trial

That same day, Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., told conservative radio broadcaster Hugh Hewitt that it was "not an open question" as to whether Trump had been "derelict in his duty," saying there had been a delay in the deployment of the National Guard to help the Capitol Police repel rioters.

"As this was unfolding on television, Donald Trump was walking around the White House confused about why other people on his team weren't as excited as he was as you had rioters pushing against Capitol Police trying to get into the building," he said, indicating that he had learned of Trump's reaction from "senior White House officials."

Sasse declined to comment on Monday, saying he was a juror in the trial. Graham did not respond to requests for comment.

A spokesman for Trump's defense team did not respond to requests for comment.

For many White House aides, lawmakers and others who had been ensconced in the Capitol, Trump's actions after the riots began were particularly offensive  even more objectionable, some said, than what he did to incite the crowd.

"President Trump did not take swift action to stop the violence," the nine House impeachment managers wrote in their opening brief submitted last week, adding: "This dereliction of President Trump's responsibility for the events of January 6 is unmistakable."

Consumed with protest

Weeks before the joint session of Congress, Trump had summoned the crowd to Washington for a protest to coincide with counting of the electoral college votes. In the days leading up to the rally on the Ellipse, Trump was consumed with the event, former White House officials said, as he met with aides to plan the speakers, music and even staging.

On Jan. 6, Trump spent part of his morning making a final pitch to Vice President Mike Pence to derail the proceedings. The president tried to convince Pence to use his ceremonial role presiding over the joint session of Congress to reject slates of electoral college votes that confirmed Joe Biden's victory.

"All Mike Pence has to do is send them back to the States, AND WE WIN. Do it Mike, this is a time for extreme courage!" Trump tweeted at 8:17 a.m.

Trump also kept up the pressure privately, calling Pence before he left his home at the Naval Observatory for the Capitol and making one last effort to push him to try to overturn or delay the election results, former White House officials said.

 READ MORE: Trumps trial opens Tuesday. Impeachment managers cite a grievous crime, defense says its just theater.

Instead, Pence informed the president on the call that he would soon be issuing a public statement arguing the Constitution did not allow him to interfere with the counting of the vote.

Trump's mood immediately soured, aides said.

As the thousands of people gathered on the Ellipse, Trump monitored warm-up speeches by attorneys Rudolph Giuliani and John Eastman from the White House. Around midday, he left the White House and made his way to his a tent set up for VIPs near the stage. In videos posted on social media by his son Donald Trump Jr., the president can be seen intently watching the gathering crowd, surrounded by family members and aides.

A permit filed with the National Park Service for the event explicitly said there were no plans for an "organized march" from the Ellipse after the rally concluded.

But some publicity for events that day, including ads posted to a website called www.marchtosaveamerica.com, urged participants to "take a stand with President Trump" at the Ellipse and then "march to the US Capitol building to protest the certification of the Electoral College."

And Trump was taken with the idea that he might lead the crowd in a dramatic walk along Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol and raised it with aides days before the event, according to an official with knowledge of the discussions, who was among more than 15 advisers, members of Congress, GOP officials and Trump confidants who described his actions to The Washington Post last month, many speaking on the condition of anonymity to share candid details.

Even after the Secret Service and advisers around Trump nixed the idea for security reasons, according to former officials, Trump still included several references to such a march in his speech.

"After this, we're going to walk down and I'll be there with you," Trump said early in his speech. Later, he added, "I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard." He concluded: "So let's walk down Pennsylvania Avenue!"

Instead, Trump returned to the White House.

Even before Trump's speech was over, thousands of his supporters turned and began marching toward the Capitol.

There was already a large crowd gathered around the complex. By the time Trump had finished his 70-minute speech, Pence had gaveled open the joint session inside the Capitol. Outside, crowds were surging toward the building and already overwhelming metal barricades set up outside.

Soon, cable news reports showed rioters clashing with police outside the building.

By 1:49 p.m.  nearly an hour after the Capitol Police chief had urgently requested backup from D.C. police  Trump remained focused on his recently concluded speech.

He tweeted a video of his own remarks, adding the caption, "Our country has had enough, we will not take it anymore, and that's what this is all about."

At 2:11 p.m., the rioters broke into the building, smashing a window with a piece of lumber, video footage shows.

Minutes later, Pence was hustled from the Senate Chamber. First the Senate, and then the House, went into recess and lawmakers were hastily evacuated.

A spokesman for Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has said that around this time Lee received a call on his cellphone from Trump.

The president was not calling to inquire about the well-being of the senators who had been rushed from the chamber. Rather, he thought he had the phone number for Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who had said he would object to the electoral votes of some states. Trump was hoping to persuade Tuberville to expand his challenges and slow the process further.

Lee's spokesman did not respond to requests for comment this week.

Not long afterward, at 2:24 p.m., Trump tweeted: "Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution  USA demands the truth."

Inside the Capitol, the pro-Trump mob had just come within seconds of encountering Pence, who had been rushed into a hideaway by his Secret Service detail.

Speaking Sunday on Fox News, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., questioned whether the tweet, sent as the invading mob was marauding through the Capitol, was "a premeditated effort to provoke violence."

Calls of panic

At the White House, Trump's aides began fielding panicked calls from members of Congress, including close allies who had long been loyal to the president. They had promised they would vote against the counting of the electoral college votes  but begged him now to tell the crowd to stand down.

Graham reached out to Trump's daughter Ivanka, who had gone to the Oval Office as the riot began, to implore her for help, he said in the interview last month.

"They were all trying to get him to speak out, to tell everyone to leave," Graham said of the aides huddled with Trump that day. The senator said he did not know why it took so long to get the president to respond.

 READ MORE: Pa. Republicans are stumped by Trumps pick of Bruce Castor for his impeachment defense. Others see a natural choice.

Another close adviser said that rather than appearing appalled, Trump was voraciously consuming the events on television, enjoying the spectacle and encouraged to see his supporters fighting for him.

At some point, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was persuaded by staff to attempt to intervene with the president.

Finally, at 2:38 p.m.  more than 90 minutes after the siege had begun  Trump tweeted, "Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!"

One person familiar with discussions about what the president should tweet said Trump had resisted adding the final phrase: "Stay peaceful."

A little after 3 p.m., acting defense secretary Christopher Miller authorized full activation of all 1,100 members of the D.C. National Guard after urgent requests from the Capitol Police.

While Trump's defense attorneys claim he and the White House "took immediate steps to coordinate with authorities," the president played no known role in organizing reinforcements that day.

Among those who reached out to Trump that afternoon was House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., a close Trump ally, who later told allies he found Trump watching events on television and distracted.

Concerned his request for the president to intervene had not gotten through, McCarthy followed up with Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and asked him to get Trump to urge the rioters to go home.

At 3:13 p.m., a little more than an half-hour after his first tweet, Trump tweeted again. This time he wrote more forcefully: "I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order  respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!"

Another hour passed. During this time, as rioters surged through the building and reveled on the Senate floor, Trump made no effort to check on the well-being of his vice president or his team, who were sheltering in place in the Capitol complex. Aides said that lack of outreach angered Pence more than anything else Trump did before or after the riot. Five days passed before the two men spoke again.

Trump also did not make contact with Sen. Mitch McConnell, R.-Ky., then the Senate majority leader, who was in constant communication with Pence, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., aides said, along with military and law enforcement officials. Trump did not participate in any of the group calls.

Shortly before 4 p.m., former New Jersey governor Chris Christie went on ABC News and said that he had been trying without success to reach Trump for 25 minutes.

"The president caused this protest to occur; he's the only one who can make it stop," Christie, a close Trump confidant, said he had hoped to tell the president.

At 4:17 p.m., more than an hour after his last public comment and as police continued to wage hand-to-hand combat with rioters trying to press into the building, Trump posted a video to Twitter in which he told crowd directly, "You have to go home."

But he also expressed sympathy for them and their cause. Trump insisted the election had been fraudulent, adding, "There's never been a time like this when such a thing happened when they could take it away from all of us."

"Go home. We love you. You're very special," he said.

Trump aides later said that the video was considered the best of three separate takes he filmed that day.

As a curfew called by Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D, fell over the city at 6 p.m., Trump tweeted again. This time, he went even further in expressing sympathy for his supporters and their actions.

"These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long," he wrote. "Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!"

In The Post interview two days after the riot, Graham called the tweet "very unhelpful" and expressed confusion about why Trump had not acted more forcefully during the riot. "I'd like to know more," he said then.

In the immediate wake of the riot, Meadows was already telling people that Trump had wanted the violence to end immediately, according to an administration official at the time.

The official said it was "not believable" then  or now, when presented by Trump's lawyers. A spokesman for Meadows did not respond to a request for comment.

The House impeachment managers are expected to argue that Trump could have restrained the mob if he had acted more swiftly and forcefully.

In a new brief filed Tuesday, the impeachment managers wrote: "President Trump barely attempts to justify his abject failure to stop the riot after it began, and confines his entire discussion of the point to a convoluted footnote that hardly offers any response or explanation at all."

Comments by some of those who allegedly invaded the Capitol support the notion that they would have responded if Trump had told them to back down earlier in the day.

In a video posted to the social media site Parler on the afternoon of Jan. 6, Jacob Chansley  who was photographed in the well of the Senate chamber, wearing a headdress of animal fur and horns  told an unnamed person after he exited the building that he had done so because Trump had tweeted that the rioters should leave.

Donald Trump asked everybody to go home, Chanlsey said. He just put out a tweet. Its a minute long. He asked everybody to go home.

The Washington Posts Ashley Parker, Philip Rucker and Dalton Bennett contributed to this report.
Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden during a phone conversation has agreed to continue close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, including support for freedom of navigation, and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad.

During the phone call on Monday, President Joe Biden underscored his desire to defend democratic institutions around the world and noted that a shared commitment to democratic values is key for the US-India ties.

"The leaders (PM Modi and President Biden) also agreed to continue close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, including support for freedom of navigation, territorial integrity and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad," the White House said in a press statement.

"The President underscored his desire to defend democratic institutions and norms around the world and noted that a shared commitment to democratic values is the bedrock for the US-India relationship," the statement added. The development comes as members of the Quad framework- the US, India, Japan and Australia - are working to arrange the first meeting of their leaders amid China`s growing clout in the region, reported the Japan Times.

The move comes as the Biden administration appears eager to build on the renewed attention to the grouping of the four major Indo-Pacific democracies, with national security adviser Jake Sullivan calling it "a foundation upon which to build substantial American policy in the Indo-Pacific", reported the daily quoting a source.

According to the source, the US has already proposed to other countries the idea of holding an online meeting of the Quad leaders. During the envisioned meeting, the Quad members are expected to discuss cooperation for the realisation of a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" amid concerns over China`s maritime assertiveness in the region.

It is speculated that China may react with displeasure to the meeting. The Japan Times reported that for the first time under the Quad framework, the foreign ministers of the four countries met in New York in 2019. The four countries held another meeting last year in Tokyo during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the October meeting, then-US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has reprimanded the dragon (China) for using its economic power to increase its hegemony over the neighbouring countries in South Asia. Pompeo brought to the forum a denunciation of China`s "exploitation, corruption, and coercion" of neighbouring countries.

He said, "This is for the soul of the world. This is about whether this will be a world that operates in this sense that we`re on a rules-based international order system or one that`s dominated by a coercive totalitarian regime like the one in China."

The Quad initiative is expected to put an end to the economic coercion tactics of China and cooperation with Japan and other allies will checkmate Chinese development assistance and its hegemony in the region.

Biden, Modi commit towards greater Indo-US ties

Both the head of the states have committed to defeat the COVID-19, rebuild the global economy, jointly combat the scourge of global terrorism and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, setting up an ambitious agenda to take the strategic bilateral ties to the next level.

The two leaders, during their first phone call on Monday after Biden was sworn in as the 46th US President, agreed to continuing close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, including support for freedom of navigation, territorial integrity and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad, the White House said.

After being sworn in as president on January 20, President Biden has so far had phone calls with nine foreign leaders. Traditionally, the new American president makes first phone calls to the leaders of two neighbouring countries -- Canada and Mexico.

Thereafter, Biden called leaders of close US allies, including Britain, France, Germany, South Korea and Australia. In between, he called Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was necessitated due to the extension of the New Start Treaty for another five years.

Modi is the first foreign leader, whom Biden has spoken with beyond neighbours and key NATO allies, reflecting the significance his administration attaches to ties with India.

"The President underscored his desire to defend democratic institutions and norms around the world and noted that a shared commitment to democratic values is the bedrock for the US-India relationship," the White House said, adding the two leaders resolved that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld in Myanmar.

Biden and Modi agreed to stay in close touch on a range of global challenges and look forward to what the United States and India will achieve together for their people and for their nations, the White House said.

In a tweet, Modi said that he conveyed his best wishes to the US President and they discussed regional issues as well as shared priorities. "We also agreed to further our cooperation against climate change," he said.

"President Biden & I are committed to a rules-based order. We look forward to consolidating our strategic partnership to further peace & security in Indo-Pacific region and beyond," Modi said in another tweet.

The two leaders had a very warm and wide-ranging conversation, India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, told PTI after the phone call between the two leaders.

This was the second phone call between Biden and Modi after the November 3 presidential elections and the first one since Biden assumed office on January 20. The first one was on November 17 when they reiterated their firm commitment to bilateral strategic partnership and discussed shared priorities such as COVID-19, energy and climate change, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, Sandhu said in an earlier interview last week.

Biden is known to be a strong proponent of closer India-US ties since his days as a senator in the 1970s and played a key role in getting the approval of the Senate for the bilateral civil nuclear deal in 2008.

The strategic and defence ties between India and the US witnessed major expansion during Barack Obama's presidency and Biden, as the vice president, had played a key role in it.

(With Agency Inputs)

Mammootty, the megastar of Malayalam cinema has resumed shooting after a 10-months-long gap, recently. Interestingly, the senior actor is now all set to team-up with actor-scenarist Murali Gopy. Recently the scriptwriter confirmed that Mammootty will play the lead role in the upcoming project penned by him and produced by Vijay Babu under the banner Friday Film House.

Murali Gopy, the writer of the project announced the exciting news by sharing a picture clicked with Mammootty and producer Vijay Babu, on his official social media pages. "In the offing, something I, as a writer, have always looked forward to... . With @actor_vijaybabu, Shibu Basheer (debut directorial), AND........ You Know Who...  ..! @shadow_in_mist @friday_filmhouse", wrote the writer in his post.

Vijay Babu, the producer who is all excited about finally working with Mammootty, took to his Instagram page and wrote: "One of the biggest dreams to come true very soon . The biggest till date from Friday film house. Murali Gopy @muraligopynsta Shibu basheer @shadow_in_mist . STAY TUNED."

Mammootty and Murali Gopy are also joining hands for the upcoming Prithviraj Sukumaran directorial. It has also been rumoured that the megastar might play a pivotal role in the Prithviraj-Murali duo's Empuraan, which is a sequel to the 2019-released Mohanlal starring blockbuster Lucifer.

Coming back to the Friday Film House production, the untitled project marks Mammootty's yet another collaboration with a debutant director. Shibu Basheer, the director of the project is the former directorial assistant of popular filmmaker B Unnikrishnan. The movie, which is said to be a complete entertainer, will start rolling by the beginning of 2022.

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Politicians line up to meet Tikait at Ghazipur in show of solidarity Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi/Saharanpur, Feb 9 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will hold a series of 'kisan sabhas' in western Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday to intensify the protest against the three Central farm laws.

According to party sources, Priyanka will hold the first such meeting in Saharanpur's Chilkana area. Besides, Saharanpur, she will be visiting Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts to attend a 'mahapanchayat'. The Congress General Secretary will then hold similar 'kisan sabhas' in Meerut and Bijnor on Saturday.

Sources added that the Congress will organise 'jai jawan jai kisan' programmes in each tehsil of western UP's 27 districts. The party is also mulling to hold chaupals across these districts in the next ten days to discuss the drawbacks of the farm laws.

The party has also prepared an audio visual tape and will be distributing pamphlets highlighting the farmers' plight.

All the Congress leaders have been roped in including former state chiefs of the party -- Salman Khurshid, Raj Babbar and Nirmal Khatri, to join the yatra.

Party sources said that all the leaders have been asked for their active participation. Leaders like Navjot Singh Sidhu, Randeep Surjewala and Meem Afzal will also be a part of the programme. Hardik Patel, working president of the Gujarat Congress, will also join the programme.

The party's aim is to connect with all the communities and take the farmers' issue to the people and also garner support.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the farmers to end their agitation, Congress Rajya Sabha member Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said: "We expected that he would discuss something on the three farm laws that has triggered protest, continuing for the last 75 days." According to Naresh Saini, Congress MLA from Behat in Saharanpur, "During her visit, Priyanka will offer prayers at the Shakumbhari Mata temple and also visit a shrine. Later, she will hold a kisan sabha in the Chilkana area." Priyanka's Saharanpur visit was earlier scheduled for February 8, but permission was denied by the local administration.

"The venue was later shifted outside the city limits," Saini said.

Priyanka had recently visited Rampur, where she met the family members of Navreet Singh, a farmer who died during the tractor rally violence in Delhi on Republic Day.
Under the new practices, patients typically get called a few days before visits and are asked if they have any COVID symptoms. They may be told to wait in their cars until they can be seen. Their temperatures may be taken before entering a dental office, and they have to wear masks, except during treatment, all measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Protesters clashed with police in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, after the country's president refused to step down at the end of his five-year term.

Police used tear gas and fired guns at protesters in the streets of the capital, who retaliated by throwing stones and using slings.

The country's opposition leaders and their supporters have claimed that President Jovenel Moises five-year term has expired, and demanded that he step down on Feb. 7.

But hopes by the opposition for an end to Moises leadership were dashed after he announced on Feb. 7 that authorities had arrested 23 people accused of plotting an alleged coup to kill him and overthrow his government.

Those arrested included a high-ranking police official and a Supreme Court judge who was favored by the opposition.

The President also claims he had a year left of his term, because an interim government ran the country for a year after his election.

He has repeatedly said he will step down in February 2022.

Footage from UK broadcaster Sky showed people in Port-au-Prince battling with the police on damaged and dilapidated streets.

Protesters have demanded better living conditions, an end to corruption, and a solution to the problem of kidnapping for ransom, which affects the rich and poor alike.

Critics also accuse Moise of amassing more power in recent months, saying that he has been ruling by presidential decree ever since he dissolved the majority of Parliament in January 2020 after failing to hold legislative elections in 2019 amid political gridlock.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
(Natural News) South African health authorities cannot approve the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine in good conscience. The trial data was lacking conclusive evidence to justify the vaccines necessity. The vaccine offers minimal protection against mild and moderate infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, better known as the Fauci Virus.

There is no guarantee that the protection lasts or whether the vaccine poses more risk to the individual after a comprehensive risk assessment is observed. The Serum Institute of India had already delivered one million doses of the new vaccine to the South African healthcare workers, but as of February 2021, these shots WILL NOT go into peoples arms because the vaccine has proven to be a useless fraud.

AstraZeneca vaccine turns out to be a fraud, as its necessity is called into question

The AstraZeneca vaccine will remain with us  up until the scientists give us clear indications as to what we need to do, said Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, who rejected the shot.

The AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine has been rejected in South Africa and around the world. Germanys Standing Vaccination Commission found that the COVID-19 vaccine is only 8 percent effective for people over age 65. Switzerland dumped the vaccine due to lack of data on its safety and effectiveness. Swissmedic, Switzerlands authority for medicines and medical devices, concluded that the available data does not point to a positive decision regarding benefits and risks.

Other vaccine makers, such as Pfizer and Moderna, have relied on corrupt and flawed study designs on COVID-19 diagnosis to inflate their vaccines efficacy. This medical fraud has helped propel mRNA experimental injections past regulatory oversight, despite clinical trials showing that moderate and severe side effects are common with this new technology. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines store instructions in single-stranded RNA to command human cells to produce spike proteins, the infectious feature of the coronavirus. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, on the other hand, encodes these cell-manipulating messages in double-stranded DNA and uses a modified version of a chimpanzee adenovirus to get the messages into the human cells.

Vaccines arent 100 percent safe and effective, and many arent even necessary

For years, health authorities around the world postulated that vaccines were 100 percent safe and effective, that the science was settled and undisputed. With the rollout of experimental COVID-19 inoculations, health authorities are being humbled and humiliated. Not only are vaccine makers committing fraud in the vaccine study designs, but the final product of COVID-19 vaccination is mired with critical errors that cost people their lives.

Trying to showcase the vaccines to the public, health authorities have unintentionally broadcast to the public some of the most awful failures of vaccination. While most of these allergic reactions have been scrubbed from social media and omitted from mainstream media networks, the documented reality of vaccine injury is real, unrelenting and stoic  haunting a corrupt industry that has lied to the public for decades.

For over thirty years, the Department of Health and Human Services has failed to perform safety studies every two years on the current vaccine schedule, violating their responsibility under the 1986 National Childhood Vaccination Injury Act. The COVID-19 experimental vaccines are receiving even less scientific scrutiny, as the U.S. FDA and other regulatory agencies around the world approve the inoculations for emergency use while indemnifying vaccine makers from legal accountability when their products harm individuals.

The most concerning issue currently facing the world is the loss of human rights when it comes to making personal medical decisions. According to the UK, COVID-19 vaccinations offer no protection, but they are being considered mandatory for travel. If this coercion is accepted, then life-threatening vaccine injury could be forced upon people all around the world, and unnecessary and unscientific inoculations like the AstraZeneca/Oxford cocktail could be pushed into people, with no regard for human life.

Sources include:

GreatGameIndia.com

NaturalNews.com

GreatGameIndia.com

GreatGameIndia.com

NaturalNews.com

NYTimes.com

Vaccines.News

PRNewsWire.com

NaturalNews.com

SHANGHAI, Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Yingli Pharma announced today that it reached strategic collaboration with Hengrui Medicine (600276.SH), a partnership which will significantly accelerate the expansion of Yingli Pharma's oncology business in China, the second largest pharmaceutical market in the world. As an innovation-driven enterprise, Yingli Pharma demonstrates commitment to continuous investment in R&D and is committed to the research, development and commercialization of new drugs for hematological tumors, solid tumors and kidney-related metabolic diseases.

As part of the cooperation:

Hengrui Medicine will invest USD 20 million in Yingli Pharma as an equity investment.

in Yingli Pharma as an equity investment. Yingli Pharma will grant Hengrui Medicine joint development rights and exclusive commercialization rights of PI3k inhibitor YY-20394 in Greater China .

"The collaboration with Hengrui Medicine is a significant milestone that will enable Yingli Pharma to further promote the commercialization of developed innovative drugs. It also demonstrates the confidence mature industrial investors have in our product pipeline and innovative drug R&D, and fully recognizes the strategic vision of Yingli Pharma to build a leading international biopharmaceutical company," said Dr. Xu Zusheng, Co-founder of Yingli Pharma.

"Hengrui Medicine has extensive commercial operation and clinical development capabilities in China which are implemented in accordance with international quality standards. It is an ideal strategic partner in the commercialization process of Yingli Pharma. We will work together to bring benefits to more patients in China and around the world," he added.

Dr. Zhang Lianshan, Senior Deputy General Manager and President of Global R&D of Hengrui Medicine, said, "There are about 4 million newly diagnosed cancer patients in China every year, and there is an urgent need for innovative drugs and regimens for cancer treatment. The oncology market has become one of the fastest-growing fields in the whole pharmaceutical market. It is believed that the cooperation between Hengrui Medicine and Yingli Pharma will bring meaningful changes to the lives of millions of cancer patients in China and even around the world. This collaboration will further enrich the layout of Hengrui Medicine in the field of hematological tumor and oncology and supplement the existing product line."

About Yingli Pharma

Established in 2011, Shanghai Yingli Pharma is a small-molecule innovation drug research and development company rooted in China and with a global vision. The company focuses on the development and commercialization of innovative small-molecule drugs for hematological tumors, solid tumors and kidney-related metabolic diseases. Yingli Pharma has a full-featured new drug R&D center in Zhangjiang, Shanghai, and has a number of international leading R&D pipelines in clinical and preclinical stages.

About Hengrui Medicine

Hengrui Medicine, founded in 1970 and listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2000, is a medical and health business engaged in medical innovation and research, development, production and promotion of high-quality drugs.

SOURCE Yingli Pharma
Joseph Vaughan is 33 years old, works full time and is a family man. Even with his busy schedule, Vaughan is committed to completing a bachelors degree in Petroleum Engineering. As a drilling superintendent for Patterson-UTI, he said that a degree will enable him to move up in the company.

Ive been with Patterson for over 13 years, Vaughan explained. I started when I was 20 working as an entry-level floor hand, and Ive moved up the career ladder ever since. Four years ago, I was promoted to drilling superintendent over the Permian Basin. I felt that pursuing my degree would be helpful in my efforts to continue moving up within Patterson. Also, I really love working in the oil and gas industry and love the fieldwork. Ive always wanted to use my field knowledge and college education to become a well-rounded and respected petroleum engineer. I constantly encourage the employees whom I supervise to pursue a similar path of higher education to better their career opportunities.

Vaughan is currently responsible for several of the Pattersons rigs in the Permian Basin covering the area from Midland to Carlsbad, New Mexico. He has managed some of the largest operators in the United States. He works two weeks on and two weeks off and claims Austin as his home. When he is in the Permian Basin, Patterson provides lodging for him around the areas in which his rigs are located.

Its not a typical job, but it works for my family and me, Vaughan said. I first started working for Patterson in the South Texas area for 9  years before transferring to the Permian Basin to become a drilling superintendent for the last four years.

Vaughan said that when he began researching higher education opportunities, he reached out to the Engineering Department at Midland College and within hours of his initial inquiry, Brian Flowers, MC Henry Chair of Engineering, contacted him.

Dr. Flowers was very professional and told me about options for getting started in engineering at Midland College, Vaughan stated. I was also impressed by the number of online courses I could take so that my work schedule wouldnt be interrupted and I could be home with my family in Austin.

As an added bonus, Vaughan said that when he told Patterson-UTI Senior Vice President Mike Garvin and Regional Vice President Brandon Benedict that he was going to pursue a bachelors degree in Petroleum Engineering, they consistently worked with him to ensure he was able to fulfill both his work and school obligations.

I was truly grateful for their support and willingness to invest in me, Vaughan noted. Its every employees dream to have supervisors who take care of their employees. I also cant thank my operations manager Kurt Bailey enough for helping me balance my work obligations and studying without any problems.

I started taking classes in fall 2018 and just took one or two courses that first semester. I wanted to make sure that I could juggle school, job and family responsibilities.

Vaughan has certainly proven that he can do it the right way. He obtained an Associate of Science degree from MC in December and graduated as an Honors Scholar with a GPA over 3.85.

It was important for me to do as well as I could because I knew that my operations manager and vice presidents were supporting my dreams, Vaughan said. My plans are to transfer to the University of Texas Permian Basin or Texas Tech to finish my degree and then work on getting a masters degree.

I was really fortunate at Midland College that I could actually take all my courses online. I have the great advising team at Midland College to thank for that. My advisor knew that I needed as many online courses as possible. She contacted me last spring and told me that all summer lab courses would be offered online because of the pandemic, so I enrolled in a summer chemistry course and two summer geology courses. Those were tough courses, but I got through them all with As.

As an Honors Scholar, Vaughan was required to complete additional research projects in at least four classes. He chose Texas Government, Geology, Humanities and Music Appreciation.

Then, his last semester at Midland College, he took a U.S. History course with David Hopkins.

Dr. Hopkins is a great teacher, Vaughan said. His lectures relate history to whats going on in todays world. He inspired me to complete an additional honors research project in history which made my fifth honors credit possible.

In addition to taking classes online, Vaughan also took advantage of the online services provided by the colleges Math Lab.

I hadnt had a math course since I was in high school, Vaughan said. I appreciated the online tutoring services available through the Math Lab. I also had to get a private tutor when I moved up into calculus. All that extra math studying was worth it; my last semester I got an A in calculus!

Vaughan stated that he wants to inspire other oilfield employees to follow the route he has taken, even with the abnormal schedules that they work in the field.

It is possible to get a degree and work full time, Vaughan said You just have to find time to manage your job, home life and study life. Invest in yourself so that others want to invest in you, as well.

-

Rebecca Bell is the executive director of Institutional Advancement
A Jacksonville authors book has aided in the creation of a documentary airing on Discovery+.

Troy Taylors The Devil Came to St. Louis was used to help make Shock Docs: The Exorcism of Roland Doe, which details the story of Roland Doe, a young boy who was the focus of an exorcism in 1949 in St. Louis.

The documentary first aired Friday on Discovery+, where it now is available on demand.

I started doing research on the 1949 exorcism about 25 years ago, Taylor said. Ive written a lot of other books, but I keep coming back to this one.

The book originally was published in 2005 and tells the story of then 13-year-old Roland Doe  a name used to protect the identity of the boy  who went through six weeks of nightly exorcisms.

The boy originally lived in Maryland, where the family experienced happenings such as slamming doors, noises and moving objects.

As things worsened, the family decided to move to St. Louis, where they had family, hoping to escape what they believed were hauntings, Taylor said.

Things got worse, Taylor said. He would go into trances, have seizures, spells, marks on his body.

The family eventually involved the Catholic Church and a six-week exorcism was performed within the familys home and at a local mental hospital.

Whatever was going on  whether you believe in demons or if it was a mental illness  this cured it and he recovered quickly and grew up, Taylor said.

Taylor has spent years conducting interviews, reviewing documents and researching various aspects of the exorcism.

Im not sure why Im so interested in this particular story, he said. I guess there are so many different facets to it and the church wanted to keep it a secret adding to the mystery of it. I dont really have a set reason Im so fascinated by it  I just am.

Over time, new people would surface or new documents would be found and Taylor would revise his book.

Things keep changing, Taylor said. I thought I had talked with everyone involved, until about six years ago, when the family of a monk contacted me.

Over the years, Taylor has talked with several participants in the exorcism, who detailed their stories for his book. He tried to present their stories as told, with little editorializing.

Ive just been trying to collect all the evidence, all the stories and then putting it out there for people, Taylor said. I try to let the people decide.

Getting to use his knowledge of the exorcism to work on the documentary, including filming for it, has been a unique experience, Taylor said.

I didnt make any editorial decisions on it, that is for sure, Taylor said.

The documentary is only available through the streaming service, he said.
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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

Watch Pakistanis go crazy for cake, foreign minister tries to eat a piece with mask on

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 09: A video has gone viral on he social media and is keeping everyone in splits.

Pakistan's Qureshi caught in chaos as people fight for cake | Oneindia News

In front of Pakistan's foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a fight erupts over cake. The people begin fighting for the cake after the minister cuts it.

Qureshi arrived to inaugurate a road in Multan. He had asked for a big cake for the inauguration of the road. However the people went crazy after seeing the cake.

Cake fight erupts as foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi inaugurates a road in Multan. pic.twitter.com/gTqeFjUSz7  Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) February 8, 2021

In the video shared by journalist Nayla Inayat, people can be seen falling all over each and battling for the same. There are some who even picked it from the ground and ate it.

Fact check: The real story behind the laughing bride onstage

The video got more hilarious, when the foreign minister tried to eat the cake, but forgot that he had a mask on.
Spot gold trading on existing exchanges is likely to be a reality soon following the finance ministers announcement in the budget that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) would be the regulatory body to monitor such trades.

This would mean that spot gold will be traded in a separate segment on existing exchanges, and vault receipts (for physical gold) provided by the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) will be traded on exchanges as securities.

A source close to the development told Moneycontrol that "the proposed trading of gold in spot may be allowed as commodity spot and commodity derivatives similar to other segments in any exchange like equity (cash) and equity derivatives.

In such an event, a standalone gold exchange with dominant holding of primarily stakeholders from the industry may become difficult to establish or may not be found viable, the source added.

Once the vaults (storing gold) come under the purview of WDRA, then in the case of gold settlement against the spot contracts, that may happen through receipts and these receipts will be treated as securities, another source close to the development told Moneycontrol.

Currently, the WDRA has electronic negotiable warehouse receipts (eNWR) which are mandatory for delivery (settlement) of agricultural commodities on stock exchanges.

The Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act (SCRA) would also see some amendments to give shape to gold being treated as a security and in the provisions for duration of contracts.

On February 17, Nirmala Sitharaman will chair a Sebi board meeting, her first as finance minister, and may discuss issues announced in the budget including the setting up of a spot gold exchange. She may also seek timelines for their implementation.

The industry, in an earlier proposal for a standalone gold exchange, had suggested that Gold Receipts or Gold Accounts be maintained with so-called Gold Settlement Banks.

In the past few years, there have been discussions on the models that India can look at for setting up a gold exchange  have a separate regulator viz. Gold Board, or appoint Sebi as regulator.

However, Sebi was not in favour of regulating spot exchange of gold, another source told Moneycontrol.

Ashish Pethe, managing director of Maharashtra-based jewellery company Waman Hari Pethe, told Moneycontrol: It is a good move by the government for traders like us. Now we get a transparent and unified price of gold across the country.

However, an official at a gold refining company told Moneycontrol that such a move would increase transaction costs.

This exchange will increase the transaction cost for refiners. Who will bear it, is the question in our mind. These exchanges have to make delivery bases at various places which is not easy in a short time and that will also add to the transaction charges, the official said.

Another market participant told Moneycontrol,Currently, in spot market gold delivery happens on a daily basis but on exchange it will happen on T+1 or T+2 days basis. So, who will bear the cost of two days of trading and will goods and service tax be returned in a weeks time? So, Sebi and the government should think on this level also. It is a good plan, but will it take off is the question.

India is the worlds largest importer of gold, with 800-900 tonnes of the yellow metal imported into the country every year.

If the gold spot exchange comes up, India will be the third country to have one after China and Turkey.
South Africa: GBVF response fund raises R128 million

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sincere appreciation to the private sector for the R128 million pledge by companies and organised business to help fight the scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in South Africa.

The amount was raised during the launch of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Response Fund 1 aimed at supporting the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP), and the wider GBVF response in the country.

The President launched the fund last week together with the International Womens Forum of South Africa and social partners.

A range of companies participated at the launch and pledged a total of R128 170 000 in contributions to the private-sector led, multi-sectoral fund that will support the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP). The NSP is South Africas roadmap to ending GBVF.

President Ramaphosa expressed his appreciation for resources from businesses and philanthropies, who are committed to social transformation, and were able to contribute.

This commitment comes at a time of great economic difficulty which itself contributes to the hardship and vulnerability affecting women. It is an important contribution to improving the lives of women and girls in our society.

The successful launch of the fund is a significant demonstration of the depth of social compacting in our society and the vision of a better South Africa shared by social partners, President Ramaphosa said.

The President urged the private sector and philanthropies to support the fund, which will allocate financial support to the programmes that are based on the National Strategic Plans six pillars.

The six pillars of NSP include accountability, coordination and leadership; prevention and rebuilding social cohesion; justice, safety and protection; response, care, support and healing; economic power; and research and information management.

Accountability, coordination and leadership

Bold leadership, strengthened accountability across government and society that responds to GBVF strategically with clear messaging and adequate technical and financial resources; and

Strengthened multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration across different tiers of government and sections of society based on relationships of trust that give effect to the pillars of the NSP.

Prevention and rebuilding social cohesion

Strengthened delivery capacity in South Africa to roll out evidence-based prevention programmes;

Changed behaviour and social norms within key groups as a result of the rollout of evidence-based prevention interventions;

Shifts away from toxic masculinities towards embracing positive alternative approaches for expressing masculinities and other sexual and gender identities, within specific communities/groups;

Optimally harnessed Violence Against Children (VAC) programmes that have an impact on GBV eradication;

Increased cross-fertilisation and integration of prevention interventions on violence against LGBTQIA+ persons with broader GBVF prevention and violence prevention interventions;

Strengthened programming that addresses the restoration of human dignity, builds caring communities and responds to historic and collective trauma; and

Public spaces are made safe and violent free for all, particularly women and children.

Justice, safety and protection

All GBV survivors are able to access efficient and sensitive criminal justice that is quick, accessible, responsive and gender-inclusive;

Strengthened capacity within the criminal justice system to address all impunity, effectively respond to femicide and facilitate justice for GBV survivors; and

Amended legislation related to GBV areas that build on legislative reforms initiated under the Emergency Response Action Plan.

Response, care, support and healing

Strengthened existing response, care and support services by the state and civil society in ways that are victim-centred and survivor-focused to facilitate recovery and healing;

Secondary victimisation is eliminated through addressing specific individual and systemic factors that drive it;

Victims feel supported by the system to access the necessary psychosocial, material and other support required to assist them with their healing; and

Strengthened community and institutional responses to provide integrated care and support to GBV survivors and their families that takes into account linkages between substance abuse and HIV and AIDS.

Economic power

Accelerated initiatives that address womens unequal economic and social position, through access to government and private sector procurement, employment, housing, access to land, financial resources and other income- generating initiatives;

Safe workplaces that are free of violence against women and LGBTQIA+ persons, including but not limited to sexual harassment;

Demonstrated commitment through policy interventions, by the South African state, private sector and other key stakeholders, to eliminate the impact of economic drivers of GBV; and

Strengthened child maintenance and related support systems to address the economic vulnerability of women.

Research and information management

Improved understanding of the extent and nature of GBVF, broadly and in relation to specific groups and forms in South Africa;

Adoption of GBV policies and programming interventions that are informed by existing evidence-based research; and

GBVF related information across different government management information systems, is readily used to address systemic challenges and facilitate effective solutions and responses.

Mode of programmes funding

The Board of the GBVF Response Fund 1 is expected to announce the process and criteria for funding projects and will be announced on https://www.gbvfresponsefund1.org/ later.

Companies that would like to contribute can access information on https://www.gbvfresponsefund1.org/ or by searching gbvffund on google which will lead them to the site.

 Bank account with ABSA; Account name is GBVF Response Fund 1 NPC, Current Account. Email is info@gbvfresponsefund1.org  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-02-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A tsunami of missed care has built up as patients suffering from non-Covid-19 illnesses face lengthening waiting lists, the Oireachtas health committee was told today.

Low morale, lack of staff, lack of childcare support and the daily risk of contracting Covid-19 during the gruelling year of the pandemic has also taken its toll, health unions revealed.

Here are eight things we learned.

(1) Hospitals are facing a tsumani of missed care. The need to make wards available for virtually Covid-only patients for many weeks has left a dangerous backlog of waiting lists for other treatment.

Dr Rob Landers of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association said the crisis was exacerbated by a lack of specialists.

The number of unfilled consultant posts has risen from 500 to 728.

There will be a scandalous cost to patients unless the recruitment crisis is not addressed, he added.

He told the committee that a survey of doctors found Covid-19 had a moderate or severe impact on their workload, general wellbeing and mental health.

More than one-fifth are experiencing symptoms of burnout and work-related stress.

This includes feelings of physical exhaustion, mental exhaustion, feelings of detachment from their work and feelings of reduced professional ability or accomplishment. Doctors want to work in a public health service with appropriate staffing levels, properly resourced teams and the required equipment and facilities to provide high quality, safe care to patients. Even before Covid there were not enough doctors and consultants to do this.

There are around 840,000 people on some form of hospital waiting list. Regrettably, in the short-term due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis these numbers will deteriorate further.

Read More

(2) The impact of the pandemic has led to an escalation in mental health distress. However, there is a shortage of acute beds for psychiatric patients. Psychiatrists found themselves desperately looking for a bed for suicidal patients, warned Dublin consultant Dr Gabrielle Colleran.

(3) Nurses and midwives have been told they must fund their own childcare arrangements. Phil Ni Sheaghdha of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said they have asked various government departments for support and asked the Department of Education to open schools for essential workers. She said nurses were left to make their own childcare arrangements while they made themselves available as frontline workers. They have now been informed by the Health Department that childcare costs must be funded by workers themselves. Dr Colleran said healthcare staff were coming home from work exhausted and unable to help their children with school work.

(4) Just 49,000 frontline healthcare workers are now fully vaccinated. It would have taken longer had the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine from the over-70s not been given to health staff. The INMO said the roll-out of the vaccine to staff at the beginning did not take account of the counties worst hit, such as Monaghan and Louth.

(5) Public health doctors, who at the centre of investigating and controlling Covid-19 outbreaks, are struggling due to lack of staff. Anthony Owens, head of industrial relations in the Irish Medical Organisation, said: Public health medicine is the first line of defence that we have against Covid-19, yet we have just 60 public health specialists employed compared to 180 in Scotland and New Zealand where the population is of a similar size.

"Public health specialists have the expertise and training to carry out risk assessments and manage and control outbreaks of infection in our healthcare settings and in the wider community.

Yet public health specialists have still not been provided with a consultant contract and the resources necessary to allow them to carry out their statutory duties to the top of their licence. It beggars belief, and should be a cause of considerable shame, that these doctors  our frontline in this battle  had to ballot for industrial action, in a pandemic, to have their long-running grievances considered in a serious fashion.

(6) Some health staff who insisted on getting high-grade face masks in the third wave were threatened with disciplinary action until a directive was issued by the HSE.

(7) Student nurses are working on the frontline but not being paid. With thousands of full-time staff out, they are being asked to take on tasks even though they are not trained. They are seen as an extra pair of hands.

(8) The world faces a severe shortage of nurses and midwives. For two decades, Ireland has relied heavily on international recruitment, and those recruited have made an incredible contribution to the Irish health service.

However, the facility to recruit valuable nurses and midwives internationally is likely to be weakened, given the current travel restrictions. Ireland will face strong competition internationally to recruit.

There can also be ethical issues with recruiting large numbers of staff from countries experiencing their own nurse or midwife shortages. Given the current emergency involving necessary travel restrictions, it is likely that nurses and midwives' migration will reduce somewhat. Therefore, we have to increase retention and work harder at recruiting those not employed at present.
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SpyCloud , known for its unique anti-fraud platform powering account takeover prevention and fraud investigations solutions, today revealed its 2021 report on password vulnerability at Fortune 1000 companies. Researchers from SpyCloud uncovered 25.9 million business account credentials and over 543 million breach assets tied to employees in the Fortune 1000 are readily available on the criminal underground.

"Year after year, studies show that the use of weak and stolen credentials is the most common hacking tactic for cybercriminals, yet 76 percent of employees at the world's largest companies are still reusing passwords across personal and professional accounts," said Chip Witt, vice president of product management for SpyCloud. "People don't seem to realize just how often their credentials end up in criminal hands or how stolen passwords can be used to access other accounts they think are safe."

Regardless of security guidelines that warn against such behavior, many employees, even at the executive level, are using corporate credentials as personal logins for other accounts. When those third-party sites are subject to data breaches, reused employee logins provide criminals with easy access to corporate systems and networks.

Analysis within SpyCloud's 2021 Report: Breach Exposure of the Fortune 1000 is broken down by data type and sector (as defined by Fortune) to reveal the scope of breach exposure facing the largest U.S. companies across different industries.

Key Findings

The credentials of 133,927 C-level Fortune 1000 executives are available for sale on the dark web.

Fortune 1000 executives are available for sale on the dark web. At 552,601 per company , employees in the telecommunications sector have by far the highest average number of exposed credentials.

, employees in the telecommunications sector have the highest average number of exposed credentials. 13,897 technology sector employees' corporate or personal systems appear to be infected with credential-stealing malware.

corporate or personal systems appear to be infected with credential-stealing malware. In addition to corporate credentials, breaches regularly expose a wealth of personally identifiable information (PII) that enables bad actors to bypass security measures, take over accounts, and compromise enterprise networks. Over 281M PII assets of Fortune 1000 employees are available to cybercriminals.

of Fortune 1000 employees are available to cybercriminals. Despite constant warnings about the high risk of using weak passwords, "123456" and "password" are still the most commonly used among employees.

and are still the most commonly used among employees. At 85 percent, the media industry has the highest rate of password reuse. Media professionals also show an affinity for using certain passwords that would be inappropriate to publish here.

Researchers for the report analyzed data from the world's largest repository of recovered stolen credentials and PII. SpyCloud continually monitors the criminal underground for breach data that has become available to cybercriminals, using human intelligence to gain access to stolen data as soon as possible after a breach occurs, and far before that data appears on the dark web.

"Especially with millions of people still working from home, enterprises must be able to trust the identities of the employees, consumers, and suppliers accessing their networks," continued Witt. "The best way to prevent accounts from being taken over is to identify compromised credentials quickly after a breach and mitigate before criminals have time to use them. That requires a comprehensive, continuously updated database of breach data that security leaders can use to keep corporate accounts safe."

Download the full report here: https://spycloud.com/resource/2021-fortune-1000/

About SpyCloud

SpyCloud is the leader in account takeover (ATO) prevention, protecting billions of consumer and employee accounts either directly or through product integrations. Our award-winning solutions  backed by the world's most comprehensive and actionable repository of exposed breach assets  proactively defeat fraud attempts and disrupt the criminals' ability to profit from stolen information. Learn more and check your exposure at spycloud.com .

Media contact:

Brad Hem

[email protected]

(281) 543-0669

SOURCE SpyCloud
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In October 2020, according to the National General Statistics Office, central Vietnam was hit by four tropical storms with heavy rains and landslides that killed 129 people and damaged more than 111,200 houses. Even though the local people are no strangers to killer tropical storms, Nguyen Ngoc Huy, a Vietnamese international expert and senior advisor for Oxfam on climate change, believes more needs to be done in order to save lives and property after natural disasters.

Huy received a PhD in Environmental Studies from Kyoto University with a focus on drought risk management and climate change adaptation in 2010. He has over 15 years of experience working on water resource management, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and education in emergencies in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. He has also served as an international consultant for UNISDR, UNCCD, IFAD, ADRC, and UNESCO in conducting research, studying policy, and developing tools for disaster risk reduction.

While he was a Ph.D candidate researching natural disaster mitigation, he realized that disaster management needed precise data from many fields. He continued to learn about meteorology, floods, droughts, climate change, and recovery efforts after disasters in his quest for knowledge.

Since 2008, Huy has used social media to spread information and warnings about disastrous weather. He is motivated to share this information as he believes that forecasted information can save lives and property. Aware that countries have differences in disaster response and management and also suffer from gaps between forecasts and the needed response, he tries to narrow the gap.

To understand the weather forecast

Internet users in Vietnam refer to Nguyen Ngoc Huy as Huy, the weather boy and follow his weather forecasts online as they find them more understandable and useful than other forecasts.

On December 29, one forecast post about the unusually cold weather that occurred from late December to mid-January in the north and central northern parts of Vietnam had reactions from 7,000 people, 1,700 shares, and 614 comments on Facebook.

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Huy is seen in this provided photo at Oxford University in 2019

Next to the temperature forecast for each province, Huy included recommendations: senior citizens in the area should wear proper clothes inside and outside and avoid sudden temperature changes, people in the mountainous areas should protect their buffalo and cattle by herding them and burning wood to provide heat when and where affordable. He also suggested that people consider harvesting farm-raised striped bass to avoid losses.

On the nights of October 17, 18, and 19, tropical storm Vamco caused historic flooding in Quang Tri, Quang Binh, and Ha Tinh, Vietnam. Numerous people in the provinces had to escape to their roofs in the middle of the night when circumstances were not appropriate for them to evacuate properly.

Although many other Vietnamese were moved and shocked to see such events, Huy was among a small group of people who knew historic rains were due to happen as early as mid-2020. This ability to foresee a disaster in the future through science could have avoided so many losses. However, what happened in October and November 2020 seems to show that there was a lack of readiness and preparation.

We cant tell how many people knew that 2020 was going to be an extreme year of rain in central Vietnam, and we also dont know how many people believed the prediction when they heard it. If the people had known that there would be excessive rain on the night of October 17, 2020 in Quang Tri Province, they could have evacuated sooner and the hotline for emergency rescue would not have been overwhelmed, Huy reflected.

Huy believes that knowing about a storm one to two days in advance is enough for people in the vulnerable areas to protect their properties, as well as move to a safe place. Sometimes, those evacuating do not need to run far away from the area. It is as simple as temporarily staying at the house next door or somewhere a little farther as long as the building can properly resist the storm.

The reality of the poor response in the flood prone areas of Vietnam clearly showed that there was a need for a more meaningful weather forecast that could provide helpful information to people instead of just data and numbers.

If we tell people that a precipitation of 20 mm will be seen in Quang Tri, most people wont understand what it means. However, if we tell them that heavy rain will last for so many hours, where it will fall, and how likely it is that a flood will happen after so many days, the people will understand and be more likely to believe us, Huy said.

Another example could be instead of using latitude and longitude information, which most people need to refer to a map, Huy suggested that news forecasts about storms should provide the most needed information: when and where the storm will hit the land, how strong it will be when it hits the land, and what type of housing could withstand the wind. In short, weather forecasts should be as accurate as possible while also providing useful and easily understood information.

A very broad weather forecast that predicts a large range of possibilities and is read a few times a day everyday wont trigger the required sense of alert, Huy believes.

Resilient community

In an exclusive interview with Tuoi Tre News, Huy confirmed that 2020 was a historic year of tropical storms for the people in central Vietnam and emergency relief was indeed necessary. Without support from domestic and international communities, it would have been very difficult for the flood survivors to get back on their feet.

Vietnamese people, both from within and outside of the country, were called to donate money and goods to send to hard-hit provinces in the central region. The act reflected a famous proverb La lanh dum la rach, which simply translates into English as the good leaves protect the worn-out leaves and describes acts of unity in difficult times.

The question though is how to help in a sustainable and beneficial way? Social media posts showed food and clothes being tossed into the trash in the flooded areas soon after relief was sent, which demonstrated that those items were not needed. However, these things continued to pour into those areas weeks after the storm.

Partially because of this, Huy emphasizes that it is important for flood vulnerable communities to build their own resilience. In the case of the killer tropical storms in central Vietnam in October and November 2020, during the first three days, clean water, warm clothes, and ready-to-eat food were the most necessary items. However, after that, relief and reconstruction needed to be implemented.

In times of disaster, support needs to be enough and accessible for those who lose all means of living, but they also need to motivate those who can still thrive on their own. For example, people who still have land might only need some money to buy seeds for short-term vegetable crops or to start to raise poultry. Thus, loans should be provided based on the details and proposals based on needs such as rebuilding houses or restarting a resident's livelihood.

It is important for everyone to understand that the rebuilding process takes time and it must involve the local people. No matter how long it takes, the people have to be the key players to drive it by their motivation to fix things. People in flood vulnerable areas should not be seen as victims who are waiting for the compassion of society. Contrary to that image, their dignity should be realized by strengthening their capacity to get back up with strong will and determination. This capacity is built through a process of learning through experience, continuously adapting to the changing environment, and passing the knowledge on to future generations, as has already been seen in Japan.

Not so far from Vietnam, Japan is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters because of its climate and topography, and it has experienced countless earthquakes, typhoons, and other types of disasters.

Aware of how vulnerable the country is, Japan has developed a comprehensive disaster response plan in which each individual in the society respects the plan and fulfills their role. For example, when there is a call for evacuation, clear information is released regarding where to evacuate to and the deadline to show up at the safe shelter. The people then manage their business and show up at the designated time. With this spirit and capacity, in case of disasters, it is less challenging for the government to carry out emergency response in an organized way.

For building resilience capacity in Japan, construction technique and raising awareness were among the key priorities. Infrastructure in Japan such as buildings and bridges are resistant to a certain level of earthquake or storm.

Most Japanese learn about natural disasters at school, and they are aware of their part in responding to natural disasters. This spirit and practice is passed through generations.

In Vietnam, there is a gap in passing on this disaster knowledge or experience. In areas that are prone to natural disasters, most of the people have the experience of facing storms. However, in areas where natural disasters are fairly new or only occasionally happen, such as the Mekong Delta area, the experience and knowledge is lacking.

In 1997, tropical storm Linda hit Ca Mau province, a deep southern province of Vietnam, and killed more than 3,000. Since then, a gap of 23 years is long enough for young adults in the area to lack the knowledge of how to respond to a similar storm. Due to climate change, which affects Vietnam more than most other countries according to a report of the International Panel on Climate Change, the weather will be more unstable, extreme, and more difficult to forecast in the future. Thus, the gap between generational understanding in terms of responding to natural disasters needs to be filled.

Even though weather forecasts cant be guaranteed correct, it is wise for the people to consider the advice of the government and experts in the field. Here in Vietnam, instead of showing up at the safe shelter, local governments usually have to force villagers to evacuate. This could be avoided, if the people had enough information to evaluate the risks for themselves.

Take up lesson

For Vietnam, the stormy and historic year of 2020 meant many lessons were learned, both for short-term and long-term change.

There were questions and concerns raised in regard to building resilience for vulnerable communities. If this is not in place years into the future, after each storm, Vietnamese in other parts of the country will still need to call for donations.

I think that emergency response should happen for a short time when really big disasters that hit people hard. For mild and average disasters, the community should be able to resist, Huy suggests.

It is the tradition of Vietnamese to unite and share their fortune with one another. However, carrying out donation drives is not as important as building and strengthening the capacity of the vulnerable communities overall.

There is so much to learn through example in central Vietnam, such as protecting the roof (housing or factories) better. A better roof may increase building costs by 10 percent or so, but businesses and people can protect 100 percent of their properties after the storm.In central Vietnam, people typically redo their roof the same way after a storm or disaster, and this is not considered a good practice. As the saying goes, the old path does not take us to a new destination. Based on past experiences, people must renovate what needs to be better in order to prepare for the next storm. In 1999, a historic flood happened in Hue. Since then, when building new houses, local people try to have their house foundation at least equal to or even higher than the historic water level. Reflecting on what happened in the storm season of 2020, local authorities should review their capacity to respond to extreme disasters.

If the region is not fully capable of handling such events, what can be done to change the situation? Reality has shown in some places that, even when all resources are in use, they are not enough. So, local authorities should plan for alternatives to address this. Perhaps they can mobilize resources from nearby provinces? Maybe privately owned trucks or canoes can be considered for rescue purposes? In order to do such a thing, a detailed plan needs to be in place for coordination before a disaster happens.

Extreme weather events such as heat waves and large storms are likely to become more frequent or more intense with human-induced climate change, Huy emphasized. Around the world, including Vietnam, climate change creates the need to improve current forecast and warning systems, practices, and response plans. Studies also show the impact of disasters on the economy has increased in many countries over the years, especially coastal countries. While the economy seems to be better in many countries, the cost related to disasters has been increasing at a similar rate. It's obvious that climate change and natural disasters are linked, so we need to change our ways to adapt to it so we can all prosper instead of suffer."

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Highlights In its statement, Twitter stresses that "tweets must continue to flow."

MeitY had sent a notice to Twitter India last week.

The notice was sent as Twitter India unblocked around 257 accounts (and tweets) that India's government had initially asked to be withheld.

The ongoing tussle between the government of India and Twitter might see an end soon. The microblogging website has written to the IT ministry for dialogue and has also acknowledged the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) letter.

Last week, MeitY sent a notice to Twitter India, stating that it was an intermediary. The notice further added that Twitter was obliged to follow the government's directions and refusal to do so may invite penal action.

In an emailed statement to India Today Tech, Twitter said, "Safety of our employees is a top priority for us at Twitter. We continue to be engaged with the government of India from a position of respect and have reached out to the Honourable Minister, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, for a formal dialogue."

"An acknowledgement to the receipt of the non-compliance notice has also been formally communicated," the company added.

The entire story started on February 1 when Twitter India withheld several accounts that were reportedly tweeting or sharing information on farmers' protest. India Today Tech learnt at that point that Twitter had blocked the accounts in the interim in response to a valid legal request from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology pending discussions with them. However, Twitter later that day unblocked these accounts citing the content is free speech and transparency which it reportedly said was fundamental to the company. Twitter had said that the blocking of the accounts was an interim measure.

In its latest statement, Twitter said, "We review every report we receive from the government as expeditiously as possible and take appropriate action regarding such reports while making sure we hold firm to our fundamental values and commitment to protecting the public conversation. An update is shared through our established channels of communication with the government."

The company went on to stress on the fact of free speech and added, "We strongly believe that the open and free exchange of information has a positive global impact and that the tweets must continue to flow."

Twitter India recently was again asked to remove around 1200 accounts, citing that Pakistani accounts were tweeting on farmers' protests.

Twitter on Monday responded to MeitY's request for banning additional accounts for alleged Khalistani and Pakistani links.

In a statement, the company said, "Twitter is guided by principles of transparency and empowering the public conversation. If we receive a valid legal request about potentially illegal content on Twitter, we review it under the Twitter Rules and local law. If the content violates Twitter's Rules, the content will be removed from the service. If it is determined to be illegal in a particular jurisdiction but not in violation of the Twitter Rules, we may withhold access to the content in the location only."

Some reports claim that India's government isn't happy with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey liking tweets praising Rihanna on her stand.
Its been almost 26 years since someone shot and killed a Chambers County woman inside her home. Now a reward of $15,000 is being offered in hopes of new information shaking out in the murder of Emma Sue Berry.

Berry, 38, was found shot to death on June 28, 1995 inside her trailer at 1066 County Road 171 in the Buffalo community near LaFayette.

According to the Chambers County Sheriffs Department, the state of Alabama is offering a $10,000 reward and CrimeStoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriffs department at (334) 864-4335.
Emergency medical technicians sanitize an ambulance strecher after transporting a patient at Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 5, 2021. (Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo)

Updates on CCP Virus: Jurys Still Out on Whether China Was Transparent in WHO Probe: State Department

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Feb. 9 that the jurys still out on whether the Chinese regime gave full transparency to the World Health Organization (WHO) team currently in Wuhan to study the origin of the pandemic.

I think the jurys still out. I think clearly the Chinese, at least heretofore, have not offered the requisite transparency that we need, Price said at a press briefing, when asked whether he believed the Chinese regime gave the WHO team full cooperation.

Experts said that based on their findings, it was extremely unlikely the virus could have accidentally escaped from a lab. Trump administration officials have hypothesized that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus may have leaked from a virology lab in Wuhan.

California Set to Top New York as State With Most Deaths

California was set to surpass New York as the U.S. state with the most CCP virus deaths on Tuesday.

Fatalities from COVID-19 reached 44,495 on Tuesday in California, the most populous U.S. state. In New York, which was particularly hard hit in the pandemics early days, the total death toll stood at 44,693 on Tuesday.

62.9 Million Doses of Vaccines Delivered, 43.2 Million Administered: CDC

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it had administered 43,206,190 doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the country as of Tuesday morning and delivered 62,898,775 doses.

The tally of vaccine doses are for both Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, vaccines as of 6:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, the agency said. The agency said 32,867,213 people had received 1 or more doses while 9,840,429 people have got the second dose as of Tuesday.

Rank-and-File Chicago Teachers to Vote on Tentative Reopening Plan

The governing body of the Chicago Teachers Union agreed on Monday to allow its 28,000 rank-and-file members to vote on a tentative deal with the third-largest U.S. school district to gradually reopen classrooms amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the unions 600-member House of Delegates also overwhelmingly passed a resolution of no confidence against Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago School District leaders with whom the teachers have clashed over the CCP virus safety, the union announced on Twitter.

Unlikely Virus Leaked From China Lab

The CCP virus most likely first appeared in humans after jumping from an animal, a team of international and Chinese scientists looking for the origins of COVID-19 said Tuesday.

A closely watched visit by World Health Organization experts to Wuhanthe Chinese city where the first COVID-19 cases were discovereddid not dramatically change the current understanding of the early days of the pandemic, said Peter Ben Embarek, the leader of the WHO mission.

UK Threatens 10-Year Prison Terms for Quarantine Rule Breakers

Travelers who break Britains COVID-19 quarantine rules will face fines and jail terms of up to 10 years, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Tuesday.

Under new rules that will come into force on Feb. 15, anyone traveling to the UK from a country on the UKs travel ban list will be required to quarantine in a government-approved facility for a period of 10 days, at the cost of 1,750 ($2,412) for an individual traveling alone, Hancock announced in Parliament.

Britain to Bring in Hotel Quarantine

Britain said it would bring in tighter border controls from Feb. 15 to help guard the country against new variants of COVID-19, requiring hotel quarantine in England for those arriving from the most high-risk countries.

Arrivals will have to quarantine in assigned hotels which they will book before departure and pay 1,750 ($2,412) per traveler. Security would be present at the hotels. More details will be published on Thursday, added Hancock. The government said it had contracted 16 hotels for an initial 4,600 rooms and it would secure more as they are needed.

Fauci Predicts Mask Mandates Could End in Late Fall

Infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday that he would not support lifting mask mandates until the threat infection hazard posed by the CCP virus is so low its not a threat at all, adding that its possible this could come in late fall.

Fauci was responding to a question by Fox News Brett Baier, who asked about the dynamics of the outbreak and, specifically, when Americans might expect to be able to attend sporting events, theaters, or concerts without a mask.

Mexico Reports 3,868 New Cases, 531 Deaths

Mexicos health ministry on Monday reported 3,868 new confirmed CCP virus cases and 531 more confirmed fatalities from COVID-19, bringing the total to 1,936,013 cases and 166,731 deaths.

The government says the real number of infected people and the death toll in Mexico are both likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.

Eva Fu, Alexander Zhang, Tom Ozimek, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The Federal Governments inter-ministerial committee on assets disposal said Tuesday that it would create a central database of assets for finally forfeited assets.

The chairman of the committee, Dayo Apata, said this during a courtesy visit of the committee to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.

Mr Apata, who is the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, said: the committee will create a central database of assets that had been forfeited to the Federal Government to ensure the Federal Government gets value for all the forfeited assets.

Introducing uniform process of assets disposal, and avoiding wastages, so that the Federal Government can have the full benefit of what has been forfeited, a statement by the EFCC quoted Mr Apata as saying.

He commended what he described as the unprecedented synergy among the relevant agencies represented on the committee.

For the first time in Nigeria, all agencies are sitting together and discussing on the same table on issues related to assets management and disposal, he said.

Mr Apata, at the committees maiden press briefing on February 2, said the committee, so far, had forfeited assets in 25 locations across the country.

He said on Tuesday that 16 of the 25 sites were finally forfeited at the instance of the EFCC.

So it is only reasonable to come and pay homage and discuss with you how we can execute this assignment, Mr Apata stated.

On his part, the acting chairman, EFCC, Mohammed Abba, said the commission would assist the committee in the execution of its mandate.

He also promised to facilitate the request of the committee to visit various zones of the country for onsite inspection of forfeited assets.

Committee to sell assets within six months

Last November, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) inaugurated a 22-member committee with a six-month mandate to sell off all assets forfeited to the federal government.

The minister, while inaugurating the 22-member committee, said the initiative was borne out of the presidents directive in October 2018 following recommendations of the Presidential Audit Committee on Recovery and Management of Stolen Assets and a need for efficient management of the assets.

Members of the committee included the representatives of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President; the Federal Ministry of Justice; Federal Ministry of Finance; Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Auditor-General of the Federation, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices (and other related offences) Commission.

They also include the representatives of Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Department of State Security, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Department of Petroleum Resources, National Oil Spillage, Detection and Response Agency, Bureau of Public Procurement, and the Civil Society Organisation.

Others are youth representatives, the media, and other industries included by the Attorney General of the Federation.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Bank unions on Tuesday called for a two-day strike starting March 15, against the proposed privatisation of banks.

During a meeting in Hyderabad on Tuesday, the United Forum of Bank Unions also decided to hold a day long 'Dharna' (protest) in all state capitals on February 19 followed by relay 'dharnas' from February 20 to March 10 in all states, districts and towns.

A statement by the All India Bank Employees' Association said that the meeting discussed the various announcements made in the budget regarding reform measures including privatisation of IDBI Bank and two public sector banks and setting up of bad bank.

"The meeting observed that all these measures are retrograde and hence need to be protested and opposed," it said.

After deliberations, the meeting decided that intensive struggle programmes and agitational actions have to be launched to fight back these policies of the government, the AIBEA statement said.

It added that further strikes will be decided looking at developments.

"The Government's announcement to privatise our public sector banks is totally unfortunate and unwarranted. The need of the hour is to strengthen public sector banks," the statement said.

Further, the meeting took note of the continuing agitation by the farmers against the farm laws enacted by the government expressed its solidarity with their struggle, it said.

"The meeting adopted a resolution urging upon the government to reconsider their standpoint and find amicable solutions to the demands of the farmers."


MONROE  A local resident pleaded guilty Monday in connection with her involvement in the sale of more than 40 vehicles with altered odometers in Missouri, according to federal prosecutors.

Susan L. Cunningham, 48, formerly of Blue Springs, Missouri, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a video conference court appearance before U.S. District Court Judge Michael Shea.

Prosecutors said that from August 2014 to October 2015, Cunningham and Wilfredo J. Albanese sold more than 40 vehicles with altered odometers to unsuspecting buyers while living in Missouri.

Officials said Cunningham and Albanese purchased high-mileage, used vehicles and employed a variety of methods to alter or reduce the mileage shown on the odometer.

Federal authorities also accused the two of concealing mechanical issues with the vehicles by removing check engine lights from instrument panels, giving buyers fake maintenance receipts and vehicle history reports, and covering up rust and other damage with paint or other means.

Authorities said the two sold the vehicles on Craislist, with most of the vehicle purchasers living in Missouri.

On May 22, 2019, a grand jury in Missouri returned a 20-count indictment charging Cunningham and Albanese with offenses in connection with the scheme. The case was later transferred to the District of Connecticut.

Cunningham is released pending sentencing, scheduled to take place on April 30. A federal wire fraud charge carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison.

Albanese pleaded guilty to wire fire and aggravated identity theft on July 15, 2020. He was sentenced to 42 months in prison on Oct. 9, 2020, and ordered to pay $51,600 in restitution.
Myanmars military junta on Monday set curfews and other restrictions in major cities, unveiling the decrees as peaceful public protests across the country drew hundreds of thousands of marchers demanding the reinstatement of deposed Aung San Suu Kyi and her elected government.

Weekend mass protests that drew tens of thousands in dozens of cities were followed by larger crowds Monday in Yangon, Mandalay and the capital Naypyitaw, where police fired a water cannon to disperse crowds, injuring one person before protesters blocked the vehicles that were hosing them down.

After a week of silence after the Feb. 1 putsch removed Aung San Suu Kyi and her government, arresting her and scores of officials, the junta issued decrees and coup leader and junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing appeared on state television to repeat the election fraud claims the army has used to justify the military takeover.

A junta statement carried on state-run MRTV and the military information committee website banned gatherings of more than five people as well as motorized processions, while imposing an 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew on a township-by-township basis in parts of Yangon and Mandalay, the countrys largest and second-biggest cities.

Marching on foot or vehicles, inciting the public, destroying or rioting are all forbidden in Chan Aye Thar Zan Township, said a warning broadcast in Mandalay.

Protesters are calling for Aung San Suu Kyis release from detention and rejecting the new military government led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing.

Protesters crowd an intersection in Nyapyitaw, Myanmar's capital and third-largest city, Feb. 8, 2021. In his first public speech since the coup, Min Aung Hlaing said Monday that the military had to take over because no attempt had been made by the authorities to address election fraud complaints raised by the army and its allies since the Nov. 8 elections.

He said the military government is absolutely not going to change foreign policy, administrative policy, or economic policy and would continue along the same political path of the ousted government.

Another election at the end of the one-year state of emergency and we will protect and establish a real and disciplined democratic system, Min Aung Hlaing said in a 20-minute televised speech that did not mention Aung San Suu Kyi or the swelling nationwide protests against the coup.

After the emergency authority and term provided by the constitution, we will be holding a free and fair election in accordance with the 2008 constitution and will hand over the power to the elected government in accordance with democratic rules and values, Min Aung Hlaing said in his speech.

MRTV on Monday made its first mention of the protests, describing them as a threat to stability in the country of 54 million people.

Democracy can be destroyed if there is no discipline, said a statement from the Ministry of Information, read on MRTV. We will have to take legal actions to prevent acts that are violating state stability, public safety and the rule of law.

In Yangon, student protestors led crowds to march to city hall, where police and water cannon vehicles were blocking thoroughfares, witnesses told RFA.

In a counter-protest in support of the military coup in Yangon, around 500 people rode around on cars waving the national flag and posters STOP.

In Mandalay, hundreds of thousands of protesters marched on the main streets, according to witnesses. There are also widespread protests in population centers in Mon, Kayin, Shan and Rakhine states, as well as the regions of Tanintharyi and Irrawaddy, sources told RFA.

Mondays crowds eclipsed those of a 2007 campaign against the military junta led by Buddhist monks, and by some accounts rivaled those of the massive 1988 pro-democracy uprising that brought Aung San Suu Kyi to prominence. Both of those pro-democracy movements were put down by the military with deadly force and mass arrests.

Ministers in Aung San Suu Kyis government remain under house arrest or in detention, with the chief ministers of Yangon, Mandalay and Kayin states released and detained a second time after criticizing the coup.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a watchdog group, said Monday that 170 people have detained in relation to the military coup with only 18 released. Most are politicians, it said.

They treated us like criminals. We are family members of elected government officials, said Khin Mi Kywe, wife of Yangon Region Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein, who was detained for the second time on Feb. 5.

Today is particularly important because government employees will protest by not working. I will go out and join the people in the protest. We will able to resist the military regime only when we act in unity, she told RFAs Myanmar 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.

Michigans state health department reported 139 new coronavirus outbreaks over the last week, including 31 linked to long-term care facilities and 29 tied to K-12 schools.

The new outbreaks were in addition to 648 ongoing clusters that appeared in previous weekly outbreaks reports from the Department of Health and Human Services. In total, health officials are tracking 787 total active outbreaks, which is about a 9% decrease from a week ago.

An outbreak is generally defined as an instance in which two or more cases are linked by a place and time, indicating a shared exposure outside of a household. New outbreaks increased almost 19% week-over-week, while total active outbreaks climbed less than 2%.

Clusters being tracked by local health departments are included in the states online outbreak tracker, which is updated weekly on Mondays. The latest data, which is as of Thursday, Feb. 4, was published Monday, Feb. 8.

With some K-12 schools and universities returning to in-person learning in recent weeks, school-related outbreaks increased 87% over two weeks from 70 to 131 known clusters.

Related: 136 infected in 32 new coronavirus outbreaks, says Michigans Feb. 8 school outbreak report

Outside of K-12 schools and colleges, MDHHS is not identifying specific locations or the number of coronavirus cases.

However, it is listing the information by the states eight health district regions. (Note those regions have different numbers than the MI Safe Start Plan.)

By region, the breakdown of the clusters:

Region 1 (Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston and Shiawassee counties): 129 clusters, with 22 new and 107 ongoing outbreaks.



Region 2N (Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair counties): 127 clusters, with 43 new and 84 ongoing outbreaks.



Region 2S (city of Detroit and Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne counties): 109 clusters, with 16 new and 93 ongoing outbreaks.



Region 3 (Saginaw, Alcona, Iosco, Ogemaw, Arenac, Gladwin, Midland, Bay, Genesee, Tuscola, Lapeer, Sanilac and Huron counties): 150 clusters, with 12 new and 138 ongoing outbreaks.



Region 5 (Allegan, Barry, Calhoun, Branch, St. Joseph, Cass, Berrien, Van Buren and Kalamazoo counties): 58 clusters, with 10 new and 48 ongoing outbreaks.



Region 6 (Clare, Ionia, Isabella, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola and Ottawa counties): 116 clusters, with 15 new and 101 ongoing outbreaks.



Region 7 (Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Benzie, Leelanau, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Crawford, Oscoda, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Ilse, Cheboygan, Emmet and Charlevoix counties): clusters, with 16 new and 66 ongoing outbreaks.



Region 8 (Upper Peninsula): 16 clusters, with five new and 11 ongoing outbreaks.



By category, the outbreaks totaled:

330 clusters (31 new and 299 ongoing) at long-term care facilities, which include skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, adult day cares and group homes. Its a 15% decrease from the week prior.



131 clusters (32 new and 99 ongoing) were linked to K-12 schools or college communities. A total of 120 outbreaks involved K-12 schools, and the remainder were on or around college campuses. Total school outbreaks increased almost 25% over last week.



93 clusters (21 new and 72 ongoing) were linked to manufacturing or construction sites.



52 clusters (14 new and 38 ongoing,) were at health-care sites, which would include hospitals, medical and dental offices, dialysis centers and other facilities providing health-care services.

37 clusters (three new and 34 ongoing) involved retail businesses. Thats a 36% decline from the week prior.



25 clusters (seven new and 18 ongoing) in office settings.



24 clusters (10 new and 14 ongoing) occurred at child-care centers or youth programs not associated with a school.

15 clusters (five new and 10 ongoing) linked to private social gatherings, such as a wedding, funeral or party.



15 clusters (three new, 12 ongoing) at migrant camps or other agriculture workplaces, such as food-processing plants.

11 clusters (two new and nine ongoing) associated with religious services.



Seven clusters (two new and five ongoing) were linked to shelters or settings that provide services for people experiencing homelessness.



Three clusters (two new and one ongoing) were linked to bars or restaurants. All of the cases were employee associated.



Two clusters were linked to indoor community events, such as meeting or concert.

One ongoing cluster was linked to personal services, such as a hair and/or nail salon, or a spa or gym.



Outbreaks will be removed from the database if there are no additional cases through a 14-day period, state MDHHS officials have said.

State officials note that the chart does not provide a complete picture of outbreaks in Michigan, and an absence of identified outbreak in a particular setting is not evidence that the setting is not having outbreaks.

Many factors, including the lack of ability to conduct effective contact tracing in certain settings, may result in significant under-reporting of outbreaks, the states website reads.

Below is an interactive map showing both new and ongoing school outbreaks listed in the Feb. 8, report. You can put your cursor over a dot to see the underlying data.

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:

Violators of dine-in ban, mask mandate get food licenses suspended

New rules give schools flexibility on fan limits for winter sports

Judge dismisses charges against Michigan hair stylists who defied Gov. Gretchen Whitmer coronavirus orders

Michigan reports 1,769 new coronavirus cases, 11 deaths for Sunday and Monday, Feb. 7-8

The race for the 22nd Congressional District has officially ended, more than three months after Election Day, after Democrat Anthony Brindisi conceded Monday following the states certification of Tenneys 109-vote win.

Luke Jackson, spokesman for Brindisis campaign, said the former congressman does not plan to move forward with his appeal, which means no further court action would put Tenney's position in Congress in jeopardy.

Today, I congratulated Claudia Tenney on a hard-fought race. It has been the honor of a lifetime serving this community. Read my full statement below: pic.twitter.com/9bdPRF6QsL  Anthony Brindisi (@ABrindisiNY) February 8, 2021

Brindisi issued the following statement:

Today I congratulated Claudia Tenney and offered to make the transition process as smooth as possible on behalf of our community. I hope that she will be a Representative for all the people of this district, not just those that agree with her point of view, and work with members of both parties to heal the deep divisions that exist in our Country.

It has been the honor of a lifetime serving my hometown, the place I grew up and am raising my family. Unfortunately, this election and counting process was riddled with errors, inconsistencies and systematic violations of state and federal election laws. My one disappointment is that the Court did not see fit to grant us a recount. Sadly, we may never know how many legal voters were turned away at the polls or ballots not counted due to the ineptitude of the Boards of Election, especially in Oneida County. My hope is some authority steps in and investigates the massive disenfranchisement of voters that took place during this election.

I am proud of the accomplishments we have made together during the past two years. Whether its strengthening laws to support jobs here in upstate New York, working to help end the epidemic of veteran suicide or fighting to deliver resources to rural and underserved communities, I have always put politics aside and put the people first.

I want to thank my family, especially my wife Erica and two children, Anthony and Lily for their patience, love and support. I want to thank my excellent staff. I have been fortunate to work with some of the most dedicated and talented professionals in public service. I also want to thank my campaign team for their hard work and for sticking with me during this lengthy and complicated count. Finally, thank you to all of our volunteers and this community for giving me the opportunity to serve you in Congress.

It is time to close the book on this election and focus on building a better community and more united Country for our children.

Brindisi has already announced he plans to run for Congress again in 2022.
Monday, February 8, 2021

Join the Conversation in the Next Death Cafe!

The next Albuquerque Death Cafe will take place ONLINE on Sunday, February 21, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. Due to self-distancing imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, we will meet through Zoom. RSVP to Gail [at] AGoodGoodbye.com to receive the link for the meeting.

The objective of the Death Cafe is to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives. Its an interesting, unstructured conversation with no specific agenda. The Death Cafe offers a relaxed, confidential and safe setting to discuss death. We drink tea (or your favorite beverage) and eat delicious cake or cookies.

Please provide your own refreshments. Have a cup of tea or coffee and a cookie or other snack handy.

The Death Cafe concept was started in the United Kingdom by Jon Underwood. He was influenced by the ideas of Swiss sociologist Bernard Crettaz, who started holding Cafe Mortel events in France and Switzerland. Albuquerque was the first city in the U.S. west of the Mississippi to hold a Death Cafe. Gail Rubin hosted it in September, 2012.

For more information about Death Cafes, visit this page at AGoodGoodbye.com or visit www.DeathCafe.com. Join the Albuquerque Death Cafe Meetup group to be kept apprised of upcoming events. Click here to go to the Meetup page.

Your Death Cafe Host

Gail Rubin, Certified Thanatologist, hosts the Albuquerque Death Cafe. She is a pioneering death educator. Rubin is a public speaker, a published author of three books, host of a TV interview series and podcast, a blogger, a funeral industry trade journalist, a Certified Funeral Celebrant, and an innovator in the funeral business. She created a conversation-starting game called The Newly-Dead Game, introduced the Death Cafe movement in the United States, and held the first Before I Die Festival west of the Mississippi in 2017. Albuquerque Business First named her one of their 2019 Women of Influence.

Related
A West Texas lawyer entered an unusual piece of evidence in court Tuesday.

"Im here live. Im not a cat," said Presidio County Attorney Rod Ponton.

The declaration was necessary because Ponton was appearing on the virtual hearing through a cat filter. Judge Roy Ferguson, who was presiding over the 394th Judicial District Court hearing, politely informed Ponton that he had a filter turned on in his Zoom settings.

"It is and I dont know how to remove it," Ponton said. "My assistant here, shes trying to, but Im prepared to go forward with it. Im here live. Im not a cat."

RELATED: What we know about the arrest of prominent San Antonio lawyer Martin Phipps

"I can see that," Ferguson responded, before walking Ponton through how to remove the filter.

The judge shared a video of the kitten's formal announcement Tuesday on social media, where it has since gone viral.

Ferguson reminded people to ensure their filters are off before joining virtual hearings and said the fun moment was "a by-product of the legal profession's dedication to ensuring that the justice system continues to function in these tough times."

"Everyone involved handled it with grace and dignity," Ferguson wrote. "A few slight smiles, and no derogatory comments. The lawyer who was struggling with the filter handled it beautifully. A testament to professionalism all around!"

RELATED: Elizabeth Chambers, owner of San Antonio's Bird Bakery, speaks out after Armie Hammer controversy

Ponton was representing the state during a civil forfeiture action when the kitten came onscreen. In an interview Tuesday, he recalled that the filter was removed after about 30 seconds and the court moved on with the routine hearing.

"It was certainly not an intentional thing to put the cat image up there but s*** happens," Ponton laughed.

The county attorney was using his secretary's computer at a remote office in Presidio. Ponton said it was the first time such a thing had happened in his eight months using Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic. He had yet to check the social media reaction because his phone has been blowing up.

The kitten hearing was not the first time Ferguson's virtual court made headlines. In December, the judge told the Big Bend Sentinel that virtual hearings were actually better serving the public. He noted that the court process was moving faster online and it was easier for people to find lawyers.

Ponton, for his part, was simply happy to give people a chuckle in these stressful times.

"If I can make everybody laugh for a moment at my expense, I'll take it," Ponton said.
Peter FitzSimons has clashed with fellow media personality Stan Grant over an Australia Day barbecue hosted by FitzSimons and his wife Lisa Wilkinson.

Grant set his chapter in The Australian's serialised murder mystery 'Oh Matilda: Who Bloody Killed Her?' at Wilkinson and FitzSimons' annual harbourside party.

The yearly party is a real event, considered by some media celebrities a prized invitation on Sydney's social calendar, and Grant found it rich pickings for satire.

'What a woke leftie love-in that was: journos, actors, writers, couple of ex-Wallabies (well it was the North Shore), a few washed up politicians,' he wrote.

'Even a couple of Liberals (small l of course) and a former managing director of the ABC for good measure.

The Project's Lisa Wilkinson (left) and her husband Peter FitzSimons (right) host an Australia Day barbecue on their North Shore property every year, which was satirised by fellow media personality Stan Grant in his serialised murder mystery 'Oh Matilda : Who Bloody Killed Her?'

'Everyone there voted yes for same-sex marriage - the year before last, they'd all tearily applauded their first gay married couple guests - they hated the Catholic Church and had cried when Kevin Rudd said sorry.'

In the chapter, fictional character Matilda Meadows jokes with a friend that the the party reminded them of a scene from Jordan Peele's 2017 horror movie Get Out, in which the black protagonist finds a terrifying reality after meeting his apparently supportive white in-laws.

Grant wrote that the hosts: 'adored Indigenous culture'.

Grant (pictured) poked fun at FitzSimon's biography of Captain Cook, suggesting it was at odds with his love of Indigenous culture

'There were dot paintings on the wall, a photo with their arms around Cathy Freeman at Sydney Olympic Stadium, and a framed copy of Paul Keating's Redfern Statement signed by the last great Australian prime minister himself.'

'Things did get a bit weird though when Fitzy excitedly gave her a copy of his latest book, a biography of Captain Cook.

'Apparently Cookie was actually not a bad bloke once you got past his order to open fire on the blacks at Botany Bay.

'Nobody's perfect.'

The FitzSimons-Grant feud started when the pair fell out in April 2020 over the ex-Wallaby's biography James Cook: The Story Behind the Man who Mapped the World.

At the time Grant called FitzSimon's depiction of Cook's character 'ludicrous' and FitzSimons defended his biography pointing out it was exhaustively researched.

After Grant's recent writing appeared, the pair apparently clashed over text message and are not speaking, The Age reported.

It is believed their testy relationship completely collapsed, NewsCorp reported.

FitzSimons complained he was hurt by an 'unfair and unprovoked attack' while party guests said it was understood such social events shouldn't be written about.

A source told Newscorp: 'It's like one of those 'end of year cartoons' you see in the newspapers: every time you turn around, you bump into somebody more famous than the last person'.

Grant defended himself to The Sydney Morning Herald, saying: 'I mock myself as much as anyone else in it'.

'There are more important things to worry about in the world' than FitzSimons' reaction, he said.

'People who can't laugh at themselves aren't one of them.'

FitzSimons is reported to have responded: 'I will leave it for others to judge.'
National Cathedral criticized for hosting Max Lucado due to his views on homosexuality

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The Washington National Cathedral has come under fire for hosting Max Lucado, a prominent author and pastor who holds biblical Christian views on marriage, as a guest preacher.

Max Lucado was invited by the Episcopal Church's Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Paul in the City and the Diocese of Washington to preach at a virtual service Sunday.

A backlash among members of the Episcopal Church, a denomination known for politically liberal views on marriage and sexuality issues, quickly followed.

Critics of Lucado cited his previous written opinions about same-sex marriage as a cause for concern in a petition asking Dean Randy Hollerith to "rescind Max Lucado's invitation to preach.

Lucado is not an Episcopalian. He serves as pastor of Oak Hills Church, a nondenominational Christian church in San Antonio, Texas.

"Lucado's teachings and preaching inflicts active harm on LGBTQ people," the petition contended. "To cite one example, in 2004 he wrote of his fears that homosexuality would lead to 'legalized incest' and likened same-sex marriage to incest and bestiality."

"Fear-mongering and dehumanizing messages from powerful speakers like Lucado have been used to justify rollbacks of LGBTQ rights and to exclude LGBTQ people from civil protections and sacred rites, the petition continued. To our knowledge, Lucado has not publicly renounced these views.

Mentioning that the remains of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who was murdered in 1998, were entrusted to the cathedral, the petition maintained that inviting a man who preaches the kind of dangerous theology that promotes oppression of and violence toward the LGBTQ community does not honor that trust nor serve his memory."

The petition went as far as to accuse Lucado of causing "serious harm.

Ultimately, leaders at the cathedral let Lucado speak.

Hollerith responded to the petition, emphasizing the importance of enabling dialogue with people who hold views members of the congregation may disagree with.

"When we only engage with those whom we agree on every issue, we find ourselves in a dangerous (and lonely) place, Hollerith stated in a letter to petitioners. My hope is that all churches and faith communities will find ways to open their doors to perspectives different from their own."

The dean assured that the cathedrals commitment to the LGBT community is unshakable and unchanged.

"We believe the Gospel calls us to nothing short of full embrace and inclusion, the letter stated.

Hollerith shared why the cathedral invited Lucado to preach.

We have to come out of our corners, find common ground where we can, and find ways to live with and see each other as the beloved children of God that we are, he stressed. We have all grown too accustomed in our silos and echo chambers. In order to start the process of rebuilding, we need to hear from each other.

Jim Naughton, who formerly served as canon for communications for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, told Episcopal News that he thought it was "incredibly disrespectful" for the Washington National Cathedral to "give its imprimatur to him" and "extend the prestige of its pulpit" to someone with his views.

An openly gay Episcopal priest who spoke with Episcopal News claimed that "Max Lucado's theology has a body count, adding, "It feels deeply disrespectful for an Episcopal church ... to publicize Lucado without any mention of this."

Lucado's sermon did not touch on the issue of same-sex marriage.

Instead, it focused heavily on the Holy Spirit, which he described as "the surest antidote for trepidation" and "the calming presence of God in the world today."

"The presence of the Holy Spirit changes everything," Lucado added. "If you have said yes to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit has said yes to you. And when you receive Christ, you receive the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life."

Lucado urged viewers of the Sunday Sermon to "just say yes and welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit into your life."

Following Lucado's appearance at Washington National Cathedral Sunday, Kathleen Moore, who organized the Change.org petition, issued a statement expressing solidarity with "Those who are hurting today and those who will continue to hurt as a result of this decision."

As of Tuesday afternoon, the petition had amassed more than 1,600 signatures, which Moore described as "a record of the voices Dean Hollerith and Washington National Cathedral chose not to hear."
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The European Union will not block shipments of COVID-19 vaccines to Australia, the EUs ambassador to Australia has confirmed, with first batches expected by the end of February.

As Australia waits for vaccines to arrive, Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly revealed the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee has been tasked with combing through the countrys hotel quarantine systems to look for cracks after a third case of the highly contagious UK strain was confirmed in a person linked to Victorias hotel quarantine program.

The European Union says it will ensure a smooth process for the delivery of Pfizer vaccines to Australia. Credit:AP

On Tuesday, Victoria recorded a further case in a hotel quarantine worker and another in a woman two days after she left quarantine. NSW recorded two cases in returned travellers. The strains of these cases are still unknown.

Australias vaccine rollout is due to begin at the end of the month with the first delivery of at least 80,000 Pfizer vaccines. The first lot of international AstraZeneca vaccines is due in early March, and the companies both confirmed those timelines on Monday.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28) helped deliver $4,000,000 in federal funds to Border Region Behavioral Health Center.

This funding, awarded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations (SAMHSA) grant program, will be used to provide additional staff as well as increase services for mental health and substance abuse diagnosis and treatment.

Mental health resources and programs are essential to an individuals growth and well-being, Cuellar said. As we continue to battle an unprecedented pandemic, the effects of the health and economic hardships were facing has put an emotional and mental strain on many South Texans. This $4 million investment will allow Border Region Behavioral Health Center to continue their mission in promoting ones own independence and improving the overall quality of life for their patients. I would like to thank Executive Director Maria Alonso-Sanchez, the board of trustees as well as the health centers doctors and staff for helping people of all ages learn to cope with or overcome their mental health and behavioral struggles.

Border Region is so very grateful to receive this Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Expansion Grant with the support of Congressman Henry Cuellar, said Maria Sanchez, Executive Director of Border Region Behavioral Health Center. The four counties Border Region serves  Webb, Jim Hogg, Zapata and Starr Counties  are underserved and underfunded for the many behavioral health services that are needed.

This money will be used to provide more staff for intakes, crisis, counseling and link clients to more services. This grant will also allow Border Region to increase doctor time. With these additional positions, Border Region will improve wait time and assist clients during this pandemic, which has greatly increased the need for mental health services.

As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Cuellar helped secure over $1.7 billion in the FY21 Appropriations bill for SAMHSA and their efforts to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.

Border Region Behavioral Health Center is the local mental health authority in a four county radius from Webb, Zapata and Starr counties. The Center offers services to children, adults and individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith is leading the Tory revolt over the 'genocide amendment' to the Trade Bill - PA

The Governments flagship Trade Bill faces further delay before becoming law, as the bitter parliamentary battle over a Tory rebel-backed amendment on genocide prepares to enter round three.

Furious Conservative backbenchers on Tuesday accused ministers of playing arcane procedural games to block a vote on their amendment, which aims to empower judges to rule on whether a nation has committed genocide before securing a trade deal with the UK.

The Tory rebels hope such a mechanism could be used to allow the courts to determine whether Chinas abuse of its Uighur minority amounts to genocide.

However, the Government bundled the proposal with other amendments, thereby blocking MPs from voting on it individually in the Commons. The tactic served to help Boris Johnson narrowly see off a fresh defeat.

Last night the rebels vowed to fight on, however, after the peer spearheading the amendment in the Lords, where it has already passed twice, said he would re-insert it into the Bill for a third time in the upper chamber.

Crossbencher Lord Alton of Liverpool, a veteran human rights campaigner, said he was determined to give the Commons the opportunity to vote on a fundamental issue, adding: Denying them that right makes a mockery of democracy.

China has been accused of detaining Uighur Muslims in prison camps - GETTY IMAGES

Campaigners working with the Tory rebels threatened trench warfare to prevent the Trade Bill from entering the statute book until a fair vote was held on the genocide amendment. No clean vote, no Trade Act, said one source.

On Tuesday afternoon MPs voted 318 to 303, a majority of 15, to remove two Lords amendments from the Bill, including the one pioneered by the rebels, and replace them with a Government-back proposal.

That aims to allow the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee and Lords International Relations and Defence Committee to pronounce on genocide committed by nations with which the UK is looking to agree a trade deal, with the right to call for a debate in Parliament to which ministers must respond.

Story continues

Critics highlighted that both select committees have expressed opposition to the idea, amid concerns that their declarations would not have the legal weight and standing of a judicial judgement.

Arguing against the rebels in the Commons, trade minister Greg Hands insisted the courts should not be involved in the trade deal process and that it should be for Parliament to "take a position on credible reports of genocide" relating to such deals.

He also claimed countries committing genocide could enjoy a propaganda boost if a UK court could not prove the allegations. "Genocide is notoriously hard to prove with a high legal threshold, he warned.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a leader of the revolt, warned that Parliament had gone into the dark corridors of procedural purdah and accused the Government of playing arcane procedural games.

Sir Bob Neill has tabled an alternative Government-backed amendment - Stephen Lock

He said: Today should have been a chance to stand tall, to send a signal to those who are without hope all over the world, whether its the Uighurs or the Rohingya.

Nusrat Ghani, another Tory rebel leader, said she was "appalled at the parliamentary games played over such a grave issue.

The Telegraph revealed this week that the whips had been accused of resorting to bullying and veiled threats in an attempt to avoid an embarrassing Commons defeat over the issue.

The Prime Ministers Official Spokesman defended the decision to bundle the rebel-backed genocide amendment with others. Its common practice during ping pong [the process of legislation passing back and forth between the Houses of Parliament] on Bills for some Lords amendments to be packaged together, where they cover similar issues, the spokesman said.
San Antonio River Walk

The City of San Antonio is celebrating girl power on Monday evening with pink lights to kick off registration for the Girls Empowerment Summit, according to their Twitter page.

The San Antonio downtown skyline and surrounding areas will light up in hot pink lights to celebrate the launch of their Girls Empowerment Summit. Registration is now open for the March 11 and 12 conference.
Will Mellor will play drugs boss Harvey in Corrie. (ITV)

Will Mellor is set to join the cast of Coronation Street - in his first truly villainous role.

The 44-year-old actor - known for starring in Hollyoaks, Two Pints Of Lager Ant A Packet Of Crisps and Broadchurch - will play evil drugs baron Harvey in the ITV soap, becoming an ominous threat in the lives of Leanne Battersby and her teenage son.

Mellor said: Im honoured to be asked to come into Coronation Street, its such an iconic show and has been a huge part of my family life. When I started acting 32 years ago it was my mums dream for me to be in Corrie so Im happy to finally be able to make it come true. Its a Manchester institution and as a Manchester actor this is definitely a box ticked.

Will Mellor admits his Corrie role is his most villainous ever. (ITV)

Harvey is the first out and out baddie Ive ever played. Its a very different type of role for me so Im looking forward to getting my teeth into the character and making some waves.

Watch: Hollyoaks Soap Scoop! Verity confesses her lies

Read more: Will Mellor opens up about trauma of his father dying during the coronavirus pandemic

Leanne - played by Jane Danson - will encounter Harvey after she comes to the protection of her wayward son Simon (Alex Bain) whilst still gripped by grief for her son Oliver, who died last year aged three from mitochondrial disease.

Will Mellor became a teen heartthob as 'Hollyoaks' Jambo in the 90s. (Getty Images)

Producer Iain MacLeod added: I am so excited to welcome Will into our world. He is a fantastic actor who has thrown himself heart and soul into making his character as terrifyingly real as possible. He will have a massive impact on our characters lives, from the moment he swaggers menacingly onto the screen.

Mellor made his name as a teenager playing Jambo in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks - one of the original characters when the show launched in 1995. He left the soap in 1998 but made a brief cameo appearance in 2004.

'Two Pints' co-stars Will Mellor and Ralf Little in 2009. (Getty Images)

He went on to star alongside Sheridan Smith and Ralf Little in BBC sitcom Two Pints Of Lager Ant A Packet Of Crisps, which ran from 2001 to 2011. He and Little co-host a podcast called Two Pints with Will & Ralf.

Story continues

Read more: Quiz! Can you name these UK soaps from only three characters?

He played police officer DC Spike Tanner in Channel 4s No Offence and a psychic in the first series of ITVs Broadchurch.

Mellor - who has two teenage children with his dancer wife Michelle McSween - also starred in BBC Three sitcom White Van Man.

Watch: The latest soap news from Corrie
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Bhyripuram : , Feb 9 (IANS) Bhyripuram, a small village in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district has emerged as a champion of unanimous elections in the past 57 years, with no panchayat elections being held there.

All panchayat elections in these six decades did not see the villagers queuing up at polling centres or showing their fingers to get the indelible mark as the village united to project one single candidate to be the winner, without going for electoral fights.

This unanimous election pattern has been consistent for both ward members elections as well as the sarpanch position.

With a population of 1,500 people, there are 1,100 voters and eight wards in the village, all of whom avail the financial incentives offered by the state government for going unanimous.

"Whenever we have elections, we all sit together and go for unanimous election to select the sarpanch and ward members agreeable to everybody", said a resident of the village.

In the latest election, the village elected Pullati Ramadevi as the Sarpanch.

However, Bhyripuram villagers rescind this unanimous pattern for Assembly and Parliamentary elections to take their respective political party positions.

Though they separate during those polls, immediately after that they get back to normal unity.

It is this unity which could be attributed to their resilience even though they are located in a geography infamous of kidney ailments and cyclones.

Prasad Rao, a village resident said that Bhyripuram has the presence of all the parties but when it comes to village development through Sarpanch elections, everyone is united to lean towards the party which is in power.

All the villagers, including natives settled in different countries, actively engage on social media to update themselves on the state of affairs in the village and its developmental needs.

According to Venkat Rao, empowered by this unity, the villagers managed to lay cement roads, develop local temple and also provide drinking water to all the houses.

Importantly, he said that every street has drainage system in the village. In case some amenity is missing, Rao said all the villagers sit together and work towards achieving it.

However, members of only one family have reaped the benefits of this unanimous unity, Pullata Vasudeva Naidu. All the sarpanchs of Bhyripuram came from this one family.

As sarpanchs, Naidu was succeeded by his son Dasaradha Ramayya and daughter-in-law Prabhavati. In 2021, Naidu's another daughter-in-law, Pullata Rama Devi, was elected as the sarpanch.

Devi said all the villagers met together to choose the sarpanch and stated that she would develop the village with everybody's cooperation.

The village located 102 km northeast of Visakhapatnam on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal sea also has another claim to fame, not even a single police case being registered on its villagers until now.

As it is impossible to be dispute-free, any disagreements will get peacefully resolved by the villagers and restricted to Bhyripuram, thereby avoiding the ignominy of going to a police station.

According to a Kaviti mandalam police official, no criminal, murder or any kind of police case came to the notice of their police station.
With Elenteny's premier logistics solutions, FUN WINE can navigate the three-tier system and manage their back-office operations  compliance, warehousing, fulfillment, account receivable, and local taxes - so that the brand can focus on selling the product to wholesalers and direct to retailers.

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"As we grow our national distribution footprint, we're extremely proud and honored to have Elenteny Imports as our logistics partner,'' explained Joe Peleg, Founder & CEO. "The opportunity to work with Elenteny represents huge growth potential for FUN WINE," he added. "We are excited to be able to make our products available to distributors and retailers across all 50 states."

With Elenteny's premier logistics solutions, FUN WINE can navigate the three-tier system and manage their back-office operations  compliance, warehousing, fulfillment, account receivable, and local taxes - so that the brand can focus on selling the product to wholesalers and direct to retailers. This modern approach allows FUN WINE to control their inventory and focus on sourcing and sales.

"Elenteny Imports is pleased to welcome FUN WINE, an innovative brand that is experiencing rocket ship growth. We have a proven track record of helping brands grow, and we look forward to supporting FUN WINEs continuing success, says Phil Lander, Senior Sales Director of Elenteny Imports.

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About The FUN WINE Company

Based in Miami, The Fun Wine Company produces and markets low alcohol, lightly carbonated 'Better for You' everyday wine drinks in a portfolio of flavors distributed on six continents. FUN WINE blends exciting flavors with unique fragrances and a touch of carbonation in artistic, recyclable 750 mL glass bottles, 330 mL aluminum bottles, and 250 mL slim cans available at chain retail, supermarkets, pharmacy, and c-store locations. FUN WINE is built on four pillars: Innovation, Flavor, Packaging, and Price. Focused on eliminating the pretense often associated with traditional wine, FUN WINE makes wine fun for every drinking age while keeping prices affordable for mass appeal. Please visit http://www.funwine.com.
A SENIOR garda officer who has spent a significant portion of her career working in the Limerick garda division has been appointed as Deputy Commissioner.

Up until her appointment as acting deputy commissioner last year, Anne Marie McMahon was the assistant commissioner with responsibility for the Southern region.

She is originally from County Clare and is a graduate of the University of Limerick.

During her 35 year career with An Garda Siochana, Ms McMahon has served at various ranks at Henry Street, Roxboro Road, Newcastle West and Bruff garda stations.

While she was stationed in the city between 2002 and 2010, Ms McMahon oversaw a number of high profile investigations which were linked to the then gangland feud.

In her earlier career Anne Marie McMahon served in Coolock, Dublin, Henry Street, Limerick and with the United Nations in Cambodia.

She is one of two Deputy Commissioners in An Garda Siochana whose appointments have been approved by the Government following their nomination by the Policing Authority.

Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD has welcomed the appointments of Ms McMahon Dr Shawna Coxon of the Toronto Police Service to the posts.

I offer my wholehearted congratulations to acting Deputy Commissioner Anne Marie McMahon and Dr Shawna Coxon on their appointment to the posts of Deputy Garda Commissioner. Both of these officers have solid records of achievement and delivery and bring deep skill, experience and huge personal commitment to policing to these important senior positions. These roles are crucial to the effective day to day management and strategic direction of An Garda Siochana as well as supporting the Garda Commissioner in leading the implementation of the extensive reform programme ongoing at present,  she said.

Policing Authority Chairperson Bob Collins commented.

"I warmly welcome the decision of the Government to appoint the two candidates that the Policing Authority had nominated as Deputy Commissioners of the Garda Siochana. In congratulating Anne Marie McMahon and Shawna Coxon, the Authority recognises the significance of the moment. These are crucial positions in the life of the Garda Siochana and the appointments come at a time of change, of achievement and of challenge," he said.

"They have come through a demanding and thorough selection process that brings together the Government, the Authority and the Public Appointments Service and they thoroughly merit their selection. In addition to the qualities and diverse experience that they will bring to their new roles, they will have an opportunity to make a major contribution to the character and quality of the policing service that the Garda Siochana brings to the people of Ireland, he added.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris added: "Anne Marie brings huge policing experience, competence in difficult senior command roles, and drive and determination in delivering change through the Policing Service for our Future reform agenda. Through the exercise of positive leadership and example she has earned the trust and respect of members and staff within An Garda Siochana. Deputy Commissioner Coxon brings with her extensive policing experience from her service in Toronto, Canada. In particular, she has experience of change management, community policing in a diverse city and serious crime investigations including utilising intelligence to its full potential.

I look forward to working with the Deputy Commissioners in the months and years ahead as the Policing Service for our Future reforms are delivered and we continue to deliver a policing service that keeps people safe through a strong bond between An Garda Siochana and the community.

Ms McMahon has been appointed with effect from Wednesday while Dr Coxon will take up duty on April 19.

Minister McEntee also paid tribute to Deputy Commissioner John Twomey, who will shortly be retiring from his role.

I want to pay tribute and express my warmest thanks on behalf of the Government to outgoing Deputy Commissioner John Twomey. John has given outstanding service to the people of Ireland throughout his distinguished 38 year career in An Garda Siochana, particularly over the last five years as Deputy Commissioner for Policing and Security. He has been an exemplary public servant and I send my very best wishes to John and his family in the next phase, she said.

Commissioner Harris said: "On behalf of all at An Garda Siochana I want to thank Deputy Commissioner John Twomey for his dedicated service of 38 years and in particular, his sterling work of the last 12 months of the Covid-19 crisis when he has provided such clear leadership. I wish John and his family every good fortune in their next adventure.
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Having unveiled its ambition of emerging as the top Artificial Intelligence (AI) superpower by 2030, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has taken rapid strides in digitising every conceivable sphere of its activity, so much so even its dictatorial form of governance. With CCP ideology pervading the state-run and data driven Chinese economy, it is but natural that giant Chinese tech companies and foreign companies with significant presence in China, have been arm twisted by CCP into sharing sensitive consumer data. This helps the CCP to maintain an eagle eye vigil on its 1.4 billion citizenry through installation of a humongous number of surveillance devices throughout the country, implementation of the dubious Social Credit System and using digital media to indoctrinate people to its ideology while crushing any form of dissent within the country. The story of CCP's transformation from a traditionally repressive dictatorship since inception to the digital dictatorship of President Xi Jinping needs careful study, especially to safeguard nations from the pitfalls of the CCP's irredentist ambitions.

Historically in 1949, Mao Zedong had proclaimed the foundation of the People's Republic of China (PRC), a single party state controlled by the Communist Party of China (CPC). He remained in power till his death in 1976, during which he slowly consolidated his control through suppression of landlords, targeting political opponents and capitalists with the 'Three-anti' and 'Five-anti' campaigns, enforcing his vision of a planned economy, purging rightists within the CPC and bringing in the infamous 'Cultural Revolution' to remove counter-revolutionary elements in a violent 10-year class struggle. While Chairman Mao set China on the path of growth and industrialisation, his regime will always be remembered as being 'autocratic' and 'totalitarian' and it had a terrible dark side, of bringing about mass repression and millions of deaths through starvation, persecution, prison labour and mass executions.

Fast forwarding to more recent times, Xi's rise from being the Party Chief of the Zhejiang province of the Communist Party from 2002-2007 to his appointment as Vice President in 2008 to elevation as President in 2012, has been meteoric. By 2013, in true dictatorial style, Xi acquired all three leadership roles in China -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, Chairman of the Central Military Commission and President of the People's Republic of China. The first major policy introduced by Xi in 2013 was a far reaching anti-corruption policy against high ranking officials and local civil servants. What really cemented his Dictatorship was promulgation of CCP's official Political doctrine in 2018 called 'Xi Jinping Thought', which strengthened power at three levels namely, the nation, the CCP and Xi himself. If that was not enough, the National People's Congress (NPC) on December 26, 2020, amended the National Defence Law (NDL) expanding the power of its armed forces headed by Xi to mobilise military and civilian resources to defend its national interests both at home and abroad. 'Disruption' and protection of 'development interests' has been added as grounds for mobilising and deploying troops and reserve forces. Such sweeping powers with a life long tenure give Xi a dictator's stature which even surpasses the Dictatorship of Chairman Mao.

In his first year as President, Xi announced the CCP's ambitious One Belt One Road (OBOR) Project, only to rename it as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) a few years later based on feedback from participating countries that the term OBOR sounded too authoritarian. The vision articulated by the CCP for the more inclusive sounding BRI was to undertake infrastructure development and investment in over 70 countries across the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe with likely investment of about $1.3 trillion over the next 10 years. This was followed in 2017 by the release of Xi's 'New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan', which outlines development of a domestic AI industry worth $150 billion in the next few years and to emerge as the leading AI power by 2030. Such is the importance accorded to AI by the CCP, that it has also been included as a national priority in the 'Xi Jinping Thought'. Therefore, the CCP's quest of achieving world dominance in AI perfectly complements the BRI. China has already invested about $22 billion in the semi-conductor industry which makes chips to power AI systems. It is predicted that China's share in the AI market is likely to expand to about $50 billion by 2022 with raw material sourced from BRI countries.

In reality, AI has given rise to intensified societal surveillance and a clampdown on free expression. A shocking and chilling use of AI has been to quell the Uyghur-Han Chinese clashes in the north western autonomous Xinjiang province, which has caused widespread unrest. The CCP has used AI to incarcerate without trial over one million Uyghurs and other Muslim minority ethnic groups in 're-education camps' also referred to as Vocational Education and Training Centers, much like those in existence during Chairman Mao's 'Cultural Revolution'. Surveillance cameras, Facial Recognition software etc. have effectively been used to segregate, track and restrict the freedom of the Turkish Muslim minority in Xinjiang.

The same AI tools are also used to monitor the lives of innocent Chinese citizens through data mining of giant companies. CCP's intelligence agencies regularly use the data processing capabilities of private companies such as Alibaba, Tencents, Huawei, Bytedance, Baidu, ZTE etc. to derive actionable intelligence in quick time. This arrangement obviates duplication of expensive data-processing functions by CCP's Intelligence agencies. CCP has given legitimacy to this practice by enacting the Internet Security Law in 2017, which mandates all data collected in China to be stored within the country and bans transfer of data across the border without approval. It also mandates web based businesses to share data which may affect the 'security of the nation', which grossly violates privacy of individuals. The Social Credit System introduced by CCP ostensibly aims to standardise the assessment of economic and social reputation of citizens and businesses. It goes without saying that the Social Credit System would reward pro-CCP activities and restrict the freedom to travel and also social liberties of the so called dissenting voices. It is due to this digital totalism that despite poor handling of the Covid-19 pandemic by the CCP administration, only highly sanitised reports came out from China.

The CCP Dictatorship has not restricted itself to using these 'virtues' of Digital Authoritarianism on its own citizens. Two recent global examples of adverse effects of Chinese AI systems can be seen in Zimbabwe and the Philippines. In Zimbabwe, Hikvision's facial recognition technology has been used for border security purposes and for creation of surveillance cameras enabled smart cities. The Chinese firm CloudWalk Technology, sanctioned by the US government for its human rights abuse against the Uyghur community, has also developed a facial recognition system for the Zimbabwean government. Similarly, the Philippines launched the 'Safe Philippines' project at Manila under which about 12000 surveillance cameras using AI tools would be installed in partnership with the Chinese companies Huewei and CITCC, with an amount of about US $ 400 Million borrowed from the CCP government. Today, it is estimated that at least 18 countries are developing mass surveillance systems with CCP's assistance. Embracing the CCP AI Model could well mean the end of democracy and the rise of dictatorship in these countries.

One can only imagine the enormous destructive potential of the debt trap scheme of BRI coupled with the sinister facet of CCP AI dominance. We thus have a brilliantly conceived formula for modern day colonisation of weak democracies through Digital Dictatorship...and all this achieved without having to fire a single gunshot let alone fight a war!!! The only counter to this is to develop a democratic digital model which will, while enhancing security, still preserve the privacy and human rights of individuals and safeguard the sovereignty of nations.

(Binay Kumar Singh is an author and columnist)
New Delhi, Feb 9 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a reply from the government on a plea seeking transfer of cases from several High Courts to it, challenging the Centre's notification to declare five communities -- Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis -- as minorities.

The High Courts at Delhi, Meghalaya and Guwahati are already seized of the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. In October 1993, the notification was issued under this Act, which declared the five communities as minorities across the country. The transfer plea filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay argued as a result of this notification, majority population of Sikhs in Punjab and Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir have received benefits, which were originally meant for minorities.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde and comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian issued notices to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice and Ministry of Home Affairs. Senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan represented Upadhyay in the matter in the top court.

Upadhyay had moved the top court seeking transfer of all cases from the High Courts to itself, in order to decide the issue.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi has been nominated as Italian PM. Photo: AP/Alessandra Tarantino

Mario Draghi told lawmakers he'll make a common euro-area budget a policy priority for Italy if he becomes prime minister this month, in a sign of his ambitions for the incoming administration.

Carlo Calenda, head of the Azione party, and Manfred Schullian, head of the group of unaffiliated lawmakers in the lower house, both told Bloomberg that Mr Draghi had emphasized the push for a common budget in separate meetings in Rome yesterday.

The former European Central Bank (ECB) chief has won the initial backing of Italy's main political parties and is expected to announce his cabinet picks later this week.

President Sergio Mattarella tapped Mr Draghi to try to form a government after the collapse of an unruly administration led by Giuseppe Conte.

Mr Draghi has outlined a program focused on Italy's 209bn share of the European Union's recovery package, with more investment and fewer incentives, Mr Schullian said. He mentioned the need for fiscal reform.

Mr Draghi had called for euro-member states to forge a common budget when he was in charge of Europe's central bank. But now he's doing it as Italy's leader.

The idea of a common budget for the single currency area was born during the financial crisis with its advocates, led by France, arguing that it was necessary to help stabilise the economy during downturns. A joint budget has been seen as a key missing piece in the euro's architecture to complement ECB monetary policy.

It would help countries support demand during a slowdown.

For Italy, it would help protect the economy from shocks to public finances, and more broadly it would offer a shield against the sort of crises that threatened to break up the euro area during the debt crisis.
The CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) has said he would back legislation making it mandatory for healthcare workers to get a Covid vaccination.

Some nursing home staff have declined offers for the vaccine, though the HSE has said the uptake is still "extremely good".

It had emerged earlier today that some nursing homes conducted raffles and offered cash prizes in a bid to encourage staff to get vaccinated.

Speaking on Newstalk's The Hard Shoulder, Tadgh Daly from NHI said if the government moved to make the vaccination mandatory, his organisation would support it.

The NHI CEO said a risk assessment is held when a staff member does not agree to be vaccinated however he does not think it is appropriate for a healthcare worker to refuse the jab.

"I personally would feel no it is not appropriate, I think that as a society we should have a zero-tolerance in some respects towards the vaccination, particularly given what we have been through as a country over the last 12 months.

"Yes absolutely if appropriate I think that if the legislators were to move and legislate for Covid vaccination then that is something that we would absolutely support."

Mr Daly is pleased however that there is such a high uptake of the vaccine and said many workers across the sector are anxious to be inoculated.

"People are very, very anxious to get the vaccine," said Mr Daly, "Anecdotally, we're hearing figures north of 90%, so I suppose it will take some time."

Mr Daly said that the healthcare sector would continue to promote uptake of the vaccine among staff as a clearer picture of immunization emerges in the near future.

He said this would guide further strategic decisions made in the vaccination rollout.
Ancient Amazonian communities fortified valuable land they had spent years making fertile to protect it from conflict, excavations show. Farmers in Bolivia constructed wooden defences around previously nutrient-poor tropical soils they had enriched over generations to keep them safe during times of social unrest. These long-term soil management strategies allowed Amazonians to grow nutrient demanding crops, such as maize and manioc and fruiting trees, and this was key to community subsistence. These Amazonian Dark Earths, or Terra Preta, were created through burning, mulching, and the deposition of organic waste. It was known that some communities built ditches and embankments, known locally as a zanja, around their settlements, which had suggested to act as a defensive structure. The examples from Bolivia were specifically constructed to also enclose the enriched soil and this is the first evidence of an additional fortification built in the ditch, demonstrating how important communities felt it was to protect their investment in the land. Excavations, at the Versalles archaeological site along the Itenez River in the Bolivian Amazon, provide the first archaeological evidence that communities in the region built wooden palisades along with earthworks. The construction circles the outer perimeter of the village, enclosing and protecting homes and the enriched soil and forest. Researchers had long speculated on the function of the zanjas and whether there had also been a palisade structure, but until now no direct evidence of a wooden construction had been found. The harsh tropical climate is unfavourable for the preservation of wooden architecture, but through careful excavation, the decomposed remains of the construction posts were detected in the soil. It is not possible to know what the structure would have looked like. Archaeological analysis show that those living in Versalles began enriching soils around 500 BC. After almost two millennia, the zanja was constructed around AD 1300, at the same time as social unrest spread across Amazonia. The fortifications were later remodelled, including the addition of the palisade, around AD 1628 to 1803. Archaeological excavations suggests the community continued to thrive during this time, creating elaborate ceramics and producing a diversity of foods from staple crops to fruits and nuts, alongside fish and hunted animals. The research, published in the journal Geoarchaeology, was conducted in collaboration with the modern Versalles community, by Dr.Mark Robinson and Professor. Jose Iriarte from the University of Exeter, Dr. Carla Jaimes?Betancourt, from the University of Bonn, Dr. Sarah Elliott, from Bournemouth University, and Dr. Yoshi Maezumi, from the University of Amsterdam, with students from the UK and Bolivia participating in excavations. Dr Robinson said: "This is further evidence the Amazon is not a pristine place, untouched by human hands. People have had a great impact on the ecology of the rainforest. Communities invested heavily, generation after generation, to enrich the natural resources around them. As broad Amazon-wide social-unrest spread, the community felt the need to protect the resources into which they and their ancestors had invested so much."

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Facebook says it will ban vaccine conspiracy theories from its platforms, including claims they cause autism, as part of a wider crackdown on COVID-19 misinformation.

The tech giant said it would immediately begin removing false claims on Facebook and Instagram that contributed to vaccine rejection, as well as those that discouraged good health practices including claims that masks did not help prevent the spread of the virus.

Liberal MP Craig Kelly, who has come under fire for using Facebook to advocate for COVID-19 treatments at odds with official medical advice, said he was not at all worried he would be captured by the tech giants revised misinformation policy.

Liberal MP Craig Kelly says hes not worried he will be captured by Facebooks crackdown on vaccine misinformation. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The accusations against me that Ive been publishing misinformation are misinformation themselves, Mr Kelly said.
Jaipur, Feb 9 : Bollywood star Salman Khan on Tuesday apologised for 'mistakenly' submitting a false affidavit in the Jodhpur session court in 2003, during his hearing in a case related to the poaching of two blackbucks in Jodhpur in 1998.

The final verdict in the case will be pronounced on Thursday.

Salman appeared before the Jodhpur session court for the hearing of his appeal against conviction in the blackbuck poaching case through video conferencing. His lawyer Hastimal Saraswat told the court that the affidavit was mistakenly submitted to the court on August 8, 2003, for which the actor should be forgiven.

During the hearing, Saraswat said, "The affidavit was mistakenly given on August 8, 2003, as Salman had forgotten that his licence was given for renewal because he was too busy. Therefore, he mentioned that the licence had gone missing in the court." Salman was arrested in 1998 for hunting two blackbucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur. At that time, a case under Arms Act was registered against him and the court had asked him to submit his arms licence.

Salman gave an affidavit in the court in 2003, saying that he had lost the licence. He also lodged an FIR at the Bandra police station in Mumbai in this connection.

However, the court later came to know that Salman's arm licence was not lost, but had been submitted for renewal.

Public prosecutor Bhavani Singh Bhati had then demanded that a case of misleading the court should be filed against the actor.

A trial court in 2018 had convicted Salman and awarded five-year imprisonment to him for the killing of two black bucks during the shooting of the film 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' in October 1998. The actor had challenged the trial court verdict in the sessions court. Salman's fellow actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre, who were present on the spot in Kankani along with him, have been acquitted.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed

Two lawmakers from opposite coasts and different parties want to ease the burden on local governments and small businesses of operating during the pandemic by helping them purchase personal protective equipment and rapid testing equipment.

The Getting Americans Safely Back to Work Act, introduced Monday by Virginia Democrat Abigail Spanberger and California Republican Young Kim, would create a $1 billion block grant program for such purchases to be administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local health departments. A quarter of the funds, $250 million, would be set aside to help small business like restaurants fully reopen. The bill was first reported by CBS News.

"In conversations with Central Virginia small businesses, restaurants, and local governments, a major concern remains the continued cost of PPE and COVID-19 testing supplies," Spanberger said. "While these costs are high, employers recognize the importance of making these investments for both the safety of their employees and the health of our communities."

Her cosponsor, freshmen representative Young Kim, who is a former small business owner, said it was "an immediate and urgent priority" to distribute rapid tests and personal protective equipment, both of which could be purchased with the grant program created by the bill. Funds could also used to implement any other workplace safety measures to mitigate the spread of the virus.

These costs have largely been borne by local businesses, who often see those safety measures as necessary to get customers back in the door.

State and local governments around the country are also facing major budget shortfalls because of the declining tax revenues and the costs they have incurred to fight the pandemic. But they've been largely left out of COVID relief efforts  including the $900 billion package passed in December  because of Republican opposition.

Story continues

A spokesperson for Spanberger also said the congresswoman is "actively working" to include the provisions of the bill in the upcoming COVID relief package proposed by the White House that is working its way through the House and Senate.

Chesterfield County, Virginia Sheriff Karl Leonard said the legislation was a "necessary step" to reduce the risk for law enforcement officers and other employees in his county, including those who might have to contain a virus outbreak in a prison or jail.

"This bill benefits our essential workers and our community as a whole," he said.

Polar vortex sends temperatures plummeting across U.S.

Online scams target Americans desperate for coronavirus vaccine

FBI probes hacker attempt to poison Florida town's water supply
TORONTO, Feb. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skylight Health Group Inc (TSXV:SHG ; OTCQX:SHGFF) (Skylight Health or the Company), announced today that Paul Kulas joins Skylight Health executive team as Senior Vice President of Operations.



Mr. Kulas has a diverse background in large integrated healthcare systems, and brings 28 years of experience and strong relationships:

Accountable to over 350 providers and 275 provider affiliates across the United States.

Implemented Telehealth services to entire region of Northern California.

Successful implementation of new technology and information systems.

Oversaw provider contracting, physician compensation, and productivity models.

Most recently, Mr. Kulas acted as VP of Operations for St. Joseph Health Medical Group, a member of Providence. Providence is one of the largest healthcare networks in the United States with over 120,000 caregivers serving in 51 hospitals, 1,085 clinics and offers a comprehensive range of health and social services to its 5 million unique patients across Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

In his role at Skylight Health, Mr. Kulas will be responsible for development, expansion and management of Skylight Health clinic operations, nationally. Mr. Kulas will lead the strategic design and development of a network of clinics, with P/L responsibility, and will be responsible for ensuring optimal configuration and operations to promote a high quality and consistent care experience, for practitioners and clients.

I am thrilled to have an executive of Pauls caliber and experience join our growing team, says Prad Sekar, Co-Founder and CEO of Skylight Health. Throughout his career, he has proven to be a highly effective leader, driving transformation, and instilling operational rigor to efficiently deliver results. I look forward to Pauls active leadership and believe his experience and relationships within the healthcare industry will be crucial to our accelerated growth.

I look forward to refining the business processes already in place at Skylight Health by streamlining our existing business with additional technology enhancements, says Paul Kulas, SVP Operations of Skylight Health. My goal is increase profitability through operational synergies as we expand our reach across the United States.

Mr. Kulas holds a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Science with a Health Systems Management major from Ferris State University. He has acted as Adjunct Faculty Professor at Eastern Michigan University, College of Health Professions and Adjunct Faculty Professor at Baker College, Health Care Administration.

In addition, under its existing stock option plan, the company has granted certain consultants 600,000 stock options at an exercise price of $1.50.

About Skylight Health Group

Skylight Health Group (TSXV:SHG ; OTCQX:SHGFF) is a healthcare services and technology company, working to positively impact patient health outcomes. The Company operates a US multi-state health network that comprises of physical multi-disciplinary medical clinics providing a range of services from primary care, sub-specialty, allied health and laboratory/diagnostic testing. The Company owns and operates a proprietary electronic health record system that supports the delivery of care to patients via telemedicine and other remote monitoring system integrations. With a patient roster of over 155,000 patients, the Companys operations servicing 16 states and continues to expand in services and locations both organically and by way of strategic acquisitions.

The Company primarily operates a traditional insurable fee-for-service model contracting with Medicare, Medicaid and other Commercial Payors. The Company also offers a disruptive subscription-based telemedicine service for the un/under-insured population who have limited access to urgent care due to cost.

For more information, please visit www.skylighthealthgroup.com or contact:

Investor Relations:

Jackie Kelly

investors@skylighthealthgroup.com

416-301-2949

Currency Usage, Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

All currency contained in this Press Release represent Canadian Dollars unless otherwise stated.

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in Skylight Health's filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's unaudited financial results and projected growth.

Financial forecasts in this release are based on the current revenue run rate of Skylight Health, all of its recently completed acquisitions, and its pending acquisitions. This forecast is subject to the closing of any and all pending acquisitions, and successful integration of all its current and future acquisitions without any loss or interruptions of revenues during the integration and transition process. The Company may revise this forecast from time to time and investors should not solely rely on this forward-looking guidance when making an investment decision.

Although Skylight Health has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: the ability of Skylight Health to execute on its business strategy, continued revenue growth in accordance with managements expectations, operating expenses continuing in accordance with management expectations, dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; Skylight Health being able to find, complete and effectively integrate target acquisitions; change in laws relating to health care regulation; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindering market growth or other factors that may not currently be known by the Company.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. Skylight Health disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and Skylight Health does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

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.
Last summer we reported that LG was to supply Apple with 20 million OLED iPhone 12 displays. Then in January we reported that LG was shutting down it's LCD display lines. Today we're learning that LG Display is greatly expanding their OLED display plant in Vietnam.

The Elec reported today that Apple supplier LG Display will invest US$750 million to expand its organic light emitting diode (OLED) module factory in Vietnam.

The city of HaiPhong approved the plan, Vietnam News Agency said. LG Display will began the expansion of OLED module assembly factory at the city next month. The new production equipment placed at the factory will begin operations in May.

LG Display invested US$2.5 billion in its HaiPhong campus in April 2016. It was to begin OLED and liquid crystal display (LCD) production there.

The companys total capital expenditure into Haiphong now comes to US$3.25 billion, making it the biggest foreign direct investor for the port city.

Vietnam News Agency said the additional investment will create 5,000 jobs and contribute US$5 million a year to the citys finances.

LG Displays HaiPhong campus recorded US$5.98 billion in sales last year, a jump of 624% from 2019. Sales there accounted for 28% of LG Displays total in 2020. The operation there contributed US$250 million in operating income from January to November in 2020.

According to another source, the Haiphong factory is used to assemble OLED modules by combining panels with the display driver IC and related components for use in TVs and smartphones.

Whether Apple will be increasing its orders with LG Display for OLED panels for the iPhone 12S and possibly iPads is unknown at this time. Obviously LG Display is expanding their Vietnamese Plant on a fairly tight schedule to meet demand. LG Display also began receiving orders for OLED displays from Chinese smartphone vendors Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi.
Canterbury Cathedral has won praise for resisting calls to remove statues with historic links to slavery despite calls by Justin Welby to look at them 'very carefully.'

The Archbishop of Canterbury last year suggested the monuments should be reviewed to see if they 'should all be there.'

He made the comments last June, when monuments of controversial figures came under the microscope amid the wave of Black Lives Matter protests.

But following a review, the cathedral has decided that statues connected with 'slavery, colonialism, or contentious figures' will be displayed, 'with clear objective interpretations.'

Left, Richard Hooker acted as the mentor for the Anglican clergy of the first English slaveholding colonies. Right, George Stanhope viewed Native Americans as heathens

Canterbury Cathedral (pictured) has won praise for resisting calls to remove statues with historic links to slavery despite calls by Justin Welby to look at them 'very carefully'

Former Dean of Canterbury, Isaac Bargrave (left), who hailed from a family who 'cemented their position' thanks to overseas trade and settlement. Richard Hooker (right), who acted as the mentor for the Anglican clergy of the first English slaveholding colonies.

It said by 'acknowledging any associated oppression, exploitation, injustice and suffering connected with these objects' visitors can leave with a 'greater understanding of our shared history and be inspired to undertake further learning and discussion.'

Who are the controversial figures at the Cathedral? Richard Hooker Born in Exeter, Hooker was rector of Bishopsbourne, near Canterbury, and he wrote much of The laws of ecclesiastical polity there. He died in 1600 and was buried in the church at Bishopbourne, where there is a memorial. Isaac Bargrave Isaac Bargrave was The Dean of Canterbury from 1625-1643. George Stanhope George Stanhope (1660-1728) was Dean of Canterbury from 1704, and is buried in Lewisham. Archbishop William Juxon William Juxon was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1660-1663. Advertisement

Like many historic buildings across the country, Canterbury Cathedral came under pressure to review its monuments at the height of Black Lives Matters protests last year.

The Archbishop said the statues would 'need to be put in context', adding: 'Some will have to come down, some names will have to change.'

But sources close to the Cathedral have said it is 'highly unlikely' any statues will be removed when the results of an internal review are considered later this month.

Instead, it is possible monuments with links to slavery or colonialism will instead have plaques clearly displaying contextual information.

The move is welcomed by University of Kent historian Dr Ben Marsh, who last year identified a number of controversial statues in the Cathedral.

They include priest Richard Hooker, who acted as the mentor for the Anglican clergy of the first English slaveholding colonies.

Another is the former Dean of Canterbury, Isaac Bargrave, who hailed from a family who 'cemented their position' thanks to overseas trade and settlement.

Dean of Canterbury George Stanhope viewed Native Americans as 'heathens' and spearheaded the Society of the Propagation of the Gospel, which accepted slavery as, 'fundamentally sanctioned by both natural law and the bible'.

A statue of William Juxon, a former Archbishop of Canterbury who had forged connections to the early English slave trade, includes 'four black Moors' heads' on his coat of arms, was also identified.

But Dr Marsh believes statues are in need of 're-curation' rather than damaging or defacing.

'Most professional historians would like to see full contextualisation - that's what good history is about - it's not about judging,' he said.

William Juxon, a former Archbishop of Canterbury who had forged connections to the early English slave trade, includes 'four black Moors' heads' on his coat of arms, was also identified

A Cathedral spokesman said: 'This interim review will be discussed by the Cathedral's governing chapter later this month, before being assessed and reviewed by a wider external group, representing a diversity of expertise and cultural perspectives.

'We hope that this process will be complete - and any recommendations made public - within the next two to three months.

'The outcome of the Cathedral's own review - in conjunction with the central guidance currently being created by the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England - will then determine how any items at Canterbury Cathedral connected with slavery, colonialism, or contentious figures from other historic periods, are displayed with clear objective interpretations and contextual information, and are presented in a way that avoids any sense of aggrandisement.

'We hope that by providing this context - and acknowledging any associated oppression, exploitation, injustice and suffering connected with these objects - all visitors to the Cathedral can leave with a greater understanding of our shared history and be inspired to undertake further learning and discussion.'

Memorials to politicians, war heroes and authors all targeted due to links to slavery and racist beliefs Since Edward Colston's statue was thrown into Bristol Harbour, there has been a wave of attacks from vandals on various monuments across Britain. A statue to Winston Churchill was defaced with the words 'was a racist' and 'f*** your agenda' written underneath the memorial to the war time PM in Westminster Square, London. Slave trader Robert Milligan's was covered with a shord and the message 'Black Lives Matter' was placed on it in West India Docks amid calls for it to be taken down. It was later removed by Tower Hamlets Council. Less than a year after it was erected, 'Nazi' was scrawled underneath a statue of Nancy Astor, the first woman to take a seat in Parliament, in Plymouth. A statue of Thomas Guy is displayed at Guys Hospital in London. He founded Guys hospital and made his fortune from business involving selling slaves A monument to 19th-century politician Henry Vassall-Fox, the third Baron Holland, was left splattered with red paint in Holland Park. A cardboard sign reading 'I owned 401 slaves' was perched in the bronze statue's arms, with the number painted on the plinth alongside red handprints. A Grade II-listed monument to Admiral Lord Nelson, Britain's foremost naval hero, which stands in the grounds of Norwich Cathedral, was sprayed with a black 'V' in the middle of a circle - an anarchist symbol. Red paint spattered another stature of Lord Nelson at Deptford Town Hall in South London. In Kent, a former councillor wrote 'Dickens Racist' outside a museum dedicated to the beloved 19th century author. Letters sent by the Oliver Twist author showed he wished to 'exterminate' Indian citizens after a failed uprising. A statue of Civil War leader Oliver Cromwell in Wythenshawe Park, Manchester, had the words 'Cromwell is a cockroach,' 'f*** racist' and the Black Lives Matter acronym 'BLM' scrawled across it last month. Thousands of people were massacred during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. BLM was also scrawled across the Worcester Civil War memorial in Royal Park. Advertisement

Fury over Sadiq Khan's woke statue taskforce: London mayor unveils monuments commission - including social rights activist who backed defacing statue and academic who said white supremacy can be traced back to Britain

By Jack Elsom for MailOnline

Sadiq Khan was today accused of 'reducing London's history to politics' after unveiling his diversity taskforce to review landmarks in the capital.

The 15-strong team includes an academic who implied that all international examples of white supremacy can be traced back to Britain, and a campaigner who once confronted the Queen to demand she apologise for historical injustices.

The project has come under fire from politicians concerned that figures of our national past could be erased by 'unelected activists'.

But the Mayor of London stressed the purpose of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm was not to remove statues, only to 'raise public understanding'.

Statues, street names, building names and memorials in the capital will all come under the spotlight.

Sadiq Khan has unveiled his diversity taskforce that will review London's landmarks in the wake of last year's Black Lives Matter protests

Toyin Agbetu grabbed headlines in 2007 after disturbing a ceremony at Westminster Abbey marking the abolition of slavery

The thorny subject of evaluating existing statues will be probed by the panel - many of whom have already been publicly outspoken on the matter.

Toyin Agbetu, a social rights activist, praised activists who painted red the hands of slaver Robert Geffrye's statue in Hackney, to symbolise the 'blood on his hands'.

He hailed them as committing 'a transgressive, yet progressive act of public service' by 'making visible the history and human cost of those involved in such monstrous evil'.

Agbetu grabbed headlines in 2007 after disturbing a ceremony at Westminster Abbey marking the abolition of slavery.

With both the Queen and PM Tony Blair present, he yelled: 'You should be ashamed. We should not be here. This is an insult to us.'

The Commission also includes prominent art critic Aindrea Emelife, who supported the statue of Bristol slave trader Edward Colston being replaced with a BLM activist.

Colston was memorably ripped down and thrown into the harbour during protests last year.

It also includes famous faces such as Emmy-winning actor Riz Ahmed (left), who has starred in Star Wars: Rogue One and US series The Night Of. The Commission also includes prominent art critic Aindrea Emelife (right)

Conservative candidate for mayor Shaun Bailey said: 'Sadiq Khan wants to reduce our history to politics'

It has been replaced with a likeness of Jen Reid, the BLM protester who climbed up on the empty plinth and clenched her fist in the style of Black Power.

At the time, Ms Emelife she described 'seeing the crane lift this up onto the plinth from our lookout point. The rush of adrenaline as this project is realised guerrilla style.'

City Hall said the panel was selected through an 'open recruitment process' and will serve initially for two years.

It also includes famous faces such as Emmy-winning actor Riz Ahmed, who has starred in Star Wars: Rogue One and US series The Night Of.

A staunch critic of the Prime Minister, on a television show he once called Mr Johnson 'an out-and-out complete c***' who is 'overtly racist' and 'blatantly lies to the public'.

He also said he hates the word 'diversity' because it does not equate with true representation.

Fellow panellist, business academic Lynette Nabbosa, who founded an organisation for role models to engage with black youth, has previously suggested that white supremacy is rooted in British history.

She wrote in October: 'The UK seems to be the common denominator in atrocities across the world.

Colston was memorably ripped down and thrown into the harbour during protests last year

'No matter where you find examples of white supremacy, all roads lead back to my country of birth.

'It was the UK's racism that birthed slavery and colonialism. We say it is in the past but our schools, colleges, universities, streets, museums etc have never stopped honouring the enforcers of our oppression.'

Shaun Bailey, Conservative candidate for London Mayor, said: 'London is a city built on history  sometimes bad, more often good, and always complicated. But Sadiq Khan wants to reduce our history to politics.

Curator Sandy Nairne, pictured showing the Duchess of Cambridge around the National Portrait Gallery, is also a member of the Commission

'A commission of fifteen unelected activists should not get to decide which statues to pull down and which streets to rename  which history my children are allowed to see.

'My preference is always to put up new statues instead of tearing down old ones. That's how we truly celebrate our black role models and pioneering women.'

Mr Khan announced his intention to establish the Commission last July following the police killing of George Floyd in the United States.

The death reverberated across the world, and spurred activists in the UK to topple and deface statues of historical figures.

Announcing the panel, Mr Khan said: 'For far too long, too many Londoners have felt unrepresented by the statues, street names and building names all around them, and it's important that we do what we can to ensure our rich and diverse history is celebrated and properly commemorated in our city.

'I'm delighted to bring together this inspiring group of leaders from across London to form the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. Each member brings with them great insight and knowledge that will help to improve the representation of our public landscape.'
BOSTON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- One80 Intermediaries (One80), a national wholesale broker, program manager, third-party administrator (TPA), and insurance aggregator headquartered in Boston, today announced that it has acquired van Wagenen Financial Services, Inc., an industry leader in lender-placed insurance solutions, insurance tracking products, claims services, and other insurance related offerings. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 1930, van Wagenen is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and has approximately 123 employees. The company serves financial institutions of all sizes including local credit unions, regional banks and global lenders. van Wagenen provides lender-placed insurance solutions such as lender-placed coverage for residential and commercial properties, blanket auto and mortgage insurance solutions, and collateral, mortgage impairment, equity and foreclosure protection programs. Additionally, the company specializes in insurance tracking products which include mortgage monitoring, auto lease and loan insurance tracking, and commercial real estate insurance tracking.

"We are thrilled to diversify One80's product suite to include lender-placed insurance solutions and insurance tracking products," said Matthew F. Power, President of One80 Intermediaries. "I anticipate significant growth in these industry verticals and was extremely impressed with van Wagenen's leadership team and full range of custom, data-driven solutions."

van Wagenen also provides collateral protection insurance claims support designed to minimize clients' loan deficiencies and operating costs. Other products offered by van Wagenen include commercial real estate stress testing, flood zone determinations, and real estate tax services.

"For over 90 years, customer satisfaction has been the core of van Wagenen's business philosophy," said Shawn Heinecke, Managing Director at van Wagenen, a division of One80 Intermediaries. "We partner with our clients to increase productivity, reduce losses on uninsured collateral, and increase peace of mind knowing that their portfolio is being protected by the best in the business," he continued. "We are thrilled to join One80 Intermediaries, allowing us to expand the solutions available to the customers we serve."

To learn more about One80 Intermediaries, visit www.one80intermediaries.com.

About One80 Intermediaries

One80 Intermediaries is a privately held, national firm with offices throughout the US and Canada. As a leading insurance wholesaler and program manager, the company offers placement services and binding authority for property & casualty, financial lines, personal lines, life insurance, medical stop loss, alternative risk, warranty insurance, travel/accident and health risks. One80 serves commercial companies, non-profits, public entities, and individuals, and has access to all major insurance markets in the US, Canada and UK. Coverage spans all industry classes. One80 has offices in more than 30 locations in the US and Canada. For more information visit www.one80intermediaries.com.

Media Contact

Lenika Milne

[email protected]

(786) 865-4614

SOURCE One80 Intermediaries
When Don and Lou Ann McLean bought a hexagonal home on the edge of Lake Austin in 2013, they loved the 1.3-acre waterfront lot. But they were hesitant about the house, which was built in the 1960s and had the feel of a rustic lodge.

The structure, propped up on columns above a site that plummeted to the water, had few redeeming qualities after being sliced up into a series of awkward spaces over the years and extended with a clumsy 1980s addition.

It was a little hard to get our heads around it, said Ms. McLean, 63, a former attorney.

But of all the different places we looked at, this one was on a pretty spot on the lake, said Mr. McLean, 71, a retired insurance broker. It had about 185 feet of water frontage, more than any of the other homes they saw. So the lot won us over.
Dave Hall has lived in the same house in Lake Oswego for the last 24 years. He raised his three children there. There are still marks on the wall where he tracked their heights as they grew.

Until last year, Hall didnt worry much about keeping up with his mortgage payments. That changed after the start of the coronavirus pandemic as business dried up at the consumer finance company he runs.

With no income coming in, Hall, 75, sought to temporarily halt his mortgage payments through his lenders forbearance program. He said he feels fortunate that his lender has allowed him to extend his forbearance period several times since last summer.

But Hall isnt certain when he will have to resume his payments or how he will pay back the thousands of dollars in debt hes accumulated. Since Oregons foreclosure moratorium expired at the end of last year, he has grown increasingly worried about the possibility of losing his home.

I think the government needs to help us, Hall said. We really need to have that security right now knowing that were going to have a roof over our heads.

Oregon lawmakers passed a bill extending the states eviction moratorium for renters until the end of June during a December special session, but opted not to take up legislation to extend the states foreclosure moratorium. That left homeowners struggling to make their payments in a state of uncertainty.

Now, House Democrats are trying to reinstate the moratorium. Rep. Paul Holvey, D-Eugene, plans to introduce a bill this week that would give homeowners and small landlords protection from foreclosures until Sept. 1.

Under the bill, the moratorium would be retroactive Dec. 31. Unlike the bill passed by the legislature last June, the new legislation would not protect commercial property owners. Those that own more than five properties, or properties with more than four housing units, would not be covered, either.

Theres definitely hurdles in front of it but that doesnt dissuade me from trying to bring this forward, Holvey said. I think its vitally important that we try to keep people in their homes who have suffered this economic impact from the virus through no fault of their own.

Its unclear how much support the bill has.

Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, claimed that a similar bill was left off the docket for the December special session due to opposition from the banking industry and a push from senators to keep it off the list.

I lived through the policy mistakes of the Great Recession around foreclosures, so Im particularly adamant that we not repeat those, Kotek said. It was not for want of trying on my end to get it included in the December special session. I brought it up at every single meeting.

The Oregon Senate Republican Caucus declined to comment on the legislation before it sees the latest proposal being floated by House Democrats.

In the U.S. Census Bureaus most recent Household Pulse Survey, more than 10% of nearly 1.3 million Oregon homeowners surveyed said they were behind on their mortgage payments, while 11% said they had slight or no confidence that they would be able to pay their mortgage next month.

Most of those homeowners are protected from foreclosures by federal moratoriums. A moratorium on federally insured single family mortgages runs until the end of March, while Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have extended a moratorium on single-family foreclosures until the end of February.

Homeowners with federally backed loans also have the right to request a forbearance to delay their mortgage payments for up to a year. However, Emily Reiman, the CEO of affordable housing agency DevNW, said there remains a lack certainty among homeowners about when and how they will be asked to pay back their outstanding balances and whether their lenders will restructure their loans or ask them to pay back their entire outstanding balance at the end of their forbearance periods.

Additionally, 30% of single-family mortgages, or roughly 14.5 million loans nationwide, are not backed or owned by a federal agency and are not covered by the federal moratorium, according to a report from the National Housing Law Project.

Paul Cosgrove, a lobbyist for the Oregon Bankers Association, said that many lenders have opted on their own to follow the same guidelines set by the federal moratoriums and are trying to work with homeowners to offer forbearances and other options during the pandemic. The association was among several banking groups within the state that opposed extending Oregons foreclosure moratorium during the December special session.

Cosgrove said that extending the moratorium until September could cause serious problems for Oregons housing market by chilling the ability of lenders, especially small, community-based ones, from making new loans due to uncertainty about whether current borrowers will keep up with payments.

He added that foreclosures often take 9 months or more, meaning that lenders may have to go upwards of two years without receiving payments on certain mortgages if the moratorium is reinstated. He said the lengthy foreclosure process gives lenders and borrowers the opportunity to come to a resolution to avoid foreclosure at every step along the way as well.

The bill currently being floated by House Democrats would require any lender that initiated more than 30 foreclosures last year to participate in a foreclosure avoidance meeting with borrowers during any foreclosure process. Under current state law, lenders who initiated fewer than 175 foreclosures during a year are exempt from having to participate in the mediation.

Foreclosure for a financial institution, regardless of what kind it is, is always a last resort, Cosgrove said. Its usually a loss-loss both for the borrower and the financial institution.

However, not all lenders are making an effort to work with homeowners.

One 60-year-old homeowner in Troutdale who lost her job as a human resources director last year due to the pandemic received a letter from her lender on Feb. 3 informing her that she was now in default because of the expiration of Oregons foreclosure moratorium. The letter, which was reviewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive, said that she had to pay off all outstanding charges and late fees by Feb. 6 to avoid foreclosure.

The woman, who requested that her name not be used, has a loan that is not covered by the federal moratoriums. She said her lender claims she owes $75,000 between missed payments and late fees.

Under federal law, lenders cant start foreclosure processes in most cases until a loan has been in default for 120 days. Since homeowners couldnt be in default while the moratorium was in effect, the woman is hoping to seek legal help to try to fight the foreclosure, but she isnt sure what will happen.

Its just turned my life upside down, she said. Im going to lose everything and Ill be homeless. I dont have a lot of resources. My house is everything to me.

Oregon homeowners do have some relief options already. The Oregon Homeownership Stabilization Initiative is providing financial relief to help homeowners affected by COVID-19 catch up with mortgage payments.

But Alison McIntosh, a spokesman for the Oregon Housing Alliance, said homeowners need the protection of a state foreclosure moratorium to have some certainty as they continue to navigate the economic fallout from the pandemic.

Its really important that we see quick action by the legislature, McIntosh said. Every week we wait is another week of stress for homeowners.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg

Nairobi  APA Life has donated 1000 children's reusable face masks to Cheleta Primary School.

The move has seen the company through APA Apollo Foundation donate over 10, 000 masks to some of the most disadvantaged communities in Kenya.

APA Life Chief Executive Officer, Catherine Karimi says one of the best ways to protect others from the corona virus is by wearing a face mask,

"Masks work best when everyone is wearing them to protect those around them. Masks are a key way everyone can help contain the pandemic and we are pleased to donate the masks to the students of Cheleta Primary School. The Children will benefit and help keep them safe," she noted.

The APA Apollo Foundation has so far contributed Sh10 million towards supporting vulnerable people in the wake of Covid -19 pandemic.

In July 2020, the foundation donated over 1000 children's face masks and hand sanitizers to Nairobi Children's Court.

In addition to the donation of Money, food, masks and hand sanitizers, the APA staff members have donated their time to assist distribute the care packages.

In April APA Insurance distributed over 600 essential care packages to the residents of Mukuru Kwa Reuben in Nairobi.

The packages provided enough food for seven to ten days for a family of five.

APA initial donation to support several initiatives including the Covid-19 Fund was at Sh3 million.
Amid the ongoing farmers' protest against the Centre's 3 contentious farm laws, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has rejected the recommendations made by the Montek Singh Ahluwalia-led Committee for agriculture reforms.

Montek Singh Ahluwalia is the chairman of an expert panel of 20 members, which was formed to aid economic recovery in Punjab after the COVID-19 lockdown. Ahluwalia is an Indian economist and civil servant who was the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India, a position which carried the rank of a Cabinet Minister under the UPA. In May 2014, he had tendered his resignation for this post following the impending end of the UPA-II regime at the Centre. Montek Singh was previously the first Director of the Independent Evaluation Office at the International Monetary Fund.

READ | Punjab CM Assures Legal Aid To Farmers Booked By Police; Raises 'missing Farmers' Issue

Rejecting the preliminary recommendations on the farming sector by Montek Singh Committee, Captain Amarinder Singh said, "I had made my and my government's stand clear. Anything that is not in farmers' interest or adds to their burden will not be implemented in Punjab till I am here."

READ | 'This Is What Pakistan Wanted': Captain Amarinder Singh Condemns Singhu Border Violence

Punjab CM: 'I have made my and my govt's stand clear'

The report containing recommendation by the committee was submitted to the Chief Minister with the title of "Transforming Punjab's agriculture". Sources further informed that the Montek Singh Ahluwalia Committee in its report had recommended amendments in APMC (Agricultural produce market committee) act.

READ | Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Denounces Farmer Rally Violence, Issues 'vacate Delhi' Appeal

While stating that Montek Committee is an expert group whose task is to make recommendations, Amarinder Singh said that his government's job is to accept or reject the recommendation made by experts. He said. "I know the ground reality and I know what's good for my farmers. I will not let their interests to be compromised at any cost." In any case. Montek Committee is yet to come out with its final report, the Punjab CM added. That the Punjab CM has had to dismiss the committee's recommendations is emblematic of the politics surrounding the farm laws. The Congress was in support of the same reforms in its 2019 election manifesto but has committed a volte-face now.

READ | In Washington, IMF Backs India's Agriculture Reforms & Lists How Farmers Stand To Benefit

LIMA, Peru and BEIJING, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In November, Promperu launched new superfood and national brand promotion activities in China, culminating December 1st, when Chinese consumers could purchase original Peruvian products on JD.COM.

During the first event, on November 28th, solar eclipse critic Dai Tata, space and food explorer Brian Tan, and well-known chef Eduardo Vargas linked up in the the Gourmet Library to live-stream. The public encountered a display of foods, such as quinoa, avocado, blueberries, white prawns and other superfoods. But also, high-altitude coffee and pisco specialties.

The main featured dish in the live-stream was a new take on the classic paella. Reinvented with quinoa and prawn fried rice to suit the Chinese consumers. Nowadays, quinoa is also recognised as one of the most nutritious foods in the world.

On December 4th, the second live-stream of Peru's national brand promotion took place. Travel expert Shenwei shared his fascinating personal experiences while traveling in Peru. A country rich in culture and food.

On the same day the Peruvian Export and Tourism Promotion Committee cooperated with the Shanghai landmark Oriental Pearl on a ten-day "Discover Peruvian Flavor" activity at the Oriental Pearl's 267-meter revolving restaurant. The restaurant presented Peruvian cuisine made with Peruvian superfood ingredients to the audience.

In addition, 12 screens around the Plaza of the Oriental Pearl Tower and the large LED screen on the top of the old Shanghai No. 8 restaurant have shown multiple images of Peruvian national brands. Moreover, 38 pictures of Peru's export products and tourist destinations was displayed on the 4-meter ring corridor in the Oriental Pearl Tower.

A Peruvian promotional film was also displayed throughout 16 subway lines and 58,000 mobile TV screens of 9,500 buses in Shanghai. The film helped the public, through images, to understand the customs of Peru.

The Peruvian government and the Peruvian Export and Tourism Promotion Committee finally invited the famous Eduardo Vargas to continue live streaming under the theme "Discovering the flavour of Peru" in Yu Carden. Peruvian cuisine can become more approachable for the average consumer.

2021 is the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Peru and China. From the beginning of the year, Promperu will continue featuring stories about Peru and the ancient Inca Empire to Chinese people.

SOURCE Promperu


WASHINGTON  The impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump has presented a number of novel constitutional questions. One of those was mundane: Who should preside over it? Could it even be Vice President Kamala Harris, who campaigned to defeat him?

That duty ultimately fell to Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, who serves as president pro tempore of the Senate. It was Leahy who gaveled the Senate into session Tuesday, opening senators service as jurors in Trumps trial.

But that wasnt necessarily constitutionally dictated. For a time, some wondered if Harris might hold the gavel as president of the Senate.

Although impeachment is provided for by the Constitution, the document is largely silent on procedures. What is spelled out is that the chief justice of the Supreme Court presides over Senate trials of a president.

But though Chief Justice John Roberts sat in the presiding officers chair for Trumps first impeachment trial, in early 2020, he is absent for this one. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said that was Roberts call.

It was up to John Roberts whether he wanted to preside with a president whos no longer sitting, Trump. And he doesnt want to do it, Schumer told MSNBC last month.

Schumer then explained that Leahy was presumed next up.

Traditionally, what has happened is then the next in line is the Senate pro tem, Schumer said. Thats the most senior senator on the majority side and thats Sen. Leahy, who is a very experienced man and a very fair man.

Trumps defense team pointed to Roberts absence as evidence the proceedings were invalid. House impeachment manager Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., tried to deal with that argument during Tuesdays debate on the constitutionality of the trial.

There is only one person who is president of the United States at a time. Right now, Joseph R. Biden Jr. is the 46th president of the United States, Cicilline said. The normal rules of any impeachment of anyone other than the sitting president apply, and under those rules, the president pro tem, Sen. Leahy, can preside.

The role of the president pro tem is to preside over the Senate in the absence of the vice president. In the modern era, that has been the case most of the time  the vice president rarely comes to the Capitol except to break tie votes.

Vice presidents have presided over impeachment trials, according to NPR. Vice President Thomas Jefferson presided over a 1799 trial of a senator and Vice President Aaron Burr oversaw an 1805 trial of a Supreme Court justice. But there have no modern examples, and some scholars have debated whether it is permitted under the spirit of the Constitution.

Its not clear whether Harris was even asked by senators to preside over Trumps trial. A White House aide queried by The Chronicle pointed to the lack of any modern precedent for her to do so.

The optics would be awkward at best, as Harris would be in the position of overseeing the trial of a president she campaigned against over allegations he incited an insurrection to interrupt the certification of her election. One potential consequence of a conviction would be a follow-up Senate vote forbidding Trump from running against the Democratic ticket in the 2024 campaign.

Leahy put out a statement in late January confirming he would hold the job. That arrangement has presented its own questions. As a sitting senator, Leahy is also a juror in the trial.

But the presiding officer is not exactly like a judge in the case. Leahy, for example, does not dictate how the proceedings will unfold. That was set out in an agreement between Schumer and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Senators themselves can vote on disputes. The presiding officers role is mainly ceremonial to keep things moving, much like the turns senators take in the chair during daily Senate business.

A Twitter account affiliated with Trump tweeted criticism of Leahy presiding Tuesday afternoon.

Imagine having a trial where the judge had already voted to convict the defendant? Thats what happens in banana republics, third world dictatorships and now the United States Senate. SAD! Trump War Room tweeted.

But Leahy sent a letter to his colleagues Tuesday pledging to be impartial in his role.

As many of you know, I did not ask or seek to preside over this trial, Leahy wrote, saying he had studied the issue and consulted with the Senate parliamentarian. He said any questions put before him to decide during the trial would be subject to a vote of the full Senate.

As have past presiding officers, I will enforce the Senate rules and precedents governing decorum and do what I can to ensure this trial reflects the best traditions of the Senate, consistent with the oath each senator took to do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, Leahy wrote.

There may be one role for Harris as the trial goes forward. If there are any votes on procedures that deadlock, she would break the tie.

Conviction requires a two-thirds majority of the 100-member body, however, meaning Harris would not vote in any scenario on Trumps guilt.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
Joe Biden's son-in-law Howard Krein is 'playing with fire' for advising health care start ups while his father-in-law is president, experts warn.

Krein is chief medical officer for Startup Health, a health care investment company that has been focused on the coronavirus pandemic and has touted its connection to President Biden.

But ethics experts have raised concerns about his influence in government matters and on the president, particularly as Krein advises clients who are seeking government contracts.

'Howard Krein is playing with fire,' Meredith McGehee, the executive director of Issue One, a nonpartisan ethics watchdog group, told ABC News. 'If he gets too close to that flame -- if he is trying to either cash in on his relationship with the president, or he is trying to influence policy -- the flame is going to get him. And it is not worth it to him or to Biden.'

Krein, who is married to Ashley Biden, advised Biden's campaign in an unofficial role on potential coronavirus response plans. He was criticized for it at the time although the campaign emphasized he had no formal role.

Questions have arisen about the role various members of Biden's family will play in his White House and whether they will profit off of his administration. Much of the focus has been on Hunter Biden, who recently signed a million-dollar deal to write a memoir, but now other family members are feeling the heat.

Howard Krein, President Biden's son-in-law walking behind him on Inauguration Day, is facing questions about his work consulting health care companies

Dr. Howard Krein, seen with wife Ashley and Joe and Jill Biden at church in Wilmington in December, works for a healthcare investment firm that advises companies on getting government contracts

Howard Krein at the Celebrating America program at the Lincoln Memorial on January 20; he is at the far end of the second row, standing in the back of Jill and Ashley Biden with other family members

Ethics experts are asking if Krein should advise companies trying to win government contracts, will he obtain sensitive government information that may help, and what will he tell his father-in-law?

'Dr. Krein presents an ethical dilemma because he's being placed in a position where people want him to deliver access and information that will provide them with a competitive advantage,' Scott Amey, general counsel at the nonpartisan Project on Government Oversight, which investigates possible conflicts of interest and allegations of waste or fraud in federal government, told ABC News.

'At the same time, Biden has to ensure that family and friends' private matters don't merge with official government actions,' Amey said. 'This situation will take a good amount of transparency and oversight to ensure that lines are not crossed and that ethics standards are upheld.'

The Biden administration has vowed to be the most ethical in American history. President Biden has said his family will play no role in his White House - an issue that came up on the campaign trail when questions arose about his son Hunter's investments in the Ukraine and China.

Donald Trump made Hunter's work into a campaign issue, accusing Biden's son repeatedly of profiting off his father's connections.

'No one in our family and extended family is going to be involved in any government undertaking or foreign policy,' President Biden told People magazine in an interview.

White House spokesperson Michael Gwin told ABC that 'Biden has set and maintained the highest ethical standards for himself, his administration, and those around him.'

'Any implication to the contrary is flatly untrue and unsupported by the facts,' Gwin said.

Krein attended Biden's inauguration although he spent much of the day in the background as Ashley stood front and center with her parents. He also attended a virtual prayer service at the White House on January 21 with his wife, his in-laws and the vice president.

Howard Krein seated next to wife Ashley behind Joe and Jill Biden during the virtual Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service hosted by the Washington National Cathedral at the White House on January 21st

Howard Krein, left, with the Biden family at the Celebrating America concert at the Lincoln Memorial on Inauguration Day

Howard Krein next to Doug Emhoff on the night Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were declared winners of the 2020 presidential election

President Biden has faced questions about what role his family will play in his administration and if they will profit off of it - including questions about his son Hunter Biden's forthcoming memoir

Questions about Krein's investment work go back to the days when Biden was vice president.

Krein, 53, is a head and neck surgeon. He's also served on the Biden Cancer Initiative's Board of Directors from 2017 to 2019.

He joined Startup Health - as its Chief Medical Officer - not long after he began dating Biden's daughter Ashley in 2010. The two married in June 2012.

Krein's brother, Steven, founded Startup Health in June 2011. The day before it launched he had an Oval Office meeting with then President Barack Obama and Biden.

Steven Krein told the Philadelphia Business Journal that Biden was 'a big fan' of StartUp Health and had arranged the Oval Office meeting.

StartUp Health is 'committed to achieving health moonshots' and invests in 'healthcare transformers,' according to its website.

The moonshot language is similar to language Biden has used when he has spoken about healthcare, specifically his Cancer Moonshot initiative.

References to Biden are scattered across StartUp Health's website.

And Biden has praised both Krein and his company.

'I love him like he's my own,' Biden said of Krein in 2018.

Twice Biden appeared as a speaker at events hosted by StartUp Health that were intended to entice venture capitalists to invest in the company, ABC News noted, touting his son-in-law's position as an executive at the firm.
Applications that address mental health support individuals in reducing anxiety, enhancing relationships, and learning better communication skills

FALLS CHURCH, VA / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 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 partnered with Hayes Art Therapy to provide new content on GTL tablets.

The Art Therapy app will teach incarcerated individuals how to use different art materials, such as drawings and collages, to help regulate their emotions and behaviors. By doing so, they can reduce their anxiety, enhance their relationships by learning better communication skills, and better handle frustration, disappointment, anger, and other feelings.

"We recognize how important it is to have content that addresses mental health in the correctional environment," said Pelicia Hall, Senior Vice President, Reentry Services. "Because of that, we are very deliberate in establishing meaningful partnerships to help address these issues, such as our partnership with Hayes Art Therapy. We are very excited to get a course of this nature on our digital platform. This is where innovation in technology can truly have a positive impact and help transform the lives of those incarcerated."

Art therapy has shown to be an effective mental health treatment for individuals who have experienced trauma, medical illness, depression, and social difficulties. It can help achieve personal insight as well as healing. There will be no cost to incarcerated individuals who use the Art Therapy app.

"Words are our primary method of communication, but often words cannot express the complexity of our internal and emotional lives," explains Pamela Malkoff Hayes. "The process of art-making provides people with a means to their own subconscious that is unrefined and uncensored. In addition, it is often easier to talk about a drawing than it is to openly express or take responsibility for feelings. The exercises in this program allow participants to externalize all those pent up, and oftentimes frightening, emotions in a safe way."

More than half of all incarcerated individuals at the local, state, and Federal levels suffer from a mental illness though few receive treatment because of barriers such as lack of resources. GTL tablet applications such as Breaking Free from Substance Abuse, the Peace Education Program from The Prem Rawat Foundation, Art Therapy, and others help to expand the resources available to individuals and address this area of need. With an eye to the future, GTL is working to offer even more mental health-focused apps on the tablets.

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/628644/New-Art-Therapy-Tablet-Application-Helps-Incarcerated-Individuals-Regulate-Emotions-and-Behaviors-Improving-Mental-Health
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Killer T cells surround a cancer cell. Credit: NIH

In a recent study, Texas A&M University researchers have described a new process to purify astatine-211, a promising radioactive isotope for targeted cancer treatment. Unlike other elaborate purification methods, their technique can extract astatine-211 from bismuth in minutes rather than hours, which can greatly reduce the time between production and delivery to the patient.

"Astatine-211 is currently under evaluation as a cancer therapeutic in clinical trials. But the problem is that the supply chain for this element is very limited because only a few places worldwide can make it," said Dr. Jonathan Burns, research scientist in the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station's Nuclear Engineering and Science Center. "Texas A&M University is one of a handful of places in the world that can make astatine-211, and we have delineated a rapid astatine-211 separation process that increases the usable quantity of this isotope for research and therapeutic purposes."

The researchers added that this separation method will bring Texas A&M one step closer to being able to provide astatine-211 for distribution through the Department of Energy's Isotope Program's National Isotope Development Center as part of the University Isotope Network.

Details on the chemical reaction to purify astatine-211 in the journal Separation and Purification Technology.

Astatine is one of the least abundant elements on Earth. Furthermore, it is short-lived, undergoing quick radioactive decay by releasing positively charged alpha particles to achieve nuclear stability. Hence, astatine, particularly its isotope astatine-211, is an attractive candidate for a form of radiation therapy for cancer treatment, called targeted alpha-particle therapy.

Unlike other forms of radiation that can penetrate deeper into the body, damaging both healthy and cancerous tissue, alpha particles travel a short distance and lose their energy. Thus, when astatine-211 is positioned in or near cancerous tissue, its emitted alpha particles travel deep enough to destroy the cancer cells but leave healthy tissue minimally harmed. Also, the short half-life of astatine-211, or time taken for half of its atomic nuclei to decay, means that it loses its radioactivity quickly and is less toxic than other radiopharmaceuticals that are long-lived.

Burns noted however that the half-life of astatine is a double-edged sword. Since the element has a very low natural abundance, astatine-211 is artificially made by bombarding bismuth with high-speed alpha particles. Once created, astatine-211 begins to decay immediately, he said, starting the clock on how long it will last.

"Every 7.2 hours, half of the produced astatine-211 decays away and is no longer usable for treatment," said Burns. "So, the time taken from when it's produced to when it can go into the patient becomes very critical. If a purification process takes 4 hours, for example, that means it's around half of astatine's half-life; you've lost a third of the material you've made."

In an attempt to simplify the purification process, Burns and his colleagues sought to use nitric acid for extracting the astatine-211 from bismuth. For their experiments, they filled a chromatography column that is often used for separating mixtures with tiny porous beads infused with organic chemicals called ketones.

Next, the researchers made astatine-211 by bombarding bismuth with alpha particles at the Texas A&M University Cyclotron Institute. They then dissolved the bismuth in nitric acid. When they passed this solution through the chromatography column, the researchers found that only astatine-211 formed a chemical bond with the ketones. Furthermore, since the ketones are hydrophobic, they were repelled away from nitric acid, sticking to the beads. The net effect was that bismuth passed through the column, whereas pure astatine-211 remained collected within the beads.

This procedure, the researchers found, takes roughly 10 to 20 minutes, unlike other astatine purification processes that can take hours.

Although a cyclotron is needed in producing medical-grade astatine-211, Burns said many hospitals are already equipped with a machine for producing other chemicals, like fluorodeoxyglucose F 18 that is needed for positron emission tomography. But even for hospitals that might rely on astatine-211 delivery from an offsite location, the short purification procedure offers more time for transportation.

"Texas A&M University, for example, is in a really nice geographical location, we're right in the middle of five of the top 20 largest cities in America and we're right next to one of the major cancer centers in the United States," said Burns. "We are aiming to produce, purify, and ship astatine in batches large enough for pre-clinical and clinical trials. We are not there yet, but we have made significant progress through this elegant separation technique."

Other contributors to the research include Dr. Evgeny Tereshatov, Geoffrey Avila, Kevin Glennon, Andrew Hannaman, Kylie Lofton, Laura McCann, Mallory McCarthy, Dr. Lauren McIntosh, Steven Schultz, Dr. Gabriel Tabacaru, Amy Vonder Haar and Dr. Sherry Yennello from the Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M.

The research is funded by the United States Department of Energy Isotope Program, managed by the Office of Science, Texas A&M University through the Bright Chair in Nuclear Science, The Texas A&M System National Laboratories Office, and U.S. Department of Energy.

Explore further Modular fluidic system developed to supply radioisotope used in targeted alpha therapy

More information: Jonathan D. Burns et al. Rapid recovery of At-211 by extraction chromatography, Separation and Purification Technology (2020). Jonathan D. Burns et al. Rapid recovery of At-211 by extraction chromatography,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2020.117794
JERSEY CITY, N.J., Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BlockFi, a financial services company dedicated to building a bridge between cryptocurrencies and traditional financial and wealth management products, today announced with CMT Digital that the companies have cleared the first-ever block trade for Ethereum futures on the CME, facilitated by ED&F Man Capital Markets Inc. CMT Digital is a leader in cryptocurrency trading and venture capital, and BlockFi offers the premiere institutional lending desk in the digital asset space. BlockFi also has a growing OTC trading offering, which includes bundled financing to address the needs of institutional investors.

Both companies are excited to participate in the launch of CME's Ethereum futures product. Futures contracts allow institutions to access an asset class in a regulated, centrally cleared format and are used by institutions for both directional exposure and arbitrage strategies. CME also offers Bitcoin futures, which are actively traded with more than $2 billion in open interest, allowing traditional firms to obtain crypto exposure through a regulated product. Futures are also popular for basis arbitrage, which lets market participants provide or receive synthetic financing. BlockFi is one of the leading OTC desks for arbitrageurs trading the spot leg of such transactions, with best-in-class lending rates.

Yevgeniy Feldman, Vice President for Institutional Services at BlockFi, stated, "We are constantly improving our trading infrastructure to address the needs of the institutional community. Block trades are an important part of the traditional futures ecosystem, as they let participants access liquidity quickly and efficiently, with transparent pricing provided by an OTC desk, such as BlockFi."

About BlockFi

BlockFi is a new breed of financial services company. Founded in 2017 by Zac Prince and Flori Marquez, BlockFi is building a bridge between cryptocurrencies and traditional financial and wealth management products to advance the overall digital asset ecosystem for individual and institutional investors. BlockFi's platform manages more than $8 billion in assets and has generated tens of millions in crypto interest for clients. The company, headquartered in New Jersey with offices around the globe, continues to expand its presence in the United States and internationally.

Media Contact for BlockFi:

Ryan Dicovitsky

Dukas Linden Public Relations

[email protected]

Legal Disclaimers:

Nothing contained in this announcement should be construed as a solicitation of an offer to buy or offer, or recommendation, to acquire or dispose of any security, commodity, investment or to engage in any other transaction. The information provided in this announcement is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person or entity in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation. This announcement is not directed to any person in any jurisdiction where the publication or availability of the announcement is prohibited, by reason of that person's nationality, residence or otherwise.

Neither BlockFi nor any of its affiliates or representatives provide legal, tax or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.

Digital currency is not legal tender, is not backed by the government, and crypto interest accounts are not subject to FDIC or SIPC protections. Learn more at BlockFi.com.

BlockFi Lending LLC NMLS ID#1737520 | BlockFi Trading LLC NMLS ID#1873137

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SOURCE BlockFi
Big Y has announced that it has raised over $90,000 for breast cancer support groups and medical providers.

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Will Facebook, Twitter be banned in India? What are the new rules and here is what the companies are saying

Twitter says it is seeking dialogue with minister

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 09: Twitter said that it has reached out to the electronics and information technology minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad for a formal dialogue.

Twitter said that it had shared an update with the government after it was issued a notice for not complying with an order to restrict access to some accounts.

It may be recalled that last week the company had restored access to 257 profiles, it had temporarily blocked following an order from the government. The government then sent a notice saying that Twitter was not in a position to judge the order and that it was an intermediary liable to follow directions as per the law, which could also include penal provisions.

Govt tells Twitter to remove 1,178 Pakistan-Khalsitani accounts

"Safety of our employees is a top priority for us at Twitter. We continue to be engaged with the government of India from a position of respect and have reached out to the honourable minister for a formal dialogue. An acknowledgement to the receipt of the non-compliance notice has also been formally communicated," a spokesperson for Twitter said.

We strongly believe that the open and free exchange of information has a positive global impact and that the Tweets must continue to flow, the spokesperson also said. "We review every report we receive from the government as expeditiously as possible, and take appropriate action regarding such reports while making sure we hold firm to our fundamental values and commitment to protecting the public conversation," the spokesperson also added.

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

The government however says that it is yet to hear from Twitter. An official said that there has been no communication so far. We are giving them time and if they fail to act, then we will have to consider other options, the official also said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 8:09 [IST]

analysis

As the world works towards the goal of gender equality, it's widely recognised that reaching it requires working with boys and men. Getting men involved in gender equality programmes - as partners, fathers and community members - is the way to achieve and sustain progress on this issue. And it's important to base these programmes on specific, local "ways of being a man". These cultural understandings of gender norms provide clues as to how behaviour can be changed for everyone's benefit.

In Ghana, gender studies have shown that one of the main aspects of being a man is seen as the ability to have a biological child and provide for members of one's household. Traditionally, men are expected to provide, lead and protect their families while women are expected to do housework and care for children. Men tend to exercise control and domination over their partners and children, and this sometimes culminates in domestic violence.

Although women are traditionally expected to perform housework, studies have shown that they are increasingly participating in work outside the home. Over two decades ago, research began to indicate that women who worked outside the home were contributing to their family income in exchange for the performance by men of household chores such as cooking, cleaning and washing of clothes. More recent studies have also indicated that young, educated men in the urban areas are involved in carrying out domestic chores.

As the number of women who work outside the home increases, it appears that the traditional notions of gender practice in the household will no longer be feasible. Studying the current expectations of fathers in Ghana provides an opportunity to consider fathers' potential appropriation of new norms and a chance to look at tensions arising between new fathering norms and dominant ideals of masculinity in non-Western contexts.

My own study is a contribution to the understanding of changing gender norms and practices in the household. I investigated current ways of being a man among young fathers in urban and rural areas. I spent 10 months conducting interviews, discussions and observations with fathers and mothers, community leaders and health workers in Accra and the Afram Plains.

I found that although being an involved father could spark tensions in the community for men, emergent masculinities are nonthreatening and do not make a notion of adult masculinity based on having biological children and the ability to provide for them disappear.

Ways of being a man

My study indicated three important ways of being a man among young fathers in Accra and the Afram Plains. First, marriage was a significant marker of adulthood for boys. Second, men are expected to provide for their partners in relationships. And thirdly, men are expected to have their own biological children. These expectations are similar to the traditional Ghanaian gender norms and practices that have been emphasised in much of the social science research.

But in addition to these cultural expectations, the men in my study expressed the view that it is important to lead the family in equal partnerships.

One father from the rural sample summarised this as follows:

In the olden days, they considered bride price a form of transaction so that men would treat the women with disrespect. Now, things have changed. We are all equal. We live in peace and respect both parties in the family.

Most men in both rural and urban sample also explained that treating your partner with respect and as an equal partner involved having all your children with her alone and not cheating on her.

The study also found that in both Accra and the Afram Plains, men were expected to participate in domestic chores like cooking, cleaning, fetching water and washing clothes. This was an unexpected finding, especially in the Afram Plains, because traditional gender practices have been associated more with rural areas than urban areas.

Most men in the Accra sample talked about spending time with their partners and children and their involvement in maternity and child welfare services. Although men in the village neither attended maternity care services nor talked about spending time with their partners and children, a few men were observed carrying their babies and taking them to the community healthcare facility.

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Men might once have been mocked for doing "women's work" like housework and childcare. But the study participants emphasised that the way they treated their partners at home and the kind of work they did for their families was a personal choice.

Emergent masculinities among Ghanaian fathers

The men in my study spoke of treating their partners as equal and sharing domestic responsibilities. These shifts in norms and practices in the household signal change in family life. As masculine ideals expand to include the flexibility to perform tasks that have been culturally reserved for women, traditional forms of family life that uphold the rule of the husband and father could be weakened.

These Ghanaian men show that manhood does not have to be toxic, violent or discriminatory. What fathers do for their partners and children opens new opportunities and ways of engaging boys and men to promote gender justice.

Gloria Abena Ampim, Research Fellow, University of Bergen
Ahead of privatisation of Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), the oil marketing major plans to complete its stake sale in Numaligarh Refinery (NRL) to Oil India (OIL) and the government of Assam by the end of March, director (Finance) N Vijayagopal told on Tuesday. According to the plan, "The consortium of OIL and Engineers India Ltd will acquire 49% and the rest 13.65% will be sold to the government of Assam," Vijayagopal said adding the company board at its meeting on Monday approved the share purchase agreement.

"NRL stake sale is happening at a rapid pace," he mentioned. "Valuation is being done by valuers and if things go as planned, the transaction will be completed by 31 March," he further added.

The completion of the transaction is subject to the deal getting requisite government approvals, he noted.

The sale of NRL is considered to be the first step towards disinvestment of BPCL. In the nation's biggest privatisation till date, the central government will sell its entire 52.98% stake in BPCL. The government earlier indicated that it expects to complete BPCL privatisation by the first half of the fiscal beginning April (2021-22). The sale is key to achieving the 1.75 lakh crore disinvestment target set for 2021-22. Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Group and private equity players like Apollo Global, and I Squared Capital earlier expressed their interests in BPCL.

BPCL will give the buyer ownership of around 15.33% of India's oil refining capacity and 22% of the fuel marketing share.

Numaligarh Refinery is looking to expand its refining capacity from 3 million tonnes per annum to 9 million tonnes a year at an investment of 22,594 crore. The project is expected to be completed by 2024.

BPCL on Tuesday reported 120% increase in net profit to 2,777.6 crore for the quarter ended in December. The company posted 1,260.6 crore net profit in the same period a year back. "Third quarter (of 2020-21 fiscal) has been the strongest in terms of profit before tax and profit after tax in this fiscal year. We are back to pre-COVID levels of sales," BPCL Director (Finance) N Vijayagopal said.

BPCL on Tuesday said that it would buy out Oman Oil Company's shares in Bina refinery project in the next 10 days. BPCL holds a 63.68% stake in Bharat Oman Refineries Ltd (BORL), which built and operates a 7.8 million tonne oil refinery at Bina in Madhya Pradesh.

"Discussions (to acquire 36.62% stake of OQ S.A.O.C) have concluded. We can come out with an announcement of the acquisition of the stake in next 10 days or so," BPCL director said. OQ S.A.O.C. was formerly known as Oman Oil Company. "The deal details such as acquisition price will form part of the announcement likely in the next 10 days," he added.





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A woman has revealed how she fell in love with a man, who is 20 years her senior, after caring for his terminally ill late wife.

Naomi Watson, 29, from London, was hired by Robert Harris, 49, back in 2012 to look after his ill wife Lisa and their then nine-year-old daughter Molly.

Naomi would take Molly to school every day, keep the house clean and tidy, and look after Lisa, who suffered from motor neurone disease, around the clock.

But Lisa, Robert's partner of more than 25 years, tragically passed away aged 41 in 2014, leaving the family completely devastated.

Months later, Naomi unexpectedly fell in love with Robert despite their 20-year age gap and was branded a 'gold digger' by some of Robert's friends.

The couple have been together for six years and are now engaged, living in Calpe, Spain, with Robert's daughter Molly, who is now 19 years old.

Naomi Watson, 29, from London, is engaged to Robert Harris, 49, (both pictured) but was cruelly branded a 'gold digger' by some friends due to their 20-year age gap

Naomi, who now works as a secretary, explained: 'Lisa was an amazing person who will never be forgotten.

'Admittedly, I found love in the most unusual way.

'But it goes to show, after the most painful of losses, it's still possible to find happiness.'

Naomi said that her feelings for Robert, who is originally from Birmingham, 'came out of nowhere' and that they had never thought of each other in a romantic way before.

In 2012, Naomi was hired by Robert as a nanny to Molly, now 19, and a carer to his wife Lisa (pictured with Robert), who suffered from motor neurone disease

But Lisa, Robert's 'childhood sweetheart' and partner of more than 25 years, tragically passed away aged 41 in 2014 (Lisa is pictured with her daughter Molly)

They began dating after Robert cooked Naomi a meal when his daughter was away for a school trip and they surprisingly 'both went in for a kiss'.

Naomi said: 'One day I realised I had feelings for him. It came out of nowhere.

'Not only had Rob just lost his wife, but he was also 20 years older than me.

'I'd clearly suppressed my feelings for him. Weeks later, Molly went away for a school trip and Robert cooked me dinner.

'I couldn't believe it but we both went in for a kiss. We'd never thought of each other in a romantic way before then.'

But they kept their relationship a secret from Molly for two months because they were worried about her reaction to their romance.

Months after Lisa's death, Robert and Naomi (above) unexpectedly fell in love and kept their romance a secret from Molly for two months before revealing their romance

Speaking about when they finally told Molly, Naomi explained: 'Rob told Molly, "Naomi isn't your nanny any more. She's my girlfriend".

'Molly was over the moon. I was so relieved. The next week, I moved into their home.

'After that it became weird that Rob was paying me, so I quit as their nanny and started my own juice business.'

But not everyone was as accepting of their budding romance as Molly, with the couple receiving a backlash from Robert and Lisa's friends.

Naomi said that some people branded her a 'gold digger' and explained that Robert even lost a few friends because of their romance.

She added that her parents were also wary of her relationship due to their 20-year age gap, but said they became more supportive after meeting Robert.

Naomi said that Molly (pictured centre with Robert and Naomi) was 'over the moon' about their romance, adding that she was 'so relieved' that Molly did not react badly to it

She explained: 'Some of Rob and Lisa's friends thought I'd come along too soon after Lisa died.

'Some even called me a gold-digger. I joked around with Rob and said how he had no gold to dig.

WHAT IS MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE? Motor neurone disease is a rare condition that mainly affects people in their 60s and 70s, but it can affect adults of all ages. It's caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurones. These cells gradually stop working over time. It's not known why this happens. Having a close relative with motor neurone disease, or a related condition called frontotemporal dementia, can sometimes mean you're more likely to get it. But it doesn't run in families in most cases. Early symptoms can include weakness in your ankle or leg, like finding it hard to walk upstairs; slurred speech, finding it hard to swallow, a weak grip, and gradual weight loss If you have these sympthoms, you should see a GP. They will consider other possible conditions and can refer you to a specialist called a neurologist if necessary. If a close relative has motor neurone disease or frontotemporal dementia and you're worried you may be at risk of it  they may refer you to a genetic counsellor to talk about your risk and any tests you can have Source: NHS UK Advertisement

'Robert lost a few friends due to it too.

'My parents were wary of our age gap. But when they met Rob, they could see how happy we made each other.'

Naomi admitted that they are sometimes mistaken for father and daughter due to the large age gap.

The former nanny said Robert used to be embarrassed by the comments, but added that they now laugh off any mistakes.

Naomi continued: 'There have been many times over the years where waiters think I'm Robert's daughter.

'Or we've been partying and guys think he's my dad. At first it used to embarrass Robert, but now we laugh it off.'

Speaking about when she first met Robert and his late wife Lisa, Naomi said she relocated to Spain in 2006 and posted an advert on Facebook looking for nanny work in 2012.

Robert, a shade sail business owner, messaged her and interviewed her at a cafe, explaining that he and Lisa were 'childhood sweethearts'.

Naomi said: 'Robert told me his family needed a nanny.

'I said how I had four years' experience. The next day, he interviewed me at a cafe.

'He said he lived with his wife, Lisa, and their daughter, Molly.

'He told me they had been together for 24 years and were childhood sweethearts.

'I thought it was adorable. But I then discovered Lisa had a terminal illness, Motor neurone disease.

'It meant her nervous system had nearly shut down. Robert needed someone to care for her and his daughter while he worked.

'I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but it was clear this family needed me.'

The next day, Robert offered Naomi the job and she quickly became close with the family as she took Molly to school and helped to keep the house clean and tidy.

She explained: 'Weeks later, I walked into the house for my first day and Lisa hugged me.

But not everyone was as accepting of their budding romance as Molly (pictured centre with Robert and Naomi), with Robert losing some friends over his relationship with Naomi

'She thanked me for helping them out. She was so lovely. Soon after, I met their daughter, Molly, and she was sweet too.

'After that, I took Molly to school and kept the house spotless. In the evenings, I helped Molly with her homework and we played together.

'But as months passed, Lisa's health began to deteriorate and eventually, she was bedridden.'

Naomi then began to care for Lisa around the clock - bathing, clothing and feeding her - and the two women quickly became 'close friends'.

Naomi said: 'Soon, they began inviting me to eat with them at the table.

'Lisa and I also grew closer. She always cried about how hard everything was and it broke my heart.We became close friends.'

In 2014, Lisa's condition worsened and she was unable to speak and she was eventually taken into a hospice, where she passed away shortly after.

The couple (above) have now been together for six years, but Naomi admitted that they are sometimes mistaken for father and daughter due to the 20-year age gap

Naomi insisted that she never wants to replace Lisa (pictured with Robert) and said she will always remain a part of their family

Naomi said she quickly became a 'shoulder to cry on' for Robert and Molly after the tragedy, and grew closer with Robert over the next few months.

She explained: 'Robert came home, crying. He broke the news to Molly, who was devastated too.

'It was horrible. After that, I knew that Rob and Molly needed me. I began staying later to eat with them and became a shoulder to cry on.'

Now, Robert and Naomi have been together for six years and are engaged, with Naomi admitting that she 'cannot wait to marry him'.

But she insisted that she never wants to replace Lisa and said she will always remain a part of their family.

Naomi said: 'I can't wait to marry him [Robert]. I'll never replace Lisa and I don't want to.

'She'll live on as a part of our family forever.'
Staff captain, hotel director, chief engineer, staff chief engineer and environmental officer announced

SEATTLE, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Holland America Line has a history that spans nearly 150 years, and with that comes a depth of talented crew who will be aboard Rotterdam when the ship is delivered in July. The cruise line has appointed Staff Captain Kevin Beirnaert, Hotel Director Wessel van Oorschot, Chief Engineer Peter Massolt, Staff Chief Engineer Wim Akkerman and Environmental Officer Michael Brown to lead Rotterdam's shipboard teams.

Holland America Line previously announced that Captain Werner Timmers will be at the helm of Rotterdam. The 99,500-ton ship currently is under construction at Fincantieri's shipyard at Marghera, Italy.

"Holland America Line has a solid foundation of exceptional leaders who are seasoned at delivering new ships, and these team members bring years of experience, knowledge and dedication to our brand," said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. "As we move toward delivery this summer, this team will be tasked with getting the ship ready to welcome guests and ensuring we have a happy complement of crew. We know they're up to the task, and we congratulate them on their appointments."

Meet Staff Captain Kevin Beirnaert

Kevin Beirnaert joined Holland America Line in 2006 and worked on Rotterdam, Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam, where he recently filled in as captain.

Hailing from Gent, Belgium, Beirnaert studied at the Hogere Zeevaart school in Antwerp, Belgium, where he graduated with a degree in masters nautical science. As a cadet and junior officer, he started his career with freight carrier Ecuadorian Line and on dredging ships in Dubai, U.A.E., on the Palm Jumeirah project before joining Holland America Line. He resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Fun Fact: If he weren't at sea, he'd be a police officer in Belgium.

Meet Hotel Director Wessel van Oorschot

Since joining Holland America Line in 2005, Wessel van Oorschot has worked his way through the ranks of the food and beverage department from assistant maitre d' to hotel director. Van Oorschot studied hospitality management at Hotelschool Ter Duinen in Belgium and Baronie College in the Netherlands and started his career at Holland America Line as an intern. Rotterdam will be the fourth new ship he has launched with the company, having previously introduced Nieuw Statendam, Koningsdam and Nieuw Amsterdam.

When not on board, van Oorschot lives in the Philippines with his wife, who is a shipboard doctor with Holland America Line.

Fun Fact: His song request at Billboard Onboard would be "Piano Man" by Billy Joel.

Meet Chief Engineer Peter Massolt

A Dutch native from Drachten in the province of Friesland, Peter Massolt has worked a total of 19 years with Holland America Line, from 1980-87 and then again from 2008 onwards. During his time with the company, he has worked on ss and ms Rotterdam, Ryndam, Prinsendam, Statendam, Veendam, Volendam, Noordam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Nieuw Statendam.

Massolt holds a bachelor's degree in marine engineering from the Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz. In his free time, he enjoys restoring Land Rovers, camping and aerobatic flying. He speaks Dutch, English, German and Frisian.

Fun Fact: If he had to swap roles with someone on board, he'd be a Cruise & Travel Director because he is an advocate for learning culture and enjoys the port talks.

Meet Staff Chief Engineer Wim Akkerman

Wim Akkerman joined Holland America Line in 1994 following an apprenticeship on cargo reefer vessels. Raised in the small village of Nederhorst den Berg, the Netherlands, Akkerman went to the Zeevaart maritime college and became a maritime officer, but he chose a technical route.

Fun Fact: His favorite Holland America Line specialty restaurant is Canaletto.

Meet Environmental Officer Michael Brown

A native of Panama where he still resides, Michael Brown joined Holland America Line in 2016. Previously he was a marine engineer in the cruise industry.

Brown graduated from the Universidad Maritima Internacional de Panama with a bachelor's degree in nautical marine engineering. When not working, he enjoys being with friends and watching movies.

Fun Fact: His ideal shore excursions involve nature, hiking and kayaking.

About Rotterdam

The third in the Pinnacle Class series, Rotterdam will carry 2,668 guests and feature highly successful amenities and innovations introduced with her sister ships, including the 270-degree surround screen World Stage, Rudi's Sel de Mer and Grand Dutch Cafe. Delivering the best of everything, Rotterdam celebrates live music with an exclusive collection of world-class performances each night.

Throughout the ship, Rotterdam will showcase Holland America Line hallmarks that drive one of the highest guest repeat rates in the industry: exquisite cuisine guided by eight of the world's leading chefs; gracious, award-winning service; and superbly appointed staterooms and suites, including family and single accommodations.

Rotterdam is the seventh ship to bear the name for Holland America Line and the 17th ship constructed for the brand by Italian shipyard Fincantieri.

Following Rotterdam's Premiere Voyage departing Aug. 1, 2021, the ship will spend its inaugural summer season in northern Europe.

For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.

Editor's note: A photo is available at https://www.cruiseimagelibrary.com/c/jtxddpo4.

Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland America Blog. Access all social media outlets via the home page at hollandamerica.com.

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)

Holland America Line has been exploring the world since 1873 and was the first cruise line to offer adventures to Alaska and the Yukon more than 70 years ago. Its fleet of premium ships visits more than 470 ports in 98 countries around the world, offering an ideal mid-sized ship experience. A third Pinnacle-class ship, Rotterdam, is under construction and will join the fleet in July 2021.

The leader in premium cruising, Holland America Line's ships feature innovative initiatives and a diverse range of enriching experiences focused on destination exploration and personalized travel. The best live music at sea fills each evening at Music Walk, and dining venues feature exclusive selections from Holland America Line's esteemed Culinary Council, comprising world-famous chefs.

In light of COVID-19, Holland America Line is currently enhancing health and safety protocols and how they may impact future cruises. Our actual offerings may vary from what is displayed or described in marketing materials. Review our current Cruise Updates, Health & Safety Protocols and CDC Travel Advisories .

SOURCE Holland America Line

Related Links

http://www.hollandamerica.com


Brattleboro, VT (05301)

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Cloudy with periods of rain. High 48F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

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Northern Ireland leaders Michelle ONeill and Arlene Foster will not be travelling to the US for St Patricks Day as Sinn Fein urged the Taoiseach to do the same.

Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty said Ms ONeill will not be travelling to Washington for the annual visit, where leaders from Northern Ireland normally join the Taoiseach in meeting the US President.

Michelle ONeill has been very clear and as co-leader of the Assembly in the North, along with Arlene Foster, that she will not be travelling to the White House this St Patricks Day, he said.

Read More

Mr Doherty reiterated calls that Mr Martin should not travel, saying travelling to Washington would not be a good judgment of the public mood.

I think its important in terms of the context and where were at in this point in time, not where we were in April or May or June or July 2020, but where were at now.

Were at the third phase of this virus, we have seen huge amount of sacrifice and its been a prolonged phase and a prolonged wave. I think the message is wrong at this point in time, he added.

Meanwhile he said Ms ONeill was completely entitled to travel to Dublin for the vote to elect a new Taoiseach last summer, despite the party now calling for Micheal Martin to not go on the US visit.

The Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland faced backlash when she travelled from Belfast to Dublin when Mr Martin became Taoiseach.

However Mr Doherty told Independent.ie that she was completely entitled to travel as there was a parliamentary party meeting taking place and denied that it is hypocritical for the party to now be calling on Mr Martin to not travel to the US for St Patricks Day.

Michelle O Neill was completely entitled to travel, she travelled for a parliamentary party meeting of the party, shes the vice president of the party and that is within the guidelines, he said.

At that time, some meetings were able to be hosted in the large room that the Convention Centre offered us.
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Already damaged relations between Ankara and Washington have soured further over the Turkish government's handling of widespread protests against Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogans pick to head one of the countrys top universities.

After reading her recent Washington Post op-ed, I called my colleague and good friend Asli Aydintasbas to tell her how relieved I was to discover that the Erdogan team has a sense of humor. In her Jan. 28 article, Aydintasbas illustrated how Erdogans government is preparing for the era of President Joe Biden, as explained by several of Erdogans top aides and former advisers.

We are the only country pushing back against Russian expansionism in Syria and elsewhere, one Erdogan adviser told Aydintasbas. The president has developed a rapport with [President Vladimir] Putin and is the only Western leader who can have a frank conversation with him. The Biden administration should see this as an asset.

It's funny to imagine this adviser might think that this explanation will convince the American administration about Ankaras real motivations to improve relations with Moscow. Ankaras chances to impress Washington through such comments seem fairly low and the recent conversation between US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and the Turkish presidents spokesperson offers further evidence of the massive disconnect.

The Turkish side hailed an almost hour-long phone conversation between Sullivan and Ibrahim Kalin on Feb. 2, the first official contact between Turkey and the United States after Biden took the office. The Turkish media trumpeted the call as a prelude to a reset in bilateral ties.

The differing readouts of the call betrayed Ankaras superficial optimism. For instance, in the Turkish version, there was no reference to the democratic institutions and the rule of law that Sullivan underscored during the call, according to the American version. Sullivan also expressed concern about Turkeys acquisition of the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system, saying that the purchase undermines [NATOs] cohesion and effectiveness.

Despite substantial enthusiasm in some quarters, until the Turkish side accepts that its troubled democracy is a major stumbling block in bilateral relations under the Biden administration, Turkish hopes for a reset will remain futile.

Another op-ed penned by Sinan Ulgen, chairman of the Istanbul-based EDAM think tank and a non-resident scholar at Carnegie Europe, illustrated this naive enthusiasm. In his Jan. 31 Financial Times article, Ulgen advised the Biden team on restoring the alliance between Ankara and Washington by subtly blaming the American side for the differences.

The only way for the Biden administration to reach a proper reset with Turkey is a grand bargain with [Erdogan], he wrote.

Washington imperiled its relations with the Turkish state through its decision to fight against [the Islamic State] in partnership with the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Party. A sine qua non for a reset is, therefore, a reappraisal of US support for the Syrian PYD.

While concurring that the erosion of democracy and rule of law have further strained Turkeys ties with the West, Ulgen didnt elaborate on how Turkeys poor record on democracy and human rights have deteriorated Ankaras ties with its Western allies.

Erdogans appointment of Melih Bulu, a longtime member of his ruling party, to head the school sparked protests by students and faculty members in early January. Ongoing demonstrations at the school and solidarity rallies in other major cities have seen more than 300 students and other demonstrators detained by the police. Some students said that they were mistreated and even tortured at the hands of the police during the brutal crackdowns.

Istanbul's Bogazici University has been one of the rare institutions that remained unconquered by Erdogan's drive to control higher education in Turkey. The rallies show increasing resentment against Erdogan's authoritarian rule and trampling on the rule of law amid the country's pandemic-triggered financial strain.

Erdogan has employed his usual defiant tone on the matter, attacking the demonstrators with heated remarks.

"We do not consider those [demonstrators] representatives of the youth in our country that have national and moral values," he said Feb. 5 in a televised speech. "This country will never relive the Gezi events. We will never let it happen again," he added, referring to the 2013 nationwide Gezi protests.

In one of his most virulent statements against the countrys LGBTI community, he said, "This country has national and moral values; there is no such thing as LGBT in our values." His remarks came after a banner at Bogazici University depicting a Muslim holy site, the Kaaba, with a rainbow flag.

Erdogans ultranationalist ally and de facto coalition partner Devlet Bahceli went further. In his well-known venomous style, he called the Bogazici University students poisonous snakes" as well as "vandals and barbarians that should be stopped by whatever means necessary. Twitter has removed his post for hate speech violations.

They are not the children of this country. Turkey has no children like them, he tweeted Feb. 3, prompting the social media platform to remove the post.

Reacting to the incidents, the US State Department expressed concerns about demonstrations and condemned anti-LGBT rhetoric surrounding the events, prompting a strongly worded response from the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

We recommend those  who intend to lecture Turkey on democracy and law to look at the mirror. No one should exceed their limits and interfere in Turkeys internal affairs, the Foreign Ministry said in a Feb. 5 statement.

Turkeys hard-line Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has escalated the controversy and accused the United States of involvement in the 2016 coup attempt.

The United States' involvement in the coup attempt was blatant and clear, Soylu told the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet. The State Department quickly rejected the claim, saying such accusations were inconsistent with Turkeys status as a NATO ally and strategic US partner.

The quickly worsening bilateral ties between Ankara and Washington only days after Biden took the office can be seen as a wake-up call for those who are optimistic about a reset between the two NATO allies. Turkey's relations with the Barack Obama administration soured following the brutal suppression of 2013 Gezi protests. There is no reason to think it would be radically different under Biden, who served as Obama's vice president, especially with Erdogan in a much more authoritarian position than in 2013.
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In this undated 2020 aerial photo provided by the Arizona State University's Global Airborne Observatory, runoff from the island of Molokai in Hawaii is shown flowing into the ocean. Axis deer, a species native to India that were presented as a gift from Hong Kong to the king of Hawaii in 1868, have fed hunters and their families on the rural island of Molokai for generations. But for the community of about 7,500 people where self-sustainability is a way of life, the invasive deer are a cherished food source but also a danger to the island ecosystem. Now, the proliferation of the non-native deer and drought on Molokai have brought the problem into focus. Hundreds of deer have died from starvation, stretching thin the island's limited resources. When deer devour fruits, vegetables and other plants, it leads to to erosion and runoff into the ocean that alters the island's coral reef another important food source. (Global Airborne Observatory, Arizona State University via AP)

Axis deer, a species native to India presented as a gift from Hong Kong to the king of Hawaii in 1868, have fed hunters and their families on the rural island of Molokai for generations. But for the community of about 7,500, where self-sustainability is a way of life, the invasive deer are both a cherished food source and a danger to their island ecosystem.

Now, drought on Molokai has brought the problem into focus. Hundreds of deer have died from starvation, stretching thin the island's limited resources.

The drought is among the island's worst in recent memory and has been going on for nearly two years.

"During the last wet season, which in Hawaii runs from October through April, it never pulled out of drought," said U.S. National Weather Service hydrologist Kevin Kodama. "It's been pretty bad, especially for pasture conditions and just the general vegetation. ... It's had an impact on the wildlife."

In India, axis deer are kept in check by tigers and leopards. But with no natural predators on Molokai, the population has exploded, and there now are an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 deer on the 260 square mile (673 square kilometer) island.

Residents have a hard time controlling the population by hunting alone. And the animals, in desperate search for food and water, are destroying crops and forest watershed people rely on for food and drinking water.

When the deer devour fruits, vegetables and other plants, it leads to erosion and runoff into the ocean that alters the island's coral reefanother important food source.

In this undated 2020 aerial photo provided by the Arizona State University's Global Airborne Observatory, runoff from the island of Molokai in Hawaii is shown flowing into the ocean. Axis deer, a species native to India that were presented as a gift from Hong Kong to the king of Hawaii in 1868, have fed hunters and their families on the rural island of Molokai for generations. But for the community of about 7,500 people where self-sustainability is a way of life, the invasive deer are a cherished food source but also a danger to the island ecosystem. Now, the proliferation of the non-native deer and drought on Molokai have brought the problem into focus. Hundreds of deer have died from starvation, stretching thin the island's limited resources. When deer devour fruits, vegetables and other plants, it leads to to erosion and runoff into the ocean that alters the island's coral reef another important food source. (Global Airborne Observatory, Arizona State University via AP)

"Molokai has the longest continuous fringing reef in the United States, and it's one of our community's greatest assets," said Russell Kallstrom, information coordinator for the Nature Conservancy's Molokai program. "When ungulates overpopulate an area, that erosion impacts not just the reef, but people's lifestyle and the subsistence lifestyle that's there."

The reefs around Molokai are getting more runoff and sedimentation than expected and at least part of it is caused by erosion from the deer, said Greg Asner, a Hawaii-based marine ecologist.

Sedimentation that settles on the coral can kill it, said Asner, who heads Arizona State University's Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science. "Fish, invertebrates like crabs, lobsters, you name itthey all rely on that same habitat."

The deer problem has persisted for years but is getting worse, according to Glenn Teves, a Molokai native and the University of Hawaii's county extension agent for the island.

In this undated 2020 aerial photo provided by the Arizona State University's Global Airborne Observatory, runoff from the island of Molokai in Hawaii is shown flowing into the ocean. Axis deer, a species native to India that were presented as a gift from Hong Kong to the king of Hawaii in 1868, have fed hunters and their families on the rural island of Molokai for generations. But for the community of about 7,500 people where self-sustainability is a way of life, the invasive deer are a cherished food source but also a danger to the island ecosystem. Now, the proliferation of the non-native deer and drought on Molokai have brought the problem into focus. Hundreds of deer have died from starvation, stretching thin the island's limited resources. When deer devour fruits, vegetables and other plants, it leads to to erosion and runoff into the ocean that alters the island's coral reef another important food source. (Global Airborne Observatory, Arizona State University via AP)

"They started moving into the farm area and are just raising hell," said Teves, who owns a small farm on Molokai.

"It's a perfect storm," he said. "What farmers did was they started fencing off their areas, but not all farmers could afford the fencing. So you may be protecting yourself, but you're just pushing the deer into the another farmer's place."

Options for controlling the population include more hunting, aerial sniping and fencing that protects certain areas. Sterilizing deer is difficult and expensive, and no one wants to poison or eradicate them.

If healthy deer are killed, slaughter houses could process the meat into hamburger for food banks and others in need, Teves said. Even composting the carcasses of unhealthy animals has been considered, he said, "so we can use it to bring the land back."

Resident Walter Ritte walks past dead axis deer in a large pit on Jan. 15, 2021 on the island of Molokai in Hawaii. Axis deer, a species native to India that were presented as a gift from Hong Kong to the king of Hawaii in 1868, have fed hunters and their families on the rural island of Molokai for generations. But for the community of about 7,500 people where self-sustainability is a way of life, the invasive deer are a cherished food source but also a danger to the island ecosystem. Now, the proliferation of the non-native deer and drought on Molokai have brought the problem into focus. Hundreds of deer have died from starvation, stretching thin the island's limited resources. (Cory Lum/Honolulu Civil Beat via AP)

Hawaii Gov. David Ige recently issued an emergency disaster declaration for Maui County, which includes Molokai, so the state could "take immediate measures to reduce and control the axis deer populations and to remove and dispose of the carcasses quickly."

Maui County's mayor, Mayor Michael Victorino, said the disaster proclamation also can help unlock state and federal funding to mitigate some financial losses. "Our agricultural sector has sustained substantial pasture and crop damage from axis deer in search of food," he said.

Maui county recently set aside $1 million to address the problem, splitting it among Molokai and two other islandsMaui and Lanaiwhere axis deer were brought in the 1950s and now are damaging farms, ranches and forests.

A bill last year to allocate another $1 million died in the state Legislature after pushback from Molokai residents who feared the deer would be wiped out. State lawmakers are again trying pass a measure for funding to help manage the deer.

This image provided by Honolulu Civil Beat shows a dead axis deer in a field on the island of Molokai in Hawaii on Jan. 15, 2021. Axis deer, a species native to India that were presented as a gift from Hong Kong to the king of Hawaii in 1868, have fed hunters and their families on the rural island of Molokai for generations. But for the community of about 7,500 people where self-sustainability is a way of life, the invasive deer are a cherished food source but also a danger to the island ecosystem. Now, the proliferation of the non-native deer and drought on Molokai have brought the problem into focus. Hundreds of deer have died from starvation, stretching thin the island's limited resources. (Cory Lum/Honolulu Civil Beat via AP)

"They trample sea bird burrows, and their grazing and trampling causes soil erosion, causing siltation of reefs that support fish people eat as well, and ultimately, watersheds and fresh water production," said Jeff Bagshaw, an outreach specialist for the state's Division of Forestry and Wildlife in Maui County.

Hunting can help control the deer, but Bagshaw says hunters tend to shoot bucks, which increases "harem-size" and doesn't do much to decrease the overall population.

In 2019, fewer than 400 residents on Molokai were issued hunting permits, he said. Statewide the number was about 10,600. Nearly 1,500 permits were issued to non-residents, many who come to Hawaii specifically to hunt, but coronavirus restrictions in 2020 meant far fewer people came to the state for leisure.

Because of the overpopulation, there is no daily bag limit on deer nor a designated hunting season.

In this undated 2020 satellite image provided by the Arizona State University's Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Allen Coral Atlas, runoff from the island of Molokai in Hawaii is shown flowing into the ocean. Axis deer, a species native to India that were presented as a gift from Hong Kong to the king of Hawaii in 1868, have fed hunters and their families on the rural island of Molokai for generations. But for the community of about 7,500 people where self-sustainability is a way of life, the invasive deer are a cherished food source but also a danger to the island ecosystem. Now, the proliferation of the non-native deer and drought on Molokai have brought the problem into focus. Hundreds of deer have died from starvation, stretching thin the island's limited resources. When deer devour fruits, vegetables and other plants, it leads to to erosion and runoff into the ocean that alters the island's coral reef another important food source. (Arizona State University's Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Allen Coral Atlas via AP)

This image provided by Honolulu Civil Beat shows axis deer walking through an opening in Maunaloa, Hawaii on the island of Molokai, Jan. 15, 2021. Axis deer, a species native to India that were presented as a gift from Hong Kong to the king of Hawaii in 1868, have fed hunters and their families on the rural island of Molokai for generations. But for the community of about 7,500 people where self-sustainability is a way of life, the invasive deer are a cherished food source but also a danger to the island ecosystem. Now, the proliferation of the non-native deer and drought on Molokai have brought the problem into focus. Hundreds of deer have died from starvation, stretching thin the island's limited resources. (Cory Lum/Honolulu Civil Beat via AP)

This image provided by Honolulu Civil Beat shows axis deer grazing in a field near Hoolehua, Hawaii on the island of Molokai, Jan. 15, 2021. Axis deer, a species native to India that were presented as a gift from Hong Kong to the king of Hawaii in 1868, have fed hunters and their families on the rural island of Molokai for generations. But for the community of about 7,500 people where self-sustainability is a way of life, the invasive deer are a cherished food source but also a danger to the island ecosystem. Now, the proliferation of the non-native deer and drought on Molokai have brought the problem into focus. Hundreds of deer have died from starvation, stretching thin the island's limited resources. (Cory Lum/Honolulu Civil Beat via AP)

A number of other non-native species have become established in the islands, including goats and pigs. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the hoofed animals are among the largest contributors to ecosystem degradation and extinction in Hawaii, where plants and animals that evolved in isolation over millions of years lack natural defenses against introduced species.

In addition to causing to environmental damage, the starving deer population has become a public nuisance. Dead ones are rotting around the island, including along shorelines where people fish, swim and surf.

Private landowners are responsible for disposing of dead deer on their property, while state and county agencies have to clean up dead deer on public lands.

And people who regularly drive on Molokai say the normally skittish deer have become more brazen while seeking food and water and pose a serious roadway hazard.

"Just driving down the highway, herds will suddenly decide to cross, and so a lot of people have had their vehicles totaled as a result of impacts with deer," said the Nature Conservancy's Kallstrom.

Explore further Hear the call of the wild: Tracking deer movements by sound

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INDIANAPOLIS  The Indiana Department of Health today announced that 1,225 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at state and private laboratories. That brings to 641,874 the number of Indiana residents now known to have had the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous days dashboard.



A total of 11,526 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 67 from the previous day. Another 416 probable deaths have been reported based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record.

Indiana COVID-19 Dashboard & Map

To date, 3,015,385 unique individuals have been tested in Indiana, up from 3,011,185 on Monday. A total of 7,328,824 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 65 and older, along with healthcare workers, long-term care residents, and first responders who are regularly called to the scene of an emergency to render medical assistance, are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

To schedule, visit https://ourshot.in.gov or call 211.

As of today, 718,934 Hoosiers have received a first dose of vaccine, and 240,145 are fully vaccinated.

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.

South Africa has become one of the first African countries to receive coronavirus vaccine, with President Cyril Ramaphosa hailing the arrival of the first doses on Monday.

"The arrival of these vaccines contains the promise that we can turn the tide on this disease that has caused so much devastation and hardship in our country and across the world," Ramaphosa said in an address to the nation.

South Africa has recorded more than 1.4 million COVID-19 infections and over 44,000 deathsthe most in Africa on both counts. It has become the fifth African nation to roll out vaccinations, after Morocco, Egypt, the Seychelles and Guinea.

Morocco has bought 2 million doses of a vaccine from AstraZeneca and 500,000 doses of the China-developed Sinopharm vaccine, official reports said. The North African country started vaccinations this week.

Egypt's program got underway on Sunday, with doctors and nurses the first to receive the Sinopharm jab. The Egyptian government said it has reserved more than 100 million doses from different providers.

In a recent webinar convened by Ramaphosa, who is also the current chairperson of the African Union, it was revealed that the COVID-19 African Vaccine Task Team has secured a provisional 270 million doses for African countries and has also received offers of an additional 400 million doses.

Advanced procurement

Ramaphosa said the African Export-Import Bank has been instrumental in working with the task team and the global COVAX facility in organizing an advanced procurement facility of $2 billion to enable African countries to deal with suppliers directly.

"The COVAX facility will provide 27 percent of vaccines for the continent. Choosing the pooled procurement route instead of only bilateral acquisition will enable African countries to access the lifesaving vaccines more speedily," Ramaphosa said.

John Nkengasong, the director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said he wants to ensure a fast rollout of the vaccines. The biggest hurdles are financing and overcoming the logistical difficulties of vaccinating at scale, he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Guo Shaochun said on Tuesday that China will supply the first batch of vaccine aid to 14 developing countries, and Zimbabwe is among them.

"Zimbabwe will be one of the first 14 countries to receive vaccine aid from China very soon," he said on Twitter.

Guo posted a statement from Wang Wenbin, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, who said that China has been acting on its commitment of making China-developed COVID-19 vaccines a global public good.
Smart payments provider will enable immediate setup API to Swiss merchants and acquiring services to European Countries for leading Swiss payment facilitator

TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, smart payments provider and merchant acquiring bank, Credorax, and Swiss-based international online payment facilitator, Payrexx, announced a partnership to provide Payrexx merchants with Credorax's smart acquiring solution across Europe. The close collaboration will enable Payrexx to provide quick onboarding and best-in-class personalized acquiring services for Swiss merchants, while bolstering Credorax's presence in the Swiss region.

Through the partnership, Credorax will work with Payrexx locally in Switzerland as a payment facilitator, and globally as a payment service provider (PSP). As a payment facilitator, Payrexx will have access to Credorax's 'Immediate Setup API' functionality, allowing merchants to instantly set up sub merchants with a transaction scale. Payrexx will retain ownership of the merchant relationship and continue to control the payment and onboarding experience with KYC and settlement reliance, enabling Payrexx to offer their merchants a quick and smooth onboarding using Credorax technology.

Additionally, as a PSP, Payrexx merchants in Europe will have access to Credorax's tailor-made acquiring solution including smooth and quick onboarding, approval rate optimization and analysis, value-added business services, and proactive 24/7 merchant account monitoring. This is in addition to the many other benefits Credorax offers, such as telecom-grade (99.999%) availability for processing payments, designed to maximize business growth and optimise operational processes.

"We are excited to offer our robust services to the leading local Swiss payment facilitator," said Igal Rotem, CEO of Credorax. "Our smart acquiring services, quick onboarding and immediate set up API will allow Payrexx to deliver the best possible online payment services to its European merchants, while our smart payment services will enable them to reach more merchants as they continue to expand. We look forward to working closely with Payrexx to ensure our personalized services meet their diverse payment needs as they continue to grow as a European leader in the payments industry."

Small and medium enterprises represent 99% of all business in the European Union. With the increase in e-commerce and online purchases in 2020, small and medium enterprises must digitalize their shops in order to stay competitive. Through this partnership, Payrexx will be able to offer their European merchants the quick, seamless, reliable onboarding required to ensure their payment processing systems are efficient and effective, as well as best-in-class approval rate monitoring and unmatched currency management for over 120 currencies across Europe.

"Our number one priority is to create a seamless payments process for all of our merchants, and Credorax provides the perfect tools to allow us to do precisely that," said Ivan Schmid, CEO and Co-Founder of Payrexx. "With its robust and scalable solution, and customer-centric approach, Credorax was the clear choice when looking for an acquirer to support our growth. As we continue to expand our European footprint, we feel confident knowing we have access to Credorax's holistic suite of payment services, which we can in turn offer our merchants."

About Credorax

Credorax is a smart payments provider and fully licensed merchant acquiring bank providing cross-border processing for eCommerce and omni-channel payments. Our gateway technology, Source, has been developed in-house to provide a streamlined payment experience so smart and secure, that merchants can reach their full business potential simply by better managing their payments. Credorax merchants can accept more than a hundred cards and local payment methods and get paid in their currency of choice. Our merchants also enjoy best-in-class approval rate optimization, advanced anti-fraud protection, business intelligence and a host of other value-added services and products adding up to a payments experience unlike any other. To learn more, contact us at grow@credorax.com or visit www.credorax.com.

About Payrexx

Payrexx was founded in Thun (Switzerland) in 2015 and, as a payment service provider, has specialized in the technical processing of digital payment methods. Payrexx operates a self-developed payment platform that is already used by 30,000 customers - all systems are redundant, guarantee the highest level of security against failure and are certified according to the strict PCI-DSS Level 1 guidelines.

With Payrexx's flexible self-service tools, businesses, organizations, public institutions as well as individuals can accept online payments within minutes. Whether merchants are building a marketplace, mobile app, online store or subscription service, Payrexx's sophisticated APIs and comprehensive range of features allow organizations to create the best possible product for their customers. Payrexx also offers customized platform solutions for large customers such as Annanow, University of Bern, e-Abo, Swissbrain, Alltobill, Grunliberale Partei Schweiz, PostFinance, Hypothekarbank Lenzburg, WIR Bank and Langlauf Schweiz.

Furthermore, Payrexx offers over 40 payment providers and more than 200 payment methods and currencies from all over the world with one single interface. The company works neutrally and independently and gives online merchants every freedom in choosing their financial partners.

Press Contact Credorax

Marisa Rijpkema

Head of Marketing, Credorax

marisa.rijpkema@credorax.com

+31-6-42140533

Press Contact Payrexx

Sara Dias

Head of Marketing, Payrexx

sara.dias@payrexx.com

+41 33 550 00 10
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

United Nations, United States, Feb 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Feb, 2021 ) :The UN Security Council will meet to discuss Somalia's political crisis, diplomatic sources said Monday, after opposition leaders in the East African country declared the president illegitimate.

Tuesday's closed-door meeting was requested by Britain, which is this month heading the Council, sources said.

Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known by his nickname Farmajo, faced a leadership crisis Monday as his term ended with no clear path toward elections.

An alliance of opposition parties declared they no longer recognised his authority.

For the UN, "there is still room for Somali leaders to come together, find a political solution that will preserve the institutions that they've worked so hard to build," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a press briefing.

"Dialogue among all the parties involved is essential to have a clear and broad agreement on the way forward." According to its monthly program, London had initially scheduled a public Security Council session on Somalia on February 22, before a renewal of the African Union Amisom mission, which expires February 28.

Farmajo and the leaders of Somalia's five semi-autonomous Federal states reached an agreement in September that paved the way for indirect parliamentary and presidential elections in late 2020 and early 2021.

But it fell apart as squabbles erupted over how to conduct the vote, and last-minute talks to salvage the agreement collapsed Friday.
A baby sitter uses a bogus FaceBook profile to have access to babies and steal them. It is a good thing the child was recovered and unharmed.

One woman faked it as a babysitter to get access to a child kidnapped from his residence.

Bogus babysitter

According to police officials, one female posing as a baby sitter for hire took a 3-month-old baby boy from his Virginia residence. The criminal made a fake Facebook profile as a baby sitter, reported MSN.

The culprit, identified as Tykirah Lashae Reid, 20, is charged for Jiraiya Cherry's kidnapping. He was taken from his home in Newport News on February 4. When his family noticed him missing at 10:20 a.m., they called the police.

Jiraiya Cherry is missing

An uncle of Jiraiya was there at the house on Preakness Drive when the abduction happened. He said that when he was babysitting the infant boy and 4-year-old niece. Adding Lashae told him that the child's parent hired her to help him. He did not suspect any ill intentions like a kidnapping, so he allowed her in.

Tykirah Reid was identified as the baby sitter by the family. The authorities later tracked her at her residence at North Chesterfield. Police apprehended her at around 6: 45 in the evening, an amber alert was issued at a bit before 5 a.m.

Information revealed that she used Facebook to contact the parent of the infant about the babysitting gig. She used the false name, Taliyah Lipsey, said the court filings. It was not expected the baby sitter uses a bogus fakebook profile.

Also read: Guinea Pig Starters: How Set up the Cage to Make Sure They Are Comfortable

When the kidnapper stole the baby, the uncle took his niece to get something in the house's back bedroom. He left his nephew with the babysitter in the living room of the house. Jiraiya's uncle did not know that something was about to happen.

Terror, baby Jiraiya is missing

The boy's mother called the house at exactly10:12 a.m. and said she could not reach the baby sitter on FB Messenger. She was worried that no one was answering her messages.

She finally rang the infant's uncle at 10:12 a.m., telling him that the baby sitter was unreachable. Checking on the boy found him missing with the front door partly open, noted the records.

Immediately after the kidnapping report, the police investigated and looked for Tykirah Lashae Reid with a description provided to identify her. The Newport News Police Department sent a bulletin about Tykirah's kidnapping of Jiraiya Cherry.

His mother gave the picture of Reid used in the bogus FB page and her fake name "Taliyah Lipsey." A mistake came about with another woman living in Suffolk but was let go and cleared.

Police arrest the real criminal

Tykirah Lashae Reid was eventually tracked to her home at North Chesterfield. She was holding the baby in her arms and tried to escape into the house. Officers on the scene got her and arrested her.

Reid was arrested and sent to the county jail without bond.

The 20-year-old was arrested and taken to the Chesterfield County Jail without bond. She is charged with abduction and several charges, and the child is safe.

Related article: Pets and People: Here are the Health Benefits of Owning a Pet

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A man has managed to capture one of the most venomous snake species in Australia two days in a row.

The residents of a two-storey home in Oakey, a town in Toowoomba, Queensland, were left terrified after coming across a massive blue-bellied black snake.

They called Gunter, a local snake catcher, to help remove the invading reptile from one of the bedrooms.

Gunter managed to catch the venomous snake late on Saturday night and move it out of harm's way.

Local snake catcher Gunter was called to remove a massive blue-bellied black snake from a home in Oakey, Queensland

The next day, Gunter was called to another home in Oakey with reports that a snake was spotted in the backyard.

'When I arrived, the lady said it had gone into the neighbours yard,' Gunter wrote on his Facebook page Darling Downs Snake Catchers 24/7.

'While I was talking to the home owners, in the backyard, it came back, only a metre from where we were standing. So it was an easy catch.

'There must have been a reason for it to want to come back so soon. Usually they just tick off when they know they've been seen.

'It's biting my boot and didn't want to let go.'

The next day, Gunter was called to another home in Oakey with reports that a snake was spotted in the backyard

Blue-bellied black snakes come in a variety of colours but are often compared with the red belly species.

They can grow up to 1.5m in length and are found in a range of habitats in southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales.

If a human is bitten by a blue-bellied snake, the venom destroys our red blood cells and breaks down muscle tissue.

The damaged cells then travel to the kidneys which can result in the organ's failure.
The company is seeking a 51% interest in ALPS and the 100% acquisition of the outstanding membership interest in Green Therapeutics

Meanwhile, Terry Booth is expected to be appointed as CEO of Australis upon completion of the acquisition of ALPS

( ) ( ) said Tuesday it is progressing well towards the completion of its proposed acquisitions of ALPS and Green Therapeutics LLC (GT).

Australis is seeking a 51% interest in ALPS and the 100% acquisition of the outstanding membership interest in Green Therapeutics, which includes the discontinuation of all previous litigation with Green Therapeutics.

As per the Company's commitment to keep our shareholders fully informed and apprised, we are expecting to enter into definitive agreements with ALPS in short order, the Nevada-based company said in a statement.

READ: Australis Capital acquiree ALPS inks deal to build a high-tech California greenhouse

Australis said that it and ALPS have agreed to extend the completion of the definitive agreements to February 22, 2021.

Australis also noted that the GT transaction is advancing, and definitive agreements are being drafted to meet applicable regulatory requirements. Both Australis and ALPS expect the transaction to close first; Australis expects the GT closing to follow shortly thereafter.

The acquisition of GT is contingent on approval by the State of Nevada's Cannabis Control Board and subsequent local approval by the Clark County Department of Business Licensing.

ALPS

Australis noted that ALPS is engaged in a number of projects incorporating innovation and new intellectual property. One such project is with a Scandinavian grower of tomatoes and cucumbers. At this new facility, ALPS has developed an ultra-precise environment control system, significantly improving propagation success rates and therefore economic output. ALPS retains the rights to the intellectual property developed and will be able to use this technology in the cannabis sector.

"The project in Scandinavia, where we developed a new micro-precision climate control system is a great showcase of how our innovations have immediate commercial applications, said Thomas Larssen, president of ALPS. We are proud of this innovation and look forward to seeing the results as new facilities incorporating our innovations come online and deliver the enhanced return on investment our customers have become accustomed to."

Since the Australis/ALPS transaction was announced on January 5, 2021, ALPS has signed four contracts for combined revenues in excess of $5 million with Cann Group, Australia; Aldershot Greenhouses, Canada; US-based Bluehouse Greenhouse; and US-based Vertical Harvest.

Green Therapeutics

Australis said GT continues to turn out exceptional, high-end products. Three of the company's cultivars, sold under the GT Flowers brand, have tested for high potency with exceptional terpene profiles.

The high quality of these products, due to GT's science-based approach to cultivation, is reflected in GT products consistently selling out in the Nevada adult usage space in which GT has achieved a 52% penetration rate, the company said.

Additionally, GT is in the process of operationalizing assets in Missouri and Oklahoma.

In Missouri, GT has completed work on a processing and manufacturing facility in which GT principal and Australis Interim CEO Dr Duke Fu holds a 25% ownership stake, and is in the process of securing distribution for GT's brands. It is anticipated that Australis will obtain this ownership interest at a future time as GT remains on target to commence production at its facility in Oklahoma in the second half of calendar 2021.

"Being able to consistently produce connoisseur cultivars that deliver exceptional potency and superb terpene profiles is an achievement that we are rightly proud of, said Dr Fu. We believe that the combined Team with AUSA, and through them with ALPS, will enable us to execute on the scale-up of our brands. This combination will provide consumers and patients across the US with access to our unique product portfolio."

Body and Mind investment

In other company news, Australis said that ( ), in which the company holds a material ownership interest, recently announced record revenues for its fiscal first quarter of 2021 ending October 31, 2020. Revenues were $5.3 million, up 144% sequentially from 4Q of FY2020 and up by 267% year-over-year.

Clearview Capital Consult contract

The company also said it has retained Clearview Capital Consult to assist it with its investor relations efforts. Founded by Marc Lakmaaker, former VP of IR and director of corporate development at Aurora Cannabis Inc (NYSE:ACB), the group noted that Clearview brings a deep understanding and network in the cannabis industry and the capital markets.

We worked with Marc for several years at Aurora where he did an exceptional job in crafting and connecting the Aurora story with its stakeholders, said Terry Booth, who is expected to be appointed as CEO of Australis upon completion of the acquisition of ALPS.

The appointment of Clearview is fully in line with AUSA's promise to run an active IR program, and I look forward to working with Marc and his team as AUSA continues to execute and inform its shareholders and the markets on its progress, execution and achievements."

Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham
Amid a global homicidal back-to-school drive, President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government is planning to begin in-person teaching starting February 15 in Turkey, where there are nearly 18 million students and 1 million teachers in K-12 schools.

Last week, after a cabinet meeting, Erdogan said, Considering limited internet access, we have decided to open village schools on February 15. He added, Preparations will begin for the 8th and 12th grades, primary and special education schools to start education from March 1. The 8th through 12th grades already partially began in-person teaching on January 22.

Education Minister Ziya Selcuks announced Thursday that Monday through Friday, in-person education will begin at villages and similar schools on February 15.

Children wearing face masks for protection against the coronavirus, walk in Kugulu public garden, in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, May 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

The ministry also declared: As of March 1, face-to-face education will be held in all public and private primary schools, as well as nursery classes and special education classes within these primary schools as two days a week; face-to-face education will begin in the 8th grade of all public and private secondary schools and Islamic divinity secondary schools.

Previously, Selcuk announced that the government had reached a principled decision on the February 15 opening of schools, emphasizing its determination against widespread concerns and opposition among teachers, parents and students.

With the lack of widespread vaccination, the spread of very transmissible COVID-19 variants and medical experts warnings of another surge, this decision continues the herd immunity policy at the expense of thousands of workers lives.

The purpose of the reopening drive is to get children out of their homes so their parents can be sent back to work to produce profits for the corporate and financial elites. The hundreds of billions of liras handed out to the corporations and banks since the beginning of the pandemic are to be recovered from the population, whatever the cost.

As of February 7, only 2,612,000 of Turkeys population of over 83 million people had been vaccinated. Most have only received the first dose of a two-dose vaccine and so lack adequate protection.

Boston College Biology Professor Emrah Altndis criticized the slow pace of vaccination. He wrote: It is a dream to control the pandemic at this speed! If we think that an average of 100,000 people are vaccinated a day, 68 million people (2 doses per person), who constitute 80 percent of the population, will be vaccinated in nearly four years. Meanwhile, the protection of those who were vaccinated in the first year will probably be overdue! A vaccination mobilization is necessary!

Moreover, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca recently announced that COVID-19 variants were found in 17 cities in the country. The campaign to reopen schools is all the more criminal as new strains of COVID-19, including potentially vaccine-resistant forms, are spreading.

Since the government gradually began face-to-face teaching in September, the number of daily cases rose rapidly up to 30,000 daily. With more than 30,000 daily cases in November and December, Turkey was in third place worldwide after the US and Brazil and became the first in Europe. Over the same period, the daily official death toll exceeded 250.

As the health care system neared collapse and public anger rose, the government had to suspend face-to-face education and take temporary lockdown measures in November. Due to these restrictions, however inadequate, the number of daily cases fell to around 5,000 in late January but only very briefly.

Even the Health Ministrys discredited figures show that school closures and limited lockdown measures have slowed the spread of COVID-19, although the government has always called for keeping non-essential businesses open, making it impossible to contain the pandemic. The link between the return to face-to-face education and COVID-19 contagion is now a widely acknowledged scientific fact.

As the World Socialist Web Site reported, after UK children were noted to have higher infection rates than adults in December, Prime Minister Boris Johnson had to concede, The problem is schools may nonetheless act as vectors for transmission, causing the virus to spread between households.

With the reopening of US schools in the summer and fall as the pandemic raged, cases surged massively, driving the death toll to over 450,000.

Despite a considerable decrease in daily infections, the official number of daily cases in Turkey on February 3 increased again to above 8,000, with the trend rising particularly after the new strains were detected.

Moreover, medical experts and scientists continue to warn that it is too early to begin face-to-face teaching at schools and that a new surge might emerge as a result of the variant virus.

Professor Dr. Mustafa Necmi Ilhan, a Health Ministrys Social Sciences Board member, stated last Sunday, We have 7,000 [daily] cases now [in an upward trend]. Because there is a mutated virus right now, I frankly think that it is too early to talk about lifting or loosening restrictions.  For now, I think it will be a bit early to consider decisions about opening schools or other restrictions.

Prof. Dr. Elif Dagl, a pediatric chest specialist, warned, We have received information that health institutions treating the pandemic in Istanbul are being asked to prepare plans and programs for a new surge in March and April.

Stressing that COVID-19 restrictions should continue, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Specialist Professor Dr. Bulent Ertugrul said, We are now heading towards the third wave of the pandemic. The measures should be continued much more tightly. If we do not do this, we cannot overcome a third wave. If we do not be careful, we may also experience the troubles Europe is experiencing today.

He added that there are two ways to prevent the disease. We will either prevent it with a vaccine or by stopping the transmission of the virus in the society. This means restrictions, and we will prevent it this way.

However, there are no widespread vaccination programs, full lockdown with contact tracing or other effective measures in Turkey. Bourgeois opposition parties and their allies in the pseudo-left groups and trade unions have tacitly backed the reopening drive. The pro-opposition Education and Science Workers Union (Egitim-Sen) has not opposed the reopening drive since September and has worked to sow confusion among teachers, students and parents.

It demanded, If you are going to open schools, education workers should be vaccinated right now. Firstly, with current supplies, it is impossible to vaccinate all the hundreds of thousands of teachers and school staff before schools reopen.

Moreover, although the COVID-19 mortality rate in children is still low, they are not immune. It was also internationally confirmed that the virus, which children caught in schools, helped massively spread the disease when they carried it home to their parents. Limited vaccination of only a certain group without vaccination of the majority of the population will not control the pandemic.

An independent political intervention by the international working class is required to contain the global pandemic and save lives.

The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) is alone in launching a global campaign against this homicidal back-to-school drive and fighting to organize emerging opposition within teachers, other sections of workers and students into rank-and-file safety committees, which currently exist in America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Educators, parents and students in Turkey should build rank-and-file safety committees, independent of the trade unions that are complicit as herd immunity police. Working with trusted scientists and public health professionals, these committees can act to ensure that schools remain closed and guarantee the safety of children, teachers and staff. We call on all who support this initiative to contact us today to establish rank-and-file committees in their schools and neighborhoods.
MUMBAI: Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur on Tuesday, responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, said the government is in the process of finalising a cryptocurrency bill which will be sent to the Union Cabinet soon.

In 2018, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had banned banks from processing transactions relating to cryptocurrency. However, in March last year, the Supreme Court had lifted the ban.

Also Read | India should worry about its public debt

"There is no doubt that the problem of bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies is escalating and the circular issued by the RBI also has limited impact. I would like to know from the honorable finance minister whether there is any proposal to bring in a bill to curb cryptocurrency in the country," KC Ramamurthy, a Bharatiya Janata Party member of Parliament from Karnataka, had asked in the Rajya Sabha today.

In response to the question, Thakur said cryptocurrencies are neither currencies nor assets, placing them outside the direct regulatory ambit of RBI or the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). Hence, the government will bring a bill on the subject.

"Regulatory bodies like RBI and Sebi etc also dont have a legal framework to directly regulate cryptocurrencies as they are neither currencies nor assets or securities or commodities issued by an identifiable user. The existing laws are inadequate to deal with the subject. The government had formed an inter-ministerial committee and the committee has given a report. Post that there was a meeting of the empowered technology group which happened earlier. The committee of secretaries which was chaired by the cabinet secretary has also its given their report. The bill is being finalised and will be sent to the cabinet soon. So we will be bringing the bill soon," Thakur said.

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Mediterranean fishermen face perfect storm as tensions and temperatures rise

by PETER SCHWARTZSTEIN

February 09,2021 | Source: Politico

Until recently, Gamal Ahmed Gamal had made a living working the fields of the northern Nile Delta, and  like his father and many generations before him  he assumed he always would. But over the past decade, conditions deteriorated bit by bit: Saltier soil shrank his wheat yields and caused his trees to wither. When his lone cow developed skin ailments from wallowing in brackish groundwater, Gamal knew it was over. In 2017, he took up a cousins offer of a berth on his boat and joined a crew of rookie fishermen working out of the Egyptian port of Rosetta. Life at sea has not been much kinder to Gamal  or to his fellow new arrivals, many of whom also turned to the profession as a last resort. No ones catching much, not least because of the increased competition. No ones selling much, either. With the fishermen increasingly unable to support their families, the mood among those who gather each morning at the docks is grim.



We see the sea as a blessing, something that will always give us a living, Gamal said. But its not doing that at the moment, and now we are all suffering. Rosetta is not the only Mediterranean fishing port struggling to survive. A combination of devastating environmental changes and geopolitical strife has made life increasingly precarious for the regions fishing communities. Warming waters and shrinking fish stocks have pushed fishermen to sail farther afield or be less discriminating as to where they drop their nets. Some have become caught in the crosshairs of territorial disputes as a result: Libyan authorities have repeatedly seized Italian fishermen who sail into contested waters.



Even if the regions politics were to become more stable, the worsening effects of climate change will likely leave fishermen struggling. The Mediterranean is warming fast; one study last year showed temperature increases in the area had already hit 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The Mediterranean fishermens difficulties could therefore be a harbinger of things to come around the world, experts say. The Mediterranean is like a miniature ocean, said Marta Coll, a senior researcher at the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC) in Barcelona. Its like a miniature laboratory to analyze whats going to happen in other parts of the world. The issues plaguing the Mediterraneans fishermen are partly due to its unique geography. As a semi-enclosed sea, with a lone portal to the Atlantic through the Strait of Gibraltar, its acutely vulnerable to everything from plastic pollution to excessive nutrient richness, known as eutrophication. The densely populated coastal regions also include some of the planets biggest per-capita consumers of fish.



In recent years, those vulnerabilities have been exacerbated by the cumulative effects of climate change and other shocks, including overfishing, which together have had dire consequences for the regions fish stocks. Nevertheless, in some countries, especially crisis-ravaged nations in North Africa and the Levant, people are still turning to fishing as employment prospects onshore deteriorate. (In others, like Greece, fishing fleets have declined.) The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) found that while the number of fishing vessels in the Mediterranean and Black seas has stagnated overall in the last two years, several countries  including Algeria, Egypt and Libya  reported an increase of more than 15 percent each. Tiny Lebanon, for example, hosts over 2,000 active fishing vessels, a figure that local fishermen say is climbing as the countrys economy crumbles.



But, like the fishermen of Rosetta, many find the work less reliable than they had hoped. In some places, such as Egypt, they face growing competition from inland aquaculture; in others, such as Lebanon, economic downturns and the coronavirus pandemic have led to a drop in demand. Many have seen the size of their catch dwindle  one study concluded the number of fish in the Mediterranean has declined by more than a third in the past 50 years  and the fish themselves are also changing. With the Mediterranean warming 20 to 30 percent faster than the global average, much of the food on which fish rely is dying off, causing fish to get thinner and smaller. A number of native fish species, such as monkfish, are at risk of eventually disappearing. Whats happening is that these fish in higher temperatures have a higher energy requirement, a higher metabolism, so their demand for food is higher, said Miguel Bernal, senior fisheries officer at the GFCM. If they cant find it they are in a worse condition. They are outside their optimal temperature range.



Rampant overfishing in coastal areas and changing currents due to warming waters are also changing fishing patterns, making catches less predictable. The fishing patterns are all messed up. Sometimes they come later. Sometimes they come earlier, said Vasili Lydas, a fisherman from the Greek island of Kalymnos. In October, he said, the tuna are around [the islets of] Imia and thats not usual. This kind of thing keeps on happening and its problem for all of us. In this part of the Mediterranean, changing fish migration patterns are also bringing Greek and Turkish fishermen  and their respective coast guards  into contact in contested waters to potentially dangerous effect, given growing tensions between the two countries. Many crews cant afford to travel longer distances in search of more desirable waters and better catches  or cant access them for political reasons once they get there. Regional navies have dramatically expanded their presence and the frequency of their naval exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean as a result of intensifying geopolitical rivalries over maritime boundaries and energy resources. Padelis Amorianos, a fisherman in his seventies who sails out of Syros in Greeces Cyclades, said hes been repelled from his favorite fisheries by at least half a dozen navies  including the Americans, Russians, Turks and Egyptians  in the past three years alone. The fact is: Fish are like immigrants. They move a lot, he said. And a lot of the time they move into areas where we are now unable to travel. If everything they catch were edible, some fishermen say, they might still be able to scrape by. But thats not the case.



The warming Mediterranean is becoming increasingly hospitable for tropical, non-native species, many of which appear to be venturing through the recently expanded Suez Canal from the Red Sea. Some invasive species, like the Atlantic blue crab, can command high prices. But many of the more aggressive invaders, such as lionfish and pufferfish, are toxic  and flourish just as stocks of sardines and many other commercially viable species teeter. It feels like I catch nothing but lionfish  and theyre poison, said Samir Ghanem, a fisherman from Beirut who turned to the profession after his business collapsed. You pull out a big net, and its lionfish. You despair. Faced with challenges beyond their control, many fishermen have resigned themselves to dwindling prospects. They continue to cast their nets for lack of a better option. A small minority, however, has turned elsewhere, either selling their boats to human traffickers shuttling migrants over the sea to Europe or piloting boats full of people themselves.



In Libya, fleets of traditional blue wooden boats are being produced not for fishermen but for smugglers, according to Chloe Howe Haralambous, a tactical coordinator for Sea Watch, a migrant rescue organization that flies reconnaissance aircraft over the Mediterranean, among other operations. The Mediterraneans crumbling fisheries can only be salvaged if policymakers cooperate across borders to address the issues plaguing these communities, experts say. The large majority of the important commercial stocks are shared between countries, so the only way to manage them is to have harmonized monitoring, a harmonized set of rules to manage fishing activities, and a harmonized capacity to ensure and implement these measures, said the GFCMs Bernal. But decisive action remains elusive, with relations between some littoral states either hostile or non-existent. Others are far too consumed by domestic economic or governance woes, or  as is in the case of Syria and Libya  ravaged by conflict. In those conditions, fisheries arent always the priority, said Bernal.



The coronavirus pandemic has intensified the pressure on some fisheries. Greek fishermen say that a new wave of underemployed workers  many of whom typically work in the tourism industry, which has ground to a halt amid flight bans and quarantine measures  have joined their ranks, increasing competition and exacerbating tensions. Still, despite these pressures, some see cause for optimism. Overexploitation of fish stocks in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea has fallen  from 88 percent in 2012 to 75 percent in 2018, a small but crucial reversal. A number of species of fish are getting fatter, too, a product of more sustainable fisheries management by some countries. Many fishermen also say theyre starting to see fewer destructive practices, like stunning fish, among their counterparts. But if there is hope conditions may slowly be improving, these changes are unlikely to affect those struggling to survive now. We cant wait for things to improve in the future, said Gamal, the fisherman in Rosetta. Because we need to feed our families now.

Theme(s): Post Harvest Technology and Trade, Coastal Ecosystems and Threats, Communities and Organisations, Freshwater ecosystems and threats, Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods, Landing Centres, Others, Fisheries Development and Aquaculture, Fisheries Resources.
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Highlights Hackers reportedly used TeamViewer to access an employee's computer remotely.

The hackers increased the amount of sodium hydroxide in water.

The water levels were reversed soon after a hacking attempt.

Hackers tampered with a water treatment facility in Tampa, Florida, by changing the chemical levels. According to media reports, the hackers gained access to an internal ICS platform and started changing sodium hydroxide levels making the water unsafe for drinking.

However, the good news was no one was harmed by the act, but the news has raised eyebrows on how hackers targeted public infrastructure. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri shared details on how hackers got access to Oldsmar water treatment's internal system in a press conference which was later posted on YouTube. The sheriff added that the water facility provided supplies to roughly 15,000 residents.

According to reports, the hackers gained access to one of the employee's computers via TeamViewer, a popular tool used for remote control or file transfer between computers. The unlawful intrusion incident took place on February 5, 2021.

The sheriff further briefed that small amounts of sodium hydroxide are mixed with the water, however, increasing the levels can be dangerous for consumption.

"The hacker changed the sodium hydroxide from about one hundred parts per million to 11,100 parts per million," the sheriff said.

The water facility employee alerted the company on time, and the sodium hydroxide levels were reversed before it could do any harm.

The Tampa Bay Times report includes some chilling details, "A plant operator was monitoring the system at about 8 am Friday and noticed that someone briefly accessed it. He didn't find this unusual, [.....], because his supervisor remotely accessed the system regularly."

"But at about 1:30 pm the same day [.....], someone accessed the system again. This time, the operator watched as someone took control of the mouse, directed it to the software that controls water treatment, worked inside it for three to five minutes and increased the amount of sodium hydroxide from 100 parts per million to 11,100 parts per million."

Notably, the attacker left the system, and the operator quickly reversed the concentration back to 100 parts per million, as pointed out by Tampa Bay Times.

A Reuters report claims that the FBI and Secret Service have been asked to investigate the cyberattack.
After almost a year, Air India has decided to resume its flight services between Hubballi and Mumbai from 16 February. The flight services were suspended in view of Covid-19 induced lockdown. The flight services between the two cities will be available thrice a week- Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

Sharing the information, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Coals and Mines Pralhad Joshi tweeted, "The Air India has introduced flights (AirBus) between Hubballi and Mumbai 3 days a week , every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Flights service will start from February 16th."

The Air India has introduced flights (AirBus) between Hubballi and Mumbai 3 days a week , Every Tuesday , Friday and Saturday. Flights service will start from February 16th.

I am sure it will benefit the people of both the cities.

Thank you @airindiain pic.twitter.com/LCXZPVnp7L  Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) February 8, 2021

The AI had started the flight services between the two cities from 20 January 2020 for four days a week. However, two months later it was put on hold due to the coronavirus after Mumbai emerged as a coronavirus hotbed.

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Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - Talon Metals Corp. (TSX: TLO) ("Talon" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project ("Tamarack Nickel Project"), located in Minnesota, USA. The Tamarack Nickel Project comprises the Tamarack North Project and the Tamarack South Project.





Figure 1: Portion of Drill Hole 20TK0277, representing 39.03 meters (128 feet) of semi-massive sulphide mineralization starting at 347.15 meters (Drill hole 20TK0277)



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/73969_70cdf1fa346da93e_001full.jpg

HIGHLIGHTS

Drill hole 20TK0277 intersected a total of 110.65 meters (363 feet) of semi-massive and disseminated sulphide mineralization, starting at 341.07 meters (see Figure 1). Assays remain pending.

This drill hole was a 25 meter step out into an undrilled area in the northern portion of the Tamarack Nickel Project's current resource area.

"The more we learn about the Tamarack Nickel Project - even within the project's existing resource area - the better the project seems to get," said Brian Goldner, Head of Exploration for Talon."We are excited to have drilled this thick intercept of 110.65 meters (363 feet) of semi-massive and disseminated sulphide mineralization in the northern portion of the Tamarack Nickel project's resource area. In addition to successfully intercepting mineralization as predicted by the Company's current resource model, we also intercepted 51.82 meters (170 feet) of disseminated sulphide mineralization below the current resource model."

SUMMARY

One of Talon's key catalysts for value creation in 2021 is to grow the Tamarack Nickel Project's current resource towards the north, while aiming to reduce the timeline to production. Drill hole 20TK0277 was testing an open area in the northern portion of the Tamarack Nickel Project's resource area where it was inferred to host additional semi-massive sulphide (SMSU) mineralization.

Drill hole 20TK0277 intersected a total of 110.65 meters (363 feet) of semi-massive and disseminated sulphide mineralization, starting at 341.07 meters, as follows:

58.83 meters (193 feet) of 15 to 50% sulphide mineralization, starting at 341.07 meters (see Figures 2 and 3). Of note, within this larger intercept, there is 39.03 meters (128 feet) of semi-massive sulphide mineralization (approximately 50% sulphide mineralization) starting at 347.15 meters (see Figure 3).



Within a deeper portion of the same drill hole (starting at 402.03 meters), the Company intersected a second interval of an additional 51.82 meters (170 feet) of approximately 10% sulphide mineralization (see Figures 2 and 3). This second intercept is only 2.03 meters below the intercept above it.

Drill hole 20TK0277 was a 25 meter step out from historic drill hole 08TK0089, which intersected 83.5 meters (274 feet) of sulphide mineralization grading 2.77% Ni, 1.45% Cu, 0.07% Co, 0.14 g/t Pd, 0.19 g/t Pt and 0.13 g/t Au (3.5% NiEq1 or 9.35% CuEq2), starting at 326 meters (see Figure 3), including a semi-massive sulphide intercept of 50.85 meters (167 feet) grading 3.80% Ni, 1.89% Cu, 0.09% Co, 0.16 g/t Pd, 0.22 g/t Pt, 0.14 g/t Au (4.75 % NiEq or 12.66 % CuEq), starting at 353.15 meters. Within the same drill hole, there was an additional lower interval of 70.5 meters (229 feet) of 2.13% Ni, 1.16% Cu, 0.05% Co, 0.36 g/t Pd, 0.56 g/t Pt and 0.26 g/t Au (2.88% NiEq or 7.69% CuEq), starting at 412.50 meters.

These results confirm the extension of semi-massive sulphide mineralization in this location.

____________________

1 Where used in this press release NiEq% = Ni%+ Cu% x $3.00/$8.00 + Co% x $12.00/$8.00 + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,300/$8.00/22.04 + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $700/$8.00/22.04 + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $1,200/$8.00/22.04

2 Where used in this press release CuEq% = Cu%+ Ni% x $8.00/$3.00 + Co% x $12.00/$3.00 + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,300/$3.00/22.04 + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $700/$3.00/22.04 + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $1,200/$3.00/22.04







Figure 2: Plan view of the Tamarack Nickel Project's resource area showing the location of new drill hole 20TK00277 within the SMSU

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/73969_70cdf1fa346da93e_002full.jpg





Figure 3: Cross-section (25 meters thick) looking north showing the location of drill hole 20TK0277 relative to drill hole 08TK0089, within the Semi-Massive Sulphide Unit (SMSU)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/73969_70cdf1fa346da93e_003full.jpg

QUALITY ASSURANCE, QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALIFIED PERSONS

Please see the technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) of the Tamarack North Project - Tamarack, Minnesota" with an effective date of March 12, 2020 prepared by independent "Qualified Persons" (as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") Leslie Correia (Pr. Eng), Andre-Francois Gravel (P. Eng.), Tim Fletcher (P. Eng.), Daniel Gagnon (P. Eng.), David Ritchie (P. Eng.), Oliver Peters (P. Eng.), Christine Pint (P.G.) and Brian Thomas (P. Geo.) for information on the QA/QC, analytical and testing procedures at the Tamarack Project. Copies are available on the Company's website (www.talonmetals.com) or on SEDAR at (www.sedar.com). The laboratory used is ALS Minerals who is independent of the Company.

Lengths are drill intersections and not necessarily true widths. True widths cannot be consistently calculated for comparison purposes between holes because of the irregular shapes of the mineralized zones. Drill intersections have been independently selected by Talon. Drill composites have been independently calculated by Talon. The geological interpretations in this news release are solely those of the Company.

The locations and distances highlighted on all maps in this news release are approximate.

Dr. Etienne Dinel, Vice President, Geology of Talon, is a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Dr. Dinel is satisfied that the analytical and testing procedures used are standard industry operating procedures and methodologies, and he has reviewed, approved and verified the technical information disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information.

ABOUT TALON

Talon is a TSX-listed base metals company in a joint venture with Rio Tinto on the high-grade Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project located in Minnesota, USA, comprised of the Tamarack North Project and the Tamarack South Project. Talon has an earn-in to acquire up to 60% of the Tamarack Project. The Tamarack Project comprises a large land position (18km of strike length) with numerous high-grade intercepts outside the current resource area. Talon is focused on expanding its current high-grade nickel mineralization resource prepared in accordance with NI 43-101; identifying additional high-grade nickel mineralization; and developing a process to potentially produce nickel sulphates responsibly for batteries for the electric vehicles industry. Talon has a well-qualified exploration and mine management team with extensive experience in project management.

For additional information on Talon, please visit the Company's website at www.talonmetals.com or contact:

Sean Werger

President

Talon Metals Corp.

Tel: (416) 361-9636 x102

Email: werger@talonmetals.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to the timing and results of the exploration program, including assay results, grades, geophysical results and potential. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company.

Any forward-looking statement 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 statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

Table 1. Drill Holes Discussed in this Press Release

Tamarack Resource Area HOLE ID Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (masl) Azimuth Dip End Depth (m) 20TK0277 490846.4 5168866.3 388.9 237.3 -75.6 603.7 08TK0089 490840.0 5168865.0 389.0 231.8 -80.9 505.7



Collar coordinates are UTM Zone 15N, NAD83.

Azimuths and dips are taken from survey record at collar unless otherwise noted

Table 2. Assays Discussed in this Press Release





To view an enhanced version of Table 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/73969_talonimage1.jpg

Length refers to drill hole length and not True Width.

True Width is unknown at the time of publication.

All samples were analysed by ALS Minerals. Nickel, copper, and cobalt grades were first analysed by a 4-acid digestion and ICP AES (ME-MS61). Grades reporting greater than 0.25% Ni and/or 0.1% Cu, using ME-MS61, trigger a sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-AES finish (ICP81). Platinum, palladium and gold are initially analyzed by a 50g fire assay with an ICP-MS finish (PGM-MS24). Any samples reporting >1g/t Pt or Pd trigger an over-limit analysis by ICP-AES finish (PGM-ICP27) and any samples reporting >1g/t Au trigger an over-limit analysis by AAS (Au-AA26).

No adjustments were made for recovery or payability.

NiEq% = Ni%+ Cu% x $3.00/$8.00 + Co% x $12.00/$8.00 + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,300/$8.00/22.04 + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $700/$8.00/22.04 + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $1,200/$8.00/22.04

CuEq% = Cu%+ Ni% x $8.00/$3.00 + Co% x $12.00/$3.00 + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,300/$3.00/22.04 + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $700/$3.00/22.04 + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $1,200/$3.00/22.04

Table 3. Quick Lithology Log for Drill Hole 20TK0277

HOLE ID FROM (m) To (m) Length Quick Log % Sulphides 20TK0277 0 29.87

OB

20TK0277 29.87 313.64

FGO/MZNO

20TK0277 313.64 341.07

CGO 5% 20TK0277 341.07 347.15 6.08 CGO 15% 20TK0277 347.15 386.18 39.03 SMSU 50% 20TK0277 386.18 399.9 13.72 CGO 25% 20TK0277 399.9 402.03

CGO

20TK0277 402.03 453.85 51.82 CGO 10% 20TK0277 453.85 505.86 52.01 CGO





OB: Overburden

FGO/MZNO: Fine-Grained Orthocumulate Olivine / Mixed-Zone

CGO: Coarse-Grained Orthocumulate Olivine

SMSU: Semi-Massive Sulphide Unit

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73969
BY MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP)  Former President Donald Trumps historic second impeachment trial will force the Senate to decide whether to convict him of incitement of insurrection after a violent mob of his supporters laid siege to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

While Trumps acquittal is expected, Democrats hope to gain at least some Senate Republican votes by linking Trumps actions to a vivid description of the violence, which resulted in five deaths and sent lawmakers fleeing for safety. The House impeached Trump on Jan. 13, one week later.

Trumps lawyers say the trial should not be held at all because the former president is now a private citizen. They argue that he did not incite the violence when he told his supporters to fight like hell to overturn his defeat.

A look at the basics of the impeachment trial:

HOW DOES THE TRIAL WORK?

As laid out by the Constitution, the House votes to impeach and the Senate then holds a trial on the charge or charges. Two thirds of senators present can convict.

The House appointed nine impeachment managers who will present the case against Trump on the Senate floor. Trumps defense team will have equal time to argue against conviction.

The chief justice of the United States normally presides over the trial of a president, but because Trump has left office, the presiding officer will be Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who is the ceremonial head of the Senate as the longest-serving member of the majority party.

Once the senators reach a final vote on the impeachment charge  this time there is just one, incitement of insurrection  each lawmaker will stand up and cast their vote: guilty or not guilty.

FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo the Republican side, right, in the House chamber is seen as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Vice President Mike Pence officiate as a joint session of the House and Senate convenes to count the Electoral College votes cast in November's election, at the Capitol in Washington. Arguments begin Tuesday, Feb. 9, in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump on allegations that he incited the violent mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool, File

HOW LONG WILL THE TRIAL LAST?

Likely more than a week. The agreement between Senate leaders provides for up to 16 hours for both prosecutors and the defense to make their arguments, starting Wednesday, with no more than eight hours of arguments per day. Later, there will be time for senators to ask questions, and there could be additional procedural votes.

Under the agreement, the trial will open Tuesday with four hours of debate on whether the trial is constitutional. The Senate will then vote on whether to dismiss the charge against Trump. If that vote fails, as expected, the House managers will begin their arguments Wednesday and continue into Thursday.

Trumps lawyers are likely to begin their arguments Friday and finish Saturday. That almost certainly means a final vote on Trumps conviction wont happen until next week.

Trumps first impeachment trial, in which he was acquitted on charges that he abused power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate now-President Joe Biden, lasted almost three weeks. But this one is expected to be shorter, as the case is less complicated and the senators know many of the details already, having been in the Capitol during the insurrection.

And while the Democrats want to ensure they have enough time to make their case, they do not want to tie up the Senate for long. The Senate cannot confirm Bidens Cabinet nominees and move forward with their legislative priorities, such as COVID-19 relief, until the trial is complete.

WILL THERE BE WITNESSES?

It appears unlikely, for now, though that could change as the trial proceeds. Trump himself has declined a request from the impeachment managers to testify.

While Democrats argued vociferously for witnesses in the last impeachment trial, they were not allowed to call them after the GOP-controlled Senate voted against doing so. This time, Democrats feel they dont need witnesses because they can rely on the graphic images of the insurrection that played out on live television. They also argue that the senators were witnesses themselves.

If the managers do decide they want to call witnesses, the bipartisan agreement for the trial allows them to ask for a vote. The Senate would have to approve subpoenaing any witnesses for the trial.

WHY TRY TRUMP WHEN HE IS OUT OF OFFICE?

Republicans and Trumps lawyers argue that the trial is unnecessary, and even unconstitutional, because Trump is no longer president and cannot be removed from office. Democrats disagree, pointing to opinions of many legal scholars and the impeachment of a former secretary of war, William Belknap, who resigned in 1876 just hours before he was impeached over a kickback scheme.

While Belknap was eventually acquitted, the Senate held a full trial. And this time, the House impeached Trump while he was still president, seven days before Bidens inauguration.

If Trump were convicted, the Senate would take a second vote to bar him from holding office again, Schumer said Monday. Democrats feel that would be an appropriate punishment.

In response to GOP efforts to dismiss the trial, Democrats argue that there should not be a January exception for presidents who commit impeachable offenses just before they leave office. They say the trial is necessary not only to hold Trump properly accountable but also so they can deal with what happened and move forward.

You cannot go forward until you have justice, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week. If we were not to follow up with this, we might as well remove any penalty from the Constitution of impeachment.

FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo rioters loyal to President Donald Trump storm the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Arguments begin Tuesday, Feb. 9, in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump on allegations that he incited the violent mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)AP

HOW IS THIS TRIAL DIFFERENT FROM TRUMPS FIRST TRIAL?

Trumps first trial was based on evidence uncovered over several months by the House about a private phone call between Trump and the president of Ukraine, as well as closed-door meetings that happened before and afterward. Democrats held a lengthy investigation and then compiled a report of their findings.

In contrast, the second trial will be based almost entirely on the visceral experience of a riot that targeted the senators themselves, in the Capitol building. The insurrectionists even breached the Senate chamber, where the trial will be held.

The fresh memories of Jan. 6 could make it easier for the House impeachment managers to make their case, but it doesnt mean the outcome will be any different. Trump was acquitted in his first trial a year ago Friday with only one Republican, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, voting to convict, and there may not be many more guilty votes this time around.

In a test vote Jan. 26, only five Senate Republicans voted against an effort to dismiss the trial  an early indication that Trump is likely to be acquitted again.

WHAT WILL TRUMPS LAWYERS ARGUE?

In a brief filed Monday, they argued that the trial is unconstitutional, that Trump did nothing wrong and that he did not incite the insurrection during his Jan. 6 speech to supporters.

While the House impeachment managers say Trump is singularly responsible for the attack on the Capitol, Trumps lawyers say the rioters acted on their own accord. They suggest that Trump was simply exercising his First Amendment rights when he falsely disputed the election results and told his supporters to fight  a term they note is often used in political speeches.

The brief goes after the impeachment managers personally, charging that the Democrats have Trump derangement syndrome, are selfish and are only trying to impeach Trump for political gain.

There was no widespread fraud in the election, as Trump claimed falsely over several months and again to his supporters just before the insurrection. Election officials across the country, and even former Attorney General William Barr, contradicted his claims, and dozens of legal challenges to the election put forth by Trump and his allies were dismissed.

WHAT WOULD ACQUITTAL MEAN FOR TRUMP?

A second impeachment acquittal by the Senate would be a victory for Trump  and would prove he retains considerable sway over his party, despite his efforts to subvert democracy and widespread condemnation from his GOP colleagues after Jan. 6.

Still, acquittal may not be the end of attempts to hold him accountable. Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, floated a censure resolution after last months vote made clear that Trump was unlikely to be convicted.

While they havent said yet if they will push for a censure vote after the impeachment trial, Kaine said last week that the idea is out there on the table and it may become a useful idea down the road.

Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.

More:

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Philadelphia landscaping business made famous by Giuliani was in a Super Bowl ad: This is not a hotel

Pa. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman enters 2022 Senate race, but plenty of rivals are on the launchpad


In an image provided by NASA, an artists impression of the Pioneer mission approaching Venus. (Image: ARC/NASA via The New York Times)

A team of astronomers made a blockbuster claim in the fall. They said they had discovered compelling evidence pointing to life floating in the clouds of Venus.

If true, that would be stunning. People have long gazed into the cosmos and wondered whether something is alive out there. For an affirmative answer to pop up on the planet in the orbit next to Earths would suggest that life is not rare in the universe, but commonplace.

The astronomers, led by Jane Greaves of Cardiff University in Wales, could not see any microscopic Venusians with their telescopes on Earth. Rather, in a paper published in the journal Nature Astronomy, they reported the detection of a molecule called phosphine and said they could come up with no plausible explanation for how it could form there except as the waste product of microbes.

Five months later, after unexpected twists and nagging doubts, scientists are not quite sure what to make of the data and what it might mean. It might spur a renaissance in the study of Venus, which has largely been overlooked for decades. It could point to exotic volcanism and new geological puzzles. It could indeed be aliens. Or it could be nothing at all.

Greaves and her colleagues remain certain about their findings even as they have lowered their estimates of how much phosphine is there. I am very confident there is phosphine in the clouds, she said.

Clara Sousa-Silva, a research scientist at the Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and one of the authors of the Nature Astronomy paper, said, I think the team in general still feels pretty confident that its phosphine, that the signal is real and that there are no real abiotic explanations.

But, Sousa-Silva added, theres a lot of uncertainty in all of us.

In the wider circle of planetary scientists, many are skeptical, if not disbelieving. Some think that the signal is just a wiggle of noise, or that it could be explained by sulfur dioxide, a chemical known to be in the Venus atmosphere. For them, there is so far no persuasive evidence of phosphine  let alone microbes that would make it  at all.

Whatever it is, its going to be faint, said Ignas Snellen, an astronomer at Leiden University in the Netherlands. If the signal is faint, he said, its not clear whether its real, and, if its real, whether its going to be phosphine or not.

The debate could linger, unresolved, for years, much like past disputed claims for evidence of life on Mars.

When the observation came out, I was like, Oh, thats interesting,  said Martha S. Gilmore, a professor of geology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. Gilmore is the principal investigator of a study that has proposed to NASA an ambitious flagship robotic mission to Venus that would include an airship flying through the clouds for 60 days.

I think were skeptical, Gilmore said. But I dont personally feel yet that we want to throw out this observation at all.

The surface of Venus today is a hellish place where temperatures roast well over 800 degrees Fahrenheit. But early in the history of the solar system, it could have been much more like Earth today, with oceans and a moderate climate. In this early era, Mars, which is now cold and dry, also appears to have had water flowing across its surface.

Potentially, 4 billion years ago, we had habitable environments on Venus, Earth and Mars  all three of them, said Dirk Schulze-Makuch, a professor at the Technical University Berlin in Germany. And we know that there is still a viable, thriving biosphere on our planet. So on Venus, it got too hot. On Mars, it got too cold.

But life, once it arises, seems to stubbornly hold on, surviving in harsh environs. You could have potentially, in environmental niches, microbial life hanging on, Schulze-Makuch said.

For Mars, some scientists think it is possible that life persists today underground, in the rocks. But the subsurface of Venus is too hot, said Schulze-Makuch, who two decades ago scrutinized whether any parts of that planet were still habitable.

Instead, he said, Venusian life could have moved up, to the clouds. Thirty miles up are short-sleeve temperatures  about 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Microbes in that part of the atmosphere would stay aloft at that altitude for several months, more than long enough to reproduce and maintain a viable population.

But even the clouds are not a serene, benign place. They are filled with droplets of sulfuric acid and bathed in ultraviolet radiation from the sun. And it is dry, with only smidgens of water, an essential ingredient for life as we know it.

In an image provided by USGS Astrogeology Science Center, a colorized mosaic of the surface of Venus, seen through its clouds by the Magellan spacecraft in the early 1990s. (Image: USGS Astrogeology Science Center via The New York Times)

Still, if that was the environment that Venus microbes had to survive in, it was possible that they had evolved to do just that.

Phosphine is a simple molecule  a pyramid of three atoms of hydrogen attached to one phosphorus atom. But it takes considerable energy to push the atoms together, and conditions for such chemical reactions do not seem to exist in the atmosphere of Venus.

Phosphine could be created in the heat and crushing pressure of the interior of Venus. Even with the lower amounts of phosphine that Greaves group now estimates, it would be unexpected and surprising if Venus volcanic eruptions turned out to be so violently voluminous that they spewed out enough phosphine to be detected where Greaves team said it was: in the clouds, more than 30 miles up.

We cant easily rule in or out volcanism to explain this new, lower phosphine abundance, said Paul Byrne, a professor of planetary science at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, who pointed to the many unknowns about the planet and its geological system. Its probably not volcanism. But we cant say for sure.

On Earth, phosphine is produced by microbes that thrive without oxygen. It is found in our intestines, in the feces of badgers and penguins, and in some deep sea worms.

In 2017, Greaves found indications of phosphine using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii. Different molecules absorb and emit specific wavelengths of light, and these form a fingerprint that enables scientists to identify them from far away. The measurements found what scientists call an absorption line at a wavelength that corresponded to phosphine. They calculated that there were 20 parts per billion of phosphine in that part of Venuss air.

Follow-up observations in 2019 used the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, or ALMA, a radio telescope in Chile that consists of 66 antennas. Those again turned up the same dark line corresponding to phosphine, although at lower concentrations, about 10 parts per billion.

But other scientists like Snellen did not find the analysis by the scientists, and the suggestions of a biological source, nearly as convincing.

The ALMA data, which recorded the brightness of light from Venus over a range of wavelengths, contained many wiggles and the one corresponding to phosphine was not particularly larger than any of the others. Greaves and her colleagues used a technique called polynomial fitting to subtract out what they believed was noise and pull out the phosphine signal. The technique is common, but they also used a polynomial with an unusually large number of variables  12.

That, critics said, could generate a false signal.

If your signal is not stronger than your noise, then you just cannot succeed, Snellen said.

Other scientists contend that even if there was a signal, it was much more likely to come from sulfur dioxide, which absorbs light at nearly the same wavelength.

Greaves argued that the critics did not understand the precautions taken to rule out fake lines. She said the specific shape of the absorption line was too narrow to match that of sulfur dioxide.

As the scientists debated, there was a surprise in October: the ALMA observatory had provided incorrectly calibrated data to Greaves, and it contained spurious noise. For weeks, the Venus researchers waited in limbo.

When the reprocessed ALMA data became available in November, the noisy wiggles around the phosphine absorption line were diminished, but there now also appeared to be less phosphine  about 1 part per billion overall, with places that might be as high as 5 parts per billion.

The line weve got now is much nicer looking, Greaves said, even though it was not as pronounced. But it is what it is. We now have a better result.

Bryan Butler, an astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Socorro, New Mexico, said he and others had looked at the same ALMA data, both the original and reprocessed versions, and failed to see any sign of phosphine.

They claim they still see it, and we still claim that its not there, Butler said. From a purely data scientists viewpoint, nobody is backing them up because nobodys been able to reproduce their results.

A new paper by a team of astronomers, led by Victoria S. Meadows at the University of Washington, says that a more detailed model of Venus atmosphere developed in the 1990s shows that phosphine in the cloud layer would not even create an absorption line detectable from Earth. The team found that the phosphine would have to be some 15 miles higher in order to absorb the light. The research will be published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

What were showing is that the gas above basically doesnt cool to the point that it can absorb until it gets to about 75 or 80 kilometers, Meadows said. Which is well above the cloud deck.

Other scientists delved into older observations of Venus to see whether there might be signs of phosphine hidden there.

In 1978, a NASA spacecraft, Pioneer Venus, dropped four probes in the planets atmosphere. One of them even continued sending back data from the surface for more than an hour after impact.

Reviewing the Pioneer Venus data, Rakesh Mogul, a professor of chemistry at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, spotted telltale signs for the element phosphorous in Venus clouds. There is a chemical, most likely a gas, that contains phosphorus, Mogul said. The data does support the presence of phosphine. Its not the highest amounts, but its there.

However, scientists looking at data from Venus Express, a European Space Agency spacecraft that orbited Venus from 2006 to 2014, came up empty for phosphine.

So did astronomers  including Greaves and Sousa-Silva  who were trying to identify a different absorption line of phosphine in infrared observations from a NASA telescope in Hawaii.

Greaves said the Venus Express and the infrared observations in Hawaii did not peer as deeply into the Venus atmosphere, and thus it should not be a surprise that they did not detect phosphine.

The levels of phosphine, if it is there, could also be changing over time.

That would make it more difficult to come up with definitive answers, much like the enduring mystery of methane on Mars. More than a decade ago, telescopes on Earth and an orbiting European spacecraft reported the presence of methane in the Martian air. On Earth, most methane is produced by living organisms, but it can also be produced in hydrothermal systems without any biology involved.

But the methane readings were faint, and then subsequent observations failed to confirm it. Perhaps the readings were misinterpreted noise. When NASAs Curiosity rover arrived on Mars in 2012, it carried an instrument that could measure minute amounts of methane. The scientists looked and looked  and measured none.

But Curiosity did detect a burst of methane that persisted for weeks before dissipating. Later, it detected an even stronger outburst, but then it was gone again.

Mars scientists remain at a loss as to the quick appearance  and disappearance  of the methane.

The Venus phosphine debate will remain a stalemate until there are further observations. But the coronavirus pandemic has shut down ALMA as well as NASAs Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, a telescope aboard a modified 747 that can study infrared light from high in Earths atmosphere.

The balloon that would be part of Gilmores flagship Venus mission could resolve the uncertainties by directly collecting samples of air. It would be able to find not only the phosphine but also carbon-based molecules of any microbes.

We really need to be in the clouds, Gilmore said, because that is the habitat that is hypothesized to support life.

Planetary scientists are in the process of putting together their once-a-decade recommendations to NASA about their priorities. There are many intriguing places to study, and NASA usually undertakes only one costly flagship mission at a time. A flagship mission also takes longer to build and one for Venus would not be scheduled to launch until 2031 at the earliest.

NASA is also considering a couple of smaller Venus missions for its Discovery program, a competition in which scientists propose missions capped at $500 million.

One of them, DAVINCI+, would be a 21st century version of one of the Pioneer Venus probes. It could look for phosphine, although just at one place and one time.

The second proposal, VERITAS, would send an orbiter that would produce high-resolution images of the surface. Although it does not include a phosphine-detecting instrument, one could be added.

And at least one private company, Rocket Lab, wants to send a small probe to study Venus in the coming years.

Further observations are warranted, said Butler of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Theres nothing you can point to that says, Oh, yeah, we absolutely see phosphine on Venus. But, you know, its tantalizing.

But he also said, I would not bet my life savings that its not there.

By Kenneth Chang and Shannon Stirone

c. 2021 The New York Times Company
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ankitha Kumar, 17, of Inver Grove and Sarah Erickson, 14, of Excelsior today were named Minnesota's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Ankitha and Sarah will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are Minnesota's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Ankitha Kumar

Nominated by Eagan High School

Ankitha, a senior at Eagan High School, started a free online tutoring service after the COVID-19 pandemic halted her in-person tutoring sessions, a service that has now expanded to encompass 17 volunteer tutors and more than 300 students across the United States and overseas. For three years prior to the pandemic, Ankitha had tutored children at the Good Neighbor Center, a facility that provides underserved youth with a meal and a safe space for academic support. But in March of 2020, the center had to close temporarily because of the virus. "A lot of the kids would text me and say they had 15 assignments missing already and they needed help," said Ankitha. So she called the center director and offered to begin tutoring online.

With the help of a few friends, Ankitha set up a website to connect students with a free tutor. As demand for her "ConneXions" service grew, she recruited and trained more tutors, and created individualized lesson plans in core subjects as well as in computer science, foreign languages, public speaking and ACT preparation. To amplify her impact, she asked teachers in 12 school districts in Minnesota to identify students who might benefit from extra help. Ankitha estimates that she and her fellow tutors have now logged more than 1,500 hours tutoring kids from nearly all 50 states and 12 foreign countries. Test scores for ConneXions students have increased by more than 30 percent, Ankitha said, but the most important outcome has been a boost in student confidence. "Students who thought they could never be good at math now believe they can achieve anything they set their minds to," she said. "Students who thought they could never graduate high school are now on track to be first-generation college students."

Middle Level State Honoree: Sarah Erickson

Nominated by Minnetonka Middle School West

Sarah, an eighth-grader at Minnetonka Middle School West, makes and donates masks to neighbors, nursing homes and hospitals to help protect people in her community from COVID-19. As a member of her school's service club since sixth grade, Sarah had been involved in many community service projects, including buying books for a nearby school, raising money for wildfire relief in Australia, singing at nursing homes and volunteering at the local humane society. She really wanted to take on her own project, but couldn't decide how best to help. Then her great-uncle died from COVID-19. "I really wanted to do something to help protect others," said Sarah. "Not only do masks protect the person who wears one, but it protects others."

With little sewing experience, Sarah knew her project wouldn't be easy. She started by watching a tutorial on YouTube, and then got to work. "My first couple of masks took me 1 to 2 hours because I couldn't remember the steps or I sewed the elastic the wrong way, and it was pretty frustrating," she said. But the more she sewed, the easier it became, and it wasn't long before she was modifying her masks with wires around the nose, thinner elastic, and better material, all changes that made them more comfortable to wear. In the first six months of the pandemic, Sarah spent more than 60 hours making over 70 masks. "I know how much masks help the world," she said, "so I am determined to help until it isn't an issue anymore."

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

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The Kano State Government said it has prosecuted no fewer than 200 residents for violating the COVID-19 safety protocols.

The State Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, made the disclosure in a statement in Kano on Monday.

Mr Garba said the violators were arrested and prosecuted by the mobile courts attached to the joint team of security agencies and COVID-19 marshals established to ensure compliance.

He said 102 of the violators were fined N5, 000 each, while 25 others had been remanded in prison by the 21 mobile courts set up to deal with non-compliance to safety protocols.

Mr Garba explained that compliance to the protocols had been a huge challenge in Kano and it hindered the efforts of the government in curbing the spread of the virus.

The commissioner said the enforcement measure became necessary to preserve public safety and ensure full compliance with the Coronavirus prevention protocols, particularly the use of face masks.

According to him, the enforcement, led by the state Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA), included personnel of the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Security Service and the COVID-19 marshals.

The joint teams, he said, were spread at strategic locations where violators were arrested and instantly prosecuted by the mobile courts.

The commissioner, however, pointed out that the decision was in response to the new variant of the virus, which called for caution and adherence to safety measures.

Despite the new wave of COVID-19, which is tougher than the first wave of the pandemic, residents are refusing to observe the infection, prevention and control (IPC) protocols, Mr Garba said.

He warned that those who flout the safety protocols would continue to be arraigned before the mobile courts for prosecution.

The commissioner assured residents of the state governments commitment to curtail the spread of the virus in the state.

(NAN)
MARTIN, Tenn. (AP)  Ajani Kennedy hit a 3-pointer as time expired and matched his career high with a season-high 22 points as UT Martin edged past Austin Peay 76-75 on Monday night.

Kennedy missed a potential winner with five seconds left but Cameron Holden grabbed the offensive rebound and got a time out.

Inbounding under the basket, the ball was lobbed into the lane to Holden who tapped it out to Kennedy, who stepped back behind the NBA line and drilled the winner. The high-arching shot dropped through as time ran out and Kennedy raced off the court with his teammates racing after him.

Vinnie Viana had 15 points for UT Martin (7-11, 5-9 Ohio Valley Conference). Eman Sertovic added 15 points. Holden had seven assists.

TaiReon Joseph had 18 points for the Governors (11-8, 7-6). Terry Taylor added 17 points and 12 rebounds. Jordyn Adams had 12 points.

___

For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25

___

This was generated by Automated Insights, http://www.automatedinsights.com/ap, using data from STATS LLC, https://www.stats.com
JERSEYVILLE  A Florissant man faces several felony charges after allegedly stealing a handgun from a Jerseyville sporting goods store.

Harold Pierce Jennings, 18, was charged Feb. 4 with possession of stolen firearm, a Class 2 felony, and retail theft, a Class 3 felony.

According to court documents, on Feb. 2 Jennings allegedly took a Glock 19 9 mm handgun from Outrageous Outdoors, 902 S. State Street, Jerseyville.

Bail was set at $50,000.

Other recently-filed felony charges by the Jersey County States Attorneys Office include:

 Corvis Deshon Johnson, 35, of Bel Ridge, Missouri, was charged Feb. 2 with obstructing justice, a Class 4 felony. According to court documents, on Jan. 22 Johnson allegedly refused to comply with a Jersey County search warrant and provide a DNA sample. Bail was set at $10,000.

 Danielle D. Steagal. 43, of St. Louis, was charged Feb. 2 with two counts of unlawful possession of controlled substance, both Class 4 felonies; and unlawful possession of hypodermic syringe or needle, a Class A Misdemeanor. According to court documents, on Feb. 1 Steagal allegedly was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams of heroin, 15 grams of Alprazolam and a hypodermic syringe. Bail was set at $25,000.

 Brandon M. Harding, 35, of Medora, was charged Feb. 1 with unlawful possession of controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. According to court documents, on Jan. 31 Harding allegedly was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams of cocaine. Bail was set at $15,000.
Knight Frank delivers frank report on Phuket condo market

PHUKET: Nattha Kahapana, Deputy Managing Director and Head of Knight Frank Phuket, has delivered an in-depth review of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Phukets condominium market.

property

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 9 February 2021, 02:58PM

In a release issued yesterday (Feb 8), Mr Natha explained the depth of the impact and the reasons behind it, and specifically how the market and developers have been affected.

Here is Mr Natthas report, in full:

Phuket is one of Asias best tourism destinations. The island has the potential to support tourism as well as investment. As the tourist numbers increased each year, the property business was among the sectors that grew continuously.

The large number of foreign tourists that visited each year included a large group that started to look at condominiums to buy, so they would have a place to stay when they travelled to Phuket. Some also sought additional rental income when they were not in residence.

For these reasons, the real estate business in Phuket became of great interest to investors as they saw foreign tourists being a main source of purchasing power.

Also, Thai investors turned their attention to the market. Condominium projects that launched in Phuket were the types that focused on rental returns, and such projects invited hotel brands to manage the properties, which boosted the reputations of the projects.

From the rental yields received, Phuket became an attractive place to buy condominiums for investment. However, the COVID-19 pandemic drastically reduced the volume of tourists, as they could not travel.

Heavily reliant on tourism, the economy of Phuket came to a halt and became sluggish. The real estate sector of Phuket was directly affected. Even though Thai tourists continued to come, they were not enough to revive the economy of the island.

At the same time, however, there were new condominiums launched for sale; such operators believe that many tourists and investors would continue to fuel demand for condominiums should the situation return to normal.

SUPPLY

From the research results of Knight Frank Thailand, it was found that, at the end of 2020, the total supply of condominiums in Phuket stood at 26,096 units.

There were just 1,862 new units launched for sale in 2020, from seven condominium projects. This figure is close to that of the years before 2016, where there was an average of around 1,700 to 2,000 units launched for sale per year.

It can be seen that the number of condominiums launched this past year decreased from 2019 by up 65.97%. From a supply of 5,471 newly launched condominium units in 2019, this dropped to just 1,862 units in 2020.

This significant drop in new supply is attributed to the COVID-19 outbreak, which has severely affected demand. Operators therefore delayed the launches of projects. Moreover, commercial banks became concerned about the uncertainty of the situation, and implemented tight controls of lending for project development. Therefore, developers suspended the launches of projects amidst this situation.

In 2020, the supply of new condominiums launched was mostly in Layan, at 59%, followed by the Patong and Nai Thon Beach areas, accounting for 22% and 13%, respectively.

The Mai Khao Beach area contained the smallest number of new condominium launches, at only 6% of the total supply. Mai Khao, an area in the north of Phuket, is not yet very popular as it is far from amenities, compared to other beaches. In consequence, Mai Khao has quite a lot of land left.

DEMAND

In 2020, there was a total of 19,761 units sold, from a total supply of 26,096 units, which represents a sales rate of 75.7%.

It increased from 2019, which was at 73.4%. There are around 6,335 units left for sale.

The number of new condominiums sold in 2020 was only 1,966 units, which has decreased from 2019, which was 4,036 units.

This decrease is due to the lack of foreign tourists, a major source of purchasing power, who were unable to enter the country because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Phuket was severely affected, whether it was tourism, employment, or even real estate.

There were some condominium projects that had to stop sales or had low sales volume.

Moreover, they have been unable to apply for loans from financial institutions who are now quite strict in lending for condominium developments.

In addition, there are some projects that have stopped selling, opting to wait and see.

Due to COVID-19, foreign tourists are unable to come to Phuket and they comprise the group of condominium buyers in Phuket.

In the past, nearly 100% of condominium buyers were foreign tourists and investors, reflecting Phukets status as a well-known tourist destination that attracts many foreign visitors.

These tourists remain the main buyer group of condominiums, which they live in during their travels to or holidays in Phuket.

These days, however, the group of buyers of Phuket condominiums is more diverse. About 90%of buyers are still foreigners, but around 10% are Thai investors who have seen channels for investing in real estate.

Most of the foreigners who buy condominiums in Phuket include Russians, Chinese, Hong Kong residents and Singaporeans. Other nationalities include the British, French, Germans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, Americans, Europeans and Middle Easterners.

Most of the condominium projects that have been able to continue selling are those that maintain living standards comparable to those of four- to five-star hotels. These projects also engaged a hotel chain to manage the projects, building trust among buyers.

They provide return to buyers in a period of three to five years, which is an incentive for tourists and investors. Besides earning rental income, buyers can also stay 30 to 45 days a year.

(A table included in the image gallery above depicts the condominium projects that have brought in chain hotels to manage them, as well as the yield and duration of the yield.)

SELLING PRICE

The average selling price of Phuket condominiums with a sea view, as of the end of 2020, was B192,758 per square metre.

The selling price decreased from 2019 at the rate of 0.4%. In 2019, the average selling price of condominiums with a sea view was B193,590 per square metre.

As for the selling price of condominiums with partial sea views, the average selling price was B99,745 per square metre in 2020. This marked a 6.8% decrease from 2019, which had the average price of B107,000 per square metre.

In 2020, condominiums that do not have sea views commanded an average price of B76,184 per square metre, which marks a 3.9% drop from 2019, where the average asking price for condominiums with no sea views was B79,300 per square metre.

It can be seen that the selling price has declined from 2019 due to the COVID-19 situation, which made almost all foreign tourists unable to travel. As a result of their absence from the market, sales of condominiums have decreased greatly. Operators therefore agreed to lower prices to attract buyers or investors to return to investing.

To further drive sales, they also used methods of selling through online channels or via an agency located in a foreign country to help promote their project. As a result, there were still some condominium sales from abroad, but not much. The buyers represented foreigners who have travelled to Phuket; when the prices were lowered, they then decided to make a purchase.

OUTLOOK

Mr Nattha concluded his report by saying that the Phuket condominium market in 2021 is expected to continue to slow and be hit hard due to the new COVID-19 wave.

With foreign tourists still unable to travel, the economy has not improved. Phuket still has no income from tourists, which has been the islands main source of revenue.

In the first half of 2021, operators will still delay project launches. They will wait and see the situation before going ahead with project launches during the second half of the year. The investment trend will be towards smaller projects and possibly joint ventures with local investors in Phuket.

It is expected that the Phuket economy in 2021 will stay sluggish until the beginning of 2022, at which time the Phuket economy may need from six months to one year to recover to only 50% of the volume of tourists, as not all foreigners would be able to travel at that time.

The main buyers are expected to be the Chinese and Russians. Those from Europe may have to wait a while until the COVID-19 pandemic eases.

The condominiums that foreigners buy would serve as residential property, a second home rather than an investment, as Thailand is seen as a safe and liveable city with good standards of medical care and epidemic controls.

As for the Thai investors, they are still postponing their investments in real estate in Phuket; such investors are waiting for foreigners to resume travel before they start investing.

Overall, real estate in Phuket will return growing after 2022, following the return of foreign tourists.
A woman has suffered severe injuries after an altercation with an aggressive kangaroo.

The woman, aged in her 40s, suffered a chest injury and cuts to her arms after the kangaroo attacked her at Teeburra Dam, west of Mackay, about 7pm on Sunday.

Queensland Ambulance Services confirmed paramedics treated the woman at the scene before she was taken to Mackay Hospital in a stable condition.

A spokesperson from the Department of Environment and Science said people need to understand why animals can be aggressive.

Western grey kangaroos (pictured above) like to stamp their authority in the wild

'It is important people give kangaroos and wallabies as much space as possible in their natural environment,' the DES said in a statement.

'If an animal moves toward you, or shows signs of being aggressive, you should move away.

'Also, don't ever act aggressively as this will simply reinforce the idea that you are a threat, and never feed these animals, as this will bring them into close contact, creating potentially dangerous situations.'

The only recorded human death from a kangaroo in Australia was in 1936 when a hunter was killed when he reportedly tried to rescue his two dogs from a fight with a fired up marsupial.

In December last year, Tracy Noonan was attacked by a kangaroo when out jogging in Melbourne's outer east.

The young mother was adamant the kangaroo was attracted to the alluring scent of the perfume she was wearing, made famous by Hollywood actress Sarah Jessica Parker.

'It was something out of a movie.. 'For it (kangaroo) to attack me the way it did, it was pretty horrifying,' Noonan told 7News.

'I won't be wearing [that perfume] again.'

Some kangaroos (pictured above) are known to be territorial and fiercely protective
Saving the Northern White Rhinos form extinction. Credit: biorescue.org/Leibniz-IZW

The BioRescue research project, a program aiming at saving the northern white rhinoceros from extinction, exemplifies the challenges to overcome when conducting research and conservation in an international consortium in times of a global pandemic. COVID-19 hampered communication and travels, prevented or delayed crucial procedures, caused losses in revenues and by that may have lowered the chances of a survival of the northern white rhino. The consortium adjusted strategies, gained valuable knowledge during these challenging times and continued with its mission. The effects of the pandemic on the BioRescue project are described in detail in a scientific paper published in the Journal of Applied Animal Ethics Research.

There are only two northern white rhino individuals left in the world, both females. To prevent the extinction of the northern white rhino, an international consortium of scientists and conservationists seeks to advance assisted reproduction technologies and stem-cell associated techniques to create northern white rhino embryos in-vitro. In the near future, the embryos will be transferred to southern white rhino surrogate mothers to create northern white rhino offspring. This boundary-pushing program is conducted by an international team working within a global framework and includes scientists and conservationists from institutions in Germany, Kenya, Japan, Czech Republic, USA and Italy. From March 2020 onwards, the work of the consortium has been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in several ways at the local, national and international level.

At the international level, the most striking obstacle were international travel restrictions. "The consortium partners had previously agreed upon collecting oocytes from the last two northern white rhinos every three to four months. This is considered a safe interval to maintain the health of the females while maximizing the number of harvested oocytes, equivalent to potential future embryos and offspring" says BioRescue project head Thomas Hildebrandt from the Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW). Following such an interval, oocyte collection was planned for March 2020 at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. "Owing to international travel restrictions, the procedure had to be canceled and could only be conducted after the re-opening of Kenya's borders in August 2020," adds Leibniz-IZW BioRescue scientist Susanne Holtze, who shares first authorship of the publication with Hildebrandt.

"This does not only mean that one crucial opportunity was missed and possibly several valuable embryos could not be generated, it also affected the subsequent procedure in August 2020," Holtze explains. It is likely that the prolonged interval since the last oocyte collection in December 2019 compromised oocyte quality and was the reason that out of 10 oocytes, no embryos could be created. The delay of possible embryo transfers in Kenya will also decrease chances for northern white rhino calves to grow up with individuals of their kind. This ultimately implies that almost a year was lost for the programa serious delay in the race against time to prevent the extinction of the northern white rhino. "On the other hand, the involuntary break provided us with valuable new insights into the reproduction management of northern white rhinos," says Hildebrandt. "We still made progress in 2020 as we could successfully continue our research with our Kenya mission in December."

In addition to the delays in conducting the procedures at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, for which strict travel regulations and on-site hygiene rules had to be followed, the pandemic posed several further challenges to the consortium. Lockdown and temporal closures of public facilities caused notable losses in revenues for the consortium partner Safari Park Dvur Kralove in the Czech Republic.

"We faced the unprecedented situation of having no revenues from entrance fees and other services. However, against all odds, we were quickly able to develop new ways of how to approach our potential visitors and supporters online and this allowed us to keep our support to the northern white rescue program on the same level as in previous years. Our highest priority is protecting species from extinction and COVID-19 confirmed how important the support by individual donors is," says Jan Stejskal, the Safari Park's Director of Communication and International Projects.

Similarly, the not-for-profit Ol Pejeta Conservancy experienced drastic reductions in revenue from international tourism owing to a ban on international travel, national curfews and the isolation of the capital Nairobi. "Therefore, fundraising was necessary to maintain our wildlife and conservation programs and pay for salaries," says Ol Pejeta Managing Director, Richard Vigne. "Nevertheless, safeguarding the animals and professional veterinary care were maintained at all times in cooperation with the Kenya Wildlife Service."

For the research facilities of the consortium partners in Germany, Italy and Japan, different levels of restrictions were put in place on laboratory work. Crucial work at Leibniz-IZW, Avantea Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies (Italy), Kyushu University (Japan) and the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine (Germany) could be carried on to a limited extent. "Staff at labs was limited, hygiene rules were enacted, transportation of samples and equipment were hampered and last but not least closure of schools and child care facilities forced parents to switch from lab work to mobile work at home," Sebastian Diecke from Max Delbruck Center sums up.

Laboratories and offices at the University of Padova were also closed and online-teaching and research was implemented. The team in charge of the ethical monitoring of the BioRescue program continued working from home, and had to adjust strategies to carry on the ethical assessment for all procedures. "Despite all difficulties, the ethical assessment was always performed and BioRescue procedures have uninterruptedly maintained high standards of quality and respect for the safety and welfare of both researchers and the animals involved," says Barbara de Mori from University of Padua.

"COVID-19 has disastrous consequences all over the world, but two new embryos that we produced in December 2020 demonstrate that our BioRescue team is committed to overcome all scientific and logistic challenges the northern white rhino rescue might bring. We will be grateful for everyone who decides to support us in our mission," adds Jan Stejskal."

Besides the downside effects of the pandemic, there were also a few positive ones. For example, closure of international borders opened up new opportunities for assisted reproduction procedures in Germany which were important for advancing and perfecting methods and techniques. For example, a designated mating partner of a southern white rhino female in a German zoo could not be transferred and therefore, assisted reproduction was a welcome alternative to regular natural mating. Secondly, social distancing regulations helped to establish a new culture of online meetings within the consortium partners on a more regular basis, which proved useful and will continue in future. Lastly, there is a renewed awareness for the destruction of habitat and the loss of biodiversity as key drivers for emerging zoonotic diseases.

"BioRescue is not only about saving the northern white rhino. In the long run it also is a much-needed step for the healing of disrupted habitat in Central Africa and therefor for preventing global pandemics in future," says Thomas Hildebrandt. "It is ironic and bitter, that our mission was severely affected by the very thing it ultimately intends to make more unlikely, a pandemic." More information about BioRescue as well as options how to support the project can be found on www.biorescue.org.

Explore further Two new northern white rhino embryos created at Christmas

More information: Thomas B. Hildebrandt et al, Conservation Research in Times of COVID-19  The Rescue of the Northern White Rhino, Journal of Applied Animal Ethics Research (2021). Thomas B. Hildebrandt et al, Conservation Research in Times of COVID-19  The Rescue of the Northern White Rhino,(2021). DOI: 10.1163/25889567-BJA10009

Provided by Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research
The Delhi Police have said that Punjabi actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu has been instigating youngsters with his provocative speeches while he was in the hiding.

He would be produced in court later in the day and would be handed over to the Delhi Police crime branch investigating the January 26 Red fort violence case.

"He was a prominent player behind the Republic Day violence...Had been instigating youngsters with his provocative speeches and stardom even when he was hiding from the law," said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, DCP Special Cell.

The Special Cell of the Delhi Police have arrested Punjabi Sidhu from near Karnal.

Wanted in the January 26 Red Fort violence case, Deep Sidhu has been absconding ever since as the police searched for him in various places in Punjab and Haryana and even declared a reward of Rs 1 lakh on him.

The Delhi Police had announced the cash reward of Rs 1 lakh each for information on Deep Sidhu, Jugraj Singh, Gurjot Singh and Gurjant Singh; and Rs 50,000 each on Jajbir Singh, Buta Singh, Sukhdev Singh and Iqbal Singh for their alleged involvement in the Republic Day violence in which at least one person died and several were injured, including policemen.

The police would now probe where he got shelter since January 26 and who provided it. Those who provided shelter to Sidhu could also face legal action.

Another co-accused, Sukhdev Singh, was earlier arrested from Chandigarh.

Sidhu on January 31 uploaded a video on his verified Facebook account. In the 15 minute-long video message, titled 'Straight from my soul', he was seen giving an emotional statement in Punjabi, which loosely translates to: "I am being defamed... I had left my whole life behind, and come here to join the Punjabis in their protest. But now I am being labelled a traitor."

The Delhi Police had named Sidhu and gangster-turned-activist Lakka Sadana in an FIR lodged in connection with the Red Fort incident on January 26. According to the FIR, he was present at the Red Fort when a religious flag and a farmers' flag were put on the flagpole at the historic monument.


Gov. Gavin Newsom visited the Petco Park Vaccination Superstation on Monday, where more than 5,000 San Diegans from eligible groups are vaccinated each day.

Newsoms visit included a tour of the site and was used in part to congratulate leaders and volunteers in San Diego, which launched the states first vaccination superstation last month.

Let me focus now on why I came here to San Diego, and that was to acknowledge leadership, demonstrable leadership, leadership that is now truly leading the state of California, Newsom said during a news conference on the Padres field. San Diego was the first county, the first city to put a site together like this.

Newsoms visit comes as San Diego Countys metrics continue to improve. Mondays COVID tracking report lists 698 new cases. Though still large enough to keep the region from moving forward in the states four-tier reopening system, the number is the lowest single-day, new-case total reported by the county health department since Nov. 12. Total COVID-related hospitalizations also continued to decline, reaching 1,072 Sunday.

The superstation at Petco Park was opened in a partnership involving San Diego County, the San Diego Padres and UC San Diego Health.

As of last week, there have been more than 100,000 doses of the vaccine administered at Petco Park, accounting for about a third of the regions total administered shots, said Erik Greupner, San Diego Padres CEO.

Greupner added that helping out in the regions vaccination efforts has been a passion project for the employees and that it has brought the staff joy as an organization to help out in this way.

The Padres are proud and honored to play a role in making this possible and successful, Greupner said. Vaccinating San Diegans and every Californian will move us past this pandemic and save lives.

San Diego County has administered more than half a million doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines since the effort began in December, Board of Supervisors Chair Nathan Fletcher said.

The governors and state governments support have been a critical component in making the superstation successful, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said during the news conference.

The COVID-19 pandemic is the most devastating and complex public health crisis our state has faced in our lifetime, and Gov. Newsom has been up to the challenge, Gloria said. It hasnt been easy, but for him and for all of us, including the Legislature, have worked day and night for a year straight to keep us safe and to get our economy going.

New communication channels between the federal and state governments have allowed governors to have a better sense of clarity of when and how many doses of vaccines they can expect to receive, Newsom said.

Last week, California received a little more than a million vaccine doses from the federal government, but about 594,000 of them were first doses. The state will receive about the same number of new doses this week, and about 1.1 million doses are expected to arrive next week.

Newsom said thats not enough to address the vaccination needs of the 40 million people living throughout the state.

We need to see that ramped up. Were going to need to see more doses coming into the state of California in order to see these mass sites operational and to keep things moving, Newsom said. Although there is capacity to double the output at Petco Park, the major hindrance has been the scarcity of available doses compared with the demand.

In some counties throughout the state, including Los Angeles, first dose appointments have been paused to prioritize getting second doses out to those who have received their initial shot in a timely manner.

Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of California Health and Human Services, said second dose prioritization will likely continue as doses of the vaccination remain scarce until production is able to meet demand.

Nationwide, this is going to be a theme that we will see, with a number of people storing second doses to make sure that its available there and the consistency of supply, Ghaly said.

No vaccination appointments have been held back thus far in San Diego County, Fletcher added, but second dose appointments will be honored first if supply issues arise. Any difference between the total number of available doses and doses needed for second shots will be used for those receiving the first dose.

Newsom also previewed some upcoming announcements that should be rolling out over the next few weeks, including a partnership with Blue Shield and Kaiser Permanente to administer shots of the vaccine thats on track to be announced next Monday.

The state government is also working on efforts to more equitably administer the vaccine, and to allocate more doses to those living with developmental disabilities or with underlying medical conditions that put them at greater risk. A mass vaccination site will soon be opened in the Central Valley.

Reopening schools safely is a priority, the governor said, and each county within the state has some flexibility within the states guidelines in terms of when to vaccinate different groups.

He said they are currently working to get schools opened quickly, especially for children with special needs and those who dont have access to devices to do distance learning.

Flexibility is challenging when there is scarcity, and I am mindful of that in terms of the prioritization of tiers, Newsom said.

An announcement will soon be made that prioritizes the vaccination of teachers in support of reopening public schools.
Union Home Minister will on Tuesday apprise the Rajya Sabha about the ongoing rescue operations in Uttarakhand in the wake of glacier burst.

The Minister is scheduled to make a statement in Rajya Sabha at 11:30 am over the avalanche in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, government officials said.

During 'Zero Hour' on the Uttarakhand glacier burst, Rajya Sabah Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said that he will ask the Home Minister to apprise the House of the situation.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is monitoring the situation in Uttarakhand and Shah on Sunday spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister over the Chamoli flood situation and assured all possible help to the state.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister on Tuesday conducted an aerial survey of areas affected due to the glacier burst in Chamoli.He also visited the ITBP hospital in Joshimath, Chamoli where injured people have been admitted.

As many as 26 bodies have been recovered from different areas that were affected by the glacier burst in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand, while 197 people are still missing, the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) had said yesterday.

(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.)
2 1 of 2 Michael Short, Bloomberg / Bloomberg Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less



People looking to get their COVID-19 vaccinations at CVS Health will have to wait another day as the pharmaceutical giant pushes its vaccine rollout back to Feb. 12.

Pharmacies such as CVS will receive vaccine allocations from a federal partnership, and shipping delays in the chain have forced CVS to open its appointment sign-ups and start vaccination later than originally announced, said Monica Prinzing, a CVS Health spokesperson.
When human cells have to adapt due to a wide variety of external influences, the BAF complex plays a central role because it controls the accessibility of the DNA and thus the information stored in it. In every fifth human cancer, a mutation is found in one of the BAF complex genes. Scientists from the research group of Principal Investigator Stefan Kubicek at the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences have investigated this complex in more detail using novel techniques and were able to show how quickly changes in the BAF complex genes influence the accessibility of DNA. The study has now been published in Nature Genetics.

Chromatin is a central component of the cell nucleus and refers to the material that makes up the chromosomes. It organizes the approximately two meters of human DNA in such a way that certain genes are activated or deactivated depending on the cell type. The smallest "packaging unit" of chromatin is the nucleosome, consisting of 146 base pairs of DNA wrapped around a histone octamer. Whenever cells need to adapt, for example due to environmental influences or developmental signals, corresponding changes to chromatin are necessary. These are carried out by various enzymes, including chromatin remodeling complexes, which use the energy of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to move nucleosomes along the DNA or to remove them completely. One important chromatin remodeling complex is the BAF complex. It consists of up to 14 subunits encoded by 29 genes which interact in different combinations. Previous studies have found mutations in certain subunits of the BAF complex in numerous cancers. In their recently published study, CeMM Principal Investigator Stefan Kubicek and his research group investigated the direct effects of changes in the BAF complex on DNA accessibility.

Faster than the cell cycle

In order to observe the functions of chromatin remodeling complexes, commonly genetic methods are used which can inactivate these proteins within 3-5 days. However, due to the slowness of these technologies, they were hardly suited to determine the immediate effects of changes to the BAF complex on DNA accessibility. Therefore, the scientists Sandra Schick, Sarah Grosche and Katharina Eva Kohl from Kubicek's research group relied on a so-called degron system. "Here, too, we use CRISPR genome editing. But instead of destroying a BAF subunit, we fuse it with a small protein called a 'dTag'. By adding a specific active substance, we can then recruit the 'dTag'-tagged subunit to components of the cellular 'waste removal'. The labelled BAF subunit is then degraded within one hour. This makes it possible to precisely observe whether and how accessibilities subsequently change," explain the study authors. Stefan Kubicek adds: "Our study has shown that removing a specific subunit of the BAF complex immediately leads to a loss of accessibility to certain DNA regions. The effect appears immediate, hinting that the cell cycle plays no role in this process. We were also able to confirm these results with pharmacological inhibitors of the BAF complex, which showed particularly fast effects. We assume that processes similar to those in our model system also play a role in carcinogenesis when mutations of a subunit of the BAF complex occur in cells for the first time."

Synthetic lethality amplifies effect

In earlier studies, Kubicek's research group had already investigated how different genes within the BAF complex interact. This showed that cells in which only a certain BAF subgroup has a mutation and reduces DNA accessibility can continue to live and grow. In some cases, however, the additional deactivation of another, specific subgroup leads to cell death. This interaction of specific genes is called synthetic lethality. A known synthetic lethality exists in the two genes SMARCA2 and SMARCA4. Cells can tolerate the loss of either of these genes but die as soon as both are mutated. Mutations of SMARCA4 have been found to be particularly common in cancer cells. Specific SMARCA2 inhibition has the potential to exploit synthetic lethality to specifically kill these SMARCA4-mutated cancer cells without damaging healthy cells. In their current study, the study authors observed the immediate effects of synthetic lethality. "We wanted to know what happens when we remove both subunits," says study author Sandra Schick. This showed that compared to the loss of each individual subunit, even more regions of the DNA lose accessibility, especially those that are crucial for cell identity. "We see that so-called 'super-enhancers', very active gene regulatory regions, only lose their accessibility when we trigger this synthetic lethality, i.e. lose both SMARCA4 and SMARCA2."

BAF complex needs constant activity

In addition, the scientists tried to trigger the same effect using pharmacological substances. These inhibit the activity of the BAF complex and prevent it from moving nucleosomes. Project leader Stefan Kubicek explains: "Our results show that maintaining the accessibility of BAF-controlled sites in the genome requires constant ATP-dependent remodeling. This means that the BAF complex needs constant energy provided by ATP to move nucleosomes and thus maintain access to the DNA. Complete abrogation of the BAF complex function results in a near-total loss of chromatin accessibility at BAF-controlled sites."

###

The study Acute BAF perturbation causes 1 immediate changes in chromatin accessibility" was published in Nature Genetics, on 8. February 2021. DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00777-3

https:/ / www. nature. com/ articles/ s41588-021-00777-3

Authors: Sandra Schick*, Sarah Grosche*, Katharina Eva Kohl*, Danica Drpic, Martin G. Jaeger, Nara C. Marella, Hana Imrichova, Jung-Ming G. Lin, Gerald Hofstatter, Michael Schuster, Andre F. Rendeiro, Anna Koren, Mark Petronczki, Christoph Bock, Andre C. Muller, Georg E. Winter, Stefan Kubicek

*shared first-authorships

Funding: The study was conducted within the framework of the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Chemical Epigenetics and Antiinfectives in collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim. The study was supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs and the National Foundation for Research, Technology, and Development, the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) F4701 and the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (ERC-CoG-772437). Christoph Bock is supported by an ERC Starting Grant (European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, grant agreement no. 679146). Sarah Grosche is supported by the Peter and Traudl Engelhorn Foundation.

Stefan Kubicek joined CeMM in August 2010. He obtained an MSc in synthetic organic chemistry from the Vienna University of Technology after writing a diploma thesis at ETH Zurich. For his PhD in Thomas Jenuwein's lab at the IMP in Vienna, he changed fields to molecular biology. He then performed postdoctoral research working on chemical biology with Stuart Schreiber at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT. Stefan Kubicek heads the chemical screening platform and PLACEBO (Platform Austria for Chemical Biology), a task he is well equipped for based on previous screening experience with Boehringer Ingelheim and at the Broad Institute. Stefan Kubicek has also headed the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Chemical Epigenetics and Antiinfectives, a public-private partnership between CeMM, Boehringer Ingelheim and Haplogen. The Kubicek lab is working on the role of chromatin in the definition of cell types and cell states, particularly chromatin modifying enzymes as synthetic lethal targets in cancer and chemical transdifferentiation to insulin-producing beta cells. In an ERC-funded project, the laboratory is working on metabolic enzymes in the cell's nucleus and testing the hypothesis that small molecule metabolites shape chromatin structure and thus control gene expression and cell identity.
A bus carrying BJP activists was attacked by unidentified miscreants in West Bengal's West Midnapore district on Tuesday. The BJP supporters were going to join the rally of BJP President J.P. Nadda at Lalgarh, a place once known as a dreaded Maoist hotbed.

The incident took place near Jhitka forest area when heavy stones were pelted at the vehicle, breaking its windshield. BJP workers alleged that the miscreants also opened fire at the bus from the forest area. No one was injured in the incident.

However, local Trinamool Congress leaders denied their involvement in the Lalgarh attack.
A recent study has found that even though it may seem that the giant red star Betelgeuse is ready to die any moment, it will take another 1,00,000 years for it to actually perish.

A team of international scientists led by Meridith Joyce from the Australian National University (ANU), which included five other members -- Shing-Chi Leung, Laszlo Molnar, Michael Ireland, Chiaki Kobayashi, and Ken'ichi Nomoto --published their findings in The Astrophysical Journal this month.

The supergiant star is a part of the Orion constellation and has piqued scientists' interest due to its conspicuous behaviour lately. In a statement to the Australian National University, Dr Joyce said that normally Betelgeuse is one of the brightest stars in the sky, but her team observed two drops in the brightness of the star since late 2019. This development prompted the speculation that it could explode soon but the study offers a different explanation.

Dr Joyce said that the team of scientists know the first dimming event involved a dust cloud and they found the second smaller event was likely due to the pulsations of the star. For the study, scientists used a hydrodynamic and seismic modelling to learn more about the science behind the pulsations happening in the star and to get a clearer idea of what phase of its life the star is in.

Co-author of the study, Dr Shing-Chi Leung fromthe University of Tokyo, told the ANU that their analysis confirmed that pressure waves,mainly consisted of sound waves, were the cause of Betelgeuses pulsation. Dr Joyce further said that helium is burning inside the core of the star at the moment,which means it is nowhere near exploding. The research team also concluded that it will not be before 1,00,000 years that an explosion happens in Betelgeuse.

This study has also revealed how far the star is from our planet along with its size. The actual physical size of Betelgeuse is two-thirds of the orbit of Jupiter with a radius 750 times the radius of the sun. In terms of distance, the star is 530 light years far, which is 25 per cent closer than previous thought.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 48F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Geographical location of Huanglong Cave (1), Luna Cave (2), Fuyan Cave (3), Yangjiapo Cave (4), and Sanyou Cave (5). Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019158118

A team of researchers affiliated with a host of institutions in China, along with one from Australia, one from Taiwan and one from the U.S., has found evidence that contradicts the finding of a prior effort that reported ancient human teeth found at a dig site in China were 120,000 years old. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes how they tested the teeth and what they found.

Most archeologists agree that modern humans evolved approximately 500,000 to 315,000 years ago, and they migrated out of Africa approximately 65,000 to 45,000 years ago into parts of Eurasiaother non-modern-human hominins made the trek much earlier, but all went extinct. This timeline was called into question back in 2015 when a team of archeologists found fossilized teeth in five caves in a southern part of China, and claimed they were approximately 120,000 years old. In this new effort, the researchers have reexamined the teeth and have found the original researchers were in errortheir testing showed the teeth are just 16,000 years old.

In looking at the methods used to date the teeth by the original team, the researchers found that most of the work had involved testing materials such as sediment and capping flowstones found in the vicinity of the teeth. The teeth themselves had not been tested. In the new effort, the researchers found small bits of mitochondrial DNA in some of the teeth (and some nearby charcoal) and tested them using carbon-14 dating. Their results showed the teeth belonged to modern humans living in the area during the Holocene. The researchers also found that the DNA from one of the tested samples matched people living in modern Tibet and Burma. They conclude that the teeth did not come from modern humans 120,000 years ago, and thus, the theory that modern humans migrated to Eurasia 65,000 to 45,000 years ago still stands. They also suggest that other researchers carrying out similar research efforts always directly test samples they find using carbon-14 dating to ensure accuracy.

Explore further Closer look shows Neanderthals on La Cotte de St Brelade interbred with modern humans

More information: Xue-feng Sun et al. Ancient DNA and multimethod dating confirm the late arrival of anatomically modern humans in southern China, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Xue-feng Sun et al. Ancient DNA and multimethod dating confirm the late arrival of anatomically modern humans in southern China,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019158118

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Watertec India Pvt Ltd, a manufacturer of bath fittings and accessories, is planning to invest around Rs 60-70 crore to set up facilities in various parts of the country. The new facilities will help the company achieve its Rs 1400 crore revenue target by the end of FY24.



Bantwal Ramesh Baliga, CEO, Watertec, said that the company is planning to invest in the development of three more plants in the year 2021-2022 in Gujarat, and Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu).



It also has plans to invest in its 24 showrooms that will focus on educating the customers about the companys product offerings rather than just product promotion.



The company offers inside, outside and behind-the-wall solutions for bathrooms. The product portfolio of Watertec includes polymer and chrome plated products in various finishes like black, rose-gold, etc and stainless steel bath fittings suitable for urban, rural, residential, commercial, hotel complexes, institutions and so on. Its sanitary ware products claim anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-odour properties. Watertecs touchless faucets and innovative product range ensures complete protection and hygiene.



The current Covid and post Covid scenarios pose a new challenge to the bathroom and the plumbing industry. The new normal stresses on healthy, hygienic, touch-free and self-cleaning, AI controlled, IoT connected products. The company is planning to launch touchless cisterns by Oli, touchless toilets and seat covers by ARCA Japan, sensor faucets by Conti+, touchless soap dispenser by VRH among others. These are designed to promote optimal health, hygiene and provide an ultimate bathroom experience along with the ease of usage, flawless performance and elegant designs.



Baliga said despite the pandemic, the company expects to close the current fiscal with a revenue of around Rs 450 crore, a growth of nearly 11-15 per cent, while its earlier growth has been around 22-23 per cent.



Slowdown in the growth was largely due to a slowdown in the new real estate projects, especially commercial projects, while the replacement markets, especially in tier-II and III cities are growing as people have more time at home.



He said, production and sales reached pre-covid levels three months earlier and the company increased production by 120 per cent, by adding 200 new people. In the last three months, the company reported a growth of around 26 per cent.



Baliga noted, the concern is raw material prices, which have increased almost 100-150 per cent, would impact the margins.



On the way forward, he said, the company is targeting around Rs 1,400 crore in revenue, including 10 per cent from exports, by 2023-24. This translates to around 30 per cent growth.



Established in 1997, Watertec has around 19,000 channel partners across the country and a 700,000 square meter manufacturing facility.



The widespread retail network of Watertec spans across almost 17,000 dealers and is present in every corner of the country. The company has about 36 of its own warehouses across every state ensuring fast delivery of any product within 24 hours of ordering.

The company has expanded its reach to the Middle Eastern, African, South Asian and the SAARC markets.
The company believes Alex McCullochs experience in taking projects from the discovery stage into standalone production will be extremely valuable.

The new director has a career spanning more than 35 years encompassing Australia, America and Tanzania.

( ) has strengthened its board with the appointment of Alex McCulloch as a non-executive director.

McCulloch has a career spanning more than 35 years across Australian, North American and Tanzanian mining industries with a particular focus on the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia.

He started his career as a mine surveyor and then completed a mining engineering qualification at the WA School of Mines whilst working at the Superpit gold mine in Kalgoorlie.

McCulloch has worked with Barrick Gold Corp, Newmont Mining Corp and Rio Tinto in various mining engineering roles and later moved into mining contracting where he rose to the position of chief operating officer - Australian Operations for .

Ideal time to augment skills

Kingwest CEO Ed Turner said: This is an ideal time to begin augmenting the skills of the board and management as we advance the mineral resource estimate upgrades for Menzies and integrate this with economic studies (scoping study) to be delivered promptly afterwards.

Furthermore, Alexs experience in taking projects from the discovery stage into standalone production at locations such as Beacon Minerals Jaurdi Hills will be extremely valuable to Kingwest.

The company is pleased to have McCullochs input and assistance as it progresses the Menzies Gold Project towards production and also with the Goongarrie Gold Project.

Following recent drilling success, Kingwest believes Goongarrie has the potential to be a major discovery.

The number of registered births dropped by nearly a third in China last year, in the latest sign that relaxations in the country's strict family planning policy are failing to spark a baby boom.

After decades of a "one-child policy", Beijing changed the rules in 2016 to allow families to have two children as fears grew about China's fast-ageing population and shrinking workforce.

Also Read | India should worry about its public debt

Figures from the Public Security Ministry released on Monday showed that the number of registered births fell to 10.04 million in 2020, a drop of more than 30 percent from the previous year.

It marked the fourth consecutive year that figure has declined.

The gender balance was 52.7 percent boys and 47.3 percent girls, according to the official data.

China introduced the one-child policy in the late 1970s in a dramatic effort to slow rapid population growth, before reversing it in 2016.

But the change has not yet resulted in a baby boom, with empowered Chinese women often delaying or avoiding childbirth and young couples blaming rising costs and insufficient policy support for families.

In November, China started a once-a-decade census, with much of the attention on whether it indicates any population bump from the relaxation of family planning rules.

Demographic experts have estimated it could take 15 years for the two-child policy to have any noticeable effect on population numbers. Chinese retirees, meanwhile, are expected to number 300 million by 2025.

Chinese state media in December quoted civil affairs minister Li Jiheng as saying the country's fertility rate has "dropped dangerously", well below the population replacement rate of 2.1 births per woman.

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SHANGHAI/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Chinese smart vehicle supplier Shanghai PATEO said on Tuesday it and General Motors Co's local venture with SAIC Motor Corp have jointly submitted complaints against tech giant Tencent to China's market regulator. PATEO said in a statement that Tencent abused its dominant messaging app's market position to restrict sales of its products which have functions controlled via WeChat. Tencent, GM and SAIC's joint venture SAIC-GM-Wuling did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Yilei Sun, Pei Li and ...
Rape survivor argues police did not investigate properly

On Tuesday the Constitutional Court will hear the case of Ms K, who was repeatedly raped in Port Elizabeth in 2010.

She argues that the police failed to act fast enough or to investigate her case properly.

She won damages in the Port Elizabeth High Court but the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned the decision.

Before the Constitutional Court, Ms K is arguing that the police were "grossly negligent in discharging their Constitutional duties".

The Constitutional Court is to determine whether or not the police can be held liable for damages for sloppy investigations, particularly in cases of sexual and gender-based violence.

The matter to be heard on Tuesday is that of Ms K who was abducted while walking on Kings Beach, Port Elizabeth and raped repeatedly in the sand dunes in December 2010. At the heart of Ms K's complaint was that the police had been alerted that she was missing and her car was in the nearby parking lot. During her ordeal, the police helicopter was flying nearby and a detective with a dog was about 20 metres away.

However, police called off the search in the early hours of the morning and the rapes continued until she managed to escape at 6am.

The police then failed to investigate the matter properly, she argued, and did not question homeless people living in the dunes, nor take down their details before they were forced to move by the local authority.

The police also failed to view the full CCTV footage available, which showed a potential suspect in the area, and had only done so in February the following year. And it took eight years before they sent a piece of evidence, found at the crime scene, for DNA testing.

Ms K won her damages case in the Port Elizabeth High Court, with a ruling that the police were negligent.

But the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) overturned this decision. The full bench was in agreement that to impose liability in this matter "would open the doors for civil litigation in every case where it was alleged there had been negligence in any search for a victim or investigation, even if only to a slight degree".

The court said the police had mobilised all available resources and these steps were "reasonable". While there might have been omissions in the police investigation -- including a failure to question bush dwellers in and around the beach "with any sense of urgency", this did not prove "wrongfulness" which was an essential element in a liability claim.

The issues of wrongfulness will be the main focus of argument before the Constitutional Court. The Minister of Police relies heavily on the "floodgates of liability" reasoning by the SCA in opposing the appeal. But lawyers for Ms K, in written argument, argue that the facts show that SAPS were "grossly negligent" in discharging their Constitutional duties, particularly in a matter involving sexual violence.

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"There is no evidence that if the minister is held liable here, that would prejudice the capacity of SAPS to carry out investigations or searches in future, in relation to crimes of gender violence. It is illogical."

"Rather than impede the efficient functioning of SAPS, recognising that its conduct was wrongful would only enhance its functioning. If not held liable here, that would mean that the applicant, and others similarly situated, are left without any way of holding SAPS accountable for its failure to comply with its duties."

"This would render the duty to prevent and to investigate crimes of gender based violence against women, meaningless, and the rights of women to be free from gender violence, hollow," they argue.

They say liability in this matter does not mean that all and sundry can make claims against the SAPS. "Every litigant must prove the requirements for delict, including negligence, causation and harm."

The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS), admitted as a friend of the court, argues in its written submissions, the importance of a victim-centred approach to cases of gender-based violence. The Centre says victims suffer secondary trauma if their cases are not investigated properly and the lack of professional, considerate and diligent policing is one of the most often cited reasons why sexual offences are under-reported.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Va.) speaks to members of the media after a closed briefing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Aug. 22, 2018. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Sen. Joe Manchin Pushes Biden to Rescind Keystone XL Pipeline Order

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is urging President Joe Biden to reverse course on the Keystone XL pipeline after the president issued an executive order to revoke a permit on Jan. 20.

Manchin, in a letter to the president on Tuesday, argued that pipelines such as the Keystone XL are the safest mode to transport our oil and natural gas resources and they support thousands of high-paying, American union jobs.

I encourage you to reconsider your decision to revoke the cross-border permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and take into account the potential impacts of any further action to safety, jobs, and energy security, he said.

Republicans pushed back on the move to revoke the Keystone XLs border-crossing permit, saying that it would and has cost thousands of jobs.

Other than Manchin, Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) expressed support for keeping the pipeline, joining Republicans on a resolution.

According to an executive order issued by Biden on Inauguration Day, In 2015, following an exhaustive review, the Department of State and the President determined that approving the proposed Keystone XL pipeline would not serve the U.S. national interest, adding: That analysis, in addition to concluding that the significance of the proposed pipeline for our energy security and economy is limited, stressed that the United States must prioritize the development of a clean energy economy, which will in turn create good jobs.

The analysis, it added, further concluded that approval of the proposed pipeline would undermine U.S. climate leadership by undercutting the credibility and influence of the United States.

Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry also said on Jan. 28 that Biden is looking to find better choices for workers in the energy industry for jobs that pay better.

But over the weekend, AFLCIO President Richard Trumka, the head of the largest union in the U.S., cautiously criticized Bidens Keystone XL order.

I wish [Biden] hadnt done that on the first day, he said in an interview with Axios. It did and will cost us jobs in the process, Trumka said. I wish he had paired that more carefully with the thing that he did second by saying, Heres where were creating jobs. We can do mine reclamation. We can fix leaks. We can fix seeps and create hundreds of thousands of jobs in doing all of that stuff.

A number of conservative groups, along with officials in Canada, have said the move will kill numerous jobs. Some estimates say that it would impact as many as 60,000 jobs overall.

However, Bidens move was praised by environmental groups, with Anthony Swift, director of NRDCs Canada project, saying it is tantamount to a more prosperous future with clean energy.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 13:45:01|Editor: huaxia

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WELLINGTON, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in New Zealand on Tuesday distributed Spring Festival kits to overseas Chinese students here in Wellington on the eve of the Lunar New Year.

Under strict epidemic prevention measures, the Education Office of the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand opened its doors to welcome the Chinese students in Wellington.

During the distribution ceremony, Dong Zhixue, education counsellor of the Chinese embassy, handed the Spring Festival kits to the representatives of local Chinese students one after one.

Dong said education cooperation is an important part of China-New Zealand ties, adding that currently more than 11,000 Chinese students are studying in New Zealand and China is the largest source of international students in New Zealand.

"The welfare of overseas Chinese students is always close to the heart of the Chinese government. By distributing the Spring Festival kits, the Chinese embassy wishes to bring festivity to all overseas Chinese students. I hope that they will stay healthy and happy," Dong said.

The kits contain personal protective equipment such as face masks and disinfected wet wipes, as well as school supplies and a Spring Festival greetings card presented by Wu Xi, the Chinese ambassador to New Zealand, with delightful Lunar New Year wishes.

"Although we are far away from our hometown by thousands of miles, we are not alone. The Spring Festival kits carried the care and concern of the motherland for overseas students. Everyone feels intimate and confident to continue to study hard with the support and help of the embassy," said Yang Bo, PhD student at Victoria University of Wellington.

Besides the Chinese students, the Chinese embassy in New Zealand has also distributed the Spring Festival kits to local Chinese in need. Enditem
A 13-year-old girl who was killed after being dragged for several miles when she tried to jump out of her family's SUV after a carjacker stole it from outside a restaurant has been identified.

Police say Briana Ibarra got caught in her seat belt while trying to escape the car after it was stolen in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday.

The alleged carjacker, Kevin Palmer, 34, has since been charged with felony murder over the girl's death.

Briana was waiting in the back seat of the running SUV parked outside the restaurant while her family went inside to pick up food at about midday.

Police identified 13-year-old Briana Ibarra (pictured) as the girl who was killed in the carjacking on Saturday in Wichita, Kansas

Briana (pictured) was waiting in the backseat of her family's SUV outside a restaurant when suspect Kevin Palmer allegedly got in and drove off

Palmer, 34, (above in his mugshot) is charged with felony manslaughter in Briana's death

Palmer is accused of getting into the driver's seat and taking off.

The girl tried to escape the SUV while it was moving but got caught in her seat belt.

Police say she was dragged outside the car for several miles.

A witness saw the horrific ordeal unfold and followed the SUV while calling 911.

Palmer eventually stopped the SUV and attempted to flee before being captured by officers, police say.

A witness saw the horrific ordeal unfold and followed the SUV while calling 911. Palmer eventually stopped the SUV (location where he stopped is pictured) and attempted to flee before being captured by officers

Briana was pronounced dead at the scene.

'This is one of the saddest cases I have been associated with in my over 28 years of law enforcement,' Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said.

A GoFundMe page set up to help Briana's family cover her funeral costs has raised more than $11,200 so far.

Loved ones paid tribute to the teen in an article for local news station KAKE on Monday.

Brianna's parents described her as 'full of life' and said she 'always made everybody laugh, loved her family [and] was always up for any adventure'.

Older sister Marissa Ibarra said Briana was 'weird in her own way that made her a beautiful soul'.

'She was bright, carefree, straightforward, family oriented, strong, would do anything for family,' Marissa said, adding that Briana 'loved to create' and was 'easy and fun to be around'.

The family thanked the Wichita community for their support in the wake of Briana's death, calling it 'a tragedy that no family should have to go through'.

Briana's family described the teen (pictured) as 'full of life' and 'a beautiful soul'

At present, data encryption is one of the most effective data security methods. Data encryption converts data into another form or code so that only people with access to a secret key (called a decryption key) or password can read it. Unencrypted data is known as plaintext, while encrypted data is known as ciphertext.

There are two primary types of data encryption, asymmetric or public-key encryption, and symmetric encryption. Asymmetric encryption encrypts and decrypts data using two different yet mathematically connected cryptographic keys known as a Public Key and a Private Key. The Public Key is used for encryption, while the Private Key is used for decryption. By contrast, symmetric encryption only uses one key for the encryption and decryption of data.

Types of Encryption

There are various types of encryption, each one designed for different security needs.

 Data Encryption Standard (DES)

DES is considered to be a low-level encryption standard. This standard was established in 1977 by the U.S. government. However, due to advances in technology and decreases in hardware costs, this form of data encryption is pretty much obsolete for protecting sensitive data.

 Triple DES

Triple DES works by running DES encryption three times. First, it encrypts, then it decrypts, then it encrypts the data. As a result, the original DES standard is strengthened.

 RSA

RSA is an asymmetric cryptographic algorithm designed by Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman (hence RSA). It involves four steps, key generation, key distribution, encryption, and decryption.

 Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)

An asymmetric block cipher, AES is used by the U.S. government to protect classified information. Therefore, the best data encryption software uses AES.

 TwoFish

TwoFish is a symmetric block cipher used in hardware and software encryption. It is considered the fastest encryption algorithm and is free for anyone to use. It has a block size of 128 bits and accepts a key of any length up to 256 bits.

4 Reasons People Use Data Encryption

 To Safeguard Their Personal Information

Think about the type of information you have stored on your computer or smartphone, and it's fairly obvious why you might want to encrypt this data. For instance, on your smartphone, encryption apps make it pretty much impossible, or at least extremely challenging, for an unauthorized person to access your information. In fact, there have been several instances where law enforcement officials have been unable to investigate phone data because of its encryption.

Data breaches are a huge issue. There were more than 770 million email addresses and passwords exposed on a hacking forum in a recent case. Data encryption can prevent your sensitive information from being put out on the internet by a hacker.

 To Avoid Regulatory Fines

In some industries, data encryption is mandatory. For example, patient privacy laws in the health care sector require that all information be encrypted. If their data isn't encrypted, organizations may receive significant fines. In fact, in 2018, a judge fined the University of Texas's MD Anderson Cancer Center $4.3 million when a laptop containing 30,000 patient records was stolen from an employee's home. The judge ruled that the center was at fault for failing to encrypt the data.

 To Stay Safe When Working Remotely

Even before Covid, remote work was becoming more and more common. According to a 2018 North American report published by the company Shred-It, most business leaders believe that there is a higher risk of data breaches when employees work from home. Data encryption helps to ensure the safety of information on remote workers' devices.

 To Support Data Integrity

Encryption technology helps increase the integrity of the information. While encryption by itself does not guarantee the data's integrity, it should be a part of an overall strategy. If people feel they can trust the information, they will be able to make business decisions more confidently. Furthermore, encrypted data decreases the chances that a hacker will tamper with information and those actions going unnoticed.

Summary

Data encryption protects the data you send, receive, and store on various devices. This can include text messages, banking information on your computer, and running logs on your smartwatch. Data encryption works by scrambling readable text so that only a person who has a decryption key can read it. In this way, your information is safe from people who would use it maliciously. People also use encryption because they are required by law to do so. In the health care sector, for instance, they are required to encrypt their patients' information. Data encryption is also essential for preventing data breaches when employees work remotely, and it helps to support data integrity.

New Delhi:

It was earlier issued that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) 2017 was not to be held but now the Supreme Court on Friday has refused to nullify the examination, saying it would affect over six lakh candidates who have passed the test to join medical and dental courses.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said it would be very difficult to disturb the results of NEET as around 6.11 lakh candidates, out of a total of 11.35 lakh aspirants, have cleared it and the counselling process was on.

We cannot pass an interim order like this. The admission process must continue. There are over six lakh students, the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar, said.

In any case, it is very difficult to disturb the result, it said while refusing to accept the submission of counsel appearing for the petitioners who said that three sets of question papers were given to the candidates in the exam in Andhra Pradesh.

The counsel contended that NEET 2017 examination has to be nullified and conducted afresh.

Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, appearing for Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), opposed the contentions saying besides English and Hindi, the exam was conducted in eight vernacular languages for the first time.

The level of difficulty of questions were the same in all the languages. We will put it in affidavit that there were two sets of question papers. Around 1.48 lakh candidates have given the exam in vernacular languages and it was to avoid leakage of question papers, Singh told the bench.

The petitioners argued that the all-India ranking was given in the NEET exam which postulates that every candidate should get the same question paper.

What has been done is completely unlawful. How can there be all-India ranking when students are given different sets of question papers, the counsel asked.

However, the bench said it would first go through CBSEs affidavit and asked the board to file it within three days.

At the fag end of hearing, the counsel for petitioners referred to an order of the apex court on June 12 saying the declaration of result and admission shall be subject to the decision in the matter pending before it.

However, the bench said, The order is there. We are not vacating it. We will not pass any order today.

The bench has listed the matter for hearing on July 31.

The top court had on June 12 stayed the Madras High Court order which had restrained CBSE from publishing the results. CBSE had declared the result on June 23.


Washington, Feb 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Feb, 2021 ) :US forces in Syria are focused on fighting the remnants of the Islamic State group and are not guarding oil fields as previously ordered by ex-president Donald Trump, a US defense official said Monday.

Since a US firm contracted last year with the Kurds in northern Syria to help exploit northeastern Syria oil reserves, US troops are not involved, said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.

The 900 US military personnel and contractors in the region "are not authorized to provide assistance to any other private company, including its employees or agents, seeking to develop oil resources in Syria," said Kirby.

The only exception is when US troops in Syria are operating under existing authorizations to protect civilians, he said, which could explain the continuing presence of US forces around the area of the oil fields.

"It's important to remember that our mission there remains to enable the enduring defeat of ISIS," he said, referring to the Islamic State.

The shift is more a change in tone by the new US President Joe Biden from Trump's policy for the decade-old Syrian civil war.

The main oil fields are in territory in the country's northeast, a region where the US-allied Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces hold sway and depend on the oil for income.

In 2019, after the Syria-Iraq Islamic State "caliphate" was crushed by US and allied forces, Trump declared that US troops would mostly withdraw from the country, leaving behind a residual force to "protect" the oil.

US officials said at the time that they were there to prevent the oil fields from falling into the hands of extremists.

The next year a previously unknown US oil company, Delta Crescent Energy, signed a deal with the Kurds to exploit the oil deposits.
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The leader of international experts investigating the origins of COVID-19 in China says they saw no evidence of large outbreaks of the disease prior to its December 2019 discovery in the city of Wuhan.

Peter Ben Embarek, an expert in viral illnesses for the World Health Organization, said Tuesday in Wuhan that his teams findings indicate COVID-19 probably originated in bats, but says it is unlikely the bats were in Wuhan.

The team visited the citys Huanan Seafood Market, which was initially believed to be the epicenter of the outbreak, the Wuhan Institute of Virology and laboratories at state facilities, including the Wuhan Center for Disease Control.

Embarek said at a news conference the theory that the virus leaked from a laboratory is extremely unlikely, and that his team will not investigate it further.

Embarek said the most likely pathway for the virus was a crossover into humans from an intermediary species, which he said could have been very convoluted. He also said the idea that COVID-19 can be transmitted through trade in frozen products is possible.

WHO Urges Measures to Stop Spread of COVID-19 Amid Vaccinations Warning comes after South Africa suspends their vaccine campaign, citing concerns it was not as effective against variants

Dr. Liang Wannian, an expert with Chinas Health Commission, told reporters at the briefing the novel coronavirus could have been circulating in other regions before it was officially identified in Wuhan.

The WHO dispatched Embarek and his 10-member team to Wuhan last month to track down the source of the virus, which has killed more than 2.3 million people among more than 106 million infected worldwide.

Monday the WHO expressed concern about new reports that vaccines against the coronavirus may not sufficiently protect against new variants.

On Sunday, South Africa suspended its vaccination campaign against COVID-19 after a new study revealed that the AstraZeneca vaccine it was using is less effective against a variant of the virus found in the country.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday at a media briefing that the decision is a reminder that we need to do everything we can to reduce circulation of the virus with proven public health measures.

The study, conducted by the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and not yet peer reviewed, concluded that the British vaccine offered only "limited protection against moderate forms of the disease caused by the South African variant, in young adults."

WHO to Review AstraZeneca Vaccine after South Africa Halts Vaccinations Tedros calls study suggesting vaccine minimally effective against the South African variant 'concerning'

The news was a blow to South Africa, which has seen more than 46,000 people die from the virus. It had planned to begin inoculating its population with a million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the coming days. But the study found that the vaccine was only 22% effective in moderate cases of the South African variant of the disease.

The study did not explore the vaccines effect against severe cases. The variant has been found in at least 32 other countries, including the United States.

AstraZeneca said Sunday it was developing another vaccine that would be more effective against the South African variant, which could be expected by this autumn.

But WHOs chief scientist, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, cautioned Monday that countries should not assume the AstraZeneca vaccine does not work, noting that all available evidence shows that vaccines reduce death, hospitalizations and severe disease.
Demonstrators against Myanmar's military takeover took to the streets again on Tuesday in defiance of new rules that make their protests illegal.

Police were arresting protesters and using water cannons to try to disperse the crowd in Mandalay, and a crowd also gathered in Yangon despite a heightened security presence.

The decrees issued Monday night for some areas of the two cities banned rallies and gatherings of more than five people, along with motorized processions, while also imposing a 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew.

Yangon is Myanmar's biggest city and Mandalay its second, where thousands of people have been demonstrating since Saturday. It was not immediately clear if regulations have been imposed for other areas.

The protesters are demanding that power be restored to the deposed civilian government and seek freedom for the nation's elected leader and other ruling party members detained when the military blocked the new session of Parliament from convening on February 1.

In addition to the crowds in Yangon and Mandalay, demonstrations were also held in other cities, including Bago and Dawei, and in northern Shan state.

The growing defiance was striking in a country where past demonstrations have been met with deadly force and are a reminder of previous movements in the Southeast Asian country's long and bloody struggle for democracy.

On Sunday, tens of thousands of protesters rallied at Yangon's Sule Pagoda, which was a focal point of demonstrations against military rule during a massive 1988 uprising and again during a 2007 revolt led by Buddhist monks. The military used deadly force to end both of those uprisings.

State media for the first time on Monday referred to the protests, claiming they were endangering the country's stability.

Democracy can be destroyed if there is no discipline, declared a statement from the Ministry of Information, read on state television station MRTV. We will have to take legal actions to prevent acts that are violating state stability, public safety and the rule of law.

However, the military commander who led the and is now Myanmar's leader made no mention of the unrest in a 20-minute televised speech Monday night, his first to the public since the takeover.

Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing instead repeated the claims about voting fraud that have been the justification for the military's takeover, allegations that were refuted by the state election commission. He added that his junta would hold new elections as promised in a year and hand over power to the winners, and explained the junta's intended policies for COVID-19 control and the economy.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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At its core, medicine is about a relationship between patients and health care workers. This bond between the sick and those who care for them transcends conventional boundaries and restrictions. Health care workers often witness the most profoundly intimate moments of complete strangers lives. We see patients in their most raw and vulnerable states. Patients, in turn, allow us into their lives and put their health and welfare in our hands. Like any good relationship, this one is based on mutual trust.

Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has strained this relationship to its breaking point. Health care workers are utterly depleted physically, mentally, and psychologically. But at the root of our exhaustion is a sense that the trust that sustains our connection to our patients has been broken. When the pandemic first hit almost a year ago, there was an appreciation of partnership between those who worked in health care and the general public. Health care professionals continued to show up and care for the sick, despite the risk of contracting and transmitting a potentially fatal virus. In return, everyone else endeavored to do their part by quarantining, slowing transmission, and keeping hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. Health care workers were called heroes. Video tributes to frontline workers populated the internet. People donated supplies and sewed homemade masks to ensure that we had adequate personal protective equipment at work. It was a difficult time for everyone, but this difficulty was mitigated by the sense that this was a shared struggle and that we would all help one another.

But this sense of community would not last. Society could not tolerate prolonged isolation and restrictions. People began to chafe at admonitions to wear masks and avoid social contact, despite growing evidence that these were the most effective measures to decrease disease transmission. Misinformation proliferated rapidly. Instead of tributes to health care workers, the internet was now populated with conspiracy theories regarding the viruss origin, distribution, and severity. Soon, what should have been a public health crisis became a political one. Elected leaders openly challenged the recommendations of scientists and health experts. The President of the United States publicly accused doctors and hospitals of misreporting COVID-19 fatalities for financial gain. After several months, there was a prevailing sense that Americans were simply tired of doing this.

But the virus did not get tired. As patience with social distancing waned, COVID-19 continued to surge all around the country. Hospitals in both major urban areas and remote rural locations were overwhelmed as they struggled to care for sick COVID-19 patients on top of all the other medical maladies that keep our system close to capacity at baseline. Being constantly exposed to infectious patients, health care workers were unsurprisingly much more likely to fall ill from COVID-19 themselves. Many hospitals and practices experienced staff shortages, forcing other employees to work more in the place of their ill colleagues.

The personal toll that this year has taken on those of us who provide care is difficult to quantify. Out of fear of transmitting a deadly disease to their loved ones, many who work in health care have spent long periods of time physically isolated from their friends and family. Despite the efforts and sacrifices that these professionals have made for their patients, COVID-19 continues to spread at an unrelenting pace. The job that we once loved for its human contact has now become a demoralizing slog of attempting to provide patient care from behind plastic gowns and face masks. The public who called us heroes now seems steeped in misinformation, distrust, and conspiracy theories. In the news and on social media, we face a barrage of disrespect, attacks, and even threats of violence from those who believe us to be complicit in a nefarious plot to use this disease to undermine individual liberties. During this past holiday season, exhausted health care workers, many of whom have not seen their own families in almost a year, watched as millions of Americans traveled to and from COVID-19 hotspots to have unmasked gatherings with their family members in unventilated, indoor spaces.

It is difficult to say where we will go from here. Even when COVID-19 has finally abated, there will remain a lingering sense of mutual distrust between those who work in medicine and the public at large. Ultimately, this job is probably not worth doing without the profound human connection that has become so frayed in the past year. I fear that many seasoned practitioners will burn out and leave medicine altogether. There will always be a demand for medical care and thus a role for those willing to provide that care, but there is something special that has been lost in this connection during the past year. As with any damaged relationship, it will take time to repair.

Brendan James Flanagan is an emergency physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
(Newser)  The family of the 20-year-old college student who committed suicide after seeing his Robinhood account was apparently in the red to the tune of more than $700,000 is now suing the trading app. Alex Kearns committed suicide in June after seeing the alarming figure, and his family says he first tried three times to contact customer service about the issuebut was met with automated responses each time. They are now suing the company for wrongful death, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and unfair business practices. The site uses "aggressive tactics and strategy to lure inexperienced and unsophisticated investors," the Illinois family's lawsuit says, per CNBC. His parents tell CBS News their son was somehow allowed to trade options, which is quite risky and can lead to big lossesbut he likely didn't actually owe the money he thought he'd lost; in fact, the family lawyers believe he may have actually made a profit.

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Kearns was alarmed after getting an email from Robinhood saying he needed to make a payment of more than $170,000 and demanding "immediate action." But when his attempts to contact customer service resulted in no help, he took his life in an attempt to shield his family from what he thought he owed. The next day, Robinhood sent another automated emailthis one suggesting the matter had been resolved. "Great news!" it said. "We're reaching out to confirm that you've met your margin call and we've lifted your trade restrictions." The family's lawyers say that due to the way the options bets were structured, Kearns may have been able to make money had he cashed in other options he'd purchased. "The information they gave him was just incredibly skewed," one says, and there was no way to get live help from an actual human being. Robinhood has since come under even more scrutiny, due to what some say is a "gamification" of trading, plus actions the company took during the recent GameStop/Reddit trading saga. (Read more Robinhood stories.)
In an evening session on Monday, the Chicago Teachers Union's House of Delegates voted 85 to 13 percent in favor of a sellout deal to resume in-person instruction in school buildings, threatening untold numbers of teachers, students and parents with infection and death. The decision sends the deal to Chicago teachers for a membership vote, scheduled to last through midnight Tuesday.

Chicago teachers protesting unsafe working conditions. (Photo: Twitter @CTULocal1)

The agreement, announced by the CTU Sunday evening, would reopen in-person classes for kindergarten and special education classes as early as Thursday, with staggered reopenings for different grades lasting through March 8. The phased reopening, designed to break the unity of teachers by dividing them by grade levels, means that schools will fully open for in-person classes just as the new, more dangerous strains of COVID-19 are expected to become the dominant form of the virus in the United States. This is will lead to new surges of infections and deaths as public schools become major vectors of transmission.

Teachers will have access only to a slow trickle of 1,500 vaccinations per week, meaning some teachers will not receive vaccinations until close to the end of the school year. For those who are ineligible for accommodations but do not want to risk infection by returning to classrooms, the deal offers them only unpaid leave. The agreement also includes no guarantees of back pay for teachers who have been denied pay for continuing to teach their classes remotely in defiance of the orders of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) in early January.

That the union is even sending this deal to a vote exposes the sham of the supposed democratic process of the CTU. In negotiating this agreement, the union acted entirely outside of the mandate of the teachers, who want to continue with remote-only instruction to keep students and teachers safe. Instead, the CTU is imposing the mandate of the Democratic Party and the Lightfoot administration over and against the teachers.

The vote is also a devastating exposure of the pseudo-left forces, grouped around the Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators faction, which have controlled and supported the CTU leadership for the last decade. For years, groups like the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have held up the CTU as a model of rank-and-file unionism to be emulated around the country. However, they have discredited themselves as agents of the capitalist ruling class.

In a pathetic maneuver, the House of Delegates also voted in favor of a no-confidence resolution in Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the leadership of Chicago Public Schools. This vote, which has no binding effect whatsoever, is meant to cover for the fact that the same body voted overwhelmingly to refer a deal to the membership that accepts virtually all of the city's demands.

The battle lines are becoming increasingly clear. On the one hand, the top priority of the Biden administration and the Democratic Party, with the support of the unions, is to reopen the schools as part of their rush to reopen the economy no matter the cost in human life. While Democrats are moving forward with school reopenings in other major cities such as New York (where the teachers union announced a deal to return to classes on February 25), Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit, Philadelphia and others, Chicago is the tip of the spear of the offensive. Biden, the Democrats and the entire ruling class know full well that successful resistance by teachers in Chicago will encourage counter-offensives by teachers everywhere.

On the other side of the trenches, there is enormous opposition to the deal among teachers, who are determined to fight to continue remote learning to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, which was set up last month, issued a statement, Vote No on the CTU-CPS plan to reopen Chicago schools! Saving lives is non-negotiable! which denounced the deal as an abject surrender that must be rejected.

This reopening plan, the committee said, is a deliberate decision to place the lives of teachers, students and their families at risk. CTU President Jesse Sharkey and the entire leadership are functioning as accomplices in a policy of social murder. They have made this decision as the death toll in the US moves towards half a million, with more infectious and more lethal variants of the virus spreading rapidly throughout the country.

The CTU leaders are not asking teachers to ratify a contract, they're asking teachers to sign their own death warrants. They have lost all credibility and forfeited any claim on the loyalty of teachers. This proposal should never have been negotiated, let alone presented to the membership for ratification.

Urging teachers to reject the deal, the committee said educators should reach out to workers throughout the city, the region, the country and beyond to stand with us in solidarity and oppose any and all efforts by Lightfoot to use legal action to intimidate us.

Chicago teachers enjoy widespread support in the working class throughout the United States and around the world. Several teachers in Philadelphia, who took job action yesterday against their own district's move to reopen, contacted to the World Socialist Web Site to express their support. Know that we are with you and are sharing widely with our family and friends. We support you and thank you for being leaders in the fight for safe schools! said one.

The WSWS has also received statements in support of Chicago teachers from around the country and from all over the world. Foolish policies that unnecessarily endanger the lives of people, in this case school staff, students & their families, should be opposed, a worker from Finland wrote. The pandemic is not under control, and schools are shown to show a role in spread of the virus through communities. Safety, backed with science, should bring before stubborn attempt to return to normalcy. The school staff in Chicago have my full support.

The struggle by Chicago teachers is unfolding as part of an international movement of teachers against premature school reopenings. Yesterday, 180,000 Brazilian teachers in the city of Sao Paulo, the largest school district in the Western Hemisphere, began a strike against the partial resumption of in-person learning.

While the CTU leadership voted by a wide margin to approve the deal, there is enormous anxiety within the union bureaucracy, the Democratic Party and the American ruling class that they may be unable to force the contract through. A worried report yesterday morning in the Chicago Sun-Times described the response by teachers as mixed, and one Chicago-area education reporter said that only one out of seven teachers she had spoken to supported the deal.

In an all-membership meeting Sunday night, CTU President Jesse Sharkey dredged up every specious reason he could as to why teachers should not strike, even citing the cold weather in one of coldest large cities in the United States. Sharkey also referred to the potential intervention against the strike by the courts, threatening that teachers could face fines and legal repercussions.

If there is such an intervention by the capitalist state against either a strike or teachers refusal to return to classrooms, it is the responsibility of the entire working class in the city of Chicago to come to the defense of those who educate their children by preparing for a general strike to defeat the attacks on teachers. While there is immense support for a united struggle, this is precisely what the CTU wants to avoid. In passing on these threats it is functioning as the mouthpiece of the administration of Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Biden administration.

Within the union, the media and the political establishment there is a maximum pressure campaign underway to bully teachers into accepting the deal. Initial media reports of the tentative agreement treated the deal virtually as a fait accompli, even though it has to be approved by the membership. Even before teachers or even the House of Delegates had the opportunity to vote on the deal, CPS has been treating the agreement as already ratified. On Monday, it began sending out emails to teachers who had requested health accommodations demanding that they reply within 48 hours to choose between remote learning or getting vaccinated.

In working with the CTU, the Democratic Party is pursuing a definite political strategy. While they, no less than Trump and the Republicans, are prepared to use the full repressive powers of the state to force schools to reopen, they prefer to utilize the services of the unions in an effort to strangle the opposition of teachers and enforce their demands with the bogus imprimatur of collective bargaining.

This was spelled out explicitly in a profile of American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten published yesterday by the New York Times. In The Union Leader Who Says She Can Get Teachers Back in Schools, the newspaper said Weingarten spends 15 hours per day on the phone with local labor leaders, mayors, the White House, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventiontrying to figure out how to reopen the three-quarters of school systems that remain fully or partially shuttered. In the days leading up to the Chicago deal, the newspaper said, the AFT leader was in constant contact with the mayor, school officials and CTU leaders.

Reopening schools is something [Weingarten] thinks can be accomplished safely even before teachers are widely vaccinated, provided certain conditions are met, such as in-school virus testing, according to the Times. Whether she can do so will be a major test of her own leadership, and of her ability to deliver a win for Mr. Biden, who has said open schools are critical both for children and the economy.

While the Biden administration, with the assistance of the AFT and CTU, wants to sacrifice teachers and students for corporate profit, educators in Chicago and across the country, like their counterparts in Brazil and around the world, are fighting for science and to save lives.

The Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee is holding a meeting at 7pm CST Tuesday night, Feb. 9, to discuss the TA and mobilize opposition to the deadly reopening of schools. Register now and share this link with your coworkers to build the committee! All teachers, support staff and supporters should join the network of Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - Minaurum Gold, Inc. (TSXV: MGG) ("Minaurum") is pleased to announce the final results of its 2020 Phase II drilling program at its Alamos silver project in Sonora, Mexico. Drilling at the Europa-Guadalupe target outlined a prospective south-west ("SW") plunging silver shoot along with the potential for additional high-grade mineralization to the north and south of the area drilled. At the Promontorio target, drilling returned high-grade mineralization in excess of 100m below historical workings, indicating the potential for two SW-plunging silver shoots. Highlights include:

Promontorio zone:

3.70 m @ 528 g/t Ag, 0.8 g/t Au, 0.83% Cu, 2.43% Pb, 1.47% Zn , including 1.05 m @ 1,203 g/t Ag, 2.45 g/t Au, 1.42% Cu, 5.08% Pb, 2.80% Zn in hole AL20-064

0.8 g/t Au, 0.83% Cu, 2.43% Pb, 1.47% Zn 2.45 g/t Au, 1.42% Cu, 5.08% Pb, 2.80% Zn in hole AL20-064 4.00 m @ 161 g/t Ag, 0.5 g/t Au, 0.24% Cu, 2.15% Pb, 5.92% Zn, including 1.00 m @ 327 g/t Ag, 0.9 g/t Au, 0.23% Cu, 2.53% Pb, 6.62% Zn in hole AL20-069

Europa-Guadalupe zone:

3.85 m @ 342 g/t Ag , 0.76% Cu, 1.03% Zn; including 0.80 m @ 1,185 g/t Ag , 2.19% Cu, 1.2% Zn in hole AL20-054

, 0.76% Cu, 1.03% Zn; , 2.19% Cu, 1.2% Zn in hole AL20-054 3.25 m @ 196 g/t Ag, 0.26% Cu, 0.35% Pb, 1.10% Zn including 0.55 m @ 784 g/t Ag, 1.05% Cu, and 2.49% Zn in hole AL20-050

San Jose zone:

4.45 m @ 314 g/t Ag , 0.27% Cu, 0.19% Pb, 0.2% Zn in hole AL20-066

, 0.27% Cu, 0.19% Pb, 0.2% Zn in hole AL20-066 2.15 m @ 460 g/t Ag, 0.15% Cu, 0.47% Pb, 0.85% Zn in hole AL20-075

Travesia zone:

4.40 m @ 210 g/t Ag, 0.59% Cu, 1.28% Pb, 1.30% Zn, including 0.90 m @ 355 g/t Ag, 0.7 g/t Au, 1.02% Cu, 4.65% Pb, 3.24% Zn in hole AL20-077

"We are pleased by the high-grade results being returned from multiple veins at the Alamos project. While drilling was impacted by the ongoing pandemic and permitting delays at the Europa-Guadalupe target, we are encouraged by results demonstrating considerable potential along strike and down dip at our top vein targets," stated Darrell Rader, President and CEO of Minaurum. "We are finalizing plans for 2021 drilling and will be updating the market shortly."

Promontorio Vein Zone

The reported holes were drilled as 75 to 100 m step-outs along strike and down-dip of previous drilling. Please refer to Figures 2 and 3 for locations of Promontorio zone drill holes and mineralized intersections. Assay highlights for these holes appear in Table 1.

Mineralization at Promontorio is associated with massive quartz veining hosted by a NNE-striking, 75-degree WNW-dipping fault zone. Elevated gold values and high grades of lead and zinc appear to be related to a separate pulse of mineralization that post-dates the silver-copper stage at Promontorio. Further potential lies in southwest-plunging shoots like the major shoot at the La Quintera mine, which lies on the same structure, about 1 km north of Promontorio (Figure 3).

Las Guijas section

The Las Guijas section of the Promontorio zone refers to a split off the main Promontorio vein/fault zone. Holes AL20-069 and AL20-070 followed up on holes AL19-025 and AL19-034 (see New Release dated August 22nd, 2019), drilling the Las Guijas zone about 75 and 125 m north, respectively. AL20-069 drilled 2 intervals of significant mineralization, including 1.0 m @ 327 g/t Ag, 0.97 g/t Au, and 9.5% combined base metals; and 0.45 m @ 403 g/t Ag, 1.89 g/t Au, and 22% combined base metals. AL20-070 cut the Las Guijas vein split at an oblique angle and encountered three weakly mineralized veins. The intercept in AL19-034 (1.1 m @ 729 g/t Ag) lies about 100 m below the AL19-025 and 50 m below the AL20-069 intercepts, suggesting a potential SW-plunging shoot, as shown in Figure 3. The potential shoot may be controlled in part by a NW-SE trending shoot that cuts the Promontorio zone.

Veta Grande section

Veta Grande, which occurs along the main Promontorio normal fault, dips 75 to 80 degrees to the west. The fault cuts a package of altered limestone intruded by a Laramide granitic complex with overlying Tertiary andesitic volcanic rocks and has estimated displacement of a few hundred metres. Holes AL20-043, -044, -046, and -048 stepped 75 and 150 m north of holes AL17-004 and -005 (see News Release dated October 13th, 2020). Holes AL20-062, -064, and -065 drilled the Veta Grande structure about 50 m to the south of the AL17-004 and -005 section.Hole AL20-064 cut 3.7 m @ 528 g/t Ag. Holes AL20-058 and -060 cut the Veta Grande section about 100 m north of AL20-046 and -048. These holes intersected considerable thicknesses of anomalous mineralized quartz vein. As in the Las Guijas area, the Veta Grande section has room for a southwest-plunging shoot, as shown in Figure 3.

Dios Padre section

The Dios Padre shaft was sunk in the 1890s to the level of the north end of the Promontorio adit. Minaurum drilled three holes (AL20-072, -074, and -076) to test the Promontorio vein zone in the vicinity of the Dios Padre shaft in 2020. Each of the veins encountered significant thicknesses of quartz vein hosting anomalous silver mineralization.

Europa-Guadalupe Vein Zone

The holes reported here are the vertical and lateral offsets of AL17-007 and subsequent drilling reported in News Release dated September 20th, 2020. The reported holes were drilled as 75 to 100 m step-outs along strike and down-dip of previous drilling. Assay highlights for the holes appear in Table 2. Drilling indicates the potential for a south-west plunging mineralized shoot, as shown in Figure 5.

Down-dip from AL17-007 intersection

Three holes were aimed to intersect the Europa-Guadalupe zone down-dip from the AL07-007 intercept (see News Release dated January 18th, 2018). Hole AL20-050 cut the vein zone about 100 m down dip and 40 m to the north of -007. The vein was faulted but returned 0.55 m @ 784 g/t Ag. Hole -052 aimed to intersect the projection of the Europa-Guadalupe zone about 200 m down-dip from the -007 intercept; it cut a previously unknown granodiorite which had a 25 m-wide quartz-chlorite alteration zone at the predicted vein depth. Hole -055 targeted the vein zone about 60 south and 60 m down-dip of the -007 intercept and cut 21.20 m of variably mineralized vein averaging 35 g/t Ag. The best sub-interval reported 0.90 m @ 136 g/t Ag and 0.95 m @ 105 g/t Ag.

Up-dip of AL20-047 intercept

Holes AL20-049A and AL20-051 cut the Europa-Guadalupe vein zone approximately 100 m and 200 m up-dip, respectively, of the intercept reported in hole AL20-047 (see News Release dated September 20th, 2020), about 100 m south of the AL17-007 section. Hole -049A cut 4 separate mineralized intervals in the vein zone, including 1.55 m @ 221 g/t Ag and 3.37% combined Cu+Pb+Zn. Hole -051 intersected a 7.70-m interval averaging 97 g/t Ag, including 1.45 m @ 245 g/t Ag and 0.96% combined Cu+Pb+Zn. Grade and thickness of mineralized intercepts increase down-dip from AL20-051 through AL20-049A to AL20-047 and AL17-007.

Northern extension

Hole AL20-045 intersected the Europa-Guadalupe fault zone about 100 m north of the AL17-007 intersection but the vein was cut out by a thick fault-bounded pre-mineral felsite body at the predicted depth. The dimensions of the felsite are unknown, and the vein may continue past it to the north. This area will be tested in the upcoming 2021 drill program.

Southern part of Europa zone

Holes AL20-053, -054, and -056 targeted intersected the vein zone 450 m south of the AL17-007 intersection and 100 to 200 m down dip from the vein zone's surface expression. Hole -053 cut 3.85 m @ 165 g/t Ag, while hole -054 intersected 3.85 m @ 342 g/t Ag. Hole -056 cut 4.70 m @ 47 g/t Ag, including 0.40 m @ 286 g/t Ag and 1.07% Cu, within the granodiorite in the footwall of the main vein zone.

San Jose Vein Zone

The San Jose vein/fault zone has been traced on surface for more than 3.5 km and the reported holes were drilled as 75 to 100 m step-outs along strike and down-dip of previous drilling (see News Release dated March 1st, 2019). Please refer to Figures 6 and 7 and Table 3 for locations of San Jose zone drill holes and mineralized intersections.

San Jose shaft section

In 2020 the San Jose shaft section saw drilling down dip of hydrothermal/tectonic breccia containing fragments of mineralized vein material intersected in holes AL18-016 and AL19-029 (see News Release dated March 1st, 2019 and August 22nd, 2019). Holes AL20-057 and -059 were drilled down dip from AL19-029; they intersected only weak silver and base-metal mineralization related to quartz-chlorite alteration and hydrothermal/tectonic breccia. Holes AL20-061 and -063 drilled down-dip from AL18-016, which drilled under the San Jose shaft. Hole -061 cut only weak mineralization, while AL20-063 cut 2.05 m grading 1.48 g/t Au in a strongly chlorite-altered fault zone.

Plata Fina section of the San Jose zone

Three holes were drilled on the Plata Fina section in 2020: AL20-066, -068, and -071. Hole AL20-066 intersected 4.45 m @ 314 g/t Ag, hosted by hydrothermal breccia completely within granodiorite. Hole -068 cut similar breccia about 70 m to the north of the -066 intercept, but with only weak mineralization.

La Huerta section of the San Jose zone

The northernmost part of the San Jose vein zone, the La Huerta section, was first tested by Minaurum with hole AL18-015, which returned 9.6 m of 198 g/t Ag, 0.9 m of 302 g/t Ag, and 2.05 m of 181 g/t Ag from separate intervals (see News Release dated March 1st, 2019). Two holes were drilled to offset the -015 intersections. Hole AL20-073 was drilled from the same collar, but aimed to the southwest. It intersected 3.05 m @ 168 g/t, including 0.60 m @ 645 g/t Ag. Hole AL20-075, drilled from the same collar as -015 and -073, but below -015. It cut broad zones of moderate mineralization, punctuated by 8.90 m @ 143 g/t Ag, which includes 0.80 m @ 350 g/t and 2.15 m @ 460 g/t Ag. Mineralization is open at depth and along strike.

Travesia Vein Zone

The Travesia vein/fault zone is the northern continuation of the Promontorio zone and has been traced on surface for more than one km. The fault zone dips steeply to the west with the west side dropped down. The holes reported here are the vertical and lateral offsets of hole AL17-008 (see News Release dated January 18th, 2018). Please refer to Figure 8 for locations of Travesia zone drill holes and mineralized intersections. Assay highlights for these holes appear in Table 4.

Hole AL20-077 intersected the Travesia zone roughly 100 m below the AL17-008 intersection. It cut 4.40 m @ 210 g/t Ag and 3.17% combined base metals, andesitic pyroclastic rocks in the hanging wall and intrusive rocks in holes AL17-008 and AL20-077. AL20-078 cut the Travesia zone about 150 m north of the AL17-008 - AL20-077 section and intersected 1.0 m @ 81 g/t Ag. Hole AL20-079 drilled the Travesia zone approximately 100 m south of the -077 intersection. It cut a 7.50-m mineralized interval averaging 69 g/t Ag and 0.29% Cu that includes 0.90 m of 148 g/t Ag and 0.43% Cu.

Phase II Drilling Program

Phase II drilling started in mid-July of 2020. During 2020, Minaurum drilled 14,099 m in 40 holes, using 2 man-portable drill rigs. Drilling concentrated on the Europa-Guadalupe and Promontorio vein zones, with additional follow-up holes on the San Jose and Travesia zones. Results for the first 8 holes of the Phase II program were reported in Minaurum News Releases dated September 24th, 2020 and October 13th, 2020. The Phase II program is slated to continue in 2021, pending an improvement in COVID pandemic conditions in the Alamos region.

Table 1. Promontorio vein zone assay highlights of holes AL20-58, AL20-060, AL20-062, AL20-064, AL20-065, AL20-067, AL20-069, AL20-070, AL20-072, AL20-074, and AL20-076. See Figures 2 and 3 for hole and intercept locations. Hole depths in metres. True thicknesses of the intersections in Table 1 are estimated as 60-80% of drilled thicknesses.

Hole From To Interval Ag g/t Au_g/t Cu % Pb % Zn % Comment AL20-058 141.20 142.85 1.65 97 0.33 0.66 0.01 0.10 Veta Grande

segment AL20-060 176.30 176.80 0.50 115 0.03 0.29 0.02 0.03 Veta Grande

segment AL20-062 158.85 161.00 2.15 23 0.15 0.07 0.32 0.86 Veta Grande

segment AL20-064 292.80 296.50 3.70 528 0.82 0.83 2.43 1.47 Veta Grande

segment including 293.65 295.85 2.20 756 1.28 1.05 3.29 1.86 which includes 293.65 294.70 1.05 1203 2.45 1.42 5.08 2.80 AL20-065 253.25 254.45 1.20 12 0.01 0.04 0.20 0.13 Veta Grande

segment AL20-067 115.50 115.90 0.40 59 0.28 0.4 0.06 0.77 Veta Grande

segment AL20-069 82.35 98.60 16.25 69 0.14 0.1 0.81 3.36 Las Guijas

segment including 90.20 94.20 4.00 161 0.49 0.24 2.15 5.92 which includes 92.20 93.20 1.00 327 0.97 0.23 2.53 6.62 142.20 149.15 6.95 74 0.20 0.57 0.79 1.63 including 146.40 149.15 2.75 110 0.43 0.96 1.70 3.61 which includes 148.00 148.45 0.45 403 1.89 4.38 8.20 9.66 AL20-070 101.45 104.20 2.75 12 0.04 0.01 0.51 2.57 Las Guijas

segment 130.55 130.95 0.40 3 0.81 0.02 0.03 0.03 172.45 174.30 1.85 90 0.15 0.18 1.24 0.90 AL20-072 173.00 173.60 0.60 58 0.00 0.47 0.06 0.03 Dios Padre

segment AL20-074 190.35 192.45 2.10 49 0.47 0.18 0.01 0.03 Dios Padre

segment AL20-076 184.25 184.90 0.65 27 1.71 0.14 0.1 0.12 Dios Padre

segment

Table 2. Europa-Guadalupe vein zone assay highlights of holes AL20-049A, AL20-050, AL20-051, AL20-052, AL20-053, AL20-054, AL20-055, and AL20-056. See Figures 2 and 3 for hole and intercept locations. Hole depths in metres. True thicknesses of the intersections in Table 1 are estimated as 80-90% of drilled thicknesses.

Hole From To Interval Ag g/t Au_g/t Cu % Pb % Zn % Comment AL20-049A 190.70 191.45 0.75 116 0.01 0.38 0.13 0.34 Europa

shallow 233.45 235.00 1.55 221 0.02 0.69 0.82 1.86 262.80 263.15 0.35 233 0.01 0.37 0.24 1.40 278.10 279.80 1.70 96 0.03 0.26 1.52 2.73 AL20-050 333.10 333.60 0.50 337 0.05 0.60 0.99 1.33 Europa

deep 556.05 559.30 3.25 196 0.02 0.26 0.35 1.10 including 558.75 559.30 0.55 784 0.04 1.05 0.78 2.49 AL20-051 214.95 216.80 1.85 91 0.01 0.29 0.25 0.69 Europa

shallow including 214.95 215.40 0.45 142 0.04 0.60 0.43 1.25 227.70 235.40 7.70 97 <0.01 0.17 0.13 0.34 including 227.70 231.80 4.10 147 <0.01 0.26 0.16 0.44 which includes 230.35 231.80 1.45 245 <0.01 0.32 0.32 0.32 AL20-052 295.60 295.95 0.35 77 <0.01 0.38 0.02 0.02 Nueva

Europa 306.90 307.30 0.40 106 <0.01 0.36 0.02 0.03 AL20-053 136.65 146.20 9.55 92 0.01 0.13 0.22 0.53 Europa

shallow including 139.50 143.35 3.85 165 0.02 0.20 0.32 1.01 AL20-054 88.10 91.95 3.85 342 0.18 0.76 0.30 1.03 Europa

shallow including 90.30 91.10 0.80 1185 0.55 2.19 0.33 1.20 128.95 129.80 0.85 80 0.01 0.16 0.04 0.06 141.50 142.60 1.10 61 <0.01 0.17 0.16 0.41 AL20-055 352.00 352.30 0.30 1475 0.03 0.33 3.64 9.55 Europa 488.40 509.60 21.20 35 0.02 0.14 0.11 0.43 Europa

deep including 495.25 496.15 0.90 136 0.01 0.27 0.07 0.18 and 507.70 508.65 0.95 105 0.01 0.27 0.25 1.15 and 509.15 509.60 0.45 53 0.48 0.19 0.36 0.69 AL20-056 213.40 218.10 4.70 75 0.03 0.19 0.11 0.21 Europa

shallow including 213.40 213.80 0.40 286 0.02 1.07 0.27 0.58 and 217.05 218.10 1.05 136 0.11 0.33 0.18 0.51 236.35 237.00 0.65 46 0.06 0.17 0.45 0.31

Table 3. San Jose vein zone assay highlights of holes AL20-57, AL20-059, AL20-061, AL20-063, AL20-066, AL20-071, AL20-073, and AL20-075. See Figures 4 and 5 for hole and intercept locations. Hole depths in metres. True thicknesses of the intersections in Table 2 are estimated as 80-90% of drilled thicknesses.

Hole From To Interval Ag g/t Au_g/t Cu % Pb % Zn % Comment AL20-057 184.90 186.70 1.80 3 0.14 <0.01 0.84 0.5 South San

Jose 206.90 208.95 2.05 3 0.67 0.01 0.05 0.16 222.00 223.00 1.00 14 0.03 0.03 0.79 0.62 225.55 227.00 1.45 7 0.02 0.08 0.63 0.32 AL20-061 328.05 328.95 0.90 44 0.01 0.08 <0.01 0.01 San Jose

shaft area AL20-063 206.70 209.30 2.60 16 0.47 0.15 0.04 0.06 San Jose

shaft area 211.50 213.25 1.75 46 0.24 0.26 0.01 0.06 221.25 223.30 2.05 17 1.48 0.08 0.05 0.09 AL20-066 193.50 197.95 4.45 314 0.07 0.27 0.19 0.2 Plata Fina

area including 193.50 194.10 0.60 722 0.10 0.31 0.22 0.21 and 195.20 197.95 2.75 349 0.08 0.36 0.25 0.26 which includes 195.75 196.40 0.65 722 0.12 0.64 0.4 0.37 AL20-073 9.15 13.35 4.20 55 <0.01 0.07 0.02 0.07 La Huerta including 10.20 11.20 1.00 110 <0.01 0.25 0.06 0.16 55.40 58.45 3.05 168 0.01 0.12 0.39 0.57 including 55.40 56.00 0.60 645 0.03 0.53 1.76 2.65 107.80 112.85 5.05 38 <0.01 0.03 0.09 0.12 AL20-075 14.50 15.60 1.10 148 0.01 0.23 0.35 0.43 La Huerta 68.80 72.35 3.55 100 0.01 0.08 0.08 0.18 including 69.40 70.15 0.75 133 0.04 0.33 0.28 0.66 142.60 151.50 8.90 143 0.04 0.16 0.37 0.49 including 147.20 148.00 0.80 350 0.07 0.18 0.75 0.98 381.20 383.35 2.15 460 0.01 0.15 0.47 0.85 including 381.20 382.80 1.60 591 0.01 0.2 0.6 1.02

Table 4. Travesia vein zone assay highlights of holes AL20-077, AL20-078, and AL20-079. See Figures 4 and 5 for hole and intercept locations. Hole depths in metres. True thicknesses of the intersections in Table 2 are estimated as 70-80% of drilled thicknesses.

Hole From To Interval Ag g/t Au g/t Cu % Pb % Zn % Comment AL20-077 274.50 278.90 4.40 210 0.23 0.59 1.28 1.30 Travesia

zone

under

AL17-008 including 276.10 278.90 2.80 265 0.35 0.73 1.73 1.57 which includes 276.10 277.00 0.90 355 0.74 1.02 4.65 3.24 and 277.80 278.90 1.10 323 0.21 0.82 0.38 0.58 AL20-078 371.05 374.25 3.20 133 0.02 0.58 0.37 0.25 HW to

Travesia

zone including 372.50 373.90 1.40 224 0.02 0.93 0.42 0.12 which includes 372.50 373.10 0.60 331 0.03 1.68 0.37 0.03 460.55 461.55 1.00 81 0.01 0.26 0.06 0.02 Travesia

zone 672.90 673.50 0.60 79 <0.01 0.11 1.71 0.93 La

Quintera

zone

projection AL20-079 280.95 288.45 7.50 69 0.15 0.29 0.07 0.17 about 100

m south of

AL20-077 including 285.45 287.20 1.75 84 0.53 0.29 0.11 0.40 and 287.55 288.45 0.90 148 0.06 0.43 0.02 0.01





Figure 1. Phase II prioritized vein zone targets and Phase I and Phase II drilling at the Alamos project. Please click on image to view in full size.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

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Figure 2. Promontorio vein zone, showing drill-collar locations and horizontal projections of holes. Please click on image to view in full size.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

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Figure 3. Longitudinal section of Promontorio vein zone showing drill intercepts reported in this and previous news releases, looking N70W. Vein zone dips approximately 75 degrees away from the viewer. Note potential plunging shoots (dashed lines). Please click on image to view in full size.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

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Figure 4. Europa-Guadalupe and Nueva Europa vein zones, showing drill-collar locations and horizontal projections of holes. Please click on image to view in full size.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

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Figure 5. Longitudinal section of Europa-Guadalupe vein zone showing drill intercepts reported in this and previous news releases, looking WNW. Vein zone dips approximately 55 degrees towards the viewer. Note potential shoot (dashed lines). Please click on image to view in full size.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit:

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Figure 6. San Jose vein zone drilling showing drill-collar locations and horizontal projections of holes. Please click on image to view in full size.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 6, please visit:

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Figure 7. Longitudinal section of San Jose vein zone showing drill intercepts reported in this and previous news releases. Looking WNW. Vein zone dips generally 75 degrees towards the viewer, with local complications. Please click on image to view in full size.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 7, please visit:

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Figure 8. Travesia vein zone drilling showing drill-collar locations and horizontal projections of holes. Please click on image to view in full size.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 8, please visit:

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Minaurum Gold Inc. (TSXV: MGG) (OTCQX: MMRGF) (FSE: 78M) is a Mexico-focused explorer concentrating on the high-grade Alamos Silver Project in southern Sonora. With a property portfolio encompassing multiple additional district-scale projects, Minaurum is managed by one of the strongest technical and finance teams in Mexico. Minaurum's goal is to continue its founders' legacy of creating shareholder value by making district-scale mineral discoveries and executing accretive mining transactions. For more information, please visit our website at www.minaurum.com and our YouTube Minaurum Video Channel.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Darrell A. Rader"

Darrell A. Rader

President and CEO

For more information, please contact:

Sunny Pannu - Investor Relations Manager

(778) 330 0994 or via email at pannu@minaurum.com

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

2300 - 1177 West Hastings Street Telephone

Vancouver, BC V6E 2K3

778 330-0994

www.minaurum.com

info@minaurum.com

Stephen R. Maynard, Vice President of Exploration of Minaurum and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, reviewed and verified the assay data, and has approved the disclosure in this News Release. Historical data reported in this news release has not been verified.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements:Certain disclosures in this release constitute forward-looking information. In making the forward-looking statements in this release, Minaurum has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on Minaurum' s current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Minaurum. Although Minaurum considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Minaurum does not intend, 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 required by law.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control: Preparation and assaying of drilling samples from Minaurum's Alamos project are done with strict adherence to a Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) protocol. Core samples are sawed in half and then bagged in a secure facility near the site, and then shipped by a licensed courier to ALS Minerals' preparation facility in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. ALS prepares the samples, crushing them to 70% less than 2mm, splitting off 250g, and pulverizing the split to more than 85% passing 75 microns. The resulting sample pulps are prepared in Hermosillo, and then shipped to Vancouver for chemical analysis by ALS Minerals. In Vancouver, the pulps are analyzed for gold by fire assay and ICP/AES on a 50-gram charge. In addition, analyses are done for a 48- element suite using 4-acid digestion and ICP analysis. Samples with silver values greater than 100 g/t; and copper, lead, or zinc values greater than 10,000 ppm (1%) are re-analyzed using 4-acid digestion and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).

Quality-control (QC) samples are inserted in the sample stream every 20 samples, and thus represent 5% of the total samples. QC samples include standards, blanks, and duplicate samples. Standards are pulps that have been prepared by a third-party laboratory; they have gold, silver, and base-metal values that are established by an extensive analytical process in which several commercial labs (including ALS Minerals) participate. Standards test the calibration of the analytical equipment. Blanks are rock material known from prior sampling to contain less than 0.005 ppm gold; they test the sample preparation procedure for cross-sample contamination. In the case of duplicates, the sample interval is cut in half, and then quartered. The first quarter is the original sample, the second becomes the duplicate. Duplicate samples provide a test of the reproducibility of assays in the same drilled interval. When final assays are received, QC sample results are inspected for deviation from accepted values. To date, QC sample analytical results have fallen in acceptable ranges on the Alamos project.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74010
Midland is embracing modern ways for residents to move about the city, with a newly approved e-scooter system.

On Monday night, Midland City Council unanimously approved Bird Rides Inc. to operate a fleet of about 100 stand-up electric scooters in the city. Bird is a Santa Monica, California-based company that also operates a fleet of scooters in Detroit.

Bird Representative Michael Covato addressed council's questions Monday. He said by offering scooters to residents and visitors, it can help reduce carbon emissions as well as congestion on roadways. It is also a safe way to get around in the pandemic as well as offers residents without vehicles another way to get around.

He explained Bird will have an ongoing partnership and work collaboratively with the city.

"Part of what we do at Bird is provide a dedicated resource for the city staff and councilors to reach out at any point on an ongoing basis should their be any questions, any concerns," Covato said. "So, there is a long-term consistent plan in place in terms of addressing the city's needs."

However, the shared scooter system comes at no cost to the city since Bird will make revenue off the scooters here in Midland, as riders pay to use them per minute using a mobile phone app. The company is currently working to identify partners  individuals and/or organizations  within the city that they can train and hire to manage the fleet of scooters.

With a maximum speed of 15 mph, the electric scooters can be used on trails, bike lanes, on the side of roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less, and sidewalks, if needed. Riders must be 18 or older.

However, they will be prohibited on the Pere Marquette Rail Trail, initially. Grant Murschel, director of planning and community development for the city, said this is because the trail is heavily used already by pedestrians and bicyclists.

That was one thing that city staff spent a considerable time thinking about in terms of the way people utilize the non-motorized transportation pathways, currently, he said.

The launch date for the scooters has not yet been determined; however, Murschel said they city would like to host a community event at that time. However, other city departments will have a hand in managing the system as well, such as the Midland Police Department, which has committed to enforcing the vehicle codes that apply.

During the council meeting, resident Eric Anders asked how much Bird was paying the city to use police enforcing and monitoring by city parks and recreation staff.

Murschel responded, stating that there is no expected payment from Bird for these services, the same way the city does not receive payment from Volvo, Ford or Chevrolet, for example, for the management of their cars on roads.

In the same way, we have to think about this as being for the benefit of the public good, Murschel said.

The council members on Monday expressed excitement for the new mode of transportation.

Its something that will add to the interest and vitality of our community, said Mayor Maureen Donker.

The city already has an operational webpage where residents can learn more: cityofmidlandmi.gov/sharedmobility For more specific information about the Bird e-scooter system, follow ourmidland.com and check future additions for an all you need to know article.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered a promising message Monday at his weekly press briefing, noting the state's 7-day average positivity rate has dropped to 5%.

The rate hasn't been this low since mid-November, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday when many experts believe gatherings and travel sparked a surge that pushed into December and January and is finally subsiding.

The positivity rate is the percentage of all coronavirus tests performed that are positive and it's a key indicator public health officials have been monitoring throughout the pandemic.

The governor also noted cases are down 29% over the last 7 days and hospitalizations are down 34% intensive care unit and admissions are down 25% in the last 2 weeks.

What's more, the state is gaining speed on vaccinations and California has now administered over 4.65 million vaccines. On Sunday, 197,000 vaccines were administered, roughly 200,000, which Newsom said is double where the state was just a few weeks ago.

"Everything that should be up is up, everything that should be down is down," Newsom said during a news conference at San Diego's Petco Park, which is serving as a mass vaccination center. "That is encouraging news."

He added, "The vaccinations however, we cant move fast enough. We are sober and mindful of the scarcity that is the number of available vaccines in the United States of America. Nonetheless, we are not naive about our responsibility here in the state of California to move these vaccines out of the freezers and into peoples arms."

While the COVID-19 vaccine remains scarce in the Golden State, Newsom conceded Monday, counties increasingly are using their limited supplies to focus on people who need second shots to complete their inoculations.

About 800,000 Californians are fully immunized now but millions of others who are eligible have yet to get their first doses. Newsom said the state received just over 1 million doses of vaccine last week and the next weekly shipment will be only slightly larger.

We need to see that ramped up," Newsom said. Were going to need to see more doses coming into the state of California in order to keep these mass sites operational and to keep things moving.

Counties from San Diego to Napa to Los Angeles have said they'll be using the bulk of their vaccination appointment slots this week to administer second doses to people who were initially vaccinated about a month ago.

For the Pfizer vaccine, a second dose is recommended three weeks after the first, and for the Moderna vaccine it's four weeks. But both can be given up to six weeks after the initial shot and still work optimally, according to the most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Albany

The historic and modern connections between Irish and Black people will be the focus of an exhibit and two online lectures in February at Albany's Irish American Heritage Museum.

The exhibit will examine a variety of historical and contemporary topics, including American abolitionist and writer Frederick Douglass visit to Ireland in 1845 at the beginning of the potato famine that would send many Irish-Americans to the Capital Region. Visitors also will learn about recent emigres from Africa whove settled in Ireland, where small numbers of Black people have lived for centuries. The exhibit shows a dimension of the country and its people not often discussed.

It compares the situation of what it means to be Irish. Maybe it will bring a little more openness, said Elizabeth Stack, the museums executive director.

Douglass, who escaped from slavery in Maryland to become a prominent social reformer and statesman, landed in Ireland in 1845 when he left the U.S. on a hastily arranged book tour to avoid being targeted by bounty hunters. He had just published Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave."

"I can truly say, I have spent some of the happiest moments of my life since landing in this country, I seem to have undergone a transformation. I live a new life," Douglass is quoted in the exhibit.

The museum will host two lectures on Zoom, The History of Black People in Ireland at 7 p.m., Feb. 18, and A Conversation with 'Black and Irish' Femi Bankole and Boni Odoemene at 7 p.m., Feb. 22.

Some might not know that Black people have been part of Irish society since the 18th century. They were brought as enslaved people and servants from other parts of the British empire, said Stack, who will deliver the lecture. Douglass trip to Ireland and those of other Black authors and orators will also be discussed during the first lecture.

The second lecture, Stack said, will focus on present-day Ireland and the lives of its Black and multiracial citizens. Bankole and Odoemene will speak from Ireland about their project Black and Irish to speak about their efforts to promote and celebrate Black and multiracial identity in Ireland.

The programs, Stack said will help people see the racial diversity among the Irish and to understand the modern complexity of the Irish community here and in Ireland.

Information about participating in the lectures via Zoom is available at the museum website www.irish-us.org or by calling the museum at 518-427-1916.

The museum at 21 Quackenbush Square is open form 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free, but a donation is appreciated. A mask is required.
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Credit: Parej Richard on Unsplash

Energy efficiency or carbon intensity (defined as CO 2 emissions per transport work, ed.) is a possible point of convergence between the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and EU regulations to cut GHG emissions and decarbonize shipping. Short term measures to increase energy efficiency and achieve carbon intensity savings include voyage optimization.

A new study led by the CMCC Foundation, realized in the framework of the Interreg Italy-Croatia GUTTA project and recently published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, explores the potential of carbon intensity reduction through voyage optimization in short sea shipping.

To this purpose, the VISIR (discoVerIng Safe and effIcient Routes) ship routing model was upgraded to a "VISIR-2" version, for computing least-CO 2 routes for a ferry in presence of waves and currents.

"VISIR can compute optimal routes by suggesting a spatial diversion which leads to avoidance of rough sea and related ship speed loss", explains Gianandrea Mannarini, senior scientist at the CMCC Foundation and Lead author of the study. "Besides least-distance and least-time routes, we added in the latest VISIR version a capacity to compute routes of least-CO 2 emissions. Moreover, a more accurate vessel model was introduced in VISIR-2 making use of a coupled bridge-engine room simulator hosted by the GUTTA project partner University of Zadar, from which the performance and emissions of a ferry were estimated at various sea conditions.

Graphical abstract. Credit: 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

The Adriatic Sea, which is routinely crossed by several ferry lanes joining ports in Italy with ports in Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania, was an interesting candidate domain for testing the role of route optimization on short sea shipping. It is relatively small and characterized by not too rough seas. Therefore, if optimization works there, it is scalable to bigger and stormier basins of the world ocean.

On top of that, ferries are quite relevant for emissions, as they account for about 10% of the CO 2 emissions in the EEA, despite they represent just 3% of the fleet due to report it ). At International level, there currently is a vivid regulatory activity for curbing ship emissions, and operational measures such a voyage optimization, are considered in the short term.

Therefore, CMCC researchers tried to assess whether path optimization can play a role even for ferries in the Adriatic, what CO 2 savings are potentially attainable, and how much ferries' carbon intensity can be decreased. In order to highlight the role of waves and sea currents in the optimization, CMEMS (CopernicusMarine Environment Monitoring Service) ocean analysis products related to waves and sea currents were used.

"Our results support the thesis that voyage optimization could be a viable operational measure for short-sea shipping to meet short-term targets for both absolute emission and carbon intensity reduction" comments Mannarini. "For a case study, we found out carbon intensity savings up to 11%, and this is an encouraging outcome towards both IMO and EU curbing targets. We now aim to produce more statistically significant estimations through a web tool we are going to develop in the frame of the Italy-Croatia Interreg project GUTTA."

Explore further Investigating the carbon intensity of ferries

More information: Gianandrea Mannarini et al, Towards Least-CO2 Ferry Routes in the Adriatic Sea, Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (2021). Gianandrea Mannarini et al, Towards Least-CO2 Ferry Routes in the Adriatic Sea,(2021). DOI: 10.3390/jmse9020115

Provided by CMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change

The United States on Monday voiced its concern regarding the Burmese military's recent announcement restricting public gatherings in the country, saying it stands with the people of Myanmar and support their right to assemble peacefully. The United States Department of State also demanded the full restoration of the democratically elected government in Myanmar, which was recently overthrown by the military in a coup. The US government is also looking at the possibility of enacting policy measures against Myanmar should the military not change its course.

Read: Myanmar Workers In Seoul Protest Against Army Takeover

"We stand with the people of Burma, support their right to assemble peacefully, including to protest peacefully in support of the democratically elected government, and the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, to receive, to impart information both online and offline. Were of course very concerned about the militarys recent announcement restricting public gatherings. As I said before, we strongly support the right of all individuals  in Burma and around the world  to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, including for the purposes of peaceful protest," US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a briefing on Monday.

The Burmese military banned gatherings in the country after people, for the third consecutive day, took to the streets to protest the ousting of the government by the military leadership.

Read: Pope Demands 'prompt Release' Of Myanmar Leaders Detained By Military

The coup

The Burmese military overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, a day before the new members of parliament were scheduled to take the oath. The military accused Suu Kyi's government of rigging the recently held elections, in which her party National League for Democracy (NLD) won by a landslide. Suu Kyi's party managed to capture 396 of the 476 parliamentary seats that are not reserved for the military. Experts suggest that the military feared Suu Kyi, with a larger majority than in 2015, would try and reduce the number of parliamentary seats reserved for the military.

Read: Britain, EU Request UNHRC To Hold Special Session To Address Crisis In Myanmar

Prior to the 2020 election, Suu Kyi had promised to decrease the proportion of seats reserved for the military. The Burmese Army currently controls 25% percent of the parliamentary seats, on which the civilian parties cannot fight elections. Myanmar has been controlled by the military for the most part of its independent years since the 1950s. The military decided to let go of the control in 2011 after a revolution by the civilian population struck the country. However, the military helped draft the constitution and it withheld certain controls, including a proportion of seats in the parliament.

Read: Myanmar Witnesses Massive Protests Demanding Aung San Suu Kyi's Release


Multiple countries have recently released Year of the Ox stamps to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year, following the issuance of a special event sheet commemorating the Year of the Ox by the UN Postal Administration (UNPA) on Jan. 22. This marked the twelfth sheet issued for UNPA's Lunar New Year stamp series, which completes the entire zodiac cycle.

Now let's check them out!

On the left side of the UNPA stamp is an emblem of the United Nations, while the lovely Ox stands next to the emblem on the right.

On Oct. 29 last year, Japan Post released its 2021 Year of the Ox stamps.

Australia Post released a new set of stamps to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year and welcome the Year of the Ox. Apart from the Ox itself, there are also other Chinese elements displayed in the stamps on the sheet, such as gold ingot, a Chinese knot and auspicious clouds.

The New Zealand postal department issued its Year of the Ox stamps on Dec. 2 last year. The four-stamp set, in red and blue, present a series of Chinese New Year images signifying happiness, wealth, freedom and peace.

France released Year of the Ox stamps on Feb. 8 (local time) to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. On the green stamp there is a boy riding on the Ox and holding a plum blossom, while on the other stamp the Ox is shown with its head raised high.

The UK issued a sheet containing 20 stamps to celebrate the Year of the Ox on Dec. 8, 2020. The stamps are designed based on the five elements of gold, wood, water, fire and earth, and include pictures of Chinese New Year celebrations and China towns in multiple British cities.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a special set of stamps to commemorate the Year of the Ox on Feb. 2 (local time). The stamps contain elements of Asian textiles, as well as purple flowers that signify the coming of the spring.

The Post of Slovenia recently released a draft version of its Year of the Ox stamps. The draft showcases the Ox alongside the Chinese character "niu," which is the word for ox.

Armenia's postal department issued a set of square stamps in the form of a small sheet for the Year of the Ox in 2021 on Nov. 13, 2020.

The Year of the Ox stamps issued by Singapore Post Limited have been on sale since Jan. 8. The Ox illustrated on the stamps is adorned with lotus and lotus leaf patterns, which provides a sense of elegance.

Rafe Swan, Getty Images / Contributed Photo

A Connecticut man was charged by authorities in Pennsylvania after he allegedly assaulted a minor and brought the minor across state lines, according to officials.

Christopher Capozza, 39, of Newington, was indicted on Feb. 3 by a federal grand jury for transportation with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and interstate travel with the intent to engage in a sexual act, with a minor, said federal prosecutors in Scranton, Pa.
A glamorous caregiver has admitted she was in an 'intimate relationship' with infamous New York lawyer Burt Pugach, but denies starving the 93-year-old to death to snag his $15million estate, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Friends of Pugach - who became notorious in the 1950s for blinding his lover and then marrying her when he got out of prison - claim that Shamin 'Sheila' Frawley seduced the ailing millionaire to seize control of his fortune.

Pugach went to live with Frawley and her former NYPD cop husband after suffering a stroke and died on Christmas Eve, leaving the bulk of his money to her rather than a foundation for the blind he set up with his late wife.

His friends claim in a shocking lawsuit that 52-year-old Frawley exerted 'undue influence' on Pugach while he was under her roof, coercing him to change his will before she 'stopped feeding him and took his life

But in new court filings exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com, Frawley's legal team insist the former pals are making 'baseless, despicable' allegations to 'obtain money that they are not entitled to'.

Shamin 'Sheila' Frawley, 52, - who is married - claims she had been in an 'intimate relationship' with late New York lawyer Burt Pugach (pictured together in 2019) after meeting him in 2016. Frawley had served as his caregiver until his death

Pugach, who died on Christmas Eve, left his $15 million estate to Frawley (pictured right with her husband William) 52. The funds were frozen by a judge after friends and ex colleagues accused Frawley of coercing Pugach into changing his will after he suffered a stroke

The mother-of-four has also defended her relationship with Pugach, insisting her marriage was over by the time she became his girlfriend and that the pair were a 'monogamist' couple - despite a 41-year-age gap.

'I loved him deeply and spent half a year caring for him in the most compassionate and loving way imaginable,' she protests in an affidavit filed in New York City Supreme Court.

Pugach became a household name in 1959 when he hired thugs to attack Linda Riss, a 22-year-old secretary with whom the married attorney had been having an affair.

When Linda broke off the relationship and got engaged to another man, Pugach warned her: 'If I can't have you, no one else will have you, and when I get through with you no one else will want you.'

True to his word, he hired three thugs who splashed her with lye, though he later claimed in interviews that he merely asked them to beat her up.

The abrasive chemical, commonly used in alkaline drain cleaners, left Linda blind in one eye and nearly blind in the other, and she hid her injuries behind her trademark oversized sunglasses for the rest of her life.

Her decision 14 years later to marry Pugach when he finished his sentence - by then divorced from his first wife and disbarred because of his felony conviction - dumbfounded friends and family while gripping the media.

Pugach shot to infamy in the late 1950s when he hired goons to blind his young lover Linda Riss with lye for ending their affair, yet married her 14 years later (pictured together)

Despite their troubled history, the marriage lasted 39 years. Linda succumbed to heart failure in 2013

Against all odds, their second act lasted for 39 years and became the subject of numerous articles, a book and the smash hit 2007 documentary, Crazy Love.

Pugach revised his will at least five times after Linda succumbed to heart failure in 2013, gifting differing amounts to friends, but always leaving the bulk of the money to the Burton and Linda Pugach Charitable Foundation for the visually impaired.

The foundation was left with nothing, however, when the will was updated for the final time in October last year, five months after Pugach suffered a stroke and went to live in Flushing with Frawley and her husband William, 55.

Pugach's former attorney Peter Gordon, Gordon's wife Maris, and his longtime friend Samuel Jacobowitz, say he was kept a virtual prisoner by Frawley who took advantage of his deteriorating health to steer him towards leaving her his money.

'I have learned after his passing that during the period of Burt's confinement, March 2020 through to his demise, approximately $15million was pledged to relatives and friends of Sheila,' Gordon states in court documents.

Gordon said he noticed during visits to Frawley's home that his friend of three decades was 'susceptible to undue influence in that he was isolated from his friends' and dependent on her for his meals, medication, and personal hygiene.

'He would refer to Sheila as Mommy', added Gordon, who hired Pugach as a paralegal after he was disbarred.

Frawley has insisted her marriage to William (pictured together in 2011) was over by the time she became Pugach's girlfriend and that the pair were a 'monogamist' couple

The mother-of-four said she and William split in 2015 but the pair remained 'amicable' and didn't divorce because she couldn't afford health insurance and for 'other financial reasons'

Gordon and his wife say they were due to receive $1million from Pugach's estate before the revisions. Jacobowitz claims he was similarly written out of $5million.

'I had visited Mr Pugach on at least 50 occasions since he lived at the home of Sheila where it appeared he was cared for and all his needs were being met until she stopped. Stopped feeding him and took his life. Claiming that was Burt's wishes,' Jacobowitz states in his affidavit.

'This all occurred after all the changes in the beneficiaries and a new will was prepared and executed sometime in October 2020.'

Frawley, whose two sons Bill and Nicholas are also cops, refused a DailyMail.com request to discuss her relationship with Pugach, whom she first struck up conversation with inside a Queens deli in 2016.

In her January 12 filing, Frawley says she split from William one year earlier but the pair remained 'amicable' and didn't divorce because she couldn't afford health insurance and for 'other financial reasons.'

'I became involved in an intimate relationship with Burton Pugach in 2016. Shortly after meeting we began seriously dating in a monogamist relationship whereby we would attend family functions together and travel together,' Frawley states.

'We would frequently spend evenings at each other's residences. I have never asked Burton Pugach for any financial assistance whatsoever.'

Frawley says she let Pugach move into her home in June 2020 only because he refused to go to a rehab facility and 'no one else would take care of him.'

'He had complete freedom to have anyone he wanted over to my house. Additionally, Burton had access to his cell phone to contact anyone he wanted to,' she goes on in the filing.

'In fact Burton regularly conducted his normal business of trading stocks on this phone, transacting dozens of trades during his stay at my home.

'I was incredibly hurt and dismayed when I read that I was somehow responsible for Burton's death.'

Pugach was married to another woman when he first crossed paths with Linda Riss, a 22-year-old secretary from the Bronx who bore more than a passing resemblance to a young Elizabeth Taylor

Her decision 14 years later to marry Pugach when he finished his sentence  by then divorced and disbarred because of his felony conviction - dumbfounded friends and family while gripping the media. Pictured: The couple in 1974

Frawley's riposte includes a statement from a Dr Jeffrey Karwoski which states that Pugach was 'mentally aware of his situation and able to make competent decisions' when he changed his will on October 1 last year.

Her lawyers have submitted an affidavit from Steven Bracco, the attorney who drew up the paperwork, who says he held meetings with Pugach on four occasions and said his elderly client was not suffering from any physical or mental impairment which would have affected his judgement.

Against all odds, their second act lasted for 39 years and became the subject of numerous articles, a book and the 2007 documentary, Crazy Love

'He was clear minded and under no duress or influence. He was a very strong willed and strong minded individual,' Bracco states.

Frawley's lawyers say the only money included in the final will and testament was a TD Ameritrade account containing $2.5million.

Everything else was signed over to Frawley in 2019, well before Pugach suffered his stroke and before anyone accuses her of having 'undue influence', argues Jonathan B. Strauss, who is representing her in the estate dispute.

In fact, Pugach was concerned that Gordon, rather than Frawley, was after his fortune, according to Strauss, who says he will present video and audio recordings to the court to prove this.

'On several occasions, on video tape, Mr Pugach states that he is in fear that Mr Gordon is attempting to steal his money,' Strauss writes.

'We possess multiple video tapes of Mr Pugach where he makes unsolicited remarks stating how lucky he is to be at Shamin's home and how well he is being cared for and how much he adores Shamin.'

Strauss says that Pugach was 'last attended to' by a physician two days before he died and that his death certificate lists natural causes rather than anything nefarious.

'These baseless, despicable allegations demonstrate how money hungry these Plaintiffs are and that they will say anything in an attempt to obtain money that they are not entitled to,' he adds.

Frawley's final submission is a statement from Joe Rhodes, who says he was Pugach's financial advisor for three decades until his retirement in 2010.

He says went to Frawley's home every couple of weeks to check in on his old pal.

'I asked him what would happen to the foundation he had set up in honor of Linda,' Rhodes adds.

'He said he didn't care what happened to after it after he was gone it was just a tax shelter.
Simplified disability confirmation procedure extended until October

 kremlin.ru

10:55 09/02/2021

MOSCOW, February 9 (RAPSI)  A temporary simplified procedure of disability confirmation has been extended once more until October 1, 2021. A corresponding decree has been signed by Russias Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

The procedure envisages tacit extension of the earlier confirmed disability, permits recognition of incapacity of work without an applicants appear in person for the first time and use of electronic system. A problem of provision of disabled persons with rehabilitation equipment is also to be also solved without appear in person, the document reads.

Moreover, according to amendments to the document, persons applying for disability for the first time will avoid additional health surveys, as ordered by the President.

Such measures reduce the risk of the COVID-19 contamination and simplify receipt of required documents by people with disabilities. In future, this distance procedure may become standing, the Head of the Government stated earlier.
New Delhi [India], February 9 (ANI/NewsVoir): The world economy is reeling under the pandemic impact and all sectors are struggling to find renewed bearings. Yet, beating the COVID-19 downturn and gloom, RICS SBE students have secured fantastic placements in coveted global and Indian organizations. 82 per cent of the batch has already been placed in renowned companies.

In the sixth placement session of the institute, 1200 organizations were approached which is a good 14.28 per cent increase over last year. 40 organisations hired during the lockdown period. The first-time recruiters include names like Allied Builders Seychelles/Mauritius, Welspun, Uniworks Designs, Geetanjali Homestate, Karle Infra, Puranik Builders, Knest Aluform, Singapore Chuan Lim Construction and the Executive Centre. Organizations like Home First Finance, 360 Realtors, Puranik Builders, Turner & Townsend, CBRE, Risland, HLK Infra, JLL India, DLF and Anarock made five or more offers.

The newly placed students will work in domains like quantity surveying, project management, strategy and consulting, research, transactions, sales, business development, etc. The locations where they will begin their careers include emerging markets like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore as well as developed markets like Dubai, UAE, Singapore and Seychelles.

RICS SBE has been leveraging technology to prepare its students to serve the real needs of the Built Environment sector and this foresight has wielded welcome results in the pandemic-hit times.

A Globally Accredited Degree right here - in your own country

(https://www.ricssbe.org) runs under the aegis of RICS which is a 150+ years old global professional standard-setting body for the Real Estate and Construction sector. The institution has an impeccable pedigree around the world with all major BE organizations who prefer hiring RICS qualified people. An RICS-accredited degree is a benchmark as it complies with international standards and is valued by companies all over the world.

Choose the right institute

Few institutes in India currently offer courses in real estate. Students interested in building a career in Built Environment should choose an institute that offers 'RICS accredited courses' in India. Accreditation has proved to be the key differentiator in terms of the quality of education that the students get.

Currently, MBA courses offered by RICS SBE are the only RICS accredited courses available in India, making these specialized degrees valuable for the students and sought after by the industry.

The MBA in Construction Project Management from RICS SBE is the only program in India to be granted a PMI accreditation. The globally accepted accreditation and a curriculum that trains the students in relevant theoretical, practical and software skills ensures that students get a good jumpstart in their career.

Online Internships & Training Programs

RICS SBE has been proactive in ensuring learning continuity even during the lockdowns. It was a protagonist in starting online internships and training programs. These internships are interactive, learning-centric and user-friendly.

Specialized Faculty members

The faculty members at RICS SBE follow a combination of theoretical and practical approach for teaching students. The course curriculum is curated by subject matter experts who possess considerable knowledge and skill in the construction field. This provides students with unparalleled clarity and understanding of the core concepts in the real estate and construction industry.

Excellent Placement Record

RICS SBE holds an excellent placement record since its inception, and the industry has wholeheartedly supported them. The students have been placed in leading real estate, construction, infrastructure firms and companies across India and internationally. The placement reports are available on the institute website and is a testimony to RICS SBE being the hub for all major organizations in Built Environment looking to hire quality talent. The active nature of the placement cell helps the students in getting the right fit for their careers within weeks of placement procedures.

With the epidemic bringing economic activities to a grinding halt, hiring across sectors almost ceased, yet RICS SBE has been able to fulfil its placement promise to its students. Clear new trends are emerging, and new roles are evolving in the post COVID era and the institute works hard to ensure its students are always environment ready.

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.)
American Airlines, Philadelphias largest air carrier, said it could furlough 1,032 employees in the region in April, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to wear on its business.

Those furloughs are expected to be temporary, American told state regulators in a recent filing. An additional 28 people are expected to lose their jobs permanently, according to the filing.

While airlines won an extension of federal payroll support for workers until April 1, American executives said last week the company can no longer count on flying all of its aircraft this summer, and may have to furlough up to 13,000 employees company-wide.

The vaccine is not being distributed as quickly as any of us believed, and new restrictions on international travel that require customers to have a negative COVID-19 test have dampened demand, Americans CEO Doug Parker and president Robert Isom said in a Feb. 3 letter to employees.

American will fly at least 45% less during the first quarter of the year, compared to the same period in 2019, they said.

Companies are sometimes required by law to disclose potential layoffs or furloughs in advance, under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, known as WARN. American stressed that not all of the announced furloughs will necessarily take place.

It is our sincere hope that this number decreases based on factors such as additional voluntary leaves of absences and voluntary early outs, or changes in the demand environment, the company said in a filing with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor.

American employs about 9,500 people in Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania filing did not specify which types of jobs would be affected locally.

Across the company, American detailed about 12,000 furloughs by work group in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Flight attendants would bear the brunt, with 4,245 furloughs, followed by 3,145 among fleet service, 1,850 among pilots, 1,420 among maintenance and related workers, and 1,205 furloughs among passenger service employees.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), an employee union, told workers that it is advocating in Congress for another extension of the Payroll Support Program as lawmakers debate more COVID-19 economic relief. We need a seamless continuation of this successful jobs program that has kept us connected to our paycheck and health care, the union said last week.

APFA also said it supports employee leave packages being offered by the company to avoid involuntary furloughs.

American Airlines has received close to $9 billion in federal payroll support during the pandemic. That includes $3.1 billion from the second round of the program enacted in December and $5.8 billion under the CARES Act last spring.

Last fall, hundreds of American Airlines flight attendants in Philadelphia lost their jobs when the first round of federal economic relief expired. The relief aid extension in December meant those same flight attendants could return to work, and get a paycheck from December through the end of March, according to the union.

About 800 Philly flight attendants who were out of work are coming back in two groups  on March 1 and April 1, said APFA spokesperson Paul Hartshorn Jr.

Now some of those same employees could be facing job losses again come April.

Between the lack of job security, and the risks of coronavirus exposure, its been difficult for all fight attendants, whether theyve been laid off or are still flying, Hartshorn said.
Agreement with StandardAero will enable Challenger and Learjet customers to benefit from expanded overhaul service capabilities

Deal provides customers with all-inclusive pricing options on all maintenance repairs

Aircraft operators will benefit from flexibility and peace of mind with alignment of airframe inspections, engine and APU overhauls as well as other maintenance needs all in one location



MONTREAL, Feb. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier announced today it is bolstering its maintenance capabilities at its service facilities in Europe following a new agreement with StandardAero. The partnership will enhance the customer experience for Learjet and Challenger aircraft customers by providing enhanced engine and APU repair and overhaul capabilities at the Biggin Hill and Berlin service centres in addition to Bombardier's line maintenance stations in Europe. Dedicated StandardAero technicians will now be available on site at these locations to create a one-stop-shop for all Bombardier aircraft operators' engine, APU and airframe service needs.

Learjet and Challenger aircraft operators will now have added peace of mind by reducing downtime and costs, while leveraging Bombardier's OEM knowledge, bundling engine and APU maintenance with other Bombardier services in-house, including major airframe work. This advantage provides customers with the flexibility to have one single proposal and project management of airframe, engine and APU requirements, as well as all-inclusive pricing options.

"Bombardier is committed to ensuring its customers receive exceptional service support to keep their aircraft in the air and this new collaboration leverages StandardAero's industry-leading engine repair and overhaul maintenance capabilities with Bombardier's own extensive support services onsite to create the ultimate one-stop-shop for our customers," said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Executive Vice President, Services and Support, and Corporate Strategy, Bombardier. "Through this agreement, our operators will benefit from the unmatched expertise and proficiency provided by both Bombardier and StandardAero, delivering the service experience they demand and deserve."

"We are thrilled and proud to be working with Bombardier to enhance our maintenance offerings to customers and solidify our standing as one of business aviation's leading engine MRO providers," said Tony Brancato, President, Business Aviation, StandardAero. "This collaboration further underscores our commitment to customers by providing expanded services and ensuring we continue to enrich their overall maintenance experience."

Skilled StandardAero technicians available at Bombardier's service locations in Europe will provide additional capabilities ranging from engine borescope inspections to on-condition engine disassembly and repair. This includes troubleshooting and repair of any recorded engine squawks.

The agreement with StandardAero builds on Bombardier's comprehensive global customer service commitment to provide the best customer service experience in business aviation today. Bombardier's increased investment in infrastructure, new technologies, resources and capabilities continues to drive value for customers and their aircraft.

About StandardAero

StandardAero is one of the world's largest independent providers of services including engine and airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul, engine component repair, engineering services, interior completions and paint applications. StandardAero serves a diverse array of customers in business and general aviation, airline, military, helicopter, components and energy markets. StandardAero is owned by The Carlyle Group.

About Bombardier

Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, creating innovative and game-changing planes. Our products and services provide world-class experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety.

Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Bombardier is present in more than 12 countries including its production/engineering sites and its customer support network. The Corporation supports a worldwide fleet of approximately 4,900 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments and private individuals.

News and information is available at bombardier.comor follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

Notes to Editors

Visit the Bombardier Business Aircraft websitefor more information on our industry-leading products and services.

Follow @Bombardierjetson Twitter to receive the latest news and updates from Bombardier.

Bombardier, Learjet and Challenger are registered or unregistered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

For Information

Matthew Nicholls

Bombardier

+ 1 514-243-8214

matthew.nicholls@aero.bombardier.com

Kyle Hultquist

StandardAero

kyle.hultquist@standardaero.com

+1-480-377-3192 (office)

+ 1-602-577-2875 (cell)
China Central Television has recently cooperated with its overseas counterparts to produce a number of animated series featuring pandas and signature animals of different countries.

Panda and Rooster, co-produced by China and Portugal and also released by CCTV on Feb 3, is the newest animation in the project. The two leading characters -- a panda named Ho-ho (which sounds like "he", meaning harmony, in Chinese) and Rooster -- have adventures together in the 52-episode series.

The rooster is beloved in Portugal as a symbol of good fortune and justice. And the Portuguese version of the production will later be broadcast via Radio and Television of Portugal (RTP).

In January, the pilot was broadcast for the Sino-Russian co-production Panda and Krash, featuring Ho-ho and Krash, a main character in a household Russian animated series Kikoriki. The co-production with New Zealand Panda and Kiwi will air on Feb 10, while Panda and Springbok, a collaboration with South Africa, will have its pilot televised on Feb 20.

According to a news release from the production team, the works can not only expand the reach of these animated characters, but also create foundations for stories hailing friendship and cooperation based on different cultural backgrounds.
The Telegraph

An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.
[February 09, 2021] Empire BlueCross BlueShield and Montefiore Health System's New Agreement Focuses on Improving Community Health

Empire BlueCross BlueShield and Montefiore Health System announced today a new agreement focused on improving the access to quality healthcare for people throughout New York City, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. This latest multi-year agreement continues the longstanding relationship between the two organizations. It features several new community outreach initiatives including health events, a partnership to support nutrition services for at-risk populations, and a mobile health unit to deliver essential testing and screening focused on improving the health of the community. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005831/en/ "We are on a mission to materially and measurably improve the health of all New Yorkers, and we know there are many critical healthcare needs in the Bronx, which ranks 62 out of New York's 62 counties for health outcomes.i Today, as part of our mission, we signed a new agreement with Montefiore Health System that solidifies our commitment to protect affordability and access to quality care for our members. In these extraordinary times, it's critical we build a more meaningful partnership that focuses on improving the health of the communities we jointly serve," said Alan Murray, president, Empire BlueCross BlueShield. "As we continue to face the challenges of the pandemic, innovative arrangements with insurers enable us to provide the best quality healthcare. Our new agreement with Empire BlueCross BlueShield is built on our mutual commitment to the communities we serve, and sets us on a continued path forward, together, to serve our patients," said Colleen Blye, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Montefiore Health System. This new deal builds on Empire's mission and existing commitment to improving health outcomes in the Bronx. Empire's work in the Bronx has included events that keep the community healthy, including mask and sanitizer distribution and flu pop-up clinics earlier this year, as well as grants for City Harvest's Mobile Market Program and NYC Parks' Shape Up program through Empire's Foundation. Additionally, Empire is partnering with BronxNet Community Television and is a sponsor of the Go Bronx podcast. The Bronx was the epicenter of the first wave of COVID-19, and Montefiore increased its bed capacity by 100% to treat COVID-19 patients, initially without federal or state funding. As part of its rapid response, Montefiore spent upwards of $350 million to procure personal protective equipment (PPE), establish seven COVID-19 testing sites throughout the Bronx and Westchester and hire additional out-of-state frontline staff. Montefiore's ongoing investments include funding a robust telehealth program, establishing a COVID vaccine trials unit, and creating a research and care clinic, offering treatment for COVID patients with long-term chronic symptoms and related health issues. Montefiore serves a population of approximately three million people. Between March and June of 2020, the height of the pandemic, Montefiore treated and safely discharged more than 8,000 patients back to their homes. About Empire BlueCross BlueShield in New York Serving New Yorers for 80 years, Empire BlueCross BlueShield (Empire) is on a mission to materially and measurably improve the health of New Yorkers. Empire is the largest health insurer in New York supporting more than four million members and more than 38,000 business, union and small employers in New York. Empire is the trade name of Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc., and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO is the trade name of Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc., independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, serving residents and businesses in the 28 eastern and southeastern counties of New York State. Additional information about Empire is available at www.empireblue.com. Also, follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at @empirebcbs and on LinkedIn.



About Montefiore Health System Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 10 hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and more than 200 outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and view us on Facebook and YouTube.

i A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Program, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. Bronx, New York, 2020. Available at https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/new-york/2020/rankings/bronx/county/outcomes/overall/snapshot. Accessed January 2021. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005831/en/

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A British military base in Nanyuki was placed on total lockdown on Monday after fears spread that soldiers who arrived in the country last week might have come with the new variant of the coronavirus.

The new strain, first recorded in the UK on December 14 and reported to be 70 percent more transmissible than the one in Kenya, has been blamed for harsher Covid-19 restrictions and travel bans in London.

"Batuk (British Army Training Unit in Kenya) camp has been placed into enhanced isolation after a very small number of soldiers tested positive for Covid-19," the British High Commission in Nairobi said in a statement without giving absolute numbers.

"All personnel had conducted a period of isolation and tested negative prior to travelling to Kenya." Batuk temporarily stopped its training in Kenya from March last year due to the pandemic until last month when the troops started returning.

On Monday, the British High Commission in Kenya did not respond to our queries whether the soldiers had been infected with the new variant, only saying that tests were still being carried out. High Commissioner Jane Marriott tweeted that some of the troops in isolation will be released upon testing negative.

"We are partnering with authorities and local community to minimise risks," Ms Marriott said.

However, the Laikipia County Government-- under which the British camp in Nanyuki lies and which has the primary responsibility of responding to coronavirus issues-- said it was only offering "oversight" in the matter.

"Both the Kenya Defence Forces and Batuk have their own measures and isolation and quarantine. Our mandate is strictly to oversight the progress and that is what we are doing," Health Chief Officer Donald Mogoi said.

Training yet to begin

The British troops were supposed to start training with their Kenyan counterparts but the programme, according to the Defence ministry in Nairobi, was yet to start.

Following the discovery of the cases, Colonel Paul Gilby, the Batuk garrison commander, ordered 48 hours of "enhanced isolation" which will also affect about 550 Kenyans working at the Batuk's Nyati Barracks.

Batuk employs about 550 on contract and 3,000 casual workers per year. The Kenyans were told to work from home, dealing a new blow to efforts to reopen the military base. The size and scale of the Batuk operations in Kenya is only rivaled by Suffield in Canada and England's Salisbury Plain. Batuk, a permanent training unit in Kenya with bases in Kahawa, Nairobi and Nanyuki, hosts up to six infantry battalions per year and is one of the main British defence assets in the country.

The base in Kahawa serves as a logistics and transport hub while Nanyuki provides the British military with a location for combined arms light role infantry battle group exercises and serves as a forward operating base and for conducting engineering tasks.

Battlegroup exercises take place across a 79,000 hectare ranch which boasts one of the largest live-firing training areas used by the British military.

The British soldiers come to Kenya several times a year, training with live fire at Archer's Post in the and the expansive ranch.

They take part in challenging exercises in extreme conditions, battling temperatures up to 40 degrees in some of Kenya's harshest terrains.

In recent years, infantry units were sent to Kenya for their final training before being deployed to Afghanistan and, for the "rapid reaction force" trainings.

The troops also engage in exercises like civil engineering projects and medical deployments to provide primary health care assistance to the local communities. The troops take about six-month postings, while some spend as many as two years.

Important partnership

Since the Defence Cooperation Agreement was signed in 2016, Batuk has contributed in over Sh5.8 billion to the local economy, according to a statement by Janet Sudi-Maina, the Communications Manager for Security and Stability at the British High Commission in Nairobi.

Last Wednesday, Ms Marriott said partnership between Kenya and the UK has been critically important with an aim of economically empowering the local community.

"Apart from their usual training, partnership with the local community is the heart of what Batuk do. We are keen on giving our children the best education and we will continue building on that community engagement," Ms Marriott told Nation.

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But the cooperation between the two countries has not always been rosy. Between 2013-2015, a series of diplomatic disputes between the UK and Kenya arose after the shooting of a local at the training camp in Nanyuki. The local was shot dead in 2013 by a British Army sergeant after he intruded on the UK training camp.

After the shooting, confusion arose whether British troops would have to abide by Kenyan or UK military law.

Kenyan authorities wanted the sergeant to stand trial in the country whereas the British said that their sergeant should be subject to military law and should return to the UK, arguing that the accused being a solder with Batuk, which is a department of the United Kingdom's Ministry of defence, enjoyed sovereign immunity.

There have been claims that dozens of Kenyans(mainly herders) have been killed by unexploded British ordnance since 1945 when the agreement for training between Kenya and Britain was signed.
Turkey on Monday reported 8,103 additional coronavirus cases, including 632 symptomatic patients, according to the Turkish Health Ministry.

The country's case tally passed 2.53 million, while the nationwide death toll reached 26,900, with 103 fatalities over the past day.

As many as 8,567 more patients in the country won the battle against the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to over 2.44 million.

More than 30.75 million coronavirus tests have been conducted in Turkey to date, with 139,378 since Sunday.

The latest figures show that the number of COVID-19 patients in critical condition stands at 1,310, Anadolu Agency reported.

On Jan. 14, Turkey began a mass COVID-vaccination campaign, starting with healthcare workers along with top officials to encourage public confidence in the vaccines.
An international group of primatologists led by the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) and including support from San Diego Zoo Global, the Columbus Zoo and GaiaZOO are providing a new home for 20 monkeys that were confiscated from wildlife traffickers. The monkeys all appear to be young and suffering from malnourishment and stress, and represent several species native to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The confiscation is one of the largest seen in recent years, and reflects the crisis in criminal trafficking hitting Africas native wildlife.

This is the largest rescue in our 20 year history, said Gregg Tully, Executive Director of PASA. The monkeys were poached in DRC and then driven along a known route for traffickers. Were grateful that authorities in Zimbabwe confiscated the animals. Otherwise, they would be sent to China or a tourist attraction, with no possibility of being reintroduced to the wild.

Since the monkeys were confiscated in September of 2020, PASAs goal has been to return the young primates to their native country where they can be placed in an accredited sanctuary. The group collaborated with the leaders of Jeunes Animaux Confisques au Katanga (J.A.C.K.), a PASA-accredited sanctuary in Lubumbashi, DRC, that has experience caring for and rehabilitating chimpanzees. The animals have now arrived at the sanctuary and are busy exploring their new enclosures, a step up from the small cages they were kept in while in captivity. The long-term goal is to re-wild these individuals which include LHoests monkeys, putty-nosed monkeys, golden bellied mangabeys, and blue monkeys. The monkeys are being given appropriate medical care at J.A.C.K., and assessed for their readiness to return to the wild. To accommodate such a large group at one time, the team determined that new facilities needed to be constructed.

Weve created state-of-the-art enclosures for these monkeys, said Franck Chantereau, president and founder of J.A.C.K. Thanks to the funding we received, we were able to move quickly and were excited about these new facilities, but we arent taking anything for granted. Too many lives are on the line.

San Diego Zoo Global, the Columbus Zoo, the Olsen Animal Trust, GaiaZOO and other partners responded to the immediate need by providing funding for the enclosures and ongoing care of the group of youngsters.

Our organization is very involved in the effort to stem the tide of wildlife trafficking, said Dean Gibson, Curator of Primates, San Diego Zoo Global. We regularly provide refuge for wildlife that have been confiscated in the United States. Although it has been a difficult year for our organization due to COVID closures when I alerted our leadership to the plight of these young monkeys they thought it was important for us to contribute to their rescue.

San Diego Zoo Global supports work with communities in Cameroons Ebo forest with efforts to both protect primates and their forest.

We have been working with local communities in Cameroon for years to promote forest health and protect the gorilla and chimpanzee populations that call the Ebo forest home said Megan Owen, Ph.D., Corporate Director of Wildlife Conservation Science, San Diego Zoo Global. Understanding that we need to restore species and protect ecosystems in order to have a healthy world is important to us.

About PASA

Created in 2000, the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) is the largest association of wildlife centers and sanctuaries in Africa, with 23 organizations in 13 countries. Each Alliance member is securing the future for Africas primates by rescuing and caring for orphaned and abused apes and monkeys, protecting endangered primates from extinction, working to stop the hunting of endangered species and the cruel primate pet trade, educating the public, and empowering communities. PASA International unifies the Alliance and advocates for them on an international scale, provides vital support, and works closely with them to raise awareness globally about threats to wildlife. https://pasa.org

About San Diego Zoo Global

As a leader in conservation, the work of San Diego Zoo Global includes on-site wildlife conservation efforts (representing both plants and animals) at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, as well as international field programs on six continents. The work of these entities is made accessible to over 1 billion people annually, reaching 150 countries via social media, our websites and the San Diego Zoo Kids network, in childrens hospitals in 12 countries. The work of San Diego Zoo Global is made possible with support from our incredible donors committed to saving species from the brink of extinction.
Chinese paramilitary police officers gather at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China on Oct. 23, 2020. (NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Beijing Hints at What It Wants of US-China Relationship Through State Media

Chinese state-run media Xinhua published a series of four commentaries in which it called on the new U.S. administration to lead the U.S.-China relationship back on track after years of what one article called casting poison onto bilateral relations.

Treating China as a major strategic competitor or even a rival is a historical, directional, and strategic error [that the U.S. made], Xinhua wrote in its first commentary published on Feb. 4. Now the [United States] most urgent task is to correct itself to take the right path Its time for the U.S. to show political foresight and walk toward China.

The commentary went on to criticize the United States for ruining the relationship in the past four years, making indirect swipes at the Trump administration.

Some people were believing blindly in America first, delusionally thinking that decoupling and disrupting supply chains could stop the globalization of the economy, the Xinhua article stated.

Former president Donald Trump had suggested the idea of decoupling the Chinese and U.S. economies. His administration officials have also highlighted national security risks in relying on Chinese manufacturing and called for critical sectors to reshore.

Then-President Donald Trump, left, meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 29, 2019. (Susan Walsh/AP Photo)

The media outlet published a second commentary that day, criticizing the U.S. government for policies restricting Chinese researchers from obtaining visas.

The Trump administration enacted visa restrictions for researchers with links to Chinese military-affiliated institutions, citing risks of espionage and intellectual property theft to benefit the Chinese regime.

It claimed the United States heavily destroyed the humanities exchange between America and China, and noted that many Chinese students choose to stay in the United States upon graduating from their degrees.

The commentary did not mention or address the U.S. concerns.

A third commentary was published on Feb. 5, focused on U.S.-China trade relations.

Xinhua criticized that the Trump administration tried to decrease U.S. investment into China, encouraged American firms to leave China, and suppressed Chinese firms in the United States. The former two likely referred to the aftereffects of trade war tensions, as the United States enacted punitive tariffs to address Chinas unfair trade practices and China responded with retaliatory tariffs. The former administration also placed a list of Chinese firms on a trade blacklist for national security risks or their roles in Chinas human rights abuses.

But the article made no mention of the former administrations rationale for the policies.

Chinese troops march during a military parade in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Oct. 1, 2019. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

A fourth commentary was published on Feb. 6, focused on tech cooperation.

The last U.S. government unreasonably suppressed and intensively shut out Chinas science and technology with the excuse of national security. Those methods were disgusting and shocking, the article stated. Technological containment is akin to the crooked path of self-isolation.

Many of the blacklisted Chinese companies were tech firms, effectively blocking them from doing business with American suppliers.

Then, on Feb. 7, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai criticized the Bidens administration China policy during an interview on CNN. Asked about State Secretary Antony Blinken and Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechis recent phone call, Cui said: You dont have an effective foreign policy just by talking tough or playing tough.

Blinken had said the United States would stand up for human rights and democratic values in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong.

Xinhuas recap of their phone call was in a markedly different tone.

[Blinken said that] the U.S. was willing to develop a stable and constructive bilateral relations with China, Xinhua reported.

Then-U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with then-Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi as Blinken arrives for a meeting at the Zhongnanhai leaadership compound in Beijing, China, on Oct. 8, 2015. (Mark Schiefelbein/AFP via Getty Images)

China affairs commentator Yang Wei concluded that the recent commentaries and rhetoric from Chinese officials show that they are trying to threaten Bidens administration to kneel down and listen to them.

In fact, we have seen the result, which is that the U.S. government and Beijing couldnt be in agreement on almost all issues, Yang wrote in a commentary published on the Chinese-language Epoch Times on Feb. 7.

U.S.-based China affairs commentator Li Linyi analyzed that the Xinhua commentaries were a display of what the Chinese regime hopes the Biden administration would change about the relationship.

The Chinese regime is laying its cards on the table, Li said in a phone interview, and testing whether the new administration would fulfill its requests.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the national economy and the need for his administrations proposed $1.9 trillion CCP virus relief legislation with Vice President Kamala Harris in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington on Feb. 5, 2021. (Stefani Reynolds/Pool/Getty Images)

During an interview with CBSs Face the Nation that was broadcast on Feb. 7, President Joe Biden said, theres going to be extreme competition [between the U.S. and China], but that the new relationship he wants to forge need not be one of conflict.

French President Emmanuel Macron similarly said during an event held by Washington-based think tank Atlantic Council on Feb. 5: China is altogether a partner, a competitor, and a systemic rival.

Macron explained that China was a partner on climate change, a competitor on trade, and a rival given its geopolitical ambitions and human rights abuses.
Washington:

According to a new survey in 38 countries, China is fast catching up as a global economic power, while the public perception around the world is that the US still remains at the top.

A median of 42 per cent say the US is the world's leading economy, while 32 per cent name China, Pew Research Center said in its latest survey results released on Thursday.

Across all of the countries surveyed in Latin America, as well as most in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, people tend to believe that the US is the top economy.

"And by a 51 per cent-35 per cent margin, Americans name their own country rather than China", it said.

But in seven of the 10 European Union nations in the study, China is considered the leading economic power.

Read more: Dokalam standoff | India will continue to use diplomatic channels: MEA

It is tied with the US for the top spot in Italy. A plurality in Russia also holds this view, Pew said.

Notably, China leads the US by a two-to-one margin in Australia, a longtime US ally, but also a country whose top trading partner, by far, is China, Pew said.

Releasing results of the survey, Pew said over the past year, perceptions of relative US economic power have declined in many of America's key trading partners and allies.

The trend can be seen in several European countries, where views about the economic balance of power have fluctuated in recent years, it said.

Pew said following the onset of the financial crisis nearly a decade ago, Europeans increasingly named China, rather than the US, as the world's leading economic power.

"But in recent years, as the American economy slowly recovered, the pendulum began to swing back in the direction of the US", it said.

This year, however, the pattern has reversed itself again, and in countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain, China is once more seen as occupying the top spot.

"But these shifts are not limited to Europe; perceptions have also changed significantly in countries such as Canada, Brazil, Mexico and the Philippines", Pew concluded.

However, both the leaders of China and the United States are perceived negatively globally, Pew said.

While Xi is less known globally than Trump, Pew said a median of 53 per cent say they do not have confidence in Chinese President to do the right thing in world affairs.

Still, a much greater share (74 per cent) express little or no confidence in Trump.

Read more: India rejects Chinese offer of mediation in improving Indo-Pak ties

The Russian President Vladimir Putin also receives slightly more negative assessments than Xi (59 per cent have no confidence).

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the only world leader included on the survey who receives positive marks on balance 42 per cent have confidence in the long-serving leader, and just 31 per cent say they do not.

In India along with Indonesia, and Vietnam there is a significant drop in public perception of China, Pew said.

In South Korea, China's favourably has fallen 27 points since spring 2015 and now hovers near historic lows, Pew said.

According to Pew, in only five countries do more than half express confidence in Xi.

Three - Tanzania, Nigeria and Senegal - are in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Chinese president also gets high ratings in Russia and the Philippines, it said.

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Migrants without documents may be justifiably hesitant to get the Covid-19 vaccine and need assurance that their information will be protected and not used against them.

The arrival of the first batch of Covid-19 vaccines has brought with it a renewed sense of hope in the fight against the coronavirus. But after nearly a year in lockdown and with the South African government bungling its initial responses to fight the virus, there is some scepticism about the rollout as well.

Speaking after the arrival of the vaccine in South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa went for hope and optimism. "The arrival of these vaccines contains the promise that we can turn the tide on this disease that has caused so much devastation and hardship in our country and across the world," he said. "The speed and scale at which new vaccines have been developed is unprecedented in human history and represents the monumental progress that humanity can achieve in the face of a common threat."

However, just a few weeks ago, there were doubts about the rollout of vaccines to countries in the Global South as richer, Western countries were reportedly hoarding more vaccines than they needed.

During a virtual address to the World Economic Forum in January, Ramaphosa warned about the dangers of vaccine nationalism in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We are deeply concerned about the problem of vaccine nationalism, which, unless addressed, will endanger the recovery of all countries," he said. "Ending the pandemic worldwide will require greater collaboration on the rollout of vaccines, ensuring that no country is left behind in this effort."

The hope and optimism that came with the arrival of the vaccine was short lived. During a press conference on 7 February, health minister Zweli Mkhize announced that the vaccine rollout was temporarily halted following the initial disappointing results of a study into the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine against the B.1.351 variant of Covid-19.

The government will instead over the coming weeks offer vaccines produced by Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.

But while South Africa had to adjust its vaccine rollout strategy, migrant organisations and researchers warned about the dangers of a different kind of vaccine nationalism. Despite the government saying that migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and even undocumented people will qualify for the vaccine, some irresponsible reporting has been more ambiguous about it.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has reiterated the importance of countries around the world to include these vulnerable groups in their vaccine strategies, and Jordan has led the way by vaccinating refugees.

Ramaphosa insisted that the vaccine would be made available to all adults living in South Africa "regardless of their citizenship or residence status".

"We will be putting in place measures to deal with the challenge of undocumented migrants so that, as with all other people, we can properly record and track their vaccination history," he said. "It is in the best interests of all that as many of us receive the vaccine as possible."

Into the fold

Despite these reassurances, Amir Sheikh, spokesperson for the African Diaspora Forum, said more still needed to be done to encourage migrants to come forward and get vaccinated, especially those with expired permits or without documents.

"The government has been speaking in different voices when, in fact, the message from them was supposed to be in one voice. That is a worrying factor, but we welcome the reassurances by the president that no one will be discriminated [against], especially migrants, irrespective of their status, whether they are documented or not documented," he said.

"We also welcome the reassurance of the president that contradicts the previous nationalism of the vaccine from [Minister of Health] Zweli Mkhize."

Sheikh was referring to comments Mkhize made during an SABC interview in which he was asked who would qualify for the vaccine. A subsequent article headline on the broadcaster's website misleadingly stated, "Only South African citizens to receive vaccine: Mkhize".

Mkhize's actual words were: "All you need when you go is to show that you have got an ID. You are a South African registered voter. For those who are undocumented, we are not able to deal with that because at the moment we would like to be able to deal with people based on the SA registration [database]. So at this point, we have no plan to deal with those that are not documented."

Another form of nationalism

Sally Gandar, head of advocacy and a legal adviser at the Scalabrini Centre in Cape Town, said it would be hypocritical of the government to limit the vaccine rollout inside South Africa's borders to only those who hold citizenship or valid documentation. She said that excluding people based on citizenship or their documentation status was just another form of vaccine nationalism.

"This is why [Ramaphosa's] assurances that undocumented persons will be provided with the vaccine, assurances that are so public and unequivocal, in his 1 February address are important and a solid show of leadership. The next step is the same publicity around the 'how' - ensuring that systems and safeguards are put in place to ensure smooth and equitable access to vaccines as a public good, systems and safeguards that address other fears that undocumented persons may have."

The Scalabrini Centre had to approach the courts last year to ensure that asylum seekers with valid permits as well as citizens from Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Angola who held valid exemption and special permits could apply for the Covid-19 relief grant.

Sheikh said besides possible institutional barriers such as this and medical xenophobia, many undocumented migrants would be hesitant to come forward to be vaccinated for fear of being arrested and deported.

"Realistically speaking, many of our undocumented migrants will not even seek the vaccine. If they are not going to be forced, they will not go out and actually look for the vaccine for fear that it might actually be a trap and for fear that they will be arrested. That's the reality. But we like that for the first time, South Africa, in accordance with its Constitution, will not be sidelining migrants. But rest assured, many of our undocumented will not go and seek the vaccine."

Protecting information

Jo Vearey, director of the African Centre for Migration and Society at the University of the Witwatersrand, said one of the key issues linked to confidentiality, anonymity and the protection of people was to ensure that regardless of someone's legal status when they come for the vaccine, this information is not fed to the Department of Home Affairs or the South African Police Service.

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"I'm thinking that we may need to return to the oversight role and the legal reviews that took place when the initial test and trace processes were rolled out earlier last year, with the ways that there were guarantees of data protection and ensuring that data was only linked to the traces processes ... I am thinking we will need something similar."

Vearey said the blanket extension of asylum-seeking permits would need to be clearly communicated and everybody involved with the delivery of vaccinations should be made aware of that.

"We need to ensure that everyone in the country, and in fact everyone in the region, is vaccinated as quickly as possible. We know that, for example, migrant worker hostels were mentioned by the president as a key target area. So high-density areas need to be included as soon as possible.

"We need to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible. Excluding anyone is to the detriment of all of us, and if we don't ensure as high coverage as quickly as possible then the vaccine won't actually do what we need it to do in terms of population immunity."

Gandar agreed and said it was critical to have a proper communication strategy for the vaccine to ensure individuals that it is safe to use, that everyone has the right to get it, and that none of the information one provides when accessing the vaccine will be passed on to law enforcement or home affairs.
American adults earning up to $75,000 and couples making $150,000 will likely be eligible for the full $1,400 COVID-19 stimulus checks Democrats are pushing through Congress as part of President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion relief plan.

If approved by Congress and signed by Biden, the stimulus payments will phase out incrementally based on income, with individuals earning more than $100,000 and couples earning $200,000 receiving nothing, according to plan brokered Monday night by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts.

The Democrats latest proposal rejects calls from conservative Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Republicans to limit full payments to those making less than $50,000 or $40,000. Top Democrats and the White House say they want the checks to go to lower-income and middle-class Americans  including millions earning more than $50,000 annually  but not the very wealthy whove largely avoided the unprecedented job loss, hunger and housing crises wrought by the pandemic.

Our nation is struggling, the virus is still not contained, and the American people are counting on Congress to meet this moment with bold, immediate action, Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said in a statement Monday night.

The committee will markup its proposals on Democrats overall $1.9 trillion package Wednesday through Friday, Neals office said. Lawmakers hope to approve a stimulus deal by mid-March, when supplemental unemployment insurance from previous relief bills expires.

The newly-proposed caps mark a win for progressives who argued the lower thresholds were out of touch with reality and at odds with disparate costs of living across the country. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently questioned how a Biden White House and a Congress controlled by Democrats could wind up sending stimulus checks to fewer Americans than the Trump administration.

The move from Neal, who did not directly answer questions on income thresholds for the checks during a news conference Monday, came a day after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Biden administration did not want to leave first responders and educators earning around $60,000 out to dry at a time of unprecedented job loss and increased child poverty.

Many working-class Americans, including educators, health care workers, police officers and firefighters earning more than $50,000 are still struggling to put food on the table, often because they have children and have had to adjust their work schedules or leave work entirely to provide child care, several Democrats argued over the weekend.

While it is still our hope that Republicans will join us in doing right by the American people, the urgency of the moment demands that we act without further delay, Neal said.

About a week ago, Republicans, as part of an overall $618 billion compromise, had pressed the White House to target full payments to Americans earning less than $40,000 and couples $80,000, arguing relief should go to those hardest hit by the pandemic. Manchin, meanwhile, sought $50,000 and $100,000 thresholds for full payments.

With Democrats and Republicans evenly split in the Senate  Vice President Kamala Harris could cast the deciding vote in case of a tie  Democrats cant afford any no votes for the stimulus to make its way to Bidens desk. Some lawmakers are concerned the conservative Manchin could tank the entire proposal, Politico reported.

Another proposal working its way through Neals committee would see families receive up to $3,600 per child under 6 and $3,000 for every child between 6 and 17. According to The Washington Post, the payments would decrease for single parents earning more than $75,000 or couples earning more than $150,000 combined.

The comprehensive $1.9 trillion package includes $400 billion for vaccines and to reopen schools; $35 billion to help local governments boost small businesses; and increased supplemental unemployment insurance, from $300 to $400, through September.

Americans hit hard by the economic crisis, or parents who had a child in 2020, could stand to benefit by filing their 2020 returns as soon as possible once the IRS starts accepting them on Feb. 12. According to The Wall Street Journal, the stimulus payments will be based on household incomes listed in either 2020 or 2019 tax returns, whichever is on file with the Internal Revenue Service when the Treasury Department starts cutting checks.

If your income dropped and you file a return before the checks go out, the payments will be based on the 2020 income, potentially making you eligible for a larger stimulus. If you file after checks are distributed, the IRS will base the stimulus on your 2019 income.

If you had a child in 2020, you could be eligible for any potential dependent stimulus payments by filing sooner and claiming the new child as a dependent. The IRS will base the check amount on your 2019 family size if you file your tax return after the checks start going out.

If you happened to get a raise in 2020 but your 2019 income falls within the final new stimulus thresholds, its likely worth it to wait before filing your 2020 tax return.

Related Content:
The Cornish fishing industry is changing the names of two of its most common catches in a bid to boost their appeal with British consumers because of post-Brexit problems exporting to Europe.

Until now, 95 per cent of Cornwalls megrim fish and 85 percent of spider crab have been exported to Spain  but trade has been disrupted by the red tape difficulties stemming from Boris Johnsons deal with the EU.

Desperate Cornish fishing chiefs are instead looking to local markets, but the two catches in question have traditionally been less than appetising for British diners.

Theres this negative thing with megrim  its the grim connotation, Paul Trebilcock, chief executive of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation (CPPO) told The Times.

The spider crab apparently suffers not only because of a potentially off-putting name, but also because of its appearance, with Mr Trebilcock saying it doesnt look as pretty as brown crab, the species more commonly eaten in the UK.

In hope of an image makeover, the CFPO, after consulting consumers, buyers and restaurateurs, is planning to relaunch the two species with megrim set to be known as Cornish sole.

The spider crabs, meanwhile, are likely to be rebranded as the Cornish king crab in an effort to help them stand out with British buyers.

It is hoped Cornish sole will become just as popular as its more expensive cousin, Dover sole, while the CFPO is also working with chef James Strawbridge to develop recipes for the rather plain-looking fish and spider crab.

The moves are reminiscent of other changes to fish names to make them sound more appealing. Patagonian toothfish, for example, was changed to become Chilean seabass in the US and Canada.

The move comes as the government criticised the EU for a ban on certain kinds of British shellfish imports, admitting it has been a devastating blow for the UK fishing industry.

Since the Brexit transition period ended, mussels, clams, cockles, scallops and oysters from most UK waters can only be exported to the EU if they are purified before departure and accompanied by an export health certificate  something the industry is not set up to do.

Environment secretary George Eustice said the government had been forced to advise traders their produce would be rejected at EU ports.

The minister blamed Brussels indefensible bureaucracy  insisting there was no legal barrier to prevent the trade. We are just asking the EU to abide by their existing regulations and not to seek to change them, he told LBC on Tuesday.

However, the EU has said its import rules of shellfish have existed for decades and are not about to change.
Westlife announced they have split from their record label following a breakdown of contractual negotiations (Ian West/PA)

Westlife said they have split from their record label following a breakdown of contractual negotiations.

The chart-topping boyband said they parted company with EMI Records by mutual consent. They had released 2019 number one album Spectrum with the label.

In a statement, Westlife members Shane Filan, Markus Feehily, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne said: Due to a change of leadership and a breakdown of contractual negotiations, we have parted company with EMI Records by mutual consent.

We enjoyed our time with the label and are very proud of the huge success we achieved together, including our no. 1 album Spectrum and were humbled to be the labels biggest selling UK signed artist of that year.

The band, whose songs include Flying Without Wings, World Of Our Own and If I Let You Go, said they are working on a new album due for release later this year.

They added: This change now allows us to embark on a very exciting new chapter. The next 18 months is shaping up to be our biggest yet, including a groundbreaking global partnership which we will be announcing imminently.

Westlife also promised our biggest ever world tour, saying it will take us across 5 continents including a sold out Wembley Stadium and for the first time ever, we will be bringing our live shows to America.

The group, who reunited to celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2018, cancelled a tour last year due to the pandemic.

Spectrum was the bands 11th studio album, and their first since 2010 record Gravity, which peaked at number three in the UK charts.

Westlife have sold more than 55 million records.
OAK BROOK, Ill. - Breast cancer death rates have stopped declining for women in the U.S. younger than age 40, ending a trend that existed from 1987 to 2010, according to a new study in Radiology. Researchers expressed hope that the findings would raise awareness of breast cancer in younger women and spur research into the causes behind the change.

Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in women in the U.S., accounting for 30% of all cancers in women. Although most invasive breast cancers occur in women age 40 years and older, 4% to 5% of cases happen in women younger than 40 years.

Statistics have shown steady decline in overall breast cancer mortality rates for American women since 1989. From 1989 to 2017, breast cancer mortality rates for all women in the U.S. decreased by 40%, a decrease attributed to improved treatment and increased rates of screening mammography use starting in the early to mid-1980s.

In the new study, researchers determined U.S. trends in female breast cancer mortality rates by 10-year age subgroups based on recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Analysis showed that from 2010 to 2017, mortality rates decreased between 1.2% and 2.2% per year for women in each age decade from 40 to 79 years but increased by a non-significant 0.5% per year for women 20 to 39 years of age.

"It's clear that mortality rates in women under 40 are no longer decreasing," said study lead author R. Edward Hendrick, Ph.D., clinical professor from the Department of Radiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colorado. "I estimate that in two to three years, the mortality rate will be increasing significantly in these women."

The changing mortality rate in younger women is likely related to an increase in distant-stage, or metastatic, breast cancers. The authors' analysis of invasive breast cancer incidence rates from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program found that distant-stage breast cancer incidence rates have increased by over 4% per year since the year 2000 in women ages 20 to 39 years, a much higher rate of increase than in women ages 40 and over.

Unlike breast cancer treatments, imaging recommendations for early detection vary by age. Women 40 and older are offered screening mammography for early breast cancer detection and over half of these women report being screened regularly. Screening is not done for women under 40 unless they are known to be at high risk for breast cancer.

According to the researchers, the continued decline in death rates in women over age 40 may reflect the benefit of regular screening for women in this age group. The difference in mortality trends for women under 40 and over 40 provides further evidence for the essential role mammography screening plays in decreasing breast cancer deaths, they said.

The researchers plan to continue studying these trends to learn more about why mortality rates have stopped declining in younger women.

"Our hope is that these findings focus more attention and research on breast cancer in younger women and what is behind this rapid increase in late-stage cancers," Dr. Hendrick said.

###

"Breast Cancer Mortality Rates Have Stopped Declining in U.S. Women Younger than 40 Years." Also participating in the research were Mark A. Helvie, M.D., professor of radiology at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Debra L. Monticciolo, M.D., professor and vice chair of radiology at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, Texas.

Radiology is edited by David A. Bluemke, M.D., Ph.D., University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, and owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (https:/ / pubs. rsna. org/ journal/ radiology )

RSNA is an association of radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. (RSNA.org)

For patient-friendly information on breast imaging, visit RadiologyInfo.org.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 2021 / Renforth Resources Inc. (CSE:RFR)(OTC PINK:RFHRF)(WKN:A2H9TN) ("Renforth" or the "Company") is pleased to inform shareholders that our Surimeau district scale Nickel/VMS prospect drill program has provided;

0.156% Ni over 13m, including 0.483% Ni over 1m in SUR-20-003,

0.126% Ni over 20.5m, including 0.209% over 2.4m from hole SUR-20-002.

SUR-20-001 returned 1.16% Zn and 0.132% Cu over 4.03m from the bedrock surface down to 4.0m, followed by 0.147% Ni over 7.9m

The polymetallic mineralization is associated with a sulphide assemblage composed of nickel bearing pyrrhotite, sphalerite and chalcopyrite.

This program has tested historical information from trenching and drilling known as the "Victoria West" target. Renforth's preliminary surface sampling and these 3 drillholes, combined with historic information, create an area of interest that has the most data available on the property. Overall, the prospective horizons tested herein include approximately 5kms. of strike in the western end of the ~20km central anomaly at Surimeau. (refer to the Surimeau property map, available in the Surimeau section, under Projects, at www.renforthresources.com)

Renforth interprets the Surimeau central anomaly to be a nickel bearing ultramafic body occurring alongside, and intermingled with, a sediment-and volcanic hosted copper/zinc volcanogenic massive sulfide style occurrence. This is considered by Renforth to be an "Outokumpu-like" occurrence, a reference to a district in eastern Finland known for several unconventional sulphide deposits variously hosting economic grades of Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Ag and Au. Like Surimeau, the Outokumpu district is located in a deformed high grade metamorphosed terrain where volcanic and ultramafic units form intercalated lenses in a sediment dominated environment.

Drilling

Hole SUR-20-001 and SUR-20-003, along strike and approximately 200m apart , were both collared in mineralization. SUR-20-002 was collared over 60m south of SUR-20-003 and intersected the northern contact between the volcanic complex and sediments of the Pontiac Group. Hole SUR-20-003 ended abruptly due to equipment breakdown, at a length of 32m, still in mineralization, which ended the program.

Almost all of SUR-20-003 was sampled, and contained elevated nickel contents, as presented below, indicating the hole was entirely within a nickel - bearing ultramafic unit. In contrast to this SUR-20-002, collared 60m away, contains elevated nickel, copper and zinc, from 3 to 70.5 in one uninterrupted interval; highlights within this mineralized envelope are presented below. Collared 220m to the east, SUR-20-001 is continuously enriched in base metals, with variable contents of Ni, Zn and Cu from surface for 22.25m. Highlights are presented below.

The assays are presented below with two sets of information: First the continuously mineralized zone is given for each hole, followed by specific assay highlights for either nickel, copper or zinc within the continuously mineralized zone.

Min. Zone Assay Highlight Drillhole From (m) To (m) Length From (m) To (m) Length Ni% Cu% Zn% SUR-20-001 0.75 23 22.25 0.75 4.78 4.03 0.132 1.16 14.1 22 7.9 0.147 14.1 16.2 2.1 0.94 SUR-20-002 3 19 16 9 14 5 0.173 9 16.5 7.5 0.481 10 12.5 2.5 0.121 SUR-20-002 24.5 56.1 31.6 24.5 42.75 18.25 0.244 32.55 33.1 0.55 0.184 37 38 1 0.167 35.6 56.1 20.5 0.126 35.6 38 2.4 0.209 42.75 56.1 13.35 0.135 SUR-20-003 2 25 23 2 15 13 0.156 2 3 1 0.483 25.5 28.5 3 27 28.5 1.5 0.185 31 32 1 31 32 1 0.224

Surimeau Surface Sampling

Prior to this drill program Renforth conducted reconnaissance prospecting at Surimeau, in the areas of historic work at Victoria West (the same area as the drill program), the LaLonde base metal occurrence approximately 3.5 km to the north, in the northern anomaly at Surimeau, and Colonie, approximately 20km to the east of, and on strike to, the Victoria West area.

Selected highlights of that surface prospecting program, which visited historic trenches as well as outcrops, found and sampled for the first time, appear below. This list is not comprehensive, nor entirely representative of the property. This list contains the highlights of grab sampling programs, grab samples are selective in nature. In addition, this prospecting program, Renforth's first work at Surimeau was focused where there was record and evidence of historic trenching. Renforth currently interprets Surimeau to host a nickel bearing ultramafic unit, along with a copper -zinc VMS, as well as a tectonically "mixed" zone between the two. We also observed that historic work was not evenly divided between these mineralized zones, and our prospecting work did not evenly address these zones as a result.

Selected Surimeau Summer 2020 Grab Sample Results

Project Area Sample # Ni % Cu % Zn % Victoria 2328 0.495 0.03 0.05 Victoria 7061 0.195 0.06 Victoria 7093 0.165 0.06 0.08 Victoria 2319 0.145 0.05 0.04 Victoria 2321 0.139 0.05 0.05 Victoria 2339 0.09 0.12 1.79 Victoria 2336 0.08 0.12 3.16 Victoria B567791 0.07 0.05 1.15 Victoria 2340 0.06 0.17 1.87 Victoria 2337 0.04 0.13 2.29 LaLonde B567800 0.22 0.06 Lalonde 2350 0.2 0.05 Lalonde B567799 0.15 Lalonde 2347 0.14 LaLonde B567798 0.12 Colonie 7072 0.19 Colonie 7073 0.11 Colonie 7076 0.1

Outlook

The Surimeau drill program used a custom built mobile, track mounted drill, and was planning to test sub-surface mineralization near old trenches and outcrop proximal to the property access road. SUR-20-001 was 72m in length, with 44.6m sampled, SUR-20-002 was 90m in length, with 71.25m sampled and SUR-20-003 was 32m in length with 20.7m of sampling. As every sample taken returned values above background in different elements the decision has been taken to sample all of the remaining core obtained during the Parbec drill program and submit this for assay, resolving sampling gaps which have mineralization on either side of the gap. In addition to this testing for platinum group element contents is under way.

Drill samples and their assays referred to in this press release were identified, split, bagged and tagged in the field and delivered to the facilities of AGAT Laboratories in Val d'Or Quebec where they were processed using Sodium Peroxide Fusion - ICP-OES/ICP-MS Finish. The prospecting grab samples and their assays referred to in this press release were selected, bagged, tagged and sealed in the field. They were delivered to the facilities of ALS Canada Ltd in Val d'Or where they underwent ME-MS41L (Aqua Regia, ICP-MS).

Technical disclosure in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Brian H. Newton P.Geo and Martin Demers P.Geo (ogq), each a "qualified person" pursuant to the guidelines of NI 43-101.

For further information please contact:

Renforth Resources Inc.

Nicole Brewster

President and Chief Executive Officer

C:416-818-1393

E: nicole@renforthresources.com

#269 - 1099 Kingston Road, Pickering ON L1V 1B5

No securities regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information under applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as 'may', 'will', 'plan', 'expect', 'believe', 'anticipate', 'estimate', 'intend' and similar words referring to future events and results. Such statements and information are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, the risks of obtaining necessary approvals, licenses and permits and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in the Company's securities filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and the reader is cautioned against placing undue reliance thereon. Forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is provided and the Company assumes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE: Renforth Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628567/Renforths-Surimeau-District-Scale-NickelVMS-Prospect-Assays-0483-Ni-over-1m-with-a-13m-Interval-of-0156-Ni-Starting-at-Surface
Legislators in Oregon are examining a law on the books that now gives police authority to declare unlawful assemblies, which Portland police and other agencies used frequently during months of mass protests in the past year.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon has called on the Legislature to repeal the law.

Police chiefs and sheriffs across the state counter that their ability to declare unlawful assemblies is an effective way to prevent violence, yet they do think changes should be made to the language in the law.

Under the law, police or sheriffs deputies or any chief executive officer in Oregon such as a mayor or county -- can command dispersal when five or more people, whether armed or not, are unlawfully or riotously assembled in any city, county, town or village.

If people are commanded to leave an area and dont immediately do so, the law also says, The officer must arrest them or cause them to be arrested and they may be punished by law.

Kelly Simon, interim legal director of the ACLU of Oregon, said the law doesnt define what constitutes an unlawful assembly and gives police too much discretion. Its been more frequently used against protesters demonstrating against police brutality and racial injustice and left-wing counter protestors to right-wing demonstrations than against right-wing protestors in Oregon, she said.

Simon told lawmakers that a separate statute allows for the criminal charge of riot, so the state doesnt need the unlawful assembly statute.

A person commits riot under state law if theyre participating with five or more people engaged in tumultuous and violent conduct and intentionally or recklessly creating a grave risk of causing public alarm.

House Bill 3059, sponsored by state Rep. Janelle Bynum, D- Clackamas, at the request of the ACLU, is one of a number of police reform and criminal justice proposals introduced this legislative session. The House Subcommittee on Equitable Policing held a hearing on it Monday morning.

Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner, representing the state police chiefs and sheriffs associations, said unlawful assembly declarations allow police to move a crowd before extreme violence occurs.

The declarations are usually made by incident commanders or a chief in a police command center  not officers on the ground, he said.

For example, he said Eugene police declared an unlawful assembly in early January and broke up a crowd of about 70 people as officers attempted to intervene and arrest six people fighting in the middle of a Eugene street. That occurred days after the Jan. 6 takeover of the U.S. Capitol, Skinner said.

Dispersing the crowd was necessary, he said, to allow officers to safely move in to make arrests and helped defuse a volatile situation.

Police chiefs and sheriffs highlighted as a problem, though, the laws clause that says police must arrest people who dont disperse once an order is given.

Theres no chance we would ever do that, Skinner told lawmakers.

Michael Selvaggio, lobbyist for the Oregon Coalition of Police and Sheriffs, echoed the need for amending the law.

Simply being caught in the middle of a riot shouldnt be automatic means for arrest, Selvaggio said.

Thats been a common complaint in Portland among people who have sued the city and Police Bureau or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, arguing that they were unfairly targeted with less-lethal munitions for simply being bystanders.

Nick Chaiyachkakorn of Portland presented testimony calling the unlawful assembly dispersals an ineffective shakedown tactic.

Every time Ive seen law enforcement in Portland disperse unlawful assemblies, it has not brought peace but simply given cause for left and right to keep protesting and escalating the conflict, he said in written testimony. It exacerbates conflict, rather than resolves it.

The House subcommittee will consider any amendments to the proposed bill and then forward it to the House Judiciary Committee for review. The goal is to have a group of bills addressing police violence and systemic racism that can be brought to the House and Senate floors by March, Bynum said.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) headquarters Connaught Building is pictured in Ottawa on Aug. 17, 2020. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Ottawa Police Charge Man Over Fire at Canada Revenue Agency HQ

A 33-year-old man was charged with arson after police alleged he started a fire at the headquarters of the Canada Revenue Agency at 555 Mackenzie Ave, Ottawa, on Sunday morning.

Daniel Joseph Groulx allegedly broke into the CRA building on Feb. 7 at 7:32 a.m. and started a small fire, but the fire was quickly extinguished by the sprinkler system, according to the Ottawa police service in a news release Sunday.

No information is known about the motive at this time. We can confirm that there were no injuries, said the CRA in a statement to CTV News. We are currently assessing property damages which include a broken window and smoke and water damage and will perform necessary repairs.

The Connaught Building, which was damaged by the fire, contains the offices of the agencys commissioner Bob Hamilton and national revenue minister Diane Lebouthillier.

The suspect has been charged with arson causing property damage, possession of incendiary material, and mischief to property.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
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15:57 | Lima, Feb. 8.

"We were assured that Peru will have received a minimum of 5,750,000 vaccines by July 1, and the supply will increase significantly to 20 million since then," she pointed out.

She went on to say that this Government has managed to bring the first delivery of 530,000 doses forward to the first quarter of this year.

Moreover, the minister reported that the country has inked an agreement with COVAX Facility for the supply of 6.6 million doses from Pfizer and AstraZeneca, so as to immunize 20% of the population.

In the case of AstraZeneca, she said, Peru signed an agreement on January 6 to deliver 14,040,000 doses of the vaccine starting September this year, although steps are being taken to advance the shipments.





On the other hand, negotiations with Johnson & Johnson for an agreement to supply five million doses are moving forward, she explained.





Regarding the Sputnik V vaccine developed by Russia's Gamaleya Institute negotiations continue to make progress.





Besides, negotiations with Moderna to supply 12 million doses are underway and, if successful, they may arrive during the second half of the year.





According to the minister, the country is awaiting a proposal for a contract with Sinopharm to procure an additional batch of 2 million doses to be delivered between February and March, based on a verbal agreement with the laboratory's president.
Mr. Lamin Mass, Director of Administration at the NDMA, has told the Legislative Committee on Health that they are working with the World Bank and are expecting about D27 from them to address the problems faced by those in disaster hotpots.

Director Mass made the statement yesterday, 8th February 2021during the commencement of the Select Committee's visit to Disaster hotspots and COVI-19 Testing Centers.

He said Manjai Kunda is a major disaster hotspot within the Kanifing Municipality, and that the NDMA is working with stakeholders, especially the World Bank, in trying to solicit support to address the problems in this area.

He said: "If you look at the Manjia hotspot, it is related to the hotspots in Abuko and Bakoteh and if we have to address it, we have to view it from a holistic perspective to see how to address the menace, either by putting in stone-pitch around the areas to avoid clogging of the area".

He said: "We are working with the World Bank and we are expecting about D27 from them. It is on its initial stage, but I believe that before the end of the year, we may come out with something from them".

Bubacarr Fofana, Regional Disaster Management Coordinator of KM, said several places in Manjai are prone to disaster due to poor town planning, adding some compounds are constructed on water ways and as such they inhibit the free flow of water.

Fofana said: "I think the government has to come up with a decision or policy, as well as work with NDMA to address the problem, because NDMA alone cannot do it. The disaster problems along Abuko, Bakoteh and Manjai are interrelated because they are connected with one stream which stretches all the way from Abuko".

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He added: "All the waters during the rainy season are emptied into this stream, and flow into the ocean, but at some points, this stream also gets narrower and is blocked by debris thus making free flow of water a huge challenge, as well as the reduction in depth as a result of sediments and other materials".

He further stressed that when it overflows due to too much of rains, the water flows back to the community amidst the low topography nature of the area.

He added: "Government also needs to empower physical planning because the capacity of physical planning and the growing population that we now have do not match. It is important for government to enhance their capacity so that they are able to take certain decisions in planning the habitats".

Ousman Sillah, the Chairperson of the Legislative Health Committee said the visit aims to help them obtain first-hand information on the nature of disaster hotspots and what mitigating measures have been developed by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) to ensure that disasters are curbed".

The tour took the committee to the Manjai, Abuko and Bakoteh Disaster Hotspot areas.
TREBIL, Iraq  On Iraq's western edge, a border crossing with Jordan is surrounded by desert that has long been difficult to secure. The same can be said for Qaim, a port of entry further north that borders Syria. And along Iraq's eastern border with Iran, there is the Zerbatiya crossing, where the Hamrin mountains  known for decades as a favorite hideout of insurgent groups  stretching to the Salahuddin province are silhouetted against the horizon.

The Rutba area, along the main road between Trebil and Anbar province's capital, Ramadi, has been the site of several terrorism-linked incidents in recent weeks. A Jan. 29 confrontation southwest of the city between border police and three men, one of whom was wearing a suicide belt, resulted in the attackers' deaths and the wounding of a policeman.

The following day, a spokesman for Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said a top military official of the Islamic State, Muthana Shatran al-Marawi, had been killed in the western desert area of the Rutba district.

Kadhimi pledged upon being sworn in last year that he would fight corruption and bring weapons under state control. Ensuring that the countrys borders are well-organized and protected is key to both of these aims.

Kadhimis Border Ports Authority chief, Omar al-Waeli, is widely seen as having successfully implemented a number of anti-corruption measures that have also led to better organization and greater revenue at some border ports of entry.

Though much trade with Iraq depends on the ports in its oil-rich south, its border crossings with its eastern and western neighbors also see significant imports and exports and are key to stemming income streams for terrorist groups and trafficking in general.

The road from Baghdad to Trebil took this journalist an uneventful four hours by road Jan. 23. However, border officials there said that there had been clashes between the Islamic State and the army along a certain point in the road not far from Rutba earlier in the morning. They said no one had been hurt and that this is normal for the area. Trebil itself is surrounded by largely uninhabited desert land.

Col. Yassar Mishan Telfah from the Trebil border port authority told Al-Monitor in an interview that prior to the current directors appointment last year and Kadhimis decision to send military forces to protect the border crossings, most border crossings were without protection. There was a lot of interference and a lot of corruption, with no real state control over them.

He stressed that there had been a sizable increase in customs revenue at the Trebil border crossing in the second half of 2020 compared with the same period in the previous year and that this increase had been achieved despite the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions linked to it.

An Amman-based Iraqi national involved in the cross-border car trade told Al-Monitor that the procedures at the crossing had also sped up considerably in recent months.

Telfah had previously been posted at the Qaim border point with Syria further north. He noted that that crossing differs greatly from Trebil in that Qaim is in the middle of a town, and of course that means there will be some problems, he said in terms of security.

When Al-Monitor visited the border port office in Qaim the following day, there was no electricity.

The director of the Qaim border port, Ali Mahmoud Hassan, told Al-Monitor that IS cells operating outside the city had knocked down three electricity pylons in recent weeks and that the city was for the time being entirely dependent on generators and trucked-in fuel, making life hard for many in the area.

He noted that this particular border crossing was destroyed by years under the Islamic State and further damaged in the operations to liberate it. This journalist reported from those late-2017 operations and had photographed the heavily damaged crossing during one of the regions not-unusual dust storms, the IS flag on the Syrian side of the border. On Al-Monitors Jan. 24 visit, a large photo of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could be seen behind a line of trucks getting papers checked to enter Iraq.

Hassan noted that the goods coming through consist mainly of produce and household goods and that more is imported from Syria than exported. He said this crossing had been hit worse than others by the COVID pandemic and security issues.

Recent years have seen repeated airstrikes by the United States and others on positions held by armed groups linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and operating on the Syrian side of the border near Albu Kamal. US airstrikes on Dec. 29, 2019, on brigades from the Iran-linked Kataib Hezbollah that had been incorporated into the government sparked major tensions.

The Zerbatiya border crossing on the other side of the country in Wasit province is one of the busiest federal border ports with Iran alongside the Mandali crossing further north in Diyala. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq controls border crossings with Turkey and Iran as well.

In the Zerbatiya border ports office on Jan. 15, the head of the office, Col. Amjed Hamid Lihftan, was meeting with several people including two members of the countrys Popular Mobilization Units (PMU).

Lihftan, who speaks fluent English and trained at one point with the American forces, told Al-Monitor that a variety of forces were present at the various border crossings but that the largest and strongest was the army and in the case of any problems, they intervene swiftly and forcefully.

He noted that the PMU, many of whom have historic links to Iran, can be useful on Iraqs border with its eastern neighbor and that though they are not present on the other side of the country at the border ports themselves, they have checkpoints and secure areas not far from them near Trebil and Qaim.

Work on the site of a large, architecturally complex new border crossing replacing the current one in Zerbatiya was stalled at the time of Al-Monitors visit.

Waeli told Al-Monitor in a Jan. 17 interview in Baghdad that the work on the new facilities had run into legal and administrative issues but that he expected it to resume soon.

And though it was true that customs revenue had risen significantly since Kadhimi sent reinforcements to the countrys key border crossings, he said, the main objective had been to stop the illicit importing of weapons by groups uncontrolled by the state.

Waeli noted that when he took the position of Border Ports Authority chief in February 2020, he had asked for a greater military presence. Kadhimi, he said, had agreed on the need and delivered shortly after he was sworn in as prime minister in May last year.

He stressed that guns, ammunitions and rockets used to pass through the border crossings, creating problems for security across the entire country, and the situation has vastly improved since then.
OPPOSITION members of parliament have vowed to pressurise the ruling Swapo party to account for its alleged involvement in various corruption schemes, including the much-publicised Fishrot scandal.

Some opposition MPs are also planning to disrupt the proceedings of today's official opening of parliament, at which president Hage Geingob is expected to officiate.

Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) leader Mike Kavekotora yesterday said this year's parliament will be a continuation of last year's mode of operation where most National Assembly sessions were lively yet disruptive.

Kavekotora said this year corruption and the misuse of state resources by prominent members of the ruling party including the Fishrot scandal will be high on the opposition agenda.

The RDP leader further said he believes it is improper for president Geingob to address the National Assembly after recent allegations of corruption levelled against him.

Kavekotora's sentiments were supported by Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani, who feels it is not the right time for Geingob to address the nation during the opening of parliament.

"We do not have a problem with him opening but talking about corruption as if it is a backdoor issue [...] we won't allow," he said.

Apart from the Fishrot scandal, Venaani said his party will interrogate the procurement of the Covid-19 vaccine, the corruption allegations at August 26 and wants an amendment of the fisheries minister's powers pertaining to fish quota allocations.

Meanwhile, the Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) plans to disrupt the opening of parliament and stop Geingob from speaking unless he has paid back the money or accepts that he has committed corruption.

NEFF parliamentarian Kalimbo Iipumbu this week called for the resignation of Geingob, vice president Nangolo Mbumba and Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa.

The Namibian last month reported that lawyer Sisa Namandje and Maren de Klerk told the investigators of the Anti-Corruption Commission how their law firms were used to transfer millions alleged to be part of a corruption scheme by prominent Swapo members and government officials to advance the interests of the ruling party.

Geingob has in the past denied knowledge of the corruption, insisting that Swapo did not "directly" benefit from the scheme.

RISE ABOVE PETTINESS

Political commentator Graham Hopwood said he expects parliamentarians to focus on delivery rather than pettiness this year.

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Hopwood said the National Assembly was especially slow in finalising important bills last year.

"According to our records, parliament only passed eight bills last year with five of them being amendment bills. Parliament needs to pick up the pace this year, having adapted to the Covid-19 situation," he said.

He also wants MPs to set up a parliamentary committee on information and communication technology to deal with the access to information bill, for example.

"There is also other important work that the committees need to undertake in scrutinising bills and calling public hearings. It's important that MPs are focussed and get on with the work in hand. Since 2021 is not an election year, I hope there will be less theatrics than last year," he added.

Hopwood also wants to see a responsive budget to address the damage inflicted on the economy by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Swanu's president, Tangeni Iijambo, last week said his party plans to table a motion in parliament for a basic income grant policy similar to the emergency income grant Namibia rolled out as relief against the financial implications of the pandemic.

Parliament spokesperson David Nahonganjda last week said 12 bills will be tabled and considered by the National Assembly when the sessions resume today.

These include combating of rape amendment bill, the combating of domestic violence amendment bill, the criminal procedure amendment bill, the High Court amendment bill, the Magistrates' Court amendment bill and the divorce bill.
PORTLAND, Ore.  Inadequate medical and mental health care, among other factors, contributed to the deaths of ten inmates at eight local jail facilities throughout Oregon over the course of 2020, according to an investigative report by Disability Rights Oregon released on Monday.

The report looked at ten deaths between the beginning of January and the end of October, 2020, in Clatsop, Deschutes, Jackson, Klamath, Marion, and Polk counties, as well as the Springfield Municipal Jail and the NORCOR detention center in The Dalles.

"As the jail population plummeted last year in response to the threat of COVID-19, the number of deaths in Oregon jails rose," DRO said in a statement. "Jails are shielded from public scrutiny like few other places in society. DROs investigation documents the systemic failures  by both hospitals and jails  that led to this tragic loss of human life, and makes clear that many, if not most, of deaths that occurred in Oregon jails were preventable."

According to the DRO report, nine out of the ten inmates who died had a disability. Five had documented mental health conditions, and six of them died by suicide. Eight had documented substance use disorder, and six of those were in custody on drug-related charges. At least four were homeless, or had a history of housing insecurity.

The ten deaths examined were unrelated to COVID-19, and did not include deaths in the state prison system.

The organization concluded that the deaths resulted from a combination of restraint practices that are banned in clinical settings, inadequate assessment of medical conditions, an inability of the jails to provide necessary treatment, and a failure to take adequate measures to prevent suicide  in addition to a lack of meaningful transparency or oversight, and a revolving door of detainees with a lack of community treatment options.

Though including them in the report, DRO did not explicitly cite details from the cases that occurred in Jackson and Klamath counties. The Jackson County Jail reported the death of 46-year-old Carl Sullivant in February of 2020 after he died following an apparent medical emergency. 22-year-old Randall Holmes, the suspect in a 2019 drive-by shooting, reportedly died in the Klamath County Jail in April.

"While this report does not tell the entire story of each persons death, each individual case is its own tragedy and speaks to the urgent need for action," DRO said. "Use of force, inadequate medical and mental healthcare, insufficient screening, and failure to follow safety protocols contributed to the deaths analyzed in this report. Criminalization of mental health conditions, lack of substantive healthcare standards, and lack of jail oversight were systemic issues uncovered through this investigation."

The report examined two cases in particular. Alex Jimenez, an Army veteran, struggled with mental illness and addiction. According to DRO, officers approached Jimenez in Warrenton, Clatsop County, for jaywalking. He was tased and forcibly taken into custody when he did not respond to commands. He was taken to a local hospital for an assessment prior to booking.

"A doctors medical assessment consisted of looking at Alex as he sat in the back of a police car yelling and moving around," DRO said. "The hospital did not measure Alexs vitals, examine the area where he was tased, or assess his mental health needs. Based on a cursory observation, the doctor cleared him for jail, saying 'I guess youre ready to go to jail.'"

Outside of the Clatsop County Jail, Jimenez struggled with officers as they tried to steer him toward the facility. He was forced to the ground and held down to the pavement with "as many as six people holding him down" until he stopped moving and one of the officers found that he wasn't breathing.

While Jimenez was briefly revived at the hospital, he died later that day. The medical examiner's report concluded that his death was caused by methamphetamine toxicity, with "recent application of conductive electrical devices" and fatty liver cited as contributing factors.

The DRO report also cited the case of 26-year-old Jennifer McLaren, a woman with a history of drug possession charges, who died from a severe case of undiagnosed pneumonia at a jail in The Dalles. Though McLaren complained of rib pain and her cellmate asked to be moved because "she seemed sick," she was not taken to a hospital for eight days  instead, she was moved to a booking cell for closer observation.

"The day before her death, Jennifer became very dehydrated. This concerned medical staff, so they ordered her to drink a gallon of juice but did not attempt to have her hospitalized," the report said.

Emergency medical staff were not called until just before McLaren fell unconscious, and she died at the jail before she could receive treatment. The medical examiner listed her cause of death as pneumonia in both lungs, with blood-borne bacteria that had spread throughout her body.

The majority of the ten deaths investigated by DRO were caused by suicide, but the organization found that none of the individuals had been placed on suicide watch, even where there were indications of elevated risk.

"All of those who committed suicide died by hanging: Each person was left unsupervised in cells with unmitigated ligature risks," DRO said. "Unlike hospital licensing which requires eliminating all furnishings or fixtures that a patient could use to hang themselves, there is no oversight or licensing body in Oregon that proactively requires jails to address ligature risks."

Though Oregon law requires hourly welfare checks in correctional facilities, the investigation found that  in at least two of the cases  jail staff failed to conduct adequate checks, resulting in the inmates laying "dead for hours" before being discovered.

In cases where deaths were caused by medical emergencies, the report also placed some of the responsibility on hospitals, which had cleared the inmates for booking.

"Over the course of this investigation, Oregon sheriffs and jail commanders reported that local hospitals regularly clear patients for jail transport, regardless of the severity of their medical or mental health condition," DRO said. "In two cases reviewed for this report, hospital staff quickly released the individuals with conditions that ultimately contributed to their death."

DRO did say that jail commanders and sheriffs from the investigated facilities provided them with "extensive records in a forthcoming and timely manner." Oregon does not have a centralized source for data on jail deaths, the organization said.

A DRO investigation into the death of a Medford man at the Oregon State Penitentiary resulted in his family suing the state for wrongful death. The state Department of Corrections agreed to a record $2.75 million settlement in October.

The Justice Department on Monday dropped an unprecedented lawsuit against Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former aide to Melania Trump who was accused of violating a non-disclosure agreement by writing a tell-all book about the former first lady.

In a one-sentence filing in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, acting Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton said the United States 'voluntarily dismisses this action.'

It offered no further explanation as to why the suit was being dropped.

A Justice Department official told The Washington Post: 'The Department evaluated the case and concluded that dismissal without prejudice was in the best interests of the United States based on the facts and the law.'

The lawsuit, which was filed in October, had asked the court to set aside in a government trust profits from the book, 'Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady,' which offers an unflattering portrayal of former President Donald Trump's wife.

Monday's decision was one of the first from President Joe Biden's administration to dismiss litigation initiated by the Trump administration. Critics questioned the legality of the suit, which some said was the administration trying to punish Winston Wolkoff over a personal dispute with Melania Trump.

Biden's Justice Department dropped an unprecedented lawsuit against Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former aide to Melania Trump

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff was accused of violating a non-disclosure agreement by writing a tell-all book about Melania Trump - the two women are seen together in 2017

In response to the dropped suit, Winston Wolkoff warned she has more information to share about the former first lady.

'Melania opened Pandora's box involving the DOJ. The enormous trove of communications & documentations I possess and shared tell the true story about 'why' and 'how' the contracts were 'created' and 'terminated' and who was involved. TRUTH PREVAILS,' she wrote on Twitter.

Winston Wolkoff and Melania Trump reached a non-disclosure agreement in August 2017 when she was working as an unpaid adviser to the East Wing. Winston Wolkoff's tenure at the White House ended in early 2018.

Winston Wolkoff said when the lawsuit was filed that she had fulfilled all the terms of her agreement with Melania Trump and the legal action was an effort to silence her.

Trump's Justice Department was trying to get the profits from Winston Wolkoff's memoir

Many former White House aides have published memoirs, without legal repercussions, although the Trump administration had sought to keep some tomes from being published.

The complaint had said that the Justice Department had jurisdiction in the case because of the first lady's traditional public role dating back to Martha Washington, wife of the first president, George Washington.

Attorney General Bill Barr's Justice Department launched the lawsuit in October 2020.

Wolkoff, in her memoir about working with Melania, revealed several embarrassing stories about the first lady. And, during her book tour, she played recordings of Melania Trump making disparaging remarks about having to decorate the White House for Christmas and about immigrant children being separated from their parents.

The government lawyers argue Wolkoff failed to submit to the government a draft of her book 'Melania & Me' for review.

'The United States seeks to hold Ms. Wolkoff to her contractual and fiduciary obligations and to ensure that she is not unjustly enriched by her breach of the duties she freely assumed when she served as an adviser to the first lady,' the complaint said.

The NDA had 'no termination date,' the complaint states.

Wolkoff, in a statement to DailyMail.com at the time, said she fulfilled the terms of her NDA and accused the Trumps of using the government in a 'blatant abuse' of power to 'pursue their own personal interests.'

'The president and first lady's use of the US Department of Justice to silence me is a violation of my first amendment rights and a blatant abuse of the government to pursue their own personal interests and goals,' she said.

'I fulfilled all of the terms of the Gratuitous Service Agreement and the confidentiality provisions ended when the White House terminated the agreement,' she said.

Wolkoff said her book was her way of exercising 'my right to free expression.'

'I will not be deterred by these bullying tactics,' she concluded.

The lawsuit one of many by the Trump administration to stop tell-alls from from former aides. The administration unsuccessfully tried to stop publication of former National Security Adviser John Bolton's book and the Trump family sued Mary Trump to try and stop her book from being published.

The lawsuit one of many by the Trump administration to stop tell-alls from from former aides

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff and Melania Trump waiting to attend President Trump's first State of the Union - Winston Wolkoff worked as an unpaid adviser in the East Wing in the early days of the Trump administration

Wolkoff worked on the Trump inauguration and then signed on as an unpaid adviser in the East Wing in the early days of the administration. She admitted to signing an NDA but said she consulted an attorney before publishing her memoir to ensure she didn't violate it.

She left the Trump White House in February 2018.

Wolkoff's book was published September 1 but details from it leaked as the first lady was preparing to address the Republican National Convention to make her case for her husband's second term.

Melania Trump lashed out at 'delusional & malicious gossip' after embarrassing bits of the book came out, including the revelation of the first lady's bitter rivalry with Ivanka Trump and that Melania used a secret private email account.

'This afternoon I will be hosting a roundtable with some incredible citizens in recovery & the amazing organizations that support them. I encourage the media to focus & report on the nation's drug crisis, not on delusional & malicious gossip,' the first lady wrote on Twitter after the book was published.
Introductions were in order just four years ago.

Republicans controlled not just the White House but also both chambers of Congress, and even in that moment of unified government at the beginning of the Trump presidency, their power was not complete.

Then-House Speaker Paul Ryan was strategizing with party lawmakers behind closed doors about how to accomplish the single most defining GOP promise of the 2016 campaign: repealing the Affordable Care Act. The person to watch in the Senate, Ryan said, was Elizabeth. Do you mean, one congressman asked, the junior senator from Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren?

No, Ryan replied. Elizabeth, the Senate parliamentarian.

As the Wall Street Journal reported at the time, Ryan was talking about Elizabeth MacDonough. The Washington Post would go on to introduce her as the staffer who could change the course of the health-care debate, while The Hill later called her the most powerful person in Washington few have heard of. Politico summed up the story by calling the parliamentarian Obamacares little secret.

The sudden interest in the obscure official was because the parliamentarian determines which laws can be repealed (or passed) using budget reconciliation, the procedure by which the Senate can avoid a filibuster and allow legislation to pass by a simple majority.

This makes the parliamentarian the powerful procedural traffic cop on Capitol Hill, as all of the headlines asserted. MacDonough stopped Republicans cold when they tried using reconciliation to repeal some provisions of Obamacare, and she might soon rule that a provision in the COVID relief bill to raise the minimum wage to $15 is out of order.

This fact has triggered a fresh case of deja vu and prompted a telling exchange in the White House briefing room on Monday. The parliamentarian is an unelected bureaucrat while Vice President Kamala Harris is the president of the Senate. A CNN reporter asked: Would the White House like to see Harris overrule the official to deliver on a key campaign promise?

I think our view is that the parliamentarian is who is chosen typically to make a decision in a nonpartisan manner in terms of what can be included in a package that goes through reconciliation, the proper process for this to journey through, press secretary Jen Psaki responded.

That short answer could signal a massive bucket of cold water on progressives hopes. Lets be clear. We can pass a $15 min wage & $2000 checks, tweeted Rep. Ro Khanna, a close ally of incoming Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders. The California Democrat added that the decision is not with Senate Parliamentarian but VP Harris, as chair. If the House passes (where we have a majority), & VP Harris rules it in, NO WAY any Senate Dem votes no on final passage.

If progressives wind up feeling disappointed instead, conservatives can commiserate. Four years ago, it was Sen. Ted Cruz who argued that Mike Pence should disregard the parliamentarian and, as vice president, take a broader view of reconciliation. You dont have to override the parliamentarian or get a new parliamentarian, Cruz told reporters. Under the statute, it is the vice president who rules. It is the presiding officer who makes the decision. The parliamentarian advises on that question.

Cruz and others lobbied the White House to break with precedent, and a former senior administration official told RealClearPolitics that Pence and then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell were briefed on the question of disregarding the parliamentarian. Both were strongly opposed, the official recalled.

As is true of Biden, McConnell has a strong affinity for Senate traditions and the chambers sometimes-arcane rules and procedures. And while the vice president remains president of the Senate, the role has largely become honorific -- except for certain occasions, as former Senate parliamentarian Robert Dove explained in 2010.

No vice president has ever tried to play a role in reconciliation. Basically, since Walter Mondale was vice president, they have kind of been co-opted by the president and given an office down in the West Wing. Their interest in playing Senate politics has become attenuated, Dove said during a Georgetown Law School symposium. That has left the Senate parliamentarian in an extremely powerful position.

The new president seems to have resigned himself to the fact that, even with control of both houses of Congress, an unelected official will decide whether or not his minimum wage increase can be passed. My guess is it will not be included, he told Norah ODonnell of CBS News on Friday.  I dont think it is going to survive."
WASHINGTON  As Dublin Rep. Eric Swalwell is preparing for one of the biggest cases of his career, Republicans want to talk about 2015.

Swalwell will be one of the House Democrats managers in the Senate impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, which begins Tuesday, a post he was selected for by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco. Its the latest high-profile role for the former Alameda County deputy district attorney, who was a featured player on the committees that held evidentiary hearings during Trumps first impeachment and a frequent guest on cable TV news shows laying out the case against the former president.

But as the trial nears, Republicans have sought to weaponize a report that an alleged Chinese spy tried to ingratiate herself with Swalwell, culminating in a 2015 briefing by the FBI that prompted Swalwell to immediately cut off contact. There has been no evidence of wrongdoing by Swalwell.

House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield in particular has repeated the story as he fends off criticism over his handling of Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has espoused baseless conspiracy theories, amplified calls for violence against Democrats and embraced anti-Semitic talking points.

Last week, before Democrats and 11 Republicans including Orange County Rep. Young Kim voted to strip Greene of her committee assignments, McCarthy attacked Swalwell in a speech on the House floor.

Without mentioning Swalwells name or facts to back up his accusations, McCarthy suggested that Pelosi should remove Swalwell from the Intelligence and Homeland Security committees after what congressional leaders were told about the case, which he was briefed on along with Pelosi in December.

When another Democrat was compromised by a Chinese spy ... did Speaker Pelosi remove him from the House Intelligence or Homeland Security committees after that briefing? McCarthy said.

I was in the room with the speaker  I heard what was said, he added. Ill be very clear. I would never have that member on either of those committees.

Drew Angerer / Getty Images

In response, Swalwell told The Chronicle that McCarthy has no credibility anymore. I guess he never did, but its even worse.

Swalwell will be one of nine House Democrats who will argue before the Senate that Trump incited the violent insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6 during Congress certification of Electoral College votes. McCarthy supported efforts by Republicans that day to overturn election results that cemented Trumps loss to President Biden. As impeachment manager, Swalwell will help lay out the case to senators why they should convict Trump.

At issue in McCarthys efforts to discredit Swalwell is an Axios report late last year that revealed the Democrat was a target of an alleged Chinese spy in the Bay Area, starting when he was a member of the Dublin City Council. The Cal State East Bay student and Chinese national, Fang Fang or Christine Fang, focused on politicians in the Bay Area in general, including Swalwell. She helped raise funds for his 2014 congressional re-election and placed an intern in his office, Axios reported.

The FBI held a defensive briefing for Swalwell in 2015 on their suspicions about her motivation, after which he cut off all contact. Defensive briefings are courtesies to inform victims or potential victims in investigations. There has been no reporting to suggest Swalwell did anything inappropriate or that Fang obtained classified information.

Swalwell was completely cooperative and under no suspicion of wrongdoing, an FBI official familiar with the investigation told The Chronicle in December. Information was obtained where we do a duty to warn ... that he may be targeted by a foreign government.

SAUL LOEB;Saul Loeb / AFP / Getty Images

Swalwell was named to the Intelligence Committee by Pelosi in 2015, the same year the FBI briefed him on its investigation and Fang disappeared from the country.

House leaders were informed that overtures from a Chinese person were being made to members of Congress that same spring, Pelosi said at a news conference in December. She noted in response to criticism from McCarthy that month that no Republicans had raised issues when they were briefed on the alleged Chinese spy in 2015.

I do think that its unfortunate that Mr. McCarthy is trying to make an issue of this when ... we all found out at the same time, the Republican leadership, that several members had been approached, Pelosi said. She and other Democrats have accused McCarthy of seeking to deflect attention from criticism of his leadership of the GOP caucus.

McCarthys office did not provide The Chronicle with evidence to back up his suggestion that Swalwell was compromised. The contents of the 2015 briefing and the one McCarthy and Pelosi received in December were classified, meaning McCarthy is restricted from sharing more, and that Democrats are similarly restricted in defending Swalwell.

Foreign efforts to connect with American politicians are not uncommon. Shortly before the Axios report about Swalwell was published, former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe wrote an op-ed alleging that China targeted dozens of lawmakers and congressional staffers last year.

Swalwell has gone after other Republicans for their ties to questionable figures. In 2019, he was the lone Democrat on the Intelligence Committee to raise a report that the committees top Republican, Tulare Rep. Devin Nunes, worked with an indicted associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani during impeachment hearings. That associate, Lev Parnas, later alleged that Nunes was involved in obtaining dirt on Joe Biden when he was Trumps political rival, the scheme that was the basis for Democrats first impeachment of Trump. Democratic leaders did not call for Nunes ouster from the Intelligence Committee, and McCarthy kept him in his leadership spot.

Swalwell previously suggested the leak of the 2015 incident was politically motivated.

Burbank Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, who chairs the Intelligence Committee, has weathered similar calls from Republicans to be ousted from his position. He defended Swalwell in a December interview, saying China targeted lawmakers from both parties, but that no one was accused of wrongdoing.

All the faux outrage about this is nothing more than faux outrage, Schiff told Fox LA. Mr. Swalwell did everything right  there was no suggestion of any impropriety on his part.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
At the heart of the report is the relationship between organised crime, money laundering and gambling, and more importantly what steps we can do to protect the community against some of these sinister elements.

Those are the words of the minister responsible for regulating casino gambling in NSW, Victor Dominello, following the explosive gaming licence inquiry that has left James Packers reputation shredded and Crown Resorts in existential crisis.

Allegations of money laundering through Crown Perth have been aired in an explosive NSW inquiry. Credit:Philip Gostelow

Much of that money laundering  potentially millions of dollars of it  happened through Perths Crown Casino.

Yet the regulator and politicians here in WA appear to have done diddly squat. Regulatory oversight of our lucrative monopoly casino looks a pathetic failure.
Burma Singapores Lim Kaling Exits Firm With Ties to Myanmar Military Conglomerate

Police fire water cannons to disperse anti-coup protesters in Naypyitaw on Feb. 9. / The Irrawaddy

YANGONProminent Singaporean businessman Lim Kaling has decided to pull out of a joint venture with ties to a Myanmar military-owned conglomerate controlled by the leaders of the recent military coup in the country.

One week after the armed forces staged a coup and detained national civilian leaders State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint, Lim said that recent events in Myanmar had caused him grave concern.

As a result, I have decided to exit my investment in Myanmar, disposing of my one-third stake in the joint venture that owns RMH Singapore Pte Ltd, he said.

Military-owned conglomerate Myanma Economic Holdings Public Co. Ltd. (MEHL) and RMHS jointly operate Virginia Tobacco Co. Ltd. (VTCL). RMHS owns a 49-percent stake in VTCL, while MEHL owns the remainder. It has been operated as a joint venture since 1993. VTCL has a virtual monopoly on the cigarette market in Myanmar, producing the countrys most popular cigarette brands, Red Ruby and Premium Gold.

It is my only remaining investment in the country, initiated nearly three decades ago under a very different circumstance, Lim said, adding, I have always been a passive minority shareholder with no direct involvement in the operations of Virginia Tobacco.

He said he started the joint venture with a friend in 1993 after seeing an economic opportunity in Myanmar, as the country was opening up to the rest of the world.

Through this venture, we had hoped to help the country spur economic growth, create jobs, and raise standards of living, Lim said.

Lim is also the co-founder of Hong Kong-listed gaming group Razer. Earlier, he faced international condemnation for his partnership with MEHL over the Rohingya crisis in Rakhine State. Rights group Justice for Myanmar launched an online petition calling on the Razer board to sack Lim unless he cut ties with MEHL.

Justice for Myanmar said Lims decision did not mean the end of RMH Singapores relationship with the military regime, however. More pressure is needed, the group said.

It urged Lim to stand with the people of Myanmar and persuade RMH Singapore to fully divest all businesses with ties to MEHL.

Last week, Japanese beverage giant Kirin decided to cut ties with MEHL in the beer business as a result of the coup. It had jointly invested with MEHL in Myanmar Brewery and Mandalay Brewery.
Meanwhile, the number of healthcare and frontline workers vaccinated against COVID-19 reached 65.28 lakh on day 25 of the nationwide inoculation drive, the Union Health Ministry said

Seven states and UTs have reported no new COVID-19 deaths in the last three weeks, while 15 have not registered any fatality in the past 24 hours, according to official figures announced on Tuesday.

The Centre said that 'consistent gains' are being made in terms of declining new cases and causalities.

The Centre, however, noted that the last national serosurvey findings have shown that over 70 percent of the population is still susceptible to the disease.

This, as NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr VK Paul stated that there is no evidence of of the presence of the South African variant of the coronavirus in India as of Monday but added that the government is keeping watch.

Meanwhile, the number of healthcare and frontline workers vaccinated against COVID-19 reached 65.28 lakh on day 25 of the nationwide inoculation drive, the Union health ministry said.

The seven states and UTs, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Mizoram, Nagaland and Lakshadweep, have reported no new COVID-19 deaths in last three weeks, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said.

Addressing a press briefing, he said that India was the fastest country to reach six million vaccination doses of COVID-19 in 24 days. Bhushan said within the country also, some states have performed well, while others need to improve their vaccination coverage.

"There are 12 states and UTs that have vaccinated more than 65 percent of the registered healthcare workers. These states are Bihar (78.1 percent), Tripura (77.1 percent), Madhya Pradesh (76 percent), Uttarakhand (73.7 percent), Odisha (72.4 percent), Mizoram (69.9 percent), Himachal Pradesh (68.7 percent), Uttar Pradesh (68 percent), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (67.9 percent), Rajasthan (67.2 percent), Kerala (66.9 percent) and Lakshadweep (66.7 percent)," he said.

On the other hand, Bhushan said, there are 11 states and UTs that have vaccinated less than 40 percent of healthcare workers. These are Puducherry (15.4 percent), Manipur (21.3 percent), Nagaland (21.5 percent), Meghalaya (24.3 percent), Chandigarh (28.7 percent), Punjab (34.1 percent), Dadra and Nagar Haveli (34. 5 percent), Ladakh (35.8 percent), Jammu and Kashmir (37.5 percent) and Delhi (38 percent).

"These are the states we are in touch with and telling them to increase the coverage," he said. Bhushan said the Centre has advised states and UTs that all frontline workers must be scheduled for vaccination at least once by 1 March, 2021.

"We have further advised states and UTs that all frontline workers must be given opportunity of mop-up rounds by 6 March, 2021. Those frontline workers who do not get vaccinated in scheduled vaccination rounds or in mop-up rounds will have to be relegated to the age-specific vaccination rounds," he said.

Bhushan said a meeting of National AEFI Committee was held on 5 February where discussions were held on 8 AEFI cases following COVID-19 vaccinations.

"Out of these eight cases, causality assessment of five cases (two deaths and three hospitalised) was conducted. Among hospitalised cases, all three were discharged. Two have been diagnosed as anaphylaxis; classified as vaccine-product related reaction (known and expected reactions following vaccinations) and one case diagnosed as syncope: classified as immunization triggered stress response (anxiety reaction)," he said.

Among cases of deaths, Bhushan said it was found they were not related to vaccination.

Bhushan said histopathology and chemical analysis report in three death cases are awaited from the state government.

"We are making a standard template through which we will put information in public domain," he said.

'South Africa variant of coronavirus not found in India'

Addressing a press briefing, Dr VK Paul, speaking on the effectiveness of the Covishield vaccine on the South Africa strain, said it is hinted through a study which has its limitations that Covishield gives minimal protection against mild infection, but it still continues to be effective against severe disease and in reducing mortality.

"We have no concern at this moment as we have a system in place for detecting this variant. As of yesterday, this particular variant is not in the country but we are keeping a watch," he said, adding surveillance will be intensified.

From the COVID-19 pandemic point of view, consistent gains are being made in terms of declining new cases and new deaths, Paul said.

He, however, noted that the last national serosurvey findings have shown that over 70 percent of the population are still susceptible to the disease and stressed on achieving herd immunity through vaccination.

Underscoring both Covishield and Covaxin vaccines as "superbly safe", Paul urged healthcare and frontline workers who have not yet taken the shots to get themselves vaccinated.

Covishield, manufactured by Serum Institute of India, and Covaxin of Bharat Biotech have been approved for restricted emergency use in the country by India''s drugs regulator. Shared his views on the progress of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination programme, Paul said, "We can confidently say that the strategy to implement the vaccination programme and the experience of vaccination is now very highly rated by people."

No fresh COVID-19 deaths in Delhi

No fresh COVID-19 death was recorded in the National Capital on Tuesday after a gap of over 10 months while 100 fresh cases were registered with the Arvind Kejriwal government asserting that "Delhi''s collective will is gradually winning over the infection". The cumulative death toll on Monday stood at 10,882, and the positivity rate dipped to 0.18 per cent on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi, saying, it was a "good news for Delhiites".

"Today no death has been reported due to COVID infection in Delhi. Congratulations to people of Delhi. Corona cases have also come down and vaccination drive has picked up pace. People of Delhi have fought a tough battle against Corona. We have to still take all precautions," he tweeted.

These 100 new cases came out of the 56,410 tests conducted the previous day. The positivity rate stood at 0.18 per cent, according to a bulletin issued by the Delhi health department.

Health Minister Satyendar Jain tweeted: "Today no death has been reported due to COVID infection. Delhi''s collective will is gradually winning over the infection. I congratulate the people of Delhi for taking proper precautions and our healthcare and frontline workers who have fought this battle tooth and nail".

The infection tally in the city rose to 6,36,260, authorities said. The active cases tally on Tuesday dropped to 1,052 from 1,096 the previous day, according to the bulletin. The total number of tests conducted the previous day, included 31,300 RT-PCR tests and 25,110 rapid antigen tests, it said.

The city had recorded 96 coronavirus cases on January 27, the lowest in over nine months, and the first time the daily incidence count had stood below the 100-mark in that month. On Friday and Sunday, two deaths were reported in the national capital, same as on February 2, which was the lowest in the last 10 months.

' COVID-19 seropositivity among health workers over 25%'

Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey told the Rajya Sabha that the overall COVID-19 seropositivity among healthcare workers is assessed to be 25.7 percent as per the third seroprevalence study.

Responding to a question on how many healthcare workers have contracted COVID-19 virus till date, Choubey said health being a state subject, centralised data on number of healthcare workers who have contracted COVID-19 virus till date is not maintained by the Ministry of Health.

Sero survey or Seroprevalence studies are based on analysis of antibodies collected through blood sample collection.

"However, the Indian Council of Medical Research is undertaking periodic sero-surveillance to monitor the trend of COVID-19 infection. As per the third seroprevalence study (December 2020 to January 2021) results the overall COVID-19 seropositivity among healthcare workers is assessed to be 25.7 percent," he said in a written reply.

Seroprevalence is highest among doctors and nurses (26.6 percent), followed by para-medical staff (25.4 percent), field staff (25.3 percent) and administrative staff (24.9 percent), Choubey said in a written reply.

These seroprevalence rates have been found to be a little higher than that in general population which has been estimated as 21.5 percent, he said.

In response to another question, Choubey said, health being a state subject, the Ministry of Health does not maintain data relating to the number of healthcare workers who lost their lives due to COVID-19 , state-wise, job-wise and public-private hospital-wise.

With inputs from PTI
New Delhi: Actress Gehana Vasisth, who was arrested by the Mumbai police on allegations of shooting and uploading pornography videos on her website, had suffered 4 cardiac arrests in last one year, claimed her publicist.

Gehana's publicist Flynn Remedios released a statement and requested that the actress should be treated on humanitarian grounds due to her fragile health.

Gehana Vasisth has suffered 4 cardiac arrests in the last one year. She is also asthmatic and her health is very fragile. Mumbai police should treat her on humanitarian grounds. She is not a criminal and had only shot erotica. There is no pornography in her work. The State should not interfere in the creative and artistic expression of an actor or director. She is not at all involved in the alleged porn racket run by others, The Indian Express quoted the statement by her publicist as saying.

In November 2019, she was on ventilator for a week and had closely escaped from the jaws of death. Her sugar levels are above 500 and the day she was arrested, her sugar was 600. She needs to be hospitalised immediately, said her personal doctor and diabetes and cardiac expert Dr Pranav Kabra who had treated her for diabetic ketoacidosis in November 2019. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a fatal condition and kills 98 percent of patients who suffer from it, the statement further revealed.

Her publicist claimed that the actress is being falsely implicated and trapped and asserted that videos produced and directed by Gehana's company GV Studios "at most can be classified or categorized as Erotica".

'Gandi Baat' fame actress Gehana Vasisth was arrested by the Crime Branch of Mumbai Police on February 6 in a raid conducted at a bungalow in Madh Island in Malad.

In 2019, she made headlines after she suffered a near-fatal cardiac arrest. She had to be admitted to a hospital after she was found unconscious on the sets of her web-series.
So Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden finally had their first telephonic interaction after the US Presidents inauguration, late Monday night. The readouts shared by both the State Department and the MEA point to the topics touched upon. Both the statements refer to two very important issues which figured prominently in the talks; climate change and a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Climate change is a cornerstone for the Biden administration. The importance of the issue can be gauged by the fact that President Biden has appointed a new special climate envoy, someone no less than former Secretary of State John Kerry. Rejoining the Paris climate accord was also one of the first decisions taken by the new President.

Prime Minister Modi has also spoken on numerous occasions about the importance of mitigating climate change for India. His government has made a massive push for 100 GW of renewable power by 2030. India is one of the few developing countries that is committed to playing its role in mitigating climate change. Modis government would do well in appointing a special climate envoy to engage with Secretary Kerry, much like the Chinese have done.

ALSO READ | PM Modi Congratulates Biden-Harris, Says Committed to Working With New US President

China has brought back veteran climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua who has had a track record of interacting with John Kerry back as the Chinese governments climate envoy. India too should think on similar lines. After all, a country with 700 million young people owes it most to them to ensure that we leave behind a reasonably inhabitable planet for our future generations.

The other important issue which finds mention in both readouts is that of a free and open Indo-Pacific. This is a very important issue both to India and to traditional American allies like Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia, all of whom have been rubbed the wrong way by China in recent territorial disputes.

India would be hoping that the new Biden administration will bring pressure to bear on the Chinese to ease up on the LAC. But it is clear from Secretary of State Antony Blinkens comments that while the Trump approach may have been correct in principle, the method was all wrong. Thanks to Trump, no future US administration will be able to deal with China in a business as usual way. It is clear that the US-China relationship in the 21st century is going to be similar to the US-Soviet Union relationship through much of the 20th century. Many foreign policy commentators like Gideon Rachman are calling this the new Cold War.

ALSO READ | China Challenge, Vaccine Collaboration, Fight Against Terrorism: How Modi-Biden Bonhomie Can Define This Decade

The statement also lays emphasis on democratic institutions and values which is a bedrock for the US-India relationship. In normal course of things, this would have been seen as standard fare as lofty words about democracy and shared values have always found mention in Indo-US joint statements. But this time it could be different, given how the US administration has already commented on the farmers protests. While welcoming the new laws, the State Department in its statement last week had also opined on the internet outage in the venues of the farmer protests. While there wont be any tweets or public comments by any of the administration officials on New Delhi to reconcile with the farmers, Im sure behind the scenes this will be a topic of much discussion.

One other area which could become a bugbear is Kashmir. New Delhi is clear theres no going back on the abrogation of Article 370. But the recent conciliatory comments by Pak Army Chief General Bajwa and later by Pak PM Imran Khan cannot be seen in isolation. Clearly there is some smoke behind the fire. Foreign policy watchers will be keenly following developments on the Indo-Pak front in the days to come. One cannot rule out a quid pro quo, concessions along the LoC for some easing up along the LAC. Watch this space.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A study of women who were new mothers in the late 1970s found that those who were given longer, paid maternity leave lived healthier lives as they entered middle age.

While universal paid maternity leave is now available in many Western European nations, this has not always been the case. A new study by University of Georgia economist Meghan Skira looked at the health of Norwegian mothers before and after paid maternity leave became law in 1977. She found that the health benefits of leave continued for years after their children were born.

Skira, an associate professor in the Terry College of Business, worked with economist Aline Butikofer of the Norwegian School of Economics and Julie Riise of the University of Bergen on the study. Their paper, "The Impact of Paid Maternity Leave on Maternal Health," is online in the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy and appears in the journal's February 2021 print edition.

Public health studies and some economic studies have found positive short-term benefits for women and children of extended postnatal leave, but the approach by Skira and her co-authors was different. They were able to analyze the longer term health effects of paid maternity leave for thousands of Norwegian women both before and after leave laws were implemented in July 1977.

"This sharp change in who was eligible for paid maternity leave provides a nice natural experiment," said Skira. "It provides an environment where we can examine the causal health effects of paid leave. Our findings show that having access to paid leave leads to important health benefits for mothers around age 40."

The women who gave birth after July 1977 were in better health across the board as they hit middle age, but the biggest gains in health were seen among low-income women who may not have been able to afford to take the full amount of unpaid leave available before the change.

Skira and her co-authors examined biometric data like body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and rates of diabetes combined with self-reported rates of pain, mental health, tobacco use and exercise habits to paint a comprehensive picture of women's health at 40.

The women who had access to paid leave had 2.5% to 3.7% lower BMI than those who did not have access. They were 10% less likely to have high blood pressure. They were 16% to 18% less likely to smoke and 14% to 20% more likely to exercise regularly.

"We know that women are healthier at 40, but we don't know exactly why. We did not find significant changes in income or employment among the women who had access to the reform, so the health improvements are unlikely due to income effects. We speculate that a reduction in stress, more time to recover from childbirth, and perhaps breastfeeding played a role," she said. "More research on exactly why maternal health improved would be valuable."

The study does draw clear causation between women staying home after giving birth and being healthier as they enter middle age.

"In a typical observational study, you would be worried that those who take more leave are different in ways that might make their health better or worse," Skira said. "Those who take longer leave may be wealthier or have more family support. On the other hand, those who have more postpartum health problems may take more leave. But here, because there is this sharp change in access to paid leave for everyone, the concerns about selection into leave-taking are minimized."

This was possible because the Norwegian Institute of Public Health collects health data on its citizens around age 40 as a way to benchmark the nation's well-being. Because of the so-called Age 40 Program, Skira and her co-authors had access to a tremendous set of birth, health and income data for the women who gave birth immediately before and after the law changed in 1977.

Norway expanded its paid leave policies again in 1987 and 1992, but those expansions marginally improved women's health at age 40, Skira said.

"There does seem to be evidence of diminishing returns to leave length," Skira said. "But maternal health is only one dimension of maternity leave to considereffects on children's outcomes, women's labor market attachment and employers are also important."

As the mothers of 1977 continue to age, Skira hopes to examine their use of long-term sick leave and disability insurance to see if the health benefits they gained in middle age made a difference in their quality of life as they entered retirement. It's too early to tell what the long-term benefits of this policy shift will be, she said.

"While things have changed since the late 1970s, understanding the effects of this policy change is important since it extended leave benefits from a level similar to what the U.S. offers today under the Family and Medical Leave Act," Skira said. "Our results, therefore, may inform the current debate over family leave policy."

Explore further Paid maternity leave has mental and physical health benefits for mothers and children

More information: Aline Butikofer et al, The Impact of Paid Maternity Leave on Maternal Health, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy (2021). Aline Butikofer et al, The Impact of Paid Maternity Leave on Maternal Health,(2021). DOI: 10.1257/pol.20190022
Vietnam sets sights on US$60 bln agro-forestry-fishery export target by 2030

The Prime Minister has approved a scheme aiming to increase Vietnams agro-forestry and fishery export value to between US$ 60-62 billion by 2030.









Coffee is one of Vietnam's hard currency earners.(Illustrative image)





The overall goal of the scheme up to 2030 is to boost agro-forestry-fishery exports, comprehensively and sustainably penetrate the global agro-forestry-fishery supply chain, and improve the quality and value of these export products to meet import markets requirements.



In addition, Vietnam will continue to position and develop brands for its agricultural, forestry and fishery products in the international market.



Under the scheme, Vietnam aims to earn between US$60-62 billion from agro-forestry-fishery exports, of which US$25 billion will be generated from the group of key agricultural products, US$16-17 billion from forestry products, US$15 billion from seafood, US$3-4 billion from livestock products, and about US$2 billion from other agro-forestry-fishery products.



The agro-forestry-fishery export growth is anticipated to increase by 6-8% annually, with 40% of the products labelled with the national brand, 70% traceable, and about 60% of the products undergoing deep processing.



To meet the overall goal, Vietnam will have to review and perfect institutions and policies on agro-forestry-fishery exports, while completing policies to boost the export of the products.



The government will support businesses in developing and marketing their brand on domestic and international mass media.
The Board Chairman of Pfizer promised to do everything possible to ensure that Ukraine receives the first contracted batches of vaccine as soon as possible.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a phone conversation with Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer Pharmaceutical Corporation Albert Bourla, during which they discussed issues related to the conclusion of a contract for the supply of COVID-19 vaccine to Ukraine.

The Board Chairman of Pfizer promised to do everything possible to ensure that Ukraine receives the first batches of vaccine under contract as soon as possible, as reported by the president's press service.

In turn, Zelensky informed about the current epidemic situation in Ukraine and the government's plans to launch vaccination against COVID-19.

"Ensuring vaccination of the population of Ukraine with a safe certified vaccine is one of our priorities," he said.

Read alsoHealth Minister: 100% of Ukrainians could have access to COVID-19 vaccine by end of 2021"Thank you for doing your best to speed up the supply of Pfizer vaccine to Ukraine. We are ready to create all the necessary conditions for the use of the vaccine. COVID-19 still remains a major challenge for the world. We appreciate that pharmaceutical companies are fighting for us on the frontline," Zelensky said.

COVID-19 vaccination in Ukraine

On December 30, Ukraine signed a contract with China's Sinovac for the supply of 1.9 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine.

On January 30, 2021, Ukrainian Deputy Health Minister, Chief Medical Officer Viktor Liashko said Ukraine would receive 117,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine within the COVAX (the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility) in February.

From the middle of February to the end of June 2021, Ukraine will obtain 2.2 million to 3.7 million doses of an AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine.

First to get vaccinated will be healthcare workers, the elderly, and seriously ill patients.

In December 2020, the Health Ministry's coronavirus task force approved a COVID-19 immunization plan under which at least 50% of Ukrainians (20 million people) are to be vaccinated during 2021-2022.

On January 29, the National Commission for technology-related and environmental safety and emergencies approved a schedule for vaccination against the coronavirus in Ukraine in 2021.

On February 4, Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said the vaccination against COVID-19 in the country would start on February 15.

Reporting by UNIAN
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Nigeria will need to create 5 million jobs annually for the next 10 years to cover its unemployment gap, the International Monetary Fund has said.

In a report Monday, the lender said creating that number of jobs will absorb the countrys projected 54 million new entrants in the labour force over the next decade.

The Fund also said the nation needs to embrace more open trade and good policies to rejuvenate growth.

Nigerias unemployment rate rose to 27.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2020, increasing from 23.1 per cent in the third quarter of 2018.

The unemployment rate has continued to increase over a decade.

The dire unemployment situation, which some believe is more severe than reported, has been made worse by the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to shutdown of businesses.

Nigeria will need to create at least 5 million new jobs each year compared to nearly 2 million job losses each year on average in the last five years, the IMF said in its Article IV report on Nigeria.

The IMF welcomed the idea of higher growth relying moreon labour-intensive manufacturing, light manufacturing and agro-processing.

The IMF proposed the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) be used to tackle unemployment.

The recently ratified African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) holds huge prospects for job-rich growth through regional trade and economic integration, the report said.

Nigeria joined 53 other countries in Africa on January 1 to set in motion the worlds biggest trade bloc.

The trade will speed up easy and efficient intra-continental trade, marked by few restrictions and less complex checks of goods across national borders and ports of entry for participating nations.

The AfCTA plans to establish a single market, boost competitiveness among African countries, deepen economic integration and, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, lift intra-African trade by as much as 52 per cent by 2022.

It said to unlock the potential of the AfCFTA follow up actions are needed.

Keeping borders open, while stepping up measures to address security concerns including smuggling, is not only critical to ensuring the flow of goods and services that enables price stability and growth but is expected to have a positive signaling effect on the business environment in Nigeria, it said.

Implementing trade enabling reforms, such as speeding up customs clearing time, and removing regulatory bottlenecks, are key to improving Nigerias international competitiveness, it concluded.
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An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.
As Jason Williams campaigned for Orleans Parish district attorney last fall, he pledged not to block new trials for people convicted long ago on split jury votes. Attorney G. Ben Cohen, a leading force in the push to overturn non-unanimous verdicts, promised to hold Williams to it.

Now Cohen will have a seat at the table inside the District Attorneys Office. Williams has tapped him to serve as his chief of appeals.

Its a notable turn of events for a lawyer who has spent his career battling prosecutors, including in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Ramos v. Louisiana.

Cohen was the attorney of record for Evangelisto Ramos, the man convicted of murder by a non-unanimous jury in New Orleans in 2016. On the other side were the Louisiana Attorney Generals Office and the Orleans Parish District Attorneys Office.

Cohens arguments helped persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to decide in April 2020 to reverse split jury convictions in cases still pending on appeal. Louisiana was one of only two states to allow the unusual practice.

That victory came after numerous earlier fights against the state. A 1996 graduate of the University of Michigan law school, Cohen helped create the Capital Appeals Project in 2001 and the Promise of Justice Initiative in 2012.

His work played a role in the exonerations of two clients and reversals for clients who had been sentenced to death in six cases, according to Cohen's biography on the Promise of Justice Initiative's website. In 2019, the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers gave Cohen its highest award.

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Cohen isnt the first lawyer from the world of non-profit law firms to go to work for Williams. Emily Maw, the former Innocence Project New Orleans director, is Williams civil rights division chief.

The highest-ranking career prosecutor on Williams' staff is First Assistant District Attorney Bob White, who formerly had that position in Plaquemines Parish.

We are grateful that Ben has moved to New Orleans from Ohio to do this important work for our people, and I am excited to have him as part of the team, Williams said in a statement. As I have said many times before, I absolutely recognize that this is not a one-man job, which is why I am building the best and brightest team in the country. Together, we are getting to work on the reforms needed to increase safety and justice for our families while we transform a broken criminal legal system.

Williams, who campaigned on a platform of criminal justice reform, has said that Maw will oversee the process of deciding whether to retry cases overturned as a result of Ramos v. Louisiana. Cohen will not be involved in Ramos case, the office said.

Williams office could soon face a barrage of cases that are not covered by the Ramos decision. A separate case pending at the U.S. Supreme Court takes aim at split-jury convictions that have passed through their initial appeals, of which there are at least 324 from Orleans Parish.

Williams promised at a campaign forum in September not to throw up procedural roadblocks to that batch of cases.

The busy appellate division that Cohen will oversee has traditionally had a hand in matters ranging from pre-trial motions to mid-trial legal disputes to post-conviction appeals.

Kady McDermott turned up the heat on Tuesday afternoon as she posed up a storm in black lace lingerie, stockings and matching suspenders.

Taking to Instagram, former Love Island star, 25, showed off her golden tan from her recent Maldives holiday as she knelt on the floor for the sizzling snap.

It comes as the beauty had earlier showed off her physique in a mint green lace bra and matching underwear while striking a coquettish pose in her bathroom.

Hot stuff: Kady McDermott turned up the heat on Tuesday afternoon as she posed up a storm in black lace lingerie, stockings and matching suspenders

Kady oozed confidence as she displayed her ample assets and taut midriff in the skimpy underwear by Nikki Intimates.

The TV personality allowed her raven locks to fall about her shoulders in loose waves, while she kept up the glam with a sleek palette of make-up.

As Kady pouted and posed for the racy snap, her adorable pet pooch also got in on the action, posing for the camera.

Earlier on Tuesday, Kady once again set pulses racing as she slipped into a mint green two-piece while striking a pose in her bathroom.

Looking good: It comes as the reality star had earlier showed off her physique in a mint green lace bra and matching underwear while striking a coquettish pose in her bathroom

Kady drew further attention to her appearance by highlighting her features with deft touches of make-up, selected from a rich colour palette.

Kady is understood to be back at home in the UK following a trip to the Maldives with boyfriend Myles Barnett and a separate trip to Dubai, which she documented with a slew of scantily-clad social media snaps.

The reality star has received criticism for travelling as most countries continue to reel from the impact of Covid-19.

One follower slammed her for being abroad while the majority of the UK was forbidden to travel before the third national lockdown was announced.

Fun in the sun: Kady is understood to be back at home in the UK following trips to the Maldives with boyfriend Myles Barnett

He remarked: 'Breaking the rules again - don't see this as a business trip!'

Kady bit back: 'Oh so because you dont see it as a business trip it means it isnt? Oh ok lol.

'But if you mush know as you keep sending me DMS too I am here with @trendingtravel.co.uk and had a valid letter for travel from the CEO. Not everyones work is based in an office, David!' [sic]

Controversy: The reality star has received criticism for travelling as most countries continue to reel from the impact of Covid-19

Her latest holiday posts drew further criticism with some perhaps not realising they were taken before England's third lockdown.

Referring to the picture in which Kady reaches for the camera, one suggested the caption should be: 'No don't take a pic I should be on lockdown with everyone else.'

While another wrote: 'Well the rest of us are working.'
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Eighteen young men, and a few teenage boys, with alleged ties to gangs in Brooklyn were arrested this week in connection with multiple shootings and killings  part of an overall surge in violence over the past year across New York City.

The suspects allegedly fall under an umbrella group called the 900 Gang, which operates out of public housing complexes in Bedford-Stuyvesant; some accused of shooting at gang rivals on sight for the sake of territorial dominance, the Daily News reported.

The NYPD and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced the arrests Wednesday.

Gonzalez reportedly commented at a press conference that theres no active dispute, describing the slayings as part of a senseless cycle of violence.

A citywide surge in gang-related shootings over the past year was felt on the North Shore of Staten Island.

Law enforcement officials and community leaders have described crews of young men and teenagers representing different neighborhoods feuding over a range of issues that might include retaliation for a past robbery, inflammatory comments on social media, altercations related to the black-market marijuana trade, or disputes over significant others.

Anti-violence leaders across the city have pointed to physical and mental health risks within public housing, cyclical poverty, layers of trauma at a young age and disproportionate drug possession arrests in low income areas as contributing factors to the violence.

Meanwhile, police unions and some officers on Staten Island have expressed concern that police reforms  including the disbandment of the plain clothed, anti-violence unit  have made it easier for violent felons to obtain and brandish firearms.

In a recent interview with the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com, NYPD Assistant Chief Frank Vega, borough commander, said he was confident the departments new method of preventing gun violence would be effective.

The work of the former Anti-Crime guys, who now are public safety officers in full uniform, [theyre] still out there day to day getting guns off the streets, Vega said.

FEDS TAKING ACTION

The acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme announced Tuesday the expansion of the RASP initiative, providing strategies for rapid federal response to spikes in gun-related gun violence in the Eastern District of New York, which includes Brooklyn and Staten Island.

In the middle of a global pandemic, we have also seen a local epidemic of shootings in our city, and we are responding with responsible, data-driven measures to protect our communities from armed repeat offenders and violent gang members to prevent neighborhoods and public housing from being turned into battle zones, stated DuCharme in a press release Tuesday.

Our message is clear: Violent criminal offenders will be arrested, detained and incapacitated in the court system.






Haiti - Politic : Minister Vincent deplores the obsessive frenzy of certain magistrates





Me Rockefeller Vincent, Minister of Justice and Public Security, condemned "the attempted coup and an attack on the life of the President of the Republic, Jovenel Moise, whose 5-year constitutional mandate expires on February 7, 2022," we read in a press note



In addition, Minister Vincent considers "unworthy and degrading the participation of the Magistrate in the Court of Cassation, lvickel Dabrezil and of an Inspector General of the National Police of Haiti, Marie Louise Gauthier arrested in committing an offense during the coup foiled" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32966-haiti-flash-coup-foiled-all-official-details.html



In addition, he deplores the "obsessive frenzy of certain magistrates, under the high manipulation of anti-democratic and putschist forces, to seize political power, by any means, by dishonestly violating the prescriptions of the Constitution and the provisions of the law of November 27, 2007 relating to the Statute of the Magistracy, in particular in its article 5 which stipulates which stipulates "Any political action or demonstration of a partisan nature is prohibited to the judges and to the officers of the Public prosecution."



Finally, the Minister of Justice "takes note of the misguidance of the Magistrate Joseph Mecene Jean Louis who, by committing this illegal and unconstitutional act, bordering on madness, decides to turn my back on his title of magistrate belonging to an apolitical power."



Minister Vincent concluded by urging the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Haitian National Police "to take all necessary coercive measures in order to maintain order and the integrity of republican institutions."



Furthermore, Me Rene Sylvestre, the President of the Court of Cassation, said he was surprised that certain judges joined the opposition's approach to choose a judge as provisional President to replace the Head of State.



Me Sylvestre promises to continue to respect the constitution and to remain a "worthy and loyal magistrate". He invites his colleagues to distance themselves from politics, he urges them to stay away from politics and partisanship and tries to discourage some of his fellow magistrates who dream of one day becoming the next provisional President.



HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre


















The new court chairwoman, Lilit Tadevosian, was backed by 102 members of the 132-seat National Assembly, among them opposition parliamentarians. Her predecessor, Yervand Khundkarian, became a member of Armenias Constitutional Court in September.

Tadevosian was nominated for the vacant post by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), an independent body monitoring Armenian courts.

Tadevosian worked as a prosecutor before taking the bench in 2012. In 2016, then President Serzh Sarkisian appointed her as a Court of Cassation judge. She became the head of the courts Criminal Chamber in 2018.

Tadevosian emphasized the importance of judicial independence when she addressed lawmakers before they voted in secret ballot to install her as court chairwoman.

Independence and autonomy are inalienable characteristics of the judiciary to which all branches of government and all strata of the society must contribute, she said.

Tadevosian was pressed by several pro-government lawmakers to comment on Armenian judges systematic refusal to allow the pre-trial arrests of opposition figures and other activists trying to topple Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians government over its handling of the recent war with Azerbaijan. She pointedly declined to criticize those judges.

If I dont avoid, as you put it, answering your questions today I will have to avoid administering justice on those cases tomorrow, explained Tadevosian. Thats not what I am standing here for. Justice will not be administered here.

Lilit Makunts, the parliamentary leader of Pashinians My Step bloc, hailed her stance.

Tadevosian also drew praise from Edmon Marukian, the leader of the opposition Bright Armenia Party, for not commenting on political processes from the number one podium.

Vladimir Vartanian, the chairman of the parliament committee on legal affairs, stressed the fact that Tadevosian will be the first woman to head an Armenian high court. If we want revolutionary changes we must take this fact into account as well, he said.
Note to readers: While we accept the reality of the coronavirus, it is important to be optimistic. We must believe that there will be a day when the disease will no longer be the all-destroying scourge it is today. And when that day comes, we will be able to enjoy life, maybe with a few adjustments, the way we did before COVID-19. To that end, we are starting If Covid Vanished ..., a series of interviews with corporate heads and achievers, where we ask them where theyd like to travel or eat, whod they like to meet, and so on, if the world became Corona-mukt. Follow the series here.

Niranjan Seelam, Co-founder, Zippr, is in the business of mapping roads and simplifying addresses. But it is another, miniature grid of streets and buildings the BITS Pilani alumnus will head to if COVID ends or becomes easier to live with. Seelams son loves Legoland. The family had to cancel a trip to Legoland Japan last year. It is among the first things on their checklist when life regains normalcy.

Excerpts from an interaction:

If COVID ends tomorrow or becomes easily manageable, which city would you like to travel first and why?

My son is a Lego addict. We took him to Legoland Dubai in September 2019. We planned to visit Legoland Japan during May-June 2020. Unfortunately, that couldnt happen. So our next stop would most likely be Legoland Japan.

Which restaurant would you go to first and why?

Im a Hyderabadi so my first hop is going to be for biryani. I would love to visit Palamur Grill and feast on biryani and local delicacies.

Which famous stranger would you like to invite home and talk to?

Sonu Sood. The work he has done during the last 12 months is inspirational. Want to have Chai pe Charcha with him to understand his thought process on how he went about the work he has done during the pandemic.

What public performance/occasion would you like to attend?

Im a movie addict. I miss watching movies in a multiplex with family. I miss the big screen, popcorn and watching a film with several other people. That is the first thing I would love to do.

What group activity would you like to participate in?

Volleyball. We as a group at Zippr used to play volleyball once a week before the lockdown. This has been on hold for the last 12 months. Itching to restart playing immediately.

Which new skill would you like to learn?

Guitar. Saw my son Siddharth trying to learn guitar online during the pandemic. Would love to sit with him and learn it along with him.

The first song that comes to mind when you think of a COVID-free world.

Kal Ho Naa Ho. I kept humming it throughout the pandemic.

Which bad habit will you work on eliminating in a world that is open again?

Digital addiction is something which took over my life in the last 12 months. I cant be away from my phone, table or laptop even for a minute when Im awake. This is something that needs to be seriously looked at.

What will you do with your masks?

Actually, planning to frame them as a souvenir. This pandemic has been a once in a lifetime (hopefully) experience for everyone. I want to preserve the masks to remind me how tentative everything around us is.

What would your motto be for life after the pandemic?

Live every minute to the fullest with loved ones. Its a gift we have. I saw many of my friends and relatives go through trauma because of COVID. One minute they were normal and the next they were in the ICU.
WASHINGTON - Senior House Democrats on Monday night proposed sending $1,400 stimulus payments to Americans with up to $75,000 in annual income, rejecting an earlier plan under consideration to sharply curtail the benefits.

House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., released legislation that would send the full stimulus payment to individuals earning $75,000 per year and couples earning $150,000 per year. Congressional Democrats had explored curtailing that benefit to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for married couples, a position embraced by Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a conservative Democrat.

IRONY: Dan Crenshaw appears to have forgotten he spent 2020 making commercials

The broadening of stimulus check eligibility among middle class households is the latest sign that Democrats are moving ahead without Republican support on President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion economic relief package, which would also extend unemployment benefits, send hundreds billions to schools and local governments as well as strengthen vaccine delivery and health care. Even as the Senate proceeds this week with former president Donald Trump's impeachment trial, the House Ways and Means Committee and other panels will be working to finalize and vote on the coronavirus legislation. The final bill would need to be passed by both chambers of Congress to become law, but that could happen within weeks.

Compared with previous plans, Democrats are accelerating the rate at which the stimulus payments decline for higher-income earners, a move intended to prevent wealthy Americans from receiving the benefit. Under the new plan, singles earning $100,000 a year and couples earning $200,000 would receive no stimulus payments.

The stimulus checks would be based on taxpayers' 2019 or 2020 income returns, according to a summary of the proposal. The plan would aim to give full payments to those who qualify based on their 2020 returns, even if those are not processed for months.

Washington Post photo by Salwan Georges

The proposal comes amid days of internal disagreements among Democrats over how to structure the next round of stimulus payments, a core component of Biden's stimulus plan. The legislation still must be passed through the House and Senate, and it is unclear whether Manchin or other conservative Senate Democrats will object to the proposal.

CANCEL CULTURE: Twitter is reminding Jim Jordan what conservatives did to the Chicks

Along with the stimulus payments, the House Ways and Means Committee released details Monday of other significant parts of the aid package, including a new child income tax credit for millions of American households. That benefit would offer $3,600-per-child over the course of a year for each child younger than six years of age, as well as $3,000-per-child for each child ages six to 17. Those child tax benefits would diminish for singles earning more than $75,000 a year and couples earning over $150,000.

The measure would also extend federal unemployment benefits, now set to expire in mid-March, through the end of August and increase the benefit amount from its current level of $300 a week to $400. Biden's initial plan called for funding additional unemployment benefits through September.

Additionally, Democrats included a $15-per-hour minimum wage in the package, although Biden has said that provision faces long odds in the Senate. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a report on Monday that estimates the minimum wage hike would cost 1.4 million jobs but lift 900,000 people out of poverty, intensifying the debate over that controversial provision.

"Our nation is struggling, the virus is still not contained, and the American people are counting on Congress to meet this moment with bold, immediate action," Neal said in a statement.

The bill would also "dramatically" increase premium subsidies for Americans receiving their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act for two years, said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy for the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit group.

The design of the checks have emerged as one of the most hotly debated provisions in the rescue package. Centrist lawmakers such as Manchin have called for narrowing the payments to prevent them from going to higher-income Americans, arguing that those who have not lost their jobs do not need help. That idea was met with increasing resistance from other members of the party, including Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senate Budget Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as well as House lawmakers in the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Asked about the new thresholds after Neal's plan was released, Manchin did not immediately attack them and said he was "just trying to make sure that people [receiving them] are truly in need."

Wyden said in a statement Monday that he would push for the unemployment benefits to be restored for the duration they were originally. "[I] am going to work to find a resolution that preserves both relief payments and jobless," Wyden said. "We can do both."

Manchin has influence over the issue, because the Senate is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, so Democrats need his vote as they aim to push the legislation forward without GOP support.

Wyden and Sanders have publicly criticized the proposals to lower the income thresholds to $50,000, saying middle-class families have suffered pay cuts and other economic shocks and need relief, too. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., whose election victory in January helped seal Democrats' Senate majority, also opposes lowering the threshold on the checks, according to a spokeswoman.

The White House has repeatedly said it is willing to compromise on the thresholds, with White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki saying the administration is open to negotiations with Congress on the matter. On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen suggested that the administration was not on board with Democrats' plans for lower income thresholds.

"The exact details of how it should be targeted are to be determined, but struggling middle-class families need help, too," Yellen said on CNN.

Biden gave similar remarks in an interview with CBS Evening News, saying he was "wide open" on the precise levels of the income threshold.

The debate about the check thresholds represents one of many disputes Democrats may face as they try to pass Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus package through Congress. There is a wide ideological gulf between the party's moderate and liberal wings, which is likely to produce numerous policy fights - over the $15-an-hour minimum wage; the scale of unemployment assistance; and the overall cost of the bill, among other things - on the way to passing their first major piece of legislation under Biden.

The split within the party appeared to intensify over the weekend. Manchin told WV News last week that he supported the next round of payments not going to individuals earning more than $50,000 or couples earning more than $100,00.

"An individual of $40,000 income or $50,000 income would receive it.  And a family who is making $80,000 or $100,000, not to exceed $100,000, would receive it," Manchin said. "Anything over that would not be eligible, because they are the people who really are hurting right now and need the help the most."

But on Twitter and on CNN this weekend, Sanders slammed Democrats for embracing a plan that would cut out individuals earning $52,000. He also pointed out the potential political downside for the new Democratic administration of sending fewer payments than Trump had. Wyden has also said in a statement that families that had received the first two payments would expect a third.

"Unbelievable  working class people who got checks from Trump would not get them from Biden. Brilliant!," Sanders said on Twitter.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said Monday she is in "nonstop" conversations with White House officials about "why this makes no sense, politically or policy-wise."

While passing a budget resolution through Congress earlier this month that set the stage for approval of the broader relief bill, Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Manchin co-sponsored an amendment to exclude affluent families from the stimulus checks. The plan did not define an income amount, leaving that open to interpretation. Sanders and all Democrats voted for the proposal.
The boss of a firm that sold insulation used at Grenfell Tower told staff to let concerns about their product 'gather dust,' a public inquiry has heard as executives from a cladding company prepare to face questions.

Industry certifying body the BBA first raised concerns with Kingspan's Kooltherm K15 product in 2008 - nine years before a fire at the West London apartment block killed 72 people.

The concerns were raised two months after the product was first issued and the BBA offered to make several changes free of charge - according to emails shown when Kingspan employee Andrew Pack gave evidence to a public inquiry on Monday.

It is alleged that Mr Pack's then-boss, Philip Heath, later forwarded the email with instructions to 'let the file gather dust'.

It was later revealed the apartment block had cladding panels containing a highly combustible polyethylene core.

Bosses from a separate company, Arconic, are set to give evidence in relation to the cladding used on the tower block.

A public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster will hear evidence from companies behind the cladding and insulation used on the building this week. It has heard how insulation supplier Kingspan let concerns 'gather dust' nearly 10 years before the tragedy

The first witness from Arconic to give evidence will be Deborah French, the UK sales manager who sold cladding panels to contractors.

The company told The Times it has 'fully co-operated with the authorities and the inquiry at all times'.

A spokesman added: 'The three individuals who have declined to participate in the inquiry have taken the advice of separate counsel and Arconic does not have any influence on those decisions.'

The inquiry resumed remotely yesterday for the first time since December.

Witnesses will have to confirm that they are alone while giving evidence, while also confirming they have no documents or other materials to hand. They must also leave mobile phones and electronic devices outside of which ever room they log on from.

Some members of the US company, which has a headquarters in France, have claimed they are barred under French law from giving evidence.

The inquiry has previously heard about Kingspan using outdated test material to suggest that K15 was safe for use in high-rise buildings above 18m tall.

The product sold from 2006 onwards was different from that tested the year before, but the firm kept selling it using the old technology's test pass and only withdrew this information in October 2020.

Giving evidence from Dubai, Mr Pack - who is now a global technical support manager reporting to Kingspan's Middle Eastern division - agreed when asked by inquiry lawyer Rachel Troup: 'Do you agree that is a clear instruction to delay the matter of the proposed amendments?'

Describing the inquiry's work as 'urgent', Sir Martin said organisers are 'determined to resume normal working arrangements as soon as it is safe to do so'.

'We all understand that taking evidence in this way lacks some of the important qualities of a hearing at which witnesses and counsel are physically present and face each other across the room, however the style of questioning will remain the same and we shall expect the witnesses to help the inquiry to the best of their ability,' he added.

A group supporting survivors and bereaved of the tragedy has described the move to remote hearings as 'very disappointing'.

Grenfell United said in a statement they 'well understand how important it is to protect lives and people's health but there is an urgent need to move back to public hearings in a safe way as soon as possible.

'This inquiry is our opportunity to look the people who were responsible for the deaths of our loved ones in the eye.

'It's the least we deserve.'

The inquiry continues.

On December 16, 2020, Arquus delivered the 2,000th VT4 to the French defense procurement agency, the DGA. This major milestone in the program validates the measures implemented by Arquus and the DGA to ensure the continuity of production for the forces despite the health crisis that marked the year 2020.

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Arquus VT4 (Picture source: Army Recognition)

A little more than two years after the first vehicles were handed over to the 12th Regiment de Cuirassiers, nearly half of the VT4s planned under the program have been made available to the forces. These first two years of service also confirm the resilience of the organization put in place by Arquus to support the vehicles, with an uptime of more than 95% at all times, in line with commitments.

The VT4 is now present in units throughout France, both in mainland France and in French overseas departments and territories, from French Guyana to the Pacific. With its high performance and its

versatility, the VT4 proves its qualities every day in all terrains and situations. A total of 4,380 VT4s are scheduled to equip the armed forces, including 3,980 for the French Army. 2,380 vehicles are still to be produced at the Arquus facility in Saint-Nazaire.

The VT4s have recently undergone their first external operation with a deployment in Lebanon as part Operation Friendship. Within the Groupement Terrestre Ventoux, VT4s have contributed to missions in support of the population, including liaison and transportation of personnel and equipment.

At the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis and in compliance with health regulations, dedicated Arquus teams remained on the Saint-Nazaire site to complete the finalization work and hand over the vehicles to the forces. These teams notably enabled two batches of 100 vehicles each to be presented at the height of the crisis, at the end of March 2020, to the DGA's quality department. Twenty of these vehicles were urgently delivered to the RMED (Regiment Medical, Medical Regiment) in La Valbonne as part of the deployment of a field hospital in Alsace. Deliveries of VT4s were therefore able to continue normally throughout 2020.

In December 2020, Arquus was able to deliver the 10th batch of 100 vehicles to the DGA for 2020, for a total of 1,001 VT4s delivered over the year, in line with commitments. These vehicles were delivered to the armed forces by the DGA. They were immediately put to use during the missions carried out by the Army on national territory during Operation Resilience.



Arquus VT4 (Picture source: Arquus)

The VT4 is a light, versatile, non-armored 4x4 command and liaison vehicle designed to carry five soldiers or four FELIN-equipped operators. It is intended for internal operations (Sentinel, training), or for external operations in stabilized conflict zones.

The VT4 production line unites the efforts of 46 people at the Saint-Nazaire site, both on the line itself and in preparation. With the involvement of the design, support and logistics teams, the VT4 program represents a total of 150 jobs for Arquus in the Saint-Nazaire and Versailles employment

areas.

This industrial performance also relies on the 96 Arquus suppliers involved in this program, including many French companies. Arquus implemented comprehensive measures from the very beginning of the crisis, in conjunction with its partners and the DGA, to secure supplies and ensure the continuity of its logistics flows. The VT4 program also involves the company's entire support network, present throughout France.

One of the major new features of the VT4 program is its support system, which is fully integrated and innovative, with a firm commitment of 95% uptime across the entire fleet. This commitment has been met at all times during these first two years of VT4 service. To ensure this availability, Arquus

has a unique network of dealerships and service points in France. With more than 310 points in France alone, this network is as close as possible to the forces, with one point less than 50km from the location of each regiment, including overseas. It provides technical visits to the armies' VT4 fleets, with guaranteed assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This territorial network and unique proximity allow for optimal responsiveness in the service of the forces.

Within the framework of VT4 support, Arquus is able to quickly mobilize teams to intervene in the shortest possible time, directly on user sites. This system has already proven its ability to support the French Army by enabling several thousand technical actions and numerous configuration changes, guaranteeing the security of the forces, the availability of equipment and the optimization of the vehicles' potential.

The network of service points involved in supporting the VT4 has access to Arquus' online spare parts store, ELEMENTS. This webshop, launched in 2019, integrates the complete catalog of the VT4 ranges. VT4 spare parts and components have been centralized on the Garchizy logistics platform since the beginning of 2019. The stock covers 2,400 references, which can be delivered as quickly as possible to the entire network of dealerships in France, and to support vehicles deployed outside France.

As part of the VT4 program, Arquus also provides training for the armed forces. These training courses are designed to help soldiers discover and handle the vehicle in the best possible conditions, as well as master off-road driving of the VT4. The training is available in e-learning, with a vehicle

discovery module and 14 modules to develop vehicle support skills.

Arquus also provides VT4 maintenance training sessions for dealers to ensure the efficiency of the entire support network. These sessions are organized at the Saint-Nazaire site or directly at the dealership.



Arquus VT4 (Picture source: Arquus)

In the wake of new users of audio-only social media Clubhouse from China, the app appeared to have been knocked offline by the government.

As the BBC reported, last Monday, thousands of users from mainland China have reported the app offline. Some users spotted a message saying that "An SSL error has occurred and a secure connection to the server cannot be made" while opening the app.

In another report from CNBC, Shanghai-based tech analyst Michael Norris echoed what multiple media reports revealed. Norris believed that it was about time the Chinese regulators force their ban on Clubhouse, several weeks after the app saw a mass exodus of users from the country.

Clubhouse was the only iOS-supported social media in China that could be accessed without virtual private network (VPN) third-party app assistance, at least until its shutdown. Many users from the country opted for the app for its invite-only nature that creates exclusivity. The app is the only safe place where they can discuss matters that are considered taboo, such as the Hong Kong protests or the government mistreatment of Uighur minorities.

Read also: Spotify Grows Paid Subscriber Base to 155 Million in 2020, But Continues to Lose Money.

Growing Numbers

Alpha Exploration launched Clubhouse in May 2020. As the global pandemic caused by COVID-19 batters every corner of the world, most people are forced to work and study from home, making Clubhouse a popular go-to app in such a desperate time.

Up to this writing, as noted by Software Pundit, Clubhouse's valuation is worth up to $1 billion, after being worth "only" $100 million by the time of its launch. The app has six million registered users by this month and two million weekly active users.

The app lets its users jump into an audio-only chat in a private or public room with no track of conversation recorded. Many functions on this app are similar to the microblogging site Twitter. You can only join the app from an invitation. Once invited, users can select a handle and set up a profile.

The app is immensely popular among Silicon Valley A-list technophiles, with endorsements from the likes of Tesla boss Elon Musk and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. It's also popular among celebrities and DJs who want to build their audiences. Tiffany Haddish and Jared Leto are among the laundry-list of Hollywood celebs to join the app.

Great Firewall

The Chinese government's legislative actions have taken the country's democratic progress into peril. Many popular social media apps and knowledge platforms, including Facebook and Google, have been banned from the country over its paranoia that the internet has spread opposition to their one-party rule.

According to State Council Order number 292 in 2002, which was regarded by many as the country's first venture in censoring speech, Chinese-based websites were not allowed to link overseas news portal without approval from the authority. Non-licensed websites, however, faced the worst consequence as they weren't allowed to publish any content besides what's already been published by other media.

Related post: Popular Audio-Only Social Media Clubhouse Saw An Explosion of New Users From China.
Some of those people, however, may have received sign-up numbers, despite having received a message that they were not eligible for vaccinations in suburban Cook County. Thats because the countys system is, at the moment, automatically sending sign-up numbers to everyone who filled out the survey and may possibly be in 1c, even if they arent technically eligible for shots through Cook County, Bolger said.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : A one-man commission constituted by the Pakistani Supreme Court in 2019 to oversee implementation of its judgement on minority rights has in its report submitted last week revealed a shocking state of some of the most revered Hindu sites in the country.

The Shoaib Suddle Commission told the highest appellate court of the country that the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has "failed" to maintain most of the ancient and holy sites of the minority community. Headquartered in Lahore, ETPB was established in 1960 to look after the evacuee trust properties/land left over by the Sikh/Hindus who migrated to India during partition in 1947-48.

Pakistan continues to remain one of the hardest places to live for minorities, especially the Hindus who are facing extreme persecution at the hand of state authorities and have almost no places of worship - and to carry out the last rites of their dead - left now.

"The commission visited Katas Raj Mandir in Chakwal on January 6 and Prahlad Mandir in Multan on January 7. The report presents a general picture of decay and obliteration of two of the four most revered evacuee sites in Pakistan and their photographs have been attached to the report," reported leading Pakistani daily Dawn.

After a Hindu temple was vandalised and set ablaze by a mob in a village named Teri of Karak district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on December 30 last year, Gulzar Ahmed, the Chief Justice of Pakistan's SC, had admitted that the incident had caused 'international embarrassment to Pakistan'.

He had directed the EPTB to submit details of all functional and non-functional temples and gurdwaras across Pakistan which come under its purview. Initially ignoring the court diktat, local media reported that EPTB finally responded on January 25 but evaded many details.

It was reported that ETPB in its letter stated that out of 365 mandirs only 13 were being managed by them, leaving responsibility of 65 with the Hindu community, and practically abandoning the rest of 287 to the land mafias.

"It is indeed strange that even in this age of technology, the ETPB has yet to get the evacuee properties geo-tagged," the report highlighted, according to Dawn.

IndiaNarrative.com has reported extensively on how the minorities of Pakistan - including the Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Shias, Ahmadis - are struggling for survival while tackling mass conversions, rapes, forced marriages, extra-judicial killings and much more which have made the country one of the worst violators of human rights in the world.

The region once had a sizable population of Hindus - the 1998 census reported approximately 6.5 per cent of Sindhi population to be Hindu - but with the government failing to protect the rights of the minorities, often acting hand in glove with the attackers, the numbers have fallen to unimaginable levels.

Based on the annual report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which had accused Pakistan of engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act, the US government had redesignated Pakistan as a "country of particular concern," or CPC, in December.

Much before the shameful act of Karak, 2020 had witnessed a series of attacks on Hindus and a handful of temples now left in Imran Khan's 'naya' (new) Pakistan.

In June, a Hindu temple was converted into a mosque in Golarchi, Sindh. Along with it happened the conversion of over a 100 Hindus to Islam. The month before, similar scenes were witnessed at Bahawalpur when an entire colony of minority Hindu community was razed to the ground.

July saw demolition of under-construction Shri Krishna Mandir in Islamabad, just a few days after its ground-breaking ceremony. It was supposed to be the first temple for Hindus in the Pakistani capital.

In August, a pre-partition Hanuman temple in Lyari, Karachi, was turned into rubble by the bigots and so were over two dozen homes of Hindus in the area. Desecration of another Hindu temple in Sindh's Tando Allahyar and the worshippers mercilessly beaten by fundamentalists happened in September.

It was followed by the vandalization of Ram Peer Mandir at Badin in Sindh.

"Out of 428, only 20 mandirs are left in Sindh now," Pakistan's human rights activist Anila Gulzar had mentioned last year. After demolition, the Islamists turn ancient temples into mosques or even vehicle parking lots.

Pakistani agencies, if under severe pressure, arrest the 'culprits' to fool international human rights organisations and release them after a few days labeling them as 'mentally sick' who had no idea about what they were doing.

While reports, like the one submitted by Dr. Shoaib Suddle Commission, suggest "collaborative efforts" in renovation of damaged holy sites, perhaps everyone knows that things have gone past the point of no return.

So much so that the small Hindu community is demanding an extensive security cover on March 28 to celebrate the festival of Holi at the ancient Prahlad Temple in Multan which has been left in a state of apathy and ruins.

After the Multan commissioner refused to make elaborate arrangements saying that "celebrating Holi will create a security situation in the city", the top judges of Pakistan had to step in once again, ordering that the Punjab Chief Secretary and IG should oversee security bandobast themselves.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
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The Cold War didnt necessarily need to end as it did. Had things taken a different turn, history could have recorded that the decades-long standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union that began soon after the end of World War II suddenly became World War III, causing the sort of death and destruction that humankind had never before known. The U.S. and the U.S.S.R., then the worlds two nuclear superpowers, could have laid waste to each other, and to much of the world as we knew it, if a nuclear exchange, even one that began accidentally, had quickly and irreversibly escalated.

Instead, the Cold War, which began in 1947, ended 44 years later without a single shots having been fired.

There was some luck in that, of course. And there are many who worked to maintain the peace who deserve credit.

One of the key players in bringing about the end of the Cold War, former Secretary of State George P. Shultz, died on Saturday at the age of 100. Shultz, who served as our nations chief diplomat for nearly the entirety of Ronald Reagans presidency, guided America, and the Soviet Union, through often-roiled waters, his always-steady hand on the tiller as we went.

Shultz was born, in Manhattan, in December 1920, just two years after the end of World War I. He fought in World War II. And did his damndest to prevent the beginning of an even more deadly global conflict.

When Shultz signed on with the Reagan administration, he was seen by many as perhaps too conciliatory, too much a talker in an administration populated by military hawks. But in the end, Shultz, with his dogged pursuit of arms-reduction treaties, won the day. And though the Cold War wasnt officially in the books until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991, the diplomacy practiced by Shultz, under Reagan, effectively brought down the curtain on the nuclear arms race that had threatened Armageddon.

Earlier in his career, Shultz had served as secretary of labor in President Richard Nixons administration, was soon thereafter the first director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, and was then secretary of the treasury, also under Nixon.

Shultz lived an extraordinary life, not only witnessing great change, but also effecting it as he went.
The program allows schools, K-12 and higher education, the ability to offer their students, faculty and chaperons a travel insurance solution that focuses on trip cancellations and trip interruptions. Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage can be added to the program in most states. This coverage provides partial reimbursement to those who need to cancel academic travel due to a reason not otherwise covered by their plan, including cancellations due to fear of contracting COVID-19.

"As schools begin to contemplate, plan and return to their academic travel schedules, it is extremely important to mitigate the financial risks during the pandemic," says Suzanne Morrow, vice president of business development for InsureMyTrip. "We are pleased to offer this innovative and unique Academic Explorer program. It is invaluable protection, especially during these uncertain times."

Travel Insurance for Academic Travel

The Academic Explorer program, with insurance underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, provides two different plans: Adventurer (offered direct by schools) and Discoverer (offered by educational travel providers).

Some peril* highlights include U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories and civil disorder. Tuition can be included as an insurable trip cost in these plans. CFAR coverage may be added to these plans in most states at an additional cost.**

*The plan contains additional perils. Additional terms apply to all perils described above. The perils for Trip Cancellation are not identical to the perils for Trip Interruption.

**Additional terms apply to Cancel for Any Reason coverage.

Insurance coverages are subject to the terms, limitations and exclusions in the plans, including an exclusion for pre-existing conditions.

This Academic Explorer program will be offered through schools, colleges, insurance brokers, and educational travel providers. Trip organizers interested in offering this innovative protection program can visit the following webpage for more information:

https://www.insuremytrip.com/about/education-program/

Topic Expert:

Crystal McKay

Travel Insurance Expert

[email protected]

About InsureMyTrip

It's simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip is the authority on travel insurance. We are committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise. InsureMyTrip is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.

About Crum & Forster

Crum & Forster, rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best (2020), is a national commercial property and casualty group of insurance companies wholly owned by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. Since 2000, Crum & Forster's Accident & Health division has offered a diverse portfolio of specialty insurance and reinsurance products nationwide. Plans are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company. The C&F logo, C&F and Crum & Forster are registered trademarks of United States Fire Insurance Company. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn .

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For about the past month, the U.S. has administered an average of 900,000 first doses each day, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed by The Associated Press. Now many of those people are due for second doses, and the average number of Americans getting second shots hit an all-time high Tuesday  539,000 per day over the past week.

(A) the bronze jar in situ, (B) the decoration on the bronze jar after cleaning, (C) a large quantity of agglomeration of yellowish white lumps inside the bronze jar. Credit: Archaeometry (2021). DOI: 10.1111/arcm.12659

A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in China and one in Germany, has found evidence of a 2,700yearold face cream for men at a Chinese dig site. In their paper published in the journal Archaeometry, the group describes items they found at the dig site and the face cream they discovered.

People have been using materials to color or alter their bodies for thousands of years. Evidence of Egyptians using cosmetics goes back two thousand years, for example, and women in China were found to be using red cosmetic sticks to color their faces as far back as 1450BC. In this new effort, the researchers have found evidence of the oldest use of cosmetics for Chinese males at the Liujiawa site in northern Chinaa cream that could have been used to make the face appear white.

The team was working at a part of the dig site where artifacts have been dated back to a point in Chinese history called the "Spring and Autumn period"a three-hundred-year period between 771 and 476BC. The site was once host to a city called Liujiawa, which was the capital of a vassal state called Rui. The Spring and Autumn period ended when China became unified under the Qin dynasty.

The researchers uncovered a section in the dig site that they identified as a Nobleman's region. They found bronze funerary weapons and a jar made of bronze containing what the researchers believe to be face creama soft, yellow-white material. Analysis of the material showed it to be approximately 2,700 years old and made of animal fat and moonmilk (a kind of carbonate mud found in some caves that turns to a white powder when dried.) When mixed together, the combination would have been a material that could be used as a cream. The researchers suggest the nobleman used the cream on his face, perhaps as a way to stand out from commoners. They also suggest it could have been used as part of religious ceremoniesprior research has shown that religions of the time believed caves had minerals with magical properties. The find represents the oldest known use of a cosmetic meant for a male wearer in China.

Explore further Chinese city reports coronavirus found on ice cream

More information: B. Han et al. The rise of the cosmetic industry in ancient China: insights from a 2,700yearold face cream, Archaeometry (2021). Journal information: Archaeometry B. Han et al. The rise of the cosmetic industry in ancient China: insights from a 2,700yearold face cream,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/arcm.12659

Provided by Science X Network

 2021 Science X Network
Ukraine would like to receive the Membership Action Plan (MAP) in NATO together with Georgia, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said.

"Today, of course, our short-term strategy is to obtain the Membership Action Plan. We want to keep up with Georgia and, ideally, get the MAP together with Georgia, and we are actively working on this. I believe that our meeting today is a rather positive and important sign and also it gives us a good charge, good hope," Shmyhal said at a press conference after talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Tuesday.

He said that NATO membership was an important priority for Ukraine and this was enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine.

"We have adopted a number of bills, we continue to reform our Armed Forces, we continue the transition to NATO standards, we conduct joint exercises, we take part in joint international operations together with NATO, and we really have a lot of groundwork done that gives us hope for a quick completion of our 'homework'. As the Secretary General said today, achieving NATO standards in the security and defense sector of Ukraine would be the precondition when we get the opportunity to become a NATO full-fledged member," Shmyhal said.
A RELATIVE of Kavango East governor Bonifatius Wakudomo was allegedly assaulted by the governor's daughter, Ritha Siyeso, over publishing posts on social media.

Paulina Wakudumo, a niece of the governor, told The Namibian she was attacked last month by Siyeso and other relatives who were enraged by her posts on Facebook, which led to the family coming under fire for alleged corruption.

"The governor's daughter and one of my cousins came to beat me up at my house. They apparently wanted to teach me a lesson and threatened to kill me. They basically strangled me and dragged me to the streets to beat me up," Wakudumo's niece said.

In various posts on her Facebook page, Paulina claimed the governor was being used by Chinese businesswoman Stina Wu in various questionable deals.

Her posts followed a report in The Namibian in which the governor is being accused of facilitating a proposal by a company owned by Wu to secure rental contracts with various government offices, ministries and agencies.

Wu's company, Helmsman Group, which owns multiple properties at Rundu, has proposed to rent out its Galaxy complex at Rundu to government offices, ministries and agencies operating in the Kavango East region.

Paulina turned to social media accusing her uncle of having sold "the whole of Kavango East to Stina Wu and other Chinese nationals".

"Deals have already been made. The future no longer looks bright to our future aspiring entrepreneurs in Kavango region. Chinese now own Namibia. Feeling so disappointed in our leaders. Now my question is, was it really worth selling every valuable land for peanuts?" she posted.

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These remarks and other allegations in various posts and comments on Facebook allegedly infuriated Siyeso and other relatives.

"I think it was something orchestrated by the family. While she (Ritha) was beating me up, she told me her father owns the town and that even if I went to the police to report the case, they won't do anything to him," Paulina said.

She allegedly reported the incident to a police station in the region, but claims officials were reluctant to register a case.

"The police officer who handled the case was very one-sided, and didn't want to open the case. He told me no one had the right to be against the governor," she said.

Contacted for comment, Kavango East police acting regional commander, deputy commissioner Vilho Kalwenya, said the station commander at Rundu, where the case was allegedly reported was "not aware of the allegations labelled against his police station".

Kalwenya requested more information on the case to enable the station commander "to further probe the allegations at hand".

Meanwhile, Wakudumo refused to comment on the matter and referred all questions to his daughters. "My children are big people. They should talk for themselves," Wakudumo said.

Siyeso refused to comment on the allegations.

"I am not somebody who is unemployed and goes around making up stories. Did the person who told you all these things give you any proof?" she asked before hanging up.


Iran and North Korea resumed cooperation on the development of long-range missile projects last year, according to a UN report.

"This resumed cooperation is said to have included the transfer of critical parts, with the most recent shipment associated with this relationship taking place in 2020," an independent panel of experts monitoring international sanctions on North Korea said in an annual report submitted to the UN Security Council on February 8.

The report cited an unnamed UN member state, which provided information that North Korea and Iran "resumed cooperation on long-range missile development projects."

In response to the allegations, Iranian UN Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi told panel members in December that a preliminary review of the information provided by the monitors indicated that "false information and fabricated data" may have been used in their investigation.

The report monitors the multiple UN sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear- and ballistic-weapons programs. It found North Korea maintained and developed its nuclear and ballistic-missile programs throughout 2020 in violation of international sanctions, funded them through cyberattacks, and skirted around some sanctions.



The United States has long accused North Korea and Iran of cooperating on missile development.

According to a copy of the UN report viewed by Bloomberg, the UN panel received information that Iran's Shahid Haj Ali Movahed Research Center received support from North Korea for a space-launch vehicle.

The United States claims Iran's space and satellite program is dual-use and primarily designed to develop advanced ballistic missiles.

In September, the United States said the Shahid Haj Ali Movahed Research Center "played a key role in Iranian-North Korean missile cooperation" as it unveiled more sanctions on Tehran.

The report comes as U.S. President Joe Biden's new administration is reviewing former President Donald Trump's North Korea policy.

The Biden administration is also trying to revive diplomacy with Iran after Trump withdrew the United States from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers in 2018 and reimposed sanctions. In response, Iran has gradually breached its nuclear commitments.

In an interview with CNN on February 8, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that "if Iran returns to compliance with its obligations under the nuclear agreement, we would do the same thing."

"And then we would work with our allies and partners to try to build a longer and stronger agreement, and also bring in some of these other issues, like Iran's missile program, like its destabilizing actions in the region that need to be addressed as well," Blinken added.

Iranian officials have insisted that the United States should make the first move by returning to the 2015 accord, which eased international sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran's disputed nuclear program.

They have also said that the countrys missile program and regional policies are off the table.

With reporting by AFP, AP, Bloomberg, and Reuters
Four Thai activists were remanded in prison on Tuesday pending trial for insulting the king, their lawyer said, as the first cases of lese majeste stemming from rallies that demanded reforms to the powerful monarchy went to court.

The activists had broken traditional taboos by criticising King Maha Vajiralongkorn, risking prosecution under a law that makes insulting or defaming the royal family a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The four denied all the charges, but court denied them bail, remanding them in prison because the offenses have high penalties, one of their lawyers, Krisadang Nutcharat, said.

The decision prompted a group of protesters to rally in a commercial district in Bangkok.

"The ruling class is declaring war against us," leader Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul told the crowd, calling for another rally on Wednesday evening.

"Release our friends," others shouted, with some banging on pots before dispersing a few hours later.

At least 58 activists have been charged under lese majeste laws since November, according to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group, which represented the four defendants on Tuesday.

Parit Chiwarak, Arnon Nampa, Patiwat Saraiyam and Somyot Pruksakasemsuk face charges of lese majeste and 10 other offences, including sedition, over a Sept. 19 protest near Bangkok's royal palace, Prayuth Petchkun, deputy spokesman for the Office of the Attorney General, told reporters.

Parit also faces more such charges for his comments at a Nov. 14 protest.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said he had expressed concern to Thailand over both recent arrests of Thai protesters and several lengthy lese-majeste sentences.

U.N. human rights experts had on Monday also condemned Thailand's rising number of lese-majeste cases.

Thailand had briefly stopped using the law in 2018 but police started to invoke it again in November after protesters began openly criticising the monarchy.

Krisadang said the legal team would continue to request bail for the activists, who will be held at Bangkok Remand prison, with their trials set for March 15.
Yangon: Police cracked down on demonstrators opposing Myanmars military coup, firing warning shots and shooting water cannons to disperse crowds that took to the streets again on Tuesday in defiance of rules making protests illegal.

Water cannons were used in Mandalay, Myanmars second-biggest city, where witnesses said at least two warning shots were fired to try to break up the crowd. Reports on social media said police arrested more than two dozen people there. Police also used water cannons in the capital, Natpyitaw, for a second day and fired shots into the air.

Protesters sit on a road blocked by police as they flash a three-fingered salute, a symbol of resistance, during a protest in Mandalay. Credit:AP

Police were reported to have also shot rubber bullets at the crowd in Naypyitaw, wounding several people. Photos on social media showed an alleged shooter  an officer with a short-barreled gun  and several injured people.

Unconfirmed social media reports circulated of shootings with live rounds and deaths among the protesters, with the potential of sparking violent retaliation against the authorities, an outcome proponents of the countrys civil disobedience movement have warned against. The AP was unable to immediately confirm the reports.

JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In keeping with its priority Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of responsible production and consumption, Sasol and waste management company GrnCat, have developed a solution to recover wax from spent catalysts.

Since the GrnCat plant was commissioned in 2018, Sasol has recovered and reused more than 6,000 tons of clean wax, thereby reducing waste volumes by as much as 50 percent. The creation of 30 new jobs associated with the process has added a social benefit to the environmental and economic advantages.

"We are gaining environmental and economic benefits from the reduction in landfill volumes and recovery of saleable product," said Steve Radley, Sasol Vice President: Wax and Solvents, Energy Operations.

"We are also supporting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through established government funding institutions, which aim to promote economic growth and industrial development in the surrounding community."

Founder of GrnCat Holdings, Dr. Jan Reynhardt, added: "Since the start-up of our wax recovery plant three years ago, we have been constantly optimising our processes. We have been able to increase our capacity by 60 per cent to 400 tons per month of clean wax."

Radley said Sasol has prioritised four relevant SDGs, including SDG12 which is responsible production and consumption, to ensure that the business is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

"The collaboration with GrnCat is a pleasing success story for Sasol, GrnCat, the surrounding community and the environment. It also demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement and to making sustainability a reality," he added.

Issued by:

Sasol Media Relations

In South Africa:

Matebello Motloung, Manager: Group Media Relations

Direct telephone: +27 (0) 10 344 9256

Mobile: +27 (0) 82 773 9457

[email protected]

Alex Anderson, Senior Manager: Group External Communication

Direct telephone: +27 (0) 10 344 6509

Mobile: +27 (0) 71 600 9605

[email protected]

In Germany:

Torsten Titze

Manager Digital Communications

Sasol Chemicals

[email protected]

About Sasol:

Sasol is a global integrated chemicals and energy company spanning 30 countries. Through our talented people, we use selected technologies to safely and sustainably source, manufacture and market chemical and energy products globally.

About Sasol's Information Privacy Policy:

We wish to inform you about the processing of your Personal Information by Sasol South Africa Limited and your rights under applicable data protection law, as interpreted and included in Sasol Information Privacy Policy.

Within our company, only Sasol Group Media Relations will receive your Personal Information to fulfil the purpose of maintaining the relationship with the receiver in his/her capacity as a member of the media. You have the right to request for the correction or deletion of your Personal Information stored by us at address: Sasol Place, 50 Katherine Street, Sandton in Johannesburg. You also have a right to restrict the processing of your Information. To exercise your privacy rights or find out more about Information Privacy Policy, kindly contact our Privacy Office on: [email protected].

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Stats Group, a leading provider of specialist engineering services for the maintenance, integrity and repair of oil, gas a petrochemical installations and infrastructure, has promoted two long-serving employees - Steven Byers and Gary McDowall to senior executive positions.

Byers, who joined the Aberdeenshire business in 2010, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer, reporting to Group CEO Leigh Howarth, while McDowall succeeds Byers as Director of Operations for the UK and Europe region.

In his new role, Byers will be responsible for supporting Stats' operations and projects teams, across the globe, as well as leading the groups digitalisation programme.

Since joining Stats as a project engineer and in subsequent management roles, Byers has worked on and led many high-pressure pipeline isolation projects for clients in the UKCS, Europe and the Caspian region.

A key pipeline technology company, Stats Group operates from its headquarters at Kintore, Aberdeenshire in the UK; Edmonton (Canada) and Houston (US) in addition to its Middle East bases Abu Dhabi, Oman and Qatar and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

McDowall joined Stats in 2008 as a project engineer and during his time with the business has worked on numerous energy infrastructure contracts, including project managing the isolation of the Forties pipeline system in the North Sea.

In his new role, he will be responsible for leading the safe delivery of all projects in the UK and Europe, using the group's specialist technologies and solutions.

Lauding the promotions, Howarth said: "I am delighted that we have been able to strengthen our management team with two highly experienced engineering professionals."

"Both Byers and McDowall have a wealth of outstanding career achievements with Stats, and over the past decade have made significant contributions to our clients operations," noted the top official.

"They both have a deep understanding of the ethos and drivers behind the success of Stats and will play key roles as we continue to grow our business in the UK and internationally," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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

The third wave of the coronavirus in Spain is having a major effect on the number of Covid-19 fatalities. After the incidence shot up, followed by hospital admissions and intensive care unit (ICU) patients, the curve of the number of patients dying after testing positive for the disease is on the rise. On Monday, the Health Ministry reported 909 deaths, in figures that cover Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This is the highest weekend number since the first wave of the health crisis, last spring.

The government also reported 47,095 new infections, although the incidence of positives remains on a downward trend: the 14-day cumulative number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants came in at 667.33, compared to 750.77 on Friday.

A fourth wave is possible. It depends how this one goes down Fernando Simon, director of the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts

Fernando Simon, the director of the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts (CCAES), warned on Monday that the public should not let their guard down. He explained that the incidence is likely to continue falling, but that practically all of the regions are in a situation of very high risk.

Last Monday, the Health Ministry reported 762 Covid deaths, while on Tuesday the indicator reached a daily peak since the first wave with 724 fatalities. The data is likely to continue to rise, reflecting the high rate of new infections several weeks ago. We will not see a clear and significant fall in fatalities until the weekend, Simon warned.

While the curve of new infections has been falling for some days, the incidence rate continues to be very high  far from the 250-mark that the Health Ministry designated as high risk. Apart from the Canary Islands, which has a 14-day cumulative number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants of 157, all of the countrys territories are well above the maximum levels that the ministry considers as having the pandemic under control. Valencia, with an incidence of 995, is in the worst situation. La Rioja and Castilla y Leon, meanwhile, are also above 900 infections per 100,000 inhabitants over the past 14 days.

The fall in the incidence, meanwhile, has still not been reflected in hospitals, where the high pressure on the system persists. Admissions are falling, but at a very slow rate. There are currently 27,739 people hospitalized with Covid, meaning that one in every five conventional hospital beds is occupied by a coronavirus patient. Simon explained on Monday night that ICU admissions are also falling and may have peaked already, but he warned: The data from today are slightly lower in terms of ICU occupation, but we still have huge pressure. These are very high numbers that are seeing a lot of hospitals have to reprogram their routine activity, and thats a problem for the health system. According to the Health Ministry, 4,732 people with Covid are in ICUs, meaning that 43% of emergency-care beds are occupied by coronavirus patients.

Coronavirus patients occupy one in five conventional hospital beds and 43% of emergency-care beds

With this scenario on the table and the certainty that the number of deaths will continue to rise in the coming days, the CCAES director insisted that coronavirus restrictions should not be relaxed. In fact, he did not rule out a fourth wave of the pandemic in Spain, albeit one that is less serious thanks to the ongoing vaccination program. A fourth wave is possible, he said. It depends how this one goes down, and the low level of transmission that we manage to achieve with this one and how it progresses in the coming weeks. If there is a fourth wave, as there will be more of the population with immunity, the probability of that wave being large and quick will fall. It is likely that there will be a wave of smaller scale and slower speed, something that will give us a margin to apply progressive control measures.

Simon warned, however, that the new variants of the virus will play an important role in an eventual fourth wave. If the British variant occupies a space in our territory, the slower fourth wave that is expected could accelerate slightly, he said. The Health Ministry has confirmed 479 cases of the more-contagious variant first identified in the United Kingdom, but it has admitted that there will be many more out there. Two cases of the South Africa variant have been detected in Spain, while there is another person who was infected with the more virulent Brazilian strain, Simon explained.

English version by Simon Hunter.
Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggested that testing people for the coronavirus before they board domestic flights could help reduce transmission of COVID-19 as Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian slammed it as a 'horrible idea'.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky on Monday said during a press briefing that requiring air travelers to receive a negative COVID-19 test before boarding could be 'another mitigation measure to try and decrease the spread'.

She said that that additional screening at places where people gather like airports could help detect more asymptomatic cases.

However, Walensky did not say if the CDC will be moving forward with such a policy, which the Biden administration has previously said it is 'actively considering'.

Late last month, Dr Marty Cetron, the director for the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine at the CDC, was asked about whether new domestic travel testing requirements might be employed.

Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggested that testing people for the coronavirus before they board domestic flights could help reduce transmission as Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian (left) slammed it as a 'horrible idea'

Bastian believes that requiring negative tests for domestic flights (passengers pictured in Virginia) could be a nightmare and hopes the administration doesn't consider it

Cetron replied that there were 'conversations that are ongoing and looking at what the types and locations of testing might be... We're actively looking at it'.

His remark came days after President Joe Biden directed US agencies to make recommendations to 'impose additional public health measures for domestic travel' and to consider new requirements for people crossing land borders.

At the time, administration officials said that could include requiring negative COVID-19 tests before flying domestically.

'We realize that there's been a dramatic evolution and increase in both testing platforms and testing capacity. I think this is a really important part of our toolkit to combat this pandemic,' Cetron said.

But Bastian, Delta's CEO, believes that requiring negative tests for domestic flights could be a nightmare and hopes the administration doesn't consider it.

'The level of travel that we are carrying domestically in the US - not just Delta, but across the industry - would be substantially reduced from today's already low levels if domestic testing was required.

'And we don't have the facility or the technology or capabilities to be administering or monitoring domestic testing,' he said.

Currently, the CDC requires nearly all international air travelers aged 2 and older to present a negative coronavirus test taken within three calendar days of travel or proof of COVID-19 recovery to enter the United States.

In discussions with airline officials, the CDC has said it is considering requiring domestic testing, too. For now, masks are the only requirement for domestic air travel within the US.

In another interview with CNN, Bastian said that such testing measures 'will not keep domestic flyers safer' since planes have hospital quality air filters on board, which help reduce the chance of transmission.

Bastian also predicted that 'it would set us back another year in the recovery'.

Delta in 2020 lost nearly $12.4 billion as it reeled from the coronavirus, and its demand is expected to remain at only 10 percent to 15 percent of normal levels.

On Monday, Delta Air Lines said it will continue to block some seats on all flights through spring break and Easter to provide a bit more space between passengers.

The Atlanta-based airline announced that it will limit capacity on flights through April 30.

Delta said it will block middle seats in most cabins although groups of three or more passengers can choose to sit together.

During the early days of the pandemic, several US airlines blocked middle seats, although United Airlines never did.

The others that temporarily limited the number of seats for sale have since dropped the practice, at least in the main cabin, including Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska and American.

In addition to Bastian's warnings, two senior Boeing executives have said that if the White House requires COVID-19 tests before traveling on domestic passenger airline flights, it could pose significant economic harm.

'Imposing such a burden on the already financially beleaguered airline industry has the potential for severe unintended consequences that will ripple across the entire economy,' Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Stan Deal and Chief Aerospace Safety Officer Michael Delaney wrote in a letter.

More than 27 million COVID infections have been reported in the US since the start of the pandemic and there have been at least 465,083 deaths

The letter, seen by Reuters, was sent Friday and had not previously been reported.

Boeing and the White House declined to comment on the letter.

The federal government has been mulling additional measures to fight the spread of the coronavirus but has made no decisions on adding new requirements on domestic air travel.

CDC officials have repeatedly urged Americans not to travel unless necessary.

Officials told Reuters there is no specific proposal currently being vetted by the administration and a new meeting with airlines could take place late this week.

The Boeing letter questioned the air travel emphasis if the CDC's focus is the 'corridor' around travel rather than aircraft.

'If this broader travel journey is, in fact, the main concern of the CDC, then science would dictate all aspects of travel should receive similar scrutiny including hotels, car rental agencies, mass transit, and restaurants,' the letter said.

Amtrak Chief Executive Bill Flynn told reporters Friday that he was unsure how requiring testing before train trips 'would actually work and how it could actually be enforced'.

The Boeing letter raised concerns about testing costs and availability, noting costs could easy top average base airfare.

'If a testing mandate is prescribed by the administration, funding should also be provided to comply,' Boeing said.

On Thursday, a top aviation union leader warned mandatory domestic COVID-19 testing requirements could devastate the airline industry and potentially lead to bankruptcies.

Representative Peter DeFazio, the chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, raised concerns about domestic testing requirements in a meeting with Biden on Friday, a spokeswoman for DeFazio confirmed.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told Reuters last week decisions about domestic testing will be 'guided by facts and by science'.

'Safety is our bottom line because we think that's not only the right answer for passengers and workers but ultimately it's the right economic answer too - so that there's full confidence among the traveling public,' Buttigieg said.
Adventus and Salazar announce drilling results at the El Domo deposit highlighted by 13.61% copper equivalent over 16.96 metres

Posted by Publisher Internet

Adventus Mining Corporation (?Adventus?) (TSX-V: ADZN, OTCQX: ADVZF) and Salazar Resources Limited (?Salazar?) (TSX-V: SRL) (collectively the ?Partners?  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/adventus-mining-corp/) are pleased to announce continued infill drilling results from the El Domo volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit located within the 21,537-hectare Curipamba project in central Ecuador. Infill drilling continues at El Domo with two diamond drill rigs with 30 infill definition drill holes having been successfully completed totaling 3,137 metres from the planned 4,960 metres, and two drill holes in progress totaling a further 192 metres completed.

Highlights ? Drill Results from the El Domo Deposit at Curipamba:

CURI-349 intersected 16.96 metres of 7.11% copper, 5.44 g/t gold, 3.38% zinc, 107.6 g/t silver, and 0.34% lead for 13.61% CuEq. ? including 3.01 metres of 11.97% copper, 8.09 g/t gold, 3.88% zinc, 134.3 g/t silver and 0.15% lead for 20.88% CuEq

CURI-350 intersected 12.79 metres of 3.99% copper, 4.76 g/t gold, 1.97% zinc, 129.2 g/t silver, and 0.17% lead for 9.70% CuEq ? including 2.44 metres of 10.34% copper, 12.57 g/t gold, 7.26% zinc, 620.1 g/t silver and 0.79% lead for 29.28% CuEq

CURI-351 intersected 16.36 metres of 5.42% copper, 3.76 g/t gold, 0.46% zinc, 34.6 g/t silver, and 0.03% lead for 8.81% CuEq ? including 2.06 metres of 17.62% copper, 20.03 g/t gold, 2.67% zinc, 196.7 g/t silver and 0.15% lead for 35.83% CuEq

Drill hole CURI-349 intersected well mineralized grainstone with massive sulphide clasts in the hanging wall of the massive sulphide mineralization from 65.60 to 85.34 metres, grading 0.19% copper, 0.35 g/t gold, 0.69% zinc, 12.1 g/t silver, and 0.09% lead (0.84% CuEq).? A higher-grade subset was intersected from 82.08 to 85.34 metres, grading 0.79% copper, 0.98 g/t gold, 1.63% zinc, 51.7 g/t silver, and 0.46% lead (2.77% CuEq). Massive sulphide mineralization was intersected from 92.06 to 109.02 metres, grading 7.11% copper, 5.44 g/t gold, 3.38% zinc, 107.6 g/t silver and 0.34% lead (13.61% CuEq). A higher-grade subset occurs from 96.13 to 99.14 metres, grading 11.97% copper, 8.09 g/t gold, 3.88% zinc, 134.3 g/t silver, and 0.15% lead (20.88% CuEq). Beneath the massive sulphide mineralization, mineralized footwall felsic autoclastic volcaniclastic rocks were intersected from 123.41 to 125.36 metres, grading 0.70% copper, 0.11 g/t gold, 0.05% zinc, 1.9 g/t silver (0.82% CuEq).

CURI-350 intersected well mineralized grainstone with massive sulphide clasts in the hanging wall of the massive sulphide mineralization from 51.40 to 54.21 metres, grading 4.11% copper, 7.63 g/t gold, 5.78% zinc, 162.8 g/t silver, and 0.58% lead (13.74% CuEq). Mineralized fine-grained sediments were intersected in the hanging wall of the massive sulphide mineralization from 54.21 to 56.33 metres, grading 1.95% copper, 2.72 g/t gold, 0.58% zinc, 35.7 g/t silver, and 0.07% lead (4.61% CuEq), but a syn-mineralization basaltic dyke intruded and separated it from the massive sulphide mineralization. ?This intrusion has a well-mineralized margin from 61.80 to 62.87 metres, grading 2.65% copper, 2.30 g/t gold, 0.33% zinc, 16.4 g/t silver and 0.03% lead (4.68% CuEq). The massive sulphide mineralization was intersected from 62.87 to 75.66 metres, grading 3.99% copper, 4.76 g/t gold, 1.97% zinc, 129.2 g/t silver, and 0.17% lead (9.70% CuEq). A subset of higher-grade massive sulphide occurs near at the top of the intercept from 62.87 to 65.31 metres, grading 10.34% copper, 12.57 g/t gold, 7.26% zinc, 620.1 g/t silver and 0.79% lead (29.28% CuEq).

CURI-351 intersected a narrow section of mineralized grainstone in the hanging wall of the massive sulphide mineralization from 49.07 to 52.10 metres, grading 0.24% copper, 1.85 g/t gold, 0.49% zinc, 12.0 g/t silver, and 0.04% lead (1.94% CuEq). Massive sulphide mineralization was intersected from 52.10 to 68.46 metres, grading 5.42% copper, 3.76 g/t gold, 0.46% zinc, 34.6 g/t silver and 0.03% lead (8.81% CuEq). A subset of higher-grade massive sulphide mineralization was intersected from 52.10 to 54.16 metres, grading 17.62% copper, 20.03 g/t gold, 2.67% zinc, 196.7 g/t silver, and 0.15% lead (35.83% CuEq).

All results from the current infill definition drilling program will be used to update the Mineral Resource estimate for the El Domo deposit in 2021. The updated Mineral Resource estimate will be part of the ongoing feasibility study for the development of the El Domo deposit (see December 2, 2020 news release).

Figure 1 illustrates the drill locations for the three drill hole results outlined in this news release and the holes currently in the assay lab, or in progress. Drill collar location coordinates are summarized for the infill drilling program in Table 1 at the end of this news release.

For reference, the last NI 43-101 Mineral Resource estimate for El Domo was published as part of the preliminary economic assessment report titled: ?Technical Report on the Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Curipamba Project ? El Domo Deposit, Central Ecuador?, with an effective date of June 14, 2019 on SEDAR.

Technical Information and Quality Control & Quality Assurance (?QAQC?)

The Curipamba project work program is being managed and reviewed by Vice President Exploration, Jason Dunning, M.Sc., P.Geo., a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Salazar staff collect and process samples that are securely sealed and shipped to Bureau Veritas (?BV?) in Quito for sample preparation that includes crushing and milling to prepare pulps that are then split for shipment to their facility in Lima, Peru for analysis. All assay data have undergone internal validation of QAQC; noting there is an established sampling control program with blind insertion of assay blanks, certified industry standards and sample duplicates for the Curipamba project. A QAQC program is also in place at BV and includes insertion of blanks, standards, and duplicate reanalysis of selected samples.? BV?s quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 17025: 1999. At BV, gold is analyzed by classic fire assay techniques with an AAS finish, while silver and base metals are analyzed by a 44-element aqua regia technique with ICP-AES finish. Overlimit protocols are in place for gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc.

Qualified Person

The technical information of this news release has been reviewed and verified as accurate by Mr. Jason Dunning, M.Sc., P.Geo., Vice President Exploration for Adventus, a non-Independent Qualified Person, as defined by NI 43-101.

About Adventus

Adventus Mining Corporation is an Ecuador focused copper-gold exploration and development company. Its strategic shareholders include Altius Minerals Corporation, Greenstone Resources LP, Wheaton Precious Metals Corp., and the Nobis Group of Ecuador. Adventus is advancing the El Domo copper-gold project through a feasibility study, while exploring the broader Curipamba district. In addition, Adventus is engaged in a country-wide exploration alliance with its partners in Ecuador, which has incorporated the Pijili and Santiago copper-gold porphyry projects to date. Adventus also controls an exploration project portfolio in Ireland with South32 Limited as funding partner as well as an investment portfolio of equities in several exploration companies. Adventus is based in Toronto, Canada, and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ADZN and trades on the OTCQX under the symbol ADVZF.??

About Salazar

Salazar Resources Limited is focused on creating value and positive change through discovery, exploration, and development in Ecuador. The team has an unrivalled understanding of the geology in-country and has played an integral role in the discovery of many of the major projects in Ecuador, including the two newest operating gold and copper mines. Salazar Resources has a wholly owned pipeline of copper-gold exploration projects across Ecuador with a strategy to make another commercial discovery and farm-out non-core assets. The Company actively engages with Ecuadorian communities and together with the Salazar family it co-founded The Salazar Foundation, an independent non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable progress through economic development.? The Company already has carried interests in three projects. At its maiden discovery, Curipamba, Salazar Resources has a 25% stake fully carried through to production.? At two copper-gold porphyry projects, Pijili and Santiago, the Company has a 20% stake fully carried through to a construction decision.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This press release contains ?forward -looking information? within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Any 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, identified by words or phrases such as ?believes?, ?anticipates?, ?expects?, ?is expected?, ?scheduled?, ?estimates?, ?pending?, ?intends?, ?plans?, ?forecasts?, ?targets?, or ?hopes?, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results ?may?, ?could?, ?would?, ?will?, ?should? ?might?, ?will be taken?, or ?occur? and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking information herein includes, but is not limited to, statements that address activities, events, or developments that Adventus and Salazar expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future. Although Adventus and Salazar have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, 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 information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Adventus and Salazar undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Hong Kong, Feb 9 : Hong Kongs top court on Tuesday ordered media tycoon Jimmy Lai to remain in custody before his trial on charges of fraud and colluding with foreign forces.

As the Court of Final Appeal lacks jurisdiction to handle Lai's application, Chief Justice Andrew Cheung said that the tycoon, who has spent a total of 59 days in jail till date, may apply for bail once again at the High Court, the South China Morning Post newspaper reported.

He had appeared in West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts for trial on December 3 and 12, 2020 respectively. The two cases were adjourned and Lai's bail applications were rejected.

But on December 23, 2020, Lai, founder of the Next Digital media group and the tabloid-style Apple Daily newspaper, applied to the High Court for bail and succeeded after which he was placed under house arrest.

Unsatisfied with the court's decision, the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong government applied to the Court of Final Appeal for leave to appeal and requested that Lai be remanded in custody pending the issuance of the appeal verdict.

The Court of Final Appeal then granted leave for the appeal application on December 31, 2020 and Lai was remanded in custody immediately.

Lai's case is the first time the Court of Final Appeal has tackled proceedings stemming from the national security law, which was enacted on the city by China on June 30, 2020, to ban acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.

He is also the most high-profile person to be charged under the law.
BAY CITY, MI  A Bay City man has been extradited from Pennsylvania to face a criminal charge that he robbed a local bank of thousands through its drive-thru window.

Shane W. Gillette, 34, on Thursday, Feb. 4, appeared in Bay County District Court for arraignment on one count of bank robbery. The charge is a life offense.

The charge stems from a holdup of Fifth Third Bank, 3870 State Street Road in Bangor Township, that occurred the afternoon of Jan. 22.

Shortly after 4 p.m., Bay County Sheriffs deputies responded to a robbery alarm at the bank. They arrived and spoke with a crying, 24-year-old teller who told them she had been attending to several customers when a man pulled up into one of the drive-thru lanes and passed her a note and a Taco Bell bag.

The note said put the money in the bag, the teller told police. She said on seeing the note, she triggered the alarm and began placing loose and banded cash from drawers into the bag.

She then returned the bag, which still contained the note, to the robber, she said. Asked why she did so by deputies, she said she was scared if she didnt give the subject money he would harm the customers outside in the drive-thru or come inside the bank itself, according to deputies reports in court files.

The vehicle fled after its driver received the bag of cash. In all, he had received $5,180, deputies reports state.

Deputies identified the alleged robbers vehicle as a dark blue Pontiac Grand Am with no license plate.

The following afternoon, deputies were contacted by the Pennsylvania State Police, who said they had pulled over a vehicle matching the description for traveling 88 mph in Allegheny County. The trooper identified Gillette as the driver from his Michigan drivers license, reports state.

Gillette told the trooper he was moving to North Carolina. When the trooper mentioned the absent license plate, Gillette replied, it didnt matter because he was going to prison anyway, police reports state.

Gillette then said he had robbed a bank in Bay City, pulled a bag out of his center console, and placed it on a seat. The bag contained cash still bearing Fifth Third Bank bands, police reports state.

Gillette was arrested and lodged in Pennsylvania until he could be extradited to Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Corrections had discharged Gillette on June 20, 2020. A Manistee County judge in February 2018 had sentenced him to 32 months to four years in prison on a conviction of manufacturing or delivering marijuana.

Gillettes arraigning judge set his bond at $200,000 cash-surety. Gillette is to appear for a preliminary examination at 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 18.

Read more:

Suspect in Bay County drive-thru bank robbery caught in Pennsylvania

Bank robbed through drive-thru window, Bay County sheriff says

Saginaw woman accused of sexual misconduct with teen at foster-care and treatment facility
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:

Barcelona,  Feb 08, 2021 (SPS) - A coordination body for the movement of solidarity with the Saharawi people in Catalonia was established on Sunday, thanks to the efforts of the Saharawi regional office in this region of Spain and the various associations of friendship and solidarity aimed at unifying efforts and plans around solidarity action with the Sahrawis.

At their first meeting held on Sunday by videoconference, the various associations committed to implementing new action plans adapted to the state of emergency established in Western Sahara since November 13, 2020, following the violation by the Morocco of the ceasefire agreement in the buffer zone of El Guerguerat.

Speaking within the framework of this meeting, the regional representative of the Frente POLISARIO in Catalonia, Abidin Bucharaya underlined the importance of the coordination of actions to achieve concrete results in the fields of action of the said Catalan solidarity movement known historically for its support for the Saharawi people.

Abidin Bucharaya told the SPS, that "the Establishment of this coordination aims to contribute to the achievement of the expected objectives, in addition to supporting the actions carried out by the Spanish solidarity movement through Catalonia".SPS

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The proposed demerger will result in the creation of two separate entities focusing on their respective areas of gold and lithium with the restructure aimed at unlocking the deep value in Goulamina.

Following the demerger, Firefinch will be solely focused on gold, primarily in Mali.

( ) (OTCMKTS:EEYMF) (FRA:N9F) plans to demerge the Goulamina Lithium Project in Mali into a separate lithium focused company to be listed on the ASX later this year, subject to shareholder and other required approvals.

The demerger proposal includes Firefinch shareholders being rewarded with free shares in the new entity proportional to their existing holding in the company.

Firefinch believes restructuring will unlock the deep value in Goulamina following a robust definitive feasibility study (DFS) which confirmed it as one of the worlds best undeveloped hard rock lithium deposits.

This will enable the company to fully focus on gold production and exploration.

The news was cheered by investors with Firefinch shares up as much as 33% today to A$0.28, a new high of more than two years.

Best way to realise material value

Firefinch executive chairman Alistair Cowden said: The Goulamina Lithium Project and the Morila Gold Mine are both high-quality assets.

Given the remarkable opportunity of two world-class projects, Firefinchs board believes that demerging the Goulamina Lithium Project into a separate entity is the best way to realise material value for shareholders.

Overview and rationale

Under Firefinch ownership, Goulamina has been positioned as a world-class project, ready to commence development with granted permits in place.

Results of the DFS in October 2020 placed Goulamina among the worlds highest quality and largest undeveloped lithium deposits.

The DFS confirmed Goulamina as a long-life, large-scale, low-cost open pit project, delivering strong returns including:

Average production of 436,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate per annum;

Average cash costs over life of mine of US$281 per tonne of spodumene concentrate;

Ore reserve of 52 million tonnes at 1.51% lithium oxide for 0.79 million tonnes contained lithium oxide;

Mineral resource of 109 million tonnes at 1.45% lithium oxide for 1.57 million tonnes contained lithium oxide;

Initial mine life of 23 years;

Capital costs of US$194 million; and

Pre-tax NPV of $1.7 billion.

After a strategic review, the board considers Goulamina is materially undervalued in the Firefinch share price and requires a distinct, separate focus to release the true value of the project.

Realise value for shareholders

Firefinch believes the creation of a new lithium focused company in a strong lithium market is the optimal way to realise the value for shareholders.

Since completion of the DFS, there have been unsolicited expressions of interest in Goulamina relating to partnership and offtake opportunities.

A number of these parties are in a dataroom and in preliminary discussions with the company with these to be progressed in parallel with the proposed demerger.

Cowden said: Firefinch now offers a unique investment proposition with this restructure, shareholders will own shares in each of a high growth gold and lithium company.

Benefits of demerger

The demerger would permit each entity to appropriately focus on its project, whilst progressing organic and other value accretive growth opportunities in their respective sectors.

Other benefits:

Allow Firefinch to focus all its resources on its three-stage production ramp-up strategy at the Morila Gold Project, following a very strong increase in the scale of the operation;

Provide Firefinch shareholders with a unique investment proposition, diversification across

investment assets, mitigation of commodity risk, and greater investment choice;

Allow Firefinch shareholders to better share in the uplift expected from the lithium and EV thematic by attracting investors seeking this exposure; and

Provide a timely, clean separation of project assets, providing a more direct path to value recognition.

Cowden said: Firefinch will become solely focused on gold on the completion of the demerger.

New lithium focused company

An investment bank will be appointed to advise Firefinch and the new company on funding, partnership opportunities, offtake and the demerger process.

A dedicated senior executive and board will be recruited to provide a clear focus on delivering shareholder value through the demerged company securing the financial and industry support to deliver one of the worlds largest hard rock lithium projects.

This company will leverage on Firefinchs expertise in operations in its first years as well as both companies being able to share certain costs and overheads.

Following the violence at iPhone manufacturing facility in December last year, Apple contract manufacturer Wistron on Tuesday said that it was looking to restart operations at its factory in Karnataka. The Taiwan-based firm, which manufactures iPhones and other IoT products at Kolar plant, said that it was working hard to raise standards and fix issues at the facility located about 60 km from Bengaluru.

"We are looking forward to restarting our operations and welcoming back team members and we thank them for their patience and support as we worked through corrective actions," Wistron said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Apple has said that corrective actions have been completed and that Wistron has initiated the process for restarting operations at Karnataka plant. The US-based iPhone maker also confirmed that Wistron has begun the process of hiring team members and that everyone at the facility will undergo a new training programme to ensure they understand their rights and how they can raise any concerns.

Also read: Apple may shift production of iPhone 12 series to India from China

Thousands of contract workers angry over alleged non-payment of wages, destroyed equipment and vehicles at a Wistron plant in Karnataka on December 12, causing an estimated $60 million in damages. During the probe of incident, Apple found Wistron in violation of its 'Supplier Code of Conduct' and had put Taiwan-based manufacturer on probation.

Also read: Wistron violence: iPhone 12 mini manufacturing at Apple facility delayed

The violence has delayed iPhone 12 mini production that should have commenced by now. As per report, Apple is planning to shift production of iPhones, iPads, Macs and other products outside, while it will soon start manufacturing its first 5G smartphones, iPhone 12 series, in India. The iPhones will be produced in Wistron's Narasapura plant located in Kolar district. Wistron has proposed to invest over Rs 2,900 crore in India to ramp up efforts for the local production of iPhone. The Made in India iPhone 12 is expected to be rolled out by the middle of next year.

With agencies inputs

The first public clash between the presidents legal team and the impeachment managers will be over the question of whether the trial is legitimate under the Constitution

The second Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump will open on Tuesday, just over a month after the 6 January assault on the Capitol the House has charged him with inciting. Senate leaders agreed on Monday to a plan for an exceptionally speedy proceeding that could conclude in less than half the time of his first.

Monday was a day for pretrial motions, and Trumps lawyers laid out his defense in a 78-page brief submitted to the Senate, denying that he was responsible for the attack and arguing that in any case, an ex-president could not be tried by the Senate.

In their own filing, the House Democrats who are prosecuting him reiterated their allegation that Trump willfully incited the riot and insisted that he was subject to a Senate impeachment trial.

Here is a broad overview of how the trial will unfold under the rules being discussed.

Tuesday: Four hours of debate, then a procedural vote.

The first public clash between the presidents legal team and the impeachment managers will be over the question of whether the trial is legitimate under the Constitution.

Senators plan to allow up to four hours of debate between the managers and defense team on the question that has loomed over the proceedings  whether a former president can be tried by the Senate for high crimes and misdemeanors. No former president has ever been, but the Senate did try a war secretary in the 1870s after he left office.

If a simple majority of senators agree to move forward, as expected, the main part of the trial begins.

Wednesday to Friday or Sunday: 16 hours of oral arguments per side.

The prosecution and defense each have up to 16 hours to present their cases, starting at noon Wednesday under the terms of the deal reached by senators Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell.

The structure we have agreed to is eminently fair, Schumer said Monday. It will allow for the trial to achieve its purpose: truth and accountability.

Neither side is expected to take the fully allotted time. Senators announced on Monday that they would pause the trial Friday at sundown until Sunday for the Jewish Sabbath based on a request from Trumps lawyers. But the defense team reversed itself, meaning the trial will likely run straight through Saturday.

Sunday to early the following week: Senators' questions, a possible debate over witnesses and possibly a verdict.

The sequence of what happens next is less certain.

Senators will be allowed at least a day to question the prosecution and defense after they present their cases once their opening presentations conclude.

This time, senators will give the House managers the option to debate and vote on calling witnesses. It is unclear if they will avail themselves of that option.

Trump declined last week to accept the Democrats offer to testify voluntarily at his trial, but the managers have yet to decide whether they will try to subpoena him or any other witness. Doing so could bolster their case, but Democrats are also eager to quickly resume their push to pass the Biden administrations $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.

Whenever the witness question is resolved, the trial will conclude with closing arguments and a final, up-or-down vote on whether to convict Trump.

Nicholas Fandos and Glenn Thrush c.2021 The New York Times Company
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.
Iran began its vaccination campaign against Covid-19 on Tuesday to fight the Middle East's deadliest outbreak of the illness, images broadcast by state television showed.

"We begin our national vaccination against the Covid-19 virus... (in) memory of the martyrdom of health workers," Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said at a ceremony at a Tehran hospital, referring to medical personnel who have died from the disease.

Iran's inoculation effort for its 80-million-plus population is starting with Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, authorities have said.

According to Iranian authorities, the first doses of the Russian vaccine arrived on Thursday in Tehran, with two more shipments expected by February 18 and 28, AFP reported.

The Islamic republic has bought two million doses of Sputnik V, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said on Saturday.

Health Minister Saeed Namaki said last week that Iran would also receive 4.2 million doses of the vaccine developed by Anglo-Swedish firm AstraZeneca and Oxford University, purchased via the international vaccine mechanism Covax.

The novel coronavirus has infected 1.4 million people in Iran and killed more than 58,500, according to the health ministry.

The country started clinical trials of its own first locally developed vaccine in late December and on Monday unveiled a second homegrown vaccine project.

The second Iranian vaccine, dubbed Razi Cov Pars, was developed at the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, which is linked to the agriculture ministry, according to Massoud Soleimani, a member of Iran's national vaccine committee.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow into Pakistan is slowing down. In the first half of the financial year 2020-21 - July to December-- inflow of FDI fell by about 29.8 per cent to $952.6 million compared to $1.36 billion in the corresponding period of previous year, the State Bank of Pakistan data revealed. Pakistans lion share of FDI comes from China which is developing the much hyped $60 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). According to a report carried by Dawn newspaper, Chinese investment into the country is slowing down.

This is happening at a time when Pakistan is "facing a chronic balance-of-payments problem with negative Net International Reserves, Pakistan needs to urgently woo non-debt-creating foreign investment, especially in export-oriented industries, to increase its overseas shipments and replace foreign debt to pay its import bill," a report carried by Dawn newspaper said, adding that the south Asian country has never been a favoured destination of foreign investors.

"Chinese investment also has slowed down significantly since the completion of the 'early harvest' schemes related to CPEC. Chances of FDI flowing into new non-CPEC projects in the near to medium term appear to be very slim at the moment," the report said.

It also underlined the need for Pakistan to focus on wooing non-debt creating foreign investment.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has repeatedly underlined that the CPEC will lead to economic growth while creating employment. What is worrisome for Khan is that neither of the two has happened. "One of the thrust areas for the Prime Minister was the economy, he promised to fix the economic problems. Two and half years have passed since he took charge, the economy has only deteriorated," a foreign policy analyst said.

Typically Pakistan with its intense domestic turmoil is not considered a hot FDI destination.

The CPEC project and other loans from China have also pushed up Pakistan's debt problem.

Pakistan's debt to GDP ratio has also soared to 107 per cent prompting many economists to believe that the country is slipping into a debt trap.

Debt to GDP ratio is a simple barometer of measuring the country`s repayment capacity in relation to its economic output. Naturally, the higher the debt to GDP ratio is, the higher the risk of default.

The Express Tribune noted that when Khan took charge, Pakistan's debt was close to Rs 24.2 trillion and the last Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government added Rs5.65 billion a day to the public debt. "On average, per day addition to the public debt has jumped to Rs13.2 billion since the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came to power," the newspaper noted.

An article published in the China based newspaper Global Times said, "Pakistan is hobbled by a high fiscal and current account deficit, a large foreign debt and a resulting heavy debt repayment burden." It added that Islamabad's ability to provide support funds for CPEC has declined, and there is large financial pressure to expand infrastructure construction. Loans that have been given to Pakistan by the International Monetary Fund loans came with conditions and "Pakistan will not be able to provide a large budget for the CPEC project while meeting these conditions." China's ability to finance CPEC project is also reducing with a high default rate among the government owned firms and banks increasing amid global slowdown and the Covid 19 pandemic.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
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Jerusalem:

Three Arabs opened fire on Israeli police in Jerusalem on Friday, killing two before fleeing to an ultra-sensitive holy site where they were also shot dead in one of the most serious incidents in the city in recent years.



Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone later in the day as tensions rose over the attack and its aftermath.



The three attackers, Arab Israelis aged between 19 and 29, were shot dead by police, and a body could later be seen lying on the ground near the Al-Aqsa mosque at the holy site in Jerusalem's Old City. They had been armed with guns and knives, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.



Videos circulating on social media showed a hail of gunfire ring out in what seemed to be an exchange of bullets between Israeli security forces and the assailants. Security forces locked down the area and the Al-Aqsa mosque was closed to Friday prayers after the attack in a highly unusual move.



The attackers were from the Arab Israeli city of Umm al-Fahm, located near the occupied West Bank. They were identified by police as Muhammad Ahmad Muhammad Jabareen, 29; Muhammad Hamed Abdel Latif Jabareen, 19, and Muhammad Ahmad Mafadal Jabareen, 29.



Arab Israelis are descendants of Palestinians who remained on their land following the creation of Israel in 1948. They largely identify with the Palestinian cause. The police who were killed were identified as Ha'il Satawi, 30, and Kamil Shanan, 22, both from the Druze minority.

ALSO READ: Turkey detains 44 people over Istanbul terror attacks



The assailants were killed at the site known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, the location of regular clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police, but where gunfire rarely occurs. The site includes the Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock.



In the phone call with Netanyahu, Abbas "expressed his strong rejection and condemnation of the incident at the blessed Al-Aqsa mosque and his rejection of any act of violence from any side, especially in places of worship," official Palestinian news agency WAFA said.



The statement appeared stronger than previous such responses from Abbas, who has repeatedly called for non-violent resistance to Israel's occupation without specifically condemning Palestinian attacks. A statement from Netanyahu's office confirmed the call.



"The prime minister said that Israel will take all the necessary measures in order to ensure the security on the Temple Mount without changes in the status quo," it said. Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan called it an "extremely severe event which crossed all red lines. We will need to re-evaluate all of the security arrangements on the Temple Mount and its environs."



The grand mufti of Jerusalem Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, the city's highest Islamic authority, condemned the closure of the mosque compound for prayers. "I have very little information about it, but it doesn't mean you should close the mosque for prayers," he told journalists at the Lions Gate entrance to the Old City, near the holy site.



Palestinians called for worshippers to go to the holy site in defiance of the shutdown. Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip, called the attack "a natural response to the Zionist terrorism and the desecration of the Al Aqsa mosque," referring to previous Israeli raids at the holy site.



UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov said on Twitter that "places for worship are for prayer, not for violence. All must take a stand against terror & condemn it." Basem Badawi, a 60-year-old water seller in the Old City, told AFP that "I was standing here and then I heard the shooting. I thought it was fireworks.



"But then I saw the police coming from everywhere." The Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount is considered the third-holiest site in Islam and the most sacred in Judaism. It is central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Palestinians fearing Israel may one day seek to assert further control over it.



It is located in east Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War and later annexed in a move never recognised by the international community. Jews are allowed to visit, but not pray there to avoid provoking tensions.



The site is administered by the Islamic Waqf organisation. Waqf officials said its guards at the site had been detained by Israeli police following the attack. A wave of unrest that broke out in October 2015 has claimed the lives of at least 280 Palestinians or Arab Israelis, 44 Israelis, two Americans, two Jordanians, an Eritrean, a Sudanese and a Briton, according to an AFP toll.



Israeli authorities say most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks. Others were shot dead in protests and clashes, while some were killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip. The violence had greatly subsided in recent months.

ALSO READ: Attack on religious freedom is attack on most fundamental right of liberty, says White House on Amarnath terror strike

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LONDON: Tesla Inc expects to allow customers to pay for its electric vehicles with bitcoin soon, the automaker said on Monday, a move that could expand how the most popular cryptocurrency is used for real-world transactions.

Although bitcoin has become more of a household name in recent years, it is still mostly used as an investment product rather than a form of payment.

A handful of mainstream brands have allowed customers to make purchases with bitcoin through third-party processors, but Tesla suggested it might accept bitcoin directly as part of a broader plan to incorporate the cryptocurrency into its investment portfolio.

Also Read | India should worry about its public debt

The company made the disclosures in a section of its quarterly securities filing that also detailed its purchase of $1.5 billion worth of bitcoin. If customers buy Teslas with bitcoin, the company may or may not liquidate those payments right away - which some experts read as an indication that Tesla might hold on to at least some of the coins and not sell them automatically.

A Tesla representative did not immediately respond to a request for more details.

If Tesla were to accept bitcoin payments the way some other major companies have, customers would transfer bitcoins from their "digital wallets" to another entity that converts them into, say, dollars and sends the sum to Tesla.

For example, companies including AT&T Inc and Microsoft Corp have accepted bitcoin through BitPay, a cryptocurrency payment processor. BitPay has facilitated payments for luxury auto dealers, but is not working with Tesla now, a representative said.

Shoppers can also buy items from merchants that have never officially accepted bitcoin by using payment cards that convert the cryptocurrency into U.S. dollars ahead of the transaction.

One digital currency enthusiast, Mason Borda, told Reuters he bought a Tesla Model 3 in 2016 using bitcoin through a company called Shakepay. It allowed him to load up a one-time-use credit card with his bitcoin. Tesla received a cash payment.

Borda, chief executive of cryptocurrency software company TokenSoft, said he regrets the purchase, because of how bitcoin values have soared. When Borda bought the car, each bitcoin was worth about $400. As of Monday, however, it was worth over $44,000. That means the $130,000 spent on the vehicle would be worth more than $14 million in bitcoin today.

"I recommend against purchasing big-ticket items with Bitcoin," he said. The "novelty" of doing so can quickly fade if the price rises dramatically, he said.

Tesla may eliminate the middle man and create its own processing system that can be used to accept bitcoin and liquidate the payments whenever management chooses to, experts said.

That would be an unusual step, because bitcoin is so volatile: even payments giant PayPal Holdings Inc, which expects to allow cryptocurrencies on its network by mid-year, will settle transactions through Paxos Trust Company - meaning neither the merchant nor PayPal will have to hold the virtual coins.

Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk, who also helped launch PayPal, has expressed enthusiasm about cryptocurrencies online and industry sources say he has the technological expertise to build the required infrastructure.

If Tesla goes that route, customers would transfer bitcoin into the automaker's own system. The company will probably have to set a guaranteed exchange rate with customers for a very short period of time, said CoinShares Chairman Danny Masters.

"They will likely continue to price Teslas in dollars and then say, 'Wire us dollars or send us bitcoin and if you send us bitcoin, the price is good for five minutes,'" he said.





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Hong Kong: 32 COVID-19 cases detected

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 32 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 28 are locally transmitted. Six of them have unknown sources of infection.

The centre's Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan told a press briefing this afternoon that one of the new cases involves a worker from the Hong Kong International Airport Three-runway System construction site who was confirmed to have contracted the virus during quarantine.

"For the Hong Kong International Airport third runway construction site workers recently confirmed as having COVID-19, most of them are in the quarantine centre. So we believe that the outbreak is under control - all the other workers have tested negative.

"But because of the incubation period, there is still the possibility that other workers may test positive. The site concerned has stopped operations.

"Also I understand that there is a new measure that will be implemented under which all the third runway workers will be tested for COVID-19 and have to show a negative result before they resume work."

Dr Chuang also reported that among the three preliminary positive cases found in the Quarry Bay restricted area, one is a Secondary 6 student of Shau Kei Wan Government Secondary School.

Another student of that school, who lives in the same building as the preliminary positive case, was earlier confirmed infected with COVID-19.

As the two students attended the school for exams during the infectious period, those who had stayed in the same hall with them will be put under quarantine while others must undergo compulsory testing.

Dr Chuang said: "For the Shau Kei Wan Government Secondary School students, we are still counting the numbers.

"According to our understanding from the school, there are around 130 students who sat in the same hall during an exam over a few days for the Form 6 students, and around five teachers and maybe a few other supporting workers such as cleaning workers, etc. So we are still counting the numbers.

"The total number of students in the other forms may be several hundred, so they will need to undergo testing. Also, the household members of those who have been put under quarantine will be subject to a compulsory testing order."

Noting that there are four confirmed cases and three preliminary positive cases involving four units of Wai Lee Building in the Quarry Bay restricted area, the centre co-ordinated with related government departments and conducted a site inspection this afternoon.

As confirmed cases have been found in three 04 units, the Department of Health will issue quarantine orders to asymptomatic residents of 04 units from 1/F to 23/F of the building and send them to quarantine centres.

Those who are symptomatic will be sent to hospital for treatment.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.

This story has been published on: 2021-02-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.

NEW HAVEN  Is your school nurse on call rather than in the building?

According to city Health Director Maritza Bond, in certain situations that might be the case.

Bond said this is occurring in part because there are occasions when a nurse calls out of work, and if a temporary replacement cant be found to provide support for that absence, officials may get a nurse who may not have a lot of activity in their school and (use them) to provide support to two (schools) in the interim that day.

Mayor Justin Elicker, who is a member of the school board, said he is aware of the issue and has spoken to Bond about it.

Im aware theres been some resignations, but also I think its important to underscore right now theres a challenge around the state of attracting new nurses, because clearly theres a significant demand because were in a pandemic, he said.

Bond confirmed the city is looking to fill approximately eight vacancies for public health school nurses. However, she maintained fluctuation and staff turnover was ordinary even before the pandemic.

There are several reasons why: people move to a new location, or obviously resources; people feel the salary is not competitive enough in this time so they may resign because of that, she said.

Although the nurses work in schools, they are city employees.

While Bond said the goal is to fill about eight vacancies, across the city, according to Stephen Librandi, the city manager for human resources and benefits, the health department has a total of 10 public health nurse vacancies. He said a total of 12 nurses have resigned since Aug. 22, 2020.

Bond said the pandemic also has put a strain on the nursing profession as a career path.

Amid the staff shortages, Bond said the city is taking advantage of a contract with a temp agency to fill school nurse vacancies. The districts schools remained closed throughout the pandemic until Jan. 19, when the district opened buildings for students up to fifth grade as well as a number of high-needs students.

School nurses are of particular importance during the pandemic because of the role they play within the districts COVID-19 reporting protocol. According to a workflow prepared by the city health department, known cases of COVID-19 affecting individuals who have entered a school are reported by the health department to school nurses, who then begin the process of contact tracing.

Under the citys protocol, the only staff member in a school building allowed to medically examine an individual who begins showing symptoms is the school nurse.

Some Board of Education members asked district leaders Monday about whether the schools had seen a drop in the number of school nurses.

Some board members said there should be a change in process to reinforce communication.

If theres no nurse on-site, I think thats something the building leader should be alerted to, said board member Dr. Tamiko Jackson-McArthur. That should trigger us, the Board of Education, to reach out to the city to say theyre supposed to be putting nurses in the buildings and that would bring us some sort of clarity sooner than waiting for them to tell us who resigned.

Board member Larry Conaway, a retired principal, said he believes principals should know what is happening in their buildings. He said in his experience as a building leader, there are times when a nurse might be working part time and gradually have their hours reduced to nothing, but he would know what is happening in his building.

Superintendent of Schools Iline Tracey said building leaders also have challenges, because they might not be certain whether a nurse left their job or did not show up to work that day and called in sick with their supervisor.

Jackson-McArthur said that then leaves the question of what is the red flag to inquire why we dont have a nurse? What is the impetus for us to ask: where is the nurse?

Board member Darnell Goldson said he has had complaints brought to him from teachers that there has not been a nurse present in their school since the year started.

Dave Cicarella, president of the New Haven Federation of Teachers, said in a Tuesday newsletter to teachers that he was seeking answers on his own.

We have received reports that a significant number of school nurses have resigned. We have contacted central office to receive an update to confirm (or refute) the report on resignation of nurses, he said in his letter to teachers. Building stewards are asked to make us aware of each and every day that the school does not have a nurse. We need accurate information to report to central office so we can address this promptly.

Bond said her department is in constant communication with Tracey and building principals on the health needs at schools. She said sometimes information shared at board meetings by board members might be distorted or could be several weeks old.

Im really big on chain of command and open communication is very critical, Bond said. Who receives what information needs to be clearly defined.

In an email to Board of Education members obtained by the Register, Tracey provided more details she received from the city  three nurses have resigned so far this year whose employment has been covered by full-time temps since then. At one school, the temp assigned to cover a vacancy was replaced by another temp after calling out of work for a period of time Tracey did not specify. Tracey said the city also is making an effort to ensure there are enough nurses in place to cover high schools if and when they open to the general high school population this year.

Bond said that, as the city is looking to hire nurses, jobs are posted on the citys jobs portal.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) finance and administration director, Ms Hajjat Medina Naham, has ordered for the immediate arrest of two top NRM officials in Dokolo District after they failed to account for more than Shs20m meant to facilitate the campaigns of LC5 contestants.

The officials are party chairperson Beatrice Abang and Mr John Bosco Otoke, the party administrative secretary.

The money, which was sent on January 20 by the NRM secretariat, was meant to facilitate last-minute campaigns of their candidates.

At least 23 candidates were endosed for LC5 councillor position on the NRM ticket.

According to Mr Joel Okuma Opota, the LC5 councillor representing Dokolo Town Council, they had earlier received Shs1 million each while those aspiring for woman councillor seats had received Shs1.5 million each because they were campaigning in wider areas and many of them were representing two sub-counties to the district council.

Mr Okuma said he learnt from colleagues in Kaberamaido District that the NRM Secretariat had sent in additional funding for their facilitation.

"They alerted us that they had got theirs (Shs1 million each). When we inquired from other districts, we found that more money was sent," Mr Okuma said on Saturday.

He said when they approached their NRM chairperson, she feigned ignorance of the money and referred them to the administrative secretary, who sent them back to Ms Abang.

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"We called our national vice chairman for northern Uganda, Mr Jacob Oulanyah, who confirmed that the NRM Secretariat had disbursed additional funding to facilitate councillors' campaigns," Mr Okuma said.

He added: "When we put our chairperson to task, she said some money had been deposited into the party bank accounts but without guidelines, therefore, she was traveling to Kampala to get the guidelines."

At this point, Ms Abang promised to meet the aggrieved persons on February 3 but when they went to the meeting venue, it was locked.

The outgoing Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr Lawrence Egole, who was invited, then rang the NRM director of finance and administration, who also confirmed they had deposited Shs23 million into the party account.

Ms Abang, the administrative secretary, and treasurer are the signatories to that account.

Ms Naham apologised to the leaders for what had happened and directed the RDC to ensure that the NRM chairperson and administrative secretary are arrested with immediate effect because they have already withdrawn the money from the bank account, according to Mr Okuma.

He further told this newspaper that Dokolo NRM treasurer Joy Tila also confirmed that on January 20, they withdrew the money from the bank, but the chairperson did not tell her what it was for.

We were unable to reach Ms Abang and Mr Otoke because their known phone numbers have been switched off.

Dokolo District police commander Alfred Baluku has confirmed that a general enquiry file no. 04/2021 has been opened at Dokolo Central Police Station.

"We have summoned the NRM district chairperson and the administrative secretary to appear on Monday to record statements," Mr Baluku said.
A government official spent more than 6,000 on luxury chocolate in one day using a taxpayer-funded credit card.

In total, the unnamed official spent 6,248.40 at Hotel Chocolat on December 21 last year.

The chocolate was bought on a credit card belonging to the Information Commissioner's Office, the body in charge of upholding the Data Protection Act and Freedom of Information Act.

The payment was the largest single transaction made on an ICO corporate credit card in the last months.

Incredibly, it came to light when the body published its credit card expenses of more than 500.

The unnamed official blew 6,248.40 on luxury chocolate from Hotel Chocolat on a single day

Incredibly, it came to light when the government department published its credit card expenses of more than 500

The most expensive chocolate available on the Hotel Chocolat website is a 147-piece collection called The Signature Cabinet, which costs 170.

The payment could have covered 36 of these chocolates.

The ICO has now launched an internal investigation over the transaction.

ICO: Champions of freedom of information The Information Commissioner's Officer is an independent, government-funded agency that is tasked with upholding information rights in the interest of the public. The ICO reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport As part of its role, it upholds several acts including the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts. The ICO received 4.6 million of funding from the government in the 2019-20. It is also bankrolled by private organisation who pay it a 'data protection fee'. Advertisement

An ICO spokesperson told Buisness Insider: 'We believe that the transaction has been made contrary to ICO policies. The ICO is committed to upholding high standards in all aspects of our financial management and controls.

'Should a contravention of our finance policies be confirmed, we will take appropriate action, including ensuring the payment is reimbursed.'

The document also revealed how most of the department's other payments were on training, flights and adverts.

The ICO received 4.6 million of funding from the government in the 2019-20.

It is also bankrolled by private organisation who pay it a 'data protection fee'.

The ICO was previously in the headlines last August after its chief, Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham, was revealed to have been living 4,500 miles away in her native Canada during the pandemic.

The 180,000 per year official, who is responsible for data transparency and privacy, wasn't due to return to the UK until September, having lived in Canada since June.

An FOI response did not reveal where in Canada she was living but confirmed she was in the Canadian Pacific Time Zone, which includes parts of the province of British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, plus the whole of the Yukon.

Her office insisted Miss Denham was working as normal, having lived in Canada since June.

But industry experts called on the data watchdog to resign at the time.

Denham was appointed UK information commissioner in 2016 after serving in a similar role in Canada.

And in the past four years she has made a mark on British politics and the way the internet is policed.

Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham previously hit the headlines after it revealed she was working from Canada - 4,500 miles away from her office

In 2018 the married mother-of-four blasted Facebook, saying Mark Zuckerberg's behemoth had passed a tipping point of unlawful behaviour and spoke of her appetite for confrontation.

Appointed Information Commissioner in Britain in 2016, the history graduate has successfully lobbied for the maximum fine her office can impose to be raised from 500,000 to several million.

She made her mark by fining TalkTalk 400,000 for security failings and hit Facebook with a 500,000 bill for its role in the Cambridge Analytica saga.

She also moved against the Leave.EU campaign and its backers and in March fined Vote Leave 40,000 for sending unsolicited text messages.
A former vet who is facing multiple charges of sexual activity with animals and possession of child and extreme pornography is due to appear before the High Court later today after he was arrested by gardai last night.

Officers from the gardais Extradition Unit arrested Oliver Lown (35) at a location near Letterkenny, Co Donegal, on foot of a European Arrest Warrant issued by UK authorities.

It is understood that Lown -who has a string of previous convictions for similar offences in England for similar offences  had been based in Ireland for around a year.

A warrant was issued for his arrest at Suffolk Magistrates Court in December when Lown of Main Road, Kesgrave, Suffolk, failed to appear at the court sitting.

Lown is charged with possession of 1,067 extreme pornographic images and 3,511 extreme pornographic videos, possession of 0.6 grammes of heroin, and committing an act with intent to pervert the course of justice, on or before April 4, 2019.

He has also been charged with possessing 66 category A indecent images of a child, 36 category B indecent images of a child, and 33 category C indecent images of a child, between March 1, 2013 and April 5, 2019, and with possession of cannabis on August 28, 2019.

Lown is also charged with five counts of sexual activity with live animals between March 1, 2013 and November 27, 2019.

He is expected to be remanded custody at the High Court today pending the outcome of a full extradition hearing.

The former vet was first convicted of owning extreme pornography back in 2012.

In a separate court case in February, 2015, the court heard that the then 29-year-old was jailed for 24 weeks after he admitted to seven counts of possession of extreme pornography and ordered to sign the sex offenders register.

He was struck off by the UK College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2014 and told he would never be allowed to work with animals in the UK.

But the former vet was arrested again in January, 2014, when his former girlfriend alleged she had been assaulted.

Police raided his home and found laptops and DVDs containing videos of other people having sex with animals. No further action was taken over the assault claim.

Magistrates in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, heard in 2012 how Lown was identified in videos as the person having sex with a horse and a dog due to a green star shaped tattoo on his leg.

He was said to have been engaging in sexual activity with a horse in a stable setting and a dog in a house setting.

Lown admitted possessing extreme pornography offences at the time after the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute him for bestiality.

The court also heard how he had boasted online about his activities.

In July, 2014, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons struck him off, after finding him guilty of three charges of possessing bestiality images or videos, a charge of having sex with a horse and a dog and sending messages that referred to sexual activity with animals.

Lown originally graduated as a vet from Szent Istvan University in Budapest in Hungary and he was also once a drummer in an Ipswich based punk band.




Health official: 'I am hopeful for the brighter days ahead'
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center is shifting the vaccinations done at its main campus to Pennington Biomedical Research Center in a community vaccination site the hospital hopes to scale up to several thousand doses a week when supply becomes available.

The vaccination site at Pennington, a few blocks from the Lake in south Baton Rouge, wont take doses from the hospital systems North Baton Rouge facility or other sites, spokesman Ryan Cross said.

Instead, the hospital will stop vaccinations at its main campus on Essen Lane starting Tuesday and shift those shots to Pennington. From Tuesday through Saturday, the hospital expects to administer 1,300 doses, and hopes to give 1,500 shots per week if supply continues at the same level, which is not certain.

+3 Louisiana expands coronavirus vaccine eligibility to people 65 and older; see details Louisiana will allow people who are 65 and older to access COVID-19 vaccines starting Monday as the state sees more doses and some slowing app

Patients wont be able to show up to the site without an appointment, Cross said. People should register through Our Lady of the Lakes normal scheduling system, like they would for a shot at any existing site.

Gov. John Bel Edwards is set to receive his first shot of vaccine at the Pennington site Tuesday afternoon. Edwards made himself, some government COVID response officials and people between the ages of 65 and 69 eligible for vaccinations as of Monday.

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

Cross said the Pennington site will administer about 200 doses per weekday and 500 on Saturdays.

+3 How Louisiana plans to redirect coronavirus vaccines from nursing homes as doses go unused Louisiana will claw back 15,600 doses of COVID-19 vaccines from a federal partnership aimed at immunizing people in nursing homes as the endea

The hospital is using the new site at Pennington as a pilot for when production ramps up and far more doses become available.

As of Tuesday, Louisiana had injected nearly 450,000 people with at least one dose of vaccine, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. Thats more than the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to date, though the number of actual infections is likely much higher as not everyone who contracts the disease shows symptoms or gets tested.

After coronavirus aid meeting with Joe Biden, here's how Bill Cassidy feels about a bipartisan deal A day after joining several Republican senators in a meeting with President Joe Biden about a coronavirus aid bill, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy Tue

Currently, people over the age of 65, a list of health providers, some government officials responding to the pandemic, certain election workers and first responders are eligible for vaccinations. Residents and staff of nursing homes and other long term care facilities are getting vaccinated through a federal program.
LOS ANGELESAlmost three years after Stormy Daniels sued him and his former boss, Donald Trump, over a 2016 hush money deal, Michael Cohen apologized to the AVN Hall of Famer directly, in an interview on the February 8 edition of his podcast, Mea Culpa.

The podcast episode Stormy Daniels Is Not Afraid, which may be accessed at this link, marked the first time the former legal foes have spoken to each other, not only since the lawsuit, but ever. Cohen has said that even when he was negotiating the 2016 hush money deal he spoke only to Daniels then-lawyer, Keith Davidson.

Cohen himself put up the cash for the $130,000 payoff to Daniels in 2016 to keep her quiet over a sexual encounter with Trump 10 years earlier. Trump later reimbursed him, but Cohen was charged with campaign finance violations over the payment, and was sentenced to three years in prison. But he was released in July of 2020 due to COVID risk in prison and is currently under home confinement. His sentence officially ends in November of this year.

Trump, as president, never faced charges over the Daniels payoff. In theory, now that he is out of office, a prosecution of Trump could now move forward. But according to federal prosecutors who spoke to The Associated Press last week said that the United States Attorneys office in Manhattan  which holds jurisdiction over the case  appears to have no intention of proceeding with a case against Trump.

Nonetheless, Trump still faces investigations and possible prosecution at the state level, over allegations of financial misdeeds, from both the New York State Attorney General, and the Manhattan District Attorney. Whether such cases would involved the Daniels payoff is unclear, however.

Though her 2018 lawsuit against Trump was dismissed in early 2019, Daniels continues to pursue a defamation case against Trump.

"He doesn't get to bully me again," Daniels told Cohen in the podcast interview. "I have nothing left to lose, I've already lost everything so I'm taking it all the way.

She told Cohen that she has lost friends as well as romantic relationships, including a separation from her husband, as a result of fallout from the case, telling Cohen I'm probably going to die alone because of this.

Cohen apologized to her for his role in the case, telling Daniels, "I'm sorry for the needless pain that I put you through. Thank you for speaking out and thank you for giving me a second chance."

Photo by Showtime The Circus / Wikimedia Commons
It was supposed to be a moment to celebrate the tireless efforts of volunteers, and former Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, during last summers horrendous bushfire season.

But a mural depicting Mr Fitzsimmons in Erskineville has become embroiled in a backlash that has nothing to do with him or the bushfires.

Less than 24 hours after it was unveiled on Monday in a ceremony attended by Mr Fitzsimmons, NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman and artist Sid Tapia, the mural was defaced by graffiti artists angry at the initiative it was commissioned to promote  Graffiti Removal Day.

In an apparent reference to the initiative, in which residents are encouraged to volunteer to clean up graffiti in their local area, some of the vandalising text read: Mural removal day.
A new, highly contagious variant of COVID-19 from South Africa has reached the Houston area.

Health officials have confirmed a case involving a Fort Bend County individual who traveled through U.S. airports in December and returned with the South African strain, according to Houston Methodist Hospital. On Saturday, two more cases of the U.K. COVID-19 variant were also detected in the Houston area, Houston Methodist hospital officials say.

The emergence of these two more contagious strains in Texas is causing significant concern for local doctors. Baylor College of Medicine's Infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Hotez weighed in on the threat of community spread from international strains of the disease.

"IT JUST SHOCKED ME": Houston man survives double lung transplant after 4-month COVID-19 battle

"We have to think of this as the next wave of the COVID-19 pandemic," Hotez told Chron."Unfortunately, now we've got these spiked protein-target mutants, variants seem to be spreading. The major one is the one out of the U.K. which has accelerated in the U.S. These mutants seem to be spreading at a faster rate than we've previously seen, so they're out-competing the other strains."

Amid the new strains popping up across the nation, Hotez predicts that we may be about to face perhaps the worst phase of the pandemic.

"There's some with evidence with the U.K. one that it produces a more serious illness, possibly the South African one as well," Hotez said "While we're seeing a decrease in the number of new cases in Texas, it will be short-lived. I think we're actually in the eye of the hurricane now. The next big part of the pandemic is about to hit. It will start to accelerate around March or April."

It's crucial that the U.S. steps up the vaccine rollout to get ahead of these variants, Hotez said.

"This creates greater urgency to accelerate our vaccine timetable, because the vaccines work well against the U.K. variant not as well against the South African variant," Hotez said. "The sooner we can vaccinate the people in Texas, I think the more likely we'll get ahead of these variants. It's very troubling."

The lack of vaccine supply is posing a significant challenge in getting ahead of the strains, Hotez said.

"We're hearing that the 100 million doses of the Novavax and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may not be here until June," Hotez said. "The toughest part of the pandemic is how we deal with vaccine supply during March, April and May. "

One piece of good news is that the pharmacy chains in the Houston area are opening up with vaccinations, but still supply is limited. CVS is slated to begin accepting appointments for vaccinations as early as Tuesday, with inoculations beginning on Thursday.

Another ray of hope at the end of the pandemic tunnel is that Houston will be hosting a COVID-19 vaccine super site, according to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

"I'm glad they're getting that infrastructure in place," Hotez said.
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.

Senate Democrats plan to use their hard-earned majority to confirm President Joe Bidens Cabinet appointments, pass a coronavirus stimulus bill of as much as $1.9 trillion, and try overhaul campaign finance, voting and ethics laws.

They will also seek to end the federal ban on marijuana and help communities ravaged for decades by the War on Drugs.

Every year we make a stride towards getting it done, Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker told NJ Cannabis Insider in an interview before the Senate began its second impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. This year, Im very excited, with Democrats in the majority in the Senate and the House and the White House, well be able to get something really significant done.

Booker joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., earlier this month in announcing their commitment to ending the federal ban on marijuana, paving the way for states to legalize it without running afoul of U.S. law. Schumer sets the Senate agenda and Wyden chairs the tax-writing panel that will decide how to tax legal cannabis.

In the last Congress, the Democratic-controlled House passed legislation to end the federal ban on weed, to expand research into cannabis, and to allow banks to offer financial services to legal marijuana businesses. All never came up for a vote in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Meanwhile, New Jersey was one of five states that legalized cannabis for personal use last fall.

The statement by the three senators said they also would enact measures that will lift up people who were unfairly targeted in the war on drugs.

Thats key for Booker.

As the chief sponsor of the Marijuana Justice Act, Booker said he wanted to put forward legislation that would remove marijuana from the federal list of controlled substances alongside heroin, ecstasy and LSD, while also expunging the records of those convicted of low-level marijuana possession, and creating a community reinvestment fund to help residents adversely impacted by the current drug laws.

Booker noted that more than half of all drug arrests involve marijuana, and Black people are almost four times more likely to be arrested than white people, even though they use cannabis at the same rate.

Its not just about legalization, its about the issues that are related, Booker said. As it becomes more mainstream, and more states are legalizing, it would be a mistake if we didnt also include things like expungement and other restorative justice aspects.

This story first appeared in NJ Cannabis Insider.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant.

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Abuja  Last Thursday, February 4, 2021, a former minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, presented four new books at a virtual global event which had over 2,300 participants from five continents.

The four books are: Nigeria Petroleum Industry: 2015 to the Future; Gas Development in Nigeria: Legal and Policy Framework; Nigerian Foreign Investment Law and Policy and Nigerian Law of Contract: Study Companion.

Participating at the event were President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former minister of Defence, T.Y Danjuma; the current minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, secretary general of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Sanusi Barkindo and the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki.

Others, who witnessed the event were the minister of Mines and Hydrocarbon in secretary general of Africa Petroleum Producers' Organisation, Omar Farouk; Mr. Abdulrasaq Isa, Mr. Austin Avuru as well as other global oil industry chiefs, the academia, lawyers and business titans.

President Buhari said the books affirmed his administration's effort at ensuring transparency in the oil sector of the economy.

Buhari said, "the books discuss the industry through the policy framework" of his administration, adding that when he assumed office in 2015, the oil sector was in dire straits.

According to him, the oil industry at the time he assumed office was obviously in need of reform if it must attract growth hence the responsibility to act fast and aggressively rested squarely on the shoulders of his government.

He, therefore, contended that the current transparency in the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was a function of his administration's conscious decision to combat corruption in the all-important sector of which he has remained the substantive minister.

Osinbajo, on his part, described Kachikwu as a prolific writer and "a gift to us all." In their goodwill messages, former minister of defence TY Danjuma noted Kachikwu's intellectual pedigree, while the serving minister of Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, noted that his predecessor was a key figure in the formulation of policies in the sector which has remained a foundation of their current work in the industry.

However, scholars when reviewed the books averred that they would serve as guide to industry operators, providing practical experience and knowledge for policy formation.

Reviewing the first book named 'The Nigerian Petroleum Industry: 2015 to the Future, Dr. Dayo Ayoade, from the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG) said "Since we discovered oil in 1956, Nigeria has struggled with its oil and we need policy books like this to strategise way forward for the nation".

Ayoade who specialities in Energy, Petroleum and Electricity Sector, added, "There are several oil and gas books, of course, in the market but few of them actually look to the future - few of them provide this kind of strategic and analytical approach that consider where we are, and we need to get to."

Noting that the book reflects Kachukwu's private sector experience as well as his time in office as minister, Ayoade, said the first chapter looks at 'Repositioning the Industry for Prosperity', dissecting the policy thrust of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the seven big wins and key policy initiatives of the government.

"The second chapter deals mostly with technical perspectives on petroleum resources management and under this heading; we see how the national petroleum policy and the national gas policy were put into effect and how it provides a strong foundation for growth.

"The third chapter deals mostly with policy and regulations and other perspectives. And here, we look at key legislative, policy initiatives and interventions; we look at some of the investment framework, we look at some of the key natural gas infrastructure in the country".

While noting that the book will delight legal scholars, governments, private sector participants in the industry and it is very warmly recommended, "The vision unpinning this book shows how we can get to national prosperity and it is not a mean achievement to put all of these diverse issues into one book."

Reviewing the second book 'Gas Development in Nigeria: Legal and Policy Framework', Dr. Peter Oniemola from the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, said the book addresses the legal and policy issues in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria with a focus on gas.

Oniemola who noted that the book is structured into six chapters said the striking point is the examination of natural gas or gas development in Nigeria, looking at the overview of the industry, the challenges surrounding the development of gas in Nigeria.

"Another striking chapter to be considered in the book is the examination of the legal regime for gas in Nigeria, which involves the examination of the provisions of the constitution, the Petroleum Production Act and the production drilling and production regulation among other legislations in the oil and gas industry.

"The various policies relating to gas are also examined in another chapter - so compelling in demonstration of how policies affect the development of gas in Nigeria".

"It is also striking to see that the matters bothering on climate change - sustainable development of gas - are also examined in the book.

"With development of the Nigerian gas sector, which has been bedeviled by series of challenges such as pricing, cash call issues and the need for continuous funding and infrastructural development in the gas sector, the author was able to bring on board, his experience as a practitioner in the field as well as an administrator," he said.

'Nigeria Foreign Investment Law and Policy (Second Edition), the third book, was reviewed by Dr. Oluwatoyin Adejonwo Osho, a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos.

He said "The book seeks to assess the progress, if any, with regards to the legal and regulatory framework for foreign investment in Nigeria. It also seeks to provide a detailed and comprehensive overview of the current law and policy guiding foreign investment.

"The book proffers useful pathways and provocative insights, which will be useful to investors both foreign and local, academics and researchers, legal practitioner, governments, international organizations, students and every other person that is interested in the laws and policies with respect to foreign investment in Nigeria," he said.

The last book 'The Nigerian Law of Contract: Study Companion' was reviewed by Dr. Adekemi Omotubora, lecturer in the department of Commercial and Industrial Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos.

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She said the objective of this book as stated by the author, is two-fold: to capture and present the over racking scope of the law of contract to the reader, and to address the evolution of and recent development in contract law.

"So, in recognition of the fact that the law of contract is the foundation of all other commercial laws and that different professional - both lawyers and non-lawyers - are having to deal with this area of contract, the book was written to appeal to a larger audience of both lawyers and non-lawyers. So, the book delivered on this objective.

"The first point that I would like to note is the excellent structure of the book in terms of the topics covered, discussions and analysis of the law. And in spite of the fact that it is legal text... and legal texts are known for their legalese, this book adopts a sophisticated narrative, which is easy to follow by both lawyers and non-lawyers.

"So, non-professionals not initiated in the legal profession can also use this book. The book consists of 14 chapters, covering the broad scope of the contract law.

"Overall, what is my impression of this book? I think it lives up to its title of being a study companion but that doesn't mean that we are saying it is a study companion meant for just students; this is also a practitioners' book; it can be used by students and it can be used by practitioners alike and it can be used especially, by non-lawyers, who want to understand this area of the law or who work in this area and deal with this area of the law".

She described the book as a great addition to the body of knowledge and said it is good for "students, practitioners and all the people, who are interested in learning about the law of contract."
A Moscow court has rejected an appeal by Kira Yarmysh, spokeswoman of jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, against her detention.

The press service of Moscow courts said on Telegram that the Moscow City Court on February 9 upheld a lower court's decision to place Yarmysh under house arrest.

Yarmysh, along with nine other associates and supporters of Navalny, have been charged with publicly calling Moscow residents to violate sanitary and epidemiological safety precautions.

The group was detained in late January on the eve of unsanctioned mass rallies against Navalnys arrest. Most of them have since been placed under house arrest.

If found guilty of the charges against them, they face up to 2 years in prison.

On February 8, the Memorial Human Rights Center in Moscow recognized the group as political prisoners.

The 44-year-old Navalny was arrested on January 17 after returning to Russia from Germany where he was treated for a nerve-agent poisoning that he says was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which the Kremlin has denied.

More than 10,000 people were rounded up by police during nationwide rallies protesting Navalny's arrest in more than 100 Russian towns and cities on January 23 and January 31.

On February 2, Navalny was found guilty of violating the terms of his suspended sentence relating to an embezzlement case that he has called politically motivated. The court converted the sentence to 3 1/2 years in prison. Given credit for time already spent in detention, the court said the Kremlin critic would have to serve 2 years and 8 months behind bars.

The court's ruling caused new mass protests across the country that were also violently dispersed by police.

More than 1,400 people were detained by police in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other Russian cities on that day.
How to piece together an eye-catching, heart-wrenching fake story and pass it off as "real" to the audience? In the case of BBC's rolling series of false portraits of Xinjiang, which it never seems to get tired of making, the answer is fairly simple: find a weeping actress and edit a confusing clip that shows a grim and prison-like place. That's it.

For years, the British Broadcasting Corporation has deployed similar tactics to distort facts and concoct lies. Its "coverage" of China is at best a whole bunch of prejudices mixed into one-sided stories and logical fallacies, at worst a barrage of lies, nonsense, and fake news. In reference to Xinjiang in particular, the BBC has reduced itself into a superspreader of falsehoods and misinformation, a total departure from the so-called media ethics it purports to champion.

She said, she said

Any textbook on logic, even the simplest one, would advise you to never rush to a conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence. In the BBC's own "book of logic", unfortunately, the conclusion precedes evidence, while personal "accounts" stand up as ironclad proof.

In July 2020, BBC Newsnight aired a 10-minute episode on the so-called "forced sterilization of Uygur women", in which Zumrat Dawut, a "household name" frequently appearing in BBC headlines for her "miserable past", sobbing, shared her "experience"in front of the camera. Zumrat Dawut's performance was so great that it immediately drew a flood of sympathy, until you discover that most of her accusations were in fact blatant lies.

Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, debunked the claims of Zumrat Dawut at a press conference held on Feb. 4.

She claimed to have been forcefully sterilized and even had her uterus removed, but the consent form she signed after giving birth to her third child in 2013 says otherwise. When she was giving birth to her third child in the maternity wards of a women and children's hospital in Urumqi in March 2013, she signed a childbirth consent form voluntarily, requesting "to have a cesarean section and tubal ligation", and then the hospital conducted operation as she required. She was never sterilized, not to mention a hysterectomy.

Related Reading: Familiar names frequent behind lies of 'Xinjiang women being raped'

Even her own father wasn't spared in the melodrama she starred in on her own. Her father, who she left behind and claims died not long ago from an unknown cause, in reality, had been living with his children until he died from heart disease on Oct. 12, 2019.

Alas, during that "trial" held and judged by the BBC, Zumrat Dawut was the only one allowed to speak. Even though her elder brother Abduhelil Dawut and other relatives have again and again come out in debunking her claims. The BBC would never include any of their testimony or counterarguments into its many pages long "reports".

Related Reading: Fact Check: Lies on Xinjiang-related issues versus the truth

For the BBC's producers and editors, a Uygur woman with watery eyes must be a foolproof tool and a natural magnet that generates tons of tears, hatred, and of course, ratings, or why on earth wouldn't they have even made a slight change in their tactics?

On Feb 3, 2021, the BBC published a lengthy article titled "'Their goal is to destroy everyone': Uighur [Uygur] camp detainees allege systematic rape". Having introduced Tursunay Ziawudun and Sayragul Sauytbay, among others with obscure photos and unsubstantiated quotes, the BBC reached its own conclusion that there was "an organized system of mass rape, sexual abuse, and torture." By the BBC's guidebook, there would be no perjury in the court since every defendant is presumed guilty; and there is no need for journalists to find solid evidence as quotes of unreliable sources and vague pictures alone serve their purpose.

Editing to fabricate

BBC had removed 'Human Planet' from its website for faked scenes. Screenshot by CGTN

The BBC is no stranger to manipulated clips and fabricated footage. In the second season of Planet Earth, a 2016 nature documentary, the BBC faked a scene of snakes chasing an iguana, which, according to The Independent, was "stitched together from several takes." A beloved episode of Frozen Planet (2011) featuring a polar bear tending to her cubs in the snow turned out to be filmed in a den in a wildlife enclosure at a Dutch zoo

In the BBC's "documenting" of nature and the wild outdoors, artificial sound effects and footage can be readily utilized to depict a dramatic but unrealistic nature scene to cater to the audience; and yet, when it comes to the BBC's "Xinjiang story", such techniques have clearly been mastered to perfection.

Screenshot of the video clip on BBC News' Youtube channel

Empty rooms, opened doors, security monitor walls, and even iron handrails--all of these in the eyes of the BBC are useful props as long as they can be used to advance that "look what China has 'done' " farce.

A close examination of the BBC's dozens of Xinjiang-related documentaries and videoclips will reveal that not even a single frame of its Prison Break type "saga" leads to any substantiated verdict. Despite the People's Daily, Global Times, Xinhua News Agency, and other Chinese media outlets, together with China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, having all tirelessly refuted the BBC's "flawless" lies, the British Broadcasting Corporation hasn't even developed a tinge of boredom yet in pumping them out.

On the China Page on the BBC News website, it is a Herculean task to find any trace of objective reporting about Xinjiang, not to mention any positive one, such as the eradication of poverty in the Chinese autonomous region.

Visitors select hats in the ancient city of Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 11, 2020. Xinjiang's economy expanded 3.4 percent year on year in 2020, 1.1 percentage points higher than the national GDP growth, according to the local government work report delivered to the annual session of the regional legislature. (Xinhua/Ma Kai)

Related Reading: Fact Check: truth on Xinjiang's social, economic development

Truth distorted, evidence manipulated (such as airing a video of counter-terrorism drills and calling it evidence of an atrocity by China's law enforcement): the staff at the BBC must be living in a parallel universe where its team was acting like members of the Justice League, fighting self-fashioned evil spirits out of thin air.

Related Reading: A Wuhan the West would never see

"We must work harder to separate fact from fiction," Tim Davie, Director-General of the BBC, told the Radio Times during an interview in 2020. "We need to take care that trusted news is not blown off course by claims that are unfounded, however widespread they become." Now if only BBC's employees would actually listen to their own boss!
The number of known coronavirus variant cases in the U.S. has surged 73% in the last week alone, according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released late Tuesday.

The country now reports 944 cases of variants that spread more easily, bypass treatments and immunities, or both.

Nowhere has the increase been more noticeable than in Florida, which now has 343 cases of a fast-spreading variant  up from 201 cases reported during Sunday's Super Bowl, which was hosted in Tampa. Florida now has more than twice as many known variant cases as any other state, with California a distant second with 156 cases, up six from Sunday.

The vast majority of the country's known variant cases, and all of Florida's, are of the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first detected in the U.K. and has run rampant there. The CDC has said it may become the dominant strain in the U.S. by March. Last month, U.K. researchers said there's evidence the variant may be more deadly than others, and it's also considered at least 50% more transmissible than the original strain.

Tuesday night's report still shows three known cases of P.1, a variant first spotted in Brazil that appears to bypass immunities, and now nine cases of B.1.351, a variant that took over South Africa and resists some treatments and vaccines.

 Mike Stucka

People wait in line to get COVID-19 vaccinations on Tuesday in a park in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.

USA TODAY is tracking COVID-19 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.

In the headlines:

Major League Baseball and the players union have agreed to health and safety protocols for the upcoming season that contain some of the same measures put in place last year but add more penalties for clear violations. Players and other personnel at ballparks will have to wear electronic tracing devices from the start of spring training.

The United States has reported 775,975 new COVID-19 cases in a seven-day period ending Monday, the first time the weekly tally has been under 800,000 cases since Nov. 6. The country peaked at about 1.75 million cases per week last month. The number of deaths, which typically lag cases by about four weeks, remains as high as ever, averaging 21,700 per week, an average of 3,100 a day.

Story continues

Starting next week, Canada will require any non-essential traveler arriving in the country by land to show a negative PCR-based coronavirus test or face a fine. Canada already requires people arriving by air to show a negative test.

Congressional Democrats rejected calls from some moderate lawmakers to reduce the number of people eligible for $1,400 stimulus checks in President Joe Biden's COVID-19 relief proposal, proposing an income threshold of $75,000 annually, the same as in the last round of $600 checks.

 Today's numbers: The U.S. has more than 27.1 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 468,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: More than 106.8 million cases and 2.33 million deaths. More than 62.8 million vaccine doses have been distributed in the U.S. and about 43.2 million have been administered, according to the CDC.

 What we're reading: Even as the latest surge in coronavirus infections abates across the nation, USA TODAY research found 245 hospitals reporting full intensive care units as of Jan. 28 and 477 hospitals reporting more COVID-19 patients in the ICU than the previous week. You can find out which hospitals in your community are overwhelmed here.

Alaska faces uncertain future with COVID-19 declaration nearing end

A disaster declaration intended to aid Alaska's response to the COVID-19 pandemic is set to expire this weekend, and health and emergency officials warn a failure to extend it could restrict the state's ability to distribute vaccines.

Three weeks into the state's legislative session, the politically divided House has yet to organize, and until it does, it can't consider or act on bills. Members of the Republican-led Senate, meanwhile, have chafed at Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy's proposal for an extension through September.

"I think Alaskans want the disaster declaration to end," Sen. Mia Costello, an Anchorage Republican, said last week.

Not all of them. The heads of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, Alaska Chamber, Alaska Municipal League and Alaska Native Health Board urged an extension in an opinion piece in the Anchorage Daily News. They argued that "ending Alaska's public health disaster emergency declaration will not bring normalcy. Rather, it will delay the very thing we all want."

FDA authorizes Eli Lilly monoclonal antibodies for COVID-19 treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday granted emergency use authorization for the use of bamlanivimab and etesevimab administered together for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and some pediatric patients.

The Eli Lilly monoclonal antibody therapy is authorized for those who are 65 years of age or older or who have certain chronic medical conditions, the company said in a press release. Daniel Skovronsky, Lillys chief scientific officer and president of Lilly Research Laboratories, said bamlanivimab and etesevimab together could potentially allow efficacy against emerging COVID-19 variants, as well.

The monoclonal antibody cocktail should be administered together through a single intravenous infusion as soon as possible after a positive COVID-19 test and within 10 days of symptom onset, Lilly said.

The FDA, in its own press release, cautioned that the therapy is not authorized for patients who are hospitalized due to COVID-19 or require oxygen therapy due to the virus.

1 million vaccine doses for community health centers

The Biden administration will begin sending coronavirus vaccines directly to community health centers as it boosts distribution and reaches out to underserved communities, the White House announced Tuesday.

At least one center in every state and territory will get vaccines as the program ramps up to include 250 of the more than 1,300 such facilities in the country. The participating centers will receive a combined 1 million doses, starting as soon as next week. In later phases, vaccines will become available to all community health centers.

This effort  really is about connecting with those hard-to-reach populations across the country, said Marcella Nunez-Smith, who heads the COVID-19 health equity task force. That includes the homeless, residents of public housing, migrant workers and people with limited English proficiency.

Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, also said vaccine supply to states, tribal governments and territories is growing by 5% over last week. The new weekly total of 11 million doses represents a 28% increase over the 8.6 million distributed when Biden took office three weeks ago, Zients said.

 Maureen Groppe

COVID-19 vaccines at some drugs stores available Friday

That much-coveted vaccine shot could be available at a nearby drug store this week for those who are eligible.

CVS and Walgreens, the nation's two largest pharmacy chains, will begin vaccinating select populations in stores Friday. The CVS program will initially include 350 drug stores in 11 states, while Walgreens will offer vaccinations at some locations in 17 states and jurisdictions. Appointments are required. Other pharmacies chosen to deliver vaccines at certain locations include Walmart, Ride Aid, Kroger, Publix, Albertsons, Safeway, Costco and Meijer.

Experts hope the nation's established network of pharmacies will help speed up distribution amid consternation over the pace of the rollout.

 Nathan Bomey

Should employers give workers time off or other incentives to get vaccine?

T.J. Daniels was hoping after working at a Petco store in Colorado for 11 months during a pandemic that the company would give him time off to get a COVID-19 vaccine and deal with any potential side effects. So far, nothing. And while Petco said it was poised to announce a plan, most major employers, including Amazon, Target and Walmart, are not committing to provide any extra pay or time off to workers to get their shots.

Advocates say incentives will encourage vaccinations, which will result in more protection for employees and customers. It will also potentially limit downtime that can occur when workers contract the virus. Experts say a high proportion of the U.S. population  perhaps 80%  needs to get vaccinated to build herd immunity, which would limit the coronavirus from continuing to spread.

Dollar General, McDonalds and Olive Garden are among the employers that have announced incentives for workers to get vaccinated. But most others are saying only that theyre strongly encouraging vaccination and essentially forcing workers to do it on their own time.

 Nathan Bomey

WHO says it will end research into unlikely coronavirus lab-leak theory

World Health Organization investigators said Tuesday they would no longer pursue research into whether the coronavirus leaked from a lab in Wuhan, China. Peter Ben Embarek, a food safety and animal diseases expert, announced the decision during a press conference to wrap up a visit by an international team of WHO experts to the city where COVID-19 was first identified in 2019.

Embarek said there was not enough evidence to support a hypothesis that the virus escaped from a Chinese biosafety laboratory in Wuhan  the Wuhan Institute of Virology  and that the WHO stood by its previous determination that COVID-19 most likely entered the human population through an intermediate animal.

The WHO team has spent several weeks on a fact-finding mission in Wuhan. Experts from 10 nations have visited hospitals, research institutes and a wildlife market tied to the outbreak. However, the WHO's fieldwork and other activities in Wuhan have been closely monitored by Chinese officials and security officers, and Beijing has repeatedly resisted called for a completely independent investigation into the origins of the virus.

 Kim Hjelmgaard

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID news: Spike in variant cases; vaccinations in CVS, Walgreens
Prescriptions for pills to help men suffering problems in the bedroom have more than doubled in a decade, a study reveals today.

Family doctors in England gave out 4.5million packets of drugs for erectile dysfunction in 2019, up 110 per cent from the 2.1million issued in 2009.

The NHS now spends around 22.4million a year on tadalafil and on sildenafil, which is made by Pfizer and is better known by its brand name Viagra.

The research also showed that demand has grown most in the North as men generally have become more comfortable talking about their difficulties in bed.

But academics from Birmingham and Warwick Universities warned that many still 'suffer in silence' as they remain 'too embarrassed' to discuss it with their doctor.

Up to three in four men globally have some form of erectile dysfunction, which can cause anxiety, loss of confidence and relationship difficulties.

A study has revealed that prescriptions for pills to treat erectile dysfunction have increased by 110 per cent between 2009 and 2019 with the NHS spending around 22.4million a year

It can be a sign of an underlying physical or mental health issue, such as depression, diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

But seeking help for such intimate problems may allow GPs to deal with men's other health issues, said the academics who examined NHS prescribing data.

Their analysis showed doctors consistently gave out more tadalafil and sildenafil in the most deprived areas than the richest.

They prescribed an average of 125.8 boxes of the drugs per 1,000 men in 2019, with a pack containing between four and 24 pills. Rates were 21 per cent higher in cities including Bradford and Liverpool than in well-off Ascot and Windsor in Berkshire.

They were 50 per cent higher in the North East and North West than in London.

Study co-author Dr Vibhu Paudyal said: 'Many of the risk factors for erectile dysfunction  such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental health conditions  are more prevalent in areas of greater deprivation.

Research from Birmingham and Warwick universities shows that the greatest increase in prescriptions is in the north where men have grown more comfortable discussing the problem

'The cause needs to be established and patients should be referred to specialist clinics where appropriate as a physical examination can reveal unexpected diagnoses.'

Fellow author Dr Saval Khanal said the problems experienced by sufferers can lead to 'a lower quality of life'. He added: 'The rise in prescriptions suggests more men are aware of the condition and willing to seek help.'

Martin Tod, chief executive of the Men's Health Forum, welcomed the study, saying: 'Erection problems can be a real source of unhappiness but often something can be done.'

Patents for both drugs have expired, meaning the NHS can use cheaper alternatives. This cut the cost from 77.4million in 2009, despite the rise in demand, said the study in BJGP Open, a journal of the Royal College of GPs.
A captured image from a surveillance camera shows staff at a public daycare center in Incheon grilling meat to eat while unattended children watch a video on a laptop during operating hours. Yonhap



By Bahk Eun-ji



Parents are calling for heavy punishment for staff at a public daycare center in Incheon, who were booked on charges of abusing children with disabilities.



Members of the Incheon Disabled Peoples' Association, the Incheon Differently Abled Federation, the Korean Parents' Network for People with Disabilities and the parents of the children of the daycare center held a press conference in front of the Incheon Seo District Office building, Monday. They called for strong punitive actions and measures to prevent the recurrence of such cases.



It was reported earlier that six staff of the daycare center abused 10 children, aged one to six who had disabilities, between November and December last year  beating them, pulling a girl's hair and dragging her, and leaving them unattended.






Gang boss Cornelius Price faces being locked up in an English jail for the rest of the year after a court ruled that his kidnapping trial will not start until December 6 next, the date of his 40th birthday.

An administrative officer said the case at Wood Green Court is fixed for that date and is expected to last between eight to nine weeks.

Notorious criminal Price (39) is who is linked to the Maguire gang involved in the deadly Drogheda feud, is one of six people who have been charged in England over a plot to kidnap two men.

He has now been locked up in medium security HM Prison Dovegate in Uttoxeter on the kidnapping charges for almost seven months and is unlikely to get bail until his trial is completed.

Mark Kavanagh (32), who is also a leading player in the Maguire faction, is also facing charges in relation to the kidnap plot but he was granted bail on January 29 last.

Read More

Price and Kavanagh were among six people arrested last July following a major investigation by the West Midlands Organised Crime Unit.

Senior sources say that Kavanagh has not returned to Drogheda since being given bail almost a fortnight ago and is understood to be still based in the UK.

Prices gang are the chief suspects the savage murders of Willie Maughan, and his pregnant girlfriend Ana Varslavane at Prices property in Gormanston, Co Meath, on April 14, 2015.

His gang are also the chief suspects for the murder of Benny Whitehouse and Price was previously arrested for this crime.

Mr Whitehouse was shot dead at Clonard Street, Balbriggan, on September 25, 2014, in front of his partner as part of a separate feud in the north Co Dublin town.

In the UK, Price is charged with two counts of conspiring to falsely imprison Muhammed and Shah Ali last July, as well as two counts of conspiring to blackmail both men on the same dates.

Drogheda man Mark Kavanagh, whose address is listed as Manchester, is also charged with two counts of conspiracy to falsely imprison and two counts of conspiracy to blackmail.

Originally from Yellowbatter in the Co Louth town, Kavanagh, like many of those with links to the feuding Drogheda gangs, fled Ireland a year ago and the situation in the town has calmed considerably since then.

While based in England, he hooked up with other members of the Maguire gang, including Price.

Two other men, Darren McClean and Quincy Bramble, are charged with the kidnap of Muhammed Ali on July 8. This duo also remain in custody on the charges.

The two accused, as well as Price, Kavanagh, Danny Bridges and Lisa Finnerty, are also charged with conspiring to unlawfully and injuriously imprison Muhammed and Shah Ali, and detain them against their will, between July 7 and 17.

All six also face charges of blackmail with a view to making unwarranted demands of monies from the same complainants on the same date.

The case will next be heard at Wood Green Crown Court before Judge David Aaronberg on May 19 next for a further case management hearing in which the defendants may be arraigned on the charges.
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Finzlys solution provides a modern technology platform in which our bank can expand payment capabilities while tapping a flexible and innovative solution to support our bank in delivering on the specialized needs of our clients.

Finzly, a fintech provider of modern banking applications for payments, foreign exchange, trade finance and digital account opening, announced today that Lead Bank has implemented Finzlys Payment Hub to enhance the banks payment and digital capabilities. Payment Hub is part of Finzlys open, cloud-based bank operating system, BankOS, positioning Lead Bank to support immediate and future innovation initiatives.

As part of Kansas City, Mo.-based Lead Banks strategic initiatives to partner with fintechs that enable the bank to overcome the challenges of existing legacy technology while also enhancing their banking infrastructure to support future innovation, Finzly stood out as an ideal technology partner to improve the banks payment capabilities and digital offerings. Integrating with Lead Banks core technology, Payment Hub empowers the bank to centralize the operation of multiple payment networks and deliver an enhanced user experience to their valuable customers.

Finzlys recently enhanced, award-winning Payment Hub supports multiple payment networks through a single, consolidated system, including ACH, Fedwire, SWIFT and emerging complex real-time payments services like The Clearing Houses RTP network and the Feds FedNow service. Payment Hub is interoperable, leveraging open APIs in the cloud to centralize consumer and business payment processing, monitoring, reporting and compliance. Not only does Payment Hub streamline payment automation to free FIs from the manual processing of payments and reconciliation, but it also enables FIs to provide customers with a more seamless payment experience.

The ability to service our fintech and corporate clients with a Banking as a Service solution, as well as communicate messages to and from the core platform, is crucial to fulfilling and facilitating the requirements of Lead Bank and our channel partners, said Sheila Stratton, Director of Digital Strategy, Lead Bank. Finzlys solution provides a modern technology platform in which our bank can expand payment capabilities while tapping a flexible and innovative solution to support our bank in delivering on the specialized needs of our clients.

Lead Bank is leading the way in which FIs can partner with fintechs to innovate with speed and go to market faster, said Booshan Rengachari, founder and CEO, Finzly. Payment Hub takes the workload off of the legacy core system and gives the bank the freedom to innovate without limitations. With Payment Hub, Lead Bank can offer a seamless and more secure payment experience, while also offering fintech banking. We are pleased to partner with Lead Bank and look forward to continued collaborations to support the banks transformation to embrace the future.

About Finzly

Finzly connects financial institutions with customers through a modern digital banking experience and an efficient, real-time payment services hub. Freeing financial institutions from core system limitations, Finzlys open, cloud-based bank operating system, BankOS, enables transformation and innovation at the speed of fintech. With freedom to adopt solutions from Finzly and third parties of choice, financial institutions can implement apps in three simple steps  subscribe, try and launch. Serving customers across North America, Finzly has been modernizing international banking and treasury management solutions since 2012. For more information, visit http://www.finzly.com.

About Lead Bank

Lead Bank is a community-minded, independent commercial bank, recognized for its innovative approach to community banking and unique banking solutions that allows real people, real businesses, and their communities to thrive. Serving communities with treasury management and lending services, consumer client products, digital consumer banking, and innovative financial technology services, Lead Bank is the first choice for those looking for a future banking partner. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, yet serving clients digitally throughout the United States, Lead Bank is known for being a small business advocate, having outstanding client service, and creating financial pathways to those, who in the past, have been financially unhealthy. 2020 member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), an international network of banking leaders from around the world committed to advancing positive change in the banking sector. For additional information, call (816) 220.8600 or visit http://www.lead.bank/.
Winter Patriots: Remembering Valley Forge

As I write these words, the date is Feb. 2, 2021, and I am visiting my daughter in Elmhurst Township, Pennsylvania. The ground is covered by approximately 15 inches of snow, with no end in sight. Though born in this state, I was reared in the South, and though Ive seen big snows, especially when living in the Smoky Mountains, like most Southerners I am awestruck by a boatload of snow.

Several times, dressed in three layers of shirts, a hoodie, and a North Face coat, trousers, and shoes and warm socks, Ive stepped to the covered porch on the side of the house to look at this ongoing bombardment. Its cold and windy, but Im dressed warmly enough and can enjoy the beauty of the day: the gray tree trunks standing in contrast to the falling snow, the pathway and road to the nearby school erased by the accumulated flakes, the majesty of nature mantling firs, cars, and nearby houses with wreaths of whipped cream.

Were out in the country, and as I look across the broad lawn buried in snow, I find myself thinking of a place 120 miles east of us and a time almost 250 years in the past.

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

The Long Winter

In December of 1777, Philadelphia, seat of the Continental Congress, had fallen into the hands of the British. George Washington removed his defeated men to the rolling countryside about 20 miles from the city, using the terrain of that place to keep an eye on his enemy. According to History.com, Washingtons troops arrived at Valley Forge exhausted, hungry, and dispirited by several defeats.

Yet these soldiers displayed tenacity and resolution even in these dire circumstances.

Within days of arriving at Valley Forge, troops constructed 1,500 to 2,000 log huts in parallel lines that would house 12,000 soldiers and 400 women and children throughout the winter. Washington directed that each hut measure approximately 14 feet by 16 feet. Sometimes the soldiers families joined them in the space as well. Soldiers were instructed to search the countryside for straw to use as bedding, since there were not enough blankets for everyone.

Reproductions of the rustic cabins used by Revolutionary War soldiers under command of General Washington during the winter of 177778. Valley Forge National Historic Park, Pennsylvania. (Traci Law/Shutterstock)

The privations of these soldiers would continue throughout most of that winter. Hunger, disease, and cold weather were their comrades; one soldier in six died in that place. The National Park Service notes that many of these deaths occurred in the spring, indicating the deceased had likely contracted diseases like typhus, influenza, and dysentery.

A steel engraving, 1830, of the Valley Forge encampment, by George W. Boynton in Jared Sparkss The Life of George Washington, Boston: Tappan & Dennet, 1843 The Cooper Collections of American History. (Public Domain)

An Eyewitness

Albigence Waldo, an army surgeon from Connecticut, kept a journal, often bitter and sarcastic in tone, of the early days of Washingtons forces at Valley Forge. On Dec. 14, he recorded these observations:

The Army has been surprisingly healthy hitherto, now begins to grow sickly from the continued fatigues they have suffered this Campaign. Yet they still show a spirit of Alacrity and Contentment not to be expected from so young Troops. I am Sickdiscontented and out of humour. Poor foodhard lodgingCold WeatherfatigueNasty Cloathsnasty CookeryVomit half my timesmoakd out my sensesthe Devils intI cant Endure itWhy are we sent here to starve and FreezeWhat sweet Felicities have I left at home; A charming Wifepretty ChildrenGood Beds good foodgood Cookeryall aggreableall harmonious. Here all Confusionsmoke and Coldhunger and filthynessA pox on my bad luck. There comes a bowl of beef soupfull of burnt leaves and dirt, sickish enough to make a Hector spueaway with it BoysIll live like the Chameleon upon Air.

American soldiers at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1777. (Everett Collection /Shutterstock)

On the same day, Waldo wrote of a comrade coming to him for medical attention:

There comes a Soldier, his bare feet are seen thro his worn out Shoes, his legs nearly naked from the tatterd remains of an only pair of stockings, his Breeches not sufficient to cover his nakedness, his Shirt hanging in Strings, his hair dishevelld, his face meagre; his whole appearance pictures a person forsaken and discouraged. He comes, and crys with an air of wretchedness and despair, I am Sick, my feet lame, my legs are sore, my body coverd with this tormenting Itchmy Cloaths are worn out, my Constitution is broken, my former Activity is exhausted by fatigue, hunger and Cold, I fail fast I shall soon be no more! and all the reward I shall get will bePoor Will is dead.

With such privation occurring early in the winter, it surely seemed impossible that this rag-tag band could hold out until the spring, much less face the British army. Yet out of that forlorn host came troops ready to challenge the soldiers of George III.

The Prussian

Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben arrived at this encampment in February 1778. Impressed by the barons organizational skills and military knowledge, Washington appointed the Prussian the armys chief drillmaster and inspector general.

Portrait of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, 1780, by Charles Willson Peale. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. (Public Domain)

Von Steuben drilled the troops incessantly, teaching them how to load their weapons fast and efficiently, how to reform ranks and rapidly change direction, and how to deliver a bayonet charge at the enemy. In addition, he wrote a drill manual that was distributed throughout the army and remained standard for the military for years. With these drills and instructions, the baron transformed a band of amateurs into an army of professionals.

The Americans were also negligent about camp hygiene. By having the men dig latrines on a downhill slope running away from the camp, von Steuben undoubtedly saved lives at Valley Forge.

So trained in the arts of war, and led into battle by von Steuben, the Americans that next summer would meet the British troops on the field of battle as worthy opponents in tactics and techniques.

Without Baron von Steuben, the American army might have continued its streak of losing battles.

An Edwin Austin Abbey painting of Baron von Steuben drilling American troops at Valley Forge in 1778. (Public Domain)

First in War

But the man who deserves the lions share of the credit for preserving the army and the cause of liberty is George Washington.

With some in the government calling for his removal for incompetency, with his troops suffering from illness and the cold weather, and with the British only about a days march away, Washington worked heroically for the American cause. He wrote letter after letter to the Continental Congress, begging for supplies of food and clothing. Though he quartered in a farmhouse, he remained with his men throughout that winter, promising them that he would share in the hardship and partake of every inconvenience of their tribulation. Washington held that rag-tag army together through every reverse and hardship, and aided by the French, they finally defeated the British at Yorktown, Virginia.

From December 1777 to June 1778, Washington made his headquarters in a business residence owned by Isaac Potts. (Noconatom/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Henry Light Horse Harry Lee, one of Washingtons officers and later the father of Robert E. Lee, eulogized Washington with this famous line: First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.

He was a leader who commanded by example and by personal virtue.

Brass relief of George Washington kneeling in prayer, at Federal Hall in New York City. ( Bruno Bleu/Shutterstock)

Then and Now: Some Takeaways

Many of todays elites fail these tests of leadership. During our pandemic, members of Congress, some of our governors and mayors, and our bureaucrats have continued receiving paychecks while shutting down small businesses, leaving many of those establishments permanently closed. They may claim to feel our pain, but that response is unworthy of them. Some of them break their own edicts, eating at restaurants with a crowd of friends, traveling, getting haircuts, and taking off their masks when they believe no one is watching.

Unlike George Washington, most of these officials do not partake of every inconvenience along with the rest of us.

And unlike the Prussian, we forget that each and every one of us can make a difference in the world. We may not shake up the course of history like von Steuben did, but the mother overseeing her childrens education, the man I know who plays the stock market and then generously gives his friends money, all those who every morning get out of bed and cheerfully perform their dutiesthey grease the wheels of our society and keep it functioning.

Finally, though none of us welcomes pain and sorrow, suffering can act as a forge for us, as it did for the men at Valley Forge, hardening our resolve, giving us strength, and building our character. As we struggle right now through this winter of pandemic, hard economic times, and political uncertainty and upheaval, we might do well to call Washingtons soldiers to mind as well as other great Americans and look to them as examples of courage and determination.

During the American Revolution, Thomas Paine wrote that the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot would fail to do their duty and thus fail their country. The patriots at Valley Forge were winter soldiers and patriots, men who continued the fight and who gave their descendants a free country.

We should strive to be the same.

A final note: Though we now celebrate Presidents Day instead of George Washingtons birthday, we might pause on February 22 and remember the first president of the United States, his sacrifices, and what he meant for our country.

Jeff Minick has four children and a growing platoon of grandchildren. For 20 years, he taught history, literature, and Latin to seminars of homeschooling students in Asheville, N.C. He is the author of two novelsAmanda Bell and Dust On Their Wings, and two works of non-fiction, Learning As I Go and Movies Make The Man. Today, he lives and writes in Front Royal, Va. See JeffMinick.com to follow his blog.
North Syracuse, N.Y.  The Syracuse Catholic Diocese announced Monday night plans to merge two schools after years of declining enrollment and financial woes.

St. Margarets Elementary School, a pre-kindergarten through sixth grade school in Mattydale, will consolidate with St. Rose of Lima Elementary School in North Syracuse at the end of this school year in June, said Danielle Cummings, communications director for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse.

St. Margarets School will not reopen for the 2021-22 school year, she said.

The St. Margarets parish trustees, finance council and pastor, as well as the Diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools William Crist and representatives of the Syracuse Diocese recommended to the bishop that the schools consolidate because of the declining enrollment and accompanying financial difficulties with both the school and parish, Cummings said. Bishop Douglas John Lucia accepted their recommendation last month with sadness and regret.

St. Margarets School enrollment has consistently declined since 2015 to its lowest levels over the past few years, Cummings said in a statement. The severe financial difficulty of maintaining a parish school over the past several years has been further impacted by expenses associated with the COVID pandemic, and has burdened the parish beyond recovery.

St. Margarets and St. Rose of Lima schools are about two miles from each other, and both are in the North Syracuse Central School District.

Lucia said he empathizes with St. Margarets families, but the low enrollment, the financial burden on the parish and the depleted resources make it impossible to continue operating.

I pray for their understanding and cooperation at this difficult time, Lucia said.

We know that news of the closure at the end of the school year will cause considerable sorrow and pain, not only for those families who are currently enrolled at St. Margarets School, but also for others who have benefited from Catholic education in its long and remarkable history in Mattydale, he said. We all share in this sadness. I pray that we will continue to support each other in faith, hope and love as we experience shared grief in the closing of our beloved school.

Crist, the school superintendent, said he was grateful to St. Margarets School Principal Michael McAuliff, the teachers and staff for their commitment to the children and the schools families over the years.

The schools legacy will remain in wonderful memories for those who passed through its doors and left well-prepared to be lifelong learners and responsible and respectful members of society who carry the love for Jesus and for others with them at all times, Crist said.

I remain firm in my commitment to our Catholic schools and Catholic education, which are important tools in sharing the Good News and evangelizing efforts that each of our schools provide our young people, Bishop Lucia said. I hope that parents will continue to choose a Catholic school education for their children.

St. Rose of Lima Pastor, the Rev. Chris Celentano, said he welcomes St. Margarets School families.

Our Catholic school community unites with families to become one more diverse and passionate family seeking a quality Catholic school education, he said. Im confident that students and families will be filled with joy and happiness when the new school year begins in the fall of 2021.

Have a tip or a story idea? Contact Catie OToole: cotoole@syracuse.com | text/call 315-470-2134 | Twitter | Facebook
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Sixty-three percent of men who participated in a new UCLA-led study reported only leaving their home for essentials amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The research suggests being in isolation has contributed to feelings of anxiety and loneliness, and dissatisfaction with their sex life.

The study, by the Gay Sexuality and Social Policy Initiative at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, was published in the Journal of Homosexuality. It focuses on a group that historically has been disproportionately affected by poor health outcomes. The results are based on responses from more than 10,000 men in 20 countries via a survey conducted in April and May 2020 on Hornet, a social networking app, which also participated in the research.

The paper's lead author, Ian Holloway, is faculty director of UCLA's Gay Sexuality and Social Policy Initiative, which is dedicated to understanding the complexities of gay male sexuality. Other authors are from UC San Francisco and the LGBT Foundation in San Francisco.

Participants were asked 58 questions about the impact of stay-at-home orders on their lives. Those who reported not going out or only going out for essentials were categorized as staying in. Everyone else, including essential workers and those who said they continued to go out socially amid the pandemic, were categorized as not staying in.

The study found that those who have stayed in during the pandemic were:

37% more likely to feel anxious than those who haven't stayed in.

36% more likely to feel lonely.

28% more likely to use text messaging to stay connected with others.

54% more likely to use video calls to connect with others.

"We know that all people are affected by the isolation that can result from physical distancing," said Holloway, a UCLA associate professor of social welfare. "Our concern is that the harm may be more severe among gay and bisexual men, who face disproportionate rates of poor mental health and sexual health outcomes. COVID-19 has exacerbated stress, anxiety and social isolation within our communities."

Most of the survey participants were between the ages of 18 and 34 (55.5%), identified as gay (78.6%), were currently employed (67.7%) and had health care coverage (85.4%). In addition, most lived in a large urban center (69.8%) and were not in a relationship at the time of the survey (67.4%).

Social networking apps like Hornet provide an opportunity for people around the world "to connect with one another and cultivate a sense of community," said Alex Garner, one of the study's co-authors and senior health innovation strategist at Hornet. "We must invest in interventions that include harm reduction approaches and leverage technology where possible to increase access to necessary health services and strengthen community connections."

Sean Howell, a co-author of the study and CEO of the LGBT Foundation, noted that many in the LGBTQ community lack the resources to effectively combat COVID-19, and it is especially critical to understand the challenges facing younger gay people.

"They face greater economic jeopardy or have increased exposure to the virus," Howell said.

Holloway said there will be significant challenges in tracking mental health outcomes for gay men and other vulnerable communities in the coming months and years. "Our study shows us that technology can help us meet the moment."

Holloway also directs the UCLA Hub for Health Intervention, Policy and Practice, the umbrella organization for the Gay Sexuality and Social Policy Initiative. In addition to producing research, the initiative will conduct policy analysis and participate in community mobilization seeking to empower global gay communities.

Explore further Want to improve care for breast cancer patients? Listen to what they say on Twitter

More information: Ian W. Holloway et al. Associations Between Physical Distancing and Mental Health, Sexual Health and Technology Use Among Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Journal of Homosexuality (2021). Ian W. Holloway et al. Associations Between Physical Distancing and Mental Health, Sexual Health and Technology Use Among Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men During the COVID-19 Pandemic,(2021). DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2020.1868191
The Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) today said state-owned GAIL (India) Ltd has acquired five per cent stake of the IEX in its arm Indian Gas Exchange (IGX).

S N Goel, Chairman, IEX and Director - IGX said, With strong impetus from the government to create a conducive policy and regulatory framework,gas markets are on the cusp of breakthrough growth. Competitive domestic gas markets are crucial to build a gas-based economy. In line, IGX is pro-actively working in collaboration with the stakeholders to build gas markets ecosystem in the country. We are delighted to welcome GAIL onboard as our partner and unite our strengths to realize Indias vision of a gas-based economy."

Santanu Roy, Executive Director (Business Development & Corporate Affairs), GAIL said,GAIL is committed towards development of gas-based economy in the country. The partnership between GAIL and IGX will benefit the gas sector as a whole and pave way for further development of gas market, more trading through gas exchange and increase in capacity utilization of pipelines."

"IEX, India's premiere electricity exchange has further divested 5 per cent equity stake in the IGX to GAIL (India) Ltd, India's leading natural gas company," the IEX said in a statement.

It added that the partnership between the IGX and GAIL is a significant development, which will go a long way and add robust value addition in development of the gas markets in the country.

On January 22, 2021, the IEX announced the strategic investments by two leading energy players, Adani Total Gas and Torrent Gas, in IGX.

They acquired 5 per cent equity stake each in the platform.

Launched on June 15, 2020, as a gas trading platform, the IGX has since become the first gas exchange to receive authorisation from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) under recently notified Gas Exchange Regulations 2020.

With 15 members and over 500 registered clients, the Exchange offers a compelling alternative to the gas spot market in India by providing ease of trading, payment security and greater access to the market.

It currently operates from three physical hubs  Hazira and Dahej in Gujarat and KG Basin in Andhra Pradesh.

Providing leadership for over three decades since 1984, GAIL is India's largest gas pipeline, marketing, and processing company. It has diversified interests across the natural gas value chain of trading, transmission, LPG production & transmission, LNG re-gasification, petrochemicals and city gas, among others.

GAIL owns and operates a network of around 12,900 km of high-pressure trunk pipelines.

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(Newser)  Millie Hughes-Fulford, a trailblazing astronaut and scientist who became the first female payload specialist to fly in space for NASA, died last week after a yearslong battle with cancer, her family said. She was 75. Hughes-Fulford was selected by NASA for its astronaut program in 1983 and in June 1991 spent nine days in orbit on the shuttle Columbia, conducting experiments on the effect of space travel on humans as part of the agency's first mission dedicated to biomedical studies, STS-40. She and her crewmates circled the Earth 146 times, the AP reports. The research shaped the rest of her career, and upon her return, she established the Hughes-Fulford Laboratory at the San Francisco VA Healthcare System, which worked to understand the mechanisms that regulate cell growth in mammals. "She came back to her world as a scientist and carried this experience of having flown in space and that became a unique filter through which she passed all of her scientific work," said Dr. Mike Barratt, a NASA flight surgeon assigned to the Columbia.

story continues below

"She told me that when she was taking off in the shuttle she had absolutely no fear," her granddaughter said. "She was logically thinking of what her next task was, and that is how she faced everything, including her cancer." Millie Elizabeth Hughes was born in 1945 in Mineral Wells, Texas. At 16, she entered Tarleton State University, where she majored in chemistry and biology and was often the only woman in class. The men didn't appreciate it when she outscored them on exams, her granddaughter said. After earning a doctorate in biochemistry, she applied to 100 academic jobs around the country and got four responses. She accepted a lab position. In 1978, Hughes-Fulford answered a magazine ad looking for applicants to be the first woman in space. She made it to the final 20, of 8,000 applicants, before Sally Ride was picked, then went into space on the Columbia as a researcher. "Millie was an inspiration on so many levels, from the surface of the earth to the low-earth orbit,'" a colleague said. "She infused every conversation with compassion, optimism, energy, humor, and an unshakable confidence that a solution could be found."

(Read more obituary stories.)
A Central African Republic refugee helps people fleeing the most recent spate of violence there to settle into a Cameroonian camp.

Salimane Oumarou fled to Cameroon in 2012 after the second civil war broke out in his native Central African Republic (CAR). Following a recent spate of violence, he has been helping his compatriots settle into the Gado-Badzere refugee camp where he has lived for six years.

Oumarou was a worker in the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research in 2011. He had no idea his life would be turned upside down the following year when rebel group Seleka - one of the many operating in the country - removed CAR's government, led by then President Francois Bozize, from power.

"I remember when I came [to Gado-Badzere refugee camp] I had trauma. I was nervous and not relaxed. There were lots of problems, seeing a human being killed in cold blood, blood everywhere," says Oumarou.

Now a guide in the camp, Oumarou has been welcoming fellow CAR citizens fleeing the violence that broke out after CAR's 27 December elections, which saw incumbent Faustin-Archange Touadera retain power. There have been 4 400 new arrivals in the camp according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. Since the first civil war 60 000 people have fled to neighbouring countries.

"Many of [the new arrivals] are tired because of the long journey to Cameroon. So I start by telling them that I was in the same condition some years back, that things will be okay," Oumarou says.

The camp can hold up to 10 000 refugees. It was created in 2014 when the first batch of Central Africans arrived at the Cameroonian border. But with the additional 4 400 people and more arriving each day, the area is being expanded with new tents. Oumarou is helping with this.

As somebody who worked in education in CAR and who continues this effort in the camp, Oumarou is keen on seeing children, who make up 60% of the new refugees, go back to school. "Thirty-six classrooms have been constructed by [the United Nations Children's Fund]. It will be good to see these children go back to school. Our children back in the day, when they were being asked to create toys, they could only design guns because that's what was in their heads. Now when we go to schools, we tell them to create other toys they can play with - balls, many other things," he explains.

CAR's second civil war started in 2012 when numerous rebel groups under the Seleka militia accused the Bozize government of failing to honour the peace deals that brought an end to the Central African Republic Bush War - the country's first civil war. In the course of seizing several towns, Seleka's growth led to the strengthening of Anti-balaka, a mostly Christian alliance of militia groups. The Seleka militia launched attacks on Christian civilians and the Anti-balaka did the same to Muslims in a war that is being fought on both political and religious grounds.

"Since the crisis was socio-religious, being a Muslim and my wife a Christian, I had to stay safe first," Oumarou says. "She accepted this and that's how I found myself in Cameroon."

His wife joined him in Cameroon eight months after Oumarou arrived. They have subsequently divorced. Despite being mournful about the state of affairs in his country, he believes he has a vital opportunity to serve people in distress.

"The crisis in the Central African Republic is really deep-rooted. There is a problem of instructions many people don't understand. That's how it got to brothers pointing guns at each other. Some of us have understood this and we are putting ourselves [into] service regardless of the religion," he says.

Blocking the borders

Almost 600km from Oumarou's refuge is Bangui, CAR's capital. For about a month, rebels opposing the elections have barred close to 1 000 truckloads of goods and vital aid from Cameroon. Under a new umbrella, the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), the rebels are claiming the polls had irregularities since most parts of the country did not vote because of insecurity.

They want to march to the capital and take power from Touadera. The trouble has been further compounded by a ban placed on Bozize, who could not contest the elections. It is believed Bozize, a former high-ranking army officer, is behind the rebels. But he has distanced himself from the violence. The CPC have rampaged through the towns of Bangassou, Bouar and Baboua, and have encircled the capital.

Thirty trucks that attempted to cross into the CAR were sent back by the rebel coalition after they shot and injured two drivers. Truck drivers were instructed to pay $200 each to pass through the border. Ibrahim Cherif, one of the drivers who was attacked, says, "The rebels showed us where to sell fuel for some drivers who did not have cash in hand. They were not joking. They threatened to burn our trucks."

The blockade around Bangui has already put millions of people who need critical aid in grave danger. The CAR relies heavily on Cameroon for imported products. Idriss Salimane, a Central African truck driver who imports perishable products to CAR, has firsthand experience of the dire situation in his country. "The ration I left home for my wife and children a month ago is already finished. I don't know how they live there now," he says. "I was planning to return."

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This recent spate of violence comes after the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees voluntarily repatriated 200 refugees in early December last year. "I was planning to return [to CAR] after the elections but as you can see with everything going out there, there's insecurity," Oumarou says. "There are people who left and have been forced to come back and meet us again because all is not well. Rebel groups control two-thirds of the land and it doesn't have any peace."

"Eighty percent of the Central African Republic is controlled by rebel groups that have vested interests in mining, racketeering and kidnapping," says Paul Yombo, a researcher in international relations focusing on politics in central Africa. "Touadera knew in 2016 when he became president [for his first term] that the major challenge ... would be state-building.

"What is happening now is that UN peacekeeping forces alongside Russian mercenaries and Rwandan troops are defending Bangui, principally, and the territory around the capital, which is about 20% of the Central African Republic. We hope there won't be a situation of complete chaos where even the capital will be engulfed by violence."

Oumarou hopes peace will return to CAR, so he can go back with his four children, two of whom were born in the refugee camp in Cameroon. But if recent developments are anything to go by, they may have a long wait ahead of them.
Over the past few months, the University of Miami has taken a hard look at how it can truly serve as an exemplary institution, accelerating its work on diversity, equity, and inclusion as it works to help heal the pain in our communities caused by racism and inequality. The University has committed this academic year to engaging boldly in addressing pressing social issues, including racial justice.

On Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m., the Office of the President will partner with Student Government to host the first in a series called Courageous Conversations, where each person has the opportunity to take part. The first conversation is a virtual event about Finding Common Ground and Building Community.

Last summer, after meeting with University trustees, academic leaders, students, and faculty and staff members, President Julio Frenk unveiled a 15-point plan to address racial justice. Frenk is encouraging the University community to join this first discussion, which will be part of a series that will explore the standards of the University and its goals for the future. The University community, students especially, strongly are encouraged to participate and share their perspectives.

We have endeavored to create a culture of belonging, where everyone is valued and has the opportunity to add value, noted Frenk. Such an environment must embrace continuous improvement, and change depends on deep commitment translated into specific plans and subject to transparent accountability. Equally important is the driving force derived from everyday decisions and actions by each one of us.

Panelists Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, and Patricia A. Whitely, senior vice president of student affairs, will also offer thoughts on ways the University community can come together to create a more inclusive environment. Abigail Adeleke, Student Government president, and Alexander LaBarbera, speaker of the Student Government Senate, will co-moderate the forum.

We want to provide an open dialogue discussion very similar to President Frenks State of the University, where he provides his framework and goals and then students have the opportunity to ask him questions about the projects hes working on, said Adeleke.

Courageous Conversations was an idea prompted by events that took place on campus during the height of the last U.S. presidential election. Adeleke and her executive board decided that it was important for students to have an outlet to openly discuss and address issues.

We are asking students to come with well-informed questions and concerns and be willing to have a conversation about things that have happened on campus and things that they want to see happen in the future, said Adeleke. We wanted to create a space where students felt heard following events that have transpired on campus.

As President Frenk recently reminded the university community, The historic time in which we are living, as we work to overcome not only a pandemic but the economic and social ills it has accentuated, hearken us to press on toward the vision of a campusand a worldwhere opportunity and accomplishment are truly dictated by the aspects of our identities over which we have both control and responsibility: our character, our integrity, and the way we treat others.

Those interested in participating in Wednesdays event can RSVP here.
Kevin N Moore, 27, is being held on $5million bond after allegedly killing two of his girlfriend's sons and critically injuring another in a shooting

An Ohio man is being held on $5million bond after allegedly killing two of his girlfriend's sons and critically injuring another in a shooting.

Kevin N Moore, 27, has been charged by the Toledo Municipal Court with two counts of murder of a victim younger than 13 and one count of felonious assault, New York Daily News reported.

The children's mother, Crystal Phillips, 23, left her sons in Moore's care for an hour while she ran errands on Friday.

During that time, Moore allegedly shot Gabriel, 1, Ahmir, 5, and Ashtan Phillips, 4.

Gabriel and Ahmir were killed, while Ashtan 'continues to fight for his life,' the Lucas County Coroner's Office told The Toledo Blade on Monday.

Ashtan's condition has improved, progressing from critical to stable, police said in a statement posted to Facebook.

The four-year-old was shot in the right side of his jaw, with the bullet going straight through his body to exit on the left side.

Crystal Phillips has expressed disbelief over the shooting, telling The Blade: 'I really have no clue what happened.'

Investigators believed that the couple had argued before Phillips left her home in the Byrneport Apartments on Friday but she said this had not been the case.

Left to right: Gabriel Phillips, 1, Ashtan Phillips, 4, and Ahmir Phillips, 5. Gabriel and Ahmir were killed in the shooting, while Ashtan continues to fight for his life

'We weren't on bad terms. There was no violence, there was nothing,' she told The Blade.

Phillips, who also goes by the surname Andrews, shares her sons with her husband, from whom she was separated, The Blade reported.

On Monday, Judge Amy Berling set Moore's bond at $2million for each murder charge and $1million for the felonious assault.

Another hearing is scheduled to take place on Friday.

The Blade reported that Moore was convicted in 2017 for 'third-degree felony domestic battery by strangulation, second-degree felony tampering with a witness, and misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence.'

A vigil was held for the three boys outside the apartment on Saturday, with people lighting candles and leaving stuffed animals, flowers, balloons and snacks including Cheetos, which had been a favourite among the children, WTOL/TV reported.

Neighbors are hoping to hold another vigil in the next few days so that more family members can attend.
InterGlobe Aviation, the parent of low-cost carrier IndiGo, has paid Rs 2.10 crore to Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to settle a pending case. The case pertains to alleged corporate governance lapses and listing norms violations that were raised by the company's co-promoter Rakesh Gangwal.

The company has settled the matter "without admitting or denying any violation on its part," by paying a settlement charge of Rs 2.1 crore, as per a SEBI notification issued on Tuesday.

As per the notification, the company, by letter dated January 7, 2021, proposed to pay little over Rs 2.1 crore "towards full and final settlement of all regulatory, civil or criminal proceedings in relation to the facts contained in the SCN (show cause notice) without admitting or denying any violation on its part."

The case was disposed more than a year after Gangwal alleged corporate governance lapses, including those pertaining to Related Party Transactions (RPTs), between the company and co-promoter Rahul Bhatia-led IGE Group. Differences had emerged between Gangwal and Bhatia in 2019 over certain corporate governance matters; Bhatia camp had rejected the allegations.

Also read: IndiGo Q3 results: Loss narrows to Rs 620 crore, revenue down 50% on limited capacity utilisation

Gangwal had written to SEBI in July 2019 seeking its intervention to address certain issues. G Ramar was appointed as the Adjudicating Officer for the matter on May 5, 2020. Based on its investigation into multiple complaints from Gangwal, SEBI issued a show cause notice to InterGlobe Aviation on November 10, 2020.

Pending adjudication proceedings, InterGlobe Aviation proposed to settle the instant proceedings initiated against it, without admitting or denying the findings of fact and conclusions of law, through a settlement order. The settlement application was filed on December 23, 2020.

In a separate development, IndiGo announced that its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Aditya Pande has resigned today, effective February 21, 2021. Subsequently, the board of directors of the company at their meeting held on Tuesday approved the appointment of Jiten Chopra as the CFO of the company with effect from February 22, 2021.

Also read: Why airlines charge higher for Vande Bharat flights

Jiten joined the company as head of governance, risk and compliance in February 2020. Prior to joining IndiGo, Jiten had about 25 years of working experience in audit, business development, operations and transaction services.

"Having joined KPMG in 1995, Jiten was their Senior Partner, COO Audit & Member of Audit Executive team. His role as a Senior Partner included managing large client relationship along with executing audit assignments to ensure high quality of delivery, identifying business opportunities and growing the accounts for the firm," the company said.

Meanwhile, shares of InterGloble Aviation closed Tuesday's trade at Rs 1,661.55, down 2.03 per cent, on the BSE.

With PTI inputs
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Statkraft enters into partnership with Bee Charging Solutions AB by acquiring 51 per cent of the company, while Oresundskraft, Jamtkraft and Tekniska Verken will keep 49 per cent. Together with Statkrfat's Swedish charging business Grn Kontakt AB, Bee Charging Solutions will now become one of the biggest operators in Sweden, Mer Sweden AB.



Bee is one of the leading charging companies in Sweden with more than 2000 public charging points and an estimated market share of 15-20 per cent. The merged company is preparing to take part in the impending electric car boom in Sweden. Mer Sweden will be integrated into Mer's portfolio of charging companies in Norway, Germany and the UK.

Statkraft has clear ambitions for further growth in EV-charging. The company's partnership with Bee is an example of this, and further expansions are being considered. Kristoffer Thoner is the new CEO to lead the growing portfolio of companies. Kristoffer has extensive experience from the consumer business, most recently from Orkla and has the knowledge and expertise needed to lead and front this company in line with the growth ambitions.

"I look forward to taking on the task and together with the rest of the organization as well as our new colleagues in Bee, creating the best and most consumer-oriented electric car charging company in Europe," says new CEO, Kristoffer Thoner.

The transaction is subject to the approval of the competition authorities and closing is expected to take place in Q2 2021.

http://www.bee.se

For more information, please contact:



Geir Fuglseth

Press spokesperson, Statkraft AS

Tel: +47 913 70 572

E-mail: Geir.Fuglseth@statkraft.com

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Over-70s across the region encouraged to call vaccination helpline if they havent received appointment for jab

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Feb 9th, 2021

Those aged 70 and over in North Wales are being urged to call a vaccination helpline if they havent received an appointment for their jab.

The coronavirus vaccine rollout in the region continues apace with 130,112 doses having been delivered in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area as of 7th February.

Everyone in groups 1-4 below should now have been contacted regarding their vaccination appointment:

Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers

All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers

All those 75 years of age and over

All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, say: If you are over 70 years of age and have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, please call the booking centre on 03000 840004 as we have appointments available this week.





More than 600,000 first doses have so far been administered and 2,792 second doses across Wales.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has vaccinated more than any other health board in Wales, with 130,112 vaccinations given to date. A breakdown of the number of vaccines issued in the six local authorities can be found below:-

Wrexham: 23,376 Anglesey: 15,926 Gwynedd: 24,010 Conwy: 28,280 Denbighshire: 21,474 Flintshire: 26,280 Other: 4,458.



Speaking yesterday Health Minister Vaughan Gething outlined the need to increase the up-take of vaccinations for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, to strongly refute misinformation about the vaccine and issue a plea for all ethnic communities to help in the fight against Covid-19.

Mr Gething said: As we all know, Covid-19 is having a disproportionate impact on our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. This isnt fiction, its fact. Our communities have experienced higher levels of illness and, sadly, death rates have been higher than among the white population.

The ONS analysis is clear, males of Black African ethnic background had the highest rate of death involving COVID-19, 2.7 times higher than males of White ethnic background; females of Black Caribbean ethnic background had the highest rate, 2.0 times higher than females of White ethnic background.

The reasons for this are complex, and may be related to factors such as health conditions, employment, deprivation or social characteristics.

What we must never forget is that behind each figure is a family, a community and a neighbourhood that are impacted and damaged.

Thats why, today, the Welsh Government is issuing a plea, to all our ethnic communities across Wales, we need to dispel misinformation and unite as a country to protect those we care about the most, from this deadly virus.

I want to make it abundantly clear to all, the vaccine contains no pork products or traces of foetal matter and is safe for all ethnic minority and faith communities.

He also addressed concerns about vaccine hesitancy in younger people, stating that it is partly because of the significant misinformation that is being spread on a range of different forums, social media in particular.

He added: There are people who are worried about concerns on a range of things. There is absolutely zero evidence that the vaccines affect male or female fertility, but some people are concerned about this and different scare stories.

It is why its so important that we are responsible in what we say about the vaccine, that were responsible for how we report what happens, politicians, members of the public and indeed members of the press as well.

I do think though that as we see much greater levels of population protection, I hope that well see more and more people doing the right thing for themselves, and everyone else around them too.

[February 09, 2021] TransferGo selects Thought Machine to drive global expansion

LONDON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TransferGo, one of the world's fastest growing money transfer companies, today announces a partnership with Thought Machine, the cloud native core banking technology company, to propel its ongoing product innovation and drive global expansion into new markets. By taking advantage of Thought Machine's next generation cloud native core banking platform Vault, TransferGo will focus on enhancing its customer experience through better, more advanced platform capabilities. Building on a successful 2020, during which TransferGo defied market expectations to see cross-border payments grow by over 60%, Vault will be a critical component for sustained growth. By hosting payment services that are highly scalable, flexible, secure and fast in the cloud, Vault will empower TransferGo to expand its real-time payments platform, build products rapidly and release future card and account capabilities without delay. Importantly, Vault contains no legacy technology and so allows TransferGo to build and deliver payment services to its exact requirements. The technology will support TransferGo's mission to continuously drive improvement to its digital payments service and the customer experience for the migrant worker community, helping them to move their money around the world quickly, safely and as cost efficiently as possible. "Hot off the heels of a $4m investment from Silicon Valley Bank in November, this partnership demonstrates our momentum in investing, innovating and disrupting the global remittance market," says Justinas Lasevicius, CFO and Co-Founder of TransferGo. "Our customers are at the heart of every decision we make, andthrough our work with Thought Machine and their intuitive product Vault, we will introduce more enhanced services and drive impactful experiences for our migrant worker community."



"We are proud to be supporting TransferGo on their global rollout and product expansion. It is a testament to Vault's flexibility and future-proof design that fast-growing, innovative institutions like TransferGo select us to architect their future. Vault's cloud native design provides banks and fintech companies the tools to build their bank of the future," says Paul Taylor, CEO and Founder of Thought Machine. "By tapping into the power of the cloud, TransferGo will enjoy a host of benefits, including unparalleled scalability, reliability, security and speed. Coupled with Vault's unique horizontal architecture  they will be unshackled from the constraints of legacy product building  free to focus on providing an exceptional customer service and a world-class remittance service."

Today's announcement reflects the continued investment TransferGo is making in its award-winning remittances platform. With over 2 million users and securing over $14 million in investments last year, it is committed to expanding its global footprint and launching new services on its cross-border payments platform. TransferGo also recently partnered with VISA and Mastercard, and bolstered its senior leadership team through the hires of Edgardo Savoy as Chief Technology Officer and Francesco Fulcoli as Chief Compliance Officer. These new developments will superpower its technology innovation roadmap. About TransferGo Founded in 2012, TransferGo has established itself as one of the most trusted money transfer services in the world. Its focus on delivering, fast, reliable remittances has led it to become the only Pan-European money transfer company that can guarantee an individual's money will reach its destination in 30 minutes. By putting the customer experience first TransferGo has built a brand that thousands of clients trust and a product they love to use. Its vision is to make international financial services pain-free and without artificial borders. Founder and CEO Daumantas Dvilinskas was included in the 2017 Forbes 30 under 30. The company was nominated for "Fastest Rising Startup of the Year" at the TechCrunch Europa Awards 2018 and listed as one of 2019's five hottest UK start-ups by TNW. About Thought Machine Thought Machine was founded in 2014 with a mission to enable banks to deploy modern systems and move away from the legacy IT platforms that plague the banking industry. We do this through our cloud native core banking platform, Vault. This next generation system has been written from scratch as an entirely cloud native platform. It does not contain a single line of code which is legacy, or pre-cloud. Founded by entrepreneur Paul Taylor, Thought Machine's customers include Lloyds Banking Group, SEB, Standard Chartered, Atom bank, Monese and Curve. We are currently a team of more than 450 people spread across offices in London, Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne, New York and have raised more than 110m in funding from Eurazeo, Draper Esprit, SEB, British Patient Capital, IQ Capital, Playfair Capital, Nyca Partners, Lloyds Banking Group and Backed. For more information visit thoughtmachine.net SOURCE Thought Machine

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Government officials unveil five high-tech robots to support in the fight against Covid-19 (file photo).

Rwanda is set to get Covid-19 vaccine doses through the African Union's African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) initiative amounting to 2.6 million in addition to vaccines expected through other arrangements, the Minister for Health, Dr Daniel Ngamije, has said.

Dr Ngamije was speaking at the World Bank's Rwanda Economic Update meeting on Monday afternoon.

He said that beyond the vaccines secured from the COVAX Initiative, Rwanda had secured an additional 2.6 million doses from AU's Union's African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT).

The AVATT was established by the AU as a component in support of the Africa Vaccine Strategy that was endorsed by the AU Bureau of Heads of State and Government in August 2020.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) will facilitate payments by providing advance procurement commitment guarantees of up to US$2 billion to the manufacturers on behalf of the Member States.

AVATT has secured provisional 600 million Covid-19 vaccines doses from Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca with the first 50 million expected to be available by April.

Rwanda's composition of 2.6 million doses is made up of about 500,000 from Pfizer, about 1 million doses from Johnson & Johnson and about 1 million AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine doses.

This will cover about 1.8 million Rwandans.

In coming days starting from mid-February, Rwanda is set to receive its first Covid-19 doses through the Covax initiative, a global initiative co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The initial batch from Covax Initiative will be made of about 1 million doses with the minister adding that later on, Rwanda could receive up to 7 million doses from the same facility.

The initiative will avail up to 20 per cent of the vaccines to be used in Rwanda.

Ngamije however noted that to reach the 60 per cent Covid-19 Vaccine coverage recommended by the African Union, Rwanda is in discussion with manufacturers and will be looking to partners such as the World Bank Group to secure financing for the Vaccine.

Rolande Pryce, the World Bank Country Manager for Rwanda said that they were working on preparing a new finance agreement that would among other things go into supporting vaccine procurement and deployment.

Ngamije noted that so far, the country has developed the national deployment and vaccination plan for Covid-19, which contains coordinated multi-sectoral efforts to ensure adequate resources mobilization, vaccine-related logistics, roll out and proper monitoring methods after administration of vaccines.
Youd need a lot of money to address that, Moroney said. In general, I would favor projects that are less bureaucratic and more individual projects. We replaced mercury streetlights with LED bulbs. I think thats a project the entire community benefits from and theres a tangible benefit from that program. Fifteen percent of the water we purchase from Chicago goes down the drain [due to leaks]. An investment in reducing that water loss seems like a major, urgent environmental initiative we could engage in.
Nearly 12 crore doses of Covid vaccine to be available in June: Health Ministry

Govt places orders for 1.45 cr doses of COVID-19 vaccines

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Feb 9: The government has placed orders for 1 crore additional doses of Covishield from Serum Institute of India and 45 lakh more doses of Covaxin from Bharat Biotech, officials of the two vaccine makers said on Tuesday.

India's COVID-19 vaccination drive was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16. Serum Institute has received another order from the government for 10 million doses of Covishield, a company official said in response to a query.

Expert panel to submit report soon on priority individual for COVID vaccine

The government had earlier placed a purchase order with Serum Institute of India (SII) for 1.1 crore doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield. When asked, a Bharat Biotech spokesperson said, "The company has received a letter of comfort from the Government of India to supply another 4.5 million (or 45 lakh) doses''.

The spokesperson also added that Bharat Biotech will also be exporting its COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, to Brazil and the United Arab Emirates.

The company is also likely to export the vaccine to the Philippines and other South Asian countries, the spokesperson said. The government had earlier placed an order for 55 lakh doses of Covaxin from Bharat Biotech.
New head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, Armin Laschet, supports the idea of expanding the EU and giving Ukraine a "European perspective", Ukraine's Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk said on Twitter.

"We must support Ukraine in its difficult path and at the same time also open up a European perspective," Melnyk quoted Laschet.

According to Melnyk in an interview with Hromadske Radio on Monday, this is the first promising prospect.

"The announcement of the a leader of the CDU is extremely important. This is a real breakthrough [...] It is too early to rejoice, this is just a good start. Now we are starting to work even more actively so that new important steps emerge from this announcement," Melnyk said.

According to him, Ukraine has good chances of EU membership.

"If we succeed in the near future [...] to do more, to enlist the support of the entire CDU-CSU faction in the Bundestag, as well as other influential members of this party, then we, generally, have good chances that the topic of Ukraine's membership will sound more weighty in context of the elections to the Bundestag, which will be held in September this year," the ambassador said.

At the same time, Melnyk said that the military conflict in Donbas influences European integration very strongly, and while it continues, there is no talk of membership [of Ukraine in the EU]

"Of course it does. And it affects very negatively. And this is precisely where, among other things, all the cynicism of this war unleashed by Russia lies. Since all the resources of Germany, more precisely, almost all the resources of Germany, which, as you know, acts as a mediator in ending the war, cessation of Russian aggression. They have so far focused primarily on a peaceful settlement in Donbas and on the reintegration of these territories. Therefore, as long as the conflict continues, as long as this war continues, it was impossible to talk about membership, because the main issue for the political establishment of Germany was the war," the ambassador said.

He also said that, first, the issue of ending the war has to be resolved, and only then other possible projects will be discussed, including issues of European integration in the sense that it is enshrined in the Ukrainian Constitution.
(Photo : Pexels/Gustavo Fring)

Facebook is becoming more strict with what people can post on its platform, especially when it comes to health and safety.

The social media giant will now automatically remove any false claims about COVID-19, the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccines in general starting February 9, 2021.

Facebook to remove false COVID-19 vaccine claims

Facebook began removing false COVID-19 claims in December 2020 and the platform notified users when they had interacted with a harmful post that has misleading and false information about the virus and the vaccine. Now, the list of potential claims that could get a post removed on Facebook has expanded.

The new expanded list of false COVID-19 and vaccine-related claimed that will be removed now includes: vaccines are not effective at preventing the disease, vaccines are not effective in fighting the disease that they were created to protect people against, COVID-19 is a hoax and is laboratory-made, getting the disease and healing naturally is safer than getting vaccinated and that vaccines are toxic, dangerous and cause autism.

Also Read: Facebook Removes the Like Button on New Page Design: Here's What You Can See Instead

According to Facebook, it will start enforcing its new policy immediately, focusing on pages, groups and accounts that posts and share content from the list of its false claims. Facebook also stated that it would consider removing the primary sources of the posts if they will continue with the behavior.

Facebook added that it will only be enforcing this change during the COVID-19 health emergency, so even though this new rule may help minimize the spread of misinformation posted by anti-vaxxers on the platform, it might come back in the future.

Although this change may be short-lived, it is still very important as the platform is a major source of vaccine misinformation even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing the issue directly could have a great impact on those who might have become anti-vaxxers due to false claims.

Facebook's stance

The company expanding what qualifies as a misinformation regarding COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine earned praise from the public and medical experts. However, some people worry that some posts might be tagged as inappropriate even though it isn't.

Studies into the effectiveness of vaccines, certain masks and tests are all still ongoing. Facebook's new guidelines might prevent conversations around the new research results, according to what UNC Professor Zeynep Tufekci posted on his Twitter account.

Tufekci stated that recommendations from public health agencies have changed over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may mean that older posts from health organizations like World Health Organization may also be removed.

According to the report by The Verge, Facebook is now making adjustments outside of the policy changes they imposed, especially when it comes to how factual COVID-19 information gets delivered on Instagram and Facebook.

The company will now feature links to vaccine information and for signing up to get a vaccination in its very own COVID-19 Information Center. The company also plans to add this feature to another social media platform that it owns, which is Instagram.

Facebook guaranteed that it is improving search on both Facebook and Instagram to feature more relevant and authoritative results when a user searches something that is related to COVID-19.

The company is also extending $120 million in ad credits for NGOs, UN agencies and health ministries to spread the correct information about COVID-19 vaccine on Facebook.

Related Article: Philadelphia Vaccine Scandal: Philly Fighting COVID Is a Tale of Inexperienced Startup Company

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[February 09, 2021] Government of Canada Supports Green Energy Alternatives in Indigenous and Northern Communities, tackling climate change and creating jobs

OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 9, 2021 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is working with partners to reduce northern communities' reliance on diesel for heating and electricity by increasing the use of local renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency. Today, the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, and Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories, announced that the Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Electricity Program (Northern REACHE) has provided $88,000 to Nihtat Energy Limited to undertake a pre-feasibility study to assess the viability of developing biomass district energy systems in Inuvik.

By supporting an emerging northern biomass industry, the Government is helping to create local jobs, accelerate the shift to clean energy and keep investments in the North by using local resources to build a regional economy. This will support healthier, more sustainable communities across the North and reduce Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. The Government of Canada has supported 108 projects, with an investment of $20.4 million, through its Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Electricity Program (Northern REACHE) since its inception in 2016-2017, to assist communities working to reduce their reliance on diesel fuel. These investments are part of Canada's nearly $700 million commitment to help rural and remote communities get off diesel, through programs delivered by Natural Resources Canada and Infrastructure Canada. Through Canada's climate plan, the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, the Government is working with provinces, territories and Indigenous Peoples to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build resilience to a changing climate, and support the transition to a clean growth economy. Quotes "The Government of Canada understands the importance of working in partnership to tackle climate change. By supporting Nihtat Energy Limited in this project, we will reduce Northern communities' reliance on diesel for heating by increasing the use of local renewable energy sources. This project will result in environmental, social and economic benefits that support healthier, mor sustainable northern communities. True success comes from empowering communities in their decision-making and supporting their vision for a green future. These solutions and innovations must continue to be led by those working at the local level."



The Honourable Daniel Vandal, P.C., M.P.

Minister of Northern Affairs "Through supporting the advancement of cleaner energy in Northern communities, our government is demonstrating our commitment to a more sustainable future for the Northwest Territories."

Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories "Nihtat Energy Ltd is committed to continuing to explore clean energy alternatives for the Beaufort Delta and working with other Indigenous organizations and northern stakeholders to create sustainable, environmentally responsible and meaningful economic opportunities in the north." Grant Sullivan, President

Nihtat Energy Ltd. Quick facts CIRNAC's climate change programs have invested over $130 million in 615 unique projects, of which $20.4 million has been delivered through Northern REACHE.

in 615 unique projects, of which has been delivered through Northern REACHE. Nihtat Energy Limited's prefeasibility study will assess the viability of developing biomass district energy systems in Inuvik .

. Biomass energy is a renewable alternative to heating oil for space heating.

District heating systems are an efficient and economical way to distribute heat from a centralized boiler system to multiple buildings and homes. Associated links Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Electricity Program (Northern REACHE)

Government of the Northwest Territories  Energy

 Energy Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change

Environment and Climate Change Canada  Climate Action Map

Natural Resources Canada  Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative and Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program

Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative and Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program Natural Resources Canada  Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program

Infrastructure Canada  Investing in Canada Plan Stay connected Join the conversation about the North:

Twitter: GovCan_North

Facebook: GovCan  North SOURCE Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

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The family of an Australian man who has been detained by the Myanmar military has called for his immediate release, saying he is a dedicated family man who has devoted more than two decades of his life to the south-east Asian country.

Sean Turnell, a special economic adviser to deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was taken into custody at the weekend by military officers who arrived at his Yangon hotel and escorted him to a police station.

Sean Turnell, right, with Aung San Suu Kyi. His family described Professor Turnell as someone who read voraciously and had always had a thirst for knowledge.

His wife Ha Vu, an Australian academic at Macquarie University, released a statement overnight saying the family was distraught about his detention following last weeks military coup.

The family asked for privacy while Australian diplomats worked tirelessly to get Dr Turnell home.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 2021 / PJX Resources Inc. ("PJX" or "the Company") (TSXV:PJX)(OTC PINK:PJXRF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an investment agreement ("Investment Agreement") with Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd ("Osisko") pursuant to which Osisko has agreed to (i) purchase 6,250,000 common shares of PJX at a subscription price equal to C$0.16 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of C$1,000,000, and (ii) acquire a 0.5% net smelter return royalty ("NSR") on the Company's Gold Shear, Eddy, Zinger and Dewdney Trail properties for aggregate cash consideration of C$1,000,000.

John Keating, President and CEO of PJX commented, "Osisko has an exceptional track record in making early-stage investments in gold deposit discovery and development. Their investment in the Vulcan Gold Belt is validation of the work PJX has done to date. PJX has consolidated 100% of the mineral rights to the largest land holdings in the Vulcan Gold Belt in southeastern, BC, Canada. Over 15 gold target areas have been identified to date with potential for more. We look forward to Osisko's support and the opportunity to consult with their team to explore and develop the gold potential."

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the common shares and the NSR for expenditures on the Gold Shear, Eddy, Zinger and Dewdney Trail properties located in the Vulcan Gold Belt and for general working capital.

All securities issued to Osisko pursuant to the Investment Agreement are subject to a statutory four month hold period. The issuance of the securities is subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The transaction is expected to close by the end of February, 2021.

Vulcan Gold Belt Highlights

Target type: Orogenic and Magmatic Gold Trend with Fort Knox, Telfer, Sukhoi Log and other deposit type potential.

Only place in North America where two regional crustal penetrating structures associated with gold deposits and gold mining camps in Canada and the United States intersect.

Estimated 1.5 million ounces of placer gold produced since 1864 gold rush.

Significantly underexplored - no bedrock source of placer gold identified to date - fewer than 150 holes drilled for gold exploration on entire 60 km trend.

First time that 100% owned mineral rights have been consolidated, covering 380 km with gold potential.

PJX has a pipeline of gold, silver and base metal (copper, lead, zinc) targets - 16 large gold target areas identified to date on PJX's 4 gold properties called the Gold Shear, Eddy, Zinger, and Dewdney Trail Properties.

The Gold Shear, Eddy, Zinger, and Dewdney Trail Properties represent the largest consolidated land package in the Vulcan Gold Belt, a potential new gold camp located near Cranbrook, southeastern British Columbia, Canada. The Vulcan Gold Belt occurs within the Sullivan base metal mining district. Historical focus on Sullivan type zinc, lead and silver mining is part of the reason the district's gold potential has been overlooked and underexplored. The Vulcan Gold Belt fits modern geological models and criteria for the formation of a world class gold camp. PJX has already identified a pipeline of priority target areas to explore and drill with potential to make multiple gold discoveries.

The foregoing geological disclosure and content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Keating P.Geo. (qualified person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.) Mr. Keating is the President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of PJX.

About PJX Resources Inc.

PJX is a mineral exploration company focused on building shareholder value and community opportunity through the exploration and development of mineral resources with a focus on gold and base metals. PJX's primary gold and base metal properties are located in the historical mining area of Cranbrook and Kimberley, British Columbia. Please refer to our website for additional information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Linda Brennan, Chief Financial Officer

(416) 799-9205

info@pjxresources.com

Forward-Looking Information

This News Release contains forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements which relate to future events. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement, exploration results, the success of exploration activities, mine development prospects, completion of economic assessments, and future gold production. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "should", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", believes", "estimates", "predicts", "potential", or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking-statements.

Although PJX 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 forward-looking 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.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: PJX Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628547/Osisko-Gold-Royalties-Provides-Royalty-Financing-to-PJX-Resources

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An elegant motor yacht described as a treasure of American yachting history has sailed on to the marketplace.

BB was designed and built by John Trumpy, the Rolls-Royce of American yachting, in 1947 and has just undergone a $4million (2.9million) restoration to return her to her original splendour. She was understatedly called a 'houseboat' by her designers because she offered her owners all the comforts of home.

BB was originally put on the market for $3.9million, but is now for sale for $2million (1.45million). The owner restored the boat hoping to sail her in the Bahamas for the next 20 years, but then caught Covid and realised he'd be too frail to use it, so he put it up for sale. He restored it out of love knowing he would probably never make the money back, MailOnline Travel learned.

Luxury cruising houseboat BB was designed and built by John Trumpy, the Rolls-Royce of American yachting, in 1947 and has just undergone a $4million restoration to return her to her original splendour

The exterior of the restored BB, formerly known as Seaplay, features generous walk-around decks and copious amounts of teak and glass

Pictured is the aft dining space with its transparent isinglass curtains that can be rolled up on warmer days, curved banquette seating area and dining table big enough for eight people

Pictured is the master stateroom with its queen-sized bed, period bedside reading lamps, four opening portholes with sliding shutters and an en-suite

The BB was originally built for George W. Codrington of Cleveland, Ohio, who was vice president of General Motors - the worlds largest motor-vehicle manufacturer for much of the 20th and early 21st centuries

During his career, John Trumpy built boats for some of American's top high-society figures such as Howard Hughes and the Chrysler and Guggenheim families.

The BB, however, was originally built for George W. Codrington of Cleveland, Ohio, who was vice president of General Motors - the worlds largest motor-vehicle manufacturer for much of the 20th and early 21st centuries.

When the vessel was first launched, a review in the August 1948 issue of The Rudder Magazine described it as having 'a well-blended combination of seaworthiness, sleek lines, good turn of speed, ease of handling, sturdiness, compactness with comfort, reliability, and the ability to go anywhere her owner desires'.

The authentic restoration of the BB, known as Seaplay in Codrington's time, took three years and involved an alphabet's worth of materials, including 233 gallons of varnish.

The authentic restoration of the BB took three years and involved an alphabet's-worth of materials including 233 gallons of varnish

Pictured is the salon with its framed black-and-white photographs, custom wood Venetian blinds, restored floor timbers, white upholstery with yellow accent cushions and dhurrie rug

Pictured is the pilothouse with its original teak wheel, spacious chart table, and fully modernized navigation and helm station

When the BB was first launched, a review in the August 1948 issue of The Rudder Magazine described it as having 'a well-blended combination of seaworthiness, sleek lines, good turn of speed, ease of handling, sturdiness, compactness with comfort, reliability, and the ability to go anywhere her owner desires'

The BB has guest accommodation for up to six people. Plus, there are crew quarters comprising two separate crew cabins that share a bathroom and a Captain's Cabin

The exterior of the restored vessel, which is being sold through Luke Brown Yachts, features generous walk-around decks and copious amounts of teak and glass.

The interior, meanwhile, is decorated with authentic period furnishings including mahogany panelling and period glass light fittings.

Highlights of the onboard facilities include a butler's pantry with a fridge, coffee maker and ice maker, a card room with a cocktail table and a large aft dining space with isinglass curtains that can be rolled up on warmer days, a curved banquette seating area and a dining table big enough for eight people.

Following its sympathetic three-year restoration, pictured, the 80ft (24m) yacht BB is on the market for $2million

Pictured is the Pilothouse during renovations. This space now features mod cons like a Garmin GHC 20 autopilot and Garmin 8612 XSV multi-function displays

MOTORYACHT BB - FACTS AND FIGURES Year built: 1947 Design and build: John Trumpy Built for: George W. Codrington Price: $1,995,000 (1,445,000) Engines: 2 x 234hp Detroit Diesel Cruising speed: 10 knots (11mph) Maximum speed: 13 knots (14mph) Weight: 85 tons Range: 700 miles Accommodation, guests: Sleeps six in one master stateroom, two cabins Accommodation, crew: Two cabins, plus a captain's cabin Advertisement

On the accommodation front, meanwhile, the BB has guest accommodation for up to six people. There's a master stateroom with a queen-sized bed, four opening portholes with sliding shutters, period bedside reading lamps and an en-suite.

Then there's a twin stateroom and a third guest cabin with bunks that share a second en-suite bathroom.

The BB also features crew quarters comprising two separate crew cabins that share a bathroom and a Captain's Cabin.

While the yacht has been restored to make passengers feel like they're sailing in the 1940s, there are a few features on board that would have seemed like voodoo to Codrington.

In the master stateroom, for example, there's a pop-up flat-screen 48-inch TV. Plus, the yacht features a new modern air-conditioning system.

The yacht also comes with what its current owner describes as 'toys'. These include a NautiBuoy inflatable swim platform, an inflatable paddleboard, and an Ocean Explorer two-person, 14ft kayak.

BB is powered by two restored 1961 234hp Detroit Diesel engines, giving her a cruising speed of 10 knots (11mph) and a maximum speed of 13 knots (14mph). Her range is 700 miles.
Police cracked down on demonstrators opposing Myanmar's military coup, firing warning shots and shooting water cannons to disperse crowds that took to the streets again Tuesday in defiance of rules making protests illegal.

Reports of many injured demonstrators drew strong concern from the UN's office in

According to reports from Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay and other cities, numerous demonstrators have been injured, some of them seriously, by security forces in connection with the current protests across the country, the U.N. said.

The use of disproportionate force against demonstrators is unacceptable, said Ola Almgren, the U.N. Resident Coordinator in

Water cannons were used in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-biggest city, where witnesses said at least two warning shots were fired in early attempts to break up the crowd. Gunfire could be heard on videos from the city, some of which showed riot police flailing wildly with their batons at people trying to flee. Reports on social media said police arrested more than two dozen people there.

Police also used water cannons in the capital, Natpyitaw, for a second day and fired shots into the air. Police were reported to have also shot rubber bullets at the crowd in Naypyitaw, wounding several people. Photos on social media showed an alleged shooter an officer with a short-barreled gun and several injured people. Protesters posted photos online of bullet casings they said they found at the scene.

Unconfirmed social media reports circulated of shootings with live rounds and deaths among the protesters, with the potential of sparking violent retaliation against the authorities an outcome proponents of the country's civil disobedience movement have warned against. The AP was unable to immediately confirm the reports.

The weekly magazine 7Day News reported on its Twitter account that a 19-year-old woman was shot by police in Naypyidaw and was undergoing an emergency operation at the city's main hospital. It cited Min Thu, the local chairman of the National League for Democracy party of ousted national leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The protesters are demanding that power be restored to the deposed civilian government and are seeking freedom for Suu Kyi and other governing party members detained since the military took over and blocked the new session of Parliament from convening on Feb. 1.

Security forces on Tuesday night raided the national office of Suu Kyi's party in Yangon. Regional offices of the party had been raided last week in actions the party decried as illegal.

The growing defiance is striking in a country where past demonstrations have been met with deadly force and are a reminder of previous movements in the Southeast Asian country's long and bloody struggle for democracy. The military used deadly force to quash a massive 1988 uprising against military dictatorship and a 2007 revolt led by Buddhist monks.

The decrees issued Monday night for some areas of Yangon and Mandalay banned rallies and gatherings of more than five people, along with motorized processions, while also imposing a 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew. It was not clear if restrictions were imposed for other areas.

Violation of the orders, issued under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, is punishable by up to six months in prison or a fine.

Demonstrations were also held in other cities Tuesday, including Bago where city elders negotiated with police to avoid a violent confrontation and Dawei, and in northern Shan state.

In Magwe in central Myanmar, where water cannons were also used, unconfirmed reports on social media said several police officers had crossed over to join the protesters' ranks. Police in Naypyitaw and Pathein, west of Yangon, were also said to have switched sides. The AP was unable to immediately confirm the reports.

Crowds also gathered in Yangon, the country's biggest city where thousands of people have been demonstrating since Saturday, despite a heightened security presence. No violence was reported.

Police, not soldiers, appeared to have been deployed to stop the demonstrations, a small indicator of restraint by the military government. The army has a record of brutality in crushing past revolts as well as in fighting ethnic minorities in border areas seeking self-determination.

It also has been accused of carrying out genocide in its 2017 counterinsurgency campaign that drove more than 700,000 members of the Muslim Rohingya minority across the border to seek safety in Bangladesh.

State media for the first time on Monday referred to the protests, saying they were endangering the country's stability.

Democracy can be destroyed if there is no discipline, declared a statement from the Ministry of Information read on state television station MRTV.

We will have to take legal actions to prevent acts that are violating state stability, public safety and the rule of law.

However, the military commander who led the coup and is now Myanmar's leader made no mention of the unrest in a 20-minute televised speech Monday night, his first to the public since the takeover.

Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing instead repeated claims about voting fraud that have been the justification for the military's takeover, allegations that were refuted by the state election commission. He added that his junta would hold new elections as promised in a year and hand over power to the winners, and explained the junta's intended policies for COVID-19 control and the economy.

(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.)


Hong Kong animal protection groups are focusing on wild cows and buffaloes ahead of the Chinese Year of Ox, which will begin on February 5. According to the Associated Press, animal protection groups, including Lantau Buffalo Association are moving across rural Hong Kong to distribute food to cattle with funded money. These groups are working to preserve the habitat of wild bovines in order to keep them relevant for future generations of urban-styled Hong Kong.

Read: Inner Wheel Club Adopts White Peacock In Hyderabads Nehru Zoo For Wildlife Conservation

Ho Loy, chairwoman of the Lantau Buffalo Association, along with her team of volunteers is feeding cows and water buffalo in Lantau, her native village. Ho believes that taking care of cows and buffalo will help preserve nature in general. Ho, who has been taking care of wild animals for years, said that water buffalo spend most of their time in wetlands, and hence preserving them would require the preservation of wetlands.

Read: Biologists Discover 20 New Extinct Species Of Wildlife In Bolivias cloud Forest

According to Hong Kong's Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department, there are at least 1,100 brown cattle and an estimated 120 water buffalo across Lantau Island and other rural parts. More than 75% of Hong Kong's territory is not occupied by humans, which means more green hills and forests available for wild animals.

Read: Wildlife Body Urges LG To Name Snow Leopard As State Animal Of Ladakh

What is Ox Year?

The Year of the Ox is celebrated every 12 years according to Chinese astrology and is the second of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac signs. It was last celebrated in 2009 and will be next celebrated in 2033. The upcoming Ox Year will last until January 30, 2022. There are five types of Ox - water, fire, wood, metal, and earth. This year is the Metal Ox year. The Ox year is celebrated to mark the contributions of Oxen and the bovine family in agriculture, etc.

Read: Plastic Pollution From Fishing Nets Threatening Ganges Wildlife, Study Finds

(Image Credit: AP)


Around 1,300 were



reported in last year, officials said.

Around 1,090 incidents were caused due to slash-and- burn 'jhum' cultivation and only 210 were due to natural causes, they said.

Addressing a programme here on Monday during the observance of fire prevention week, Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo said a large section of agriculturists in the state still practices 'jhum' cultivation despite interventions by successive governments to introduce settled farming.

In view of this, awareness of fire prevention is of utmost importance, he said.

He lauded organisations like the Young Mizo Association (YMA) and village councils for working with government agencies to prevent the eruption of fires.

Minister T J Lalnuntluanga, while addressing a programme in Champhai, said that an afforestation drive funded by the North East Council will be launched in the district.

As per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR)-2019 released by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), has a forest cover of 85.41 per cent, down from 86.26 per cent in 2017.

Champhai district has the lowest forest cover at 78.09 per cent.

(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.)
Hey all - David Estcourt here closing the blog for the night.

We ran a very short one today to cover the breaking news about the two fresh cases at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport, and to take you through the report from the World Health Organisation in China, who released the findings from their COVID-19 origins investigation.

The Health Department late on Tuesday released a list of exposure sites from the cases at the qurantine hotel.

To catch up on developments in that, check it out here:

A worker and a returned traveller have tested positive for coronavirus at Melbourne Airports Holiday Inn, forcing an entire floor of people into isolation and prompting a further review of the states hotel quarantine system.

Earlier in the day, it was revealed that more than 100 people, including dozens of police and Defence Force personnel, were in isolation after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday.

As always, thank you for joining us. Night all.




The connection week has begun in Bigg Boss 14, and fans can't keep calm to witness the extra drama inside the madhouse. Evicted contestant Jasmin Bhasin entered Bigg Boss house as Aly Goni's connection. After entering the house, Jasmin asked her beau Aly not to trust Rubina Dilaik and Abhinav Shukla blindly. Apart from them, she even started speaking ill about other housemates.

Well, her negative behaviour inside the house didn't go down well with RubiNav's supporter and actor Amit Tandon, as he recently slammed Jasmin for the same. The Dill Mill Gayye actor took to Twitter and called Jasmin Bhasin a 'real life Naagin'.

In a series of tweets, Amit Tandon wrote, "Yesterday I felt as if I was pre-judging Jasmin and maybe it was just momentary but after seeing today's episode I can say with confidence that she is filled with Negativity and all she did the whole episode was talk nonsense about others. REAL LIFE NAAGIN! #BIGBOSS14 #GETAGRIP." (sic)

In the second tweet, Amit Tandon shared a clip of Jasmin Bhasin crying inside the house. He termed her as 'cry baby' and wrote, "Now there will be those saying I am being insensitive towards her crying please save it and go see how she went to every person and only spoke badly and tried to turn even her "love" Aly against Rubina. Even spoke badly to her sister! #jasmean #bb14 #bigboss14."

See the video here

Earlier, the actor had taken a dig at Jasmin Bhasin and said that it would be tough for her to show her negativity amidst so much negativity. He called Rubina Dilaik a deserving winner of Bigg Boss 14. Looks like Amit Tandon is not missing any chance to support his friend Rubina on social media.
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The US has recorded its lowest number of new daily coronavirus cases since October as hospitalizations continue to fall, with a majority of states seeing rates drop by 10 percent or more in the last week.

On Monday a total of 77,737 new infections and 1,309 deaths were reported nationwide, according to a tally by the COVID Tracking Project.

The case count was the lowest seen in the US since October 27, when 72,221 were recorded.

The seven-day rolling average for new cases now stands at 111,131, down from 142,958 a week ago, with rates falling in 44 states. The seven-day rolling average for daily deaths is 2,885, down from 3,133 a week ago.

Hospitalizations have seen a similar downward trend in recent days, with a total of 80,055 patients receiving care on Monday. That's a decrease of nearly 30,000 from two weeks ago, when 109,936 patients were hospitalized.

Over the past week 38 states have seen hospitalizations decrease by 10 percent or more, while numbers are staying steady in 11 and rising in just one, Hawaii.

Despite the promising recent figures, top health officials have cautioned that the country is far from out of the woods due to the accelerating spread of virus variants - including three first discovered in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil.

'Although hospital admissions and cases are consistently dropping, I'm asking everyone to please keep your guard up,' Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), said Monday. 'The proliferation of variants remains of great concern and is a threat that could reverse the recent positive trends we are seeing.'

The US recorded its lowest number of new daily coronavirus cases since October 27 on Monday with 77,737, according to data from the COVID Tracking Project

Hospitalizations have seen a similar downward trend in recent days, with a total of 80,055 patients receiving care on Monday. That's a decrease of nearly 30,000 from two weeks ago, when 109,936 patients were hospitalized

The seven-day rolling average for new cases (grey line) now stands at 111,131, down from 142,958 a week ago, with rates falling in 44 states. The seven-day rolling average for daily deaths (red line) is 2,885, down from 3,133 a week ago

Over the past week 38 states have seen hospitalizations decrease by 10 percent or more, while numbers are staying steady in 11 and rising in just one, Hawaii

Despite the promising recent figures, top health officials have cautioned that the country is far from out of the woods due to the accelerating spread of virus variants - including three first discovered in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil. A DailyMail.com analysis of federal and state data indicates that there are at least 709 variant cases nationwide as of Monday

Health care workers tend to a patient in the Covid-19 Intensive Care Unit overflow area at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, California, on Friday

Nearly 700 cases associated with coronavirus variants have been identified in the United States, officials said on a press call.

Of them, 690 cases are from a more transmissible variant first discovered in the UK called B.1.1.7, which could become the dominant variant in the US by March, the officials said.

The US has not been testing widely for variants, so the actual number is likely higher than official figures. All viruses mutate, but scientists are worried about changes in the virus that make it more transmissible or more deadly.

A DailyMail.com analysis of federal and state data indicates that there are actually more than 700 cases of the UK variant across 33 states. At least six cases of the South African variant and one case of the Brazilian variant have also been confirmed.

Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, on Monday said that the best defense against the variants is widespread vaccinations.

It came as the CDC reported that 42,417,617 coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered as of Monday morning, out of 59,307,800 delivered to states.

At least one dose of a vaccine has been administered to 32,340,146 people, which equals to 9.85 percent of the population.

Just over 9,518,000 Americans have now received both doses of a vaccine, amounting to 2.9 percent of the population.

The CDC reported that 42,417,617 coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered as of Monday morning

Fauci said that while it is reasonable to study Pfizer's and Moderna's vaccines for a one-dose regime, given supply constraints, such a study would take months to complete and thus likely make its conclusions moot. He continued to encourage people get two doses of the vaccines.

The optimal 'approach would be to continue with getting as many people on their first dose as possible but also making sure that people on time get their second dose,' Fauci said.

Vaccinations have been credited with driving a 50 percent decrease in infections within nursing homes in the span of four weeks, according to data from the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The data included cases from December 20 through January 24 - after a federal program opened vaccination clinics in nursing homes on December 19.

It showed that the 797 nursing homes with the clinics saw infection rates drop by half within three weeks, compared with 21 percent in 1,709 homes that did not have clinics in the first week.

As the vaccine rollout picks up speed and infection rates fall across the board, some states have begun curtailing back coronavirus-related restrictions.

But on Monday Walensky, the CDC director, indicated that she does not approve of states relaxing their rules as she emphasized that rates for new cases and hospitalizations are still higher than they were over the summer.

'Given that we're still over a hundred thousand cases a day, I would discourage any such activity,' she said.

'And I would say that we are still in the first hundred days [of the Biden administration], where we wanted certainly everybody masked for the first hundred days.

'I think we have yet to control this pandemic. We still have this emerging threat of variants.'

Walensky also noted that efforts to safely reopen schools will be hampered by failure to control community spread.

'The data from schools suggests there's very little transmission that is happening within the schools, especially when there's masking and social distancing occurring,' she said.

'And where there is transmission in the schools, it's because they've been brought in from the community and because there are breaches in masking and distancing. So if we want to get our schools opened ... safely and well, the best way to do that is to decrease the community spread.'

On the same press call, Andy Slavitt, senior adviser to the White House COVID-19 response team, said the Biden administration understands 'the pressure the governors are under' to relax restrictions.

He said the administration is trying to help governors understand why they should continue to follow 'sensible public health measures' by collaborating closely and sharing data with them.

States that have rolled back restrictions in recent days include Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.
Much has been made in recent years of the potential impact Brexit would have on our beef industry.

There were dire predictions that beef prices would collapse to below 3/kg, and the Government and EU readied a war chest to deal with the potential consequences.

Then Brexit came and beef prices went in the opposite direction - something that no one predicted.

Indeed, with Bord Bia indicating that cattle numbers here and in the UK were tightening and consumer demand holding up, there was a sense of positivity returning to the beleaguered beef finishers.

After all, the Bord Bia Market Tracker  which has been hailed for bringing greater transparency on price performance - showed nothing but positive moves after January 1.

Unfortunately, that's all come to an end this week as quotes took a 10c tumble following a 5c cut last week. Beef finishers are now reporting difficulties getting cattle killed at all and a number of processors are said to be operating a three-day week.

So what's causing the latest slump?

Is Brexit beginning to bite or have the latest Covid-19 lockdowns depressed consumer demand? The latter seems unlikely, as beef prices remained strong in January, when the lockdown began.

Yesterday, we asked Meat Industry Ireland (MII), which represents the meat factories, to enlighten us on the reasons behind the latest price slump. The response? Silence.

There were many reasons why farmers took to the picket lines and shut down the sector for the best part of a month in 2019. Depressed prices led to a build-up of frustration and anger, but there is always a simmering undercurrent driven by a sense of powerlessness and a lack of knowledge around what is happening in the marketplace.

The 'freedom to farm' attitude of the EU in recent years has been based around the belief that 'farmers should produce what the market wants'. But that's difficult when you're not told what's going on in the marketplace.

It is essential the Government's planned Food Ombudsman has the powers to shed light on market developments, especially if the processors won't.

Meanwhile, the factories should remember their actions will eventually have consequences.

It's now clear that fewer and fewer farmers are willing to continue at winter finishing under such uncertainty.
Turkish goods will remain banned in Armenia at least until the end of the year, and most likely, the embargo will be maintained until Armenian importers replace them with goods from other countries or establish domestic production, Armenian Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan said.



"I think we will extend the ban for another six months, unless, of course, the diplomatic or geopolitical environment makes it impossible. If possible, we will extend it. Our enterprises, which have already started the import substitution process, need time to create competitive goods," Sputnik Armenia cited him as saying.



Thus, Armenia chose to respond to the post-war process of unblocking the borders in the South Caucasus for the free movement of people and goods by closing the domestic market from producers from the neighboring country, despite the fact that during the years of the Karabakh war, Turkish goods were freely supplied to Armenian counters through Georgia.



In addition, Kerobyan clarified, commenting on reports that Turkish goods are still sold in Armenia, that anti-Turkish sanctions do not apply to raw materials for Armenian enterprises - they were introduced only against end products. The minister added that the list of the embargo includes elevators that Armenia also imported from Turkey - Yerevan intends to replace them with Belarusian-made elevators.

Michael Fingleton, former Chief Executive of the Irish Nationwide Building Society arriving at the Banking Inquiry at Leinster House yesterday.Pic Tom Burke b2/9/2015

A bid by Michael Fingleton to halt proceedings against him over alleged breach of his obligations while he served as the CEO of Irish Nationwide Building Society will be heard later this month.

Mr Fingleton (83) claims, on grounds of his ill-health, the action brought against him by the special liquidators of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, which took over INBS after it collapsed with losses of 6 billion, should be dismissed or permanently stayed.

When the proceedings were mentioned before Mr Justice David Barniville on Tuesday, he was told by Lyndon MacCann SC, for IBRC, the application was ready for hearing.

Issues had previously arisen about judges of the Commercial Court potentially being conflicted in hearing the application.

On Tuesday, Mr Justice Barniville said Mr Justice Tony Hunt - who is not among the judges assigned to commercial matters - was in a position to hear it.

Fixing the hearing for February 23, the judge noted any further delay in hearing the application might require updated medical evidence concerning Mr Fingletons health.

In proceedings initiated in 2013, IBRC claimed the Societys 6 billion losses from 2008-2010 arose from development loans made when Mr Fingleton was CEO.

It was alleged, had the true picture of INBS affairs been disclosed, Mr Fingleton would have been summarily dismissed for breach of duty by 2007 at the latest and not paid expenses allegedly inappropriately incurred, as well as some 1.2m in performance bonuses for 2008 and 2009 when he left.

IBRC claimed an unusual management structure had operated at the INBS under which the board effectively delegated its powers over years to Mr Fingleton who allegedly authorised many loans without prior board approval in breach of the Societys lending policies.

Other claims included that Mr Fingletons alleged wrongful failure to disclose breaches of duty led to INBS suffering further losses and retaining him as CEO from 2006 even after he resigned as a director, as required, when he turned 70.

He was involved with the Society from 1971, initially as a director, and later as CEO, until 2009.

The case relates to matters dating back to 2006 and centres on the conduct of some 20 transactions over three years to 2010 which have been subject to a forensic accountancy examination.
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I was in my late twenties and had two children of my own (aged eight and six) when my husband and I started thinking about fostering. He wasnt for it at all at first  he thought it would be hard to say goodbye to the children but he eventually came around to the idea.

We sent in an application and then we started the assessment process. There was a lot of paperwork involved and a lot of interviews. We also had to have two references from people who knew us but werent related to us.

Then we talked to our children. We said, We might be getting a baby. It wont be our baby, we told them, but were all going to mind it.

Five months later, the social worker who was dealing with our application called to the front door to tell me we had been approved. Then a very unusual thing happened. He said, How would you be fixed to take a baby tomorrow? I had nothing prepared but I said yes.

The baby was coming at 4pm the next day, so we had to get moving. At the time I was living in a housing estate so I told one of my neighbours what was happening. I didnt have to say anything else. The next day I had everything I could possibly need.

I can remember the first few days with that baby girl like it was yesterday. I fell totally in love with her. Then, a week after we got her, I got the word that she was going home. When the social worker came to collect her, I was hysterical. Afterwards, I thought theyre never going to give me another child again, Im after making a complete show of myself!

I neednt have worried. Two weeks later we fostered another baby girl and she stayed for four months. If I was hysterical when the first baby left, you can imagine how I felt this time!

In the beginning, we were pre-adoptive foster carers, which meant we always cared for babies. But that changed over the years. We started doing respite, emergency and longer-term foster care.

Four years after our first placement, we fostered a baby girl who was only supposed to stay for a few weeks. When the social worker told me she was going into longer-term care, we applied to be her long-term carers. I wrote a letter explaining that we loved the child and we were able to give her a good home. Shes 31 now and shes part of our family until this day.

We became long-term carers of two more girls as the years went on. An 18-year-old girl who is preparing to go to college next year and a 27-year-old girl who still visits all the time.

We were doing a review with Tusla, the child and family agency, a few years ago and one of the social workers told me we had fostered more than 50 children. I didnt even know it was that many. It wasnt like we were marking it up on a calendar every time a child came. We didnt have time for that!

There were times when the house was extremely busy. And fostering, on the whole, is not a bed of roses. It can be very difficult. Ive had some really cross babies and it would take every ounce of my energy to stick with it. And then, of course, thered be little arguments between your own children and the children on respite and youd be trying to be the referee.

And even though youre taking care of these children, and you want to do your very best for them, Tusla is their guardian. You are not. There are rules and guidelines. And sometimes Tusla will make decisions that maybe you dont agree with. You have to be able to deal with that and maybe come to a compromise.

We would look on our girls as our daughters. They are sisters to my children and vice versa. But they are someone elses daughters as well. And I think a placement works a lot better when you have a happy medium with the parent and respect for them as well.

OK, theyve had a bit of bother, or they went down the wrong road. But thats not to say they dont love their children. I think some foster carers can lose sight of that. It can be difficult for them to open up their minds enough and take on parents as well.

Ive had a bit of bother now and again with parents, but we always aired it out.

And Ive always stayed in good stead with the parents and had them at birthdays, communions and confirmations. Everything that went on, we included them.

Over the years, Ive seen different behaviours in children. Ive had children that were finicky about food and children that were the best eaters. Theyd eat cabbage, theyd eat broccoli they didnt turn anything back. They might have had very little in their own home, but by God, you knew they were getting fed.

In the early days, if a child was acting up, Id think, my God, that is one bold child. But these children have baggage and its through no fault of their own. Theyve been through tough times. So its not all about boldness. It might be a bit of retaliation on their part for what theyve been put through.

Foster carers receive an allowance and there are guidelines on how to spend it. If youre caring for a young child and youre getting 325 a week, youre not going to spend it all. But as they get older and start joining in more activities, the allowance doesnt cover all their needs.

Were looking at colleges for the 18-year-old at the moment. OK, shell get a grant, but we have to look at the price of accommodation and a new laptop. We still have to help her out and we dont mind doing it. We do everything we can to give them a chance they wouldnt have otherwise had.

I have sat on the Foster Care Committee for some years now. People who are trying to foster now have to do a training course, so I facilitate that with a social worker.

We work with prospective foster carers and relative foster carers as well. There are a lot more family members stepping forward, which is great. And they say if you can keep a child in their own family, its the best place for them.

Prospective carers often ask me for advice and my advice is always to stick with it. People give up so easily. They say, We couldnt put up with it. It was nothing like we thought it was going to be like.

But what did you think it was going to be like? If you have children of your own, or even if you have family who have children, you know child rearing can be difficult.

Of course, you have to have passion too. If you dont have the passion, dont do it. Its not going to work out. And dont do it for the money because there is no money to be made.

Ultimately, fostering is a learning curve. And after all these years, Im still learning. Something new comes up every single time and every single child brings something new with them. You learn a lot about yourself too. I can be quite contrary and I can fly off the handle, but I have learned over the years that I have patience I didnt know I had.

Ive also learned that I hurt a lot as well. My heart breaks for children who are hurting in any way. I thought I could cope with it when I first started fostering but I find it really does affect me inwardly.

That said, there are more good times than there are tough times. And despite the challenges, Id wholeheartedly recommend fostering to anyone whos considering it.
OTTAWA - With new and more contagious variants of COVID-19 escalating in Canada, provincial governments lifting lockdown restrictions must be ready to slam them back into place at a moment's notice, Canada's chief public health doctor said Tuesday.

A vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is shown at a UHN COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Toronto on Thursday, January 7, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

OTTAWA - With new and more contagious variants of COVID-19 escalating in Canada, provincial governments lifting lockdown restrictions must be ready to slam them back into place at a moment's notice, Canada's chief public health doctor said Tuesday.

At the same time, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took another step toward trying to keep more variants from getting into the country, with a plan to start making people arriving in Canada by land show recent negative COVID-19 tests.

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Canada's COVID-19 picture is getting better, with daily case counts less than half of what they were a month ago and hospitalizations dropping.

About 100 people are still dying of COVID-19 every day but that's down from almost 150 people a day in the last week of January.

Not all the news was good. Newfoundland announced 30 new cases Tuesday, its second highest single-day total in the pandemic thus far. The province invoked new public health measures in St. John's, closing bars, lounges and gyms, while limiting capacity in restaurants.

But over the last week daily case counts have come down in most provinces.

In British Columbia, health officials said progress is being made in pushing back the spread of the virus as it announced 435 new cases.

Ontario reported just over 1,000 cases Tuesday, its lowest total since the first week of November and less than one-third of the case totals a month ago. Quebec reported fewer than 900 cases, back to levels not seen regularly since October.

Both those provinces, and Manitoba, are relaxing some restrictions starting this week, with Quebec opening most shopping malls and hair salons, Ontario lifting its stay-at-home order for most of the province by next week and Manitoba starting to allow in-person dining for the first time since November.

All of it gives Tam pause.

"I think what my concern is that right now if we release some of these measures that a resurgence will occur," said Tam. "But that resurgence could be due to one of these variants, and then it will be much more difficult to control."

She said because we're not yet screening every positive COVID-19 case for the variants, Canada probably doesn't have a full picture of the Canadian presence of more contagious variants of the virus behind COVID-19. But because they could become the most prevalent sources of infection in Canada, any sign that they're beginning to spread needs to be met with a rapid and decisive public health response.

"You've got to put the brakes on quickly," she said.

The number of cases linked to any of the variants doubled in the last week, said Tam, and many are now not linked to any travel cases.

Trudeau said Tuesday that as of Feb. 15, non-essential workers arriving at land borders will have to show negative PCR COVID-19 tests completed less than three days before arriving.

Failing to do so can net a fine up to $3,000 and increased enforcement of the required two-week quarantine. Land travellers will not be sent to the mandatory quarantine hotels for those arriving by airplane.

The government began requiring all people arriving in Canada by air to show negative PCR-based COVID-19 tests in early January.

Trudeau said Canadians arriving by land can't be refused entry because they're already on Canadian soil when they meet with border guards. Air travellers getting on planes on foreign soil can be denied boarding without the tests.

The latest statistics from the Canada Border Services Agency show that since the end of March 2.9 million people, excluding truck drivers, entered through land border crossings, while 2.4 million arrived by airplane.

Health Canada's chief medical adviser Dr. Supriya Sharma also said Monday the department's vaccine review team agrees with Pfizer and BioNTech that each vial of their vaccine contains six doses, rather than five.

Sharma said the review team is confident that sixth dose can be extracted consistently, if the special low dead-volume syringes are used. Those syringes trap less vaccine between the plunger and needle after an injection.

Dr. Marc Berthiaume, the director of the bureau of medical sciences at Health Canada, said if people administering the vaccine are careful and use the special syringes "it's going to be very easy to draw the six doses from the vial."

Canada has ordered 64 million of the syringes and is starting to ship the first two million to provinces this week.

The change however means Pfizer will fulfil its contract to ship four million doses to Canada by March by sending fewer vials. Next week Pfizer's shipment of 67,275 vials will be said to contain 400,000 doses, instead of 336,000.

Provincial governments have reported varying success at getting a sixth dose already. Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro called the sixth dose change "frustrating."

"The federal government has contracted out on the basis of doses, not vials, so it means the provinces are going to end up not getting as many doses, I think," Shandro said.

He said even with the right syringe, they're only going to get the sixth dose out of each vial 75 per cent of the time.

Dr. Mustafa Hirji, the acting chief medical officer in Ontario's Niagara health region, said on Twitter medical professionals there were 100 per cent successful at getting a sixth dose, and half the time were even able to get a seventh dose.

Pfizer's vials have 2.25 ml of liquid, including 0.45 ml of active vaccine and 1.8 ml of sodium chloride. Each dose is 0.3 ml, and when the amount trapped in syringes after an injection is accounted for, there is about 0.25 ml still left.

As part of the agreement to change the label Pfizer has to report to Health Canada every three months if there are any issues getting that sixth dose, and provide ongoing educational support. Health Canada is also providing training for medical professionals.

Canada's contract with Pfizer and BioNTech is to buy 40 million doses this year, with four million to be shipped by the end of March, and most of the rest before the end of September.

The United States, Europe and the World Health Organization all made the dose change last month.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2021.

 With files from Dean Bennett in Edmonton.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has allocated the Abinkyi and Race Course markets as temporary trading sites to traders from the Kumasi Central Market. The move is to allow for the redevelopment of the central market to continue.



Per the arrangement, 4,000 second-hand clothing sellers and 3,500 shop owners would be relocated to the Abinkyi Market while 1,000 fish sellers and other traders would be moved to the Race Course.



Addressing the media in Kumasi yesterday, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Osei-Assibey Antwi, said the traders had been informed of the relocation which would be carried out in phases.



Engagement



He said the KMA and the traders had met a number of times in connection with their transfer to the new locations.



He said the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, who was present at one of the meetings, gave a detailed plan to guide the relocation exercise.



He said he was, therefore, at a loss over reports that the traders were not in agreement with the decision to relocate them.



The KMA chief executive appealed to the traders to bear with the authorities and proceed to where they had been assigned in order to allow for the redevelopment project to be completed on schedule for their early return to the central market.



Traders threaten



Meanwhile, traders at the Kumasi Central Market have threatened to suspend trading for a day to protest against what they claim to be inadequate provision of accommodation structures.



The KMA has, on the other hand, accused the traders of stalling their move to the new trading locations assigned to them .



But the traders say they are unhappy with the planned demolition of structures in the central market without adequate replacements made at their new places.



The General Secretary of the City Market Traders Union, Mr Richard Boamah Tawiah, told the media yesterday that the road map for their relocation was not clear cut.



They want us to leave but no proper preparation has been made for us. None of the satellite markets have been completed so where do they intend to take us?



According to him, the places the KMA had allocated to them was occupied by foodstuff sellers and no arrangement had been made to cater for their needs.



Redevelopment project



Work on phase two of the Kumasi Central Market redevelopment project is currently 40 per cent complete.



According to the contract specifications, construction works was expected to take 48 months to complete.



The project, which is estimated at a cost of 248 million, is being financed by the Deutsche Bank of Germany with export credit guarantee from the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF).



When completed, the new Kumasi Central Market will have 6,500 leasable commercial spaces, 5,400 closed stores, 800 kiosks, 50 restaurants, 210 fishmonger and butcher stands and 40 livestock sheds.



The market will, in addition, have a waste treatment plant, a police station, a fire station, post offices, an amphi-theatre and first-class roads leading to and from the central business district of the city.





Source: graphiconline.com









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Deep-pocketed fans of Schitt's Creek should be on the lookout now that a mansion featured in the show's opening episode is on the market.

The Toronto mansion that served as the original home of the Rose family is now up for sale for $14.98 million.

The French Chateau-style mansion was first put on the market in 2018 for $21.788 million, but it has been periodically relisted with price dips.

Available now: The Toronto mansion that played the original home of the Roses on Schitt's Creek has been put on the market again for $14.98 million

In the pilot episode of Schitt's Creek, Johnny Rose (played by co-creator Eugene Levy) learns that his business manager has embezzled nearly all of his fortune, leaving him with nothing.

He and his former soap actress wife (Levy's longtime comedy partner Catherine O'Hara) are forced to take their deadbeat children (Levy's real-life son and co-creator Dan Levy and Annie Murphy) to the single property they still own: a backwoods rural town named Schitt's Creek.

The formerly wealthy snobs have to make due with living in two rooms at a rundown motel while trying to integrate themselves with the locals.

The series was a hit with critics after airing on Pop TV in the US and the CBC in Canada, but it broke out with audiences after season three when older episodes were added to Netflix.

Down and out: The Rose family (played by co-creators Eugene and Dan Levy, Catherine O'Hara and Annie Murphy) lose all their money in the pilot and leave their mansion for a tiny motel in the rural town of Schitt's Creek, which is the last thing that they own

Opulent: It's obvious why the Toronto mansion would be the perfect location to display the Rose family's former wealth, as the home was designed to 'resemble Versailles,' said Sam Mehrbod, CEO of Roomvu.com

It's obvious why the Toronto mansion would be the perfect location to display the Rose family's former wealth, as the home was designed to 'resemble Versailles,' said Sam Mehrbod, CEO of Roomvu.com.

The home is currently being listed by Khoren Mardoyan for Home Life/Vision Realty Brokerage.

The French-themed mansion is decorated with stunning ceiling frescos that give it an opulent touch inspired by the Sistine Chapel.

The exterior features stately gray carved limestone facades.

In addition to its 14 bedrooms, the mansion includes 16 bathrooms spread out over 24,000 square feet.

Classic: The French-themed mansion is decorated with stunning ceiling frescos inspired by the Sistine Chapel

Gorgeous: The stunning front entranceway greets visitors with a stunning marble staircase, which is surrounded by portraits

Elegant: The main staircase with its white marble balustrade is the most impressive, but the home features several other lovely staircases

The mansion was constructed in 2012 in Toronto's tony St. Andrew-Winfields neighborhood.

The stunning front entranceway greets visitors with a gorgeous marble staircase, which is surrounded by portraits.

Above the staircase as multiple frescos on the curving ceiling, along with a glittering chandelier.

The main staircase with its white marble balustrade is the most impressive, but the home features several other lovely staircases.

Take the plunge: Tucked away behind the mansion is a stately pool with a patio area

Old school: It keeps up the classical feel with its stone statues

Spacious: The home's exterior is enlivening with delicate landscaping and gorgeous fountains spread out over 0.55 acres

Tucked away behind the mansion is a stately pool with a patio area and stone statues to play up the classical feel.

The home's exterior is enlivening with delicate landscaping and gorgeous fountains spread out over 0.55 acres.

The new owners will have access to a large kitchen area with white and brown marble floors in a striking cross-hatching pattern.

The room also features an island that's perfect for preparing food or laying out appetizers while entertaining.

Massive: The new owners will have access to a large kitchen area with white and brown marble floors in a striking cross-hatching pattern

Trendy: The room also features an island that's perfect for preparing food or laying out appetizers while entertaining

The party can transfer to a stately dining room with plenty of natural light thanks to multiple floor-to-ceiling windows.

The room includes another chandelier and an angelic series of frescos on the ceiling.

There's also plenty of space to relax or read a book, as in an open office area.

The new homeowners can enjoy some time by one of the fireplaces in the evening.

Entertaining: The party can transfer to a stately dining room with plenty of natural light thanks to multiple floor-to-ceiling windows

Relaxing: There's also plenty of space to relax or read a book, as in an open office area

Getting cozy: The new homeowners can enjoy some time by one of the fireplaces in the evening

Updated: While the bathrooms are styled with French decor similar to the rest of the mansion, they also feature more contemporary fixtures and stylish bowl sinks

While the bathrooms are styled with French decor similar to the rest of the mansion, they also feature more contemporary fixtures and stylish bowl sinks.

Once the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has lessened, the home will be an ideal spot for throwing parties, as it has its own banquet hall.

The more modern area has plenty of room for dancing and socializing, and a DJ booth or a bandstand could easily be set up.

Movie buffs will be able to enjoy the intimate screening room, and a recreation room has space for both a pool table and exercise equipment.

Party central: Once the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has lessened, the home will be an ideal spot for throwing parties, as it has its own banquet hall

Catching a flick: Movie buffs will be able to enjoy the intimate screening room
(CVE: RDG- OTCQB: RDGMF) CEO Chad Peters joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has been able to double the size of strike length at their Selena Project in Nevada.

Peters told Proactive the increase of 1.3 KM was due to historical work they gained access to when they purchased it, for a low price, in January.
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T-Rex realigns, hires execs to steer next phase

T-Rex Solutions has unveiled a new organizational structure that includes a series of leadership appointments to steer the government IT company through its next phase.

Sean Murphy, most recently chief growth and strategy officer, has moved into a new role as executive vice president of the federal civilian business area. Former CACI International executive Dab Kern has joined the company as executive vice president for the national security business area, T-Rex said in a pair of announcements Monday.

Kern led CACIs expansion into the homeland security market before he returned to government service in 2014, after which he supported national security programs at the White House for two consecutive administrations.

T-Rexs other major hire is Chris Scott, a 24-year contracting veteran, who will lead the companys work with intelligence agencies. T-Rex entered that market in the fall of 2020 through its acquisition of Zot Inc.

T-Rex also said Rick Dansey, who joined the company last year as a vice president, was promoted to chief growth and strategy officer. Dansey will oversee a newly-created growth and strategy organization charged with aligning T-Rexs two new business areas.

Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

A 5-year-old girl was shot early Tuesday in north Harris County in what investigators believe to be an accidental shooting, officials said.

Deputies from the Harris County Sheriff's Office responded about 2:20 a.m. to a reported shooting at Haverstock Hill apartment complex at 5619 Aldine Bender Road, said Detective Brian O'Neal.
Just recently, the team of Salaar wrapped up the first schedule of the action-entertainer. Starring Prabhas and Shruti Haasan in the lead roles, the highly anticipated film is helmed by celebrated director Prashanth Neel.

Well, with the end of the first schedule, fans of Rebel Star have been requesting the makers to reveal more details about the other cast members. Of late, actor Madhu Guruswamy confirmed that he is very much a part of the film. With his inclusion in the project as an antagonist, fans are expecting to witness some high octane action sequences on the big screen.

Well now, what has attracted the attention of the netizens is the latest report about a special song in the movie. If reports have anything to do with reality, Bollywood diva Priyanka Chopra might feature in the song alongside Prabhas. It is said that the makers have decided to approach the diva, so as to attract a wide audience with the dance number. Though there is no official confirmation regarding the same, fans are thrilled and are expecting her to say yes to Salaar.

On a related note, Priyanka was recently seen in the Netflix movie The White Tiger directed by Ramin Bahrani which also features Adarsh Gourav, Rajkummar Rao and Perrie Kapernaros in key roles. She will next be seen in the science fiction action-film Matrix 4, American romantic drama Text for You and a series titled Citadel.

Coming back to Salaar, the pan-India project is backed by KGF producer Vijay Kiragandur under his home production banner Hombale Films. Touted to be a high-octane action thriller, Salaar has music composed by Ravi Basrur and cinematography by Bhuvan Gowda. The Prabhas-starrer, which is being planned to be released in multiple languages, will reportedly hit the theatres by the end of 2021.

Also Read: Salaar: Confirmed! Madhu Guruswamy To Play The Antagonist In Prabhas Starrer!

Also Read: Salaar Update: Prabhas And Team Wrap Up First Schedule Of The Action-Entertainer!
The incidence rate decreased by almost 67%.

Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has reported on successful fight against COVID-19, saying that the country achieved an "intermediate victory" in tackling the virus.

He made the comment during a daily online briefing on February 9, as reported by an UNIAN correspondent.

Read alsoZelensky, Pfizer chief discuss supply of COVID-19 vaccine to Ukraine"Some 25,500 new active COVID-19 cases were confirmed last week, which was down against 27,157 cases reported the previous week. Also, 144,248 PCR [polymerase chain reaction] tests were run last week, that is, almost the same amount as it was the week before last. At the same time, the number of antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests has grown to 52,222, which was almost 20,000 up to the week before last," he said.

Statistics, he noted, show that "we're seeing stabilization."

"For example, we had 89,000 new COVID-19 patients in the first week of December against 25,000 reported in the first week of February. We've achieved our common victory, an intermediate victory in the fight against COVID-19. You can see that the incidence rate decreased by almost 67%," he added.

"This is a common victory for our doctors and nurses, all those who provide medical care to COVID-19 patients, saving lives of our citizens every day. This is a win for all entrepreneurs, students, and teachers who followed the rules established in our country. I'm sure we'll continue to move further just like this. We mustn't relax, saying that it's all over for us. We still have to go through this time to ultimately win and return to normal life," the minister summed up.

COVID-19 in Ukraine: Latest developments

Ukraine said 2,656 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours as of February 9, 2021.

The total number of confirmed cases grew to 1,249,646.

Reporting by UNIAN
Airline news website anna.aero along with Budapest Airport have been shortlisted for the Organisational Fundraiser of the Year award at the Anthony Nolan Supporter Awards 2020, according to a press release.

The Anthony Nolan Supporter Awards are back for their eighth year and will recognize the achievements of the volunteers, fundraisers, clinical supporters and donors who help the pioneering blood cancer charity save lives.



The awards ceremony is usually held at the Tower of London, but with mass gatherings of this nature currently unable to take place there will be a digital celebration instead, where celebrities and invited supporters will announce the winners of each category in specially pre-recorded films.



Website anna.aero and Ferenc Liszt International Airport operator Budapest Airport have raised over GBP 93,000 for Anthony Nolan since 2013 by organizing their annual Runway Run event, a 10 km race on a runway of Budapest Airport that draws over 1,100 participants.



Their most recent run took place in September 2020 despite the pandemic, with organizers determined to overcome travel restrictions and safety limitations so that the event could go ahead. The race had 578 runners and it raised over GBP 8,000 for Anthony Nolan.



Anna.aero publisher Paul Hogan began the partnership with Budapest Airport in honor of his daughter Bronte, or Bron, who was diagnosed with leukemia when she was eight years old.



Anthony Nolan found her a matching stem cell donor, however, she sadly passed away in 2011 at just 12-years-old. Hogan is now committed to creating a lifesaving legacy in Brons name.



Commenting on the nomination, he said, We and Budapest Airport are over-joyed to be nominated for Organisational Fundraiser of the Year.



We must also pay tribute to the airlines, airports, and aviation enterprises from all over the world who come together every September to compete, including Wizz Air the current title holders of the 'Fastest Airline in the World', a trophy which has been previously won teams from Aer Lingus and SWISS, together with fastest-individual runner entries from Qatar Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Emirates, and American Airlines.



We pay full tribute to them, and the races steadfast corporate sponsor, Airbus."



The race also has great meaning to me on a personal level  every finisher receives a Brons medal, struck in memory of my late daughter, Bronte, a leukemia sufferer who received a precious extension to her short life thanks to stem cell transplants organized by Anthony Nolan, he added.



Henny Braund, chief executive of Anthony Nolan, said, It is remarkable to see how many people support our work to find a match for those in need of a stem cell transplant.



Without them, none of our life-saving work would be possible. Its those supporters who stand up in our greatest time of need and redouble their efforts, who deserve the most thanks and recognition.



Paul, along with everyone at anna.aero and Budapest Airport, have been committed to fundraising for Anthony Nolan for the past seven years and to ensure last years event went ahead despite the challenges of the pandemic, is absolutely extraordinary."



All winners will be revealed at 7 p.m. on Thursday 11th February at www.anthonynolan.org/awards.





Photo courtesy of Budapest Airport
Hyde follows family tradition, takes home PIAA gold in shot put

"It's awesome," Hyde said. "It really feels like a tradition, now. It will be cool to see our names next to each other in the record books."
Police said they carried out a search in the Creggan area of Derry today which was linked to violent dissident republican activity.

A PSNI spokesperson said that during the search a number of electronic items were seized for further examination.

Chief Superintendent Darrin Jones said: Todays search is part of an ongoing investigation into violent dissident republican activity.

"This is in line with our determination and commitment to ensure the public are kept safe.

The PSNI blamed dissident republicans for a double shooting in Creggan at the weekend.

Two men, aged 48 and 31, were shot in the legs during the attack at Rinmore Drive on Saturday.

One of the men is still being treated in hospital.
9 February 2021 LSE: PDL

Petra Diamonds Limited

("Petra", "the Company" or "the Group")

Update regarding allegations of human rights abuses

at the Williamson Mine in Tanzania

Introduction

Petra Diamonds Limited today provides an update on the status of its work in relation to allegations of human rights abuses at the Williamson Mine in Tanzania, including information relating to incidents on the Mine in the three months since November 2020. This follows previous statements made on 9 September and on 12 November 2020; in the latter Petra advised that it would provide a further update to the market which this represents.

In May 2020 the UK-based law firm Leigh Day notified Petra and Williamson Diamonds Limited ("WDL", owned 75% by Petra and 25% by the Government of Tanzania), that it had issued claim forms in the High Court of England and Wales on behalf of 32 anonymous individuals in relation to alleged breaches of human rights at the Williamson Mine ("the Mine") over a number of years. In November 2020, the UK-based Non-Governmental Organisation RAID published a report also alleging similar human rights abuses relating to the security operations at the Mine by a third-party security contractor Zenith Security ("Zenith") and the local Tanzanian Police Force ("Tanzanian Police", or "Police"), during the same period.

Petra has since received reports of continuing incidents involving security operations at the Mine and as a result of this has carried out an investigation into recent security incidents at the Mine.

As stated previously, Petra takes all allegations extremely seriously; the Company has formed a sub-committee of the Board comprised entirely of independent Non-executive Directors to oversee the matters and has undertaken an investigation being carried out by a specialist external advisor in conjunction with the Company's lawyers. Petra is committed to providing feedback on its investigation by the end of March 2021; this provides an interim update on an investigation into incidents reported in the last three months.

Background and context

Beginning before the acquisition of Petra's 75% shareholding in WDL in 2009 and continuing throughout the last decade, there have been frequent organised incursions of groups of illegal diggers, sometimes in large numbers and who are believed to be sponsored by local dealers in illicit diamonds, onto the WDL Special Mining Licence area ("SML"), covering an area of 30.6 km2. Although the vast majority of such incursions are resolved without any violence, there have also been incidences of confrontation and violence between illegal diggers who are often armed and the security patrol teams protecting the WDL property (and themselves).

Regrettably the encounters between the security patrols, performed by guards from Zenith and the Tanzanian Police, and the illegal diggers have resulted in injuries being suffered on all sides, and damage to WDL, Zenith and Police vehicles and equipment. Tragically, some deaths of illegal diggers have also been reported and are being investigated by the specialist external advisor as part of the broader investigation.

Zenith has been WDL's security contractor since 2011 and will be replaced by a new security contractor following the completion of a tender process with effect from 1 March 2021. Zenith employees are expressly required to abide by the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights ("VPSHR"); and training on the VPSHR is provided to Zenith guards by WDL.

Services provided by the Tanzanian Police are governed by a Memorandum of Understanding, finalised and updated in 2019, which commits the Tanzanian Police to act in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations of Tanzania, company security and safety policies and also the VPSHR. The Tanzanian Police are an arm of the Tanzanian government and act under its own direction and chain of command. This happens even when they are conducting operations in conjunction with Zenith. There are normally between 20 and 25 Tanzanian Police members deployed at the Mine by the Tanzanian Government.

Police equipment includes tear gas, stun grenades and firearms with live ammunition, and operates under Police and Government Rules of Engagement. These are only used by the Tanzanian Police in self-defence and to expel illegal diggers from the property. Zenith security guards are only authorised to use baton rounds (rubber bullet cartridges) in their shotguns and are subject to strict controls around the use of such weapons, which include a register of any rounds discharged. All firearms and ammunition on WDL premises are securely stored and are subject to routine checks and verification. No WDL security employees are permitted to carry or use any firearms.

In the three months from November 2020 through January 2021 there have been 79 recorded incursions onto the SML, involving approximately 1091 illegal diggers. In the majority of cases (60 of the 79 incidents), no force was used despite the illegal diggers becoming aggressive in 8 of those 60 incidents.

In 19 of these incidents, reasonable force was required to remove or disperse the illegal diggers from the SML or for the security patrol teams to defend themselves. Live ammunition was only discharged on one occasion during November 2020, when the Tanzanian Police fired one live warning round in the air to disperse a group of illegal diggers. The largest group of illegal diggers recorded in a single incident was approximately 150 and in all of the incidents where force was required, the diggers were aggressive and armed with slingshots and rocks.

In the 19 incidents where force was required, 9 members of the security patrol team were injured. No injuries of illegal diggers were reported, although it is of course possible that some of these diggers may have been injured in these engagements. It has been confirmed that no patients were received at WDL's Mwadui hospital with injuries consistent with those which might be sustained by illegal diggers during this period.

A total of 13 Tanzanian Police or Zenith vehicles were damaged over the three month period. Seventeen illegal diggers were arrested by the Tanzanian Police during this period.

Recent reports of ongoing incidents and findings of investigations carried out

PDL has received recent reports that claim that assaults or human rights violations were carried out between November 2020 and January 2021 by the security patrol teams comprising Zenith guards and the Tanzania Police, and that on two occasions a shotgun with live ammunition was discharged. The new accounts, like those received previously, are anonymised, and claim that the security patrol teams responded with disproportionate and unacceptable force, in breach of the VPSHR, to incursions onto the mine.

The reported new incidents have been investigated, by the specialist external advisor. The investigation included a review of all incident reports and logbooks (both WDL and Zenith logs), monthly Tanzanian Police reports, Zenith duty logs, records of illegal entries, arrests and injuries and Zenith firearm registers. In addition, WDL personnel, and Zenith security guards that were present on the security patrols involved in the incidents investigated, were interviewed. Four reported incidents were specifically investigated and are summarised below:

1. In the first reported incident, early in November 2020, it is alleged that an illegal digger was hit in the back by a large rock thrown by one of the Zenith security guards, while running away, that resulted in the dislocation of his shoulder, requiring hospital treatment.

The investigation of the incident established that a group of some 150 illegal diggers were chased from the pit by Zenith security guards and the Tanzanian police. On leaving the pit a group of around 100 illegal diggers armed with slingshots and rocks attacked the Tanzanian Police and Zenith security guards, who were significantly outnumbered (the patrol comprised 15 members in three vehicles). Several tear gas canisters and stun grenades were thrown by the Police to disperse the group. No injuries were reported but two Zenith patrol vehicles were damaged. There was no admission to the Mwadui hospital of anyone with injuries of this nature.

2. In the second reported incident, late in November, an illegal digger asserted that he was part of a group of diggers that was intercepted by Zenith security guards. He said that there were police and Zenith vehicles present and while trying to run away got hit on the head by a teargas canister that knocked him unconscious. He said that he was carried away by his colleagues and went to hospital for treatment.

(a) On the night in question approximately 70 illegal diggers were involved in a confrontation with Zenith security guards and police. According to security reports, the illegal diggers attacked the lease patrol and the Tanzanian Police responded by throwing tear gas and stun grenades in self defence and to repel the diggers. Two patrol vehicles were damaged in the incident. Although one of the Zenith security guards reported seeing one of the diggers being hit by a canister, he stated that the digger ran away. No injuries were recorded in the incident reports and there was no admission to the Mwadui hospital of anyone with injuries of this nature.

3. In the third incident reported, also late in December, an illegal digger who was part of a larger group states that he was surrounded by 4 vehicles and was subsequently confronted by a Zenith security guard with a shotgun, while trying to run away. He says that he was shot at close range and needed to be hospitalized to receive treatment for reportedly serious facial injuries.

(b) No confrontations with illegal diggers were reported by Zenith or WDL on the night in question, with no injuries reported and no shots fired. The firearm and rubber round registers maintained by Zenith also record that no baton rounds were fired on this night.

4. In the last reported incident that was stated to have occurred sometime in November 2020, an illegal digger who was part of a larger group stated that he encountered a group of Zenith security members and Tanzanian Police when trying to leave the mine. He said that after the group started running away that tear gas and shotgun pellets were fired at the group. He states that he was shot in the back of his arm, while running away and that multiple shots were fired.

(c) According to the data reviewed, there is no record of baton rounds being fired by Zenith in November. According to the incident report filed, approximately 20 aggressive illegal diggers armed with slingshots surrounded the Zenith security team and started throwing stones at them from the slingshots. In order to rescue the Zenith team, the Tanzanian Police responded by throwing tear gas canisters, which failed to disperse the group, resulting in the Tanzanian Police firing one live warning shot into the air, which resulted in the illegal diggers dispersing. Two Zenith security guards suffered injuries and the police patrol vehicle was damaged. No injuries to illegal diggers were recorded.

Actions taken to date

A number of steps have been taken since Petra and WDL became aware of the initial allegations, including:

a) Appointment of a Petra Board sub-committee to oversee the investigation being carried out by a specialist external advisor in conjunction with the Company's lawyers. The Committee will consider the outcome of the investigation and the recommendations to address any findings. This may include any required remedy or corrective action to be taken as a result of the investigation's conclusions. Petra will provide further feedback on this investigation by the end of March 2021.

b) Detailed training and refresher training in the VPSHR has been provided to all WDL line and senior management, WDL security team, Zenith security guards, night-watchmen, WDL employees working in the health, safety and environmental area and WDL employees working at the Mwadui medical facility. Refresher training was provided to Zenith guards most recently in December 2020. Members of the Tanzanian Police Force assisted as facilitators in some of the sessions.

c) Implementation of a revised Tier 1 Operational-Level Grievance Mechanism ("OGM") and completion of the design of a Tier 2 OGM, specifically aimed at considering any incidents involving potential human rights violations and providing redress, where indicated. This Tier 2 OGM will be managed by and independent panel and is expected to be implemented during the third quarter of this year, following extensive and ongoing stakeholder engagement to ensure its support by the local communities. The Tier 2 OGM will operate according to the highest international standards and will comply with the requirements set out in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. It aims to resolve complaints following the full application of local legal requirements, including the provision of free and independent advice from local lawyers. PDL and WDL encourage any community members who have been subject to any human rights violations to utilse this OGM.

d) Establishment of a new, more easily accessible community office and dedicated grievance desk at the main entrance to the Mine, as part of a wider community out-reach and stakeholder engagement plan.

e) Deployment of a stakeholder engagement expert at WDL to provide support to the General Manager and other mine leadership in their engagement with the communities and other stakeholders.

f) Suspension of the WDL Head of Security and Head of General Services pending the outcomes of the investigations.

g) Launch of a new radio programme to facilitate open engagement with surrounding communities.

h) Completion of the prescribed tender process for the provision of security services to WDL, resulting in the appointment of a new security contractor, effective 1 March 2021.

i) Closure on 29 September 2020 of the on-site police facility where arrested illegal diggers were temporarily detained and which was never operated by WDL or Zenith.

j) Upgrade of the WDL Mwadui medical facility and protocols to ensure the security of any illegal digger patients in police custody awaiting court appearance, of which there are none at present, nor have been in the last three months.

Conclusions and way forward

The incidents and information described here remain of great concern to the Board and management of PDL. As part of its operational responsibilities, WDL nevertheless has an obligation and right to protect its property from the illegal exploitation of its diamond resource, in the interests of all stakeholders. Individuals providing this protection (being the Tanzanian Police and third party security guards) are familiar with the VPSHR and what is required in discharging their duties. The investigation of the four new incidents described above do not indicate a breach of the VPSHR.

WDL has significantly stepped up its engagement with its local communities, specifically focused on securing support for the independent, Tier 2 OGM referred to above. The engagement also extends to looking at local economic development opportunities with a view to reducing illegal digger activity on the SML. One such initiative is an artisanal tailings project, where local community members will be able to exploit old tailings material at the Williamson Mine, in a formalized and controlled manner. A memorandum of understanding between WDL, the local artisanal mining group and local and regional government authorities has been drafted and is with government authorities.

The broader and comprehensive investigation into the previous allegations of human rights violations at the Williamson Mine, is nearing completion and PDL will provide feedback on this by the end of the quarter as previously advised.

For further information, please contact:

Petra Diamonds, London Telephone: +44 20 7494 8203

Marianna Bowes investorrelations@petradiamonds.com

About Petra Diamonds Limited

Petra Diamonds is a leading independent diamond mining group and a consistent supplier of gem quality rough diamonds to the international market. The Company has a diversified portfolio incorporating interests in three underground producing mines in South Africa (Finsch, Cullinan and Koffiefontein) and one open pit mine in Tanzania (Williamson).

Petra's strategy is to focus on value rather than volume production by optimising recoveries from its high-quality asset base in order to maximise their efficiency and profitability. The Group has a significant resource base of ca. 243 million carats, which supports the potential for long-life operations.

Petra conducts all operations according to the highest ethical standards and will only operate in countries which are members of the Kimberley Process. The Company aims to generate tangible value for each of its stakeholders, thereby contributing to the socio-economic development of its host countries and supporting long-term sustainable operations to the benefit of its employees, partners and communities.

Petra is quoted with a premium listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker 'PDL'. The Company's US$650 million loan notes due in 2022, currently subject to restructuring, are listed on the Global Exchange market of the Irish Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.petradiamonds.com.
Paul Manafort is in the clear at last.

Almost four years after Donald Trump's campaign chairman was targeted by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, and about two years after state prosecutors charged him, Manafort is finally free of the threat of jail. The government's scrutiny of Manafort ended when New York state's top appeals court issued a ruling that effectively means Manafort can't be prosecuted by Manhattan's district attorney.

The Feb. 4 ruling by the New York Court of Appeals ends DA Cyrus Vance Jr.'s attempt to bring a "pardon-proof" case against Manafort.

Manafort was convicted of federal financial-crime and illegal-lobbying charges and sentenced in 2019 to 7 1/2 years in prison. But as Vance and others anticipated, Trump in December pardoned Manafort, who was serving his sentence at home.

Because presidential pardons apply only to federal crimes, Manafort still had to confront Vance's case, which alleged mortgage fraud and other crimes. Two lower courts in New York had previously ruled that Vance's case was so similar to the federal case that it was barred by the so-called double-jeopardy law -- that is, the rules against prosecuting a person twice for the same crime.

In its order last week, the Court of Appeals, without explanation, said it wouldn't hear Vance's appeal of the lower court decision.

"As we have said from the time the district attorney announced charges against Mr. Manafort, this is a case that should never have been brought because the dismissed indictment is a clear violation of New York law," Manafort's attorney Todd Blanche said in an email. As lower courts ruled, Vance's arguments "'fall far short' of triggering an exception to double jeopardy that would justify this prosecution," he said.

The New York Times first reported the court's decision on Monday.
At just 17 years old, The Kid Laroi is already on top of the world.

Since bursting onto the international music scene in 2019 thanks to an endorsement from late rap icon Juice Wrld, the Indigenous teenager has become one of Australia's most successful artists.

But life looked very different for Laroi, whose real name is Charlton Howard, just a few years ago.

Two years ago, The Kid Laroi (real name Charlton Howard, pictured) was homeless and bouncing between temporary living arrangements with his mother. Today, at just 17, he lives in a mansion in LA and has a number one album to his name

Overnight sensation

Born in Waterloo, Sydney, Laroi grew up in relative poverty, spending his formative years in a housing commission block and couch surfing with his mother.

He began rapping at the age of 13, predominantly as an outlet to process his family struggles and the death of his uncle two years earlier.

He achieved modest success as a finalist in Australian radio station Triple J's Unearthed High competition, but his real breakthrough came when he was signed as international rap sensation Juice Wrld's labelmate at Grade A Productions in 2019.

The duo quickly became close, with Laroi even referring to Juice as his 'big brother' after being selected to support him on the Sydney and Melbourne legs of his Australian tour in November 2019.

Born in Waterloo, Sydney, Laroi grew up in relative poverty, spending his formative years in a housing commission block and couch surfing with his mother, Sloane (right)

He achieved modest success as a finalist in Australian radio station Triple J's Unearthed High competition, but his real breakthrough came when he was signed as international rap sensation Juice Wrld's (pictured) label mate at Grade A Productions in 2019

Fate took a cruel turn and just weeks later on December 8, Juice Wrld died at the age of 21, after suffering a reported seizure at Chicago Midway International Airport.

Prior to his death, Juice recorded a verse for GO, the lead single on Laroi's debut mixtape, knowing full well it would rocket the teen to fame overnight.

It did just that upon its release in June 2020, and in the blink of an eye the talented underdog from Waterloo had a single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 - topping megastar Justin Bieber that he's been compared to - a feat many artists can only ever dream of achieving.

Fate took a cruel turn and just weeks later on December 8, Juice Wrld died at the age of 21, after suffering a reported seizure at Chicago Midway International Airport

He went on to become the youngest Australian to have a number one album on the ARIA charts with the release of F*ck Love (Savage) in July 2020.

The record settled at number three in the U.S.

The next month, Laroi secured a record deal with Sony Music and relocated from Sydney to Los Angeles with his family.

Prior to his death, Juice recorded a verse for GO, the lead single on Laroi's debut mixtape, F*ck Love, knowing full well it would rocket the teen to fame overnight

GO did just that upon its release in June 2020. He went on to become the youngest Australian to have an album debut at number one on the Australian ARIA charts with the release of F*ck Love in July 2020. The record settled at number three in the US

The Early Years

Laroi developed a passion for music from a young age, largely thanks to the influence of his mother Sloane, an Indigenous music executive, and his father Nick, a French music producer

Laroi developed a passion for music from a young age, largely thanks to the influence of his mother Sloane, an Indigenous music executive, and his father Nick, a French music producer.

At the age of seven, Laroi moved to Broken Hill, a dusty mining town in far west New South Wales to live with his mother and uncle.

But when his uncle died when he was 11, Laroi and his mother returned to Sydney, living in a housing commission block in Waterloo.

Laroi was attending Sydney's Australian Performing Arts Grammar School on a scholarship when they were evicted after complaints about noise and traffic.

Left homeless and penniless, the duo spent the next two years couch surfing, while Laroi did everything possible to make money from his music.

He soon started to focus on music seriously and joined the exclusive Australian Performing Arts Grammar School in Adelaide. After his uncle's death when he was 11, Laroi and his mother moved to a housing commission block in Waterloo

However, his stint on South Australia was brief, and Laroi soon returned to Sydney and began living at a housing commission block in Waterloo with his mum

In a documentary by Spotify, part of its RADAR emerging artists program in November last year, home footage from 2018 shows Laroi giving fans a tour of his squalid bedroom, which contained a blow-up mattress (pictured), a mirror and a tiny heater in the corner

He and Sloane were left homeless and penniless for two years after being evicted from the public housing commission. Pictured: Laroi in front of Waterloo's infamous Drysdale housing commission building

Making a megastar

By 2015, The Kid Laroi (performing as Charlton at the time) was living in Adelaide, where he was mentored by producer DJ Ladykiller.

After a blow-away performance at Ladykiller's house party, the pair formed a duo called Dream Team and quickly gained attention on the local scene.

They eventually disbanded for unknown reasons, but the seed for performing was firmly planted and Laroi's career went from strength to strength.

Reflecting on his days growing up on the streets, Laroi told Sony Music: '[My friends and I] used to play with crackheads a lot, we used to just f**k around.'

In a documentary by Spotify, part of its RADAR emerging artists program in November last year, home footage from 2018 shows Laroi giving fans a tour of his squalid bedroom, which contained a blow-up mattress, a mirror and a tiny heater in the corner.

His belongings were stored in washing baskets, and there were large holes in the dirt-stained walls

'It got to a point where we had nowhere to go. We were like, staying on my mum's couch and s**t like that. And [a man] was literally cooking meth right next to us. S**t was getting really hectic,' he said.

'When you get kicked out of public housing, that's like, f**ked up. Because like, public housing is like, the last resort. So after that it's like, what the f**k? Where do I go from there?'

'I got me and my little brother out to LA. And we got a little house and s**t,' he proudly told Spotify in their RADAR program.

A mural of Laroi was painted in Chapel Lane, Waterloo, by artist Scott Scott Marsh in August 2020

After Juice WRLD'S death in December 2019, The Kid Laroi secured a record deal with Sony Music, and relocated from Sydney to Los Angeles with his family. Pictured: Laroi's home in LA

Bright Future

The Kid Laroi is the 77th most popular artist in the world on Spotify, with 27 million listeners, and many of his songs have become viral hits on TikTok.

On Sunday, after 28 weeks in the ARIA top 50 album chart, Laroi's 2020 release F**k Love (Savage) finally reached number one.

He tweeted: '#1 in my own country. Words cannot describe this feeling. Anybody who knows me, knows that where I'm from means everything to me. I'm more than blessed to have my country behind me, and I promise that I won't let them down.

The Kid Laroi (pictured with girlfriend Katarina Deme) is the 77th most popular artist in the world on Spotify, with 27 million listeners

'One of my biggest goals in this whole music s**t from the beginning has always been to show the rest of the world what Australia has to offer, and how much raw and unseen talent that we have. It's not an overnight process, but I can feel it slowly happening.'

Laroi concluded: 'And I'm taking this s**t all the way too. I love you so so so so much family. I cannot thank you enough. Australia to the world.'

F**k Love (Savage) has already been certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling more than 35,000 units.

His debut album is also performing well in Britain and the U.S., charting at #11 and #13 respectively as of last week.
The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to sanction any official of the Atebubu Municipal Education Office in the Bono East Region who allegedly took money from its members before handing over personal protective equipment (PPE) provided by the government for schools.



For instance, it claimed that 38 out of the 42 private schools in the district were made to pay GH200 each before receiving their share of the PPE, when it was supposed to be free.



For now, there is no need to call for investigations into the matter because the truth is out and the district director of education is aware, after we had presented the issue to him, the Executive Secretary of GNACOPS, Mr Enoch Kwasi Gyetuah, told the Daily Graphic.



Concerns



He described as unfortunate the action by the officials, whom he alleged collected such money from proprietors of private schools who charged as low as GH20 as fees because the schools were located in deprived communities.



Some of them even have to go and borrow; it is very sad, he added.



According to Mr Gyetuah, the Bono East Coordinator of GNACOPS, Mr Nelson Aho, had informed the national executive of the council about the incident, saying that considering the implication of the allegation, we invited him to come to Accra to formally brief us.



At the meeting, he told us that the GES Office at Atebubu was demanding that private schools pay money before their share of the PPE was released to them, he said.



When we asked for evidence, he (Coordinator of GNACOPS) showed us screenshot messages from a complainant, he added.



Mr Gyetuah said when the local district head of private schools was asked about the issue, he also confirmed that the officials demanded money they referred to as clearance before the release of the PPE to the private schools.



He said following the complaints, officials of the GES sent all the share of GNACOPS PPE to its regional coordinators house at 9 p.m. last Sunday.



What we are requesting for is a refund of the money they have allegedly taken from our members in camera, Mr Gyetuah pleaded.



He said the council was also verifying rumours of a similar incident at Ejura in the Ashanti Region.









Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Somewhat counter-intuitively, the dematerialization of auctions has not greatly improved the transparency of the secondary art market. For sure, it has never been easier to bid for a work of art, but the information required to appreciate the full quality of a piece and to accurately gauge its value is no more precise in the sales catalogs than it was before.

In some cases, it is also no longer possible to have any real contact with a given lot before it goes under the hammer. Artprice is therefore redoubling its efforts to offer a complete range of tools that allow its members to follow all the works put up for auction and fully understand the evolution of their prices.

Price Index for Christopher Wool - Base 100 in January 2000

[https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2021/02/1-artmarket-artprice-christopher-wool-price-index.png]

Artprice: the world leader in Art Market information

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"Online sales have not yet completely proven their credentials" says thierry Ehrmann, President and Founder of Artmarket.com and its Artprice Department. "There are still some traces of mistrust regarding the quality of the lots included in online-only sessions. Notably, there are rumours that estimates are not exceeded as often as in live sales. In any case, the results for 2020 show all the market's indicators positive territory. Even the most sensitive of them, the unsold rate, has remained perfectly stable".

Still too early to draw conclusions...

The high-end market has been particularly slow over the past twelve months. For example, Jeff Koons' annual turnover dropped 97% in 2020. Very few of his major pieces were consigned for sale during the year, and the two that were (with the highest estimates) failed to sell during live ("normal") sessions. Clearly, owners of Jeff Koons' works believe it is better to wait.

As William Baumol discussed in his 1986 article Unnatural Value, a sort of monopoly exists for each and every work of art. Owning a single work, or one produced in very few copies, necessarily introduces a form of information asymmetry. Fortunately, this asymmetry can be reduced by having an objective and reliable source of information, such as the one offered by Artmarket.com via its Artprice subscriptions. Its databases systematically list (i.e without any bias or preference) all public auctions of works of art and this enhances clarity regarding the price construction process.

Two types of essential information

Auctions constitute the sector of the art market that is considered the most transparent since lot descriptions as well as the results must be made public. However, not all relevant information is always presented in a catalog, such as, for example, the identity of the former owners of a work. Moreover, the websites of auction operators - even those of the major houses - make it very difficult to search for information on past sales of similar works.

The notion of market "transparency" suggests primarily two types of additional information which must be easily accessible: the characteristics of all the products, but also, for each product, the quantities offered and sought after.

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Because the number of results can be very high, Artprice makes available to its subscribers (Advanced and Professional) a complete set of interactive statistics for each artist. These provide a global and essential overview of past sales that includes chronological price evolution, geographical distribution and breakdowns by price range and category (medium).

Better fluidity... but not better transparency

The digitization of sales catalogs and the proliferation of auction platforms have certainly improved the fluidity of the art market. But transaction costs have not fallen they have actually risen. Moreover, the information disclosed by Auction Houses is not more detailed. Artprice has however noticed one exception: certain operators have taken to indicating number of bids recorded on each lot during an online sale, thereby providing an additional measure of the market's appetite.

In order to remain independent, Artprice has decided not to allow bidding directly on its platform, preferring to provide direct links to the websites of partner Auction Houses. Artmarket.com and Artprice are therefore more than ever putting everything in place to provide additional services to those offered by the Auction Houses, by providing all players in the art market with a reliable and impartial information platform.

Artprice wants to ensure that all its subscribers get unlimited consultation of all past sales results (including those catalogued in the Enrique Mayer publications since 1962 and those in Hippolyte Mireur's famous Dictionary of Art Sales (1700-1900)) and to all future sales, and to all available decision-making tools.

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Artmarket is a global player in the Art Market with, among other structures, its Artprice department, world leader in the accumulation, management and exploitation of historical and current art market information in databanks containing over 30 million indices and auction results, covering more than 748,000 artists.

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Artmarket with its Artprice department accumulates data on a permanent basis from 6300 Auction Houses and produces key Art Market information for the main press and media agencies (7,200 publications). Its 4.5 million 'members log in' users have access to ads posted by other members, a network that today represents the leading Global Standardized Marketplace to buy and sell artworks at a fixed or bid price (auctions regulated by paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article L 321.3 of France's Commercial Code).

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New Delhi:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday rekindled the Franco-German friendship by launching a series of defence projects, including plans to build fighter jets, drones and Europe's own GPS system.



The two leaders of Europe buried the hatchet over past rivalries and appeared in the zeal to move forward on a United EU front, minus United Kingdom.



"I believe that we have shown shortly after the new government here was installed that we are ready to activate Franco-German relations with a new impetus," Merkel said at the joint cabinet meeting in Paris on Thursday.



The pair's development of both manned and unmanned warplanes would replace France's Rafale jets and the Eurofighter, rival jets that compete fiercely for global sales.



Both leaders also pledged to push ahead with the Eurodrone programme, which is expected to produce Europe's first fleet of military drones by 2020. Working alongside Spain and Italy, the program plans to power the drones using a twin-engine concept, according to the two countries. Berlin has promised to lead on the initiative.

To ensure the strategic autonomy of Europes military space applications, the Paris-Berlin alliance should also work on fitting the EUs nascent Galileo constellation of satellites, which provides a European alternative to the U.S. GPS system, with a high level of security, the governments said.



The Franco German Defence and Security Council, created in 1988, met earlier on Thursday, and included both countries interior ministries for the first time, as well as their defense and foreign affairs ministries, a move designed to emphasize Merkel and Macrons intention to cooperate more closely in the fight against terrorism.



According to defence experts, the Franco-German alliance of defence projects was an answer to Britain, Europe's leading military power, for its decision to leave the EU.



"It is a sign to the British. It means 'you are leaving the EU and we are driving forward. We are no longer interested in you blocking the EU on defence'," a senior German defence industry official told Reuters news agency.





Apart from the defence deals, French president Emmanuel Macron also called on Chancellor Angela Merkel to help provide a 1bn fund to fix Europe's economic woes.



"We have launched calls for projects, along with the Germans, to attract researchers as part of the Make our planet great again initiative," he told French newspaper Ouest France.

Tweet translation: Unique meeting of the Franco-German defence and Security Council to revive the Europe of defence and combat terrorism.

Reunion inedite du Conseil franco-allemand de defense et de securite pour relancer l'Europe de la defense et lutter contre le terrorisme. pic.twitter.com/1cxITuhKXO  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 13, 2017

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CLEVELAND, Ohio  Lights, cameras and, most importantly, action! If you couldnt tell from all the fast cars, spaceships, dinosaurs and superheroes moving across screens, action films have ruled the movie landscape over the past two decades.

Thats made megastars out of men and women who star in such films. Some of them are unlikely action heroes, while others seem destined to do this. Following in the footsteps of Stallone and Schwarzenegger, weve ranked the 20 greatest action stars of the 21st century, looking at the films that allowed them to kick serious butt.

20. Angelina Jolie

Jolie in "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," "Wanted," "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" and "Salt."

Resume: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider  The Cradle of Life (2003), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Wanted (2008), Salt (2010)

For younger audiences, it might be easy to forget that Angelina Jolie was an action star. Shes spent most of the 2010s in movies that dont feature many action sequences (save for Salt and a voice role in Kung Fu Panda). Yet Jolie was owning action scenes starting with Gone in 60 Seconds and then the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider franchise during the first part of the 21st century. Things peaked in Wanted, where Jolie taught us how to curve bullets.

Best scene: There are plenty of cool scenes in Wanted. But its hard to top the chemistry Jolie and future husband Brad Pitt put on display Mr. and Mrs. Smith. In their first fight against each other, we get Pitts character taunting his wife by telling her Come to Daddy only for Jolie to come back with Whos your daddy now? Ouch!

19. Michael Jai White

MJW in action.

Resume: Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006), Black Dynamite (2009), Blood and Bone (2009), Skin Trade (2014), Triple Threat (2019)

Believe it or not, Michael Jai White hasnt been the lead in a major action film since 1997s Spawn. But even his direct-to-video movies like Undisputed II: Last Man Standing, Blood and Bone and Never Back Down 2 have been awesome. Whites fighting style is one of power and aggression, with his most recent classic coming at the end of Triple Threat where he does battle with Asian stars Tiger Chen and Iko Uwais.

Best scene: Its White versus Scott Adkins at the end of Undisputed II. We get to see two of the best action stars of today going toe to toe in a dream fight.

18. Will Smith

Will Smith in "I, Robot," "I Am Legend," "Suicide Squad" and "Bad Boys 4 Life"

Resume: Bad Boys II (2003), I, Robot (2004), I Am Legend, (2007), Suicide Squad (2016), Bad Boys for Life (2020)

If this was the 1990s, Will Smith would be close to the top of this list. As it stands, hes made some bad movies during the 21st century. Yet, theres been enough material to push out some gems. The two Bad Boys sequels were highly entertaining, while I, Robot and I Am Legend rank among some of Smiths best 2000s work. Even his performance as Deadshot in Suicide Squad was a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster film.

Best scene: Were tempted to go with old Will Smith versus young Will Smith in Gemini Man. But well stick with one of his better films. The freeway scene with hundreds of robots in I, Robot is CGI at its best.

17. Scott Adkins

Martial arts movie star Adkins.

Resume: Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013), Boyka: Undisputed (2017), The Debt Collector (2018), Avengement (2019), Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019)

Scott Adkins is still relatively new to the mainstream action world. But a series of movies in 2019 proved hes a formidable force. Triple Threat, Avengement and Ip Man 4 all put Adkins fighting skills in the spotlight. He followed that up with 2020s Debut Collectors, a sequel to 2018s The Debut Collector that became a hit on Netflix.

Best scene: For fight movie fans, Adkins has been a stud since his debut as Yuri Boyka. That moment comes at the beginning of Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing. Adkins starts out playing a villain. But his amazing fighting style made him an immediate fan favorite.

16. Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig as James Bond.

Resume: Casino Royale (2006), Skyfall (2012), Quantum of Solace (2008), Spectre (2015)

Daniel Craigs action resume centers on his role as James Bond, putting together, arguably, the best movie run in the characters history. But a close look at his filmography shows Craig has been all over the place in terms of action since 2001s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Since then, hes held his own in movies like Layer Cake, Munich, Defiance and Cowboys & Aliens.

Best scene: It has to be the opening of Casino Royale whose epic chase scene brought parkour to the masses in 2006.

15. Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.

Resume: Fast & Furious film series (2009  2015), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017), Wonder Woman (2017), Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

Gal Gadots Gisele is a sexy woman who can hang with the boys in the Fast & Furious franchise. But its her role as Wonder Woman that made Gadot a star and changed the face of superhero movies. We got a taste of it in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice before Gadot became the breakout female superhero fans needed in 2017s Wonder Woman.

Best scene: Gadot has portrayed Wonder Woman four times. But nothing has topped the No Mans Land scene from Wonder Woman that saw a woman do what needed to be done to win a war.

14. Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson's action resume.

Resume: The Rundown (2003), Fast & Furious film series (2011  2019), Hercules (2014), Jumanji film series (2017  2019), Rampage (2018)

Dwayne The Rock Johnson is the biggest movie star in the world. And hes done it without truly locking down his own action movie franchise yet. Sure, hes been a standout as Hobbs in the Fast & Furious franchise and the Jumanji series has been fun so far. But Johnson has put together a diverse resume with a wide variety of films that have seen him save the world in various ways.

Best scene: Johnsons amazing action scenes date back to 2003s The Rundown. But its hard not to tap Dom and Hobbs fight in Fast Five as a legendary action movie moment.

13. Scarlett Johansson

The Black Widow and beyond.

Resume: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Lucy (2014) Ghost in the Shell (2017)

This list could have been flooded with MCU actors. But some of them take a backseat to CGI for their biggest scenes. Its Scarlett Johansson who routinely delivers the goods all by her lonesome (and sometimes with a stunt double) as Black Widow. As a bonus, Johansson gave it her all as the centerpiece in two other high-octane action movies, which cemented her spot on this list.

Best scene: Lucy, in particular, has a few action sequences that are worthy of praise. But its the interrogation scene in 2012s The Avengers where Johansson and Black Widow capture our hearts.

12. Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman as Logan, aka Wolverine.

Resume: X-Men film series (2000  2014), The Wolverine (2013), Logan (2017)

It was all Wolverine all the time when it comes to Hugh Jackmans action chops in the 21st century. But you have to admire a guy who can keep his body in that kind of shape for nearly two decades. Jackman set the standard for nailing the role of, arguably, Marvel Comics most popular character during the boom of superhero films.

Best scene: Lots to choose from when it comes to Jackman as Wolverine, including that Logan fight scene where Wolverine faces off against a better version of himself. But were still in love with the raid on Professor Xaviers mansion in X2: X-Men United that saw Wolverine taking down bad guy after bad guy to save his fellow mutants.

11. Tony Jaa

Action star Tony Jaa.

Resume: Ong-Bak film series (2003  2010), The Protector (2005), Furious 7 (2015), Triple Threat (2019)

If you arent familiar with Tony Jaa then shame on you. His work in the Ong-Bak series put him on the map and even gained the attention of James Waan who gave him a spot in Furious 7. No one is more responsible for bringing the Muay Thai fighting style to American films and certainly no one does it better. His fight scenes leave even the viewer feeling beat up.

Best scene: It would be easy to go with the amazing scene in The Protector where Jaa breaks the bones of every foe he can get his hands on. But the club fight in Ong-Bak is Jaas quintessential moment where he puts his fight skills on full display.

10. Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson turns deadly weapon.

Resume: Batman Begins (2005), Taken film series (2008  2014), The Grey (2012)

Neesons transition from serious thespian to action star was one of the more shocking stories in Hollywood during the 21st century. We got our first taste when he played villain Ras al Ghul in Batman Begins. Then Neeson came into his own in Taken. Much of the 2010s saw Neeson recreating his killer moves from the franchise. But he also stared as Hannibal Smith in The A-Team and told everyone to Release the Kraken in 2010s Clash of the Titans.

Best scene: The obvious choice would be his iconic phone call in the first Taken film. But there isnt any actual action in it. So, were going with the final scene in The Grey, where Neesons character mans up against a pack of killer creatures.

9. Matt Damon

Matt Damon on the move.

Resume: Bourne film series (2002  2016), Green Zone (2010), Elysium (2013)

Much is owed to Matt Damon and the Bourne franchise it when comes to modern action. And when we say much, we mean pretty much everything. The Bourne Identity was a game-changer that has been copied endlessly. Damon continued his action run with a few more films like Green Zone and Elysium.

Best scene: The entire Bourne series is a masterclass in close-quarters combat. But its the fight between Jason and Desh that keeps you on the edge of your seat the most. Any showdown that starts with someone jumping from one building, through a window and into another works for us.

8. Donnie Yen

Donnie Yen as Ip Man and in "Rogue One."

Resume: Hero (2002), SPL (2005), Ip Man film series (2008  2019), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Yen was making great appearances in films like Blade II, Hero and Shanghai Knights long before his breakout role in 2008s Ip Man. But playing Bruce Lees mentor solidified Yen as an action icon and one of the great martial arts movie performers of all time. If that wasnt enough, he brought his talents to American audiences with a standout role in Rogue One.

Best scene: What else could it be but Donnie Yen versus 10 black belts in 2008s Ip Man? The scene is a master showcase of Wing Chun, the fighting style Bruce Lee made famous. Pay attention closely as Yen doesnt waste a single move as he takes down 10 skilled enemies. Each blow transitions into the next. Its poetry (and brutality) in motion.

7. Vin Diesel

The king of the streets -- Vin Diesel.

Resume: Pitch Black/ Riddick film series (2000  2013), Fast & Furious film series (2001  2017), XXX (2002)

Of course Vin Diesel was going to make this list. Though he briefly stepped away from the Fast & Furious franchise after the first film in 2001, he knew where his bread was buttered. Diesel and the rest of the cast made Furious one of the most successful franchises of all time, finding ways to up the action each time out. In between all of it, Diesel became the lead star in two more franchises  Riddick and XXX  while also joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe the voice of Groot.

Best scene: They got a tank. Those words from Tej set the stage for the Fast & Furious franchises most over-the-the-top scene. As ridiculous as it is, you have to love it, especially when Dom defies gravity to save Lettys life.

6. Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron in kick butt mode.

Resume: Aeon Flux (2005), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Atomic Blonde (2017), The Fate of the Furious (2017), The Old Guard (2020)

Charlize Theron spent the first part of the 21st century competing for highbrow awards. But the action bug that bit her with 2005s Aeon Flux finally took hold again when she stole the show at Imperator Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road. It was an iconic role that made Therons other awesome action turns in Atomic Blonde and The Old Guard must-see.

Best scene: The insane stairwell fight in Atomic Blonde lasts nearly 10 stunning minutes and took four days to film.

5. Jason Statham

Jason Stathom in action.

Resume: The Transporter film series (2002  2008), Crank film series (2006  2009), The Expendables film series (2010  2014), The Mechanic (2011), Fast & Furious film series (2015  2019)

Jason Statham is so great as an action star, no one cares that he essentially plays the same character in each of his films. Movies like The Transporter, Crank and Death Race, among others, are just too much fun to watch. Stathams status as an action icon earned him key roles in both The Expendables and Fast & Furious franchises, which became all the better with his presence.

Best scene: Statham and The Rock taking on Brixton Lore in Hobbs & Shaw was an instant classic. But we still cant get over the bus station battle in The Transporter. Its proof Statham can kick butt in any scenario.

4. Zhang Ziyi

The best female action star of the 21st century.

Resume: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Hero (2002), House of Flying Daggers (2004), The Grandmaster (2013)

Shes not the biggest name in action in the United States, but Zhang Ziyi has been part of some of the most mesmerizing scenes in recent film history. Its hard to forget her majestic fight scenes in Ang Lees Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Then Ziyi stole the show from Jet Lie in 2002s Hero before taking things up a notch in both House of Flying Daggers and The Grandmaster. Shes currently making her American crossover in the Godzilla franchise.

Best scene: If youve never seen the bamboo forest fight scene in House of Flying Daggers, youre simply not living right.

3. Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise on a mission.

Resume: Mission: Impossible film series (2000  2018), Minority Report (2002), War of the Worlds (2005), Jack Reacher (2012), Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Tom Cruises status as an action hero stretches from the very beginning of the 21st century with the first Mission: Impossible sequel. The M:I franchise has been consistently fantastic. But Cruise branched out into other awesome action films like Minority Report, Jack Reacher and Edge of Tomorrow. Hes also is set to reprise his role as Maverick in the long-awaited Top Gun sequel in 2021.

Best scene: Its an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the Mission: Impossible franchise. But nothing quite equals Cruise scaling the Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai. The camera angles are breathtaking.

2. Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves takes off.

Resume: The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Matrix Revolutions (2003), Man of Tai Chi (2013), John Wick film series (2014  2019)

Keanu Reeves closed out the 1990s with one of the greatest action movies of all time in The Matrix. The sequels werent as good, but the action scenes were still something to marvel at. Youd excuse Reeves if he wanted to move on from action films after his Nineties run (which also included Speed). But then came the John Wick franchise that pays homage to John Woos amazing gun-fu action style. If thats not enough, were set to get more Matrix and John Wick films moving forward.

Best scene: The museum showdown in John Wick: Chapter 3  Parabellum may be the franchises most inventive action scene. However, its the first films club fight that cemented Reeves as an action hero in a new era.

1. Iko Uwais

Iko Uwais.

Resume: Merantau (2009), The Raid: Redemption (2011), The Raid 2 (2014), Headshot (2016), The Night Comes for Us (2018)

You may be asking yourself, Who? But this wasnt even close. Iko Uwais may be the best action star going today. If you were to rank the top 10 action scenes of the past 10-15 years, hed be responsible for half of them. Uwais arrival in Merantau signaled a new star arriving on the martial arts action scene and hes never looked back thanks to the two The Raid films that dropped jaws. Virtually every fight scene featuring Uwais blows your mind in every way. You cant take your eyes off him.

Best scene: Were tempted to call this a tie that includes the final fight scene in The Night Comes for Us, the prison yard battle in The Raid 2 and Uwais Rama and his brother taking out Mad Dog in the first Raid movie (Seriously, watch all of them!). However, it is Rama versus the assassin in the final kitchen fight in The Raid 2 that ranks among the greatest one-on-one fights in movie history. The Silat fighting style makes for a brutal bloodbath for the ages. And, that finish...it doesnt get any better.
Democrats on a pivotal House panel have proposed an additional USD 1,400 in direct payments to individuals, bolstered unemployment benefits and more generous tax breaks for families with children and for lower earners as Congress began piecing together a USD 1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package on Monday.

The plan is expected to closely follow President Joe Biden's proposed package to address the tolls of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed over 460,000 Americans, and the nation's still staggering economy, which has lost 10 million jobs since the crisis began last year.

Biden, less than three weeks into his presidency, has declared that defeating the virus and fixing the economy are his top priorities.

The proposal by the Ways and Means Committee, which plans to vote on it by week's end, would also expand tax credits for families with children, for lower-earning people and for Americans who buy health insurance on marketplaces created by former President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act. It would also provide health care subsidies for some unemployed workers.

Spending by Ways and Means, one of Congress' most powerful committees, is expected to exceed USD 900 billion, nearly half of Biden's overall plan.

The House Education and Labour Committee also previewed its plans on Monday, a roughly USD 350 billion package that includes USD 130 billion to help schools reopen safely, USD 40 billion for colleges battered by the pandemic and gradually raising the federal minimum wage to USD 15 an hour.

Top Democrats hope the House will approve the complete bill later this month and send a final House-Senate version to Biden for his signature before mid-March, when crucial emergency unemployment benefits will otherwise expire.

(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.)
[February 09, 2021] Helixtap Technologies launches digital marketplace with freemium model, to drive value and opportunities for the rubber industry

SINGAPORE, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Helixtap Technologies, the independent, digital marketplace for rubber, today announces the live launch - using the freemium model - of Helixtap Ecosystem, to drive innovation and value in the rubber industry. Commodity firms currently use outdated technology and operate within closed networks, with smaller players in developing markets unable to access wider audiences or capital to get financing for raw material or expansion, seen in the current US$1.5 trillion trade financing gap. In addition, cost constraints prevent investments into business development and technology platforms to support procurement or trading to enable better pricing of long-term contracts. Segsarn Trai-Ukos, Managing Director of SMPT (Michelin) comments, "We now have technologies to move faster, to simplify the supply chain. The key advantage, here in Singapore, is that we have the technology and people with competencies available, so that we can bring the right advantages t create sustainable rubber production. This will benefit the smallholders and producers, as well as using technology to provide better transparency for the right pricing and the right financing options."



Helixtap Ecosystem provides a secure, independent marketplace for sellers, buyers and service providers to interact, with lower transaction costs and increased buyer/seller discovery. By using real-time data, the platform provides attractive financing options for rubber industry participants and increases access to more favourable rates across shipping, financing and insurance. As a cloud-based platform, there is no capex outlay, and the freemium model allows access to everyone across the supply chain. The range of services available through the platform include support for companies to achieve net zero emissions and business development goals. All rubber industry participants from up to downstream can access the secure, digital marketplace, and the platform has already enjoyed strong initial user growth during its closed beta. Larger organisations can choose a subscription service, with a dedicated account manager providing a concierge service, significant trading commission discounts and preferred access to trade financing options. From smallholders, producers and processors, through to brokers, commodities traders and consumers, Helixtap Ecosystem enables all market participants to streamline processes with real-time data, immediate transactions, live tracking, and support for global market expansion.

Farah Miller, CEO of Helixtap Technologies continues, "Innovation in the natural rubber market is long overdue and we are delighted to offer all market participants a digital marketplace to grow their businesses and provide greater transparency in the agricultural commodities market." SOURCE Helixtap Technologies

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 14:01:46|Editor: huaxia

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SARAJEVO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Republika Srpska (RS), one of the two entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), has ordered vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm, Minister of Health and Social Welfare of RS Alen Seranic said Monday.

RS institutions have been following all the scientific effects and references of vaccines from all producers, including China, and the efficiency, quality and safety of vaccines are the three criteria that all vaccines entering RS must fulfill, Seranic told Xinhua in an interview.

"Based on other countries' experiences where Chinese vaccine is already approved, we decided that we also need to acquire a certain number of vaccines from China," said Seranic.

"We already ordered vaccines for 20 percent of our population," he said, adding that ordering vaccines from China "will make us happy to be able to offer different kinds of vaccines to the citizens."

BiH has acquired vaccines through the COVAX mechanism and from the European Union.

"A month ago, we started the activities with the Chinese Embassy in BiH which supported all our efforts to buy vaccines from China and we hope the activities will be successfully finished soon," said Seranic.

RS has cooperated with Sinopharm on a project of building a hospital in Doboj, some 150 km north of the BiH capital Sarajevo, the minister said.

"Based on a very good cooperation and based on honesty and efforts from Sinopharm to help us with this project, we decided to continue that cooperation and to buy a certain number of vaccines from the Chinese producer," he added.

Launched in April 2020, the COVAX mechanism led by the World Health Organization aims to bring together governments, manufacturers, scientists and all other stakeholders to provide innovative and equitable access to COVID-19 diagnostics, treatments and vaccines. Enditem
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Biss moved to Evanston in 2006, and served in the Illinois state House for two years before he was elected in 2012 to represent Evanston and the states 9th District in the state Senate. He served there for six years before running for Illinois governor, where he was defeated by current Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
A team of astronomers and astrophysicists based at 21 research institutions around the world will receive the 2020 Newcomb Cleveland Prize, presented by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, for a discovery that improved our understanding of bright flashes of radio waves from distant galaxies.

Each year since 1923, the Newcomb Cleveland Prize has honored the most impactful research paper published in the journal Science. In this year's winning paper, the authors described how they became the first to pinpoint the origin of a non-repeating fast radio burst (FRB). Though they last only a few milliseconds, FRBs are some of the brightest radio sources in the sky.

"Fast radio bursts are extremely short extragalactic events -- that is, they originate in a galaxy far, far away -- and identifying the exact signal source of one is like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack," said Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of Science and chair of the Newcomb Cleveland Prize Selection Committee. "The methods outlined in this study will allow other teams to determine the astronomical origins of more FRBs and in turn, perhaps the elusive nature of their sources."

Astronomers discovered FRBs in 2007. While some repeat, the vast majority occur just once, lasting a few milliseconds, and their fleeting nature makes them extremely difficult to study. For more than a decade, researchers were unable to trace a one-off FRB back to its origin.

In an attempt to detect a non-repeating FRB and locate its source, Keith Bannister, a research engineer at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia's national science agency, led an international collaboration. Bannister's team included scientists from Australia, Chile, India, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Using CSIRO's Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder telescope, an array of 36 radio dishes, each 12 meters in diameter, the researchers continuously monitored large parts of the sky, waiting for an FRB. To avoid collecting an unmanageable amount of data, they designed a processing system to automatically detect FRBs and save three seconds of data around the events.

The system successfully recorded an FRB on September 24, 2018. The research team then used a supercomputer to combine the data saved from each dish, allowing them to determine the direction that the burst arrived from. This identified the source location as a galaxy about 3.6 billion light-years away and similar in size to our own Milky Way. The angular resolution was even precise enough to determine the FRB's location within the galaxy.

"If we were to stand on the Moon and look down at the Earth with this precision, we would be able to tell not only which city the burst came from, but which postcode -- and even which city block," Bannister said in a June 2019 CSIRO release announcing the discovery.

Determining the exact location of a non-repeating FRB is an important step toward uncovering what causes the bursts. Additionally, because FRBs are altered by the matter they pass through on their way to Earth, localizing the bursts has already helped researchers understand the low-density gas in intergalactic space, which influences galaxy formation and evolution.

###

The Newcomb Cleveland Prize, AAAS's oldest award, recognizes the author or authors of an outstanding paper published in the Research Articles or Reports sections of Science. To choose the winning study, the selection committee solicits additional peer reviews of finalist papers and judges them on impact in their field and wider, interdisciplinary significance. Papers published between June 2019 and May 2020 were eligible for this year's award.

The authors of the winning study, "A single fast radio burst localized to a massive galaxy at cosmological distance," published in the Aug. 9, 2019, issue of Science, will receive the award in a virtual ceremony on Feb. 10, during the 187th AAAS Annual Meeting. AAAS will begin accepting nominations for the 2021 award on April 15. More information on eligibility requirements can be found here.
MG Motor India today launched the 2021 ZS EV in India at a starting price of Rs 21 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Excite variant and Rs 24.18 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Exclusive variant. Gaurav Gupta, Chief Commercial Office, MG Motor India, post the launch, told us that MG is working on couple of areas to elevate further EV penetration in India.

In an exclusive interview given to News18, Gaurav Gupta said that MG is working to launch an electric vehicle in India below Rs 20 Lakh. He further added that MG is also working on an electric car with close to 500 km all-electric range. Currently, the MG ZS EV gets an all-electric range of more than 400km on a single charge.

Not only just products, but MG Motor is also working on setting a battery assembly unit in India. As the battery tech is evolving day by day, it is getting more affordable. However, an EV battery accounts for almost 50 percent cost in a vehicle and are usually imported from limited number of countries currently making batteries.

MG hopes to bring down the cost further by locally assembling the electric car batteries in India. In all probability, they will assemble the batteries at their manufacturing facility in Halol, Gujarat.

As for the 2021 MG ZS EV, it now gets a powerful 44.5 kWh battery pack, and has an increased ground clearance to save battery from external damage.
According to information published by the U.S. Navy on February 9, 2021, the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Nine conducted dual-carrier operations with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Eleven in the South China Sea on February 9, 2021.

According to information published by the U.S. Navy on February 9, 2021, the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Nine conducted dual-carrier operations with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Eleven in the South China Sea on February 9, 2021.

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The ships and aircraft of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Nine and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Eleven coordinated operations in a highly trafficked area to demonstrate the U.S. Navy's ability to operate in challenging environments. (Picture source U.S. Navy)

The ships and aircraft of the two strike groups coordinated operations in a highly trafficked area to demonstrate the U.S. Navy's ability to operate in challenging environments. As a part of dual-carrier operations, the strike groups conducted a multitude of exercises aimed at increasing interoperability between assets as well as command and control capabilities.



The last time the U.S. conducted dual-carrier operations in the South China Sea was in July 2020, when the Ronald Reagan and Nimitz carrier strike groups twice operated together in the South China Sea.

This exercise falls into a long history of the U.S. Navy operating in the Indo-Pacific. Dual carrier operations, like this one, are not new and are intended to maintain U.S. readiness and combat-credible forces to reassure allies and partners and preserve peace in the region.

CSG 9 consists of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), Destroyer Squadron 23, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Russell (DDG 59) and USS John Finn (DDG 113).

CSG 11 consists of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Sterett (DDG 104), and Destroyer Squadron 9 and CSG 11 staffs. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed fleet and employs 50 to 70 ships and submarines across the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. 7th Fleet routinely operates and interacts with 35 maritime nations while conducting missions to preserve and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific region. USS Theodore Roosevelt departed San Diego for a scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific on Dec. 23 while USS Nimitz departed Bremerton, Wash., April 27 for COMPTUEX and deployment following an onboard restriction of movement period that began April 1.

The Theodore Roosevelt and Nimitz Carrier Strike Groups are on scheduled deployments to the 7th Fleet area of operations. As the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed fleet, the 7th Fleet routinely operates and interacts with 35 maritime nations while conducting missions to preserve and protect a Free and Open Indo-Pacific Region.
Its not just the onions that are bringing the tears: Potato prices too shoot up

GST Burden: Traders body calls for Bharat Bandh on February 26

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Feb 09: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has called for a Bharat Trade Bandh on 26th February against the Goods and Services Tax (GST), terming it one of the most complex taxation system.

"The GST seriously lacks product innovations owing to the complicated tax structure. There is no consultative mechanism with the traders pertaining to GST law and rules both at centre and the state governments level, which is much against the declared policy of prime minister Narendra Modi for taking stakeholders into confidence while framing a policy or the rules and 'minimum government-maximum governance'," the CAIT said in a press release.

The traders bdody unanimous view that Central and state governments have failed to respond to the miseries related to GST of the trading community of the country.

"The GST council has not only pampered various anomalies and distortions in 'one nation-one tax' principle of GST but has not taken any step to simplify the GST taxation system. The only aim of the GST Council so far is how to get more revenue and how to load the traders with more compliance burden without considering the ground realties of trade in India," it says.

"Repeated statements of CAIT were never responded by the GST Council, which has generated a feeling among the traders across the country that the council has its own agenda and it is not interested in obtaining cooperation of traders. We highly regret such dismal picture of GST and which has compelled the trade leaders attending the Conference to call for a Bharat Trade Bandh."

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 17:21 [IST]

UK PM gets married in London

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Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

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Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

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Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

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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

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Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 17:40:23|Editor: huaxia

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Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), speaks at a press conference in south China's Hong Kong, Feb. 9, 2021. Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that the fourth wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong has obviously eased. Compared with the peak when more than 600 confirmed cases were reported each week in the past two months, the number of newly confirmed cases in the last seven days has dropped nearly 70 percent. She said if the epidemic situation does not worsen, there will be conditions to gradually resume normal life after the Chinese New Year, including the resumption of face-to-face classes in schools and the reopening of some of the business premises that have been closed for a long time. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)

HONG KONG, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported 26 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, taking its total tally to 10,693.

The new cases included 19 local infections, of which five had an unknown origin. The five imported cases of the newly reported infections were from Indonesia and India. There were also about 20 cases testing positive preliminarily, according to a CHP press briefing.

Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said on Tuesday that the fourth wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong has obviously eased. Compared with the peak when more than 600 confirmed cases were reported each week in the past two months, the number of newly confirmed cases in the last seven days has dropped nearly 70 percent.

She said if the epidemic situation does not worsen, there will be conditions to gradually resume normal life after the Chinese New Year, including the resumption of face-to-face classes in schools and the reopening of some of the business premises that have been closed for a long time.

According to Hong Kong's Hospital Authority, 474 COVID-19 patients are currently being treated in public hospitals and the community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo, and 24 patients are in critical condition.

A total of 181 COVID-19 confirmed patients have passed away in public hospitals so far. Enditem
UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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)

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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"

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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

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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

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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

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New Delhi: Actor Raj Kapoor's son Rajiv Kapoor passed away on Tuesday (February 9). He was 58-year-old. According to reports, the actor suffered a massive cardiac arrest.

A TOI report stated that Rajiv Kapoor was immediately rushed to a hospital by his brother Randhir Kapoor where the doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Rajivs sister-in-law Neetu Kapoor took to Instagram to confirm the news. Sharing a photo of the actor, Neetu wrote, 'RIP'.

Actor Tusshar Kapoor expressed his condolences on his death and wrote, "Sad to hear of the passing away of Rajiv Kapoor! Deepest condolences to the family! May his soul rest in peace."

Sad to hear of the passing away of Rajiv Kapoor! Deepest condolences to the family! May his soul rest in peace  Tusshar (@TusshKapoor) February 9, 2021

Naved Jafri: He was a pure heart and a very nice human being. May his soul rest in peace, deepest condolences to the family Folded hands #rajivkapoor #riprajivkapoor

Several fans and celebs reacted to his untimely demise and extended condolences. Initial reports suggest he suffered a cardiac arrest. However, the family is yet to release an official statement.

Rajiv Kapoor aka Chimpu (fondly called by family and close friends) made his Bollywood debut in 'Ek Jaan Hain Hum' back in 1983. He played the leading role in his father's last directorial venture 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili' in 1985. He acted in several other films with the most notable being 'Aasmaan', 'Lover Boy', 'Zabardast' and 'Hum To Chale Pardes'. He made his last film appearance in 'Zimmedaar' in 1990 after which he turned to producing and directing.

In 2001, he married architect Aarti Sabharwal, working paralegal at a Law firm in Vaughan.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday got emotional in Parliament as he bid farewell to Congress veteran leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and said that his legacy in national politics will be hard to replace.

"As a leader of the opposition, its easy to engage in party politics, but Ghulam Nabi Azad Ji rose above this and always prioritised the prosperity of the country first, PM Modi said. "During the pandemic, it was Azads proposal to call an all-party meet to fight the crisis as one nation,'' the PM added.

Hailing Azad's legacy and his contribution as Rajya Sabha MP, the PM said, ''The person who will replace Ghulam Nabi Ji (as Leader of Opposition) will have difficulty matching his work because he was not only concerned about his party but also about the country and the House."

The person who will replace Ghulam Nabi ji (as Leader of Opposition) will have difficulty matching his work because he was not only concerned about his party but also about the country and the House: PM Modi during farewell to retiring members in Rajya Sabha pic.twitter.com/bVE3Cnddl2  ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

While concluding his emotional speech, PM Modi thanked him for his work for the country and wished him best wishes for his future as a friend. PM Modi said that his ''doors will always remain open for him'' and he will always value his suggestions on political matters. Ghulam Nabi Azad has a zeal to do something for this country and that will always make him do things. He will add value to every place he goes, PM Modi added.

Replying to the Motion of Thanks on President Ram Nath Kovinds address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Monday said the newly-passed farm laws should be given a chance and that the MSP system is here to stay. Requesting the protesting farmers to go back, he reiterated that the government is open to talks. The Prime Minister also said that there is a need to protect the nation from a new FDI which he referred to as Foreign Destructive Ideology.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in the Lok Sabha on February 10, sources said.

The ongoing Budget Session of Parliament has been continuously witnessing uproar for the last four days over the opposition`s demand for separate discussion on the new farm laws. Thousands of farmers have been protesting at several border points of the national capital since late November, demanding the withdrawal of the farm laws.

The Lok Sabha on Monday took up discussion on Motion of Thanks to the President`s address after seeing disruptions over four days last week over opposition`s demand for separate discussion on the new farm laws.

When the House met after an adjournment on Monday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the House every year expresses its thanks to the President for his address to the joint sitting of two Houses and opposition members also agree that "healthy democratic traditions" should continue.

He said India has a vibrant democracy and all members want to contribute to it. The Opposition had disrupted the proceedings since Tuesday demanding a separate time slot for discussing the farmers issue.

Leaders of the Opposition parties and farm unions have been criticising the Prime Minister for his ''parasite'' (survivors on protests) remark, calling it ''an insult to the farmers.'' The opposition also countered PM Modis comments on damaging international interference. BJP members, on the other hand, asserted that PM Modis remarks resolved the confusion regarding the issue and laid out a clear direction for the future.

Live TV

Hungarys Curia (Supreme Court) has dismissed an appeal by fixed and mobile provider DIGI against its exclusion from the countrys 5G spectrum allocation process by regulator NMHH (National Media & Infocommunications Authority).

As reported by TeleGeography, the NMHH prevented DIGI from bidding in Hungarys 5G licence auction held in March 2020, in which the operators three main rivals each obtained 700MHz/3500MHz licences valid for 15 years.

DIGI had appealed the NMHHs decision in the Metropolitan Court, which in November 2020 ruled in favour of the regulator. The Curia has now upheld the ruling that the Authoritys decision was legal, and DIGI is not allowed to appeal the Supreme Courts final ruling.

In reaching its decision, the Curia noted that DIGI had applied to bid for a 5G licence indirectly via its parent firm Digi Communications, which is registered in the Netherlands but listed in Romania. The Curia deemed this strategy to be deceptive and against the purity of the auction process.

DIGI did not apply to bid directly because it would certain conditions attached to the auction would have precluded it from participating. One such proviso was that applicants must have a clean record in terms of regulatory infringements for the 24 months preceding the auction.
Censorship and Creative Freedom: Since Independence to OTT Era

Internet Outrage grew louder as FIRs were registered against Tandav, the series on Amazon Prime. The battle between creative freedom and censorship has always existed which is now taking place on the OTT platforms. Since independence, censorship has found its way into other forms of media such as television and print, says PARVATHI SAJIV.



IN several states, FIRs were recently several states, FIRs were recently registered against the makers and actors of Tandav, Amazon Prime Videos latest political drama series. This was following complaints against the inappropriate depiction of the UP Police Personnel and the character playing the role of Prime Minister in the show. This is one of the examples of outrage against content in the media.

Exercising freedom of speech has become difficult. The instances of the recent Tanishq Advertisement , the Padmavati row, or even the arrest of several journalists and student activists are cases that are fresh in everyones memory.

In its many forms, Censorship seems to have proliferated further, actively by people or forcibly, by political institutions, into the lives of Indian citizens. We see a flurry of tweets calling content creators anti-national, seditious, or even anti-India.

Article 19 ( 1) of the Indian Constitution protects all citizens freedom of speech and expression and the freedom to assemble peaceably and without arms, form associations or unions, and move freely throughout Indias territory.

The Fundamental Rights subcommittee in the Constituent Assembly agreed that freedom of speech is important but pondered the extent to which individual freedom could be allowed to be sacrificed to ensure the States safety and security.

CINEMATOGRAPH ACT, 1952

Two years after the Indian Constitution came into effect, the Parliament passed the Cinematograph Act of 1952.

The 1952 Cinematograph Act sets out the structure of Censorship as it stands today as it governs the censorship of films. The Central Board of Film Certification ( CBFC) comes under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting purview. It consists of the chairperson at the top, then the board members followed by the advisory panel. It assigns various certifications such as Universal, Adults, and Parental Guidance to Indias films before releasing.

From the chairperson down to the advisory panel members, everyone is a government appointee who has the authority to eliminate offensive or politically subversive content.

Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act is the core of the entire legislation which states that any film that is against the interests of [the sovereignty and integrity of India] the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or involves defamation or contempt of court or is likely to incite the commission of any offence can be denied a certificate.

EMERGENCY, CENSORSHIP AND AFTERMATH

With authority in the Governments hands, Emergency remains one of the most heavily censored periods of Indian History. Gulzars Aandhi (1975) was banned during the National Emergency due to its similarity with Indira Gandhis life. Amrit Nahtas Kissaa Kursee Kaa, a political satire faced the brunt of Censorship and the Emergency, as all the prints were destroyed on the orders of Vidya Charan Shukla, the Information and Broadcasting Minister at the time.
SPRINGFIELD - The Rev. Piotr Stanislaw Calik, currently pastor of All Saints and St. Mary parishes in Ware, has been named vicar general for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield by Bishop William Byrne.

The position, the highest under a bishop in overseeing a diocese and its administrative offices, has been vacant since last summer when the dioceses ninth bishop - Mitchell T. Rozanski - was named Archbishop of St. Louis, and the Rev. Monsignor Christopher Connelly, rector of St. Michaels Cathedral, said he would not seek reappointment.

A report issued at that time had been critical of Connelly in its investigation into how the diocese had handled sexual abuse allegations against the late Bishop Christopher Weldon.

After much prayer and consultation, I am appointing Father Piotr Calik as vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Springfield, said Byrne in an announcement on the dioceses Catholic Communications website.

Byrne, who was installed as bishop here in December, said Piotrs many gifts are well-suited for this time of transition and said the appointment will be full-time to allow me to be bishop, not of an office, but of our diocese.

I am grateful that Father Piotr has agreed to serve in this capacity because I know he loves being a pastor, Byrne said.

Calik, who was ordained to the priesthood in 2013 by Bishop Emeritus Timothy McDonnell, called his appointment in the announcement a very humbling experience and compared it to parish work but in bigger area.

The 36-year-old priest has a twin brother Pawel and is a native of Krakow, Poland, where he once worked as an assistant chef in a Sheraton Hotel restaurant after attending culinary school. His studies for the priesthood began at the Papal Academy in Krakow, continued at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary there and then at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Mich., where he completed his studies for ordination.

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DETROIT, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network will continue to waive cost sharing for members who are diagnosed and treated for COVID-19 through Sept. 30, 2021. This extension of a temporary benefit ensures members will not pay out-of-pocket costs  copays, deductibles, or coinsurance  for the medical care associated with COVID-19. The temporary waiver applies to all commercial and Medicare Advantage plans offered by Blue Cross and Blue Care Network.

Blue Cross and BCN members have not had to pay cost sharing for COVID-19 treatment since March 2020 when the first cases of COVID-19 were announced in Michigan. More than 55,000 members have had their shares of COVID-19 treatment costs waived. Blue Cross will continue to work with large group customers on potential benefit changes, as some employers may have different benefit provisions.

"With vaccines arriving, we are seeing signs of hope and promise in our collective fight against COVID-19," said BCBSM President & CEO Daniel J. Loepp. "But too many are still at risk, many are still battling the virus, and we want our members to know that we stand behind them."

The company is posting information on its blog and website  www.MIBluesPerspectives.com and www.bcbsm.com/coronavirus  to provide the latest information on coronavirus and COVID vaccines, as well as guidance for members with symptoms.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides health benefits to more than 4.7 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies residing outside the state. The company has been committed to delivering affordable health care products through a broad variety of plans for businesses, individuals and seniors for more than 80 years. Beyond health care coverage, BCBSM supports impactful community initiatives and provides leadership in improving health care. For more information, visit bcbsm.com and MiBluesPerspectives.com.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

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Takeo Kashiwagi couldnt have been too surprised when he learned Sushi Takahashi 2, his tiny Southwest Portland sushi restaurant, would have to close. Landlord Terwilliger Plaza, the not-for-profit retirement community across the street, had been quietly purchasing nearby houses since at least 2015, looking to expand with a new 10-story tower.

But it still stung when the closure notice came down in 2019, not least for Sushi Takahashi 2s loyal customers. In the months after shutting his 19-seat sushi counter for good, Kashiwagi wanted to reopen in a new location. But everywhere he looked, the rent was too high to support his brand of affordable raw fish.

This week, Kashiwagi will return in a new space with a new name -- also Kashiwagi -- and a more pandemic-appropriate format. The restaurant, which opens on Thursday in the old La Panza space, will highlight takeout sushi and bento, with a menu of hot dishes nearly double the size of Sushi Takahashi 2s. Deep-fried hand rolls, once a popular special tacked up on the wall of the old location, now appear alongside tempura udon noodles, unagi rice bowls, chicken teriyaki, agedashi tofu and a list of the nigiri that once passed by your cramped chair on the back of a model train.

Kashiwagi got his start in the sushi world as a fish wholesaler in New York City, then moved to Portland and opened Sushi Takahashi 2 with Portland restaurateur Seiji Takahashi in a strip mall just south of Portland State University in 2006. Ten years later, the Portland Mercury named Sushi Takahashi 2 its best in class for conveyor belt sushi. For those wondering, there was a Sushi Takahashi 1 -- it changed its name to Sushi Ichiban under new ownership during the 2008 recession.

La Panza, one of Portlands few New Mexican restaurants, closed last summer, Kashiwagi said. The space, which he took over last fall, doesnt have room for a conveyor belt, though if you visit to pick up your food, you might see Sushi Takahashi 2s old Southern Pacific train sitting on top of a shelf.

Kashiwagi hopes to open on Thursday at 2425 S.E. 26th Ave., 503-233-3946, kashiwagipdx.com

-- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell


An Iranian cleric has claimed that the Covid-19 vaccine turns people gay.

Ayatollah Abbas Tabrizian made the claims on messaging platform Telegram, where he has almost 210,000 followers, The Jerusalem Post reported.

According to the publication, Tabrizian wrote on the platform: 'Don't go near those who have had the COVID vaccine. They have become homosexuals.'

Ayatollah Abbas Tabrizian made the claims on messaging platform Telegram, where he has almost 210,000 followers

Prominent LGBTQ campaigner Peter Tatchell said the claims were 'demonizing' both the vaccine and the gay community.

'Ayatollah Tabrizian combines scientific ignorance with a crude appeal to homophobia,' he said.

Iranian dissident Sheina Vojoudi said: 'Like other clerics in the regime, also Tabrizian relates all the shortages [shortcomings] to sexuality.

'The clerics in Iran are suffering from lack of knowledge and humanity. Actually, his goal of spreading nonsense is to try to scare people [out] of getting vaccinated, while the leader of the regime and other officials got Pfizer, and they don't provide it for the people with the excuse that they don't trust the West.'

Prominent LGBTQ campaigner Peter Tatchell said the claims were'demonizing' both the vaccine and the gay community

The controversial figure has made several claims about Western medicine. In January last year, video was shared of him burning an American scientific textbook, claiming that Islamic medicine made such books 'irrelevant'.

Homosexuality is punishable by execution in Iran.

It is thought that thousands of gays have been executed in the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In 2019, Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javid Zarif told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle: 'Our society has moral principles.

'And we live according to these principles. These are moral principles concerning the behavior of people in general. And that means that the law is respected and the law is obeyed,'
Less than four months after Noir Male opened its doors in the summer of 2018, a new performer named Dillon Diaz filmed a trio of scenes for the labeland the experience made an impression on more than just his new fans.

We had a big beautiful house, there was a lighting director, a camera director, there was just tons of people. Chi Chi (LaRue) was doing makeup, there was wardrobeit was a lot going on, recalls Diaz of the experience. It felt like a big budget movieI felt like I became a Hollywood actor.

For all intents, he didand little did Diaz know at the time how important that initial experience would prove to be, years later helping shape the trajectory of his career.

A New Opportunity

Four months after his debut, he was named the studios Man of the Month in April of 2019. Diaz went on to regularly perform for Noir Male as his star grew, performing in more than 15 scenes for the label (and counting)including a role in its first-ever feature (Sin City), which earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at this years GayVN Awards (one of eight total nods he received in combination with the AVN Awards).

Now Diaz is set to take another huge step as parent company Mile High Media recently announced that he would be taking on some writing and directing duties for Noir Maleand also become the labels first ever brand ambassador.

At the beginning of 2020 when we were all on lockdown and you saw the rise of cancel culturewhere lots of performers, directors and studios were being called out on their racismNoir Male decided to have a roundtable with some of their regulars, the guys who have been doing scenes with them for a while, to discuss how we could make things better, Diaz says. They wanted to talk about the experiences that weve had at Noir Male, what our criticism was, how we could make meaningful change.

Diaz says that one of the ideas from Mile High Media VP Jon Blitt was having the performers do guest directing spots once Noir Male went back into production. The performer was at once excited and scared.

I was nervous, recalls Diaz. I had no education or experience in directing other than seeing what people do when Im performing, but I felt like this was a good opportunity and I should take advantage of it. I felt that if I wanted to see more directors that looked like me, I had to go ahead and do it myself and not wait for someone else to. And if I wanted writing that reflected who I am or what I appreciate or find sexy, that I have to go ahead and write it myself instead of waiting for someone else to do it. So I took the opportunity that Jon presented and ran with it.

For the studios last filming cycle in December, Diaz wrote two scenes and directed one of them (also appearing in one of the scenes that he wrote).

I didnt have any training and education in any of that, so it was very scary, but I was working alongside people that were not going to let me fail, Diaz says. Its kind of the best situation to come intoour house director Ricky Greenwood was there to supervise and make sure that I wasnt making any huge mistakes, and he gave me some great advice.

But when he found himself behind the camera with no training, it took Diaz a moment to overcome his fears and insecurities.

At first, I was a little bit timid about it. These guys have been doing this for years and do beautiful work, and here I am on my first project. Who I am to tell them what I want or what to do? So when I first started, I was a little bit intimidated, like, They have the script, let them do it! Diaz laughs. Then I realized what my place was. And now that Ive done one and Ive worked with these guys, I feel like Ill get more and more comfortable asking for what I want. Thats part of the jobthe camera guy and the lighting guy, theyre waiting for me to tell them what to do, so I have to grow into that position really quickly and tell them what to do.

Finding His Voice

Diaz quickly learned the ropesand also relied on his valuable experience in front of the camera to help guide his decision making.

As a performer, Im more of a collaboratorI walk in and say, How about we try this? or Maybe I can say this? As a director, you have to have a very clear vision of what you want, you have to present it to your team, and you have to get them on board with it. You have to get them working toward that exact vision. And if theres a problem or the vision is changing and you have to compromise something, thats okay, Diaz says. So right then and there, I had a to rely on my collaborate personality and say This is what I want, and just make it happen. It went really well. I enjoyed the process and I definitely want to do it again. It was a great opportunity to grow, and I learned a lot.

And hell get his chanceDiaz notes he will be involved with another round of writing and directing in March, still working on individual scenes before he hopefully graduates to a bigger project like a feature.

Im a fast learner. I already got it by the second script. Then we cast our guyswe had the dates and location set. I was working with Nick Fitt, who is the production manager for them, and we spoke about the props we needed, what wardrobe we needed, Diaz says. And then when everyone arrived, we started going through the script.

Diaz also had to work through a bump in the road as a director for his scene called The Gayborhood starring Zario Travezz and August Alexander.

We had someone else lined up to play the role that Zario was in, but they had to cancel at the last minute. Zario did a great job. He came in, he had his script down and delivered it. We read through it and I gave him pointers, notes and direction on how I wanted it to be said and how I wanted to see the scene progresswhere there should be a little bit of humor, and where there should be a little bit of coyness. They took it and made it their own. And it was a lot of fun to watch the process from that end of it, said Diaz, who relished his time working with the cast.

That was the part that I was looking forward to the most and the part that I enjoyed the mostworking with the actors, maybe because Im a performer as well. I liked being able to sit with them and give them ideas about how to make the characters real, and then watch them add their own flair, their own personality to make it comfortable for them. That was the best part of it.

Word Play

Diaz also embraces the opportunity for writing, and learned from the feedback he received from Blitt and Greenwood on his first few scripts.

Writing is definitely something that comes natural to me. Ive done that for a whilenot professionally, but if I had to choose one way to communicate with people, it would be through writing. Ive always known how to get my message across using that medium, so that wasnt necessarily difficult for me, he says. I looked at a couple of the scripts that I was given back, and I was like, Okay, you tear it apart, you figure it out and you put it back together. I had actually written a few scripts before this; they were produced at Noir Male, and that was like a learning experience.

So when Diaz started to write his scenes for the filming cycle in December, he had an idea of how the scenes should progress.

There should be a little bit of a challengeyou dont just jump right in. Somebodys got to put up a little bit of a fight, he laughs. So because I had a little bit more experience with the writing part, it didnt feel weird to me.

Diaz notes that he draws on various inspirations when he writes, including his own experiences and tastes. He frequently asks Blitt and others at the studio what resonates with the fans, then tries to combine all of those aspects and make it into one perfect scene.

For me, what I really want to do is celebrate the sexuality of these characters, these men of color. I want to help out the young methe little kid in me who didnt get to see it when he was coming of age and watching porn. I want to make sure that these characters are comfortable with their sexuality, they are proud of who they were, and they are happy. They are well-adjusted, enjoying their bodies and enjoying the bodies of other guys, Diaz says.

So that immediately eliminated anything DL. I wanted there to be no hiding or shame with their sexuality. It was just out there and they were happy to be doing what they were doing. And I also wanted to make sure that I wasnt playing into any of the stereotypes.

For Diaz, that means even simple things like conveying that the characters in the scene own property and have beautiful homes. In the first scene he directed, Diaz casts Travezz as a house flipper.

At some point hes going to sell it and make a profit. So I wanted everything to be on a certain level. I feel like theres a lot of porn where theres a lot of stereotypes. Sometimes the little things that seem irrelevant are still kind of sexy, and sometimes theyre offensive. I like the whole idea of the plumber coming in, fixing the pipes and they end up having sex. That stuff is still hot. I think theres a place for that, but I think theres a way to do it where were not playing to stereotypes, Diaz says.

I didnt want to draw attention to their race with their backgrounds, I just wanted them to live their life. And I wanted you to see that they had happy lives, that they were successful with their lives and that they enjoyed sexuality. I think a lot of the times we make the mistake of actually drawing attention to the characters raceyou dont have to do that. You can see that that is a person of color; you dont have to say that this person of color is about to fuck this little white boy. Its obvious. Lets just take them through their story of how they got to that place and watch what they do.

As he speaks those thoughts out loud, Diaz comes to a realization.

I guess I didnt get to see that as a kid. And I think when youre youngand I still do ityou kind of spend a lot of time in your head. You spend a lot of time thinking about things and internalizing things, and they start to make an impact and you dont really realize it. But little tiny things make a very big impact. And as an adult, you have a chance to analyze that. Maybe youve been through some therapy, maybe you figured things out as youve gone along. You realize that a lot of the stuff that you thought you figured out when you were a kid might not really be real.

And that has given Diaz a purpose beyond just learning the technical aspects of working behind the scenes.

Its just important for me to send out a message or provide an image that was different than what I got, make these kids today watching porn feel okay about themselves. And I definitely hope that really started long before me, because if you look at a lot of the kids today, theyre a lot more open-minded about sexuality. Theres a lot more fluidity in their sexualitylike gay, bi, transits not as much an issue to them as it was to the older generation, he says. So I definitely feel like theres a change thats happening, and that I want to be a part of thatI want to do my part to push it forward.

Agent of Change

And with this new opportunity sparking a fire in him, Diaz will get the chance to do that.

I want to spend some time getting to know the business from the other side of the camera. I want to do more writing, I want to do more directing. I talked to Jon about wanting to be a PA (production assistant), so I can just be on set and see how things work and figure out how all these moving pieces fit together. Because like I said, in this last phase of directing that I did, there was nothing to be lostI was there with another director who kept me on track, made sure everything was going the way that it was supposed to, he says.

I would love to get to the point one day where I dont have the training wheels, Im just doing it myself. I dont expect to perform forever. I havent had any thoughts of leaving yet, but I dont expect to be able to do it forever. And if I would like to be able to stay in the industry, I maybe would like to be able to transition into writing and directing full time.

Diazs work as a Noir Male brand ambassador will help. His first order of business is learning different ways of promoting the scene he directed, and working on different initiatives with the studio and fans (like his Twitter Takeover of the Noir Male account on Feb. 3).

We want to make it really interactive. We want people to be able to get involved and get excited and be heard. I want to take some of the ideas from the fans and the members in terms of directing scenes. Maybe I can get an idea from them that they want to see, and then I can turn that into a script. Maybe I can get an idea of who they would like to see together, and try to make that work, Diaz says. We want people to feel like theyre involved and theyre being heard, and that were making changes with their input in mind.

And Diaz wont be the only one doing it: He notes that other performers will assume guest directing spots and the role of brand ambassador.

Its going to be a collaborative effort. We want a lot of guys to be involved. I want to see the input from other guys, and I cant wait to see what theyre able to do as well.

Diaz is thankful for the opportunity from Mile High, one that brought him out of his own comfort zone.

I think its great what theyre doing. I think for a little while I also had my head buried in the sand. Looking at Noir Male, I would just come in, do my job and go home. And I realize a lot of the people I was booked with were men of color, and I was like, This is great! Its nice to see other men of color. But for some reason, I wasnt looking above the surface and seeing that the only color at Noir Male was in front of the camera. None of the people writing or directing or anybody on any of the teams was a person of color. And I realized, Wait. You know what? That is a problem, laughs Diaz. I think they also realized that that was a problem, and so they started taking steps to correct that.

And thats when the company called the roundtable, prompting Diaz to become part of that change.

They were like, We want to make it better, we want to live up to the expectations of the people who were excited about this from the beginning, and we want to get some of the people back that weve lost. And it was great, because it was at a time when everybody was saying Black Lives Matter, blah blah blah, but not everybody was putting their money where their mouth was. Not everybody was actually making changes, and Mile High decided that they wanted to actually follow through. It was really nice to be part of the discussion, to have your ideas heard, to watch them grow and for them to say, Here is what we want you to do, we trust you to do this. Everyone was like, Oh my gosh, you do?! Alight, well if you trust me, then I have to do a good job, because I dont want to lose your trust, Diaz says.

Its been a really good to see them actually support us with a projectand support each other through this strange time. I feel like a lot of the studios are starting to book more men of color, and I think thats a great thing in and of itselfjust the exposure. Im glad to see more men of color working with studios that they might not have worked with before. But in some ways, it doesnt feel completely genuine to me; it almost feels strategic. And with Noir Male and Mile High, it doesnt feel as strategic. Theyre not just trying to appease anybody. It feels like they realize that theres a problem and theyre trying to correct the problemand thats great to be a part of.
VICTORIA, Seychelles, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OKEx (www.okex.com), a world-leading cryptocurrency spot and derivatives exchange, is pleased to announce the wallet integration of leading blockchain domain provider Unstoppable Domains . As of now, rather than having to share a lengthy combination of letters and numbers to receive payment to their OKEx wallet, users can simply provide a domain name, like jon.crypto or ema.zil.

Another key benefit of this integration is that users can receive any cryptocurrency supported by both OKEx wallet and Unstoppable Domains to the same domain  rather than having to provide separate 40-character addresses for payment in different currencies. This greatly simplifies the user's experience and makes sending and receiving payments faster and easier.

Blockchain domains are also censorship-resistant. Unlike regular domains on the existing internet that can be taken offline, it is impossible to deplatform on the decentralized web. No one can access or take down a domain other than its owner. As a San Francisco-based company backed by Draper Associates and Boost VC, Unstoppable Domains is on a mission to "set the internet free," and has received grants from both the Ethereum and Zilliqa Foundations.

"The integration of OKEx's wallet with Unstoppable Domains highlights our commitment to simplifying the user experience and helping onboard more people to crypto. It also demonstrates OKEx's continued support for the furtherment of the decentralized web. Along with additional upgrades to the exchange, such as real-time settlement for all futures and perpetual swaps, we're making key strides in improving the trading experience for all," commented OKEx CEO Jay Hao.

As a pioneer in Web 3.0, Unstoppable Domains has already launched thousands of websites in the decentralized web, registering more than 250,000 domains to date. The integration with OKEx wallet will help to set a new standard for crypto wallets and drive blockchain domains into the crypto mainstream.

For a step-by-step guide on how to use Unstoppable Domains, please visit our tutorial here.

About OKEx

A world-leading cryptocurrency spot and derivatives exchange, OKEx offers the most diverse marketplace where global crypto traders, miners and institutional investors come to manage crypto assets, enhance investment opportunities and hedge risks. We provide spot and derivatives trading  including futures, perpetual swap and options  of major cryptocurrencies, offering investors flexibility in formulating their strategies to maximize gains and mitigate risks.

SOURCE OKEx
The UK High Court has all but dismissed a multi-million euro claim made by the former owners of a British events management firm against a unit of UDG Healthcare.

The executives claimed they relied on alleged misrepresentations made by the Irish company when they sold their business in 2010.

UDG Healthcare, which was at the time known as United Drug, agreed that year to pay 13m (15m) in cash for World Events Group. There was an additional 2.7m payable over the following three years, contingent on the achievement of agreed profit targets.

World Events provided events management services to pharmaceutical companies and operated mainly in the UK. Its chairman was Graham Keene, who also owned 60pc of the firms equity at the time of the sale. He was not a claimant in the action against UDG Healthcares UK unit, however.

The four claimants were the World Events European director, Andrew Winterburn; Mark Saxby, its sales and marketing director; Gary Dickinson, the CEO of World Events US arm; and Jeremy Wilson, the UK companys finance director. All sold shares in the business as part of the sale to UDG.

A dispute arose because the claimants alleged that they were induced to sell their shares in the UK business by actionable misrepresentations, some of which were fraudulent, at meeting, principally, with now former UDG executive Graham McIntosh.

The claimants contended in court that a US unit of UDG Healthcare into which World Events would be subsumed, Universal Procon, was in significant decline by late 2010.

They insisted Universal Procon had no real prospect of achieving a significant improvement in its fortunes during the earnout period.

UDG rejected the allegation that Universal Procon was in decline at the time and that Mr McIntoshs presentation to World Events management misled them regarding the units prospects.

The judge hearing the case said the claimants had established that a number of misrepresentations were made to them prior to the sale of their business, However, he added that he had come to the clear conclusion that the claimants did not rely on them in agreeing to sign the sale agreement.

I will hear further from counsel about the consequences of this decision but, as presently advised, it seems to me inevitable that the claim must be dismissed, he said.
Acting Sergeant at Arms Timothy Blodgett, right, leads Representative. Jamie Raskin, second from right, the lead Democratic House impeachment manager, and other impeachment managers, through the Rotunda to the Senate (Alex Brandon/AP)

Donald Trumps historic second impeachment trial opened in the US Senate with graphic video of the deadly January 6 attack on Congress and the defeated former president whipping up a rally crowd  Were going to walk down to the Capitol!  as he encouraged a futile fight over his presidency.

The lead House prosecutor told senators the case would present cold, hard facts against Mr Trump, who is charged with inciting the siege of the Capitol to overturn the election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Senators sitting as jurors, many who themselves fled for safety that day, watched the jarring video of the chaotic scene, rioters pushing past police to storm the halls, Trump flags waving.

Thats a high crime and misdemeanour, said Representative Jamie Raskin, in opening remarks.

If thats not an impeachable offence, then theres no such thing.

Senators agreed on Tuesday to consider the case, rejecting an attempt by the former presidents defence team and some Republican allies to halt the trial because he is no longer in office.

The vote was 56-44 on the question of whether the Senate has jurisdiction and could proceed.

Mr Trump is the first president to face impeachment charges after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached.

The Capitol siege stunned the world as rioters ransacked the building to try to stop the certification of Mr Bidens victory, a domestic attack on the nations seat of government unlike any in its history.

Five people died.

Acquittal is likely, but the trial will test the nations attitude toward his brand of presidential power, the Democrats resolve in pursuing him, and the loyalty of Mr Trumps Republican allies defending him.

Mr Trumps lawyers are insisting that he is not guilty of the sole charge of incitement of insurrection, his fiery words just a figure of speech as he encouraged a rally crowd to fight like hell for his presidency.

But prosecutors say he has no good defence and they promise new evidence.

Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye, the acting sergeant at arms intoned to start the trial.

Security remained extremely tight at the Capitol, a changed place after the attack, fenced off with razor wire and armed National Guard troops on patrol.

The nine House managers walked across the shuttered building to prosecute the case before the Senate.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that Mr Biden would not be watching the trial of his predecessor.

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Joe Biden is the president, hes not a pundit, hes not going to opine on back and forth arguments, she said.

Mr Trumps defence team has focused on the question of constitutionality, which could resonate with Republicans eager to acquit Mr Trump without being seen as condoning his behaviour.

But the House prosecutors argued there is no January exception for a president on his way out the door.

Representative Joe Neguse, a Democrat, referred to the corruption case of William Belknap, a war secretary in the Grant administration, who was impeached, tried and ultimately acquitted by the Senate after leaving office.

President Trump was not impeached for run of the mill corruption, misconduct. He was impeached for inciting a violent insurrection  an insurrection where people died, in this building, Mr Neguse said.

If Congress stands by, it would invite future presidents to use their power without any fear of accountability.

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It appears unlikely that the House prosecutors will call witnesses, in part because the senators were witnesses themselves.

At his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Mr Trump has declined a request to give evidence.

Mr Trumps defence team has said it plans to counter with its own cache of videos of Democratic politicians making fiery speeches.

We have some videos up our sleeve, senior Trump adviser Jason Miller said on a podcast.

In trying to make sense of a second Trump trial, the public should keep in mind that Donald Trump was the first president ever to refuse to accept his defeat, said Timothy Naftali, a clinical associate professor at New York University and an expert on impeachment.

This trial is one way of having that difficult national conversation about the difference between dissent and insurrection, Mr Naftali said.

The chamber is divided 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, with a two-thirds vote, 67 senators, required for conviction.

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A similar question was posed late last month, when Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky forced a vote to set aside the trial because Mr Trump was no longer in office.

At that time, 45 Republicans voted in favour of Mr Pauls measure.

Just five Republicans joined with Democrats to pursue the trial: Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

Presidential impeachment trials have been conducted only three times before, leading to acquittals for Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and then Mr Trump last year.

Typically senators sit at their desks for such occasions, but the Covid-19 crisis has upended even this tradition.

Instead, senators will be allowed to spread out, in the marble room just off the Senate floor, where proceedings will be shown on TV, and in the public galleries above the chamber, to accommodate social distancing, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

Presiding is not the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, as has been tradition for the nations few presidential impeachment trials, but the chambers senior-most member of the majority party, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont.
The family of missing man Denis Walsh, who were unaware until last week that his body had been found 25 years ago off the west coast, have spoken about their feelings at finally learning the fate of their son.

Denis (23) left his family home at Caherdavin, Co Limerick, in March 1996 and his family never gave up hope that they would one day be reunited with him.

Last Friday they received the crushing news that his body was found on the shore of Inis Mor on the Aran Islands on April 7, 1996. His remains went unidentified for almost 25 years.

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Deniss brother Mike last night said gardai had informed them his remains were buried in a communal grave at Bohermore Cemetery in Galway in 2014. The family now want Deniss remains to be exhumed so he can be laid to rest closer to home.

Mike said he thought about Denis everyday and while the news of his death was a bolt, a part of you is always expecting it.

Its hard to describe how I am feeling, that his body was found so long ago and within a couple of weeks of him going missing, its certainly a lot to take in, he said.

Denis was very, very outgoing and very friendly. Everyone had great time for him. He never had a bad word to say about people and he always saw the good in people.

Denis was the youngest of five children and regarded as intelligent, sporty, kind, and outgoing. However his family said his personality changed after he experimented with drugs while on a working holiday in Holland when he was 17 years old. Later on, Denis had to step away from a college course in economics after he suffered a breakdown, which his family believe was fuelled by a bad reaction to a drug.

When Denis came back (from Holland) he had had a bad reaction to something he had taken there, said Mike.

He wasnt a wild kid or anything, it would have been purely experimentation, it was like something had tripped in his mind, and that brought on the mental illnesses that followed.

It does serve as a warning to young people  it didnt agree with him and it did change his life and the person he was, ultimately. Denis was one of the unlucky ones.

In the years since Denis disappeared, the family had travelled around the country and to England, following up on possible sightings.

Deniss father, Denis Walsh Sr, said he was thankful gardai had identified his son after so many years, but he also felt upset and bewildered as to why Denis was not identified sooner, particularly around the time his remains were found.

I would have to say I am mad at what has gone on for the past 25 years. At least well hopefully be able to get the remains back and have a Christian burial, he said.

We lived for 25 years hoping that some day he might ring or come back in the front door and now our hopes have been shattered.

Denis Sr said he wanted further information from the authorities, including whether dental records were checked and fingerprints taken.

There were posters of Denis up around Galway and we gave in posters to the gardai, shortly after he went missing. We handed out flyers all over the place, he said.

Deniss mother Mary Walsh said it would come as a relief to finally have a grave to visit.

To be honest, I have thanked God that I am finally getting Denis home and that some of the mystery is solved, she said.

We have had 25 years of worrying, and wondering where was he, and I felt that something serious had happened to him.

So, it is a sense of relief to know that we are finally getting closure, and that we will have a grave to visit and finally be able to talk to Denis. Every morning, noon, and night, I would just think, Where are you, Denis?

That morning he had his breakfast with us, but he was very nervous in himself. He said he was going into town and he said hed be back for his dinner that evening.

There were sightings all over Ireland and we followed them all up, and little did we know that all that time his body had been recovered.

And thats the sad thing I am feeling: that all those times we were looking for him and he had already been found. For that I have no answer, how that could happen?
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Makei meets the Ambassador of Uzbekistan

On February 9, 2021 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Belarus, Nasirjan Yusupov, on the occasion of the completion of his diplomatic mission to our country.

During the meeting, the sides discussed topical issues of the development of bilateral Belarusian-Uzbek relations in the political, trade, economic and humanitarian spheres, interaction between Minsk and Tashkent at international venues.

V.Makei expressed gratitude to the Ambassador of Uzbekistan for active constructive work aimed at strengthening the Belarusian-Uzbek cooperation.



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But on February 4 the federal government announced it had managed to secure another 10 million doses of Pfizers vaccine. Problem 1: will the vaccine be approved for over-65s? About 1.4 per cent of people aged over 65 who catch COVID-19 will die from it; that number rises to 15 per cent for people aged 85. So vaccinating older people is very, very important. So why have medical regulators from France, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain and Poland decided against giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to the over-65s, as the BBC has reported? The answer is found in table one of AstraZenecas phase three clinical trial report, published in the Lancet.

The trial enrolled 11,636 people in Britain and Brazil. But just 767 people from that group were aged between 56 and 69. Just 444 were aged over 70. And remember, this group includes people given a placebo, too. Its just not that much data. To make calculations of efficacy, vaccine trials look at the number of people who fell sick, rather than the number of people in the overall trial. AstraZenecas trial recorded just five cases in people aged over 55, and just two cases in people aged 65. The ability to draw conclusions is based not on the number of patients but on the number of people who have an event. It says there were five cases. Its not going to be possible to draw any robust conclusions from that small number of cases, says Vlado Perkovic, dean of medicine at the University of NSW and one of Australias leading clinical trial experts. Compare that with the Pfizer vaccine: 37,706 people enrolled in the trial, 15,921 of whom were aged over 55. A medic administers a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to a colleague in Bethlehem last week. Credit:AP

That does not mean the TGA is going to follow France and Germanys lead. Britain, India, Mexico and Argentina, as well as the European Medicines Agency, have approved AstraZenecas vaccine for the over 65s. The question the TGA will ask, Professor Perkovic says, is not whether the vaccine works for people aged over 65, because we dont know. Its whether we have reason to believe it wont work. When we look across all the vaccines, there is growing evidence they are effective in older populations. What we dont know yet is whether one is more effective than the other. Thats interesting  but only if we have good reason to think one would be more effective than the other. And Im not sure we do at the moment, he says. On a cellular level, we have good reason to think the AstraZeneca vaccine does work for older adults. Immune responses are the same across ages. Vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna and Russias Sputnik have reported no difference in efficacy among older groups. Unless AstraZeneca can provide extra data  and it is working on it  to approve the vaccine for those aged 65-plus, the TGA will have to do some extrapolation. But this type of decision has to be made all the time. One example: Aboriginal Australians. They are unfortunately rarely represented in clinical trials in adequate numbers to know whether something works. We have to extrapolate, says Professor Perkovic.

This is such a compelling, traumatic problem, were going to have to make some judgment calls based on the best available evidence. I would personally support approval  it is a safe vaccine that is effective overall, and very likely to be equally effective in older people who are at highest risk from the disease. I dont think it would be fair to make older people wait for more data before they can be vaccinated. Problem 2: those pesky variants Scientists have been speculating for weeks about what effect the new variants of COVID-19 emerging around the world will have on vaccine efficacy. A South African woman walks past a coronavirus-themed mural promoting the use of face masks in public. Credit:AP B.1.351, the variant first seen in South Africa, contains several mutations that look like they should limit antibody binding. The first tranche of data that emerged  lab tests of viruses made to look like the variants  seemed promising. The vaccines generate such strong immunity that even with a modest dip in efficacy they should still protect people.

Human data has not been so encouraging. Johnson & Johnson and Novavax both reported their vaccines were substantially less effective against the variant. Now we have human evidence that the AstraZeneca vaccine may be hardest hit, after a South African trial put its efficacy against the variant at about 10 per cent. Dont put much weight in that exact number: the trial was so small the number is not statistically significant. But we now have three human studies showing a substantial drop-off in efficacy; AstraZenecas results are troubling enough for South Africa to pause the rollout of the vaccine. AstraZeneca has already started work on a booster.

These results are a reality check. It is time for us, unfortunately, to recalibrate our expectations of COVID-19 vaccines, Shabir Madhi, who led the trial, said at a news conference organised by the South African National Department of Health. Loading Professor Madhi is right. These results should prompt us to think differently about our vaccines, in a couple of ways. First, a lot of the focus has been on vaccines efficacy at preventing infection. But its becoming clear the first-generation vaccines are likely to struggle to do that, particularly as variants emerge (and more will emerge). Ultimately, the more important issue is: are we preventing serious illness? Because that is what is causing the biggest impact, Trevor Drew, director of the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, said this week.
A new research aimed at detecting the intake of illegal drugs employs a unique method of doing so. Conducted by researchers in South Korea, the study makes use of a wearable sensor that is able to detect drugs in the sweat of a person.

The newly developed wearable sensor. (Image: Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS))

Led by Dr. Ho Sang Jung, the research has been conducted by a team from the Korea Institute of Materials Science(KIMS). It presents a sweat patch that is attached to the skin for some time and enables fast and accurate drug detection.

A report by the Research Council of Science & Technology illustrates the difference between the novel method and the traditional drug detection process. It explains that the conventional process requires a complex method of extracting any drug components from biologic specimens. These specimens include hair, blood, and urine samples, which are further analyzed for drugs through gas or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS or LC/MS).

The traditional process hence takes a long time and requires proper instruments and skilled technicians. Rapid kits, on the other hand, can only detect a single component in a single test and have low sensitivity.



The novel method

For the new drug detection technique, researchers focused on evaluating the sweat of a person as it is a non invasive method as compared to other biological samples. The challenge with this, however, was that only a small amount of substances are released in the sweat. The sensor for their detection, hence, had to be a highly sensitive one for an accurate detection.

The team utilized the surface-enhanced Raman scattering technology which is capable of enhancing the Raman signal of chemical substances by 1010 times and more, as per the report. Since the Raman scattering signal includes the specific signal of molecules, substance identification is possible irrespective of the drug discharged.

Researchers then used this technology to develop a wearable optical sensor, made of a silk fibroin solution, a natural protein, extracted from silkworm cocoon. A 160 nanometer (nm) thick film coated with 250 nanometers (nm) thick silver nanowire was then created and transferred to the medical patch to be attached to the skin.

As and when the patch absorbs the sweat, the drug substance in the sweat penetrates the wearable sensor and reaches the silver nanowire. The drug can then be detected in real time by irradiating the Raman laser on the patch.

(Image: Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS))

Other than the anti-doping programs where the technology is obviously relevant, the technology can help address social problems such as drug distribution and abuse. Interestingly, the production cost for the product is claimed to be less than 50 cents per piece.



Dr. Ho Sang Jung, the leader of research unit, said, "The developed technology would overcome the technological limitations on identifying drug and prohibited substance use and enable drug detection without invasive and ethical problems."
The likely faster-spreading variant of COVID-19 first detected in South Africa has arrived in the Houston area, according to Houston Methodist Hospital.

The hospital system said it found the regions first case of the troubling strain on Saturday while sequencing the genomes of positive test results. It also found two cases of the variant first discovered in the United Kingdom. The first U.K. variant case in the Houston area was confirmed in early January.

Early evidence has shown that both variants may spread faster than the currently predominant strain. More than 600 cases of the U.K. strain have been reported in 33 states, while Texas becomes only the fourth state to confirm a case involving the South African variant, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Maryland has three cases, South Carolina has two and Virginia has one.

The infected person is a Fort Bend County man, who tested positive weeks ago and has recovered from the illness, said Dr. Jacquelyn Johnson Minter, director of Fort Bend Countys Health & Human Services Department. The patient had traveled domestically in December before his diagnosis and grew ill a few days after his return to Fort Bend. His household members have tested negative, and he did not work while infected so there was no exposure at his job, Minter said.

Still, Minter said she would not be surprised to learn the South Africa variant was spreading through the community.

I think its important to note that this event occurred several weeks ago and, basically, what weve been doing all along will continue to protect us as we wait for our turn with the vaccine, Minter said. We continue to wear our masks, we continue to distance, and we continue to practice good hand hygiene. That will protect us from COVID, whatever variant we come in contact with.

The U.K. variant cases involved two Houston men, one of whom is in his 50s and now is hospitalized with the virus.

Dr. David Persse, the Houston health authority, said the latter cases are evidence that the U.K. strain is here and spreading through the community, and they serve as a reminder to remain vigilant.

He said contact tracers have not been able to tie new cases to them yet, but they are more recent than the Fort Bend County case. Health workers have found very low levels of the U.K. variant in the citys wastewater sampling program, he added.

The bottom line is, and this is really no surprise, the U.K. variant was not just that one case a month ago found in Harris County, Persse said. That gentleman likely got infected here. Its here. Its now popping up on the Methodist radars, its now popping up in hospitals, its now popping up in the wastewater.

Dr. Wesley Long, who works with the Methodist sequencing effort, said there is no evidence from the clinical trials of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that they are less effective against the variants, especially the U.K. strain. The CDC has said some preliminary evidence shows the Moderna vaccine may be less effective, but more study is needed.

Long said there is also limited evidence that certain other vaccines and therapies that target the spike protein of COVID-19 may be less effective against the South African variant, though they still should provide benefits to most people.

South Africa recently halted its use of a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford after evidence emerged showing it did not protect against mild or moderate illness from the variant.

The CDC says rigorous and increased compliance with mitigation strategies such as social distancing and wearing masks is needed to combat the spread of the virus.

These variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19, the CDC warns on its website. An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on health care resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths.

Rebecca Fischer, an assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Texas A&M University, said news of the variants arrival underscores the need to regain vigilance in practicing mitigation strategies. The new strains have grown to dominate the pandemic in parts of Europe, she said, and the CDC has predicted that likely will be the case in the United States, as well.

We should be doing things differently. We should be doing all the things that public health guidance has told us to do all along, Fischer said, noting that people have not followed them effectively enough. These new variants are potentially the tip of the iceberg if we dont get the spread under control.

People need to ensure they are wearing their masks, keeping their distance and moving gatherings outdoors if they are held at all, Fischer said.

They also must understand that many people who do not know they have the virus are spreading it.

This really comes down to every person taking responsibility for their actions, Fischer said.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed on Monday with CNNs Wolf Blitzer in an interview how President Joe Bidens foreign policy approach to the Middle East could differ from former president Donald Trumps.

On Irans nuclear and missile programs, Blinken said if Iran returns to compliance with its obligations under the nuclear agreement, we would do the same thing, and then we would work with our allies and partners to try to build a longer and stronger agreement.

Blinken added that Washington will bring in some of these other issues, like Irans missile program, and its destabilising actions in the region that need to be addressed as well.

The problem we face now is that in recent months, Iran has lifted one restraint after another  they were being held in check by the agreement, Blinken said.

We got out of the agreement, Iran started to lift the various restraints in the agreement, and the result is they are closer than theyve ever been to having the capacity on short order to produce fissile material for a nuclear weapon.

So, the first thing thats so critical is for Iran to come back into compliance with its obligations. Theyre a ways from that. But if they do that, the path of diplomacy is there, and were willing to walk it Blinken continued.

They need to come back to compliance, and if they do, we will look to do the same thing.

On the US support for the Saudi and Emirati military operations in Yemen, Blinken said, on Yemen itself, three things are critical. One, we are ending our support for the military campaign led by Saudi Arabia in Yemen. Second, as we are doing that, we are also deeply committed to the defense of Saudi Arabia, aggression directed at it from the Houthis. So those two points are very critical. The third point, though, is equally important. Even as we are getting out of supporting the military campaign, we are leaning into playing a leading role and an active role in the diplomacy to try to actually end the war.

The US president has recently appointed a senior special envoy to deal with Yemen.

We need to lean into this. This is by most accounts the worst humanitarian crisis in the world and thats saying something right now  millions of people are living in a very, very desperate situation. Ending the war is the critical thing to actually improving their lot and their situation, Blinken said.

Blinken applauded the Abraham Accords, which were recently signed by Israel and four Arab states under Trumps auspices.

Blinken said this is an important step forward. Whenever we see Israel and its neighbors normalising relations, improving relations, thats good for Israel, its good for the other countries in question, its good for overall peace and security, and I think it offers new prospects to people throughout the region through travel, through trade, through other work that they can do together to actually materially improve their lives.

But that doesnt mean that the challenges of the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians go away. They dont. Theyre still there. Theyre not going to miraculously disappear, and so we need to engage on that. But in the first instance, the parties in question need to engage on that, Blinken added.

The hard truth is we are a long way, I think, from seeing peace break out and seeing a final resolution of the problems between Israel and the Palestinians and the creation of a Palestinian state. In the first instance now, its do no harm.

Were looking to make sure that neither side takes unilateral actions that make the prospects for moving toward peace and a resolution even more challenging than they already are. And then hopefully well see both sides take steps that create a better environment in which actual negotiations can take place, Blinken concluded.

Blinken on Monday stopped short of endorsing the Trump administration's recognition of the occupied Golan Heights as part of Israel, instead noting that the territory was important for Israel's security.

Former President Trump officially granted US recognition of the Golan as Israeli territory in 2019 - a dramatic shift from decades of U.S. policy. Israel captured the Golan from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in 1981 in a move that is not recognized internationally.

"As a practical matter, the control of the Golan in that situation I think remains of real importance to Israels security," Blinken told CNN. "Legal questions are something else and over time if the situation were to change in Syria, that's something we look at, but we are nowhere near that."

He added that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government as well as the presence of militia groups backed by Iran pose a 'significant security threat' to Israel.

Bidens advisers had said previously that he would not withdraw US recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan.

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Donald Trump has long used a speaking style that seems deliberately murky. His supporters hear him delivering a clear message even when he stops short of explicitly delivering that message.

A classic example came during his first debate with Joe Biden last year, when Trump told the Proud Boys, a violent far-right group, to stand back and stand by  and then quickly added that somebodys got to do something about antifa and the left. The Proud Boys celebrated the message as an endorsement, while Trump could claim he was not encouraging violence.

Today, the Senate will begin Trumps second impeachment trial, and his speaking style will be at the heart of the legal arguments.

The House members prosecuting the case against Trump will say that he is responsible for the message that his supporters heard from him. Trumps lawyers will argue that he cannot be held accountable for anything he did not say. Notably absent from his speech, the lawyers wrote in a pretrial filing, referring to a Jan. 6 rally near the White House shortly before many of the attendees stormed the Capitol, was any reference to or encouragement of an insurrection, a riot, criminal action, or any acts of physical violence whatsoever.
Editor's take: Pei has identified the true wireless earbuds market as one thats red hot in terms of consumer demand. While accurate, its also a crowded market as several tech giants including Apple and Samsung are already active in the space with products like AirPods and Galaxy Buds Pro, respectively. To stand out, Nothing will need to be able to somehow differentiate itself through design innovation, pricing or something else.

OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei left the Chinese electronics maker in October to launch a London-based consumer technology brand named Nothing. Just weeks after announcing the startup, we now know what the firms first product will be.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Pei said they are building an ecosystem of smart devices and will start with simpler products like wireless earbuds. Were going to have multiple products throughout the year, not just audio products, and eventually we want to build it so these devices talk to each other, Pei added.

Pei managed to raise $7 million in seed funding back in December from a variety of prominent tech players including Reddit CEO Steve Huffman and iPod inventor Tony Fadell.

In the interview, Pei revealed that Alphabets venture capital arm financed the startups entire Series A round of funding to the tune of $15 million.

Tom Hulme, general partner at GV (formerly Google Ventures), said Peis vision for smart devices is compelling, adding that they have high confidence that the Nothing team will have a meaningful impact on the market for consumer technology.
A D.C. judge Monday dismissed a murder charge against an anti-violence counselor in the District who had been accused in a 2017 fatal shooting, concluding authorities did not have enough evidence linking him to the crime, according to court officials and the man's defense attorney.

Following a preliminary hearing, D.C. Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson ordered that 39-year-old Cotey Wynn be released from D.C. jail.

Wynn was charged in December with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Eric Linnair Wright in February 2017. Wright, 53, was shot in the 900 block of 12th Street NE, just outside the Trinidad neighborhood in Northeast Washington, where Wynn grew up and would later work to prevent violence.

Wynn's attorney, Brian McDaniel, said he and Wynn were "thankful to God for providing justice" in the case.

"We are glad that the judge saw what we have been arguing, that is Mr. Wynn was not responsible for Mr. Wright's death. Now Mr. Wynn can concentrate on returning to serving the community he loves," McDaniel said after the hearing.

Prosecutors can seek to recharge Wynn if authorities gather additional evidence in the case. A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in the District did not provide a comment on the judge's ruling.

Until his arrest, Wynn worked as a violence interrupter, a contract position with the city's anti-violence Cure the Streets initiative. The program is run through the D.C. Office of the Attorney General.

According to court charging documents at the time of Wynn's arrest, D.C. homicide detectives got a possible break in the cold case when police received an anonymous tip from someone who identified Wynn as a person captured in surveillance video that was taken near the shooting scene and posted by police to YouTube. Another witness also identified Wynn as the person in the video, according to the complaint.

McDaniel said that at the hearing Monday, the lead detective testified that police had no information on an unidentified person who was captured on video walking with Wright around the time of the shooting. Wynn was also on video, but entered the block about 30 seconds behind Wright and the unidentified person, McDaniel said.

The detective, reached by The Post, confirmed McDaniel's account of his testimony.

Despite arguments from assistant U.S. attorney Rachel Forman that Wynn was responsible for Wright's murder, Dayson agreed with McDaniel, who argued the evidence was weak.

Wynn's arrest shocked those who worked in various anti-violence programs. Wynn has been profiled on local television newscasts highlighting how he had turned his life around, and he was pictured in a photograph in The Washington Post in March with an article on the difficulties of doing outreach work during the early days of the pandemic.

McDaniel said Wynn hopes to return to violence-prevention work.

D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine, a Democrat, declined to comment on if Wynn might resume his position with the anti-violence program because he had not yet received detailed information on the judge's decision.
ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Eight Kazakhs, mainly women, have picketed outside the Chinese Consulate in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, to demand the release of their relatives in China's northwestern Xinjiang region.

The demonstrators on February 9 were holding pictures of their relatives, who they say are either being kept in prisons and reeducation camps in Xinjiang or not allowed to travel to Kazakhstan to join their families.

The picketers also held up posters in Kazakh, English, and Chinese demanding the release of their loved ones.

"Children deprived of fathers! Mothers deprived of sons! Wives deprived of husbands! Stop China-imposed genocide!" the demonstrators chanted.

One of the protesters, wheelchair-bound, 74-year-old Sarqytkhan Qyzyrkhanqyzy, told RFE/RL that her son, who has a residence permit in Kazakhstan, had been not allowed to return to Almaty by the Chinese authorities for four years and there was no information about his current whereabouts in Xinjiang.

Three women, who picketed the consulate the day before, were also among the February 9 demonstrators.

An Almaty city official came to the site and told the demonstrators that their demonstration was illegal, but they refused to leave until the consulate's security officers forced the picketers and journalists covering the event away from the site.

Police were nearby but did not intervene.

Many similar protests have taken place in Kazakhstan in recent years, with demonstrators demanding the Kazakh authorities officially intervene in the situation faced by ethnic Kazakhs in Xinjiang.

The U.S. State Department has said as many as 2 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and members of Xinjiang's other indigenous, mostly Muslim, ethnic groups have been taken to detention centers.

China denies that the facilities are internment camps.

People who have fled the province say that thousands of ethnic Kazakhs, Uyghurs, and other Muslims in Xinjiang are undergoing "political indoctrination" at a network of facilities known officially as reeducation camps.

Kazakhs are the second-largest Turkic-speaking indigenous community in Xinjiang after Uyghurs. The region is also home to ethnic Kyrgyz, Tajiks, and Hui, also known as Dungans. Han, China's largest ethnicity, is the second-largest community in Xinjiang.


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.
HazardHub and Plasmatic Technologies Inc. today announce their partnership centered around the harmonization of connected device and property and hazard risk data, unleashing new capabilities for increased policyholder engagement and peril prevention programs in Home Insurance.

Through this partnership, customer engagement programs powered by Plasmatics Alana platform, can further enhance the context of already valuable connected device data with a comprehensive set of property attributes and HazardHubs depth of risk scores. With all data elements tightly coupled into the profile of each property and available in a service provider dashboard, insurance providers are empowered to deliver meaningful and personalized digital experiences which in turn help home owners take proactive measures to reduce both the likelihood and severity of perils.

One such insurance carrier is Amica Mutual Insurance Co., which has integrated Alana into its home maintenance and inventory app, Home Check. Dan Belhumeur, Innovation Manager in Amicas Digital Solutions and Innovation group, explains: At Amica, nothing is more important than being a great partner for our customers. Plasmatics expertise in targeted customer engagement, as well as its smart home knowledge and unparalleled support, make this a natural fit. With the addition of property and peril risk information, were even better positioned to deliver value to our policyholders to help safeguard their properties and valuables from loss.

Our solutions were designed from the outset with the guiding principal of flexibility to support not only the constantly evolving landscape of connected home devices but tap into the enormous potential of AI enabled data services to complement our Smart Home telematics and customer engagement capabilities. stated David Sussman, Plasmatics CEO.

John Siegman, Founder & CCA of HazardHub said, This partnership is a testament to our capabilities and investment in building scalable data services that are of intrinsic value to forward-thinking partners and insurance carriers. Plasmatic and our organization have developed a truly synergistic partnership and were looking forward to bringing our combined capabilities to additional carriers as engagement and hazard data become increasingly important for proactive insurance going forward.

We scanned the market for an agile provider that can offer us a complete and API accessible data source that fulfills our immediate and long term needs for property and risk data. HazardHub ticked all the boxes to the benefit of our customers. added Mr. Sussman. Through a inclusion of property and peril risk data alongside the robust device and user engagement facilities of the Alana solution, insurance providers now have access to a complete array of tools that can be leveraged through Plasmatics brandable app or existing app investments as is the case of Amica.

About HazardHub

Air. Fire. Water. Earth. Man Made. HazardHub is the only third-generation provider of property-level hazard risk databases spanning the most dangerous perils in the continental United States. HazardHub translates huge amounts of geospatial digital data into easy to understand answers, providing easy to comprehend risk scorecards that are used to make real-world decisions. Our team of scientists provides comprehensive, and innovative, national coverage for risks that destroy and damage property.

To learn more about HazardHub, visit https://www.hazardhub.com or reach us directly at support@hazardhub.com.

About Plasmatic Technologies

Plasmatic Technologies extracts value from Smart Home data by leveraging the growing adoption of Connected Home devices. The companys platform and mobile experience innovations provide the ability for households and service providers to gain Home Insights based on the intelligent amalgamation of various data sources, the application of Machine Learning and the use of engaging mobile experiences.

To learn more about Plasmatic Technologies, visit https://www.plasmatic.ai or reach us directly at hello@plasmatic.ai.

Contacts:

HazardHub: John Siegman, Founder (j@hazardhub.com)

Plasmatic Technologies: Adi Kabazo, VP Marketing & Alliances (adi@plasmatic.ai)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 8) - The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases may discuss during its upcoming meeting this week the appeals to increase the number of allowed people to physically attend religious gatherings, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.

The IATF may include the request of the bishops for a higher limit in the agenda of its next meeting, Guevarra told reporters.

The IATF is expected to meet either on Tuesday or Thursday this week.

He added that the IATF has not yet received any formal request from any religious group regarding the matter.

The national government currently allows 30% capacity in religious activities in areas under general community quarantine and 50% capacity in areas under modified GCQ.

Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo is one of those who requested for an expanded church capacity.

He noted that church services are needed today because it can help people cope with the pandemic.

We know that church services, religious services can help a lot to strengthen people spiritually, mentally in front of whats happening around us, Pabillo told CNN Philippines News Night.

Pabillo also pointed out there was no reported surge in coronavirus infections due to recent religious activities. He said minimum health protocols should just be followed.

We have seen even with the case of Quiapo, with the case of Simbang Gabi, with the case of Sto. Nino, there was no surge of COVID infection because of large gatherings of people, since there is proper protocol that is being followed, he added. Having more people coming for the services will greatly help a lot.

Pabillo also said the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines is the proper body to make the request for increased church capacity to the national government.

It should be within the competence of the CBCP, as a national body, to make that request to another national body, the IATF, he said.

CNN Philippines correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report
The daughter of one of Britain's first gay fathers has admitted her ex-boyfriend talks about his sexual relationship with her father 'all the time' despite her finding it 'cringey'.

Saffron Drewitt-Barlow, 21, confessed that watching her former lover Scott Hutchison, 27, and her father Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 51, who was born in Manchester but now lives in a Florida mansion, kiss sometimes makes her want to vomit.

Speaking to The Sun, Saffron said: 'Scott talks about their relationship all the time. One time he was telling me they had sex in the car, and I had to say, 'OK, I don't really want to know about your sex life with my daddy'.

Despite 'Daddy' Barrie splitting from husband Tony, 56, and getting engaged to Saffron's ex-boyfriend Scott in August 2020, the family still live together in their 6million, ten-bedroom mansion.

Bisexual Scott and Barrie welcomed a daughter, Valentina, in September last year, who Saffron says is her 'little best friend'.

Saffron Drewitt-Barlow (pictured), 21, confessed that watching her former lover Scott Hutchison, 27, and her father Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 51, who was born in Manchester but now lives in a Florida mansion, kiss sometimes makes her want to vomit

Scott and Barrie are pictured with their daughter Valentina, who was born via surrogate

Saffron, who no longer has feelings for Scott, insisted that if her ex was telling her about someone else she wouldn't find it 'so cringey'.

Both Saffron, who has five siblings, and Tony gave Barrie and Scott their blessing and the family all live together.

Saffron explained: 'Our rooms are on completely different sides of the house. I wouldn't want to be in the room next door to them listening to them all night - no thanks. That's a step too far.'

She added that most of the time, seeing them kissing doesn't bother her, however 'they do it anywhere and in front of anyone'.

'Don't get me wrong, I see it sometimes and it makes me want to throw up, but I wouldn't just stand in the kitchen and watch. I walk away,' she said.

Despite 'Daddy' Barrie splitting from husband Tony, 56, and getting engaged to Saffron's ex-boyfriend Scott (pictured together) in August 2020, the family still live together in their 6million, ten-bedroom mansion

Saffron lives with Barrie, Scott, dad Tony, twin Aspen and her younger siblings Orlando, 17, twins Jasper and Dallas, 10, and baby Valentina.

She previously admitted she has been spoilt since she was born and has always worn designer clothes - meaning her wardrobe is now worth around 1million, not to mention her jewellery collection which contains a 400,000 diamond ring.

Last year, Saffron revealed she has offered to donate her eggs to help her father and Scott have more children together.

'I don't think Daddy likes the idea too much, as he'd be the biological grandparent of the child and Scott would be the biological dad, but I really want to help,' she told Closer. 'I've already frozen my eggs for them, so Daddy and Scott just have to say the word.'

Saffron lives with Barrie (second right), Scott (far right), her other father Tony (far left), twin Aspen (to her right) and her younger siblings Orlando, 17, (third left) twins Jasper and Dallas, 10, and baby Valentina in the 6million 10-bedroom mansion

Saffron insisted it's certainly not the case that there's a 'weird love triangle' between her, her father and her ex.

She told how she's known Scott since she was 13, when he came to work for the family as a personal assistant, and he's one of her best friends.

Saffron added that they dated briefly when she was 18, but they quickly realised they weren't right for each other.

Barrie previously told how he and Scott can't wait to add to their brood, and are already underway for a surrogate to have twins.

Barrie and his assistant Scott (pictured together) revealed they are engaged in August

Barrie and Tony hit headlines in 1999 when they became the first same sex couple to be formally registered as parents to twins Saffron and Aspen, born via surrogate.

Barrie already had a son from a previous relationship, and the couple, who made their millions through ventures including a surrogacy agency and medical research firm, became civil partners in 2006 and married in 2014.

But Barrie previously told how they 'slid into a platonic relationship' after Tony was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2006.

He said Scott, his PA of seven years, became a 'shoulder to cry on' when Tony was in hospital during treatment in 2018.

Barrie and his former partner Tony, 55, pictured, hit headlines in 1999 when they became the first same sex couple to be formally registered as parents to twins Saffron and Aspen, born via surrogate

In 2019, Barrie announced that Tony remained his 'true love' but they had ended their 32-year relationship.

Speaking about Valentina, Barrie said Tony was 'excited' about the new arrival, but it was 'bittersweet' because it underlined the fact their relationship was over.

Saffron told how Tony has been unwell for much of her life and sat her down to explain that his relationship with Barrie had become platonic - and he'd given him and Scott his blessing.

She added that Tony 'doesn't have long left' - and wants to die still married to Barrie, his 'first love'. However, Barrie wants a divorce so that he can marry Scott.
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An independent unionist councillor has said he doesnt believe posters appearing in Markethill overnight opposing the Northern Ireland Protocol are sinister.

Pictures seen by the Belfast Telegraph appeared to show a group of men gathering in the village on Monday evening after several posters were erected.

One includes the message: Play your part in opposing the border in the Irish Sea, Markethill stands up with an image of the UVF Larne gun running operation in 1914.

Its understood a complaint has been made to the PSNI.

Councillor Paul Berry said he did not believe the gathering was meant to be intimidating.

Expand Close Posters erected at a protest in Markethill over the NI protocol use images of UVF gun running in 1912 but a local unionist councillor says they aren't intimidating. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Posters erected at a protest in Markethill over the NI protocol use images of UVF gun running in 1912 but a local unionist councillor says they aren't intimidating.

Im aware that posters have been going up in areas like Markethill, Tandragee and Scarva," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

Expand Close Posters erected at a protest in Markethill over the NI protocol use images of UVF gun running in 1912 but a local unionist councillor says they aren't intimidating. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Posters erected at a protest in Markethill over the NI protocol use images of UVF gun running in 1912 but a local unionist councillor says they aren't intimidating.

I would say its nothing sinister whatsoever. Its just obviously unionists that are opposed to the protocol and are sending a message to the authorities that it wont be acceptable.

He added: If we have a choice between graffiti on the walls and posters going up saying they will never accept a border in the Irish sea, thats a clear political message.

We honestly would encourage people to do that by taking the democratic route.

For those amongst us who are unionists, this protocol is a very serious matter for Northern Ireland.

Earlier, SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly raised concerns about similar posters appearing in Lurgan over the weekend.

They included an image of a woman armed with a rifle and the phrase Ulster 1912-1921?.

Speaking on BBC Good Morning Ulster she said the question mark made her ask if it was a modern call to arms, looking back to unionist opposition to Home Rule in 1912.

PUP councillor Billy Hutchinson disputed this, commenting: My understanding is that these things are going up because communities are annoyed and theyre having a peaceful protest.

I dont think theyre putting them up for violent reasons.

Mr Berry said he did not think the posters should be grouped in with recent examples of threatening graffiti.

Its totally different to the graffiti we saw at Larne harbour. Its better organised and sends out a clear political message at this time, one which the vast majority of unionists feel about the Northern Ireland protocol."

The PSNI has been contacted for comment.
London: Boris Johnson is facing a showdown over claims China is waging genocide against the Uighur Muslims interned at camps in Xinjiang province.

Human rights campaigners wrote to the British Prime Minister saying they were shocked and appalled his government was trying to water down an attempt to allow British courts to declare whether other countries are committing genocide.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a rebellion from some Tory MPS over anti-genocide laws. Credit:Getty

Ministers oppose the plans and have offered rebel MPs a so-called compromise, which would boost the ability of parliamentary select committees to consider genocide allegations.

However, a number of MPs in the Commons are moving to amend a trade bill that, if their efforts are successful, would give the British courts the ability to make preliminary declarations as to whether genocide is occurring in a country with which Britain has a bilateral trade agreement.

Trot Insider has compiled all of the Feb. 15 stakes payment reminders that have been sent to Standardbred Canada's news team from the industry.

Please note that some organizations have pushed their due dates to Feb. 16 due to the Presidents Day holiday in the United States on Monday, Feb. 15.

The contents of Standardbred Canada's own Feb. 15 stakes payment reminder appear below, followed by the rest of the notices that have been sent to SC's news team. As Trot Insider will add Feb. 15 submissions to this page when they are received by the news team, readers are advised to check back and review the entire list for the most current stakes payment information.

The notices which appear in the posting are as follows:

 Standardbred Canada

 Woodbine Mohawk Park

 Mohawk Million

 Grand River Raceway

 Meadowlands Racetrack

 Hambletonian Society

 Florida SBOA

 Kentucky Sire Stakes

 Delaware (Ohio) County Fair

 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund

 Yonkers Raceway

 The Red Mile

 New York Sires Stakes

 New Jersey Sires Stakes

 Maryland Sires Stakes

To consult SC Stakes Online, click here.

Standardbred Canada's Feb. 15 Stakes Payment Notice

Standardbred Canada would like to remind owners and trainers that stakes payments are due on Monday, February 15. If paying by cheque or money order, envelopes must be clearly post-marked on or before Tuesday, February 16 to be accepted, despite inadequacies of the postal system...read on

Woodbine Stakes Nominations Due Monday

Less than a week remains to submit nominations for Woodbine Entertainments 2021 Standardbred stakes program at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Nominations close Monday (Feb. 15) for all major events at Woodbine Mohawk Park and stakes at various tracks across Ontario. The Feb. 15 date is also the deadline to purchase a slot in the Mohawk Million....read on

Mohawk Million Deadline Approaching

The Mohawk Million, a stake for trotting two-year-olds, follows a buy-in model with nine slots available for purchase, each priced at $100,000 CAD. The million-dollar race is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 25.

The deadline to purchase a slot is Feb. 15 and a $50,000 nomination fee is required when submitting a slot contract for the Mohawk Million. The remaining $50,000 is then due by June 1, 2021...read on

Grand River 'Battle' Nominations Due

Nominations for Grand River Raceways Battle of Waterloo and Battle of the Belles must be locked in by Feb. 15. The 24th annual Battle of Waterloo (Ontario-sired two-year-old open pace) will be contested for an estimated $240,000 on Monday, Aug. 2, and the 13th annual Battle of the Belles (Ontario-sired two-year-old pacing fillies) will be contested for an estimated $160,000...read on

Meadowlands Stakes Information

The Meadowlands invites horsepeople to view and consider the impressive slate of Grand Circuit stakes that will be conducted over the New Jersey oval for the upcoming season, with a number of stakes events requiring payments on February 15....read on

Hambletonian Society 2021 Stakes Info

The Hambletonian Society advises horsepeople that payment and staking forms are available for the 147 stakes and early closing races they will administer in the 2021 racing season.

Regarding the 2021 season, 147 races are currently administered by the Society with payments due Feb. 15 (and postmarked by Wednesday, Feb. 17)....read on

Florida Stakes Payments Due Feb. 15

Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association stakes payments are due by Feb. 15 for three-year-old Florida-breds....read on

Last Call For Kentucky Stakes Nominations

The first payments for the 2021 Kentucky Sire Stakes and the Kentucky Proud Series (county fair racing) are due no later than Feb. 15....read on

Delaware (Ohio) County Fair Stake Payments Due

Sustaining payments for the sophomore classics Little Brown Jug (three-year-old colt pace), Jugette (three-year-old filly pace), Old Oaken Bucket (three-year-old open trot) and the Buckette (three-year-old filly trot) are due Feb. 15. These payments are for foals of 2018....read on

Delaware Three-Year-Old Payments Due

Payments for Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund three-year-old stakes races are due postmarked no later than Tuesday (Feb. 16)....read on

Yonkers Stakes Payments Due Feb. 16

Following forced cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, MGM Yonkers Raceway is back this year with a full slate of stakes races for pacers and trotters of all ages....read on

Red Mile Three-Year-Old Payments Due

Red Mile has announced that stakes payments are due Feb. 15 for the Kentucky Futurity, Tattersalls Pace, and Bluegrass Series for three-year-olds...read on

NYSS Payments Due Feb. 16

The New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) 2021 stakes payments for two-year-olds and three-year-olds must be made online or postmarked by Tuesday (Feb. 16), due to the Presidents Day holiday....read on

NJSS Sustaining Payments Due Feb. 15

The New Jersey Sire Stakes sustaining fee schedule will be as follows:...read on

Maryland Stakes Payments Due

Sustaining forms and possible payment are due Feb. 15 for the four- and five-year-old Open Maryland Sire Stakes for trotters and pacers (foals of 2016 and 2017)....read on

About seven officials of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), University...

About seven officials of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), University of Ilorin branch, were invited for questioning by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the ongoing strike by the unions.





The joint action committee (JAC) of both unions had directed its branches to embark on strike, effective February 5.

The unions accuse the government of non-payment of minimum wage arrears/retirement benefits to ex-members, non-constitution of visitation panels to universities, and poor funding.

Olumayowa Oyedepo, branch chairman of SSANU said members at the University of Ilorin had also joined in the action and on Monday, some of the officials were grilled by the DSS at the instance of the school management.

We commenced our nationwide strike today and went round the offices to check if our members are at work; we met two people that are not our members locked inside the Network Operating Centre (NOC) and after those guys came out of the room we discovered that they are not our members, so we handed them over to the school security, he said.

The industrial action started on a good note with total compliance by members until the DSS came to invite our chairmen (SSANU and NASU) for questioning at their state office at the instance of the university management. The chairmen and other officials obliged the invitation, had discussion with the DSS operatives and had since returned back to their houses.

The interrogation, Oyedepo said, lasted for about two hours before they were released.

Some of the officials grilled by the secret police are M. J. Akanbi, branch secretary of SSANU; T. M. Saheed, branch Secretary of NASU; Flourish Josephine, Kwara State Council; Idris Alata, and Adejumo Olusola.
A single-dose COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese firm CanSino Biologics and a team led by Beijing's top military bio-warfare expert is reported to show 65.7 per cent efficacy in preventing symptomatic cases.

The drug also demonstrated a 90.98 per cent success rate in stopping severe disease in an interim analysis of global trials, according to Pakistan's health minister who posted the figures on Monday.

Chen Wei, a Major General of China's People's Liberation Army, headed a team of scientists from the Chinese military to work on the inoculation with CanSino Biologics (CanSinoBIO), a biotechnology company based in Tianjin and listed on Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Chen Wei, 54, is a leading specialist in genetic engineering vaccines in China. She is pictured being interviewed by Chinese state broadcaster after being sent to Wuhan in January, 2020

Ms Chen led a team of scientists from the Chinese military to work on the inoculation with CanSino Biologics (pictured), a biotech company based in Tianjin, a city in eastern China

A volunteer is pictured receiving an injection from a medical worker from CanSino Biologics for a late stage-trial against the coronavirus disease in Oaxaca, Mexico, November 6, 2020

Ms Chen, 54, is a leading specialist in genetic engineering vaccines in China.

She was at the centre of conspiracy theories about the origin of COVID-19 early last year after some reports claimed that she had been appointed to take over Wuhan Institute of Virology, which carries out research into coronaviruses.

Chinese state media reported on Monday that Ms Chen was appointed by the Chinese military to co-develop the single-jab regimen, leading her team from the Institute of Bio-engineering of the Academy of Military Medical Sciences.

She is also known in the country as the 'terminator of Ebola' for directing specialists to create a vaccine against the fatal virus.

Speaking of fighting the novel coronavirus, Chen told state media from Wuhan in January last year: 'The epidemic is like a military situation. The epicentre equals to the battlefield.'

The positive data from the final-stage trials of CanSinoBIO's vaccine moves the treatment a step closer to becoming China's third successful shot for the disease.

Clinical trial data (phase-3) of a one-dose Ad5-nCoV vaccine for Covid (Cansino Bio) received. Interim analysis by the Independent Data Monitoring Committee shows 65.7% efficacy at preventing symptomatic cases and 90.98% at preventing severe disease (multicountry analysis).  Faisal Sultan (@fslsltn) February 8, 2021

Ms Chen was appointed by the Chinese military to co-develop the single-jab regimen, leading her team from the Academy of Military Medical Sciences. A picture shows Chinese President Xi Jinping visiting the Academy of Military Medical Sciences in Beijing on March 2, 2020

Although COVID-19 vaccines from Chinese developers have shown lower protection rates than some Western ones, and no detailed study results are publicly available yet, they have already been approved in several developing countries battling a surge in coronavirus infections.

The CanSinoBIO vaccine is being tested in Pakistan, Mexico, Russia, Argentina and Chile, according to clinical trial registration data, and the company has supply deals with some of those countries, including Mexico.

In a statement from February 1, CanSinoBIO said 40,000 participants had received the vaccine during its phase III clinical trial carried out at 78 research centres in five countries.

Pakistan's health minister, Faisal Sultan, had said that the country could receive 'in the range of tens of millions' of the vaccine under an agreement with the Chinese firm.

Hassan Abbas, head of the CanSinoBIO's trial at AJ Pharma in Pakistan, said it has already applied to the government for permission to import the vaccine.

Pakistan's health minister, Faisal Sultan, had previously said that the country could receive 'in the range of tens of millions' of the CanSinoBIO vaccine under an agreement with the Chinese firm. The picture shows a COVID-19 vaccine counter in Peshawar, Pakistan, on February 03

'The initial set of vaccines will come in vials already filled, but we hope in the future to get them in the form of concentrates from CanSino, and do the filling here in Pakistan,' he told Reuters.

The efficacy of the shot is based on analysis of 30,000 participants and 101 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the minister said on Twitter, quoting data from an independent data monitoring committee.

It was not immediately clear whether the study also looked into the vaccine's efficacy against new and highly transmissible variants first found in South Africa, Britain and Brazil.

No serious safety concerns have been raised in the study, Sultan said.

In the Pakistani subset, efficacy of the CanSinoBIO vaccine at preventing symptomatic cases was 74.8 per cent and 100 per cent at preventing severe disease, Sultan added.

CanSinoBIO was not immediately available for comment.
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Mecole Hardman Jr.s Custom Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye Helps With the Pain

There is such a thing as finding solace for lifes curveballs in the little things. The pain of losing the Super Bowl becomes comparatively more easily to bear if youre crying manly tears behind the tinted glass of your custom Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye. 11 photos



Riding high on the wave of increased media attention for the Super Bowl is DreamWorks Motorsports, the shop that customized and delivered a brand new



The car was definitely a treat, but its not new. In fact, Hardman Jr. took delivery of it eight months ago. His fans and supporters probably knew that already since he was quick to boast about it on social media. When you have a car as striking and powerful as this one, bragging is a must, regardless of whether youre a celebrity or not.



Still, the video offers a much better look at the custom Redeye and the kind of work that went into it. According to the description, it was taken apart completely to allow including all the features the athlete requested. It now boasts a shiny black color-changing wrap with yellow accents on the logos and brakes, color-changing undercarriage led lighting and Hardman Jr.s signature on the gas cap and the interior of the side doors.



Other highlights include the tinted windows (for the aforementioned manly crying in privacy), custom starlight headliner with shooting stars, Suntel Films window tint, JL Audio system in the trunk with LED enclosure, and K40 radar detector and laser diffuser.



While here, do check out Harman Jr.s full IG post below as well: this custom Redeye sounds



View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mecole Hardman, Jr. (@mecolehardman4) Super Bowl LV saw the Kansas City Chiefs lose out to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A more accurate description would be that the Kansas City Chiefs had their butts handed out to them by the Buccaneers, since the final score was 31 to 9 for the Florida team.Riding high on the wave of increased media attention for the Super Bowl is DreamWorks Motorsports, the shop that customized and delivered a brand new Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye to the Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. A Super Bowl special is how they describe a new video of the gorgeous vehicle, which carries subtle hints that the athlete may have ordered it for the Super Bowl, maybe as some sort of treat to himself.The car was definitely a treat, but its not new. In fact, Hardman Jr. took delivery of it eight months ago. His fans and supporters probably knew that already since he was quick to boast about it on social media. When you have a car as striking and powerful as this one, bragging is a must, regardless of whether youre a celebrity or not.Still, the video offers a much better look at the custom Redeye and the kind of work that went into it. According to the description, it was taken apart completely to allow including all the features the athlete requested. It now boasts a shiny black color-changing wrap with yellow accents on the logos and brakes, color-changing undercarriage led lighting and Hardman Jr.s signature on the gas cap and the interior of the side doors.Other highlights include the tinted windows (for the aforementioned manly crying in privacy), custom starlight headliner with shooting stars, Suntel Films window tint, JL Audio system in the trunk with LED enclosure, and K40 radar detector and laser diffuser.While here, do check out Harman Jr.s full IG post below as well: this custom Redeye sounds as mean as it looks

Editor's note: This article was not sponsored or supported by a third-party. This article was not sponsored or supported by a third-party.
[February 09, 2021] Hamamatsu Selects SGP for Product Messaging, Research, and Digital Marketing Expertise

BALTIMORE, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sage Growth Partners (SGP), a Baltimore-based healthcare research, strategy, and marketing firm, today announced the publication of a market report on digital pathology, At The Tipping Point, created as part of an engagement with Hamamatsu Photonics. A leading international manufacturer of photonics devices, Hamamatsu selected SGP to assist with the launch of its NanoZoomer digital pathology product to the international healthcare market. SGP conducted a survey of US pathologists to assess their views on, and use of, digital pathology solutions for the market report, as well as conducting market research to inform Hamamatsu's digital marketing strategy, including positioning and messaging.



"For more than a hundred years, pathologists around the world have primarily relied on physical glass slides to make a diagnosis," said Don Ariyakumar, product manager at Hamamatsu. "Even today, most U.S. pathologists will mail glass slides across the country to get a second opinion. Our NanoZoomer product seeks to change that by creating digital slides that can be trusted for their exceptional quality, and that are easy to share and store. We're thrilled to be partnering with the SGP team, whose deep healthcare marketing expertise will help us more fully understand the needs of the marketplace, and how NanoZoomer can address those needs."

"Hamamatsu is an internationally recognized leader in the photonics devices space, and is poised to revolutionize digital pathology with a product the market can trust and depend on," said Boh Hatter, chief marketing officer and general manager, marketing, at SGP. "We're excited to work with the dedicated team at Hamamatsu and help them gain a deeper understanding of the pathology market, their needs, pain points, and challenges. Having that kind of meaningful, global impact on the healthcare industry is what drives our SGP team." About Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. is a leading manufacturer of photonics devices. We design, manufacture, and sell optical sensors, light sources, optical components, cameras, photometry systems, and measurement/analysis systems. Web site: www.NanoZoomer.com About Sage Growth Partners Sage Growth Partners accelerates commercial success for B2B, B2B2C, and B2C healthcare organizations through a singular focus on growth. The company helps its clients thrive amid the complexities of a rapidly changing marketplace with deep domain expertise and an integrated application of research, strategy, and marketing. Founded in 2005, Sage Growth Partners is located in Baltimore, MD, and serves clients such as Philips Healthcare, U.S. Renal Care, Quest Diagnostics, Vocera, Livongo, Olive, iN2L, and Aperture. Media Contact

Boh Hatter

(410) 534.1161

bhatter@sage-growth.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hamamatsu-selects-sgp-for-product-messaging-research-and-digital-marketing-expertise-301225116.html SOURCE Sage Growth Partners

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Twitter has been at the receiving end from the Union government for the posts and content censorship on the farmers' protest which turned violent on January 26 in the national capital.

Amid the spat, Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday tweeted about joining homegrown Twitter alternative Koo which seems to be a step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat. To start with, Koo is a Twitter-like microblogging experience in Indian languages that was launched in March last year. There were also talks about an app called Tooter which is a potential replacement for the Jack Dorsey-led Twitter app.

Koo comes with a lot of similarities like Twitter as users can follow individuals and it also allows users to write messages in text or record and share them in audio or video formats. The app is available for both Android and iOS users in English, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu.

I am now on Koo. Connect with me on this Indian micro-blogging platform for real-time, exciting and exclusive updates. Let us exchange our thoughts and ideas on Koo," railways, commerce & industry, consumer affairs and food and public distribution minister Piyush Goyal said in a tweet.

This comes in the backdrop of the government's notice to Twitter on 2 February 2, which accused the app of unilaterally unblocking more than 250 accounts that had been suspended over the farmers agitation and with that it had violated an order to block 257 accounts associated with the farmers agitation on the borders of Delhi.

Other politicians have also joined Koo including the Minister of Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad and Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. It also has the accounts of various government ministries and departments, such as the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), Central Board of Indirect Taxes (CBIC), National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), India Post, MyGovIndia, Digital India, and National Informatics Centre (NIC), among others.

Even PM Narendra Modi was also not behind in promoting Koo as it was amongst the four apps that were being named during his radio programme Mann Ki Baat which led to the addition of many followers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio  Frustrated members of City Council used a Tuesday budget hearing to call on Mayor Frank Jacksons administration to commit more money to address poor housing conditions.

The hearing, a review of federally funded assistance programs and city funded home improvement programs, sparked passionate pleas from members representing homeowners who often cant afford to make repairs.

Weve got this massive problem  working poor, elderly, people who cant afford to take care of their houses, Councilman Mike Polensek said. Ive seen the low and moderate [income} population expand, and distress expand. Im dealing with more quality-of-life issues than I ever have.

The city has several programs to help homeowners, particularly seniors, but not enough, council members said during the meeting of the Development, Planning and Sustainability Committee.

If federal guidelines prevent Cleveland from using the $30 million it receives in block grant funding and emergency assistance funding annually toward bolstering those programs, the city needs to commit more of its money, they said.

It cant just be, Well, the guidelines say , Councilman Basheer Jones said. Our grandparents cant even fix their freaking roofs.

Polensek and Jones both represent East Side wards, as does Blaine Griffin. But Griffin noted that housing problems arent confined just to East Side neighborhoods.

Theres some areas on the West Side that are taking it on the chin, too, he said.

Tuesdays morning and afternoon sessions  more than six hours combined -- were the opening rounds for Clevelands 2021 budget process. Beginning next week, the Finance Committee will take up the full $1.8 billion budget. The budget must be approved before April 1.

Community Development Director Michiel Wackers said several factors contribute to Clevelands stubborn housing problems. In addition to poverty issues, they include:

A high percentage of the housing stock was built before 1940.

Programs have limited numbers of people available to carry them out.

Banking institutions have shown a hesitancy to invest in some of Clevelands blighted neighborhoods.

That last point is important, Wackers said, because support from the banking industry allows development and reinvestment to be stretched. Clevelands programs, by themselves, are not enough to keep up with neighborhood needs.

Members floated expansion of two home programs administered by the Community Development Department.

Basheer Jones proposed easing the income restrictions on the Senior Homeowner Assistance Program that provides vouchers for emergency repairs. Coupled with that, he suggested more resources be put into the program to accommodate a greater number of applicants.

Councilman Joe Jones urged that funding be doubled for the citys painting program, which now is set at $500,000 for the year. The program provides paint and supplies for homeowners.

Basheer Jones also suggested that Cleveland push for more federal aid for community development and housing assistance, with U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge stepping into President Joe Bidens cabinet as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Fudge, the former mayor of Warrensville Heights, understands urban problems, particularly those of Greater Cleveland, he said.

We need to be ready so we can go to her and say were structurally prepared, but we need more resources, Basheer Jones said.

More from Cleveland City Hall

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Be punctual. Wear a tie, the orders of the day as Cleveland City Council takes steps toward pre-coronavirus normalcy

Cleveland City Council subpoenas records for dark money campaign against CPP, Mayor Frank Jackson nears FirstEnergy lawsuit decision

Cleveland City Council approves job creation grant for Quicken Loans LLC that will lead to 700 new downtown jobs

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They moved in together last year after just two weeks of dating.

And Jack Whitehall and his girlfriend Roxy Horner looked every inch the happy couple as they went for a stroll in the snow on Tuesday.

The comedian, 32, and the model, 29, put on a loved-up display as they linked arms on their outing in London.

Out and about: Jack Whitehall and his girlfriend Roxy Horner looked every inch the happy couple as they went for a stroll in the snow on Tuesday

Roxy wrapped up for the plunging temperatures in a white faux fur coat along with a pair of matching trousers.

The beauty also wore a pair of white boots along with a black beanie hat and a matching bag.

Letting her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders, she completed her outfit with a dark top.

Jack donned a black coat with matching trousers and a black hat for the outing.

Couple: The comedian, 32, and the model, 29, put on a loved-up display as they linked arms on their outing in London

The two met during a trip to Australia, and shortly after, they decided to spend the coronavirus lockdown together with the romance progressing from there.

Jack admitted although the decision 'accelerated' their relationship, they did miss out on doing ordinary things like restaurant and cinema dates.

Speaking on the Couples Quarantine podcast, he explained: 'Weirdly that was quite nice because we spent a lot of time together and it accelerates the relationship in a way.

'Then when lockdown ended, there's a lot of things we realised. We'd never gone to see a film together. We'd never been to a restaurant in England because we met in Australia.'

Relationship: The two met during a trip to Australia, and shortly after, they decided to spend the coronavirus lockdown together with the romance progressing from there

Jack dated actress Gemma Chan, 38, between 2011 and 2017, and he previously said that he regretted not marrying her.

Speaking to his mother Hilary in an episode of his Netflix series, Travels With My Father, he said: 'I f****d up my chance of that. I did. I could have got married but I messed it up.'

In the episode, which was filmed before Jack began dating Roxy, he apologised to his mother for being the only single member of their immediate family as it meant he had to attend his sister Molly's wedding alone.

He added: 'I'm sorry I'll be attending the wedding alone and I'm sorry you have two children who have model relationships and one who is going to be there on his own trying to sh*g a bridesmaid.'
An Elkmont teenager was served Monday with capital murder arrest warrants for the fatal September 2019 shootings of five family members, but a backlog of Limestone County murder cases leaves it uncertain when his trial will take place.

Mason Sisk, whos now 16, was indicted on the charges last month and was served with warrants at the Limestone County Jail, where hes being held without bail.

Weve got nine capital murder cases to try ahead of Sisk, as well as 11 regular murder cases, said District Attorney Brian Jones. Almost all of these were scheduled to be tried in 2020. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alabama Supreme Court did not lift a suspension of jury trials until mid-September.

Sisk was charged as an adult in November with four counts of capital murder. When he was arrested after the shootings, Sisk, who was 14 at the time, was taken to the Tennessee Valley Juvenile Detention Center in Tuscumbia.

After a hearing in November 2020, Limestone County Juvenile Judge Matthew Huggins ordered the case to be transferred to circuit court for prosecution and bound over to a grand jury. Sisk was placed in the Limestone County Jail. He is charged with one count of capital murder of two or more victims and three counts of capital murder of a victim under the age of 14.

We filed for a speedy trial in the district court cases prior to the filing of his indictment, said Athens attorney Lucas Beaty, whos representing Sisk. We have no idea when the trial will happen. The courts are trying to work out a solution to begin trials again soon.

Jones declined to comment further on the Sisk case.

He said jury selection is set for March 15 for the capital murder trial of Dacedric Deshun Ward, in what would be the first criminal jury trial in Limestone County since the pandemic. Jury selection will take place in the Athens Senior Center, and the trial will be held at the Limestone County Courthouse, according to Jones.

Were hoping we can go ahead and get that trial started and see how well the jury selection process works with COVID-19 precautions in place, and proceed with other pending cases, Jones said.

Ward and Trevor Davis Cantrell, both of Madison, were charged with capital murder and first-degree robbery for the December 2016 fatal shooting of a Madison teen outside a Sonic restaurant on County Line Road in Madison.

Huggins wrote in his order in the Sisk case that he considered factors including the nature of the alleged offense and the extent and nature of prior delinquency records. The judge also considered Sisks physical and mental maturity, his demeanor and the interests of the community and Sisk in requiring that he be placed under legal restraint or discipline.

Limestone County authorities said the victims were Sisks father John Wayne Sisk, 38; his stepmother Mary Sisk, 35; his 6-year-old brother; his 5-year-old sister; and his 6-month-old brother. The shootings occurred at the familys home on Ridge Road in Elkmont. A Limestone Sheriffs Office spokesman said in 2015 that the defendant in the case had admitted to the slayings.

Limestone County Coroner Mike West pronounced three of the victims dead in the residence and two other victims, an adult and juvenile, were initially in critical condition and were airlifted to Huntsville Hospital and Childrens of Alabama in Birmingham, the Sheriffs Office said, but later died.

All five victims lived with the alleged shooter in the residence. John Sisk worked at KV RV Repairs in Hartselle. Mary Sisk was a seventh grade special education teacher with Huntsville City Schools.

 marian.accardi@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2438. Twitter @DD_MAccardi.

___

(c)2021 The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.)

Visit The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.) at www.decaturdaily.com

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 03:02:04|Editor: huaxia

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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a virtual briefing to update on preparations for COP26, at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 8, 2021. Guterres on Monday told the member states that 2021 is a "crucial year" for climate change. "2021 is a crucial year in the fight against climate change," the UN chief was speaking to a member states meeting as part of the preparations towards the latest annual UN climate conference, known as COP26, which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in November. Originally scheduled for last year, it had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday told the member states that 2021 is a "crucial year" for climate change.

"2021 is a crucial year in the fight against climate change," the UN chief was speaking to a member states meeting as part of the preparations towards the latest annual UN climate conference, known as COP26, which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in November. Originally scheduled for last year, it had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The world is far from achieving agreed goals to reduce global warming in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Guterres warned in his ongoing bid to secure greater commitment to averting climate catastrophe.

While acknowledging progress made over the past year, including towards cutting carbon emissions, it is not enough, he said.

"The world remains way off target in staying within the 1.5-degree limit of the Paris Agreement," Guterres told member states. "This is why we need more ambition, more ambition on mitigation, ambition on adaptation and ambition on finance."

The secretary-general said the global coalition to make net zero emissions a reality, needs to grow, to cover more than 90 percent of all carbon entering the atmosphere, underscoring a UN priority.

As commitments must be supported by clear and credible plans, he urged countries to provide significantly more ambitious nationally determined contributions, as outlined in the agreement, adding "the major economies and members of the G20 must lead the way."

The secretary-general said coal must be phased out by 2040, while financing for the sector, and for other fossil fuels, must instead be redirected towards clean energy solutions.

He also called for a breakthrough on adaptation and resilience, which requires increasing support to vulnerable nations, including the world's least developed countries and small island developing states.

"We have a moral obligation to do much better, and with new and scaled up finance initiatives and instruments," the UN chief said.

"Developed countries must meet their commitment made over ten years ago and reaffirmed in Paris, to mobilize 100 billion U.S. dollars per year in climate finance to developing countries. This must be fully delivered in the run-up to COP26."

With nine months to go until Glasgow, and the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, Guterres underlined the UN's commitment to ensuring preparatory negotiations will take place virtually.

"We simply cannot allow the pandemic to keep us from working together on the crucial pathway to Glasgow. Although there will be challenges, we must adapt. The stakes are too high to do otherwise," he said.

The secretary-general has directed UN officials worldwide to make offices and venues available so that all countries can participate in virtual negotiations.

"We will support this process in every way possible to ensure its success," he said. Enditem
Appointment

9 February 2021

Fiji's most exclusive 140-acre award-winning resort--Kokomo Private Island--is pleased to welcome Sean Flakelar in his new role as the property's General Manager in January 2021.

Prior to his commencement with Kokomo Private Island, Flakelar gained experience with AMAN Resorts for nearly 20 years, where he managed some of their most iconic properties such as Amanjiwo, Amanoi, and Amangalla. Sean was AMAN's Country Manager for Indonesia and most recently served as Country Manager at AMAN in Galle Fort, Sri Lanka. Sean brings exceptional skills at ensuring that guests have the highest quality and most memorable experiences. Among his many accolades, he was named Best General Manager Worldwide by Gallivanter's in 2017.

His breadth of experience in luxury travel & hospitality will make for a strong addition to the stellar team in place both on-island and at the Sydney, Australia headquarters. Flakelar will initially be based in Sydney where he will onboard with key team members before he makes his way to Fiji, where he will be based full-time, to work with the team to prepare the island for re-opening this April 2021.
Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High 51F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy with showers. Low around 45F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.

This means that the Honduras President and all members of his cabinet will be vaccinated according to their age and health condition.

In the case of the officials of other State Powers, President Hernandez exhorted them in joining his decision. "With all due respect due to the independence of the State Powers and democratic institutions , I invite the other branches of the State to do the same, and that every senior government official be categorized, as any other regular citizen, according to their age and health status. It is the fair thing to do." Hernandez said.

The Central American country is expecting to start the national vaccination process in a few days, aiming to immunize about 81 percent of the population eligible to receive treatment.

According to the guidelines of the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO), the first phase of vaccination will target health, relief and security workers, ant the elderly population with one or more morbidities or residing at nursing homes and day centers. In that sense, Hernandez instructed that the quota that corresponds to the officials of the Executive Branch be assigned to the elderly, who are more vulnerable to the deadly effects of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the second phase will target adults over 60 years of age, a population with comorbidities and underlying conditions between 18 and 60 years of age, and essential workers.

Honduras counts with a success record of its National Vaccination Program. Since the program started 40 years ago, there has been 39 years without cases of diphtheria, 31 years without records of polio cases, 23 years without records of measles, 19 years without records of congenital rubella. In 2016, PAHO certified the eradication of measles outbreaks.

SOURCE Government of Honduras

Renault India has commenced with the mass production of its upcoming compact Kiger SUV at its manufacturing facility at Chennai. The bookings for the Kiger is also likely to begin shortly and Renault might launch the SUV in India in the coming months.

Renault also states that it has also started to dispatch the units to its widespread sales network consisting of over 500 showrooms. The spy images of the Kiger reaching several dealers stockyard has also surfaced online and you can read more about it here. We will be driving the Kiger soon but before that you can watch our first look review of the SUV here.

The Kiger will be based on CMFA+ platform which also underpins its stable mates as well as its recently launched cousin, the Nissan Magnite . However, the Kiger gets its distinct design and styling. The exterior highlights of the compact SUV are two-slat front grille, split-headlamp units, dual-tone bumper, front and rear skid plate, 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, and a floating roof. To know more about the Kiger, click here.

On the inside, the Kiger will be loaded with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, digital instrument cluster, air purifier, wireless smartphone charging, and cruise control amongst the many.

Under the hood, the Kiger will be powered by two petrol engines  a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated and a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine were the former produces 71bhp and 96Nm torque while the latter is a bit more powerful with 98bhp power and 160Nm of torque. There will be three transmission options  a five-speed manual, an AMT, and a CVT unit. The Kiger will be offered in six exterior paint shades will include - Ice Cool White, Planet Grey, Moonlight Grey, Mahogany Brown, Caspian Blue, and Radiant Red with Mystery Black Roof.

Renault Kiger  5.45 Lakh Onwards

Renault | Renault Kiger | Kiger
From: Dr. Willie Jolley Washington , DC Monday, February 8, 2021

WASHINGTON, DC - February 7, 2021  Truist Financial Corporation, an American bank holding company formed as the result of the merger of BB&T and SunTrust Bank, is now the official sponsor of Dr. Willie Jolley's Sirius XM Show. Truist has made a three year, $60 Billion dollar commitment to their communities to benefit low and moderate-income borrowers. This reflects the legacy bank's continued commitment to providing affordable lending, philanthropy and investment in their communities. Truist has chosen to partner with Dr. Jolley, because of his media platform reach, his national presence as a thought leader, author and influencer. The Willie Jolley Wealthy Ways Show airs 4pm ET Saturdays and 6pm ET Tuesdays and Thursdays on Sirius XM 141 HUR Voices. After airing on Sirius XM, the show moves to podcast on a number of platforms, including iHeart Radio, C-Suite Radio, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn and Apple Podcasts. In addition to Sirius XM, Dr. Jolley can be heard daily across America on the Get Up Mornings with Erica Campbell Show, with his "Wake and Win with Dr. Willie Jolley," motivational segment, on the Radio One network, which is the largest African American radio network in America. Many know Dr. Jolley as one of America's most popular inspirational speakers. He speaks globally (both virtually and live) to corporations, associations and non-profit organizations.



His proven principles and strategies in his best-selling book, Turn Your Setbacks into Comebacks, are the result of work with Ford Motors, helping them come back from the brink of bankruptcy. To learn more about Dr. Willie Jolley and his speaking and professional development company, visit winwithwillie.com. Media Contact: Willie Jolley Worldwide

Email: info@williejolley.com

Phone: (202) 723-8863



If youre one of the few whose PC contains an Intel Pentium 4 or an AMD Athlon 64, bad news: Youre about to lose access to Googles Chrome browser.

As noted by TechRadar, Google is warning that in Google Chrome 89, Google plans to drop support for processors which lack Streaming SIMD Extensions support, or SSE3. (The current version is Chrome 88.) If your PC includes one of those processors and tries to run Chrome, running the browser will result in a crash. Otherwise, Chrome simply wont install.

Google's betting that the population impacted by this change is small. Our analysis... indicates that there is a very small number of Windows devices running Chrome with x86 processors that do not support SSE3, Google said.

The company added that it will give fair warning. Until we require SSE3, Chrome will warn impacted users (with x86 CPUs that dont support SSE3) that their computers will soon be unsupported. The implementation will use the framework in //chrome/browser/obsolete_system. This will result in a dismissable warning bar, and a permanent warning in the chrome://settings/help page, Google said in a note. That will show up as part of a warning message like this, below.

Google began requiring SSE2 support in Chrome 35, which was released in May 2014 as part of the Chrome stable branch. Now its SSE3s turn. According to Wikipedia, SSE was introduced in the Prescott revision of the Intel Pentium 4 in 2004, and the Venice and San Diego revisions of the AMD Athlon 64, launched in 2005. That, of course, means that those processors are well outside of the five-year PC refresh cycle that AMD and Intel preach as a way to sell new, updated CPUs. If you own a system this old, maybe its time to replace your PC?
A father-of-two has told of his miraculous tale of survival after fighting off a three-metre shark and being brought back to life by paramedics on the way to hospital.

Cameron Wrathall, 54, was swimming at Blackwall Reach in the Swan River, south Perth on January 14 when he battled the suspected bull shark, leaving him unable to walk.

'The shark hit me really hard, it's the biggest impact I've ever felt of something hitting me,' Mr Wrathall told 7 News from his hospital bed in Perth.

Cameron Wrathall with daughter (pictured) fought off a three-metre bull shark in Perth's Swan River

He recounted how he acted on instinct and managed to fight off the shark.

'It was then trying to shake from side to side to tear part of me away. It all happened very quickly, and I just did a kick onto part of it and a thrust down on my hands to push it off me and hit it pretty hard with the palms of my hands, and it went,' he said.

He did not get away unscathed, however, with the shark biting down on his left upper leg, leaving a huge wound from his buttocks to his groin.

His friend, Richard O'Brien, enlisted the help of two kayakers and they managed to put a torniquet on the wound which had begun gushing blood.

'There was a fair bit of blood in the water and the bite was quite a significant one, it was right at the top of his thigh, so it was a pretty decent bit,' one of the kayakers said.

The battle left him with a huge scar on his left leg and a severed sciatic nerve in two places (pictured with staff at Royal Perth Hospital)

'He didn't have much blood by the time he got back to shore,' Mr O'Brien said.

The three then helped him to shore, where paramedics rushed to the scene.

Mr Wrathall said his heart stopped in the ambulance, most likely from blood loss, but paramedics were able to bring him back.

In hospital, he was unconscious for two days, with trauma surgeons at Royal Perth Hospital performing numerous operations.

Mr Wrathall credits them, along MR O'Brien and paramedics with saving his life.

His two daughters Keely and Cian are grateful their father pulled through and said his positive attitude also helped him keep fighting.

They said they are happy he is back to his 'cheery self'.

Mr Wrathall recovery will be long, however, with his sciatic nerve severed in two places from the shark bite, leaving him unable to walk.

Doctors say he will need years of rehabilitation before he is able to regain full use of both legs.

He also said he would be back swimming in the river when he is able.

The two kayakers who saved Mr Wrathall. The kayaker on the left is demonstrating how big the bite on Mr Wrathall's upper right thigh was

The two kayakers who heard Mr Wrathall's screams said there was blood in the water before going over to assist him at the popular swimming spot.

One of the kayakers took off his T-shirt and wrapped it around the wound before taking Mr Wrathall to shore.

Mr Wrathall worked at the Fremantle Water Polo Club and swam in the river almost every day.

Western Australia's fisheries department believes a bull shark two to three metres in size was responsible for the attack.

A water police vessel is on the scene and people have been cleared from the water.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said the shark attack was a 'a very, very surprising event'.

Perth's Swan River. A 13-year-old boy died after he was bitten on the thigh by a bull shark while swimming in the Swan River near Mosman Park in 1923. This is the only recorded fatal bull shark attack in Perth's Swan River

'We haven't had an attack by a bull shark in the river for 50 years, the last time someone was killed by a bull shark in the river was 100 years ago,' he said.

'I will get a full report from Fisheries in the next few days about this event and what can be done about these sorts of issues.'

A 13-year-old boy died after he was bitten on the thigh by a bull shark while swimming in the Swan River near Mosman Park in 1923.

This is the only recorded fatal bull shark attack in Perth's Swan River.

Bull sharks are notorious for their aggressive nature, and presence in warm, shallow brackish and freshwater systems including estuaries, canals and rivers.

It are also known as the Zambezi shark in Africa, and 'Lake Nicaragua shark' in Nicaragua in South America.

Tipitina's announced three days of free streaming films via its tipitinas.tv site Saturday, Feb. 13, Sunday, Feb. 14, and Tuesday, Feb. 16. The series includes documentaries about New Orleans music and Carnival culture as well as clips from concerts at Tip's in the early 2000s.

Highlights include "Bury the Hatchet," Aaron Walker's film about Mardi Gras Indian culture featuring Big Chiefs Monk Boudreaux, Alfred Doucette and Victor Harris. The series includes Lily Keber's films "Bayou Maharajah," about James Booker, and "Buckjumping," about second lines and dance.

"A Tuba to Cuba" follows the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on a tour of the island, playing formal concerts and connecting with Cuban musicians.

"Never a Dull Moment: 20 Years of the Rebirth Brass Band" was released in 2005 and reaches back to the band's early days when the founding members were still in high school. Director Michael Murphy's 2019 film "Up From the Streets: New Orleans: City of Music" is narrated by trumpeter Terence Blanchard, who also produced the film.

The series also includes "All on a Mardi Gras Day," Royce Osborne's 2003 film about Black Carnival traditions. The schedule is on tipitinas.tv.

The Broadside has two nights of Mardi Gras movies this week. Monday, Feb. 8, brings Osborne's "All on a Mardi Gras Day" and Les Blank's "Always for Pleasure."

Blank made many documentaries about music, including profiles of Clifton Chenier ("Hot Pepper"), Texas bluesman Mance Lipscomb ("A Life Well Spent"), Dizzy Gillespie and others. He also made films about Louisiana culture, including "J'ai Ete au Bal/I Went to the Dance" about Cajun and zydeco music. His 1978 film "Always for Pleasure" was a dive into New Orleans' street parades, Carnival, food and music. It includes Mardi Gras Indians, second lines, crawfish boils and more, and it features Allen Toussaint, Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas, Danny Barker, the Neville Brothers and many others.

"All on a Mardi Gras Day" begins at 7 p.m. Monday. "Always for Pleasure" also runs by itself at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9.

BANGKOK: Four Thai activists on Tuesday denied insulting the king as the first cases stemming from last year's street demonstrations demanding reforms to the monarchy went to court.

The protesters broke traditional taboos by criticising King Maha Vajiralongkorn, risking prosecution under lese majeste laws which make insulting or defamation of the royal family a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

At least 58 activists have been charged under royal insult laws since November, according to records compiled the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group, but the two cases on Tuesday were the first to go to court.

Parit Chiwarak, Arnon Nampa, Patiwat Saraiyam and Somyot Pruksakasemsuk denied lese majeste and 10 other charges including sedition during a protest on Sept. 19 near the royal palace in Bangkok, Prayuth Petchkun, deputy spokesman for the Office of the Attorney General, told reporters.

Parit also denied three charges including lese majeste and sedition during another protest on Nov. 14.

"The prosecution against us is using the law to block our freedom of expression," Parit told reporters.

The trials are scheduled to start next month.

U.N. human rights experts on Monday condemned the rising number of lese majeste cases in Thailand, including a 43-year jail sentence, the harshest punishment yet, against an elderly woman last month.

Thailand briefly stopped using the lese majeste law in 2018 but police started to invoke it again in November after protesters began openly criticizing the monarchy.

Tunis/Tunisia  The annual El Ghriba pilgrimage, cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is set for April 25-May 2, Organising Committee President Perez Trabelsi announced Sunday.

This date would depend on the improvement of the health situation in the country, he added at a meeting held with Tourism Minister Habib Ammar during his visit to the Ghriba Synagogue.

All preparations have already been launched to provide all the conditions to host visitors to the Ghriba, Trabelsi indicated, voicing high wishes that this pilgrimage will be held.

For his part, the minister undertook to implement all the anti-COVID-19 health protocol measures.

Preparations for the organisation of the pilgrimage are well under way according to the development of the health situation in the country, Ammar pointed out, affirming that the Ghriba pilgrimage is an important tourist event that signals the success of the tourist season.
A St. Bernard Parish woman's TikTok post has gone viral after she documented her bout with Gorilla Glue that she used as a makeshift hairspray and eventually put her in a Chalmette hospital, according to a report WWL-TV.

Tessica Brown called the experiment a "bad, bad, bad idea" and said her hair has remained in the same braid for a month because of the adhesive spray  even after 15 washes and dousing her mane in coconut oil.

She eventually wound up at the St. Bernard Parish Ochsner hospital because her head was hurting, according to an Instagram post Saturday. Hospital staff sent her home with sterile water and nail polish remover pads, but her most recent Instagram post suggested that she still may be looking for a solution to her hair problem.

A day later, Gorilla Glue released a statement that said they were "very sorry to hear about the unfortunate incident" and added that their product is not supposed to be applied to hair.

Since Brown's mishap and follow-up posts, the New York Times reported that her initial TikTok was viewed nearly 16 million times and has even earned her an internet nickname, Gorilla Glue Girl.
I am a woman and a classics professor teaching the ancient texts of Greece and Rome  in other words, works by the original "dead White men."

Some teachers argue that texts once read by elites or used in the service of oppression are morally tainted for that reason. So serious a scholar as Princeton University's Dan-el Padilla Peralta has suggested that the history of these classical works has condemned them to ignominy as instrumental to the invention of "Whiteness."

But I'd suggest that if this is the path we take, we're in trouble.

The alt-right has no compunction about appropriating antiquity for its own ends, as can be seen in images from the Jan. 6 Capitol invasion, where some rioters wore Greek helmets and carried flags with the phrase "molon labe" ("come and get our weapons"). This distorted reference to the Spartan stand against the Persians at Thermopylae in 480 B.C. reflects the supremacist belief that the Spartans saved "the White race" from barbarians.

I don't want to throw up my hands and yield ancient history and ancient literature to this group.

Yes, historically, many of these texts have been used to justify and support ideologies and actions we condemn today, from defending slavery to suggesting women are lesser creatures than men. Wouldn't it be better for us to use texts without tainted legacies and not risk seeming to condone the stories' content or the history of how the texts were used?

That approach ignores a basic fact: Times change, and so does the way we read. In antiquity, Virgil's "The Aeneid," an epic poem written in 19 B.C. about the foundation of Rome, was understood as praise of the emperor Augustus. In the Middle Ages, readers took it to be an allegory of the life of the Christian everyman. In the 20th century, Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini put it to use as a foundational text for the third Roman Empire. During the Vietnam War, the poem was interpreted by antiwar readers as a manifesto against imperialism and warmongering.

Today, the poem can be read as offensive. A Trojan, Aeneas, claiming to be on a divine mission, attacks the native peoples of Italy and wins, eventually leading to the growth of the Roman Empire. What's here if not a celebration of the West's hegemonic history?

But a middle path is available between avoiding such works entirely and endorsing a racist and sexist set of values: namely, interpretation. When I read "The Aeneid," I don't see an endorsement of colonization. I find in it what I am primed to find as a politically liberal Westerner in the 21st century. I find problems with its "heroic" protagonist and his search for a homeland: Aeneas causes carnage in his "divine" quest to become king; he even sacrifices people alive. I read the poem as a warning about the power of propaganda to veil the abuse of power.

Going back a millennium to ancient Greece, consider Thersites in Homer's "The Iliad." He is physically repulsive, "the ugliest man below Ilion." At an assembly he dares to criticize King Agamemnon. Mostly, he echoes what the heroic Achilles has said earlier (Agamemnon keeps all the good stuff for himself). But Odysseus beats Thersites with a scepter until he collapses. The ruling class has asserted its place.

Or has it? A century ago, readers of "The Iliad" would comment that Odysseus gave the troublemaker just what he deserved. Today, I'd ask: Why does Homer include this voice of blame within the epic at all? What does it mean that the scepter bestowing the right to speak is used as a weapon to silence? What are the social implications of equating ugliness with low social status?

Does it matter what the "right" meaning is? No, because literature doesn't do things by itself. We make meaning with a text, we don't simply absorb it or somehow get stained by it.

That is why, in his "Pedagogy of the Oppressed," Brazilian educator Paulo Freire half a century ago suggested that marginalized peoples should reinterpret the same texts that their oppressors use and transform them in their own service. Disconnecting the classics from elite education is entirely possible: These texts are available in translation to basically anyone with access to the Internet or a library.

What we need to do is "take back the classics." For millennia, they have been read differently by different cultures. There is no reason they cannot withstand the test of our time, too. We can save the classics, as long as we believe the sins of the father should not be visited upon the sons and daughters.

Shadi Bartsch is the Helen A. Regenstein Distinguished Service Professor of Classics and the Program in Gender Studies at the University of Chicago. Her translation of "The Aeneid" will be released this month.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio  It was in October 2009 that the Cleveland area first learned of serial killer Anthony Sowell. For the next few weeks, the horrors of his crimes would emerge.

Sowell, who died Monday afternoon at an Ohio prison hospital of an unspecified illness at the age of 61, eventually was convicted in July 2011 of the deaths of 11 women and was sentenced to death.

Below is some of the original coverage from The Plain Dealer during the first few weeks after a grisly discovery at Sowells home in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

The first day

It started with the discovery of two decomposing bodies at Sowells Imperial Avenue home on Oct. 29, 2009.

Sex offender sought after Cleveland police find two decomposed bodies

More victims found

Cleveland police and homicide detectives investigate after a pair of badly decomposed bodies were discovered at Anthony Sowell's home on Oct. 29, 2009. (John Kuntz, Plain Dealer file photo)The Plain Dealer

By the next day, investigators were conducting an extensive search of Sowells home, discovering more victims both inside and outside the house. Police also were searching for Sowell, who was 50 years old at the time.

Six bodies found at Anthony Sowells house, police sources say

Sowell arrested

Michael McGrath, foreground right, briefs the media on the bodies found in a home on Imperial Avenue in Cleveland and that the suspect, Anthony Sowell, had been taken into custody. Others are from left, U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Public Safety Director Martin Flask. (David I. Andersen, Plain Dealer file photo)The Plain Dealer

One day later, Sowell was arrested while walking during a Saturday afternoon on Mount Auburn Avenue, about one mile from his home on Imperial Avenue. Meanwhile, the search continued for more victims.

Anthony Sowell, suspect in murders on Clevelands East Side, arrested walking near home

Search continues

Cleveland police search the porch at the home of Anthony Sowell in October 2009. (John Kuntz, Plain Dealer file photo)The Plain Dealer

Detectives focused on missing people from Sowells neighborhood, meeting with the families of missing local women to gather photographs and biographical information.

Police gather DNA of people last seen near Anthony Sowells house

Questions on how it happened

The backyard of Anthony Sowell's home on Imperial Avenue on Oct. 31, 2009. (Chuck Crow, Plain Dealer file photo)The Plain Dealer

The revelation of Sowells crimes was disturbing to Plain Dealer columnist Phillip Morris, who wondered how so many missing women could go unnoticed.

A serial killer apparently works best in a silent city: Phillip Morris

An unrelenting stench

Ray's Sausage, located next to the home of serial killer Anthony Sowell on Imperial Avenue in Cleveland on Nov. 16, 2009. (Scott Shaw, Plain Dealer file photo)The Plain Dealer

Morris wasnt alone. Sowells neighbors also talked about the overpowering smell that came from near Sowells home, mistakenly believing that it was coming from a sausage shop on the street corner.

Anthony Sowells neighbors wonder how stench of rotting bodies went unidentified for years

Sowells violent past

Anthony Sowell is shown in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.The Plain Dealer

Sowells criminal past also came to light, as well as his struggles with drugs and alcohol. He was convicted of the July 1989 abduction and rape of a woman who was three months pregnant. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Sowells violent past offers glimpse of accused rapist suspected of mass murder

Death toll increases

Cuyahoga County coroners and Cleveland police exume another body from the backyard at the home of Anthony Sowell on Nov. 3, 2009. (John Kuntz, Plain Dealer file photo)The Plain Dealer

About a week after the initial discovery of the bodies at Sowells home, police discovered four more, bringing the total to 10.

Death count at Anthony Sowells home rises to at least 10

A slow response?

Cleveland police chief Michael McGrath talks about the four additional bodies and a skull found at the home of Anthony Sowell on Nov. 3, 2009. (Gus Chan, Plain Dealer file photo)The Plain Dealer

Police had to defend their response to the Sowell murders after it was learned that officers didnt arrive at the Imperial Avenue home until 37 days after a woman told police Sowell choked and raped her in the house.

Despite criticism, police said they worked hard to bring Sowell to justice

11 total victims

Cuyahoga County coroners hoist up the body bag bag with another victim found in the backyard at the home of Anthony Sowell on Nov. 3, 2009. (John Kuntz, Plain Dealer file photo)The Plain Dealer

Eventually, 11 victims were discovered on Sowells property, and investigators began to reveal details about the horrors they had to endure before their deaths.

7 bodies in Anthony Sowell case found with cords around necks

The women of Imperial Avenue

Debbie Williams, dear friend and "auntie" to Telacia Fortson, shows the back of her "Imperial Women" shirt, where the names of all the victims of serial killer Anthony Sowell are listed. Williams is raising Fortson's children. (Lynn Ischay, Plain Dealer file photo)

Eleven women were abducted and murdered by Anthony Sowell: Crystal Dozier, Tishana Culver, Leshanda Long, Tonia Carmichael, Michelle Mason, Kim Yvette Smith, Nancy Cobbs, Amelda Hunter, Janice Webb, Telacia Fortson and Diane Turner.

In 2011, The Plain Dealer profiled each of the women.

Crystal Dozier was a responsible child: The Women of Imperial Avenue

Tishana Culver never lost her kindness: The Women of Imperial Avenue

Leshanda Long had a chance for a normal life: The Women of Imperial Avenue

Tonia Carmichael came from humble beginnings: The Women of Imperial Avenue

Michelle Mason wanted a better life: The Women of Imperial Avenue

Kim Smith and her father made a pact: The Women of Imperial Avenue

Nancy Cobbs doted on her grandchildren: The Women of Imperial Avenue

Amelda Amy Hunter loved reading the classics: The Women of Imperial Avenue

Janice Webb didnt like being away from family: The Women of Imperial Avenue

Telacia Fortson wanted a family: The Women of Imperial Avenue

Diane Turner was poised for a comeback: The Women of Imperial Avenue
Matt Hancock finally unveiled England's draconian new quarantine programme for Britons arriving home from Covid hotspots abroad.

The long-awaited and much debated scheme will see travellers arriving back from 33 Red List nations forced to stay in hotels for 10 days at their own expense before being allowed to go home.

The action has been taken to prevent the influx of foreign strains of Covid-19, like those that have emerged in South Africa and Brazil.

While Mr Hancock finally revealed many details in the Commons today, mystery still surrounds the locations of 16 hotels that have been signed up to the scheme, with just six days to go until they welcome their first paying guests.

It is believed that hotels on Bath Road near Heathrow Airport are on the list, including Novotel Heathrow Crowne Plaza and the Thistle.

Here we outline all you need to know about the new quarantine system.

The Crowne Plaza, also in Heathrow, is thought to have been approached to accept passengers

Arrivals from Red List nations will have to quarantine at a Government-designated hotel for 10 days

All international arrivals into the UK will be forced to take two tests as the government is set to implement stricter measures to stop new strains of Covid arriving in the country

Who has to quarantine in a hotel and for how long?

Arrivals from Red List nations will have to quarantine at a Government-designated hotel for 10 days.

It affects British arrivals from 33 countries deemed high risk of new variants.

Nationals of those countries are already refused entry to the UK and most direct flights have already been banned.

The countries include all of South America, large parts of Africa - including South Africa - and the United Arab Emirates.

Portugal is the only European country currently on the list, which is reviewed on a weekly basis.

There is no way around the 10-day stay. While arrivals from non-Red List nations can be freed from home quarantine after five days if they pass a test, this option is not available to Red List arrivals.

How much will it cost?

It will cost the travellers up to 1,750 each for a 'quarantine package', although the Government is paying the upfront cost and will bill them afterwards.

This cost includes 'assigned government transportation, food and drinks, accommodation in a government approved facility, security, welfare and testing'.

The cost goes up by 650 for each additional person over the age of 12, and another 325 for every child aged between five to 12. Under-fives go free.

Scotland, which is introducing a similar system on Monday, is charging 1,750 for individual travellers, plus an additional supplement for each other passenger if they are not travelling alone.

This suggests that families who are in a household group may pay less per-person than groups of friends.

Where are these hotels?

None of the hotels involved in Number 10's quarantine plan have been named for 'commercial reasons'.

Mr Hancock declared that 4,600 rooms have now been secured by the government from 16 establishments.

But Department of Health bosses said the chains were being kept secret and refused to explain why they needed to be tight-lipped about who was involved.

Rob Paterson, the UK chief executive of Best Western Hotels, last week said his company was being 'kept in the dark' by ministers about the scheme.

While the St Giles Hotels chain last week said rooms in its site near Heathrow Airport were ready to host travellers. Its sister site in the Philippines is already working in a similar role.

What happens when I arrive?

Those who have been in red list countries are likely to be kept separate from other arrivals and escorted from their plane, train or ship through designated lanes to a coach, which will take them to their hotel.

Where children are travelling with adults, two interconnecting rooms should be allocated. If this is not possible, the largest rooms and suites should be made available to families.

Three meals a day per guest will be left outside the hotel rooms. There will also be tea and coffee facilities, fresh fruit and water.

Security staff will be on each floor to ensure people stay in their rooms. Guests are allowed out to smoke or for a breath of fresh air  but must be escorted by a guard.

What if I try to leave the hotel before finishing my quarantine?

Failure to stick to the hotel quarantine will be punishable with a fine of up to 10,000, Mr Hancock said.

Last year quarantine was attempted for a small number of people who had been in Wuhan, the Chinese epicentre of the contagion.

A group of more than 80 people were flown into the UK and taken to former nurses accommodation at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral.

Their accommodation was kitted out with bedding, games consoles and Barbies ahead of their 14 days in quarantine.

The Thistle Hotel, by Heathrow Terminal, is another thought to have been approached by the government

Although the government hasn't revealed which hotels will house the quarantine passengers, Novotel on Bath Road near Heathrow is thought to be one of them

The St Giles Hotels chain last week said rooms in its site near Heathrow Airport were ready to host travellers. However, they have yet to confirm if they have been approached by the government

Rob Paterson, the UK chief executive of Best Western Hotels, last week said his company was being 'kept in the dark' by ministers about the scheme

But the scheme attracted negative headlines when the isolated Brits held staff to 'ransom', with one security guard alleging that the evacuees know they can threaten to leave the secure unit and 'get whatever they want'.

Six in ten Britons say they 'could cope well' with ten days in hotel quarantine From Monday, UK residents returning from 33 countries will have to isolate for 10 days in hotels. Now, a YouGov poll has revealed that most Britons think they'd cope well with the quarantine. Forty four percent think they would cope fairly well in this situation, while a further 16% think they would cope very well A third (34%) say they would either not cope very well (19%) or not well at all (15%) Women (37%) are slightly more likely than men (31%) to say they wouldn't cope well in hotel quarantine Advertisement

One person tried to leave before completing the 14-day stay after his return from China, breaking the contract they signed before they were rescued.

The tough new rules are designed to prevent the same happening on a much larger scale this time around.

Can't I just lie about where I have been?

Mr Hancock said that arrivals who lie on their passenger locator forms about visiting 'hot spot' countries, in order to avoid hotel quarantine, face up to a decade in prison.

The maximum punishment puts the offence in a category with some of the most serious, alongside things such as carrying a firearm with intent. Sentences for rape can be shorter than 10 years, although the maximum for that level of crime is life.

The Health Secretary told the Commons: 'People who flout these rules are putting us all at risk.

'Passenger carriers will have a duty in law to make sure that passengers have signed up for these new arrangements before they travel, and will be fined if they don't, and we will be putting in place tough fines for people who don't comply.

'This includes a 1,000 penalty for any international arrival who fails to take a mandatory test, a 2,000 penalty for any international arrival who fails to take the second mandatory test, as well as automatically extending their quarantine period to 14 days, and a 5,000 fixed penalty notice - rising to 10,000 - for arrivals who fail to quarantine in a designated hotel.'

Travellers who lie about whether they have been to mutant coronavirus hotspots face up to ten years in prison, under a brutal crackdown unveiled by Matt Hancock today

He added: 'I make no apologies for the strength of these measures, because we're dealing with one of the strongest threats to our public health that we've faced as a nation.'

What about taking Covid tests?

Red List arrivals will be required to test negative for coronavirus abroad, no more than 72 hours before departure, using a kit that meets UK government standards.

They will be tested again on day two and day eight of quarantine, with costs included in the wider charge of the hotel stay.

The tests required are the PCR variety rather than the quicker and cheaper lateral flow.

The same requirement for a negative test result 72 hours before departure applies to arrivals from non-Red List nations.

Once in the UK, they must isolate for 10 days at home or in private accommodation, with the authorities able to check that they are obeying the rules.

Tests will be required on day two and day eight of isolation at a combined cost of 210, and must be booked through a government portal in advance of travel. The portal will be launched on Thursday.

The test and release scheme - which allows non-Red List travellers to leave isolation if they test negative after five days is staying in place. Many essential business travellers are likely to take this option.

However, Mr Hancock suggested even though they will not be subject to quarantine after the five-day test, they will still be required to have tests on day two and days eight. That means they could be screened four times in total.

What if I'm going to Scotland or Wales?

All travellers landing at Scotland's airports will be forced to quarantine for 10 days at their own cost, the country's Transport Secretary has said.

Michael Matheson told MSPs that six hotels have been block-booked in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, with up to 1,300 rooms available.

The Transport Secretary said the cost to an individual traveller would be 1,750, with an additional supplement for each other passenger if they are not travelling alone, and costs will cover the accommodation as well as two Covid-19 tests during the 10-day period.

The Scottish Government has previously said it would go further than UK Government proposals.

A Welsh Government spokesman said Wales will be adopting the new border measures announced for England.

The spokesperson said: 'This will include all people returning to Wales from 15 February being required to book and pay for tests before they travel. This will be done through the UK portal, whether a person has been in a Red List country or not.

'People returning to Wales from Red List countries are doing so through other ports in the UK, primarily via England. From 15 February, all arrivals in England will be required to isolate in designated hotels.

'This includes anyone planning to travel on to Wales, and they will need to enter a designated hotel for quarantine in England. This will need to be booked before travel.'

When will the quarantine rules be relaxed?

This is a question that the travel industry and many Tory MPs would like an answer to.

Furious backbenchers savaged Mr Hancock over a 'forever lockdown' today after he warned border restrictions may need to stay until autumn  despite figures showing the UK's epidemic is firmly in retreat.

Hotels were told it will last for an 'initial period' until March 31  but this can be extended at a stroke, with rolling seven-day notice periods.

Asked when the new rules will be relaxed, Mr Hancock replied: 'We want to exit from this into a system of safe international travel as soon as practicable and as soon as is safe.'

He said work is ongoing to assess the current vaccines against variants of the virus, adding: 'If that isn't forthcoming then we will need to vaccinate with a further booster jab in the autumn, which we're working with the vaccine industry.

'These are the uncertainties within which we are operating and hence, for now, my judgment is the package we've announced today is the right one.'

Former chief whip Mark Harper (left), chair of the lockdown-sceptic CRG bloc of around 70 MPs, and transport committee chair Huw Merriman (right) were among the Tories who challenged Mr Hancock

Former chief whip Mark Harper, chairman of the lockdown-sceptic CRG bloc of around 70 MPs, urged the government to reconsider its approach with Covid likely to be a permanent issue. 'If the virus continues to mutate, surely the risk is going to be there forever,' he said.

Tory MP Craig Mackinlay told MailOnline that he was sceptical about the border crackdown and it might do 'more damage than it tries to solve'. He added: 'This whole trying to stop things from coming in, I think we are way beyond that frankly. The virus does its own thing no matter where it is.'

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy firm the PC Agency, said the government needs to signal restrictions will be diluted from the start of April so travel can recover.

He said 'The government needs to signal that these tougher restrictions will be diluted from the start of April, enabling travel to recover again.

'Otherwise, the huge drop in travellers and number of flights will push the sector over a cliff-edge, with the resulting hundreds of thousands of job losses and business failures.'

He added: 'The outlook may seem cloudy right now, as government tightens restrictions for those entering the UK.

'But, when infection and mortality rates are much lower and the NHS is not under pressure due to vaccines taking effect, then there is no reason for such measures to be in place.'

Will I get a refund?

The plan represents a huge headache for holidaymakers who have already booked breaks.

If their country is on the red list and their airline or tour operator does not cancel the holiday, they will not be legally entitled to a refund.

There is no guarantee travel insurers will pay out on claims following the changes.

This could force people to choose between going ahead with their holiday  and the costly quarantine that may follow  or not turning up for the break theyve paid for.

If plans are cancelled by the companies involved, you are entitled to a full refund within seven days for flights, or 14 for package breaks.
Before reaching home, she visited the residence of AIADMK founder and late Chief Minister MG Ramachandran at Ramapuram and paid floral tributes to his portrait

Chennai: Expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala on Tuesday arrived here, 23 hours after her departure from Bengaluru, where she had served a four-year jail term in a corruption case and also underwent treatment for COVID-19 .

The 65-year-old former confidante of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa arrived at T Nagar around 7 am on Tuesday. Her nephew and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader TTV Dhinakaran, who indicated Sasikala might contest elections, said his efforts to "retrieve" the AIADMK will continue and asserted that the aim was to ensure that DMK did not come to power in the coming Assembly polls in the state.

Top actor Rajinikanth had enquired about Sasikala's health with him on Monday, he told reporters here.

Earlier, Sasikala had left the Karnataka capital by car on Monday morning and was accorded a grand reception by her supporters all along the way, till she reached the city this morning.

Before reaching home, she visited the residence of AIADMK founder and late Chief Minister M G Ramachandran at Ramapuram and paid floral tributes to his portrait and garlanded a statue of the popular leader installed there.

She was accompanied by Dhinakaran. Sasikala earlier underwent her sentence in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case at the Parapana Agrahara central prison in Bengaluru since February 2017 and was set free on 27 January.

However, she remained at the Government Victoria hospital, where she had been admitted after testing positive for COVID-19 while under judicial custody.

She was discharged from the hospital on 31 January after which she stayed at a resort, about 35 km from Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, Dhinakaran told reporters that all efforts to ''retrieve'' the AIADMK will continue.

Further, "we are strong (determined) that DMK should not come to power and will make all efforts in this direction," he said.

Asked if AMMK and AIADMK would join hands to keep the DMK at bay, Dhinakaran said, "as far as I am concerned, AMMK was started in March 2018 to retrieve AIADMK and give Amma's rule.

"I have been saying this ever since. Our aim is to retrieve the AIADMK and when that will happen is in people's hands. I am confident that will happen," he added.

He also questioned DMK chief MK Stalin's assertion that a fresh probe by an enquiry commission will be launched into the death of Jayalalithaa if the party comes to power, and quoted a Tamil saying to suggest it was not a genuine concern.

He also charged the DMK with making baseless allegations against Sasikala on this issue.

The AMMK leader said Stalin had raked up the matter during the 2017 RK Nagar by-poll, which Dhinakaran won, following the death of Jayalalithaa who then represented the city segment in the Assembly.

To a question, he said his aunt Sasikala may contest elections, though she may have served a prison term in a corruption case.

"There is time. She may not be able to contest under the present conditions but there are options available in the law... can approach court successfully," he added.

He was a "positive thinker" and therefore he believes Sasikala could face the polls, Dhinakaran said.

He also declined to respond to a question if the BJP was involved in a possible AIADMK and AMMK tie-up, saying it was ''speculation.''

Pointing out at Sasikala's court case against her expulsion by the AIADMK led by O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami, he said she will continue with her "legal struggle."

He recalled when Jayalalithaa was the party General Secretary, she had all the authority in the top post to summon General Council and make appointments and claimed nobody else could do so.

After Jayalalithaa's death in December 2016, Sasikala was elected interim general secretary of the AIADMK and also its Legislature Party Leader later, paving the way for her elevation as chief minister, but she had to serve the jail term after the Supreme Court restored the lower court award.

The AIADMK suffered a split with Panneerselvam, now deputy chief minister, and chief minister Palaniswami heading two factions, but they later merged the groups and the general counsel of the combined party expelled Sasikala in September 2017 along with Dhinakaran and others.

Asked if his aunt would ''summon'' the General Council of the AIADMK now, Dhinakaran said only she can answer that.
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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
Allison Langdon has undergone knee surgery after she seriously hurt herself while filming a watersports segment for the Today show last week.

Her colleagues Karl Stefanovic and Leila McKinnon updated viewers on her current condition on Tuesday.

Leila, who is filling in as co-anchor this week, said: 'A big shout-out to Ally this morning. Hopefully she's back on the mend after her operation.'

Road to recovery: Allison Langdon has undergone knee surgery after she seriously hurt herself while filming a watersports segment for the Today show last week

Karl added: 'I spoke to her last night. She seemed pretty good.

'Again, she was pretty under the influence of whatever they have after an operation. But she was going okay.'

Last week, the Today show was broadcast from Queensland's Gold Coast.

During a pre-recorded segment on Thursday, Allison 'badly' injured her leg while hydrofoiling - a relatively new watersport also known as foil surfing.

'On the mend': Her colleagues Karl Stefanovic (left) and Leila McKinnon (right) updated viewers on her current condition on Tuesday

Extreme sport: During a pre-recorded segment on the Gold Coast on Thursday, Allison 'badly' injured her leg while hydrofoiling - a relatively new watersport also known as foil surfing

Balance is key on the board, and riders have to place more of their weight on their back leg.

Dramatic footage of the accident showed Ally being pulled from the water by her life vest by two male rescuers.

She was taken to hospital where she received treatment and flew back to Sydney on Friday ahead of her operation.

Rescue: Dramatic footage of the accident showed Ally being pulled from the water by her life vest by two male rescuers

According to The Daily Telegraph, Allison will probably have to take a 'lengthy break' from her on-air duties.

Channel Nine will most likely 'foot the bill' for her medical bills and rehabilitation.

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Friday, Channel Nine described what happened as 'an unfortunate accident'.

Post-accident: After she was brought back to the wharf, Allison was taken to hospital where she received treatment. She flew back to Sydney on Friday ahead of her operation

'After nearly an hour of incident-free filming of a segment about hydrofoiling, Ally fell awkwardly as she headed back to the marina at the end of the shoot,' they said.

'It was an unfortunate accident, and she was immediately taken to hospital.

The statement added that both Karl and Ally had 'comprehensive safety induction and and a thorough run-through of all aspects of hydrofoiling.

'As with every shoot, safety requirements, briefings and subsequent after-care, are strictly followed and prioritised.'
Drug Arrests Made After Suspicious Mail Package

By West Kentucky Star Staff





PADUCAH - A joint investigation between the United States Postal Service, the McCracken County Sheriff, and Homeland Security led to the arrest of two Paducah residents on Friday.Postal service inspectors suspected that a package sent to a home on North 10th Street in Paducah contained illegal drugs.Detectives say a search of the package revealed stuffed animals that were filled with marijuana.Twenty-six-year-old Aribeaya Proctor and 22-year-old Danesha Proctor were arrested and charged with trafficking in marijuana over 5 pounds.They were lodged in the McCracken County Jail.
Peter Ben Embarek (3rd-R) and Marion Koopmans (2nd-R) attend a press conference to wrap up a visit by an international team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) in the city of Wuhan, in China's Hubei province on February 9, 2021. (Source: AFP)

The WHO mission to China to uncover the origins of the coronavirus has failed to identify the animal source, scientists said Tuesday.

Experts believe the disease -- which has gone on to kill more than 2.3 million people worldwide -- originated in bats and could have been transmitted to humans via another mammal.

While transmission from animals was the likely route, so far "the reservoir hosts remain to be identified", Liang Wannian, head of the China team, told reporters.

He added that studies showed the virus "can be carried long-distance on cold chain products," appearing to nudge towards the possible importation of the virus -- a theory that has abounded in China in recent months.

He also said there was "no indication" the sickness was in circulation in Wuhan before December 2019 when the first official cases have been recorded.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Follow our LIVE blog for latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic

WHO foreign expert Ben Embarak, who was based in the WHO's Beijing office for two years from 2009, backed up the assertion saying there was no evidence of "large outbreaks in Wuhan" before then.

The mission is a diplomatically knotty one, which was trailed before it began by fears of a whitewash, with the US demanding a "robust" probe and China firing back with a warning not to "politicise" the investigation.

During the closely-monitored visit, reporters were largely kept at arms' length from the experts, but snippets of their findings crept out over Twitter and interviews.

The experts spent one month in China, two weeks in quarantine and the same again on fieldwork.

But, already over a year after the virus emerged, some of it was of questionable relevance to their stated aim of finding the virus source, including a visit to a propaganda exhibition celebrating Chinas recovery from the pandemic.

The group spent just an hour at the seafood market where many of the first reported clusters of infections emerged over a year ago.

They also appeared to spend several days inside their hotel, receiving visits from various Chinese officials without going out into the city.

But deeper research was carried out at the Wuhan virology institute where they spent nearly four hours and said they met with Chinese scientists there including Shi Zhengli, one of China's leading experts on bat coronaviruses and deputy director of the Wuhan lab.

Former US president Donald Trump repeated a controversial theory that a lab leak may have been the source of the pandemic.

Scientists at the laboratory conduct research on some of the world's most dangerous diseases, including strains of bat coronaviruses similar to Covid-19.

Beijing is desperate to defang criticism of its handling of the chaotic early stages of the outbreak.

It has refocused attention at home -- and abroad -- on its handling of, and recovery from the outbreak.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
Labour leader Alan Kelly has said the country has no choice but to impose a mandatory hotel quarantine for everyone arriving into Ireland who isn't an essential worker.

It is part of a zero Covid approach that Labour is proposing under their National Aggressive Suppression Strategy.

While acknowledging that getting down to zero Covid is borderline impossible Deputy Kelly said the country can get case numbers down to low double digits and keep them low.

People are really concerned and worried about 2021, he told Newstalk Breakfast. We feel in order for 2021 not to be the same as 2020, we need to do this to suppress the virus.

Expand Close Labour Party leader Alan Kelly has called for an 'aggressive strategy'. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins / Facebook

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"Then hopefully later on the year well be able to open up more, and have resourced public health teams to act Panzer-like where theres virus outbreaks.

Because of the volume of border crossings, we do need to ensure that [for] people who are travelling in or out of the North in the Republic... we do everything we can to find out why theyre doing so.

He added that new fines for non-essential border crossings need to be more comprehensive as it was ridiculous that people going on holidays can still continue on with their journey to the airport after being fined.

As regards quarantining people coming into the country, were very clearly saying anyone who isnt an essential or logistics worker needs to be quarantined in a hotel, he added. "All that infrastructure and legislation should have been put in place prior to this."

Figures released last week show there was barely any change to Dublin Airport passenger numbers despite new fines as people determined to get away simply paid the fines and then carried on their journey.

Deputy Kelly said that if mandatory quarantine was in place for everyone, not just those arriving from certain countries, then the number of people travelling would decrease.

He also suggested a different plan is needed to test essential workers on arrival, so they don't face the same quarantine regime.

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Comcast announced Tuesday it will award $1 million in grants to minority-owned small businesses in Chicago and Cook County to help navigate a path to pandemic recovery.

The cable giant is offering 100 Chicago-area businesses $10,000 each as part of its Comcast RISE, a diversity and inclusivity initiative launched in June. Business must be at least three years old, have 25 or fewer employees and be majority-owned by a person of color.

Eligible applicants do not have to be Comcast customers.

There are no strings, said Teresa Ward-Maupin, a senior vice president for Comcast Business, who heads up the RISE program.

Comcast is giving away a total of $5 million to minority-owned small businesses in five cities. Grants also will be awarded in Atlanta, Detroit, Houston and Philadelphia. Eligible business owners can apply online from March 1 through March 14 at www.comcastrise.com.

Minority-owned small businesses have been hard hit by COVID-19. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found 41% of Black-owned businesses closed between February and April, more than twice the rate of white-owned business closures. Chicago has seen the second-steepest drop in local commerce spending behind San Francisco during the pandemic, with extreme declines in low-income neighborhoods, according to a study by JPMorgan Chase Institute.

Comcast cited both studies in determining the five cities to launch the grant program.

Weve identified key cities that have been most impacted by COVID, and thats what were going to support as a part of the grant, Ward-Maupin said.

The Association for Enterprise Opportunity, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization focused on underserved entrepreneurs, will judge the applicants, with the grants to be awarded in May.

Finalists will be determined by the originality of the submission and the persuasiveness of their responses as to how they intend to grow their business with the help of the grant.

Story continues

It goes beyond just are your doors open, but how do we really help you grow your business and allow you to build your own wealth and help the communities that you serve, Ward-Maupin said.

Comcast RISE, which stands for Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment, is part of a three-year, $100 million diversity initiative launched by Comcast NBCUniversal last summer. Since then, Comcast has awarded two rounds of free consulting, media and creative production services to Black-owned businesses, including dozens in the Chicago area.

The company expects the response to the cash grants to be more robust.

Because so many small businesses have been impacted and are in need of support, I suspect well see a great number apply for it, Ward-Maupin said.

rchannick@chicagotribune.com
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez denied once again Monday accusations from United States prosecutors that he protected drug traffickers in exchange for bribes.

This time, documents filed late Friday by federal prosecutors in New York said that Hernandez, identified in documents as CC-4 or co-conspirator 4, was under investigation. While U.S. prosecutors have detailed incidents in which Hernandez allegedly accepted bribes, including from infamous Mexican kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, they had not previously referred specifically to an investigation against the sitting president.

The reference to a U.S. investigation of Hernandez was made in a filing by U.S. prosecutors in the drug trafficking case of Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez. Fuentes Ramirez is accused of conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the United States and of killing several people to protect his business.

Late Monday, Honduras presidential Twitter account sent messages in Spanish and English denying Hernandez had any such role. He has not been charged.

The claim that Pres. Hernandez supposedly accepted drug money from a Geovanny Daniel Fuentes Ramirez, or gave protection or coordination to drug traffickers is 100% false, and appears to be based on lies of confessed criminals who seek revenge and to reduce their sentences, said one message.

This and other opportunistic allegations are contested by the essential fact that during the Hernandez Administration, coca trafficking through Honduras fell from 87% to 4% from 2013 to 2019, as recognized by the publications of the Department of State (INCRS) of those years, the second message said.

Honduras has been repeatedly praised by U.S. authorities for its cooperation in combating drug trafficking.

In the U.S. prosecutors court filing, they said the Honduran government has not been helpful in their investigations, including that of Hernandezs brother Juan Antonio Tony Hernandez, who was convicted in New York of a drug conspiracy in 2019. For the last several years, prosecutors in the U.S. Southern District of New York have been building cases against drug traffickers up to the Honduran security forces and politicians who protected them.

Story continues

This criminal investigation has established that corruption is endemic in Honduras, and given the target set at issue, assistance from the Honduran government in support of these ongoing prosecutions has hardly been forthcoming, the prosecutors wrote. For example, the Honduran government has provided only limited records in response to a treaty request for evidence relating to Tony Hernandez and not honored extradition requests relating to other charged co-conspirators -- and potential witnesses against the defendant and CC-4.

At another point, the U.S. prosecutors contested arguments made by Fuentes Ramirezs lawyers. The defendants complaints about the governments investigation ignore the realities of developing evidence of drug trafficking and acts of violence in Honduras in connection with an investigation targeting, among others, high-ranking officials such as CC-4, the document said.

Last month, prosecutors in the same case filed motions saying Honduras' president took bribes from drug traffickers and had the countrys armed forces protect a cocaine laboratory and shipments to the United States. The documents quote Hernandez as saying he wanted to shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos by flooding the United States with cocaine.

Prosecutors have previously alleged that Hernandez fueled his political aspirations with money from drug traffickers. In exchange, Honduran security forces allowed them to move cocaine through the country, a major transshipment point for South American cocaine en route to the United States, the prosecutor say.

Hernandez, who had been president of congress before being elected president in 2013, was reelected in 2017 to a term that ends in January 2022.

___

Associated Press writer Claudia Torrens in New York contributed to this report.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- McKean Defense Group, LLC announced today that the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) awarded the company a single award contract worth more than $19.7M. This contract has a five-year period of performance and is intended to support Critical Steam Systems programs in Code 41.

Work scope includes Hull, Mechanical and Electrical (HM&E) and steam plant readiness and safety engineering, quality assurance, life cycle engineering, and material obsolescence tasking. Specific tasking deliverables include technical reports, design models, engineering documentation and logistics data and plans, reliability and maintainability analysis, and configuration management documentation.

"Steam programs have been a part of McKean's portfolio of NSWCPD support since company inception," said Joseph Carlini, Chief Executive Officer of McKean Defense. "McKean, along with our teaming partners, developed a strong and reliable working relationship with the Code 41 Steam Program to provide critical support to the Fleet. We are eager to continue that support as the Navy focuses maintaining mission readiness in the coming years."

Work on these contracts will be executed in Philadelphia with support to other NSWCPD sites such as Norfolk and Portsmouth, VA; Mayport, FL; San Diego and Coronado, CA; Bremerton and Everett, WA, and select OCONUS locations. Any hires associated for engineers, technicians, and quality control specialists can be found at www.mckean-defense.com.

Additional Information:

McKean Defense is an employee-owned Life Cycle Management, Engineering, Enterprise Transformation, and Program Management business headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. McKean Defense's engineers, developers, technical staff, programmers, analysts, and program managers identify and deploy new shipboard technologies, integrate information technology across shipboard platforms, and develop strategies to support the Warfighter. McKean Defense's employees create strategic solutions to help customers reach new levels of mission support and transform their organizations.

SOURCE McKean Defense Group, LLC

Related Links

http://www.mckean-defense.com


The Tuesday dismissed a plea which challenged the Constitutional validity of colonial era provision of under the Indian Penal Code, on the ground that it is being used to stifle freedom of speech and expression of citizens.

A bench of Chief Justice Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian dismissed the plea saying that there was no cause of action and the petitioners are not the affected parties.

During the brief hearing, senior advocate Anoop George Chaudhary, appearing for the petitioners who are advocates, said that this is a public interest matter and people are being charged under the provision.

The bench observed that a law cannot be challenged without appropriate cause of action.

You are not facing any prosecution under the Section. What is the cause of the action? We don't have any case before us right now. We don't have any case in front of us where somebody is rotting in jail. If someone is in jail then we will consider. Dismissed, the bench told Chaudhary.

The plea filed by three advocates Aditya Ranjan, Varun Thakur, V Elanchezhiyan said that section 124-A of IPC (sedition), the provision which was used by the British against Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak is still stifling the freedom of speech and expression in the country if they choose to express dissent against policies of the Governments in power.

It is submitted that under the continuously expanding scope of the fundamental rights, a colonial provision like section 124-A which was intended to subjugate the subjects of British crown should not be permitted to continue in a democratic republic, the plea said.

It said that a constitution bench of the top court had in 1962 upheld the validity of section 124-A of IPC in Kedar Nath Singh versus State of Bihar by reading down the provision and preferring a narrow interpretation of 'sedition' to save the provision from unconstitutionality.

However, after six decades of experience with the law, it is clear that the said judgment requires reconsideration especially in the light of spate of charges imposed against various persons speaking out against the governments of the day and their policies. Section 124-A has a chilling effect on any dissenting free speech and/or criticism of the government which is an essence of democracy, it said.

The plea sought declaring of section 124-A as ultra-vires of the constitution and alternatively direction to DGPs to ensure that top court's 1962 verdict is strictly followed.

The lawyers in their plea submitted that the continuance of a draconian colonial provision like section 124-A in the penal code without corresponding safeguards as provided under the UAPA is unreasonable and unwarranted.

Neither there is any institutional responsibility on the Police in case of misuse of section 124-A of IPC nor are any procedural safeguards provided in code of Criminal Procedure unlike UAPA. Therefore, now section 124-A needs to be examined under the changed facts and circumstances and also on the anvil of ever evolving tests of necessity, proportionality and arbitrariness, the plea said.

They said that despite the interpretation of law of sedition to save it from unconstitutionality, the provision of sedition is being grossly abused across the geographical spectrum of this country.

Section 124-A of the Indian Penal Code instils a certain chilling effect on the general public at large inasmuch as it recognises 'sedition' as a criminal offence and the consequence of committing 'sedition' are excessive damages and penalties which are substantial punishments, the plea said.

The plea said that mere slapping of charge of sedition against a citizen endangers the right to live with dignity of the person and his family members forever.

It said that the media portrays the person charged as "Deshdrohi" (anti-national) whereas the seditious activities are imputed against the Government and in Hindi it may translate into "Raj Droh" (anti-government) which is not the same as "Deshdroh" and cannot be equated.

It causes chilling effect on other citizens and prevents them from exercising their fundamental right to criticize the Government and its policies through legitimate means. Our freedom fighters were charged by the Britishers under section 124-A but they were not "anti-national". The social and political stigma attached to a person charged under section 124-A is irreparable, the plea said.

It referred to the decision of top court in decriminalising section 377 of IPC in 2018 and scrapping of section 66A of IT Act in 2015, where constitutional provisions were given a re-look.

It is, therefore, imperative and the need of the hour that a colonial provision like section 124-A which is very severe and actually being misused frequently in contravention of the law laid down by this court may be tested on the anvil of the expanding scope of fundamental rights in the twenty first century, the plea 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.)




UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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
EQS Group-News: FiCAS AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

FiCAS AG: 15 FiCAS Active Crypto ETP now available in EUR, USD, and CHF



09.02.2021 / 16:15





Press Release

15 FiCAS Active Crypto ETP now available in EUR, USD, and CHF

- FiCAS, through its fully owned issuer Bitcoin Capital AG, has made its unique ETP available for trading in EUR and USD. The ETP trades in three currencies (CHF, EUR, USD) on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ISIN CH0548689600.

- As of 5 February 2021, 15 FiCAS Active Crypto ETP recorded a performance of 85% since its inception on 15 July 2020. The performance in January was 30%.

Zug, Switzerland - 8 February 2021 - FiCAS, through its fully owned issuer Bitcoin Capital AG, has made its unique 15 FiCAS Active Crypto ETP tradeable in EUR and USD, in addition to CHF. With the addition of the EUR and USD, investors in 15 FiCAS Active Crypto ETP residing outside Switzerland now have more seamless access. 15 FiCAS Active Crypto ETP is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and is available to retail, professional, and institutional investors across the EU and Switzerland.

Marcel Niederberger, FiCAS's Head of Operations, said, "Providing investors with the possibility to buy our ETP with EUR and USD, in addition to CHF, tremendously enhances the investment experience for those investors residing outside Switzerland. Clients in Germany, for example, don't need to change EURs to Swiss Francs to buy our ETP anymore and can buy the ETP as well as monitor the value of their investment directly in their currency. This offering also reduces exchange risk for them."

First launching 15 FiCAS Active Crypto ETP in Switzerland in July 2020, then obtaining the EU-wide prospectus approval in January, and now offering the ETP in different currencies underlines FiCAS's strategy to lead the charge in offering cryptocurrency investments to all kinds of investors.

During the month of January, the publicly-traded investment product 15 FiCAS Active Crypto ETP recorded a performance of nearly + 30%, outperforming bitcoin by 100%. The performance was obtained with a smaller drawdown compared to bitcoin and a correlation of less than 50% compared to bitcoin. The month of January has evidenced the ability of FiCAS to realize substantial trading gains over the mid to long term independently from extreme bull runs in the bitcoin price. Since its inception on 15 July 2020, 15 FiCAS Active Crypto ETP has recorded a performance of nearly 85%.

###

About FiCAS AG

FiCAS is a Swiss-based crypto investment management boutique. The firm devised the 15 FiCAS Active Crypto ETP - the world's first actively-managed exchange-traded product (ETP) featuring cryptocurrencies as underlying assets. FiCAS's discretionary investment strategy is based on fundamental and technical analysis, proprietary algorithms and the quant signals of experienced analysts. FiCAS's founder, Ali Mizani Oskui, has a proven track record of outperforming crypto market trends. The portfolio he managed from October 2015 to January 2018 achieved 210% outperformance compared to the Bitcoin holding strategy returns during the same period, as audited by a 'Big Four' consultancy firm. Founded in 2019, FiCAS is led by a team of professionals with deep expertise in both crypto finance and traditional finance.

About the 15 FiCAS Active Crypto ETP

The 15 FiCAS Active Crypto ETP is the world's first actively managed exchange-traded product (ETP) featuring cryptocurrencies as underlying assets, listed on SIX Swiss Exchange. The discretionary ETP, issued by Bitcoin Capital AG and managed by FiCAS AG, trades the top 15 cryptocurrencies with the aim to deliver enhanced returns for clients via active trading and risk management. The ETP is available to both retail and professional investors in Switzerland and in the EU to purchase through any broker or financial institution with access to the SIX Swiss Exchange.

For further information on FiCAS or the 15 FiCAS Active Crypto ETP, visit www.ficas.com or follow us on Twitter @Ficas_ltd.

For Media Enquiries

Darko Novakovic | E: darko.novakovic@ficas.com | T: +41 41 720 40 06

Disclaimers

Past performance, returns generated through FiCAS and its founder's management strategy and correct price predictions by FiCAS's founder are not necessarily indicative of future results. The information contained herein is not for release, publication, or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into Australia, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States or such other countries or otherwise in such circumstances in which the release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

This communication does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. Any securities pursuant to this communication have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or under the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The investment product described in this press release is intended for retail, professional and institutional investors in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and in the European Union.

www.ficas.com
Donald Trumps second impeachment trial is getting under way as the defeated former president stands accused of inciting the deadly mob attack on the US Capitol.

Mr Trumps lawyers are insisting as the Senate trial opens that he is not guilty of the sole charge of incitement of insurrection and that his fiery words were just a figure of speech as he encouraged a rally crowd to fight like hell for his presidency.

The Capitol siege on January 6 stunned the world as rioters stormed the building to try to stop the certification of then-president-elect Joe Bidens victory. Five people were killed in the riot.

Expand Close Rioters loyal to Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol on January 6 (AP/John Minchillo, File) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Rioters loyal to Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol on January 6 (AP/John Minchillo, File)

With senators gathered as the court of impeachment, the trial will begin with debate and then a vote on whether it is constitutionally permissible to prosecute the former president, an argument that could resonate with Republicans keen on voting to acquit Mr Trump without being seen as condoning his behaviour. They argue in filings the trial is patently ridiculous.

Prosecutors from the House of Representatives will cite the nations founders to declare a president must answer comprehensively for his conduct in office from his first day in office through his last.

There is no January exception just before he leaves office, they will argue, according to aides granted anonymity to discuss the arguments ahead of the trial.

Sweeping it under the rug will not bring unity, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said at the Capitol. You need truth and accountability.

The United States Capitol was invaded and desecrated.



The Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump is about truth and accountability following this despicable attack.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 9, 2021

It appears unlikely that the House prosecutors will call witnesses, in part because the senators sworn as jurors, forced to flee for safety, will be presented with graphic videos recorded that day. At his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Mr Trump has declined a request to give evidence.

The first president to face charges after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached for high crimes and misdemeanours while in office, Mr Trump remains a challenge to the nations civic norms and traditions even in defeat. Security remains extremely tight at the Capitol.

Acquittal is likely, but the trial will test the nations attitude towards his brand of presidential power, the Democrats resolve in pursuing him, and the loyalty of Mr Trumps Republican allies defending him.

Expand Close Donald Trump is the first US president to be impeached twice (AP) / Facebook

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White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Mr Biden will be busy with the business of the presidency and will not spend much time watching the televised proceedings. Hell leave it to his former colleagues in the Senate, she said.

In filings, lawyers for the former president lobbed a wide-ranging attack against the House case, dismissing the trial as political theatre on the same Senate floor invaded by the mob.

Mr Trumps defenders are preparing to challenge both the constitutionality of the trial and any suggestion that he was to blame for the insurrection. They suggest that Mr Trump was simply exercising his First Amendment rights when he encouraged his supporters to protest at the Capitol, and they argue the Senate is not entitled to try Mr Trump now that he has left office.

House impeachment managers, in their own filings, asserted that Mr Trump had betrayed the American people and there is no valid excuse or defence.

His incitement of insurrection against the United States government  which disrupted the peaceful transfer of power  is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president, the Democrats said.
SITEKI  About 10 healthcare workers have succumbed to COVID-19-related complications in the last two months.

This is for the period between December and January.

According to Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) President Bheki Mamba, 317 healthcare workers got infected with the virus.

Mamba urged government to prioritise the safety of health workers in this COVID-19 period through, among other things providing the essential personal protective equipment (PPE) and to shorten their working hours in highly exposed areas.

Infections

The president emphasised that the shortage of PPE had propelled the surge in the number of infections among their membership.

He said the association did not support an environment that exposes their members.

It remains important in this second wave of the virus to supply frontline workers with PPE so that they also remain safe to the patients who come before them and be supplied with all the other necessities like sanitisers and equipment at all times. While we commend governments effort in providing the vaccine for the population, we implore it to involve the health workers in particular, nurses to map up ways on how the health system can be strengthened, he said.

He further appealed to government to make sure that the essential equipment to safeguard healthcare workers against contracting the virus was provided at all times.

Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi said it would remain governments priority to put the lives of frontline workers first and ensure that PPE was adequately provided to all healthcare facilities countrywide.

Preventative

We mourn the demise of everyone including our healthcare workers because they get infected in the line of duty. It is imperative that we continue to uphold the preventative methods as a nation and make sure that we keep the number of infections minimal. We cannot celebrate yet considering the current statistics, we have to be cognisant of the fact that the virus is still within us and we have to be cautious and maintain the precautionary measures, she said.

The minister further implored the nation to continue practising the COVID-19 regulations as a measure to protect themselves and their families.

Nkosi said the notable decline in the number of infections and deaths recently, should not bring smiles to the masses as yet, but should be a lesson that upholding the preventative methods yields positive results if correctly implemented.

I would like to urge the nation to continue to practice social distancing, proper wearing of masks and always sanitising either at homes, workplace and when boarding public transport. That would assist the ministry in its effort of minimising the infection figures among the populace, pleaded the minister.
Another round of snow scheduled to fall on Massachusetts Tuesday morning has prompted some changes to school schedules around the state. The bulk of the snow is expected in northern Franklin, Worcester, Middlesex and Essex counties with some areas expecting 5 to 6 inches.

The following schools have announced schedule changes for Tuesday, Feb. 9. This list is updated as schools announce changes. To contact MassLive about this list, email newstips@masslive.com

A

Abby Kelley Charter -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Acton-Boxborough Regional School District -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Agawam Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9. From district officials: Due to the inclement weather in the forecast, Tuesday, February 9, 2021 will be a remote learning day for Agawam students and the teaching staff. School offices are open.

Andover Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District -- Closed Tuesday, Feb. 9

Ashland Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Assabet Valley Reg Technical High School -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Athol Royalston Regional School District -- Closed Tuesday, Feb. 9. From district officials: Due to the weather the Athol Royalston Regional School District will have a regular snow day today. Enjoy the day.

Auburn Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Ayer-Shirley Regional School District -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

B

Bay Path Regional Vocational-Technical -- Closed Tuesday, Feb. 9

Belchertown Public Schools -- Remote learning day for Tuesday, Feb. 9

Bellingham Public Schools -- Early release day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Berlin-Boylston Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Billerica Public Schools -- Early release day Tuesday, Feb. 9. From district officials: Due to the timing of todays weather event, and the forecast that increased projected snow totals overnight, the Billerica Public Schools will have a two-hour early dismissal for all students today, Tuesday, February 9.

Blackstone-Millville Reg. District -- Early release day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Blue Hills Regional Technical -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Boston Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Boxford Elementary School -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Brockton Public Schools -- Early release day Tuesday, Feb. 9

C

Carlisle Public Schools -- Early release day for Tuesday, Feb. 9

Chicopee Public Schools --Closed Tuesday, Feb. 9

Clinton Public Schools -- Remote learning day for Tuesday, Feb. 9

Concord Public Schools -- Remote learning day for Tuesday, Feb. 9

Concord-Carlisle Regional -- Remote learning day for Tuesday, Feb. 9

D

Douglas Public Schools -- Remote learning Tuesday, Feb. 9

Dracut Public Schools -- Remote learning Tuesday, Feb. 9

E

East Longmeadow Public Schools -- Remote learning Tuesday, Feb. 9

Erving School Union 28 -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

F

Franklin County Technical School -- Remote learning Tuesday, Feb. 9

Franklin Public Schools -- Early release day Tuesday, Feb. 9. From district officials: Due to heavier snow showers developing in the afternoon today, Tuesday, February 9, will be a half day schedule. (Both hybrid and remote) Dismissal will be as follows: ECDC:12:15 PM Elementary Schools:11:45 AM Middle Schools:10:45 AM (10:50 AM at HMMS) High Schools:10:55 AM

Frontier Regional Schools -- Remote learning Tuesday, Feb. 9

G

Gardner Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Granby Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Grafton Public Schools -- Closed Tuesday, Feb. 9

H

Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Hampshire Regional School District -- Closed Tuesday, Feb. 9

Hadley Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Hancock Regional School District -- Closed Tuesday, Feb. 9

Hatfield Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Hudson Public Schools -- Remote learning day for Tuesday, Feb. 9

L

Lawrence Public Schools -- Remote learning day for Tuesday, Feb. 9. From district officials: Due to snow, Tuesday Feb 9 will be a remote learning day for ALL students. All LPS buildings closed. Meal sites will be open from 11am-1pm.

Leominster Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Littleton Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Longmeadow Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9.

Ludlow Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Lunenburg Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

M

Marlborough Public Schools -- Closed Tuesday, Feb. 9.

Masconomet Regional District -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Maynard Public Schools -- Closed Tuesday, Feb. 9

Millbury Public Schools -- Closed Tuesday, Feb. 9

Minuteman Regional High School -- Remote learning day for Tuesday, Feb. 9

Mohawk Trail Regional School District -- Closed Tuesday, Feb. 9

Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School -- Remote learning day for Tuesday, Feb. 9. From district officials: Due to snow in the forecast, Monty Tech will be fully remote on Tuesday, February 9th. Stay warm and safe!

Mount Greylock Regional School District -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9. From district officials: Tuesday February 9 will be a remote day due to anticipated inclement weather.

N

Narragansett Regional District -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Nashoba Regional School District -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9.

Natick Public Schools -- Early dismissal Tuesday, Feb. 9. From district officials: Release schedule: Preschool releasing at 10:20; High school at 11; Middle School at 11:30; and Elementary at 12:15. RLA: This schedule is the same for RLA students as well. Students will be able to grab lunch upon departure.

North Brookfield Public Schools -- Remote learning day for Tuesday, Feb. 9

North Adams Public Schools -- Remote learning day for Tuesday, Feb. 9

North Andover Public Schools -- Remote learning day for Tuesday, Feb. 9. From district officials: REMOTE SNOW DAY on Tuesday Feb 9th - Due to weather, all students will be remote. Cohort A will remain asynchronous, Cohort B will be live.

Northampton Public Schools -- Closed Tuesday, Feb. 9

Northborough & Southborough Public Schools -- Remote learning day for Tuesday, Feb. 9. From district officials: The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough will shift all in-person learning to remote learning today, Tuesday, February 9, 2021, due to the weather conditions.

O

Oxford Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

P

Palmer Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Pathfinder Regional High School -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Q

Quabbin Regional School District -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Quaboag Regional School District -- Remote learning day for Tuesday, Feb. 9.

R

Randolph Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

S

Salem Public Schools -- Early release day Tuesday, Feb. 9. From district officials: Tuesday, February 9th will be an early release day based on the weather forecast. Please click here for early release times at your school.

Shrewsbury Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Smith Vocational High School -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Southbridge Public Schools -- Closed Tuesday, Feb. 9

Southwick-Tolland-Granville Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Spencer-East Brookfield Reg. Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Sutton Public Schools -- Closed Tuesday, Feb. 9

T

Tantasqua-Union 61 -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

Thompson Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

U

Uxbridge Public Schools -- Remote learning day Tuesday, Feb. 9

W
As many as 197 people are missing while 20 have died in Sunday's avalanche and flash floods in Uttarakhand, Union Home Minister told on Tuesday.

He said the figures received from the state government may change and the situation is being monitored round-the-clock at the highest level by the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.

Five more bodies were recovered on Tuesday taking the death toll from the Uttarakhand glacier disaster to 31 as multiple agencies raced against time to reach about 30 workers trapped inside a tunnel in a power project site and 175 people remained missing.

A portion of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday, triggering an avalanche and a deluge in the Alaknanda river system that washed away hydroelectric stations and endangered lives of people living along the banks.

Shah told the Rajya Sabha that the rising water levels washed away the functional Rishiganga small hydro project of 13.2 MW and also affected the under-construction 520 MW NTPC Hydro Power Project at Tapovan on the downstream of the Dhauli Ganga river.

"As per information received from the Government of Uttarakhand, 20 people have died and six persons have been injured so far. As per information, a total of 197 people are reported missing which includes 139 of an under-construction project of NTPC, 46 of the functional Rishi Ganga Project and 12 villagers," he said.

Twelve people working on the NTPC project and 15 on the Rishiganga one have been saved. In a tunnel of NTPC project, approximately 25-35 people are suspected to be trapped, Shah said.

"Rescue operation to evacuate these people is going on a war footing and all-out efforts are being made for searching missing persons.

"I assure the House that the Centre is extending all possible assistance to the state government for relief and rescue work. The central government is working in close coordination with the state and all necessary steps, which are considered appropriate, are being taken," he said.

Since a bridge has been washed away due to the deluge, 13 villages around the place of the incident have been cut off. Necessary supplies and medical assistance are being provided to these villages through helicopters, the Union Home Minister said.

The state government has reported that there is no danger of downstream flooding and the rise in water level has been contained, he said, adding "The centre and the state governments are keeping a strict vigil on the situation."



A meeting of the Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) under the chairmanship of cabinet secretary was held on February 7, wherein all the agencies concerned were directed to work in close coordination and to extend all requisite assistance to the state administration.

Shah said both the control rooms of the Ministry of Home Affairs are monitoring the situation and are providing all possible help to the state.

The Indo-Tibetian Border Police has set up their control room and 450 personnel of the force with all necessary equipment are engaged in rescue and relief operation. Five Nation Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, which have also reached the place of incident.

Besides, eight teams of the Indian Army, including one Engineer Task Force (ETF), are carrying out rescue operation at the incident site. A diving team of the Indian Navy has also reached the site for the rescue operation.

"Five helicopters of the Indian Air Force have also been engaged in the rescue operation. A control room has been established at Joshimath," Shah said.

Despite adverse conditions at the site, search and rescue operation is being carried out continuously. The Army has cleared debris at the opening of the tunnel to rescue the people trapped in it. A team of the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment/DRDO has reached the site for surveillance and reconnaissance, he said.

At the ground and government level, the district administration, police and disaster management departments of the state government along with all central agencies have been working for rescue and relief work, Shah said.

He also informed Lok Sabha about the situation in Uttarakhand and the response of the government.

Essential food and medical supplies are being provided to affected villages through helicopters, Shah said.

The state Public Works Department and the Border Roads Organisation have started repairing five damaged bridges. Central Water Commission personnel are on high alert and a DRDO team is keeping a vigil on avalanches, 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.)
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
BP talks about the shift to renewables as low regret, but low risk, a phrase that we think is really too dismissive of the risk"

Deep-pocketed oil majors barging in and paying over the odds to bolster their green credentials is not what Britains fledgling renewables industry needs.

Results of the latest round of windfarm seabed auctions off the UK coast, however, suggest that is just what it has got.

Britains ( ) and French oil supermajor Total emerged as surprise winners in an auction that saw huge interest in the auction organised by the Crown Estate.

A total of six projects we auctioned representing just under 8 gigawatts(Gw) of capacity or enough power for about 7mln homes when built.

BP won two sites representing a total of 3Gw jointly with German regional utility EnBW. The two projects are in the Irish Sea, in 35-40m of water about 30km offshore.

German power group won 3Gw, while a venture between Total and Aussie bank Macquarie picked up 1.5Gw.

Citigroup said the arrival of integrated oil companies (IOCs) with growth-ambitions in renewable energy has coincided with heightened competition in wind and solar.

Yesterdays UK offshore auction and the recent Spanish solar auction both saw intense competition.

The question we keep asking ourselves is what risk are IOCs imbedding?

BP talks about the shift to renewables as low regret, but low risk, a phrase that we think is really too dismissive of the risk that equity might actually be carrying.

As an example, we estimate that the upfront licensing costs imbedded in yesterdays UK offshore auction adds 8 years to the project payback (now 20 years).

A change to the mechanics of UK offshore site auctions has added to the debate with this round the first to use annual option fee payments instead of fixed fees.

Too few sites being offered given the rising demand was another criticism and meant that, inevitably, prices for those sites available would soar.

RenewableUK, the industry trade body, said: The industry had warned that the limited number of sites available and high demand risked an auction that resulted in very high bids.

The contracts awarded were worth 879m ($1.2bn) per year, or 111m per gigawatt per year, it added which represent a very significant sum for developers. In comparison, developing and constructing a 1GW offshore wind farm currently requires investment of around 2.5bn.

Observers said that ultimately these higher seabed costs will be passed onto customers through higher electricity prices.

Analysts, though, said the prices paid also underlined the attractiveness of UK offshore power at present.

noted that the UK auction result sparked two questions: Firstly, the role of the oil majors in the offshore industry and the rising competitive pressure that may result from this and secondly, the outlook on offshore returns.

While acknowledging the risks are rising, Goldman believes the market is exaggerating the threats, especially to the payment of the leases on the awarded seabeds.

The US broker says that while a rising share for the oil majors might translate into lower capacity awards for the existing green groups, seabed costs have been misunderstood.

Lease outflows are not perpetual, it says, and costs are only incurred until an investment decision (FID), which is typically between 4-6 years.

Annual payments to secure seabeds are also likely to become the new normal; and become 'pass-through items' with no impact on returns.

Larger, more efficient machines might also offset the additional costs.

BPs new chief executive Bernard Looney has set out an ambitious plan for the group to grow renewable power generation to 50Gw by 2030 from 3.3Gw currently.

Under the awards yesterday, BP and EnBW will each pay around 1bn in fees for the project before an investment decision (FID).

paid the lowest for its bid at 82,552 pounds per megawatt (Mw) per year, while BP and EnBW are paying 154,000 per Mw per year for the leases.

Shares in ( ) eased slightly to 261.8p today.
Co-defendant Connor Kerner, 19, of Valparaiso, was sentenced in December to 179 years in prison for the deaths of Lanham and Grill after being convicted on seven of eight felony counts against him by a jury in October. He has filed notice with the Court of Appeals that he intends to appeal, according to online court records.
The Oregon Symphony announced Tuesday that Austrian-born conductor David Danzmayr will serve as its next music director.

Danzmayr will begin his tenure at the Oregon Symphony with the 2021-2022 season, which will be announced in March.

Danzmayr has conducted orchestras around the world, in places like Germany and Scotland and recently, he served as Chief Conductor of the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director of ProMusica Chamber Orchestra.

We are thrilled to have David joining the Oregon Symphony as a creative leader with a unique artistic vision, said symphony president and CEO Scott Showalter, in a press release. His inaugural season, with the implementation of his Creative Alliance, reflects his desire to embrace wide-ranging cultures while inspiring and challenging audiences, and is sure to open another rich chapter in Oregon Symphony history.

It will be the symphonys 125th anniversary year and Danzmayr will be the first new director in 18 years, replacing Carlos Kalmar.

The 2020-2021 season was supposed to be a big send-off for the popular director, featuring new works and world-renowned guest artists like Wynton Marsalis.

In the 2020-21 season, we tell the story of Carlos and the Oregon Symphony, Showalter said in a statement at the time. Over the course of the year, Carlos will bring you music that moves him and us.

That season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But the symphony still plans to celebrate Kalmar.

Although we cant celebrate Carlos amazing 18 seasons with the Oregon Symphony in person as we planned, due to safety precautions related to the pandemic, Showalter told The Oregonian/OregonLive, the Oregon Symphony will celebrate Carlos as our Honorary Chair this April 17th at the 2021 Gala, which will be live-streamed.

Also, Showalter added, Carlos will return to Schnitzer Hall next season as Oregon Symphony Conductor Laureate. Details will be shared when the 2021-22 season is announced next month.

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker

Opinion Article

9 February 2021

Today's typical online travel consumer - your past, current and future hotel guest - is exposed to more than 250,000 digital micro-moments a year: from social media interactions to messaging and quick read of the headlines on their smartphones (Google Research). This year travel consumers will spend more time on digital media - 6:41 hours/day - than all other media (TV, Radio, Newspapers, Magazines) combined - 5:30 hours/day (eMarketer).

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With the explosion of the "digital way of life," the customer journey has turned into a digital customer journey that is becoming increasingly complex, forcing hoteliers to overhaul their technology stack, corporate and marketing strategies in order to engage, acquire, service and retain these digitally-savvy travel consumers across multiple digital touchpoints and across all digital channels and devices.

Unfortunately, our industry is vastly unprepared for this new digital reality. Long gone are the years when staying at a hotel meant experiencing better technology and amenities (flat-screen TV? HBO? High-Speed Internet?) compared to the guests' own homes. Right now, most hotels are desperately lagging behind the technology - devices, amenities, mobile and cloud services - customers enjoy at their own homes: from cloud applications to mobile assistants and IoT-enabled devices, streaming media, 6G Wi-Fi and "smart" homes.

From a technology perspective, the urgent challenge to hoteliers is to create a "digital technology environment" in order to engage, convert and retain the guest throughout the Digital Customer Journey and its Dreaming, Planning, Booking, Experiencing and Sharing Phases and provide hotel and room technology services, amenities and applications that are at least the same or better than what guests already enjoy at home.

What are the main reasons for our industry's technology deficiencies? One is the systemic underinvestment in technology and especially in mobile and next-gen technologies and cloud applications that has been plaguing the industry for many years now. The other main reason is the shortage of hospitality-schooled digital technologists and strategists that can guide the technology adoption.

Today there is a clear deficit of proper hospitality industry education in digital technology and the latest technology innovations, trends and best practices. How many hospitality schools today teach hospitality technology courses? How many offer professional development technology courses and certifications on vital hospitality tech applications? Only a few. A few years back New York University's Tisch Center of Hospitality launched a graduate and undergraduate "Hospitality Technology" course and recently opened its Hospitality Innovation Hub. Les Roches Global Hospitality in Switzerland now offers a Master's in Hospitality Strategy and Digital Transformation. Both of these programs - I am privileged to teach at both - are a great start to educating future hoteliers on the business applications of technology and providing our industry with future digital technologists.

Don't get me wrong: I am not preaching for hospitality schools to start teaching IT and software engineering, computer sciences or PHD-level data sciences. These specialists we will continue to hire from the general labor markets. But we need to educate and create the next generation of hospitality digital technologists who understand the business applications of hospitality technology and are able to assess the technology needs of the organization, devise its technology strategy and optimal tech stack, be able to evaluate and select the most appropriate tech solutions and oversee the implementation and ongoing integrations of the solutions. This is the job of hospitality digital technologists and technology strategists, not of IT engineers, software engineers or data scientists.

Graduates from hospitality schools should be intimately familiar with the optimal hotel tech stack and how to use technology solutions to improve customer service, operational efficiencies, lower labor, operational and distribution costs and increase revenue. Should be able to answer confidently questions like "What are the benefits of a Cloud PMS vs on-premise PMS? Why does the hotel need an RMS? How to use CRM technology to increase repeat business? What type of CMS do I need for the hotel website? What type of DMS technology do I need to improve conversations and revenues of the property digital marketing? How to create a fool-proof issue resolution system at the property? A 100% contactless guest experience? How to implement automation, robotization and IoT devices to improve customer service efficiencies and lower labor costs without diminishing guest satisfaction?"

Bill Carroll, Ph.D., Clinical Professor (Online Program) at Cornell's School of Hotel Administration underscores the importance of technology education in hospitality: "The role and use of effective digital technology and digital marketing have become even more important as the hospitality industry recovers from the Covid-19 crisis. Hospitality programs have an obligation and opportunity to serve the industry through education, both online and offline and research."

Scott Dahl, Program Director, Les Roches Global Hospitality in Crans Montana, Switzerland shares the same views: "The hotel industry has been in a digital transformation since the OTAs began revolutionizing the way people book rooms more than twenty years ago. Since then, advancements like big data, cloud computing and standardized interfaces have continued to accelerate this transformation, but for the most part, hospitality education has failed to react. At Les Roches, we now offer a Master's in Hospitality Strategy and Digital Transformation, focused on maximizing emerging technologies in everything from the customer experience to distribution. And if the overwhelmingly positive response from our industry partners is any indication, we're on the right track."

In addition to the typical concentrations in Hospitality Management, Revenue Management, Marketing, Real Estate Development and Finance and Accounting, hospitality schools worldwide should prioritize a concentration in Hospitality Technology, which will benefit not only hoteliers but the myriad of hotel tech vendors out there.

Today's hospitality industry has to transform itself - whether willingly or unwillingly - into a 100% digital technology-enabled service industry powered by online, mobile, cloud, IoT, AI, robotics and blockchain tools and applications. It is a very positive sign that digital technology is already making its way into every aspect of some smart hoteliers' operations, guest services and communications, revenue management, distribution, CRM and marketing.

This "leap into the digital future" necessitates the education of a new generation of hospitality technologists and strategists who understand the business applications of technology and who can lead the digital transformation of our industry.

Article published originally as part of Max Starkovs The Tech Center column in Hotels Magazine
A study has described genetic changes in patients with the most common form of hereditary kidney disease that affects an estimated 12.5 million people worldwide. The research, which focussed on Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) in Ireland, provides insights into PKD that will assist doctors and patients in the management of this of inherited condition.

The study, led by researchers from the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, is published in the European Journal of Human Genetics.

In the research, a cohort of 169 patients with PKD in Ireland were analyzed. The genetic changes were identified in up to 83% of cases. It is the first time that the diversity of genetic causes of PKD in Ireland have been described. The results will better assist doctors in identifying patients who may require transplantation or dialysis. The findings also have important implications for people who have a family history of PKD and are planning a family or considering kidney donation.

This study is hugely important in providing us with an insight into the genetic landscape of Polycystic Kidney Disease, the most common form of inherited kidney disease in the world. Our findings have implications for the prognosis of patients by helping us to further identify why the disease may progress more rapidly in some cases and how we can reduce the burden of inherited kidney disease in future." Dr Katherine Benson, Study's First Author, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI

The study was carried out by a team of researchers and clinician scientists under the supervision of senior authors Prof. Gianpiero Cavalleri, Professor of Human Genetics at RCSI and Prof. Peter Conlon, Associate Professor of Medicine at RCSI and Consultant Nephrologist at Beaumont Hospital.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 23:00:49|Editor: huaxia

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Aerial photo taken on Aug. 19, 2020 shows wind turbines in Jiucaiping scenic spot in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- It has been nine years since cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) began. This cooperation covers a wide range of sectors, including a "green consensus."

Considerable work can be done to advance international cooperation on climate change, jointly implement the Paris Agreement and contribute to the success of COP26 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, both to be held this year.

China and the European Union (EU) have both committed to achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions and have launched a partnership for green cooperation, to which China-CEEC cooperation can make an important contribution.

China has vowed to peak its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. It resists the old way of developing the economy at the cost of the environment. For their part, the CEE countries see the post-pandemic era as an important period to develop a green economy. To double CEE countries' agricultural exports to China and develop more tourism products with local features, for instance, deeper exchanges and cooperation in terms of the green economy are required.

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 17, 2020 shows a photovoltaic power station at a green industrial development park in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Hainan, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

Healthy and sustainable development for both sides will inject new momentum into China-CEEC cooperation in many other domains, including but not limited to coordination and cooperation in COVID-19 response, energy, innovation and cultural exchange.

China-CEEC cooperation arises from the shared interests of China and the CEEC. As part of China-EU cooperation, the cooperation between the two sides has always been open and transparent, contributing to the development of the CEEC as well as Europe's integration process.

The cooperation is in no way intended to start all over again, let alone to divide Europe, as some Western skeptics groundlessly conjectured. The EU and other interested parties are invited to observe every conference within the China-CEEC framework, and the consensus reached under the cooperation mechanism is open and beneficial to all sides. This partnership is a helpful complement to China's cooperation with the EU.

The cooperation between China and the CEEC has supported the development of all parties involved and bettered people's lives. With shared commitment and efforts, the two sides will achieve more solid, substantive and enduring progress, setting an example of practical trans-regional cooperation for the world community. 
Teenagers accused of breaking and entering, robbery or assault while on bail will be forced to prove why they should not be held on remand under law changes announced by Queenslands Premier.

Annastacia Palaszczuk conceded the community expects us to do more after high-profile incidents in the past two weeks pulled the youth justice system into the spotlight.

One, involving an allegedly intoxicated 17-year-old driver in a stolen car, led to the deaths of Matt Field, Kate Leadbetter and their unborn son Miles.

On Tuesday Ms Palaszczuk announced new measures to curb youth crime, four of which relate to bail.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Michigan has federal approval to provide millions in food assistance to children missing out on school meals.

About 810,000 children will have access to $741.6 million in benefits that will help their families pay for food at stores or online. Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced the federal approval Friday.

K-12 students will qualify if they are eligible for free or reduced lunches at their school, as well as if their school is not in-person or on a hybrid schedule.

Families are estimated to get $127.53 per month per child with no in-person classes. If a child has part-time in-person classes, families will get an estimated $77.06 for each child per month. These estimations may vary based on the number of school days each month.

These benefits are retroactive to September and will be paid through June. Automatic payments will be issued, so families do not need to apply. Those already receiving food assistance will receive funds on their Bridge Cards. Families who do not currently receive food assistance will receive a card in the mail.

Prior to receiving a card, recipients will get a letter by mail explaining how to use it. Like a debit card, it can be used at Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailers. Benefits can also be used online for food from Amazon, Walmart or Aldi.

Food assistance is one part of ongoing state budget decisions, which focus on allocating COVID-19 aid money. The state has billions in federal funding meant for COVID-19 recovery, but conflicts remain between Whitmers plan and the Republican-led house in how to use it. The Senate is still working on its own plan.

RELATED: How to spend federal coronavirus money may be the next big battle between Whitmer and Republicans - mlive.com

The last thing that families should have to worry about during a pandemic is feeding their children, Whitmer said in the statement.
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A Sydney man who filmed, raped, tortured, kidnapped and murdered his terrified niece before dumping her body in a blowhole says 'I let my own problems spill into the family home'.

'This moment in my life has kept me awake at night in tears and I still have nightmares,' Derek Barrett wrote in a letter of apology to his victim's heartbroken mother.

Already in jail for at least 34 years and six months for the murder and kidnapping, the former IT worker faced a resumed sentence hearing in the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday in relation to the filmed sex attacks.

The 32-year-old was jailed in 2017 after admitting repeatedly stabbing student Mengmei Leng, whose body was found in the blowhole at Snapper Point on the NSW Central Coast in April 2016.

Derek Barrett was sentenced to 46 years in jail with a non-parole period of 34 years and six months for the murder and kidnapping of his niece Mengmei Leng (both pictured)

Barrett filmed, raped, tortured, kidnapped and murdered Mengmei Leng (pictured) before dumping her body in a blowhole

He had admitted filming the 25-year-old niece of his wife, while she was bound and naked, for his sexual gratification but a judge found he deleted the film from his phone on arrest from fear of detection.

Barrett was only charged with the sex offences late last year after an elderly woman with dementia was mysteriously found holding a USB containing video of him raping the gagged and terrified woman.

He's admitted 17 counts of assault with acts of indecency and aggravated sex assault, committed shortly before he stabbed his niece at least 30 times.

A psychiatrist testified that Barrett told him 'I lost everything because of a stupid weekend'.

In his letter tendered to the court, Barrett wrote: 'No words can begin to describe the emotional pain I have caused to you and the family. I can only imagine what you must be going through from your loss.

'Every moment of my life I wish I could go back in time and take back that day that has caused so much pain.

Barrett admitted filming the 25-year-old niece of his wife, while she was bound and naked, for his sexual gratification

'I let my own problems spill into the family home and they paid dearly as a result.'

He had never wished ill will on anyone, would happily trade his life if it could bring Ms Leng back and took full responsibility for his terrible actions.

'All I can do, in some small way, is to commit my life to trying to make up for what I have done in anyway possible.'

Barrett didn't give evidence, leading the prosecutor to submit that Justice Helen Wilson should give little weight to the letter.

The judge noted Barrett did give evidence at his murder sentence hearing when he said he should be given life imprisonment but he then went onto unsuccessfully appeal her considerably lighter sentence.

In the mother's translated victim impact statement, Tam Mei Zhang, asked the judge to sentence 'this vicious rapist, malicious torturer and cold-hearted murderer, to life imprisonment'.

'In April 2016, the death of Mengmei had brought great pain to my whole family and I, a single mum trying to support her daughter who is an international student in Sydney,' she said.

The death of Mengmei 'brought great pain to my whole family' her mother Tam Mei Zhang said in a victim impact statement

Mengmei Leng's body was found in the blowhole at Snapper Point on the NSW Central Coast in April 2016

'My healthy mother was in such grief that she too passed away, not long after receiving the news of Mengmei's death.'

Ms Zhang said she then received a call from police saying they had found the video footage.

'When the police told me the video clip showed how my Mengmei was degradingly raped, agonisingly tortured, and brutally raped, a wave of faint immediately washed over.

'How can any mother possibly accept such news? Especially when my Mengmei was such a kind, sensible, filial and decent girl! How my heart breaks!'

Barrett will be sentenced for the sex offences on March 18.

[February 09, 2021] International Media Investments (IMI) selects Arc Publishing digital experience to power portfolio of sites

With this, Arc enters Middle East region, now serves customers in 24 countries WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Arc Publishing today announces that United Arab Emirates-based media company International Media Investments has selected Arc's digital experience platform to power digital publishing for its portfolio of English news sites, starting with its flagship publication, The National, which reaches more than 9 million English-speaking readers daily around the world through its 6 digital editions. With this, Arc expands into the Middle East and serves customers in 24 countries worldwide. "Arc's industry-leading, cloud-based platform and advanced capabilities continue to drive digital growth and transformation for publishers, broadcasters and brands around the world. With an intuitive design and seamless integration, Arc enables organizations to get up and running quickly even with a remote workforce," said Scot Gillespie, CTO and GM of Arc Publishing. "We are extremely pleased o support IMI in their digital expansion and look forward to collaborating with their engineering team to implement Arc."



With additional launches planned later in the year, Arc will serve as a strategic partner to IMI in their strategy to rapidly innovate, modernize and expand the reach of their news sites as they establish themselves as the authoritative source for news on the Middle East. "As The National continues its global expansion by adding more journalists around the world in key locations, we are also delighted to announce that Arc will become our core content management and publishing platform. Arc will further help enable our future digital growth as we continue our journey to being the number one source of quality Middle East news and analysis," said Alan Griffin, Head of Digital at The National.

About Arc Publishing

Arc Publishing (https://www.arcpublishing.com/) is an award-winning, state-of-the-art digital experience platform and suite of tools that's engineered to meet the demands of modern publishers, brands and broadcasters around the world. Built by The Washington Post, Arc technology handles complex multi-site publishing and audience needs across video, web, apps, subscriptions and ad monetization, providing a competitive advantage enhanced by a set of sophisticated machine learning and AI-powered tools. Arc has powered the digital transformation of clients both large and small across the globe, currently serving 1,400 sites in 24 countries that reach more than 1.5 billion unique visitors monthly. At its core, Arc is about speed and innovation: for readers, newsrooms, brands, advertisers and developers. About The National

The National was founded in 2008, setting a new standard for quality journalism in the Middle East. The National reaches more than 9 million influential, English-speaking readers daily, delivering the latest in news, business, arts, culture, lifestyle and sports, while leading the region in analytical content and commentary. The National has been extensively awarded for its design, reporting, photography, and video work, while its indisputable reputation for excellence appeals to business leaders and decision-makers. Publishing across all digital platforms, The National harnesses the latest multimedia tools while continuing to produce a print edition six days a week in the United Arab Emirates. The National is the destination to understand the Middle East at a time when the region has never been more important. The National is owned by International Media Investments FZ LLC and can be found online at www.thenationalnews.com and online app stores at TheNationalNews. Content from The National can also be accessed on all major social media platforms: Twitter/ Facebook/ LinkedIn: @TheNationalNews and Instagram: @TheNationalNews.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1318597/Arc_Publishing_Logo.jpg

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(Newser)  You can order a steak rare, well done, and now, 3D printed. An Israeli company has produced what it calls the "world's first slaughter-free ribeye steak," reports Bloomberg. The product from Aleph Farms is the latest entry in the emerging field of alternatives to traditionally raised meat. But as the Washington Post explains, this isn't a plant-based substituteit's beef, albeit lab-grown beef that also makes use of 3D bioprinting technology. In a release, the company says it prints living animal cells "that are then incubated to grow, differentiate, and interact, in order to acquire the texture and qualities of a real steak." The end result for consumers is a steak that doesn't require a cow be butchered. And the taste? Aleph swears it's "delicious, tender," and "juicy," though it will be a while before consumers can taste for themselves because the meat still must receive regulatory approval in the US and elsewhere.

story continues below

"We've been interacting with the USDA and FDA for the past two and a half years, and we believe the US may be one of the first countries to clear cellular meat," Aleph chief executive Didier Toubia tells the Post. While some may balk at digging into lab-grown meat, Toubia says the idea isn't to replace the traditional stuff "but to build a second category of meat." Technicians have a high degree of control over such as issues as collagen and fat and can tailor the steaks for different tastes, he says. Aleph may be the first to develop a thick-cut steak with this process, but a post at the Food Institute makes clear it won't be the last. It notes that more than 100 companies across the world are now working on "cultivated" meat, seafood, and dairy products. (The agriculture industry's impact on the climate is one reason alternatives are springing up.)
SAO PAULO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo  Sabesp ("Sabesp" or "Company"), in compliance with the provisions of Article 157, Paragraph 4, of Law 6,404/76 and the provisions of Instruction 358 of the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission ("CVM"), dated January 3, 2002, as amended, in continuity to the Material Fact disclosed on January 28, hereby informs its shareholders and the market in general that the Sao Paulo State Public Services Regulatory Agency (ARSESP - Agencia Reguladora de Servicos Publicos do Estado de Sao Paulo) published:

a) Public Consultation Notice n 03/2021 and Public Hearing Notice n 01/2021, regarding the proposed Calculation of Maximum Average Tariff (P0) of the Sabesp's 3rd Ordinary Tariff Revision; and

b) Public Consultation Notice n 04/2021 and Public Hearing Notice n 02/2021, regarding the Proposed New Tariff Structure of Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo - Sabesp;

All interested parties may send their contributions from February 09 until March 3rd, 2021.

Public Hearings will be held through the Zoom digital platform, as follows:

a) N 01/2021 on February 25, 2021 at 02:30 pm

b) N 02/2021 on March 02, 2021 at 02:30 pm

In addition, the Company informs that ARSESP released the respective Preliminary Technical Notes and other related documents, which are available on ARSESP's website and on Sabesp's website, on the Investor Relations page.

The Company will keep the market informed on the developments concerning this matter.

IR Contacts:

Mario Arruda Sampaio  (55 11) 3388-8664 ([email protected])

Angela Beatriz Airoldi  (55 11) 3388-8793 ([email protected])

SOURCE Sabesp

Related Links

http://www.sabesp.com.br


A South Jersey town has agreed to pay $95,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by a man who claimed a police officer lied about an incident and pressed charges against him that were later dismissed.

David J. Carpenter was driving along a street in Millville on Jan. 22, 2018, when he used his cellphone to record a police action in progress, according to the suit.

Carpenter, a Millville resident and self-described news junkie, was curious about what was happening that led to a traffic backup in the area, according to the suit. The incident in question turned out to be a fatal police-involved shooting.

Millville Patrolman Albert Chard Jr., who was waving vehicles through the area, gestured for Carpenter to stop recording and, when Carpenter didnt comply, pounded on the mans pickup truck and tried to open the passenger door on the vehicle, the suit stated.

Carpenter claimed he stopped at that point, but Chard said he was dragged across High Street by the truck because he couldnt let go of the door handle quickly enough, according to the patrolmans investigation report.

The report also states that Chard wanted him to stop recording because Carpenter wasnt paying attention to his driving. Carpenter told the officer he didnt have to stop using his phone and called 911 claiming he was being harassed/abused by police, Chard wrote.

Carpenter was charged with assault by auto, calling 911 without needing service, obstruction with a lawful investigation and several motor vehicle violations and later indicted on third-degree charges of aggravated assault on a police officer and eluding, based on Chards account to a grand jury.

The prosecutors office dropped those criminal charges after reviewing both Carpenters cellphone video and several surveillance videos from the area and finding no factual basis to support the criminal claims.

Carpenter ended up pleading guilty to a single traffic offense of driving while using a cellphone and was fined $400.

The suit accused Chard of improperly charging Carpenter and then lying to the grand jury.

Fortunately, a surveillance camera positioned at a Rite-Aid drugstore across the street from the area of police activity captured the entire incident, and revealed, not only that Officer Chard was not dragged across the street, but that Mr. Carpenter did absolutely nothing to support his being indicted by the Grand Jury, according to the suit, which was filed by Carpenter and his wife. Patrolman Chards actions on January 22, 2018, should have made him a candidate for remedial training in proper techniques of roadside vehicle stops, but by information and belief, no such training has occurred to date.

After his arrest, Carpenter was suspended without pay from his job as a boiler engineer with the Vineland Developmental Center and suffered as a result of public humiliation caused by the matter, according to his suit. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the incident and those symptoms continued even after the criminal charges were dropped.

The suit, which named Chard, Police Chief Jody Farabella and the City of Millville as defendants, claimed violation of Carpenters federal and state constitutional rights protecting him from false arrest and negligence by the city for failure to train, supervise and discipline officers.

The settlement, first reported by open public records advocate John Paff, was approved by Millville last month. Under the agreement, the defendants admitted no wrongdoing.

Chard remains employed by Millville.

City officials did not respond to a request for comment on the settlement.

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday asserted that the recent Wuhan investigation has uncovered new information but has not dramatically changed the picture of COVID-19 outbreak, as reported by news agency Reuters.

WHO's Peter Ben Embarek said that the team did not find evidence of large outbreaks that could be related to COVID-19 prior to December 2019 in Wuhan or anywhere else, reported Reuters. Embarek added that the team found evidence of wider circulation outside the Wuhan Huanan market in December 2019.

As per news agency AP, WHO expert said that the coronavirus leak from Chinese lab was unlikely, most probably jumped to human via intermediary species.

Earlier a top expert at China`s health authority said on Tuesday that the virus that causes COVID-19 could have been circulating in other regions before it was identified in the central Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019.

Liang Wannian, an expert with China`s Health Commission, also told a press briefing at the end of a nearly one-month visit to Wuhan by a World Health Organization-led team that there had been no substantial spread of the virus in the city before the late 2019 outbreak.

Members of a WHO-led team have been looking for clues about the origins of COVID-19 for nearly a month of meetings and site visits in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the disease was first identified. The briefing was originally scheduled for 3.30 pm local time (0730 GMT) on Tuesday afternoon but was then delayed until 5.00 pm (0900 GMT).

Embarek, the WHO`s food safety and animal disease specialist and chairman of the investigation team, spoke alongside fellow team member Marion Koopmans, a virus expert. Liang Wannian, head of the expert COVID-19 panel at China`s National Health Commission, also attended.

The team arrived in Wuhan on January 14 and after two weeks of quarantine, visited key sites like the Huanan seafood market, the location of the first known cluster of infections, as well as the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has been involved in coronavirus research.

Members of the team have sought to rein in expectations about the mission, with zoologist Peter Daszak telling Reuters last week that one of their aims was to "identify the next steps to fill in the gaps". Another team member, infectious disease expert Dominic Dwyer, said it would probably take years to fully understand the origins of COVID-19.

The United States said China needed to be more open when it comes to sharing data and samples as well as allowing access to patients, medical staff and lab workers. Beijing subsequently accused Washington of politicizing a scientific mission.
The House impeachment managers spent much of the opening session trying to undercut a key argument of former President Donald J. Trumps lawyers: That the trial itself is unconstitutional.

Democrats asserted early that a president can be tried for offenses committed in office, even if they are no longer serving. That power, they said, is necessary to hold presidents accountable for wrongdoing in their final weeks and to avoid avoiding responsibility with a resignation.

Most legal scholars, including some leading conservatives, agree that a former president can be tried by the Senate even after leaving office  a point Democrats seized upon during their remarks. Representative Joe Neguse of Colorado noted that Brian Kalt, a legal scholar cited repeatedly by Mr. Trumps lawyers, publicly disputed their portrayal of his law journal article on the topic of trying former officials.

They misrepresent what I wrote quite badly, tweeted Mr. Kalt, a law professor at Michigan State University. My article presented all of the evidence I found on both sides, so there was lots for them to use fairly. They didnt have to be disingenuous and misleading like this.
ZORRIE

By Laird Hunt

Zorrie Underwood, the titular character of Laird Hunts lovely new novel, is a woman alone. Orphaned at an early age and forced to live with an aunt who has drunk too deeply from the cup of bitterness, Zorrie cultivates an awareness of the natural world that anchors her grief-ridden life. By some measures that life might be considered insignificant. Zorrie spends all but a few weeks of her 70-plus years in Clinton County, Ind., a farming community where the women are as scratched-up as the men. In Hunts hands, however, this rendering of a woman lauded as a giver of gifts and a gallant defender becomes a virtuosic portrait of midcentury America itself  physically stalwart, unerringly generous, hopeful that tragedy can be mitigated through faith in land and neighbor alike.

Image Laird Hunt, author of Zorrie. Credit... Eva Sikelianos Hunt

For Zorrie, since being alone wasnt necessarily what she aspired to, what matters is connection. As a girl, she excels at cartwheels and arm-wrestling, yet her only true friend is a teacher who fuels her interest in nature. When the teacher is reassigned, Zorrie is bereft. Yet as deep as her feelings are, she isnt inclined to indulge them. She strives instead to lean into her pain via hard work until grief at long hard last breaks a way for the voice.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 8) Filipino fisherfolk should continue their activities in traditional catching grounds, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Monday amid concerns over Chinas new Coast Guard law.

I advise them to continue fishing in their traditional fishing grounds. Ituloy lang nila, Lorenzana told CNN Philippines The Source, citing the Scarborough Shoal, Reed Bank, and Mischief Reef.

Lorenzana added the government will ensure sufficient patrols of the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy in the disputed waters for their protection.

In a previous interview with CNN Philippines, fisherman Larry Hugo recounted how he was blocked by a ship of the China Coast Guard while he was on his way to a regular fishing area near the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island.

Fearing the worst, Hugo then turned back.

Navy officials earlier said they would be looking into this report.

New law doesnt concern fishermen

One of the highly-criticized provisions of Chinas new Coast Guard law, which formally took effect on Feb. 1, is the authority given to their officials to fire on foreign vessels.

But Lorenzana said the measure does not concern the fisherfolk since they are not armed.

Foreign vessels, I understand, will be armed vessels by other countries, he explained.

Despite this, the defense chief still called on China to exercise caution in the implementation of the measure, saying its possible for accidents and miscalculations to take place in the disputed seas.

ROME, FEB 9 - League leader Matteo Salvini said Tuesday that he told Premier-designate Mario Draghi that he wants a government headed by the former chief of the European Central Bank to take the lead in Europe. "We talked about Europe," Salvini said after government-formation consultations. "Our aim is for Italy to be a lead player in Europe again. "What we are interested in is that it works for the national interest at the EU level. "No austerity. No blood-and-tears pacts". Salvini said he did not talk to Draghi about who the ministers will be in his government. But he said he was satisfied that the premier-designate had agreed with the League's idea of using the model of streamlined bureaucracy employed in rebuilding Genoa's viaduct after the collapse of the Morandi bridge in 2018. (ANSA).
Hundreds of hills across the UK could be used for renewable energy through a long-life hydro-powered energy storage system pioneered by British engineers.

The British company RheEnergise has said it has invented a low-cost, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly system for storing energy by adapting one of the oldest forms of storage, hydropower, to store and release electricity from small hills.

It claims this could allow many more sites to be used for storage projects across the UK as the steep dam walls and mountains required for conventional hydropower systems are not needed.

The company aims to have its first commercial system operating in 2024, with more than 100 within the next decade, and has raised more than 500,000 through crowdfunding.

The hillside projects will act in a similar way to traditional hydropower plants but will use a mineral-rich fluid which is 2.5 times denser than water and can provide 2.5 times the power and energy compared to conventional systems operating in the Scottish Highlands and Wales.

Recommended Renewables overtake fossil fuels for first time in UK as Europe transitions to green energy

Last month, RheEnergises chief executive Stephen Crosher said the technology opened up a massive amount of opportunity and could offer a low-cost solution to meet the UKs energy storage needs.

Flexible technologies like HD Hydro will form part of the UKs smart electricity grid, supporting the integration of more low-carbon power, heat and transport technologies, which BEIS estimates could save the UK energy system up to 40bn by 2050, Mr Crosher said.

However, he added that stringent environment assessments would be needed for projects as not all hillside locations would be suitable for use.

The companys own analysis has suggested that there could be about 9,500 site opportunities in the UK, alongside about 80,000 in Europe and 160,000 in Africa.

RheEnergise has also received support from the government through the Innovate UK agency, which has part-funded its research and development work with eight grants totalling 550,000 and an on-going grant of 135,000.
Bengaluru, Feb 10 : Farmers of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan were enthusiastically interacting with horticultural scientists via a virtual platform on Tuesday.

This was in contrast with a section of farmers, especially from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, staging a sit-in protest along Delhi borders for the last two months demanding the union government to repeal three contentious laws that were passed last year.

This was the highlight of the second day of hybrid five day National Horticulture Fair-2021 that is organised by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, here.

The second day technical session was organised for farmers of Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Ladakh and New Delhi.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) scientists from across the country too joined the session through online and answered the queries of the farmers.

Questions were taken from these farmers prior to NHF, and the same were sent to the scientists who are subject experts. Through online, answers have been given to the farmers, farmers have attended the live session online at different Krishi Vigyana Kendra (KVKs) Knowledge Network across the country.

Along with replies, IIHR also showcased the live demonstrations to the farmers about IIHR varieties of horticulture crops and success stories of the farmers.

Various kinds of flowers, fruits, and vegetables were on display and the visitors were informed about various manures and the use of horticultural machinery.

Particularly, many congregated at the vegetable, flower, and medicinal herbs' stalls. There was a huge demand from farmers for the seeds of fruit and vegetables developed by IIHR.

Interestingly, many self-help groups came from as far from Bellary and other parts of Karnataka, including in and around Bengaluru.

Farmers also came from neighbouring Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu.

These farmers also visited live demonstration sites, gathered first hand information about IIHR horticulture crops. They were surprised after seeing new varieties of tomato, bottle gourd, ridge gourd and pumpkin and several new varieties of flower too.

IIHR has released new varieties of tomato Arka Abhed, Arka Tulasi Chilly verity, Arka Sangam, Watermelon and other horticulture crops exclusively for this NHF.

They interacted with horticulturists and scientists to solve their problems. Information and data were given to them in their respective regional languages.

IIHR Director M.R. Dinesh presided over the session. IIHR Scientists Anil Kumar Nair, Anjanikumar Jha, Rajiv Kumar, and others were also present on the occasion.
BOGOTA, Colombia  President Ivan Duque of Colombia announced Monday that his government will provide temporary legal status to the more than 1.7 million Venezuelan migrants who have fled to Colombia in recent years, a far-reaching move that will allow the migrants to work legally and establish lives out of the shadows.

The decision was hailed by the head of the U.N. Refugee Agency, Filippo Grandi, as historic and the most important humanitarian gesture in the region in decades.

The decision will allow Venezuelan migrants who register with the Colombian government to stay in the country for 10 years.

More than half the 1.7 million Venezuelans in the country do not currently have legal status. Under the new measure, those who entered Colombia without permission before Jan. 31 are eligible for legalization. And those who already have legal status will now be free, for at least a decade, from having to reapply for permission to stay.
New Delhi, Feb 8 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reiterated that Minimum Support Price (MSP) for certain farm produce was there (in past), is there (now) and it will remain in the future.

Assuring the farmers of the country while replying the debate on Motion of Thanks on Presidents address in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Modi said that Mandis will be modernised and affordable ration for the poor will continue.

Appreciated the speech of the former Prime Minister HD Devegowda on the discussions on the farmers issue, he further said, His words have added great perspective to the debate. He himself has a strong association with the agriculture sector.

The Prime Minister also said that the Agriculture Minister has been talking to farmers and` there has been no tensions yet. Protesting is your right but want to request that old farmers are sitting, ask them to go home. I want to extend the invitation through this house, he added.

Recalling the previous efforts made by the successive Governments he said that there was a huge cry in the country to recall the Green revolution in the past and at that time nobody was ready to become Agriculture Minister during former PM Shastriji's time. Even Planning commission also opposed the agriculture reforms then he added.

But Shastriji moved forward. Left said the same thing then that it is being done on the instructions from America. Congress leaders were then called 'American agents, PM said, adding that Thousand protests were organised but Lal Bahadur Shastri moved forwards and today we have surplus production.

Quoting the observations made by the former Prime Minister and farmers' leader late Chaudhary Charan Singh on small farmers, Mr Modi said that today 68 per cent of farmers have been small and marginal farmers and over 12 crore of farmers have less than two hectares of land.

" Don't We have a responsibility towards 12 crore farmers? This question of Chaudhary Charan Singh still exists, should not we find a solution? Laon waivers do not benefits small farmers as they do not approach banks for loan",he said, adding that such farmers do not even a bank account.

Reminding the Members of the House, he said We should not lose this time, should progress, do not take the country backwards. We should give these re-firms and opportunity and see if this benefits you. If there is a lacuna, we will fix it, Mr Modi said.

Assuring the opposition parties and agitating farmers as well indirectly, he further said We accept good suggestions. I want to invite you to take the country forward by explaining the good features to the farmers who ware agitating.

PM Modi also said that since 2014 the NDA Government has initiated changes in the agriculture sector aimed at empowering the farmer. The crop insurance scheme was changed to make it more farmer friendly. The PM-KISAN scheme was also brought in and the Government has been working for the small farmers too.

NDAs other schemes also help farmers. For example- the PMGSY. When the road connectivity improves, it enables the produce of the farmers to reach distant places. There are efforts like Kisan Rail too, he said in Rajya Sabha.



Modi further said India is very proud of the contribution of Sikhs. This is a community that has done so much for the nation. The words and blessings of the Guru Sahibs are precious

More/UNI AKS JW1343

Someone was taken into custody following a shooting at a Minnesota clinic in which multiple people were shot, US police said.

The shooting happened at the Allina clinic in Buffalo, a city of about 15,000 people roughly 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis, Kelly Prestidge, an office manager for the Buffalo Police Department, said.

Ms Prestidge said one person was taken into custody, but that she did not know if it was the gunman.

She also said she did not have further information on the attack, including how many people were shot or if anyone was killed.

Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke told TV station KSTP that the shooting happened inside the Allina Clinic Crossroads campus.

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He said the situation was contained and that there was no further threat to the publics safety.

FBI spokesman Kevin Smith said the agencys bomb technicians were on their way to the scene, but he could not confirm media reports about a possible bomb or explosion at the clinic.

The Midwest Medical Examiners Office, which handles cases in Wright County, had no comment on whether it had sent anyone to the scene.

The FBI did not immediately respond to a message seeking information.

A spokeswoman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said members of its enforcement group were heading to the scene.
A view of the front door at 10 Downing Street in London, on April 7, 2020. (Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)

UK Government Accused of Playing Parliamentary Skullduggery to Block Genocide Amendment

The UK government has bundled the highly anticipated genocide amendment with a different amendment ahead of the Parliamentary vote on Tuesday afternoon, a move thats been blasted as shameful and parliamentary skullduggery.

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has called the move a sad tragedy.

The sad tragedy is that the Government has so engineered it that tomorrow the democratically elected [House of Commons] will not be able to vote on Lord Altons #GenocideAmendment which passed in the [House of Lords] with a majority of 171, Duncan Smith wrote on Twitter on Monday.

The sad tragedy is that the Government has so engineered it that tomorrow the democratically elected @HouseofCommons will not be able to vote on Lord Altons #GenocideAmendment which passed in the @UKHouseofLords with a majority of 171 https://t.co/dudAbydgS0  Iain Duncan Smith MP (@MPIainDS) February 8, 2021

The Government has run out of arguments and is now using arcane procedural games which demean our democracy and the [House of Commons], he wrote in another tweet on Tuesday.

The so-called genocide amendment to the UKs post-Brexit trade bill aims to stop and prevent the UK from doing bilateral trade with genocidal countries.

If passed, it gives UK courts the power to preliminarily determine whether a current or potential trade partner of the UK has committed genocide.

A previous version of the amendmentproposed by Lord Altonhad been defeated in the House of Commons by only 11 votes after 33 Tory MPs rebelled to support it.

The modified amendment won a two-thirds majority last week in the House of Lords, and there had been significant and growing support in both houses, according to Imran Ahmad Khan, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Foreign Affairs.

The version MPs will be voting on, however, is an alternative proposal backed by the government, which replaces Lord Altons amendment, bundled together with another Lords amendment. This amendment gives the power of reporting evidence of genocide to a responsible committee.

Duncan Smith has inserted an amendment (pdf) to the replacement amendment, bringing the determination of genocide back to UK courts, but this means those who support the genocide amendment would also have to vote for the proposals backed by the government.

A number of supporters of the genocide amendment lashed out against the governments move.

Conservative MP Nusrat Ghani said she was bitterly disappointed and appalled.

Bitterly disappointed that Government in controlling the [House of Commons] agenda is denying MPs their ability to vote for the Genocide Amendment tomorrow! she wrote in a tweet.

Appalled at the Parliamentary games played over an issue as grave as Genocide.

Breaking 

Bitterly disappointed that Government in controlling the @HouseofCommons agenda is denying MPs their ability to vote for the Genocide Amendment tomorrow! Appalled at the Parliamentary games played over an issue as grave as Genocide.#GenocideAmendment https://t.co/qGVSbhVLto  Nus Ghani MP (@Nus_Ghani) February 8, 2021

We are sickened to find out that the Government has moved to prevent Parliament voting on the #GenocideAmendment tomorrow, Rahima Mahmut, UK director of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), wrote on Twitter.

The debates around the genocide amendment have been largely focused on the Chinese regimes treatment to Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. The WUC on Monday obtained the first formal legal opinion on the Chinese regimes treatment of Uyghurs, concluding that theres a very credible case that the Chinese regime has committed genocide against the Uyghur people in Xinjiang.

Make the argument for & against #GenocideAmendment, then put it to a fair vote. That would be the decent, right thing to do, Benedict Rogers, co-chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, wrote on Twitter.

Instead government changes the argument daily, lies, bullies & threatens supporters of amendment, then plays parliamentary skullduggery. Truly shameful! he added.

Make the argument for & against #GenocideAmendment, then put it to a fair vote. That would be the decent, right thing to do. Instead government changes the argument daily, lies, bullies & threatens supporters of amendment, then plays parliamentary skullduggery Truly shameful! https://t.co/uQBuXgJBz2  Benedict Rogers  (@benedictrogers) February 9, 2021

The genocide amendment is designed to circumvent the international route for recognising genocide, which has been paralysed by China and Russias veto powers in the United Nations, and to cater for successive UK governments long-stated position that genocide has to be determined by a court.

In a statement emailed to The Epoch Times, a government spokesperson said that the Government shares the grave concerns about human rights abuses in Xinjiang behind Lord Altons amendment, and understands the strength of feeling on this issue.

However, these proposals could embroil the courts in the formulation of trade policy and international relations, and risked undermining the separation of powers.

The Government has listened to members across the House and is backing the amendment put forward by the Chair of the Justice Select Committee, which has the support of a number of Select Committee chairs and backbenchers.

It addresses the concerns raised on human rights issues and trade agreements and empowers Parliamentarians to take a stand on credible reports of genocide by a prospective trade partner, while placing a specific duty on Government to act.

Duncan Smith on Monday posted a video on Twitter showing a montage of government officials saying a determination of genocide is a judicial matter.
Hamilton will be part of the Majestic Theatres Broadway in San Antonio series when it resumes in September.

The mega-musical, which made its San Antonio debut in 2019, is slated to return in January for a two-week run.

Season subscriptions go on sale today, the first step toward reopening the 91-year-old theater. The pandemic slammed the brakes on touring productions, so the Broadway series has been suspended since Come From Away bowed last February.

The last time the doors to the theater were open to the public was March 12, when the Temptations and the Four Tops played.

There likely will be other performances sometime between now and September, said General Manager Emily Smith. Bookers are working on that, but nothing is solid enough to announce, she said.

Performances in the Broadway series will be sold at full capacity, with no social distancing.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio Symphony returns to live performances

If we cant do that, well make adjustments, Smith said. Were optimistic.

The 2021-22 season includes most of the shows that were canceled over the past year. The exceptions are To Kill a Mockingbird and Riverdance. Smith hopes the theater will be able to reschedule those shows in a future season.

When the theater reopens, patrons will find some changes. The restrooms have gotten a makeover, with more stalls and the addition of a family bathroom, as well as no-touch fixtures. And the first-floor bar area has been revamped to give people more room to move around.

The resumption of the Broadway in San Antonio series offerings holds:

My Fair Lady: This is Bartlett Shers acclaimed 2018 Lincoln Center revival of the classic Lerner and Loewe musical, which portrays flower girl Eliza Doolittle as a young woman determined to better her lot in life. Sept. 21-26.

The Lion King: Disneys stage adaptation of its 1994 animated classic is paying its fourth visit to the Majestic. Oct. 21-Nov. 7.

Roald Dahls Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The musical is adapted from both Dahls 1964 novel and the 1971 movie starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. It follows a group of youngsters on an eventful tour of Wonkas candy factory. Dec. 7-12.

Tootsie: The musical is based on the 1982 movie in which a struggling male actor finds success and a greater sense of humanity when he takes on the guise of a woman and wins a well-paying acting job. In the film, he lands a role on a soap opera; in the stage edition, he is cast in a musical comedy. March 1-6, 2022.

Summer: The Donna Summer Musical: The jukebox musical traces the life story of the iconic recording artist behind such hits as I Feel Love, Love to Love You Baby and She Works Hard for the Money. April 19-24, 2022.

Jesus Christ Superstar: This is the continuation of the tour mounted to mark the musicals 50th anniversary. It is based on the pared-down 2016 London staging directed by Timothy Sheader. July 5-10, 2022.

Mean Girls: Tina Fey adapted her screenplay for the 2004 movie for the stage, adding in references to social media. The musical is about a teenager who has to figure out how to maneuver in the wilds of an American high school after spending her childhood in Africa. Aug. 9-14, 2022.

On ExpressNews.com: Hamilton cast left a mural backstage at the Majestic Theatre

Subscriptions start at $335. Subscribers will have the option of adding Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Mirandas hip-hop infused account of the life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, which will run Jan. 5-16, 2022.

All subscribers can add two other shows if they wish: Rent, which will run March 18-20, 2022, and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, which will run June 10-12, 2022.

The on-sale date for individual tickets will be announced later.

Subscriptions can be purchased at broadwayinsanantonio.com or by calling 800-215-7469.

dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN

Editors note: This story has been updated with revised information about the season ticket package.
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The DUP's petition to ditch the Northern Ireland Protocol has been signed by people from 89 countries - including one person in North Korea and some in the Vatican.

With over 130,000 signatures, the issue looks set to be debated in Parliament at some stage.

Signatures have come in from around the globe, from North Korea, where internet access is not generally available, to tiny Tuvalu, and faraway Kazakhstan, Mozambique and Belize.

Six people from Vatican City have signed, and 102 from the Republic of Ireland, according to a breakdown of the location of the signatories.

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In the UK the Upper Bann constituency held by the DUP's Carla Lockhart has recorded the largest number of signatures at 6,073.

The West Belfast seat of Sinn Fein's Paul Maskey has the lowest figure locally, with just 1,442 putting their name to the petition calling on the Government "to use all the powers it has to move urgently to protect UK trade and to ensure all UK goods and produce can freely flow to and from every part of the United Kingdom".

The top six constituencies backing the petition are all DUP seats.

The seventh is North Down, where the MP is Alliance's Stephen Farry, who backs the protocol.

Two Sinn Fein-held constituencies - North Belfast and Fermanagh South Tyrone - also have more signatures than DUP MP Gregory Campbell's in East Londonderry.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Uxbridge and South Ruislip has a mere 77 petitioners, while the Great Yarmouth seat of Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis records just 116.

Ms Lockhart told the Belfast Telegraph: "Upper Bann has the most signatories and I'm delighted with that, but we haven't reached the finish line.

"We have made a good start, but there is more to do.

"We need to see more people sign the petition so that when it is debated in Parliament, MPs are in doubt about the level of anger and frustration.

"In 24 hours 100,000 people signed this parliamentary petition.

"They were drawn from every constituency in the UK.

"The DUP has led the way in making the argument against the protocol in Parliament and now the people have sent a clear message to London that they want it scrapped.

"It's time for the Prime Minister to act and ensure people in Northern Ireland have the same access to the UK single market as people in England, Scotland and Wales."

Once a petition receives more the 100,000 signatures it must be considered for a debate in Parliament by the Petitions Committee.

However, debates on public petitions in Westminster are currently suspended due to Covid.
Rishi Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor's younger brother Rajiv Kapoor passed away on February 9, 2021. The 58-year-old filmmaker had reportedly suffered a massive heart attack. A Times Of India report revealed that Randhir Kapoor rushed him to Inlaks Hospital, which was the closest medical facility available in Chembur.

Shahrukh Khan   Rajiv Kapoor   ; Rajiv Kapoor Death |FilmiBeat

Soon after, Randhir confirmed the shocking news and shared his grief with the portal. He revealed that the doctors tried their best to save the late actor but couldn't." The news broke on Tuesday (February 9) afternoon around 1 pm. According to reports, the actor had passed away before he reached the hospital and was declared dead on arrival by the doctors.

Rajiv Kapoor's sister-in-law Neetu Kapoor also took to her Instagram profile and confirmed the news. Neetu shared the late actor's photo and wrote, "RIP ."

More Bollywood celebrities took to Twitter to express their grief after the veteran actor's death. Actor Tusshar Kapoor tweeted, "Sad to hear of the passing away of Rajiv Kapoor! Deepest condolences to the family! May his soul rest in peace."

Take a look at other celebs' posts,

Shocked n Devastated on #RajivKapoor passing away. Seen you grow up. Condolences to the entire family. RIP #RajivKapoor  Boney Kapoor (@BoneyKapoor) February 9, 2021

Absolutely heartbroken to hear about the demise of Rajiv Kapoor. A soul gone too soon. My thoughts and prayers are with the Kapoor family in this difficult time. Om Shanti pic.twitter.com/Z98vvR0cxk  Sanjay Dutt (@duttsanjay) February 9, 2021

Shocked to hear about #RajivKapoor s passing. Deepest condolences to the Kapoor family.  Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol) February 9, 2021

Saddened to hear about the untimely demise of #RajivKapoor ji. My deepest condolences to the entire family   Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) February 9, 2021

Sad to hear of the passing away of Rajiv Kapoor! Deepest condolences to the family! May his soul rest in peace  Tusshar (@TusshKapoor) February 9, 2021

He was a pure heart and a very nice human being. May his soul rest in peace, deepest condolences to the family #rajivkapoor #riprajivkapoor pic.twitter.com/GRVxPE0TLW  Naved Jafri (@NavedJafri_BOO) February 9, 2021

Very sad news.. #Rajivkapoor Ji passes away following heart attack. My deepest and most sincere condolences to the Kapoor family..!! RIP  Payal Ghosh  (@iampayalghosh) February 9, 2021

V sad to hear about sad demise of #chimpukapoor .. younger son of Rajkapoor .. ishwar unki atma ko Shanti de aur parivaar ko shakti  pic.twitter.com/q4QTkdYtAA  Anil Sharma (@Anilsharma_dir) February 9, 2021

Devastated!! Another big loss to the family  one of my most favourite people in the world. Love him so so dearly. Dont remember a Happy Moment without him. Chimpu uncle we will miss you.  RIP . pic.twitter.com/wUPAfn4eJd  Neil Nitin Mukesh (@NeilNMukesh) February 9, 2021

I had the opportunity of working with #Rajiv Kapoor in the film PremGranth. It was a difficult subject which he handled with great maturity though it was his first film. Remembering the wonderful moments we shared. My heartfelt condolences to the Kapoor family. RIP   Madhuri Dixit Nene (@MadhuriDixit) February 9, 2021

Rajiv Kapoor was known not only as an actor but also director, as he had helmed Rishi Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit's 1996 film, Prem Granth. Apart from that, he had also produced films like Henna, Prem Granth and Aa Ab Laut Chalen.

According to reports, the late actor was set to return to movies after 28 years with Ashutosh Gowariker's Toolsidas Junior starring Sanjay Dutt in the lead role, which was announced in December 2020.

ALSO READ: Rishi Kapoor's Brother And Actor Rajiv Kapoor Passes Away At 58

ALSO READ: Toolsidas Junior: Ashutosh Gowariker And Bhushan Kumar Team Up For Sanjay Dutt-Rajiv Kapoor's Sports Drama
The Ash Wednesday ritual of a mark on the forehead in the shape of a cross  the days reminder of humanitys mortal state and start of Lent  will be altered on Feb. 17 because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

The Most Rev. William Byrne, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, said ashes will be lightly sprinkled over the heads of those attending in-person services, as advised by the Vatican, rather than foreheads marked with the sign of the cross.

The words, Repent, and believe in the Gospel or Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return, will be recited once at the start of the ritual.

Following the guidance provided by the Congregation of Divine Worship, I have asked parishes to adopt these directives as we continue to confront the pandemic, Byrne said.

This year the priest will bless the ashes and then recite the prayer just once for all in the congregation. Then, following social distancing guidelines and the wearing of masks, those who wish to receive ashes will come forward to the priest or deacon  keeping their masks on  and the ashes will be lightly sprinkled over their head in silence.

He acknowledged some Catholics might be disappointed that their forehead will be sprinkled with ash rather than marked with a sign that for many symbolizes their faith.

It should be noted this is the method used in many churches in Europe, Byrne said. Nonetheless I know some will be disappointed not to have the Cross marked on their foreheads as a public sign of our faith. But we should be always recognized as followers of Jesus Christ by the way we live our lives in joy and love of the Lord giving public witness to our faith in the way we live out our daily lives.

He added, This change is yet another temporary sacrifice we must endure as we deal with the ongoing pandemic and the need to provide worship in a safe environment.

The Very Rev. Tom Callard, dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Springfield, shows the small bags of ashes that will be given to congregants for Ash Wednesday. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 2/9/2021

The Very Rev. Tom Callard, dean of Christ Church Cathedral, will forego his traditional walk to downtown Springfield and marking the foreheads of those interested.

This year, because of COVID, we are not doing any kind of one-on-one distribution of ashes. Callard said. We figure the numbers are still high and we dont want to risk close behaviors like that. So, we are giving people little plastic containers with ash to distribute at home while they are watching our livestream.

He said that the distribution will be done for an hour, starting at 1:30 p.m., on Sunday, Feb. 14, in the cathedrals driveway at 35 Chestnut St., and that then people could remotely watch Ash Wednesday services from the cathedral Feb. 17 at 7:30 a.m. and noon as well as at 5 p.m., with Bishop Douglas Fisher, and at 7 p.m. one in Spanish.

Callard said his cathedral is currently holding only remote services and that this common form of worship during the pandemic has been a challenge for both worshipers and clergy, but also one that has provided a different slant on what it means to gather as a faith community.

I think the growth in faith that has come from this time of COVID has been for people to realize that their lives are sacred, and not just their church, or their pew where they sit every week, or something that is done by the priest, Callard said.

Faith has shifted away from the centralized place of church so people have begun to realize that we are all the church, that the church is the people and not the building, and that they can discover the divine in their living room, sitting next to their loved ones, in front of a computer, or on their phone walking down the street.

He added, These new connections are redefining what church is and what is possible for gathering together and being united. And, of course, people have been rediscovering the divine in nature, in walks, in the sky, in these things we have access to every day.

Callard said he felt that most people are willing to worship remotely because it gives them an experience of church which is better than no experience of church.

People are making the best of it, because they really do want to be part of the faith community that has sustained them and because they do find the presence of God there, Callard said.

I dont think anyone prefers remote worship to being together in person. The big benefit of remote worship is that we are regularly joined by people who otherwise could not be with us because they are home-bound and cannot regularly get out, or because they are far away. Every week we have people joining us from places like Boston and the Dominican Republic, California, Barbados, Honduras, where someone has a connection to the church.

Callard said the Gospel for Feb. 14, the last Sunday before the 40 days of Lent leading to Easter, is the story of the Transfiguration from Mark, where Jesus is transfigured before his disciples and appears dazzlingly white.

Im preaching about the difference between looking up and seeing a long period of dark days ahead of us, on the one hand, and looking up and seeing Jesus there before us, on the other, Callard said.

Jesus stands there in the Gospel before us offering hope and direction and purpose. I think were beaten and wearied by the cultural and political chaos weve gone through in this last year, and beaten and wearied by COVID-19, and weve been beaten by the way weve all been disrupted in our lives. We can easily look up and just see more of that on the horizon. Or, we can look up and see hope and direction and purpose in God, through Jesus, which is offered to us as well. I think our best bet is to choose what Jesus has to offer.

Related content:
Imperial Valley News Center

CBP Arrests Nebraska man wanted for Nebraska charges of Sexual Assault of a Child

Sterling, Virginia - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Washington Dulles International Airport arrested a Nebraska man Friday on a warrant related to charges of three counts of first degree sexual assault of a child.

Officers arrested Kokou Domkpo, 42 years old, a Togolese national and United States lawful permanent resident living in Omaha, Nebraska, before he boarded a flight to Ethiopia. Dompko, was wanted by the Douglas County Sheriffs Office in Omaha.

CBP officers confirmed that the Douglas County warrant remained active and verified Domkpo to be the subject of the arrest warrant.

CBP officers turned Domkpo over to Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) Police to initiate extradition proceedings.

This arrest illustrates how Customs and Border Protections unique border security mission supports our law enforcement partners by intercepting dangerous wanted fugitives allegedly fleeing prosecution and helping to return them to face their charges, said Keith Fleming, Acting Director of Field Operations for the Baltimore Field Office.

Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

On a typical day last year, CBP processed more than one million travelers who arrived at airports, seaports and land border crossings across the United States, and arrested 23 wanted criminals at U.S. Ports of Entry. See what else CBP accomplished during a typical day in 2019.

The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) is a centralized automated database designed to share information among law enforcement agencies including outstanding warrants for a wide range of offenses. Based on information from NCIC, CBP officers have made previous arrests of individuals wanted for homicide, escape, money laundering, robbery, narcotics distribution, sexual child abuse, fraud, larceny, and military desertion.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9)  Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. is satisfied with the first dry run held on Tuesday on what different government agencies will do once the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines arrives in the country this month.

Less than a week before the anticipated arrival of 117,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines, government agencies practiced the steps once the shipment arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and how it will be brought and stored at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City.

The mock vaccines arrived at the NAIA Terminal 2 in Pasay City. The Bureau of Customs conducted a pre-screening of the shipment so the clearing time was cut down. After it landed on the tarmac, containers carrying the vaccines were immediately placed in a refrigerated van to maintain its required temperature. The vans traveled to RITM, fully secured by a convoy of police personnel. Upon arrival at the RITM in Alabang, it was unloaded, and its quality was inspected then loaded inside ultra-low temperature freezers that can store vaccines at -60 to -80 degrees centigrade. From there, the vaccines will be packed and distributed to different hospitals and local government units.

The entire simulation exercise was completed in a little over one hour and 30 minutes  much quicker than the anticipated three hours and 30 minutes duration. Despite beating the allocated transportation and unloading time, Galvez gave it an 80 out of 100 score, saying more improvements can be made.

Kapag nakatipid ka ng time at walang major defect at walang major hiccups, okay yun. We want na ma-perfect natin Kung ire-rate natin, nasa 80% tayo from 100, he said in a media briefing.

[Translation: If we can save time and there are no major defects or hiccups, that's okay. We want to perfect it...If we rate it, we are at 80% from 100%]

Citing one example, he said the trip could be less rough since these drugs are sensitive.

Simulation exercises were conducted in government hospitals right after. From the RITM to the Lung Center of the Philippines, delivery took 39 minutes  11 minutes faster than the estimated 50-minute delivery time. Delivery took 44 minutes to the Philippine General Hospital and 150 minutes to the Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium or Tala Hospital.

The delivery schedule for Tala was delayed due to technical issues with the van and a rally that caused traffic near the hospital. Meanwhile, data on the simulation exercise to East Avenue Medical Center have yet to come in.

Lung Center spokesperson Dr. Norbert Francisco said the center is prepared to continue with simulation exercises until the vaccines arrive. He added that they were able to minimize the time for transporting the vaccines from the reception area to the storage freezers to keep them at their required temperatures.

Two teams will be operating during the vaccine inoculation, one in charge of the storage facility and another will handle the processing of patients, which requires supervising registration, counseling and screening.

"We can start anytime," he told CNN Philippines' News.PH. "Anytime dumating 'yung vaccine [the vaccine arrives], we are ready."

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also said they will practice bringing the vaccines from RITM to the airport to be transported to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City and Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City since they will also be prioritized.

Galvez added another internal simulation exercise will be conducted a few days before the arrival of the vaccines. Other exercises will be held for the arrival of different brands of vaccines since they require different levels of care.

The country's first batch of coronavirus vaccines is expected to be shipped next week. The Philippines hopes to have its initial rollout of coronavirus vaccines within the first quarter of the year and mass vaccination in the third quarter of 2021.
The Market Report with Katie Pilbeam.

FTSE 100 moved higher as Wall Street hit new record highs overnight though it was Bitcoin grabbing most attention. Londons blue chip index added 12 to 6,535.

Bitcoins value is now nearly US$50,000 after Tesla guru Elon Musk bought US$1.5bn worth yesterday. The car maker said it will also accept the cryptocurrency as a method of payment in future.

TUI has taken 2.8mln bookings from customers for the summer, though that still represents a 44% drop on last year, the holiday group said. Capacity for the summer is 80% normal, it added.

Ocados sales rocketed 35% over the past year as people ordered more online. Losses were down but still 44mln as the delivery group said grocery shopping had been changed for ever by lockdown.

Among the small caps, MGC Pharmaceuticals (LON:MXC) was valued at 33.7mln after completing a 6.5mln IPO. Its the first cannabis-sector company to debut on Londons main market.

( ) has received a mining licence for its Khemisset potash project in Morocco. Construction of the mine is scheduled for the end of 2021.

( ) expects to report underlying earnings significantly ahead of last year. The financial advisor kept its growth strategy intact amid the pandemic.
Healthcare workers and the over-70s will attend the country's first mass vaccination centres within days, as efforts are ramped up to inoculate large sections of the population following a "rocky" start to the roll-out programme.

The Irish Examiner can give the first glimpse inside a mass vaccination centre in Cork City Hall, where jabs are expected to be given to healthcare workers this week.

The centre will then be used to administer vaccines to the over-70s.

Health officials have been forced to reassess the vaccine roll-out schedule due to issues with supply and new clinical advice against using the AstraZeneca vaccine in the over-70s.

The Government had initially hoped that over-70s would receive their Covid-19 vaccines by the end of March, but this has been pushed back to mid-May.

"Our plan had always been to complete by the end of March, but it looks like the first dose will be completed by the middle of April, and the second dose will be completed by the middle of May," said HSE chief executive Paul Reid.

The new timeline comes as a further 12 deaths related to Covid-19 were reported, as well as 1,024 new cases.

The next phase of the rollout will start with the over-85s a week from today when GPs are expected to join the vaccination effort.

A deal has been worked out between GPs and the Irish Medical Organisation which will see most over-70s get their jabs from local surgeries, with large vaccine hubs also set up in Cork, Dublin, and Galway.

Workers setting up the mass vaccination clinic in the City Hall, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

The Irish Examiner has the first pictures inside one of the HSEs mass vaccination hubs which will be used to vaccinate over-70s.

Dozens of individual booths have been constructed in the concert hall of Cork City Hall, one of three GP-led vaccination hubs to be in place from this week, with plans for up to 40 more similar hubs around the country in the weeks ahead.

The hubs will all range in size and scale, but the City Hall facility is set to be one of the largest in the national network.

It is understood the facility could be brought into use within days to vaccinate HSE frontline staff with the AstraZeneca vaccine following a delivery of 21,000 doses to Ireland last weekend.

Booths where people will receive their vaccine at the new mass vaccination clinic in the City Hall, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

"In simple terms, of about 1,300 GPs across the country, over 900 will carry out vaccinations of those over 70 in their own practice," said Mr Reid.

"Then there will be the three bigger vaccination centres in Dublin, Cork, and Galway that we have organised already. The remaining will be a kind of buddying-up system where we have bigger practices and GPs who will buddy-up together.

"Ultimately those hubs would be GP-led, with practice staff.

"Everything about the first quarter of the vaccine programme has been a rocky road, but I'm really quite confident as we get into the second quarter we will begin to see more predictability coming around the vaccine.

"I always qualify any predictions we make will be based on supply, but everything we have got so far has been administered in a very safe, effective, and timely manner."

As well as the Cork City Hall vaccination centre, talks are at an advanced stage about developing similar facilities in Kilkenny and Carlow.

The Defence Forces have offered help to the HSE to transport the most vulnerable to their vaccination centres.
A man who threatened to murder his ex-wife and assaulted her by placing a belt around her neck and lifting her from a chair has been jailed for five years.

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that Michael Quirke of Manor Hills, Lisnigar, Rathcormac, Co Cork had placed a GPS tracking device on the car of his ex-wife Mary in order to monitor her movements.

Judge Sean ODonnabhain was also told that having been charged with the offences the 53-year-old contacted Mary Quirke by phone whilst on bail and warned her that he would still be the same man when he got out of prison.

On the December 9, 2020 he phoned Miss Quirke and said the guards will not be around you when you need them most. When I get out of jail, be it two years, I will be the same. You wont have that Garda protection you have now. You have the 24 hour around the clock armed response and they wont be there when you need them the most.

Detective Garda David Barry said that Quirke called to Fermoy Garda Station in Co Cork on the January 31, 2019.

He told gardai he had assaulted Mary Quirke on two occasions. On the first occasion on a date in 2018 he placed a belt around her neck and lifted her from the chair with it. In the second instance in 2019 he held her against a wall and told her hed get a rope and hang her.

He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Mary Quirke, two counts of threatening to kill her and one count of harassment.

Det Garda David Barry said Mary and Michael Quirke divorced in 2013 but lived in the same home for several years. He said when Quirke presented to gardai in January of 2019 he told them that he had attempted to murder Mary Quirke.

He said (that it happened on two occasions). In the bedroom at their home (in 2018) he put a trouser belt around her neck and lifted her off the chair for three seconds. He said it was his intention to kill Mary Quirke on this date.

Their (adult children) heard a loud scream. The were prevented (by Quirke) from entering the room.

Det Garda Barry said that Quirke told them that at a date towards the end of January 2019 he held his ex wife against the wall.

He said I did threaten her that I had a rope in the shed and I would hang her. If my hands came out (out of his pockets) I would have killed her.

The court heard that Mr Quirke - who owned a fuel company and was also involved in property development - had a dependence on alcohol and serious psychiatric issues.

In a victim impact statement Mary Quirke said that she was hopeful that her husband would receive all necessary medical assistance.

"I wish Michael all the best with his future and I hope he seeks professional help going forward as things cannot continue like this, as someday in the future matters will go too far and someone in the family will get hurt or worse."

She said that she and her children were "mentally scarred" as a result of the incident.

"I do not believe that Michael Quirke understands the consequences of his previous actions. I am very concerned that if he is released from custody, similar and probably more serious incidents will occur.

For this reason I am afraid for my own safety of my three children. And my three children share my fears and are very concerned as to the possibility of losing a parent or both parents or worse still a sibling over a matter which has got out of control."

She said that she believed her husband needed to be excluded from the townland of Lisnagar as he was previously under the terms of his bail conditions.

Barrister Siobhan Lankford, SC, said her client was deeply remorseful and ashamed of his actions. She said that Quirke, who suffers from bi polar disorder, has voluntarily admitted himself to psychiatric hospitals on a number of occasions.

She added that the Quirkes had been married for 35 years up until their separation in 2010 and that her clients ex-wife had helped him to obtain support for his psychiatric issues.

Judge Sean ODonnabhain sentenced Quirke to six years in jail, suspending the final year of the sentence. He ordered that Quirke have no contact direct or indirect with the injured party or her family at any stage in the future.

Mr Quirke was sentenced by video link from Cork Prison. He was visibly emotional throughout the sentencing hearing.
[February 09, 2021] Center for Human Development Chooses Netsmart as Healthcare IT Partner to Bridge Community Programs into a Unified Technology Platform

The Center for Human Development (CHD) has chosen Netsmart as its healthcare IT partner to deploy a unified technology platform to create clinical, financial and operational efficiencies across 80 high-quality programs and services supporting developmental services, child and family, behavioral health and addiction treatment. The Massachusetts-based organization will leverage the industry-leading CareFabric platform to enable its providers to better serve clients, allowing them to spend less time engaging with technology and more time engaging with the children, adults and families they serve. "We were looking for a technology partner to provide an integrated platform that supports our diverse programs and more importantly, needed little customization," said CHD CIO Jennifer O'Brien. "During the demo, we immediately recognized the Netsmart CareFabric platform delivers out-of-the-box integrated workflows - specifically for child and family, I/DD, substance use and behavioral health - including robust billing, telehealth, consumer portal, analytics and reporting capabilities." In recent months, the demand for telehealth has significantly increased. Approximately 71% of individuals indicate they are more likely to seek care if they can access telehealth services. "When it came to integrated telehealth services, Netsmart was the leading provider," explained O'Brien. "Having a link that takes you out of your current solution and into another is not a truly integrated telehealth module. Workflow is very important to us; an integrated solution means we keep the same process but deliver the services virtually." CHD operates under the mantra that they are here to find solutions - through this approach the organization has been awarded CARF accreditation as well as earning Certified Community Behavioral Health Centr (CCBHC) expansion funding. "There are strict requirements for these programs, especially as it relates to reporting and the Netsmart platform meets these federal requirements," said O'Brien.



Access to clinical decision support along with clinical, financial and operational key performance indicators (KPIs) will provide insight to drive thoughtful approaches to achieve CHD's organizational goals to promote, enhance, and protect the dignity and welfare of people in need. "It certainly is no secret that healthcare is transforming at a rapid pace, making it challenging for many organizations to find a truly integrated platform without plugging the gap with an assortment of third-party solutions to fulfill unique clinical program requirements," explained Netsmart CEO Mike Valentine. "As the leading provider of technology and services solutions designed specifically for the human services space, it's exciting to help CHD improve their programs and deliver the insights they need to achieve success in a continuously changing environment. It truly is a team effort."

About CHD The Center for Human Development, Inc. (CHD) provides a broad range of high quality, community-oriented human services dedicated to promoting, enhancing, and protecting the dignity and welfare of people in need. With over 80 programs and services, CHD is Western Massachusetts' largest and most successful social service organization, delivering a broad array of critical services with proven effectiveness, integrity and compassion. CHD has been helping people build strong, productive relationships since 1972. Each year, our community-based social service and behavioral health programs reach over 25,000 people in Western Massachusetts and Connecticut. We currently employ more than 1,700 professionals across all of our locations. Working in local communities, and partnering with local agencies, we provide focused, personalized services that promote real and lasting change. CHD is driven by a focus on excellence and a spirit of innovation. As a non-profit organization, our only motivation is helping people create successful lives. All of our relationships are rooted in respect - for our clients, for the communities we are honored to serve, for our colleagues, and for all the lives we touch. About Netsmart Netsmart, a leading provider of Software-as-a-Service technology and services solutions, designs, builds and delivers electronic health records (EHRs), health information exchanges (HIEs), analytics and telehealth solutions and services that are powerful, intuitive and easy-to-use. Our platform provides accurate, up-to-date information that is easily accessible to care team members in the human services and post-acute care (which is comprised of home care and hospice and senior living) markets. We make the complex simple and personalized so our clients can concentrate on what they do best: provide services and treatment that support whole-person care. By leveraging the powerful Netsmart network, care providers can seamlessly and securely integrate information across communities, collaborate on the most effective treatments and improve outcomes for those in their care. Our streamlined systems and personalized workflows put relevant information at the fingertips of users when and where they need it. For more than 50 years, Netsmart has been committed to providing a common platform to integrate care. SIMPLE. PERSONAL. POWERFUL. Our more than 2,300 associates work hand-in-hand with our 675,000+ users at our clients across the U.S. to develop and deploy technology that automates and coordinates everything from clinical to financial to administrative. Learn more about how Netsmart is changing the face of healthcare today. Visit www.ntst.com, call 1-800-472-5509, follow us on our CareThreads Blog, LinkedIn and Twitter, like us on Facebook or visit us on YouTube. Netsmart is pleased to support the EveryDayMatters Foundation, which was established for behavioral health, care at home, senior living and social services organizations to learn from each other and share their causes and stories. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005427/en/

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SACRAMENTO  As demonstrations for racial justice swept California last summer, protesters complained that they were frequently met with excessive force from police who relied on militarized tactics to break up largely peaceful gatherings.

The controversy, which even caught the attention of Gov. Gavin Newsom, has prompted a Bay Area legislator to revive a bill that would limit the ability of state and local law enforcement agencies to buy military-style equipment  an approach that police groups say would interfere with their operations.

The bill, AB481 by Assembly Member David Chiu, D-San Francisco, would not directly ban any purchases. But it would prevent agencies from buying certain types of equipment, including armored vehicles, drones and explosives, without approval from city councils, county boards of supervisors and other governing bodies.

The measure would also require the law enforcement agencies to justify their need for the equipment, develop rules for using it and seek renewed permission every year, even for gear they have already bought.

Chiu said decades of treating policing like a war has had harmful effects on people of color. Creating reviews for equipment purchases would give communities a greater voice in how they are policed, he said, and rebuild trust between law enforcement and the public.

Our streets in California are not war zones. Our citizens are not enemy combatants, Chiu said. The weapons and equipment they use should reflect that reality.

Law enforcement agencies have several ways to obtain military-style equipment, most notably a federal program that provides excess property from the military itself at little or no cost  everything from vehicles and rifles to clothing and office supplies.

Since the program was created in 1997, the military has transferred $7.5 billion worth of property to more than 8,000 law enforcement agencies. Only 5% of that is small arms and less than 1% is tactical vehicles, according to the Defense Logistics Agency.

An investigation last summer by KGO-TV in San Francisco identified more than $11 million worth of equipment that Bay Area police agencies had received in the previous decade, including $361,000 worth of night vision viewers and a $185,000 bomb disposal robot for the San Francisco Police Department.

That pipeline has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. After widespread protests over police shootings, then-President Barack Obama restricted the program in 2015 from distributing certain types of gear, a ban that was later reversed by former President Donald Trump. Some members of Congress began pushing again last summer to curtail the transfers.

A 2018 study by a doctoral candidate at the University of South Carolina also found a correlation between police departments that had accepted more surplus military equipment and those with a higher rate of using deadly force on suspects.

Chius bill would require governing bodies to consider whether there is an alternative to buying military-style equipment, whether the purchase could be used disproportionately against some communities and whether it is the most cost-effective option.

The measure would cover mine-resistant armored vehicles, tactical trucks, rocket launchers, flash-bang grenades, large-caliber firearms, bayonets and camouflage uniforms, but also equipment that might not be exclusively associated with the military, including helicopters, battering rams and riot helmets, shields and batons.

Before we are arming our police officers with the equipment that is used in Iraq and Afghanistan, we ought to have a conversation about whether its necessary, Chiu said. If all you have is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail.

A similar bill squeaked through the Legislature in 2018, after being significantly scaled back because of law enforcement opposition. Then-Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed the measure, calling it an unnecessary bureaucratic hurdle without commensurate public benefit.

Cory Salzillo, a lobbyist for the California State Sheriffs Association, said the approach puts law enforcement agencies in the state at a disadvantage because the bidding process for surplus military equipment can move quickly. He also expressed concern about an overly broad list of gear that would need approval.

If youre the police chief, if youre the sheriff, you should be able to make those decisions about purchasing equipment, he said.

Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
Last Thursday, a massive fire to a 111-year-old courthouse left a Texas community devastated. Mason County residents are rallying together to rebuild the courthouse by setting up a GoFundMe page.

The Mason County Courthouse burned to near ruins after it erupted into flames around 10:15 p.m. Local officials believe the fire was arson and currently have a suspect in custody in McLennan County, according to a news release from Mason County.

Several volunteer firefighter stations did their best to extinguish the courthouse fire quickly. However, the building remained standing with only its rock outer walls, Mason County Judge Jerry Bearden told the KXAN News Friday morning. Around the same time, firefighters were also responding to a second structure fire to a house about a mile away. Officials believe the two fires are related.

RELATED: Photos: Fire destroys 111-year-old Texas courthouse in Mason County

No one was in the building during the time of the fire. According to Mason County News, officials moved the interior furniture and county records out of the courthouse to prepare for the building's renovations in May. However, the flames destroyed the interior, the roof, the bell tower, and a 150-year-old clock.

"Mason, Texas is devastated at the loss of the heartbeat of our town: our historic county courthouse," the courthouse's GoFundMe page stated. "As we mourn the loss in this great tragedy, we are all pulling together to raise funds to rebuild this beloved symbol of our community with hope for the future."

As of Tuesday morning, the GoFundMe page, launched by The Commercial Bank in Mason, has raised $2,640 of its $500,000 goal. Bearden told FOX 7 a structural assessment will be done soon to see if rebuilding is possible. Click here to donate.

"As our Judge Bearden says, 'This courthouse belongs to the people and the people in our community will rebuild and rise above this moment,'" the GoFundMe page said. "If you would like to join in our efforts, we could use your help!"

According to FOX 7, the Mason County Courthouse was built in 1909. State records show it was listed as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1988.

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
Among other highlights, the culture has included a weekly batch of research presentations and seminars hosted by the school and its departments, featuring both Carroll School faculty and outside experts across the spectrum of management disciplines, Boynton said. He also pointed to both financial and full-time data support for faculty research projects, in addition to refined metrics for tracking and evaluating faculty research performance. Vigorous recruitment of standout scholars worldwide has been another critical factor, and an increasingly challenging one, with growing competition for top-flight academic talent.

The Financial Times began ranking business schools for research in 1999; the Carroll School made its first appearance in these compilations seven years later, premiering at No. 52. The schools average ranking for the past five years is 33 notches above that initial position.

Regarding the surveys methodology, FT says: The research rank is calculated according to the number of articles published by current full-time faculty members in 50 selected academic and practitioner journals between January 2017 and August 2019. The FT50 rank combines the absolute number of publications with the number weighted relative to the facultys size.

Released Together with M.B.A. Rankings

The Financial Times carried out the survey in conjunction with its Global MBA 2021 rankings, although the findings apply to the entire Carroll School (which has the same faculty for both undergraduate and graduate programs). The research rankings can be viewed by selecting the "Research" checkbox from the available fields provided on the full table of FTs survey data, and then sorting by that column.

The M.B.A. survey focused on full-time programs, with the Carroll Schools program reaching No. 55 globally (12 notches above its two previous rankings). Notably, the school also ranked 14th in the world for career progress, which tracks professional advancement by alumni both before and after earning their degrees (using alumni surveys conducted by Financial Times).

 William Bole, Carroll School News
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on February 9, 2021

2021/02/09

AFP: A question on the Iran nuclear deal, the JCPOA. The French President Macron proposed to mediate between the United States and Iran in order to revive the deal. Does China welcome the proposition by the French President?

Wang Wenbin: The Iranian nuclear issue is at a crucial juncture. The imperative at the moment is for all parties to accelerate implementation of the consensus reached at last December's foreign ministers' meeting. The U.S. side should rejoin the JCPOA with no preconditions as early as possible and lift all relevant sanctions. On this basis Iran should resume full compliance. China follows closely the development of the situation and remains in close communication with relevant parties. The Chinese side has suggested that an international meeting between the JCPOA participants and the U.S. side be held as soon as possible to negotiate a roadmap for full compliance by the U.S. side and Iran. We will continue to work with all relevant parties and the international community to bring the JCPOA back on track and advance the political settlement process of the Iranian nuclear issue.

CCTV:Does China have any expectations for the upcoming China-CEEC Summit?

Wang Wenbin: China-CEEC cooperation is a cross-regional cooperation platform that arises from mutual needs and common development based on the shared aspirations of China and the CEECs, which has provided opportunities for both sides.

Since its inception nine years ago, the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism has grown into a full-fledged one and achieved fruitful outcomes. The summit this time will be hosted by President Xi Jinping, marking the highest-level China-CEEC leaders' meeting ever. Besides looking back on the journey of and drawing experience from China-CEEC cooperation over the past nine years, all parties will discuss new ideas and proposals to boost post-COVID cooperation and economic recovery and development, chart the course and draw a blueprint for future development and inject new impetus into China-CEEC cooperation and the China-EU comprehensive cooperative partnership.

Associated Press of Pakistan: Last week Chinese government donated a batch of half a million coronavirus vaccine to Pakistan. On Monday, PLA also sent a batch of COVID-19 vaccine to Pakistani military, thus making Pakistan the first country to receive COVID vaccine both from the Chinese government and military. Pakistani leadership and people have appreciated this gesture by the Chinese government. What's your response to this?

Wang Wenbin: Like you mentioned, the Chinese government and the Chinese People's Liberation Army delivered a batch of COVID-19 vaccines to Pakistan on February 1 and 8 respectively, which is the first batch of vaccine aid provided by the Chinese government and the Chinese military to another country.

Since the outbreak of the epidemic, China and Pakistan have stood together and helped each other. In the depths of China's fight against the epidemic, Pakistan extended a helping hand to China at the earliest time possible. In the same vein, the Chinese side has provided Pakistan with anti-epidemic supplies such as testing reagents, masks, protective gowns and vaccines to meet the urgent needs of the Pakistani side, attesting to the long-standing ironclad friendship between China and Pakistan.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan. Going forward, China will continue to support and assist Pakistan in its epidemic prevention and control, economic recovery and social development in light of Pakistan's needs to the best of our capacity, and jointly hold a series of events in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic ties to inject new impetus into China-Pakistan relations.

Reuters: The U.S. Navy said that two U.S. carrier-strike groups conducted coordinated operations in the South China Sea on February 9. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: The United States frequently sent vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea to flex its muscles. This is not conducive to peace and stability in the region. China will continue to take necessary measures to firmly defend national sovereignty and security and work together with regional countries to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

AFP: Two French navy ships recently conducted a "freedom of navigation" mission in the South China Sea. French Defence Minister Florence Parly said this is "a striking proof of the capacity of our French Navy to deploy far away and for a long time together with our Australian, American and Japanese strategic partners." Is China aware of the relevant situation? Do you have any response?

Wang Wenbin: There is no problem with freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. China always respects the freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all countries in the South China Sea in accordance with international law. However, We oppose any attempt to undermine China's sovereignty and security and disrupt regional peace and tranquility under the pretext of "freedom of navigation".

CNR: China said not long ago that it would provide COVID-19 vaccines to African countries. Can you share some latest update?

Wang Wenbin: The shipment of the vaccines that China provides to Equatorial Guinea will begin today, and they are expected to arrive in the country's capital Malabo on the morning of February 10 local time. This is the first batch of vaccine aid that the Chinese government provides to Africa, an important action to fulfill our commitment to make vaccines a global public good, and a concrete step to act on President Xi's words that once the development and deployment of COVID-19 vaccine is completed in China, African countries will be among the first to benefit, a pledge he made last June at the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19.

China and Equatorial Guinea are each other's sincere and reliable partners and brothers. Over the past 50 years and more, the two countries have been championing the fine tradition of solidarity, mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship. Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides have been supporting each other in overcoming the difficulties together. This time, China provides vaccines to Equatorial Guinea at the earliest time possible to help it defeat the virus, which demonstrates once again the profound friendship between people in China and Equatorial Guinea, as well as between China and Africa.

China continues acting on President Xi's important announcements. We are ready to cooperate through various means with Equatorial Guinea and other African countries on vaccines, and offer as much support and help as we can to African countries based on their need, so that we can defeat the virus together, achieve common development in the post-COVID era, and deliver benefits to Chinese and African people.

Shenzhen TV: With the Spring Festival just around the corner, we have noticed that Chinese embassies and consulates in many countries have been distributing festival packages to local Chinese nationals including students. Can you give us more details on this? What would you say to these Chinese citizens who are staying put for the Spring Festival?

Wang Wenbin: To our knowledge, more than 170 Chinese embassies and consulates have distributed hundreds of thousands of Spring Festival packages so far, with more on the way. It's not much, but it carries the best wishes from home. Our colleagues abroad designed the packages and purchased and packed the items, some of which were hand-made by themselves. In addition to anti-epidemic supplies such as masks, there are also Spring Festival couplets, Chinese knots, clay ox sculptures and even traditional food for the festival such as dumplings and glutinous rice balls. The content may vary, but the simple warm gesture conveys the same loving care of the motherland. We hope this will help add some festivity in the air for our compatriots in distant lands and bring them a familiar taste of home.

The health and safety of Chinese citizens overseas is always close to heart for the Chinese government, and the motherland always has their back. At present, as the pandemic is yet to be contained overseas, we would like to remind our compatriots abroad to keep up prevention and protection measures and enjoy a safe and happy Chinese New Year.

Reuters: A U.S. audio app appeared to be blocked in China's mainland. Do you have any information on that?

Wang Wenbin: I'm not aware of what you said.

I'd like to stress our principle that China's internet is open, and the Chinese government manages internet-related affairs according to law and regulation. China is firmly determined in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests and rejecting foreign interference.

Police detain a Falun Gong protester in Tiananmen Square as a crowd watches in Beijing in this Oct. 1, 2000 photo. (Chien-min Chung/AP Photo)

Chinese Regime Raids More Than 1,000 Falun Gong Practitioners in January, Ahead of Chinese New Year

As the Chinese New Year holiday approaches, Chinese families expect happy year-end reunions and preparations for celebrations. However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues its persecution of millions of Falun Gong practitioners in China, who, along with their families, still face arrests, harassment, and prison sentences.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient Chinese spiritual practice consisting of simple, slow-moving meditation exercises and moral teachings incorporating the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance in everyday life.

According to Minghui.org, a website that documents the CCPs persecution of Falun Gong, at least 1,216 Falun Gong practitioners were arrested or harassed in January. They were located in 155 cities across China.

Some of those affected are elderly people. Data shows that 94 of the total were at least 65 years old.

Seven Deaths Due to CCP Persecution

According to the report, there were seven Falun Gong practitioners who died from persecution.

Liao Chuanjiang, a male former employee of the Sanjiang Machinery Plant, Yibin city, central Chinas Hubei Province, passed away on Jan. 16, at the age of 46, according to a Feb. 1 report on Minghui.org.

He began to practice Falun Gong in September 1994, resulting in his physical and mental well-being significantly improving.

After the CCP started a brutal suppression on the group in 1999, his faith resulted in him being arrested on Dec. 4, 2005. He was detained for one year. He was subjected to brainwashing sessions, forced labor, severe beatings, and sleep deprivation.

Another case is Sun Zerong, a female resident of Qiaokou district, Wuhan city, Hubei Province, who died on Jan. 21, 2021, at the age of 63. She was also subjected to repeated arrests, brainwashing, and years of harassment, according to a Feb. 2 report on Minghui.org.

Nearly 500 Falun Gong Practitioners Detained

According to a Feb. 6 report on Minghui.org, police arrested at least 482 Falun Gong practitioners in January 2021. The arrests were concentrated in eastern Chinas Shandong (97), Heilongjiang (60), and Liaoning (54) provinces.

A table showing the number of Falun Gong practitioners arrested or harassed in January 2021. (Courtesy of Minghui.org)

On Jan. 9, nine Falun Gong practitioners were raided by police in Haiyang city, Shandong Province, by the local domestic security office. They included Zhang Jiguo, Zhang Junfeng, Liang Yaomin, two persons respectively surnamed Ji and Wang, Wang Juan, Sui Weili, and a coupleYu Haiyong and his wife Wang Xuemei. All of them were sent to detention centers except for Wang Xuemei, who was granted bail. Their mobile phones, computers, and Falun Dafa books were all seized.

On Jan. 14, around 9 a.m., Falun Gong practitioner Qin Yun, a teacher at Hangzhou Hushu Schoolan institution dedicated to special educationwas instructing students in a classroom when officers from the Xiangfu Police Station unexpectedly showed up and arrested her.

Her family was later informed that she had been placed under criminal detention.

More Than 700 Falun Gong Practitioners Harassed

According to statistics on Minghui.org, 734 Falun Gong practitioners experienced harassment from different types of authorities in January.

On Jan. 13, Zhou Shaotang, an 83-year-old Falun Gong practitioner, was arrested by officers of Yangjuanzi town, Panjin city, Liaoning Province, for talking about the Falun Gong persecution to people at a local market. Officers brought him to his home to search for Falun Dafa materials. When they tried to take him away, they were met with fierce resistance from his family. After a face-off of three or four hours, the officers gave up. However, they went to his home to harass him again after every two or three days.

Falun Gong practitioners and middle school teachers in Yushu city, Jilin Province, also went through harassment since October 2020 from the local 610 Office and the educational bureau. These affected teachers include Sun Qinghong and Wu Xiaoguang.

The 610 Office is an extralegal agency created for the sole purpose of carrying out the Falun Gong persecution. It has absolute power at each level of administration in the CCP and its influence trumps that of all of Chinas other political and judicial organizations.

$77,000 Confiscated From House Searches

In the first month of 2021, police confiscated a total of 496,100 yuan ($77,000) from Falun Gong practitioners, according to a report on Minghui.org.

In January, Zhu Xiyu, a female Falun Gong practitioner in Yanbian prefecture, Jilin Province, lost 207,131 yuan ($32,100) due to her pensions being disqualified by the local social security bureau.

Pension are a retirees legal assets, the revocation of which is deemed unconstitutional, according to Chinese law.

Also, in January, Jia Liying, a female Falun Gong practitioner, had 130,000 yuan ($20,200) taken by police who searched her home in Datong city, northern Chinas Shanxi Province.

Involved Officials

Bai Yan, head of the 610 Office in Jilin city, Jilin Province, oversees the persecution of local Falun Gong practitioners. He is active in harassing practitioners and coercing them into taking part in the CCPs brainwashing sessions.

Lu Gang and Lu Shundong are both administrative leaders in the agency in Gaizhiba town, Jiangyou city, southwestern Chinas Sichuan Province. Since the start of the CCPs persecution, they have continued their harassment, threats, house searches, and confiscations targeting local Falun Gong practitioners.

On Dec. 7, 2020, the EU passed the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which means all 27 state members have sanctions mechanisms to penalize human rights offenders from any country.
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

A recent market study published by FMI on the Electrophysiology market includes the global industry analysis of 2015-2019 & opportunity assessment for 2020-2030, and delivers a comprehensive assessment of the most important market dynamics. Our analysts have conducted thorough research on the historical as well as current growth parameters of the market to obtain growth prospects with maximum precision.

Electrophysiology Market: Segmentation

Product Type

Electrophysiology Laboratory Devices 3D-Mapping Systems Electrophysiology Recording Systems Radiofrequency (RF) Ablation Systems Intracardiac Echoradiography (ICE) Ultrasound Imaging Systems Electrophysiology X-Ray Systems Others

Electrophysiology Ablation Catheters Cryoablation Electrophysiology Catheters Radiofrequency (RF) Ablation Catheters Microwave Ablation (MWA) Systems Laser Ablation Systems

Electrophysiology Diagnostic Catheters Conventional Electrophysiology Diagnostic Catheters Advanced Electrophysiology Diagnostic Catheters Ultrasound Electrophysiology Diagnostic Catheters



Request a Sample of this Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-12402

Indication

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial Flutter

Atrioventricular Nodal Re-entry Tachycardia (AVNT)

Wolff-Parkinson White Syndrome

Bradycardia

Others

End-user

Hospitals

Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories

Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Region

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia

Oceania

Middle East & Africa

Report Chapters

Chapter 01- Executive Summary

The report gives a brief with the executive summary of the Electrophysiology market, which includes a summary of the key findings and statistics of the market. It also includes the demand & supply-side trends and the technological roadmap pertaining to the Electrophysiology market.

Chapter 02  Market Overview

In this chapter, readers can find the definition and a detailed taxonomy of the Electrophysiology market, which will help them understand the basic information about the Electrophysiology market. Along with this, comprehensive information about Electrophysiology is provided in this section. This section also highlights the inclusions and exclusions, which help readers understand the scope of the Electrophysiology market report.

Chapter 03  Key Market Trends

This section includes key trends impacting the market as well as the major development trends associated with product innovation and development.

Chapter 04- Market Background

This section includes the prominent dynamics (drivers, restraints & opportunities) which are responsible for shaping the markets growth trajectory during the upcoming decades forecast. The chapter also sheds light on the relevance and impact of the prominent forecast factors along with macro-economic trends such as the global GDP and healthcare outlook.

Chapter 05- COVID-19 Crisis Analysis

This chapter of the report sheds exclusive light on the present as well as projected future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the market. It incorporates the current economic outlook and comparison with the 2008 financial crisis as well as quarter-wise forecast for the remainder of the current year. The chapter concludes by providing a probable recovery scenario across the short-term, medium-term and long-term forecast periods respectively.

Chapter 06- Market Context

This chapter elucidates on the overall market scenario, taking into account the key products unique selling proposition (USP), disease epidemiology, regulatory scenario, key promotional strategies, product adoption analysis and value chain analysis among other aspects.

Chapter 07- Global Electrophysiology Market Volume Analysis 2015-2019 & Forecast 2020-2030

This section explains the global market volume analysis and forecast for the Electrophysiology market for the forecast period of 2020-2030, in value terms. This chapter includes a detailed analysis of the historical projections of the Electrophysiology market, providing historical, current and future projections in 000 units. The projections are given on a year-on-year basis.

Chapter 08- Global Electrophysiology Market- Pricing Analysis

In this section, the report incorporates a detailed pricing analysis at the regional as well as global levels, along with a detailed break-up demarcating the levels of manufacturing and distributor pricing.

Chapter 09- Global Electrophysiology Market Value (US$ Mn) Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast, 2020-2030

In this chapter, the report includes a year-on-year growth trend and opportunity analysis for the upcoming decade (2020-2030). It provides historical, current and future market value projections in US$ Mn.

Chapter 10- Global Electrophysiology Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030, by Type

This chapter provides details about the Electrophysiology market based on type and has been classified into laboratory devices, ablation catheters and diagnostic catheters.

Chapter 11  Global Electrophysiology Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030 by Indication

This chapter provides details about the Electrophysiology market based on application and has been classified into atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNT), Wolff-Parkinson White Syndrome, Bradycardia and others.

Chapter 12- Global Electrophysiology Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030 by End-User

This chapter provides details about the Electrophysiology market based on end-user and has been classified into hospitals, cardiac catheterization laboratories and ambulatory surgery centers.

Chapter 13- Global Electrophysiology Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030 by Region

This chapter provides details about the Electrophysiology market based on region and has been classified into North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), East Asia, South Asia and Oceania.

Chapter 14- North America Electrophysiology Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter provides details about the growth of the North America Electrophysiology market, along with a country-wide assessment which includes the U.S and Canada. Readers can also find the pricing analysis, regional trends, and market growth based on material and countries in North America.

Chapter 15- Latin America Electrophysiology Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter provides details about the growth of the Latin America Electrophysiology market, along with a country-wide assessment which includes Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Rest of Latin America.

Chapter 16- Europe Electrophysiology Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter provides details about the growth of the European Electrophysiology market, along with a country-wide assessment which includes Germany, Italy, France, the U.K, Spain, BENELUX, Russia and Rest of Europe.

Chapter 17- South Asia Electrophysiology Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter provides details about the growth of the South Asian Electrophysiology market, along with a country-wide assessment which includes India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Rest of South Asia.

Chapter 18- East Asia Electrophysiology Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter provides details about the growth of the East Asian Electrophysiology market, along with a country-wide assessment which includes China, Japan and South Korea.

Chapter 19- Oceania Electrophysiology Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter provides details about the growth of the Oceania Electrophysiology market, along with a country-wide assessment which includes Australia and New Zealand.

Chapter 20- Middle East & Africa Electrophysiology Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter provides details about the growth of the Middle East & Africa Electrophysiology market, along with a country-wide assessment which includes GCC countries, Turkey, South Africa and rest of MEA.

Chapter 21- Key Countries Electrophysiology Market Analysis 20152019 and Forecast 20202030

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the Electrophysiology market of 22 key countries by type, and form. Additionally, COVID-19 impact in the said market in all respective countries has been included.

Chapter 22- Market Structure Analysis

In this chapter, readers can find detailed information about the tier analysis and market concentration of key players in the physiology equipment market, along with their market presence analysis by region and product portfolio.

Request for Reports Methodology @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/electrophysiology-market#idMethodology

Chapter 23- Competition Analysis

In this chapter, readers can find a comprehensive list of all the prominent stakeholders in the Electrophysiology market, along with detailed information about each company, which includes company overview, revenue shares, strategic overview, and recent company developments. Some of the market players featured in the report are Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic Plc, Koninklijke Philips N.V, Boston Scientific Corporation, Japan Lifeline, Stereotaxis, Microport Scientific Corporation, Biotronik, Acutus Medical, Baylis Medical, EP Solutions SA, APN Health LLC, Teleflex and Merit Medical Systems.

Chapter 24- Assumptions & Acronyms Used

This chapter includes a list of acronyms and assumptions that provides a base to the information and statistics included in the physiotherapy equipment market report.

Chapter 25- Research Methodology

This chapter help readers understand the research methodology followed to obtain various conclusions as well as important qualitative and quantitative information about the physiotherapy equipment market
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AUD/USD PRICE OUTLOOK: US DOLLAR OSCILLATES AMID REFLATION TRADE HEADWINDS

US Dollar finished Mondays trading session roughly flat as bears look to fade recent strength

DXY Index looks likely to surrender gains with the market embracing the reflation trade again

AUD/USD price action whipsawed higher to probe trend resistance ahead of confidence data

Learn more about the basics of technical analysis or implied volatility trading strategies

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The US Dollar whipsawed lower on Monday as early upside fizzled out for the second consecutive trading session. An influx of US Dollar strength was seen at the APAC and European opens, but bears look to be fading the recent rebound. The broader DXY Index pivoted back below the 91.00-price level after erasing its 0.25% intraday gain and then some.

AUD/USD price action gained 26-pips while USD/CAD slid 16-pips. This rally across commodity currencies highlights a fresh breath of life to the reflation trade theme, which is could present considerable headwinds to the safe-haven US Dollar.

DXY  US DOLLAR INDEX PRICE CHART: DAILY TIME FRAME (09 OCT 2020 TO 08 FEB 2021)

Chart by @RichDvorakFX created using TradingView

US Dollar bears appear to have nullified the inverse head-and-shoulder pattern by reversing the topside breakout above the 91.10-price level. This brings to focus potential for continuation lower and poses the question whether or not it is time to fade the DXY Index rally. US Dollar demand has already started to ebb as suggested by the wilting relative strength index, but for now, the short-term bullish trend appears to remain intact. That said, it is possible we see an acceleration in US Dollar weakness if the 20-day and 50-day simple moving averages fail stymie selling pressure.

USD PRICE OUTLOOK  US DOLLAR IMPLIED VOLATILITY TRADING RANGES (OVERNIGHT)

AUD/USD price action could benefit in particular on the back of the revived reflation trade and renewed US Dollar weakness. The latest bounce has pushed the Aussie to short-term trend resistance underscoring its stretch of lower highs over the last few weeks. Overcoming this technical obstacle could help the reflation trade theme gain traction and correspond with US Dollar selling pressure more broadly.

-- Written by Rich Dvorak, Analyst for DailyFX.com

Connect with @RichDvorakFX on Twitter for real-time market insight
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San Francisco school board president Gabriela Lopez, 30, has defended the decision to rename 44 schools

The San Francisco school board president has defended the districts controversial decision to rename 44 schools honoring historical leaders who have since been branded by activists as racist - including Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.

San Francisco Unified School District had been criticized for voting by 6-1 last month to change the name of one-third of the city's schools.

Parents and residents became concerned when it emerged that historians had not been consulted by the renaming committee.

Instead, committee members allegedly used references from Wikipedia and other non-scholarly sources to determine which personalities were racist and problematic.

Several of those citations have now been proven to be factually incorrect, including a false claim that American poet James Russell Lowell did not want black people to vote and that Paul Revere's military activities were tied to 'the conquest of the Penobscot Indians'.

Gabriela Lopez, the head of the San Francisco Board of Education, continues to defend the decision claiming in a tense interview with the New Yorker that she doesnt want to discredit the work that this group has done despite their use of inaccurate information.

She claimed that she did not believe the names had been selected in a haphazard way, even after being read a list of the misinformation that was used in some of the decisions.

No, because Ive already shared with you that the people who have contributed to this process are also part of a community that is taking it as seriously as we would want them to, Lopez argued about the errors made in the research process.

San Francisco Unified School District had been criticized for voting by 6-1 last month to change the name of one-third of the city's schools including those named after President Lincoln. Pictured, Abraham Lincoln High School in the Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco

George Washington's name will be removed from the high school named after him, as pictured right. The father of the nation owned slaves and ordered Indians killed

And theyre contributing through diverse perspectives and experiences that are often not included, and that we need to acknowledge,' Lopez added.

What I keep hearing is youre trying to undermine the work that has been done through this process. And Im moving away from the idea that it was haphazard,' she said in the strained Q&A.

Lopez, 30, also pushed back on the complaints that historians were not consulted as part of the process.

ERRORS MADE BY THE SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOL RENAMING COMMITTEE: Committee members allegedly used references from Wikipedia and other non-scholarly sources to determine which personalities were racist and problematic. Several of those citations has now been proven to be factually incorrect: 1. One committee member urged that the name of acclaimed American poet James Russell Lowell should be stripped off a high school because a Wikipedia citation stated that he did 'not want black people to vote'. However, that claim is false - and scholarly articles assert that Lowell 'unequivocally advocated giving the ballot to the recently freed slave'. 2. The committee concluded that Paul Revere's name should be removed from a middle school after citing an article from the History Channel website. Members alleged that Revere's military activities were tied to 'the conquest of the Penobscot Indians', which was untrue. 3. James Lick - who resided in San Francisco - was also deemed 'racist' after members failed to critically read an article about the famous 19th century businessman. The committee stated that Lick had funded a sculpture showing an American Indian lying at the feet of white men. However, in actuality, Lick died 18 years before the sculpture was created, and it was only partially funded by his posthumous estate. Advertisement

Are you thinking then theres no allowing for there to be that process? she asked, when questioned about the renaming committees comments on not needing a historian.

I think that thats not the process that they created. They included a diverse set of community members, people with a set of experiences that contribute to these discussions, people from different backgrounds who are also educated in their own rights.

So, I think that was the makeup of the committee.

Among the names included on the list that had provoked pushback from residents and historians was President Abraham Lincoln.

Lopez said that she did not believe Lincoln was a person she would admire or see as a hero.

I think that the killing of indigenous peoples and that record is something that is not acknowledged, she said.

Its something that people are now learning about, and due to this process. And so, we just have to do the work of that extra learning when were having these discussions.

Lopez also claimed that the renaming was only facing criticism because people will always have a problem with the discussion of racism, not because of the inaccurate information.

That is what I know. That is why Im getting death threats. That is why people arent open to other possibilities. Because when we have this discussion, thats the outcomes no matter how good its set up, no matter how open we are,' she said.

No matter what, people are going to have an issue with that. That is what I know, given my experience. Of course, Im hearing what youre saying, but I dont think its going to change the outcome. People are still going to be up in arms when were doing this.

Among the other criticism received by the citys board of education was that it had voted on the renaming when there appeared to be no plan in place to bring students back to in-person learning.

What I cannot understand is why the school board is advancing a plan of all these schools renamed by April when there isnt a plan to have our kids back in the classroom by then, San Francisco Mayor London Breed had said.

The city of San Francisco has also since sued the board of education and school district claiming they have violated a state law that required districts to adopt a clear plan during the pandemic as it relates to in-person education.

Lopez claimed that it is completely false to say they dont have a plan and accused to the mayor of jumping at any opportunity to cause further division.

Senator Diane Feinstein (left) could have her name removed from Dianne Feinstein Elementary (right) because she allowed the Confederate flag to fly in front of City Hall in the 1980s

Roosevelt Middle School (right) could also be rebranding over President Theodore Roosevelt's (left) opposition of civil rights and black suffrage for black people

However, she also argued that by learning from home students are learning more about their own cultures, spending time with their families.

We need to hold the learning thats happening at home just as much as were holding the learning thats happening in our school places, she claimed.

Lopez was the youngest woman ever elected to office in San Francisco, aged 28, and the youngest school board member elected to the San Francisco Board of Education when she was sworn into office in January of 2019.

Lopez, pictured, has pushed back on claims that the process was haphazard

She is also a core organizer in the group Teachers 4 Social Justice, which was founded by Jeremiah Jeffries, the man appointed as the chairman of the renaming committee.

Jeffries, whose parents are prominent members of the Nation of Islam and set up their own Islamic school, previously led San Francisco's largest school boycott when he encouraged 200 families to send their children to protest the closure of a school, rather than to lessons in 2006.

In 1999, Jeffries also hit headlines nationwide when he held a protest against teachers spending their own money on school supplies.

School Board Commissioner Mark Sanchez, another founder of Teachers 4 Change and Teachers 4 Social Justice, was also on the renaming committee.

The San Francisco Board of Education voted 6-1 last month to rename a third of the city's schools, nearly three years after the board started considering the idea.

The approved resolution calls for removing names that honored historical figures with direct or broad ties to slavery, oppression, racism, or the 'subjugation' of human beings.

They include the nation's first president, George Washington, the third U.S. president Thomas Jefferson and the man credited with abolishing slavery, Abraham Lincoln, the 13th president of the United States.

Historians have hit out at Jeremiah Jeffires - the chairman in charge of renaming the schools after it was revealed that he refused to consult them during the decision-making process

A statue of US president Abraham Lincoln is seen inside San Francisco's Abraham Lincoln High School in December 2020. All schools in the district named after Lincoln will be renamed

Activist and teacher Jeffries served as committee chair on the task force and is said to have 'ridiculed' a proposal to bring in historians for consultation.

Jeffries reportedly stated: 'What would be the point? History is written and documented pretty well across the board. And so, we don't need to belabor history in that regard. We're not debating that. There's no point in debating history in that regard. Either it happened or it didn't.'

He added: 'Based on our criteria, it's a very straightforward conversation. And so, no need to bring historians forward to say  they either pontificate and list a bunch of reasons why, or [say] they had great qualities. Neither are necessary in this discussion.'

Instead, committee members allegedly used references from Wikipedia and other non-scholarly sources to determine which personalities were racist and problematic. Several of those citations has now been proven to be factually incorrect.

According to Mission Local, one committee member urged that the name of acclaimed American poet James Russell Lowell should be stripped off a high school because a Wikipedia citation stated that he did 'not want black people to vote'.

Jeremiah Jeffries, the man in charge of school renaming, whose Nation of Islam parents inspired him The man behind the renaming of 44 of San Francisco's schools is a first grade teacher who was influenced by his parents - both prominent members of the Nation of Islam - who set up their own Islamic school. Jeremiah Jeffries, chairman of the renaming committee, revealed in an interview his mother told him 'There's nothing mysterious about progression. It's working instead of wishing.' She and her husband set up the Sister Clara Muhammad School that serve a predominately African-American Muslim population. The Nation of Islam, which is defined as an organized hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for its racist, anti-Semitic and anti-gay teachings and rhetoric of black superiority over whites. Jeffries also led San Francisco's largest school boycott when he encouraged 200 families to send their children to protest the closure of a school, rather then to lessons in 2006. In 1999, Jeffries hit headlines nationwide when he held a protest against teachers spending their own money on school supplies. The San Francisco School District increased the school supply budget for the first time in decades as a result. He has also carved out a reputation as a power-broker for the district's Board of Education, using his influence to get at least four candidates - teaching professionals - appointed. Jeffries grew up in Philadelphia as one of seven children. At the age of 12, after his sister was shot dead, Jeffries had his first taste of working in education as a janitor at a childcare center. He later went to the University of Virginia, where he first got involved in racial justice activism with the Black Student Alliance including getting the first black woman into student office. When he moved to San Francisco he cofounded Teachers 4 Change and, later, Teachers 4 Social Justice activism groups alongside Mark Sanchez - who is also on the renaming committee. Teachers 4 Social Justice was set up to 'help teachers build their practice and become better teachers', holding annual conferences and social justice workshops each year and pushing for education policy reforms. Currently, he is overseeing the name change for 44 of the district's schools after the renaming committee ruled the namesakes are inappropriate or racist. Advertisement

However, that claim is false - and scholarly articles assert that Lowell 'unequivocally advocated giving the ballot to the recently freed slave'.

Elsewhere, the committee concluded that Paul Revere's name should be removed from a middle school after citing an article from the History Channel website.

Members alleged that Revere's military activities were tied to 'the conquest of the Penobscot Indians', which was untrue.

In a third example cited by Mission Local, James Lick - who resided in San Francisco - was also deemed 'racist' after members failed to critically read an article about the famous 19th century businessman.

The committee stated that Lick had funded a sculpture showing an American Indian lying at the feet of white men. However, in actuality, Lick died 18 years before the sculpture was created, and it was only partially funded by his posthumous estate.

Last month, several of the nation's leading historians blasted the renaming committee in a Mission Local article titled: 'The San Francisco School District's renaming debacle has been a historic travesty.'

The scholars assert that Jeffries appeared eager to ignore nuance and academic debate in favor of pursuing his own 'political agenda'.

'The decision not to include historians in the process seems misguided  and assumes a political agenda that is not necessarily fair,' Professor Nicole Maurantonio at the University of Richmond told Mission Local.

'To ignore historians suggests that the actors involved are intent on privileging a version of the past that might fit a particular set of interests that might or might not align with history,' she added.

The decision to rename has also received push back from residents with more than 24,000 signing a petition to have it stopped.

The final decision on school names won't be made until April 19, but the parents' hope is that there will be enough public opposition that the plan will be abandoned.

'As parents/constituents, we strongly disagree with this decision - when schools are still yet to open and SFUSD has not come up with an effective plan for remote learning, we believe that renaming schools is the wrong priority,' the petition reads.

'As Mayor London Breed recently said, this decision by the School Board is '...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 our kids who are staring at screens day after day instead of learning and growing with their classmates and friends.'

A group called Families for San Francisco opposed the vote for similar reasons, calling it a 'top-down process' in which a small group of people made the decision without consulting experts and the wider school community.

'We think it is very important for the community at large to be engaged to figure out who should be honored with public school names,' said Seeyew Mo, the group's executive director.

'We would like to have historical experts to provide historical context as we are evaluating people from the past with todays sensibilities,' he said.

Yap also said that he disagreed with the claim by the board that Lincoln was discriminatory and damaging to Native Americans.

'His accomplishments overwhelm any dark history,' he said. 'They forget that abolitionists praised Abraham Lincoln. To me, this issue is nutty.'

It is estimated that the cost of renaming each school will be $100,000, with schools needing to replace signs, school gear and other branding if their names are forced to change.

In total, the committee is hoping to rename almost a third of the district's 125 schools.

Thomas Edison will be scratched off Thomas Edison Charter Academy due to his 'fondness for electrocuting animals'.

George Washington's name will be removed from the high school named after him. The father of the nation owned slaves and ordered Indians killed.

Herbert Hoover Middle School is to be renamed over the namesake's role in redlining - the segregation of black families - when he was secretary of commerce.

And Roosevelt Middle School faces a rebranding over President Theodore Roosevelt's opposition of civil rights and black suffrage for black people.

Modern figures haven't been spared from the cut either.

Dianne Feinstein, who was Mayor of San Francisco from 1978 to 1988 and has since served as a Democrat California Senator since 1992, will have her name removed from Dianne Feinstein Elementary because she 'allowed police dogs to attack Filipino veteran elders', the committee ruled.

Jeffries said Feinstein has never made amends for these failings.

The renaming of the schools comes as part of a nationwide reckoning around racial justice that has seen Confederate flags banned, military bases renamed and statues toppled of racist and Confederate figures across America in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.
MIAMI, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Tarima, the Latin music concert channel, brings to your screen a very special Valentine's night. The evening features some of the most romantic performers of our time.

The concerts will begin at 7 pm (Eastern) and 4 pm (Pacific) with Carlos Rivera and his "Yo Vivo" show. This is a compilation of this talented Mexican artist's best songs. The show goes on with "Romantico", where Eddy Herrera sings his wealth of hits, including some pieces by the Prince of Song, Jose Jose.

Tarima brings the show to a close with "4 Latidos" from Camila and Sin Bandera, who are among the most successful romantic pop groups both in Mexico and in the Americas as a whole.

Tarima TV offers you this gift so that you can share this beautiful day with your friends and family at home.

The channel is available in the United States on Spectrum, DishLATINO, Optimum and Suddenlink. It is also available on OTT via Boss TV. In the Dominican Republic you can access it on Claro, Altice and Wind Telecom. More details at www.tarima.tv.

About Tarima

The first Latin music concert channel in the United States, Tarima is an innovative media company set up to celebrate music, dance and community. Tarima is a pioneer in the live concert broadcasting industry. It features a wide range of Latin music genres, ranging from Latin pop, reggaeton, merengue, salsa, bachata, ranchera and banda. Tarima also broadcasts exclusive music events, music documentaries, and other original programmes with a strong focus on Latin culture.

Contact:

Freddy Arias Jr

[email protected]

SOURCE tarima.tv

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LATEST Feb 9, 8:00 a.m. Days after the initial report by Open Vallejo, Solano County Sheriff Thomas A. Ferrara issued a statement to SFGATE to "set the record straight about allegations" made against Sgt. Daniel Pratt and other members of the sheriff's office.

"I am not aware of one instance where any of these employees acted in a manner that was portrayed in this article. When we initially got inquiries about this story, I had personal conversations with the employees in question because it is important to me that the women and men who work for Solano County Sheriffs Office are people of character and uphold the high standards I have set for this Office," Ferrara said.

He did not deny their involvement or support for the Three Percenters: "The employees told me that their intention was to support the 2nd Amendment and the U.S. Constitution."

But Ferrara explicitly said that they do not "support extremist organizations."

"Our office denounces any extremist organization," he said. "And if there is ever a time when a member of our office is displaying support to overthrow the government it will be dealt with swiftly. This is a pivotal moment in our nations history and for law enforcement in general."

Feb. 8, 8:05 a.m. "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Parks and Recreation" actor Chris Pratt's brother, Sgt. Daniel Pratt, may support a far-right extremist group whose members were present at the Jan. 6 riots.

"Cully," as Sgt. Pratt is fondly referred to within the force, works in the Solano County Sheriff's Office, most recently being promoted to Sergeant-Sheriff in 2020. Prior to that, he worked as the office's public information officer.

He crafts wood carvings as a hobby, many of which bear his brother's roles, and an assortment of Bible verses. (Chris has spoken at galas and other events in support of his brother, and has promoted his wares during interviews and on his own social media account.)

An investigation by Open Vallejo first found that some of those intricate designs may have indicated support for the Three Percenters movement. One of these was a gift for his co-worker, Sgt. Roy Stockton  a gun holder featuring an insignia of the militia group on the top-left corner.

His Instagram post showcasing the rifle rack, per Open Vallejo, featured the hashtags #willnotcomply (a common Second Amendment call to action), #3percenter and #blackgunsmatter, a pro-gun, pro-militia riff of the Black Lives Matter movement. (Daniel Pratt's social media accounts have since been deactivated.)

According to the Anti-Defamation League, the Three Percenters are an extremist militia group founded on the notion that a "globalist and socialist conspiracy" is afoot to "strip Americans of their rights and freedoms, starting with their right to bear arms."

Its adherents have expressed anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim views and have been charged with murder and terrorist acts. At least two of its members, NPR reported last month, were in attendance at the Jan. 6 riots.

Pratt is also not alone: At least two other officers, including Stockton and Deputy Dale Matsouka have publicly supported the Three Percenters movement, per the Open Vallejo report.

The sheriff's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from SFGATE.
The Democratic House impeachment managers are expected to broadly assert that a president can be put on trial for offences committed in office, no matter when the trial is held

The first issue that will be debated in the opening hours of former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial on Tuesday will be the question of whether it is constitutional to put an impeached former president on trial.

The politics around the question are significant. Republicans have argued that the proceeding is unconstitutional, and by doing so, avoided addressing whether Trump committed impeachable offences in his role in the Capitol riot.

Senate Republicans who voted last month to dismiss the trial as unconstitutional came under pressure Sunday to reevaluate their position when a leading conservative constitutional lawyer, Charles J Cooper  who has been a close ally and advisor to Republican senators like Ted Cruz of Texas  argued in a Wall Street Journal oped that their claims about the constitutionality of the proceeding were unfounded.

The Senate has set aside four hours to debate this issue Tuesday. Heres what you need to know.

What have Republicans said?

House Democrats, who were joined by 10 Republicans, voted to impeach Trump a week before he left office for incitement of insurrection.

The impeachment put pressure on Senate Republicans to either condone or repudiate Trumps conduct. Some set aside the question to instead focus on the process itself, arguing that whether or not Trumps actions constituted high crimes and misdemeanours, the Senate could not try him because the Constitution does not allow a former president to stand trial for impeachment.

Two weeks ago, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky forced a vote on the issue, moving to challenge the trial as unconstitutional. All but five Republicans sided with him. Democrats and constitutional scholars responded by arguing that the Republicans were simply clinging to a politically expedient argument to avoid crossing Trump, who remains popular among Republican voters.

What will Democrats argue?

The Democratic House impeachment managers are expected to broadly assert that a president can be put on trial for offences committed in office, no matter when the trial is held. Otherwise, the Democrats say, there would be no way to hold to account a president who commits wrongdoing in the final weeks of a term.

The framers of the Constitution feared a president who would corrupt his office by sparing no efforts or means whatever to get himself reelected, the nine impeachment managers wrote in a filing last week. If provoking an insurrectionary riot against a joint session of Congress after losing an election is not an impeachable offence, it is hard to imagine what would be.

Trumps lawyers will most likely make the narrower and more technical argument that the Constitution forbids a former president to be put on trial.

The Senate of the United States lacks jurisdiction over the 45th president because he holds no public office from which he can be removed, rendering the article of impeachment moot, Trumps lawyers, Bruce L Castor Jr. and David Schoen, wrote in a 14-page response to the House managers last week.

What about the conservative lawyer?

In the opinion piece, Cooper took on the Republicans assertion that because the penalty for an impeachment conviction is removal from office, it was never intended to apply to a former president.

Cooper argued that the Constitution gives the Senate the power to bar convicted officials from holding office again. It defies logic to suggest that the Senate is prohibited from trying and convicting former officeholders, he wrote.

Cooper said that since Republicans voted on the issue last month, legal scholarship has evolved and exposed the serious weakness of their argument.

The senators who supported Pauls motion, he wrote, should reconsider their view and judge the former presidents misconduct on the merits.

Coopers career has been largely focused on furthering the conservative constitutional legal movement. As a top Justice Department official in the Reagan administration, he wrote an opinion on whether employers could decline to hire someone who may have AIDS, which was criticised as discriminatory. As a private lawyer he has represented the National Rifle Association, advocates of prayer in school and defenders of the California same-sex marriage ban.

Senators will vote on the question.

Democrats seized on Coopers piece to bolster their case against Trump on Monday.

Thats no liberal, thats Chuck Cooper  a lawyer who represented House Republicans in a lawsuit against Speaker Pelosi, a former adviser to Sen. Cruzs presidential campaign  driving a stake into the central argument were going to hear from the former presidents counsel, said Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, in a speech on the Senate floor.

The impact of Coopers opinion article will be measured Tuesday when Republicans are asked to vote on the question again. Some senators privately said that they were caught off guard by the vote last month on the issue after Paul raised it and have said that they are open to debating it and considering the constitutional question. Others  like Rob Portman of Ohio and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana  said they voted against the measure because they wanted to force a larger debate on the issue.

Coopers conservative credentials and decision to publicly lay out his argument will most likely push some senators to at least consider his view, according to Steven Teles, the author of Never Trump: The Revolt of the Conservative Elites and a professor at Johns Hopkins University.

It does make it harder for them if Chuck Cooper is out there saying, Come on, said Teles, who is also a senior fellow at the think tank Niskanen Center in Washington. Everyone would like to dodge every difficult question with making a procedural argument. Its harder to dodge that if a conservative legal authority is out there saying actually you cant avoid the question.

Michael S Schmidt c.2021 The New York Times Company
"Sometimes they have gas but no food. Other times they have food but no gas."

Oyame Msuthu, Wendy Fayo and Nontando Siphika at the church where they have been living since 24 January. Photo: Vincent Lali

Twenty-four families who lost their shacks in a fire last month are living in churches as they have no materials to rebuild their shacks in Harare, Khayelitsha, in Cape Town.

The fire burned 26 shacks and displaced 63 shack dwellers on 24 January.

Community leader Ayanda Msuthu said the fire victims cook donated food on a gas stove as the church has no electricity. "Sometimes they have gas but no food. Other times they have food but no gas. They even go for three days without food," he said.

Msuthu said the fire victims take turns to wash at a nearby community hall and do laundry at communal taps in a nearby informal settlement.

Bishop Mzimasi Gishi of Brothers of Christ Holy Spirit Church said, "They have no clothes to wear and food to feed to their kids. We appeal to NGOs and companies to help them. The fire victims can't even collect their social grants because their cards burned during the fire."

Gishi said the fire victims wanted building materials to rebuild their shacks and leave the churches as "they are not safe from Covid-19."

Community leader Funyanwa Sobethwa said the families had received blankets, food and sponge mattresses from the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) after the fire and had applied for a once-off SASSA grant.

They had collected burnt corrugated zinc sheets to rebuild their shacks but had no poles or nails.

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Fire victim Nandipha Minto said, "I spend all my time at the church because I have no home. We divide food into small amounts so that we can all eat. I give my baby adult food because I have no baby food."

"We all sleep fully dressed because we are mixed with men," she said.

Councillor Malusi Booi, Mayco Member for Human Settlements, said: "SASSA has been informed to provide humanitarian assistance and the City asked Gift of the Givers for assistance for the fire-affected residents."

City spokesperson Jean-Marie de Waal said she had been informed that "assessments are currently taking place there". She said the names and ID numbers of fire-affected residents were being registered.

Minto said the City had not given the fire victims anything. She said the City had merely removed the rubble from the fire scene.

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David E. Fishman will deliver Emorys annual Tenenbaum Lecture on Monday, Feb. 22. He will explore The Book Smugglers of the Vilna Ghetto: A Story of Spiritual Resistance.

24th Tenenbaum Family Lecture Series in Judaic Studies David E. Fishman on The Book Smugglers of the Vilna Ghetto: A Story of Spiritual Resistance Monday, Feb. 22, 2021 7:30 p.m. Online Register for the event.

Guest scholar David E. Fishman of the Jewish Theological Seminary will deliver Emorys annual Tenenbaum Lecture on Monday, Feb. 22. His presentation will explore The Book Smugglers of the Vilna Ghetto: A Story of Spiritual Resistance.

The lecture, sponsored by the Tam Institute for Jewish Studies, will take place at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

In Vilna, the city Jews called The Jerusalem of Lithuania, a group of ghetto inmates risked their lives to rescue thousands of rare books, documents and works of art from the Nazis. In an operation that lasted 18 months, they smuggled the materials past guards and buried them in bunkers.

Members of the group who survived World War II returned to Vilna after the citys liberation and dug up the materials. They eventually smuggled the books across Europe until they reached the United States and Israel. What did they rescue and why did they do it?

Fishman is a professor of Jewish history at the Jewish Theological Seminary. He also serves as director of Project Judaica, which publishes guides to Jewish archival materials in the former Soviet Union. Fishman is the author of numerous books and articles on the history and culture of East European Jewry. His most recent book, The Book Smugglers: Partisans, Poets and the Race to Save Jewish Treasures from the Nazis, received a 2017 National Jewish Book Award.

This year marks the 24th anniversary of the Tenenbaum Family Lecture in Judaic Studies, which salutes the family of the late Meyer W. Tenenbaum, a graduate of Emory School of Law. The lectureship was established in 1997 by Meyers son, Samuel Tenenbaum, and honors the entire Tenenbaum family and its ethos of citizenship and public service, which is expressed through its support of religious, educational, social service and arts institutions across the United States.

For more information and to register, visit the Tam Institute for Jewish Studies.
Houston and Harris County are teaming up to launch a $159 million relief program for area tenants struggling to make rent, the largest local investment in housing aid to date, made possible by the stimulus package Congress approved late last year.

Some details of the program were not yet finalized, although the county on Tuesday approved contracts with nonprofits BakerRipley and Catholic Charities. The city plans to do the same Wednesday.

The governments and the nonprofits hope to launch a portal to begin accepting applications from landlords next week, according to Catholic Charities, but it was not clear when that portal will be available.

The federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program approved last year sent $73.8 million to Harris County and $70.1 million to Houston for rent relief efforts, according to the county. The city is devoting an additional $7.9 million in other funds and the county $6.9 million for a total of $158.7 million.

The state launched its own $1 billion fund with federal relief dollars Tuesday. Applications for that pot of money open Monday, and more information is available at texasrentrelief.com.

When applications for the state fund open Monday, residents can submit documents through the website or by calling 1-833-9TX-RENT.

City Housing Department officials declined comment on the local effort Tuesday, deferring questions to Catholic Charities. Mayor Sylvester Turner said Monday the city is working as quickly as possible to launch the program. He said the funds, which came from the Treasury Department, carry some additional logistical requirements, but he did not specify them.

Ill announce on Wednesday steps were going to take to minimize the impact on people while both the city and county work through these bureaucratic hurdles, Turner said.

Houston City Councilmember Tiffany Thomas, who chairs the councils housing committee and has helped craft the program, said the city plans to use about $19 million to give money to some 12,000 households that applied for relief last year but did not receive funds.

The federal funds will allow Houston and Harris County to more than double their investment in rent relief from last year. The city and county both directed $30 million toward separate relief efforts with funds from the CARES Act, part of an earlier stimulus package.

This time, however, they plan to collaborate on one program, offering common eligibility requirements, a single tenant application portal and landlord agreements.

Zoe Middleton, Southeast Texas Co-Director for the housing nonprofit Texas Housers, said that collaboration is encouraging.

I think it reduces confusion for tenants and for landlords in need. Its been really hard historically to get the city and county to match up programs, and it causes a lot of confusion for people, Middleton said. Its the biggest pot that weve had to play with. Thats why I think its important to get it right.

There were 156 eviction hearings in Houston and Harris County on Tuesday, by Middletons count, and more than 22,000 hearings since March 13. Not all of those hearings result in evictions, but Middleton said they have harmful effects on residents finances even if they are not ultimately kicked out.

She cited a report from New America, a Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan think tank, that found evictions account for 79 percent of all housing loss in Harris County, even though renters account for roughly half of residents here.

Houston and Harris County also are hiring navigators, or case managers, from several community nonprofits, including the YMCA, Houston Area Urban League, Memorial Assistance Ministries and others, to help guide residents through the process and connect them to other services if needed, according to Thomas.

The intention behind them is to really foster those families through that whole process, Thomas said. The case managers are going to be really key to getting down in the nuts and bolts of walking them through that process.

To qualify, applicants must make less than 80 percent of the area median income, roughly $63,000 for a family of four in Houston. They must have suffered a financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic and be able to demonstrate housing instability, according to Treasury Department guidelines.

The program will not dole out funds on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants will be weighted by need, with priority to those making less than 50 percent of the area median income  $39,400 for a Houston family of four  and who have been unemployed for 90 days.

The application portal will open to landlords first, who must agree not to pursue evictions or late fees against residents, said Joy Partain, a spokesperson for Catholic Charities and BakerRipley. About a week later, tenants will be able to apply. The organization hopes to open the tenant portal by the end of February.

Recipients would be able to use the money toward up to three months of past due, current or future rent, utility and home energy expenses.

There also will be a direct assistance program for renters whose landlords do not apply to the program, Thomas said. It is unclear if the agencies plan to set aside a certain amount of money for those people.

BakerRipley, which administered past rent relief efforts for the city, will handle technology and landlord enrollment, according to county documents. Catholic Charities, which has worked with the county, will operate a contact center and communications.

dylan.mcguinness@chron.com
VILLAGERS in Dinde area, Hwange are locked in stand-off with Chinese investors over the foreigners' proposed coal exploration operations.

The villagers want the operation stopped arguing the Chinese investors are in breach of Zimbabwe's environmental and customary laws.

They also accuse the investors of failing to produce any documents granting them permission to work in the area nor did they engage the local community for social cohesion.

The Chinese investors operating as Beifer Investments, moved to Dinde to start the work last Friday in Ward 13 of Hwange Rural District, Matabeleland North.

However, villagers fear that, should the project continue, they will be forced to relocate while others will be exposed to air and water pollution of Nyantuwe River which provides drinking water for humans and livestock.

They also fear loss of livelihoods, grazing land for their livestock, and cultural heritage sites such as graveyards for the Nekatambe chieftainship as well as contamination of ritual sites.

According to the Dinde Residents Association, from February 2019 to December 2019, a team of Chinese investors toured the village without consulting or engaging locals.

"In December 2019, the same team brought some lightweight machinery and set up a camp behind one Emelia Mukombwe's homestead within the village where they intended to start drilling," the Dinde Residents Association said.

"Locals approached the Chinese, who failed to produce documents authorising them to explore in the area."

The Chinese intended to drill 13 holes in a straight line of a 1, 9 kilometre stretch without due care of what was in the path.

The locals ordered them to leave and return with documents granting them permission to work in Dinde.

Thereafter, the Chinese investors returned to Dinde with several officers from the Environmental Management Agency, Hwange Rural District Council, traditional leaders, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe National Army and a local miner, to coerce the villagers.

On 8 January 2020, a delegation of local community members was dispatched to Hwange Rural District office to establish the legality of the Chinese operation.

Hwange RDC chief executive Mr Phindile Ncube told them the Chinese had a special grant for exploration.

On June 2020, the Chinese returned to Dinde in the company of Chief Charles Nekatambe, a Mr. Ncube and Chilota Colliery Company proprietor Lazarus Kwidini.

The chief, Kwidini and Ncube acted as gate- keepers, and barred interaction between the locals and the Chinese nationals. Kwidini told the villagers the Chinese were working on Chilota Colliery's concession while Chief Nekatambe intimidated the villagers, threatening to get them arrested.

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The Chinese returned to Dinde again on 11 November and 15 December 2020 accompanied by traditional leaders, state security agents and EMA officials.

Dinde is home to thousands of Nambyas and Tongas tribes.

The Centre for Natural Resources Governance (CNRG) said the local Dinde community had a right to live in their ancestral land and reserve the right to say reject forced evictions.

"Government must respect the rights of the Dinde community as enshrined in the constitution of Zimbabwe," the CNRG said.

"The Chinese investor has violated the country's environmental laws, specifically, section 97 which spells that an environmental impact assessment must be carried out before prospecting.

"The fact that the community of Dinde was not aware that they fall within a special exploration grant concession is testimony that they were never engaged."
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President Muhammadu Buhari has said this year is vital for China- Nigeria relations.

This is contained in a letter President Buhari wrote to his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties between Nigeria and the People's Republic of China.

In the letter, the president expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far and thanked China for its support in defence matters and infrastructural development of Nigeria among others.

President Buhari also rejoiced with Chinese people across the world as they commence celebrations marking the new Chinese Year of the Ox on February 12 this year.

The letter reads in part, "It is now 50 years since the establishment of Nigeria-China diplomatic relations, and I am delighted that the bilateral ties have achieved far reaching and fruitful results, on the basis of close coordination and mutual trust, bringing great benefits to our countries and peoples.

"As celebrations of the Chinese Year of the Ox by all Chinese across the world commence on February 12th this year, on behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I use this opportunity to extend my warmest and most sincere greetings and wishes to you and the Chinese people for a promising and auspicious Lunar New Year.

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PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Copper Foil Market by Product Type (Rolled Copper Foil and Electrodeposited Copper Foil), Application (Printed Circuit Boards, Batteries, Electromagnetic Shielding, and Others), and End-user Industry (Electrical & Electronics, Automotive, Industrial Equipment, Building & Construction, and Others): Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027." According to the report, the global copper foil industry generated $12.4 billion in 2019, and is estimated to generate $21.8 billion by 2027, manifesting a CAGR of 7.2% from 2020 to 2027.

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities

Expansion of the electronics industry, increase in sales of smartphones, and surge in adoption of e-mobility drive the growth of the global copper foil market. However, presence of alternative metal foils hinders the market growth. On the other hand, development of innovative copper foil products presents new opportunities in the coming years.

Request PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/8931

Covid-19 Scenario

The lockdown disrupted copper mining, creating a shortage of raw material for the manufacturing of copper foils.

Chile is the world's largest exporter of metals. The surge in the number of coronavirus cases among mine workers in the country increased. This hindered production and export activity.

is the world's largest exporter of metals. The surge in the number of coronavirus cases among mine workers in the country increased. This hindered production and export activity. Owing to the lockdown and travel restrictions, the prices of crude oil lessened considerably. In addition, the demand for consumer electronics decreased significantly.

Post-pandemic, when the demand for smartphones, electronic gadgets, and electric vehicles would increase, the demand for copper foil is estimated to rise too.

The rolled copper foil segment to maintain its leadership position throughout the forecast period

Based on type, the rolled copper foil segment accounted for the highest market share, accounting for less than two-thirds of the global copper foil market in 2019, and will maintain its leadership position throughout the forecast period. This is due to its abundant usage in PCBs, batteries, and EMI shielding materials. However, the electrodeposited copper foil segment is expected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 8.0% from 2020 to 2027, owing to surge in demand in PCB manufacturing.

Get Detailed COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the Copper Foil Market @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/8931?reqfor=covid

The printed circuit boards segment to maintain its dominant share during the forecast period

Based on application, the printed circuit boards segment held the highest market share in 2019, accounting for less than two-thirds of the global copper foil market, and is estimated to maintain its dominant share during the forecast period. This is attributed to PCBs being the backbone of electronic components, and integrated with almost every electronics product. However, the batteries segment is estimated to portray the largest CAGR of 9.0% from 2020 to 2027, owing to the growth in need for electric vehicles in the next few years.

Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, to maintain its leadership status by 2027

Based on region, Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, accounted for the highest share in 2019, contributing to nearly half of the global copper foil market, and will maintain its leadership status by 2027. This region is projected to witness the highest CAGR of 7.7% during the forecast period. This is due to presence of well-established electronics & electric vehicle market players. The report also analyzes regions including Europe and LAMEA.

Leading market players

Carl Schlenk AG

Doosan Group

Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.

JXTG Holdings Inc.

Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co. Ltd.

Rogers Corporation

SKC

Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd.

Targray Technology International Inc.

UACJ Corporation

Interested in Procuring This Report? Visit Here: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/copper-foil-market/purchase-options

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Copper & Copper Manufactured Products Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2023

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A woman says her life was thrown into disarray after intimate images of her were distributed while she was applying to become a Brandon Police Service officer in 2017.

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A woman says her life was thrown into disarray after intimate images of her were distributed while she was applying to become a Brandon Police Service officer in 2017.

Monday marked the first day of a civil lawsuit in the Court of Queens Bench that centres around nude photos leaked to members of the Brandon police executive during the hiring process.

The City of Brandon is listed as a third party in the lawsuit.

According to an agreed statement of fact, the plaintiff, Brittany Roque, took and sent intimate photos of herself to Brandon police officer Ryan Friesen during a three-month affair with him in 2015.

Friesen forwarded the images from his cellphone to his email account before deleting them from his phone. He did this so his then-partner, Terry Lynn Peters  the defendant  wouldnt find them.

In May 2016, Roque applied to become a police officer with the Brandon Police Service and in August she was shortlisted for an upcoming position, which she said excited her.

Then, in October 2016, Roque and Peters met at the Brandon Walmart. Peters introduced herself and let Roque know the police officer had family to mark her territory, according to the statement of facts.

In January 2017, Friesen deleted the intimate images from his email account, but they were still accessible in the Trash folder. He also told Peters his email password so she could search the account for evidence of infidelity.

On Feb 19, 2017, Peters found the nude images of the plaintiff in the Trash folder, along with photos of other women. She was upset, so she sent copies of the images to her own email and confronted her partner.

A few days later, Peters distributed the intimate images of Roque to Brandon police senior executive, while Roque was still in the middle of the hiring competition to become a police officer.

In March 2017, Roque underwent a polygraph test as part of the hiring process, where she disclosed her past relationship with Friesen.

At the end of the meeting, she was told she could either withdraw from the hiring process or else she would be removed by the Brandon Police Service, according to the agreed statement of fact.

Roque declined to withdraw from the competition and subsequently filed complaints about what happened with the Independent Investigation Unit and the RCMP.

During her testimony via Microsoft Teams on Monday, Roque told Kevin Toyne, her lawyer, she was under the impression the images she sent to the police officer were private and he was permanently deleting them.

She said she was shocked and confused when she found out Brandon police had them and didnt previously tell her.

She told the court the defendant distributing the images without her consent set off a chain reaction in her life and caused an "extreme amount" of fear. At one point, she didnt sleep for 36 hours and lost 15 pounds as a result of not eating or sleeping.

She testified she was afraid of who would see the photos and whether they would eventually make their way to her friends and family.

The incident embarrassed and humiliated her, she testified, and she had constant thoughts about how it could affect her or her childrens futures.

At one point, she contemplated suicide during a drive around Brandon, but thoughts of her family at the last moment kept her alive.

"That was the moment I realized I didnt want to die  I wanted it to stop, I wanted it to stop consuming my life and having to constantly live in this fear  it was just a dark moment," Roque said through tears.

Under cross-examination from the defendants lawyer, Rhea Majewski, Roque said was able to maintain her job and relationship throughout the incident, but only with professional counselling.

She also agreed she didnt expressly tell the police officer the photos were only meant for him.

The trial is expected to continue today with more witnesses for the plaintiff testifying.

 dmay@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
The pyranometer at Xianghe. Credit: Mengqi Liu

In research on solar energy and climatology, 'clear sky' or 'cloudless' conditions are very important. For instance, the number of clear-sky days (number of days having an average cloud cover less than 10%) is a key parameter of solar resource assessments. The instantaneous surface irradiance is highly affected by cloud variations, based on which clear-sky detection (CSD) methods can be developed. However, a general tendency in common among all CSD methods is the detection accuracy deteriorates when aerosol loading increases.

"The lack of accurate clear-sky detection data makes it difficult to assess existing clear-sky detection methods in polluted areas," explains Liu Mengqi, a Ph.D. student from the group of Prof. Xiang'ao Xia at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, and also the first author of a paper recently published in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters.

Prof. Xia and his team evaluated 21 CSD methods by using five years of 1-min surface irradiance and visually inspected total-sky imager data at Xianghea heavily polluted station on the North China Plain.

According to the research of Prof. Xia, CSD methods with higher cloudy-sky detection accuracy rates produce lower clear-sky accuracy rates, and vice versa. Moreover, when aerosol loading increases, the CSD accuracy rate decreases significantly.

"Our results provide scientific guidance to existing clear-sky detection methods that are currently not applicable in polluted conditions," says Prof. Xia. "In the future, this will give us the opportunity not only to improve existing methods, but also hopefully to propose a new clear-sky detection method."

Explore further Vision-based fire detection facilities work better under new deep learning model

More information: Menqing Liu et al, Evaluation of multiple surface irradiance-based clear sky detection methods at XiangheA heavy polluted site on the North China Plain, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters (2020). Menqing Liu et al, Evaluation of multiple surface irradiance-based clear sky detection methods at XiangheA heavy polluted site on the North China Plain,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.aosl.2020.100016
India is in talks with senior Dutch lawyers to file an appeal against the Cairn verdict at The Hague in the coming weeks. The Rs 8,800-crore award will likely be contested on two key grounds  jurisdiction and international public policy.

India is expected to take a stand that the government has the sovereign right of taxation and private individuals cannot decide on that. According to the Centre, it falls outside the domain of a bilateral investment treaty and beyond the jurisdiction of international arbitration. Also, the government will most likely invoke international ...
A medical worker prepares the COVID-19 vaccination at the University of CaliforniaIrvine Medical Center, in Orange, Calif., on Dec. 16, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

COVID-19 Variants Making Their Way to California

New strains of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus are mutating worldwide and slowly making their way to California, as health officials work to determine whether current vaccines will remain effective against the latest variants.

Dr. Thomas Cesario, an infectious disease specialist based in the city of Orange, told The Epoch Times that hes concerned about newly discovered strains of COVID-19 from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil.

I think were all very worried about them, Cesario said, calling the South African strain perhaps the most worrisome.

The South African variant, called B.1.351, has been discovered in several states but has not yet been reported in Southern California. Early evidence suggests that this variant might not be treatable with the currently available vaccines.

We have information that the immunity produced by the current strains and apparently by the vaccine strains is strictly much weaker against that South African variety, Cesario said.

It does appear that the vaccine is less effective there, however  the vaccine that they were using there was not the one we use here. The vaccine that they were using there was  the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.

But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also question the efficacy of the Moderna vaccine against the South African strain, which reportedly makes up 90 percent of all instances of the disease in that country.

Preliminary evidence from non-peer-reviewed publications suggests that the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine currently used in the U.S. may be less effective against this variant, according to the CDC. The center suggested additional studies to verify.

The South African variant was initially detected last October. The first U.S. cases were reported at the end of January. According to Cesario, it has so far been isolated twice in South Carolina and once in Maryland.

United Kingdom B.1.1.7

Orange County officials reported on Feb. 8 the first case of a more contagious variant of the virus, known as the United Kingdoms B.1.1.7.

The strainwhich was first detected at the end of December 2020was discovered on Jan. 26 in a 21-year-old San Clemente man, whose symptoms were reportedly resolved.

We know that it appears to be more infectious.  It probably is about 50 percent more infectious than the original COVID strain, said Cesario. There is a debate whether or not they are more lethal.

However, the vaccines still seem to be effective, Cesario said. The vaccine strain that weve been using still seems to work against that virus.

According to the CDC, early evidence suggests this variant may be more deadly compared to others.

In January 2021, scientists from the UK reported early evidence that suggests the B.1.1.7 variant may be associated with an increased risk of death compared with other variants. More studies are needed to confirm this finding, the CDC states on its website.

Brazils P.1 Variant

Another variant, called P.1, emerged in travelers from Brazil. The strain was first discovered early last month during routine testing at an airport in Japan; by the end of January, it had been detected in the United States.

We dont know a lot about it, other than it cropped up in Minnesota, Cesario said. It seems to be quite infectious.

The P.1 variant contains a set of additional mutations that may affect its ability to be recognized by antibodies, nulling the effectiveness of the vaccine.

There is evidence to suggest that some of the mutations in the P.1 variant may affect the ability of antibodies (from natural infection or vaccination) to recognize and neutralize the virus, the CDC states.

Universal Vaccine

The University of CaliforniaIrvine (UCI) is developing a universal vaccine to protect against all variants of the virus.

Tom Vasich, UCI senior director of communications and media relations, told The Epoch Times that the vaccine is still in its research phase. Its premature to say whether the vaccine will work against all variants, but its the hope, he said via email.

Cesario said he knows the person working on the universal vaccine. Hopefully hell be successful, he said.

Vasich said he was unaware of any research at UCI about the efficacy of current vaccines.

UCI Health does not have an official comment about the variants, said Vasich. We encourage people to continue following the precautions local, state and federal health officials have establishedmasking, appropriate social distancing and frequent hand washing and hand hygiene observance.

The CDC website states that additional studies are needed on all variants.

So far, studies suggest that antibodies generated through vaccination with currently authorized vaccines recognize these variants, according to the CDC. This is being closely investigated and more studies are underway.

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"We are thrilled for Mark to join our organization. With extensive business development and health policy experience, he is an excellent addition to our leadership team." -Leah Heimbach, President and Owner of HMS

Healthcare Management Solutions, LLC (HMS) welcomes Mark Koepke as its new business development director. In collaboration with HMS leadership team, he will be responsible for developing initiatives to achieve the companys long-term growth goals. In particular, Koepke will support the companys growth strategy that focuses on agencies within the federal government, including but not limited to CMS  where he worked for nearly a decade  and selected state governments, in order to accelerate HMS impact in those markets.

Koepke is a transformational change agent with more than 30 years of experience in business development and health policy. Using his skills as a relationship manager, he excels at establishing networks and developing new ideas and initiatives, particularly in the areas of quality improvement, performance measurement and compliance. Most recently, he served as managing director for health at IMPAQ International, securing new business opportunities for the health policy research firm, including assisting in the success of 20 proposals which together resulted in over $60 million of revenue over five years.

I am very excited to join the HMS team and work collaboratively to expand and maintain a qualified pipeline and waterfall. The breadth of government healthcare expertise combined with HMS culture positions the company for significant growth. I am proud to join these very talented healthcare, technology and government subject matter leaders. Together, we will develop relationships and partnerships with potential customers in targeted agencies, and position HMS for exciting new opportunities, said Koepke.

Koepke has a wealth of business development knowledge, but his skills as an analyst, writer and communicator truly set him apart. He has leveraged these skills to manage many strategic external relationships with state and federal agencies, businesses and individual experts. He also has led corporate-wide growth initiatives and has generated millions of dollars of revenue.

Koepke also has extensive boots on the ground healthcare and government legislative work. He spent the first years of his career in administrative and legal roles for the University of Chicago Hospitals, North Carolina Department of Justice, and Senator Terry Sanford (D-North Carolina). This unique background provides him with a deeper understanding of how government and healthcare organizations should be run from the ground up.

We are thrilled for Mark to join our organization, said HMS President and CEO Leah Heimbach. With extensive business development and health policy experience, he is an excellent addition to our leadership team.

About Healthcare Management Solutions, LLC

HMS protects vulnerable populations and veterans. We blend our unique healthcare and technology expertise to create bold yet cost-effective solutions that federal and state agencies and our private-sector partners need to make sure your loved ones get the best possible care in nursing homes and other healthcare settings, no matter where in America they live.
An overview of the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on February 8 for a delegation of ambassadors and chief representatives from United Nations (UN) agencies in Vietnam led by Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator in the country.

The PM said that Vietnamese people experienced a tough year in 2020 but still with many achievements, noting that the country is dealing with a new COVID-19 outbreak.

He said that the recently-concluded 13th National Party Congress defined the strategy and desire for national development to 2025 with visions to 2030 and 2045. He stressed that in order to meet the countrys goal, the efforts of entire Vietnamese people as well as support and assistance from international community are significant.

Currently, Vietnam is working hard to curb the latest COVID-19 outbreak that hit the nation since late January, he said, adding that so far, the situation in hotbeds has been basically controlled.

Amid difficulties, Vietnam treasures the priceless support from foreign friends and hopes to receive more assistance, he stated.

For his part, Malhotra congratulated Vietnam on the success of the 13th National Party Congress as well as the countrys achievements in controlling COVID-19 hotbeds and protecting peoples health.

He clarified that the UN and Vietnam have shared sound relations, expressing his belief that the ties will continue to develop in the future.

The UN always prioritises strengthening partnership with Vietnam and supports the country in anti-COVID-19 vaccine, expressing his view that vaccine should be a global goods that need to be provided free to people.

Lauding Vietnams quick response to the pandemic, he said that the COVAX Programme is ready to deliver first vaccine lots to countries by late February.

He said he hopes Vietnam will manage to provide the vaccine for 70-80 percent of the population.

Malhotra said he hailed Vietnams initiative to take December 27 as the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness.

He suggested that the Vietnamese Government set up an inter-sectoral mechanism at highest level to manage peoples health issues and prevent the spread of diseases from animals to human.

Kidong Park, Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Vietnam, expressed determination to accompany with Vietnam towards a future with strong growth. The WHO commits to continuing to cooperate with Vietnam in bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, he said.

At the meeting, the ambassadors and representatives affirmed their wish to strengthen the strong coordination with Vietnam in all fields, while supporting and working closely with the country in its national development.

PM Phuc underlined that the UN ambassadors and representatives are important partners of Vietnam. He lauded their efforts in promoting ties between the agencies and Vietnam over the years.

He extended his thankfulness for the support of the international community to Vietnam in the fight against COVID-19, and thanked the UN and WHO as well as the international community in implementing the COVAX Programme with the allocation of vaccines to 20 percent of the Vietnamese population. Vietnam hopes to receive vaccines from the programme soon, he stated.

Regarding the consumption and trafficking of wildlife, the PM clarified that the Vietnamese Government has classified this as a serious crime. The government has directed the strengthening of law enforcement and the implementation of international commitments and conventions in the field, he said, adding that Vietnam will apply drastic measures to prevent the illegal wildlife trafficking, hunting and consumption. He expressed his hope that the country will receive further support from the international community in the work.

He said that during the 13th Party Congress, the Communist Party of Vietnam gave a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance and underlined the need for the promotion of the countrys role as a responsible member of the international community, especially at the ASEAN, UN, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and Mekong Sub-Region, while deepening the partnership with important friends and partners.

The PM affirmed that Vietnam hopes to tighten partnership with international organisations and important partners, suggesting that the UN, WHO and UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) continue assisting Vietnam in realising Sustainable Development Goals, while building cooperation programmes for next periods to suit Vietnams development orientations.

He asked countries and organisations to support Vietnam in implementing the countrys three strategic breakthroughs as well as dual targets of combating COVID-19 and recovering and boosting socio-economic development.

On the occasion of the New Year of the Ox, the PM wished the ambassadors and representatives good health, happiness and achievements in performing their roles.
The Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce continued its virtual speaker series, Feb 5 and welcomed United States Senator Cynthia Lummis as its featured guest.

Lummis is a freshman Republican and the first woman to represent Wyoming in the Senate. She brings her "no-nonsense conservative and principled policymaker" style to the senate floor, which she earned as a United States House of Representatives member since 2008.

Western Vista Federal Credit Union President Steven Leafgreen welcomed the virtual crowd and welcomed WIDC Frontier CDC that sponsored the event.

Lummis thanked the chamber for inviting her to speak at the event and admitted that she just woke up.

"We were in session until 5:30 a.m., and just got back to work a little bit ago after a long night in what seemed to me to be a ridiculous exercise," she said. "It's called vote-a-rama. We have a 50-50 senate, and we voted from 2:30 p.m. yesterday (Feb 4) until 5:30 a.m. this morning without adjourning. In the last 15 hours, we stripped all the amendments off a bill and then passed the bill with a 50-50 vote when the tie was broken by Vice President Kamala Harris."

Lummis called her first six weeks in the senate "a bumpy ride," and she expects it to stay that way for a while.

"Next week, we go into another impeachment trial," she said. "Hopefully, after that, some of the hyper politics can end, and we can get about the business of legislating."

She introduced Brendan Aimes, who worked with Coldwell Banker and then joined the City of Cheyenne as its Chief Economic Development Officer.

"He has joined my office, staying in Wyoming as the Business Outreach Director," she said. "This is an economic development position, something a little bit new for our congressional delegation. We want to try and vett all the federal grants and resources we can and then help deploy them in Wyoming. Brendan is going to be the point person for that. Being based in Cheyenne and someone you already know, he should be an easy access relationship for the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce businesses. Take advantage of wonderful Brendan Aimes being right there in Cheyenne."

When Lummis got sworn into office, she had no family attend the ceremony except for her great-nephew, who serves in the Marines.

"He and Vice President Mike Pence had fun kicking around military stories," Lummis said. "He was the only family I could have. Then we went into the Georgia election, which gave us the 50-50 senate with Harris breaking 50-50 ties. That means the Republicans are in the minority in the U.S. House, the Senate, and the White House."

She said the Republicans would be playing "a lot of defense," but she doesn't want to play just defense on Wyoming's behalf.

"President Biden signed more executive orders in his first week than the past four presidents combined," Lummis said. "He's been doing things in that regard that are not friendly to Wyoming."

She's not going to back down and will continue fighting for the state.

"The one we pushed back hardest on is the moratorium on oil and gas drilling and other mineral production on federal land," she said. "Wyoming is half federal land. Utah is two-thirds federal land, Montana is a quarter federal land, Nevada is seven-eighths federal land, and Alaska is nine-tenths federal land."

She said Biden's order punishes public land states, and Wyoming is not alone in this struggle.

"It does it in a way that deprives our K-12 educational system of some revenue," Lummis said. "We're really fighting back on that, and we'll continue to do so. I filed a bill called the Power Act that was designed to do just that. We'll continue to raise that issue during the confirmation hearing for the nominee for the Department of the Interior and work with colleagues in public land states to push back on that."

She mentioned Biden's action that struck down the Keystone Pipeline and said with one stroke of his pen, 1,700 people lost jobs in the Global Strike Command.

"We're seeing it all over the map," Lummis said. "It's amazing how someone who touted the importance of bringing the economy back with Covid-19 and making sure that jobs are available and ready for those returning to work. The rhetoric doesn't match the actions at all. In fact, they're quite the opposite. We're terribly concerned about that, and we'll continue to point that out and try to work with his new cabinet directors about some of the things that are particularly important to us."

She visited with several Biden nominees and said some she voted for, while others Lummis did not vote for, like United States Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

"He's an open borders proponent that does not comport with where I believe Wyoming people are," Lummis said. "I'm going to struggle with Deb Haaland, who is the nominee for the Department of the Interior. She's from New Mexico, but she doesn't seem to push back at all on things like the green new deal. I'll try to make points as best I can while still maintaining relationships at the Department of Interior through some of their career people."

Lummis will serve on the Banking Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, and the Commerce Science and Transportation Committee.

"These are, I think, important assignments for Wyoming, and I think they are going to be important assignments for you at the Greater Cheyenne Chamber," she said. "Know that we're here to help. Brendan can be your most close contact, but we have an office in Cheyenne. The same office that Mike Enzi used to have."

Lummis said they're creating a financial innovation caucus.

"Because Wyoming has been such a financial innovator, especially in these special depository financial institutions," she said. "I've already visited with some members about joining us there, and we'll be concentrating on financial innovation. We'll also be joining the Western Caucus; my friend Steve Daines from Montana is the chairman. John Barrasso used to chair it, so there is a long line of knowledgeable and influential westerners in that caucus. I chaired that caucus when I served in the house."

She continues pushing back on the congressional big-spenders.

"I would have pushed back on the big-spending that occurred during the Trump administration," Lummis said. "Can you imagine how I felt about what we were doing last night? It was a $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package when only 20 percent of the relief package passed five weeks ago has begun to filter out into the economy. This $1.9 trillion, we're going to try and push for lower and smarter spending. None of this $1.9 trillion has been justified. We think it's going to go toward additional savings. People don't have to spend it now. As soon as the economy opens up, there will be more spending. The economy will become more heated, but that won't happen until next year. We don't see it providing the immediate relief that the proponents are espousing. I will be a no on that vote."

Lummis reminded the audience that she and her staff are ready to serve Wyomingites.

"We are raring to go," she said. "I kept texting my staff last night when I was on the Senate floor saying go home, go home! I got back here at 5:45 a.m., and everybody is in the office. They've been here all night. This is a motivated, smart, impressive staff."
By Barbara Laker, William Bender and David Gambacorta, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

PHILADELPHIA  Philadelphia police Officer Gregory Campbell was allegedly intoxicated Saturday night and driving at least 70 miles per hour in his Dodge Dart before he blew a stop sign and slammed into a home near the Fraternal Order of Police lounge in Northeast Philadelphia, breaking a womans legs and collapsing her lung while she was lying on the couch with her husband, according to court documents.

The 53-year-old woman was dragged and pinned under Campbells car and was hospitalized in critical condition, the criminal complaint states. Her 45-year-old husband required medical treatment for less severe injuries to his arm, hand, hip, leg and back.

One of their dogs was killed.

A view of the damaged home on the 2800 block of Comly Road Philadelphia on Feb. 8, 2021. According to police, Officer Gregory Campbell was driving a 2014 Dodge Dart north on Caroline Road crossing Comly Road when he ran a stop sign, jumped the curb at 70 mph, went airborne and crashed into the house. (David Maialetti/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)TNS

Campbell, 27, who is facing charges that include driving under the influence, aggravated assault and criminal mischief, had been at the FOPs bar and restaurant on Caroline Road on Saturday. It is located less than a quarter mile away from the scene of the wreck on Comly Road.

Law enforcement sources said Campbell is believed to have attended a beef and beer fundraiser that afternoon at Crispin Tavern for the family of James OConnor IV, a police corporal who was fatally shot while serving an arrest warrant in Frankford last year. The fundraiser was scheduled to end at 6 p.m.

I dont know where he was prior (to the accident), said FOP President John McNesby. I think theres still some confusion. I have not spoken to the guy. Im talking to my folks here, and theyre still not sure whether (Campbell) was here or not.

Campbell, who was out on bail on the condition that he not drink or drive, could not immediately be reached Monday. It was unclear if he had obtained an attorney.

On Monday afternoon, a police cruiser was still parked outside the Comly Road home, with a massive rectangular hole exposing the inside of the living room. At the FOP headquarters down Caroline Road, the digital sign out front stated: BACK THE BLUE.

The home on the 2800 block of Comly Road in Philadelphia, on Feb. 8, 2021, was set back from the road but a Philadelphia police officer allegedly crashed into it on Feb. 6, 2021, at 70 mph. (David Maialetti/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)TNS

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said Sunday that the department would conduct a full investigation.

The consequences of choosing to drive while under the influence are enormous, and all too often, life-changing, Outlaw said. A family should always feel safe in their home, and yet the actions of this individual shattered that reality.

The fact that the offender, in this case, is a Philadelphia police officer is appalling. Police officers must be held to a higher standard  even while off-duty  and I assure the victims and the public that a complete and thorough investigation will take place. My prayers remain with this family.

McNesby, the FOP president, said Monday that the union is cooperating with accident investigators.

Campbell joined the force in March 2018 and made a base salary of $63,999, according to city of Philadelphia payroll records from 2019.

Reached at the family home, a woman who said she was Campbells mother said no one there would have any comment.

More:

Judicial Conduct Board files charges against Harrisburg judge accused of interfering in sons arrest

Very lucky pilot unhurt after landing plane on Pa. Turnpike, getting hit by tractor-trailers
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Xi replies to letter from Party members at old revolutionary base

BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged Party members at a village of Xibaipo, an old revolutionary base of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in north China's Hebei Province, to unite and work hard with the local people for a better life.

Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when writing back on Sunday to the CPC members of Beizhuang Village in Xibaipo Township, Pingshan County.

It was in this village where the revolutionary song "Unity is Strength" was first sung 78 years ago, before spreading to the rest of the country, Xi noted.

He said he was pleased that the Party members have led villagers there to pass down the revolutionary spirit, unite as one and work hard, and shake off poverty.

"Unity is strength, which is as strong as iron and steel," Xi said.

The history of the CPC, over the past hundred years, has seen the Party uniting and leading the people to strive for a better life, of which Xibaipo-based cadres and people have a deeper understanding, Xi said.

Xi expressed hope that Party members there could better unite local people on the journey to fully building a modern socialist China.

In June 1943, the opera "Unity is Strength" and the eponymous song were created and premiered at Beizhuang Village.

Party members there recently wrote to Xi, briefing him on the achievements local people, inspired by the song, had made in poverty reduction and expressing their determination to lead their fellow residents toward rural vitalization and a better life.

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. The Federation of Armenian Organizations in the Netherlands (FAON) welcomes the motion of MP Joel Voordewind (ChristenUnie), which explicitly calls on the government to recognize the Armenian Genocide, the FAON told Armenpress.

The motion is also signed by M. van Helvert (CDA), S. Karabulut (SP), B. van Ojik (GroenLinks), G. Wilders (PVV), T. Baudet (FvD), K. van der Staaij (SGP), G. van Otterloo (50PLUS), F. van Kooten-Arrissen, L. van Raan (PvdD) and H. Krol.

The very broad support for the motion shows that for too long there has been great dissatisfaction in the Parliament how the successive governments have dealt with the Armenian Genocide.

The motion's message is that a clear language is needed to resolve precarious issues in the future. The FAON considers this idea especially important, given the current situation, in which Genocide Watch warned of a new genocide during the war in Nagorno Karabakh, and after the war both Turkey and Azerbaijan are aggressive towards Armenia.

The FAON assumes that the government will not disregard this very clear statement of the Parliament and will implement it.

In earlier motions, the Parliament explicitly recognized the Armenian Genocide, after the Dutch Parliament had already recognised it in 2004 in the motion by MP Rouvoet adopted unanimously, which appeals to the government to expressly and continuously raise the recognition of the Armenian Genocide during the bilateral and EU dialogue with Turkey.

As it is known, other Christian minorities, such as Assyrians, Arameans and Pontic Greeks, were also victims of the Armenian Genocide. In the same way as for Dutch people with an Armenian backgroud, also for people with these backgrounds, the government's failure to recognise the genocide has always been painful, FAON said in a statement.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has met with European Council President Charles Michel in Brussels.

The head of government wrote this on Telegram.

"Ahead of a meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council, I met with President of the European Council Charles Michel. We look forward to agreeing with the EU on a specific timeframe for launching a comprehensive review process to achieve the objectives of the Association Agreement. After all, the implementation of the agreement is the basis for bringing the economies of Ukraine and the EU closer," Shmyhal said.

A Ukrainian government delegation led by Shmyhal began a three-day working visit to Brussels on Tuesday, February 9. Ukrainian officials are due to participate in a meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council.

op
President Joe Biden walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, in Washington on Feb. 5, 2021. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

Biden: America Will Not Lift Sanctions Unless Iran Stops Enriching Uranium

The United States will not lift sanctions against Iran unless the Middle East nation halts uranium enrichment, President Joe Biden said in a recent interview.

Asked by CBS whether the United States would lift sanctions first to kickstart negotiations with Iran, Biden said, No. He then gestured in the affirmative when anchor Norah ODonnell asked whether Iran would have to stop enriching uranium first.

Under the Obama administration, the United States and a slew of other countries lifted sanctions against Iran in return for caps on certain activities linked to nuclear weapons for 10 to 15 years. Former President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018, arguing the deal did not bring calm or peace and that it never will.

The Trump administration reimposed harsh sanctions, which remain in place to this day.

Iranian officials last month revealed they had begun advanced uranium enrichment again, violating the 2015 deal, even though European nations remained in the agreement.

The Islamic Republic of Iran will end its final limitations in the nuclear deal, meaning the limitation in the number of centrifuges, the Iranian regime said at the time. Therefore Irans nuclear program will have no limitations in production including enrichment capacity and percentage and number of enriched uranium and research and expansion.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said during a recent meeting that Iran has fulfilled all its obligations under the 2015 deal and urged the United States to lift sanctions, or else Iran would continue violating the agreement.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with armys air force and air defense staff in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 7, 2021. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Biden while campaigning last year said he would reenter the agreement if he were elected.

The historic Iran nuclear deal, negotiated by the Obama-Biden administration alongside our allies and other world powers, blocked Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. Yet Trump decided to cast it aside, prompting Iran to restart its nuclear program and become more provocative, bringing the region to the cusp of another disastrous war, Bidens campaign website states.

If Tehran returns to compliance with the deal, President Biden would reenter the agreement, using hard-nosed diplomacy and support from our allies to strengthen and extend it, while more effectively pushing back against Irans other destabilizing activities.

Appearing on CNNs The Situation Room on Monday, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Iran must comply with its obligations under the agreement for the United States to return.

In recent months, Iran has lifted one restraint after another that wasthey were being held in check by the agreement. We got out of the agreement, Iran started to lift the various restraints in the agreement, and the result is they are closer than theyve been to having the capacity on short order to produce fissile material for a nuclear weapon, he said.

The agreement had pushed that past a year. According to public reports now, its down to three or four months and heading in the wrong direction. So the first thing thats so critical is for Iran to come back into compliance with its obligations. Theyre a ways from that. But if they do that, the path of diplomacy is there, and were willing to walk it.


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Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav

Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his andolan jeevi remark on protesting farmers, Samajwadi Party MP and former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav called the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders chanda jeevis, meaning those who live on donations.

Addressing Parliament on February 9, Akhilesh Yadav said: That andolans or protests have given India several rights and several leaders. In fact, India gained independence due to protests.

He added: If people who protest are andolan jeevis, then BJP leaders are chanda jeevis, who brandish their flag to collect donations ever so often.

He said the Centres promise of retaining the Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime does not hold out, which is why, he claimed, farmers have taken to the streets in protest.

Yesterday I heard MSP tha, MSP hai, MSP rahega. It is just in speech but not on ground. Farmers are not getting it, had farmers been, they wouldn't have been sitting in Delhi. I congratulate the agitating farmers that they have awakened farmers across India, he said.

Yadav went on to question if even the farmers hailing from the Prime Ministers constituency or the Presidents birthplace have got the MSP for their rice crop.

The Samajwadi Party chief claimed that though the Centre has vowed to modernise mandis, there are several mandis that have remained under construction in Uttar Pradesh since the BJP started ruling the state.

Reacting to his statements, BJP leader Uma Bharati said all the donations that were made towards construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya were voluntary.
Air Canada announced Tuesday the suspension of 17 US and international routes until the end of April and layoffs of 1,500 workers, citing a drop in demand for travel after a tightening of public health restrictions to slow the spread of new COVID-19 variants.

The cancellations to be phased in over the coming days will affect flights between Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Boston, New York, Seattle and Washington as well as Bogota, Sao Paulo, Dublin, Dubai, Tel-Aviv, London, Hong Kong and Narita.

Canada's flagship airline said in a statement it will "also temporarily reduce its unionized workforce by 1,500 employees and an as yet undetermined number of managers."

The decision is another blow to employees of Air Canada, which has slashed more than half its workforceor about 20,000 jobssince the start of the pandemic, including 1,900 in January.

Three other Canadian airlines last month also suspended flights, at Ottawa's behest, to sunbelt destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico to curb winter vacationing abroad.

This followed a recent tightening of public health restrictions on travel, including requiring travelers to Canada to quarantine in hotels at their own expense for up to three days under strict supervision while they await the results of mandatory PCR testing for the coronavirus.

As of Tuesday, Canada reported 810,000 cases of COVID-19 illnesses and almost 21,000 deaths.

Local airlines have asked the government for a bailout, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has insisted travelers must be reimbursed for cancelled trips and all flights within Canadathe second largest nation in the world by geographybe maintained.

 2021 AFP
The operator of a ship carrying tonnes of Australian coal stranded off the coast of China is diverting the vessel to Japan in a high stakes dash that will see 18 sailors relieved after a six-month diplomatic stalemate.

The move from the ships operator, the Mediterranean Shipping Company, follows months of frustration and deteriorating conditions on board the vessel, where Indian sailors have become pawns in a $20 billion trade dispute between China and Australia. The ship is one of dozens of ships held up in Bohai Bay carrying up to $700 million in Australian coal.

The Anastasia crew in December.

MSC, which maintains the vessel and organises its crew, said it was was left with no option but to advise the master of Anastasia to make a short hop to Japan on February 4 after it exhausted all possible options for a crew change including through Indian and Chinese authorities.

The company said already grave concerns for the safety and well-being of the seafarers intensified in the past week and it had taken the decision to avoid a humanitarian crisis onboard.
Ocado said the landscape for food retailers has changed 'for good' as it unveiled a big jump in sales and an extra 30million investment in technology to meet rising demand for online shopping.

The grocer-cum-tech company posted a 35 per cent rise in sales at its retail arm - the joint venture with Marks & Spencer - to 2.19billion thanks to strong demand for home deliveries during the pandemic.

That resulted in profits at the division more than trebling to 148.5million, from 40million the previous year, and helped reduce the group's pre-tax losses to 44million, from 214.5million in 2019.

In demand: Ocado raked in 2.19bn in sales in the year to the end of November

Ocado said many customers who have tried online grocery for the first time are unlikely to revert to pre-crisis shopping habits.

People are also buying more than before, with the average basket value jumping from 106 to 137.

To meet surging demand, it is opening three new UK warehouses in Bristol, Andover and Purfleet this year, which will provide 40 per cent more capacity.

It said it will also invest an extra 30million in its platform and hire 600 more staff in its IT division, after taking on 500 in the previous financial year.

That's part of a total 700million it expects to pour this year into technology, rolling out automated fulfilment centres and warehouses for its supermarket clients around the world and in the UK.

Chief executive Tim Steiner said: 'The rapid acceleration of many pre-existing trends in business and society has been a feature of the Covid-19 crisis and the dramatic channel shift in grocery is a clear example of this.

'The landscape for food retailing is changing, for good.'

Ocado is made of two types businesses: a retail arm, which sells grocery through its website, and a 'solutions' division, which charges retail partners in the UK and abroad to use its automated warehouses.

Revenues for the group as a whole rose 33 per cent to 2.33billion, with earnings up 69 per cent to 73.1million.

Fees invoiced to international supermarkets such as Casino in France and Kroger in the US for providing them with their robotically operated warehouses rose more than 52 per cent to 123.9million.

But the division is still loss-making, with losses for the year rising 51 per cent to more than 83million as Ocado continues to invest heavily.

Shares in Ocado, which more than doubled last year, fell 3 per cent in morning trading and were down around 1.7 per cent to 27 towards market close on Tuesday.

Investments: Ocado expects to pour 700m this year into rolling out automated customer fulfilment centres and warehouses for its supermarket clients around the world and in the UK

Richard Hunter at Interactive Investors says Ocado somehow reminds him of Amazon, which took some time before it actually became a profitable business.

'There is little doubt that the Solutions business is core to future growth and that its offering has huge potential for retailers around the globe in what remains a largely untapped market,' he said.

'At the same time, running the business at a loss due to heavy capital investment for longer term gains can also prove extremely successful and, indeed, in some ways is reminiscent of the Amazon strategy in its earlier days.'

Dan Lane, an analyst at Freetrade, said: '2020 was the year we got to see if Ocados tech could really handle the pressure. Todays retail earnings growth figures shooting the lights out is a message we should never have been in any doubt.'

He added: 'While the proprietary International Solutions division is still very much a drag on profits, the first sign of fees coming in will be all Ocados long-term investors need to see.

'If theres one area of the business theyre pinning their hopes on its this one. And while its been the main culprit in adding to the firms debt pile, it will undoubtedly turn into one of its most prized assets.'
The company "has already reached a basic agreement with the Indonesian government and is currently selecting candidate sites," Hanwa said last week.The mill aims to start up a third blast furnace by December 2022 as part of this plan.

This is currently under construction at its steel works...
PARIS (dpa-AFX) - France's economic output was estimated to be around 5 percent below its pre-crisis level in January, according to the Bank of France survey, released Tuesday. The bank cautioned that the estimates are subject to high uncertainty and are dependent on the evolution of the pandemic. The business confidence index for industry remained stable at 97.5 in January. Managers expect activity to remain stable again in February. In services, activity was stable overall. Managers forecast activity to fall slightly in February. Further, the survey showed that activity was little-changed in construction and was forecast to remain stable in February. 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.
Trade volume between China and 17 Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) reached $103.45 billion in 2020, passing the $100-billion mark for the first time, according to data from China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

The trade figure represented a year-on-year growth of 8.4 percent, higher than the growth rates of China's foreign trade and the country's trade with Europe last year.

Since the establishment of the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism in 2012, China and 17 CEECs have enjoyed an 8-percent average annual growth rate in foreign trade, which is over three times the growth rate of China's foreign trade and more than twice that of the trade between China and the European Union (EU), said Gao Feng, spokesperson of the MOC at a recent regular press conference of the ministry.

Besides foreign trade, investment cooperation between China and CEECs has also seen continuous progress. Data from the MOC shows that as of the end of 2020, China's industry-wide foreign direct investment in 17 CEECs totaled $3.14 billion, covering such sectors as energy, mining, infrastructure, logistics, and automobile parts. During the same period, the 17 CEECs invested $1.72 billion in China accumulatively.

In addition, connectivity between China and CEECs has been improved constantly. Last year, China-Europe freight trains made a total of 12,400 trips, with such countries as Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Slovakia becoming important passages and destinations of the freight trains.

In 2020, Chinese companies signed $5.41 billion worth of project contracts with the 17 CEECs, up 34.6 percent from 2019.

Sub-national cooperation between China and CEECs has been deepened increasingly. According to the MOC, Ningbo city in east China's Zhejiang province has made active efforts to advance the construction of the China-CEEC demonstration zone for economic cooperation and trade in Ningbo, making CEECs its priorities in further expanding opening-up; Cangzhou city in north China's Hebei province has established the China-CEEC SME Cooperation Zone to boost cooperation between the two sides in fields including aviation, agriculture, and high-end manufacturing; and northeast China's Liaoning province has been actively building the coastal economic belt China-CEEC demonstration zone for economic cooperation and trade.

China is ready to make joint efforts with CEECs to further unleash the potential of cooperation and bring their economic and trade cooperation to a higher level, Gao said.
In a new study published in Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, Chen-Yu Zhang's group and Antonio Vidal-Puig's group at University of Cambridge report that pancreatic  cells secrete miR-29 family members (miR-29a, miR-29b and miR-29c) in response to high levels of free fatty acids (FFAs). These  cell-derived miR-29s are delivered to the liver, promoting insulin resistance and enhancing hepatic glucose output.

Over 100 years after insulin was discovered, it was believed that pancreatic  cells only secreted a single hormone--insulin. Pancreatic  cell-derived insulin regulates glucose homeostasis by binding with the insulin receptors located in the liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissues and other peripheral organs.

The discovery of insulin and its receptor was essential to understand the mechanisms controlling glucose homeostasis and the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes defined by defective insulin secretion, signal transduction and insulin resistance. However, glucose homeostasis also depends on the integrated coordination of multiple organs, talking to each other to effectively control glucose metabolism. Understanding the crosstalk between organs is still incomplete, which has greatly limited the rational approach to type 2 diabetes treatment.

Previous work from Chen-Yu Zhang's group has identified extracellular miRNA as a new form of cell-to-cell communication. This group was the first reporting the different secretion of miRNAs in response to physiological or pathological states and the uptake and function of secreted miRNAs in recipient cells. In the current study, this group used three independent animal models (ob/ob, HFD and fasted mice) to show that pathological- and physiological- high levels of FFAs induce the secretion of miR-29s from pancreatic  cells.

Of relevance, miR-29s is increased in the plasma of obese humans in comparison to lean humans. To address the target organ and functional role of secreted miR-29s, they generated three kinds of transgenic mice. First, mice overexpressed miR-29s or a traceable mutant miR-29a in pancreatic  cells showed that  cell-derived miR-29s is taken by the liver attenuating the normal suppression of insulin on glucose output mediated by targeting p85  (a regulatory subunit of PI3K) promoting systemic insulin resistance.

More importantly, miR-29s deficiency in  cells significantly improved the insulin sensitivity in mice fed on HFD, indicating that  cell-derived miR-29s play an essential role in the development of liver insulin resistance.

This work is essential for the following reasons:

This study finds a novel, unexpected function of the islet controlling glucose homeostasis. Beyond the secretion of insulin,  cells also secrete functional exosomal miRNAs that contribute to an integrated glucose homeostasis loop, which largely extends our understanding of islet function. This study also reveals a new mechanism linking obesity/FFAs-induced insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes's pathogenesis. Obesity or high levels of FFAs may not only directly affect liver, skeletal muscle and white adipose tissue and cause insulin resistance, but also regulate exogenous secreted miRNAs to indirectly result in pathophysiology as well. This study first time demonstrates that pancreatic  cell contributes to insulin resistance development at a very early stage. More importantly, the secreted miR-29s are increased before the onset of insulin resistance in ob/ob or DIO mice, indicating secreted miR-29s may be the factors that initiate the development of insulin resistance; This study reveals the new functions of secreted miRNAs; This study provides an alternative strategy for the treatment of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Given the obvious significance of insulin, current treatments predominantly concentrate on mechanisms of insulin action. This study suggests that it might be insufficient to treat insulin resistance by only targeting insulin and its direct signal transduction and offers an alternative strategy involving secreted miRNAs from the  cell.

Chen-Yu Zhang believes that pancreatic islet-derived miRNAs might contribute to a diversified functional spectrum. Thus, more studies are needed to discover the functional roles of pancreatic islet-derived miRNAs and subsequently establish mechanisms that underlie integrated multi-organ regulation on glucose homeostasis.
Posted Monday, February 8, 2021 4:36 pm

Lewis County Superior Court will be resuming jury trials starting on Monday, March 1.

The trials will be held in two off-site locations as well as Superior Court on the fourth floor of the Lewis County Law and Justice Center in Chehalis.

Aside from a brief period of reopening in October, jury trials have been on hold in Lewis County Superior Court since March 2020. The most recent general order, dated Dec. 24, put all civil and criminal jury trials on hold through Feb. 28, 2021 at recommendation of Lewis County Public Health and the Washington State Supreme Court.

Bench trials  trials where a judge hears a case and makes a decision without a jury  were not suspended.

In a previous interview with The Chronicle, Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer stated that when jury trials resume, his office will prioritize in-custody cases and cases with victims, and then make a plan for dealing with the rest of the trial backlog from there.

To handle the backlog, Meyer said that all criminal attorneys in the Lewis County Prosecutors Office will be interchangeable on all cases, with the exception of sensitive or complex cases that require one attorney to follow it for the duration of the trial. Civil attorneys may also be brought in to do criminal cases as needed, Meyer said.

More information will be provided later this month, said Superior Court in a press release.
Scientists have identified Earth's smallest known reptile, warning at the same time that sustained destruction of forests in northern Madagascar threatens its survival.

Tiny enough to perch comfortably on a fingertip, the ultra-compact chameleon -- dubbed Brookesia nana -- has the same proportions and world-weary expression as its larger cousins around the world.

"We discovered it in the mountains of northern of Madagascar," Frank Glaw, curator of herpetology at the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, told AFP in an interview.

A joint expedition in 2012 of German and Malagasy scientists did not know whether the two specimens collected -- one female and one male -- were adults until much later, he explained.

"We found out that the female had eggs in her body, and that the male had large genitals, so it was clear that they were adults."

Exceptionally large genitals, it turned out, accounting for nearly 20 percent of its body size, Glaw and colleagues reported in the journal Scientific Reports.

The male's body -- about the size of a peanut -- was 13.5 millimetres long (half an inch), with the tail adding another nine millimetres.

By contrast, the female measured 29 mm from its nose to the tip of its tail.

The pair remain the only specimens of the species ever found.

Islands connected long ago to neighbouring continents are known for miniaturised versions of animals that crossed ephemeral land bridges, a phenomenon known as "island dwarfism".

"There are numerous extremely miniaturised vertebrates in Madagascar, including the smallest primates and some of the smallest frogs in the world," said co-author Andolalao Rakotoarison of the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar.

But the "island effect" does not apply to B. nana, which lives exclusively in mountainous regions some 1,300 metres (4,200 feet) above sea level, the researchers concluded.

"We have no good explanation as to why this species is so small," said Glaw.

What scientists do know is that the diminutive reptiles are likely teetering on the edge of extinction, even if the International Union for the Conservation for Nature (IUCN) -- keepers of the Red List of threatened species -- has yet to do an assessment.

"Habitat destruction is the biggest threat to the amphibians and reptiles of Madagascar," said Glaw.

"Maybe in the future it will be climate change, but for now it is deforestation."

Since the mid-20th century, Madagascar has lost about 45 percent of its forest cover.

B. nana and another mini-chameleon discovered by Glaw and his colleagues on a small island off the coast of Madagascar are especially vulnerable because their range is so small.

Brookesia micra lives on less than two square kilometres," Glaw explained.

"One big catastrophic event -- a forest fire -- and the population might be lost very quickly."

Madagascar in a global "biodiversity hotspot", accounting for five percent of the world's unique plant and animal species.

The island nation has one of the highest rates of poverty in the world, and lacks resources for conservation and natural resource management.

In the United States military, the Purple Heart is a revered, if unwanted, military accolade bestowed upon those individuals who have been wounded in action with the enemy. The Military Order of the Purple Heart describes it as awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S. who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those killed in action or die of wounds received in action. It is specifically a combat decoration.

The Purple Heart traces its lineage all the way back to the Revolutionary War when it was called the Badge of Military Merit. After World War I, renewed interest in reviving the Badge of Military Merit led to the establishment of the modern Purple Heart. When the new Purple Heart was authorized in 1932, it superseded the short-lived Army Wound Ribbon and the wear of Wound Chevrons  devices on the sleeve that denoted the number of times someone had been wounded in combat.

Two million Purple Hearts have been awarded since it was created. The men below earned more of them per individual than any others.

1. Staff Sgt. Albert L. Ireland  Marine Corps

Four Marines man a machine gun in Korea, where they are serving with the 1st Marine Division. (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps)

Staff Sergeant Albert Ireland has the distinction of being awarded the most Purple Hearts of any individual across all branches of service. During his 12 years of service  spanning two wars from 1941 to 1953  Ireland was wounded a total of nine times. Albert fought his way across the Pacific with the Marines during World War II, during which time he was wounded five times. During the Korean War, he was wounded four more times, and the last one was severe enough that he was medically discharged.

2. Lt. Col. Richard J. Buck  Army

Dressed in parkas (Overcoat, parka type, with pile liner), Missouri infantrymen pose for a New Year greeting, 19th Infantry Regiment, Kumsong front, Korea, 14 December 1951. (Photo: U.S. Army)

Richard Buck graduated from West Point in 1951 before being shipped to the Korean peninsula. During his service in the Korean War, Buck was wounded a total of four times. After the Korean War, Buck stayed in the Army and eventually joined Special Forces before being deployed to Vietnam. There, Buck was again wounded four times, bringing his Purple Heart total to eight for his career. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1970.

3. Maj. Gen. Robert T. Frederick  Army

Maj. Gen. Robert T. Frederick (U.S. Army)

Major General Frederick began World War II as a Lieutenant Colonel tasked with raising the 1st Special Service Force. With this force he would fight in the Aleutian Islands, North Africa, and Italy before being promoted to Brigadier General and taking charge of the 1st Allied Airborne Task Force. During his time with 1st Special Service Force, he was wounded numerous times. At Anzio he was wounded twice in the same day. Frederick was once again promoted and took command of the 45th Infantry Division until the end of the war. Major General Frederick ended WWII with eight Purple Hearts, two Distinguished Service Crosses, and a Silver Star. He retired in 1952.

4. Col. David H. Hackworth  Army

Col. David H. Hackworth (U.S. Army)

Colonel Hackworth was awarded eight purple hearts over the course of the Korean and Vietnam wars. During the Korean War, Hackworth served with several elite units  8th Ranger Company, 25th Recon Company, and the 27th Wolfhound Raiders  before earning a battlefield commission and volunteering to serve another tour, which he completed with the 40th Infantry Division. During his time in Korea he was awarded three Purple Hearts. During the Vietnam War, Hackworth served multiple tours in Vietnam in multiple capacities but was well known for creating the Tiger Force with the 101st Airborne and revitalizing the demoralized 4/39th into the Hardcore Recondo Battalion. There he received another five Purple Hearts. Col. Hackworth also holds the record for the most Silver Stars with ten awards.

5. Capt. Joe Hooper  Army

Capt. Joe Hooper (photo: U.S. Army)

Joe Hooper enlisted in the U.S. Army as an Airborne Infantryman in 1960. He was stationed at a number of locations before being assigned to D Co., 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment just prior to that units deployment to Vietnam. On February 21, 1968, Hoopers actions outside of Hue earned him the Medal of Honor as well as one of his Purple Hearts. Hooper would serve a second tour in Vietnam from 1970-71, during which time he received a direct commission to 2nd Lieutenant. During his tours, Lt. Cooper received eight Purple Hearts, the Medal of Honor, and two Silver Stars as well as numerous other awards.

6. Col. Robert L. Howard  Army

Col. Robert L. Howard receives the Medal of Honor from President Richard Nixon. (U.S. Army)

Robert Howard enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956 and by 1967 found himself assigned to Military Assistance Command, Vietnam  Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) in Vietnam. Howard served a total of 54 months in Vietnam. During one thirteen month tour, he was recommended for the Medal of Honor on three separate occasions, but due to the covert nature of the operations, two were reduced  to the Silver Star and Distinguished Service Cross. He was awarded the Medal of Honor and a Purple Heart for actions in December 1968. In the remainder of his time in Vietnam, Howard was given a commission to 2nd Lieutenant and wounded a further seven times giving him a total of eight Purple Hearts for his career. He retired as a Colonel in 1992.

7. Col. William L. Russell  Army

William Russell first enlisted in the 153rd Infantry Regiment of the Arkansas National Guard during World War II, seeing action in the Aleutian Islands before being given a direct commission. After Advanced Infantry Officer Training, he was assigned to I Co., 330th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division. During his time with the 83rd Infantry Division, he earned a Silver Star, was nominated for the Medal of Honor, and was wounded seven times, earning him the nickname The King of the Purple Hearts. After WWII, Russell returned to Arkansas before being called up to participate in the Korean War where he led the 937th Field Artillery Battalion into combat. Russell retired from the military in 1965 with the rank of Colonel, having been awarded eightPurple Hearts.

8. Sgt. Maj. William Waugh  Army

Sgt. Maj. William Waugh (U.S. Army)

William Waugh enlisted in the Army in 1948 and was briefly assigned to the 187th Parachute Regimental Combat Team in Korea before earning his Green Beret in 1954. Waugh deployed to Vietnam with Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha team in 1961. During numerous tours in Vietnam, Waugh was involved in many different operations including multiple combat High Altitude Low Opening insertions. During the Battle of Bong Son, Waugh was grievously wounded and was later awarded the Silver Star and his sixth Purple Heart. By the time Sgt. Maj. Waugh retired in 1972, he had been wounded two more times for a total of eight Purple Hearts. After his illustrious Special Forces career, Waugh continued on working for the CIA during which time, at the age of 71, he participated in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

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As the UK remains locked down, couples across the country won't be able to head out for a dinner for Valentine's Day, and instead will be looking to cook at home to create a romantic atmosphere on February 14th.

While most supermarkets will be offering a two can dine meal deal, some shoppers will be seeking out an alternative and picking up a DIY dining kit instead.

From Michelin-starred meals from the likes of Tapas-bar Sabor and Nordic mainstay Aquavit where a kit for two cost close to 100, to an indulgent fondue and burger kit from Honest Burgers for just 26, there's dozens of kits on the market this year for those hoping to step up their home dining game.

So is it worth splashing out 150 for the likes of Aktar Islam's Pulperia, or can a dish of ramen for less than 20 compare?

Here, FEMAIL tries the most talked about DIY kits for Valentine's Day 2021...

La Tua Pasta, the fresh pasta supplier to top restaurants such as The Dorchester & Claridge's, has created two Valentine's meal boxes which include filled heart shaped pasta.

What's included in the La Tua Pasta box? 2x 140 Focaccia

190g Black Olive tapenade

2x 250g Heart shaped Tomato and Mozzarella Ravioli or 2 x Heart Shaped

2x 300g Sugo al Pomodoro (Tomato Sauce) or 2 x Truffle butter

2x 30g grated parmesan DOP

10x Chocolate hearts by Caffarel

2 x heart shaped linen placemats

Optional extra: Bottle of proseco Advertisement

La Tua Pasta San Valentino Kit

Rating:

COOKING TIME: Less than five minutes

WHAT IS IT: La Tua Pasta, the fresh pasta supplier to top restaurants such as The Dorchester & Claridge's, has created two Valentine's meal boxes which include filled heart shaped pasta.

The two limited edition boxes using two of their most popular fillings, tomato and mozzarella and black truffle and ricotta.

As always with the La Tua boxes, easy antipasti and dessert are included, and for San Valentino it will be a fresh bake at home focaccia with olive tapenade as well as a little sweet treat of Italian chocolates to finish off the meal. To give it the right setting and tabletop, they've also sourced beautiful linen placemats made in Italy, with two included in each box.

FEMAIL'S Bridie Pearson-Jones tried it out...

PRICE: 46.00 or 69.00 with a bottle of prosecco

VERDICT : I have to admit, when I first saw the price I thought it seemed a little steep for a nice pasta thinking you could probably get something similar to it in Watirose or Sainsburys - but I was very wrong.

While, I'm not sure I'd be particularly pleased forking out 46 for two bowls of pasta and some foccicia in a restaurant, other than pasta I've made from scratch, this is easily the nicest I've tried.

Firstly, the portions were very generous, and last about five or six servings.

It was incredibly easy to prep, essentially just heating it up, which took minutes and took any stress away from cooking

The pasta itself was very fresh and it was easy to tell it was made with high quality ingredients to an authentic Italian recipe.

I tasted both the truffle and the mozzarella versions, personally I preferred the mozzarella as it was a cheesy heaven (especially topped with parmesan) but the truffle was delightful too and not too overpowering.

The box included: 2x 140 Focaccia 190g Black Olive tapenade 2x 250g Heart shaped Tomato and Mozzarella Ravioli or 2 x Heart Shaped 2x 300g Sugo al Pomodoro (Tomato Sauce) or 2 x Truffle butter 2x 30g grated parmesan DOP 10x Chocolate hearts by Caffarel 2 x heart shaped linen placemats Optional extra: Bottle of prosec

FEMAIL'S Bridie Pearson-Jones tried it out. Pictured is the foccicia, olive tapenade and pasta

What really made it stand out among the hundreds of meal kits on the market was it's small touches. The olive tapenade (to go with the foccicia) was delicious (I would happily eat it straight from the jar with a spoon while the heart placemats gave it a really nice date-night feel.

Even the instructions suggested playing music and dancing with your loved one, which made it feel like a special treat.

While the dessert was small - just a few pieces of chocolate - the first two courses were very filling so it was the right size, a great option with February 14. -

Sabor en Casa box with Estrella Galicia

Rating:

What's in the Sabor en Casa box with Estrella Galicia? The box includes some of Sabors best-selling dishes that are now available to feast on from home, including Ham Croquetas - deep fried croquettes filled with Spanish ham;

Tortilla - a potato-based Spanish omelette;

Gambas al Ajillo - prawns in a garlic oil;

Pulpo a la Gallega - a traditional Galician dish of sliced, paprika-dusted octopus atop a bed of potatoes;

Arroz Negro - a traditional Spanish dish created using rice and squid ink;

Iberian Pigs Cheeks;

Beetroot Salad with Horseradish Cream and a Basque Cheesecake to finish.

Two bottles of Estrella Advertisement

COOKING TIME: 30 minutes max

WHAT IS IT: The Sabor en Casa Box with Estrella Galicia from Michelin-starred Sabor offers an indulgent, eight-course Spanish tapas feast with accompanying Estrella Galicia beers for two this Valentines Day.

The box transports diners to the sun-soaked shores of Spain despite not being able to escape the country, and is priced at 96 for 2 people, with delivery available nationwide.

FEMAIL's Chloe Morgan gave it a go..

PRICE: 96

VERDICT: The ingredients for the Spanish tapas from Sabor en Casa arrived in sealed and clearly labelled bags, along with a booklet with easy-to-follow instructions for each dish - something even an amateur cook like myself could follow!

The idea of having eight courses to prepare all at once was quite daunting when I can just about boil an egg, but there was absolutely nothing to worry about.

With everything pre-cooked, the longest dish of pig cheeks took a total of just ten minutes, and the quickest dish - ham croquettes - just two. And I'm pleased to report the kitchen even smelt like a proper restaurant!

While getting all dressed up and having the luxury of a waiter bringing you the professionally cooked food is the perfect way to unwind, the DIY Valantine's Day kit offered a completely different enjoyable experience.

It's a great way for you to bond with your loved one - especially during a pandemic when everyone is looking for something to do which doesn't consist of walking boots and a rain jacket.

However, I would say the downside of having eight dishes was trying to ensure they were all ready at once so they remained piping hot.

Timing is key! It was also tricky having two people trying to cook at once on four hobs, which caused a lot of elbow shoving and something which looked like the end result of a game of Twister.

The Sabor en Casa Box with Estrella Galicia from Michelin-starred Sabor offers an indulgent, eight-course Spanish tapas feast with accompanying Estrella Galicia beers for two this Valentines Day.

The box transports diners to the sun-soaked shores of Spain despite not being able to escape the country, and is priced at 96 for 2 people, with delivery available nationwide.

The indulgent meal was finished off with a basque cheese cake. Chloe said it was a 'great concept'

While the flavour wasn't compromised (a shock for both my partner and I!) the presentation left a lot to be desired...

When considering how much money you'd normally spend in a tapas restaurant, I'd say 96 for two people isn't bad value for money for a special occasion - and the two Estrella beers were a nice touch...but an additional small bottle of wine would have been even better!

I can't finish without giving a special shout out to the squid ink and the octopus dishes because they were a firm favourite all round! Overall, a great concept for something a little bit different! - Chloe Morgan

Pulperia: Valentine's Menu for Two

Pulperia set menu for two, including starters of smoked octopus carpaccio, garlic smoked bone marrow, a main of Angus rib-eye with truffle fries and chocolate fondant and petit fours for dessert

What's in the Pulperia Valentine's Day box? Aperitifs from our pulperia bar team & Bottle of Tillia Malbec // Mendoza Valley, Argentina HOUSE BREAD, AGED BEEF BUTTER (G)(D)

Pumpkin seed ciabatta with herb butter

MARINATED OLIVES, CITRUS & GARLIC

SMOKED BONE MARROW (G)(D)

Served on the bone with parsley salad TO BEGIN PULPO Smoked octopus carpaccio

HUMITA EMPANADAS (G)(D) Sweetcorn, garlic, onion, coriander

Sweetcorn, garlic, onion, coriander ENSALADA (D)(V) Burrata, heritage tomato, basil, chilli TO FOLLOW WILD BOAR & BEEF SHIN RAGU (G)(D) with pappadelle pasta finished with parmesan MAIN EVENT 1kg MIGUEL VERGARA ANGUS RIBEYE with bone marrow pomme puree, heritage carrot, creamed spinach, truffle fries and bone marrow & malbec sauce TO FINISH FONDANT, Manjari chocolate fondant

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Rating:

PRICE: 150

COOKING TIME: 30 minutes

WHAT IS IT: Pulperia set menu for two, including starters of smoked octopus carpaccio, garlic smoked bone marrow, a main of Angus rib-eye with truffle fries and chocolate fondant and petit fours for dessert.

Femail's Jo Tweedy tested the kit..

VERDICT : An opulent meal kit from the kitchen of Pulperia, which is headed up by top chef Aktar Islam, this was lavish Valentine's Day dining with an Argentinian slant.

The food wasn't labelled so the initial challenge was working out what was what in the box of delights that arrived.

Once over that hurdle, the starters were a dream to put together - we could chat as we plated up, with even the octopus carpaccio, which might sound daunting to home chefs, very simple to serve.

All the sauces and dressings came prepped; the only real task we had was making it all look pretty on the plate.

Surprisingly, the main event, the steak - a 1kg of beautiful, tender Angus rib-eye - was really easy to cook, the instructions were crystal clear and it turned out perfectly, a delicious medium-rare.

Although, we were worried about messing this dish up, so there was definitely some serious concentration going on.

What took it to the next level was the bone marrow and Malbec sauce, which was rich but not too overpowering, and perfectly matched the bottle of Tillia Malbec that's included.

Things we liked less? The delicious chocolate fondant for dessert had more than a punch of cumin, and we probably would have preferred them without the heat of the spice.

150 is a lot of money to spend on a meal kit but we deemed it definitely worth the splurge price-tag; it was really generous with the amount of food - there was so much, that we ate like kings again the following day.

If the labelling had been better, it would have been a sure-fire 5/5.

The delicious chocolate fondant for dessert had more than a punch of cumin, and we probably would have preferred them without the heat of the spice

Aquavit London Valentine's Day Dinner Box

Aquavit London Valentine's Day Dinner Box Designed for two to share, indulge in a starter of fresh sourdough bread and smoked cods roe butter, followed by chicory and pear salad with Stilton cheese, pecan cream and balsamic vinegar. For the main, theres langoustine bao buns with coleslaw, seaweed mayonnaise and pickles; and a showstopping honey and caraway roasted duck crown with beetroot and blackberry puree, with a side of rich and creamy Janssons temptation. Finish with a sweet for your sweet  chocolate Kladdkaka cake with lingonberries and whipped cream and petit fours, followed by a selection of Neals Yard cheese with quince and knackebrod. A selection of fine wines and Champagnes is also available to order, to complete your romantic Nordic feast. Advertisement

Rating:

Price: 150 for two

Cooking time: One hour

WHAT IS IT: The Nordic restaurant, which recently retained its Michelin plate, is offering a six-course Valentine's Day feast curated by Head Chef Jorjon Colazo.

The meal includes a chicory, pear and Stilton salad to start, langoustine bao buns and honey and caraway roasted duck crown for main and chocolate Kladdkaka cake for dessert, followed by Neal's Yard cheese and petit fours to finish.

FEMAIL's Siofra Brennan gave it a try.

VERDICT: Even though every portion of food, down to pickled blackberries to serve with the duck and carraway seeds to sprinkle over it, comes individually vaccuum packed and numbered, my first thought that it looked a little bit daunting to prepare.

I read through the instructions a few times to get my head around it, feeling concerned that there was a lot of margin for error trying to prepare a Michelin star meal at home.

However, once I got started it was all very easy to cook and prepare, especially if you do it as a couple.

Our first starter was fresh sourdough bread and smoked cod's roe butter, which still tasted a little stale despite being warmed up, and is probably best enjoyed straight out of the oven in the restaurant.

It was followed by chicory and pear salad with Stilton cheese, pecan cream and balsamic vinegar, which was light and fresh but full of flavour and crunch.

Our tiny langoustines were a little overwhelmed in the bao buns with coleslaw, seaweed mayonnaise and pickles, but I loved the flavour and it's something that I'd never be able to reproduce at home, so it was a real treat.

Then it's on to a oney and caraway roasted duck crown with beetroot and blackberry puree, with a side of Jansson's temptation - a creamy Swedish potato and anchovy casserole, sprinkled with panko breadcrumbs.

Aquavit is offering a six-course Valentine's Day feast curated by Head Chef Jorjon Colazo

The starter was followed by chicory and pear salad with Stilton cheese, pecan cream and balsamic vinegar, which was light and fresh but full of flavour and crunch.

Perfect for these last dark days of winter, this was really rich and comforting, although the duck was a little cold due to my own fault of not getting my timings spot on.

Chocolate Kladdkaka cake was another indulgent treat. It was very rich and definitely needs the lingonebrries to add some bite.

Just when you thought you had no room for more, there's three strong cheeses from Neal's Yard and chocolates to finish - we managed to squeeze them in.

The main course is a oney and caraway roasted duck crown with beetroot and blackberry puree, with a side of Jansson's temptation - a creamy Swedish potato and anchovy casserole, sprinkled with panko breadcrumbs.

To finish, a Chocolate Kladdkaka cake was another indulgent treat. It was very rich and definitely needs the lingonebrries to add some bite.

Unless you're a highly skilled cook with plenty of time to spare, it's unlikely you're going to be whipping up a feast like this yourself, so I'd highly recommend treating yourself.

The reason I would mark it down is that it's hard for a meal that's been vaccum packed and prepared in your kitchen at home to reach the heights of perfection you would expect from a Michelin star meal in a restaurant, and 150 is a lot to spend.

I'd recommend this for real foodies who are happy to give it plenty of time and attention to make sure it's cooked to perfection and your timings are spot on, so that you get the most out of it for your money.

Marianne Lumb x Finish and Feast, three courses of fine dining

Rating:

Marianne Lumb's Winter Menu includes Starter Vitello Tonnato & Artichokes Main Baked Stone BassBlackened Celeriac PureeBeurre Noisette Dessert Yorkshire RhubarbPistachio MacaroonCardamom Advertisement

COOKING TIME: About 30 minutes

WHAT IS IT: Marriane Lumb has put together a Valentine's menu to replicate the art of dining out. Her hyper-seasonal menu for two includes three courses of romantic classics like Vitello tonnato & artichokes, Baked stone bass, blackened celeriac puree and buerre noisette finished with a standout dessert of Yorkshire rhubarb, pistachio macaroon and cardamom cream.

FEMAIL's Claire Toureille gave it a try.

PRICE: 90

VERDICT: I loved the menu, it had a good balance of flavour and was very easy to manage on the hob. Each plate did not take long to prepare, and everything was very intuitively packed, in order to make things even easier to serve.

The cooking instructions for the fish, broccoli and puree were easy to understand.

The veal starter was light and savoury, very easy to serve. The fish main was tender and not dry, though it did require a lot of hovering around the hob to check each pan  three in total, cooking at roughly the same time, on top of the oven.

The dessert was sweet and fresh, and felt very light after a generous meal.

I liked that each dish was packed in paper bags tagged 'starter, 'main,' and 'dessert,' however, it was a shame to see that almost all ingredients were wrapped in plastic. Of course, it might be the most convenient way to transport the goods safely.

Overall, I thought the all meal was flavoursome and easy to manage

The Plattery: Valentine's Day Charcuterie Platter

PRICE: 35 for two

Rating:

COOKING TIME: None, but allow 15 mins for prep

A no-cook Valentine's Day feast! Femail's Stephanie Linning tried The Plattery's Valentine's Day Charcuterie Platter, which costs 35 for two, and was delighted with the selection

Neatly packaged: The food came packed in a cardboard box, with each component in a separate sealed plastic bag to prevent cross-contamination (pictured)

What's in The Plattery Valentine's Day set? To Start Smoked salmon blinis (to be completed at home) The Charcuterie Selection Jamon serrano, Salami Milano, Iberico chorizo & Saussicon sec The Cheese selection Brie de Meux, Port Salut, Spanish Manchego, Chevre & triple cream camembert The Fruit & Crudites Selection Vine tomatoes, organic cucmber rounds, seasonal fruit & grapes Accompaniments Mixed nuts, chutney, halkidiki olives, medjool dates, Scottish oat cakes & seasonal follaige for decorating To finish White & dark chocolate covered strawberries Advertisement

Femail's Stephanie Linning tested The Plattery's Valentine's Day Charcuterie Platter.

The no-cook meal, which serves two people for 35, includes everything you need to create a beautiful Valentine's Day platter, including a range of hams and cheeses, fruits and crudites, plenty of accompaniments, and chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert.

VERDICT: As someone who is anything but a natural chef, this Valentine's Day meal couldn't have been better!

The Plattery's charcuterie set had everything I needed to make my husband a romantic dinner for two, without the worry of getting a recipe wrong.

The platter arrived neatly packaged in a small cardboard box - so small, in fact, that I worried if there was going to be enough in there to feed us both - with each component wrapped in its own sealed plastic bag.

While this is not the most environmentally friendly delivery, it did reassure me that there was no cross-contamination between the various ingredients.

In terms of preparation, it was very straightforward and was simply a matter of removing the items and laying them on a serving plate in an attractive manner.

My attempt was nowhere near as elegant as the one pictured on The Plattery website but the combination of colours and textures means it's almost impossible not to put together a plate that has serious 'wow' factor.

It also took just 15 minutes to pull together so didn't eat into our evening too much.

There was a good variety of food contained in the package. We particularly enjoyed that it moved from the 'starter' of smoked salmon blinis to the main course of cheese, charcuterie and accompaniments, and then onto the chocolate-covered strawberries... yum, yum, yum!

My fears that there would not be enough for two - including one man with a big appetite - were also completely unfounded. In fact, there was enough cheese for us to enjoy with crackers the next day, too.

If you're in the mood for a hearty winter warmer then this meal obviously isn't for you, but it is ideal for anyone who is looking for something a little different without the stress of having to cook.

I can also imagine these platters tasting great in the spring once when we can get outside for picnics in the warmer weather. Would definitely order again!

Easy to do: The platter (pictured being assembled) took just 15 minutes to put together

What's in the Honest burger fondue kit? Chopped British chuck steak & rib cap patties

Dry cured pancetta

Five-cheese fondue mix from Mons Deli

Garlic clove (find it in your cheese mix)

Sauvignon Blanc

White wine onions

Honest pickled cucumber

Honest burger buns

Rocket

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Honest burger fondue kit

Rating:

COOKING TIME: Less than 30 minutes

PRICE : The kits are 26 for 2 burgers and 36 for 4

WHAT IS IT? : The Honest Fondue kit contains all the goods to recreate Honest's limited-edition 'FONDUE' burger at home*, including five-cheese fondue mix from Mons Cheesemongers, pancetta, white wine onions, Chilean Sauvignon Blanc and Honest beef patties.

There's also some rosemary salt thrown in for good measure to recreate Honest's signature rosemary salted chips at home.

FEMAIL's Jo Tweedy gave her verdict.

VERDICT: If love is a marriage of fondue and beef patties, then Honest Burger has hit the Valentine jackpot. Neatly packaged and labelled in recyclable packaging, this meal kit came with an A4 sheet of instructions, and a link to a video if needed too.

The fondue was super-easy to create, simply pouring a small bottle of sauvignon blanc into a pan with a pot of prepped five-cheese fondue mix from Mons Cheesemongers and leaving to simmer to cheesy perfection.

And the burgers, usually hard to get right at home, were restaurant delicious, with the thinly sliced pancetta offering a crispy topping that proved the perfect foil to the cheese and white wine onions.

We loved the rosemary salt too. The fondue makes for an indulgent topping and, though perfect for a freezing winter's eve, it wasn't the easiest thing to eat with elegance... but assuming no-one's having first dates right now, that's less likely to matter.

The Honest Fondue kit contains all the goods to recreate Honest's limited-edition 'FONDUE' burger at home*, including five-cheese fondue mix from Mons Cheesemongers, pancetta, white wine onions, Chilean Sauvignon Blanc and Honest beef patties. There's also some rosemary salt thrown in for good measure to recreate Honest's signature rosemary salted chips at home.

Jo said: The fondue was super-easy to create, simply pouring a small bottle of sauvignon blanc into a pan with a pot of prepped five-cheese fondue mix from Mons Cheesemongers and leaving to simmer to cheesy perfection.

Ampeli's Valentine's Day kit

Rating:

COOKING TIME: Less than 30 minutes

PRICE : 100

WHAT IS IT? The menu consists of sourdough bread with smoked red wine butter, a choice of starter between citrus and ouzo cured salmon and Zaladina, or a smoked ham hock, leek and carrot terrine.

The main is a choice between braised featherblade with artichokes, kalamata olives and saffron potato mash, or a baked lobster with metaxa cream sauce served with lemon patates. All of this is rounded of with a chocolate krema with pistachio crumble and a blackcurrant preserve

FEMAIL's Monica Greep gave it a try.

The menu consists of sourdough bread with smoked red wine butter, a choice of starter between citrus and ouzo cured salmon and Zaladina, or a smoked ham hock, leek and carrot terrine.

Monica said: The pudding (left) was also fantastic and while I don't usually like the taste of rose, with the blackcurrant compote and the chocolate it worked really well. She added, The salmon was good quality and the oregano coleslaw had a really nice flavour and the veg was fresh (right)

VERDICT : The meal kit arrived in a huge refrigerated box, with each individual food item labelled and in the right quantity, so that was a good start. I was surprised by how little extra I needed to supply (pan, foil, and an oven tray). The kit came with a menu and step-by-step guide explaining how to cook each dish.

The salmon was good quality and the oregano coleslaw had a really nice flavour and the veg was fresh. But there was far too much of it for the small piece of salmon. The ham hock was my least favourite dish of the kit, which wasn't great because there was so much of it. The side bitter salad was nice enough but overall the dish was not that exciting.

The beef was incredible. Tender and tasty and went perfectly with the choice of veg and saffron mash, which was creamy and not to overpowering. The pudding was also fantastic and while I don't usually like the taste of rose, with the blackcurrant compote and the chocolate it worked really well.

The kit was also washed down with a bottle of Greek red, which made for a nice accompaniment and some sourdough bread with red wine butter which was delicious.

Cote at Home's Valentine's Day special

Rating:

COOKING TIME: Less than 30 minutes

PRICE : 45

WHAT IS IT: The French-inspired range from award-winning restaurant group Cote Brasserie can deliver freshly prepared, high quality bistro meals created by its own chefs, traditional French breads and pastries from its Boulangerie, artisan cheeses from its Fromagerie and wines and beers from their Cellar to doorsteps all over mainland Britain with free standard delivery.

Femail's Jessica Green gave it a try.

The French-inspired range from award-winning restaurant group Cote Brasserie can deliver freshly prepared, high quality bistro meals created by its own chefs, traditional French breads and pastries from its Boulangerie, artisan cheeses from its Fromagerie and wines and beers from their Cellar to doorsteps all over mainland Britain with free standard delivery.

VERDICT: This brand offered an excellent Christmas meal kit, filled with delicious, easy-to-cook dishes and so I had very high expectations for their Valentine's Day offering. And they did not disappoint!

Customers are offered tasty, tender pieces of steak, fresh green beans, french fries, a beautiful sauce as well as a delicious garlic bread as a side.

To top it off, your meal started and ended with superb dishes, offering a chicken liver parfait, which on its own I'd rate five out of five, while dessert was a melt-in-your-mouth chocolate fondant each.

The cooking instructions were clear and simple to follow and by the end of it you had a lovely meal for two. A bottle of champagne finished off the excellent, restaurant quality offering.

The only slightly negative point would be that the french fries had a lot of salt already on them which proved to be too much for me and my partner.

Pizza Pilgrims Valentine's Day Spritz Kit Package (via City Pantry)

Rating:

COOKING TIME: Around 15 minutes

PRICE: 35

WHAT'S IN IT?: Each kit comes with enough ingredients for two pizzas, a Nutella ring kit and a snazzy Aperol Spritz kit for two.

FEMAIL'S Bridie Pearson-Jones gave it a try.

VERDICT: I love Pizza Pilgims and was really looking forward to this kit.

The recipe was really easy to follow and the ingredients were fresh and high quality but as soon as I opened the kit my dough exploded and was pouring out sticking to the other ingredients.

I'm not sure if it was related, but I really struggled to stretch the dough out, which meant my pizzas were smaller and thicker than they were supposed to be.

Each kit comes with enough ingredients for two pizzas, a Nutella ring kit and a snazzy Aperol Spritz kit for two. Bridie's dough exploded on arrival

Bridie said her highlight was the nutella pizza ring (pictured) which was was easy to cook and tasted delicious

Bridie's dough was unable to stretch meaning her pizza (left) was small. Right: The Nutella ring

I tried the truffle and mushroom pizza, which was delicious, nonetheless. The pizza making is a really fun activity to do as a couple, but could also be an easy and different task to do with kids.

Pizza Pilgrims in the pan cooking technique is a really great way to cook a pizza at home, and the most successful I've found. It's definitely the best method (unless you're lucky enough to have a pizza oven).

The kit also comes with prosecco, tonic and aperol to make a nice aperol spritz.

However, the creme de la creme of the meal was the Nutella pizza ring, the dough mixed with ricotta and chocolate hazelnut spread is mind-blowingly good.

Matsudai Ramen Vegan Sunset Red Tonkotsu Kit

Rating:

PRICE : 19.99 for two

COOKING TIME: 15 minutes

WHAT IS IT? Matsudai Ramen in Cardiff claims to be Wales's only proper ramen spot and is delivering hand-made ramen kits across the UK. This vegan alternative comes with a rich shiitake-kombu dashi and oat milk brot, with shio tare , handmade hakata noodles , double d's hot sauce x matsudai chilli oil, spicy sunset powder, tofu chashu, kikurage, spring onion. Option to add eggs for non-vegans.

Femail's Bridie Pearson-Jones gave it a try.

atsudai Ramen in Cardiff claims to be Wales's only proper ramen spot and is delivering hand-made ramen kits across the UK. This vegan alternative comes with a rich shiitake-kombu dashi and oat milk brot, with shio tare , handmade hakata noodles , double d's hot sauce x matsudai chilli oil, spicy sunset powder, tofu chashu, kikurage, spring onion. Option to add eggs for non-vegans.

VERDICT : The kit comes at a very good price, I'd happily pay 20 for this in a restaurant.

It's very tasty and full of flavour and easy to adjust to personal spice levels. But the instructions weren't that clear which is why I deducted a point.

I initially thought my kit was missing mushrooms, but I later found they had fallen out and were in the back of my fridge - I tried them later with a homemade noodle dish and they were excellent.

While it was delicious, and eventually easy to assemble it good me a few times reading the instructions to make sense of them. It also caused a lot of washing up, you need a pot for the noodles, a bowl for the ramen, a pot for the broth and a frying pan.

The tofu came pre-marinated and had a rich umani flavour, it was really nice to see it treated properly and have a distinctive taste from the oat milk broth.

Bridiei said: 'It's very tasty and full of flavour and easy to adjust to personal spice levels. But the instructions weren't that clear'

The broth itself was also perfectly flavoured and had a good kick without blowing your head off with spice.

I added the Ajitama egg - an semi-hard boiled egg that's been marinated in soy for 48 hours - I was a little apprehensive as I fear powdery eggs but the yolk was gooey and it really took the meal to the next level.

While perhaps not the most romantic of kits (the instructions say to gulp it down as quickly as possible and slurp it, and the flavours (spring onion and chilli) don't leave you with date-ready breath, it's a great dinner option without the frills of some of the other kits.

The Cookaway Valentine's Box

Rating:

COOKING TIME: One hour

PRICE: 46 (an extra 15 for wine)

WHAT IS IT: Created by former MasterChef finalist, Jack Lucas, the new Valentine's Menu from The Cookaway is a majestic pairing of 30-day aged Aberdeen-Angus fillet steak with a rich Bearnaise Sauce and is available to order with extra delights including delicious Truffled Mac n Cheese and Crunchy Corn Rib side dishes, desserts, chocolates or specially paired wines and Champagne.

The recipe box comes with a QR link to access the cooking instruction video where Jack Lucas talks through each step of the cooking process to ensure everyone has an unforgettable, restaurant-quality meal cooked at home.

FEMAIL's Hayley Richardson tried it..

Created by former MasterChef finalist, Jack Lucas, the new Valentine's Menu from The Cookaway is a majestic pairing of 30-day aged Aberdeen-Angus fillet steak with a rich Bearnaise Sauce and is available to order with extra delights including delicious Truffled Mac n Cheese and Crunchy Corn Rib side dishes, desserts, chocolates or specially paired wines and Champagne.

VERDICT: This is a decadent meal for kitchen savvy couples and definitely worth the work you put into prepping it. At 46 (plus an extra 15 for wine) it's a little on the pricey side, but I'd expect the meat alone to cost in the region of 15-20, and this meal in a restaurant would probably set you back nearly double that.

I was really impressed with the Cookaway box  it came with everything you needed to prepare and cook the meal from scratch (one of my eggs was cracked in transit, but I had spare). I'd definitely set at least an hour aside to get everything ready and read the recipe cards through first to make sure your timings work out. The instruction video by chef Jack Lucas was handy to watch for prepping and cooking tips.

Hayley said: This is a decadent meal for kitchen savvy couples and definitely worth the work you put into prepping it

The 30-day aged Aberdeen-Angus fillet steak was absolutely delicious, one of the best I've ever had (thankfully my partner did a great job cooking it, otherwise he would have been in serious trouble). While the Bearnaise Sauce was the messiest and most work-intensive element to prepare (luckily I happen to have the three jugs it required!)

I'd definitely make it again as it was gorgeous (though possibly the juice of an entire lemon isn't necessary as it was very tangy). The sweet potato wedges were a bit on the spicy side for my partner (the portion of cayenne pepper was pretty generous!) but I loved the crispy polenta coating, I'll definitely be doing that again  a big improvement to my usual home-cooked oven chips.

The watercress salad was a nice colourful addition to the plate but to be honest we wouldn't have missed it  and I definitely couldn't have managed additional sides!

The La Flor Pulenta Malbec (15) was a great accompaniment, it complimented the meat well.

Hayley said; 'The 30-day aged Aberdeen-Angus fillet steak was absolutely delicious, one of the best I've ever had (thankfully my partner did a great job cooking it, otherwise he would have been in serious trouble). While the Bearnaise Sauce was the messiest and most work-intensive element to prepare (luckily I happen to have the three jugs it required!)'

What's in the Night In With Rudy's box? 1 Bake at Home Portobello Pizza

1 Bake at Home Carni Pizza

1 Bake at Home Calabrese Pizza

1 Bake at Home Margherita Con Bufala Pizza

1 Bottle of La Vita Sociale prosecco

2 Cans of Northern Monk Eternal 330ml

2 Rudy's Negronis

2 Bottles of Campari Soda Advertisement

Rudy's Pizzeria: A night in with Rudy's

Rating:

COOKING TIME: Seven minutes

PRICE: 55

WHAT IS IT?: Believing Neapolitan pizza to be the best in the world, Rudys dough is made fresh daily using Caputo 00 flour which has been left to ferment for at least 24 hours, alongside the best quality ingredients imported twice a week from Naples, including San Marzano tomatoes grown on fields next to Mount Vesuvius, and Fior di Latte mozzarella.

Their night in box contains four pizzas, and a selection of booze.

FEMAIL's Jessica Green tried it out.

VERDICT: This pizza was mouth-watering and left you wanting more and more.

It had plenty of toppings, ranging from vegetables to meats but didn't overload the bread, making sure you could still taste the flavoursome cheese and tomato sauce.

The dough was soft and the ingredients seemed to be of a high quality.

It came with easy instructions, making it a very simple meal to share and it definitely had a restaurant feel to it.

I would've perhaps liked a dessert and maybe a larger cocktail or more of them since the kit only came with one.

Believing Neapolitan pizza to be the best in the world, Rudys dough is made fresh daily using Caputo 00 flour which has been left to ferment for at least 24 hours, alongside the best quality ingredients imported twice a week from Naples, including San Marzano tomatoes grown on fields next to Mount Vesuvius, and Fior di Latte mozzarella. Their night in box contains four pizzas, and a selection of booze.

Jessica said: 'This pizza was mouth-watering and left you wanting more and more'

Little Pasta Company Valentine's Day Box

Rating:

PRICE: 34.60

WHAT IS IT?: Two portions of fresh pasta, two portions of black truffle butter one 100ml bottle of black truffle oil, one selection of grilled courgette, aubergine, sundried tomato and olives. One portion of 100g burrata cheese, one portion of rocket and pine nut salad with balsamic dressing, one portion of grated grana padano cheese.

FEMAIL's Bridie Pearson-Jones tried it out

The pasta kit from Little Pasta Company comes with Two portions of fresh pasta, two portions of black truffle butter one 100ml bottle of black truffle oil, one selection of grilled courgette, aubergine, sundried tomato and olives. One portion of 100g burrata cheese, one portion of rocket and pine nut salad with balsamic dressing, one portion of grated grana padano cheese. It is cooked left and in the pack right

Bridie said: 'The burrata however was absolutely divine, and very easy to assemble. It came with rocket, pine nuts, balsamic salad dressing and roasted vegetables.'

VERDICT: While the burrata in this kit was amazing, the pasta was a little disappointing.

The box was beautifully presented and the black truffle oil and truffle butter were box excellent, but the pasta was very starchy and it was difficult to shake the excess off, meaning the strands stuck together and gave a clumpy meal.

All the ingredients were a good quality,

The burrata however was absolutely divine, and very easy to assemble. It came with rocket, pine nuts, balsamic salad dressing and roasted vegetables.

Each part of the pack came packed up, and although there were no instructions it was very easy to chuck together and make.

I think it could probably be great - and it's more of a 3.5 than a 3 - butt the dough just wasn't fresh enough to wow me, and for the price a dessert would have been great.

Rick Stein's Luxury Breakfast in Bed hamper

Rating:

Cooking time: Less than 15 minutes

Price: 72.50

WHAT IS IT? With Valentine's Day on a Sunday this year, a hearty Cornish breakfast box is a great way to kickstart your leisurely romantic morning.

For breakfast, tuck into their newly launched Cornish Breakfast Box (35) or Luxury Breakfast Box (72.50), packed full of heaps of delicious Cornish produce to make your loved one a slap-up breakfast in bed.

Both boxes contain Bacon, Sausages & Hogs Pudding from Tywardreath Butchers, St Ewe Grande Eggs, Rick Stein Strawberry Jam, Trewithen Dairy Butter, Origin Coffee and Coombeshead Farm Sourdough. The luxury box then also adds inRick Stein Smoked Salmon, Half a bottle of Rick Stein Champagne and Cornish apple juice.

FEMAIL's Hayley Richardson tried it out.

With Valentine's Day on a Sunday this year, a hearty Cornish breakfast box is a great way to kickstart your leisurely romantic morning. For breakfast, tuck into their newly launched Cornish Breakfast Box (35) or Luxury Breakfast Box (72.50), packed full of heaps of delicious Cornish produce to make your loved one a slap-up breakfast in bed.

Both boxes contain Bacon, Sausages & Hogs Pudding from Tywardreath Butchers, St Ewe Grande Eggs, Rick Stein Strawberry Jam, Trewithen Dairy Butter, Origin Coffee and Coombeshead Farm Sourdough. The luxury box then also adds inRick Stein Smoked Salmon, Half a bottle of Rick Stein Champagne and Cornish apple juice

Pictured: Hayley's breakfast with sourdough, egg and salmon from Rick Stein's meal kit

VERDICT: At 72.50 it is very expensive (I tend to think you're paying for the name) but that does include a half-bottle of Rick Stein Champagne (a full bottle retails at 33.95). On arrival, two of the St Eve Grande Eggs were cracked and had to be binned, which was unfortunate as they did appear well-packed.

I was very impressed by the quality of the food, and the amount you got  this could have easily fed four, so we were left with plenty to snack on and enjoy the following day. The bacon, sausages and hogs pudding from Tywardreath Butchers were all lean and beautifully seasoned, while the generous packet of Rick Stein smoked salmon was a nice touch (I actually had this the following day with scrambled eggs as there was so much fry-up). Another star was the Cornish apple juice, which was probably the nicest apple juice I've ever tasted.

As a breakfast 'dessert', we enjoyed a few toasted slices of the (enormous) Coombeshead Farm Sourdough cob with the Rick Stein Strawberry Jam and Trewithen Dairy Butter, all washed down with a pot of the Origin Coffee. Given the price, it was a VERY special treat  but hey, it's not like you're going out for dinner is it?

Chef Akila's low calories curry box

Chef Akila's low calories curry box contains six curries with lowest calories & fat. All have less than 85 Calories/100g.

What's in Chef Akila's low calories curry box? Village Chicken Curry (63 Calories/100g) Medium. 640g, Serves 2

Goan Chicken Curry (83 Calories/100g) Mild. 640g, Serves 2

Chettinad Chicken Curry (69 Calories/100g) Medium. 640g, Serves 2

Vegan Tikka Masala (56 Calories/100g) Mild. 640g, Serves 2

Lentil & Vegetable Curry (60 Calories/100) Medium. 640g, Serves 2

Vegetable Salna (44 Calories/100g) Medium Advertisement

Rating:

PRICE: 48

COOKING TIME: Less than 15 minutes

WHAT IS IT?: Six curries low in calories and fat. All have less than 85 Calories/100g. All are microwaveable.

Femail's Jessica Green tried it out.

VERDICT: I'm a huge, huge, huge curry fan and love most of them.

However, it takes a lot to impress me when it comes to this particular cuisine, and unfortunately these dishes just didn't pack the punch I was hoping they would.

While the flavours were delicious and very spicy, the texture of the curries was slightly powdery, almost as if they hadn't been cooked for long enough despite following the microwave instructions.

The rice was soft and fluffy and filled with ingredients but the meat used didn't taste of the greatest quality, with the chicken quickly turning brown once heated.

The dahls were very tasty as starters, but I did miss having a dessert.

Overall, while these meals would definitely beat most supermarket-branded, microwavable curries by far, they didn't quite offer the restaurant quality I had been anticipating.

allplants Date Night Box

Rating:

Cooking time: Less than 10 minutes

Available for delivery nationwide, allplants Date Night Box is a little naughty with a nice, healthy twist, with three themed date nights  Italian, Indian & Healthy. Femail's Harriet Johnston tried it out

Harriet said: At 70.35 for two, I wasn't convinced that this Valentine's Box could live up to the hype and, while we were offered a choice of several different date nights including an Italian, Curry and Healthy, I was sadly disappointed. Pictured is her curry dinner

What's in the allplants date night box?  Aubergine Parmigiana: Hailing from Southern Italy, this is one of allplants most popular dishes. Roasted aubergine layers topped with a rich, tomato sauce, cashew mozzarella and golden oregano breadcrumbs

 Rigatoni Bolognese: A rich and hearty minced mushroom, lentil and walnut ragu, folded through rigatoni pasta and sprinkled with an almond parm crumb.

 Mediterranean Pesto Veggies: A pesto fiesta of roasted veggies tossed with basil oil. The perfect side for the Parmigiana.

 Kale + Chickpea Daal: Tomato chutney chickpeas topping a creamy 3-pulse daal of black lentils, red lentils and chickpeas, with spinach and garlic kale.

 Mushroom + Chickpea Korma: A creamy almond and coconut korma, with garlic mushrooms, turmeric chickpeas, sweet potato and roasted aubergine.

 Minty Leeks + Peas: A side of garden peas and sauteed leeks tossed with olive oil, lemon juice and mint.

 Sticky Banoffee Pudding: A little bit sweet, a little bit saucy, with toasted pecans and salted date caramel.

 Teriyaki Udon: A spicy, sticky teriyaki sauce coating soft udon noodles, with sesame mushrooms, mixed fresh veg and a sprinkling of toasted cashews.

 Protein Power Bowl: Miso roasted tofu, coconut and edamame smash, with power grains, sweet chilli broccoli, sesame cabbage, and a pea and edamame medley.

 Tahini Garlic Broccoli: A side of broccoli infused with sumac and garlic, and a serving of tahini.

 Golden Apple Crumble: A fruity favourite with juicy blackberries and a nutty topping. Advertisement

WHAT IS IT? Available for delivery nationwide, allplants Date Night Box is a little naughty with a nice, healthy twist, with three themed date nights  Italian, Indian & Healthy.

Diners can recreate a romantic dining experience at home with allplants bestseller Aubergine Parmigiana and can indulge in our show-stopping Chocolate Peanut Fondant.

Lovers will get three dine-in delicious date nights, completed with chef-made main courses, alongside a side to share, and delectable treats to finish the romantic meal.

All meals are chef prepared, and take less than minutes to cook in the oven or microwave, meaning a hassle-free dining  so sit back, it's time to relax with your loved one.

FEMAIL'S Harriet Johnston tried it out..

VERDICT: At 70.35 for two, I wasn't convinced that this Valentine's Box could live up to the hype and, while we were offered a choice of several different date nights including an Italian, Curry and Healthy, I was sadly disappointed.

Each of the meals came with two mains, one side to share and two desserts, which were ready to be popped into a microwave or oven and served for a romantic evening in.

My boyfriend and I decided to give the Curry Night meal kit a go, but I've got to confess that the salty taste and plastic packaging reminded us both of a meal you might receive an airplane.

While the portions were a good size, and it felt like a great option for a Valentine's Night in if you're REALLY not in the mood to cook, or pick up the phone for a takeaway, I'm not sure I'd recommend it.

The mains were watery and the flavours were weak and we were both left feeling utterly unsatisfied - far from what you want for a Valentine's Night in!

The best part of the meal was by far the dessert, a tasty sticky banoffee pudding, but even that was slightly wanting and would have been perfect with some custard or sauce to add on top.

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan is planning plenty of hugs with family members now that shes out of quarantine after a positive COVID-19 test late last month.

Quarantine behind us. A ridiculous number of hugs ahead, the Massachusetts congresswoman tweeted on Tuesday, sharing a photo of an embrace with her two daughters, Grace and Caroline.

Quarantine behind us. A ridiculous number of hugs ahead. pic.twitter.com/llIVI026Dw  Congresswoman Lori Trahan (@RepLoriTrahan) February 9, 2021

Trahan, 47, announced Jan. 29 that she had tested positive. The Democrat had repeatedly tested negative for the virus beforehand.

I am fortunate to be asymptomatic and have immediately begun to self-quarantine, Trahan said at the time, noting she and her team would work remotely.

Trahan encouraged everyone to follow protocols to reduce their risk of contracting the virus including wearing a mask, maintaining a safe social distance, avoiding large gatherings and staying home when possible.

Trahans quarantine ends just as Democrats prepare to push through a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package initially proposed by President Joe Biden. Trahan told the New England Council last week that the American people sent a clear message that the minimalist approach to relief is not sufficient and that there was zero chance Republicans, whove called for smaller packages, would delay the plan.

On Sunday, Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg announced she had tested positive for COVID-19.

As of Sunday, more than 517,000 Massachusetts residents have contracted the virus and more than 14,700 have died.

Related Content:

Posted Monday, February 8, 2021 4:23 pm

Last week's Chronicle article, "Seniors Eligible for Vaccine Struggle to Get Appointments," shared the erratic way COVID vaccines are being distributed.

I got my first shot out of luck. I was conversing with someone on eHarmony who overheard after her shot that they would have more on Monday. The state website said the clinic was first come first serve, no appointments required, but they were out of vaccine.

My friend repeated what she heard. I took a chance, drove 90 miles, arrived at 7 a.m., and others in line heard the same thing. I was 39th in line. They had 100 shots that day. They asked my birthday. Being over 65, I was in and given an appointment for the second shot.

I find on the state site its saying "already filled" on appointment schedules for every possible appointment.

If you arent aware of new appointments when first posted, chances of randomly finding one are slim. The mass vaccination planned by Providence in Olympia on Feb. 6 filled up within minutes. A friend signed up, but by the time she told me, all were taken.

The mass vaccination at Southwest Washington Fairgrounds also had all appointments fill up quickly. For that one, Providence was quoted saying they informed clinics in the county at 8:30 a.m., and by that afternoon, when a friend told me, appointments were filled.

Two friends of mine from Thurston County did get shots at Lewis County fairgrounds, one informed by his doctor's office and the other saying a friend told him. Some clinics relayed the information to their patients early. Others didn't. Another friend told me he made an appointment with his doctor.

I was on a Providence email list but got a notification two days later. I was in a Zoom physical with my doctor while appointments were filling up for the fairgrounds. Despite my complaints about not being able to find a shot, it wasn't mentioned.

My clinic doesnt inform patients in mass or personally about availability. They suggest the state website.

Another clinic put me on a list and keeps me informed. Theyre working on tier 1a first, and then will move to 1b, contacting me then. They do it right. People older than 75, people in rest homes, and first responders get shots first, and I take my place in line.

But now I won't need it.

The system is flawed as if designed to give heart attacks to our seniors. Why don't clinics keep a list? Randomly posting available appointments and a mad dash to get one is crazy. If you're not on a list, have a clinic that gives you a heads up, or on your computer all the time, you're not likely to get one anytime soon.

Inlsee has said when half of 1b candidates have gotten shots, he'll release the next tier to compete with the rest of 1a and 1b who still haven't gotten one. How will seniors compete with the tech savvy youth?

The distribution needs fixing.

Neal Kirby

Centralia
According to chef Tony Dezutter, who will run the shop with managing partner William Ravert, the shop will open with a menu of 13 pizzas. He describes that number as limited, which should give you some idea of what to expect in the future. Along with standard pizza toppings like pepperoni and sausage, Dezutter has been developing some of his own creations.
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Greatly increase the company's current capacity to 90,000L and enable WuXi Biologics to initiate any project within four weeks

Offer flexible large-scale manufacturing services by implementing Scale-out strategy

WUXI, China, Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WuXi Biologics ("WuXi Bio") (2269.HK), a global company with leading open-access biologics technology platforms, today announced that its MFG5 Drug Substance (DS) manufacturing facility in China has successfully launched GMP operation, with the capacity of 36,000L, deploying nine 4,000L single-use bioreactors. As a major landmark in the company's global capacity planning, the GMP launch of MFG5 brings WuXi Biologics' current capacity to 90,000L, greatly enhancing the capability to enable global partners.

Employing advanced manufacturing and quality systems, this new 70,000m facility is the largest DS facility within WuXi Biologics' global network, and also the world's largest GMP facility using single-use bioreactors. Leveraging its state-of-the-art design, MFG5 will provide flexible and high-quality manufacturing solutions that cater to a range of customer needs, including different manufacturing scale of 4,000L, 8,000L, 12,000L and 16,000L. The GMP launch of MFG5 showcases WuXi Biologics' industry-leading Scale-out strategy of combining multiple single-use bioreactors for large-scale biologics manufacturing. This approach is more productive and environmentally friendly, compared with using traditional stainless-steel bioreactors.

"I am very proud that we've achieved another milestone as our MFG5 facility begins GMP operation. Our leading expertise in using single-use bioreactors for commercial manufacturing, especially at the scale of 16,000L, can largely reduce manufacturing cost and enable disposable technology to compete effectively with the largest stainless steel facilities in the world." said Dr. Chris Chen, Chief Executive Officer of WuXi Biologics. "As part of our global network, the MFG5 facility significantly increases our total DS capacity. With the robust global network, we're confident to start any project for clients within 4 weeks. Moving ahead, we will continue to improve our capacities and capabilities to enable global partners and benefit patients worldwide."

In the second half of 2021, another line with the capacity of 24,000L (12x2000L) will also be GMP ready, bringing the total capacity of MFG5 to 60,000L.

About WuXi Biologics

WuXi Biologics (stock code: 2269.HK), a Hong Kong-listed company, is a leading global open-access biologics technology platform offering end-to-end solutions to empower organizations to discover, develop, and manufacture biologics from concept to commercial manufacturing. The company's history and achievements demonstrate its commitment to providing a truly one-stop service offering and strong value proposition to its global clients. As of June 30, 2020, there were a total of 286 integrated projects, including 141 projects in pre-clinical development stage, 125 projects in early-phase (phase I and II) clinical development, 19 projects in late-phase (phase III) development and one project in commercial manufacturing. With total estimated capacity for biopharmaceutical production planned in China, Ireland, the U.S., Germany, and Singapore exceeding 300,000 liters after 2023, WuXi Biologics will provide its biomanufacturing partners with a robust and premier-quality global supply chain network. For more information about WuXi Biologics, please visit: www.wuxibiologics.com.

SOURCE WuXi Biologics

Related Links

http://www.wuxibiologics.com/


Cyclone Yaas: Amit Shah to hold review meeting with Chief Ministers of states to be affected

Union minister Amit Shah share details of glacier burst in Uttarakhand's Chamoli

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Feb 09: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday made statements on the avalanche in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand in Rajya Sabha. The disaster struck on Sunday morning when, as per DRDO's preliminary understanding, a hanging glacier broke off from the main glacier leading to a massive flood in Dhauli Ganga and Alaknanda rivers.

In the parliament, Amit Shah said that all concerned agencies of Centre and State are monitoring the situation. "450 jawans of ITBP, 5 teams of NDRF, 8 teams of Indian Army, a Navy team and 5 IAF helicopters are engaged in search and rescue operation," Shah said.

Explained: Is India prepared to tackle glacial burst?

"Till 5 PM yesterday, 20 bodies recovered and 197 people are missing out of which 139 are from NTPC's under construction power projects, 46 from Rishi Ganga Power Projects and 12 from villages," Shah added.

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

He furtner said that the state government has collected the information from different sources and numbers might change. "12 people of NTPC and 15 of Rishi Ganga have been rescued safely. 25-30 people are feared to be trapped in an tunnel of NTPC," Shah said.
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The upcoming JTBC drama "Sisyphus: The Myth" released stills featuring Park Shin Hye and Cho Seung Woo's excellent teamwork!

Park Shin Hye and Cho Seung Woo's unique characters in the drama

"Sisyphus: The Myth" is a fantasy-mystery themed drama that centers its story on the genius engineer, Han Tae Sool (Cho Seung Woo). He has the highest level of coding skills and possesses amazing visuals that outstand his engineer fashion sense.

He is a co-founder of Quantum and Time, and because of innovative achievements, it became a world-class company known as "The Miracle of South Korea's Engineering Industry." However, after the death of his brother ten years ago, Han Tae Sool has caused his company's stocks to constantly fluctuate. Then one day, when he discovered the unbelievable truth of his brother's death, he decided to take on a perilous journey to uncover hidden beings that are secretly residing in our world.

Meanwhile, Park Shin Hye will portray the character of Kang Seo Hae a woman trained as a soldier. She could do even more than what a man can do! She can zipline from building to building, fight big built men using her bare hands, an excellent shooter, and can install bombs. He is equipped with survival skills that he learned from living amongst gangsters and warlords. Kang Seo Hae takes on the task of finding Han Tae Sul and protecting him in order to save the world.

Check out Park Shin Hye and Cho Seung Woo's perfect teamwork in the sneak peek photos below!

The drama released a sneak peek of the main lead's fun and excellent partnership in behind-the-scenes photos. In the photos, Cho Seung Woo immerses himself into his role, and he gives his 100 percent to portray every detail of his character. He is seen in his serious mode, thinking about different ways to perform the scene. Park Shin Hye, on the other hand, is seen all smiles on set. Though she's performing an intense action scene, she still gets to showcase her fun side.

Both main leads were able to display their perfect synergy on set. They thoroughly discuss the story as well as their characters to be able to make an extraordinary drama. According to the drama's staff, the filming site is always fun and full of laughter because of their presence.

Well, these photos are proof that they do have wonderful teamwork!

"Sisyphus: The Myth" production staff shared their thoughts on Cho Seung Woo and Park Shin Hye's acting in the drama. They shared that both actors always have the best acting chemistry. Though they are known as perfect actors, they still constantly exchange opinions about their actions, and they work hard to express the characters perfectly. Since the drama is just about a week away from its premiere, the staff members are doing their best to deliver a high-quality drama.

You might be interested in: Cho Seung Woo and Park Shin Hye's Upcoming Drama 'Sisyphus: The Myth' Wraps Up Filming

Fans have the highest expectations for the result of their hard work! "Sisyphus: The Myth" is scheduled to air on February 17 at 9 p.m. KST. Be sure not to miss it!

KDramastars owns this article.

Written By Liza Parker



World Influencer & Blogger Awards (WIBA)

News Summary

World Influencer & Blogger Awards (WIBA), THE international contest that is organized for the most distinguished bloggers all over the world, received an overwhelming response for their first edition in India. The event has already received around 2000 entries and reached over 100 million people across India.
If youve been stuck at home during the pandemic, absentmindedly looking out the window, now you can do something different.

You can look out the window but count the birds.

Youve probably been seeing birds all along, but by taking note of what stops off or flies past between Friday and Presidents Day, you can join the Great Backyard Bird Count.

Birds that you report help scientists keep track of where different species are migrating, flourishing or diminishing.

To take part, you need to do just two things:

 Open an eBird account. Its free. You can join with your smartphone or computer.

 Spend a minimum of 15 minutes counting.

Its easy enough that last year, more than a quarter-million people around the world participated and counted 7,113 species.

But you dont need to recognize anywhere near that many birds.

In Pennsylvania, 152 species made last years count  still way more than one backyard observer needs to know.

If youre new to this, narrow your focus.

Audubon Pennsylvania lists 30 birds youre likely to see in your neighborhood.

Megan Fedor, who is adept at spotting birds after years of leading classes and guiding hikes as an environmental educator at Nescopeck State Park, set a goal of spotting 15 species for her family at their home.

On Thursday, the day before count begins, Fedor has scheduled a virtual class in which she will tell how to take part and review common backyard birds.

Sign-up for her program, which starts at 7 p.m., on the calendar of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

My best tip is just to spend some time watching. Leave behind any distractions and look out your windows or go for a walk, Fedor said via email. Youll find the most birds around food sources, like a bayberry shrub outside her office window.

In addition to berry bushes, she watches trees with cones or catkins, open water and feeders.

Fedor has been paying more attention to her feeders this year because she isnt traveling to birding spots for daytrips or vacations due to the pandemic.

At Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, researchers postponed a trip to tag vultures in Arizona and other studies because of the pandemic, said Laurie Goodrich, director of conservation science at the sanctuarys Acopian Center for Conservation Learning near Molino.

We had to do our spring hawk watch with only staff covering the lookout, one at a time, Goodrich said in an email. She plans to log birds for the backyard count from her home.

While the pandemic has led researchers and tourists to put off birding trips, the bird count compiles sightings for them from across the globe.

The eBird.org website, managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, enters reports of sightings into statistical models to produce maps, animations and statistics.

From the models emerge migration paths, range and relative abundance of hundreds of species.

Statistics show the prevalence of a bird in a region. For example, fewer than 1% of ruffed grouse in North America live in Pennsylvania, where it is the state bird.

While that information helps scientists and policymakers, eBird also saves information about what you saw from year to year. That lets you make comparisons about effects that heavy storms or changing climate had on the count.

It isnt just a scientist telling us something; through our personal birding we can see it for ourselves, David Kruel said.

When a pandemic isnt raging, Kruel leads group bird walks at state parks in Luzerne and Schuylkill counties. While COVID-19 cut down on his birding trips, it hasnt reduced the time that he spent watching birds, especially in spring when his company shut down and he had more time to wander.

During the backyard bird count, he will look near his home in Schuylkill. Usually he finds chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, woodpeckers, blue jays and cardinals that live there year round. Winter migrants like juncos, tree sparrows, wrens and brown creepers often make his checklist.

If I am energetic and get out for some farm field birding, I may find species such as horned larks, snow buntings or even a rare Lapland longspur in corn stubble, Kruel said in an email while mentioning that buntings and longspurs nest in the arctic.

While 15 minutes is the minimum time for participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, there is no maximum.

You can report checklists of birds that you see every day of the count. Or several times a day.

Counting need not take place in your backyard, either. You can take walks in parks, woods, lake shores or wherever birds gather.

For me, and I think many other folks, birding is very addictive, Kruel said. The more you bird, the more you want to do it.
Asmussen said he uses drafting software to create designs, and mapping tools to scope out suitable locations to use as canvasses. Then with a compass, a rope for measuring and a team of friends or local students he sets about stamping out shapes in the snow, which can take up to three days depending on their size and intricacy. Asmussen said he got the idea while researching snow sculptures online and landed on snowshoe art by acclaimed artist Simon Beck, whose works have graced the mountainsides of Banff National Park, including a giant snowflake, a wolf and a maple leaf. Photo: AFP
The Telegraph

An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.
The Irish Coast Guard has told its volunteers not to take part in the viral dance Jerusalema challenge.

This comes as a response to a performance of the challenge which was posted online by volunteers from Dingles Coast Guard Unit.

As a result of this and several requests to participate in dance videos, management of the national Coast Guard sent a letter to all volunteers saying it is not permitted for units to produce dance videos for social media.

The letter, seen by Independent.ie, said units should not assemble for any reason other than for reasons central to a units operational objectives.

The Jerusalema dance challenge has become a worldwide viral sensation with law enforcement and other emergency workers showcasing their dance skills across the globe.

The Garda instalment in the viral craze became a huge hit online, receiving over a million views.

Read More

There was also a performance of the challenge by frontline workers last Friday on the Late Late Show.

The letter to Coast Guard volunteers says a key to risk control is the suspension of any activity not considered core to a units operational objectives.

Where likelihood of exposure to a hazard is increased, such as through unnecessary gatherings of unit personnel,this increases our likelihood risk rating and weakens our risk mitigation strategy.

Should the likelihood of exposure to COVID-19 unnecessarily increase, this may adversely affect our ability to retain our operational status and to continue with the limited return to training exercises, the letter continues.

I trust you understand the reasoning in this instance, and we thank you for your continued support throughout this challenging period, the letter concludes.


NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Genpact (NYSE: G), a global professional services firm focused on delivering digital transformation, today announced it is partnering with Massmart, a leading retailer in Africa, to transform Massmart's finance operations, leveraging digital technology and analytics to drive competitive growth.

Genpact will transform and manage Massmart's finance and accounting (F&A) services, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and defined activities in financial control, tax, treasury, and financial planning and analysis.

Genpact will combine its industry-leading F&A capabilities with its digital technology, domain and process expertise in retail and consumer goods, and experience managing operations for numerous Global Fortune 500 companies to standardize and automate Massmart's processes. Genpact will help Massmart reimagine finance operations, enabling new levels of transparency and real-time visibility into critical functions. As a result, Massmart can unlock savings to reinvest in growth and continued innovation.

"Partnering with Genpact provides the opportunity to establish a transaction processing center of excellence in South Africa, with the help of proven international best practices that will be beneficial not only to Massmart, but also for the career prospects of our associates who are part of the functions that Genpact will manage," said Mitch Slape, chief executive officer, Massmart.

Genpact will open F&A delivery centers in Johannesburg and Durban, South Africa. Massmart employees affected by this engagement will transfer to Genpact.

"Retail companies need fast, agile operations to respond quickly to ever-changing consumer spending and shopping habits, especially now as they face continued business challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic," said Tiger Tyagarajan, chief executive officer, Genpact. "We look forward to partnering with Massmart, bringing our expertise in digital technology and analytics to create new ways of working to support its growth strategy, building on the successes from our relationship with Walmart. We welcome our new South African associates, and are excited about the skills they bring to the Genpact team."

The engagement builds on Genpact's partnership with Walmart, Massmart's majority owner, where Genpact manages the global retailer's F&A operations in North America and Latin America.

About Massmart

Massmart powered by Walmart, comprises two Business Units operating 420 retail and wholesale stores, in 13 sub-Saharan countries. Through our widely-recognized, differentiated retail and wholesale formats, we have leading market shares in the General Merchandise, Liquor, Home Improvement and Wholesale Food markets. Our key foundations of high volume, low cost and operational excellence enable our price leadership.

About Genpact

Genpact (NYSE: G) is a global professional services firm that makes business transformation real. We drive digital-led innovation and digitally-enabled intelligent operations for our clients, guided by our experience running thousands of processes primarily for Global Fortune 500 companies. We think with design, dream in digital, and solve problems with data and analytics. Combining our expertise in end-to-end operations and our AI-based platform, Genpact Cora, we focus on the details  all 90,000+ of us. From New York to New Delhi and more than 30 countries in between, we connect every dot, reimagine every process, and reinvent companies' ways of working. We know that reimagining each step from start to finish creates better business outcomes. Whatever it is, we'll be there with you  accelerating digital transformation to create bold, lasting results because transformation happens here. Get to know us at Genpact.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Danielle D'Angelo

Genpact Media Relations  Americas

+1 914-336-7951

[email protected]

Siya Belliappa

Genpact Media Relations  India

+91 9823133365

[email protected]

SOURCE Genpact

Related Links

http://www.genpact.com


With all the attention we give to good cameras all over the Internet, it's funny that you don't actually need a good camera to be a good photographer.

A reader who prefers only to be known as K.C. sent me a tiny print that turns out to have been made with very modest means. He's been doing an OC/OL/OY project with an Apple iPhone XS, printing his favorites with Fuji Instax Mini Instant Film on a Fuji Instax Mini Link printer ($99). In 2021, it's kinda tough to get more basic and simple than that.

The sample he sent me, properly set in a mat of just-right proportions and sheathed in a sized Mylar sleeve, is certainly one indicator of success in the project:

The first task when shooting this way, of course, is finding images that work at the print's very small 1 3/4 x 2 3/8 (4.45 x 6 cm) size. That's a challenge, because not all images work small. Then, assuming an image has the power to draw the eye at that size, there's the problem of providing something more than just that simple eye-catching design. "PhiladelphiaItalian Market," K.C.'s title for the picture, has thata lovely graffito that says "NARROW STREET," light-on-dark to contrast with the dark-on-light shadow of the signpost. So there's something that rewards the eye on a closer look.

I like the divisions and balances of the design, like the brick details of the sunlit side near the corner and the way they echo the bricks showing through at the upper left. I like the color palette, simple but harmonizing.

The print is one that further illustrates a point I'll make later this week in another print crit.

I don't want to go on and on here; this isn't complicated. It's not a big deal, pun intended. But it's sensitively done and well realized despite its modest origin, and it has a coherence as a physical object that a lot of prints lack. I like it better now than when I first laid eyes on it, always a tough test with me. So, from me, a great big pat on the back to this little tiny print, and to K.C.

Mike

K.C. replies: Hi Mike, Thank you for your very kind words.

One of the silver linings of being stuck at home during COVID has been the opportunity to explore my neighborhood, Philadelphia's Italian Market. I'm consistently surprised by little scenes like this that feel like they are frozen in time. Taking on the OC/OL/OY project during COVID has been a nice motivation to stay creative even while being home most of the time. It's provided encouragement to pay attention to details that might otherwise be overlooked.

The Instax printer has been challenging to work with; it tends to push tones to the darker end of the scale. However, with some practice and a few tweaks to files before printing (adjusting black point, decreasing dynamic range) it's possible to get surprisingly nice results. Best of all, printing can be done from the comfort of my sofa, which is perfect for the OC/OL/OY project. I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the print! KC

Book o' This Week:

Pulitzer-prizewinner Isabel Wilkerson's greatly lauded book Caste: The origins of our discontents, a rare non-photography-related recommendation, might be the book of the historical moment in the United States. The above link takes you from TOP to Amazon. Here's the book at Amazon Canada. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.



Original contents copyright 2021 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)

Featured Comments from:

Fred Haynes: "K. C. has a good eye! The most important tool for any photographer."

Patrick Dodds: "Sometimes a picture is cleverly and beautifully seen. This is one of those times."

Stan B.: "Love it!"

Sharon: "I would definitely buy that. I like the photo a lot."

Keamu: "That is very well done. Brilliant. Kudos to KC."

Rodolfo Canet: "Frankly, I'm very impressed. I like the photograph, the presentation and the whole idea!"

Pi Manson: "Mike, thank you for doing these Print Crit posts. They are absolutely my favourite posts on your wonderful blog."
Bollywood actor and Raj Kapoor's son Rajiv Kapoor passed away on Tuesday. He was 58.

According to reports, he suffered a massive heart attack, following which he was rushed to a hospital.

Rajiv's sister-in-law Neetu Kapoor took to Instagram to confirm the news. Sharing a picture of the actor, Neetu Kapoor wrote, "RIP".

Rajiv Kapoor's brother Randhir Kapoor also confirmed the news while speaking to a leading daily, stating, "I have lost my youngest brother, Rajiv. He is no more. The doctors tried their best but could not save him," he said adding, "I am at the hospital, waiting for his body."

Rajiv Kapoor was a part of Bollywood's Kapoor clan. He was the brother of Randhir Kapoor, Rima Kapoor, Ritu Nanda, and late Rishi Kapoor.

Rajiv Kapoor made his acting debut in 1983 with Ek Jaan Hain Hum. He was seen as the leading actor in father Raj Kapoor's last directorial venture Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985). His most notable being Aasmaan (1984), Lover Boy (1985), Zabardast (1985) and Hum To Chale Pardes (1988).

His last film appearance was in Zimmedaar (1990) after which he turned to producing and directing films.

Rajiv Kapoor was reportedly set to make a return to movies after 28 years with Ashutosh Gowariker's Toolsidas Junior. The film was announced in December last year with Sanjay Dutt in the lead role.





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With COVID guidelines banning large audiences, some Kenyan performers have taken to the streets to earn a living. One group, the Clan Acrobats, has been entertaining motorists stuck in traffic with juggling, balancing, and tumbling. Mukelwa Hlatshwayo reports from Nairobi.


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BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary will start vaccinating people suffering no chronic diseases with Russia's Sputnik COVID-19 vaccine soon, the surgeon general said on Tuesday, becoming the first European Union country to use it.

Cecilia Muller said the first 2,800 doses of Sputnik would be given to those who have registered for inoculations, and that as Hungary was striving for "maximum safety" those who have a chronic disease will not get the shot.

"It... can be used with appropriate caution in case of certain chronic diseases," she told a briefing.

Hungary's drug regulator granted the shot emergency use approval rather than waiting for the EU's European Medicines Agency (EMA) to give it the go-ahead.

Hungary has also granted approval to Chinese company Sinopharm's vaccine.

The country of around 10 million people is scheduled to receive 600,000 doses of Sputnik and another half a million doses of Sinopharm's vaccine this month, potentially allowing it to speed up its inoculation programme despite delays in Western vaccine deliveries.

EU countries have so far relied almost entirely on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine but Hungary's drug regulator approved Sputnik V for use last month.

Muller said that some 291,396 Hungarians - healthcare workers and the most vulnerable among the elderly - had so far received at least one shot of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Hungary will also start using AstraZeneca vaccine this week to inoculate people aged between 18 and 60 who are suffering from chronic diseases.

(Reporting by Krisztina Than; Editing by Gareth Jones)
<p paraeid="{3cd10bd2-d51d-42d6-bb29-809f0871a953}{1}" paraid="1601211862">Australians will receive a certificate as proof of receiving a coronavirus vaccine when a mass&nbsp;inoculation&nbsp;program starts later this month. Foreign&nbsp;travelers&nbsp;are also likely to need similar confirmation of a COVID-19&nbsp;shot&nbsp;when Australia&rsquo;s international borders finally reopen.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p paraeid="{3cd10bd2-d51d-42d6-bb29-809f0871a953}{65}" paraid="816052442">Australia has spent millions of dollars on public health campaigns urging the community to have a COVID-19&nbsp;inoculation.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is hesitation in some quarters because of the speed with which treatments have been developed, but authorities expect&nbsp;the vast majority of&nbsp;Australians to be vaccinated.&nbsp;</p> <p paraeid="{3cd10bd2-d51d-42d6-bb29-809f0871a953}{65}" paraid="816052442">The elderly and other priority groups will start to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech&nbsp;vaccine later this month, while the AstraZeneca drug is expected to be approved by Australian regulators within weeks.&nbsp;</p> <p paraeid="{3cd10bd2-d51d-42d6-bb29-809f0871a953}{95}" paraid="1937961981">Recipients will&nbsp;be given&nbsp;proof that they have received the treatment.&nbsp;</p> <p paraeid="{3cd10bd2-d51d-42d6-bb29-809f0871a953}{95}" paraid="1937961981">Vaccine certificates are expected to allow Australians easier access to nursing homes and hospitals, which have strict disease controls because of the vulnerability of residents and patients.</p> <p paraeid="{3cd10bd2-d51d-42d6-bb29-809f0871a953}{105}" paraid="1722321998">The so-called virus passports could also give&nbsp;Australians&nbsp;permission to cross state internal borders&nbsp;in the event of&nbsp;future lockdowns.&nbsp;&nbsp;Many were closed during the pandemic&nbsp;to&nbsp;curb the spread of the coronavirus, but families were&nbsp;separated&nbsp;and businesses disrupted.&nbsp;The documents could also&nbsp;assist&nbsp;with international travel.&nbsp;</p> <p paraeid="{3cd10bd2-d51d-42d6-bb29-809f0871a953}{153}" paraid="1825680888">The government hopes to offer all Australians a vaccination by the end of October.</p> <p paraeid="{3cd10bd2-d51d-42d6-bb29-809f0871a953}{153}" paraid="1825680888">Government&nbsp;Services&nbsp;Minister Stuart Robert says the documentation will be easily accessible.&nbsp;</p> <p paraeid="{3cd10bd2-d51d-42d6-bb29-809f0871a953}{197}" paraid="1219487386">&ldquo;The key thing for Australians to know is they will have a record.&nbsp;&nbsp;They will have a digital and paper certificate.&nbsp;&nbsp;For some&nbsp;89&nbsp;percent of Australians who have a smartphone, they will be able to access that digital certificate in their smartphone, download it onto their phone as a permanent record.&nbsp;They will be able to print it out.&nbsp;Every Australian will have a record of their vaccination should they need it,&quot; Robert said.</p> <p paraeid="{3cd10bd2-d51d-42d6-bb29-809f0871a953}{243}" paraid="699556840">Opposition politicians are wary of the government&rsquo;s competence to deliver the passports properly. They insist it has a poor&nbsp;track record&nbsp;of delivering COVID-19 support services online.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p paraeid="{3cd10bd2-d51d-42d6-bb29-809f0871a953}{255}" paraid="1105056483">Foreign&nbsp;travelers&nbsp;are also likely to need similar confirmation of a coronavirus injection when Australia&rsquo;s international borders finally reopen. They were closed&nbsp;last&nbsp;March.&nbsp;</p> <p paraeid="{ba056c84-5b45-4c1d-bae2-0f5684c8c16a}{18}" paraid="1592841582">Australian citizens and permanent residents&nbsp;are allowed to&nbsp;return home, but face between 14 and&nbsp;24 days&nbsp;in mandatory hotel quarantine at their own expense when they return.&nbsp;</p> <p paraeid="{ba056c84-5b45-4c1d-bae2-0f5684c8c16a}{36}" paraid="1822660510">Australia has recorded 28,850 coronavirus infections, and&nbsp;909 people have died, according to the health department.&nbsp;&nbsp;It estimates there are 52 active cases across the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p paraeid="{ba056c84-5b45-4c1d-bae2-0f5684c8c16a}{54}" paraid="1332523006">The nation&rsquo;s virus strategy has relied on mass testing, sophisticated contact tracing, strict&nbsp;lockdowns&nbsp;and restrictions on international travel.&nbsp;</p>
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Flexible workspace provider 'The Executive Centre' plans to expand its network in India in 2021.

Nidhi Marwah, Group Managing Director- South Asia, The Executive Centre said the company will investing over Rs 100 crore in capital expenditure in the year.

"We will be investing over Rs 100 crore as capex to set up five new co-working centers across Bengaluru, Gurugram, Chennai and Pune," Marwah said.

Out of the five planned centres three have been opened since the start of 2021 and are operational. One more centre in Gurgaon will be operational by March and another will be open in Bangalore by end of February, 2021, she said. The Executive Centre currently has 33 centres in the country.

With the co-working segment growing rapidly in India she exuded confidence that the trend is likely to continue despite the short-term disruption caused by pandemic and the lockdown.

"We have already taken on lease nearly 2 lakh sq ft area of office space to start these facilities. These five centres, which have a capacity of around 2,300 desks, would become operational by March 2021," Marwah added.

On the state of the co-working sector, she said that in the recent past, the industry has posted remarkable growth with increased foreign investments in India leading to infrastructural developments helping big multinational corporations to choose India as their office hub.

With last year being unprecedented in many ways, numerous industries and business operations incorporated agile strategies in their business continuity plans and introduced distinguished modes of working to enhance their workforce and make the best use of the new environment.

"We see growing number of corporates opting for flexible workspace facilities to expand their business and support the spoke-hub module. You can say adaptability was the only way to push the industry forward and The Executive Centre is always in support of their customer in whatever they need to do," she said.

With over 135 centres across 14 countries, the company have an annual turnover in excess of $275 million.

"India alone as a market generated a revenue of $35 million during the last financial year (as of June 2020) and we expect the momentum to grow even more in the future," she said.
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(Natural News) France has rejected the implementation a third Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown. According to Prime Minister Jean Castex, the country could not justify the economic, social, human  and sometimes even health costs of another severe restriction upon French life.

During a weekly press conference that provided the country with updates regarding the situation of the outbreak, Castex said that the country was stabilizing its new infection rates and a rollout of coronavirus vaccines was imminent.

We have kept the epidemic under control while preserving the economic and social life of our country as much as possible, said Castex, who told reporters that French lawmakers have deemed another lockdown unjustifiable.

That said, Castex stated that if the countrys coronavirus situation deteriorates, it would not hesitate to do what is necessary.

While the prime minister pledged to not impose stricter lockdown restrictions, he also refused to shed any of the countrys current restrictions. Some of these restrictions include keeping cafes and restaurants closed except for accepting takeout orders, shutting down most large shopping centers, maintaining the tough border restrictions especially for non-European Union travelers and keeping in place the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. national curfew.

Castex also used this opportunity to point out that the French economy is a lot more open than those of many of its neighbors. He also called upon companies to enforce more work from home arrangements for their employees.

Working from home is imperative whenever possible, he said.

Late on Thursday, Feb. 4, France reported 23,448 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus. This is down from the 26,362 reported the previous day. The countrys health ministry also reported 360 COVID-19 deaths on Thursday and 357 on Wednesday. Furthermore, coronavirus-related hospitalizations are on the decline, with the number of people currently in hospitals with COVID down 187 over the previous 24 hours.

While Metropolitan France (all French territory geographically within Europe) has been saved from stricter lockdown measures, the French overseas territory of Mayotte, an archipelago in the southern Indian Ocean near Madagascar with a population of around 270,000, has been placed under a three-week lockdown due to being hit by the South African variant of the coronavirus. (Related: Vaccine makers express confidence that their shots can take on new mutant strain of the same coronavirus their colleagues engineered in the first place.)

France relying heavily on future vaccine rollout to get economy back to normal

France, like many of its European neighbors, has begun its vaccination program. But its own rollout has been very slow. Castex acknowledged this, and excused the slow start to difficulties inherent in rolling out vaccines to older people.

France is focusing its efforts on vaccinating senior citizens. Castex said that, by the end of the week, every single nursing home resident who wants to be vaccinated will have received their first jab.

He further explained that the country will stick to the three- to four-week gap between the first and second shots for those receiving either the Moderna or the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. The country would rather stick to this program rather than lengthening the gap to get more people their first shots. According to Castex, this method is much more dangerous.

Castex added that the French National Authority for Health recently approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for use. This means that an additional four million people will receive their first shot of the coronavirus vaccine by the end of February.

French vaccination centers are also opening an additional 1.7 million appointments, which will be available by the end of March. These bookings will be opened to all eligible receivers by next week.

Vaccination is a speed race, said Castex, but it shouldnt be done at the expense of quality and safety. The prime minister reaffirmed his and the governments goal of vaccinating everybody over the age of 65 by the end of May, and all adults by the end of summer.

To reinforce the countrys ability to quickly vaccinate its citizens, President Emmanuel Macron pledged on Tuesday to open four sites in Metropolitan France and the EU that will manufacture coronavirus vaccines for domestic use.

Minister for Industry Agnes Pannier-Runacher said on Wednesday that the first vaccine production site will open in March and it will produce the Moderna vaccine. The second site will be up and running in April and it will produce the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

And in May, we should be producing the CureVac vaccine, for which we are awaiting approval, she said during an interview with French radio network RTL. She is referring to the vaccine being developed by German biopharmaceutical company CureVac N.V.

Finally, the fourth site will come from French pharmaceutical company Sanofi, which is in the process of converting one of its facilities in Germany for vaccine production, according to Macron. This site will produce the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, even though Sanofi is currently developing its own vaccine.

French Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian also said the country was open to using Russias Sputnik V vaccine so long as it meets the European Unions standards and general scientific norms.

If Sputnik is confirmed and approved by the European Medicines Agency and Frances top health authority, there will be no impediment to its distribution, he said during an appearance on the radio Europe 1.

Learn more about the lockdowns all over Europe and the vaccines being distributed by governments by reading the latest articles at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Bloomberg.com

France24.com 1

Reuters.com

France24.com 2

France24.com 3

Tesla China, which is set to design a new compact $25,000 Tesla in Shanghai, will eventually sell the model worldwide, Teslarati reported on Tuesday, citing a recent interview of Tesla China's President Tom Zhu with Chinese state-affiliated media outlet Xinhua Net.

According to the executive, Tesla China's new compact and cheaper electric vehicle will be designed at the Shanghai factory's research and development (R&D) center, which is already under construction.

"This R&D center is also the first Tesla R&D center outside the United States. The research and development center has all necessary disciplines, covering vehicle design, vehicle engineering, vehicle development, and vehicle testing," Zhu told Xinhua Net.

Tesla China's ultimate goal is to design and manufacture an original vehicle in China and to sell it outside China as well.

"We will provide very good conditions to facilitate our R&D Engineers working towards our ultimate goal. The ultimate goal has been mentioned on many public occasions. In the future, we want to design, develop and produce an original model in China, manufactured here and sold to the whole world. This R&D center is the starting point of the goal," Zhu told the Chinese news outlet, as carried by Teslarati.

Earlier this year, reports emerged that Tesla might be closer to producing the US$25,000 electric vehicle sooner than the market thought. According to documents in Chinese about the Gigafactory in Shanghai shared on Twitter by Tesla fans, the Tesla "Model 25k" could be coming out of China as soon as 2022. The previous assumption was that so cheap a Tesla would hit the market in 2024-2025, according to Tesla Facts.

"Tesla could import them to Europe and offer them for 24,900 - addressing vast majority of the European automotive market by revenue," Tesla Facts says, noting that by using Model 3 chassis as basis "they won't compromise on safety."

By OPC Markets

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
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As of Monday, the Huntsville Hospital system is caring for less than half of the number of in-patients it had during the holiday spike. After hitting a peak of more than 500, the number is now at 214.

The hospital's Vice President of Operations, Tracy Doughty, said the decline is a step forward not just for North Alabama, but also the hospital itself.

Doughty said the drop in hospitalizations means more people are following CDC guidelines.

He also said this allows the hospital to start the process of resuming elective surgeries, after being put on hold for several months. Doughty said it's up to doctors to let them know which procedures need to happen first. Once those are complete, they'll move forward one facility at a time.

Doughty said they'll start with patients at Women's and Children's, then the Governors Medical Tower, and then look at options to do more at the main campus too. To start, doctors will determine the urgency in which patients need to have the surgery and work with them to get it scheduled.

Doughty said after only being able to do emergency and out-patient surgeries, this is a big step forward.

I think its a good sign to the community, you know, that were getting back to normal. Dont want it to signal the end of this fight against COVID," said Doughty. "We need to definitely maintain our social distance, be safe, wash our hands and all those things weve learned over the last year almost, but we can see theres a light at the end of the tunnel.

He suggests getting in contact with your doctor if you previously had an elective surgery that was put on hold.

Doughty said the Huntsville Hospital is still busy treating patients with respiratory illnesses, but he said they've been able to consolidate the COVID units and open up beds for other patients.

The lower number of COVID patients means the hospital now has the flexibility to move their staff where they're needed according to Doughty.

Staff is working well in their departments, were able to move people around to help with the vaccine clinic, but as surgery opens back up, well move some of those folks back to the surgery areas, and weve got folks already signed up to help," said Doughty.

Doughty said it's exciting to see the number of COVID patients go down, but everyone needs to continue to wear masks and practice social distancing so the number can stay down.

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WUHAN, China - The coronavirus most likely first appeared in humans after jumping from an animal, a team of international and Chinese scientists looking for the origins of COVID-19 said Tuesday, saying an alternate theory that the virus leaked from a Chinese lab was unlikely.

Peter Ben Embarek, of the World Health Organization team holds up a chart showing pathways of transmission of the virus during a joint press conference held at the end of the WHO mission in Wuhan, China, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

WUHAN, China - The coronavirus most likely first appeared in humans after jumping from an animal, a team of international and Chinese scientists looking for the origins of COVID-19 said Tuesday, saying an alternate theory that the virus leaked from a Chinese lab was unlikely.

A closely watched visit by World Health Organization experts to Wuhan  the Chinese city where the first coronavirus cases were discovered  did not dramatically change the current understanding of the early days of the pandemic, said Peter Ben Embarek, the leader of the WHO mission.

But it did "add details to that story," he said at a news conference as the group wrapped up a four-week visit to the city.

Liang Wannian speaks during a joint-press conference with the World Health Organization team at the end of the WHO mission in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

And it allowed the joint Chinese-WHO team to further explore the lab leak theory  which former U.S. President Donald Trump and officials from his administration had put forward without evidence  and decide it was unlikely. The Wuhan Institute of Virology is home to many different virus samples, leading to allegations that it may have been the source of the original outbreak, whether on purpose or accidentally.

Embarek, a WHO food safety and animal disease expert, said experts now consider the possibility of such a leak so improbable that it will not be suggested as an avenue of future study. But another team member, Danish scientist Thea Koelsen Fischer, told reporters that team members could not rule out the possibility of further investigation and new leads.

China had already strongly rejected the possibility of a leak and has promoted other theories. The Chinese and foreign experts considered several ideas for how the disease first ended up in humans, leading to a pandemic that has now killed more than 2.3 million people worldwide.

Embarek said the initial findings suggest the most likely pathway the virus followed was from a bat to another animal and then to humans, adding that would require further research.

Marion Koopmans, right, and Peter Ben Embarek of a World Health Organization team chat each other during a joint press conference at the end of their mission to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

"The findings suggest that the laboratory incidents hypothesis is extremely unlikely to explain the introduction of the virus to the human population," he said.

Asked why, Embarek said accidental releases are extremely rare and that the team's review of the Wuhan institute's lab operations indicated it would be hard for anything to escape from it.

He also noted that there were no reports of this virus in any lab anywhere before the pandemic. Liang Wannian, the head of the Chinese side, also emphasized that, saying there was no sample of it in the Wuhan institute.

The mission was intended to be an initial step in the process of understanding the origins of the virus, which scientists have posited may have passed to humans through a wild animal, such as a pangolin or bamboo rat. Transmission directly from bats to humans or through the trade in frozen food products are also possibilities, Embarek said.

A WHO-China Joint Study Press Conference is held at the end of a WHO mission to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

The WHO team's visit is politically sensitive for Beijing, which is concerned about being blamed for alleged missteps in its early response to the outbreak. An AP investigation has found that the Chinese government put limits on research into the outbreak and ordered scientists not to speak to reporters.

Still, one member of the WHO team, British-born zoologist Peter Daszak, told The Associated Press last week that they enjoyed a greater level of openness than they had anticipated, and that they were granted full access to all sites and personnel they requested.

Koelsen Fischer said she did not get to see the raw data and had to rely on an analysis of the data that was presented to her. But she said that would be true in most countries.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. looked forward to seeing the report and the underlying data from the WHO investigation.

Marion Koopmans, right, and Peter Ben Embarek, center, of the World Health Organization team say farewell to their Chinese counterpart Liang Wannian, left, after a WHO-China Joint Study Press Conference held at the end of the WHO mission in Wuhan, China, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

The team  which includes experts from 10 countries who arrived on Jan. 14  visited the Huanan Seafood Market, the site of an early cluster of cases in late 2019.

Marion Koopmans, a Dutch virologist on the team, said that some animals at the market were susceptible or suspected to be susceptible to the virus, including rabbits and bamboo rats. And some could be traced to farms or traders in regions that are home to the bats that carry the closest related virus to the one that causes COVID-19.

She said the next step would be to look more closely at farms.

Liang, the head of the Chinese team, said the virus also appeared to have been spreading in parts of the city other than the market, so it remains possible that the virus originated elsewhere.

The team found no evidence that the disease was spreading widely any earlier than the initial outbreak in the second half of December 2019.

"We havent been able to fully do the research, but there is no indication there were clusters before what we saw happen in the later part of December in Wuhan," Liang said.

The visit by the WHO team took months to negotiate. China only agreed to it amid international pressure at the WHO's World Health Assembly meeting last May, and Beijing has continued to resist calls for a strictly independent investigation.

While China has weathered some localized resurgences of infection since getting the outbreak under control last year, life in Wuhan itself has largely returned to normal.

Associated Press writers Ken Moritsugu in Beijing and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.
PRESIDENT Hussein Mwinyi has promised to continue appointing women to various leadership positions provided they have unquestionable integrity, competence and required education level.

In an interview recently, the Head of State revealed that whenever he assigned a woman to any leadership role what mattered most was her ability to deliver.

He noted that though he was determined to ensure that there was the representation of women in a number of posts in the government, such posts would not be distributed without considering one's commitment, skills and experience.

"Empowering women was one of my pledges when I was campaigning for presidency for they are our loyal voters. I am very careful when it comes to making appointments. I always include them based on the qualifications they have," he said.

Dr Mwinyi added: "I picked a number of women to form my cabinet, some are permanent secretaries and the chief secretary is a woman...all appointments were carefully done, they are all qualified and I will continue appointing more and working with them."

President Mwinyi appointed Ms Zena Ahmed Said on December 31, 2020 to become Secretary of the Revolutionary Council and Chief Secretary, replacing Dr Abdulhamid Yahya, who retired from public service. She becomes the first woman to hold the position.

Before her new post, Ms Zena served as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy in Mainland Tanzania.

Dr Mwinyi noted that it was fortunate that the chief secretary was a woman, however, what pushed him to appoint her was not her gender, instead, her appointment was based on her experience, credentials and education level.
With this new distribution center, SupplyHouse.com will improve delivery times by one to two days in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.

"The SupplyHouse.com team is excited to announce that the new home for our fourth distribution center will be in Dallas, Texas," expressed Eric Sherman, Operations Captain at SupplyHouse.com. "When our operations begin in Dallas, TX, we'll be able to service 57% of our customers within one day and 97% of our customers within two days. We're excited to get started and looking forward to having a presence for our customers in the local Dallas area," Sherman continued.

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Ayushmann Khurrana Shares A Cute Family Photo From Kaziranga National Park

Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who is currently shooting in the northeast for Anubhav Sinha's spy thriller Anek, shared a family photograph from Kaziranga, Assam, on Monday.

The Dream Girl actor took to his Instagram handle and shared a picture with his wife Tahira Kashyap and kids, Virajveer, Varushka Khurrana as he enjoyed a safari at the Kaziranga National Park. In the caption, he wrote "Gypsies of Kaziranga. Feb 2021." The post from the 36-year-old actor received more than four and a half lakh likes within three hours of it being posted.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk)

Anek marks Anubhav's second collaboration with Ayushmann after the critically-acclaimed 2019 film Article 15. Helmed by the Mulk filmmaker, Anek is being bankrolled by Anubhav and Bhushan Kumar under Benaras Media Works and T-Series.
ROCHESTER, Minn.  A Rochester man is sentenced to prison for the killing of an Iraqi refugee.

Sao Yim Jr., 27, was ordered Monday to spend 15 years behind bars for the murder of Ahmed Muafaq Abdulhu Al Naddf, who was found shot to death in the 2800 block of Charles Court NW on March 12, 2018. Yim Pleaded was convicted of 2nd degree murder and possession of a firearm after being convicted of a crime of violence in October 2020.

Yim will get credit for two years, nine months, and 15 days already served.

Eric Tyler Lee of Rochester pleaded guilty to aiding an offender in connection with Al Naddfs death. Police say Lee was with Yim when Yim shot Al Naddf, lied about what happened, and took Al Naddfs cell phone after he was killed. Lee was sentenced to 10 years of probation in May 2018.
The Camp Hill School District on Monday night approved a resolution at its virtual board meeting to examine the implementation of a five-day in-person instructional model that would include the option of remote learning.

The resolution calls for a summary of the information the board gathers to be provided to the public on or before a March 1 work session.

A special board meeting will be held on March 29 for the board to evaluate the proposed learning model, which would then be voted on at an April 5 meeting.

Before the school board voted on the resolution, it heard from around 30 parents, teachers and other members of the community for more than an hour.

Some of the parents who spoke thought the district was moving too slowly.

Camp Hill resident Jonathan Casey, who is in favor of five-day in-person learning, said that there should be a plan to appease parents who are in favor of in-person learning as well as those more comfortable with remote learning. He said that the school district should have two-, three- and four-year plans and that these should have already been done.

We should have a long-term plan, he said. This virus isnt going anywhere.

Other parents were in favor of taking the appropriate time to reach a decision.

We urgently need to conduct a thorough and thoughtful investigation, Camp Hill resident Andrew Riley said. We urgently need a new plan. We know more about COVID now than we did last fall. We know more about how to minimize the risks to our students, teachers and staff inside our four different schools. We also know more about how Camp Hill schools can offer remote instruction and in-person instruction in light of the pandemic. And this proposal allows for deliberate and transparent decision making and shows trust in our leadership team.

At the moment, Camp Hill students can go to school in-person for up to three days a week.

A majority of the parents who spoke at Monday nights meeting were in favor of the move to five-day in-person learning.

Matt McKnight, another resident, said that he doesnt believe that the district should stop offering remote learning but is in favor of it offering in-person learning five days a week.

I expect our districts leadership to come up with a plan to offer five days a week for in-person [learning], McKnight said. And frankly ... that plan should already be in effect. I expect that plan to offer and deliver the excellent education that this community expects for all learners remote and in-person.

Other parents spoke in favor of sticking with the current plan.

Beth Kern, who said she was speaking on behalf of 30 families who are taking part in remote learning, said the group was in favor of the recommendation.

We are asking directly that you maintain our current model of education, a compromise that is a hybrid of blended and remote learners, which offers the most equitable opportunity for all Camp Hill School District students at this time, she said.

In a letter dated Feb. 4, the Camp Hill Education Association Executive Council urged parents to contact school board members to stay the course, saying it had significant concerns.

Other parents were disappointed at the divide that has developed on social media between those parents in favor of five-day in-school learning and those who are not.

Its embarrassing and its shameful to watch the fighting that is taking place daily in the community thats supposed to be so tight-knit, said parent Alyssa Bold, who said she was in favor of moving back to five-day in-person learning. Theres a serious divide being created between hybrid and virtual parents, between teachers and even students, and its really driving the community apart and that concerns me.

The vote took place near the end of the nearly three-hour meeting. Eight of the nine school board members voted in favor of the resolution while Gregory Lamay, assistant secretary of the board, voted present.

I would implore that at our April 5th meeting that a final decision is made so that we are not kicking this can down the road even further, Lamay said.

School board member Laurie Kennedy noted that the board had been struggling with 5-4 votes for months and she said that the resolution isnt what everyone would prefer. But she is hoping that the resolution will bring the board closer together.

This resolution ... is not perfect, she said. I dont think that this resolution reflects the perfect solution that any particular board member would put forth if we were asked individually what would you want to do right now. But, Im hoping this resolution represents unity among the board tonight.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Equity and equity-linked mutual fund schemes saw a net outflow of Rs 9,253.22 crore in January, showed data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) on Tuesday.

The net outflow stood at Rs 10,147.12 crore in December, Rs 12,917.36 crore in November, Rs 2,724.95 crore in October and Rs 734.40 crore in September.

However, the contributions through systematic investment grew to Rs 8,023.39 crore last month.

The SIP inflows had risen to Rs 8,418.11 crore in December from Rs 7,302.16 crore in November.

"Inflows continued via the SIP route, as seen from the rising number of new SIP registrations coupled with robust monthly SIP contribution," said N.S. Venkatesh, Chief Executive of AMFI.

"On the debt side, owing to regulatory measures to ease liquidity, and also the stance to hold on to the policy rates, some of the debt categories like 'Corporate Bond Fund', 'Banking & PSU Fund', 'Short Duration Funds' have seen positive flows." According to Venkatesh, even the 'Credit Risk Fund' is now moving into positive flows, given that the risk-return dynamics is working in favour of retail investors.

"All this has resulted in Mutual Fund Industry AAUMs breaching all time high at INR 31.84 lakh crore."
Pointing to the case of a child expelled from the Bay State to Guatemala, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts announced Tuesday it is suing the federal government over a Trump-era policy expelling asylum-seekers from the United States under the auspices of a public health act.

The ACLU of Massachusetts and Fish & Richardson P.C., a Boston-based law firm, have filed a new lawsuit challenging former President Donald Trumps policy using the Public Health Service Act in Title 42 of the U.S. Code to expel asylum-seekers from the countrys southern border, even if they are fleeing danger, according to a statement from the civil liberties advocacy organization.

The suit is an effort to bring seven asylum-seekers to safety, including four children, who, the ACLU claims, were unlawfully expelled by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in October and November last year under the Title 42 order.

Throughout his presidency, Trump dismantled legal protections for people seeking safety in our country - and under the guise of public health, he caused more suffering for asylum-seekers, said Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. Our fight for these families continues, until and unless the Biden administration ends this cruel practice once and for all.

Per his administrations policy, the former Republican president authorized DHS officials to detain and expel migrants, including unaccompanied minors and families. The ACLU accuses the federal government of doing so without following any procedural requirements of U.S. immigration law.

Between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2020, U.S. Border Patrol made nearly 308,000 expulsions under Title 42, despite the fact that the public health act within the U.S. Code authorizes only quarantines, not expulsions from the country, according to the ACLU.

Under the act, the federal government is authorized to aid state and local authorities in the enforcement of quarantine regulations to prevent and suppress communicable diseases.

To date, Democratic President Joe Biden has not repealed the Trump administrations Title 42 order, according to the organization, though his administration has asserted it is not its policy to expel unaccompanied children.

Public health experts have also criticized the rule, noting that it singles out asylum-seekers without any public health rationale, the organization pointed out.

In November, the ACLU won a preliminary injunction in a class action suit that challenged the Title 42 order on behalf of unaccompanied children seeking protection in the U.S. Two months later, a federal appeals court stayed the injunction, allowing unaccompanied minors to be expelled as the case is litigated.

Last month, the ACLU filed another class action suit seeking to stop the expulsion of migrant families under Title 42, according to the organization.

One plaintiff in the suit is an unaccompanied child, who, facing persecution and violence, fled her home in Guatemala to seek safety with family members in Massachusetts, the ACLU said.

Instead of referring the girl to an immigration judge, though - consistent with protections in effect for unaccompanied children - DHS is accused of detaining her and putting her on a plane back to her home country, according to the ACLU.

Other plaintiffs include two Central American families, who, the ACLU claimed, were expelled and left stranded in dangerous Mexican border cities, despite their pleas to U.S. officials for help.

It is an honor to work with the ACLU on this important case, said Adam Kessel, the principal who is leading the Fish & Richardson team. We are proud of the work we are doing to reunite families seeking legal refuge in the U.S. Many families in our immigration system are fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries and are forced to risk their lives by being expelled to dangerous areas under the unlawful Title 42 order. We look forward to advocating for these brave asylum-seekers in court.

Related Content:
New Yorks highest court refused to reopen a mortgage fraud case against former Trump campaign head Paul Manafort, sticking to the lower courts previous rulings that prosecuting Manafort for financial crimes similar to those ruled on by a federal court amounted to double jeopardy. The case against Manafort was first brought in March 2019 and, like other state-originated legal proceedings, was widely considered to be part of an effort to hold the Trump aide accountable in the event that he was pardoned at the end of Trumps presidency. The crux of the case was that Manafort had falsified business records to get loans, but a New York court said the charges were essentially the same as the federal bank fraud case and that Manafort could not be tried twice for the same crime. Last year, an appeals court agreed with the lower court decision.

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Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., however, filed an appeal after then-President Donald Trump pardoned Manafort, who was convicted of fraud in 2018 stemming from the Russia investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller, and was serving a 7-year sentence in a Pennsylvania federal prison. As part of the federal case, Manafort pleaded guilty to a host of crimes, including undisclosed foreign lobbying and witness tampering, and was ultimately found guilty of tax and bank fraud. On the day of Manaforts sentencing, Vance announced a 16-count slate of state charges.

The state court threw out the fraud charges on double jeopardy grounds, prompting Vance, during the initial appeal, to argue that Manafort had not been held accountable for the charges filed in New York. In the most recent effort to revive the case, prosecutors had hoped the New York Court of Appeals would buy the argument that the case being pursued in New York was legally distinct from the federal bank fraud case, but the court denied the motion.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Monday, MP Claudius Toontje Buncamper of the USP faction in parliament sent a letter to Minister of Justice, the honorable Anna Richardson, stating that it has come to his attention that boats registered in Anguilla were picking up and dropping off passengers at the pier in the Simpson Bay lagoon Airport ferry dock. The passengers are taken to Anguilla for stays at hotels and or rented properties. Under normal circumstances, the MP said, he would have no problem with this practice, but while this is allowed to go on, boats registered in St. Maarten and other boats are prohibited by the Anguillan authorities from taking passengers to Anguilla or on day trips to the uninhabited islands around Anguilla. The MP considers this to be a one-sided and unfair practice with country St. Maarten being at a disadvantage.

MP Buncamper questioned if the justice ministry has any knowledge of this practice and wonders if there are plans to rectify the situation. The MP also question who authorized or permitted the Anguillan boats to pick up and drop off passengers destined to Anguilla, at the pier of the Simpson Bay lagoon Airport ferry dock, while St. Maarten boats are not allowed to do the same. In his letter to the minister, the MP asked if such activities are taking place at other locations around the island, and how long this unfair practice is intended to continue. Does country St. Maarten benefit from the revenues generated from these boat trips?, MP Buncamper posed in his letter and enquired if the justice ministry had communicated or has been in contact with the Anguillan authorities regarding the ongoing practices.

Has your ministry been informed of any St. Maarten boatowner(s), or any other boat owners, who may have been denied entry to Anguilla or to the uninhabited islands around Anguilla? MP Buncamper suggested that contact be made with the Marine Industry to confirm if any such cases do exists. MP Buncamper also enquired into the role of the Coastguards in this particular matter, while he awaits the response from the minister of justice.
Turkish authorities are probing a mysterious monolith about 10 feet high, spotted in Sanliurfa province, southeast of the country by a farmer on Friday. The shiny metal block was found erected near the UNESCO World Heritage site named Gobekli Tepe, according to sources of The Associated Press. The curious structure appeared to be of megalithic origin, and had a message emblazoned in the old Turkey script that read: Look at the sky, see the moon. The three-meter-high metallic tower donned a complex structure form that seemed to strike resemblance from thousands of years past Stonehedge era archaeology during the 10th millennium BC. Gendarmes were investigating CCTV footage and inspecting vehicles to determine who transported and installed the monolith, Turkish media said Monday. Turkish police officers were deployed to guard the structure that mysteriously appeared in an open field.

The unclaimed monolith first appeared in a Utah desert, then a Romanian mountainside, followed by Corona Heights Park, San Francisco, and the rest of the world, at strange locations. A metal monolith had also popped up outside a Pittsburgh candy store, which mysteriously disappeared. The business owner had then installed a replacement monolith in order to attract the worlds attention to support the struggling small businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We rebuilt another, the store wrote in an online post, adding, We are honoured by the overwhelmingly positive response to the hundreds of people to drove to the Strip today to take a selfie and see our monolith. A similar structure was spotted on the Compton beach of the Isle of Wight by beach-goers.

Read: Monolith Appears On English Island After Disappearing From Romania And Utah

Read: After Utah And Romania, Similar Mysterious Monolith Appears At California's Pine Mountain

[Credit: Bekir Seyhanli/IHA via AP. Turkish police officers guard a monolith, found on an open field near Sanliurfa, southeastern Turkey, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021.]

Helicopter crew spots mysterious monolith near UNESCO site

The strange metal object, which the Utah state employees spotted in a remote area of federal lands, sparked conspiracy theories, as people worldwide associated the solitary block of stone with an alien civilization. The first-ever installation was found erected on canyons rocky floor on November 18, 2020, when a helicopter crew was counting bighorn sheep from the air and they spotted strange metal down in the desert. Utah Department for Public Safety in a statement had speculated that it was, perhaps, a work of a new wave artist or a space odyssey buff, but no one came forward to claim the art. Shortly, the metal got associated with the portrayal in a 1968 science fiction film by Stanley Kubrick, in which, a monolith of extra-terrestrial origin appears mysteriously. Internet launched theories about aliens paying visit or conveying a message as several such structures continue to appear and disappear in different parts of the world.

Read: 'Gingerbread' Monolith In San Francisco Appears After Disappearing From Romania, Utah

Read: Monolith Curiosity Now Turns Into A Meme Fest As Netizens Bombard Social Media

(Image Credit: Twitter/@Johnwritlarge)

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Cornish fisherman are to cast aside the names of two of their most common catches and rebrand them in a bid to lure in more customers as sales to the EU slump because of Brexit red tape.

Local industry chiefs fear the names 'spider crab' and 'megrim' might be putting customers off - and want to call them Cornish King Crab and Cornish sole instead.

Until January 1 about 95 per cent of megrim and 85 per cent of spider crabs caught off Cornwall went to the EU, especially Spain.

But this trade has been badly disrupted by red tape, paperwork and border checks since Britain formally left the EU and the single market, meaning fishermen are hoping to sell more to the UK.

Under the plans The Cornish Fish Producers Organisation (CFPO) will change the name megrim and replace it with 'Cornish sole'.

Spider crab will be rebranded as 'Cornish king crab' because UK consumers think the original names are 'grim'.

Paul Trebilcock, chief executive of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation (CPPO) told The Times: 'There's this negative thing with megrim - it's a 'grim' connotation.'

Fishing industry chiefs fear the names 'spider crab' (pictured left) might be off putting, so want it be called a Cornish King Crab instead. Megrim (pictured) will be sold as 'Cornish sole' as firshermen want to sell more to the UK market

Other fish have also seen successful rebrands, such as the pilchard, now sold as the Cornish sardine (left) and monkfish, previously known as anglerfish (pictured)

The spider crab apparently suffers not only because of a potentially off-putting name, but also because of its appearance.

Mr Trebilcock added: 'It doesn't look as pretty as brown crab', the species more commonly eaten in the UK.

Other fish rebrands that have helped to lure in more customers The slimehead has had a couple of rebrands. It is sometimes known as orange roughy or deep sea perch Anglerfish - Monkfish Pilchards - Cornish sardines Patagonian Toothfish - Chilean sea bass Slimehead - Orange roughy and now deep sea perch Lesser-spotted dogfish, bull huss and spurdog - Rock salmon Advertisement

Usually some 95 per cent of megrim fish and 85 per cent of spider crab caught off Cornwall have been exported to Spain.

But trade has been disrupted this year by the extra paperwork and border checks demanded after Brexit.

Cornish fishing interests are instead looking to local markets.

In hope of an image makeover, the CFPO, after consulting consumers, buyers and restaurateurs.

It is hoped Cornish sole will become just as popular as its more expensive cousin, Dover sole, while the CFPO is also working with chef James Strawbridge to develop recipes for the rather plan-looking fish and for spider crab, The Times said.

The moves are reminiscent of other changes to fish names to make them sound more appealing.

Patagonian toothfish, for example, was changed to become Chilean seabass in the United States and Canada, while pilchards are know sold as Cornish sardines.

The move comes after Cornwall Council earlier this month announced the start of a new fishing facility project in St Ives that will help the local fishing industry combat the collapse of the traditional demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The project has secured 50,000 funding out of the 500,000 advanced funding allocated to the town as part of the Government's Accelerated Towns Fund.

The funding will enable the building of a new fishing facility on St Ives' Quay to sell the catch of the day directly to the town's residents and visitors.

The project will help support an average of 22 fishermen, Cornwall Council say.

The not-so-nice sounding Patagonian toothfish is now commonly known as the Chilean sea bass

The move comes after Cornwall Council earlier this month announced the start of a new fishing facility project in St Ives (pictured)

Sarah Stevens, Chair of the St Ives Town Deal Board said: 'My family has a strong fishing heritage in the town and I am proud to have supported the fishermen with their plans to sell fish directly from the quay and to improve the facilities.

'It will make their lives easier and have a positive impact on the environment.

This funding enables the St Ives fishing community to continue to grow and develop, building on the growth we have already seen in the harbour over the last ten years.'

Alongside Camborne, Penzance and Truro, St Ives was one of the 100 towns selected across England to receive accelerated funding from the Government's Towns Fund.

Councillor Tim Dwelly, Cornwall Council Portfolio Holder for Culture, Economy and Planning, said: 'We've been successful in securing 2.5million from the Towns Fund Accelerator programme for new capital projects that will help our communities respond to the immediate challenges facing towns during the Covid-19 pandemic.

'This initiative in St Ives supports the fishing community who have shown great resilience and forward thinking to safeguard their industry and make this project happen.'
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3rd South Asian Film Market (SAFM) moves to UAE after completing two successful editions in Singapore. The entries for the same to open on 7th February 2021.

SAFM is designed as a unique platform for selected filmmakers to connect with certain high net worth individuals (HNIs) and raise funding for their projects. It is the only such platform, since its inaugural year in 2018 which has witnessed great success for South Asian films outside South Asia. 2021 will see SAFM getting bigger and wider as we plan to fly down around fifteen film makers and pitch their project to an eminent jury panel. The last editions jury panel consisted of Abhay Deol (Actor / Producer), Kilian Kerwin (Ivanhoe Pictures), Saugata Mukherjee (Head  Original Content, Sony LIV), Saurabh Gupta (M! Capital Ventures) and Shariq Patel (Zee Studios).

Commenting on SAFM, Saugata Mukherjee (Head  Original Content, Sony LIV), mentioned SAFM is a great platform for storytellers of different mediums to come together. It is a platform for discovery and collaboration in equal measure. More such platforms are the need for the day in the ever changing world of content. I wish the team all the success!

After receiving an immense response to the first two editions we are humbled to move to UAE with the third edition. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between creativity and finance and introduce fresh capital to films. UAE as a market is witnessing a current boom in this space and it is the best time for investors to explore such investment. said Piiyush Singh, Co-Chairman, SAFM.

In the first year 2018, there were two projects chosen for funding, off which one was released worldwide on Sony Liv (Web Series titled JL50) and the second (film titled Maadathy) is touring film festivals across the globe. In the second year 2019, two more projects were chosen for funding and they are currently in pre-production stages. SAFM had introduced Book to Screen section in 2019 where the publishers and authors get the opportunity to directly present their books to HNIs and producers at the Film Market and this year it is introducing a new section wherein filmmakers can pitch their Bibles for Web Series. For details and submission forms, please visit the official website: www.safm.sg
Washington: Democrats in Congress have callously harnessed the deadly Capitol riot of January 6 for their own political gain, Donald Trumps lawyers argue in a legal brief ahead of the former presidents Senate impeachment trial.

In a 78-page brief released on the eve of Trumps second impeachment trial, his lawyers argue that Trump was only speaking figuratively when urging his supporters to fight like hell against the election result and say he should not be held responsible for his supporters actions.

Trumps speech to supporters before the Capitol riot will be a focus of his second impeachment trial. Credit:The New York Times

They state that the fiery speech Trump gave to supporters just before the assault on the Capitol cannot and could not reasonably be interpreted as a call to immediate violence or a call for a violent overthrown [sic] of the United States government.

Trumps impeachment trial, which begins on Wednesday (AEDT), will see the former presidents conduct again dominate debate in Washington less than a month after his departure from the White House.
ANN ARBOR, MI -- A private $7.1-million investment in the Ann Arbor-area that is expected to generate nearly 300 jobs has received support from the Michigan Strategic Fund, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced.

Energy storage provider Navitas Systems and national mortgage lender Homepoint were awarded performance-based grants from the MEDC, with Navitas receiving $750,000 and Homepoint $960,000.

The growth of Navitas Systems and Homepoint here in Michigan is an important signal that our strategy for long-term economic growth in Michigan is continuing to create a path for job growth in our state, even in a challenging economic environment, Mark A. Burton, MEDC CEO, said in a statement.

The grants, part of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers Back to Work plan, will help Navitas Systems add a second facility in Scio Township, creating 111 jobs, and help Homepoint add 155 jobs to the area.

Todays announcement is building on the Michigan Back to Work plan, announced during my State of the State Address to grow our economy and get Michiganders back on their feet, Whitmer said in a statement. These business expansions in Ann Arbor demonstrate our continued commitment to ongoing economic recovery by securing diverse projects that will grow long-term economic health and opportunity for our workforce across the state.

Michigans Back to Work plan was announced on Jan. 27 as a way of growing jobs, according to the MEDC. Throughout the year, Whitmer plans to announce more tech, mobility, manufacturing, clean energy and construction initiatives to provide jobs for Michigan residents, according to a news release.

Navitas Systems has a 48,000-square-foot center for research and development, engineering, and manufacturing, along with a 100,000-square-foot lithium battery systems manufacturing center. The company second facility in Scio Township will house commercial battery manufacturing, engineering resources, battery cell production, and office space, officials said.

The company in 2013 was awarded a $1-million Michigan Business Development Program grant for creating 125 new jobs and a $9.2 million investment at its Pittsfield Township facility, according to the release.

We appreciate the opportunity to continue our development path in the state of Michigan. The job incentive grant is an important part of our justification for making the additional investments in Ann Arbor as compared to other sites, said Alan Elshafei, Navitas Systems, founder and CEO.

Homepoint, which grew into the third-largest wholesale mortgage lender in the country, funds residential mortgage loans across the nation, according to the release. The company in 2018 invested more than $4 million by relocating its headquarters to Ann Arbor Township. Homepoint is adding an operations center in Ann Arbor and will hire originators, underwriters, closers and disclosure analysts, officials said.

Ann Arbor SPARK helped connect the businesses to receive support and resources from the state, according to President and CEO Paul Krutko.

Navitas and Homepoint are in radically different industries but both continue to expand in the Ann Arbor region, showing the strength of our economy to support a range of businesses, Krutko said in a statement.

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Restaurants will no longer be allowed to sell pre-packaged meals through arrangements with supermarkets and other outlets, as Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley definitively closed this loophole yesterday.

Rowley said this would not be allowed to continue, as it defeats the purpose of the public health regulations. Restaurants and street food vendors were among those businesses ordered to close to limit the movement of people and curb the spread of Covid-19.
New Delhi, Feb 9 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the Centre has been providing all possible assistance in the rescue and relief operations in the Uttarakhand disaster to the state government.

Apprising the situation of the state to the Rajya Sabha, Mr Shah said that the Uttarakhand government has informed that danger is now over and the water level has also started to recede.

He confirmed that 20 people have died as of 1700 hrs on Monday and efforts have been on to rescue 25 to 35 people stuck in a tunnel of the NTPC project and so far 197 people have also been found missing which includes 139 people working in the NTPC projects in the area and other 46 working in the Rishi Ganga project.

Mr Shah further informed the Upper House that the avalanche occurred 5,600 metres above sea level on February 7. 12 people of the NTPC project in the area have been rescued along with 15 others of the Rishi Ganga Project he said.

He also said the debris at the mouth of the tunnel has been cleared by the Army after an overnight operation. He said, the Centre is constantly monitoring the situation in the area and the Prime Minister is himself taking stock of the evolving situation round the clock.

The Home Minister also said in his statement that the Uttarakhand Government has announced assistance of Rs 4 lakh for the families of people who lost their lives.

He further said that food and medical supply are being sent to these cut off areas through helicopters as the flood washed away an important bridge in the area which used to connect 13 small villages in the region.

Sharing details of the personnel deployed for rescue operation, Mr Shah also informed that 450 personnel of ITBP, five teams of NDRF, eight Army teams, one team Navy divers, five IAF helicopters, one team of Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) along with a team of DRDO scientists have been on the spot and working in the rescue and relief operation.

In his statement made in the House, he said that out of the Rs 1,041 crore allocated for Uttarakhand under the State Disaster Relief Fund in the Budget of financial year 2020-21, the first installment of Rs 468 crore has already been sanctioned for the state to aid the relief work.

The Prime Minister himself is monitoring the situation, he added.

The Upper House stood in silence in memory of the victims.

"We hope for their souls to rest in peace and for the rescue operations to be successful, the Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said.

UNI AKS SB 1720
San Franciscos city attorney expanded a lawsuit against the school district Tuesday, adding allegations that school officials violated the state Constitution and equal rights laws by not providing in-person instruction despite the ability to do so.

City Attorney Dennis Herrera added the new counts to an existing lawsuit against the San Francisco Unified School District that has previously alleged school officials failed to create a specific plan for reopening as required by state law.

Herrera said he is now seeking a court order requiring the district to stop depriving San Francisco school children of their constitutional rights and to offer in-person instruction to the greatest extent possible, as the law requires.

Herrera also claims the district is discriminating against students from low-income families in violation of the states equal protection clause.

District officials did not specifically respond to the new allegations, but said they are committed to working with the city and labor unions to offer in-person learning options as soon as possible.

We wholeheartedly agree that students are better served with in-person learning, said district spokeswoman Gentle Blythe. Bringing students back to school in a large public school district is very complex and requires partnership.

We are eager for the city to make vaccines available to our staff who will be on-site and to bring their resources to support the major new state requirements around both staff and student surveillance testing.

The districts 52,000 students have been out of classes since March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Public health officials have allowed city schools to reopen since September. So far, 114 private schools and public charter schools have reopened to 15,000 students in San Francisco, but none from the district.

The lawsuit contends that state law specifies remote learning may be offered if state or local health officials require it or students are unable to attend because of medical issues or quarantine requirements. Otherwise, a local district must offer in-person instruction to the greatest extent possible.

The added allegations say the districts own research and data show more students of color and low-income students are having high incidents of absenteeism and learning loss than their peers.

Distance learning is disproportionately harming students from low-income families and is likely to have a severe and lifelong impact, Herrera said.

Our public school families are dealing with mental health and education crises on top of a pandemic, he said in a statement. Its not sustainable. Thats why we have gone to court. I took this step only as a last resort.

District officials previously denied the allegations that there was no plan, saying they have been working diligently to reopen schools.

We are working to get our school buildings open as quickly as possible, Superintendent Vincent Matthews said last week. This is a frivolous lawsuit. It appears that the city attorney has not read through our plans or joined the hours of open meetings we have had on the topic of safely returning to in-person learning.

Matthews also said the district and city will be able to reopen schools more effectively by continuing to work together rather than playing politics.

The district has been working on getting schools ready for students for months, but has chosen not to reopen classrooms or spaces that already met health guidelines.

On Tuesday, Mayor London Breed, who supported the lawsuit, said, Theres no way I would ever support using our legal system to try to get our schools open if the district was already on a path to do so without legal intervention. But our children are suffering, she said, and the stakes are high.

She added that shes worried the tentative agreement proposed by the union will not get us to a place where we will be able to open schools this year.

Delays in reopening have also been the result of ongoing labor negotiations over health and safety demands and educational plans for hybrid learning plans. The teachers union, as well as other labor groups, have insisted on safety protocols that exceed county health requirements, including more frequent testing of students and staff as well as vaccinations for teachers.

The district and unions announced a tentative agreement Sunday on health and safety. It allows a return to classrooms once the city reaches the red tier, the second-most-restrictive level of Californias reopening blueprint, if vaccinations are available to on-site school staff. Breed said Tuesday that teachers will be eligible for vaccines in the city starting Feb. 24.

San Francisco is now in the most restrictive purple tier, meaning that coronavirus transmission is widespread.

If the city progresses to the orange tier, a less-restrictive category with moderate virus spread, representatives for teachers and other staff say they would return without demanding vaccinations.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that because there is only a limited supply of vaccines, its unlikely all education workers could be vaccinated before the end of the school year and that schools can reopen without them.

If vaccinating school staff is a prerequisite for reopening, then you have to be honest with people and let them know its very unlikely we will be able to accomplish that goal by the end of the school year unless we take (the vaccine) away from others, Newsom said.

County health officials allow schools to reopen with a waiver in the purple tier and do not require that teachers be vaccinated to bring students back to classrooms.

Just sticking with the status quo and hoping the district came up with an effective plan wasnt working, Herrera said in a statement. Hopefully the prospect of court scrutiny will focus the districts attention like nothing else could have. Lets get this fixed.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
Iran has kicked off its vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using the Russian-developed Sputnik V vaccine.

"The first person to receive the Russian Sputnik vaccine is my own child," Health Minister Saeed Namaki said at a ceremony at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Hospital, broadcast live on television on February 8.

Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi said that medical personnel treating COVIV-19 patients, the elderly, disabled, and veterans would be among the first Iranians to receive the jab.

The first batch of Sputnik V arrived in Tehran on February 4, and Iranian authorities have said two more shipments were expected by February 18 and 28.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told AFP that the country had purchased 2 million doses of the vaccine.

Peer-reviewed, late-stage trial results published in The Lancet medical journal last week showed the two-dose regimen of Sputnik V was 91.6 percent effective against symptomatic COVID-19.

Namaki has said the country will also receive 4.2 million doses of the vaccine developed by Anglo-Swedish firm AstraZeneca and Oxford University, purchased via the World Health Organization-backed mechanism COVAX.

Iran is also working on locally developed vaccines.

The coronavirus has infected more than 1.4 million people in Iran, the country hardest hit by the pandemic in the Middle East, and killed over 58,500, according to health authorities.

With reporting by AFP
A member of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's security detail tested positive for the coronavirus Monday, sending Buttigieg into a 14-day quarantine less than a week after being sworn in.

Buttigieg tested negative Monday and has had no symptoms, according to a statement from chief of staff Laura Schiller.

"He received the first dose of the vaccination in recent weeks, and will receive the second dose when his quarantine is completed," the statement said. Buttigieg was in "close contact" with the agent, including on Monday morning before the agent's positive result, according to the statement.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines close contact as being within six feet of someone for a total of at least 15 minutes "over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset," or, if the person is showing no symptoms, starting from two days before going in for a test.

Following an immediate contact tracing effort, a second member of Buttigieg's security detail was also deemed a "close contact," according to Schiller's statement, but no one else fit that category.

Buttigieg was confirmed by the Senate on Feb. 2. In an email to department employees the following morning, he said he was "honored and delighted to be officially on board." He said he looked forward to spending the next few weeks learning about the staff's critical work.

"When it's safe, I look forward to walking the halls and traveling the country to get to know you and your colleagues in person," he wrote.

Buttigieg has been active, making TV and other appearances, including one where he met transportation workers Friday at Union Station in Washington to discuss covid-safety efforts, including mask use. A photo from the event, tweeted by the department, showed a masked Buttigieg standing in formation in front of masked Amtrak workers and a locomotive, with a header that read: "Name this band."

In a previously scheduled interview on CNN with Erin Burnett on Monday night, Buttigieg said the agent also showed no symptoms despite his positive test.

"This is why masks matter. This is why testing matters. You can get up, go to work, feel fine, and it turns out that you're positive," he told Burnett.

Buttigieg said it is frustrating to be "confined to quarters," especially because he has to be separated from his husband, Chasten, but said he remains thankful he's among the Americans who can do their jobs from home if necessary.
President Joe Biden's Justice Department asked the U.S. attorneys appointed under former President Donald Trump to resign en masse despite some Democrats arguing at least one should stay on.

Illinois two Democratic senators, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, sent out a joint statement obtained by The Washington Post that said they were 'disappointed' that they were not consulted before the Bieden DOJ asked for the resignation of Chicago U.S. Attorney John Lausch.

Lausch has been pursuing a corruption case into Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Democrat.

President Joe Biden's Department of Justice has asked the U.S. attorney who were appointed by former President Donald Trump to resign

The Biden administration's Justice Department is cleaning house. The Washington Post reported that the axed U.S. attorneys will have until February 28 to pack up

Illinois Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin (left) and Tammy Duckworth (right) said they were 'disappointed' in the move because Chicago U.S. Attorney John Lausch, a Trump appointee, is investigating the Democratic Illinois House Speaker, Michael Madigan

'While the President has the right to remove U.S. Attorneys, there is precedent for U.S. Attorneys in the Northern District of Illinois to remain in office to conclude sensitive investigations,' Durbin, the Senate Judiciary chairman, and Duckworth argued.

'We believe Mr. Lausch should be permitted to continue in his position until his successor is confirmed by the Senate, and we urge the Biden Administration to allow him to do so,' they said.

The Post reported that the U.S. attorneys will have until February 28 to pack up.

The U.S. attorney overseeing the federal tax probe involving Hunter Biden will stay in place.

The acting attorney general, Monty Wilkinson, called U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who runs the federal prosecutor's office in Delaware, and asked him to remain on the job, the official said.

The Justice Department has been investigating the finances of Hunter Biden, including scrutinizing some of his Chinese business dealings and other transactions.

The tax investigation was launched in 2018, the year before the elder Biden announced his candidacy for president.

Hunter Biden confirmed the existence of the investigation, through a statement via the Biden-Harris transition, in December after a round of subpoenas was issued in the case.

The Associated Press has reported that the subpoena seeking documents from Hunter Biden in December asked for information related to more than two dozen entities, including Ukraine gas company Burisma.

Separately, U.S. Attorney John Durham, who was appointed in October by then-Attorney General William Barr as a special counsel to investigate the origins of the Trump-Russia probe, will remain in that capacity, the senior Justice Department official said, but is expected to resign from his other position as the U.S. attorney in Connecticut.

The official could not publicly discuss the internal deliberations and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

The transition process, which happens routinely between administrations, is expected to take weeks and would apply to a few dozen U.S. attorneys who were appointed by Trump and confirmed by the Senate.

Many of the federal prosecutors who were nominated by Trump have already left their positions, some in recent weeks.

It's fairly customary for the U.S. attorneys to leave their positions after a new president is in office, but the departures are not automatic and don't necessarily happen all at once.

In 2017, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked for the resignations of 46 U.S. attorneys who were holdovers from the Obama administration.

The U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president and are generally nominated with a recommendation from a home-state senator.

The 93 U.S. attorneys are responsible for overseeing offices of federal prosecutors and charged with prosecuting federal crimes in their jurisdictions.

The Senate has yet to schedule a confirmation hearing for Biden's attorney general nominee, Merrick Garland, a federal appeals court judge who in 2016 was snubbed by Republicans for a seat on the Supreme Court.

CNN first reported that the Justice Department was seeking the resignations.
India: 8-month pregnant Christian woman loses baby after Hindu extremists kick stomach

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A Christian woman who was eight months pregnant lost her baby after Hindu extremists attacked her, pushing her to the ground and kicking her stomach in central Indias Madhya Pradesh state.

Morning Star News reports that a group of Christians in Dewada village, Barwani District had organized a church service of thanksgiving and prayer ahead of the New Year. The service, planned from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., was open to all, and a celebration meal was planned for the afternoon of Jan. 1.

As the Christians prepared for the celebration, a mob of about 30 Hindu extremists carrying wooden batons and stones approached the home.

The assailants, believed to be affiliated with the Hindu extremist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological mother of the ruling party in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party, began beating the Christian men and sexually harassing the women, accusing them of carrying out forced conversions, according to the homeowner, Sardar Vaskale.

Will you people never learn? members of the mob said, according to Vaskale. We will not let you conduct the prayer meeting, nor will we let you slaughter the goat; you are carrying out conversions.

Hearing the commotion outside the home, Leela Bai, who was eight months pregnant, rushed outside. The mob reportedly pushed her down and kicked her stomach until she fell unconscious, and later that evening she miscarried on the way to a hospital.

I fell down and landed on my stomach, Bai, 25, said. I got dizzy, and immediately someone from the mob came and started kicking my stomach.

My baby died in my womb after they pushed me down and kicked my stomach, she said.

Bais husband, Rakesh Alawe, soon arrived and rushed her to the Thikri hospital two miles away, accompanied by some older Christian women.

Leelas pain intensified as we drove in the ambulance, Alawe told Morning Star News.

Leela added, Before we reached the hospital, I delivered the baby inside the ambulance, and he was a dead baby.

Though Bai was weak from blood loss by the time she reached the hospital, authorities did not give her any medical treatment due to pressure from Hindu extremists, she and her husband said.

The medical staff did not check me, nor did they give me any injection or medicines, Bai told Morning Star News. I just lay on the bed like a half-dead person for six or seven hours.



They did not treat me in the hospital, and when I asked a nursing staff to give me something for my weakness and dizziness, she shouted back at me and asked me to keep quiet, she continued.

The hospital appears to have made no record of their visit, according to Morning Star News, and Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Ruprekha Yadav denied that the couple went to the Barwani District hospital.

In total, the Hindu extremists attacked eight Christians, including children, before calling the police to arrest the believers under Madhya Pradeshs newly enacted anti-conversion law prohibiting fraudulent or forcible conversion.

When the Christians protested, the officer in charge of the police station said officers were under political pressure and thus could do nothing for them.



Indias anti-conversion laws  currently in nine states, with more considering adoption  are often used by nationalists to justify harassment and assault of Christians.

Local police often overlook violence perpetrated against Christians due to false accusations of forced conversion.

John Prabhudoss, chairman of the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America, previously told The Christian Post that the victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party in 2014 and subsequent reelection in 2019 brought about a sense of confidence among the Hindu radical party cadre that now they can attack Christians and other religious minorities with impunity and they do not have to worry about the law enforcement.

A pastor who has planted churches in India for several decades told CP that the situation for believers is steadily worsening in the country.

The situation in India is very sensitive right now, he said, speaking under the condition of anonymity. Many believers in India are facing very serious situations. [The government is] clamping down on the churches and passing new laws to incite hatred and anger against Christians. They feel threatened by us, and its becoming increasingly difficult to be a Christian there.

Still, the pastor emphasized that despite persecution, the Body of Christ in India is strong and will remain faithful, even in the face of opposition.

India is ranked 10th on Open Doors USAs World Watch List of 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a believer. The organization notes that Hindu extremists believe that all Indians should be Hindus and that the country should be rid of Christianity and Islam.

As a result, Christians accused of following a foreign faith are often physically attacked and sometimes killed, as well as under constant pressure from their family and community.
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Wildwood beaches are famous for their sprawling coastlands, party atmosphere, and free admission  but that last bit could be changing in the next few years.

Mayors of all three of the Wildwood towns  Wildwood, North Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest  are considering implementing beach tags or some other tourism fee as the cost of maintaining the beaches skyrockets and puts a heavy burden on property owners whose taxes pay for much of the upkeep. The Wildwoods are one of the few South Jersey beaches that dont use beach tags.

We already have a beach fee  its called taxes, Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron said. Most people complaining about beach fees are from out of town. Wildwood has the highest real estate tax rates among the Cape May County beach towns.

 READ MORE: Battle over beach tags: Should Jersey Shore towns require them? Pro/con | Opinion

Byron added that although the time for beach fees is going to be sooner than later, the concept is in its infancy and beachgoers should not expect to pay for tags in the 2021 season.

The population of the Wildwoods as of 2010 was under 14,500, a small percentage of the millions of people who frequent the area during the summer. Byron said the beaches saw some of their biggest crowds ever last summer during the pandemic as people looked for any way to get out of the house after months of quarantine. Even so, local businesses and eateries struggled to find staff and make profits while adhering to statewide virus restrictions.

Other than the basic costs of lifeguards, beach patrol, and cleaners, Byron said Wildwood must also pay for repairs to its famous boardwalk that will cost at least $60 million.

North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello added that his town  which has a very narrow beachfront  is facing hefty costs to fight erosion. However, he does not think that beach tags are the only option and said he is also considering some sort of tourist tax or other fee.

We need to figure out a more equitable way of paying for beaches, Rosenello said.

Over the last six years, North Wildwood has paid close to $15 million to combat erosion, according to Rosenello. In this year alone, the town is planning to spend $15 million on a storm pump project to protect the island from extreme weather and an additional $3 million to move sand to the beach to counter erosion. Rosenello said measures to protect the shore are going to get only more expensive.

Although Wildwood Crest Mayor Don Cabrera is unsure if tags or taxes are the right paths to take, he believes that regardless, the state government should be providing the Wildwoods with more funding.

They need to step up, Cabrera said. Theres a critical need for tourism.

Along with Atlantic City and Strathmere, the Wildwood towns have some of the only and most popular free beaches in the state. On various Wildwoods Facebook groups, beachgoers recoiled at the idea of fees at a place long known for its accessibility. Others complained that beach tags would be unfair due to the already high parking fees.

Lynn Kaiser McLaughlin has a house just outside the Wildwoods in Green Creek and said that although she could go to other beaches in Cape May, she chooses the Wildwoods because they are free. Like many other Wildwood visitors, she thinks the beaches should be kept free for everyone, especially young people and those on a limited budget.

A lot of people do day trips with children because they cant afford to stay down there, she said. To put [another] expense on them is not fair.

But many Wildwood residents feel that beach tags would effect welcome change in their community.

Nicole Rockmachers family has owned a home in Wildwood Crest for three generations, and she and her husband, Seth, are about to move there full time. Rockmacher is frustrated with the beachs overcrowding and upset by the large amounts of garbage she says are left by many day-trippers.

The beach needs to give people accountability so they dont leave their trash and walk away, she said. Rockmacher and her husband often clean up empty cans, cigarette butts, and other garbage. Im paying extra for my enjoyment because others arent paying for anything.

Lori Koykka spent four summers in her condo right along the beach and, like the Rockmachers, grew tired of cleaning others trash off of her lawn, especially while paying high property taxes. She feels that everyone who uses the beach should share in the cost of its maintenance.

Every property owner I know is for beach tags, she said. They see the town being taken advantage of.

Rosenello acknowledges no one wants to pay extra fees but says more money is vital for his and the other Wildwoods towns to survive.

This little town is worth billions of dollars, Rosenello said. I think people appreciate what is here, and I think people are willing to pay a reasonable amount of money to protect and preserve it for future generations.
Poker Says Goodbye to Late Night Pokers Nic Szeremeta

February 09 2021 Matthew Pitt

The poker world has said goodbye to Nic Szeremeta who passed away on January 25, aged 77-years-old.

The sad news of Szeremetas death was announced by his daughters, Eve and Kate, on his Facebook page late on February 5.

It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce that our wonderful dad, Nic Szeremeta, passed away on Monday 25th January 2021. This was unexpected and came as a complete shock to us as were sure it will be to all who knew him.

Szeremeta had only updated his Facebook status on the afternoon of January 24. His funeral took place on February 8th. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic restrictions prevented the poker community from attending the service, but many tuned in via a stream.

You cant help but feel Szeremeta would have enjoyed a wry smile at the fact people were using technology to pay their respects. He was, after all, a major part of the famous Late Night Poker, a show that used under-table cameras to view players hole cards.

Late Night Poker

Late Night Poker launched in July 1999 and it quickly gained a cult following. The show saw such luminaries as Joe Beevers, Barny Boatman, Ross Boatman, Ram Vaswani, Simon Trumper, and Surinder Sunar, take to the felt with hole cards. Late Night Poker was the show that introduced the UK to the now late poker legends that were Liam Flood, Dave El Blondie Colclough, and Series 1 champion Dave Devilfish Ulliott.

Szeremeta was part of the iconic Late Night Commentary team with Jesse May, but his involvement in the groundbreaking show was much more than that.

I actually formatted the whole tournament for them, explained Szeremeta in a PokerNews-exclusive interview in 2006. They had no idea what they were doing and I introduced them to the concept of a televised tournament which I had been trying to get off the ground for at least five years.

His commentary style allowed the tension and images tell the story and was the perfect foil for the much more vocal May.

Late Night Poker aside, Szeremeta was a keen and talented poker player who played regularly for 50-years. He racked up cashes in 12 different countries, including the Netherlands were he won the Limit Seven Card Stud event  his PokerNews-exclusive interview in 2006favourite game  at the 1995 Amsterdam Masters. Szeremeta had more than $200,000 in live cashes.

He also launched, ran, and edited Poker Europa Magazine. Szeremeta was certainly a man of many talents.

The thoughts of everyone at PokerNews are with Szeremetas family and friends at this difficult time.
Lawrence Wetsit misses the days when his people would gather by the hundreds and sing the songs that all Assiniboine children are expected to learn by age 15.

"We cant have ceremony without memorizing all of the songs, songs galore," he said. "Were not supposed to record them: We have to be there. And when that doesnt happen in my grandchildrens life, they may never catch up."

Such ceremonial gatherings have been scarce over the past year as Native American communities like Wetsit's isolate to protect their elders during the covid-19 pandemic. Reservations have been hit especially hard, with Native Americans nearly twice as likely to die as white people. Wetsit, a tribal elder and former chair of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, said his tribe lost one person a day on average to the disease during October and November.

The deaths are doubly devastating to Native communities when they strike elders, as they are seen as the keepers of tribal history and culture. Wetsit worries that the combination of deaths and lockdowns will permanently harm the tribe's ability to share traditional knowledge and oral history.

"Our grandchildren will feel it in their generation," he said. "Its like taking a number of pages of their textbook and ripping it out and throwing it away."

With that in mind, many Native people have found innovative ways throughout the pandemic to continue sharing their culture despite physical distancing restrictions. Social media groups have provided some remedies, in ways that may continue after the pandemic wanes.

"If there was ever a time where we could see how interconnected our world is, that time is now," said Jeneda Benally, a musician and member of the Navajo tribe in Arizona.

One Facebook group, known as Social Distance Powwow, has helped its Native members connect through sharing videos of drumming, dancing and other traditions. Since its founding in March, the group has accumulated more than 227,000 members and taken on a life of its own, with people sharing prayer requests, birthday celebrations and death announcements.

"We didn't expect it to take off like it did," said group co-founder Dan Simonds, an artist based in Bozeman, Montana, and a member of the Pequot tribe. "It showed how much something like this was needed."

For group members who rarely leave their isolated reservations, the videos provide an opportunity to see other tribes' homes and traditions for the first time. "Every tribe is different, like every European country," Simonds said.

The group has provided a platform to talk about important issues. In January, organizers hosted a Facebook Live chat with a doctor, nurses and community representatives who could answer group members' questions about covid vaccines. Skepticism about the safety of vaccination tends to be high among Native Americans, and more than 9,500 people viewed the event. "People are listening and learning," Simonds said.

Simonds expects the group will continue after the pandemic ends, and he has created a nonprofit spinoff that plans to hold in-person powwows once it is safe. "This is one of the first times in history we have our own space by Natives where Natives can be heard," he said.

Among other powwow events that have seen an online resurgence is the jingle dress dance, an Ojibwe tradition usually performed by groups of women wearing skirts adorned with tinkling metal bells. Women from various tribes have been posting Instagram videos of themselves dancing alone at home.

Brenda Child, an Ojibwe historian at the University of Minnesota, is not surprised the dance has become so popular during the pandemic. "Most women and young girls are very aware that that is a healing tradition," she said.

According to legend, jingle dress dancing arose during the 1918 flu pandemic when a father with a sick little girl dreamed of a healing dance and had the dresses made for four women in his tribe. The girl recovered and became one of the first jingle dress dancers.

Child said the jingle dress tradition resonates because it is supposed to heal both the body and the mind during a time when fear and grief are rampant. "Ojibwe have always been aware theres this psychological aspect to disease," she said.

But some traditions are more difficult to share online, particularly those that rely on oral stories told by elders. Internet access can be scarce on remote reservations, and many older people struggle to use technologies like video chat. "It's hard enough for our communities and elders to transmit that information to the next generation, but trying to find a way to do that with social distancing in this era is especially hard," said Clayson Benally, Jeneda's brother.

Since the Benallys' band, Sihasin, can't tour during the pandemic, the siblings have been performing online. They are also making instructional videos of traditional Navajo practices such as shearing sheep and harvesting medicinal plants.

"This is my desperate attempt to ensure that our culture continues to exist," said Jeneda Benally. "Even though we're losing people, this knowledge still exists. I dont want our people to sink into a depression."

Some practices are too sacred to share online, she said. Tribal members must walk a fine line between keeping people engaged and revealing privileged information to outsiders at the risk of cultural appropriation. Certain rituals, symbols and stories are meant to be shared only orally  many tribes forbid members to even write them down.

"It's tricky because we have to be very cautious," said Clayson Benally. "Our ancestors would never have imagined we're teaching our ways through these airwaves that exist."

Many Indigenous languages are in danger of disappearing forever, as speakers tend to be elderly and in fragile health. The pandemic has accelerated the threat.

"It's the equivalent of having jumped forward 10 years and lost speakers that would have been with us still but now are gone," said Wilhelm Meya, a member of the Lakota tribe and CEO of the nonprofit The Language Conservancy (TLC).

Meya's organization preserves Indigenous languages through recordings, dictionaries, dubbed movies and lessons  mostly developed by sending linguists to visit Native speakers around the world. After the pandemic began, TLC set up computer terminals in unused schools and community centers on reservations. While staffers control the desktops remotely, language speakers and their families can visit the stations alone and record words.

By setting up six such terminals on the Crow reservation in Montana, TLC completed a four-year effort to develop an online interactive Crow dictionary app. Similar projects are underway with tribes in Wisconsin, Washington and other states.

Meya said the strategy worked so well that TLC will continue using it after the pandemic to record Native languages in remote areas like Alaska and Australia. The nonprofit plans to offer more online lessons: Being stuck at home has led to a surge of interest among Native people in learning their historical languages, he said.

To Wetsit, the knowledge that Native Americans' culture and communities have persisted through centuries of adversity suggests they will survive this crisis.

"If youve had cultural teachings, theyll help you remember that things will get better and it gives you hope," he said. "I think that our people realize that our culture can be changed a little bit without great harm. There's no wrong way to pray."
Logan and Gold Coast residents are urged to get tested for COVID-19 as fears grow the virus could be circulating in south-east Queensland undetected.

Fragments of the virus had been detected in sewage catchments at Pimpama, Coombabah and Merrimac on the Gold Coast and in Loganholme, acting Chief Health Officer Sonya Bennett said.

Wastewater testing is an early-warning system for COVID-19 outbreaks. Credit:University of Queensland

While its possible that these detections relate to previous COVID-19 cases, who can shed viral fragments for a couple of months after they are no longer infectious, it is concerning that there have been three detections on the Gold Coast over the same testing period, Dr Bennett said.

If there is a case we are not yet aware of, it is critical we detect it through our testing mechanisms as quickly as possible to contain any potential spread.
The Supreme Court Tuesday stayed the arrest of Congress MP and six journalists including in connection with FIRs lodged against them for their alleged "misleading" tweets on the violence during the farmers' tractor rally here on the

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde issued notices and sought responses from the Centre and others on the petitions filed by Tharoor, Sardesai and journalists Mrinal Pande, Zafar Agha, Paresh Nath, Vinod K Jose and Anant Nath.

When the bench said it was issuing notice in the matter, senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tharoor, said that no coercive action be taken against the petitioners in the meantime.

Nothing is going to happen. Where is the danger, said the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.

We will hear you after two weeks and stay the arrest in the meanwhile, the bench said.

On January 30, Delhi Police had filed a case against Tharoor, Sardesai and others.

Earlier, Tharoor and six journalists were booked by the Noida Police for alleged sedition, among other charges, over the violence during the farmers' tractor rally in Delhi, officials had said.

Madhya Pradesh Police had also filed a case against Tharoor and the six journalists over their alleged ''misleading'' tweets on the violence during the farmers' tractor rally in Delhi.

On January 26, thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with the police in the capital during the tractor rally called by the farmer unions to highlight their demand for repeal of the three farm laws.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
DUBAI : India has asked its nationals not to travel to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait via the UAE and get stranded in this country, in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the region.

In a statement posted on Twitter on Monday, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi said: "It has been brought to the attention of the Embassy of Indian in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India, Dubai that several Indian nationals intending to travel to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have got stranded in the UAE."

"Due to COVID-related restrictions on incoming passengers, currently it is not possible for Indian nationals to transit via Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait," the statement said.

The UAE has recorded a slight uptick in its daily count of COVID-19 cases in the last one month, when the economy reopened.

In total, the coronavirus has claimed 947 lives, along with 332,603 confirmed cases, in the UAE, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai are major transit points for flyers from India travelling to other Gulf countries, even North Africa and Europe.

The Indian embassy said: "All Indian nationals are, therefore, advised to kindly ascertain the latest COVID-related travel guidelines of their final destination country before embarking on an outward journey from India. They are also advised to carry enough personal provisions and funds to cater to any emergent requirements."

Saudi Arabia suspended entry to the Kingdom for non-citizens from 20 specific countries, including India and Pakistan, as it stepped up efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic, the official Saudi Press Agency reported last Tuesday, citing an official source at the Interior Ministry.

Indians, who are already in the UAE en route to Saudi Arabia or Kuwait, have been advised to consider returning to India and to make their further travel plan only after the restrictions in the final destinations countries are lifted.

It may be noted that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have recorded more coronavirus-related deaths than the UAE, at 6,406 and 969 deaths respectively, according to Johns Hopkins University.

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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.

ESB will not backtrack on plans to turn its renowned Georgian House Museum into luxury apartments for sale.

The heritage building in Dublin, which was open to the public for nearly 20 years, has already been emptied out and the borrowed contents returned to the National Museum of Ireland.

Incoming chairman of ESB Terence ORourke told TDs and Senators: Building uses change.

The museum at 29 Fitzwilliam Street recreated everyday life in the late 1700s using original and restored artefacts and the decision to offload it has been heavily criticised by the Irish Georgian Society.

Mr ORourke disputed claims that ESB had created the museum to make amends for demolishing a row of Georgian houses in the 1960s  a move Senator Alice Mary Higgins described as penance for the destruction of the kilometre-long streetscape.

Read More

My understanding of it is that it was something the ESB did voluntarily. It wasnt a quid pro quo or anything, Mr ORourke said.

However, he said he regretted what happened to the houses on Fitzwilliam Street which were bulldozed to make way for the construction of ESBs headquarters.

"Nobody would want to endorse that now, he said.

Those headquarters have since been demolished and two new office buildings are being built in their place  one of which is being retained by ESB and the other sold to finance the project.

A smaller adjacent row of Georgian houses off Fitzwilliam Street that survived the original demolition are being restored and three are being kept by ESB as offices, while the other eight are to be sold as residences.

Mr ORourke told the Oireachtas Climate Change Committee no profit would be made on their sale as they had required extensive refurbishment.

As an historian, I am aware of the importance of showcasing heritage and reminding current and future generations of the importance of Irish heritage, he said, with reference to his primary degree in history and economics.

I absolutely agree with you about the need to showcase the heritage but my contention is that it doesnt necessarily have to be in number 29.

We are going to work with colleagues in Dublin City Council, the OPW and the National Museum to examine heritage-related initiatives that could address the concerns.

Read More




A man who works with luxury planes is looking forward to experiencing his own taste of the high life after winning 1 million on a scratchcard.

Mark Plowright, 47, a concierge at Doncaster Sheffield Airport in South Yorkshire, said he and his wife, Sara, are looking forward to taking first class flights to exotic destinations after scooping the top prize on the National Lotterys 50X scratch card.

The couple, from Doncaster, plunged into their new lives as millionaires by splashing out on a hot tub as their first purchase after they hit the jackpot in January.

Mr Plowright, who prepares private and chartered planes for wealthy fliers and celebrities, said he wants to use his new-found fortune to visit Fiji, while his wife is keen to swim with pigs in Barbados.

He said: After working with luxury planes every day, I have always dreamed of experiencing flying first class on a long flight  and thats what we will do, as soon as its safe to do so.

Mr Plowright said the couple thought they had won 750,000 at first and were beyond shocked, but were told that they were, in fact, millionaires when they rang Camelot to check the card.

Expand Close Mark Plowright with his wife Sara and their new hot tub (National Lottery/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mark Plowright with his wife Sara and their new hot tub (National Lottery/PA)

They plan to spend their winnings on a house in the countryside  with a man cave for Mr Plowrights Star Wars memorabilia  and an MG Midget car, which they plan to drive to Mr Plowrights fathers home in Brittany, France.

But the couples first purchase was a luxury hot tub for training co-ordinator Mrs Plowrights 42nd birthday  along with a spare inflatable version when they discovered the original would not be fitted in time.

Mr Plowright said: We ended up buying their last one and then bought ourselves an inflatable one just to tide us over until the luxury one was fitted, and we havent left it since it got installed.

The couple bought the 5 scratchcard from the Nisa Local store in Auckley, Doncaster, on January 21.

She recently celebrated her 45th birthday.

But on Tuesday, Isla Fisher looked as youthful as ever as she dressed up to celebrate the delayed release of her new movie, Blithe Spirit.

The Wedding Crashes star, who will appear in the British comedy as Ruth Condomine, cut a youthful figure while being styled by a hair and makeup team.

Style icon: Isla Fisher (pictured), 45, looked a million dollars as she was styled by a hair and makeup team on Monday

The mother-of-two appeared to be in good spirits as she shared a picture of herself in the moment, where she posed with her hand on her hip and had her long tresses perfected.

'#Blithespirit out in the U.S on Feb 19th (in theaters & VOD),' Isla captioned the post to her Instagram.

The Confessions of a Shopaholic screen queen looked a million dollars while wearing an exquisite ankle-length dress by luxury brand Aje and slip-on heels from AGL.

Isla's long, luscious locks were styled in her signature loose waves.

Divine: '#Blithespirit out in the U.S on Feb 19th (in theaters & VOD),' Isla, who is starring in British comedy film Blithe Spirit, captioned the post

She accessorised with a fresh French tip manicure, yellow toenail polish and large gold earrings.

Isla also wore a red lipstick, and teamed it with smokey eye makeup and defined eyebrows.

Her gorgeous Instagram post follows the auburn bombshell celebrating her 45th birthday on February 3 - and her husband Sacha Baron Cohen forgetting about it.

Joker: Her gorgeous post to Instagram follows the auburn bombshell celebrating her 45th birthday on February 3 [Pictured with husband Sacha Baron Cohen]

In a post to his Instagram, the Borat star, 49, posted a tribute to Isla, sharing a snap of her looking carefree and joking he had forgotten about her birthday.

'I was just scrolling through Instagram and found out that its my wifes birthday. Need a good excuse for not having a present... quick!!! (Happy Birthday my darling),' he posted.

Isla, who has been married to Sacha for 11 years, shared a photo of her perching on his knee. She captioned the happy image: '45th Birthday today!'
Longford / Westmeath Fianna Fail TD Joe Flaherty has urged Minister Eamon Ryan to seriously consider Lanesboro and Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre as a possible location for a new visitor centre and peatlands centre of excellence in the Midlands.

The new 10m project, which was announced by Minister Eamon Ryan, will provide a new peatlands knowledge centre of excellence, a visitors' centre and a range of supports for sustainable businesses as part of a new project funded by the European Commission.

Also read: Longford Senator queries why Clondra and Stonepark are not entitled to apply for CLAR funding

The three main strands of the project are the establishment of a Peatlands Knowledge Centre of Excellence that will explore and carry out best practices in peatland restoration and rehabilitation, an immersive People's Discovery Attraction in the midlands that will reinforce the importance of climate action and peatlands rehabilitation and the introduction of a range of supports for sustainable businesses.

The locations of the centre of excellence and visitors centre have not been announced.

However, Deputy Flaherty has already made the case to the Minister, commenting, Never has the case to base such a proposed facility in Co Longford been more apparent. The ESB are intent on moving ahead with the demolition of a former power plant in Lanesboro.

Also read: Sadness at death of well loved and respected Granard native Monica Beausang

We also have the Corlea trackway interpretative centre in nearby Kenagh, just eight miles from Lanesboro and the only thing that separates it and the disused power station is bogland which is serviced by a network of train tracks. I know that Failte Ireland are also interested in aspects of the former power station also in terms of outdoor pursuits and adventure tourism and all of this would fit easily with the proposed venture."

Deputy Flaherty added: The Corlea facility is a hidden gem and were it to link with the proposed visitor centre and peatlands centre of excellence it would truly be transformative for the region.

I know that a number of sites will be looked at and any decision will hopefully be decided on the merit of the location but it would seem obvious at the outset that the Lanesboro  Corlea option has tremendous potential.

Also read: Minister introduces benefit payment for retiring 65 year olds
The likely faster-spreading variant of COVID-19 first detected in South Africa has arrived in the Houston area, according to Houston Methodist Hospital.

The hospital system said it found the regions first case of the troubling strain on Saturday while sequencing the genomes of positive test results. It also found two cases of the variant first discovered in the United Kingdom. The first U.K. variant case in the Houston area was confirmed in early January.

Early evidence has shown that both variants may spread faster than the currently predominant strain. More than 600 cases of the U.K. strain have been reported in 33 states, while Texas becomes only the fourth state to confirm a case involving the South African variant, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Maryland has three cases, South Carolina has two and Virginia has one.

The infected person is a Fort Bend County man, who tested positive weeks ago and has recovered from the illness, said Dr. Jacquelyn Johnson Minter, director of Fort Bend Countys Health & Human Services Department. The patient had traveled domestically in December before his diagnosis and grew ill a few days after his return to Fort Bend. His household members have tested negative, and he did not work while infected so there was no exposure at his job, Minter said.

Still, Minter said she would not be surprised to learn the South Africa variant was spreading through the community.

I think its important to note that this event occurred several weeks ago and, basically, what weve been doing all along will continue to protect us as we wait for our turn with the vaccine, Minter said. We continue to wear our masks, we continue to distance, and we continue to practice good hand hygiene. That will protect us from COVID, whatever variant we come in contact with.

The U.K. variant cases involved two Houston men, one of whom is in his 50s and now is hospitalized with the virus.

Dr. David Persse, the Houston health authority, said the latter cases are evidence that the U.K. strain is here and spreading through the community, and they serve as a reminder to remain vigilant.

He said contact tracers have not been able to tie new cases to them yet, but they are more recent than the Fort Bend County case. Health workers have found very low levels of the U.K. variant in the citys wastewater sampling program, he added.

The bottom line is, and this is really no surprise, the U.K. variant was not just that one case a month ago found in Harris County, Persse said. That gentleman likely got infected here. Its here. Its now popping up on the Methodist radars, its now popping up in hospitals, its now popping up in the wastewater.

Dr. Wesley Long, who works with the Methodist sequencing effort, said there is no evidence from the clinical trials of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that they are less effective against the variants, especially the U.K. strain. The CDC has said some preliminary evidence shows the Moderna vaccine may be less effective, but more study is needed.

Long said there is also limited evidence that certain other vaccines and therapies that target the spike protein of COVID-19 may be less effective against the South African variant, though they still should provide benefits to most people.

South Africa recently halted its use of a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford after evidence emerged showing it did not protect against mild or moderate illness from the variant.

The CDC says rigorous and increased compliance with mitigation strategies such as social distancing and wearing masks is needed to combat the spread of the virus.

These variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19, the CDC warns on its website. An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on health care resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths.

Rebecca Fischer, an assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Texas A&M University, said news of the variants arrival underscores the need to regain vigilance in practicing mitigation strategies. The new strains have grown to dominate the pandemic in parts of Europe, she said, and the CDC has predicted that likely will be the case in the United States, as well.

We should be doing things differently. We should be doing all the things that public health guidance has told us to do all along, Fischer said, noting that people have not followed them effectively enough. These new variants are potentially the tip of the iceberg if we dont get the spread under control.

People need to ensure they are wearing their masks, keeping their distance and moving gatherings outdoors if they are held at all, Fischer said.

They also must understand that many people who do not know they have the virus are spreading it.

This really comes down to every person taking responsibility for their actions, Fischer said.

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document

316 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 7 February 2020, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases increased to 34 552 after 65 new cases were reported. All are local cases of which the highest case tally was recorded in Harare with 25 cases while Masvingo recorded the second-highest tally at 18 cases. We note that the hospitalisation rate on the 6th of February 2021 went down significantly with 84 hospitalised cases, 11 asymptomatic, 56 mild to moderate cases, 9 severe cases and 8 cases in Intensive Care Units. Active cases went down to 4 675 as the total number of recoveries went up to 28 551 following a continued increase in recoveries by 168 recoveries. The recovery rate remains at 82.6%. The death toll has risen to 1 326 after 10 new deaths were recorded.

The 32nd day of the 2nd hard lockdown and we highlight concerns regarding the efficacy of the Astra Zeneca vaccines that we anticipate using in Zimbabwe. We note the halting of the vaccines program in South Africa as the efficacy of the vaccines against the COVID-19 variant in circulation in South Africa is undertaking further assessment and research.

We call for the Government to update the nation on progress regarding the tracing of the variants in circulation within the Zimbabwean population urgently prior to the inception of the vaccine program.

We highlight concerns regarding the drop in testing. We are concerned that the warning we have been issuing regarding taking measures to maintain a high rate of testing is part of the testing framework towards the end of the lockdown. We are concerned that compared with the 14th of January 2021, wherein PCR tests conducted were over 3 000 tests per day, the present average rate of testing has dropped to 1000 tests per day. Today the current number of PCR tests done was 1064 tests.

We urge Government to upscale community testing by ensuring mobile testing is undertaken in communities.

We urge Government to ensure that the drop in cases is not correlated to a drop in testing.

Critical Emerging Issue

Zimbabwe's participation in the WHO COVAX vaccine program

We amplify press reports that indicate a very serious discrepancy regarding the commitment and participation of Zimbabwe, in the WHO-led COVAX vaccine facility, which is the much-touted mechanism due to lead in providing support to Zimbabwe's access to vaccines.

We are concerned that it appears that the Zimbabwean Government, to date, has not actually signed onto the facility.

The lack of administrative action, to ensure that the country is indeed preparing for the COVAX facility is indicative of a dereliction of duty. This is despite numerous government officials indicating that the country is in the process of securing and preparing to deploy vaccines from the COVAX facility. This policy position is untenable.

We call the Government to order.

We call the Parliament of Zimbabwe to urgently engage the Executive on the matter which is of critical national interest.

Mental health support to communities

Noting the strain of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown on citizens especially COVID-19 patients and frontline workers. We note the trauma caused by the burden of home-based care under the difficulties of the lockdown and accordingly:

We urge prioritisation of strengthening systems for basic psychological support and the screening of persons showing strain and signs of mental health challenges.

We further emphasize the need to ensure that such services are easily accessible to communities in both urban and rural communities.

Outstanding Issue

Funding modalities for COVID-19

We note with concern the discrepancies in the public domain regarding the funding by treasury to securing COVID-19 Vaccines. We note with concern the announcement by the Ministry of Finance on the 6th of February 2021 indicating that Government welcomes and appreciates the offer by the private sector to complement Government resource commitment in the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and accordingly Government shared details where citizens and the private sector may make deposits towards this effort. This contrasts significantly with the announcement on the 31st of January 2021, wherein the Government, indicated it had managed to mobilise USD$100 million to support the procurement of 20 million doses for the COVID-19 vaccination to vaccinate 10 million people approximately 60% of the Zimbabwean population to meet herd immunity targets. The amount was reported to have been secured from the 2020 budget surplus and a reallocation of the 2021 National Budget Funds to support procurement of vaccines. However, we also note the remarks by the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Mangwiro, who in a Live interview on ZTN on the 4th of February 2021, remarked that Treasury was marshalling "about USD25million" to support the procurement of the vaccines.

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We call upon government to clarify exactly how much Treasury is committing to spending and the exact amounts marshalled by development partners and the types of funding arrangements being entered into the support access to vaccines.

Source: Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe
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SULLIGENT, Ala. (WTVA) - Alabamas governor awarded a $500,000 grant to promote new industry in Sulligent.

The grant will help provide more than 100 jobs there and create more economic opportunities in west Alabama.

Sulligent will use the Community Development Block Grant to renovate a commercial building thatll be used by Resource Fiber.

Resource Fiber, which manufactures sustainable bamboo building products, is moving its operation to Lamar County to be closer to its bamboo source in nearby Greene County.

This company will bring much needed jobs to Lamar County and west Alabama, Ivey said. I am pleased to support this relocation, and it is my hope that Resource Fiber will grow as rapidly as the bamboo it is producing.

Sulligent is supplying a local match of $50,000.
Dedza District Covid-19 Relief Support (DDCRS) has handed over medical supplies and equipment costing over K 2 million to Dedza District Hospital to assist in the fight against the Covid-19 in the district.

The Group donated two 10.2 kgs Oxygen filled Cylinders ,flow meters, disposable face masks, Nasal prongs for adults, adjustable drip stands ,medicines among others.

Speaking in an interview , the chairperson of DDCRS, Washington Kaimvi said they are a group of well wishers mostly who originally come from Dedza District or are married to people from Dedza district and other well wishers .

"This Group started two weeks ago and we have been mobilising resources from our membership, on January 5, 2021, we had sourced about K4.4 million out of which we procured various items for the district hospital to assist managing the cases of Covid-19.

"The objective of this group is to mobilise resources and channel them to Dedza. We want to make this group a permanent grouping so that we look into social economic development issues affecting people living in Dedza.

"We want to reduce the number of Covid-19 deaths as well as infection rate. We want to embark on an initiative on sensitisation of communities through the Media so that we assist the communities to prevent the disease," he said.

Dedza District Acting Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Misha Stande said the items received are very crucial because most of the things they are using in fight against Covid-19 apart from equipment which need maintenance are perishables.

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She said one thing that was mostly lacking in the country was oxygen and its cylinders and their regulators the group has provided they would be able to administer oxygen to the patients properly.

"The hospital had only four oxygen cylinders and two regulators since others were broken and to fill that gap we were using Oxygen concentrators which might not be able to concentrate the air that we are breathing into hundred percent like the cylinders," Stande said.

Dedza which has a population of about 850,000 has recorded 377 Covid-19 cases with 67 active cases and five deaths.

Stande said of the five deaths three of them occurred at home as such she said people who have a better understanding of messages of Covid-19 should make sure that these messages reach everywhere with understanding.

"People are not coming for Covid-19 test because they are afraid of being discriminated against and if these messages reach them this will stop and more people will be coming for testing.

"People are coming in critical conditions or pronounced dead upon arrival because they did not come early for treatment," she said.

So far Dedza has established three Covid-19 testing centres.
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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 2021 / Graycliff Exploration Limited (the "Company" or "Graycliff") (CSE: GRAY) (OTCQB: GRYCF) (FSE: GE0) is pleased to announce the results of its 2020 field study on the Company's Shakespeare Gold Project located on the prolific Canadian Shield near Sudbury, Ontario.

Graycliff focused on testing the mineralized trend northwest of the Former Shakespeare Gold Mine. The completed field sampling discovered a new target area called the Harmer Zone, which returned copper values as high as 3.47%. The 1.0 metre ("m") wide semi-massive to massive sulfide zone with quartz veining is mineralized along an east-west tending strike for 75 m. The Harmer Zone, which appears to be open along strike, also returned anomalous values of silver grading 11.8 g/t, cobalt grading 1,860 ppm, and trace gold values.

"As we continue to explore the target zones with historic gold mineralization, the discovery of this new target zone confirms the underexplored mineralized opportunities that the property hosts along the six (6) kilometre ("km") strike length of our project.", stated James Macintosh, President and CEO. " We will include the Harmer Zone into our expanded 2021 exploration program following the receipt of the drill results from our fall 2020 program."

Figure 1 - Map of Graycliff 's Shakespeare Project with field sampling result highlights As previously disclosed in 2020, Graycliff's plans in 2021, include line cutting a 40 km grid and an IP survey. Following the receipt and review of the results from our initial seven-hole, 1,135 m drilling program, the Company will release the plan for the expanded exploration program. The 2020 drill program results are expected in February 2021. Qualified Person Bruce Durham, P.Geo, is a Qualified Person, as that term is defined by Canadian regulatory guidelines under NI 43-101, and has read and approved the technical information contained in this press release. About Graycliff Exploration Limited Graycliff Exploration is a mineral exploration company focused on its 847 hectares of prospective ground, located roughly 80 kilometres west of Sudbury on the prolific Canadian Shield. The Company's Shakespeare Project consists of 39 claims on a property associated with the historic Shakespeare Gold Mine, which operated from 1903 to 1907. For more information, contact investor relations at investors@graycliffexploration.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors, James Macintosh

President and CEO Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of the Company. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on 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. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly 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: Graycliff Exploration Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628599/Graycliff-Exploration-Discovers-New-Target-Area-From-2020-Shakespeare-Field-Sampling-Program
Darcey Bussells Wild Coasts Of Scotland

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Britains Lost Masterpieces

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You cant get more English than Dame Darcey Bussell. The former prima ballerina and Strictly judge speaks in tones as crisp as fresh snow, with an accent like a cut-glass decanter.

So its a surprise to learn that her maternal grandfather was a Glasgow-born mill owner, whose fondest memories were of summer holidays on the Isle of Bute.

It goes to show how inextricably connected Scotland and England are. Were bound with links that cannot be broken by any referendum or spiteful politician. And lets face it, if the UK dissolves, well end up as the Former United Kingdom and Commonwealth. Nobody wants that acronym.

Dame Darcey Bussell (pictured) had a grandfather from Scotland and her fondest memories were of summer holidays on the Isle of Bute

Darcey was on a voyage to relive her grandfathers boyhood, in Wild Coasts Of Scotland (More4). No one could ever mistake her for a local: she was very much the tourist, as she hummed Speed, bonnie boat . . . over the sea to Skye on the first stage of her trip.

But she was at ease far from the trappings of luxury. In her cagoule and walking boots, she was revelling in the changeable weather: Four seasons in one day, she yelled over a sudden squall, and she wasnt referring to a five-star hotel.

She had a go at something called step dancing, which resembles Riverdance in tap shoes. Otherwise, this was an hour of adventures that would appeal to any nine-year-old boy, such as watching wild otters and clearing plastic debris off a beach.

In a sea loch, Darcey had a go at scallop farming  collecting shellfish from the deeper water and bringing them to the warm shallows where they will grow bigger. I had no idea that crustaceans can be fattened like prize pigs.

The doughty dame ended with a swim under a waterfall. This, she declared, was Grandad Tommys favourite activity, though I bet he didnt wear a wetsuit that looked like it was designed to withstand Antarctic temperatures. Darceys still a soft Southerner at heart.

Historian Emma Dabiri had to endure nothing colder than a domed cellar called the Ice House, as she explored the National Trusts Tatton Park in Cheshire on Britains Lost Masterpieces (BBC4).

In this chilly storeroom, the downstairs staff at the stately home stacked ice collected during winter from the estates ponds.

Incredibly, it would still be frozen six months later, when Victorian house party guests were treated to ice creams. Emma was there with art connoisseur Bendor Grosvenor to assess a 16th-century portrait of a glowering figure: A man whose pint you would not want to spill, remarked Bendor.

Emma Dabiri and Dr Bendor Grosvenor from BBC 4's Britain's Lost Masterpieces - 'I think most of us could work out the identity of a mystery painter if it were given in the catalogue'

He suspected it might be a forgotten work by Parmigianino, the boy wonder of the Italian Rennaissance. When this proved to be a false lead, Bendor professed himself baffled . . . until, with a leap of intuition, he discovered it was painted by a contemporary of Signor Parmis named Francesco Salviati.

Inevitably, this involved a visit to Rome, followed by a coffee in the sunshine on the banks of the Arno in Florence. Well, you would, wouldnt you?

Im always in awe of the scholarship and almost psychic powers of deduction that Bendor displays on this long-running art series. But this time he rather gave away the secret of the trick.

Reaching for an auction catalogue from 1887, when the painting was purchased for Tatton Park by the first Earl Egerton, he let us glimpse the entry. It clearly listed the work as being by Cecchino del Salviati  an alias for Francesco.

I think most of us could work out the identity of a mystery painter if it were given in the catalogue.
1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

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

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

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

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

Vote

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Setback for as HC lifts status quo on $3.4 bn Future-Reliance deal

The Delhi High Court on Monday stayed its single-judge direction to Future Retail Ltd (FRL) and various statutory authorities to maintain the status quo with regard to the Rs 24,713-crore deal with Reliance Retail in a setback for Jeff Bezos-led e-commerce giant Amazon, which has challenged the transaction. Read more

in talks with Dutch lawyers to file an appeal against Cairn verdict

is in talks with senior Dutch lawyers to file an appeal against the Cairn verdict at The Hague in the coming weeks. The Rs 8,800-crore award will likely be contested on two key grounds  jurisdiction and international public policy.

is expected to take a stand that the government has the sovereign right of taxation and private individuals cannot decide on that. Read more





to buy bonds worth Rs 20,000 crore via open market operations on Feb 10



On Monday, the central bank said it would buy bonds worth Rs 20,000 crore from the secondary markets on Wednesday. Such open market operations (OMO) are now expected to be a common theme for the remainder of this fiscal year, and will continue in the next one as well, bond dealers are now expecting. Read more





End agitation and let's move forward, PM tells farmers

We urge those sitting on the agitation that even though it is their right to agitate, the manner in which the old people are sitting there is not right. They (agitators) should be taken back. They should end the agitation and we will together find a solution as all doors are open for dialogue. From this House, I again invite them for dialogue, Prime Minister Modi said, while delivering his speech on the motion of thanks to the Presidents address to both Houses of Parliament. Read more





Serum Institute, ramp up Covid-19 vaccine export plan





Punes (SII) has shipped 30 million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine to 20 countries. is all set to start exports to countries like Brazil and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by the end of this week. Read more





Gold exchange blueprint tops Sebi's board meet agenda on February 17





The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) board is likely to discuss various Budget proposals related to the securities market, especially the road map of a bullion exchange, during its February 17 meeting, said a senior official said. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to address the market regulator's board as part of a customary practice after the presentation of the Union Budget. Read more

Centre's plan to club unviable airports unlikely to enthuse investors

The Centres plan to club loss-making remote airports with a profit-making one is unlikely to draw much interest from investors, said executives of infrastructure companies and private equity funds. They said the size of airports that are being privatised is small, which means investor interest will be limited. Read more
Publicis Groupe India has designed a holistic and first of its kind health and wellness programme for its 4000 + workforce called PubFit. The programme is aimed at helping its people in maintaining Mind-Body-Spirit harmony and boost overall wellbeing.

Launching the initiative Anupriya Acharya, Publicis Groupe South Asia CEO said, Year 2020 has underscored the importance of strength and resilience in the face of uncertainty, chaos and fragility. It is amply clear that while we cannot control circumstances and events, we can certainly control our response, reaction and hence their impact on us. PubFit is a carefully designed, richly curated programme that gears up the entire organisation towards a fulfilling health, wellness and fitness journey. We believe that strong and resilient people not only make for strong antifragile organisations but also happier homes and more resolute societies.

A fitness enthusiast herself, Acharya has been personally involved with the rollout of the entire programme. Well-being, resilience and happiness are subjects very close to her heart.

The programme is a year-long collective health journey taken on by Groupe employees and there will be ample content, knowledge and learning modules delivered on a timely basis across rich media assets and augmented by Fitness Challenges. The first stage would involve people self- assessing themselves in a diagnostic survey , which would reveal where they stand in the overall fitness matrix. In addition, the Leadership Team will get a separate orientation on the overall goals of PubFit and how they can best lead both self and others in making wellness an absolute priority across the organisation. The initiative will also see the roll out of a fitness kit to all the people.

At the core of the programme is the Publicis Wellness App, developed in partnership with a wellness platform, that will be hi-tech, interactive and will provide doctor consultations, home workout videos, mindfulness videos, nutrition -related information and wellness challenges. The idea is to bring in an inherent fitness -oriented culture and easy access to information and wellness solutions.

To kickstart the programme, Publicis Groupe has partnered with Human Edge, a renowned business platform that partners with key stakeholders to deliver Advocacy and Interventions that champion holistic well-being. Dr. Marcus Ranney, Founder & CEO of Human Edge, and Anupriya Acharya hosted an in-person fireside chat to spread the launch message.

Dr Marcus Ranney said, It is my pleasure to partner Publicis Groupe in this remarkable endeavour. The sign of a progressive , future-ready organisation is that they keep employee wellbeing at the centre of whatever they do and do not lose sight of it while charting out organisational goals. With PubFit launch, we streamed ourselves in the homes of over 4000 employees. A war cry, a rallying call, this is one of the strongest messages I have ever witnessed a company leadership make and am so excited to be a partner with them in this journey.
Nairobi  Three business people accused of dealing in counterfeit HIV test kits some of which were exported abroad through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have been charged with contravention of medical statutes.

The three who were freed on a Sh100,000 cash bail each after an appearance before a Nairobi court on Monday are said to have exported the kits to Guyana in South America.

Erick Mwangi, Jones Olouch and Robert Njoya were accused that jointly with others not before court, they sold counterfeit Uni Gold HIV test kits to unsuspecting customers.

They allegedly committed the offence between September 24, 2019 and December 21, 2020 within Nairobi County.

Mwangi was charged separately with exporting 400 packets of counterfeit Uni gold HIV test kits to Guyana, South America, valued at Sh800,000 on December 30, 2019 though JKIA.

He was further accused of handling and exporting the 400 packets of HIV test kits.

Njoya was also accused of being in possession of five packets of the HIV test kits expiring on December 5, 2020 valued at Sh12,500. Prosecution told the court the said packets were found in his possession on December 22, 2020.

The prosecutor told the court the suspect was the proprietor of Intercare Agencies located at Donholm shopping center along Duruma road in Nairobi.

The matter brought before Milimani Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku will be mentioned on February 22.
THIS IS HOW THEY TELL ME THE WORLD ENDS

The Cyberweapons Arms Race

By Nicole Perlroth

Sometime last year, a shadowy group of hackers  now thought to be Russians working for that countrys foreign intelligence service  broke into digital systems run by Solar Winds, an American tech firm, and inserted malware into the code. When the company then sent out its next regular software update, it inadvertently spread the virus to its clients  more than 18,000 of them, including huge corporations, the Pentagon, the State Department, Homeland Security, the Treasury and other government agencies. The hack went undetected for months, until the victims started discovering that enormous amounts of their data  some of it very sensitive  had been stolen.

Solar Winds may have been the biggest cyberattack on the United States in years, if not ever. But it was hardly a singular event. In the last half decade or so, American corporations have suffered billions of dollars of losses in similar incursions. Between 2019 and 2020, more than 600 towns, cities and counties were hit by ransomware attacks, shutting down hospitals, police departments and more. Americas adversaries  Russia, China, Iran and North Korea  have by now thoroughly infiltrated the computer systems that run some of the United States most important infrastructure, including not just power grids and dams but also nuclear plants.

All of which raises the question: Why does this keep happening? After all, the United States isnt just the most formidable and intimidating military power in the world; its also the most sophisticated cyber power. The countrys conventional arsenal has proved remarkably effective at scaring off any would-be attackers; these days, no nation on the planet would dream of going toe-to-toe with the United States military. So why doesnt the same logic work in the cyber realm, where Washington could just as easily inflict biblical vengeance on anyone who messed with it?

There are two basic answers. The first is that deterring cyberattacks turns out to be much, much harder than deterring conventional ones, for a long list of reasons. Among them: Despite all its offensive power, the United States, as one of the most wired nations on earth, is also more vulnerable to such attacks than many of its less-connected enemies. Cyberattacks are also relatively cheap, while cyberdefense is expensive and painstaking. And then theres the problem of attribution: Given how hard it often is to spot digital incursions in the first place (remember, the Solar Winds hack went undetected for months), and the tendency of countries to rely on private hackers only loosely connected to the government to do their dirty work, figuring out whom to retaliate against can be very difficult. Unlike nuclear missiles, hacks rarely come stamped with a clear return address.
Credit: JuergenPM from Pixabay

An estimated one in five deaths (18 to 21.5%) every year can be attributed to fossil fuel pollution, a figure much higher than previously thought, according to research co-authored by UCL.

The study shows that more than 8 million people around the globe die each year as a result of breathing in air containing particles from burning fuels like coal, petrol and diesel, which aggravate respiratory conditions like asthma and can lead to lung cancer, coronary heart disease, strokes and early death.

The research, led by Harvard University in collaboration with UCL, the University of Birmingham and the University of Leicester has been published in the journal Environment Research.

Co-author and UCL Associate Professor Eloise Marais (UCL Geography) said: "Burning fossil fuels produces fine particles laden with toxins that are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs. The risks of inhaling these particles, known as PM 2.5 , are well documented.

"Our study adds to the mounting evidence that air pollution from ongoing dependence on fossil fuels is detrimental to global health. We can't in good conscience continue to rely on fossil fuels, when we know that there are such severe effects on health and viable, cleaner alternatives."

Regions with the highest concentrations of fossil fuel-related air pollution, including Eastern North America, Europe, and South-East Asia, have the highest rates of mortality.

Until now, the Global Burden of Disease Study, which is the largest and most comprehensive study on the causes of global mortality, put the total number of deaths each year from all outdoor airborne particulate matter (including dust and smoke from wildfires and agricultural fires) at 4.2 million people.

This study, based on data representative of conditions in 2018, calculates that fossil fuel emissions alone account for 8.7 million people's deaths.

Previous research relied on satellite and surface observations to estimate the average global annual concentrations of PM 2.5 airborne particles. But satellite and surface observations cannot distinguish between particles from fossil fuel emissions and those from dust, wildfire smoke or other sources.

Loretta J. Mickley, senior research fellow in chemistry-climate interactions at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and co-author of the study, explains: "With satellite data, you're seeing only pieces of the puzzle. It is challenging for satellites to distinguish between types of particles, and there can be gaps in the data.

To overcome this challenge, researchers turned to GEOS-Chem, a global 3-D model of atmospheric chemistry developed at SEAS. It has high spatial resolution, meaning researchers could divide the globe into a grid with boxes as small as 50 km x 60 km and look at pollution levels in each box individually.

Karn Vohra, a graduate student at University of Birmingham and first author of the study, who is advised by UCL's Eloise Marais, explains further: "Rather than rely on averages spread across large regions, we wanted to map where the pollution is and where people live, so we could know more exactly what people are breathing."

To model PM 2.5 generated by fossil fuel combustion, the researchers plugged into GEOS-Chem estimates of emissions from multiple sectors, including power, industry, ships, aircraft and ground transportation and simulated detailed oxidant-aerosol chemistry driven by meteorology from the NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office.

Once they had the concentration of outdoor fossil-fuel PM 2.5 for each grid box, the researchers needed to work out how those levels impacted human health.

While it's been known for decades that airborne particles are a danger to public health, there have been few epidemiological studies to quantify the health impacts at very high levels of exposure, such as those found in China or India.

Previous research converted health risks of indoor second-hand smoke exposures to estimate the risks of outdoor PM 2.5 at these high levels. However, recent studies from Asia have found that this approach substantially underestimates the risk posed by high concentrations of outdoor air pollution.

To rectify this, scientists at Harvard developed a new risk assessment model that linked the concentration levels of particulates from fossil fuel emissions to health outcomes.

This new model found a higher mortality rate for long-term exposure to fossil fuel emissions, including at lower concentrations. The researchers found that, globally, exposure to particulate matter from fossil fuel emissions accounted for 21.5 percent of total deaths in 2012, falling to 18% in 2018 due to tightening air quality measures in China.

Much of the debate on climate change focuses on greenhouse gases, in particular CO 2 . The authors of this study hope the findings will instill a greater sense of urgency in policy makers and others to switch to alternative energy sources and prevent many more millions of needless deaths.

Explore further Fossil fuel pollution causes one in five deaths globally: study

More information: Alina Vodonos Zilberg et al. Global Mortality from Outdoor Fine Particle Pollution Generated by Fossil Fuel Combustion, ISEE Conference Abstracts (2019). Alina Vodonos Zilberg et al. Global Mortality from Outdoor Fine Particle Pollution Generated by Fossil Fuel Combustion,(2019). DOI: 10.1289/isesisee.2018.P03.2000
The regional Visegrad Group (V4), comprising the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, is the main catalyst of cooperation in Central Europe, President Andrzej Duda said at a V4 meeting.

A two-day summit of the V4 presidents started in the Polish seaside resort of Jurata on Tuesday. President Andrzej Duda is hosting his Czech, Hungarian and Slovak counterparts in his presidential residence in the town located in the middle of the Hel peninsula.

See also: Address at the plenary session: "30th Anniversary of the Visegrad Group - European and Transatlantic Cooperation" At a plenary session of the summit, Andrzej Duda recalled this year's 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Visegrad Group.

"If we look at the three decades (...) we will see that they have been marked not only by a great economic and political success, but also by rapid social and civilisational development," the president said. "We can safely say that such a huge transformation in such a short time is a rare thing in the world."

Andrzej Duda said the V4 "is a significant, if not the most significant, catalyst of regional cooperation in Central Europe," but has also "contributed to cooperation and processes concerning the EU's and Nato's policies."

Moreover, the V4 may also serve as "an attractive model both for Eastern Partnership countries and the Western Balkans," Andrzej Duda said, referring to the EU's cooperation with its eastern neighbours and Balkan countries aspiring for EU membership.

"The second regional format that unites us today is the Three Seas Initiative, started in 2015," the Polish president said. "It aims to improve the transport, energy and new technologies infrastructure in our region along the North-South axis, and consequently to spur growth in our countries and improve the cohesion of the European Union."

The president recalled that the Polish southern city of Krakow will on February 17 host another V4 anniversary summit, this time to be attended by the heads of governments. The agenda will cover EU cooperation in fighting the coronavirus pandemic as well as climate and migration issues along with relations with the Eastern Partnership countries and Russia.

Set up on February 15, 1991, the Visegrad Group is an informal platform of regional cooperation between Bratislava, Budapest, Prague and Warsaw. All four V4 countries have been EU members since 2004. Poland is currently holding the Group's 12-month presidency. (PAP)




Nairobi  Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was hospitalised Monday night after falling ill in police cells.

Sonko was rushed to the Nairobi Hospital from Gigiri Police Station in an ambulance after complaining of stomachache pains, police said.

He was scheduled to appear before magistrates at the Kiambu and Kahawa West courts for a robbery and terror case respectively.

The magistrate at Kiambu Law Courts was set to rule on Sonko's bail application in a robbery wth violence and assault case which he denied last week while the Kahawa West court was to rule on an application by police to detain him for 30 days to complete a terror probe.
Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer has asked residents to avoid getting in their vehicles until Wednesday at the earliest

Freezing drivers were stranded for hours in traffic jams in Germany and COVID-19 vaccination centres were shut in Britain on Tuesday as Europe was pummelled by the heaviest snow in years.

Some parts of Germany were cloaked in up to 50 centimetres (20 inches) of snow by Tuesday afternoon, according to local media reports.

Traffic on a motorway near the city of Bielefeld was brought to a standstill overnight Monday into Tuesday, with some drivers trapped for at least 16 hours.

The bottleneck, caused by lorries stuck in the snow, stretched over 37 kilometres (23 miles), local police said.

Video footage showed shivering drivers huddled in their vehicles, complaining of going for hours without food as temperatures plunged to minus 12 degrees Celsius (10 degrees Fahrenheit).

Severe jams were also reported in Hesse state, where some drivers were stuck in their cars for 15 hours, according to police.

Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer asked residents to avoid setting out on journeys until Wednesday at the earliest.

In such extreme conditions, even the best railway switch heaters and snow clearing vehicles "can reach their limits", he told the Funke media group.

Blizzard-like conditions

Northern and eastern Germany were particularly badly hit on Sunday and Monday night, with blizzard-like conditions and some of the coldest temperatures seen in years.

Police in Saxony-Anhalt state said a man had probably frozen to death after he was found buried in snow next to his tractor.

In Bielefeld, a man was found dead on a snow-covered road on Monday, though emergency services said initial findings suggested he had suffered a medical emergency.

Snowfall is expected to decrease in the coming days

A nursery school bus slid off the road in Rhineland-Palatinate state, collided with a parked car and crashed into the wall of a house, but police said no one was injured.

The southern city of Nuremberg declared a state of emergency after a fire in a power station left homes, businesses, schools, care homes and a hospital with limited access to heating.

Across the country, aid organisations have ramped up efforts to provide homeless people with hot food and drinks, clothing, bedding and toiletries.

Rail disruptions

Train services across Germany have seen severe delays and cancellations because of the winter weather, with snow and ice clogging the rails.

Snow is expected to decrease in the coming days, according to forecasters, but temperatures as cold as -20 C mean travel conditions will remain hazardous.

With the wind-chill factor, temperatures could feel as low as -30 C at night, forecasters have said.

Heavy snow has also fallen in other countries across central and northern Europe, including Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark.

Parts of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland were placed on amber alert on Tuesday, with major disruptions expected to road and rail travel, according to the Met Office weather service.

Heavy snow on Tuesday morning drew many families to London's parks for sledging, while parts of northern and eastern England were expecting up to 15 centimetres.

Some coronavirus vaccination centres in England were forced to closeincluding major hubs in Ipswich and Colchesterhampering Britain's rollout.

Schools, currently open only to vulnerable children or those of essential workers, were also closed in southeastern England and Lincolnshire in the east.

 2021 AFP
High notes

Dave Williams of Wayne County received the Gerald W. Reichard Memorial Impact Award from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for his dedicated presence at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

We are forever grateful to those who supplied outstanding virtual exhibits to illustrate Pennsylvania agricultures excellence and share the opportunities and promise our industry holds for a bright future, said Secretary of Agriculture Russell C. Redding. Dave Williams has been a valuable partner in telling those stories over many decades, and we are pleased to recognize his passion for the people of Pennsylvania agriculture and the industry that feeds our economy, our families and the world.

The award is given to someone who has had a significant overall impact on the Farm Show, which was held virtually this year.

Williams, who lives in Texas Twp., approached the Wayne/Pike Farm Bureaus board of directors 22 years ago with an idea  create a farm-oriented radio show. With the boards support, Farm Country Radio was founded.

Through his love of farming, over the decades Williams has interviewed secretaries of agriculture, FFA students, 4H clubs and long-time farmers quietly making a difference from their home farms.

Farm Country Radio can be heard weekday mornings at 5:30 on 104.3 FM and 1590 AM.

Foundation receives support

The Honesdale National Bank Foundation contributed $10,000 to the Clearbrook Foundation.

The contribution will specifically support the foundations Families Helping Families Program offerings in the Clarks Summit, Scranton and Tunkhannock communities.

HNB is dedicated to helping our communities efforts in providing an opportunity for overcoming distress and crisis, said HNB President and CEO David Raven. We understand the challenges that many face. Ensuring access to a support system is something no one should have to go without especially when in a moment of greatest need.

The Clearbrook Foundation provides services in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Columbia, Cumberland and Dauphin counties in Eastern Pennsylvania. The services are directed toward helping people with drug and alcohol problems and families of people suffering from this disease. The foundation runs three programs which are offered free of charge to the public.

Families Helping Families assists with addiction problems within families and provides a starting point for a family member seeking help for a loved one in a warm, safe and encouraging environment. The funds from HNB will be used to underwrite a portion of yearly costs of the program.
 "Who Punishes More? Partisanship, Punitive Policies, and the Puzzle of Democratic Governors" | Main | Coalition of civil rights groups calls on Prez Biden to commute all federal death sentences and halt capital activity 

The Collateral Consequences Resource Center has this notable new report titled "A Reintegration Agenda for the 117th Congress: Criminal Record Relief, Federal Benefits, & Employment." Here is its introduction:

The new Congress has an opportunity to make significant bipartisan progress on criminal justice reform, including reducing barriers to successful reintegration for people with a criminal record. This agenda recommends specific measures by which Congress can accomplish this.

During the wave of criminal record reform that began around 2013, every state legislature has taken some steps to chip away at the negative effects of a record, thereby supporting opportunities to earn a living, access public benefits, education, and housing, regain voting rights, and otherwise reintegrate into society. Many states have entirely remade their record relief systems  authorizing or expanding expungement, sealing, set-aside, certificates of relief, and/or deferred adjudication  and limited the consideration of arrest and conviction records in employment and licensing.

Congress has belatedly become interested in the reintegration agenda, limiting background checks in federal employment and contracting in 2019, and removing some barriers to public benefits in 2020. However, many federal barriers remain, and individuals with federal records have no access to the kind of relief mechanisms now available in most states.

During the pandemic, the need to access opportunities and resources is perhaps unprecedented. We therefore urge Congress and the Biden Administration to take an ambitious and bipartisan approach to criminal record reforms in the four areas described below:
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It's a full house at Hotel Marco Polo but the guests aren't here to see Rome's tourist attractions.

One hotel near Rome's central Termini train station is full, despite the crisis caused by the covid-19 pandemic, however its guests are not tourists.

The Marco Polo hotel is busy once again, reports Italian newspaper La Repubblica, thanks to a collaboration with Rome's S. Egidio community, a lay Catholic charity devoted to social service.

The guests of the hotel on Via Magenta include homeless people, a recently-released former prisoner, unemployed people struggling to make ends meet, and students studying for exams.

The S. Egidio community contributes to the operating costs, allowing the hotel to provide shelter for those in need as well as giving it a chance to stay open when many other hotels in Rome face going out of business.

The brothers who have run the hotel for 20 years - Lorenzo and Diego D'Amario, 38 and 42 - say they are now catering to "tourists by chance and out of desperation."

The hotelier brothers say that the funds from S. Egidio are nominal but that it helps to pays the hotel's bills until the coronavirus crisis passes and tourists can eventually return to Rome.

Diego told La Repubblica that he and Lorenzo - both long-term collaborators with S. Egidio - are happy to stay open as well as helping those "who are worse off than us."

"I will never be able to forget the sight from a few weeks ago when a homeless man was found dead, due to the cold, in front of the entrance to a closed-up hotel just a stone's throw from ours," said Diego.

Lorenzo told La Repubblica that the hotel's message of solidarity has also spread to the nearby Cornetteria Faleria whose owners arrive with "trays full of brioches and crossaints, a kind gift for our guests' breakfast."
CAIRO  In the presence of Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Nevin Gamea during a parliament session Feb. 2, Hafez Omran, a member of the parliamentary Industry Committee, called for the need to reconsider the free trade agreement between Egypt and Turkey, stating that such an agreement is to the detriment rather than in the interest of Egypt.

Turkish goods enter Egypt as per the 'zero customs' agreement. Turkish exporters to Egypt are granted export subsidies from Turkey of about 19%, with the aim of exporting products to the Egyptian market at prices less than the manufacturing cost, which affects the Egyptian industry in terms of its competitiveness, Omran said.

Turkey and Egypt signed the free trade agreement on Dec. 27, 2005, which entered into force on March 1, 2007. The agreement aimed at establishing a free trade area between the two countries within a period not exceeding 12 years from the entry into force.

According to the government-run State Information Service website, the agreement provided, among other items, for the increase and strengthening of economic cooperation between the two parties, removal of obstacles and restrictions on commodity trade, and consolidation of Turkish investors confidence in the Egyptian economy, which encourage them as well as Turkish businessmen to direct their investments toward Egypt. In addition, the agreement allows Egyptian goods to enter Turkey and European markets.

Since the agreement came into force, all customs duties restrictions on trade in goods between the two countries had been canceled. According to the agreement text published on the official website of the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry, neither country may impose any fees of similar effect or new restrictions.

The agreement, which was supposed to expire by the end of 2020, ought to be currently under evaluation by both sides to take a decision to freeze or renew it. Yet, so far, no steps have been taken from either side in this regard. Meanwhile, there have been calls to review the deal amid concerns that it would be renewed.

Yaman al-Hamaki, a professor of economics at Ain Sham University in Cairo, told Al-Monitor via phone, The evaluation of any agreement necessitates a study of the economic indicators and the trade balance during the agreements implementation period, which includes the values of exports and imports from the two countries and the differences between them.

She added, The trade balance between the two countries is obviously tilted in favor of Turkey, which is benefiting more than Egypt from the agreement. This is due to the fact that Egypts local industry cannot compete with Turkish goods. This is evident, for instance, in Egypts imports of home appliances from Turkey, which are popular in Egypt."

Studying and evaluating the commercial indicators would allow Egypt to try and bridge the gaps  if any  and better implement the agreement in such a way to achieve greater economic interest to the country, according to Hamaki.

In 2018, under the agreement, Cairo and Ankara achieved a record in the volume of intra-trade, despite the political tensions between the two sides, according to statements by Mustafa Kemalettin Eruygur, Turkeys charge d'affaires in Egypt. Speaking at a breakfast gathering organized by the Turkish-Egyptian Businessmen Association and the Turkish Culture Center on May 25, 2019, Eruygur said that the trade volume reached $5.24 billion, and the volume of Turkish exports to Egypt amounted to $3.05 billion in 2018, which is an increase of about 29.4% compared to 2017. Meanwhile, Turkish imports from Egypt reached, in the same year, $2.19 billion, an increase of 9.68% compared to the previous year, he added.

Bashir Abdel Fattah, a researcher on Turkish affairs at the independent Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor via phone, Free trade agreements are signed between countries to remove restrictions on intra-trade movements, and are usually more beneficial to the country with the greater capacity of manufacturing and exporting, given the advantages granted to exporters under the agreement, generating greater profits.

Abdel Fattah said, Turkeys production and export capacity is greater than that of Egypt by virtue of its association with the European Union. This is not to mention Turkeys industrial structure, which tips the balance of profits under the agreement in Ankaras favor.

He noted, Therefore, calls to reconsider the agreement with Turkey are more linked to the deteriorating political relations between Cairo and Ankara over the past few years."

Political relations between Egypt and Turkey have witnessed remarkable tension since the ousting of former Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated President Mohammed Morsi in 2013, which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described at the time as a military coup.

More recently, tension has escalated due to Egypts condemnation of Turkeys aggression in the eastern Mediterranean region, as Ankara has been adamant about exploring gas in the Mediterranean near the borders of Greece and Cyprus (riparian countries with Egypt). Whats more, Turkeys military forces and armed militias are present on Libyan territories, bordering Egypt from the west, to support the forces of Libyas Government of National Accord, headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, in the face of the Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Hifter, supported by Egypt.

Basant Fahmy, a member of the parliamentary Economic Committee, told Al-Monitor via phone, No trade agreement would be totally beneficial to one party at the expense of the other, stressing that the evaluation of the agreement with Turkey ought to be based on a scientific approach away from sentiments and political relations.

In general there is no problem in the agreement. Those who believe that some of its items ought to be amended must mention such amendments in detail, without jeopardizing the agreement as a whole, she concluded.

Fox News Ask New York Court to Dismiss Smartmatic Lawsuit

Fox News has asked a court in New York to dismiss a lawsuit filed by electronic voting company Smartmatic, arguing that the company is seeking to stifle debate and chill vital First Amendment activities.

The news broadcaster on Monday filed a request to dismiss the defamation lawsuit arguing that Smartmatics case is meritless. The filing contends that Fox News had fulfilled its commitment to inform fully and comment fairly on the newsworthy topic of election challenges brought by former President Donald Trump.

Fox did exactly what the First Amendment protects: It ensured the public had access to newsmakers and unquestionably newsworthy information that would help foster uninhibited, robust, and wide-open debate on rapidly developing events of unparalleled importance, the motion said.

Last week, Smartmatic sued Fox News Media, attorney Sidney Powell, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and others alleging that they engaged in a conspiracy to spread disinformation about Smartmatic following the 2020 presidential election.

The voting machine company is demanding at least $2.7 billion in damages for injuries caused by what they say was a disinformation campaign against the company. The firm alleges that the defendants made false claims about the companys role in the 2020 election, the nature of the company, and its connection with Venezuela.

Kirkland & Ellis attorney Paul Clement, who is representing Fox News, said the case strikes at the heart of the First Amendment.

Smartmatics theory is fundamentally incompatible with the reality of the modern news network and deeply rooted principles of free speech law, Clement said in a statement.

In its motion, Fox News argued that Smartmatic did not identify any statement that the news broadcaster had made that is defamatory and failed to show that it had published statements about Smartmatic with actual malice.

A public-figure plaintiff must show that a defamatory statement was made with actual malice, meaning that it was made with the knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not. Fox News is arguing that Smartmatic is a public figure.

If the First Amendment means anything, it means that Fox cannot be held liable for fairly reporting and commenting on competing allegations in a hotly contested and actively litigated election. We are proud of our election coverage which stands in the highest tradition of American journalism, Fox News Media said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times.

In December, Fox News aired several segments challenging and exploring the claims made in previous reports after Smartmatic alleged the reports contained false and defamatory statements and threatened litigation. The segments were shown across shows on the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, and invited Eddie Perez, an expert from the independent Open Source Election Technology Institute, to address several of the claims.

Perez told the hosts that he had not seen any evidence that Smartmatic software was used to flip votes anywhere in the United States in the November election.

Smartmatic did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times request for comment on the motion.

The voting machine company said that during the 2020 election, it had provided election technology manufacturing, systems integration, software development, and logistics to only Los Angeles County, California.

The company filed their complaint in a New York State court in Manhattan.
Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do
Covid-19 is a global pandemic inflicting large health and economic costs. In his previous book, The Pandemic Information Gap: The Brutal Economics of COVID-19 (The MIT Press, 2020), economist Joshua Gans explains that those costs have been so large because governments and others have lacked the information needed to control the pandemic. Unless we know who is infectious, we can't break the chains of transmission, which results in the escalation of our problems. Pandemics, he writes, are information problems.

Now, in a follow-up book, The Pandemic Information Solution (Endeavor Literary Press, 2021), Gans, a professor at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, outlines the solution to the information gap. By engaging in rapid, frequent screening, we can control the pandemic and restore normality. We can lower the number of cases, break chains of transmission, and make it safe for people to interact again.

This will require changing our mindset about testing, gathering the right information, and matching that information to the right decisions. We have the ingredients to do all these things. We just need to put them together in a scalable and sustainable system. This book is a guide to the issues and trade-offs that policymakers and other key decision-makers need to grapple with and follow.

The ideas in the book provide the foundation for the CDL Rapid Screening Consortium, an initiative based at the Rotman School's Creative Destruction Lab to bring rapid antigen screens to workplaces at scale.

Joshua Gans is a professor of strategic management and the Jeffrey S. Skoll Chair of Technical Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Rotman School, where is he also the Chief Economist for the Creative Destruction Lab. He has a PhD from Stanford University and an honors degree in economics from the University of Queensland. In 2012, he was appointed as a research associate of the NBER in the Productivity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Program. At the Rotman School he teaches entrepreneurial strategy to MBA and Rotman Commerce students.
Vaccine-makers' job is done if they can reduce Covid to 'the sniffles' even if the jabs don't stop people catching or spreading the disease, one of Oxford's vaccine chiefs said today.

Professor Andrew Pollard, who is running the studies of the university's vaccine, said the South African variant was not a 'reason for alarm' and jabs should work against it.

Although they might be less able to prevent transmission, current vaccines were still protecting people from hospitalisation even with mutated viruses, he said. Professor Pollard told MPs new jabs may not be needed if current ones stop severe disease.

His comments came after an alarming study over the weekend claimed Oxford's jab was not protecting young people from mild to moderate Covid infections in South Africa.

The variant, which has been detected almost 150 times in the UK, has mutated in a way that allows it to partially slip past both vaccine-triggered and natural immunity.

And there are fears the virus will keep mutating in this way as more people become immune, eventually rendering the vaccines less and less effective.

Professor Pollard told the All-Party Parliamentary Group on coronavirus: 'The most likely thing is that new versions of this virus will continue to be made to allow it to better transmit in the population. The question is does that matter?

'Are vaccines still going to be good enough to stop people going into hospital or dying? Because actually, if people have just got the sniffles I think our job is done.'

His comments were echoed by Professor David Heymann, a top epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who said today people were going to have to 'learn to live with' Covid being endemic.

Professor Andrew Pollard (receiving his Covid vaccine last month), director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said results suggesting the Oxford University Covid vaccine doesn't stop people falling mildly unwell with the South African variant were 'expected'

The three Covid variants causing international alarm emerged in Britain, South Africa and Brazil

'Surge testing' has been ordered in several areas to tackle the South African and Kent variant of coronavirus. Parts of Manchester have now been added to the list

Almost 12.5million have already received their first dose of vaccine and the health service is administering 450,000 on average every day

UNIVERSAL VACCINE TO PREDICT MUTATIONS COULD BE FUTURE OF PANDEMIC RESPONSE Professor Andrew Pollard, of the University of Oxford, today raised the prospect of universal super-vaccine for coronavirus  or future pandemic bugs  that would be developed to pre-empt mutations. Currently, vaccine-makers are scrambling around behind the coronavirus to adapt their jabs to mutations on its spike protein. But Professor Pollard said physicists were studying how the virus could mutate in future, and whether vaccines could be made to get ahead of that and tackle them all in one early jab. He told the All-Party Parliamentary Group: '[One] way, which I think is particularly attractive with the huge advances in structural biology, is to look at spike protein, which is the component of most of the vaccines, and say "Well, how could it change? How could we make the right combination of spike proteins that would cover an anticipated change the virus might bring in?". 'I feel were on the edge of that bit of science at the moment and understanding this relationship between structural proteins and immunity. 'We may not be there this year but that could be a future  and I think for future pandemics, if were thinking in a depressing way, that actually is how were much more easily going to be able to cope with them and particularly with the type of viruses which mutate so regularly. 'I think this pandemic will drive us much more close to a point where we can be much more predictive in the future of how variants may change.' Advertisement

When asked about whether the current vaccines would still work against the South African and Brazilian variants, which are concerning researchers because they are able to resist previous immunity, Professor Pollard said we need to be prepared but he was optimistic.

He told MPs: 'All of the vaccines in the trials are in those regions that were talking about, where new variants are emerging, and we are not seeing a sudden shift so that lots of people who were vaccinated are ending up in hospital.

'Theyre still being protected from hospitalisation.

'We need more data to be absolutely secure on this and we will be gathering that in all these different countries.

'But if thats the case: we might need boosters, we might need tweaks every year but, actually, we might not. We might be generating enough immunity from the current generation of vaccines to stop severe disease

'In the meantime we cant afford to be complacent so we have to have new vaccines ready in case we need them.'

On BBC's Today programme this morning he had said the evolution of the virus and its impact on the vaccine was 'exactly what we would have expected'.

He hinted that Oxford's own trials in South Africa had shown the vaccine is effective at preventing hospitalisations and deaths.

Professor Pollard said: 'The really important point though is that all vaccines, everywhere in the world where they've been tested, are still preventing severe disease and death.

'And I think that is perhaps the clue to the future here, that we are going to see new variants arise and they will spread in the population, like most of the viruses that cause colds every winter.

'But, as long as we have enough immunity to prevent severe disease, hospitalisations and death, then we're going to be fine in the future in the pandemic.'

In a separate interview with the Today programme, Professor David Heymann, a top epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, was asked if people were going to have to 'learn to live with' coronavirus circulating.

He said: 'It certainly seems like that in the shorter term, and probably in the long term as well.

'Most experts believe that this disease is now becoming endemic, but the good thing is that we have many tools including vaccines with which we can deal with this virus.'

Drawing a comparison with the spread of HIV/Aids, he added: 'We've learned to live with it, as we'll learn to live with this infection as well.'

CATCHING CORONAVIRUS 'COULD BE BOOSTER JAB' AFTER ONE DOSE An immunology expert today told MPs that actually being exposed to the coronavirus after having one dose of a vaccine could have a similar effect to a second dose. The reason two doses of a vaccine are given is first to show the immune system what the virus looks like, so it can develop the proteins and cells it needs to destroy it, and then exposing it again so it can ramp up the numbers of these, developing stronger protection. For Covid vaccines in the UK, the doses will be given 12 weeks apart after chief medics controversially expanded the gap from three weeks. This concerned some who worried that people might have less protection during that 12-week middle period. But Professor Deborah Dunn-Waters, chair of the British Society for Immunology, told the All-Party Parliamentary Group for coronavirus: 'This strategy of vaccinating and then having a second dose is what we call priming and then boosting. 'Looking at the immunology in the data you can see the boosting effect of the Pfizer vaccine is really quite quick. You get it, if youre just measuring the antibodies and the T cells that are there. 'So theres obviously the memory cells sitting around and waiting to be boosted and theres nothing to say that if you did happen to see the virus in the supermarket or wherever, that itself wouldnt act as a booster.' Advertisement

But despite Professor Pollard and Professor Heymann's calls for calm, a top SAGE scientist warned today Britain could be trapped in lockdown cycles for 'several years' as it's forced to wrestle with new variants.

Professor Sir Ian Boyd, an infectious disease expert at the University of St Andrews, said the emergence of potentially jab-resistant strains means the UK could be stuck in a pattern of 'control and release for a long time to come'.

Evidence suggests the Oxford University vaccine  the main weapon in Britain's arsenal to combat the virus  does not stop people falling ill with the South African variant, which is feared to be spreading in the community already.

Professor Boyd and several other prominent SAGE members have warned reopening the current shutdown too early could risk allowing new, equally concerning variants to spawn.

Mutations randomly happen as viruses spread but most changes never change the way it looks or behaves. Very high transmission gives the virus more opportunity to mutate and, therefore, drives up the risk that one of the alterations could change the course of the disease.

Professor Boyd told The Times: 'It stands to reason that the more people there are in the population with infections  the prevalence  the more virus that is replicating and the more chance there is of even highly improbable mutations happening.'

He warned even if Britain gets on top of the South African strain, there will be more concerning ones down the line. He added: 'My suspicion is that we will experience a damped oscillation of control-release for a long time to come  perhaps several years.'

Professor David Heymann, a top epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said people were going to have to 'learn to live with' Covid being an endemic illness

Professor Graham Medley, another SAGE member who is an infectious disease expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told the newspaper that 'everything works better' when there is lower prevalence, adding that the emergence of new variants 'strengthens that case'.

The Government has promised to look at lifting the most draconian curbs when the most vulnerable have been given at least one dose of vaccine, which they hope will drive down hospital admissions and deaths to manageable levels.

Covid is becoming endemic, top expert says Experts believe coronavirus is becoming an 'endemic' disease, a leading epidemiologist has said. Professor David Heymann, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, was asked on the BBC Radio 4's Today programme if people were going to have to 'learn to live with' coronavirus circulating. Prof Heymann replied: 'It certainly seems like that in the shorter term, and probably in the long term as well. 'Most experts believe that this disease is now becoming endemic, but the good thing is that we have many tools including vaccines with which we can deal with this virus.' Drawing a comparison with the spread of HIV/Aids, he added: 'We've learned to live with it, as we'll learn to live with this infection as well.' Advertisement

But yesterday Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock left the door open to longer restrictions in the face of the South African strain  risking furious backlash from Tory backbenchers who've accused No10 of 'moving the goalposts' over ending lockdown.

Several other prominent leading scientists have already come out in support of extending the current shutdown to reduce the risk of the South African stain becoming widespread.

Professor Robin Shattock, of Imperial College London, who does not sit on SAGE but is a leader in advanced vaccine development, told The Times: 'It would be very advisable to try to push the cases as low as possible to reduce the chance of additional variants. This would make sense alongside border restrictions.'

And Professor Mike Tildesley, from Warwick University, who also sits on SAGE, threw his support behind longer restrictions yesterday.

So far there have only been 147 confirmed cases of the South African variant in the UK but this is likely to be a vast underestimate because up until last week officials were only analysing 10 per cent of random positive swabs.

Scientists say the true number of cases is likely 10 to 20 times higher than the official count. No10 has deployed extra testing into more than 10 areas of England where the South African strain is thought to be spreading in the community.

The Prime Minister yesterday refused to rule out extending lockdown if the South African variant continues to spread.

Pressed on whether there may need to be a delay to easing restrictions if the jab is proven to be less effective at reducing transmission of the South African variant, the Prime Minister said vaccines are 'going to offer a way out' and 'remain of massive benefit to our country'  but failed to dismiss the prospect of a lockdown extension.

During a visit to a coronavirus test manufacturing facility in Derby, he said: 'We're very confident in all the vaccines that we're using. And I think it's important for people to bear in mind that all of them, we think, are effective in delivering a high degree of protection against serious illness and death, which is the most important thing.'

But Government sources said on Sunday night there was 'no indication' the easing of lockdown would be affected by the findings that the Oxford vaccine is less effective against the South African variant.

A tweaked version of the Oxford vaccine that targets the new strain is already in development and should be ready by August.
The family of a policeman who died in a motorbike crash on his way home form work have welcomed the birth of his baby son.

Baby boy Etzio was photographed with his late father Aaron Vidal's police hat in a heartwarming family snap to celebrate his birth.

Constable Vidal, 28, died after a ute collided with his motorcycle in Rouse Hill in Sydney's northwest on June 18 last year.

Before to his death, Mr Vidal and his fiancee Jess named their baby before he was born in January.

The newborn baby of a policeman who tragically died in a motorbike crash has been pictured with his father's hat in a heartwarming photo

Constable Aaron Vidal (pictured), 28, died after a ute collided with his motorcycle on his way home from work in Rouse Hill in Sydney's north-west on June 18 last year

NSW Police Legacy shared the picture of baby Etzio and another being held by the organisation's chairman Gary Merryweather on Monday.

'It's with open arms but heavy hearts that we welcome to the Police Family our youngest new Police Legatee, Etzio Vidal, born last month,' the post was captioned.

'Aaron's partner Jess tells us that she is so grateful to have had the opportunity to name their son together before he died.'

NSW Police Legacy has an appeal page to raise money to raise baby Etzio in his father's absence.

Mr Vidal worked in the Australian Army before he became a NSW Police Force constable in December 2018.

Prior to his death, Mr Vidal (right) and his fiancee Jess (left) named their baby boy Etzio before he was born in January of this year

The 28-year-old followed in the footsteps of his Father, Chief Inspector David Vidal, at Sydney City PAC, upholding the family tradition of policing.

At Mr Vidal's funeral last year, pregnant fiancee Jess first revealed she was pregnant with their baby boy Etzio.

'You were a proud dad to be and busting to find out our baby's gender and you wanted so bad to share that exciting news with everyone. Well darling here is your last wish, we are having a baby boy,' she said, according to The Daily Telegraph.

'I have no doubt he will grow up to be just as stubborn, handsome, witty, loving and wise, just like you to the love of my life, always and forever.'

NSW Police Legacy chairman Gary Merryweather holding newborn Etzio. NSW Police Legacy has an appeal page to raise money to raise baby Etzio in his father's absence

His teary-eyed father David - who worked alongside Constable Vidal at the Day Street Police Station in Sydney's city centre - delivered a eulogy with lines he expected to say on his son's wedding day.

'Your child will miss out on the best father they could have ever wished for. Your friends, army mates and both blood and blue families will miss you,' he said.

Rapper Tommy Balla, 37, faces two charges over the fatal crash that claimed Mr Vidal's life.

Police allege the tragedy unfolded when Balla failed to stop at a red light at the intersection of Windsor and Schofields roads.

He was allegedly driving 'negligently' and 'in a manner dangerous to other persons', according to police documents.

Balla will return to Parramatta court on Thursday.
ISLAMABAD : Russia's Sputnik-V has become the third COVID-19 vaccine to be approved by Pakistan for emergency use after China's Sinopharm and the ones developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, the country's health minister said on Tuesday.

"Sputnik has received EUA (emergency use authorisation)," the minister, Faisal Sultan, told Reuters in a text message.

The Russian vaccine is administered in two shots, three weeks apart, has a six-month shelf life and is stored at -18 Celsius, according to an official document on the vaccine's authorisation.

The authorisation to M/s AGP Ltd, Karachi as sole proprietor of M/s Russian Direct Investment Fund is valid till April 1, 2021, the document said, adding it was for immunisation of individuals above 18 years of age.

A fourth vaccine candidate, developed by CanSino Biologics Inc (CanSinoBIO), has also completed clinical trials in the South Asian nation of 220 million people, showing 65.7% efficacy in symptomatic cases and a 90.98% success rate in severe cases in an interim analysis of global trials, Sultan said on Monday.

He said its efficacy in the Pakistani subset at preventing symptomatic cases was 74.8%. It was 100% for preventing severe disease.

CanSinoBio's single-dose regimen and normal refrigerator storage requirement could make it a favourable option for many countries.

AJ Pharma led CanSinoBIO's trial to import the vaccine vials initially before filling them in Pakistan, the first company to do so locally.

Sultan said Pakistan could get shots "in the range of tens of millions" under an agreement with the Chinese firm.

Pakistan has rolled out a vaccination drive with 500,000 doses of Sinopharm donated by longtime ally China, giving shots to frontline health workers as a priority.

Pakistan has also secured 17 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine under a global scheme to deliver coronavirus treatments to developing nations.

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[February 09, 2021] Sentry AI Partners With Trilogy Networks, Joins Rural Cloud Initiative To Apply AI-powered Surveillance For Rural Security And Safety

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart Home Sentry, Inc. ("Sentry AI"), today announces a partnership with Trilogy Networks to join the Rural Cloud Initiative (RCI), a unique coalition of more than 60 network and edge innovation partners committed to promoting and accelerating the digital transformation of rural America. Sentry AI, the leading creator of AI-Powered video analytics solutions for physical security will deploy its smart surveillance platform on Trilogy's distributed cloud infrastructure. This alliance brings AI-powered Video Analytics for security cameras with Intrusion Detection, Proactive Monitoring and Smart Safety products aiming to improve the security and safety of the rural areas. "This is groundbreaking for the rural market, home to much of the nation's critical utilities, oil and gas infrastructure," said George Woodward, CEO at Trilogy Networks and board member on the US Precision Agriculture Connectivity Task Force. "Utilizing artificial intelligence, Sentry AI enables real-time monitoring and alarms to protect these critical assets  assets well known to be security targets." Sentry AI fixes theold-age problem of false alerts and heavily manpower-reliant security systems, especially in outdoor settings. With the latest artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, Sentry AI easily transforms any legacy camera system into an automated virtual guard that can detect intrusions, recognize people and vehicles, and identify safety threats. Security intelligence is delivered real-time to security personnel through Sentry portal, mobile interface or IoT integration for 10 times more effective crime prevention.



"Sentry AI is on a mission to make our communities secure and safe. By joining RCI, we endeavor to bring our 100% software-based AI technologies to automate security monitoring across the rural America," Sentry AI Founder and CEO Uday Kiran Chaka said. "Our AI continuously learns and improves itself to cater to the specific needs of the industries and bring unparalleled value to users," Chaka said. ABOUT SENTRY AI

Sentry AI is the global leader of AI-powered video analytics solutions for physical security and public safety.

Sentry AI offers services around the globe with thousands of successful deployments worldwide across multiple industries including smart city, central monitoring station, education, enterprise, manufacturing, home and hospitality. For more information, please visit www.smartsentry.ai View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sentry-ai-partners-with-trilogy-networks-joins-rural-cloud-initiative-to-apply-ai-powered-surveillance-for-rural-security-and-safety-301224342.html SOURCE Sentry AI

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 09:03:07|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland reported 14 new imported COVID-19 cases Monday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 4,818, the National Health Commission said in its daily report Tuesday.

Seven new cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported in Guangdong, two in Shanghai and one each in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong and Sichuan, said the commission.

Of all the imported cases, 4,546 had been discharged from hospitals after recovery and 272 remained hospitalized, the commission said.

No deaths had been reported among the imported cases. Enditem
Leaders of the on Monday (local time) announced that they have reached a deal on the framework for former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, which is set to begin on Tuesday.

"For the information of the Senate, the Republican leader and I, in consultation with both the House managers and former President Trump's lawyers, have agreed to a bipartisan resolution to govern the structure and timing of the impending trial," Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said from the Senate floor, The Hill reported.

"All parties have agreed to a structure that will ensure a fair and honest Senate impeachment trial of the former president," he added.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also confirmed on the Senate floor that they have reached a deal, noting that it "preserves due process and the rights of both sides."

"I'm pleased that leader Schumer and I were able to reach an agreement on a fair process and estimated timeline for the upcoming Senate trial... It will give senators as jurors ample time to receive the case and the arguments," he said.

The timeline would allow the trial to wrap up as early as next week, if both sides agree not to call witnesses, according to The Hill.

Under the deal, the Senate will debate and vote on Tuesday on whether or not the trial is constitutional. The deal also leaves the door open to calling witnesses.

Opening arguments will start on Wednesday. Under the deal, the House impeachment managers and Trump's team will have 16 hours over two days each to present their case to the Senate.

"As in previous trials, there will be equal time for senator' questions and for closing arguments and an opportunity for the Senate to hold deliberations if it so chooses and then we will vote on the article of impeachment," Schumer said.

The House of Representatives last month impeached the former president for inciting violence against the government over his role in the January 6 riot at the US Capitol, which also claimed the life of a police officer.

However, the former President's lawyers argue that Trump is constitutionally ineligible to face an impeachment trial because he's no longer in office. They added that even if senators found the proceedings constitutional, his comments were protected under the First Amendment.

(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.)
TEHAMA, Calif.  A man was arrested on suspicion of child pornography in the city of Tehama.

The Tehama Major Crimes Task Force arrested 56-year-old Ronald Verrett for possession of child porn. The arrest came after authorities received a tip from the Internet Crimes Task Force in Sacramento.

A search of electronic devices in Verretts home turned up multiple images of child pornography that had been downloaded and saved, officers said.

Verrett was booked into the Tehama County Jail.
The Post Oak Hotel, owned by Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta, is No. 1 in the U.S. News & World Report's ranking of the best 25 hotels in Texas. It also made No. 13 in the publication's best hotels in the U.S. list.

Located in the swanky Uptown neighborhood of Houston, the 38-story, 250-room hotel opened in 2018. It has a designer boutique, a spa, a salon, a fitness center, a Rolls Royce showroom and on-site dealerships for Bentley and Bugatti cars.
A new proposal to tear down the four Lower Snake River dams has people agreeing on one thing  the dams value to the Northwest region.

But many of those who rely on the dams now  to produce low-cost and reliable electricity, to barge farm products for export, to provide irrigation water and for recreation  are dubious despite the plans attempts to make them economically whole.

U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho has proposed breaching the dams and spending $33 billion to dismantle them, build new energy and transportation systems and address the economic impacts of their loss.

Its the only way the conservative Republican sees to boost the declining population of certain species of salmon in Idaho that must make a 900-mile journey to and from the Pacific Ocean, navigating at least eight hydroelectric dams on the Snake and Columbia rivers.

On Monday, Oregons governor, Kate Brown, expressed support for the concept. Id like to thank Rep. Simpson for working with a broad coalition of interested parties across the Northwest to craft this proposal, which will help us to build on the economic opportunities of the Columbia Basin and invest in a clean energy future, Brown said in a released statement. At the same time, we can restore the promise of healthy and abundant salmon and steelhead stocks for generations to come, while respecting the history and rights of the sovereign tribes that have been stewards of these rivers since time immemorial.

Groups and business interests that have fought for more than two decades to keep the Lower Snake River dams arent willing to let them go now, particularly when the Northwest may be facing power generation and reliability issues even without the loss of the dams.

But some longtime supporters of keeping the lower Snake River dams are open to at least listening to what Simpson has to say and see if he wins the backing of the rest of the Northwest Congressional delegation to move forward.

Congressional support was not off to a strong start.

I have said it time and time again  as long as I am in Congress, nobody is tearing down our dams, said Rep. Dan Newhouse, R- Wash.

I have great respect for Rep. Simpson, and we will continue to work together on many different policy issues that impact the Pacific Northwest. But removing or breaching the Lower Snake River Dams is one that we fundamentally disagree on.

Newhouse also joined Republican Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Jaime Herrera Beutler in Washington state and Russ Fulcher in Idaho on Friday in a resolution in support of existing and new Northwest hydropower.

(Hydropower) benefits every resident, family, and business in our region, and its an important component of the all-of-the-above energy strategy that will ensure the United States maintains energy independence and leadership on the global stage, the resolution said.

Willing to discuss

After years of study, the latest environmental report looking at breaching the four dams along the Snake River from Ice Harbor near the Tri-Cities concluded that the best option was for the dams to remain.

But there is no certainty that the decision made to maintain the dams based on the study will stand. A coalition of environmental and fishing groups have petitioned the federal court to intervene for a sixth time.

We believe Rep. Simpsons plan has the best of intentions, and it deserves to be vetted among Northwest stakeholder groups, said Kurt Miller, executive director of Northwest RiverPartners, a nonprofit representing utilities, farmers, businesses, and ports that rely on the Northwests hydropower system.

But there are significant concerns, he said, including for the many families in the Northwest that rely on jobs that are dependent on the dams. They range from seasonal farm workers to riverboat operators.

Any plan around dam removal must consider how we specifically support these families, Miller said. As weve learned throughout the pandemic, a check from the government cannot make up for the loss of ones career.

The Tri-Cities along with the Lewiston-Clarkston area are the two metro areas with the most to lose if the dams are breached.

We appreciate that Rep. Simpsons concept attempts to address the wide array of negative impacts that would come from removing the dams, but at the end of the day dam removal is simply not good public policy, said David Reeploeg, vice president for federal programs for the Tri-City Development Council.

That is even though TRIDEC would receive $75 million to be spent on local economic development.

There is no certainty that removing the dams would result in significantly better fish numbers, but we do know for certain that it would hurt communities and industries throughout the Pacific Northwest, Reeploeg said.

Any decision to take out the dams would affect nearly every person in the Tri-Cities area, which relies on the low-cost and the reliable electricity delivery that the dams have made possible.

Electricity production

Simpsons proposal would provide $10 billion for new power generation facilities to replace the production of the four dams from Ice Harbor near the Tri-Cities upriver to near Lewiston, Idaho. It would also provide $2 billion for changes and improvements to the grid that delivers electricity, including to the Tri-Cities.

But Northwest RiverPartners said it appears to make a risky bet that new technologies will be ready to replace the proven technology of hydropower.

Under a suggested timeline, new generation would need to be ready to start replacing hydropower within a decade.

With a move toward clean energy in the Northwest, the replacement generation could include new small modular nuclear reactors, which could be based in the Tri-Cities.

It also would likely include wind and solar production paired with battery storage to make sure electricity is available when the wind is not blowing or the sun is not shining.

But neither small modular reactors nor the type of batteries needed for long-term to store wind and solar energy in the Northwest remain under development.

Currently, battery storage is available but is generally used for storing electricity for a few hours. The Northwest likely would need new kinds of battery storage to provide constant power for much longer periods, such as winter cold snaps when the wind may not blow for days.

We welcome the advancement of these technologies, but the regions electric customers should not be made reliant on technological breakthroughs to keep the lights on, Miller said.

Planning and building just a single power plant now can take a decade to build, said Rick Dunn, Benton PUD general manager.

The Northwest already is facing potential electric reliability issues as coal plants are being taken out of service, he said.

Electricity reliability

We know that our region will need gigawatts of additional power to avoid brownouts and blackouts, said Reeploeg, with TRIDEC. We should be investing in new energy generation regardless, not just as part of a package that includes breaching the dams. In fact, removing the dams would only create bigger energy challenges.

The Northwest will need to replace 3,000 megawatts of electricity production from coal generation in 10 years.

Also replacing the 3,000-megawatt capacity of the Snake River dams in a decade is unbelievably aggressive, Dunn said. It is a risky proposition.

The dams not only provide 10% of the baseload generating ability for the 135 customer electric utilities of the Bonneville Power Administration, but also provides 25% of BPAs operating reserves, he said.

Operating reserves allow quick action when power lines or generators go offline to prevent a cascading series of events that could end in blackouts.

Simpsons proposal is worth discussion, but removing the dams would provide a huge challenge even if the grid was on a a stable trajectory, Dunn said.

Transportation

While the plan calls for replacing hydropower production with clean energy sources, replacing the system of barging wheat and other products up and down the Snake River would increase carbon emissions.

The system of locks and dams makes it possible for barges to navigate the Snake River from the Tri-Cities to the Lewiston-Clarkston area.

Shipments now sent by barge would likely be transported by truck and rail, not only significantly increasing carbon emissions but increasing injuries and fatalities, said Kristin Meira, executive director of Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Barging also helps to keep a check on rail and trucking rates, ensuring the price of moving goods in the Pacific Northwest remains competitive, said Joseph Anderson, chairman of the Idaho Wheat Commission.

Simpsons proposal includes a $1 billion fund for waterways shippers and transportation, plus $300 million for road and rail improvements.

The Tri-Cities ports have been held up as benefactors of the plan, which includes $600 million to further develop the Tri-Cities into a transportation hub.

But Randy Hayden, Port of Pasco executive director, questions whether shippers would want to transfer goods already heading toward the coast by truck or rail to a barge at the Tri-Cities.

The transfer cost would add expense and time, and short haul rail rarely works, he said.

I think we will see a lot more truck traffic coming through the Tri-Cities but it wont necessarily stop here. It will just be clogging our highways, including through the Columbia River Gorge, he said.

The Port of Pasco, which has been greatly successful at attracting food processing companies, also is concerned dam removal will crush industrial recruitment efforts.

We rely on that power, Hayden said. Our large industries that we talk to, when they come here they expect they are going to be able to run their plants.

Irrigation

About 91,000 acres is irrigated with pump stations designed to work with the Lower Snake River dams, and Simpson proposes $750 million for those irrigators.

The amount matches, and even provides some cushion, to what the Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association previously said would be needed to address the economic impacts of removing the dams.

The association told Simpson it is not going to throw rocks at his proposal or get in the way of anything the Northwest Congressional delegation can reach agreement on, said Darryll Olsen, association board representative.

Thats despite the associations stand in support of retaining the dams.

Olsen fears that U.S. Judge Michael Simon, who ordered the recently completed environmental study on dam removal, is preparing to eviscerate the findings of the study, which did not call for breaching the dams.

The judges next step may be to order a plan and schedule to demolish the dams, although he lacks the authority to order them torn down, Olsen said.

And irrigators no longer have the power of the presidency on their side. They believe former President Donald Trump would not have allowed the dams to be removed.

Fish survival

Simpsons goal is rebuilding declining populations of Idaho fish.

But even he admits that breaching the dams is not a sure solution.

Endangered fish face challenges that include ocean conditions and global climate change that has contributed to river and reservoir temperatures warming to temperatures unsuitable for salmon.

Only four of the 13 ESA (Endangered Species Act) listed salmon runs even swim past the lower Snake River dams and they do so with over 95% transit survival, said Mike Carstensen, chairman of the Washington Grain Commission.

Its a percentage that other supporters of keeping the dams have agreed is correct, at least for each dam.

Given the Pacific Coast-wide declines in salmon survival in both dammed and undammed rivers, it is hard to make the case that breaching dams with advanced fish passage technology will reverse this disturbing trend, said Miller with Northwest RiverPartners.

If sustainable salmon populations dont return to the Snake River, U.S. taxpayers will have footed the bill to the tune of tens of billions of dollars to end up with a larger carbon footprint than we have today, he said.

However the Yakama Nation, which has treaty rights to salmon in the Columbia River Basin, applauded Simpson for his proposal.

It said that federal dams have devastated its ability to take full benefit of its fishing rights.

We have reached a tipping point where we must choose between our treaty-protected salmon and the federal dams, and we choose salmon, said Delano Saluskin, chairman of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council.

Dams and salmon can, and do, coexist in the Northwest, Newhouse said.

The extensive, world-class research and technological advances occurring at the Lower Snake River dams is already leading the way for significantly improved fish passage rates. he argued. We have seen tremendous progress, and I will continue to support efforts to improve salmon survivability.
ONeals age and vulnerability was key in both real life and the film: At the same time as the Black youth began to see the older white Mitchell as a role model, he grew closer to Hampton. A Tribune story following Mitchells death in 2000 noted that he had as many as nine informants in the Black Panther Party before the fatal raid. ONeal, however, was the one who gave the FBI a floorplan for Hamptons apartment.
AMHERST  The Town Council on Monday by a majority vote approved a resolution that requests Gov. Charlie Baker and the state department of public health to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations for teachers and staff, as a means to increase in-person learning.

During discussion, councilors said the lack of in-person learning at Amherst public schools was a major reason they supported the resolution, and is reflected in the two-page document.

It says in part: a free and open K-12 public education system is integral to the functioning of our community.

The inability to safely open schools could compromise the long-term educational outcomes for many students, especially our most vulnerable students; the mental and physical health of many students; the lives and livelihoods of many families in our community; and the local and state economy. The full extent of the ripple effects of an inability to safely open schools are unknown, but potentially significant, the resolution says.

The Feb. 8 vote was 9 yes, and 4 no.

Voting in favor was Council President Lynn Griesemer, Vice President Evan Ross, and Councilors Andrew Steinberg, Cathy Schoen, Darcy DuMont, Dorothy Pam, Shalini Bahl-Milne, Sarah Swartz and Stephen Schreiber.

Opposed: Councilors Alisa Brewer, Patricia De Angelis, George Ryan and Mandi Jo Hanneke.

The resolution says that nearly half of the states in the country are now vaccinating school personnel.

It says, given the unique and critical role that our K-12 public education system plays in the functioning of our community, society, and our democracy, it is critical that teachers and classified staff be prioritized among essential workers who are given access to an approved COVID-19 vaccine.

Councilors not voting in favor of it said they supported the idea, and explained their opposition.

De Angelis said that if the council is advocating on behalf of educational personnel, then the body should also advocate for other workers for prioritization of vaccination.

Ross said he agreed with De Angelis, but said voting in favor of the resolution in no way diminishes supporting all working people who should also be a priority.

The resolution says the Amherst Town Council calls on the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) to publicly advocate for public school educators to be prioritized among essential workers who are given access to an approved COVID-19 vaccine.

Related:
A British Army intelligence expert allegedly begged a young female private for a 'goodnight snog' and forced himself on her after walking back from a Jagerbomb-fuelled party during a ski trip, a court martial has heard.

Warrant Officer Paul Tate is said to have backed the female soldier against a minibus and warned her 'don't make me push you to the floor,' while on an Intelligence Corps trip to Austria.

The woman told a panel WO Tate, who was a staff sergeant at the time, repeatedly tried to kiss her, leaving her 'really angry and shocked'.

The 42-year-old admits to trying to kiss her on the cheek, but denies a charge of sexual assault.

British Army intelligence expert Paul Tate denies sexually assaulting a younger private during a ski trip in Austria. She claims the 42-year-old warned: 'Don't make me push you to the floor,' after she tried to stop him from kissing her

Prosecutor Captain James Farrant said they shared 'flirty banter' and jokes with 'sexual innuendos' while socialising on the night of the incident.

The group eventually moved to another bar where the mood was said to be still 'jovial' but 'a little bit more touchy-feely by that stage'.

However, the woman said that 'no boundaries had been crossed'.

The court heard that she announced to the group that she was going back to her apartment at about 9pm, at which point WO Tate said he would go with her, because his apartment was on the way to hers.

Warrant Officer Tate, pictured arriving at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire was acting as an instructor on an Intelligence Corps ski trip in Austria when the alleged sexual assault took place

Capt Farrant said: 'Once they reached (his) apartment, he initiated a hug to say goodbye and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She still thought this was ok.

'It is at this stage that things go a little wrong.

'After (he) had hugged her for a few seconds he tried to kiss her on the lips. She told him firmly and clearly she did not want him to do so.

'He asked her to "give me a good night snog" or words to that effect. Again she made clear she didn't want to do that.

'His tongue touched her cheek and closed mouth. She moved her head from side to side to try and stop him from doing that.

'She backed into a mini bus which was parked outside his apartment. She was stuck and he continually tried to put his tongue in her mouth.

'She tried to say no but didn't want to open her mouth and let him succeed.'

The alleged victim told the court that during the sessions she had been drinking Jager bombs and Gluhwein, a type of mulled wine, and that WO Tate was drinking Jagermeister as well.

She said she was 'tipsy' but that she had a perfect recollection of the night.

She claimed that as the evening wore on 'it got more touchy feely... he was touching my waist and my bum'.

Describing the moment WO Tate tried to kiss her, she said: 'I kept saying no. I remember saying no multiple times and trying to move my head away.

WO Tate, who is now a part of the 14 Signal Regiment, accepts he tried to kiss her on the cheek but denies sexual assault.

'It carried on and I started backing away. He started getting more forceful.'

She said she kept backing away but got 'trapped' against the mini bus.

'He kept trying to kiss me, his face was right up against my face and I kept trying to move my face left and right. His tongue was on my cheek.

'He said: "Oh, come on, don't make me push you to the floor".

'That's the point I was like... I don't know how to get out of this situation.'

At that point, she said a colleague walked around the corner and the pair went their separate ways.

The incident was reported the following morning.

While she was speaking to another officer the next day about what had happened, WO Tate walked around the corner.

She said that he pulled her aside for a chat when she had finished speaking to the officer and said 'sorry for last night, I was a d******'.

WO Tate, who is now a part of the 14 Signal Regiment, accepts he tried to kiss her on the cheek but denies sexual assault.

The trial continues.
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).
A teenage girl didnt hold back Tuesday afternoon when she told a Cumberland County judge what she wanted to happen to Roger E. Drake, the 41-year-old man convicted of molesting her.

I want him to pay for what he did to me, she said.

Judge Albert H. Masland then sentenced Drake, a Dauphin County resident, to 11  to 23 months in the county prison, despite defense attorney Christopher McCabes plea for a time served sentence.

Roger E. Drake

Masland did give Drake credit for the 277 days he already had spent behind bars pending trial on the child-sex charges filed by East Pennsboro Township police early last year. That means Drake could be eligible got parole in a few months.

Police accused Drake of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 2017 and threatening to hurt her if she told anyone. He also was accused of making sexual comments to a 17-year-old, grabbing her buttocks and flashing his genitals at her.

Masland noted that Drake avoided conviction on the most serious charges he faced, including rape of a child, when a county jury found him guilty of indecent assault and corruption of minors in October. The jurors deliberated for more than 12 hours before issuing the verdict.

I do not doubt that something happened, but quite frankly the jury was having a difficult time deciding exactly what happened, Masland said.

McCabe said Drake had been involved in substance abuse but is now sober. Ive been working and doing my best to stay clean, Drake told the judge.

When Masland gave her a chance to speak, one of the victims said the abuse inflicted on her changed her personality and made her into a self-destructive recluse. I was cutting myself because of him, she said.

The girls mother said Drake had devastated her daughter emotionally, physically and mentally.

He took from her her self-respect, her self-esteem, her joy, the mother said. She became angry all the timeI believe these are permanent changes that no child ever should have to go through.

Assistant District Attorney Lauren Perchinsky said Drake will have to register with state police for life as a sex offender.
The generals who seized power in Myanmar last week made threatening gestures on the weekend against street demonstrators demanding restoration of democracy. The ruling junta gave no sign of seeking a peaceful settlement with the democratic forces and their imprisoned leader, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

The generals who seized power in Myanmar last week made threatening gestures on the weekend against street demonstrators demanding restoration of democracy. The ruling junta gave no sign of seeking a peaceful settlement with the democratic forces and their imprisoned leader, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Supporters of the generals suffered a humiliating loss in national elections three months ago. Ms. Suu Kyis National League for Democracy won those elections in a landslide. The generals have since complained those elections were fraudulent; the national elections commission heard their complaints and dismissed them. After last weeks seizure of power, the army abolished that elections commission.

Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested during a coup by the military. (Paul Miller / Bloomberg files)

The generals would be wise to negotiate with Ms. Suu Kyi, who manifestly had the people behind her in November and still enjoys massive support in the streets. She formerly co-operated with the generals, at great cost to her international prestige, by accepting a role in the military government.

Timid steps toward democracy under Ms. Suu Kyis leadership following elections in 2015 whetted the peoples appetite for reform and did not build support for the generals, as they learned to their dismay last November. That exercise should persuade the generals that they have no knack for political leadership.

A realistic reform program would entrust national defence to the generals and take them entirely out of political leadership, for which they have no mandate and no skill. Since they seem not to grasp the depth of their own political ineptitude, however, it may be difficult to persuade them to step aside and allow wiser heads to govern them.

The alternative to negotiation is repression. The generals tolerated peaceful protests by tens of thousands of citizens on Sunday demanding release of the imprisoned democracy leaders, though water cannon trucks sprayed one crowd of demonstrators in the national capital Nay Pyi Taw. Broadcasts on state television have been saying action must be taken against street protesters. This could foreshadow army violence in the streets.

Protesters hold an image of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Mandalay, Myanmar, on Monday. (The Associated Press)

Police brutality in the streets of Russian cities has not yet discouraged young Russians from demonstrating in support of Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption agitator who refuses to die of the poisons President Vladimir Putin sends him and refuses also to be silent about the opulent lifestyle of Mr. Putin and his cronies. The pro-Navalny demonstrators were out in force again this past weekend, despite beatings and imprisonment by Mr. Putins security forces.

Pro-democracy demonstrators in Myanmar are likely to be at least as persistent. They know they won the 1990, 2015 and 2020 elections. They know democratic government is within reach. They know the generals who are pretending to govern are unfit for the role.

Though the generals have imprisoned Ms. Suu Kyi, her political position is extremely strong because of her long service as leader of the NLD and her election victories over a span of 30 years. She may not again allow the generals to use her as lead vocalist in a band where they call the tune. She could, however, bring the public with her into a new constitutional structure for Myanmar that could open the way to peace and prosperity.

The generals first instinct is likely to be repression. If, however, they notice how poorly that is working for Vladimir Putin, they might ask Ms. Suu Kyi over for a chat.
Cape Town  PRASA plans to resume services on the Cape Town Central Line but an informal settlement is in the way

Metrorail intends to resume the Langa-Cape Town Central Line service.

The service was suspended in October 2019 and an informal settlement has since spread close to the railway lines.

PRASA has given the residents ten days to vacate its property.

On Monday the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) issued shack dwellers in Siyahlala informal settlement with ten-days notice to vacate the tracks of the Cape Town Central Line in order for it to resume the train service.

In a statement on Monday, PRASA said it is ready to run trains again from Cape Town to Langa.

PRASA said it met with the Western Cape MEC for Human Settlements and the Mayor of Cape Town to help find a suitable site to relocate the people of Siyahlala.

"PRASA will temporarily use diesel locomotives while the process of repairing the infrastructure is underway ... Tenders have already been advertised to reinstate the power supply system so that trains are able to operate," read the statement.

It has also appointed a team of consultants to design and manage the construction of walls along the PRASA servitude.

Siyahlala was established in 2016 on PRASA land, a few minutes walk from Langa train station. Shacks were set up initially around an old railway line, but the settlement grew and eventually encroached on the Central Line as trains haven't operated on it since October 2019. There are about 5,500 households now, according to a community leader.

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The settlement has no sanitation and the narrow strip between the shacks and the train tracks is covered in garbage and faeces.

Community leader Nomzomo Gatuya, who shares a shack with seven people, said ten days is not enough time for them to relocate. Siyahlala leaders had hoped to address the time issue with PRASA on Tuesday.

But Gatuya said, "Our chairperson missed work to attend the meeting. To my disappointment PRASA sent someone to tell us the meeting has been postponed ... To what date PRASA didn't say."

"We don't have a place to go. We will become homeless. We cannot move back to our parents houses in the township. We relocated here because those houses were overcrowded."

"Our children go to nearby schools in Langa township, if we move we won't afford school transport. If we move many people who are walking to work in Epping will lose their jobs as they cannot afford transport. Many people here are unemployed ... . Some were retrenched because of Covid-19. Relocation right now will make our life very hard," said Gatuya.

Spokesperson for Western Cape Transport and Public Works MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela said, "There are ongoing discussions between the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works, Department of Human Settlements, City of Cape Town and PRASA. The focus is to find alternative land to relocate the people who are currently occupying the railway line."

PRASA spokesperson Bane Ndlovu had not replied to GroundUp's questions at the time of publication.

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[February 08, 2021] Smart Speaker Market 2020 Global Analysis, Size, Trends, Share, Growth, Competitive Landscape, Key Players, Regional and Industry Forecast To 2025

According to a recent report published by Allied Market Research, titled, Global Smart Speaker Market by Intelligent Virtual Assistant, End User, Distribution Channel, and Price: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2018-2025, the global smart speaker was valued at $4,358 million in 2017, and is projected to reach $23,317 million by 2025, registering a CAGR of 23.4% from 2018 to 2025.







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Access Full Summary @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/smart-speaker-market Key Findings of the Smart Speaker Market: The online segment is estimated to generate the highest revenue in terms of distribution channel for the global smart speaker market in 2017.



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About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of Market Research Reports and Business Intelligence Solutions. AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.



We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.



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Restaurants will no longer be allowed to sell pre-packaged meals through arrangements with supermarkets and other outlets, as Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley definitively closed this loophole yesterday.

Rowley said this would not be allowed to continue, as it defeats the purpose of the public health regulations. Restaurants and street food vendors were among those businesses ordered to close to limit the movement of people and curb the spread of Covid-19.

South Korea's top mobile messenger operator Kakao Corp on February 8 said that its CEO will donate more than half of his 10 trillion won ($8.9 billion) assets. In a message dispatched to Kakao's employees, Kim Beom-Su said that he has pledged to give in charity his wealth valued at over 5.7 trillion won, for social welfare cause. This would include 12.5 million shares of Kakao, the CEO said, according to South Koreas Yonhap News Agency. Billionaire Kims wealth had recently risen to $7.9 billion, meanwhile, he ranks 332nd on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. A discussion for allocation of the donation is ongoing, and the company will make a formal announcement in days ahead, according to Yonhap.

KakaoTalk, a free messaging service founded in 2010 has effectively replaced SMS texting in South Korea and is operated by Seouls 3/4th of the 50 million population, according to reports. The app dons as many as 10.8 million users, abroad. The 54-year-old, one of the most popular and richest Internet entrepreneurs of South Korea now plans to sell his assets, which, as per the estimates, are 26 percent of the total stakes. Kims shares generate third-quarter revenue of 1.1 trillion Won ($926 million), and the tech mogul also makes wealth off the search engine Naver, South Koreas version of Google.

Read: Spotify Launches In South Korea

Read: Blinken: Biden Ordered North Korea Policy Review

Seoul's 'biggest gainer'

In 2015, Kim merged Kakao Corp. with Daum, South Korea's second-largest online search, forming a $7.4 billion (market cap) firm. His flagship messaging application is installed in more than 90 percent of smartphones across South Korea, and the entrepreneur is dubbed as Seouls biggest gainer. KakaoTalk CEO will invest his assets for charity fundings under the initiative Giving Pledge, started by Bill and Melinda Gates, signed by at least 200 richest entrepreneurs worldwide.

Earlier, a former CEO of the airport retail Duty-Free Shoppers, Chuck Feeney, known for dispensing 1bn on Irish projects, donated all his wealth in charity and retired. The 89-year-old endorser of the Giving While Living, known to propagate the monk life among followers, and for making humongous donations via Atlantic Philanthropies (AP), including direct grants to higher education and national research infrastructure funding, was declared officially broke after he donated all his riches, according to his company Atlantic Philanthropies official release.

Read: Crew Still On Board Seized South Korean Ship Even After Iran Agreed To Release: Report

Read: South Korea's Trade Minister Drops Bid To Become WTO Chief

(Image Credit: Unsplash/representative Image)
Victorian businesses are facing the toughest conditions of any of the states or territories, according to the latest research by NAB, but they are also the most optimistic in the nation.

The states peak small business group said on Tuesday that business confidence looked strong because it was coming off a low base and sentiment was vulnerable to the continued threats of border closures or fresh lockdowns.

The retail sector continues to lead the recovery, with pandemic wage subsidies and tax cuts putting money in shoppers pockets. Credit:Eamon Gallagher

The banks business confidence survey for January, which covered 400 firms nationwide, found trading conditions around Australia had returned to long-term average levels in the first month of 2021 after companies enjoyed better-than-average times in November and December.

The retail sector continues to lead the recovery, NAB found, with the federal governments pandemic wage subsidies and tax cuts putting money in the pockets of shoppers, whose opportunities for spending on travel and other services had been severely restricted.
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A grand Spring Festival gala organized in the U.S. city of Houston was staged online to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year Saturday night.

Efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the past year were highlighted in the celebration. The show started with the Symphony of Festive Overture performed by the Texas Medical Center Orchestra including doctors, nurses and pharmacists.

Together with all kinds of performances by local and overseas artists, New Year greetings were sent by politicians and community leaders.

In a video, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner expressed gratitude and warm Lunar New Year wishes to the Chinese community.

"I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Chinese community for helping Houston through the COVID-19 global pandemic," Turner said. "I look forward to the time that we can all come together safely again in person and we can celebrate together. Until that time, may the Year of the Ox bring joy and prosperity to each of us."

Titled "Embracing Spring," the show is the largest of its kind in Houston. Due to the pandemic, this year's gala was presented online for the first time through streaming platforms such as YouTube and Youku, among others.

Yang Deqing, chief executive of the Chinese Civic Center, said several technicians have helped address the technical challenges, making sure the show can be viewed smoothly online.

Despite the difficulties, local artists and art troupes were passionate about the event. "Around 70 programs have signed up for the event, more than any year before," director of the show Jiajin Ji said. Over 40 programs were chosen due to time limit.

The show was presented by the Houston Chinese Civic Center and co-organized by other Chinese communities in Houston.

The Year of the Ox begins on Feb. 12.
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BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - U.K. stocks were little changed on Tuesday after data showed U.K. retail sales declined for the first time since last spring. Total sales decreased 1.3 percent on a yearly basis in January as the current lockdown has hit non-essential retailers harder than in November, data from the British Retail Consortium showed. Like-for-like sales grew 7.1 percent. The benchmark FTSE 100 was marginally lower at 6,518 after gaining half a percent on Monday. Online retail company Ocado fell over 1 percent after narrowing its annual loss. G4S edged up slightly. The security services group said trading had remained resilient in the final months of 2020. Bellway shares rallied 2.7 percent. The property developer said it now expects housing completions for the full year to July 31, 2021 to increase to around 9,800 homes versus 7,522 last year. Software company Micro Focus surged 4.1 percent after reinstating its dividend. 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.
Britney Spears is back in Hollywood spotlight after her new documentary, Framing Britney was released recently. The documentary delves into Britney's conservatorship by her father and how she has been let down by her closest people. Britney is very fond of her kids, however. Read on to know more about Britney Spears' kids.

Britney Spears Kids

Also Read: Britney Spears Documentary: Where To Watch 'Framing Britney'? Know All Details

Britney Spears marri ed Kevin Federline in 2004 after the pair dated for 3 months. Kevin was a backup dancer who regularly worked for Britney on her tours. That's how the couple met. Britney and Kevin had their first child, Sean Preston, a year after they got married in 2005. One year after that in 2006, their younger son, Jayden James was born. Britney and Kevin had a rocky marriage and the tabloids often published negative rumours and controversial news about them causing even more on an already difficult relationship. The pair split a couple of months after Jayden was born. Britney Spears kids now are 14 (Sean) and 13 (Jayden) in age.

Also Read: Britney Spears Once Admitted That She Wants To Feel Liberated; Read On

Britney Spears Kids' Custody

After Britney and Kevin broke up, Britney suffered some serious mental health issues and her mental state deteriorated rather quickly. In 2007, she had a mental breakdown in public and ended up attacking some paparazzi who were following her. Previous to this Britney and Kevin had 50-50 custody of the kids. However, after this incidence, she lost custody of the kids in a court ruling in 2008. Kevin was given the sole custody as would be able to provide a stable environment and a proper home life to the kids. Over the years as Britney recovered, she got back 30 per cent custody of her kids with Kevin having 70 per cent. When Sean and Jayden are at their dad's house they also spend time with their other siblings. Kevin has 4 more children - Kori, and Kaleb from a relationship with Shar Jackson and daughters Jordan and Peyton with his current wife Victoria Prince.

Also Read: 'A Teacher Episodes': Details About The American Drama Television Miniseries

Britney Spears Conservatorship

Britney is in the process of contesting her conservatorship ongoing in court. Britney has even refused to perform shows or make public appearances as long as her father remains in control of her life. Her fans have been fiercely supportive and they have been a major force in bringing this issue to worldwide attention. It was only after her fans started rallying that media houses took notice and the New York Times began their investigation.

Also Read: 'WandaVision' Number Of Episodes On Disney Plus Revealed By Marvel

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.
The reason for a native messaging app stems from the multitude of leaked conversations on Whatsapp and its seemingly insecure network. Moreover, WhatsApp's new privacy policy states that it will be sharing user data with Facebook, something which it is suspected of doing long since.

A new indigenously developed alternative to WhatsApp is now being used by some government officials. The app, called Sandes, was announced the previous year by the Indian government as an alternative to WhatsApp and is now being beta tested by the government officials to look for any bugs and give feedback.

The gims.gov.in page for the app offers some insight into the app, including the log-in methods that will be available. Although, the details of these clickable options are classified, as the portal is encrypted and only selected government officials can access them.

It was initially speculated that the app would be called GIMS (Government Instant Messaging System) but has instead been christened with a local name.

Also read: PM Modi and US Prez Biden discuss climate change, security in Indo-Pacific region

Also read: PM Modi to hold talks with Afghan Prez Ashraf Ghani today; Shehtoot Dam agreement on agenda

The reason for a native messaging app stems from the multitude of leaked conversations on Whatsapp and its seemingly insecure network. Moreover, WhatsApps new privacy policy states that it will be sharing user data with Facebook, something which it is suspected of doing long since.

The Sandes app will be released on both Android and iOS platforms and will have features similar to other, popular messaging apps including WhatsApp Itself. The programming of Sandes has been delegated to The National Informatics Centre (NIC) wing of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. NIC has been working on the Digital India initiative and is also involved in Indias IT network.

Also read: Chamoli glacier disaster: 15 people rescued so far; ITBP intensifies search ops at Tapovan tunnel
WASHINGTON - The Biden administration as early as Tuesday is expected to ask remaining U.S. attorneys appointed by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate to begin stepping down - though the Trump-appointed federal prosecutor investigating Hunter Biden, Joe Biden's son, as well as the prosecutor reviewing the FBI's 2016 investigation of Trump's campaign, will be allowed to continue their work, a Justice Department official said.

While President Joe Biden always was expected to install his own U.S. attorneys across the country, the move is an indication that he intends to purge those whose politics might be more aligned with Trump's sooner rather than later. While many U.S. Attorneys appointed by Trump and confirmed by the Senate stepped down before the transition, others remained in their posts, and the administration had previously asked them to stay on while Biden decided what to do.

The Justice Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel moves that had not been announced, said Biden's request would be made of those U.S. attorneys both appointed by Trump and confirmed by the Senate. That means it would not immediately affect those installed on an acting basis, such as Michael Sherwin, the acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, whose office is handling the prosecution of those involved in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Biden, though, will eventually install his own appointees at that and other offices, and he could take steps in the interim to put different acting leaders in place. It was unclear when that might happen.

It also was unclear how long after Biden asked the U.S. attorneys to begin submitting resignations that they would actually be made to leave their posts. The Justice Department official said only that the Biden administration would "begin the transition process" as soon as Tuesday; it declined to provide a more specific timeline.

In March 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked all 46 remaining Obama administration U.S. attorneys across the country to submit their resignations immediately. A similar step was taken at the start of the Clinton administration, but the George W. Bush administration eased U.S. attorneys out gradually while officials sought replacements, as did the Obama administration Justice Department.

Among those who would be affected would include Bobby Christine, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia who Trump installed to also lead the Northern District last month. At the time, Trump was waging a pressure campaign against state officials to support his unfounded claims of election fraud there. Christine recently resigned from his role in the Northern District, though he remained as the U.S. attorney in the Southern District.

Also affected would be U.S. Attorney John Huber for the District of Utah, who had years ago been tapped to look into concerns raised by Trump and his allies in Congress that the FBI had not fully pursued cases of possible corruption at the Clinton Foundation and during Hillary Clinton's time as secretary of state. That probe ended without finding anything of consequence, people familiar with the matter have said.

The Biden administration's move was first reported by CNN.

The Justice Department official said acting U.S. attorney general Monty Wilkinson had asked David Weiss, the U.S. attorney for the District of Delaware, to stay in his current role. Weiss's office is investigating Hunter Biden for possible tax crimes, and removing him would spark significant political backlash.

The official said John Durham, the U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut, would also be able to continue his review of the FBI's investigation into whether Trump's 2016 campaign coordinated with Russia to influence the 2016 election. That is because Attorney General William Barr appointed Durham as a special counsel, and he will remain in that role even after stepping down as U.S. attorney, the official said.

Although Biden's nominee to be attorney general, federal appeals court Judge Merrick Garland, has yet to be confirmed, the Justice Department already has taken several steps to undo Trump-era directives and return the department to its pre-2017 posture. Last week, for example, Wilkinson rescinded a policy change that Barr made to give prosecutors more latitude to take public steps in voter fraud investigations before election results were certified.
India will make up the biggest share of energy demand growth at 25% over the next two decades, as it overtakes the European Union as the world's third-biggest energy consumer by 2030, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said.

India's energy consumption is expected to nearly double as the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) expands to an estimated $8.6 trillion by 2040 under its current national policy scenario, the IEA said in its India Energy Outlook 2021 released on Tuesday.

Here's what International Energy Agency said:

Prior to the global pandemic, Indias energy demand was projected to increase by almost 50% between 2019 and 2030, but growth over this period is now closer to 35% in the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS), and 25% in the Delayed Recovery Scenario.

Prior to the global pandemic, Indias energy demand was projected to increase by almost 50% between 2019 and 2030, but growth over this period is now closer to 35% in the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS), and 25% in the Delayed Recovery Scenario. An expanding economy, population, urbanisation and industrialisation mean that India sees the largest increase in energy demand of any country, across all of our scenarios to 2040.

Solar power is set for explosive growth in India, matching coals share in the Indian power generation mix within two decades in the STEPS  or even sooner in the Sustainable Development Scenario.

Indias electricity demand is set to increase much more rapidly than its overall energy demand.

The pace of change in the electricity sector puts a huge premium on robust grids and other sources of flexibility, with India becoming a global leader in battery storage.

Coals hold over Indias power sector is loosening, with industry accounting for most of the increase in coal demand to 2040 in the STEPS.

Energy demand for road transport in the STEPS is projected to more than double over the next two decades, although this growth is cut dramatically in the Sustainable Development Scenario.

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Bahrain ranks 15th overall among the worlds most competitive emerging markets and seventh in the area of business fundamentals, according to the annual Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index.



The Index, now in its 12th year, ranks 50 countries by factors that make them attractive to logistics providers, freight forwarders, shipping lines, air cargo carriers and distributors. China, India and Indonesia topped the Index, while three Gulf countries made the top 10: UAE (4), Saudi Arabia (6) and Qatar (9).



In the area of business fundamentals, Gulf countries dominated the top spots. UAE was No. 1, followed by Saudi Arabia (3), Qatar (4), Bahrain (7), Oman (8) and Kuwait (11). Nearby Jordan was 10th. China, India and Indonesia rank highest for domestic logistics; China, India and Mexico are at the top for international logistics.



Gulf countries are pushing hard to diversify and integrate their economies by developing world-class infrastructure and creating fair, transparent conditions for business, said Elias Monem, Agility Global Integrated Logistics (GIL) CEO for Middle East & Africa.



Good infrastructure and stable business conditions are areas of huge competitive advantage for the Gulf region. They will be key to recovering from the economic downturn brought on by the pandemic.



The regional Gulf economy could get a boost as a result of the diplomatic breakthrough that ended Saudi Arabias three-year economic blockade of neighbouring Qatar in late 2020. That could lead to tighter integration in a region where cross-border trade, trucking and e-commerce are growing dramatically.



Along with the Index, Agility surveyed more than 1,200 supply chain professionals for their views on the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Of the executives surveyed, 44.7% see a Middle East/North Africa recovery in 2021; 38.9% say a recovery for the region wont take place until 2022-2024. A majority expect Asia, North America and Europe to rebound this year.



2021 Index and Survey Highlights



 Even when they consider easing dependence on China, few companies plan to bring manufacturing jobs back home. Only 7.8% of industry executives surveyed say relocating production from China would mean reshoring to their home countries. Vietnam (19.6%), India (17.4%) and Indonesia (12.4%) are the leading choices for relocation, followed by Thailand (10.3%) and Malaysia (9.6%), according to those surveyed.

 While total cost is driving overall shifts in production supply chains, today low-cost labour is barely a consideration for emerging markets investment -- with only 2.2% of industry executives saying its important. Executives say the most important factors are government bureaucracy and regulation (25.8%); infrastructure quality (14.1%); and supply of skilled labour (8.0%). As companies examine new production locations, they say their biggest concerns are inadequate infrastructure (14.5%) and additional cost (13.5%).

 Of the executives surveyed, 19.1% say 2020 sales decreased as a result of the pandemic. But only 9.4% say Covid-related employee safety measures have decreased efficiency.

 The sustainability movement has momentum. More than a quarter (26.9%) of executives surveyed say their companies are boosting implementation of environmentally sustainable practices in the wake of the pandemic. Another 45.2% say their plans are unchanged, suggesting they have no intention of retreating from sustainability commitments.

 In Latin America, Mexico is the strongest emerging market, ranking 7th overall. Argentina (36) and Venezuela (50) continue to be plagued by chronic economic dysfunction. Notably, though, eight countries in Latin America improved their business fundamentals: Uruguay, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. The regions best business climate is in Chile, which ranks 5th out of 50 countries in that category.

 Nigeria improved its competitiveness more than any country in the 2021 Index, moving up five spots to No. 30, the highest climb for any market in Sub-Saharan Africa in the 12 years of the Index. Nigeria improved its relative position in all three areas of the Index: business climate, international logistics and domestic logistics.

 The countries improving their domestic logistics strengths the most were Malaysia, Nigeria, Vietnam, Iran, Uruguay, Myanmar and Cambodia. The biggest strides in international logistics came from Morocco, Ukraine, Kenya, Myanmar and Paraguay.



Transport Intelligence (Ti), a leading analysis and research firm for the logistics industry, compiled the Index.



John Manners-Bell, Chief Executive of Ti, said: The strength of the Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index has always been to differentiate between those emerging markets which demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity and those which are more fragile.



This year is no exception. Although some  especially China and Vietnam  have been able to rebalance around domestic industrial and consumer demand, the majority are still highly dependent on international markets and investment.



A lack of global demand, combined with the breakdown of air and sea logistics networks, has had severe consequences for these economies and societies. As the Covid crisis finally unwinds over the next two years, those most resilient will bounce back the fastest. Inevitably, those which have failed to embrace market, trade, governmental and social reforms will be hardest hit by the fallout from the pandemic, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
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LAS VEGAS - Mary Wilson, one of the original members of the Supremes, the 1960s group that helped establish the Motown sound and propelled Diana Ross to superstardom, has died. She was 76.

FILE - In this Oct. 8, 1964 file photo, The Supremes, from left, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Diana Ross, perform during a reception for them in a hotel, in London. Wilson, the longest-reigning original Supreme, has died at 76 years old. Publicist Jay Schwartz says Wilson died Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, at her home in Las Vegas and that the cause was not immediately clear. (AP Photo/Bob Dear, File)

LAS VEGAS - Mary Wilson, one of the original members of the Supremes, the 1960s group that helped establish the Motown sound and propelled Diana Ross to superstardom, has died. She was 76.

Wilson died Monday night at her home in Nevada and the cause was not immediately clear, said publicist Jay Schwartz.

FILE - Mary Wilson, founding member of The Supremes, appears during a portrait session at Capitol Records in Los Angeles on June 12, 2014. Wilson, the longest-reigning original Supreme, has died at 76 years old. Publicist Jay Schwartz says Wilson died Monday night, Feb. 8, 2021, at her home in Las Vegas and that the cause was not immediately clear. Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard made up the first successful configuration of The Supremes. (Photo by Casey Curry/Invision/AP, File)

Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard made up the first successful configuration of The Supremes, Motowns first and most commercially successful girl group. Ballard was replaced by Cindy Birdsong in 1967, and Wilson stayed with the group until it was officially disbanded in 1977.

The groups first No. 1, million-selling song, "Where Did Our Love Go," was released June 17, 1964. Touring at the time, Wilson said there was a moment when she realized they had a hit song.

"I remember that instead of going home on the bus, we flew," she told The Associated Press in 2014. "That was our first plane ride. We flew home. We had really hit big."

It would be the first of five consecutive No. 1s, with "Baby Love," "Come See About Me," "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "Back in My Arms Again" following in quick succession. The Supremes also recorded the hit songs "You Cant Hurry Love," "Up the Ladder to the Roof" and "Love Child."

"I just woke up to this news," Ross tweeted on Tuesday, offering her condolences to Wilson's family. "I am reminded that each day is a gift," she added, writing "I have so many wonderful memories of our time together."

Berry Gordy, who founded the Detroit-based Motown Records, said he was "extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supremes." His statement Monday night, according to Variety, said "The Supremes were always known as the sweethearts of Motown."

Wilson, Ross and Ballard were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

"The world has lost one of the brightest stars in our Motown family. Mary Wilson was an icon," Motown Museum Chairwoman and CEO Robin Terry said in a statement.

Wilson, in a recent YouTube video posted Saturday, said she was excited to celebrate Black history month, her upcoming birthday (March 6) and teased fans with the announcement that Universal Music had plans to release some of her music.

"We're going to be talking about the Supremes, yeah, 60th anniversary, and I'm going to be talking a lot about that mainly because I've finally decided how to work with Universal and they're going to release new recordings, Mary Wilson recordings," she said. "Yes! At last!"

"Hopefully some of that will be out on my birthday," she continued. "We'll see. I've got my fingers crossed here. Yes I do."

Several celebrities mourned Wilson's death on social media, including Viola Davis, Questlove, Andy Cohen, Janet Mock, Ledisi, Richard Marx and Kiss' Paul Stanley, who said he was in touch with Wilson last week.

"OMG! Mary Wilson of the Supremes has died suddenly. I was just on a Zoom call with her Wednesday for about an hour & never could have imagined this," he tweeted Tuesday. "So full of life & great stories. Absolutely shocked. Rest In Supreme Peace Mary."

Steven Van Zandt said he spoke to Wilson before the world went on lockdown because of the coronavirus, tweeting Tuesday: "RIP Mary Wilson. Legendary founding member of the Supremes and fantastic solo artist. I had a wonderful conversation with her just before the quarantine. She was full of energy and plans so this is shocking as well as tragic. Our love and condolences go to her family and friends."

Following the Supremes' disbandment, Wilson released the New York Times bestselling book, "Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme," in 1986. She released her second book, "Supreme Faith: Someday Well Be Together," in 1990. Her last book, "Supreme Glamour," was written with Mark Bego and was released in 2019.

Wilson also competed on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" in 2019.
ROME  When Matteo Renzi, the former Italian prime minister currently polling at about 3 percent, triggered the collapse of the Italian government last month, he became the target of near universal opprobrium and bewilderment for plunging the country into political chaos in the middle of a pandemic.

Now he is taking a victory lap.

Mr. Renzis gambit not only caused the fall of a prime minister and government he had excoriated as dangerously incompetent. It also resulted in a stunning upgrade that has led Mario Draghi, a titan of Europe largely credited with saving the euro, to assemble a broad national unity government, which is expected to take shape this week.

In Europe, Mr. Draghis renown has immediately increased Italys stature and credibility in absorbing and spending a huge relief package that could determine the future of both Italy and the European Union. At home, the gravity of Mr. Draghis arrival has reordered the Italian political landscape and undercut Mr. Renzis populist enemies.

This was my strategy. I did it all alone, with 3 percent! said Mr. Renzi, a onetime mayor of Florence who is not bashful about his ability to work the levers of power and outmaneuver the competition. Its all a game of parliamentary tactics. And lets say that working for five years in the palace where Machiavelli worked helped a little.
One of the nations largest youth residential treatment programs is shutting down after California officials, prompted by a Chronicle and Imprint investigation into rampant abuse allegations, decided to stop sending vulnerable children there.

The closure of Clarinda Academy  the flagship facility of Sequel Youth & Family Services, a for-profit company based in Alabama  marks the second Sequel campus to shut down in as many weeks.

Leaders of Sequel said in a statement Monday that they had conducted a review of Clarindas residential program in southwest Iowa for children with behavioral and emotional problems, before deciding to end the decades-long contract. Late last month, Normative Services, a Sequel-run program in Wyoming where children reported being choked, dragged on the ground and threatened by staff members, announced it too would shut down, following an internal evaluation of viability.

Sequel will also close a third facility not used by California, a North Carolina treatment center for girls, according to the statement.

Over more than three decades, tens of thousands of youth have received critical treatment across the three programs, Sequels leaders wrote. We will continue to do everything within our power to deliver on our mission of providing compassion care and treatment to youth with complex behavioral health needs around the country.

Sequel did not specify what its review had found at Clarinda. Members of the academys nonprofit board did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

At least 358 California foster youth and juvenile offenders were sent to Clarinda Academy since 2015. Late last year, these teens comprised 20% to 25% of all residents, according to Department of Social Services records.

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A spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Human Services, which licenses the 252-bed treatment center, told The Chronicle and The Imprint that Sequel representatives cited its reduced census for the closure, meaning too few children were in the program. In September, Clarinda housed 55 residents, down from 192 in May 2018, according to California inspection reports.

There are currently no plans to shut down Sequels other two residential facilities in Iowa, the spokesperson said.

The planned closures follow the California Department of Social Services decision in December to pull more than 130 foster children and youth adjudicated for crimes from all out-of-state treatment facilities, including Clarinda Academy and four other campuses run by Sequel.

The announcement came in response to Far From Home, Far From Safe, an investigation by The Chronicle and The Imprint that revealed that staff members at Sequel-run facilities had been accused of punching, kicking, choking and sexually assaulting youth.

Reporters found that Californias reliance on Sequel programs violated the intent of a state law that prohibits sending vulnerable children to for-profit residential facilities where financial gain could be prioritized over the quality of care.

Far From Home, Far From Safe This is a collaboration of The Chronicle and The Imprint, an independent, nonprofit publication dedicated to covering child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health and educational issues faced by vulnerable youth. See the original investigation: sfchronicle.com/farfromhome See More Collapse

The company was able to sidestep this law by contracting with nonprofit treatment centers that then sent a combined 83% of revenues back to Sequel to manage and operate the campuses in recent years. This allowed Sequel to collect public funds from California that, as a for-profit company, it alone would not otherwise be eligible to receive.

Public records show that since 2015, at least 1,244 California children have been sent to Sequel-run facilities in Arizona, Iowa, Michigan, Utah and Wyoming. That amounts to roughly half of all youth sent to out-of-state treatment facilities by local child welfare and probation agencies.

California was one of Sequels largest customers, Oregon state Sen. Sara Gelser, a Democrat from Corvallis who has been a vocal critic of Sequel, said in response to Clarindas closure. Its one more example of how this industry is much more about hefty profits for investors than building safe and healthy futures for kids and respecting the staff that work for them.

At Clarinda Academy, which bills itself as The Original Sequel Program, licensing records and news reports show that children have long reported violence and serious injuries at the hands of staff, including the alleged rape of a 17-year-old female resident by a male counselor.

In a 2013 inspection, California child welfare investigators found that a staff member broke a residents collarbone and then tried to cover up any wrongdoing, according to a state report. Clarinda fired two employees following the incident and California officials recertified the program, allowing juvenile court judges to continue sending children there.

In 2018, Disability Rights Washington, a federally funded advocacy group that monitors care at treatment facilities, reported that Clarinda staff had restrained children until they passed out, broken a childs eyeglasses and told a child with a history of self-harm, Why dont you just go and cut yourself? At the time, Iowas Department of Human Services reviewed Clarindas use of restraints, found no deficiencies and recommended the program keep its license.

As recently as July, police in the city of Clarinda, Iowa, were investigating a report that a 31-year-old man committed statutory rape at Clarinda Academy, and a separate report that a teenager forcibly sodomized a fellow resident. The Page County attorneys office previously said no charges were filed in either case and did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

California officials have defended the practice of sending youth to Sequel-run programs, arguing that the facilities are legally organized as nonprofits and they treat children with complex issues that cannot be handled by in-state programs.

However, after reviewing some of the same records compiled by The Chronicle and The Imprint, the California Department of Social Services announced on Dec. 9 that it had found all its out-of-state programs lacking, and ordered more than 130 boys and girls returned to California within 45 days.

The state Legislature also responded, allocating $8 million to help place the children in safer, more therapeutic homes in California. On Feb. 2, more than a week after the states deadline to bring its youth home, eight children remained in out-of-state treatment programs, though none were at Sequel facilities.

Clarinda, and facilities like it, are a failed model that California never should have sanctioned, said Jennifer Rodriguez, executive director of the San Francisco-based Youth Law Center, which has fought for years to end the use of out-of-state treatment facilities. Its now clear Californias lack of oversight kept these facilities in business and allowed unconscionable harm to children across the nation.

DaeJah Seward, who said she witnessed abuse by staff at Clarinda as a 16-year-old in 2012, called the facilitys closure a good place to start.

But Seward, now 24 and working with foster youth at a Sacramento law firm, cautioned that California must also ensure its local centers can meet the treatment needs of youth.

The closing of this facility cannot be celebrated, she said, until we have come up with a solution.

Joaquin Palomino and Cynthia Dizikes are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jpalomino@sfchronicle.com, cdizikes@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JoaquinPalomino, @cdizikes. Sara Tiano is a senior reporter for The Imprint. Email: stiano@imprintnews.org Twitter: @sara_tiano
Chief Minister on Tuesday offered special prayers to cows here to celebrate the passage of the contentious anti-cow slaughter bill in the Legislative Council.

Flanked by his cabinet colleagues, including Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chauhan and Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, the CM put vermilion and turmeric powder on the forehead of the 'Go Mata' and showered 'Akshat' and flowers on them, at his residence here.

After garlanding the cattle, Yediyurappa offered them raw rice, lentils and banana.

One of the flagship bills of the BJP government as promised in the party's election manifesto, the Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill got stuck in the legislative council after getting passed in the assembly.

As the Deputy Chairman M K Pranesh took up the matter in the Council on Monday, the Congress and JD(S) trooped in the well of the house and started raising slogans.

Amid din and strong opposition by the opposition, Pranesh announced that the bill was passed.

is among the select states in the country which has tough provisions against those transporting, smuggling and slaughtering cows and buffaloesbelow the age of 12.

Under the new law, slaughter of cattle would lead to imprisonment of upto 7 years and a fine ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh.

Congress and the JD(S) have been opposed to the bill saying it intends to target the minorities.

They alleged that the BJP was not aware of the ground realities as there are many cobblers dependent on the hides.
The Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), a 'Miniratna' Govt. of India company, has called for applications in a prescribed format from ex-Indian Navy Personnel for filling One Hundred-Fourteen (114) vacancies to the post of Commissioning Engineer and Commissioning Assistants in CSL through a Walk-In selection scheduled on 16, 17 and 18 February, 2021 at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi in Kerala, India to be posted on a fulltime basis.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Commissioning Engineer and Commissioning Assistants in CSL Organisation Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) Educational Qualification Passed Class 10/Matriculation or equivalent; Diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Electronics & Communication and Instrumentation engineering disciplines Experience Ten years in a relevant domain Job Responsibilities null Skills Required null Job Location Kochi Salary Scale In the range of Rs. 49,357 to Rs. 51,392 per month as per the post Industry 'Miniratna Govt. of India company Application Start Date February 16, 2021 Application End Date February 18, 2021

Cochin Shipyard Recruitment 2021: Age Criteria And Fees

Candidates interested in applying for Cochin Shipyard Jobs 2021 through Cochin Shipyard Recruitment 2021 must not have exceeded 45 years of age as on February 18, 2021 with relaxation (upper age limit) for OBC and SC/ST categories for reserved categories as specified in the Cochin Shipyard Notification 2021.

For details regarding application fee for Cochin Shipyard Jobs 2021 through Cochin Shipyard Recruitment 2021, refer to the official Cochin Shipyard Notification 2021 given at the end of the article.

Also Read: Indian Overseas Bank Recruitment 2021 For Senior Manager And Manager Posts, Apply Online Before February 20

Cochin Shipyard Recruitment 2021: CSL Vacancy Details

Post Name No. Of Vacancies Commissioning Assistant 85 Commissioning Engineer 29 Total 114

Cochin Shipyard Recruitment 2021: Education And Experience

Desirous candidates applying for Cochin Shipyard Jobs 2021 through Cochin Shipyard Recruitment 2021 must have passed Class 10/Matriculation or equivalent; Diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Electronics & Communication and Instrumentation engineering disciplines with minimum ten years' post-qualification experience in concerned area as detailed in the Cochin Shipyard Notification 2021.

Cochin Shipyard Recruitment 2021: Selection And Pay Scale

The selection of candidates for Cochin Shipyard Jobs 2021 through Cochin Shipyard Recruitment 2021 will be done through a Walk-In selection process scheduled on 16, 17 and 18 February, 2021 at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi in Kerala as notified in the Cochin Shipyard Notification 2021.

Candidates selected for Cochin Shipyard Jobs 2021 through Cochin Shipyard Recruitment 2021 will be paid emolument in the range of Rs. 49,357 to Rs. 51,392 per month as per the post.

Also Read: THDC Recruitment 2021 For 65 Junior Engineer Trainee (JE) Posts, Apply Online Before February 28

Cochin Shipyard Recruitment 2021: How To Apply

Candidates applying for Cochin Shipyard Jobs 2021 through Cochin Shipyard Recruitment 2021 must fill the application form in a prescribed format post-download from the CSL website and appear for the Walk-In selection process scheduled on 16, 17 and 18 February, 2021 at the "Recreation Club, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Thevara Gate, Kochi - 682 015" along with relevant supporting documents.

Download Cochin Shipyard Recruitment 2021 PDF Application Form

Download Cochin Shipyard Recruitment 2021 Notification PDF for Commissioning Engineer and Commissioning Assistants posts
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The court inquired whether the state government was having any objection if the SEC intended to use the app developed by it. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the State Election Commission not to use the newly developed software application called eWatch following security concerns and posted the next hearing in the case to February. 17.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Arup Kumar Goswami and Ch. Praveen Kumar held the hearing on Tuesday on a petition filed raising objection on usage of eWatch meant to keep check on poll related irregularities, as it was developed by a private agency.

Government pleader C. Suman informed the court that based on a requisition from the SEC, the Andhra Pradesh Technology Services carried out a preliminary test and noticed several security concerns in the app. He further informed the court that a source code belonged to the AP social welfare department was used for developing the app without obtaining the permission from the department for its usage. He said usage of such a source code could lead to a major cyber security threat to the social welfare department itself.

State Election Commissions counsel N. Ashwani Kumar said that the SEC was willing to use the cVigil app developed by the Election Commission of India if there was no objection to the state government. He informed the court that the Nigha app developed by the state government was not working properly.

The court inquired whether the state government was having any objection if the SEC intended to use the app developed by it. The government pleader C. Suman replied by saying that the state government might not be having any objection if the SEC wanted to use such an app.

The court observed that the SEC was not supposed to use the eWatch app until it could get the security certificate from the APTS.

In a separate development, the state government informed the High Court that it could be very expensive to repaint the delivery vehicles of essential commodities under the public distribution system if they were to be permitted for door delivery in rural areas in the wake of poll code. The state government challenged the SECs order to repaint colours of vehicles as they resemble YSR Congress party colours and influence the voters during gram panchayat polls. The court asked for more details in the case.

PALMER  Police found one person dead and two others who were injured inside a Fox Street home Monday morning, according to a spokesman for Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni.

The name of the deceased is not being disclosed until the persons family can be notified, said Gullunis communications director, James Leydon.

The case is being investigated as a homicide.

Palmer police officers were called to the residence just after 8 a.m. Officers found the front door blocked; after gaining entry, they found one person dead.

They found two other people in the home, including one who had serious injuries. That person was taken to the hospital for treatment, Leydon said. Another person who was present was taken to the hospital for evaluation, he said.

Leydon said the investigation is ongoing and involves state police detectives assigned to the Hampden district attorneys office, the district attorneys Murder Unit and Palmer police.

Leydon said there is no immediate threat to public safety.

Palmer police and state police on the scene of a homicide Monday Feb. 8 on Fox Street

The homicide is the first in Palmer since Dec. 13, 2018, when Michael Strindberg was beaten to death with a fireplace poker during a dispute on River Street. Robert Nompleggi is charged with murder and waiting to stand trial.

Fox Street is a dead-end, residential street off South Main Street, just past where South Main crosses over the railroad lines.
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort arrives to his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on June 27, 2019. (Yana Paskova/Getty Images)

New York Ends State Case Against Former Trump Aide Paul Manafort

New Yorks highest court has denied the Manhattan district attorneys effort to charge former President Donald Trumps one-time campaign manager Paul Manafort in a mortgage fraud case.

The New York State Court of Appeals decision, which was handed down last week, upholds a lower court ruling that the state charges brought against Manafort by District Attorney Cyrus Vance were too close to the ones Manafort had already been prosecuted for at a federal court.

Vance, a Democrat, had been pursuing prosecution of Manafort with 16 felony charges, including mortgage fraud and falsifying business records since March 2019, when he received a second prison sentence in a case brought by special counsel Robert Mueller. The move was seen by many as the Democrats effort to bypass a potential presidential pardon, which covers Manaforts federal criminal offenses but will not protect him from state charges.

Trump granted Manafort a full and complete pardon just days before Christmas of 2020. Manafort expressed his thanks to the president at the time, writing on Twitter that words cannot fully convey how grateful we are.

New York State Supreme Court Justice Maxwell Wiley dismissed Vances attempt in December 2020, saying that the prosecutors failed to show that their case wasnt essentially a copy of the federal one that had sent Manafort to prison.

The People have failed to establish that the harm or evil each statute is designed to prevent is very different in kind from the federal statutes for which the defendant was previously prosecuted, Wiley wrote the decision.

Manaforts lawyer, Todd Blanche, applauded the ruling, telling Reuters that the case should never have been brought because the dismissed indictment is a clear violation of New York law.

In October 2019, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law to allow state prosecutors to file state criminal charges against individuals that are similar to federal crimes covered by presidential pardons. Democratic lawmakers said at that time that the bill was prompted by Trumps pardoning of his associates in the final days of his first term as president.

The closure of this egregious loophole gives prosecutors the ability to stand up against any abuse of power and helps ensure that no politically motivated, self-serving action is sanctioned under law, Cuomo, a Democrat, said in announcing his approval.

Republican lawmakers opposed the change, arguing that it would violate whats known as the Double Jeopardy Clause in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states that no individual can be tried twice for what is substantially the same crime.
Veeraj Shah, 2021 Gates Cambridge Scholar from the University of Maryland My Ph.D. research combines my interests in preventive health and technology toward improving cancer prevention.

University of Maryland senior Veeraj Shah was awarded a 2021 Gates Cambridge Scholarship, which allows students outside of the United Kingdom to pursue graduate study at the University of Cambridge. Shah is one of 24 scholars selected this year from across the country and the universitys fourth Gates Cambridge Scholar, following in the footsteps of Elfadil Osman (B.S. 17, biological sciences), Abhishek Goel (B.S. 16, biological sciences) and Krzysztof Franaszek (B.S. 13, biological sciences; B.A. 13, economics).

Shahwho will graduate this May from UMD with dual degrees in biological sciences with a specialization in neurobiology and physiology and individual studies majoring in health policy and technologyplans to use the scholarship toward a Ph.D. in public health and primary care at the University of Cambridge as a member of St Edmund's College. Following his Ph.D., Shah plans to earn his M.D. at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

My Ph.D. research combines my interests in preventive health and technology toward improving cancer prevention, Shah said. Specifically, I will develop and evaluate technology that automates provision of information on cancer-preventive lifestyle behaviors. My hope is that this research will provide evidence to integrate this technology into existing National Health Service primary care programs and help millions better manage their health.

A native of Severna Park, Maryland, Shah received a citation from the Integrated Life Sciences program in the Honors College and was a finalist for the Rhodes, Truman and Marshall Scholarships. He has pursued a wide variety of research, policy, service and entrepreneurial opportunities while at UMD.

He is co-founder and CEO of Chat Health, which uses artificial intelligence text messaging technology to improve access to preventive care services and promote health literacy among students and low-income communities.

I began noticing how many UMD students were not getting access to accurate and real-time information on preventive care services and other health topics, Shah said. Knowing that the majority of college students access information via their cell phones, I reached out to friends in our computer science department with my idea for bridging this information gap.

In just a few months, Chat Health debuted. And in March 2020, the company launched a COVID-19 prevention chatbot platform that has already been used by 4,000 individuals. In January 2021, the company launched a text messaging chatbot platform to improve UMD student adherence to COVID-19 prevention protocols, in partnership with the UMD Student Health Advisory Committee. They are also working to launch a Chat Health mobile app nationally.

Shah also co-founded and serves as co-CEO of Vitalize App, which launched in January 2020 to improve the wellness of health care professionals using tailored mindfulness and resilience practices. The company has already participated in Terp Startup, a summer accelerator program for student entrepreneurs; raised $15,000 in grant funding; and built a team of 10 user-experience designers and backend app developers. The team is currently beta testing its app with over 100 clinicians and preparing for a public launch in September 2021.

I am excited by the opportunity to use technology to help an overburdened population and, as a downstream outcome, improve the quality of care for patients, Shah said.

In addition to running two companies, Shah was a health policy intern with the former U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Jerome Adams. In this role, Shah contributed to the article Preventing Suicide in the United States that was published in Public Health Reports in December 2020 and contributed to the 2021 report ""Community Health and Economic Prosperity: Engaging Businesses as Stewards and StakeholdersA Report of the Surgeon General.

As a health and human services intern in the Office of the Prince Georges County Executive during his sophomore year, Shah identified gaps in the countys early childhood services. He worked with the countys chief health administrator to develop a policy framework addressing these gaps. The framework, which was approved by the county executive in late 2019, led to Prince Georges County becoming the first U.S. county to receive recognition as a UNICEF Child Friendly City.

Shah has also worked as a research assistant since March 2019 with Neil Sehgal, assistant professor of health policy and management at UMD, to understand how U.S. graduate student health plan offerings affect student health outcomes and investigate gender-based pay parities among U.S. physicians. He also interned as a business analyst at IBM Watson Health building artificial intelligence technologies for state Medicaid programs and conducted cancer research at the National Cancer Institute and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

He has authored five papers, including a first-author paper in the Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics, two papers in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, and papers in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology and the American Journal of Health Promotion. He recently submitted three additional papers for publication on his work with Sehgal.

When hes not working, Shah volunteers his time to help the UMD community and beyond. He served as the student member on the School of Public Healths Deans Community Advisory Council and as a student member on the University Senate Research Council. He is also president of the student organization Public Health Beyond Borders, where he is currently leading initiatives to start partner chapters at other U.S. universities.

In his spare time, Shah enjoys playing the classical guitar, drinking coffee, boating and backpacking.

Shahs long-term plans focus on developing and implementing digital health technologies to improve health care delivery and chronic disease management. As a health technologist, policymaker and clinician, he hopes to contribute to a future where access to safe, efficacious and cost-effective health care is universal.
Politicians, prominent intellectuals, and academics in France have voiced concern that 'out-of-control leftism and cancel culture' from the United States is threatening French identity.

They are arguing that American ideas on race, gender, post-colonialism  especially those coming from U.S. universities  are undermining French society and are an attack on French heritage.

The collection of intellectuals arguing that France is being contaminated by the leftism of America was buoyed on last year after French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to side with them.

In a speech in October on the 'Fight against Separatism', Macron warned against leaving 'the intellectual debate to others' as he cautioned of the 'certain social science theories entirely imported from the United States'.

His education minister Jean-Michel Blanquer also warned in October that there is a 'battle to wage against an intellectual matrix from American universities'.

French President Emmanuel Macron, pictured above, warned against leaving 'the intellectual debate to others' as he cautioned of the 'certain social science theories entirely imported from the United States' during a speech on the 'Fight against Separatism' in October

People demonstrate in support of the George Floyd protests in Paris in June

The debate came to a head this week after the new director of the Paris Opera, Alexander Neef, released a 66-page report on diversity at the company in which he vowed to diversify staff and to ban blackface.

It came after five black members of the ballet company circulated an open letter among the Paris Opera's 1,800 employees last summer, calling for greater diversity.

Neef was targeted for the decision by far-right leader Marine le Pen and by French newspaper Le Monde which said he 'soaked up American culture for 10 years' while he worked in Toronto.

This month also saw the publication of a book by social scientists Stephane Beaud and Gerard Noiriel in which they claimed that race is a 'bulldozer' that destroys other subjects.

They added to the New York Times that they did not believe race should not be studied as an academic subject in France, as the secular government does not recognize it.

It follows tension over protests against police violence last summer in France, sparked as they were in the U.S. by the death in police custody of George Floyd.

The wave of protests sparked further backlash in universities, as students began to put pressure on institutions to disinvite well-known speakers.

Activists also targeted a play at Sorbonne University where white actors were to wear masks and dark make up.

French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer, pictured, accused the universities, under the influence of America, of being complicit in Islamist terror attacks

'There was the idea that we're talking too much about racial questions in France,' Pap Ndiaye, a historian, told the Times of the summer's protests. 'That's enough.'

Some French intellects have also argued that American universities are to blame for giving justification to acts of terrorism carried out by Muslims.

After three Islamist terror attacks last fall, Education minister Blanquer accused the universities of being complicit.

He was supported in an open letter from 100 prominent scholars that blasted social theories 'transferred from North American campuses'.

One of the signatories, Gilles Kepel, argued that American influence led to 'a sort of prohibition in universities to think about the phenomenon of political Islam in the name of a leftist ideology that considers it the religion of the underprivileged.'

Historian Pierre-Andre Taguieff argued in the same way that the 'American-style black question' was a 'totally artificial importation' to France.

He said that it was all driven by 'hatred of the West, as a white civilization'.

'The common agenda of these enemies of European civilization can be summed up in three words: decolonize, demasculate, de-Europeanize,' Taguieff said.

'Straight white male  that's the culprit to condemn and the enemy to eliminate.'

A Black Lives Mattter protest in Paris in June after the death of George Floyd

Protesters are carrying signs during a demonstration against racism and police brutality at Republique Square in Paris in June. Academics have criticized the protests in France

Macron had previously mostly remained silent on the matter, with the official government line being dismissive of race and systemic racism.

It is illegal in France to collect data based on race and for many, the country's national identify rejects diversity and multiculturalism, instead focusing on fundamental rights and core values like equality and liberty.

Yet according to the New York Times, Marcron is also courting the right ahead of the election next year, which led him to eventually comment last year after center-right lawmakers pressed for a parliamentary investigation into 'ideological excesses' at universities.

They also called out 'guilty' scholars on Twitter.

Head of far-right party National Rally Marine Le Pen recently criticized attempts to diversify the Paris Opera

In Macron's comments, made two weeks into the protests on June 14, he blamed universities for encouraging the 'ethnicization of the social question'  amounting to 'breaking the republic in two'.

Macron's intervention was welcomed by academics including sociologist Nathalie Heinich.

'I was pleasantly astonished,' she told the Times.

Last month she established an organization that fights against 'decolonialism and identity politics'.

The group has written warnings against 'American-inspired social theories' in many major French publications and has spoken out against 'cancel culture' at French universities.

'It was a series of incidents that was extremely traumatic to our community and that all fell under what is called cancel culture,' Heinich said.

Others have argued that it shows an inability in France to adapt to a changing world.

'It's the sign of a small, frightened republic, declining, provincializing, but which in the past and to this day believes in its universal mission and which thus seeks those responsible for its decline,' Francois Cusset, an expert on American civilization at Paris Nanterre University told the Times.

Anne Garreta, a French writer who teaches in universities in France and the U.S., has also argued that many of the leading thinkers on the subject have come from France, not from the U.S., as claimed.

'It's an entire global world of ideas that circulates,' she said.

'It just happens that campuses that are the most cosmopolitan and most globalized at this point in history are the American ones.'

A woman enjoys a sunbath as a man wearing a protective face mask to curb the spread of coronavirus leaves a beach of Glyfada suburb, south of Athens, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021. AP



Israel and Greece agreed a tourism deal Monday that will allow coronavirus-vaccinated citizens of the two countries to travel between them without limitations, once flights resume.



Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the agreement "will allow us... to be able to offer Israeli tourists the opportunity to spend their holidays in Greece without any restrictions" at a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.



This would go into effect once "a significant percentage of the population is vaccinated" and travel restrictions are lifted, Mitsotakis said.



"I hope to be able to welcome Israeli tourists as soon as possible to Greece."



Israel has vaccinated more than 3.5 million of its nine million-strong population  of which more than two million have received two doses  since mid-December, in what is widely described as the world's fastest vaccination campaign per capita.



Greece had carried out fewer than 360,000 vaccinations in the country of 11 million as of the end of last week and restrictions relaxed over Christmas were reimposed on Friday as part of an ongoing lockdown, amid an upsurge in infections in recent weeks.



Netanyahu said the two premiers discussed a "green passport" vaccine certificate arrangement that will allow Israeli tourists "to go to Greece without any limitations. No self-isolation. Nothing", when flight restrictions are lifted.



Israeli Tourism Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen, who signed the agreement with her Greek counterpart, called on tourists from Greece to visit Israel.



"I want to take this opportunity to encourage Greek people, and everyone else: make Israel your post-Covid destination," she said.



Israel on Sunday began easing its third coronavirus lockdown imposed since December, when the country saw a rise in Covid-19 infections, though it did not lift restrictions on international flights, which remain suspended until February 20.



The Jewish state has recorded around 696,000 cases and 5,171 deaths from the Covid-19 illness.



The visit was the second to Israel by Mitsotakis since the start of the coronavirus crisis, as Greece and Israel have worked to develop relations across tourism, defence and energy. (AFP)


Darkness and the use of pit latrines and bush when nature calls will soon become a thing of the past for residents of Kaniita informal settlement in Omuthiya, as council plans to electrify households and install flushing toilets for the community.

This is according to the mayor, John Ndeutepo, who said this is an urgent matter that council wants to address to improve sanitation and uplift the living standards of the residents, who, for years, have endured the worst living conditions.

"We have done consultations with the community to discuss issues affecting them; as a result, council will now electrify households for those who legitimately allocated plots, while the second phase will devise a way on how illegal settlers will be sorted out. This is an urgent task that we are going to undertake," said Ndeutepo in an interview with New Era.

Kaniita was used as a reception area to accommodate people when Omuthiya was proclaimed a town. There are 145 households, whose owners were legitimately given land - and a further 143 illegal settlers.

Council has tasked a committee to come up with sites where such ablution facilities can be built, while households based on the list provided will also be equipped with electricity.

"As councillors we hit the ground running; thus, we want to improve sanitation and improve health status within informal settlements and public places such as Othithiya," he added.

However, the mayor said, once the area is formalised, the plots will be sold, although on a subsidised rate or using other modalities to be determined.

"Definitely, there is no free land in town; however, there can be land to be donated, especially to those who were found living there when it became part of the town. Most importantly, our aim is to provide affordable land to our people; thus, the little to be paid will enable council to further provide much needed services - as without such contribution, it becomes a bit difficult to make such available," remarked the mayor.

He added the challenge is the cost attached to planning, surveying and servicing of the land.

"We do not want the usage of pit latrines as well as allow the proliferation of shacks within the town boundaries hence the drive to formalise Kaniita so that people can have plots and start building."
The state opposition demanded the Andrews government open a judicial inquiry into Crowns suitability to operate a casino in Victoria after a NSW inquiry found the company was unfit to operate a new casino at Barangaroo in Sydney.

The 800-page report by former Supreme Court judge Patricia Bergin was ordered by NSWs gaming regulator to examine governance issues at Crowns Melbourne and Perth casinos, to determine the companys suitability to be granted the licence.

The report, which followed a year-long probe into the casino operator, found there was no doubt money laundering involving an international drug trafficking syndicate occurred at the companys Melbourne casino.

Crown was set to open the gaming floors of its $2.2 billion Barangaroo resort in late December but the NSW regulator blocked it from commencing gaming operations. Credit:Nick Moir

Under pressure from advocacy groups to place greater scrutiny on Crown as the NSW inquiry heard damning public evidence late last year, the Victorian government fast-tracked its next major review of Crown Resorts Melbourne licence by two years.
SEARCH study health fair in southwestern Uganda. Credit: Gabriel Chamie

Universal HIV testing with linkage to treatment and prevention may be a promising approach to accelerate reductions in new infections in generalized epidemic settings, according to a study published February 9th, 2021 in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by Catherine Koss of the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues.

Despite major gains in HIV testing and treatment, in 2019 there were 1.7 million new HIV infections, of which nearly 60% occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine is highly effective for HIV prevention and could substantially reduce new HIV infections if offered alongside access to HIV testing and treatment. But little is known about the incidence of new HIV infections among PrEP users in settings with generalized HIV epidemics, particularly outside of selected risk groups. To address this knowledge gap, Koss and colleagues conducted community-based HIV testing and offered universal access to PrEP in 16 communities in the Sustainable East Africa Research in Community Health (SEARCH) study in rural Kenya and Uganda. They offered rapid or same-day PrEP initiation and flexible service delivery with follow-up visits at facilities or community-based sites over a period of 144 weeks. According to the authors, this study is the first in sub-Saharan Africa to assess HIV incidence after offering PrEP at a population level.

Among 74,541 individuals who tested negative for HIV, 21% were assessed to be at elevated HIV risk, and 5,447 (35%) of those individuals initiated PrEP, with 79% participating in follow-up visits. Over 7,150 person-years of follow-up, HIV incidence was 0.35 per 100 person-years (95% CI 0.22-0.49) among PrEP initiators. Among matched historical controls in 8 of the communities, HIV incidence was 0.92 per 100 person-years (95% CI 0.49-1.41) over the year prior to PrEP availability. Compared to matched historical controls, HIV incidence was 74% lower overall in PrEP initiators in 8 of the communities (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 0.26, 95% CI 0.09-0.75; p=0.013), and 76% lower among women (aIRR 0.24, 95% CI 0.07-0.79; p=0.019), but not significantly lower in men. Data on HIV incidence among historical controls were not available for the remaining 8 communities.

Because rates of new HIV infections are higher in women than in men, the results suggest that PrEP may help to close the gender gap in new infections. According to the authors, universal access to HIV testing, treatment, and prevention, including rapid provision of PrEP with flexible service delivery, could reduce HIV incidence in generalized epidemic settings.

Dr. Kamya states "We know that PrEP is highly effectiveand now we need systems that make it easier to start and continue taking it. This study showed that providing broad access to PrEP in community-based settings significantly reduced HIV incidence."

Dr. Koss adds "We found that universal HIV testing with easy access to PrEP was associated with lower rates of HIV, particularly among women."

Explore further STI incidence up after receipt of HIV preexposure prophylaxis

More information: Koss CA, Havlir DV, Ayieko J, Kwarisiima D, Kabami J, Chamie G, et al. (2021) HIV incidence after pre-exposure prophylaxis initiation among women and men at elevated HIV risk: A population-based study in rural Kenya and Uganda. PLoS Med 18(2): e1003492. Journal information: PLoS Medicine Koss CA, Havlir DV, Ayieko J, Kwarisiima D, Kabami J, Chamie G, et al. (2021) HIV incidence after pre-exposure prophylaxis initiation among women and men at elevated HIV risk: A population-based study in rural Kenya and Uganda.18(2): e1003492. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003492
Monrovia  The Supreme Court of Liberia has affirmed the verdict of the lower court convicting Lofa County Senator-elect, Brownie Samukai, and others to two years imprisonment or the restitution of US$1.4 million.

This ruling now plunges Lofa County into a constitutional crisis as there is no law that stops an elected person taking office once his/her victory is affirmed.

The same Supreme Court is expected to hear an appeal from the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) after both the National Elections Commission (NEC) hearing officer and the Board of Commissioners affirmed and reaffirmed, respectively, Mr. Samukai's victory in the December 8 Special Senatorial election.

Such embarrassing verdict has the propensity to dampen the enthusiasm that has engulfed his victory sitting as a Senator, diminish his spirit of serving the people of Lofa.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has released the admit card or call letter for the recruitment examination of Intelligence Bureau Assistant Central Intelligence Officer Grade-II/ Executive (IB ACIO). Candidates who have applied for the IB ACIO 2021 examination can visit the official website of the MHA to check and download their call letter.

The MHA is conducting the IB ACIO 2021 exam to fill up 2,000 vacancies. The IB ACIO 2021 Tier-1 examination will be conducted in the second half of February 2021. The candidates can find details about the exam date and the city mentioned in the admit card. Candidates who qualify in the Tier I examination will be eligible for the Tier II exam. Candidates shortlisted on the basis of Tier II exam will be called in for interview round and then a final merit list will be released on the official website of the MHA.

How to download IB ACIO Tier I Admit Card 2021?

Step 1: Click here for direct link of IB ACIO Admit Card

Step 2: Enter your User ID, password and click on login

Step 3: Your admit card will be displayed on the screen

Step 4: Check the date, time and city of your exam

Step 5: Download and take a print out of your admit card for further reference

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New Delhi, Feb 9 : Delhi's new excise policy, which could increase duty on liquor, and reform the process for grant of license for liquor shops, is likely to be announced soon, Delhi government sources said.

The Aam Aadmi Party government had around two months back indicated a new excise policy was being prepared and had set up a committee of experts for it, while also seeking suggestions from the capital's people.

The report prepared by the expert committee has suggested various reforms that could result in an increase in liquor prices. Sources told IANS that the new excise policy is likely to introduce many changes in terms of issuing licenses for both government-run and private liquor shops in Delhi.

Sources also told that Delhi Government has planned to increase the number of liquor shops under its new excise policy.

"Apart from changes in number of dry days and lowering the age of drinking to 21, other main changes are likely to be seen in new excise policy are that around 700-800 new liquor shops to be set up in Delhi," a source said.

On the basis of the panel's suggestions, the Delhi government plans to increase its revenue by pushing prices of both Indian and foreign liquor by up to 50 percent to earn an estimated Rs 8,000 crore against the present Rs 5,000 crore.

The proposal of lowering the drinking age had been opposed by other parties in Delhi, but the government seems to be firm on its decision.

Last week, the Delhi Cabinet had approved a Group of Ministers under Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the Finance portfolio, to examine the new excise policy.
A courtroom descended into chaos when a teen accused of driving a stolen car that killed a young woman called the magistrate a 'c**t' and threatened to bash her.

Gregory Clubb, 18, was arrested on Monday after the Hyundai he was allegedly driving was hit by a Holden Statesman during a vigilante car chase, forcing him onto the wrong side of the road and into a motorbike driven by Jennifer Board.

The 22-year-old aspiring policewoman died on the scene in Thuringowa Central, in Townsville, on Friday night.

Clubb faces 11 charges and appeared in the Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where he was joined by friends and family who shouted across the floor.

Jennifer Board (pictured) was killed when she was hit during a smash between three vehicles on Friday

Gregory Clubb (pictured) was arrested on Monday after the Hyundai he was allegedly driving was hit by a Holden Statesman during a vigilante car chase

His solicitor Shontelle Samuels tried to fight for bail, arguing there was no legal reason to keep her client behind bars, The Courier-Mail reported.

She urged Magistrate Viviana Keegan to consider strict bail conditions, including a 24-hour curfew and daily reporting.

Prosecutor Senior Sergeant Rodger Beal said Clubb was too great a risk to the community, arguing that 'his mother has not been able to keep him under control'.

'You don't know s**t. You don't know f**k all. Shut the f**k up,' Clubb yelled, referring to Ms Keengan as a 'c**t' and a 'c**khead' and threatening to bash her.

Ms Board (pictured) had been riding down the road just before 10pm on Friday when she was struck

Clubb (pictured left and right) told the court he didn't know Ms Board was dead when he drove away

Ms Keegan said she had heard enough and began to detail the allegations against him, including that he drove away from Ms Board as she died.

Overcome with emotion, Clubb told the court he didn't know she was dead.

'I know I drove away, I blame myself for it everyday for that driving away from that motherf**king scene, I know that c**t,' he said,

'I didn't even hear that she died or I would have turned around and stayed there.'

He then asked Ms Keegan to 'hurry the f**k up' and send him to a correctional centre in Stuart.

The 22-year-old's last post to Instagram showed her celebrating the moment she received her restricted motorcycle license, having got her learner's permit three months earlier

At that point his brother stormed the building and shouted that he 'blamed' Clubb for Ms Board's death.

Their mother fruitlessly tried to calm her sons, while Clubb continued to interrupt proceedings and was denied bail.

Clubb was charged with seven counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, three counts each of burglary and stealing, two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, one count of attempted burglary and breaching bail.

Layne Newman, 18, was accused of being a passenger in the Hyundai and has been charged with four counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing and two counts of attempted burglary.

Both were remanded in custody and will face court on February 12.

Christopher Hughes (pictured), 25, was accused of driving the Holden and has been charged with murder.

The aspiring policewoman (pictured) died on the scene. Christopher Hughes, 25, has been charged with murder

Christopher Hughes, 25, was accused of driving the Holden and charged with murder.

His case was mentioned in Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday, but he did not appear before the court or make a bail application.

Police will allege Hughes was chasing an allegedly stolen car, lost control of the Holden, and crashed into the stolen Hyundai.

Hughes was supported by two women, while defence lawyer Jarred Mace appeared on his client's behalf.

Police will rely on a definition of murder that does not require intent, just whether someone committed a criminal act that was reckless or negligent where death was a likely consequence.

Two people in Hughes' car have not been charged.

He was remanded in custody and will appear in court on March 31.
CHICOPEE  As a search continues for an 11-year-old boy who has been missing since Friday, police said their investigation shows foul play is not suspected in his disappearance.

Aiden Blanchard, a sixth-grader at Edward J. Bellamy Middle School, was wearing a red parka and black ski pants when he went missing. He is 5 feet tall, weighs about 100 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes, police said.

He was last seen around 11:30 a.m. in the Willimansett neighborhood and was believed to be heading to the Medina Street boat launch area, police said.

All evidence thus far substantiates that Aiden was alone and near the river when he went missing, police said.

Chicopee Police and Fire departments, South Hadley Fire Department, and the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing searched the Connecticut River Friday afternoon and night and Saturday using divers, boats, drones and a helicopter, but did not find any evidence of the 11-year-old.

Due to a lack of specific evidence located during the extensive search, as well as poor weather conditions and dangerous diving conditions, the search was paused pending improved conditions, police said. The search did not resume on Monday.

The operation is now focused on pinpointing where Aiden had been walking after 11:30 a.m. Anyone who saw him any time after that or has any information about his location is asked to call Chicopee detectives at 413-594-1639 or 911. Residents, especially those in the Willimansett neighborhood, are asked to review any surveillance cameras they may have to see if he was captured on video at any time since Friday morning, police said.

Chicopee Police are being assisted in the investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit attached to Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gullunis office, police said.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has created a missing person poster for Aiden. People with any information about his disappearance can also call the agency at 1-800-THE-LOST.

Chicopee schools are offering counseling, either remotely or in person, to help his friends and classmates who are worried about his disappearance. Aiden attended Gen. John J. Stefanik School from kindergarten through fifth grade and has two siblings in that school, Superintendent Lynn A. Clark said.

Related Content:
Trump Impeachment Is Performance Art, Similar to CCPs Public Shaming Methods: Historian

The impeachment effort against former President Donald Trump is nothing more than performance art, similar to public shaming methods used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during the countrys Cultural Revolution, according to historian Victor Davis Hanson.

When you impeach a president, you only need 51 percent of the vote of the House. And its much easier to do than to convict a president. So once those impeachment indictments are established, the speaker takes them over and hands them to the Senate, Hanson, senior fellow at the Stanford University-based think tank Hoover Institution told The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders.

And then that becomes the trial, like a modern trial, and that requires a two-thirds majority, 66 senators to convict a president, something weve never done. And were not going to do it. We didnt do it in January of 2020. And were not going to do it in February of 2021. And thats known in advance.

So that tells you that this is performance art, its not a serious attempt to either remove Donald Trump during his tenure, or to ban him from office in his retirement, Hanson said.

Its like a public shaming like the Communist Party used to make people wear dunce caps. Thats what its intended for, he explained, referring to the public humiliation method forced upon victims of Chinas Cultural Revolution of 1966 to 1976.

House Democrats, joined by 10 Republicans, voted on Jan. 13 to approve a single article of impeachment (pdf) against Trump for incitement of insurrection, making him the first president to be impeached twice. When the Senate trial opens on Feb. 9, he will become the first former president to stand trial.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) shows the article of impeachment against President Donald Trump after signing it in an engrossment ceremony, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 13, 2021. (Leah Millis/Reuters)

Democrats allege that the president incited violence at the Capitol in a speech he delivered near the White House on Jan 6. In his address, Trump used the words fight like hell in reference to his teams legal efforts around election integrity. The Democrats allege that Trump used the words to incite his followers to commit violence.

Hanson suggested that one of the main drivers of the impeachment effort against Trump is to ensure that he can no longer run for office in the future.

[It] is sort of a mercenary effort to make sure Donald Trump cant run again for office because the Constitution says that if a person is successfully impeached, then hes ineligible for higher office. Thats one.

Two is to discredit his supporters of the MAGA agenda and say that hes synonymous with violence, sedition, insurrection, the capital rally of Jan. 6, he added. Three is to get our mind off whats going onwe have a record number of executive orders of the most radical kind.

Hanson added, Most importantly, from a bipartisan point of view, think of all the time that were spending on this Trump obsession trying to destroy Donald Trumps political corpse.

Attorneys for Trump on Monday set out their defense for his Senate impeachment trial, arguing that the Senate has no jurisdiction to try a former official, that the Houses charge against the 45th president is deficient, that their client was deprived of due process, and had his right to free speech violated by the article of impeachment.

Then-President Donald Trump boards Air Force One before departing Harlingen, Texas, on Jan. 12, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

In the 78-page trial memorandum, the attorneys posit that the Senate taking up the impeachment amounts to a bill of attainder, which the Constitution prohibits because it would amount to inflicting punishment without a jury trial. The defense also contends that the incitement accusation is contradicted by the plain text of the transcript of the presidents Jan. 6 speech.

The Article of Impeachment presented by the House is unconstitutional for a variety of reasons, any of which alone would be grounds for immediate dismissal. Taken together, they demonstrate conclusively that indulging House Democrats hunger for this political theater is a danger to our Republic democracy and the rights that we hold dear, the trial memo, authored by Bruce Castor, David Schoen, and Michael van der Veen, states.

The impeachment trial is set to begin with a four-hour debate on whether the proceedings should be dismissed.

Following Tuesdays debate, each side will have up to 16 hours to present their cases starting Wednesday at 12 p.m. ET. Then there will be a total of four hours for senators to question both sides. Should witnesses or documents be subpoenaed, up to four hours can be allotted again between the impeachment managers and Trumps defense, according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)

Ivan Pentchoukov and Janita Kan contributed to this report.
Park Yuhjin, second from right, a visiting professor of Korean studies at the University of Nairobi's Department of Linguistics and Languages, joins her students during a Korean food festival at the Korean ambassadorial residence in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, April 8, 2017. Park initially planned to teach for two years after arriving in Kenya in 2013 but has extended her stay because she loved teaching the students. Courtesy of Park Yuhjin



By Yi Whan-woo



Park Yuhjin, a visiting professor of Korean studies at Kenya's University of Nairobi, says the school has a long way to go in promoting Korea after becoming the first East African university to offer such courses in September 2013.



"I would not say that Korean studies has contributed significantly in raising the awareness of Korea in Kenya and the region," Park, 39, told The Korea Times in a recent email interview.



But she implied its contribution is insufficient only when compared to her far-higher standards and vision for setting up East Africa's first center for Korean studies. In fact, Korean studies education has expanded in Kenya since her arrival although she remains the only teacher.



The number of students taking Korean studies classes grew from a single digit to as many as 70 in 2016 and 2017.



"The increase was too much for me to cope with," Park said, adding the school has since then restricted the maximum number of course takers to 35 per semester.



The courses being offered range from Korean language to history, culture, literature, economics, politics and translation, with some being offered online with the support of the Korea Foundation. Operated under the wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the foundation sent Park to Kenya in accordance with its task of public diplomacy.



Among East Asian countries, Korean studies at the University of Nairobi may fall short of Chinese studies but lead Japan studies, she said.



In cooperation with the Chinese government-affiliated Confucius Institute, the Chinese studies course was founded seven years before the Korean studies one, and has more than 10 professors and lecturers, both from China and Kenya.



The school also has the Center for Chinese Studies that is run separately from the Department of Linguistics and Languages where the Korean studies program belongs.



For Japan studies, a Japanese professor who teaches English literature attempted to open Japanese language and other courses but it did not work out.





Park Yuhjin, center, a visiting professor for Korean studies at the University of Nairobi's Department of Linguistics and Languages, poses with her students while inviting them to her house in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, June 6, 2018. Courtesy of Park Yuhjin
A month-long investigation into the origins of COVID-19 has dismissed suggestions that it could have been introduced to humans through a laboratory leak, finding it was most likely to have been transmitted through an intermediate animal host and may have been spread through frozen food.

The World Health Organisation and Chinese investigators on Tuesday announced several key findings including that the virus was likely to have been active outside the Wuhan market for weeks before cases were first detected. The team raised the possibility that the virus could have been present in other regions or countries before the first cases were reported in Wuhan.

World Health Organisation investigators Marion Koopmans, right, and Peter Ben Embarek, pictured during the press conference in Wuhan. Credit:AP

But the zoonotic origin of the virus remains a mystery, with investigators finding no clear link to bats, pangolins or other wild animals, while calling for more samples to be taken from felines and other species.

China team lead Dr Liang Wannian, a senior official at the National Health Commission, said mortality rates in Wuhan show there was not likely to be a large spread of the disease or unidentified respiratory pneumonia between October and December 2019.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 9, 2021 - 23:10 | Japan, All, Coronavirus

Japan is unlikely to inoculate as many people with Pfizer Inc.'s COVID-19 vaccine as planned due to a shortage of special syringes capable of extracting the final dose from vials provided by the drugmaker, health minister Norihisa Tamura said Tuesday.

The country said last month that it had secured doses for 72 million people based on the assumption that each vial could provide six shots. But without low dead space syringes, which minimize the amount of vaccine left in the syringe after use, a vial ends up yielding only five doses -- enough for 60 million people.

"The syringes used in Japan can only draw five doses. We will use all the syringes we have that can draw six doses, but it will, of course, not be enough as more shots are administered," said Tamura. The government is requesting medical equipment manufacturers step up production of the special syringes.

Reuters reported last month that the United States and European Union countries have also been scrambling to secure enough low dead space syringes to squeeze more doses from the Pfizer vaccine, with manufacturers urged to boost their overall production capacity.

Top government spokesman Katsunobu Kato said Monday that the sixth dose will generally "be discarded" if it cannot be extracted.

Yoshinori Oguchi, a member of the ruling party's junior coalition partner Komeito, has said the government should have assumed each vial could only provide five doses when securing vaccines for 72 million people.

Provided Japan does not change the number of vials ordered from Pfizer, it will revise the number of doses it can deliver to 120 million, according to government sources.

The government is set to discuss with Pfizer how many more doses it can supply to Japan, a senior health ministry official said.

The Pfizer vaccine, already under review by the health ministry, is expected to gain approval on Feb. 15 when the ministry holds a panel meeting. Britain's AstraZeneca Plc, meanwhile, has said it has formally filed a request to the ministry for approval of its vaccine.

The government plans to begin inoculating health workers from Feb. 17 in a study to verify the vaccine's safety before commencing vaccinations of around 36 million people aged 65 and older from April.

New Delhi, Feb 9 : In the aftermath of the devastating floods that wreaked havoc in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand on Sunday, the state government on Tuesday said that its officials will be collecting DNA samples of the unattended recovered bodies.

"Till 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 32 bodies have been recovered, while 174 are yet to be traced. The DNA samples will be kept safe and on the basis of that, the bodies will be identified," the state government said in a statement.

Of the 32 bodies, 25 have been identified, while 7 remain unattended. Rescue operation is underway to trace 174 more people.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said, "Multi-agency operation is on at multiple sites of the state to trace the missing persons. From the Kedarnath disasterof 2013, the experience that we have gathered is that the DNA samples of the bodies' have to kept safe for their identification in the future." The Uttarakhand government said that at the Tapovan Vishnugad hydroelectric project, rescuers have dug in and moved about 100 metres into a blocked tunnel in an effort to reach the persons feared trapped inside.

During the relief and rescue operations, 12 NTPC employees were rescued safely, while six others who sustined injuries have also been saved by the rescuers.

Meanwhile, the state government has reported that there is no danger of downstream flooding and the rise in water level has been contained, adding that the Centre and the state government are keeping a strict vigil on the situation.

The Chief Minister reviewed the relief and rescue operations in the disaster-hit Lata village on Tuesday. He also inquired about the joint operation by other agencies, including the NDRF and the ITBP in the Tapovan tunnel.

One column of Engineering Task Force (ETF) of the Army along with rescue equipment has also been deployed in the area. The Army men along with ETF personnel opened the tunnel mouth at Tapovan. Besides, a team of scientists flown to Dehradun on Sunday night also visited the spot.

A state control room at Haridwar has been set up to coordinate with Uttarakhand government about the rescue and relief operations.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi:

The Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday called Opposition parties meet on the stand-off with China and the situation in Kashmir in New Delhi. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar were also present during the meet.

Representatives from Opposition parties attended the meet. The prominent leaders who attended meet were Ram Vilas Paswan, Anand Sharma, Derek O Brien and Sitaram Yechury.

MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said that senior Union Ministers briefed all national political parties on Doklam situation. All parties greatly appreciated the detailed briefing.

All participants expressed strong support for India's approach and also for the need for national unity. Importance of India and China to remain engaged through diplomacy was underlined, said Baglay.

"There was widespread appreciation of the Astana understanding between India and China that differences between them shouldn't become disputes. The unique nature of very close and longstanding India  Bhutan relationship was recognised," said MEA Spox.

The DG PIB F Noronha said that basic purpose was to apprise MPs from different parties about situation on terrorist attack on Amarnath Yatris on July 10.

"Above 19 MPs from different parties were present and those who have not been called today will be called tomorrow at the same time," said Naroha.

"EAM and Foreign Secretary gave detailed information on border issues, especially on Doklam. Everybody promised to support government," said Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan.

"National security is priority of INC, advised them to tackle situation diplomatically, rising above politics for national interest," said Congress leader Anand Sharma.

"Asked serious questions. Why was government unprepared and if this was their failure? We didn't get answers we were looking for," said TMC leader Derek O Brien.

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said that government said that they will tackle the situation through dialogues and they also gave a clarification on the security lapses.

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"It is predicted that Zika virus vaccines shot will available to the public by 2018.

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The highest risk is to pregnant women due to the connection the virus has with serious birth defects. Pregnant women who contract the virus have a high possibility of giving birth to a baby with microcephaly, a neurodevelopment disorder, where a baby is born with an unusually small head due to abnormal brain development in the womb or after birth. Complications of this disorder include seizures and developmental issues.

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Due to the serious nature of global risk, the WHO has declared the microcephaly cases associated with the Zika virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). With no vaccines or cure the virus and its risks are expected to continue to spread. The WHO is predicting up to 4 Million Zika cases in the Americas by 2016 and the World Bank is projecting the short-term economic impact for 2016, in Latin America and the Caribbean to be about US$3.5 Billion.

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A Sydney real estate agent has been charged with attempted murder after an assault on two women in Sydneys inner west this week that allegedly involved a samurai sword.

Emergency services were called to a home on Ferris Street, Annandale, about 5am on Monday following reports two women were injured.

Karl Howard has been charged with attempted murder.

Police will allege in court that Karl Howard punched a 27-year-old woman to the head. A 29-year-old woman also in the home attempted to intervene but was allegedly struck with a weapon, believed to be a samurai sword, by the man.

Mr Howard, 44, and the two women are all known to each other, police said.
Frustrated police officers are still reporting numerous outrageous breaches of coronavirus rules over a month into the third national lockdown.

As the government fights to lower infections and ramp up vaccinations, rule flouter are being fined hundreds of pounds after being caught playing golf in groups, hosting house parties and driving long distances for 'fried chicken'.

In one shocking case, a couple were fined after their 280-mile trip to the seaside sparked a full-scale coastguard search operation in a raging storm.

The pair from London left their car unattended by a Norfolk beach for four hours, causing concern amongst the emergency services with the severe weather.

Coastwatch volunteers spotted the walkers parking their car - however when they failed to return hours later the alarm was raised.

Four different coastguard boats headed into the water - in the worst conditions seen for 20 years - as Storm Darcy rolled in from the North Sea on Saturday afternoon.

An idiotic couple were fined after their 280-mile seaside trip sparked a full-scale coastguard search operation in a raging storm

Crews started scouring the water, with 20 ft waves crashing against the boats and a helicopter was also scrambled.

When the couple were eventually found they said they had been for a walk, but it turned out they had driven to the seaside village of Winterton, Norfolk, from London.

Their six-hour round trip from central London, covering 280 miles, is banned under coronavirus rules which urge people to stay local.

Norfolk Police took a dim view of the couple's antics and fined them both.

Four different coastguard boats headed into the water as Storm Darcy rolled in on Saturday afternoon to search for the couple who could not be immediately located

A spokesperson said: 'It was established the couple had travelled from London earlier in the day and both were given a fixed penalty notices for breaching lockdown rules.'

Independent Caister Coastguard chairman Paul Garrod said it was the worst weather he had seen in 20 years.

He explained: 'We were paged at 4.20pm on Saturday, launched with six crew members. Once we got to Winterton, we had to start a shoreline search. There were 20ft rolling waves. It's the worst I've seen in 20-odd years, because we were so close into shore. It was horrendous.'

HM Coastguard Winterton issued a weather warning about the incident, saying: 'With the bad weather forecast over the next few days we ask you all to take extreme care when visiting the coast.

'Remember the wind chill factor is many degrees less than the temperature, winds and waves may cause damage to coastlines.'

The couple were eventually found - and said they had been for a walk at the seaside village of Winterton, Norfolk, after driving up from London. Police took a dim view of their actions and fined them

Locals took a dim view of the pair's 280-mile round trip for a seaside walk, with Neil Cruickshank commenting: 'To drive long distances to our beaches for a walk is bad enough, but to do it in this weather and then involve the emergency services is total ignorance.

'These people should be very heavily fined and pay costs for call out.'

Ron Lovick commented: 'Well done to all the teams involved. Now the twonks need to be find heavily and made to pay for the cost of services.

Between March 27, 2020, and January 17, 2021, more than 42,000 fines were issued across England and Wales, with four in five were given to people aged between 18 and 39.

The National Police Chief's Council (NPCC) said increased patrols by officers had driven the increase.

The NPCC chairman Martin Hewitt reported police forces are quicker to enforce fines where there has been an obvious breach of the rules.

NPCC chairman Martin Hewitt said increased patrols by officers had driven an increase in fines of lockdown flouters

He said: 'This seriously dangerous stage of the virus and national lockdown have led to more proactive patrols by forces and more fixed penalty notices have been issued as a result.'

In another incident, police in North Wales are investigating a breach of rules after hotel staff apparently held a 'leaving party' for one the employees.

The gathering is understood to have taken place at Premier Inn's Holyhead site on Anglesey, on Friday, January 29 to mark the departure of one of the staff members.

Workers at the hotel have been accused of hugging and cheering at the party on January 29.

Police in North Wales are investigating a breach of rules after hotel staff apparently held a 'leaving party' for one the employees, and were seen posing for a photo at a Premier Inn on Anglesey

Lockdown golfers hit a bogey with police Five golfers have been fined 200 each after being caught by 'astounded' police... playing a round on a locked-down course. The five, all in their 20s and 30s, were found playing on Bowring Park Golf Course in Huyton, Merseyside, on Sunday afternoon. They were were each issued with 200 fixed penalty notices for breaching Covid regulations, Merseyside Police said. Councillor Shelley Powell said she was 'astounded' that 'people think they can break the rules and get away with it'. Ms Powell, Knowsley Council's cabinet member for communities and neighbourhoods, said: 'The rules can't be clearer. Stay at home unless it is for essential purposes such as to attend work or school. 'Bowring Park Golf course is closed in order to adhere to the current lockdown rules. 'So not only have the five golfers broken lockdown rules, they are also trespassing on the course.' Advertisement

Pictures from the night were passed to North Wales Live and appear to show hotel workers come together for a photograph and seemingly not maintain social distancing.

All Premier Inn hotels in Wales are currently closed as per Welsh Government guidance, which prohibits such gatherings.

A spokesperson for Premier Inn said: 'Our Holyhead hotel is currently closed in line with current government guidance.

'We have clear safety procedures in place for our team members to follow. We are investigating the circumstances surrounding this gathering and speaking with the team members involved.'

Across the border in England, two men and a 15-year-old boy were arrested and others fined for Covid-19 breaches after an illegal house party was broken up.

Merseyside Police were called to an address on Breccia Gardens, St Helens, following reports of a gathering at around 8.30pm on Friday.

The officers said they were 'astonished' to arrive at the scene to find people attending the party, describing their actions as 'selfish'.

Fines were issued to those inside, but one man refused to leave the area and obstructed officers. Following a number of warnings, he was detained and taken to a police station for questioning.

Two more people initially left the address after being issued with fines but returned and were arrested.

And in Surrey, two 'lovesick Romeos' were slapped with 200 Covid fines after travelling cross-country to meet up with their girlfriends for an early Valentine's date.

The romantic fools from Essex had driven more than 50 miles in a black Mercedes to Chertsey, Surrey to see the women.

They told police they had met up in a car park under the cloak of darkness 'because they hadn't seen each other for so long'.

Officers found all four of them sitting inside the vehicle in the Gogmore Farm car park.

In Surrey, two 'lovesick Romeos' were slapped with 200 Covid fines after travelling cross-country to meet up with their girlfriends for an early Valentine's date

They issued 200 fines to each of them and reminded them 'we all miss our loved ones but we have to follow the guidelines to keep them safe'.

The force said: 'The occupants in this Mercedes had driven from Essex to meet their girlfriends in Chertsey and all four were sitting in the car together in Gogmore car park.

'They said they had met up because they hadn't seen each other for so long.

'They were all given 200 Covid fines and reminded that we all miss our loved ones, but we have to follow the guidelines to keep them safe.'

Followers poked fun at the location of the date, with Claudia Huseyin replying: 'Gogmore car park, how romantic.'

Helen Mabbott added: 'What is wrong with people!! Glad they got fines!'
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

One of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the rapid move to telephone, video and online GP consultations. In a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded study, researchers from the Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol and NIHR ARC West found that while the rapid shift to remote GP consulting was successful and maintained a focus on vulnerable patients, it was driven by necessity and may have risks.

The Rapid COVID-19 Intelligence to Improve Primary Care Response (RAPCI) study examined how GP practices responded to the pandemic in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The study focused on how 21 practices in the area coped with changes in demand, the implementation of alternatives to face-to-face consultation, and the impact these changes had on the delivery of patient care from April to August 2020.

The researchers examined patient consultations data to see if there had been changes in how GPs and nurses consulted with patients during the pandemic compared to the previous year. Between 13 May and 29 July 2020, the researchers also conducted over 80 interviews with GPs, practice managers and nurses from the practices at four time points to understand the challenges they faced.

There was universal consensus that remote consulting was necessary because of the risk of COVID-19 infection. In April 2020, most GP practices stopped face-to-face appointments as the first point of contact, only seeing patients face-to-face when essential following a telephone or video consultation or completion of an online written assessment. This drove a rapid change to 90 percent remote GP consulting (46 percent for nurses) by April 2020, compared with 31 percent in April 2019.

By July 2020 GPs were doing 85 percent of consultations remotely and nurses 38 percent. GP-to-patient phone text messages increased three-fold, and nurse-to-patient almost five-fold in April to July 2020 compared to 2019.

GPs and nurses maintained a focus on caring for the most vulnerable throughout: despite reductions in overall consultation rates in April 2020, consultation rates did not reduce for patients who were older, shielding or had poor mental health.

As overall consultation rates returned to normal in July, and complexity increased, some GPs found high levels of remote consulting a strain. Many GPs missed face-to-face contact, were concerned about clinical risk, and found remote consulting more time-consuming.

Telephone consulting was deemed to be sufficient for many patient problems. Video consulting was useful during the first lockdown, and particularly useful for consultations with children, patients in nursing homes and problems which GP needs to see the patient move , but video was used more rarely, and was less essential as lockdown eased.

Dr. Mairead Murphy from the Centre for Academic Primary Care, who co-led the study, said: "The NHS long-term plan mandates a move to remote consulting and this change was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. While pre-COVID-19 research established that telephone and video consultations were effective and safe, it was done in the context of remote consulting implemented for certain patients and conditions. Our study shows some limitations with remote consultations and suggests that remote GP consulting should be offered as one of a range of options, not by default. Post-pandemic we believe the model will need to be adjusted."

Dr. Jeremy Horwood, from the Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol and NIHR ARC West, who co-led the study, said: "GP practices have had to rapidly adopt new ways of delivering care remotely and responding to the new norm of social distancing to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. This is a huge change, with GP practices and patients having to transform the way they interact overnight. While remote methods of consulting may have value for some patients, such as straightforward medical enquiries, they cannot replace face-to-face consultations in situations which are more complex."

Explore further Video consultations with GP are viable alternative during social distancing measures

More information: Mairead Murphy et al. Implementation of remote consulting in UK primary care following the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods longitudinal study, British Journal of General Practice (2021). Journal information: British Journal of General Practice Mairead Murphy et al. Implementation of remote consulting in UK primary care following the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods longitudinal study,(2021). DOI: 10.3399/BJGP.2020.0948
With the help of Dark Energy Camera (DECam), an observatory in northern Chile captured a stunning view of Messier 83, also known as the Spiral of the Southern Pinwheel. Astro Data Archive at the Community Science and Data Center (CSDC) Program at NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research (NOIR) Lab captured the image of the Southern Pinwheel galaxy, which was discovered in 1752 by French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille. The image released on YouTube also gives a hint on how our own Milky Way Galaxy may look from afar.

Messier 83 is an almost perfect illustration of what a spiral galaxy is stereotypically supposed to look like. The scientist explained that this is because humans have the fortune of seeing it from a practically perfect overhead, or face-on, perspective. The latest image was acquired with DECam attached to the Victor M. Blanco telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in northern Chile.

READ: NASA Researchers Reveal ISS Has Robust Population Of Bacteria And Fungi

READ: Black Hole Goes Dark: Find Out Why This Giant Black Hole Stopped Emitting X-rays

In a press note, NOIR Lab said that the dark tendrils curling through the galaxy are lanes of dust blocking the light. The red dots of lights visible in the video are the hot hydrogen gas where new stars are being created. According to the press release, the Southern Pinwheel galaxy has a diameter of around 50,000 light-years which is quite similar to the Milky Way Galaxy that had a diameter of 100,000 - 200,000 light-years.

Specific features within galaxy highlighted

NOIR Lab explained that six-light filters were used to make the image, all highlighting specific features within the galaxy. In total, the picture is the product of 163 DECam exposures taken across 11.3 hours of observation time. As per the press note, work done with DECam will inform future observations made by the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which should see first light later this year and become fully operational in 2023.

READ: Mysterious Mars Landslides May Be Caused By Melting Snow And Underground Salt: Study

Monika Soraisam, an astronomer at the University of Illinois and principal investigator for DECams observations of Messier 83, explained, The Messier 83 observations are part of an ongoing program to produce an atlas of time-varying phenomena in nearby southern galaxies in preparation for Rubin Observatorys Legacy Survey of Space and Time.

Further, the Rubin Observatory will also capture 1,000 images each night, which it will do continuously for an entire decade. Starting in 2023 the ten year-operation of Rubin Observatory will carry out an optical survey of the visible sky named the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). Soraisam said that the researchers are generating multi-colour light curves of stars in this galaxy, which will be used to tame the onslaught of alerts expected from LSST using state-of-the-art software infrastructure such as NOIRLab's own ANTARES alert-broker.

READ: February Night Sky: Some Planets Not Visible To The Naked Eye Due To 'combust'

Asthma attack rates seen at GP surgeries fell significantly during the first Covid-19 pandemic lockdown of 2020, a study suggests.

Lower levels of air pollution, fewer cold and flu infections, and the fear of attending doctor surgeries due to Covid-19 were possible reasons for the 20pc drop in cases seen at GP surgeries, researchers said.

The study is the first national review of lockdown effects on asthma attacks and includes data from more than 100,000 patients.

Asthma attacks - or exacerbations - are bouts of shortness of breath, wheezing or a tight chest. There are usually more than six million GP consultations and 1400 deaths attributed to asthma in the UK every year.

For the study researchers from the University of Edinburgh looked at a national GP database containing information on almost 10 million patients, and identified 100,165 who had had at least one asthma attack since 2016.

The team counted GP visits for asthma attacks in weekly blocks from January to August 2020, and compared with weekly rates for January to August 2016-2019. They used March 23 2020 as the lockdown start date.

Drops in GP visits for asthma attacks during the lockdown were seen across all age groups, for both men and women, and across all regions of England excluding London and the North East.

There was no reduction in the rate of asthma attacks that led to a hospital visit, suggesting that only milder attacks were reduced during the pandemic.

The researchers caution that some patients could have gone to hospital without a GP referral, which may mask higher rates of asthma attacks than recorded by GP surgeries.

The study was conducted in association with BREATHE - The Health Data Research Hub for Respiratory Health, NIHR and the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research. It is published in the journal Thorax.

Lead researcher Dr Ahmar Shah, Chancellor's Fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Usher Institute, said: "Asthma is a chronic condition that affects over five million people in the UK and until now, we didn't know how these patients were being affected by lockdown. The data shows an overall reduction in asthma attacks seen at the GP.

"However, it is not clear whether this was an actual improvement in asthma due to reduced pollution and fewer opportunities for other viruses to spread or whether patients were reluctant to attend their doctor's surgery during the pandemic. Further research will help explain the reasons behind our findings."

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The Beaufort County Board of County Commissioners, by a vote of seven to zero at the January 4th 2021 meeting, set up a study committee of three commissioners to evaluate changing the enforcing of criminal laws from the sheriff to a county wide police force. Municipal police departments would not be affected. The three commissioners are: Stan Deatherage, Randy Walker and Hood Richardson.

This article is written with the goal of sticking to the facts. We have plenty of opinions about the politics of law enforcement in Beaufort County. We will bring them out later in opinion articles as the Beaufort County Police Committee completes its work and the full Board of Commissioners begins to consider the Committees final report.

Suffice it to say at this point that law enforcement is very important to any county, town or city. A civil society requires effective law enforcement. For that reason. the citizens have given law enforcement immense powers. An officer with a badge and a gun can take away your freedom in a heartbeat and even if you are not guilty it can cost you a fortune to prove yourself innocent. That power of the badge and gun can be abused. Accountability is essential to maintain the publics trust in the use of that power.

In recent months we have seen law enforcement come under attack as few of us have ever witnessed. The defund the police movement has swept many large cities. But the problems that impinge on the public trust of law enforcement is not confined to big cities. Trust requires accountability. Unfortunately, there are few bad apples in every barrel. Fortunately, most law enforcement people are hard-working, honest and are willing to risk their lives to protect innocent citizens. Those honest officers deserve administration and supervision that is above reproach. Accountability requires transparency in how every law enforcement agency operates. All too often we witness coverups, such as the time the former Sheriff in Beaufort County was pulled by a Washington Police Officer for driving carelessly. When we sought to investigate the reports of that incident by private citizens who witnessed it, we ran into a stone wall. The Washington Police Chief would not even release a copy of the officers report. There was no transparency in that instance. Then there was the matter of jail inmate who died without his family being notified and the family tried for months and months to get information on what had happened. Obviously, there was a lack of transparency and accountability to any oversight outside of the agency itself. For the most part law enforcement is left to oversee itself. The public is kept in the dark and allowed to know only what the law enforcement bureaucrats want the public to know.

A major part of the problem of lack of transparency and accountability is in the way the legal structure is currently set up for county sheriffs. The laws are such that the Sheriff can pretty much operate autonomously. He is dependent on the County Commissioners for budget appropriations but after the budget is adopted, he can spend the money more or less how he chooses by the way Beaufort County does its budget. He can buy extravagant vehicles and equipment. He can pay his employees what he wants, without having to follow county personnel policies if there is poor oversight.

The fiscal authority of the sheriff is similar to that of school boards. Both get appropriations from the county commission but the commissioners seldom know what actually happened to the money and what the taxpayers got for their money. But the schools do have an elected school board to oversee the operations of the public schools. There is no such oversight of the county sheriff. They are elected ever four years by the voters, but most of those voters could not tell you whether the sheriff was a good steward of the peoples money or not. History has shown that most sheriffs are elected on name recognition, not on the publics understanding of how well they manage the responsibility. This is the result of the lack of transparency.

For example, if we were to ask you if crime is up or declining in recent years could you tell us, and be sure of it? Could you tell us which kinds of crime, or which geographical areas are most prevalent of the worst crime areas? Could you tell us the number of vehicles that are used by employees for personal business and what it cost the taxpayers? Could you tell us whether the sheriff insured that inmates in the county jail got a speedy trial (which would reduce the expenses to the taxpayers)? When was the last time you read a report on what the Sheriff considers the major issue(s) he is facing and what he has actually done about those issues?

We hope the Police Committee will investigate the way law enforcement is organized in Beaufort County and assess what the needs are as well as what the problems are. We trust the Committee will involve the public in this study, by listening to the people in appropriate and timely ways.

Many people do not know that the Office of Sheriff is what is sometimes called a Constitutional Office. That is, the office exists as a result of the Constitution mandating it. The same is true, incidentally, of the office of county commissioner and the office of school superintendent. By being mandated by the N. C. Constitution the offices cannot be abolished. But beyond that, both the Constitution and the statutes are very skimpy in laying out how the sheriffs office will function. The law does make him the county jailer. Each county must provide for a jail and if it does the Sheriff is in charge of the jail. The law requires that the county commission provide the Sheriff with an office and at least two deputies (NCGS 153A-103). Beyond that, the law is silent on how many deputies are allocated and it is even silent on the policies of what duties are assigned to a deputy or how the force is organized.

Most significantly, in our opinion, the law is very skimpy in insuring openness and transparency. There are no accountability standards mandated by law, such a civilian review boards or oversight such as school boards provide. Yet, typically the Sheriffs budget is second only to education in the consumption of local tax dollars.

Traditionally, especially in rural counties such as Beaufort, law enforcement was spread thin. People and businesses who lived in towns and cities began to want a greater police service, so they formed municipal police departments. But sheriffs typically provided some service even in municipalities that had police departments. This created duplication and overlap in some instances. We see this quite often in Beaufort County. Thus, it raises jurisdiction issues. That is something we would hope the Committee addresses. Duplication and overlaps should be avoided to save taxpayer money.

It should be clearly stated that the creation of county police force would require action by the state legislature. That legislation would need to be very carefully crafted and this study committee the Board of Commissioners has appointed could be very instrumental in helping do that.

The book County Government in North Carolina, Fourth Edition: edited by A. Flemming Bell, II and Warren Jake Wicker, published by the UNC School of Government states: County governments involvement with the criminal justice system has traditionally focused on law enforcement which is carried out through the sheriffs department or occasionally through a county police department.

Gaston County has such a county police department. Click here to read more about that: Mission Statement - Police Department - Gaston County Government (gastongov.com). You can read about the Gaston County Sheriffs Office here: Sheriff  Gaston County Government (gastoncountysheriffsoffice.com). You will note that the Sheriff provides court services, serves legal papers and operates the jail.

There is no law that specifically assigns law enforcement to the constitutional office of Sheriff. County Sheriffs have inherited, assumed and had law enforcement pushed off on them because historically there has been no one more likely qualified to do law enforcement than the elected sheriff. The North Carolina Constitution creates the office of County Sheriff and specifically assigns him the duties of running the jail and serving court papers. Law enforcement powers are not assigned to the Sheriff in the N. C. Constitution.

Looking at the development of counties, we did not need a full time law enforcement official until the population grew large enough so that the criminal business got so good the locals did not have time to take care of matters themselves.

City policing is governed by the North Carolina General Statutes. A county police department would presumably be very much like a city police department in terms of the legal structure.

In a county police department, all officers would be employees of the county with the same employment rights as any other county employee. Sheriffs deputies are now paid directly by the county but have no guarantee of employment when a new sheriff is elected. They are at will employees of the sheriff. Because of their unique status as being the same as the sheriff, their employment can be terminated for any reason or no reason by the Sheriff.

We encourage the Police Committee to not be hasty in looking at the cost of operating a police department along with the benefits to employees of a police department and the citizens of Beaufort County. We believe continuity of employment will lead to better investigations, more solved crimes and less stress among police department employees. We also hope the Committee and Commission will examine closely the fiscal issues, the jurisdictional issues and most importantly, improving transparency and accountability, no matter what the organizational scheme might be.

Well keep you informed as the Committee moves forward. Its meetings are open to the public.
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TAMPA, Fla. and SWANSEA, United Kingdom, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Immix Software ("Immix" or the "Company"), a worldwide leader in video monitoring security software, today announced its sale to Norland Capital ("Norland"), a global private equity firm focused on investing in and growing software and technology companies.

Immix is the leader in video monitoring security software and is installed in the world's most demanding security operating center environments. The Company's software enables security-alarm central station dealers to deliver new video based remote services to customers and improves a central station's ability to validate, manage, and respond to security events through an intuitive, easy-to-use interface. The Company's software monitors ~1 million cameras at ~100,000 sites across North America and Europe.

"It has been incredible to watch Immix evolve," said Graham Johnson, Chairman of E-Surveillance, the former parent company of Immix. "Norland's reputable security and software credentials, firm culture, and talented professionals will enable Immix to unlock many opportunities for advancement as the business enters its next phase of growth. This transaction also serves to strategically reinforce Immix's commitment to continue delivering best-in-class solutions to customers that operate in the world's most demanding security operating center environments."

"We have long observed Immix's market prominence from afar and are ecstatic for the opportunity to join Chris (CEO), Craig (CTO) and the entire Immix team," said Mati Szeszkowski, Founder and CEO of Norland Capital. "Immix has established a very strong foothold in video monitoring security software which is in the midst of a decade plus tail-wind, and we see meaningful opportunities ahead for the business and its clients. We are delighted to invest to further grow the business."

Immix has been a market leader since the early days  continually innovating and investing in technology to become the de facto standard in the market. The Company is uniquely differentiated as its software is the "single pane of glass" that integrates and seamlessly works with all the disparate technologies inside the security operating center as well as with all the external data sources (regardless of camera type, sensor type, etc.).

"We are extremely excited to announce our partnership with Norland. This is the next step in Immix's evolution. Teaming up with Norland will allow us to further invest and continue to develop our product offering, build the team, and expand internationally, as well as continue to work very closely with current customers and help them grow their business. With the demand for video and event based monitoring exploding around the globe, we are poised to meet today's rigorous demands for unifying disparate security platforms and devices, while continuing to innovate to satisfy the needs of our customers in the future," said Chris Brown, CEO of Immix Software.

"This is a great outcome for all parties involved," said John E. Mack III , Executive Vice President and Co-Head of Investment Banking at Imperial Capital. "We see huge potential for the company, and a growth trajectory that can be accelerated with the equity and experience of Norland as its ideal partner."

Imperial Capital, LLC served as the exclusive financial advisor to Immix in the transaction.

About Immix Software

Immix develops software to improve your ability to manage and respond to security events by creating an intuitive, easy-to-use software integration platform. Whether it's to protect your customer's facilities, assets and people or your own, the mission has always been the same: to provide a common platform connecting different systems. Immix, which means to mix, integrates with over 500 of the top security products and systems in the market. More information about Immix can be found at https://www.immixprotect.com.

About Norland Capital

Norland Capital is the right home for software and technology companies looking for a unique investment partner. The Norland Capital team has invested in, supported, and helped grow some of the world's largest and most innovative software companies. Leading Silicon Valley executives and family offices back us with a distinctive 10+ year capital structure. Norland Capital is a long-term patient investor who partners with business owners and management teams that are focused on growth and the legacy of their people, customers, and products. Norland Capital is based in San Francisco, Sydney, and London. More information about Norland Capital can be found at https://norlandcapital.com.

Contact Info

Chris Brown

[email protected]

400 N. Tampa St. Suite 1750

Tampa, Florida 33602

SOURCE Imperial Capital, LLC

Related Links

www.imperialcapital.com


But on February 4 the federal government announced it had managed to secure another 10 million doses of Pfizers vaccine. Problem 1: will the vaccine be approved for over-65s? About 1.4 per cent of people aged over 65 who catch COVID-19 will die from it; that number rises to 15 per cent for people aged 85. So vaccinating older people is very, very important. So why have medical regulators from France, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain and Poland decided against giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to the over-65s, as the BBC has reported? The answer is found in table one of AstraZenecas phase three clinical trial report, published in the Lancet.

The trial enrolled 11,636 people in Britain and Brazil. But just 767 people from that group were aged between 56 and 69. Just 444 were aged over 70. And remember, this group includes people given a placebo, too. Its just not that much data. To make calculations of efficacy, vaccine trials look at the number of people who fell sick, rather than the number of people in the overall trial. AstraZenecas trial recorded just five cases in people aged over 55, and just two cases in people aged 65. The ability to draw conclusions is based not on the number of patients but on the number of people who have an event. It says there were five cases. Its not going to be possible to draw any robust conclusions from that small number of cases, says Vlado Perkovic, dean of medicine at the University of NSW and one of Australias leading clinical trial experts. Compare that with the Pfizer vaccine: 37,706 people enrolled in the trial, 15,921 of whom were aged over 55. A medic administers a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to a colleague in Bethlehem last week. Credit:AP

That does not mean the TGA is going to follow France and Germanys lead. Britain, India, Mexico and Argentina, as well as the European Medicines Agency, have approved AstraZenecas vaccine for the over 65s. The question the TGA will ask, Professor Perkovic says, is not whether the vaccine works for people aged over 65, because we dont know. Its whether we have reason to believe it wont work. When we look across all the vaccines, there is growing evidence they are effective in older populations. What we dont know yet is whether one is more effective than the other. Thats interesting  but only if we have good reason to think one would be more effective than the other. And Im not sure we do at the moment, he says. On a cellular level, we have good reason to think the AstraZeneca vaccine does work for older adults. Immune responses are the same across ages. Vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna and Russias Sputnik have reported no difference in efficacy among older groups. Unless AstraZeneca can provide extra data  and it is working on it  to approve the vaccine for those aged 65-plus, the TGA will have to do some extrapolation. But this type of decision has to be made all the time. One example: Aboriginal Australians. They are unfortunately rarely represented in clinical trials in adequate numbers to know whether something works. We have to extrapolate, says Professor Perkovic.

This is such a compelling, traumatic problem, were going to have to make some judgment calls based on the best available evidence. I would personally support approval  it is a safe vaccine that is effective overall, and very likely to be equally effective in older people who are at highest risk from the disease. I dont think it would be fair to make older people wait for more data before they can be vaccinated. Problem 2: those pesky variants Scientists have been speculating for weeks about what effect the new variants of COVID-19 emerging around the world will have on vaccine efficacy. A South African woman walks past a coronavirus-themed mural promoting the use of face masks in public. Credit:AP B.1.351, the variant first seen in South Africa, contains several mutations that look like they should limit antibody binding. The first tranche of data that emerged  lab tests of viruses made to look like the variants  seemed promising. The vaccines generate such strong immunity that even with a modest dip in efficacy they should still protect people.

Human data has not been so encouraging. Johnson & Johnson and Novavax both reported their vaccines were substantially less effective against the variant. Now we have human evidence that the AstraZeneca vaccine may be hardest hit, after a South African trial put its efficacy against the variant at about 10 per cent. Dont put much weight in that exact number: the trial was so small the number is not statistically significant. But we now have three human studies showing a substantial drop-off in efficacy; AstraZenecas results are troubling enough for South Africa to pause the rollout of the vaccine. AstraZeneca has already started work on a booster.

These results are a reality check. It is time for us, unfortunately, to recalibrate our expectations of COVID-19 vaccines, Shabir Madhi, who led the trial, said at a news conference organised by the South African National Department of Health. Loading Professor Madhi is right. These results should prompt us to think differently about our vaccines, in a couple of ways. First, a lot of the focus has been on vaccines efficacy at preventing infection. But its becoming clear the first-generation vaccines are likely to struggle to do that, particularly as variants emerge (and more will emerge). Ultimately, the more important issue is: are we preventing serious illness? Because that is what is causing the biggest impact, Trevor Drew, director of the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, said this week.
In the event of a pandemic, delayed reactions and a decentralized approach by the authorities at the start of a follow-up wave can lead to longer-lasting, more severe and more fatal consequences, researchers from the universities of Zurich and Toronto have found. The interdisciplinary team compared the Spanish flu of 1918 and 1919 in the Canton of Bern with the coronavirus pandemic of 2020.

The Spanish flu was the greatest demographic catastrophe in Switzerland's recent history, causing approximately 25,000 deaths in the country during 1918 and 1919. In the wake of the current coronavirus pandemic, there has been increased public and scientific interest in the events of that time.

An interdisciplinary team of researchers in evolutionary medicine, history, geography and epidemiology from the universities of Zurich and Toronto has spent several years analyzing historical data on the spread of influenza-like illnesses during 1918 and 1919 in the Canton of Bern. The canton is ideally suited as a Swiss case study, because it is large and has a diverse landscape, it was hit particularly hard by the Spanish flu, and right at the start of the pandemic in July 1918 it introduced an obligation to report cases.

Public health measures effective in the first wave

The results of the new study show that the spread of Spanish flu differed depending on the region. In the first wave in July and August 1918, the Canton of Bern intervened relatively quickly, strongly and centrally, including by restricting gatherings and closing schools.

We see from the numbers that these measures - similar to today - were associated with a decrease in infection numbers." Kaspar Staub, Study Co-First Author, Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich

After the first wave had subsided, the canton lifted all measures entirely in September 1918, which led to a rapid resurgence of cases and the onset of a second wave after only a short time.

Delayed action at start of second wave was fatal

At the beginning of the second wave in October 1918, the Canton of Bern reacted hesitantly, unlike in the first wave. Fearing renewed economic consequences, the cantonal authorities left responsibility for new measures up to the individual municipalities for several weeks. "This hesitant and decentralized approach was fatal and contributed to the fact that the second wave became all the stronger and lasted longer," says co-first author Peter Juni of the University of Toronto.

In addition, shortly after the peak of the second wave in November 1918, there was a national strike with demonstrations on social and labor issues and, most importantly, larger troop deployments. These mass gatherings, as well as a subsequent relaxation of the ban on gatherings when the number of cases was still far too high, were accompanied by a significant resurgence in infections. Ultimately, about 80 percent of the reported illnesses and deaths were attributable to the second wave.

History repeats itself in 2020

By comparing the weekly case counts of the Spanish flu and coronavirus, the researchers found that the second wave started in almost the same calendar week in both 1918 and 2020, and the official delayed response was similar. "While there are still considerable differences between the two pandemics, the steadily increasing parallels between 1918 and 2020 are remarkable," Staub says. The study also shows that empirical knowledge from past pandemics - for example, on the challenges and how to deal with follow-up waves - is available.

"Since November 2020, deaths from Covid-19 have far exceeded those caused by cancer or cardiovascular disease and for around three months it has been the most common cause of death in Switzerland. In view of the high death rate during the second wave in comparison with other countries, and with the threat of a third wave due to virus mutations from England, South Africa and Brazil, lessons from the past could help the authorities and the public to rethink their response," adds Juni.

Historical archive data with relevance for the present day

The study was based on records in the Bern State Archives of cases of influenza-like illness by municipality and region, as reported weekly by doctors to the cantonal authorities. "These records are a real treasure trove and a great example of how data that is more than 100 years old can be relevant today," Staub says. Back in 2015, the research team began transcribing the more than 9,000 medical reports with over 120,000 influenza cases from 473 Bernese municipalities between June 1918 and June 1919. They then analyzed the data using modern epidemiological methods and reconstructed the measures taken at cantonal level to prevent the spread of the pandemic to create an overall picture.
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Synergy One Lending welcome Travis Newton, Mike Wilbur and Ben Nelson to the growing Synergy One team. Travis and Mike will run the production team as Area Managers while Ben will continue his role as Sales Manager. The trio have each been recognized as top 1% originators Nationwide.

"We are overjoyed at the opportunity placed before us by Aaron Nemec and Steve Majerus. This move gives us the autonomy to make decisions at the local level while also providing an incredibly robust fintech platform as we begin to build a Billion dollar team here in Oregon," said Travis.

Synergy One President, Aaron Nemec added, "These guys are some of the absolute best in the business, and it's an honor to partner and grow with them!"

Synergy One Lending is based in San Diego, CA, is currently licensed in 38 states and has Operational HUBS in Roseville, CA, Boise, ID, Denver, CO and Dallas, TX. To learn more about Synergy One Lending, reach out to Aaron Nemec or Ben Green.

SOURCE Synergy One Lending
KY-80 Closed in Hickman County For Bridge Work

By West Kentucky Star Staff

HICKMAN COUNTY - Officials have closed the Bowles Creek Bridge on KY-80 in Hickman County between Arlington and Columbus.The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said during a routine safety check this week, inspectors found a number of structural issues that required the bridge to be closed, including deteriorating box beams and failing timber.The bridge has been restricted to a 3-ton load limit for several years which limited it to vehicles no heavier than an unloaded pickup truck. During their most recent safety check, inspectors found that loaded semi trucks were continuing to cross the bridge in violation of the posted limit.A crew barricaded the bridge Tuesday morning. Engineers had already requested funding to replace the ailing structure through the Bridging Kentucky initiative.
The Kid Laroi made history this week after becoming the youngest artist to top the Australian album chart with his mixtape F*ck Love (Savage).

And it seems the rapper's love life is going just as swimmingly as his music career, as the 17-year-old spoke on Wednesday about his unexpected romance with 'the most beautiful girl on the world', TikTok star Katarina Deme, 16.

He was being interviewed on KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O Show when radio host Jackie 'O' Henderson said: 'I've got to say, your girlfriend Katarina. She's probably the most beautiful girl I've ever seen - it's insane how beautiful she is.'

Loved-up: Hip-hop sensation The Kid Laroi, 17, has spoken about his unexpected romance with 'the most beautiful girl on the world', TikTok star Katarina Deme, 16. Pictured last month

The musician, whose real name is Charlton Howard, laughed and replied: 'I agree!'

The Indigenous star added that he never expected to fall in love so young, but did so shortly after relocating from Sydney to Los Angeles, where Katarina is based.

'We met through a mutual friend that I had when I came around here,' he said.

'Around the time that I met her, I just put out the whole F*ck Love project and was not in the vibe of love.

'But I guess... you can't control some of that type of stuff. It was so ironic.'

Pretty: Radio host Jackie 'O' Henderson described model Katarina as 'the most beautiful girl I've ever seen', and the young rapper wholeheartedly agreed

Radio presenter Kyle Sandilands added: 'Once again it's proven that when you're not looking, love comes along at the strangest time.'

'100 per cent, I agree,' Laroi replied.

Fans on social media are obsessed with the pair's cute love story, and some have even dubbed them the new era's Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez.

Unexpected: The Indigenous star told KIIS FM he never expected to fall in love so young, but did so shortly after relocating from Sydney to Los Angeles, where Katarina is based

Laroi and Katarina have shared several loved-up snaps of themselves on Instagram, with the first image being uploaded last month.

Alongside the photo of the pair cuddled up together, the rapper wrote: 'I know I said f**k love but... @katarina.deme.'

At the age of 16, Katrina has accumulated more than 760,000 followers on TikTok, and almost 600,000 on Instagram.

Teenage icons: Fans on social media are obsessed with the pair's cute love story, and some have even dubbed them the new era's Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez

Popular: At the age of 16, Katrina has accumulated more than 760,000 followers on TikTok, and almost 600,000 on Instagram

Love wins: 'Around the time that I met her, I just put out the whole F*ck Love project and was not in the vibe of love,' said Laroi. 'But I guess... you can't control some of that type of stuff'

On Sunday, The Kid Laroi's 2020 release F*ck Love (Savage) finally reached number one on the ARIA album chart, after steadily climbing for 28 weeks.

The teenager from Sydney's Waterloo was overjoyed by his historic win, taking to Twitter to celebrate the milestone.

He tweeted: '#1 in my own country. Words cannot describe this feeling. Anybody who knows me, knows that where I'm from means everything to me. I'm more than blessed to have my country behind me, and I promise that I won't let them down.

Falling hard: 'I know I said f**k love but... @katarina.deme,' the musician captioned one of his photos last month, announcing their relationship

'One of my biggest goals in this whole music s**t from the beginning has always been to show the rest of the world what Australia has to offer, and how much raw and unseen talent that we have. It's not an overnight process, but I can feel it slowly happening.

'And I'm taking this s**t all the way too. I love you so so so so much family. I cannot thank you enough. Australia to the world.'

F*ck Love (Savage) has been certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling more than 35,000 units.

His debut album is also performing well in Britain and the U.S.

The rising hip-hop star has already collaborated with major artists, including OneFour, Machine Gun Kelly, Marshmello, and his late mentor Juice WRLD, who died in December 2019.

He rose to fame in 2018 at the age of 15 as a finalist in the Unearthed High competition for high school musicians by Australian radio station Triple J.
Build-preparations have begun at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) for the internal and external exhibitions, as well as the live demonstration areas, for IDEX and NAVDEX 2021, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, between February 21 and 25.

Adnec organised a tour for local and international media representatives, sharing with them the latest preparations, protocols, and precautionary measures implemented by Adnec, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense and the General Command of the UAE Armed Forces.

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (Adnec), said: The beginning of our build-up phase for the internal and external exhibition stands for IDEX and NAVDEX represents the culmination of the significant efforts exerted by Adnecs teams over the past few months. Our ability to host this exhibition demonstrates the confidence of the international community in Adnecs ability to organise this exceptional edition on schedule. Such confidence is indicated in the participation of the largest defence companies from across the world in this exhibition.

Al Dhaheri added: The high participation levels at IDEX and NAVDEX demonstrates the leading position which these exhibitions have found reached in their twenty-seventh year. It further indicates the wider international interest in these vital events, and how the UAEs defence sector has reached an advanced global stage.

Adnec, in cooperation with a wide range of national institutions, has prepared the facilities and infrastructure of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, following leading global standards. We have developed a range of health and safety protocols for the health of all participants at both exhibitions, following the processes implemented by local and global health authorities. Such measures have been put in place to meet the needs of all our participants, as well as ensuring this event befits the reputation and stature of the UAE at both the regional and the international level.

Saeed Bin Khadim Al Mansoori, Executive Director at Capital Events, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company, commented: IDEX and NAVDEX 2021 will enjoy a high turnout from critical international defence companies: a fact of which we are very proud. The current edition will see five new nations participating for the first time in the two exhibitions.

We have now completed the reservations of external and internal exhibition spaces for IDEX and NAVDEX. Both exhibitions will see a wide range of official delegations from a high number of countries, alongside decision-makers and specialists in these vital sectors.

Adnec briefed media representatives on the progress of the build-up process and preparations for the internal and external exhibition stands at the centre. Journalists were shown preparations for the outdoor live demonstrations area, which is located on the opposite side of the grandstand and will witness a number of daily displays of defence equipment by local and international companies. Paths and artificial obstacles will demonstrate these machines potential and their capability to deal with a range of challenges and terrains.

Additionally, media representatives were briefed on the build-up process in all the halls of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, and toured a number of international and local pavilions. One central pavilion they were show is the Emirati pavilion, consisting of national companies specialising in defence industries such as the Tawazun Economic Council (Tawazun) pavilion and the EDGE Group, which is the parent company of a number of specialised defence companies.

The media tour also included a visit to the special exhibition area of NAVDEX 2021, located at the Adnec Marina, opposite to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, which includes a dedicated tent with internal exhibition areas for companies specialised in the naval defence industries, in addition to the dock area that will host a number of defence naval equipment from a number of countries, in conjunction with the exhibition area that will be allocated at Port Zayed in Abu Dhabi.

Adnecs team provided a detailed briefing session on all the health and safety precautionary measures which will be implemented during IDEX and NAVDEX 2021, where Ahmed Al Obaidli, Chief Operations Officer at Adnec delivered a presentation, stating: "Adnec is paying close attention to the health and safety standards of exhibitors, participants and visitors, and considers them a top priority. In this context, Adnec cooperates with all concerned authorities to ensure the safety of visitors of the upcoming IDEX and NAVDEX 2021 exhibitions during their stay in Abu Dhabi."

Adnec has developed strict protocols and preventive measures for preserving the health and safety of participants in the exhibitions, in full cooperation and coordination with the relevant health and regulatory authorities inside and outside the country.

Media representatives were briefed on the precautionary and preventive measures that Adnec applies, which are applicable to visitors, exhibitors, and official delegations participating at both exhibitions. Further, media were briefed on steps and measures taken following visitors arrival at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre until departure from the events.

These procedures outline that visitors to IDEX and NAVDEX will begin their journey before arriving at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, whether attending from within our outside the UAE. All visitors, exhibitors, and delegates must register to obtain their print-at-home badge, as no-one who has not registered online will be allowed entry. Everyone must print out their own badges and bring them to the venue.

Measures at the event location also include conducting a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19 for both international and local participants, 48 hours ahead of their visit to the exhibitions. All participants must present a negative test result at the security gates to gain entry to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

In addition, PCR tests for COVID-19 will be conducted for all international participants at UAE airports upon arrival, after presenting their registration badge for IDEX and NAVDEX. 17 hotels surrounding the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre will host international visitors to the event, in cooperation with the relevant authorities in the emirate. These hotels have been equipped with PCR testing centres, in cooperation with the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, and a shuttle bus service has been provided to and from these hotels.

The list of Adnecs precautionary measures include surveying visitor and exhibitor numbers present at both exhibitions. All visitors must specify a certain time for their visit each day when they register on the website. The number of exhibitors present in each pavilion has also been determined, and they are distributed on different time frames during the events.

Gates have been designated for entry and exit at the venue, and are equipped with thermal cameras. Adnecs teams have been trained to deal with visitors following a range of health requirements. Adnec has laid out one-way paths across the centres halls, with the strict application of social distancing from arrival to departure. Face masks are mandatory at all times during the visit, and Adnec has placed electronic signage with health and safety instructions across all its facilities, as well as providing hand sanitisers for participants.

Adnec presented the sanitisation processes followed in its centres to ensure the health and safety of all participants. Ongoing measures are being conducted through a wide range of devices and teams, with a number of smart robots undertaking cleaning operations across floors and halls automatically. All facilities will be sanitised and defogged daily, with high-intensity touch points, such as elevators, ATMs, and door handles, being routinely sanitised throughout each day.

Adnecs officials also presented precautionary measures for hospitality and food services during both exhibitions, supervised by Capital Hospitality, a subsidiary of Adnec, in cooperation with the relevant regulatory authorities in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. These measures include full compliance with health and safety measures in the facilities and kitchens, as well as training supervising staff on these processes, and ensuring the implementation of food safety procedures during preparation, in order to strictly apply these standards during catering.

Adnec further revealed a number of specialised clinics and medical facilities are equipped and ready with a team of medical professionals who can ensure the health and safety of participants. Those teams are in full and direct coordination with the health authorities in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and will work throughout the day during the period of the exhibitions.--TradeArabia News Service
Spain's government announced on Tuesday it had extended controls along its 1,200-km border with Portugal until March 1, as both countries try to rein in a surge in coronavirus infections and deaths.

"The severity of the restrictive mobility measures still in force in Spain and Portugal justifies maintaining ... controls at the internal land border ... with the same limitations applied during the initial ten days," the Spanish interior ministry said in the government's official bulletin.

The two governments had agreed to close on Jan. 28 the border for non-essential travel with exceptions for cross-border workers, health workers and truck drivers.

A surge in infections in Portugal since Christmas left hospitals on the verge of collapse, prompting a strict nationwide lockdown. Daily cases and deaths have fallen significantly in the past week, but hospitalisations and the number of patients in intensive care units remained high. .

In Spain, a third wave of COVID-19 infections is ebbing, with the 14-day incidence rate falling to 667 cases per 100,000 people on Monday from 900 cases in late January, but officials say the arrival of the new strains could drive a resurgence.

Health Minister Carolina Darias told reporters that the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care should peak by the end of this week. The average occupancy of intensive care units is 43%.

Despite the stress on the health service, a court in the Basque region suspended a regional government order shutting bars and restaurants in areas with an incidence above 500 cases per 100,000 people.

The court accepted hospitality associations' argument that closures would cause serious economic damage, and said there was no evidence linking activity in bars and restaurants to a surge in cases after Christmas.

Restrictions in Spain vary from region to region, with Madrid enjoying some of the loosest rules - a fact that has attracted droves of French tourists eager to escape their nation's strict lockdown to enjoy the city's relatively bustling night life.
India's energy demand will increase more than that of any other country over the next two decades, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Tuesday forecasting India overtaking the European Union as the world's third-largest energy consumer by 2030. An expanding economy, population, urbanisation and industrialisation will result in India's energy needs growing at three times the global average under today's policies, according to IEA's India Energy Outlook 2021.

"India has arrived at the centre of the world energy stage," said Fatih Birol, the IEA's executive director. Energy use has doubled since 2000, with most of that demand met by coal and oil. This is set to grow about 35 per cent until 2030, down from 50 per cent before the coronavirus pandemic.

India will see the addition of 13 new Mumbais in urban population, boosting demand for cement, steel, electricity, he said. Birol said policymakers needed to ensure the next wave of growth is met with renewable energy sources such as solar.

IEA saw primary energy consumption almost doubling to 1,123 million tonnes of oil equivalent as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expands to USD 8.6 trillion by 2040. India at present is the fourth-largest global energy consumer behind China, the United States and the European Union.

Underpinned by "a rate of GDP growth that adds the equivalent of another Japan to the world economy by 2040", India will overtake the European Union by 2030 to move up to the third position, it said in the report. India accounts for nearly one-quarter of global energy demand growth from 2019-40 -- the largest for any country. Its share in the growth in renewable energy is the second-largest in the world, after China, IEA said.

"power system is bigger than that of the European Union, and is the world's third-largest in terms of electricity generation; it also has 30 per cent more installed renewables capacity than the United States," it said. A five-fold increase in per capita car ownership will result in India leading the oil demand growth in the world. Also, it will become the fastest-growing market for natural gas, with demand more than tripling by 2040.

"India's continued industrialisation becomes a major driving force for the global energy economy. Over the last three decades, India accounted for about 10 per cent of world growth in industrial value-added (in PPP terms)," the report said. is set to account for almost 20 per cent of global growth in industrial value-added, and to lead global growth in industrial final energy consumption, especially in steelmaking. The nation accounts for nearly one-third of global industrial energy demand growth to 2040.

India's oil demand is seen rising by rise by 74 per cent to 8.7 million barrels per day by 2040 under the existing policies scenario. The natural gas requirement is projected to more than triple to 201 billion cubic meters and coal demand is seen rising to 772 million tonnes in 2040 from the current 590. To meet its energy needs, India will be more reliant on fossil fuel imports as its domestic oil and gas production stagnates.

Its net dependence on oil imports -- taking into account both the import of crude oil and the export of oil products -- increases to more than 90 per cent by 2040 from the current 75 per cent as domestic consumption rises much more than production, the report said. Natural gas import dependency increased from 20 per cent in 2010 to almost 50 per cent in 2019 and is set to grow further to more than 60 per cent in 2040.

"The dynamics look quite different for coal, where India's demand for imported coal barely gets back to pre-crisis levels over the next decade," IEA said. India currently accounts for 16 per cent of the global coal trade and many global coal suppliers were counting on growth in India to underpin planned export-oriented mining investments.

"These expectations are now running up against India's determination to boost domestic production, leaving relative certainty only over India's requirement to import coking coal for its rising steel production, together with steam coal for those coastal power generation plants that have been designed to receive imported grades," it said. IEA has forecast combined import bill for fossil fuels tripling over the next two decades.

"Energy use (in India) has doubled since 2000, with 80 per cent of demand still being met by coal, oil and solid biomass," it said. On a per-capita basis, India's energy use and emissions are less than half the world average, as are other key indicators such as vehicle ownership, steel and cement output.

"As India recovers from a COVID-induced slump in 2020, it is re-entering a very dynamic period in its energy development. Over the coming years, millions of Indian households are set to buy new appliances, air conditioning units and vehicles," it said. India will soon become the world's most populous country, adding the equivalent of a city the size of Los Angeles to its urban population each year.

"To meet growth in electricity demand over the next twenty years, India will need to add a power system the size of the European Union to what it has now," it said. Prior to the global pandemic, India's energy demand was projected to increase by almost 50 per cent between 2019 and 2030, but growth over this period is now closer to 35 per cent.

"An expanding economy, population, urbanisation and industrialisation mean that India sees the largest increase in energy demand of any country," IEA said.
DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Insurance Symposium (GIS) has announced its 2021 conference is a hybrid event that will be held on June 28-30. Attendees can participate virtually or in-person at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Downtown Des Moines, Iowa.

This event, which is now open for registration [www.globalinsurancesymposium.com], aims to help insurance professionals from around the world discover what's next, prepare for tomorrow and solve the future. It will focus on timely and relevant themes of global risk; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); dynamic panel discussions; and engaging networking opportunities for attendees. All virtual and in-person participants will be assigned to a cross-industry cohort facilitated by an insurance thought leader to help guide discussions and offer additional insights.

"The 2021 Global Insurance Symposium will convene InsurTech and FinTech leaders and innovators from around the world, both in-person and virtually, to collaboratively spur new ideas and share best practices to help shape the future of insurance," said Jay Byers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. "Since its inception in 2014, GIS has had thousands of attendees from 13 countries participate."

Along with the Iowa Insurance Division, the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa insurance firms, the Greater Des Moines Partnership will present the modified conference in accordance with local, state and federal health and safety guidelines.

The three-day symposium, originally scheduled to take place April 2021, will offer a full agenda for participants, including an InsurTech Expo, presentations by InsurTech entrepreneurs from the Global Insurance Accelerator, several panels and sessions featuring insurance industry leaders and state insurance commissioners and networking opportunities.

"This is a must-see event for those in or around the insurance industry," said Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen. "Whether you are a leader at an insurer, an interested regulator or an entrepreneur with a startup, there is something for everyone. The 2021 Global Insurance Symposium will help position leaders in the industry to meet current and upcoming challenges."

As the 2021 Global Insurance Symposium approaches, organizers are continuing to carefully monitor all COVID-related concerns and develop comprehensive conference protocols to ensure the health and safety of all who attend.

For more information and to register, please visit: globalinsurancesymposium.com.

Media Registration :

Members of the media are invited to attend the Global Insurance Symposium. To inquire, please contact Jon Lieb at [email protected].

About the Global Insurance Symposium:

Since its inception in 2014, the Global Insurance Symposium has hosted thousands of leading insurance and financial service professionals and regulatory authorities. During the GIS three-day event, attendees hear from the world's most renowned insurance experts and interact with fellow insurance industry colleagues from around the globe. The Global Insurance Symposium is presented by the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Iowa Insurance Division, the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa insurance firms. For more information, please visit globalinsurancesymposium.com.

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The prime minister said as close neighbours and strong strategic partners, both India and Afghanistan want to see the region free of extremism and terrorism

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed concern over increasing violence in Afghanistan and called for a comprehensive ceasefire for ending the hostilities, while assuring India''s full support in the development journey of the war-ravaged country.

In a virtual meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Modi said as close neighbours and strong strategic partners, both India and Afghanistan want to see the region free of extremism and terrorism.

The prime minister also said no "outside force" will be able to stop Afghanistan''s journey towards development as well as its friendship with India.

Referring to the Afghan peace process, he said unity within the country was important and hoped that a "united Afghanistan'''' will be capable of dealing with any challenge facing it.

"We are concerned over increasing violence in Afghanistan....we support a comprehensive ceasefire in the country," the prime minister said.

The online meeting was held to finalise an agreement under which India will construct a dam in Kabul river basin to supply water to the Afghan capital city.

In his remarks, Ghani said India's development assistance to Afghanistan is iconically marked on the country's landscape.

India has been a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan and it has already invested USD two billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the war-ravaged country.

In November last, India announced a new package of over 100 high impact community projects worth USD 80 million for Afghanistan at a global conference on Afghanistan.

The Shahtoot Dam in Kabul is part of the new developmental package.

The agreement was signed by foreign ministers of the two countries.
WASHINGTON  Donald Trumps historic second impeachment trial opened Tuesday with graphic video showing the former president whipping up a rally crowd to march to the Capitol and fight like hell against his reelection defeat, followed by images of the deadly attack on Congress that came soon after.

In an early test of the former presidents defense, Trumps team lost a crucial bid to halt the trial on constitutional grounds. Senators confirmed, 56-44, their jurisdiction over the trial, the first of a president no longer in office. While six Republican senators joined the Democrats in proceeding, the tally showed how far prosecutors have to go to win conviction, which requires a two-thirds threshold of 67 senators.

Tuesdays vote was on whether a former president could be tried after leaving office.

House Democrats prosecuting the case told senators they were presenting cold, hard facts against Trump, who is charged with inciting the mob siege of the Capitol to overturn the election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Senators sitting as jurors, many who themselves fled for safety that day, watched the jarring video of Trump supporters battling past police to storm the halls, Trump flags waving.

Thats a high crime and misdemeanor, declared Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., in opening remarks. If thats not an impeachable offense, then theres no such thing.

 READ MORE: Trumps lawyers say he was immediately horrified by the Capitol attack. Heres what his allies and aides said really happened.

Trump is the first president to face impeachment charges after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached. The Capitol siege stunned the world as hundreds of rioters ransacked the building to try to stop the certification of Bidens victory, a domestic attack on the nations seat of government unlike any in its history. Five people died.

Acquittal is likely, but the trial will test the nations attitude toward Trumps brand of presidential power, the Democrats resolve in pursuing him, and the loyalty of Trumps Republican allies defending him.

Trumps lawyers are insisting that he is not guilty of the sole charge of incitement of insurrection, his fiery words just a figure of speech as he encouraged a rally crowd to fight like hell for his presidency. But prosecutors say he has no good defense and they promise new evidence.

Security remained extremely tight at the Capitol on Tuesday, a changed place after the attack, fenced off with razor wire with armed National Guard troops on patrol. The nine House managers walked across the shuttered building to prosecute the case before the Senate.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would not be watching the trial of his predecessor.

Joe Biden is the president, hes not a pundit, hes not going to opine on back and forth arguments, she said.

With senators gathered as the court of impeachment, sworn to deliver impartial justice, the trial started with debate and a vote over whether its constitutionally permissible to prosecute Trump after he is no longer in the White House.

 READ MORE: Montcos Bruce Castor and Madeleine Dean bring very different approaches to Trumps impeachment trial

Trumps defense team has focused on that question, which could resonate with Republicans eager to acquit Trump without being seen as condoning his behavior.

Lead lawyer Bruce Castor said that no member of the former presidents defense team would do anything but condemn the violence of the repugnant attack, and in the strongest possible way denounce the rioters.

Yet Trumps attorney appealed to the senators as patriots first, and encouraged them to be cool headed as they assess the arguments.

At one pivotal point, Raskin told the personal story of bringing his family to the Capitol the day of the riot, to witness the certification of the Electoral College vote, only to have his daughter and son-in-law hiding in an office, fearing for their lives.

Senators, this cannot be our future, Raskin said through tears. This cannot be the future of America.

Trump attorney David Schoen turned the trial toward starkly partisan tones, the defense showing its own video of Democrats calling for the former presidents impeachment.

Schoen said Democrats are fueled by a base hatred of the former president and seeking to eliminate Donald Trump from the American political scene.

It appears unlikely that the House prosecutors will call witnesses, in part because the senators were witnesses themselves. At his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump has declined a request to testify.

Presidential impeachment trials have been conducted only three times before, leading to acquittals for Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and then Trump last year.

Timothy Naftali, a clinical associate professor at New York University and an expert on impeachment, said in an interview, This trial is one way of having that difficult national conversation about the difference between dissent and insurrection.

The first test Tuesday was on the constitutionality of the trial, signaling attitudes in the Senate. Six Republicans joined with Democrats pursue the trial, just one more than on a similar vote last week. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana added to the ranks of Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

The House prosecutors argued there is no January exception for a president on his way out the door. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., referred to the corruption case of William Belknap, a war secretary in the Grant administration, who was impeached, tried and ultimately acquitted by the Senate after leaving office.

Trumps case is hardly a run of the mill corruption charge, he said, but incitement of insurrection. If Congress stands by, it would invite future presidents to use their power without any fear of accountability.

In filings, lawyers for the former president lobbed a wide-ranging attack against the House case, suggesting Trump was simply exercising his First Amendment rights and dismissing the trial as political theater on the same Senate floor invaded by the mob.

Because of the COVID-19 crisis, senators were allowed to spread out, including in the marble room just off the Senate floor, where proceedings are shown on TV, or even in the public galleries above the chamber. Most were at their desks on the opening day, however.

Presiding was not the chief justice of the United States, as in previous presidential impeachment trials, but the chambers senior-most member of the majority party, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

Under an agreement between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the substantive opening arguments will begin at noon Wednesday, with up to 16 hours per side for presentations. The trial is expected to continue into the weekend.

Trumps second impeachment trial is expected to diverge from the lengthy, complicated affair of a year ago. In that case, Trump was charged with having privately pressured Ukraine to dig up dirt on Biden, then a Democratic rival for the presidency.

This time, Trumps stop the steal rally rhetoric and the storming of the Capitol played out for the world to see.

The Democratic-led House impeached the president swiftly, one week after the attack. Five people died, including a woman shot by police inside the building and a police officer who died the next day of his injuries.
Cops are asking a mother, who may be involved, to contact them after three men exploring rock pools reported seeing a baby wrapped in plastic in shallow water.

The three men were at Yarra Bay, La Perouse, in Sydney's south with their families on Sunday when they discovered what they believed was a submerged baby - sparking a police search which was called off on Monday.

Police said the men had left the item, immediately called police and had a 'consistent version of events' and said the smallest amount of information from the public could be helpful.

Police rescue (pictured above) were spotted at the scene on Sunday following reports a baby in a plastic bag at Yarra Bay in Sydney's south-east

Divers (pictured above) were quickly on the scene, but as of Monday, the search has been scaled back

'Our priority is to make sure the safety of anyone who may have been involved in this and if indeed there is a mother out there who may know something about this, we want to make sure she is okay,' Eastern Beaches Detective Superintendent Rohan Cramsie said.

'There is nothing shameful about this, we want to make sure she's safe and we can assist her in anything we can possibly do to make sure her health is our absolute priority,' he said.

Police were called to the scene just after 5pm on Sunday.

Divers, police boats with the Marine Area Command, ambulance crews, a Polair helicopter, and rescue helicopters quickly followed and scoured the area.

Police were called to Yarra Bay in La Perouse about 5pm on Sunday after several witnesses noticed the object

The search was suspended about 7.15pm on Sunday as visibility faded but was resumed at 7am on Monday until being called off that afternoon.

Det Sup Cramsie said despite the significant search effort the teams had been unable to locate any items to further the investigation.

'These gentlemen last night have acted in good faith, and we certainly compliment them for doing that.'

'The information they have provided seems very credible and that is why we are taking this so seriously.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or via the website.
Nanded : , Feb 9 (IANS) An alleged Khalistani sympathiser who was nabbed from the prominent Gurudwara town of Nanded has been sent to Punjab where he is wanted by the state police in certain cases, police said here on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Sarabjit Singh Keerat, was arrested in a joint operation by Nanded Police's Local Crime Branch and the Punjab Crime Investigation Department late on February 7.

Thereafter, Keerat - who hails from Ludhiana - was produced before a local court for a transit remand and on Monday he was whisked off to Punjab, an official from the Nanded Police Crime Branch, requesting anonymity, told IANS.

Among other things, Keerat was wanted by the Punjab Police for allegedly making inflammatory speeches, creating social discord and disrupting harmony.

This Maharashtra town, with a large population of Sikhs, is the seat of one of the five 'Takhts' of Sikhism with the famous 189-year-old Gurudwara Hazur Sahib that was built at the cremation site of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
Forever in her corner. Lori Loughlin has had a challenging journey following her involvement in the nationwide college admission scandal and her subsequent time spent in prison. And yet, she can still count on pal and former Fuller House costar Bob Saget to have her back.

Read article

I love her, the comedian, 64, said in a sneak peek of his Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum podcast interview posted via E! News on Monday, February 8. Ive been asked [about her legal issues] a lot. Ive gotten whittled down. I just love her. I dont know, Id like to see a lot of other people doing time. Were in such a place where no matter what I say Im screwed, and I just love her. Thats where I am on that.

Matt Baron/BEImages

In addition to discussing his appreciation for Loughlin, Saget opened up about how he has remained close to former Full House costars Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen after the sitcom ended in 1995. (The fashion moguls were the only original cast members who did not join Netflixs Fuller House revival series.)

Ashley and Mary-Kate, I love [them] so much. When Im in New York or when theyre here, when we can, we see each other, he shared, noting that theres no favorite among his TV children, who also include Jodie Sweetin, who was his own daughters playmate, and Candace Cameron Bure. Theyre all friends [of mine], its not like theyre kids. But Jodie was probably more like a kid to me. Ashley and Mary-Kate are more like friends because I kind of got the whole thing of everything theyre about. Candace is a friend. Theyve all been there for me in a big way when Ive gone through hard stuff.

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Loughlin, 56, has continued to make headlines following her March 2019 arrest in the college admissions scandal. The 90210 alum and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, were accused of paying $500,000 in bribes to help their daughters, Bella Giannulli, 22, and Olivia Jade Giannulli, 21, get accepted into the University of Southern California.

The couple pleaded guilty in May 2020 after initially denying their participation. Loughlin completed her two-month stint in December 2020 at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, while the 57-year-old fashion designer is currently serving his five-month sentence at a federal prison in Lompoc, California.

Saget has frequently voiced his support for Loughlin throughout her and her husbands legal woes. Back in December 2019, the former Americas Funniest Home Videos host told Us Weekly exclusively why he was choosing to stand by the Summerland alum during her rough patch.

Read article

I dont cut people that I love from my life unless they shot me in the eye, he revealed at the time. No matter what, everyone does something in their life that comes out in the press  no matter what we do. I just love her and Ill always love her.

The Pennsylvania native later shared in October 2020 that he sent Loughlin a heartfelt text message before she reported to prison. He told The New York Posts Page Six that his note read, I love you and thinking of you  thats all.

Saget then explained the importance of standing by loved ones during their toughest moments. And you know when it gets down to it, theres so much going on and so many people have gone through so much and you know, he continued. If you love somebody then you have to make that decision and [ask yourself], Is this something that causes me not to love a person? And I love her. Shes a sweetheart.

Sagets full Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum podcast interview is set to debut on Tuesday, February 9.
An online regular meeting of the National Council on Television and Radio of Azerbaijan has been held yesterday.

During the meeting, the organization of radio broadcasting in the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from the Armenian occupation was discussed.

Thus, following the discussions, it was decided to organize radio broadcasting in Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent territories of republican radio channels (radio Xzr, Azad Azrbaycan, 100.5 FM, Auto FM, Araz, Space, Radio Antenn, Media FM) through radio and television broadcasting stations (RTVS) located in Shusha city.

During the meeting, a competition was also announced, which will be held from February 10 to March 12, 2021, on the topic of opening a new regional radio channel in Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent districts at a working frequency of 102.7 MHz.
PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading financial education nonprofit, Next Gen Personal Finance , announced today the scope of their Partnership for PD program: NGPF will be partnering with state organizations in 21 states to provide teacher professional development opportunities and $100,000 in grant funding. Together with NGPF, these organizations support over 85,000 financial educators and volunteers.

These partnerships expand access to high quality, targeted professional development for personal finance in these states, at a time when the need to teach financial skills in school is more urgent than ever.

"These partners have built vibrant statewide professional networks of passionate personal finance teachers," said Tim Ranzetta, NGPF co-founder. "Our goal is to fuel that passion locally with a suite of excellent professional development opportunities. Educators will experiment with innovative teaching approaches, explore free resources they can use immediately, and collaborate freely with their peers."

Joe Difiglia, Executive Director of New Jersey's Council on Economic Education at New Jersey City University, said, "NJCEE at NJCU is excited to partner once again with Next Gen Personal Finance to deliver the highest quality professional development to our New Jersey teachers. Our organizations share a common mission which relies on professional excellence in the classroom."

Betty Montgomery, a National Board Certified Teacher who serves as Career and Technical Education Director for the Kentucky Department of Education, said, "we are excited in Kentucky for our partnership with NGPF. The professional development opportunities for teachers are outstanding as well as the curriculum resources and activities which can easily be implemented for in-person and online learning. Championing financial literacy will help young adults make better decisions for financially secure futures."

These virtual events begin this month, and will run through the spring semester. Teachers in partner organization states can register for these exclusive virtual events by visiting https://www.ngpf.org/blog/professional-development/partnership-for-professional-development/ or reaching out to their states' partner organizations to receive information on local opportunities.

Thank you to these organizations for joining the Partnership for PD:

Arizona Council on Economic Education

Connecticut Jump$tart Coalition

Economic Literacy Colorado

Florida - The School District of Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Iowa Jump$tart Coalition

TeachIdaho

Center for Economic Education, University of Illinois at Chicago

Kentucky Jump$tart

Maine Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy

Maryland Council on Economic Education

Massachusetts Jump$tart Coalition

Michigan Council on Economic Education

Minnesota Council on Economic Education

Mississippi Council on Economic Education

New Jersey Council on Economic Education at NJCU

Ohio - The University of Cincinnati Alpaugh Family Economics Center

Rhode Island Jump$tart Coalition

The South Carolina Council on Economic Education

Virginia Council on Economic Education (VCEE)

WVU Center for Financial Literacy and Education and West Virginia Jump$tart

Wisconsin Jump$tart Coalition and FLIFEL

About Next Gen Personal Finance

Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF), has become the "one-stop shop" for more than 42,000 educators looking for high-quality, engaging personal finance curriculum to equip students with the skills they need to thrive in the future. NGPF curriculum has a broad reach, with more than 7 out of 10 U.S. high school students attending schools where a teacher utilizes NGPF resources. NGPF supports educators with 15 live PD sessions weekly, 9 certification courses and asynchronous On-Demand modules. More than 7,000 teachers participated in more than 120,000 hours of NGPF professional development in 2020. The non-profit has been recognized by Common Sense Education as a "Top Website for Teachers to Find Lesson Plans" and "Best Business and Finance Games"

Media Contact

Christine Yoo

[email protected]

SOURCE Next Gen Personal Finance

Related Links

http://www.ngpf.org/


A group of young Chinese technicians have made it their mission to protect the world's largest radio telescope in southwest China's Guizhou Province.

The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope, also known as FAST, has showcased its remarkable performance since being put into service one year ago. It has continued to observe the skies above, and has served more than 5,200 hours, discovering over 240 pulsars. More than 40 high-level papers have been published based on the telescope's data. Moreover, the discovery of fast radio bursts by FAST was hailed as one of the 10 remarkable discoveries of 2020 in science journal Nature.

Such impressive achievements could not have been realized without the efforts of a group of young people standing outside of the spotlight. This team contributed to the project while dealing with very harsh conditions, including in a remote location with poor road access, as the FAST facility is situated in the Dawodang depression, a natural karst basin in Pingtang County within the mountainous recesses of Guizhou.

The average age of the team, which consisted of more than 100 members, was 34 years old, while those below 35 years of age accounted for 77 percent of the total.

"The scientific data may help provide answers to the unknown and it's also fantastic to explore mysteries of the universe in the mountains," said Huang Menglin, an engineer who is responsible for the operation and maintenance of FAST's data center.

(1) File photo shows Lei Zheng (L) checking an actuator.

(2) File photo shows Sun Chun processing data in the central control room of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST).

(3) File photo shows Huang Menglin checking equipment at the data center of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST).

(4) Tang Jiajia checks electrical equipment. (People's Daily/Sun Bin)

(5) Photo shows a panoramic view of Chinas Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST). (Photo/People's Daily)

Huang started working in the center after getting her Master's degree in computer science in July 2014. Since then, she has devoted herself to guaranteeing the normal operations of the center and its data security.

"My job is to make sure no power outages occur, ensure smooth internet connectivity, and request expanded memory space in advance to ensure uninterrupted and normal observations for FAST," Huang said, explaining that she never once slackened in her efforts since the observation data is of significant importance for follow-up research.

She would only feel a sense of relief when the project leader was able to finally affirm that all the observation data was accurate. "We contribute to FAST's results and have to try our best to ensure the sound operation of the telescope," Huang noted.

Lei Zheng is an engineer responsible for the operation and maintenance of FAST's 2,225 actuators. The actuators pull on 6,670 tie-down steel cables at the surface that make up 4,450 reflector panels forming the parabola, which provides FAST with the ability to accurately receive electromagnetic waves, said Lei, who is familiar with the technical indicators and functions of all the actuators.

Having completed his undergraduate degree in mechatronic engineering in 2010, Lei landed a job at a foreign company. However, he made a decision that surprised his family: quitting his job and taking part in the construction of the FAST's active surface, including steel cables and reflector panels.

"I wanted to follow in the steps of my predecessors and make a greater contribution to FAST," the man explained why he pursued further studies while participating in the telescope's construction.

In September 2016, Lei became a graduate student of the Chinese Academy of Sciences when the main structure of the FAST facility was completed. He later returned to the site of FAST to take part in the commissioning of the telescope, being mainly responsible for the operation and maintenance of the actuators, starting in July 2017.

"I had to lie down on my belly to repair an actuator, as some actuators were anchored into the rock near a cliff," Lei said, adding that it took at least two hours to fix an actuator.

The FAST team has also developed new actuators. "The second generation of prototypes has operated for over 500 days without a single malfunction and 670 units have been put into operation. We are testing the third generation of the equipment now," Lei explained, noting that his current work has continued to enrich his life.

Sun Chun is an engineer in charge of FAST's measurement and control systems. After graduating in 2012, Sun was responsible for developing the comprehensive wiring design of the telescope's reflective surface area and the laying of power cables and optical cables. "They serve as a vascular system', providing electricity and transmitting control signals to FAST," according to Sun.

She began to work at the FAST site in March 2014 and lived in a prefabricated house for two and a half years there until the project was completed.

During that time, Sun would run back and forth to construction sites every day to supervise the progress of construction, and she often got soaked to the bone due to the nature of her painstaking work.

After the completion of the FAST project, her duties changed several times, varying from maintenance of central control hardware and the commissioning of central control software to astro-observation and arrangements of observation plans, having always worked hard without any complaints.

"As a native resident of Guizhou, I hope that I can play my part in contributing to the scientific and technological development of my hometown and motherland," Sun said.

Tang Jiajia, a man born after 1990, had once worked in a foreign company and then went on to start his own husbandry business. Now the young man serves as an electrical engineer for the FAST project, having been inspired to walk in the footsteps of Nan Rendong, who had worked as the chief scientist on the team, having been responsible for selecting the site for FAST and overseeing its construction.

Tang began to work at the site in February 2019 and was responsible for guaranteeing the power supply for the telescope. Before September 2019, only a 35 kV power transmission line was available for the telescope's operation. To ensure the equipment's normal functioning, the local government decided to add an extra 10 kV line to provide backup power in case of an emergency power outage.

Tang and his colleagues, along with staff members of the local power supply bureau, worked overtime to speed up the construction progress as much as possible. "We started to work from 6 a.m. to 2 or 3 a.m. the next day," Tang said, noting that it took only five days for them to complete the construction of the power transmission line.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will quarantine for 14 days after a member of his security detail tested positive for Covid-19, department chief of staff Laura Schiller said in a statement.

Schiller's statement says the agent has been in 'close contact' with Buttigieg as recently as Monday morning. Buttigieg tested negative Monday and has not shown any symptoms, the statement said.

Buttigieg has received his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, and Schiller said he will receive the second dose when he completes the quarantine period.

An additional member of the security team will also quarantine due to close contact with the agent.

Buttigieg told CNN's Erin Burnett on Monday that both he and the agent who had tested positive felt fine.

'I did have a negative test today and I feel fine,' Buttigieg said on 'Erin Burnett OutFront.' 'I spoke to the agent and he feels all right as well. He's not having any symptoms but he did test positive.'

'Of course, as it is for so many Americans that have been through this, frustrating to be confined to quarters, especially frustrating to be separated from my husband, who was not exposed when I was,' Buttigieg added. 'But making sure we do the right thing, and thankfully I'm among the Americans who is fortunate to be able do that job from home.'

Burnett also brought up Buttigieg's prior comments that the Biden administration is considering a rule that would require negative Covid-19 test results for domestic air travel, with the transportation secretary telling Axios on Sunday that 'there's an active conversation with the CDC right now.'

When asked Monday how close such a rule was to being enacted, Buttigieg replied, 'I would say that the CDC is looking at all its options, but there has got to be common sense, medicine and science really driving this, and what we know is that it's the appropriate measure for international travel.'

He has previously expressed a commitment to combating the virus.

Buttigieg said last month during his confirmation hearing that the Biden administration will look at 'all relevant authorities' at its disposal for a federal mask mandate on all forms of transportation.

'We are prepared to make sure that we use all relevant authorities to enforce the President's executive order to ensure that across all modes of transportation, workers, passengers, commuters are protected,' Buttigieg told Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts during his hearing before the Senate's Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

Ten days later, the Department of Homeland Security said Transportation Security Administration workers had been given the authority to enforce President Joe Biden's transportation mask mandate 'at TSA screening checkpoints and throughout the commercial and public transportation system.'

Buttigieg also discussed the President's Covid-19 relief bill Sunday on ABC's 'This Week' and defended it against criticism that it's 'too big,' telling George Stephanopoulos that the greatest risk is 'doing too little.'

Buttigieg also was asked Sunday whether it was a mistake not to include the airline payroll protection extension next month as airlines warn of massive furloughs. He said he's been speaking with airlines and if that relief is not in the final stimulus bill, it will be looked at outside of the bill.

This story has been updated with Buttigieg's comments in a CNN interview.
Forming Strategic Partnerships Within the Nation's Largest School Districts, NASA's Robotics Alliance Project, First Robotics, and TRYEngineering

In September 2020, Altium LLC, the leading printed circuit board (PCB) software company, launched Upverter Education, a free distance learning initiative to support STEM educators.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005934/en/

"Upverter Education has the opportunity to help high school STEM teachers transition into the virtual classroom. Our goal is to support the next generation of electronics designers of all economic levels by giving them access to free curriculum and professional tools today to prepare them for their innovative careers in the future," explains Rea Callender, Executive Director of Upverter Education.

The Upverter Education initiative provides the curriculum and resources to guide users through the design, prototyping and manufacturing of electronics engineering concluding with the delivery of students hardware designs. Teachers can utilize the materials to supplement their existing lesson plans, either as standalone units or as a full, 4-6 week educational program.

The program centers around Altium's Upverter, a free, web-based PCB design tool that's easy to use in the distance-learning classroom. Upverter's collaborative and remote capabilities align perfectly with the needs of STEM educators for guiding students through the electronics design process and their exploration of technology and engineering.

Since the launch, the Upverter Education team has formed strategic partnerships with schools around the country and collaborations with leaders in engineering education, including the American Society for Engineering Education, TRYEngineering, First Robotics, and NASA's Robotics Alliance Project.

Schools within Elk Grove Unified, one of California's largest school districts, have adopted the Upverter Education program, as well as the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM), a two-year public residential high school in Durham, NC.

Marshall Massengill, robotics mentor and alumnus of NCSSM, explains how Upverter has been helping him promote remote learning statewide. "Currently with Covid-19, most of our students are spread throughout the state rather than living on campus. Upverter's collaborative nature is helping transform the team and keep on working, just as we would normally in the lab." The Upverter Teachers Guide provides step by step instructions for teachers to launch the program.

For Michael Rosales, Engineering and Science teacher at Elk Grove Unified Florin High School, Altium's education program is already changing the way he teaches Principles of Engineering. "This is perfect for my class already--it allows the kids to look at virtual circuits before they create physical ones, and you can have multiple people working on one circuit together," Rosales reports.

Educators are currently using the program to teach robotics, engineering, digital electronics design, principles of engineering and STEM intro classes. The Upverter Education team is also supporting high school students working on proposals for NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative program, extending the use of Upverter for small satellite payloads.

To see how teachers are using Upverter Education in the classroom, please visit: https://youtu.be/cJu0Qopwk2M

For a comprehensive overview of the Upverter Education distance learning program, please register for this informational webinar, scheduled for February 27, 2021.

About Upverter

Upverter is a free EDA system delivered in a web-browser, which enables students and educators to design, share, and review schematics and printed circuit boards. It provides the ability to generate a bill of materials, Gerber files, and 3D rendering. Upverter is an Altium brand. To learn more about Upverter and Upverter Education, visit https://education.upverter.com/.

ABOUT ALTIUM

Altium LLC, a global software company headquartered in San Diego, CA is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. For over 30 years, Altium has been delivering software that maximizes the productivity of PCB designers and electrical engineers. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005934/en/

Contacts:

Contact:

Masha V. Petrova

Vice President, Brand and Communications

pr@altium.com
The TRS chief remained silent even after Sanjay ridiculed his last trip to New Delhi, which he said was a desperate attempt to please the national leadership. (Photo: twitter @TelanganaCMO)

Hyderabad: Telangana Rashtra Samithi supremo and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao continues to be on the backfoot while negotiating the strident and aggressive attacks of the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

He chose to not retaliate against the BJPs increased criticism of his governance as well as an unprecedented attack at a personal level by the state BJP chief Bandi Sanjay at the TRS partys state executive meet on Sunday.

Chandrashekar Rao, indeed, tried to repeat the strategy he successfully implemented with another national party, the Congress, during the agitation for a separate Telangana  differentiating between the Central and state leaderships; show respect to the central high command and ignore the state unit.

Speaking at the party meet, the TRS supremo sought to project, though not explicitly, that he had struck a chord with the BJP national leadership. He is said to have commented that he could not reveal everything that transpires between him and the Centre, read the Modi-Shah duo, in the larger interest of the state.

A master strategist, KCR knows when to strike as we all saw during the statehood struggle, a senior party leader said. Till then, he doesnt mind being on the backfoot and can ignore criticism of surrendering to a rival, he added.

The TRS chief remained silent even after Sanjay ridiculed his last trip to New Delhi, which he said was a desperate attempt to please the national leadership.

He (CM KCR) cant escape punishment in graft cases just by prostrating before PM Modi and home minister Amit Shah, Sanjay said at a presser a day after CM Rao came back after meeting the Prime Minister.

Be it launch of an indefinite fast, the defining moment in the statehood agitation, bringing in all political parties into the agitation through the formation of a political JAC or assuring Congress chief Sonia Gandhi of merging TRS, a promise that proved later to be a lie, that Rao had his way and the final laugh, all ridicules along the way notwithstanding.

Blow-hot-blow-cold approach is imbibed into his political philosophy, a minister pointed out.

The state BJP however continues to ridicule the Chief Minister for what they describe as his futile attempts to keep his partymen under a false belief that the Modi-Shah duo were won over by him.

Maintaining that the BJP was not Congress to have a deep divide between the Central and state leaderships, they say that KCRs rhetoric was a ploy to keep flock together and prevent exodus. He lies to people. Now it is proved, he is lying and misleading even his party men, said a BJP leader.
DUBLIN, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Electronic Warfare Market - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Electronic Warfare market size is projected to grow from USD 17.0 billion in 2020 to USD 20.9 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2020 to 2025.



Factors such as Significant technological advancements and integration of electronics in military equipment are resulting in a shift towards multilayered defense systems, which is expected to drive the electronic warfare market during the forecast period. Adding to these factors, the increase in the use of UAV systems and the need for ground surveillance and communication jamming serve as opportunities for the electronic warfare market.

The Electronic Warfare market includes major players such as BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies , Lockheed Martin, Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies, Israel Aerospace Industries, and SAAB.



These players have spread their business across various countries includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. COVID-19 has affected the Electronic Warfare market growth to some extent, and this varies from country to country. Industry experts believe that the pandemic has not affected the demand for Electronic Warfare in defense applications.

Based on capability, the support segment of the electronic warfare market is projected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

In terms of capability, the market is segregated into electronic warfare support, protection, and attack. The electronic support segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Intelligence, surveillance & reconnaissance (ISR) has improved the situational awareness capabilities of militaries and subsequently enhanced their decision-making process. The increased focus on situational awareness capabilities from defence sector is expected to support the growth of electronic warfare support segment in the upcoming years.

Electronic warfare equipment sub segment of the electronic warfare market by product is projected to witness the highest CAGR owing to increasing focus on defence equipment upgradation across the globe.

Based on product, the electronic warfare market has been segmented into electronic warfare equipment and electronic warfare operational support. The electronic warfare equipment segment is expected to grow at a higher CAGR owing to the increasing procurement of electronic warfare equipment for the upgradation of various platforms such as naval vessel, land vehicle and aircraft due to benefits such as advance electronic protection, electronic attack and electronic support applications..

North America: The largest contributing region in the Electronic Warfare market.

The North America market is projected to contribute the largest share from 2020 to 2025 in the electronic warfare market. The US and Canada are key countries considered for market analysis in the North American region. This region is expected to lead the market from 2020 to 2025, owing to increased investments in electronic warfare technologies by countries in this region.



Defense forces of countries in the North American region are involved in the development of technologically advanced EW systems. Well-established and prominent manufacturers of electronic warfare systems in this region include Lockheed Martin (US), Northrop Grumman (US), L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (US), and Raytheon (US).

The North America US is recognized as one of the key manufacturers, exporters, and users of EW systems worldwide and is known to have the strongest EW capabilities. Key manufacturers of EW systems in the US include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., and Raytheon. The new defense strategy of the US indicates an increase in EW spending to include advanced capabilities in existing defense systems of the US Army to counter incoming threats.

In November 2015, Lockheed Martin Corporation was awarded a USD 51 million contract for AN/ALQ-217 Electronic Support Measure (ESM) systems from Northrop Grumman for the US Navy's E-2D aircraft program. In September 2019, Lockheed Martin Corporation received a contract worth USD 281 million from the US Army to develop the Sentinel A4 system. This is a high-performance air and missile defense radar that provides additional capability against aerial threats.



Market Dynamics



Drivers

Increasing Procurement of Electronic Warfare Systems due to Growing Transnational and Regional Instability

Rising Deployment of Electronic Warfare Capabilities on Unmanned Platforms

Increasing Need for Missile Detection Systems

Increasing Adoption of Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems

Increasing Preference for Modern Warfare Techniques

Technological Advancements in Warfare Techniques

Growing Focus on Cognitive Electronic Warfare Technologies

Increasing Use of Electronic Warfare Systems for Geospatial Intelligence Gathering

Opportunities

Development of New-Generation Air and Missile Defense Systems

Increased System Reliability and Efficiency due to Traveling-Wave Tube-Based Solutions

Use of Electronic Warfare Capabilities for Civil Aviation

Deployment of Electronic Warfare Capabilities on Space Platform

Demand for Electronic Warfare Systems with Enhanced Capabilities

Challenges

High Cost of Deployment

Inability to Address Multiple/Diverse Threats

Industry Trends

Key Technological Trends in Electronic Warfare Market

Next-Generation Jammers (Ngj)

Advanced Materials in Applications

Adaptive Radar Countermeasures (Arc) Technology

Convergence of Cyber Operations and Electronic Warfare on the Battlefield

Hardware Material Technologies

Silicon (Si)

Gallium Nitride (Gan)

Gallium Arsenide (Gaas)

Company Profiles



Key Players

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

Raytheon Technology Corporation

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Saab Ab

Bae Systems plc.

The Boeing Company

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Cobham plc

Leonardo Spa

Textron

Elbit Systems Ltd

General Dynamics

Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (Iai)

Thales Group

Aselsan A.S.

Teledyne Technologies International Corp

Hr Smith Group of Companies

Radioelectronic Technologies Jsc (Kret)

Other Major Players

L&T Defence

Bharat Electronics Ltd (Bel)

Tata Advanced Systems Limited

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

Shoghi Communications Ltd

Data Patterns ( India ) Pvt. Ltd

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/stivul



Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

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Day 1 Impeachment Trial Highlights: Senate Votes to Proceed With Trumps Case After Constitutionality Debate The 56-to-44 vote paved the way for the House Democrats trying the case to formally open their arguments at noon on Wednesday. Video Donald J. Trump is the first person to be impeached twice in one presidency, and he faces a Senate trial that could disqualify him from future office. Credit Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times

Senate decides to proceed with trial, but Trump appears to have votes for acquittal. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 2:54 - 0:00 transcript Highlights From Day 1 of Trump Impeachment Trial House impeachment managers and former President Trumps defense team made their arguments in his second impeachment trial. The transition of power is always the most dangerous moment for democracies. Every historian will tell you that. We just saw it in the most astonishing way. We lived through it. And you know what? The framers of our Constitution knew it. Its all about the facts. President Trump has sent his lawyers here today to try to stop the Senate from hearing the facts. [commotion, yelling, rioting] I was in the Capitol on Jan. 6. I was on the floor with lead manager Raskin. Like every one of you, I was evacuated as this violent mob stormed the Capitols gates. What you experienced that day, what we experienced that day, what our country experienced that day, is the framers worst nightmare come to life. This trial is about, is about trading liberty for the security from the mob? Honestly, no. It cant be. We cant be thinking about that. We cant possibly be suggesting that we punish people for political speech in this country. It is an honor to appear in this historic hall of democracy. Yet today that honor is tempered by an overriding feeling of grave concern. Grave concern for the danger to the institution of the presidency that I believe even convening these proceedings indicates. They dont need to show you movies to show you that the riot happened here. We will stipulate that it happened and you know all about it. This is a process fueled irresponsibly by base hatred by these House managers and those who gave them their charge, and they are willing to sacrifice our national character to advance their hatred and their fear that one day they might not be the party in power. On this vote, the yeas are 56, the nays are 44 and pursuant to S.R.S. 47, the Senate having voted in the affirmative on the foregoing question, the Senate shall proceed with the trial as provided under the provisions of that resolution. House impeachment managers and former President Trumps defense team made their arguments in his second impeachment trial. Credit Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times The Senate voted on Tuesday to proceed with the impeachment trial of former President Donald J. Trump, rejecting his defense teams claim that it would be unconstitutional to prosecute a president after leaving office. But the final tally signaled that his Republican allies could muster enough support to potentially block the two-thirds necessary for conviction. The 56-to-44 vote, with six Republicans joining all 50 Democrats, paved the way for the House Democrats trying the case to formally open their arguments on Wednesday afternoon as they seek to prove that Mr. Trump incited an insurrection by encouraging supporters who stormed the Capitol last month and disrupted the counting of Electoral College votes. But the 44 Republicans who agreed with Mr. Trumps claim that a former president cannot be subject to an impeachment trial seemed to all but guarantee that he would have the 34 votes he needs on the final verdict to avoid conviction. To succeed, the House managers would need to persuade at least 11 Republican senators to find Mr. Trump guilty in a trial that they have deemed unconstitutional. Live Impeachment Stream: Senate Trial Analysis New York Times reporters covered the first day of former President Donald J. Trumps second Senate impeachment trial. The trial began Tuesday with a debate about the constitutionality of putting a former president on trial. The vote came after House managers, arguing to proceed with the trial, moved immediately to their most powerful evidence: the explicit visual record of the deadly Capitol siege that threatened the lives of former Vice President Mike Pence and members of both houses of Congress juxtaposed against Mr. Trumps own words encouraging members of the mob at a rally beforehand. In presenting video footage of mayhem and violence  punctuated by expletives rarely heard on the floor of the Senate  the managers highlighted the drama of the trial in gut-punching fashion for senators who lived through the events barely a month ago and now sit as quasi-jurors. On the screens, they saw extremists storming barricades, beating police officers, setting up a gallows and yelling, Take the building, Fight for Trump and Pence is a traitor! Traitor Pence! You ask what a high crime and misdemeanor is under our Constitution, Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the lead manager, told senators after playing the video. Thats a high crime and misdemeanor. If thats not an impeachable offense, then theres no such thing. Mr. Trumps lawyers argued that his words at the rally on Jan. 6 constituted free speech akin to typical political language and hardly incited the violence. They characterized the impeachment as yet another partisan attack driven by base hatred that will set a precedent for political retribution as power changes with each election. David I. Schoen, one of the former presidents lawyers, derided the House managers for showing the video, saying it was designed by experts to chill and horrify you and our fellow Americans as if an impeachment trial were some sort of blood sport. The second trial of Mr. Trump opened in the crime scene itself, the same chamber occupied by the mob that forced senators to evacuate in the middle of counting the Electoral College votes ratifying President Bidens victory. Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont and the Senate president pro tempore, presided after Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Vice President Kamala Harris declined to do so. Never before has a president been tried by the Senate twice, much less after his term has expired, but Mr. Trumps accusers argue that there must be no January exception for presidents to escape accountability for actions in the final days of his tenure. What you experienced that day, what we experienced that day, what our country experienced that day, is the framers worst nightmare come to life, Representative Joe Neguse of Colorado, another House manager, told senators. Presidents cant inflame insurrection in their final weeks and then walk away like nothing happened. Even though Mr. Trump can no longer be removed from office, conviction would permit the senators to bar him from running for federal office again and the managers cited conservative scholars vouching for the constitutionality of a post-presidency trial. Mr. Trumps lawyers condemned the violence but rejected the suggestion that the former president was responsible for it. They maintained that the Constitution did not permit an impeachment trial of a former president because it was meant to lead to removal, which is now moot. If he committed a crime, they said, he could be prosecuted criminally. This trial will tear this country apart, perhaps like weve only seen once before in our history, Mr. Schoen said, an apparent reference to the Civil War. As a matter of policy, he added, it is wrong, as wrong can be for all of us as a nation. The vote affirming the constitutionality of the trial mirrored one taken last month after the House first sent its article of impeachment, with only one senator, Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana, switching his vote from no to yes.

Six G.O.P. senators vote to proceed with the trial, one more than in a similar vote last month. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:13 - 0:00 transcript Trumps Lawyers Were Disorganized, Senator Cassidy Says Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana, said that the House managers made a compelling, cogent case and the presidents team did not on the issue of whether the impeachment trial was constitutional. I said Id be an impartial juror. Anyone listening to those arguments, the House managers were focused, they were organized, they relied upon both precedent, the Constitution and legal scholars. They made a compelling argument. President Trumps team were disorganized. They did everything they could but to talk about the question at hand. And when they talked about it, they kind of glided over it, almost as if they were embarrassed of their arguments. Now, Im an impartial juror, and one sides doing a great job and the other sides doing a terrible job on the issue at hand, as an impartial juror Im going to vote for the side that did the good job. They talked about many things, but they didnt talk about the issue at hand. And so if you, if Im an impartial juror and Im trying to make a decision based upon the facts as presented on this issue, then the House managers did a much better job. The issue at hand is, is it constitutional to impeach a president whos left office? And the House managers made a compelling, cogent case and the presidents team did not. Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana, said that the House managers made a compelling, cogent case and the presidents team did not on the issue of whether the impeachment trial was constitutional. Credit Credit... Susan Walsh/Associated Press Six Republican senators on Tuesday joined 50 Democrats in voting to proceed with the impeachment trial of former President Donald J. Trump, forming a contingent far smaller than what would be needed to convict Mr. Trump of incitement of insurrection related to the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6. The six Republicans were Senators Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania. The vote addressed the constitutional question of whether the Senate has the power to try Mr. Trump even though he has left office. The result largely mirrored the tally last month, when the Senate voted to kill an attempt to dismiss the trial as unconstitutional. Five Republicans had joined all 50 Democrats in support of going ahead with the trial, though others later said they were still open to hearing the case and described their votes as a call for more debate on the constitutionality of the trial. But in the end, the lone senator to switch sides was Mr. Cassidy. Speaking to reporters after the vote on Tuesday, he praised the House impeachment managers for their presentation and panned the performance of Mr. Trumps legal team. They did everything they could but to talk about the question at hand, he said. And when they talked about it, they kind of glided over it, almost as if they were embarrassed of their arguments. He continued, Now if Im an impartial juror, and one side is doing a great job and the other side is doing a terrible job on the issue at hand, as an impartial juror, Im going to vote for the side that did the good job. Like the vote in January, the one on Tuesday signaled that Mr. Trump was all but certain to be acquitted. Seventeen Republicans would need to join all 50 Democrats to reach the two-thirds threshold for convicting the former president.

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This cannot be our future. Raskin makes an emotional argument, describing his family being at the Capitol riot. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 0:50 - 0:00 transcript This Cannot Be the Future of America, Raskin Says Representative Jamie Raskin, the lead impeachment manager, called on senators to convict former President Donald J. Trump, and not allow a January exception where future presidents are not held accountable for their actions in their last days in office. Senators, this cannot be our future. This cannot be the future of America. We cannot have presidents inciting and mobilizing mob violence against our government and our institutions because they refuse to accept the will of the people under the Constitution of the United States. Much less can we create a new January exception in our precious, beloved Constitution that prior generations have died for and fought for   so the corrupt presidents have several weeks to get away with whatever it is they want to do. History does not support a January exception in any way. So why would we invent one for the future? Representative Jamie Raskin, the lead impeachment manager, called on senators to convict former President Donald J. Trump, and not allow a January exception where future presidents are not held accountable for their actions in their last days in office. Credit Credit... Senate Television, via Associated Press Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the lead impeachment manager, opened the trials formal arguments Tuesday afternoon with an explosive and deeply emotional appeal to senators as he made the case that they had every right to try a former president for official misconduct  and in fact were obliged to do so in the case of Donald J. Trump. Mr. Raskin, a former constitutional law professor, opened his presentation with a joke about professors putting their students to sleep. But he went on to offer an argument that had senators sitting rapt in the Senate chamber, reliving the assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6 as he played a grueling and graphic video of the day and then laid out the constitutional reasons he said Mr. Trump must be tried. Then Mr. Raskin, who lost his son, Tommy, to suicide the week before the rampage, brought the urgency of the matter home with chilling personal detail. Speaking through tears, Mr. Raskin narrated the events of Jan. 6 through his own eyes and those of his daughter and son-in-law, who had accompanied him to the Capitol that day for moral support as he helped manage Congresss counting of electoral votes, and became trapped in an office off the House floor as the rioters flooded the building. He recalled the most haunting sound I ever heard as members of the pro-Trump mob pounded like a battering ram on the doors to the House chamber. All around me, people were calling their wives and their husbands, their loved ones to say goodbye, Mr. Raskin recalled. Members of Congress, in the House anyway, were removing their congressional pins so they couldnt be identified by the mob as they tried to escape. He recounted having apologized to his daughter afterward, saying her next trip to the Capitol would be better, and her reply that she never wanted to return to the building. Of all the terrible, brutal things I saw and heard on the day and since then, that one hit me the hardest, he said. Senators, this cannot be our future. This cannot be the future of America. We cannot have presidents inciting and mobilizing mob violence against our government and our institutions because they refuse to accept the will of the people. Mr. Raskins emotional appeal came after a lengthy legal argument in which he said that Mr. Trump and his lawyers were asking senators to create an illogical January exception that flew in the face of the founders intent. Recreating debates from the 1787 Constitutional Convention and appealing directly to senators common sense, he argued the Senate must not allow a president to become immune from conduct committed in his last month in office. Everyone can see immediately why this is so dangerous, he said. It is an invitation to the president to take his best shot at anything he may want to do on his way out the door, including using violent means to lock that door, to hang on to the Oval Office at all costs and block the peaceful transfer of power. The words still hung in the Senate chamber as Mr. Raskin hit play on a video montage of the deadly Jan. 6 assault, interspersing the presidents own words with harrowing footage of the pro-Trump throng mobbing the Capitol and marauding through its corridors. He would have you believe there is absolutely nothing the Senate can do about it, Mr. Raskin said gesturing at the images. No trial. No facts. He wants you to decide that the Senate is powerless at that point. That cant be right. Mr. Raskin said the framers had intended just the opposite. They had been perfectly comfortable with impeaching former officials, he said. They chose to give the Senate sole power to try all impeachments, he said, citing the Constitution. All means all, Mr. Raskin said. There are no exceptions to the rule.

The presidents lawyer just rambled on and on. Trump defense lawyer leaves some senators scratching their heads. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:29 - 0:00 transcript Trump Lawyer Unsuccessfully Disputes Constitutionality of Impeachment Bruce L. Castor Jr., former President Donald J. Trumps defense lawyer, opened arguments against impeachment on Tuesday by condemning the violence that took place at the U.S. Capitol, and rejecting the suggestion that the former president was responsible for it. If we go down the road that my very worthy adversary here, Mr. Raskin, asks you to go down, the floodgates will open. But the political pendulum will shift one day. This chamber, and the chamber across the way, will change one day. And partisan impeachments will become commonplace. This trial is not about trading liberty for security, its about trading, its about suggesting that it is a good idea that we give up those liberties that we have so long fought for. This trial is about is about trading liberty for the security from the mob? Honestly, no, it cant be. We cant be thinking about that. We cant possibly be suggesting that we punish people for political speech in this country. And if people go and commit lawless acts as a result of their beliefs and they cross the line, they should be locked up. Bruce L. Castor Jr., former President Donald J. Trumps defense lawyer, opened arguments against impeachment on Tuesday by condemning the violence that took place at the U.S. Capitol, and rejecting the suggestion that the former president was responsible for it. Credit Credit... Senate Television, via Associated Press After two hours of blistering opening statements from House Democrats prosecuting the impeachment case against former President Donald J. Trump, Mr. Trumps defense lawyer, Bruce L. Castor Jr., opened with a slip, calling himself the lead prosecutor. It didnt get much smoother from there. Mr. Castor  who is most famous for refusing to prosecute Bill Cosby on charges of sexual assault when Mr. Castor was the district attorney in Montgomery County, Pa.  started a meandering defense of Mr. Trump in which he rarely referred to the former president or his behavior on Jan. 6, when his supporters stormed the Capitol. At times, Mr. Castor appeared to be arguing for Mr. Trumps free speech rights and against a partisan cycle of impeachments. As the lawyer spoke, senators in the chamber sometimes appeared confused or uninterested. At one point, Mr. Castor seemed to refer to Senator Ben Sasse, Republican of Nebraska, who has harshly criticized Mr. Trump for his actions on Jan. 6 and was one of only five members of his party to oppose an effort last month to dismiss the trial as unconstitutional. Mr. Castor called Nebraska a judicial-thinking place and suggested that Mr. Sasse faces the whirlwind, drawing a befuddled look from the senator. As Mr. Castor spoke, other senators appeared restless and started talking among themselves. The presidents lawyer just rambled on and on, said Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas. Ive seen a lot of lawyers and a lot of arguments, and that was not one of the finest Ive seen. At one point, Senator Cory Booker, Democrat of New Jersey, stood up and leaned against the back wall of the chamber. It was a stark difference from moments before, when the lawmakers had sat in silence at their desks as Representative Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland and the lead House impeachment manager, showed a harrowing video of the Capitol assault and closed with a tearful and deeply personal plea for justice. Toward the end of his remarks, Mr. Castor suggested that the Senate should not go forward with the impeachment case, arguing that if Mr. Trump committed a crime, the Justice Department should simply arrest him. The American people just spoke  they just changed administrations, said Mr. Castor. On the conservative TV station Newsmax, Alan M. Dershowitz, who served on Mr. Trumps defense team during his first impeachment trial last year, panned Mr. Castors performance. I have no idea what hes doing, Mr. Dershowitz said. Maybe hell bring it home, but right now, it does not appear to me to be effective advocacy. Mr. Castor is part of a hastily assembled legal team that stepped in when Mr. Trump parted ways with his original lawyers for this impeachment trial. The former president has a long history of refusing to pay his lawyers  or using someone elses money to do so. Most of his initial lawyers quit in part because Mr. Trump refused to sign a letter of intent guaranteeing they would be paid, according to two people familiar with the events, even through he had raised millions for a legal defense fund through his false claims of a stolen election. David I. Schoen, another of Mr. Trumps impeachment lawyers who followed Mr. Castor, had an easier time keeping senators attention. He derided the House managers for hiring what he called a movie company to stitch together the most disturbing scenes of the Capitol attack as if it were a blood sport. But Mr. Schoen played his own video presentation  with sinister music  showing clips of Democratic lawmakers through the years calling for Mr. Trump to be impeached. And Mr. Schoen offered a clear rationale for why a former president should not stand trial, arguing that it would set a dangerous precedent where any former official could be punished after leaving office for having carried out his or her duties. Under their unsupportable constitutional theory and tortured reading of the text, Mr. Schoen said, every civil officer who has served is at risk of impeachment if any given group elected to the House decides that what was thought to be important service to the country when they served now deserves to be canceled.

Trump is said to be angry at one of his lawyers for his performance at the trial. Former President Donald Trumps trial lawyer Bruce Castor Jr., left, departs from the U.S. Capitol after the first day of Trumps second Senate impeachment trial. Credit... Alyssa Schukar for The New York Times On the first day of his second impeachment trial, former President Donald J. Trump was mostly hidden from view on Tuesday at Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Palm Beach, Fla., moving from the new office that aides set up to his private quarters outside the main building. Mr. Trump was said to have meetings that were put on his calendar to coincide with his defense teams presentation and keep him occupied. But he still managed to catch his two lawyers, Bruce L. Castor Jr. and David I. Schoen, on television  and he did not like what he saw, according to two people briefed on his reaction. Mr. Castor, the first to speak, delivered a rambling, almost somnambulant defense of the former president for nearly an hour. Mr. Trump, who often leaves the television on in the background even when he is holding meetings, was furious, people familiar with his reaction said. On a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the angriest, Mr. Trump was an eight, one person familiar with his reaction said. And while he was heartened that his other lawyer, Mr. Schoen, gave a more spirited performance, Mr. Trump ended the day frustrated and irate, the people familiar with his reaction said. Unlike his first Senate impeachment trial, just over a year ago, Mr. Trump has no Twitter feed to do what he believes he does better than anyone else  defend himself  and to dangle threats of retaliation over the heads of Republican senators who serve on the impeachment jury. Several of the former presidents advisers and associates said they cringed at the performance by Mr. Castor, a former prosecutor from Pennsylvania who spoke first after the House Democratic managers presented their impeachment case using graphic videos of the Jan. 6 attack, delivered a meandering defense. An adviser to Mr. Trump, speaking on background as the lawyer was making his defense, insisted that Mr. Castor had always planned to try to reduce the temperature in the chamber because the former president and his aides anticipated an emotional presentation by the Democrats. But Mr. Castor undercut that by declaring at the outset that he and Mr. Schoen had switched their presentation order because the Democrats case had been so good.

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Democrat says Trump lawyers misrepresented legal scholars argument. Representative Joe Neguse of Colorado noted that Brian Kalt, a legal scholar cited repeatedly by Mr. Trumps lawyers, publicly disputed their portrayal of his law journal article on the topic of trying former officials. Credit... Senate Television, via Associated Press The House impeachment managers spent much of the opening session trying to undercut a key argument of former President Donald J. Trumps lawyers: That the trial itself is unconstitutional. Democrats asserted early that a president can be tried for offenses committed in office, even if they are no longer serving. That power, they said, is necessary to hold presidents accountable for wrongdoing in their final weeks and to avoid avoiding responsibility with a resignation. Most legal scholars, including some leading conservatives, agree that a former president can be tried by the Senate even after leaving office  a point Democrats seized upon during their remarks. Representative Joe Neguse of Colorado noted that Brian Kalt, a legal scholar cited repeatedly by Mr. Trumps lawyers, publicly disputed their portrayal of his law journal article on the topic of trying former officials. They misrepresent what I wrote quite badly, tweeted Mr. Kalt, a law professor at Michigan State University. My article presented all of the evidence I found on both sides, so there was lots for them to use fairly. They didnt have to be disingenuous and misleading like this. Mr. Trumps lawyers cited Mr. Kalts article 15 times in their impeachment defense brief. His work is an exhaustive analysis of impeachment after leaving office, which ultimately concludes that there is sound historical, legal and constitutional basis for pursing such an action. Last month, Mr. Kalt was one of more than 170 constitutional scholars who signed a letter arguing that the former president can be convicted in an impeachment trial, even though he is no longer in office. Professor Kalts position  which they had to have known because it is in the article that they cite in the brief  is that removal is not the sole end of impeachment, Mr. Neguse said. Actually, in that same article he describes the view advocated by President Trumps lawyers as having deep flaws. This key constitutional scholar relied on by President Trump set it just right, Mr. Neguse told the Senate. Nearly all Senate Republicans voted last month to dismiss the proceedings, arguing that the constitution forbids a former president to be put on trial. The decision to focus on the process allows Republicans and the presidents lawyers to avoid the politically thornier issue of Mr. Trumps role in inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Leahy has an unprecedented trifecta of impeachment roles: witness, juror and judge. Credit... Erin Schaff/The New York Times Patrick J. Leahy, the chambers longest-serving senator, has been thrust into an unprecedented trifecta of roles in the impeachment trial of Donald J. Trump: Witness, juror and judge. Mr. Leahy, 80, was inside the Senate chamber when it was locked down last month as rioters breached the Capitol. He is one of 100 senators now tasked with deciding whether to convict Mr. Trump on the charge of incitement of insurrection for his role in stirring up the rampage on Jan. 6. And, barely a month into reclaiming his role as president pro tempore of the Senate  a post reserved for the senior-most member of the majority party that places him third in line to the presidency  overseeing the trial has fallen to him. For Mr. Leahy, the role is the latest challenging chapter in a senatorial career that is older than some of his colleagues. He said he hoped his more than four decades of sitting on the Senate dais and wielding the ivory gavel had prepared him for the task. Ive presided hundreds of hours  I dont know how many rulings Ive made, Mr. Leahy said in an interview. Ive never had anyone, Republican or Democrat, say my rulings were not fair. Mr. Trumps lawyers have a different view, pointing to Mr. Leahys participation in the trial as evidence for their contention  rejected by many scholars and prominent lawyers  that the entire proceeding is unconstitutional. Now, instead of the chief justice, the trial will be overseen by a biased and partisan senator who will purportedly also act as a juror while ruling on issues that arise, they wrote in their trial memorandum submitted on Monday. The role of presiding officer in an impeachment trial has traditionally been a murky and limited one. The Constitution provides little guidance, other than to specify that the chief justice of the Supreme Court should preside over the impeachment trial of a president. But Mr. Trump is a former president, and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. signaled that he was not interested in reprising his role. As president of the Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris was the next logical choice, but she had little desire to insert herself into what promised to be a highly politicized trial. So the job landed in Mr. Leahys lap. This is not something I requested, Mr. Leahy said. I want to make sure I do the best job possible, when people look back at it. In a letter to his colleagues before the trial on Tuesday, Mr. Leahy vowed to conduct this trial with fairness to all, and said he would put any constitutional question before the Senate for a full vote.

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Biden, focusing on stimulus bill and minimum wage increase, refuses to comment on impeachment trial. Credit... Pete Marovich for The New York Times President Bidens predecessor stands accused of fomenting an insurrection, but Mr. Biden insisted that he was not allowing the spectacle to distract him from addressing the pandemic and the economy. Im sure theyre going to conduct themselves well, and thats all I have to say about impeachment, Mr. Biden told reporters at the White House on Tuesday afternoon, as Democratic managers were making their opening arguments in the trial of former President Donald J. Trump. Mr. Bidens schedule aimed to illustrate his walk-and-chew-gum point that impeachment would not impede governance. He met in the Oval Office with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Vice President Kamala Harris and a handful of business executives for a discussion about the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package being debated on Capitol Hill, and his push to increase the minimum wage. I think its clear from his schedule, and from his intention, he will not spend too much time watching the proceedings, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said on Monday. Mr. Biden and his team have gone out of their way for weeks to insist that responding to Mr. Trumps actions before the Capitol assault on Jan. 6 should be left to members of Congress. Ms. Psaki repeatedly waved off questions about what Mr. Biden thought about how the trial should be conducted. Now that the spectacle is beginning, the White House is maintaining that above-the-fray posture. Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris received their daily intelligence briefing, and Ms. Psaki held her daily exchange with reporters even as senators began their impeachment debate. The afternoon meeting with Ms. Yellen also included chief executives: Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase, Doug McMillon of Walmart, Sonia Syngal of the Gap, Marvin R. Ellison of Lowes and Thomas J. Donohue of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A White House news release described the meeting as an opportunity for Mr. Biden to press his case for the critical need for the American Rescue Plan to save our economy. But one person said the president also intended to discuss his case for increasing the minimum wage. Mr. Biden has proposed an increase to $15 as part of his virus relief package. The Chamber of Commerce asked the president in a letter this month to drop the minimum wage increase from his relief proposal. At least one Democratic senator is on the record opposing the increase, which could make it difficult to pass in the evenly divided chamber. Mr. McMillion, the Walmart chief, said last month that he opposed a universal minimum wage increase to $15, saying increases should take into account regional differences and the effect on small businesses. Michael D. Shear, Jim Tankersley, Maggie Haberman and

In a final brief, the House managers say Trump has no good defense. Representative Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland and the lead impeachment manager, reviews a copy of the Constitution on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday. Credit... Erin Schaff/The New York Times The House managers took one final shot at Donald J. Trump on Tuesday morning before the start of his impeachment trial, telling the Senate in a written brief that the former presidents lawyers were relying on flawed legal theories because they had no good defense for his conduct around the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The 33-page document filed hours before the Senate was to meet as a court of impeachment sought to rebut Mr. Trumps defenses one by one. The managers reiterated that they believed the Constitutions founders had intended for impeachment to apply to someone like Mr. Trump, who was charged with a high crime on his way out of office, and that free speech protections were irrelevant to their charge. President Trumps pretrial brief confirms that he has no good defense of his incitement of an insurrection against the nation he swore an oath to protect, wrote the managers, led by Representative Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland. Instead, he tries to shift the blame onto his supporters, and he invokes a set of flawed legal theories that would allow presidents to incite violence and overturn the democratic process without fear of consequences. Mr. Trumps team laid out its first sustained impeachment defense on Monday in a 78-page brief. In it, they argued that Mr. Trump did not direct anyone to commit unlawful actions on Jan. 6 or deserve responsibility for the conduct of a small group of criminals who stormed into the Capitol after he urged them to fight like hell. But the bulk of the case rested on the contention that the Senate lacks jurisdiction to try a former president after he has already left office. It also took aim at Democrats, accusing them of cravenly exploiting a national tragedy to silence a political opponent and a minority party. The Democratic House managers reply was just as sharp. They dismissed as implausible the assertion that Mr. Trump had merely been urging his supporters to merely advocate election security, rather than actually try to overturn the election as Congress met to formalize his loss. In his speech, President Trump did not direct his supporters to go home and lobby their state legislatures, but instead directed them to march to the Capitol and fight, they wrote. They also argued that there should be no limit on the Senates ability to try a president who was impeached before his term expired for conduct while in office, since the Constitution allows the Senate to act to bar a convicted president from holding office in the future. Immunizing an ex-president from possible punishment, they argued, would create a dangerous January exception allowing presidents to do whatever they would like on the way out the door. President Trump does not even attempt to explain why the framers would have provided that a sitting president found to have endangered the nation should be disqualified from returning to office, but a former president found to have done the exact same thing should be free to return, they wrote. Read the Brief From House Managers Asserting Trump Has No Good Defense The House managers took one final shot at Donald J. Trump on Tuesday morning before his impeachment trial got underway, telling the Senate in a written brief that the former presidents lawyers were relying on flawed legal theories because they had no good defense for his conduct around the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Read Document

Senator Mike Lee of Utah suggests Trump should get a mulligan for Jan. 6 speech. Look, everyone makes mistakes, everyone is entitled to a mulligan once in a while, said Senator Mike Lee of Utah. Credit... Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times Senator Mike Lee of Utah, a conservative Republican, suggested on Tuesday that former President Donald J. Trump be given a mulligan for exhorting an angry gathering of supporters to march on the Capitol on Jan. 6. Mr. Lee, appearing on Fox News, was asked if he thought Mr. Trumps speech was different from comments made by Democrats encouraging their backers to confront Republicans, as the shows hosts played video clips of Democrats including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey. Look, it is not different, Mr. Lee said, hours before Mr. Trumps second impeachment trial began in the Senate. Look, everyone makes mistakes, everyone is entitled to a mulligan once in a while, he said. And I would hope  I would expect that each of those individuals would take a mulligan on each of those statements. None of the Democrats statements aired by Fox resulted in violence. A mulligan, in golf, refers to the informal practice of allowing an opponent to take a second shot after an errant first swing without incurring any penalty on the official scorecard. Mr. Lees comments drew an angry response from Jaime Harrison, the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Mulligan?! Several died. Hundreds injured. Threats were made to murder the Vice President of the US and the Speaker of the House, Mr. Harrison wrote on Twitter. Our nations Capitol Building was desecrated. Senator this is not a damn golf game! Mr. Lee, who served as a clerk for the conservative Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito, has argued that the impeachment article brought by House Democrats was not permitted under the Constitution. He said he would vote for acquittal regardless of evidence presented at the trial. An email to Mr. Lees spokesman requesting an explanation of his remarks was not immediately returned. But some of his defenders on social media said that he was making a larger point about the need for civility in both parties. As an example of what he viewed as a recent transgression, Mr. Lee singled out Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York, for making it personal when she recently took a swipe at his ally, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. As individuals, I think most of us, nearly all of us, really like each other. There is, however, a palpable degree of contention on certain issues, Mr. Lee said. And I think one of the antidotes to that really is more debate and discussion.

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Conservative media, the apparatus that fed Trumps power, is facing a test, too. In recent weeks, two voting-technology companies have each filed 10-figure lawsuits against Mr. Trumps lawyers, including Rudolph W. Giuliani. Credit... Erin Schaff/The New York Times Former President Donald J. Trumps Senate impeachment trial will begin oral arguments on Tuesday but the apparatus that fed him much of his power  the conservative news media  is facing a test of its own. This might ultimately have a much bigger impact on the future of American politics than anything that happens to Mr. Trump as an individual. In recent weeks, two voting-technology companies have each filed 10-figure lawsuits against Mr. Trumps lawyers and his allies in the media, claiming they spread falsehoods that did tangible harm. This comes amid an already-raging debate over whether to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which prevents online companies from being held liable for the views expressed on their platforms. The impeachment trial on Tuesday offered early signs that conservative media outlets may be trying to avoid revisiting the more polarizing aspects of Mr. Trumps tenure in office. Cable news channels that have largely been supportive of Mr. Trump did not dwell on the trial, with Fox News focusing its early analysis on the National Guard troops still stationed in Washington. Roughly 45 minutes into opening arguments, Newsmax  an ultraconservative TV station that has expanded its popularity by lining up to the right of Fox News  cut away from its uninterrupted coverage and the anchor John Bachman offered viewers an apology. The video was played on the onset  we apologize if folks were tuning in, he said. Obviously, some strong language there. But that was video evidence presented by Democrats. As the Senate weighs the role Mr. Trump played in the riot on the Capitol on Jan. 6, conservative news outlets have found themselves becoming part of the larger story about the baseless claims of election malfeasance that sparked the attack. On Thursday, the voting-machine company Smartmatic filed a $2.7 billion lawsuit against Fox News, some of its prominent hosts and two lawyers who represented Mr. Trump, Sidney Powell and Rudolph W. Giuliani. The suit accuses them of mounting a campaign of defamation by claiming that Smartmatic had been involved in an effort to throw the election. That came on the heels of a similar $1.3 billion suit that Dominion Voting Systems brought against Mr. Giuliani the week before. The impact was immediate. Newsmax cut off an interview with the MyPillow founder Mike Lindell last week while he attacked Dominion  something that commentators had done on the station many times before. Then, over the weekend, Fox Business sidelined Lou Dobbs, one of Mr. Trumps fiercest TV news defenders and a defendant named in the Smartmatic lawsuit.
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: RP562B Extender, DG4244 Gateway--available 2Q 2021 Technicolor : OWA3111 Extender--available 2Q 2021

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EX5510 Gateway, EX3510 Gateway, WX3310 Extender--available 2Q 2021 Plume designed SuperPod with Wi-Fi 6--available 2Q 2021

For further specification details please visit plume.com.

All CPEs come pre-integrated with OpenSync and provide out-of-the-box access to Plume's Consumer Experience Management (CEM) Platform--including the HomePass, Haystack and Harvest service suites. Leveraging OpenSync, and actively managed by the Plume Cloud, over 150 Communications Service Providers (CSPs) serve personalized smart home experiences today to more than 22 million homes worldwide.

Featuring the latest Wi-Fi 6 chipsets from major silicon providers including Broadcom, MaxLinear, and Qualcomm, OpenSync's flexible and cloud-agnostic architecture enables rapid service curation, delivery, scale, management, and support of Smart Home Services.

Through OpenSync, CSPs have complete control over their Wi-Fi 6 CPE choices, while full interoperability brings longevity to existing CAPEX investments. All OpenSync-powered CPEs from multiple suppliers--including gateways, extenders and SuperPods--can coexist on the same home network, irrespective of Wi-Fi generation, with plug and play simplicity, and access to Plume services.

"While Wi-Fi 6 is a very exciting milestone for wireless home connectivity, this advancement alone is insufficient to deliver the personalized and fully optimized experiences demanded by broadband subscribers today," said Fahri Diner, Co-founder CEO at Plume. "To fully capitalize on the benefits of Wi-Fi 6, CSPs must deploy both reactive and predictive cloud management across all hardware platforms to address the increased complexity of the home network. Starting this year, the intersection of an open platform approach and cloud managed Wi-Fi 6 may very well be the winning formula."

While the Wi-Fi 6 specification provides significant improvements over past iterations--including increased throughput, improved latency, power savings, and enhanced security--these benefits are best unlocked and fully realized through OpenSync and a massively scalable cloud platform. Due to its cloud-controlled algorithms, OpenSync enabled CPEs managed by the Plume cloud are uniquely positioned to take advantage of certain Wi-Fi 6 features including OFDMA--critical in today's increasingly dense smart home environments.

Delivering a fully optimized consumer experience

Plume's partners cite the unique advantages of deploying Wi-Fi 6 CPE in combination with OpenSync and Plume's CEM Platform to enable CSPs to deliver a fully optimized subscriber experience:

"Our integration of OpenSync across ADTRAN solutions vastly improves the broadband experience while helping operators achieve faster time-to-market and time-to-revenue, improved analytics and performance capabilities, and fostering the creation of new and expanded high-value services," said Robert Conger, CTO, ADTRAN

"With 30 years of expertise in developing ICT devices and robust R&D capabilities, Askey looks forward to delivering comprehensive OpenSync-integrated Wi-Fi 6 gateways and extenders to customers worldwide, and to expanding the range of related applications. Askey is delighted to be a partner in Plume's CEM Platform. By collaborating with solution partners, Askey is at the forefront of Wi-Fi 6 product development, to deliver wide-ranging consumer benefits and to enable the deployment of new cloud-driven services," said Robert Lin, CEO, Askey

"As one of Plume and OpenSync's long standing partners, CIG is delighted to bring new Wi-Fi 6 devices to market that will create new opportunities for service providers to evolve the smart home experiences that they provide today. We believe that next generation Wi-Fi, open-source software, and a cloud-driven consumer experience management platform is a powerful combination that will ensure the rapid execution of new services at the cadence that customers now demand them," said Haibo Zhao, CTO, CIG

"The broadband market is evolving rapidly and we are constantly looking to meet changing consumer needs and expectations by enhancing our state-of-the-art CPE through software. While Wi-Fi 6 presents an evolutionary step forward in terms of features and functionality, OpenSync integration ensures that we can benefit from an open-source ecosystem that--together with Plume's CEM Platform--among many benefits, harnesses the power of the cloud to carry out sophisticated Wi-Fi optimizations, and deliver the best possible experiences to consumers based on their individual needs," said Greg Fisher, President, Hitron Technologies Americas

"Now more than ever fast and highly reliable connectivity is key--and even a lifeline--to broadband subscribers, and we're delighted to bring our new Wi-Fi 6 products to market to provide a welcome boost. Fast time to market is massively important as subscribers demand more from their smart homes, and we feel very confident that in pairing our technology with OpenSync, we have put service providers in the best possible position to enrich their offerings with AI and cloud technologies and deliver new services at high-speed and cadence," said Richard Kim, Executive VP and Head of Global Business Unit for Americas, Asia and Oceania, Kaon.

"Wi-Fi 6 represents a leap forward in technology terms and is an evolution that will bring many advantages to consumers and their smart home networks, including faster throughout and lower latency with compatible client devices. Despite the performance advantages over previous generations, Wi-Fi 6 really comes into its own when it is paired with sophisticated cloud control and AI technology to elevate the subscriber experience. To this end we are delighted to further strengthen our partnership with Plume and OpenSync, and leverage cloud technology to our rich portfolio of new Wi-Fi 6 Home Gateways and Wi-Fi extenders launched in 2020 and 2021," said Ahmed Selmani, Deputy CEO, Sagemcom

"The powerful combination of Sercomm's market leading Wi-Fi 6 platforms and OpenSync will enable service providers to not only enhance wireless in-home performance, but to also deliver new cloud-curated experiences for their subscribers that will drive new ARPU opportunities," said James Wang, CEO, Sercomm

"Technicolor gateways and extenders have been deployed to millions of homes, and through this partnership with Plume we expect to see a greater acceleration in market growth for Wi-Fi 6 customer premises equipment. This is further proof of our commitment to helping operators worldwide in reducing the complexity of delivering reliable, high-throughput Wi-Fi coverage throughout subscribers' homes. The pre-integration of OpenSync, in addition to Plume's CEM platform and associated services, into Technicolor's gateways and extenders enables network service providers to offer excellent connectivity and innovative smart home experiences that delight and retain subscribers," said Girish Naganathan, CTO, Technicolor Connected Home

"Service providers want to quickly deploy premium services that are personalized for subscribers. The winning combination of Zyxel Wi-Fi 6 CPEs with OpenSync and Plume's cloud platform offers providers a solid foundation for creating these premium and high revenue services," said Brian Feng, Senior Vice President, Zyxel Communications

About Plume

Plume is the creator of the world's first Consumer Experience Management (CEM) Platform, powered by OpenSync, which enables the curation and delivery of new Smart Home Services rapidly and at massive scale. The Plume HomePass Smart Home Services Suite which includes Plume Adapt, Guard, Control, and Sense is managed by the Plume Cloud, a data- and AI-driven cloud controller currently running the largest software-defined network in the world. Plume leverages OpenSync, an open-source framework which comes pre-integrated and supported on the leading silicon platform SDKs for coordination by the Plume Cloud.

Visit www.plume.com and www.opensync.io.

Follow Plume on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Plume, OpenSync, SuperPod, HomePass, Haystack, Harvest, Adapt, Guard, Control, and Sense are either trademarks, or registered trademarks of Plume Design, Inc.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005278/en/

Contacts:

Andrew Laszacs

Bob Gold Associates for Plume

+1 310-940-4458

plume@bobgoldpr.com
The lawmakers overseeing new digital regulation in Europe want to force firms to pay for news, echoing a similar move in Australia and strengthening the hand of publishers against Google and Facebook, says an article published in the Financial Times on Tuesday.

The initiative from members of European Parliament (MEPs) would be a serious blow to Google, which has threatened to leave Australia in protest at a planned new law that would compel it to pay for news.

Facebook has also warned it will stop users in Australia from sharing news if the legislation is passed in its current form. MEPs working on two landmark draft European digital regulations, the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), told Financial Times the laws could be amended as they pass through EU Parliament to include aspects of the Australian reforms.

These include the option of binding arbitration for licensing agreements and requiring tech to inform publishers about changes to how they rank news stories on their sites. Alex Saliba, a Maltese MEP who led the parliaments first report on the DSA, said the Australian approach to Google and Facebook had managed to address the acute bargaining power imbalances with publishers. With their dominant market position in search, social media and advertising, large digital platforms create power imbalances and benefit significantly from news content, he said. I think it is only fair that they pay back a fair amount.



Google and Facebook have stepped up their efforts to reach licensing deals for news in Europe since the EU overhauled its copyright laws in 2019. The changes give publishers the right to compensation for snippets of content that appear on online platforms. While support is growing for Australia-style measures, MEPs are divided over how best to introduce such reforms, and whether it is better to wait for the impact of the copyright overhaul to become clear.
They're settling into life as new parents after welcoming daughter Elle in November.

And Bachelor lovebirds Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich enjoyed a mini-break with their newborn in Kangaroo Valley over the weekend.

The couple, who were also joined by Anna's sisters, stayed at the eco-friendly Sky Ridge retreat, which is owned by TV presenter Larry Emdur and his wife, Sylvie.

Rural escape: The Bachelor's Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich brought their daughter, Elle, along for a weekend away at Larry Emdur's eco-friendly holiday home in Kangaroo Valley

Sky Ridge, which the Emdurs bought for $2.15million, is rented out to holidaymakers for up to $1,000 per night, but Tim and Anna may have had a celebrity discount.

The couple shared a gallery of photos from their trip to Instagram, documenting their days spent swimming in the nearby creek and fun nights in cooking dinner.

Larry and Sylvie listed Sky Ridge, an ultra-modern renovated shipping container, as a holiday rental back in November.

Blissfully happy: The couple shared a gallery of photos from their trip to Instagram, documenting their days spent swimming in the nearby creek and fun nights in cooking dinner

Retreat: The couple, who were also joined by Anna's sisters, stayed at the Sky Ridge retreat

Incredible: The holiday home is an ultra-modern renovated shipping container

Living the dream: Sky Ridge, which the Emdurs bought for $2.15million, is rented out to holidaymakers for up to $1,000 per night, but Tim and Anna may have had a celebrity discount

On the ground floor, the home features a wide open-plan living area, styled with eclectic art pieces, chic furniture and a fireplace.

It also has large sliding glass windows, allowing for fresh air to breeze through.

The kitchen is fitted out with state-of-the-art appliances, and also has a spacious dining area, perfect for entertaining.

Looks tasty! Tim prepared a delectable cheese platter, including fruit and a beetroot dip

Baby makes three! Tim and Anna are settling into life as new parents after welcoming daughter Elle in November

The second floor has four bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and views out to the 10 acres of picturesque bushland surrounding the property.

Those looking at renting out the property can expect an environmentally friendly experience because the home is fully solar-powered.

It could also be the perfect way to get a digital detox as there is no Wi-Fi available.

The shipping container was designed by architect Alexander Michael in 2018.

Want to stay here? Larry and Sylvie Emdur listed Sky Ridge as a holiday rental late last year

Modern: On the ground floor, the home features a wide open-plan living area, styled with eclectic art pieces and chic furniture

Open and bright: It also has large sliding glass windows, and a fireplace for cosy nights in

It blends steel, glass and polished concrete floors with eco-friendly touches, such as solar panels with a battery bank and rainwater harvesting.

The property is the Emdurs' second holiday home. In February last year, they paid $1.1million for a pad in Berowra Waters, in Sydney's north.

In 2017, the couple sold their clifftop mansion in Dover Heights for a record $11.5million to celebrity account Anthony Bell.

Larry and Sylvie are now based in The Rocks in a $3million heritage-listed apartment.

Roomy: The kitchen is fitted out with state-of-the-art appliances, and also has a spacious dining area, perfect for entertaining

Stunning views: The second floor has four bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and views out to the 10 acres of picturesque bushland surrounding the property

Entrepreneurs: The eco-friendly property is the Emdurs' second holiday home. In February last year, they paid $1.1million for a pad in Berowra Waters, in Sydney's north
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei granted amnesty to 3,840 Iranian inmates on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of victory of the Islamic Revolution.

Ayatollah Khamenei agreed on Monday to pardon or commute the sentences of the Iranian convicts upon a proposal from Judiciary Chief Seyed Ebrahim Raeisi who had requested the Leaders clemency for prisoners with specific conditions.

The amnesty was announced ahead of the 42nd anniversary of victory of the Islamic Revolution that led to the formation of the Islamic Republic in 1979.

Article 110 of the Constitution grants the Leader the right to pardon or reduce the sentences of convicts upon a recommendation from the head of the Judiciary, Tasnim recalls.
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jace Johnson, 18, of Kamiah and Christopher Jones, 12, of Boise today were named Idaho's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Jace and Christopher will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are Idaho's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Jace Johnson

Nominated by Kamiah High School

Jace, a senior at Kamiah High School, played a leadership role in opening a teen center in his small rural community to provide local youth with a safe, fun alternative to substance abuse. Jace said his volunteering "sprouted from watching my community slowly deteriorate into a town riddled with drugs, crimes, and everything in between." As president and a founding member of the town's youth advisory board, Jace knew that with only a four-day school week and few extracurricular activities, it was too easy for young people to slip into drug and alcohol abuse. "I realized that not only did teens need activities to partake in, they needed a safe place to go," he said.

So in 2017, he and fellow advisory board members decided to start raising money to open a teen center, primarily by hosting lunches and applying for grants. It took about a year to collect enough funds to rent space, furnish it, pay for utilities and buy supplies. Then community members donated a pool table, televisions, furniture, games and other items. Since opening in September 2019, the center has recorded thousands of teen visits and has hosted almost 500 youth events, including concerts, game nights, movies, theme park trips and tournaments. It also has provided classes in a wide range of activities from cooking to budgeting to sewing, subjects not offered in the area's school. Moreover, younger kids are able to spend time at the center on summer mornings to attend arts and crafts classes. Most importantly, data compiled by local law enforcement has shown a marked decrease in drug, alcohol and tobacco use among teenagers, said Jace.

Middle Level State Honoree: Christopher "Topher" Jones

Nominated by Hillside Junior High

Topher, a seventh-grader at Hillside Junior High School, has raised more than $15,000 through his "Lonesome Larry Project," a conservation initiative dedicated to saving sockeye salmon by selling sockeye-themed socks. When he was in fifth grade, Topher learned a lot about fish from his science teacher, and was fascinated by the fact that steelhead and salmon swim almost 900 miles from their home streams in Idaho to the ocean and then back to spawn. On a family trip to a fish hatchery, he discovered just how hard it is for fish to make that journey. In fact, he learned that one year, only one sockeye salmon survived the ordeal. The hatchery nicknamed that fish Lonesome Larry. "I knew this was a big problem," said Topher, "because if the sockeye don't return to their home streams to lay their eggs, the next generation of fish is lost."

So in 2019, he founded the "Lonesome Larry Project" to support sockeye salmon conservation  by selling red and blue socks emblazoned with the image of a male sockeye. First, Topher held a competition to design his salmon logo, and then enlisted the help of college students build a website. After his initial order of 2,000 pairs of socks arrived on his doorstep, Topher began selling them on his website, at sporting and fishing events, and through local businesses. All of his proceeds are being donated to the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund grants for conservation and research. The first grant was awarded last summer to build a kiosk near Redfish Lake explaining sockeye salmon recovery efforts.

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.PRUDENTIAL.com


(Left) Heliconius cydno butterflies found in the deep forest. (Right) Heliconius melpomene butterflies found at the edges of forest. Credit: Rich Merrill

Scientists studying forest dwelling butterflies in Central and South America have discovered that changes in the way animals perceive and process information from their environment can support the emergence of new species. The study led by the University of Bristol, and published today [9 February] in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), has implications for how new species might evolve and the underappreciated role of changes in the brain.

The international team, led by Dr. Stephen Montgomery from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol, compared the brain morphology of two distinct but closely related lineages of butterfly that occur in distinct tropical forest habitats. The first, including the species Heliconius cydno, lives in deeper forests, where the canopy light levels are low. Its sister lineage, including a species called Heliconius melpomene, lives around the forest edges, where light is much more abundant. Despite their ecological differences, these species are very closely related and can still produce viable offspring, suggesting they sit right at the brink of being new species.

The team found substantial differences in the brains of forest edge and deep forest species, with the latter investing more in parts of the brain that process visual information. By collecting butterflies across south and central America, as well as rearing captive individuals under controlled conditions at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, the researchers showed that differences in brain morphology have accumulated in a way consistent with natural selection.

Dr. Stephen Montgomery, Senior Research Fellow at Bristol, said: "These butterflies aren't separated by huge distances, nor are they distantly related, but their brain structure is finely tuned to the specific habitats they occupy, and we think this process helps keep the two lineages apart, allowing them to become distinct species."

Similar differences were seen when the team examined the how highly different genes were expressed in the brain.

Matteo Rossi, a Ph.D. student at LMU Munich, explained: "Based on the pattern of gene expression in brain tissue we can accurately cluster individuals into the correct species. The expression of genes driving these differences evolve fast, and seem to be located in regions of the genome that are most distinct between the two species."

To further explore these effects the team produced hybrid offspring between forest edge and deep forest species. They found these hybrids showed intermediate brain morphologies and patterns of gene expression in the brain.

Dr. Richard Merrill, also from LMU Munich, said: "Our study is exciting because it suggests that hybrids in the wild might be behavioral misfits in both habitats, and suffer the consequences."

The researchers believe that the work may imply adaptations in the brain play an underappreciated role in speciation across environments.

"We're used to thinking about behavior being important in speciation, but behavioral evolution must have a neural basis, but we're only just beginning to unpick this kind of process" added Dr. Stephen Montgomery.

The team also hope their work illustrates how important it is to protect habitat complexity in tropical forests.

"The forest is a tapestry of different conditions, with different structures, resources and cues. This work illustrates how closely species evolve to occupy these different micro-habitats, supporting high numbers of species in seemingly small areas" said Dr. Owen McMillan, a co-author from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, "if we want to protect the diversity of species in these areas, we have to protect the forests in a way that supports their natural variability."

Explore further Shifts in butterfly mating preferences

More information: Stephen H. Montgomery et al. Neural divergence and hybrid disruption between ecologically isolated Heliconius butterflies, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Stephen H. Montgomery et al. Neural divergence and hybrid disruption between ecologically isolated Heliconius butterflies,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2015102118
A recently released economic report confirmed what many people already, that the private sector lost a lot of money and as a result either fur Read more
MILTON  The Virginia woman found dead Sunday along an Interstate 80 interchange ramp in western Union County was shot multiple times in the head, the coroner says.

Rebecca Landrith, 47, was shot in the head, neck and throat according to an autopsy, Coroner Dominic Adamo said Tuesday. Her death has been ruled a homicide.

Neither District Attorney D. Peter Johnson nor state police would say whether they believe Landrith was killed along the eastbound exit ramp to I-80 at the Mile Run interchange or elsewhere.

A state police news release inferred the shooting took place elsewhere because it stated the body was left along the ramp. Adamo said he believes Landrith was killed elsewhere.

Investigators identified her by tracing paperwork found on the body and then confirming it by fingerprints, Johnson said.

She did not carry any identification but there were receipts that indicated she had been in Indiana and Wisconsin, police said. She also had ties to South Dakota and Utah, they said.

A motive has not been determined, according to Johnson, and state police would not say if there were suspects.

According to Landriths biography, she had been a professional model in New York City, a finalist for Miss Manhattan in 2014, an accomplished violinist and a champion for numerous charities.

She had posted this about herself on the iStudio webpage:

I adore fashion and the industry and am a warm weather person with a warm heart.

I have worked with some really great photographers and fantastic people in this industry.

I love clothes and have a great wardrobe to style myself and bring to shoots. I know high fashion labels and have fabulous shoes with all my outfits.

Landrith stated in the posting she had appeared in numerous product advertisements, video commercials and in multiple runway shows including Fashion Week.

Born in Alexandria, Virginia, she was the youngest of five siblings, her brother George Landrith said.

She never married and had separated from the rest of the family five years ago, he said.

For that reason, he said he knows little about her life since then. Their parents are divorced and their father lives in Utah, he said.

A Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) stockpile is all that is at the rural Mile Run interchange that is surrounded by state forest land.

A PennDOT worker spotted the body just before 7 a.m. Sunday, police said.

The interchange was built to provide access to I-80 for emergency and PennDOT vehicles, Kenneth C. Larson Jr., a retired PennDOT district engineer at Montoursville, explained.

ALSO READ: Pa. couple compelled to create jobs sees their custom cabinet manufacturing firm thrive

A Community Relations Officer of a mining company once approached the Chiefs and Elders of a village in Ghana to convince them to move into new houses his company had built for them. The reason was that the mining company had discovered gold on their land and the relocation was to pave way for exploration of this precious mineral to be undertaken.



Interestingly, where most of the gold deposits could be found was beneath their public toilet. The people objected to the idea of being relocated into new homes, even though the new houses were by far better than where they were living. Unlike their single-room mud houses, the residents were to each receive modern, larger self-contained houses to themselves. Yet, they still rejected it.



This shocked the community relations officer. He was surprised at the actions of the people in the community, exclaiming that he did not understand why they would still maintain a public toilet, beneath which, were gold deposits. He sure was baffled!



Even more, the community felt insulted that the officer was also baffled but upon several further pleas and consultative engagements with the community, the people eventually agreed to move into their new homes. There was a mutual agreement with the mining company on how the community would benefit from the proceeds of the gold that will be mined.



This true story can be likened to the present-day housing situation in Ghana. There are some prime areas in Accra, which are still underdeveloped because the indigenes are not ready to lease out their lands to private housing investors to make good use of them. A win-win agreement between these parties could have benefited all the stakeholders, but the owners of these lands have continuously rejected any such deals.



Unbelievably, old and dilapidated houses are still present in such places as Chorkor, Jamestown, Accra Central, Adabraka, Labadi, Teshie, among others. Will it not be beneficial or serve a larger interest to lease some of these lands for redevelopment?



Will it not also help leasees to have decent places of living and benefit from them economically?



In many developed economies, lands that are closer to waterfronts are the most expensive. But in Ghana, the reverse is true. Houses found around our country's shorelines are just not the best, and it defies infrastructural and developmental logic in a country with a huge housing deficit.



Our people are, in fact, "sitting" on their gold (money). In Turkey, for instance, there is a story about how a family left a coastline land to pave the way for redevelopment. This redevelopment is promoting tourism in Turkey, and the family also made a fortune from the land they leased. Can we replicate this in Ghana?



This is the kind of approach Ghana can adopt if we want to beautify the country and redevelop our landscape. For this to happen, all stakeholders have to dialogue in terms of benefits and fairness, guided by value for money, and improving access to decent housing.



This will have an economic impact in many communities bedevilled by poor infrastructure but have the potential of changing the housing narratives.



If there is the need to do something about Ghana's housing situation and redevelopment, then the time is now due to the evolving nature of better housing.



A stitch in time...

Source: PAA KWESI AGYEFI, ACCRA Email: [email protected]









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February 9, 2021 The Disconnect Between Lt. Gen. Parlade's Mindset and the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 More at: https://pinglacson.net/2021/02/09/the-disconnect-between-lt-gen-parlades-mindset-and-the-anti-terrorism-act-of-2020/ Something is very wrong with Lt. Gen. Parlade's mindset. On its face, his statement clearly implying that a journalist "was aiding the terrorists" is careless and insensitive. I do not know how else any literate person can interpret that. That said, I couldn't care less what else comes out of his mouth, nor do I have anything to do with his quarrel with Ms. Tetch Torres-Tupas. My primary concern is the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 which I and my staff, as well as my fellow senators worked extra hard to afford the state an effective legal tool against terrorism while ensuring that the Bill of Rights is protected, especially that the law is now facing some serious challenges before the Supreme Court. If Lt. Gen. Parlade wants to help enlighten the magistrates as he claims, he can do it better by not talking about terrorism.
Volkswagen is conducting a feasibility study in China about flying cars, Europe's biggest automaker said on Tuesday, joining a growing number of companies looking into the potential technology. "Beyond autonomous driving the concept of vertical mobility could be a next step to take our mobility approach into the future, especially in the technically affine Chinese market," the German group said in a statement. "Therefore we are investigating potential concepts and partners in a feasibility study to identify the possibility to industrialize this ...
PLANO, Texas, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CRITICALSTART, a leading cybersecurity provider of Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services , today announced that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company , has named Dwayne Myers, VP of Channel and Alliances, to its 2021 list of Channel Chiefs. The prestigious CRN Channel Chiefs list, released annually, recognizes leading IT channel vendor executives who continually demonstrate outstanding leadership, influence, innovation, and growth.

A passionate and well-respected business leader in the security industry, Dwayne has more than two decades of experience in channel development, sales strategy, and business operations. In his first year-and-a-half at CRITICALSTART as VP of Channels and Alliances, he has developed a channel program from the ground up. CRITICALSTART has become the "go to" MDR vendor for over 50 partners in their program, supported by a North American team of channel and alliance experts. Additionally, CRITICALSTART has been able to develop strong partnerships with the industry's leading EDR and SIEM vendors so partners can help their customers operationalize their investment and provide a better managed security solution.

"The CRITICALSTART partners are some of the most innovative security organizations in the industry today," says Myers. "We have built our channel program to collaborate with our partners, so they can provide the best security options for their customers while creating a predictable re-occurring revenue stream. This allows us to be in total alignment with our channel as we address the challenges of today's rapidly changing security landscape."

The 2021 Channel Chiefs are prominent leaders who have influenced the IT channel with cutting-edge strategies, programs, and partnerships. All honorees are selected by CRN's editorial staff based on their dedication, industry prestige, and exceptional accomplishments as channel advocates.

"CRN's 2021 Channel Chiefs list includes the industry's biggest channel evangelists, a group of individuals who work tirelessly on behalf of their partners and drive growth through the development of strong partner programs and innovative business strategies that help bring business-critical solutions to market," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "The Channel Company is proud to recognize these channel influencers and looks forward to following their continued success."

CRN's 2021 Channel Chiefs list will be featured in the February 2021 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs .

About CRITICALSTART

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New data suggests that electric vehicles may not be an easy future substitute for the gasoline-powered fleet, as EVs currently travel less than half as much as the US fleet average.

A team from the University of Chicago, University of California, Davis, and UC Berkeley combined billions of hourly electricity meter measurements with address-level EV registration records in Californiahome to about half of the EVs in the United States. They found that the arrival of an EV in a household increases household electricity consumption by 2.9 kilowatt hours per dayless than half the amount assumed by state regulators.

Adjusted for the share of out-of-home charging, the electricity consumed translates to about 5,300 electric vehicle miles traveled (eVMT) per yearroughly half as large as EV driving estimates used by regulators and also half as large as vehicle miles traveled in gasoline-powered cars.

They reported their findings in a working paper published on the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) website.

Theres still so much we dont know about the costs and benefits of EVs, so it seems appropriate to have some humility around this energy transition. Approaches that leave multiple technology pathways open are desirable; bans and mandates seem premature. co-author David Rapson, an associate professor at the UC Davis Economics Department

The takeaway here is not that EVs should never or will never be our future. Its rather that policymakers may be underestimating the costs of going fully electric. co-author Fiona Burlig, an assistant professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy

The research also studied different types of EVs and found that Teslas consume almost twice the amount of electricity per hour than the others studied. This is likely due to a combination of factors, including Teslas higher battery capacity.

Future research should seek to test a variety of potential explanations for the apparent low utilization of EVs. First, buyers of EVs to date may not represent the broader vehicle-owning population. Second, the marginal utility of eVMT may be lower than that of travel in conventional vehicles. This may be true for a variety of reasons, including an absence of sufficiently dense charging networks, range anxiety, or other attributes of the EV travel experience. Third, EVs may be complements to gasoline-powered vehicles, rather than substitutes for them. The vision of transportation electrification rests on EVs leading to a substitution of VMT away from conventional cars. If, instead, EVs are primarily owned by households with multiple cars, it will be important to understand why. Fourth, low eVMT may be a natural response to high electricity prices in California. While recent evidence suggests this may not be the case (Bushnell, Muehlegger, and Rapson (2021)), the influence of both electricity and gasoline prices on demand for and usage of EVs remains an area requiring further research. This paper demonstrates how pairing rich data on household-level electricity consumption with vehicle registration information can help answer these and other questions. Burlig et al.

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There are five national security reasons why the U.S. should keep a strong residual force in Afghanistan. There is also an important moral argument for why America should not abandon the Afghan people and leave them in the clutches of the worlds most savage terrorists. In a highly controversial withdrawal deal signed in February 2020 between the Trump administration and the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, U.S. troops are to be fully withdrawn from Afghanistan by May 2021. Such a premature withdrawal will trigger a chain of events that will ultimately expose the U.S. homeland to major terrorist attacks.

As of December 2020, there was a bare minimum of 4,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. They had specific, limited missions: to fight global terror; prevent safe havens for Al-Qaida; stop terror attacks on the U.S. homeland; and train, assist and mentor Afghan Security Forces partners. In his final days as President, Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of 2,500 of those troops and left in place a plan to fully withdraw the remaining troops despite Congress passing a new U.S. law prohibiting such a drawdown. The withdrawal decision was made in a slapdash manner without any strategic thought, foresight or deliberation. President Biden should reverse that order for the following reasons:

Withdrawal emboldens Global Terror: The emergence and rapid expansion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the aftermath of U.S. withdrawal from Iraq in late 2011 offers an important lesson. There is the danger that a similar withdrawal from Afghanistan could result in a similar catastrophe that would revive global terrorism and embolden dangerous jihadists all around the world. The Taliban and other terrorists will exploit a U.S. withdrawal as propaganda to attract more finances, bolster recruitment, and expand the reach of their cause. Flushed with cash and donations, terror networks will have the financial wherewithal as well as the charm of a presumed victory to attract flocks of dissatisfied, jobless youth from the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, and even Europe, to join their ranks.

A similar situation happened in Iraq after President Obama ordered the full withdrawal of the U.S. military prematurely from the country in late 2011. As analyzed by NPR, that withdrawal, among other factors, resulted in a security vacuum, which led to the emergence and spread of ISIS  a ruthlessly vicious terrorist caliphate that wreaked havoc across the region, threatened Europe, and sent terror shockwaves across the globe. To this day, ISIS and its affiliates remain relatively active in many parts of the world, including Afghanistan, albeit significantly subdued by U.S.-led coalition forces that were re-deployed to stop ISIS. As the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol inspired violent domestic extremists in America, according to DHS, a premature departure from Afghanistan will inspire global terrorism all over the world.

Withdrawal Portrays U.S. Military A Defeated Force: The U.S. has an unrivaled military might that no other country's military can match its overwhelming power. The American military is respected and feared by both foes and friends alike. Imagine now, however, that U.S. troops withdraw from Afghanistan as dictated by the Trump-Taliban deal, just to appease a terrorist group  the result would be catastrophic for national security. Critics and tabloids would flush the internet with big headlines and juicy literature, labeling the U.S. military with defeat at the hands of a terrorist group. This would harm America's credibility, taint America's military, affect the soldiers' morale, torment U.S. military strategists for generations, and inflict damage to America's reputation. In an interview with BBC last week, Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh succinctly warned that "the fate, reputation, and standing of the Western Civilization" hangs in the balance in Afghanistan. He added a sobering reminder that the Taliban would falsely label U.S. withdrawal with "defeat, surrender, and escape. Saleh emphasized that no one wants a jihadist state to come to power anywhere in the world, especially if it comes, God forbid, by kicking the Western Civilization and the whole world out. Withdrawal Destabilizes a Nuclear Armed Region: The South Asian region is packed with some of the worlds most dangerous terrorist groups determined to harm America and the West. Its been reported that there are around 24 major terrorist groups operating in and out of Pakistan. With the U.S. military stationed in Afghanistan, those terrorists have been kept at bay and largely contained for the past 20 years. If the U.S. military withdraws from Afghanistan, those militant groups will be unleashed, mobilized, and on the march once again  destabilizing the region, including the two nuclear-armed arch-rivals, India and Pakistan. This could spell further chaos for the global order. It is in America's interest to help keep South Asia stable. Withdrawal Exposes U.S. Homeland and Europe to Attacks: Once unleashed and left uncontested, the Taliban and Al-Qaida, along with other terror groups, will start planning to target U.S. interests, including U.S. embassies, consulates, and citizens around the world. Their growth will inspire terror cells in Europe and America to target the U.S. homeland as well as European capitals. Without a forward-deployed military presence in Afghanistan, Al-Qaida will regain territory, strength, and base of operation from which it could once again mastermind attacks on the U.S. homeland and the European allies. In the war on terror, Afghanistan is the global frontline. You lose that frontline; you lose to terrorists everywhere. Taliban Violating Peace Deal: The withdrawal of U.S. troops is tied to the Doha withdrawal deal. The deal was negotiated by Trump envoy Ambassador Zalmai Khalilzad. Afghans, although thankful for U.S. assistance, are critical of the deal and distrustful of Khalilzad. The Afghan government sees Khalilzad as the architect of a deal that essentially surrenders Afghanistan to a terrorist group. In his BBC interview last week, Vice President Saleh argued that the Doha deal was a fatal mistake because it gave massive concessions to a terrorist group and elevated the groups status by giving them undue international legitimacy. In exchange for full U.S. withdrawal, the deal required the Taliban to cut ties with Al-Qaida, renounce violence, and negotiate a political settlement with the Afghan government. The Taliban complied with none of those terms, but Mr. Trump ordered pulling out regardless. Many months after the deal, the United Nations reported that the Taliban had not cut ties with Al-Qaida. Instead, they enjoyed a close working relationship with promises to "honor their historic ties. Last week, U.S. Treasury also issued a report stating that "Al-Qaida was gaining strength in Afghanistan under the Taliban's protection." Furthermore, Taliban violence has increased ten-fold in lethality, complexity, and scope across Afghanistan. In addition to attacks on the government, the Taliban is now assassinating and targeting journalists, civil society and womens rights advocates, TV personalities, female judges, American translators, doctors, and other civilians, as well as destroying public infrastructure. Lastly, Taliban talks with the government are dishonest. Theyre only engaged in talks to encourage U.S. departure. Afghan intelligence services say the Taliban are preparing for a massive Tet Offensive-like terror campaign this summer. Their aim: to overthrow the government and establish a jihadist Emirate and a global terror launching ground. The collapse of the Gains of The Past 20 Years: Lastly, it is morally imperative that America does not abandon its allies  the Afghan people. America and the world made significant investments in both blood and treasure in Afghanistan over the last 20 years. Close to a trillion dollars spent, thousands of U.S. and NATO soldiers sacrificed, and over 50,000 Afghan soldiers died fighting to establish democracy, allow girls to enroll in schools, and empower women to participate in society. The country has a modern, women-friendly constitution, a free press, and a robust civil society. While the gains are remarkable, they are fragile, nonetheless. A premature withdrawal will certainly result in the return of a Taliban jihadist clerical regime, waste all of these sacrifices and hard-fought gains, and usher in the collapse of the current regional order that will greatly harm America's national interest. Action for Next Steps: President Biden should revise the Doha deal. A new agreement should follow a five-year plan and must require the Taliban to agree to and abide by a full ceasefire for a period of 10 months. The deal must have a robust verification mechanism for compliance. During the first year of ceasefire -- the U.S., in coordination with the Afghan government and NATO allies -- should help move the peace talks inside Afghanistan. This is important because negotiators must be attached to the realities on the ground to engage in honest talks. An expensive tropical vacation spot like Doha doesnt cut it. The parties should discuss the formation of a future participatory government based on fair and free elections as per the timetable in the Afghan Constitution. That future government should include Taliban members in it, in due time, as part of a national reintegration effort. In the second year, the Taliban must go through disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration process. In the third year, they should be able to participate in local parliamentary elections. By the fourth year, a fully disarmed, demobilized Taliban could participate in national elections with a formula to form a participatory government at the end of the current government term. Taliban must agree to respect women's rights, international human rights, sever ties with Al-Qaida and other terrorists, and pose no threat to other nations. Throughout this process, the U.S. should remain in Afghanistan with a strong residual force to see through this five-year plan. There is already bipartisan support behind troops remaining in Afghanistan. Biden is also not tied to any campaign promise of troop withdrawal. The cost of the war is already significantly lower compared to what it used to be a few years ago. And Afghans are doing the fighting themselves. It is far cheaper to remain and contain threats in Afghanistan than to leave, render America vulnerable to attacks, and then be forced to re-deploy the military.

During a rally for justice in Memphis, in his final and emotionally moving speech I have been to the mountaintop," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. narrated an inspirational biblical story  the Parable of the Good Samaritan. While traveling on a dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho, the Good Samaritan stumbles upon a man in need  beaten up and injured by robbers. While other passersby ignore the injured man due to self-concern, the Good Samaritan decides to stop and help -- out of concern for the suffering of the man in need. Drawing on this parable, Dr. King called on Americans to march for social justice and the rights of sanitation workers in Memphis, not because of self-interest, but out of concern for those deprived workers. Dr. King implored, "the question is not if I stop to help this man in need, what will happen to me. The question is: If I do not stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to them.

As such, the moral question is not if America stays to help the Afghan people, what will happen to America. As Ive described, America has national security reasons to stay. The moral question is  if America does not stay in Afghanistan, what will happen to Afghan women and girls?

America is the Afghan peoples Good Samaritan. As Dr. King said, nothing would be more tragic than to stop at this point in Memphis. Afghanistan, in its current situation of dire need, is Americas second Memphis. President Joe Biden should keep a minimum deterrent footprint of hard and soft power in Afghanistan until the mission is complete.

Rafi Khetab is a national security analyst and Vice President of Operations at CAPITALIZE LLC, a DC-based government consulting firm. He previously worked for the U.S. government in Afghanistan for several years. He holds two advanced degrees in international relations and security from Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service, and the American University, School of International Service.
Future Retail, which operates retail stores such as Big Bazaar, FBB, Foodhall, Easyday and Nilgiris, saw its net loss widening to Rs 846.92 crore during December quarter of 2020, as business operations continued to face the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. The Kishore Biyani-led company had posted consolidated net loss of Rs 692.36 crore in the September quarter of the current fiscal and a net profit of Rs 164.56 crore in the year ago period.

The consolidated revenue from operations plunged by 71 per cent to Rs 1,506.87 crore during Q3 FY21 as against Rs 5,193.19 crore of the corresponding quarter last fiscal, the Future Group company said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. The company's revenue from operations stood at Rs 1,424.11 crore in September quarter of 2020.

The total expenses of the company, whose board in August last year approved the amalgamation of Future Retail along with other group companies with Future Enterprises Limited to facilitate Rs 24,713 crore deal to sell the retail and wholesale businesses to Reliance Retail, declined more than half to Rs 2,391.43 crore in Q3 FY21, from Rs 5,042.46 crore in Q3 FY20.

Also Read: Future Group shares rise up to 10% after Delhi HC lifts 'Status Quo' order on RIL deal

On COVID 19 pandemic, the company said it has assessed its impact on business operations and has considered all relevant internal and external information available up to the date of approval of these financial results, in determination of the recoverability and carrying value of financial assets and non-financial assets.

"The company will continue to closely monitor any material changes to future economic conditions. The company continues to take various precautionary measures to ensure health and safety of its customers, employees and their families from COVID-19 pandemic," it added.

Also read: How Future Retail is at JioMart's mercy

On legal battle with Amazon over proposed deal with Reliance Retail, Future Retail said it has filed a suit before Delhi High Court to injunct Amazon.com Investment Holdings LLC. (Amazon) from interfering with the scheme. "Hon'ble Single Judge has passed an interim order in which it was prima facie held that the company resolution dated August 29, 2020, approving the scheme, the company-Reliance transaction and Future Coupon consent for the scheme and Reliance transaction are valid," it said.

"The said judgement further prima facie held that Amazon interference on the basis of incorrect representation is civil wrong against the company and Reliance, however no injunction was granted. The court also prima facie held that conflation of the two shareholders agreements will be in violation of FDI regulation and also directed statutory authorities to decide on the application in accordance with the law," it added.

Also read: SEBI ban on Kishore Biyani, others won't sway Reliance deal, says Future Retail

In a respite to Future Retail, the Delhi High Court on Monday stayed the implementation of a single-judge order to the company and various statutory authorities to maintain status quo regarding the Rs 24,713 crore deal with Reliance Retail. On February 2, the single-bench court of Justice JR Midha had blocked Future Group's deal with Reliance Industries after Amazon raised objections.

The court also turned down Amazon's request to keep its order in abeyance for a week so that it can explore appropriate remedies. The court also issued notice to Amazon and sought its stand on FRL's appeal by February 26 when it will commence day-to-day hearing of the matter.

Also read: SEBI bars Kishore Biyani from accessing securities market for 1 year

Boosted by the Delhi High Court order, shares of Future Retail ended trade 9.97 per cent higher at Rs 80.50 apiece on the BSE on Tuesday.
Kumawood actor, Kofi Adu, known in the showbiz circle as Agya Koo, has said players in the movie industry deliberately conspired and plotted his downfall after he refused to go naked in a movie in which he depicted the legendary Komfo Anokye.



According to him, he stormed out of the movie set upon the insistence of the director that he goes naked in a river, something Agya Koo said he vehemently argued and stood against.



After that incident, Agya Koo said all movie producers and directors in Kumawood ganged up against him and boycotted all films in which he starred or had anything to do with.



I have no equal in the movie industry, Agya Koo told Accra-based Kingdom plus, adding that he is a real heavyweight with no worthy contender.



My acting talent towers above all in the industry; not even Lil Win comes any close to me, he said.

Source: adomonline.com









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Addis Ababa, Feb 08, 2021 (SPS) -The Saharawi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Salem Uld Salek, affirmed on Monday, the recent statements in which the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs attacked Algeria after the defeats of his country in the AU XXXIV Summit are plagued with fallacies that will inevitably lead Morocco to the abyss.

In statements to SPS, in response to the allegations of the Moroccan Foreign Minister, Uld Salek considered that "the usual fallacies of the Moroccan Foreign Minister, and the insistence of his country in continuing the policies of occupation and expansion and threatening all neighbors, will finally lead the kingdom to an abyss.

The 34th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, by video conference in due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has clearly demonstrated that Morocco has no sovereignty over Western Sahara, rejecting the Moroccan maneuver aimed at setting up infrastructure projects in West Africa across the occupied zones of Western Sahara.SPS

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Photo: The Canadian Press

A South Dakota judge on Monday struck down a voter-approved constitutional amendment that legalized recreational marijuana after Gov. Kristi Noem's administration challenged it.

Circuit Judge Christina Klinger ruled the measure approved by voters in November violated the state's requirement that constitutional amendments deal with just one subject and would have created broad changes to state government.

Amendment A is a revision as it has far-reaching effects on the basic nature of South Dakotas governmental system, she wrote in her ruling.

Brendan Johnson, who sponsored the amendment and represented a pro-marijuana group in court, said it was preparing an appeal to South Dakota's Supreme Court.

Two law enforcement officers, Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Rick Miller and Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom, sued to block legalization by challenging its constitutionality. Miller was effectively acting on behalf of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who had opposed the effort to legalize pot.

Klinger was appointed as a circuit court judge by Noem in 2019.

Today's decision protects and safeguards our constitution, Noem said in a statement. I'm confident that South Dakota Supreme Court, if asked to weigh in as well, will come to the same conclusion.

Thom also praised the ruling, saying it solidifies the protections of a 2018 constitutional amendment that required further amendments to stick to one subject.

In her ruling, Klinger said that marijuana legalization would have touched on business licensing, taxation and hemp cultivation. The amendment would have given the states Department of Revenue power to administer recreational marijuana, but Klinger ruled that by doing so, it overstepped the authority of the executive and legislative branches of government.

Lawyers defending legalization had cast the lawsuit as an effort to overturn the results of a fair election. About 54 per cent of voters approved recreational marijuana in November.

Possessing small amounts of marijuana would have become legal on July 1, but that will not happen unless a higher court overturns the ruling.

Marijuana has become broadly accepted around the United States, with a Gallup Poll in November showing 68% of Americans favoured legalization. South Dakota was among four states that month to approve recreational marijuana, along with New Jersey, Arizona and Montana. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have done so.

Supporters have argued that legalization creates jobs and raises tax money for governments that badly need it. Opponents have argued that marijuana leads to use of harder drugs, and may also lead to more impaired driving and other crimes.
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Exposure to sexual assault in the U.S. military doubled the odds that a service member would leave the military within 28 months, and sexual harassment was associated with roughly 8% of all military separations during this same time period, according to a new report from the RAND Corporation.

Specifically, the report estimates that sexual assaults were associated with 2,000 more separations than would normally be expected, and another 8,000 separations were associated with sexual harassment.

"Sexual assault and sexual harassment are associated with a wide range of harms to individual service members, but this study highlights another negative impact of these crimes - higher rates of attrition and associated harms to force readiness." said Andrew Morral, senior behavioral scientist at nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND and lead author of the report. "We estimate that sexual assaults and harassment of service members that occurred in a single year were associated with the premature loss of at least 16,000 person-years of service over the following 28 months."

The researchers found that separations from the military following sexual assault or sexual harassment are disproportionately voluntary, meaning the service member opts not to reenlist of their own volition. This trend harms military readiness as well as the wallets of affected service members, according to the report. Because military compensation is weighted toward retirement and deferred benefits, those who leave the service early may forego considerable compensation.

Further, while separations from the military following sexual assault or sexual harassment are disproportionally voluntary for both men and women, the research shows that men are especially likely to seek voluntary separations following a sexual assault or sexual harassment.

To combat these separation and force readiness issues, the authors recommend that the Department of Defense prioritize sexual harassment training, prevention and response, including highlighting its prevalence among both male and female service members. Additionally, the DoD should continue to study how reporting a sexual assault affects separation.

The report, drawing on findings from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study and military separation data from 2015-2016, assesses the effects of sexual assault and sexual harassment on service members' decisions to leave military service. Completed in 2019, and recently cleared for publication by DoD's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO), the report is the latest in a series of reports that take a more detailed look at specific findings from the initial survey.

It is likely that the actual numbers of military separations caused by sexual assault and sexual harassment are underestimated because this study only reflects a 28-month window of time and thus only a fraction of all the sexual assault and sexual harassment experiences during the careers of the service members included in the 2014 study.

###

Other authors of the report, Effects of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment on Separation from the U.S. Military: Findings from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace, are Miriam Matthews, Matthew Cefalu, Terry Schell and Linda Cottrell.

The research was sponsored by the DoD and conducted within the Forces and Resources Policy Center of the RAND National Security Research Division.

The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. To sign up for RAND e-mail alerts: http://www. rand. org/ newsletters. html

RAND is a registered trademark

document

The continued poor performance of children from Matabeleland region in public examinations needs urgent corrective attention from authorities and resources channelled towards priority areas, activists have said.

The 2020 Grade Seven results came out on Friday last week, with a national pass rate of 37. 11 percent, a decrease of 9.79 percent from 2019's national pass rate that stood at 46.9 percent.

The school calendar suffered knocks last year when schools were closed prematurely in March to contain the spread of Covid-19 while learners had to resort online learning, which posed challenges especially for poor communities that had no telecommunication infrastructure.

Results showed that nine of the top ranked schools were in Harare while Bulawayo did not have a school ranked in the top 40.

88 schools countrywide recorded a zero pass rate while the 10 worst schools with zero pass rate are in Matabeleland.

The low pass rate in Matabeleland prompted concerns from activists who cited a lack of resources and infrastructure as a reason why schools in the region failed.

Ibhetshu LikaZulu, Secretary-General, Mbuso Fuzwayo told CITE that the low pass rate in Matabeleland could be attributed to the government's initiated deliberate marginalisation, which had to be addressed immediately.

"We congratulate learners in general and specifically those from disadvantaged backgrounds that have managed to pass during the Covid-19 tough period coupled by the government's initiated deliberate marginalisation. The continued poor results mainly from Matabeleland now needs urgent serious corrective attention," he said.

Fuzwayo said the low pass rate was a sad development that had been going on for years.

"This can be attributed to lack of restorative justice after Gukurahundi genocide, the region lost a lot of infrastructure and human resource that would have made the region at par if not better than the rest of the country," he said.

"We have warned repeatedly that lack of initiatives, which seriously address this sad loss will have adverse effects on the development of this country and may result in conflict in future."

The activist noted that a "remorseful and humane" government would have by now initiated what he described as a "Marginalised Equalisations Fund" that could be five percent of the national budget.

"This fund can be aimed at developing Matabeleland and Midlands regions to the level of other areas in the country that are developed while these regions were deliberately marginalised," Fuzwayo said.

The learning period in Zimbabwe was also punctuated by teachers' incapacitation, aggravated by the government's failure to provide Covid-19 equipment to schools.

Fuzwayo also urged the government to seriously address remuneration concerns of the teachers.

"The government must continuously engage them so that the students receive a good service from the motivated teachers, for a positive result. The teachers have raised grievances that have not been taken into consideration by the government" said the activist.

Fuzwayo said Ibhetshu LikaZulu was seriously concerned by the government's failure to address the education of marginalised areas or distribute resources accordingly.

"The consequences may be dire for our country, the government is advised to take serious corrective measures," he noted.

Outspoken leader of Mthwakazi Republic Party, Mqondisi Moyo, added that the government must deploy teachers conversant in local languages in Matabeleland.

"The continued deployment of Shona teachers in schools in Mthwakazi particularly Matabeleland North contributes to zero pass rate. Failure to do so shows us this a well calculated move to promote the 1979 Grandplan, which talks of taking over the running of schools in Matabeleland and Midlands," he alleged.

Moyo said the government must consider allowing the deployment of teachers to be done at district levels such as before.

"Now teachers come all the way from Harare to be deployed to schools in Matabeleland to come teach Early Child Development classes, yet cannot converse in local languages, something which is not happening in Mashonaland," he claimed.

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The MRP leader said on another note, the Grade Seven results of 2020 should have been nullified because not much learning took place.

"2020 was just a year which never existed. Parents were supposed not to allow their children to sit for the exams. The results don't reflect the negativity of Covid-19 on education, especially those parents or guardians who could not afford extra lessons," Moyo said.

Critical studies scholar, Khanyile Mlotshwa concurred that some schools in Matabeleland were still reeling from the effects of Gukurahundi.

"These are the effects of Gukurahundi that destroyed infrastructure and killed personnel. Its effects are now felt in the social fabric of society and in Matabeleland including the pass rate of Grade Seven leaners. There are other factors contributing to such the low pass rate and a national discourse or interrogation has to be done to improve the education sector and pass rate while schools that are behind infrastructurally should be well resourced to catch up," he said.

Source: Centre for Innovation and Technology (CITE)
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump was "horrified" when violence broke out at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, as a joint session of Congress convened to confirm that he lost the election, according to his defense attorneys.

Trump tweeted calls for peace "upon hearing of the reports of violence" and took "immediate steps" to mobilize resources to counter the rioters storming the building, his lawyers argued in a brief filed Monday in advance of Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate. It is "absolutely not true," they wrote, that Trump failed to act swiftly to quell the riot.

But that revisionist history conflicts with the timeline of events on the day of the Capitol riot, as well as accounts of multiple people in contact with the president that day, who have said Trump was initially pleased to see a halt in the counting of the electoral college votes. Some former White House officials have acknowledged that he only belatedly and reluctantly issued calls for peace, after first ignoring public and private entreaties to do so.

The assertion that Trump acted swiftly and out of genuine horror as his supporters ransacked the Capitol is largely a side note to his lawyers' defense. In their 78-page brief, they focused on two legal arguments: that the Constitution does not allow for the conviction of an impeached former officeholder and that Trump's speech to the crowd on Jan. 6 was political rhetoric protected by the First Amendment.

In a test vote earlier this month, the majority of Republican senators indicated that they will be receptive to a defense based on the question of whether the proceedings are constitutional.

But the decision by Trump's attorneys to also assert a claim about Trump's reaction that day in a footnote to their legal brief could give the House impeachment managers an opening as they prosecute their case. Among the possible witnesses who could rebut the contention that Trump moved quickly to rein his supporters are Republican senators who will now sit as jurors in the impeachment trial - some of whom have spoken publicly about their failed attempts to get the president to act expeditiously when his supporters invaded the Capitol.

"It took him awhile to appreciate the gravity of the situation," Sen. Lindsey O. Graham, R-S.C., one of Trump's most loyal supporters, said in an interview with The Washington Post two days after the riot. "The president saw these people as allies in his journey and sympathetic to the idea that the election was stolen."

That same day, Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., told conservative radio broadcaster Hugh Hewitt that it was "not an open question" as to whether Trump had been "derelict in his duty," saying there had been a delay in the deployment of the National Guard to help the Capitol Police repel rioters.

"As this was unfolding on television, Donald Trump was walking around the White House confused about why other people on his team weren't as excited as he was as you had rioters pushing against Capitol Police trying to get into the building," he said,indicating that he had learned of Trump's reaction from "senior White House officials."

Sasse declined to comment on Monday, saying he was a juror in the trial.Graham did not respond to requests for comment.

A spokesman for Trump's defense team did not respond to requests for comment.

For many White House aides, lawmakers and others who had been ensconced in the Capitol, Trump's actions after the riots began were particularly offensive - even more objectionable, some said, than what he did to incite the crowd.

"President Trump did not take swift action to stop the violence," the nine House impeachment managers wrote in their opening brief submitted last week, adding: "This dereliction of President Trump's responsibility for the events of January 6 is unmistakable."

- - -

Weeks before the joint session of Congress, Trump had summoned the crowd to Washington for a protest to coincide with counting of the electoral college votes. In the days leading up to the rally on the Ellipse, Trump was consumed with the event, former White House officials said, as he met with aides to plan the speakers, music and even staging.

On Jan. 6, Trump spent part of his morning making a final pitch to Vice President Mike Pence to derail the proceedings. The president tried to convince Pence to use his ceremonial role presiding over the joint session of Congress to reject slates of electoral college votes that confirmed Joe Biden's victory.

"All Mike Pence has to do is send them back to the States, AND WE WIN. Do it Mike, this is a time for extreme courage!" Trump tweeted at 8:17 a.m.

Trump also kept up the pressure privately, calling Pence before he left his home at the Naval Observatory for the Capitol and making one last effort to push him to try to overturn or delay the election results, former White House officials said.

Instead, Pence informed the president on the call that he would soon be issuing a public statement arguing the Constitution did not allow him to interfere with the counting of the vote.

Trump's mood immediately soured, aides said.

As the thousands of people gathered on the Ellipse, Trump monitored warm-up speeches by attorneys Rudolph Giuliani and John Eastman from the White House. Around midday, he left the White House and made his way to his a tent set up for VIPs near the stage. In videos posted on social media by his son Donald Trump Jr., the president can be seen intently watching the gathering crowd, surrounded by family members and aides.

A permit filed with the National Park Service for the event explicitly said there were no plans for an "organized march" from the Ellipse after the rally concluded.

But some publicity for events that day, including ads posted to a website called www.marchtosaveamerica.com, urged participants to "take a stand with President Trump" at the Ellipse and then "march to the US Capitol building to protest the certification of the Electoral College."

And Trump was taken with the idea that he might lead the crowd in a dramatic walk along Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol and raised it with aides days before the event, according to an official with knowledge of the discussions, who was among more than 15 advisers, members of Congress, GOP officials and Trump confidants who described his actions to The Washington Post last month, many speaking on the condition of anonymity to share candid details.

Even after the Secret Service and advisers around Trump nixed the idea for security reasons, according to former officials, Trump still included several references to such a march in his speech.

"After this, we're going to walk down and I'll be there with you," Trump said early in his speech. Later, he added, "I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard." He concluded: "So let's walk down Pennsylvania Avenue!"

Instead, Trump returned to the White House.

Even before Trump's speech was over, thousands of his supporters turned and began marching toward the Capitol.

There was already a large crowd gathered around the complex. By the time Trump had finished his 70-minute speech, Pence had gaveled open the joint session inside the Capitol. Outside, crowds were surging toward the building and already overwhelming metal barricades set up outside.

Soon, cable news reports showed rioters clashing with police outside the building.

By 1:49 p.m. - nearly an hour after the Capitol Police chief had urgently requested backup from D.C. police - Trump remained focused on his recently concluded speech.

He tweeted a video of his own remarks, adding the caption, "Our country has had enough, we will not take it anymore, and that's what this is all about."

At 2:11 p.m., the rioters broke into the building, smashing a window with a piece of lumber, video footage shows.

Minutes later, Pence was hustled from the Senate Chamber. First the Senate, and then the House, went into recess and lawmakers were hastily evacuated.

A spokesman for Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has said that around this time Lee received a call on his cellphone from Trump.

The president was not calling to inquire about the well-being of the senators who had been rushed from the chamber. Rather, he thought he had the phone number for Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who had said he would object to the electoral votes of some states. Trump was hoping to persuade Tuberville to expand his challenges and slow the process further.

Lee's spokesman did not respond to requests for comment this week.

Not long afterward, at 2:24 p.m., Trump tweeted: "Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution . . . USA demands the truth."

Inside the Capitol, the pro-Trump mob had just come within seconds of encountering Pence, who had been rushed into a hideaway by his Secret Service detail.

Speaking Sunday on Fox News, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., questioned whether the tweet, sent as the invading mob was marauding through the Capitol, was "a premeditated effort to provoke violence."

- - -

At the White House, Trump's aides began fielding panicked calls from members of Congress, including close allies who had long been loyal to the president. They had promised they would vote against the counting of the electoral college votes - but begged him now to tell the crowd to stand down.

Graham reached out to Trump's daughter Ivanka, who had gone to the Oval Office as the riot began, to implore her for help, he said in the interview last month.

"They were all trying to get him to speak out, to tell everyone to leave," Graham said of the aides huddled with Trump that day. The senator said he did not know why it took so long to get the president to respond.

Another close adviser said that rather than appearing appalled, Trump was voraciously consuming the events on television, enjoying the spectacle and encouraged to see his supporters fighting for him.

At some point, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was persuaded by staff to attempt to intervene with the president.

Finally, at 2:38 p.m. - more than 90 minutes after the siege had begun - Trump tweeted, "Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!"

One person familiar with discussions about what the president should tweet said Trump had resisted adding the final phrase: "Stay peaceful."

A little after 3 p.m., acting defense secretary Christopher Miller authorized full activation of all 1,100 members of the D.C. National Guard after urgent requests from the Capitol Police.

While Trump's defense attorneys claim he and the White House "took immediate steps to coordinate with authorities," the president played no known role in organizing reinforcements that day.

Among those who reached out to Trump that afternoon was House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., a close Trump ally, who later told allies he found Trump watching events on television and distracted.

Concerned his request for the president to intervene had not gotten through, McCarthy followed up with Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and asked him to get Trump to urge the rioters to go home.

At 3:13 p.m., a little more than an half-hour after his first tweet, Trump tweeted again. This time he wrote more forcefully: "I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order - respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!"

Another hour passed. During this time, as rioters surged through the building and reveled on the Senate floor, Trump made no effort to check on the well-being of his vice president or his team, who were sheltering in place in the Capitol complex. Aides said that lack of outreach angered Pence more than anything else Trump did before or after the riot. Five days passed before the two men spoke again.

Trump also did not make contact with Sen. Mitch McConnell, R.-Ky., then the Senate majority leader, who was in constant communication with Pence, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., aides said, along with military and law enforcement officials. Trump did not participate in any of the group calls.

Shortly before 4 p.m., former New Jersey governor Chris Christie went on ABC News and said that he had been trying without success to reach Trump for 25 minutes.

"The president caused this protest to occur; he's the only one who can make it stop," Christie, a close Trump confidant, said he had hoped to tell the president.

At 4:17 p.m., more than an hour after his last public comment and as police continued to wage hand-to-hand combat with rioters trying to press into the building, Trump posted a video to Twitter in which he told crowd directly, "You have to go home."

But he also expressed sympathy for them and their cause. Trump insisted the election had been fraudulent, adding, "There's never been a time like this when such a thing happened when they could take it away from all of us."

"Go home. We love you. You're very special," he said.

Trump aides later said that the video was considered the best of three separate takes he filmed that day.

As a curfew called by Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D, fell over the city at 6 p.m., Trump tweeted again. This time, he went even further in expressing sympathy for his supporters and their actions.

"These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long," he wrote. "Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!"

In The Post interview two days after the riot, Graham called the tweet "very unhelpful" and expressed confusion about why Trump had not acted more forcefully during the riot. "I'd like to know more," he said then.

In the immediate wake of the riot, Meadows was already telling people that Trump had wanted the violence to end immediately,according to an administration official at the time.

The official said it was "not believable" then - or now, when presented by Trump's lawyers. A spokesman for Meadows did not respond to a request for comment.

The House impeachment managers are expected to argue that Trump could have restrained the mob if he had acted more swiftly and forcefully.

In a new brief filed Tuesday, the impeachment managers wrote: "President Trump barely attempts to justify his abject failure to stop the riot after it began, and confines his entire discussion of the point to a convoluted footnote that hardly offers any response or explanation at all."

Comments by some of those who allegedly invaded the Capitol support the notion that they would have responded if Trump had told them to back down earlier in the day.

In a video posted to the social media site Parler on the afternoon of Jan. 6, Jacob Chansley - who was photographed in the well of the Senate chamber, wearing a headdress of animal fur and horns - told an unnamed person after he exited the building that he had done so because Trump had tweeted that the rioters should leave.

"Donald Trump asked everybody to go home," Chanlsey said. "He just put out a tweet. It's a minute long. He asked everybody to go home."

- - -

The Washington Post's Ashley Parker, Philip Rucker and Dalton Bennett contributed to this report.
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Matt Hancock today rolled up his sleeves to pose for a series of stern photographs ahead of announcing the latest suite of border curbs introduced to help Britain battle the Covid-19 crisis.

The Health Secretary took a leaf out of Rishi Sunak's book as he was seen striking several poses inside the Department of Health base, including leaning on the back of his chair and folding his arms and staring intensely ahead.

In other images, he's pictured resting against a window with his arms crossed and appearing perplexed during a phone call - the London skyline seen in the floor-to-ceiling window beside him.

He then walks across the room rolling up his sleeves as he works to finesse his Commons statement, with the Health Secretary later seen leaving the building in a 'Protect the NHS' mask with a red document folder tucked under his arm.

The images, captured by freelance photographer Simon Dawson and reminiscent of those taken ahead of the Chancellor's Winter Economy Plan in September, were released by Downing Street following the announcement of tougher border measures this afternoon.

The Health Secretary today said he made 'no apologies' for the harsh measures, warning that protecting the UK from variant Covid strains that can potentially evade vaccines is 'mission critical' - and hinting they might need to be in place until the Autumn.

The Health Secretary (pictured) was seen striking several poses today, from leaning on the back of his chair to folding his arms and staring intensely into a screen

The images, captured by freelance photographer Simon Dawson and reminiscent of those taken ahead of the Chancellor's Winter Economy Plan in September, were released by Downing Street following the announcement of tougher border measures this afternoon

The action has been taken to prevent the influx of foreign strains of Covid-19, like those that have emerged in South Africa and Brazil.

As of Monday, travellers from 33 high-risk 'red list' countries will be forced to spend 10 days in 'quarantine hotels', and all arrivals must test negative three times through gold-standard PCR coronavirus tests before being allowed to freely move around the UK.

Anyone who lies about whether they have been to places on the banned list recently will face up to 10 years in prison, he told MPs.

Mr Hancock also declared that 4,600 rooms have now been secured by the government from 16 hotels so the 'quarantine hotel' system can get up and running as planned on Monday, although the Department of Health refused to name them.

All incomers from 'red list' countries must stay in the rooms for 10 days, costing 1,750 each including food and drink and their testing bill.

Arrivals from dozens of high-risk countries on the 'red list' will have to test negative 72 hours before travelling, and then be screened again twice, on day two and day eight.

In other images he's pictured resting against a window with his arms crossed and appearing perplexed during a phone call - the London skyline seen in the floor-to-ceiling window beside him

The Health Secretary today said he made 'no apologies' for the harsh measures, warning that protecting the UK from variant Covid strains that can potentially evade vaccines is 'mission critical' - and hinting they might need to be in place until the Autumn

As of Monday, travellers from 33 high-risk 'red list' countries will be forced to spend 10 days in 'quarantine hotels', and all arrivals must test negative three times through gold-standard PCR coronavirus tests before being allowed to freely move around the UK

Failure to stick to the hotel quarantine will be punishable with a fine of up to 10,000, Mr Hancock said.

Meanwhile, all other travellers will also have to show a negative result before coming to the UK, and then face two more tests while isolating at home or in other private accommodation.

The government has not said how much that will cost although typically it is around 120 per test.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health announced 12,364 more coronavirus cases and 1,052 deaths in the past 24 hours as the winter wave continues to shrink because of lockdown.

Both figures have dropped by more than a quarter compared to last week, with today's infections down 26.6 per cent on last Tuesday's figure and deaths by 27.4 per cent. The number of Covid patients in hospital has also fallen by a fifth in a week, with nearly 27,000 beds now taken up by Covid sufferers.

The action has been taken to prevent the influx of foreign strains of Covid-19, like those that have emerged in South Africa and Brazil. Pictured: Mr Hancock today

The Health Secretary is later seen leaving the building in a 'Protect the NHS' mask with a red document folder tucked under his arm

Anyone who lies about whether they have been to places on the banned list recently will face up to 10 years in prison, Mr Hancock today told MPs

The DoH revealed another 356,291 coronavirus jabs were administered yesterday, with 12.6million Brits having now received their first dose. With six days still to go, No10 is within touching distance of delivering on its target of injecting the 15million most vulnerable by February 15.

In his Commons statement this afternoon, Mr Hancock was confronted by a series of senior Conservatives over when the restrictions might ease  and whether the goalposts were being shifted on relaxing the wider lockdown.

Former chief whip Mark Harper, chair of the lockdown-sceptic CRG bloc of around 70 MPs, urged the government to reconsider its approach with Covid likely to be a permanent issue. 'If the virus continues to mutate, surely the risk is going to be there forever,' he said.

Pictured: Rishi Sunak in September, ahead of announcing his Winter Economy Plan to help Britain recover from the pandemic

The Chancellor was previously pictured in a series of publicity snaps released by the Treasury to mark his Winter Economy Plan

How will the new border rules work? Matt Hancock has announced details of the tougher border measures to MPs. RULES FOR RED LIST TRAVELLERS People will be required to test negative for coronavirus 72 hours before departure, using a kit that meets UK government standards. On arrival they will be taken to a 'quarantine hotel' for a 10-day stay that will leave them with a 1,750 bill - although the government pays up front. They will be tested again on day two and day eight of quarantine, with costs included in the wider charge. RULES FOR NON-RED LIST The same requirement for a negative test result 72 hours before departure applies. Once in the UK, they must isolate for 10 days at home or in private accommodation, with the authorities able to check that they are obeying the rules. Tests will be required on day two and day eight of isolation, and must be booked through a government portal in advance of travel. The portal will be launched on Thursday. The costs are not yet known but PCR tests typically cost around 120 a time. It is thought many people will opt for the test and release scheme - which means they can escape restrictions after testing negative on day five. However, Mr Hancock suggested they will still be required to take tests on day two and day eight - meaning they could be screened four times in total. Advertisement

Tory MP Craig Mackinlay told MailOnline that he was sceptical about the border crackdown and it might do 'more damage than it tries to solve'.

He added: 'This whole trying to stop things from coming in, I think we are way beyond that frankly. The virus does its own thing no matter where it is.'

'I think it is a little bit abstract to say this is uniquely South African and if we close the border to South Africa it won't come in.

'These things will mutate no matter where it is, in any population around the world. I'm not sure it doesn't do more damage than it is trying to solve.'

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy firm the PC Agency, said the government needs to signal restrictions will be diluted from the start of April so travel can recover.

He said 'The government needs to signal that these tougher restrictions will be diluted from the start of April, enabling travel to recover again.

'Otherwise, the huge drop in travellers and number of flights will push the sector over a cliff-edge, with the resulting hundreds of thousands of job losses and business failures.'

He added: 'The outlook may seem cloudy right now, as government tightens restrictions for those entering the UK.

'But, when infection and mortality rates are much lower and the NHS is not under pressure due to vaccines taking effect, then there is no reason for such measures to be in place.'

It came as one of Oxford's vaccine chiefs, Professor Andrew Pollard, said today the South African variant was not a 'reason for alarm' and jabs should work to prevent hospitalisations and deaths and reduce the disease to 'the sniffles'.

Boris Johnson is due to unveil his 'road map' for easing the lockdown in the week of February 22, by which time the four most vulnerable groups should have received vaccine doses.

Schools are set to be the first things back from March 8, but the concerns about mutant strains have sparked warnings from scientists that any relaxation must be slower.

Buckhead is, by common consensus, the swankiest neighborhood in Atlanta. Actually, it isn't just a neighborhood  it's a collection of mini-neighborhoods that occupy the northernmost fifth of the city and contain 78,000 people. It has a skyline dominated by high-rise office buildings, luxury condominiums and expensive shopping malls. But it is also home to a whole network of quiet streets with large single-family houses.Not everybody thinks Buckhead is beautiful, but everyone realizes it is rich. Some of its districts have a median household income of more than $300,000. That makes it, by most accounts, the wealthiest neighborhood in any southern state. Critics and promoters alike have long called it the Beverly Hills of the South.Buckhead was actually a jurisdiction unto itself until 1952, when it was formally annexed by the city of Atlanta, in part to take advantage of its money. Since then, its residents have had relatively little to complain about.But they are complaining now. Last fall, a group called the Buckhead Exploratory Committee was formed to consider the possibility of seceding from Atlanta and becoming a separate jurisdiction. The group, which boasts some of the area's prominent business leaders, has been holding town meetings and is commissioning a poll to see what the majority of residents think of the idea. There have been occasional separatist rumblings over the years, but they have not been taken seriously. This one, however, sounds a little more serious.One thing we know is that losing Buckhead would have dramatic consequences for Atlanta. The city, which has been narrowly divided between white and Black candidates in recent mayoral elections, would become solidly African American. But it would also become poorer. Buckhead, with less than 20 percent of the city's total population, pays 47 percent of its property taxes and contributes 38 percent of total city revenue. There are some powerful reasons for Atlanta to want to keep it.Why do a substantial number of Buckhead residents want to go their own way? The first thought that comes to mind is that the motivating factor is race. Buckhead is about 80 percent white; if it separated it would be a white enclave surrounded by a city estimated to be 51 percent Black. So it could be that the affluent whites of Buckhead are afraid of becoming marginalized in a mixed-race community.But that doesn't quite work. Buckhead's Black population isn't increasing noticeably; the percentage of Black residents was higher in 1930 than it is now. A large percentage of the African Americans who do live in Buckhead are affluent professionals themselves. And in any case, Buckhead is far from a hotbed of conservatism: In 2020 it gave more than 60 percent of its presidential vote to Joe Biden.of the Atlanta rich? It's not primarily race. It's crime.That may seem surprising. Buckhead is actually one of the least crime-plagued areas of Atlanta, as you might expect. But as is the case with traffic congestion, it isn't the absolute incidence that worries people most, it's the rate of increase. And serious crimes are starting to happen in Buckhead at an alarming rate. In 2020, gunfire was heard seven different times at the high-end Lenox Square shopping mall. At the nearby Phipps Plaza, a 7-year-old girl was shot and killed while Christmas shopping. Altogether, aggravated assaults were up 31 percent in Buckhead during the past year. That's enough for anybody to notice.A large number of these offenses, and perhaps the scariest, were carjackings. In November alone, the following events took place: A 73-year-old man was shot fatally in a botched carjacking in front of a Goodwill Store at a Buckhead strip mall. Two would-be Samaritans were shot as they tried to stop a carjacking at a drycleaners. A woman was carjacked in the garage of her luxury apartment building.The local police commander declared that "the type of violence that we're seeing right now is something I haven't seen before  just the blatant disregard for law enforcement." City officials were conceding that there was a serious problem. "Citizens are a bit weary," said City Council President Felicia Moore, "shaken by the number of violent incidents that are taking place." A Buckhead resident lamented that "you wouldn't think you'd have to be scared home alone." But a significant number of neighborhood citizens admitted that they were. The Buckhead Exploratory Committee lists as one of its goals a community in which citizens "feel safe and secure due to requisite levels of police presence."was part of a phenomenon that involved the entire city of Atlanta. There were 95 murders in the city in 2019. In 2020, there were 150  an increase of 57 percent.But Atlanta was not an outlier in this respect. The number of murders in 51 large American cities increased by 36 percent in 2020 , according to the criminologist Jeff Asher. Less-serious crimes showed a similar trajectory: Shoplifting was up nearly 50 percent over the course of a single year.The numbers from last year in the United States as a whole marked a dramatic reversal of the decline in violent crime that had been taking place for the past quarter-century. Between 1993 and 2019, violent crime in the U.S. decreased by 59 percent. New York is the best example. In the early 1990s, there were more than 2,000 murders a year in the city. By 2014, that number was down to 328. As far as experts could tell by looking at homicides, 2014 was the safest year in the history of Gotham. The murder rate in the nation as a whole did tick up slightly in 2015 and 2016, but after that it basically leveled off until the spike came last year.As the number of violent crimes declined over the past 25 years, the fear of crime among Americans declined along with it. In the 1990s, roughly 30 percent of U.S. citizens said crime was the most serious public problem facing the country. By 2010, that was down to 5 percent. I haven't seen any recent polling that suggests crime has shot to the top of the list in recent months  we have lots of other pressing problems to worry about  but it seems inevitable that the percentage will start to go up again soon.What's behind the most recent crime spike? Nobody knows for sure. But perhaps it's pertinent to point out that no one is exactly sure why crime went down in the first place. No single answer will suffice.There is the decline of the lethal street gang wars that accompanied the crack epidemic of the late 20th century. Gangs are still responsible for most of the violence in the poorest areas of American cities, but their manic large-scale destructiveness began to fade away in the mid-1990s, about the same time as the murder rate started going down. The breakup of the high-rise public housing units in our largest cities took away the biggest concentrated breeding ground for criminal offenses.More controversially, there was the "broken windows" policing and heightened surveillance that took hold on inner-city streets around the same time, and the mass incarceration for minor offenses, especially drug offenses, that hit hardest in African American neighborhoods. There is no denying the excesses of these get-tough policies, or the human damage that they inflicted on a highly vulnerable community, but there is also no point in denying their impact on the crime rate. The lowest estimates are that broken windows and mass incarceration reduced violent crime by about 10 percent; other responsible studies put the number at 25 percent. Either way, they made a significant difference.Patrick Sharkey of New York University, perhaps the nation's most respected student of changing crime rates, adds one more factor: He believes that volunteer-staffed neighborhood and community safety and rehabilitation groups, such as the Ceasefire operation in Boston , may have been the most important single factor in the two-decade violent-crime respite.If all of those factors contributed to the decline of crime, what can we point to if we want to understand its return? The coronavirus obviously has something to do with it; economic hardship is a plausible explanation for why arrests for petty thievery have skyrocketed in some places in the past year. It is harder to pinpoint a connection between the virus and the increased murder rate. Inner-city jobs have been disappearing for decades now, with no connection to a spike in murders.What might connect to the murder rate is the drive for less aggressive policing, fostered by the actions of protest movements like Black Lives Matter, by the efforts of progressive local governments to rein in hardline police practices, and perhaps by the individual decisions of police officers themselves to steer clear of confrontational situations. The effect of changing police behavior on spiking crime is a subject that touches off militant disagreements, even among the most respected criminology professionals. The truth is that we just don't know the answer.is unlikely to get anywhere. It would require the approval of the Georgia Legislature, and even though Georgia is more sympathetic to these kinds of efforts than most other states, that would be a long shot. It would also require a majority vote from Buckhead residents, and given the opposition of the most influential segments of the local business community, that is not likely either. And even if Buckhead were to become an independent entity, as it once was, there is no obvious reason why violent crime would decline there. Much of the recent violence in the community appears to have been generated by perpetrators coming from outside the Atlanta area.But the one thing we can be reasonably sure of is that the spike in violent crime nationally will generate intense reactions like the one that has been sweeping through Buckhead in the last couple of months. Maybe they will lead to a flowering of the volunteer community safety organizations that Patrick Sharkey believes are the best answer to controlling crime on the street. Maybe they will lead to a less benign vigilantism in neighborhoods that have never worried much about violent crime and are now panicked about it. One prediction seems safest of all: This is not something that is going to happen only in Atlanta.
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South Australian health authorities say there were no active coronavirus cases on the charter flight that took some of the worlds leading players to Adelaide ahead of the Australian Open.

Benoit Paire, the world No.29 who was one of 72 players forced into hard lockdown in Victoria due to flying into Melbourne on the same plane as someone who later tested positive for COVID-19, had claimed there was a positive case on the flight to Adelaide.

Paire also criticised tournament organisers for their shameful treatment of players during quarantine ahead of the grand slam event and said the lack of training due to strict restrictions contributed to his first-round exit.

Benoit Paire blamed his time in quarantine in Australia for his first-round loss at the Australian Open. Credit:Getty Images

There was also a positive case on the flight to Adelaide, but there, they had time to take blood samples. We were told to quarantine, said Paire after he lost in four sets to Egor Gerasimov of Belarus on Monday.
The operator of a newly built multi-billion-dollar casino that dominates Sydney's skyline was declared unsuitable to hold a gambling license Tuesday, following allegations of money laundering and links to organised crime.

A public inquiry recommended Crown Resorts -- long run by media scion James Packer -- should be denied a license to run the casino at the gleaming 75-storey tower on Sydney's waterfront over its failure to tackle the accusations.

The New South Wales Liquor and Gaming Authority had commissioned the probe into Crown's operations more than a year ago, after media reports that existing Crown casinos in Australia were used to launder profits from human trafficking, drugs, child sexual exploitation and terrorism.

Former Supreme Court judge Patricia Bergin reported Crown was "not suitable" for a license and had been "facilitating money laundering" and doing business with groups linked to triads and other organised crime organisations.

She pilloried the company for having "poor corporate governance, deficient risk management... and a poor corporate culture" and recommended a slew of reforms before the Sydney project could open to punters.

The report noted it took 14 months for Crown to address media reports of money laundering, and some in-company investigations "only commenced in earnest" weeks before the casino was due to open last year.

At the time, a company lawyer told the inquest late that illicit funds were "probably" laundered through two high roller accounts at the company's operations in Perth and Melbourne.

Crown insists it has since fixed shortcomings and in a brief statement on Tuesday said it was "currently considering the Inquiry Report".

Trade in shares of Crown -- which has a market capitalisation of more than US$5 billion -- were halted on the Australian Securities Exchange ahead of the release of the report.

The findings and recommendations will now be considered for formal adoption by regulators.

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Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on February 8 for a delegation of ambassadors and chief representatives from UN agencies in Vietnam led by Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator in the country.

An overview of the meeting

The PM said that Vietnamese people experienced a tough year in 2020 but still with many achievements, noting that the country is dealing with a new COVID-19 outbreak.

He said that the recently-concluded 13th National Party Congress defined the strategy and desire for national development to 2025 with visions to 2030 and 2045. He stressed that in order to meet the countrys goal, the efforts of entire Vietnamese people as well as support and assistance from international community are significant.

Currently, Vietnam is working hard to curb the latest COVID-19 outbreak that hit the nation since late January, he said, adding that so far, the situation in hotbeds has been basically controlled.

Amid difficulties, Vietnam treasures the priceless support from foreign friends and hopes to receive more assistance, he stated.

For his part, Malhotra congratulated Vietnam on the success of the 13th National Party Congress as well as the countrys achievements in controlling COVID-19 hotbeds and protecting peoples health.

He clarified that the UN and Vietnam have shared sound relations, expressing his belief that the ties will continue to develop in the future.

The UN always prioritises strengthening partnership with Vietnam and supports the country in anti-COVID-19 vaccine, expressing his view that vaccine should be a global goods that need to be provided free to people.

Lauding Vietnams quick response to the pandemic, he said that the COVAX Programme is ready to deliver first vaccine lots to countries by late February.

He said he hopes Vietnam will manage to provide the vaccine for 70-80 percent of the population.

Malhotra said he hailed Vietnams initiative to take December 27 as the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness.

He suggested that the Vietnamese Government set up an inter-sectoral mechanism at highest level to manage peoples health issues and prevent the spread of diseases from animals to human.

Kidong Park, Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Vietnam, expressed determination to accompany with Vietnam towards a future with strong growth. The WHO commits to continuing to cooperate with Vietnam in bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, he said.

At the meeting, the ambassadors and representatives affirmed their wish to strengthen the strong coordination with Vietnam in all fields, while supporting and working closely with the country in its national development.

PM Phuc underlined that the UN ambassadors and representatives are important partners of Vietnam. He lauded their efforts in promoting ties between the agencies and Vietnam over the years.

He extended his thankfulness for the support of the international community to Vietnam in the fight against COVID-19, and thanked the UN and WHO as well as the international community in implementing the COVAX Programme with the allocation of vaccines to 20 percent of the Vietnamese population. Vietnam hopes to receive vaccines from the programme soon, he stated.

Regarding the consumption and trafficking of wildlife, the PM clarified that the Vietnamese Government has classified this as a serious crime. The government has directed the strengthening of law enforcement and the implementation of international commitments and conventions in the field, he said, adding that Vietnam will apply drastic measures to prevent the illegal wildlife trafficking, hunting and consumption. He expressed his hope that the country will receive further support from the international community in the work.

He said that during the 13th Party Congress, the Communist Party of Vietnam gave a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance and underlined the need for the promotion of the countrys role as a responsible member of the international community, especially at the ASEAN, UN, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and Mekong Sub-Region, while deepening the partnership with important friends and partners.

The PM affirmed that Vietnam hopes to tighten partnership with international organisations and important partners, suggesting that the UN, WHO and UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) continue assisting Vietnam in realising Sustainable Development Goals, while building cooperation programmes for next periods to suit Vietnams development orientations.

He asked countries and organisations to support Vietnam in implementing the countrys three strategic breakthroughs as well as dual targets of combating COVID-19 and recovering and boosting socio-economic development.

On the occasion of the New Year of the Ox, the PM wished the ambassadors and representatives good health, happiness and achievements in performing their roles./.VNA
Clinical trials of the combination of Sputnik V and AstraZeneca vaccines will begin in February 2021

The studies will assess the immunogenicity and safety of combined vaccine usage

The joint research is important in developing an approach to combat future mutations

MOSCOW, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund) announces that the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan has issued a permit on February 8 to conduct clinical trials in the country of a combined use of Sputnik V and the vaccine developed jointly by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. Clinical trials will begin till the end of February.

RDIF, The Gamaleya Center, AstraZeneca and R-Pharm had earlier signed a Memorandum of Intent aimed at cooperation in vaccine development, which was announced in December 2020 during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The world's first combined vaccine use will be conducted in line with clinical trials protocol registered on December 24, 2020.

The study will allow evaluating the immunogenicity and safety of the combined use of Sputnik V and the vaccine jointly developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. The research will be carried out over the course of six months in several countries with 100 volunteers recruited in each.

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said:

"We need to join our international efforts and use the most advanced solutions to defeat the coronavirus. A publication in the leading peer-reviewed medical journal, The Lancet, showed Sputnik V to be 91.6% efficacious. It is only one of three vaccines in the world with efficacy of over 90%. We are ready to develop cooperation with other manufacturers to increase the number of affordable and effective vaccines. The partnership for the clinical study of the combination of the AZD1222 vaccine with the adenoviral vector Ad26 of the Sputnik V vaccine has become the first and very important example of such cooperation in the world."

Alexey Repik, Chairman of the Board of Directors of R-Pharm, said:

"R-Pharm has been actively working with the Republic of Azerbaijan for several years, we opened a modern production facility here in 2019, later in 2020 we registered two drugs from our anti-COVID portfolio: Artlegia and Coronavir. This pilot study is vital for developing of a new approach to the prevention of COVID-19, moreover the leading scientific and clinical centers of Azerbaijan will be able to make their own important contribution in this direction."

About Sputnik V

Sputnik V vaccine uses the unique technology of combining two different vectors based on human adenovirus, which allows for a stronger and longer-term immune response compared to vaccines using the same vector for two shots. The regimen with two different adenoviral vectors for a prime and a boost immunization helps to avoid immunity to the first vector, which is formed after the first inoculation, and thus to raise efficacy of the second inoculation and create long-term immunity. This regimen is one of the reasons why the vaccine shows efficacy of over 90%, with full protection against severe cases. Among the leading COVID-19 vaccines only Sputnik V is using the two different vectors technology.

About AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

The AstraZeneca vaccine was developed by the University of Oxford in conjunction with Vaccitech. It uses a replication-defective chimpanzee viral vector based on an attenuated version of the common cold virus (adenovirus) that causes infection in chimpanzees, and contains genetic material from the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) spike protein. After vaccination, the surface spike protein is synthesized, which leads to the formation of an immune response to SARS-CoV-2 with possible subsequent infection with this virus.

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is Russia's sovereign wealth fund established in 2011 to make equity co-investments, primarily in Russia, alongside reputable international financial and strategic investors. RDIF acts as a catalyst for direct investment in the Russian economy. RDIF's management company is based in Moscow. Currently, RDIF has experience of the successful joint implementation of more than 80 projects with foreign partners totaling more than RUB2 tn and covering 95% of the regions of the Russian Federation. RDIF portfolio companies employ more than 800,000 people and generate revenues which equate to more than 6% of Russia's GDP. RDIF has established joint strategic partnerships with leading international co-investors from more than 18 countries that total more than $40 bn. Further information can be found at www.rdif.ru.

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SOURCE Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF)
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A Revolutionary Court in Iran has sentenced a law professor to seven years in prison after convicting him of "cooperating with an enemy state."

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported on February 8 that Reza Eslami, a professor at Tehran's Shahid Beheshti University, had been also banned from teaching and leaving the country.

The sentence, subject to appeal, was issued by Judge Abolghassem Salavati, who presides over Branch 15 of Tehrans Revolutionary Court. Salavati was placed under U.S. sanctions in 2019 for issuing harsh sentences against journalists, activists, and others.

Eslami, a dual Iranian-Canadian national and a graduate of Canada's McGill University, was arrested in May and charged with "cooperating with an enemy state through his participation in a law training course in the Czech Republic," HRANA reported.

Eslami reportedly dismissed the charges against him as "baseless" in an audio recording released from prison, where he also said that his academic work was free of "political, security and foreign-relations issues."

A total of 15 people have reportedly been charged over the case. Of those, 14 have been acquitted of the charge of cooperating with the United States.

People close to the professor have said that the training course was organized by a Czech NGO that receives funds from the United States.

They had said that Eslami, who taught human rights and the rule of law before his arrest, had no contacts with anyone from the U.S. administration.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington rose dramatically under the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who imposed a campaign of "maximum pressure" against the Islamic republic.

In recent years, Iran has imprisoned a number of academics and dual nationals on espionage charges. They include French-Iranian anthropologist Fariba Adelkhah, who was arrested in June 2019 and given temporary prison leave last October.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda and the BBC
[February 09, 2021] Capgemini Makes Pension Administration Digital for a Large Pension Fund in the Netherlands

Capgemini has announced the "go live" of a digital pension solution and the provisioning of modern pension administration services for Pensioenfonds Detailhandel. This will be available to Pensioenfonds Detailhandel's over 1.2 million participants as well as employers in the retail industry. To achieve this, a team of seasoned pension specialists at Capgemini (News - Alert) designed and deployed a new digital pension solution, with Capgemini providing ongoing services. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005842/en/ Capgemini designed the solution for Pensioenfonds Detailhandel to ensure that pension administration can be carried out almost entirely digitally. This enables Pensioenfonds Detailhandel to provide better customer experience, capture cost savings, and to address new pension regulations enacted in the Netherlands. With deep experience in the pension industry, Capgemini optimized pension administration operations through its solution enabling high levels of Straight Through Processing on secure cloud technology. A a global services provider, Capgemini used economies of scale and reduced existing administration costs through innovation.



"Capgemini's new solution enables us to innovate our services, with lower operational costs, and achieve our strategic objectives. We're pleased that Capgemini can invest time and energy in personal contact with our participants and their employers, which is essential in an increasingly personalized pension system," says Rene Upperman, Managing Director of Pensioenfonds Detailhandel. With the advent of new pension regulations in the Netherlands, there is expected to be further consolidation over the coming years. In addition to the implementation of the new regulations, there are other drivers disrupting the pension administration market. These include the reconsideration of pension funds on whether to continue to operate independently, the changing requirements of participants and stakeholders, the need to reduce operational costs and customer's desire for both traditional and digital services.

"The flexibility of Capgemini's pension solution with its ability to accommodate various requirements of pension administration allows us to deliver digital experiences that regulators, participants, employers and pension funds are seeking," said Jorge Sobrino, Head of Financial Services at Capgemini, Netherlands. About Capgemini

Capgemini is a global leader in consulting, digital transformation, technology, and engineering services. The Group is at the forefront of innovation to address the entire breadth of clients' opportunities in the evolving world of cloud, digital and solutions. Building on its strong 50-year heritage and deep industry-specific expertise, Capgemini enables organizations to realize their business ambitions through an array of services from strategy to operations. A responsible and multicultural company of 265,000 people in nearly 50 countries, Capgemini's purpose is to unleash human energy through technology for an inclusive and sustainable future. With Altran, the Group reported 2019 combined global revenues of 17 billion. Visit us at www.capgemini.com. About Pensioenfonds Detailhandel

With over 1.2 million members and assets of EUR 32 billion, Pensioenfonds Detailhandel is one of the larger pension funds in the Netherlands. The pension fund invests its assets in shares, bonds and real estate. We invest responsibly so that a good pension can be paid out in the future (and over several generations). Visit us at www.pensioenfondsdetailhandel.nl. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005842/en/

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During last days of the 2020 Lunar Year, or the Year of the Rat, David Levett, a British software scientific expert, is still busy studying and manufacturing new products with his colleagues at TMA Innovation Park in Quy Hoa Valley, Quy Nhon City, the central Binh Dinh Province.

Giving back to hometown

With 30 years of experience in the IT sector in the UK, Levett made a 10-day trip to Vietnam a few years ago and felt like it was the right place for him. In 2019, Levett left his country for Ho Chi Minh City to work for TMA, a software company with around 2,000 engineers and 1,000 partners from 25 nations.

September 2020 marked the completion of the first phase of the TMA Innovation Park in Binh Dinh Province, allowing Levett and his associates to begin working in Vietnam.

David Lavette, a UK software expert, is working with his young colleagues at TMA Innovation Park in Quy Hoa Valley, Quy Nhon City, central Binh Dinh Province. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre

I love the Vietnamese people and culture in general and the residents, climate and scenery in Quy Nhon in particular. Aside from TMA leaders determination in developing the software innovation park in Quy Nhon, Binh Dinhs authorities have a strong will to attract investment for high-tech science and technology. More and more investors have come to develop high-tech industrial, IT and AI projects in Binh Dinh. I believe that they have made a right, strategic decision, Levett noted, adding that he has married a Vietnamese woman and they are going to settle down in Quy Nhon City.

Located in the Quy Nhon scientific urban area, TMA Innovation Park is next to the International Center for Interdisciplinary Science and Education operated by Prof. Tran Thanh Van.

Dr. Nguyen Huu Le, head of TMA Company, who is a native of Phu My District in Binh Dinh, said the investment of VND154 billion (US$6.65 million) in the innovation park is a way to express his gratitude to his hometown.

Most central Vietnamese provinces share one thing in common  poverty, with the richest natural resource being their hardworking and studious people. However, without specialized scientific centers, most students move to big cities to find a job after graduation, instead of returning to their hometowns to build up a career. The development of the TMA Innovation Park not only turns out new software products serving partners in Vietnam and abroad but also lures software talents, who hail from central localities, and creates jobs for fresh graduates majoring in IT, mathematics and engineering, Le said.

On May 8, 2019, when Truong Gia Binh, chairman of FPT Corporation, brought key personnel of the leading Vietnamese IT company to the central Binh Dinh to work and survey, he felt potential as local authorities considered science and technology as the foundation for sustainable growth.

This [orientation] urged FPT to set up a base in Quy Nhon City, which focuses on AI as its distinction compared with other facilities nationwide. FPT pledged to turn Quy Nhon into a large AI center at not only national but also international level, Binh said at that time.

Without any hesitation, the corporation implemented FPT University  Quy Nhon AI Campus project, which is slated for completion in the near future, in Dong Da Ward, Quy Nhon City, with the invested capital of nearly VND694 billion ($29.9 million). The university is expected to provide high-quality manpower with strong AI expertise and skills for Binh Dinh and the whole country.

Quy Hoa scientific urban area in Quy Nhon City, central Binh Dinh Province. Photo: Dung Nhan / Tuoi Tre

In November 2020, FPT won a contract to develop a complex of AI center and supporting urban area, covering 94 hectares in Quy Nhon and having an investment of over VND4.3 trillion ($185.7 million). The project will include technology development research centers with high AI concentration, software production facilities and AI specialized urban areas.

Expectation for a breakthrough

In December 2020, Binh Dinh Provinces chairman Nguyen Phi Long, attended two back-to-back meetings with a due diligence delegation for Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Company KG from Germany, a global leader with a 100-year history offering hot stamping foils as well as other anti-fake and bar code technologies. Andreas Hirschfelder, senior vice president of the group, said it has operated factories in China and Malaysia. However, it is considering choosing Vietnam as a center and giving priority to Binh Dinh Province.

According to chairman Long, Kurz has signed a memorandum of understanding with Binh Dinh so it will propose building a coating and thin film technology factory worth $100 million, with the first stage deployed at a cost of $40 million.

Determining high technology as the long-term orientation, Binh Dinh has become the house of Becamex Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) Binh Dinh, an industrial  urban  service complex. Construction of the project started in September 2020 on an area of around 1,000 hectares in Van Canh District with an investment of VND5 trillion ($215.9 million) in the first phase. Nguyen Van Lang, director of Becamex Binh Dinh JSC, said the complex will only accommodate enterprises investing in clean, advanced and environmentally friendly technologies. Aside from a vision to attract $2-6 billion from investors, the project is expected to become a modern industrial urban and service zone, creating thousands of jobs and generating revenue for the central province in the future.

In late 2020, local government granted in-principle approval to Germanys PNE Group to deploy an advanced wind power project off Phu Cat and Phu My Districts with the combined capital of US$4.8 billion, including from 154 to 156 turbines having the total capacity of up to 2,000 MW.

Its visionary to attract investment in high-tech, IT, AI and clean technologies as investors face few limits in material and fuel sources and enjoy green development benefits. This is an important reason for me to bring my family to settle down in Binh Dinh after eight years of working in Ho Chi Minh City since graduation, said Nguyen Viet Duy, a software engineer in TMA Innovation Park.

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Significant financial aid for Irish airlines is the only option available to prevent industry collapse, an Oireachtas Committee on transport will hear.

Pilot and worker unions will encourage members of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications that thousands of jobs are at risk unless there is Government intervention.

In its opening statement, the Irish Air Line Pilots Association (IALPA) will encourage members to lobby the Government for financial support for the aviation industry.

If international travel is to be suppressed into the future, then significant financial aid is the only option available to avert sectoral collapse, the IALPA writes.

If the Government acts to suppress travel, then the Government must also act to save our airlines from the destruction that such interventions cause.

An 80m support package for the sector announced in November was essentially a grant for Irish airports, according to the union, with the funds leftover for the airlines at best, covered a few days worth of losses.

Forsa, which represents 5,000 workers in the aviation industry, said that the mortgage and debt incurred by aviation workers in the past 11 months will be a burden for years and that workers and families are under massive strain.

It is highly likely  if not certain  that aviation will be among the last industries to emerge from this crisis, the union writes in its opening statement.

The union will tell the Committee that workers need an aviation income support scheme similar to that in place in Germany, Government dialogue with employers and unions and an extension of mortgage payment breaks in 2021.

Travel agents will also make a desperate plea to the Oireachtas Committee for a bespoke response.

We have had to remain open to clients to facilitate refunds with practically zero income for almost two years, the Irish Travel Agents Association writes in its opening statement.

If Nphet and the Government want to close down International Travel for a year they need to put in place the appropriate level of supports if they want to have an Irish travel industry when International Travel can safely resume.

Connect, an engineering trade union, will also warn that Aer Lingus may move aircraft from Shannon Airport. The union will request that the airport be returned to be a part of the DAA as the separation has been a failure.
A Ghanaian-owned company, OMV & Sons, has moved to help curb road crashes in the country with the launch of new puncture prevention and tyre life extender.



The product dubbed: Puncture Safe is a United Kingdom (UK).



Puncture Safe was first introduced onto the Ghanaian market in 2019 but was officially launched in the country by OMV & Sons on Saturday, February 6, 2021.



Speaking at the launch in Accra, the Operations Manager of OMV & Sons, Jemima Siaw Yeboah, told the press that Puncture Safe covers largely the inner tyre at speed and that when a puncture occurs, the centrifugal forces of the rotating tyre, plus internal pressure and escaping air, forces the Puncture Safe gel into the puncture and a permanent seal is created.



She noted that Puncture Safe also serves as Tyre coolant, adding that it will help to protect lives on roads in Ghana.



According to her, Puncture Safe was 95% organic, water-based and environmentally friendly.



She explained that it was one-off use until the tyres are entirely worn out, adding Puncture Safe comes in three grades namely high speed, heavy duties and extra heavy duties.



Meanwhile, COP Francis Ebenezer Doku, Commander, Service Workshops in Ghana Police Service, in a speech read on his behalf at the launch, recommended Puncture Safe for use by every motorist in Ghana.



He stated that it has proven to be very effective.

Source: Melvin Tarlue









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Uncharacteristically, the mainstream media in Bihar has been reporting news on Bihars corruption and urban chaos in Patna for the last few months. While the muck raised by the opposition on the score of dozens of scams could be dismissed as malicious propaganda, the admission of Sri Jitan Ram Manjhi, the CM of Bihar, that corruption had gone up in and in fact as a minister in the previous government he himself had to pay a bribe of Rs. 5000 to get his electricity bill rectified cannot be dismissed lightly.1

Bihars mythical rise from the ashes as the model of good governance - its peace and tranquility, double digit growth, transparency in governance - had caught the imagination of the nation. So the two views of the Bihari reality are deeply confusing. Is it a crisis in mimesis or is this apparent free fall for real?

In November 2005 the Nitish Kumar government came to power in Bihar riding the popular wave of anger against the RJD regime which had acquired a place in the history of political infamy for corruption, mismanagement and lawlessness. An abundant fund of goodwill had accrued to the incumbent regime even before it had given any account of itself - good or bad - merely because it had dispatched the seemingly invincible RJD regime into oblivion. It also carried a heavy burden of public expectation and the government did take up the task of rapid development and good governance in right earnest.

The post Animal Husbandry scam RJD regime had severely restrained public spending; it was difficult to get past the treasury for anything but the most essential housekeeping expenses and regulatory functions like police etc. Deferral of financial decisions became the norm in bureaucracy for anyone who valued his career. However, a confident government armed with peoples trust and mandate for rapid development was not afraid to unshackle its bureaucracy and the financial rules were liberalized much beyond their dreams.

The several fold increase in public spending in Bihar dramatically enlarged the corruptive interface for the public servant. More and more areas of our concern became the subject matter of bureaucratic scrutiny and control due to the enactment of many new, legislations and regulations etc. The opportunities for rent seeking and corruption increased enormously. So did the need for much greater vigilance. But there was a huge asymmetry between the capability of the anti-corruption agencies - ill equipped, poorly staffed, unprofessional, disheartened and above all placed largely under risk-averse officers - whose own past record could not bear much scrutiny - and the enormous challenge at hand. The situation was ideal for the loot to commence and the need of the hour was to crack the whip in earnest.

The government seemed to be serious about its efforts. But at the same time it was even more serious to be perceived to be doing that much  often more - to earn the maximum political dividend. So with equal energy it set about the task of building its image on a global scale. In a professional manner, it set about projecting the change in government as a millennial event. 25th November 2005 became the temporal marker separating two distinct periods in history, two different modes of being in Bihar. As a matter of considered strategy Biharis were never allowed to forget the nightmare that they had left behind nor of the ever present danger of reverting to the same state of undifferentiated chaos, should the governments hands be weakened.

Aware of the huge potential and global reach of the social media the non-resident Biharis were feted and treated by the government like royalty at the state sponsored annual conclaves. They in turn, became the greatest messengers of the gospel of resurgent Bihar to the four corners of the earth. They patrolled the social media sites with great energy and hundreds of guardian spirits would materialize from the cyberspace to stamp out with finality even mildly critical references to the government on the social network sites. (They seem to have departed now or have they taken up other causes.) It was a fertile climate for mythologies and superstitions to grow and proliferate! One of them was that the public sphere had been cleansed and this transparent government free from corruption was a model to be emulated.

The media was more than compliant in reinforcing the beliefs. Its efforts were supplemented by the implacably hostile elements of privileged society, civil servants, industrialists, businessmen, and intellectuals who had been tirelessly reporting about the misrule of Lalu Prasad .Their opinion constituted the common sense on Bihar and now they became the self-appointed troubadours, the intellectual outriders of the new regime.

The media appeared keener than the government itself to propagate its drive against corruption. It recycled and endlessly highlighted seizure of one house, raid against one IAS or IPS officer creating an illusion of a hyperactive vigilance. Instead of deploying its resources to verify the extravagant official claims, expose the fake and fictitious and of course endorse the sincere efforts, a large section of the media generally took the government hand outs as the authorized version of truth. Non-official versions of reality were all but obliterated through a clever sleight of hand.

Reporting of news can make inroads in the public consciousness only if relayed on particular frequencies; there are levels above which they are reduced to being endless background chatter just as the low key positioning of others drowns it in a cacophony of insignificant verbiage. This became a specialized media industry.

On the other hand to advertise the Bihari millennium became a collective, coercive creed imposing a moral obligation linked as it became with the issue of Bihari pride. Some said it was voluntary servitude; others called it paid labour. That Bihar was in the grips of a different kind of tyranny was soon evident - the tyranny of (manufactured?) public opinion.

Sadly, the government of the day had begun to live by the image of its infallibility and incorruptibility created by the media. The consequences were disastrous. In absence of uncomfortable questions to the government, as the years passed by, the crowd sourced version of the extent of corruption in Bihar diverged more and more with the official reality, much to the delight of the corrupt. In the fissure between the fact and the projection of it they could operate peacefully, thank you very much.

The same tendency to earn money through misuse of public office made worse by a noticeable slide towards unashamed casteism, whose reality no one had imagined or foreseen, became evident to neutral and impartial observers quite early. But those who reported contrary to the official line ceased to be credible witnesses. In the absence of standard outlets it spawned a samizdat whose co-evolution took place with the over ground story. But this one was whispered behind the ears. Or published in little known news portals - notably Bihar Times  which kept flagging off issues of urgent concern for the more resourceful media to pick up. They rarely did.

To illustrate the point two quotes from media insiders, reporting back to us about what they think, and also as outsiders, as shocked and angry about it as ordinary citizens might be quite apposite. Amarnath Tewari quoting2 Press Council of India wondered aloud: Has the fourth state in Bihar been sold out?... The state government is using media for its own publicity and propaganda and the newspapers in the state have totally surrendered to the government for their only sources of revenue, government advertisements.

Saroor Ahmad, another well respected journalist from Bihar, was even more forthright and blamed the media for being complicit in the loot by refusing to highlight repeatedly ..rampant loot right from secretariat to panchayat level . 

Nine years down the line there was the devil to pay on both sides. The ruling party took its punitive drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections 2014 for rampant corruption as a verdict against transparency and good governance. So it appears to have, more or less, abandoned the agenda of good governance and reverted to its old terms of appeal: in caste identity, in the priming of the latent psychological markers, and exploiting the innate hostility and suspicion between castes.

We in Bihar discovered at considerable cost to ourselves that if the media essays the role of a lap dog instead of its appointed role of a watch dog it can have disastrous consequences for democracy as well as for media itself. Marching confidently all the while, to the applause and encouragement of a large section of the media, we have hit the tunnel at the end of light!

1 http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/when-bihar-cm-manjhi-had-to-pay-a-power-bribe/1/377015.html

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/bihar-cm-confesses-nitish-couldnt-cut-graft-i-paid-a-bribe/



2 http://asiancorrespondent.com/97706/bihar-an-indian-state-muzzles-its-media/



India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
Montgomery County schools has agreed to settle two lawsuits filed by students who claimed they were not given a chance to defend themselves and were wrongfully expelled from high school in 2019.

Under the settlement agreement, approved by the board on Feb. 5, the school district will remove the expulsions from the students academic records and provide educational services to make up for the 14 months they were out of school, according to a press release from the Southern Poverty Law Center, which filed the suits on the students behalf last year.

According to the lawsuit, the two Lee High School students were not allowed to participate in their own school disciplinary hearings, nor attend an appeal. Both actions also violated school board policy, the suit alleged.

People should care about this case because the same way it affected me, could happen to another student, said JaMarius Patterson, one of the students who was expelled. I wish the school would have went off what the judge said when I was innocent.

The students were expelled after a 17-year-old boy was shot inside the schools gym in February 2019, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.

Police did not claim either of the two students involved in the lawsuit were the shooter, but believed video captured the two students with a gun at school. No gun was located at the time. Both were expelled after being charged with possessing a firearm on school premises and making terroristic threats.

According to the SPLC, video footage actually showed the students exchanging a cell phone after the shooting occurred. Both students were acquitted of criminal charges after a hearing in Montgomery County Juvenile Court.

Last year, the district denied the students assertions of a lack of due process.

SPLC attorneys said the cases highlight a need for Alabama to enact a law requiring schools to formalize a procedure for students when they are facing exclusionary discipline like long-term suspensions or expulsions. The organization had previously filed similar suits in Elmore County and Athens City. According to the organization, Alabama is the only state in the southeast not to have that requirement in state law.

Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, told AL.com Tuesday he will file a bill this week to formalize a requirement for due process in school disciplinary hearings.

Our young people in school are not protected by a Constitutionally-guaranteed right of due process, Smitherman said.

It doesnt do any good just to arbitrarily discipline our young people  and inconsistently do it  and not have a process in place, he said, so all of them have a chance for their side to be expressed and then have a formal procedure in which it should be done thats consistent all over the state.

He sponsored a similar bill last year which passed the Senate with a 26-4 vote. Last years bill did not get a vote in the House as the 2020 legislative session was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Smitherman said he has made changes to that bill in response to concerns raised last session.

Without due process, our clients were excluded from a public education based on a false accusation and without a hearing to prove their innocence, said SPLC attorney Claire Sherburne. Exclusionary discipline is an ineffective and antiquated strategy, but so long as schools continue with this practice there must be a state law to ensure a fair and consistent disciplinary process for all students.

The district will pay for educational services worth thousands of dollars according to the news release, but the exact amount has not been released. The students can catch up on coursework they missed while out of school and either graduate from the district or earn a GED.
Rep. Debbie Lesko, (R-Ariz.) looks on as witnesses deliver their opening remarks during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing in Washington, on June 20, 2019. (Tom Brenner/Getty Images)

House Lawmaker Reintroduces Bill to Deny Senior CCP Officials US Visas

Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) has reintroduced legislation with the aim of preventing the Chinese regime from stealing U.S. intellectual property by denying visas to people with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chinese military.

The bill, named the Stop Chinas IP Theft Act, would prohibit the issuing of visas to senior officials of the CCP and their spouses and children. These officials include those in the Politburo, a group of the Partys 25 most elite members; the Central Committee, comprising the key leadership; and delegates to the 19th National Congress, a once-in-five-years Party conclave.

Also banned are cabinet members of Chinas central government and active-duty members of Chinas military, the Peoples Liberation Army.

We cannot continue to tolerate Chinas attempts to steal our intellectual property, stated Lesko according to a Feb. 8 statement from her office.

She added: This legislation is critical in safeguarding our intellectual property and combating the global threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party.

I am reintroducing the Stop Chinas IP Theft Act to prevent Chinese Communist Party officials and their families from coming into the U.S. until China stops their attempts to steal our intellectual property. https://t.co/oIE3nacPY1  Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@RepDLesko) February 8, 2021

Lesko first introduced the bill (H.R.8764) in November last year. The reintroduced bill is co-sponsored by Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Scott Perry (R-Pa.), Greg Steube (R-Fla.), Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.), and Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.).

The visa ban would be lifted once the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) certifies to the Judiciary committees in both the House and Senate that the Chinese regime has ceased sponsoring, funding, facilitating, and actively working to support efforts to infringe on the intellectual property rights of citizens and companies of the United States, according to the language of the bill.

Under the Trump administration, the Justice Department carried out numerous prosecutions against Chinese nationals and Americans for concealing their ties to China or alleged IP theft from U.S. firms and institutions to benefit China.

For example, a Chinese professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was arrested and charged in mid-January for failing to disclose his work with entities tied to the CCP.

On Jan. 13, a senior NASA scientist pleaded guilty to lying about his ties to a Beijing-backed talent program. The CCP has rolled out numerous talent programs in an effort to harvest talents from developed countries and transfer intellectual property to China.

Avril Haines, the current director of national intelligence, said during her Senate confirmation hearing last month that she believes the CCP is an adversary to the United States in some areas while partners in others.

Haines predecessor, John Ratcliffe, in an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal in December last year, said China poses the greatest threat to America today, and the greatest threat to democracy and freedom world-wide since World War II.

The intelligence is clear: Beijing intends to dominate the U.S. and the rest of the planet economically, militarily, and technologically, he added.
O.pen Cured Resin will be available exclusively at 73 Trulieve dispensaries across Florida

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) -SLANG Worldwide Inc. (CNSX: SLNG) (OTCQB: SLGWF) ("SLANG" or the "Company"), a leading global cannabis consumer packaged goods (CPG) company with a diversified portfolio of popular brands, announced today that its best-selling, premium vape product line, O.pen Cured Resin, is now available in Florida, exclusively with Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company based in the United States.

Chris Driessen, CEO, said, "Trulieve has differentiated itself as a key player in the Florida market and we are thrilled to expand our existing partnership with them to bring more SLANG products to medical cannabis patients in the state. Cured Resin has established itself as one of our top performing O.pen products and we expect to see similar demand for the brand at Trulieve's dispensaries from Key West to the Panhandle."

O.pen Cured Resin is the second SLANG product to be offered in Florida under its strategic partnership with Trulieve, in addition to O.pen Cured Resin batteries and cartridges. O.pen Cured Resin products will be available for purchase at all 73 of Trulieve's licensed dispensaries across Florida, with plans to offer the product in additional markets where it operates. The product comes in half-gram sizes and is made with pure cannabis-derived terpenes for a flower-like experience that consumers love.

Valda Coryat, Trulieve's chief marketing officer, commented: "Expanding patient access to high-quality, natural relief in safe, reliable, and innovative product formats is core to our business. We're thrilled to offer O.pen Cured Resin to patients and consumers who have come to expect best-in-class products at our dispensaries."

O.pen is the number two best-selling cannabis brand in the U.S. since 2014, according to BDS Analytics. O.pen Cured Resin made with small batch, same strain cannabis derived terpenes that are reintroduced to the strain specific oil they were fractioned from. This allows for the end-user to have a first-class vaping experience that is true to the flower.

To be added to SLANG's email distribution list, please email SLNG@kcsa.com with "SLNG" in the subject.

About SLANG Worldwide Inc.

SLANG Worldwide Inc. is a global leader in the cannabis CPG sector with a diversified portfolio of popular brands distributed across the United States. The Company specializes in acquiring and developing market-proven regional brands as well as launching innovative new brands to seize global market opportunities. For more information, please visit www.slangww.com.

About Trulieve

Trulieve is primarily a vertically integrated "seed-to-sale" company in the U.S. and is the first and largest fully licensed medical cannabis company in the State of Florida. Trulieve cultivates and produces all of its products in-house and distributes those products to Trulieve-branded stores (dispensaries) throughout the State of Florida, as well as directly to patients via home delivery. Trulieve also has operations in California, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF.

To learn more about Trulieve, visit www.Trulieve.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the completion of the Acquisition.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management of SLANG at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and contingencies that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to regulatory risks, risks related to the COVID-19 global pandemic, changes in laws, resolutions and guidelines, market risks, concentration risks, operating history, competition, the risks associated with international and foreign operations and the other risks identified under the headings "Risk Factors" in SLANG's final long form prospectus dated January 17, 2019 and "Risks and Uncertainties" in the management discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019 and six months ended June 30, 2020, each as filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. SLANG is not under any obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

Media and Investor inquiries

Investors@SLANGww.com

KCSA Strategic Communications

Phil Carlson / Elizabeth Barker

SLANG@kcsa.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73959
Global technology leader Hitachi ABB Power Grids has been awarded a key contract by state-owned Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) to provide high-performance grid stabilisation technology to help improve power quality and expand transmission capacity in the strategic Owainat development area in southwest Egypt, where desert wasteland is being reclaimed for agricultural use.

The contract was signed in the presence of the Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Dr Mohamed Shaker.

This strategic project will provide EETC with a fully engineered solution based on a 200-megavolt ampere (MVAR) Statcom to be connected to the existing 220 kilovolt (kV) Owainat substation, thus enabling grid expansion and providing more power for rural development and a rapidly increasing population.

Hitachi ABB Power Grids technology and engineering capabilities will help the country reclaim untapped land in the vast Western Desert, where projects are underway to sustainably improve social and economic conditions for Egyptian communities.

Hitachi ABB Power Grids is proud to support EETC in this strategic project, and to help drive efforts to meet Egypts 2030 vision of integrated, sustainable growth with a focus on the energy industry, said Mohamed Hosseiny, Country Managing Director, Egypt & North Africa, Hitachi ABB Power Grids.

With our solutions we are helping our customers transition towards a carbon-neutral energy system, he noted. Grid expansion and reliability are prerequisites for the governments plan to make the country a regional hub for electricity exchange with Africa and Europe, also supporting the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 7  ensuring that all people have access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy," stated Hosseiny.

EETC Chairman Sabah Mashaly said: "We are pleased to collaborate with Hitachi ABB Power Grids as we believe they have the required expertise and capability to execute this project efficiently, and look forward to partnering on future projects."

The Hitachi ABB Power Grids solution is Egypts first fully engineered power quality system. Based on a 200 MVAR Statcom, it comprises an integrated SVC Light static compensator, power transformers, control, protection and telecommunications system.

The solution will increase the grids power transfer capability by improving voltage stability and providing a smooth voltage profile under different network conditions, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Ju Zhang, 33, (pictured) was last seen barefoot wearing a pink pajamas

The mystery of a young barefooted mum who vanished wearing pink pajamas has deepened, as police hunt for two cars that could be linked to her 'uncharacteristic' disappearance.

Ju 'Kelly' Zhang, 33, was last seen at her Winchester Avenue home in Epping, in Melbourne's north, about 5.30pm on February 1.

The mother-of-one was shoe-less and carried no personal belongings, aside from her phone which was reported missing to authorities a day later.

Following the arrest and subsequent release of her 35-year-old boyfriend Joon 'Sam' Tan on Sunday, police have urged neighbours to check their CCTV footage from the afternoon she disappeared.

They are specifically looking for footage of a white Toyota Land Cruiser and a black 2008 Mazda CX9 station wagon, with registration WKE 850.

Both vehicles are believed to have travelled near Ms Zhang's home sometime between 4pm last Monday and 8am last Tuesday.

Ms Zhang (pictured) was only carrying her mobile phone when she was reported missing on Tuesday February 2

Police are looking for a black 2008 Mazda CX9 station wagon with the registration WKE 850

Investigators said Ms Zhang's disappearance is 'extremely out of character' and has concerns for her welfare.

Detectives previously said Mr Tan may have been avoiding contact with police before he was arrested on Sunday.

He told police he was with Ms Zhang and her son on Monday afternoon, and claimed she went for a walk and didn't come back - which police previously said was highly unlikely.

'We say that is a very unlikely scenario bearing in mind that her eight-year-old son was in the house with Sam at that stage,' Inspector Andrew Stamper said, according to the Herald Sun.

Her boyfriend Joon Tan(pictured) was arrested on Sunday, before he was released with no charge

Ms Zhang (pictured) had no possessions with her when she went missing, aside from her mobile phone

'The information we have is that she would not have left her son by himself with someone who is not a family member.'

A friend of Ms Zhang said her mother, who lives in China, is distraught and fears for the her daughter's life.

'Her mother is very upset and very sad. She has prepared for her daughter to be gone,' the source told the newspaper.

Just hours before she disappeared, Ms Zhang made a post on social media that had a video of her cooking with her eight-year-old son.

Ju 'Kelly' Zhang (pictured), 33, was last seen barefoot and wearing pink pajamas at home

The caption read: 'The chicken soup stewed for 5 hours for dinner today.'

Mr Stamper the woman was a 'loving mother' to her son and that her disappearance was out of character.

Worried friends raised the alarm with police and are helping police with their inquiries.

It is not known whether Ms Zhang feared for her own safety.

Her son is being looked after by his father, Ms Zhang's ex husband.
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The project is expected to deliver considerable benefit to the local Moroccan economy

( ) has received a mining licence for its 100% owned Khemisset potash project in Morocco.

The licence provides the company with the exclusive right to develop and mine the potash deposit in the Khemisset basin, ahead of the anticipated initiation of construction by the end of 2021.

The grant of the licence follows a successful application process including the submission of a proven, JORC compliant, resource estimate and the confirmed technical and economic viability of the project, which was satisfied by the feasibility study.

This study highlighted Khemisset's outstanding attributes, including industry leading capital and operating costs and delivered an initial mine life of 19 years, based on less than 50% of the global resource base for the project.

"This is another major milestone in the development of what is to become the first large scale potash mine in Africa. We are grateful to the Ministry that provided considerable support, greatly assisting us throughout the application process, said chief executive Graham Clarke.

"By producing up to 800,000 tonnes of potash per year, for export or domestic consumption, Khemisset is forecast to deliver considerable economic benefits to our stakeholders including an anticipated 1% increase to the national tax revenues of Morocco. At the local level, the benefit to our stakeholders is even more important, with an estimated 40% increase to the local area GDP.
Further Innovation and Execution at ALPS and GT

Clearview Capital Consult Appointed for IR

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Australis Capital Inc. (CSE: AUSA) (OTC: AUSAF) ("AUSA" or the "Company") today announced that the Company is progressing well towards completion of the previously announced proposed acquisitions of ALPS and Green Therapeutics LLC ("GT").

Acquisitions Update

The Company is working towards the completion of the acquisition of a 51% interest in ALPS and the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding membership interest in Green Therapeutics, which includes the discontinuation of all previous litigation with Green Therapeutics. As per the Company's commitment to keep our shareholders fully informed and apprised, we are expecting to enter into definitive agreements with ALPS in short order.

The GT transaction is also advancing, and definitive agreements are being drafted to meet applicable U.S. state regulatory requirements. ALPS and AUSA have agreed to extend the completion of the definitive agreements to February 22, 2021. It is anticipated by the Company that the ALPS transaction will close first, with the close of the GT closing following shortly thereafter.

Green Therapeutics

GT continues to turn out exceptional, high-end products. Three of the Company's Cultivars, sold under the GT Flowers brand, have tested for high potency with exceptional terpene profiles:

London Poundcake tested at 35% THC with 18.9 mg/g terpenes;

Sliver Hawks Haze tested at 30% THC with 23.4 mg/g terpenes, and

Phatt Fruity tested at 29.8% THC with 21.1 mg/g terpenes.

The high quality of these products, due to GT's science-based approach to cultivation, is reflected in GT products consistently selling out in the Nevada adult usage space in which GT has achieved a 52% penetration rate.

Additionally, GT is in the process of operationalizing assets in Missouri and Oklahoma. In Missouri, GT has completed work on a processing and manufacturing facility in which GT principal and AUSA Interim CEO, Dr. Duke Fu, holds a 25% ownership stake, and is in the process of securing distribution for GT's brands. It is anticipated that AUSA will obtain this ownership interest at a future time once permitted by applicable Missouri State licensing authorities. GT remains on target to commence production at its facility in Oklahoma in the second half of calendar 2021.

Dr. Fu, Interim CEO of AUSA, commented, "Being able to consistently produce connoisseur cultivars that deliver exceptional potency and superb terpene profiles is an achievement that we are rightly proud of. We believe that the combined Team with AUSA, and through them with ALPS, will enable us to execute on the scale-up of our brands. This combination will provide consumers and patients across the U.S. with access to our unique product portfolio. We look forward to GT becoming an official member of the AUSA family and jointly building an innovative, capital efficient MSO with national and global reach."

The acquisition of GT is contingent on approval by the State of Nevada's Cannabis Control Board and subsequent local approval by Clark County Department of Business Licensing.

ALPS  Continued Execution and Innovation

ALPS is engaged in a number of projects incorporating innovation and new intellectual property. One such project is with a Scandinavian grower of tomatoes and cucumbers. At this new facility, ALPS has developed an ultra-precise environment control system, significantly improving propagation success rates and therefore economic output. ALPS retains the rights to the intellectual property developed and will be able to use this technology in the cannabis sector.

Thomas Larssen, President of ALPS, stated: "The project in Scandinavia, where we developed a new micro-precision climate control system is a great showcase of how our innovations have immediate commercial applications. We are proud of this innovation and look forward to seeing the results as new facilities incorporating our innovations come online and deliver the enhanced return on investment our customers have become accustomed to."

Since the AUSA/ALPS transaction was announced on January 5, 2021, ALPS have signed four contracts for combined revenues in excess of $5 million:

Cann Group, Australia  high tech cannabis facility with ongoing APIS compliance and maintenance contract;

 high tech cannabis facility with ongoing APIS compliance and maintenance contract; Aldershot Greenhouses, Canada  high-tech flower growing facility;

 high-tech flower growing facility; Bluehouse Greenhouse, U.S. large-scale, high-tech greenhouse complex for the supply of local markets with vegetable production;

Vertical Harvest, U.S.  multi-story urban grow facility.

With a strong pipeline of potential new projects on which ALPS continues to convert, the Company is expected to add considerable revenues to AUSA upon closing of the transaction, as well as make positive, accretive contributions towards the Company's bottom line. ALPS milestones, when met, will secure the Company's position as a leader in the U.S. cannabis space.

BAMM Achieves Record-Level Revenues and Adjusted EBITDA Positive Operations

Body and Mind Inc (CSE: BAMM), in which AUSA holds a material ownership interest, recently announced record revenues for its fiscal Q1 2021 ending October 31, 2020. Some of the highlights were:

Revenues of $5.3 million were up by 144% sequentially from Q4 FY2020 and up by 267% Year-over-Year;

were up by 144% sequentially from Q4 FY2020 and up by 267% Year-over-Year; A gross profit of $1.8 million ;

; Positive Adjusted EBITDA achieved;

Managed Q1 FY2021 revenues of $6.49 million .

BAMM management advises that their premium brands continue to resonate very well with its target audiences, and with operating assets in California, Nevada, Ohio and Arkansas, BAMM is well positioned to achieve continued growth. With the official transfer of ownership of previously acquired assets, BAMM going forward will be able to consolidate the successes of its new assets, complete current development projects and further expand its footprint. AUSA and BAMM continue to be in discussions on realizing optimal potential synergies going forward. See the Body and Mind press release February 2, 2021 and SEDAR filings (www.sedar.com) for more details.

Clearview

The Company has retained Clearview Capital Consult to assist AUSA with its investor relations efforts. Founded by Marc Lakmaaker, former VP of IR and Director of Corporate development at Aurora Cannabis Inc., Clearview, a strategy and communications consultancy, brings a deep understanding and network in the cannabis industry and the capital markets.

Terry Booth, who is expected to be appointed as CEO of AUSA upon completion of the acquisition of ALPS, stated: "We worked with Marc for several years at Aurora where he did an exceptional job in crafting and connecting the Aurora story with its stakeholders. The appointment of Clearview is fully in line with AUSA's promise to run an active IR program, and I look forward to working with Marc and his team as AUSA continues to execute and inform its shareholders and the markets on its progress, execution and achievements."

Under the terms of the agreement, Clearview is paid $10,000 monthly and has been granted 100,000 options priced at $0.475 per share. The options have been granted conditionally on the ratification of the Company's stock option plan at its next meeting of shareholders.

About Australis Capital Inc.

AUSA is implementing a growth strategy towards establishing a highly competitive and profitable MSO in the U.S. and global cannabis markets. AUSA's business and assets include investments in Cocoon, Body and Mind Inc., Quality Green, Folium Biosciences, and land assets in Washington and Michigan. AUSA is currently working towards the closing of a transaction whereby it will acquire 100% of the membership interest in Green Therapeutics LLC, an award-winning MSO with operations in Nevada, Missouri and Oklahoma. Furthermore, the Company is finalizing a definitive agreement to acquire 51% of the issued and outstanding shares of ALPS, the world's premier design, construction management, commissioning and post commissioning consultancy for horticultural crops, such as cannabis, fruits, vegetables, mushrooms and algae. If completed, the Company will also hold an option for the acquisition of the remaining 49% of ALPS. Through GT and ALPS, the Company believes it will be able to secure low-cost access to cannabis biomass to fuel the scale up of its award-winning brands across the U.S. and global cannabis markets.

The Company's common shares trade on the CSE under the symbol "AUSA" and on the OTCQB under the symbol "AUSAF".

For further information about AUSA, please contact:



Marc Lakmaaker

[email protected]

T: +1.647.289.6640

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein is forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information in relation to: the timing and ability to close the proposed transactions with GT and ALPS; the anticipated development of the GT and ALPS businesses; the ability of the Company to execute on its strategy to establish a low capex model MSO; the impact of the changes to U.S. federal and state developments with respect to the cannabis industry and the opportunities this may present for the Company. This forward-looking information reflects the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to the Company and on assumptions the Company believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the ability of the Company to successfully satisfy the conditions to closing the ALPS and GT transactions; the ability of management of ALPS, GT and the Company to successfully execute on their respective business plans; legal changes relating to the cannabis industry proceeding as anticipated; and the Company's continued response and ability to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic being consistent with, or better than, its ability and response to date.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; the actual results of the Company's future operations; competition; changes in legislation affecting the Company; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals; risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in the Company's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. 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. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. However, the Company 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.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Australis Capital Inc.

Related Links

www.ausa-corp.com


President Donald J. Trump's administration received praises from Jaco Booyens, the founder of a non-profit called SHAREtogether, for its endeavors against human trafficking.

SHAREtogether is an organization is dedicated to combating human trafficking especially that of children. Booyens, its founder, said Trump's efforts to curtail trafficking had an "incredible impact" over the last four years.

In an interview with NTD, Booyens remarked that no other former presidents had ever created an office that specifically fights sex trafficking, The Epoch Times reported.

"We've never had an office in the White House designated and dedicated to fighting sex trafficking. No former president in the history of this country has used his or her platform to denounce the exploitation of children and then appropriate funding. So we've seen an incredible impact over the years, over the last four years, particularly towards the support for law enforcement." Booyens said in the interview.

He credited the "tremendous rise in apprehension" and "rescue of victims" by police to President Trump's appropriation of funds and task forces.

"We've seen a tremendous rise in the apprehension, the arrest of perpetrators and rescue of victims under the Trump administration, no question about it," Booyens said.

"In these cases that you're seeing now such as California, and you'll see some others coming out now, they've been 9, 10 months in the making under the Trump administration-in that mechanism of funding law enforcement appropriately, having special task forces."

In 2019, a Fox News report said that human trafficking in America is ranked among the worst in the world for human trafficking. For this reasons, Trump's efforts to combat human trafficking were considerably very important.

Booyens also explained that the type of interdepartmental communication necessary in tracking down child predators was first seen during the Trump administration.

"We saw that kind of an inter-department communication line be open because of the result of Ivanka Trump, President Trump, and then, of course, the other people in that administration who made trafficking a focus," he said.

In a 2019 article by Fox News, Booyens, a self-described "Lover of Jesus" and "Abolitionist fighting sex trafficking," argued that trafficking is rooted in sexual addiction that is fueled by the mass media.

"It is s*x addiction that in its core is fueled," he said it started with the people's addiction to watching inappropriate films that objectify women in" which we as a country have done a great job at completely objectifying women," he said.

Booyens said Hollywood was to blame for sex addiction along with the Internet.

Booyens emphasized the importance of combatting human trafficking as the children are the future of the world.

"There's major foul play, and unfortunately the ticket of trade is our children, I'll go as far, it's our future. Cause they are our future," Booyens stated. "I mean why are we doing what we're doing? You, me, it's for our kids, it's for America," he stated, according to One America News Network.

Booyens said that it is still not clear whether the strong support for law enforcement against human trafficking will continue now that America is under the new Biden administration.
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About 580 grade 10 learners at the Shituwa Secondary School have not yet resumed school, almost three weeks since the 2021 academic year kicked off.

When the school resumed on 26 January this year, both grade 10 and 11 learners remained at home whilst waiting for the contractor to finalise the outstanding issues of water and electricity connection at the hostel.

In an earlier interview, Ohangwena education director Isak Hamatwi said the resumption of school at Shituwa will depend on the finalisation of water and electricity installation in the hostel.

The hostel which has been under construction since 2016 still has pending issues of water and electricity to be finalised.

The hostel was envisaged to have been completed in 2017 and occupied by learners in 2018 already.

In the meantime, 347 grade 11 learners have resumed classes and are currently being accommodated in the old corrugated shacks and the classrooms that were supposed to be occupied by the grade 10s, school principal Hendrik Nghinyengwasha related.

"For now, we have really nowhere to put them and they will only come in once the outstanding issues have been sorted," said Nghinyengwasha. The school which now only accommodates grades 10 and 11 has a learner population of 900. The hostel has a space for at least 600 learners.

Despite the lack of water and electricity in the hostel, the school principal said they have also not received beds for the learners. The grade 11 learners are currently sleeping on the old beds. "We also don't have beds, for now we only have a limited number of used beds from the old hostel," said Nghinyengwasha.

Nghinyengwasha said he remains hopeful that the outstanding issues will be addressed during the course of the week, so that the rest of the learners can resume school.

He said the outstanding water pumps were installed recently, however, they were not able to pump water up to the tanks supplying water to the dormitories.

In terms of electricity, Nghinyengwasha said although the learners resume school and occupy the hostel, the kitchen and dining hall will likely still be out of use as there are electricity issues that still needs sorting in the two areas.

As a result of the delayed finalisation of the hostel, the school was not able to perform as it desires.

Although the school is ranked position four regionally in grade 11 for the results which were released last week, the grade 12 learners are still lagging behind.

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Nghinyengwasha said the issue is not only a concern to the teachers, but to the parents as well.

"The parents are blaming the school's ongoing inconveniences for the learners' performance, hence some want their learners to repeat, but there is no space," stressed Nghinyengwasha. Previously, because of the delay, learners were accommodated in overcrowded corrugated iron sheet rooms where some because of the space were forced to share beds.

Those that were accommodated outside the school walked long distances to and from school. Others were accommodated in unfavourable places increasing the absenteeism rate at the school.

Many were accommodated in the homesteads in the vicinity; however, the biggest challenge has been the pregnancy rate. About 20 learners became victims of teenage pregnancy last year. Education ministry executive director Sanet Steenkamp said there have been new developments at the school and the ministry is doing its best to resolve the issue.

"We have to look at alternative methods to compensate for the time lost," Steenkamp assured.
Health officials around the world gave their backing to the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19, after a study showing it had little effect against mild disease caused by the variant now spreading quickly in South Africa rang global alarm. The prospect that new virus variants could evolve the ability to elude vaccines is one of the main risks hanging over the global strategy to emerge from the pandemic by rolling out vaccines this year.

South Africa, where a new variant now accounts for the vast bulk of cases, initially announced a pause in its rollout of a million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. But it said on Monday it could still roll it out in a "stepped manner", giving out 100,000 doses and monitoring it to see if it prevents hospitalisations and deaths.

"It is vastly too early to be dismissing this vaccine," said Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, a foundation that co-leads the global COVAX programme to provide vaccine doses in poor countries. More than 330 million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine form the overwhelming majority of doses that COVAX aims to begin rolling out in a first phase in poor countries beginning as soon as this month.

"Obviously the world is full of the wild type virus that this Astrazeneca vaccine is known to work against," Hatchett said. Professor Salim Abdool Karim, co-chair of South Africa's Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19, said it was too early to conclude that the AstraZeneca would not prevent serious disease caused by the variant prevalent there.

If the vaccine does not work well against new evolving variants of the virus, it could be an ominous sign for other vaccines as well, showing that the virus can potentially thwart the efforts of scientists to fight it. The overall message from the World Health Organization and others was: don't panic. Several global health officials noted that the South African study was small and had tested the vaccine using a short four-week interval between the first and second doses, despite evidence having since emerged that it works better if there is a longer wait.

It was becoming "more and more clear, the longer the interval between the two doses the higher the efficacy," said Kate O'Brien, head of immunisations at the WHO. The lead investigator on the South African trial told Reuters he believed the vaccine had a major role to play in Africa and globally, and the 1 million doses in South Africa, which expire in April, should be rolled out quickly, not wasted.

SERIOUS INFECTIONS

Western governments spoke out in favour of the vaccine, which many have given approval. The vaccine is the main pillar of the vaccination programme in Britain, which has so far been the fastest of any large country to vaccinate members of the public. It is dealing mainly with another fast-spreading variant which the vaccine has been shown to work well against.

"We think that both the vaccines that we're currently using are effective in, as I say, in stopping serious disease and death," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters. Britain is also using Pfizer's vaccine. Olivier Veran, health minister in France which is hoping that the vaccine will held speed up a programme that has lagged behind other rich countries, said the AstraZeneca vaccine provided sufficient protection against "nearly all the variants" of the virus.

But if vaccines do not work as effectively as hoped against new and emerging variants, then the world could be facing a much longer - and more expensive - battle against the virus than previously thought. The variant dominant in South Africa is circulating in at least 40 other countries, including the United States.

Austria warned against non-essential travel to its Alpine province of Tyrol because of an outbreak of the South African variant. Cases were also detected north of Paris, forcing one school to close.

Also read: Astrazeneca gets approval to use anti-diabetes drug for kidney disease
Asking the government to withdraw the three farm laws, AIMIM leader (AIMIM) on Tuesday accused the of treating farmers the way it should be treating China on the borders of the country.

Participating in a discussion in Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President for his address, Owaisi said the "infrastructure" that should have been created at the borders to check Chinese troops was erected at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur borders to prevent farmers from entering Delhi.

He wanted to know why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "shying" away from taking the name of China which is responsible for the killing of Indian soldiers and constructing a village in Arunachal Pradesh.

Owaisi hoped that during his reply to the debate, PM Modi will blame China for its actions against India.

He said the government should rescind the three controversial farm laws and contended that Parliament was not competent to legislate on agriculture which is a state subject.

He also wondered as to how the government decided to suspend the three farm laws for one-and-half years once they have been passed by Parliament.

Owaisi also came down heavily on the government for not filing an appeal against the court judgement in the Babri demolition case acquitting all the accused.

It is a signal to the cadre to repeat similar kinds of activities at Mathura and Kashi, he alleged



Referring to the 'andolanjivi' remark of Modi, Owaisi said that he was an 'andolanjivi' as it was the right of people to protest against the policies of the government.

India is a democracy and not a monarchy, he added.

Hanuman Beniwal (RLP) said that he had left the NDA because of the farm laws and will not hesitate to quit Lok Sabha in support of the demands of the farmers who are protesting at the borders of Delhi.

He claimed that even BJP members privately admit that they will have to face problems in the next general elections on account of the farm laws.

Meenakshi Lekhi (BJP) said that there was an international conspiracy to destabilise and defame India over the farmers' protest issue.

She said that protests were organised at the time of the visit of the then US President Donald Trump and now on January 26 to catch the attention of global media.

(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.)
Iran officially kicked off its long-awaited coronavirus vaccination project Feb. 9 at Tehrans Imam Khomeini Hospital.

The first stage, according to health officials, will focus on medical staff at intensive care units, where they have been battling the pandemic for more than a year. A second phase, for which a timeline has yet to be specified, is expected to cover all Iranians above the age of 65 as well as those suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

President Hassan Rouhani had previously described the day as an auspicious one for the Iranian nation, promising that nationwide action will be swift. He expressed hope that Iran will be better off in its fight against the virus in the coming months.

According to Mostafa Ghanei, a senior member of Irans anti-coronavirus task force, the countrys large-scale vaccination project will be conducted with 16 million doses to be purchased from the international COVAX initiative, 25 million through other imports and 25 million doses of multiple vaccines that are being developed domestically. Doses are not slated to start reaching the general public until March 2022.

While Iran says two million doses of the Russian vaccine have been purchased, the first batch that landed at a Tehran airport Feb. 4 contained only 10,000. The Islamic Republic has also promised to import more vaccines from China and Europe. But the countrys Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has specifically banned American and British vaccines, citing mistrust of the two countries.

Last week, however, the British Embassy in Tehran declared via Twitter that Iran has already bought 4.2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from COVAX  one jointly produced by Oxford University and the multinational pharmaceutical Cambridge-based company.

The announcement prompted a statement from Irans ambassador to London, Hamid Baeidinejad. There is no plan to purchase vaccines from the UK, he tweeted, but he did confirm Irans purchase from COVAX.

Since the onset of the pandemic, Iran has remained the worst-hit country in the Middle East, with some 1.5 million confirmed cases and over 58,000 deaths. Iranian health officials say a series of strict measures in the past three months have slowed the mortality rate, bringing the daily figures as low as 70.

Nevertheless, the countrys top epidemiologists have warned about a fourth peak on the way to several Iranian provinces including southwestern Khuzestan, where hospital admissions have doubled in the past two weeks.
Posted Tuesday, February 9, 2021 10:28 am

Washington state would vault to the forefront of the movement to purge fossil fuels from automotive fleets under bills introduced in the Legislature to ban registration of new gas- and diesel-powered vehicles in 2030.

House Bill 1204 and Senate Bill 5256 cover new model passenger vehicles and light- duty trucks, and would kick in at the start of the next decade. The bills call for these vehicles  to be registered in Washington state  to use an electric battery or hydrogen. They put no sunset date on the ownership and sale of 2029 or earlier model gas- and diesel-powered vehicles.

Electric cars  if charged by power generated from sources such as wind, solar, nuclear or hydro  can be a key part of a global push to reduce carbon emissions that drive climate change. The push to electrify cars gained momentum last month when General Motors announced a goal of ending the sale of internal combustion engines by 2035.

But the Washington bills are facing behind-the-scenes pushback from state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, whose legislative director has not submitted public testimony but in an email to two legislators expressed "serious concerns" about the bills.

In the Jan. 28 email, Yasmin Trudeau cautioned that should the proposal become law, it would face a swift legal challenge in federal court from opponents who would argue the state had exceeded its authority under the federal Clean Air Act. Trudeau wrote, "we would very likely lose in district court" and set an unfavorable precedent.

California is the only state granted an exemption from the federal Clean Air Act to set its own emission standards for automobiles. Other states, including Washington, can choose to follow the tougher California standards, which Gov. Gavin Newsom  in an executive order last year  said should include a 2035 end to sales of new gasoline and diesel-powered passenger vehicles.

But California's legal authority under the Clear Air Act exemption has come under attack through federal rule-making during the Trump administration, and is being litigated. And the new California 2035 standard  once it becomes a formal rule  also is likely to face legal challenges.

Trudeau, in her email, said that litigation filed against the Washington legislation could complicate efforts to move forward with the California phaseout of gas vehicles.

In response to a Seattle Times inquiry about the email, a spokesperson for Ferguson said the attorney general "supports the policy objective behind this legislation," and would defend any laws passed by the Legislature. The spokesperson, Brionna Aho, said, "To assist the Legislature with advancing the policy objectives of this legislation in a way most likely to survive legal challenge, we presented preliminary legal concerns for the Legislature to consider."

Proponents of the Washington bills say they have structured the legislation in a way they hope will sidestep that federal preemption against states other than California setting rules that regulate emissions standard, and thus survive a legal challenge.

The bills' language leaves out any intent to lower emissions. Instead it describes an effort to boost the Washington economy by shifting to lower-cost fuels largely produced from regional electricity. The bills also cite the need to reduce water pollution, which is not part of the federal preemption, caused by fossil fuels that drip from vehicles.

"There are many other reasons to switch from gas to electric besides emission reductions  useful life of the vehicle, fueling and maintenance costs," wrote state Rep. Nicole Macri, D-Seattle, a House sponsor of the legislation, in response to Trudeau's email.

The legislation has been championed by Matthew Metz, a Washington attorney who founded and co-executive director of Coltura, a nonprofit calling for a "gasoline-free America." Metz said that action by 2030 is needed to give the state a chance for meeting ambitious targets set by the Legislature for cutting almost all greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.

He also said passage of the bill also would bolster the case for proposing a national target to phase out internal combustion engines in 2030, rather than 2035 as Newsom has proposed for California.

"This will help push the whole thing forward," Metz said.

In response to the concerns raised by the state Attorney General's office, Metz has proposed amending the language in the bills, so that any regulation to carry out the Washington law does not take effect until Jan. 1, 2025. He said that would fend of lawsuits until that date, and by then, any legal issues surrounding California's standards should be resolved.

A survey of Washingtonians in September by the Center for Climate Change Communications at George Mason University found 59% of Washingtonians either strongly or somewhat support the 2030 measure. And the legislation has been boosted by some environmental groups advocating for strong action on climate change.

"Unlike bills that require complex regulatory mechanisms, the ... bill is a simple mandate to stop selling new cars that emit climate pollution within the time that science tells us we must," said Andrew Kidde of 350 Seattle, a chapter of an international group campaigning to end the age of fossil fuels.

The bills received a hearing Feb. 1 in the House Transportation Committee, and would have to be voted out of that committee this month to have a significant chance of passage.

Rep. Jake Fey, D-Tacoma, chair of the House Transportation Committee, said he has yet to meet with other Democrats on the committee to discuss the bill, and whether  given the concerns raised by the state attorney general  it should move forward.

He also noted other urgent items for the committee to address, including a transportation funding package during a virtual session when fewer bills will move through the Legislature, and there is limited time for House floor debate in the remote sessions prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This will not be a bill that will take 15 minutes in committee and 15 minutes on the floor to debate. This will take a lot of time," Fey said. "We've got to make choices ... It doesn't look like this has a high likelihood of moving forward."

"We are still going to push. I feel passionately about this. We have to show leadership," Metz said.
HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of Pennsylvanians have formed People. Not Politics., a coalition adopting State Senator John Yudichak's vision to unite Democrats and Republicans for the greater goal of supporting ideas and policies that will help government work for people.

"The acrimonious change in public discourse compelled me to reject divisive partisanship and search for ways to more fully serve all people of Pennsylvania," Sen. Yudichak said. "People. Not Politics. is about politicians working for the people  not the other way around. This coalition is about creating opportunities for every single individual in the Commonwealth."

Fed up with divisive partisanship in the state capitol, Yudichak switched his registration from Democrat to Independent in 2019. During his time, the senator has worked across the aisle to bring about change directly benefiting Pennsylvanians. Through People. Not Politics. Yudichak continues this work, joining together with community leaders to help build a stronger state.

"Every day I strive to teach my students to work together to make positive contributions to our community," said People. Not Politics. board member, Vito Quaglia, school principal from Northeastern Pennsylvania. "I am proud to be part of a coalition of people who are emulating that example of putting aside our differences to bring about positive change."

The citizens' coalition seeks to cross partisan lines to focus on real issues affecting every Pennsylvanian, such as jobs, infrastructure, economic revitalization and pandemic protection.

"Senator Yudichak put his words into action when he prioritized reclaiming land that had previously been wasted by mines, and invested in infrastructure that attracted manufacturers like ours to the area. It has made a real difference for real people in this area  jobs, increased wages, real opportunity. That is what this movement is all about," said Shawn Walker, area-manager for Chewy.com, an online pet food and supply retailer that opened a fulfillment center in Hanover Township in 2017, creating over 600 local jobs.

Quaglia and Walker have joined People. Not Politics. as founding members.

Pennsylvania citizens are invited to sign up to join the coalition at www.peoplenotpoliticspa.com to find out ways to help support this movement in their own communities.

About People. Not Politics.

Founded on the vision of Pennsylvania State Senator John Yudichak, we are a group of concerned Pennsylvanians who reject narrow partisan interests to ensure a Pennsylvania state government that works for all people regardless of race, creed, religion, sexual orientation or political party.

People. Not Politics. is organized to receive and administer funds as permitted for organizations defined in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. People. Not Politics. will operate exclusively for the promotion of civic action and social welfare by promoting the awareness of the People. Not Politics. coalition. Funds will not be used to support candidate or party campaigns in the United States or any other country.

Contact:

Jessica Garcia

[email protected]

SOURCE People. Not Politics.
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New Delhi, Feb 9 (UNI) YSR Congress Member Vijai Sai Reddy on Tuesday apologised for his comment made against the Rajya Sabha Chairman yesterday.

Soon after the laying of the papers, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that whatever happened on Monday in the House was not acceptable. The Minister said that he had conveyed the same to the Member of YSR Congress and asked him to apologise.

Expressing deep regret over his comment against the Chairman, Mr Reddy said his intention was not to bring disrepute. "Yesterday, I was in a state of anger, I take back my words and regret it," he said, adding that he assured the House that it will never be repeated.

This chapter is closed here, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said.

Earlier, soon after the House assembled at 0900 hrs, the Chairman condoled the death of former Member of the House Mohinder Singh Gill, former President of Mali Amadou Toumani Toure, former President of Niger Mamadou Tandja, and former Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini Mr Ambrose Madvulo Dlamini and he and the entire House observed silence for a while to express respects to the departed leaders.

Mr Naidu also asked the Rajya Sabha Secretary General to convey their condolences to the bereaved families.

UNI AKS SB 1037
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London, February 9, 2021: Strategic industry partnerships - linking businesses across different segments of the luxury travel, hospitality and leisure sector - are widely seen as a key component to further the recovery from the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. New research from VistaJet, the first and only global business aviation company, in association with Barton, the high-net-worth insight consultants, demonstrates the far-ranging value placed on partnerships by leading businesses in the sector.

While private aviation has continued to see an influx of new customers, according to VistaJet's report, The Future of Private Travel, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has in general been severe for many international luxury travel and hospitality businesses, with over three-quarters (77.8%) of businesses having seen net revenue fall by at least 60% year-on-year, and around 43% seeing a drop of over 90%. Despite a promising vaccine program, many businesses are still cautious about forecasting a quick recovery in the immediate months ahead. However, 25.9% are optimistic and are starting to refocus their offering onto a HNW target group, predicting a rapid recovery to pre-pandemic levels. VistaJet itself saw an increase of 29% in new Members joining in 2020, while its sister brand XO has seen new membership sales up 3x.

Many businesses are already innovating to rethink their operational and commercial strategies - 94.4% having taken or are planning action to innovate their customer service and experience protocols, and 62.3% of businesses have already introduced new offerings, products or services, with increased digital services and more personalized concierge offerings being particularly in-demand.

As businesses look ahead, it is clear that a majority of industry leaders are looking to collaborative partnerships outside of their core business, to help mitigate the negative impact of travel restrictions and ensure their clients continue to experience unparalleled end-to-end service throughout their journey. 86.5% of businesses are taking action to collaborate with other top players within the industry, including hotels, tour designers, private aviation, yachts, chauffeur and concierge services. Additionally, 46.8% have said that partnerships are already helping to generate further revenue during the pandemic, which is notable due to the limitations on travel globally in 2020, while 70% are looking to establish new partnerships within the next 12 months.

Partnerships can provide customers with an integrated service at every stage of their travels, with safer and more reliable experiences in the uncertain world of COVID-19. For example, VistaJet's own partnerships program, Private World , leverages its relationships to provide customers with a bespoke travel experience, from pre-flight to flight and accommodation, with preferred services already lined up at destination - from yachts to hotels, private islands and retreats. This is just one solution of many within the industry.

Ian Moore, Chief Commercial Officer, VistaJet said: "While the impact of COVID-19 has been significant on a number of luxury travel, hospitality and leisure businesses, it is clear that business aviation is leading this entire sector with a V-shaped recovery. Hence, we are increasing the number of partnerships to help accelerate the whole sector's path to recovery. As consumers continue to be burdened with complicated travel restrictions, they look for simple solutions they know are safe and reliable. Collaboration between the best mobility and hospitality players on the ground provides not only peace of mind, but also the high-quality service and impeccable standards our customers have come to expect. I continue to be optimistic for the long-term growth and opportunities of the sector."

Winston Chesterfield, Founder, Barton said: "While almost every industry has been adversely impacted by the pandemic, the global travel and hospitality sector has been the most brutally affected. There is no alternate or flexible working format for most of these businesses; legally mandated closure is often fatal. And yet as this report shows, there is still great hope for the recovery. The eagerness of many wealthy clients to 'get back out there' after the initial fear from the virus has been a shot in the arm for the industry. It has also required these wealthy clients to place even greater trust in those organizations enabling this to happen. It is the fulfilment of this trust in the foreseeable future that will help to fire up this giant global ecosystem once more."

For the full findings of the report, The Future of Private Travel, please visit vistajet.com/privatetravel .

- Ends -

Information?

Jennifer Farquhar | VistaJet | press@vistajet.com

Notes for Editors

The Future of Private Travel Report Methodology

The research invited over 650 leaders in the luxury hospitality industry to share their voices and insights. The individuals we heard from were from a range of organization types and sizes, from small luxury travel designer agencies to large, multi-national hotel groups. It was a global study, with around half of these organizations based in Europe, a fifth from Asia as well as North America, the Middle East and South America. A more detailed breakdown of data is available upon request.

About VistaJet

VistaJet is the first and only global business aviation company. On its fleet of over 70 silver and red business jets, VistaJet has flown corporations, governments and private clients to 187 countries, covering 96% of the world. Founded in 2004, the company pioneered an innovative business model where customers have access to an entire fleet whilst paying only for the hours they fly, free of the responsibilities and asset risks linked to aircraft ownership. VistaJet's signature Program membership offers customers a bespoke subscription of flight hours on its fleet of mid and long-range jets, to fly them anytime, anywhere.

VistaJet is part of Vista Global Holding - the world's first private aviation ecosystem, integrating a unique portfolio of companies offering asset-light solutions to cover all key aspects of business aviation. More VistaJet information and news at vistajet.com

About Barton

Barton consults businesses in sectors focused on targeting wealthy consumers, combining evidence and guidance to help these organizations and brands grow and thrive. Whether for business strategy, brand assessment, communication, trend analysis or thought leadership, Barton knows that businesses need to have confidence in their decisions. Barton offers cross-sector knowledge in a responsive, agile way, combining creativity with pragmatism, providing the perspective needed to make informed choices. More information at barton-consulting.co.uk

VistaJet Limited is a European air carrier that operates 9H registered aircraft under its Maltese Air Operator Certificate No. MT-17 and is incorporated in Malta under Company Number C 55231. VistaJet and its subsidiaries are not U.S. direct carriers. VistaJet-owned and U.S. registered aircraft are operated by properly licensed U.S. air carriers, including XOJET Aviation LLC.

Attachments
A metal monolith that mysteriously appeared on a field in southeast Turkey has now disappeared, four days after it was discovered.

The 10-foot-high metal slab bearing an ancient Turkic script, was found Friday by a farmer in Sanliurfa province.

It was discovered near the UNESCO World Heritage site of Gobekli Tepe, which is home to megalithic structures dating to the 10th millennium B.C., thousands of years before Stonehenge.

A man inspects the location of where the mysterious metal monolith once stood after it disappeared from an empty field located near Gobeklitepe in Sanliurfa, Turkey on February 9

The shiny structure was reported gone Tuesday morning, days after authorities said they were investigating its appearance

The structure bears old Turkic script that reads: 'Look at the sky, see the moon'. Some of the monoliths found elsewhere have also featured engravings

The shiny structure, however, was reported gone Tuesday morning, days after authorities said they were investigating its appearance by looking through closed circuit television footage and searching for vehicles that may have transported it to the site.

It wasn't immediately clear if it had been taken down by the authorities. Officials at the Sanliurfa governor's office weren't immediately available for comment.

The state-run Anadolu Agency quoted the field's owner as saying he was baffled by both its appearance and disappearance.

Turkish police officers guard a monolith, found on an open field near Sanliurfa, southeastern Turkey, Sunday, February 7

Curious locals have paid visits to the site since Friday, as well as Sanliurfa Governor Abdullah Erin, according to Anadolu news agency

The large metal block was found by a farmer in the southeastern Sanliurfa province on Friday

'We don't know if it was placed on my field for marketing purposes or as an advertisement,' Anadolu quoted Fuat Demirdil as saying. 'We saw that the metal block was no longer at its place. Residents cannot solve the mystery of the metal block either.'

The agency also quoted local resident Hasan Yildiz as saying the block was still at the field Monday evening, but had disappeared by the morning.

The monolith bore an inscription that read: 'Look at the sky, you will see the moon' in the ancient Turkic Gokturk alphabet, according to reports.

Armed police had been guarding the structure while Turkish police investigate its possible origins

Curious locals have paid visits to the site since Friday, as well as Sanliurfa Governor Abdullah Erin, according to Anadolu news agency.

Other mysterious monoliths have similarly appeared and some have disappeared in numerous countries in recent months.

The first appeared in the Utah desert in November, sparking comparisons to those seen in the Stanley Kubrick film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Others have since popped up across the US, as well as in Colombia, Romania and the Netherlands.

In December, a monolith appeared on the top of a hill in Glastonbury on Wednesday with the words 'Not Banksy' etched onto it.

Gobekli Tepe was the setting of the Turkish Netflix mystery series, 'The Gift.'
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga says Kenya needs a prime minister just like other countries across the world.

Speaking during a consultative meeting for Nyanza leaders at Ciala Resort in Kisumu County on Monday, Mr Odinga said the system "worked very well" under the grand coalition government.

"The grand coalition functioned effectively because it had a performance contracting system that evaluated all government ministries," he said.

This government was formed after the 2007/8 post-election violence that left at least 1,300 people dead and more than 650,000 internally displaced.

Mr Mwai Kibaki was the President, Mr Odinga the PM and Mr Kalonzo Musyoka the Vice President and Minister for Home Affairs.

Mr Uhuru Kenyatta was a Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade while Musalia Mudavadi was also a Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government.

Parliamentary system

Mr Odinga drummed up support for the BBI and its proposals, citing the parliamentary system, which he said will be efficient since it will be easier to ensure accountability if ministers are appointed from Parliament.

The Cabinet, as proposed by the BBI, is made up of the President, Deputy President

Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, Attorney-General and 14 to 22 ministers.

Article 152(2) of the Constitution requires that the President nominates Cabinet Secretaries and sends the names to the National Assembly for vetting and approval. The BBI report proposes to delete this requirement.

Article 152(3) states that a Cabinet Secretary shall not be a member of Parliament. The BBI report wants the Constitution amended to allow the President to appoint Cabinet ministers from among members of the National Assembly.

The 25th and 26th amendments relate to Articles 155 and 154(2), which require that Principal Secretaries and the Secretary to the Cabinet are nominated by the President and approved by the National Assembly.

The BBI proposal is to do away with these requirements.

Ruto criticised

Mr Odinga also spoke of the government's plans for the youth, saying they will be able to borrow money and easily access capital.

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"Wheelbarrows will not solve the issues affecting the common man," he said, in reference to Deputy President William Ruto and his promises made under a 'hustler' movement.

The ODM leader criticised the DP for unfulfilled pledges ahead of the 2013 and 2017 General Elections, including laptops for learners, construction of stadia and the creation of jobs for the youth.

"We want something serious for the youth," he said.

Mr Odinga said their resolutions include marketing the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) at the grassroots.

"We will then want a leadership that will be able to implement what we pass in the BBI," he said, adding "we want to create a Kenya devoid of tribal discrimination".

Resolutions

Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o read resolutions of the conference, including support for the BBI and constitutional changes.

"We shall engage in thorough civic education to make our people make informed choices during the referendum," he said.

Governor Nyong'o also touched on election management, which he said remains a major threat in the bid to ensure free and fair elections in Kenya.

He said the delegates agreed to end election violence and "completely de-link the BBI from 2022 politics to allow smooth sailing [when it comes] to reforms."

It was also agreed that the ODM leader will renew and strengthen his relationship with President Uhuru Kenyatta to help him achieve his development agenda.
National Conference member Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said the new farm laws are not religious scriptures that changes cannot be made as he appealed to the Centre to hold a dialogue with the agitating farmers and come out with a solution. He was speaking during the discussion on Motion of Thanks to the President's address.

"I just want to make this request on the farmers' issue. It is not a 'Khudai kitaab' (religious scripture) that we cannot make changes. But we have made law. If they (farmers) want it to be scrapped, why can't you talk to them," he said. "I would request you with folded hands that let us not stand on prestige... This is our nation. We belong to this nation and if we belong to this nation let us respect everybody in this nation," Abdullah said, adding, "Come out with a solution." He also urged the law minister to bring some law to stop such activities.

Abdullah also asserted that Lord Ram belongs to the whole world. "Ram belongs to all of us. The way Muslims have held on to the Quran, the Quran is not just ours." He also accused NDA MPs of questioning the stature of political visionaries such as Jawaharlal Nehru and said that he feels really bad when he see that fingers are being pointed at India's first prime minister, Sardar Patel, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and other leaders. "It is not Indian parampara. Respect those who have gone," he stressed. On the recently-concluded District Development Council (DDC) polls, he said, these happened peacefully but now elected members were being purchased to force the members to vote for others.

Congratulating Indian scientists and the Serum Institute of India for developing a vaccine against coronavirus, he said that as of now very few people were being vaccinated and efforts should be made that more and more people get the jab. He also said that the virus has badly hit the tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir and he has no words to explain the poverty of the people in the Union territory.
Banker turned fintech investor bolsters Curve Board, ahead of expansion into US, deeper push into Europe and launch of Curve Credit

Curve, the London-based fintech that combines multiple cards and accounts into one smart card and even smarter app, has named Anju Patwardhan as a non-executive director to the Board.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005705/en/

Curve names former Citi and Standard Chartered chief Anju Patwardhan as non-executive director (Photo: Business Wire)

Anju brings decades of expertise and leadership in financial services and innovation to Curve. She was most recently managing partner at CreditEase Fintech VC Fund, one of China's largest fintech venture funds. CreditEase focuses on wealth management and inclusive finance in China, and Anju remains an advisor there.

At CreditEase, Anju led the company's $500 million fintech investment fund, and its push into the US, establishing its San Francisco office. She led investments in more than 35 US and UK-based fintechs, including neobanks Upgrade, Dave and Monzo, and payment platforms Marqeta, RailsBank and Taulia. She continues to serve on the boards of Upgrade and RailsBank. She is also a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Gulf International Bank in Saudi Arabia and is a member of the Global Advisory Council of Distinguished Careers Institute at Stanford University.

Anju spent many years at Citibank and Standard Chartered in Singapore; where she held global leadership roles, including Chief Innovation Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Risk Officer.

As a Non-Executive Director at Curve, Anju will bring unmatched insight into global financial systems, regulatory environments and credit risk, along with a deep understanding of what's driving innovation in the industry. She will also join Curve's Board Risk Committee.

With degrees in engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and an MBA from Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Anju is also an academic with a passion for financial inclusion. She spent time as a prestigious Fulbright Fellow Visiting Scholar at Stanford University, and is a Distinguished Fellow of Singapore Institute of Banking Finance.

She is a member of the World Economic Forum's steering committee on innovation in financial services, has served as a fintech industry expert at UC Berkeley and was on the advisory board of the Estonian government's e-residency program. She has also previously served on boards of banks and regulated entities in Singapore and Thailand.

Shachar Bialick, Founder and CEO of Curve, said: "Anju's impressive knowledge of both traditional finance and digital innovation, and of how to unify them, couldn't be more valuable at this exciting time of growth for Curve. As we work towards our launch in the US, and introduce our lending business via Curve Credit, the whole business will benefit from Anju's exceptional experience. She'll enable us to embed rigour in regulation and risk management across the business. She's a leading light in our industry, and is driving its capacity to transform and unlock opportunities for customers globally. We are privileged to have someone of Anju's calibre join us at this pivotal time in Curve's journey."

Anju Patwardhan said of her appointment: "I'm delighted to have the opportunity to work more closely with Shachar and the talented Curve team, as they continue their mission to simplify the finances of consumers in the UK, Europe and US. I see huge potential in Curve's model to bring innovation to these markets. With the mission of combining multiple cards in a single smart app and a single physical card, Curve brings ease, control and transparency to consumers. I have already replaced a dozen of my credit cards with Curve's smart card, and I look forward to helping Curve fulfil its potential to be the all-in-one financial solution for consumers."

END

About Curve

Curve is a fintech that combines multiple cards and accounts into one smart card and even smarter app. The unique Curve card allows customers to supercharge their legacy banks to the 21st century without leaving their bank. Curve is live in 31 markets across the UK and Europe, and plans to launch in the US later in 2021.

Curve offers a host of benefits to its customers, including instant notifications and categorisation across their spend, the capacity to earn instant 1% cashback at selected retailers such as Amazon, Uber, Netflix and Tesco, the ability to fit their cards into Google Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, even if their banks don't support this, and Curve's patented Time Travel functionality, which enables customers to swap spend to a different card in the app for up to 90 days after the purchase was made.

Curve supports Mastercardand Visa networks. The Curve Card and e-money, related to cards issued in the UK, is issued by Curve OS Limited, authorised in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority to issue electronic money (firm reference number 900926). The Curve Card and e-money, related to cards issued in the EEA, is issued by Curve Europe UAB, authorised in Lithuania by the Bank of Lithuania (electronic money institution license No. 73 issued on 22 of October, 2020).

For more information go to www.curve.com, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @imaginecurve and Instagram @imaginecurve.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005705/en/

Contacts:

Zarina Banu

Head of Corporate Communications

press@curve.com
Artist Chila Kumari Burman has spoken about the importance of South Asian representation and challenging stereotypes about Indian women that still exist in popular culture.

The mixed media creative, whose neon installation inspired by childhood visits to the Blackpool illuminations currently adorns the outside of the Tate Britain, said she was inspired by her father for her latest work.

Burman, who has previously transformed a tuk tuk and an ice cream van with embellishments, has turned her attention to an SUV car for her latest project, to coincide with the launch of the Netflix film The White Tiger.

The film, an adaptation of Aravind Adigas Booker Prize-winning novel about the cultural tensions of modern-day India, stars Adarsh Goura as Balram Halwai, a poor villager who rises to be a wealthy entrepreneur after he lands a job as a driver for a wealthy couple, played by Rajkummar Rao and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

It arrived on Netflix on January 22 and Chopra Jonas has said it has since become the streaming platforms number one film in 64 countries and is set to be watched by 27 million households in its first four weeks.

The car is covered with decorative vinyl and adorned with Burmans signature neon, including a large white tiger on the roof, and the artist told the PA news agency: When I saw the film I was just blown away.

I had similar experiences with my own dad, he never went to school, lived in villages and he went from Calcutta Dunlop to Dunlop in Liverpool because he was fed up of the way the bosses were ordering him about.

Like Balram he wanted to become an entrepreneur and he met a guy in a pub who had an ice cream van and he introduced my dad to the ice cream trade so my dad became an ice cream man and bought his own van with a tiger on top.

In a way there is a parallel running through of experience so I loved it.

She added: Balram is kind of like a philosopher, hes very bright, and Ive always thought that about my dad, I used to think if he had been given more opportunities to travel the world he probably would have done it and hes set me free because he wanted me to feel that I wasnt encased in anything and for an Indian girl to be set free and not have to become a doctor or a lawyer or anything like thata lot of these are similarities.

Expand Close Chila Kumari Burman with Inkquisitive, who has also created a car installation (Ian West/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Chila Kumari Burman with Inkquisitive, who has also created a car installation (Ian West/PA)

Chopra Jonas has previously discussed the films importance in helping drive forward representation for South Asian people in global cinema, and Burman said: That is why this movie is brilliant because its really reaching out to a broader Asian diaspora, the south Asian diaspora, more than any other film I feel.

Bollywood films are still not doing as much as could be done, but this has got a global representation of South Asian people, even TV and films in Britain there is still a lack of representation of south Asian people, and in international films, but I think this is balancing it a bit more,

Priyanka in it has a feminist aspect to her, challenging Ashoks dad and brother and exactly what us women, even in India and everywhere, that is what we are doing now, especially with the Me Too movement and things like that.

So I feel like its brought that up in front, to see that women are not going to take any more crap.

All my work, especially my self-portraits is about challenging stereotypes and assumptions of Asian women, Ive been doing that since I was at art school since the 70s and 80s.

Ive always been concerned about challenging stereotypes and there still are stereotypes the fight is not over yet, there are still lots of inequalities between men and women and that is all women, all of us are stereotyped as women.

The White Tiger is streaming on Netflix now.
Staff from Stormont's agriculture department are to return to work at Northern Ireland's ports after they were stood down over safety concerns.

Last week, workers carrying out post-Brexit trade checks at the ports were withdrawn by the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

It followed claims by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council that "menacing behaviour" had been exhibited towards staff.

Threatening graffiti appeared around the ports, however the PSNI later said there was no evidence of "credible threats".

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Staff employed by the council have since resumed their work, however no decision was made regarding DAERA staff until Tuesday, when it emerged checks on products of animal origin at all NI will start again on a phased basis from Wednesday.

DAERA said the decision came after receiving the full threat assessment from the PSNI, conducting its own internal risk assessment and liaising with staff and unions to put mitigations in place.

Sinn Fein MLA Philip McGuigan has welcomed news.

"The safe return of workers is a priority and their safety must be paramount," he said.

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"While it is welcome that workers will be back in post, there are still serious questions to be answered by the Minister for Agriculture around how and why the staff were withdrawn in the first place and who made the decision."

Last week's move to order the suspension of physical checks on food and other animal products was one of DAERA Minister Edwin Poots' final decisions in the role before he temporarily step down to undergo cancer surgery.

His successor Gordon Lyons maintained the position.

Speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday, Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd accused the DUP of not ordering staff back to work as it suited the "party's agenda" and said workers were used "pawns" in the DUP's campaign against the Northern Ireland Protocol.

In comments directed at Gordon Lyons, Mr O'Dowd added: "The fact (is) that there is no credible threat, which has been stated by the PSNI, and the fact that they allowed it half way around the world before the truth got its pants on, that that agenda of those workers being removed suits your political agenda.

"And rather than dealing with the facts, minister, you are allowing these non-existent threats to carry forward a political agenda, which would be contrary to your statutory duty and the code that you have as a minister."

Mr Lyons said it was a "disgraceful" assertion and he has "very clearly demonstrated staff safety comes first."

He said a process had been put in place which he had not interfered with and his department was in discussions with police and workers' unions.

"I find that an entirely appropriate response to what has gone on."

He said the graffiti was very much viewed as a threat and it was only right that precautionary measures were taken and the risk assessed. Mr Lyons added that any mitigations needed would be put in place.

"It is important that we take precautions and we put the safety and wellbeing of our staff first and foremost and that is what we have done," he said.
Heart-broken Russian man remains in ICU after slashing own throat

PHUKET: Police have identified the Russian man who slashed his own neck with a fruit knife on the Karon beach road on Sunday night (Feb 7). The man remains in intensive care at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town, Karon Police Chief Col Peerapong Chai-aroon has confirmed.

Russianpolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 9 February 2021, 12:54PM

The man has been confirmed to be a 20-year-old Russian national, who had been staying at the Nai Harn Beach Condominium in Rawai since Jan 8, Col Peerapong told The Phuket News.

He was booked to stay at the condo until Mar 8, he added.

The man used to live together with his Russian girlfriend, Col Peerapong said.

They later separated and he threatened to kill himself because she wanted to break up with him. She moved to Pattaya on Feb 3, he added.

From questioning witnesses and reviewing CCTV footage from the 7-Eleven store, the man bought a knife from the store and walked out to in front of the shop, where he raised the knife to his neck and cut from one side of his neck to the other  twice, Col Peerapong explained.

Police on patrol driving past saw the man cut his own neck and raced to intervene.

The man was rushed to Patong Hospital, and later transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town, where he remains in the intensive-care unit (ICU), Col Peerapong confirmed.

Both cuts across the throat were deep, and one cut had affected the mans trachea, Col Peerapong explained.

The man did undergo surgery at the hospital, he added.

However, Col Peerapong also explained, Doctors at the hospital have yet to give a full report on the mans condition.

Doctors did report that the man is being kept sedated because when he was conscious he would go into fits of rage, he added.

Officers have spoken with the man girlfriend by phone to inform her of the incident, Col Peerapong noted.

She was shocked from hearing of the incident, he said.

Police have contacted Russian embassy representatives so that his family can also be informed of the incident, Col Peerapong confirmed.

The Phuket News is withholding the names of the Russian man and his girlfriend.

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand at their 24-hour hotline 02-713-6791 (English), 02713-6793 (Thai) or Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai).
The Government of Canada supports more than 50 projects to help counter online disinformation

OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 9, 2021 /CNW/ - As these past months have shown, media literacy and critical thinking are crucial tools that all Canadiansand especially vulnerable communitiesneed to combat online disinformation and related harms.

As we continue to face all sorts of disinformation, including that related to COVID-19, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, and the Honourable Dominic Leblanc, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, wish to inform Canadians about the organizations benefiting from federal support from the Digital Citizen Contribution Program. Today, Minister Guilbeault met with Concordia University  Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights and the organization ISOC-Quebec in order to highlight their important work in supporting efforts to counter online disinformation and other online harms and threats to Canada's democracy.

Similar to how COVID-19 disinformation can result in online and offline racism and stigmatization, disinformation and online harms targeting women can lead to gender-targeted hate speech and violence. Concordia University's Canadian Women Leaders' Digital Defence Initiative is working to better understand how digital disinformation and online harms that target Canadian women have an impact on Canada's democracy and social cohesion.

ISOC-Quebec has undertaken the Diversity, Visibility and Discoverability (DVD) project to study and understand the causes and effects linked to the Canadian public's lack of exposure of to diverse online content.

Since January 2020, Canadian Heritage's Digital Citizen Contribution Program has provided $7.2 million in funding support to third-party organizations undertaking research or citizen-focused activities, such as public awareness tools and online workshops, to help Canadians become more resilient and think critically about the information they consume online. These projects reach Canadians on a national and local scale, online and offline, in minority communities, in both official languages and in Indigenous communities. This fiscal year, $4.3 million was dedicated specifically to counter COVID-19 disinformation, misleading information, and the racism and stigmatization that are often the result.

Learn more about all the projects funded in the attached list.

Quotes

"We have a responsibility to protect Canadians by providing them with the tools to identify and prevent online disinformation and the harms it can create. By raising awareness of these great media literacy research and educational tools that are available to Canadians, we can help educators, young people, parents and seniors of all backgrounds, and especially vulnerable people, build their resilience in the face of harmful and misleading online content."

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage

"The best line of defense against online disinformation is an engaged and informed public. Our government is committed to ensuring Canadians can access the resources they need to understand how disinformation can affect trust between people and their democratic institutions. Together, we can protect our democracy by learning to build transparent, healthy and factual environments."

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Quick Facts

Today Minister Guilbeault also met virtually with his counterparts from Australia, France, Germany and Finland to discuss the importance of international collaboration to promote a diverse online information ecosystem.

When it officially launched in 2019, the overarching Digital Citizen Initiative contributed $7 million to more than 20 projects that encouraged critical thinking about online disinformation and involvement in the democratic process. To date, these projects have reached more than 12 million Canadians.

The Digital Citizen Initiative is one of many projects in place to build citizen resilience and protect democracy in Canada. The Government of Canada is tackling online disinformation through additional initiatives like the Paris Call, and developing safeguards like the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol to further defend our democratic institutions.

The Digital Citizen Initiative and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), through the Joint Initiative for Digital Citizen Research, provide funding support through arm's-length SSHRC Connection Grants, supplements to recipients of SSHRC Insight Grants, SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships and SSHRC Doctoral Awards.

Through arm's-length SSHRC Connection Grants as well as supplements to recipients of SSHRC Insight Grants, SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships and SSHRC Doctoral Awards (Canada Graduate Scholarships - Doctoral Scholarships and SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships).

Through a $2.5-million agreement over four years, the Digital Citizen Initiative is also supporting the Public Policy Forum's Digital Democracy Project, which brings together academics, civil society and policy professionals to support research and policy development on disinformation and online harms. The Digital Citizen Initiative is also supporting MediaSmarts' Media Literacy Week with a $225,000 agreement over three years.

Related Products

News Release: Supporting Canadians to Think Critically About Online Health Information

Associated Links

Online disinformation, Digital Citizen Initiative

Digital Citizen Contribution Program

Joint Initiative for Digital Citizen Research

Diversity of content in the digital age

Concordia University  Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights

ISOC-Quebec

Learn more about all the projects funded since January 2020 in the attached list.

Organization Name Project Name Funding Centre d'etudes sur les medias Developpement et experimentation d'outils educatifs pour contrer la desinformation en ligne chez les jeunes adultes $40,292 (20192020)

$165,450 (20202021) NorQuest College Engaging New Canadians through Digital and Civic Literacy $96,931 (20192020)

$238,796 (20202021) CIVIX Evaluating Digital Civic Literary Education-Contemporary Skills in a Canadian K12 Context $184,990 (20192020)

$309,330 (20202021) Emily Taylor Mechanisms of Virality: A comparative stufe of organic engagement and advertising in disinformation campaigns $19,500 (20192020)

$13,750 (20202021) Manchester Metropolitan University Visual Media Literacy for Combatting Disinformation: Analysing How Teachers Used the Questioning Images Resource During the 2019 Canadian Federal Elections $41,249 (20192020)

$173,588 (20202021) Concordia University - Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies Mapping Online Hate in Canada $33,246 (20192020) The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University The Digital Media Observatory $345,000 (20192020)

$207,000 (20202021) Ryerson University Candian Disinformation Research Network $99,460 (20192020)

$125,840 (20202021) Upstream Information in the Age of COVID-19 $75,000 (20192020)

$20,000 (20202021) MediaSmarts Critical Thinking in the Digital Age: Countering Coronavirus Misinformation $654,134 (20202021) Societe de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick Portail de verification des faits sur le COVID-19 / Fact-Checking portal on COVID-19 $82,225 (20192020)

$352,500 (20202021) Federation professionnelle des journalistes du Quebec COVID-19 : Depister la desinfo / COVID-19: Track the facts $330,164 (20202021) Institute for Canadian Citizenship Supporting New Canadian Citizens: Dispelling Discriminatory Disinformation Around COVID-19 $490,880 (20202021) Digital Public Square Countering Disinformation Relating to COVID-19 $13,442 (20192020)

$665,734 (20202021) Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic Empowering, Engaging and Equipping Canadians to Combat Anti-Asian Racism through Online Resources and Social Media: A Study to Advance Policy Development and Systemic Change $301,904 (20202021) Asian Environmental Association (Hua Foundation) Combatting COVID-19 disinformation in Vancouver's Chinese and Vietnamese language communities $64,660 (20202021) ACCT Foundation Mobilizing community capacity and community research to address the collateral damage of COVID-19 pandemic- Anti-Asian Racism $309,000 (20202021) Centre de recherche action sur les relations raciales COVID-19: Say No to Discrimination: Civic Information and Mobilization Initiative / LA COVID-19: Dites non a la discrimination  une initiative civique d'information et de mobilisation $68,100 (20202021) Bilal Community and Family Centre Inc. Countering Digital Disinformation on COVID-19 to the Black and Newcomer communities $40,000 (20202021) Calgary Animated Objects Society Disinformation Warriors $40,000 (20202021) Centennial Centre of Science and Technology (operating as Ontario Science Centre) Virtual Science Center - Covid Content and Critical Thinking $40,000 (20202021) City of Toronto Social Inclusion Through Facts During COVID-19 $40,000 (20202021) Clear Sky Connections The AtHoc Communications Solution $40,000 (20202021) Club Ami Lutte contre la desinformation en ligne par le developpement des competences numeriques $21,000 (20202021) Concordia University-Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies Canadian Coalition to Counter COVID Digital Disinformation $39,270 (20202021) Corporation of the County of Northumberland Cybersecurity in Northumberland County $27,400 (20202021) Discovery Centre Bias Busters $40,000 (20202021) Evidence for Democracy Combatting misinformation through evidence-based tools for digital literacy and scientific knowledge transfer, and development of policy options $40,000 (20202021) First Peoples Radio Inc - ELMNT FM COVID-19 PSAs $40,000 (20202021) Grandir sans frontieres Citoyennete 3.0 $40,000 (20202021) La voix acadienne Qui dit vrai? La COVID-19 et la desinformation en ligne $39,900 (20202021) Latincouver Cultural and Business Society Latinos Moving Forward $40,000 (20202021) Mouvement des intervenants et des intervenantes en communication radio de l'Ontario (MICRO) Contrer la desinformation / mesinformation sur la COVID-19 $40,000 (20202021) New Canadian Media Bridging the Mainstream-Ethnic Digital Divide in COVID-19 Literacy $40,000 (20202021) Publications Senior inc.-Bel Age Citoyen branche - Ma securite, j'y tiens! $33,460 (20202021) Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association SK SPOT Fake News Online  COVID $39,908 (20202021) Science North Teaching Audiences to Recognize and Address Online Disinformation through Hands-on Science Learning at Science North $40,000 (20202021) Science Timmins Inc. Facts and Myths about COVID-19 in the Digital World $40,000 (20202021) SUPRE Incorporated SUPRECITIZEN001 $38,552 (20202021) The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs Spreading the Virus: Combatting the Dissemination of Antisemitism through Online Disinformation $38,000 (20202021) Toronto TechWorks, Inc Project Kate--The COVID Crusader $39,500 (20202021) United Cultures of Canada Association Strengthening Commitment to Canada Among New Canadians in the Face of COVID $39,654 (20202021) Institute on Governance An Examination of How Social Media Narratives Affect Trust in Government $100,000 (20202021) Iris Communications Mapping & pre-empting COVID-19 disinformation in Canada $99,500 (20202021) Kingdom Acts Foundation Evaluating the Impact of Disinformation on Diverse and Marginalized Communities in Canada $70,500 (20202021) MacEwan University Misinformation across Social Media Platforms and across Countries $69,000 (20202021) Ryerson University- Democratic Enngagement Exchange Mitigating disinformation at the front lines - Building open source Canadian tools to research and counter misinformation and disinformation in both official and non-official languages $97,407 (20202021) Simon Fraser University- International CyberCrime Research Centre Deploying Artificial Intelligence to Combat Covid-19 Disinformation on Social Media $96,600 (20202021) York University Tracking the Social Impacts of Disinformation through Images Shared on Social Media $99,956 (20202021) Association ISOC Quebec Diversite, Visibilite et Decouvrabilite $70,094 (20202021) Concordia University - Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies Canadian Women Leaders' Digital Defence Initiative $55,634 (20202021)

SOURCE Canadian Heritage

For further information: (media only), please contact: Camille Gagne-Raynauld, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, 819-997-7788, [email protected]; Media Relations, Canadian Heritage, 819-994-9101, 1-866-569-6155, [email protected]; Corinne Havard, Press Secretary and Senior Communications Advisor, Office of the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, 343-551-9740; Media Relations, Privy Council Office, 613-957-5420

Related Links

www.pch.gc.ca


As a novice Jesuit in 2005, the Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., visited the University of Scranton to speak to students about vocations.

The president of the university, the Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., asked for a meeting with his new Jesuit brother.

I was so impressed by him. He took time out of his schedule to meet with me, Marina said.

Pilarz, just two years into his first tenure as president, offered parting words that stuck with Marina for the last 16 years: Who knows? With any luck and with Gods grace, you may join us here in Scranton someday.

School leaders announced Tuesday that Marina  a teacher, pastor and scholar with more than 20 years of experience in higher education  will become the 28th president of the University of Scranton.

Father Marina belongs in Scranton, said Pilarz, who announced in August that this would be his last academic year as president, as the symptoms from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis advance. He understands well what makes Scranton special. He believes deeply in Catholic and Jesuit education.

Pilarz announced his diagnosis of the progressive nerve disease, known as ALS or Lou Gehrigs disease, in 2018, just a few weeks before his second inauguration. He also served as president from 2003 to 2011.

Marina, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, will take over the beloved presidents duties this summer, as higher education continues to face unprecedented challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tuesdays announcement, broadcast live on YouTube, included remarks from Marina and other college leaders hundreds of miles apart.

Calling it the privilege of a lifetime, Marina said he will work to shepherd the university through the challenges of the pandemic, while embracing the values of community, family and faith he has already found in Scranton.

The 58-year-old Phillipsburg, New Jersey native spent 17 years in higher education before he took action on a feeling that stirred inside  an ember that continued to burn. As a doctoral student at Fordham University, he met the Jesuits and began the discernment process at the age of 42. He felt like he belonged. He feels the same way at the University of Scranton.

There is no other feeling like that, when you know youre home, he said.

A university committee of trustees and representatives from the faculty, staff, student body, alumni and administration conducted a national search for the next president.

Since 2016, Father Marina has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of education at Le Moyne College, where he oversees the Jesuit colleges three academic schools, honors program, library, campus life, student housing, conduct and Title IX compliance, diversity and inclusion programming, global education, student success and support services, disability services and several other areas.

He launched the schools first doctoral program in educational leadership, worked on the strategic plan and established the schools Quantitative Reasoning Center and the Writing Center.

His prior experience includes serving as the dean of the School of Continuing Education at Providence College, assistant dean for the College of Science and Mathematics at Montclair State University and assistant dean for Metropolitan College at St. Johns University.

In addition, he taught religious studies at Providence College and mathematics at St. Johns University. He served as pastor of the Church of St. Francis Xavier and as associate pastor of the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, both in New York City.

Father Marina brings a vast array of experience that will affirm the Catholic and Jesuit values upon which the University of Scranton has already been built, Diocese of Scranton Bishop Joseph C. Bambera said in a statement. We are blessed that he has chosen to share his unique gifts and experiences with the students, faculty and staff of the University of Scranton. With a proven track record of being a knowledgeable and respected voice in higher education, Father Marinas presence will serve the University of Scranton well as it continues to distinguish itself as an academically rigorous, socially responsible learning community where students become men and women for others.

Marinas research interests include leadership and organizational change and, in the area of theology, scripture and the question of nonbelief. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in administration and supervision from Fordham University, a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology from Boston College and a Master of Science in secondary education from St. Johns University. He earned a Bachelor of Science in physical sciences, with a theology minor, from St. Johns University.

On behalf of the search committee, I want to say how pleased and excited we are that Father Marina has agreed to lead our beloved university, said trustee Kathleen Sprows Cummings, Ph.D., who served as chairwoman of the search committee. I am so very grateful to my colleagues on the committee for their thoughtfulness and dedication throughout the search process. Father Marina has our full and enthusiastic support as he prepares to begin his service this summer.
The scant 53 new cases of COVID-19 announced Monday may be cause to celebrate, as its the lowest new case count the province has announced in months, but Dr. Brent Roussin cautioned that all the fundamentals still apply.

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The scant 53 new cases of COVID-19 announced Monday may be cause to celebrate, as its the lowest new case count the province has announced in months, but Dr. Brent Roussin cautioned that all the fundamentals still apply.

"We cant undo all of this hard work by simply opening everything up again. You have to remember that weve been here before. If we open things up the same as we were in October, we will see November and December numbers," said Roussin.

He also said the province would announce what new public health orders will look like, which replace those that expire 11:59 p.m. on Friday.

"We can see that the restrictions that we have in place are quite tough  but they are working. The numbers show us that they are effective, they are working, and they put Manitobans back in a position to continue our slow, cautious reopening," Roussin said, adding that nothing has changed since those fateful fall months.

"Weve been able to vaccinate some of the highest-risk Manitobans, but certainly not to a level where we can have any population-level benefit. We continue to roll out those vaccines, and thats the hope that weve all been looking for."

He said pandemics come to an end, and this one will be no different.

"But, right now, we need to stay focused to keep these numbers down, to keep the strain of our healthcare system down as we get back to health care for all Manitobans," said Roussin.

Roussin would not answer questions about what the new public health orders might look like, but he did say, were taking our time.

"Were doing things very intentionally to ensure we dont, again, see widespread community-based transmission," he said.

"We want to remind Manitobans and businesses that we know its been very difficult. But, again, we cant be looking for loopholes to try to get things open that arent intended to be open. Remember, if we go back to where we were in October, we will see our November numbers again, and we just wont have any alternative but to put the restrictions back on."

Roussin also urged Manitobans to stop with the stigmatization.

"Weve talked about stigma in the past and its always relevant when were dealing with outbreaks," he said.

He then recounted there are reports of critical care workers and essential workers as well as their children who are being denied services.

"So, again, when we stigmatize groups, we risk driving those groups away from things like testing and the public health measures. So, we cant stigmatize groups," said Roussin.

"There are reasons that we have critical workers and essential workers. We have protocols in place for sectors on how to function. None of those protocols include stigmatizing people."

Roussin added he knows it is a difficult time and people are worried about their safety and the safety of people around them.

But the fundamentals do not include stigmatizing groups.

"So, please, be kind. Lets all get through this together."

Roussin also reminded Manitobans that as the province reopens it becomes more important to mind the mild symptoms and get tested, and to stay home until the test results come back. Keep prolonged indoor contact to a minimum, as that is how the virus spreads.

 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.

MONDAYS COVID-19 UPDATE

The COVID-19 update from the province on Monday saw four deaths announced, none in the PMH region.

The province reported 53 new cases, as follows:

- three cases in the InterlakeEastern health region;

- 12 cases in the Northern health region;

- three cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;

- four cases in the Southern HealthSante Sud health region; and

- 31 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

The five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate was 5.9 per cent in the province, and 4.2 per cent in Winnipeg.

Lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba since the beginning of the pandemic total 30,289. The total number of deaths is 850, or 2.8 per cent.

The province reports 1,622 active cases and individuals who have recovered total a reported 27,817.

The province also reported 105 people are in hospital with active COVID-19, as well as 166 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 271 hospitalizations.

Fifteen people are in intensive care units with active COVID-19, as well as 19 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 34 ICU patients.

In the PMH region, there are a reported 75 active cases, with 1,902 recovered. There are four active cases hospitalized, and nine people hospitalized who are no longer infectious. There are two patients in ICU. The region has seen 51 deaths.

Brandons active case count is 20, with 943 recovered and 21 deaths.

Sunday, 1,373 tests were completed, for 490,879 since February, 2020.

 Source: Province of Manitoba


*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/(PARTLY UPDATED)- Was an Historic Chance for Democracy Missed on Jan. 6 ? Replying to an "Eurofora"s Question at a Press-VideoConference just 1,5 Day After the Jan. 6, 2021 Massive Popular Demonstrations of More than a Million at Wash. DC (to Back a Senators' Demand for Bi-Partisan Enquiry on alleged Fraud/Irregularities in Nov. 3, 2020 US Presidential Vote), During which 4 Citizens were Killed (incl. 2 Women, Shot Down by Police Gun or Crashed), Followed Later by 1 Policeman Dead by UnClear Cause, and 2 Suicides (1 Protestor +1 Policeman), Hundreds of Dissidents Persecuted and Jailed Nationwide, while 25.000 Heavily Armed Soldiers entered the Capital (under Curfew) to Keep People Away, French University Professor in Public Law, Chantal Cutajar, stressed that, Nowadays, Events show that it's even "a 3rd Chamber" for "Citizens' Participation" in Key Public Decisions affecting their Lives and/or Society at large, according to Our wider Project, should have been Created at US Capitol's Huge Grounds and Buildings, n order to "Peacefully" seek a "Constructive" Solution, in line with Modern Participatory Democracy Values, which have Become Necessary by Recent Changes Worldwide.





------------------------



Instead of "Police" Gun Fire Killing Brutaly a Woman Demonstrator, unarmed AirForce Security Vet., Suicides of a respectable Bank Manager, Head of Family, accused of "Mob Riot", the Same Day as also a sympathetic Capitol's Policeman at his Home, among Suspicions and "WitchHunt" against Law-Enforcement Staff Suspected of Letting US Citizens enter the Congress of their Elected Representatives, (while 3 Policemen were Immediately Fired), a Young Woman "Crashed to Death" after Security Agents' Clashes with Clubs, Shields, Tear Gas, Flash-Balls, Grenades, etc., against the People, 2 Middle-Age Demonstrators curiously Dead from Heart Attacks or "Strokes", and a 3rd, "Pro-Trump" Policeman, suddenly found "Collapsed" at his Office the Next Evening, amidst Contradicting Versions of another "Stroke", or, Othewise, of "not surviving at (some undetermined) Wounds", Curiously withOut receaving Any Previous Medical Help or Examination during 2 Days, (etc.: See ...),





while an UnPrecedented Mass-Oppression was also Launched, Nationwide, Hunting down and Arresting Hundreds of US Citizens, (But : Curiously, Not of Infiltrated "Leftist" AntiFa Provocators, as f.ex. Sullivan, the Most Suspect, who was a Rare Exception to Escape Arrest !), Accused to have Walked in the Gardens, and/or the Spectacular Outer Staircase and Terrasses, if not in the Corridors and Halls of the Superb "Capitol" Building of their Representatives, (Build with Marble from Neighbouring Vermont State, Famous for its "Direct Democracy" Institutions and Base of Popular Independent and Atypical US Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders), Notoriously invited by US President Trump at a more than 1 Million People Washington DC Demonstration of Jan. 6, 2021, Nearby, to Support Constitutional Debates Contesting the Representivity of Formal "Electors" oand an Official Demand, lodged by Senators and Reps., for a Bi-Partisan Investigation, Chaired by USA Supreme Court President, in order to Debate Seriously the Facts and Arguments about the Big Controversy on alleged Fraud/Gross Irregularities at the Nov. 3, 2020 US Presidential Election, (Never Examined Seriously Yet, by Any Court until now, on the Substance of its Merits), at least during the 10 or 14 Next Days which Remained until the Formal "Inauguration" of an US President for the period of 2021-2025, scheduled for Jan. 20,





grossly Slandering them by Claims to be a "Mob" making a "Violent" "Riot" to "Attack" the US Congress, and "OverTurn", by "Force" of a "Putch" (sic !), Biden's alleged "Election", facing an "Assault against Democracy", that some Apparently consider UnQuestionable, Despite Many State "Courts" Ruling "accross Partisan lines", (and Not based on Law, as Even OSCE's Preliminary Report already Denounced), so that FBI could Make Public Protestors' Photos, Names, Jobs, Family Addresses, and Other Private Data, Call for "Witnesses" to slyly "Knail" them, Routinely Accuse them to "UnLafully enter" the Garden etc. (Most of them), and/or the Public "Building" of their Representtives (Only for a Few among them, Briefly, Before being Thrown Out by Force : "Sticks" and "Guns", "Flash-Grenades", etc), Even for ..."Waving Flags" (sic !), and/or so-called "DesOrderly Behavior" (f.ex. a Lady Exhibiting a Placard for "Children's Rights", a Doctor calling for "Medical Democracy" and "HCQ", etc), finding a Pretext to "Arrest" and "Charge" them, Threatening Long "Prison" Sentences, Many being, in Addition, Immediately "Fired" or Obliged to "Resign" from their Job, in One (1) Day, through a Caricatural Version of "Neo-Maccarhysm"...(Explaining the Above-mentioned "Suicides" : Comp. Supra),

while Debates on alleged Electoral Fraud/Irregularities, due to durate 6 X 2 = 12 Hours in Senate and the House (i.e. +24 Hours in all), are, in fact, Rapidly Cut Short in Only Less than an Hour, under Pretext of Entry of a Small Group of Demonstrators, Full of Infiltrated "AntiFa" Provocative Clowns, (Serving Dems' obvious Aim to Avoid Debating),

>>> Wouldn't it be Better, for All People involved, including for Real Democracy, if, instead of Divisive and Violent Conflict, provoking such a Bloody Mess, a Way was Found to Peacefully Associate those People into a kind of Participatory Democracy, where they could have at least an elementary Dialogue with Politiciians, Before Final Decisions Affecting their Lives and/or Society at large ?, "Eurofora" Wondered, (Obviously referring to a Basic Version of our overall Project). - "Don't you have a Feeling that, in fact, a rare, Unique Chance for an Original "Rendez-Vous with a much Needed and Possible New Development on Democracy", was Misssed Nowadays at Washington DC ?", we asked.

Our Topical Question was Addressed to Strasbourg University Professor, Chantal Cutajar, Head of an EU-Funded Network of Researchers in Public Law, and Experienced former Deputy Mayor of Strasbourg EuroMetropole, who has Notoriously speahEeaded the Group, (Including with "Eurofora"s Involvement, too), which prepared its "Pact for Participatory Democracy", quasi-Unanimously Adopted on 2019, (among Many others, See, f.ex., also ; ..., ...., + ..., etc).

Cutajar, (a former Centrist), was Speaking at a Press Conference of the "Engaged Citizens" New Party in Strasbourg, where "Eurofora" and other Journalists had been Invited,

- Her immediate Aim is to Open "Citizens' Workshops" dedicated to the Creation of "a Chamber for Citizens' Participation".

- "Because we have entered into a Phase of Profound Mutations", where, "withOut a Active and Responsible Participation of Citizens in Public Decisions which Affect their Future, it's Impossible to have a Peaceful Construction".

* "It's Now Clear, and withOut any Doubt, that Social, Environmental and other Mutations, among Growing Health, Climate and Terrorism Challenges, provoke UnPrecedented Dangers to our "Living Together" Framework, (resumed in France as) "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". In Fact, InEqualities aggravate, Boosting Social Movements, and Provoking the Surge of more and more Violent Events, expression of a Growing Popular Anger, where Peace is at Stake. So that we have to Seek Ways to Ensure our Future, and Guarantee Resilience"., she said.

=> In Consequnce, "Engaged Citizens'" Movement was Born from the Belief that this Situation is an Opportunity for Citizens to Forge the Trend We Want for our City, Region, Country and Europe", Cutajar Voluntaristicaly stressed, Enlarging the issue thoughout All Levels, "Because the (Governance) Models of the Past and of Today, appear UnAble to Prepare us for that New Reality", she Warned. Indeed, "in order to Ensure a Democracy Based on the Quest of the General Interest, on a Fearless Evaluation of Responses, while also Attracting Innovations, we Need a Real (New, 3rd) Chamber for Citizens' Participation : It's a Space for Building Consensus, ... Able to Mobilize the Greatest Number of Citizens, in order to <<Build Together>> the Fundamental Choices that we have, Already, to make" for the Future.

Such a Move goes towards a Direction that "Eurofora" had Earlier Suggested to Professor Cutajar, in order to Put Citizens' previous Dialogue with Political Decision-Makers at the Base of a Modern Popular Movement, (See, among others, also : ..., etc).

- For that purpose, f.ex., Each "Citizens' Workshop" should Result into a "Tool-Kit" Ready to Use on an Important, given Topical Issue, each time, she proposed, while Tracing a Preparatory Process to Build concretely a Design for such a New Mechanism, between January and March 2021, Before Launching a Wider Campaign for its General Adoption, Starting by Strabourg's City Level. At the MeanTime, in Parallel, "Citizens' Consultations" would provide an Opportunity for Individual or Grouped Citizens to Present also Various Concrete Cases, where Public or Private "Administrative Violence" might Affect their Rights as well as present a General Interest Issue, on which the Movement could Adopt a Proposal.

>>> Even if the Current Base is situated at a Local Level, Nevertheless, the Movement Aims to Deal with All Relevant Issues "also at Regional, National, European, International or Global level", the "European Level being, Naturally, for us, very Important", Strasbourg University's Professor Cutajar Highlighted, in Reply to a Question by a Collegue Journalist.

=> "Eurofora", Raising a "Hot Current Issue", which, Despite several Differences between France and the USA, (in the History of which, French People are actively Present, Already "Since the Era of Lafayette"), nevertheless, concerns the "Fundamental Matters" of "a New Era" that Professor Cutajar had Evoked (Comp. Supra), Pointed at "those Difficult Moments" that "we have all Just seen among our American Friends", in a "very Strange Phenomenon", when a lot of American People, partly from Various Horizons, went to Washington DC, Naively Aspiring, Rightfully or Wrongly, to Reach the US Congress, where certain Issues of Great Importance for all were due to be Discussed and Decided, (i.e. the Official Endorsement of those who would be Authorized to Choose the US President for 2021-2024), Even if US Citizens haveN't Yet Any Established Right to Participate on that, at least Until Now, Hoping to be Heard by their Elected Representatives, (as far as the Growing Controversy on the Nov. 3 Vote's alleged Fraude/Irregularities, in 6 "Swing" States, is concerned). There, under particular, Non-Elucidated yet Circumstances, some Provoked (from Various Sides) certain Negative Incidents, which made Even President Trump to "Thank" the People for their Support, But Ask them to Return, Now, Safely, "Home". And, Already, in the Recent Past, during former US President Obama, with Biden as Vice-Pres., ("Socialist"), they Notoriously Faced some very much "Harder" Social Clashes, Even among Their own Socio-Political Areas, f.ex. at Ferguson, etc, as We Reminded.

--------------------------



- In order to Prevent such Problems, while Advancing towards the Horizon of Your Project, don't you think that, f.ex., the US Capitol's Building is Large Enough and able to Host Also a "3rd Chamber, for Citizens", f.ex. towards its Huge Garden, where we can Imagine that it could Welcome People, Both Favorable and Opposed to that Protestors' Demand, (Comp. Supra), in Any possible Way, Even by Video-Conference and/or Other Internet Links, etc., so that they would Express their Views, be Heard by Political Decision-Makers, and Receive a Reply, Easing more Peaceful Outcomes, Better manage such Socio-Political Situations, and Avoid such Problems ?, "Eurofora asked Cutajar.

------------------------------

=> "Concerning Your ("Eurofora"s) Question", the Reply is : - "Yes ! It's Exactly in the Area Where We Locate" our Movement, "Where we place Our Convictions", Strasbourg University Professor Cutajar Positively Replied.

>>> - "I.e., We are in a Moment - which is True Both in France and Anywhere else (f.x. in the USA, etc - where an Exclusively <<Representative>> Democracy, is No More Able to Pacify the Social Relations", she observed.

- "Simply, Because it's No More (really) Representative !"... "And, Because that so-called "Participative" Democracy, as it's set up here or there, is InSufficiently Participative", (i.e. does Not Give a Real Chance for Most People to fully Participate), she rightfully Criticized.

=>"In Consequence, we are driven towards such <<Blocked>> Situations ! (as that of the US Congress' "Closed Doors" Policy of Jan. 6, Followed by Brutal Killings of Protestors, Suicides, Even of Policemen, Witch-Hunts, Massive Oppression Nationwide, Tens of Thousands of Heavily Armed Military and 7/7 Curfew, etc : Comp. Facts cited Supra).That's precisely the Reason for which, Against that, We, Want to Demonstrate", First, "Starting from a Local Level, (Comp. Supra), that a Democracy which Accepts a kind of <<Co-Building>> Among the relevant interested Parties, is The Solution !", she Explained.

- "But", what is, sometimes, done, "f.ex. in France, to Randomly take 35 Citizens (i.e. by Lots) in order to Ask their Views on the Vaccine Policy, is Not the Right one" : "What should have been done, From the Beginning (i.e. Already Before Decisions are Taken), was to Associate Interested Citizens to the (Government's) Scientific Council, precisely as some of it's Members had Advised". Indeed, "Participation is Not Only to Consult some Persons in order to Ask for their Views, But it's, on the Contrary, to Give them a Responsibility, so that Everyone, from his own Position, has Something to Contribute : That's Our Credo, that we support. In that sens, I fully Agree with Your Analysis", Professor Cutajar concluded in her Main Reply to "Eurofora"s above-mentioned Question.

+ In Fact, "as they use to say on Psychanalysis, it's not enough to know only an Individual, because we must also have a Clear Idea of an Entire Society", observbed Earlier the Movement's vice-President Jean Laurent, adding later, that "We are Not Against the Institutions, But Try to Help them Function in a Better way".
Legendary editor Maria Guarnaschelli, the editor behind a number of influential cookbooks, nonfiction titles, and works of literature, died on Saturday, February 6, at Northwell Health Stern Family Center for Rehabilitation in Manhasset, N.Y., from complications of heart disease, according to her daughter, chef and Food Network television personality Alex Guarnaschelli. She was 79 years old.

Among the many cookbooks Guarnaschelli edited during her four-decade publishing career, she is perhaps best known for the 1997 revision of The Joy of Cooking. She worked with a number of culinary writers, including J. Kenji Lopez-Alt (The Food Lab), Judy Rodgers (The Zuni Cafe Cookbook), Rose Levy Beranbaum (The Cake Bible), and Maricel Presilla (Gran Cocina Latina).

In addition to food, Guarnaschelli edited nonfiction. Her authors included John Cacioppo (Loneliness), Steven Pinker (The Language Instinct), and Deborah Tannen (You Just Dont Understand). Her eclectic taste extended to literature and Booker Prize-winning Irish novelist Anne Enright (The Forgotten Waltz) and Zimbabwean author Novuyo Rosa Tshuma (House of Stone), among others.

In 2017, Guarnaschelli retired as v-p and senior editor at W.W. Norton. Before coming to Norton in 2000, she served as v-p and senior editor at Scribner Books. She also worked at other houses, including 17 years at William Morrow, and served as a consulting editor for Saveur for decades. Guarnaschelli was the editor for numerous award-winning titles. According to Norton, while working at the publisher her authors won 13 James Beard Foundation Awards and at least 13 International Association of Culinary Professional Awards.

In reflecting on her death in a note to staff, Norton chairman and president Julia Reidhead described Guarnaschelli as "brilliant; exuberant; a stunning reader; laser-like in spotting quality or falsity."

In addition to her daughter, Guarnaschelli is survived by her granddaughter, Ava Clark; her brothers, George DiBenedetto of Vero Beach, Fla., and Stephen DiBenedetto of Austin, Tex.; and her sister Lucia DiBenedetto of Portland, Me..
SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 2021 / Trovata, a leader in automating cash workflows using direct bank APIs for wholesale, multi-bank data aggregation, announced today the launch of its new Enterprise Treasury Cloud product - a fully managed data lake with a robust developer portal for bank balances and transactions at scale. Enterprise Treasury Cloud is designed for enterprise business systems or IT teams to drive digital transformation and automate backend support for accounting, finance and treasury teams internally.

The new Platform follows a year-long development effort and successful pilot with the treasury and business systems (IT) teams of global payments leader, Square.

"As wholesale banking APIs have become increasingly available, large enterprise companies are having to step up to significant challenges in integrating and driving automation and internal data platform capabilities across their ecosystem of services," said Trovata CTO, Joseph Drambarean. "With our new Enterprise Treasury Cloud, Trovata brings to life banking data from a complex network of global institutions into a common language providing resilience, scalability, and extensibility."

Trovata's new Enterprise Treasury Cloud provides:

Superior Performance: A treasury reconciliation module with automated reporting and alerts, analytics and real-time processing, large volume data searching and indexing, and expansive metadata.

A treasury reconciliation module with automated reporting and alerts, analytics and real-time processing, large volume data searching and indexing, and expansive metadata. Data Integrity: A manifest API and infrastructure that monitors the data environment for synchronization issues with their internal databases.

A manifest API and infrastructure that monitors the data environment for synchronization issues with their internal databases. Best-In-Class Technology: IT organizations can fast track data transformation initiatives by leveraging pre-built integrations with existing tools in their finance ecosystem built on custom data mapping provided by Trovata.

IT organizations can fast track data transformation initiatives by leveraging pre-built integrations with existing tools in their finance ecosystem built on custom data mapping provided by Trovata. Developer Experience: Engineers can leverage the developer experience to register applications with the Trovata Platform, entitle data access to specific accounts for each application, entitle API access to specific APIs for each application, review API documentation, and utilize code gen tools for rapid onboarding.

"The challenge of accounting for the variability and volume of bank balances and transactions across our network of banking partners proved to be unique as we embarked on data transformation of our internal services," said Square's Treasury and Business Technology team. "Trovata stepped into the gaps by providing an end-to-end Platform to be used by our internal stakeholders and created opportunities for further innovation built on the power of Platform APIs."

By leveraging Trovata to access banking APIs, Square's stakeholders, including accounting, treasury, and engineering teams, can benefit instantly from a centralized data lake and forgo routine maintenance and lengthy implementations. Bank data is aggregated in real time, stored, and fully managed to ensure quality assurance that offers the agility required to drive innovation.

For more information on the Trovata Enterprise Treasury Cloud, read the case study on how Square Reinvents Treasury Back Office with Bank Data Lake.

About Trovata

Trovata makes it easy for businesses to automate cash reporting, forecasting, and analysis. By bridging the gap between banks and accounting systems, Trovata is helping companies gain powerful insights into their cash flows that drive better and quicker business decisions. Today, Trovata is helping companies transform finance and treasury operations using open banking and machine learning. With direct APIs with most major banks, new clients can get setup in just a few hours. Trovata is based in San Diego, CA. To learn more visit www.trovata.io.

Contact:

Heather Tidwell

Interdependence PR

trovata@interdependence.com

(949) 777-1333

SOURCE: Trovata.io

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628405/Trovata-Launches-Enterprise-Treasury-CloudTM-a-Multi-Bank-Data-Lake-Platform-as-a-Service-PaaS-for-Enterprise-IT

Last week, The Bachelor spent time showing Matt James taking action after what Katie had described as a toxic, mean girl atmosphere among the bachelorettes in Season 25. Some women got shown the door (and not a moment too soon, Queen Victoria), while more cliffhangers hovered in the air.

This week, well presumably find out what happens with MJ and Jessenia, who definitely wont be winning the BFF Trophy anytime soon. Will Matt send one or the other, or both, to the exits? Will there be more cocktail party drama? Have you ever watched this show? Of course there will.

(How to watch: The Bachelor airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on ABC. No cable or antenna? Live stream The Bachelor on fuboTV, which offers a 7-day free trial or Hulu + Live TV; you can stream episodes the following day on Hulu)

What else is coming up on the Monday, Feb. 8 episode? According to the Episode 6 info, another group date gets unexpectedly competitive (this follows group dates that have included such non-glam activities as mucking about a farm). Matts friend, and Bachelorette veteran Tyler Cameron, finally makes an appearance. Hes not the only familiar face, as teasers already spilled that Heather Martin, one of the women on The Bachelor Season 23, also shows up.

Drama! So much drama!

Hopefully, there will be less drama involved when Matt finally takes Pieper James, the graduate student from Happy Valley in Oregon, on a date. They have the same last name, so will more sparks fly on whats described as their romantic carnival date?

One of the highlights of last weeks episode featured another Portland-area cast member, Abigail Heringer, opening up about her hearing loss, and feeling vulnerable during the show, and in relationships. Matt seemed touched by her honesty, but who knows what may happen next?

More of our coverage:

The Bachelor 2021: The Portland-area women are still on the show, right? (recap)

The Bachelor 2021: How did the Portland-area bachelorettes do in Episode 1?

Subscribe to our What to Watch newsletter. Email:



-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist
Steam has finally launched in the worlds biggest gaming market, China. Like its peers before it, the Valve-owned service is entering the mainlands heavily fortified industry through a partnership with a local publisher. In this case, its MMORPG specialist, Perfect World.

The countrys strict oversight means Steam China has just 41 titles available at launch, compared to over 48,000 on the global version, with regulations likely to hamper the variety of new additions for the foreseeable future.

Chinas gaming authority has previously placed bans on Mahjong and poker, titles based on China's imperial past, and games that feature blood or corpses. It explained the scrutiny as a reaction to violence and video game addiction among younger players. The end result has meant a slow trickle of approved games making it to the masses, with major local developers such as Tencent (which is involved in PUBG and Fortnite) previously caught in the crosshairs.

As such, Steam says that every game on the Chinese service must be vetted for approval by the countrys government. Upon getting the green light, the Chinese publisher of each title is granted an ISBN number that is displayed on its Steam product page.

While the launch represents a major expansion for Valve, as SteamDB notes, the company was already present in China in a limited capacity, thanks to its special launchers for CS:GO and Dota 2. These were essentially pared-down Steam clients also operated by Perfect World and connected to Steam servers.
Egypt is seeking to strengthen cooperation ties with Iraq via supporting development efforts in the country as part of an oil-for-reconstruction agreement reached between Cairo and Baghdad, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told Iraqs Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein during their meeting in the Egyptian capital on Monday.

There are clear and continuous mandates by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to the government to strengthen cooperation ties with brotherly Iraq, and to do whatever it takes to support development efforts on Iraqs land, especially after an agreement was reached on activating the oil-for-reconstruction mechanism, Madbouly stressed to the Hussein, according to a cabinet statement.

The Egyptian PM and Iraqi foreign minister met yesterday on the sideline of the emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League (AL) in Cairo, which discussed the Palestinian cause and other regional issues.

Madbouly said he is following up on the implementation of the cooperation deals agreed upon between the two countries during the latest meetings of the Egyptian-Iraqi High committee, as well as the tripartite meetings between Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan.

During a meeting of the Egyptian-Iraqi High Committee in Baghdad in October, Cairo and Baghdad reached an initial agreement to establish an oil-for-reconstruction mechanism, under which Egyptian companies are to implement construction projects in Iraq in return for Iraq providing Egypt with certain quantities of oil.

With the aim of boosting bilateral cooperation, both countries also signed 15 agreements and memoranda of understanding in various fields, including oil, transport, roads, housing, construction, trade, industry, and others.

Meanwhile, Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan are targeting cementing cooperation ties in different fields, foremost of which are the oil pipeline power linkages ventures, as agreed during the latest tripartite summits between the three countries, the latest of which was held in Cairo in December.

Hussein expressed to Madbouly his countrys hope to build on the outcomes of the High Committee meetings hosted in Baghdad, and to maximise the benefit from the oil-for-reconstruction mechanism.

The Iraqi foreign minister said he is following up with his counterparts in Egypt and Jordan on other trilateral cooperation files.

Earlier on Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with Hussein and their Jordanian counterpart in a tripartite meeting also on the sidelines of the emergency meeting to coordinate positions on issues of mutual concern and the Palestinian cause.

Short link:


California officials painted a cautiously hopeful picture of the pandemic on Monday, the day after reporting the lowest single-day case total in more than two months and as the state prepared to open its largest mass vaccination site at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara County on Tuesday.

But even as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths dropped dramatically over the past month and vaccination numbers continued to improve, Californias outlook remains hampered by uncertain vaccine supply and the increasing spread of new variants of the coronavirus that could lead to another surge.

On Sunday, California reported just under 8,000 new COVID-19 cases  a drop from 50,000 on Jan. 8 and the first time the state has fallen under 10,000 cases in a day since before Thanksgiving. The positive test rate declined from 14% to 5% over the past month. Hospitalizations fell by nearly a third. In the Bay Area, the number of patients hospitalized with the virus dipped under 1,200 on Sunday for the first time in two months.

That is encouraging news indeed, said Gov. Gavin Newsom at a news conference at the states first mass vaccination site, which opened a month ago at Petco Park in San Diego. The vaccines, however, we cant move fast enough.

With the worst surge of the pandemic receding, Newsom said he will soon announce plans to safely reopen schools, which would include prioritizing teachers for vaccination. Educators already are in a tier that is allowed by the state to be vaccinated, but most counties dont yet have enough vaccine supply to offer them.

In the Bay Area, unions representing San Francisco Unified School District employees announced a tentative agreement with the district Sunday to reopen the citys public schools. That agreement could hinge on teacher vaccinations, depending on how widespread the virus is in the community.

Most of California, including all Bay Area counties, are still experiencing widespread transmission, meaning they are assigned to the states purple tier for reopening. Updated data on counties tier status is expected Tuesday.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned states on Monday not to relax restrictions too quickly, with transmission rates still dangerously high. The U.S. topped 27 million cumulative cases Monday.

The nation reported more than 460,000 COVID-19 deaths as of Monday. In California, more than 44,000 people have died of COVID-19, including 4,565 deaths in the Bay Area. Though daily death tolls also are waning, the Bay Area reported a grim 109 deaths on Friday, the second-deadliest day in the pandemic.

Walenskys warning comes as California continues reporting new cases of more transmissible variants. The state has identified 153 cases of the highly transmissible variant from the United Kingdom, Newsom said. Scientists also have identified 1,203 cases of two variants that originated in California; its not yet known if those variants are more infectious. The state hasnt yet found any cases of variants from Brazil or South Africa.

California and San Francisco health officials have said they believe current vaccines are effective against variants found in the state. But with the new variants spreading quickly  the one from the U.K. is expected to be dominant in Southern California in a few weeks  public health officials have said its urgent to speed up vaccinations.

On Feb. 15, the state will formalize its partnership with two health care nonprofits, Blue Shield and Kaiser, to accelerate vaccine distribution, Newsom said. California has administered 4.65 million vaccines so far and doled out three times as many doses Sunday as a month ago, he said. But the state is still only receiving just over 1 million doses a week from the federal government.

We need to see that ramped up, Newsom said.

Part of pushing out more doses is building more infrastructure. The states largest public vaccine site, slated to open Tuesday at the San Francisco 49ers Levis Stadium in Santa Clara, will have an initial capacity of 5,000 doses a day that could increase to 15,000.

The states vaccine tier system is currently prioritizing health care workers, residents over 65, farmworkers, educators and emergency responders, but doesnt yet have enough doses to give to all those eligible. Newsom said Monday that he wants to prioritize people with disabilities and high-risk medical conditions.

The state has allocated more than $6.6 billion to reopening schools and will also include testing, social distancing and ventilation, Newsom said.

It is my desire to get our schools safely open as quickly as we can, particularly for our young children, particularly children with special needs, foster, homeless youth, kids who dont have access to devices, he said. Im confident we can do this safely.

Newsom said fear and trust are the biggest obstacles to overcome to reopen schools. In January, there were 87 coronavirus cases stemming from schools in the state, Newsom said. Marin County officials said Monday that they had identified 10 cases of suspected school transmission out of 17,000 students in the nearly six months since partial in-person instruction resumed.

As the state agonizes over reopening schools, indoor worship services were given the green light by a Supreme Court ruling this weekend. The California Department of Public Health issued temporary guidance allowing for indoor services at 25% capacity for counties in the purple tier.

Santa Clara County initially had stood by its local health order prohibiting all indoor gatherings, including religious services. But late Monday the county revised its order to allow resumption of indoor services at 20% capacity. The county said in a statement that it still strongly discourages indoor gatherings of any kind. The order does not allow singing or chanting during the indoor services.

Calvary Chapel, a San Jose church embroiled in a legal battle after defying health orders and holding indoor services, posted a live stream video to its Facebook page Sunday that showed a band leading worship and a pastor preaching onstage without masks. Church officials were not available for comment on Monday.

In San Francisco, the Roman Catholic Sts. Peter and Paul Church is closed through Feb. 13 after three out of the five priests who live there contracted the virus, Archdiocese of San Francisco spokeswoman Jan Potts said. The individual parish made the decision to not reopen for in-person services because it didnt have resources to run them, she said.

The archbishop wants to make it very clear that its preferable to hold outdoor Masses, Potts said. Its the safest thing to do, and thats what the science shows.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Aidin Vaziri contributed to this report.

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench
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Boxes containing the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine are prepared to be shipped at the McKesson distribution center in Olive Branch, Mississippi, on Dec. 20, 2020. Indian American undergraduate Kritika Singh says that drones can be used to perform the last-mile delivery to locations that do not have established transport infrastructures. (Paul Sancya/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Some COVID-19 vaccine recipients developed a rare blood disorder upon receiving their first dose. This was the case of 72-year-old Luz Legaspi, who woke up with bruises on her arms and legs, and blisters that bled inside her mouth after receiving her first shot of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, The New York Times reported.

Legaspi was hospitalized in New York City on Jan. 19 with a severe case of immune thrombocytopenia, which is a lack of blood component platelets needed for clotting.

Dr. Gregory Michael, 56, has the same condition that led to his death. Michael was an obstetrician in Miami Beach. His symptoms showed three days after he received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Treatments failed to restore his platelets, and he died from a brain hemorrhage after two weeks.

It is not yet confirmed whether the said blood disorder is related to the COVID-19 vaccines due to a lack of studies. Over 31 million people in the United States have already received their first dose, and 36 similar cases had been reported to the government's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) last month.

Related story: Drive-Through Vaccination Organized by a Latina to Increase Vaccine Trust in Latino Communities





COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects

There are side effects linked with the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 shots that are described as only slightly worse than those of other vaccines, Washington Examiner reported. VAERS data showed that 24.1 percent of the first Moderna shot reported headaches than 25 percent of those receiving the meningitis B vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the most common adverse side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines are headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, chills, fever, and pain at the injection site.

One unusual side effect of the COVID-19 vaccines is difficulty breathing, which a relatively small share of recipients noted. However, it is unclear how many of those fully recovered or needed further medical attention.

"That's just your immune system working, so that I don't consider anything serious," Dr. Paul Offit, a virologist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the FDA's panel of vaccine experts, said in the report.

Meanwhile, Pfizer said in a statement that they take reports of adverse events very seriously. It added that it was aware of thrombocytopenia cases in vaccine recipients.

"We are collecting relevant information to share with the FDA. However, at this time, we have not been able to establish a causal association with our vaccine," Pfizer said in a statement as reported by The News Tribune.

On the other hand, Moderna said the firm continuously monitors its COVID-19 vaccine's safety using all sources of data and consistently shares safety information with regulators.

Hematologists, with expertise in treating immune thrombocytopenia, said they suspected that the COVID-19 vaccine did play a role. But they added that the cases after a shot were likely to be exceedingly rare and possibly the result of an unknown predisposition in few people reacting to a vaccine by developing an immune response that destroys their platelets.

"I'm assuming there's something that made the people who developed thrombocytopenia susceptible, given what a tiny percentage of recipients they are," said Dr. James Bussel, a hematologist and professor emeritus at Weill Cornell Medicine, who has written more than 300 scientific articles on the platelet disorder.

He also told The New York Times that having it happen after a shot is well-known and has been seen with many other vaccines. But he noted that they still don't know why it happens.

Related story: Fauci Says Vaccine Rollout Speeding Up, More Delivered Doses Expected in a Week

[February 09, 2021] Colibri Group Announces Strategic Acquisition of BrightPath Education Services

Colibri Group ("Colibri"), an education company with leading brands that provide learning solutions to licensed professionals, is pleased to announce that the company has acquired BrightPath Education Services, a provider of qualifying education (QE) and continuing education (CE) for appraisal and real estate in North Carolina. With this acquisition, Colibri Group expands its presence and market leadership in appraisal and real estate education in the state of North Carolina. "The Brightpath team is truly excited to join forces with Colibri Group. We look forward to building on the success we have enjoyed in North Carolina as we work with Colibri Group to take our longtime focus on quality content, excellent instruction, and customer service nationally," said Mel Black, Owner of BrightPath Education Services. "For years, we have been partnering with Colibri Group companies for online courses. It is a natural fit to fully integrate our appraisal and real estate expertise to bring the best of both worlds together for our students. I look forward to further growing the business and will continue my passion for teaching professionals how to confidently and successfully navigate the real estate and appraisal professions." BrightPath is best known for its live QE and CE appraisal and real estate courses throughout North Carolina. The company also offers online courses through its partnerships with Hondros Education Group and Superior School of Real Estate, which are both part of Colibri Group. Colibri Group and its family of brands provide the most comprehensive and flexible educational offerings in the appraisal and real estate professions.



"Our Colibri family of brands are committed to helping professionals achieve more in their careers by offering a high quality and broad array of learning experiences, courses and business tools," said Michelle Franchi, President of Valuation and Property Services, Colibri Group. "Mel Black and his staff at Brightpath bring an entrepreneurial spirit and infusion of practical knowledge to their appraisal curriculum. We are excited to be able to expand the A+ experience that they bring locally in North Carolina to a broader audience for customers nationwide, which we plan to do in collaboration with McKissock Learning." BrightPath is the latest acquisition Colibri Group has made to expand the licensed professionals it serves. Colibri Group serves millions of customers through its portfolio of brands in real estate, appraisal, financial services and healthcare. Real estate and appraisal brands include McKissock Learning, Real Estate Express, Hondros Education Group and its family of brands, Superior School of Real Estate, Allied School and Institute for Luxury Home Marketing.

Colibri Group is backed by Gridiron Capital, LLC ("Gridiron Capital"), a leading investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams. ABOUT BRIGHTPATH EDUCATION SERVICES BrightPath Education Services provides high quality education to those in the appraisal and real estate professions by offering the best online and live in-person classes in the State of North Carolina. The company offers continuing education classes to help real estate brokers and appraisers maintain their licensure, as well as qualifying education to help aspiring appraisers gain licensure within the industry. BrightPath has been proudly serving North Carolina since 1992 and was founded by Mel Black. Mr. Black is an educator, attorney, appraiser, real estate broker, and regulator. Guided by generations of real estate professionals and entrepreneurs in his family, he built BrightPath after serving as the Executive Director of the North Carolina Appraisal Board, President of the Association of Appraisal Regulator Officials, and on the Board of Directors of the Council on Licensure Enforcement and Regulation. Mr. Black currently serves as a Member of the North Carolina Real Estate Commission. ABOUT COLIBRI GROUP Colibri Group helps millions of licensed professionals manage and advance their careers through online learning solutions for licensing, continuing education and professional development, all powered by our proprietary ColibriConnect technology platform. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Colibri Group offers a seamless experience to help licensed professionals progress throughout their careers, focused on licensing, continuing education, industry news, and job opportunities for healthcare, real estate, and financial services, among other professions. Visit colibrigroup.com for more information. ABOUT GRIDIRON CAPITAL Gridiron Capital is an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, and creating value by building middle-market companies into industry-leaders in branded consumer, B2B and B2C services, and niche industrial segments in the United States and Canada. We help transform growing companies by winning together through hard work, partnerships grounded in shared values and a unique culture that comes from hands-on experience building and running businesses. As a team led by former operators and entrepreneurs, we know what it takes to run successful businesses on a day-to-day basis. Additional information is available on the firm's website: www.gridironcapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209006223/en/

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The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana sued the Louisiana State Police Department on Tuesday over a public records dispute related to facial recognition software used by the department.

The lawsuit stems from a 2019 criminal proceeding in Orleans Parish where an employee of the Louisiana State Analytical and Fusion Exchange, also known as the LSPs Fusion Center, testified he had worked with facial recognition software created by French software company Idemia to identify suspects for the previous two years, according to the lawsuit.

The revelation that LSP was using facial recognition software had not been previously disclosed.

The ACLU of Louisiana requested documents related to the LSPs use of the software in September 2019 out of concern that LSP was using an invasive technology to surveil the public without its knowledge, according to the lawsuit. The state police denied the request, saying it did not maintain some of the requested records and the rest were exempt from Louisiana public records laws, according to an ACLU news release.

Police must be accountable to the communities impacted by their harmful practices  our community members have a right to an informed debate before any mass surveillance capable technologies are acquired or utilized, ACLU of Louisiana Executive Director Alanah Odoms said in a statement.

A state police spokesperson declined to comment Tuesday, citing pending litigation.

The ACLU of Louisiana has previously sought information about the use of facial recognition software by Louisiana police agencies for years.

Records of email requests from the New Orleans Police Department to the Fusion Center asking the center to use facial recognition software to identify suspects were obtained through a public records request and made public by the ACLU of Louisiana in December.

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The emails date as far back as 2018 and include a 2018 email from LSP outlining the departments process for requesting a facial recognition analysis and details on how to use the LSPs standard request form, something the ACLU of Louisiana says shows there is a formalized system in place for the use of such analysis.

The emails demonstrate that LSP is, despite its denial, in possession of responsive documents and illegally refused to produce them, the lawsuit reads.

The New Orleans City Council banned the use of facial recognition software by police in December following the release of the emails. Several other U.S. cities imposed similar bans in 2020.

NOPD had long denied the use of such technology prior to a November report by the Lens that the department instead went through state and federal partners to run the searches.

The ACLU of Louisiana opposes the use of facial recognition technologies in policing, arguing it is racially biased and unreliable.

Theres evidence showing facial recognition often misidentifies Black people and people of color at a higher rate than White people. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, a federal government agency, released a study in 2019 concluding that most commercial facial recognition software was racially biased, identifying Black and Asian people at 10 to 100 times the rate of misidentification for White people. The study tested 189 pieces of software from 99 different developers.

This technology is ripe for abuse in the hands of the government and has already resulted in the wrongful arrest and imprisonment of people of color, Odoms said in a statement. Its inherent racial bias makes it an unreliable investigatory tool and creates a high risk of wrongful arrests, raising grave civil rights concerns.

The lawsuit was filed in East Baton Rouge Parish, where state government and the State Police are headquartered.
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GUANGZHOU, China, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The China International Furniture Fair (Guangzhou) ("CIFF Guangzhou") has announced a repositioning anchored in "design trend, global trade, full supply chain", in response to domestic and international developments as well as the current state of the industry. With this new positioning, CIFF Guangzhou will continue to nurture design innovation, balancing its export activities with a new focus on boosting domestic sales.

CIFF Guangzhou is committed to propelling industry transformation through original design. On July 2020, at its 45th edition, the first "Design Spring" Contemporary Chinese Furniture Design Fair was held, which focused on how to integrate art, design and life to re-examine and discover the unique cultural, artistic, model and brand value of contemporary Chinese furniture design. This event, along with other activities such as the inaugural 2030+ International Future Office that focus on stylish and trend-setting pieces, represents CIFF Guangzhou's embrace and implementation of its new positioning.

In 2021, CIFF Guangzhou will also focus on creating a one-of-a-kind, fully-functional platform to boost domestic sales and exports, with both business streams complementing each other to empower a new era of economic activity for China. Domestically, it will strengthen its business function, bringing together leading brands, identifying new industry trends and market characteristics, connecting exhibitions and stores, and sharpening consumer reach through precision marketing. It will focus on three major plans to promote global trade: cross-border e-commerce, CIFF Global Partners program, and online exhibition platform.

As the world's only furniture fair to cover the entire industry chain, CIFF Guangzhou will continue to leverage its unique position to integrate the industry's upstream and downstream, with plans of activating networks to connect furniture stores, businesses, distributors, and exhibitors in more cities, fusing audience and channel resources, boosting its creative credentials, holding roadshows and events to connect designers and institutions, as well as developing its exposure within the real estate industry.

Connecting more than 4300 quality brands with 300,000 professional visitors from across the industry, the 47th CIFF Guangzhou is scheduled to be held between March 18-21 and March 28-31, 2021 in Canton Fair Complex and PWTC Expo, Guangzhou. Aiming to promote the value of design and bring the entire supply chain together, it seeks to boost industry confidence and empower the development of domestic companies in the post-epidemic period.

To register for the event, please visit: https://www.ciff-gz.com/en/visitors/pre-register

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Teachers and child care workers, emergency responders, food and agricultural workers in San Francisco will be eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine starting Feb. 24, San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced at a news conference Tuesday.

The expanded vaccine eligibility is a really exciting thing, Breed said, but noted that supply remains limited.

Currently, health care workers, long-term care residents and people 65 and older are the only groups eligible to receive the vaccine in San Francisco.

San Francisco can deliver 10,000 doses a day once it has the supply, Breed said. But so far the city has only received that many doses from the state weekly.

We just need more, said Dr. Grant Colfax, the citys health director. We need more as quickly as possible.

San Francisco vaccinated more than 5,000 people on Monday, up from 1,854 about a month ago.

At the current rate, the vaccine rollout will not be enough to push forward with plans to get children back in classrooms for in-person instruction, Breed said.

Breed said she definitely does not see public schools opening this year under the tentative deal reached between the school district and unions this weekend.

The school district and unions announced the agreement Sunday on health and safety.

It allows a return to classrooms once the city reaches the red tier, the second-most-restrictive level of Californias reopening blueprint if vaccinations are available to on-site school staff. San Francisco is now in the most restrictive purple tier, meaning that coronavirus transmission is widespread.

Absent from that agreement was certainty on the most critical question for families, students, city officials and educators: When will children return to school?

Im here to work to do everything possible to support the science and data to ask that we respect our public health department and the hard decisions they have made, Breed said at the briefing, where she urged the district to open schools as soon as possible.

There are currently about 1,500 kids attending in-person classes at 113 private and parochial schools in San Francisco; they have safety measures that were assessed and approved by the Department of Public Health.

Breed said the department has also assessed the safety measures at least six public schools  including Alvarado, Glen Park, John Muir, Lawton, Sunset and Cobb elementary schools  and cleared them to open.

The Department of Public Health said that schools can open without teachers being vaccinated. Still, Breed said, we realize there are people who want that assurance.

Fortunately, we are in a position that in the next two weeks we can move to the next tier, she said  in other words, teachers will be eligible to be vaccinated. Im truly looking forward to that day.

In the meantime, Breed said that the citys children are suffering and their families need a clear plan and timeline for when they can return to the classroom.

If she saw another way to pressure the district to open the schools, she said she would not have supported a lawsuit by the City Attorney that alleges the district is violating students constitutional rights by not reopening classrooms.

Theres no way I would have ever supported using the legal system to try and get our schools open if we were on a path of moving it forward, and if it werent for the Department of Public Health telling us that it is safe to do so, she said. We have to do better. We have to think about these children.

At a separate press briefing for the grand opening of the mass vaccination site at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara, Gov. Gavin Newsom broadcast a similar message.

Our default and our priority is to get our kids safely back to schools, he said. We can safely do that, as many schools have safely reopened in the midst of this surge.

This briefings came as COVID-19 cases have stopped declining in San Francisco, Colfax said.

The last thing we want to do is go backward, Breed said, noting that some people on Sunday did not heed public health warnings about avoiding Super Bowl parties.

She said the citys rate of new coronavirus cases is an average of 135 per day.

The case rate is down from its peak but the virus is still in our community, Breed said.

None of the nine Bay Area counties have yet been able to advance out of the states most restrictive category for coronavirus progress, with all remaining in the purple zone, according to state data released Tuesday.

Vaccines remain our ticket out and I cant emphasize enough, if and when you are eligible and are offered a vaccine, take it, Colfax said, confirming that new cases are on the rise in the city. As we increase activity in the city, viral cases go up.

The coronavirus mutation first identified in England, B.1.1.7, is predicted to be the dominant strain in the U.S. by the end of March, as well as in San Francisco, based on forecast models, Dr. Susan Philip, S.F. acting health officer.

We should assume the U.K. variant is circulating in the Bay Area and San Francisco, she said.

All the more reason for strict adherence to public health behaviors, mask-wearing, social distancing and the like.

The less virus that is circulating and transmitting, the less chance we have for random mutations to emerge, she said.

Meghan Bobrowsky, Aidin Vaziri and Trisha Thadani are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: meghan.bobrowsky@sfchronicle.com trisha.thadani@sfchronicle.com avaziri@sfchronicle.com

Correction: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect date for the expanded eligibility for the vaccine. It is Feb. 24.
Lakhimpur Kheri : Feb 9 (IANS) Nearly 70 persons from Uttar Pradesh are reported missing after the Uttarakhand catastrophe.

The maximum number of missing persons belong to Lakhimpur district. Majority of the labourers had gone to work on the Tapovan project in the farming off-season.

The local people in Ichchhanagar said that 26 persons from their village had left for Tapovan and 18 had gone missing.

Those in Bharampur said 11 have neither returned home and nor have they contacted their families. In Bholanpur, five persons are feared missing.

District Magistrate Shailendra Singh did not confirm the exact number of missing persons but said that a list of all workers from Lakhimpur Kheri is being compiled.

"We have deployed lekhpals to collate the information from villages and share it with the tehsildar and subdivisional magistrate. We are then verifying the data by getting in touch with family members. As of now, we suspect 35 people from just the Nighasan tehsil have gone missing," he said.

The data is being shared with his counterpart in Chamoli.

Nighasan sub divisional magistrate Om Prakash Gupta said there was no official confirmation of any death yet. He added, "So far, we know 58 people from Nighasan were working at the hydel project site.The number may increase because we are yet to receive data from a few villages." Sources said that majority of the bodies were unrecognizable sine they had either been crushed under the weight of stones and boulders or bloated due to water.

According to the office of the relief commissioner, three persons from Saharanpur, four from Meerut, five from Gorakhpur, two from Shamli and one each from Moradabad, Bijnor, and Chandauli are also out of contact with their family members.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a high-level meeting, late on Monday night, to review the situation.

The state government has released a toll-free number 1070 and a WhatsApp number 9454441036 on which the family members of those who are missing, can contact for help.

The Chief Minister is also setting up control room in Haridwar and four officers have been designated to go to Joshimath and help people from Uttar Pradesh who are stranded there.

The Chief Minister has also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of the deceased.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Lawmakers in Albany advanced a legislative package Monday that they say will help prevent housing discrimination.

The State Senate passed the 11-bill package that includes legislation mandating annual fair housing reviews from the attorney generals office, and implicit bias training for real estate agents.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Westchester) credited the Democratic majority for two public hearings and a 97-page investigative report that preceded the legislations drafting.

There is no place in New York for housing discrimination and predatory practices, she said. Buying a new home should be a special achievement in a persons life without the risk of becoming a victim of abhorrent (discrimination).

A years-long Newsday project on housing discrimination in Long Island spurred on the legislatures effort.

The outlets reporting found a pattern of alleged housing discrimination and unfair practices against minority prospective homeowners in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

On Staten Island, a real estate company faces a lawsuit filed by federal prosecutors in September over the alleged discriminatory practices of a former rental agent.

Prosecutors allege that Denis Donovan, who worked for Village Realty of Staten Island, Ltd. in Great Kills, discriminated against Black people seeking housing including by steering them into more integrated communities.

A testing investigation found Donovan offered Black testers units in primarily integrated neighborhoods, while offering white testers units in both overwhelmingly white and more integrated neighbors, officials allege.

Donovan would also require Black prospective renters to sign a disclosure form in order for them to look at the units, according to a criminal complaint.

An attorney listed for Village declined to comment, and no attorney was yet listed for Donovan.

The 11-bill package the Senate passed Wednesday still needs to make its way through the New York Assembly before arriving on the desk of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomos office did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-the Bronx) said the members in his chamber take these issues very seriously, and that the package will be reviewed.

Democrats gained a supermajority in the legislature after the November election, and have the ability to override any veto from the governor.
South Australians were given eight hours to return home or risk being forced into quarantine after the states Chief Health Officer, Nicole Spurrier, and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens announced tougher border restrictions with Victoria about 4pm on Wednesday. Professor Spurrier said the state was being extra cautious in reimposing border restrictions, saying the British variant was of particular ... concern to health authorities in South Australia. Victorians cannot travel to SA if they are coming from the greater Melbourne area, and SA travellers wanting to come home will be subject to 14 days in quarantine if they dont return before midnight. Persons who have been in Greater Melbourne on or after 4 February 2021, will be prohibited from entering South Australia unless they are an Essential Traveller or an exempt person, an SA police statement released late on Wednesday said.

In addition, this includes a person or a close contact of a person who has been physically present on the site of the Holiday Inn  on or after 12.01 am 27 January 2021 for greater than 15 minutes. Victorian authorities earlier on Wednesday said they suspected the use of a nebuliser by a COVID-infected guest caused the spread of the virus at the Holiday Inn. Returned travellers were evacuated from the hotel at Melbourne Airport and two Catholic schools in Sunbury also closed on Wednesday after Tuesdays cases were announced. Victorian health authorities believe a nebuliser may be responsible for spreading COVID-19 in the Holiday Inn.

Authorities are bracing for more community infections after daily testing found COVID-19 fragments in wastewater in areas where close contacts of the recent confirmed cases live. The nebuliser theory Victorias Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton, said health authorities were working on the hypothesis that the recent cases were all linked to the use of a nebuliser. It vapourises medication or liquid into a fine mist and if thats breathed in  especially when it is used as medication and someone is infectious or later tests positive  that [pick up] the virus and that mist can then be suspended in the air with very, very fine aerosolised particles, he said. Premier Daniel Andrews said the nebuliser was used by a guest with a pre-existing health condition, who was taken to intensive care with the virus on Tuesday and was now fighting for their life.

We believe that the transmission of the UK strain occurred prior to them entering Victoria, he said. Two of the mans family members had also contracted the virus and remain in quarantine. Returned travellers have been required to declare any medical devices upon their arrival, but quarantine boss Emma Cassar said the mans nebuliser seemed to have inadvertently slipped through. I think in this instance the individual didnt recognise his nebuliser ... as a medical device, she said.

Professor Sutton said a nebuliser could create tiny particles of coronavirus that could spread when a hotel rooms door was opened. We think the exposures are [linked to] this nebuliser whereby ... [the] virus was carried out into the corridor and exposed the authorised officer, the food and beverage service worker and also the other resident. That makes sense in terms of the geography and it makes sense in terms of the exposure time, he said. What we know is that the authorised officer [and] the food and beverage worker had been on the floor for a period of time on those relevant days [when the nebuliser was used]. We dont have the exact correlation with the door being open, but ... with aerosolised particles they can remain suspended in the air for several minutes so it doesnt have to happen at the same time.

Ms Cassar said the earlier identified infected workers were wearing surgical masks and goggles at the time, but all Victorian hotel quarantine workers would now be provided with N95 masks. Vapourising machines, including sleep apnoea machines, will be banned from standard quarantine hotels and bags thoroughly searched. Anyone needing to use a nebuliser or a similar device will be transferred to a designated hot hotel. In light of the hotel outbreaks, Victoria will not increase its intake of overseas arrivals to 1310 on Monday as planned. Authorities expecting more cases after virus detected in wastewater

Meanwhile, daily testing has found COVID-19 fragments in wastewater from Melbournes northern suburbs, Health Minister Martin Foley said. Anyone who was in Coburg or Reservoir in the 72 hours before February 6 and who is showing any sign of illness should get tested immediately. Residents queue for COVID testing in Sunbury on Wednesday morning. Credit:Joe Armao Residents of Glenroy, Broadmeadows, Westmeadows and Roxburgh Park are also being asked to get tested if they have any symptoms after unexpected viral fragments were found in wastewater from those areas. There are no known cases residing in those particular catchments, but there are a number of contacts [who live there], Mr Foley said.

Five of Holiday Inn workers close contacts test negative The food and beverage worker at the Holiday Inn who tested positive on Tuesday had tested negative at the end of her last shift on February 4, but developed symptoms two days later. On February 8 she was advised she was a primary close contact of her COVID-infected colleague  the authorised officer  and was required to get tested and isolate. She got tested on the morning of the ninth and returned a positive result, Mr Andrews said.

Seven of the womans 13 household and social contacts have so far tested negative. A guest is evacuated from the Holiday Inn quarantine hotel on Wednesday morning. Credit:Joe Armao The returned traveller who tested positive on Tuesday largely stayed at home after leaving the hotel, potentially exposing only her family members and close household contacts to the virus. Authorities are awaiting the test results from two close contacts of the authorised officer, but so far six have tested negative. Eight cases have emerged at the Holiday Inn in less than a week, while 10 have been detected in less than a fortnight across three Victorian quarantine hotels. Three of them are confirmed to have the more infectious British variant of COVID-19.

A Skybus outside the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday morning. Credit:Joe Armao Guests at the Holiday Inn started being transferred to the Pullman Hotel on Swanston Street on Wednesday morning. COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria, the government agency overseeing the quarantine program, said 48 guests were considered primary close contacts of the cases revealed on Tuesday. Any guests who were due to leave quarantine in the next three days will be required to stay at least another three days. Health authorities said anyone who spent more than 15 minutes at the Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport between January 27 and February 9 must immediately isolate, get a test and stay isolated for 14 days.

Brisbanes Hotel Grand Chancellor, which operated as a quarantine facility, was evacuated in mid-January after a casual cleaner tested positive for the highly infectious British strain of the virus. Six cases were linked to a cluster traced to the seventh floor of the hotel. All guests at the Grand Chancellor were evacuated individually in ambulances to another quarantine hotel where they were required to restart their 14-day quarantine period. But Mr Andrews batted away questions about why people from the Holiday Inn were transferred together on a bus, saying the transport method was based on advice. The safest method will have been used, they will have done a full rating of what risk those people posed based on their individual circumstances and their shared circumstances, he said.

Two schools closed, new exposure sites in Sunbury Salesian College in Sunbury and nearby St Annes Primary School will reopen on Thursday, after closing as a precaution on Wednesday. Some members of the school communities who were linked to the infected Holiday Inn food and beverage worker have been cleared as secondary close contacts. Berejiklian says Andrews pretty good at spin The latest outbreak has fuelled interstate tensions over standards in hotel quarantine.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian took a swipe at her Victorian counterpart after he claimed Victoria had higher standards in quarantine hotels than NSW on Tuesday. I can foreshadow for you that were not going to anywhere near the capacity NSW has, we will have less capacity because we have a different model and, I believe, higher standards, Mr Andrews said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Speaking to Sydney radio station 2GB on Wednesday morning, Ms Berejiklian said the Victorian Premier was pretty good at spin. I think the people of NSW dont want me to lower myself to those sorts of statements, she said.

Loading The NSW Premier said she believed the success of a states hotel quarantine system should be measured by how many Australians have been returned home while keeping the community safe. Is the system in NSW perfect? No. And I would never boast about it. Mr Andrews responded to Ms Berejiklians comments at his own press conference soon after. Im not interested in having an argument with Gladys, and Ill somehow find a way to recover from that barb, he said.
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AstraZeneca Vaccine 'Protects Against Severe Disease, Death'

The Malawi government has announced that it has decided to go ahead with acquiring the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, despite concerns about its efficacy. Alarm bells went off In South Africa, when clinical trials at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, concluded that the AstraZeneca vaccine provided only "minimal" protection against mild to moderate Covid-19 symptoms caused by the 501.V2 variant. South Africa, Africa's hardest-hit nation, was due to start its vaccination campaign with a million AstraZeneca doses but halted the plans, and may instead switch to a different vaccine. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has warned against dismissing the vaccine, insisting it was still a vital tool in the global fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic.
DUBAI : In normal times, the crowds of young Southeast Asian workers jostling for a place in line outside the Sikh temple in Dubai would mean one thing: free meals.

A core tenet of the worlds fifth-largest religion with over 50,000 adherents in the United Arab Emirates is langar," the practice of serving hot, home-cooked vegetarian food to anyone in need. It can be a lifeline in Dubai, where millions of low-paid workers from Asia, Africa and elsewhere power the service-heavy economy.

But over the past few days, the Sikhs of Dubai have traded their spiced rice and dal for what has become a coveted prize: 5,000 shots of the Chinese-made vaccine offered to people of all ages and backgrounds. As the coronavirus pandemic surges to previously unseen heights in the UAE, residents are scrambling to get vaccines in the worlds second-fastest inoculation drive.

We found a lot of people who wanted to take the vaccine but faced difficulty," Surender Singh Kandhari, the temples chairman said.

Kandhari said many front-line medical workers who failed to get vaccinated elsewhere due to shortages and new restrictions were lining up for jabs in the temples parking garage Monday. This is the only way we can serve the community," he said.

The UAE, with a vaccination campaign that trails only Israel, has administered 4.4 million shots in the country of some 10 million. Many Western countries imposed strict priority criteria that slowed vaccine distribution. But the UAE swiftly authorized emergency use of the shot by state-backed Chinese firm Sinopharm to anyone over the age of 16, despite a lack of data supporting its safety or efficacy.

Dubai, which swung open its doors to travelers fleeing tough lockdowns back home, is banking on widespread COVID-19 immunity to salvage its stagnating economy. The worsening outbreak has infected more than 329,000 people and killed 930.

But like elsewhere in the world, logistical problems caught up with the nations campaign. Amid a shortage of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and skyrocketing virus cases, the government announced Sunday that it would temporarily limit vaccinations to residents and citizens over the age of 60 or with chronic health conditions. Scores of expats across the country learned that their appointments had been abruptly canceled.

The Sikhs have stepped up to the challenge. The powerful trustees of Dubais Sikh house of worship struck a deal with the Tamouh health care company to administer the Chinese jab to thousands of residents  drivers, grocery store clerks, doctors  who may otherwise struggle to be vaccinated.

None on Monday appeared to share health experts' concerns about the efficacy of the substance injected into their arms. There was a palpable sense of relief as men and women streamed out of the golden temple into the bright winter sun.

It's much better to think positive and get the vaccine, whichever one you can get," said Suleman Yakoob Gangad, a 51-year-old driver in Dubai, recalling the fear he felt when his roommate tested positive in his dormitory-style housing where four workers live packed to a room. We need to think like that to keep ourselves as well as others safe."

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UK PM gets married in London

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China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

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Kyambogo University is seeking Shs700m to renovate the dilapidated and condemned buildings that have been out of use since the ceilings started falling on students.

Pictures of the condemned buildings went viral on social media platforms last month, triggering public queries as to why government could not renovate the structures despite students paying tuition fees.

In an interview with Daily Monitor on Thursday, Vice Chancellor, Prof Elly Katunguka, said the dilapidated buildings include the Main Hall which students use for lecturers and at the West End library.

Prof Katunguka said if the government provides the funding in the 2021/2022 financial year, the university will renovate the two buildings.

"The two buildings are due for renovation and have since been sealed off," Prof Katunguka said.

He, however, said whenever Kyambogo University requests for money for infrastructural renovations, government gives them less citing budget constraints.

While attending the induction of Kyambogo University New Council on Thursday, State Minister for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo said government halted the establishment of new public universities to concentrate on the existing ones.

Mr Muyingo said government will equip public universities and ensure they have decent infrastructure.

"We have requested government to avail this money and when it comes, all the infrastructure developments that were not done by the money from African Development Bank project will be done," he added.
Germanys gas storage levels are lower than typical for the beginning of February in full winter season, and the main reason for this is reduced natural gas pipeline flows from Russian giant Gazprom, especially at the Velke transit point in the Czech Republic, German outlet Der Spiegel reported.

According to data from Gas Infrastructure Europe, Germanys storage was 40.6 percent full as of February 7.

This is a low figure for the start of the winter month of February, Eugen Weinberg, an analyst with Commerzbank, told Der Spiegel, but added that Germanys gas in storage situation was not critical.

The last time the country had this low level of gas in storage so early in the winter was not so long ago, in 2017, according to Der Spiegel.

The lower flows from Gazprom via Ukraine are the most likely reason for this years low storage levels.

But the German economy ministry has said that there were no signs that Russia and Ukraine havent complied with their delivery agreement.

Still, speculation abounds.

Oliver Krischer, a Member of Parliament from the Green Party, told Der Spiegel: It may be that Gazprom wants to reduce the supply and thus drive up the price. But it may also be that additional pressure is being increased for the completion of Nord Stream 2.

Earlier this month, Dmitry Medvedev, former prime minister and now Deputy Chair of Russias Security Council, said that Russia could turn to a national or contract jurisdiction court to protect its interests against interference against the completion of the Russia-led Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.

Last month, the U.S. imposed sanctions on the Russian pipe-laying vessel that was expected to complete the construction of Nord Stream 2, while several Western companies are said to have abandoned links to the project for fear of sanctions.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Bengal govt playing politics with people: BJP leader

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 09: Attacking the West Bengal regime, BJP member Locket Chatterjee on Monday said the TMC government was playing politics with people, including on coronavirus vaccines, and asserted that the people will give their reply this year.

West Bengal is set to go for assembly elections in the coming months. Against this backdrop, Chatterjee alleged that the state government was not doing anything for the people and that the state''s chief minister was in "silent mode".

Speaking during a discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President''s address to Parliament at the start of the Budget session, Chatterjee said there are various problems and incidents in West Bengal but "Didi is in silent mode", an apparent reference to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Gujarat will never rule Bengal: Mamata

The state government is doing politics with vaccines, just renaming various central government schemes and mismanaging funds, Chatterjee alleged.

"People will give reply in 2021," she said during her speech, which was a mix of Bengali, Hindi and English.

Amid recent controversy over chanting of Jai Shri Ram in West Bengal, Chatterjee said, "Jai Shri Ram is not a bad word... It is not just uttered by BJP but by the whole nation".

The remarks were greeted with thumping of desks by BJP MPs.

Asserting that "we will not allow West Bengal to be an East Pakistan," the BJP member said the place where Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was born, "it is ours".

"If you want to do rajneeti (politics), do with us and not with people," she stressed.

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

Speaker Om Birla asked Chatterjee not to take names of people who are not part of the House when she mentioned a TMC minister.

Congress member Hibi Eden sought to raise a point of order saying that Chatterjee was misleading the House by mentioning that late former president Pranab Mukherjee was an advisor to the BJP government, which Eden said was not right.

In response, Birla said he had listened to the speech and did not hear anything critical about Pranab Mukherjee but added that he will still look at the records.

While Chatterjee initiated the discussion last week, it could not be taken forward as the House proceedings were repeatedly adjourned amid protests by Opposition parties against the new farm laws.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 10:18 [IST]
The governor of the Ohangwena region, Walde Ndevashiya, says the Oshamukweni Combined School's hostel, where pupils sleep on stick beds in huts and shacks, is better than conditions at home.

This was the governor's response yesterday to the The Namibian's report on the deplorable conditions at the hostel last week.

The shacks and huts the pupils sleep in have reportedly been erected on the school premises by their parents.

"They sleep in the shacks ... and cook outside, but to be honest with you, I know it's 30 years after independence, but the state of the shacks they sleep in at Oshamukweni is much better than their rooms at home," the governor said.

"Even those who don't stay on the school premises ... they cook outside ... they also walk distances to get water. Whether it's in Ohangwena or other regions, they walk to go and fetch water," he said.

Ndevashiya said schools in the Oshikoto region are in the same state as Oshamukweni Combined School.

" ... [The Oshikoto schools] probably have even more deplorable conditions than ours ... not that we are happy with the structures and the school ... the pupils are also supervised [not left to their own devices]," he said.

The governor visited the school last week.

He told The Namibian instititons such as the Swapo-owned Kalahari Holdings have promised to build a decent hostel for the school.

"Next week Kalahari Holdings is sending a team of engineers. They are going to go on site with our technical teams from the regional council and ministry of education to assess the structure they are going to put up ... also the cost . . ," he said.

Ndevashiya claimed he has been mobilising resources to construct a proper school hostel at Oshamukweni after receiving a letter from the principal of Oshamukweni Combined School when he assumed office last year.

"It's not something we just came up with as a result of what you have reported, or as a result of whoever put those pictures on social media ... We already wanted to assist the school," he said yesterday.

The governor said when he visited the school, he took 10 bags of mealie meal, 10 bottles of cooking oil, 20 loaves of bread and two boxes of fish with him.

When The Namibian visited the school two weeks ago, principal Werner Nangolo said the school does not have access to clean water.

He said the situation is not new to the school, which is mostly attended by San and vulnerable children.

"Both the education director and inspector know about the situation we are going through. In 2009, pupils would camp in tents outside the school. After the director visited us, he decided they should be accommodated inside the school yard. At the time the director thought it was dangerous for them outside," Nangolo said.

He does, however, not blame the government or pupils' parents for the deplorable conditions they live in.

"The initiative of pupils living on the school premises came from the parents, and we thank them for that," he said.

The principal said the governor indicated in a letter he wanted to help the school renovate structures on the premises, "but he is quiet".

"We want to put up better structures for the children, but there is nothing in our account. We only have N$2 000 or N$3 000 for our ink cartridges. Our children sleep on stick beds ... We are planning to fix 50 beds we got from Oshela Secondary School so that our kids can start sleeping on those. They also gave us 100 old mattresses," Nangolo said.

He said Hofni Ipinge, the Swapo Party Youth League's secretary for education, also promised to help the school, but has not been able to honour the commitment.

The principal said although the school gets money from the government every year, it is not allowed to construct classrooms or hostels.

"There are rules and regulations on how to spend money," he said.

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Ipinge last week said he has known about the school's predicament since June last year.

He said he forwarded the principal's letter and supporting documents to the Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture and to the Office of the Prime Minister.

"No one has come back to me and we are still waiting," he said.

Ipinge added he asked several companies to come to the school's aid, but nothing has materialised.

In addition to the conditions at the hostel, the school is experiencing a lack of water, and children have to fetch water from wells in the area.

The borehole near the school is not reliable, Nangolo said.

"When there is no fuel, we use donkeys to get water from a nearby well, but when the nearby borehole is broken, or when they don't have diesel for the borehole, teachers and pupils can live without water for a week," Nangolo said.

A British lesbian mother is embroiled in an EU court battle after her baby girl was left without a nationality because Bulgaria does not recognise same-sex marriages.

The baby girl was left without a nationality after she was born in Spain to an unnamed same-sex couple from Bulgaria and Gibraltar, and will be at the centre of a test case to be heard by the European Union's top court on Tuesday.

Lawyers say Bulgaria has put one-year-old 'Baby S' at risk of prolonged statelessness after refusing to provide a birth certificate and citizenship because of discrimination towards her parents' sexual orientation.

The hearing at the Luxembourg-based court is being seen as an important test case for many other so-called 'rainbow families' in Europe who face similar dilemmas.

Experts on statelessness say if 'Baby S' cannot acquire citizenship she may not be able to go to school, access healthcare and state benefits, or get jobs later in life.

A baby was left without a nationality after she was born in Spain to an unnamed same-sex couple from Bulgaria and Gibraltar. She will be at the centre of a test case to be heard by the European Union's top court (pictured, file photo of court's logo in ) on Tuesday in Luxembourg

Her parents, who live near Barcelona, have not yet been able to introduce their daughter to their families abroad because they cannot get her a passport.

After she was born in December 2019, 'Baby S' received a birth certificate in Spain listing both her mothers.

However when her Bulgarian mother, who uses the pseudonym Kalina, requested a Bulgarian birth certificate for her daughter so she could apply for citizenship, she said officials told her a baby could not have two mothers.

Bulgaria's constitution defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

'It's caused us a lot of upset. This discrimination feels very personal and has shocked us,' Kalina told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

'I want to tell (the court) I'm her mother no matter which country I'm in. It's very unfortunate that I can be her mother in Spain ... but I can't be her mother in my own home country.'

The couple cannot obtain Spanish citizenship for their daughter as neither of them is a Spanish national.

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory located on Spain's southern tip but British laws mean Kalina's wife cannot pass on her British citizenship as she acquired it by descent.

Kalina's lawyer will urge the Court of Justice of the European Union to request Bulgaria provide 'Baby S' with a birth certificate and nationality.

The Luxembourg-based court, which ensures EU countries comply with the bloc's laws, is also considering a similar case where Poland refused to issue a birth certificate for a child born in Spain to Polish and Irish mothers.

'This ruling will be important for many people,' said Kalina's lawyer Denitsa Lyubenova.

'There are a lot of same-sex couples in Europe in the same position, whose children are at risk of statelessness because EU member states in central and eastern Europe do not recognise their family status.'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said she will push for mutual recognition of family relations in the European Union under a new strategy to strengthen LGBT+ rights.

'If you are (a) parent in one country, you are (a) parent in every country,' she told the European Parliament last year.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (pictured) has said she will push for mutual recognition of family relations in the European Union under a new strategy to strengthen LGBT+ rights

Bulgaria was once a leader of LGBT+ rights having legalised homosexuality in 1968, before other emerging European nations.

But in recent years, there has been a shift in public opinion, with the government often using LGBT+ people as a scapegoat, according to Emerging Europe.

Same-sex marriage is currently illegal in the country, and while the Government in 2014 committed itself to outlawing hate crimes against LGBT people, the newly established government in October 2014 - that has been in power since - has been silent on the issue, with LGBT+ people still not protected from hate crimes today.

In 2018, Bulgaria's ruling GERB party withdrew from parliament a European treaty - the Istanbul convention - designed to combat violence against women in the face of opposition from its allies in government and religious groups.

The dispute appeared to centre on the treaty's definition of 'gender' as 'social roles, behaviours, activities and characteristics that a particular society considers appropriate for women and men'.

Some observers said the translation of the text into Bulgarian could be to blame.

The Bulgarian version uses the Bulgarian for 'sex' - the biological difference between man and woman - as the translation for 'gender', which can refer more broadly to the social roles of men and women.

Bulgaria does not have a specific equivalent for the word gender.

Critics, including the influential Bulgarian Orthodox Church, said such language could encourage young people to identify as transgender or third sex and lead to same-sex marriage in the country of 7.1 million people.

'In practice, this makes it possible to legalise same-sex marriages  if one of the two married partners in a legally married couple changes their sex, according to the Istanbul Convention, a same-sex family is created,' the nationalist VMRO party, part of an alliance with the co-ruling United Patriots, said in a statement in 2018.
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 new administration is nominating people who have a more positive view of Communist China.

In 2019, Anita Dunn was hired by the Biden campaign as a senior adviser on communications strategy. In September 2020, Dunn was made co-chair of the Biden-Harris Presidential Transition Team. She had been a top adviser in the Obama administration when she was forced to resign after comments she made about Mao Tse-tung. In 2009, speaking to high school students in Maryland, she remarked that Mao was one of her two favorite political philosophers. She commented, "In 1947, when Mao Tse-tung was being challenged within his own party, on his plan to basically take China over, Chiang Kai-shek and the nationalist Chinese held the cities, they had the army, they had the air force, they had everything on their side, and people said, 'How can you win? How can you do this? How can you do this against all odds against you?' And Mao Tse-tung said, 'You fight your war, and I'll fight mine.' Think about that for a second. You don't have to accept the definition of how to do things, and you dont have to follow other people's choices in the past."

Biden nominated Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who served as the assistant secretary of state for African affairs in the United States Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs from 2013 to 2017, to be the next United States ambassador to the United Nations. She has been criticized for praising Communist China during a 2019 speech at the CCP-funded Confucius Institute in Savannah, Georgia. She praised China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for the "rollout of critical projects in Africa," including ports in Djibouti and major railways in Kenya, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. She also criticized the Trump administration's approach to Chinese investment in Africa, which she described as a "battleground for great power competition rather than engagement with African leaders." She believes that a "win-win situation" is possible if China and the U.S. can come together over "shared values of peace, prosperity, sustained economic growth and development, and a firm commitment to good governance, gender equity." She added, "In fact, China is in a unique position to spread these ideals given its strong footprint on the continent." Perhaps she had not heard what former president of Zambia Michael Sata said in a rare moment of honesty: "We want the Chinese to leave and the old colonial rulers to return. They exploited our natural resources, too, but at least they took good care of us. They built schools, taught us their language, and brought us the British civilization[.] ... [A]t least Western capitalism has a human face; the Chinese are only out to exploit us."

Thomas-Greenfield reportedly received a $1,500 honorarium from Savannah State University for her speech. The following year, Savannah State closed its Confucius Institute chapter after the State Department labeled the organization a "foreign mission" operating on behalf of the Chinese government. Congress had passed bipartisan legislation claiming that the CCP used Confucius Institutes for propaganda and espionage. During her confirmation hearing, Thomas-Greenfield expressed regret over her speech and stated, "I am not at all naive about what the Chinese are doing."

Anita Dunn and Linda Thomas-Greenfield are just two of the many Biden administration officials who have a sympathetic view of Communist China. It is not an uncommon view. It inspired the officials responsible for the Empire State Building to honor the Mao regime with a lighting ceremony. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China under Communist rule and Mao's 1949 revolution, the Empire State Building illumined its familiar spire with red and yellow lights.

The Western media and prominent Americans have done their best to promote the communist regime. The Washington Post reported, "Mao the warrior, philosopher and ruler was the closest the modern world has been to the god-heroes of antiquity." Senator Charles Percy asserted, "Mao is the George Washington of his country." David Rockefeller wrote that "the social experiment in China under Chairman Mao's leadership is one of the most important and successful in human history."

A review of "Art and China's Revolution" at the Asia Society Museum by Li Onesto reveals some of the reasoning behind the pro-communist stance. He begins by describing the big banner with a drawing of Mao Tse-tung surrounded by images of workers, soldiers and youth on the outside of the building. She claims that in the '60s, "millions of people around the world, including here in the United States, looked to socialist China as a truly liberating society." She admits that she was "one of those youth in the United States who, inspired by the Chinese Cultural Revolution, carried a Red Book in my back pocket and put posters of Red Guards on my bedroom wall." She states that "this art is a powerful chapter in the history of the Cultural Revolution. It sheds real light on the overwhelmingly positive achievements of socialist China." She claims, "I heard one woman declare, looking at a wall of art, 'this was all destroyed by Mao.' On one level, this is just ridiculous."

Onesto writes as though she were unaware of the "Four Olds," a term used during the Cultural Revolution by the student-led Red Guards in the People's Republic of China regarding the pre-communist elements of Chinese culture they attempted to destroy. Examples of Chinese architecture were destroyed, classical literature and Chinese paintings were torn apart, and Chinese temples were desecrated. The burial place of Confucius was attacked. According to U.S. News and World Report, Mao Tse-tung was responsible for more deaths than Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin combined.

How would people react to an art exhibit called "Art and the Nazi Revolution"? We frequently see videos of the Nazi book-burning event. How often do we see the comparable Chinese event? This is all a consequence of media misinformation.

John Dietrich is a freelance writer and the author of The Morgenthau Plan: Soviet Influence on American Postwar Policy (Algora Publishing). He has a Master of Arts degree in international relations from St. Mary's University. He is retired from the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. He is featured on the BBC's program "Things We Forgot to Remember": Morgenthau Plan and Post-War Germany.

Image: Frank Schulenburg via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped).
Christie's auction house is set to auction off over 30 artifacts dating back to the pre-Hispanic era and the Mexican government isn't happy about it.

Mexicos government-run National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) is calling the 32 artifacts that include masks, carved stones, and other objects by Aztec, Mayan, Toltec, and Mixtec cultures a part of the country's "cultural heritage," according to an article by Reuters' staff.

PROUD DISPLAY: Cesar Chavez's son says dad's bust in Oval office marks symbol of hope for the nation

The planned sale is set to take place on Tuesday, Feb. 9, in Paris, with some of the artifacts expected to bring in as much as $1.1 million (or 900,000 euros) according to Reuters.

Mexico considers the items part of the country's national heritage and should not be auctioned.

Diego Prieto, INAHs director general, said in a virtual news conference that sacred objects should not be for sale. There shouldnt be trade in national treasures."

"Of these 33 pieces, we have already determined that three are fake, while the rest do seem to meet conditions to prove their belonging to the original peoples of our territory that flourished before the arrival of European cultures," Prieto said.

Prieto filed a complaint with the Mexican attorney general's office to halt the auction. The country's foreign ministry is trying to retrieve the items through diplomatic channels, according to Reuters.

Alma Sacasa with People en Espanol writes that Christi's plans to move ahead with the auction.

"A spokesperson for the auction house said 'the works are being legitimately sold as part of a transparent and legally compliant public sale process'" and that Christie's has 'not been provided with any evidence that would challenge the lawfulness of the sale,'" Sacasa wrote.

The items in question include a greenstone Teotihuacan Serpentine mask that dates back to circa 450-650 AD and a sculpture of Cihuateotl, a goddess of fertility in Aztec culture, according to Reuters.
Administrative Assistant

TEMPORARY POSITION  MATERNITY LEAVE COVER

Our Mission is to promote and protect abroad the interests, economic wellbeing and values of Ireland and its people The Embassy of Ireland to Italy has an immediate temporary vacancy (6-month maternity leave cover) for an Administrative Assistant.

This is a full-time position, subject to a probationary period of three months.

The successful candidate will report directly to a member of diplomatic staff.

This temporary position will cover a range of duties, which may include the following:

Providing administrative and logistical support to diplomatic staff as needed;

Assisting with the organisation of a wide range of embassy activities, meetings and events;

Contact database updating and maintenance;

Processing official documents such as visas and passports;

Providing consular advice to Irish Citizens;

Monitoring Italian press and other media sources and summarising in English on priority themes;

Attending briefings or conferences and contributing to follow-up reports.

The successful candidate may be required to carry out other functions subject to the business needs of the Embassy.

This temporary role provides an excellent opportunity to expand skills and take on responsibilities across a range of areas in a busy Embassy. Essential/Key Requirements The ideal candidate must be trustworthy and have:

An excellent level of competence in both English and Italian;

Excellent oral and written communication skills in both languages;

An extensive knowledge of current Italian politics and international relations and preferably some knowledge of Irish affairs;

An ability to work on own initiative, to think creatively, and to operate independently when required;

Ideally, relevant experience working at a professional level;

A third level qualification in a field related to politics, economics, history or international relations would be an advantage.

The successful candidate must have a legal entitlement to live and work in Italy prior to recruitment.

Salaries are paid via a bank account therefore the successful candidate must have a bank account.

The successful candidate will be hired on a fixed-term contractual basis and will be based at Embassy of Ireland, Rome.

Selection Process Depending on the number of applications received, a shortlist of candidates will be invited to attend for interview where experience in the above mentioned skills and overall suitability for the post will be assessed.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. It is planned that interviews will be held by video conference before the end of February.

Terms and Conditions can be further discussed by shortlisted candidates during the interview. Not all applicants will be invited to interview.

If, following the interview stage of this process, no suitable candidate has been found, the Embassy reserves the right to re-open the application process.

Data Protection All personal information received will be kept in line with GDPR and Data Protection guidelines Security Clearance for Local Staff Police security clearance will be sought in respect of individuals who come under consideration for appointment.

Enquiries may also be made with the police force of any country in which the applicant under consideration for appointment resided.

If unsuccessful this information will be destroyed. If the applicant subsequently comes under consideration for another position they will be required to supply this information again.

Please note that canvassing will disqualify applicants. The Embassy of Ireland to Italy is an equal opportunities employer.

Applications should arrive by 17.00 CET on 15 February 2021.
New Zealand is suspending all high-level contact with Myanmar and imposing a travel ban on its military leaders following last week's coup, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday.

New Zealand will also ensure its aid programme will not include projects that are delivered with, or benefit, the military government, Ardern told a news conference.

"Our strong message is we will do what we can from here in New Zealand and one of the things we will do is suspend that high-level dialogue...and make sure any funding we put into Myanmar does not in any way support the military regime," Ardern said.

New Zealand's aid programme was worth about NZ$42 million ($30 million) between 2018 and 2021, she said.

New Zealand does not recognise the legitimacy of the military-led government and called on the military to immediately release all detained political leaders and restore civilian rule, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a separate statement.

Mahuta said the government has also agreed to implement a travel ban, to be formalised in the coming week, on Myanmar's military leaders.

Myanmar's military leader has vowed to hold a new election and hand power to the winner, seeking to calm mounting protests against the coup that overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government.

Also read: Myanmar coup: UN chief appeals Asian leaders for collective action
(Natural News) On January 6, 2021, I was contacted by a nurse who works in a hospital on the outskirts of Toronto, Ontario. Toronto is Canadas most populous city, and the fourth largest city in North America.

(Article by Nurse Andrea and John C. A. Manley republished from GlobalResearch.ca)

The Ontario governments website claims that escalating [COVID-19] case counts have led to increasing hospitalization rates and capacity challenges in many large urban hospitals which are reaching critical limits. As a result, the province has continued to enforce lockdowns, mandatory masking and social distancing.

Yet this whistleblowing nurse, as you can read below, works in a large urban hospital and reports a very different story. She has provided sufficient evidence, and links to public records, to satisfy me that she is indeed a nurse working for over a decade in multiple Canadian hospitals. To protect her identity, position and family, details about her and her place of work have been changed or omitted, without altering her message.

Nurses Scared to Speak Out

John Manley: Why do you prefer to use a pseudonym?

Nurse Andrea: Id really like to avoid losing my job or my licence. Its important to speak out, but at the same time, theres no sense in becoming a martyr, because all evidence seems to suggest Ill be crushed.

JM: Are you sure you are a nurse working in Canada, not communist China?

NA: Yes, we are now officially living in a kind of Soviet Covidestan, where lockdowns, masks, and vaccines are the brutally state-enforced ideology. It does give me a sense of terror and anxiety. Then again, I make my points loud and clear to my colleagues, but I dont proselytize. I maintain strict professional boundaries with patients and play by the rules. I need to lurk until the time is right to strike.

Empty Emergency Room

JM: Can you describe what the emergency room situation is like in your hospital? I would imagine, since the province is in lockdown and under a declared state of emergency that the situation there must be exhausting.

NA: Ive been doing overtime in ICU because ER is literally empty at times. Eventually a bunch of ambulances may show up all at once (no COVID) and make it feel busy, but this is the nature of ER. Otherwise, hours and hours may go with only 20-40% occupancy. The overall hospital tracker shows total hospital occupancy approximately 70%.

JM: Does not the staff question this low volume during not only a pandemic but also a time of year when hospitals in Ontario are normally so overwhelmed they are resorting to hallway healthcare?

NA: The other day a member of the leadership team was saying how our ER volume is about half what it was a year ago (before the deadly pandemic). Someone said, But theres so many cases why are volumes lower? I said, Maybe the virus is not as deadly as the hype suggests? Those kinds of comments are usually met with silence.

Mostly Non-COVID Patients

JM: Can you give me an example of the type of non-COVID patients you are caring for?

NA: A man came in with his dad from the nursing home. He was furious because his dad was held in isolation, not fed, and was sinking into decline at the nursing home because no family could come see him. I see this with frequency.

JM: Can you give me another example of the type of cases you are seeing?

NA: Busy day in the fracture room, yesterday. Lots of mangled limbs from slipping on the ice. None of it COVID, though everyone gets COVID swabbed before orthopaedic surgery, even asymptomatic patients with straightforward limb injuries.

This just proves we all need to stay home. You can slip on your front porch and overwhelm the Icey U.

ICU Caring for Only Nine Patients

JM: If you are taking shifts in ICU, I would then assume that is where the real COVID crisis is happening?

NA: Yes its true that we are at 90% occupancy (with far more ventilators than usual). But lets put this in perspective: If an ICU has ten beds, then discharging 2 patients brings us down to 70% capacity. Not everyone in ICU absolutely needs to be there. There has always been incentive to keep ICU at near full capacity.

JM: Im sure ICU care is intense, but nine patients does not sound overwhelming to me.

NA: First off, I do not diminish the hard work and the heroism of my colleagues. But lets be real, staff still have time to stand around and chat, take their coffee breaks, and check their phones. Sometimes staff needs moral support rather than alleviate any acute life-threatening staff shortage or assist resuscitative acts.

JM: So its not a war zone like the media says?

NA: The ICU looks exactly like an ICU should look: busy with really sick people.

JM: So the media is exaggerating?

Critical Care Rationing Latest Media Scare Story

NA: The other day, I was reading the National Post in the hospital lobby and the latest media scare story is about critical care rationing. Once again, they are talking about war zones and we are being scared to think doctors may have to choose who lives and who dies.

So when I got back to the ICU I had a chance to talk about rationing with an illustrious ICU doctor. We were conducting daily rounds on a chronically ventilated patient well past the average life-expectancy with many debilitating conditions demonstrating no hope for any quality of life. However, they are kept alive (physiologically with machines) because the family insists on keeping them going at all costs.

JM: So a person well past eighty, with almost zero hope of recovery, is receiving critical care in a time of supposed medical rationing? It doesnt sound like doctors are having to make hard choices about who should live and who should die.

NA: The general sentiment here is that, contrary to doctors and nurses being forced into a moral quagmire of health care rationing, many would welcome a return of professional autonomy. We would prefer to act on an objective clinical judgement, not the emotional whims of families who cannot accept the reality of death.

The truth is that our government healthcare system has set up an impossible situation. On the one hand, medically illiterate families are given a level of decision making power to keep people alive on ventilators ad infinitum despite all indicators pointing to total, utter, and abject futility. On the other hand, the amount of resources required for this is impossible to sustain. It has always been impossible, bankrupting our healthcare system for decades.

Futile Use of Intensive Care Resources

JM: Youre saying, then, that even many of the doctors do not agree that there is precedent for the use of these intensive care procedures?

NA: Intensive care has saved many lives and is a very important element of hospital care, even during this COVID crisis. But at the same time, its not magic. Doctors need to feel comfortable saying: Sorry, weve done all we can for your loved one, but there is no hope for return to quality of life, its time to say goodbye

JM: It sounds like a denial of the reality of death?

NA: That is true and its what Ive been saying since March: ICU and ventilator worship will result in an ocean of futility when applied to every elderly person who is already nearing the end of their life-span with multiple chronic organ dysfunctions. In fact, nurse burnout in the ICU can be attributed to the suffering we cause after sticking tubes into every orifice and forcefully restraining elderly people as they rot away in bed when they are simply trying to die.

JM: In New York, Italy and China there has been much evidence and testimonials from nurses showing that patients were not dying form COVID but from being placed on ventilator prematurely. Have you seen much unwarranted intubation in your hospital?

NA: Thankfully, I havent seen this directly, first-hand. However, I called BS on the ventilator-worship back in March and April last year and was vindicated. Ive worked with intubated patients for a long time. One of the biggest drivers of ventilation was the same as for lockdown: fear. Especially during the early phase of the COVID crisis, there was extreme media-induced paranoia among nurses and doctors about a uniquely deadly and unusually transmissible coronavirus. The belief was that intubation would prevent aerosolized spread of the virus to staff. I heard these conversations first hand.

Death by Ventilators and Lockdowns, Not COVID

JM: Was death from ventilation very common during the first wave, or something that only happened occasionally?

NA: We had an epidemic of physician-induced death from ventilators in the first wave, no doubt. That is beyond dispute. Death from ventilators and lockdown, not COVID. This has been well documented in places like New York.

Widespread Government-Caused Horror

JM: How do you feel being made to work in such an oppressive environment?

NA: Im glad I still get to work, even under this oppression. I feel so terribly for those forced out of work. I see them sometimes come to the hospital, suicidal. But even many of them are not directing their rage at the people in power who did this to them. When Im not working, I start stewing in my own rage about what is going on with lockdown. Working in a hospital I can play pandemic theatre. Im busy taking care of sick people  often very few of them actual COVID cases  that it takes my mind away from the widespread government-caused horror from the pandemic response.

JM: Thank you for speaking out.

NA: Sadly, the enemies of rationality and freedom are all around us, including our neighbours, family, and friends. I firmly believe future historians will look back on this time with the same sense of horror we feel today about medical and social engineering atrocities of the past  such as eugenics, forced lobotomies and medical experimentation on undesirables.

I thank you very much for this opportunity to mark my word today

Read more at: GlobalResearch.ca
BATON ROUGE  Gov. John Bel Edwards will receive his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine Tuesday, a day after he expanded access to the shots to include Louisiana government officials involved in pandemic response work.

The Democratic governor was scheduled to get his vaccination in the afternoon at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center campus in Baton Rouge, along with several other state officials who are newly able under Louisiana's latest eligibility criteria.

Edwards, 54, had said he's ready for the shot, telling reporters: Im pretty excited about being able to do that. Im looking forward to it.

While at Pennington, the governor is expected to announce the creation of a new mass vaccination site in Baton Rouge, involving the biomedical research center run by Louisiana State University and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.

Here's where coronavirus vaccines will be available in Louisiana this week Doses of coronavirus vaccine will be available to eligible individuals in every Louisiana parish this week.

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

Edwards widened Louisiana residents' access to the coronavirus vaccine Monday, to lower the eligibility age from 70 to 65 and to newly include state and local officials handling COVID-19 response work, any remaining law enforcement not in previous priority groups and workers for the March 20 special congressional election.

With those additions, nearly 1.2 million of Louisiana's 4.6 million residents are eligible for the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines  though demand greatly exceeds the state's available supply.

More than 404,000 people in Louisiana have received at least their first dose of the two-dose immunization so far, with about 131,000 people getting both doses, according to health department data.

By MELINDA DESLATTE, Associated Press
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Just because there are more homes being sold, it doesnt create more opportunities for more people, he said. Its more opportunity for those that have the skill set to be successful, but it will not be easier because of a robust market. ... I would just say as the market is becoming more fluid and active, the expectations of the consumer are only growing.
Deep Sidhu arrested by Special Cell; Court sends him to 7-day police custody

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Feb 09: Actor-activist Deep Sidhu who was "a prominent player" behind the violence at the Red Fort on Republic Day has been arrested by the Delhi Police, officials said on Tuesday.

Later in the day, a city court sent him to seven-day police custody after police alleged that Sidhu was one of the main instigators of the violent incidents at the Red Fort on January 26.

The arrest was made by a team of the Delhi Police''s Special Cell, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav.

Sidhu was arrested from the Karnal Bypass at 10.40 pm on Monday, Yadav told PTI, adding that he was wanted in connection with the case of instigating the crowd at the Red Fort on Republic Day.

"The Crime Branch will investigate his role in detail," the DCP said.

Asked where he was hiding after the January 26 violence, Yadav said the investigation at in an initial stage.

Taking to Twitter, the Special Cell claimed that Sidhu was "a prominent player" behind the Republic Day violence and he was instigating youngsters with his provocative speeches and stardom even when he was hiding from the law.

Police had announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to Sidhu''s arrest.

After the January 26 violence, which had left over 500 security personnel injured and one protestor dead, the 36-year-old actor-activist was posting videos on social media.

"Sidhu was in contact with a woman friend who lives in California. He used to make videos and send it to her, and she used to upload them on his Facebook account," a police source said.

Sidhu kept changing his locations to evade arrest, sources said, adding that several teams are working to arrest other persons who were involved in the violence.

Sidhu was sent to seven-day police custody by Metropolitan Magistrate Prigya Gupta.

However, Sidhu''s counsel claimed that he had nothing to do with the violence and was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

The violence took place when tens of thousands of farmers broke barriers to storm the national capital on January 26 during their tractor parade to highlight their demand for repealing the new agri laws.

Republic Day violence: Actor Deep Sidhu arrested over instigating farmers

However, their parade dissolved 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.

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, where the religious flag was also hoisted. Over 500 police personnel were injured and one protestors died.

At the Red Fort on January 26, several police personnel had fell or jumped tens of feet down a wall after being pushed to the edge by a marauding mob.

In the FIR registered in connection with the Red Fort violence, police said two magazines with 20 live cartridges were snatched from two constables by protestors who also damaged vehicles and robbed anti-riot gear.

"The mob later hoisted different flags there. They also started creating nuisance on the rampart. The unruly mob was asked to come downstairs. They went to Meena Bazar area to enter the into Red Fort. When the police tried to take them out of Lahore Gate, the mob became violent and attacked personnel. The mob thrashed the police personnel and threw them in the wells," police had said in the FIR.

"They damaged a bus, a government gypsy and other vehicles. The mob robbed the anti-riots gears -- cane stick, shields, body protectors, helmets etc from the police personnel," it had also said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 21:08 [IST]
The democracy icon and tycoon will still be able to submit a fresh appeal to the High Court. The presumption of innocence does not apply in cases of threat to national security. Basic Law suspended. Foreign judges were absent from the panel of judges.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews / Agencies)  Democracy icon and tycoon Jimmy Lai must remain in prison; he may, however, apply for bail again to the High Court.

This is what the Final Court of Appeal ruled today on the release of the activist and media mogul.

On 23 December the High Court ordered his release on bail, granting him house arrest. At the request of the Justice Department, an intermediate court suspended the decision on 31 December.

The 73-year-old owner of the Apple Daily newspaper - a critical voice of the city and Beijing leadership - is accused of "collusion" with foreign forces, a crime foreseen under the national security law wanted by the Chinese leadership.

The prosecution formulated the charge on the basis of interviews Lai granted to newspapers from other countries. His alleged call on foreign governments to sanction Hong Kong leaders for their actions against the democratic movement is also targeted. The trial is scheduled to begin on April 16: he faces life imprisonment.

For the five judges of the Court of Final Appeal, the High Court misinterpreted the draconian security provision. According to them, it imposes stricter thresholds for granting bail: an exception to general principles such as the presumption of innocence, included in the Basic Law (the city's mini-constitution) and in the International Charter on Civil and Political Rights.

For the High Court, it was up to the investigators to prove that the billionaire posed a threat to national security; for the Court of Appeal, it is the judge who must assess whether the accused can escape or pollute the evidence once released.

The Final Court of Appeal is the highest judicial body in the city. Several observers point out that the panel that judged Lai lacked "foreign judges" (usually citizens of Great Britain or the Commonwealth): a rare case for the laws of the former British colony.

Lais family and about thirty supporters, including Card. Joseph Zen were present at the pronouncement of the sentence. Some European and Canadian diplomats also attended.
IBM is offering grants to help schools increase their security as they becoming growing targets due to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company will offer six districts across the country $500,000 grants each, totaling $3 million in grants for the project.

In the past year, schools have become a growing target for cyberattacks, particularly ransomware, which involves bad actors blocking access to school systems and demanding payment to release them, IBM said in a statement.

In 2020, more than 1,600 schools were victim to this kind of attack, IBM said.

Springfield Public Schools and Winthrop Public Schools were recently targeted in cyber attacks.

This month, a cyber attack prevented students and teachers in Winthrop from gaining access to Google Classroom, email, video conferencing and other services in school buildings and town offices. In 2020, Springfield Public Schools shut down its network to make sure that the attack didnt continue or further propagate. It also canceled school that day.

It took months to get all the servers back up and running.

We continue to monitor and troubleshoot small issues that arise as a result of restoring everything while also increasing security, Paul Foster, chief information and accountability officer for Springfield Public Schools, told MassLive in December.

The district also worked with the FBI to investigate the attack.

But these attacks wont go away when students are back to in-person learning full time.

While schools will eventually look to return to the classroom, that doesnt mean their cybersecurity problems are gone, said Christopher Scott, director of security innovation, office of the CISO, IBM. In fact, it is possible that attacks could increase as more systems are concentrated back into internal district networks where attackers will still look for openings.

He said these openings could happen through untrained staff via phishing emails and accessing sensitive school data - items that arent based on remote operations.

He added that attackers could also already have access to school systems and just have not acted on them yet.

School districts can apply for the grants through March 1, and winners will be announced shortly after.

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This story has been published on: 2021-02-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has appealed to the residents of Nandoni in Vhembe District, Limpopo, to be patient as the process to finalise their compensation continues. Residents from 33 villages near the dam site were relocated by the department to make way for the construction of Nandoni Dam in 1998. Villagers were m... See more
(Alliance News) - Tullow Oil PLC said Tuesday it has signed two separate sale and purchase agreements with Panoro Energy ASA for all of Tullow's assets in Equatorial Guinea and its Dussafu asset in Gabon.

The two agreements total USD180 million, consisting of up to USD105 million for the Equatorial Guinea deal, and up to USD70 million for the Dussafu assets and a further USD5 million consideration to be paid after both transactions have completed.

"These are important, value accretive deals for Tullow that will have a positive effect on our financial position as we look to further reduce our net debt and continue constructive discussions with our creditors. These transactions are also in line with our strategy of investing our capital on cash-generative, high return investment opportunities in our core portfolio," Chief Executive Rahul Dhir said.

Tullow noted the Equatorial Guinea deal is made up of USD89 million upfront cash and contingent cash payments of up to USD16 million linked to asset performance and oil price.

For its Dussafu asset, Panoro will pay USD46 million upfront cash and up to USD24 million linked to asset performance and oil price.

The assets, Tullow said, saw a performance of the sale of about 6,000 barrels of oil per day in 2021 and held about 20 million barrels of 2P reserves.

Dhir continued: "Our Equatorial Guinea assets have formed an important and stable part of our non-operated West Africa producing portfolio since 2003. We will be exiting Equatorial Guinea after many years of successful investment and co-operation and we thank the government of Equatorial Guinea for their continued support. Gabon remains a core country of operations for Tullow and we will continue to invest in our assets and seek new opportunities."

Upon completion of the Equatorial Guinea deal, Tullow production forecast for 2021 will reduce by about 4,500 bopd. Group 2P reserves will reduce by about 14 million barrels, 3P reserves will reduce by approximately 22 million barrels and 2C resources will reduce by approximately 26 million barrels.

After the Dussafu deal, Tullow production forecast for 2021 will reduce by about 1,500 bopd, Group 2P reserves will reduce by approximately 5 million barrels, 3P reserves will reduce by approximately 10 million barrels and 2C resources will reduce by approximately 5 million barrels.

Completion of both deal is expected in the first half of 2021.

Net proceeds from the deal, the company said, will be used to strengthen its balance sheet as part of its strategy to reduce its net debt and focus its capital on high-return investment opportunities within its current portfolio.

Turning to trading, Tullow said its working interest oil production in 2020 averaged 74,900 bopd, which was in line with expectations.

As a result, 2020 full year revenue is expected to be about USD1.4 billion, down from USD1.68 billion in 2019. While gross profit is expected to be about USD400 million compared to the USD1.69 billion loss recorded in 2019.

Looking to 2021, working interest oil production is forecast to average 60,000 to 66,000 bopd - partly attributed to the Covid-driven drilling hiatus in 2020.

Capital expenditure is forecast to be about USD265 million, with an additional USD100 million to be spent on decommissioning.

Tullow previously started discussions with its creditors with regards to its debt refinancing options and these discussions are progressing constructively and are expected to conclude in the second quarter of 2021.

"As part of these discussions, Tullow and its lenders agreed to extend the redetermination of the group's RBL facility, which was due to complete in January 2021, by up to one month. This is to allow additional time for the lending banks to review the new business plan and operating strategy. Following its September 2020 RBL facility redetermination, Tullow had USD1.8 billion of debt capacity approved by the lending syndicate," the company added.

Shares in Tullow Oil closed 1.1% higher in London on Tuesday at 30.09 pence each.

By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
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by Elizabeth Chen

China has tried to confuse domestic and international public opinion about the origins of the pandemic. The narrative spun by Chinese authorities suggests that Chinas response to the crisis was effective and transparent and that the coronavirus did not originate in China. For the United States, the evidence points to illnesses inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews)  The team of experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) who are in Wuhan to investigate the origins of the pandemic have not found, so far, any signs of extensive COVID-19 outbreaks in Wuhan or anywhere else before December 2019. It is possible that the respiratory disease was already present far from the capital of Hubei before the discovery of the first case of infection.

According to WHO experts, the most likely scenario is that the coronavirus was transmitted to humans by an intermediate species, but its not yet possible to establish which animal is involved and how the virus infected humans. The original vector could be a bat or a pangolin; but nothing excludes the possibility that frozen food was involved in the transmission.

For the WHO mission, it is very unlikely that the virus spread due to an accident in a Chinese laboratory. The role of the Huanan fish market as the possible first venue for the outbreak is also not clear. International investigators and their Chinese colleagues note that research will continue in other countries.

Several observers have however questioned the effectiveness of the investigation since the group of experts had to follow a schedule of visits set by the Chinese government and was unable to communicate with journalists.

The WHO team will wrap their work a few days after the first anniversary of the death from the coronavirus of Li Wenliang, the Wuhan ophthalmologist who first raised the alarm about the outbreak of a respiratory epidemic in China. Following his going public, Li was ostracised by Chinese authorities and his superiors.

The results presented by WHO experts partially contradict claims by the United States and other governments that the Chinese Communist Party's obsession with secrecy and control put public health in China and the rest of the world at risk.

Here is the analysis of Elizabeth Chen is the editor of China Brief. Courtesy of the Jamestown Foundation.

Introduction

On January 28, members of an international team led by the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded fourteen days of quarantine and began field work in Wuhan, China for a mission aimed at investigating the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of the time of writing, the team had made visits to the Hubei Center for Disease Control and Prevention; the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. State media also reported that the WHO team visited an exhibition featuring Chinese people fighting the epidemic, raising concerns that the trip could prove to be little more than a public relations move even as the origins of the coronavirus remain heavily politicized and uncertain (Global Times, January 31). Foreign experts have worried about whether the WHO investigation will be sufficiently transparent or if investigators will be allowed adequate access to key locations and scientific data (SCMP, January 27). Apart from a terms of reference report and a list of WHO members released in November, further details on the WHO teams trip have not been released.

The WHO teams research was politicized by an international debate over COVID-19s origins even before it began work. Last year, U.S. government officials repeatedly gave credence to a so-called lab leak hypothesis culminating in the State Departments release of a Fact Sheet on January 15, which gave previously undisclosed evidence for illnesses inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology and warned that the CCPs [Chinese Communist Party] deadly obsession with secrecy and control comes at the expense of public health in China and around the world (U.S. State Department, January 15). On the other side, officials and state media in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) have spread theories aimed at muddying the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and countering criticisms of an official narrative that Chinas response to the pandemic has been open, transparent, and responsible from the beginning.

Obfuscating the Origins of COVID-19

The Chinese states misinformation regarding the origins of COVID-19 can be dated to the last week of February 2020, when the respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan told state media that although COVID-19 was first discovered in China, it does not mean that it originated in China (Xinhua, February 27, 2020). By early March, spokespersons for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were repeating this notion during daily press briefings, and the notorious wolf-warrior diplomat Zhao Lijian shared a conspiracy theory via his personal Twitter account claiming that the U.S. Army had brought COVID-19 to Wuhan during the October 2019 Military World Games (PRC MFA, March 4, 2020; Zhao Lijian via Twitter, March 12, 2020). China analyst David Gitter has characterized Chinas early efforts to obfuscate the origins of COVID-19 as a kind of opportunism aimed primarily at protecting the Chinese governments reputation during a national catastrophe and characterized the CCPs directing of blame abroad as being part of an established propaganda toolkit.

In May, an article in the CCPs leading theoretical journal warned readers that the political virus of anti-China rhetoricto include efforts to tie the coronavirus origins to Wuhanwas more dangerous than COVID-19 itself (Qiushi, May 18, 2020). A white paper published in June represented perhaps the clearest effort by state authorities to shape and control the narratives surrounding Chinas response to the pandemic, but provided insufficient evidence to clarify the coronavirus origins (PRC National Health Commission, June 8, 2020; China Brief, June 24, 2020). The ambiguity has led to ongoing confusion over Chinas COVID-19 response. In a recent response to two interim reports presented at the WHOs executive board meeting which appeared to gently criticize both China and the WHOs early responses to the pandemic, a Chinese representative complained that the timelines of Chinas response laid out in the reports were inconsistent with the facts and called on the authors to further improve the reports and make scientific, objective, fair, comprehensive and balanced assessments. But the dates in the reports were confirmed both by the WHO and by the June white paper (SCMP, January 20).

The WHO teams long-delayed investigation into the origins of COVID-19 in Wuhan has renewed close scrutiny of Chinas early missteps in containing and managing the virus. Chinas international reputation has undoubtedly suffered in the wake of the pandemic, and official propaganda appears to have had difficulty in bridging the gap between domestic and foreign audiences (China Brief, December 6, 2020). Ongoing efforts by government officials and the state media apparatus to promote theories about the multiple origins of the coronavirus and suggest its transmissibility via frozen food packaging (i.e. the cold chain hypothesis) demonstrate the continued political utility of COVID-19 misinformation.

Multiple Origins

As already mentioned, Chinese officials and state media attempted to divert inquiries into COVID-19s origins away from Wuhan as early as March (Xinhua, March 22, 2020). Often relying on foreign media reports or citing international epidemiologists, state media promoted research that appeared to show the viruss origins in Italy, the Netherlands, France, Australia, India or Spainanywhere, basically, but Wuhan (Global Times, June 27, 2020; Deccan Herald, November 29, 2020). In one instance, Chinese media reports selectively cited quotes from German biochemist Alexander Kekule to claim that the starting point of the pandemic is not in Wuhan, but instead attributable to a northern Italy variant (China Daily, December 1, 2020; CGTN, December 5, 2020). When asked about this claim, Kekule said that his words had been twisted out of context and denied the Chinese media reports as pure propaganda (Hindustan Times, December 14, 2020).

On January 2 State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi summarized a triumphal version of Chinas fight against the coronavirus, saying We race[d] against time and report[ed] the epidemic to the world first. More and more studies have shown that the epidemic is likely to be an outbreak in many places around the world (Xinhua, January 2). When asked whether it was Chinas official position that the virus began outside of China during a press briefing on January 18, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying replied, COVID-19 broke out in multiple places around the world in the autumn of 2019it is not only Chinas narrative, but a fact, a common objective narrative of many countries (PRC MFA, January 18). During the same briefing, Hua appeared to use Chinas cooperation with the WHO as an opportunity to engage in a strange form of whataboutism while doubling down on the multiple origins theory, saying, Id like to stress that if the United States truly respects facts, it shouldinvite WHO experts to conduct origin-tracing in the United States (PRC MFA, January 18). A subsequent article in the Global Times echoed this rhetoric, asking: When will the U.S. invite experts of the WHO or other international institutions to investigate the origin of COVID-19 in the U.S.? (Global Times, January 22).

One of the issues that reportedly delayed negotiations over the WHO probe into the origins of COVID-19 was Beijings determination to accept such an investigation only if it was not country-specific. WHO experts have had to walk a fine line in order to maintain access to China. In November, Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, said that it would be highly speculative for us to say that the disease did not emerge in China (Channel News Asia, November 28, 2020). In January, a member of the WHO team in Wuhan told CGTN, I dont think we should rule out anything [about the viruss origins]. But it is important to start in Wuhan, where a big outbreak occurred (CGTN, January 11).

Cold-Chain Hypothesis

Following a June coronavirus outbreak in Beijing that was linked to imported foods, Chinese regulators nationwide devoted significant efforts to testing samples of imported food from high-risk countries (SCMP, June 19, 2020). In recent months, the state tabloid Global Times has published a number of reports suggesting evidence that imported cold-chain food products were the source of outbreaks from port cities to inner provinces such as Hebei and Heilongjiang where recent outbreaks have surfaced (Global Times, October 27, 2020; November 29, 2020, December 6, 2020). These media reports have caused widespread concern among Chinese consumers and led authorities to announce enhanced testing for imported fruits and vegetables, meat, and ice cream (Sixth Tone, October 27, 2020; Global Times, January 26).

Other countries have ruled out cold storage as a vector for transmission and complained that Chinese delays on importing food have caused significant trade disruptions (ABC News Australia, August 18, 2020). Foreign experts have repeatedly argued that while the virus can survive for a time on packaging, the actual likelihood of transmissibility across cold chain imports is very small.[4] China has rejected these criticisms and said that it is putting peoples lives first in the fight against the coronavirus (PRC MFA, November 18, 2020).

Conclusion

Once again, it appears that in the face of constant and consistent pressure from China, the WHO may be contemplating a revision of its official guidelines, which have so far maintained that cold chain transmissions of coronavirus do not represent a strong risk. Draft advice leaked from the WHO earlier this year appeared to warn that the virus could spread via the cold chain (Wall Street Journal, January 22).

Throughout 2020 and into the new year, Chinese officials and state media repeatedly perpetuated claims about the multiple origins of COVID-19 and its transmissibility through cold-chain imports, which have been repeatedly questioned or debunked by foreign experts. These state-driven conspiracy theories contrast sharply with ongoing efforts to control information related to the pandemic. The Chinese state charged and prosecuted more than 17,000 people in connection with disseminating false information about the pandemic on the Internet last year (Beijing News, January 10). And an investigation by the Associated Press, published in December, has found that the central government has tightly controlled publication of academic research into the coronavirus origins (AP, December 30, 2020). Even as China cracked down on COVID-19-related censorship domestically, it has continued to perpetuate misinformation both at home and abroad in an attempt to avert blame for its role in the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.
GILBOA  An ultra-Orthodox Jewish organization that last summer battled local officials over COVID-19 closures and restrictions is suing Schoharie County in federal court alleging it was targeted for its religious views.

The most immediate issue in the complaint, however, centers on what the Oorah summer camps organization says was discrimination it faced last summer in how it was treated concerning pandemic protocols, versus other entities.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last spring ordered the closure of summer sleepaway camps across the state.

But Oorah and other ultra-Orthodox groups, largely in New York City and New Jersey, were able to keep operating by declaring themselves to be temporary hotels or family residences that were operating religious retreats.

Oorah runs The Zones, which has separate camps for boys and girls in the towns of Jefferson and Gilboa.

While those properties initially remained open as family residences, county inspectors said they found ongoing safety violations regarding masks and social distancing, and that individual families were not remaining separate from one another. The county levied some $60,000 in health violation fines.

The Zone for girls was also the scene of a large fire in August that destroyed the main kitchen and building as well as several sleeping areas.

The suit names Schoharie County and Health Commissioner Amy Gildemeister as defendants.

Oorah contends in the 70-page complaint that county and town officials targeted it for alleged violations while other facilities, such as SUNYs Cobleskill campus, didnt get the same scrutiny.

The document offers a glimpse into tensions dating back at least six years between the community and Oorah, focusing in part on the organization's tax-exempt status as a religious organization, which has removed the camps from local school and property tax rolls.

The girls camp is at the site of a former camping resort and the boys camp is on what was years ago the Scotch Valley ski center.

In 2008, a group called Save Scotch Valley tried unsuccessfully to get the property rezoned in a way to keep Oorah from running a camp there.

Oorah, which is based in Lakewood, N.J., contends its First and 14th Amendment protections, for freedom of religion and equal protection, were violated.

The complaint also contains comments it alleges were made by government officials over the last several years that show intolerant and anti-Semitic attitudes toward the camps. However, details about when and where the alleged comments were made, who heard them and how any details were recorded are not revealed in the complaint. The camp's attorneys have said there were witnesses to the conversations.

The group has hired John Privitera of Albanys Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna law firm to present its case.

Schoharie County has hired Albany lawyer Michael McDermott, said county attorney Michael West.

Oorah spokeswoman Chaya Rivka Kirwan said the group is working on rebuilding and repairing the fire-damaged buildings and hope to re-open in the summer.

We hope to be able to open as summer camps but if that is not feasible given the health situation, we will be operating family retreats at the facilities with the same rigorous precautions and safety measures we put in place last year, she said in an email.

rkarlin@timesunion.com  518-454-5758  @RickKarlinTU

Company's library of 1,900 evidence-based Pre K-12 SEL lessons to be made available digitally in a universal format. Tweet this

The PAI library of SEL instructional resources is the industry's largest, consisting of more than 1,900 lessons. The lesson materials span every grade-level, pre-kindergarten through high school, and are effective for use in all tiers of instruction and with all demographics. In addition, the library includes specialized materials designed for school climate, drug education, anti-bullying, family, community, and counselor objectives. The majority of the library is also available in Spanish.

Central to each lesson is an instructor guide. Instructor guides are self-contained, including teacher scripts, instructions, stories, discussion guides, activities, and more. Lessons are also designed for ease of use, requiring only a small amount of teacher preparation prior to delivery. PAI offers the only SEL program proven through multiple, multi-year randomized controlled trials (RCT) to improve both student behavior and academic achievement.

"Positive Action SEL is unique in that it addresses the social and emotional needs of students and teachers simultaneously," said Alex Allred, CEO of PAI. "Educators are increasingly alarmed with Zoom burnout and declining student engagement. As more schools get closer to reopening, we need to prepare a positive school climate and welcome students back with a nurturing environment. Positive Action SEL is the only SEL program to that has been proven in an RCT to improve academic motivation and school climate."

Roy Kim, CFO of PAI, added, "With our long history of dedication to excellence in evidence-based SEL curriculum development, we are excited about opening this technological door to partnering with publishers and developers to expand their offerings to include SEL instructional resources while making our content more widely available to the educator community. With the API, we can reach far more schools, districts, and other organizations than with a single app. By building the API with GraphQL and returning JSON, developers can quickly build apps and middleware with ease."

Parties interested in learning more about the company's API for SEL instructional resources can direct inquiries to [email protected].

About Positive Action, Inc.

Positive Action, Inc. is the leading education and technology company for evidence-based social and emotional learning programs. Our programs have earned prestigious accolades from numerous institutions, including the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Justice, Harvard University, and The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL). For more information, visit: www.positiveaction.net.

SOURCE Positive Action, Inc.

Humans appear to be in the middle of a cultural shift in communication. Research studies point to peoples attention spans continuing to shorten. A new global writing contest by Book Creator featured on the Planet Classroom Network YouTube Channel challenges young writers to create an impactful story for the world in just one page.

According to Orb, the virtual host of the new Planet Classroom show, 55,000 word novels are often competing with 280 character tweets. And so, if technology has changed the way audiences connect with stories, what does this mean about the communication skills young people around the world need to flourish?

According to young student writers in Scotland, Greece, and Texas, people must rethink the way they express themselves to modern audiences. Before technology, the only way to tell stories was by mouth or in a book. Now we have audiobooks, podcasts, television, and many more, says Magnus, a student in Scotland. Nikos, a student in Greece, notes that thanks to the internet, peoples lives are full of images and rapid snap shots. And as a result of this, writers should be able to tell short stories and show in a vivid and colorful way various pieces of peoples experience. Lennon in Texas stresses the importance of networking skills, pointing out that telling short stories is a large part of how we develop personal connections with others as life goes on.

Listen to the Podcast

For more information on the Book Creator writing challenge

Visit the Planet Classroom Network YouTube channel

Contact Information:

David Wine

David(at)cmrubinworld(dot)com

About The Planet Classroom Network

The Planet Classroom Network, organized by CMRubinWorld, brings together musicians, dancers, video game creators, filmmakers, learning innovators and emerging technologists from all over the world to entertain, educate and engage youth, and to provide a rich cultural experience at a time when art and learning institutions everywhere are not accessible. Curators and content contributors include Global Nomads, Global Oneness, the Martha Graham Dance Company, Commffest, KIDS FIRST!, Dream a Dream Foundation, OddWorld Inhabitants, Psyon Games, Challenge 59, LXL Ideas, Alliance for Young Artists & Writers/Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Creative Visions Foundation, Battery Dance, SIMA Classroom, Young Voices for the Planet, Bard Conservatory, Taking It Global, Materials for the Arts, Book Creator, XTalks, NFFTY, Young Peoples Chorus of New York City, The International Forum for the Literature and Culture of Peace, Ryan Wong Classroom, The Global Search for Education, Voice America, Rocketium and Brandartica. Young people from around the world played a significant role in conceptualizing, creating, and producing the networks vision and programming.
Jason Rodriguez was upbeat as he waited on a recent Saturday to be assigned either a weed-eater or a mower to help groom the lawns around the Bexar County Adult Detention Center.

He had put in several weekend shifts at the jail complex, along with others, landscaping and clearing the grounds. After this day, he had one more to go before he was done.

To Rodriguez and the others, all charged with nonviolent crimes, its a chance to make something right.

On ExpressNews.com: Veteran looks forward to giving back to San Antonio, court program that changed his life

Anything is better than sitting in there, he said, glancing over his shoulder to point at the jail. Ive done a little time in there. People youre mad at dont belong in there. People you are afraid of do.

Rodriguez said he had been facing a possible two years in prison because a misdemeanor theft charge over $23 might have been enhanced to a felony because of his prior offenses.

This is a better option, he said of his participation in Bexar Gives Back, a program developed six months ago by Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar and two judges, Velia Meza of the 226th District Court and Melissa Vara of County Court-at-Law No. 15.

Designed for nonviolent, low-level offenders, those who qualify have the chance to do community service work up front under a sentencing option that could be rescinded if they dont show up.

Sheriffs Lt. Stephanie Flores, who works on the program in Mezas court, said it gives judges another tool.

Related: New BCSO program allows low-level offenders to pay off sentences through community service

Four Saturdays or four days in a row, this gets people out of jail who deserve to be out, she said recently on a Zoom court proceeding with Meza and several defendants in the program.

Her boss concurs.

This is for the type of person who says, Man, I really screwed up and I need one shot to get it together, Salazar said. We hope its a good scare.

Salazar and the judges tout the program as a cost-saving measure for the county and taxpayers, and a way to keep nonviolent people out of the jail as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

So far, the sheriff is pleased with the program.

We are proud of it and what we think it is going to be, Salazar said. The pandemic showed it does work, and it will help us out.

Its voluntary, and the deputies who monitor them are there for the workers safety, Salazar said.

The program already has produced some budget savings, Salazar said, because it costs $80.10 a day to feed one inmate at the jail, and he does not have to use staff to do the grounds maintenance, reducing overtime costs. If he hired outside help, it would cost at least $15 an hour, he estimated.

Bexar Gives Back saves money as it allows defendants to pay back society, he said.

On a recent Saturday at the jail, Vara showed the program to fellow county courts-at-law judges Carlo Key and Alfredo M. Ximenez. Each said they were interested in adopting it.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

The biggest problem is that the jail is a hotbed for COVID-19, Vara said.

She said the program is fairly easy to administer because participants are not in custody  the responsibility is theirs to make sure they serve their community service time. If that doesnt happen, an arrest warrant would be issued and their sentence amended to something more confining.

Meza sees this latest nonviolent offender program as something that might be kept for the long term, saying it has a different feel, and gives defendants a reason to be proud of their opportunity for a fresh start.

When they finish, they realize, I gave back to my community, Meza said. This is their community. (They) need to take care of it.

ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863
has modernised its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles by flaunting sanctions, using cyberattacks to help finance its programmes and continuing to seek material and technology overseas for its arsenal, UN experts said.

The panel of experts monitoring sanctions on the Northeast Asian nation said in a report sent to Security Council members Monday that North Korea's total theft of virtual assets from 2019 to November 2020 is valued at approximately USD 316.4 million, according to one unidentified country.

The panel said its investigations found that North Korean-linked cyber actors continued to conduct operations in 2020 against financial institutions and virtual currency exchange houses to generate money to support its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes.

In its weapons development, the experts said, Kim Jong Un's government has also produced fissile material an essential ingredient for producing nuclear weapons and maintained its nuclear facilities.

It displayed new short-range, medium-range, submarine-launched and intercontinental ballistic missile systems at military parades, they said. It announced preparation for testing and production of new ballistic missile warheads and, development of tactical nuclear weapons ... and upgraded its ballistic missile infrastructure.

The panel recommended that the Security Council impose sanctions on four North Korean men: Choe Song Chol, Im Song Sun, Pak Hwa Song, and Hwang Kil Su.

The Security Council has imposed increasingly tough sanctions on since its first test explosion of a nuclear device in 2006. It has banned most of the country's exports and severely limited its imports, trying to pressure Pyongyang into abandoning its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

But the report's summary and some key findings and recommendations, obtained by The Associated Press, make clear that remains able to evade sanctions and develop its weapons and to illicitly import refined petroleum, access banking channels and carry out malicious cyber activities.

North Korea's arsenal escalated to a major threat to the United States following tests in 2017 that included a detonation of a purported thermonuclear warhead and flight tests demonstrating its ICBMs could reach deep in the American mainland.

A year later, Kim initiated diplomacy with South Korea and then-U.S. President Donald Trump that derailed in 2019 when the Americans rejected North Korea's demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for a piecemeal deal partially surrendering its nuclear weapons capabilities.

Last year, North Korea's already battered economy decayed further amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which led Kim to close the country's borders. That severely limited the legal and illegal transfer of goods and movement of people, according to the experts.

At a North Korean political conference, Kim sharply criticized his government's economic agencies for unspecified passiveness and self-protecting tendencies, the North's state media reported Tuesday. His remarks follow a ruling party congress last month where he called for greater state control over the economy while also vowing to continue all-out efforts to boost his nuclear program, which North Korea sees as a deterrent to the U.S. and thus an assurance of the Kim dynasty's continued existence.

With his diplomatic efforts stalemated, Kim must start all over again with President Joe Biden, who previously called him a thug and criticized Trump for summit spectacles instead of significant nuclear reductions.

In August 2019, the U.N. panel said North Korean cyber experts illegally obtained proceeds estimated at up to $2 billion to fund its weapons programmes.

The panel said in the new report that it investigated malicious activities by the Reconnaissance General Bureau North Korea's primary intelligence agency, which is on the U.N. sanctions blacklist including the targeting of virtual assets and virtual asset service providers, and attacks on defense companies.

North Korea continues to launder stolen cryptocurrencies especially through over-the-counter virtual asset brokers in China to acquire fiat currency which is government backed, like the U.S. dollar, the experts said.

The panel said it is investigating a September 2020 hack against a cryptocurrency exchange that resulted in approximately $281 million worth of cryptocurrencies being stolen, and transactions on the blockchain indicating the $281 million hack is related to a USD 23 million second hack in October 2020.

Preliminary analysis, based on the attack vectors and subsequent efforts to launder the illicit proceeds strongly suggests links to the DPRK, the experts said, using the initials of the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

According to one unnamed country, North Korea also continues to generate illegal revenue by exploiting freelance information technology platforms using the same methods it does to access the global financial system -- false identification, use of virtual private network services, and establishing front companies in Hong Kong, the panel 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.)
AstraZeneca's vaccine is expected to arrive in Korea on Feb. 24, but the over-65s could miss out since the brand's efficacy for the elderly is unproven. "Another vaccine could be administered to elderly people," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told the National Assembly on Monday. Health authorities also said they could buy Russia's Sputnik V vaccine in preparation for uncertainties amid the spread of new coronavirus variants here.

/Yonhap

The arrival date of Pfizer's vaccine through the WHO-led COVAX Facility has been delayed, and Moderna's vaccine is yet determined, so they will at best become available in limited quantities in the second quarter. Jeong Eun-kyeong, the chief of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said that she will "consider" securing additional vaccines due to uncertainties like the spread of variants and supply problems.

Staffers take part in a mock coronavirus vaccination drill at the National Medical Center in Seoul on Monday. /Yonhap

The KDCA had not been keen on Russia's Sputnik V vaccine but changed its position Monday. There is growing interest among European countries in the Russian and even Chinese vaccines despite doubts about their efficacy and safety. China's Sinovac vaccine is only 50 percent effective. "The Russian vaccine seems quite good if we look at the research results alone," said Ma Sang-hyuk, vice president of the Korean Vaccine Society. "But whether people here will trust it is another question." Meanwhile, the daily tally of new coronavirus infections stood at 303 as of Tuesday morning.
crude oil

India's energy demand will increase more than that of any other country over the next two decades, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Tuesday forecasting India overtaking the European Union as the world's third-largest energy consumer by 2030.

An expanding economy, population, urbanisation and industrialisation will result in India's energy needs growing at three times the global average under today's policies, according to IEA's India Energy Outlook 2021. "India has arrived at the centre of the world energy stage," said Fatih Birol, the IEA's executive director.

Energy use has doubled since 2000, with most of that demand met by coal and oil. This is set to grow about 35 percent until 2030, down from 50 percent before the coronavirus pandemic. India will see the addition of 13 new Mumbai's in urban population, boosting demand for cement, steel, electricity, he said.

Birol said policymakers needed to ensure the next wave of growth is met with renewable energy sources such as solar. IEA saw primary energy consumption almost doubling to 1,123 million tonnes of oil equivalent as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expands to USD 8.6 trillion by 2040.

India at present is the fourth-largest global energy consumer behind China, the United States and the European Union. Underpinned by "a rate of GDP growth that adds the equivalent of another Japan to the world economy by 2040", India will overtake the European Union by 2030 to move up to the third position, it said in the report.

India accounts for nearly one-quarter of global energy demand growth from 2019-40  the largest for any country. Its share in the growth in renewable energy is the second-largest in the world, after China, IEA said. "By 2040, India's power system is bigger than that of the European Union, and is the world's third-largest in terms of electricity generation; it also has 30 percent more installed renewables capacity than the United States," it said.

A five-fold increase in per capita car ownership will result in India leading the oil demand growth in the world. Also, it will become the fastest-growing market for natural gas, with demand more than tripling by 2040. "India's continued industrialisation becomes a major driving force for the global energy economy. Over the last three decades, India accounted for about 10 percent of world growth in industrial value-added (in PPP terms)," the report said. "India's continued industrialisation becomes a major driving force for the global energy economy.

By 2040, India is set to account for almost 20 percent of global growth in industrial value-added, and to lead global growth in industrial final energy consumption, especially in steelmaking. The nation accounts for nearly one-third of global industrial energy demand growth to 2040. India's oil demand is seen rising by rise by 74 percent to 8.7 million barrels per day by 2040 under the existing policies scenario. The natural gas requirement is projected to more than triple to 201 billion cubic meters and coal demand is seen rising to 772 million tonnes in 2040 from the current 590. India's oil demand is seen rising by rise by 74 percent to 8.7 million barrels per day by 2040 under the existing policies scenario.

To meet its energy needs, India will be more reliant on fossil fuel imports as its domestic oil and gas production stagnates. Its net dependence on oil imports  taking into account both the import of crude oil and the export of oil products  increases to more than 90 percent by 2040 from the current 75 percent as domestic consumption rises much more than production, the report said.

Natural gas import dependency increased from 20 percent in 2010 to almost 50 percent in 2019 and is set to grow further to more than 60 percent in 2040. "The dynamics look quite different for coal, where India's demand for imported coal barely gets back to pre-crisis levels over the next decade," IEA said.

India currently accounts for 16 percent of the global coal trade and many global coal suppliers were counting on growth in India to underpin planned export-oriented mining investments. "These expectations are now running up against India's determination to boost domestic production, leaving relative certainty only over India's requirement to import coking coal for its rising steel production, together with steam coal for those coastal power generation plants that have been designed to receive imported grades," it said.

IEA has forecast combined import bill for fossil fuels tripling over the next two decades. "Energy use (in India) has doubled since 2000, with 80 percent of demand still being met by coal, oil and solid biomass," it said.

On a per-capita basis, India's energy use and emissions are less than half the world average, as are other key indicators such as vehicle ownership, steel and cement output. "As India recovers from a COVID-induced slump in 2020, it is re-entering a very dynamic period in its energy development. Over the coming years, millions of Indian households are set to buy new appliances, air conditioning units and vehicles," it said.

India will soon become the world's most populous country, adding the equivalent of a city the size of Los Angeles to its urban population each year. "To meet growth in electricity demand over the next twenty years, India will need to add a power system the size of the European Union to what it has now," it said.

Prior to the global pandemic, India's energy demand was projected to increase by almost 50 percent between 2019 and 2030, but growth over this period is now closer to 35 percent. "An expanding economy, population, urbanisation and industrialisation mean that India sees the largest increase in energy demand of any country," IEA said.

New Jerseyans looking for a coveted appointment to get a coronavirus vaccine will have to wait slightly longer before they can try to book one at CVS locations, the company said late Monday.

CVS said people will be able to start booking appointments on Thursday, Feb. 11, instead of Feb. 9 as originally announced. The company plans to start the vaccinations on Friday, Feb. 12, spokeswoman Tara Burke said in an email to NJ Advance Media.

The company is not going to release a list of pharmacies offering the vaccine because the stores will change according to the availability of the vaccine, she said.

Because active stores will change regularly based on vaccine supply, CVS Health will not provide a full list of participating locations, Burke said.

To sign up for an appointment, you can go to cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine or you can use the CVS Pharmacy app, the company said.

Individuals eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations are asked to use the appropriate digital channels or contact customer service to check for appointment availability, as opposed to contacting individual CVS Pharmacy locations, Burke said.

For those without online access, CVS has set up a customer service line at (800) 746-7287, it said.

No walk-in vaccines will be provided.

CVS said last week the vaccines would be administered at 27 CVS locations across the state, but not all will be up and running immediately.

The company didnt list specific stores last week, but said they would be available at pharmacies across the state, including in Brigantine, Edison, Elizabeth, Flemington, Green Brook, Hoboken, North Bergen, North Plainfield, Princeton, Seaside Heights, Stanhope, Union, Voorhees and West Orange.

CVS supply of vaccines will help increase the number of doses available in the state because they in addition to the allotment the state receives each week.

The federal pharmacy program gives direct allocation (of doses) from the federal government without tapping into the states supply, Department of Health spokeswoman Donna Leusner said last week.

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.
Mentz, N.Y.  Deputies have released the name of the man killed Monday after two trucks collided in Cayuga County.

Michael P. Maltese, of Weedsport, died at the scene of the head-on crash in Mentz, said the Cayuga County Sheriffs Office. He was 52 years old.

The two-vehicle accident happened at 3:32 p.m. on State Route 31 just west of Centerport Road.

Tristan R. Hope, 24, of Auburn, was driving west on Route 31 in a white 2007 Dodge pickup truck when the truck crossed the center of the road and into oncoming traffic, deputies said. The Dodge crashed head-on into an eastbound black 2017 Nissan pickup truck, deputies said.

Maltese, the driver of the Nissan, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hope was taken to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. His injuries are not life-threatening, deputies said.

The accident remains under investigation. Deputies have asked anyone who witnessed the accident or has information about the crash to call Detective Josh Blanchard at (315) 253-3902.

The sheriffs office was assisted by the New York State Police, Cayuga County 911, the Cayuga County District Attorneys Office, the Cayuga County Coroners Office, the Port Byron Fire Department, Port Byron Ambulance, the Weedsport Fire Department, Weedsport Ambulance, Jordan Ambulance and American Medical Response.

Staff writer Samantha House covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? Reach her at shouse@syracuse.com.
Microsoft has told customers that the April cumulative update for Windows 10  the one slated to arrive on April 13, that month's "Patch Tuesday"  will remove the original, and now outdated, Edge browser and replace it with the newer Chromium-based Edge that debuted a year ago.

Users who accept April's update, which will include, as does every Patch Tuesday update, the month's fixes for security flaws, will then also receive Chromium Edge and lose the legacy Edge. The older browser launched in mid-2015 as the default browser for Windows 10.

Skipping the April update will do no good, as every cumulative update issued after April 13 will also include the old-Edge-gone new-Edge-here process.

The April update will end the transition from the legacy Edge to the Chromium-based browser, which was first released in its "Stable" channel on Jan. 15, 2020.

In August 2020, Microsoft spelled out much of how it would end legacy Edge's life, including the March 9, 2021, date of the final security update release. The Redmond, Wash. developer did not, however, set a removal date for the older, homegrown version of Edge.

Devices powered by Windows 10 20H2  the upgrade that released in October 2020  already run the Chromium Edge, so the browser will not be reinstalled. Instead, the April cumulative update will only scrub the system of the legacy Edge.

PCs with other versions of Windows 10 whose users had manually installed Chromium Edge will be treated the same.

Microsoft also noted that customers who apply the Windows 10 March Preview update  slated to show around March 16  will find Chromium Edge installed and the legacy edition deleted, as that optional release also will run the browser swap.

For IT administrators planning the deployment of Chromium Edge, more information can be found here.
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MBABANE  A challenge is a chance for one to do their best.

The saying rang true for eight orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs) who, despite losing their parents or the latters inability to pay school fees for their minors, they rose above the difficulties and flourished.

This is in respect of Form V results which were released by the Ministry of Education and Training yesterday.

Almost all the interviewed pupils shared that the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic early last year, which resulted in schools being suspended for multiple months, challenged them to thrive under the circumstances.

Consistent

Jasmine Uwimana (18) from U-Tech, in the Lubombo Region attained aggregate seven. She shared that she had been an ace pupil since the first grade and has been consistent in attaining good results. Jasmine submitted that her unemployed mother had been her motivator and pillar of strength and she always wanted to make her proud.

She revealed that she was among the top performing pupils in the Junior Certificate (JC) results in 2018 as she attained aggregate 92 and she was the 23rd best performer nationally.

I was the head girl of the school and that inspired me to do even better in my studies so that other learners could look up to me. Studying hard, determination and prayer did the trick for me and I am grateful for the support from teachers at school and the support from my family back at home, they all played a major role in my achievement, she said.

Jasmine said she wished to pursue a career in science, specifically as a surgeon and because the course was not offered in the country, she would try and get a scholarship to study abroad.

Wonder Mathabela from St Marks, who attained aggregate eight said he was inspired by his father who turned 103 this year and he wanted to give him something more to celebrate about besides the blessing of a prolonged life.

The aspiring Actuarial Science said his dream was to enrol at the University of Cape Town to purse his career. He also shared that COVID-19 helped him in the sense that being at home challenged him to set goals and work on achieving them, one of them being in the list of top performers which he attained.

Socialising with those who thrived the previous year and those who were excelling worked wonders for me. I would request them to take me through their journey and how they achieved academically and I adopted all that they shared with me. I also befriended pupils who were good in the subjects that I was not good at and milked a lot of knowledge from them. Also helping other pupils in the subjects that I was performing good at helped me, as it was a reminder of what I had learnt, he said.

Wonder Mathabela from St Marks, who attained aggregate eight, said he was a spiritual person and he prayed before and after studying. He said the inability for his parents to pay for his fees challenged him to thrive and achieve a lot as he wished to one day help them financially and otherwise.

Delivery of state-of-the-art pricing solutions to insurers is a key objective of the new relationship.

PARIS and BOSTON, Feb. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akur8 (https://akur8-tech.com/) and Xceedance (http://www.xceedance.com) today announced a strategic partnership to deliver best-in-class actuarial and analytics solutions to insurance organizations.



The partnership between Xceedance and Akur8 provides an opportunity for insurers to gather extensive insights from internal or external data sources, enrich rate-making processes, and gain access to advanced actuarial expertise. By leveraging modern technology from Akur8 and industry proficiency from Xceedance, insurers can realize immediate and tangible improvements in operational performance. Benefits to insurers include increased rate-making process efficiency, faster time-to-market, and enhanced governance and compliance in the rating process, as well as top-line and bottom-line growth potential.

"Akur8 is excited to join forces with Xceedance, a leading and recognized expert in the actuarial services landscape," said Samuel Falmagne, CEO at Akur8. "By combining our resources, we can deliver a strong actuarial value proposition to insurance organizations - leveraging our unique ratemaking platform and top-notch actuarial expertise from Xceedance."

The unique Akur8 insurance pricing platform leverages an innovative combination of proprietary machine learning (ML) algorithms and transparent artificial intelligence (AI) - which allows actuarial and predictive modelling teams to significantly increase speed-to-accuracy, without sacrificing auditability and control.

"The Akur8 platform is distinctive in the pricing landscape, with an innovative approach to incorporating data science in the ratemaking process," said Matthew Duke, chief actuary, head of global actuarial and analytics services at Xceedance. "Automation of critical steps in the predictive modelling process significantly reduces time-to-market, while maintaining high levels of precision and transparency. The Akur8 solution, combined with actuarial and analytics services from Xceedance, creates a powerful offering for insurance organizations worldwide."

Technology enablement is a key focus for the Xceedance actuarial and analytics services team. By combining its offerings with strategic partnerships globally, Xceedance supplies a comprehensive suite of technology-driven solutions to insurers and reinsurers of all sizes. Companies with actuarial and analytics infrastructure can benefit from a streamlined deployment, while organizations with limited resources can access those solutions via advisory and consulting services from Xceedance.

About Akur8

Akur8 (https://akur8-tech.com/) is transforming insurance pricing with Transparent AI. Our proprietary ML algorithms automate rate making while preserving control and transparency throughout the process. We replace the manual processes of legacy solutions and the need to build and maintain large codebases through custom R/Python developments, while maintaining an output that is understandable & auditable, unlike black-box ML.

About Xceedance

Xceedance (http://www.xceedance.com) is a global provider of strategic consulting and managed services, technology, and data sciences to insurance organizations. The company helps insurers launch products, drive operations, implement intelligent technology, deploy advanced analytics, and achieve business process optimization. The experienced insurance professionals at Xceedance enable insurers worldwide to enhance policyholder service, enter new markets, boost workflow productivity, and improve profitability.

Media Contacts:

Astrid Noel (for Akur8)

+33 (0)7 68 24 93 27

astrid.noel@akur8-tech.com (mailto:astrid.noel@akur8-tech.com)

Jennifer Overhulse, St. Nick Media (for Xceedance)

+1 859 803 6597

jen@stnickmedia.com (mailto:jen@stnickmedia.com)
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Some 6,100 residents of Western Massachusetts with drunken driving convictions over much of the past decade will begin being notified in the next few days that they may choose to retry their cases thanks to serious flaws in breath testing.

The Northwest district attorneys office said Monday it would begin sending out notifications to roughly 3,100 residents of Hampshire and Franklin counties convicted between June 2011 and April 2019 of driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Hampden district attorney is sending out similar notices to 2,133 people, and the Berkshire district attorney is sending out about 900.

Those numbers represent a fraction of the 27,000 drunken driving convictions across Massachusetts over that period that have been called into question because of problems with the Draeger 9510 Alcotest device used by state and local police.

In 2019, the courts found that the machines were improperly calibrated over a period of years and produced unreliable results. This problem was compounded with the discovery that the states Office of Alcohol Testing attempted to conceal the full extent of the problem.

Earlier this month, Judge Robert Brennan issued an order that the state notify people convicted of drunken driving offenses between 2011 and 2019 that relied on breath test results that they could apply to have their conviction overturned. In the event of being granted a new trial, all breath test evidence would be excluded.

People with questions may call the Committee for Public Counsel Services public defender intake line at 617-910-05856, or visit mass.gov/breathalyzer.

Springfield lawyer Joseph Bernard, one of the lawyers in the Commonwealth v. Ananias case that led to the discovery of breath test problems, compares it to the state drug lab scandal, were more than 40,000 drug arrests were dismissed because of wrongdoing by lab technicians.

This is a system-wide problem that wreaked havoc on the criminal justice system, said Bernard, who has worked on the case for the past five years.

Thousands of people were either improperly convicted, or agreed to accept a guilty finding, based on machines that were producing faulty results, he said.

If the machine produced a reading of 0.08 or above, the person was a good as guilty. Judges would instruct the jury that, if they believed the reading, then they must find guilt.

People were guilty by machine, Bernard said. Many lives were turned upside down.

People lost their licenses, people lost their jobs and some people ended up in jail, he said. There was significant collateral damage.

According to Mary Carey, communications director for Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, there were around 3,100 drunken driving cases in Hampshire and Franklin counties over that period where breath test results led to either a guilty verdict or a continuation without a finding. All of those people will receive notifications, she said.

If someone opts to have a new trial, the prosecution will have to prove their guilt without relying on the breath test results, she said.
Koichi S. via Yelp

One of the most popular Japanese curry chains in Tokyo is making its way to San Francisco. Barry Louie and Thomas Uehara, who are both from Northern California but have spent the past 25 years living in Japan, will open Hinoya Curry this week at 3347 Fillmore St. in the Marina District, according to Eater.

Hinoya Curry is a popular chain with more than 60 locations mostly in the Tokyo area  Louie and Uehara believe it to be the first major Japanese curry brand to open a restaurant in the Bay Area. They were inspired to open a location here after observing how popular curry was in Japan, and saw the potential for the dish to take off in the US.
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kruthik Ravikanti, 17, of Alpharetta and Ava Mincey, 12, of Statesboro today were named Georgia's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Kruthik and Ava will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are Georgia's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Kruthik Ravikanti

Nominated by Alpharetta High School

Kruthik, a senior at Alpharetta High School, co-founded a nonprofit organization to help other young people start, fund and execute their own service projects. Kruthik said he and a fellow high school student realized that many young people aren't particularly interested in typical types of volunteering, but have a desire to launch their own service projects. However, they often lack the necessary resources, such as the time and money it takes to obtain official nonprofit status. To address this problem, the two friends created "Georgia Youth Leaders" (GYL), a 501(c)3 organization that provides information and guidance to young social entrepreneurs, allows them to benefit from nonprofit status, helps them procure funding, and supports them in other ways.

Once GYL was formed, the founders held seminars to attract high schoolers who had service projects that could operate under the GYL umbrella. Then GYL began applying for grants to help fund those projects, publicizing them through social media, mentoring their leaders, and developing a website. Eight projects are now part of the GYL family, pursuing missions including relief to victims of human trafficking, environmental cleanups, and donating books to children in need. "Georgia Youth Leaders is a bridge connecting change-makers with teens trying to find their passions through volunteering," said Kruthik.

Middle Level State Honoree: Ava Mincey

Nominated by William James Middle School

Ava, a sixth-grader at William James Middle School, has raised thousands of dollars for Alzheimer's disease research in honor of her late great-grandmother, by selling lemonade and raising money online. Ava has volunteered at the community support center established by her grandmother since 2015, where she has come to enjoy helping clients and their caregivers. Her work there taught her a lot about Alzheimer's disease, and convinced her that she needed to help find a cure. "The more research and education about the disease that can be done, the better the odds are for finding a cure," she said.

With her father's help, Ava perfected a recipe for "Ava's Lemonade" and set up a stand in her front yard to sell it. As friends and family members spread the word about Ava's endeavor, sales vastly exceeded her initial expectations, and were exceeded yet again after word spread on social media. Before long, Ava was selling her lemonade in multiple locations, making deliveries all over town and even in surrounding counties, and expanding her product line to include juices made from fresh pineapples, peaches, strawberries and raspberries. So far, her efforts have yielded more than $2,000 for Alzheimer's research. Ava also serves as an advocate for a personal device that alerts caregivers to the location of their Alzheimer's patients.

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

Related Links

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Researchers in the United States have conducted a study showing that the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine effectively protects against recently emerged variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2  the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The team compared the neutralization activity of blood taken from infected and vaccinated individuals against a panel of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the B.1.1.7 that emerged in the UK.

The team  from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, the University of Texas Medical Branch, and the COVID-19 Neutralization Study Group  found that antibodies generated by both infected and vaccinated individuals effectively neutralized all of the variants.

These findings support the notion that in the context of the UK variant, vaccine-induced immunity can provide protection against COVID-19, says Mehul Suthar and colleagues.

However, as further variants continue to emerge, it will be essential to assess their impact on the potency of neutralizing responses following both infection and vaccination, warns the team.

A pre-print version of the research paper is available on the medRxiv* server, while the article undergoes peer review.

The SARS-CoV-2 infection process

In order to infect cells, SARS-CoV-2 uses a surface viral structure called the spike protein to bind to the host cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

The spike protein is the primary target of neutralizing antibodies and levels of these antibodies correlate with protection against COVID-19.

Neutralizing antibodies are generated within 10 days of symptom onset and studies have shown that they are maintained for at least 8 months.

Similarly, Modernas mRNA-1273 vaccine generates neutralizing antibodies that are detectable for at least 119 days.

However, the recent emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the B.1.1.7 strain that has arisen in the UK, has sparked concerns regarding the breadth of these neutralizing antibody responses.

Neutralizing antibody responses against the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 viral variant. Shown are data from the following cohorts based on natural infection: 20 acutely infected COVID-19 patients (8-24 days PSO; closed symbols), 20 convalescent COVID-19 individuals (30-90 days PSO, closed symbols) 18 healthy controls (open symbols); and individuals that received 100 ug of mRNA-1273 (18 to 55 years old) on day 1 post-2nd dose (15 participants; open symbols) and day 15 post-2nd dose (14 participants; closed symbols). A schematic of the amino acid changes within the spike protein are shown between the SARS-CoV-2 variants (Panel A); The 50% inhibitory titer (FRNT50) on the focus reduction neutralization (FRNT) assay for the EHC-83E (black), B.1.1.7 (red), WA1 (blue) and N501Y (green) SARS-CoV-2 variants and correlation plots between EHC-83E and B.1.1.7 viruses are shown for the acutely infected COVID-19 patients (Panel B), convalescent COVID-19 individuals (Panel C), and mRNA-1273 vaccinated individuals (Panel D). Statistical significance was determined using a Wilcoxon paired t-test. The GMT fold change for the respective isolates relative to EHC-83E is shown in each of the plots.

What did the researchers do?

Suthar and colleagues compared the neutralization potency of sera from 20 patients with acute infection, 20 recovered individuals, and 14 healthy vaccinees, against a panel of SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Symptom onset had occurred between 8 and 24 days previously among the 20 acutely infected patients and between 30 and 90 days previously among the convalescent patients.

The immunized participants (aged between 18 and 55 years) had received two injections of Modernas mRNA-1273 vaccine at a dose of 100g, with the second dose administered 14 days previously.

The panel of SARS-CoV-2 variants included an early variant isolated from an individual in Washington (WA1); a later D614G variant isolated from a patient in Georgia in March 2020 (EHC-083E), and a B.1.1.7 variant isolated from a patient in California.

The team also included a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 virus containing a single point mutation within the spike protein at position 501 (N501Y).

Levels of neutralizing antibodies were measured using a live-virus Focus Reduction Neutralization Test.

What did they find?

The findings showed that antibodies were effective at neutralizing all variants, whether they were generated following natural infection or vaccination.

The team observed no significant reduction in levels of neutralizing antibodies against any of the variants.

These results show that neutralizing antibody titers following natural infection or vaccination are effective against the UK variant (B.1.1.7) and viral strains containing single point mutations at positions 501 and 614 within the spike protein, writes the team.

The researchers say the findings suggest that in the context of the UK variant, vaccine-induced immunity can provide protection against COVID-19.

As additional SARS-CoV-2 viral variants continue to emerge, it is crucial to monitor their impact on neutralizing antibody responses following infection and vaccination, they conclude.

*Important Notice

medRxiv 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.
Many things are happening as the year unfolds. This column was off last month but we can recollect the dramatic election of the Speaker of Parliament on January 7, which culminated in the high profile inauguration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the same day.



Notwithstanding the minuses that took place in Parliament on January 6 and 7, 2021, for which some members of the House have openly apologised, I still trust that we can be proud of our achievements, especially on the inauguration day.



As a nation in tears, we successfully organised a befitting state funeral for former President Jerry John Rawlings amid the threats of the COVID-19 global scare.



Also underway is the 2020 Election Petition being heard at the Supreme Court by a high-powered seven-member panel of the Justices of the apex court.



Then again, from tomorrow (Wednesday), the Appointments Committee of Parliament will begin the process of vetting the ministerial nominees-elect of President Akufo-Addo.



This is where we expect our MPs to do a good job to get the best out of our ministers-designate.



COVID-19 scare



But beyond all of these happenings is the more worrying health challenge confronting the nation. The COVID-19 pandemic scare does not seem to be leaving anytime soon, and it is getting scarier and scarier.



There are reports of even a new variant and this second wave of the disease has even proven to be more deadly which requires the collective efforts of every Ghanaian, including our parliamentarians, to stop its devastating spread.



It will be recalled that the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, on February 3, expressed concerns about the flouting of the COVID-19 safety protocols by some MPs who were attending parliamentary meetings despite having tested positive for the virus. This behaviour is definitely not the way to go and does not put our MPs in a positive light. Rather it shows poor leadership in the fight against the deadly virus by some legislators which will rather go a long way to serve as a disincentive to those who are doing everything possible to abide by the preventive measures, as advocated by the government.



Fight against COVID-19



There is no denying the fact that the fight against COVID-19 is getting alarming each day and our respected legislators must, through their actions and inactions, set worthy examples in the fight against the disease. This, undoubtedly, will encourage the citizenry to also adhere strictly to the preventive protocols.



As representatives of the people, our MPs have the onerous responsibility to show exemplary leadership at all times by avoiding any acts or omissions that can undermine the fight against the virus and send wrong signals to their constituents to flout the safety protocols.



After prescribing some punishment for offenders of the COVID-19 protocols, lawmakers, by their respected role in society, owe the nation a responsibility of advocating public safety.



It is therefore disheartening to read and watch in some sections of the media that some of our MPs seem to be frustrating the work of the Speaker.



It will be out of order to arrest citizens who fail to wear the face masks and allow our MPs who enact our laws to commit even more grievous offences.



Disregard for protocols



But, while urging some of our lawmakers who have tested positive and still want to be in the Chamber to refrain from this wicked practice, it is equally important for members of the public to also adhere to the safety protocols. The continuous disregard by any section of the society to adhere to the protocols is clearly a recipe for disaster, considering the number of people who have died in the last few months and the many more in intensive care units.



Till we get the vaccines as promised by end of February or March, this year, the nation cannot take chances but step up public education on the protocols and encourage all and sundry to strictly observe the safety protocols to protect themselves and their loved ones from the deadly infectious disease.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Nairobi  Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was taken out of hospital Tuesday, for his court sessions, accompanied by a nurse.

Sonko had been hospitalised on Monday night when he fell ill at the Gigiri Police Station. He is reported to have complained of a stomachache.

But on Tuesday morning, police went to hospital and took him out before they escorted him to Kiambu Law Courts where a ruling on his bail application on a robbery and assault case was due.

The magistrate at Kiambu Law Courts was set to rule on Sonko's bail application in a robbery wth violence and assault case which he denied last week while the Kahawa West court was to rule on an application by police to detain him for 30 days to complete a terror probe.

The embattled former Governor was sent back behind bars on Friday until Tuesday when the court was scheduled to rule on his bail application in an investigation on alleged terror links.

The Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) is seeking to have him in their custody for 30 days to facilitate an investigation on alleged financing of terrorism activities and arming a militia group.

He already faced robbery with violence and assault charges stemming from 2019 offenses in Buru Buru which he denies.

Kahawa West Chief Magistrate Diana Kavedza ordered he be remanded at the Gigiri Police Station until Tuesday when a ruling on his bail application will be made.

His lawyers John Khaminwa, Assa Nyakundi, Evans Ondieki and Alfred Nyamu have protested against the charges, terming them "politically motivated."

On Thursday, Sonko's bodyguards Clifford Ouko and Benjamin Ochieng were charged at the Kahawa West Law Courts for attempting to rescue the former Governor who was impeached in November 2020.

The prosecution said the two were arrested on February 3 outside the Kamiti court where they allegedly planned to help him out.

Sonko's woes deepened Wednesday after the prosecution applied to have him detained at the Kamiti Maximum Prison to facilitate investigations on alleged links to financing terrorism activities.

An affidavit filed in court also indicated that Sonko is under investigation for arming a militia group in a dramatic turn of events a day after facing multiple robbery and assault charges stemming from offenses allegedly committed in 2019.

On Tuesday, Sonko denied a total of 12 counts leveled against him and which his lawyers said were politically motivated due to public statements he made recently linking Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho to the 2017 violence.

Others said his arrest and prosecution were linked to statements he made during a roadside rally in Narok last week against President Uhuru Kenyatta who had spoken about him in Nyeri where he told a youth meeting that the Governor was impeached due to incompetence.

Sonko denied the charges when he was arraigned at the Kiambu Law Courts on Tuesday and was ordered remanded at the Gigiri Police Station for two days to enable police conclude investigations.

But in a surprise turn of events, Sonko was arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts Wednesday during the mention of his corruption cases, only for him to be taken to the Kahawa West Law Courts in the evening where an affidavit was filed indicating that he was under active investigation on terrorism activities.

"I have intelligence information that the suspect is connected to financing of terrorism activities and he is in the advance stage of procuring arms and ammunition using a wide syndicate which is complex ad sophisticated," an affidavit filed in court by a Chief Inspector Newton Thimangu of the Anti Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), an arm of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) states in part.

He also indicated that Sonko had "started arming his private security agents with full military attire namely military boots, military jungle uniforms and firearms. The suspect who was in company of unknown person had worn militia attire and together with the suspect they were both spotted in public in full glare of the media and in front of huge mass of people in a public rally."

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An undated photograph of Sonko and an unknown person was attached to the affidavit.

Charges read out to him on Tuesday stated that he assaulted two people in Buru Buru in 2019, leaving them with serious injuries.

The charges include assault causing actual bodily harm, robbery with violence and destruction of property.

He also faced an additional charge of entering private property without permission or a search warrant.

His case was heard by Kiambu Senior Principal Magistrate Stellah Atambo who ordered he be remanded at the Gigiri Police Station.

Sonko was impeached in November over gross misconduct, abuse of office and corruption.

He is also facing corruption charges in court alongside several county officials and suppliers accused of colluding to siphon public funds.
First Case of Brazilian Virus Strain Detected in Canada

Research Underway to Determine Transmissibility and Effectiveness of Approved Vaccines Against It

Canadas first case of the Brazilian COVID-19 variant was detected in Toronto over the weekend, marking it the third variant the country has discovered within its borders, following cases of the UK and South Africa strains identified in the last few months.

The Toronto Public Health (TPH) confirmed its first known case of the variant in a news release on Feb. 7, saying that the patient had recently travelled from Brazil. He has since been hospitalized.

Formally known as the P.1 variant, the strain was first discovered early last month in travelers from Brazil during routine testing at an airport in Japan. By the end of January, it had been detected in the United States.

TPH also reported the first case of the South Africa variantB.1.351in the city on Sunday. However, the patient had no recent travel history and no known contact with anyone who is a returned traveler, according to the agency.

Scientists and medical professionals are concerned that these variants are more transmissible than the original coronavirus, TPH said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevent (CDC) has indicated that research is ongoing to determine more about these variants to better understand how easily they might be transmitted and the effectiveness of currently authorized vaccines against them.

On Jan. 31, the CDC reported that the Brazilian variant contains 17 unique mutations which may affect the efficacy of vaccines.

There is evidence to suggest that some of the mutations in the P.1 variant may affect the ability of antibodies (from natural infection or vaccination) to recognize and neutralize the virus, the CDC states, but additional studies are needed.

The CDC also questioned the efficacy of the Moderna vaccine against the South Africa strain, which reportedly makes up 90 percent of the infections in that country.

Preliminary evidence from non-peer-reviewed publications suggests that the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine currently used in the U.S. may be less effective against this variant, said the CDC. The agency suggested additional studies are needed to verify that.

Similarly, research conducted by South Africas University of Witwatersrand and the University of Oxford suggest that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine provides minimal protection against mid-moderate COVID-19 infection from B.1.351 coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa, which led to the country halting that vaccine.

But the vaccine has found to provide 74.6 percent protection against the UK variant strainB.1.1.7in a study by Oxford University which has not been peer-reviewed.

Ontario, which is set to reopen gradually in selected regions starting Wednesday, introduced an emergency brake measure during an announcement by premier Doug Ford on Monday.

The measure authorizes the provincial government to switch any region back to lockdown if there are surges of COVID-19 infections or its health care system risks becoming overwhelmed.

If  all of a sudden we see the UK variant, South Africa variant, Brazilian variant go into your communityit will switch, Ford said. Well put the brakes on immediately, because it spreads so quickly.

Earlier Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced anyone arriving in Canada by land will also need to show a recent negative COVID-19 test starting Feb. 15.

He said the federal government cannot prevent Canadians from returning to the country at a land border, even without a test, but if they dont have the required test they can be fined up to $3,000.

The government began requiring all people arriving in Canada by air to show a negative PCR-based COVID-19 test in early January.

With files from The Canadian Press
Myanmar anti-coup protesters defy junta warnings Myanmar military chief General Min Aung Hlaing declared that this time, things would be "different" from the army's previous 49-year reign, which ended in 2011

Anti-coup protesters defied warnings from Myanmar's generals and rallied Tuesday for a fourth straight day, after the military imposed a ban on gatherings at flashpoint sites.

Junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing made a televised speech on Monday evening to justify seizing power, while a military statement made clear action would soon be taken against the protesters.

The military banned gatherings of more than five people in parts of Yangon, the nation's commercial capital, and other areas across the country where major rallies had erupted over the weekend and on Monday.

Those rallies had seen hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets.

On Tuesday morning, fresh protests emerged in various parts of Yangon, including near the headquarters of the National League for Democracy (NLD), the party of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who the military detained on day one of the coup.

The protesters carried anti-coup placards including "We want our leader", in reference to Suu Kyi, and "No dictatorship".

In San Chaung township -- where large gatherings were specifically banned -- scores of teachers marched on the main road, waving a defiant three-finger salute that has become the trademark sign of the protesters.

"We are not worried about their warning. That's why we came out today. We cannot accept their excuse of vote fraud. We do not want any military dictatorship," teacher Thein Win Soe told AFP.

- Military promises -

In his televised address, his first since the coup, Min Aung Hlaing insisted the seizure of power was justified because of "voter fraud".

The NLD won last November's national elections by a landslide but the military never accepted the legitimacy of the vote.

Shortly after the coup, the military announced a one-year state of emergency and promised to then hold fresh elections.

Min Aung Hlaing on Monday insisted the military would abide by its promises. He also declared that things would be "different" from the army's previous 49-year reign, which ended in 2011.

Story continues

"After the tasks of the emergency period are completed, free and fair multi-party general elections will be held according to the constitution," he said.

"The winning party will be transferred state duty according to democratic standards."

But those pledges were accompanied by threats.

In the face of the increasingly bold wave of defiance, the military released a statement on state TV on Monday warning that opposition to the junta was unlawful.

"Action must be taken according to the law with effective steps against offences which disturb, prevent and destroy the state's stability, public safety and the rule of law," said a statement read by an announcer on MRTV.

- Global outrage -

The United States has led global calls for the generals to relinquish power, and issued a fresh statement on Monday following the junta's warnings against the protesters.

"We stand with the people of Burma and support their right to assemble peacefully, including to protest peacefully in support of the democratically elected government," US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Monday, using Myanmar's former name.

Price also said US requests to speak to Suu Kyi were denied.

Pope Francis on Monday called for the prompt release of imprisoned political leaders.

"The path to democracy undertaken in recent years was brusquely interrupted by last week's coup d'etat," he told a gathering of diplomats.

"This has led to the imprisonment of different political leaders, who I hope will be promptly released as a sign of encouragement for a sincere dialogue."

The UN Human Rights Council said it would hold a relatively rare special session on Friday to discuss the crisis.

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A hapless Japanese submarine crew were forced to use a mobile phone to call for help after they surfaced underneath a Chinese commercial tanker, destroying their radio mast in the process.

The crew of the Japanese navy's 275-foot 'Soryu' submarine suffered minor injuries, while the submarine suffered damage to its mast, Japanese defence officials said on Monday.

The Soryu was in the process of surfacing about 27 nautical miles south of Cape Ashizuri on Japan's south-western island of Shikoku when it collided with the commercial ship, the Maritime Self-Defence Force said.

An investigation into the crash has been launched by multiple agencies, including the Japanese Navy who are trying to establish how the crash occurred.

It is currently unclear why the submarine did not detect the commercial ship's presence before it surfaced using sonar technology.

Pictured: A photo from Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force shows submarine 'Souryu' off Ashizuri Cape in Kochi prefecture, western Japan, on February 8. Damage can be seen on its fairweather planes - the wing-like attachments to its conning tower

An investigation into the crash has been launched by multiple agencies, including the Japanese Navy who are trying to establish how the crash occurred. Pictured: The Souryu off Kochi port in the western Japan main island of Shikoku on February 9, following its collision

The navy did not identify the commercial ship, but NHK public television said it was the Hong Kong-registered bulk carrier Ocean Artemis.

It was transporting 90,000 tons of iron to Okayama in western Japan after leaving the Chinese port of Qingdao last Friday with 21 Chinese crew members, it said.

Defence minister Nobuo Kishi told reporters that the collision, that occurred at around 11am on Monday, was 'extremely regrettable'.

'Soryu scraped the hull of the vessel as it was surfacing,' Kishi said. 'It is extremely regrettable the MSDF submarine has collided with a commercial ship.'

He said the submarine, which carries a crew of around 65 people, temporarily lost communication signals due to the damage to its antenna mast.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga instructed authorities to confirm whether the vessel was safe, and to provide rescue if necessary.

'We will take every possible step,' he told senior members of his party on Monday, according to Nikkei Asia.

The navy did not identify the commercial ship, but NHK public television said it was the Hong Kong-registered bulk carrier Ocean Artemis (pictured)

Pictured: A photo taken from a helicopter shows workers inspecting the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force submarine Souryu after the crash on Monday, off Kochi port in the western Japan main island of Shikoku on Feb. 9, 2021

Three of the crew members of the 'Soryu' (pictured) suffered minor injuries in the crash, while the submarine suffered damage to its mast, Japanese defence officials said on Monday

The commercial ship left the scene but later told Japanese coastguard officials that it sustained no damage and its crew did not even feel the impact, Mr Kishi said.

He said an investigation is under way, with the Japan Coast Guard and Japan Transport Safety Board both saying on Tuesday that they have also launched an investigation into the crash.

RAND Corp analyst and former US Navy captain, who analysed the image of the damage, told CNN that the impact would have limited the submarine's capabilities.

'I wouldn't call the damage "minor." The submarine can't dive and can't communicate,' Martin said in an email to the news network.

The Soryu was in the process of surfacing about 27 nautical miles south of Cape Ashizuri on Japan's south-western island of Shikoku when it collided with the commercial ship, the Maritime Self-Defence Force said. Pictured: A map showing the location of the crash

The accident comes almost 20 years to the day after a US nuclear powered submarine hit and sank a Japanese fishing vessel near Honolulu, Hawaii.

In that incident, nine people were killed, including four high-school students.

On February 9 2001, the USS Greeneville was performing an emergency surfacing demonstration for civilian guests on board the ship when it surfaced under the Ehime Maru, a Japanese ship.

Within minutes, the ship that was carrying students and teachers from a fisheries school in Uwajima, Japan, had sunk.

Rescuers saved 26 people from the ship, and the US Navy had to pay a total of $16.5 million in compensation to the victims and their families.
Buried in the details of the Biden administrations climate action plan last week was a call for assembling a Civilian Climate Corps, to heal our public lands and make us less vulnerable to wildfires and floods, the president said.

Its a 21st century iteration of an old idea. In the 1930s Franklin D Roosevelt created a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), part of his New Deal to help lift America out of the Great Depression. (However it mainly benefited young white men: Black men and Native American men were segregated on different projects and women were barred entirely.)

The Biden administration faces its own monumental challenges. Economic fallout from the pandemic caused claims for unemployment to reach 800,000 in December. US unemployment was 6.9 per cent in December and has had greater impact on low-skilled workers. The rate was 7.7 per cent for those with a high school diploma.

Meanwhile, scientists say that we have less than a decade to get the climate crisis under control or face even more catastrophic consequences.

It appears a neat fit: jobs for thousands of Americans who would go to work reducing carbon emissions by planting trees and restoring grasslands, and in adaptation schemes for impacts now unavoidable like extreme weather and rising sea levels.

Corps would be needed from coast to coast. Revamping the agricultural sector in Iowa will be as important as protecting the shoreline in the Florida Panhandle.

 Joe Biden outlines plan to combat climate change

Federal agency AmeriCorps already operates service and volunteering programmes which tackle climate and environmental issues. The agency estimates that its existing network  25,000 participants in about 130 programmes  could be scaled up to 500,000 young people and veterans over the next five years.

Unlike FDRs CCC, a 21st-century corps would be equitable and diverse, recruiting from, enrolling, and supporting women, young people of colour, urban and rural youth, and others from historically disenfranchised communities, AmeriCorps says.

In this new series, The Independent takes a look at some of the projects already in place.

Hospitality to horticulture in Hawaii

Tourism is the primary driver of Hawaiis economy so the decline in air travel and shuttering of the hospitality sector during the pandemic has crippled the island state. On Hawaii Island, unemployment shot up from 2.9 per cent before the pandemic to 23 per cent in April last year, one of the highest rates in the nation.

The states recovery is expected to lag as industry experts believe travel will only slowly return in the second half of 2021.

Like all Pacific communities, Hawaii, some 2,000 miles southwest of the US mainland, is on the front line of the climate crisis. The islands will face more severe storms in the coming decades, requiring buildings to be upgraded to withstand higher category hurricanes.

Planting of native species in Hawaii by the youth conservation group, Kupu (Kupu)

Shoreline erosion has also been a major problem in Hawaii. A recent investigation by ProPublica found that the local government ignored decades of seawall construction by wealthy homeowners which has decimated local beaches, the first line of defence against rising sea levels. It has also led to loss of endangered species and further harmed coral reefs.

In an innovative measure Hawaii allocated a portion of 2020 Cares Act stimulus funding to a Honolulu-based conservation group, with the idea of getting unemployed hospitality workers back to work in environmental and climate projects.

The non-profit Kupu, whose name means grow or sprout in the Hawaiian language, created an Aina (Land) Corps offering paid work to several hundred people.

CEO John Leong founded Kupu in 2007 with his wife Julianna and friend Matthew Bauer as a way of getting at-risk 16 to 24-year-olds into conservation work, helping them achieve high school equivalency diplomas along the way.

The Aina Corps had no upper age limit but most participants were under 40 due to the physical nature of the work. The projects included clearing the invasive red mangrove choking Pearl Harbor and destroying ancient fish ponds, and another preventing wastewater flowing to the ocean.

We had folks that came from jobs in restaurants, hotels and bars, Mr Leong told The Independent.

Hawaii is so tourism-based that this was an opportunity to give people new skills in conservation. It also helped many of our conservation groups and agricultural companies which have been hit hard economically."

The programme employed 360 people at an average of $15 (10.90) an hour with health care benefits. Participants could earn credits to be used towards community college. More than 1,300 people applied.

The Aina Corps ran for three months and more than 90 per cent of people who joined the programme stuck with it.

In that time the crews impacted 21,000 acres across Hawaii, completing 89,000 hours of work with about 100 organizations. Just under half (49 per cent) have either found a job or are pursuing a college degree.

Mr Leong recalled one young woman who had gone on to an internship at Reuse Hawaii, a group which disassemble structures by hand to recover usable building material.

She had been working in a bar and was unemployed for most of the year. Now she's found something that shes passionate about and enjoying the work. That's the hope  not only to get people working but to create purpose and direction," he said.

The Aina Corps cost around $3m to run but Mr Leong estimates that had $6.5m in social-economic impact.Its a two-to-one benefit, Mr Leong said. And that just increases over time if the programme has a longer track."

The Aina Corps ended in December after delays in additional Cares funding by Congress meant that it was too late to keep the programme going.

Unfortunately the course had already been set for this programme, Mr Leong said, adding that he was hopeful local government funding could fill the gap.

He said that it was painful to watch the programme disband.

People were very gracious as they knew it was beyond our control but I think theyd have loved to stay on. Some are employed but there's still a lot of people out there that could use this work.

One quote from our evaluations said, I was so glad to be able to do this rather than sit at home collecting a check.

"[The work] was meaningful to people.

About 60 people from Aina Corps were incorporated into the non-profits other programmes. Kupu, which is part of the AmeriCorps networks, has put more than 4,000 young people through programmes.

Over the last 12 years we've seen about a million native plants restored and about 75,000 acres of invasive species removed, Mr Leong said.

Theres also efforts in maintaining trails and parks, and restoring cultural and environmental sites in Hawaii.

The programme is statewide in Hawaii and has spread to other Pacific communities of Samoa and the atolls of Midway, Johnston and Palmyra.

Its not the only group at work in Hawaii. Huliauapaa focuses on the stewardship of wahi kupuna (ancestral places). The Hawaii Rise Foundation works on sustainability of natural resources and community-based agriculture to address food insecurity on Hawaii Island, and Maui Economic Opportunity is involved in park conservation and disaster relief prevention like trail and remote fence building, fire breaks, feral animal control, and marine mammal response.

Around 40 per cent of the young people in Kupu programmes come from homes where the annual income is less than $15,000. Kupu says 88 per cent end up with careers in conservation.

Mr Leong, who is an Obama Foundation fellow, described the Corps as a bipartisan win.

Its helping young people to advance themselves and getting environmental work done in a very cost-effective way. The money doesn't go into a black hole, it multiplies out, he said.

Kupu also runs a culinary programme that pivoted to provide meals for those in need at the beginning of the pandemic.

They have done about 100,000 meals in the community, Mr Leong said. A lot of these young people had received [financial] aid throughout their lives because of the situations they were in. Now theyre the ones providing aid. It's really flipped the script and been an empowering moment for them.

Data Sananap, 26, has been in the culinary programme for about five years. The chef, the youngest of 15 children, told the Honolulu Advertiser: It helped me reset my life. If it wasnt for Kupu, Id either be dead, on drugs or still selling drugs.

Mr Leong sees the potential for Kupu to expand, and said that the work being done on Hawaii can offer a unique perspective when it comes to the climate crisis and adaptation techniques.

We are a pretty sizable metropolitan community in the middle of the ocean and if we can steward our resources well as an island, what does that mean for the global island? he said.

What kind of lessons can be learned from us that can be translated and scaled in other parts of our world?

It's a great opportunity not only to get people working in sustainable work but have a mission to battle climate change with young people at the forefront.
The City of Westminster is considering a temporary moratorium on commercial evictions. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Westminster to Review Temporary Moratorium on Commercial Evictions

The Westminster city council will consider placing a temporary moratorium on commercial evictions during an upcoming meeting.

The ordinance would be an emergency measure effective immediately upon adoption. The policy is being brought forward by city manager Sherry Johnson, who believes it would provide relief for businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is an interesting conundrum. While there is no doubt that businesses in our area have been hit hard, the business tenants landlords are also businesses, Johnson told The Epoch Times in an email.

We as a city have offered up loans and many grants have also come through CARES Act monies. The city will continue to work with our businesses as we navigate our way out of COVID.

Last September, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order allowing local jurisdictions to authorize their own eviction moratoriums on commercial tenancies through May 31, 2021.

The order permits cities to decide their own rules on whether commercial tenants can be evicted due to a failure to pay rent caused by COVID-19 restrictions.

Now, Westminster is looking to do just that.

A staff report says: In evaluating this issue, the city seeks to provide a reasonable balance between providing commercial tenants with the short-term protections which have been afforded to them during the last year, and the rights of the commercial property owners many of whom have been able to meet their own obligations as a result of the loss of rental income.

Westminster will vote on the ordinance during a Feb. 10 meeting.
The U.S. Senate will hold a historic second impeachment trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump this month, ending with a vote to determine if he is guilty of inciting the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

The former president is facing a charge of incitement of insurrection in connection with the mob that invaded the Capitol as U.S. lawmakers met to certify the election results that put President Joe Biden in office.

Here are the House Democrats who will make the case for impeachment:



Impeachment Managers

The impeachment managers are members of the U.S. House of Representatives who will present the case of impeachment against former President Trump in the Senate chamber.

The nine managers take turns speaking, acting like prosecutors in a courtroom, with the goal to persuade two-thirds of the Senate, or 67 lawmakers, to vote in favor of conviction. Trump faces a single count of incitement of insurrection for the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol where lawmakers were in the process of certifying the Electoral College results from the 2020 presidential election.

All nine of the Democratic managers are lawyers and all are new to the role, having not served as managers in the first impeachment trial of Trump in 2019, when the Senate acquitted the former president for obstruction of justice and abuse of power arising from Trumps request that Ukraine investigate then-candidate Joe Biden and his son.

Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland

Raskin, 58, is leading the prosecution. He spent more than 25 years teaching constitutional law at American University and has also served as a Maryland state senator. A member of the House Judiciary Committee, Raskin was also involved in the deliberations over Trumps first impeachment in 2019. The lawmakers 25-year-old son died by suicide just a week before the January 6 riot at the Capitol. Raskin said he decided to take on the role as lead House impeachment manager because Im not going to lose my son at the end of 2020 and my country and my republic in 2021.

Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado

DeGette, 63, has been in Congress since 1997 and was previously a civil rights lawyer and also served two terms in the Colorado House. She has served in Democratic leadership roles before, having been the chief deputy whip in the House for over a decade as well as presiding over the House debate during Trumps first impeachment.

Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island

Cicilline, 59, has been in Congress for over a decade and is a former Washington city public defender, a former mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, and a former lawmaker in that state. He is only the fourth openly gay person to be elected to Congress. A member of the Judiciary Committee, he was involved in deliberations over Trumps previous impeachment and this year helped to write the articles of impeachment.

Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas

Castro, 46, has served in Congress for eight years and is a former leader of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. As member of the House Intelligence Committee, he was involved in Trumps first impeachment. Before his time in Congress, he served in the Texas legislature and as a lawyer in private practice. His twin brother, Julian, ran for president in 2020.

Rep. Eric Swalwell of California

Swalwell, a former prosecutor, is in his fifth term in Congress. He sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination and is a frequent guest on cable news. A member of both the House Intelligence and Judiciary committees, the 40-year-old was highly visible during the 2019 impeachment of Trump.

Rep. Ted Lieu of California

Lieu, 51, was elected to Congress in 2014 and serves on House Judiciary Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee. He helped to write the impeachment articles along with Raskin and Cicilline. Before his time in Congress, Lieu served as a lawmaker in California as well as in the Air Force Reserve and was a prosecutor in the forces legal arm, the Judge Advocate Generals Corps. He is still a member of the Air Force Reserve.

Rep. Stacey Plaskett of the US Virgin Islands

Stacey Plaskett, 54, is a non-voting member of Congress, representing a U.S. territory, the Virgin Islands. An African American and former prosecutor, she previously worked as an assistant district attorney in the Bronx borough of New York City, and as a senior counsel at the Department of Justice. Plaskett serves on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania

Dean, 61, is one of the newest members to serve as an impeachment manager, currently serving her second term in Congress. She is a former member of the Pennsylvania state legislature and has also worked as a lawyer in private practice as well as teaching writing and ethics at LaSalle University.

Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado

Neguse, 36, was first elected to the House in 2018 and is currently serving his second term. He is a member of the Judiciary Committee and before coming to Congress was a litigator in private practice. He is the first African American congressman to represent Colorado. Neguse is also the youngest impeachment manager in a Senate trial.



Presiding Officer

The U.S. Constitution calls for the chief justice of the Supreme Court to preside over impeachment hearings for a president, however because Trump is no longer in office, Chief Justice John Roberts has decided not to preside over this trial. Instead, senators have chosen the Senate's longest-serving member, Democrat Patrick Leahy, to take on the role. Aides to Leahy say the lawmaker will still be able to vote in the trial as well as preside over it, a move that has been criticized by some Republicans.

Patrick Leahy of Vermont

Leahy, 80, was first elected to the Senate in 1974, making him the longest serving member and earning him the title president pro tempore of the Senate. In that role, he is responsible for presiding over the chamber in the absence of Vice President Kalama Harris, and his status also puts him third in line of presidential succession.

He is currently the vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and is the senior most member of the Judiciary Committee and Agriculture Committee. Before becoming a senator, Leahy was a prosecutor in Vermont. He has described his job of presiding over the impeachment trial as making sure that procedures are followed and said he believes his years in the Senate will help him to be seen as impartial.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra will soon be launching an investigation into the tweets which were shared by celebrities like Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Lata Mangeshkar, Sachin Tendulkar and others. In the tweets, they shared their concern of international propaganda trying to spoil India's image and also preached the 'India Against Propaganda' notion when it comes to the ongoing farmers' protest. Their tweets came in the wake of international pop star Rihanna and activist Greta Thunberg's tweet supporting the farmers' protest in India. According to a news report in Opindia, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has stated that the tweets made by celebrities, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Lata Mangeshkar, Virat Kohli and others will be probed by the Maharashtra Intelligence agency to find out if they were made under some pressure by the Modi government or if the celebrities genuinely wish to extend their support on the Farm Laws.

The Maharashtra government is under the opinion that extending support to one's country against international propaganda calls for an investigation and is a suspicious activity. The Maharashtra Home Minister also added that the resemblance between the tweets shared by the celebrities looked like a coordinated and planned activity. Deshmukh revealed this as the main reason behind the tweets of these celebrities being investigated by the state intelligence agency.

Also Read: Mia Khalifa Takes A Dig At Priyanka Chopra For No New Post On Farmers' Protest

The leaders earlier today also had an online meeting with Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, who is currently in isolation after being tested positive for COVID-19. The news report also stated that Maharashtra Congress leader Sachin Sawant has stated that he will ask the Maharashtra Home Minister to launch an investigation into the matter, to find out if the celebrities had tweeted under the pressure of the central government. Sawant had revealed about this to ANI stating, "There is a similar pattern behind these tweets by the celebrities including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, sportspersons Sachin Tendulkar, Saina Nehwal. The contents of the tweets by Nehwal and Kumar are the same while Shetty had tagged a BJP leader. This shows that there was communication between the celebrities and the ruling party leaders. It needs to be investigated if there was any pressure from the BJP on these national heroes for such advocacy on social media. If so, these celebrities need to be given more protection."

Also Read: Mia Khalifa Tweets In Support Of The Farmers' Protest; Becomes A Top Trend On Twitter

International pop sensation Rihanna's tweet on the farmers' protest in India had been followed by some Indian celebrities taking to their social media handles, to caution their followers against a global spear campaign against the country. These celebrities showcased their support for the Farm Laws and asked their fans and followers to stay united in the wake of the protests. Some of these celebrities included Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Saina Nehwal, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Karan Johar, Ekta Kapoor and Suniel Shetty.
The number of low-value goods cleared at the checkpoints doubled last year. (GRAPHIC: ICA)

SINGAPORE  Amid border restrictions due to the pandemic, there were 42.19 million travellers cleared at Singapores checkpoints last year, less than a fifth of the figure for 2019, according to figures released by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Monday (8 February).

And as more turned to online shopping, the number of low-value goods cleared at the air cargo checkpoints doubled to 21.2 million last year, up from 10.5 million in 2019.

But contraband cases detected through low-value goods also increased more than five-fold. There were 4,000 such cases last year, compared with 610 in 2019. Examples of contraband detected include sexual enhancement drugs, drug paraphernalia and airsoft guns.

ICA is monitoring this trend closely, given the increasing volume of low-value goods with the rise of e-commerce, said ICA as it released its annual statistics for 2020.

Low value goods are subjected to GST relief when they are imported by air and do not require permits and have a total Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) not exceeding $400.

ICA said the total number of cargoes  containers, consignments and parcels  it cleared last year was 11.76 million, up from 11.35 million in 2019.

Meanwhile, the total number of contraband cases detected was 41,000 last year, less than half of the 92,000 cases in 2019.

ICAs annual statistics 2020 can be found online.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

More Singapore stories:

WEEKLY ROUND-UP: Sports happenings in Singapore (1-7 Feb)

COVID-19: Singapore reports 24 new cases, with one local unlinked infection
SIUs 2021 Maple Syrup Festival cancelled due to pandemic

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill.  The Maple Syrup Festival, a popular Southern Illinois University Carbondale event held each February at Touch of Nature Environmental Center, is taking a hiatus in 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Event draws huge crowds

In recent years, the festival has expanded to include a vendor fair, demonstrations, music and numerous other activities in addition to tapping trees to obtain the maple sap and showing how its boiled to produce homemade maple syrup. And of course, theres a breakfast of sausage and pancakes topped with homemade syrup.

The events popularity has skyrocketed in the last few years, according to JD Tanner, director of Touch of Nature, with last years attendance hitting a record 1,300. After much consideration, Tanner said, organizers concluded there was no way to continue the tradition this year while adhering to the Restore Illinois guidelines and state and university safety protocols.

However, plans are already in the works to make the 2022 festival bigger and better than ever, Tanner said, including expanding the two-day event to offer an overnight option.

Touch of Nature continuing to serve

In the meantime, Touch of Nature continues to operate, offering a wide range of programs and services, including conferences, team-building experiences, workshops, retreats and other events for groups of 50 people or less, with social distancing measures in place. Planning also continues for future activities, including camps, the annual Buffalo Tro and other events as the Restore Illinois plan and safety protocols evolve.

Donations welcome

Touch of Nature Environmental Center is an outdoor experiential learning center that serves as a field site for research, environmental education, recreation therapy, adventure education programs and a learning laboratory for SIU students, the region and beyond. It is also home to Camp Little Giant, the nations first university-affiliated camp for individuals with disabilities. Located on a 3,100-acre site along Little Grassy Lake, the center relies heavily on community support to fund its programs and services. To contribute, visit the website.

For more information

To learn more about Touch of Nature and the numerous programs, activities and services it provides, visit ton.siu.edu, call 618-453-1121 or email tonec@siu.edu.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 9, 2021 - 14:55 | News, All, Sports, Japan

As public anger toward Tokyo Olympics chief Yoshiro Mori's sexist remarks continues unabated, critics have pointed out how they have exposed the lack of progress made so far in eliminating entrenched discrimination against women in Japan.

"Mr. Mori has been gaffe-prone, but this remark should not be attributed to his character. This is a problem of how decisions are made in Japan and how men in power are biased," Kiriu Minashita, a sociology and gender studies professor at Kokugakuin University, said of the 83-year-old former prime minister.

"We should not only seek (Mori's) resignation but also correct the background that generated his remarks," Minashita said.

Mori sparked the sexism row in a gathering of the Japanese Olympic Committee last week, when he said women tend to talk too much in meetings as they have "a strong sense of rivalry."

At the same time, he said the seven women currently sitting on the 35-member board of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee "understand their place," in remarks apparently meant to praise them by exempting them from his criticism.

He later retracted the comments and apologized but insisted he will not resign despite mounting calls for his removal.

Japan consistently ranks poorly in the World Economic Forum's gender gap rankings, coming 121st out of 153 countries in 2020 and occupying last place among major advanced economies. Women made up only 5.2 percent of executives at all listed Japanese companies as of 2019, according to government data.

The government set a goal in 2003 of filling around 30 percent of leadership positions in the country with women by 2020, but failed to meet the target as the issue was sidelined by other political and economic initiatives. The date was then pushed back to "as soon as possible within the 2020s."

"Mr. Mori's remarks symbolize traditional Japan Inc.'s pathology," said Yoshihisa Aono, the 49-year-old president of software development firm Cybozu Inc. who has advocated for separate surnames for married couples in Japan. Married couples are currently legally required to share a surname, with wives expected to abandon their maiden names.

Aono said Mori has failed to "update" his values from the division of labor by gender, in which men earn a living and women focus on domestic and care duties.

Older men who can be out of touch with changing social values often occupy powerful positions in traditional Japanese companies because of the system of promotion based on the length of service, he said.

According to experts, that same system can also be a major obstacle to women taking up leadership roles.

With many companies still valuing long working hours, women tend to lag behind their male colleagues in terms of careers or promotions if they take time off for childrearing, they say.

In 2018, Tokyo Medical University and several other schools were found to have been deducting entrance exam scores for female applicants. The schools' explanation was that, believing female doctors tend to resign or take long periods of leave after getting married or giving birth, they were acting to prevent a shortage of doctors at affiliated hospitals.

Even some corporate executives who address gender gaps in their businesses are not free from unconscious bias, said Nana Otsuki, executive director at online securities company Monex Inc.

"Many men do not disagree with the idea of women being active unless they become threats to them," said Otsuki, who also serves as an outside director for listed Japanese companies. "It is important for co-workers to genuinely acknowledge the accomplishments of female workers when they become board candidates."

The gender balance in the Japanese political realm is also far from being equal. The proportion of female lawmakers in the lower house stood at 9.9 percent last October, ranking 167th out of 190 countries, according to the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union. In local assemblies nationwide, the figure was 14 percent in 2019, according to Ichikawa Fusae Center for Women and Governance.

After winning her first election in 2015, Niigata prefectural assembly member Mieko Akiyama, 70, said she noticed many of her male colleagues leaving the floor when she brought up themes such as child rearing and gender equality in her questions.

At first she hesitated to complain, but the fourth time, when about 10 members left, she protested.

"Not speaking out when you felt something is wrong means you accepted it," Akiyama said. "To achieve an agreement with diverse members does take time, but it is essential to make discussions more open."

Yoko Tajima, 79, a women's studies expert and former professor at Hosei University, said she hopes Mori's remarks will prompt more people to pay attention to politics.

"Policies regarding women such as separate surnames are going backward," Tajima said, referring to a failure by the Japanese government to include a commitment to allowing married couples to use different surnames in its basic gender equality promotion policy approved in December.

"Resolving political issues one by one is what makes women free," she said.

Tajima welcomes the uproar both in Japan and abroad over Mori's remarks, saying it will help the world become aware of how the country's society "ignores human rights."

"Japanese men are conscious of public image. When they feel embarrassed, then they can realize what a shame sexism is. Unless we create a society where talented women who speak out are appreciated, Japan will be marginalized and go into decline," she said.

Related coverage:

Tokyo Olympic organizers eye special meeting over Mori's remarks

Japan ruling party's No. 2 figure backs Tokyo Olympic head to stay on

Tokyo Olympics chief says not resigning over sexist comments
Allies of Deputy President William Ruto have been side-lined from the powerful House Business Committee (HBC) that is dominated by President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga's loyalists.

As the fifth session of the National Assembly opens today (Tuesday), the first task for the lawmakers will be to approve members of HBC, which schedules House business.

Those proposed to sit in the committee are MPs Joyce Emanikor, Shadrack Mose, Kawira Mwangaza, Mohamed Osman, Makali Mulu, Mishi Mboko and Godfrey Osotsi.

The retention of the team is a sign of confidence party bosses have in their leadership with the expected Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) legislation and other politically sensitive agenda on the eve of the 2022 General Election. Only MPs Mose and Kawira are perceived to be in the DP's camp.

Other automatic members of the committee are House leaders led by Speaker Justin Muturi, who is also the chairperson, his deputy Moses Cheboi, Majority Leader Amos Kimunya, Minority Leader John Mbadi, Majority Whip Emmanuel Wangwe and Minority Whip Junet Mohammed.

Control House agenda

The selection of the 12-member committee is seen as a strategy by President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga to control the agenda of the House given crucial Bills including those to implement the BBI that are lined up for debate this year.

The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 popularly known as the BBI Bill that is currently in the county assemblies, Referendum Bill and the Independent and Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2019, are among some of the crucial Bills that the House will consider this session.

Standing Order 171 indicates that HBC has powers to determine the order in which the reports of committees shall be debated in the House.

In addition, the committee may also decide to prioritise or postpone any business of the House acting with the concurrence of the leader of the majority party or the leader of the minority party, as the case may be.

The committee is also tasked to prepare and, if necessary, from time to time adjust the parliamentary calendar with the approval of the House; monitor and oversee the implementation of the House Business and programmes.

Carefully selected

On Monday, Mr Osotsi told Nation.Africa that membership of the committee is carefully selected and is a preserve of only the most reliable and trusted legislators.

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"The HBC leadership is decided by the party or coalition leadership in the House based on loyalty, performance and steadfastness. Ordinarily and as a global practise, the HBC membership should be composed of most reliable and trusted legislators," Mr Osotsi said.

In June last year, the DP's allies were kicked out of key House leadership as the president sought to stamp his authority as factional feuds within the ruling party frustrated operations.

In the changes Mr Kimunya replaced Mr Aden Duale as the leader of majority in the National Assembly while Mr Wangwe replaced Mr Benjamin Washiali as the majority whip.

The changes also affected parliamentary committees considered key to passage of BBI Bills including Justice and Legal Affairs.

Pro-handshake lawmakers

Several of the DP allies who chaired various committee were replaced by pro-handshake lawmakers.

At the time, Mr Junet said "no commander goes to war with troops who are not loyal."

"There is crucial business coming up in the House that needs people who can work and not sabotage the process," Mr Mbadi also said then.

Today (Tuesday), a Jubilee coalition Senate Parliamentary Group meeting is planned at Kenyatta International Convention Centre with speculation that Majority Whip Irungu Kang'ata could be ousted.

Mr Kang'ata, who replaced Mr Kipchumba Murkomen in the last purge, courted controversy after he wrote a letter addressed to the President that was critical of the BBI.
A police constable was killed and a sub-inspector was grievously injured in Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh after they were taken hostage and assaulted by aides of a known liquor smuggler on Tuesday.

The deceased constable has been identified as Devendra while the SI has been identified as Ashok Kumar.

The two policemen had reportedly gone to serve a legal notice for attachment of property to a history-sheeter named Moti over his alleged liquor smuggling activities when they were ambushed by his aides, stripped and assaulted with sticks and other weapons.

A search operation was conducted and additional forces were called after the cops who had fled from the site of the incident notified the officials. The personnel were found with serious injuries in a field in Nagla Dhimar village under Sidhpura police station and were taken to a local hospital. However, Devendra succumbed to his injuries.

The Police team has recovered Kumar's bike from the spot. Another unknown bike has also been found. The policeman's bike was found fallen on the ground with their uniform and shoes on top. It is believed that the attackers also humiliated the cops before taking off the uniform and assaulting them.

According to ASP Aditya Verma, A police officer and constable of Sidhpura police station went to Nagla Dhimar and Nagla Bhikari on information, where he was assaulted. The condition of both of them was worrying from where they were referred to Aligarh Medical College. The case is being thoroughly investigated.

The Chief Minister's Office released a statement that said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has called for strict action against those involved in the crime. "Action to be taken against the culprit under National Security Act," it said.

Chief Minister has directed for the treatment of the injured inspector and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 and govt job for a family member of the constable who lost his life.

Last year, Uttar Pradesh government faced flak for its law and order situation after eight policemen were shot dead by gangster Vikas Dubey in Kanpur. The policemen were ambushed in Bikru village in Chaubeypur area of Kanpur as they headed there to arrest Dubey shortly after midnight on July 2. They were mowed down by bullets fired from the rooftops.

Eight days later, on July 10, Dubey was shot dead by police when he was allegedly trying to escape from police custody while being brought back to Kanpur after his arrest in Ujjain.
An 11-year-old Florida boy has been accused of threatening to shoot his teacher after searching for guns an ammunition online during class.

Flagler County Sheriffs officials say the boy, who has not been named because he is a minor, has been charged with a false report concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner.

'We have a zero tolerance policy for threats in Flagler County, especially when it comes to our schools,' Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly in a Facebook post. 'This is the fourth case in as many weeks. By now, everyone should realize that if you make a threat in a school you are going to be arrested.'

An 11-year-old student at Bunnell Elementary School in Florida (pictured) has been charged with a false report concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner for allegedly telling his teacher: 'I am going to shoot you up'

According to the sheriffs office, the boy was singing a violent song involving the use of guns and shooting people in the Bunnell Elementary School classroom on February 3. His teacher told him the song and behavior was unacceptable in the classroom.

The boy then began searching guns and ammunition on his iPad, investigators said.

The next day, the boy took his iPad, pointed it at the teacher and said, 'I am going to shoot you up!' while making gun noises, sheriffs officials said.

He then did it a second time while leaving the classroom and maintaining eye contact with the teacher.

The teacher reported the behavior and told deputies that these incidents had left her fearing for her life, sheriffs officials said. Investigators found more than four pages of handgun and ammunition searches made by the boy while in school, the report said.

The boy was arrested and was later released to the custody of his parents. He was said to have denied making any threats, but admitted to talking about guns, which he said he knew was wrong, reported Daytona Beach News-Journal.

The case is being handled by the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Last week, a 12-year-old boy at the same school warned other students to stay away the next day because he planned to shoot up the school, sheriffs officials said. That boy was also arrested and charged with false report concerning the use of firearms,

An 11-year-old student was accused in January of threatening to use a gun and mace against his classmates at Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School (pictured) and blow up his school

A witness told authorities that the boy told multiple students at Bunnell Elementary School not to come to school the next day because he was 'shooting up the school.' When investigators contacted the boy and his parents, he claimed it was a joke and appeared 'remorseful and apologetic,' authorities said.

'Parents - it is time to talk to your children and remind them that their words matter,' Sheriff Staly said following the child's arrest last week. 'Please be the Sheriff in your home so we dont have to be.'

A previous case from late January involved an 11-year-old who was accused of threatening to use a gun and mace against his classmates at Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School and blow up his school. Officers found a can of mace and a pocketknife in the boys backpack.

Before that, an 18-year-old recorded a song threatening to kill a school administrator at his high school after he had been suspended for a dress code violation and using offensive language.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Asthma attack rates seen at GP surgeries fell significantly during the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown of 2020, a study suggests.

Lower levels of air pollution, fewer cold and flu infections, and the fear of attending doctor surgeries due to COVID-19 were possible reasons for the 20pc drop in cases seen at GP surgeries, researchers said.

The study is the first national review of lockdown effects on asthma attacks and includes data from more than 100,000 patients.

Asthma attacksor exacerbationsare bouts of shortness of breath, wheezing or a tight chest. There are usually more than six million GP consultations and 1400 deaths attributed to asthma in the UK every year.

For the study researchers from the University of Edinburgh looked at a national GP database containing information on almost 10 million patients, and identified 100,165 who had had at least one asthma attack since 2016.

The team counted GP visits for asthma attacks in weekly blocks from January to August 2020, and compared with weekly rates for January to August 2016-2019. They used March 23 2020 as the lockdown start date.

Drops in GP visits for asthma attacks during the lockdown were seen across all age groups, for both men and women, and across all regions of England excluding London and the North East.

There was no reduction in the rate of asthma attacks that led to a hospital visit, suggesting that only milder attacks were reduced during the pandemic.

The researchers caution that some patients could have gone to hospital without a GP referral, which may mask higher rates of asthma attacks than recorded by GP surgeries.

The study was conducted in association with BREATHEThe Health Data Research Hub for Respiratory Health, NIHR and the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research. It is published in the journal Thorax.

Lead researcher Dr. Ahmar Shah, Chancellor's Fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Usher Institute, said: "Asthma is a chronic condition that affects over five million people in the UK and until now, we didn't know how these patients were being affected by lockdown. The data shows an overall reduction in asthma attacks seen at the GP.

"However, it is not clear whether this was an actual improvement in asthma due to reduced pollution and fewer opportunities for other viruses to spread or whether patients were reluctant to attend their doctor's surgery during the pandemic. Further research will help explain the reasons behind our findings."

Explore further Pediatric ER saw steep drop in asthma visits during spring COVID-19 lockdown


The Court of Judicial Discipline on Tuesday ordered a Harrisburg magisterial district judge suspended without pay as she fights three criminal charges related to the arrest of her adult son by city police last year.

The order is effective immediately.

The states Judicial Conduct Board on Monday had asked for Sonya McKnight to be suspended without pay and the board filed charges against her for allegedly violating seven rules for conduct by judges when she showed up in the middle of the night at her sons traffic stop.

McKnight had been suspended with pay since December, after the attorney generals office accused her of interfering with officers who arrested her 33-year-old son Feb. 22. The office charged her with three second-degree misdemeanors: tampering with evidence, obstruction with the administration of law and official oppression.

The Court of Judicial Discipline comprises eight magisterial district judges from across the state. The court voted 7-1 with Judge Daniel Baranoski dissenting on the decision to remove her pay. Baranoski also is president of the statewide association that represents magisterial district judges.

McKnight has served as a judge since January 2016. She now is fighting two simultaneous battles: one against the criminal charges and one to keep her job.

A news release issued Monday to announce the conduct boards action said the board has the burden to prove she violated the rules by clear and convincing evidence. McKnight has the right to respond to their charges, inspect the evidence and have a public trial before the Court of Judicial Discipline.

After trial, if the court determines any of the charges have been proven, then the court would schedule a hearing to determine what sanctions, if any, should be imposed. Sanctions can include censure, suspension, fine and/or removal from office.

All of the charges stem from a traffic stop last year of her son, Kevin Baltimore, about 2:30 a.m. near North 6th and Peffer streets. Court records sad officers pulled Baltimore for an expired registration and he called his mother from the scene. McKnight arrived at the scene and questioned officers, according to the records.

Police allege that McKnight took a pill bottle from Baltimores vehicle and left the scene with it. Baltimore and McKnight told police it was his blood pressure medication, according to court records.

Police arrested Baltimore for possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officers told state investigators that McKnights position as a judge allowed her to freely move about the scene of the traffic stop. They said had she been a normal citizen, they would not have allowed her to do the things she did such as entering her sons Volvo, according to court records

McKnights next criminal hearing was set for Feb. 19 for charges of tampering with evidence, obstruction with the administration of law and official oppression.

No dates have been set for the conduct case.

READ: Harrisburg district judge asked for police chief, pulled pill bottle from car during sons arrest: court records
Rainbow Centre launches new day opportunities service in Marchwiel

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Feb 9th, 2021

A community organisation has launched a new day opportunities service in Marchwiel.

The Rainbow Centre, which already operates a similar scheme in Penley, will be offering support to clients on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week in Marchwiel Hall.

Whether people are looking for a social hub to make new friends or looking for some structure and assistance, a day opportunities service can provide meaningful social contact in a safe and secure environment.

Operation manager, Geraldine Vaughan said: We are thrilled to be able to offer the same great service in a second location based in Marchwiel.





The current restrictions due to Covid 19 means that we are only able to meet the needs of a limited number of clients at the Rainbow Centre in Penley.

The safety of our clients, staff and volunteers remains our highest priority but we are very aware that loneliness has increased due to the pandemic.

A second site allows us to support our clients and give them a safe and friendly environment to socialise and we would like to thank Wrexham council commissioners for supporting us financially in this venture.

Their recognition of the value in our service as we support people with dementia and their families during the crisis, helps us make a difference to peoples lives.

The Rainbow Centre  whether it is in Penley or Marchwiel  is a wonderful place to make new friends, learn new skills and enjoy a hot meal.

We can even help you get to us using our accessible Rainbow Centre minibus.

The Rainbow Centre has recently won the Social Care Wales accolade for their work in dementia care.

The Centre is a hub of activity providing day opportunities, community classes, community transport, and much more. The Rainbow Centre also provides Social Prescribing services in GP surgeries across Wrexham alongside Community Outreach support.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascons refusal to charge three-strikes cases violates California law and the rights of prosecutors in his office, a judge ruled Monday in a case with implications for policies in San Francisco.

Gascon, San Franciscos district attorney from 2011 to 2019, was elected as Los Angeles Countys chief prosecutor in November after promising rollbacks in sentencing. Besides curtailing three strikes, he has stopped seeking the death penalty and will no longer prosecute juveniles as adults for serious crimes.

Chesa Boudin, elected to succeed Gascon in San Francisco, says he will not seek three-strikes sentences except in extraordinary circumstances. In response to Mondays ruling, Rachel Marshall, a spokeswoman for Boudin, said his policy was not absolute and that Boudin decides whether to charge prior strikes on a case-by-case basis.

The three-strikes law, passed by legislators and approved by the voters in 1994 and modified by a later ballot measure, imposes sentences of 25 years to life in prison for defendants convicted of a third serious or violent felony. Convictions for a second such felony carry twice the usual sentence.

In a lawsuit by the Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorneys Association, Superior Court Judge James Chalfant said Monday the law gives prosecutors some discretion in filing charges but does not allow them to disavow three-strikes penalties as a blanket policy.

Prosecutors must file three-strikes charges in every case in which the defendant has a prior serious or violent conviction, Chalfant said. That is what the voters and the Legislature both wanted.

Once the charges are filed, he said, a prosecutor may seek a shorter sentence as part of a plea agreement, or ask the judge for a reduction in the interest of justice, Chalfant said. But he said the district attorneys order forbidding all three-strikes sentences puts prosecutors at risk of being found in contempt of court for illegal and unethical conduct.

On a related issue, however, Chalfant allowed Gascon to prohibit prosecutors from seeking longer sentences for defendants whose crimes involved guns or gang membership. Boudin has a similar policy on gang-related sentences.

Prosecutors in Gascons office did not challenge his refusal to seek death sentences. Chalfant said Gascon also had legal authority to bar prosecutors from filing so-called special-circumstances murder charges, which require either death or life without parole for aggravated murder charges such as multiple murders, killings of police officers, and murder during a rape or robbery.

Under his policy, defendants convicted of those murder charges would remain eligible for parole. But Chalfant said Gascon could not withdraw life-without-parole charges that had already been filed.

This ruling protects the communities which are disproportionately affected by higher crime rates and those who are victimized, the Los Angeles prosecutors association said in a statement.

There was no immediate comment from Gascons office, which could appeal the ruling.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko.
Saira Khan has revealed she's received death threats after revealing she's no longer a practising Muslim after years of feeling 'guilty, caged and unhappy'.

During an Instagram Live on Monday, the former Loose Women panellist, 50, who publicly renounced Islam over the weekend, insisted she's 'not perturbed' by the vile abuse as she declared: 'I have to live my life.'

The journalist also uploaded a screenshot of a horrific message she received from a troll in a bid to help others in similar situations who may be 'too scared come out about it.'

Backlash: Saira Khan revealed she's received death threats after revealing she's no longer a practising Muslim during an Instagram Live on Monday

TV star Saira addressed the backlash she's been met with after her revelation as she said: 'I have had death threats...

'Until you come from that background or ethnicity as a woman, you will never understand the barriers the obstacles - the deaths to your life, we are about 100 years behind in terms of freedom of speech freedom or individualism, liberty and choice.

'You cannot believe the messages I have received. I am not going to come out and say I practise the religions because I don't.' (sic)

The media personality further explained her reasoning behind leaving the faith as she shared: 'I don't believe in certain aspects of the teachings.

I have to live my life': The former Loose Women panellist, 50, who publicly renounced Islam over the weekend, insisted she's 'not perturbed' by the vile abuse (pictured in 2019)

'If it's happening to me it's happening to other women': The journalist also uploaded a screenshot of a horrific message (pictured) she received from a troll in a bid to help others

'I believe in gay marriage, and if I stay quiet nothing will change - it's important for me and my truth and my happiness and my choice, for me to demonstrate to my children you have to live your life according to your rules.

'As long as you are good and kind and not hurting anyone else, and you should not be scared that people are threatening to kill you, you should not be scared they are going to come smash your windows.'

The former Apprentice star added that while she's not fearful about uploading criticism online, she's 'frightened' that trolls 'want to come and kill you' for being yourself.

'Why my choice of how I choose to live my life should stir hatred is incomprehensible': TV star Saira addressed the backlash she's been met with after her revelation in a separate post

One of the offensive notes read: 'You f***ing dirty s**g, In'sha'Allah Allah gives you the punishment you deserve you fat ugly w***e.' (sic)

Saira elaborated: 'We must not be fearful to live our lives because of external threats. Otherwise, the world will never change.

'I am not afraid to share these threats with you because if it's happening to me it's happening to other women and they are too scared to come out about it. It doesn't frighten me, it doesn't perturb me and you know, because I live in Britain and believe the majority of people are good.

Support: The media personality also expressed her gratitude towards her followers for their 'kind words', and shared messages from others who have gone through similar situations

'I have so many messages on my messages saying they do not represent the true Islam. The majority of people just stay quiet and I say you have to step up.

I am frightened about that in a country with free speech, they want to come and kill you for it.' (sic)

In her interview about the religion, the panellist revealed she was led to share her life update after receiving a 'disgusting message from a troll' as she declared: 'This was the last taboo to overcome before I could live my best life.'

'I'm doing this for my well-being': In the interview, the panellist revealed she was led to share her life update after receiving a 'disgusting message from a troll' (pictured in 2020)

She said: 'Saying I'm Muslim and then having a boyfriend, wearing clothes that go against the Muslim dress code, having a drink and living a non-Muslim life only brings guilt, self-loathing, loneliness and a feeling of being caged.'

The reality star confessed she doesn't want to 'inadvertently confuse, represent or unintentionally hurt others' of the Muslim faith after being met with assumptions about fasting for Ramadan, not drinking and abstaining from sex before marriage.

Saira also clarified that while some Muslims 'are the most humble people I know' and most of her values are based on the 'spiritual aspect of the faith', she's influenced by other teachings and has only been 'hurting' herself by 'living a lie' for her loved ones.

The social media star added to The Mirror: 'It has taken me till the age of 50 to find the courage to say it. I'm doing it now for my own wellbeing. I want to be honest and feel free to live my life by my own rules. I have found a huge relief in being honest.

'This was the last taboo': The reality star confessed she doesn't want to 'inadvertently confuse, represent or unintentionally hurt others' of the Muslim faith (pictured in 2020)

Candid: The Apprentice star, who is of Pakistani heritage, explained how she 'pretended to be someone I'm not' in order to make her family happy

'I know that one of the reasons I have been so angry and unhappy in my life is because of the many contradictions I've had to live with. I've not dared to share these feelings before because the very few Muslim women who have are called sinful and some have even been targeted with death threats.'

Fundamentalist Muslims regard apostasy, or leaving Islam, as a sin deserving of death.

Daily Mail Australia in 2017 filmed Uthman Badar, the Australian spokesman for Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, declaring ex-Muslims deserved to be killed.

Pakistan also has the death penalty for criticising the faith, as well as any recognised religion.

Happy family: The presenter shares son Zac, 12, and daughter Amara, nine, with businessman husband of over 15 years, Steve Hyde (pictured together in 2020)

In December 2019, the mother-of-two, who is of Pakistani heritage, revealed she was branded a 'racist' and 'white sell out' in the past for speaking against radicalisation.

The presenter, who has been trolled for sharing topless selfies to Instagram in the past, said that although it's 'difficult' for her to discuss her community, she feels some are ignoring British cultural norms.

The Long Eaton native said on Loose Women: 'It's very difficult for me sometimes to sit here and talk about a culture that I belong to. But I have to do it because this is my country. I was born here and I am British.

'I love living in a multi-cultural society, but I think we all have to wake up and see we are living by cultures, side my side, where they are flouting British values and we're allowing people to get away with it.

'We're allowing people to get away with it us because we're not an integrated society.

'I've been speaking about radicalisation of young people in this country since the 1980s and when I talk about it, I'm a 'racist' or I get told by the community I'm a white sell-out.

'That's what happens, so I can't physically do something myself. I am giving you an insight into parts of the community where things are not right.'

Saira, who shares son Zac, 12, and daughter Amara, nine, with businessman husband Steve Hyde, was nominated for the Services to Media award at the British Muslim Awards in 2013 and 2015.

The host left long-running lunchtime staple Loose Women in December 2020, shortly after Andrea McClean announced her resignation.

'Name and shame time!' Saira has been trolled for sharing topless selfies to Instagram in the past (pictured above in 2018)

The broadcaster, who has blocked some members of the panel on Instagram, previously said she felt there were bits towards the end of her stint on the show which she 'didn't feel were part of the sisterhood'.

She told HELLO!: 'There were elements both on screen and behind the scenes of being a Loose Woman that towards the end I didn't enjoy and I didn't feel like it was part of the sisterhood.

'It wasn't make me happy so I had to bow out, look after my mental health and give someone else my platform.

'I had a great five years and I did what I wanted to with my platform, which was share my stories and experiences being from a minority background, there's nothing more I can say that's new.'
The index enables investors to identify businesses that comply with ESG policies

CDP also reflects Fluidra's commitment to sustainable practices

9 February 2021 - Fluidra, a global leader in the pool and wellness equipment sector, will remain on the FTSE4Good Index Series for one more year. This selection is designed to enable investors to identify businesses that comply with the best practices on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) matters.

The company joined this index for the first time in 2009 and subsequently left and rejoined because of its overall capitalization volume. In order to be part of the FTSE4Good, certain levels of capitalization must be reached and a number of ESG standards met. The FTSE4Good is overseen by an independent committee of experts in these fields and market professionals.

Fluidra's admission to the index allows investors to verify Fluidra's commitment to ESG policies through this independent audit. This selection is considered a useful tool for any investors who wish to align their investments with values related to the environment, people and good governance.

"We are proud to be part of FTSE4 Good, as it demonstrates Fluidra's commitment to ESG standards. What we are able to obtain from our economic activity is key, but the way in which we do it is even more so," highlighted Eloi Planes, Fluidra's Executive President.

Another step forward in the company's ESG policy

Furthermore, the company has been rated for the first time by the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Projects) organization, a clear example of Fluidra's active management with regard to climate change.

The company has received a C grade in the first year it was assessed by this environmental rating organization. CDP examines the environmental initiatives of thousands of businesses and provides the information to more than 500 institutional investors that manage over 100 billion dollars' worth of assets.

With this rating, Fluidra now forms part of the companies that address reducing the carbon footprint that their business leaves on the planet, thus demonstrating its commitment to sustainable practices to protect future generations.

About Fluidra

Fluidra, a Spanish listed firm, is the global leader in the pool and wellness equipment business. It provides innovative products, services and Internet of Things solutions. The company operates in over 45 countries and owns a portfolio of some of the industry's most recognized and trusted brands, including Jandy, AstralPool, Polaris, Cepex, Zodiac, CTX Professional and Gre.

To learn more about Fluidra, visit www.fluidra.com

Press contact:

Sarah Estebanez, sestebanez@tinkle.es, +34 636 62 80 41

Xana Pena, xpena@tinkle.es, +34 674 73 47 82

Laura Gil, lgil@tinkle.es , +34 673 631 814

Carlos Jaramillo, cjaramillo@tinkle.es , +34 664 11 18 01

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  A state District Court judge has dismissed a civil suit filed by the grandparents of 10-year-old Victoria Martens.

Pat and John Martens filed a lawsuit against the city in September 2017  a little more than a year after their granddaughter was found dead, her body charred and mutilated in the bathtub of her mothers apartment.

In an order filed Monday, Judge Denise Barela-Shepherd wrote that the tort claims notice that the Martens lawyer provided the city in the wake of her death did not include the same claims that were in the lawsuit. Furthermore, she said, the investigators who the lawsuit claims were at fault had not been given notice.

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The November 2016 notice does not provide any information that would put Defendant on notice of the necessity to investigate the (Children, Youth and Families Department) referral, the role if any it played in Victorias death, or that the plaintiffs (or anyone) might claim compensation for the manner in which Defendant handled the report of alleged abuse, Barela-Shepherd wrote in the order.

Instead, she said, the tort claims notice sent to the city was focused on Fabian Gonzales  Victorias mothers boyfriend  and his involvement in the girls death while he was on probation. The attorney who was representing the Martens testified that, at the time he filed the notice, the case was still being investigated so he drafted it to provide the facts that were available at the time but also broadly enough to accommodate claims that were as yet unknown.

Attorney Jason Bowles, who is now representing the couple, said they plan to appeal the order.

He said the citys contention that it wasnt put on notice of the possibility of a lawsuit is ludicrous given how high-profile the case was.

Its yet another attempt to duck and run from the serious violent crime issues which plague this city  instead of facing them head on and coming to reasonable solutions and accountability, Bowles said in a statement. We will keep fighting. This administration needs to be held accountable by the voters for its failure to address these serious violent issues which never stop.

In the years since Victoria was killed the case has largely fallen apart.

Albuquerque police had arrested her mother, Michelle Martens, Gonzales and Gonzales cousin Jessica Kelley, at the scene and all three were indicted on rape and murder charges.

But in 2018, 2nd Judicial District Attorney Raul Torrez announced that much of the narrative of the case was simply not true, and in fact cell phone data showed neither Martens nor Gonzales was at home when Victoria was believed to have been killed. Prosecutors now say they believe an unknown person entered the house when Kelley was babysitting Victoria and killed the girl as revenge against Gonzales.

Martens and Kelley have pleaded guilty to child abuse resulting in death. Gonzales trial is pending.

The lawsuit filed by Pat and John Martens alleges that, unbeknownst to them, their daughter was finding men on internet dating websites to sexually molest her daughter for payment and for her own gratification. The suit points to an incident months before Victorias death when CYFD informed the Albuquerque Police Department of a report that Martens boyfriend at the time had tried to kiss Victoria.

APD detectives did not investigate that allegation but a spokesman initially told the Journal that they did. The suit claims that APD failed to train its officers to handle referrals from CYFD and how to investigate crimes against children and that it allowed the danger to Victoria to persist. The suit had asked for damages and changes to APD procedures.

Torrez has since said they have no evidence Martens was prostituting her daughter.
ALBANY  If the minimum salary of home health care aides was increased to $35,000, it would not only lift those in the field out of poverty, but generate new jobs and revenue for New York, a CUNY labor report has found.

The CUNY School for Labor and Urban Studies report found raising the wages for workers in that industry would help fill the states home care needs while saving money. The report contends it could also double the 200,000-person workforce  who are currently receiving an impoverished wage  while generating $5.3 billion for New York in new income, sale tax revenues and reductions in Medicaid, among other streams.

Demand for qualified home health care was established before the coronavirus pandemic, but the need has only increased as vulnerable populations avoid congregate facilities over fear of contracting COVID-19. In fact, the state Department of Labor in 2018 predicted the home health aide occupation in New York would see a 66 percent rise in employment over the next 10 years  the second-highest projected increase in the state behind solar panel installers.

But low pay and inadequate benefits have resulted in high turnover in a sector where those in need of a home health aide are looking for consistency, including building a relationship with their caretaker.

Westchester County resident Geri Pinciaro-Mariano, who was born with Diastrophic Dysplasia and in recent years has suffered debilitating setbacks requiring around-the-clock care, said she lost her ability to walk comfortably after a second hip surgery in 2010. She was further immobilized after a 2015 surgery that left her unable to sit up on her own.

Mariano, 53, said she was recently approved for two, 12-hour shifts per day, but has struggled to find home health aides who can accommodate the around-the-clock care on the roughly $15-an-hour pay Medicaid reimburses for the service.

"So from September to November to now, Ive been putting ads all over Facebook, Care.com, on Craigslist. Everybody kept saying 'no, no, no, its just too little money,'" she said. "Its so demoralizing to hear people say its too low, or they seem interested and then they say, 'oh no, I got a job with more money.'"

A study released in July showed 5,100 home health aides in the Hudson Valley leave the job each year because of the meager pay, but if working conditions were improved, the fast-growing sector could serve as a boost to the economy.

To expedite those efforts, state Sen. Rachel May and Assemblyman Richard Gottfried are cosponsoring the Fair Pay for Home Care Act, which would require all home care workers to be paid at least $35,000 annually.

The people who provide direct care have been ignored and caught in this trap of never getting a pay increase for such a long time that its hurting public health in this state, May said. Its hurting nursing homes because people are going in who dont want to be there but they have no other choice. Those who do do the work, a lot of them end up on public assistance because they dont make enough.

The median annual earnings for those working in the field in New York is $22,000, forcing 54 percent of the workforce to rely on Medicaid and other public benefits, the CUNY report found.

Increasing the salaries would reduce Medicaid spending by over $400 million while generating $286 million in new income tax revenue; $63.7 million in new sales tax revenue; and nearly $4.6 billion in economic spillover, the report shows.

May said the bill would bring wages for home health aides to 150 percent above minimum wage, while also tackling other aspects that may be exacerbating the quality of care and staffing shortages, including the pressures a wage increase would put on the salaries of supervisors.

Home health aides are primarily paid through Medicaid reimbursements established at the state level, which May said has not seen a cost-of-living increase in years.

Thats why they havent kept up with even minimum wage, so the service providers would be only too happy to be able to pay a higher rate to people if they would get reimbursed in order to pay that, because they are desperate to find more people too, she said.

New York recently underwent a second Medicaid redesign last year after facing a nearly $6 billion deficit prior to the coronavirus pandemic largely attributed to Medicaid spending. Some of those changes have been criticized by the health care community, which resulted in reduced funding to service providers and changes to reimbursement rates.


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A total of 22 cases of the coronavirus variant originating from the United Kingdom, a strain that spreads more easily and quickly than others, have no been identified in Illinois, public health officials said.

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John Altman is to star in a new soap which tells the story of a village whose inhabitants try to rebuild their lives as the country emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.

The series, which is titled Greenborne, is set in the summer of 2021 and will air on community radio stations across the UK.

Former EastEnders actor Altman is joined by Bergerac star Louise Jameson and Emmerdale actress Corrine Wicks in the cast.

Louise Jameson (Michael Crabtree/PA)

Altman said: I am very excited about Greenborne as its not only a part I could really get my teeth into, but it is also about hope and rebirth, amongst many other things, and will appeal to the whole family.

It is a little bit of escapism at a time when we need it most.

The soap plays out in the shadow of the virus but the drama sets out to celebrate the lives of people as they overcome the dark times and emerge into the light, according to a statement.

The series begins with Jamesons character Evie emerging from a long Covid-19 imposed exile, threatening to ruffle feathers, it added.

Corrine Wicks (Ian West/PA)

Altman plays John, a man who is trying to get his business back on its feet.

Greenborne has been created by Colin Brake.

He said: At their best soaps offer up a mirror to society, allowing us to see our daily hopes and fears played out amongst a cast of characters that we can empathise and identify with.

Covid-19 has had a dramatic and long-lasting effect on all of us, but Greenborne has been created and designed to take a positive look at how we may begin to heal and rebuild our normal after the trauma of the coronavirus crisis.

The soap will be broadcast on more than 20 community radio stations including Link FM Sheffield, Bolton FM and Radio Tyneside.
InterGlobe Aviation Ltd has settled a case with the Securities and Exchange Board of India involving alleged violation of corporate governance norms raised by its co-founder and director Rakesh Gangwal. The company paid 2.10 crore to the regulator. The company settled the matter "without admitting or denying any violation on its part," by paying a settlement charge of 2.1 crore, according to a SEBI order, reported PTI. The watchdog initiated an investigation against the airlines after it had received several complaints from Rakesh Gangwal alleging several violations.

SEBI disposed of the proceedings against InterGlobe Aviation, reported Reuters.

In July, 2019, Gangwal wrote to SEBI seeking its intervention to address corporate governance issues. Flagging concerns about certain questionable related party transactions, he had said shareholders' agreement provides co-promoter Rahul Bhatia unusual controlling rights over IndiGo. Bhatia camp had rejected the allegations.

Based on the complaints, SEBI examined the issues and based on its investigation, a show cause notice was issued with respect to InterGlobe Aviation on 10 November, 2020.

InterGlobe Aviation proposed to settle the instant proceedings initiated against it, without admitting or denying the findings of fact and conclusions of law, through a settlement order. The settlement application was filed on 23 December, 2020, reported PTI.

The company proposed to pay little over 2.1 crore "towards full and final settlement of all regulatory, civil or criminal proceedings in relation to the facts contained in the SCN (Show Cause Notice) without admitting or denying any violation on its part," the order said.

SEBI's High Powered Advisory Committee (HPAC) recommended the settlement proposal and the same was approved by the panel of Whole Time Members of Sebi on 25 January. The same was communicated to the company on February 5 and it paid the amount on 8 February, PTI mentioned.

Gangwal's complaints was related to alleged corporate governance lapses, including those pertaining to Related Party Transactions (RPTs) between the company and the IGE Group. It was also alleged that there was misrepresentation in the company''s Red Herring Prospectus (RHP) dated 16 October, 2015.

InterGlobe Aviation is the parent company of the country's largest airline IndiGo.

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State Awards Public Fire Education Grants To Berkshire County Cities

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The Pittsfield and North Adams Fire Departments were awarded state grant funds for fire education programs for children and older adults.

Pittsfield and North Adams were two of 239 municipal fire departments to receive a portion of the $2 million in grants to fund fire education programs.

"Since 1996, the SAFE program has brought fire education to hundreds of thousands of students in the Commonwealth," said Governor Charlie Baker. "This program allows firefighters and teachers to work together to provide fire and life safety education to young people. This collaboration contributed to a major accomplishment. No children died in fires in Massachusetts last year."

Fire departments in 235 communities will receive Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) and Senior SAFE grants; four communities will receive SAFE. grants only; and three communities will receive Senior SAFE grants only.

Pittsfield received $6,380 in SAFE funds and $2,880 in Senior SAFE Funds. North Adams received $4,692 in SAFE funds and $2,480 in Senior SAFE Funds

According to a press release, The average number of children dying in fires annually has dropped by 78 percent since the SAFE. Program began. The Senior SAFE Program is in its seventh year, providing firefighters with the funding to deliver fire safety education to another vulnerable population  seniors.

"The SAFE and Senior SAFE grants represent a smart investment in fire safety," said Thomas Turco, Public Safety and Homeland Security Secretary. "Youngsters and older adults are historically at greater risk in house fires, but that risk can be reduced through the targeted outreach, education, and awareness programs these grants help to fund," he added.

State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey said, "The SAFE. and Senior SAFE Programs are successful because we have trained firefighters who deliver education to children and older adults. The fire departments being supported in these public education efforts are increasing the safety of the people in their communities."

The SAFE. and Senior SAFE Programs provide $1.9 million through the Executive Office of the Public Safety and Security to local fire departments. The programs are administered by the state Department of Fire Services.

South Africa: SANEF welcomes arrest of suspects who attacked journalists

The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) has welcomed the arrest of suspects following the attack on two journalists at Fish Hoek beach over the weekend.

On Saturday, eNCA journalist Monique Mortlock was assaulted while attempting to interview an anti-mask protest organiser at Fish Hoek beach.

The man refused to speak to her and ripped her mask off, while another journalist, Athi Mtongana from Newzroom Afrika, was also attacked.

Mortlock tweeted: We are at Fish Hoek beach to cover the #WeAreMore protest against the lockdown. But one of the organisers just assaulted me, even with officers around us. He refused to speak to me because I'm wearing a mask.

A demonstrator then threw her phone onto the ground when she attempted to conduct an interview.

Mtongana tweeted: Protesters at Fish Hoek beach approached us and asked if we're media. Told us that anyone wearing a mask supports paedophiles.

An elderly lady then proceeded to slap Mtongana's phone out of her hand.

SANEF is encouraged to hear about the swift interventions of law enforcement agencies, who reacted to the shocking attack on the two women journalists at the weekend and arrested some of the demonstrators concerned.

They will face charges relating to assault and crimen injuria. SANEF wishes to thank the SAPS for its prompt response, SANEF said in a statement.

SANEF noted that protesters took to the beach to call for an end to lockdown restrictions when the assault happened.

However, some broke the law and endangered the lives of the journalists on the scene by forcing them to take off their masks.

"SANEF wishes to remind communities that forcefully removing someone's mask is an infringement of their rights to safety by the same people who want their stories told.

SANEF is concerned that news reporters are being attacked by the same individuals who want their stories told and yet have no respect for media freedom and the rights of journalists to work without fear of intimidation and harassment.

The attack on journalists by members of the public is becoming a worrying trend, SANEF said.

SANEF called on media houses to provide counselling and mental health care support to all journalists, particularly during the COVID Crisis.

We once again thank the SAPS for stepping in and arresting those who broke the law and intimidated journalists, SANEF said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-02-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
In a message of solidarity with Afghan people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said "no external power" can stop the development of Afghanistan or its friendship with India and that both the neighbours want to see their region free from the "grave" threat of terrorism and extremism.

He also expressed concern over increasing incidents of violence in Afghanistan including cowardly targeting of innocent citizens, journalists and activists, and noted that India supports a comprehensive ceasefire to end the hostilities.

Modi was speaking at a virtual meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani which was organised to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of the Lalandar dam by India in Afghanistan that would help in meeting the drinking water requirement of Kabul city.

"I want to assure every Afghan brother and sister, from Badakhshan to Nimroz and Herat to Kandahar that India stands with you. At every step of your journey of patience, courage and determination, India will be with you," Modi said.

In his remarks, Ghani said peace in Afghanistan is within the grasp if parties and their backers in the Taliban embrace a true political solution, seen as a clear reference to Pakistan.

The Afghan President said terrorism must be seen as a "full eco-system" and not as isolated groups or individuals, noting that the "destructive forces" are threatening the future of the region.

Modi said strengthening internal unity among Afghan people is very important and exuded confidence that a united Afghanistan will be able to face any challenge.

"No external power can stop the development of Afghanistan, or the India-Afghanistan friendship," he said.

India has been a major stakeholder in Afghanistan and it has extended developmental assistance to tune of around USD 3 billion in the last few years to the country.

"We are concerned about the increasing violence in Afghanistan. Innocent citizens, journalists and activists are being cowardly targeted. We have called for an immediate end to the violence, and we immediately support a comprehensive ceasefire," Modi said.

"Violence is a retaliation for peace, and the two cannot go together. As a close neighbour and strong strategic partner, both India and Afghanistan want to see their region free from the grave crisis of terrorism and extremism," he said.

The prime minister noted that India has been supportive of a peace process that is led, owned and controlled by Afghanistan.

"In the success of Afghanistan, we see the success of India and its entire region," Modi said.

In his brief address at the meeting, Ghani said all stakeholders must be asked to respect "rules of sovereignty'' and stop giving "sanctuaries" and interfering in the affairs of their neighbours, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.

"Peace in Afghanistan is within grasp if parties and their backers in the Taliban embrace a true political solution. But Afghan people will not submit or surrender. It must be understood that our security forces are not defeated," he said.

The Afghan president also cautioned that if his country plunges into uncertainty, then the consequences for the region and the world will be "dire".

Describing India as a true partner, Ghani thanked it for "gift of water" and said the Shatoot dam will inject sufficient water into Kabul river.

He said India's assistance provided the foundation of Afghanistan's democratic stability and prosperity.

"India's assistance is iconically marked on our landscapes from the Salma dam to the transmission lines to the parliament of Afghanistan, the symbol of our democracy," he said. "We would like to thank (Rabindranath) Tagore again for having given the Indian people the image of Kabuliwala and today on behalf of Kabuliwalas, I would like to say thank you to you," he told Modi.

The Lalandar dam, popularly known as Shatoot is a part of India's new development assistance for Afghanistan.

"The Lalandar dam would meet the safe drinking water needs of Kabul City, provide irrigation water to nearby areas, rehabilitate the existing irrigation and drainage network, aid in flood protection and management efforts in the area, and also provide electricity to the region," the Ministry of External Affairs said.

It is the second major dam being built by India in Afghanistan after the Salma Dam, which was inaugurated by Modi in June 2016.

"Signing of the MoU on Lalandar (Shatoot) dam is a reflection of India's strong and long-term commitment towards the socio-economic development of Afghanistan and the enduring partnership between our two countries," the MEA said.

It said India has completed more than 400 projects covering all 34 provinces of Afghanistan so far.
BOSSIER CITY, La., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Another Broken Egg Cafe held its grand opening in Bossier City yesterday, following a Friends and Family Weekend fundraiser that collected guest donations for charity while showcasing their popular southern-inspired menu in a new, contemporary restaurant setting.

Over $3,200 was raised for local charity partners Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission and Every Warrior  which will give hundreds of meals for the homeless and financial support to the military community  as guests donated while sampling the signature, award-winning menu.

Located at 3107 Airline Drive, Suite 300 the cafe and owned by Lacy Galligan and Ray Pynes, Another Broken Egg Cafe in Bossier City will soon feature a full bar and signature hand-crafted cocktails to complement the daytime cafe's southern breakfast, lunch and brunch menu.

Online ordering and catering are available; visit www.anotherbrokenegg.com.

"We're grateful to our generous community for supporting our amazing charity partners," said Galligan. "And after the challenging year our national restaurant industry has had, we're thrilled with the growth and popularity we're experiencing with this concept," said Galligan.

The local owners opened their first location in Shreveport in 2010.

About Another Broken Egg Cafe

Another Broken Egg of America Franchising, LLC is an upscale breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant that specializes in award-winning, Southern-inspired menu options with innovative twists and signature cocktails. Another Broken Egg Cafe is one of the fastest-growing daytime-only franchised concepts in the country, with more than 70 locations in 13 states and dozens more in development. With over 24-years' experience in the daytime cafe category, the company was honored by FSR magazine as its Breakout Franchise Brand of the Year for 2020, one of the most challenging years ever for the restaurant industry. In 2019 FSR magazine ranked Another Broken Egg Cafe among its 10 Best Full-Serve Restaurant Franchise Deals. The brand is well-positioned for expanded growth in 2021 with a new prototype, re-engineered menu and bar of the future initiatives designed to drive incremental sales and profits for the individual cafes. For more information about franchising opportunities, please visit https://anotherbrokeneggfranchise.com

SOURCE Another Broken Egg Cafe

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How Students See It

Districts' Choices

Kindergartners Just Want to Have Fun

(TNS)  Last spring, Murphy found himself teaching history to those dreaded black boxes. It was deflating. "Teachers are social beings," he said. "We are not designed to operate in isolation."Even when most cameras are on, teachers' brains have to work harder to observe and absorb student behavior than when they're in the same space."The way online learning is happening now is exhausting," said Penelope Moon, acting director of online strategy at the University of Washington, Bothell. "Simply knowing we're being observed is exhausting. We're then performing, all the time. ... It's a higher cognitive load."And it takes a lot of energy for teachers to present material, monitor student work and flit their eyes between the boxes that fit in their Zoom gallery.Murphy tried different things in his Microsoft Teams classroom: If you grasp this point, put a heart up. Raise your hand if you can use evidence to support your answer."Distance learning presents an opportunity to let us reevaluate a lot of those important indicators," he said. "A lot of it has been really retraining my brain to look for different ways that students are responding."Robert Hand, the 2019 Washington Teacher of the Year who teaches family and consumer sciences at Mount Vernon High School, also started the pandemic with few cameras on. But at least he had met his students in-person before last spring.In person, he focuses on the look and feel of his classroom: the lighting, hanging pieces that represent students from all backgrounds. This year, he made his home office visually appealing and welcoming."I know for myself as a visual learner, things like that matter," he said.He encourages, but doesn't require, students to turn on their cameras. He tells students he's happy they're there.One thing that's helped: He's had his students upload profile photos onto their Zoom accounts. They may be static, but at least they're faces.When school was in-person, Charlie Nunes, 16, followed a daily pattern: Wake up, get dressed, get ready for school. But "for online classes, it's really easy to just open your laptop while you're still in bed and click the link," she said.A Woodinville High School student, Nunes is also taking college classes through Running Start. With the exception of her American Sign Language class, which relies on visual cues, most of her teachers don't mind whether students are on camera.Mostly, she doesn't turn it on. "It's an added pressure," she said. "If they can see me, I feel like I have to respond to everything they're saying."Sometimes it's easier to focus when you know people are watching. "When you look engaged and look like you're learning, it's easier to actually be learning. With cameras off, you could literally be doing anything you want and no one would know."Issaquah School District surveyed its high school students, and found that just 4% said they used their cameras all the time, compared to 11.8% who used them most of the time, 28.3% who used them some of the time, 38.5% who hardly used them, and 17% who never did.The district also asked students why they chose to turn their cameras on. Of the 1,163 answers, over 700 mention teachers: They either perceive their teachers as requiring them to turn them on, or they simply feel bad for them. (Issaquah teachers aren't allowed to mandate camera usage.) Other responses: "For Attendance and tests." "I think I look presentable enough." "To say hi, and to feel a little more realistic."A few said camera usage reflected their mental health. Or they stayed visible "because I like to show my pretty little face" and "cuz I'm sexy."In Renton, administrators conducted "empathy interviews" and found students were more ready to appear on camera for teachers they liked, who made them feel "like it's OK to be a little messy and human," Dorr said.Concerns are different in college. "Our students are adults," said Amy Kinsel, a history professor at Shoreline Community College. "We don't have the attitude that we're minding them or watching them. They're making their own choices."Districts in the Puget Sound region are largely steering clear of formal camera policies. Some, like Bellevue and Tacoma, don't have policies, but prompt teachers to encourage students to keep their cameras on.In Seattle Public Schools, a technology FAQ says "educators can request, but not require, students to have their video camera on," and students shouldn't be penalized for leaving them off.In Tacoma, "I wouldn't describe it as policy  formal or informal," said spokesperson Daniel Voelpel.Auburn School District took a proactive approach, said Vicki Bates, the district's assistant superintendent of technology. The district published digital learning guidelines, and does not require students to have cameras on.In some grades, Auburn educators are trying to place more of an emphasis on student work  asking students to show their paper or whiteboards instead, for example. "It centers the work, or the learning," she said.But the meme and screenshot culture of the internet can also change the nature of bullying, making it feel more permanent from a distance. Hand said that's why students told him they'd be more comfortable if they were able to share their cameras just with him."We've had some discipline issues," Bates said. "But it's not much."Throughout the pandemic, there's been a lot of hand-wringing over whether technology is appropriate for early learners.In some cases, once they (or their caretakers) learn the tech, they're eager to show themselves off.At least, that's what Heather Lippert, a kindergarten teacher in Edmonds, has found. "They want to be seen, and they want to see what the other kids are doing," she said.While there's limited research on distance learning, research on in-person learning points to several critical factors that drive children's engagement, said Kristen Missall, a professor and school psychology program director at the UW's College of Education. They include giving kids more time to engage with the material, and having them practice it without making mistakes."If cameras are on, kids are more likely to plug into what's being said to them," she said. "They can hear and see it, probably more likely to be on task."On the flip side, Missall acknowledged, being on camera can create anxiety or distractions.Lippert has gotten used to teaching her students from the Zoom screen. She's developed strategies to flip through their boxes. She tries to be more laid back, because "I want them to still love school when they come back in person."This school year has allowed her to forge a different kind of connection with her students: Since she's in their homes, they tell more specific stories and share objects that are important, like family heirlooms.Another thing she's noticed: Kindergartners spend lots of time telling each other nonsensical jokes:"Knock knock!""Who's there?""Chicken!""Chicken who!""There's chicken in the oven!"Everyone started laughing.
Turkey aims to achieve first contact with the moon as part of its national space programme in 2023, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

"The first rough landing will be made on the moon with our national and authentic hybrid rocket that shall be launched into orbit in the end of 2023 through international cooperation," Erdogan said, detailing a two-phase mission.

Erdogan did not elaborate further on the cooperation. Last month, Erdogan spoke to Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk on possible cooperation in space technologies with Turkish companies.

Speaking in an event in Ankara, Erdogan announced a programme with 10 strategic goals including sending a Turkish citizen to a scientific mission in space.

Last month, Turkey launched its Turksat 5A satellite into orbit from the United States in cooperation with SpaceX. Turksat 5B satellite is planned to be launched in second quarter of 2021.

Turkey aims to reach strategic space goals in 10 years, Erdogan also said, adding that the country will improve work on satellite technologies and establish a space port with other ally countries.

"Our feet will be on earth but our eyes will be in space. Our roots will be on earth, our branches will be up in the sky," Erdogan said.

Short link:


Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) speaks to media at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Lindsey Graham Threatens to Call Democrats as Witnesses During Senate Impeachment Trial

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) warned that he and other Republicans would call up top Democrats as witnesses in former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial.

Should Democrats vote to call witnesses, Republicans would call up Democratic senators, he said in an interview with Fox News Sean Hannity on Monday night.

If the House managers want to call one witness, the defense is going to call all those people you named and then some, the South Carolina Republican said Monday. That includes President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.).

To my colleagues tomorrowthere are a hundred of uswhat we do today is going to make history for the rest of the time America exists. What Democrats have done is basically declare war on the presidency itself, he said.

Some Republicans, including Trumps team, have argued that Democrats have made similar public statements that could be considered an incitement of violence that would make them guilty of the same thing they have accused the president of doing.

Bruce Castor, one of Trumps lawyers, indicated that attorneys will use clips of lawmakers such as Waters. He said in an interview last week, I think you can count on that.

Waters in 2018 told a group of people that they should absolutely harass Trump administration officials.

Theyre not going to be able to go to a restaurant, theyre not going to be able to stop at a gas station, theyre not going to be able to shop at a department store, Waters said at the time. The people are going to turn on them, theyre going to protest, theyre going to absolutely harass them.

Waters over the weekend denied making statements that would be considered an incitement of violence.

She said in a statement, The strongest thing I said was tell them theyre not welcome, adding: I didnt say go and fight. I didnt say anybody was going to have any violence.

Last month, the House impeached Trump for allegedly inciting an insurrection. Trumps lawyers have denied the charges, saying that his speech on Jan. 6 was protected under the First Amendment.

On Monday night, Schumer said he came to an agreement with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on the trials rules and timetable.

All parties have agreed to a structure that will ensure a fair and honest Senate impeachment trial of the former president, Schumer said on Monday. According to the lawmakers, there will be four hours of debate on Tuesday about whether the trial should be dismissed.
New Delhi: From rebuilding the global economy in a post covid-19 world to standing together on terrorism, renewing their partnership on climate change, closer cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and a stronger regional architecture through the  Quad " grouping were among the issues discussed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and new US president Joe Biden during a phone call late Monday.

A comparison of the readouts put out by India and the US shows issues of concern and of priority for the two countries were covered in the phone call. And according to analysts, the readouts showed that issues that were notably absent in Bidens first major foreign policy speech last week  ie references to the Indo-Pacific and the Quad group of countries  were discussed by the two leaders.

This was the second conversation between the two leaders since Biden's election in the November polls. The two had spoken earlier on 17 November. Modi is among the first dozen leaders Biden has spoken to since being sworn in to office on 20 January.

According to the Indian statement, there was a lengthy discussion on regional developments and the wider geo-political context." Modi and Biden noted that the India-US partnership is firmly anchored in a shared commitment to democratic values and common strategic interests."

Modi and Biden reiterated the importance of working with like-minded countries to ensure a rules-based international order and a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region," the statement said in a reference to a vast geographical space between the west coast of the US to the eastern shores of Africa that the world views as critically important given that it is this region that is seen as the epicenter of global economic growth. Of late China has been seen as flexing its military muscle in the region, claiming all of the South China Sea paying scant heed to protests from Southeast Asian countries.

Modi and Biden affirmed the importance of addressing the challenge of global climate change," the Indian statement said adding that Modi welcomed Biden's decision to re-commit to the Paris Agreement. The previous Trump administration had walked out of the accord.

The Prime Minister welcomed President Bidens initiative to organise the Climate Leaders Summit in April this year and looked forward to participating in the same," it said. Modi also took the opportunity to invite President Biden and US first lady Dr. Jill Biden to visit India at their earliest convenience, the Indian statement added.

The US readout said that the two countries had committed to working closely together to win the fight against covid-19, renewed their partnership on climate change, agreed to rebuild the global economy in a way that benefits the people of both countries, and stand together against the scourge of global terrorism."

The leaders agreed to continuing close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, including support for freedom of navigation, territorial integrity, and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad," the US statement said in a reference to India,US, Japan and Australia. China views the grouping as aimed at circumscribing its role and influence in the region.

The President underscored his desire to defend democratic institutions and norms around the world and noted that a shared commitment to democratic values is the bedrock for the US-India relationship. They (Modi and Biden) further resolved that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld in Burma," a reference to the 1 February coup that brought the Myanmarese military back to power after almost a decade.

The comment also comes against the backdrop of remarks by the US State Department on protests and access to the internet being hallmarks of a democracy in the wake of the farm protests in India.

Bidens comments on democratic values indicates a certain bottom line that Washington will expect from its friends and allies on the matter," said Rudra Chaudhuri, director of the India chapter of the Washington based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank. There will be times of friction but they (frictions) will not boil over to affect the strategic relationship in any adverse way," he added.

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Gavin Williamson has hit out at the outgoing chairman of a student watchdog for failing to protect free speech on Britain's university campuses.

The Education Secretary penned a letter last night to Sir Michael Barber and Lord Wharton of Yarm, who is set to take over from Sir Barber as the chairman on the Office for Students.

Williamson urged Lord Wharton to take a stronger stance on protecting freedom of speech than his predecessor did, The Times reports.

In the letter, Williamson wrote: 'To date there has been little regulatory action taken by the OfS in relation to potential breaches of the registration conditions relating to freedom of speech and academic freedom, despite a significant number of concerning incidents reported since the full suite of its regulatory powers came into force.'

Gavin Williamson (pictured) has hit out at the outgoing chairman of a student watchdog for failing to protect free speech on Britain's university campuses

Adding to this, the Education Secretary wrote that he wanted the Office for Students to take more active and visible action to challenge incidents where free speech is restricted.

Lord Wharton of Yarm is set to take over as head of the watchdog in April after being approved for the role.

It wasn't just freedom of speech that Williamson addressed in his letter, with the quality of education offered by university's also drawing his attention.

The Education Secretary also urged the Office for Students to 'use the full range of its powers and sanctions' where it finds that the quality of education on offer is not high enough.

The Education Secretary penned a letter last night to Sir Michael Barber (pictured) and Lord Wharton of Yarm, who is set to take over from Sir Barber as the chairman on the Office for Students

Indirectly referencing Leicester University's decision to drop Geoffrey Chaucer and Beowulf from their English curriculum, Williamson said that administrators should not force teaching staff to drop authors or texts that add 'rigour and stretch' to a course.

He also criticised universities that had not adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism.

Universities could face fines if they do not adopt the definition.

It comes as the Education Secretary had started drawing up plans for students to return to their universities in England from next month.

The Education Secretary will announce on February 22 that final year students in practical degrees will go back to campus, with their peers expected to follow shortly after.

Lord Wharton of Yarm (pictured) is set to take over as head of the watchdog in April after being approved for the role

But vice-chancellors say that most of their students have already been told to stay at home, while the unions - which have plagued Mr Williamson's tenure - are unwavering in their complaints about Covid safety.

It comes amid wrangling over when the national lockdown will end with schools expected to reopen on March 8, the keystone in Boris Johnson's plan to liberate Britain.

Mr Williamson's announcement for the universities coincides with the Prime Minister's February 22 date to produce a roadmap 'to unlock.'

The Department of Education is planning for the first students to go back to campuses in lockstep with the reopening of schools on March 8.

Somy Ali Reveals Her Only Goal In Joining Bollywood Was To Marry Salman Khan: "I Was Such A Misfit In The Film Industry"

Salman Khans girlfriend from the 90s Somy Ali has spoken up decades later about her journey in Bollywood and made some startling revelations. While Salmans fans are millions across the globe the Pakistani actress was different. In a recent tell all interview, Somy revealed that her only motive for coming to India was to marry the superstar.

Somy claims she fell in love with Salman after watching his film Maine Pyaar Kiya and flew to India with just the one motive. "I saw Maine Pyar Kiya, and I went, 'I have to marry this guy!' I told my mom that I am going to India tomorrow... I kept pleading that I have to go to India and marry this guy  Salman Khan. I called my dad. I didnt tell him why I wanted to visit India. I told him that we have relatives in Mumbai and I wanted to meet them... landed in India and checked into a five-star hotel. People used to make fun of me because I was this 'struggling actor', who was staying at a plush hotel," the former actress told Bombay Times in an interview.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Somy Ali (@realsomyali)

The former actress became a part of Bollywood and did a few film between 1991 and 1998. She was dating Salman a year after her arrival in India. Somy now claims that she had no interest in making a name in the film industry. "I was such a misfit in the film industry. I had no interest in pursuing a film career, and my only goal, which sounds preposterous at this age, was that I have to marry Salman," she added.

Somy whose family had moved to Florida when she was 12 moved right back to The U.S. after her breakup with Salman in 1999 to complete her education. She now runs her own organization to help the victims of mental and physical abuse.
BERLIN  The woman charged last week was 94 and had worked as a secretary. This week, German prosecutors charged a 100-year-old man who had worked as a guard, like the man convicted last year, aged 93.

These three Germans are part of a diminishing ripple of criminal prosecutions related to the Nazi war crimes of last century. Not only are the defendants ever-more aged than those tried in past decades, but they are also less likely to have had a direct role in the atrocities committed in their proximity decades ago, and some were underage at the time.

Now they have been caught up in Germanys race against the clock to bring the final members of the Nazi generation to justice. Some Germans have pushed back against their countrys attempts, however late, to serve justice on those who helped perpetuate some of the 20th Centurys worst crimes, but others say the rise of a new far right has made the prosecutions more important than ever.

It took a long time, which has not made things any easier, because now we are dealing with such elderly defendants, said Cyrill Klement, a prosecutor in Neuruppin, whose office pressed charges against the 100-year-old man. But murder and accessory to murder have no statute of limitation.
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We respect LexisNexis Risk Solutions tireless drive to create innovative solutions that enable organizations to manage risks like identity theft, fraud, and money launderingpreventing nancial crimes, said Shawn Holtzclaw, Executive Director, The Knoble. They are a proven leader in the industry with unmatched consortia capabilities, and we look forward to collaborating to help the The Knoble achieve its mission.

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There was 'no indication' the sickness was in circulation in Wuhan before December 2019, when the first official cases were recorded, experts said.

The WHO mission to China to uncover the origins of the coronavirus has failed to identify the animal source, scientists said Tuesday. Experts believe the disease  which has gone on to kill more than 2.3 million people worldwide  originated in bats and could have been transmitted to humans via another mammal. While transmission from animals was the likely route, so far "the reservoir hosts remain to be identified", Liang Wannian, head of the China team, told reporters.

He added that studies showed the virus "can be carried long-distance on cold chain products," appearing to nudge towards the possible importation of the virus  a theory that has abounded in China in recent months. He also said there was "no indication" the sickness was in circulation in Wuhan before December 2019 when the first official cases have been recorded.

WHO foreign expert Ben Embarak, who was based in the WHO's Beijing office for two years from 2009, backed up the as the assertion saying there was no evidence of "large outbreaks in Wuhan" before then.

The mission is a diplomatically knotty one, which was trailed before it began by fears of a whitewash, with the US demanding a "robust" probe and China firing back with a warning not to "politicise" the investigation.

During the closely-monitored visit, reporters were largely kept at arms' length from the experts, but snippets of their findings crept out over Twitter and interviews.

The experts spent one month in China, two weeks in quarantine and the same again on fieldwork.

But, already over a year after the virus emerged, some of it was of questionable relevance to their stated aim of finding the virus source, including a visit to a propaganda exhibition celebrating China's recovery from the pandemic.

The group spent just an hour at the seafood market where many of the first reported clusters of infections emerged over a year ago. They also appeared to spend several days inside their hotel, receiving visits from various Chinese officials without going out into the city.

But deeper research was carried out at the Wuhan virology institute where they spent nearly four hours and said they met with Chinese scientists there including Shi Zhengli, one of China's leading experts on bat coronavirus es and deputy director of the Wuhan lab.

Former US president Donald Trump repeated a controversial theory that a lab leak may have been the source of the pandemic.

Scientists at the laboratory conduct research on some of the world's most dangerous diseases, including strains of bat coronavirus es similar to COVID-19 .

Beijing is desperate to defang criticism of its handling of the chaotic early stages of the outbreak.

It has refocused attention at home  and abroad  on its handling of, and recovery from the outbreak.

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ezra klein

Im Ezra Klein, and this is The Ezra Klein Show. So its only February, but Im pretty sure Elizabeth Kolberts Under a White Sky is going to be on my best books of 2021 list. Its a wonderful work. Kolbert is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction, which you may have read. She is a staff writer at The New Yorker and just one of the great science journalists of this time, and particularly one of the great climate journalists of this age. But this book, this books existence is evidence of how badly that fight is going. This is a book about what we are going to need to contemplate in the coming years that we dont want to. Its a book about taking responsibility for how irreversibly we have altered the natural world; how often we have tried to control it, and then watched those attempts at control fail; how often the best most scientific minds of the age have come up with some brilliant solution, implemented it, and then watched calamity result. And at the same time  and this is what makes the book so worthwhile  it is a book about how there is no going back. Not now, not ever. We are in the Anthropocene. The future from here is an endless layering on of new efforts to control the consequences of our past efforts. We dont get to flinch or pretend we dont have to contemplate any of this. Weve gone too far. One of the hardest things to do as a writer  and I tell you this from personal experience  is to write ambivalence. Its easy to write a polemic or a sharp take. It is hard to write down the middle path, where you are simply describing things as they are, knowing that every possible obvious answer you can come to is probably a bad one, knowing that the hubris embedded in past attempts to solve this problem means any future brilliant idea is likely to end that way, too, but that doesnt mean we can do nothing. But Kolbert walks that path really beautifully here, which is why I wanted to talk to her for the show. As always, my email is theezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. Im always interested to know who youd like to see on the show. The weirder, the better. So send me your guest suggestions. Heres Elizabeth Kolbert. So Stewart Brand had famously open up the Whole Earth Catalog by writing, Were as gods and might as well get good at it. And you talk a little bit about this line in the new book, but it seems to be the message of the book is that we are as gods, but we are very, very bad at it.

elizabeth kolbert

I think thats a fair reading of the book. Hows that?

ezra klein

Tell me a little bit about that. Theres a trajectory here from you wrote in 06 Field Notes from a Catastrophe, which is one of the early great books on climate change, then The Sixth Extinction in 2014, which is about this human-led mass extinction, and now this book, which is about how we can extricate ourselves from what weve done to nature. Can you tell me a bit about how your thinking has changed over the course of this long project?

elizabeth kolbert

Well, the sort of genesis of this project, one project has flowed into the next the way it is true, Im sure, for many journalists and writers. And after The Sixth Extinction came out, I went sort of looking for, OK, whats the next step here? What are we going to, quote unquote, do about this? And I came upon a project. I went to Hawaii to report on a project that had already been nicknamed the Super Coral Project. And the idea behind the Super Coral Project, which was run by a very charismatic woman named Ruth Gates, who, very sadly, passed away about two years ago  so when I was sort of midway through this book  the idea was weve changed the oceans very radically. Were warming the oceans. Thats a function of climate change, of pouring a lot of CO2 into the atmosphere. And weve also changed the chemistry of the oceans, ditto a function of pouring a lot of CO2 into the air. And one group of organisms that really doesnt like the changes that have already been produced is reef building corals, the little tiny animals that build coral reefs. So Ruths idea was weve already changed the oceans. Were not getting the oceans of the past back in any foreseeable future. If we want to have reefs in the future, were going to have to basically manipulate reefs. Were going to have to try to create more resilient corals. And this kind of intervention  so one intervention in the natural world to counteract the effects of another intervention struck me as a sort of opening up a new chapter in our relationship, our long and very vexed relationship with the natural world. And when I started to think about it, I started to see that sort of pattern everywhere. And that became the genesis of the book.

ezra klein

And so you write, If there is to be an answer to the problem of control, its going to be more control. Only now whats got to be managed is not a nature that exists or is imagined to exist apart from the human. Instead, the new effort begins with a planet remade and spirals back on itself, not so much the control of nature as a control of the control of nature. And so as I understand the book, part of what youre saying is that we have caused all these problems, or changes at the very least, with our attempts to control nature. But we are now in so deep that there is no going backwards. There is only more control. So theres only unknown in front of us, right? Is that fair?

elizabeth kolbert

Yes, I think thats fair. I mean, there are many, many choices to be made. But we are in so deep that one of our options is no longer to just say, oh, lets go back to the way things were. Ill give you an example thats not in the book, but that could have been in the book. In addition to changing the carbon cycle very dramatically, so by burning fossil fuels and releasing a lot of the carbon that was buried underground into the atmosphere, weve also really, really dramatically changed the nitrogen cycle on Earth. And the way weve done that is by producing synthetic fertilizers. And these fertilizers, there are many, many side effects for sort of drenching the world in nitrogen. One of them is that we create these huge dead zones, anoxic zones in the oceans, which are growing. Now you could say, well, lets try to fix that. Lets try to  and certainly, we should, and we should certainly be using nitrogen fertilizer a lot more carefully than we are. And there are all sorts of things we could do to try to ameliorate this problem. But the basic fact is that billions of people are alive today because of synthetic fertilizers. And its simply not a viable solution to say we shouldnt be using nitrogen fertilizers.

ezra klein

So one of the scary parts about your book, for the perspective of anybody thinking about how to fix anything, is, it is a continuous record of well-intentioned interventions going terribly awry. And thats even true for seemingly natural solutions. I think theres this idea that if an intervention is natural, like unleashing a foreign predator as opposed to a pesticide, into an ecosystem, that thatll be better. But thats not really proven true either. And so you open the book with silver carp. Can you tell a bit of that story and its moral?

elizabeth kolbert

Sure. So that story begins  its sort of a two-part story. And the first part of the story begins as the city of Chicago is growing up on the banks of the Chicago River. And the Chicago River is flowing east out of the city and carrying all of the citys waste as Chicago grows up. It carries all of its human waste, and as the tremendous stockyards in Chicago grow up, it also carries the city stockyard waste. And it was said that the Chicago River was so thick with filth that a chicken could walk across it without getting her feet wet. And this was not only disgusting, but by flowing east, the river was flowing into Lake Michigan, which was the Chicago source of drinking water and still is Chicagos source of drinking water. So you had all sorts of outbreaks of waterborne disease. So around the turn of the 20th century, Chicago decided to reverse the flow of the Chicago River. It was a tremendous construction project, one of the biggest of its day. And that was accomplished by digging a canal thats called a Sanitary and Ship Canal, which connected the Chicago River up to the Mississippi Drainage Basin, and in the process, connected these two huge drainage basins, the Mississippi Drainage Basin and the Great Lakes Basin. So fast forward about 60 years, and we get Silent Spring, which tells us that were drenching the world in chemicals, which we were  we are still. And we should try to find better solutions to our problems. And one solution that Rachel Carson recommends is, as you suggested, using one species against another. So some of the species that are brought in are various species of carp, silver carp and grass carp and bighead carp, all native to Asia. Theyre brought in to do different things  all forms of bio-control, though. In one case, to eat aquatic weeds or to help with the nutrient loading that comes from sewage treatment plants or lack of sewage treatment plants. And they get loose, and they wreak havoc in the Mississippi drainage system. And then, fast forward to the present day. Theres a tremendous amount of concern that having connected these two drainage systems, the carp are going to get into the Great Lakes and wreak havoc there. And so, what has happened is and this is a case of an intervention sitting on top of an intervention  that parts of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal have now been electrified to try to dissuade the carp from making that move. And as part as the opening of the book, I take a trip to the electric barriers, which was actually a great adventure.

ezra klein

So to situate this, I think, in the broader conversation its part of, you wrote recently, in a piece in The New Yorker, that with much of the world under lockdown, global emissions were around 6 perecent lower in 2020 than they were in 2019. Though this drop was the largest on record, it was still not enough to put the world on track to meet the 1.5 degree Celsius goal set out in the Paris Accord. And so, I would not say this book is an argument for geoengineering, but I would say  and you can tell me if this is wrong  this book is an argument that we are past to the point, given how rapidly we are able to move the global economy, when it seems likely that we have the luxury of not thinking about things like geoengineering, when we have the luxury of saying, some things are just off limits because we cant change the world that much. Weve already changed it so much that the unthinkable now has to be thought. Is that how you approached it?

elizabeth kolbert

Well, I think thats a reasonable interpretation. I mean, I think that you could look at the chapter on geoengineering, which is probably  although I also talk about genetic engineering, so I guess, you could take your pick  the most fraught and controversial. So the book sort of begins with things that are already happening. I mean, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, its already electrified. You could already jump in and get yourself electrocuted. Two things that are more slightly futuristic, but eminently possible. And I think the chapter on geoengineering, you could read it as youve just described. You could say we are past the point of having that luxury. I think thats a very valid reading. And you could also read it as a species that has managed to muck up the atmosphere one way, thinking about mucking up the atmosphere another way. What could possibly go wrong? I think those are both very valid readings.

ezra klein

You have a wonderful quote in the geoengineering chapter, which, to me, really gets at the core of this discussion, from Andy Parker, who is a project director for the Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative, which wants the geoengineering conversation. And he says, We live in a world where deliberately dimming the fucking sun might be less risky than not doing it. That feels like quite an indictment of the human race and where weve gotten results to with all our knowledge and all our power.

elizabeth kolbert

Yes, I think that that does sort of sum things up. And it gets to your point that we are in this very deep. And its sort of the meme, only wrong answers, only hard choices at this point. Nothing easy from here on in.

ezra klein

What do you think of geoengineering?

elizabeth kolbert

Well, I hope a sense of respectful horror comes through. Hows that? Some very, very smart people are thinking about it and are very worried that it may be our best option at a certain point. They may, unfortunately, be right, but wow, dimming the fucking sun, you know?

ezra klein

It seems to me that we need to be spending many billions of dollars studying it and other things, not because we want to do it, but because either we may have no choice, or we may learn something that is a reason we absolutely can never, under any circumstances, do it. And Ive looked into this a little bit, and the amount of money  there are some rich guys supporting it. Theres a study now with David Keith. But theres really been, for as much discussion as it gets, very little money spent trying to figure this out. And Im not sure we have that luxury now.

elizabeth kolbert

Well, I think that thats a viewpoint shared by more and more people. And you are seeing these tiny little appropriations that are not enough. If you were thinking, this is humanitys last best hope, wow, as you say, youd be pouring billions into it. It is still, at this point  and it was a point made to me by these scientists who run the Harvard Solar Geoengineering Research Program, which is sort of the best financed of the groups and the farthest along. Its very, very politically toxic at this point. And maybe thats good. I dont know the answer to that question. So for example, they are thinking of doing of simply putting up a balloon to see whether thats viable just to do the study that would require a balloon in the stratosphere. Not even just  this is not even an experiment. This is just like an experiment to do an experiment, and that will be tremendously controversial. And Im not sure it will get off the ground.

ezra klein

How you feel about geoengineering and some of these other ideas were going to discuss I think depends on how you feel about the traditional political pathway. So let me put that question pretty directly to you. Do you think there is a significant chance that traditional politics, the legislatures we have right now around the world, including in America, are going to do enough to keep us under two degrees?

elizabeth kolbert

Well, I think that we face multiple problems along the way. So two degrees is, to be honest, political, rather than geophysical reasons been decided upon as the sort of goal. Keep average global temperatures from rising more than two degrees. And many, many scientists and many nations, whole nations that could disappear between here and 2 degrees, low lying Island nations would say, well, thats really too high. And then so theres this sort of stretch goal, if you want, in the Paris Accord of 1.5 degrees. Now, 1.5 degrees, if youre going to be honest about it, I think you have to say, well, were basically at 1.5 degrees now. So that is not just a hard goal to reach. Its getting to be almost geophysically impossible. Now two degrees, I think, probably  and Im no expert on this. There are many, many, many studies that have been done on it. But presumably, it is still physically possible to do it. Then that gets to the point youre making, is the world set up to do this? And the problem is not just that our legislative in the U.S. that we are legislatively gridlocked, that we are incapable, so far at least, and we can talk some more about what might the next two years or four years look like, but so far, at least, have been really incapable of taking significant action. And we are the major  I do want to add, the U.S. is still the biggest single source of greenhouse gases that are up there in the atmosphere right now. Then you have to look all around the world at all of the major players in this drama. China, which is now the single, biggest emitter on an annual basis, the EU, which is a very big emitter, India, which is increasingly a large emitter. So you have to ask, are we all going to get our act together?

ezra klein

One of the questions that I struggle with most in my own work right now is, what do you do? What should it make you do if you believe that it is no longer politically plausible that normal politics will get to a reasonable outcome here, which is that normal politics will even hold temperatures below two degrees. What should that put on the table? And sometimes I think about technological solutions, huge amounts of money being spent on not just renewables, but potentially studying things like geoengineering. Sometimes I wonder about things that are somewhere between political activism and extra political, right? Really aggressive forms of direct activism like shutting down cities. If you read Kim Stanley Robinsons new book, The Ministry for the Future, hes clearly contemplating what it would mean when violence begins to be a way people try to move opinions on this, eco-violence. Where are you on this? If you begin to give up on politics, where does that leave you?

elizabeth kolbert

Well, I guess, I plead journalism here. Im a straight up journalist. I report on whats happening. And this latest book and the previous books are all very much on the ground, reporting what is happening. Now, when we get into the what should we do, or what could happen now, owing to our failures  and thats certainly where geoengineering comes in. A lot of very smart people saying, look at the political system. Its just not capable of moving fast enough. And the last 30 years are a pretty depressing proof of that. So youre lead either to a techno fix, or youre led to a carbon dictatorship. I dont know what youre led to if you just say, well, we just are incapable of moving fast enough under politics as they are. And I think that the point I think thats really important is, its, on some level, unfortunately, or fortunately maybe, its unknowable  I mean, how people will react all around the world. This is going to affect everyone. Its going to affect some people much more brutally than others. Obviously, people living at the margins of society already, just eking by, presumably, you know, already are getting hit the hardest by climate change. And that will continue. But really, all of us everywhere, New York City, San Francisco, Mumbai, every major coastal city in the world is going to be grappling with this, and every farmer in the world is going to be grappling with this. And how people will respond and whether they will respond the same way all around the world, impossible to know.

ezra klein

Yeah, I struggle with this because I am a political reporter. And I try to say whats happening, and the thing that I think is happening is that the political system will not respond. And I just dont know where that leaves you. There are very  because global warming is such a distinctive issue in the way that it becomes irreversible might be a little too strong a way to put it, given things are, like, direct 

elizabeth kolbert

No, I dont think thats too strong. [LAUGHS]

ezra klein

Fair enough. But its unlike other things, that if we dont fix a healthcare system in the way I would like to see America do it in the next 10 years, we could do it in year twelve. We really could. I mean, people will die in the meantime, but its not an irre  the healthcare system itself is not irreversibly gone. And this is just such a distinctive issue in that it does have this quality of points of no return. And I think there is a desire understandably so to keep people engaged in activism and voting and other things, to always say, well, maybe there is a strategy that could unlock it. And I really want to be clear, Im not getting into a Jonathan Franzen, like, were all screwed and this is over. The question is simply that if a political system will not respond, historically, people begin to think of other things. Sometimes technologies change systems, as youre saying and were talking about here. Sometimes you have very, very large direct action, as you have in different kinds of equality movements. Sometimes you have violence, right, as you do in wars. And I just  this is not a question Im going to make you answer because 

elizabeth kolbert

Good.

ezra klein

Ill take your point on it. Its more to just reflect that I feel like saying the political system is failing is simply saying what is, but because we have  theres almost a  its, like, verboten to say that in America. Youre supposed to always imbue everything with hope, that people really dont like it when you just state that fact.

elizabeth kolbert

Well, I think that one thing that is really important to realize and gets very much to what youre saying, is, we are in an unprecedented moment. That is also, I should say, one of the things that I hope comes through in the book, even though I actually am trying to have fun in the book. I know that sounds weird. I hope that some sense of fun comes through in the book. But we are at an unprecedented moment. No species has ever had the kind of impact that we are having on the Earth, with the possible exception of the original bacteria that invented photosynthesis and oxygenated the atmosphere. That was a very long process, but certainly changed the Earth. But with that possible exception, just no species has managed to exert the kind of influence on planet Earth that we have. And there are a lot of effects of that that potentially have tremendous effects for human thriving and certainly also for every other species with whom we share the planet. And so its an ungodly, as it were, responsibility. And typically, as you say, were dealing with things that we have some precedent for the healthcare system, an economic crisis, you name it. And as you say, if you get it wrong, many, many people suffer. And for some people, the damage is irreversible, but not for the whole planet. And here we do have that situation. And the fact that were unprepared to deal with it, if you wanted to be kind to humanity, you could say, well, of course, weve never faced it before. And thats the situation that were facing, in some sense, over and over again. And I talk in the book about this phrase, no analog. We are in a no analog moment. We are creating a no analog climate, no analog ecosystems. They just dont have any precedent in Earth history.

ezra klein

I think there are two deep stories that are always implicit and sometimes explicit in this conversation. So one is maybe lets call it the Christian story of dominion, that man has control of nature, that nature was entrusted to us, but at any rate, that it is something that we act upon. We are trying to beat back the oceans, put out the fires, extract the lumber, pull up the oil, right? That natures somehow here for our extraction. And the question is, how much can we master and control it, and to what end? Theres another story that I think has always been there, but has developed popularity particularly in recent years again, which is that this is hubris, that no matter what we do, we are subject to nature. You can live in your fancy house in California, and the fires still come for you, too. You can live in your fancy high rise in Miami, but the waves are going to come for you, too. And so that we are subject to nature, and this has all been a kind of misunderstanding of our relationship thats going to end with tragic consequences. And obviously, those are two extremes, and people are between them. But Im curious if you think there is a story that we should tell, basically, our children. We should tell ourselves about what our relationship should be. Given the amount of control, but also given the amount of vulnerability we have, well, what is it? What is the way were to characterize it?

elizabeth kolbert

Well, I think thats a very  I mean, thats a very good point that you made. And those two narratives, I am somewhat trying to question both of those narratives. And the new narrative to spring from that, a narrative that would potentially guide us into the future, I mean, its a complicated narrative. Hows that? And it, I suppose, would say, be very, very careful. Realize that with great power comes tremendous responsibility. Now, one of the other messages of the book is, even when we think were acting responsibly, often were intervening in systems that are so complicated that we think were doing the right thing, as you suggested before, and things get horribly out of control. And that has happened again and again. Now, on the other hand, as we also discussed, its not like we have a lot of great options at this point. So I do think that stressing humility would probably be a good first step, but it doesnt prescribe a course of action.

ezra klein

What do you think of the degrowth movement on climate?

elizabeth kolbert

As a sort of first pass estimate, we have to say that resource use and economic growth are still very closely tied. And we live on a finite planet. So theres a famous saying, the only people who think you can have infinite growth on a finite planet are mad men and economists. And I think that contemplating degrowth and putting that on the table is really, really important. Now, in our political system, one has to imagine that would be toxic. So we have a problem here. But I also want to add  I dont want to add answers, but Ill add more questions. Hows that? If you take solar geoengineering, there are initiatives, well call them, to look at how in Gods name would you even reach a global? Because this would affect everyone on Earth. It could be done one of the, you know, choose your adjectives. One of the exciting, one of the horrifying things about geoengineering is that it could in theory, at least, be done by a small group of nations, just a small group of assertive countries. It wouldnt have to have buy-in from everybody. But it would affect everybody. And I think in general, if you were looking at good governance, you would say, well, every country would have to have a seat at the table. When we look at whats happened with climate change, right, every country theoretically, once again, has a seat at the table. Meanwhile, everyone  and the U.S. is a classic perfect example, example A, is doing pretty much exactly what the hell they want. It doesnt give you a warm feeling about how this kind of global governance could work. [MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein

You write in the book about CRISPR, and I just  I always want to talk more about CRISPR. So first, could you just explain what CRISPR is for people who havent heard of it or havent looked into it?

elizabeth kolbert

Sure, so CRISPR is sort of a structure in bacteria. Bacteria possess sort of whats called a CRISPR locus. And they use it. They incorporate little snippets of their enemies, which are viruses, into their own genome. And then they can use these to identify an incoming threat. And they then send out these enzymes basically that chop up the enemy. Hows that? And scientists Id say about a decade ago  two just won a Nobel Prize for this  figured out you could harness this for human purposes. You could harness CRISPR to cut a stretch of DNA very precisely and pretty cheaply. You could accurately and cheaply do this. And that has really revolutionized gene editing. And there are a couple of things you can do with this. You can disable a gene, so just a knockout gene. Thats the easiest thing to do. And then you can also replace a gene. If you give the gene instructions, you chop it and you sort of give it instructions for what to do, how to repair that sequence. But its not the original sequence. Its a new sequence. You could insert into anything, a gene from anything into anything else. Hows that? Or a completely synthetic gene that you made up. And that has just tremendous power and all sorts of crazy creatures that some of which I describe in the book have already been created, creatures with superhero-like muscles, ants that cant smell, coffee that has no caffeine. The list goes on and on. Its like having a palette and being an artist. And almost whatever you can think of, if it just involves a simple genetic tweak or even a stack of genetic tweaks, could, at least in theory, be achieved.

ezra klein

So this is one of those technologies where every time I read about it, think about it, hear about it, I wonder if when the long history of our era is written, things like Trump and all these things that I deal with every day are going to be sideshows, and were living in the period when humankind developed the technology to take control of not only its, but lots of other species genetic evolution. In a very specific way, you have the lovely analogy of the palette. And maybe not, right? Maybe the technology ends up having limits on it that we dont know yet. But that is a lot of power that we are suddenly stepping into that we dont have anywhere near an idea of how to use it. I guess Im just curious, as we start this CRISPR conversation, just how you think about that as a responsibility. Is this as transformative as it feels? And if so, what societal reaction does that need to trigger?

elizabeth kolbert

Well, I certainly think  and once again, Im not a biotechnologist. But I think anyone in that world would say, its pretty transformative. And one of the things that I did in the process of writing the book was I just ordered a CRISPR gene editing kit from a company called The ODIN, which finds itself often in complicated legal situations. Hows that? They sent me this kit that I could use to genetically engineer a strain of bacteria resistant E. coli, for example. And I did that in my kitchen, basically. So this is potentially a game changer on a lot of levels. And that includes, I fear, some very, very dangerous levels. Now, in terms of people using it not for bioterrorism, but for sort of legitimate reasons, I think it has huge implications. And some people will applaud these. It has huge implications for agriculture. If were going to feed a growing population without doing even more monumental damage to planet Earth, were going to need to find new crop varieties. So maybe CRISPR is one way that were going to do that. But as you say, it also allows us to genetically manipulate virtually anything. And another point that I should make, in addition to allowing us to add or subtract genes from a creature, CRISPR also, in theory, at least, and this has already been done in mosquitoes and in fruit flies, though not yet in sort of higher orders of organisms, allows you to program a creature to perform on itself the task of reprogramming its genes. And this allows you to push out a genetic change that will perpetuate itself across the generations. And we have not been able to do that before, and that is huge.

ezra klein

So you bring up a particular example there that I think is worth reflecting on. So researchers in Britain have engineered a gene driver suppression drive for the kind of mosquito that carries malaria. Just to put the stakes in context here for everybody, more than 400,000 people died of malaria in 2019 alone. So more than 400,000 in 2019. If we could be sufficiently confident the gene drive would work, should we release these mosquitoes, or at least, what set of considerations do you think should govern whether or not we did that?

elizabeth kolbert

That is a huge question. And once again, Im going to punt somewhat. I mean, people are going to have to  bioethicists, on the one hand, and also people on the ground. So the thought is to release these mosquitoes, which are now  as you say, they were developed by British scientists, but theres a facility in Italy where theyre sort of spending their lives buzzing around a biosecure facility in Italy right now to release them in Africa, where there are parts of Africa that suffer from a lot of malaria deaths. And once again, the good part of being a journalist is, I dont get to make that decision. And I would think another question is, who does get to make that decision? I dont know the answer to that. Really, Im not sure anyone does. But thats going to have to be a complicated conversation, especially with the people on the ground who are going to be affected by it.

ezra klein

Yeah, I mean, I am profoundly, on one level, uncomfortable with the idea that were going to start driving species out of existence. But I was thinking about that line in context of your previous book, which is to say, humankind drives species out of existence all the time without much consideration. And now that we can save more than 400,000 human lives each year, were suddenly going to be shy about it? It gets to this constant, I think, theme in your book, which is that we are somehow very comfortable with the ways we warp and control nature and act upon the physical world thoughtlessly, like the ways in which a machine is just doing it by running. But then when you actually raise your hand and say, well, we should do it in a directed way, we should get rid of this one mosquito instead of all species who get into our path, or we should geoengineer to cool the world, as opposed to heat it, because we are basically geoengineering the world all the time right now, then theres this feeling of, well, is that really something we should do? Who decides? How do we do it? I mean, were doing it all the time right now and nobodys deciding, and its for no particular purpose except maybe to get people rich. Its weird.

elizabeth kolbert

Yes, no, I think thats a very good point. And I do want to say, I raised that exact point with a lot of the scientists I spoke to. One of the guys I spoke to, an Australian scientist named Mark Tizard, I spoke to him at this really high security, biosecure facility in Geelong, Australia. He was of the opinion, everyones looking at genetic engineering all wrong. If you do genetic engineering, you could do some very, very impactful genetic engineering that would change one gene in a species, lets say. So for example, theres a chestnut tree thats been developed in Syracuse, New York, that has one extra gene imported from wheat that is resistant to chestnut blight. And thats considered a transgenic tree. And so right now, you cant take that tree out into the world. So thats a one-gene shift that we are very, very concerned about. Now his point would be, look, we take entire organisms with 20,000 genes and we just plop them somewhere new, once again, as you say, completely unconsciously, just when we ship stuff around the world. This is happening constantly. And we dont worry about that. So why do we get, as you say, all bent out of shape? Now I think an argument can also be made  and other scientists made this point to me. David Keith, a scientist at Harvard who is really the lead scientist, I suppose, on the solar geoengineering research program, when I said to him, well  what you said  were already geoengineering the planet by burning a lot of fossil fuels, his point was, well, there is a difference between something being collateral damage. Climate change is just really collateral damage of our economic system or our economy right now that depends on fossil fuels. There is an important distinction between something thats an unwitting effect and something that youre doing consciously. And the bar is higher for that. So I think both of those points, theyre in conflict, but they both, to a certain extent, make sense.

ezra klein

But theres a way, reading the book, I kept thinking about the scene of Lucy at the chocolate factory, where we just keep stacking these clutches and changes and controls on top of each other. Weve talked about solar geoengineering, and Ive probably been a bad host to not defining it a little bit better. But basically what were talking about there is blasting particles, maybe sulfate particles, into the stratosphere in order to cool the world in a way that has happened after volcanic eruptions. But one point people make on that is that once you start doing it, unless you find some way to suck carbon out of the atmosphere, you can never stop. And you read about this in the book that as soon as you stopped, you would snap back to all of the global warming youve now built up because the sun would be actually that hot. And so there is a scary way. One of the things that your book did for me was it forced me to confront it in a more serious way that I sometimes do, that there is no out anymore. There is no stable equilibrium we will get to. Were just going to be doing more and more and more of these. And the more of them we do, the more of them we have to keep doing. And then we have to fix what weve already been doing. And this is just the condition of humanity and the world, frankly, much of the natural world being subject to our whims from here on out. I dont know what to say about it, but its a hell of a way to run a species.

elizabeth kolbert

[LAUGHS] Yeah, a hell of a way to run a planet. Definitely not what the doctor ordered  hows that? And as youre suggesting, all these things are going on simultaneously. And I think that the idea  and this is a point that Ruth Gates, who I mentioned before, who is the scientist behind the super coral project, mentioned to me, and that made a big impact on me. She said, look, a lot of people, they want to go back to something. But that just isnt happening, right? So if we, for example, stopped right now and just said, OK, were just going to stop pouring carbon into the atmosphere, for example, now that requires rebuilding the world economy. And I think its something that we hopefully eventually will do absolutely. But at that point, the problem is just no longer getting worse. Its not that the problem is solved. This is also a really important point to make about climate change and why climate change is different not just quantitatively, but qualitatively different from a lot of other environmental problems which, once you stop doing whatever youre doing, they dissipate over time. So something like air pollution, soot, lets say particulate matter. That will fall to Earth if you just stopped putting it up there. After a certain amount of time, your problem would be solved. You stop putting CO2 up there, theres so much inertia in the system. And CO2 also hangs around, for all intents and purposes, forever, that you dont get the world back in any foreseeable timeframe. And that is exactly why people are starting to look at very radical solutions. Thats why carbon dioxide removal, trying to figure out ways to get carbon out of the atmosphere, I think that is going to be a very big business at some point.

ezra klein

You talked about that, direct air capture projects. But one of the things you mentioned that I always think is worth people considering here is that the IPCC, which does the big scientific consortium, that does all this modeling on different warming pathways, when you look at almost any other simulations where we keep warming down to manageable levels, it includes a fair amount of direct air capture. Can you just talk a little bit about that technology and how viable you think it is or isnt?

elizabeth kolbert

Sure, well, one thing I want to say is that it doesnt necessarily  I mean, this is a bit of a technical point, but Ill make it. It doesnt necessarily include direct air capture. It includes some form of negative emissions. Hows that? So that means taking carbon out of the air and then putting it somewhere. Hows that? So what the models really love and what sort of got us one of the things that, in a way, were living in the world the modelers created  hows that  was a technology thats become known as BECCS, for Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage. So if I plant a lot of trees, I then burn them in a power plant, I make electricity, I capture the carbon from the smokestack, and then I bury it somehow, then I have both energy, and I have negative emissions. Because Ive grown the tree, the tree has taken up the carbon while its growing, and then when I burn it, I sequester that carbon so Ive taken it out of circulation. And the models love that because you get energy, and you get negative emissions. And so, in a weird way, the models were off to the races with this. And then when politicians asked the models to come up with these scenarios where we can keep warming to, quote unquote, safe levels, well, they just put in more and more of this. Hows that? And I think that there are some pilot projects. It doesnt really exist. Its extremely problematic. Lets put it that way. But theres also all sorts of other ideas out there for how we could pull carbon out of the air and sequester it from the atmosphere. And one of those that you mentioned is direct air capture. We would use machines. And I have visited such machines. They exist. They are definitely doable. The issue here, as with so many responses to climate change, is scale  scaling up to the scale of the problem.

ezra klein

Do you think it is possible? I mean, sometimes I read things on this. And Ill see, oh, its a point or two GDP a year. And Ill say, I mean, thats a ton of money  I mean trillions of dollars globally. But we spend that much money on much dumber things than getting carbon out of the air. In your research, did you feel that long term, it is possible to do this scale and simply hard, or that these technologies will not ultimately scale?

elizabeth kolbert

Well, I think that on their own, if you wanted to just say, oh, keep burning carbon and then just suck it all out of the atmosphere, you would be setting yourself up for an immensely tall order  once again, 40 billion tons of CO2 going up there every year. But if you said were going to work as hard as possible to reduce our emissions, and then were going to  a lot of companies already have claimed by 2050 or whatever the date is  pick a date. Its usually, unfortunately, several decades from now. Were going to be carbon neutral. And what they mean by that, I think  I mean, often they leave it probably purposely fuzzy, but if theyre being honest or strict in their accounting, they would mean, well, if our operations are still emitting carbon in 2050, were also going to have to be removing that same amount of carbon. Then we will be carbon neutral. I do want to say, to inject a happier note, a lot of progress has been made, technological progress, in clean energy technologies. The price of solar has come down astonishingly, way faster than anybody expected. We are moving towards electric vehicles, especially where you are in California. I think these transitions will happen. And then maybe carbon dioxide removal has a role to play to make up for the rest. The question here is, will they happen fast enough to avert disaster? And will they happen universally enough? Hows that? And that gets back to the global question. So Ill just throw another geopolitical issue out here. The Russians, who have tremendous fossil fuel reserves, they may decide, we dont really care about climate change. They seem to feel that way right now. So you need, unfortunately, buy-in from everyone, especially from your major emitters. You dont necessarily need buy-in from your non-major emitters. But you do need buy-in from any major emitter. [MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein

I think its a good place to move on to maybe another alternative solution here, which is that aliens visit Earth and give us the technology we need to get out of this. And 

elizabeth kolbert

Yes, thats always a handy one.

ezra klein

And hopefully, youve just written an article on the question of whether or not weve been visited by aliens. And I want to start with the meta question here. Im struck now that the issue of whether or not aliens have or are visiting Earth is something you can read about in The New York Times. You can read about in The New Yorker. You can read about it kind of everywhere. There are now serious astrophysicists writing about it. Whats changed from a decade or two ago on this?

elizabeth kolbert

Well, I think one of the things thats changed, perhaps the most profound thing thats changed  and once again, Im not an astrophysicist  is we now know that there are  in just our galaxy has that  many, many millions of potentially habitable planets. NASA has done very serious work on this. If you imagine a habitable planet to be a planet thats solid, rocky planet like the Earth, to be a certain distance from the sun, so its neither perpetually frozen nor perpetually boiling, there are many, many, many, many, many possibly habitable planets. And the sort of basic rule in science of mediocrity, as it were, like the Earth is just an ordinary planet, youd expect if that is the case, would we be the only habitable planet in the galaxy? That seems pretty weird. Hows that?

ezra klein

It does seem really weird. Its certainly always seemed weird to me. So let me ask the headline question of the piece. Have we already been visited by aliens?

elizabeth kolbert

[LAUGHS] Well, Im not convinced that we have, but the piece that I wrote was about a book that has recently come out by a Harvard astrophysicist named Avi Loeb, in which he makes the rather controversial argument in astrophysical circles that whats called an interstellar object, the first interstellar object that has been observed was observed in 2017. And an interstellar object is just an object that we can identify that has originated from outside our solar system and is exiting, is leaving our solar system. And scientists caught this as it was coming through, as it were. And it had very, very odd properties. And one interpretation of those odd properties  and I should say is a minority opinion here  is that it was manufactured. Its not something  these odd properties suggest a consciousness at work. Hows that?

ezra klein

So my understanding of the Avi Loeb book  and I havent read it, but Ive read some stuff from him and some stuff commenting on it  is that his argument is a process of elimination argument, that he basically says, given the set of things this object could have been, once Ive ruled this out and that out and the third out and the fifth out, well, really, aliens is all thats left. Its like the old Sherlock Holmes idea, right? The 

elizabeth kolbert

Exactly.

ezra klein

 last remaining idea must be true.

elizabeth kolbert

He likes to quote Sherlock Holmes, yes.

ezra klein

The problem. I have with that is it seems very strange that, once youre talking on the intergalactic scale, that the puny human mind would even know, would have any way of knowing what all of the possible explanations are. And so maybe aliens. I would personally enjoy believing that. And I very much enjoy entertaining the notion. But Im a little bit skeptical of a process of elimination argument, given how little actual information we have about the universe of things to eliminate.

elizabeth kolbert

Well, I think youre in very good company, Ezra. I mean, I think most of his colleagues would say the same thing. But it makes good copy. And I wrote about it for precisely that reason. Its a very interesting idea. It makes you think. So, as I say, I think that most astrophysicists would agree with you. But that being said, the piece also does take up an increasingly, I think, widespread view also in the astrophysicist community or astronomer community or astrobiology  thats now new, thats a whole profession now  that the odds of there being simply one inhabited planet in the universe are very low. And it raises a lot of questions, are we alone? Are we not alone? If were not alone, where are they  the famous question from Enrico Fermi. So its a lot to think about.

ezra klein

It does seem, though, that there is a moment around this stuff right now. And Ive done a past podcast on this back at Vox, but so theres Avi Loeb and co., who are looking at this astronomy oriented piece of evidence, right? This thing they notice that they think must have some consciousness piloting it. Then there is the set of videos that have come out of the Navy, where you have skilled pilots up there, saying, what the hell is that? This is nothing Ive ever seen. And there are a number of them. And they have a kind of similar drive to them. Then you have Harry Reid and some other pretty high up government people saying, look, I cant say anything more. But I think the government should release what it knows about aliens, which I dont get the sense its so much, but its clearly something suggestive. We know there was some army group that was actually studying some of these materials. Its weird. I mean, I dont know what to say about it exactly, but I feel like theres something weird here. And its a little protected because anybody who talks about it kind of feels a little foolish or is made to feel a little foolish. But theres a lot of little pings on the radar right now.

elizabeth kolbert

Yes, and I think that  once again, I speak with no particular knowledge, but I think two things are converging, as you say, certain hints or bits of  I dont want to call them evidence. Thats probably rising to too high a level. But that combined with pretty fundamental knowledge that habitable planets abound has that. And when you put those two things together, its extremely suggestive. Now the other connection that people make, which gets back to our earlier conversation about environmental destruction, is, well, maybe we havent been visited by intelligent aliens because intelligent civilizations tend to destroy themselves. Whether thats just projecting from our own experience, or whether theres something interesting there is also a really interesting question.

ezra klein

I think thats a good place to end it on, interesting question. So the final section of this, Im going to ask you for some book recommendations. And let me begin with this. What book have you read the most times?

elizabeth kolbert

Well, its a pretty standard one. But I think Ive got to go with The Great Gatsby.

ezra klein

What book is your go-to example of just truly beautiful writing?

elizabeth kolbert

Well, I think if I really am just looking for great writing and great ideas, I always go back to my college copy of The Complete Stories of Kafka. So thats fiction. I want to add a non  if I may, add a nonfiction version. A book that I really love and always go back to, also looking for inspiration in a non-fiction vein, is The Song of the Dodo by David Quammen.

ezra klein

If somebody wants to understand climate change better, what book should they start with?

elizabeth kolbert

I will offer the book that I myself started with. Its a little bit technical, but not terribly. And so if you want to really understand the geophysics, I really recommend it. Its Global Warming, The Complete Briefing by John Houghton, who is a British scientist, who, sadly, died recently, I believe, of COVID.

ezra klein

Whats your favorite book, fiction or not, about aliens?

elizabeth kolbert

That is actually a really easy one. Its Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino.

ezra klein

Oh, thats a great choice, actually. And Ill end on this one. Is there a childrens book you love?

elizabeth kolbert

Well, there are many childrens books that I love. And I will offer up my two, I think what are my two real favorites  The Phantom Tollbooth and Charlottes Web, which I still weep whenever I read it, whenever I used to read it to my kids, who have now sadly outgrown it.

ezra klein

And your book, of course, is Under a White Sky. It is phenomenal. I loved reading it. And you are Elizabeth Kolbert. Thank you so much for being here.

elizabeth kolbert

Thanks for having me. [MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein
Parsa Namaki son of Health Minister Saeed Namaki receives a Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in a staged event at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Iran on Tuesday launched a coronavirus inoculation campaign among healthcare professionals with recently delivered Russian Sputnik V vaccines as the country struggles to stem the worst outbreak of the pandemic in the Middle East with its death toll nearing 59,000. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iran on Tuesday launched a coronavirus inoculation campaign among healthcare professionals with recently delivered Russian Sputnik V vaccines as the country struggles to stem the worst outbreak of the pandemic in the Middle East with its death toll nearing 59,000.

At a ceremony marking the start of the campaign, Parsa Namaki, son of Health Minister Saeed Namaki, received his first dose. The minister said the vaccination would be simultaneously carried out in more than 600 medical centers across the country.

In the coming weeks, Iran plans to extend the vaccination to elderly people and those suffering from chronic diseases, the minister added. "We have to vaccinate vulnerable groups."

COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, has so far claimed the lives of more that 300 healthcare professionals in Iran.

Last Thursday, Iran received its first batch of foreign-made coronavirus vaccines from Russia. Iran has so far reported some 1.48 million confirmed cases of the virus. Iranian media have reported that a total of 2 million Russian vaccines will arrive in Iran in February and March.

Though the daily death toll has remained under 100 for weeks, authorities warn about a possible surge in March as many ignore distancing measures in public places.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has banned imports of the American and Britain vaccines, a reflection of mistrust toward the West. In December, Iran began testing an Iranian-made vaccine in humans and said it expects to distribute it in spring. The country has also began working on a joint vaccine with Cuba, too.

Iran is also planning to import some 17 million doses of vaccine from COVAX and millions from other countries.

Parsa Namaki son of Health Minister Saeed Namaki receives a Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in a staged event at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Iran on Tuesday launched a coronavirus inoculation campaign among healthcare professionals with recently delivered Russian Sputnik V vaccines as the country struggles to stem the worst outbreak of the pandemic in the Middle East with its death toll nearing 59,000. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Parsa Namaki, center, son of Health Minister Saeed Namaki, left, is injected with the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in a ceremony at Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Iran on Tuesday launched a coronavirus inoculation campaign among healthcare professionals with recently delivered Russian Sputnik V vaccines as the country struggles to stem the worst outbreak of the pandemic in the Middle East with its death toll nearing 59,000. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A medic prepares a shot of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in a staged event at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Iran on Tuesday launched a coronavirus inoculation campaign among healthcare professionals with recently delivered Russian Sputnik V vaccines as the country struggles to stem the worst outbreak of the pandemic in the Middle East with its death toll nearing 59,000. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Parsa Namaki, center, son of Health Minister Saeed Namaki, receives a Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine as Minister Namaki applauds, in a staged event at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Iran on Tuesday launched a coronavirus inoculation campaign among healthcare professionals with recently delivered Russian Sputnik V vaccines as the country struggles to stem the worst outbreak of the pandemic in the Middle East with its death toll nearing 59,000. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Health Minister Saeed Namaki, left, tries to the kiss hand of Dr. Fattah Ghazi as a sign of respect, after he received a Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in a staged event at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Iran on Tuesday launched a coronavirus inoculation campaign among healthcare professionals with recently delivered Russian Sputnik V vaccines as the country struggles to stem the worst outbreak of the pandemic in the Middle East with its death toll nearing 59,000. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Dr. Fattah Ghazi from the Imam Khomeini hospital receives a Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in a staged event at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Iran on Tuesday launched a coronavirus inoculation campaign among healthcare professionals with recently delivered Russian Sputnik V vaccines as the country struggles to stem the worst outbreak of the pandemic in the Middle East with its death toll nearing 59,000. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Sara Goudarzi, a nurse from the Imam Khomeini Hospital flashes a victory sign as she receives a Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in a staged event at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Iran on Tuesday launched a coronavirus inoculation campaign among healthcare professionals with recently delivered Russian Sputnik V vaccines as the country struggles to stem the worst outbreak of the pandemic in the Middle East with its death toll nearing 59,000. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A group of medics from the Imam Khomeini Hospita, who volunteered to for receive the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, sit prior to being injected at a staged event, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Iran on Tuesday launched a coronavirus inoculation campaign among healthcare professionals with recently delivered Russian Sputnik V vaccines as the country struggles to stem the worst outbreak of the pandemic in the Middle East with its death toll nearing 59,000. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

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FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers, the 400-plus-unit physical therapy franchise with locations across 45 states, now offers an orthopedic residency program that has been accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE).

The accreditation means that FYZICAL now offers a clinical pathway for its Physical Therapists to undergo advanced training and become certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialists.

Since 1996, only 322 residency programs have earned accreditation from ABPTRFE, putting FYZICAL in an elite category that is even smaller when accounting only for orthopedic residency programs. That means that for Physical Therapists hoping to become certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialists, FYZICAL is among the best and most accessible options.

The accreditation also supports FYZICALs mission to provide the highest level of care for patients and reduce practice variability across locations.

"By offering an accredited residency program, we are further fulfilling our commitment to excellence across our franchise system, said Dr. Gavin Hamer, FYZICALs national director of education. We now have a new resource to attract Physical Therapists who are committed to life-long learning and evidence-based practice. In turn, those Therapists will provide the best possible care for patients, improving their outcomes.

FYZICALs accreditation as an orthopedic residency was years in the making. In 2016, Dr. Rick Douglass, FYZICALs president of operations, proposed his initial vision for the residency program and submitted an application to the ABPTRFE. It was two years before the application for candidacy was accepted and another two years  plus lots of education, programming and paperwork  before the board conducted a site visit at FYZICALs Bonita Springs, Florida location and approved the program, making FYZICAL the 117th physical therapy orthopedic residency in the United States.

We started with a vision to become the countrys best orthopedic residency program, and then committed to the extensive application process, Dr. Douglass said. It was a serious undertaking. There is so much education to be done, and its a significant financial commitment. Thats why there are so few programs. We had to prove that we have the resources and knowledge to support the program. When the board conducted its site visit, they were impressed by how well equipped we are, and they are eager for us to expand the program across our system.

Currently, FYZICALs residency program is offered at the franchises Bonita Springs location. FYZICAL plans to roll out its residency program across its system and is actively seeking franchise locations that are interested in becoming residency sites now.

To learn more about franchising with FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers, visit https://www.fyzicalfranchise.com/.

ABOUT FYZICAL THERAPY & BALANCE CENTERS

FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers is the fastest-growing physical therapy franchise in the United States and is headquartered in Sarasota, Florida. With more than 400 centers in 45 states, FYZICALs revolutionary business model is designed to optimize profitability and growth, along with comprehensive patient care through unique balance protocols and healthy lifestyle products and services. FYZICAL is a champion of patient choice and direct access, and a leader in the future of health, wellness and preventative care. For more information on joining the FYZICAL family, visit FYZICALFranchise.com.


A mob in Rajasthans Bhilwara district thrashed and stripped naked a 25-year-old man for his relationship with a woman. The incident which took place on Monday came to light when a video of the assault was circulated all over social media.

After the video went viral on social media, the state police approached the victim to record his statement. The police said seven people have been booked for the assault.

Recounting the incident, the victim told the police that he was married but after

breaking ties with his estranged wife, he developed a relationship with a woman from a nearby village who was also separated from her husband.

The two had plans to marry meanwhile, the man had given a mobile phone to the woman so that they could regularly keep in contact.

Also read: 'Love for Women Overflows in My Heart': Turkish TV Preacher Jailed for 1,075 Years for Sex Crimes

He added that when the phone stopped working on February 6, he had no option but to visit the womans village to give her a new one. This was when one of the womans relatives saw him and started beating him.

The man was stripped and beaten until he started bleeding profusely from his nose and private parts.

There were injury marks all over his body. The accused also held the victim hostage for four hours. The victim told us that one of the accused made a video of the incident and circulated it on social media to defame him. The accused also threatened the victim that they would kill him if he met the woman again. the police was quoted saying to Hindustan Times.

Many cases of mob violence have also been previously reported from the state of Rajasthan. In an earlier incident, a man was allegedly stripped naked, thrashed, and had his hair chopped off by 3 men who accused him of stealing a goat, in a village in Jhalawar on June 13, 2020.

The accused had also demanded Rs 1 Lakh from him and made a video of the entire incident with the motive of blackmailing him in the future.
The area around the project is well-serviced by infrastructure and has a skilled local workforce as it includes several major gold mines

( ) has awarded a contract to a local drilling and surveying contractor for the upcoming soil geochemical sampling programme at the Merolia gold project in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia.

Gyro Australia will carry out auger drilling and sampling contract for a planned 828 samples taken from a planned 1.5m depth, with initial examination using a portable x-ray fluorescence analyser and sample material retained for verification analysis as appropriate.

With the auger drilling at 200m by 500m grid spacings, this will cover a prospective area striking roughly 15km long by 6km wide, entirely located within Panther's exclusive option tenement E 38/3384 1.

Darren Hazelwood, Panther Metals' chief executive, said he expects the work to start in the next couple of weeks.

"We're excited to be getting 'boots on ground' at Merolia to test a priority target zone south of the Ironstone and Comet Well prospects," he said.

"Prior technical review highlighted that it contained a gap in previous exploration coverage along a strike of about 15km. The ground immediately to the north and south of this area have historically returned significant gold in soil anomalies. This soil geochemistry programme aims to 'fill in the gap' and provide us with further targets for future mineral exploration."

Located around 250km north-northeast of the town of Kalgoorlie and 23km to the west of Laverton in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia, the Meriolia project comprises a portfolio of four contiguous, 100% held exploration tenements totalling 145 sq km, together with five largely contiguous exploration tenements totalling another 290 sq km that are held under an exclusive option agreement.

The area around Laverton is well-serviced by infrastructure and has a skilled local workforce as it includes several major gold mines, including the 3mln oz Granny Smith, 8mln oz Sunrise Dam and Wallaby, with many other significant gold deposits.

Exploration into Panther's licence area has been limited as it is partly obscured by "a veneer of transported cover", it says, but regional magnetic data had identified several geological systems which have potential to host substantial gold mineralisation.

This potential has been backed up by surface geochemical sampling along the Comet Well gold trend, which has identified significant coherent linear soil gold anomalies at Comet South, Comet North, Comet West and at Ironstone.

The Comet Well gold trend extends NW over at least 15km from the Comet Well area in the south to the Burtville East area in the north, with the Comet Well gold trend and associated sub-parallel structures extending outside of the licence area, north to the Bright Star gold deposit owned by Stone Resources Australia ( ).
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[February 09, 2021] Holtzbrinck Buchverlage chooses Xpublisher

Going forward, Holtzbrinck Buchverlage will leverage the Xpublisher editorial system to support its media asset management. With S. Fischer, Rowohlt, Droemer Knaur, Kiepenheuer & Witsch, and Argon AVE, Holtzbrinck Buchverlage is one of the largest publishing groups in Germany. "We are very proud to partner with Holtzbrinck Buchverlage in this endeavor," explains Matthias Kraus, founder and managing director of software specialist Xpublisher GmbH. Learn more about Xpublisher GmbH and its products.



About Xpublisher GmbH Xpublisher is a leading provider in the multichannel publishing space, delivering intuitive solutions for creating, managing, and automating magazine, book, and documentation publishing with Xeditor and Xpublisher. Xpublisher was founded in 2009 and is based in Munich, Germany. The company operates a US subsidiary and has been part of the Fabasoft Group since 2019. Numerous leading international companies and organizations in the publishing, aerospace, technology, education, and public administration sectors together with a host of other industries have already placed their trust in Xpublisher's products.

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Senate Pays Tribute to B'laan master weaver Yabing Masalon Dulo

The Senate on Tuesday adopted a resolution expressing its profound sympathy and sincere condolences on the death of master weaver and Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) awardee Yabing Masalon Dulo who passed away last January 26, 2021 at the age of 106.

Sen. Nancy Binay, who introduced Senate Resolution No. (SRN) 626, said Dulo, a master weaver of the traditional Mabal Tabih art, learned the craft of Ikat weaving at the age of 14 and became a teacher and cultural elder among her friends and relatives.

Born in B'laan village in Landan, Polomolok, South Cotabato, Binay said Dulo's artistry in Ikat weaving was recognized by the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) and named her as a recipient of the GAMABA or the National Living Treasure Award in 2016 and was formally awarded in October 2018.

"Her tireless work had proved infectious. She had inspired her community to preserve an endangered way of life, sparking a renewed interest in an art that represented their struggles and joys," Binay said in her sponsorship speech.

According to Binay, the NCCA acknowledged Dulo's peerless mastery of the B'laan Mabal Tabih that was manifested in her impeccable work.

"She was a healer, a teacher, a master weaver and dyer. She was a conduit to the gods and spirits of her people; her work sacred, a gift from Furalo, the goddess of weaving," Binay said. She added that Dulo's exemplary work has brought pride to her community, animating the interest of many young B'laan in their remarkable cultural heritage.

"Her commitment and dedication to preserve the B'laan traditional Mabal Tabih art of Ikat weaving is an inspiration for many Filipino artists and her memory will always symbolize the rich culture of the Filipino people," Binay said.
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The United States has, so far, earned a solid D+ on the vaccine effort. The high mark is not an F because people are actually being vaccinated. There are a multitude of factors that are making this already incredibly complex situation unnecessarily convoluted. From my research, which has been motivated by my companys development of a digital tool that prioritizes and schedules vaccinations in multiple states, it has become apparent that the states and local governments are very much to blame  not just the federal government.

Among other failures, the federal government has had issues getting vaccines shipped to the right places and failed to, at the risk of the Right crying over Big Government, make a standardized, nation-wide vaccination plan.

The CDC could have given exact direction for how the vaccine was to be allocated and kept the process consistent across the country. Instead, each state has created their own vaccine priority groups. And, shockingly, some counties and even cities have their own priority groups.

On top of the fact that there are over 50 different vaccine distribution plans in this country, many of them are incredibly complex. Within phase 1 of Washington states plan, for instance, there are two tiers and within the second tier there are an additional four tiers. Then, within those tiers there are multiple factors to consider for order of priority  age, number of comorbidities, types of comorbidities, and industry. It is a 10-page document to explain who should be vaccinated in phase 1. Its a logistical nightmare to do outreach to these different patient populations and in the correct order for scheduling, let alone explain this criteria to any human being without their eyes going crossed.

These vaccination priority groups have gotten so bad that there is uproar over people getting vaccinated out of their priority group. I agree that cutting in line is bad and that we should all wait our turns. But the problem is not with those individuals, it is with the system that has been set up to confuse everyone and have the vaccinators struggling to understand and follow it.

In Georgia, a medical center lost its vaccination privileges because it vaccinated teachers out of turn. Now this facility is no longer able to offer vaccines to its patients. The punishment being doled out by the department of health is not on the clinic, but on all of its patients that were relying on that clinic for a vaccine. The department of health is making it harder to end the pandemic by shutting down a perfectly good vaccination center.

I understand what state health departments are trying to do  get the people who need it most vaccinated first. And that is a noble goal, but the over-complexity has made the implementation of the actual vaccination process a nightmare.

The argument against simply vaccinating as many people as possible is, of course, that certain people are at much higher risk. Im not arguing against giving preference to the higher risk individuals  I want my grandmother and parents vaccinated before college kids and 20-somethings. But it must be pointed out that any vaccine that goes into an arm is a good thing. That 20 year old who goes to college or parties and then goes home to see mom and dad is, once vaccinated, no longer a threat to their family  or to yours.

So yes, we must give priority to the highest risk individuals in this vaccine campaign, but not at the expense of over-complicating the vaccine rollout and potentially delaying vaccinations across the country. We must find the middle ground of vaccinating as many as possible with preference for the higher risk. Instead, we have a system that has everyone  patients, providers, and health systems  confused and wasting time trying to understand the priority groups for their locality.

There is hope that President Bidens plan for improving the vaccine rollout will get closer to the middle ground and shorten the timeline for reaching herd immunity. His focus on the pandemic and delivering funding, reimbursement, and broadened access is promising. Hopefully, his plans for federally funded vaccination centers and a push to get vaccines into urgent cares, doctors offices, community health centers, and pharmacies will be the push thats needed. And hopefully, this will be enough to drown out the confusing and conflicting prioritization plans that each state has put together and are slowing down the vaccine campaign.

Chris Moag is a physician assistant.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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Every Republican official in Texas with a functioning conscience knows what should be done with our long-indicted, oft-accused, hitherto unaccountable Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Yes, that includes you, Texas Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson and you, influential Houston state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, both members of the powerful committee that will question Paxtons agency this week in a legislative hearing.

Paxton should be scrubbed from the Office of Attorney General with the thoroughness one applies to disinfecting any other contaminated surface.

Any number of disinfectants might work against the stains left by a man who has managed to avoid trial for five long years on securities fraud charges and finally last year saw seven of his own top aides at the AGs office allege that Paxton committed bribery and abuse of office in his efforts to help a campaign donor.

A unanimous call by top GOP officials to pressure him to resign would be nice. Better yet, impeachment and conviction by the Texas Legislature. And finally, if necessary, an electoral trouncing by a well-funded challenger with some scruples.

Let us say for the record that this editorial board calls on Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan  all Republicans  to take any other measures that will protect Texans from further lawlessness, scandal and shame at the hands of Paxton.

Alas, while some of our brave statewide Republicans have expressed concern for Paxtons alleged transgressions and have refrained from heartily defending him, they dont seem willing, just now, to dirty their hands with the task of attempting to oust him.

For now, the most prominent Republican to call for Paxtons resignation is Congressman Chip Roy, who criticized the AG for attacking the staffers who had alleged wrongdoing. Roy said Paxton should step down for the good of the people of Texas.

There you have it, from yet another former Paxton staffer.

As for impeachment, its rare in Texas, and rarer still when the party of the accused holds power. As for an electoral comeuppance, that cant happen soon. While a couple of potentially promising Republican and Democrat challengers have been mentioned, they wont get their chance until 2022 when Paxton is up for re-election.

So, here we are, stuck with an alleged law-breaker as our top law enforcer, forced to watch as he saps from his office and from this proud state, more attention, more taxpayer money and more dignity with each passing day.

Thats not to say we dont have faith in the FBI investigation into Paxton thats reportedly underway or the whistleblower litigation brought by several of his accusers.

But, for now, the most expedient elixir we can hope for seems to be that trusty old disinfectant, sunshine.

We were intrigued when the Chronicles Jeremy Wallace reported Monday that lawmakers, in a draft budget, proposed to slash Paxtons request for funding by $89 million and cut more than 150 positions.

Our spirits brightened further when Bettencourt, the Houston Republican, was quoted saying of Paxtons office: We have a lot of questions that need to be asked.

Indeed. Ideally, Paxton, who maintains his innocence, would be there to answer them. But considering his chief legal strategies of delay and obfuscation arent consistent with open, honest public testimony, we wont hold our breath on that one, either.

And considering Paxtons wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, is a member of the generally collegial body, we dont expect fireworks.

What we do expect is some whiff of accountability in the only form we can get it: tough, straightforward, long-overdue questions about how Paxton is conducting business at the one of the nations largest attorney general offices and how hes spending the peoples money.

In January, The Associated Press reported that Paxton was seeking tens of millions in state money to hire outside lawyers to handle massive antitrust litigation against Google - a job his top lawyers surely could have done if they hadnt left the agency after accusing him of bribery.

The outside lawyers, along with consultants, expert witnesses and IT services are among the budget items lawmakers dont seem inclined to fund.

We caution lawmakers against withholding funding that the office genuinely needs. We were glad to see Sen. Nelson, the finance chair, say she didnt want victim services cut. But we welcome targeted hits to Paxtons ego-boosting agenda of high-profile, headline-grabbing lawsuits that dont directly serve everyday Texans.

We look for committee members, including Houston Democratic Sen. John Whitmire, to provide much needed scrutiny and sunshine on a public official who routinely dodges reporters calls.

Other than the FBI and the courts, lawmakers this session might be the only check Texans can hope for on a public official who has become a malignancy on honest, effective government: a man elected to uphold the law who instead believes he is above it.
Another patient who had been moved from the fire-hit pavilion of the Matei Bals Institute on January 29 has died, bringing the total death toll in the aftermath of the blaze to 16, according to AGERPRES.

"The Health Ministry was informed this morning of a death among the patients who were in Pavilion V of the Matei Bals National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Bucharest during the fire that broke out on January 29, 2021," the Ministry announced on Tuesday.

The fatality is an 81-year-old man who had been transferred after the fire to Victor Babes Infectious and Tropical Diseases Hospital.

He was suffering from a severe form of COVID-19 and had multiple underlying conditions.

A post mortem examination will determine the cause of the death in this case.
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Up to 200 mourners ignored the coronavirus lockdown by amassing outside a church to attend a funeral today as families paid their respects to a tree surgeon who was crushed to death by heavy machinery at work.

Witnesses described Travellers binning social distancing rules and drinking en masse, with even children reportedly seen carrying boxes of Stella Artois beer, at the funeral of Daniel White in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.

Bikers revved their engines while police were pictured down Churchgate road as a funeral cortege led by Mitsubishis proceeded to St Mary the Virgin Church, where elaborate floral arrangements were laid.

Banners described 32-year-old Mr White, nicknamed 'Dan Boy', as 'The Son I Never Had' and 'Simply The Best' as up to 200 people paid tribute to the father-of-two, whose partner Victoria called an 'absolute character' who 'lived life at 100mph'.

Mr White, a tree surgeon who had been with his girlfriend Victoria for 13 years and with whom he had two sons, was killed by a piece of heavy machinery while working on private land in Wormley, according to Hertfordshire Live.

Hertfordshire Constabulary today told MailOnline it was made aware of the funeral ahead of the event, adding: 'The funeral directors worked to keep the number of mourners inside the church to within the 30-person limit and the cemetery was later closed to keep numbers limited for the burial.'

The force confirmed no fines were issued after a 'number of additional mourners' arrived but were not admitted, confirming 'enquiries are in hand to potentially prosecute individuals for breaching Covid-19 regulations and anti-social behaviour.'

Up to 200 mourners today amassed outside a church to attend a Traveller funeral as families paid their respects to a tree surgeon who was crushed to death by heavy machinery in a tragic work accident

Police were pictured down Churchgate road leading up to St Mary the Virgin Church in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire

Police were pictured down Churchgate road as a large funeral cortege led by Mitsubishis proceeded to St Mary the Virgin Church, where elaborate floral arrangements were laid in tribute to Mr White

Daniel White, a tree surgeon, was crushed to death when heavy machinery fell on top of him during work on January 12

Up to 200 attended a mass funeral for Daniel White, who was popular in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire

Scores of people dressed in black and wearing face masks paid tribute while a few carried the coffin into the church

Bikers revved their engines outside St Mary the Virgin Church in Cheshunt today in tribute to Daniel White, 32

Scores of people dressed in black and wearing face masks paid tribute while a few carried the coffin into the church

Floral decorations were laid outside the church today as up to 200 people paid tribute to tree surgeon Daniel White

Friends and family set up a fundraiser to raise money for Victoria and her sons, three-year-old Tommy and six-month-old Teddy. The crowdfunder has already raised nearly 35,000.

Victoria called Mr White 'an absolute character' with 'a heart of gold' who 'would leave a positive stamp on every person he met'. She told the newspaper how she was left feeling 'numb to the core' after she was told about the tragic work accident on January 12.

'We've never known someone to work as much as he did and love it, but he got up everyday to give his kids everything he could,' said Victoria and her sister, Rebecca.

'He was an amazing person, an absolute character and he'd do anything for anyone - a good friend, the best dad, son and partner and he has left such a big hole in our lives.'

Mr White was very popular around Cheshunt and since his death tributes have been flooding in.

Victoria and Rebecca said: 'We're lost for words for the support and the messages that have been sent, candles, lights, a hundred bunches of flowers.'

Daniel White pictured with his girlfriend Victoria. He was described by his partner as an 'absolute character'

Up to 200 mourners today amassed outside a church to attend a Traveller funeral as families paid their respects to a tree surgeon who was crushed to death by heavy machinery in a tragic work accident

Bikers revved their engines down Churchgate in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire as locals paid tribute to Daniel White

Scores of people dressed in black and wearing face masks paid tribute while a few carried the coffin into the church

A banner outside St Mary the Virgin Church in Cheshunt reads: 'RIP Dan Boy, Simply The Best'

Pictures of Daniel White and his family were put up down Churchgate outside St Mary the Virgin Church in Cheshunt

Scores of people attended a funeral procession for Daniel White, 32, who was killed by heavy machinery

Scores of people dressed in black and wearing face masks paid tribute while a few carried the coffin into the church

Witnesses described mass drinking, with mourners posting videos of bottles of vodka in tribute to Daniel White

Floral decorations were laid outside the church today as up to 200 people paid tribute to tree surgeon Daniel White

Floral decorations were laid outside the church today as up to 200 people paid tribute to tree surgeon Daniel White

Family talking to Hertfordshire Live described Mr White as incredibly hardworking but always able to put time aside for his sons, Victoria, and both of their families.

Victoria said: 'As much as he loved working, he did it for us and he also was the best dad you could ask for. He loved spending time with the children but had a really good relationship with his mini-me Tommy who everyday is growing into his dad.

'Him and Tommy would go out on the quad bikes, they would go to his auntie Lisa's for a dip in the hot tub which Tommy loved and we, as a family, would go to anywhere in the UK or abroad which we thought the kids would enjoy.'

For Tommy's birthday, Mr White booked a night's safari stay in Port Lympne. The family also loved going to his brother's property in Devon and had plans of going to Dubai later this year.

'He had a heart of gold and would leave a positive stamp on every person he met, he was an absolute character,' Victoria said.

Her sister Rebecca continued: 'He would treat everyone the same, was always bubbly, making people laugh, joking around and he'd do anything for everyone, especially his family. Him and my sister are both the same, two very headstrong people, big personalities, but they loved each other.

'[He] had very good highs and memories and always wanted to do things as a family.'

A Hertfordshire Constabulary spokesperson said: 'We were made aware of a funeral in Cheshunt today (Tuesday 9 February) and liaised with the funeral directors and local authority beforehand.

'The funeral directors worked to keep the number of mourners inside the church to within the 30-person limit and the cemetery was later closed to keep numbers limited for the burial.

'A number of additional mourners were in the area, but were not admitted and officers took steps to move vehicles on and remind people of social distancing guidelines and of wearing masks.

'In policing the pandemic, Hertfordshire Constabulary is following the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) guidelines in applying the coronavirus regulations in our response to any breaches. Our officers are well-briefed on what this entails and are moving through the four Es of engagement, explaining, encouraging and finally to enforcing the coronavirus regulations if necessary. It is always our intention to seek prevention first and enforcement last.

'No fines were issued, but enquiries are in hand to potentially prosecute individuals for breaching Covid-19 regulations and anti-social behaviour.'
Sugar mills owe Rs 16,883 crore to cane farmers as on January 31 of the current marketing year that started in October, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. "Payment of cane price to sugarcane growing farmers by the sugar mills is a continuous process," Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal said in a written reply to a query in the Rajya Sabha.

In sugar seasons 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20, cane prices payable to sugarcane farmers on an all-lndia basis were Rs 85,179 crore, Rs 86,723 crore and Rs 75,845 crore. respectively. "As a result of various measures taken by the governmentthe cane dues of farmers for sugar seasons 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 have been reduced to Rs 199 crore, Rs 410 crore and Rs 766 crore, respectively, as on January 31, 2021," he said.

The sugarcane dues as on January 31, 2021, for the marketing year 2020-21 (October-September) stood at Rs 16,883 crore. Sugar mills of Uttar Pradesh owed Rs 7,555.09 crore, followed by Karnataka at Rs 3,585.18 crore and Maharashtra at Rs 2,030.31 crore, the data showed.

"Excess production of sugar than the consumption demand during the past three sugar seasons has resulted in subdued ex-mill prices of sugar, which has adversely affected the liquidity of sugar mills, resulting in accumulation of cane price arrears of farmers. "To improve liquidity of sugar mills thereby enabling them to clear cane price dues of farmers, the central government has taken various measures during the past three sugar seasons and the current sugar season," Goyal said.

In the current marketing year, the Centre is providing assistance to sugar mills of Rs 6,000 per tonne to facilitate export of 60 lakh tonnes of sugar in 2020-21, costing exchequer Rs 3,500 crore. "Under the various schemes for the sugar sector, funds are credited to the accounts of farmers on behalf of sugar mills against their cane dues, and the balance if any is credited to the accounts of sugar mills," Goyal said.

The government is encouraging sugar mills to divert excess sugarcane and sugar to ethanol. It has allowed production of ethanol from B-heavy molasses, sugarcane juice, sugar syrup and sugar; and has also been fixing the remunerative ex-mill price of ethanol derived from various feed stocks.

To increase ethanol production capacity in the country, the government is extending an interest subvention of Rs 4,687 crore to sugar mills/distilleries against loans availed by them from banks to set up new distilleries or to expand their existing capacities.

"As the revenues generated from sale of ethanol by sugar mills/ distilleries reach to the accounts of sugar mills in just 3 weeks' time as compared to 12-15 months time taken for realising revenue from sale of sugar, production of ethanol would improve liquidity of sugar mills," the minister said. It will enable them to make timely payment of cane dues of sugarcane farmers, he added.
Rajya Sabha on Tuesday bid farewell to four retiring members of the Upper House with Deputy Chairman Harivansh heaping lavish praise on the leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, terming him a repository of rich experiences.

The veteran Congress leader and Nazir Ahmed Laway (PDP) will retire on February 15 while the terms of Mir Mohammad Fayaz (PDP) and Shamsher Singh Manhas (BJP) will end on February 10.

"It was my fortune that I got to sit next to Ghulam Nabi Azad in the House... He has connected the entire country with Jammu and Kashmir... I have not come across a person like him who has such rich experiences... Have learnt a lot from his guidance, decency, conduct...," Harivansh said.

Azad's political stature is unparallel, he said and added that the Congress leader has risen to such a position in national politics from a block level worker in Kashmir.

He appreciated him for the mammoth work in the health sector like National Urban Health Mission and setting up of medical colleges.

Retirement from the house is only a temporary thing and not a break in his chosen path of serving the nation, Harivansh said.

Azad said he is among those lucky people who never went Pakistan and feels proud to be a Hindustani Muslim.

He spoke for almost 28 minutes, quoting several couplets and hoping for restoration of peace in Jammu & Kashmir and return of Kashmiri Pandits back to the valley.

Fayaz in his speech said, "We work for this country. We have taken the flag of the country to villages. It hurts and saddens us when we are called anti-national by the media and others." He recalled his journey from Kupwara, near Pakistan border and from the municipal committee there to Rajya Sabha and said he worked for the mainstream and against separatist calls.

He praised the government for the work in the areas of schemes like Ujjwala and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, both of whom were present in the House, to "do justice to people to J&K" by restoring statehood and special status and thereby winning and strengthening their faith.

In his speech, Manhas said: "I come from Kashmir, the mukat mani (crown jewel) of the country, and am sitting among others from the country. I have worked for this mukut mani and will work for it in the future too." He said he has visited all parts of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and learnt a lot from Modi about conduct in public life. Another retiring member Laway appealed for restoration of statehood besides rail connectivity.

He remembered his party leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who sent him to this House and said he developed a relationship with all the members and people because he came to Rajya Sabha.

He urged the prime minister and the home minister for human and other resources development work in Jammu & Kashmir saying they have to take care of the union territory because now there would no representation in the House from there.

Satish Chandra Misra (BSP) said that the retiring members would "remain torch bearers for us in future and show us the way forward".

He said that if his Congress wants to bid farewell to Azad then in that case people would bid farewell to the party not him.

"It is not easy to lose Ghulam Nabi Azad," he added.

Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena) said he could not believe that Azad is retiring from Rajya Sabha.

He suggested that since Azad has seen a long tenure from days of Indira Gandhi to Narendra Modi, he should write an autobiography titled "From Indira to Modi".

He told the House that the Azad has very rich political experience which is very rare in politics.

Addressing Azad, he said that you would never retire.

Raut also said that there is no dearth of leaders in the Congress, but "Azad Sahib, there are few leaders whom people know across the country".

He added he would not bid farewell to Azad but wait for him to come back again here in the House.

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said the name may be Ghulam (slave) but all remained Azad (free).

He said that Azad will always be remembered because "you are a large hearted person".

He also said that Azad should be elected again to Rajya Sabha and if Congress does not want that then he and his party RPI would do that.

He added that Rajya Sabha needed Azad back.

Abdul Wahab (IUML) thanked Azad for the "wonderful leadership" in the House.

Congress leader Anand Sharma said Azad has a very long and rich experience in various ministries and states.

He also said that Azad is the only person in the party who remained general secretary of all states at different points of time including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Haryana.

Sharma termed Azad as very frank and hardworking.

He said that Azad was always of the view that one should not get personal for ideology and there should not be bitterness on the basis of ideology.

He also said that Azad has risen through the ranks and started from the bottom and reached top position by working hard unlike overnight rise of leaders of today.

Sharma said Azad would play an important role in the elections of Jammu and Kashmir whenever they are held and would continue to provide his services to the nation.

Sukhendu Sekhar Ray (TMC) lauded Azad's nature and hoped his party renominates him and brings him back in the House.

A Navaneethakrishnan (AIADMK) said J Jayalalithaa had asked him to interact with Azad and other leaders and he learnt a lot from him.

Prasanna Acharya (BJD) said Azad has the ability to befriend everybody in the shortest possible time. He added Kashmir is in his heart and mind and whenever he speaks about Jammu and Kashmir, his emotions come out.

Tiruchi Siva (DMK) said today was one of the painful moments as he had to speak on the farewell of a member from the house. He said due to the concern of Azad, he has developed friendship with everyone. "The house will be lacklustre in the coming days," he said, hoping he returns to the House soon.

K R Suresh Reddy (TRS) and Y Vijaisai Reddy (YSR-CP) recalled their association with Azad. Vijaisai Reddy wished that he may contribute his best to the country.

Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) said Kashmir is beautiful and it is represented in the House by beautiful people.

"Ghulam Nabi Azad acted as a bridge whenever there was a deadlock in the House. He is a very calm and polite person. I wonder who will fill the gap in the house. I wish he comes back to the house. This house will be poorer with Azads going. I hope he becomes chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir after its statehood is restored," he said.

Ram Chandra Prasad Singh (JDU) said Azad has played a great role in this house and wished him good. Elamaram Kareem (CPI-M) said as leader of opposition, Azad tried to unite the opposition parties but also united them the ruling parties.

"As leader of opposition, he gave us perfect view. He always was a role model for all members. He is not just a leader of the Congress party, but of the entire country. I saw him roar like a lion on August 5, 2019," he said, recalling the day when Article 370 was revoked in Jammu and Kashmir. Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD) and Satish Chandra Misra (BSP) wished Azad good in the life.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
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Bengaluru, Feb 10 : Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar on Tuesday called for awareness about dental care in the rural areas.

"There is a need to create awareness among the rural people about dental care, as most of them still use charcoal powder instead of tooth paste," said Sudhakar in a statement to mark 'International Dentist's Day' here.

Noting that people in other countries go for dental check-up twice a year, the minister said that in contrast, the rural folk in India visit a dentist only after the pain in the teeth becomes irresistible.

"There is lack of awareness among the rural people about dental health. As dental treatment cost is lower in our country compared to the other countries, people should avail it to keep their dental health in a good condition," said Sudhakar, a medical doctor by profession.

The minister also honoured noted dentist S. Ramachandra on the occasion.

CDC Study: Schools Are Low Risk For COVID Spread

By West Kentucky Star Staff

WASHINGTON DC - As vaccine rollouts ramp up across the nation, more school districts have been returning to in-person classes. However, some parents, and even teachers unions, think it's still too soon.Now, a report from the Centers for Disease Control backs up school and health leaders. The January report indicates there has not been significant spread of the virus in K-12 schools since many U.S. districts returned to classrooms in the fall.The CDCs report, released in the journal of the American Medical Association, makes a case for returning primarily or fully to in-person instructional delivery.After schools across the country closed in March, COVID-19 spread quickly through the spring and summer in long-term care facilities, meat packing plants and jails.The report says those outbreaks led to fear of the same happening in public schools. But comprehensive data from the CDC shows that as long as schools practice social distancing, wear masks, and sanitize surfaces whenever possible, schools can remain safe spaces for students to stay healthy.School leaders maintain that theyve balanced the concerns as best they can. And local health officials have provided information showing that transmission within schools is low, even at times when numbers rose in the overall community.Of course, some students have contracted COVID-19, but the fact that few of the cases were transmitted within the school coincides with CDC research.The appropriate evaluation of (in-person class) risks vs. benefits was hampered by limited information about transmission risk in classroom settings, the new report reads.Closing schools could adversely affect students academic progress, mental health, and access to essential services; however, if (COVID-19) rapidly spread in classrooms, opening schools might accelerate community transmission of the virus. There were no simple decisions for parents, teachers, administrators, or public officials.The question is, does it make a difference whether or not boys and girls are physically present in schools?" a Georgia administrator asked.  We're seeing record numbers of trauma, abuse, mental health issues, students in poverty, who are falling further and further behind. We made the decision early on that when we could make it work, these kids need to be in school.The director at the CDC said she believes there is a safe way to get students back in the classroom before everyone is vaccinated, but the official guidelines are not expected to be released until later this week.On the Net:
The world's biggest travel agency TUI has revealed that winter bookings were at only 11 per cent of last year's levels as travel restrictions continued to hammer its business.

Revenues at the Anglo-German firm plummeted by over 85 per cent year-on-year to 468.1million in the first quarter, with its cruises, and tours and activities divisions witnessing exceptionally sharp declines.

About half as many of the group's 229 hotels were open at the end of December due to European governments, including the UK and Germany, imposing harsher lockdown rules following major rises in coronavirus infections.

The Anglo-German firm's revenues plummeted by over 85 per cent to 468.1million

This badly hit orders for breaks in the Canary Islands and Maldives, but the group said its Greek and Caribbean operations did well, and that it was the only European cruise operator to 'continuously sail throughout the winter.'

However, its UK cruise brand Marella was suspended entirely during the period, through which it operated only five ships at less than 40 per cent capacity, resulting in a 100million loss in underlying earnings for the cruises division.

Overall group losses soared by over sevenfold to 813.1million, with the majority deriving from the markets and airlines business, and around half of their losses related to tumbling demand from Northern Europe.

TUI also revealed that it completed a third fundraising round to the tune of 1.58billion. Shareholders were tapped up for 500million in a rights issue and the German government and banks providing over 1billion more in support.

'As the world's largest tourism and travel operator, TUI's fragile financial position shows Covid-19 is still a treacherous tide threatening to drag the global travel industry's recovery off course,' stated Hargreaves Lansdown's Susannah Streeter.

She added: 'It's far from being able to recline on a lounger just yet, but bailouts from the German government and investors mean it has a sizeable spade to dig itself out of another hole if the tide of infections doesn't recede as quickly as expected.'

'As the world's largest tourism and travel operator, TUI's fragile financial position shows Covid-19 is still a treacherous tide,' stated Hargreaves Lansdown's Susannah Streeter

The Hanover-based company is confident that the summer season will see a significant revival in travellers, 2.8 million of whom have already booked with TUI for the period, which it is planning to operate at 80 per cent capacity.

Its holiday prices for the summer months have risen by a fifth, purchases of packaged holidays are up, and it expects a peak booking spell is still on its way.

'TUI shares the industry expectation of delayed bookings whilst vaccine programmes are underway, the rollout of which will support the lifting of extensive travel restrictions,' the firm remarked.

Hanover-based TUI is confident that the summer season will see a significant revival in travellers, 2.8 million of whom have already booked with TUI for the period

It added: 'Our strong customer base and scale gives us an advantage in terms of brand awareness and distribution, securing attractive terms from suppliers, and in gaining greater insight into customer behaviour.

'In addition, selling into a range of source markets helps to diversify our customer base, meaning we are not reliant on a single market.'

Like TUI, online travel agency On the Beach said last week that it was expecting reservations to recover once restrictions are lifted, and vaccine use becomes more widespread.

However, it observed its summer holiday bookings were 'very weak,' and that UK website traffic declined by 73 per cent in the four months to January 31.

Shares in TUI were down 4 per cent to 3.18 about 15 minutes before trading closed.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 48F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Jaunpur, Feb 9(UNI) At least six people were killed and 11 others were injured when a pickup van collided head on with a truck under Jalalpur police station area on the Varanasi-Lucknow highway on Tuesday morning.



Police here said that the accident occurred at around 0330 hrs near Laharpur village when a family and their close relatives were returning from Varanasi after cremating an 112 year old woman Dhanai Devi of Jalalpur village under Saraikhawaja police station area in the district .



The decessed were identified as Amar Bahadur Yadav(58), Ramshringar Yadav(38), Munni Lal Yadav (39), Indrajeet Yadav (48), Kamla Prasad Yadav (60) and Ramkumar (65).



The injured have been admitted to the hospital .

UNI MB ACL0932
Chick-fil-A, one of the largest chicken restaurant chains in the nation, plans to set up shop on Route 130 South in Cinnaminson Township, Burlington County.

The township entered into an agreement on Feb. 1 with Delco Development to build a Chick-fil-A on Route 130 South between a new Lidl grocery store and The Shoppes at Cinnaminson, township officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The township is delighted to work with Delco Development on bringing Chick-fil-A to Cinnaminson Township, Committeeman Ryan Horner, liaison to the township economic development committee, said in a statement.

Horner said the local economic development team has been actively pursuing Chick-fil-A for some time.

Chick-fil-A is a popular choice for consumers and many residents have already expressed their excitement about the opportunity to have Chick-fil-A in our community, Horner said.

Township Administrator Eric Schubiger said although the plan is in its initial phase, local leaders are committed to bringing the fast-casual restaurant to the Route 130 business corridor in the near future.

Founded in 1946 and headquartered just outside Atlanta, Georgia, Chick-fil-A has nearly 2,000 locations across the United States, including dozens in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Nestled in the Texas Hill Country lies the small town of Fredericksburg, which has earned a top spot on a Forbes roundup of the the most idyllic small towns in the U.S. to visit in 2021.

Founded in 1846, the Texas small town gem has lured visitors to its rolling hills dotted with bluebonnets and cool bungalow rentals called "Sunday Houses."

Featured on the Forbes list for small town charm include Deadwood, South Dakota; Rockport Massachusetts, Captiva Island, Florida; Elizabeth City, North Carolinaand our own Texas destination, Fredericksburg. These small town jewels provide travelers with a way to get off the grid and enjoy the small town pace.

TEXAS TRAVEL DESTINATIONS: These are the top 5 Texas travel destinations for 2021

"Equipped with spectacular natural beauty and fascinating historic backgrounds, these five towns are the perfect fit for experiencing the quieter side of the United States," Forbes' Jared Ranahan writes.

Fredericksburg, Texas

Named after Prince Frederick of Prussia, Fredericksburg has been affectionately deemed "The Aspen of Texas," according to Fodor's Travel Publication. Tucked in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, the German-influenced town offers attractions that include a wildflower farm, wine tastings and a historic downtown strip filled with eclectic boutiques. Outdoor enthusiasts might want to spend a day hiking Enchanted Rock or hitting the Texas Wine Trail.

"The truth is that its hard not to love the town where you can shop a day on Main Street and still not see everything...Or spend a day touring the Texas Wine Trail in townor afternoon hiking Enchanted Rock, according to Fodors Hill Country editor Debbie Harmsen.

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Located in the northeastern corner of North Carolina, Elizabeth City has been named one of the "100 Best Small Towns in America." This waterfront small town gem was founded in 1794. Visitors can head out to the beaches of the Outer Banks, Ghost Harbor or Hampton Roads. If you love the outdoors, travelers can explore the 20,000 acres of nearby state parks or head out hiking on the Fenwick-Hollowell Wetlands Trail.

UniversalImagesGroup/Universal Images Group via Getty

Deadwood, South Dakota

If you want a taste of the Old West, Deadwood is a step back in time. The small town destination is nestled among the Black Hills of South Dakota, and the historic downtown area is a perfect spot to stroll through. Travelers can head out to the Black Hills underground mine, Broken Boot Gold Mine or go on one of the historic tours offered by a Wild West tour guide.

John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

Rockport, Massachusetts

If lobsters and lighthouses are more of your thing, consider heading to the small coastal town of Rockport. Venture over to the creative district of Bearskin Neck or the cool waters of Halibut Point State Park. Travelers can also head to Gloucester, Manchester-by-the Sea or the historic Salem for their East Coast journey.

Jeff Greenberg/Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images

Captiva Island, Florida

Just off of Florida's Gulf Coast, the idyllic small town gem of Captiva Island boasts miles of sandy beaches and activities including biking, sailing and birding. If you need a peaceful, off-the-grid getaway, consider some of the other barrier islands, like Sanibel Island and Cayo Costa.
A driver who shot dead a car thief stealing his boss' Mercedes will not face any charges under Florida's Stand Your Ground law, prosecutors have said.

Stephen Allen Lott, now 50, fired at Jose Antonio Reyes Bermudez, 58, killing him, during the December 2018 shooting at South Beach Finest Hand Car Wash in Miami.

In the aftermath of the deadly incident Lott, who had been driving the white Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV owned by his boss, is heard telling cops: 'He tried to run me over. You know who I am, I am not a threat.'

Footage shows the luxury vehicle turning away from him as he opened fire. It was left embedded in the wall of an Office Depot building with the right front wheel still spinning.

Reyes Bermudez, who was not armed with a gun or knife but had a string of convictions for theft, robbery and aggravated assault, is said to have pushed a car wash worker before climbing into the SUV, driving forward.

Allen Lott runs towards the car, gun drawn, firing two shots. The car appears to have already began turning right and Reyes Bermudez was struck in the side of his head.

He was later taken to the Jackson Memorial Hospital and died from his injuries.

Under Florida's Stand Your Ground law, Lott had no duty to retreat, The Miami Herald reports. He told police: 'I was in fear for my life and I shot.' Prosecutors said the State 'would be unable to prove that this homicide was not the result of justifiable use of deadly force under all applicable laws in Florida'.

Florida first enacted a stand your ground law in 2005, giving immunity to people who use deadly force to protect themselves or others if they feel at risk of great bodily harm or death.

Allen Lott runs towards the car, gun drawn, firing two shots. The car appears to have already began turning right and Reyes Bermudez was struck in the side of his head

Stephen Allen Lott, now 50, right, fired at Jose Antonio Reyes Bermudez, 58, left, killing him, during the December 2018 shooting at South Beach Finest Hand Car Wash in Miami

Lott added: 'I fired because I thought I was about to be hit by the car. I just knew I was going to die today.'

His defense lawyer, Michael Grieco, added: 'It's not about what the car is doing, it's about what the car could do. A car is a deadly weapon and it's appropriate to respond to deadly force when being faced with deadly forced.'

The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office has said they cannot prove he did not.

In the aftermath of the deadly incident Lott, who had been driving the white Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV owned by his boss, is heard telling cops: 'He tried to run me over'

The SUV appears to have already been turning right when Lott opened fire, above

Footage shows the luxury vehicle was left embedded in the wall of an Office Depot building with the right front wheel still spinning. Reyes Bermudez, who was not armed with a gun or knife but had a string of convictions for theft, robbery and aggravated assault, is said to have pushed a car wash worker before climbing into the SUV, driving forward

They say in a memo: 'Mr. Lott had the legal right to stand his ground and use deadly force to protect himself from death or great bodily harm while Mr. Reyes Bermudez was committing and escaping from committing a forcible felony.'

Prosecutor Suzanne von Paulus said: 'As the Mercedes SUV approached, Mr. Lott stepped back and braced for impact, believing he was about to be hit by the vehicle.

'After reviewing the thorough police investigation, statements of witnesses and the physical evidence, it is the conclusion of the undersigned that charges cannot be filed in this matter as the State would be unable to prove that this homicide was not the result of justifiable use of deadly force under all applicable laws in Florida.'

Reyes Bermudez's nephew, Keu Reyes, said last year: 'It takes more time to take a gun out and aim and shoot than just to get out of the way of a running vehicle.'

Dustin Williamson, the general counsel at Everytown for Gun Safety, said: 'Because there is no duty to retreat, this law encourages people to put themselves in harm's way and then claim they had no choice but to use deadly force.'

The incident took place at South Beach Finest Hand Car Wash in Miami in December 2018

Under Florida's Stand Your Ground law, Lott had no duty to retreat, The Miami Herald reports. He told police: 'I was in fear for my life and I shot'

Florida first enacted a stand your ground law in 2005, giving immunity to people who use deadly force to protect themselves or others if they feel at risk of great bodily harm or death.

Defendants had the burden of proof, meaning they had to prove to a judge that they should be granted immunity.

But in 2017 it was decided prosecutors must now provide 'clear and convincing' evidence a suspect was not acting in self-defense.

Reyes Bermudez was later taken to the Jackson Memorial Hospital and died from his injuries

Former Miami-Dade prosecutor Aubrey Webb said it is 'a license to kill of sorts'.

In 2012 a jury acquitted George Zimmerman in the death of teenager Trayvon Martin.

Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer in the town of Sanford, followed Martin, who he said was behaving 'suspiciously', as he walked to a 7-Eleven to get a snack.

They got into an altercation afterwards and Zimmerman shot him in the chest.

The teenager was unarmed and died three minutes later. But Zimmerman said he feared for his life and a jury believed him.
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- This time is different may be the most dangerous words in business: billions of dollars have been lost betting that history wont repeat itself. And yet now, in the oil world, it looks like this time really will be.For the first time in decades, oil companies arent rushing to increase production to chase rising oil prices as Brent crude approaches $70. Even in the Permian, the prolific shale basin at the center of the U.S. energy boom, drillers are resisting their traditional boom-and-bust cycle of spending.The oil industry is on the ropes, constrained by Wall Street investors demanding that companies spend less on drilling and instead return more money to shareholders, and climate change activists pushing against fossil fuels. Exxon Mobil Corp. is paradigmatic of the trend, after its humiliating defeat at the hands of a tiny activist elbowing itself onto the board.The dramatic events in the industry last week only add to what is emerging as an opportunity for the producers of OPEC+, giving the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and Russia more room for maneuver to bring back their own production. As non-OPEC output fails to rebound as fast as many expected -- or feared based on past experience -- the cartel is likely to continue adding more supply when it meets on June 1.CriminalizationShareholders are asking Exxon to drill less and focus on returning money to investors. They have been throwing money down the drill hole like crazy, Christopher Ailman, chief investment officer for CalSTRS. We really saw that company just heading down the hole, not surviving into the future, unless they change and adapt. And now they have to.Exxon is unlikely to be alone. Royal Dutch Shell Plc lost a landmark legal battle last week when a Dutch court told it to cut emissions significantly by 2030 -- something that would require less oil production. Many in the industry fear a wave of lawsuits elsewhere, with western oil majors more immediate targets than the state-owned oil companies that make up much of OPEC production.We see a shift from stigmatization toward criminalization of investing in higher oil production, said Bob McNally, president of consultant Rapidan Energy Group and a former White House official.While its true that non-OPEC+ output is creeping back from the crash of 2020 -- and the ultra-depressed levels of April and May last year -- its far from a full recovery. Overall, non-OPEC+ output will grow this year by 620,000 barrels a day, less than half the 1.3 million barrels a day it fell in 2020. The supply growth forecast through the rest of this year comes nowhere close to matching the expected increase in demand, according to the International Energy Agency.Beyond 2021, oil output is likely to rise in a handful of nations, including the U.S., Brazil, Canada and new oil-producer Guyana. But production will decline elsewhere, from the U.K. to Colombia, Malaysia and Argentina.As non-OPEC+ production increases less than global oil demand, the cartel will be in control of the market, executives and traders said. Its a major break with the past, when oil companies responded to higher prices by rushing to invest again, boosting non-OPEC output and leaving the ministers led by Saudi Arabias Abdulaziz bin Salman with a much more difficult balancing act.Drilling DownSo far, the lack of non-OPEC+ oil production growth isnt registering much in the market. After all, the coronavirus pandemic continues to constrain global oil demand. It may be more noticeable later this year and into 2022. By then, vaccination campaigns against Covid-19 are likely to be bearing fruit, and the world will need more oil. The expected return of Iran into the market will provide some of that, but there will likely be a need for more.When that happens, it will be largely up to OPEC to plug the gap. One signal of how the recovery will be different this time is the U.S. drilling count: It is gradually increasing, but the recovery is slower than it was after the last big oil price crash in 2008-09. Shale companies are sticking to their commitment to return more money to shareholders via dividends. While before the pandemic shale companies re-used 70-90% of their cash flow into further drilling, they are now keeping that metric at around 50%.The result is that U.S. crude production has flat-lined at around 11 million barrels a day since July 2020. Outside the U.S. and Canada, the outlook is even more somber: at the end of April, the ex-North America oil rig count stood at 523, lower than it was a year ago, and nearly 40% below the same month two years earlier, according to data from Baker Hughes Co.When Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz predicted earlier this year that drill, baby, drill is gone for ever, it sounded like a bold call. As ministers meet this week, they may dare to hope hes right.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.
How interesting theyre all affiliated with the Democratic Party, we have a Democratic president and two Democratic senators, and suddenly the prosecutor handling the corruption probe is on the verge of being cut loose. How interesting that so far, the only U.S. attorneys invited to stay on in the Biden administration are the ones involved in sensitive investigations aimed at former President Donald Trump, CNN reports.
New Delhi: Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Tuesday asserted that out of the 206 people missing, 31 have lost their lives in Chamoli region of Uttarakhand. He also said Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has been constantly visiting the affected locations and that relief work is in progress.

Indian Army Major General Rahul R Singh, commander of the 14 infantry division, said that the soldiers got the news of the landslide as soon as it happened and they were mobilized. They were able to clear out some villages in the way of the landslide, saving many lives.

The Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), Indian Air Force and local administration are deployed and are currently working at the site. Special divers of Indian Navy have also reached the spot.

Specialists, doctors and oxygen have been made available for those being rescued from the tunnel.

Bharatiya Janata Partys Banshidhar Bhagat said in a statement that the Uttarakhand CM has given Rs 20 crore to facilitate the rescue and relief. Bhagat added that he will give his one-month salary as well.

Bhagat said around 30 bodies have been found and that the numbers are likely to increase. The rescue efforts are underway and everything is being provided, including food, he stated.

Live TV
Ecuador's Catholic Bishops call for a day of fasting and prayer as the people of Ecuador go to the polls in search of a way out of deep rooted crises. The presidential candidates are a political youngster and a veteran thirty years his senior.

By James Blears

Rising unemployment, corruption scandals and the scourge of Covid 19, which has infected more than quarter of a million and killed more than ten thousand Ecuadorians, is the bleak challenge, scenario and landscape, which faces the next President of the country.

According to pollsters, no one will gain the necessary forty percent of the vote and ten percent lead in round one, so it`s on to the second round on April 11th, involving alliances, defections and political deals.



The big two slugging it out, are thirty five year old Andres Arauz of the Democratic Center Party, and sixty five year old Guillermo Lasso, the Candidate of the Creating Opportunities Party, which he himself created in 2013.



Andres is the former Knowledge and Human Talent Minister, ex Central Bank Director and wizz kid protogee of former President Rafael Correra, who`s in exile in Belgium, after being convicted of campaign finance law offenses, during his era. Something which he denies. Andres aims to increase taxes on trans national companies, reinstate generous public spending, boost the Central Bank and provide one thousand dollars to one million families to stave off dire economic hardship wrought by Covid.



It`s Guillermo`s third try for the biggest job. A former banker successful businessman and Minister of Economy, he vows an anti corruption commission, tax cuts and one million new jobs created by international investment, particularly concerning petroleum and mining.

Thirteen million people are registered to vote, and it`s mandatory. But with the pandemic, appreciably less will make it to the polling booths. The winner will be mindful to heed the drastically altering opinion polls of outgoing one term President Lenin Moreno, who started on the crest of a wave and ended up down deep... in the wild blue yonder.

Shortages in Bord na Mona peat briquette supplies have occurred nationwide, the Farming Independent has learned.

The issue has arisen despite assurances from Bord na Mona that manufacturing at its last remaining peat briquette factory located in Derrinlough, Co Offaly would continue until 2024 following the semi-state companys sudden exit from the peat industry last month.

In recent weeks fuel merchants and suppliers in Longford, Westmeath, Kildare and Offaly  counties steeped in Bord na Monas some 200,000 acres of peatland  have been forced to import replacement peat and coal briquette supplies from Estonia, Scandinavia, Lithuania and Germany. Woodfire substitutes are also being sourced from Czech Republic and Lithuania.

With Siberian weather forecast this week and greater numbers of people continuing to work from home due to the Covid-19 lockdown, fuel depots have warned that demand will significantly outweigh supply this spring  and into 2021.

Brian McCormack of McCormack Fuels in Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford said: We havent been able to get Bord na Mona briquettes for three or four weeks; they are scarce all over.

It just came down overnight, no supply, no word, no warning. They say 2024 is the timescale, but they didnt harvest last summer, so this is going to drag out for a couple of years.

In the summer, or next winter, there wont be any improvement. At this stage were going to start importing peat briquettes from Estonia or Scandinavia.

Its not that we want to import, but you need continuity for customers and the public want briquettes.

Its an awful pity we have to rely on imports when were surrounded by bogs. Briquettes have been a tradition for years, when people use an Irish product they like to stay with it, but that day is obviously coming to an end.

We all must play our part with climate change and pollution, but whatever measures Government or the Green Party introduce it has to be doable and workable for people.

There is no point saying cut out solid fuels with no alternative for people to heat their homes. Its a total contradiction, what about the carbon footprint of importing briquettes from Estonia?

I saw railway carriages passing on a lorry yesterday from Lanesborough, it was a sad sight. Its the winding up of the whole peat industry, I dont think it should have happened so quickly, they should have studied it better.

Older generations

Fuel merchant Martin McIntyre who supplies the domestic market of Longford town said older generations in particular are being affected.

The peat briquette is very handy for older people, they never go out of date so that is why older people like to stock up. They are starting to panic at bit though, they want double surplus but I cant supply them.

I wouldnt have a weeks supply at the moment and I mightnt get anything for nearly two weeks.

All the Green Party want is solar and wind turbines thats the future they say, but they havent really thought of the ordinary person.

Were 10 years away from retrofitting houses. People cant switch over night, what about all the houses people are living in already? he asked.

Tony Moore, a sole trader in Allenwood, Co. Kildare, said the shortage problem relates to production issues at Derrinlough Briquette Factory.

Production is way down on any other year because the peat they are using has been out on the bog for two-to-three years and its wet.

When peat is wet, briquettes are not made as quickly as they would be made with dry peat.

They only got 20pc of a harvest last summer, so the dry peat is not there. They are down so many tonnes a shift and all the stocks they had prior to Christmas are sold out. They more or less have everyone cut back.

Imported German coal briquettes are being sold in Apple Green and Circle K service stations throughout Leinster. People are disappointed.

January was a lot colder than last year, were in Level 5, more people are working from home and trying to do home schooling which means more heat is needed in the house.

Short term it will improve in a few weeks when it gets milder, but looking down the road for the next two years they wont be harvesting any peat, so the problem is going to be there.

Rations

Robbie Kenny of Kennys Koal Kabin in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath said the run on briquettes began when Bord na Mona made its announcement last month.

People started ringing in a panic looking for pallets, but we couldnt give them. We had to ration our own customers. We have a maximum buy of 10 bales at 5/bale, collected from the yard.

Im not too worried because there are plenty of alternatives and peoples purchasing habits have been steadily changing over the last while  mostly in urban areas, not so much in rural parts.

I get about 450t a year of peat briquettes, but 20 years ago we were getting 2,500t a year.

Ive started bringing in compressed timber and kiln dried firewood from Lithuania and Czech Republic. The compressed timber seems to be more convenient for urban customers.

Disgrace

Meanwhile, Robert Bergin of Bergin Family Butchers and Foodstore in Derrinturn, Co. Kildare, believes people dont fully realise how far supplies will be back this month.

Mary and Nelly down the road who always got 10 or 20 bales of briquettes and a bag of coal are disappointed because they cant get them at the moment.

I stopped selling in bulk buy because we have to ration our supplies. Were selling at 5.50 a bale but some are charging too much at 6.50 a bale.

Ive got hardwood coming in from Lithuania so what about the carbon footprint of that? Not to mention the extra costs. Its a disgrace, its wrong and its the total opposite of what were supposed to be doing.

Importing fuel is no better for the environment than knocking down rainforests in Brazil so that we can grow grass.

They dont have their homework done at all. Id say Eco Eye put the revs under them to close Bord na Mona earlier than was proposed.

The scarcity is everywhere and there will be a big demand with the snow coming.

You will never replace the Bord na Mona briquette. This is all happening too quick and people are not ready for it. Were not going to have turf, were not going to have briquettes and we cant get licences to fell timber, so everything is going to be imported.

I honestly dont think people realise whats happening, there is going to be a shortage in the next few weeks, the product just isnt there. The mind boggles to make sense of it all.

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Hitting this milestone is truly humbling, gratifying, heartwarming, and perhaps most importantly, encouraging. This number represents 1,000 Virginians who found the courage in difficult times to learn new skills and earn a credential. We salute them." -- Caren Merrick, CEO of VA Ready

The Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready), a 501(c)(3) public-private partnership dedicated to retraining under- and unemployed Virginians and helping them secure in-demand positions, today celebrates the official enrollment of 1,000 Scholars across the state.

Hitting this milestone is truly humbling, gratifying, heartwarming, and perhaps most importantly, encouraging, said Caren Merrick, chief executive officer of VA Ready. This number represents 1,000 Virginians who found the courage in difficult times to learn new skills and earn a credential. We salute them.

VA Ready was established to address the economic disruption many Virginians are experiencing, with the goal of getting at least 15,000 under- or unemployed Virginia residents back to work.

VA Ready helps to recruit, incentivize, and award people who enroll in one of 34 credential programs in Healthcare, IT and Cybersecurity, or Manufacturing and Skilled Trades offered through the Virginia Community College System FastForward program.

To date nearly 200 people have earned a $1,000 Credential Achievement Award for finishing the program and successfully receiving their credential. They may also receive an opportunity to interview with one of VA Readys 24 business partners. Whether for PwC, Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC, Carilion Clinic, Genworth Financial, Bank of America, BAE Systems or other partners, VA Ready Scholars can post their resume on VA Readys job opportunities board and be connected to relevant opportunities within those companies.

In addition, the General Assembly recently passed funding that the Virginia Community College System can use to help students pay for any one of the 34 credentials VA Ready supports.

This new VA Ready State Aid Fund is a funding source offered throughout the Commonwealth and available to all VA Ready Scholars enrolled in any VA Ready-approved FastForward course within the Virginia Community College System. These funds, paired with FastForward support, make a course entirely free.

VA Ready business partners are looking for strong, qualified candidates for thousands of open positions, added Merrick. This initiative has succeeded not only in getting Virginians back to work, but in strengthening the businesses and organizations that are the foundation of our economy.

VA Ready Scholars come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds  more than a third have entered the program with only a high school education, and another 20% after receiving a college or graduate degree  and interests. Based on enrollment, interest in manufacturing and skilled trades is most popular among all age groups, followed by healthcare and computer technology.

Individuals whom VA Ready has helped have said:

Participating in VA Ready is one of the many steps I've taken to improve myself, avoid poverty, and provide for my daughter.  Cierra Jordan, Marine Trade Training Coating Level 1 from Virginia Beach

This is a very big chance also for anybody who wants to pursue their education, to go and use the opportunities given by VA Ready. The comfort and education that you get at the same time will help you for your lifetime.  Mewael Hailegiorgis, Billing and Coding Specialist graduate from Arlington

It [VA Ready] gives me more opportunity, and Im more marketable because I have additional licenses.  Rebecca Austin, Certified Clinical Medical Assistant graduate from Richmond

For me, this opportunity with the Virginia Ready program is my life. Going to school at 46-years-old, two days a week, three hours a day, trying to get these certifications and get the job experience to make myself marketable.  Grayson Hopkins, Comp TIA Network+ graduate from Roanoke

For more information about the VA Ready Initiative or to apply for the program, visit https://vaready.org/

About the Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready)

VA Ready is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that launched in June 2020 with a mission to help thousands of under and unemployed Virginians access the short-term training needed to get back to work in todays most in-demand jobs. With its Public-Private-Partnership design, VA Ready brings together the Virginia Community College System's (VCCS) 23 colleges, the Commonwealth's FastForward program, and more than 20 business partners who employ millions of Virginians. VA Ready Scholars have access to 34 healthcare, technology and other skilled training programs; learn the skills needed to secure one of today's most in-demand positions; receive $1,000 upon credential completion; and are connected to VA Ready's business partners for interview opportunities. Learn more at http://www.vaready.org
French prosecutors said on Tuesday they had opened an investigation into accusations of child sexual assault against a prominent television producer and his husband, the latest sexual assault case to rock the intellectual elite.

Gerard Louvin, who has produced some of the most popular shows on French television over the last decades, and his husband Daniel Moyne are being investigated for raping and complicity in raping minors, Paris prosecutors said.

The probe was initially opened in January after a complaint was filed by Louvin's nephew, named as Olivier A. over alleged assault when he was aged 15.

Two other separate complaints also alleging sexual assault by the couple have now been merged into this inquiry, prosecutors said.

The complaint by Olivier A., now aged 48, accuses Louvin of encouraging rape carried out by his husband Moyne.

Louvin and Moyne's lawyers have denied the claims, saying that they would file a complaint for "blackmail" and that the couple were victims of homophobia.

The allegations come after France's intellectual elite was rocked last month by an accusation that a top political expert and commentator, Olivier Duhamel, sexually abused his stepson.

Prosecutors opened an investigation into Duhamel after the claims made in a new book by his stepdaughter Camille Kouchner, the sister of the alleged victim.

Duhamel has denied the allegations but stepped down from his various academic posts.

The director of the top French university Sciences Po, Frederic Mion, resigned on Tuesday after coming under criticism from students for his handling of the Duhamel case.

Mion first expressed surprise at the incest allegations against Duhamel -- a former head of the organisation that runs the university -- but later admitted he had been told of the accusations in 2018.

The higher education ministry last month launched an investigation into the school's handling of the affair.

Mion said in a statement that if a provisional report from the investigation "confirms that no system of concerted silence or complacency existed within our establishment," it "nonetheless points to errors in judgement on my part in the treatment of the allegations... as well as inconsistencies in the way I expressed myself".

Story continues

Last week, prosecutors opened a preliminary inquiry into prominent cinema and stage actor Richard Berry after his daughter accused him of incestuous sexual abuse while she was in her mid-teens.

Many commentators have cast France as being slow to break longstanding taboos over paedophilia but there have been a growing number of cases over the last year that have raised questions about how much still remains hidden.

Publisher Vanessa Springora, in a book published in January 2020, accused prize-winning writer Gabriel Matzneff of abusing her while she was a minor.

A producer of music hall, life performance, theatre and television in a long career, Louvin won national prominence as the producer of prime-time and top-rating TV shows such as the talent spotting hit Star Academy.
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 | Feb. 9, 2021

Teachers in Philadelphia protest the planned reopening of schools due to worries over COVID-19 exposure. Even more snow is expected to fall as temperatures continue to drop. In political news, the states lieutenant governor, John Fetterman, officially announces his 2022 Senate run. Plus, a couple of bald eagles in Codorus State Park are soon-to-be parents.

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.
Partnership with All Raise, which amplifies female voices in technology, led to connection

SAN FRANCISCO and BERLIN, Feb. 09, 2021, the leading content platform for digital-first businesses, today announced that Christine Heckart, Chief Executive Officer of Scalyr , has joined its board of directors. Heckart and Contentful were connected through the organization All Raise , which aims to amplify the voices and accelerate the success of women in technology.



The addition of Heckart, a technology veteran who has held leadership roles at Microsoft, Juniper Networks, Cisco and NetApp, reinforces Contentful's philosophy that diverse experiences among both leaders and employees are necessary for any organization to truly thrive. The company's global workforce, which it plans to double in the next 12-18 months, includes more than 450 employees from 72 different countries.

"I am delighted to join the board of directors at this exciting time in Contentful's trajectory," said Heckart. "The more the boardroom reflects all stakeholders and brings together a variety of lenses through which to view the world, the more likely companies will come to decisions that serve everyone. As an early member of the All Raise Board Xcelerate program, it's clear to me that Contentful believes this too."

Heckart joins Contentful board members from Balderton Capital, Benchmark, General Catalyst and Sapphire Ventures.

Committed to diversity in tech

Contentful is one of five companies to participate in the inaugural round of Board Xcelerate, a new program launched today by the organization All Raise. It elevates the visibility of highly qualified women, nonbinary individuals and others from underrepresented backgrounds, matching them with positions on the boards of technology companies.

"For many startups and companies like ours, the fundamental thing we do for our customers is to help them create something completely new - something that hasn't existed in the past," said Steve Sloan, CEO, Contentful. "To create and invent effectively, we need diverse perspectives at every level of our company. We are so thrilled to bring Christine and all of her deep knowledge and experience in technology leadership onto our board."

Rapid growth

Those varied experiences and diverse perspectives have helped contribute to rapid growth for Contentful, particularly over the past year. Although companies have been increasing their investment in digital channels for a number of years, the Covid-19 pandemic increased the reliance of brands on digital as the primary means of customer engagement. Contentful is enabling businesses to quickly respond to this dramatic shift in what has become a digital-first and in some cases, digital-only economy.

Covid-19 has become a digital tailwind, causing many companies, including healthcare company GoodRx, to move faster to meet the changing needs of their customers in an uncertain time.

"When Covid-19 hit we needed to create a hub to provide our customers with essential information that would help them make sense of the pandemic, as well as a telehealth marketplace where they could book care safely from home," said Thomas Goetz, Chief of Research at GoodRx. "Contentful allowed us to create entirely new channels where we could communicate with customers in a matter of weeks."

Contentful closed the last fiscal year with more than 2,500 paid customers, including Peloton, Shiseido and BP. Over 270,000 organizations have signed up for Contentful's free Community plan. And more than 600,000 digital builders - including designers, developers and content creators - use Contentful to build and deliver digital experiences. Contentful helps support customers with one of the fastest growing partner ecosystems in the digital experience market, including digital and technology partners such as AKQA, R/GA and EPAM.

About Contentful

Contentful, the leading content platform for digital-first business, helps 28% of the Fortune 500 and thousands of brands around the world create and manage digital experiences for their customers across any channel. It enables greater speed and scale than traditional CMS solutions. Contentful unifies content in a single hub, structures it for use in any digital channel, and integrates seamlessly with hundreds of other tools through open APIs. Companies such as Chanel, Bang & Olufsen, Shiseido, Peloton, BP and many others rely on Contentful's platform. For more information, visit https://www.contentful.com/ .



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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A former NYPD officers request to shorten the prison sentence he is serving for sodomizing a handcuffed Haitian immigrant with a broomstick in a Brooklyn stationhouse in 1997 has been denied.

Justin Volpe, a former Eltingville resident, filed a motion in the Eastern District of New York on Dec. 23 asking for an early release due to coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns after he tested positive for the virus while in prison in November 2020.

In an electronic order filed Monday, Judge Frederic Block shut the door on Volpes request.

He does not present any extraordinary and compelling reasons based on the possibility of contracting COVID-19, Block wrote. In any event, reconsideration of the factors does not warrant a reduction of his sentence given the grave nature and circumstances of his crime.

Volpe is currently serving a 30-year sentence at the Low Beaumont Federal Correctional Facility in southern Texas after he pleaded guilty to civil rights violations.

Abner Louima addresses the media outside of Brooklyn Federal Court in this file photo. (Staten Island Advance)(Staten Island Advance)

On Aug. 9, 1997, Abner Louima was arrested outside a Brooklyn nightclub and was taken to the 70th Precinct stationhouse in Brooklyn.

There, Volpe beat and sodomized Louima with a broomstick, according to authorities. The victims injuries included a ruptured bladder and colon, authorities alleged. Louima was hospitalized for two months while recovering from the injuries.

Four officers were initially charged in the attack. Former Staten Island officer Charles Schwarz pleaded guilty to perjury for helping cover up the assault, served a five-year term. He currently earns a six-figure salary with NYCHA, public records show.

Schwarz was accused of lying after he said he had not escorted Louima to the bathroom and he wasnt in the bathroom during the attack.

Convictions of former officers Thomas Bruder and Thomas Wiese ultimately were overturned by a federal appeals court.

The assault sparked protests and what was, at the time, the largest settlement ever in a police brutality case in New York. The city and police union agreed to pay Louima $8.7 million.

This file photo shows New York Police Officer Justin Volpe, right, arriving at State Supreme Court in Brooklyn on Sept. 8, 1997. (Getty Images/Bob Strong)TNS

Volpe  who, according to prison records, is eligible for release in 2025  requested early release in late December, writing, No medical treatment of any kind was provided or offered after he contracted COVID-19, adding, There is no conclusive medical evidence on the long-term effects of this virus.

In 1997, I committed a serious wrong and crime,' Volpe wrote in the motion. I take full responsibility and live with the pain it has caused the victim, his family, and others. I do not seek to evade just punishment for my crime. I have served the overwhelming majority of the sentence. After 21 plus years in prison, it is my family who is being punished more.

U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Geddes wrote a motion disagreeing with Volpes assertions, the Advance/SILive.com previously reported.

A sentence of 30 years  and not a lesser sentence continues to be necessary to reflect the seriousness of the offenses, to promote respect for the law and to provide just punishment and adequate deterrence, wrote Geddes.

According to medical records provided by the [Bureau of Prisons], the defendant tested positive for COVID-19 on or about Nov. 3, 2020, and was released from isolation on or about Nov. 16, 2020, said the motion. Furthermore, as a result of the defendants positive test, it is highly likely that the defendant now has antibodies to the virus and has some form of immunity from contracting it in the future.
Neera Tanden, President Bidens nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget, told a Senate committee this morning that she regretted past statements and Twitter posts critical of Republicans, as G.O.P. senators repeatedly expressed concerns about her online posts.

I deeply regret and apologize for my language, some of my past language, Ms. Tanden said. I recognize that this role is a bipartisan role, and I recognize I have to earn the trust of senators across the board.

Ms. Tanden is the president of the liberal Center for American Progress think tank, a veteran of the Clinton and Obama administrations and a former top aide to Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign. She testified on Tuesday morning before the Senate Homeland Security committee, with a second hearing scheduled for Wednesday before the budget committee.

Several Republicans on the committee criticized Ms. Tanden for past statements, including Twitter posts, in which she criticized Republicans in Congress and elsewhere. The committees top-ranking Republican, Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, read several of those posts in his opening round of questions, including Ms. Tanden calling Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, Moscow Mitch, and her Twitter post saying vampires have more heart than Ted Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas.
- Tequila is usually consumed in shots. However, Tequila can be savored and sipped as well and manufactures are trying to raise awareness about the ways it can be consumed. A 100% agave tequila to witness increasing demand

- Demand for Mezcal to thrive on the changing taste toward premium beverages and food items

ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Manufacturers of food and beverages are diversifying their product offerings in natural ingredients based and organic products to cater to the changing tastes of consumers. As such, players in the global mezcal market are making efforts to raise awareness about the benefits and rich taste and flavor of natural ingredients based beverages.

Premiumization is a popular trend in the global mezcal market. Tequila, a type of premium mezcal, is an extremely popular drink that is consumed in the form of a shot. Producers of Tequila are making efforts to market the drink as a spirit that can not only be consumed in shots but also be sipped and savored. Customers are shifting from price-centric consumption to premium drinks, which is likely to benefit growth of the global mezcal market over the analysis timeline, from 2019 to 2027. A rise in the demand for 100%-agave tequila is likely to favor the market in the near future. Introduction of premium products by market players have successfully attracted the attention of potential customers. In addition, celebrity endorsements have further enhanced brand image and value of Tequila, which have assisted businesses sustain despite price fluctuations of agave.

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The global mezcal market is anticipated to clock double-digit growth rate at ~13% CAGR over the projection timeline, from 2019 to 2027. Exhibiting promising growth opportunities, the market is estimated to gather traction from the evolving tastes and preferences of customers.

Key Findings of Mezcal Market Study

Rising Demand for Mezcal to Drive Launch of Innovative Products

Mezcal comes with smoky and complex flavor and it is utilized in the production of tequila, a more popular drink. Mezcal is not easily available and has gaining traction amongst the youth and connoisseurs of such beverages. Riding on the back of increased demand, producers are coming up with launch of innovative products to make the most of growing popularity of mezcal. These factors are likely to support development of the global mezcal market over the analysis timeline, from 2019 to 2027. On the other hand, augmented consumption of mezcal has resulted in shortage of agave and is pressurizing mezcal producers and local farmers to increase their yield.

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Sustainability in the Production Process to Gather Traction in the Market

Stakeholders in the global mezcal market are bringing in changes in business operations right from the stage of agave plantation to the stage of wood burning to amplify the smoky flavor of mezcal. As such, ongoing efforts by market participants toward adoption of sustainable operations in the bottling process of mezcal and agave production. Market stakeholders are trying to attain 100% sustainability in the process of agave production. As such, they are collaborating with producers and local farmers to produce in-house seed banks and are supported by constant maintenance of harvest and plantations. Sustainability in the production process is likely to emerge as an important trend in the global mezcal market in the near future.

View Detailed Table of Contents at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/57489

Mezcal Market: Key Driving Factors

Mezcal comes is many health benefits, which is likely to benefit the market. It is known to facilitate easy digestion of food and also assists in maintaining and regulating level of blood sugar in the body. Mezcal is also capable of controlling the cholesterol levels of body and prevents growth of cancerous tumor.

A rise in the demand for alcoholic drinks due to the changing lifestyles of people and growing influence of social media is likely to drive the demand for mezcal over the forecast timeline, from 2019 to 2027

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Mezcal Market: Key Market Participants

The global mezcal market is considered to be a consolidated one and is estimated to be dominated by a handful of industry players. These low numbers of industry players are likely to be in possession of a large market share. As such the entry of new players in the global mezcal market is foreseen to be restricted. Already established market players are already having sound hold in the regions that allow production of mezcal.

Some of the prominent industry players comprise Familia Camarena Tequila, Bacardi Limited, and Craft Distillers.

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This weekend, residents are encouraged to participate in an event that will kick-off the Relay for Life season in Midland County.

This Saturday, Feb. 13, eight relay teams will build snowmen in a contest at the Midland County Fairgrounds. Area residents are then encouraged to drive by from 4 to 6 p.m. and vote on their favorite snowman.

Those interested in participating the drive-by vote can enter the Midland County Fairgrounds off of Eastman Avenue, next to Applebees.

(This event) kind of shows the fun things that we do and how we come up with different events to earn money for cancer research, said Jessica Acton, spokesperson for Relay for Life of Midland County. Its really fun; its a really good time.

Relay for Life is a community-based fundraising event for the American Cancer Society and many other cancer related institutions, societies and associations. Each year, more than 5,000 Relay For Life events take place in over twenty countries.

The main Relay for Life event in Midland is slated for June 19. Acton said the event will likely be a mix of online and in-person events this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participants are asked to stay inside their vehicles and follow all COVID safety guidelines during Saturdays event.

Voters are also encouraged to donate and there will be a bucket at the end of the displays to drop donations into. The winning team will get the donations added to their teams relay total and of course, bragging rights!

In addition, Panda Express across from the fairgrounds is offering an incentive for people to participate and a way to give back to Relay for Life. Participants can pick up a flier at the end and if they present it to Panda House the same day, Relay for Life get 20% of the sales back.

If there is no snow this weekend, Co-Director of Relay for Life of Midland County Adrenne Meyer said some of the participants will act as live snowmen/women to be decorated.


UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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

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Jenae Ruesink holds a sign demanding a mask mandate from city council on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020 outside Carnegie Town Hall in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Erin Bormett/The Argus Leader via AP) (USA TODAY NETWORK)

A state representative in South Dakota wants a new law giving the state the power to nullify executive orders from the Biden administration it deems unconstitutional, heightening the chances of a conflict with the White House in a state that has already vowed not to enforce any potential federal mask mandate.

State representative Aaron Aylward, a Republican from Harrisburg, introduced the measure, HB 1194 at the end of January. It would bar the South Dakota government from enforcing any executive order that restricts a persons rights or that is determined by the attorney general to be unconstitutional, if they meet certain criteria.

This isnt just a President Biden issue but rather an overall executive overreach issue that weve been experiencing for a long time, Mr Aylward told KELO. The US Congress has abdicated their duty for a long time in different areas. This bill is simply setting up a process to nullify acts that would be unconstitutional. When looking at the US Constitution, the President only has the powers that are laid out in Article II.

Nearly any executive order would be ripe for review under the law, which says it applies to directives about a pandemic or other public health emergency, as well as gun rights and regulation of the financial sector through the imposition of environmental, social, or governance standards.

The regulation of natural resources

The regulation of the agricultural industry

The regulation of land use

The regulation of the financial sector through the imposition of environmental, social, or governance standards

The regulation of the constitutional right to keep and bear arms

That would include any attempts at a national mask mandate, the representative told KELO.

This pertains to our rights that are protected under the US Constitution, he said. If the President ordered a nationwide mask mandate, it would go against the power laid out in Article II, and it would also go against the protection of the rights that may lie underneath the 9th and 10th Amendments.

Story continues

If the bill becomes law, it would mark a dramatic provocation against the White House. Normally, federal courts, or to some degree Congress, are the ones that decide whether executive orders and other presidential actions, which carry the force of law, are unconstitutional.

And in cases where states defy federal policy, rarely used tools can kick in. For example, Congress once withheld a portion of federal highway funding from South Dakota because it didnt have its drinking age set at 21. And during the Civil Rights era, after years of inaction, presidents used armed US Marshals to enforce federal rules around racial integration in schools being resisted by Southern states.

The bill shows the latest way South Dakota and the White House are moving in different political directions. The states Republican governor, rising star Kristi Noem, has taken a largely hands-off approach to the pandemic, issuing mainly voluntary public health rules, and recently would not say on the record whether she believed Joe Biden won a free and fair election.

Shes also said she wouldnt enforce a federal mask mandate, though its unlikely the president has legal authority to issue one on his own anyway. So far, Mr Biden has stuck to mask orders more clearly in his purview, like declaring masks mandatory on federal property and at transportation facilities like airports that serve as entryways into the US.

Read More

Julian Assange supporters urge Joe Biden to drop prosecution saying Trump was opposed to free press
U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick said the acting attorney general asked him Tuesday to resign, a common occurrence when the occupant of the White House belongs to a different party than his predecessor.

Patrick got word on a joint call from acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson with other U.S. attorneys, nearly all of whom also have been asked to resign no later than Feb. 28. Patrick said he planned to finish out the month.

This is not goodbye yet, as I have at least another 19 days representing the United States, he wrote in an internal email to his staff.

Patrick said ethics rules dont permit him to disclose where hes headed next.

Dozens of Trump appointees were expected to leave posts across the country, according to news reports.

Patrick, the son of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, has been the top federal law enforcement officer in the Southern District of Texas since Jan. 8, 2018. He oversees an array of criminal and civil matters and supervises more than 200 attorneys and 500 staffers covering an area that stretches from near the Louisiana border to McAllen.

His staff reflects new hiring he initiated and a major increase in prosecutions of cases involving drugs, gun smuggling into Mexico and suspected gang members accused of violent crimes.

Convictions on his watch include an election fraud cases against a Harris County judge and a former University of Texas regent who ran a prominent engineering firm. He led a marriage fraud prosecution against dozens of briefly acquainted couples and a case against the kingpin behind a lucrative overseas call center scheme that targeted immigrants.

His office also oversaw the monthlong fraud trial of former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, whose sentence later was commuted by President Donald Trump.

David Adler, who heads the Criminal Justice Act Panel, a group of about 100 lawyers who represent low-income federal defendants, said he was impressed by Patricks leadership.

He put good people in good positions, and he seemed sincerely interested in improving the relationship between the defense bar and prosecutors and reducing or eliminating pointless bureaucratic issues, Adler said.

Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal, who oversees judges in the same geographic area, said Patrick has been collaborative and helpful amid the challenges his tenure presented, including carrying out the courts responsibilities during COVID.

We thank him and wish him well, she said.

Patrick, a former district judge and Harris County prosecutor, also did criminal defense work as a solo practitioner and as senior counsel with HooverSlovacek.

A father of four, he graduated from Baylor University and South Texas College of Law.

gabrielle.banks@chron.com
Low-income mothers feminize their children in the womb by adjusting their hormones, whereas high-income mothers masculinize their children, a major study based on finger length, led by a Swansea University expert, has found.

The phenomenon is an unconscious evolutionary response aimed at boosting their offspring's chances of successful reproduction.

It helps, in part, explain associations between low income, low levels of testosterone before birth, and major causes of mortality such as cardiovascular disease.

The study was based on the relationship between the length of a person's index and ring fingers, known as the 2D:4D ratio. A longer ring finger is a marker of higher levels of testosterone, whereas a longer index finger is a marker of higher levels of oestrogen. Generally, men have longer ring fingers, whereas women have longer index fingers.

The 2D:4D ratio is a widely-debated measure that has been the subject of over 1000 studies, but what is significant about the new report is that the team examined the ratio in relation to parental income.

Led by Professor John Manning of Swansea University, with colleagues in Austria and Jamaica, the team tested a hypothesis about evolutionary influences on the mother and her children. This suggests that for higher-income mothers, sons have higher reproductive success compared to daughters. For lower-income mothers, in contrast, daughters will be more reproductively successful. Known as the Trivers-Willard hypothesis, its senior author, Professor Robert Trivers, was also involved in this new study.

The team used data from over 250,000 people from around 200 countries, who were taking part in an online BBC survey. Participants were asked to measure their index and ring fingers and given instructions on how to do this accurately. They were also asked to indicate their parents' income level.

The results showed:

Children of parents of above-average income had a low 2D:4D ratio, with longer ring fingers, which indicates high testosterone and low oestrogen before birth, hallmarks of a more masculinized foetus

Conversely, the children of parents of below-average income had a high 2D:4D ratio with longer index fingers, which indicates lower testosterone and higher oestrogen before birth, markers of a more feminized foetus

These effects were present for both men and women

Professor John Manning of Swansea University's A-STEM research team in sport science, lead researcher on the study, said:

"Our results show that mothers with high income may secrete high levels of testosterone relative to oestrogen early in pregnancy, thereby masculinizing their male and female children. In contrast, women with low income may secrete low levels of testosterone, which will feminize their male and female children.

This is an evolutionary response, which mothers will not be aware of, let alone able to control. It is geared towards giving their offspring the best chance of reproductive success.

For high-income mothers, the advantages of high testosterone for their sons are likely to outweigh its disadvantages for their daughters. For low-income mothers, the fitness gain from feminized daughters is likely to outweigh the fitness loss for feminized sons.

This pattern is consistent with the Trivers-Willard hypothesis."

Professor Manning explained how the findings could shed light on susceptibility to disease:

"These patterns suggest important effects on public health which are linked to poverty.

Low testosterone and high oestrogen in male foetuses may predispose those men, as adults, to diseases linked to poverty such as heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure.

It is well known that poverty is closely associated with poorer health. What our research indicates is that this link can be replicated across generations".

###

The study is in the Journal of Biosocial Sciences, published by Cambridge University Press.

Picture:

Diagram showing the 2D:4D ratio and how it is measured

Credit: John Manning, Swansea University

Notes to editors

Swansea University is a world-class, research-led, dual campus university offering a first-class student experience and has one of the best employability rates of graduates in the UK. The University has the highest possible rating for teaching - the Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) in 2018 and was commended for its high proportions of students achieving consistently outstanding outcomes.

Swansea climbed 14 places to 31st in the Guardian University Guide 2019, making us Wales' top ranked university, with one of the best success rates of graduates gaining employment in the UK and the same overall satisfaction level as the Number 1 ranked university.

The 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 results saw Swansea make the 'biggest leap among research-intensive institutions' in the UK (Times Higher Education, December 2014) and achieved its ambition to be a top 30 research University, soaring up the league table to 26th in the UK.

The University is in the top 300 best universities in the world, ranked in the 251-300 group in The Times Higher Education World University rankings 2018. Swansea University now has 23 main partners, awarding joint degrees and post-graduate qualifications.

The University was established in 1920 and was the first campus university in the UK. It currently offers around 350 undergraduate courses and 350 postgraduate courses to circa 20,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The University has ambitious expansion plans as it moves towards its centenary in 2020 and aims to continue to extend its global reach and realise its domestic and international potential.

Swansea University is a registered charity. No.1138342. Visit http://www. swansea. ac. uk

For more information:

Kevin Sullivan,

senior press officer,

Swansea University

k.g.sullivan@swansea.ac.uk
Author's Note: This story draws directly upon my experience of investigating the targeted Public Distribution programme in Bihar between 1996- 2002. The cost of lost opportunity to the poor in this grievously miscarried programme may have been to the tune of Rs. 3,500 to 4,000 crores. Midway the government divested me of the investigation and handed it over to the Vigilance. Not much has been heard of it since then. A thumbnail version of a larger project - the parable of the well paid public servant - implementation of poverty alleviation programmes in Bihar. The wise Mr Dang has a counterpart in real life as indeed any one who cares to read my post The Poor Must Prevail.

Blessed be the Poor

The poor who failed to enter the Kingdom of God ended up in the Republic of Banana, which is perhaps just as well, because the camels that had got past the eye of a needle also, unaccountably, landed in this same Republic.

I make haste to add that this is by no means being cited as a double refutation of any religious text. A brief explanation as to how this state of things came to pass is, therefore, necessary. The camels getting past the eye of a needle has never been historically ascertained, but a very assiduous and devoted priest carried out his research into this strange coincidence. For his efforts, he received his Doctor of Divinity degree from the University of Belsund.

He was interviewed for the popular channel As It Happened.

Interviewer: Dr Blunderbuss, welcome to our popular programme "Celebrities".

Dr. Blunderbuss: Thanks very much.

Interviewer: Could you tell us something about your area of research and the findings?

Dr. Blunderbuss: In the seventh century b. p (Before the Year of the Poor) (Corresponding to 3rd century b.c) the Republic of Banana exported great quantities of spiritual wisdom to neighbouring countries as aid and charity. So, despite being the market leaders in spiritual property, the Republic was in huge deficit of forex. My research has shown that it is during this period that all these straying camels landed up in the Republic of Banana. The Republic was flush with spiritual assets but little material wealth. So, any addition to its material resources was welcome, but never openly acknowledged. In this land, the slaughter of animals was forbidden, even though it made no economic sense. So, some clever entrepreneurs took to the smuggling of these plentiful straying camels across to the neighbouring republic and made fast bucks from the profitable, but clandestine, trade in raw hides. It appears that the strict scrutiny at the various check posts that the republic had established to prohibit this contraband trade was spoken of, metaphorically, as the eye of the needle.

Interviewer: But getting past the needle of the eye refers to the exiting camels. Does not that present a discrepancy in the narration, Dr. Blunderbuss?

Dr. Blunderbuss: Exactly, but over a long period of time such extrapolations and temporal mix-ups do occur. Eminent historians have encountered such difficulty in the account of the rise of Minoan civilization and the dating of the events of the time of the Sumerian Kings. The cultural anthropologists and the experts at hermeneutics also throw their weight behind this thesis of the "exiting camels."

Interviewer: So this simple flaw in the linearity of the narration does not affect the basic thesis?

Dr. Blunderbuss: Absolutely not. This is how the Republic of Banana came to have, broadly speaking, only two categories of people. Those who had defied the Biblical injunction indulged in contraband trade and other illegal activities and become rich. They became the ruling class. Those who had taken the Biblical road map seriously and had abstained from theft remained poor and provided the ruling class with endless scope for working for the welfare of the poor.

Interviewer: Thanks very much Dr. Blunderbuss, for your very informative and convincing exposition. Hope to have you with us on some other occasion.

The rulers of the banana republic knew that it was the poor who would ultimately inherit the earth. The Directive Principle of the Constitution of the Republic enshrined as its goal the determination to create conditions for the poor to multiply by leaps and bounds. A beatific smile spreading across the face of a poor man dreaming of bread was embossed at the centre of the impressive national emblem.

Professor Lal Singh, Director of the National Art Gallery, was paid an honorarium of One Billion Rupees for this inspirational motif. The banana republic, it may be added, had got rid of the out-dated Christian calendar, Vikrami Samvat, Gregorian and Julian calendars. The year in which it made the first survey to locate the poor was designated as Year 1. In all official business it was obligatory to mention in the year of the poor i.e. "y.p."

The census of people living below the poverty line, in fact, was a very happy, even pious pastime, which was undertaken from time to time. The economists and the planners engaged with the ferocity of the great ecclesiastical debates of the middle ages on what constitutes poverty, who was poor, and whether there was a failsafe method to recognize the poor when one actually encountered one.

So when in the Y.P.2060 the Republic decided to have a fresh survey, it was not an easy task to choose the right man - someone who was practical and not dogmatic, had no-nonsense approach and could deliver results. The President retired to his chamber, put on his thinking cap, smoked long and hard from his favourite pipe. After days of waiting, he finally said "Let Mr. Dang conduct this survey. He is the most responsible and the wisest of all the civil servants."

Many who were opposed to Mr. Dang on account of professional rivalry, and many more who were jealous of his go-getter image, raised several objections, but the president was curt and dismissive. "Mr. Dang has been nominated, and Mr. Dang it shall be".

So this onerous task fell to the lot of Mr. Dang.

Mr. Dang, it must be said, had many sterling qualities and had distinguished himself in many a critical assignment. He was a conjuror of sorts. Admittedly, he could not produce a rabbit out of hat, but surely he, and only he, could make a budget for Rs. 8000 Crores, with virtually nothing in the kitty. He would often add nothing to nothing and produce something. Some of his uncharitable critics attributed this to the fact that he was arithmetically challenged. But there were a large number of people who could vouch that he was a mathematical genius. However, the fact that he had occupied all the key positions in the government and gone on to head the civil service gave lie to the claims of his detractors. The government could err once, even perhaps twice, but could it err all the time?

Mr. Dang, meanwhile, took up the most challenging assignment of his life time with his characteristic verve and enthusiasm. He declared that he would very soon announce the methodology and all that. Saying so, he went into a long hibernation. Insiders say that he locked himself up in a room with all the available literature on the subject, an abacus, and thousands of marbles.

He burned the midnight oil struggling with calorific values and genie co-efficient, grappled with exclusion and inclusion criterion. He started off by making bunches of six; one bunch designated a poor family of six. He made a few bunches of seven marbles to account for the decimal in the average family size of 6.28. By the time he had got to seven families he discovered that 7 bunches of 6 each, and 6 bunches of 7 each added up to the same number. How can 7x6 be same as 6x7?

Mr. Dang spent reams of paper in lengthy calculation but he could not come up with a suitable formula to account for this anomaly and just when he was about to give up, a beautiful and failsafe method of identifying the poor was born out of his despair.

He decreed that a long rope-earlier used as a clothes line - be strung at a particular height. Those who could walk under the line in an upright position without touching the rope would be designated as living below the poverty line.

This method was found to be the most objective, safe and impartial. It was an instant hit with the bureaucracy because, apart from saving them from back breaking paperwork, it was also flexible, and what better incentive to keep the bureaucratic brotherhood together than the occasion of fiddling with flexible rules.

The task of identifying the poor was going on at a brisk pace. The bureaucracy could lower the rope or let them crouch, as and when it suited them. This came to be known as the bureaucratic rope-trick. It consisted in raising the rope suitably to let those people crossover who otherwise would not have but for the fact that they had ingratiated the rope man. It could be lowered to stop those who did not find favour. It was an act doubly blessed and the offerings meant for the poor were split equally between the performers and the participants of the rope trick.

The list of the poor was ready in record time and the Republic of Banana went into an overdrive to provide them with various benefits. Mr. Dang was not lacking in fame, earned by such popular innovative schemes in his earlier assignment. But this was his crowning glory and earned him accolades from his peers and common people alike.

The banana republic launched a massive programme of housing the poor. In a given timeframe, the President decreed, each one of them must have a roof over his head. It appears one of the district officers took his statement quite literally, and built roofs without walls and was quite surprised to see that they came crashing over the heads of the poor dwellers. Even while the government was grappling with this tragedy where in about 400 poor people had died, Mr. Dang received the following communication from the D.M. of a far-flung district.

Sir,

We have found that the programme to provide decent housing to the poor has run into some difficulty. Seventy thousand houses built in the last three months have not been occupied by them. They say that these are no good because they provide shelter neither from the sun nor rain from above. Many of them in fact most of them save one claimed that they could not even see them. It is worthwhile to mention here that we had constructed these houses with utmost care and used the most durable material available. But it appears that because of some as yet undiagnosed ocular infection or mass delusion the poor have refused to occupy these houses. The government may like to get this matter investigated by an expert committee.

Yours faithfully etc

The great discrepancy between the two views of reality was proving to be very intractable. In view of the great urgency and extreme sensitivity of the matter a full-fledged multi-disciplinary research project, with a budgetary provision of Five Billion Rupees, was commissioned at the National Physical Laboratory, to which experts in optics and ophthalmology, economists and ethnographers, psychologists and psychiatrists, entomologists and even ventriloquists, faith-healers and shamans were appointed.

That was in the year 2064Y.P.In the year 2069 Y. P. it was announced that the findings were due any time, but as the final touches were being given to the report it was discovered that some of the data was fake, some out-dated, and some based on erroneous assumptions. The committee was reconstituted with even wider terms of reference. Optimistic estimates suggest that it wont take more than a few years now for the experts to submit their report.

Meanwhile Mr. Dang himself chose to inquire into the death of the poor people in the house collapse accident. He made a local inspection; spoke to the relatives and the survivors; wondered aloud how and why they had survived. Photographs were taken, the whole scene of occurrence was videotaped and Mr. Dang flew back to the capital. In his report he held the speech writer of the president squarely guilty of the mishap. He recommended his immediate dismissal and launching of a criminal prosecution for the murder of 400 innocent poor. It was he who had put that bit about "roof over the head of every poor family", in the speech of the President which had led to the misunderstanding leading to the accident.

As to the district officer, he commended him for his financial prudence and acumen-"if at all", the report said, "Someone can be commended in such unhappy circumstances, regrettable though the incident is, the District Officer managed to save Rs. 699, 99, 99,600.00 of the taxpayers money. The following is the detailed break up.

By merely building the roof the officer had saved Rs. 700 Crores. Subtract the figure of 400 the number of lives lost from the money thus saved and you arrive at the figure quoted above."

The report was placed in all the public fora where the matter had been agitated. The President of the Republic himself congratulated Mr. Dang for his sagacity, his judgment and above all his great compassion for the poor. It was decided to present the budget to the people at large in a rally, which should be known as the mother of all rallies. To showcase the activities of a compassionate, caring Republic, the administration took out massive advertisements, published souvenirs and sponsored sporting events.

The administration conveyed the poor to the central park in their full regalia of tattered clothes. Great feasts and cultural events were staged in their honour. Every district of the Republic, to showcase its achievements, took out expensive advertisements in newspapers and other media. The World Bank sent observers to independently assess the numbers, because there were complaints that some of the republics were deliberately inflating the numbers to earn some brownie points. Mr. Dang got to put a maddening chorus of applause to enlighten those assembled there about the efforts made by government. The report on the measures taken for the welfare of the poor was read out of the total budget amount of Rs. 50 billion, Rs. 49.995 billon were spent on designing a suitable emblem, hoardings, and other publicity materials. The organization of rallies and commemorative souvenirs, holding of enquiries etc. publicizing the scheme and educating the journalists were the other significant items of expenditure.

The rest was spent for the benefit of the poor. The huge congregation went into raptures as shouts of "long live Mr. Dang", rent the sky making God himself feel a little uncertain whether his oversight in booking the poor for a wrong destination wasnt better for the poor after all.

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
Pakistans Supreme Court has directed regional authorities in northwestern Pakistan to rebuild a century-old Hindu shrine that was destroyed in a mob attack in late December.

The Court on February 8 instructed the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province to start rebuilding the shrine with immediate effect.

Ramesh Kumar, who heads the Hindu Council Pakistan, welcomed the order, telling RFE/RL that it was a moment of solace for minorities in the country that will promote peace and harmony.

Wazir Zada, adviser to the provincial chief minister on minorities, said approximately 3.5 million rupees ($22,000) had been allocated for the reconstruction work.

"The provincial government is in touch with the Hindu community in the area, and we are trying to start the construction work as soon as possible," Zada said.

On December 30, hundreds of people incited by local Muslim religious leaders swarmed and then set fire to the Hindu shrine in Teri village, prompting condemnation from the country's Hindu community, human rights activists, and provincial and federal government officials.

In an earlier ruling, Pakistans Supreme Court directed the authorities to arrest the attackers and recover the money from them to pay for the damages.

The authorities have said more than 30 people had been arrested over their alleged involvement in the assault, while more than 70 police officials were sacked or suspended for failing to protect the shrine.

Representatives of the Hindu Council Pakistan claim that around 8 million Hindus currently live in the Muslim-majority country. Other estimates put the number at 3.5 million.

The majority of the countrys Hindus are based in the southern province of Sindh, near the border with India.

The community has become the target of rising religious violence in recent years.
CHICAGO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- G Squared Ascend I Inc. ("G Squared Ascend I" or the "Company") a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar partnering transaction with one or more businesses, announced today that it closed its initial public offering of 34,500,000 units, including 4,500,000 units issued pursuant to the exercise by the underwriter of its over-allotment option in full. The offering was priced at $10 per unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $345 million.

The units began trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the ticker symbol "GSQD.U" on February 5, 2021. Each unit consists of one share of the Company's Class A common stock and one-fifth of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Company expects that its Class A common stock and warrants will be listed on the NYSE under the symbols "GSQD" and "GSQD.WS", respectively.

G Squared Ascend I is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a special purpose acquisition company or SPAC, incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Although G Squared Ascend I may pursue an initial business combination target in any business industry or sector, it intends to focus on opportunities that fall within six core megatrends: Software-as-a-Service, Online Marketplaces, Mobility 2.0/Logistics, Fintech/Insurtech, New Age Media, and/or Sustainability.

UBS served as the sole book-running manager for the offering.

Of the proceeds received from the consummation of the initial public offering and a simultaneous private placement of warrants, $345 million was placed in trust. An audited balance sheet of the Company as of February 9, 2021 reflecting receipt of the proceeds upon consummation of the initial public offering and the private placement will be included as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

G Squared Ascend I was founded by Larry Aschebrook, who also founded G Squared Equity Management LP, as well as Ward Davis, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Director.

The public offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus for G Squared Ascend I may be obtained for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or from UBS Securities LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, by telephone at 888-827-7275 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Registration statements relating to these securities have been filed with the SEC and became effective on February 4, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About G Squared:

Our sponsor is an affiliate of G Squared Equity Management LP ("G Squared"), an SEC-registered investment adviser ("RIA") and venture capital fund manager founded in 2011 by Larry Aschebrook. G Squared has 25 professionals across four offices, Chicago, San Francisco, Greenwich, and Zurich, Switzerland, and has deployed more than $2 billion of capital across several funds, separately managed accounts, and co-investment vehicles focused on growth stage opportunities in the global technology sector.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including with respect to the Company's initial public offering and the anticipated use of the net proceeds of such offering. No assurance can be given that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's Registration Statement and prospectus for the Company's initial public offering filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov . The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Contact:

Antonia Korduba

[email protected]

SOURCE G Squared Ascend I Inc.
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the newest national airline of the UAE, has confirmed the start of its route from Abu Dhabi to Alexandria, Egypt on February 22.

The thrice-weekly connection between Abu Dhabi and Alexandria provides an ultra-low fare travel option for tourists and residents in both UAE and Egypt.

Tickets are already on sale on wizzair.com and the airlines mobile app, now also available in Arabic language, with fares starting as low as AED179. The flights will be on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Kees Van Schaick, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, said: Alexandria is an exciting destination steeped in history located on Mediterranean waters. The UAE and Egypt provide a popular travel corridor for residents and tourists in the region, and we are committed to providing options that are more viable and affordable for travellers. We look forward to seeing you on board our aircraft soon.

Alexandria is the second largest city in Egypt and a major economic hub for both tourism and industry. The city extends 40 km along the northern coast of Egypt situated by the Mediterranean Sea. The destination is well known for its antiquity as the site of the Pharos, the great lighthouse, considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world as well as the ruins of the Temple of Serapis, as well as the Serapion, which was part of the legendary library at Alexandria.

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has the youngest fleet composed of four brand new Airbus A321neo aircraft, offering the lowest fuel burn, emissions and noise footprint.

The airline has also introduced a new era of sanitized travel across its network, with enhanced hygiene measures to ensure the health and safety of passengers and crew. -TradeArabia News Service
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It is. Feminists the world over have agitated for greater freedoms for women, putting the right to be free of male violence at the center of their work and steadily rejecting the argument that patriarchal abuses are excusable in any culture. So its rather odd to see Hirsi Ali claim that feminists have created a near-paradise of liberalism for women in the Western world, and then accuse them of failing to adequately care about womens rights because they also want their homelands to open doors to seekers of safe harbor, regardless of religion. But this is the one-two punch of Prey: Swear allegiance to Western liberalism, then push ideas and policies that would undermine it. Its a dizzying rhetorical style, and succeeds only in knocking out straw men.

In seeking to make the case that hordes of sexually violent Muslim men are setting back womens rights in Europe, Hirsi Ali excavates crime data, newspaper articles and social science research. She speaks with a handful of law enforcement officials, people who work on immigrant assimilation efforts and average citizens. She laudably admits that the data are extremely limited, but that doesnt stop her from insisting that they nevertheless support her claims. She shares horrifying news stories of women and girls harassed, assaulted and raped by Muslim asylum-seekers to bolster her thesis. If readers didnt know any better, they would come away with the impression that most sex crimes in Western Europe are committed by Muslim migrants against European female strangers. They arent  the men who pose the biggest threat to European women are the same category of men who pose the biggest threat to women everywhere: men whom women know.

Hirsi Ali understands that shes generalizing, she writes; shes not saying all Muslim men are rapists. But she is saying that young men from conservative Muslim societies arrive in Europe  and most of the new arrivals are young men  having been previously steeped in profoundly misogynistic cultures and subject to laws that offer women fewer rights than men. That impacts how they behave, she claims, something Western liberals, who worship at the altar of cultural relativism, dont want to recognize. When it comes to migrants and minorities, she writes, pointing to cultural explanations for their behavior toward women is taboo.

But is it? In the same book, Hirsi Ali rightly excoriates a German judge for acquitting a credibly accused rapist by making allowances for migrant sex offenders lack of understanding of Western womens sexual self-determination. Is the problem that its taboo to point to cultural factors that drive sexual violence? Or is it that European authorities too often excuse sexual violence at the hands of Muslim immigrants by pointing to cultural factors? In Hirsi Alis narrative, its whichever is more convenient. And any attempt to truly explore the complex factors that drive entrenched poverty, housing and educational segregation, and higher rates of crime in immigrant communities  any attempt, that is, beyond blaming religion and culture alone  is relegated to what she calls The Playbook of Denial.

This knee-jerk oversimplification is particularly frustrating coming, as it does, from a steely woman of great intelligence. Hirsi Ali is correct that Europeans and North Americans are grappling with the moral complexities of immigration law in a world where conflict and crisis have driven so many from their homes, that the stakes of harsh anti-immigration laws are high (just ask the families of the tens of thousands of souls who have drowned in the Mediterranean), that European welfare states are both generous and easily imperiled and that we are increasingly aware that our opportunities and our basic physical safety are often dependent on the random luck of where we were born or whom we were born to. She is right that a well-meaning commitment to tolerance can be easily exploited, and that womens rights are often the first to be sacrificed in the service of cultural relativism. But a reader interested in a thoughtful analysis of these questions wont find it in this book. Even a reader like myself  a reader who delights in a little happy blasphemy, yearns for greater secularism and unapologetic atheism, and welcomes the skewering of misogynist fundamentalists of any religion (taboos and tolerance be damned)  couldnt find much to cheer here. Like the fundamentalist religious views she and I both detest, Prey is too absolutist to be credible.

As government mulls action against Mahua Moitra, TMC MP says 'it will be a privilege'

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Feb 09: With just a day after her comments in the Lok Sabha caused a massive uproar, TMC Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra on Tuesday said that "arresting, attacking and repressing our voices will not hold".

On Monday, Mahua Moitra's critical remarks against a former Chief Justice of India, during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, did not go down well with the treasury benches, who accused the TMC MP of breaching parliamentary rules and disrespecting the chair.

Explained: Is India prepared to tackle glacial burst?

It is reportedly said that the government is mulling a breach of privilege notice against Moitra for making allegations against the judiciary, the TMC MP seemed unfazed.

The 45-year-old MP from West Bengal's Krishna Nagar also tweeted about the expungement of her remarks pertaining to the judiciary. "Truth can never be expunged," said Moitra in another tweet.

Congress launches massive drive to recruit 5 lakh 'social media warriors'

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

Moitra continued to launch an attack on the Centre over issues such as farm laws, Citizenship (Amendment) Act and migrants' movement during COVID-19-induced lockdown.

"If indeed this government cares so much for persecuted Hindus why does it miss deadline after deadline to notify CAA rules?," posted Moitra while tweeting a portion of her yesterday's speech in the Lok Sabha.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 13:16 [IST]
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Former Miss Ireland Holly Carpenter has revealed how difficult it is being bombarded with really explicit images on social media.

The model and social media influencer (29) has over 100,000 followers on Instagram and is also an avid user of Twitter  but said that Snapchat was the worst for unsolicited imagery.

Today sees the commencement of Cocos Law, which makes it a crime to distribute intimate images without consent and Ms Carpenter said that for her, it has been a huge problem for years.

I've had a number of very interesting interactions with men online. It all started back in 2011 when Snapchat was really big. I was getting bombarded with these really explicit photographs - I'm sure you can imagine what Im talking about. I remember telling some of my male friends that it was happening and they thought it was hilarious.

And I was like Its not funny because you cant just un-see what youve seen. And you just never know what youre about to see when you open your phone.

She told Today with Claire Byrne on RTE Radio 1 that it made her reluctant to continue using the social media app as she was inundated with messages from strange men. In one instance, she was sitting beside her grandmother when an intimate image was sent to her phone.

Seeing that was kind of disturbing and it really put me off using Snapchat even though at the time, I was using it for my job, she said.

I dont get it so much on Instagram now but I would get very odd requests - guys asking me for pictures of my feet, asking me for my underwear, asking me to send them nude photos.

"And these are guys who I've never met, I dont know who they are. I'm just like, what goes through their heads? And the worrying thing for me is when its younger guys who are about 17.

She said she believes the inclination to pester women on social media and send them explicit messages has been fuelled by watching pornography.

It has to be coming from pornography, in the way that when theyre watching porn, it looks like the womans body is designed purely for pleasuring men and for being available to men whenever they want it, she said.

She said that its been interesting to see that since going public on her new relationship with wine salesperson Jamie Hunt, the number of messages have dropped hugely.

She also said it was important that men have a conversation about the appropriate ways to communicate with women online at an early age.

She was speaking as part of a segment examining legislation surrounding image-based abuse and online harassment to mark Cocos Law coming into effect today.

Marked by Justice Minister Helen McEntee as part of Safer Internet Day, the law is also known as the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act.

This creates two separate image-based criminal offences and broadens the scope of the existing offence of harassment. Those found guilty of breaching the law face a maximum penalty of a 5,000 fine and/or 12 months imprisonment.





Sayid Ismael Baraka, a Sudanese-American visiting from Atlanta, was playing with his three children, and his wife was making tea, when the gunmen stormed into his family village in Sudan's Darfur region.

The gunmen went through the village of Jabal, shooting people. The 36-year-old Baraka was shot to death as he rushed to help a wounded neighbor, his wife and brother said. The attack on Jan. 16 left more than two dozen dead in and around the village.

They were among 470 people killed in a days-long explosion of violence between Arab and non-Arab tribes last month in Darfur. The bloodletting stoked fears that Darfur, scene of a vicious war in the 2000s, could slide back into conflict and raised questions over the government's efforts to implement a peace deal and protect civilians.

Baraka's wife, Safiya Mohammed, blamed the attack on ``militias and janjaweed'' _ a name that harkens back to dark times for Darfur.

The Arab militias known as janjaweed became notorious in 2003 and 2004 for their terror campaigns, killing and raping civilians, when the Khartoum government unleashed them to put down an insurgency by Darfur's non-Arab residents. Some 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were displaced, before the violence gradually declined.

A transitional military-civilian government is now in power, trying to end decades-long rebellions in various parts of the country, since a popular uprising led to the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar Al-Bashir in April 2019.

The latest burst of violence came just two weeks after the joint U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force that had been in Darfur for a decade ended its mandate, at the request of the transitional government. It was replaced with a much smaller, political mission.

``Anyone could have predicted that as soon as the U.N. troops departed, some of these militias would begin attacking,'' said John Prendergast, co-founder of The Sentry, an organization that tracks corruption and human rights violations in Africa.

The bloodshed followed a familiar scenario: a dispute between two people or a minor crime turning into all-out ethnic clashes. It first grew out of a fistfight on Jan. 15 between two men in a camp for displaced people in Genena, the capital of West Darfur province . An Arab man was stabbed to death. The suspect, from the African Massalit tribe, was arrested, but the dead man's family, from the Arab Rizeigat tribe, subsequently attacked people in the Krinding camp and other areas across Genena.

Three days later, clashes renewed in South Darfur province between Rizeigat and the non-Arab Falata tribe over the killing of a shepherd in al-Twaiyel village.

The fighting in the two provinces killed around 470 people, including Baraka and three aid workers, according to the United Nations and local officials. More than 120,000 people, mostly women and children, fled their homes, including at least 4,300 who crossed into neighboring Chad, the U.N. said. The transitional government deployed additional troops to West Darfur and South Darfur to try to contain the situation.

Mohammed Osman, a Sudan researcher at Human Rights Watch, said witnesses said the government forces' response was too little, too late. ``The government repeated promises of protecting civilians and holding perpetrators accountable,'' he said.

A government spokesman didn't answer repeated calls and messages seeking comment.

War first erupted in Darfur in 2003 when non-Arab Africans rebelled, accusing the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum of discrimination. Al-Bashir's government is accused of retaliating by arming local nomadic Arab tribes and unleashing the janjaweed on civilians _ a charge it denies.

The International Criminal Court charged al-Bashir with war crimes and genocide over Darfur, but it remains unclear whether the transitional government will hand him over to face justice in The Hague, Netherlands.

In December, the joint U.N.-African Union envoy for Darfur, Jeremiah Mamabolo, cautioned that mistrust still runs deep in Darfur.

The people of Darfur ``have been betrayed,'' Mamabolo told The Associated Press. ``A lot of crimes and injustice have been committed against them, so they feel insecure.''

Last year, the transitional government struck a peace deal in October with the Sudan Revolutionary Front, a coalition of several armed rebel groups _ including from the Darfur region.

The government and rebel groups have said they will deploy a 12,000-strong Civilian Protection Force to the region. But some worry it could include former militia members who may have taken part in atrocities.

Baraka's brother, Usumain Baraka, who settled in Israel, is skeptical the interim rulers can bring about peace. ``The current government of Sudan is run by former generals who designed and carried out the genocide in 2003,'' he said.

Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the deputy head of Sudan's ruling sovereign council, leads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which grew out of the Darfur militias. Rights groups say his forces burned villages and raped and killed civilians during a series of counterinsurgency campaigns over the last decade.

A report by U.N. experts covering March to December said tribal clashes and attacks on civilians increased sharply ``in both frequency and scale,'' particularly in South Darfur and West Darfur. Acts of sexual and gender-based violence continue to be committed daily and go unaddressed, the report found.

For Baraka's family, his death has shattered their plans for the future.

Baraka fled Darfur when the war began, going first to Chad, then Libya and Ghana. From there, he was resettled as a refugee in the U.S., where he gained citizenship in 2015. In Atlanta, he ran a trucking business, his brother said, through which he supported his extended family in Sudan. He was also studying to become a medical assistant.

``He was the backbone of our family,'' said his brother.

Baraka had married his wife on a trip home to Jabal, where she had their children. He had arrived in December to register his newly born third child at the American Embassy and start the process of bringing all of them to the United States _ now that the Trump administration ban on travel from Sudan has ended.

Now those plans are gone, said his wife.

``Nothing remains but memories,'' she said.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

Short link:


SAINT LOUIS, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Benchmark Email, a leading software as a service provider of sales and marketing solutions for SMBs, today announces that it acquired Contacts+, a subsidiary of Denver-based FullContact.

The acquisition opens the opportunity to extend contact management tools to small businesses as well as integrate with Benchmark's family of products, Benchmark Email and BenchmarkONE CRM. The transaction closed on January 29, 2021 and comes just on the heels of Benchmark Email securing $3 million in funding from Texas Capital Bank to fuel acquisitions and drive growth.

Contacts+ is a contact management solution with apps for desktop and mobile that allows professionals, teams and small businesses to store and sync contacts across devices, scan business cards and clean contact data. With the Contacts+ mobile apps, the acquisition gives Benchmark Email reach into the market of Apple and Android users.

"Relationships and contacts power every small business," says Benchmark Email's CEO, Jonathan Herrick. "One of the most sticky features of our CRM product, BenchmarkONE, is that each contact record has a photo of the contact. Our small business users love that they can put a face to a name instead of working with impersonal data. With Contacts+ technology, we're excited about helping users of both Benchmark and Contacts+ products augment their contact data even further and reach out to their contacts in more intelligent and effective ways."

Benchmark will continue to support and grow the Contacts+ base of nearly 20,000 paying customers. In addition, Benchmark Email welcomes key members of the Contacts+ team to support the Contacts+ suite of apps and play an integral role in developing artificial intelligence, machine learning and mobile app development for Benchmark Email and BenchmarkONE CRM.

"Professionals, teams and small businesses rely on Contacts+ to keep their contact data clean, up to date, and at their fingertips," says Herrick. "Bringing the synergies of contact data and enrichment together with sales and marketing software is going to be a huge win for our small business customers."

Chris Harrison, CEO of FullContact, said, "We're pleased that Benchmark recognizes the strength of the Contacts+ business, as well as its future potential to add customers and create new synergistic capabilities for the Small Business Market.

Contacts+ is an independent FullContact subsidiary with separate business operations, enabling Benchmark to rapidly accelerate on its growth strategy. This change in ownership also reaffirms FullContact's commitment to focus on our Person-First, Privacy-Forward Identity Resolution business. We look forward to the Contacts+ customers realizing new value under Benchmark's leadership. With Benchmark at the helm, Contacts+ has a bright future."

About Benchmark Email

Benchmark Email is a sales and marketing platform on a global mission to help businesses everywhere ignite relationships with their customers. Grow your subscriber list and send compelling emails with easy-to-use email marketing software, including forms and landing pages. Learn more at https://www.benchmarkemail.com .

Media relations contact:

Name: Jessica Lunk

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1-866-991-4888

About Full Contact

FullContact is a privacy-safe Identity Resolution company building trust between people and brands, while also putting people and brands in control of their information. Their patented identity graph enables accurate, secure Identity Resolution for more than one billion people globally. FullContact delivers the capabilities needed to create tailored customer experiences by unifying data and applying insights in the moments that matter. FullContact is headquartered in Denver, with offices in Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, Atlanta, and Kochi, India. For more information, please visit www.fullcontact.com .

Contact info:

Name: [email protected]

Organization: FullContact

Address: 1624 Market Street Suite 226 PMB 45057 Denver, Colorado 80202-2523

Phone: 1-888-330-6943

SOURCE Benchmark Email
The internet provided a turbo boost for both extremist groups, Ben Wallace said (Jeremy Selwyn/Evening Standard)

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has warned of a growing threat of international chemical and biological attacks  with some regimes willing to use such weapons on their own people.

He told The Times these attacks were what happens in a sort of breakdown of world order, and expressed concern that some states believed it was acceptable to use nerve agents and pathogens against their opponents.

Mr Wallace said the internet provided a turbo boost for both extremist groups and nation states looking to research and develop such weapons.

Speaking during an interview at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down, near Salisbury, he said: Globally, I think there is a growing threat of chemical or biological (attack).

There has been a worry that some states think it is acceptable to use that type of method to carry out or further their aims Ben Wallace

It depends on what is at hand for people using the internet.

It is unfortunately what happens in a sort of breakdown of world order where you see countries like Syria use it on its own people.

There has been a worry that some states think it is acceptable to use that type of method to carry out or further their aims.

Mr Wallace referenced the use of chemical nerve agents by Russia in the 2018 poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.

Two Russian nationals were accused of travelling to the Wiltshire city to murder Mr Skripal with Novichok.

Expand Close Members of the military wore protective clothing as work took place at the home of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal (Andrew Matthews/PA) PA / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Members of the military wore protective clothing as work took place at the home of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal (Andrew Matthews/PA)

The Skripals survived the attack, but the incident later claimed the life of Dawn Sturgess after she came into contact with a perfume bottle believed to have been used in the attack and then discarded.

Ms Sturgess partner, Charlie Rowley, was left seriously ill but recovered.

The Defence Secretary said the attack in Salisbury demonstrated the need for more police officers to be trained to respond to chemical and biological attacks.

Military personnel deployed to regions at risk of chemical or biological attack have to undergo intense training at Porton Down, including how to repair and maintain military gas masks, The Times reported.
The minister says the education system should be modified by reforming learning, curriculum and pedagogy.

The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said the present system of education should be modified by reforming learning, curriculum and pedagogy.

He said this was in order to keep abreast with modern global practices in education.

Mr Nwajiuba stated this at the opening of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Principals of Federal Unity Colleges (FUC) held in Abuja on Monday.

The meeting was themed: "Restructuring our education System to suit challenging times."

"The Theme of the 2020 AGM is apt, in that it is imperative in ensuring qualitative instructional delivery so as to maximize student performance in conformity with the societal needs", he said.

He said to further achieve the objectives of quality education for all, collective support, co-operation and sincere commitment of all the key players is needed, especially the Principals of the FUCs.

"I wish to commend the federal government for the establishment of six (6) more Federal Science and Technical Colleges (FSTCS) in the Country", he said.

Mr Nwajiuba said the newly established colleges would go a long way in promoting the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills for self- reliance.

He said the principals of the FUCs owe it a duty to teach and nurture the children to achieve expected behavior despite the challenges facing the educational system.

"Let me assure you, that the Federal Government is committed to addressing the challenges facing most of our Federal Unity Colleges and the educational sector at large, such as poor management/Leadership style, inadequate classrooms, indiscipline by staff and students, inadequate number of qualified teachers, inadequate staff welfare, poor academic performance, inadequate funding resulting to dilapidated furniture and unfinished projects, et cetera," he said.

Also speaking, the Chairperson of Principals of Federal Unity Colleges, T.F.O Yakubu-Oyinloye, said the colleges required upgrades in their ICT facilities to meet the needs of these challenging times.

"We thank you for the trust reposed in us as principals and we promise we will not disappoint you as we keep on keying into the Ministry of Education's increased funding for our schools especially in the area of overhead costs and the employment and deployment of more teachers and non- teaching staff to our schools," she said.

I dont want to spend much time dwelling on the hateful, absurd and awful things Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican newly elected to Congress, has said over the years.

It will suffice to say that Greene is a conspiracy theorist troubled enough to believe that space lasers financed by Jewish financiers set wildfires in California, to name just one of her bizarre claims.

I will never understand how Georgia voters sent Greene to Congress, but they did, and her election put a question before her colleagues: Should she be removed from House committee posts?

Elise Stefanik voted no.

To be sure, the North Country Republican, who lives in Schuylerville, made it known she does not support the "inexcusable statements" Greene has made. But Stefanik just couldnt vote yes, she said, because she has too much respect for the will of voters.

"It is not the right of House Democrats to unilaterally overturn the people of Georgias decision," Stefanik said in a statement after her colleagues stripped Greene of committee assignments last week. Stefanik called the move "a partisan power grab."

I'm at a loss. I mean  I just  wow.

If Stefanik had been talking about the will of voters in Kansas or Alaska or New Mexico, maybe I wouldnt be quite so flummoxed. But Georgia? Georgia!? GEORGIA??!!

Coming to an inbox near you Our writers share more about the topics they cover in our newsletters. Churchill's Corner: Chris Churchill goes in depth on his latest columns, and shares what readers are saying. Sign up here. Editor's Note (subscribers only): Editor Casey Seiler shares the story behind our biggest stories of the week. Sign up here. Click here for a complete list of newsletter offerings.

Perhaps Stefanik is hoping weve already forgotten that just a month ago she and many other Republicans tried to reject election results from that very state as part of a partisan power grab to, you know, unilaterally overturn the people of Georgias decision.

Yet many of you will certainly remember that, in a speech delivered just hours after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Stefanik said changes ordered by the Georgia Secretary of State, a Republican, made the state's November election unconstitutional. Courts disagreed.

And perhaps you haven't forgotten that ahead of her vote to challenge presidential election results from four states, Stefanik also claimed, falsely, that more than 140,000 votes were cast by underage, deceased or otherwise unauthorized voters in just one Georgia county.

And you may remember that Stefanik also endorsed a lawsuit, filed by the attorney general in Texas, attempting to disqualify election results from Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, again arguing that changes to election rules made without legislative approval were unconstitutional.

The lawsuit sought to overturn the presidential election, of course, and would have disenfranchised millions. It would have handed an election won by Joe Biden to Donald Trump. It was a cynical ploy that helped convince millions of Americans that a fair election had been stolen.

Now, though, Stefanik has such enormous respect for the will of voters and the sanctity of Georgias fine electoral process that she couldnt possibly sanction Greenes bigotry and lunacy.

Stefanik must think voters are stupid. How else does one explain such wild contradictions? As an editorial in the Post-Star put it, "Stefaniks excuse for taking Greenes side is so full of holes, its invisible."

Of course, removing Greene from committees is nothing like overturning an election. Greene was not going to be thrown out of Congress or replaced by a Democrat. Her votes would still count.

But Stefaniks constitutional claims about the presidential election were also rubbish, given that officials in other states, including some won by Trump, also changed election procedures without legislative approval.

In Texas, for example, Gov. Greg Abbott issued orders that, among other changes, lengthened the early voting period and limited the number of drop-off locations for absentee ballots. By Stefanik's standard, Abbotts moves were unconstitutional.

But she didnt object to that election. Nor did she object to her own in New Yorks 21st congressional district, though Gov. Andrew Cuomo also made unilateral changes to voting rules.

It's odd, isnt it? Stefanik seems to believe an election is fair if the Republican wins and unfair if the Democrat succeeds. One choice represents the unmistakable, sacrosanct will of the voters, while the other should be overturned by the courts or rebuffed by Congress.

Its a view that makes no logical sense, unless distorted by a hyper-partisan lens. The reality, though, is that Stefanik, a Harvard graduate, is too smart to be blind to the intellectual dishonesty at the heart of her arguments. She certainly sees the inconsistencies in her claims.

Stefanik must think, then, that we'll be too dumb to catch on  that a majority of voters will swallow whatever absurd excuse she chooses to spout. Either that, or she hopes were too apathetic to care.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
The varsity announced that appropriate gaps will be given in between two exams so that candidates can fully prepare themselves

The Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University or AKTU, Lucknow has decided to conduct semester exams in the offline mode. The varsity announced that appropriate gaps will be given in between two exams so that candidates can fully prepare themselves.

The official Twitter account of AKTU declared the decision taken in the 69th examination committee meeting on Tuesday. The tweet said that the semester exams will be held offline, the paper will be descriptive in nature and no multiple choice questions will be asked.

Dear Students

As per the decisions taken in 69th examination committee meeting today, this is to share that appropriate gap shall be given between question papers and the exam will be conducted offline

Best wishes@Vineetkansal2 @iet_lucknow @NoidaUpid @AICTE_INDIA @CASaktu  AKTU (@AKTU_Lucknow) February 9, 2021

A revised date sheet with the gaps in between exam dates will be published within two days, the AKTU further announced.

According to a report by NDTV, the authority decided to conduct the exams in the offline mode after taking into account the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases. The decision is also aimed at helping the most number of candidates participate in the semester end exams.

Earlier, a group of students had filed a complaint in the Supreme Court against AKTUs decision of conducting the exams in the offline mode.

The petition submitted by the students had cited safety concerns with the offline conduct of exams. The document said that the gathering of hundreds of candidates in the exam centres was not safe considering the COVID-19 threat. Moreover, the students had complained of not having any study material with which they can prepare for the upcoming semester exams.
Navigating the Ad Tech Maze

In an ideal world, digital advertising should work like broadcast advertising, but with even better targeting and variable ad pod lengths. However, the ad tech business has the nuances of stock market trading, combined with the technical challenges to support all devices of the splintered multi-platform world that is streaming. And everyone involved knows there are gaps between where things are and where they should be.

What follows is a summary of the Streaming Media West Connect 2020 panel Streaming Ad Tech Relationship Advice, with our experts weighing in on their key issues. If you're not where our speakers are, you'll be making a lot of choices and will likely have to create your own path.

The panel consisted of industry leaders from a variety of segments of the OTT and advertising ecosystem:

VP of addressable enablement at Comcast Larry Allen, general manager andVP of addressable enablement at Comcast

of video delivery at Optus Sport Jeremy Brown, associate directorof video delivery at Optus Sport

global video monetization and operations at ViacomCBS Jarred Wilichinsky, SVP ofglobal video monetization andoperations at ViacomCBS

Yazmin Wickham, senior director of digital platform management at Katz Networks

Olga Kornienko, co-founder and COO of EZDRM

Allen set the stage: "The foundation of how we all trade and execute today, whether it's client side or server side, is based off of the IAB specs," he said. "The buy side, the sell side, and the technology that sits in between that is the common language that we all execute on regardless of how we actually do it." In other words, industry guidelines come from IAB, but all of the players in the ecosystem implement their own variation.

Viewers today want a lean-back experience in which content and ads arrive in a packaged bundle, with well-timed ad breaks (and with fewer ads than on broadcast) targeted to their interests. Media companies want the promise of getting a good price and selling out their inventory to media buyers. Brands expect accurate measurement for their ad buysan audited mix of frequency and reach (so the same ad isn't being served to the same viewers over and over again)and would prefer that all advertising on digital and broadcast use the same kind of measurement KPIs.

CSAI vs. SSAI

On the tech side, the discussion around client-side ad insertion (CSAI) or server-side ad insertion (SSAI) has been going on for a long time. Everyone on the panel primarily uses SSAI, except in some cases like connected television (CTV) and mobile, where it isn't possible. "It has to work like TV," said Wilichinsky. "If you have your choice, server-side, but there are plenty of scenarios where you can't do it and you've got to do client-side ad insertion."

SSAI has a number of benefits, including a better viewer experience, the ability to deliver a single video feed merging ad and content (which foils ad blockers), consistent video quality, fewer customized development requirements, and loudness control. "Server-side ad insertion is [that] you request your advertisements in the cloud, and you are stitching those responses back with your content," said Brown. "[In] client-side ad insertion, before a video actually starts, there's an SDK [software development kit] that sits on top of the player. It's typically Google's IMA [Interactive Media Ads] SDK, and you have to install it onto every single app. During playback, when we get to these timed breaks, the SDK will take over the content player and let its own player fetch ads and manage the impressions. It's almost like a player on top of the player, and they're fighting for your attention."

A server-side ad insertion workflow (Sketch by Optus Sport's Jeremy Brown)

"I think the distinction is where you track, and that's where you can really pivot and do things in a lot of different ways," said Wilichinsky. Some advertisers prefer specific measurement partners, and each measurement company's SDK has to be integrated and supported on all platforms. This can mean the ad will be delivered server side, but the tracking is done client side. "The more tracking you can bring to the client, the better," said Wilichinsky.

"In terms of tracking as it pertains to SSAI, when we can, we always push to have tracking fire from the client," added Wilichinsky. "It does alleviate ad vendor problems and difficult conversations on false positives. However, over the years, server-side tracking and issues have gotten much better. If all the same signals are available and if issues are not there, I do think serious conversations would be had moving to a full server-side tracking model."

That tracking, also called third-party validation, verifies that the ad is reaching the audience. "In the ad that gets served to you, there's a little bit of code that checks the environment that it's landing in," said Wickham. "Then it returns that back to the ad validation company, who then spits out a report for the advertisers to make sure that they are getting their money's worth." Up until now, there have been different types of measurements used within broadcast and digital delivery. This should hopefully change with the IAB Open Measurement SDK.

"Open Measurement is enabling the programmers and the advertisers to aggregate information across all of the places where their ads are running and develop metrics around reach, incremental reach, frequency of their advertising, [and] being able to deduplicate and understand where audiences are actually being exposed to ads," said Allen. "It's really an important component for how the ecosystem is going to evolve and be managed." What this means is that instead of each measurement vendor requiring different code integration, the IAB Open Measurement SDK provides common code for validation vendors to gain access to reporting data.

SCTE

An important requirement for viewers to have a great experience is frame accuracy. "In a live linear environment, it's very important when an ad is getting inserted into the stream for it to be frame-accurate so that you don't get frames of black or overlaying or clipping of your ads in the pod," said Allen.

The identification for when an ad pod starts is the SCTE marker, a timed piece of metadata that gets added to your stream, indicating a timestamp and a duration. "The duration tells you how long that ad window is going to be," said Wickham.

"Traditionally, people are using the SCTE triggers to delineate between the national inventory and the local or distributor inventory that's often shared in carriage agreements," said Allen. "Even getting the SCTE trigger out of your broadcast center is a challenge upon itself," added Wilichinsky. Does it contain the right metadata? Is the SCTE trigger on a national ad? Is it being used for dynamic ad insertion? Is it a local ad for an affiliate? Is it a local spot for an MVPD? "All these people rely on this one single trigger that goes out. Changing it is really like flapping your wings in the Sahara and causing a hurricane," said Wilichinsky.

Ad Tags

An ad tag will call for either a VAST (Video Ad Serving Template) or VPAID (Video Player Ad Interface Definition) creative. VAST is the XML format standard, which works as a set of instructions so the player can understand what formats of the video are available to pick from and when to trigger URLs to track impressions, error codes, and measurement, according to Brown.

"[VPAID] allowed us to interrupt the player and put an interactive ad over the player. That worked really well in a website, but obviously, over time, running other people's code over your player [presents] a security issue," said Brown. New privacy requirements are also not compliant with this approach. "We are still seeing the VPAID used to sideload SDKs for measurability like viewability," said Brown.

IAB specs for new companion ads allow for additional JavaScript that should work on a Roku or a smart TV operating system. "You can layer on top of the base video, where you can have an interactive-elements overlay that appears, and you could use your remote to pop it open, and it might pause the stream, and then you have a panel to play a game, choose pictures, and stuff like that," said Wilichinsky. CBS used this during Super Bowl LIII in 2019.

"What we're finding with TVs using a native player is you don't get that ability," said Brown. Trying to get the same experience everywhere isn't possible yet, which is why there still can be buffering on old devices loading ads.

To DRM or Not?

The panel discussed the idea that DRM would solve ad fraud. DRM can work on SSAI or CSAI. "[DRM will provide] reporting and [keep] track of whether or not an ad actually played, because you can't crop it out," said Kornienko. "It would be beneficial to the ad provider to know that nobody took a stream, and  put somebody else's ads in." Pirates can steal and distribute live streams, substituting their own advertising so that they can monetize them.

"DRM actually does not cause latency in any player, in any environment," said Kornienko. "This is especially vital to live [content] and would not cause any latency at all, because the players should be able to handle both downloading of the license and downloading of the content at the same time."

Wilichinsky said that problems arise when content is DRM-protected but ad segments come unprotected from a different CDN, causing crashes as the switch is made between the two. Brown added that the players on many connected TVs don't support that switching.

A workflow demonstrating how DRM can be used with ad insertion. Contrary to a common misperception, DRM will not introduce any latency, says EZDRM's Olga Kornienko.

Life Without Cookies

"How does life look  without cookies? It's very bleak," said Wickham. "I guess therein lies the rub? You have to ask for the personally identifiable information [PII] in order to be able to really track somebody and serve them appropriate ads across devices. So if you can't do that, you're just shooting an arrow in the dark."

A cookie is a direct request from a client to a service at any point in the ad service ecosystem. "When you put SSAI in the middle, you've created almost a firewall between that transaction," said Brown. How can privacy policies and platform changes still allow personalized ads under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and iOS14? Platforms require users to log in, then target against content and the non-PII detail sourced from user registration steps. "The consensus idea seems to be that if you can get somebody to give you permission to drop that advertising tracking cookie, or provide an email address, then you can anonymize this and use that with your ad tracking across everywhere ... they are consuming content," said Wickham.

"I think it's why you're seeing this rush for almost all the media companies to move B2C, where they're building a direct relationship with consumers, so then they have an ability to do that linkage and build a household graph across their footprint and partner with other platforms that also have direct consumer relationships," said Allen.

"We have 25 million subscribers, and we have the ability to match to those households, across device types, in our set-top box environment, but also within the apps that run on our platforms and apps that run on other people's platforms," said Allen. "That is a really important thing, and I think media companies are all actively building their own brass and trying to drive more consumer relationships where they're capturing email, home address, credit card, etcetera."

"The majority of our viewership [is] always going to try to watch it on the best screen available. When you're home, that's on a 55-plus-inch TV that's either hooked up to an X1 box or Roku, or running tvOS[there are] no cookies," said Wilichinsky. "On your phone, on an app, [there are] no cookies, so that's a cookie-less environment."

Device manufacturers have created re-certifiable identifier technologies to provide compliance to GDPR and other privacy laws. "It comes back to the resettable, privacy-safe device IDs that are available," said Wilichinsky.

"The logged-in user, the subscriber, is the next iteration of identity," said Wilichinsky. "Those profiles will become more important in the coming years as we get more relevant advertising to who we believe is watching the content."

Standardizing Digital Ads

With thousands of creatives flying around, figuring out if the ad meets an acceptable quality standard would go a long way. "If we could all just get the same asset that goes to the TV ecosystem, a lot of our problems would go away," said Wilichinsky. "This is where VAST 4.0 made the first attempt to make the mezzanine file as part of the spec and bring standards around metadata about the advertisement [Ad-ID in the U.S., Clock ID in the U.K.]."

"In streaming and in live linear, there's a whole policy process around what ads can run," said Allen. This competitive separation is the norm in broadcast, as is a standard creative distribution process that hits all of the quality standards. "That's a workflow and a process that certainly needs to be hardened now that streaming and the number of devices [are] scaling from a volume standpoint," said Allen.

Another issue is that multiple platforms have different requirements on pod durations. "Getting streams onto new platforms like Peacock and the Roku channel, they are recommending that you comply with their ad pod duration [target] length," said Wickham. "Peacock has a 5-minute limit per hour."

"If you're trying to take a linear broadcast into their digital platform, you're probably running more than 5 minutes per hour. So then the issue becomes, well, what do you cut off? Do you cut off some of your content? Do you cut off some of the ads that you promised you would serve?" said Wickham.

A third issue is data used for targeting. "Your content could run inside of YouTube TV, but if YouTube doesn't grant you rights to the user data on their platform, then you're limited to how much you're going to be able to leverage that inventory and sell it," said Allen. "That ultimately could lead to a bad user experience.  Either it goes black slate because you didn't sell it at all, or you're selling it dirt cheap, and then that creates downward pricing pressure on inventory elsewhere, potentially."

A fourth issue is actual ad formatting, as advertisers tend to focus on CPMs rather than a quality experience for the viewer. "These things are playing on 70-inch TV screens, so getting a 4-by-3 letterbox asset that got encoded 10 times before it ever makes it into a digital tag just looks like amateur hour," Wilichinsky said. "We need to be better than that."

The Future

There is a lot of work being done to improve the digital video ad experience, and three areas are key to the future.

SCTE

There are efforts to standardize the use of SCTE triggers, because not all data is consistently provided. "As we're moving into addressability and we're working to consistently enable national inventory to also be insertable within these local systems or digital CTV systems, there are new SCTE triggers that are being developed," said Allen. The result will be better personalization of ads to match content, viewer demographics, and replacement ads for both digital and linear.

Privacy

The privacy-compliant future means navigating a world of three competing potential data owners: the programmer, the distributor, and now the device manufacturer that controls the resettable identifier. "It's open from a technology [position, but] the business ecosystem of TV is the most complicated spider web we'll ever encounter," said Wilichinsky. "You have three layers of owning the user. How [do] we all work together at the end of the day to provide the best user experience, because identity might be three layers above you as a programmer, or you might have it and they don't have it."

Ad Standardization

Figuring out the best approach both from an ad stack and ad delivery perspective remains a challenge. "This is not getting any simpler," said Allen. "All these things need to work together so you can decision across them in a unified manner.  I think about [interoperability] a lot and talk about it with the team every day. I'm making sure that the programmers and the advertisers have a scaled opportunity across all of these devices. There is a lot of fragmentation, and there are still these kinds of business impediments based on how you've negotiated with a platform or how some of the platforms are holding their data back."

These experts have managed to navigate their specific ad tech requirements, but keeping up with the Joneses is getting more and more complicated.

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Companies and Suppliers Mentioned

True Leaf Campus will be the first facility of its kind to serve the burgeoning B.C. craft cannabis community

Vernon, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - True Leaf Brands Inc. (CSE: MJ) (OTC Pink: TRLFD) (FSE: TLAA) ("True Leaf" or the "Company") has announced a strategic plan to provide British Columbia's burgeoning craft cannabis community with the services they need.

B.C.'s cannabis industry is currently a mix of growers grandfathered under the pre-legalization rules and licensed producers under the Cannabis Act with strict requirements for quality assurance, security, and sales. The Company's True Leaf Campus facility will serve growers and micro-cultivators seeking a gateway to the legal market.

Micro-cultivators must meet strict zoning, security, quality, and production requirements to become licensed, and only then can sell their product at the wholesale level to licensed standard processors such as True Leaf. The facility at the True Leaf Campus in Lumby, B.C., will offer a full suite of services and seed-to-shelf solutions:

Assistance with the requirement to operate with standard operating procedures and producing product that can meet Health Canada's quality standards

Genetic cleaning, propagation, and cloning

Small scale anti-microbial services

Processing and packaging

Potential royalties or sales through True Leaf's sales channels

The Company is uniquely positioned to support B.C.'s craft cannabis community, with ready access to hundreds of legacy growers in the Okanagan Valley, Kootenays, Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island.

"B.C. cannabis has a global reputation for quality that was built from the passion and hard work of the craft community. It's time for them to shine and we're here to help," said True Leaf CEO Darcy Bomford. "Our mission is to be a champion to the craft cannabis community by providing the services they need and a legal route to market for their products."

To support the strategic plan, the Company has added three new team members in key positions:

Tom Smale will serve as General Manager of True Leaf Campus. Mr. Smale has worked with several licensed operators and has a deep understanding of Health Canada's regulatory and processing requirements.

Doug Robinson will serve as Master Grower. Mr. Robinson is an experienced local grower with years of consistent production utilizing a number of growing methods.

Nick Foufoulas will support business development. Mr. Foufoulas has deep connections in the industry along with a background in corporate finance and business development.

Legal cannabis sales have, for the first time, overtaken illegal black and grey market sales in Canada. According to Marijuana Business Daily, spending on non-medical cannabis products in the third quarter of last year reached $824 million (CAD) according to the updated figures. Unlicensed non-medical sales, by comparison, were estimated to be $754 million (CAD) in the same period.

True Leaf is currently reaching out to the B.C. craft cannabis community. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the Company at 1 (250) 275-6063.

About True Leaf

True Leaf Brands Inc. is a Licensed Producer based in Vernon, B.C. The Company owns and operates True Leaf Campus, a 19,500 square foot facility located on a 40-acre site zoned for the cultivation, processing, and sale of cannabis, as well as general industrial use.

ir.trueleafbrands.com

Investor Contact:

Darcy Bomford

Chief Executive Officer

Darcy@trueleafbrands.com

1 (250) 260-0676

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to our business plans. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of True Leaf to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; regulatory risks; and other risks related to the cannabis industry. Forward-looking statements in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, nor the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of securities mentioned in this press release in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74061
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani are likely to discuss an agreement on the Shahtoot dam in India-Afghanistan summit-level talks to be held on Tuesday, according to ANI reports. Shahtoot dam is expected to provide clean drinking water to at least two million citizens of Kabul which will also be used for irrigation.

India Announces High-impact Projects for Afghanistan

In November 2020, Union Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar had announced at the Geneva Donors Conference that India had concluded with Afghanistan an agreement for the construction of the Shatoot dam, which would provide safe drinking water to 2 million residents of Kabul city. India had announced a phase of nearly 150 high-impact community projects in Afghanistan worth USD 80 million (Rs 592 crore) as the country's development portfolio in the war-ravaged nation had reached over USD 3 billion (Rs 22,200 crore).

READ | Afghanistan President Thanks India For $2 Billion Commitment, Chahbahar Corridor

READ | Pak PM Imran Khan Meets President Ashraf Ghani On His Maiden Afghan Visit

In December 2020, India at the UN had said that the international community should work towards the removal of all artificial transit barriers imposed on Afghanistan, ensuring that all such rights are guaranteed to the war-torn country under bilateral and multilateral agreements without any hindrance. Indias Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Nagaraj Naidu, speaking in the UN General Assembly in support of a resolution on Afghanistan, said it is important for Afghanistan to have access to the high seas for a prosperous future. The international community should work towards removal of all artificial transit barriers imposed on Afghanistan and ensure that all transit rights are guaranteed to Afghanistan under bilateral and multilateral transit agreements without any hindrance. We are glad to note that the resolution before us calls upon states to do so, Naidu had said.

READ | India Announces Over 100 High-impact Projects Worth USD 80 Million For Afghanistan; Calls For Comprehensive Ceasefire

READ | President Ashraf Ghani Challenges Afghan Reconciliation Council; Accuses It Of Overreach

(With Agency Inputs)
Claire Brennan Tillbergs 11-year-old daughter has been hospitalized twice in recent months after sharing that she was having suicidal thoughts. The Massachusetts girl has autism, depression and anxiety.

Although her daughter had been hospitalized before, Tillberg said things worsened when the pandemic hit. Her school went online and she could no longer meet with counselors in person. Suddenly, the structure and support that help many children keep a sense of normalcy were gone.

Studies have shown that depression increases during teen years. One out of every 13 high school students has attempted suicide and at least half of children with mental illness do not get treatment.

When schools closed across the U.S. in mid-March of 2020, it separated students from other students, along with advisors, teachers and other adults at school. Additionally, for many students, school was the only place to get mental health services.

Wenimo Okoya is a health education researcher and program director. She is head of high school implementation for the Jed Foundation. The organization helps schools nationally develop programs to support mental health and prevent suicide.

Okoya says research has not yet linked teen suicides to the school closures. But she says social connections are hugely important for students.

One of the things that we know promotes mental health and ameliorates suicide risk is social connectedness for young people. And were finding that, because of the isolation that COVID-19 has put us all in, its harder for students to connect with their peers, with their teachers.

For more than 10 years, suicide rates among students aged 10 and up in the U.S. have been on the rise. But experts say the pandemic has brought new worries to young peoples lives along with social isolation.

From mid-March through October 2020, mental health-related visits to hospital emergency rooms rose for U.S. children ages 5-11 and 12-17. That information comes from a recent report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Nisha Sachdev is with the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools at George Washington University. She says that during the pandemic, both nationally and worldwide, children and families have been experiencing anxiety and fear for many reasons. They include loss of income and loss of housing or having to move around. The children can also experience long periods of separation from or loss of family members with COVID-19.

Research and opinion studies in the U.S., Asia, Australia, Canada, China and Europe have shown overall worsening mental health in children and teens since the pandemic began. In an October report by the World Health Organization involving 130 countries, more than 60 percent reported changes to mental health services for vulnerable people, including children and teens.

In the U.S., school closures have led to a loss of mental health services for many students.

Okoya notes that students are also experiencing things like internet connection issues. Others may share one computer with their brothers and sisters. Or they may live in a small space with their family and cannot speak privately about their feelings.



What schools are doing

So how have schools reacted to the changes? And what can they do moving forward?

For students with special needs, telehealth has made a big difference, says Okoya. Telehealth is the process by which some healthcare services are provided through the internet.

But for the main school population, mental health experts agree about the need for schools to provide structure and routines for students. They also say building a sense of connection and belonging between students and with supportive adults is critical.

That includes teachers or other adults at school having daily check-ins with students. Okoya says this is important  even if the childs camera is off or if the student does not share their specific problems.

Opening up the line of communication is really important  even if its not about the bigger thing. That young person knowing that theres an adult who cares about them, who is reaching out to them, whos making the time to talk to them is really, really important.

How check-ins and other emotional supports are carried out differ from school to school.

Okoya says the Jed Foundation works with some schools that have put in place breakout rooms. This involves breaking classes into smaller online rooms so that students can share more openly.

Sachdev says some schools she works with in Washington, D.C. have done a great job with check-ins. They have chosen a teacher or other school employee to work with students and families. So each student has a point person they check in with every day and they do not have to search for someone they can talk to. The system also helps parents or guardians. They no longer have to check in with several different teachers.

Other teachers use a mood meter, a kind of map that divides feelings into colors, during advisory periods each day. And, since students have several class periods per day, their other teachers can do the same if they are able to, Okoya says.

Overall, the pandemic has proven that social-emotional learning is just as important as learning other subjects, says Sachdev.

Experts like Okoya and Sachdev want the public to understand that mental healthcare is more than just the relationship between a student and a counselor.

Every adult who has contact with a young person may be able to take steps to improve their mental health, Okoya says. Even a bus driver, for example, can urge a student to ask for help.

Sachdev explains that schools must not be the only ones ensuring good mental health for students and families. Support, solutions, and services are also needed from other fields, including healthcare, the workforce, child welfare, justice, and others, she says.

Im Alice Bryant.

Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English with additional reporting from the Associated Press. Bryan Lynn was the editor.

Quiz - Student Mental Health Difficulties on the Rise Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

anxiety  n. fear or nervousness about what might happen

teen  n. a person between the ages of 12 and 19

implementation  n. the act of beginning to do or use something, such as a plan

ameliorate  v. to make (something, such as a problem) better or less painful

isolation  n. the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others

peer  n. a person who belongs to the same age group or social group as someone else

vulnerable  adj. easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally

routine  n. a regular way of doing things in a particular order

mood  n. a persons emotional state

The Mwambu family in Bamasaba cultural institution has endorsed Mr Jude Mike Mudoma from Buyobo Clan in Sironko District as the duly elected Umukukha of Inzu Ya Masaba amid protest from a parallel faction.

The new Umukukha replaced the late Bob Mushikori, who died last month.

The first cultural leader, Mr Wilson Wamimbi, who was elected in 2010, came from the Wanaale family while the late Mushikori was from Mubuuya.

Nine clan members from the Mwambu and delegates elected Mr Mudoma during a verification meeting in Sironko Town last Friday.

The meeting was organised after the Minister of State for Gender and Culture, Ms Peace Mutuuzo, earlier said the Mwambu family should resolve the impasse since the two parallel cultural leaders are from the same family.

"The Mwambu family should come up with a very firm decision on who becomes the next Umukukha," Ms Mutuuzo said.

However, Mr John Wagabyalire Amuran, a parallel cultural leader from the Halasi clan, shunned the meeting.

Mr Mudoma and Mr Wagabyalire were both elected as successors by parallel organs of the institution in November and December, respectively. None of them has yet been gazetted by the government.

Earlier, Mr Wagabyalire released his cabinet, appointing Mr Geoffrey Wetpondi as the prime minister and Mr Omar Njofu as prime minister for the Bamasaba of Kenya chapter.

He also appointed advisers, including Mr Cornelius Wekunya, Canon Andrew Nyote, Mr Dominic Wetangula, Mr Moses Kiizibo, among others.

Analysts told Daily Monitor that Mr Wagabyalire's decision to appoint a cabinet complicated the dialogue process.

"Each group is determined to have the throne and the recent decision by Mr Wagabyalire to appoint a cabinet makes dialoguing further complicated," Mr Amos Mafabi from Namanyonyi Sub-county in Mbale City, said.

However, Mr Wetpondi said they could not attend a meeting organised by a district chairperson because he does not have mandate to call for a cultural meeting.

He added that Ms Mutuuzo has no part in determining who to become the next Umukukha.

"As Bamasaba, we elect a leader and forward the name to the minister for gazetting. The minister has no powers to guide or find us our next cultural leader," he said. However, Mr James Kangala, the institution's parallel secretary general, said the resolution from the Mwambu family is law bidding.

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"We are going to write a report and forward it to the relevant authorities on which they will base to gazzete Mr Mudoma as the next Umukukha of Bamasaba," he said.

Mr Kangala said the Mwambu's decision is also in line with section 16 of the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act 6 of 2011, which provides the conflicts should be resolved internally.

"The act allows us to resolve conflicts, internally and that is what the family tried to do but the other group boycotted the meeting. That is how they have been behaving," he said.

Mr Richard Wambedde, the institution's spokesperson, said Mr Wagabyalire was illegally elected.

"They are after causing disunity and confusion in the institution but their days are numbered," Mr Wambedde said.

The institution since its initial days of formation has had leadership challenges.

In 2013, another cultural leader, Mr Wash Joseph Kanyanya, going by the title Umukhungu Bukusu, was installed in Bududa District.

Way forward

Gender minister Peace Mutuuzo recently said government will gazette the new umukukha this month, adding that within two weeks, it will organise a series of meetings to resolve the standoff that led to elections of two parallel cultural leaders in the institution and thereafter gazette a genuine one.
A YOUNG man walked into a gym with a machete in his hand after having an argument about gaining entry to the building, a court heard.

Dylan Meagher (21) had been in a verbal row with another gym user when he got a machete and returned, it is alleged.

The case was adjourned for the preparation of a book of evidence after a Judge Alan Mitchell ruled it was too serious to be dealt with at district court level.

Mr Meagher, of Benmadigan Road, Drimnagh, is charged with producing a weapon in the course of a dispute.

The offence is alleged to have happened at Energie Fitness, Drimnagh last September 26.

Garda Aisling McDonald told Dublin District Court the accused made no reply to the charge after caution.

She said the DPP consented to the case being dealt with at district court level subject to jurisdiction being accepted by a judge.

Outlining the prosecutions case, Gda McDonald said it was alleged the accused had a verbal argument in the gym with someone else who was inside using the equipment. Mr Meagher could not gain entry as he did not have a fob on him, she said.

It was alleged he returned to the gym with a machete in his hand and entered, but was not swinging it at anyone. The man he had had the argument with was no longer on the premises when he returned, the garda said,.

The allegation was that Mr Meagher was in the entry area of the hallway but could not gain entry any further because he did not have a fob, Gda McDonald said in response to questions from the judge.

The court heard there were not many people downstairs using the gym at the time.

Gardai arrived, viewed CCTV and carried out an investigation, the garda continued. Mr Meagher was arrested a short distance away and allegedly matched the person seen on the CCTV.

Questioned by defence solicitor Rory Staines, Gda McDonald said the accused did not have the machete when he was arrested.

Judge Mitchell said the allegation was that an argument broke out and the accused had come back with a machete and tried to gain entry to the building where he believed the other person was.

The machete was potentially to be used in the course of an argument, and this put it in a more serious category, Judge Mitchell said.

He refused jurisdiction and adjourned the case to a date in March for the DPPs consent for a return for trial, and for the preparation of a book of evidence.
The first issue that will be debated in the opening hours of former President Donald J. Trumps impeachment trial on Tuesday will be the question of whether it is constitutional to put an impeached former president on trial.

The politics around the question are significant. Republicans have argued that the proceeding is unconstitutional, and by doing so, avoided addressing whether Mr. Trump committed impeachable offenses in his role in the Capitol riot.

Senate Republicans who voted last month to dismiss the trial as unconstitutional came under pressure on Sunday to re-evaluate their position when a leading conservative constitutional lawyer, Charles J. Cooper  who has been a close ally and adviser to Republican senators like Ted Cruz of Texas  argued in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that their claims about the constitutionality of the proceeding were unfounded.

The Senate has set aside four hours to debate this issue on Tuesday. Heres what you need to know.

What have Republicans said?

House Democrats, who were joined by 10 Republicans, voted to impeach Mr. Trump a week before he left office for incitement of insurrection.

As the night before the second impeachment trial of Donald J. Trump falls, the mood is decidedly gloomy. While impeachment managers want to call witnesses and put on a proper trial, reports indicate that Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi have ordered up a quick and dirty affair. This makes a certain amount of sense given that there are other urgent priorities at hand and any hope of picking off the 17 GOP votes needed to convict has fully withered and died. No matter what case Democrats present, Republicans are almost certainly going to stick together and protect the former president. The weeks between the House vote and the Senate trial have only worked to ensure that this comes true.

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So what exactly is the point of this impeachment effort? If there is no chance of garnering a conviction, why bother?

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In one sense, its long been clear that conviction isnt the point when it comes to the now-multiple impeachments of Donald Trump. As the Democrats previous impeachment lawyer Daniel Goldman argued last week on Amicus, the purpose is to lay down a historical marker, to create a record and force a vote for purposes of posterity if nothing else. And as my colleague Lili Loofbourow wrote back during that first trial of Donald Trump, impeachment is a stain that spreads.

But beyond the political message that House impeachment managers and Senate Democrats will convey at trialthat Republicans have opted, once again, to be the party of Trump and violent incitement and that his efforts to overturn both the vote and the Constitution are just finethere is another vitally important message that will be conveyed this week, no matter the outcome. That message is less a political signal about the difference between the two parties so much as it is a five-alarm warning about how representative democracy is working for Americans right now. Because in spite of the certainty with which I can predict that Trump wont be convicted, recent polling shows that the majority of Americans want to see him convicted. ABC polling released on Sunday shows 56 percent of Americans saying that Trump should be convicted and barred from holding office again. Only 43 percent say he should not be. That means that most Americans watching any part of the impeachment trial could reasonably ask themselves why, um, yet again, 56 percent of the country is held hostage to a 43 percent minority. This is not representative democracy working well.

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But this isnt just about minority rule. Because beyond possibly reconsidering the archaic constitutional strictures that require a two-thirds majority to convict the president, Americans might reasonably look at the disastrously malapportioned United States Senate and try to understand why this sober, deliberative body intentionally distorts the will of the people even as it purports to represent the will of the people. And that means those same people who might scratch their heads in an effort to understand how the Republican Party has morphed from the Party of Lincoln to the Party of Space Lasers could also reasonably wonder why it is that views that dont command even a minority of the minority views of most Republicans seem to be privileged on the Senate floor over the rational conservative values they themselves espouse. They might, for instance, wonder why the GOP is condemning Liz Cheney while offering a standing ovation to Marjorie Taylor Greene. And they wouldnt be totally insane if they then started to think about what minority-rule structures and incentive systems have brought them here.

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In short, in addition to using this impeachment trial to create a historical record of four years of GOP support for a president who tried to violently overturn an election, this impeachment can also stand as a record of how staggeringly broken electoral politics are when the preferences of the clear majority of Americans are being subordinated by the very systems of government itself. The GOP isnt just committed to ignoring the insurrection at the Capitol this week. Its also increasingly committed to ignoring the majority of Americans who found the insurrection abhorrent. This, then, is what minority rule looks like in political theater form: a Senate trial in which the clear will of the people can be sidelined because the clear will of the people does not determine who governs, or what those who govern must do.

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Yes, Democrats can use the weeks proceedings to explain what happened in the weeks leading up to Jan. 6, when the president sought to subvert the outcome of an election through lawless pressure on elected officials and then encouraged violent revolt when those efforts failed. But we all saw that with our own eyes. So perhaps they might also use this trial to show that in a hundred waysnone of them overtly lawless or self-evidently violentgovernment as currently constituted works to subvert representative democracy every single day. Those efforts go far beyond malapportionment in the Senate and gerrymandered districts. There are also the mounting efforts by Republican state officials to continue to suppress the vote. One recent analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice found three times as many pieces of state-level vote-suppressive legislation as there were only one year ago. Legislators in the Republican-controlled Georgia Senate are falling over themselves to strangle representative democracy, just as the impeachment trial opens. That isnt a coincidence. And until and unless the scourge of unlimited dark money in politics is constrained, democracy will look more and more like these same Republican senators who dont care about a lethal riot at the Capitoleven one that may have threatened their own lives and their colleaguesbecause these senators are beholden not to their constituents, or even to their own self-interest, but to the secret donors who fund them.

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It is not helpful or useful for Democrats to approach this impeachment trial wrapped in Hamlets thick black cloak of gloom and destructive self-talk. Going on the record to vehemently oppose violent armed rebellion that led to five deaths and abject terror in the seat of government is hardly a whimsical principle upon which to stand firm. But the coming days should not just be a teachable moment about Republicans and their unwillingness to cut loose the twisted and violent conspiracy theories that were the heart of Trumpism. This trial should also remind everyone that democracy itself has been systematically warped in ways that shut out the voices of most reasonable Americans, and that these same forces are working to further suppress their reasonable voices in the years to come. The American people think Donald Trump should be held accountable for what he did, and Americans paying attention are also completely correct to assume that he will not be. That is an obvious problem that has become so obvious that weve nearly forgotten that there are things we can and should do about it.

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There is vitally important, demonstrably doable legislative work Democrats must prioritize in the coming weeks, in order to protect the franchise, to battle vote suppression, to curb gerrymandering, and to turn off the spigot for dark money in politics. But even as debate begins on those questions, we should look at the Senate trial as a natural experiment in government that has bent and twisted the instruments of democracy until it need not even bother to respond to voters, to existential violence, or to this small matter of irrefutable evidence they saw with their own eyes. Instead of fighting over whether the impeachment trial is somehow diminishing or distracting from the other important legislative work of repairing democracy, Democrats should be messaging that but for this broken democracy, we wouldnt have arrived at a place in which an impeachment trial is not only required, but also very likely to end in a shocking and undemocratic acquittal. This is what minority rule looks like. But only if we continue to tolerate it.
Republicans made it clear that they were unhappy with Trumps defense, many of them saying they didnt understand where it was going -- particularly Castors opening. Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who voted with Democrats to move forward with the trial, said that Trumps team did a terrible job. Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who also voted with Democrats, said she was perplexed. Sen. Lisa Murkowki of Alaska said it was a missed opportunity for the defense.


Officials in Illinois have already identified the father and daughter killed last week in what investigators described as a murder-suicide.

On Thursday afternoon, nine-year-old Adrianna Anderson and her 36-year-old father, Christopher Anderson, were found dead inside his Lake Villa house.

According to a People report, Adrianna's mother called the police and asked them if they could check on her daughter after school officials informed her that Adrianna never showed up for school.

"Lake Villa Police Officers entered the home and found [Adrianna] deceased and the girl's father, a 36-year-old man, deceased," the investigators' statement said.

The statement further noted that Adrianna's parents shared custody of her but lived in separate residences. Police said Adrianna's mother agreed to allow the girl to stay with her father overnight on Wednesday. Police added that the mother tried to call the father when the girl failed to show up in school.

"After several attempts of not being able to reach the father, the mother called Lake Villa Police to conduct a well-being check," the police statement read.

Related story: Psychologist Mom Killed Twin Daughters Before Committing Suicide





Police Investigation on Adrianna Anderson's Death

Police said they are investigating the deaths as a murder-suicide and believe that the father killed Adrianna Anderson before taking his own life. According to a Patch report, investigators have yet to determine the motive and continue to talk with family members.

Lake Villa Police Chief Crag Somerville said the case is a tragic set of circumstances and offered their deepest condolences to the child's family.

Somerville reassured the Lake Villa community that there is no evidence to suggest that there is a threat to the public. The incident is still under investigation by members of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force with the Lake Villa Police Department.

Lake County Major Crimes Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said the girl and the father both died as a result of "sharp-force injuries." Meanwhile, complete autopsies on the father and the daughter were still pending, according to a Daily Mail report.

U.S. Murder-Suicide Rates

More than 1,300 people died in murder-suicides in America in 2017, and 91 percent of the killers used a gun, according to a Violence Policy Center (VPC) report in 2018.

The study further noted that there were 296 murder-suicide events during a six-month period. It also equals to more than 11 murder-suicides per week. These events caused 633 deaths, of which 296 were suicides, and 367 were homicides.

VPC Legislative Director Kristen Rand said that murder-suicides occur daily across the country, which claimed the lives of spouses, intimate partners, children, and co-workers.

"The disturbing findings in our study make clear the need for a comprehensive national data collection system that measures the full extent of murder-suicide in our country," Rand said in a statement.

The study's estimate for the total number of murder-suicides per year is consistent with the standard range of medical studies' estimates.

It also relied on news reports for its analysis as there is no comprehensive national database on murder-suicides in the U.S.

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The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday revalidated his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The revalidation and registration exercise was done at his ward (Ward E3) also known as Premier Ward at St. Stephen School Compound, Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island axis of the state.

Speaking after the exercise, Mr Sanwo-Olu told party followers that the exercise was designed to further strengthen the APC toward becoming Africas largest political platform.

He said the revalidation of previous APC followers and registration of new members was to ensure that the party had an effective register that would boost the partys status globally.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the revalidation confirmed his status as the Governor of Lagos State under the APC platform.

The APC is conducting a nationwide membership registration exercise between February 9 and 25.

(NAN)
In cells, numerous important biochemical functions take place within spherical chambers made from proteins and RNA.

These compartments are akin to specialized rooms inside a house, but their architecture is radically different: They don't have walls. Instead, they take the form of liquid droplets that don't have a membrane, forming spontaneously, similar to oil droplets in water. Sometimes, the droplets are found alone. Other times, one droplet can be found nested inside of another. And these varying assemblies can regulate the functions the droplets perform.

A study published on Feb. 8 in Nature Communications explores how these compartments, also known as membraneless organelles (MLOs) or biomolecular condensates, form and organize themselves. The research lays out physical rules controlling the arrangement of various types of synthetic MLOs created using just three kinds of building materials: RNA and two different proteins, a prion-like polypeptide (PLP) and an arginine-rich polypeptide (RRP).

The project brought together a team from the University at Buffalo and Iowa State University.

Different condensates can coexist inside the cells. They can be detached, attached to another condensate, or completely embedded within one another. So how is the cell controlling this? We found two different mechanisms that allowed us to control the architecture of synthetic membraneless organelles formed inside a test tube. First, the amount of RNA in the mixture helps to regulate the morphology of the organelles. The other factor is the amino acid sequence of the proteins involved." Taranpreet Kaur, Study First Author and PhD Student, Physics, UB College of Arts and Sciences

"These two factors impact how sticky the surfaces of the condensates are, changing how they interact with other droplets," says Priya Banerjee, PhD, UB assistant professor of physics, and one of two senior authors of the paper. "In all, we have shown using a simple system of three components that we can create different kinds of organelles and control their arrangement in a predictive manner. We suspect that such mechanisms may be employed by cells to arrange different MLOs for optimizing their functional output."

Davit Potoyan, PhD, assistant professor of chemistry at Iowa State University, is the study's other senior author.

Addressing questions in cell biology

The experiments were done on model systems made from RNA and proteins floating in a buffer solution. But the next step in the research -- already underway -- is to conduct similar studies inside a living cell.

"Going back to our motivations in researching MLOs, the big questions that started the field were questions in cell biology: How do cells organize their internal space?" Banerjee says. "The principles we uncover here contribute to the knowledge base that will improve understanding in this area."

Research on MLOs could lead to advancements in fields such as synthetic cell research or new materials for drug delivery.

"We are in the process of learning the biomolecular grammar that may be a universal language used by cells for taming their inner cellular complexity. We hope one day to utilize this knowledge to engineer artificial protocells with custom-designed functionalities inspired by nature," Potoyan says.
President Jovenel Moise of Haiti claims he survived a coup attempt on Sunday. Leading opposition figures say there was no coup attempt  and that Moise is no longer president.

Why it matters: Haitis prolonged political crisis is coming to a head over the question of whether Moises term ended on Sunday or will end on Feb. 7, 2022. This is just the latest flashpoint in a cycle of delayed elections, public frustration and fraying political legitimacy in the impoverished Caribbean nation.

Flashback: Moises mentor and predecessor, Michel Martelly, left office in February 2016 without an elected successor after the results of a 2015 election were annulled. Moise, a businessman with no prior political experience, was elected in November 2016 and took office in February 2017.

The opposition argues that, electoral delays aside, the clock on the current five-year presidential term started on Feb. 7, 2016.

Moise says it began when he took office  a position backed by the Organization of American States, the UN and, as of Friday, the U.S. State Department.

Driving the news: Moise appeared on Facebook Live on Sunday to announce the arrests of 23 people, including a supreme court justice, whom he accused of plotting to overthrow and kill him.

The opposition did indeed hope to oust Moise, but dismisses the idea it intended to do so violently. Whether Moises claims were more than political theater remains unclear, at least from Washington.

The situation remains murky and we await the results of the police investigation, a State Department spokesperson told Axios.

Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.), meanwhile, said the arrests simply showed Moise had escalated his anti-democratic campaign.

A day earlier, Levin had signed onto a letter urging Secretary of State Tony Blinken to back calls for an immediate political transition in Haiti. The letter, penned by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), revealed a schism between Democrats on the issue.

Between the lines: The State Department spokesperson today reiterated the U.S. position that Moises term would end in 2022 while calling on Moise to schedule elections and all sides to proceed peacefully.

State of play: Moise has been ruling by decree since February 2020 after failing to hold parliamentary elections scheduled for 2019.

Now he says hell hold a constitutional referendum in April followed by legislative and presidential elections later this year  a timeline Georges Fauriol of the Center for Strategic and International Studies calls suspiciously short.

There are health issues, there are security issues, and the machinery of democracy is for all intents and purposes nonexistent, Fauriol says, citing incomplete voter rolls and the lack of an independent electoral commission.

Even if the elections are held, the legitimacy of the outcomes will likely be immediately challenged, he adds.

The bottom line: Sunday also marked the anniversary of dictator "Baby Doc" Duvalier fleeing Port-Au-Prince in 1986, heralding the restoration of democracy.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 10, 2021 - 04:34 | All, World

A space probe developed by the United Arab Emirates successfully entered into the orbit of Mars on Tuesday, becoming the first interplanetary mission by a Middle Eastern country.

The HOPE probe, launched last July by Japan's H2A rocket, will research the temperature and moisture of the Mars atmosphere to study changes over a long period in the climate of the planet while staying 22,000 to 44,000 kilometers above the surface.

Developed at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai, the probe is part of the UAE's effort to step up space research as the country marks the 50th anniversary of its founding this year.

The UAE also plans to send a probe to the Moon by 2024.

On July 20, the H2A rocket carrying the HOPE probe lifted off from Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

The probe measures 3 meters in length and 8 meters in width when its solar panels are fully extended, and weighs 1.5 tons.

Launch opportunities for Mars come up every 26 months when the planet's orbit comes closest to Earth, enabling space probes to reach the fourth planet from the Sun with less fuel than at other times.

Following the launch of the UAE probe, China also sent a probe to Mars in its first independent interplanetary mission. If its probe can make a soft landing on the planet, China will become the second country to deploy a rover on the surface after the United States.

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration also launched a Mars rover for a mission to collect rock samples and test new technologies on the red planet.

No manned probes have ever been launched for Mars.
NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Katara Hospitality, a leading global hotel owner, developer and operator based in Qatar, today announced a new partnership with Accor, a world-leading hospitality group for an exciting new evolution of the iconic Delano brand, Maison Delano planned to open in 2022.

(PRNewsfoto/sbe) Facade of Maison Delano Paris, located in the heart of the prestigious 8th Arrondissement in an 18th century mansion at 4 Rue dAnjou

Andrew Humphries, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Katara Hospitality said: "We are delighted to have come to this strategic partnership with Accor by adding Maison Delano to our collection of hotels. We believe this collaboration will add operational strength and build on the foundations of our successful portfolio; Katara Hospitality's vision is to build a hand-picked selection of leading hotels in key destinations around the world. Maison Delano is the ideal opportunity to grow our footprint in this vibrant and exciting market."

Gaurav Bhushan, CEO of Accor's Lifestyle Brands said, "Maison Delano Paris marks the evolution of the Delano brand, bringing a luxurious experience to the center of the world's most exciting cities. We couldn't be prouder to launch this concept with our partners at Katara Hospitality."

Delano's well-earned reputation as the ultimate luxury lifestyle destination which was launched in Miami with first-class service and customized guest experiences will now be replicated in major global urban city centers.

Maison Delano will boast a new F&B concept by world renowned chef Dani Garcia which will provide guests with an oasis in the center of bustling cities and feature unparalleled accommodations, cuisine and mixology experiences.

As the first addition to the Delano brand, Maison Delano Paris is destined to be a jewel in the crown of Accor's lifestyle portfolio and will set the standard for future expansion. Located in the heart of the prestigious 8th Arrondissement in an 18th century mansion at 4 Rue d'Anjou, just steps away from the famous Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, the hotel will boast 56 extraordinary rooms and suites, a vibrant restaurant and bar nestled in the mansion's historical courtyard.

Over the course of the next year, the hotel will be renovated and updated to provide guests with a luxurious and chic aesthetic encompassing a lush entrance, a glorious courtyard, and light and relaxing guestrooms. Consistent with the Delano legacy, the focus will be on superior service in a lifestyle setting, providing guests exceptional dining options, expert mixology and an immersive spa experience.

About Katara Hospitality

Katara Hospitality is a global hotel owner, developer and operator, based in Qatar. With 50 years' experience in the industry, Katara Hospitality actively pursues its strategic expansion plans by investing in peerless hotels in Qatar while growing its collection of iconic properties in key international markets. Katara Hospitality's portfolio has grown to include 42 owned and / or managed hotels and the company is now focused on achieving its target of 60 hotels in its portfolio by 2030. As the country's flagship hospitality organisation, Katara Hospitality supports Qatar's long-term economic vision.

Katara Hospitality currently owns properties spread across four continents in Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Singapore, Thailand and United States of America. While it partners with some of the finest hotel management companies, Katara Hospitality operates owned and non-owned hotels through its standalone operating arm, Burgenstock Selection and Murwab Hotel Group.

Katara Hospitality has gained global recognition for its contributions to the Qatari and international hospitality landscape, through numerous prestigious accolades from the industry.

About Accor

Accor is a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique experiences in 5,000 hotels and residences across 110 destinations. The Group has been acquiring hospitality expertise for more than 50 years, resulting in an unrivalled portfolio of brands, from luxury to economy, supported by one of the most attractive loyalty programs in the world. Beyond accommodation, Accor enables new ways to live, work, and play, by blending food and beverage with nightlife, wellbeing, and co-working. It also offers digital solutions that maximize distribution, optimize hotel operations and enhance the customer experience. Accor is deeply committed to sustainable value creation and plays an active role in giving back to planet and community via its Planet 21  Acting Here program and the Accor Solidarity endowment fund, which gives disadvantaged groups access to employment through professional training. Accor SA is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACRFY) in the United States. For more information visit accor.com or become a fan and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Contact:

Laura Salerno

X2PR

[email protected]

516/375-9832

SOURCE sbe
[February 08, 2021] Glance Names EJ McGowan Vice President of Engineering

By TMCnet.com Technology Veteran Will Lead Product Development, Quality Assurance, and Product Management Initiatives for Leading Visual Engagement Provider Wakefield, MA-February 8, 2021- Glance (www.glance.net), a leading provider of guided customer experience solutions that enable organizations to deepen customer relationships and transform digital customer interactions into brand-building and revenue-generation opportunities, announced that EJ McGowan has been appointed as Vice President of Engineering. In this capacity, he will oversee the company's product development, testing, quality assurance, and engineering activities.



A resident of Winchester, Massachusetts, McGowan joins Glance after spending over ten years at Carpe Diem Software, a development and business consulting firm he founded in 2010. Prior to that, he served in executive capacities with several well-regarded technology firms, including J2 Global, Mzinga (News - Alert) .com, and WebEx. McGowan also has a strong developer pedigree and has spearheaded multiple project initiatives in cloud environments. He holds a degree in Computer Science from Tufts University. "EJ brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help Glance align our products with always-evolving market needs," said Tom Martin, chief executive officer of Glance. "His managerial skills, insights, and passion for technology dovetail perfectly with Glance's culture. We have every expectation that EJ will be a great asset to our organization."

"Glance has built an enviable reputation for technical innovation, and I'm looking forward to working with the many talented professionals who create these compelling solutions," said McGowan. "As businesses continue to look for new and effective digital tools to engage with customers and other stakeholders, we are eager to build upon the high-value, intuitive, and cost-effective capabilities that have earned Glance its leadership position." Recognized as the foremost provider of guided customer experience capabilities, Glance has been serving the enterprise sector since 2000. The company utilizes a cloud-based architecture that enables businesses to add guided customer experience functionality to any existing website, browser app, or native mobile app. The technology lets knowledge workers initiate human-to-human interactions within the digital environment, regardless of whether it takes place on a desktop, laptop, or mobile device. Knowledge workers can join the customer in an app or browser, view the digital environment of the customer, present themselves through embedded video, deliver consultation, and guide the customer to complete transactions. Glance's technology works across all major browsers and devices, and needs no software downloads. About Glance Networks Glance Networks transforms the customer experience by enabling guided customer experiences for today's enterprise. We are one of the world's simplest, most reliable, and secure solutions that empower companies to see, show, and share anything online, creating a frictionless path to great experiences in sales, support, and service. The result of Glance guided CX technology is improved customer satisfaction, long-term customer loyalty, higher service center efficiency, and increased revenue growth. Glance partners include Salesforce, ServiceNow (News - Alert) , and Docutech. For more information, please go to www.glance.net. Public Relations Contact

Glenn Goldberg

Chief Executive Officer

Parallel Communications Group

516-705-6116

ggoldberg@parallelpr.com





Edited by Erik Linask



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Jaipur, Feb 9 : In a major show of strength, former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Tuesday addressed farmers at a massive mahapanchayat organised in the state's Bharatpur district to protest against the three farm laws.

At the mahapanchayat at Fateh Sagar in Bharatpur's Bayana, Pilot said that the future of farmers is being threatened by the government for a few industrialists.

"The Central government will have to withdraw these agricultural laws as otherwise farmers will suffer huge losses. The innocent farmers are protesting on the streets of Delhi in the cold, but the Central government is indifferent... it is torturing them," he added.

Claiming the laws will destroy both farming and Mandis, Pilot noted that the arrangements made by the Central government to stop the farmers on Delhi's borders are not even seen at the India-Pakistan border.

In these mahapanchayat attended by farmers from different parts of the district, Pilot was joined by Deeg-Kumher MLA Vishvendra Singh, former minister, Ramesh Meena, Congress MLA in-charge on Bharatpur Ved Prakash Solanki, and many other party leaders and activists.

Addressing the Mahapanchayat, Vishvendra Singh said that they strongly oppose the anti-farmer laws passed by the Centre.

"The farmers had never demanded these laws. They had demanded the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission Report. These laws have been brought on the demand of corporate houses. Farmers will have to work like bonded labourers after mortgaging their land. By promoting purchases outside APMC, not only will the mandis be destroyed, but it will also lead to large scale profiteering, excessive value addition. Due to this, the mandis will be closed, the MSP will not be guaranteed to the farmers and the poor will have to buy food at a higher price." Pilot reached Bharatpur via road and was welcomed by Congress workers near Dausa. He launched an e-library in the district and the Session Court of Dausa.
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Gaborone  It is incumbent on public representatives across the political divide to unite in mobilising the nation and raising awareness in the country's battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele, stated this while debating a budget speech at the National Assembly on Thursday.

Mr Modukanele said from the moment COVID-19 was first identified as a national concern in early 2020, the country's leadership worked on various preventative measures including instituting a state of public emergency, lockdowns, curfews, and other interventions in the public interest.

But, Mr Modukanele said the political opposition was critical of such measures, something he termed 'irresponsible, reckless and unworthy of leadership.'

Rather, Mr Modukanele said leaders needed to be at the forefront of mobilising protective interventions for the public they represented.

On development planning, Mr Modukanele noted that the country had done well to build a modern road network across the country since independence, but said there was need to develop roads that connected agricultural production areas in the rural countryside to their markets.

In addition, he proposed a national integrated health plan that could close any existing gaps in the current system and a robust engagement by governments with the public to ensure that healthcare interventions were community-based.

Moreover, Mr Modukanele said as promised in Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) 2019 election manifesto, government needed to develop a national insurance plan in order to assist poorer members of the community access expensive specialist healthcare.

He also called for improved health facilities in the Lerala-Maunatlala constituency.

Mr Modukanele further reminded Parliament that his ministry had been working in on reengineering the Ipelegeng programme, with Minister Eric Molale having briefed the legislative assembly to that end last year.

Source : BOPA
A 40-year-old criminal who was a close associate of many Kinahan cartel members has died in tragic circumstances in a south Dublin apartment.

Independent.ie has learned that a younger male relative of Philip Griffiths alerted the emergency services to the tragic death which was discovered at the property on Orwell Road, Rathgar, at around 5.15pm yesterday.

Gardai from Terenure Garda Station rushed to the scene but the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Philip Griffiths who was originally from Rafters Road in Drimnagh was a long time close associate and pal of notorious Crumlin criminal Graham The Wig Whelan (38) who is considered one of the most senior members of the KInahan cartel based in Ireland.

Back in March, 2000, when Griffiths was a drug addict, both men were busted with IR1.25m (1.6m) worth of ecstasy tablets and cocaine at the Holiday Inn Hotel on Pearse Street, Dublin.

This was the drugs bust that led to the bitter Crumlin/Drimnagh feud breaking out in 2001 and the loss of 16 lives over the next decade.

This feud saw one side led by jailed killer Brian Rattigan, and the other led by convicted murderer Freddie Thompson. Griffiths sided with Thompsons faction and was considered an active participant in the violent feud.

But before he became a player on the streets of the south inner city and also in Bray, Co Wicklow, where he had multiple criminal contacts, Griffiths was given a seven year jail sentence at Dublin Circuit Court in January, 2001, for possession of the drugs at the Holiday Inn.

Passing sentence Judge Elisabeth Dunne said: It makes me sad to see someone of his age come to the court on such a serious matter.

His associate Graham Whelan was jailed for six years for the same offence after telling gardai he could do 10 years in jail "standing on his head".

When they were released both men continued to be heavily involved in organised crime.

Griffiths was arrested but never charged in relation to the August, 2005, unsolved gun murder of Vincent OBrien in Bray.

He regularly featured in organised crime dossiers compiled by gardai and was often stopped and searched by detectives. The last time this happened was in Rathmines when gardai spotted Griffiths, Whelan and another man last September. None of the trio were arrested and were let go after a quick search.

He hated gardai and was abusive and uncooperative in his dealings with them. But in saying that he never got another serious criminal conviction after being jailed for that drugs seizure, a senior source said today.

Back in May, 2011, when the Crumlin /Drimnagh feud was nearing its end and the Hutch-Kinahan feud was still over four years away from starting, Griffiths travelled to Birmingham for a top level secret meeting with Freddie Thompson who was living in exile from Ireland at the time.

He was very trusted by all that crew Freddie and of course is very close pal Graham Whelan, a source said.

Daniel Kinahan would have known him well at one stage as well  but with all that is going on now dont expect Daniel to be home for the funeral, the source added.
WASHINGTON  On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate will begin the first impeachment trial for a president who has left office.

The proceeding appears unlikely to result in the conviction of former President Donald J. Trump, but Democratic senators hope the process will still hold Trump accountable through public discussion and a vote on his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol. Supporters of Trump maintain, with dwindling support from the legal community, the trial is unconstitutional and should not be taking place.

Almost everyone is looking to finish the trial quickly. A framework for the trial released Monday by Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., laid the ground work for concluding the trial in about a week.

"This impeachment trial in the United States Senate will allow for truth and accountability, which are essential to ensuring desperately needed unity and healing in our country following the despicable attack on our democracy on Jan. 6 that left five people dead," Schumer said Monday.

Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representative on Jan. 13 for allegedly inciting an insurrection against the federal government. Ten Republicans voted with Democrats to make him the first U.S. president to be impeached twice. Lawmakers were outraged that after months of falsely insisting the 2020 election was stolen from him, Trump on Jan. 6 held a rally and urged supporters to march on the Capitol, where they subsequently fought with Capitol Police, breached the building, forced members of Congress into lock-down and caused injuries and deaths.

Trump's legal team plans to argue that the impeachment of a past president is improper and Trump's actions are protected by free speech laws.

"This process will provide us with an opportunity to explain to senators why it is absurd and unconstitutional to hold an impeachment trial against a private citizen," Trump's legal team said Monday.

There is precedent of impeaching a government official who has left office, said Clifford Brown, professor of government at Union College in Schenectady.

The Senate will hold a vote on the constitutionality of the trial Tuesday. The measure only needs to pass the 100-person chamber, divided equally between Democrats and Republicans, with a simple majority. Previously, five Republicans joined Democrats in an earlier vote regarding the constitutionality of the trial.

But with 45 Republicans objecting to holding the trial itself, it's unlikely that 17 of them will vote with Democrats to convict Trump, which requires a two-thirds vote of the chamber. The chamber could subsequently vote to bar Trump from holding future office.

"The best outcome for Democrats at this point would be a conviction vote in which at least five Republicans concur," Brown said, "[and] attendant publicity that makes the case that he did something he shouldn't have done and that keeps the overall public opinion of his actions where it was."

Public opinion shows a slight majority supported Trumps impeachment  53 percent, on average, said they supported Trump being removed from office before he left the White House on Jan. 20, according to Five Thirty Eight. That's more support than Trump's impeachment received in 2019 when he was charged with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress for pressuring the president of Ukraine to investigate now-President Joe Biden and his son. Public support for a Senate conviction is now just 50 percent, however.

Schumer declined to say Monday whether he would support censuring Trump if the former president is acquitted. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., declined an interview and did not respond to written questions.

For Republicans, the trial will put each senator on the record about their views on Trump's actions, a position they will have to defend in future elections. Republicans may argue with some success that Democrats have gone after Trump since 2016 and now they're taking the opportunity to land one more blow on him.

"It probably gives ammunition to Republicans that allows them to say Democrats have been itching to impeach Trump since the beginning and they're overly focused on Trump," said Charles Tien, professor of political science at the City University of New York. "They're taking their eye off the ball of important business, whether that would be getting more of Biden's cabinet confirmed, addressing the pandemic, of course, and other important issues that matter to the American people more than whether Trump is convicted, especially since he is no longer president."

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, who served on Trump's impeachment defense team during his first impeachment trial, alleged in a fundraising email that Democrats are only impeaching Trump a second time to raise money.

"Its clear what Impeachment 2.0 is REALLY all about. The Democrats want to continue to rile up their base to rake in Far-Left campaign cash. The DNC is NOT doing well right now ... and they believe that former President Trump is their way out," she wrote, while asking supporters to donate to her campaign.

According to the parameters for the trial agreed upon by Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-K.Y., the House impeachment managers who will prosecute Trump, and Trump's defense team, both sides will begin to present their cases on Wednesday. The prosecution and defense will each have 16 hours over two days to make their case.

The Senate will vote on whether to call witnesses if they are requested by either side. This time Senate Democrats are not pressing strongly for witnesses, as they did last year, because they argue much of the key information about Trump's actions  his speech, his tweets, the actions of his supporters  are already in the public domain. Calling additional witnesses could drag out the trial. Trump has declined to testify.

While they rushed to quickly impeach Trump, Democrats are also leading congressional investigations into the events of Jan. 6, including the response of law enforcement and the funding of domestic terrorists. Democrats also plan to introduce legislation for a non-partisan commission to conduct an in-depth investigation, styled after the Sept. 11 Commission.
The documentary about Britney Spears, Framing Britney Spears has stirred a storm on social media among the fans of the pop star. The documentary shows how people close to her reassess her phenomenal career and brutal downfall. The show has brought to light how several celebrities including Diane Sawyer owe Spears an apology and how they led to her downfall.

Read Also | Payal Ghosh Poses Question On 'credentials' Of Actors Amid Ongoing Drug Probe

Diane Sawyer Britney Spears interview gets immense criticism

Framing Britney is a documentary by the New York Times which has shed light on how unfair Primetime interviewer Diane Sawyer was to Britney Spears. Apparently, in 2003 Spears had appeared for an interview with Diane after her breakup with Timberlake in 2002. She had not just placed all the blame for the couples break up on Britney but had also asked her uncomfortable questions about her private life on national television.

Here are some quotes from the interview and why Diane Sawyer owes a sincere apology to Britney Spears

As shown in the documentary, Sawyer asks Britney in an old interview about her break up, You did something that caused him (Justin Timberlake) so much pain, so much suffering. What did you do?

A person close to Britney, Kevin Tancharoen, states in the documentary that the questions were framed in a way to tar Spears image. They were asked in a tone so as to paint an image that Britney alone was responsible for her breakup and not him.

Not only this, a report in Glamour.com suggests that in the interview, Sawyer went on to ask Britney, But you said, Ive only slept with one person in my whole life, two years into my relationship with Justin.' And yet he's left the impression that you weren't faithful, that you betrayed the relationship. Reportedly, Sawyer further asked Britney, If you were talking to your little sister [Jamie Lynn Spears] now, and the girl who said she was gonna stay a virgin until she got married. Do you still think there's something to be said for that? Sawyer also shamed Britney for her semi-nude photoshoots for magazine covers and had pulled out pictures asking Britney, What happened to your clothes?

Netizens demand Diane to apologise to Spears

Theres lots to discuss in this Britney Spears doc, but feels like much more time needs to be devoted to the part where a politicians wife says Britney should be SHOT for the way she dresses and respected journalist Diane Sawyer is like well, shes a concerned mother   Angela Spera (@speradactyl) February 7, 2021

Diane Sawyer owes Britney Spears a sincere apology. #FramingBritneySpears  Kate (@k_shiver) February 7, 2021

Obviously disgusted by Justin after watching Framing Britney Spears but when is Diane Sawyer going to apologize for that interview?  Mercedes/Sadie Williams (@Mersadieshw) February 8, 2021

Watched the Britney Spears doc last night. Legal questions aside, its eye-opening. The documented societal treatment of this talented young woman was sick. Lots of people should come out and say what they regret.



Looking at you, Justin Timberlake, Jay Leno, and Diane Sawyer.  Robert J. DeNault (@robertjdenault) February 7, 2021

Watching the Diane Sawyer interview with Britney Spears... wtf how did she get away with being so rude?!  Heaves (@MissHeaves) February 6, 2021

Read Also | 'High Time The Truth Came Out': Govinda After Krushna Abhishek's 'defamatory' Comments

About Framing Britney Spears

The documentary is a collaboration between New York Times journalists Jason Stallman, Sam Dolnick, and Stephanie Preiss along with Left/Rights Ken Druckerman, Banks Tarver, and Mary Robertson. The documentary goes into Britney Spear's career, her conservatorship, and the subsequent #FreeBritney moment that gained immense traction on many social media platforms. The Britney Spears documentary tells about Spears's conservatorship, which started in 2008 by her father Jamie Spears.

What it means is, her father essentially is in charge of every aspect of her life. From her finances to her accommodations to her allowance to her time with her kids, he controls it all. He is co-conservator for Britney along with a financial company called Bessmer Trust.



Read Also | Milind Soman Replies To Fan Who Asks Him To Recreate Beach Running Picture In Cold Weather

Read Also | Australia's Platypus Habitat Declines By 22 Percent Over 30 Years: Study

Image credits: Diane Sawyer IG and screengrab from the trailer

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The office of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger launched an investigation on Monday into phone calls former President Donald Trump made to state election officials during an attempt to overturn the presidential election results.

Walter Jones, a spokesman for Raffensperger's office, confirmed to ABC News that the investigation has begun, and said the inquiry will be "fact-finding and administrative in nature." The probe was triggered on Monday after George Washington University law professor John Banzhaf filed a formal complaint, saying Trump may have violated three Georgia state laws: conspiracy to commit election fraud, criminal solicitation to commit election fraud, and intentional interference with performance of election duties.

Trump, who lost Georgia to President Biden, subsequently made calls to Raffensperger and the secretary of state's chief investigator in his quest to overturn the results. In a recording made on Jan. 2, Trump is heard asking Raffensperger to "find" 11,780 votes  the exact number he would need to win the state.

Once the investigation is finished, the State Election Board will decide whether a criminal referral should be sent to the state attorney general or Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who has said Trump's call to Raffensperger was "deeply disturbing." She also stated that "anyone who commits a felony violation of Georgia law in my jurisdiction will be held accountable." People close to Willis told ABC News even if the case is not referred to her, she might still pursue her own investigation.

More stories from theweek.com

Dominion says it had to hire detectives to track down Sidney Powell to serve her with its $1.3 billion lawsuit

Sen. Coons: Trump's impeachment defense is 'the Four Seasons Landscaping of the legal profession'

Trump still hasn't conceded his election loss. But his impeachment lawyer Bruce Castor did, several times.






"We ask those who are afraid to calm down and those who have some doubts to overcome them. Who have been the first to get vaccinated? Doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers who are exposed on a daily basis," he remarked.





"Do you think doctors and nurses would be that enthusiastic to receive this protection if it were not safe? I do not think so. Follow the example of those who have decided to get vaccinated ," he added.





Santillan noted that people should be afraid of the unknown, but this is not the case he said as vaccines have been used for many years in the world in order to control a series of diseases, which have been pushed back throughout the time.





"People are usually afraid of what might happen, of an adverse reaction. But in the face of the administration of over a million and a half vaccines in the world, the big question is: Have deaths or very severe reactions been reported? No. So, this fear is reduced," he explained.





The hospital's director asked the population to pay attention to the vaccination process in Israel a country with the highest proportion of citizens vaccinated against COVID-19 in the world in January and where the curve of infections and deaths has dropped significantly.





"We thank all those who helped healthcare workers and will later help all Peruvians get vaccinated," the doctor stated.





"This vaccination will be important if we all participate with great faith and hope, because (if we compare) this disease and what it causes (anguish, pain, hospitalization, and suffering), this little pain (in the arm) is practically nothing," he added.





Santillan explained that the vaccination process at Bartolome Hospital will take place in five days.

(END) KGR/RRC/RMB/MVB

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After becoming the first person at Bartolome Hospital to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Carlos Santillan the heath establishment's director urged the population to leave their fear behind and join the immunization process, which began on Tuesday in the country , adding that it brings a lot of faith and hope.Publicado: 9/2/2021
Universal Pictures has finally released the first teaser for M Night Shyamalans upcoming psychological horror-thriller - Old. Following a countdown of cryptic tweets on his Twitter earlier this week, the terrifying 30-second TV spot was debuted during Super Bowl LV broadcast. Old is currently set to release only in theatres on 23 July 2021.

The creepy teaser opens up by introducing us to a small family, who are on a leisurely trip to a fairly-secluded beach. As the beautiful, fun-filled, tropical holiday goes by, things soon start taking a nightmarish turn. Within the span of a few hours, their 6-year-old son, who ran off to play hide-and-seek is seen returning as a young adult (Alex Wolfe). He was six years old this morning, his mother (Vicky Krieps) exclaims in disbelief. Other families at the spot also experience similar troubles, as we see Eliza Scanlen growing up, undergoing all three stages of pregnancy, and popping out a baby in just a matter of hours. What follows next is a quick flurry of hair-raising sequences where the adults develop a new set of wrinkles, age-induced seizures, and eventually start decomposing. Everyone at this utopia of a beach is ageing rapidly and uncontrollably, reducing their entire lives to a single day.

Written and directed by M Night Shyamalan, Old is an upcoming psychological horror-thriller inspired by the French graphic novel - Sandcastle, by Pierre Oscar Levy and artist Frederik Peeters. As depicted above, the plot is mainly centred around a small family on an outing, who discover that the quiet beach they were relaxing on is somehow causing them to grow older by the minute. Other than the aforementioned cast members, the film also stars Gael Garcia Bernal, Rufus Sewell, Ken Leung, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Abbey Lee, Aaron Pierre, Embeth Davidtz, Emun Elliott, Kathleen Chalfant, and Thomasin McKenzie.

Old marks Shyamalans long-awaited return to the big screen since 2019s Glass, while he was busy working on his acclaimed Apple TV+ psychological horror series - Servant. Principal photography for this new movie began on 26 September 2020, on the Dominican Republic, and would be the first time the director has shot somewhere entirely outside Greater Philadelphia. The film is being produced by Ashwin Rajan and Marc Bienstock, while Steven Schneider serves as the executive producer.
HOUSTON - (Feb. 9, 2021) - Rice University researchers have created a "defective" catalyst that simplifies the generation of hydrogen peroxide from oxygen.

Rice scientists treated metal-free carbon black, the inexpensive, powdered product of petroleum production, with oxygen plasma. The process introduces defects and oxygen-containing groups into the structure of the carbon particles, exposing more surface area for interactions.

When used as a catalyst, the defective particles known as CB-Plasma reduce oxygen to hydrogen peroxide with 100% Faradaic efficiency, a measure of charge transfer in electrochemical reactions. The process shows promise to replace the complex anthraquinone-based production method that requires expensive catalysts and generates toxic organic byproducts and large amounts of wastewater, according to the researchers.

The research by Rice chemist James Tour and materials theorist Boris Yakobson appears in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Catalysis.

Hydrogen peroxide is widely used as a disinfectant, as well as in wastewater treatment, in the paper and pulp industries and for chemical oxidation. Tour expects the new process will influence the design of hydrogen peroxide catalysts going forward.

"The electrochemical process outlined here needs no metal catalysts, and this will lower the cost and make the entire process far simpler," Tour said. "Proper engineering of carbon structure could provide suitable active sites that reduce oxygen molecules while maintaining the O-O bond, so that hydrogen peroxide is the only product. Besides that, the metal-free design helps prevent the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide."

Plasma processing creates defects in carbon black particles that appear as five- or seven-member rings in the material's atomic lattice. The process sometimes removes enough atoms to create vacancies in the lattice.

The catalyst works by pulling two electrons from oxygen, allowing it to combine with two hydrogen electrons to create hydrogen peroxide. (Reducing oxygen by four electrons, a process used in fuel cells, produces water as a byproduct.)

"The selectivity towards peroxide rather than water originates not from carbon black per se but, as (co-lead author and Rice graduate student) Qin-Kun Li's calculations show, from the specific defects created by plasma processing," Yakobson said. "These catalytic defect sites favor the bonding of key intermediates for peroxide formation, lowering the reaction barrier and accelerating the desirable outcome."

Tour's lab also treated carbon black with ultraviolet-ozone and treated CB-Plasma after oxygen reduction with argon to remove most of the oxygen-containing groups. CB-UV was no better at catalysis than plain carbon black, but CB-Argon performed just as well as CB-Plasma with an even wider range of electrochemical potential, the lab reported.

Because the exposure of CB-Plasma to argon under high temperature removed most of the oxygen groups, the lab inferred the carbon defects themselves were responsible for the catalytic reduction to hydrogen peroxide.

The simplicity of the process could allow more local generation of the valuable chemical, reducing the need to transport it from centralized plants. Tour noted CB-Plasma matches the efficiency of state-of-the-art materials now used to generate hydrogen peroxide.

"Scaling this process is much easier than present methods, and it is so simple that even small units could be used to generate hydrogen peroxide at the sites of need," Tour said.

The process is the second introduced by Rice in recent months to make the manufacture of hydrogen peroxide more efficient. Rice chemical and biomolecular engineer Haotian Wang and his lab developed an oxidized carbon nanoparticle-based catalyst that produces the chemical from sunlight, air and water.

###

Rice graduate student Zhe Wang is co-lead author of the paper. Co-authors are Rice alumnus Chenhao Zhang, graduate students Zhihua Cheng, Weiyin Chen and Emily McHugh and undergraduate Robert Carter. Tour is the T.T. and W.F. Chao Chair in Chemistry as well as a professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering. Yakobson is the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering and a professor of chemistry.

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Office of Naval Research supported the research.

Read the abstract at https:/ / pubs. acs. org/ doi/ 10. 1021/ acscatal. 0c04735 .

This news release can be found online at https:/ / news. rice. edu/ 2021/ 02/ 09/ defective-carbon-simplifies-hydrogen-peroxide-production/

Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.

Related materials:

Tour Group: https:/ / www. jmtour. com

Yakobson Research Group: http://biygroup. blogs. rice. edu

Wiess School of Natural Sciences: https:/ / naturalsciences. rice. edu

George R. Brown School of Engineering: https:/ / engineering. rice. edu

Images for download:

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2021/ 01/ 0201_PEROXIDE-1-WEB. jpg

Scientists at Rice University have introduced plasma-treated carbon black as a simple and highly efficient catalyst for the production of hydrogen peroxide. Defects created in the carbon provide more catalytic sites to reduce oxygen to hydrogen peroxide. (Credit: Tour Group/Yakobson Research Group/Rice University)

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2021/ 01/ 0201_PEROXIDE-2-WEB. jpg

Rice University scientists have revealed a new catalyst, plasma-treated carbon black, to reduce oxygen to valuable hydrogen peroxide. The process introduces defects to the carbon material's atomic honeycomb, providing more surface area for reactions. (Credit: Tour Group/Yakobson Research Group/Rice University)

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2021/ 01/ 0201_PEROXIDE-3-WEB. jpg

A transmission electron microscope image shows details of carbon black particles after treatment with plasma. Defects in the carbon lattice caused by the oxygen plasma enhance the material's ability to catalyze the production of hydrogen peroxide, according to Rice University scientists. (Credit: Tour Group/Yakobson Research Group/Rice University)

Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,978 undergraduates and 3,192 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

Jeff Falk

713-348-6775

jfalk@rice.edu

Mike Williams

713-348-6728

mikewilliams@rice.edu
OTTAWA - Some of the thousands of Canadians told they'd have to repay federal emergency COVID-19 benefits will get to keep the money after all.

OTTAWA - Some of the thousands of Canadians told they'd have to repay federal emergency COVID-19 benefits will get to keep the money after all.

Self-employed Canadians who'd applied for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit based on their gross income, instead of their net, won't have to cut cheques, the government announced Tuesday, an about-face after it had previously said no one was getting any slack.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, to provide an update on the COVID-19 pandemic.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

But whether others being asked to repay could also receive amnesty remained up in the air as the government said the tweak announced Tuesday was meant to address a specific problem.

"We are dealing here with a subset of the nine million Canadians who applied for CERB who legitimately and honestly relied on misinformation we provided," Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough said Tuesday.

"And that's the problem we're solving here today."

Self-employed Canadians who'd applied for the benefit last year were left confused by instructions from Canada Revenue Agency about how to calculate whether they qualified for the benefit: did the $5,000 in income they had to earn to qualify mean income before or after allowable deductions?

The government gave conflicting answers in the early days of the CERB roll out, and though the ultimate answer was net income, the money after deductions, some had applied using gross income.

In turn, they found themselves among about 441,000 Canadians who got letters last year warning their eligibility for CERB was in doubt and they might have to repay.

How many people the program tweak will affect, or how much it will cost, remains unclear.

Qualtrough said Tuesday that of the 441,000 people who received letters, many have now filed their taxes, their eligibility for CERB has been confirmed and they won't have to repay.

The decision for a targeted amnesty comes after Qualtrough repeatedly said last year that those caught up in the communication snafu wouldn't be given a break.

"There's not a conversation happening right now where we would forgive people, where we would not require people who were not eligible to pay it back. No," she told the CBC in December, a sentiment her office repeated last month as well.

On Tuesday, Qualtrough suggested the change came after hearing from Canadians about the problem, and taking the time to craft a "balanced" solution.

"We reached a conclusion that the fairest and most reasonable way to move forward on this would be to allow people who applied using gross to not have to repay their benefits," she said during a news conference.

Those who have already repaid amounts they thought they owed will also get that money back, she said.

There remains pressure for a broader reprieve from repayments, especially for those who lack the income to repay what they may owe and for others who might have applied in good faith for the benefits, received them, and only later found out they didn't qualify.

Qualtrough said no one has to urgently repay, and the government is trying to work with people to relieve them of any stress potential repayments will cause. But she did not commit to any further amnesty programs.

The government instead pointed to another announcement it made Tuesday as efforts to provide relief to low- and middle-income Canadians: those who received emergency benefits and made up to $75,000 in taxable income won't have to pay interest on 2020 tax debt until next year.

That measure ought to provide at least 4.5 million people "with the flexibility required to feel confident about accessing the COVID-19 income support without facing additional stress at tax time," the government said in a news release.

Opposition politicians who'd been clamouring for the government to reverse course on the payback demands welcomed the move.

But both the NDP and the Greens said it was absurd the government had made the demand for repayment in the first place, especially given the amounts at stake  the maximum payout under the program was $14,000.

"For Trudeaus government to think that Canadians on the financial brink have $14,000 on hand to pay for government incompetence is completely out of touch," said NDP MP Daniel Blaikie in a statement."We know this put honest Canadians in the position of getting ready to sell the homes, their cars, their tools and other essential items."

Green party Leader Annamie Paul said it shouldn't have taken this long to make the decision. But, she told a news conference, it's also proof that change is possible.

"More than anything. I'm just thrilled for the people who will sleep just a little bit better tonight and have just a little bit less anxiety because of this decision," she said.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2021.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said those who applied for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit based on their net incomes, not their gross, will not have to repay the benefit.
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A group representing retired gardai wants to record the memories of retired officers and their families to mark the centenary of the founding of the force in 1922.

The Garda Siochana Retired Members Association (GSRMA), based in Dublin, wants to hear from previously serving gardai or their families who have memories, photographs, documents dating back through the decades to the 1920s.

The Association said: "Today, the 9th February 2021, one year out from the 100th anniversary, the Garda Siochana Retired Members Association (GSRMA) announces an exciting project called Capturing our History  an Oral History of An Garda Siochana 1922-2022.

"This project will record and capture the oral living history policing in modern times. It will also seek to add to the lore of recorded history of the service.

"Our appeal is to all retired members, serving members of the Garda Siochana, their families and the wider public for their participation in this worthwhile event.

They possess photographs, records and memories/recollections of their service across the length and breadth of Ireland especially in some notable and dark times in the turbulent history of our nation.

"Its vital that this unique history is not lost."





The Garda Siochana Retired Members Association has 6,000 members, some of whom served with the initial members appointed in 1922.



The Provisional Government of the Irish Free State set up a committee to organise a new police force. This committee met in the Gresham Hotel on the 9 February 1922.

Present for this meeting was Michael Collins, Eamon Duggan, Richard Mulcahy, Eoin ODuffy, Michael Staines and some former policemen.

Historic events followed very quickly. On the 22 February 1922 the Civic Guard was formed and this was followed by the

foundation of An Garda Siochana on 8 August 1923. The Dublin Metropolitan Police was amalgamated into the Garda Siochana in 1925.

One of the most symbolic events occurred on 17 August 1922 when the new police force marched into Dublin Castle.

More information

For more information on this project, contact: (01) 478 1525;

Email: info@gardaretired.com;

Web: www.gardaretired.com;

Facebook: Garda Retired;

Address: 5 Harrington Street, Dublin D08 AE6X.
San Antonio Express-News file photo

Martin Phipps, a prominent San Antonio attorney and owner of Paramour, was arrested Monday by the San Antonio Police Department, as reported by Emilie Eaton for the Express-News.

Phipps, 51, is being investigated for harassment involving a woman from a previous romantic relationship, the sources said.
When Rick Snyder, Michigans former governor, was finally charged last month with two counts of willful neglect of duty in the Flint, Mich., water crisis, the courts of the Great Lake State showed the nation their will to hold someone accountable for poisoning hundreds of children. In Philadelphia, babies are stricken with lead poisoning at twice the rate of babies in Flint. To say the least, that should compel the Keystone State to up its game to protect children.

Thankfully, Philadelphia City Council got the message and stepped up protections for babies from lead poisoning when it passed the most protective childhood lead poisoning law in the nation in 2019. That law now requires landlords to test rental units at least every four years and to remediate any hazards if found.

 READ MORE: Ex.-Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder charged in Flint water crisis

Yet, children and taxpayers are still suffering the pain and paying the costs. Kevin Osterhoudt, medical director of the Poison Control Center at CHOP and member of the Lead Free Philly Coalition, aptly yet tragically describes lead poisoning as a burglar that steals childrens potential. Another coalition member, Erica Miller, the mother of twin toddlers poisoned by lead paint in their rental home, says, The bottom line is that I wont know what [my childrens] full potential will be because, at the end of the day, they got lead poisoning.

Babies are most at risk for lead poisoning  and Black and Latino babies, in particular. In Philadelphia, approximately 2,000 babies are poisoned every year, and African American and Hispanic babies are poisoned at a rate 4.5 and 1.4 times higher, respectively, than white babies. Poisoning can cause serious adverse effects such as damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, hearing and speech problems, behavioral issues, and underperformance in school.

Whats unique about this childhood illness is that its entirely preventable. We cant say that about a lot of health conditions, yet its true in this case. Most children get lead poisoned by ingesting or breathing in lead-based paint dust in their older homes caused by chipping and peeling paint.

So, the answer is relatively straightforward: remove lead paint hazards from homes.

To end this form of environmental racism, paint companies should be required to do their part to remove the remnants of the paint they sold that still coats the walls of homes 43 years after Congress banned the sale of this toxic product. Kudos to Montgomery and Lehigh Counties, whove mounted a compelling suit in the Pennsylvania courts to force these companies to the table, and to Delaware County, who is considering doing so. A similar court case in California was won over the course of nearly 20 years and produced hundreds of millions to get the lead out of homes.

We must not wait for the Pennsylvania case to be won. Currently, the state does not provide any funding to get the lead out of homes and apartments. While the governor has made lead poisoning prevention a priority and found funds to address lead in the water in child-care centers, hes proposed no funding to address the No. 1 culprit: lead paint in our homes.

 READ MORE: Lead poisoning is a crisis Philadelphia can actually fix | Editorial

As a Northeastern state, we have tens of thousands of homes built before lead paint was banned. Many have been cleaned of lead over those decades. Given that only a third of children are tested for lead exposure annually, and those tests tell us 9,000 suffer from lead poisoning, the need to clear our housing stock of lead should remain a top priority.

Before the state budget is passed this June, lawmakers would be wise to create a fund that will help low-income families and landlords remove lead hazards from their properties. Doing so will save taxpayers millions in legacy costs associated with lead poisoning  including substantial expenditures in health care for these children for speech and physical therapy and mental health services, as well as special education services and juvenile justice system involvement.

In the meantime, Philadelphia is moving the needle in a positive direction. Outreach is underway, particularly in the communities where most children test positive for lead poisoning, to let landlords know they must test for lead hazards, and if hazards are found, that there are some funds for landlords with financial hardships to remove them.

 READ MORE: Toxic city: the ongoing struggle to protect Philadelphias children from environmental harm

But its just a drop in the bucket. The state and federal governments need to step up. The residents of Michigan held their leadership accountable. Now its time for us to urge our policymakers to get the lead out and give the youngest Pennsylvanians a chance to achieve their full potential.

If you live or work in Philadelphia, contact us to learn more about Phillys new lead law and how to spread the word to tenants and landlords.

Phil Lord is the executive director of TURN, Colleen McCauley is the health policy director at PCCY (Public Citizens for Children and Youth), and both are part of the Lead Free Philly Coalition and Pennsylvanias Prenatal to Age Three Collaborative. Contact them at phil.lord@ourturn.net and colleenm@pccy.org.
Tensions are running high in Haiti Tuesday, a day after police clashed with anti-government protesters demanding that embattled President Jovenel Moise resign.

Opposition groups angered that Moises term expired on Sunday named their own leader of the impoverished country after officials claimed they had averted an attempt to kill the president and overthrow the government in a coup.

A demonstrator picks up a tear gas canister during protests against Haiti's President Jovenel Moise, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Feb. 8, 2021.

Moise contends his term will expire on February 7 of next year, citing he was sworn into office for a five-year term in 2017. Just over 20 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in that election.

Moises efforts to remain in office have been hampered by the fragile makeup of the political infrastructure.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that some institutions that could help end the stalemate over the length of the presidential term lack the necessary authorization, including the Constitutional Council, which it says only exists on paper.
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. High 58F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers late. Low 46F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Simec, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: SIM) ("Simec") announced today its results of operations for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

Twelve-Month Period Ended December 31, 2020 compared to Twelve-Month Period Ended December 31, 2019

Net Sales

Net sales increased 5% by the combination of higher shipments of finished steel products and a higher average sales price by 1% compared the same period of 2019, the sales increased from Ps. 34,171 million in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2019 to Ps. 35,957 million in the same period of 2020. Shipments of finished steel products increased 4% to 2 million 441 thousand tons in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020 compared to 2 million 349 thousand tons in the same period of 2019. Total sales outside of Mexico on the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020 increased 7% to Ps. 17,871 million compared with Ps. 16,736 million in the same period of 2019. Total sales in Mexico increased 4% from Ps. 17,435 million in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2019 to Ps. 18,086 million in the same period of 2020. The increase of 5% in sales is due to a higher average sales price and higher volume of shipments.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales decreased 3% from Ps. 30,067 million in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2019 to Ps. 29,236 million in the same period of 2020. Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales represented, 81% for 2020 and 2019 88%. The average cost of finished steel produced in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020 compared to the same period of 2019 decreased 6% due to higher costs of some supplies at year end.

Gross Profit

Gross profit of the Company in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020 was of Ps. 6,721 million compared to Ps. 4,104 million in the same period of 2019. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales represented 19% and 12% for the 2020 and 2019 periods respectively.

Story continues

Operating Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 11% from Ps. 1,637 million in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2019 to Ps. 1,814 million in the same period of 2020. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales represented 5% for both periods.

Other Expenses (Income) net

The company recorded other net expenses of Ps. 137 million in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2019 compared to other net income of Ps. 555 million in the same period of 2020.

Operating Income

Operating income increased 134% from Ps. 2,330 million for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2019 to Ps. 5,462 million in the same period of 2020. Operating income as a percentage of net sales represented 15% and 7% for the 2020 and 2019 periods respectively.

EBITDA

The EBITDA of the Company increased 96% from Ps. 3,439 million in the twelve-month prior ended December 31, of 2019, generating a net loss of Ps. 1,636, less minority stake of Ps. 4, plus income taxes of Ps. 3,276, plus comprehensive financial cost of Ps. 694, plus depreciation of Ps. 1,109 to Ps. 6,729 million in the same period of 2020 as a result a net income of Ps. 4,180, less minority stake of Ps. 2, plus income taxes of Ps. 1,335, less comprehensive financial cost of Ps. 51, plus depreciation of 1,267.







Consolidated

Million

Twelve-month period ended December 31,



2020



2019 Net income (loss)

attributable to Vale's

stockholders



4,180





(1,636) Loss attributable to

noncontrolling interests



(2)





(4) Net income (loss)



4,178





(1,640) Depreciation, depletion and

amortization



1,267





1,109 Income taxes



1,335





3,276 Financial results income (loss)



(51)





694 EBITDA



6,729





3,439















Items to reconciled adjusted

EBITDA













Equity results and other

results in associates and joint

ventures



0





0 Dividends received and

interest from associates and

joint ventures (i)



0





0 Impairment and disposal of

non-current assets



0





0 Adjusted EBITDA



6,729





3,439

Comprehensive Financial Cost

Comprehensive financial cost in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020 represented a net income of Ps. 51 million compared with a net expense of Ps. 694 million in the same period of 2019. The net interest was an income of Ps. 59 million in 2020 compared with a net income of Ps. 91 million in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2019. As a result, we registered a net exchange loss of Ps. 8 million in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020 compared with a net exchange loss of Ps. 785 million in the same period of 2019, reflecting a 5.63% increase in the value of the peso versus the dollar in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020 compared to December 31, 2019.

Income Taxes

The Company have recorded an expense net tax of Ps. 1,335 million in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020 (including the income of deferred tax of Ps. 22 million) compared with a net expense tax of Ps. 3,276 million in the same period of 2019 (including the tax deferred expense of Ps. 202 million).

Net Income (loss) (After Minority Interest)

As a result of the foregoing, net income increased by 356% from Ps. 1,636 million net loss in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2019 to Ps. 4,180 million a result net income in the same period of 2020.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2020, Simec's total consolidated debt consisted of U.S. $302,000 of 8 7/8% medium-term notes ("MTN's") due 1998, Ps. 6.0 million (accrued interest on December 31, 2020 was U.S. $640,393 or Ps. 12.8 million). As of December 31, 2019, Simec's total consolidated debt consisted of U.S. $302,000 of 8 7/8% medium-term notes ("MTN's") due 1998, Ps. 5.7 million (accrued interest on December 31, 2019 was U.S. $676,758, or Ps. 12.8 million).

Comparative fourth quarter 2020 vs third quarter 2020

Net Sales

Net sales increased from Ps. 9,643 million in the third quarter of 2020 to Ps. 10,218 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. Sales in tons decreased from 676 thousand ton in the third quarter of 2020 to 602 thousand ton in the fourth quarter of the same period, a decrease of 11%. Total sales outside of Mexico for the fourth quarter of 2020 increased 1% from Ps. 4,824 million in the third quarter to Ps. 4,878 million in the four quarter of 2020. Sales in Mexico increased to Ps. 5,340 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared Ps. 4,819 million in the third quarter of 2020 and increase of 11%. Prices of finished products sold in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased 19% compared with the third quarter of the same period.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales increased to Ps. 8,381 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to Ps. 7,682 million for the third quarter of 2020. With respect to sales, in the fourth quarter of 2020, the cost of sales represented 82% in the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to 80% in the third quarter of the same period. The average cost of sales by ton increased 23% in the fourth quarter of 2020 versus the third quarter of 2020.

Gross Profit

Gross profit of the Company for the fourth quarter of 2020 decreased 6% to Ps. 1,837 million compared to Ps. 1,961 million in the third quarter of 2020. The gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the third and fourth quarter of 2020 was of 20% and 18% respectively.

Operating Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 11% to Ps. 498 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to Ps. 449 million for the third quarter of 2020. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales for the third and fourth quarter of 2020 were of 5% for both periods

Other Expenses (Income) net

The company recorded other net income of Ps. 339 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to other net income of Ps. 56 million for the third quarter of 2020.

Operating (Loss) Income

Operating income was of Ps. 1,678 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to an operating income of Ps. 1,568 million in the third quarter of 2020. The operating income as a percentage of net sales represented 16% for both periods.

EBITDA

The EBITDA was Ps. 1,891 million in the third quarter of 2020 as a result a net income of Ps. 1,003, less minority stake of Ps. 1 million, plus income taxes of Ps. 352, plus comprehensive financial cost of Ps. 214, plus depreciation of Ps. 323 compared to Ps. 1,987 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, as a result a net income of Ps. 717, plus minority stake of Ps. 2 million, plus income taxes of Ps. 31, plus comprehensive financial cost of Ps. 928, plus depreciation of Ps. 309.







Consolidated

Million

Comparative fourth quarter vs third quarter 2020



4Q 2020



3Q 2020 Net income (loss)

attributable to Vale's

stockholders



717





1,003 Loss attributable to

noncontrolling interests



2





(1) Net income (loss)



719





1,002 Depreciation, depletion and

amortization



309





323 Income taxes



31





352 Financial results income

(loss)



928





214 EBITDA



1,987





1,891















Items to reconciled adjusted

EBITDA













Equity results and other

results in associates and joint

ventures



0





0 Dividends received and

interest from associates and

joint ventures (i)



0





0 Impairment and disposal of

non-current assets



0





0 Adjusted EBITDA



1,987





1,891

Comprehensive Financial Income (Cost)

Comprehensive financial cost for the fourth quarter for 2020 was a net expense of Ps. 928 million compared with a net expense of Ps. 214 million for the third quarter of 2020. The net interest income the fourth quarter was Ps. 20 million compared with a net expense of Ps. 6 million in the third quarter of 2020. At same time we registered an exchange net loss of Ps. 208 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared with an exchange net loss of Ps. 948 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes for the third quarter of 2020 had an expense net tax of Ps. 352 million (including an expenses tax deferred for Ps. 18 million) compared to an expense of Ps. 31 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, (including an income tax deferred of Ps. 37 million).

Net Income (loss)

As a result of the foregoing, the Company had a net income of Ps. 717 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to Ps. 1,003 million of net income in the third quarter of 2020.

Comparative fourth quarter 2020 vs fourth quarter 2019

Net Sales

Net sales increased 40% from Ps. 7,315 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 to Ps. 10,218 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. Sales in tons of finished steel in the fourth quarter of 2019 were 570 thousand tons versus to 602 thousand tons in the fourth quarter of 2020. Total sales outside of Mexico increased 39% from Ps. 3,497 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 to Ps. 4,878 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Sales in Mexico increased 40% from Ps. 3,818 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 to Ps. 5,340 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. The average sales prices of finished products sold in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased 32%, compared to the same period of 2019.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales increased 23% from Ps. 6,835 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to Ps. 8,381 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. With respect to sales, the cost of sales represented 82% during the fourth quarter of 2020 and 93% during the fourth quarter of 2019. The average cost of steel products increased 16% in the fourth quarter of 2020 versus the fourth quarter of 2019.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2020 increased 283% from Ps. 480 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to Ps. 1,837 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. The gross profit as a percentage of net sales represented 7% for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to 18% of the fourth quarter of 2020.

Operating Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 6% from Ps. 530 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to Ps. 498 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales represented 7% for the fourth quarter of 2019 and 5% for the fourth quarter of 2020.

Other Expenses (Income) net

The company recorded other expenses net of Ps. 298 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared with other income net of Ps. 339 million for the fourth quarter of 2020.

Operating (Loss) Income

Operating income was of Ps. 1,678 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to an operating loss of Ps. 348 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. The operating income as a percentage of net sales in the fourth quarter of 2020 was 16%, compared to an operating loss of -5% in the fourth quarter of 2019.

EBITDA

The EBITDA was Ps. -42 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 as a result a net loss of Ps. 3,229, plus minority stake of Ps. 124, plus income taxes of Ps. 2,970, less comprehensive financial cost of Ps. 213, plus depreciation of Ps. 306 compared to a profit of Ps 1,987 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 as a result a net income of Ps. 717, plus minority stake of Ps. 2 million, plus income taxes of Ps. 31, plus comprehensive financial cost of Ps. 928, plus depreciation of Ps. 309.







Consolidated

Million

Comparative fourth quarter vs fourth quarter



2020



2019 Net income (loss)

attributable to Vale's

stockholders



717





(3,229) Loss attributable to

noncontrolling interests



2





124 Net income (loss)



719





(3,105) Depreciation, depletion and

amortization



309





306 Income taxes



31





2,970 Financial results income

(loss)



928





(213) EBITDA



1,987





(42)















Items to reconciled adjusted

EBITDA













Equity results and other

results in associates and joint

ventures



0





0 Dividends received and

interest from associates and

joint ventures (i)



0





0 Impairment and disposal of

non-current assets



0





0 Adjusted EBITDA



1,987





(42)

Comprehensive Financial Income (Cost)

Comprehensive financial cost for the fourth quarter of 2020 was a net expense of Ps. 928 million compared with a net income of Ps 213 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. Net interest income was of Ps. 20 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared with a net interest expense of Ps. 40 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. At same time we registered a net exchange loss of Ps. 948 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared with an exchange income of Ps. 253 million in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Income Taxes

The Company recorded an expense net taxes for the fourth quarter of 2020 of Ps. 31 million (including an income of deferred tax of Ps. 37 million), compared to an expense taxes of Ps. 2,970 million for the fourth quarter of 2019, (including an income tax deferred of Ps. 128 million).

Net Income (loss)

As a result of the foregoing, the Company recorded a net income of Ps. 717 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to Ps. 3,229 million of net loss in the fourth quarter of 2019.

(million of pesos) Jan - Dec '20

Jan - Dec '19

Year 20 vs

'19 Sales 35,957

34,171

5% Cost of Sales 29,236

30,067

(3%) Gross Profit 6,721

4,104

64% Selling, General and Administrative Expense 1,814

1,637

11% Other Income (Expenses), net 555

(137)

505% Operating Profit 5,462

2,330

134% EBITDA 6,729

3,439

96% Net income 4,180

(1,636)

356% Sales Outside Mexico 17,871

16,736

7% Sales in Mexico 18,086

17,435

4% Total Sales (Tons) 2,441

2,349

4% Cost by ton 11,977

12,800

(6%)

Quarter









(million of pesos) 4Q'20 3Q '20 4Q '19 4Q20vs

3Q20 4Q20 vs

4Q '19 Sales 10,218 9,643 7,315 6% 40% Cost of Sales 8,381 7,682 6,835 9% 23% Gross Profit 1,837 1,961 480 (6%) 283% Selling, General and Adm. Expenses 498 449 530 11% (6%) Other Income (Expenses), net 339 56 (298) 505% 214% Operating Profit 1,678 1.568 (348) 7% 582% EBITDA 1,987 1,891 (42) 5% 4831% Net Income 717 1,003 (3,229) (29%) 122% Sales Outside Mexico 4,878 4,824 3,497 1% 39% Sales in Mexico 5,340 4,819 3,818 11% 40% Total Sales (Tons) 602 676 570 (11%) 6% Cost per Ton 13,922 11,364 11,991 23% 16%

Product Thousands of

Tons Jan-Dec 2020 Millions of

Pesos

Jan-Dec 2020 Average Price

per Ton Jan-Dec 2020 Thousands of

Tons Jan  Dec 2019 Millions of

Pesos

Jan- Dec 2019 Average Price

per Ton Jan-Dec 2019 Special Profiles 791 13,593 17,185 851 15,384 18,078 Commercial Profiles 1,650 22,364 13,554 1,498 18,787 12,541 Total Tons 2,441 35,957 14,730 2,349 34,171 14,547

Product Thousands

of Tons Oct-Dec 2020 Millions of Pesos

Oct-Dec 2020 Average Price per Ton Oct-Dec 2020 Thousands of Tons Jul-Sep 2020 Millions of Pesos

Jul-Sep 2020 Average Price per Ton Jul-Sep 2020 Thousands of Tons

Oct-Dec 2019 Millions of Pesos

Oct-Dec 2019 Average

Price per Ton

Oct-Dec 2019 Special Profiles 220 3,898 17,718 215 3,551 16,516 191 3,042 15,927 Commercial Profiles 382 6,320 16,545 461 6,092 13,215 379 4,273 11,274 Total Tons 602 10,218 16,973 676 9,643 14,265 570 7,315 12,833

Any forward-looking information contained herein is inherently subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions which, if incorrect, may cause actual results to vary materially from those anticipated, expected or estimated. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained herein.

Contact :

Jose Luis Tinajero

Mario Moreno Cortez

Grupo Simec, S.A.B. de C.V.

Calzada Lazaro Cardenas 601

44440 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

52 55 1165 1025

52 33 3770 6734







Cision

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/grupo-simec-announces-results-of-operations-for-the-twelve-month-period-ended-december-31-2020-301225054.html

SOURCE Grupo Simec, S.A.B. de C.V.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 21:40:09|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Delegations of the Libyan Parliament and the Supreme Council met on Tuesday in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Hurghada to discuss reaching a mechanism to run a referendum on the Libyan constitution, state-run Ahram newspaper reported.

The third meeting of the Libyan Constitutional Track aimed at finding a legal and a constitutional base for running the Libyan parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled in December, according to the report.

The meetings that will be concluded on Thursday are chaired by the Chairman of Libya's High National Election Commission Emad al-Sayeh.

"It is important to build on the current positive political momentum in Libya that is embodied in electing a new executive authority, and the outcomes of 5+5 Joint Military Commission," al-Sayed said.

Libya on Saturday witnessed the selection of a unity government to lead the country until December elections with the hope of ending a decade-long civil war in the North African country.

Abdel Hamid Dbeibah, who was on Friday elected interim prime minister by a forum of 75 Libyan delegates at UN-led talks in Switzerland, has to form a government within 21 days, and the Tobruk-based elected House of Representatives has to endorse it also within 21 days.

The transfer of power from the Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Fayez al-Saraj to the new government takes place once the endorsement is made. Enditem
Firas Tlass, a Syrian businessman, has announced the creation of a new opposition party, writes Al-Modon.

Syrian opposition business tycoon, Firas Tlass, announced the establishment of a new party, under the name The Syrian National Party, in partnership with a group of Syrian youths, according to an announcement on his Facebook page.

Tlass said that the party will begin its work in the liberated areas first, and then expand to wherever Syrians are, including the regime-held areas, according to a secret mechanism. He added that the party is the result of a lot of effort and preparation.

Tlass encouraged those interested in learning more about the new party to join dialogue sessions. He fleshed out some of the partys principles and opened the floor for public debate on his Facebook page. The principles are based on welfare and freedom as supreme values, without exposing the state, society or its members to material and direct harm.

The new party embraces the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which the United Nations adopted on December 10, 1948, as well as the belief in the concept of citizenship and full equality among all citizens. The party also upholds equal rights between men and women before the law.

The new party rejects any religious or non-religious ideology playing a guardianship role over the state, society or individuals. The party also believes in promoting citizenship and the national identity, while preserving cultural, religious, and national identities.

Tlass spoke about the principles of citizenship and the right to live in dignity and freedom, adding that the human being is the basis for the partys principles. Tlass said that the executive authorities should not interfere in the ideological aspect of peoples lives, be it a belief, practice or call, which should fall within the broad scope of freedom whose only red line should be causing direct harm to society or its members.

Tlass had announced that field activity would start in seven regions in Syria  namely Damascus, Aleppo, the central region, the coast, southern Syria, the Northeast, and the Northwest  in addition to six countries with a large Syrian presence, where parties are free to exist.

He added that the party will be funded by donations from its members overseas and will not receive funding from any country. He added that the average age of the founding members is 31.

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.
Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong held phone talk with First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee Raul Castro Ruz.

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong holds phone talk with First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee Raul Castro Ruz. (Photo: VNA)

The Vietnamese Party, State, and people always treasure the solidarity and whole-hearted support, both spiritually and materially, that Cuba has given to Vietnam during the struggle for national liberation as well as the cause of national construction and defence over the past six decades and more.

The comments were made by Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong during his phone talk with First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee Raul Castro Ruz.

The Vietnamese leader cited Cuban leader Fidel Castros saying: For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its blood.

He thanked Raul Castro for his congratulations on the success of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), the 91st founding anniversary of the CPV, and his re-election as the General Secretary of the 13th CPV Central Committee.

Congratulatory messages like these from Raul Castro and many Cuban agencies and organisations have vividly demonstrated the special friendship between the two countries as well as the close ties and mutual trust between Party and State leaders of the two countries, Trong said.

He described the 13th National Party Congress as a milestone in the development of the CPV and Vietnam.

The top Vietnamese leader shared the current difficulties facing Cuba and expressed his belief that under the leadership of the PCC, led by Raul Castro, the Cuban people will overcome all challenges, complete the socio-economic update policy set at the sixth and seventh National Party Congresses, and successfully organise the eighth National Party Congress of the PCC scheduled for April 2021.

For his part, Raul Castro praised the prestige, role, and major contributions of Party General Secretary and President Trong to Vietnams cause of national construction and defence and the Vietnam-Cuba special friendship.

He noted his belief that under the leadership of the CPV, led by Trong, the Vietnamese people will successfully materialise guidelines set at the 13th National Party Congress and reap more fruit in socialism building.

Raul Castro spoke highly of the valuable support of the Vietnamese Party, State, and people to their Cuban counterparts, especially in ensuring food security in Cuba through rice supplies and effective cooperation in agriculture and other spheres.

The Cuban Party, State, and people will make all-out efforts to preserve and promote the special friendship, he affirmed.

On this occasion, the two leaders also exchanged invitations to visit their respective countries./.VNA
Eritrea Releases 70 Jailed Christians Share Tweet

Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that Eritrea has released 70 Christians that they jailed.

Sixty-four of the Christians had no charges and the last six were jailed for worshipping in public. "On 1 February, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons, close to the capital city, Asmara. The prisoners had been held without charge or trial for periods of between two and 12 years.

On 27 January, six female prisoners who were detained in September 2020 in Dekemhare, south-east of Asmara, were also released. The women were arrested after worshipping in public as they were walking down a street, an event which was caught on camera and circulated via social media."

Though the move is reportedly welcomed, Christian Solidarity Worldwide believes it could possibly be a distraction to get the international community off of the war waged on the Tigray region. Tigray declared independence from Ethiopia and has been fighting for their right to exist ever since. However, they are not just fighting against their neighboring country of Ethiopia. Eritrea and Somalia have also partnered with Ethiopia in addition to the ethnic Amhara army.

According to Tigray officials, the combined militia has been attacking and killing citizens in the Tigray region. The official disclosed what was happening in an interview published on Ethiopia Hub. "You know, the result becamethey have destroyed Tigray, literally, all of them, EPLF, the Eritrean forces and the Ethiopian forces. They literally destroyed all the wealth that it had accumulated for thirty years, and burned schools, clinics, they have ransacked each house. They moved in. They have started looting the produce of the peasants, from all the villages beyond the black road that crosses Tigray towards Eritrea. And they kill whomever they find in whichever village they get in. In the village I was in yesterdayits a small villagethey killed 21 people, out of which seven of them were priests of that small village," he said.

Christian Headlines has previously reported that millions are in need of aid due to the war's ravaging of Ethiopia and Tigray. Additionally, more than 700 Christians were attacked in a church as they were trying to hide from the violence in the region. The residents were reportedly brought out and killed.

Photo courtesy: Getty Images/AHMET YARALI

John Paluska has been a contributor for Christian Headlines since 2016 and is the founder of The Washington Gazette, a news outlet he relaunched in 2019 as a response to the constant distribution of fake news.
One in eight cases of Covid-19 in Ireland have been in healthcare workers. Photo: David Conachy

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) is calling for an independent investigation into the infection of health workers with Covid-19.

More than 25,000 healthcare workers have been infected since the pandemic began in Ireland last March, amounting to roughly one in eight of all cases.

General Secretary of the INMO Phil Ni Sheaghdha said the organisation called for the Health and Safety Authority to have a role in determining safety measures for healthcare workers as far back as last March.

She said this did not happen until the EU introduced a biological hazard agent on November 24, over six months later.

During that period there was no independent scrutiny of healthcare worker safety. Our view is, no more than any other workplace, where there is a biological hazard, it must have independent scrutiny to ensure the principles of safety are applied, Ms Ni Sheaghdha told Morning Ireland ahead of the Oireachtas Health Committee meeting today.

The INMO felt it was not the priority of the HSE to protect to the maximum the healthcare workers that were putting themselves at risk throughout the pandemic

Therefore, the HSA, the statutory body with this responsibility, should be investigating outbreaks and clusters at all times to ensure the State.. is ensuring the maximum protection is being afforded to healthcare workers, she said.

The INMO have called the vaccine rollout among healthcare workers haphazard due to the lack of focus on the locations or workplaces with the highest infections.

Many workers were booked in for vaccinations and then were told by their line managers that the rollout wasnt happening today; we had huge issues with sequencing etc. Ms Ni Sheaghdha said.

The majority of the 25,000 healthcare workers infected with Covid-19 have been nurses and midwives.

They want to be assured when they go to work, because they have continued to go into these high risk situations and many of them became infected. Many are suffering the longer effects of Covid and their view is more has to be done to absolutely ensure that these mistakes dont happen when they are avoidable, Ms Ni Sheaghdha said.

The INMO are also applying to the HSE for a compensation scheme for healthcare workers to receive a financial reward and time off once the pandemic has finally been brought under control in Ireland.

Weve lodged a claim with the HSE for compensation for lost time - many of our members have worked over and above their working hours. Were hoping that when the vaccine brings an end to the absolute pressure cooker that is the health service right now, that workers will be given time to recuperate.

A survey conducted by the INMO on its members has found that the mental health issues experienced by its members, brought on by working through the pandemic, are very serious.

A host of studies across the globe are very worrying withregard to burnout and we have to avoid this. We have to look after those who put themselves at high risk in this country.



Ms Ni Sheaghdha said there has been widespread reports of chronic fatigue, sleeplessness and the intention to leave their jobs among those surveyed.
US President Joe Biden will meet with the chief executives of JPMorgan Chase, Walmart, Gap Inc, and Lowe's Companies on Tuesday as part of his efforts to boost an economy still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden and the executives, who will be joined by Vice President Kamala Harris and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for the 1:45 p.m. EST gathering in the Oval Office, will discuss Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus recovery package, known as the American Rescue Plan, the White House said.

JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon, Walmart's Doug McMillon, Gap's Sonia Syngal, and Lowe's Companies' Marvin Ellison were all slated to attend along with Tom Donohue, the head of the US Chamber of Commerce, a top business lobby.

Biden is eager to keep the focus on his relief package even as Washington focuses on the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, who is accused of inciting the Jan. 6 riot at the US Capitol.

The meeting serves as a bit of counterprogamming at the White House while the trial kicks off in the US Senate.

Despite Biden's desire to focus on unity, his stimulus package faces opposition from Republicans, who view it as too large. Bidens fellow Democrats in Congress approved a budget outline that will allow them to muscle the stimulus through in the coming weeks without Republican support.

Democrats have a small majority in the US House of Representatives and effective control in the Senate.

Data on Friday showed US employment growth rebounded only moderately in January and job losses in the prior month were deeper than initially thought, strengthening the case for a sizable relief package from the government to aid the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We really need this grant, as small as it may appear"

Beneficiaries of the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant, which has been discontinued, are hoping the government will change its mind on the R350-a-month grant.

Beneficiaries who had not yet been paid out for January queued yesterday at post offices around the country.

They said the grant was their only income and they were desperate.

"We are desperate and we really need this grant as small as it may appear." Waiting in the queue at the Parow Post Office in Cape Town on Monday, Neville Lucas De Koker says life has been hard for him, his 13-year-old daughter and his pensioner mother since he was retrenched by Shoprite last year because of Covid-19. He believes taking away the R350-a-month Covid-19 grant from the unemployed will push them into crime.

"When people have nothing to depend on they can do all sorts of things to put food on the table ... so the government needs to think again about the matter. Instead of stopping the grant they need to increase it to at least R500 so that we can buy basics that last us a month," said De Koker.

"If I collect the money today I will buy school stationery for my child."

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) on 28 January said new applications for the grant would be closed from 1 February 2021, but January grants would still be paid out. People who had applied in November, December and January and whose applications had been rejected would be able to apply for reconsideration until 28 February.

Beneficiaries from Delft, Bishop Lavis and Mfuleni travelled to Parow Post office on Monday hoping the collection queue would be shorter. At midday people who were tired of standing in the long queue sat on the ground. Most wore masks but there was no social distancing.

20-year-old Esly Fontein from Delft said he is the only one who was working in his family before a construction company retrenched him last year. "The R350 is of great benefit to us and I am grateful. At home they are expecting me to bring back groceries and school items from this money. I wish it could be increased a bit."

"Taking the R350 away from my family means we will struggle again and probably die of hunger because there is no work out there."

A man and a woman who did not want to give their names were standing in the queue with their small child sitting on the man's shoulder. Both are getting the grant and they say it is their only source of income. "Waking up without this grant will break us down because how will we live? What will I buy soap and electricity with?" said the woman.

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Jacqueline Ruiter from Gelvandale was queueing at the Korsten Post Office in Port Elizabeth. "I arrived here at 3am and there were only ten people on the queue. They were sleeping on the floor on pieces of cardboard. Now it is 1:40pm and I don't even have a ticket because there are dozens of people in front of me who have bought the space."

"There is no food at home and my children are very hungry."

Ruiter was one of several people in the queue who complained that places in the queue were being sold for R50. "Those who have money just buy their way to the tellers. But I will wait until the post office closes; maybe I can be lucky and get a chance," she said.

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Jackie Weaver became an unlikely star after a Handforth Parish Council's Zoom meeting went viral, where she booted out a council chairman who told her to 'stop talking'.

And admiration for Jackie has reached new heights as she was made into a tasty cake by baker Ben Cullen, who starred in Netflix's Extreme Cake Makers.

Ben, who also goes by the name The Bake King, used angel cake and chocolate ganache with sugar paste detailing to create his uncanny cake caricature of Jackie.

Speaking to the BBC, the baker, from Cheshire, admitted that he 'couldn't resist' recreating Jackie in cake-form after she quickly became an internet sensation.

The star of Handforth Parish Council's Zoom meeting Jackie Weaver has been made into a tasty cake (above) by TV baker Ben Cullen, who starred in Netflix's Extreme Cake Makers

Ben also said that, like so many others, he found the Zoom parish council meeting 'hilarious' and that it helped to 'lift people's spirits' amid the Covid-19 lockdown.

He told the publication: 'The subject itself is so popular and funny currently and so people that have seen it and follow me and my work have loved my take on it.

'My followers know I can't help myself with topics like this or really unique characters. I just have to get involved.'

Jackie came into the spotlight after a video of Handforth Parish Council planning committee's December meeting descending into chaos went viral.

The eventful Zoom meeting saw one person shouting 'f*** off', another flushing a toilet and one person shooting off to answer the front door.

But the show-stealer was acting-clerk Jackie, who kicked out council chairman Brian Tolver after he told her she has 'no authority at all' and ordered her to 'stop talking'.

Jackie Weaver became an unlikely star when a council meeting that descended into chaos went viral, with Jackie booting out council chairman Brian Tolver, who told her to 'stop talking'

And sharing his incredible cake recreation to Instagram, Ben humorously quoted council chairman Brian, writing: 'YOU HAVE NO AUTHORITY HERE JACKIE WEAVER!'

People were left stunned after seeing his edible masterpiece, saying it looked like a 'painting' rather than a cake and quipping that he had 'won the internet' with his design.

Taking to Instagram, one person simply penned: 'This is EPIC!!!'

Another wrote: 'Yeah, ok... you win the internet.'

While a third commented: 'Hahahaha hahahaha Brilliant that's made my week!!!'

And a fourth said: 'NO WAY I can't believe this woman is just A CAKE'

Since her fame from the council meeting video, Jackie has insisted that she did have the power to boot out the 'disruptive' Mr Tolver, who ordered her to 'stop talking'.

Cheshire baker Ben, who also goes by the name The Bake King, used angel cake and chocolate ganache with sugar paste detailing to create his uncanny cake caricature of Jackie (above)

He was thrown out of the pre-Christmas hearing after he accused rival councillors of calling it illegally and yelling: 'You have no authority here, Jackie Weaver! NO AUTHORITY AT ALL!'

Jackie, who chairs the Cheshire Association of Local Councillors, insisted she did have the 'authority' because the meeting was not called by the chairman nor the council's official clerk.

Her action has gained her wide-spread support, with Jackie's husband Stuart Weaver, 69 - a retired design engineer - telling MailOnline that he's 'proud' of his wife for standing up to them.

In a normal parish council meeting, Jackie wouldn't have the authority to remove someone, but because it was called by two councillors - who risked having the hearing 'hijacked' - she says she did.

Jackie earlier admitted that 'there is an element of bullying and bad behaviour around in local councils' - with councillor Peter Moore, 70, one of those on the Zoom call, describing Handforth Parish Council as a 'den of bullying'.

Jackie, who has worked with Handforth Parish Council on and off for nine years, said the hostility from Mr Tolver's faction of councillors was hardly a surprise.

Jackie recently told MailOnline: 'I had the authority to kick them of the call. They shout all the statements about it being illegal but I've been doing this for 25 years.

'If it had been a normal parish meeting I wouldn't have had the authority to do that.'

She added: 'They were annoyed because I wouldn't tolerate their behaviour. My life is usually very dull and this doesn't normally happen.

'I would normally ask someone else to go to the meeting but I thought something might kick off, so I thought I go and do it myself.'
For the best part of a decade missing financial adviser Melissa Caddick and her husband, unemployed hairdresser Anthony Koletti, spent more than $600,000 per year funding their lavish lifestyle using the proceeds of crime, Ms Caddicks victims allege.

They have clearly lived large on investor funds for many, many years, said Dominic Calabria, a partner at Bridges Lawyers, who has detailed the plight of investors in a position paper prepared for court proceedings related to Ms Caddicks alleged misdeeds.

Melissa Caddick during the raid by the AFP. Credit:60 Minutes

The law firm, representing 15 investors who claim to have lost almost $6 million, believes a conservative estimate on the amount investors lost could be more than $25 million.

The Federal Court has heard Ms Caddick, who purported to be a financial adviser, was involved in serious misconduct ... in connection with the misappropriation of consumer funds. Financial records show that from January 2018 until September 2020 a total of $20.279 million was deposited into her accounts, and she has since withdrawn all but $700,000 of that.
Deep in the deciduous tropical forests on the Srepok River banks, Bun Tropin has a routine as he stations himself at the Mereuch Base for the armed forest rangers of Cambodias Ministry of the Environment.

The base has a long history of combat dating to the pivotal 1954 Battle of Dien Bien Phu and the Vietnam War, given its location at the midpoint of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the route communist-led North Vietnam used for sending weapons, manpower, ammunition and other supplies to their supporters in South Vietnam.

But a film produced in 1951 by American zoologist Charles Wharton captured images of armies of graceful banteng and other hoofed mammals, or ungulates, that occupied the area in such numbers that they seem to appear in every frame.

Today, the Mereuch Base serves as a staging area for protecting one of Cambodias last remaining natural reserves.

In mid-January, two Voice of America journalists received rare access to tour Mereuch and the sanctuarys two other bases in a well-choreographed and escorted trip that included about 30 other reporters. Guides told them to not wander because of cluster bombs and other unexploded ordnance in the area.

But Bun Tropin, 27, a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) biodiversity research assistant, knows his way around the restricted sanctuaries in Mondulkiri province because he manages more than 200 camera traps as part of the conservation groups effort to capture evidence of the presence of wildlife.

Bun Tropin and his team guided the journalists through chest-high grasses to check the cameras installed through the areas.

When you trek like this, you hardly see any of those bantengs, elephants, tigers and others, the soft-spoken Bun Tropin told VOA Khmer. But each time I spot them on camera, I am always wowed. Each time, I just could not take my eyes off them.

Drastic declines

WWF Cambodia released a report on January 15 saying the ungulate populations in two sanctuaries  Srepok and the neighboring Phnom Prich  had seen a drastic 10-year decline.

The estimated banteng population plummeted by 72%, from about 3,013 in 2010 to just 856 in 2020, within both sanctuaries, which have a combined area of 5,955 square kilometers  slightly larger than Brunei Darussalam.

The population of red muntjacs, also known as barking deer, had declined to about 3,350 in 2020, half the number that had been found in 2010.

The poaching threat, particularly in the form of snaring, in the two protected sites in the [easter plain landscape] has grown by two orders of magnitude during this monitoring period, indicating that the current level of protected area management and law enforcement efforts are no longer sufficient to tackle the threats effectively, reads the 86-page report covering the years 2010-2020 that was endorsed by the Ministry of Environment.

Between the late 1960s and the early 1990s, Cambodias total banteng population fell by 95%, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In the neighboring Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), another conservation group, also documented a dramatic drop in ungulate population over the past 10 years.

"Five out of six monitored ungulate species either show significant population declines or have been assessed by experts as being in decline within [Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary]," the WCS said in the report released in September 2020.

Seng Teak, director of WWF Cambodia, said the findings were concerning, citing the ongoing hazards of habitat losses, poaching and snares.

If the snares remain throughout in the forest, theres a chance forests of the future wont have any wildlife, he told VOA Khmer.

A regulatory overhaul introduced in 2016 was designed to distinguish between the overlapping authority of Cambodias Ministry of Agricultures Forestry Administration and the Ministry of Environment has been implemented.

The Forestry Administration oversees economic land concession planning. The Ministry of Environment protects vast biodiverse areas and wildlife sanctuaries with an embattled crew of armed and uniformed rangers; there are only 51 Environment Ministry rangers in the two preserves, and 1,200 rangers throughout Cambodia. Their numbers are unlikely to increase soon due to austerity measures imposed as combatting the coronavirus pandemic consumes the national budget.

Yet the mountainous province is preparing to welcome a new airport investment, more tourists and more new residents to areas that need protection.

Powerful business interests

The London-based Environment Investigation Agency found rampant deforestation was masked by powerful business interests, according to a 2018 case study. It found timber logged in Cambodias northeast, the Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, was illegally exported to Vietnam.

EIA investigations between September 2017 and March 2018 uncovered illegal logging operations on an unprecedented scale within the wildlife sanctuary, along with large-scale corruption implicating various elements of the Cambodian Government, the report found.

Disgraced logging tycoon Soeng Sam Ol was arrested in 2019 with five senior environment, and forestry officials in the province were summoned for questioning by a national-level ad hoc investigatory team. Among them were Keo Sopheak, head of the provincial Department of Environment, and Paet Pheaktra, director of the Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary.

The five were later cleared of any wrongdoing.

Strict legal enforcement

Paet Pheaktra told VOA Khmer during the press tour that strict legal enforcement is the best way to protect endangered wildlife.

Implementing the law will be an effective method, Paet Pheaktra said as he showed VOA reporters the snares used by the poachers. People will respect if we use the laws accordingly.

He said considerable number of snares remain in the forests. He blamed both Vietnamese from the east of the sanctuaries and the local people who lived on the edge of the protected areas as key actors in harvesting the wildlife in the areas.

High-tech snares are mostly imported from the neighboring country [Vietnam], said Paet Pheaktra, reflecting the traditional animosity between Vietnam and Cambodia.

If everyone is committed, I think its not too late to save the wildlife, he said, adding that to save the forests, it will be too late if you wait until the next 10 or 15 years.

WWF Cambodia is introducing a number of programs to assist the rangers and the nearby communities to find alternatives to logging and poaching as a bid to save the ungulates and other endangered species living in the two sanctuaries.

That includes convincing the locals to stop poaching, a tall order given they consume most of the animals.

Phan Phonna, 49, a mother of seven moved to the area in 1994 from her home province of Tboung Khmun. At the time, forests and wildlife were abundant, but that is no longer true.

We choose to raise pigs and poultry to make a living instead of consuming wild meats in fears of health dangers, she said.

You cannot just go there as they monitor your activities all over the jungles, Phonna added.

Endless job

Seng Teak, who heads WWF Cambodia, remains hopeful, said the pace of loss among ungulates has slowed over the past three years. He credits conservation efforts, saying those coupled with combatting of forestry and wildlife crimes will lead to revivals of currently endangered species.

Wildlife need a quiet habitat free of snares, guns, chainsaws and other types of intrusion, he said. They need a safe haven so that they can reproduce fast.

Back in Mereuch, Bun Tropin sees no end to his mission  documenting and preserving the ungulates in both north-eastern sanctuaries.

It is just an endless job, Bun Tropin said. It will keep going and new things will keep coming up  new species, new evolvement -- and that requires more follow-up.

Political observers might be glued to their TVs for Tuesday's impeachment trial, but Joe Biden won't be, according to the White House.

"Joe Biden is the president," press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Tuesday, after being asked about the Trump team's legal arguments. "Hes not a pundit. Hes not going to opine on the back-and-forth arguments, nor is he watching them."

The former president's attorneys have vowed to use "duelling video" where they believe Democrats like Maxine Waters and others have used similar rhetoric to Trump's speech just before the Capitol riots, which will face deep scrutiny during the impeachment trial in the Senate.

Secretary Psaki said "we keep him pretty busy" and instead of monitoring the impeachment, Mr Biden will meet with National Institutes of Health personnel this week.

Read more: Follow live Trump impeachment updates

The second Trump impeachment began in the Senate on Tuesday, and prosecutors have begun laying out their evidence, including video of Mr Trump's fiery speech before the attack, as well as the video he released afterwards calling members of the mob "very special".

Based off of their preliminary legal filings, Mr Trump's lawyers are expected to argue a president can't be impeached after leaving office, and that his comments surrounding the attack on the Capitol are protected by the First Amendment, though constitutional scholars have cast doubt on the latter point.

Eleven GOP senators voted against the bipartisan-negotiated rules package for the trial, including Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri, the two most outspoken backers of Donald Trump's "stop the steal" movement.
A local student union has called on the ministry of education to act against all teachers accused of rape and those having sexual relations with pupils should be suspended with immediate effect.

The letter of demand comes just days after a 19-year-old learner was allegedly raped by a teacher at a Windhoek school. The 53-year-old teacher, Nathaniel Kamatuka, who has since resigned from his position, appeared yesterday in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court.

Kamatuka is facing two counts of rape, of which one victim is a minor. It is alleged he sexually violated the victims on 3 February at the Jan Mohr Secondary School premises. During his court appearance, the statement of the 19-year-old victim was read into the record. The victim did not object to Kamatuka being released on bail with conditions attached.

"I do not want him in my environment or at my school. I do not want him to text or call me either," the victim said in his statement. Despite that, prosecutor Rowan van Wyk informed the court the State does not support the victim's stance on bail, citing the charges Kamatuka is accused of are of a serious nature and investigations are yet to be completed. Van Wyk added there are seven statements that need to be obtained from learners and associates of the victims.

"There is also the public's interest to be considered and the issue of gender-based violence, which the court can no longer tolerate," said Van Wyk.

Magistrate Linus Samunzala granted the State's application and denied Kamatuka bail.

Before the end of the court session, Kamatuka informed the court he will launch an application for counter-charges.

"I, together with my lawyer, will be launching an application for counter charges because this thing is a plot against me," echoed Kamatuka. His case has been postponed to 5 March for further investigations and legal aid.

Demonstration

Meanwhile, at a demonstration held at the school yesterday, members of the public and learners of the school protested against the alleged sex crimes, demanding action to be taken against perpetrators.

The protesters also demanded the school's management to step down for allegedly protecting teachers over the years.

The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) called for the immediate deployment of social and gender-based violence unit workers to the schools.

Although the demonstration was ignited by the incident, the group is demanding that teachers at all schools implicated in such crimes should be suspended and arrested.

"School are supposed to be safe and not a survival ground - and to find out that various learners have been raped is not only sad but worrisome," said Feliciano Katombela, a grade 11 learner from Havana Project School, who joined the demonstration in solidarity.

"Any teacher who is found to have done such inhumane acts should never be allowed to teach; he or she should not be allowed near a school premise or learners. Once a rapist, always a rapist. How sure are we that such a perpetrator will not rape other learners at another school?"

The education ministry executive director Sanet Steenkamp said they fully understand the brewing frustration, adding any acts of rape, sexual intimidation and abuse is condemned by the authorities.

"This intrinsic-evil act is the kind of human act that we can never morally justify, irrespective of the circumstances in which it may have occurred," said Steenkamp. She further said the ministry is busy providing clinical psychological support to the learners. The City of Windhoek deputy mayor Clemmencia Hanases said it is painful to learn the safety of learners, dignity and human rights are violated by those entrusted to educate them.

"Remain calm and allow the course of justice to take its course in the matter that unifies us. Have faith that all perpetrators of the violent crimes against anyone, especially learners, will be brought to justice and that every learner is protected and deserves access to education without fear," urged Hanases while addressing learners at the school yesterday.

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The education inspector in the Khomas region, Milton Ya Otto, said the matter at the school is being addressed.

"The learner in question is already receiving attention and counselling through our school counsellors to provide psycho-social support to those affected learners and teachers. This is not going to be a one-day matter; the team is going to be here for the whole week or more or as time deem it fit," said Ya Otto.

The school has acknowledged similar incidents have taken place previously but were not reported.

In a statement, the school's board chairperson, Kenneth Uirab encouraged learners and or anyone with credible information on such incidences to contact the school principal or the police to report such matters so that appropriate action could be taken against the culprits.

"The school board, management and staff wish to assure our learners, parents and all stakeholders, including the general public, that it will do everything humanly possible to avoid and or prevent the re-occurrence of a similar despicable incident in future," said Uirab.
Martin Phipps, a prominent San Antonio attorney and owner of a popular River Walk bar, is accused of psychologically and verbally abusing his then-wife, according to an arrest affidavit.

Phipps, 51, was arrested Monday by the San Antonio Police Department on suspicion of telephone harassment, a Class B misdemeanor, for repeatedly contacting 24-year-old Brenda Vega, to whom he was briefly married, the affidavit alleges.

Vega told San Antonio police in December she had to get away from Phipps after he confronted her in an aggressive and agitated state and that he may have been under the influence of drugs at the time, according to the court documents. The documents did not divulge details about what led to the confrontation.

Vega fled to Mexico, leaving behind her personal belongings, because she was in such fear for her life, the affidavit said. While she was on her way to the airport, Phipps called and texted her multiple times asking her to return, but Vega refused and asked him to stop contacting her.

According to the court documents, Phipps attempted to get a hold of Vega 40 times, mostly through text messages, the day after she left. Police described his actions as reasonably likely to demean, harass, alarm and torment the victim.

On Dec. 19, a week before the confrontation, the two signed a marriage certificate.

On ExpressNews.com: Phipps arrested by San Antonio police

When Vega returned from Mexico in January, she filed a report with SAPD alleging that Phipps was verbally abusive and while no physical violence had occurred she wanted to document that she was scared of (Phipps), court records show. She also asked officers how to obtain a protective order.

Vega filed for annulment of the marriage, saying she was fearful of violent retaliation and threats of civil litigation for leaving Phipps, the affidavit said. She alleged that Phipps induced (her) to enter into the marriage by duress, according to the original annulment documents.

The annulment was granted on Jan. 22 by state District Judge Laura Salinas after it was amended to list both husband and wife as co-petitioners, indicating that they both wanted the annulment, court records show. In the amended version, the duress allegation was excluded.

Vega, who was Phipps former legal assistant, started with his law firm in January 2020, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Michael McCrum, the attorney hired by Phipps to represent him in the criminal case, said he believes the charge was part of an orchestrated campaign  to malign Martin.

From all that Ive seen, I dont think theres any merit to it, McCrum said.

The arrest Monday follows a handful of high-profile resignations, including Phipps former law partner T.J. Mayes, at his law firm, Phipps Deacon Purnell. Mayes accused Phipps of being involved in a scheme to defraud creditors, according to a resignation letter obtained by the Express-News.

Mayes said Phipps had psychologically abused Vega and on several instances gleefully expressed a willingness to assault her physically.

Prior to the resignations, the former partner, along with five other employees gave Phipps a letter on Jan. 8 demanding immediate measures to cure the hostile work environment,  according to a copy of the letter obtained by the newspaper.

Mayes filed a formal complaint against Phipps with the Texas Bar Association and a letter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Phipps firm, then called Phipps Anderson Deacon LLP, is one of the two law firms hired by Bexar County in 2017 to sue opioid drug manufacturers and distributors that the county alleges are responsible for causing and contributing to San Antonios addiction epidemic. The lawsuit was filed the next year.

Phipps also is the owner of the rooftop bar Paramour.

Staff Writers Emilie Eaton, Patrick Danner and Brian Chasnoff contributed to this report.
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To the surprise of no one, not even the clueless president, the Biden administration is facing a crisis at the Mexican border. The Washington Post puts it this way:

President Bidens more-welcoming message to immigrants is facing an immediate challenge along the Mexican border, where Central American families and children have been crossing in numbers that point to a building crisis.

(Emphasis added)

According to the Post, recent days have seen the return of large groups of parents and children crossing the border in the darkness. Why? Because illegal immigrants know the Biden administration isnt going to kick them out.

One woman, Daysi Funes Pena, told the Post:

I came last year, but they werent giving you the opportunity to cross. But then I decided to come back again, and thank God, I got the opportunity. [A friend] said, Come, theyre really receiving mothers with children, families. And it was true, we made it.

Last fall, she crossed the Rio Grande with her family and surrendered to border officials, but they were returned to Mexico. This time, Funes and her children were released in downtown McAllen and into the care of the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley.

Bidens supporters will say that the new approach is humanitarian. However, the Posts reporting suggests that it is likely to produce hardship and perhaps a humanitarian crisis:

The area [where Funes Pena and her children were released] has been one of those hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 100,000 cases, raising concerns in cities and towns worried about a growing influx of people and outbreaks inside shelters.

The Biden administration issued a lame public statements urging migrants not to cross the border. However, as the Post observes, current and former border officials say the presidents actions to rescind Trump-era controls, welcome immigrants, and curtail deportations risk send a different message. And thats the message that counts.

Over the weekend Secretary of State Blinken made matters worse by announcing the cancellation of a Trump-era program known as Asylum Cooperation Agreements. It allowed U.S. authorities to send asylum seekers back to Central America to find refuge there. No longer.

Rodolfo Karisch, a retired border patrol official who was chief in the Rio Grande Valley in 2019, told the Post:

I think were just sending the wrong message in rescinding all these executive actions. I think were asking for additional chaos similar to what we saw in 2019. . This could cause a huge problem for these communities along the border, because we still have significant challenges with covid, and this looks like a recipe for something that isnt good.

Legal residents in the area have the same concern:

Last summer, Enedina Trevino and five family members caught the virus. Her mother-in-law died from it. Trevino was alarmed by the news of migrants being released untested in nearby McAllen. There was still a risk, she said, even if the migrants are tested soon after they arrive. I know they come here to better themselves, but its still a danger to us  a community who is still suffering from covid, still suffering the aftereffects, said Trevino, who has been dealing with the lingering effects of the disease that she said put her in the hospital just two weeks ago.

The choice at the border is straightforward: Put the interests of Americans first or go with the interests of illegal immigrants and the Democratic Party.

It doesnt matter one way or the other to Joe Biden. He could play it either and has played it both ways at various points in his career.

But at this juncture, because hes beholden to Latino activists and Democratic politicians, Biden will put their interests, and those of illegal entrants, ahead of the interests of Americans.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-08 23:38:36|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official You Quan met with the 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu in Beijing on Monday.

You Quan, a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, extended Spring Festival and Tibetan new year greetings to the Panchen Lama and people in the Tibetan Buddhism circle.

He also extended congratulations to the Panchen Lama on the progress he made in various aspects and encouraged him to further his research on Buddhism.

You expressed hope that the Panchen Lama would actively safeguard national and ethnic unity.

The Panchen Lama said he would enhance his research on Buddhism, serve the believers and contribute to the ethnic unity, religious harmony, and people's well-being in Tibet. Enditem
(CNN)  The second impeachment trial of former US President Donald Trump begins this week as US Senate leaders reached an agreement Monday, giving the impeachment managers and Trump's lawyers up to 16 hours each to present their cases and creating the option for a debate and vote to call witnesses  if the House impeachment managers seek it.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on the Senate floor Monday that the trial rules had been agreed to by Senate Republicans and Democrats, as well as the House managers and Trump's legal team. The Senate will vote on the rules on Tuesday, and the trial will kick off with a four-hour debate on the constitutionality of the proceeding followed by a vote, which is expected to pass with a majority vote.

"The structure we have agreed to is eminently fair," Schumer said. "It will allow for the trial to achieve its purpose: truth and accountability."

Both Trump's lawyers and the House managers exchanged another round of pretrial legal briefs on Monday ahead of the beginning of the trial, in what amounted to a preview of the arguments that senators will hear on the floor in the coming days.

The House managers will begin their presentation at noon ET Wednesday, with up to 16 hours to make their case to the Senate over two days. Then Trump's lawyers will have two days to give their presentation, followed by a session in which senators can ask written questions to both legal teams read by the presiding judge, just like in previous impeachment trials, Schumer said Monday.

At the request of the managers, there will be an option to hold a debate and vote on calling witnesses. Trump's attorney David Schoen, an observant Jew, had originally requested there be no trial proceedings during the Sabbath, after 5 p.m. ET, on Friday through Saturday but withdrew that request later Monday evening.

"We are finalizing a resolution that's been agreed to by all parties  the House managers, the former President's counsel, Leader McConnell and I  that will ensure a fair, honest, bipartisan Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump," Schumer said Monday, adding that if the managers want to call witnesses, "There'll be a vote on that  that's what they requested."

The Shabbat break could mean that Trump's team uses less than 16 hours, because the rules allow for eight hours per day over two days, and the trial as currently scheduled would only be in session for five hours on Friday, the first day for Trump's team to present.

US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday praised the agreement that was reached, saying that it "preserves due process and the rights of both sides."

"It will give senators as jurors ample time to review the case and the arguments that each side will present," McConnell said.

When the trial begins, the House impeachment managers intend to make their case both to the public and the 100 senators who are jurors for the trial that Trump is responsible for last month's deadly riot at the US Capitol. They've been diligently preparing a presentation for when the trial gets underway Tuesday, relying on the hours of video footage available from January 6 to try to illustrate in visceral detail how the rioters were incited by Trump and his months of lies that the election was stolen from him.

While convicting Trump with a two-thirds vote is highly unlikely, the case will serve as the first detailed public accounting of how rioters temporarily halted Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's win, violently attacked police officers and actively sought out then-Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as they ransacked the Capitol.

Trump's legal team plans to argue that Trump did not incite the rioters, and that the trial of a former President is unconstitutional after the House rushed to impeach Trump without giving him the chance to mount any defense.

'Political theater' vs. 'overwhelming' evidence

On Monday, Trump's legal team accused Democrats of creating "political theater" as they argued in a pretrial brief that the upcoming Senate impeachment trial was unconstitutional because Trump is no longer president.

"This was only ever a selfish attempt by Democratic leadership in the House to prey upon the feelings of horror and confusion that fell upon all Americans across the entire political spectrum upon seeing the destruction at the Capitol on January 6 by a few hundred people," Trump's lawyers wrote Monday.

"Instead of acting to heal the nation, or at the very least focusing on prosecuting the lawbreakers who stormed the Capitol, the Speaker of the House and her allies have tried to callously harness the chaos of the moment for their own political gain," the brief added.

The 75-page legal brief from Trump's attorneys expands upon their initial response to the House's impeachment last week, in which they argued that the trial was unconstitutional, that Trump didn't incite the rioters and that his speech spreading false conspiracies about widespread election fraud is protected by the First Amendment. Trump's team argued that his declaration on January 6 for his supporters to "fight like hell" was rhetoric being used in a "figurative" sense, and the managers ignored Trump's comments about remaining peaceful.

"It was not and could not be construed to encourage acts of violence," Trump's lawyers wrote.

The House managers responded to Trump's lawyers on Monday in a five-page, pretrial brief that pushed back on the contention that the trial was unconstitutional and Trump's speech did not incite the rioters at the Capitol on January 6. The brief, which was written in response to Trump's filing last week, argued that Trump's reliance on the First Amendment was "utterly baseless" and it was provable Trump lied about election fraud.

"President Trump's repeated claims about a 'rigged' and 'stolen' election were false, no matter how many contortions his lawyers undertake to avoid saying so," the House managers wrote.

"The evidence of President Trump's conduct is overwhelming. He has no valid excuse or defense for his actions. And his efforts to escape accountability are entirely unavailing," they added.

The House managers have one more filing due Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. ET to respond to Monday's brief from Trump's team.

During Trump's first impeachment trial, senators were required to sit at their desk during the lengthy arguments, though they didn't always do so. But this year, senators won't be required to remain at their desks due to the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing.

A Senate official familiar with the planning said there will be seats reserved for senators in the public gallery above the chamber and the Senate's "marble room" that's just off the floor, where the trial will be shown on television. Senators will have to be on the Senate floor to vote.

'I think it's very unlikely'

On the eve of the trial, there appears to be little uncertainty about the final outcome. Even Republican senators open to voting to convict Trump say they recognize the votes aren't there for a guilty verdict, which would require 17 Republican senators to join every Democrat to vote for conviction. Last month, 45 of the Senate's 50 Republicans voted in favor of a procedural motion to dismiss the trial on constitutional grounds.

"I think it's very unlikely, right?" Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania asked on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday.

Toomey is one of the Republican senators whom Democrats hope to convince to vote to convict Trump at the conclusion of the trial, after 10 House Republicans voted in favor of impeachment last month.

The other key Republican senators who voted with Toomey and the Democrats that the trial was constitutional are: Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah and Ben Sasse of Nebraska. It's unclear if any other Republicans are considering voting to convict Trump.

"I don't know of anyone that their mind is not made up ahead of the impeachment trial," Sen. James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican, said Monday. "The first question on the issue of constitutionality, that drives a lot of it and everything else. I think people are pretty locked down."

Democrats' case will rely on video of the rioters themselves on January 6 as well as their comments, laid out in subsequent indictments, of how they were inspired by Trump to attack the Capitol and attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power.

Their case will also focus on Trump's comments, both in the months leading up to the riots where he spread baseless conspiracy theories about election fraud, and on January 6 when he spoke before his followers marched to the Capitol.

House GOP to help defend Trump publicly

In their legal filing last week, Trump's team argued that his speech was protected by the First Amendment, and he did not incite the rioters who attacked the Capitol. But perhaps the bigger argument his lawyers plan to make  and the one that Senate Republicans are likely point to in an acquittal vote  is that the trial of a former official is not constitutional.

Still, there have been legal scholars on both sides of the aisle who say that a trial is constitutional, as Trump was impeached by the House while he was still president and the Constitution gives the Senate the power to bar someone from holding future public office, in addition to removing officials from office.

Republican lawyer Charles Cooper, who represented former Trump national security adviser John Bolton during Trump's first impeachment when Bolton resisted testifying, wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed Sunday that the Constitution does not bar the Senate from trying a former President.

"The senators who supported Mr. Paul's motion should reconsider their view and judge the former president's misconduct on the merits," Cooper wrote.

A group of House Republicans allied with Trump are reprising their role at the former President's second impeachment trial to defend him in the public debate. Roughly a half-dozen House Republicans are aiding Trump's legal defense by planning to speak to reporters during breaks in the impeachment trial, according to a source familiar with the matter.

That's what the House Republicans did during Trump's first impeachment trial last year, when they would speak to television cameras not far from the Senate chamber during breaks in the proceedings, speaking along with Trump's lawyers. Senators from both parties would often be waiting in the wings to offer their take on the day's events, too.

The House members taking part in the effort to publicly defend Trump during the trial include Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Lee Zeldin of New York, Elise Stefanik of New York, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Matt Gaetz of Florida and Andy Biggs of Arizona, according to the source. While House members can't join Trump's legal team as a member of Congress  Gaetz suggested last week he'd resign if asked to be part of Trump's legal team  they can take part in the de facto impeachment trial spin room.

Jordan's Judiciary Committee staff is also helping the members with their prep for the trial. The Judiciary Committee Republican general counsel, Steve Castor, is a cousin to one of Trump's attorneys, Bruce Castor. Bruce Castor told a Pennsylvania radio station last week it was a connection that helped put him in touch with Trump before he was hired for the trial.

Debate over witnesses looms over start of trial

Unlike Trump's first impeachment, which was a complicated story about an effort for Ukraine to investigate Biden and the halting of US security aid, the impeachment managers are telling a story that senators know all too well after they were forced to flee the Senate after the rioters overran Capitol Police and closed in on the chamber.

It's why the managers may not call any outside witnesses in the trial, unlike the first trial when the push for testimony was a central focus. The House managers last week sought testimony directly from Trump, but his lawyers quickly rejected that proposal, and Democrats are unlikely to seek a subpoena.

The trial rules being finalized by Senate leaders would offer House managers the option to seek a vote on calling witnesses, but that's only keeping open the possibility  it's not an indication on its own that the managers plan to do so.

Democrats' desire for witnesses who might be able to corroborate Trump's thinking and actions while the riots were unfolding is running into many Senate Democrats' wishes for a quick trial so they can move onto passing Biden's Covid-19 relief package. The problem for the managers is it's unclear who they could call as a witness voluntarily who could speak to Trump's mindset. Even if the Senate voted to subpoena a witness who was in the White House on January 6, there could be a court fight over executive privilege that would delay the trial.

Still, some Senate Democrats say they don't want to hamstring the managers for the sake of speed. Because Democrats control the Senate, they have the votes to allow for witnesses without GOP support, unlike in the 2020 trial.

"I think we should be consistent," Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, said on "Fox News Sunday" about Senate Democrats' push in the first trial to subpoena witnesses.

"This time, we saw what happened in real time," Murphy added. "President Trump sent that angry mob to the Capitol on live TV, so it's not as important that you have witnesses, but if the House managers want witnesses, we should allow them to be able to put them on."

CNN's Lauren Fox contributed to this report.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Senate leaders reach agreement on impeachment trial rules"
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Members of a fishermens group protest against alleged Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, during a rally outside the Malacanang Palace in Manila, June 9, 2020.

The new Philippine military commander said Tuesday he was ordering more assets deployed to the South China Sea to safeguard fishermen after Beijing passed a law empowering its coast guard to use force against foreign boats in the contested waterway.

Gen. Cirilito Sobejana made the comments a day after Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. rejected suggestions that the Philippines lodge a protest against the Chinese law before the United Nations.

[T]he pronouncement of China that their coast guard can open fire on people intruding into their territory is very alarming, Sobejana, who took over last week as commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said during a virtual news conference.

Our compatriots do not go to that disputed area to make war, but for livelihood. So what we will do as part of our mandate to secure the people is to increase our visibility through the deployment of more naval assets, he said in a mix of Tagalog and English, referring to Filipino fishermen.

Gen. Cirilito Sobejana gives a speech in Manila upon taking the reins as commander of the Philippine military, Feb. 4, 2019. [Handout photo/Armed Forces of the Philippines]

On Jan. 22, Chinas National Peoples Congress passed the Coast Guard Law, which placed its coast guard under direct military command. The law, which took effect on Feb. 1, contains a provision that allows China Coast Guard ships to use weapons against any vessels found in waters that Beijing claims as its territory.

On Jan. 27, Locsin, Manilas foreign secretary announced that the Philippine government had filed a protest against the new Chinese law. At the time, he said the legislation was a verbal threat of war to any country that defies the law; which, if unchallenged, is submission to it.

Last week, Locsin publicly clashed with the spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte, Harry Roque, who said that the government could raise Chinas new law before a U.N. tribunal. At the time, the Philippines top diplomat told Roque to lay off foreign affairs.

Beijing, through its embassy in Manila, meanwhile claimed on Feb. 1 that its Coast Guard Law had been misinterpreted and was nothing but a normal domestic legislative activity.

While China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, six other Asian governments  Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam the Philippines and rival Taiwan  claim parts of the potentially mineral-rich waterway. Indonesia is not officially a party to the dispute, but is at odds over Beijings claims to parts of the sea that overlap on its territorial waters.

On Monday, Locsin turned down suggestions regarding the U.N., and said there was no need to reopen litigation that the Philippines had won in 2016, shortly after President Rodrigo Duterte took power.

I am not gonna go back there because the Coast Guard Law has some claims as to the extent of their territory, Locsin said then. That will re-open the arbitral award and Im not going to give them a chance to do that.

The 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague rejected Beijings expansive claims to the South China Sea and found in favor of Manila. Beijing has never recognized the ruling.

Instead of seeking to enforce the ruling, Duterte sought to ingratiate himself to China by distancing himself from traditional ally the United States in exchange for Chinese investments and businesses.

Only last year did Duterte unequivocally voice his position on the South China Sea. Speaking before the U.N. General Assembly in September, he said the ruling was beyond compromise and already part of international law.

Froilan Gallardo in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, contributed to this report.
Politics - GeorgianJournal

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- On Groundhogs Day, former President Trumps defense attorneys David Schoen and Bruce Castor filed an impeachment trial legal brief filled with typos, including misspelling the United States twice, first in the opening lines, leaving out the d in Unites States. Does this portend 6 more weeks/days of winter, Trump lies or just typos?

President Trump will not plead guilty, but I do to being a repeat typo/misspelling offender. Although Im also guilty of being an Editorial Cartoonist, not a President of the United States who has been impeached twice, or one of his defense attorneys.

At 1 pm today, the impeachment trial proceedings will open in the Senate with up to 4hrs of arguments on the constitutionality of even having a trial, followed by a simple majority vote on that.

Previously, Senator Rand Pauls motion to debate dismissing the trial on his claim that it was unconstitutional was voted down, despite 45 GOP Senators voting in favor of Pauls motion, including Sen Rob Portman of Ohio. Sen Portman insisted his vote on Pauls motion should not be seen as an indicator of how he will vote on convicting Trump.

Sen Paul argues Trumps trial is unconstitutional because hes no longer in office. He ignores the fact that Trump was impeached the second time while he was still the sitting President of the United States. Sen Paul also ignores the legal precedent that twice before impeachment trials were held for federal office holders after they left office -- in 1797 for Sen. William Blount and for Secretary of War William Belknap in President U.S. Grants administration. Belknap had quickly resigned hoping to avoid impeachment and trial.

Leading Conservative attorney Charles Cooper also made the case that Trumps impeachment trial was constitutional and warranted in a Wall Street Journal opinion column. Cooper had clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist, then served as a U.S. Attorney in the Justice Department during the Reagan administration. He went on to work for John Bolton, Sen Ted Cruz, the NRA, Jeff Sessions and House Republicans, including Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

The senators who supported Mr. Pauls motion should reconsider their view and judge the former presidents misconduct on the merits, Cooper wrote.
(Natural News) On Feb. 19, the Supreme Court will address at least three cases filed on behalf of President Donald Trump that allege widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.

Attorney Sidney Powells Michigan election case is scheduled for the Supreme Courts conference that day, as are the Pennsylvania election case and attorney Lin Woods Georgia election case.

The Pennsylvania case, Trump v Boockvar PA SOS et al, was filed back on Dec. 20. It explains that statutory provisions  may not be ignored by state election officials or changed by state courts.

As we covered back in November immediately following the election, Pennsylvania officials threw out the rules and changed the election process to allow millions of illegal ballots to be counted for China Joe.

Without these illegal ballots, Trump would have easily won Pennsylvania. This is why we wrote, and still stand by, the claim that once the dust settles and justice prevails, Trump will be declared the rightful winner of Pennsylvania.

This all depends on there still being a legitimate justice system, of course. If the Supreme Court turns out to be an injustice dud, then Beijing Biden could still end up holding the prize, despite it not belonging to him.

The Pennsylvania lawsuit explains that during the 2020 presidential election, Pennsylvania ignored the law by eliminating various statutory requirements, including signature verification and the right of campaigns to challenge invalid mail ballots.

The commonwealth also failed to require that mail ballots be filled in, dated and signed in accordance with the law. Consequently, millions of illegal ballots were counted for Biden.

Collectively, these  decisions resulted in counting approximately 2.6 million mail ballots in violation of the law as enacted by the Pennsylvania Legislature, the lawsuit explains.

According to public reports, without these protections, the resulting disqualification rate of invalid ballots was anemic  meaning over 110,000 invalid ballots were illegally counted  more than enough to have affected the outcome of the election, where the margin between the two principal candidates for President currently stands at 80,558.

It might sound crazy, but Trump still has a chance

In the Michigan case of Timothy King et al v Gretchen Whitmer, filed on Dec. 11, plaintiffs allege that scheme and artifice were used to defraud illegally and fraudulently manipulate the vote count to manufacture the election of Joe Biden as president of the United States.

The fraud was extensive and multi-faceted, the lawsuit further explains. In addition to old-fashioned ballot-stuffing,' the fraudsters used advanced computer software to manipulate the vote tabulation.

Domestic and foreign actors were used to rig the count and manipulate the totals, the lawsuit adds, noting that Michigan politicians and other officials were complicit in the scam.

The petition detailed an especially egregious range of conduct in Wayne County and the City of Detroit, though this conduct occurred throughout the State with the cooperation and control of Michigan state election officials, including Respondents.

In the Georgia case filed by Wood (L. Lin Wood, Jr. Petitioner v Brad Raffensperger et al), the allegation is made that the Eleventh Circuits decision to reject the case gave insufficient regard to the Secretary of States unlawful and unconstitutional usurpation of the Georgia Legislatures plenary authority to prescribe [t]he Times, Places, and Manner for the conduct of presidential and congressional election.

It further explains that unless the Supreme Court grants expedited consideration and relief, it will be impossible to repair the fraudulent election results that were brought about by the counting of illegally cast ballots, among other election crimes.

To keep up with the latest news about the fraudulent 2020 election, be sure to check out Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

100percentfedup.com

CitizenWells.com

NaturalNews.com
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Angelica Whitney, 15, of Epsom and Gabrielle Selig, 13, of Durham today were named New Hampshire's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Angelica and Gabrielle will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are New Hampshire's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Angelica Whitney

Nominated by Bishop Brady High School

Angelica, a junior at Bishop Brady High School, has made more than 6,750 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, face shields and door openers, for healthcare facilities, first responders, nursing homes, veterinary clinics, businesses and schools since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a member of her high school's FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team, Angelica was inspired to volunteer by an email from FIRST Tech challenging robotic teams across the country to donate one million PPE items to make their communities safer. "I had heard about the lack of PPE in states including New Hampshire, and how facilities were having COVID-19 outbreaks because of this," she said.

She started by sewing cloth masks on her sewing machine -- a time-consuming job, she said, and one that she was eventually able to hand off to a family friend. To buy supplies, Angelica applied for grants and appealed for donations. The robotics team stores its two 3D printers at Angelica's house, so by running the printers constantly, she was able to produce large numbers of headbands for face shields, ear savers for elastic masks, and door openers. As she made her products, Angelica reached out to a range of facilities to see if they needed PPE. She then got her robotics team involved in delivering the items, which, she estimates, have helped protect more than 4,000 individuals at over 30 locations. Her project, she said, will continue until there no longer is a need for people to protect themselves from virus exposure.

Middle Level State Honoree: Gabrielle Selig

Nominated by Oyster River Middle School

Gabrielle, an eighth-grader at Oyster River Middle School, sells home-baked cupcakes and cookies on social media , and has donated proceeds of more than $6,600 over the past four years to charities that "speak to my heart." Even as a preschooler, Gabrielle loved to bake. A big fan of the Food Network, she was watching with her mother one day when her favorite TV chef talked about the importance of helping those in need. "I told my mom that when I grow up, I want to have a bakery where some of the money goes to different charities," she said. "My mom asked why I thought I needed to grow up before I started my business." That was the beginning of "Gabi's Goodies for Good."

With the help of her mother, Gabi decides what she will bake and what charity will benefit from her sales. She then posts on social media  sometimes with a video of her making the treat  and indicates how much is available. Since she started her business, she has donated funds to a girl with cerebral palsy who needed to travel away from home to have surgery, to veterans experiencing homelessness, to an organization that rescued animals during the California wildfires, and to help koala bears injured in Australia's wildfires. "I hope my business will continue for a long time because I love helping out the world," said Gabrielle, "especially when I'm doing something that is super fun!"

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

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Sofia Vergara has been enjoying some quality family time with her brood as they tough out the pandemic.

But the four-time Golden Globe nominee is also reconnecting with friends, as she gets out of the house.

She kept it casual chic Monday, as she stepped out in a black bleach-dyed Proenza Schouler sweatshirt, while leaving a friend's house in Los Angeles after a masked visit.

Casual chic: Sofia Vergara kept it casual chic Monday, as she stepped out in a black bleach-dyed Proenza Schouler sweatshirt, while leaving a friend's house in Los Angeles after a masked visit

The 48-year-old complemented the top with some distressed jeans ripped at the knee and a pair of sparkling champagne studded wedges.

She finished the ensemble with a black face mask, gold necklaces, matching watch and rings, while carrying a brown leather handbag.

Vergara later took to her Instagram Story with a wardrobe change, rocking a pink floral top and some skintight jeans from her Walmart denim line Sofia Jeans.

She recently landed a victory in a legal battle over her frozen embryos with ex Nick Loeb, 45, with whom she was in a relationship from 2010 to 2014.

Blue jean baby: The 48-year-old complemented the top with some distressed jeans ripped at the knee and a pair of sparkling champagne studded wedges

Stay gold: She finished the ensemble with a black face mask, gold necklaces, matching watch and rings, while carrying a brown leather handbag

Flower power: Vergara later took to her Instagram Story with a wardrobe change, rocking a pink floral top and some skintight jeans from her Walmart denim line Sofia Jeans

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal in Louisiana denied Loeb's appeal after his lawsuit for full custody of her pre-embryos was dismissed.

Since the couple underwent IVF and created the embryos in California, where they lived together at the time, the court decided it would be improper for legal proceedings to take place in Louisiana.

The Modern Family star celebrated her fifth wedding anniversary with husband Joe Manganiello, 44, back in November.

She and the True Blood actor have been spending quarantine with her son Manolo, 29, whom she shares with ex-husband Joe Gonzalez.

Vergara is preparing to get back to work, recently signing on to executive produce a gender-swapped Zorro reboot for NBC, along with Robert Rodriguez.
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Photo: The Canadian Press Family and friends of Gordon Klaus leave court in Red Deer, Alta., in 2018.

The Alberta Court of Appeal has ruled that a trial judge erred by not applying consecutive parole eligibilities for two men convicted in the slayings of three family members.

Jason Klaus and Joshua Frank must now serve a minimum 50 years in prison before they can apply for release.

"The motives, the planning and deliberation and the calculated magnitude of these crimes is such that they stand out and indicate that denunciation in these cases requires what may amount to whole life sentences for both Klaus and Frank," Justice Jack Watson wrote for the majority in a split decision released Monday.

Klaus and Frank were each convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole eligibility for 25 years.

The bodies of Klaus's father and sister, Gordon and Monica Klaus, were discovered in their burned-out farmhouse near Castor, east of Red Deer, in 2013.

The body of his mother, Sandra Klaus, was never found but police believed she also died in the home.

"The errors of principle found in the sentencing reasons require the Court of Appeal to sentence afresh. We are persuaded that, in the end, the disposition reached was disproportionate and unfit," said the decision.

The Appeal Court said that the sentence in the killings of Gordon and Sandra Klaus should be served concurrently but the murder of their daughter warranted an additional 25 years of parole ineligibility.

The Crown had asked for no parole eligibility for 75 years, arguing that the trial judge, Justice Eric Macklin, failed to address deterrence and aggravating and mitigating factors

Justice Frans Slatter cast a dissenting vote.

Slatter said the multiple murders provision in the Criminal Code, which allows for consecutive parole ineligibility periods, "does not apply in cases of convictions for murder entered at the same trial."

The trial heard Klaus was having problems with his father and offered Frank money to kill the family. Frank told police he killed the family because he was scared Klaus would shoot him if he didn't follow through.

Klaus also had a cocaine and gambling addiction and forged cheques on his parents' account.

Macklin ruled that factors in the case were not particularly uncommon, compared with other murders, and did not warrant consecutive sentences. He also suggested that the two men would have a better chance of rehabilitation if they were not "bereft of hope.''
U.S. Optima Ventures, registered in the state of Delaware, and its subsidiary owned by former owners of PrivatBank Ihor Kolomoisky and Hennadiy Boholiubov intend to file a lawsuit against the United States seeking compensation of $23 million in response to two civil forfeiture actions targeting their assets in Louisville (Kentucky) and Dallas (Texas).

According to the Global Arbitration Review, citing companies controlled by Kolomoisky and Boholiubov, the lawsuit will be filed with the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

At the same time, the ICSID website does not currently have information about this lawsuit.

On August 6, the U.S. Department of Justice said that the United States filed two civil forfeiture complaints today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida alleging that commercial real estate in Louisville, Kentucky, and Dallas, Texas, both acquired using funds misappropriated from PrivatBank in Ukraine, are subject to forfeiture based on violations of federal money laundering statutes.

According to the document, the complaints allege that Kolomoisky and Boholiubov, who owned PrivatBank, embezzled and defrauded the bank of billions of dollars. The complaints allege that they laundered a portion of the criminal proceeds using an array of shell companies' bank accounts, primarily at PrivatBank's Cyprus branch, before they transferred the funds to the United States. As alleged in the complaint, the loans were rarely repaid except with more fraudulently obtained loan proceeds.

As alleged in the complaints, in the United States, associates of Kolomoisky and Boholiubov, Mordechai Korf and Uriel Laber, operating out of offices in Miami, created a web of entities, usually under some variation of the name "Optima," to further launder the misappropriated funds and invest them.

According to the release, they purchased hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate and businesses across the country, including the properties subject to forfeiture: the Louisville office tower known as PNC Plaza, and the Dallas office park known as the former CompuCom Headquarters. The buildings have a combined value of approximately $70 million.
Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

Fox News reported that the head of US Strategic Command Charles Richard is calling on the US military and federal leaders to reimagine methods of deterring aggressive action from rivals such as China and Russia. He wrote in the February issue of Proceedings, the US Naval Institute's monthly magazine, that, "There is a real possibility that a regional crisis with Russia or China could escalate quickly to a conflict involving nuclear weapons."

It's not uncommon to hear the noise preaching so-called threats of China and Russia. Yet it's still shocking to see a US senior military official publicly urging leaders of his country to consider a nuclear war. His narratives have drawn wide attention.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and commentator, told the Global Times on Thursday that Richard's rhetoric may be out of the following intention. First, he may hope to increase the strategic value of the Strategic Command in the US military. Second, Richard wants the US Congress to allocate more funds to create a new US nuclear weapons system, in a bid to reinforce a new triad of strategic nuclear forces. Third, he seeks to pursue the Strategic Command's larger control over US nuclear weapons.

For whatever reason, a top military official from the US, the most powerful country and whose new administration has pledged to restore its global leadership, is irresponsible to express such a crazy idea, as it poses huge challenges to world peace and security. It should be condemned by the international community.

Most nuclear-weapon countries including China, tend to keep their nuclear force for the purpose of safeguarding their national security. Only when their safety, sovereignty or territory is threatened, will they consider resorting to using nuclear weapons. But the principle of the US totally differs.

The US military might be the strongest, possessing the largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal. In spite of vowing to pursue disarmament, Washington actually spent trillions of dollars in upgrading its nuclear arsenal. Apart from terrorists, no country is capable of posing any threat to the US homeland.

Just as Song said, spending trillions of dollars to upgrade its nuclear arsenal is mainly to maintain its global hegemony. This is the fundamental difference between the US and other nuclear-weapon countries in terms of keeping nuclear forces.

Washington covers a wide range when it comes to defending its hegemony. It includes safeguarding its national security as well as its core interests on a global scale. Just as former US president Barack Obama said at the US Military Academy at West Point in 2014, "America must always lead on the world stage If we [the US] don't, no one else will." If any country gravely threatens US hegemony, the possibility cannot be ruled out that the US may use nuclear weapons to remarkably impair its rivals' military capability. This is the huge threat of US radical nuclear policy posed to the world. It is a big challenge for all countries, including China and Russia, and to global peace and safety. The US is the biggest trouble-maker in the world, which has the potential to overturn global peace.

Health facilities in Kampala Metropolitan Area have registered 48 per cent decline in acute respiratory illnesses among children aged below five, a new report indicates.

Up to 21,983 deaths nationally occurred among children aged below five, who suffered from respiratory illnesses, with pneumonia being one of the major causes, according to the 2019/2020 Annual Health Sector Performance Report.

Dr Theresa Piloya, a paediatric endocrinologist at Makerere University, who led the study in six health facilities in two sub-counties in Wakiso District, attributed the decline to Covid-19 prevention measures such as hand washing and wearing facemasks.

The report titled "Effect of Covid-19 pandemic on access to community health care services for common childhood illnesses among children under five years in Wakiso District, Uganda," relied on health management information system reports in the pre-Covid (January to August 2019) and Covid-19 period (January to August 2020).

Dr Piloya said they examined the data on the numbers of children seen with malaria, pneumonia or acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea in the said period.

"The number of children presenting with acute respiratory infection (ARI) or pneumonia at the facilities reduced by 48 per cent in Covid-19 period (pre-Covid versus Covid-19 period were 327 and 221, respectively)," she said.

The expert said they also assessed the number of children seen by Village Health Teams (VHTs).

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"Children visiting VHTs with acute respiratory infections or pneumonia (ARI) reduced by 46 per cent; from 311 seen in the pre-Covid period to 168 in the Covid-19 period," Dr Piloya added.

Challenges

However, in the summary of the report that Daily Monitor saw, children with diarrhoea seen at VHTs increased by 20 per cent while malaria cases reduced by 3 per cent.

In the report, children who had cough or flu were often taken to VHTs or hospital to rule out Covid-19. Mothers, however, say some health workers and VHTs feared to touch the children with respiratory diseases such as cough. So some of them resorted to use of herbal medicines to treat the diseases.

"VHTs reported limited role in management of children during Covid period because of stock-out of drugs and other supplies due to challenges related to travel restrictions," the report read.

"They also had fear of contracting Covid-19 infection, lacked training on Covid-19 recognition and management, lack of personal protection equipment and limited work force," it read further.
Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin on Tuesday proposed permanently allowing registered voters to cast ballots by mail and to allow in-person voters to register the same day they turn out at the polls.

Announced in a news release Tuesday, the move follows what Galvins office described as a successful 2020 state primary and November election season, which saw record-breaking turnout and unprecedented mail-in voting across the state and country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Current law restricts mail-in voting in most elections to absentee ballots, for which voters must have specific reasons to apply, state officials said.

What we saw last year was that voting by mail was enormously popular, Galvin said. While voting by mail may not always be used to the same extent as the pandemic finally ends, my office has heard from many voters who have made it clear that they want this option to remain available for all future elections.

According to state law, voters must register at least 20 days before Election Day in order to be eligible to vote. But Galvin has long pushed to allow voters who need to register or update their information to do so at polling locations on Election Day.

As I have said for several years, I believe that with the appropriate technological safeguards in place, we can implement same day voter registration in a convenient and secure manner, as several of our neighboring states have done, he said.

Additionally, Galvins proposed bill calls for expanding in-person early voting, guaranteeing weekend voting in statewide elections and primaries. If approved by state lawmakers, the early voting period would span 14 days for general elections and one week for primaries. Local municipal elections are currently ineligible for early voting; Galvins bill would reverse that.

A host of temporary provisions that made the hiring poll workers and ballot processing by state and local officials more flexible in 2020 could be made permanent under Galvins plan.

In crafting this proposal, it was important to make sure we worked closely with local election officials to be sure that we knew what worked in 2020 and what didnt work as well, Galvin said. These changes will allow local election officials the flexibility they need to get their polling places adequately staffed and organized and to get ballots counted in a way that is both timely and secure.

The 2020 election saw nearly 3.7 million Massachusetts voters turn out, breaking the previous state record of 3.3 million ballots cast in 2016.

More than 2.5 million Massachusetts voters cast their ballots via mail or at an early voting location before Election Day. More than half of those votes were cast by mail, mirroring trends on mail-in voting nationwide.

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Logan and Gold Coast residents are urged to get tested for COVID-19 as fears grow the virus could be circulating in south-east Queensland undetected.

Fragments of the virus had been detected in sewage catchments at Pimpama, Coombabah and Merrimac on the Gold Coast and in Loganholme, acting Chief Health Officer Sonya Bennett said.

Wastewater testing is an early-warning system for COVID-19 outbreaks. Credit:University of Queensland

While its possible that these detections relate to previous COVID-19 cases, who can shed viral fragments for a couple of months after they are no longer infectious, it is concerning that there have been three detections on the Gold Coast over the same testing period, Dr Bennett said.

If there is a case we are not yet aware of, it is critical we detect it through our testing mechanisms as quickly as possible to contain any potential spread.
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The leader of the network of jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny's teams across Russia has called for new anti-government protests in courtyards and backyards across the country, a change in tactics from mass street rallies that resulted in thousands of arrests.

Leonid Volkov, who last week said there would be a temporary halt in the mass protests demanding Navalny's release from detention, announced the new action on February 9, saying it will take place on February 14.

Volkov said the protest will begin at 8 p.m. local time and last for 15 minutes. During the action, people will gather and shine lights into the sky, then post pictures of the protests on social media.

The tactic, similar to what has been used in neighboring Belarus during months of protests against authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka, is aimed at preventing Russian police from interfering.

"Putin made fear his main and only weapon. So we need to adopt something stronger than fear," Volkov said.

"We will do it in a much smarter way this time and we will try to avoid direct confrontation with police," he added.

The 44-year-old Navalny, Putin's top critic, was arrested on January 17 after returning to Russia from Germany where he was treated for a nerve-agent poisoning that he says was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which the Kremlin has denied.

The detention sparked outrage across the country and much of the West, with tens of thousands of Russians taking to the streets in rallies on January 23 and 31. Police cracked down harshly on the demonstrations, putting many of Navalny's allies behind bars for the actions, and then detaining thousands more -- sometimes violently -- as they gathered on the streets.

On February 2, Navalny was found guilty of violating the terms of his suspended sentence relating to an embezzlement case that he has called politically motivated. The court converted the sentence to 3 1/2 years in prison. Given credit for time already spent in detention, the court said the Kremlin critic would have to serve 2 years and 8 months behind bars.

'Cat And Mouse'

That prompted people to take to the streets again. Afterward, Volkov, with an eye on fall elections, called for a pause in the demonstrations until the spring saying weekly rallies would result in mass arrests.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on February 9 declined to directly comment on Volkov's new initiative, saying only that people will be held responsible for any violations of the law.

"We will not play cat-and-mouse with anyone," Peskov said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova linked Volkov's announcement with an online meeting he and another Navalny associate, Vladimir Ashurkov, held a day earlier with representatives of EU member states, the United States, and Britain.

She labeled Navalny's team as "traitors" for negotiating with people "who see Russia as either an adversary or an enemy or an aggressor."

The situation around Navalny's poisoning, arrest, and conviction, as well as police brutality during his supporters' rallies, has strained Russia's relations with the West, which has demanded Navalny's immediate release and proper investigations to be launched into his poisoning in August last year.

Moscow, in its turn, has accused the West of hysteria and double standards over Navalny and has accused the United States and others as meddling in Russia's internal affairs.

With reporting by Interfax, RIA Novosti, and TASS
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The owner of a dog that last month attacked a 3-year-old girl inside a Spring restaurant has been arrested, according to Harris County court records.

Jennifer Romano, 46, on Monday was booked into Harris County Jail on felony charges of injury to a child and tampering with evidence in connection with the attack. During a hearing late Monday, a judge set bond at $5,000 for the first charge and $2,500 for the second charge with the condition that Romano stay away from the victim and victim's family.

Romano is the owner of Kingston, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier who on Jan. 9 lunged and bit Ronin Waldroup on the face at the Loose Caboose restaurant. In the probable cause hearing, Romano appeared to be wearing a shirt with a large photo of a dog's face.

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The girl was taken to the emergency room at Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands, where she was treated for deep lacerations, puncture wounds and tearing to the skin on the right side of her face. She was sedated and received 14 stitches. She may have to receive plastic surgery to repair disfigurement to her face, court records say.

Witnesses said Romano fled the scene after the unprovoked attack. A Montgomery County judge ruled Jan. 26 to euthanize the dog, rejecting arguments from Romanos defense attorney that the dog could be re-trained.

In charging papers filed Monday, a Harris County Sheriffs Office investigator said the dog had previously bitten two people in separate incidents, including one within 12 months of the Jan. 9 attack.

Further, the investigator said Romano concealed Kingston from authorities while they were trying to seize the dog.

Romanos attorney, John Kovach, could not immediately be reached for comment Monday night. Representatives for Waldroups family declined to comment Monday.

After three days of testimony, Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Matt Beasley ruled that Kingston should be put down. The dog has since been euthanized.

During the hearing, Kovach argued that the dog should be given a second chance in part because Romano relies on him for emotional support.

Beasley, however, said Romano demonstrated a lack of care and responsibility when she fled from the restaurant following the attack.

The sheriffs office investigator spoke to multiple witnesses to the attack, which occurred while both parties stood in line at the restaurant at 26403 Preston Ave.

One witness said Ronin Waldroup was standing about 1 to 2 feet behind the dog when it turned around and bit her face. The witness said Romano pulled on the dogs leash as it released the girl from its bite.

Another person, identified in court documents as Perry Muras, was seen on video entering the restaurant with Romano. He told investigators that he believed the girl grazed the dog before the attack. He admitted that he and Romano fled to his car because (Romano) wanted to protect Kingston, charging documents say.

He said Romano told him it was the little girls fault as they drove to her apartment.

Muras also told police that Kingston bit his right forearm a couple of years ago inside Romanos house.

Witness Muras said Defendant should have known Kingston could be aggressive even if unprovoked, charging documents say.

Another woman told police she used to live with Romano. She said Kingston bit her face, injuring her lip, in an unprovoked attack in June 2020. The same woman said Romano owned numerous dogs that all have service animal vests.

Kingston had been wearing a service dog vest during the attack, authorities said.

Romanos doctor previously wrote a letter stating that service animals help Romano with her general anxiety disorder, but did not specify Kingston by name. During the recent hearing, friends and relatives testified that Romano also has bipolar disorder, depression and hypertension, and takes multiple medications.

Dogs that only provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. The act defines a service animal as a dog trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.

In recent years, Romano has been named in multiple lawsuits surrounding a different pit bull, Gus, she claimed to be rehabilitating through her now-defunct business, Maggies House Rescue.

In a previous bite case in 2013, a Montgomery County judge ruled that Gus caused serious bodily injury and ordered the dog euthanized.

Romano's next court date is set for 9 a.m. Wednesday in the 248th District Court.

Anna Bauman contributed to this report.

julian.gill@chron.com
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GREENWICH  Thirteen Greenwich High students who were recognized as semifinalists in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program have been named finalists, the school district announced Monday.

The Greenwich students are among a pool of more than 1.5 million juniors from an estimated 21,000 high schools nationwide who entered the annual academic competition, which awards scholarships based partly on Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) scores.
Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday.
He writes often about motorcycles. Like his shoes, he has them custom-made. In one early poem, he asked: What definition of beauty can exclude / The MV Agusta racing 500-3, / From the land of Donatello, with blatting megaphones? His poems are life force and death wish. Hes the only living poet who could creditably be played by Nicolas Cage in a biopic.

We cant all be proletarians, you know, the critic Dwight Macdonald once thundered, in a letter. To focus on the status details in Seidels poems is to miss the way grief filters through them. A subset of this grief arises from longing for connection, albeit connection  is he so different from the rest of us in this way?  on his own terms. He winces at the beauty of the world.

He is a maker of dark aphorisms. About life: We are a paper frigate sailing on a burning lake. About appetite: Everything is looking / For something softer than itself to eat. About revenge: Who wouldnt like to have the power to kill / Friends and enemies at will. About fate: Like someone just back from England / Stepping off a curb, Ill look the wrong way and be nothing.

He does not run a public relations campaign, as do many poets, for the gentleness of his intentions. He makes a habit of independent thought. He is the sort of snake that doesnt hiss but just strikes. I am looking down at you, at you and yours, he writes in What One Must Contend With, Your stories and friends, your banal ludicrous dreams. You would not necessarily want him in charge of your DNR.

His infamous line about sex  A naked woman my age is just a total nightmare  would be harder to swallow if the poet didnt get a shock at seeing his own withered buttocks in a bathroom mirror.

A poem that describes the authors illicit thrill, as a boy, at watching his father chastise a Black employee is hard to read. Ta-Nehisi Coates once subversively performed it on stage. He wrote that doing so was like living in someone elses skin for a moment and, in terms of recognizing the human impulse toward brutality, finding myself there at the bone.

This well-chosen collection of Seidels work includes several memorials to dead friends. He finds late-life love with a woman who casually tosses grenade after grenade into his heart. You begin to realize, if you havent before, that Seidel is among the most distinctive and original poets of our time.

Theres a lot of longing, in his later work, for a vanishing New York. With Seidel its always an angular, witty longing. In Remembering Elaines, he writes:

We smoked Kools, unfiltered Camels, and papier mais Gitanes,

The fat ones Belmondo smoked in Breathless  and so did Don,

Elaines original red-haired cokehead maitre d

who had a beautiful wife, dangerously.

But stay away from the beautiful wife or else catastrophe.

Near the end of this meticulous and sublime poem, he writes: We were the scene. / Now the floor has been swept clean.
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Penta's Hascak wanted to donate thousands of euros to the Ilava prison. The director refused the money

Hascak offered to purchase new bed linen and computer.

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Jaroslav Hascak of the Penta financial group, who faces charges of corruption and money laundering linked to the Gorilla case, wanted to donate 50,000-100,000 to the Ilava prison, where he was held in custody before being released.

He wanted to purchase new bed linen and a computer, the Dennik N daily reported.

The prison director refused the money, and even turned to the National Criminal Agency (NAKA).

It is not clear whether Jaroslav Hascak wanted to ensure better conditions in a cell for himself by purchasing better accessories, according to the daily.

Journalists' dilemma over the case of the charged Jaroslav Hascak Read more

Released from custody

He belongs among the richest people arrested in recent months, who have to get used to the cruel conditions in Slovak prisons, the daily noted.

Hascak, co-owner of the Penta financial group, was detained on December 1, 2020, then taken to the custody. He was released on January 7 after he filed a complaint with the Supreme Court.

"The senate concluded that the existence of reasons behind the custody of the accused had not been proven," Supreme Court spokesperson Alexandra Vazanova told the Sme daily.

Disclaimer: The Penta financial group has a minority share in Petit Press, the publisher of the Sme daily and the co-owner of The Slovak Spectator.

9. Feb 2021 at 18:03 | Compiled by Spectator staff
 Flash

Two people were killed and 14 others were injured after a bus carrying local government employees fell into a ravine in Lumban Pasir village, Mandailing Natal district in Indonesia's North Sumatra province, an official said on Monday.

Jakfar Lubis, a Mandailing Natal Kotanopan sub-district police officer, said the passengers are employees of the Agam district administration in West Sumatra province, who were on their way home after a working visit to Aceh Province.

"Suddenly, at the Muara Mais Bridge, a truck came from the opposite direction, and the bus swerved to the left of the road to avoid the truck, then hit the bridge barrier and fell into the river as deep as 15 meters," Lubis explained.

One of the dead was the driver, and the injured were taken to the Kotanopan community health center and the Panyabungan regional public hospital.

Currently, rescuers are trying to retrieve the bus from the river.
FOUR artisanal miners drowned on Friday afternoon after a boat capsized along Sanyati River.

Ngonidzashe Mapfumo (48), Nyasha Mapfumo, Promise Gwade and Tinashe Matesanwa (ages unknown), were returning to their homes in Mujinga, Tengwe, Hurungwe district.

Police officer commanding Hurungwe district, Chief Superintendent Helena Mahonde confirmed the incident.

"We continue to urge members of the public not to cross flooded rivers as this leads to unnecessary loss of lives as is the case in the drowning of the four people," she said.

Chief Superintendent Mahonde said two bodies have since been recovered.

She said the four had hired the boat from Mr Francis Mukakatanwa who had charged them US$10.

"They accepted the offer and went on to load their goods onto the makeshift boat. After venturing about 160m into the turbulent waters, the boat was reportedly hit by a wave and capsized," she said.

Mr Mukakatanwa and another passenger Mr Josphat Mapfumo managed to swim to the shores, while the four men were swept away and drowned.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) (C) arrives to sign an article of impeachment against President Donald Trump at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 13, 2021. (Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images)

Where Are the Civil Libertarians? The Gross Unfairness of the Trump Impeachment

Commentary

A high misdemeanour is a crime of a heinous nature, next to High Treason.  Encyclopaedia Britannica (1778)

America has no lack of organizations allegedly concerned about civil liberties. They and their law-professor allies squawk loudly if any celebrated thug isnt treated with strict procedural fairness.

But the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump is another matter. Never mind that the sovereign power of the U.S. Congress has been launched to crush a private citizen. Never mind that the proceedings are grossly unfair on multiple counts. The civil libertarians have either fallen silent or joined the wolf pack.

On any test of fairness, the Trump impeachment proceedings fail badly. Consider the Article of Impeachment itself. An Article of Impeachment serves as an indictment, and procedural fairness requires indictments to delineate their charges clearly. An early draft of the Article alleged the crime of incitement to violence against the U.S. government. But the present version alleges no crime. It merely claims that Trump lied and pressured people and that he somehow could have foreseen violence.

The Article is constitutionally and legally defective. The Constitution permits impeachment only for Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes, and [high] Misdemeanors. Trump has been impeached without any serious allegation that he was guilty of any of those charges.

An assumption behind the Article seems to be that any bad behavior can be a high misdemeanor. At one time, some commentators believed that. But there is little basis for that belief any more: A trove of new evidence (pdf) tells us that when the Constitution was adopted, a misdemeanor was necessarily a crime. And a high misdemeanor was a serious crime not meriting the death penalty. As the 1778 Encyclopaedia Britannica explained:

MISDEMEANOUR, in law, signifies a crime. Every crime is a misdemeanor; yet the law has made a distinction between crimes of a higher and a lower nature; the latter being denominated misdemeanours, the former felonies  , A high misdemeanour is a crime of a heinous nature, next to High Treason.

Similar definitions appear in virtually every 18th century law book that addresses the question. Early congressional statutes assume the same meaning.

Examples of high misdemeanors were bribery, assault, and attempted murder. A rousing speech calling for the crowd to walk in freezing weather over a mile to the Capitol peaceably and patriotically just doesnt fit the bill.

So how is it fairnot to mention constitutionalto impeach under those circumstances?

Heres another issue of fairness: A basic theory of the Article of Impeachment is that Trump deliberately spread false information for his own political benefitthat he falsely claimed the election was stolen to further purely personal goals.

Now, that behavior, if true, still wouldnt be a crime and therefore not a high misdemeanor: Politicians lie for personal benefit all the time, and sometimes violence ensues. But even if the charge were legally sufficient, the burden of proving it still rests squarely on the prosecution. In impeachment cases, the traditional standard of proof is clear and convincing evidence. This is a standard somewhere between fair preponderance of the evidence and proof beyond reasonable doubt.

Specifically, the prosecuting House managers must demonstrate decisively (1) that the election was fair, (2) that Trump had no reasonable grounds for believing otherwise, and (3) that he had a corrupt motive for lying.

That means the prosecution should be required to call witnesses to testify as to the accuracy of the election returns in each swing state. The House managers should be prepared to demonstrate that Trump had no evidence to the contrary. And they should be prepared to demonstrate how Trump planned to benefit from his falsehood.

As of now, however, there is no indication the prosecution intends to introduce evidence on any of these points. One reason may be to keep the 2020 election irregularities off the public radarwhich is a shame, because election integrity ultimately is more important to the country than the impeachment of any former president.

Thats not all. Other types of unfairness should have the civil libertarians howling in protest:

The House of Representatives impeached Trump without investigation, without a hearing, and without giving him a chance to defend himself.

Instead of choosing a reasonably impartial presiding officer, the Senate has selected a bitter Trump foe.

Many senatorsthe supposed jurorsalready have announced their votes.

As of the day before the procedure was to begin, the Senate had not even informed Trump, his lawyers, or anyone else of the rules governing the trial.

In violation of attorney ethical standards, House manager Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) communicated directly with another lawyers client in an adverse proceeding. This was the letter Raskin sent directly to Trump inviting him to testify. Raskin is a lawyer and should have known he was acting unethically. The civil libertarians should be screaming from the rooftops.

Moreover, Raskins letter said that if Trump failed to testify that the Senate would draw a strong adverse inference regarding your actions. But it is Raskins side, not Trumps, that has a heavy burden of proof. Unless subpoenaed, Trump has no obligation to testify, and the Senate has no right to draw inferences from anything but evidence duly introduced.

Perhaps the real goal of Raskins letter is to lay a basis for subpoenaing Trump as a witness. This would be technically constitutional because the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination applies only to criminal proceedings. But it would be another sign that the Article of Impeachment was adopted without sufficient evidence to support it.

Robert G. Natelson, a former constitutional law professor, has published on a wide range of constitutional subjects, including impeachment. He is a senior fellow in constitutional jurisprudence at the Independence Institute.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Workforce

FLRA defends Trump-era rule on revoking union fees

The agency that governs labor-management relations for the federal government is defending a controversial rule it made last year that made it easier for federal union members to revoke their commitment to pay dues.

The Federal Labor Relations Authority's ruling garnered critiques from Democrats and federal employee unions at the time, and the National Treasury Employees Union is challenging the decision in the D.C. District Court of Appeals.

Since then, President Joe Biden moved the lone dissenter in the agency's February 2020 decision  Democrat-appointee Ernest DuBester  to the role of chairman. But the agency is still defending the case based on a briefing submitted late last week for the NTEU lawsuit.

The brief defends the rule on the grounds that it is "the product of the Authority's measured and well-reasoned application of its statutory expertise," according to the agency's Feb. 5 brief.

Last summer, the agency finalized the rule, which gives union members who join a public union after the decision the capacity to withdrawal their voluntary membership at any time after their first year in the union.

The previous policy, dating back to 1981, had been that employees' dues allotments could only be cancelled during an annual, specific time window.

The Office of Personnel Management asked the agency for direction on withholding practices for federal employee union members after the 2018 Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31. That decision eliminated the ability of public sector unions to charge non-members in unionized workplaces, essentially obligating them to represent non-members for free during contract negotiations.

DuBester dissented from the FLRA's February 2020 decision.

"The majority's true objective is unmistakable. By undermining the ability of unions to carry out their obligations under the Statute, the majority's decision further weakens the institution of collective-bargaining in the federal sector," DuBester wrote at the time.

However, the FLRA brief submitted for the case last week argues that the court should defer to the FLRA's policy statement and final rule and deny NTEU's petition. It argues that the policy statement and final rule were within the FLRA's power to interpret statute.

"The Authority carefully considered those [public] comments in providing a well-reasoned policy statement and a thoroughly-explained final rule that correctly interpreted the statute and appropriately balanced the interests of federal employees, unions and agencies with respect to dues revocation," the brief says. "The court should therefore deny the petitions."

The decision runs against labor-management relations law, NTEU's national president Tony Reardon said in a statement to FCW.

"Since the FLRA ruling one year ago, the leadership at OPM and the chairmanship of the FLRA has changed. We believe that the appellate court should reverse the FLRA decision, or this is a topic that the Authority should have an opportunity to revisit," he said.

The FLRA did not respond to a request for comment.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A former Wisconsin pharmacist pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to charges that he tried to spoil dozens of vials of COVID-19 vaccine.

Federal prosecutors charged Steven Brandenburg, 46, of Grafton, in late January with two counts of attempting to tamper with consumer products. He pleaded guilty to both counts during a video conference with U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig in Milwaukee.

The charges carry a maximum combined sentence of 20 years in prison and $500,000 in fines. Prosecutors agreed to recommend that Ludwig give him at least three years and five months and at most four years and three months for his guilty pleas. The judge scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 8.

Prosecutors had asked Ludwig to jail Brandenburg until sentencing, arguing in a filing that he holds extremist views, including that the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were faked, the Earth is flat and vaccines were of the Devil." He also brought guns in a suitcase to his job at Advocate Aurora Health, they wrote.

Brandenburg also secretly substituted saline for flu vaccine that he was mandated to receive and persuaded several co-workers to secretly swap saline for their flu vaccine as well, the filing said.

His attorney, Jason Baltz, argued that Brandenburg was going through a contentious divorce when he tried to sabotage the vaccine. He's no longer in a position to tamper with any medication, Baltz said, noting that Advocate Aurora Health fired him in December and state regulators revoked his pharmacist license on Monday. He also has turned all his guns over to sheriff's deputies, the attorney said.

Ludwig said that holding crazy views isn't a basis for detaining someone, but ordered Brandenburg to submit to GPS monitoring until sentencing and undergo a mental health evaluation.

Police arrested Brandenburg on Dec. 31 as part of an investigation into how 57 vials of the Moderna vaccine were left for hours outside a refrigerator at Advocate Aurora Health in Grafton, a Milwaukee suburb, over Christmas. The vials contained enough vaccine to inoculate more than 500 people.

According to court filings, Brandenburg his position as a third-shift pharmacist at the facility to remove the vials from the refrigerator undetected. He believed the Moderna vaccine was laced with microchips, would render people infertile and would mutate people's DNA. There is no scientific evidence to support any of those contentions.

Nearly 60 workers at the facility received shots from the unrefrigerated vials before they were discarded. Prosecutors said efforts to determine whether those doses were inert or harmful continue.

Aurora Health Care fired Brandenburg the day before he was arrested.

Brandenburg is also dealing with a state misdemeanor charge of attempted criminal damage to property. He's set to make his next court appearance in Ozaukee County in March.

___

Follow Todd Richmond on Twitter at https://twitter.com/trichmond1
The GDC Podcast, hosted by Gamasutra editor-in-chief Kris Graft, is returning for another live episode at GDC Showcase! This time they'll be featuring guests such as Soren and Layla Johnson, lead designer and CEO of Mohawk Games.

You might know Soren Johnson as a longtime friend of GDC whos worked on games like Civilization IV, Offworld Trading Colony, and now Mohawk Games Early Access title Old World.

He and Leyla Johnson, Mohawk Games CEO and head writer, will be jumping in on the GDC Podcast to discuss how their studio transformed its culture for the better, growing a game's community, and strategy game design.

Dont miss this live conversation that will be taking place during GDC Showcase, our free digital event running from March 15th-19th. Get your tickets today!

For more updates on GDC Showcase, be sure to, visit our website, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or RSS.

Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under Informa Tech
Universities provide support to students who stay through Tet

Many university students have received support after choosing to stay through the Lunar New Year or Tet Holiday amid the new virus outbreaks.



Students staying at the universities through Tet will be supported




The half-brother of Hollywood actor James McAvoy has been thrown back in jail after police traced the serial criminal using a photo the victim of his brutal road rage attack took shortly after the frenzy.

Donald McAvoy, 31, and an unknown accomplice pounced on grandfather Mieczyslaw Bawor, 57, after the thug's friend crashed into the victim's works van in Barlanark, Glasgow in March last year.

The grandfather was repeatedly knifed and smacked with a baton by the attackers - but managed to get a photo of McAvoy before he fled which was used by detectives to trace the half-brother of actor James, 41.

McAvoy, who has 43 previous convictions for offences including a string of violent crimes, pleaded guilty to assault to severe injury and was yesterday jailed for four years and 10 months at the High Court in Glasgow.

He is thought to have never met his half-brother James, star of the X-Men movies, with whom he shares the same father, James Snr, 61.

The hearing was told how Mr Bawor was driving his work van at around 7.15am on March 27 last year when a Ford Focus crashed into him.

Donald McAvoy (left) is back in jail after he attacked a grandfather during a brutal road rage attack in Glasgow in March of last year and left his victim for dead. He is thought never to have met his half-brother, Hollywood star James McAvoy (right)

Mieczyslaw Bawor was attacked by McAvoy and an unknown accomplice after a Ford Focus crashed into the victim's van. He was then knifed and beaten with a baton

Prosecutor Steven Borthwick told the court that the victim got out of his van and started taking photos of the collision on his phone.

McAvoy, who was a passenger in the Ford, jumped out of the vehicle with his accomplice and demanded Mr Bawor hand over his mobile.

The unknown male then struck the grandfather with a blade while McAvoy repeatedly hit him on the head and body with a baton.

At one stage, the terrified victim heard: 'Give me the knife and I will finish him off.' Instead, Mr Bawor's tyres were slashed before the attackers raced off.

Police soon found the victim bleeding heavily in the street with wounds to his head, face and stomach. He was rushed to hospital, but was able to leave the next day.

However, medics concluded that Mr Bawor's injuries had been potentially life-threatening. He has been left permanently scarred.

Detectives later traced McAvoy using the victim's photos at the scene of the attack.

Serial criminal McAvoy has 43 previous convictions. He was jailed for eight months in 2018 after being caught with the keys of a stolen car following an armed raid of his girlfriend's flat

Prosecutor Mr Borthwick told the High Court: 'Police identified him from photos recovered from Mr Bawor's telephone.'

McAvoy had also been accused at court of being part of a 25,000 cash box robbery at a Bank of Scotland in the city's Riddrie on December 17, 2019 - but prosecutors accepted his not guilty plea to the allegation.

His lawyer said McAvoy - who has served a string of jail-terms - wanted to 'wipe the slate clean' and now steer clear of crime.

Donald Findlay QC, defending, added: 'He has come here to accept his part in a nasty assault, which was totally unnecessary.

'This was a gentleman who had done nothing whatsoever. What happened to Mr Bawor, society cannot accept that.'

Lady Stacey reduced the sentence from six-and-a-half years due to the guilty plea.

The judge said: 'This man was badly injured, but it could have been much worse. You have 43 previous convictions - that is a formidable record given you are just 31 years of age.'

Enquiries to locate McAvoy's accomplice continue, a spokesperson for Police Scotland told MailOnline.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 48F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Postcard from Americas finest city

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San Diego isnt the first place that comes to mind when you think of California. That is understandable given the prominence of Los Angeles and San Francisco in all things culture and media.

Yet, San Diego is a destination in its own right. So much so that Americas finest city, as San Diego bills itself, is the perfect citycation.

What to do and see

As one might imagine, given its location along Californias coast, the Pacific has had a huge influence on San Diegos development. This location became militarily strategic after the Panama Canal opened in 1914, leading to San Diego becoming the home port of the U.S. Navys Pacific Fleet.

Many visitors gravitate toward the harbor, known locally as the Embarcadero. Located a short walk from the heart of downtown, a paved path runs along the Embarcadero. Popular with locals, it makes for nice walks at sunrise or sunset.

Moored at the Maritime Museum are several historic vessels, including the massive former USS Midway aircraft carrier  once the worlds largest ship  and the Star of India, the worlds oldest active sailing ship.

If youre into trains, stop by the Santa Fe Depot, San Diegos 101-year-old train station. Alternatively, try people-watching in the Little Italy neighborhood during the weekly Saturday farmers market. Afterward, do lunch at Anthonys Fish Grotto, a local institution since 1946.

In the evening, the place to be is the Gaslight Quarter.

This 16-square-block neighborhood, known for buildings dating to the late Victorian and early Edwardian eras, is full of restaurants that range from good to touristy and not so great. For dinner, I recommend the Hawaiian fusion restaurant Roys (temporarily closed because of coronavirus).

Weekends are also best spent at Balboa Park, one of the countrys greatest city parks.

Spend time admiring the ornate architecture of buildings temporarily erected for the Panama-California Exposition of 1915, which was held in competition with a worlds fair up the coast in San Francisco. Visitors can easily spend all day exploring the 17 museums and cultural institutions, including the Museum of Art and Museum of Us, the latter of which was called the Museum of Man until wokeness forced a renaming.

Another option is a day trip to La Jolla, where spectacular coastal views and world-class beaches await visitors. This is also home to the Louis Kahn-designed campus of the Salk Institute  a major draw for architectural enthusiasts.

Where to stay

I enjoyed my stay at The Westgate Hotel, which was known pre-pandemic for its elegant Sunday brunch.

The 1960s downtown high-rise has an interior decor reminiscent of a grand old European hotel. On the hotels walls and in its public spaces are both original and high-quality reproduced art. (Keep an eye out for the Gainsborough.)

"Spires and Crosses" is a weekly travel column. Follow @dennislennox on Twitter and Instagram.
She is expecting her third child with fiance Dane Goodson, 32.

And Casey Batchelor showed off her blossoming baby bump in a series of eye-catching dresses on Tuesday during her first photoshoot since announcing her pregnancy.

The radiant reality star, 36, exuded elegance as she switched outfits and tenderly cupped her stomach on set.

Glowing: Casey Batchelor showed off her blossoming baby bump in a series of eye-catching dresses on Tuesday during her first photoshoot since announcing her pregnancy

Casey wowed in a figure-hugging crimson dress that featured a high-neck and ruched detailing.

She boosted her height with classic nude heels and she enhanced her visage with a slick of make-up.

The former Celebrity Big Brother star also injected a splash of colour as she changed into an aqua blue gown, complete with a waistband and ruffled hem.

Casey perched on the edge of a seat as she beamed in a stunning photo, her raven tresses cascaded down in an effortless wave.

Baby on the way! The radiant reality personality, 36, exuded elegance as she switched outfits and tenderly cupped her stomach on set

Put on a stylish display: Casey wowed in a figure-hugging crimson dress that featured a high-neck and ruched detailing

For another pregnancy look, the yoga enthusiast affectionately held her stomach in a beige off-the-shoulder midi dress. The timeless frock featured ribbed fabric and panelling.

Accessorising tastefully, she also wore a delicate silver necklace, watch and bracelet.

Casey later switched into a stunning white dress which boasted a floral pattern and high-neck.

She teamed the look with sandal heels once more as she posed up a storm for the camera.

Natural beauty: She boosted her height with classic nude heels and enhanced her visage with a slick of make-up

Turquoise: The former Celebrity Big Brother star also injected a splash of colour as she changed into an aqua blue gown, complete with a waistband and ruffled hem

Mermaid locks: Casey perched on the edge of a seat as she beamed in a stunning photo, her raven tresses cascaded down in an effortless wave

Casey and her partner Dane are expecting their third child in June.

They already share daughters Florence, two, and Sadie, 10 months, and are now expecting their third child in under three years.

In January, she admitted to feeling 'anxious' and that she 'must be crazy' having her children in quick succession, but figured it made sense to 'get it all out the way'.

She explained: 'I know some people wait longer but we just think were in baby mode already and were in that tunnel, so whats the point of coming out of it only to go straight back in later down the line?

Chic: For another pregnancy look, the yoga enthusiast affectionately held her stomach in a beige off-the-shoulder midi dress. The timeless frock featured ribbed fabric and panelling

All in the details: Accessorising tastefully, she also wore a delicate silver necklace, watch and bracelet

Ooze femininity: Casey later switched into a stunning white dress which boasted a floral pattern and high-neck

'Were used to the sleepless nights and the nappies, so we may as well just stay in it. I also want the children to be close in age because I think its nice and theyll be into the same things. I like to have them close together and just to get it out of the way all at once.'

Asked how she feels about the task she'll have ahead of her as a mother-of-three, Casey admitted: 'Im a bit anxious, if Im honest... But again, I feel like were in baby mode, so lets just stay in baby mode. I know it will be really tough but well get through it.'

Despite her understandable concerns about adding to her brood, Casey did admit she would 'never say never' about having a fourth baby. Although did insist that if she were to have a fourth they would 'definitely be the last.'

Boost her frame: She teamed the look with sandal heels once more as she posed up a storm for the camera

Expanding the family: Casey is expecting her third child with fiance Dane Goodson, 32, in June, which will be their third child in under three years

Bond: The couple (pictured) already share daughters Florence, two, and Sadie, 10 months, and Casey recently admitted that she 'must be crazy' having her children in quick succession
Actor Dan Wyllie has been found not guilty of assaulting his wife Shannon Murphy at the couples home last year.

Ms Murphy, an actor and director, accused her long-time partner of throwing her into a wall, punching her, pinning her to the ground and choking her during an incident in Woollahra in March 2020.

Actor Dan Wyllie has had his domestic assault charge overturned. Credit:Brook Mitchell

The three-day hearing at the Downing Centre Local Court drew in movie star Toni Collette, a close friend of Mr Wyllies, who testified that he was a beacon of light and a respectful and sensitive person.

Magistrate Greg Elks dismissed the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Tuesday. He found that Ms Murphys evidence was not reliable and said she had lied during the course of the police investigation.
opinion

Mineral exploration and exploitation are always governed by certain terms that are agreed upon prior to the commencement of their operations.

These set of terms determine the operations, revenues and other conditions and are contained in the contracts between companies and governments on behalf of their citizens.

A contract is a legally binding document between, at least, two parties that defines and governs the rights and duties of the parties to the agreement. It is legally enforceable because it meets the requirement and approval of the law.

To enter a contract, the mutual consent of the parties involved are needed/necessary. It is for this reason that it is important to make the terms of contracts, especially those entered into on behalf of the people on the exploitation of their natural resources, public.

The 2019 EITI standards which Nigeria is required to implement through NEITI stipulates in section 2.4 that implementing countries are required to disclose any contracts and licenses that are granted, entered into or amended from January 1, 2021.

Implementing countries are encouraged to publicly disclose contracts and licenses that provide the terms attached to the exploitation of oil, gas and minerals.

Based on these commitments, Nigeria is expected to make all contracts entered into for the exploration and production of oil, gas and mining from January 1, 2021 public.

Nigeria had made efforts towards making contracts public, especially in the oil and gas sector.

In 2015 there was the public statement by the then Minster of state for petroleum/ Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu as part of his seven big wins agenda and in 2016 during the anti-corruption summit in London and the open government partnership accord.

In the words of Kachikwu, the '7 Big Win will bring about massive development in the sector. The major focus of the road map would be on Niger Delta and security, Policy and Regulations, Business environment as well as investment drive.

Others, include Transparency and Efficiency, stakeholder Management and International coordination, Gas revolution and refinery and local production capacity"

All these commitments were meant to encourage transparency and accountability in Nigerias oil, gas and mining industries.

Despite these efforts of the Nigerian government, there are numerous challenges and obstacles towards making contracts publicly accessible in Nigeria. Some of these challenges include but are not limited to a lack of legal framework to mandate/facilitate contract transparency. Presently, the extant legal framework does not require companies or any agent of government to make contracts public.

There is also the issue of confidentiality clauses which are embedded in some of these contracts with many of the companies citing commercial sensitivity for non-disclosures.

It is however imperative to note that there are some positive strides towards achieving contract transparency in Nigeria. In the draft 2020 Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the principles of contract transparency are contained in Section 83 of the Act under the heading Confidentiality. Subsection (3) relates to contracts that are in existence or coming into force of the proposed law. It provides that: The text of any existing contract, Licence or Lease and any amendment or side letter with NNPC shall

(a) Not be confidential;

(b) Be published on the website of the Commission within one year after the effective date; and

(c) Be provided to the Commission by a contractor of NNPC, licensee or lessee within 1 year after the Effective Date.

Sub-section (4) proposes an administrative penalty of $10,000 per day of default to be imposed on a contractor, licensee or lessee who does not or partially provides the Commission with the required information within the stipulated time.

Sub-section (5) relates to the disclosure of new contracts to be executed after coming into force of the proposed law.

It provides that the text of any new licence, lease or contract or amendment to it shall not be confidential and shall be published by the Commission immediately following the granting or signing of such texts.

The benefits of making contracts open are numerous for each of the stakeholder groups in the EITI circle.

For the citizens, contract transparency allows them to understand the agreed terms for extractive projects in their communities; to check that every party is following them; and to determine who is accountable for non-compliance. Contract disclosure also allows communities affected by extractive operations see how revenue from royalties and taxes flow to their national, regional or local governments.

They get to understand what subsidies and tax incentives are awarded to companies and what obligations are placed on companies to protect their communities and the environment, make social payments or provide local employment.

Knowing about all these obligations as contained in the contracts enables citizens to monitor compliance to these commitments. Contract disclosure also allows for comparison of different contracts, creating a better level playing field which enables citizens to call on their governments to negotiate better deals.

Contract transparency also has its advantages for companies. Disclosing the terms of contracts supports open, fact-based dialogue that can help build trust, reduce conflict and reinforce a company's social license to operate in any given locality or host community.

Contract disclosure makes it easier for companies to show that they have complied with their financial and social obligations, helping them to address reputational risks.

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For governments, the benefits of contract transparency include the opportunity to compare contracts. Contract disclosure therefore incentivises government officials to arrange fair deals, deterring them from signing off on shady contracts that are disadvantageous to the citizens. Contract transparency therefore helps to support stronger and more capable management of the extractives sector. Contracts that are disclosed can be more easily enforced, since all agencies and ministries within government are aware of the contract terms and can collaborate more effectively and in a timely manner to ensure that the terms are respected and maintained.

Disclosing contracts also helps governments confirm if the contract terms are in-line with the countrys legal framework and increase the capacity for consistency, culminating in good corporate governance.

It is safe to say that contract transparency is a win-win for all major stakeholders in the extractive sector in Nigeria - government, companies and civil society particularly the citizens.

There is therefore the need for government and its agents, companies and citizens to work towards achieving the set goal of making all contracts in Nigeria's extractive industries, transparent and publicly accessible by 2021.

Bassi is the Director, Technical at Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  The creation of a new independent office to oversee legal representation for New Mexico children and families involved in abuse and neglect cases is one step closer, after a bill calling for such a step unanimously passed its first Senate committee Monday.

New Mexico has long ranked among the worst states for child well-being, and backers of the proposal say it could reduce unnecessarily long stays in foster care for some minors.

This is just going to be a game-changer, said Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez, D-Albuquerque, just before the bill passed the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee 7-0.

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The legislation, Senate Bill 127, would authorize the creation of the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy to oversee representation in child welfare disputes.

The office would be modeled after the Law Offices of the Public Defender, which was established as a stand-alone agency after voters approved a 2012 constitutional amendment.

A task force that was created in 2019 and tasked with improving legal representation in cases involving abuse and neglect of minors came up with the idea for an independent office, leading to this years legislation.

However, the creation of such an office would likely require additional state funding in future years, even though current state and federal funds could cover at least some of the cost, according to a fiscal analysis of the bill.

The analysis estimated that more than $7 million in new state funding would ultimately be necessary, and the bill approved Monday would not appropriate any dollars.

But a 13-member commission overseeing the new office would have until the end of 2022 to hire a permanent director. A temporary director could be appointed in the meantime.

Under New Mexicos current system, more than 100 attorneys provide legally required representation under contract for children and families in abuse and neglect cases, according to the state Administrative Office of the Courts.

Thats led to a system thats fragmented and often frustrating to navigate, backers of the proposed legislation said.

And several parents and former foster children testified Monday that they met their appointed attorneys only a few minutes before court hearings.

Theres a lack of consistency, theres a lack of oversight, and theres a lack of accountability in how the lawyers operate, Supreme Court Chief Justice Barbara Vigil testified.

The legislation, sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, now advances to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Fired Parler CEO John Matze says he was 'betrayed' and stabbed in the back by heiress investor Rebekah Mercer over his termination - as House Democrats demand a list of investors and creditors after it emerged Trump was offered a stake in the social media company.

The 27-year-old has claimed that he was fired by the Parler board last week after trying to ban QAnon conspiracy theories and crackdown on white supremacists across the social media app he co-founded.

He blamed Mercer, a conservative mega-donor and daughter of hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer, for his termination.

'I feel like it was a stab in the back by somebody that I thought I knew. And so for me, you know, I would never do business with her again,' Matze told Axios on HBO.

'I thought I knew her. She invited my family on trips with them and everything. I thought that she was, generally speaking, I thought she was being real. And then she just abruptly has her people fire me and doesn't even talk to me about it.'

Fired Parler CEO John Matze told Axios on HBO that he was 'betrayed' and stabbed in the back by heiress investor Rebekah Mercer after he was ousted by the board last week

The 27-year-old blamed investor Rebekah Mercer, a conservative mega-donor and daughter of hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer, for his termination. She is pictured at Trump Tower in New York back in December 2016

Matze said Mercer, who he first met while working as an IT consultant for her father's firm, helped fund Parler in 2018 and she became a controlling shareholder of the social media app.

He claims Mercer became more involved in the operations at Parler ahead of the election.

Matze said a rift formed during an internal disagreement last summer after he wanted to more broadly define the term violence in the companies terms of service.

He claims it came to a head around the time of the Capitol riots last month as Amazon decided to remove Parler from its web-hosting service and Google and Apple removed the app from their online stores.

Matze claims he was met by resistance from those within Parler when he pushed for increased moderation in order to get the app back online.

In a leaked memo to employees announcing his termination, Matze squarely blamed Mercer for his firing, writing: 'Over the past few months, I've met constant resistance to my product vision, my strong belief in free speech and my view of how the Parler site should be managed.'

The app has come under fire for being among the social media services used to plan the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.

Parler has come under fire for being among social media services used to plan the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. The executive shake-up is the latest woe to befall Parler, which remains effectively offline after Amazon Web Services last month revoked server support

Parler experienced a surge in users after Twitter banned Trump amid pressure to curb incendiary speech. Trump also was banned by Facebook and Instagram.

Matze has previously said Trump contemplated joining Parler under a pseudonym.

In a leaked memo to employees announcing his termination, Matze squarely blamed Mercer for his firing, writing: 'Over the past few months, I've met constant resistance to my product vision, my strong belief in free speech and my view of how the Parler site should be managed.'

He told Axios on HBO that any potential deal with Trump was a lose-lose scenario.

'I didn't like the idea of working with Trump because he might have bullied people inside the company to do what he wanted. But I was worried that if we didn't sign the deal, he might have been vengeful and told his followers to leave Parler,' Matze said.

It has since emerged that Trump was reportedly in talks to acquire a 40 percent stake in Parler in exchange for him agreeing to post on the social media app first.

Matze and two other Parler advisers met at Mar-a-Lago in June to discuss the deal

He did not mention that meeting during his Axios interview despite talking about the deal.

It comes as House Democrats asked that Parler hand over a list of investors and creditors in the wake of news that Trump was offered a stake.

'These negotiations reportedly occurred while President Trump was still in office,' House Oversight Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney wrote in a letter to Parler chief operating officer Jeffrey Wernick.

Mercer, whom Matze has blamed for his firing, is the daughter of Robert Mercer (pictured above together), a hedge fund manager and the co-founder of the now-defunct political data-analysis firm Cambridge Analytica

REBEKAH MERCER: THE CONSERVATIVE DONOR AND ACTIVIST Rebekah Mercer, 47, is a prominent conservative donor and activist. Based in New York, she was briefly a stock trader and was married to a high-ranking Morgan Stanley executive. She is now listed as 'retired' or 'homemaker' on financial declarations. Others give her a different title: the 'First Lady of the Alt-Right.' Her father, Robert, is the co-CEO of Renaissance Technologies hedge fund and is estimated by Bloomberg to be worth at least $1 billion. The Mercers for years donated to the Koch brothers' political network, but started to act alone after the Republicans' failure to unseat president Barack Obama reportedly led Rebekah to say the Koch network was full of 'fools.' They initially backed Ted Cruz, pushing him to take a harder line on immigration during the presidential primaries, before switching their allegiance to Trump. Publicity shy, their money, according to a December 2017 report in Quartz, is spent on Breitbart, Cambridge Analytica, a machine gun company and a horse farm in Florida. Advertisement

Maloney specifically asked for stakeholders with 'direct or indirect ownership interests' and any entity that Parler owes $10,000 or more to.

In the wake of his Matze's firing and the bitter fall out, Parler investor Dan Bongino publicly slammed the ousted CEO as a liar.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Bongino slammed Matze's comments about his firing as 'inaccurate and misleading'.

Bongino, a conservative podcast host and commentator, said that Matze had 'difficulty reconciling guidelines enforcement on the one hand, and free expression on the other.'

'We intend to demonstrate that there is no conflict between these, because the free exchange of ideas requires the exclusion of (threats of) violence.'

In a separate Facebook livestream, Bongino said: 'I'm really p***ed off right now... The relationship with Parler and the CEO did not work out because the CEO's vision was not ours. Everybody clear on that? Our vision was crystal clear.'

'This site was going to be a free speech platform or it was going to be nothing,' Bongino said. 'The vision of the company as a free speech platform was mine and the two other owners, and we were resolutely committed to that.'

'We could have been up in a week, if we had just bent the knee and followed all the ridiculous Apple edicts to become a heavy-moderation site to the left of Twitter.

'We don't want garbage on our site either and we took the proper steps to do that, but we were a free speech site.'

Bongino also hinted that 'terrible decisions' were made under Matze's leadership that led to the site being taken offline, without offering further details.

'We needed to get up and fight back, some terrible decisions were made in the past, that led us to getting put down by Amazon and others,' he said.

The executive shake-up is the latest woe to befall Parler, which remains effectively offline after Amazon Web Services last month revoked server support over 'egregious content' on the app after the Capitol riot.

Apple and Google also removed the app from their stores, making Parler effectively unavailable on smartphones.
A former chairman of Debenhams who made multi-million pound personal gains from the store has claimed its downfall was due to 'bad luck'.

John Lovering, who in his heyday was one of the best-known figures on the UK retail scene, added that online fashion group Boohoo has snapped up the Debenhams brand at a rock bottom price.

The 71-year-old made a multi-million pound sum from the float of Debenhams in 2006 after three years of private equity ownership.

In the money: Former Debenhams chairman John Lovering has claimed the 243-year-old department store chain's downfall was due to 'bad luck'

Speaking to the Mail from his 1.5million farmhouse in East Sussex, he denied claims he made a 21million profit but said he had given 12million of his Debenhams shares to a charitable trust he runs.

Lovering, a governor of 21,000-a-year private school Dulwich College in south London, served as chairman of the collapsed department store chain between 2003 and 2010, over which period he was paid 1.5million.

Over his long career, he has chaired a wide range of retailers including Go Outdoors, Homebase and Maplin Electronics as well the Odeon cinema chain and pubs group Mitchells & Butlers.

He and his wife Brenda are the sole directors of the farm surrounding their home, which has assets of almost 20million.

He denies any responsibility for Debenhams' demise and said corporate success or failure was 'often about luck'.

Lovering also claimed that in paying 55million for Debenhams, Boohoo had snatched one of the 'best deals of all time'.

He said: 'Debenhams has a 400million-500million internet business and I think Boohoo has done one of the smartest deals of all time only paying 55million.'

Between 2003 and 2006 Debenhams was owned by a consortium of private equity firms.

Asked if he felt he and others who served during the period of private equity ownership and its aftermath at Debenhams were being made a scapegoat for its collapse, he replied: 'Someone once said, 'The past is a foreign land', but clearly attitudes and values from 12 to 15 years ago are different than they are today.

Milked: Between 2003 and 2006 Debenhams was owned by a consortium of private equity firms

I think the business got a bit complacent, underestimated the competition with Primark at the discount end and lots of innovation around.

'Also there were one or two poor appointments. They didn't drive the business forward.

'One doesn't want to be critical but it's always sad to see one's legacy not optimised.'

Lovering added: 'It seems to me there are two separate issues in this story.

'Was Debenhams crippled by debt? The answer to that is 'No'. Is it right that individuals and private equity houses can make such a vast return? I think the issues have got confused. It's often about luck.'

He said he had given 12million of his shares in Debenhams to his charity, the Lovering Charitable Foundation, established in 2007, which supports projects for underprivileged children and the elderly and has built two schools in Angola, in southern Africa.

A former trustee for Save the Children, he added: 'I've always tried to balance looking after my shareholders in the private equity world with wider social responsibility and it's for others to judge whether that has been achieved.'
James McKiernan Lawyers recently received one of the legal industrys highest distinctions from Martindale-Hubbell, distinguishing the firm as a leader in ethics, expertise, and overall performance in the field of personal injury law.

Those recognized for their brilliance are awarded based on a series of distinctions that speak to their commitment to excellence in their fields. Winners of these awards are determined by an aggregate of confidential peer reviews with three designations that a firm can receive: AV Preeminent, Distinguished, and Notable.

According to Martindale-Hubbells website, the AV honor that James McKiernan received has two individual classifications:



The A represents peers ranking the firm as very high in their expertise and also denotes more than ten years of practice.

The V indicates that the firms dedication to ethics is also very high.

Since its formation more than 100 years ago, Martindale-Hubbell has provided Americas legal industry with a way to connect firms to potential clients and their peers. Serving as a primary source for verified reviews of legal firms across the country, Martindale-Hubbell designations have become synonymous with excellence in the industry.

Throughout its profile on Martindale-Hubbell, James McKiernan Lawyers has received widespread praise from clients for its attention to detail and ability to outperform other firms in its region. While peer reviews are designated as private, James McKiernan Lawyers also boasts more than 20 client reviews on Martindale-Hubbell offering overwhelming praise:

I have had many friends and people recommend one law firm over and over again, James McKiernan, writes one former client. James McKiernan isn't an overworked and understaffed law firm like many of the law firms in San Luis Obispo County. He exceeded my expectations and over-delivered on every aspect of my case.

James McKiernan Lawyers has earned praise in multiple legal specialties, includingbut not limited toautomobile accidents, personal injury, and sexual harassment cases. The firms ability to handle niche cases and receive positive feedback from both peers and clients aligns with the high standards set for firms who earn the top AV Preeminent distinction.

More About James McKiernan Lawyers

Based in San Luis Obispo, CA, James McKiernan Lawyers has served those on Californias Central Coast for more than 30 years. Since the firms establishment in 1983, its personal injury attorneys have handled more than 30,000 cases and secured more than $300 million in verdicts and settlements.

James McKiernan Lawyers leverages state-of-the-art technology and a team of case managers and personal assistants to help clients obtain the compensation they deserve. Bilingual staff also ensure that James McKiernan Lawyers can take on cases from Californias Spanish-speaking residents. Their clients have responded favorably, with over 300 five star online reviews.

Anyone in need of a personal injury attorney in San Luis Obispo County can call James McKiernan Lawyers at 800-200-HURT or visit their website to schedule a consultation. The firm will use all available knowledge and experience to determine the best path forward for each individual client and case.
Washington: National Press Club leaders on Monday urged the Government of India to release Aasif Sultan, a Kashmiri journalist who has been detained for two and a half years.

Asif, a reporter for the Kashmir Narrator, was arrested in August 2018 on an unwarranted charge of harbouring militants, although all he had done was interview and write about them, it said.

Since he was imprisoned, almost all of his scheduled court dates in his trial have been postponed. His fate remains uncertain.

He is at risk of contracting COVID-19 in crowded prison conditions. His father has a heart condition, and his entire family is distraught, it added.

Sultans next court date is set for Feb. 26. As that date nears, National Press Club President Lisa Nicole Matthews and National Press Club Journalism Institute President Angela Greiling Keane issued the following statement:

The National Press Club recognized Aasif Sultan with a 2019 John Aubuchon Press Freedom honor, singling him out among the worlds many journalists under duress, because his mistreatment was so egregious and because he was one of many journalists and citizens whose rights were abused in Kashmir.

Sultan remains in prison, and that is simply wrong. All he did was his job. On behalf of journalists everywhere, we say: it is past time for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do what is necessary to allow Mr. Sultan to rejoin his family.

(PTI)
Medics in PPE and ambulances outside the Accident and Emergency department at the Mater Hospital in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

Irelands healthcare system is facing a tsunami of missed care due to non-Covid care being put on hold during the pandemic, an Oireachtas health committee has said.

Professor Robert Landers of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) warned that the health service will not be able to deal with the issues coming down the line in a timely fashion and that it will stretch the service to the absolute limit.

There is no doubt that were facing a tsunami of missed care or late care, and unlike the Covid crisis we know exactly the scale of this and it will stretch our health services to the absolute limit, he said.

aThey turned up for their patientsa. Nurses and midwives securing childcare at additional costs. Phil Ni Sheaghdha, Tony Fitzpatrick, and INMO President Karen McGowan address this morningas Join Committee on Health. Watch live at https://t.co/S3N3KhPQWi pic.twitter.com/F10rnNimSk  Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (@INMO_IRL) February 9, 2021

Theres equally no doubt that the public health system as currently structured does not have the capacity either in terms of personnel or infrastructure or beds to deal in a timely fashion with that tsunami.

Professor Landers said in the short term, the private healthcare providers will have to be used to address the shortfall in care. But in the long term, the health service needed to act now and build up the number of hospital beds to avoid longer waiting lists.

There are currently more than 800,000 people on hospital waiting lists.

He added that until the consultant recruitment and retention crisis was addressed and 700 vacant posts filled, there was no hope of matching the demand for post-Covid care.

IHCA Vice President @roblandersIRL tells the Oireachtas Health Committee: "We haven't a hope of matching the demand for post Covid care" until we address the consultant recruitment and retention crisis with over 700 vacant posts. @DonnellyStephen @davidcullinane #CareCantWait pic.twitter.com/XEKF6jh5EE  IHCA (@IHCA_IE) February 9, 2021

The IHCA vice president was among a number of health representatives from the IHCA, Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) who were before the Health Committee on Tuesday to outline the challenges facing the sector in the midst of the pandemic.

Anthony Owens of the Irish Medical Organisation told the committee that it was deplorable one year on from the first case of Covid-19 in Ireland that there had been no substantial and systemic action taken to address the recruitment and retention crisis.

He said: As a consequence, waiting lists have grown and stress and burnout is prevalent among the medical workforce.

In the last year hospital waiting lists have grown by approximately 70,000, or 9%, and now stand at 838,000  yet the number of vacant consultant posts or posts filled on a temporary basis has risen to 728, he added.

Phil Ni Sheaghdha of the INMO told the committee the Governments treatment of student nurses and midwives in the midst of the pandemic could only be described as exploitation.

She told the committee they were going into the eye of the storm and were not getting paid for it.

Expand Close Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation director of Industrial relations Phil Ni Sheaghdha (Niall Carson/PA Wire) / Facebook

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Having an unpaid workforce of 1,500 people when you have 6,000 staff out sick: What do you think theyre doing? I dont accept, and nor do they, that they are standing in a supervisory capacity and not engaged in work, Ms Ni Sheaghdha said.

Of course theyre working  and theyre not getting paid.

She said they no longer had the luxury of observing and learning their craft. Instead, they were assisting in the delivery of healthcare.

Theres only one definition for somebody that goes into a workplace during a pandemic, doesnt get paid and works, she said.

It is exploitation, and we cannot accept that that issue is not being addressed by government.

TDs and senators heard that healthcare workers not only had the stress of caring for people with Covid-19 in difficult conditions, but that they were also dealing with very real issues to do with childcare caused by Covid-19 and the closure of schools.

Dr Gabrielle Colleran, vice-president of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, said children of healthcare workers in Northern Ireland and the UK were going to school, but she said Irish frontline workers had been abandoned by the Government when schools shut without any supports in place.

My children, my colleagues children, are being traumatised, she said.

Theyre falling behind, were too tired and burned out to help them with home schooling when we get home.

I got home at quarter past nine last Monday and my seven-year-old was sitting there with her Abair Liom on the table waiting to do her Irish homework with me. I just burst into tears. I had nothing left to give.

Shes stressed because shes falling behind, the anxiety is through the roof. Were not working from home so were not there to support them.

We feel weve been abandoned by the State at exactly the time when we have all stepped up.
A new, highly contagious variant of COVID-19 from South Africa has reached the Houston area.

Health officials have confirmed a case involving a Fort Bend County individual who traveled through U.S. airports in December and returned with the South African strain, according to Houston Methodist Hospital. On Saturday, two more cases of the U.K. COVID-19 variant were also detected in the Houston area, Houston Methodist hospital officials say.

The emergence of these two more contagious strains in Texas is causing significant concern for local doctors. Baylor College of Medicine's Infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Hotez weighed in on the threat of community spread from international strains of the disease.

"IT JUST SHOCKED ME": Houston man survives double lung transplant after 4-month COVID-19 battle

"We have to think of this as the next wave of the COVID-19 pandemic," Hotez told Chron."Unfortunately, now we've got these spiked protein-target mutants, variants seem to be spreading. The major one is the one out of the U.K. which has accelerated in the U.S. These mutants seem to be spreading at a faster rate than we've previously seen, so they're out-competing the other strains."

Amid the new strains popping up across the nation, Hotez predicts that we may be about to face perhaps the worst phase of the pandemic.

"There's some with evidence with the U.K. one that it produces a more serious illness, possibly the South African one as well," Hotez said "While we're seeing a decrease in the number of new cases in Texas, it will be short-lived. I think we're actually in the eye of the hurricane now. The next big part of the pandemic is about to hit. It will start to accelerate around March or April."

It's crucial that the U.S. steps up the vaccine rollout to get ahead of these variants, Hotez said.

"This creates greater urgency to accelerate our vaccine timetable, because the vaccines work well against the U.K. variant not as well against the South African variant," Hotez said. "The sooner we can vaccinate the people in Texas, I think the more likely we'll get ahead of these variants. It's very troubling."

The lack of vaccine supply is posing a significant challenge in getting ahead of the strains, Hotez said.

"We're hearing that the 100 million doses of the Novavax and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may not be here until June," Hotez said. "The toughest part of the pandemic is how we deal with vaccine supply during March, April and May. "

One piece of good news is that the pharmacy chains in the Houston area are opening up with vaccinations, but still supply is limited. CVS is slated to begin accepting appointments for vaccinations as early as Tuesday, with inoculations beginning on Thursday.

Another ray of hope at the end of the pandemic tunnel is that Houston will be hosting a COVID-19 vaccine super site, according to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

"I'm glad they're getting that infrastructure in place," Hotez said.

In sad turn of events, Randhir and late actor Rishi Kapoor's brother Rajiv Kapoor passed away today on February 9. Neetu Kapoor took to her Instagram to share the news of his death. Many Bollywood celebrities took to their social media to mourn the actor's death. Amidst all of this, Alia Bhatt was recently snapped at the airport after the news of Rajiv Kapoor's death was shared across. The actor was on a girls' trip to the Maldives. The picture was shared by photographer Viral Bhayani. Check it out.

Also Read: Alia Bhatt enjoys snorkeling session with Akansha & Anushka in Maldives, watch video

Alia Bhatt spotted at the airport

In the picture, she can be seen sporting a blue top with matching shorts. She is seen holding a white bag and has added white shoes to complete the look. The actor was on a vacation in the Maldives with her sister Shaheen and best friends Anushka and Akansha Ranjan. She flew back to Mumbai after the news of Ranbir Kapoor's uncle Rajiv Kapoor's death came out.

Earlier, she shared a picture with her best friends on her Instagram. While sporting a pink bikini, Alia added the caption that reads, "heal, learn, grow, love". Within 6 hours of the upload, the post has around 1.1 million likes. The actor is in a relationship with her beau Ranbir Kapoor who are often snapped together. There have been rumours about the couple getting married soon. Check out Alia's photos from her trip.

Also Read: Alia Bhatt fills in for BF Ranbir Kapoor on IG, announces 'he is sharing his wardrobe'

Rajiv Kapoor's funeral

Various celebrities were spotted around Kapoor Family's house for the actor's funeral. Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Tara Sutaria and many more were spotted. Randhir Kapoor was spotted outside the hospital where Rajiv took his last breath.

Also Read: Rajiv Kapoor's demise: Kareena Kapoor mourns her uncle's death, shares throwback picture

Rajiv Kapoor's family

Rajiv Kapoor was born on August 25, 1962 and was an actor, producer as well as a director. Rajiv Kapoor passed away at the age of 59 after he suffered a massive heart attack. In the Kapoor family, he was the younger brother of Randhir Kapoor and late actor, Rishi Kapoor. His uncles were also legendary Bollywood stars, they were Shammi and Shashi Kapoor. In the year 2001, he married Aarti Sabharwal, who was an architect and within 2 years, the couple filed for divorce.

Also Read: Rajiv Kapoor breathes his last: Here's what you need to know about his life & career

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.
In 2017, Kenya won praise globally when it banned polythene bags to maintain a healthy environment.

However, four years down the line, the outlawed commodity has made a big comeback. While the thin nylon bag is in use openly in markets and homes, some vendors have also short-circuited the system by embracing the use of cling film, which has equally devastating effects.

In markets and neighbourhood food outlets, the polythene bags have taken over from the non-woven bags that were introduced as an alternative.

A spot-check done by Nation in various markets in the city revealed the unfortunate truth brandished by local traders in broad daylight.

Anthony, a trader at the city market for 10 years, says the use of plastic bags did not stop completely.

When the ban was enforced, it was difficult to use them publicly, but over time, it started they have crept back and now almost every small-scale trader is using polythene bags to package their products -- the Mama Mbogas (vegetable sellers) to fruit vendors and even those selling milk using at the 'milk ATMs'.

Hard to know

"We still use the plastic bag because it is cheap for us and convenient to our customers," says Anthony.

So, where do they get the illegal plastic bags?

He says traders use word of mouth at the market because it is hard to know the distributor of the bags. The main distributor only sells the plastic bags in the evening and their identity is known only by a few people.

"This distributor is not your usual hawker who will come roaming around day after day looking for people to buy his wares. The only time he comes to the market is when they have received orders," offers Anthony.

The polythene bag is not only popular among small scale traders, but it is also a favourite among city dwellers who use it to refrigerate food.

"It is very useful especially when you want to store boiled legumes in the fridge. When the ban was issued in 2017, it was very hard to get the polythene bags but now I just make an order using my Mama Mboga and depending on the size I get my 7 by 12-inch polythene bags at Sh100 only," says Caroline Njoki.

The city, it appears, is yet to make the 100 per cent transition from the use of plastic bags, regardless of the fines, or alternatives offered by the government.

Single-use polythene bags

In a gazette notice published in 2017, the National Environment and Management Authority (Nema) said a person caught using the single-use polythene bags shall be liable to a fine of between Sh2 million and Sh4 million, or imprisoned for between one year and four years, or both.

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Butcheries and supermarkets have also found a way to cheat the ban by using cling film to package items.

Samuel Mutie who operates several butcheries and nyama choma joints in Embakasi says the blame falls on the government for coming up with a half-baked plan to effect the ban. He claims users were not provided with realistic alternatives.

"The plastic bag is a multipurpose item and the government never gave us an alternative that was practical. The non-woven bag, unfortunately, is not multipurpose and therefore the demand will always be there for plastic bags," says Mr Mutie.

But Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko, while admitting that the single-use plastic bag remains a menace, blames neighbouring countries.

"The problem comes from our neighbours because I can assure you that these items are not being produced in Kenya. We are doing our best, but we also have institutional challenges. I am aware that the single-use plastic is still in use," Mr Tobiko told Nation.

However, Nema Director General Mamo B Mamo confirmed that since the ban, the authority has apprehended five manufacturers in Syokimau, Machakos County.

"We also noticed that the plastic bags have made a comeback and we have already sent officials to all 47 counties for a crackdown. We have teamed up with other agencies, including the police and they will be targeting market places. The challenge we have is behaviour change, also by manufacturers," said Mr Mamo.
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After over two decades of service and powerful debates, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress stalwart, Ghulam Nabi Azad, signed off from the Upper House in a poignant speech, leaving Parliamentarians emotional. Azad and Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a rare passionate moment as the latter broke down while bidding adieu to the Congress leader, while recollecting a tragic incident of terrorism at a time when both the politicians were serving as Chief Ministers in the respective states  Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat.

Following PM Modis farewell speech, Azad recalled the 2007 terrorist attack in Kashmir, when a grenade was lobbed at a bus carrying tourists from Gujarat, during his tenure as the Chief Minister of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. He emotionally spoke of how the families and children of the victims moved the former CM to tears. "I pray to God that militancy and terrorism end in this country," Azad said.

In the archived video, a teary-eyed Azad can be seen comforting the pilgrims who lost their dear ones to the deadly terrorist attack. You were supposed to return with fruits and dry fruits, but now you are having to go back home with the bodies of your children. I ask for your forgiveness, Azad can be heard in the video.

From ANI Archives 30 July 2007: Then J&K CM Ghulam Nabi Azad sees off terrorist attack victims from Gujarat Earlier today, PM Modi got emotional in Parliament when referring to this incident pic.twitter.com/2v5LVAXU1c  ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

Azad, whose term as Rajya Sabha member ends on February 15, has been a member of the upper house for 28 years. He was a member of Lok Sabha for 10 years and was Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir for three years.

PM Modi, too, recalled the incident, heaping praises on his colleague Azad. I will never forget Shri Azads efforts and Pranab Mukherjees efforts when people from Gujarat were stuck in Kashmir due to a terror attack. Ghulam Nabi was constantly following up, he sounded as concerned as if those stuck were his own family member, the Prime Minister said.

Remembering former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Azad said, the Opposition could not keep fighting over issues. I learnt this former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his tenure as the leader of the opposition. The easiest working of the House was when Vajpayee was the LoP. People chose us to make rules for them. These rules would not pass if we keep arguing. I learned a lot from Atalji, how to break a deadlock, how to run the House.

In his speech, Azad recalled his days in Srinagar's SP College when there were more people to celebrate August 14 (Pakistan independence day) than those celebrating August 15. "I was among few who would celebrate India's Independence Day. We used to stay away from college for days after the event fearing for ourselves," he said.

The tall Congress leader said, I am among those fortunate people who have never been to Pakistan. Looking at the state of affairs in Pakistan or even in other Muslim countries of the world, I think, every Muslim should feel proud that we are in India, in his speech laced with Urdu couplets.

Quoting revolutionary Urdu poet poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz, he said, "Dil na-umeed to nahi, nakaam hi to hai, lambi hai gham ki shaam, magar shaam hi to hai (the heart may be hopeless but its not been unsuccessful, the evening is long, but will end).

Earlier, the members bid adieu to the four members of the house from Jammu and Kashmir whose term is ending. Mir Mohammad Fayaz, Shamsher Singh, retiring on February 10, and Ghulam Nabi Azad and Nazir Ahmad Laway, retiring on February 15.

Azad, who started his career in Congress back in 1973, has served as the Parliamentary Affairs Minister in the government of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh until October 27, 2005, when he was appointed as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He also led the Congress party successfully in the 2002 Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir.

Azad was elected to the eighth Lok Sabha in 1984 and was a member in Rajya Sabha from 1990 to 1996 from Maharashtra. He was elected to the Upper House from Jammu and Kashmir during the term of November 30, 1996 to November 29, 2002 and November 30, 2002 to November 29, 2008.

He resigned on April 29, 2006 as he became CM of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state on November 2, 2005.

The People's Democratic Party, a coalition partner of the Indian National Congress in Jammu and Kashmir, withdrew its support for Azad's government, and rather than attempt to sustain his government by requesting a vote of confidence, Azad resigned on July 7 2008, and later left office on July 11, 2008.

In June 2014, after the NDA won a majority in the Lok Sabha and formed the Union government, Azad was appointed as the leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, where Congress still held the majority.

In 2015, Azad got re-elected to the Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir, despite the PDP-BJP alliance holding a majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly.

Rare Bird BooksBlack Veil Brides frontman Andy Biersack has released an audiobook version of his autobiography, They Don't Need to Understand.

The book, which was first released last December, finds Biersack recounting memories from his childhood growing up in Cincinnati, as well as his early days of pursuing music after moving to Los Angeles and the formation of Black Veil Brides.

"I am so thankful for the incredible reception the book has had and it means the world to me to know that my story has resonated with so many people all over the world," Biersack says. "This whole experience has been a dream come true."

Last fall, Biersack and BVB returned with a new song called "Scarlet Cross." It's the first single off the band's upcoming album, The Phantom Tomorrow, due out later this year.

By Josh Johnson

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Building Biskria Cement

Published 09 February 2021

CBMI Construction Co Ltd was awarded the contract for a 2 x 6000tpd cement plant project by Biskria Cement Co of Algeria. Employing efficient construction management and innovative processes, the modern facility was completed much to the satisfaction of the plant owner and paves the way for future projects to come. By Yakun Rong, Wenshuai Bo and Mingfei Tang, CBMI Construction Co Ltd, China.

Biskria Cement Co of Algeria awarded the contract for the engineering design, procurement and construction of 2  6000tpd production lines situated in the Biskra province to Sinoma CBMI Construction Co Ltd (CBMI) in June 2015.

Now complete, the facility is currently the largest modern green cement plant in Algeria, employing leading production technology and process equipment. Completion and commissioning of the project has effectively alleviated a cement shortage in the country, while helping Biskria Cement to open up on the international cement market in north Africa and the Mediterranean region to achieve rapid growth in its export business.

To continue reading this story and get access to all News, Articles and Video sections of the CemNet.com website, please Register for a subscription to International Cement Review or Login
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: Global icon Priyanka Chopra's much-awaited memoir titled Unfinished will hit the stands on February 9, 2021. The first-hand account of her journey from Miss World 2000 to a top Bollywood actress and now an international celebrity - her memoir is an account of all!

The Independent quoted her memoir where Priyanka Chopra Jonas has talked about her initial struggles in her movie industry. She opened up on an incident when a director asked her to get her 'proportions fixed'.

"After a few minutes of small talk, the director/producer told me to stand up and twirl for him. I did. He stared at me long and hard, assessing me, and then suggested that I get a boob job, fix my jaw, and add a little more cushioning to my butt," the actress wrote in her book.

"If I wanted to be an actress, he said, Id need to have my proportions fixed, and he knew a great doctor in LA he could send me to. My then-manager voiced his agreement with the assessment", she further wrote.

The actress decided to leave the meeting and also cut ties with her then-manager after the incident, as per her memoir account.

Priyanka got married to international music sensation Nick Jonas at the majestic Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur on December 2, 2018. The wedding festivities continued for days. The couple had two ceremoniesa white wedding followed by a traditional Hindu one.
The International Monetary Fund logo is seen outside the headquarters building during the IMF/World Bank spring meeting in Washington on April 20, 2018. (Yuri Gripas/Reuters)

Days Before Coup, IMF Sent Burma $350 Million in Emergency Aid; No Precedent for Refund

WASHINGTONThe International Monetary Fund sent $350 million in cash to the Burma (also known as Myanmar) government two weeks ago, part of a no-strings-attached emergency aid package to help the country battle the coronavirus pandemic.

Days later, military leaders seized power and detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other elected officials, in what the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday constituted a coup. There appears to be little the IMF can do to claw back the funds, part of rapid-disbursing COVID-19 financing programs with almost no conditions and approved by the IMF board on Jan. 13, sources familiar with the payments and international finance experts said.

We are following the unfolding developments closely. We are deeply concerned about the impact of events on the economy and on the people of Myanmar, an IMF spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Reuters on Tuesday, confirming the payment was completed.

U.S. President Joe Biden, facing his first international crisis since taking office less than two weeks ago, has threatened new sanctions against the generals, and the State Department said it would review its foreign assistance to the southeast Asian country.

The United States is the dominant shareholder in the IMF, which has provided Burma with $700 million in emergency coronavirus financing over the past seven months, including last weeks payment, which included $116.6 million through the IMFs Rapid Credit Facility and $233.4 million through the Rapid Financing Instrument.

The Fund said in a statement on Jan. 13 the money would help Burma meet urgent balance-of-payments needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the governments recovery measures to ensure macroeconomic and financial stability while supporting affected sectors and vulnerable groups.

Unlike the IMFs regular financing programs, which disburse funds in smaller increments as performance benchmarks are met for agreed policy reforms, coronavirus emergency aid has been sent quickly, often all at once.

Its not a program that was negotiated, there isnt conditionality and there arent forward-looking reviews with disbursements tied to those reviews, said Stephanie Segal, a former IMF economist and U.S. Treasury official now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Im not aware of any precedent where money thats been approved by the IMF board can be recalled, Segal added.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis last year, the IMF has provided emergency financing to 80 countries.

The timing of the latest disbursement to Burma was unfortunate, two sources familiar with the payments said, and pointed to the risks of using rapid financing that gives governments broad discretion over how they spend the money.

The best-case scenario is that the Burma government that emerges from the current political turmoil will spend the money appropriately because it wants to have a productive relationship with the Fund, one of the sources said.

The IMFs counterparty in Burma is the Central Bank of Myanmar, and the source expressed hope it can maintain its independence from the countrys finance ministry.

But on Tuesday, the ruling Burma military appointed Than Nyein as the countrys new central bank governor, reinstating him to a post he previously held between 20072013, during the rule of the last junta.

The World Bank, which has provided more than $150 million in financing to Burma since the pandemic started a year ago, said on Monday it was gravely concerned about the military takeover, warning it risked a major setback to the countrys transition and its development prospects.

By David Lawder
MILAN, FEB 9 - Italian police on Tuesday arrested 18 people on suspicion of trafficking in illicit waste including toxic and radioactive substances in northern Italy. Some 10 people were taken into custody in jail and eight more were placed under house arrest, police said. Prosecutors said they had reconstructed the activities of a mafia waste trafficking gang near Lecco north of Milan allegedly led by a top member of the Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta mafia, Italy's richest and most powerful crime outfit, Cosimo Vallelonga. Those arrested have been charged with mafia association, conspiracy to traffic illegal waste, tax fraud, money laundering, usury and extortion. Lecco police carried out sweeps in Lombardy, Liguria and Emilia Romagna. They seized a consignment of radioactive waste, (ANSA).
(CNN)  Christopher Columbus may have sailed the ocean blue in 1492, but some tiny blue beads beat him to it, reaching North America a few decades sooner, to become possibly the earliest European-made objects on the continent.

The beads, about the size of blueberries, were made in Venice, Italy, and found by archeologists working at three locations in northern Alaska, the University of Alaska Fairbanks said in a press release published Thursday.

The team found three beads at Punyik Point, a famous archeological site that sat on ancient trade routes from the Arctic Ocean to the Bering Sea, during digs in 2004 and 2005, along with some plant fibers.

The presence of organic matter meant they could use accelerator mass spectrometry carbon dating to find out when the plants were alive.

Study co-author Mike Kunz, an archeologist at the University of Alaska Museum of the North, said he was amazed by the results.

"We almost fell over backwards. It came back saying (the plant was alive at) some time during the 1400s. It was like, Wow!" Kunz said in the release.

Tests on objects found near beads discovered at two other sites provided more evidence, and the archeologists think the beads arrived at Punyik Point between 1440 and 1480.

"This was the earliest that indubitably European materials show up in the New World by overland transport," said Kunz.

In comparison, Columbus landed in the Bahamas in 1492.

Researchers then pinpointed the provenance of the beads by studying the history of glass-making in Venice, according to the press release. These kinds of beads had never before been found west of the Rocky Mountains.

Venice maintained trade routes with civilizations throughout Asia during the 1400s, and the beads could have been taken along the Silk Road toward China before ending up in the Russian Far East, the university said.

From there, a trader may have paddled the beads across the Bering Strait in a kayak. The researchers think they were probably taken to Shashalik, an ancient trading center, before they were carried to Punyik Point.

Researchers say they may have been strung onto a necklace that was lost or left behind.

The study was published January 20 in the journal American Antiquity.

This story was first published on CNN.com These blue beads found in Alaska may be the first European items in North America
Aspen, CO (81611)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 64F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 41F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
Prime Minister is expected to reply to the motion of thanks to the President's address in the on February 10, sources told ANI. Meanwhile, the also accepted Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi's motion of dispensing with the Question Hour for the next two days (till Wednesday).

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply in to the Motion of Thanks to the President's address will be on February 10," said the sources.

Parliamentary proceedings continued till midnight to accommodate the long list of speakers participating in the Motion of Thanks to the President's address.

Lok Sabha was adjourned till 4 pm Tuesday (February 9).

The ongoing Budget session of Parliament has been continuously witnessing uproar for the last four days over the opposition's demand for separate discussion on the new farm laws. Thousands of farmers have been protesting at several border points of the capital since late November, demanding the withdrawal of the farm laws.

The Lok Sabha on Monday took up discussion on motion of thanks to the President's address after seeing disruptions over four days last week over opposition's demand for separate discussion on the new farm laws.

When the House met after an adjournment on Monday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the House every year expresses its thanks to the President for his address to the joint sitting of two Houses and opposition members also agree that "healthy democratic traditions" should continue.

He said India has a vibrant democracy and all members want to contribute to it. Singh also noted that the Rajya Sabha had completed the discussion to the motion of thanks and Prime Minister had replied to it.

PM Modi had delivered his reply to the President's address in the Rajya Sabha on Monday where he quoted his predecessor Manmohan Singh on the need for reforms in the farm sector and also cautioned the nation about a new form of "FDI" which he referred to as "foreign destructive ideology" as the agitation grabs global attention.

Defending Centre's policies for farmers and referring to those taking a "U-Turn" from laws, Prime Minister in his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in Rajya Sabha said, "Manmohan Ji is here, I would read out his quote. Those taking a U-Turn (farm laws) will perhaps agree with him. 'There are other rigidities because of marketing regime set up in the 1930s which prevent our farmers from selling their produce where they get the highest rate of return..."

"...It is our intention to remove all those handicaps, which come in the way of India realising its vast potential at one large common market," he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A number of countries around the world have fudged official coronavirus statistics, shared artificially sunny outlooks about the pandemic, or cracked down on reports that counter the official narrative.

Zoom in: But no country has taken coronavirus denial to the extent of Tanzania  which is not only denying that it has a single case, but it's also rejecting vaccines.

Even North Korea, which has reported zero cases, is set to receive vaccines from the COVAX initiative. So too Turkmenistan, which is officially COVID-free but will soon launch its vaccination campaign with Russia's Sputnik V.

President John Magufuli says Tanzania doesn't need vaccines, and that they don't work anyway: "If the white man was able to come up with vaccinations, he should have found a vaccination for AIDS, cancer and TB by now."

His government has instead recommended herbal remedies, steam treatments, and a ginger and onion smoothie to ward off infection.

Reality check: Magufuli's COVID populism is dangerous for multiple reasons.

Tanzanians are dying. In crowded hospitals, patients on oxygen succumb to what will be officially recorded as acute pneumonia," The Continent reports. The virus crosses borders. The government's decision to refuse vaccines and make any test and trace system all but impossible could be dangerous for Tanzania's neighbors, and potentially the world.

The other side: Doctors and journalists have tried to spread the word about the risks, mostly anonymously due to fear of retribution, and the Catholic church recently raised the alarm.
Dr. Chi, the pediatric dentist and University of Washington professor, said that dentistry was turning to more conservative methods of dealing with tooth decay now that some drills and tools might heighten the risk of contagion.

Dr. Chi, who practices at the Odessa Brown Childrens Clinic in Seattle, said that one way that he avoided drilling was to place silver diamine fluoride on a childs baby tooth to prevent a cavity from growing.

He can also select stainless steel crowns to block the growth of a cavity. Applying such crowns normally requires numbing the tooth, using a drill to remove decay and reshape the tooth, and then installing the crown.

A more conservative approach: placing a crown directly on the baby tooth without removing decay or reshaping. Evidence suggests that it is as effective as the traditional approach, takes less time and is more cost-effective, Dr. Chi said.

Covid has really encouraged dentists to look at all the options you have to treat dental disease, he said.

Some dentists, however, may choose to leave the profession. The A.D.A. conducted a survey asking dentists how they would react if their patient visits remained the same for several months.

Our data show that 40 percent of dentists 65 and older would seriously consider retiring in the coming months if patient volume remains at what it is today, Dr. Vujicic said.
She said now-undocumented people, or those who have not lived in the country for at least five years, qualify for the new program as long as their income is below the federal poverty level. An individual must earn less than $12,800 per year, or $17,420 for a couple.
alcohol

A move to raise excise duty on liquor and change the format of retail sales by the Aam Aadmi Party-led government has set the proverbial cat among the pigeons in the Indian Capital.

A panel of experts, formed by the government in Delhi, has suggested sweeping changes that could push booze rates in Delhi to an all-time high and change the way drinks are sold in Delhi NCR by the government and privately owned shops.

MoneyControl has reviewed the report, which says the Delhi government is contemplating a near 50 percent increase in booze prices and raise its revenue from Indian liquor, foreign liquor and country liquor to nearly Rs 8,000 crore from the current earning of Rs 5,000 crore.

What The Government Now Earns

According to the report, the Delhi government currently earns excise revenue of Rs 46 crore from brand registration, Rs 4,507 crore from Indian liquor, Rs 240 crore from foreign liquor and Rs 210 crore from country liquor. The state government also earns Rs 170 crore from licence free from restaurants and bars servings liquor, Rs 300 crore from export and permit fees and Rs 40 crores from retail licences. It totals up to Rs 5,068.70 crore, which the state government wants to increase to nearly Rs 8,000 crore.

Related stories

Quality Trouble For Smaller Players

But the new guidelines could make things difficult for medium and small manufacturers. For the record, the committee has recommended that the Delhi government abolish rum and whisky brands below Rs 140 so that quality products are made available.

On the flip side, the committee has also recommended fewer number of Dry Days in the Indian Capital, mainly to checkmate the crowds from going to neighbouring Noida and Gurugram. It has also suggested lowering the legal drinking age in Delhi to 21 and extending timings of restaurants and bars serving liquor.

The committee has recommended to the Delhi government that its annual excise of Rs 4,513 crore from Indian liquor, foreign liquor and country liquor must touch the figure of Rs 6,412 crore. This, in turn, means liquor shops will now have a target and they need to fulfil the same every month. The target is meant mainly for state-owned vends which rarely push for sales, unlike private stores.

In the post-GST scenario, states have only four areas on which they have the power to levy taxes, ie., VAT on petroleum products, excise duty and VAT on liquor for human consumption, stamp duty on real estate and tax or duty on electricity. Now, due to the peculiar nature of Delhis legal status, Delhi is forced to generate 80 percent of its revenue receipts through its own tax revenue whereas this number is just 55 percent for Haryana and 37 percent for Uttar Pradesh, states which border Delhi. In both Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, a significant portion of the revenue comes through share in Central taxes, which is zero in the case of Delhi.

According to the report, Central grants to Delhi have remained stagnant at Rs 325 crore since 2001-02, even though Delhis contribution to the Central coffers has increased 10-fold in the same period (an estimated rise from Rs 9,000 crore to Rs 91,000 crore). The tussle between implementing the 14th Finance Commission recommendations in Delhi and the 4th Delhi Finance Commission recommendations, has resulted in a cash crunch for Delhi, which must generate a significant revenue (tax receipts) on its own.

The Committee said Delhi excise revenue generation is much lower than states like Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. As GST is dependent on consumption, and the rates are decided by the GST Council, Delhi - the Committee said - must look into its own exclusive taxation areas.

Given the sensitivity around Petrol and Diesel pricing, the consumer facing taxation of electricity, and given the pandemic-stricken real estate industry, the state isnt left with many options to augment revenues. The AlcoBev trade in Delhi must be investigated for possible areas of revenue leakages/gaps, the committee said.

The committee said with the State GDP growth above 10 percent y-o-y, and most revenue streams growing at a similar rate, the alcohol revenue has shown an only 8 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the last 6 years. The industry has been almost flat since 2014; alcohol volumes in India have shown a 6 percent CAGR for the last six years, indicating a gap existing in Delhi alcohol trade.

With an 8.3 percent CAGR revenue in the last 6 years, excise revenue has peaked, and it does not have further headroom to grow under the current route to market structure, said the Committee, which was constituted in September 2020 to recommend ways to push revenue.

The committee said wholesale trade by a government entity through a corporation-based model should provide buoyancy by bringing a large number of goods in the chain. In short, the Delhi government wants to have more state-government owned liquor vends in Delhi NCR.

The committee said similar moves helped removal of monopolies in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, with revenues moving from Rs 17,320 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 23,918 crore in 2018-19, a jump of 38 percent and a target of Rs 34,500 crore in 2021-22.

States which moved to a Beverage Corporation model have seen a spike in revenue immediately, indicating that the model does help in bringing more goods into the tax chain. In Karnataka, alcohol revenues doubled in 4 years. Other States like Rajasthan, Odisha and Andhra have also seen a similar trend on revenue collections together with buoyancy in volumes, the committee said.

Early Reactions

The markets responded with cautious optimism.

Delhis tax revenues this year are down 40 percent, and the allocation to the State from the Union Budget has been static. With increasing revenue pressures in these unprecedented COVID times, it is not surprising that the Delhi government, like so many other states, has turned to AlcoBev to meet its revenue needs. We hope that the recommendations will usher in significant buoyancy in Delhi's revenue structures, IP Suresh Menon, Secretary-General of the International Spirits and Wines Association of India (ISWAI) told MoneyControl.

The report has acknowledged the malpractice related to brand pushing at government vends. As a result, the overall market has become inefficient as genuine market forces arent at play. The committee said consumer choices are being denied, and the market is artificially being skewed towards cheaper non-popular brands that are not the consumers choice. Many non-compliant companies have indulged in corrupt practices, which, the committee said in the near future, may turn into a completely compromised supply chain, which would dent Delhis reputation for honest, and business-friendly governance.

The revenue from excise duties from IMFL for Delhi has remained stagnant due to a number of reasons, primarily due to marginalisation of popular brands, corruption and cartelisation amongst the retail. The reforms suggested by the Committee will address most of the issues we have been recommending for a number of years, Pramod Krishna, former head of Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies told MoneyControl.

The committee says to nip the issue of non-popular brands at the first stage, a moderate label registration is a must. A high label registration fee may deter registrations of such brands on account of their financial non-viability. The Delhi label registration fee is enormous and is the highest in India by any standards. The neighbouring states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have far reasonable levels of Label Registration fees..

The committee said Delhis retail density/lakh of population is amongst the lowest and this needs to change. Delhis demand is being catered by retails in Noida and Gurugram. The distribution of the current retail network in Delhi is also not equitable.

Regions with low population density have considerably higher numbers of retail shops, and vice versa. This creates demand and supply gaps, which ultimately provide an opportunity for, and fuels, the movement and supply of illicit and non-duty paid liquor.

The number of sanctioned licences in Delhi is around 960. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of AlcoBev vends in India (27,300). Delhi has not undertaken an increase in retail vends since 2016, despite a manifold increase in its population (including the floating population).

By Bob Kalinowski, The Citizens Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (TNS)

Former state Rep. George Hasay, who served in the House of Representatives for 34 years, has died. He was 73.

Hasay became the youngest member of the state House after being elected in 1972 at age 23 and was the longest serving member when he announced his retirement in 2006 at age 57.

Former state Rep. George Hasay (Pa. House file photo)

During his decades in Harrisburg representing parts of Luzerne, Columbia and Wyoming counties, the Republican from Union Twp. near Shickshinny was known for his influential work on the Conservation, Commerce and Rules committees.

Hell be remembered for his bipartisanship, said former Democratic state Rep. Kevin Blaum, who served alongside Hasay for 26 years representing the Wilkes-Barre area before retiring in the same year.

Those were the days you could cross the aisle. Now, unfortunately, they dont get along. He was a Republican. I was a Democrat. He was a good man, a great friend and an outstanding representative for Northeastern Pennsylvania, Blaum said. When I was doing things for the arena, George was supportive. If he needed my help to get something passed in the House, I would help him.

After retirement, Hasay organized monthly lunch meetings of retired state legislators from northeast Pennsylvania, including Gaynor Cawley, Frank Serafini and Edward Staback from Lackawanna County, and that continued until the COVID-19 pandemic, Blaum said.

He was like our cruise director. He would tell us where we were going. We would laugh for an hour. We would talk about the things we did and how different it was. We were there at a golden time, Blaum said. Around this table were Republicans and Democrats who loved each other and served together.

The Hasay name was well known in the Shickshinny area. His late father founded a Chevrolet dealership along Route 11 and his brother, John, was a longtime magisterial district judge in the borough.

Hasay was a kind and generous man who served the people of Pennsylvania with distinction for many years, said State Sen. John Yudichak, I-14, of Swoyersville, a former state representative who served eight years alongside Hasay.

Yudichak, who became an independent and started caucusing with the Republicans in 2019, was a Democrat at the time.

When I was first elected to the House of Representatives, George Hasay was the dean of the Luzerne County legislative delegation and despite the differences in our years of service and political affiliations, George was always willing to help me better serve the people of Luzerne County, Yudichak said. He revered the institution of the General Assembly and absolutely loved serving the good people of the 117th district.

State Rep. Karen Boback, who succeeded Hasay after winning the 2006 election to replace him, called Hasay a cherished friend and a true statesman.

When I won, he became a great mentor because it was his district. He wanted his constituents well taken care of and that was admirable, said Boback, R-117, of Harveys Lake. He was my representative and then I became his representative. He became one of my stalwart supporters.

Hasay continued to be an advocate for the district even after retirement, she said.

When he retired, he never completely stopped, Boback said. Hes someone who is truly going to be missed.
Chennai: Just minutes after Sasikala returned to Chennai, TTV Dhinakaran, AMMK deputy general secretary and nephew of Sasikala, said superstar Rajinikanth had called to enquire about her health.

Superstar Rajinikanth called me and enquired about Chinnamma (Sasikala)s health. Despite travelling for not less than 24 hours, she is fine, Dhinakaran told reporters.

He said he will contest from two constituencies in the coming elections. One is R K Nagar, in which I am the MLA at present, and apart from this, I will contest in another constituency. We will consult legal experts on Sasikala contesting in elections, said Dhinakaran.

In the last 4 years, I have been mentioning about sleeper cells in AIADMK. These sleeper cells are not only MLAs but also other AIADMK leaders who will very soon come, he said.

People still believe that Sasikala has not done anything wrong and this was proved by the grant welcome she received, he said.

Our common enemy is only DMK. The AMMK has been formed only to retake AIADMK and form an Amma government and we are working towards that end, said Dhinakaran

Dhinakaran claimed that several people from AIADMK are in touch with him and he is not in a position to give all details to media.

We came to know that for the sake of maintenance, the AIADMK headquarters as well as Amma memorial are closed. The chief minister and deputy chief minister need not be afraid of us as we will not do the same as what they did (O Panneerselvam rejoining AIADMK), said Dhinakaran

There is no big leader like that of Jayalalithaa in the AIADMK at present. Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami came to power by crawling, claimed Dhinakaran. Sasikala will pay homage at the Amma memorial once it is reopened and only Sasikala has powers to convene the general council of AIADMK, said Dhinakaran.
The Delhi high court on Monday quashed an order that halted Future Groups 24,713 crore deal to sell its assets to Reliance Industries Ltd, dealing a blow to Amazon .com Inc.s efforts to block the sale.

A two-judge bench said that Amazon has no reason to stall the deal, and regulatory authorities should not be prevented from discharging their statutory duties, overturning a single-judge ruling last week that put the Future-Reliance deal on hold.

Also Read | India should worry about its public debt

The latest order comes as a huge relief for the cash-strapped Future Group, which is banking on the deal with Reliance Industries to prevent a potential bankruptcy.

Kishore Biyanis Future Group has been caught in a fight between the US e-commerce giant and Mukesh Ambanis Reliance Industries for domination of the Indian retail market that is estimated to reach $1.3 trillion by 2025.

On 2 February, an interim order by a Delhi high court judge had halted Future Groups sale of its retail, wholesale, logistics and warehousing assets to Reliance Industries.

In a stock exchange filing, Future Retail said: A division bench has stayed the operation and effect of order passed by the Ld. Single Judge, inter alia, for the prima facie reason that the company is not a party to the shareholders agreement dated 22 August 2019 executed between Amazon, Future Coupons Pvt. Ltd (FCPL) and the promoters of FRL (Future Retail Ltd), under which arbitration was initiated by Amazon in Singapore."

A spokesperson for Amazon declined to comment, while a Reliance Industries spokesperson didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The single judge had ordered Future Retail to maintain status quo on the assets until the pronouncement of the reserved order".

The judge had also directed regulatory authorities such as the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to maintain status quo on the deal.

Quashing the order, the two-judge bench said it will next hear the matter on 26 February.

The Delhi high court on Monday also observed that Future Retail is not a party to the arbitration agreement between Amazon and Future Coupons Pvt. Ltd.

Prima facie, there was no reason (for Amazon) to seek a status quo order from the single judge. Statutory authorities cant be restrained from proceeding in accordance with law," the high court said. These contentious issues (emergency award enforcement) will be decided after the order is pronounced by the single judge (who had passed the interim order on 2 February)."

The bench also said that Future Retail does not have anything to do with the deal signed between Amazon and Future Coupons Pvt. Ltd.

The court said that different agreements have been signed between the three disputing entitiesFRL, Amazon and Future Coupons Pvt. Ltd and, hence, the doctrine of group of companies" cannot be invoked.

We hereby stay the implementation and execution of the order passed by the single judge till the next date of hearing," the two-judge bench said.

It said that the dispute as to whether the Singapore International Arbitration Centres (SIACs) emergency award is enforceable or not will be decided when the single judge gives his order.

Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart together control more than 80% of the Indian e-commerce market and have been competing to make inroads into the traditional retail market in India.

On 21 December, a single-judge bench of the Delhi high court allowed the Future-Reliance deal to go through, subject to regulatory approvals.

The order upheld SIACs ruling and declined Futures plea to stop Amazon from approaching regulators to bar the Reliance-Future deal.

The Competition Commission of India approved the deal in November, and Sebi gave its conditional nod last month. Future Retail has already approached the NCLT, Mumbai, for approval of the deal.

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India said on Tuesday it had no concerns over the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine despite South Africa putting it on hold, and ordered 10 million more doses of the shot for its own huge immunisation campaign.



South Africa delayed use of the vaccine after researchers found it offered minimal protection against mild-to-moderate Covid-19 disease caused by the country's dominant coronavirus variant.



India, with the highest number of infections after the United States, has yet to detect the South African variant and will continue to use the vaccine in an inoculation drive that has covered 6.3 million front-line workers since Jan. 16.



"Our vaccination programme is robust and valid, and I assure you that we are going ahead with it, not worried at the moment," Vinod Kumar Paul, a top Indian vaccine official, told a news conference.





ALSO READ: Weak US outlook in near term, higher costs to weigh on Torrent Pharma

"We will intensify our surveillance and we will be watching other developments in due course."



The Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's biggest vaccine maker, has licenced the vaccine from and Oxford University and markets it as COVISHIELD for low-and middle-income countries.



India has ordered 10 million more doses of COVISHIELD on top of 11 million supplied earlier, an SII spokesman told Reuters on Tuesday. SII has agreed to sell at least 100 million doses to the government at a discounted price of 200 rupees ($2.74) each, though the government says firm orders will be staggered based on its needs, and also on vaccine shelf-life.



COVISHIELD is about 72% effective, based on late-stage trials done abroad, India's drug regulator says.



The country is also using the COVAXIN shot developed at home by Bharat Biotech with the state-run Indian Council of Medical Research. Bharat Biotech has supplied 5.5 million doses to the government and is selling 4.5 million more, a company spokeswoman told Reuters.



The government wants to cover 300 million people by August, reaching the elderly and those with existing conditions by March.

India has reported 10.85 million infections and more than 155,000 deaths - though cases have fallen sharply since September.



MAKE IN INDIA



Paul said Johnson & Johnson could manufacture its shot in India. He also said many more vaccines, including Russia's Sputnik V, Cadila Healthcare's ZyCov-D and a Novavax product, were in the queue.



"India is fortunate to have two great made-in-India vaccines, and as many as six-seven vaccines in the pipeline and perhaps many more," he said, days after Pfizer Inc pulled an application seeking emergency-use authorisation in the country.

The US company had declined to immediately do a small local safety study for its shot and produce it in India, unlike the other vaccine developers.





ALSO READ: Joe Biden will 'walk, not run' on trade deals as Sino-US tension lingers

New Delhi, meanwhile, is aggressively pushing the SII and Bharat Biotech vaccines abroad as part of a diplomatic campaign to recoup ground lost to China.



Bharat Biotech told Reuters it could export its vaccine to Brazil and the United Arab Emirates this week, a major success for the shot approved at home for emergency use without efficacy data from a late-stage trial.



The company expects results from an ongoing trial involving 25,800 participants in India only by March, though the country's drug regulator has called the vaccine safe and effective amid criticism from doctors and health experts. A study on 26 participants has found COVAXIN effective against the UK strain of the coronavirus.



Bharat Biotech has also applied to conduct a Phase III trial for COVAXIN in Brazil, which plans to import 8 million doses in February and another 12 million in March.



Bharat Biotech has also sought emergency use authorisation in the Philippines.


MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Traction Capital is excited to announce its first investment of Focus Fund I in Kwikly. The fund has invested $250,000 in the Minneapolis based company whose platform provides on-demand staffing for dental professionals.

Kwikly was founded in 2017 by Pedram Nastaean and Yomiyu Hirpa. The company offers a mobile platform that connects dental hygienists seeking temporary employment with dental offices facing staffing shortages. Kwikly has achieved impressive growth and Traction Capital foresees increasingly aggressive growth as it expands into new markets.

Operating under the mission of helping entrepreneurs in the Upper Midwest grow, Traction Capital is very excited to be investing in a Minnesota company that also has two minority founders.

"Not only do we think Kwikly is poised for significant growth," said Shane Erickson, managing partner at Traction Capital. "But we see real value in showcasing racial diversity in our portfolio. Now is as good a time as ever to invest in entrepreneurs of diverse backgrounds, especially in local businesses."

Traction Capital is an entrepreneur-ran fund based in Wayzata, Minnesota. It is directed by Managing Partner Shane Erickson, who also oversees Focus Fund I. Erickson is an experienced entrepreneur with notable successes as an angel investor including investments with exits in Mentormate and Ultralox. He is also the former CEO and co-founder of IMC. He has a passion for mentoring entrepreneurs and building businesses. He founded Traction Capital to help both entrepreneurs and investors get what they want for the greater good.

"Shane has provided invaluable hands-on guidance and mentorship as we've navigated the successes and challenges of growing a young startup," said Pedram Nastaean. "We're excited that this relationship has resulted in Traction Capital becoming our capital partner as we look forward to reaching many more milestones."

Erickson is supported by his advisory committee including Matt Meents (formerly of Magnet360), Wade Burgess (formerly of Ultralox), Andrew Duneman (founder of Bulkreefsupply.com) and Jeff Fritz (former CEO of Revel, founder of Insite Software & Evolution1).

About Traction Capital

Traction Capital is a Minnesota based hybrid private equity and venture capital firm dedicated to investing in and acquiring early stage and lower middle market companies that are stuck in the "capital gap". Its Focus Funds target high potential businesses with a focus on companies based in Minnesota.

Learn more about Traction Capital at www.tractioncapital.com.

Media Contact:



Peyton Green

6512713803

[email protected]

SOURCE Traction Capital

Related Links

https://www.tractioncapital.com



French oil giant Total has said it would change its name from Total to TotalEnergies to emphasise its strategy to become a net-zero emissions company.

Patrick Pouyanne, the chief executive officer of the firm, revealed this in a short video posted on the companys website on Tuesday.

He said Total will propose to its shareholders at its annual general meeting on May 28 changing its name to TotalEnergies.

The board of directors wanted to root this transformation in our identity, Mr Pouyanne said.

If the resolution is passed that day, Total will become TotalEnergies, TotalEnergies in one word.

He added this is a major transformation to become the responsible energy company that puts sustainability and sustainable development at the heart of its strategy.

Mr Pouyanne said that Total has always supported the goal of 2015 Paris climate accords because of its activities.

Total is a multinational energy company operating in more than 130 countries. For over 50 years, the company has remained the leader in the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

In 2003, the company TotalFinaElf changed its name to Total.

The firm has been considered the fastest off the mark of the European oil majors covering the most ground since announcing its low carbon goals.

In a statement, released on the companys webpage on Tuesday, the company plummeted to a $7.2 billion net loss for the whole of 2020, down from its profit of $11.2 billion the previous year, as it dealt with the two major crises of COVID-19 pandemic and oil price crash.

Total took an impairment of $10 billion notably on Canadian oil sands assets as a result and on an adjusted basis the companys net profits stood at $4.06 billion, down 66 per cent on $11.8 billion in 2019.

According to the statement, Total made $1.5 billion in assets sales in 2020 including the divestment of some non-core assets in the United Kingdom (UK) North Sea.

The company noted that for 2021, oil prices have been above $50 since the year started.

However, the environment remains uncertain and dependent on the recovery of global demand still affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Faced with COVID uncertainties, the company projected its net investments for the year at $12 billion.

The choice of TotalEnergies naturally includes a nod to our past that we are proud of, and to what we are now without which we would not be able to prepare the future, Mr Pouyanne said.

He described the new name as a new commitment and a banner under which the company will achieve future successes.

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Bats remain a likely source of the origin of the Covid-19 virus. Transmission of the virus via frozen food is a possibility that warrants further investigation. A laboratory leak is, however, ruled out. This is some of the new information uncovered by the World Health Organization-led team probing the origins of Covid-19. Peter Ben Embarek, who led the team of independent experts in its nearly month-long visit to the Chinese city of Wuhan where the outbreak first emerged at a seafood market in late 2019, said the teams work had uncovered new information but not dramatically ...
WASHINGTON - Senior House Democrats on Monday night proposed sending $1,400 stimulus payments to Americans with up to $75,000 in annual income, rejecting an earlier plan under consideration to sharply curtail the benefits.

House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., released legislation that would send the full stimulus payment to individuals earning $75,000 per year and couples earning $150,000 per year. Congressional Democrats had explored curtailing that benefit to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for married couples, a position embraced by Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a conservative Democrat.

The broadening of stimulus check eligibility among middle class households is the latest sign that Democrats are moving ahead without Republican support on President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion economic relief package, which would also extend unemployment benefits, send hundreds billions to schools and local governments as well as strengthen vaccine delivery and health care. Even as the Senate proceeds this week with former president Donald Trump's impeachment trial, the House Ways and Means Committee and other panels will be working to finalize and vote on the coronavirus legislation. The final bill would need to be passed by both chambers of Congress to become law, but that could happen within weeks.

Compared with previous plans, Democrats are accelerating the rate at which the stimulus payments decline for higher-income earners, a move intended to prevent wealthy Americans from receiving the benefit. Under the new plan, singles earning $100,000 a year and couples earning $200,000 would receive no stimulus payments.

The stimulus checks would be based on taxpayers' 2019 or 2020 income returns, according to a summary of the proposal. The plan would aim to give full payments to those who qualify based on their 2020 returns, even if those are not processed for months.

The proposal comes amid days of internal disagreements among Democrats over how to structure the next round of stimulus payments, a core component of Biden's stimulus plan. The legislation still must be passed through the House and Senate, and it is unclear whether Manchin or other conservative Senate Democrats will object to the proposal.

Washington Post photo by Salwan Georges

Along with the stimulus payments, the House Ways and Means Committee released details Monday of other significant parts of the aid package, including a new child income tax credit for millions of American households. That benefit would offer $3,600-per-child over the course of a year for each child younger than six years of age, as well as $3,000-per-child for each child ages six to 17. Those child tax benefits would diminish for singles earning more than $75,000 a year and couples earning over $150,000.

The measure would also extend federal unemployment benefits, now set to expire in mid-March, through the end of August and increase the benefit amount from its current level of $300 a week to $400. Biden's initial plan called for funding additional unemployment benefits through September.

Additionally, Democrats included a $15-per-hour minimum wage in the package, although Biden has said that provision faces long odds in the Senate. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a report on Monday that estimates the minimum wage hike would cost 1.4 million jobs but lift 900,000 people out of poverty, intensifying the debate over that controversial provision.

"Our nation is struggling, the virus is still not contained, and the American people are counting on Congress to meet this moment with bold, immediate action," Neal said in a statement.

The bill would also "dramatically" increase premium subsidies for Americans receiving their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act for two years, said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy for the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit group.

The design of the checks have emerged as one of the most hotly debated provisions in the rescue package. Centrist lawmakers such as Manchin have called for narrowing the payments to prevent them from going to higher-income Americans, arguing that those who have not lost their jobs do not need help. That idea was met with increasing resistance from other members of the party, including Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senate Budget Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as well as House lawmakers in the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Asked about the new thresholds after Neal's plan was released, Manchin did not immediately attack them and said he was "just trying to make sure that people [receiving them] are truly in need."

Wyden said in a statement Monday that he would push for the unemployment benefits to be restored for the duration they were originally. "[I] am going to work to find a resolution that preserves both relief payments and jobless," Wyden said. "We can do both."

Manchin has influence over the issue, because the Senate is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, so Democrats need his vote as they aim to push the legislation forward without GOP support.

Wyden and Sanders have publicly criticized the proposals to lower the income thresholds to $50,000, saying middle-class families have suffered pay cuts and other economic shocks and need relief, too. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., whose election victory in January helped seal Democrats' Senate majority, also opposes lowering the threshold on the checks, according to a spokeswoman.

The White House has repeatedly said it is willing to compromise on the thresholds, with White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki saying the administration is open to negotiations with Congress on the matter. On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen suggested that the administration was not on board with Democrats' plans for lower income thresholds.

"The exact details of how it should be targeted are to be determined, but struggling middle-class families need help, too," Yellen said on CNN.

Biden gave similar remarks in an interview with CBS Evening News, saying he was "wide open" on the precise levels of the income threshold.

The debate about the check thresholds represents one of many disputes Democrats may face as they try to pass Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus package through Congress. There is a wide ideological gulf between the party's moderate and liberal wings, which is likely to produce numerous policy fights - over the $15-an-hour minimum wage; the scale of unemployment assistance; and the overall cost of the bill, among other things - on the way to passing their first major piece of legislation under Biden.

The split within the party appeared to intensify over the weekend. Manchin told WV News last week that he supported the next round of payments not going to individuals earning more than $50,000 or couples earning more than $100,00.

"An individual of $40,000 income or $50,000 income would receive it.  And a family who is making $80,000 or $100,000, not to exceed $100,000, would receive it," Manchin said. "Anything over that would not be eligible, because they are the people who really are hurting right now and need the help the most."

But on Twitter and on CNN this weekend, Sanders slammed Democrats for embracing a plan that would cut out individuals earning $52,000. He also pointed out the potential political downside for the new Democratic administration of sending fewer payments than Trump had. Wyden has also said in a statement that families that had received the first two payments would expect a third.

"Unbelievable  working class people who got checks from Trump would not get them from Biden. Brilliant!," Sanders said on Twitter.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said Monday she is in "nonstop" conversations with White House officials about "why this makes no sense, politically or policy-wise."

While passing a budget resolution through Congress earlier this month that set the stage for approval of the broader relief bill, Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Manchin co-sponsored an amendment to exclude affluent families from the stimulus checks. The plan did not define an income amount, leaving that open to interpretation. Sanders and all Democrats voted for the proposal.
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[February 09, 2021] Authomize Announces Collaboration with Microsoft, Providing Customers Secure and Automated Permission Management

TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Authomize, the automated cloud-based authorization management solution announced today the release of its integration with the Microsoft Graph API, enabling customers to better secure their organization's identity and application permissions. to build a secure and productive organizational authorization state. The collaboration provides Authomize customers contextual, explainable, prescriptive suggestions to achieve the right permissions state for their Microsoft services. Using the Microsoft Graph API, Authomize can now aggregate all the information required to offer IT and Security managers actionable recommendations for their permission granting decision making. By integrating with the Microsoft Graph API, Authomize can evaluate its customers' organization structure and the authorization details of various products and resources in the cloud. The organization's role assignments, groups security settings, Microsoft SharePoint sites, Microsoft OneDrive files access details, calendar sharing information, applications, and service principal access scopes and settings, and even information about other identity providers, are all available through this collaborative API. "Managing permissions in toay's complex IT environment is a big challenge both for IT and Security teams," said Dotan Bar Noy, Co-founder and CEO of Authomize. "Securely granting the exact scope and level of permissions to a growing number of human and non-human identities is a difficult and costly task. Our integration with the Microsoft Graph API allows us to understand the relationship between all identities and provide actionable recommendations that ensure security and enable better productivity."



Ben Summers, Director of Product Marketing at Microsoft Corp. said, "By enabling integrations with Microsoft Graph APIs, Authomize helps our mutual customers gain additional visibility and control of multiple solutions to reduce risk and improve permission management overhead. Microsoft Graph API facilitates Authomize's holistic approach and offers our customers access to granular authorization management capabilities, enabling increased visibility and secure authorization of all assets across Microsoft's SaaS solutions." Visit Authomize to learn more about our Microsoft Graph integration.

About Authomize Authomize enables organizations to manage and secure complex applications across hybrid environments. Our intelligent Prescriptive Analytics engine helps IT and Security teams flawlessly automate operations around authorizations to control and prevent permission sprawl, maximize productivity, and simplify the entire identity lifecycle management process. To learn more, visit www.authomize.com and follow us on Twitter @authomize. Related Links

https://www.authomize.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/authomize-announces-collaboration-with-microsoft-providing-customers-secure-and-automated-permission-management-301224186.html SOURCE Authomize

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The world oil markets are facing a perfect storm which eventually could lead to structural economic and geopolitical changes. While Covid-19 has decimated markets and slashed profits, climate awareness and a green restart are gaining momentum in most developed countries. While it remains uncertain how demand will develop over the next few decades, it is becoming more likely that the traditional economic power balance between international and national oil companies will change.

Before the oil crisis of 1973, Western oil companies were the dominant force on the global market with drilling, logistics, refining, and downstream capabilities. The wave of nationalism that swept through producing countries in the post-war period changed the balance when nationalization policies created National Oil Companies (NOC). Western firms were called International Oil Companies (IOC).

Ownership is power. In that sense, NOCs are no. 1 as they control the largest share of proven oil and gas reserves. While it may seem that the economic power balance has swayed in the favour of producing countries, the technical superiority of IOCs and a massive downstream infrastructure in developed countries has ensured relative stability.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic has sped up awareness and willingness across the world to decarbonize the economy. While oil remains an important source of energy consumption, sustainable policies could decrease demand. Predictions on this so-called peak oil demand differ. While OPEC remains optimistic in the long-term, several leading energy institutions are more gloomy. Bernstein Energy, Rystad, and the IEA expect it to occur in 2025-2030, 2028, and 2020-2030, respectively. This means that a fundamental change is underway.

Related Video: The Silver Squeeze Conspiracy

IOCs, by definition, are more flexible and willing to ride the wave of change than NOCs, whose strength is based on the massive domestic oil and gas reserves. Western energy firms are already rapidly developing a renewables portfolio that includes production (wind and solar), distribution (EV charging infrastructure), and alternative business models. NOCs, to the contrary, are doubling down on hydrocarbons.

The transformation is accelerating dramatically under pressure from the possible consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. It can already be seen in the record low investments by IOCs in greenfield projects. Furthermore, political, societal, and technical changes are reinforcing these developments. Compared to 2013, investments in new oil and gas projects by major Western energy companies have decreased significantly.

Not only societal pressure is increasing on IOCs, but also internally from shareholders. Dutch-British Shell has been facing activist shareholders whore pressing the company to do more on sustainability. Recently, in a landmark ruling in the Netherlands Shell was held responsible for oil pipeline leaks in the Niger Delta. It increases the headache of IOCs as the tide is changing.

At the same time, most developed countries are best positioned to decarbonize their societies. While oil is also used in industrial applications, most of the petroleum products go to the transportation sector. These EVs are rapidly becoming a normal part of life. Although it will take years before the combustion engine is 'dislodged', oil demand is already decreasing in these countries. However, the situation is completely different for the developing world where much of the economic growth is predicted to happen over the decades.

Therefore, oil will remain an important commodity and essential for many countries for the years to come. Decreasing investments by IOCs seem logical from a Western point of view, but the structural changes could have massive geopolitical ramifications. Already two of the three largest oil producers, Russia and Saudi Arabia, align their oil policies to exert maximum control over global markets.

Two developments could ensue: first, NOCs such as Saudi Aramco and Rosneft will see their global standing grow due to their rising share of relative global oil production. This includes political influence by their respective governments. Second, the world could be divided into two parts in the medium to long-term: carbon-based economies (developing) and moderately decarbonized economies (developed).

As the global economy continues to globalize, the relative influence of oil-producing countries will increase. Especially due to the political nature of oil trade, NOCs will increasingly become geopolitical tools. Developed countries, likely, will fare better as reliance will decrease due to less demand for petroleum products in the transportation sector.

By Vanand Meliksetian for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
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Romprest announces in a press release posted on Monday on its website, that it will take care, on its own expense, of stray dogs from Odai Shelter until the dispute with City Hall District 1 is closed, so that no animal will have to suffer, according to AGERPRES.

"We consider that animals without owners should not become collateral victims in the political wars of City Hall District 1 Mayor, Ms. Clotilde Armand and we hope that the legal situation of the shelter to return to normal as quickly as possible. We would like to thank the Bucharest City Hall for its availability of temporary taking over the financing of the Odai shelter, but our company has decided to take on the expenses connected to taking care of the stray animals. We would like to assure all animal lovers of Bucharest that the animals will be taken care of as they have until now and that the Romprest company will collaborate with the local authorities whenever it is necessary, so that the stray animals will benefit from the care that any living being deserves," Romprest says.

The mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, announced on Monday that the Odai shelter will be taken over by the Authority for Supervising and Protecting Animals (ASPA), the financing being ensured by the Bucharest City Hall for one or two months and "long term solutions" will be looked at.

The District 1 Mayor, Clotilde Armand, declared on Friday, after a meeting with the representatives of several associations that are fighting for animal protection, that the Odai shelter needs to be closed.
ALTON  YWCA has recieved a Healing Illinois grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services.

YWCA will be hosting thier DiverSTORY Times and CommUNITY Healing Circles. All virtual events are free to the public.

DiverSTORY is a session where children and their grownups come together to hear a childrens story about diversity and engage in guided conversations about diversity, inclusion and race. The session will include an interactive learning activity where families practice race-conscious conversations and ask questions of facilitators. The event is set for Saturday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. via Zoom.

The theme is Stand-Up: Advocating for Equity. The session will feature Speak Up! by Miranda Paul and Intersectional Allies by Carolyn Choi, Latoya Council and Chelsea Johnson. The YWCA will provide copies of the two books and learning activity materials to the first 10 families who register for this event. Registration for this event is closed.

The CommUNITY Healing Circle is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. via Zoom. Participants will discuss the concepts of race, ethnicity and identity. The first 20 participants will receive free copies of So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo.

The CommUNITY Conversation Circle will last about 90 minutes with follow-up book talk meetings for those interested. The format is not a lecture or presentation; attendees must be prepared to engage in safe, healthy and respectful dialogue.

To register for the CommUNITY Circle, please use the following link https://forms.gle/pkgyciLpdB9abfzM6. Or call 618-465-7774 or email info@metroeastywca.org.
Apple, which is known to keep product plans under tight wraps, has never acknowledged talks with the Korean automaker about building vehicles

Apple Inc's ( ) plans for an autonomous electric car looked less firm on Monday after South Koreas Hyundai Motor Co said it is no longer in talks with the tech giant about the project.

The announcement, just a month after the South Korean group confirmed early-stage talks with the iPhone maker, saw Hyundais stock slide 6% in Seoul, while shares in its affiliate Kia Corp, which had been tipped as the likely operational partner for Apple, dropped 15%.

In a statement on Monday, in compliance with Korean stock market rules requiring regular updates to investors regarding market rumours, the automakers said: We are receiving requests for co-operation in joint development of autonomous electric vehicles from various companies, but they are at early stage and nothing has been decided.

We are not having talks with Apple on developing autonomous vehicles, they added

Kia shares had jumped by over 60% since Hyundai initially confirmed a local media report early in January that Apple and Hyundai were in discussions to develop self-driving electric vehicles by 2027 and develop batteries at US factories operated by either Hyundai or Kia.

As recently as last week, media outlets including CNBC reported that a deal was close to being finalised.

In a report, Reuters noted that Hyundai is traditionally known for its reluctance to work with outsiders, making engines, transmissions and even its own steel in-house in a vertically integrated supply chain as South Koreas second-largest conglomerate.

Although shares in Kia and Hyundai had surged on news of the talks, internal opposition to becoming an Apple contract manufacturer was considerable, according to people familiar with the matter, Reuters added.

Apple, which is known to keep product plans under tight wraps, has never acknowledged talks with the Korean automaker about building vehicles.
The Catalyst is honoring North Alabamas entrepreneurs, and you can vote for the Peoples Choice Award winner.

The award will be given to the local entrepreneur who receives the most votes on AL.com through Feb. 21. That person will be honored during the 6th Annual Entrepreneur Awards Feb 26 at 11 a.m. The event will take place virtually.

The Entrepreneur Awards honor entrepreneurs who create a business out of an idea, and highlight the stories of North Alabama entrepreneurs active in the community.

Among the honors are Entrepreneur of the Year, Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year, Creative Entrepreneur of the Year, Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Veteran Entrepreneur of the Year, Youth Entrepreneur of the Year, Non-profit Entrepreneur of the Year, COVID Pivot Entrepreneur of the Year, Peoples Choice Entrepreneur of the Year and Entrepreneur Champion of the Year.

You can get to know the nominees here. Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. Feb. 20.

For more information on the event, click here.
Kingsolvers second poetry collection feels padded with minutiae, like a daybook that occasionally arrives at moments of consequential epiphany (at best) and nugatory platitude (at worst). Even the books title feels soggy, as if its on the same menu as Chicken Soup for the Soul. At times, the figurative language feels incongruous, as in The tourists bikinis touch down like witless butterflies / trying to suck nectar from the blazing sand and At the end of the long bowling alley lane / of a transatlantic flight, we crash and topple / like pins in the back of a Roman taxi.

The poet often bungles the representation of nonwhite people, usually because her approach is overwrought in its attempt to mean well. Take, for instance, How to Love Your Neighbor, in which the speaker insists that one must love all of ones neighbors including a woman / wrapping her hijab and Not just the morning shoppers (read: who are presumed to be white) and the man who walks his chortling dog (white) and the couples / with strawberry children (white and, yes, white).

Elsewhere, in My First Derby Party, Kingsolver recalls growing up in Kentucky where a thoroughbred was important enough for a swimming pool but the childrens schoolyard was gravel. Because of this disparity, she grew up hating horses. Now, as an adult, she has a realization: freeborn, field-stained, I wonder / at my old envy for the well-shod mansion slave. Perhaps shes denouncing that old envy, recognizing her privilege, but its not entirely clear how the well-shod mansion slave fits into the narrative. Is it a metaphor for the horse? If so, its an incredibly dehumanizing figure of speech. If these moments had been removed and the book distilled further, readers could have had an evocative glimpse into a daily life ripe with the poets curiosities.

AMERICAN MELANCHOLY

Poems

By Joyce Carol Oates

112 pp. Ecco. $26.99.

A third of the way into Oatess latest poetry collection, readers are confronted with a poem whose title bleeds into the first line:

This Is Not a Poem

in which the poet discovers

delicate white-parched bones

of a small creature

on a Great Lake shore

From there, Oates catalogs all the things this poem is not: no sere grasses hiss- / ing like consonants / in a foreign language, no metonymic moon / time-traveling for wisdom, lampoons of bad poetry. Instead, Oates writes, her poems are a slew / of words in search / of a container. Repetition appears to be one of Oatess favorite containers, as one sees in Doctor Help Me:

Because they would hate me forever.

Because they would never forgive me for shaming them.

Because they would kill me.

All are reasons to get an abortion, and it goes on for five pages. Oates, as always, has compelling insights about toxic masculinity and human brutality. Speaking through her characters, she often reveals the harrowing consequences of violence. In Little Albert, 1920, the baby featured in John Watsons psychological experiments says: Ask me did I adjust to life after the / infamous experiment. Ask me / did I overcome my terror of animals? But for all of Oatess moralizing about peoples inability to speak for themselves, her poem Bloodline, Elegy: Su Qijian Family, Beijing ignominiously constructs a singular voice for an entire Chinese family and portrays a whole nation as a homogeneous mass, as creatures of the hive who do not question the hive. One must hope that, after publishing this poem, Oates asks herself what she asks in another poem:
Christians in Myanmar are now calling for the Body of Christ all across the world to pray for them as helplessness invaded them following the turmoil, unrest and confusion brought about by the recent coup in their government.

Open Doors reported that Christians in Myanmar are not only feeling helpless, they also feel like their "hope has been taken away" with the military government reinstated once again in the country.

On Feb. 1, the coup brought back painful memories for the people of Myanmar when they were still under military government or military junta for almost 50 years from 1962 to 2011. In a rather violent move, Myanmar's military has detained a total of 24 high-ranking officials including their democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the country's president, Win Myint in response to election fraud allegations.

International Christian Concern (ICC) revealed that following the coup the military government has declared a state of emergency for a year until a new election. The whole country is not only in a state of unrest; worry also spread among churches who are already suffering from persecution. Believers are now becoming fearful that things can only get worse instead of better under another military rule.

One pastor from Rakhine State shared how he has lost sleep crying out to God for help because of the hopelessness of their current situation.

"It feels like our hope has been taken away. I couldn't sleep and I cried out to God more than three times that night. Our dreams, hopes, vision and freedom are taken away. Our lifetime has been full of grief, fear and trouble under the military regime. People are suffering because of the war. Job opportunities are also difficult at the moment, and we are depressed by the military coup because we had hoped for a ceasefire," the pastor shared.

Other believers in Myanmar expressed their sadness over the fact that high-ranking military officers now rule the different sectors of the government including cultural affairs, finance and border departments and also religion which means new suffering for Christians living in the country.

One of Open Doors' local partners shared her concern for the 4,000 Christians who were fleeing the jungles of Karen State including more than 500 believers who were missionaries trying to flee the Kyaukkyi Bago region. With the new political development, displaced Christians will be trapped with no means to go back to their homes. In addition, basic commodities like food, clothes and medicines will be very difficult to have given their present situation.

With an uncertain future and the fact that people already lost their jobs because of the pandemic, the war that may come with the new military government and insurgent group does not bode well not only for the believers, but the people of Myanmar.

Some of the believers shared how they are sad and scared but that churches are praying over the situation.

"The army is stationed in our area and we are very sad. The churches are very sad and are praying for the situation," a believer from Sagaing District shared.

A Mandalay pastor also shared: "The churches are praying. We are calm, but scared at the same time."

Jan Vermeer, Open Doors Communications Director for Asia, urged Christians around the world to pray for Myanmar and its believers to find peace and security in this trying time.

"While our partners do their best to respond on the ground, let's trust God to be their strength and shield. Our prayers go where we cannot," Vermeer said adding "Let's be one with our brothers and sisters in Myanmar through prayer."

Angelina Jolie has compared The One and Only Ivan to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 45-year-old star - who voices African bush elephant Stella in the Disney movie, which she also produced - has opened up on the themes of the film, which was adapted from Katherine Applegate's 2012 novel of the same name.

'There's something about the captivity of it too that I think was sadly speaking to children and helping each other through with feeling confined,' she told Variety. 'I think it spoke to kids and touched at a good time.'

Talking family: Angelina Jolie has compared The One and Only Ivan to the coronavirus pandemic. The 45-year-old star - who voices African bush elephant Stella in the Disney movie, which she also produced - has opened up on the themes of the film. Seen in 2019

The theme: 'There's something about the captivity of it too that I think was sadly speaking to children and helping each other through with feeling confined,' she told Variety . 'I think it spoke to kids and touched at a good time'

She has been living with all six of her kids in her Los Feliz, California mansion which is a five minute drive from ex Brad Pitt's mansion; he also spends time with the children but it is not clear how often.

The stars, who wed in 2014 and split in 2016 then became officially single in 2019, are still working out a custody agreement.

Jolie also reflected on her process when it came to breathing life into her character, who was created in incredible detail by the VFX team.

Her role: Jolie voiced the character of the mama elephant Stella; her little one Ruby was voiced by Brooklynn Prince

Mama bear: She has been living with all six of her kids in her Los Feliz, California mansion which is a five minute drive from ex Brad Pitt's mansion; he also spends time with the children but it is not clear how often. Seen in 2019

She explained: 'You're doing a being. What is this being? She has the weight and heaviness of being an older elephant.

'It was thinking about the being that had been captive and had been harmed, and an elephant who was worried about the next generation  what is the soul of an elephant, that's what it was.'

She also said that she wore an elephant onesie when doing her voice work and joked, 'That was my method moment.'

Her ex: Pitt is seen here in an ad for Miraval, a wine he created with his ex Angelina

She noted how the voice actors - also including the likes of Sam Rockwell (Ivan), Danny DeVito (Bob) and Dame Helen Mirren (Snickers) - altered their performances over time.

She added: 'We would do our voices, we would play with the scene and we would see what was created in CG and the VFX.

'We would redo the performance because the slowness of the breath or how long it takes to drag her feet when she's tired.

'Everyone would take painstaking efforts [to recreate and readjust that moment] because it mattered in this film.

'I remember the first time I saw some of the animals, I thought, 'There's a soul to it'. You don't realize how much work is put into it.'

The idea to do the movie came from one of her kids: 'My child, Shiloh brought the book to me, she had read it and she loved it.'

The One and Only Ivan was written by Katherine Applegate; it is based on a true story.

Jolie was so moved she starred in and produced.

The Salt actress said the story taught her six kids 'what activism can do and what sanctuaries are.' She added, 'Theres family and self-discovery' in the story.
A court in Beijing has sentenced Chinese literary figure Geng Xiaonan, who angered the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) by expressing public support for dissident professor Xu Zhangrun, to three years' imprisonment after finding her guilty of "illegal business operations."



Geng, her husband and co-defendant Qin Zhen and nine employees of the couple's publishing company arrived at Beijing's Haidian District People's Court at 9.30 a.m. to face charges of "illegal business operations," a charge often used to target critics of the CCP.



The court handed down a three-year jail term to Geng, while Qin received a two-and-a-half year suspended sentence. Both pleaded guilty.



"I plead guilty to everything that is in the indictment, to everything the prosecution has charged me with," Geng told the court. "I am grateful to have this precious opportunity here in court to admit my mistakes and to apologize."



"All of the evidence that has been read out against me just now is correct," Geng said in a video recording of the trial. She had earlier fired her defense attorney, rights lawyer Shang Baojun, a common demand made by the authorities in political cases.



Geng and Qin were accused of illegally preparing 200,000 copies of books for publication. However, the couple's trial is widely believed to be connected to her public support for Xu Zhangrun, an outspoken critic of CCP general secretary Xi Jinping.



Complicated case

A friend of Geng's told RFA: "This was mainly because she gave an interview to Bei Ming for RFA about Xu Zhangrun."



"They are suppressing her, like they did [former journalist] Chen Qiushi and [property mogul] Ren Zhiqiang before her," the friend said. "They are using economic crimes to target her for political reasons."



Outspoken political journalist Gao Yu said Geng had pleaded guilty and apologize to protect her employees.



"This case was so complicated and involved her husband along with about a dozen other people in the company," Gao told RFA. "She had mortgaged her house to start this company, and it has sustained heavy losses, with its assets left unattended."



"She has nothing left, so she had no choice. She had to do this to try to get a more lenient sentence [for everyone]," said Gao, who once made her own televized "confession" to stop the authorities from arresting her son.



A second friend of Geng's who gave only the surname Song, said Geng's "mistakes" had nothing to do with the publishing company, and that the three-year jail term was far too harsh.



"Geng Xiaonan is just a publisher of children's books and cookery books," Song said. "Even a one-year sentence would have been too long."



Trumped up charges

Geng and Qin were detained on Sept. 9, 2020 on suspicion of "illegal business operations," and formally arrested a month later. The charges were later escalated with the inclusion of hundreds of thousands more books in the list of "evidence," making a harsher sentence more likely.



Xu Zhangrun has called for the couple's release, saying in an open letter that "illegal business operations" is a blanket charge used to target people for political reasons, and has been arbitrarily applied to Geng and her husband.



Authorities in Beijing detained Xu on the morning of after he called online for political reforms, on allegations of "seeking out prostitutes."



He was released a week later, but later told the media that he had been fired from his teaching post and subjected to public sanctions for "moral corruption" by Tsinghua University's law school.



Charges of "seeking out prostitutes" have been used before by the Chinese authorities to target peaceful critics and activists, or anyone who runs afoul of local officials and powerful vested interests. Xu has lodged a legal challenge, and denies the charges.



Xu had penned a 10,000-word essay dated , 2020, in which he hit out at Xi Jinping for "isolating" China from the international community with his foreign policy.



The essay called for China's leaders to be held politically accountable, for the release of prisoners of conscience, including journalists and human rights lawyers, and for an end to the political targeting of academics.



Xu has also called for constitutional amendments allowing indefinite rule by Xi to be revoked, and for legislation requiring officials to publish details of their assets and financial interests.



Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Two west-central Illinois students were among more than 13,000 full-time students at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa to be named to the fall semester deans or presidents list.

To be named to the deans list, a student must earn a 3.5 or higher grade point average. For presidents list honors, a student must earn a 4.0 GPA.
Dozens of migrant children live without their parents in rough camps, abandoned factories, and houses they find on their way through Bosnia-Herzegovina. RFE/RL's Balkan Service spoke to Afghan boys in the northwest of the country who hope to find their way to a better life in the European Union.
The composition of the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and British pharma major AstraZeneca may have to be adjusted by vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute of India , after the World Health Organization s (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) expressed concerns over the effectiveness of the vaccine against the South African mutant coronavirus strain.

On Monday and Tuesday, SAGE reviewed the evidence on the vaccines effectiveness on new SARS CoV-2 variants, before making significant recommendations. Earlier, South Africa decided to stop the roll out of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after preliminary clinical trial findings published by the Wits Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit indicated that it offered minimal protection against the mild-moderate covid-19 infection from the B.1.351 variant of the coronavirus first identified in the country in November. The study involved around 2,000 volunteers.

COVAX, a global joint initiative of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and WHO, aimed at providing equal access to covid-19 vaccines in more than 92 low- and middle-income countries, said it is vitally important to determine the vaccines effectiveness when it comes to preventing more severe illnesses caused by the B.1.351 variant.

The development assumes significance for the Adar Poonawalla-led Serum Institute of India (SII), as COVAX has signed advance purchase agreements with AstraZeneca and SII, and has announced plans to distribute nearly 350 million doses in the first half of the year.

Though the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, branded as Covishield in India, was rolled out in the country, it is yet to receive a green signal for global use by COVAX. We expect a decision this month from WHO on whether the vaccines will be granted emergency use listing as well as SAGE recommendation on its optimal use," COVAX said.

The new playbook from Poonawallas firm may now involve booster shots and adapted vaccines.

With the virus changing, COVAX has further warned that manufacturers must be prepared to adjust to the SARS-CoV-2 viral evolution, including potentially providing future booster shots and adapted vaccines, if found to be scientifically necessary. Trials must be designed and maintained to allow any changes in efficacy to be assessed, and to be of sufficient scale and diversity to enable clear interpretation of results," the WHO said.

Mint reached out to Poonawalla, but he did not comment.

India has only one mutant strain of coronavirus, the UK variant, circulating. The government has cited studies to say that Bharat Biotechs Covaxin works against the mutant strain. It has, however, said that the surveillance for mutations in the virus will be increased after the vaccine efficacy issue was brought to its notice by South Africa.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-08 23:21:36|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Gao Yunlong, chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), on Monday encouraged private businesses to ensure full and high-quality employment and enhance people's well-being.

Gao made the remarks at a video gathering in Beijing to award private enterprises and entrepreneurs for their outstanding performance in creating jobs and caring for employees.

Praising the private sector in supporting employment last year, Gao called on private enterprises to make new and greater contributions to fully building a modern socialist country.

The meeting awarded honorary titles to 32 entrepreneurs in recognition of the care they have shown to employees, while 32 people were awarded for their contributions to enterprises.

The gathering was jointly held by the ACFIC, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. Enditem
GRAND KRU-Deputy Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa has disclosed that during his recent visit to Ghana, he had initiated negotiations with K-net for the installation of a first cellular communications tower in Dweken -- a town comprising of about 4,500 residents.

The visit of the Grand Kru County District two Representative at K-net in Accra, Ghana; is aimed to fulfill another promise for the populated and unreserved town of Dweken to be connected with the rest of the country and the world having successfully fulfilled his first promise over the connection of the people of Forpoh, Parluken to have access to communication for the first time over 36 years.

The site selection of the Universal Access Tower was through the lobbying efforts of the Grand Kru County District #2 lawmaker as part of representation and oversight, two of the cardinal duties of a Representative.

The installation of the tower cut the hearts of residents in Forpoh-Paluken for Rep. Koffa despite accumulating very low votes in that part of the district during the 2017 election.

However, making the disclosure on his Facebook on Monday, Deputy Speaker Koffa said his visit to Ghana, was of vital importance as he wanted to further understand the technology and for (cellular) extension to Dweken and other counties as per the agenda of the CDC lead government, emphasizing that technology is a key pillar of the Pro poor agenda.

According to the Deputy Speaker, K-net technology will also afford e-learning capabilities for rural schools across in an effort to address educational challenges.

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"The technology will also afford e-learning capabilities for rural schools to address educational challenges and will be discussed at the Grand Kru education summit scheduled for Easter Break," he noted.

Meanwhile, K-net is the contractor on the UAF pilot program that is currently providing rural telephone site to unreserved areas in Liberia and other countries.

K-NET is the leading provider of business-grade network solutions throughout West and Central Africa. K-NET is the leading provider of business-grade network solutions throughout West and Central Africa.

K-NET specializes in Connectivity Solutions on a Unified IP Communications Platform and delivering cutting edge services to today's and tomorrow's businesses dependent on Communications Infrastructure. These services include amongst others Data & Managed Networks, Internet Connectivity, K-NET Hosted Private Networks, IP Telephony, Hosting and Co-location, I.T. outsourcing, Turnkey Solutions and a host of others.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 11:49:42|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will host the Summit of China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) in Beijing on Tuesday and make a keynote speech, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced.

Cooperation between China and CEECs has become closer in multiple areas and Xi has expounded his views on developing China-CEECs relations on different occasions.

The following are some highlights of his recent words.

In a congratulatory message to Polish President Andrzej Duda last August, Xi said he is ready to work with Duda to grasp the opportunities of the joint construction of the Belt and Road as well as cooperation between China and CEECs so as to promote bilateral relations to new levels and bring benefits to both countries and peoples.

In a telephone conversation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban held in May 2020, Xi said he looks forward to meeting with Orban at an early date after the pandemic, so as to help lift the China-Hungary comprehensive strategic partnership as well as cooperation between China and CEECs to higher levels.

The Chinese president told Czech President Milos Zeman in a telephone conversation in April 2020 that China is ready to share its information and experience on epidemic control and prevention with the Czech side via bilateral channels and the mechanism for cooperation between China and CEECs, among others.

Congratulating Zoran Milanovic on his assumption as Croatia's president in February 2020, Xi said that Croatia and China enjoy strong political mutual trust, fruitful results in joint Belt and Road construction and positive cooperation within the framework of cooperation between China and CEECs.

In November 2019, during his talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Xi said that the China-CEECs cooperation mechanism enriches the meaning of the China-European Union comprehensive strategic partnership, and China is willing to work with Greece to consolidate the cooperation mechanism and jointly safeguard multilateralism and free trade to achieve all-win results. Enditem
A man who admitted to driving off without paying for petrol was sentenced to two months in prison at Kilkenny District Court.

Stephen Maher, 35 Melville Cove, Finglas, Dublin 11 admitted the offence which took place at Carrolls Petrol Station at Knocktopher, Kilkenny on October 23, 2019.

Sergeant Morgan OConnor told the court that on the date in question the defendant drove into the forecout and filled up with vehicle with 85 worth of petrol and made no attempt to pay for it and then drove off.

The court heard evidence that the defendant, who is 23, is unempolyed as a result of the pandemic.

At the time of the offending behaviour the defendant was homeless and was living in the vehicle and was not thinking straight.

His counsel told the court that his client was living in the vehicle at the time and that he is profoundly regretful for his actions.

Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted the defendant under section 4 of The Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

She sentenced him to two months in prison.
Fitbit is a fitness company that has now transitioned to health and wellness as it rolls out an update that would help in tracking blood sugar levels with its new app, making it easier to monitor bodily changes. While this update is a massive leap for Fitbit, it comes with a catch in monitoring blood sugar levels and that could be the hindrance of the technology.

The San Fransisco-based consumer electronics and fitness company initially gained recognition with its affordable and interactive smart devices, Fitbit is now debuting an update for everyone who uses its app. The application is one of the firsts in the world, particularly in health and wellness technology to feature a blood sugar level tracker.

Fitbit's integration of the Blood Sugar Level tracker in their application is one of the firsts in the world, as companies like Apple and Samsung plan to add this to their watches in their next releases. As Samsung is the first to release the Galaxy Watch3 earlier this January, Apple would still have the chance to add this to their later events, probably in Fall.

Read Also: COVID-19 Investigation: WHO Says They Found Evidence of Coronavirus Origin And It's Not From a Lab

Fitbit App Blood Sugar Level Tracker: What's New?

According to Fitbit's blog post, the application would be updating any time of the day, provided that the device's settings have automatic updates and are connected to a wireless network connection. The update would be beneficial for people who need a tracker for their blood sugar to avoid any unnecessary attacks or illness due to levels rising or falling.

What is most impressive with the application is that users can set a personalized range or limits within the app's latest update, and it can alert people whenever their new input is already over the border. Moreover, the application can provide updates and notices that would guide people to their sugar intake, particularly with the fitness tracker of the application.

While sugar levels heighten and drop at any moment, especially during periods of exercise and stationary positions, it can create alerts and help people with their sugar intakes. The update would be beneficial for those who still perform fitness activities with their smartwatches, with a more accurate reading of other factors that affect blood sugar.

The app would also provide graphs and data summaries to let its users know what the next step is to their blood sugar levels.

Fitbit App Update: What's the Catch?

However, the catch of the application is that it would only be an app to monitor and that the functionality is not yet available to use with its smartwatches. This means that users would have to have an external device that can detect blood sugar levels, and input them manually on Fitbit's application to keep track of what users need.

According to USA Today, Fitbit App users can use external blood sugar monitors like the OneTouch glucose meter, which can transport data to Fitbit with its app.

Related Article: Apple Watch Smartwatch-Based Monitoring System Can Track Illness Signs Among Parkinson Patients





This article is owned by Tech Times





Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
RABBIT ISLAND  Artists looking for inspiration from Michigans natural beauty are invited to apply for a unique residency program in the Upper Peninsula.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 Rabbit Island Residency Program in which artists can get paid $3,200 to live and work on Rabbit Island for three weeks.

The remote, 91-acre forested island in Lake Superior is located three miles east of Michigans Keweenaw Peninsula and is home to bald eagles and thriving lake trout and salmon populations.

Three residencies will be awarded for between mid-June and late-September. The program is made possible with the grant support from the National Endowment for the Arts and contributions from donors.

The residency reflects on the American continents four-hundred-year history of settlement and division of land, and stems from the idea that in a developed society intelligent organization of wild spaces is one of the most civilized things we can pursue, Rabbit Islands website reads.

The island itself, an unsettled and undivided space, enables artists to present commentary on these ideas, creating interpretations and solutions to issues of global importanceclimate change, loss of natural habitat, the value of pristine watersheds, the environmental implications of entrepreneurship, and so forth.

Modern understanding of our natural reality, as well as our cause-and-effect relationship to it, dictates a need for principles worthy of our time. If artists do not create the work that defines this new space, who will? Art is perhaps the purest form of creation and serves fittingly as a symbol for all human constructions.

Artists can apply online until 11:59 p.m. on March 14. Work of selected artists will be featured in the annual Rabbit Island publication.

For more information, visit rabbitisland.org.
When Alabamas Gov. Kay Ivey signed the states controversial Alabama Human Life Protection Act, a law that all but bans abortions in the state, she said to the bills many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God.

Tell that to Willie B. Smith III.

The state plans to execute the 51-year-old Smith on Thursday. So much for all that every life is precious talk.

Smith was sentenced to death in 1992 for the 1991 abduction, robbery and murder of Sharma Ruth Johnson. The victim, the sister of a police detective, was reportedly shot execution style at a cemetery. Her body was found in the trunk of her burned car. Smith and two other men are said to have stolen $100 from Johnson, a white woman, before shooting her in the back of the head with a shotgun. It was a horrible crime  but the states idea of justice seems to be in conflict not only with the words of its governor but the U.S. Constitution.

In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled that executing people who are intellectually disabled violates the 8th Amendments prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Smiths defense expert estimated his IQ at 64. The prosecution said it was at 72. The states threshold for execution has been 70, which partly explains why the court rejected Smiths claim  ignoring the findings of the defenses expert in the process.

Sadly, Smiths situation is not an outlier. The Death Penalty Information Center reviewed more than 130 cases in which the death penalty was overturned because the defendant was intellectually disabled. It found that more than 80% of those cases involved people of color. What Alabama is doing to Smith, who is Black, is even more appalling when you consider that a federal appeal court agreed that Smith would not have been subject to execution after the Supreme Courts 2002 decision, but because Smith was sentenced before 2002, it was allowed.

Thats right, Alabama  the state that claims life is a sacred gift from God  wants to put an intellectually disabled man to death because of bad timing.

In no way am I trying to minimize the crime Smith was convicted of or the pain caused by Johnsons murder. But the death penalty in this case  and in other cases  raises questions about the entire system. We are all familiar with stories of the wrongly convicted being set free years later. Cases like that of the Exonerated 5, in which five Black and Latino teenagers were wrongly convicted of the assault and rape of a white woman in Central Park in 1989. They were exonerated when the lone assailant came forward 13 years later to confess to the crime.

In late January, Rosa Jimenez was released from prison after 17 years, exonerated for a crime she did not commit with the help of the Innocence Project. She was wrongly convicted in the death of a toddler in 2005. Last year, the WNBA star Maya Moore was instrumental in getting Jonathan Irons out of prison after two decades of wrongful incarceration. This has happened so often that in 2004, Congress passed the Justice for All Act, which provides that those exonerated of federal crimes receive compensation  up to $100,000 for every year on death row.

It makes no sense to recognize the need to compensate those wrongly convicted, and yet still accept the use of the death penalty  a punishment that cant be reversed. This is just one of many things that flies in the face of rationality in a nation where pro-life politicians support the death penalty.

But hiding behind bad timing, as in the case of Smith, is simply unconscionable. Virtually everything about this case is disturbing, said Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center. Not only is Willie Smith intellectually disabled, two jurors voted for life. Alabama is the only state that allows death sentences to be imposed based on non-unanimous decisions.

A practice, Dunham said, rooted in racism.

After slavery there wasnt sufficient number of workers to work the plantations so Southern states started doing convict leasing, said Dunham, who has more than 25 years of experience as a death penalty litigator. That still didnt provide enough workers so they started making it easier to convict people.

And to be clear, he means Black people.

The modern legacy of slavery and Jim Crow is present throughout our judicial process and very often looks like an instrument of racial oppression more than justice, Dunham said.

When I read what happened to Johnson, my heart sunk. It was a heinous crime and I cant imagine what her family must be feeling. But I do know what its like watching our criminal justice system behave like a revenge system. I do know about outrage as I watch Alabama use bad timing as justification to sidestep the 8th Amendment. How sacred of a gift from God can life be if it becomes devalued as soon as it enters the justice system?

If Smith is executed in Alabama on Thursday, that tragedy will follow a move toward the light in Virginia last week. On Friday, lawmakers in Virginia voted to abolish the death penalty, which would make it the first state of the Confederacy to do so. I hope that moral action catches Gov. Iveys attention, if not remind her of her own words  that every life is precious. Even the ones convicted of a crime.

@LZGranderson

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

___

(c)2021 the Los Angeles Times

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
After parting ways with OnePlus, Carl Pei has revealed that his new startup, Nothing, will unveil a pair of wireless earphones sometime this summer. It will be the first device from the London-based firm, with more set to arrive later in 2021, according to Bloomberg. The company is being backed by Alphabets venture capital division, GV (formerly Google Ventures), which led a $15 million funding round.

Were building an ecosystem of smart devices, Pei told Bloomberg in an interview. Well start with simpler products, wireless earbuds. Were going to have multiple products throughout the year, not just audio products, and eventually we want to build it so these devices talk to each other.

Its first product will compete with the OnePlus Buds, among other products, and backers like GV no doubt hope that Nothing will enjoy a similar level of success. We have high confidence that with Carls global mindset, the Nothing team will have a meaningful impact on the market for consumer technology, said GV general partner Tom Hulme.

Nothing launched last month with some fanfare, counting investors like former Apple exec Tony Fadell, YouTuber Casey Neistat, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman and Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin. Until now, it wasnt known exactly what the company would produce. Now, it seems that Pei will compete with his former company, with an emphasis on multiple-device connectivity. Wireless earphones are a relatively safe way to start, so it will be more interesting to see what the company plans to reveal next.
Delta, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - AirTest Technologies Inc. (TSXV: AAT) (OTC: AATGF) ("AirTest" or "The Company" ) President George Graham is pleased to advise that, "AirTest sales in January 2021 are up 10% over last year and 35% over the average of the previous 8 months. After averaging more than $300,000 sales in the first 4 months of 2020, volume fell off largely due to a few of our larger accounts cutting back on their production levels. This dropped our sales to an average of less than $180,000 per month for the last 8 months of 2020. However, we still supply these larger accounts and they have been able to increase their production which enabled us to get up to $264,000 sales in January."



Our core business appears to be getting back to earlier levels, however there are some other factors which the Company feels will produce much larger sales levels going forward. In March AirTest will be introducing an upgraded version of parking garage monitors that will enable the Company to offer a very competitive version of this product line that can be connected to any type of building control system sold in the North American market. This will be followed early in the second quarter by the launch of our new TR9700 WiFi CO2/Temp/RH/Pressure sensor which will fit a large portion of Heating, Cooling and Air Quality applications. With that new technology AirTest should be in position to rapidly increase air quality in school classrooms, retail stores and other commercial buildings, while at the same time maximizing energy efficiency in buildings that have variable occupancy.



It will be necessary to add to existing sales coverage to take advantage of the market opportunities in front of the Company at this time.

About AirTest: AirTest Technologies (www.airtest.com) is a Green-Tech company specializing in sensors that improve commercial building operating efficiency and at the same time create energy savings. These sensors are all based on technical innovations developed in the last ten years, and comprise a growing second wave of energy saving technologies that will make a significant impact on making the large number of existing buildings green and sustainable. AirTest offers its products to leading-edge building owners, contractors and energy service companies targeting the buildings market. AirTest also provides energy cost reduction solutions to building equipment and controls manufacturers who incorporate AirTest sensor components in their products.

# # #

Statements about the Company's future expectations and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are "forward looking statements". The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbours created thereby. Since these statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the Company's actual results may differ materially from the expected results.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. George Graham, President

Phone: (604) 517 3888

Fax: (604) 517 3900

Email: ggraham@airtest.com

Website: www.airtest.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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73974
The Delhi Police on Monday withdrew the additional police force deployed at national capital borders, where farmers are camping for over two months demanding withdrawal of three farm laws, reports ANI.

As per an internal communication of Delhi Police, as accesed by ANI, the additional forces are asked to go back to their respective units and districts.

The deployment of the police force was increased in the Delhi borders following the violence during the farmers' tractor rally on January 26.

On Republic Day, protestors did not follow the prearranged route and broke barricades to enter Delhi, clashed with police and vandalised property in several parts of the national capital during the farmers' tractor rally. They also entered the Red Fort and unfurled their flags from its ramparts.

Police had also announced a reward of 50,000 each for the arrest of Jajbir Singh, Buta Singh, Sukhdev Singh and Iqbal Singh for their alleged involvement in the January 26 violence, according to the Delhi Police.

Farmers have been protesting at the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws: Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

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NEW DELHI : India has ordered 10 million more doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII) and 4.5 million more of a homegrown one from Bharat Biotech, company representatives told Reuters.

Just the two shots have been used in what India calls the world's biggest immunisation programme to cover 300 million people by August, starting with healthcare and other workers to reach the elderly and those with existing conditions by March.

SII, the world's biggest vaccine maker, had supplied 11 million doses for the inoculation campaign, which has covered 6.3 million front-line workers since it began on Jan. 16.

"The second order is already in place, it's for 10 million doses," an SII spokesman said, adding that the figure was part of the 100 million doses the company has agreed to sell to the government for 200 rupees ($2.74) each.

Bharat Biotech, which developed its vaccine with the state-run Indian Council of Medical Research, has supplied 5.5 million doses. A Bharat Biotech spokeswoman said it was selling 4.5 million more.

India's drug regulator says SII's COVISHIELD vaccine is about 72% effective, while Bharat Biotech says COVAXINs last-stage trial results are expected by March.

The regulator is expected to approve Russia's Sputnik V and Cadila Healthcare's ZyCov-D vaccines in the next few months.

India's infections rose 9,110 in the last 24 hours to stand at 10.85 million, the world's highest tally after the United States, though they have fallen sharply from a mid-September peak of nearly 100,000.

The health ministry said a daily toll of less than 100 deaths over the last four days took the total to more than 155,000.





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Hacker Tried to Poison Water Supply of Florida City: Sheriff

Investigations are underway after an unknown culprit tried to poison the water supply of a city in Florida, officials said.

The water treatment system in the city of Oldsmar in Pinellas County was hacked remotely on Jan. 5, and the amount of sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, was increased to more than 100 times its normal levels, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said at a Feb. 8 press conference.

Sodium hydroxide is used in small amounts to control acidity in water, but can be corrosive in larger amounts and is found in household cleaning supplies, including drain and oven cleaners.

This is somebody who is trying, as it appears on the surface, to do something bad. Its a bad act. Its a bad actor, he told reporters.

This isnt just, Oh, were putting a little bit of chlorine or a little bit of fluoride, or a little bit of something, were basically talking about lye that you are taking from 100 parts per million to 11,100, he added, noting that these were dangerous levels.

The targeted plant is the main source of drinking water for the citys 15,000 residents.

According to a statement from the sheriffs office, it was notified by the City of Oldsmar that their computer system was remotely accessed at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. by an unknown suspect.

A plant operator who was remotely monitoring the citys water supply said that he didnt find it unusual about the remote access at 8 a.m. because his supervisor remotely accesses the system regularly. But at 1:30 p.m., the system was accessed again, and this time the operator saw the concentration was being manipulated to more than 100 times its usual levels.

The person  remotely accessed the system for about 3 to 5 minutes, opening various functions on the screen, Gualtieri told reporters.

In this screen shot from a YouTube video posted by the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri speaks during a news conference as Oldsmar, Fla., Mayor Eric Seidel, left, listens, in Oldsmar, Fla., on Feb. 8, 2021. (Pinellas County Sheriffs Office via AP)

At no time was there a significant effect on the water being treated, and more importantly, the public was never in danger, he stated, adding that even if the operator hadnt caught the manipulation, it would have taken more than a day for the contaminated water to enter the citys water supply.

The Pinellas County Sheriffs Office, the FBI, and the Secret Service are investigating the situation. No one has been arrested. Gualtieri said its unclear why Oldsmar was targeted.

City officials told reporters at the conference that there are other safeguards in place that help stop contaminated water from entering the water supply. They also said theyve disabled the remote-access system used in the attack.

An advisory that Massachusetts recently posted for its public water suppliers said the intruder entered through a remote-access program called TeamViewer. It was loaded on all computers used by plant personnel, all of which were connected to the plants control system, the advisory said as of Feb. 10, adding that all users shared the same password  ignoring cybersecurity best practices. Further, those computers appeared to be connected directly to the Internet without any type of firewall protection installed.

The Massachusetts advisory said the FBI and other agencies had issued a situational report on the incident. An FBI spokesperson declined to comment on the report when reached out by The Associated Press. Similarly, Oldsmar officials declined to questions from the AP about cybersecurity measures at the plant.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Twitter announced that the incident should be treated as a matter of national security.

Sodium hydroxide poisoning can cause breathing difficulties, severe abdominal pain, vision loss, a rapid drop in blood pressure, and even death, according to the University of Florida Health System. The onset of such effects depends on how much of the poison is present in the water.

The long-term outcome depends on the extent of this damage. Damage to the esophagus and stomach continues to occur for several weeks after the poison was swallowed. Death may occur as long as a month later, according to the universitys website.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Update: This article has been updated with further details of the water plant hack.
After French President Emanuel Macron, last week, offered to mediate between the US and Iran as an honest broker for nuclear deal negotiations, Iran on Monday rejected the proposal, appearing reluctant about external intervention. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman on February 7 told state reporters that the Islamic Republic would not need a mediator, snubbing Frances mediation attempts as a go-between for Tehran and Washington. Macron, earlier on Feb.5, told Atlantic Council think-tank that he can broker talks between Iran and Biden administration in order to revive the 2015 nuclear accord. Irans Saeed Khatibzadeh, however, dismissed such a call in his recent comments to the press, saying Iran wasnt ready for mediation, without mentioning France.

I will do whatever I can to support any initiative from the US side to re-engage in a demanding dialogue, and I will try to be an honest broker and a committed broker in this dialogue, Macron told Atlantic Council. Furthermore, calling Saudi Arabia and Israel as key partners in the region, the French President suggested that these nations must also be involved as they would directly be interested in the outcomes of the US-Iran dialogue.

Read: Crew Still On Board Seized South Korean Ship Even After Iran Agreed To Release: Report

Read: Iran: US' Withdrawal From Saudi-led Military Offensive In Yemen Does Not End 'war'

The @CIJ_ICJ just dismissed all US preliminary objections in the case brought by Iran over unlawful US sanctions.



Another legal victory for Iran following 3 Oct. '18 Order.



Iran has always fully respected int'l law. High time for the US to live up to  int'l obligations.  Javad Zarif (@JZarif) February 3, 2021

In 2018, the former US President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iranian nuclear deal framework, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that his predecessor Barack Obama had agreed with Iran to lift sanctions in exchange for Tehran easing its nuclear activities. Trump reimposed a trade embargo and hit Iran with sanctions, additionally labelling the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization, and commanding the drone strike against Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad International Airport. The US, under the Trump administration, exercised a maximum pressure strategy against Tehran for the regimes hostage-taking and funding terror groups, as well as nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The people of Iran, though their heroic resistance against the imposed economic war, proved that the U.S. maximum pressure policy was doomed to fail, Rouhani said, in an AP report. He added Iran considers constructive engagement with the world as a strategy.

Return to 'path of complying'

With Joe Biden, elected as the President of the US, Irans president, Hassan Rouhani called on the new administration to compensate for past mistakes and return the US to Tehrans 2015 nuclear deal, in a highest-level response from Iran recorded ever. Now, an opportunity has come up for the next U.S. administration to compensate for past mistakes and return to the path of complying with international agreements through respect of international norms, AP cited state-run IRNA news agency quoting Irans Rouhani. Meanwhile, in favour of new negotiations, Frances Macron offered to be a broker, however unclear, whether Washington accepted French Presidents mediation ahead of a US National Security Council meeting on Irans Nuclear deal scheduled for Friday.

Read: Iran: US Must Lift Sanctions If It Wants Nuclear Deal

Read: Joe Biden Says US Will Not Lift Sanctions Until Iran Stops Uranium Enrichment
The second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump begins on Tuesday, about a month after he was charged by the House with incitement of insurrection for his role in egging on a violent mob that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Heres what you need to know.

How will the trial unfold?

Senate Democrats and Republicans, joined by the House impeachment managers and Trumps legal team, reached a bipartisan agreement on Monday that would pave the way for an especially quick and efficient proceeding that could be over by early next week.

The rules allow each side up to 16 hours to lay out its case. The Senate is poised to vote to approve the rules and formally begin the trial at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

Up to four hours will be devoted to debating the constitutionality of impeaching a president who is no longer in office. If a simple majority of senators agree to move forward, as expected, the main part of the trial begins.

Starting Wednesday, the prosecution and the defense will have 16 hours each to present their cases to the senators, who are serving as a jury. The oral arguments will continue at least through Friday, but could extend into next week.

Tradition dictates that senators are then allowed at least one day to ask questions. This time, senators may give House managers the option to force a debate and vote on calling witnesses, but it is unclear if they will choose to do so. The trial is expected to conclude with closing arguments and a final vote on whether to convict Trump.

What are the arguments on both sides?

In a fast-paced and cinematic case, the House managers will argue before the Senate that Trump is guilty of inciting a deadly mob of his supporters to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6.

The prosecution plans to show videos captured by the mob, Trumps unvarnished words and criminal pleas from rioters who said they acted at the former presidents behest. In trying to rekindle the outrage around the assault, which sent lawmakers into hiding as they met to certify President Joe Bidens victory, House managers are aiming for a conviction and to bar Trump from holding office again.

We think that every American should be aware of what happened, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md. and the lead prosecutor, said in an interview. That the reason he was impeached by the House and the reason he should be convicted and disqualified from holding future federal office is to make sure that such an attack on our democracy and Constitution never happens again.

In a 78-page brief filed Monday, Trumps lawyers argued that the impeachment proceedings were unconstitutional because Congress has no basis for judging a former president. No former president has ever been impeached, but the trial is not without precedent: The Senate tried a war secretary in the 1870s after he had left office.

On Friday, more than 140 constitutional lawyers took aim at the argument put forth by Trumps lawyers, calling it legally frivolous. However, it could still give Republican senators political cover to reject the charges on a technical issue without being forced to focus on Trumps behavior.

Is Trump likely to be convicted?

Whatever unfolds in arguments throughout the week, few expect that enough Senate Republicans will vote differently than they did in Trumps first impeachment trial.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said as much on Sunday, suggesting on the CBS program Face the Nation that the outcome of the trial was really not in doubt.

When the Senate voted to acquit Trump last year, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah was the only Republican to join Democrats in voting to convict.

This time, he may not be alone.

Several other Republicans, including Sens. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania and Susan Collins of Maine, indicated that they had serious concerns about Trumps role in inciting violence.

But less than two weeks ago, 45 Republicans voted to dismiss the entire impeachment proceeding as unconstitutional, strongly indicating that the threshold of 67 votes  or two-thirds of the chamber  needed to convict might be out of reach.

How can I follow the trial?

The New York Times congressional team will be following the developments on Capitol Hill. Visit nytimes.com for coverage throughout the week.

The proceedings will also be streamed online by C-SPAN and televised by major networks, including CNN and PBS.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Iowa's Governor Kimberly Reynolds has lifted on Sunday through a Proclamation Of Disaster Emergency the statewide restrictions placed in line with the coronavirus for mass gatherings, social distancing, and masking, a report said.

As per The Blaze, the governor has lifted the statewide COVID mandate set in November and now encourages "personal responsibility" instead such that there are "no more mandatory masks social distancing, or gathering restrictions. The Washington Post and Des Moines Register reported similarly.

The Blaze said Iowans are now "free to make more decisions for themselves as responsible adults" instead of the government mandating them because Reynold's proclamation "promotes personal responsibility and common sense" instead of essentially the "quarantining of healthy people."

Meanwhile, Reynold's 22-page "Proclamation Of Disaster Emergency" primarily aims for the "protection of vulnerable Iowans" and the protection of the "employee and public." It also provided the new guidelines for gatherings and the instructions for dental services, mandatory screening of health facility staff, in-person instruction at schools, education workforce licensure relief, education field experience flexibility, private instruction requirements, and authorization of certain remote learning, among others.

The Republican governor reinforced through the proclamation that the "state of public health disaster emergency continues to exist throughout the entire state of Iowa" until March 7, 2021.

"I continue to strongly encourage all vulnerable Iowans including those with preexisting medical conditions and those older than 65, in all counties of the state to continue to limit their activities outside their home, including their visits to businesses and other establishments and their participation in gatherings of any size and any purpose. And I encourage all Iowans to limit their in-person interactions with vulnerable Iowans and to exercise particular care and caution when engaging in any necessary interactions," she stressed in Section One of the Proclamation.

She also encouraged all businesses and other employers that are still in operation to "take reasonable measures under the circumstances of each establishment to ensure the health of employees, patrons, and members of the public." By this, she highlighted compliance to "social distancing practices, increased hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Public Health."

"I strongly encourage that a gathering organizer or host take reasonable measures under the circumstances of each gathering to ensure the health o participants and members of the public ,including social distancing, increased hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with the guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Public Health," she said under Section 3 of the Proclamation.

According to The Blaze, the Democrat Mayors of Des Moines and Iowa City have expressed contradiction to Reynold's proclamation and insists to enforce mask mandates amongst their constituents.

Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie told the Register that the presence of positive COVID-19 cases and the detection of the latest version of the virus in the state is in contrast to the governor's proclamation making it "confusing and can't be rationalized."

While Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague said that their masking mandate, which runs until end of May 2021, is not impacted by the governor's latest order.

"Residents should continue to wear masks in all public spaces within Iowa City in accordance with the City's order," Teague emphasized.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Veteran Onondaga County Legislator Casey Jordan, R-Clay, resigned his seat Friday to take a full-time job in the county law department. County Executive Ryan McMahon is expected to appoint Jordans successor soon, said David Knapp, legislature chairman.

Jordan, 59, has been a county legislator for 14 years. He was appointed in November 2006 by then-County Executive Nick Pirro and was elected seven times thereafter. He represented the 14th District, which includes the eastern half of the town of Clay.

Whoever McMahon appoints to succeed Jordan will have to win election in November to keep the seat.

Jordan had chaired the legislatures Environmental Protection Committee. Legislator Judy Tassone, R-Salina, will take over that role.

Until now, Jordan had been a lawyer in private practice. His private legal work focused on matrimonial and family, criminal, estate planning, wills and probate, and corporate and commercial litigation and collections, according to the Jordan Law Offices website.

Jordan is expected to work mainly on Family Court matters and public assistance issues at the county law department, Knapp said. Jordans new salary is $83,659, according to the county comptroller. As a legislator, Jordan earned $31,762.

Jordan could not immediately be reached for comment.

There is a tradition of appointing long-time county legislators to county jobs. The increase in pay helps the employee boost their government pension. And the open legislative seat lets the county executive pick a successor.

In the past decade, at least seven former legislators have been appointed to full-time county jobs, including Jordan.

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

New Delhi: In his first official interaction with Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed a host of issues with the US President and also took the opportunity to invite him and First lady, Dr Jill Biden, to visit India at their earliest convenience.

In a tweet, PM Modi said that he conveyed his best wishes to the US President, and the two leaders discussed regional issues as well as shared priorities.

Spoke to @POTUS @JoeBiden and conveyed my best wishes for his success. We discussed regional issues and our shared priorities. We also agreed to further our co-operation against climate change.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 8, 2021

"We also agreed to further our cooperation against climate change," he said. "President Biden & I are committed to a rules-based order. We look forward to consolidating our strategic partnership to further peace & security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond," PM Narendra Modi said in another tweet.

President @JoeBiden and I are committed to a rules-based international order. We look forward to consolidating our strategic partnership to further peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. @POTUS  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 8, 2021

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders discussed at length regional developments and the wider geopolitical context. They also noted that the India-US partnership is firmly anchored in a shared commitment to democratic values and common strategic interests.

Prime Minister Modi warmly congratulated President Biden, conveyed best wishes for his tenure, and said he looked forward to working closely with him to further elevate the India-US Strategic Partnership.

Both the leaders reiterated the importance of working with like-minded countries to ensure a rules-based international order and a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

While both leaders affirmed the importance of addressing the challenge of global climate change, the Prime Minister welcomed Biden`s decision to re-commit to the Paris Agreement and highlighted the ambitious targets India has set for itself in the area of renewable energy.

He also welcomed the US Presidents initiative to organise the Climate Leaders Summit in April this year and looked forward to participating in the same. This was the first conversation between PM Modi and Biden since the latter`s inauguration as the US President on January 20.

According to a statement by the White House, Biden committed that the US and India will work closely to combat COVID-19, climate change, rebuild the global economy and stand together against global terrorism.

Biden also underscored his desire to defend democratic institutions and norms around the world and noted that a shared commitment to democratic values is the bedrock for the US-India relationship.

Last month, Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris took oath as first woman vice president in a historic but scaled-down ceremony. Tweeting soon after Biden's inauguration, PM Modi had extended best wishes for a successful term and said the two countries stand united and resilient in addressing common challenges and advancing global peace and security.

Noting that the India-US partnership is based on shared values, Modi had said the two countries have a substantial and multi-faceted bilateral agenda, growing economic engagement and vibrant people to people linkages.

Biden is known to be a strong proponent of closer India-US ties since his days as a senator in the 1970s and played a key role in getting the approval of the Senate for the bilateral civil nuclear deal in 2008.

The strategic and defence ties between India and the US witnessed major expansion during Barack Obama's presidency and Biden, as the vice president, had played a key role in it.

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BURTON, MI  A new business moving into a vacant commercial building in Burton could generate some growth for surrounding facilities.

Flint Township-based NorthGate was approved for a variance by the citys Zoning Board of Appeals in November to use the former Lowes building, located at 4274 E. Court St., for light industrial use in a planned shopping center.

If the development takes place, the variance allows Northgate to develop the building for their purposes.

The warehousing, packaging and distribution company also recently purchased the former Lowes building in Flint Township, located at 2100 T A Mansour Boulevard.

Both former home improvement stores have sat vacant for nearly two years as part of a move by the company that shuttered more than 50 underperforming stores in the United States and Canada.

Related: Burton, Flint Township Lowes stores closing Sunday

There are many opportunities for new businesses to come and help Burton expand and attract new customers, according to city leaders and local businesses.

Burton Mayor Duane Haskins said the potential of the business bringing new life to the Lowes building would be great.

To fill a vacated building and have a business in there with employment opportunities is obviously great, and of course if you have 80 employees or 100 employees that travel to and from work, and the restaurant district area with the mall and everything else that we have of course the more that we can build things up the better.

Haskins recalled preliminary figures from NorthGate, which cited potentially hiring 80-100 people for the new site.

The city of Burton, ever since Ive been here, the whole thing has been growth, revitalization, attracting new businesses, Haskins said.

Multiple requests by MLive-The Flint Journal for comment from NorthGate were not returned.

The business, headquartered at G-3367 Corunna Road, would become a neighbor to businesses such as the Courtland Center mall, Starlite Burger and Coney Shop and Bigfoot Wellness.

Brandi Gostlin, a budtender at Bigfoot Wellness, a cannabis dispensary on East Court Street, said the new business would be beneficial to the business.

It seems like this area is a little slow sometimes, and I think if you increase business in this area, its definitely going to help traffic flow over in our area as well, Gostlin said.

In the last seven years, a VGs grocery store in the area closed and Courtland Center Mall has been sold twice in attempts to revitalize the longstanding facility which opened in 1969.

Related: Spartan Stores Burton VGs will close, says notice sent to state

Gostlin said the five-year-old dispensary has been impacted by COVID-19, and at times business has been slow. The business has only offered curbside pick-up throughout the entire pandemic, she said.

Theres like tons of vacant buildings and the mall over there is just really sad, Gostlin said. Its kind of hard to see over there, so it would be nice to get it freshened up with a new business over there.

Read more on MLive:

Flint Township approves NorthGate to expand at former Lowes, bringing jobs

Shop owner optimistic about Courtland Centers future after mall sold for $6 million

Flint company Security Packaging changes name to NorthGate
Media release

DKSH reports solid 2020 results, strong Free Cash Flow and proposes higher dividend

Despite COVID-19, DKSH reports key figures broadly stable on last year 's level - at CER1

Second consecutive year of EBIT growth in Fast Moving Consumer Goods

Strong Free Cash Flow of CHF 210.2 million (+34.1%)

Assuming an easing of the impact of COVID-19, higher EBIT expected in 2021

Key figures Group(in CHF million) 2020 2019 ?in % CHF ?in % CER1 Net sales 10,742.2 11,579.2 (7.2) (2.1) Operating profit (EBIT) 257.5 265.4 (3.0) 2.4 Adjusted operating profit (EBIT)2 257.5 279.9 (8.0) (2.9) Profit after tax 164.8 176.1 (6.4) (1.8) Free Cash Flow 210.2 156.7 34.1 - Dividend (in CHF) 1.953 1.90 2.6 -

1 Constant exchange rates (CER): 2020 figures converted at 2019 exchange rates

2 Excluding restructuring costs in 2019 of CHF 14.5 million

3 Proposal of the Board of Directors

Zurich, Switzerland, February 9, 2021 - Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, DKSH reported solid 2020 results. Net sales, EBIT and profit after tax at constant exchange rates broadly matched last year's level. In addition, DKSH increased its Free Cash Flow by 34.1% to CHF 210.2 million and proposed a higher dividend of CHF 1.95 per share (+2.6%). Business Unit Performance Materials expanded its position as a leading specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor and the Fast Moving Consumer Goods business increased profits for the second consecutive year. DKSH leveraged its digital capabilities, increased eCommerce sales double-digit and integrated two acquisitions in 2020.

DKSH CEO Stefan P. Butz said: "In this unprecedented year, our highest priority was to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees and stakeholders. We reliably supplied products and played a critical role in responding to the pandemic. Our solid results and strong cash flow are a proof of our disciplined teamwork, resilient business model and diligent strategy implementation. The visibility on the evolution of the pandemic remains limited, however, we are confident about the long-term potential in Asia and are well positioned to benefit from favorable market, industry and consolidation trends."

DKSH Group

In 2020, Group net sales declined by 7.2% to CHF 10.7 billion, however, exchange rates had a negative impact of 5.1%. Acquisitions contributed 2.1%, which resulted in an organic growth of -4.2% (see appendix on page 3).

The pandemic-related restrictions, lockdowns and travel bans resulted in a GDP contraction. Despite these challenges, EBIT stood at CHF 257.5 million. Profit after tax was CHF 164.8 million and the Free Cash Flow of CHF 210.2 million increased due to better inventory and receivables management and the unwinding of working capital from lower sales.

Business Unit Healthcare

COVID-19 led to softer demand from hospitals and lower medical tourism in Asia. Business Unit Healthcare continued to reliably supply medication and proved resilient due to its diversified portfolio across channels, categories and markets as well as client wins and extensions.

EBIT at constant exchange rates remained at last year's level due to a higher share of commercial outsourcing partnerships and stringent cost management.

Demand for healthcare services has not yet recovered, visibility on future patient flows is limited and medical tourism remains at a minimal level. The Unit continues to monitor expenses, expand digital channels as well as focus on commercial outsourcing deals and higher added-value partnerships.

Key figures Healthcare (in CHF million) 2020 2019 ?in % CHF ?in % CER1 Net sales 5,424.1 6,014.9 (9.8) (5.1) Operating profit (EBIT) 129.8 134.5 (3.5) 0.4

Business Unit Consumer Goods

The transformation of the Fast Moving Consumer Goodsbusiness, initiated at the end of 2018, progressed well in 2020. EBIT increased strongly due to a leaner structure and an optimized product portfolio led by a strong leadership team as well as strategic client wins and improved supply chain operations. DKSH expanded its footprint in eCommerce and Indonesia, successfully integrated all acquired companies and remains confident about the further transformation of the business.

As many shops closed during lockdowns and tourist numbers fell, net sales and EBIT declined by a substantial double-digit percentage in the Luxury and Lifestyle segment. DKSH implemented cost-saving initiatives which will support profitability going forward. The watch brand Maurice Lacroix gained market share and reported a small profit for the second year in a row.

In sum, net sales and EBIT for Business Unit Consumer Goods at constant exchange rates remained at last year's level.

Key figures Consumer Goods (in CHF million) 2020 2019 ?in % CHF ?in % CER1 Net sales 3,827.6 4,120.9 (7.1) (1.4) Operating profit (EBIT) 64.6 68.4 (5.6) 1.2 Adjusted operating profit (EBIT)4 64.6 82.9 (22.1) (16.5)

4 Excluding restructuring costs in 2019 of CHF 14.5 million

Business Unit Performance Materials

Business Unit Performance Materials delivered another year of net sales and EBIT growth. Net sales of CHF 1.1 billion increased by 15.1% at constant exchange rates, as the Unit expanded with clients and consolidated acquired businesses. The life sciences segment, where DKSH caters to the pharma, food and beverage as well as personal care industries, performed well and accounts for around two-thirds of the Business Unit. In line with the strategy to strengthen its geographical reach, DKSH acquired Axieo in Australia and New Zealand. The EBIT of CHF 91.7 million grew 7.0% at constant exchange rates. Integration costs for Axieo slightly diluted margins in the first year.

A resilient business model, continued business development, the focus on value-added services and digital marketing activities provide growth opportunities in the future.

Key figures Performance Materials (in CHF million) 2020 2019 ?in % CHF ?in % CER1 Net sales 1,108.0 1,011.5 9.5 15.1 Operating profit (EBIT) 91.7 89.7 2.2 7.0

Business Unit Technology

Many customers temporarily shut down production facilities and put investments on hold. Consequently, net sales declined by 6.7% at constant exchange rates and EBIT was CHF 21.8 million.

The Business Unit realized cost savings of a high single-digit million and drove forward its strategic initiatives to increase resilience and deliver growth to exceed pre-COVID levels in the mid-term. DKSH intensified business development focusing on growing segments like scientific instrumentation, precision machinery, Industry 4.0 and after-sales services. The Business Unit's digital transformation is well under way and will be intensified moving forward.

Key figures Technology (in CHF million) 2020 2019 ?in % CHF ?in % CER1 Net sales 382.5 431.9 (11.4) (6.7) Operating profit (EBIT) 21.8 26.8 (18.7) (13.8)

Outlook

While visibility on the evolution of the pandemic remains limited, DKSH is optimistic that 2021 will bring a return to some form of normality and an improved economic outlook. A robust business model, large share of daily consumption items and strong balance sheet provide resilience and offer growth opportunities. DKSH is convinced that it will emerge stronger from last year's challenges. The Group will continue developing its business through diligent strategy implementation, digitization, sustainability and M&As, while focusing on operational excellence and cost discipline. For 2021, DKSH expects an EBIT above last year assuming an easing of the impact of COVID-19 such as rebounding tourism and stable currencies. DKSH will strive to continue its progressive dividend policy and to drive market consolidation via M&As. Beyond short-term uncertainties, DKSH remains confident about Asia's long-term potential and is well positioned to benefit from favorable market, industry and consolidation trends.



Further information

The media conference will take place today at 9:30 a.m. CET and the investor call at 11:30 a.m. CET. The Annual Report 2020 and the recording of the investor webcast will be available on the DKSH website.

Annual General Meeting

DKSH will hold its 88th Annual General Meeting on March 18, 2021 without physical presence of shareholders due to the pandemic. Accordingly, the shareholders will have to exercise their rights via the independent proxy, as will be explained in more detail in the invitation to the Annual General Meeting. The invitation will also be available on the DKSH website.

Appendix: Reconciliation table net sales

(in CHF million) 2020 2019 % CHF % organic* % M&A* % FX* DKSH Group 10,742.2 11,579.2 (7.2) (4.2) 2.1 (5.1) Healthcare 5,424.1 6,014.9 (9.8) (5.1) - (4.7) Consumer Goods 3,827.6 4,120.9 (7.1) (4.4) 3.0 (5.7) Performance Materials 1,108.0 1,011.5 9.5 3.5 11.6 (5.6) Technology 382.5 431.9 (11.4) (8.5) 1.8 (4.7)

*Organic: Difference 2020 figures to 2019 figures excluding M&A and FX

M&A: Auric Pacific, CTD and Crossmark (Consumer Goods), Dols and Axieo (Performance Materials) and SPC (Technology)

FX: Impact from currency translation on net sales

About DKSH

At DKSH, our purpose is to enrich people's lives. For more than 150 years, we have been delivering growth for companies in Asia and beyond across our Business Units Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Performance Materials and Technology. As a leading Market Expansion Services provider, we offer sourcing, market insights, marketing and sales, eCommerce, distribution and logistics as well as after-sales services. Listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, DKSH operates in 36 markets with 32,450 specialists, generating net sales of CHF 10.7 billion in 2020. www.dksh.com

For further information, please contact:

DKSH Holding Ltd.

Till Leisner

Head, Group Investor & Media Relations

Phone +41 44 386 7315

till.leisner@dksh.com

Demet Bicer

Senior Specialist, Group Media Relations

Phone +41 44 386 7217

demet.bicer@dksh.com
The Senate has received a formal request from President Muhammadu Buhari for the confirmation of the newly appointed service chiefs.

The request, contained in a letter dated January, 27, was read by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, during plenary on Tuesday.

The new service chiefs are the Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor, a major general and the Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, also a major general.

Others are the Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Gambo, a rear admiral, and the Chief of Air staff, Isiaka Amao, an air vice marshal.

They will replace the former set of service chiefs  Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar.

The letter comes about a week after the presidency announced the resignation of the former service chiefs as well as the appointment of the new set.

The appointments, Mr Buhari said, were in compliance with Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act. Cap A20 Laws the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Also, in a separate letter, the president sought confirmation of the appointment of the former service chiefs as non-career ambassadors  an announcement that was made one week after their resignation.

Condemnation

The nominations sparked outrage among Nigerians with many condemning the presidents decision and rating low the performance of the former service chiefs amidst growing insecurity in the country.

The opposition party, PDP, also accused the Buhari administration of attempting to shield the ex-service chiefs from investigation and subsequent prosecution for alleged crimes against humanity.

But in reaction to public criticism, the presidency described the ambassadorial nomination as a reward for hard work and exceptional sacrifice.

In a letter dated February 4, and read during plenary by Mr Lawan, Mr Buhari said the appointments were duly carried out in accordance to section 171(1),(2)(c) & sub-section (4) of 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Other appointments

Meanwhile, the president also sought the Senates confirmation of Victor Muruako as Chairman for the Fiscal Responsibility Commission.

In another letter, Mr Buhari said the confirmation request was made in accordance with provision of Section 5(3) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.

He also asked the Senate to confirm Aghughu Adolphus as Auditor-General of the Federation  pursuant to section 86(1) of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); Larry Chukwu as Commissioner representing South-East, at the Nigerian Law Reform Commission and Wakil Bukar as Commissioner representing Bauchi, Borno and Yobe States, at the Federal Civil Service Commission.

They were all conveyed in separate letters read out by the senate president.

In his welcome address, Mr Lawan said he hoped that important legislations like the Petroleum Industry Bill will be considered by the end of April and the Electoral Act, before the end of the second quarter.

He called for calm on the recent emergence of inter-ethnic and inter-tribal conflicts in some parts of the country. This is even as he urged leaders to unite and fight defeat criminality in the country.

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Adjournment

The lawmakers suspended all legislative activities for the day in honour a member of the House of Representative, Ossy Prestige, who died recently.

The late lawmaker was initially in a hospital in the United Kingdom but was later transferred to another hospital in Germany, where he died, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, said on Tuesday.

The late lawmaker represented Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. He was first elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019.

Full legislative activities are expected to resume at the National Assembly on Wednesday.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-10 00:09:21|Editor: huaxia

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VALLETTA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Malta's imports from the UK, its main import partner, dropped by 1 billion euros in 2020, a staggering 70 percent decline year-on-year, official figures released on Tuesday show.

Imports from the UK in 2020 amounted to just 397 million euros, drastically down from the around 1.4 billion euros worth of goods it imported from Britain in 2019, according to figures issued by Malta's National Statistics Office (NSO).

Malta's imports and exports in 2020 decreased by 2.1 billion euros and 676 million euros, respectively. Figures show that Malta ended 2020 with a trade deficit of just under 2.2 billion euros - a decrease of 1.5 billion euros year-on-year.

But trade in Malta recorded a deficit of 101.5 million euros in December last year, more than double the 37.7-million-euro deficit recorded in the same month the previous year.

The NSO said lower imports were mainly recorded in machinery and transport equipment (1.3 billion euros) and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (657 million euros). With regard to exports, mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials dropped by 457 million euros, exports of machinery and transport equipment went down by 109 million euros while exports of food products declined by 52 million.

Imports from the European Union (EU) reached just over 2.8 billion euros, a drop of 527 million euros from 2019. Imports from the EU accounted for 53.3 percent of Malta's total imports. The single largest growth in imports was from Algeria, up by 103 million euros in 2020.

According to the NSO, the main increase in exports was directed to China, amounting to 4.6 million euros whereas Italy registered the highest decrease of 120 million euros. (1 euro = 1.21 U.S. dollars) Enditem
Patna: The police have arrested 2 accused and took action in the case of killing and burning a minor girl in Motihari district of Bihar after raping her. The police can also arrest Sanjeev Kumar Ranjan, in-charge of Kundwa Chainpur Police Station, Motihari, in the case of laxity and negligence in this case.

The incident took place on 21 January, when a girl from Nepal was raped and murdered under the Kundwa Chainpur police station area of Motihari. On February 2, the police had registered an FIR in the case of raping and killing the girl. It is alleged that after the incident, the family of the victim's girl had tried to register an FIR at the Kundwa Chainpur police station, but the police were lax in this whole case and refused to register the FIR.

Finally, on February 2, an FIR was registered in this entire case and the victim's family accused her of raping and killing her. In the complaint, the victim's family accused 4 of the accused of gang rape and murder and accused 7 people of forcibly burning the body and erasing evidence. In this case, the police have taken action and arrested two named accused and SIT has been constituted for the arrest of other accused.

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Customs officials at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport nabbed a man who landed from Dubai and left gold worth Rs 85 lakh in the toilet of the aircraft, as per a TNN report. This happened on February 5.

Officials said that the accused is an Indian citizen. The reason he left the gold was that he thought he would get caught. Further probe revealed that an airport employee was supposed to remove the gold from where the man left it.

iStock

Not the first time

In one more incident officials found gold paste weighing 1.01 kg from a passenger who landed in Chennai from Dubai on February 7.

The accused Sithik. who was from Ramanathapuram, was apprehended at the exit, said officials.

"On personal search, two bundles of gold paste were found concealed in his rectum. On extraction 416 grams of gold valued at Rs.19.9 lakhs was recovered and seized," read a press statement from Chennai Customs.

iStock

In another incident, according to the official release, while going through a particular flight, three rectangular heavy pieces covered with black adhesive tape were recovered from a hollow pipe under one of the seats.
The Department of Veterans Affairs may be out ahead of many states and federal entities in vaccine administration, but the complexity of deciding who is eligible for the vaccine and when has still left many confused and frustrated.

So far, the VA has administered 1.26 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine; 305,197 veterans and employees had received both doses as of Monday.

To decide who has priority for the limited vaccine supply, the VA uses an algorithm to sift through its databases and prioritize veterans. But it also considers other factors, such as local availability of vaccine doses, clinical resources and requirements at each hospital or clinic, and the number of COVID-19 infections in an area.

Read Next: Nearly 90% of Military Hazing Complaints Come from the Marine Corps, Data Shows

VA officials say the approach has allowed the department to vaccinate a large number of individuals in a relatively short period of time.

Some veterans, however, say they don't understand why they haven't been contacted, despite being what they believe is considered "high risk."

"My husband, a Vietnam vet, has not been contacted to get the vaccine. ... He is 77 with health issues," said a veteran's spouse in the Dallas-Fort Worth area who asked that her name not be used because she wanted to keep her husband's identity private.

He eventually got an appointment through the City of Dallas, not the North Texas VA Health System, she said.

"He had to wait in a car in line for four hours in Dallas to get his vaccine. It was grueling," she added.

Others cited similar problems in other parts of the country.

"I am a combat Vietnam veteran volunteer and 68 years old," said Dave Moore of Columbia, South Carolina. "I am 100 percent VA disabled with two underlying conditions. ... The Columbia VA has no clue."

The VA is using a software program called the COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach for Veterans that analyzes information from Veterans Health Administration Support Center databases to determine which patients are considered to be in high-risk groups.

The tool uses patient identifiers to weigh medical conditions, age and gender; it also indicates current treatments like chemotherapy or dialysis and other risk factors for severe COVID-19 such as smoking or obesity.

The system then provides a list of prioritized patients to local VA medical centers.

But those medical centers have their own set of conditions to consider when assessing priority, according to VA spokesman Randy Noller.

"VA issued guidance on December 30, 2020, encouraging local flexibility in order to maximize COVID-19 vaccine access and efficiency and limit potential vaccine waste, and this guidance included flexibility to overlap phases and broaden vaccination," he said.

Individual VA health systems deal with factors that include vaccine hesitancy, logistical challenges and their own lists of patients prioritized by risk factors and locale.

At the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska, for example, any veteran who is 60 or older is being offered the vaccine.

And in Havre, Montana -- a remote location where VA providers flew in with the vaccine for a one-day clinic Jan. 21 -- 239 veterans of varying ages were able to get inoculated.

"Montana is a very large state -- 147,000 square miles. So we have a huge area to cover. We're also a mountain state, so winter travel can be challenging between snow and small county roads. That's part of why we're so thrilled to get the vaccine out across the state," said Montana VA Health Care System Director Judy Hayman.

According to Noller, the VA largely is finishing efforts to vaccinate those categorized as 1a -- including health workers, first responders and those living in residential community settings -- and moving into Phase 1b, or veterans age 75 and older.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, patients aged 65 to 74 are considered Phase 1c, as are those ages 16 to 64 with serious health conditions.

But again, priority also can be determined at the local level. As early as November, clinicians at some VA health facilities began drafting lists of patients at high risk for severe cases of COVID.

Vietnam veteran Wes Bickel, 73, receives his care at VA Long Beach Healthcare System in California; he got a text Saturday saying he had been identified as part of a priority group to get the vaccine.

Bickel, who has a heart condition related to Agent Orange exposure, had gotten his first dose the day before through his county, ending several weeks of frustration with the VA.

"Some of my cohorts snuck in line and already received their second shots. ... I feel fortunate that I have options and had registered with the county and not relied on just the VA," Bickel told Military.com.

VA Long Beach has had such a strong response from area residents -- including non-veterans -- wanting the vaccine that the facility's phone system went down under the strain of calls last week.

"We know the process to get vaccines has been frustrating even under the best of circumstances, and not being able to reach us only adds to that. Please bear with us as we all navigate the COVID-19 pandemic," officials wrote Friday in a notice to veterans.

The VA is "using every avenue to vaccinate as many veterans and employees as quickly as possible," according to Noller, and the process should go more smoothly once more vaccines are available.

"We've built a system ready to accommodate much larger quantities as the manufacturers move forward. I'm incredibly pleased," said Dr. Richard Stone, the VA acting under secretary for health.

Even as the VA's vaccine effort ramps up, officials are telling veterans that if they have the opportunity to register for the vaccine elsewhere, they should do so.

"We want to encourage Veterans to get the COVID vaccine as soon as it becomes available to them," said Dr. Sophia Califano, the VA's deputy chief consultant for preventive medicine, in a release. "We believe this is the best path forward and the best way to protect you and your family."

Moore, the veteran who was not contacted by the Columbia VA, said Wednesday that after contacting the office of South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster about his situation, he was given a phone number at the VA to call to request an appointment.

When he called, he was told that it had been an oversight that he had not been contacted and he made an appointment for the next day.

David Omura, director of the Columbia VA Health Care System, told Military.com that the facility has administered more than 6,000 vaccines to staff members and veterans and "takes veterans' concerns seriously and addresses them immediately."

"In this case, we were able to quickly assist this veteran ... and have since followed-up with him to ensure that he continues to receive quality care and the services he needs," Omura said.

He added that the facility is following CDC and VA COVID-19 vaccine guidelines and has recently expanded scheduling to include additional categories.

"Additionally, we are providing regular information updates through multiple outlets on how veterans can be scheduled for vaccines, have established a dedicated hotline for those interested in being scheduled, and are hosting a mass vaccination clinic on President's Day, February 15th for enrolled veterans," Omura said.

This article was updated Wednesday to include a response from the Columbia South Carolina VA Health Care System.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: The VA Has Now Administered More COVID-19 Vaccine Shots Than 42 US States
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Daisy-Daisy/iStockBy LAURA ROMERO, ABC News

(NEW YORK) -- Before the coronavirus pandemic, Marcella Goheen would visit her husband at a nursing home every day. As an essential care visitor, she would spend about 40 hours a week conducting neurotherapy and other assisted living tasks for her husband, who suffers from a neurodegenerative disability.



But as COVID-19 began to sweep through the halls of long-term care facilities across the nation, Goheen, along with thousands of family members of long-term care residents, was forced to accept strict visitor bans put in place to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.



Now, as vaccinations for the coronavirus are underway, families and eldercare advocates are wondering when they will be able to return -- and are worried about the impact of extended isolation.



"He needs me," Goheen said of her husband. "My daily visits included enabling him to move every 15 minutes because he cannot initiate the first step. The facility doesn't have the staffing to provide him with the care he requires, and seeing him through a screen is not enough."



The calculation for how to control access to nursing homes has not been an easy one, officials have said. Over the past year, congregate settings catering to the nation's most frail and elderly have become hot zones for the coronavirus. Nursing and assisted living centers have accounted for roughly 6% of the nation's COVID-19 infections but close to 40% of all deaths, according to state-by-state statistics monitored by ABC News.



Once public health officials realized that infections in surrounding communities were seeping into nursing centers, they moved quickly to advise facilities to shut themselves off from the outside world. In October, when the numbers had started to ease up, a nationwide ban on nursing home visitation was lifted. States were left to decide how stringent to make visitor restrictions going forward.



According to an American Association of Retired Persons website that tracks nursing home rules, visitation protocols now vary widely.



Vaccine distribution is only part of the equation for nursing homes as they try to balance the need to control the infection against the desire to open their doors more widely to friends and relatives. Julie Beckert, a spokesperson for ProMedica, one of the nation's largest residential nursing care providers with more than 300 nursing, assisted-living and hospice care facilities, said the company is continuing to weigh how much to relax visitation rules.



"Unfortunately, visitors may not get the vaccine for a while, and that can pose a risk of the virus coming into our centers," Beckert said. "So we continue to assess visitation and how we can safely address this very important part of the patient's and resident's recovery and well-being."



According to the AARP, every state is allowing some form of visitation in long-term care facilities. Most states are now leaving the level of access up to nursing homes management.



The patchwork of rules has bred confusion.



In Florida, indoor and outdoor visitation have been allowed since October, while in California, state guidelines allow limited indoor visits at facilities that have seen no new COVID-19 cases for 14 days. But in Los Angeles County, where coronavirus cases have recently surged, indoor visitation is still restricted, and outdoor visits are allowed but limited.



In New York, where Goheen lives, certain facilities now allow people to schedule visits during specified hours and on a limited basis. But at the nursing home where Goheen's husband lives in Manhattan, she is only permitted one visit a week.



As a result, Goheen sued the facility and the Metropolitan Jewish Health System to contest that policy, saying that isolation is now harming her husband more than the threat of the virus.



"The defendants' policies and practices have disallowed plaintiff from having a right to a dignified existence, self-determination and communication, as guaranteed by federal regulation," says the complaint, which was provided to ABC News.



Audrey Waters, a spokesperson for the nursing home, told ABC News that the facility recently agreed to a visitation plan with Goheen. She did not provide any details.



Goheen's lawyer, Warren Norred, told ABC News he believes there will be others looking to force nursing facilities to ease up. The Texas attorney said he has been approached by many families and is pursuing another similar case.



"Isolation is what kills people," said Norred. "Your desire to live actually impacts your ability to live. And these residents in nursing homes need to see and hold their families to keep going."



Conditions have changed enough, Norred said, to allow for more leeway in congregate settings.



"We have testing, protective equipment and social distancing guidelines to allow families more time with their loved ones," he said.



At the heart of the argument is the assertion that isolation and loneliness can pose its own set of health consequences for nursing home residents and for residents living in assisted living facilities where vaccinations are falling behind.



"We know isolation leads to worse health outcomes," said Dr. Jay Bhatt, a practicing internist and ABC News contributor. "And as this grows, it can cause deconditioning, worsening of cognitive status, and higher risk of going to the hospital, with a domino effect happening."



A spokesperson for LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, including nursing homes, told ABC News that even as vaccinations start to become universally available in nursing homes, the danger that social isolation poses to vulnerable residents remains a "very real health risk."



In Indiana, state senator Linda Rogers has introduced a bill to bolster the state's compassionate care guidance by allowing residents in nursing homes to receive visits from at least two designated caregivers during the pandemic. The bill would also require facilities to allow family members to visit if residents are showing signs of emotional distress.



"Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, I have heard many heartbreaking stories about family members being unable to visit their loved ones in long-term care facilities," said Rogers in a statement to ABC News. "Isolation of our long-term care residents has detrimental impacts on their mental and physical health. They are unable to have the support and love they need from their family, and many spend the last days of their lives feeling alone and abandoned."



Goheen says continued restrictions against visitors in nursing homes are creating a new health crisis.



"Listen to the families," she said. "We deserve to see our loved ones. And we can do it in a safe way."



"I have a husband that needs me, and he's not alone," Goheen said. "There's a public health crisis happening right now, and it's called isolation."



Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.



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A member of the Jehovah's Witness church has admitted the sexual exploitation of a 13 year old girl.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, was aged 29 when he met the girl through their mutual association with a local Jehovah's Witness congregation.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that over a period of time in 2016 he and the girl exchanged messages on Viber, including sexually explicit images of the child.

The offending came to light when the girl's older sister spotted the messages and semi-naked images on a shared computer device and alerted their mother.

The court heard that the man and the girl began talking initially about organising team sports' activities in connection with the church. The man told gardai that the girl told him she was feeling bad and was thinking of harming herself.

He told gardai he was concerned and wanted to calm her down. He later sent her topless images of himself and a naked photo of himself. In turn she sent him images of her topless and of her bum.

During some text exchanges the pair referred to each other as darling and spoke about being in love, being boyfriend and girlfriend and about getting engaged, Garda Padraic Rowan told the court.

In one exchange the man asked her if she would perform oral sex on him if he asked and she said she would. He told her he meant this for after the wedding.

The man, now aged 34 and with an address in Dublin, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child on dates in late 2016. He also admitted possession of sexually explicit images of the child, contrary to the Child Pornography and Trafficking Act, 1998.

Michael Bowman SC, defending, told the court that his client was sexually naive in the extreme and that this partly resulted from his involvement with an extremely conservation religion in terms of sexual mores.

He said that anything other than kissing or hugging in advance of getting married was not permitted and could lead to excommunication. He said that after his arrest and interview his client went to church elders and self reported his actions and was excommunicated for a period.

Garda Rowan agreed with Mr Bowman submission that this was an isolated incident and there were no ongoing inquiries in relation to his behaviour or his actions in the church.

He said that the Probation Service have assessed him as being at a moderate risk of reoffending. He said his client wishes to apologise to the victim and her family.

Judge Karen O'Connor said this was a very serious matter and that the age disparity was very significant. She adjourned the case to February 18 next for sentencing.
We, the members of the Alabama Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, give our full support and stand in solidarity with Chicago educators, who are standing up against the Democratic administration of Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the policies of the Biden administration by insisting on remote-only education. We may be a long way from Chicago, but we are not far in spirit!

Chicago teachers, you are an inspiration to Alabama teachers! Stay in the fight! We are all being pushed into the line of fire without protection.

Despite the lies by the corporate media and the politically compromised Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) politicians about safe reopenings, we have witnessed first-hand the human cost of doing so. In Montgomery alone, at least seven educators and staff have died from the virus. Throughout Alabama, at least another eight have perished as well. These deaths were totally preventable, and we refuse to allow any more! We do not accept that mass death is the new normal.

Even as educators are dying, our students are being subjected to high-stakes testing and the district is proceeding with charterizing our public schools in Montgomery. Many parents and educators have been kept in the dark regarding these critical decisions.

The real reason these forces want us back in the school buildings has nothing to do with the well-being of our students. For decades these politicians have gutted public education funding, allowed our buildings to deteriorate, just as they refused to invest in high-quality remote learning technology and infrastructure. Their real motives were revealed by the worlds 14th richest human, former mayor of New York City and billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who said, Teachers are going to have to suck it up.

The reopening of schools is a fundamental part of getting workers back into the factories, so they can continue pumping profits for the corporate elites. We have not forgotten when, last April, one of the first casualties of COVID-19, a young worker at the nearby Hyundai Motors Manufacturing plant died. But these big businesses have continued with non-essential production, amassing unthinkable fortunes during the pandemic. As USA Today reports, Bloomberg himself has gained at least $7 billion during the pandemic, an increase of 14.4 percent in his net wealth.

We, in Alabama, have struggled over months to secure fully remote learning and teaching. Even after losing our colleagues to the virus, the local Montgomery school board and the state as a whole have agreed to only fleeting concessions meant to disarm us. After publicly stating Montgomery teachers will be allowed to teach remotely, the principalssurely at the behest of the school board, superintendent and even more powerful forcesrequire us to go into work one day per week. We will not back down until we are guaranteed fully remote learning and teaching!

Teachers have united and are fighting independently! The power is in the workers! We must stand united.

We are part of the network of Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees, which is completely independent of the big business political parties and the pro-corporate unions. We are building up support in preparation for a nationwide political general strike against the deadly policies of the ruling class.

Only the mobilization of the entire working class, including autoworkers, health care workers, Wal-Mart and Amazon workers, food processing workers and those in other industries, can stop this pandemic. We call upon educators and workers everywhere to join our ranks and take up this fight in unity with educators in Chicago, throughout the US and globally!
BRIDGEPORT  A Hamden man accused of the cold-case murder of the custodian at a popular city restaurant in 1993 wont be going home anytime soon.

On Tuesday following a hearing, Superior Court Judge Kevin Russo rejected a motion to release Danarius Dukes on a promise to appear in court.

Dukes, 45, is accused of the Dec. 6, 1993, fatal shooting of the night custodian at the Duchess Diner on Boston Avenue. The body of Theodore Teddy Edwards, 77, was discovered in the early morning hours lying on his back near the door of the restaurants office, covered in blood. According to the autopsy report, he had been shot in the face and the chest.

Police said the office door had been pried open and about $2,000 was missing. The case remained unsolved until Dukes arrest last July.

Dukes, 45, who earlier Tuesday waived a hearing on probable cause and pleaded not guilty to felony murder, watched on video from his cell in the Fairfield County Courthouse as his lawyers, Christopher Duby and Michael Reilly, urged the judge to let Dukes out pending trial.

This crime occurred in the early 1990s and since that time, Mr. Dukes was aware that law enforcement was involved and might be interested in talking to him about it but he has remained living with family in Hamden where he has worked steadily, Duby told the judge. He poses no danger to the community and if he is released, he is no risk of flight.

Duby also argued that as a result of the pandemic, he has only been able to have very limited contact with Dukes and his release from custody would make it easier to prepare for trial.

But Senior Assistant States Attorney David Applegate objected to Dukes being released.

The allegations here rocked the community, he told the judge. The victim was a total innocent and was killed in cold blood. Our community deserves justice for what happened and that is why we are pursuing this case, he said.

Applegate also pointed out that two years after Edwards murder, Dukes was convicted of an unrelated attempted murder and sentenced to 20 years.

Mr. Dubys arguments would be persuasive if the defendant were not facing a charge of felony murder, the judge said. There certainly are aggravating circumstances and I have not heard about a change of circumstances.

He continued the case to April 7.

Because of a law passed by the General Assembly last year, Dukes case was originally sealed because he was 17 at the time of the alleged crime and, although he is now 45, he was treated as a juvenile.

However, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld an earlier court ruling that the law sealing the case is unconstitutional.
(CNN)  Former President Donald Trump has been reaching out to aides and advisers to discuss his upcoming Senate impeachment trial, sources familiar with the conversations said, with one of those sources saying Trump thinks there won't be enough Republican senators who'll vote to convict him.

Trump's second impeachment trial is set to begin on Tuesday (Wednesday in the Philippines). The House voted to impeach him on January 13 on one charge of inciting an insurrection. The historic vote came one week before Trump left office, making him the only president in American history to be impeached twice.

Since leaving office, Trump has been fixated on punishing GOP lawmakers who voted to impeach him in the House, including Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming. Ten Republicans, including Cheney, voted to impeach Trump.

One Trump adviser said the ex-President is seeking what he sees as "accountability" for Republican House members who turned "against the people." The adviser acknowledged that was a twisted view of reality as Trump was the one who was actively attempting to overturn the will of the voters.

A major focus of the upcoming trial will be the speech Trump gave on the morning of January 6 on the Ellipse just south of the White House at a "Stop the Steal" rally meant to protest Joe Biden's win in the 2020 election. That rally was followed by thousands of Trump supporters storming the US Capitol in an insurrection that killed five people, including one Capitol Police officer.

Former Trump aides recall the then-President having enjoyed the spectacle created by the riot at the Capitol. Trump was "loving watching the Capitol mob," one former senior White House official said.

While some Republican senators vowed to keep an open mind on impeachment in the immediate aftermath of the episode, GOP leaders have become increasingly bullish in recent weeks that Trump isn't at risk of conviction.

The clearest indicator came last month when GOP Sen. Rand Paul raised a point of order that the trial of an ex-president was unconstitutional. Only five Republicans split from the party.

Democrats and Republicans alike have pointed to that vote as a measure of the trial's likely final vote. And Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sided with Paul's point of order -- suggesting the GOP leader's initial signals that he might be open to convicting Trump are not likely to result in him voting that way.

Still, the House impeachment managers have made clear through pre-trial briefs that they plan to mount a forceful case against the former President, writing in a filing earlier Monday: "The evidence of President Trump's conduct is overwhelming."

"He has no valid excuse or defense for his actions. And his efforts to escape accountability are entirely unavailing," the brief said.

The House managers will begin their presentation at noon ET Wednesday, with up to 16 hours to make their case to the Senate. Then Trump's lawyers will have the same amount of time, followed by a session in which senators can ask questions to both legal teams, just like in previous impeachment trials, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday.

Trump's legal team said in a statement Monday that it is pleased with the structure of the trial. The statement also praised Senate Republican leadership for securing "a structure that is consistent with past precedent."

"This process will provide us with an opportunity to explain to Senators why it is absurd and unconstitutional to hold an impeachment trial against a private citizen," the team said.

At the request of the managers, there will be an option to hold a debate and vote on calling witnesses. And at the request of Trump's attorney David Schoen, an observant Jew, there will won't be any trial proceedings during the Sabbath, after 5 p.m. ET, on Friday through Saturday. The trial will then reconvene Sunday afternoon.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'Trump tells aides he thinks he'll be acquitted as he remains fixated on 'accountability' for GOP lawmakers who voted to impeach'
Novartis is the sole pharmaceutical firm among a total of 34 units that were honored for their efforts and outstanding contributions to the Digital Transformation of the Healthcare Sector in 2020, at the National Digital Transformation Congress.

Over the years, Novartis has always been a leader in the implementation of digital transformation and technology application in the health sector. This has been creating a premise in supporting and implementing digital activities such as building an electronic medical record system, deploying digital transformation in the fields of online public services, medical publicity, remote examination and treatment, etc.

Novartis significant achievements in Digital Transformation

In 2020, Novartis became the first to apply the Doctuiqy platform in organizing activities connecting healthcare professionals to update scientific knowledge. The company has also cooperated with healthcare organizations and Hello Bac Si to increase public health awareness in Vietnam through digital platforms, partnered with Samsung SDS to apply Brightics RA artificial intelligence technology in routine screening of eye diseases. Furthermore, to improve the quality of its programs and activities, Novartis has invested in technical infrastructure and constructed its own Studio room to conduct online conferences, seminars, etc.

Notably, Novartis has partnered and sponsored for healthcare organizations to successfully implement the program named Tam Diem  a forum providing the latest scientific information for cardiologists. The weekly online seminars series have help update specialized knowledge as well as create an academic environment for the specialist to discuss and share their experiences.

The units honored for their efforts and outstanding contributions to the Digital Transformation of the Health Sector in 2020.

Following the successes, in late 2020, Novartis launched MedHub - a Novartis Vietnams website for healthcare professionals (HCP), a responsive online medical information hub where HCPs are able to gain access to content anywhere that is tailored to their interesting area in Novartis from any device. The launch of this new platform is a critical step in Novartis digital journey to enhance its customer experiences where MedHub powers omni-channel engagement.

We are very delighted and highly appreciate the recognition from the Vietnamese Government, the Ministry of Health and other authorities for Novartis continuous contributions towards the digitalization journey of Vietnams healthcare. We look forward to building the long-term, sustainable partnership and going hand in hand with the Vietnamese government in helping Vietnamese patients get more convenient, faster and quality access to healthcare services, said Mr. Amitabh Dube, Country President, Novartis Vietnam.

Mr. Amitabh Dube, Country President of Novartis Vietnam

Novartis Digital Transformation journey in Vietnam

With the long-term strategic vision, Novartis has been early aware of the significance of digital transformation in healthcare. At the 11th Asia-Pacific Future Trend Forum which was jointly organized by the Vietnam Medical Association and Novartis in 2018 with the theme: Building a pathway for the health sector: Use resources and operate efficiently for optimal results in countries with rapidly aging population in Asia, Novartis highlighted the importance of applying digital in building smart heath systems, use of resources, operate system efficiently to solve major health challenges and bring long-term impacts to the universal healthcare system.

Novartis is the unique pharmaceutical company honored at the National Digital Transformation Congress

Since then, Novartis has been shaping its direction, continuously been looking for proper solutions and quickly and efficiently implement digital tools to meet the market dynamics. Among those, Novartis collaboration with the Ministry of Health through the primary healthcare activities within the framework of the grassroots health system capability-building program created a premise to support the deployment and update of universal electronic health records and the implementation of health examination management at commune health stations in implementing provinces.

Novartis also advocates realizing the commitment in digital transformation through investing and building a team of digital experts. This activity of Novartis is highly appreciated in expressing their vision and considered to meet the need of technology application in the health sector. Besides, it also aligned with the government and the Ministry of Healths strategy in digitalizing and transforming the healthcare industry Vietnam.

In early 2020, Novartis Vietnam Ltd. became the first multinational pharmaceutical company to successfully transform into a foreign-invested enterprise and fully operationalize its import activities. Through long-term commitments, Novartis is supporting the domestic healthcare system and contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.

Novartis is a leader in innovative medicines across many therapeutic areas: Oncology, Cardiovascular (hypertension, heart failure, diabetes), Respiratory (Asthma, COPD); Ophthalmology; Pain relief; Neuroscience, Dermatology and Immunology, Cell and Gene therapy... It is also a leader in high quality generics and biosimilars through Sandoz unit, and one of the largest investors in clinical trials in Vietnam.

PV
Two journalists for the Polish-funded Belsat satellite television station have gone on trial in Minsk. They are charged with "organizing public events aimed at disrupting civil order." Katsyaryna Andreyeva and Darya Chultsova were arrested on November 15 while they were covering a rally in Minsk commemorating anti-government protester Raman Bandarenka, who died from injuries sustained in a beating by a group of masked assailants. Rights activists allege the attackers were affiliated with the government of authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka. As the trial started on February 9, the two journalists said that they were just doing their jobs when they were arrested. If found guilty, the two women face up to three years in prison.
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Samia Smith, 15, of Little Rock and Ruby Kate Chitsey, 13, of Harrison today were named Arkansas' top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Samia and Ruby Kate will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are Arkansas' top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Samia Smith

Nominated by Little Rock Central High School

Samia, a junior at Little Rock Central High School, is the co-leader of school organization committed to educating others about gun violence. When Samia's 14-year-old cousin was shot in the shoulder while sitting on her porch, "this served as a wakeup call that anyone, no matter their age, can be affected by gun violence," said Samia. After that, "I felt it was my obligation to do all that I could to encourage voting."

Working with other students in a newly-formed student organization at her school, Samia spent more than 10 months planning events that could encourage and advance gun-safety measures across the country. In the lead-up to the 2020 election, the group decided that one of the first events should be a daylong Super Tuesday event to provide voter information to students and teachers at Little Rock Central High. To prepare, Samia researched candidates' positions on gun safety and where voters could go to educate themselves. "Through the Super Tuesday event, we were able to distribute in-depth voting information to over 75 students and teachers in just one day," said Samia. Afterwards, Samia's group sent postcards encouraging eligible voters in and around their community to register to vote.

Middle Level State Honoree: Ruby Kate Chitsey

Nominated by Arkansas Virtual Academy

Ruby Kate, a seventh-grader at Arkansas Virtual Academy, has raised more than $300,000 to grant wishes for over 4,000 nursing home residents across the country who cannot afford day-to-day expenses such as pet food, haircuts or clothes that fit properly. Three years ago, Ruby Kate met Pearl, a nursing home resident who had to give up her beloved dog because she couldn't afford to feed it. "I learned that most residents at her facility only received $40 a month to take care of extras," said Ruby Kate. "I really felt like if I didn't help them, then no one would." The next time she visited the home, Ruby Kate asked residents: If you had three wishes, what would they be? She thought they would choose fancy vacations or lots of money; instead, "they asked for simple things that most of us have already," she said.

She interviewed hundreds of residents at five local nursing homes, wrote down the small items they needed, and then went to stores to buy them. As her project expanded to eight homes in four counties, Ruby Kate formed a nonprofit, began raising money through GoFundMe and social media, and recruited school friends to help. She also reached out to nurses in other states to obtain the wish lists of their nursing-home patients, and set up an Amazon wish list to fulfill them. In addition, Ruby Kate has created a "new shoe closet" and a pet food pantry for local seniors, and speaks to community leaders, students, teachers and nursing-home administrators across the country to raise awareness for her cause.

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

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In a heated face-off Russia reminded the EU that when it comes to imprisoning politicians, it too has form. In Catalonia tensions are coming back to the boil as new elections loom.

During a visit last week to Moscow Josep Borrell, the EU Minister for Foreign Affairs, received a lesson on the dangers of throwing stones in glass houses. The ostensible purpose behind the visit was to get EU-Russia relations back on track, after years of ratcheting tensions. Borrell also hoped to exert diplomatic pressure on Moscow over the recent imprisonment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. It was Borrells first visit to Moscow and the first of any EU diplomat since 2017. And by all measures it was a resounding failure, and in part due to recent events in Catalonia.

On Sunday, Borrell wrote on his EU blog that his visit had confirmed that Europe and Russia are drifting apart. German broadcaster Deutsche Welle said his visit was perhaps the biggest shambles in the EUs short-lived history of international diplomacy. Some are now even calling for Borrells resignation.

Tit for Tat

Borrells big mistake was to go all the way to Moscow to lambaste the Putin government for its rough treatment of Navalny, which he could have done from the comfort of his own office in Brussels. That rough treatment includes allegedly trying to poison Navalny with a Novichok-type nerve agent. That was in August. After taking ill on an internal flight in Russia, Navalny was taken to Germany, where he spent five months recovering. On January 17, he returned to Russia and was duly arrested for violating parole from a 2014 sentence for embezzlement. Last week, the court sentenced him to two years and eight months in a prison colony.

Borrell called for Navalnys release and an investigation into his poisoning, neither of which went down well with his hosts. Nor did his allusions to the rule of law, international human rights and respect for the sovereignty of other nations.

The Russian Federations Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov responded by lashing Brussels for its own failings. He called the EU unreliable and accused Germany and France of arrogance in their dealings with Russia. Then, he delivered the coup de grace. He accused Brussels of double standards over Spains imprisonment of Catalan separatists. And Borrells glass house began to shatter.

I would like to mention three prisoners who were sentenced to ten years of prison for organizing a referendum in Catalonia, Lavrov said. Judicial authorities in Germany and Belgium have called on Spanish authorities to cancel these politically motivated rulings*. The Spanish authorities have responded by asserting that Spain has its own judicial system and has urged others to respect its decisions. Thats what we want the West to do in its relations with Russia.

[*This is not entirely true. Judicial authorities in Germany and Belgium have refused to extradite exiled Catalan politicians to face trail in Spain. Judicial authorities in Belgium recently raised questions about the judicial competence and independence of Spains Supreme Court]

A New Low in EU-Moscow Relations

After the press conference Russia expelled three EU diplomats, from Germany, Poland and Sweden, for allegedly participating in protests against Navalnis imprisonment. Germany, Poland and Sweden responded in kind, by expelling three Russian diplomats from their territory. Rather than getting EU-Moscow relations back on track, Borrells visit drove them to a new low, which will no doubt delight hawks in Washington and NATO.

Spains Foreign Minister, Arancha Gonzalez Laya, added insult to injury by asserting, apparently with a straight face, that in Spain there are no political prisoners, there are imprisoned politicians . This invited a stinging riposte from Maria Zakharova, the director of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation:

I now have a new democratic idol, this time a woman: Spains Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain Arancha Gonzalez Laya. Commenting on Sergei Lavrovs words about the situation surrounding Catalan separatists, she literally said the following: in Spain there are no political prisoners, there are imprisoned politicians.

Nine politicians and activists, including former Catalan vice president Oriol Junqueras, are currently in jail. They are serving sentences of between nine to 13 years. As Laya pointed out, with a touch of pride, they are in better conditions than Navalni, having been granted the lowest prison category. But they are still in prison.

Catalonias last three elected presidents  Artur Mas, Carles Puigdemont and Quim Torra  have all been banned from holding public office, either during their tenure or just after their time as presidents. Puigdemont, who organized the self-determination referendum of 2017, is in self-imposed exile, together with a number of his ministerial colleagues.

Even one of Layas senior ministerial colleagues contradicted her claim that Spain is a fully functioning democracy. Pablo Iglesias, the leader of the left-wing Podemos party who is currently serving as Spains second vice-president, said:

There is no situation of full political and democratic normality in Spain when one of the two leaders of the main parties that govern Catalonia is in jail while the other is in (self-imposed exile) Brussels. In a situation of democratic normality, political conflicts are managed democratically. When the judicial authorities and the security forces have to intervene, it is a sign that there has been a failure of politics.

Its not just Madrid whose reputation has suffered as a consequence. The fact that Brussels appointed Borrell as its chief diplomat despite the central role he played in Spains post-referendum crackdown on Catalonia means that every time the EU wants to send a message on human rights, it risks facing ridicule. Borrells appointment was also controversial given his conviction, in 2018, of insider trading. The resulting scandal triggered calls for his resignation as Spains then-Foreign Minister. But he resisted those calls and in 2020 was bumped up to the EU Commission.

New Elections in Catalonia

With regional elections scheduled for next Sunday, tensions are once again bubbling to the surface in Catalonia. The elections themselves are mired in controversy. The reason theyre taking place is that the High Court of Justice of Catalonia banned Catalonias former separatist president Quim Torra from holding public office after he refused to remove a banner promoting independence from the Palau de la Generalitat, the seat of the Catalan government. That was in 2019.

In January this year, as Covid cases surged after the Christmas holidays, Catalonias regional parliament voted to postpone the elections until May on health grounds. But the courts intervened to overturn the decision.

Many people in Catalonia suspect that the senior party in the minority left-wing coalition in Madrid, the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), hopes to capitalise on what is likely to be a low voter turnout, due to widespread fears about catching the Covid-19 virus. If the PSOE can win the most votes and cobble together a coalition of unionist parties, it will finally wrest back control of the region from the separatist coalition.

To boost its chances, PSOE decided to relieve Salvador Illa of his post as Spains Heath Minister, in the midst of a pandemic, so that he could run as candidate for the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) in the upcoming elections. By fielding a high-profile figure, the party hopes to attract enough moderate anti-independence votes to emerge as victor.

But the strategy could backfire. Although support for independence has sagged in the last two years, it still remains solidly above 40% (43%). Illa has not helped his chances by claiming that most Catalan people do not want a referendum. This is an outright falsehood. Polls have consistently shown that roughly four-fifths of Catalan voters support holding a referendum. Even among voters of his own party, PSC, an overwhelming majority (61%) support a referendum.

That doesnt mean they want independence; many just want their voices to be heard. But Spains Constitution bans secession. As such, a legal referendum is out of the question. And given the scale and intensity of opposition to Catalan secession in the rest of Spain, theres little chance of that changing any time soon.

Stuck in a Rut, Riven Down the Middle

In the meantime, politics in Catalonia remains stuck in a rut as the all-but-impossible dream of independence dominates the political agenda. Theres little time or space for other concerns. That includes the healthcare system, which was intentionally weakened by the previous Rajoy government as part of its covert machinations against Catalonias pro-independence government and which is now being put through the grinder by the Covid-19 pandemic. Even on the rare occasion that Catalonias regional government does come up with legislation aimed at actually helping people, it is invariably struck down by Spains courts.

Catalonia itself remains riven down the middle. The Congress in Madrid has voted to reopen dialogue after the elections in Catalonia. But a lasting settlement will require big compromises that neither side seems willing to make. Even if the negotiations were to bear fruit, any resulting settlement would probably be overturned by the courts.

Thats exactly what happened to the Estatut of 2006, which granted a greater degree of self-government to Catalonia. In 2010, Spains highly politicized Supreme Court, at the urging of the Peoples Party, annulled many of the articles of the already diluted Statute, effectively stripping the agreement of any meaning and giving Catalonias independence movement its biggest boost in decades.

Eleven years on, Catalonia and Spain are still at an impasse. My biggest fear is that without any way out of that impasse, social cohesion and harmony could end up paying the price of political failure.

Violent clashes between rival political groups are becoming increasingly common. With the highest levels of youth unemployment in the EU, Spain is a fertile breeding ground for political extremism. The far-right anti-immigrant party Vox is on course to enter the Catalan parliament for the first time. According to the latest polls, it could win as many as 11 seats, which will be enough to place it fourth in the pecking order. And that should be a major cause for concern, especially given Spains not-so-distant history.
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The second impeachment trial of Donald Trump begins today in the U.S. Senate. One of the major questions is whether a former president like Mr. Trump can be impeached and convicted after leaving office.

One might think that this is a clear-cut constitutional question. However, such is not the case.

Arguments for and against impeachment

Article II, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution states, 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 (my emphasis).

It would seem that a person who is no longer in office can no longer be impeached and removed from office. This is why Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) claims, The Founders designed the impeachment process as a way to remove officeholders from public officenot an inquest against private citizens. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., SC) warns that this action sets up a never-ending retribution. Numerous other Republican senators agree.

As precedent, after Richard Nixon resigned the presidency in August 1974, Congress ended the impeachment inquiry it had begun the previous May, believing that impeachment was no longer appropriate.

However, for a former president to be disqualified from future office, he or she must first be impeached and convicted. This fact leads some to argue that the founders meant for impeachment to apply to individuals even after they leave office and is motivating many who support Mr. Trumps conviction. They also note that he was impeached while still in office and claim that it is necessary to hold him accountable for his alleged incitement of the January 6 attack on the Capitol.

As precedent, some note that even after William Belknap resigned as secretary of war in 1876, the House voted to impeach him and the Senate chose to try him for acts done as Secretary of War, notwithstanding his resignation of said office. The Senate failed to convict him, however, in large part because many did not believe they had the right to convict a person after leaving office.

If youd like to read a survey of the arguments for and against impeaching and convicting a former president, I recommend this exhaustive paper by the Congressional Research Service.

Listen to Herrera Beutler reveal why she voted to impeach Trump

'The most competitive era of presidential politics'

Heres an unsurprising fact: those who were Mr. Trumps strongest supporters when he was in office are most opposed to his conviction; those who were his strongest detractors in office are most supportive of his conviction.

Such partisanship affects every dimension of our culture.

According to FiveThirtyEight, were living in the most competitive era of presidential politics in the nations history. The 2020 election was the ninth consecutive presidential election in which the national popular vote margin was smaller than ten percentage points. This is the longest run of single-digit margins since the end of the Civil War.

Our partisan views significantly influence our social networks and affect our willingness to date those who disagree with us. As a result of such divisiveness, it is unsurprising that only 16 percent of Americans think our democracy is working well or extremely well.

However, notice the partisan divide: before the 2020 election, 68 percent of Republicans felt that American democracy was working at least somewhat well; in January, that figure plummeted to 36 percent. Last fall, only 37 percent of Democrats felt our democracy was working at least somewhat well, compared with 70 percent today.

A prayer for our time

In response to our divided and divisive culture, Gods word calls us to hold three principles in balance:

Gods word is truth (John 17:17). What Scripture says on subjects such as abortion, sexuality, marriage, racism, immigration, poverty, and other moral issues is what we are called to believe and promote. All people are fallen and broken (Romans 3:23). Lost people are not our enemies but victims of our Enemy (2 Corinthians 4:4). We are called to share truth in a spirit of love (Ephesians 4:15; 1 Peter 5:5). Our ultimate trust is not in ourselves but in Christ. As King David testified, Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God (Psalm 20:7).

As a result, followers of Jesus are to be bold in declaring and defending unpopular truth, gracious with those who disagree, and humble in dependence on our Lord. In other words, we are to be like Jesus.

If we will ask the Spirit of God to make us more like the Son of God, he will answer our prayer to the glory of God.

A breakfast Ill never forget

Ill close with an example.

George P. Shultz died last Saturday at the age of one hundred. He was one of only two people ever to hold four Cabinet positions in the US government, including secretary of state under President Reagan, where he helped end the Cold War. A graduate of Princeton, he served in the Marine Corps during World War II before receiving a doctorate from MIT. In addition to his remarkable government service, he taught at MIT, the University of Chicago, and Stanford.

I was privileged to sit next to Mr. Shultz and his wife at a National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, ten years ago. They were enormously polite and most interested in me and my work. We talked for perhaps thirty minutes before the program began.

As conservatives, they were deeply concerned about the direction of our country under the Obama administration. But the humility, respect, and grace with which they discussed the president and his policies left a lasting impression on me.

It was no wonder that we were talking at a prayer breakfastDr. Shultz was a faithful eight oclocker at his church in California.

That morning, I heard President Obama, other well-known political leaders, and Randall Wallace, the screenwriter for Braveheart and the director of Secretariat. But I was moved most deeply by George Shultz. I left the breakfast with this conviction: if this man of faith who had lived and worked at the highest levels of global leadership could combine Christian courage and compassion, I could endeavor to do the same.

So can you.

Originally published at Denison Forum
Panama City, Feb 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Feb, 2021 ) :Panama's health minister defended the deployment of more than 200 Cuban doctors to help the Central American country battle the coronavirus, despite criticism of the island government's human rights record at home.

"We are eternally grateful" to the Cuban doctors because "they came here to save the lives of Panamanians," Luis Francisco Sucre said during an appearance before the National Assembly to answer questions about the management of the pandemic.

Several deputies criticized the Panamanian government's decision to hire the 220 Cuban doctors, calling it "a violation of human rights." But Sucre defended the agreement between his ministry and its Cuban counterpart, which he said "complies with all due legal processes." He said his government would not hesitate to "sign it again." "The same people who today criticize the agreement signed with the Cuban Health Ministry would have been criticizing if there were dead in the streets, or if people were dying in the corridors of hospitals because we had no doctors to treat them," Sucre said.

The Cubans arrived in Panama on December 24, at a time when Panama was facing a crisis that had completely overwhelmed its health system and exhausted local doctors.

The decision to bring Cuban doctors produced controversy in some sectors because in Panama, medical practice is restricted to local professionals.

The announcement also met with resistance from Washington.

"Governments that hire Cuban medical workers must ensure their fair and humane treatment -- in tark contrast to the Castro regime, which traffics in, and exploits, the workers' bravery for its own gains," tweeted Michael Kozak, Washington's acting assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

"Make contracts transparent and pay workers directly," he said.

Washington and some human rights organizations consider the sale of Cuban medical services a form of "forced labor" that "violates human rights" and only serves as propaganda for the Communist government of the island.

During his speech, Sucre said that in addition to Cuba, the Panamanian government also requested medical support from other countries, such as the United States, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Italy, Israel, China and Russia, but had been unsuccessful.

"The criticisms are easy, the difficult thing is to be here directing a pandemic that nobody asked for," Sucre said.

Panama, with 4.2 million inhabitants, has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in Central America, with more than 327,000 cases and 5,506 deaths.
Ronn Torossian

Small and medium brands may not wish to heed the words of actress Elisabeth Shue, often cast in girl-next-door movie roles, who was recently quoted as saying, I may be the girl next door, but you wouldnt want to live next to me. Word-of-mouth, recommendations, influencer marketing and positive comments and reviews are more valuable than ever today as more consumers are willing to try different brands.

Marketing tech firm ClickZ recently blogged about why SMB marketers might want to consider a different avenue to reach consumers more affordably: Nextdoor. Founded in 2008 as a social networking platform for communities, Nextdoor has expanded to 270,000 neighborhoods in 11 countries. It serves about one in four homes in the U.S. The platform has two distinct strengths. First, it connects people in the same neighborhood with each other and requires address verifications before allowing participation. The other is that more than 50 million neighborhood businesses have received recommendations for their goods and/or services from community members through it.

In his 2000 book, Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam described the American communitys collapse and how people had become disconnected from each other. The demise of bowling leagues was but one example, and he also laid out suggestions on how the trend might be reversed. Although a community social platform wasnt one of Putnams recommendations, the popularity of consumer recommendations may be what led Nextdoor to begin accepting and selling ads in 2017. Nearly half (47 percent) of SMBs polled by customer data and marketing platform company Clutch in 2018 reported annual digital budgets under $10,000. The majority also said they used their websites and/or social media to market their businesses.

The advantage SMBs have in advertising on Nextdoor is that there are two opportunities: Neighborhood Sponsorships and Local Deals. Rates on both are lower than other social media, and for SMBs on small budgets, this is extremely important.

SMBs wishing to use Nextdoor first need to purchase a sponsorship, which can cost as little as $10 per zip code. Doing so allows the brand to target specific zip codes, make two organic monthly posts, and be seen as the community expert. These posts also appear in the neighborhoods newsfeed and daily digest emails.

By purchasing a sponsorship, the brand can then establish its own and all-important business page. Its here where a brand can receive neighborhood recommendations, the lifeblood of neighborhood SMBs. According to ClickZ, nearly 70 percent of Nextdoor members have posted and shared recommendations on the site, while more than 75 percent reported the recommendation of a neighbor influenced them.

With its high saturation and participation rate in local neighborhoods, Nextdoor may be the ideal platform for brands to interact with their neighbors while gaining potential customers attention. Sharing updates on a regular basis, as well as regular monitoring and responding to neighbors, will also be important for success.

Local Deals afford SMBs the opportunity to promote the brand and offer discounts. Creating it is made easier with the Local Deal ad tools help, and viewing it even easier on Nextdoors Insights Dashboard.

Together, Neighborhood Sponsorships and Local Deals may be the launchpads for SMBs to expand and grow their markets on NextDoor as we return to a new normal.

***

Ronn Torossian is CEO of 5WPR, a leading NY PR firm.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - Sun Summit Minerals Inc. (TSXV: SMN) (OTC: SMREF) ("Sun Summit" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced a significant drill program at the Buck Property, central British Columbia. Sun Summit will complete over 5,000 metres of drilling focused on expanding zones of high-grade gold mineralization.

Highlights

Sun Summit commences an aggressive follow-up drill program to target high-grade gold mineralization.

Re-logging of the high-grade gold intercepts from discovery hole BK20-012 (17 metres of 5.86 grams per tonne (g/t) gold including 3 metres of 23.05 g/t gold, and 7.5 metres of 10.19 g/t gold; SMN news release dated January 5 th , 2021) identified zones of fine visible gold associated with discrete epithermal-related quartz + sulfide veins .

, 2021) . Select samples from hole BK20-012 are being analysed for metallic screen fire assay to better characterise the grade of the visible gold-bearing zones.







Figure 1. Photo of fine grained visible gold mineralization (BK20-012 @ 337.5 m; 1.5 metres of 49.60 g/t Au (see SMN news release dated January 5th, 2021).

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6142/73978_ee4681e2749f1a1f_001full.jpg

Bob Willis, Sun Summit's CEO, states, "We are excited to commence this round of drilling at our Buck property. The identification of visible gold throughout our discovery hole is significant and confirms our assay data. Running these select samples, as well as samples from other mineralized zones, for metallic screen fire assay will further investigate the grade of these intercepts. This data will be compared to our fire assay data to better inform our sampling and analytical protocols going forward if visible gold is identified again."

Drill Program

The current drill program (see SMN news released dated January 19th, 2021) has three primary objectives;

target high-grade gold mineralization peripheral to discovery hole BK20-012, test chargeability anomalies interpreted to be associated with sulfide and potential gold mineralization, and investigate the strike-extent of sulfide-cemented, breccia-hosted, near or at surface, bulk-tonnage gold mineralization.

Drill crews are now onsite, and the drill is currently investigating the extent of high-grade gold mineralization identified in drill hole BK20-012.

Visible Gold

A detailed re-evaluation of key intercepts from BK20-012 revealed the presence of visible gold associated with quartz + pyrite + sphalerite veinlets (Figure 1). Select samples from the hole are being run at the ALS Global analytical facility in North Vancouver for metallic screen fire assay to better define the nature and grade of gold mineralization. The metallic screen method utilises a larger sample and a tailored preparation procedure to systematically capture native gold, if present. These methods yield a more robust analytical and statistical estimate of gold grade. Results from this metallic screen study will be compared to the traditional fire assay data to define a statistical based workflow for sampling and analyzing intervals with high-grade gold mineralization.

Buck Property

The recently expanded 33,000 hectare property, approximately 12 kilometres south of Houston, British Columbia, has excellent nearby infrastructure and allows for year-round road-accessible exploration.

National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure

This news release has been approved by Sun Summit's CEO, Robert D. Willis, P. Eng. a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He has also verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical and test data, underlying the technical information in this news release.

Health and Safety

The Company's exploration programs are being carried out in full compliance with federal, provincial, and municipal guidelines established in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Sun Summit has a rigorous infection prevention and control protocol in place to protect the health of employees and contractors, as well as surrounding communities in which the Company works.

About Sun Summit

Sun Summit Minerals Corp. (formerly San Marco Resources Inc.) is a Canadian mineral exploration company actively pursuing world class gold and silver projects with a focus in mining friendly jurisdictions.

The Company's principal focus is the Buck Property in north-central British Columbia that has bulk-tonnage gold and silver potential. The property is located in a mining-friendly region that includes many former and current operating mines.

Sun Summit is committed to environmental and social responsibility with a focus on responsible development to generate positive outcomes for all stakeholders.

Further details are available at www.sunsummitminerals.com

Link to Photo

https://sunsummitminerals.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Figure1_FineGrainedVisibleGold_NR_Feb9.jpg

For further information, contact:

Sharyn Alexander, M.Sc.

VP Technical Services

Nancy Curry

Corporate Communications

info@sunsummitminerals.com

Tel. 778-588-9606

Forward Looking Information

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements, which involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences, without limiting the generality of the following, include: risks inherent in exploration activities; volatility and sensitivity to market prices; volatility and sensitivity to capital market fluctuations; the impact of exploration competition; the ability to raise funds through private or public equity financings; environmental and safety risks including increased regulatory burdens; unexpected geological or hydrological conditions; changes in government regulations and policies, including trade laws and policies; failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from government authorities; weather and other natural phenomena; and other exploration, development, operating, financial market and regulatory risks. Except as required by applicable securities laws and regulation, Sun Summit Minerals Corp. (SMN) disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada 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/73978
One man was killed and two people wounded in a Monday afternoon shooting in Bridgeton.

Police officers responded to a home on the 400 block of South Avenue around 3:45 p.m. for a report of shots fired, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office.

They found Shaheed Little, 31, of Sicklerville, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man and a woman suffered gunshot wounds and were taken to Cooper University Hospital, Camden, where they were listed in critical condition as of Tuesday morning, authorities said.

A motive for the shooting was not disclosed and no arrests have been announced.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bridgeton Police Department Detective Sgt. Kenneth Leyman at 609-381-1225 or Detective Sgt. Ryan Breslin of the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office at 856-207-2738.

Information may also be shared anonymously on the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office website at njccpo.org/tips or the Bridgeton Police Departments site, bpdops.com/tips.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
Russia ready to discuss paying Euro10 million compensation to illegally deported Georgian citizens

By Veronika Malinboym

On January 8, Georgian Minister of Justice Gocha Lortkipanidze announced that Russia is finally ready to participate in discussions of its obligations to repay Euro10 million to Georgian citizens that were illegally deported from Russia in 2006. The case Georgia v Russia concerned the arrest, detention, and consequent deportation of the Georgian nationals from Russia in autumn 2006, which occurred shortly after four Russian officers were arrested in Georgia on charges of espionage.In 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Russia must pay out the compensation for non-pecuniary damage suffered by a group of at least 1,500 Georgian nationals, however, the country refused to abide by the ruling, despite repeated calls from the Committee of Minister of the Council Europe.Lortkipanidze believes that Russias sudden change of mind can be attributed to a more recent ruling of the ECHR on the Russia-Georgia 2008 war case. He claimed that what we are now witnessing is a slight improvement [in the bilateral relations] as Russia finally decided to participate in negotiations which will be mediated by the Committee of Minister of the Council of Europe. He added that it also shows that the approach that Georgia has chosen seems to be the right one.Minister Lortkipanidze stated that the recent ruling of the ECHR has already changed the way in which legal and political disputes are regulated in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions:The EU, the USA, and an entire international community are now imposing a very clear set of political obligations on Russia and call for it to fulfil its obligations as per the decision of the ECHR.According to the Georgian government, more than 4,600 expulsion orders were issued by the Russian authorities in 2006, 2,300 of which were detained and expelled against their will, while the others left the country on their own. Right now, two levels of the Committee of Ministers have to reinforce the court decision and force the country to meet its obligations, or else face the suspension of its membership and voting rights in the Council of Europe. Russia has already lost its voting right in 2014, amidst the annexation of Crimea, as well as protests in Georgia and Ukraine. The right was regained by Russia in June 2019, when the country agreed to pay its membership dues which it previously refused to pay, as well as the additional fines of Euro75 million.
Author

Kim Conlon, a Vice President with HVS Philadelphia, has completed numerous hotel appraisal and consulting assignments throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, specifically in Philadelphia and its surrounding cities, as well as Delaware and New Jersey. In addition to the Philadelphia market, Kims expertise extends to valuation, market, and feasibility consulting in New York City, particularly in the booming outer boroughs that surround Manhattan, including Brooklyn and Long Island City. During her time at HVS, she has published articles on emerging cities such as Jersey City and Philadelphia. Kim earned her Certified General Appraiser license mid-year 2019. She got her start in hospitality as an intern with the Courtyard by Marriott at the University of Delaware while earning a BS in Hospitality Business Management. She went on to work in food and beverage roles at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter hotel in San Diego, Caffe Gelato Restaurant & Catering in Newark, and Big Fish Restaurant Group, where she served as manager at the companys Riverfront and Glen Mills restaurants.

More about Kim Conlon
Nurses and midwives in Laois and the rest of Ireland deserve compensation for their work during the pandemic, the INMO will TDs at Oireachtas health committee on Tuesday.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation say healthcare workers in Northern Ireland and Scotland are set to receive a once-off 500 bonus for their work so far.

Irish nurses claim their counterparts in France are to be awarded a 1,500 bonus for their work.

The INMO say they lodged a claim in November for compensatory leave due to fatigue and overwork throughout 2020, which has not yet been responded to.

The INMO says it will also tell the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health that decisions on worker safety have had insufficient priority since the start of the pandemic.

The union says that healthcare workers safety has been at risk as a result, while students have been left with a bad experience of the Irish health service.

The INMO submission calls for improved social distancing in hospitals, mental health supports for the frontline, childcare provision, and mandatory health and safety inspections in workplaces with clusters or outbreaks of COVID.

INMO President, Karen McGowan, said that despite great risks, nurses and midwives have made an incredible contribution to the fight against COVID.

"It is a matter of simple justice that the debt of gratitude owed to frontline staff in recognised, she said in a statement.

INMO General Secretary, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, said Government must value sacrafice.

"This has been a long hard year for those who work in the health service. Time and time again, frontline healthcare staff have stepped up to provide care in extreme circumstances. It is beyond time that their efforts are recognised.

We have lodged a claim for compensation for our members, given all they have sacrificed and contributed during this pandemic. We are still awaiting a response.

Ever since the virus arrived on our shores, we have had to push for basic safety for frontline staff. We were forced to launch a public campaign simply to get facemasks. The government refused to classify COVID as an occupational injury until an EU directive forced their hand.

Even basic issues like childcare for the largely female healthcare workforce were not dealt with when schools closed.

Its time for a clear message from government that our frontline nurses and midwives are truly valued," she said.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is renegotiating commercial contract terms with major oil firms, the Group Managing Director of the national oil company, Mallam Mele Kyari, has disclosed.

Kyari told Reuters that he hoped the move would keep investment flowing into the sector which is crucial for the Nigerian economy at a time when spending is being slashed.

Africa's largest oil exporter and biggest economy relies on the oil sector for half of its budget and 90 per cent of its foreign exchange. It wants to raise revenue but also attract investment.

Oil companies meanwhile, including Royal Dutch Shell, ExxonMobil, Total and Eni, are cutting billions in spending after taking hits to their profits, shifting money to renewable fuels and focusing only on the most cost-effective markets.

Kyari stated that new commercial terms were being negotiated and would be finalised before a pending oil overhaul bill is passed.

"No company will invest where they cannot get the appropriate margin," Kyari said in a video interview with the news medium, declining to say specifically what was being renegotiated.

"We're very conscious of the fact that people have choices, companies will make choices to leave countries when they have to," he added.

Nigeria's federal lawmakers have promised to pass the long-awaited oil overhaul bill by May.

It will define the sector for decades to come, but companies have criticised the draft for not doing enough to attract development dollars and have raised issues over taxation, royalties and local community obligations.

Kyari said companies would have the option of the newly negotiated commercial terms or moving to the updated terms outlined under the new law.

By the end of June, the NNPC is planning to have found $2 billion of financing to overhaul its Warri and Kaduna refineries, Kyari said.

Talks are underway on financing repairs to the Port Harcourt refinery after a pre-finance bid for more than $1 billion was oversubscribed, he said, noting that the money will be repaid in profits and fuel cargoes from the refineries, rather than in oil cargoes.

While the refineries have not operated at full capacity for years, NNPC had to shut all of them completely last year as they await much-needed maintenance, repair and upgrades, leaving it with a hefty fuel import bill.
Despite being in power for long fifteen years with not much to show for when it comes to proper medical care in Bihar, Nitish Kumar, for the umpteenth time, laid the foundation stone of the conversion of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), into  brace yourself  worlds largest top-notch hospital with 5,462 beds to be built at the cost of Rs. 5,540-crore.

Talking to the reporters, Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey said that the hospital, once considered the best hospital east of England, will consist of 5,462 beds out of which 939 will be reserved for ICU, 610 for the pediatrics department, 552 for general surgery and 478 for general medicine.

Expected to be completed in five years, the new PMCH will be the largest hospital in the world only after the one in Taiwan that currently boasts of 10,000 beds, Pandey, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, said.

Kumars obsession with building super-specialty healthcare centers is not new. In the last 15 years, he has laid the foundation stone of many such imaginary hospitals in Bihar in his hope to turn the state into a healthcare Mecca with Medical Tourism as one of the cornerstones of states economy. Most never took off beyond the foundation stone; some that did either was abandoned half way through the project for one reason or another and some that did somewhat finish were nowhere near the hoopla or the picture he had projected.

As noted, even after fifteen years, politicians and rich people alike in Bihar, rush to Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru hospitals for the slightest health concerns since Bihar, despite the governments high claims, does not have a single hospital capable of treating serious health problems. There is the Mahavir Cancer Sansthan in Patna but no thanks to the Nitish or any other government for its existence.

Incidentally, Rs. 5540-crore translates to roughly 8-billion US dollars. According to one source, on an average, to build a world-class hospital in the USA currently costs anywhere from $112 million to $210 million though there are some hospitals that were built at the cost of nearly a billion dollar.

One can only hope that this time Kumar is serious about rebuilding this once prestigious hospital and is not just blowing smoke as he has done many times in the past.

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The state opposition demanded the Andrews government open a judicial inquiry into Crowns suitability to operate a casino in Victoria after a NSW inquiry found the company was unfit to operate a new casino at Barangaroo in Sydney.

The 800-page report by former Supreme Court judge Patricia Bergin was ordered by NSWs gaming regulator to examine governance issues at Crowns Melbourne and Perth casinos, to determine the companys suitability to be granted the licence.

The report, which followed a year-long probe into the casino operator, found there was no doubt money laundering involving an international drug trafficking syndicate occurred at the companys Melbourne casino.

Crown was set to open the gaming floors of its $2.2 billion Barangaroo resort in late December but the NSW regulator blocked it from commencing gaming operations. Credit:Nick Moir

Under pressure from advocacy groups to place greater scrutiny on Crown as the NSW inquiry heard damning public evidence late last year, the Victorian government fast-tracked its next major review of Crown Resorts Melbourne licence by two years.
Her most recent television appearance, which followed son Harvey's search for a residential college, was widely praised across the board.

And it has now been reported that Katie Price, 42, has landed a new three-part documentary, with cameras following her as she trains to become a volunteer emergency responder.

The new series will follow the mother-of-five as she enrols in a six-day crash course to train up and eventually work alongside paramedics.

New gig! Katie Price, 42, has reportedly landed a new three-part documentary, with cameras following her as she trains to become a volunteer emergency responder (Pictured March 2016)

Although she won't be an official paramedic following the crash course, Katie will be able to work alongside UK ambulance trusts, where trained volunteers assist paramedics.

At the end of her intense training, she'll be qualified to attend 999 incidents  with the exception of maternity, children under eight years old and mental health calls.

A source told The Sun: 'It'll be along the lines of Emma Willis's show, Delivering Babies, or Famous and Fighting Crime.

'Katie will learn all the real life skills she needs and they won't go easy on her because she's a celebrity.

The specifics: The new TV series will follow the mother-of-five as she enrols in a six-day crash course to train up and eventually work alongside paramedics (Pictured August 2017)

'It's something Katie's wanted to do for years and she's really looking forward to filming next month.'

MailOnline has contacted Katie Price's representatives for comment.

The mother-of-five first revealed her plans to become a paramedic back in 2017, shwen she told Heat magazine: 'I'm training to be a paramedic... It's a five-year course and you can work and do it at the same time.

'I had started training to be a nurse when I left school and I love all that kind of stuff', the I'm A Celeb star added.

Hard-hitting TV personality!? 'It'll be along the lines of Emma Willis's show, Delivering Babies, or Famous and Fighting Crime' a source told The Sun (Pictured August 2017)

The same year, Katie demonstrated her skills on Loose Women, joining St John Ambulance first aid trainer Lisa Pascoulis to educate viewers on how to resuscitate choking children.

Demonstrating on a dummy, the former glamour model gave a step-by-step guide on how to react if a baby or child experiences struggles breathing.

Two years later, in May 2019, Katie revealed she'd be qualified to save lives in just four years time after embarking on a five-year course in 2018, but her plans were subsequently put on hold.
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An Independent Investigative Panel probing nationwide cases of police brutality in Abuja on Tuesday summoned the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Inuwa Hafiz, and a security adviser to Governor Ben Ayade, over the death of Emmanuel Ephraim.

The deceaseds brother, Paul Ephraim, had petitioned the panel alleging that the victim was extrajudicially killed in Atakpa, Cross River State, by the police in the state on June 17, 2017.

He alleged his brother was killed by the operatives of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and Operation Skolombo, an inter-agency security squad set up by the Cross River State Government to address cultism in the state.

The panel, which was set up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in the aftermath of last years #EndSARS protests, summoned the CP and the governors aide to account for their alleged roles in the activities of Operation Skolombo leading to the death of the victim.

The 11-member body headed by a former Justice of the Supreme Court, Suleiman Galadima, also ordered Marcus Joe, an assistant superintendent of police, to appear at its next hearing to speak on his alleged role of depositing the corpse at the mortuary of Calabar General Hospital.

It also ordered that the certified true copy of the Aktapa police stations crime diary with the record of the movement of the corpse be produced.

The panel had earlier on November 20, 2020 ordered the police to produce the document, but the police instead came with a printed Whatsapp copy of the said document.

It ordered that the document be produced at the next sitting on February 25, and the CP of the state should also appear at the hearing.

DPO denies

Meanwhile, the DPO of Atakpa, Kabiru Salisu, had appeared before the panel on November 30, 2020 and was cross-examined by the panels counsel, Chino Obiagwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria

Mr Salisu denied knowledge of how the deceased was killed.

While being cross-examined on Tuesday, Mr Salisu told the panel that police personnel were not part of Operation Skolombo on the day Mr Ephraim was killed.

He, however, insisted that the victim was an armed robber, who was shot dead during patrol of Operation Skolombo on the said date.

Victim killed while returning from church

But the petitioner had insisted that his brother was killed by operatives of Operation Skolombo while he was returning to the house from church.

He said the deceased, who was diagnosed of mental illness at the Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar in 2006 was not an armed robber.

The panel adjourned the case till February 25.
The Indian diaspora which celebrates its 176th Indian Arrival Day in Trinidad and Tobago is not an abstract entity, but one that flowers the socio-economic and cultural growth and development of our peoples.

It remains a proud moment for all of uspoliticians, sociologists, economists, civic, religious and cultural leadersin world history.
Papyrus Australia Ltd. (ASX:PPY) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. It is a fibre extraction and processing technology company utilising Banana Tree Trunk (BTT) waste. The company holds multiple patents for the primary process of BTT waste.

Papyrus Australia grants first right to exploit banana fibre technology in China

Papyrus Australia Ltd (ASX:PPY) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Union Pacific Trading P/L (UPT), an entity related to significant shareholder Union Pacific Equities P/L (UPE), aimed at advancing its sustainable packaging technology in China.

The company intends to advance to the second stage of corporate development and to sell turn-key factories to produce banana fibre products to operators in other banana-growing countries once construction of its proposed Egypt moulded fibre factory is operational.

PPY contemplates the first turn-key factory in China in 2022 while UPT commits to establishing a Chinese entity and operations.

China is the second-largest producer of banana and has a plastic packaging waste problem which the government demands to be addressed.

Papyrus can assist by selling turn-key factories and licensing the rights to establish banana fibre product manufacturing facilities in China.

This is contemplated by the MoA which was signed and formally agreed to on February 7, 2021.
Last Thursday, a massive fire to a 111-year-old courthouse left a Texas community devastated. Mason County residents are rallying together to rebuild the courthouse by setting up a GoFundMe page.

The Mason County Courthouse burned to near ruins after it erupted into flames around 10:15 p.m. Local officials believe the fire was arson and currently have a suspect in custody in McLennan County, according to a news release from Mason County.

Several volunteer firefighter stations did their best to extinguish the courthouse fire quickly. However, the building remained standing with only its rock outer walls, Mason County Judge Jerry Bearden told the KXAN News Friday morning. Around the same time, firefighters were also responding to a second structure fire to a house about a mile away. Officials believe the two fires are related.

RELATED: Photos: Fire destroys 111-year-old Texas courthouse in Mason County

No one was in the building during the time of the fire. According to Mason County News, officials moved the interior furniture and county records out of the courthouse to prepare for the building's renovations in May. However, the flames destroyed the interior, the roof, the bell tower, and a 150-year-old clock.

"Mason, Texas is devastated at the loss of the heartbeat of our town: our historic county courthouse," the courthouse's GoFundMe page stated. "As we mourn the loss in this great tragedy, we are all pulling together to raise funds to rebuild this beloved symbol of our community with hope for the future."

As of Tuesday morning, the GoFundMe page, launched by The Commercial Bank in Mason, has raised $2,640 of its $500,000 goal. Bearden told FOX 7 a structural assessment will be done soon to see if rebuilding is possible. Click here to donate.

"As our Judge Bearden says, 'This courthouse belongs to the people and the people in our community will rebuild and rise above this moment,'" the GoFundMe page said. "If you would like to join in our efforts, we could use your help!"

According to FOX 7, the Mason County Courthouse was built in 1909. State records show it was listed as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1988.

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
Boris Johnson last night refused to rule out a trade war with Brussels if it didnt back down in the escalating row over British shellfish.

The European Commission faced a pincer movement as politicians on both sides of the Channel criticised its ban on fresh UK exports.

Brussels has told British fishermen they are barred indefinitely from selling live mussels, oysters, clams and cockles to EU member states.

The shellfish can be transported to the Continent only if they have been treated in purification plants.

Boris Johnson (pictured) last night refused to rule out a trade war with Brussels if it didnt back down in the escalating row over British shellfish

Environment Secretary George Eustice yesterday denounced the indefensible ban, which he said was affecting restaurants on the continent as well as British fishermen, who are already suffering from the closure of the UK hospitality trade.

He said the commission changed its position last week, and that prior to that they had been clear that this was a trade that could continue.

Mr Eustice said the ban was quite unexpected and really indefensible, telling BBC Radio 4s Today programme: The truth is, there is no legal barrier to this trade continuing, both on animal health grounds and on public health grounds  there is legal provision within existing EU regulations to allow such trade to continue from the UK.

We are just asking the EU to abide by their existing regulations and not to seek to change them. Downing Street yesterday left open the possibility the Government could retaliate if the ban is not lifted.

Brussels has told British fishermen they are barred indefinitely from selling live mussels, oysters, clams and cockles to EU member states (stock image)

The Prime Ministers spokesman refused to rule out blocking the import of some goods from the continent in a tit-for-tat response.

In a boost yesterday, the chairman of the European Parliaments committee on fisheries declared he was Britains best ally over the issue.

French MEP Pierre Karleskind said he was not satisfied with the response he had had from the commission on the ban.

The fact is that the UK waters did not become dirty on December 31 at midnight, so this really doesnt make any sense, he told the Today programme.

The European Commission faced a pincer movement as politicians on both sides of the Channel criticised its ban on fresh UK exports. Pictured: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove last night compared the tensions with the EU in recent weeks to the start of a flight. He told the Lords European Union committee: We all know that when an aeroplane takes off, thats the point when you sometimes get that increased level of turbulence.

But then eventually you reach a cruising altitude and the crew tell you to take your seatbelts off, and enjoy a gin and tonic and some peanuts.

Were not at the gin and tonic and peanuts stage yet but Im confident we will be.

Chief Brexit negotiator Lord Frost said the EU was still adjusting to the existence of a genuinely independent actor in their neighbourhood.

I think its been more than bumpy, to be honest, in the last six weeks. I think its been problematic. I hope well get over this, he told the Lords committee. It is going to require a different spirit probably from the EU but Im sure we are going to see that and see some of this subside as we go forward.
Joyce Odame, the Child Protection Officer, at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has lauded the government for living up to its responsibility of protecting children from illicit internet activities.



She stated that the government has shown a lot of commitment in the area of online child protection and that as far back as 2015 the government started engaging stakeholders around this topic.



This gesture Madam Odame said motivated UNICEF to conduct research just to find out within the landscape threats which has informed the interventions put in place to address the issue.



Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Africa Safer Internet Day (SID) Celebration in Accra, the UNICEF Child protection officer disclosed that government's commitment has also been brought to the fore with the passage of the Cyber Security Act.



"The Cyber Security Act has been passed and this law has some provision on child online protection making provision for offences that are punishable by law like online grooming, sextortion and Online Child Sexual Abuse"



Madam Odame noted that the Ministry of Communication through the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has also put in place some programmes to support awareness creation around the issue, stressing that UNICEF is also working with the Ministry of Education to develop a Digital Literacy Package that can be integrated into the school's curricula.



She argued that it is not enough to teach children the parts of the computer or software but also there is the need to integrate some online safety lessons into their studies.



Madam Odame was, however, quick to add that the task is too much for the government to do all, the reason why other stakeholders must come on board.



The UNICEF Child Protection Officer, for this reason, urges parents to be concerned about the contents their wards are exposed to on the internet.



"it is very important for parents to supervise the online activities of their children, it is not just enough to buy an internet-enabled device and give to your child, is important to get involved and know what the child is using that tool for so that you can support the child to use this tool more responsibly and safely".



According to her, it is important for parents and caregivers or people who have the responsibility to take care of children to really brief them about the threats online."



She explained that every threat that children are exposed to in the physical world are replicated in the online world.

SID is an international event that takes place in February every year, to promote a safe and more responsible use of online technology by children and young people across the world.



On Safer Internet Day, the world comes together with a shared vision of making online experiences better for everyone.

This years event, which is the 18th edition, will see a repeat of the 2020 theme Together for a Better Internet across the globe.



It aims among other things to promote the safe and positive use of technology by children and young people.

Source: Ghanaian Publisher









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For now, at least, Democrats are huddling in harmony under their big tent.

After a 15-month primary contest that highlighted deep divides within the party, President Biden is enjoying an early honeymoon from the political vise of a progressive wing that spent months preparing to squeeze the new administration.

Democrats have remained resolute about pushing through Mr. Bidens $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue plan over near-unanimous dissent from Republicans, and they are determined to hold former President Donald J. Trump accountable for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol violence in the impeachment trial that started Tuesday afternoon.

Liberal standard-bearers like Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts are holding their fire. The progressive Squad in the House  Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and her allies  have focused their rage on the Republicans who inspired the siege of the Capitol.

And activists who have built careers out of orchestrating public pressure campaigns have been disarmed by the open line to the White House they enjoy, and by the encouragement they receive from its highest levels  a signal that the administration is tending to the Democratic base in a way that wasnt done during the Obama or Clinton years.


BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Germany's exports managed to grow in December, despite restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus pandemic, underpinned by demand from China and the U.S., data from Destatis revealed on Tuesday.



Exports gained 0.1 percent on month, slower than the 2.3 percent increase in November. Economists had forecast a monthly fall of 1 percent.



At the same time, imports decreased 0.1 percent, following a 5.4 percent rebound logged a month ago. Imports were expected to decline more sharply by 1.1 percent.



As a result, the trade surplus remained almost unchanged at a seasonally adjusted EUR 16 billion in December. The expected level was EUR 15.9 billion.



Year-on-year, exports advanced 2.7 percent, reversing a 1.2 percent drop in the previous month. At the same time, the annual growth in imports accelerated to 3.5 percent from 0.5 percent.



On an unadjusted basis, the trade surplus totaled EUR 14.8 billion versus EUR 15.1 billion in the same period last year.



The current account surplus increased to EUR 28.2 billion from EUR 25.3 billion in the prior year.



Carsten Brzeski, an ING economist said the revival of the traditional German growth driver, exports, came at the right moment and helped in avoiding a contraction of the economy in the final quarter of 2020.



The longer-term outlook, however, remains mixed, illustrating that the sector will still take some time before returning to full strength, the economist added.



Data showed that exports to China advanced 11.6 percent and that to the United States climbed 8.4 percent in December. This was the first annual increase in German exports to the U.S. since February 2020.



Imports from China grew 15.7 percent and that from the U.S. gained 2.2 percent in December.



In 2020 as a whole, German exports decreased 9.3 percent and imports were down 7.1 percent. These were the largest annual decreases in both exports and imports since the financial and economic crisis in 2009.



The foreign trade balance showed a surplus of EUR 179.1 billion in 2020. This means that the German export surplus declined for the fourth year in a row, Destatis said.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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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.
Thought Leaders Dr. Madeleine Swortwood Assistant Professor, Department of Forensics Sam Houston State University

In this interview, Dr. Madeleine Swortwood of Sam Houston State University talks to News-Medical Life Sciences about the symposium she will lead at Pittcon this year on the analytical challenges of cannabis and its impacts on driving and public health.

What role does cannabis play in 2021, especially in the realm of public health?

With increased medicinal and recreational use, we really need to have a solid understanding of how this is going to impact drug-impaired driving, workplace safety and even accidental toxic exposures.

What are some analytical challenges and impacts on driving and public health when studying cannabis in biological contexts? What innovative analytical methodologies have emerged to address these challenges?

There is really a lot of disagreement when it comes to cannabis safety, especially with regards to human performance and impairment. We are going to discuss why cannabis impairment is challenging to establish and the difficulty of instituting limits like we have established with the alcohol 0.08.

We now have the ability, from an analytical standpoint, to detect lower levels of cannabinoids, and we also have the ability to identify and quantify other cannabinoid markers. With sensitive instrumentation this allows us to assess cannabinoids in emerging fluids and tissues like umbilical cord and oral fluid.

Image Credit: HQuality / Shutterstock.com

As you mentioned, cannabinoids are absorbed by biological fluids and tissues after consumption for either medicinal or recreational purposes. Why is it important to detect and quantify these?

THC is the psychoactive component of cannabis. It is really important to be able to identify the impairing substances in an individual. Typically, the metabolites are often targeted in a laboratory assay and it can establish that cannabis has been used, but the metabolites do not necessarily correlate with impairment and it does not really allow us to identify when cannabis was used.

So, we are constantly trying to improve our ability to identify recent cannabis use so that we can rule out maybe something that occurred several days prior.

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Can you describe the novel analytical procedures for the detection and quantification of drugs of abuse you have developed and how you are approaching your aim of further inventing universal techniques for easy application in forensic toxicology laboratories?

Over the past few years I have been focusing on the use of liquid chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry to analyze traditional and synthetic or designer drugs of abuse in various fluids. I have been putting a lot of my focus on alternative matrices like oral fluid.

I have worked in a variety of different laboratories and everyone faces some type of shortfall when it comes to resources, whether that is instrumentation, budget, staffing. Because of that, I want to produce techniques that are easily implemented in laboratories that can use equipment that they either already have or that they could easily obtain, because those are ultimately going to be the end users of some of these techniques.

Moving away from things like immunoassay towards mass spec-based screening, even translating a lot of older methods from GCMS to LCMS, or even updating some of the extraction techniques from liquid-liquid extraction to solid phase extraction and doing those types of methods in a way that is still affordable and really can be easily validated in any of the labs.

You recently published a study titled Identifying and Quantifying Cannabinoids in Biological Matrices in the Medical and Legal Cannabis Era. Can you tell us more about these biological matrices you used?

This was a huge review paper that I put together with two of my colleagues, Dr. Erin Karschner and Dr. Marilyn Huestis, who will be speaking in the symposia with me. We really wanted to summarize the methods that are available in the literature of the past 20 years.

We reviewed nearly 300 articles so that we could summarize and demonstrate the analytical techniques that are used for traditional matrices, like blood and urine, but also for some of the more emerging alternative matrices, like oral fluid, breath, hair, meconium and umbilical cord.

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Can you define NPS, or new psychoactive substances, which have become more popular on the drug market and public health forefront and elaborate on their impact? Can other drugs like marijuana, cocaine and designer drugs also be analyzed with a focal point on public health spheres?

NPS are structurally or chemically similar to traditional drugs of abuse, like THC, MTMA, PCP; however, their structures are slightly modified. This is usually in an effort to either increase potency or as a mechanism for evading legislation or traditional drug testing avenues.

They are not only extremely dangerous and highly toxic, but they are also very difficult to analyze in a laboratory since their structures are constantly evolving. It is a moving target for us. All of these drugs remain a huge issue, especially from a public health perspective, especially when it comes to things like impaired driving and workplace safety. I think it is really important to educate the public on drug safety or the lack thereof.

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That is a really important point about the public health perspective. Could you explain further how the presence and influence of cannabinoids in driving and public health cases has changed over time?

Cannabis remains the most common non-alcohol drug that is involved in driving under the influence cases. As we see an increase in medicinal use, decriminalization and recreational use, the public no longer sees cannabis as a safety or an impairment issue. We need to keep those things in mind and and educate the public.

From forensic toxicology and analytical chemistry to controlled substances and clinical toxicology, your expertise covers a wide range of fields. Can you describe working in the intersection of science and public health and how this interdisciplinarity drives your work?

I think it is really important to address scientific problems from multiple angles and I have been fortunate to work in a variety of different labs that have helped me not only build my experience, but ultimately helped me shape the research group at Sam Houston State.

My research has to have an impact on the community because that is what makes the research meaningful. No one wants to just do research in a vacuum. So, things like better drug testing or even understanding how the drugs behave in the body will ultimately help shape policy and really lend to educating the public on drug safety really for the better.

What are some future steps you will be taking with your research in the next 5 to 10 years and what do you expect cannabis role to be in the future of public health?

I would really like to continue working towards identifying recent use markers, especially in alternative matrices, like oral fluid and maybe even breath. I would really like to see more research go into oral fluid drug testing, both from a roadside standpoint for things like drug impaired driving, or even workplace drug testing.

I would also like to see more labs develop confirmation methods so that we can run the gamut of drug testing and accomplish the same scope of analysis in oral fluid that we might be looking at for blood or urine. Oral fluid has a lot of advantages.

People are a lot more willing to provide an oral fluid swab or a saliva swab than they are to provide a urine cup or have a phlebotomist take a blood sample. So, I would really like to continue to see oral fluid come up in the field.

While cannabis is not legal at a federal level in the United States, so many individual states have approved medicinal or recreational use. We need to continue to manage the effects that cannabis will have on impaired driving and workplace safety. Just because something is legal does not mean that it is safe for someone to use all the time, just like you would not drink at work or drink and drive. We really need to have that same type of approach for cannabis.

Image Credit: Daniel Chetroni / Shutterstock.com

You are playing a role in the future of public health as well as a long-time member of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists and American Academy of Forensic Sciences. What is the importance of such government and health organizations and their drug regulations on research and policy, especially as legalization of various drugs is unstandardized in America?

It is really difficult to imagine, but drug use in one state could be perfectly fine but could really result in serious consequences in another state. We do not have any standardized limits when it comes to impaired driving with any of the drugs, so we do not have something that is equivalent to the 0.08 that we can compare to for alcohol.

It is really hard to come up with some type of legislation that would be good for every drug of abuse that we are encountering. These organizations are great for networking, collaborating and staying up to date with the top research in the field. They provide an excellent platform for rapid dissemination of knowledge, upcoming research and even clues us into drug trends.

Especially when we are thinking of new or novel psychoactive substances. Once one of those compounds is scheduled, sometimes it means that another compound that has yet to be scheduled will appear in its place on the drug market. The regulations are really going to dictate the drug trends, so we really need to be aware of what is illegal and what is scheduled and what might be coming up next.

Why did you choose to present your work at Pittcon this year and how does this event contribute to your research and its wider impact on public health industries?

Last year the cannabis workshop was really well received and we wanted to expand on what was introduced by our colleagues and bring a few more angles to the forefront. Pittcon allows me to connect with other scientists.

It allows me to help broaden my knowledge, but it also helps me disseminate my findings and my research to a larger and even slightly different group in the scientific field. Pittcon brings together the best researchers, top scientists, and all of the analytical vendors that we need to really help propel the field forward, even if we are doing so remotely this year.

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Finally, as things look a little different in 2020 this year, are you looking forward to a virtual Pittcon bringing the science community together and new trends that will emerge?

I am definitely looking forward to really seeing how Pittcon allows us to maintain networking and collaboration like we would in a traditional setting. It will be exciting to see what everyone else has been accomplishing while we have been stuck at home and maybe not in the lab as much as we would like.

I would really like to see how we can all get together and bring the research one step further in the years to come. I really see conferences as a way of celebrating research, of bringing people together. I always tell my students that it is a reward for working hard all year and being able to present your research to your colleagues. But I also find that conferences are the best way to network.

They are the best way to figure out how someone else might be addressing a similar problem, or it might be approaching it from a slightly different angle. And the more minds you have working on a problem, the farther you are going to get. I enjoy taking part in conferences because without it, you are again just doing research in a vacuum and really not paying attention to what other people are doing. So, we all have to work together.

About Dr. Madeleine Swortwood

Dr. Madeleine Swortwood joined the Department of Forensic Science at Sam Houston State University as an Assistant Professor in August 2016. Dr. Swortwood received a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Duquesne University in 2009 and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Florida International University (FIU) in 2013. From 2014-2016, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She investigated toxicology and metabolism of cannabinoids and stimulant drugs and developed skills in the administration of the Drug Recognition Expert tests to identify drug use in the field. She was an associate investigator in a controlled cannabis administration clinical trial and also examined in utero drug exposure.

During graduate school, Dr. Swortwood served as an intern at the Food and Drug Administration's Forensic Chemistry Center and the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Toxicology Laboratory, where she was hired as a full-time forensic toxicologist. As a forensic toxicologist, she performed routine post-mortem drug analyses from sample acquisition to screening, confirmation, and quantification of drugs, volatiles, and poisons.
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22% of the SC and ST households together reported having old-age pensioners in the households, with 22% widow pensioners, and 4% disability pension holders, but 68% of the SC and 59% of ST pension-holders were yet to receive the ex-gratia assistance as on October 2020.

Suchitra, TwoCircles.net

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New Delhi: A strikingly fierce visual of women sitting in dharna was witnessed on January 29 in which elderly people, widows, and disabled persons of marginalized communities in the Barwadih, Latehar district of Jharkhand took to the streets in large numbers. They were protesting against the non-payment of social security pensions for as long as six months. After a rally through the town, they sat on a dharna at the Block office to voice their demands with spirited speeches and slogans.

Many of the most disadvantaged populations in Barwadih, like particularly vulnerable tribal groups, were involved. For several of the protestors, particularly those living alone, the meagre pension sum of Rs 1,000/month are a vital lifeline.

Hundreds of widows and old citizens who do not receive a pension at all have joined them. Most of them have applied, often multiple times, but they have no idea of the status of their application; or have been excluded from the scheme due to problems such as biometric identification.

Somariya Masomat and Parwati Masomat from a landless Dalit household of Dorami village in Barwadih block of Latehar are not able to apply for a pension because they do not have Aadhaar. They are the only two in the family.

After a complaint, they were provided 10 kg of rice by the administration, but this is just a quick fix. Structural technology exclusion makes their lives harder than they already are.

On 28 November 2001, the Supreme Court issued a strict order that pensions should be paid promptly by the 7th of each month. Twenty years later, long delays are still rampant.

For large groups, biometric authentication doesnt work, because exclusions are likely to take place. We have seen confirmation that it doesnt work in manual labour situations. That was seen as a major issue at NREGA. Bank accounts must be connected (or seeded) to Aadhaar before an account transfer. Therefore, even for non-Aadhaar-based payments, Aadhaar has created many problems, among others, such as incorrectly-seeded, inactive, and disabled Aadhaar.

Tetri Devi from Kochla village in Barwadih block is not getting any pension. She is tired of running from pillar to post in government offices to find out about her application.

For the most marginalized groups, social security pensions are a critical means of funding.

Aadhaar links have destroyed current payment processes, triggering missed payments, allowing ghost accounts to be generated, and culminating in misdirected payments.

Sanichari Devi, a widow from the PVTG community, is from Barichattan Village. She has been struggling to receive the disability pension of her 20-year-old daughter Dilwa Kumari. As an uneducated single mother, the pension was supposed to be a big relief for her, and she doesnt even understand why she hasnt received it. A large reason for inaccessibility here is the information gap.

The most prominent reason for delayed payments is the Aadhaar-Enabled Payments System (AePS). Since their banking information was not related to the Aadhaar numbers, an estimated 5.3 crore construction workers faced delayed payments. At least two sources revealed that a substantial proportion of transaction errors resulted from the surge in AePS payments during the lockdown.

Dheeraj, a social activist from the area, claims that banking systems being highly dependent on technology is causing a very wide accessibility gap. During the lockdown, many were unable to visit the bank. Many whose Aadhaars were disabled had further problems. Another inaccessibility arises with proving disability, producing proof of age, or death certificates of the husbands in case of widows, he says.

Anti Devi from Nawadih village, Chungru panchayat, has not received her pension for the last five years. The old-age pension of Kopli Devi from the Kharwar Tribal community (Village-Kuchila) is not sanctioned because both as per her Aadhaar, her age is not 60. Both these women say they are tired of running to and fro from banks.

During the dharna, a startling story emerged about the reason why old-age pensions have been held up for 6 months in Jharkhand, as follows. In Jharkhand, old-age pensions are paid at the rate of Rs 1,000/month, of which Rs 300/month comes from the central government under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and the rest from the state government. NSAP money was used during the national lockdown to pay two instalments of Rs 500 to elderly persons under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY). As a result, the money ran out for the central contribution of Rs 300/month, and pension payments stopped for months (they cannot be made until both central and state contributions are available). The problem is now being rectified through the supplementary budget, Dheeraj told TwoCircles.net.

Gita Devi, a woman from the Korwa PVTG community (Village Kuchika) has had a PVTG pension, that she is entitled to, discontinued.

An assessment of the extent of realization of the key relief entitlements across 25,032 Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe households in India titled Delayed and Denied, by the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) brought out some deeply stark statistics.

22% of the SC and ST households together reported having old-age pensioners in the households, with 22% widow pensioners, and 4% disability pension holders, but 68% of the SC and 59% of ST pension-holders were yet to receive the ex-gratia assistance as on October 2020.

The Centre using up the funds of NSAP to pay off promises by PM Narendra Modi under his relief package scheme PMGKY is the reason many of these women were on the streets asking for payments they were entitled to. Aadhaar-enabled and biometric-enabled systems worsened this crisis.

The main demands of this protest are the prompt payment of pensions by the 7th of each month, as per SC orders, monthly pensions of at least Rs 2,500 per month, universal coverage, and immediate sanction of all pending applications.

Bandhu Parhaiya and Kabutri Devi, an elderly couple from Matnag village, have not received their pensions since June 2020. Bandhu, who can barely see due to cataract, finds the pension amount inadequate and demands Rs. 2500 per month. Bandhu and Kabutri walk back home from the protest as Bandhu struggles to see the way.

Suchitra is an independent journalist working on social justice, focusing primarily on gender justice. She tweets at @Suchitrawrites
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
A Catholic church in San Francisco has temporarily shut down after three priests tested positive for COVID-19.

Saints Peter and Paul Church in North Beach will be shuttered until Sunday  with masses being delivered solely on a livestream  after the church said that three priests received diagnoses Friday.

The news was first reported by KRON.

"Pray for us!" the notice on the church's website read. It is unclear if other priests and church workers are being quarantined away from the affected individuals.

Saints Peter and Paul has repeatedly defied city health ordinances throughout the course of the pandemic. In June, City Attorney Dennis Herrera issued a cease-and-desist to the Archdiocese of San Francisco  where he took the church to task for holding "public" mass at least six times in the span of a few weeks.

The church, according to the notice, continued to surreptitiously held service. Herrera said the church posted a sign billing no Sunday mass, but stated on its website "it will continue to celebrate public Masses twice a day Monday through Saturday."

Days after that report was issued, the San Francisco Chronicle reported the church hosted a wedding with an estimated 100 attendees that was shut down by city officials. At least ten of them tested positive for the coronavirus. The church was not cited by the city.

The church did not immediately respond to a request for comment from SFGATE.

LAS VEGAS (AP)  Mary Wilson, the longest-reigning original Supreme, has died at 76 years old.

Wilson died Monday night at her home in Las Vegas and the cause was not immediately clear, said publicist Jay Schwartz.

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Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard made up the first successful configuration of The Supremes. Ballard was replaced by Cindy Birdsong in 1967, and Wilson stayed with the group until it was officially disbanded by Motown in 1977.

The groups first No. 1, million-selling song, Where Did Our Love Go, was released June 17, 1964. Touring at the time, Wilson said there was a moment when she realized they had a hit song.

I remember that instead of going home on the bus, we flew, she told The Associated Press in 2014. That was our first plane ride. We flew home. We had really hit big.

It would be the first of five consecutive No. 1s, with Baby Love, Come See About Me, Stop! In the Name of Love" and Back in My Arms Again following in quick succession. The Supremes also recorded the hit songs You Cant Hurry Love, Up the Ladder to the Roof, and Love Child.

CLASSIC REDUX: 'Coming 2 America' soundtrack features Houston's own Meg Thee Stallion

I just woke up to this news," Ross tweeted on Tuesday, offering her condolences to Wilson's family. I am reminded that each day is a gift, she added, writing I have so many wonderful memories of our time together."

Motown founder Berry Gordy said he was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supremes. His statement Monday night, according to Variety, said The Supremes were always known as the sweethearts of Motown.
Scientists think that one of the causes of recent cases is leaking contagious CCP virus mutations from a quarantine-hotel. A few more cases were discovered in various parts of Australia.

Since the pandemic began, more types of the CCP virus have spread all over the world. Their initial origin is alleged to be China, first seen a year ago in December 2019. Since then, the virus has moved on to almost every part of the globe.

Quarantine leaks

According to infectious disease experts, they speculate the highly contagious strains of the CCP virus, which might have come from quarantine leaks in Australia. There are three cases in Victoria linked to a hotel quarantine program a week ago, reported the Epoch Times.

One of the patients is a female patient, aged 50, who got positive for the COVID-19 virus. The positive patient was working in the Holiday Inn, close to the Melbourne airport.

Prof. Malcolm Sim, a government adviser, said that the strains which were detected are very infectious. It requires more caution and prevention that is usually used to contain the virus more effectively. One of the predicted outcomes of viruses is their adaptation and evolution to survive.

To investigate the viral infection and where the leak came from, the quarantine hotel ventilation systems are checked for any traces of the contagion. Next will be daily testing of all quarantine workers in the hotel, even daily checks when off from work.

Tracking down all possible leaks by Authorities in Victoria is crucial to stop the spreading of the contagious CCP virus mutations.

Also read: South African COVID Variant May Have Evolved New Spike Protein to Bypass Immune System

Scientists voice concern over highly contagious variants

According to La Trobe University epidemiologist Prof. Hassan Vally, dangerous variants might have developed ways to bypass any preventive measures to stop them from spreading, which is a big 'what if' that needs more study and verification. If there are more leaks, then more testing measures need to be done or developed.

Vally added they are coping with the leak by using better methods and are learning more. Dealing with the CCP virus is not so easy as it mutates.

Greg Hunt, the federal minister for health, said that having to check every nook and cranny of the quarantine hotel's ventilation is essential. It has been predicted that a ventilation system can house and spread viral materials. Checking the ventilation is part of the controls to isolate the virus.

He added that a year ago, there would be cases in hotels. He says that hotel containment or quarantine is where a viral breakout is better contained. Next is testing, tracing, and distancing, which are vital for lessening the spread of the virus.

One opinion by Assoc. Prof. Paul Griffin, from the University of Queensland, adds that evidence is lacking to back up and say conclusions are correct. There is more to how the contagious CCP virus mutations spread, and not fully understood by science.

Investigation if the quarantine hotel is where the viral leaks came from, said Griffin.

Related article: PfizerBioNTech Vaccine Claims It Can Work Against the New Coronavirus Variants

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Leaders from around world express appreciation, confidence in safety and reliability

From front-line workers to heads of state, more people around the world are praising and welcoming Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines.

"Chinese vaccines have been proved to be safe and reliable," said Laotian Minister of Health Bounkong Syhavong upon receiving Chinese-donated Sinopharm vaccines in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on Monday.

At about the same time across the Pacific, Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti expressed his appreciation to China as he welcomed the arrival of the first 300,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine from China. Likewise, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera thanked China on Jan 28, and Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen expressed his gratitude for donated vaccine on Sunday.

Peru's next vaccine shipment is scheduled to arrive in Lima over the weekend, Sagasti said. Health professionals, armed forces members, police officers, firefighters and health workers will be given priority for inoculation in the country, where 42,000 people have died of COVID-19.

Sinopharm's vaccine and that of Chinese company Sinovac are at a "very advanced stage" of the World Health Organization's Emergency Use Listing Procedure assessment. China is honoring its commitment to making vaccines a global public good, as emphasized by President Xi Jinping, and has joined the WHO's global COVAX program to provide 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Chinese vaccines have been used to vaccinate millions of people in China as well as in dozens of countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong Namhong noted on Sunday.

"According to information I received, these vaccines have had efficacy and no severe side effect," he said. "Many leaders of these countries have been inoculated voluntarily with these Chinese vaccines."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday that China is providing vaccine aid to 53 developing countries, including Pakistan. China also has exported vaccines or is in the process of exporting vaccines to 22 countries, he added.

Nawal Al-Kaabi, principal investigator of the phase three clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine in the United Arab Emirates, said the UAEtogether with Bahrain, Egypt and Jordan, where Chinese-made vaccines are also being rolled outis studying the long-term effects of the vaccine in line with standard safety protocols.

The Sinopharm vaccine is "the world's first inactivated vaccine against COVID-19", which essentially means that manufacturing this vaccine will be easier than making its counterparts, said Al-Kaabi, also chairwoman of the National COVID-19 Clinical Management Committee.

"There have been no severe adverse reactions to the Sinopharm vaccine," she said, adding that patients have shown minor side effects"which is a good sign and means your immune system is reacting correctly".

"The Sinopharm inactivated vaccine can also be transported at normal refrigeration temperatures, making it suitable for less-developed countries to transport and store it," she added.

In Brazil, Andre Lobato, a researcher at the Center for International Relations at Fiocruz, a biological sciences research institute in Rio de Janeiro, expressed appreciation for CoronaVac, the vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech and partially manufactured in Brazil by the Sao Paulo-based Butantan Institute.

"Unmistakably, the inactivated vaccine is a light of hope for Brazilian people," Lobato said. Since Jan 17, about 3.5 million people have been inoculated with Sinovac. "Skepticism about Chinese vaccines is being demolished by facts, solidarity and need."

Namhong of Cambodia stressed that COVID-19 vaccines should not be a contentious issue among countries and producers, but should be used to keep people around the world safe, especially in developing countries.

In an interview with the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag published on Sunday, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Austria is ready to produce Russian and Chinese COVID-19 vaccines if they are registered by the European Medicines Agency.

"When it comes to vaccines, what matters is efficiency, safety and quick access, and not geopolitical strife," Kurz said.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, in talks with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest on Friday, also emphasized that "the coronavirus vaccine is not a political issue but a safety issue, so the origin of the vaccine cannot be made a political issue either." Hungry has granted approval to Chinese and Russian vaccines.

Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed openness to EU approval of Chinese and Russian vaccines following due procedure with "all the data".

A commentary published on the website of The New York Times on Feb 5 called for a change in attitude toward Chinese vaccines.

The Indian and Malaysian experts who co-wrote the opinion piece said, "They, too, work, and they can help fill shortages everywhere."
Yangon: Crowds demonstrating against the military takeover in Myanmar again defied a ban on protests on Wednesday, even after security forces ratcheted up the use of force against them and raided the headquarters of the political party of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Fresh protests were reported in Yangon and Mandalay, the countrys two biggest cities, as well as the capital Naypyitaw and elsewhere.

The protesters demand power be restored to Suu Kyis deposed civilian government. Theyre also seeking freedom for her and other governing party members since the military detained them after blocking the new session of Parliament on February 1.

A group of shirtless demonstrator hold images of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest in Yangon, Myanmar, on Wednesday. Credit:AP

A group of police in Kayah state in the east joined the protesters and marched in uniform with a sign that said We dont want dictatorship, according to pictures published by local media.


For Democrats now in control of Congress and the White House, the proceeding threatens to complicate Mr. Bidens attempts to quickly pass a nearly $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill. Senators have vowed to continue working on the plan before the trial begins each day, but if nothing else, the trial will prove an unwelcome distraction for a White House trying to show it is focused on a once-in-a-century health crisis.

Im just not going to have any more for you, weighing in on impeachment, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, told reporters on Monday. Its a big story. But our focus is on the American Rescue Plan.

Perhaps fittingly for a trial without precedent, the proceeding is to begin on Tuesday with a lengthy debate over whether it is even constitutional for the Senate to go forward. Mr. Trumps lawyers and the House managers will be given up to four hours to debate the point before senators take an up-or-down vote on whether to proceed.

A majority of senators have already indicated they believe trying Mr. Trump is constitutional, but how many Republicans vote to advance could be instructive. Late last month, 45 of them voted to effectively dismiss the case on constitutional grounds. But since then, a prominent Republican lawyer, Charles J. Cooper, has joined those arguing against their position, and several senators have said they might reconsider.

The Constitution does not explicitly say one way or another whether a former official can be impeached or tried for offenses committed while in office.

Analyzing the plain text and citing a 1787 debate over the Constitution, Mr. Trumps team argued on Monday that the founders intended impeachment as a mechanism only to remove someone from office. Because Mr. Trump is now a private citizen, they wrote, the Houses charge is moot and a non-justiciable and removing him would be patently ridiculous.

A majority of constitutional scholars disagree with that reasoning. They say the founders never intended to exempt someone like Mr. Trump from trial and point out that the Senate voted in the 19th century to try a former war secretary.
EUGENE, Ore. -- Tax season is going to be a bit different this year due to COVID-19 relief packages from federal and state governments.

While stimulus checks are technically not being taxed in Oregon, some residents may still end up paying more this year due to how state taxes are calculated.

Oregon gives individuals a subtraction on their tax return for federal taxes paid. The stimulus check is an advance on federal tax credits. Some individuals, a small margin of individuals, may see an effect on their Oregon federal tax subtraction number, Jones and Roth CPA officer Neil Langlois said.

For more information on how your stimulus funds will impact your tax filing, CLICK HERE.

Langlois also gave information for business owners who took out Paycheck Protection Program loans during the pandemic as well.

There were all kinds of changes through the evolution of PPP to the rules, like what was considered taxable and not taxable, Langlois said. Today most PPP applicants are most likely not going to have an increased tax liability for federal.

However, Langois said that for the state, Oregon may pass a bill that places a surcharge on PPP loans.

KEZI 9 News also spoke with financial innovation manager Ron Kanaga, who works at a nonprofit called DevNW, which helps people with their financial well-being.

Kanaga said it is critical that people file taxes early and that this is the best way to avoid tax fraud. He also gave some other tips for people trying to get some relief for this tax season.

Go directly to the IRS website if you're planning to file online. Just Google: IRS free file. They'll list hundreds of providers. Usually if you're making less than $72,000, you shouldn't have to pay anything, Kanaga said. Also, do a little brush up on which tax credit deductibles you're eligible for. Some people found that this past year they made a lot less income. On the bright side, you might be eligible for tax credits that you otherwise wouldnt be eligible for.

The IRS will begin processing tax filings on Feb. 12 this year.
A third of Northern Ireland's Covid-19 deaths and positive cases have happened in the last six weeks.

The startling development comes as Northern Ireland on Monday recorded its lowest daily case rate since November, in the clearest sign yet that lockdown is working.

An additional 296 cases were announced on Monday and while figures tend to be lower on a Monday due to the way tests and results are processed, it has been seen as a massive boost in the fight to suppress Covid-19 -with only two other days since last September recording lower daily case rates.

The seven-day case rate has also dropped significantly in recent weeks, with figures showing a 77% decrease compared to the spike seen at the start of the year.

According to figures released by the Department of Health on Monday, the seven-day case rate was 2,921 - down from 3,770 over the previous seven-day period and a drop of more than 8,500 compared to January 4.

The statistics have also highlighted the heartbreaking toll of the relaxation of restrictions in the run up to Christmas, with 621 of the total number of recorded deaths happening since the start of the year.

At the same time, 34,329 of the total number of positive cases recorded since the beginning of the pandemic have been diagnosed this year.

It is now six weeks since a strict lockdown was put in place in Northern Ireland as the health service braced itself for a potentially catastrophic number of seriously-ill Covid-19 patients. More than 900 cancer operations have been cancelled so far this year as staff were diverted across the service in preparation for the latest deadly wave.

A further 12 deaths have been reported, bringing to 1,943 the number of Covid-19 related deaths since the start of the pandemic. Meanwhile, 107,163 positive cases have now been diagnosed.

Covid-19 case rates for the four nations of the UK have dropped to their lowest level since before Christmas, with Northern Ireland recording a daily cases rate last seen on a regular basis in the weeks after the schools returned last September.

Nine of the 11 local areas in Northern Ireland recorded a drop in rates in the latest figures, with the biggest fall in Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon, which has been described as being at the epicentre of the pandemic here.

There has been a very slight rise in Causeway Coast & Glens (from 121.5 to 125.7) and Ards & North Down (123.0 to 125.5).

Mid Ulster has the highest rate (303.6, down from 352.1) while Derry City & Strabane has the lowest (down from 111.0 to 100.5).

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he is "very confident" in the coronavirus vaccines after concerns were raised that the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab may be less effective against the South African variant.

But the Prime Minister did not rule out the strain could delay the relaxation of lockdown restriction, instead insisting he has "no doubt that vaccines generally are going to offer a way out".

Experts warned on Monday it is "very possible" the strain is already quite widespread in the UK after a study of around 2,000 people suggested the Oxford jab only offers minimal protection against mild disease of the South Africa variant.

The study, due to the young age of participants, could not conclude whether the vaccine worked against severe disease.

Some 147 cases of the South African variant have so far been identified in the UK, with experts warning these are likely to be the "tip of the iceberg" due to the fact they are the result of random checks on 5% to 10% of all positive tests. There have been no cases recorded in Northern Ireland yet, although the chief medical officer, Dr Michael McBride, warned last week that it is "only a matter of time" before the first case is detected here.

During a visit to a coronavirus test manufacturing facility in Derby on Monday, the Prime Minister told reporters: "We're very confident in all the vaccines that we're using.

"And I think it's important for people to bear in mind that all of them, we think, are effective in delivering a high degree of protection against serious illness and death, which is the most important thing."

It comes after Dr Mike Tildesley, a scientist advising the Government, warned that restrictions may be needed for longer if the South African variant does turn out to be prevalent in the UK.

Mr Johnson did not rule out that there could be a delay to easing restrictions if the Oxford/AstraZeneca has a reduced effect on preventing infections, and therefore on hindering the transmission of Covid-19.

But the Prime Minister said: "They remain of massive benefit to our country and to the population as we go through the pandemic and I've no doubt that vaccines generally are going to offer a way out."

Digital.com, a leading independent review website for small business online tools, products, and services, has announced the best web design firms in Phoenix. The top companies were selected based on multiple services, size of the firm, and industry focus.

Experts at Digital.com examined companies with additional branding or marketing services that would enable businesses to scale up. Each firm was expected to demonstrate industry expertise in specific areas like manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and healthcare. The guide also features large and small firms to meet a variety of budgets and service needs.

Our experts spent hours reviewing many web design companies in Phoenix that can offer a broad range of services and industry expertise, says Christelle Feniza, Communications Manager of Digital.com. This guide will help businesses narrow their search for top-rated firms.

Researchers at Digital.com conducted a 40-hour assessment of over 49 companies across the city. To access the complete list of best web design companies in Phoenix, please visit https://digital.com/web-design-companies/phoenix/.

15 Best Web Design Companies in Phoenix



ABOUT DIGITAL.COM

Digital.com reviews and compares the best products, services, and software for running or growing a small business website or online shop. The platform collects twitter comments and uses sentiment analysis to score companies and their products. Digital.com was founded in 2015 and formerly known as Review Squirrel. To learn more, visit https://digital.com/.
Cars and motorbikes stuck in traffic in Hanoi in January 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Phuong Son.

Auto imports in January rose to 8,343 completely built units worth $212.5 million, up 84.7 percent and 76.2 percent year-on-year, respectively.

Most of car imports are from Thailand and Indonesia, at an average price range of VND350 million ($15,000) to VND 1.2 billion.

Experts have said that the scale of manufacturing, tax exemptions and affordable auto models are elements that have allowed these nations to acquire large market shares in Vietnam.

A Vietnam Customs report notes that auto imports had fallen 24.5 percent to 105,200 units last year as the Covid-19 pandemic slashed demand and forced dealers to stop working for weeks in April.

Industry insiders say it is still early to forecast this years performance by Vietnams auto industry because the Covid-19 situation has become increasingly unpredictable.
The work of a new suicide prevention collaboration in El Paso County kicked off with an event in January 2020, where attendees signed a banner in memory of someone they knew who died by suicide and committed to work to lower the county's suicide rate by 20% by 2024. (Gazette file photo)

Letters: Most Keystone jobs will be temporary, but pollution will be long-lasting
Our mining maven, Ryan Long, looks at some of the discoveries and resource expansion developments that caught his eye in 2020

Fundraises for exploration and mining companies were up around 60% during 2020 compared with the previous year, strengthening balance sheets and allowing companies to undertake extensive and long-overdue exploration programmes.

The COVID-19 pandemic and a glut of samples in understaffed assay laboratories across the globe has meant that the results from these exploration programmes have been slower than any of us would like, but based on the large volume of exciting results we have seen during the start of this year, we could well be in for a bumper year of discoveries and resource expansions.

Heres a selection of some of the better results that have caught my eye.

Greatland Gold

At Greatland Gold's ( )s Havieron deposit, located in the Paterson region of Western Australia, partner Newcrest Mining's ( ) infill drilling campaign at the South East Crescent and Breccia Areas continued to return spectacular assay results, including:

111.7 metres (m) at a grade of 3.6 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) & 0.46% copper (Cu) from 804.7 m, including 40.2 m at a grade of 8.4 g/t Au & 0.53% Cu from 816.8 m (HAD025W1)

37.7 m at a grade of 9.8 g/t Au & 0.27% Cu from 814.3 m (HAD109)

140.3 m at a grade of 2.5 g/t Au & 0.48% Cu from 554 m, including 37.7 m at a grade of 8.2 g/t Au & 1.4% Cu from 580.4 m (HAD110)

134 m at a grade of 3.1 g/t Au & 0.45% Cu from 558 m, including 22.9 m at a grade of 12 g/t Au & 0.56% Cu from 659.1 m (HAD110W1)

121.7 m at a grade of 2.0 g/t Au & 0.43% Cu from 708 m (HAD113)

108.6 m at a grade of 2.5 g/t Au & 0.64% Cu from 742.4 m (HAD113W1)

The partners will be continuing the aggressive drill programme at Havieron during plans for approximately 65,000 m of drilling within the next six months focusing on multiple targets.

Alkane Resources

Alkane Resources ( ) 37,000 m drilling programme at the San Antonio deposit is now completed, and the final assay results returned high-grades over large intercepts, including:

17.4 m at a grade of 1.75 g/t Au from 194.6 m, including 5.2 m at a grade of 4.28 g/t Au from 201.8 m (RWRC439D)

10.0 m at a grade of 6.68 g/t Au from 74 m, including 3.0 m at a grade of 17.1 g/t Au from 75 m (RWRC449)

11.0 m at a grade of 6.73 g/t Au from 187 m, and 5.0 m at a grade of 2.60 g/t Au from 211 m, and 6.0 m at a grade of 2.34 g/t Au from 251 m (RWRC456)

31.0 m grading 2.76 g/t Au from 13 m, including 2.0 m at a grade of 6.56 g/t Au from 134 m (RWRC459)

An updated resource estimate for San Antonio is expected imminently and Alkane expects to produce a mine plan for the deposit during the first quarter of 2021.

Brixton Metals

Brixton Metals ( ) has continued to return high-grade drilling results from its 20,000 m winter exploration programme at its Langis Project, located in the Cobalt Camp of Ontario, Canada. Initial results from this programme include:

2.0 m at a grade of 5,847 g/t Ag from 16.6 m, including 1.2 m at a grade of 11,663 g/t Ag, 0.71% Co, and 9 m at a grade of 272 g/t Ag from 23.6 m (LM-20-133).

7.0 m at a grade of 962 g/t Ag, including 1.0 m at a grade of 3,050 g/t Ag, 0.17% Co (LM-20-131)

1.9 m at a grade of 1,596 g/t Ag, including 0.9 m at a grade of 3,180 g/t Ag (LM-20-122)

3.0 m at a grade of 422 g/t Ag, including 1.0 m at a grade of 1,115 g/t Ag, 0.16% Co (LM-20-128)

Brixton still has around 13,500 m of drilling to report from its ongoing drilling programme at Langis, and we would expect further results to be announced during the first half of the year.

IronRidge Resources

At the Zaranou Gold Project, IronRidge Resources ( ) received high-grade gold assay results from reverse circulation (RC) and air-core drilling at the Ehuasso target and the previously untested Coffee Bean, Mbasso and Yakasse targets. These results include:

Ehuasso

16 m at a grade of 6.68 g/t Au from 100 m, including 4m at a grade of 10.3 g/t Au, 4 m at a grade of 10 g/t Au and 4 m at a grade of 6g/t Au (ZARC0102)

68 m at a grade of 1.4g/t Au from 20 m, including 4 m at a grade of 11.7 g/t Au and 4 m at a grade of 5.6 g/t Au (ZARC0101)

Coffee Bean

8 m at a grade of 14.01 g/t Au from 4 m, including 4 m at a grade of 27.9 g/t Au (ZAAC0763)

8 m at a grade of 9.32 g/t Au from 32 m, including 4 m at a grade of 18.3 g/t Au (ZAAC0757)

Yakasse

28 m at a grade of 4.07 g/t Au from 124 m, including 4 m at a grade of 2 g/t Au, 4 m at a grade of 3.4 g/t Au and 4 m at a grade of 21.2 g/t Au (ZARC0100)

4 m at a grade of 2.69 g/t Au from 192 m (ZARC0098)

These results now confirm the presence of gold mineralisation in multiple targets along the 47 km long structure related to gold mineralisation at Zaranou.

African Gold Group

The African Gold ( ) drilling programme at the Kobada Gold Project was focused on upgrading the oxide resources in the inferred category to indicated and measured and to test for gold mineralisation at the neighbouring Gosso shear zone. Assay results include:

3.0 m at a grade of 39.48 g/t Au from 55.0m (KB20_PH4A_34)

13.0 m at a grade of 1.87 g/t Au from 61.0m (KB20_PH4A_38)

4.0 m at a grade of 11.95 g/t Au over from 39.0 m (KB20_PH4A_31)

6.50 m at a grade of 4.49 g/t Au from 167.0 m (KB20_PH4A_28)

14.0 m at a grade of 3.5 g/t Au from 113.0 m (KB20_PH4A_20)

These results are expected to be incorporated in the next mineral resource estimate update in early-2021 African Gold also intends to continue to test new mineralised areas during 2021.

(CVE: GBR-OTCQX: GTBAF) continues to intersect significant widths of high-grade gold mineralisation at its Dixie Project, located in the Red Lake District of Ontario. Results include:

34.85 m at a grade of 10.01 g/t Au from 50.50m (BR-218)

10.40 m at a grade of 15.25 g/t Au from 63.00 m (BR-243)

8.60 m at a grade of 16.69 g/t Au from 30.40m (BR-241)

11.00 m at a grade of 16.56 g/t Au from 162.50m (BR-196)

7.35m at a grade of 20.24 g/t Au from 163.50 m (BR-201)

Great Bear Resources expects that it will report the results from over 50 drilled holes between now and the end of February 2021.

De Grey Mining

De Grey Mining's ( ) latest drilling campaign at the Hemi Gold Discovery, located about 60 km south of Port Hedland in Western Australia, has returned some very large intersections of gold mineralisation from several intrusions, including:

Falcon intrusion

92.0 m at a grade of 1.3 g/t Au from 124 m (HERC424)

93.0 m at a grade of 1.2 g/t Au from 110 m (HERC421)

145.7 m at a grade of 0.9 g/t Au from 198.3 m, including 66.7 m at a grade of 1.4 g/t Au from 198.3 m (HERC402D)

Diucon intrusion

99 m at a grade of 1.0 g/t Au from 114 m. including 19 m at a grade of 2.0 g/t Au from 158 m (HERC382)

Eagle intrusion

68 m at a grade of 0.7 g/t Au from 50 m (HERC377)

Ongoing RC and diamond drilling is expected by De Grey Mining to expand the mineralisation at the Falcon intrusion to define a resource in mid-2021, while follow-up RC drilling at the Diucon and Eagle intrusion will continue with the aim to delineate the extent and continuity of gold mineralisation in both intrusions.

Nairobi  The Ministry of Education on Monday announced a plan to distribute 7.5 million face masks to schools with 3 million masks ring-fenced for pre-primary learners in informal settlements.

Learners in Grade 4 to Grade 8 and secondary students will receive 2.25 million masks, the Ministry of Education said.

The 7.5 million face masks were unveiled by the Ministry of Health to support needy and most vulnerable students including those from low income backgrounds.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha schools with a higher enrollment rate, those in informal settlements, special schools and schools located in pockets of poverty will be given priority.

"The distribution will be cascaded to the regional and county levels. We have tasked the field officers to utilize the outlined criteria to select schools to benefit from the masks, which will be distributed as we receive them from the Ministry of Health," the CS said during a tour of Mwiki Primary School in Nairobi.

Magoha said sustained efforts have been put in place to ensure that learners are safe in schools, and lauded stakeholders who have been providing masks and sanitation booths to learning institutions.

He urged parents to provide their children with masks, noting that they have now become part of the school uniform.

Magoha reported 15 million learners had reported back to school since the resumption of in-person learning on January 4, following a prolonged break triggered by the outbreak of the coronavirus in March 2020.

Clubhouse allows up to 5,000 users to join audio chatrooms that disappear once the conversation is over. Some users said its format made them feel more willing to share personal stories and listen to different opinions. One user said in a chatroom about censorship that everyone could see that all those people who in the mainland were labeled dissidents, like Hong Kongs pro-democracy protesters, were real people. No longer were they hearing their voices filtered through official media.

Since Saturday, I spent nearly all my waking hours wandering from one Clubhouse chatroom to another. In one room, a documentary filmmaker shared his thoughts on making a film about a subculture of young migrant workers, called Smart, who try to stand out in a conformist culture through wild hair and piercings. In another, a doctoral student in sociology talked about his experiences as a meal delivery worker. A group of feminists read works by feminist writers. More than 3,000 people joined a chatroom that was dedicated to parodying Hu Xijin, possibly the most infamous Communist Party propagandist. (A favorite line: As long as we have enemies everywhere, we have no enemies.)

One chatroom with more than 100 people from northwestern China, where Im from, focused on their interactions with ethnic minorities. A woman from Gansu Province talked about how Muslims in her hometown were portrayed as troublemakers and how she learned to understand why it was offensive to hang the Chinese national flag in a mosque.

I learned about the de-Islamization of my home, the Ningxia Muslim Autonomous Region, after several people shared witness accounts. Jin Xu, an assistant art history professor at Vassar College who grew up there, talked about how his drawing of the Nanguan Mosque, a landmark of Ningxia, had won a national award when he was a sixth grader and how the mosque had been brutally reconstructed into what he told me in an interview was an ugly concrete building that eliminated its exterior elements of Islamic art and architecture.

One chatroom asked the participants to criticize the government where they lived, be it China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan or the United States. The moderator called on each speaker by asking, So which government would you like to criticize? In China, where open criticism is treated as treachery, it felt like performance art.

Several chatrooms were devoted to the bloody crackdown in Tiananmen Square, a heavily censored topic on the Chinese internet. Cai Chongguo, a student leader during the protests, talked for about four hours, sharing his stories and answering questions from thousands of people. He said he hadnt expected that so many people would be interested.
Real estate agent Karl Howard (pictured) has been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, wound with intent to murder and trespassing

A prominent real estate agent has been charged with intent to murder for allegedly lashing out at two women with a samurai sword after a booze binge at his $2million Sydney home.

Karl Howard, 44, allegedly attacked his girlfriend and her friend inside his multi-million dollar home on Ferris Street in Annandale, in the city's inner-west, just after 5am on Monday.

Howard allegedly punched his 27-year-old girlfriend in the head, before turning on her friend - a 29-year-old - who tried to intervene.

The trio had been drinking since Sunday afternoon, according to The Daily Telegraph.

It is understood Howard met the younger woman on a dating app in recent months, following the breakdown of a six-year relationship last year.

Police allege Howard fled the scene and dumped his belongings in a skip bin just up the road, while the two women sought help from neighbours.

He was eventually arrested on nearby Macquarie Street and suffered an injury to his elbow while being restrained.

NSW Police have since charged Howard with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, wound with intent to murder and trespassing.

He was formally refused bail and will appear at Newtown Local Court on Wednesday.

NSW Police returned to his home on Tuesday to seize two cars - including a BMW with a Ray White logo on the side - which will now be forensically examined as part of the investigation

NSW Police detectives watch on as two cars were towed away from Howard's garage

Howard - the principal at Ray White Balmain - was stood down by the real estate giant before charges were laid.

Detectives returned to his home on Tuesday to seize two cars - including a BMW with a Ray White logo on the side - which will now be forensically examined as part of the investigation.

A long-time friend of Howard's said the incident was 'out of character' for the highly respected real estate agent.

'We're all really worried about him,' she said.

'We'll be there to support him, it is just really out of character. He's a successful, very talented man... it's very sad for him to be honest.'

Howard's friend said the women he is alleged to have attacked 'have not been on the scene long'.

Police tape remains wrapped around a skip bin at a building site on Ferris Street - just some 50 metres from the scene of the alleged attack - where Howard's wallet and phone were allegedly found

Blood can be seen on the footpath directly opposite Howard's home, where his girlfriend and a friend ran for help after the alleged attack

In a statement, Ray White said they had decided to stand down Howard until the end of any criminal proceedings.

'The Ray White Group is an Australian family owned and led business and it expects a high standard of personal conduct from all its members in representing the brand,' a spokesperson for the real estate giant said.

The two women were treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA), where they remain in a stable condition.

Neighbours on the normally quiet street described the incident as 'shocking'.

'I got woken up early yesterday morning and saw the flashing lights from the police car, but didn't realise just what had happened until I saw the news,'

'It's a really nice, quiet, leafy street. You don't expect something so shocking to happen here.'
The HAGUE:--- On January 7th Minister van Engelshoven of Education, Culture and Science of The Netherlands announced that the project Island(er)s at the Helm: Co-creating sustainable and inclusive solutions for social adaptation to climate challenges in the (Dutch) Caribbean is one of two projects awarded with funding from the NWO Caribbean Research programme.

The Island(er)s at the Helm project is chaired by Dr. Francio Guadeloupe (University of Amsterdam/KITLV), with co-applicants Prof. dr. Corinne L. Hofman (Leiden University/KITLV), Dr. Antonio Carmona Baez (University of St. Martin), and Prof. dr. ir. Filomeno A. (Boey) Marchena (University of Curacao).

Since the first occupation of the islands, hurricanes and the devastation of coastal areas have significant ecological and social implications for the (Dutch) Caribbean. These are deeply impacting the basic living conditions (water, food, shelter) and heritage of the island inhabitants. This requires immediate action! Island(er)s at the Helm brings together researchers and societal partners to combine technical, traditional, and contemporary knowledge practices to co-create sustainable and inclusive strategies for social adaptation to these climatic challenges. A trans-Atlantic academic platform will be developed fostering research-based education on climate challenges for the six islands. Moreover, a regional expertise center on climate challenges, where the Dutch Caribbean researchers can find employ, is one of the end objectives of this programme. This center will be jointly managed by the University of St. Martin, University of Curacao, University of Aruba (Dr. Eric Mijts of the SISSTEM project), and the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute. These institutions have committed to working towards this integration by offering joint courses in cooperation with institutes in the region and the wider Kingdom of the Netherlands.

From 2 to 13 March 2020, a team of researchers and societal partners traveled to the six Dutch Caribbean islands to organize outreach seminars and bring together researchers and local stakeholders to discuss the initial ideas and set-up of the NWO programme Island(er)s at the Helm. The main objective of the seminars was to discuss the climate change challenges that face the Caribbean island(er)s; to define common goals of interest towards social adaptation to climate change; to broaden and consolidate the prospective network of partnerships, and to start off discussions to co-create questions and approaches to shape the full proposal. These conversations contributed to the final Island(er)s at the Helm programme.

The emphasis within this NWO programme is on the structural strengthening of the knowledge system and the embedding of scientific research in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. NWO wants to achieve this goal by means of two large multidisciplinary research programs that are carried out and anchored in the region itself. The research programs focus on issues of great social and scientific importance to the Caribbean region and promote the transfer of knowledge through education and outreach. Never before has NWO funded programs of this size in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

This project is about NWO truly investing in research that benefits our islands. Climate change is real. We know this from Irma and the rise of the frequency of hurricanes in our region. We know this from the heavy rainfall and droughts on the ABC islands. We know this from the rise in earthquakes and now a volcano waking up in the wider Caribbean. There is absolutely no time to waste on cooperating Kingdom-wide, even if some of us rightly attend to the colonial past. That righteous attention must not deter us from recognizing that by paying their taxes, the hardworking Caribbean diaspora in the Netherlands have partially contributed to the funding of this programme, said Guadeloupe, who also recognized the hard work of those who inside NWO pushed for a fair distribution of funds among kingdom partners (stmaartenagriculture.com).

Corinne Hofman, co-applicant and professor of Caribbean Archaeology at Leiden University and senior researcher at the KITLV: It is fantastic to be part of this transdisciplinary programme, which will study social adaptation to climate challenges from a long-term perspective, bridging the past and the present. Culture and climate adaptation are inextricably and indispensably connected to each other and we will focus on how heritage can contribute to resolve societally relevant questions, in this case how to approach and adapt to climate challenges, thereby strengthening cultural identity and a sense of belonging. I am particularly looking forward to the collaborations in the trans-Atlantic academic platform. This platform is one of many ways in which stakeholders (GOs, NGOs, local communities, and researchers) across the Kingdom will connect, undoubtedly resulting in successful and sustainable embedding and implementation of the projects results in local and regional education.

President of the University of Sint Martin and co-applicant of the project Antonio Carmona Baez also made public his remarks: This is the most significant thing that has ever happened to USM, we can now become a full-fledged developmental university sponsoring research-based teaching that is essential to the sustainable progress of our Caribbean people. Together with other institutions of higher education in our region and our brothers and sisters in the diaspora, we can move forward by putting knowledge at the service of our islands. By co-creating solutions with historians, artists, archaeologists, anthropologists, urban engineers, farmers and students we can start to build that sustainable future looking inside and around us. No longer will research agendas be dictated from abroad and from now on the results of research that is conducted in our region will serve the people of the six Caribbean islands. This is about emancipation and empowerment., Carmona said (stmaartenagriculture.com).

Prof. dr. ir. Filomeno (Boey) Marchena, co-applicant and Head of the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Water Technology and Management at the University of Curacao: This major research program is great news for the Caribbean. We are really looking forward to collaborate with the research team crossing the boundaries between the social sciences, humanities, technological sciences and the natural sciences. We can further strengthen the collaboration between the Caribbean islands and The Netherlands and focus on Caribbean-research and research-talents. This in co-development with GOs, NGOs, grassroots organizations, and local communities of the Dutch Leeward and Windward islands. Using innovative tools and practices in the critical areas of integrated water resource management, foodways, and architectural practices. These innovative tools and practices will contribute toward sustainable living that may reduce fossil-based energy use. Alternative designs and models of the water, food, shelter nexus (WFS-nexus) will be created by engineers who will be working with students and staff from the universities of The Kingdom. These designs and models will include the desires and needs of local populations, as well as mitigate the ideological reservations of decision-makers on the islands regarding sustainable urban planning and design. It will therefore have big societal impact, like the improvement of life quality through the creation of more livable communities and positive environmental impact; a sustainable added value to our Caribbean communities.

Dr. Charissa Granger (University of the West Indies) says: Island(er)s at the Helm reframes climate change research in the (Dutch-) Caribbean for the way it engages transdisciplinarity and especially the space it offers for thinking sustainability and knowledge through visual and performing arts. In so doing, this project shifts the axis of climate change studies to acknowledge the critical need for cultural practices. Such a research endeavor invites us to not only see, but feel; revealing an entirely new avenue for approaching water management, thinking of the water, food, and shelter-nexus, and making sense of the relationship between cultural heritage and the social adaptation of the island(er)s to climate challenges and catastrophes. The provocatively rich role aesthetics plays in a comprehensive understanding and awareness of climate challenges and ways to mitigate these throughout the (Dutch) Caribbean, moves us to consider and imagine other possibilities for responding to climate challenges, for thinking at the intersection of sustainability, heritage, and traditional knowledge practice. We are hereby invited to stretch our imagination to grapple with the audacious resources, available to us within the Caribbean, with the island(er)s at the helm.



For questions or requests for interviews with researchers, please contact Emma de Mooij (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).
Nairobi  City hospitality industry has expressed optimism in the recovery of the sector as they expect more conferences to be hosted in Nairobi once the Expressway is complete.

PrideInn Hotels Managing Director, Hasnain Noorani, said the road will be a big boost to the industry considering the reduced travel time and easy connectivity.

"The Expressway will reduce the time spent in traffic and make Nairobi an exciting place for local and international conferences and tourists. This will complete the business and leisure cycle since they will have the chance to enjoy Nairobi's cultural, leisure and wildlife products," said Hasnain.

The hospitality industry has been touted as one of the major beneficiaries of the Sh62.2 billion Nairobi Expressway project which is expected to reduce travel time to and from Jomo Kenyatta International airport and Syokimau SGR station.

"The road, linking JKIA and Syokimau SGR station to city's tourism hub will avail a more faster transport option to both local and international tourists yearning for leisure and conferences in Nairobi," he added.

Road infrastructure and tourism represent positive implications for mutual relations and constraints.

Today, the impacts of road infrastructure on tourism are more visible than ever before.

Road and transport infrastructure in a country attracts tourists and can promote tourism destinations.

A positive relationship between road infrastructure and tourist activities, which increases the flow of tourism development.

Decongesting roads will significantly increase the volume of tourists in Nairobi.

Two years ago, the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority ranked Nairobi as the fourth most congested city in the world.

The time wasted in these traffic jams bleeds the city a whopping Sh100 billion every year.

A different study by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), studies showed that Kenya loses over Sh50 million daily in traffic jams. An amount that results in Sh18.25 billion loss annually.
A Government adviser has said people who 'society values most' could be first in line for Covid vaccines in the coming weeks amid calls for teachers and police officers to be bumped up the queue when over-50s have been jabbed.

The UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)  which advises ministers on the priority order  is currently in talks over who should receive the jab after the first nine groups.

JCVI member Professor Adam Finn, from the University of Bristol, claimed plans will be set out by the end of February or early March. By then, the UK is on track to have dished out up to 25million doses.

Professor Finn said 'it goes beyond just medicine and public health as to who society values most' over who should be prioritised in the roll-out of the Covid vaccine.

The UK is expected to hit its ambitious target of dishing out first doses to 15million Brits in the top four priority groups by February 15. Care home residents and staff, NHS workers, over-70s and adults with serious underlying conditions were first in line.

No10 has said the next five priority groups  around 17million people aged between 50 and 69 and adults with less severe illnesses should also be jabbed the end of the April.

However after that, experts are yet to say who should be at the front of the queue but have said teachers, police officers and bus drivers could be prioritised for a Covid-19 vaccine once the highest risk groups have been jabbed, according to official guidance.

Elderly people and patients with underlying health conditions are among the top four priority groups which make up 15million set to be vaccinated by February 15

Labour has repeatedly argued for classroom staff to be prioritised, saying it could get children back in education sooner.

Asked who would be next after the top nine priority groups, Professor Finn told BBC Breakfast: 'That discussion is ongoing at the moment and of course it goes beyond just medicine and public health as to who society values most and who they think are most important.

'In terms of the JCVI, we're very focused on the evidence of who's at the highest risk and at the moment the outstanding factor predicting that is still age.

Professor Finn said 'it goes beyond just medicine and public health as to who society values most' over who should be prioritised in the roll-out of the Covid vaccine

South African Covid variant WON'T take over in Britain soon because it can't spread any faster than the already-dominant virus, Jonathan Van-Tam says The South African variant of coronavirus is not likely to take over and become dominant in the UK, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said yesterday. England's deputy chief medical officer said in a Downing Street press conference on Monday that the variant doesn't seem to spread any faster than others. For a new strain of the virus to overtake an older one it generally needs to be able to spread faster to out-compete it, and Professor Van-Tam said there were no signs this would happen. Offering words of reassurance after worrying news that the Oxford Covid vaccine may not work properly against the variant, Professor Van-Tam called for calm. He encouraged everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they could and said the emergence of the new variants and the need to change the vaccines had always been inevitable and was 'not a surprise'. His comments come after Prime Minister Boris Johnson refused to rule out extending lockdown if the South African variant can't be brought under control. A study emerged over the weekend that claimed Oxford University and AstraZeneca's jab might not protect against the mutated strain, after people still developed mild and moderate Covid-19 after having been vaccinated. Professor Van-Tam said tonight about the South African variant and fears that vaccines might be less effective against it: 'I dont think that this is something we should be concerned about right at this point in time'. He explained: 'It has been detected in the UK but in very small numbers and it is not our dominant virus. 'Our dominant virus at the moment is a variant which was first identified in Kent, which youll be aware of, and we call that B1.117. 'You will know from what we saw before Christmas with the 117 variant that, if it has a distinct transmissibility advantage over the predecessor, then it can establish itself very quickly indeed. 'But early data on modelling of B1.351 does not suggest this is so  does not suggest that the South African variant has a distinct transmissibility advantage over our current virus. 'And because of that there is no reason to think the South African variant will catch up, or overtake, our current virus in the next few months. And thats a really important point.' Advertisement

'And of course you need a system that you can operationalise, so you can identify the people and quickly get the vaccine to them. So I can't give you an answer to exactly how that will look.'

He added: 'But over the coming few weeks we're making those plans and I think they will have to be announced by the end of February or early March so that we know what we're doing next.'

Meanwhile, Professor Finn encouraged people to get vaccinated when offered amid concerns about the efficacy of the current crops of vaccines against new variants of the virus, such as the South African strain.

His comments echoed claims from Professor Jonathan Van-Tam yesterday who said the emergence of the new variants and the need to change the vaccines had always been inevitable and was 'not a surprise'.

Speaking about the efficacy of the vaccines against the South African variant, Professor Van-Tam said: 'I dont think that this is something we should be concerned about right at this point in time'.

Professor Finn said that the vaccines are effective against strains of the virus that are dominant in the UK.

But he warned that, should that change, it could take a few months for vaccine-makers to adapt their jabs to tackle new variants.

Meanwhile Oxford and AstraZeneca have said that their second top-up jab would be ready by autumn this year.

Moderna has already committed to making an updated version of its vaccine and Pfizer and BioNTech are understood to also be working out how they could improve their vaccine.

Professor Finn also revealed that people need to be prepared to continue to modify their behaviours against viral infections long-term.

'It will take some time, simply because although the new variants can be adjusted in the vaccines they then have to come through the regulators, and then have to be manufactured at scale in order to be available,' Professor Finn said.

'So it's not a matter of a month or two, it's probably more than that.

'But we currently have vaccines that are effective against the strains that are predominating in the UK and that should be clear in everybody's minds, that we're not in a position where vaccines have suddenly stopped working entirely.'

He added: 'There is a position in South Africa, not actually just with the Oxford vaccine but with all the vaccines, that a strain has evolved which is relatively more resistant to the vaccine immunity.

'But that's not the position here, and in fact is not the position that just one of these vaccines is less effective, it's all of them for that strain.

'The strains that predominate in the UK at the moment are still highly efficiently prevented by the vaccines that we've got and we should really continue to move forward and use those vaccines as fast as we can to get an impact on hospitalisations.'

Asked whether the vaccination programme could be similar to the annual flu jab, he added: 'I think that is the likely outcome. I think it's much less likely that will completely eradicate this infection and it'll just disappear.

'I think it's more likely it'll evolve, we'll kind of learn to live with it. I think we will continue to need vaccines and actually I think we will also probably have to modify our behaviour more broadly, long-term to try and reduce transmission of this and actually other infections as well.

'So the constant call to go back to the normal is probably a false one and I think we're going to have to now live going forward with the reality of viral infections and and making an effort to avoid passing them around.'

It comes after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for all school staff on January 27 to be vaccinated in England over the February half-term, when the four most vulnerable groups are set to have received their first doses.

The party says there is 'growing evidence' the jabs slam the brakes on transmission of the virus, reducing disruption to lessons if teachers test positive and possibly getting children back in the classroom sooner.

But a hardline union dismissed the plan to vaccinate the country's entire classroom staff during a seven-day window this month.

Other unions have blasted Mr Johnson's plans to open schools by March 8 as 'too early' and claimed they would ultimately lead to a fourth national squeeze.

Brits over 70 who are registered with a GP but haven't received their first Covid jab are being encouraged to come forward to book their own appointments

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said last month: '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.

'We agree with Boris Johnson that this is a balancing act. He has a duty to assess the easing of lockdown according to the progress and effects of vaccination, a reduction in cases and the various other criteria he has set out.

'But in setting out a potential date of March 8, falling once again into his characteristic and too often misplaced optimism, he is pre-empting a decision that will have to be made in mid-February at the very earliest.'

Meanwhile Health Secretary Matt Hancock said take-up of the vaccines has so far been 'significantly better than we hoped for', claiming it has hit a staggering 95 per cent in people in their late 70s, 91 per cent of over-80s and almost three quarters of people in their early 70s. He said the Government had been expecting approximately 75 per cent.

Figures show another 270,000 Covid vaccines were administered on Sunday, which marked another weekend dip for the otherwise successful programme.

A combination of GP surgeries being closed and supply issues is thought to be the cause for the Sunday stumbles.

Meanwhile an officer who was hospitalised in January with Covid-19 after working at an anti-lockdown protest highlighted the need for police to receive priority vaccines, his force said.

The Dorset Police officer who was present at the rally in Bournemouth where another officer was spat at was being treated for a suspected blood clot on his lung after becoming unwell last month.

Dorset Police Federation said they were supporting his family and the group's chair Anna Harvey said his hospitalisation is 'a stark reminder of the extra risks our officers are facing', adding the Government are to blame for failing to prioritise police in the vaccine rollout.

'It saddens me to say that there is every chance this officer would not be in this position if police officers had been prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine,' she said.

'Warm words about how brave police officers are from the Government are not enough. Police officers are being put at risk.'
London, Feb 10 : Another 12,364 people in Britain have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 3,972,148, according to official figures released on Tuesday.

The country also reported another 1,052 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 113,850. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The latest figures were revealed as Britain is stepping up efforts to speed up vaccine rollout to bring the pandemic under control.

More than 12.6 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures. Britain aims to complete the vaccination of the top priority groups, which cover 15 million people, by mid-February and offer all adults their first dose by autumn.

Earlier on Tuesday, British Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced tough fines up to 10,000 pounds (about $13,780.77) and jail terms up to 10 years for those breaking quarantine rules designed to prevent new coronavirus variants from entering the country.

Hancock also announced that from Monday, all international arrivals will be required by law to take further coronavirus tests on day two and day eight of their quarantine.

Meanwhile, from next Monday, arrivals from "red list countries" must pay 1,750 pounds (about $2,411.77) for their own hotel quarantine, transport and testing, said Hancock.

Previously, Britain has banned all travel by non-British or Irish passengers from more than 30 "red list countries" where there is a risk of known variants. Those countries include South Africa, Portugal and South American nations.

England is currently under the third national lockdown since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country. Similar restriction measures are also in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the US have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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Fascinating portraits have captured the few remaining headhunters of ancient North East Indian tribe that used to behead people and display their body parts as trophies.

Striking images showed elderly Konyak Naga men posing with spears and machetes that they once used to hunt the heads of their enemies.

Another picture featured two men in traditional attire posing with a young girl.

Konyak Naga are known for their headhunting, gunsmithing and iron smelting among other tradition. With tiger teeth and a necklace full of heads, these males (left and right) were a force to be reckoned with in his day

The Konyak's are the largest tribe in Nagaland. Striking images showed elderly Konyak Naga men posing with spears and machetes that they once used to hunt the heads of their enemies

The amount of heads on this man's, left, necklace signifies how many enemies he has killed off. The Konyak's maintain a highly disciplined community life with strict adherence of responsibilities given for every villager

The men of the ancient head-hunting tribe are believed to more than 80 years old and are the last of their kind, with a population of around 320,000 worldwide.

The photos are courtesy of photographer, Carlo Marrazza, 62, from Brindisi, Italy, who used Leica cameras for the shoot. The snaps were taken across the villages Longwa and Hongphoi, in Nagaland, India.

The Konyak Naga used to collect their enemies' skulls to show loyalty to their village, but the last trophy hunt was conducted in the 1960s.

Facial tattoos were also earned for taking an enemies head. There are just seven of the headhunters left, but many old men who were kids during the last days of headhunting also try to keep the tradition alive by honouring it for visitors.

A charming cross-generational photo as a former decapitator poses with his granddaughter. Fascinating portraits have captured the few remaining headhunters of ancient North East Indian tribe that used to behead people and display their body parts as trophies

Despite having a population of over 320,000, an estimated 244,000 speak the traditional Sino-Tibetan language known as Konyak

'One man I photographed with an extremely expressive face had four heads on his necklace, which meant he had killed at least four enemies,' said Carlo.

'It was very interesting to learn that the skulls, by order of the government all had to be permanently buried. They sometimes reappear in some traditional festivals not frequented by foreigners.

'These men are all over eighty but are held in high regard by the other Konyaks. The headhunting was to show loyalty to the village Angh [a king]. Preserving the tradition dies with these men, and will probably no longer exist in the next ten years.

A ceremonial basket of the Konyak tribe with a skull and two human heads carved from wood is known from a barn. There are 320,000 of the Konyak ethnic group, but most have abandoned their ancestral traditions

'Almost all the photos were taken inside poorly lit huts. Not wanting to use artificial lights, I had to make do with the light coming in through the doors and small windows. A young Konyak had a good knowledge of English, so we were able to communicate.'

The tribe was largely unknown up until the British colonisation of India and Burma and is steeped in mystery, set to take their unique culture to the grave when the last member dies.

Tribe members famously used to hack skulls off bodies of rival tribes and proudly display them in the villages to celebrate the killer's achievement, with the number of hunted heads indicating a warrior's power.

It was believed that human heads gave off a mystical force that would bring prosperity and benefit local crops.

Following Christian missionaries first visiting the Konyaks in the 1870s, many of the tribe members converted to Christianity. As such, traditions like beheading were wiped out a century later.
The San Mateo Community College Board has rescinded its $1.6 million contract with its chancellor emeritus, Ron Galatolo, saying that he engaged in secret unethical activities during his 20-year tenure as chancellor of the three-college district.

In a letter to Galatolo, who has been on paid administrative leave since 2019, the board called him its highest-paid employee.

In a statement, the board said it has been cooperating with an investigation by the San Mateo County district attorneys office into Galatolos activities  a probe begun in late 2018  and added that new information has come to light that led to its decision Saturday to fire him.

According to the board, Galatolo received gifts of high-end travel, concert tickets and meals that he never reported in his Form 700 papers, legal public disclosures that high-ranking public officials must file with their employer to reveal any conflicts of interest.

The board also cited the apparent use of public funds for retirement incentives and undisclosed personal relationships with vendors to the college district.

Galatolo ran the district of 54,000 students and three colleges  Skyline in San Bruno, Canada in Redwood City, and the College of San Mateo  for two decades, until the summer of 2019.

At that point, he and the trustees engaged in a series of secretive arrangements.

Galatolo resigned as chancellor without explanation in August 2019. On Aug. 8 that year, he entered into an unusual 32-month contract in which the district named him chancellor emeritus. Although Galatolos duties were unspecified, the district agreed to pay him the same base salary of $38,975 a month plus benefits he earned as chancellor. The contract totaling $1,632,473  including $385,273 in benefits  was to expire on March 31, 2022.

Then, within days of signing the contract, the district placed Galatolo on administrative leave, and has continued to pay him ever since. District officials have cited a non-disparagement clause in the contract that prevents them from saying more.

Meanwhile, the county district attorney, Steve Wagstaffe, has pursued an investigation into allegations of harassment and improper handling of contracts.

Wagstaffe did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

In a letter informing Galatolo of the boards decision Saturday, board President Thomas Nuris noted that the former chancellor remains the most highly compensated person employed at the district. He said that as of Feb. 12, the district will have paid you a total of 18 months of salary and benefits since Aug. 12, 2019. You have provided no services in return.

Nuris added the district will try to get its money back. That would amount to at least $701,550 in base pay alone. But Nuris said the district wants a refund of all additional payments from the 2019 agreement, as well as funds paid to an annuity. The letter doesnt say how much that was, and the trustees did not respond when asked for the total they are seeking. An earlier contract shows the district paid Galatolo an annuity of $100,000 a year, beginning in 2016.

Reached by phone, Galatolo said his lawyer told him not to talk about his situation.

But theres clearly a story to be told, he said.

In November, two new trustees were elected to the five-member board, which took a new interest in the Galatolo situation.

The board did an internal review in January, newly elected trustee John Pimentel, a green energy entrepreneur, said Monday. In light of that, the board found continued payments to the former chancellor emeritus to be unacceptable.

Nuris, the board president, concluded his letter to Galatolo by saying: We are disappointed and saddened by this turn of events and ... we are proceeding in what we believe is in the best interests of the college district and of the public that we serve.

Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov
Cyclone Yaas: Rahul Gandhi urges Congress workers to provide all help in ensuring people's safety

Rahul Gandhi demands withdrawal of new regulations in Lakshadweep; Writes to PM Modi

Rahul Gandhi stoking fear on vaccine, all will be vaccinate by December: Union Minister

Rahul Gandhi likely to be first Congress speaker in Lok Sabha debate on budget

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, Feb 09: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is likely to be the first speaker from the Congress in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, party leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.

"We had given Shashi Tharoor's name as the first speaker. But it can change," said party leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

The budget on debate is likely to take place after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to motion of thanks to President's address.

The Congress MP from Wayanad in Kerala has been attacking the central government on various issues, ranging from the standoff on Line of Actual Control (LAC) to Union Budget.

Gandhi accused the Centre of reducing the pension of soldiers in the budget and ignoring the farmers and youth of the nation.

"Mr Modi's 'Vikas'- PSUs to be shrunk to one-tenth. Country's loss, crony's gain," Gandhi had said on Twitter on Tuesday.

"Modi's crony centric budget means- Jawans facing Chinese aggression in extreme conditions will get no support. India's defenders betrayed," Gandhi said in one of his recent tweets after the budget.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 22:53 [IST]
Williamstown Picks Police Investigator, Calls for Chief Advisory Board

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Select Board on Monday agreed to hire Brookline attorney Judy Levenson to conduct an investigation into the allegations raised in a discrimination lawsuit filed against the town last year.

In a separate conversation, the board and town manager agreed to extend a search for volunteers to serve an advisory committee to help Town Manager Jason Hoch select an interim chief for the Police Department.

The investigation was sparked by a lawsuit filed in August by Police Sgt. Scott McGowan. The suit subsequently was dropped in December, and the board decided this winter to proceed with an independent, third-party probe into the issues McGowan raised, some going back 10 years.

Andy Hogeland took the point for the board on soliciting potential investigators. On Monday, he shared the responses from interested firms to questions raised by the board at its last meeting.

One of those questions was about the firms' estimate for the number of hours they expect an investigation to consume and the potential cost to the town.

Hogeland noted that any cost estimate would be based on preliminary expectations about hours, and nothing is set in stone.

"I get numbers between $12,000 and almost $20,000," Hogeland said for calculations of cost based on estimates of hours and the rates firms might charge. "Mid-teens is where I'd center it.

"The real variable here is witness availability and witness loquaciousness. Some [witnesses] may be there two or three hours because they were central to the allegation."

Hogeland said all four of the firms indicated they could begin work on the investigation in the near future. He said one mentioned it would take a couple of months to complete, and he suspected that would be true for all of them.

Select Board Chair Jane Patton said she trusted Hogeland's judgment in making a recommendation among the four candidates, a sentiment that Jeffrey Thomas echoed.

"Andy has been close to this," Thomas said. "He has a legal background, which is relevant here."

Hogeland indicated once again that all of the firms could do the investigative work. He said Levenson had the edge because she appears to be better positioned to give the board a second part of its ask: an assessment of current conditions at the department.

"One cost-efficient and effective means to achieve a broad-based climate assessment within the Williamstown Police Department concerning issues of diversity, racism, sexism, etc., would be to distribute a written survey to all members of the Department (full-time and reserve officers, dispatchers, support and administrative staff) to be completed anonymously," Levenson wrote in her memo replying to the board's request for more information. "The survey questions would include, but not necessarily be limited to, issues that are raised in the course of investigating allegations contained in the [Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination] charge."

Hogeland agreed that the assessment of current conditions is a high priority.

"I'd be more inclined to go with Levenson because she has more capability on the current assessment side," Hogeland said.

Based on his recommendation, the board voted 5-0 to enter into a retainer agreement with Levenson's firm.

The issue of the Police Department came up again during the petitioner's request portion of the meeting, when resident Janice Loux took the floor and claimed, based on conversations with an unnamed friend of hers, that Hoche was "in the final stages of signing a contract" with an interim chief.

Loux identified the person by name and gave his current place of employment as Berkshire Community College. She went on to say the individual had a "horrible record of policing," in an upstate New York community.

Later, resident Arlene Kirsch supported Loux by citing newspaper accounts that referenced the candidate's tenure in the New York community.

Based on Loux's report, several other residents said they were "blindsided" by the news that the appointment of an interim chief was imminent and wanted to know what happened to the creation of an advisory committee that Hoch talked about at the board's Jan. 25 meeting.

"As you know, there is an ongoing situation, a lack of trust," Margaret McComish said. "People are concerned for their safety and security. Tonight, there was information about conversations about an interim chief. I haven't heard a response about what this process will be and has it changed?

"I'm concerned things will happen without a public, deliberative process."

Hoch said he has not hired an interim chief but has had one conversation with a prospective candidate. He said his call for volunteers for an advisory committee fell on largely deaf ears and he was under the impression the Select Board wanted him to move forward with finding a candidate to relieve staffing concerns at the Police Department.

"At our last meeting, I outlined a process asking for help in having input from people interested in making a recommendation on an interim chief," Hoch said. "After 10 days, I had one inquiry of light interest. I advised the board of that, and the encouragement was to proceed with identifying candidates.

"I had conversations with at least one person who expressed interest in the position to outline what it could be.  After moving in that direction, I received more interest from people in being on the committee after preliminary guidance from the board was to move at a different pace. That's kind of where we are now."

Several residents who addressed the board from the floor of Monday's virtual meeting said they would be happy to serve on an advisory committee, and at least one said they did not understand from the Jan. 25 meeting that there was a 10-day "deadline" to express interest.

Based on Monday's discussion and given the urgency the board has expressed to fill an interim position, Hoch set a Friday, Feb. 12, deadline to submit an application to serve on the advisory group.

Patton suggested that applicants for the committee  who can email either Hoch or a member of the Select Board to express their interest  provide some information about their background and any life or professional experiences they can bring to the conversation.

Thomas expressed a concern that any discussions about candidates for interim chief respect the privacy of applicants.

"I would expect anyone on this [advisory] committee to uphold that confidentiality," Thomas said. "That being said, there is the possibility that information about candidates could be leaked. I want to suggest to this group that if information is leaked and someone tries to bring it up to this board, we can't comment. We can't acknowledge theyre a candidate or anything."
TV role: James Nesbitt says he adored filming his new series here

James Nesbitt has said new drama Bloodlands will show Northern Ireland "in a different light".

The Co Antrim native plays Detective Inspector Tom Brannick in the new BBC One series, which is set in Belfast.

Nesbitt (56) said he "adored" filming in the city.

"Belfast is an exciting, wonderful, vibrant place, it's a really cosmopolitan place, but it also bears the hallmarks of a place that went through the Troubles," the Cold Feet star said.

"The last number of years has seen Belfast really emerge since the Troubles and because of the success of the film industry there, it's had a boost for tourism too."

He added that the new crime drama will give people "a chance to see Northern Ireland in its beauty".

"It will show Northern Ireland in a different light for people, on both sides of the water," Nesbitt said.

Bloodlands sees Nesbitt go on the hunt for a mythical assassin in "an infamous cold case with enormous personal significance", according to the BBC.

The series has been written by Chris Brandon, and Line Of Duty creator Jed Mercurio is the executive producer.

Nesbitt added: "I first met Jed Mercurio years ago when I was doing Jekyll and I've always liked his work.

"When he was doing Line Of Duty here, I would say to him, 'Why am I not in that?' but he'd say, 'We'll find something'.

"Then a couple of years ago, he showed me a script by Chris Brandon, it was a real thriller and his first commission for his independent film company."

He added it "felt like familiar ground with people I really respected, and it was such a perfect fit going back to Northern Ireland, doing something contemporary and brilliantly written".

Bloodlands is "coming soon" to BBC One and BBC iPlayer, according to the broadcaster.

The show kicks off with a possible suicide note being pulled out of Strangford Lough, which Brannick quickly connects to an infamous cold case which carried huge personal significance for him.

Nesbitt was pictured filming the show at the old police station on the Ballynure Road in Ballyclare this time last year. He was seen rescuing a PSNI officer who is set alight when his car goes up in flames.

A Texas lawyer accidentally left a kitten filter on during a Zoom hearing on Tuesday, hilariously telling the judge 'I'm not a cat' as he frantically tried to remove the animated image.

The amusing mishap happened to Presidio County attorney Rod Ponton during a live streamed hearing this morning for the 394th Judicial District Court of Brewster.

The video begins with presiding judge Roy Ferguson telling Ponton: 'I believe you have a filter turned on in video settings and you might want to turn it off.'

Ponton is then heard letting out a panicked 'aghh', as the cat filter over his face begins shifting its eyes back-and-forth and moving its mouth in unison with his voice.

'Can you hear me judge,' the feline-emblazoned Ponto is heard asking, his voice quivering.

Ferguson confirms that he can hear Ponton and reiterates that he believes he has a filter switched on.

'It is [a filter]', Ponton hastily interjects. 'And I dont know how to remove it. Ive got my assistant here, shes trying to, but ahhh Im prepared to go forward with it Im here live, Im not a cat.'

The hilarious video begins with presiding judge Roy Ferguson telling Ponton: 'I believe you have a filter turned on in video settings and you might want to turn it off'

The amusing mishap happened to attorney Rod Ponton during a live streamed hearing this morning for the 394th Judicial District Court of Brewster

At this point, the two other people present at the hearing, H. Gibbs Bauer and Jerry L. Phillips, begin to laugh.

Judge Ferguson, however, manages to keep a straight face, offering a deadpan response of, 'I can see that.'

The judge then begins calmly offering Ponton a step-by-step guide for how to remove the kitten filter, before the video abruptly cuts out.

Ponton has since revealed that he was using his secretary's computer at a remote office in Presidio, telling the San Antonio Express that this is the first time something like this has happened in the eight months he's been using Zoom amid the pandemic.

'It was certainly not an intentional thing to put the cat image up there but s*** happens,' he laughed. 'If I can make everybody laugh for a moment at my expense, I'll take it.'

Speaking to Vice, Ponton said the hearing was being held for a man who was attempting to exit the US with contraband and illicitly-obtained cash.

'It was taken off and we had the hearing as normal,' he said of the filter.

Judge Ferguson later tweeted about this incident, writing: 'IMPORTANT ZOOM TIP: If a child used your computer, before you join a virtual hearing check the Zoom Video Options to be sure filters are off. This kitten just made a formal announcement on a case in the 394th.'

He continued in a second post: 'These fun moments are a by-product of the legal profession's dedication to ensuring that the justice system continues to function in these tough times. Everyone involved handled it with dignity, and the filtered lawyer showed incredible grace. True professionalism all around!'

Ponton is then heard letting out a panicked 'aghh', as the cat filter over his face begins shifting its eyes back-and-forth and moving its mouth in unison with his voice

Judge Ferguson (above in different hearing) managed to keep a straight face throughout the ordeal

Reaction among legal colleagues in the region has been cropping up on Twitter in the hours since the video was shared online.

Kendyl Hanks called the exchange 'one of the funniest things I've ever seen'.

'The poor lawyer cant figure out how to turn off the filter so offers to proceed anyway, promising the judge hes not a cat. And kudos to [Judge Ferguson] for walking him through it calmly without bursting into giggles.'

Harold Cook added: 'Well we all suspected Rod Ponton would one day become accidentally famous for something. But I didn't have this on my bingo card.'

Ponton was formerly the District Attorney in the Big Bend region and was once the city attorney for Presidio.

He also appeared in the Netflix documentary The Confession Killer in 2019 about the infamous convicted murderer Henry Lee Lucas, whom he represented in his 1986 capital murder prosecution.
Good morning, Bay Area. Its Tuesday, Feb. 9, and Oaklands new police chief says hell be in communities hit hard by gun violence this year. Heres what you need to know to start your day.

California officials painted a cautiously hopeful picture of the pandemic on Monday, the day after reporting the lowest single-day case total in more than two months and as the states positive test rate declined from 14% to 5% over the past month.

Most of California, including all Bay Area counties, are still experiencing widespread transmission, meaning they are assigned to the states purple tier for reopening. Updated data on counties tier status is expected Tuesday.

Though daily death tolls also are waning, the Bay Area reported a grim 109 deaths on Friday, the second-deadliest day in the pandemic.

Read more.

Ifs and whens: It could take more than two months to get the first San Francisco public school students back into classrooms even after the district reached a tentative deal with labor unions to reopen schools, officials said. Its dependent on the city moving into a lower coronavirus risk tier and a negotiation on the details of what the school day will look like. Read more.

 Here are the mass COVID vaccination sites open or planned across the Bay Area.

 Q&A: When and where can I get my coronavirus vaccination in each Bay Area county?

 Fifth & Mission podcast: Why youre hitting the pandemic wall.

Around the Bay

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

 It matters to me when someones life is taken: Oakland's new police chief is sworn in, promises a safer city amid record 15 homicides in first month of year.

 Nationwide impact: After abuse probe, another Sequel-run program that housed California youth will close. Background: Chronicle investigation into allegations of violent abuse at institutions certified by California.

 Trump impeachment trial: As Dublin Rep. Eric Swalwell is preparing for one of the biggest cases of his career, Republicans want to talk about 2015. Live video: Second impeachment trial opens. More: The longstanding legal debate on the line between free speech and incitement.

 Preemptively silenced: Silicon Valley likes to use NDAs. A California bill could let more employees speak out.

 S.F. abduction: Why did it take two hours for authorities to issue an Amber Alert?

First Person

George McCalman / Special to The Chronicle

Artist Lava Thomas was excited when the San Francisco Arts Commission selected her proposal for a statue to honor the late poet Maya Angelou, only to have it abruptly rescinded. The saga ended with the city moving forward with Thomas idea, but not before the artist demanded to know what had happened after a year of silence.

Now, Thomas tells George McCalman about the experience, the lack of transparency in who gets to decide what public art means in San Francisco and how she found her agency and voice with other Black women and an arts community that rallied to her side.

Read it here.

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.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 21:16:15|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of Pakistan, Equatorial Guinea, Serbia have made positive evaluation of China's vaccine aid and expressed heartfelt thanks to the Chinese government, as Chinese vaccines shipped to many countries have arrived recently.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has attended a launching ceremony in Pakistan of the COVID-19 vaccination drive with China-aided vaccines, and witnessed the administration of the first dose of the vaccine to a frontline healthcare worker.

The prime minister expressed heartfelt thanks to China for providing vaccine aid to Pakistan, saying that the Chinese government took the concerns of Pakistan as its own and the Chinese team have acted swiftly and effectively.

Prime Minister of Equatorial Guinea Francisco Pascual Obama Asue has said that China's timely delivery of the "priceless" vaccines at a critical moment in Equatorial Guinea's fight against COVID-19 has demonstrated the profound friendship between the two countries.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has expressed great gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese side for the considerable help to Serbia.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has said that the Cambodian government and people sincerely thank the Chinese government, military and people for providing Cambodia with vaccine assistance.

Noting that "a good friend will come to your aid in times of need," Hun Sen has said the donation of the vaccine is another proof of the solid friendship and close cooperation between the two countries and their peoples.

Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti has thanked the Chinese government for its support to his country and thanked Chinese companies for their positive will during the negotiation process. He himself will be among the first to receive the Chinese vaccine shots.

Phankham Viphavanh, a member of the Political Bureau of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and vice president of Laos, has expressed sincere thanks to China for providing vaccine assistance at a crucial moment of Laos' fight against COVID-19, which has once again demonstrated the mutual support of the party, government and people of China to Laos.

The Chinese vaccines are safe and reliable, he has said, adding that the Lao people feel reassured and believe that the aid will bring real benefits to them. Enditem
New court filings from the attorneys for death row inmate Willie B. Smith III say the Alabama Department of Corrections new coronavirus execution protocol still violates their clients constitutional rights.

Smiths attorneys claim he is being treated differently than other death row inmates, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Smith is set to be put to death on Feb. 11 at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore.

Smith was convicted for the October 1991 abduction, robbery and murder of 22-year-old Sharma Ruth Johnson.

In the federal court documents filed on Feb. 7, Smiths attorneys from the Federal Defenders for the Middle District of Alabama argue the changes the ADOC made in response to an earlier complaint and emergency motion to stay the execution still violate Smiths rights.

The ADOC made two changes to their original COVID-19 protocol, according to the new documents filed on Sunday:

Witnesses or visitors that test positive can provide an independently-obtained negative test in order to gain entry to see Smith. If Smiths spiritual advisor tests positive for COVID-19 or is not able to enter due to a temperature of more than 100.4, the chaplain for Holman prison may stand in the advisors place.

There are a number of problems Smiths attorneys have with the changes.

The first problem they address in the lawsuit is that the revisions dont indicate if Smith will be put to death if he tests positive for COVID-19 before his execution. His attorneys also want to know what will happen if Smiths approved witnesses are unable to attend the execution.

Smiths attorneys claim that allowing the officer conducting a consciousness test to remove his PPE during the execution, if it obstructs the officers view, is still problematic. According to the court documents, his attorneys believe theres a possibility Smith could be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment during the drug administration part of the execution. The consciousness check is standard procedure by the ADOC to ensure the inmate is unconscious after the first drug, midzalom, is administered and before the next two drugs are injected.

Finally, Smiths attorneys say that allowing only three witnesses to be present for the execution is a violation of Smiths rights, given the fact other executed inmates were allowed to have more than that number. The ADOC claims the three-witness rule is a measure being taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Mr. Smith is entitled to a stay of execution, the filing states. Mr. Smiths execution should be stayed to allow him a fair opportunity to challenge the States adoption of the Smith Addendum, which implicates his constitutional rights.
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No fresh COVID-19 death was recorded in the national capital on Tuesday after a gap of over 10 months while 100 fresh cases were registered with the Arvind Kejriwal government asserting that "Delhi's collective will is gradually winning over the infection".

The cumulative death toll on Monday stood at 10,882, and the positivity rate dipped to 0.18 per cent on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi, saying, it was a "good news for Delhiites".

"Today no death has been reported due to COVID infection in Delhi. Congratulations to people of Delhi. Corona cases have also come down and vaccination drive has picked up pace. People of Delhi have fought a tough battle against Corona. We have to still take all precautions," he tweeted.

These 100 new cases came out of the 56,410 tests conducted the previous day.

The positivity rate stood at 0.18 per cent, according to a bulletin issued by the Delhi health department.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain tweeted: "Today no death has been reported due to COVID infection. Delhi's collective will is gradually winning over the infection. I congratulate the people of Delhi for taking proper precautions and our healthcare and frontline workers who have fought this battle tooth and nail".

The infection tally in the city rose to 6,36,260, authorities said.

The active cases tally on Tuesday dropped to 1,052 from 1,096 the previous day, according to the bulletin.

The total number of tests conducted the previous day, included 31,300 RT-PCR tests and 25,110 rapid antigen tests, it said.

The city had recorded 96 cases on January 27, the lowest in over nine months, and the first time the daily incidence count had stood below the 100-mark in that month.

On Friday and Sunday, two deaths were reported in the national capital, same as on February 2, which was the lowest in the last 10 months.

Meanwhile, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul told reporters on Tuesday that from the pandemic point of view, "consistent gains" are being made in terms of declining new cases and new deaths.

However, he said, the last national sero-survey findings have shown that over 70 per cent of the population are "still susceptible" to the disease, and stressed that herd immunity has to be achieved through vaccination.

"Deaths are being reported below 100 consistently and in the last 24 hours no new death has been reported in Delhi," Paul said.

According to the Tuesday bulletin, out of the total number of 6,050 beds in COVID hospitals, 5,554 are vacant.

It said that 135 beds in COVID care centres are occupied by people under quarantine, including travellers who have returned by Vande Bharat Mission and bubble flights.

Also, a meeting of the 'State Task force for Immunisation' was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of principal secretary, Delhi health department, on the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive in Delhi, the bulletin said.

The number of tests done per million, as on Monday was over 5.9 lakh while the total number of tests stood at over 1.12 crore.

The bulletin said that 6,24,326 patients have recovered, been discharged or migrated so far.

The number of containment zones in Delhi dropped to 950 on Tuesday from 962 the previous day, authorities said.

The number of people in home isolation dropped to 441 on Tuesday from 442 the previous day.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Brazil, Ind (WTHI) - Monday was a big day for the City of Brazil. The fire department took delivery of the first new fire truck in 20 years, said Chief Jake Bennett. It was built by the Pierce company in Bradenton, Florida.

The new primary fire engine is a pumper truck that will go out on every call for service.

Since the older truck was built, new safety equipment has been incorporated, suck as a backup camera.

The City of Brazil has been trying to finance the new $530,000 truck for four years, Bennett said.

Finally, Mayor Brian Wyndham and the City Council decided to float a bond issue to finance the new truck.

"This is a big deal for our community," Bennett said.

Many people worked to make it a reality.

The new truck will boost the confidence of the firefighters who ride it on every call for service.

The fire department also has a 1996 ladder truck, but that truck does not roll for every call for service and does not have the wear and tear on the pumper truck that was replaced.

She told MPs that North Korean defectors are not recognized as refugees in China and women in particular often become targets of human trafficking. Park won the Asian Women of Achievement Award in 2018 and Amnesty International's Brave Award last year.

After gaining asylum in Britain in 2008, Park worked as an activist for North Korean women and children's rights. She testified before a hearing in the U.K. Parliament in June 2019 and gave a harrowing account of the abuses suffered by North Koreans like herself.

"I couldn't speak a word of English when I came to the U.K. 13 years ago," she told the Chosun Ilbo last week. "The U.K. was a land that gave me a new life filled with opportunities and challenges."

The British Conservative Party said Park Ji-hyun (52) will be the first-ever North Korean defector to run in an election other than South Korea. She is a candidate for the Holyrood ward in Bury, Greater Manchester.

When asked why she went into party politics, Park said, "I wanted to contribute to my local community." The decisive moment was when she took 7,000 face masks provided by a South Korean businessperson to a U.K. nursing home last year. They thanked her for helping them despite her own difficulties as a refugee.

"I am so thankful to this country for teaching me how to speak English and helping me settle down," she said. "Until now, I have been working for the human rights of other defectors and now I want to work for all U.K. citizens."

However, her chances of winning are not high because Manchester is a staunchly Labour city and Holyrood has few Korean residents.

"I don't mind if I don't get elected," she said. "I just want to give hope to other defectors and refugees that they can do it too. I hope more people challenge themselves after I do."

Park was born in Chongjin, North Hamgyong Province and fled North Korea in 1998, when the reclusive state was ravaged by famine. She was sold off to a farmer in China for W750,000 and gave birth to his son (US$1=W1,121).

But then she was caught by police and sent back to the North in 2004, where she ended up in a labor camp. She fled the North again six months later to see her son back in China, and together they went to the U.K. where they were given asylum in 2008.

Although she lives in the U.K., Park said her roots lie in South Korea. "The taegukgi (South Korea's national flag) hangs in my living room and I teach my three children that we are Koreans," Park said. "I would have lived in freedom if North and South Korea had not been divided. I hope to see reunification soon so that my fellow North Koreans can enjoy freedom."
The car did its job, getting Bieber some attention and reminding everybody West Coast Customs is still in business, making crazy stuff. It looks way more ambitious than any recent celebrity project, and we have to support both parties for their grand undertaking. Still, there's no getting away from the fact that it's a weird car.If this were some garage project that somebody in Thailand put together for Honda Civic money, we'd be impressed. But it's a real Rolls-Royce Wraith that used to cost at least $330,000, and it might now look worthless to some. West Coast Customs isn't exactly known for fabricating wise financial investment. But we want to know just how bad the design is from a professional point of view.The internet is filled with "expert" opinions on everything. Marouane Bembli is, however, a bit more legitimate. In 2010, he went to Italy to study for a master's degree in automotive design in collaboration Audi and Lamborghini's design teams. But you probably know him better as the YouTuber TheSketchMonkey. And the first thing he does here is to compare the Bieber-mobile with the Cybertruck. Yes, the custom Rolls is becoming that famous.Unfortunately, that's where the similarities end because the celebrity car is over-styled. The YouTube artist says that the bumpers are weird and don't cooperate with the long lines of the car, just like we pointed out in our original story. Also, the taillight shape is just one big mess because it doesn't match anything else. And towards the end of the video, he tries to rectify some of these flaws in Photoshop.But what do you think - does it really matter if a custom car built for a celebrity is ugly? It's not like all those Cullinans on giant gold wheels are particularly classy either. Tell us your opinion in the comments section.
Medical, nursing and pharmacy students will be recruited to help vaccinate millions of Victorians under a Health Department plan to create a surge workforce to prepare and administer the jabs.

The Health Department wants to issue public health emergency orders giving healthcare students temporary authorisation to administer the vaccine after undertaking the appropriate training. The departments plan would also see final-year pharmacy students authorised to prepare vials of the vaccine.

Barwon Health public health unit director Eugene Athan is preparing for the vaccine rollout. Credit:Jason South

The plan is laid out in a consultation paper prepared by the Health Department that has been sent to the sector for feedback and obtained by The Age. Under the proposal, the students would be supervised by senior healthcare workers.

Student workforces may not be utilised for vaccine administration in initial workforce models but are intended to be utilised as a surge workforce if other workforce capacity is exhausted, it said.
Iran and Syria have reaffirmed trade links at a joint chamber of commerce meeting, reports Al-Watan.

On Monday, the Iran-Syria Joint Chamber of Commerce expressed its support for the work of the Iranian Trade Center in the Damascus Free Zone, as an entity responsible for the networking and interaction between Syrian and Iranian companies and products, in order to establish joint investments and economic, commercial, and industrial activities that would benefit both sides.

This came during a meeting in Damascus, held by the Chamber of Commerce, which brought together its two boards of directors. The meeting was chaired by Kiwan Kashfi, representing the Iranian side, and Fahad Darwish, representing the Syrian side.

Darwish emphasized the depth of the economic relations between the two countries, which were strengthened through the positive results achieved by the Iranian visit and the meetings it had with officials in the government, ministries, and the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce. He also congratulated the establishment of the Iranian Trade Center in the Damascus Free Zone to enable cross-pollination between Syrian and Iranian companies, increase economic activities, and support the Syrian market through availing basic materials and commodities, contributing to the reconstruction of Syria, and supporting the two countries economies.

In turn, Kashfi affirmed Irans keenness to develop commercial and economic relations with Syria to an advanced level, stressing the importance of cooperation between the two countries chambers of commerce, industry, agriculture, and the private sector in developing economic ties, establishing joint investments, and contributing to the reconstruction of Syria.

The chamber also participated in the opening of the Iranian Trade Center in the Damascus Free Zone, which will create a network between companies, institutions, and owners of economic, commercial, industrial, and agricultural activities between the two countries.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Hussein Arnous met with Kashfi and his accompanying delegation. A few points were stressed during the meeting  including the need to develop economic cooperation relations, increasing trade exchange between the two countries, and unlocking new horizons for cooperation to confront the unjust economic blockade imposed on Syria and Iran to achieve the interest of the two friendly countries and their peoples.

Arnous reiterated his gratitude to the Iranian government and the Iranian people for their continued support to the Syrian people in facing terrorism and coercive unilateral economic measures.

For their part, the head and members of the Iranian delegation expressed the desire of many Iranian companies to expand in the Syrian market, upgrade the level of economic and trade relations, encourage the participation of Iranian companies in the exhibitions held in Syria, and increase exchange visits of trade delegations between the two countries.

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.
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Stocks to watch today: Here is a list of top stocks that are likely to be in focus in Tuesday's trading session based on latest developments. Investors are also awaiting July- Sept quarter earnings that are scheduled to be released today. Companies set to announce their earnings are Tata Steel, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, Aries Agro, Aster DM Healthcare, BASF India among others.

Share Market Live: Sensex rises 100 points to record high, Nifty at 15,160; Titan, Asian Paints top gainers

Reliance Industries, Future Retail: In a blow to Amazon.com Inc.'s efforts to block the sale, the Delhi High Court has stayed the Single Judge Bench order directing Status Quo of Future Retail Limited (FRL) -Reliance Rs 24,713 crore deal.

Wipro: The company appointed Michael Seiger as the country head for Germany & Austria.

VST Tillers Tractors: The company announced technical partnership with Monarch Tractors.

Torrent Pharma: The company reported consolidated profit at Rs 297 crore in Q3FY21 as against Rs 251 crore in Q3FY20. Company's revenue increased to Rs 1,995 crore from Rs 1,966 crore YoY.

NMDC: The company reported sharply higher profit at Rs 2,108 crore in Q3FY21 against Rs 1,375 crore in Q3FY20, revenue jumped to Rs 4,355.1 crore from Rs 3,006.4 crore YoY.

Tata Motors: JLR UK sales was down 42.8% at 4,542 units from 7,938 units (YoY). Jaguar UK sales fell 60.7% at 914 units as against 2,325 units (YoY). Land Rover UK sales went down 35.4% at 3,628 units as against 5,613 units (YoY).

BPCL: Company's net profit was up 23.6% at Rs 2,778 crore as against Rs 2,248 crore (YoY). Company's revenue jumped 33.1% at Rs 66,731.5 crore as against Rs 50,146.4 crore (QoQ).

Astrazeneca Pharma: The company reported profit at Rs 21.05 crore in Q3FY21 as against Rs 26.70 crore in Q3FY20. Company's revenue fell to Rs 200.25 crore from Rs 223.9 crore YoY.

Jindal Stainless (Hisar): The company reported higher consolidated profit at Rs 270.20 crore in Q3FY21 against Rs 82.04 crore in Q3FY20, while its revenue rose to Rs 3,146.65 crore from Rs 2,484.12 crore YoY.

NCL Industries: The company reported net consolidated profit at Rs 41.6 crore in Q3FY21 as against Rs 5.43 crore in Q3FY20. Company's revenue rose to Rs 369.5 crore from Rs 210.6 crore YoY. The company also approved the proposal to set up 250 panels per day capacity in Himachal Pradesh at a cost of Rs 2 crore.

Earnings Today: Tata Steel, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, Aries Agro, Aster DM Healthcare, BASF India, Berger Paints India, Burger King India, Central Bank of India, Chalet Hotels, Dhanlaxmi Bank, Endurance Technologies, Future Retail, GMDC, HCC, HEG, Indoco Remedies, Indian Overseas Bank, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, Lemon Tree Hotels, Max Financial Services, Mahanagar Gas, Muthoot Finance, Raymond, Shree Renuka Sugars, Spandana Sphoorty Financial, Torrent Power and VST Tillers Tractors are among the top companies to announce their quarterly earnings.
Federal court permanently blocks New York's restrictions on houses of worship

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A federal judge permanently blocked New York Gov. Andrew Cuomos controversial restrictions on indoor worship gatherings that the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction against last November.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto, a George W. Bush appointee, granted a permanent injunction to block Cuomo's COVID-19 guidelines as applied to all houses of worship listed in red and orange zones throughout the state.

In red zones, houses of worship were subject to a limit of 25% maximum occupancy or 10 people, whichever is fewer. Meanwhile, places of worship in orange zones were subject to a limit of 33% maximum occupancy or 25 people, whichever is fewer.

Cuomo issued the order last October and extended the restrictions five times without modification on houses of worship.

The restrictions were contested in court by religious bodies, including the Agudath Israel of America and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Plaintiffs argued that the rules violated their rights under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

On Nov. 25, 2020, the nations highest court temporarily blocked the order in a case brought by the diocese, arguing that the rules were not neutral or generally applicable because essential businesses and some non-essential businesses were not subject to the same restrictions.

The Supreme Court reasoned that fixed person capacity limits must satisfy strict scrutiny, Matsumoto wrote in her injunction.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals remanded the Agudath Israel case back to the lower court with directions to grant a preliminary injunction against enforcement of Executive Order.

On Jan. 19, the district court granted the plaintiffs motion for a preliminary injunction.

In light of the rulings, the state agreed to an injunction against enforcement of the 25% and 33% capacity limits in red and orange zones, Matsumoto stated in the order. She added that the state has not presented additional evidence to supplement what was submitted in opposition to the Plaintiffs motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.

Subsequently, Defendants counsel has represented in status conferences that before the end of February 2021 EO 202.68 will be amended to remove houses of worship, the order explains.

Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represented Agudath Israel and affiliated synagogues as part of the lawsuit, said that it is not every day that a governor asks a federal court to block his own guidelines.

[B]ut that is exactly what Governor Cuomo asked for, Rassbach stressed.

The Governor is desperately trying to avoid testimony showing that his orders shutting down synagogues and churches werent based on public health, but on politics. The courts order is good news for the synagogues, churches, and other houses of worship of New York.

The court order comes after the New York Times reported earlier this month that several state health officials resigned amid disagreements with Cuomos handling of the pandemic and vaccine rollout. According to the report, Cuomo urged health officials to match their health guidelines with his announcements.

According to the newspaper, the states health department was not involved in final decisions on policies that based business closures on color-coded microclusters. Becket notes that the policy led to the shutting down of houses of worship throughout Brooklyn.

We welcome Governor Cuomos surrender, even if it took him way too long to figure out he was acting illegally, Rassbach said. And we hope he learned something along the way. If he writes another COVID book, maybe he can give it the title I Did It My WayAnd Boy Was I Wrong!

The states request for the court to block the restrictions followed Cuomos comments from November when he called the Supreme Courts decision to issue a temporary injunction indicative of the courts conservative bent following the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barret.

At the time, the governor said the decision is irrelevant and moot because the Brooklyn zone no longer exists as a red zone.
The emergence of new coronavirus variants has raised major questions around whether currently available vaccines will be effective against them, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was speaking one day after South Africa announced it was temporarily suspending rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after a relatively small study revealed it provided reduced protection against the variant first identified in the country.

A role for the public and manufacturers

Tedros described the development as concerning news, though noting important caveats related to the study.

These results are a reminder that we need to do everything we can to reduce circulation of the virus with proven public health measures, he said, speaking during WHOs latest press briefing from Geneva.

It also seems increasingly clear that manufacturers will have to adjust to the evolution of the virus, taking into account the latest variants for future shots, including boosters.

Severe illness questions

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is among several found to be effective in preventing severe disease, hospitalization and death from COVID-19, said Tedros.

The South African study showed it was minimally effective at preventing mild to moderate illness caused by the variant first identified there, known as 501Y.V2.

Given the limited sample size of the trial and the younger, healthier profile of the participants, it is important to determine whether or not the vaccine remains effective in preventing more severe illness, he told journalists.

Some 2,026 participants took part in the trial, according to Professor Salim Abdool Karim, co-chair of South Africas Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19.

South African trial

While the overall efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine was 66 per cent in the larger study that includes the UK, Brazil and South Africa, the South African data on its own showed only 22 per cent efficacy, he said.

We know from the overall trial that the AstraZeneca vaccine is effective against other pre-existing variants. Were just not confident about its efficacy against the 501Y.V2 variant.

Professor Karim said South Africa is considering a proposal to rollout the vaccine among 100,000 people initially, and monitoring their hospitalization rates based on a threshold. The country also plans to move ahead with deploying vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Johnson and Johnson, according to media reports.

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WHO has a mechanism in place for tracking and evaluating COVID-19 variants, which is being expanded to provide guidance to manufacturers and countries on changes that may be needed for vaccines.

The agencys Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) met on Monday to review the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, and its recommendations are forthcoming.

Ebola resurfaces in DR Congo

WHO has dispatched a research team to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where Ebola has resurfaced after a previous outbreak was declared over last June.

Congolese authorities announced on Sunday that a new case was reported near the city of Butembo, in North Kivu province, located in a region which had beat back the disease following nearly two years of battle.

The woman, who has since died, was married to an Ebola survivor. WHO said in a press release issued on Sunday that it was not unusual for sporadic cases to occur, following a major outbreak.

WHO is supporting local and national authorities to trace more than 70 contacts, while sites she visited are being disinfected.

So far, no other cases have been identified, but it is possible there will be further cases because the woman had contact with many people after she became symptomatic, Tedros said.

Vaccines are being sent to the area and we hope that vaccination will start as soon as possible.
It could take more than two months to get the first San Francisco public school students back into classrooms even after the district reached a tentative deal with labor unions to reopen schools, officials said.

The deal, announced Sunday, prompted more questions than it answered as families, city officials and educators wondered whether students would actually be back in class this year and, if so, for more than a few hours a week.

Some families, already stretched to the breaking point, were skeptical that the deal would lead to a meaningful return to school for students, many of whom are struggling academically and emotionally.

At this point, with less than 16 weeks to go in the school year, the goal is to give students at least six weeks of in-person instruction before the academic year ends on June 2, said district spokeswoman Laura Dudnick.

While the tentative agreement set the health and safety conditions needed for staff to return, the district must now negotiate with the teachers union on what the school day will look like, including class sizes, daily schedule and hours of in-person instruction, with students on campus part time, possibly a couple of hours two days a week. Schools cant open without that agreement, and its unclear how long it will take to get one.

They also cant reopen without authorization by the citys Department of Public Health. So far, the district of 52,000 students has only applied to reopen six of the 64 elementary schools. The district previously said it is unlikely that middle and high schools will reopen this school year. Officials did not respond to a request for comment on whether that remained true.

Yet even if schools do reopen, it could be too late to stem an exodus of well-off families who are enrolling in private schools, or moving to places like Marin County, where public schools are open. For the majority of families without those options, that could further widen the academic gulf between wealthier and low-income students that the district is tracking.

Adam Keats, who has two children at Leonard Flynn Elementary, said he watched 114 private and charter schools  serving more than 15,000 students  reopen in San Francisco, starting in late September.

I think most parents Ive talked to have given up on this semester, he said. Its very clear theres no willingness in the district or union to open up this school year.

San Francisco is among many Bay Area districts that have yet to reopen, but given the citys low death rate and case count compared with other regions, health experts and city officials have repeatedly said since September that its safe for students to go back with proper protocols in place.

The district has been working on getting school facilities ready, improving ventilation, ensuring social distancing in classrooms and other areas, while stocking masks, soap and hand sanitizer, among other requirements.

Keats said he allowed himself a little bit of optimism when he heard Sunday that district officials and labor unions had reached the tentative agreement on health and safety standards needed to reopen classrooms.

But he  and many others  noticed there were a lot of ifs and only whens embedded in the agreement, mostly connected to vaccines and case rates, and a lot of question marks, including whether its even possible for schools to start reopening in April and if they do, whether it will be worth it to send students to class for something like two hours, two days a week.

I have yet to see the details that give me confidence our students will be back in the classroom this school year, said Mayor London Breed in a statement to The Chronicle on Monday. We need clear plans with concrete timelines, which I hope are coming soon.

The tentative labor agreement is the first step. It allows a return to classrooms once the city reaches the red tier, the second-most-restrictive level of Californias reopening blueprint, if vaccinations are available to on-site school staff.

If the city progresses to the orange tier, a less restrictive category with moderate virus spread, teachers and other staff would return without demanding vaccinations.

San Francisco could reach the red tier within the next two weeks, based on current trends in the case rate, but the state requires three weeks in the red before the city can enter the orange tier.

In the meantime, its unclear when teachers will get to the front of the line for vaccines in San Francisco, although both Breed and Gov. Gavin Newsom said educators are a priority for the shots in the next round.

Also unclear: how long it will take to reach an agreement with the teachers union on what in-person learning would like look. Superintendent Vincent Matthews said the district is continuing to talk with the United Educators of San Francisco, although he had no timeline on an agreement.

Right now, what were ramping up to do is nail down the details, Matthews said.

Once all of that is in place, including a plan to regularly test students and teachers, it will still take the district at least five weeks to implement the changes, including contacting families, scheduling students, conducting initial COVID-19 tests, and finalizing all details of a reopening at each school.

The district expects to phase in reopening, with about 12 schools in the first set.

To offset learning loss, the district is also looking at expanded summer school for students, officials said.

Putting together all the pieces of reopening has been like pushing a very large boulder uphill, said school board member Kevine Boggess.

Im optimistic weve hit a downhill slope at this point, he said. Im hoping that were going to be showing a lot of progress in a short amount of time.

Parent Minerva Pacheco said she hopes so too. She stopped working in March to supervise her three children, ages 11, 8 and 7, in distance learning, and at times, its been chaos.

Its difficult because I dont have the knowledge or the resources to help them with assignments or homework like a teacher does, so it can be challenging, she said. I would like schools to reopen so that my kids can receive the quality education that they have the right to receive in a classroom.

She said her kids are frustrated because they want to move, play and jump. They are tired of computer screens and crashing internet.

I see other private schools that have returned to in-person instruction, and sure, its not quite the same with masks and social distancing, but I ask myself why we cannot do the same, she said. I don't know how this pandemic, remote learning, and lack of socialization with their friends may affect my childrens long-term development.

Parent Mohita Mohan said she has a lot of empathy for the teachers and was glad to see progress in reopening.

Its been hard on all sides, she said. I do feel like teachers need to feel safe before going back. You cant do your best work if youre afraid.

Mohan doesnt know if shell send her kindergarten daughter back to Jefferson Elementary if it reopens. Currently, her daughter is in a small isolated cohort at a private camp after distance learning each day and would have to stop to attend in-person instruction given safety protocols at the camp.

Yes, the school might be open, Mohan said, but if its not open enough, are we even going to be able to commit to it?

Chronicle staff writers Vanessa Arredondo and Aidin Vaziri contributed to this report.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker


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MBABANE - Despite disruptions caused by the advent of COVID-19, Eswatini is one of the few SADC countries whose merchandise trade account depicted a great degree of resilience.

SADC is the Southern African Development Community, which is an inter-governmental organisation with a goal to further regional socio-economic cooperation and integration as well as political and security cooperation among its 16-member countries.

Comparisons made by this publication suggested that while regional powerhouse South Africa had the highest trade surplus of over E270 billion, Eswatini did come to the party to outshine some of its SADC counterparts.

Based on figures recently released by the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE), Eswatinis export income for the year 2020 amounted to E28.349 billion, which is 1.2 per cent lower than export sales for 2019. The annual import bill for 2020 amounted to E24.399 billion, depicting a marginal decline of 3.0 per cent relative to the previous year. Accordingly, the merchandise trade account registered an annual surplus of E3.949 billion in the past year.

These figures were better than that of most SADC countries that include Seychelles and Comoros, who both registered deficits while Zambias surplus was said to be only E118.75 million.

surplus

Neighbouring country South Africa, on the other hand, saw a trade surplus of E270.63bn, which was an improvement from the E23.66bn surplus for the comparable period in 2019. Exports increased by 21.9 per cent year-on-year while imports increased by 5.7 per cent by the same period.

Data from some of the SADC countries could not be ascertained, as most were still to release their figures for the year under review. Most of the countries that are yet to release the data have numbers covering the period up to November 2020.

Meanwhile, while the overall trade figures for the country for 2020 are positive, the numbers for imports from South Africa, especially in December last year, do not make for riveting reading. In the month of December 2020, the merchandise trade account recorded a marginal deficit amounting to E629 000, as export and import figures almost matched. Export receipts amounted to E2.4055 billion. The import bill amounted to E2.4062 billion, depicting a month-on-month decline of 20.2 per cent and 1.8 per cent for exports and imports respectively. Year-on-year, export sales decreased by 10.3 per cent, while the import bill increased by 17.2 per cent. Exports to the South African market made up 63.9 per cent of the total base, while imports from the same market made up 72.6 per cent of the total bill.






Lord Brittan was in and out of hospital over the final 12 months of his life, during which he had to deal not only with his worsening cancer but with the twin threats of the Metropolitan Police and the campaigning Labour MP Tom Watson.

The latter was on a mission to prove there had been a VIP abuse ring in Westminster, and in the spring of 2014 he wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions demanding police reopen an investigation into historical rape allegations made against the Tory peer by a woman known as 'Jane'.

An initial investigation into the claims made by Jane  who was also supported by the disgraced investigations website Exaro  had been closed by a respected senior Met officer, Detective Chief Inspector Paul Settle.

Lord Brittan was in and out of hospital over the final 12 months of his life as he battled cancer and abuse allegations

He concluded that not only was there no evidence to support the claims, but  based on her statement  there was no proof an offence had been committed in the first place. The Crown Prosecution Service concurred with his view.

But Jane, who turned out later to be a mentally ill Labour activist with a history of delusional behaviour and who had previously made false allegations against others including relatives, secured the influential help of Mr Watson, who viewed her as a credible witness.

The day after his withering 'private' letter to the DPP was leaked to the Sunday People newspaper, Scotland Yard dramatically reopened the Jane inquiry, codenamed Operation Vincente, and an officer rang Lord Brittan and asked him to be interviewed under caution.

Lord Brittan took the call in bed at the Princess Grace Hospital in central London, where he was recovering from a major operation.

Jane claimed she was raped by the peer in 1967 when she was 19 and Lord Brittan was a young barrister. She was one of dozens of people who were in touch with Mr Watson after he made his bombshell speech to the Commons in 2012, alleging a historical VIP child sex abuse ring at the heart of Westminster.

Labour MP Tom Watson was on a mission to prove there had been a VIP abuse ring in Westminster

Today, Lord Brittan's widow Lady Brittan is remarkably dignified as she recalls the events that resulted in her husband being quizzed by police at the offices of his solicitors, under pressure from Mr Watson.

This, remember, was before the police raids that would turn her two homes upside down as part of separate false allegations of alleged child abuse and murder against her late husband.

'Leon was still very weak. He had not been out of intensive care for very long,' she told me. 'He was rung in the hospital room by the Metropolitan Police.

'He never told me exactly what they said. All I did know when he came out of hospital is that the police had asked to interview him.' Though gravely ill, he was eager to help  determined to prove his innocence. As Lady Brittan recalls: 'They agreed that he would be interviewed at the offices of the solicitors, and that's what happened. He said in a statement that the facts as presented were not right.'

The interview was a complete farce; the two officers turned up late, their tape recorder didn't work and they asked a series of bizarre questions including whether Lord Brittan ever socialised in Knightsbridge and if he'd ever owned a horse.

In the aftermath of the interview  with DCI Settle now taken off the case after being criticised by Jane and Mr Watson for not taking it seriously  the Met asked the CPS to consider a file for a second time. Prosecutors bounced it back to them, saying there was nothing to look at. In August 2014, three months after the interview, Lord Brittan's lawyers received a letter saying he was going to be the subject of an identification parade over the alleged incident.

He was too ill to attend, so a 'video identification procedure' took place involving placing a photograph of Lord Brittan as a younger man beside eight 'degraded volunteer images' held by the police.

Serial liar Carl Beech, known as Nick, made a number of claims of abuse, torture and murder

Unsurprisingly Jane, who openly told police Lord Brittan was a political 'foe' of hers and whom she had recently seen pictures of in the media, eventually picked out his image.

Still Lord Brittan, who knew the claims to be manifestly false, remained confident the police would do their duty and that his name would soon be cleared.

As his widow recalls: 'I think he believed, after the interview, that that was it. He half put it out of his mind.'

In November 2014, the Met sent another file on the Jane rape case to the CPS, only for prosecutors to say for a third time there was nothing to consider.

That same month, the Met's Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse  with the approval of his line boss, Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick  launched Operation Midland to investigate separate claims of abuse, torture and murder made by the serial liar Nick.

The then home secretary Theresa May told the BBC that the emerging allegations of VIP child sex abuse were just the 'tip of the iceberg'.

Miss Dick was still in post at the Met when one of her officers, Detective Superintendent Kenny McDonald, told journalists at a now notorious Scotland Yard press conference just before Christmas 2014 that allegations of murder and child sex abuse made by Nick  who had met Mr Watson earlier that year to discuss his case  were 'credible and true'.

The then assistant commissioner heard her officer's comments, which undermined the presumption of innocence, but did nothing to correct them.

Lady Brittan, who served as a magistrate for 26 years, said she was so busy with helping her ill husband she was not immediately aware of the shocking police statement. She adds: 'I was very preoccupied.

'But the whole of the investigation was essentially counterintuitive to the presumption of innocence. And that is what I felt very strongly about, as a magistrate.'

Operations Vincente and Midland had four things in common: each had Lord Brittan as a suspect, each had a complainant who was supported by Mr Watson and had close ties to the rogue 'investigations' website Exaro  and each investigation was overseen by Mr Rodhouse.

Leon, who died of cancer aged 75, was married to his wife for 34 years

The investigation was given added credence by the BBC, whose journalists also had close dealings with Nick and made the serial liar's allegations headline news in December 2014.

Lady Brittan says: 'It is worrying, it seemed to me, to start an investigation in such a high-profile way through the organs of the BBC.

'At that particular time, names were not named. But they were all there on the internet. People knew.'

By now, Lord Brittan was back in hospital and had just weeks to live. Not that any of the senior officers would have cared.

There was no evidence against him in the Jane case, but Mr Rodhouse and his colleagues refused to shut Operation Vincente and at least give him the comfort of knowing he was innocent before he passed away.

Instead, the former home secretary would effectively die a suspected rapist.

Lord Brittan's last Christmas was spent in London's University College Hospital. His wife would visit him daily and hold his hand as they discussed happier times.

The couple seldom talked about the shadow of Operation Midland hanging over them. 'It's not what you do when someone is very ill,' says Lady Brittan.

Let no one be in doubt, however, that it had a cruel effect on him. 'He felt very cut off from his business circle. His friends still supported him.

'But I think he did feel very cut off. There he was in hospital, alone in a single room, brooding on all of this.' Lord Brittan died at home on January 21, 2015. There had been no long-hoped for letter from the Met clearing him over the bogus Jane allegations, despite the absence of any evidence.

Lady Brittan was shocked by the speed at which he had deteriorated.

'I didn't realise that what I thought was going to be months was going to be days. I think he knew. Indeed those last few days were actually quite happy. He had a lot of visitors.

'In hospital you are alone all night. Not well. Not eating. I can't imagine what it would have been like. Because he hated being ill. Hated it.

'He was a fighter. But in those circumstances you could forgive anybody who said, 'I am going to turn my face to the wall. I can't face any more'.

'I am not saying that that happened. I don't know. None of us know. But I just felt that those last few months, ever since the rape allegation, had been very, very difficult for him to have that all hanging over him.

'I mean what a terrible thing to feel when you are dealing with your own death anyway. He knew about the allegations, and he said to me, and he said to my daughter, 'my conscience is clear'. He said, 'why would I bother worrying about all of this when my conscience is clear because all I want to do, however long I have got left, is to try and get better and spend time in a pleasant way'.'

Lady Brittan believes that had her husband not been so ill, he might have had the strength to fight the allegations against him.

'Had he been completely fit, had he been maybe a bit younger, had he not had terminal cancer, had he not been in and out of hospital all the time, I think he would have had the fighting spirit to fight.

'But he didn't. He didn't have any of that left.'

He died with a clear conscience but a reputation stained.

In October 2015, nine months after Lord Brittan's death, the Met admitted that it had repeatedly refused to drop its investigation into the Jane rape claim over fears of a media and public backlash.

At the time Mark Gallagher, a close friend of Lady Brittan's, told me that in his opinion the force's statement was a 'tacit admission' that detectives had continued the highly damaging and hurtful probe for political reasons.

'This is about as far away from natural justice as you can get,' Mr Gallagher added.

Now, finally, will Lord Brittan and his courageous widow get the natural justice they deserve?
Ithaca, NY--Love them or hate them, there's no doubt the European Starling is a wildly successful bird. A new study from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology examines this non-native species from the inside out. What exactly happened at the genetic level as the starling population exploded from just 80 birds released in New York City's Central Park in 1890, peaking at an estimated 200 million breeding adults spread all across North America? The study appears in the journal Molecular Ecology.

"The amazing thing about the evolutionary changes among starling populations since they were introduced in North America is that the changes happened in a span of just 130 years in parallel with a huge expansion in the bird's range and population size," says lead author Natalie Hofmeister, a doctoral candidate at the Cornell Lab. "For a long time we didn't think that was possible--that it took millions of years for genetic mutations to change a genome."

The genetic differences found among North American starlings are very subtle. In fact, after researchers sequenced the genomes of birds from widely distributed locations around the United States, the genomes were all remarkably alike--any starling could undoubtedly mate successfully with another, no matter where they're originally from. But the researchers did find the genetic signatures of change in areas of the genome that control how starlings adapt to variations in temperature and rainfall. Study authors concluded the birds had undergone "rapid local adaptation," adjusting to conditions not found in their native European range.

Another key factor is movement. The study points out that there's a lot of movement among starlings. All that movement means starlings kept establishing new populations as they spread westward, and each population had to adapt to new environments. The adaptation may not have resulted from a new mutation but from an existing genetic variation in the founding population.

"A genetic variation that might not have been useful in one environment could turn out to be very beneficial in another," Hofmeister explains. "So, a variation related to temperature and rainfall that enhanced survival became more common in a new environment." The massive size of the total starling population across North America meant these gene variants could be passed along across the generations.

European Starlings in North America are unusual in another way. Species with a highly restricted gene pool--a genetic bottleneck--are more likely to become extinct because of fertility issues associated with in-breeding, a problem that endangered animals also face. The introduction of just 80 birds in Central Park (released in an attempt to introduce all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare's plays to North America) was one of many attempted introductions in other parts of the country. It's possible the resulting gene flow among these populations prevented the species from dying out. It's an area of speculation ripe for further study.

"What I think is really cool is that the starlings in North America appear to have adapted to different conditions across the range," Hofmeister says. "So, it wasn't just that they reproduced really quickly, and then just kept reproducing. It's that they specialized once they arrived in new areas."

Despite their success and large numbers, the European Starling is now in steep decline, like so many other species in North America. The current population is half the size it was 50 years ago--down from an estimated 166.2 million breeding birds in 1970 to 85.1 million (Rosenberg et. al. Science 2019) . The species is also declining in Europe.

Though starlings are reviled for some of their less admirable habits and their impact on native species, Hofmeister says they're fascinating birds and really quite beautiful. And they're allowing scientists to follow one of the many threads that influence avian evolution.

###

Reference:

Natalie R. Hofmeister, Scott J. Werner, Irby J. Lovette (2021) Environmental correlates of genetic variation in the invasive European starling in North America. Molecular Ecology.
This is the overview of news that happened in Slovakia on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. The Today in Slovakia digests are prepared at the end of every weekday free of charge. If you want to support our work, please buy our online subscription, which will give you access to our entire content. Thank you.

Teachers awaiting vaccination

Health Minister Marek Krajci (OLaNO) said on February 5 that the first AstraZeneca vaccines, expected to arrive in Slovakia this week, will be used to vaccinate teachers who hold in-person classes.

Although some schools and kindergartens opened in Slovakia on February 8, there were no details on the vaccination of teachers. The Sme daily reported that 21,000 doses should have arrived in Slovakia on February 9. There are 80,000 teachers in Slovakia.

Minister Krajci announced on February 9 that the vaccination of teachers will start on February 13. The Education Ministry should deliver a list of 40,000 teachers in kindergartens, the first to fourth year of primary schools and last year of secondary schools. Teachers will be vaccinated in regional towns. There will always be 12 vaccination centres on weekends. If vaccines from AstraZeneca arrive regularly, the ministry plans to launch mass vaccination centres from March 1.

Krajci wants to vaccinate teachers. Nobody knows when, how and where Read more

Immigration offices will deal with clients with appointment

The Foreigners' Police departments will reopen on February 15, but they will take only clients who booked their appointment online.

Those who booked their appointment from Monday, February 1 and have already booked a date from February 15 on, do not need to book again. Other clients will have to book their appointments online after the system is relaunched on February 10.

The departments will be open on Mondays between 7:45 and 15:00, on Wednesdays from 7:45 to 17:00 and on Fridays from 7:45 to 12:00 (the department in Bratislava is an exception, as it will be open on Fridays until 14:00). People entering the departments have to observe the anti-epidemic measures currently in place.

Coronavirus-related news:

Labs reported 1,724 new Covid-positive cases out of 9,410 PCR tests carried out on February 8, which represents 18.32 percent . 111 more people died.

of 9,410 PCR tests carried out on February 8, which represents . more people died. Slovakia is currently the second worst in the world in the weekly number of deaths from Covid-19 per the number of inhabitants, after Portugal.

People arriving in the UK will have to undergo two tests and 10-day isolation . They will be tested on the second and eighth day of isolation.

will have to undergo . They will be tested on the of isolation. MPs will not be vaccinated against Covid-19 en mass. The vaccines will be left for endangered groups, said the spokesperson of Speaker of Parliament Boris Kollar (Sme Rodina).

The vaccines will be left for endangered groups, said the spokesperson of Speaker of Parliament Boris Kollar (Sme Rodina). The Administration of State Material Reserves is ready to buy 2.5 million nasal antigen tests. The purchase will be conducted directly, without a tender.

Picture of the day:

A fox is stable visitor of Rainer's Chalet in the High Tatras (Source: TASR)

Feature story for today:

Felix, a 20-year-old brown bear, is one of the best-known residents at the Bratislava Zoo. Visitors often stop to watch him, alone in an ageing cement enclosure dating back to the 1960s. One of the last enclosures from the time of the zoos inception, it is an obsolete relic that no longer meets zoo design or animal welfare standards, says the new director of Bratislava Zoo, Julia Hanuliakova.

Thankfully for Felix, overhauling the enclosure is a top priority for Hanuliakova, an architect and zoo designer by profession, who took over as zoo director in December of last year.

The welfare of animals is the top priority, Hanuliakova told The Slovak Spectator.

Read more in a story by Jana Liptakova.

Unprecedented Bratislava zoo set for overhaul as new boss takes the reins Read more

Weather forecast:

A Siberian winter is coming to Slovakia. The weather will start to change on Wednesday, February 10, and all Slovakia will be hit by freezing cold on Thursday, February 11. Snowfall is especially expected in the north and east. Temperatures will drop to -2 to -10 Celsius degrees. The freezing weather should remain for at least a week.

(Source: SHMU)

In other news:

Specialised Criminal Court Judge, Ruzena Sabova, issued an international and European arrest warrant for Michal Suchoba , charged in the Mytnik (Toll Collector) case.

, charged in the Mytnik (Toll Collector) case. The dates for spring holidays will not change, but pupils will be able to participate in spring schools, if their school decides on opening them.

but pupils will be able to participate in if their school decides on opening them. The police concluded an investigation of former general prosecutor Dobroslav Trnka in connection with the Gorilla case. They plan to study the investigation file with the accused and his lawyer in February. Afterwards they will submit the file to the relevant prosecutor's office with a proposal from the investigator, probably at the end of this month.

in connection with the Gorilla case. They plan to study the investigation file with the accused and his lawyer in February. Afterwards they will submit the file to the relevant prosecutor's office with a proposal from the investigator, probably at the end of this month. The Climate Needs You initiative has called on the parliament to declare a state of climate emergency after its petition, signed by over 127,000 people, is discussed in parliament. Parliament would also assign specific tasks to the cabinet and individual ministries, the initiative wrote in a statement.

Do not miss on Spectator.sk today:

Gas utility must publish salaries and benefits following dispute with Transparency International Slovakia Read more

Volkswagen's Bratislava plant named the brand's best factory for the second year in a row Read more

Cross country skiers forge new trails in the empty Tatras Read more
New Delhi:

A 22- year-old techie, working with Dell, fell while doing a work out in the gym at office in Madhapur. By the time he was rushed to hospital, he was already dead.



According to police, Varun Kumar, a native of Vizag and living in Matrusrinagar in Miyapur was employed as a software professional in Dell, Hyderabad for the past one year.



"The gym instructors asked him to sit for a while, but he suddenly collapsed in a heap and became unconscious. Varun was rushed to the company clinic on the campus. The doctor checked Varun's blood pressure, and found that his pulse was hovering at 40," Madhapur sub-inspector P Vijay Kumar said.



After some time, Varun was rushed to Max care hospital, but he was declared brought dead. It is believed that Varun died due to exhaustion caused by extreme exercising.



Varun, a native of Visakhapatnam, joined Dell a year ago and had been working out in the gym regularly.



"When we spoke to Varun's father, who rushed to the city after being informed about his son's death told us that Varun had some heart problem in the past," Madhapur police inspector Kalinga Rao told media.



Police discovered that Varun had not eaten properly on Tuesday night and in spite of this fact he over exercised in the gym on Wednesday.
The Ashanti Youth Group, Asanteman Nkosuo, has commended Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for being the first veep to host them at the presidency and listen to their concerns when others refused to.



He selected five of us to meet him at the presidency in order for us to present our concerns to him. This is the first of its kind in the history of the country that a Vice President has accorded respect and dignity to grassroots of the party to meet him at the Jubilee house. It has never happened in the history of the country, they revealed.



According to them, the Vice President at the meeting listened to their concerns and advised them on very important matters tailored at the development of the country.



He underscored the need for unity in order to channel our strengths in delivering a better mandate given to the party by Ghanaians so that the victory of the party in 2024 is guaranteed, they revealed at a press conference on Tuesday.



The Ahanti Youth reiterated their stance to support whoever the party presents as its candidate for the 2024 elections rubbishing claims that it was supporting on aspirant against the other.



We are working in the partys interest. Whoever is made flagbearer is the one we will support to win the 2024 elections whether a northerner, Fante, Ashanti or Dagarti. We state our position that we want and will support the person who has the expertise and experience to properly govern this country which is obvious, they stressed.













Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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London, Feb 9 : Newly-formed consumer technology company Nothing, a brainchild of OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, on Tuesday announced it has raised $15 million in a Series A round led by GV (formerly Google Ventures), a subsidiary of Google.

With new funds, the company aims to expand its operations in Europe with headquarters in London and release its first smart devices in the coming months, it said in a statement.

"We are grateful to have a venture capital firm of this calibre help in building Nothing together with us," said Pei, CEO and co-founder of Nothing.

"We plan to aggressively grow the company, in particular our R&D and design capabilities, to realise our mission of removing barriers between people and technology," Pei said.

London-based Nothing has so far raised over $22 million. In December, the company raised $7 million in seed financing in December that included tech leaders and investors such as Tony Fadell, Casey Neistat, Kevin Lin, Steve Huffman and Josh Buckley.

Kunal Shah, Founder, CRED, also invested in Nothing, although the amount has not been disclosed yet.

"Carl Pei is a seasoned entrepreneur with marketing, hardware, and distribution experience that is key to bringing new devices to market," said Tom Hulme, General Partner at GV.

"His vision for smart devices is compelling, and we have high confidence that with Pei's global mindset, the Nothing team will have a meaningful impact on the market for consumer technology." Starting this year, Nothing said it will bring back artistry, passion and trust to the field of consumer technology.

The Swedish tech entrepreneur Pei had co-founded OnePlus in 2013 at the age of 24.

After nearly seven years, Pei made the "difficult decision" of leaving the company in October 2020.
[February 09, 2021] Eagle Life Insurance Company Names Albert as Head of Sales

Eagle Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, has announced Bryan Albert will be joining the company as Head of Sales effective Feb. 9, 2021. In this role, Albert will be managing all aspects of Eagle Life's sales teams while ensuring alignment between sales strategies and marketing. Albert will report directly to Graham Day, President of Eagle Life. "Having Bryan Albert join the management team here at Eagle Life will immediately impact our sales teams through his leadership, talent development and business acquisition experience," Day said. "Bryan brings a tremendous wealth of knowledge and record of success across multiple channels of distribution. He has consistently delivered a client-centric approach on how to best engage financial advisors. Furthermore, Bryan will contribute to our product evolution process as we align to various platforms, distribution technologies and specific firm needs. Eagle Life has aspirational goals to grow and Bryan's contributions will lead us orward beyond 2021 in our go-to-market execution within the over-arching AEL 2.0 strategy."



Albert joins Eagle Life with nearly 25 years in the financial services industry. He most recently served at Prudential Financial where he was a Divisional Sales Manager for their southeast territories. Over the past 11 years, Albert lead teams of wholesalers across banks, broker-dealers and wire-houses where they consistently exceeded sales goals and grew market share. Prior to his role as a Divisional Sales Manager, Albert spent eight years as a Regional Vice President driving annuity sales within South Carolina and Georgia through independent broker-dealer firms. He also spent nearly five years at Pioneer Investments and Federated Investors as a mutual fund wholesaler. Albert graduated from Clemson University and currently resides with his family outside of Columbia, S.C.

ABOUT EAGLE LIFE Eagle Life Insurance Company is a provider of fixed and fixed index annuities marketed through broker-dealers and banks. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa. Eagle Life is committed to providing products with integrity as well as superior service to the representatives it partners with and their clients. For more information, please visit www.eagle-lifeco.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005800/en/

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A man jailed over Ireland's first case of coercive control is to be allowed to return to Donegal after a court ruled that he has nowhere else to live.

Kevin Dunleavy was given a 21-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to harassing ex-partner Caoimhe Crossan when he bombarded her with almost 6,000 phone calls in just a three-month period in 2019.

The 33-year-old Co. Donegal man became so obsessed with his girlfriend and mother of his son that he forced her to take her phone everywhere with her so he knew where she was.

He called on her on Facetime and made her scan the place she was at so he knew exactly where she was.

He pleaded guilty to a number of charges including coercive control, harassment and making threats to damage property.

Coercive control is the way an abusive person, currently or previously an intimate partner, gains and maintains power and control over another person by subjecting them to psychological, physical, sexual, emotional or financial abuse, regardless of gender or sexuality.

During the original sentence hearing in 2019 at Letterkenny Circuit Court, Detective Garda Darren Carter had revealed family and friends of Ms Crossan, a mother of three, were genuinely fearful for her safety from Mr Dunleavy.

He gave a detailed account of a number of incidents in which the accused threatened and attacked Ms Crossan.

On one occasion, he came into a bar and pulled her out by the collar of her jumper and gave her a severe beating. He also burnt her clothes and broke her hair straighteners to prevent her from going out.

The couple had known each other since they were both 14 years old and had been going out since 2012.

In what is the first successful prosecution of coercive control in the country, Judge John Aylmer sentenced the accused to a total of two-and-a-half years but suspended the final nine months of the sentence.

Dunleavy is due to be released on February 19 next. As part of his release conditions, Dunleavy was due to live and work in Dublin with his uncle who operated a painting and decorating company.

However, an application was made by Dunleavy's barrister, Mr Peter Nolan, at Letterkenny Circuit Court that he be allowed to reside at his family home in Kerrykeel because the offer of the original address and job in Dublin was no longer there.

Mr Nolan said that his client had no problem with all the other conditions imposed by the court including having no contact with the victim and remaining under the care and supervision of the Probation services.

However, he now found himself homeless and jobless as a result of the collapse of his uncle's decorating business in Dublin due to the downturn from the Covid pandemic.

Mr Nolan argued that the victim in the case now lives in Letterkenny which is 20 miles from Kerrykeel and that his client is prepared to give any undertaking the court required not to go near her or her family.

However, Garda Darren Carter strongly objected to the application saying that this condition had been of great comfort to the victim.

"Our main concern is the welfare and safety of the victim," he said.

We still believe he poses a risk and he has shown previously that he will not abide by the conditions imposed.

He added that although Ms Crossan is living in Letterkenny she is originally from Milford and her family are from the wider Milford and Kerrykeel area and she depends on them for a support network.

"We believe it is best if Mr Dunleavy is not resident in the county," he added.

A letter read out in court from Jerry Williams, the Resettlement Officer at Castlerea Prison, said that he was concerned that Dunleavy may be at risk of coming to harm if he had nowhere to go once released and asked if the condition made "pre-Covid" could be changed.

Barrister Nolan suggested that it would be "draconian" to allow Dunleavy to leave prison with no support saying there is a way around this.

Judge John Aylmer said that when the decision was made that Dunleavy would reside in Dublin it was made pre-Covid but that everything is so different and "unfortunately that has changed".

He said the court had to now go a different way to devise a different end for Dunleavy's release.

To that end, he imposed a number of conditions including that Dunleavy does not come within 10 kms of Letterkenny unless he is enjoying pre-arranged access to his son, that he not come within 50 metres of Ms Crossan and two other named victims Katrina Boyce and Frances Crossan.

Addressing Dunleavy directly, Judge Aylmer said: "I want to impress upon Mr Dunleavy that if there is any breach of that order then the Probation service must bring the matter back to me.

"This will mean that it is capable of triggering the balance of the nine-month sentence so you better be very careful and not to be in any breach."
MBABANE - Talk about shining against all odds!

Despite causing havoc all over the world, COVID-19 failed to stop the Form V Class of 2020 from excelling in the examination.

The pupils achieved the best overall results in five years.

Against all the odds posed by the coronavirus pandemic last year, the Form V examination, known as the Eswatini General Certificate in Secondary Education (EGCSE) and Prevocational (PREVOC) results overall pass rate stands at an incredible 92.91 per cent.

This shows an increase of 0.28 per cent when compared with the 2019 overall pass rate of 92.63 per cent.

Due to COVID-19 and as a means of containing its spread, government announced the closure of schools on March 17, 2020 which affected the completing classes.

As a result, teaching had to be done through radio, television and print media.

Regulations

Government then reopened schools on July 16, 2020 to allow completing classes to return for face-to-face teaching and learning under strict COVID-19 regulations.

To make up for lost time and ensure that pupils completed their projects and coursework, government, in consultation with the Cambridge Assessment, postponed the EGCSE examinations from September to late October 2020.

When the examinations were eventually written, schools had to adhere to the strict regulations to ensure that pupils and teachers alike were safe.

The results were released by the Minister of Education and Training, Lady Mabuza, at a press conference yesterday.

Worth noting is that this is the first time in years that Form V results are released earlier than those of Junior Certificate (JC).

The minister, through records from the Examinations Council of Eswatini (ECESWA), revealed that there were 17 subjects examined in 2020 and that the candidature decreased by 0.35 per cent as it stood at 19 931 while in 2019 it was 20 002.

The records reflect that candidates who credited their subjects in 2020 increased by 0.72 per cent.

Breaking down the figures of the candidature, Minister Mabuza revealed that there were 9 493 males (47.62 per cent) and 10 438 females (53.37 per cent) in 2020.

In 2020, there were 16 669 fulltime candidates who sat for the examination which shows an increase of 1 386 (9.07 per cent) when compared with 2019 where the figure stood at 15 283.

The number of private candidates in 2020 was 3 262 with 1 281 being males (39.27 per cent) while 1 981 (60.73 per cent) were females.

Regarding the performance of the pupils, the minister revealed that the number of candidates who passed and scored A* to G in four or more subjects including English was 90.89 per cent.

This, therefore, means that the performance of candidates had an increase of 0.77 per cent when compared with the 2019 pass rate where it stood at 91.66 per cent.

The minister also revealed that 2 954 (17.49 per cent) candidates passed with A* to C in five or more subjects including English Language.

In 2019, 2 915 (16.97 per cent) passed with the same score in five or more subjects including English Language.

These candidates, by virtue of their achievement, qualify for entry at the University of Eswatini. In summary, the 2020 candidates who scored A* to C in five or more subjects including English Language showed an increase of 0.52 per cent when compared with 2019.

The records of the 2020 examinations reflect that the pass rate for the performance of candidates is the second highest since 2011.

Meanwhile, the minister also presented the results for the prevocational education (PREVOC) examination where she stated that there were 16 schools which registered candidates as was the case in 2019.

The 2020 candidature shows a decrease of 0.37 per cent compared with the one for 2019.

In 2020, 268 candidates sat for the examination which shows a decrease from 269 in 2019.

The 2020 pass rate stands at 92.71 per cent which is a decrease of 0.94 per cent from the 2019 one which was 93.65 per cent.

In 2020, the pass rate of candidates who got C or better was 53.26 per cent compared to 2019 where it stood at 58.58 per cent. This shows a decrease of 5.32 per cent.

When presenting the results, the minister said the public was aware that the education sector, like many others, was seriously affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Lessons

She commended some schools and volunteer teachers groups which conducted lessons through various forms of social media platforms such as Google classrooms for their pupils to maximise the benefits of effective teaching and learning.

Mabuza thanked teachers who she said were called at short notice to prepare lessons and teach in the various platforms including television, radio and print media.

I would also like to thank the management of these institutions for their cooperation in using these platforms for teaching. In addition, I would like to appreciate all the heads of schools and teachers for their efforts when schools opened in July 2020. These results are a product of your good work, she said.

The minister also thanked the candidates, saying they all worked hard under difficult circumstances and that their dedication to their schoolwork resulted in the results they have achieved.

Parents also did a commendable job supporting their children and ensuring that they studied at home. I would also like to appreciate the work done by the teachers who marked the examination scripts in 2020. The sacrifice you made to mark the examinations under the COVID-19 threat is appreciated. Thank you for being soldiers of education at a time that was most challenging to everyone, she emphasised.

Meanwhile, unlike in previous years, this time around the minister did not share information on the list of schools with a poor credit performance.

There was also no mention of schools whose results were withheld.






After sleeping for a couple of hours, Ms Hoysted woke up and said she felt better. She gave a urine sample which tested positive for cannabis, which prompted hospital staff to suggest the rest of her family also be tested. Her two children tested positive, while Mr Maxwell, who did not eat any brownie, tested negative. Bada Bing Cafe owner Nathan Sharp (inset) is facing Perth Magistrates Court, accused of selling marijuana-laced brownies to a young family. The police investigation WA Police investigated the incident as an unlawful wounding case and retrieved CCTV from the cafe on March 8 - initially thinking someone not employed at the cafe had planted the brownie as a prank.

Detective senior constable Ian Knapgate told the court Mr Sharp only became a suspect after he recieved a phone call from him later that day. He explained that hed already spoken to his wife about it and that hed received some cannabis butter a few months before and had made some brownies and one of them must have fallen off the fridge or the freezer and got mixed up with the ones they sell at the cafe, he said. At the end of the phone call, I told him to get legal advice and come in on Monday. Following the alleged admission, Det. Snr. Constable Knapgate requested Mr Sharp take part in a formal police interview three days later, however, during the interview, Mr Sharp refused to answer any questions about the brownies, repeatedly replying, no comment. A day later, police attended the Maxwell family home and seized a brownie Mr Maxwell claimed he purchased from Bada Bing Cafe on March 3, a day after the incident.

Loading The brownie later tested positive for traces of cannabis. Defence lawyer, Tom Percy, objects to the phone call between Mr Sharp and police being admitted as evidence in the trial, as Mr Sharp was not cautioned beforehand. He also challenges the continuity (chain of custody) of the second brownie - which was not seized directly from the cafe by authorities, but rather by the father carrying out a private investigation. The police investigation didnt find any evidence of criminality and was closed on April 8, at which point the City of Stirling took the case over under the Food Act.

Nobody was charged [because we couldnt ascertain who made the brownies], Det. Snr. Constable Knapgate said. During the subsequent City of Stirling investigation Mr Sharp said cannabis brownies had never been made at the cafe premises, and denied telling police he had made up a personal cannabis brownie batch which must have become mixed up with the shop brownies. The familys morning Ms Hoysted said her family had all eaten jam on toast for breakfast that morning, before heading to the childrens Saturday morning activities at ballet and sport. She said she and her husband ordered egg meals and coffee at Bada Bing cafe around 10am, while the children had milkshakes and brownies  which she helped to finish as they played.

Michael Maxwell and Sharon Hoysted leaving Perth Magistrates Court on Monday. Credit:Nine News Perth Bank records and CCTV indicated the family inadvertently left the restaurant without paying  which Mr Percy indicates he never sold them the brownie. Asked by Mr Percy if she kept cannabis at the family home, Ms Hoysted replied, God, no, and stated the only time she had tried marijuana was when she was 20 years old. Funnily enough it was a chocolate cake that my flatmate made, she said. Mr Sharp has pleaded not guilty to two counts of selling food that is unsuitable.

The two charges related to the brownies consumed by the family on March 2, and another brownie Ms Maxwell purchased the day after the incident which was tested at ChemCentre and allegedly found to contain traces of cannabis. His defence lawyer, Tom Percy, argued much of the states case was not admissible due to the original WA Police investigation under the Misuse of Drugs Act being abandoned and the case being transferred to City of Stirling health authorities under the Food Act. The certification weve been served doesnt comply with the certification under the Food Act, he said. There is a serious question whether the prosecution can prove whether the food was contaminated by cannabis. Former Bada Bing employee Marina Dias recalled the cafe had never sold so many brownies as it did following media reports of the alleged cannabis brownie.
BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Walker & Dunlop, Inc. announced today that it has expanded its property sales team with the acquisition of FourPoint Investment Sales Partners, a boutique brokerage firm specializing in student housing and conventional multifamily properties. Located in Austin, Texas, the group includes Managing Directors Chris Epp, and Chris Bancroft, Senior Director Kevin Dufour, as well as Directors Matthew Chase, Craig Miller, and Kyle Peco. Together, with the Company's #1 ranked Fannie Mae student housing lending platform in 2020, the FourPoint team will lead and scale the premier student housing investment sales practice in the United States for the Company. Walker & Dunlop originated $7.1 billion of student housing debt financing volume since 2016 and has consistently been ranked a top student housing lender nationally.

Kris Mikkelsen, Walker & Dunlop Investment Sales (WDIS) Executive Vice President, commented, "As a long-standing correspondent to Walker & Dunlop, FourPoint has been a partner to our team for many years, and we are extremely excited to bring this talented group of brokers onto our platform. We set the goal to grow our property sales volume to $25 billion by 2025 as part of our Drive to '25, and one of our growth strategies was adding student housing expertise. We are entering this space with the best team in the industry, a move that will boost our sales volume and, more importantly, benefit our clients who invest in this area of the multifamily market."

"The FourPoint team has partnered with Walker & Dunlop's national student housing finance group for nearly 15 years. We have built trust, confidence, and a brand together," stated Mr. Epp. "Combining our strong student housing relationships with Walker & Dunlop's top-ranked platform allows us to continue delivering exceptional service to our clients while contributing to the Company's strategic growth over the next several years, particularly as it expands the scale of its property sales footprint."

Mr. Bancroft added, "We have always admired Walker & Dunlop's culture, client-centric approach, and real estate acumen. Because of our strong alignment of values, this acquisition is a natural continuation of our long-standing partnership together, and it will allow us to deliver more financing options to our clients."

As licensed commercial real estate brokers since the early 2000's, FourPoint Principals Chris Epp and Chris Bancroft enjoy the longest-tenured student housing brokerage partnership in the industry. Following successful careers at other nationally recognized brokerage firms, the pair founded FourPoint in 2014 with an emphasis on student housing investment sales and capital markets executions. Since inception, the firm has closed over $6 billion in property sales volume.

Walker & Dunlop is a leader in the student housing space, ranking as the #1 Fannie Mae DUS Producer for Student Housing in 2020 and the #2 Student Housing Producer in 2018 and 2019. The company's investment sales platform, WDIS, is one of the top-ten multifamily property sales platforms in the country, with $6.1 billion of volume in 2020, up 14% from 2019. For information about Walker & Dunlop's view on the apartment market, including an in-depth analysis of the student housing space, download our Winter Multifamily Outlook.

About Walker & Dunlop

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is one of the largest commercial real estate finance companies in the United States. The company provides a comprehensive range of capital solutions for all commercial real estate asset classes, as well as investment sales brokerage services to owners of multifamily properties. Walker & Dunlop is included on the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and was ranked as one of FORTUNE Magazine's Fastest Growing Companies in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Walker & Dunlop's 1,000+ professionals in 41 offices across the nation have an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction.

SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.walkerdunlop.com


Convicted Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regional governor (North) and former Mzimba Hora legislator Christopher Mzomera Ngwira will be back in court on March 17 for inciting political violence.

Ngwira and three others are accused of inciting political violence in Mzuzu at a rally held by the then Leader of Opposition in parliament Lazarus Chakwera who is now State President.

The violence left Chakwera's bodyguards injured.

Ngwira, who is already resident at Mzimba prison for conviction in another matter, now stands accused of masterminding violence at a place where Malawi Congress Party and Peoples Party supporters got hacked and vehicles were smashed at a rally presided over by Chakwera in Mzuzu in 2016.

During hearing today, MCP deputy president Harry Mkandawire, who was then an executive member of PP, a police CID officer and a medical officer stood as witnesses for the state.

The former DPP governor is serving a four-year jail term,

Mzomera Ngwira, who was prosecuted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for diverting K650 000 from the Local Development Fund (LDF) and had earlier reimbursed some of the money, was on September 28 found guilty of misusing public office.

The court heard that the former member of Parliament (MP) for Mzimba Hora abused his office as MP to award a contract.
Donald Trump turned red when he was told Vladimir Putin phoned the White House after he was sworn-in as president, and was not put through to him, a new documentary reveals.

Mr Trump was told about the Russian presidents phone call amid an already awkward meeting with Theresa May, who was on a visit to Washington DC days after the US president was inaugurated in January 2017, when he lost his temper.

According to a BBC documentary airing on Wednesday, Mr Trump became angered when White House aides said Mr Putin had phoned but was not put through.

"Trump at this point looks not orange but red," said Fiona McLeod Hill, the then-Downing Street chief of staff, who describes the moment Mr Trump lost his temper in the three part series, Trump Takes on the World.

Follow live: Trump impeachment news and updates as trial set to begin

He flipped, furious. He said, 'youre telling me Vladimir Putin called the White House and youre only telling me now during this lunch?'," said Ms McLeod Hill. You could feel the tumbleweed just completely take over the entire lunch table and my toes were curling.

Ms May, moments beforehand, asked the newly sworn-in US president whether or not hed spoken with Mr Putin because he was mentioned on the 2016 campaign trail by Mr Trump.

She wanted to talk to him [Trump] about Putin, according to Kim Darroch, then-UK ambassador to the US who said: Shed heard him say some quite positive things about his potential relationship with Putin during the campaign.

She wanted to tell him what she thought he [Putin] was like, adds Mr Darroch.

Mr Trump, who was clearly angered about the missed phone call, then told Ms May that he could not believe he didnt take the Russian leaders call.

Vladimir Putin is the only man in the world who can destroy the United States, and I didnt take his call," the UK prime minister was told by Mr Trump, whose shoulder's had "dropped".

The BBC documentary is a three-part series by the award-winning documentary maker Norma Percy, and covers Mr Trump's years at the White House.

Wednesday's episode also reveals how Ms May's aides were "surprised" by the US president holding the prime minister's hand before the lunch meeting, as well as his request to then-French president Francois Hollande to help him appoint advisers in his first days in office.
U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., January 20, 2021. REUTERS-Yonhap



Former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial begins on Tuesday, a solemn proceeding that will force lawmakers to relive the violent events of Jan. 6 as House Democrats prosecute their case for ''incitement of insurrection.''



The nine Democratic impeachment managers for the House, which impeached Trump last month, argue that he alone was responsible for inciting the mob of supporters who broke into the U.S. Capitol and interrupted the presidential electoral count.



Lawyers for Trump argue that the trial is unconstitutional and say the former president was exercising freedom of speech when he told his supporters to ''fight like hell'' to overturn his defeat. The arguments against conviction are expected to be persuasive with Senate Republicans, most of whom have signaled that they will vote to acquit.



The trial is expected to last into the weekend and possibly longer. It will begin midday Tuesday and could go late into some evenings.



What to watch as the trial kicks off:



FIRST, AN EFFORT TO DISMISS



Tuesday's proceedings will begin with a debate to dismiss the trial before it even begins. Trump's lawyers have argued the trial is moot now that Trump is out of office, and 45 Senate Republicans have already voted once to move forward with an effort to dismiss the trial on those grounds.



The Senate will debate the constitutionality of the trial for four hours on Tuesday and then hold a vote on whether to dismiss it. The effort to dismiss is expected to fail, allowing arguments in the trial to begin on Wednesday.



Democrats point to the opinion of many legal scholars _ including conservatives _ who say the trial is valid under the Constitution. They point to an 1876 impeachment trial of a secretary of war who had resigned and note that Trump was impeached before he left office. Trump's lawyers dismiss that precedent and say language in the Constitution is on their side.



WEDNESDAY: ARGUMENTS BEGIN



The House managers will present their arguments first, beginning Wednesday. Each side will have up to 16 hours, running no more than eight hours per day.



The Democrats are expected to try and take advantage of the senators' own experiences, tapping into their emotions as they describe in detail _ and show on video _ what happened as the mob broke through police barriers, injured law enforcement officers, ransacked the Capitol and hunted for lawmakers. The carnage led to five deaths.



The impeachment managers have argued that the mob subverted democracy and that Trump was ''singularly'' responsible for their actions after months of falsely saying there was widespread fraud in the election. They will appeal to Senate Republicans to vote to convict after most of them criticized Trump in the wake of the riots, with many saying he was responsible for the violence.



There was no widespread fraud in the election. Election officials across the country, and even then-Attorney General William Barr, contradicted Trump's claims, and dozens of legal challenges to the election put forth by Trump and his allies were dismissed.



It appears unlikely, for now, that there will be witnesses at the trial. But the managers can ask for a Senate vote on calling witnesses if they so choose.



TRUMP'S TEAM HITS BACK



Defense arguments are likely to begin Friday. In their main filing with the Senate, Trump's lawyers made clear that they will not only argue against the trial on process grounds, but also present a full-throated defense of Trump's actions that day and why they believe he did not incite the riot.



While the Democrats are expected to appeal to the senators' emotions, Trump's lawyers have signaled they will try and tap into raw partisan anger. They repeatedly go after the Democrats personally in the brief, describing their case as a ''selfish attempt by Democratic leadership in the House to prey upon the feelings of horror and confusion'' and another example of ''Trump derangement syndrome'' after four years of trying to drive him out of office.



The lawyers argue that Trump's words ''fight like hell'' did not mean to literally fight, that the rioters acted on their own accord.



A (LESS) CAPTIVE AUDIENCE



As they were last year, at Trump's first impeachment trial, senators are expected to listen to every word of the arguments before they cast their votes.



But this trial will look a bit different than the last one due to COVID-19 restrictions. To protect against the virus, senators don't have to be stuck at their desks for the entirety of the trial, and will be allowed to spread out in the upper galleries or watch a video feed in a room just off the chamber.



REPUBLICANS TO WATCH



Five Republican senators voted with Democrats two weeks ago not to dismiss the trial on constitutional grounds. Those senators so far appear the most likely to vote to convict Trump.



The five senators, all of whom have harshly criticized the president's behavior, are Susan Collins of Maine, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.



Democrats appear to have little chance of persuading 17 Republicans to find Trump guilty, the minimum number that they would need for conviction. But some GOP senators who voted in favor of the effort to dismiss, such as Rob Portman of Ohio and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, have said they are coming into the trial with an open mind.



Democrats are likely to focus, too, on senators who are retiring in 2022 and will have less to lose politically if they vote to convict. In addition to Toomey and Portman, also retiring are Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby and North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr. (AP)


Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 9 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday launched the Knowledge Mission which is expected to transform the state to a knowledge economy.

The first-of-its-kind massive digital platform is expected to create 20 lakh jobs in next five years by connecting trained youth with global job market and leading private sector enterprises.

Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC), a strategic think tank and advisory body set up by the state government, is spearheading the mission.

The mission will promote innovative ideas, coordinate knowledge initiatives and equip young people with updated skills.

At the heart of the initiative is a comprehensive digital platform for educated youngsters which helps them up skill, enhance knowledge and empower to face the challenges of ever-changing job market.

"This digital platform will create a great opportunity for those who take a break from work and jobless to connect with global employers. They can up skill and earn more knowledge preferred by the employers. This will create at least three lakh jobs in a year and Kerala government also will provide benefits such as insurance and loan assistance for the entrepreneurs through this platform," said Vijayan.

The digital platform was developed in collaboration with the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology (formerly IIITM-K). The platform will provide timely and professional training in diverse and most demanding areas such as data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, robotic process automation, full stack development, cyber security, digital content creation, media, synthetic biology, genetic engineering, and agricultural consulting.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Theres been a lot of movement in a lawsuit against a New Mexico militia, including a motion to drop the suit and a legal complaint that alleges public records law violations by the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office.

In July, the 2nd Judicial District Attorney filed a lawsuit against the New Mexico Civil Guard, an armed militia group that was at the Juan de Onate statue protest in June and other demonstrations throughout the summer.

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................................................................

A state district court judge has thrown out counterclaims filed by the Civil Guard that alleged constitutional violations by the DAs Office. The group has since filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that it never broke any laws.

And last week, a Civil Guard member filed an Inspection of Public Records Act lawsuit against the DAs Office, accusing the office of withholding certain records related to the suit.

The lawsuit against the Civil Guard alleges that the group is unlawfully acting like law enforcement and that the New Mexico Constitution dictates that only the governor can activate a civilian militia. Lawyers from the Georgetown University Law School Institute for Constitutional Advocacy, as well as Albuquerque firm Peifer, Hanson, Mullins & Baker, are assisting the DAs Office in the case.

The Civil Guard filed counterclaims against the DAs Office in August, alleging their guns were seized illegally during a protest calling for the removal of the Onate statue near the Albuquerque Museum. That protest ended with a man being shot and critically wounded by another man who was not affiliated with the militia. Police took militia members guns while investigating the shooting.

Last month, 2nd Judicial District Court Judge Clay Campbell dismissed the counterclaims because the guns were eventually released to their owners, making the counterclaims moot.

Brandale Mills Cox, a spokeswoman for the DAs Office, said the office will file responses to the motion to dismiss and the IPRA lawsuit in the near future.

We are encouraged that the court recently dismissed the counterclaim against the District Attorney and we remain committed to pursuing this litigation to prevent extremist groups like the New Mexico Civil Guard from violating the law and endangering the public, Mills Cox said in an email.

An attorney for the Civil Guard could not be reached by phone on Monday.

The Civil Guards motion to dismiss the lawsuit says none of the members impersonated police officers and no members of the public were harmed by their actions.

In the meantime, the State abuses the civil discovery process to harass these individuals for their political views (or, more correctly, their perceived political views) and to conduct a fishing expedition for possible criminal charges in the future, Elizabeth Harrison, an attorney for the Civil Guard, wrote in the motion.

Craig Fitzgerald, one of the defendants in the lawsuit, filed his own lawsuit against the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office last week, alleging the office has violated the state Inspection of Public Records Act.

Fitzgerald requested emails and other correspondence regarding the terms and conditions in which the Georgetown lawyers and Peifer, Hanson, Mullins & Baker agreed to take part in the case. Fitzgerald says the DAs Office withheld certain records due to lawyer-client privilege and attorney work product exemptions, but there was no description of the withheld records and no redacted documents were provided.

The refusal to separate exempt from nonexempt information on the records withheld violates Defendants statutory obligations and constitutes a wrongful denial of the nonexempt information, Fitzgeralds lawsuit says.

A high-level committee suggested that all the private cryptocurrencies , except any virtual currencies issued by state, will be prohibited in India, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday.

In a reply to a question in Rajya Sabha whether central government is planning to issue strict guidelines on cryptocurrency trading, Sitharaman said, "A high-level Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Economic Affairs) to study the issues related to virtual currencies and propose specific actions to be taken in the matter recommended in its report that all private cryptocurrencies, except any virtual currencies issued by state, will be prohibited in India."

"The central government will take a decision on the recommendation of IMC and legislative proposal, if any would be introduced in the Parliament following the due process," finance minister added. In 2018, the Reserve Bank of India had banned banks from processing transactions relating to cryptocurrency. In in March 2020, Supreme Court overturned the ban.

Reiterating the govt's stance on Bitcoin, the finance minister said, "It was announced in the Budget Speech for 2018-19 that the government does not consider cryptocurrencies legal tender or coins and will take all measures to eliminate use of these crypto-assets in financing illegitimate activities or as part of the payment system." "The government will explore use of block chain technology proactively for ushering in digital economy," it further said.

A cryptocurrency bill is being finalised and it will be sent to cabinet soon, minister of state for finance Anurag Singh Thakur said earlier. Regulatory bodies like RBI and Sebi etc also dont have a legal framework to directly regulate cryptocurrencies as they are neither currencies nor assets or securities or commodities issued by an identifiable user. The existing laws are inadequate to deal with the subject. The government had formed an inter ministerial committee and the committee has given a report. Post that there was a meeting of the empowered technology group which happened earlier. The committee of secretaries which was chaired by the cabinet secretary has also its given their report. The bill is being finalised and will be sent to the cabinet soon. So we will be bringing the bill soon," Thakur said.

Earlier this month, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that it has plans to bring a digital version of the Indian Rupee. The central bank "was exploring the possibility as to whether there was a need for a digital version of fiat currency, and in case there was then how to operationalise it," it mentioned.

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Former President Donald Trumps second impeachment trial begins on Tuesday, a solemn proceeding that will force lawmakers to relive the violent events of Jan. 6 as House Democrats prosecute their case for incitement of insurrection.

The nine Democratic impeachment managers for the House, which impeached Trump last month, argue that he alone was responsible for inciting the mob of supporters who broke into the U.S. Capitol and interrupted the presidential electoral count.

Lawyers for Trump argue that the trial is unconstitutional and say the former president was exercising freedom of speech when he told his supporters to fight like hell to overturn his defeat. The arguments against conviction are expected to be persuasive with Senate Republicans, most of whom have signaled that they will vote to acquit.

The trial is expected to last into the weekend and possibly longer. It will begin midday Tuesday and could go late into some evenings.

What to watch as the trial kicks off:

FIRST, AN EFFORT TO DISMISS

Tuesdays proceedings will begin with a debate to dismiss the trial before it even begins. Trumps lawyers have argued the trial is moot now that Trump is out of office, and 45 Senate Republicans have already voted once to move forward with an effort to dismiss the trial on those grounds.

The Senate will debate the constitutionality of the trial for four hours on Tuesday and then hold a vote on whether to dismiss it. The effort to dismiss is expected to fail, allowing arguments in the trial to begin on Wednesday.

Democrats point to the opinion of many legal scholars  including conservatives  who say the trial is valid under the Constitution. They point to an 1876 impeachment trial of a secretary of war who had resigned and note that Trump was impeached before he left office. Trumps lawyers dismiss that precedent and say language in the Constitution is on their side.

WEDNESDAY: ARGUMENTS BEGIN

The House managers will present their arguments first, beginning Wednesday. Each side will have up to 16 hours, running no more than eight hours per day.

The Democrats are expected to try and take advantage of the senators own experiences, tapping into their emotions as they describe in detail  and show on video  what happened as the mob broke through police barriers, injured law enforcement officers, ransacked the Capitol and hunted for lawmakers. The carnage led to five deaths.

The impeachment managers have argued that the mob subverted democracy and that Trump was singularly responsible for their actions after months of falsely saying there was widespread fraud in the election. They will appeal to Senate Republicans to vote to convict after most of them criticized Trump in the wake of the riots, with many saying he was responsible for the violence.

There was no widespread fraud in the election. Election officials across the country, and even then-Attorney General William Barr, contradicted Trumps claims, and dozens of legal challenges to the election put forth by Trump and his allies were dismissed.

It appears unlikely, for now, that there will be witnesses at the trial. But the managers can ask for a Senate vote on calling witnesses if they so choose.

TRUMPS TEAM HITS BACK

Defense arguments are likely to begin Friday. In their main filing with the Senate, Trumps lawyers made clear that they will not only argue against the trial on process grounds, but also present a full-throated defense of Trumps actions that day and why they believe he did not incite the riot.

While the Democrats are expected to appeal to the senators emotions, Trumps lawyers have signaled they will try and tap into raw partisan anger. They repeatedly go after the Democrats personally in the brief, describing their case as a selfish attempt by Democratic leadership in the House to prey upon the feelings of horror and confusion and another example of Trump derangement syndrome after four years of trying to drive him out of office.

The lawyers argue that Trumps words fight like hell did not mean to literally fight, that the rioters acted on their own accord.

A (LESS) CAPTIVE AUDIENCE

As they were last year, at Trumps first impeachment trial, senators are expected to listen to every word of the arguments before they cast their votes.

But this trial will look a bit different than the last one due to COVID-19 restrictions. To protect against the virus, senators dont have to be stuck at their desks for the entirety of the trial, and will be allowed to spread out in the upper galleries or watch a video feed in a room just off the chamber.

REPUBLICANS TO WATCH

Five Republican senators voted with Democrats two weeks ago not to dismiss the trial on constitutional grounds. Those senators so far appear the most likely to vote to convict Trump.

The five senators, all of whom have harshly criticized the presidents behavior, are Susan Collins of Maine, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

Democrats appear to have little chance of persuading 17 Republicans to find Trump guilty, the minimum number that they would need for conviction. But some GOP senators who voted in favor of the effort to dismiss, such as Rob Portman of Ohio and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, have said they are coming into the trial with an open mind.

Democrats are likely to focus, too, on senators who are retiring in 2022 and will have less to lose politically if they vote to convict. In addition to Toomey and Portman, also retiring are Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby and North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr.

Short link:


A woman discovered dead last week in Northeast Portland was identified Tuesday as 25-year-old Zoe Linn McAnally, police said in a statement.

Investigators are asking for the publics help in determining how McAnally died.

Officers responded to a medical call near Northeast Gertz Road and Northeast Vancouver Way just before 8 a.m. on Feb. 1, police said in a statement, and discovered McAnallys body. Police have provided no other details surrounding her death.

Officials released a picture of McAnally, who lived in Portland, and said they hope to speak with anyone who will remember seeing her or interacting with her in the hours, or days before her death.

Investigators ask anyone with information to contact Detective Michael Greenlee at Michael.Greenlee@portlandoregon.gov/503-823-0871 or Detective Brad Clifton at Brad.Clifton@portlandoregon.gov/503-823-0696.

-- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Police say two children were shot at the start of what became a deadly weekend in Jackson.

WAPT-TV reports that the 8-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy were shot in the back seat of a car Friday night.

Police said the 2-year-old is expected to survive.

Police said the girl was recovering in a hospital this weekend.

The shooting was among five separate Friday shootings in Jackson that left two people dead.

Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 48F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9)  Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque maintained Tuesday that he is "100% compliant" with all the prescribed health protocols, even after he revealed that one of his staff tested positive for coronavirus.

Roque, who has been holding his briefing in his residence since Monday, refuted claims that he breached quarantine protocol while he was on an official trip over the weekend.

"I always have a reason to go out and I always take advantage of where I am but I never violate the rules. Sa mga kritiko ko po pasensya na po, lawyer ito, professor, and 100% compliant with the rules," he said.

[Translation: To all my critics, I'm sorry but I'm a lawyer, a professor, and 100% compliant with the rules.]

He also clarified that the aide who eventually tested positive did not accompany him when he went to Iloilo and Boracay last week.

"Maraming malisyosong sinasabing nagpunta ako doon maski exposed. Hindi totoo yan. Kalokohan po iyan," he said. "Ako po ay nasa Iloilo at Boracay noong Friday at Saturday, umuwi po ako ng Sunday, dumiretso po ako sa Airport Diagnostic Center para mag-PCR dahil nga po aattend sana tayo ng meeting na kasama si Presidente kahapon."

[Translation: A lot of malicious critics claimed that I went out even if I was exposed. That is not true. That is nonsense. I was in Iloilo and Boracay on Friday and Saturday, I went back on Sunday but I headed straight to the Airport Diagnostic Center to undergo polymerase chain reaction test because I was supposed to attend the meeting with the President yesterday.]

Roque said that he also coordinated with his staff to undergo testing, and the aide who fetched him from his trip only yielded a positive result then. He added that he does not know where his aide got infected.

"Yung trip ko to Visayas, wala akong exposure doon. At hindi ko po kasama yung staff ko na nagpositive," he added, noting that he is even willing to show his swab test result as well as his staff's for proof.

[Translation: During my trip to Visayas, I had no exposure then. And my staff who eventually tested positive was not with me.]

Earlier in the day, DiveGurus, a dive shop in Boracay, also clarified that Roque was not with his staff when he came to them. The shop also observed strict safety protocols during the diving activity.

"None of Sec. Roque's other staff members were present during his dive. Following safety protocols, our equipment is dipped in disinfectant solution after every dive and each staff adheres to the COVID safety guidelines," it said in a statement.

Roque's out-of-town trips were often the subject of criticisms in the past, but he had repeatedly denied that he was not traveling for leisure. He also reasoned in one of his government briefings that it is his "personal advocacy" to help the country's tourism sector.
EDWARDSVILLE  Madison County States Attorney Tom Haine is asking the Madison County Board to pass a resolution urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to veto House Bill 3653, a recently-passed and controversial criminal justice reform bill.

With this resolution, the county and other officials can speak with a united voice to this critical issue, urging the governor should veto this bill and work with all stakeholders to come up with workable reform that doesnt make our streets less safe, Haine said in a press release Tuesday. I hope the governor listens to our legitimate concerns.

Haine said he will present the resolution to the county boards Government Relations Committee on Feb. 16. If approved, it could be acted on at the full board meeting the next day.

The bill, an initiative by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, was approved in mid-January during the final hours of the Illinois General Assembly lame duck session. It includes a number of changes, including an end to cash bail and a complete overhaul of police certification, requiring body cameras for officers and changing the use of force law.

Many of the more controversial aspects, including ending qualified immunity for law enforcement, were reduced or removed from the bill following heavy opposition from law enforcement, labor unions and municipal representatives.

The bill has been almost unilaterally condemned by local law enforcement, something several county officials have also said.

Madison County Board Member Chris Guy, R-Maryville, who chairs the Government Relations Committee, said he is against HB 3653.

I support Haines Resolution, and appreciate his dedication to preserving public safety in our county, Guy said. This resolution is a helpful summary of HB 3653s many flaws. We must support our local law enforcement and urge the governor to please veto this bill.

Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler also voiced support for the resolution.

Last weeks shooting of a Metrolink security guard, and other recent acts of violence in Madison County, reinforce the need for strong law enforcement in our community, Prenzler said. Now is not the time for hastily conceived changes to our criminal justice system that undermine police and prosecutors.

Also coming out against the bill was the Madison County Republican Party.

This purported criminal justice reform bill is disastrous for Illinois as it favors criminals over victims and those who pursue justice on their behalf, Madison County Republican Party Chairman Ray Wesley said in a written statement released soon after the General Assembly approved the bill.

Madison County Democratic Chairman Randy Harris has also expressed concerns about the bill.

Although were eager for criminal justice reform, this bill was passed in a very short period of time, with little input from several stakeholders, including law enforcement, he said. While we are pleased that some issues were addressed in the draft, such as collective bargaining, there is still much work to do on a bill this comprehensive.

Obviously, we support our brothers and sisters in law enforcement here in Madison County and hope that there is much more discussion on this issue, Harris said.

He said all stakeholders, including law enforcement and victims, need to be addressed.

We applaud our local legislators for seeing the need for criminal justice reform while also understanding that a bill this important should not be passed in such a short period of time, he added.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause

By Long Island Published: February 09 2021

The Suffolk County Sheriffs Office recently began a new Legal Internship Program at the Suffolk County Correctional Facilities in Riverhead and Yaphank

The Mentor Attorney for the program is Steven J. Kuehhas, Esq., who is also an Undersheriff in the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office. Prior to his work with the Sheriffs Office, Undersheriff Kuehhas worked as a prosecutor for the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office and later as the East End Bureau Chief assigned to prosecute cases for the five eastern towns and villages of Suffolk County.

Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. sees this intern program as another opportunity for the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office to assist in the education of our future leaders. The Suffolk County Sheriffs Office Student Legal Intern Program is a welcome addition to our other internship programs. We are happy to report that our programs are very popular and applications for internships with the Sheriffs Office are often numerous and very competitive. An internship with a law enforcement agency is an eye-opening experience, and this internship gives future attorneys the chance for real, hands-on experience in the correctional facilities and our civil sections. I would like to thank Undersheriff Steve Kuehhas for leading this initiative.

Currently, the program has one legal intern. Intern Matthew Barden attends Brooklyn Law School and reports to the Suffolk County Correctional Facilities on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. His duties include:

Law Library  The legal intern reports to the Riverhead and Yaphank Correctional Facilities, where he assists inmates with legal research through Westlaw and legal publications on the websites. Legal advice is prohibited. Legal Research  The legal intern completes legal research assigned by mentor attorney for the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office. Inmate Grievances  The legal intern reviews inmate grievances and suggests remedial action within the parameters of NYS Minimum Standards for Correctional Facilities. Inmate Disciplinary Hearings  The legal intern attends disciplinary hearings of inmates accused of violating sections of the correctional disciplinary codes. NYS Supreme Court Writs of Habeas Corpus Hearings  The legal intern reviews inmate writs of habeas corpus applications with supporting documents and attends weekly hearings. Suffolk County Sheriffs Office Claims Unit  The legal intern reviews causes of action, such as Tort Claims, filed against the Sheriffs Office. Civil Enforcement Bureau  This is an opportunity for the legal intern to become familiar with civil enforcement issues such as evictions, income executions, and service of process by Suffolk County Sheriffs Office Deputy Sheriffs.

Undersheriff Kuehhas is appreciative of this opportunity to mentor new attorneys. I want to thank Sheriff Toulon for establishing this internship program here at the Sheriffs Office. Opportunities for attorneys to gain hands-on experience are invaluable when preparing lawyers to take on clients and enter the courtroom. I am looking forward to helping law students acquire this knowledge and experience that will benefit them greatly as they embark on their legal careers.

For more information on this program, or any of the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office programs, please visit www.SuffolkSheriff.com.

The recent report of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on democracy in the world has pinned Algeria for opaque and authoritarian functioning of the government.

Algeria is thus ranked in the category of the most authoritarian powers in the world with a score of 2.5 out of 10.

The report has underlined the inefficiency of the Algerian governmental system and the abuses of power which explain the revolt of the Algerian citizens.

According to the report ranking, Morocco, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, Tunisia, or even the United Arab Emirates do much better than Algeria.
The New York Times announced on Tuesday that one of its highest-ranking editors, Rebecca Blumenstein, will take on a newly created role, reporting directly to the publisher, A. G. Sulzberger, and helping him run newsroom operations as the newspapers business expands.

Ms. Blumenstein, 54, a deputy managing editor, has overseen The Timess website, including the live briefings that became central to coverage of breaking news in the last year. She will remain on The Timess masthead with a new title: deputy editor, publishers office.

Rebecca will step away from the news cycle to become my day-to-day partner in supporting our journalism operations at a time when they are growing rapidly in size and ambition, Mr. Sulzberger wrote in a memo to staff on Tuesday.

Before joining The Times four years ago, Ms. Blumenstein was the deputy editor in chief of The Wall Street Journal, where she had been the China bureau chief, international editor, Page One editor and managing editor of its website.
Oregons first motel-turned-apartment complex will open for limited occupancy in March, five months after the state allocated $65 million to buy and convert motels into temporary homes for wildfire victims and others experiencing homelessness.

A nonprofit, Options for Helping Residents of Ashland, will receive $4.2 million from the state through Project Turnkey to purchase and transform a Super 8 motel in Ashland into a new resource center and apartment complex for wildfire victims and others experiencing homelessness.

Cass Sinclair, senior director of program services for the nonprofit, said she expects between 64 and 74 people will eventually be housed in the converted 50-room motel. The nonprofit plans to open an initial block of 20 rooms in March before the other 30 rooms open following a remodel in April.

The organization supports vulnerable adult populations, so families with children will not be housed at the motel, Sinclair said.

The Oregon Community Foundation, the organization administering the funds, is continuing to review another 19 applicants from nonprofits and government agencies in 15 counties and remains hopeful that it will eventually be able to provide grants to between 18 and 20 organizations statewide to purchase and convert motels into shelters, according to Megan Loeb, associate program officer at the foundation. Tom Kemper, a consultant for the foundation, told the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners last week that grants would vary in price from $1.5 million to $7.9 million.

The city of Bend is among the applicants hoping to receive funding through Project Turnkey. Last week, the Bend City Council approved a purchase and sale agreement to acquire the Old Mill & Suites to convert it into 64 units for people experiencing homelessness, according to a report from OPB. Their proposal still needs to be approved by the Oregon Community Foundation, Loeb said.

The Multnomah County Joint Office of Homeless Services is also among the applicants being considered by the foundation. Denis Theriault, a spokesman for the county, said they have identified a property to convert into a shelter and are currently in negotiations with the seller, but he declined to provide additional information on the property being considered. However, Theriault said it could take up to three months for the county to finish the inspection and appraisal process, complete the review process with the foundation and close on the property.

In October, Oregon lawmakers voted to allocate $30 million toward turning motels into apartments for wildfire victims and an additional $35 million into converting motels into housing for those experiencing homelessness. Backers said at the time that the funding could be used for up to 1,000 new shelter units. The state hoped that some units would be available by winter.

But its now clear that the vast majority of motel rooms wont be ready before the end of winter and it could take several months for many to be up-and-running. Loeb also said last month that the foundation now anticipates that between 600 to 700 new units, rather than 1,000, will eventually be available.

Its also unclear whether all the applicants under review will ultimately be able to move forward with their proposals.

The Clackamas County Housing Authority has already hit snags with two properties it proposed purchasing, the Econo Lodge in Jennings Lodge and the Red Fox Motel in Estacada. The Jennings Lodge project fell apart because the motel roof needed repairs, while the proposal to convert the motel in Estacada faced opposition from residents, according to The Estacada News.

Kimberly Dinwiddie, a spokesman for Clackamas County, said that a new motel to convert has not yet been identified. Once the county settles on a new site, Dinwiddie said it will have to go through a public engagement process before potentially moving forward.

Loeb did not say whether other applicants were facing similar hurdles. The foundation has until the end of June to allocate all $65 million in Project Turnkey grant money. If funds remain unused at that time, they will have to be returned to the Oregon State Treasury.

It is our continued hope that Clackamas County can identify a suitable property soon, said Loeb, so that due diligence can begin and their project can be considered for an award.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg
Nepal on Tuesday rolled out its second phase of inoculations with Indian-made vaccine against COVID-19.

Citing the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Khabarhub reported that in the second drive, the Covishield vaccine would be administered to journalists, officials at the diplomatic missions, and frontline government employees.

Dr Shyamraj Uprety, Nepal's Coordinator of the COVID-19 Vaccination Advisory Committee shared that the Covishield vaccine provided by the Indian government under the grant assistance will be administered to as many as 300,000 frontline journalists, diplomats, and government employees in the second phase, Khabarhub reported.

Although the plan had it that a total of 430,000 doses of vaccine would be administered in the first phase, only 184,857 individuals had received the vaccine, informed Uprety.

According to Uprety, the second phase of vaccination would continue until coming Friday, and around 300,000 individuals would be vaccinated in this phase.

"The data of employees working at the frontline except for the journalists and the diplomatic mission staffs is going ahead. They would also be inoculated after two or three days," Khabarhub quoted Dr Uprety as saying.

The first drive of vaccination had begun on January 27.

The priorities in the first phase were frontline medical workers, sanitation workers, ambulance drivers, hearse drivers, and security officials while in the second drive, the officials from the administrative units across the country, staffers at the Offices of the Land Revenue and Offices of the Survey, bankers, and journalists has been prioritised.

The Government of Nepal on January 15 approved the use of Covishield developed by the Serum Institute of India (SII) for emergency use.

Nepal began its nationwide inoculation drive after receiving one million Covishield vaccines, manufactured by the SII from the Indian government.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Junta Be Gone

Protesters in Myanmar are banging pots and pans to show resistance to the Feb. 1 military takeover. The noisy gesture of defiance that has been seen from Latin America to Iceland in recent years signifies driving out demons or evil spirits in the culture of Myanmar, which has been under army rule for nearly 50 of its 72 years since independence.
New Delhi: India and China on Tuesday discussed their priorities at the UN Security Council with both agreeing to continue their engagement on key issues on the UNSC agenda, an Indian statement said.

The consultations came amidst tensions between the two sides along their common border in Ladakh and in the middle of reports that China was further fortifying its positions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the region and showing no signs of pulling back tens of thousands of troops.

The short Indian statement issued after the talks said the two sides had held consultations on UNSC issues today through video link.

The Chinese delegation was led by Yang Tao, Director General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, it said.

Prakash Gupta, Joint Secretary (UNP and Summits) led the Indian delegation along with officials from East Asia (EA) and UN Economic and Social (UNES) Divisions of MEA and from the Permanent Mission of India New York and Embassy of India in Beijing, it said.

Both sides discussed a wide range of issues on the UNSC agenda. The Indian delegation briefed the Chinese side on Indias priorities during its UNSC tenure. Both sides agreed to continue their engagement on key issues on the UNSC agenda," it added.

According to people familiar with the developments, the talks did not mean the start of a return to normal ties as they existed prior to India detecting Chinese intrusions along the LAC in May last year. Tuesdays talks were in a very specific context  that of the UNSC  that India joined on 1 January 2021 as one of 10 non permanent members elected for a two year term, one of the people cited above said.

Tens of thousands of Indian and Chinese troops have been in eye ball to eye ball confrontation for more than nine months.

The two sides also clashed in June  resulting in the deaths of 20 soldiers from the Indian side and an unknown number of troops from the Chinese side.

The intrusions and the clash shredded ties that were already mired in suspicion thanks to Chinas support to Indias arch rival Pakistan on a number of issues at the UN and outside. India regards China as being insensitive to its concerns  vis a vis terrorism and territorial issues.

Beijing has consistently backed and shielded Pakistan when India has tried to bring terrorists supported by Islamabad to justice and tried to expose Islamabads role in sheltering terrorist groups in Pakistan.

The banning of Maulana Masood Azhar, the head of the Pakistan based Lashkar e Toiba under UNSC norms was held up many times mainly due to Beijing putting the process on hold.

Azhar was finally banned in 2019 after his group was found to be behind the killing of 40 Indian paramilitary troopers in Kashmirs Pulwama region in February of that year.

Beijing has also ignored Indian objections to taking up economic projects in Pakistan administered Kashmir under the China-Pakistan-Economic Corridor or CPEC, which is part of Chinas ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. India has objected to the economic projects in PoK as it says the entire region of Kashmir is part of Indian territory, something Pakistan disputes.

So far talks between India and China to resolve the LAC crisis has not yielded any results. Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar said that many rounds of military and diplomatic talks had yielded positive results but not enough to show results on the ground.

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Bake Sale Today Benefits Restaurant Workers

By Tim Brockwell

PADUCAH - The owner of a downtown Paducah vegan restaurant that was burglarized last week is thanking community members for their outpouring of support, after a bake sale fundraiser raised more than enough to replace what was lost. Now he and his staff are working to raise money for other local restaurant workers.Daniel Dodd, who owns and operates Branch Out Foods at 713 Kentucky Avenue, said a thief broke into the business Friday night and stole a safe that contained money from the till and pooled tips that belonged to employees.Dodd called the burglary an upsetting setback, saying COVID-19 had already placed a strain on his business to the point that he was forced to cut hours for his staff. To help recoup some of the losses, he decided to hold a bake sale on Saturday.The response to the fundraiser was nothing short of overwhelming, according to Dodd."Just the amount of support that was given, we were given a whole month's worth of tips for our employees in one day." Dodd said.Dodd said they ran out of baked goods in a matter of minutes, but people kept donating until they raised well beyond what was lost.The restaurant will hold another bake sale fundraiser on Tuesday to benefit Paducah's Tip Jar, a local charity that assists restaurant workers who have been adversely affected by the pandemic."Any of the baked goods, a hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the Community Tip Jar," Dodd said.The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.Paducah Police Officers arrested 61-year-old Steven Baker Saturday night and charged him with the burglary. Dodd said they have been able to recover about half of what was lost in the crime.On the Net:
Unrest : Police fire a water cannon at people protesting against the coup and demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, in Naypyitaw. Photo: Reuters

Police fired a water cannon yesterday at hundreds of protesters in Myanmars capital who are demanding the military hand power back to elected officials, as demonstrations against last weeks coup intensified .

The demonstrations in Naypyitaw, ongoing for several days, are especially significant since the city, whose population includes many civil servants and their families, has no tradition of protest and has a heavy military presence.

A protest also swelled at a major downtown intersection in the countrys largest city, Yangon, with people chanting slogans, raising a three-finger salute that is a symbol of resistance and carrying placards saying, Reject the military coup and Justice for Myanmar.

There were also reports of new demonstrations in towns in the north, south-east and east of the country, as well as in the city of Mandalay, where there was a procession of marchers and motorbikes.

We do not want the military junta, said Daw Moe, a protester in Yangon. We never ever wanted this junta. Nobody wants it. All the people are ready to fight them.

State media for the first time yesterday made reference to the protests, claiming they were endangering the countrys stability.

Democracy can be destroyed if there is no discipline, according to a statement from the Ministry of Information, read on state television station MRTV. We will have to take legal actions to prevent acts that are violating state stability, public safety and the rule of law.

The coup was seen internationally as a shocking setback for Myanmar, which had been making progress toward democracy in recent years after five decades of military rule.

The takeover came the day newly elected lawmakers were supposed to take their seats in parliament after November elections. The generals have said that vote was marred by fraud  though the countrys election commission has dismissed that claim.

The growing protests recall previous movements in the countrys long and bloody struggle for democracy. On Sunday, tens of thousands of protesters rallied at the citys Sule Pagoda, which was a focal point of demonstrations against military rule during a massive 1988 uprising and again during a 2007 revolt led by Buddhist monks.

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Now, Abbott proves shes a genuine triple threat, with a performance devoid of song and dance but full of spark and life. As Diana, the niece of Thomsons celebrity chef Easton West, shes the heart and soul of this six-part comedy-drama from Julie De Fina and Matthew Bate.

This is the TV debut of the 25-year-old whose professional stage bow came as the lead of Muriels Wedding The Musical in 2019. It cant have been easy to fill the shoes of Toni Collette in the film and Maggie McKenna in the original stage production, but she made it look so.

While Erik Thomson is the star of Aftertaste , he is not the brightest thing in it. Natalie Abbott is.

The pretentiously named Easton (real name Jimmy) is a celebrity chef consigned to the outer circles of social-media hell after a well-publicised blow-up at his eponymous restaurant in Shanghai. Funny how tossing a pig carcass at a food critic will do that (and top marks to the premieres masterful first four minutes, in which Eastons dubious character, fading reputation and wilful self-immolation were all established before the opening titles).

In Packed to the Rafters (soon to be rebooted for Amazon as Back to the Rafters) and 800 Words, Thomson has made a very successful career playing nice-guy dads. Here, though, he gets his angry on in a big way.

As he never tires of reminding us, the foul-mouthed, short-fused Easton (a character clearly inspired by Gordon Ramsay) is a Michelin-starred chef. But for years he has traded off past glory rather than create it anew, and post-flame-out even his infamy is no longer bankable. Returning to the Adelaide Hills he left 30 years ago he tells his long-suffering sister Denise (Susan Prior) he could have gone anywhere  London, Paris, New York. But its a lie. No one wants him.

Except Diana. Shes a budding pastry chef who has taken the exercise book full of recipes bequeathed by her grandmother and spun them into something uniquely her own. Where Eastons food is French-inspired, rule-bound and a product of strict hierarchy, hers is vernacular, chaotic, intensely personal. Clearly, theyre meant to be in business together, and soon enough they are.
Actor Dan Wyllie has been cleared of assaulting his wife of six years after she tipped yoghurt over his head during an alleged ugly bust up at home.

The Love My Way and Offspring actor's wife, director Shannon Murphy, had claimed that she feared for her life and thought she was going to die when he allegedly assaulted her on March 21, 2020.

Ms Murphy claimed Wyllie, 50, had thrown her against a wall, repeatedly punched her and pinned her to the ground so hard she thought her jaw was going to 'snap'.

But a Sydney magistrate on Tuesday found Ms Murphy had been 'less than honest' with her account of what happened that day and was the 'original aggressor'.

It was a dramatic end to a case that even dragged in Hollywood star Toni Collette as a celebrity witness to Wyllie's character.

In Ms Murphy's version of events, the couple enjoyed drinks with neighbours that night before heading back to their Woollahra flat, according to the magistrate's summary.

Charges dismissed: Australian actor Dan Wyllie (left) was found not guilty of assaulting his wife and the mother of his child, director Shannon Murphy (right), on March 21, 2020

The 'Mr Everywhere' of Australian film and television, 50, then went to the spare room and refused to watch a movie with Ms Murphy, who then went into the kitchen to get yoghurt for dessert, Magistrate Greg Elks recalled.

But then '(Ms Murphy) admitted to tipping the yoghurt with flaxeed over his head,' the judge said in his decision.

Ms Murphy claimed that Wyllie was furious about the yoghurt attack, told her 'it's over, you f***ing b***h', and stormed into the bathroom, according to the magistrate's summary of her claims.

Ms Murphy alleged that she then went to reach for Wyllie's phone to see what he had been looking at in the room. She then claimed that he threw her into the hallway.

Ms Murphy alleged that Wyllie pinned her against the wall, with an artwork behind her falling to the ground, according to the magistrate's decision. She then claimed he had hit her from behind and rained up to 10 blows down on her.

At one point, she claimed to briefly black out. At another, she claimed her head was pushed to the floor so hard she felt her jaw was 'going to snap, the magistrate said.

But Wyllie - who the court heard lost work due to the charges - always denied his wife's version of events, saying he had acted only in self-defence, the court heard.

And the court found in his favour, dismissing the assault charge.

I form the view that she was being less than honest with the court in relation to what truly occurred Magistrate Greg Elks

His barrister, Peggy Dwyer, argued in closing submissions that Ms Murphy had in fact struck Wyllie in the head with her phone 'five or six times'.

Ms Dwyer said Ms Murphy had neglected to mention that part of the night in her initial police statement, or the six further statements that followed.

Ms Dwyer also argued a 'fatal flaw' in the prosecution case was that Wyllie shot video and photos of himself after his wife poured yoghurt on his face.

But Ms Dwyer said that Ms Murphy had portrayed the assault as a continuing event - and did not mention a pause after the yoghurt was tipped on him.

'Mr Wyllie is very calm - frustrated - (and) takes a video of himself still covered in yoghurt, having wiped it from his eye,' Ms Dwyer said in submissions.

A magistrate dismissed the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Tuesday, saying he couldn't find it beyond reasonable doubt, and saying Dan Wyllie's wife was 'less than honest' about what happened. Wyllie was on crutches this week

Actress Toni Collette was dragged into the case, according to submissions before the court (above on Monday), and spoke to Wyllie's character

The police prosecutor described Ms Murphy as an 'honest' witness who 'gave an open and frank concession' to the court about striking Wyllie with the phone.

'She wasn't proud of her actions, she acknowledges she was the instigator,' he said.

However, the magistrate had a different characterisation of what sort of witness she was.

Mr Elks described Ms Murphy 'as an evasive witness who was prone to not answering questions that were asked', instead giving lengthy answers that portrayed her in a better light.

'She was not an impressive witness and I formed the opinion she had tailored her evidence to suit a scenario in which she had been the original aggressor,' the magistrate said.

In his decision, Magistrate Elks said he was also 'unsettled' by a revelation that Ms Murphy had told police at one point what she told them earlier wasn't true.

'A lie is a lie and that does cast a great pall over the complainant's evidence,' the magistrate said.

The magistrate said a 'great pall' had been cast over Ms Murphy's evidence by 'a lie' she had told police

The magistrate added each police officer who saw her following the incident recorded that they had seen no visible injuries to Ms Murphy, including to her jaw, which she had feared would 'snap,' he said.

'The raining down of 10 blows by the defendant would have resulted, in my view, in significant injury. Clearly in the photographs there is not significant injury,' the magistrate found.

During submissions, Ms Dwyer said actress Toni Colette had been dragged into the proceedings, claiming Ms Murphy felt she had to 'denigrate' her, as Ms Dwyer claimed Ms Murphy had also done with another witness who felt a lump on the back of Wyllie's head.

Ms Dwyer said that Ms Murphy had suggested she had been bullied by the Academy Award nominated actress.

'Ms Collette had nothing against Shannon (Murphy), nothing about Shannon she had a problem with,' Ms Dwyer said.

The assault occasioning actual bodily harm charge was dismissed, as was an application for an apprehended violence order and a back-up charge.
Scientists at Rice University have introduced plasma-treated carbon black as a simple and highly efficient catalyst for the production of hydrogen peroxide. Defects created in the carbon provide more catalytic sites to reduce oxygen to hydrogen peroxide. Credit: Tour Group/Yakobson Research Group/Rice University

Rice University researchers have created a "defective" catalyst that simplifies the generation of hydrogen peroxide from oxygen.

Rice scientists treated metal-free carbon black, the inexpensive, powdered product of petroleum production, with oxygen plasma. The process introduces defects and oxygen-containing groups into the structure of the carbon particles, exposing more surface area for interactions.

When used as a catalyst, the defective particles known as CB-Plasma reduce oxygen to hydrogen peroxide with 100% Faradaic efficiency, a measure of charge transfer in electrochemical reactions. The process shows promise to replace the complex anthraquinone-based production method that requires expensive catalysts and generates toxic organic byproducts and large amounts of wastewater, according to the researchers.

The research by Rice chemist James Tour and materials theorist Boris Yakobson appears in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Catalysis.

Hydrogen peroxide is widely used as a disinfectant, as well as in wastewater treatment, in the paper and pulp industries and for chemical oxidation. Tour expects the new process will influence the design of hydrogen peroxide catalysts going forward.

A transmission electron microscope image shows details of carbon black particles after treatment with plasma. Defects in the carbon lattice caused by the oxygen plasma enhance the material's ability to catalyze the production of hydrogen peroxide, according to Rice University scientists. Credit: Tour Group/Yakobson Research Group/Rice University

"The electrochemical process outlined here needs no metal catalysts, and this will lower the cost and make the entire process far simpler," Tour said. "Proper engineering of carbon structure could provide suitable active sites that reduce oxygen molecules while maintaining the O-O bond, so that hydrogen peroxide is the only product. Besides that, the metal-free design helps prevent the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide."

Plasma processing creates defects in carbon black particles that appear as five- or seven-member rings in the material's atomic lattice. The process sometimes removes enough atoms to create vacancies in the lattice.

The catalyst works by pulling two electrons from oxygen, allowing it to combine with two hydrogen electrons to create hydrogen peroxide. (Reducing oxygen by four electrons, a process used in fuel cells, produces water as a byproduct.)

"The selectivity towards peroxide rather than water originates not from carbon black per se but, as (co-lead author and Rice graduate student) Qin-Kun Li's calculations show, from the specific defects created by plasma processing," Yakobson said. "These catalytic defect sites favor the bonding of key intermediates for peroxide formation, lowering the reaction barrier and accelerating the desirable outcome."

Tour's lab also treated carbon black with ultraviolet-ozone and treated CB-Plasma after oxygen reduction with argon to remove most of the oxygen-containing groups. CB-UV was no better at catalysis than plain carbon black, but CB-Argon performed just as well as CB-Plasma with an even wider range of electrochemical potential, the lab reported.

Rice University scientists have revealed a new catalyst, plasma-treated carbon black, to reduce oxygen to valuable hydrogen peroxide. The process introduces defects to the carbon materials atomic honeycomb, providing more surface area for reactions. Credit: Courtesy of the Tour Group/Yakobson Research Group

Because the exposure of CB-Plasma to argon under high temperature removed most of the oxygen groups, the lab inferred the carbon defects themselves were responsible for the catalytic reduction to hydrogen peroxide.

The simplicity of the process could allow more local generation of the valuable chemical, reducing the need to transport it from centralized plants. Tour noted CB-Plasma matches the efficiency of state-of-the-art materials now used to generate hydrogen peroxide.

"Scaling this process is much easier than present methods, and it is so simple that even small units could be used to generate hydrogen peroxide at the sites of need," Tour said.

The process is the second introduced by Rice in recent months to make the manufacture of hydrogen peroxide more efficient. Rice chemical and biomolecular engineer Haotian Wang and his lab developed an oxidized carbon nanoparticle-based catalyst that produces the chemical from sunlight, air and water.

Explore further New study presents highly-active ozygenated groups in carbon materials for oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide

More information: Zhe Wang et al, Hydrogen Peroxide Generation with 100% Faradaic Efficiency on Metal-Free Carbon Black, ACS Catal. 2021, 11, XXX, 24542459

Publication Date:February 9, 2021. Journal information: ACS Catalysis Zhe Wang et al, Hydrogen Peroxide Generation with 100% Faradaic Efficiency on Metal-Free Carbon Black,. 2021, 11, XXX, 24542459Publication Date:February 9, 2021. doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.0c04735
CHICO, Calif. - Across the street Marsh Junior High is where the city plans to build affordable housing for the homeless.

The Creekside Place Apartments would consist of 100 units. 15 of those units will be reserved for serving people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

The campfire was horrible and devastating for everybody, but it has brought all these resources that we normally dont see in our community, to be able to build this number of affordable housing units, said Marie Demers, housing manager for the City of Chico.

Demers said the city is able to make this happen due to an extra allocation of low-income housing tax credits.

It is a huge portion of the funding," said Demers. "It comes through the sale of those tax credits to investors and then you have got an affordable developer who will develop those and then operate them.

The City of Chico approved for the Chico Housing Action Team (CHAT) to use state funding aid to lease the Town House Motel property to the homeless.

RELATED: CHICO CITY COUNCIL MOVES FORWARD WITH SHELTERING OPTIONS FOR HOMELESS

We are working with other service providers like the Torres Shelter," said CHAT board member, Bob Trausch. "The money is indicated for a non-congregate shelter but that is not what CHAT had planned to do with that property, we had planned to buy it and hopefully that will still happen and then build another 60 units on that property.

CHAT said they would need to raise about $10 million to purchase the motel and to build another 60 units onto the motel.

When we started CHAT this was our goal," said Trausch. "This next step was our goal to provide new housing sort of speak and if we convert this motel to new housing and we build 60 units on this property, thats new housing and that is what Chico needs desperately.

CHAT said the additional 60 units would be a combination of studios and one-bedroom apartments.

The affordable housing being put into place by the city which is hoping to begin construction by late spring and be finished with construction by 2022.
TORONTO, Feb. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Martina Minerals Corp. (the Corporation) (NEX: MTN.H) is pleased to that it has negotiated various debt conversion agreements (collectively, the Debt Agreements) with five (5) creditors (collectively, the Creditors).



Pursuant to the terms of the Debt Agreements, the Corporation has agreed to issue an aggregate of 4,500,000 common shares (Debt Shares) to the Creditors in exchange for the cancellation of $225,000 in debt owing to the parties. The Debt Shares are being issued at a deemed price of $0.05.

The issuance of the Debt Shares are subject to the approval of NEX. All securities issued pursuant to the debt conversion are subject to a statutory four (4) month hold period.

Corporation contact:

Herbert M. Brugh

President and Director

Tel: 416.945.6628

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

His attorney, Jason Baltz, argued that Brandenburg was going through a contentious divorce when he tried to sabotage the vaccine. Hes no longer in a position to tamper with any medication, Baltz said, noting that Advocate Aurora Health fired him in December and state regulators revoked his pharmacist license on Monday. He also has turned all his guns over to sheriffs deputies, the attorney said.
COLUMBIA  S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster fired a state agency chief on Feb. 8 and called for an investigation into whether she helped steer a $600,000 government contract to her husbands company.

In one of the more unprecedented moves since he took office in 2017, McMaster axed State Accident Fund Executive Director Amy Cofield and referred the matter to the Inspector Generals office, which investigates allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct, and wrongdoing" within state agencies.

These procurement actions raise significant ethical and legal questions about the conduct of employees at the State Accident Fund, McMaster said in a statement. In addition to removing the director immediately, I have requested that Inspector General Brian Lamkin conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether criminal violations of state law have occurred. This is key toward maintaining the publics confidence in state government.

Cofield had led the little-known State Accident Fund, which provides worker's compensation insurance to S.C. government employees, since McMaster appointed her to the job, which has a salary of $135,280, in January 2019.

Cofield told The Post and Courier she was shocked when McMaster attorney Thomas Limehouse called her at 5:15 p.m. Feb. 8 to tell her she was fired and could come to the office to gather her belongings.

She said she had explained to the governor's office that state procurement officials had told her she could to hire her husband, as long as she did not directly influence the process.

She said one of her employees, former McMaster aide Tommy Windsor, had become disgruntled and decided to get back at her by reporting the deal to his old boss. Windsor wasn't happy with his position as government affairs director at the State Accident Fund and was denied a job as Cofield's chief of staff, she said.

"I know he was mad," Cofield said. "Im not happy about his unloyalty."

A spokesman for McMaster had no comment about Windsor whether he informed the governor's office about the contract. Windsor did not respond to messages left on his cell phone and Facebook account.

In a 25-page letter to Lamkin, McMaster wrote that his office was tipped off to allegations that Cofield's agency had hired her husband, Jimmy Terrapin, as a contractor in January.

Cofield confirmed the consulting arrangement  which calls for her husband to work nearly 40 hours a week at $150 an hour for the next two years  when questioned by McMaster's attorney, the governor wrote. He would earn $300,000 a year.

McMaster forwarded the inspector general a series of documents detailing Terrapin's hiring last month.

Those records show the State Accident Fund last year sought a consultant's help with picking and implementing a new software program to handle worker's compensation claims and billing.

Among the requirements of the bid, the contractor must:

Have a project manager available to meet in person with State Accident Fund staff at least one day a week at the agency's office in Lexington, the county where Terrapin and Cofield live.

Attend all meetings between the agency and the software vendor, which would be held in Lexington.

Have five years experience in information technology project management.

Respond to all inquiries within 24 hours.

Disclose any conflicts of interest.

A Lexington-based information technology company called Globalpundits submitted a bid and made clear Cofield's husband would handle the project, noting he met all the qualifications in the bid. The bid also included a copy of Terrapin's resume, highlighting past jobs at BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, BenefitFocus and Colonial Life, touting his "30 years of Information Technology experience" and work managing projects for the federal government.

The contract was signed Jan. 6.

In his letter, McMaster instructed Lamkin to review the deal and report back if he found evidence of wrongdoing.

Cofield told the newspaper she explained her side of the story to McMaster's attorney last month.

She said her agency was seeking to implement a new case management system and needed a consultant to help. But when it put out a request for bids, no one responded, Cofield said.

She said she knew her husband could do the job but assumed it would be a conflict of interest to hire him. Cofield said her top deputies weren't sure. So they asked procurement officials at the State Fiscal Accountability Authority for clarification.

She said she stayed away as the agency reopened the bidding process last fall. Her husband's company submitted the only bid. Her deputies interviewed her husband and decided to hire him.

Cofield said she was upset the episode has stained her professional reputation. She wants her job back.

Somebody should have said, 'Dont do that,'" Cofield said. "Not, 'Yes its fine.'"

McMaster, a former state attorney general, has used his office to oust leaders at other state and local agencies.

He pushed out former Santee Cooper Chairman Leighton Lord in 2017 after the state power utility failed to respond quickly to inquiries into its role in the $9 billion nuclear plant expansion failure. The governor fired the entire Richland County Election Commission in 2019 after they failed to count more than 1,000 votes in an election.

The State Accident Fund's top attorney, Erin Farthing, will fill in as acting director until the governor can name a replacement, McMaster's office said.

The 75-employee agency provides workers compensation insurance to some 575 state agencies and local government entities, covering 200,000 S.C. workers.

Cofield is a three-time graduate of the University of South Carolina, according to her page on the State Accident Funds website. In 2014, she ran unsuccessfully for S.C. Superintendent of Education, finishing fifth out of eight candidates in a GOP primary that Molly Spearman, the states current schools chief, eventually won.

Her brother and former law partner, Tommy Cofield, was then-Gov. Nikki Haleys appointee to the University of South Carolinas board of trustees.
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NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Divita Taduvayi, 17, of Bear and Lilyan Farris, 11, of Bridgeville today were named Delaware's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Divita and Lilyan will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are Delaware's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Divita Taduvayi

Nominated by Mot Charter School

Divita, a senior at Mot Charter School, launched a nonprofit last year that aims to narrow the gender gap in STEM careers by introducing elementary school girls to fundamental computer science concepts. "I have been interested in computer science ever since I walked the model-rocket-lined halls of my middle school STEM basement," Divita said. "However, it took me until my junior year in high school before I was comfortable in the computer science field, having faced many setbacks in my self-confidence."

Realizing that many girls faced similar challenges, Divita resolved to make the study of science and technology easier for them. She came up with the concept for a program called "Girls Tech Together" that would include activities, coding lessons and interaction with professionals in the field. After developing logos, fliers and a curriculum, Divita persuaded a local Boys and Girls Club to host a pilot program. But her classes quickly came to a halt when the facility had to close because of COVID-19. So she switched to a virtual approach. She built a website, partnered with an elementary school that had plenty of girls eager to learn, and began teaching a five-week course online. The class was so popular that Divita recruited fellow high school volunteers to help, invited technology professionals to speak about their fields, and contacted major corporations for donations. So far, Divita has personally helped more than 120 girls from 10 local schools and three overseas schools learn the basics of computer science, as well as how to use technology to address environmental, racial, educational, medical and agricultural issues in their communities.

Middle Level State Honoree: Lilyan Farris

Nominated by Woodbridge Middle School

Lilyan, a sixth-grader at Woodbridge Middle School, is the founder of "The Lily Project," which seeks to spread kindness throughout her community by organizing a variety of projects that not only serve others, but also show other young people how much fun it is to volunteer. Lilyan has been volunteering since she was 4 years old. "I found out that it is a lot of fun to help others," she said. "But it was hard for me to volunteer sometimes because people saw my age and didn't think I could help. I always had to prove them wrong."

She realized that "a lot of kids like me would be great helpers if someone showed them how." So she started by involving other youngsters in a collection drive that gathered more than 1,500 books to create a children's library at a treatment center for mothers who were battling addiction. Since that first project, she and her fellow volunteers have made thousands of coloring cards for service members, veterans, and first responders; filled Christmas stockings for people experiencing homelessness; created 300 kits of fun items for local school children; and designed an activity book about the COVID-19 pandemic that has been downloaded over 3,000 times. A big part of her work, Lilyan said, is finding creative ways to use what other people discard as trash. "There is a lot of trash in our landfills and a lot of trash could be reused," she said. Lilyan estimated that she and her volunteers have repurposed more than 4,500 items that otherwise would be clogging landfills in her area.

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

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New Delhi, Feb 9 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday signed an agreement to build the $290 million worth Shahtoot dam to provide clean drinking water to around two million people in Kabul.

Official sources said the deal was signed by Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar and his Afghan counterpart in a virtual meeting between Modi and Ghani on Tuesday afternoon.

Since 2001, when the US overthrew the Taliban regime following 9/11 terror attacks and the subsequent war on terrorism, India has been engaged in development projects in Afghanistan. India has so far, spent around $3 billion on over 400 development projects across Afghanistan.

During the video conference, the two leaders reiterated that it was necessary to have a terror-free environment and peace in the region. Ghani agreed with Modi saying that a sovereign and united Afghanistan is essential for the stability and prosperity of South Asia. Peace, he said, is the central desire of Afghan people but it must be the peace that ends violence and not a preface to another tragedy.

The Ghani government is engaged in a dialogue with the Taliban, following the peace agreement between the Islamist group and the US last year. India, has historically stayed away from Taliban, given the outfit's extremism and closeness to Pakistan.

At the virtual meeting, said, "Unity within Afghanistan is important. I am confident that a united Afghanistan is capable of dealing with any challenge." Ghani said that India is a true partner in Afghanistan's development and no external force will be able to stop Afghanistan's development and friendship with India. "India's development assistance to Afghanistan is marked on our landscape," he added.

While expressing concern over escalation in violence in Afghanistan, Modi extended his support to comprehensive ceasefire in Afghanistan. He also conveyed his pleasure at the signing of the deal for Shahtoot dam, which will provide water for drinking as well as irrigation in Afghanistan's capital. The dam will be built on the Maidan river tributary of Kabul river.

Though Islamabad has been complaining that it would reduce water flow into Pakistan, Afghanistan and India have been talking about the dam project for last several years.

Ghani thanked Modi for the Shahtoot reservoir and the Covid-19 vaccines. India is assisting Afghanistan with Covid-19 vaccines manufactured at the Serum Institute of Pune. The government gifted half a million doses of the vaccine on Sunday. India had earlier gifted more than 20 MT of Covid-19 medicines and extended humanitarian assistance of 75,000 MT of wheat through Chabahar Port to strengthen food security of Afghanistan.
AKRON, Ohio  One year after Summit County began foreclosure proceedings against Chapel Hill Mall, the city of Akron is moving forward with plans to rezone the property with the hope developers can repurpose the mostly vacant structure and expansive parking lot.

City Council on Monday considered a zoning change for the mall at 2000 Brittain Road to go from a retail business use district, allowing for retail and residential use, to be a unified planned development district, which expands the zoning to also allow for some commercial use.

This still allows the retail uses that are there, Zoning Manager Mike Antenucci told City Council. It allows residential uses, as well, which is currently allowed under the retail. What it does is it opens it up to other uses that are permitted.

If approved, the so-called UPD-49 zoning would allow for most retail and commercial use except for new or used motor vehicle sales, body and fender repair shops, used tire sales, trash-hauling businesses or kennels.

The Chapel Hill Mall, which opened in 1967, has been struggling financially for years. Its third and final anchor store  J.C. Penney  closed last year, following the departures of Macys in 2016 and Sears in 2017.

Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen Scalise filed a foreclosure complaint against Chapel Hill Mall in January 2020. Jack LaMonica, Scalises chief of staff, told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer at the time that the mall was the number-one delinquent parcel within Summit County.

The foreclosure proceedings are still on-going, according to Summit County Court of Common Pleas records. The mall has also narrowly avoided having to close multiple times due to overdue water and sewer bills to the City of Akron.

The malls owner, Michael Kohan of New York-based Kohan Retail Investment Group, did not immediately respond to an inquiry from cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer regarding the citys proposed changes to the mall.

Out of about 75 storefronts and kiosks in the mall, about 55 are vacant, according to the city. And on the 72-acre site, the mall occupies 22 acres, surrounded by 50 acres of parking space, which mostly sits empty. The property includes three stand-alone structures, only one of which  an automobile service center  is still open. There is also a vacant building that used to be part of Sears Auto Care, and a small, vacant structure once used for drive-thru key repairs, the city reported.

The land is a major focus of the citys Chapel Hill Mall Redevelopment Plan, which is also before City Council. The 19-page plan does not provide any specifics about how the property will be developed, when or by whom, but offers a loose framework for what Akron would like to see.

The general goals of the City of Akron in undertaking this project are to promote redevelopment and the creation of employment opportunities within the redevelopment area, the plan states.

The objectives include reducing the size of the parking lot to have more well-designed, well-lit and green spaces; to put the mall space to productive use by having tenants occupy vacant storefronts; to remove deteriorated properties or properties that are not consistent with redevelopment objectives; and to increase the number of job opportunities.

Jeff Martin of the Solon-based Industrial Commercial Properties told the Planning and Economic Development Committee that his company owns the Sears property and has a contract with the Kohan Retail Investment Group to buy the majority of the mall, except for the Storage of America self-storage facility.

We have, I think, a great opportunity here to take a long-distressed asset and really turn it around and bring life back to the Chapel Hill Mall area, Martin said.

Thomas Fitzpatrick, vice president of development for the Indianapolis-based Storage of America, said the self-storage facility on the north side of the mall is one of the companys most successful across the country. He said the company wants to cooperate with Akron and the developer, but is concerned that the Planning Department had not reached out to discuss the plans to redevelop that part of the property.

Were part of the development inclusive of that, or at least the zoning change, Fitzpatrick said. And were all for this whole thing because we think its way overdue and were willing to work with the city in doing that, but nobody had asked us for any input on what our future plans are for the property. We do own a substantial part of the parking lot on the north side, as well.

During the Planning and Economic Development Committee meeting, Ward 8 Councilman Shammas Malik asked when the project is expected to happen and whether it will be undertaken by a single developer.

The redevelopment plan is pretty flexible in terms of timeline, said Jason Segedy, director of planning and urban development. It doesnt necessarily spell out an explicit chronology, but its more to put forward some general principals for redevelopment of the site I think a lot of the timing would really be contingent and dependent on the development team and how they would go forward.

Segedy added that it wouldnt necessarily be a single developer, but the development plan does cover the entire 72-acre site, so all of the parking lot, former department stores, as well as the mall itself. But the plan does have flexibility, where there are and could be multiple entities redeveloping portions of the site.

Planning and Economic Development Committee Chair Jeff Fusco moved for the proposals to be considered at the next meeting, but abstained from any votes, citing a potential conflict of interest because he rents a storage unit at Storage World - not Storage of America. At-large Councilwoman Linda Omobien balked at Fuscos assertion, saying, Weve all got problems if were going to abstain because were renting something.

Fusco said he would like to ask council to vote on the proposals at the Feb. 22 meeting.
Burma UN Human Rights Council to Hold Special Session on Myanmar Military Regime

Police use water cannon to disperse anti-coup protesters in Naypyitaw on Feb.8. / The Irrawaddy

YANGON  The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has decided to hold a special session on human rights in Myanmar on Friday after civilian leaders and activities have been detained by the military regime.

The UNHRCs decision came after a joint request by the United Kingdom and the European Union, which has been supported by 45 member states so far, saying the detention of elected politicians and civilians by the military has grave implications for human rights.

The request said the special session was needed because of the importance and urgency of the situation, a UNHRC statement said.

Human rights activist U Aung Myo Min said more targeted sanctions against Myanmars military are likely.

Since the Feb. 1 coup, the military regime has arrested more than 140 people, including State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Tens of thousands of civilians, including civil servants, have joined peaceful protests against the coup across the country. On Monday, the military regime warned anti-coup protesters that legal measures will be taken to prevent any offenses harming the stability of the state, public safety or the rule of law.

The UNHRC said the request has so far been supported by Austria, Argentina, the Bahamas, Brazil, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Marshall Islands, the Netherlands, Malawi, Mexico, Poland, South Korea, Ukraine and the UK.

Last week, the UN Security Council expressed its deep concern about the coup and called for the regime to release detainees.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that both the UK and EU condemn the coup in Myanmar and arbitrary detention of elected politicians by the military.

In 2007, the UNHRC convened a special session, after Myanmars military violently cracked down on peaceful demonstrations, known as the Saffron Revolution.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Military Govt Bans Gatherings of Five or More in Yangon, Other Areas

Family of Suu Kyis Detained Economic Adviser Calls on Myanmar Military for Release

Thousands More Civil Servants Join Movement Against Myanmar Military

Thousands of EU citizens who left the UK temporarily because of the coronavirus pandemic are set to lose their long-term right to stay in Britain under Home Office rules.

The government has granted settled status to 4.3 million European Union citizens since it voted to leave the EU.

But it has given 1.5 million of those people just a provisional right to remain - so-called "pre-settled status".

This lesser right can lapse if someone leave the UK without a good reason for more than six months.

The government has said that rules allowing people to stay away for a longer period - 12 months - without losing their status will apply if they have been seriously ill or kept away by quarantine regulations.

But ministers are refusing to relax the requirements further and extend the longer protection to people forced out for economic reasons.

Cabinet office minister Michael Gove earlier this week boasted that the UK had more EU citizens in it than some member states.

He told a parliamentary committee that the figure "gives a lie to some of the nonsense that was propagated at the time of the Brexit vote that somehow the UK was less welcoming or that EU citizens would leave".

But with the pandemic closing the UK's hospitality sector and employment opportunities drying up, many have returned to stay with their families in other countries.

A research paper by academics the Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence published in January estimated that around half a million non-UK born workers had left the UK during the pandemic  many of them EU citizens.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 20 May 2021 Devon And Cornwall Police Demonstrate Their Skills For Policing The G7 Summit Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 May 2021 An employee stands before a costume for the Queen of Hearts by Bob Crowley on display at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. PA UK news in pictures 12 May 2021 A couple have wedding photos taken in Westminster, London Getty UK news in pictures 11 May 2021 The sun rises on Coquet Island, off Amble on the Northumberland coast, where as many as 35000 seabirds cram onto this tiny island to breed PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2021 Newly elected for a second term Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during his signing in ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on Londons Southbank PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2021 People mill around St. Michael's tower on top of Glastonbury Tor as it is seen through blooming yellow rapeseed on a day of mixed weather in Glastonbury, Somerset PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2021 Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford elbow bumps newly elected MS Labour candidates Elizabeth Buffy Williams, Rhondda, left, and Sarah Murphy, Bridgend & Porthcawl Labour, right, as they meet in Porthcawl, Wales PA UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Womens Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London. The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghs coffin, covered with His Royal Highnesss Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St Georges Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images UK news in pictures 16 April 2021 Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, checks the teeth of "Dentosaurus" during a visit to the Thornliebank Dental Care centre in Glasgow, as she campaigns ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 April 2021 Myanmar's former ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, outside his residence in north west London. The ambassador has been barred from entering the Myanmar embassy in Mayfair after he was removed from office PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2021 People take part in coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London. Thousands of residents have queued up to take coronavirus tests at additional facilities set up after new cases of the South African variant were found in two south London boroughs. 44 confirmed cases of the variant have been found in Lambeth and Wandsworth, with a further 30 probable cases identified PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2021 The core of the Milky Way becomes visible in the early hours of Tuesday morning as it moves over Bamburgh Lighthouse at stag Rock in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2021 Rebecca Richardson (left) and Genevieve Florence, members of the Aquabatix synchronised swimming team, during a practice session in the swimming pool at Clissold Leisure Centre in north London, which has reopened to the public. Many facilities have reopened in the latest easing of lockdown include pubs and restaurants who can serve outside, non-essential shops, indoor gyms and swimming pools, nail salons and hairdressers, outdoor amusements and zoos PA UK news in pictures 11 April 2021 A pub staff pins up a sign announcing the reopening of the Fox on the Hill pub on Denmark Hill in London EPA UK news in pictures 10 April 2021 The Death Gun Salute is fired by the Honourable Artillery Company to mark the passing of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the The Tower of London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 9 April 2021 A man arrives to lay a bunch of flowers outside Buckingham Palace in central London after the announcement of the death of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. - Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip, who recently spent more than a month in hospital and underwent a heart procedure, died on April 9, Buckingham Palace announced. He was 99. AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 8 April 2021 Cousin Pascal ridden by James King clears the chair on their way to winning the 4:05 Pool via REUTERS UK news in pictures 7 April 2021 Deliveroo riders from the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain outside Deliveroo headquarters in London, as they go on strike in a dispute for fair pay, safety protections and basic workers rights PA UK news in pictures 6 April 2021 Waves crash over the walls next to Seaham Lighthouse in Durham PA UK news in pictures 5 April 2021 Lusamba Katalay (third from left), the husband of Belly Mujinga joins activists at a vigil at Victoria station in London to mark the first anniversary of the death of railway worker Belly Mujinga who died with Covid-19 following reports she had been coughed on by a customer at London's Victoria station PA UK news in pictures 4 April 2021 People spend Easter Sunday at Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth Jake McPherson/SWNS UK news in pictures 3 April 2021 A woman looks into the camera as she attends a 'Kill the Bill' protest in London EPA UK news in pictures 2 April 2021 Members of the Bamburgh Croquet club play a game following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Northumberland, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 1 April 2021 A family walks in St Nicholas' Park in Warwick, the hot weather which baked much of the UK this week is set to give way to a chilly Easter weekend. PA UK news in pictures 31 March 2021 A woman adds a heart to the National Covid Memorial Wall in London EPA UK news in pictures 30 March 2021 Jamie Klingler from Reclaim These Streets speaks to the media in Clapham Common, south London, after a review by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Thomas Winsor concluded that Metropolitan Police officers did not act inappropriately or in a heavy-handed manner at the vigil PA

"For many migrants, especially those from eastern, central and south-eastern Europe and especially those who have arrived recently or have family back home, the choice would have been to stay here, with no job, less or no money, and pay for relatively expensive rented accommodation  or return home to family, with lower costs and most likely less risk of catching Covid," the paper, written by Michael O'Connor and Jonathan Portes said.

Asked about the situation, immigration minister Kevin Foster said: The Withdrawal Agreement allows for someone to be away for up to a year for an important reason.

We appreciate the pandemic has had an impact on many peoples ability to travel and we have been clear those with pre-settled status will not be affected if illness or quarantine restrictions have caused them to be absent from the UK for a single period of up to 12 months.
IVP and Shimmer Partner for Biometrics Launch

Mobile MR specialist IVP Research Labs has partnered with wearable insights tech firm Shimmer Research to launch a new biometrics solution, NeuroLynQ, using GSR and ECG readings to measure participant engagement and attention levels during in-person research.



IVP provides tech labs in facility, in-field and online to help researchers gain deeper insights and provide 'compelling visualization' - solutions include usability, eye tracking and neuromarketing. The company works across the US, Europe and Canada where it boasts a large network of research facility partners. Shimmer, which is based in Dublin, Ireland, manufactures sensors and provides wearable technology for neuromarketing, and for clinical and academic research.



The firms, who unveiled IVP NeuroLynQ last week at the QRCA annual conference, say the solution is 'ideal for focus groups and large audiences of up to 45 people'. According to IVP President Bob Granito, the new tool 'will allow researchers to see consumers' reactions beyond verbal communication and body language and give them a real-time analysis of how the respondents arousal and attention change throughout the research'. Shimmer Americas President Geoffrey Gill adds: 'Together, we have the necessary infrastructure and technical expertise to support a seamless deployment of NeuroLynQ technology to neuromarketing researchers in the US and Europe. This user-friendly tool will allow researchers to adopt biometric measurements with ease and confidence'.



Web sites: www.ivpresearchlabs.com and www.shimmersensing.com .




Footage of a red panda limping into a residential compound in China has emerged on social media.

The male animal, seemingly injured in its left hind leg, was looking for help at a neighbourhood in south-western China yesterday, eyewitnesses claimed.

Experts suspected that the fluffy creature, believed to be wild, had been injured while fighting over the right to mate with a female partner. It is now in a shelter under medical care.

The red panda was spotted in a residential compound near the Qincheng Mountain in Sichuan Province at around 2pm on Monday. The creature seemed to have injuries on its left hind leg

The residents thought that the bushy-tailed animal had limped into their neighbourhood to look for help. But experts said it was more likely to be looking for safety out of desperation

The news came to light after an eyewitness sent the footage to local newspaper Sichuan Daily.

The resident, known as Xiang Yixian, claimed the red panda walked into the community near the Qincheng Mountain in Sichuan Province at around 2pm on Monday.

Curious onlookers soon gathered around to observe the bamboo-eating mammal when it stood on a bridge, Xiang stated.

The red panda is classified as an 'endangered' species by conservation group WWF (file photo)

Staff from a nearby breeding centre of giant pandas told the reporters that the red panda was not theirs. They believed that it came from the wild.

Experts speculated that the bushy-tailed animal had been wounded while fighting other male red pandas over a female mate as it was the mating season for red pandas.

But they said it was also possible that other animal species had attacked it.

Contrary to what the locals thought, the red panda was probably not asking them for help, according to an authority.

An official from the Provincial Forestry and Grassland Administration of Sichuan explained that it was more likely that it arrived in the area while looking for safety out of desperation.

Workers from the local wild animal protection centre took the red panda to their shelter for medical assistance and further care.

Like giant pandas, red pandas live in high-altitude forests where bamboo grows (file photo)

The red panda is classified as an 'endangered' animal species by wildlife conservation organisation WWF. It is also a national second-class protected species in China.

Slightly larger than a domestic cat in size, they are two feet long on average and described as skilful and acrobatic animals that predominantly stay in trees.

Like giant pandas, red pandas live in high-altitude forests where bamboo grows, particularly in the Himalayas and central China.

But different from the black-and-white bears, they eat a lot of other things, such as fruit, acorns, roots, and eggs

Although the two species share the same name, they are not closely related.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 9, 2021 - 19:06 | World, All, Japan

Japan's defense minister said Tuesday China's newly enacted law that allows its coast guard to use weapons against foreign ships that it sees as illegally entering its waters is "absolutely unacceptable."

In a meeting with Joseph Young, charge d'affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy, which was open to the press, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said Japan is "seriously concerned" over the law taking effect, in a veiled warning to China over its growing maritime assertiveness.

On Monday, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told a parliament session that Japan cannot tolerate the new law as it could "intensify tensions in the East and South China seas."

Concerns are growing in Japan after Chinese coast guard vessels entered Japan's territorial waters near the China-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea for two days in a row this weekend. On Feb. 1, China enacted the controversial legislation.

In addition to its claim to the Senkakus, which it calls Diaoyu, China has maritime sovereignty disputes with several Southeast Asian countries in the South China Sea and is often criticized for its unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the region.

Related coverage:

China justifies coast guard's entry into Japan's territorial waters

Chinese vessels enter Japan's waters near Senkakus for 2 straight days

Chinese ships enter Japan waters 1st time under new coast guard law

Insurance Australia Group chief executive Nick Hawkins has admitted its bungled business interruption policies were not clearly written, after the insurer reported a $460 million loss for the December half.

The results were weighed down by the $865 million set aside for an expected flood of claims from business owners who lost income as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, after the insurance industry lost a landmark court case over pandemic exclusions.

IAG chief executive Nick Hawkins. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

The test case sought to prove exclusions in business interruption policies were valid, despite referencing an outdated act of Parliament. Five judges of the NSW Supreme Court of Appeal unanimously sided with policyholders in rejecting the insurance industrys case.

IAG quickly launched a $750 million capital raising and later reported it expected the total pre-tax hit to earnings to be $1.15 billion if further legal challenges are unsuccessful.
State lawmakers eagerly should embrace Gov. Tom Wolfs proposal to fairly distribute the state governments $6 billion in public education funding because, you know, its fair.

But even if the Legislature chooses to continue shorting school districts by varying amounts, the legislators still should embrace another initiative that would save up to $280 million every year for school districts statewide.

That money for local districts would come at no added expense to state or local taxpayers, because they already pay it. At issue is another distribution problem, due to an archaic and demonstrably illogical system for funding charter schools.

Charter schools, regardless of whether instruction is online or in-person, are public schools funded by public money. Each school district in the state pays tuition to a charter school for each district student who attends one, based on the districts own cost per student rather than the charter schools actual cost per student.

According to the state Department of Education, the tuition range paid by districts to charters is from $7,700 to $22,300 per student.

So districts across the state could pay a statewide charter school any amount within that range, based on their own costs, even though the charters actual cost per student is not variable.

The best solution would be for the state government to establish actual charter school costs and set tuition at the corresponding amount. But Wolf has come with the next best solution  a flat charter school tuition rate of $9,500 per student.

The governor also would apply to charters the same special education funding formula that applies to conventional school districts.

Together the changes would provide up to $280 million in tuition savings for the states 500 school districts.

Pennsylvanias charter school experiment is now two decades old. If charters performed at levels substantially higher than those of their conventional counterparts, the funding disparities might be defensible. But, for the most part, that has not been the experience.

Lawmakers should enact the change to help school districts meet their mission while fairly funding charter schools and maintaining educational choice.
New Delhi: Amid heightened tension with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Minister of State (MoS) for Finance Anurag Thakur has informed the Rajya Sabha that as many as 80 Chinese companies are actively doing business in the country.

The BJP leader said that 92 Chinese companies are currently registered in India. Thakur made these remarks while replying to a question about restricting the Chinese companies from doing business in the country in the aftermath of the Galwan Valley clashes during which at least 40 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese soldiers were killed.

Speaking on behalf of the government, Thakur said that the adequate rules are already in place and all companies are required to ensure compliance with the same. It may be recalled that the Narendra Modi-led government has earlier banned at least 59 Chinese mobile applications, including the highly popular TikTok, citing threat to the national security after the Galwan Valley incident in the eastern Ladakh.

The Minister also informed that the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India and, except in some sectors including defence, space and atomic energy, it is allowed with the permission of the government.

Earlier in the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting on December 24, the government approved the National Security Directive on the telecommunication sector.

The move to create a secured national network would restrict the use of Chinese equipment by telecom operators in future 5G networks. India and China have been engaged in a nine-month-long standoff along the Line of Actual Control. Despite several levels of dialogue, there has not been any breakthrough.

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Media mogul Jimmy Lai leaves the Court of Final Appeal by prison van in Hong Kong on Feb. 9, 2021. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Hong Kong Tycoon Jimmy Lai Denied Bail in National Security Case

HONG KONGHong Kongs top court denied bail on Tuesday to media tycoon and Beijing critic Jimmy Lai, the most high-profile person to be charged under the citys national security law.

Lai had been in custody since Dec. 3, except when he was released on bail for about a week late last year. He was granted a HK$10 million ($1.3 million) bail by a lower court on Dec. 23 only for the Court of Final Appeal (CFA) to bring him back into custody on Dec. 31 for another hearing following an appeal by the government.

His return to custody was related in part to Article 42 of the security law, which says that no bail shall be granted to a criminal suspect or defendant unless the judge has sufficient grounds for believing that the criminal suspect or defendant will not continue to commit acts endangering national security.

Media wait for media mogul Jimmy Lai to arrive at the Court of Final Appeal for a bail hearing in Hong Kong on Feb. 9, 2021. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

On Tuesday, the CFAs five judges said in a written judgment the lower court applied an erroneous line of reasoning and misconstrued Article 42. The decision was unanimous.

The judges said Lais team could make a fresh application for bail, as Tuesdays decision was of a limited nature, focusing on how the lower court arrived at its decision, rather than whether Lai should be bailed out or not.

Lai, wearing a dark gray suit and sporting his trademark buzz cut, stood in the dock impassively as the judges delivered their decision.

Outside the court, a small number of pro-China protesters shouted Jail Jimmy Lai for life  safeguard Hong Kongs peace through a loud-hailer. Inside, Lais supporters shouted Hang in there, and Add oil, an encouragement used frequently in Hong Kong.

Staff of the Correctional Services Department prepare to transfer media mogul Jimmy Lai after bail hearing in Hong Kong on Feb. 9, 2021. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Lai was arrested in August when about 200 police officers raided the newsroom of his Apple Daily tabloid newspaper.

Beijing imposed the sweeping national security law on the former British colony last June after months of pro-democracy protests. The law punishes anything China considers subversion, secession, terrorism, or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.

Critics say it is aimed at crushing dissent and it erodes freedoms in the semi-autonomous, Chinese-ruled city.

Prosecutors have accused Lai of breaching the law over statements he made on July 30 and Aug. 18, in which they allege he requested foreign interference in Hong Kongs affairs.

Lai has been a frequent visitor to Washington, meeting with officials, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to rally support for Hong Kong democracy, prompting Beijing to label him a traitor.

Under the new law, the onus is on the defendant to prove they would not be a national security threat if released on bail. Under Hong Kongs common law-based legal system, the onus has traditionally been on the prosecution to prove its case.

Weve lost the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, said Avery Ng, a pro-democracy activist in the courtroom who himself faces illegal assembly charges related to mass protests in 2019.

Lai stepped down last year as chairman of Next Digital, which publishes Apple Daily, a popular tabloid newspaper known for its feisty and critical coverage of China.

By James Pomfret
There are two ways to make sense of the revolt among some of the Nationals over Scott Morrisons declaration his government will preferably commit to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The first is mundane. Nationals MPs such as Barnaby Joyce and Matt Canavan will always oppose action on climate change because they doubt the science and question the need to act.

In arguing against farmers being slugged with a costly carbon target, Matt Canavan (left) and Barnaby Joyce are spurning something the Prime Minister has already rejected. Credit:Andrew Meares

The second is also routine, but more manipulative. Joyce and Canavan, and their small group of followers, want to throw Nationals leader Michael McCormack off balance.

The revolt would not be worth the name without the personal grudges and leadership spills that have plagued the Nationals for about five years.

The South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a 'Miniratna' under Govt. of India company, has called applications in a prescribed format from qualified and experienced candidates for filling Ten (10) vacancies to the post of Medical Specialist Consultants (MSC) in SECL in various specialties through direct recruitment to be posted at Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, India on a fulltime basis. The offline application process towards the same started on February 02, 2021 and closes on February 16, 2021 by 5:00 pm.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Medical Specialist Consultants (MSC) in SECL Organisation South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) Educational Qualification MS/MD/DLO/DNB/DO/DCI/DMRD/DGO in concerned specialty Experience Refer to the advertisement Job Responsibilities null Skills Required null Job Location Bilaspur Salary Scale Rs. 1,00,000 up to Rs. 1,50,000 per month Industry 'Miniratna' under Govt. of India company Application Start Date February 2, 2021 Application End Date February 16, 2021

SECL Recruitment 2021: Age Criteria And Fees

Candidates interested in applying for SECL Medical Specialist Jobs 2021 through SECL Recruitment 2021 must have attained 60 years of age and not have exceeded 65 years, with relaxation (upper age limit) for reserved categories as applicable as specified in the SECL Notification 2021.

For details regarding application fee for SECL Medical Specialist Jobs 2021 through SECL Recruitment 2021, refer to the official SECL Notification 2021 given at the end of the article.

Also Read: WBHRB Recruitment 2021 Notification For 90 Pharmacist Grade III Posts, Apply Online Before March 3

SECL Recruitment 2021: Education And Eligibility

Desirous candidates applying for SECL Medical Specialist Jobs 2021 through SECL Recruitment 2021 must possess an MS/MD/DLO/DNB/DO/DCI/DMRD/DGO in concerned specialty from a recognised University/Institution with relevant years of experience in the concerned specialty as detailed in the SECL Notification 2021.

SECL Recruitment 2021: Selection And Pay Scale

The selection of candidates to SECL Medical Specialist Jobs 2021 through SECL Recruitment 2021 will be done through Shortlisting, Interview and Document Verification.

Candidates selected to SECL Medical Specialist Jobs 2021 through SECL Recruitment 2021 will be paid emolument in the pay scale of Rs. 1,00,000 up to Rs. 1,50,000 per month as notified in the SECL Notification 2021.

Also Read: SHSB Recruitment 2021 For 222 Lab Technician Posts In Bihar SHS, Apply Online Before March 1

SECL Recruitment 2021: How To Apply

Candidates applying for SECL Medical Specialist Jobs 2021 through SECL Recruitment 2021 must fill the application form in a prescribed format attached with the SECL Notification 2021 and send the same to the "Office of GM(P/EE), Executive Establishment Department, South Eastern Coalfields Limited, Seepat Road, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, Pin: 495006" to along with relevant supporting documents by registered post/speed post or by e-mail at gmee.secl@coalindia.in. on or before February 16, 2021 by 5:00 pm.

Download SECL Recruitment 2021 PDF Notification for Medical Specialist Consultants (MSC) posts
As is tradition, Ghanaians celebrated the life of late Dancehall artiste Ebony Reigns on the anniversary of her death yesterday. Every year since her passing, fans take to social media to share memorable moments of the artiste during her time with the hashtag EbonyLivesOn.



From fan videos, interviews to stage performances, social media is flooded with footage of the late RuffTown Records artiste.



Others share pictures of Ebony, her friend Frankie and the soldier who died with her in the accident that occurred on February 8 on the Kimtampo road.



A lady decided to tattoo her fan ebony's face on her back

Check it out below:-









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Every Republican official in Texas with a functioning conscience knows what should be done with our long-indicted, oft-accused, hitherto unaccountable Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Yes, that includes you, Texas Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson and you, influential Houston state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, both members of the powerful committee that will question Paxtons agency this week in a legislative hearing.

Paxton should be scrubbed from the Office of Attorney General with the thoroughness one applies to disinfecting any other contaminated surface.

Any number of disinfectants might work against the stains left by a man who has managed to avoid trial for five long years on securities fraud charges and finally last year saw seven of his own top aides at the AGs office allege that Paxton committed bribery and abuse of office in his efforts to help a campaign donor.

A unanimous call by top GOP officials to pressure him to resign would be nice. Better yet, impeachment and conviction by the Texas Legislature. And finally, if necessary, an electoral trouncing by a well-funded challenger with some scruples.

Let us say for the record that this editorial board calls on Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan  all Republicans  to take any other measures that will protect Texans from further lawlessness, scandal and shame at the hands of Paxton.

Alas, while some of our brave statewide Republicans have expressed concern for Paxtons alleged transgressions and have refrained from heartily defending him, they dont seem willing, just now, to dirty their hands with the task of attempting to oust him.

For now, the most prominent Republican to call for Paxtons resignation is Congressman Chip Roy, who criticized the AG for attacking the staffers who had alleged wrongdoing. Roy said Paxton should step down for the good of the people of Texas.

There you have it, from yet another former Paxton staffer.

As for impeachment, its rare in Texas, and rarer still when the party of the accused holds power. As for an electoral comeuppance, that cant happen soon. While a couple of potentially promising Republican and Democrat challengers have been mentioned, they wont get their chance until 2022 when Paxton is up for re-election.

So, here we are, stuck with an alleged law-breaker as our top law enforcer, forced to watch as he saps from his office and from this proud state, more attention, more taxpayer money and more dignity with each passing day.

Thats not to say we dont have faith in the FBI investigation into Paxton thats reportedly underway or the whistleblower litigation brought by several of his accusers.

But, for now, the most expedient elixir we can hope for seems to be that trusty old disinfectant, sunshine.

We were intrigued when the Chronicles Jeremy Wallace reported Monday that lawmakers, in a draft budget, proposed to slash Paxtons request for funding by $89 million and cut more than 150 positions.

Our spirits brightened further when Bettencourt, the Houston Republican, was quoted saying of Paxtons office: We have a lot of questions that need to be asked.

Indeed. Ideally, Paxton, who maintains his innocence, would be there to answer them. But considering his chief legal strategies of delay and obfuscation arent consistent with open, honest public testimony, we wont hold our breath on that one, either.

And considering Paxtons wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, is a member of the generally collegial body, we dont expect fireworks.

What we do expect is some whiff of accountability in the only form we can get it: tough, straightforward, long-overdue questions about how Paxton is conducting business at the one of the nations largest attorney general offices and how hes spending the peoples money.

In January, The Associated Press reported that Paxton was seeking tens of millions in state money to hire outside lawyers to handle massive antitrust litigation against Google - a job his top lawyers surely could have done if they hadnt left the agency after accusing him of bribery.

The outside lawyers, along with consultants, expert witnesses and IT services are among the budget items lawmakers dont seem inclined to fund.

We caution lawmakers against withholding funding that the office genuinely needs. We were glad to see Sen. Nelson, the finance chair, say she didnt want victim services cut. But we welcome targeted hits to Paxtons ego-boosting agenda of high-profile, headline-grabbing lawsuits that dont directly serve everyday Texans.

We look for committee members, including Houston Democratic Sen. John Whitmire, to provide much needed scrutiny and sunshine on a public official who routinely dodges reporters calls.

Other than the FBI and the courts, lawmakers this session might be the only check Texans can hope for on a public official who has become a malignancy on honest, effective government: a man elected to uphold the law who instead believes he is above it.


By Kim Hyun-bin



Kakao Chairman Kim Beom-su has set an example by pledging to donate half of his wealth to charity to help solve problems in society. His act of kindness has turned him into a role model and also casts light on large contributions made by other prominent people in the past.



Kim is worth over 10 trillion won, including 12.5 million shares he owns in Kakao valued at 5.7 trillion won. Kim said he was working on the specifics of where to donate his money, but added that he wants to help needy people in areas where Kakao has not already offered support. This marks the first time that the head of a business conglomerate donated trillions of won out of his own pocket.



"Overseas, Microsoft joint founder Bill Gates and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and others have donated large portions of their income and gained respect from society. Through his donation, Kim Beom-su could become a role model highly respected by the public, while spreading the culture of giving," said Oh Il-sun, director of Korea CXO Institute. "We need to see if Kim's efforts could influence other chairmen and CEOs of business conglomerates."



There have been numerous cases where industry leaders have donated large sums of money. Hyundai Motor Group Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-koo donated 850 billion won to a charitable foundation named after him. In 2007, he donated 9.23 million Hyundai Glovis shares worth 60 billion won. In 2011, he donated 500 billion won worth of Glovis shares to the foundation. Chung gave 20 percent of his shares in advertising subsidiary Innocean to the foundation in 2013.



Former Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee and family members donated 810 billion won to charity, with half of that money going to the Samsung Foundation.



SK Networks Chairman Chey Shin-won donated 13.2 billion won of his own money and is also a member of Community Chest of Korea's "Honor Society" composed of people who have contributed over 100 million won.



LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and family members that founded the conglomerate donated a total of 5 billion won to the LG Foundation. The money is intended to help poor families pay their public utility fees.



Daelim Industry Honorary Chairman Lee Joon-young donated 7 billion won of his own money to Seoul National University (SNU). Dongwon Group Honorary Chairman Kim Jae-chul gave 50 billion won of his own money to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) to further their research in artificial intelligence (AI).



In 2016, AmorePacific Chairman Suh Kyung-bae offered 300 billion won from his own pocket to establish the Suh Kyung-bae Science Foundation. In 2014, Suh donated 500 million won to the U.N. World Food Programme to help infants and expecting mothers in North Korea, while the company matched his donation amount totaling 1 billion won. In the same year, Suh donated another 1 billion won to aid the establishment of the SNU Center for Medical Innovation. In 2015, he donated 3 billion won to the Korea Youth Foundation to aid poor children.


The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia has finally approved over 5,000 cash-counting machines held in storage after a dispute over quality issues arose between the Bank and the supplier last year. The machines, which were procured by the Bank through an open bid in mid-August 2019, had been held up on the basis that the delivered items differed from samples in terms of quality.

The Bank, which had already distributed 2,700 pieces before the dispute ensued, informed the supplier of its latest decision following an inspection of the machines carried out by a third party.

E-Banking Tech Co. LTD, the Korean company that supplied the machines, was notified last month to provide a warranty bond to collect the remaining 15pc of the payment. The approved cash-counting machines were procured for 1.7 million dollars at a unit cost of 300 dollars each.

The dispute, which arose mainly over the machines' power supply, motor and counterfeit detector, had resulted in the Bank freezing the machines' distribution and requesting a letter of clarification nearly a year ago. E-Banking had then directed Impact Technology, its local supplier, to provide demonstrations regarding all outstanding issues raised by the Bank.

The local supplier has since then resorted to requesting that an inspection be carried out by a third party as the Bank had not responded to offers for demonstrations. Nearly six months later, the Bank has accepted the outcome of a third-party inspection, which confirmed the supplier's stand that the machines were up to the quality standards promised.

The allegations on quality made by the Bank were claimed as a ploy to discredit the supplier, according to Impact Technology CEO Endalkachew Bezu, who had stated that a senior technician had purposely failed the inspection due to a personal conflict.

"The machines supplied were better," he said. "And this inspection has proven that."

At the time of the conflict, the company had stated that the delivered machines had an upgraded motor capacity or RPM (Revolutions Per Minute, indicating the speed at which the machine counts cash). The samples had an RPM of 4,200, an upgrade from the expected 3,600, and the Bank had already approved 1,500 pieces with similar specifications.

Impact Technology, as a direct supplier, had provided 3,764 of the same cash-counting machines to the Bank in 2015. It has also provided a similar service to other banks, including Abay, Awash and Lion, and the Development Bank of Ethiopia in previous years.

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The consequences of holding up the machines may incur the Bank costs that may be hard to reverse, like losing customers due to dissatisfaction, according to procurement experts.

Most notably, delays in the procurement process and a lack of robust procurement systems affected the company's overall performance, according to Ephrem Negash, head of the logistics & supply chain management department at Bahir Dar University.

"This is a product that could have been in use all this time," he said. "This makes it difficult to operate based on a schedule."

The role of arbitration in procurement cases with regard to the selection of a third party should be decided on before any disputes, according to Ephrem. In the case where both sides agree on a third-party arbitrator as part of the contract, the arbitrator's decision is likely to be final, he added.

"The differences between the sample machine and delivered machines may also not necessitate a rejection," he said. "In the case where the arbitrator would find that the delivered machines are superior, then accepting the decision would be simple."

Repeated inquiries by Fortunefor a response from the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia bore no fruit.


A newly launched social enterprise, Rethinking Rural Ireland (RRI), is looking to help revive rural towns and villages across Ireland in 2021.

Launched in October 2020 and awarded best business pitch at the UCD Innovation Academy, RRI empowers towns and villages in rural Ireland to regroup, rebrand and relaunch through innovation projects.

The social enterprise, which is already working with two small towns in County Roscommon, motivates and refocuses committees to help them develop innovative project ideas suited to their community's needs and resources.

In relation to project funding, RRI helps communities source grants, write grant applications and effectively allocate funds. RRI also provides towns and villages with advice and guidance on how to effectively brand and promote their areas.

Founder of RRI, Shane Cogan, has 20 years experience as a human rights worker in the development sector overseas, with a sharp focus on community empowerment, creative thinking and project development.

Returning to Roscommon last year, he decided to set up RRI and put his skills and experience to use in an effort to help combat rural decline in towns and villages across Ireland.

"We want to bring hope and motivation back to rural towns and villages through forward thinking, community-led solutions. Rural communities need more than short-term grants to fill project gaps, they need long term ideas with appropriate funding," said RRI Founder, Shane Cogan.

"We work with communities to help them develop and fund innovative projects and we devise creative ways to help them re-brand their areas, in order to give them a fresh identity."

If you think Rethinking Rural Ireland could be of help to your rural community, you can email shane@rural-rethink.org.

For more information about RRI, visit their website here.


Long after interviewing former Crown Resorts staffer-turned-whistleblower Jenny Jiang about the casino giants secretive internal operations, a phrase she had uttered after quietly crying on camera was still ringing in my head.

Crown, said Jiang, regarded its China-based staff like a used napkin you throw in the trash can.

The Bergin inquiry in NSW on Tuesday made a similar finding, albeit using official terminology, and not only about Crowns regard for its staff in China, who were told to lure high-rollers to Australia in likely defiance of Chinese law. Commissioner Patricia Bergin, a former Supreme Court judge, also savaged Crowns disregard for corporate governance and the Australian laws supposed to prevent casinos facilitating money laundering.

Commissioner Patricia Bergins inquiry found that Crown was unfit to hold a NSW gaming licence. Credit:Nick Moir

Crowns fusion of corporate greed and arrogance with its disrespect for the law and the welfare of its staff now threatens its operations not only in Sydney but, if Premier Daniel Andrews applies some long-overdue oversight, in Melbourne too.
One is a Mardi Gras Indian who is running an under-financed campaign to replace U.S. Cedric Richmond in Congress.

The other is a former king of Zulu who is a member of the New Orleans City Council and is a strong supporter of state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, one of the top contenders to succeed Richmond.

On Monday, both Belden Noonie Man Batiste and City Councilman Jay Banks were issued misdemeanor court summonses by police for what both men agree was a testy exchange between them on Thursday outside Batistes home in Treme. The two men agree on nothing else about what happened there.

The summons issued to Banks accuses him of disturbing the peace on Batistes property.

The summons issued to Batiste accuses him of threatening Banks.

Take that summons and shove it up your butt, Batiste said to five police officers who brought the document to his home. He then complained to a reporter he was talking to by phone at that moment that it took five officers to issue the summons. This is what the system does to protect them, he said. Nothing will be fair in this city.

Banks used more diplomatic language to describe the police response, saying it (was) standard procedure for both him and Batiste to receive summonses once the encounter was reported to the police. Once an allegation is made, a summons is issued, Banks said. And we want no preferential treatment.

Banks said he went to the 1st Police District on the edge of Treme to receive his summons.

The summonses will require Banks and Batiste to appear in Municipal Court at a later date and enter a plea. Neither was booked into jail.

New Orleans police declined to comment Monday, directing inquiries about the summonses to the attorneys representing Banks and Batiste.

Banks attorney is Daniel Davillier.

Batistes attorneys  Tracie Washington and Lionel Lon Burns  attempted to up the ante against Banks on Saturday by going to Civil District Court and seeking a temporary restraining order against Banks over Thursdays confrontation.

Batiste accused Banks of coming to his home unannounced and raging about how Batiste had criticized Peterson during a campaign forum hosted two days earlier by the Alliance for Good Government.

Batiste also accused Banks of threatening to have him killed, among other things. Batiste said Banks was accompanied by an armed security guard and accused the councilman of hurling profanities at Batiste and his mother.

I was in fear for my life, Batiste wrote in the court filing. Batiste called the police and streamed video of his interaction with a responding officer on Facebook that day.

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Banks, for his part, says that he went to Batistes home after Batiste called the councilmans office and said he would "f everybody up" if he didn't talk to Banks. Banks said his staff told him it was obvious from the call that Batiste was in crisis.

Banks said he had barely stepped out of his car when he was greeted with a fusillade of curse words and threats from Batiste. Banks denied threatening Batiste and expressed concern for the mental well-being of Batiste, whom Banks said he has known for years.

I went to see someone who I know out of concern for a fellow human being, Banks said in a statement Monday. I harbor no ill will towards him and will continue to pray for him.

Batistes court filing requests that Banks be prevented from coming near him or contacting him. Records show Civil District Court Judge Monique Barial denied those requests for now but set a hearing in the matter on Feb. 19.

Burns said Batistes mother was a witness to Banks threats against her son, and he questioned Banks account that he went to Batistes house to offer help.

If hes in crisis, the first thing I would hope a reasonable person would do is to seek help for him, Burns said.

He added that he and Washington are working for Batiste pro bono.

Batiste, 46, describes himself as a community activist who was disabled by blood clots. He is a flag boy in the Yellow Pocahontas of the Mardi Gras Indians.

Banks, 60, has been on the council since 2018, representing District B, which includes areas such as the Irish Channel, Central City and Broadmoor. He reigned as king of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club in 2016.

Banks accompanied Peterson, D-New Orleans, when she recently went for her candidate interview at the Greater New Orleans AFL-CIO. That endorsement went to state Sen. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans.

Batiste, an independent, has run for Richmonds old seat two previous times. He won 7% of the vote, finishing third in a four-candidate field, in 2018. In 2020, he finished fifth in a six-candidate field with nearly 4% of the vote.

Richmond stepped down from his congressional seat last month to become a senior adviser to President Joe Biden. The primary to replace him is March 20.

Peterson, Carter and Batiste are among 15 candidates vying for the seat in a district that includes most of Orleans Parish, extends upriver through the west bank of Jefferson Parish and the River Parishes, and includes a portion of Baton Rouge.

Correction: This post was updated to correct what Banks said Batiste called his office to say prior to their exchange.
Photo: (Photo : Screenshot from GoFundMe)

A New York teenager, who saved her cousin in a sledding accident, died tragically last Saturday.

Renee Hill is a 16-year-old girl who is now considered a hero teenager. That is after she sacrificed her safety to ensure her cousin will be safe from crashing into a tree.

The sledding accident occurred at Clyde L. Burmaster Park in the town of Lewiston last Saturday.

ALSO READ: New York Man Stops Baby Snatcher, Incident Caught on Video





The sledding accident

The New York teenager's family was having a weekend getaway. According to her mother, Alexis Kraft, her daughter was sledding with family members when something wrong happened.

In an interview with WKBW-TV, Kraft said, "She had (gone) down the hill. She had my 3-year-old nephew on with her. She saw the tree coming."

Renee put her foot down and flip the sled with her cousin. That way, the 3-year-old boy will not get hurt. The sad thing about this is that she, unfortunately, hit the tree.

Because of the incident, the sledding hill at the Clyde L. Burmaster Park was closed. That is until the Town of Lewiston Police Department and the Niagara County Sheriff's Office are done with their investigation.

The cousin is safe

After the incident, the family brought the 3-year-old cousin of Renee to the hospital as well. He sustained injuries and was treated at the hospital. He was later released and is now doing fine, according to the sheriff's office.

ALSO READ: Connecticut Boys Donate Money to Animal Shelters; Money Was from Their Invention





The New York teenager

The family immediately called for help. The Pekin Fire Company and Tri-Community Ambulance responded to the incident and provided first aid.

However, on their way to the hospital, the New York teenager's heart stopped. According to the Niagara Country Sheriff's Office report, Renee was pronounced dead before she arrived at John R. Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo.

Renee is the eldest among the four children in her family. She attended Niagara Wheatfield High School and was a sophomore.

Her mom describes the New York teenager as a "mama bear." She said, "She could get them in line quick, but she was loving, and they all loved her."

Although everyone is calling Renee a hero, her mom is still devastated that she lost her "baby girl."

ALSO READ: Hero Dad from Sydney Rescues Young Girl from Drowning





GoFundMe Campaign

After the New York teenager's sudden death, the family is now facing the struggle of paying for her funeral expenses.

That is why the family put up a GoFundMe campaign to gather funds for Renee's funeral.

As of writing, the campaign has already received donations from 653 people. They have gathered more than 25,000 US dollars, which was the fundraiser's initial goal.

The final details of Renee's funeral are still to be finalized.

ALSO READ: Child Chokes at the Drive-Thru, Fast-Food Chain Employee Comes to Rescue
Connecticut's

Don DeVivo

New Britain

Environmental Protection Agency

Federal Trade Commission

Middletown

Ben Florsheim

The League of Women Voters of Connecticut

Department of Energy

Environmental Protection

Lori Brown

VW

Department of Energy

Environmental Protection

Environment & Human Health Inc.

Vicki Hackett

Middletown

Middletown

Michael Conner

Volkswagen

(TNS) only all-electric school bus will enable the district to not only reduce carbon emissions, increase energy efficiency and lower fuel costs, but ensure children a more healthful ride to and from school.State and local officials unveiled DATTCO's small Collins Type A All-Electric School Bus Monday at the high school. The $350,000 vehicle runs on five sodium chloride batteries, according to PresidentPrices for diesel-powered small buses start around $60,000, and the larger ones cost $80,000s and up, according to the company. A DATTCO official said the-based transportation company paid $100,000 of the $270,000 price tag for this particular bus, with the rest paid from the Volkswagen Settlement Program.The settlement program centered around claims by the federaland thethat the German automaker used technology to bypass emissions regulations.Development costs for such vehicles are very expensive, said DeVivo, who expects the price tag to come down. He likened the situation to 50-inch televisions selling for $4,000 when they first emerged. Now, they are $400, he said."It was a significant cost, but there's a cost to being first," DeVivo said. His company was able to replace one diesel-powered school bus with an electric one. There will be more on the way beginning in September, he said."We like to be first here in," Mayorsaid. "We like to be the leaders when it comes to new, progressive ideas that are going to not only help our environment, not only protect our future, but also it makes sense for our school district budget, our city budget, and for our taxpayers."approached DATTCO about submitting a grant request to the stateandto apply through the Volkswagen Settlement Program, CLWV Executive Directorsaid.The nonpartisan organization encourages informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy, according to its website.Thesettlement provides detailed information on the types of projects states can undertake, including repowering or replacing vehicles, according to its website.Transportation accounts for 38 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, Brown said. "This is really where the rubber meets the road when it comes to doing things that invest in climate change mitigation. This is the perfect example of where it can be  local, state, and our federal government finally going in the right direction."In the early 2000s, the stateandwas involved in a study led by, according to, deputy commissioner of energy. The study measured the emissions levels from inside school buses, she said."They found the diesel emissions for the school bus could make it into the cabin pretty easily, increasing exposure to children on the bus who were on 30-minute or longer rides," Hackett said."Any reduction in those diesel particulate emissions for children whose lungs are still developing is really important," she said.One of the biggest advantages is maintenance, DeVivo said. "There's no engine, there's no oil changes, you're really saving," he said.The city is known for its progressive action. In November, the district was the first to pilot a free COVID-19 mobile testing program at all district schools.Last summer, Connecticut Biotech donated 220 face mask exoskeletons toteachers as part of a pilot program. These 3D-printed frames are worn outside a disposable or cloth face covering using facial recognition technology."We pride ourselves on being the first in experimentation and testing," saidSuperintendent of Schools, adding that innovation and creativity is something the district "prides itself on.""This is the future of education, to be able to align our progressive academic program around innovation," the superintendent said.Florsheim praised DATTCO for taking the initiative. "We know this is the way the market is going, we know the climate crisis requires us to act, so we are going to act," he said. "It's an incredible reusage of thesettlement, because we know how important it is to start moving to electric vehicles."For information, visit vwclearinghouse.org my.lwv.org and dattco.com
The COSCO Pisces container ship approaches Piraeus port, a flagship project of China-Greece cooperation, on Feb. 15, 2019. (Xinhua/Wu Lu)

BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) has become closer in multiple areas, including trade and investment, the promotion of China-Europe freight trains and project agreements.

The following are some highlights of economic and trade cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries.

The first "China Post" CR Express block train is seen unloading after arrival in Vilnius, Lithuania, April 14, 2020. (Lithuania Post/Handout via Xinhua)

-- China's total trade volume with 17 CEECs reached 103.45 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, crossing the 100-billion-dollar mark for the first time, data from the Ministry of Commerce shows. (see chart)

This marked a year-on-year increase of 8.4 percent, higher than the growth rate of China's foreign trade and its trade with Europe as a whole.

Logging an average annual growth rate of 8 percent from 2012, the growth of China's trade with CEECs is three times the growth of its foreign trade and two times the growth of its trade with Europe as a whole.

Customers visit the first official store of Chinese technology company Xiaomi at a shopping center in Bucharest, capital of Romania, April 20, 2019. (Xinhua/Gabriel Petrescu)

A winged vehicle by Slovak automaker Aeromobil is on display at the first China International Import Expo in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 7, 2018. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

-- China's foreign direct investment in the economic sectors of 17 CEECs, including energy, infrastructure, logistics and automobile parts, totaled 3.14 billion dollars by the end of 2020.

The 17 countries invested 1.72 billion dollars in China during the period.

Vehicles move on the Miladinovci-Shtip highway section which connects North Macedonia's capital Skopje with the eastern part of the country, July 6, 2019. The 47-km highway section was constructed by a Chinese company. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

-- The number of China-Europe freight trains stood at 12,400 in 2020, with key passages and destinations including Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

-- Last year, the total contract value of China's newly signed overseas projects with the 17 countries spiked 34.6 percent to 5.41 billion dollars.

A Chinese travel agent staff member attends the Baltic Sea Tourism Forum in Riga, Latvia, Oct. 22, 2019. (Photo by Edijs Palens/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2020 shows a construction site of the Senj Wind Farm project in Senj, Croatia. The project, which features 39 wind turbines (four MW each) and supporting facilities, is expected to be completed under contract with a Chinese construction company in April 2021.(Xinhua/Gao Lei)

Aerial photo taken on Feb. 1, 2020 shows the construction site of the Peljesac Bridge, a China-Croatia cooperation project, near Komarna, Croatia. (Xinhua/Gao Lei)
The picture above is the picture that launched a thousand ships for the elements who shouted their intention of fighting till the vivisection of the Indian state (Bharat tere tukde honge, etc) from the very heart of Bharat, from the campus of the elite Jawaharlal Nehru University, fully residential and fully funded by public money. It is famous for mass producing intellectuals.



Now we all know intellectuals are clever people and they often use words as weapons with more effectiveness than normal weapons. It is also said that a picture is worth a thousand words, which makes it even more powerful than the words.

Fortunately for the elements sworn to the destruction of India, a significant section of the media, those who disseminate pictures, and moving images, and opinions, are sworn to the morality of always finding the security forces in the wrong. The picture has gone a long way in propagating this belief and has been circulated with some exuberance to become part of the anti-India folklore in Kashmir and elsewhere.

Farooq Ahmed Dar is no longer an ordinary man, he has become a symbol of the victimhood of the Kashmiri people, the picture a never fading frame of reference for the brutalization of our security forces.

Nobody denies the reality of the picture but the picture becomes much more than a picture when torn out of its context. The eye follows the lead given by the camera and the man behind the camera controls reality, obfuscates it, and edits it to purpose. What was the background to the unseemly episode is blotted out so that from mere information it becomes a potent tool of propaganda, a clever ploy to advance a favoured narrative!

Were the security men giving the fellow a free ride for the sake of fun? The fact, as gathered from sources reliable and unreliable (truth always comes in alternative versions in Kashmir), is that the army had rushed to the aid of a paramilitary section surrounded by hundreds of stone pelting, blood thirsty hoodlums. Just to debunk the romanticized version of the misguided youth, let us recall that such a crowd of 'misguided youth', who throw stones at the security forces by way of a normal occupation, had formed a "human shield" to obstruct the evacuation of a critically wounded Major Dahiya long enough for him to die.

To bury the dead and to give succour to the dying is the universal norm of civilised people, but the 'innocent misguided stone pelting' youth advanced the design of the terrorists who had attacked the security forces by their very non-violent act. Unfortunately, the incident did not attract much attention, nor the fact that some of these elements had acted as human shield for much more sinister purpose.

Coming to the point, there were three options available to the army: to be peacefully lynched, to peacefully shoot their way out killing as many as had the bad luck to come in the way of fired bullets, and the third one the "militarily incorrect' behaviour that the army resorted to. Such an "aberration" was resorted to as a one-off tactical, disruptive measure.

Lieutenant General H S Panag, who has been frequently quoted, made a very nuanced statement: he said that it was a "militarily incorrect behaviour" but hinted its roots in the absence of the "healing political touch". The general also faulted the army on its failure to issue a statement explaining the circumstances under which it was done - a PR failure.

But let us hear Lt. Gen. DS Hooda, another distinguished army officer.

"Honestly, this is a difficult question to answer. From a purely legal perspective, the answer would be, 'No, not permissible.' But in conflict zones, there is no single prism through which events can be viewed. Apart from legal, there are also moral, human and practical perspectives. Even while sitting in my comfortable office in Udhampur, I often struggled to find the right answer. It is much more difficult for the officers and men on the ground facing a very complex and difficult situation. The frustration and anger is not only on the side of the Kashmiri youth."

Consider the helplessness situation: a significant section of the civilian population has become a tactical ally of the terrorists and emboldened by the assurance of use of minimum force against civilian population (the government has withdrawn pellet gun so as not to discomfit them), comes to active assistance of terrorists during the encounters with security forces, to distract, divert and demoralize the army. They regularly resort to identifying and targeting families of pro India elements and police men and their family members.



The entire democratic infra structure has disappeared, the mainstream political elements have decamped to safer environs, and the considerable body of people who are not with the secessionists, have been rendered silent by force, or out of fear, and side-lined.

It is a tough military situation where the security forces are in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with the terrorists from both sides of border aided by a fair number of their over ground supporters. The logic of the military situation should prevail yet the army tries to act according to norms of humane behaviour satisfying all the requirements of human rights protection but when they fail to live up to the scrutiny of ideal norms those out to advance the agenda of Bharat tere tukde honge get into an overdrive.



The counterfactual must also be stated. See for yourself the pictures below and compare the indignity of the two situations in your mind's eye: the one about the use of a Kashmiri as a human shield on which we have been fed to satiety, and this one which has figured just as a bit of news.

There may have been a doubt about the identity of the man tied to the jeep, whether he was a mischief monger or an innocent bystander but who could have mistaken the identity of men in uniform carrying arms in the defence of the realm being kicked, humiliated, and lynched by innocent misguided youth. It did not get all the traction or anguished commentaries etc. as the former.

(NDTV did a story as a balancing act, too late, because the picture of the humiliation of the security forces, which is the norm by the way, predates the more famous one. But, thank you NDTV! All the same.)

News makes inroads in the public consciousness only if relayed in a particular manner; there are levels above which they are reduced to being endless background chatter just as the low-key positioning drowns it in distraction of other events. This is a specialized media industry.

Not that those who are crying murder do not know the situation in Kashmir; they know it better than anyone else.

I am reminded of the remark by an anonymous CIA operative in the context of damning disclosures that the entire non-communist left and liberal intellectuals mobilized against the Stalinist regime were being run by the CIA, through their front agency, The Congress for Cultural Freedom. "They knew as much as they wanted to know, and if they knew any more, they knew they would have to get out, so they refused to know."



"Never was bearing arms in the defence of the realm fraught with so much ambiguity. Throughout history, victory in battle brought honour and adulation, martyrdom eternal glory and gratitude; these were the only two fates known to the soldier. But those were simpler times. Concepts of patriotism, territoriality, and nationhood had fixity of meaning; the battle fronts were defined; you were here, the enemy was there. No longer so, every thing is in a state of flux ; the enemy can be found lurking behind your lines; rooting for death of the nation has become the new cool for those who know. Consequently, the men who bear arms in the defence of the realm find themselves trapped, at cross purposes with themselves.

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
Hundreds of retail jobs could soon be lost across Australia as popular department store H&M switches its focus to online sales.

First established in Sweden, H&M is poised to soon close seven department stores over the coming weeks and months.

One outlet located in Chatswood, in Sydney's north, has already closed its doors for a final time, with Queensland department shops in Townsville and Rockhampton tipped to soon follow suit.

A number of H&M stores are tipped to close across Australia as the department store focuses on its online sales (stock image)

H&M (pictured above) was established in Sweden and soon became a respected clothing brand globally

Other NSW based shops in the firing line include Bondi Junction, Warringah Mall and Kotara, according to the Courier Mail.

Given H&M opened to huge fanfare in Australia back in 2014 when almost 15,000 customers surged through the maiden store in Melbourne on its first day of operation, it has been a sad fall from grace.

Northern Territory is the only current state in Australia without an H&M department store.

H&M posted a tidy profit of $2.6million in 2018, but the following year saw a loss of $1.19million.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the business, with H&M confirming last October it would be closing 250 stores globally.

A long term focus with online sales was confirmed by H&M Australia country manager Thomas Coellner in 2020.

'We are very excited to finally launch H&M online in Australia and to be able to offer our fashion collections to customers nationwide anytime, anywhere,' he said last year.

'We now have 40 stores across this country and this significant milestone extends H&M's omni-channel offering.'
A former vet who is wanted to face multiple charges of sexual activity with animals and of having extreme pornographic material has appeared before the High Court this afternoon on foot of an extradition warrant.

Oliver Lown (35), with an address at Main Road, Kesgrave, Suffolk, is wanted by authorities in the United Kingdom to face 12 offences, which also include making indecent images of children.

The warrant states that 1,219 extreme pornographic images, of which 1,067 are unique, were recovered from the hard drive of Mr Lown's laptop as well as 3,512 extreme pornographic videos, of which 3,511 are unique.

Other images recovered include 66 category A indecent images of which 43 are unique, 36 category B indecent images of which 26 are unique, and 33 category C indecent images of which 23 are unique.

Mr Lown was arrested by detectives from the Gardas extradition unit on Monday and taken to Letterkenny Garda Station following the endorsement of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by the police in Suffolk.

The former vet appeared before Mr Justice Paul Burns in the High Court today wearing a face mask, an orange jacket and trousers.

Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan of the Garda Extradition Unit told Aoife Carroll BL, for the State, that he was on duty yesterday in Kilmacrenan in Co Donegal and called to an address at Gortnaskea near Letterkenny at 6.37pm, where he arrested Mr Lown on foot of the warrant and cautioned him.

Det Sgt Kirwan said he introduced himself to Mr Lown and showed him his ID card. He said that Mr Lown agreed that his name was Oliver Lown and that one of the aliases he used was Ollie Fraser Henderson, while his place of birth was in Ipswich in the UK.

The detective said he showed Mr Lown a photograph which he agreed was him.

Det Sgt Kirwan said he informed Mr Lown that he had an EAW for his arrest and showed him a copy of the original warrant, which had been endorsed by the High Court for execution.

The detective said he also informed Mr Lown of his right to consent to his surrender to the issuing state, namely the UK and gave him a copy of the EAW.

Outlining the offences facing Mr Lown, Det Sgt Kirwan said the warrant relates to 12 offences relating to images found on a PC laptop on April 4, 2019 in Kesgrave in Suffolk. The detective said he read the precis [summary] of offences contained in the warrant to the respondent and asked him whether he knew what they were about, which Mr Lown indicated he did.

Mr Lown was then taken to Letterkenny Garda Station.

Det Sgt Kirwan said he was satisfied that the person named on the warrant was the person he arrested. He told Kieran Kelly BL, for the respondent, that the warrant stated that Mr Lown seemed to be in breach of his bail in the UK.

After Det Sgt Kirwan gave evidence of Mr Lown's arrest, Mr Justice Burns said he was satisfied the person before him was the person to whom the warrant related.

The judge informed Mr Lown of his rights and told him that he is entitled to voluntarily surrender himself to the UK authorities between now and the hearing date.

Mr Justice Burns fixed February 26 as the date for the full hearing of the extradition case.

He remanded Mr Lown in custody until that date, when an application for bail is expected to be made.

The warrant states that PC Harvey accompanied by probation officer Chris Royal attended a house on Main Street, Kesgrave, Suffolk in the UK at 10.10am on April 4, 2019. They were informed by the occupants that their son, Mr Lown, lived in the annexe above their garage with another man.

The warrant also stated that the other man is a registered sex offender and the purpose of the visit was to ascertain where he [the sex offender] was residing since he had not notified an address as per the Sex Offender Requirements.

The warrant further states that PC Harvey located Mr Lown in the annexe and a situation then unfolded whereby Mr Lown threw a laptop in a pond to evade its inspection by police and he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of possessing extreme pornography. Mr Lown was also arrested on the same date for perverting the course of justice and possession of heroin.

The laptop was submitted to the Digital Forensic Unit and forensic examination was completed on the extracted hard drive, which included 1,067 extreme pornographic images and 3,511 extreme pornographic videos.

The warrant also states that police attended Burrell Road, Ipswich on August 29, 2019, where Mr Lown was present. He was arrested on suspicion of making, taking, possessing and distributing indecent images of children. He was also arrested on suspicion of Class B drugs. He was interviewed and responded "no comment" to all questions asked.

The warrant states that police arranged to meet Mr Lown at Martlesham Police Investigation Centre on November 27, 2019. He did not attend, went missing and was circulated on the UK's Police National Computer as "wanted".
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 13:48:19|Editor: huaxia

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SYDNEY, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- A second hotel quarantine worker in Australia's Victoria state was tested positive for the highly infectious COVID-19 strain that was found in Britain, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said Tuesday.

Andrews said genomic testing results on Tuesday morning confirmed the woman who worked at Holiday Inn at the Melbourne Airport had the more contagious variant of the virus.

Eight primary close contacts and 136 work close contacts are currently isolating and waiting for their test results.

Despite the challenges, Victoria recorded zero new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. One hotel quarantine case has been transferred to the hospital in intensive care.

"Zero new cases either in hotel quarantine or in the community. That's very pleasing given the challenges we've had in recent days," Andrews said.

"There were some 12,816 test results received over the last 24 hours and we thank each and every one of those more than 12,000 people for attending and getting tested."

Meanwhile, the neighboring state of New South Wales (NSW) recorded two new cases in hotel quarantine with further investigations into the source of infection for a returned overseas traveler who tested positive to COVID-19 after being released from hotel quarantine.

The person from the Wollongong area returned two negative tests during the quarantine period at the Sofitel Wentworth but tested positive in a recently enhanced day-16 follow-up test.

All of the case's 10 close contacts have now tested negative to COVID-19.

However, NSW Health said Tuesday anyone who attended two previously announced venues in Wollongong on specific dates and times is now considered a close contact and should immediately get tested and self-isolate for 14 days regardless of the result. Enditem

Iranian Professor Jailed After Attending Training Course In Prague

02/09/21

Source: RFE/RL

A Revolutionary Court in Iran has sentenced a law professor to seven years in prison after convicting him of "cooperating with an enemy state." The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported on February 8 that Reza Eslami, a professor at Tehran's Shahid Beheshti University, had been also banned from teaching and leaving the country.



Professor Reza Eslami is a professor at Tehran's Shahid Beheshti University.

The sentence, subject to appeal, was issued by Judge Abolghassem Salavati, who presides over Branch 15 of Tehran's Revolutionary Court. Salavati was placed under U.S. sanctions in 2019 for issuing harsh sentences against journalists, activists, and others.

Eslami, a dual Iranian-Canadian national and a graduate of Canada's McGill University, was arrested in May and charged with "cooperating with an enemy state through his participation in a law training course in the Czech Republic," HRANA reported.

Eslami reportedly dismissed the charges against him as "baseless" in an audio recording released from prison, where he also said that his academic work was free of "political, security and foreign-relations issues."

A total of 15 people have reportedly been charged over the case. Of those, 14 have been acquitted of the charge of cooperating with the United States.

People close to the professor have said that the training course was organized by a Czech NGO that receives funds from the United States.

They had said that Eslami, who taught human rights and the rule of law before his arrest, had no contacts with anyone from the U.S. administration.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington rose dramatically under the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who imposed a campaign of "maximum pressure" against the Islamic republic.

In recent years, Iran has imprisoned a number of academics and dual nationals on espionage charges. They include French-Iranian anthropologist Fariba Adelkhah, who was arrested in June 2019 and given temporary prison leave last October.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda and the BBC
Laboratory Leadership Service Fellow Jessica Prince-Guerra packs leftover samples on dry ice for shipping to CDC laboratories. CDC evaluated the samples, which were positive by either the antigen or real-time RT-PCR test, for the presence of live virus. Photo credit: By Sean A. Buono resize icon View Larger Close Laboratory Leadership Service Fellow Jessica Prince-Guerra packs leftover samples on dry ice for shipping to CDC laboratories. CDC evaluated the samples, which were positive by either the antigen or real-time RT-PCR test, for the presence of live virus. Photo credit: By Sean A. Buono

For many years, Jessica Prince-Guerra has been passionate about combining laboratory science and public health to make a real-world difference in fighting infectious diseases. Her career has taken her to Ecuador, where she learned firsthand the importance of laboratory work in improving a communitys health. She also witnessed health inequities that motivated her to devote her career to public health.

She earned the PhD in microbiology and molecular genetics at Emory University, where she sought out a project that didnt keep me in a lab  I wanted to connect to communities that were affected by the disease I was studying. She continued conducting laboratory field work in Zambia, Guatemala, Bolivia, and Mexico.

My international experience has taught me to expect the unexpected, troubleshoot problems quickly, organize field teams, work with diverse communities, and the importance of ensuring culturally and linguistically appropriate communications with the communities, says Jessica. Little did I know that this work was preparing me for a pandemic.

In July 2020, as COVID-19 was spreading across the globe, Jessica joined CDCs Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS) as a fellow to begin her disease detective training.

One of the things that drew me to the LLS program was having the opportunity to be on the frontlines of public health in a leadership role, Jessica says. This work has affirmed my passion for public health and helped me develop my skills as a leader.

But in September, CDCs COVID-19 emergency response needed Jessicas lab expertise. Arizona and Georgia had asked CDC to help them evaluate the antigen test being distributed by the federal governmentexternal icon. The test had received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration for use in people with symptoms.

We didnt have a lot of data on how well antigen tests performed, particularly in people who dont have symptoms, Jessica says.

Antigen tests detect proteins from the virus in samples from people who have COVID-19. To date, 13 antigen tests have received EUA, and most can deliver results in about 15-30 minutes. However, public health officials need to understand how antigen tests perform and when to consider using more sensitive real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests, which look for the presence of virus.

I found it exciting to work with the Arizona team from start to finish, says Jessica. Working with health department employees, being able to communicate with Spanish speakers, writing fact sheets for the public, and analyzing the data  it felt good to be part of a project that was helping the community.

Her job was to compare the antigen test to real-time RT-PCR testing, considered the gold standard for detecting current infection from a virus, like the one that causes COVID-19. But real-time RT-PCR tests require specialized equipment and technical skill to perform. Communities with widespread transmission need fast, easy-to-use tests that can be performed without highly technical equipment. These tests could help states and others, like colleges, reduce testing costs, isolate sick people sooner, and start contact tracing quickly.

Jessica deployed to both Arizona and Georgia. In Tucson, Arizona, she led a team that tested 3,400 residents, with and without symptoms, over a two-week period. Jessicas team discovered that the antigen test yielded few false-positive results, meaning that for most samples, a positive antigen test result accurately detected when a person had COVID-19, she says.

Jessicas team learned that the antigen test correctly came back negative for most people without confirmed COVID-19 disease. However, for people who were positive by real-time RT-PCR, the antigen test was correct for two out of three samples from people with symptoms and was correct only for about one out of three samples from people without symptoms.

A CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report describes results from Arizona. Although the antigen test didnt perform as well as health officials had hoped, the results will help public health officials decide how best to use the antigen test and whether (or when) to use real-time RT-PCR testing to confirm results.

During Jessicas Georgia deployment, she was part of a team that tested more than 2,000 students and staff at a college over a four-day period. Results for the Georgia evaluation will be published in the coming months.

Being in the lab all the time, you dont always have a full appreciation of the human component of the work you are doing, Jessica says. Going into the field, I was in testing centers hearing peoples personal stories, which was very impactful for me. All different walks of life, each person with their unique situation and story plays into public health decisions in one way or another.

Jessica holds out hope that her work will help the country be in better shape as 2021 unfolds. I think, in public health, we have to be cautiously optimistic, she says. Because if you dont have optimism about things getting better, it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel and to keep moving forward.
A man who was 21 when he had sex with a 16-year-old boy he met on Tinder has been jailed for one year.

Shane Chubb, now aged 24, pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 17 between April 13 and April 15, 2017. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the boy was a virgin.

Chubb also pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting the boy on April 15, 2017 at Chubbs home at Cookstown Road, Tallaght. He has no previous convictions.

Sergeant Gary Farrell told the court that the victim, who is legally entitled to anonymity, joined the Tinder dating app in 2016 before being removed because he was under the age of 18.

In 2017, he re-joined the app with a fake date of birth and got chatting to Chubb online. The boy told Chubb he was only 16, but that he was mature.

The pair kept in contact and made arrangements to meet in Chubb's home for tea, before the boy suggested that he stay the night.

During this visit, the pair ended up having sex, Sgt Farrell told the court, with the boy later telling gardai: He took my virginity.

The pair met the next day in Chubb's house where they discussed what had happened, with the boy telling Chubb this was his first experience of sex. Later on, Chubb started kissing the boy and then started biting him, including on his chest, arms and thighs.

The boy eventually screamed out in pain at one of the bites, asking Chubb: Why did you do that? He left shortly afterwards.

The boy texted Chubb later that night saying: You really hurt me and scared me a bit. The boy said he no longer wanted to keep in touch.

Chubb replied saying I hurt and scared you? He added: I hope you know I never intended to hurt or scare you. He apologised for biting the boy.

The boy confided in his sister about the incident and went to gardai a couple of days later. He was not in court for the sentence hearing and did not wish to make a victim impact statement, the court heard.

Judge Karen O'Connor said that the levels of dysfunction in the background of the defendant but said she had to mark the seriousness of the offence.

He took advantage of a child, he was fully aware (of the victim's age). He is a highly intelligent man who knew what he was doing was wrong, she said.

Judge O'Connor said that an important message had to go out that if someone meets someone online and is aware the person is a child there will be consequences.

Noting his tragic background as his guilty plea as mitigation, she suspended the second year of a two year prison term. She imposed conditions that Chubb stop using Tinder during the entire term and engage with the Probation Services.

The offence comes with a maximum sentence of five years.
But on February 4 the federal government announced it had managed to secure another 10 million doses of Pfizers vaccine. Problem 1: will the vaccine be approved for over-65s? About 1.4 per cent of people aged over 65 who catch COVID-19 will die from it; that number rises to 15 per cent for people aged 85. So vaccinating older people is very, very important. So why have medical regulators from France, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain and Poland decided against giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to the over-65s, as the BBC has reported? The answer is found in table one of AstraZenecas phase three clinical trial report, published in the Lancet.

The trial enrolled 11,636 people in Britain and Brazil. But just 767 people from that group were aged between 56 and 69. Just 444 were aged over 70. And remember, this group includes people given a placebo, too. Its just not that much data. To make calculations of efficacy, vaccine trials look at the number of people who fell sick, rather than the number of people in the overall trial. AstraZenecas trial recorded just five cases in people aged over 55, and just two cases in people aged 65. The ability to draw conclusions is based not on the number of patients but on the number of people who have an event. It says there were five cases. Its not going to be possible to draw any robust conclusions from that small number of cases, says Vlado Perkovic, dean of medicine at the University of NSW and one of Australias leading clinical trial experts. Compare that with the Pfizer vaccine: 37,706 people enrolled in the trial, 15,921 of whom were aged over 55. A medic administers a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to a colleague in Bethlehem last week. Credit:AP

That does not mean the TGA is going to follow France and Germanys lead. Britain, India, Mexico and Argentina, as well as the European Medicines Agency, have approved AstraZenecas vaccine for the over 65s. The question the TGA will ask, Professor Perkovic says, is not whether the vaccine works for people aged over 65, because we dont know. Its whether we have reason to believe it wont work. When we look across all the vaccines, there is growing evidence they are effective in older populations. What we dont know yet is whether one is more effective than the other. Thats interesting  but only if we have good reason to think one would be more effective than the other. And Im not sure we do at the moment, he says. On a cellular level, we have good reason to think the AstraZeneca vaccine does work for older adults. Immune responses are the same across ages. Vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna and Russias Sputnik have reported no difference in efficacy among older groups. Unless AstraZeneca can provide extra data  and it is working on it  to approve the vaccine for those aged 65-plus, the TGA will have to do some extrapolation. But this type of decision has to be made all the time. One example: Aboriginal Australians. They are unfortunately rarely represented in clinical trials in adequate numbers to know whether something works. We have to extrapolate, says Professor Perkovic.

This is such a compelling, traumatic problem, were going to have to make some judgment calls based on the best available evidence. I would personally support approval  it is a safe vaccine that is effective overall, and very likely to be equally effective in older people who are at highest risk from the disease. I dont think it would be fair to make older people wait for more data before they can be vaccinated. Problem 2: those pesky variants Scientists have been speculating for weeks about what effect the new variants of COVID-19 emerging around the world will have on vaccine efficacy. A South African woman walks past a coronavirus-themed mural promoting the use of face masks in public. Credit:AP B.1.351, the variant first seen in South Africa, contains several mutations that look like they should limit antibody binding. The first tranche of data that emerged  lab tests of viruses made to look like the variants  seemed promising. The vaccines generate such strong immunity that even with a modest dip in efficacy they should still protect people.

Human data has not been so encouraging. Johnson & Johnson and Novavax both reported their vaccines were substantially less effective against the variant. Now we have human evidence that the AstraZeneca vaccine may be hardest hit, after a South African trial put its efficacy against the variant at about 10 per cent. Dont put much weight in that exact number: the trial was so small the number is not statistically significant. But we now have three human studies showing a substantial drop-off in efficacy; AstraZenecas results are troubling enough for South Africa to pause the rollout of the vaccine. AstraZeneca has already started work on a booster.

These results are a reality check. It is time for us, unfortunately, to recalibrate our expectations of COVID-19 vaccines, Shabir Madhi, who led the trial, said at a news conference organised by the South African National Department of Health. Loading Professor Madhi is right. These results should prompt us to think differently about our vaccines, in a couple of ways. First, a lot of the focus has been on vaccines efficacy at preventing infection. But its becoming clear the first-generation vaccines are likely to struggle to do that, particularly as variants emerge (and more will emerge). Ultimately, the more important issue is: are we preventing serious illness? Because that is what is causing the biggest impact, Trevor Drew, director of the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, said this week.
EDWARDSVILLE  Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles Center for Predictive Analytics (C-PAN) is leading a statewide, multi-institutional fellowship program funded by the United States Department of Agricultures (USDA)s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through its Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates program.

Under the direction of C-PAN Director Carolyn Butts-Wilmsmeyer, PhD, the project entitled, Preparing Undergraduates for New Frontiers in Data Analysis: Experiential Learning in Applied Statistics (ELIAS) Fellows, is concurrently training undergraduate students in real-world data analysis and hands-on research in a greenhouse, laboratory or field setting.

Institutional collaborators include the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Illinois State University (ISU), Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) and Parkland Community College (PCC). Co-PIs are UIUCs Martin Bohn, Maria Villamil and Alexander Lipka, with support from NEIUs Pamela Geddes and ISUs Nicholas Heller.

The overall goal of the ELIAS fellowship program is to produce students who can meet the need for an increasingly data-driven workforce, particularly in the life sciences, Butts-Wilmsmeyer said. Upon graduation, students in statistics and data science are placed in multidisciplinary teams consisting of chemists, biologists and business personnel.

However, current training in data science and statistics often does not occur in laboratory, greenhouse, field or other applied research settings, making it difficult for graduates to understand the limitations in these research environments and to communicate findings across disciplinary bounds. Through this program, students are placed in a two-year, dually immersive research experience in applied statistics/data science and a laboratory, greenhouse or field research environment, based on the students interests.

Fellow Sam Garcia, an environmental science major at NEIU, is in her second year of the program. I have been passionate about environmental science since I learned about climate change in elementary school, she recalled. I particularly became interested in data-driven research, because quantifying and analyzing data brings order and significance to the information that can be found through science.

Garcia is analyzing the effects of artificial floating wetlands on macroinvertebrate communities in the Chicago River.

The ELIAS program has provided me the opportunity to carry out my own independent research project which is preparing me for graduate school, Garcia said. After graduate school, I plan to pursue a research career in the marine or atmospheric science field at NOAA, NASA or a similar organization. My long-term intentions are to use science as a tool to incite change that will help preserve the environment.

The ELIAS Fellows recruitment efforts emphasize women and minorities, as well as transfer students from community colleges.

While the fellowship program is open to all students in the agricultural and life sciences, and all fellows will be provided with unfailing support, we recognize that there may be some hurdles which female students, transfer students and underrepresented minorities may face at a higher frequency than their classmates, Butts-Wilmsmeyer said. Our mentor team actively works with all of our fellows to identify ways to overcome any hurdles they may face during the completion of their degree and progression toward their desired careers.

Participating students receive full funding for their research, as well as a $7,250 stipend each year of the fellowship. They will present their findings at UIUC Agronomy Day, Undergraduate Research Symposium, at their respective institutions and at a scientific conference of their choosing.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 21:16:26|Editor: huaxia

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Medical workers check out as they leave the residential community of Ronghui in Daxing District, Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 9, 2021. Beijing has cleared all areas with medium and high COVID-19 infection risks, according to a press conference held on Tuesday. The residential community of Ronghui was downgraded to a low-risk area on Tuesday. Currently, all areas in Beijing are low-risk areas for COVID-19 infection. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)

BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Beijing has cleared all areas with medium and high COVID-19 infection risks, according to a press conference held on Tuesday.

The residential community of Ronghui was downgraded to a low-risk area on Tuesday. Currently, all areas in Beijing are low-risk areas for COVID-19 infection.

Daxing District in the city has started to lift the lockdown of five communities including Ronghui, Han Xinxing, deputy chief of the district, told the press conference.

The latest monitoring data show that the current supply of daily necessities in Beijing is sufficient and stable, according to Wang Hongcun, an official with the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau.

"The government has also set aside reserves and devised emergency plans to ensure the supply of daily necessities," Wang said. Enditem
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has asserted Egypt's stance on finding a political solution through intra-Libyan negotiations to maintain the sovereignty of the Arab country.

On the sidelines of an emergency meeting of the Arab League (AL) foreign ministers, Shoukry met Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of National Accord (GNA) of Libya Mohamed Taher Siala, Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Hafez said on his Twitter account on Monday.

Shoukry stressed that Egypt has a firm stance on reaching the political solution to maintain Libya's sovereignty and protect the wealth of the Libyan people.

Shoukry also met his Algerian counterpart Sabri Boukadoum, where they held talks on means of cementing bilateral ties and discussed other regional issues of common interest.

MOSCOW -- Well-known Russian film and theater director Kirill Serebrennikov, who was convicted in a controversial embezzlement case last year which many considered politically motivated, will leave the Gogol-Center theater in Moscow after city authorities refused to extend his agreement.

Serebrennikov, whose contract expires on February 25, wrote about the situation on Instagram on February 9, expressing his gratitude "to all my friends, students, and enemies for the unique experience that helped me to learn many things."

"The Gogol-Center continues to live as a theater, as an idea. Because theater...is more important and wider, which means it is more durable than various officials and circumstances, and even more important and wider than its creators. Try to keep the theater alive and have liberty as a necessity for you," he wrote.

Serebrennikov has led the Gogol-Center since its creation in 2012 on the basis of the Moscow Gogol Theater.

Many of Serebrennikov-directed performances, such as Thugs, Metamorphoses, A Dream In A Summer Night, Little Tragedies, etc., have been extremely popular among Muscovites.

Last June, a court in Moscow found Serebrennikov guilty of embezzlement and handed him a suspended, three-year prison term and fined him 800,000 rubles ($10,500).

Serebrennikov's co-defendants, theater producers Yuri Itin and Aleksei Malobrodsky, were also found guilty of embezzlement and received three-year and two-year suspended sentences, respectively. Both also received steep fines.

The fourth defendant, former employee of the Culture Ministry, Sofia Apfelbaum, was found guilty of negligence.

The court also ordered Serebrennikov, Itin, and Malobrodsky to repay nearly 129 million rubles (some $1.7 million) that the court concluded they had embezzled.

Serebrennikov has been hailed as a daring and innovative force on Russia's modern art scene, potentially putting him at odds with cultural conservatives, and has protested government policies in the past.

He has taken part in anti-government protests and voiced concern about the growing influence of the Russian Orthodox Church in the country.

Serebrennikov's arrest in August 2017 drew international attention and prompted accusations that Russian authorities were targeting cultural figures who are at odds with President Vladimir Putin and his government.

Prominent Russian and international actors, writers, and directors have expressed their support for Serebrennikov and his colleagues. Many regarded the case as politically motivated.

Serebrennikov, Itin, Malobrodsky, and Apfelbaum were accused of embezzling state funds that were granted from 2011 to 2014 to Seventh Studio, a nonprofit organization established by Serebrennikov, for a project called Platforma.

All four have denied any wrongdoing.
analysis

In the aftermath of the Great Lockdown, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been both proactive and relatively empathetic. The organisation has doubled the capacity of its two programmes meant primarily for disaster relief - the Rapid Financing Instrument and the Rapid Credit Facility - since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. It has disbursed nearly US$90 billion, including more than US$16 billion to Africa.

Of the 100 different programmes the IMF has funded over the past nine months, it's attached just 13 conditionalities. Also, on 8 January the IMF announced it had secured enough funding to maintain its 'lending capacity at about US$1 trillion for the coming years,' signalling its intention to continue this aggressive lending. This is good news - Africa's economic recovery promises to be long and arduous.'

However, it's also raising eyebrows, as the IMF hasn't been a frequent protagonist in Africa's macroeconomic history. During the 1980s and 1990s, it and the World Bank hamstrung many African countries with conditionalities that played a role in economic stagnation during those years, with dire social implications. These conditionalities were almost exclusively geared around neoliberal theories and relied heavily on privatising state-owned enterprises and reducing wages and pensions in the civil service.

After a blitz of criticism in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the IMF took stock and seems to have returned to its core mission of ensuring the stability of the international monetary system. It's meant to do this by 'keeping track of the global economy and the economies of member countries; lending to countries with balance of payments difficulties; and giving practical help to members' rather than demanding domestic policy overhauls.

Along with providing meaningful and timely financial assistance in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis (parts one and two of its original mandate), the IMF is offering constructive advice to African countries (part three).

Of the 100 programmes funded by the IMF in the past nine months, just 13 have conditionalities

Rather than assuming privatisation will automatically lead to more productive firms and economies, the IMF now insists that countries apply a more comprehensive basket of tools. This includes developing targets for domestic revenue collection along with understanding the importance of spending in areas like education and basic infrastructure.

In a recent interview with The Africa Report, the IMF's African Department director, Abebe Aemro Selassie, is frank about the need to widen the tax base in many African countries. Importantly from an IMF perspective, he also acknowledges that across Africa the policies must 'pay heed to domestic political considerations and preferences.' This is an important step away from both universal policy prescriptions and orthodox neoliberal economics.

Moreover, where the IMF chooses to take a tougher line with African governments, it does have a point. In Equatorial Guinea, the IMF is withholding more than 85% of a US$280 million loan until the country implements a number of good governance reforms.

It remains to be seen whether these IMF efforts will be enough to avoid major credit defaults, but there are potential reasons to be optimistic. For one, the IMF is stepping up to fill an immediate gap.

When the IMF takes a tougher line with African governments, such as Equatorial Guinea, it has a point

Another unanticipated result was that, according to Fitch Ratings, 'international reserve positions of sub-Saharan African sovereigns actually improved in several cases despite the severe shock from COVID-19.' This was attributed to 'currency depreciation, import compression, official creditor support and valuation effects.'

Many problems clearly remain. Countries that rely heavily on tourism or natural resources, or that were in challenging fiscal positions before the crisis, are still in a precarious position. Another reason to be optimistic though is that the IMF could do more if it wanted to.

Peterson Institute for International Economics Senior Fellow, Edwin Truman, advocates the allocation of special drawing rights (SDR) of up to US$2 trillion to help deal with the 'economic ravages' of COVID-19. The new Biden administration is sure to be more cooperative than its predecessor, and is likely to support this policy to stimulate global demand for US products.

That said, Selassie says desire alone is unlikely to yield quick results. He notes that when SDRs were authorised after the 2009 global financial crisis, 'we took five to six months before the allocations were finalised.'

The next few years will be fraught with challenges and tough decisions for both Africa and the IMF. Africa faces a reduction in private capital inflows, increased demand for social services, an uncertain future for commodity prices and many countries that are likely to continue having trouble raising revenue.

If Africa can replicate its COVID-19 battle on the economic front, it may avoid the dire forecasts

In 2021 the IMF projects the worst economic growth on record for sub-Saharan Africa - threatening to derail years of progress - across a basket of metrics for measuring human and economic development. What is uncertain is how Africa and the IMF will cope with the political-economic landscape that accompanies these challenges.

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A deft response to a crisis won't undo years of scepticism and many Africans may be reluctant to see their government do business with the IMF. But if the going gets too tough and African governments prove unwilling to implement the necessary macroeconomic reforms, then policymakers will have a readymade scapegoat in the IMF.

Both African governments and the IMF must act decisively and cooperatively if the former hopes for a speedy and prosperous recovery, and the latter hopes to overcome the ideological aversion that exists towards it.

At the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic, many feared the worst for Africa - this author included. While the pandemic is far from over, many of those initial concerns proved to be unfounded. African governments acted decisively, imposing harsh lockdowns and relying on public health agencies with extensive experience containing communicable diseases. Africa has about a quarter the number of COVID-19 deaths as Brazil, despite having a population roughly six times larger.

If Africa can replicate its medical battle against COVID-19 on the economic front, it may avoid the dire forecast hovering over it. Having a ready and capable partner in the IMF will help.

Zachary Donnenfeld, Research Consultant, ISS
An Arkansas farmer, 79, has been given a one-year suspended sentence after being caught on camera dumping bloody animal corpses on his neighbor's grave while dressed in a woman's wig, coat and sunglasses.

Joseph Stroud pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor for repeatedly placing dead animals on Fred McKinney's gravestone in the Pea Ridge Cemetery, Bentonville.

Stroud was first arrested back in August when he was spotted on surveillance camera sneaking into the cemetery in a grey wig, dark sunglasses and teal and white women's windbreaker jacket and leaving animals including dead possums on the grave.

McKinney lived on a neighboring farm to Stroud until his death aged 94 in August 2015 and, according to McKinney's granddaughter, the two men 'never got along with each other.'

Stroud, who has been diagnosed with vascular dementia, told the court he left the animal carcasses on the gravestone as a tribute because McKinney 'enjoyed animals.'

An Arkansas farmer, 79, has been given a one-year suspended sentence after being caught on camera dumping bloody animal corpses on his neighbor's grave while dressed in a woman's wig, coat and sunglasses. Pictured Joseph Stroud (left and in his disguise right)

Joseph Stroud pleaded guilty Monday to one misdemeanor charge of defacing objects of public respect, for repeatedly placing dead animals on Fred McKinney's gravestone in the Pea Ridge Cemetery, Bentonville. Pictured an animal carcass left on the grave

The 79-year-old was initially slapped with a more serous felony charge of defacing objects of public respect but agreed to the lesser charge in a plea deal.

He was given a one-year suspended sentence and was ordered to pay $2,529 to the victim's family within 30 days.

He was also ordered to hand over his driver's license because of his dementia diagnosis.

Stroud confessed to leaving the dead animals on McKinney's gravestone between May 31 and July 31 2020.

He claimed he left the animals on his old neighbor's behalf because he thought there was more 'beauty' in the carcasses than in 'flowers and stuff'.

'I done it for his behalf to show him the animals were still here and everything like that,' he told Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green, according to Arkansas Online.

'He just enjoyed animals and that there was more of a... a beauty than flowers and stuff.'

He also claimed he disguised himself while leaving the animals to 'agitate' and 'upset' the people he said were 'following me around.'

'It was to agitate the people looking at me and following me around. I done it to upset them because my car was there and my license tag was there, and they knew it was me,' he told the court.

McKinney (pictured) lived on a neighboring farm to Stroud until his death aged 94 in August 2015 and, according to McKinney's granddaughter, the two men 'never got along with each other'

'I done it just to agitate them because I knew they were checking on me and stuff.'

Stroud's lawyer Alison Lee argued he has dementia and is seeking follow-up treatment with medical professionals.

Lee also said Stroud understood what he had done was wrong and wanted to compensate the victim's family so they can replace the headstone.

Prosecutors said Stroud had caused around $2,500 worth of damage to the gravestone because the blood of one of the animals had permanently stained it.

'They will have to replace the headstone because of the blood and guts. It's permanently stained,' said deputy prosecutor Tyler Hawkins.

Hawkins said McKinney's family was in favor of the plea deal and said the deal was being offered because Stroud's judgment could have been impaired by his dementia diagnosis.

Stroud's wife is also buried at the same cemetery.

The judge ruled that he can only visit her grave if he is accompanied by one of his family members.

The saga unfolded last year when McKinney's granddaughter Shannon Nobles started finding dead animals on his grave back in May.

Stroud was first arrested back in August (pictured in his mug) when he was spotted on surveillance camera sneaking into the cemetery in a grey wig, dark sunglasses and teal and white women's windbreaker jacket and leaving animals including dead possums on the grave

They initially assumed the animals had just died from poisoning after eating fake flowers left in the cemetery and removed the flowers.

When the dead animals continued appearing, McKinney's family set up a surveillance camera to catch the perpetrator in the act.

The camera captured Stroud dressed in a teal and white woman's jacket, dark sunglasses and a grey woman's wig carrying a dead animal in his hand and then leaving it on the gravestone before walking back to his gray Dodge Journey, the affidavit states.

Nobles said she also saw Stroud driving away from the cemetery while she was jogging, it states.

When she went over to her grandfather's grave she found a dead possum and eight live baby possums inside one of the flower vases.

She reported the incident to the police in July.

She told cops her grandfather and Stroud had never gotten on and had been involved in a lawsuit with one another.

It is not clear what the suit was about but Nobles said she believes Stroud lost.

Stroud was arrested on August 10 and charged with defacing objects of public respect.

Police found a bath towel with blood stains in the backseat of his gray Dodge Journey.

Prosecutors were also looking to file animal cruelty charges against Stroud over the baby possums, but did not have enough proof, reported Arkansas Online.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee delivered his third State of the State address and presented budget and legislative priorities to a joint session of the General Assembly.

In addition to outlining budget and legislative priorities, the governor provided an accounting of Tennessees COVID-19 response and continued economic recovery.

Budget Breakdown

An overview of the proposed budget can be found here in addition to a video explaining key budget highlights and a video of the Tennessee state budget process.

Gov. Lees remarks as prepared for delivery are below:

Thank you very much.

Lieutenant Governor McNally, Speaker Sexton, Speaker Pro Tem Haile, Speaker Pro Tem Marsh, Members of the 112th General Assembly, Justices, Constitutional Officers, fellow Tennesseans:

I would also like to acknowledge the First Lady who is in the audience.

Maria serves our state with genuine compassion and is my partner in every aspect of this role.

I love you and am proud that you are ours.

I also share my gratitude to members of my Cabinet and staff who are here tonight.

Each of these men and women have committed to lives of service and honor.

They are battle-tested and I am proud of their work and their friendship.

Members of the General Assembly, let me say that its good to be here in person.

Last year, we stood together at the starting line of 2020 ready for a challenge and even more ready to leave our mark on what was sure to be a historic year for our state.

The events that would take place just a few weeks after, would set the tone for our year.

An unimaginable one for us that included the rise of a global pandemic, devastating tornadoes, flooding, violence, unrest, economic collapse, a downtown explosion and witnessing our nation undergo painful turmoil at the highest levels of government.

There have been heartbreaking losses.

We mourn the more than 10,000 Tennesseans we have lost in those deadly events this year.

In many respects, what was optimism has become a tempered feeling of resolve, and perhaps even cautiousness about what lies ahead in 2021 as we move forward but work to make sense of it all.

Scripture has a lot to say about that crossroads and what to do on the heels of suffering.

Where do we find the promise in this season?

The promise is found in perseverance, which produces character that leads to hope.

Tennesseans will know tonight that tragedy has no hold on who we are or where we are headed.

Tragedy will not define us and will not rob us of the opportunity that 2021 holds.

In fact, this year holds its own unique place for our state as we celebrate 225 years of statehood.

Since 1796, our state has been the portrait of perseverance, character and hope because of everyday heroes.

Ordinary Tennesseans are more than constituents - they are the strength of our state and the lifeblood of our country.

From early settlers, the farmers and factory workers, teachers and tradesmen, doctors and pastors.

We will celebrate that since 1796 the ordinary has made us extraordinary and remember that generations before us have not just weathered but excelled in the cycle of perseverance, character and hope.

I will once again travel to all 95 counties to reach the unsung people and places that make our state who she is.

We will do events in every county in Tennessee and to celebrate the 225th anniversary I hope every Tennessean can join us at one of them.

We will kick off that yearlong celebration in June, but in the meantime we have a lot of work to do.

Starting with acknowledging this place in time and where we are with COVID.

It will soon be part of our 225 year history and I want you to know where our response stands and how Tennessee can beat this thing once and for all.

Across the world this pandemic has exposed that when the government feels unprepared, its a natural temptation to think growing the size of government and reaching for the nearest mandate will save everything.

But not in Tennessee.

The worldwide data on governments success is mixed, but Tennessees approach has been consistent: maintain local control whenever possible, rely on people more than the government, and keep a primary focus on what we can directly impact.

We chose a prudent structure in our Unified-Command Group that merged the role of public health, the National Guard and our emergency management response.

We built a strong infrastructure to deliver tests and vaccines directly into communities and we worked in lock step with our hospital partners.

One of our first decisions was to double down on testing capacity, and we were consistently one of the early testing leaders across the country.

We were one of the first to make free testing available to every resident, regardless of symptoms and regardless of insurance status.

We were the first to purchase masks for every citizen.

As we watched disastrous outcomes at nursing homes in other states, we were one of the first states to test every nursing home resident and staff member well ahead of the federal requirement.

This decision paid off, as Tennessee has had a much lower fatality rate than the country as a whole in long term care facilities.

And that fatality rate is not just a statistic - it equates to hundreds of lives saved thanks to the swift actions of state and local government and the nursing homes and long term care facilities across our state.

Protecting the vulnerable has enabled us to continue the most critical functions of society, including educating our kids.

Im proud of our schools, and our collective decision to follow the science when it comes to getting our kids back in the classroom.

As of today, 146 of our 147 districts have an in-person option for students - and that choice is so critical for our kids.

We were the first state to send monthly deliveries of PPE to teachers and staff.

Most importantly of all, two months after the commencement of vaccine distribution in America, Tennessee is leading again.

We have consistently been in the top ten for vaccine distribution nationally and we expect that to continue in the weeks and months ahead.

Good news doesnt always get noticed, but our vaccine distribution plan is recognized by the Former CDC Director Redfield the most medically sound and practical plan in the country.

Were getting shots in the arms of the Tennesseans who need it most.

Despite the challenges associated with COVID-19, we have managed these with very limited restrictions on Tennessee business and citizens, and when they have been required they were targeted and temporary.

You may remember that the last time I addressed Tennesseans was the week before Christmas.

A post-Thanksgiving surge threatened to push our hospitals over the brink, and at that time, Tennessee had a greater number of new COVID cases per capita than anywhere in the world.

There was more pressure than ever to implement lockdowns and mandates and stay at home orders - but we trusted our people.

We encouraged people to gather differently in their homes for holidays.

Tennesseans responded, and helped us blunt a post-holiday surge.

Our cases counts have plummeted, down more than two thirds since our peak six weeks ago.

More important than that, our hospitalization numbers have sharply declined as COVID cases in hospitals have dropped more than 60% since our peak.

We have had this success thanks to the people of our state and the brave service of our health care workers.

So I want to say directly to them: thank you.

The successes we are seeing now are because of your diligence and sacrifice.

I also want to thank the team of public health professionals, and members of Unified-Command Group who have been common sense partners despite very harsh critics.

I also want to thank members of the Tennessee National Guard.

Soldiers and airmen have been the face of service through natural disasters and this pandemic.

We are so grateful to these men and women who stand at the ready for our state.

Deregulation has been one of the single most important functions in our pandemic response.

One critical role of our executive orders has been to make it easier to do business amid the pandemic.

Increasing the availability of telemedicine services, delaying driver license renewals, and allowing for transparent virtual meetings of local governments are a few examples of this.

Our ability to deregulate and pivot quickly has saved lives.

Another critical role of our executive orders has been to access needed federal funds - hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency funding relying on state of emergency declaration.

And one last thing on this subject thats important to me: our executive orders explicitly protected houses of worship from being regulated or shut down in any way.

Our response has been effective, and as cases have dropped, many sectors of our economy are roaring.

In fact, many segments of our economy are more prosperous than this time last year.

In the worst economic phase of the pandemic, our unemployment rate climbed to 15.5 percent, but now it is 6.4 percent.

We created the Tennessee Talent Exchange which connected unemployed workers with jobs.

Our workforce participation rate has improved drastically during the last year.

Its better today than it was before the pandemic, and we have now exceeded the national average for the first time in 25 years.

But some of our industries are struggling, and we have spent long hours and hundreds of millions of dollars to help Tennesseans keep their businesses.

In June 2020, the Tennessee Business Relief Program was launched.

A total of 200 million dollars in business relief payments has been distributed to over 27,000 small businesses in Tennessee.

In October 2020, the Supplemental Employer Recovery Grant (SERG) program was established. 125 million dollars of the coronavirus relief funds has been reserved for this program.

To date, 30 million dollars has been distributed in grant funding to over 1,300 businesses.

A strong economy means many things for Tennesseans, and one of them is low taxes and fiscal stability for their government.

A recent report shows Tennessee is one of only seven states to have positive economic growth since April 2020 when much of our economy was shut down. One of seven.

Weve cut a number of taxes since taking office two years ago, and we are recognized as the third least taxed state in the nation.

So let me thank and congratulate the General Assembly and the constitutional officers for that accomplishment.

Comptroller Wilson and Treasurer Lillard have been fierce guardians of our strong fiscal position.

I thank Justin Wilson for his service and welcome you, Comptroller Mumpower to build upon that legacy.

Likewise, our fiscal stability and management have again won high praise even this year, when many states are dealing with budget crises on top of other challenges.

We have worked with members of the General Assembly to create the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group, which has ensured good stewardship of federal dollars that have come our way.

This group has been both a bi-partisan effort and a fully transparent effort to ensure that it is open to the press and the public.

I thank Lt. Gov McNally, Speaker Sexton, Sen. Watson, Sen. Akbari, Rep. Marsh and Rep. Love who each served on this committee, for your partnership in this endeavor.

We have taken a fiscally conservative approach throughout this past year, maintaining strong reserves and budgeting for conservative growth rates.

Indeed, our budget is strong, and the differences are stark when you compare our states conservative budget to states with very different approaches.

But a strong budget isnt just about bragging rights.

A strong budget allows us to be good stewards of what the taxpayers have entrusted to us.

Those of us who run businesses know that deferring maintenance is a bad idea and therefore we have ignored the temptation to put off these projects amid economic uncertainty.

In this years budget Im proposing the largest capital maintenance budget in our states history - more than 900 million dollars in capital improvements and maintenance on both state buildings and higher education campuses.

We are also eliminating the backlog of deferred maintenance at state parks with a 30 million dollar investment. Addressing maintenance is the fiscally responsible thing to do.

We are also meeting other important obligations in our budget.

We will fully fund the BEP funding formula and the THEC outcomes-based formula, ensuring our students are put in the best possible position to recover from the pandemic.

And when the dust settles on this year, our combined Rainy Day and TennCare reserve funds will be 2 billion dollars - the largest in the states history.

We proactively used our states federal relief dollars to ensure the solvency of our unemployment trust fund, minimize the tax burden on employers, and encourage hiring.

As a result, while over half of states have lost more than 75% of their trust fund value, Tennessee is entering 2021 fully solvent, at the lowest employer tax rate.

Let me put this in practical terms: prudent management of the Unemployment Trust Fund staved off a projected 300% tax increase on Tennessee employers for unemployment insurance.

Now more than ever, we can look at our economic forecast and say: it matters who governs, and conservative principles work.

Our budget situation allows us to stand up here after a very challenging year and recommend a number of bold proposals for your consideration.

But before I do that, let me say a word about the recent special legislative session.

We met here two weeks ago for a historic special session. It was bold. And it will change the lives of our children.

I wont reiterate our accomplishments there but will add that the work continues for teacher pay raises.

During the special session we allocated almost $43 million dollars for teacher pay raises.

This was a step in the right direction, and the budget Im submitting for your consideration this week recommends an additional $120 million dollars be set aside for teacher compensation in the 21-22 budget.

This year has already brought other historic successes as well.

After a year and a half of negotiating, Tennessee recently became the first state in history to receive a Medicaid block grant waiver from the federal government.

This waiver will allow those in our Medicaid population to reap the benefit from our states strong fiscal management of the TennCare program.

It will also require us to meet a number of quality metrics, so we ensure that savings will not be accrued by cutting back on the number of people we serve or compromising the services that we currently provide in any way.

Furthermore, I am committing today that we will use the shared savings to do important work like shortening the waiting list for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities who need services.

Let me be clear: if partisan attacks that call for this block grant to be rescinded prevail, the state will not get these shared savings dollars that we plan to use to improve healthcare for vulnerable Tennesseans.

This block grant is a big deal and Im proud of it, but its not all were doing to improve health care in Tennessee.

My budget proposal includes $6.5 million dollars to extend postpartum coverage to all women receiving TennCare benefits from 60 days to 12 months to increase access to care for new moms.

Were making a $2 million dollar investment in our health care safety net so that those without health insurance have a place to go when they need it.

And were also adding $6.5 million in our mental health safety net which will be focused on providing services for school-aged children struggling with mental health issues.

I mentioned partisanship earlier and I want to address the recent election.

There was no greater stage for partisan politics than the final months of 2020 with partisan divides impacting almost every aspect of American life.

I have great concerns about our countrys faith in the integrity of our election process.

Thankfully, our state has stayed well above that controversy.

If every state ran their election process like Tennessee, wed have no delays and no scandal.

I credit you, Secretary Hargett, for your leadership to ensure Tennessee elections have integrity and that we do our part to protect the democratic process.

With elections behind us, we will watch with patriotic skepticism to see if politicians in Washington try to force more government on the states than the Tenth Amendment allows.

Why?

Because Tennessee knows what we need a lot better than the federal government.

Perhaps one of the most important lessons that has come out of this season is that Americans need to understand how their government works.

Two years ago we created the Governors Civics Seal to ensure we raise a generation of young people who are knowledgeable in American history and confident in navigating their civic responsibilities.

This year, we are expanding this initiative.

Using federal dollars, were doubling the number of schools participating in the Civics Seal Initiative which will ensure that thousands more students get a better civics education.

Going forward we are developing a set of instructional materials that will be free to districts, so that ultimately every school can earn the Governors Civics Seal at no cost.

As we look to the regular session that you will begin tomorrow, we have conservative proposals for your consideration that will reduce crime, support strong families, and get our economy back up to speed, especially in rural Tennessee.

Our proposals honor the individual yet benefit the state as a whole, and they will leave us well-positioned for the recovery that has already begun across our state.

As you all know, rural Tennessee is close to my heart and making it stronger is a major priority for my administration.

Revitalization starts with economic development, and quality economic development is about investing directly into communities.

Weve proposed $21 million dollars to invest in rural communities and distressed counties to directly support rural infrastructure, industrial site development, small business development and revitalizing small town main streets.

Whether its running a small business, accessing virtual learning, or accessing health care via telemedicine, slow internet speeds have many in rural Tennessee left at a disadvantage.

I have proposed record investments in broadband since becoming Governor, and I am grateful for the legislatures support on this issue.

But - I am ready for us to solve this issue once and for all.

A significant, one-time investment, combined with significant private investment, will get broadband to just about every community in Tennessee, and tonight, thats exactly what Im proposing.

To help us achieve our goal of every Tennessean having access to high speed broadband, my budget recommends an investment of 200 million dollars.

One major reason broadband expansion is important is to improve educational outcomes in rural areas.

We are doing that in other ways as well.

As you know, I have strongly advocated for the expanded use of public private and non-profit partnerships that empowers the private sector to help us achieve important objectives without being hampered by red tape and bureaucracy.

This year, we are proposing a new partnership with the Ayers Family Foundation to create a first of its kind rural education partnership that will improve both the college-going and college success rate of students in our rural communities.

This is a proven program that is already serving thousands of students, and I know they can do even more with our support.

Even as we launch new programs like this, programs we have launched in the last two years are already paying off for our kids.

We funded 28 projects in 18 at-risk counties through the Governors Investment in Vocational Education also known as the GIVE Act.

These projects created a new template for vocational education in this state, and we owe it to our students to keep the momentum going, despite the pandemic.

This year, Im proposing an additional 10 million dollars to create ten new GIVE sites, with a priority on distressed and at-risk communities with the greatest need of workforce revitalization.

Last year, the Future Workforce Initiative that I proposed and you enacted trained more than 200 teachers in STEM CTE programs and expanded access to AP computer science courses by 75%.

Apprenticeship Tennessee is our statewide initiative to advance apprenticeship opportunities for employers in every part of the state.

Its working - we have the highest number of Tennessee apprentices in a decade.

This is grassroots workforce development and its starting in our classrooms.

While we have strengthened specific aspects of rural education, we have invested in our urban centers, too:

More than $20 million in federal grants will largely support added tutoring and technology for students in our urban areas.

The reason we place so much focus on education is because students should be prepared for productive lives, not just the latest standardized test.

I recently had a conversation with Commissioner Schwinn that the mission of the Department of Education should be simple: Students should be prepared for life beyond the classroom. Our education policy impacts our kids today.

Our other policies dictate what sort of state our children will inherit tomorrow and that starts with how we approach families in our state.

You know that I am strongly pro-life and I will continue to defend this position.

Last year I stood before you and presented one of the most aggressive pro-life bills in the country.

That bill passed and it was an important day for our state, and a memorable one for me.

But being pro-life isnt just about defending the unborn and we must also think about how to use our passion for this issue to improve the lives of struggling families.

My administration is preparing a number of new initiatives that well announce throughout the year that will make Tennessee a national leader in foster care and adoption.

We are partnering the Department of Children's Services, our faith-based office, and several third party stakeholders to create partnerships with families and churches across our state that will move us toward a goal of every child in Tennessee having a loving home.

No doubt one of our goals must be fewer broken families, but there are things we can do to make the foster and adoption system work better when families do break up.

We are proposing a TennCare coverage extension for adopted youth that will allow them to retain their TennCare eligibility until age 18 regardless of federal or state adoption assistance eligibility.

This extension will allow them to have a seamless transition into their new families, retaining existing physical, mental, and behavioral health services and reducing the fiscal burden of adoption on their new family.

Another key part of our efforts to support children and families is within the Governor's Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives.

Among other successes in the last year, the Faith-Based Office played an important role in engaging our local faith communities to help connect people with employment services.

As weve seen over the last year, there are times when Tennessee families need an extra hand to make ends meet.

We have an opportunity to deploy resources and help those families by modernizing more than 700 million dollars in our Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding.

Between the efforts of the TANF working group and our new Human Services Commissioner, Clarence Carter, I believe we have a transformational solution to modernize TANF.

Our proposals provide families a pathway to prosperity, while enhancing protections against fraud, waste, and abuse by incentivizing education and apprenticeships, increasing the allotment amount for working families, and improving stakeholder engagement - all while strengthening program integrity.

Tennessee families deserve safe neighborhoods and I will again bring forward legislation this year that accomplishes that.

Youve heard me say many times that we have to be tough on crime, and smart on crime.

The legislation will look familiar to you - it was moving through committee last year when we had to set it aside to focus on our COVID-19 response.

In addition, my budget includes 4.7 million dollars for additional day reporting centers and evidenced-based programming for community supervision.

This approach ensures that re-entry to society is done in the most safe and effective way possible for those who were formerly incarcerated.

Safe neighborhoods require law enforcement that is well-supported and well-trained, and we have made a number of important strides for criminal justice reform and police training this year.

We know that law enforcement is a calling, and the men and women who take an oath to serve and protect deserve the best and most comprehensive training to benefit themselves and the communities they interact with.

Weve improved training standards and paid for almost 100 cadets to attend improved law enforcement training at no cost to their local communities.

We also added a new class of State Troopers and 20 new TBI Field Agents.

I think we can all agree that our law enforcement officials in our state have done an incredible job in protecting and serving the people of Tennessee.

Now, more than ever, Tennesseans want a strong commitment to the Second Amendment and the right to protect themselves.

And as such, I will be reintroducing Constitutional Carry legislation this year.

Besides all of these legislative proposals, Id like to mention a few additional budget priorities before I close.

I said at the start how proud I am of my staff and cabinet, and I am just as proud of all of our fellow co-workers, the best state employees in all of America.

As with teachers, my budget recommends a 4 percent raise for state employees as well.

To help local governments and communities recover from COVID faster, we are proposing 200 million dollar investment in local government infrastructure grants.

This funding will assist local governments with public safety projects, upgrades to utility systems and IT services, capital maintenance projects such as road improvements, new school construction, and school renovations.

We have worked for months to develop a budget for your consideration. One that is fiscally conservative and developed with a responsible attitude of stewardship of the hard-earned dollars of Tennessee taxpayers.

This has been a very long and challenging year for our nation and our state.

There has been a tragic loss of life, loss of incomes, loss of learning for our kids.

In many respects, one of our most difficult years in recent history.

But Ive learned over my 61 years of life that God is a Redeemer.

He takes what is tragic and makes it transformational.

There are things that we never would have known, insights we never would have been awakened to.

Through times of trial we become more purposeful and more resolute.

We see things more clearly, we act with more intention and we have a greater opportunity more than ever to seize the moment and shape the future.

To see the needs of our neighbors around us, every single one of them and to commit to serving them.

Tennesseans, transformation will define us.

Not tragedy.

The state of our state is indeed hopeful.

I thank you for the honor I have been given to serve alongside each of you, this state and her people.

I still believe and I always will believe in Tennessee.

May God bless each of you and may God bless our state.

Insurrectionists loyal to President Donald Trump climb on an inauguration platform on the West Front of the US Capitol in Washington on January 6 (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

Former US president Donald Trumps historic second impeachment trial will force the Senate to decide whether to convict him of incitement of insurrection after a violent mob of his supporters laid siege to the US Capitol on January 6.

While Mr Trumps acquittal is expected, Democrats hope to gain at least some Senate Republican votes by linking his actions to a vivid description of the violence, which resulted in five deaths and sent legislators fleeing for safety.

The House of Representatives impeached Mr Trump on January 13, one week later.

Mr Trumps lawyers say the trial should not be held at all because the former president is now a private citizen. They argue that he did not incite the violence when he told his supporters to fight like hell to overturn his defeat.

Here is a look at the basics of the impeachment trial:

 How does the trial work?

As laid out by the constitution, the House votes to impeach and the Senate then holds a trial on the charge or charges. Two thirds of senators present can convict.

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The House appointed nine impeachment managers who will present the case against Mr Trump on the Senate floor. Mr Trumps defence team will have equal time to argue against conviction.

The chief justice of the United States normally presides over the trial of a president, but because Mr Trump has left office, the presiding officer will be Democratic Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, who is the ceremonial head of the Senate as the longest-serving member of the majority party.

Once the senators reach a final vote on the impeachment charge  this time there is just one, incitement of insurrection  each legislator will stand up and cast their vote: guilty or not guilty.

 How long will the trial last?

It is likely to be more than a week. The agreement between Senate leaders provides for up to 16 hours for both prosecutors and the defence to make their arguments, starting on Wednesday, with no more than eight hours of arguments per day. Later, there will be time for senators to ask questions, and there could be additional procedural votes.

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Under the agreement, the trial will open on Tuesday with four hours of debate on whether the trial is constitutional. The Senate will then vote on whether to dismiss the charge against Mr Trump. If that vote fails, as expected, the House managers will begin their arguments on Wednesday and continue into Thursday.

Mr Trumps lawyers are likely to begin their arguments on Friday and finish on Saturday. That almost certainly means a final vote on Mr Trumps conviction will not happen until next week.

Mr Trumps first impeachment trial, in which he was acquitted on charges that he abused power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate now-president Joe Biden, lasted almost three weeks. But this one is expected to be shorter, as the case is less complicated and the senators know many of the details already, having been in the Capitol during the insurrection.

And while the Democrats want to ensure they have enough time to make their case, they do not want to tie up the Senate for long. The Senate cannot confirm Mr Bidens cabinet nominees and move forward with their legislative priorities, such as Covid-19 relief, until the trial is complete.

 Will there be witnesses?

It appears unlikely, for now, though that could change as the trial proceeds. Mr Trump himself has declined a request from the impeachment managers to give evidence.

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While Democrats argued vociferously for witnesses in the last impeachment trial, they were not allowed to call them after the Republican-controlled Senate voted against doing so. This time, Democrats feel they do not need witnesses because they can rely on the graphic images of the insurrection that played out on live television. They also argue that the senators were witnesses themselves.

If the managers do decide they want to call witnesses, the bipartisan agreement for the trial allows them to ask for a vote. The Senate would have to approve subpoenaing any witnesses for the trial.

 Why try Trump when he is out of office?

Republicans and Mr Trumps lawyers argue that the trial is unnecessary, and even unconstitutional, because Mr Trump is no longer president and cannot be removed from office. Democrats disagree, pointing to opinions of many legal scholars and the impeachment of a former secretary of war, William Belknap, who resigned in 1876 just hours before he was impeached over a kickback scheme.

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While Belknap was eventually acquitted, the Senate held a full trial. And this time, the House impeached Mr Trump while he was still president, seven days before Mr Bidens inauguration.

If Mr Trump were convicted, the Senate would take a second vote to bar him from holding office again, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Monday. Democrats feel that would be an appropriate punishment.

In response to Republican efforts to dismiss the trial, Democrats argue that there should not be a January exception for presidents who commit impeachable offences just before they leave office. They say the trial is necessary not only to hold Mr Trump properly accountable but also so they can deal with what happened and move forward.

You cannot go forward until you have justice, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week. If we were not to follow up with this, we might as well remove any penalty from the constitution of impeachment.

 How is this trial different from Trumps first trial?

Mr Trumps first trial was based on evidence uncovered over several months by the House about a private phone call between Mr Trump and the president of Ukraine, as well as closed-door meetings that happened before and afterwards. Democrats held a lengthy investigation and then compiled a report of their findings.

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In contrast, the second trial will be based almost entirely on the visceral experience of a riot that targeted the senators themselves, in the Capitol building. The insurrectionists even breached the Senate chamber, where the trial will be held.

The fresh memories of January 6 could make it easier for the House impeachment managers to make their case, but it does not mean the outcome will be any different. Mr Trump was acquitted in his first trial a year ago on Friday with only one Republican, Utah Senator Mitt Romney, voting to convict, and there may not be many more guilty votes this time around.

In a test vote on January 26, only five Senate Republicans voted against an effort to dismiss the trial  an early indication that Mr Trump is likely to be acquitted again.

 What will Trumps lawyers argue?

In a brief filed on Monday, they argued that the trial is unconstitutional, that Mr Trump did nothing wrong and that he did not incite the insurrection during his January 6 speech to supporters.

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While the House impeachment managers say Mr Trump is singularly responsible for the attack on the Capitol, Mr Trumps lawyers say the rioters acted on their own accord. They suggest that Mr Trump was simply exercising his First Amendment rights when he falsely disputed the election results and told his supporters to fight  a term they note is often used in political speeches.

The brief goes after the impeachment managers personally, claiming that the Democrats have Trump derangement syndrome, are selfish and are only trying to impeach Mr Trump for political gain.

There was no widespread fraud in the election, as Mr Trump claimed falsely over several months and again to his supporters just before the insurrection. Election officials across the country, and even former attorney general William Barr, contradicted his claims, and dozens of legal challenges to the election put forth by Mr Trump and his allies were dismissed.

 What would acquittal mean for Trump?

A second impeachment acquittal by the Senate would be a victory for Mr Trump  and would prove he retains considerable sway over his party, despite his efforts to subvert democracy and widespread condemnation from his Republican colleagues after January 6.

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Still, acquittal may not be the end of attempts to hold him accountable. Senators Tim Kaine (Democrat, Virginia) and Susan Collins (Republican, Maine) floated a censure resolution after last months vote made clear that Mr Trump was unlikely to be convicted.

While they have not said yet if they will push for a censure vote after the impeachment trial, Mr Kaine said last week that the idea is out there on the table and it may become a useful idea down the road.
Phoebe Burgess treated herself to a pampering session on Monday, just days after her father and ex-husband battled it out in court.

The former WAG shared a short clip to her Instagram Stories of herself smiling as she got her hair done at a salon.

Sam Burgess, 32, was found guilty on Friday of intimidating Phoebe's father, Mitchell Hooke, at Hooke's home near Bowral, NSW, more than a year ago.

No worries! Phoebe Burgess treated herself to a pampering session on Monday, just days after her father and ex-husband Sam Burgess battled it out in court

In the video, Phoebe couldn't wipe the smile off her face as a hairdresser attended to her tresses.

The mother of two, an influencer with more than 80,000 Instagram followers, often shares life updates with fans on social media.

The salon visit comes after Sam, a retired NRL star, was found guilty on Friday of intimidating his former father-in-law during an argument at Mr Hooke's country estate in October 2019.

Verdict: The salon visit comes after Sam (right), a retired NRL star, was found guilty on Friday of intimidating Phoebe's (centre) father, Mitchell Hooke (left), during an argument at Mr Hooke's country estate near Bowral, NSW, in October 2019

The court heard that a furious argument erupted between the pair as it came time for Sam to leave the home after visiting his two children as per the terms of his split with Phoebe, which had been finalised just a week earlier.

During the row, Sam had told Mitchell 'you're a f**king piece of s**t [and] I'm going to get you', which left the older man 'pale, shaken and unsteady on his feet'.

Sam was sentenced to a two-year community correction order a two-year apprehended violence order, but his lawyers immediately said he would appeal.

Argument: The court heard that a furious argument erupted between the pair as it came time for Sam to leave the home after visiting his two children as per the terms of his split with Phoebe, which had been finalised just a week earlier

Lawyer Bryan Wench said: 'We will go all the way if necessary, [Burgess] has done nothing wrong'.

Sam's mother Julie, who attended the court session, also spoke out to defend her son - calling him 'a good man and a good father'.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that the magistrate who convicted Sam had several links to two of Mitchell's daughters.

Phoebe's father raised the connections in a late-night email to police less than 12 hours before magistrate Robert Rabbidge was to announce whether he had found Sam guilty.

Links: Meanwhile, it was revealed that the magistrate who convicted Sam had several links to two of Mitchell's daughters. Phoebe's father raised the connections in a late-night email to police less than 12 hours before magistrate Robert Rabbidge was to announce whether he had found Sam guilty

Daily Mail Australia has seen the email and its contents are published here with the names and relationships between some of the parties removed for legal reasons.

Burgess was married to Mr Hooke's daughter, Phoebe, with whom he has two young children, until their messy divorce.

Phoebe has two sisters, Harriet and Jemima.

Mitchell alleged Jemima and her husband, Gene Fairbanks, had once been close to Mr Rabbidge's son Scott and his longtime partner, Rachael Mannell.

Email: Mitchell sent the email to Senior Constable Simone Houghton, the officer in charge of the case, at 10.41pm the night before magistrate Robert Rabbidge was to determine Sam's fate

He said in the email tendered in Moss Vale Local Court that Jemima had once even attended a birthday party at Mr Rabbidge's home.

'The two families were quite close friends until the relationship broke down in rather strange and regrettably acrimonious circumstances initiated by Rachael,' he wrote.

He also stated Ms Mannell once worked with Phoebe at Cleo magazine where their boss was editor-in-chief Sharri Markson.

Ms Markson was the author of stories published last year in The Australian newspaper which accused Sam of domestic violence and drug use during his marriage to Phoebe.

Mitchell and Phoebe have both admitted helping Markson produce those articles in October last year but denied they did so to destroy Burgess's reputation.

Before Mr Rabbidge could deliver his verdict on Friday, prosecutor Jamie Palmer handed up the email Mitchell had sent police at 10.41pm the previous night.

Mitchell wrote the note to Senior Constable Simone Houghton, the officer-in-charge of the case, and suggested its contents be referred to Inspector Palmer.

The email followed an earlier conversation in which he disclosed links between his family and Mr Rabbidge which he had previously not recalled.

Mitchell said he presumed it would be incumbent upon a magistrate 'to declare a connection and any perceived bias more so than a witness or victim.'

'I have no desire nor indeed any basis or motive to call into question the integrity of His Honour,' he wrote.

He accepted it was possible Mr Rabbidge 'does not know of or recall his son and daughter-in-law's relationship with me and members of my family.'

Firing back: Sam's solicitor, Bryan Wrench, described Mitchell's email as 'an attempt to undermine the integrity of this court'

Sam's solicitor, Bryan Wrench, described Mitchell's email as 'an attempt to undermine the integrity of this court.'

Mr Rabbidge acknowledged some old links between the Hooke family and his, including that Ms Mannell had once worked at Cleo.

He said his son's partner, Ms Mannell, had not worked in magazines for eight or nine years and he did not know her media friends.

'I've lived in this region for 23 years,' Mr Rabbidge said. 'I'm well familiar with literally thousands of people.'

He said judicial officers 'do not live in a vacuum' and he was not biased, before proceeding to his decision to convict Sam.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - SLANG Worldwide Inc. (CNSX: SLNG) (OTCQB: SLGWF) ("SLANG" or the "Company"), a leading global cannabis consumer packaged goods (CPG) company with a diversified portfolio of popular brands, is pleased to report that its previously announced private placement (the "Financing") was met with strong institutional investor demand and was oversubscribed, to $11.9 million. All figures in this press release are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

"We are pleased to close this financing, with strong demand from both new and existing institutional investors, on favourable terms to our shareholders. This institutional participation further strengthens our balance sheet and shareholder base. This transaction comes at an important juncture in our growth, as we prepare to accelerate our expansion strategy into new states," said Peter Miller, co-founder and Executive Chairman of Slang Worldwide.

The Company issued an aggregate of 31,206,561 common shares of SLANG ("SLANG Shares") at a price of $0.38 per SLANG Share, a 5% discount to the close on Friday, January 29, 2021, for aggregate gross proceeds of $11,858,493. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Financing to support strategic growth opportunities, including expansion into new states with a near-term focus on Virginia and Missouri. All SLANG Shares issued pursuant to the Financing are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day.

To be added to SLANG's email distribution list, please email investors@slangww.com with "SLNG" in the subject.

About SLANG Worldwide Inc.

SLANG Worldwide Inc. is a global leader in the cannabis CPG sector with a diversified portfolio of popular brands distributed across the United States. The Company specializes in acquiring and developing market-proven regional brands as well as launching innovative new brands to seize global market opportunities. For more information, please visit www.slangww.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, SLANG's intended use of proceeds from the Financing.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management of SLANG at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and contingencies that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to regulatory risks, risks related to the COVID-19 global pandemic, changes in laws, resolutions and guidelines, market risks, concentration risks, operating history, competition, the risks associated with international and foreign operations and the other risks identified under the headings "Risk Factors" in SLANG's final long form prospectus dated January 17, 2019 and "Risks and Uncertainties" in the management discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019 and nine months ended September 30, 2020, each as filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. SLANG is not under any obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

Third Party Information

This press release includes market and industry data that has been obtained from third party sources, including industry publications. The Company believes that the industry data is accurate and that its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, but there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of this data. Third party sources generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of included information. Although the data is believed to be reliable, the Company has not independently verified any of the data from third party sources referred to in this press release or ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon by such sources.

Media and Investor inquiries

investors@slangww.com

KCSA Strategic Communications

Phil Carlson / Elizabeth Barker

SLNG@kcsa.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74009

Calhoun succeeded Muilenburg as Boeings chief executive officer in January 2020. Instead of holding Muilenburg accountable for allowing the 737 Max to carry passengers with an unsound flight-control system, directors led a public defense of their embattled CEO in May 2019, the suit said. Calhoun led the charge, according to the complaint. Calhoun and the board only stopped defending Muilenburg when they learned in December 2019 that his relationship with the FAA had ruptured and that the FAA would not soon re-certify the 737 Max, the suit said.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - Canadian Silver Hunter Inc. (TSXV: AGH.H) ("Canadian Silver Hunter" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that results have been received for a B-horizon, soil geochemistry survey on the Lost Dog Property located in the West Timmins area of Ontario.

Results from the 350 sample program identified five clusters of anomalous values on the property, identified as A to E in Figure 1 below.





Figure 1: Location of Soil Samples and Anomalous Area

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4993/74041_8d8250e304bbb832_001full.jpg

The following table shows maximum values for each area.

Area Gold (ppb) Silver (ppm) Copper (ppm) Lead (ppm) Zinc (ppm) A 71 1.7 45 51 125 B 92 13.0 80 106 72 C - - 416 - - D 112 2.5 228 62 76 E 78 1.2 53 110 -



The results are significant as they are coincidental with previously identified magnetic and DC/IP (Direct Current resistivity and Induced Polarization) anomalies.

Jeff Hunter (President and CEO of Canadian Silver Hunter) commented, "We are very pleased with the results we received from our initial geochemical soil sample survey on the Lost Dog property. Anomalous values in gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc have provided excellent targets for follow-up work once the snow is gone in the Spring. This, combined with the excellent location of the property in the Timmins Gold Camp, plus the fact that this property has seen little exploration in the past, should equal an exciting year of exploration here."

Recommended future work will include:

1) Continue analysis of the existing soil samples to further compare anomalous values to geophysical surveys done in 2011.

2) Expand the soil sampling to extend the identified anomalous trends.

3) Return to the property in the Spring 2021 and mechanically excavate trenches in order to determine what may be causing the anomalous values.

4) Generate drill targets based on the results of the above work.

About the Lost Dog property

The Lost Dog Property is located about 11 km southwest of the Timmins West Gold Deposit presently owned by Pan American Silver. A 2016, 43-101 report indicated the Timmins West property had a resource estimate 5,775,000 tonnes at 4.87 g/t (Indicated) and 2,671,000 tonnes of 5.00 g/t (Inferred)*

*2016: 43-101 Technical Report, Updated Mineral Reserve Estimate for Timmins West Mine and Initial Resource Estimate for the 144 Gap Deposit, Timmins, Ontario, Canada; Prepared for Lake Shore Gold Corp by E. Kalio and N.Vaz.

The contents of this press release have been reviewed by Wayne Holmstead, P.Geo, Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Canadian Silver Hunter Inc.

Canadian Silver Hunter Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on gold and silver exploration in Ontario and Quebec. The Company currently owns three properties: the Silver Centre-Keeley Frontier property, located near Cobalt in Northern Ontario; the Lac Lachance property, located near Lac Windfall in Quebec; and the Dark Horse property located near West Timmins in Northern Ontario, and has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Lost Dog property, located near Timmins in Northern Ontario. For further details about the Company's projects and plans please visit the Canadian Silver Hunter Inc. website at www.canadiansilverhunter.ca.

For more information please contact:

Jeffrey Hunter

President & CEO

(416) 707-4230

jhunter@cshi.ca

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward Looking Information

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory approvals, and commodity prices. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking information. The parties undertake no obligation to update forward-looking information except as otherwise may be required by applicable securities law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74041
High Court rules 'SLAPP' suit by mining companies constitutes abuse of process

Deputy Judge President Goliath yesterday ruled that a defamation case brought against environmental activists is inconsistent with our constitutional values

On 9 February 2021, the Western Cape High Court handed down judgment in an application related to a defamation case brought by mining companies against environmental activists. Deputy Judge President Goliath's judgment concludes that the case matches the definition of Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (or a SLAPP suit) which is an abuse of court process that is inconsistent with South Africas constitutional values.

CALS welcomes yesterdays judgment by the Western Cape High Court, which deals with an exception raised as part of a larger defamation suit. The defamation suit was brought by mining company Mineral Commodities Limited and its subsidiary Mineral Sands Resources against three environmental activists for remarks made during a university lecture. The women found themselves facing years of litigation and up to R1,25 million in damages  all for promoting environmental rights. Concerned about the implications of such a case on the right to freedom of expression and the pattern of victimisation of activists in our country, CALS intervened in the matter as a friend of the court.

The exception raised by the mining companies related to the defence raised by the defendants, in their special plea, that this case and other similar defamation suits brought by the mining companies against activists and journalists constitute an abuse of court process. CALS argued that, in fact, the case is an example of Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (otherwise known as a SLAPP suit) and that it is necessary to develop the law to properly respond to this kind of malicious litigation. CALS made submissions on abuse of court process, the nature of SLAPP suits and the chilling effect they have on democratic freedoms and activism.

Yesterday, Deputy Judge President Goliath handed down judgment in the defendants and CALS favour. In her conclusion, Judge Goliath crucially notes:

Corporations should not be allowed to weaponise our legal system against the ordinary citizen and activists in order to intimidate and silence them. It appears that the defamation suit is not genuine and bona fide, but merely a pretext with the only purpose to silence its opponents and critics. Litigation that is not aimed at vindicating legitimate rights, but it part of a broad and purposeful strategy to intimidate, distract and silence public criticism constitutes an improper use of the judicial process and is vexatious SLAPP suits constitute an abuse of process, and [are] inconsistent with our constitutional values and scheme.

She continues: The right to freedom of expression, robust public debate and the ability to participate in public debates without fear is essential in any democratic society. I am accordingly satisfied that this action matches the DNA of a SLAPP suit.

This is a ground-breaking judgment for the right to freedom of expression, says Thandeka Kathi, attorney at CALS. South Africa does not yet have legislation to adequately deal with SLAPP suits. This ruling acknowledges that these kinds of meritless cases can be used by corporations and other powerful actors to threaten and intimidate people who bring to light issues of public concern. This is a step towards addressing the victimisation and silencing of human rights defenders using the law.

This case is part of CALS ongoing campaign against SLAPP suits and activist victimisation in our strategic mission of contributing to the expansion of the agency of activists and marginalised actors. CALS is currently conducting research in a follow up to our 2018 report Victimisation Experiences of Activists in South Africa as well as engaging in litigation supporting human rights monitors in the Western Cape and human rights defenders in the Eastern Cape and Free State.

Read the full judgment here.

For inquiries, please contact:
The incident occurred on Tuesday morning at 7.55am on Avenue Monterey.

According to preliminary information, parts of a crane came loose which the man was using to access and cut the nearby tree tops. He thus fell several metres down and suffered serious injuries.

The police has communicated that he is not in critical condition.
No-fly zone: The departure gates at Dublin Airport as passenger numbers remain low under Covid travel restrictions

Thousands of jobs dependent on aviation here could be lost permanently unless the Government acts to support the sector through a second summer of inactivity caused by Covid-related travel restrictions, according to trade union Forsa.

And it told an Oireachtas transport committee hearing that the sectors workers are under severe financial strain with mortgage and other debts that are piling up and destined to be a burden for years.

The Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) told the committee yesterday that airlines need direct State aid to survive after depleting cash reserves last year.

In a bleak assessment of the sector as it nears the anniversary of the countrys first lockdown, Forsa official Ashley Connolly told committee members that with no early end to flight restrictions in sight, thousands of aviation jobs remain at risk unless the Government acts.

While the industry and its staff have benefitted from State wage supports, Ireland continues to lack a European-style joined-up Government approach to underpin jobs in the sector, protect aviation infrastructure, and ensure the survival of a viable post-pandemic industry, she said.

This runs the risk that Irish aviation will be left behin d when the rest of the world moves on, with potentially devastating implications for the national economy and employment in aviation and the sectors an d communities that depend on it.

She told the committee that its almost certain that aviation will be among the last industries to emerge from the crisis.

Ms Connolly said Forsa wants the Central Bank to adopt guidelines from the European Banking Authority for the extension of mortgage payment breaks in 2021.

The European guidelines do not currently apply in Ireland, where the application process is slow and onerous, she told the committee.

After 11 months of income reductions, and no early sight of recovery, this is placing avoidable strain on workers.

IALPA president Evan Cullen told the committee that more airlines are facing collapse as the Covid crisis continues.

The loss of a second consecutive summer season  coming after an entire year of practically zero revenue  will prove fatal for airlines that have already decimated their cash reserves, he told the committee.

He said that if international travel has to be suppressed into the future, then significant financial support for Irish airlines is required.
NEWS PROVIDED BY

Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

Feb. 8, 2021

NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue (photo) comments on two important statements made by Pope Francis:

There is nothing new about the Catholic Church's opposition to abortion or human trafficking, but what Pope Francis said about them on February 8 is worth a closer look.

The pope decried the fact that many nations are retreating on these key life issues. What he said bears application to the vector of change apparent in the United States.

The pope said "it was painful" to observe that "under the pretext of guaranteeing presumed subjective rights, a growing number of legal systems in our world seem to be moving away from their inalienable duty to protect human life at every one of its phases." Calling the right to life "a foundational human right," the Holy Father said, "If we deprive the weakest among us of the right to life, how can we effectively guarantee respect for every other right?"

Among those other rights, he noted in a separate forum, is the right to be free from exploitation. He pointedly mentioned the plight of those who suffer from human trafficking, the most vulnerable among us. He encouraged all of us to continue "praying and fighting together" in hopes of ridding ourselves of this horrendous condition.

Unfortunately, in the United States we are going backwards on both issues.

President Biden is determined to be the most pro-abortion president in American history. He spent his first few weeks in office rolling back many restrictions on abortion enacted by the Trump administration. Moreover, never has Biden, or anyone on his staff, called the right to life "a foundational human right."

Just as disturbing are the Biden administration's policies governing border security. Let's be honest: He is bent on relaxing the strictures that worked to stop the caravans of Central Americans from crashing our borders. Now they are back. Who is leading them? Human traffickers. They traffic in women, children and drugs.

Biden professes to be a "devout" Catholic, and it would be unfair to question his personal relationship with God. But he can be judged on his abortion policies, and on that score he fails miserably. As for human trafficking, no one champions its cause. But that matters little. What matters is whether the policies being promoted act as a deterrent or a lure.

Pope Francis has a right to expect more fidelity to his teachings from those who wear their Catholicism on their sleeve than from those who do not. And he certainly should expect more from them than those who are not Catholic.
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A COVID-19-free future is within our reach  a future in which its safe to hug again and our smiles no longer need to be hidden behind a mask. To get there, we will need a robust vaccination drive.

Opinion

A COVID-19-free future is within our reach  a future in which its safe to hug again and our smiles no longer need to be hidden behind a mask. To get there, we will need a robust vaccination drive.

We will need Canadians to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated. But we will also need to be patient. Immunizing the country wont happen overnight; it will be an incremental process informed by science, and one that seeks to immediately stem the loss of life.

Jean-Francois Badias, File / The Associated Press Limiting virus spread requires widespread vaccination acceptance.

Last month, the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions encouraged all health-care workers, all essential workers and the general public to receive the vaccine when they become eligible. We also urged governments across Canada to speed up the rollout of the vaccine, especially to those most likely to experience severe illness, such as seniors, Indigenous people and racialized people  all of whom have been shown to be most at risk of infection.

Nurses have also signalled that they are ready and willing to step up and help the government with the vaccine rollout by joining health-care teams at vaccination clinics across Canada. While the news of some delays in delivery of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines may give us pause, governments must strive to speed up the immunization and rapidly increase the number of clinics where the vaccine is available. This is how we will contain this virus and counter its spread.

Whats also been lacking in Canadas vaccine delivery program is evidence-based information. Within this vacuum, misinformation, vaccine myths and mistrust have thrived. Sadly, many Canadians are hesitant to get vaccinated, particularly among marginalized communities which, we recognize, have all too often experienced negative interactions with the medical community.

As nurses, we believe that any risk posed by the vaccine is far outweighed by the benefits in being protected from COVID-19.

As with any other medical treatment, informed consent is required. Its our job, as health professionals, to provide facts  and yes, empathy  when patients express concerns about being vaccinated. Everyone who gets the vaccine must understand the benefits of immunization, as well as any potential risks. All Canadians should be empowered to make an informed decision.

Some individuals have expressed concerns about the record turnaround time for these vaccines. Producing multiple vaccines in less than a year was the result of a momentous global effort, harnessing the ingenuity of a scientific community united in a common objective. Large-scale trials on the efficacy of vaccines involved tens of thousands of participants, including many from diverse backgrounds.

The trials resulted in high rates of protection with few or no reported serious adverse events. Despite the compressed timelines, no shortcuts were taken: the same standards were applied to these vaccines as for any other vaccines that have been developed.

In Canada, we know the approval process by Health Canada is safe and effective; their assessment of scientific and clinical evidence is done independently and is known to be stringent. We also know that historically, immunization programs have saved countless lives worldwide. The COVID-19 vaccines approved thus far have the potential to provide much-needed protection against the continued spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but this will only happen if sufficient numbers choose to be vaccinated.

As Canadas nurses, we want to encourage all those living in Canada to receive the vaccine as soon as they are able. Together, we can contain this virus, end the pandemic and take part in Canadas post-pandemic recovery.

Linda Silas is a nurse and president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, representing nearly 200,000 nurses and student nurses across the country.

An article trending on social media claims the police had arrested or rescued 115 young mothers from 'human milk factory' in Abuja

The police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) say it has no record of arrest or rescue of 115 young mothers from a "human milk factory" in the territory.

The FCT police spokesperson, Mariam Yusuf, made the clarification in a statement on Tuesday, in Abuja.

Ms Yusuf said the clarification followed an article trending on social media, which claimed that the police had arrested or rescued 115 young mothers from the said factory.

"The command wishes to categorically state that there is no record of such incident or operation in the FCT.

"It, therefore, wishes to dissociate itself from the article and call for useful information from the public on (the) occurrence of such an incident," she said.

Ms Yusuf reiterated the commitment of the command to protect lives and property in the FCT.

She called on the public to report all suspicious movements within their vicinity to the police or call the police through the following emergency phone numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883.

The police spokesperson also said that the conduct of police officers could be reported to the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) on this phone number - 09022222352.

(NAN)
Real estate agent Karl Howard (pictured) has been stood down from his job after an alleged attack on two women at his home on Monday

A prominent real estate agent has been stood down from his job over an alleged 'out of character' attack on two women on a quiet suburban street.

Karl Howard, 44, alleged attacked his girlfriend and her friend inside his multi-million dollar home on Ferris Street in Annandale, in Sydney's inner-west, just after 5am on Monday.

Howard allegedly punched his 27-year-old girlfriend in the head, before turning on her friend - a 29-year-old - who tried to intervene.

It is understood he had met his girlfriend on a dating app in recent months.

Police allege Howard fled the scene and dumped his belongings in a skip bin just up the road, while the two women sought help from neighbours.

He was eventually arrested on nearby Macquarie Street and suffered an injury to his elbow while being restrained.

NSW Police returned to his home on Tuesday to seize two cars - including a BMW with a Ray White logo on the side - which will now be forensically examined as part of the investigation

NSW Police detectives watched on as the two cars were towed away from Howard's garage

Howard - the principal at Ray White Balmain - is yet to be charged by police, but the real estate giant told Daily Mail Australia he had already been stood down.

Detectives returned to his home on Tuesday to seize two cars - including a BMW with a Ray White logo on the side - which will now be forensically examined as part of the investigation.

A long-time friend of Howard's said the incident was 'out of character' for the highly respected real estate agent.

'We're all really worried about him,' she said.

'We'll be there to support him, it is just really out of character. He's a successful, very talented man... it's very sad for him to be honest.'

Howard's friend said the women he is alleged to have attacked 'have not been on the scene long'.

In a statement, Ray White said they had decided to stand down Howard until the end of any criminal proceedings.

NSW Police are expected to lay charges in coming days with Howard still currently in the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

'The Ray White Group is an Australian family owned and led business and it expects a high standard of personal conduct from all its members in representing the brand,' a spokesperson for the real estate giant said.

Police tape remains wrapped around a skip bin at a building site on Ferris Street - just some 50 metres from the scene of the alleged attack - where Howard's wallet and phone were allegedly found

Blood can be seen on the footpath directly opposite Howard's home, where his girlfriend and a friend ran for help after the alleged attack

Howard was eventually arrested on nearby Macquarie Street (pictured) and suffered an injury to his elbow during his arrest

'Right now Mr Howard is in Royal Prince Alfred Hospital while he is at the centre of an ongoing police matter. We are concerned for the well-being of all involved and awaiting information from the investigation.'

The two women were treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA), where they remain in a stable condition.

Neighbours on the normally quiet street described the incident as 'shocking'.

'I got woken up early yesterday morning and saw the flashing lights from the police car, but didn't realise just what had happened until I saw the news,'

'It's a really nice, quiet, leafy street. You don't expect something so shocking to happen here.'
Nicholas August, 39, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in Illinois for sexually assaulting a bank employee he took hostage at gunpoint last year during a bank robbery

An Illinois man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually assaulting a bank employee he took hostage at gunpoint last year during a robbery that led to a seven-hour police standoff.

Nicholas August, 39, of Rockford, pleaded guilty last week to two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault with a weapon. Under his plea agreement, 22 other counts he had faced, including armed robbery, were dismissed. August must serve at least 85 per cent of his sentence.

Police said August entered Heritage Credit Union in Rockford on January 3, 2020, and threatened employees during the heist with a pellet gun that resembled a real firearm.

He then took a female employee hostage and ordered other employees out of the building, authorities said.

Prosecutors said August had targeted the female staffer after receiving an email about a loan from her a day earlier.

He was said to have told the victim that he had 'premeditated' the heist.

August sexually assaulted his hostage during the seven-hour standoff with police before he released her and surrendered.

Dramatic video shown by WTVO-TV last year depicted August and his hostage emerge from the bank with their hands in the air.

The incident took place at Heritage Credit Union in Rockford on January 3, 2020

August surrendered to heavily armed SWAT officers following a seven-hour standoff

August let his hostage go, allowing her to walk out of the bank with her hands raised

Heavy police presence is seen outside the Illinois bank on the day of August's arrest

Heavily-armed SWAT officers ordered the gunman to kneel, before putting handcuffs on him.

August had a history of accusations of violence against women before the standoff, the Rockford Register Star reported.

Seven women had sought at least 12 court orders of protection against August since 2002. Those orders described increasingly violent episodes, but most of the women never filed criminal complaints.
A New Haven lawmaker is trying to stop municipalities from imposing exorbitant fees that restrict many out-of-towners from using public beaches.

Rep. Roland Lemar, D-New Haven, introduced a bill that also would prevent communities from barring beach visitors from other towns on grounds that this would prevent COVID-19 spread.

It doesnt surprise me that every approach that any of these communities take is to limit who can access public beaches, Lemar said, calling these measures akin to the racially restrictive land covenants and exclusionary zoning policies that bar many poor Black and Hispanic residents from affluent suburbs.

Connecticuts shoreline and beaches are a core asset that have benefitted from millions of dollars of public investments in clean air and water and park development programs, Lemar said, adding every resident should have an opportunity to enjoy them.

But some shoreline communities say that simply isnt realistic.

Parking is limited at municipal beaches, and residents should have priority over visitors from out-of-town, some leaders said.

Westport, an affluent Fairfield County community, made headlines three years ago when local officials set the prices for a seasonal beach parking pass at $50 for residents  and $775 for visitors from most other towns. Residents of neighboring Weston pay $375.

But some communities invest more in their beaches than others do, and Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe said the fee schedule is designed to spread costs fairly.

Compo Beach, the towns main shoreline attraction, includes pavilions, picnic tables and cooking areas, restrooms, pickleball courts and a skate park, and it is adjacent to two marinas.

Adding and maintaining these amenities requires more funding than $50 local beach passes can raise. Town residents cover the bulk of the extra costs through their property tax payments, but the higher parking charges on visitors from other towns is an attempt to share some of the burden, Marpe said.

A few years ago back, our own residents could not get to the beach because of a lack of parking spaces, he said, adding this was unfair given that those same residents financed the beachs development.

But Lemar said it simply isnt realistic to expect poorer families to pay $775, adding that Connecticuts largest cities dont charge neighboring suburban residents for all of the benefits they provide.

People in New Haven pay for the sidewalks, but we dont say to the people in Milford, If you work here, you cant walk on our sidewalks.

Westport should be ashamed of themselves, said Scot X. Esdaile, president of the Connecticut NAACP. In this day and time, Connecticut should not be involved in this level of discrimination.

Gov. Ned Lamonts communications director, Max Reiss, declined to comment last week. Lamonts hometown of Greenwich set prices in 2019 that charged non-residents $150 for a seasonal beach pass, while residents paid $35.

Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo could not be reached for comment.

Lemars bill also would prevent communities from selectively banning non-residents from beach use in response to pandemic. A handful of communities closed their beaches to non-residents last summer to reduce crowd size and ensure social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Lemar said the solution could be to limit overall attendance  but not by excluding out-of-town visitors.

Fairfield, which charges non-residents $250 for a seasonal beach pass  versus the $25 residents pay  temporarily blocked out-of-towners from its shores last summer.

To me, it was a public safety issue, said Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick. My biggest concern was allowing people to socially distance.

The Connecticut ACLU, which cautioned communities against these policies last summer, hasnt reviewed Lemars bill to date.

But Executive Director David McGuire said fair beach access is an issue that has haunted Connecticut for too long, with most restrictive policies grounded in politics, not health science.

We know Connecticut has a long history of shoreline towns using a number of different policies to keep a number of people off their beaches, he said, adding that a lot of times, these policies are nothing more than thinly veiled racist policies.
Australians around the country have revealed where they have eaten the best fish and chips they have ever had and where you can purchase the meal from.

From the popular eastern beaches of New South Wales to the opposite end of the country in Western Australia, hundreds didn't hesitate to share their recommendations.

Off The Hook in Port Macquarie, New South Wales was named multiple times online for serving 'amazingly delicious' fish and chips, while The Fish Shop Burrill Lake in New South Wales was also listed for it's great food and exceptional views.

Australians around the country have revealed where they have eaten the best fish and chips they have ever had

The Fish Shop Burrill Lake in New South Wales (pictured) was listed for it's great food and exceptional scenery views

Costa's Seafood Cafe in Queensland (takeaway food pictured) was listed as one of the best fish and chip shops in 2019 according to shoppers who voted in the Australian Fish and Chips Awards

What fish and chips spots were mentioned in the thread? New South Wales Sandys Famous Seafood - Heatherbrae

The Fish Shop - Burrill Lake

Doyle's - Watson's Bay

Corso - Manly

Beach Street Seafoods - Forster

Banana Coast Fish and Chips - Coffs Harbour

The Boatshed - Batesmans Bay

Pelican Rocks Seafood Restaurant and Cafe

Off the Hook - Port Macquarie Queensland Grunske's by the River - Bundaberg

Maddigan's - Hervey Bay Western Australia Stinger - Geraldton

Jurien Seafood - Jurien Bay Advertisement

Those in Western Australia seemed fond of Jurien Seafood in Jurien Bay as well as Stingers in Geraldton.

In the New South Wales suburb of Manly, others recommend Corso.

'Doyle's Watsons Bay, worth the drive if anywhere near Sydney,' one person said.

'Bernie's at Batehaven (in New South Wales) make their own chips, grow their own oysters [and the] fish is always fresh and delicious,' another added.

The hot dish is a family favourite enjoyed by thousands internationally and is ideal to eat by the beach or at picnics

Other popular shops included Maddigan's in Queensland and Sandy's Famous Seafood in Heatherbrae, New South Wales.

'They were better in the day when they came wrapped in newspaper, and you sat on the beach while you ate,' one person wrote.

In 2019 the Fisheries Research Development Corporation (FRDC) held the official Australian Fish and Chips Awards.

Off The Hook in Port Macquarie, New South Wales was named multiple times online for serving 'amazingly delicious' fish and chips (pictured)

Customers also recommended trying food from Pinjarra Fish and Chips in Western Australia (pictured)

What shops are the winners of the Australian Fish and Chips Awards? Winner: QLD  Tobin Fish Tales (Townsville) State winners: NSW  Pelican Rocks Seafood Restaurant and Cafe NT  Frying Nemo Fish and Chippery QLD  Tobin Fish Tales (Townsville) SA  Stunned Mullet and Fish Out of Water TAS  Mures Lower Deck VIC  The Golden Flake WA  Ocean and Paddock State People's Choice: NSW  Pelican Rocks Seafood Restaurant and Cafe NT  Frying Nemo Fish and Chippery QLD  Costa's Seafood Cafe SA  Dolphin Fish Shop and Take Away TAS  Fraggles Fish and Chips VIC  Trident Fish Bar WA  Pinjarra Fish and Chip Advertisement

Shops around the country were critiqued by judges as well as voted by customers to determine which one's reigned supreme.

Based on public opinion, the best fish and chips shop in New South Wales was the Pelican Rocks Seafood Restaurant and Cafe, in Queensland the Costa's Seafood Cafe was named the best and in the Northern Territory the Frying Nemo Fish and Chippery won customers over.

In South Australia the Dolphin Fish Shop and Take Away was named the best, in Victoria the Trident Fish Bar won the best vote, and the Pinjarra Fish and Chips was also crowned a winner Western Australia.
Dehradun: Five more bodies of the around 170 missing in the Uttarakhand disaster were recovered from the debris in Raini village on Tuesday, while rescuers worked through tonnes of muck and slush to rescue more than 30 workers trapped in a tunnel at a power project site in Tapovan, State Emergency Control Centre said. Two policemen deployed at the plant are among the deceased.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also issued a statement in Rajya Sabha on the tragedy and asserted that all agencies of Centre and State are monitoring the situation on a war-footing. Members of Rajya Sabha also paid tribute to victims of the disaster.

In Lok Sabha, Shah said that Centre is monitoring the situation. PM himself is monitoring it. Both the control rooms of the Home Ministry are monitoring the situation round the clock and the state is being provided with all the possible help, he said.

Tunnel rescue hits roadblock - and boulders

Huge boulders embedded in the debris inside the Tapovan tunnel are causing the biggest hindrance to the ongoing search operations at the NTPC's damaged hydel project site here, ITBP Deputy Commandant A K Dabral said. Around 39 people are feared trapped in the tunnel since the avalanche hit Joshimath area of Chamoli district on Sunday with rescue efforts by multiple agencies focused on reaching them as soon as possible.

#WATCH: A joint team of ITBP, NDRF, SDRF & other sister agencies entered into the tunnel (being cleared off debris). Drone camera used to see the feasibility to enter beyond the cleared site inside the tunnel. Machines back on the job of clearing the slush: ITBP (Source: ITBP) pic.twitter.com/akaqkD1sUB  ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

The combined rescue team has reached up to 130 metres inside the tunnel but there is a lot of debris clogging it, he said. People feared trapped inside the tunnel should be at around 200 metres, he said. Personnel of the Army, State Disaster Response Force, National Disaster Response Force, Sashastra Seema Bal are coordinating and working with a defined strategy to get to those trapped inside, Dabral said.

However, some feel that more sophisticated equipment should be engaged to expedite the rescue operations. Kedarnath MLA Manoj Rawat said excavators and Pokland machines should be brought in to speed up the process.

ALSO READ | Glacier Break: Some Families Mourn, Others Await Piece of Good News as Search for Missing Continues

Meanwhile, search efforts at the now-demolished hydel project site at Raini also picked up pace on Tuesday with heavy mechanical equipment tearing through the debris deposited there by the avalanche. SDRF personnel have been able to throw ropes across the Rishi Ganga river and are installing trolleys there as an alternative arrangement to transport food and other essentials to the residents of villages cut off due to the washing away of three pedestrian bridges and a motorable bridge in the area.

Essentials are being supplied to these villages at present by helicopters. Besides, people stranded in these villages are also being evacuated by helicopters. Around 150 residents were evacuated from these villages on Tuesday by helicopters, Additional Information Officer Ravindra Negi said.

Also Read: As Rescue Ops Continue in Uttarakhand, News18 Explains How Long People Can Survive Under Rubble
A man accused of murdering a small-time drug dealer and dumping his plastic-wrapped body on the side of the road at Sydney Olympic Park in 2018 does not deny leaving the body near the road, a court has heard, but says he is not the person who killed him.

Wachira Mario Phetmang, 33, was last seen alive at a Hurstville service station in Sydneys south in late May 2018. About a week and a half later, his body was discovered in foliage on the side of Homebush Bay Drive by an Australia Post truck driver who pulled over with vehicle troubles.

Wachira Mario Phetmang was found dead on the side of the road in 2018.

Mr Phetmang was bound and gagged, wrapped in plastic and covered with a mattress protector. The driver spotted his feet poking out.

The court heard Mr Phetmangs family, including his wife in Wollongong, were unaware of aspects of his life in Sydney including his drug-dealing. His wife was unaware he was in a romantic relationship with a man, with whom he lived at Hurstville.

Parents will have to pay 100% school fee during pandemic period, says SC

Giving a major setback to parents, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that parents will have to pay 100% of the school fees for the academic session 2020-21 during the pandemic period which will be equal to the fees paid in the academic session 2019-20.

The Supreme Court gave this interim order on Monday while holding a joint hearing on the SLP filed by the Vidya Bhavan Society, the Managing Committee of Sawai Mansingh Vidyalaya, Gandhi Seva Sadan and the Society of Catholic Education Institutions which challenged the Fee-Regulation Act 2016.

Under the orders, parents will have to pay the fee from March 5-2021, which can be collected in 6 instalments. Also, the court clarified that no child's name will be omitted from the school due to non-payment of fees. Also, children of 10th and 12th will also not be denied to sit in the examination if fees are not deposited.

Earlier, the Rajasthan government had issued an order on October 28 asking Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) to charge 60% to the state board affiliated schools and 70% to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) accredited schools.

Apart from this, the state government has also been asked by the Apex Court to give the outstanding amount under Right to Education (RTE) admission within a month.

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.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Faction leader of the United St. Maartens People Party Claudius Buncamper has sent a letter to the Minister of TEATT Ludmilla de Weever regarding the dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of PJIAE Brian Mingo.

Since December 3rd, 2020 a meeting was requested by five MPs including my person to discuss the companies hierarchy and structural composition, the protection of its assets, and an update on the project itself. Some two (2) months further we are now confronted with what in my opinion has become a complete political and legal battle with regards to the internal matter of the dismissal request of the PJIAE shareholder of the PJIAE CEO.

While normally I would not delve into the day to day runnings of the shareholder's task and that of the government directly or indirectly regarding the matter at hand, it is becoming extremely worrisome, to put it mildly seeing what was published in the daily herald yesterday regarding said dismissal by the World Bank and their possible pulling the funds of the project.

What has me worried is that these types of treats should not go unaddressed and the donor needs to be requested to state their position if these are also part of the conditions that came along with the program of reconstruction. Political interference has many shapes and forms and we need to ensure that the reconstruction efforts arent hindered by the local, kingdom, or foreign politics.

Based on the above madame Minister I have listed many questions below that I hope can be answered most soonest seeing the critical juncture we now find ourselves in once again regarding the reconstruction efforts at our airport.

1. When I read the article in the Daily Herald I read that a letter was sent to the Prime Minister regarding the possible stopping of the funding for the airport. Is this correct or was a letter also sent to you as Minister of TEATT?

2. The article refers that a letter was sent to the board of the Holding company. Is that correct?

3. Considering that PJIAH is the shareholder of PJIAE, is it correct that the shareholders are who hires and fires the CEO of PJIAE?

4. What if any role does the council of ministers have in the hiring and firing of the CEO of this or any CEO of PJIAE?

5. What is the task of the shareholder of PJIAE?

6. Is it true that presently negotiations are ongoing between PJIAE and the Schiphol group to take over the loan presently financed by the bondholder's group of New York?

7. If the answer is yes what are the terms and conditions and whats the government's position regarding this matter?

8. Is it true that all concessions at the airport are being turned over to the Schiphol group for exploitation instead of the present concession holders?

9. Can we be provided with a copy of the letter that was sent seeing the media clearly indicated they had a copy of the said letter?

10. Have you addressed the letter with the donor; The Dutch Government?

11. Did the government of St. Maarten call the State Secretary Mr. Knops or whomever that instructs the World Bank to as donor stop this nonsense immediately

before irreparable damage is done to the country?

12. Do you consider the actions of the authors of the letter as political interference?

13. Whats the position of the bondholders and the European Bank regarding the position of the World Bank threatening to pull the already allocated funds?

14. Is there a regulation that states that in a project the world bank decides who the management should be on behalf of the recipient regardless of the law? I know we allow them to do as they please with our roof repair, shelter repair, school repair, and landfill just to name a few.

15. Are we in a crisis and can this lead to the Dutch government pulling these funds away from the World Bank and placing them in the COHO?

16. If so where does this leave St. Maarten?

17. What is the role of the steering committee and in particular the role of the Dutch representative in this matter and the letter issued?

18. Whats the position of the government regarding the matter of the shareholder of PJIAE's request for dismissal against the CEO of PJIAE?

19. Has there been any discussion between the PJIAE shareholder and the government regarding the intention to dismiss the PJIAE CEO by the PJIAE shareholder?

20. Am I correct in stating that all assets of PJIAE should be under the auspices of the Holding company of PJIA? Why are there still some 22 parcels of land including the one the terminal is situated one still not transferred over to the holding company and are still by the operational company?

21. During the landfill program the World Bank didnt want to move forward with the project as their reputation would be damaged by moving people from their homes etc. Are they okay with meddling in the internal countries' workings that it will damage their reputation?

22. Has the project started or is it once again halted and what are the contractual ramifications of such once again for the company?

23. Is in your opinion the whole dismissal matter of a political nature or is it legally sound?

24. Would you agree that the appointment of the CEO of PJIAE a few years back was also a political tradeoff with the appointment of the CEO of TeLEM which now has us in this dilemma of non-performance?

25. What is your position on the fact that the supervisory board of the PJIAE scored the CEO with a 92% evaluation passing rate and the Shareholder of PJIAE wants him dismissed for not functioning properly?

26. Who is truly responsible for the evaluation of the CEO of PJIAE and what is that based on legally?

27. Why are there two (2) supervisory boards at the PJIA while the harbor merged their boards many years ago to one board and TeLEM and GEBE each have one board, while all also having the same asset protection role?

28. Whats the position of the corporate counsel on these 2 boards at the airport?

29. Will government create one new board and have everyone apply to become a board member based on qualifications of the function profiles as stipulated in the articles of incorporations?
This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.


Britannia Treat Creme Wafers are a perfect, quick on-the-go snack for children which promises a fun- in- the- middle taste experience. Traditionally, creme wafers have been part of the impulse purchase category, however, with the rise of in-home consumption, Britannia Treat has become the perfect snack for children in between their online classes or to munch on during a zoom call with friends. Britannia Treat has collaborated with Grofers, Indias largest low-price online supermarket in the grocery space, for a strategic partnership and will launch a Rs. 10 pack with the aim to bring affordable indulgence to your doorstep.

Commenting on the association and the launch of the new SKU, Mr. Vipin Kataria, Head-Adjacency Businesses, Britannia Industries said, Pre-Covid, children would often use their pocket money to buy their favourite snacks, however, the pandemic put a stop to that. Infact the decisions for any sort of purchase is now in the hands of the parents. Through the launch of this new SKU of creme wafers we want to drop it into the shopping basket of mothers, be it offline or online. We are glad to have partnered with Grofers, one of the leading e-commerce platforms in the country.

We are excited to partner with a brand like Britannia that has been at the forefront of the Indian F&B industry. With the launch of the new SKU of Britannia Treat Creme Wafers, we look forward to providing an integrated family shopping experience on our platform, which will delight both the mothers and their little ones said Anish Shrivastava, VP- Category at Grofers.

To announce the launch, the brand released an ad wherein the kid asks his mom to buy him a pack of Britannia Creme wafers from Grofers. With the snack being pocket friendly his persuasion works and the snack is delivered to his doorstep.

The product is available across all retail outlets in the country. Here is the link to the TVC - https://youtu.be/gK947M7E1Hw

Britannia Credits:

Head of Adjacency Business: Vipin Kataria

Vipin Kataria General Manager : Nidhi Saraf

: Nidhi Saraf Marketing Manager: Anupam Nair

Anupam Nair Product Manager: Akshay Gangrade

Campaign Credits:
Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - ISW Holdings, Inc. (OTC Pink: ISWH) ("ISW Holdings" or the "Company"), a global brand management holdings company with commercial operations in Telehealth and Cryptocurrency Mining, is excited to announce that its revolutionary Pod5 Cryptocurrency Mining Pod will be powered up into full operational launch at the Bit5ive renewable energy cryptocurrency mining facility in Pennsylvania on February 12, 2021.

"We are very excited to finally be ready to launch full mining operations at a time when margins are at historic levels following further strength in the value of cryptocurrency assets," commented Alonzo Pierce, President and Chairman of ISW Holdings. "But make no mistake about it: we are doing this because we have a fundamental belief in the long-term future viability of cryptocurrency systems as stores of value and legitimate platforms for global commerce. We started diversifying our cash into Bitcoin nearly two years ago. And we partnered with Bit5ive early last year and began the design for our Pod5 unit when Bitcoin was still under $10,000 per coin."

The Company formed a joint venture partnership with Bit5ive, LLC, ("Bit5ive") in May 2020 to build and deliver an elegant, powerful, and efficient data center pod design. The Pod5 Datacenter is the result.

Designed in partnership with Bit5ive, and geared primarily for the cryptocurrency mining industry, the Pod5 Datacenter offers next-generation dynamic self-management functionality, plug-and-play operation, virtually non-existent maintenance needs, and an industry best-in-class 1.06 Power Usage Effectiveness score.

The Company's first Pod5 Datacenter unit was completed, in terms of design, by August 2020 and had been fully assembled as of late November 2020. It was shipped to the Bit5ive Pennsylvania mining project in December 2020 and installed shortly thereafter. It is now ready for energizing and mining launch and will be switched on later this week.

Pierce added, "Our long-term view on cryptocurrency assets has seen significant support from corporate and regulatory players over the past year, with the latest example being Tesla's 10k filing on Monday announcing it has started to invest its cash in Bitcoin and plans to accept Bitcoin as payment. We have also seen major players like PayPal, Square, and JPMorgan all contribute to the growing sense of legitimacy for crypto assets. All of this puts our investment in developing the Pod5 last year on very sound footing. We will have additional news over coming days that reinforces this position."

About ISW Holdings

ISW Holdings, Inc. (ISWH), based in Nevada, is a diversified portfolio company comprised of essential business lines that serve consumer product demands. Our expertise lies in strategic brand development, early growth facilitation, as well as brand identity through our proprietary procurement process. Together, with our partners, we seek to provide a structure that meets large scalability demands, as well as anticipated marketplace needs. We are able to meet these needs through a variety of strategic innovative processes. ISWH is creating and managing brands across a spectrum of disruptive industries. It maneuvers its proprietary companies through critical stages of market development, which includes conceptualization, go-to-market strategies, engineering, product integration, and distribution efficiency. The company has also partnered with a well-known software development and consulting company, Bengala Technologies LLC, which is developing significant enhancements in the supply chain management space; and the partnership has a vitally needed patent now pending.

For more information, visit www.iswholdings.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology including "could", "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential" and the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested in this report. Except as required by applicable law, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements so as to conform these statements to actual results. Investors should refer to the risks disclosed in the Company's reports filed from time to time with OTC Markets (www.otcmarkets.com).

Company Contact:

info@ISWHoldings.com

Public Relations

EDM Media, LLC

https://edm.media

(800) 301-7883

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74029
1SHIFT platform tracks shipping routes and offers real-time arrival estimates to save businesses money on detention fees

1SHIFT cold-chain sensors allow farmers to deliver their produce in mint condition by monitoring temperature and moisture levels in real-time

Majority-owned subsidiary uBuck Technologies based in the Cayman Islands, specializes in digital payments and wallets

What TechX Technologies does:

( ) ( ) - formerly known as Litelink Technologies Inc - is a dominant player in developing world-class enterprise platforms and digital wallets. It channels artificial intelligence, blockchain, and predictive analytics to solve outdated technology problems in the logistics and digital payment industries.

The Burnaby, British Columbia company operates its flagship 1SHIFT logistics platform, as a Software-as-a-Service solution, that enables brokers, shippers, and carriers to track shipments and settle payments in real-time.

The platform precisely tracks shipping routes and offers real-time arrival estimates. Integrating global positioning systems allows 1SHIFT to accurately detect longitude, latitude, ground speed and the direction in which trucks are heading. That level of certainty saves companies hundreds if not thousands of dollars in detention fees. With 1SHIFT, companies no longer have to ask: Wheres my stuff?

Predictive analytics helps shippers review historical pricing information, partner ratings, and current factors such as fuel prices, weather, and backhaul capacity to make informed pricing decisions. 1SHIFT also streamlines workflow within the partner ecosystem and uses blockchains immutable digital ledger in sectors like transportation where paperwork and tracking are especially complex.

Additionally, the 1SHIFT platform not only tracks shipping routes, but 1SHIFT cold-chain sensors allow farmers to deliver their produce in mint condition by monitoring temperature and moisture levels in real-time.

TechXs majority-owned subsidiary uBuck Technologies based in the Cayman Islands, specializes in digital payments and wallets. According to the company, uBUCK Pay is a multi-currency digital wallet for the unbanked and underbanked, while Streambucks is a multi-currency digital wallet built for gamers and streamers.

Users are able to load a prepaid debit card to make purchases online and offline at participating merchants. The uBuck platform also allows drivers to be reimbursed electronically within a day of submitting proof of delivery.

How is it doing:

TechX, then Litelink, started 2021 with a change of guard and its rebranding plans - which took effect from February 26.

Unveiling the name change on February 10, the company's chairman and CEO Peter Green said: "This rebranding strategy reflects the Company's vision for the future, and it's broader technology commitment and expertise in driving the innovations needed to shape the future of areas in digital technology solutions across cryptocurrency, blockchain, AI, IOT and cloud."

Telus veteran Peter Green was unveiled as the company's new CEO, on January 8. The group noted that Green has extensive leadership experience in both large corporations and small businesses in the cloud technologies, AI, mobile and telecommunications sector. He most recently served as president of business solutions at Canadian telecoms giant Telus.

Along with news of Green's appointment, the company also said it had elevated experienced executives Aleem Nathwani and Mike Devine to its board.

In connection with the management reshuffle, the group said it would proceed with a 2.5-to-1 share consolidation that was previously approved by shareholders in October. Following the consolidation, the company will see its shares reduce from just over 172 million to around 69 million.

It also announced plans to offer up to 10 million post-consolidation shares priced at C$0.10 each. The offering, completed on February 9, saw 10,050,000 common shares issued raising gross proceeds of C$1,005,000. The group said proceeds from the offering will be used by the company for future acquisitions and organic growth investments, including operations by subsidiaries and/or portfolio companies, working capital, and general corporate purposes.

The expansion plans started on January 14 when the company announced the acquisition of 3030 IoT, a company bringing smart sensors for the waste management sector to market, in a cash and stock deal. 3030 IoT will augment the company's 1SHIFT AI platform, providing waste management companies with ruggedized waste bin sensors and unparalleled container visibility. This lets companies know exactly when a bin is nearly full and in need of a pickup.

Then on January 27, the company revealed that it had signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to complete an equity investment in CatalX Exchange Inc - Canada's premier cryptocurrency exchange with over 40 Altcoins available for purchase on CatalX.io.

CatalX is a Canadian-based FINTRAC registered and compliant digital asset exchange platform that specializes in cryptocurrency trading, blockchain, and cybersecurity technology. It has developed a scalable and modularized platform with a trading engine that can scale to millions of users in real-time and cutting-edge cybersecurity system CyberSmoat, which is patent-pending.

The proposed equity investment will be satisfied through the issuance of 37,500,000 common shares in the company to CatalX and a cash payment to CatalX of C$500,000 -- which would result in the group having ownership and control over 19% of the outstanding share capital of CatalX.

The company pointed out that the proposed investment is not expected to constitute a fundamental change for the company, nor is it expected to result in a change of control.

Inflection points:

Integration of 3030 IoT smart sensors acquisition

Further acquisitions and expansion

Any strategy initiatives from new CEO

What the boss says:

In the January statement announcing his appointment, new CEO Peter Green said: 2021 marks an important inflection point in the company's advancement. The quality of our incoming personnel reflects our commitment to making continued investments in strong management teams coupled with strong emerging technologies that are disrupting multiple technology sectors poised for growth."

"The global pandemic has allowed for industries to innovate much quicker and adapt to the times, we will play an important role to facilitate investment growth in this process, Green added.

Now is the time for companies such as ours to flourish, with the right strategy and team in place. Moreover, I am eager to work with the talented team, we are committed to create value for our shareholders and will be keeping you current on our exciting road ahead."

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
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New Delhi:

Nagpur man mercilessly thrashed by Gau Rakshaks recently for allegedly carrying beef has turned out to be a Bhartiya Janta Party leader.



On Wednesday, the video of four people brutally beating up a 40-year-old Muslim man in Nagpur's Bharsingi area on suspicion of carrying beef went viral.



According to reports, the victim, Salim Ismail Shah was going home on his scooter, when he was stopped by four cow vigilantes on suspicion that he was carrying beef.



He plead his attackers that it was mutton and beef which he was carrying but they refused to believe him and thrashed him.



Unfortunately for them, the victim turned out to be one of them. Salim is the head of BJP minority cell in Maharashtra's Katol.



Salim, a resident of Katol town, is a "dedicated party worker," his mother Rihana was quoted as saying by The Hindu.



"He was not carrying beef," she said. Even BJP's Nagpur rural president Rajiv Potdar defended Salim. However, Potdar added that the "attackers have no relation with the BJP."



Salim sustained severe injuries and had to be admitted to a hospital. The police have arrested the four men.

#WATCH: Man beaten up for allegedly carrying beef in Nagpur's Bharsingi, no arrests have been made yet. #Maharashtra (July 12th) pic.twitter.com/JiFAZMfRSS  ANI (@ANI_news) July 13, 2017

Video | Maharashtra: Man allegedly beaten for carrying beef in Nagpur's Bharsingi, four persons detained for interrogation

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The Renault Kiger compact SUVs India launch will take place today, 15 February. The Kiger, which marks Renaults entry into Indias hotly-contested sub-four-metre SUV segment, was revealed in production form only at the end of January, and Renault has now begun production of the Kiger at its Chennai plant, with bookings and test drives set to commence at its dealerships across the country, shortly.

2021 Renault Kiger dimensions and platform

Just like its cousin, the Nissan Magnite, the Renault Kiger, too, is based on the Alliances CMF-A+ platform. Its 3,991 mm long, 1,750mm wide and 1,600 mm tall, and has a 2,500 mm-long wheelbase. Despite not being larger than its rivals, Renault claims the Kiger offers segment-leading cabin space, and at 405 litres, also has the largest boot in its class. Ground clearance for the Renault Kiger is rated at 205mm, and top-spec variants will ride on 16-inch alloy wheels shod in 195/60-section tyres.

There will be a total of six colour options for the Kiger, and in what is an unusual (but welcome) move, Renault will offer dual-tone paint options on all variants.

2021 Renault Kiger interior and features

On the inside, the Renault Kiger follows a neat and simple design theme, and adopts a dark colour scheme. Taking centre stage on the neat and simple dashboard is an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and theres also a 7.0-inch digital instruments display.

In terms of features, the top-spec Renault Kiger will be equipped with an eight-speaker Arkamys sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ambient lighting, backlit steering controls, wireless phone charging, auto climate control, a PM 2.5 filter, reverse camera and more.

On the safety front, the fully-loaded Renault Kiger will get front and side airbags, as well as ABS and a seatbelt reminder system.

2021 Renault Kiger engine and gearbox options

The Kiger borrows its powertrains from the Magnite, so it will be available with two petrol engine options, and there will be no diesel engine on offer. Buyers will be able to choose between a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder, naturally-aspirated unit that makes 72 hp and 96 Nm of torque, and a turbocharged version of the same engine, which churns out 100hp and 160Nm of torque.

As is the case with the Magnite, the Kiger will get a 5-speed manual as standard, and the turbo-petrol version will also be available with a CVT automatic. The difference, however, is that unlike the Magnite, the naturally-aspirated Kiger will also be available with a 5-speed automated manual transmission (AMT); something that isnt yet offered with the Nissan.

Expected Renault Kiger price and rivals

Nissan shocked one and all with the rock-bottom starting price of the Magnite at the time of its launch, and its likely that Renault will go down the same path and price the Kiger rather aggressively. Expect the Renault Kigers prices to be in the range of Rs 5  9.5 lakh (ex-showroom). When it arrives, the Kiger will have to do battle with the Magnite, as well as established players in the segment, such as the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Ford EcoSport, Toyota Urban Cruiser and the Mahindra XUV300.
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Postal Service today reported its financial results for the first quarter of its fiscal year 2021 (Oct. 1, 2020 - Dec. 31, 2020), as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an unpredictable impact on the economy and the Postal Service. Net income for the quarter was $318 million. Excluding non-cash workers' compensation adjustments and a time-limited peak surcharge, the loss for the quarter would have been approximately $650 million.

The Postal Service processed and delivered a record number of holiday packages for the American people under some of the most difficult circumstances we've faced  more than 1.1 billion packages were delivered during the holiday season amidst a global pandemic. Throughout the peak season, the Postal Service, along with the broader shipping sector, faced pressure on service performance across categories as it managed through a record of volume while also overcoming employee shortages due to the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases, as well as ongoing capacity challenges with airlift and trucking for moving historic volumes of mail. The Postal Service uniquely accepted all incoming packages, further straining its system. To recover and stabilize operations, the Postmaster General and the Executive Leadership Team took steps to help address the issues. While some delays remain, service levels have substantially improved and remain a top priority.

"Our strong growth in package volume during the holiday quarter shows how dramatically our business and revenue mix is shifting," said Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy. "While our positive financial results this quarter are certainly welcome, we continue to face systemic imbalances that make our current operating model unsustainable, and the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to challenge the organization. It is essential that the Postal Service adopts comprehensive reforms so that we are able to meet the changing needs of our business and residential customers, and ensure our ability to provide reliable, universal mail and package delivery for all Americans."

As a result of the pandemic, and to a lesser extent, secular mail declines, the Postal Service's sales from mail services, its largest sales category, continued to decline during the first quarter, despite record Political and Election Mail volumes associated with the general election. Compared to the same quarter last year, Marketing Mail revenue declined by $246 million, or 5.6 percent, on a volume decline of 788 million pieces, or 3.9 percent. First-Class Mail revenue decreased by $177 million, or 2.7 percent, on a volume decline of 594 million pieces, or 4.1 percent, compared to the same quarter last year.

Meanwhile, the Postal Service's sales from Shipping and Packages increased by approximately $2.8 billion, or 42.1 percent, on a volume increase of 435 million pieces, or 25.0 percent, compared to the same quarter last year, as a result of the record holiday Shipping and Package volumes impacted by the surge in e-commerce associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Postal Service believes that consumer behavior has evolved during the pandemic as the nation has increasingly relied on the safety and convenience of e-commerce. However, the Postal Service still expects this surge to partially abate as the economy opens.

The Postal Service has and will continue to serve its customers during this crisis through the delivery of medicine, essential consumer staples, benefits checks, and important information, but does not expect its package revenue growth over the medium to long term to make up for its losses in mail service revenue caused by COVID-19.

The Postal Service reported total revenue of $21.5 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2021, an increase of $2.1 billion, or 11.1 percent, compared to the same quarter last year.

While the record Shipping and Packages volume led to overall higher revenue results for the quarter, it also drives increases in work hours and operating expenses. Also adding to expenses is the continued expansion of the number of homes and businesses that the Postal Service must deliver to six and seven days each week  more than 1 million new delivery points added each year.

Compensation and benefits expense increased by $771 million, or 6.2 percent, compared to the same quarter last year, primarily resulting from higher work hours associated with the record holiday package growth and an increase in paid leave associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, including leave authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, enacted as Public Law 116-127 (FFCRA). The FFCRA provided the means for companies and other government entities to receive federal reimbursement for payment of this FFCRA leave, however, the Postal Service is not eligible for such reimbursement. The Postal Service is also impacted by certain general inefficiencies in the workplace as a result of the pandemic, including increased hours managing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), sanitizing work areas and social distancing in postal facilities.

In addition to increased labor costs to support the volume increase, transportation expenses increased by $204 million, or 8.5 percent, compared to the same quarter last year, primarily due to the impact of higher volumes on air and highway transportation. However, transportation expenses were also higher due to travel and logistics restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic that continued to impact the modes of transportation available, though the impact was less significant than experienced at the onset of the pandemic.

Operating expenses were also impacted by an increase in retirement benefits expenses of $176 million, or 10.9 percent, compared to the same quarter last year, driven by revised actuarial assumptions outside of management's control. Additionally, the Postal Service continues to incur increased costs for PPE associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Total operating expenses were $21.1 billion for the quarter, an increase of $1.1 billion, or 5.3 percent, compared to the same quarter last year.

"While the record package volume we saw during the holiday season was encouraging, we are still operating in unprecedented times as we navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the results from the past quarter may not be sustainable," said Chief Financial Officer Joseph Corbett. "Our mail volumes continue to decline due to the pandemic, despite a record 2.7 billion Political and Election Mail pieces associated with the general election. Our regulator's announcement granting additional pricing flexibility and authority could provide some respite, however, we continue to face imbalances in our business model that must be fixed through legislative change."

For an analysis highlighting the Postal Service's extraordinary efforts to deliver ballots during the general election season, please see: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2021/0119-usps-releases-updated-2020-post-election-analysis-report.htm .

First Quarter Fiscal 2021 Operating Revenue and Volume by Service Category Compared to Prior Year

The following table presents revenue and volume by category for the three months ended December 31, 2020, and 2019:





























Revenue

Volume



(revenue in $ millions; volume in millions of pieces)

2020

2019

2020

2019

























Service Category



















First-Class Mail

$ 6,301



$ 6,478



13,735



14,329





Marketing Mail

4,165



4,411



19,514



20,302





Shipping and Packages

9,378



6,599



2,173



1,738





International

666



688



131



238





Periodicals

244



287



944



1,109





Other

741



888



88



95



























Total operating revenue and volume

$ 21,495



$ 19,351



36,585



37,811



























Selected First Quarter Fiscal 2021 Results of Operations and Controllable Income (Loss)

This news release references controllable income (loss), which is not calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). Controllable income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) adjusted for items outside of management's control and non-recurring items. These adjustments include workers' compensation expenses caused by actuarial revaluation and discount rate changes, and the amortization of Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund (PSRHBF), Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) unfunded liabilities.

The following table presents selected results of operations, reconciles GAAP net income (loss) to controllable income (loss) and illustrates the income (loss) from ongoing business activities without the impact of non-controllable items for the three months ended December 31, 2020, and 2019:

















(results in $ millions)

2020

2019

















Operating revenue

$ 21,495



$ 19,351





Other revenue

3



3





Total revenue

$ 21,498



$ 19,354



















Total operating expenses

$ 21,147



$ 20,079



















Interest and investment income (expense), net

(33)



(23)



















Net income (loss)

$ 318



$ (748)



















PSRHBF unfunded liability amortization expense1

225



225





Change in workers' compensation liability resulting from

fluctuations in discount rates

(479)



(543)





Other change in workers' compensation liability2

(127)



10





CSRS unfunded liability amortization expense3

454



404





FERS unfunded liability amortization expense4

336



265



















Controllable income (loss)

$ 727



$ (387)



















1 Expense for the accrual for the annual payment due to OPM by September 30 of the respective year, as calculated by OPM, to amortize the

unfunded PSRHBF retirement health benefit obligation. Payments are to be made through 2056 based on OPM invoices.



2 Net amounts include changes in assumptions, valuation of new claims and revaluation of existing claims, less current year claim payments.



3 Expense for the accrual for the annual payment due to OPM by September 30 of the respective fiscal year, to amortize the unfunded CSRS

retirement obligation. Payments are to be made through 2043 based on OPM invoices.



4 Expense for the accrual for the annual payment due to OPM by September 30 of the respective fiscal year, to amortize the unfunded FERS

retirement obligation. Payments are to be made over a 30-year rolling period based on OPM invoices.

















Financial results in the Form 10-Q are available at http://about.usps.com/what/financials/ .

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements contained in this release represent the Postal Service's best estimates of known and anticipated trends believed relevant to future operations. However, actual results may differ significantly from current estimates. Certain forward-looking statements included in this release use such words as "may," "will," "could," "expect," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "project" or other similar terminology. These forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties, reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance as of the date of this report. These risks include, but are not limited to, the effects of COVID-19 on the Postal Service's business, financial condition and results of operations. The Postal Service has no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact: David Partenheimer

202.268.2599

[email protected]

usps.com/news

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service

Related Links

http://www.usps.com


Former Conservative Party leader Ian Duncan Smith talks in the House of Commons on Nov. 4, 2020. (Parliament TV)

UK Lawmakers to Fight for Genocide Amendment as Compromise Version Pushed Through

The UK Parliament on Tuesday passed a compromise version of an amendment to its post-Brexit Trade Bill on curbing trade with genocidal countries.

The amendment (pdf), proposed by Conservative MP Robert Neill and backed by the government, was put before MPs instead of Lord Altons original version, which won by a two-thirds majority in the House of Lords on Feb. 3.

While the government argued that Neills amendment is superior, supporters of the original amendment condemned the government for tabling what they called a wrecking amendment, and vowed to keep fighting for the original one.

Two Versions

Lord Altons amendment gives UK domestic courts power to determine whether a current or potential trade partner has committed genocide. If such a determination is made, a minister must arrange a motion for debate in each house of Parliament requiring the government to set out its course of action, which may include stopping negotiations or withdrawing from a trade deal with that country.

The government argued that it is inappropriate and would carry harmful unintended consequences.

Genocide is notoriously hard to prove with a high legal threshold, Trade Policy Minister Greg Hands said. If a judge were unable to make a preliminary determination on genocide, which is highly probable, it would be a huge propaganda win for the country in question, effectively allowing that state to claim theyve been cleared by the UK courts.

Therefore, the government dismissed Altons amendment, and put before MPs Neills amendment, which tasks a select committee of either house of Parliament to find appropriate evidence that a prospective FTA [free trade agreement] counter-party has committed genocide.

According to Parliamentary standing order No. 83G, only ministers can put questions on motions or move amendments, during conclusion of proceedings on further messages from the Lords.

The point is, who decides what Parliament debate? It is a matter for Parliament to decide what should come before Parliament, and that is why the role of the select committee is the right and proper place for this, not the role for the courts, Hands argued, adding that Neills version is more human rights friendly since it sets a lower bar than a courts decision.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said that the government had repeatedly said it would only recognise a court decision on genocide.

Literally yesterday,  the Foreign Office said, and I quote, It is the policy of the UK government that any judgment, any judgment, on whether genocide has occurred, is a matter for a competent court, rather than governments or other non-judicial bodies,' Duncan Smith said, referring to a written answer the Foreign Office wrote to Conservative MP Nusrat Ghani on Monday.

Can I ask him: What is the select committee? Is it a judicial body or a non-judicial body? In which case the amendment puts the power into the hands of a non-judicial body. What are we doing? We are running in circles around this just to avoid the reality, he added.

Labour MP Chris Bryant said the new amendment doesnt give select committees any new power.

Select committees already have every single one of the powers that are supposedly being given to us by this amendment, he said, and the government already dismisses every single substantive motion that is agreed by the House if it just doesnt like it in the first place.

It did so on the Yazidi when there was unanimous view of the House. Its done so on the select committee and reports by the Foreign Affairs Committee on the Rohingya, he added.

The debates around the genocide amendment have been largely focused on the Chinese regimes treatment to Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. The government repeatedly said that the amendment wouldnt help Uyghurs because the UK and China does not have a free trade agreement.

Ghani called the amendment meaningless, and said it deliberately excludes Uyghurs.

And if you look at the details of that amendment, it deliberately excludes the Uyghur and China, she said.

So at the moment were outsourcing genocide determination to the UN, which is handcuffed by China and Russia. Why not bring that back home? Why not take back control in line with the governments own policy? she asked.

The government on Feb. 2 told Baroness Cox that China is an important trading partner for the UK, and the UK government is pursuing increased bilateral trade with the Chinese regime.

Ping-Pong Stage Continues

Neills amendment was narrowly passed by 318 votes to 303. Lord Alton said that House of Lords should reinsert his amendment to give MPs a chance to vote on it.

Despite throwing everything, including the kitchen sink, into persuading MPs to support their wrecking amendment, the Government majority was just 15, he wrote on Twitter.

The Lords can now give the Commons the chance to vote on the Genocide amendment and should do so.

Ghani said theres still one more chance for the amendment to be voted on.

We didnt to get to vote on the #GenocideAmendment today but the Parliamentary Act gives us one more chance if the [House of Lords] agree, she wrote on Twitter.

We didnt to get to vote on the #GenocideAmendment today but the Parliamentary Act gives us one more chance if the @UKHouseofLords agree. https://t.co/xbnbd26AOK  Nus Ghani MP (@Nus_Ghani) February 9, 2021

It will now be up to the Lords to put this right and give the Commons a vote on whether our courts should be allowed to hear cases of genocide, Duncan Smith wrote in an op-ed in The Telegraph ahead of the vote on Tuesday.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Yangon, Feb 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Feb, 2021 ) :The United Nations on Tuesday condemned the use of force against anti-coup protesters in Myanmar, after police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse rallies.

"The use of disproportionate force against demonstrators is unacceptable," Ola Almgren, the UN resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar, said in a statement.
NEW DELHI : Climate change and commitment to a rules based international order besides consolidating the India-US strategic partnership for peace in the Indo-Pacific were among the issues to figure in the first telephonic conversation between US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

Spoke to @POTUS @JoeBiden and conveyed my best wishes for his success. We discussed regional issues and our shared priorities. We also agreed to further our co-operation against climate change," Modi said in a Twitter post.

Also Read | India should worry about its public debt

President @JoeBiden and I are committed to a rules-based international order. We look forward to consolidating our strategic partnership to further peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. @POTUS" Modi said in a second post.

It was unclear how long the conversation lasted.

Biden has previously spoken to the leaders of Australia, Japan, South Korea besides others in Europe in line with his promise to reinvigorate ties with Americas allies.

Prior to this, US Secretaries of State and Defence Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin have spoken to their Indian counterparts. US national security advisor Jake Sullivan has also spoken to his Indian counterpart in the first outreach between key members of the new Biden administration and the Indian government in January.

According to a news report in the Japan Times, the US has called for a meeting of top leaders of the Quad countries in a bid to firm up ties among Japan, Australia, the US and India to counter an aggressive China. That meeting, expected to be in the virtual format, may be the first in which Modi and Biden will come face. Modi and Biden are also expected to meet at the G7 Summit hosted by Britain later this year.

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In line with the Lagos State Government Multimodal Master Plan transport system, with reference to the Red Line rail system, the Yaba Overpass will be closed temporarily from Tuesday, February 9, to Tuesday, February, 23,2021, slated to last for weeks.

According to a statement by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, the lane closure was necessary to commence soil testing along Muritala Mohammed Way, Ojuelegba Road (Tejuosho) as part of the Traffic Management Plan to actualize the LRMT Red line phase 1, Oyingbo to Agbado.

Also read: Pension reform: French PM refuses to back down on plan

Motorists have been advised to utilize the main carriageway during the temporary closure.

Oladeinde, however, assured that traffic management personnel will be on the ground to direct traffic to minimize inconveniences.

"We urge residents of the state, especially motorists that ply these affected corridors to stay calm and cooperate with the interventions put in place to bring lasting solutions to transportation challenges in the State," the commissioner implored.

Vanguard News Nigeria
New junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing made these remarks during his first televised address since the coup and pledged to hand back control after fresh elections

Yangon: Myanmar's army chief on Monday insisted military rule would be different this time, as martial law was declared across swathes of the country after massive protests against the new junta.

Orders covering parts of Yangon, Mandalay and other areas banned people from protesting or gathering in groups of more than five, and imposing an 8:00 pm to 4:00 am curfew.

New junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing, wearing a green military uniform, made his first televised speech since seizing power, insisting the putsch was justified by "voter fraud".

He echoed previous military insistence that the power grab was in line with the constitution but declared that this time things would be "different" from the army's previous 49-year reign, which ended in 2011.

"After the tasks of the emergency period are completed, free and fair multi-party general elections will be held according to the constitution," he said.

"The winning party will be transferred state duty according to democratic standards."

The general said the country welcomed foreign investment and also announced the lifting of coronavirus restrictions, including reopening schools and Buddhist pagodas.

Rohingya refugees who fled to Bangladesh during a 2017 crisis will continue to be repatriated to Rakhine state, he added.

Mass rallies

The junta has so far refrained from using deadly force against the demonstrations sweeping most of Myanmar, but with pressure building, riot police fired water cannon in an attempt to disperse thousands gathered in Naypyidaw on Monday.

The military last week detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and dozens of other members of her National League for Democracy party, ending a decade of partial civilian rule and triggering international condemnation.

In the face of an increasingly bold wave of defiance, state broadcaster MRTV in the afternoon warned that opposition to the junta was unlawful and signalled a potential crackdown.

"Action must be taken according to the law with effective steps against offences which disturb, prevent and destroy the state's stability, public safety and the rule of law," said a statement read by an announcer on the channel.

On Monday in Yangon, the nation's commercial capital, dense crowds spilled onto the city's main roads, immobilising traffic and dwarfing the previous day's rally.

"Down with military dictatorship" and "release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and arrested people", protesters chanted, flashing the three-finger salute of "Hunger Games" fame that has come to symbolise their movement as car horns were honked in support.

Textile workers, civil servants and railway employees went on strike and hit the streets.

"This is a workday, but we aren't going to work even if our salary will be cut," one protester, 28-year-old garment factory worker Hnin Thazin, told AFP.

Construction worker Chit Min, 18, joined the Yangon rally, saying his loyalty to Suu Kyi outweighed concerns about his financial situation.

"I am jobless now for a week because of the military coup, and I am worried for my survival," he told AFP.

Similarly, large crowds marched in Mandalay, the country's second-largest city, many clutching photos of Suu Kyi and waving the red flags of her party.

Huge rallies were also reported across much of the country, from Muse on the Chinese border to the southern cities of Dawei and Hpa-an.

Nationwide rallies wrapped up in the early evening, but protesters are widely expected to defy authorities and hit the streets again on Tuesday.

'Fear is back'

The junta proclaimed a one-year state of emergency last week, promising to hold fresh elections after that without offering any precise timeframe.

The United States has since led global calls for the generals to relinquish power.

"We stand with the people of Burma and support their right to assemble peacefully, including to protest peacefully in support of the democratically elected government," US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Monday, using Myanmar's former name.

Price also said US requests to speak to Suu Kyi were denied.

Pope Francis on Monday called for the prompt release of imprisoned political leaders.

"The path to democracy undertaken in recent years was brusquely interrupted by last week's coup d'etat," he told a gathering of diplomats.

"This has led to the imprisonment of different political leaders, who I hope will be promptly released as a sign of encouragement for a sincere dialogue."

The UN Human Rights Council said it would hold a relatively rare special session Friday to discuss the crisis in Myanmar.

Kyaw Zin Tun, an engineer, said Monday while protesting in Yangon that he remembered the fear he felt growing up under junta rule in the 1990s.

"In the last five years under the democratic government, our fears were removed," the 29-year-old told AFP.

"But now fear is back again with us. Therefore, we have to throw out this military junta for the future of all of us."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 10) - The country's second missile-capable frigate arrived in the vicinity of Capones Island in Zambales on Tuesday.

The future BRP Antonio Luna (FF151) was welcomed by BRP Jose Rizal (FF150), the country's first missile-capable frigate, through a passing exercise. Both ships engaged in their first maneuvering exercises, complemented by the fly-by of Philippine Air Force's three FA-50 jets.

"This time-honored maritime tradition was conducted to commemorate FF151's arrival to our territorial waters and to extend and maximize the training and systems familiarization opportunities of every crew aboardship in preparation for independent ship operation," the Philippine Navy said in a statement.

The ship will proceed to its anchorage in Subic, Zambales as its crew will undergo a mandatory quarantine.

The frigate left Ulsan, South Korea last February 5 and reached Philippine waters on February 6.

The Philippine Navy has yet to announce the date of the frigate's commissioning ceremony, where it will be officially named as BRP Antonio Luna.

The future BRP Antonio Luna completes the Philippine Navy's Frigate Acquisition Project which seeks to modernize the country's naval force to boost its maritime defense and development.
Duomo reopens in Milan with new visiting times after coronavirus closure.

Milan will reopen its Duomo cathedral complex to the public from Thursday 11 February after an extended closure due to Italy's covid-19 restrictions.

There will be new opening times - the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo announced - with the complex open to visitors from Monday to Friday only, 10.00 to 17.00.

Advance online ticket purchase is recommended, for full details (in English) see Duomo website.

The reopening of the Duomo comes a few days after Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece The Last Supper reopened to visitors.

However, for now, only people in the Lombardia region around Milan will be able to visit, as Italy's inter-regional travel ban remains in place.
I am not going to work against Ukraine, but I ready to tell Europeans about corruption, Ukrainians about SBU  Neskoromny

Former first deputy head of the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Dmytro Neskornomny claims that his lawyers are currently negotiating with European law enforcement agencies, the results of which will depend on his further actions.

"I am recording this video to show that I am alive, that I am safe and out of reach of people who would like to eliminate me [] And to inform that tomorrow, unfortunately, there will be no press conference. The Ukrainian authorities announced me on the international wanted list and on the advice of lawyers, I will have to change the defense strategy," Neskoromny said in a video statement on his Telegram channel.

At the same time, he said his further actions will depend on the results of negotiations, which his lawyers are conducting with representatives of European law enforcement agencies.

"These are not easy negotiations. I have been made certain proposals that I cannot agree to, since I am an active officer of the Security Service of Ukraine. I will never agree to work against Ukraine. However, I am ready to provide the Europeans with information about corruption in the upper echelons of power, I have data on the theft of international aid, there is data on the withdrawal of money from such state-owned banks as Oschadbank, PrivatBank, soon there will be data on Ukreximbank and Ukrgasbank," he said.

The SBU former first deputy head also said he was still ready to provide the Ukrainian society with information about "what is actually happening in the Security Service of Ukraine."

According to Neskoromny, "the SBU is not working in the interests of the country now, many officers are recruited in favor of certain foreign intelligence services," and the SBU head often does not have information about what is happening, and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky does not have a complete picture of what is happening.

"I am an officer, I am not afraid of Bakanov [Head of the SBU Ivan Bakanov] and his entourage, I cannot be intimidated with threats and fake criminal cases," he said.

At the same time, the SBU press service told Interfax-Ukraine: "The Security Service of Ukraine has no intention of commenting on the manipulative statements of the former first deputy head of the SBU. Moreover, when he is involved in high-profile criminal cases, and according to the published in the media materials, he also has pro-Russian and pro-Putin views. Thus, any statements of this kind should be viewed exclusively through this prism."

The SBU also appealed to all Ukrainians who have facts and evidence of any illegal activities of the SBU and its officers, to report this in the prescribed manner to the relevant law enforcement agencies.
Monday, February 8, 2021 at 11:48PM

by Nathaniel R

Gong Li and Denise Kum on the set of Mulan

Mulan may have been released in September but some of its most memorable looks -- battle scarred villains, matchmaking painted faces, Gong Li's masked face and taloned hands, and Mulan's hair flowing in battle -- are still remarkably easy to conjure up with great clarity months later. We were thrilled to speak with its gifted makeup artist Denise Kum about her career and work on the Disney epic.

We spoke over Zoom while she was in Prague completing work on a World War II drama called Operation Mincemeat before diving into full fantasy with Amazon's forthcoming series The Wheel of Time based on Robert Jordan's bestsellers. Kum's work stretches from lush period pieces, through grounded dramas, to high fantasy and superhero franchises. She likes to genre hop. One consistent throughline in her work, though, is her frequent collaborators. "I've worked with Niki since I was very young," she says with obvious love for Mulan's director Niki Caro. Mulan was also a reunion with the costume designer Bina Daigeler who she's known for years and production Designer Grant Major "I've know him since I was, god, 18 or 19. He's actually the godfather of one of my daughters." This tight-knit filmmaking family's shorthand was helpful on Mulan though she's quick to add that "That's an unnatural situation for a film of this scale."

[this interview has been edited for length and clarity]

NATHANIEL R: People often think of prosthetic effects stuff or high glamour when they think of the makeup art but I imagine on Mulan, one of the biggest challenges must have keeping her natural in battle scenes with wigs and such. How would you know what's going to work in action?

DENISE KUM: My background is as a fine artist and a conceptual artist. I started off making sculpture installation and films, experimental stuff. So you problem-solve and troubleshoot. And that's my attitude towards makeup. For me, makeup is paint. It's also structure to enable the actor to inhabit a certain thing. With the character of Mulan it's a incredible journey where she goes from a young child, to a teenager presented with matchmaker makeup. Then she has to pretend to be a man and be very anonymous and then a woman again and finally revealed as her true self. The performance is key for that. So everything I do has to make you aware of her performance; if you're looking at her hair, or looking at her eye shadows, I'm not doing my job. It's all about enabling the actor to inhabit the characterl So I try to sync everything in to make the world believable.

Was the battle stuff difficult?

DENISE KUM: The natural makeup is harder to do because the dirt appears, you know. Or, you know, there's certain things I do to flatten her face, to make her look like a boy. And then what I do is I heighten all the boys around her, to make them look more feminine so that she looks more boyish.

Oh that's smart.

DENISE KUM: Therefore you pendulum -- the matchmaker scene is more extraordinary and loud and full of color to make the rest look more natural. It's actually like choreography. You know what you want it to look like, but then you're like, 'Oh my God, she's going to be going upside down. She's on the wire. We can't use clips, it's too dangerous! We'll have to stitch it in.' You think around the problem.





Okay, that makes sense.

DENISE KUM: Whenever I break down a script, I color code everything. And I think, okay, if this is their journey, what is the other character doing? Where do they intersect? And that's when I also think about when we change the makeup. We have to run everything through and test it -- not 'will it look good? but 'will it last?' I have to make Mulan look the same in the very humid weather in New Zealand and in the snow in New Zealand and the 40 degree heat in China and in the very dry heat of the Disney lot in LA.

I assume you have a large team for this, a movie of this size?

DENISE KUM: I did have a big team, but also that's also because we had different units filming at the same time. Practically everybody on this had a wig or hair augmentation. It's... big. It's not like doing a contemporary drama.

Some makeup artists specialize in one thing, like wig-designing or prosthetics. You're the department head but do you also have a specialty?

DENISE KUM: It's a little bit different than in the States because you guys have your unions. I've worked in America a lot where I'd have to switch out what I'm doing. But for me with Nikki, she only wants to talk to one person, so I'm the makeup and prosthetics design. I would never put my hand up and say, I'm a fully qualified hairdresser or a wigmaker. However, I understand the language of that to say what I want the look to be like.

I work with an amazing team. I play to their strengths and carve up the work -- what's going to make them be excited about the job?. What do they want to contribute? I also do consult with people. It's similar to if I'm making a sculpture and I don't weld and I need to use a welder, I'll say, 'I want to do this. How can I best make this? How can I construct this?' Then you workshop it and build prototypes and problem solve. When you watch your film, nobody wants to hear the excuses of why it didn't work.

I have to hear about Jason Scott Lee and Gong Li's characters, who are so visual. I assume they were fun to design.

DENISE KUM: You mentioned Gong Li and Jason. But also Cheng Pei Pei who plays the matchmaker and even the Emperor to some extent. These are the four characters for me that are the most visual. They helped me to broaden it aesthetically to bring fantasy into it because, yes, it's a Disney film, but also Gong Li needed to be supernatural. Jason's character needed to be a badass kind of villain. And then of course, you've got the Emperor, who's the guiding light and you've got Pei-Pei who is the comic female explosive colorful element. So I kind of think of them as compasses: North, South, West, East. You can make the natural -- Mulan and the conscripts in the middle of it all -- more natural because you've got these standout, iconic locks.

Did any of the characters change a lot from your initial concepts to the finished film?

DENISE KUM: We were incredibly lucky. I thought that they would keep sending things back but apart from small adjustments they loved all the initial ideas. Disney was very supportive. I had obsessed about it for a year prior to actually starting pre-production proper because, you know, we were pushed because we hadn't found Yifei yet. I kept reading the script and then once people got cast, I looked at the faces and started to think about it and worked with Bina [Costumes] and Grant [Production Design] about color. It's a bit of a luxury that I didn't have to keep offering alternatives. Disney just kind of just let us get on with it!

I always wonder about aesthetic interference -- you've worked on other stuff like Captain America, too -- because they have billions riding on franchises.

DENISE KUM: To be fair, I didn't design those others. I've just gone in and lent a hand. But I suppose also what you're saying is they have a lot of merchandising. I think the difference with Mulan, they see the potential in the merchandising, and they want to break into China if I can be so honest, but they're also trusting, the director and the team she's put together to actually bring something new to the Disney films.

Okay so we have to talk about Gong Li. I have been obsessed with her for years. The white mask look was very cool. Was that a thunderstrike of inspiration or did it take a while to come to be?

DENISE KUM: It was there from the beginning! It's a risk because everybody thinks, 'Oh, a mask we've seen it before' or they think of Zorro. But she had to be very supernatural. I'm sure, you know, Nathaniel, that a lot of the characters have their animal other. For her she's the hawk...

Right.

DENISE KUM: ...so I started to look to the source, the color of feathers, the hooded eyes. We even looked at the idea of contact lenses for her. I designed the prothetic from a hawk's claws. I was trying to keep it very much as if it was from the source as if it was a natural phenomenon. I also have a penchant, as does Gong Li, for high fashion. There was a striking image that Bina and I saw from an Alexander McQueen runway show. I loved how it was kind of from another time. And as I was researching both makeup and symbolism around the Tang dynasty, one thing that always kept coming up was a central white panel on the face.

It's just the T-zone unlike Japanese geishas, which is an all overweight white mask. In a lot of Chinese theater white is a mask but it is also seen as purity and death. And disguise. It also worked beautifully with the crown that Bina was designing with bones and feathers. Gong Li's eye makeup is designed so that when she closes her eyes -- you can't see it when her eyes are open -- it's the idea of a feather with the exact same colors of a hawk.

So cool. Was Gong Li all for it or did it take some convincing?

DENISE KUM: She was amazing. Obviously she had to give feedback. We sent her stuff in Paris where she lives. I made a presentation book for her, which had lots of pictures and concept drawings, color samples, and old Chinese artwork. It was a bit of a scrapbook.

I hadn't met her before. I didn't know whether she was willing to go there because, you know, she's got other stuff going on. It could have gone either way, but because she's so self-aware and so up for trying things. She was very responsive and just said the nicest things to me.

I'm so glad. She's such a legendary star that she's already had so many iconic looks in movies over the years.

DENISE KUM: And she's very important in Chinese culture. She's basically the Meryl Streep of China, if I could put it that way. But I think also what I tried to do is... okay, we know these people are famous. Jet Li, Jason Scott Lee. Cheing Pei Pei is very revered in Hong Kong. But I just thought, 'I want people to look and go 'Oh, is that Jet Li? Oh, is that Gong Li?' And I think we succeeded in that way because it's about their performance and not recognizing them as what you think they are.

Cheng Pei-pei in Mulan

You've done all sorts of things in your career: period drama, futuristic stuff, fantasy. Do you have a preference?

DENISE KUM: I wouldn't ever say, 'Oh, I only want to do this, or I didn't want to do it.' I love the challenge. I've done a lot recently with female directors and with a really strong kick-ass female characters, which is important to me. I've done low budget films with no resources. I love the process of filmmaking. Some people want a specialist in a certain vibe but I think realistically, our world is changing. We want to tell different stories. And I love tapping into different cultures. I was born in New Zealand. We have a real affinity for the land and for thinking about similarities and differences. I think small voices can tell big stories in some ways.

Your career definitely bears that out now. You've worked with Nikki a lot. Charlize Theron and Rosamund Pike reoccur in your career, too. Is this something where people recommend you for work on is it all happenstance?

DENISE KUM: It's a bit of both. Sometimes it happens like you're working on something and talking to someone 'oh my god, no, they're going to be in my next film blah blah blah.' But I wouldn't ever say that I set it up in any way. I'm just quite happy to go with the flow. But you know there are people that you gravitate towards -- people that, you know, are your kind of people, that are like-minded.

We work in a global filmmaking world now. You don't even know when you get offered a job, where you're shooting it. We're kind of celluloid gypsies at the best of times.





Mulan is currently streaming on Disney Plus.

Recipient of Presidential Citizen Award and Art Conservation Expert helps FACT Preserve Cultural Heritage

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - FACT, Inc. (OTC Pink: FCTI) (the "Company" or "FACT") a global leader of fine art and collectible authentication technology, today announced that respected art conservation expert, The Honorable Anne-Imelda Radice, has joined its Board of Directors.

For fifty years, Ms. Radice has impressed a permanent mark on art and humanities programs across the United States. She has dedicated decades pairing her passion for art with her financial competencies to direct funds to important art collections, films, and archives showcased by museums, libraries and exhibition spaces throughout the country.

Whether in service at the National Endowment for Humanities, as the Director of Public Programs; the National Endowment for the Arts" as its Acting Chairman or as the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Ms. Radice has held leading roles in grant making, strategic planning and implementation of programs to protect and conserve art and archives, She has worked both for the American Bicentennial and in support of America's 250th commemoration of the Declaration of Independence and the beginnings of the American Republic.

Ms. Radice's career is built upon an impressive education including a Master of Arts degree from Villa Schifanoia in Florence, Italy, a PhD in art and architectural history from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and an MBA from American University with a concentration in finance. Her career has led to many revered positions including Director of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington and Executive Director of the American Folk-Art Museum in New York. She has served highly respected government positions including curator for The Architect of the US Capitol, Acting Chairman for the National Endowment for the Arts, and Chief Arts Advisor for the U.S. Information Agency.

FACT, short for Forensic Asset Certification Technology, is currently building a strong Advisory Board to help in its mission to eliminate high levels of stolen and fraudulent art worldwide. Ms. Radice has always been a key expert of interest for her unparalleled experience with art preservation and curatorship.

Ms. Radice commented, "Over my career I have seen so much devastation and helplessness from artists, museums and historians when art is stolen. Art crime is estimated to be the third highest grossing crime globally, and losses cut much deeper than the financial hits. Art is irreplaceable and tells stories of our human history. FACT's innovative technology is exactly what we need to protect such important pieces of our cultural understanding."

In 2006, Ms. Radice was appointed Director of The Institute of Museum and Library Services by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the US Senate. By invitation, she continued through President Barack Obama's Administration. Between 2006 and 2010, Ms. Radice approved and managed over $1 billion in grants to museums and libraries throughout the United States.

For her devotion to bringing culture to all U.S. citizens, in 2008 Ms. Radice received the Presidential Citizen's Medal - the second highest honor an American citizen can receive. She has additionally received several other accolades including the Forbes Medal (AIC) and Chairman's Medal (NEA).

FACT Chief Operating Officer and Board Member, Patricia Trompeter stated, "Anne's incomparable experience in conservation and preservation of art will be an instrumental accelerator expanding our innovative technology globally. We are honored to have Ms. Radice join our Advisory Board."

ABOUT FACT INC.

FACT, Inc, or Forensic Asset Certification Technology (OTC Pink: FCTI) operates globally offering products and services to revolutionize security for the fine art and collectibles market. FACT utilizes the ballistics technology currently employed by global law enforcement agencies globally to authenticate and analyze fine art and collectibles. FACT offers a suite of products that includes authentication, condition reporting, GPS tracking, provenance data, as well as collection management - all stored securely on blockchain accessible in real time to the consumer.

Media Contact:

Name: Patricia Trompeter

email: patricia@factsecured.com

Company Contact:

Phone: 203-524-6524

email: patricia@factsecured.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73954
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Abuja  Nigeria has been ranked first among China's top 40 trading partners globally and its major investment destination in Africa as the Sino-Nigeria bilateral ties clock 50 years tomorrow.

Deputy Ambassador of China, Zhao Yong, made this known during a news conference in Abuja yesterday as parts of activities to commemorate 50 years of bilateral relations between both countries, even as he described China-Nigeria ties as a pacesetter in China-Africa cooperation.

He said that Nigeria has surpassed Angola and South Africa to become China's second largest trading partner and largest export market in Africa.

The Chinese envoy said the volumes of trade between both countries have continued to grow amid the adverse effect of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020.

"In 2019, the trade volume between China and Nigeria reached 19.27 billion US dollars, which was 1,900 times that of 1971 when the diplomatic relationship was first established.

"And the bilateral trade growth rate is ranking first among China's top trading partners in the world.

"Despite the adverse effects of the COVID-19, the bilateral trade volume from January to October 2020 increased by 0.7 per cent year on year, which was 14 per cent higher than the trade growth rate between China and Africa as a whole.

"The Ogun-Guandong Free Trade Zone and Lekki Free Trade Zone have attracted a large number of Chinese companies to invest and operate in their businesses.

"The infrastructure projects built jointly by the two countries such as roads, ports and airport terminals can be seen everywhere," Zhao said.

Zhao said further that the China-Nigeria bilateral relations have elevated to a strategic partnership with practical cooperations in various fields yielding fruitful results

He added that in the past fifty years, the exchanges between China and Nigeria in the areas of culture, health and security have been increasingly dynamic.

He noted that in 2019, the number of Nigeria students studying in China rose to 6,800, which stands first in all African countries.

On the COVID-19 Pandemic, Zhao said China provided timely medical aid to Nigeria in three batches and shared its experiences on epidemic prevention and control with the Nigerian government.

The Chinese envoy said that his country will continue to assist Nigeria to strengthen the anti-pandemic cooperation until the pandemic is eradicated.

The Deputy Ambassador said 2021 is a crucial year for China-Nigeria relations, which was underscored by the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi in January, adding that this was a testament of the importance China attaches to its ties with Nigeria.

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He said that during the official visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister, both countries jointly formulated a blueprint to boost bilateral cooperations in the next fifty years. He stressed that China is committed to support Nigeria to safeguard its development interest, security, and safeguard its national sovereignty.

He said, "China is ready to deepen the Belt and Road Cooperation; speed up the construction of key projects so as to help Nigeria accelerate the process of industralisation.

"Explore the cooperation in the areas of digital economy and green economy; expand military and security cooperation with a view to enhance Nigeria's capacity of safeguarding national security.

"And closely coordinate with each other on regional and international affairs to safeguard the common interests of developing countries," Zhao said.
The government has placed orders for 1 crore (10 million) additional doses of Covishield from Serum Institute of India and 45 lakh (4.5 million) more doses of Covaxin from Bharat Biotech, officials of the two vaccine makers said on Tuesday.

India's COVID-19 vaccination drive was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16.

Serum Institute has received another order from the government for 10 million doses of Covishield, a company official said in response to a query.

The government had earlier placed a purchase order with Serum Institute of India (SII) for 1.1 crore doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield.

When asked, a Bharat Biotech spokesperson said, "The company has received a letter of comfort from the Government of India to supply another 4.5 million (or 45 lakh) doses''.

The spokesperson also added that Bharat Biotech will also be exporting its COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, to Brazil and the United Arab Emirates.

The company is also likely to export the vaccine to the Philippines and other South Asian countries, the spokesperson said.

The government had earlier placed an order for 55 lakh doses of Covaxin from Bharat Biotech.

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Senate opened Donald Trumps historic second impeachment trial Tuesday, the defeated former president charged by the House with inciting the deadly mob attack on the Capitol to overturn the election in what prosecutors call the most grievous constitutional crime.

Trump's lawyers are insisting that he is not guilty of the sole charge of incitement of insurrection, his fiery words just a figure of speech as he encouraged a rally crowd to fight like hell for his presidency. But prosecutors say he has no good defense and they promise new evidence.

The Capitol siege on Jan. 6 stunned the world as rioters stormed the building to try to stop the certification of President-elect Joe Bidens victory. Five people died.

Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye, the acting sergeant at arms intoned to start the trial.

Trump is the first president to face impeachment charges after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors. He remains a challenge to the nations civic norms and traditions even in defeat.

Security remains extremely tight at the Capitol, a changed place after the attack, fenced off with razor wire and armed National Guard troops on patrol. The nine House managers walked across the shuttered building to prosecute the case before the Senate.

In an opening prayer, Senate Chaplain Barry Black asked God to take control of this impeachment trial and have mercy on our beloved land.

TEXAS TAKE: Catch the political news you need every weekday at HoustonChronicle.com.

With senators gathered as the court of impeachment, sworn to deliver impartial justice, the trial is starting with debate and a vote over whether its constitutionally permissible to prosecute Trump after he is no longer in the White House. First, senators were voting on a resolution laying out the trial schedule for the day's ahead.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said it was the senators' solemn constitutional duty to conduct a fair trial of the gravest charges ever brought against a president.

Presiding is not the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, as has been tradition for the nations few presidential impeachment trials, but the chambers senior-most member of the majority party, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

Acquittal is likely, but the trial will test the nations attitude toward his brand of presidential power, the Democrats resolve in pursuing him, and the loyalty of Trumps Republican allies defending him.

In trying to make sense of a second Trump trial, the public should keep in mind that Donald Trump was the first president ever to refuse to accept his defeat, said Timothy Naftali, a clinical associate professor at New York University and an expert on impeachment.

Now Playing: Video: Associated Press

This trial is one way of having that difficult national conversation about the difference between dissent and insurrection, Naftali said.

Trumps defense team has embraced the question of constitutionality, which could resonate with Republicans eager to acquit Trump without being seen as condoning his behavior. They argue in filings the trial is patently ridiculous.

Now Playing: Video: Associated Press

But the House prosecutors will cite the nations founders to declare a president must answer comprehensively for his conduct in office from his first day in office through his last. There is no January exception just before he leaves office, they will argue, according to aides granted anonymity to discuss the arguments ahead of the trial.

It appears unlikely that the House prosecutors will call witnesses, in part because the senators sworn as jurors, forced to flee for safety, will be presented with graphic videos recorded that day. At his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump has declined a request to testify.

Instead, House managers prosecuting the case will show videos of the violence, including never before seen evidence, and chart a succinct story beginning with Trumps false claims the election was stolen and ending with the attempt at insurrection.

Trumps defense team has said it plans to counter with its own cache of videos of Democratic politicians making fiery speeches. We have some videos up our sleeve, Senior Trump adviser Jason Miller said on a podcast Monday.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that Biden will be busy with the business of the presidency and won't spend much time watching the televised proceedings. Hell leave it to his former colleagues in the Senate, she said.

A first test Tuesday will be on a vote on the constitutionality of the trial, signaling attitudes in the Senate. The chamber is divided 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, with a two-thirds vote, 67 senators, required for conviction.

A similar question was posed late last month, when Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky forced a vote to set aside the trial because Trump was no longer in office. At that time, 45 Republicans voted in favor of Pauls measure. Just five Republicans joined with Democrats to pursue the trial: Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania

Presidential impeachment trials have been conducted only three times before, leading to acquittals for Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and then Trump last year.

Typically senators sit at their desks for such occasions, but the COVID-19 crisis has upended even this tradition. Instead, senators will be allowed to spread out, in the marble room just off the Senate floor, where proceedings will be shown on TV, and in the public galleries above the chamber, to accommodate social distancing, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

Under an agreement between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the opening arguments would begin at noon Wednesday, with up to 16 hours per side for presentations.

After that there are hours for deliberations, witnesses and closing arguments. The trial is expected to continue into the weekend and next week.

In filings, lawyers for the former president lobbed a wide-ranging attack against the House case, dismissing the trial as political theater" on the same Senate floor invaded by the mob.

Trump's defenders suggest he was simply exercising his First Amendment rights when he encouraged his supporters to protest at the Capitol, and they argue the Senate is not entitled to try Trump now that he has left office.

House impeachment managers, in their own filings, assert that Trump betrayed the American people and has no valid excuse or defense.

His incitement of insurrection against the United States government  which disrupted the peaceful transfer of power  is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president," the Democrats have said.

Trump's second impeachment trial is expected to diverge from the lengthy, complicated affair of a year ago. In that case, Trump was charged with having privately pressured Ukraine to dig up dirt on Biden, then a Democratic rival for the presidency.

This time, Trump's stop the steal rally rhetoric and the storming of the Capitol played out for the world to see. The trial could be over in half the time.

The Democratic-led House impeached the president swiftly, one week after the most violent attack on Congress in more than 200 years. Five people died, including a woman shot by police inside the building and a police officer who died the next day of his injuries.

___

Associated Press writer Hope Yen contributed to this report.

Itiquira Acquisition Corp. Announces Closing of $230 Million Initial Public Offering Tweet this

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and UBS Securities LLC acted as joint bookrunning managers for the offering.

A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 3, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained from Citigroup Global Markets Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, telephone: 1-800-831-9146; and UBS Securities LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, or by telephone at (888) 827-7275 or email at [email protected].

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including with respect to the initial public offering and search for an initial business combination. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement for the initial public offering filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

SOURCE Itiquira Acquisition Corp.

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In line with JK Technosoft's transformation journey, Ram will be leading the company's global sales in the UK Europe.

Mr. Ram Kumar has been appointed as VP Sales (U.K. Europe) at JK Technosoft, a global software solutions provider. As part of the leadership team, Ram will lead the sales and account management team across the UK and European region in his new role. This appointment is strategic to the company's plan to accelerate sales and expand growth in the UK and European market.

Ram brings with him two decades of experience in sales, account management delivery with leading technology companies such as TCS, IBM, Wipro and others; with over a decade spent in the European region.

Mr Aloke Paskar, CEO President, JK Technosoft, "We are delighted to welcome Ram aboard, who brings in a wealth of experience in spearheading large operations. We look forward to his leadership in driving our growth globally with a special focus on the UK and European markets."

Speaking on his new role, Mr Ram Kumar said, "The recent crisis has propelled the adoption of digital transformation by customers across sectors. I look forward to working closely with our technology partners to address customers' growing requirements for more productive yet flexible solutions and to encourage them on their digital transformation journey. JK Technosoft has an adept culture which promotes innovation and growth to stay ahead of the curve."

Ram has a bachelor's degree in Engineering from IIT, Roorkee and holds a Master's in Business from MDI, Gurgaon. He has an interest in Indian Philosophy and practices Vipassana Meditation.

About JK Technosoft

Founded in 1994, JK Technosoft is a part of one of India's largest industrial groups with an annual turnover of over US$ 7 billion.

In a transformational journey of 25 years, JK Technosoft has established an exceptional customer guardianship through the philosophy of reciprocal partnership and value addition. With over 1600 employees and three offshore delivery centres in Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, and Bangalore, JK Technosoft serves its global customers in the US, UK, Europe, and India both onsite and offshore.

www. jktech.com

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Chhavi Sood

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+44 1344 393032
Source: Reuters

Oil prices edged up to their highest in 13 months on Tuesday as supply cuts by major producers and optimism over fuel demand recovery support energy markets.

Brent crude futures for April gained 48 cents, or 0.8 percent, to $61.04 a barrel by 0443 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) for March was at $58.42 a barrel, up 45 cents, or 0.8 percent.

Both Brent and WTI are at their highest since January 2020. Front-month prices for both contracts are up for the seventh session on Tuesday, the longest win streak since January 2019.

Additional supply reductions by top exporter Saudi Arabia in February and March, on top of cuts by producers in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies, are tightening supplies and balancing global markets.

Investors are also pinning hopes on oil demand recovery when COVID-19 vaccines take effect. A weak dollar has also helped shored up prices of commodities.

"Progress on US stimulus and optimism around the roll-out and effect of vaccines across the remainder of 2021 and a slightly weaker USD help the view (for a recovery) albeit there was mixed news on the impact of the current vaccines formulated on the emerging South African variant," Stephen Innes, chief global markets strategist at brokerage Axi.

He cautioned, however, that both Brent and WTI are in overbought territory on technical charts.

"While I remain a bit cautious at current levels, the medium and longer-term outlook for demand is healthy, and one can understand a willingness to look through some of the near-term uncertainty that remains for oil," he said.

Investors are looking ahead to the US weekly oil inventories data due later in the week.

US crude and gasoline stockpiles likely rose last week, while distillate stocks were seen down, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday.

Prime Minister on Tuesday expressed deepest condolences to the families of those killed in a two-vehicle crash on the Varanasi-Jaunpur highway in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur district.

Six people were killed and 11 others injured in the

All the 17 people were travelling in a jeep after attending a cremation in Varanasi, police said, adding the collision took place between the vehicle and a truck.

"Got the sad news of the death of people in a road near the Varanasi-Jaunpur border in I express my deepest condolences to the families of those people and wish a speedy recovery for those who have been injured in the accident," Modi was quoted as saying by the Prime Minister's Office.

(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.)
SPRINGFIELD  The City Council approved special permits Monday for a housing development at the historic Knox automobile buildings following a discussion that included strong praise for the project as well as strong concerns about neighborhood input and the developers track record on hiring minority contractors.

The special permits for the 96-unit affordable housing complex, at two vacant buildings at 53 Wilbraham Road and 42 Waltham Ave., were approved by votes of 10-2  but not before the developer warned that applications for state tax credits needed for the $54 million project would be in jeopardy if the vote was delayed. Several councilors proposed putting off approval.

Councilors including Kateri Walsh, Orlando Ramos and Sean Curran praised the project in the citys Mason Square area, as well as developer Gordon Pulsifers history of bringing quality residential developments to Springfield. Pulsifer, president and CEO of Hanover-based First Resource Development Co., promised to meet with the neighborhood councils but urged the council not to delay the permits.

Mr. Pulsifer has a proven record in the city of Springfield, Walsh said in support of the permits. Every neighborhood where hes had a project, he has improved the neighborhood, he has improved the quality of life in the neighborhood, hes offered employment. Hes also offered security. I think his reputation should speak for itself.

The council first considered sending the matter to committee to give Pulsifer a chance to meet with the Old Hill and Upper Hill neighborhood councils, as requested by the presidents of both neighborhood organizations. The property is located at the junction of those two neighborhoods.

City officials said the lack of a prior meeting between the developer and neighborhood councils may have been an oversight, but was not a legal requirement for the special permits. Attempts to hold a remote meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in delays.

Some councilors also raised concerns that the projects proposed parking lot on Wilbraham Avenue would result in the demolition of three nearby houses and the displacement of those tenants.

Councilor Victor Davila said there was no apparent plan for residents being displaced by the project, and he voted against the special permits.

Pulsifer said he will confer with the owner of the homes planned for parking to discuss any assistance he can provide for relocation.

Councilor Justin Hurst also voted no, saying he was not satisfied with the developers track record in hiring local minority contractors for past projects in Springfield, including the former Mason Square fire station and Indian Motocycle Apartments.

Other councilors said Pulsifer did great work on those projects, which are in the immediate neighborhood of the Knox project.

Council President Marcus Williams took public comments via email, letters and one voice recording, and accepted live comments during a public speak-out before the meeting. He restricted live comments during the regular meeting under his set COVID-19 guidelines.

Councilor Tracye Whitfield voted for the project, but said she was extremely concerned about limits on neighborhood input. She cited both the lack of a meeting with neighborhood councils and the limits on pubic comment during the meeting. She questioned if the same restrictions would be enforced in a neighborhood such as East Forest Park.

Inequity has been happening in the black and brown community for over 400 years and we all know it, Whitfield said, adding: Inequities have been happening throughout the history of America and yet the black and brown communities always have to give in and be submissive and accept it because its a great project.

The minority community is tired of not having a chance to be heard, just to be heard, she said.

She was among five councilors asking for a delay on the vote until the next meeting in two weeks. A motion to send the issue to committee failed in a 5-7 vote.

Councilor Sean Curran opposed any delay, saying, lets take a vote for redevelopment, lets take a vote for restoration of that old building and bring back a little bit of the history and the vibrancy that was once the hallmark of that building and street.

Hurst said the council needs to work with Focus Springfield community television to figure out a way to allow live public testimony.

Pulsifer said there is strong competition for low income tax credits for affordable housing projects in Massachusetts, and any delay could cause the project to lose out on funds this year and beyond.

He said he has been working on projects in the neighborhoods for the past decade, and will work with residents to address concerns.

Related content:
Trumps first impeachment trial, in which he was acquitted on charges that he abused power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate now-President Joe Biden, lasted almost three weeks. But this one is expected to be shorter, as the case is less complicated and the senators know many of the details already, having been in the Capitol during the insurrection.
The Manitou Springs City Council on Feb. 4, 2021, approved plans to issue a request for proposal to upgrade and remodel the historic Carnegie Library building, located at 701 Manitou Ave. The building is aging and must be upgraded so it is compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. (Courtesy of Pikes Peak Library District)
Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu has been arrested by the the special cell of the Delhi police on Tuesday on charges of instigating violence during the tractor rally on Republic Day.

Reports suggest he was arrested from Punjab's Zikarpur.

Several teams of the Delhi police's crime branch have been searching for Sidhu after several farmers accused him of playing a role in the violence at the Red Fort on January 26. Since then, Sidhu has been uploading videos on Facebook.

Also read: In the Dock for Instigating Protesters to Storm Red Fort, Who is Deep Sidhu?

DCP special cell has said that Deep Sidhu would make videos and send it to a friend in California, who would then upload it to Facebook.

The police said that he did this so that the police could not trace his current IP address.

A day after the violence on Republic Day, Sidhu had uploaded a Facebook video saying the incident should not be given any communal colour nor the protesters dubbed as fundamentalists or hardliners.

Also read: R-Day Violence Accused Deep Sidhu's Facebook Videos Being Uploaded by Friend Abroad: Report

The Delhi police had also announced a monetary reward of Rs 1 lakh for anyone who can provide information on the whereabouts of Sidhu, who has been named as an accused in the violence that unfolded after farmers took out a tractor rally on Republic Day.

During a speech at Singhu border ahead of Republic Day, Sidhu had reportedly said, "Our leadership is under pressure. We shouldnt put more pressure on them. But we can ask them to take a decision that is acceptable to all. They should come on the stage. If they dont come, then we will take a decision. You all should decide who should take the decision in that case."

On January 26, a section of the farmers deviated from the designated rally route in Delhi and resulted in clashes with the police. Some of them ended up at the Red Fort, climbing its ramparts.
Long after interviewing former Crown Resorts staffer-turned-whistleblower Jenny Jiang about the casino giants secretive internal operations, a phrase she had uttered after quietly crying on camera was still ringing in my head.

Crown, said Jiang, regarded its China-based staff like a used napkin you throw in the trash can.

The Bergin inquiry in NSW on Tuesday made a similar finding, albeit using official terminology, and not only about Crowns regard for its staff in China, who were told to lure high-rollers to Australia in likely defiance of Chinese law. Commissioner Patricia Bergin, a former Supreme Court judge, also savaged Crowns disregard for corporate governance and the Australian laws supposed to prevent casinos facilitating money laundering.

Commissioner Patricia Bergins inquiry found that Crown was unfit to hold a NSW gaming licence. Credit:Nick Moir

Crowns fusion of corporate greed and arrogance with its disrespect for the law and the welfare of its staff now threatens its operations not only in Sydney but, if Premier Daniel Andrews applies some long-overdue oversight, in Melbourne too.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is investigating if steel companies colluded with each other to increase the price of the commodity.

On the back of the sharp price hike in steel prices, the fair trade regulator has started a suo moto probe to ascertain if companies had formed a cartel. CCI has not received any written complaint on the issue, Moneycontrol reported on Monday.

JSW Steel, Tata Steel, Steel Authority of India (SAIL) are among the major steel producers in the country.

Also read: Duty cut on steel products could reduce steel prices by 10% in near term: ICRA

There has been a sharp rise in steel prices since June and there have been complaints from various quarters against this.

Last month, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had also raised the issue, saying the increase in steel prices cannot be justified as there has been no increase in labour, raw material and power costs. He had also warned that his ministry will allow use of synthetic fibre and composite fibre, in place of steel products, for construction of roads and bridges.

The rise in steel prices had also found a place in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget speech.

While announcing reduction in customs duty and certain other duties on steel products, she had said, "MSMEs and other user industries have been severely hit by a recent sharp rise in iron and steel prices. Therefore, we are reducing customs duty uniformly to 7.5 per cent on semis, flat, and long products of non-alloy, alloy, and stainless steels."

Also read: Stainless steel makers flay Budget 2021, say it opens floodgates for Chinese companies

Also read: Budget 2021: To rein in steel prices, import duties slashed, curbs on imports removed even for China
Saudi officials tried to lure the daughter of a top spy to the Istanbul consulate just days before journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered there, it has been claimed.

Saad al-Jabri has been living in self-imposed exile in Toronto since Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, ruthlessly took power in 2017 and became the de facto ruler of the desert kingdom.

Jabri, who once held a cabinet-level intelligence post under deposed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, has made the allegations as part of an ongoing court battle in which he claims bin Salman tried to have him killed.

In court papers filed last year, Jabri is a marked man in Riyadh because he is 'uniquely positioned to existentially threaten defendant bin Salman's standing with the US Government.'

He claimed MBS sent a team of hit men to North America to assassinate him, after taking his children and his brother hostage, because Jabri knew secrets about the young royal's brutal palace coup that brought him to power,

In the latest development, according to the Times, Jabri has now claimed in an amended complaint to a court in Washington DC that MBS convened a meeting last May.

Saad al-Jabri (left) has claimed in court papers Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS (right) had officials try and lure his daughter to Istanbul consulate just days before journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered there in an attempt to cause her harm

Jabri alleges that MBS directed agents to make a second attempt to kill him, this time by travelling to the US and entering Canada by land.

He goes on to claim that, in 2018, Saudi aides tried to lure his daughter, Hissah Almuzaini, to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where she was living, in order to harm her.

According to the Times, Hissah was living there at the time but did not attend the consulate where, days later, Khashoggi was killed.

Jabri has said in the lawsuit that one of the reasons MBS wants him dead is because he provided intelligence to the CIA pointing to the crown prince as responsible for the death of Khashoggi.

The murder caused a global uproar, tarnishing the crown prince's image.

Khashoggi, a US resident, visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018, to receive marriage documents. It is believed that his body was dismembered and removed.

His remains have never been recovered.

The CIA believes that Khashoggi's murder was ordered by MBS. Saudi officials say he had no role, though in September MBS indicated some personal accountability, saying 'it happened under my watch.'

According to the lawsuit, MBS dispatched a team of agents to the US to locate Jabri.

The agents managed to pinpoint Jabri's location by implanting malware on his cell phone, the lawsuit alleges.

Pictured: Jabri's daughter Sarah al-Jabri is seen a file photo and is believed to be missing

Less than two weeks after the Khashoggi killing, a 'personal mercenary group' known as 'Tiger Squad' travelled to Canada to kill Jabri, the complaint alleges.

The members of the 'Tiger Squad' were carrying 'two bags of forensic tools.'

They also had 'forensic personnel experienced with the clean-up of crime scenes - including an instruction in the exact same criminal evidence department as the forensic specialist who dismembered Khashoggi with a bone saw.'

The lawsuit alleges that the team tried to enter Canada covertly while traveling on tourist visas.

They tried to enter the country individually while 'seeking to avert the detection of Canadian border security by entering through separate kiosks.'

But their efforts were thwarted when Canadian border officials grew suspicious about information they had provided.

The court papers also include allegations that involve Aljabri's two children, who have allegedly been 'seized' by the Saudi government in an attempt to 'lure [their father] back' to the kingdom.

Aljabri is considered a close ally of the US intelligence community whose assistance saved American lives after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Jabri is pictured right in this undated file photo with his son, Omar, who along with his sister Sarah has not been heard from since March last year according to Saad al-Jabri

Two adult children and a brother of Saad Aljabri, who is said to hold key state secrets, were detained in Riyadh in March, with a source close to the family telling AFP they were victims of a 'Saudi game of thrones.'

Aljabri, credited by Western officials for playing a pivotal role in the kingdom's fight against Al-Qaeda, had earlier attempted to get his children to leave Saudi Arabia but authorities had placed them under a travel ban, the source said.

The source said the whereabouts of the children - Sarah and Omar, who are in their early 20s - remain unknown and the family's repeated appeals to Saudi rulers have gone unanswered.

In May, Saad Aljabri's brother, Abdulrahman, was also arrested.

The Aljabri family source said the two children were caught up in the dangerous power plays and being used as 'pawns.'

In a countersuit filed last year, MBS has previously said Jabri is trying to cover up his own crimes and has accused Jabri of misspending or stealing billions of dollars of government funds.

The filing stated: 'The flaws in this complaint are so apparent and run so deep that it can only be regarded as an attempt to divert attention from plaintiff's massive theft.'
Maputo  The northern Mozambican province of Nampula has recorded so far 133 cases of cholera, after an outbreak that was first reported in January in the district of Meconta, which is also the epicentre of the disease.

Addressing a meeting of the Emergency Operational Centre (COE), at which the province's current epidemiological situation was presented, the Secretary of State for Nampula, Mety Gondola, said 52 patients are now hospitalised with cholera, but there have been no deaths.

"Taking into account the cumulative number of cases, we have declared a cholera outbreak in the district of Meconta. The situation is worrying but we hope we can depend on everyone's support so that we can bring it under control", Gondola said.

Besides Meconta, he has also expressed concern with the growing number of diarrhea cases in Moma, Memba and Erati districts, which might also be cholera, and urged the stakeholders to constantly share information about the spread of the disease.

He said that health authorities are monitoring the movement of people in the affected districts, especially in the administrative post of Namialo, in Meconta. "We have stepped up the alert level, as we fear that some people might bring the disease to Nampula city and Monapo district", said Gondola.

Gondola added that the authorities must also attach great importance to other diseases affecting the province such as malaria and Covid-19.

He said the province is ready to provide the necessary assistance to the cholera patients, as Nampula has sufficient stocks of medicines for the next three months

"After an assessment of the stocks, we can firmly state that there are enough stocks and medical equipment available, for the next three months," Gondola said, adding that a request for further medicines has been submitted to strengthen the province's capacity for at least five months.
www.TheSeditionCaucus.com Our priority is to ensure voters fire members of the sedition caucus at the polls in 2022. Republican seditionists and QAnon members of Congress cannot hide from their attempt to destroy our democracy.

On the first day of Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate, the Sedition Caucus PAC announced its launch with a TV series-style ad campaign to remind voters that Republican Congressman Mike Garcia (CA-25) enabled an insurrection and voted to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The five-figure digital ad buy against Garcia is the first in a TV series-style ad campaign titled The Seditionists. Each episode/ad will follow congressional seditionists as they vote and take positions against constituent priorities from now until November 2022. Other targeted districts will include PA-10, TX-10, NC-08, and TX-24.

Click here to view the first episode of The Seditionists in CA-25.

Joe Jacobson, the founder of the Sedition Caucus PAC and its affiliate the Progress Action Fund, said, Our priority is to ensure voters fire members of the sedition caucus at the polls in 2022. Republican seditionists and QAnon members of Congress cannot hide from their attempt to destroy our democracy. Were watching every vote they take and every statement they make.

Garcia is the Sedition Caucus PACs first target. CA-25 was flipped by Congresswoman Katie Hill in 2018 by a nine-point margin, and in 2020, Garcia only won by 0.1 points (333 votes) despite his campaign and Republican groups outspending his opponent and Democratic groups by over $5 million.

The Seditionists will feature:

Scott Perry in PA-10, who introduced Trump to Department of Justice officials who were eager to support the former president to overturn the 2020 election by firing the Acting Attorney General. Perry won by only 2.6 points in 2018 and by 6.6 points in 2020.

Rich Hudson in NC-08, the secretary of the House Republican Conference, a climate change denier, and a proponent of birtherism, saying theres no question President Obama is hiding something on his citizenship. Hudson won by only 6.6. points in 2020.

Beth Van Duyne in TX-24, who thought Sharia law existed in Texas and was featured on the Southern Poverty Law Centers Hatewatch blog. Biden won TX-24 by 5 points while Van Duyne won by only 1.3 points.

Mike McCaul in TX-10, a district that Beto ORourke won by .2 points in 2018 and Biden lost by 1.7 in 2020. McCaul won by only 4.3 points in 2018 and by 7.2 in 2020. We put McCaul in the same category as commonly known sedition caucus member Ron Johnson, who didnt vote to overturn the election results on January 6, but whose actions before January 6th enabled the insurrection. What makes McCaul unique is that, instead of putting to rest conspiracy theories about the election being stolen from Trump, McCaul announced an initiative right before the attack on Jan. 5 to "combat voter fraud and protect legitimate votes" because the 2020 election was mired in controversy and accusations of voter fraud. The initiative is a partnership between McCaul and the Texas Public Policy Foundation, which strongly supported Attorney General Ken Paxton's lawsuit to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The Sedition Caucus PAC is a project of the Progress Action Fund (PAF), which holds Republicans accountable in swing districts across the country. PAF is best known for its viral ad exposing Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue for investing in body bags during the 2020 election.

To learn more, visit http://www.TheSeditionCaucus.com and http://www.FundProgress.org.

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The Los Angeles, San Diego and Northern California Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees across the West Coast fully support the demand of Chicago educators to keep schools closed during the pandemic. Across the country, as thousands of people die every day, there is a bipartisan push to reopen schools against all medical science. The statement of the Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee Keeping Chicago schools closed during the pandemic is not negotiable! points the way forward to workers everywhere.

Teachers, parents and children march in the Brooklyn borough of New York to protest the reopening of city public schools amid the threat of a teachers strike, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

The conscious decision of the local, state and federal governments to pursue a policy of herd immunity through mass infection has created an entirely preventable health catastrophe. Initial lockdown measures were conducted without the necessary financial support to workers and small businesses to make them effective. Then they were removed without any plan for long-term containment, condemning hundreds of thousands more to die during the December and January surges. In California, daily average deaths quadrupled to 540 in January and have only modestly dropped to 480.

The City of San Francisco has taken the unprecedented step of suing their own school board for not having sufficient plans to reopen in January as hospitals have filled during a surge of the pandemic. There is no safe way to resume in-person instruction until the pandemic is contained. While there is community spread, opening schools will only exacerbate the crisis.

There is growing pressure to reopen schools as quickly as possible in Los Angeles, San Diego and other major school districts across California. After City Attorney Dennis Herrera sued the San Francisco school district, the local teachers union negotiated a deal to herd teachers and students back into unsafe classrooms in the coming weeks.

In Salt Lake City, Utah, schools reopened on Monday after the Salt Lake City School Board voted 6 to 1 to reopen all grades including high school. In Washington and Oregon, many districts throughout the rural and suburban regions have already reopened with some form of hybrid or in-person instruction, claiming that vaccinating some teachers will make it safe. Portland and Seattle school district leaders are developing a phased reopening plan that will begin as early as March.

Throughout the world, dozens of governments are pursuing the same homicidal policy as in the US, placing profits before lives and pushing to keep schools open. Whether it is Boris Johnson in the UK, Bolsonaro in Brazil, the Grand Coalition of the Social Democrats and Christian Democratic Union in Germany, the Macron government in France, or elsewhere, the policy is the same.

The conscious decision of these governments to allow mass infections has undermined any effort to contain the pandemic. As the virus spreads it continues to evolve, resulting in more contagious and deadly variants of COVID-19 emerging in Britain, South Africa, Brazil and California. Further infections increase the chance that variants resistant to the newly developed vaccines will emerge.

Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, recently stated, There are serious concerns that with the spread of new COVID-19 variants, achieving herd immunity necessary to end the pandemic may be difficult if not impossible, but we may be able to bring COVID-19 under control if we continue to focus on the strategies that can keep transmission lowavoiding gatherings, wearing masks, and other measureswhile working to get as many people vaccinated as possible.

Study after study demonstrates that school children can very effectively spread the disease to school staff and their families and that closing school sites is among the most effective interventions to reduce spread. Keeping instruction remote is essential to saving lives and containing the pandemic.

As in Chicago, educators on the West Coast confront unions that promote the fiction of a safe return to schools during the pandemic. The California Teachers Association (CTA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and others have issued a shameful document that agrees in principle to resume in-person instruction while positivity rates remain as high as 8 percent. As a condition they call on the legislature to prioritize school workers for vaccination. How wretched!

Reopening schools is dangerous for students, families, and by increasing the rate of infection, the community at large. Educators cannot agree to send more people to the hospital, ICU and morgue just because they offer to make us personally safe.

The exact same politicians who have for decades starved the public schools of desperately needed funds are now claiming that children are suffering under remote learning.

Even where schools have reopened there has been no return to normal under the pandemic. Major districts that have returned like New York City are regularly quarantining sites to contain new outbreaks. Instead of providing students a steady environment, they are bouncing back and forth between open and closed. Districts opening under a hybrid model have placed an unbearable workload on teachers, preventing the kind of focused attention that students need to succeed.

California hosts a high concentration of wealth and billionaires, the second highest number of Fortune 500 companies, and Elon Musk, who has become the richest person in the world. The wealth exists to fund quality online instruction, social support and financial assistance for workers and small business owners during the shutdowns.

We call on educators across the region to join and help build our rank-and-file committees to prepare a general strike to shut down schools and nonessential workplaces while demanding full compensation for all workers and the resources needed to quickly vaccinate the population, address the critical social needs of students and parents, and provide high-quality remote learning until the pandemic is under control.

Endorsed by:

Northern CA Rank-and-File Safety Committee

San Diego Rank-and-File Safety Committee

Los Angeles Rank-and-File Safety Committee

Bilingual teachers from Oregon Willamette valley

Psychotherapist from Pierce County

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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Friday said that it wanted the presence of liquor baron Vijay Mallya in the contempt case against him. The Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for Centre told SC, extradition proceedings being conducted in UK Court and would most likely end by December 4.

Mallya, who was held guilty of contempt, on Monday failed to make a personal appearance before the Supreme Court despite being directed to do so.

A bench comprising of Justices A K Goel and U U Lalit fixed the matter for hearing on July 14 and sought the assistance of the solicitor general in the case.

The apex court had on May 9 held Mallya, who is presently in the United Kingdom, guilty of contempt on a plea by the consortium of lender banks, led by the State Bank of India, for his failure to furnish details of all his Indian as well as offshore assets.

It had directed Mallya to appear before it on Friday to argue on the quantum of punishment.

The offence of contempt of court entails a maximum imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of upto Rs 2,000 or both.

India had recently asked Britain to ensure early extradition of Mallya, who is an accused in a bank loan default case of over Rs 9,000 crore involving his defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

The apex court's order had come on a plea by the consortium of banks, led by the State Bank of India (SBI), which had said that Mallya had allegedly transferred $40 million received from British firm Diageo to his children in "flagrant violation" of various judicial orders.

The banks had argued before the court that Mallya had wilfully disobeyed the orders and made "vague" disclosure about his assets.

With PTI inputs

Also read: Vijay Mallya appears before court in extradition case; next hearing on September 14

Also read: Extradition case: Vijay Mallya gets bail until Dec 4, says enough evidence to prove his case; next hearing on July 6

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
HARARE- Rwandans in Zimbabwe and Botswana, for the first time, on Sunday, February 7, participated in activities to celebrate the Rwanda national Heroes Day, in an event that was held virtually.

The event was held a week after the national level celebrations for the day, which took place on February 1.

Discussions to mark the National Heroes Day focused on the national theme, "Our heroism our dignity"

During the event, Rwanda's ambassador to Zimbabwe, James Musoni, thanked the Rwandan community for honoring one of the country's important days that conveys core values as the backbone that portrayed solidarity, unity and patriotism to inspire acts of heroism aimed at building a better and secure Rwanda.

Musoni, who is also accredited to Botswana, reminded participants that the peace, security and development being enjoyed in the country was a result of selflessness, sacrifices, bravery and patriotism by Rwandan heroes that were being celebrated.

"Rwandans, wherever they are, must promote unity and project the good image of the country abroad and keep Rwanda at heart," Ambassador Musoni said.

The guest speaker at the event was Edouard Bamporiki, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth and Culture.

In his remarks, Minister Bamporiki elaborated the background of heroism in the context of the Rwandan culture, emphasizing the role of the Rwandan community abroad in promoting heroism as a culture that brands and dignifies all Rwandans.

"Putting Rwanda first in everyday life gives us strength to habitually promote heroism," Bamporiki said.

Rwandan community leaders, who participated in the celebrations, thanked the Embassy for linking them together and coordinating the celebration of this honorary event.

They committed to strengthen the partnership of the two communities aimed at promoting the image of their country and contributing to its development.

Musoni requested the participants to underline the Rwandan core values as the key pillars that dignify and brands them as good citizens in the countries sheltering them.

He reminded the youth, the majority of them who are undertaking studies and doing businesses, that they have a big role in preserving and sustaining national achievements.
A West Linn police officer on Monday took down a velvet painting of a clown from his school resource office window at West Linn High School after a former student condemned it as a racist blackface depiction in a Facebook post that drew hundreds of responses.

Some people reacted by criticizing the concerns about the clown and blasting the woman who posted them for shaming the officer.

But others came to the defense of Abigail Graves, a 23-year-old Portland State University student who graduated from West Linn High in 2015 and whose sister is a junior there. Graves said another high school student took the photo at the school before the start of the pandemic.

I dont see how there could be a harmless excuse for an image with such blatant racism, Graves wrote Monday on Facebooks West Linn Open Forum page, and posted two photos of the painting. It shows a clown with a black face on black velvet.

West Linn Police responded immediately.

School resource officer Jeff Halverson removed the painting, as well as all other velvet paintings from his office, the Police Department wrote in a Facebook post.

West Linn Acting Police Chief Peter Mahuna said Halverson had about a dozen black velvet paintings in his high school office.

He often used them as conversation starters with students or faculty, Mahuna said.

Once the officer became aware of Graves Facebook post, he took down the clown painting right away, and the department issued an apology, Mahuna said.

The last thing the School Resource Officer wanted is for any student, staff member or member of the public, to not feel welcome and safe in his office. He believed the painting represented a circus clown and nothing more, West Linn police wrote on Facebook.

The West Linn Police Department and specifically our School Resource Officer apologize for any negative impacts the paintings may have had on anyone. We remain committed to rebuilding any relationships that may have been negatively affected by the paintings.

A 2015 West Linn High graduate, who has a sister who is a junior at the school, posted this photo on a West Linn community forum on Facebook, calling it a racist Blackface depiction that should be removed.

Halverson, who is in his sixth year with the West Linn Police Department, said he collected the black velvet paintings in his late teens from a Washington thrift store, thinking they were funny and weird.

He said he kept them in a box for 20-plus years and took them out to decorate his office at the high school three years ago. Besides the clown, he had paintings of a volcano and a pirate ship, for example, he said.

It was a clown. There was nothing to it, he said of his intent in hanging the painting that drew the controversy. But once someone expressed concern about it being discriminatory, Halverson said he removed it because he doesnt want to offend anyone or make anyone feel uncomfortable coming to his office. He ended up removing all the black velvet paintings he had up in his office, he said.

My office has to be an inclusive, welcoming place, said Halverson, who is white.

For Graves, the removal of the painting is welcome but she said she wants to hear back from the schools principal. She also said she didnt expect the backlash shes received on social media.

Several people criticized her for posting the photo with the officers name visible without bringing the matter to the school district or police first.

Others defended the black velvet canvas paintings as a style of art popular in the 1960s and provided a link to other clown paintings on black velvet that depicted a number of clown faces painted in white as well, writing that the painting in the high school is not blackface.

Some questioned if Graves lives in West Linn.

Graves said shes lived in West Linn since 2002 and spent two years on campus at Portland State before moving back home this year as she completes credits for a bachelors degree in music education.

Im not going to apologize because I never EVER SAID (the officer) himself was racist, Graves wrote back to some of the commenters. I said this image is and that he, as a public high school police officer, really should think about what kind of mentality that image perpetuates, especially to the incredibly few students of color in this district.

Graves, who is white, said she hasnt spoken to West Linn police but is glad that the officer took down the painting from the school office. The officer works out of the school in an effort to build relationships with students, intervene if theres problems and connect students to appropriate resources.

She said she does think more needs to be done, such as better education in the West Linn schools about Black History Month.

Ive never been in a situation like this before, she said. Im not trying to get this person fired. It was never a personal vendetta. I probably should have gone to the school first, but I wanted my community to know that there are kids upset.

The matter comes in the wake of a $600,000 settlement West Linn paid last year to settle a case brought by Michael Fesser, a Black man from Portland who faced a bogus arrest by West Linn police in 2017 in retaliation for complaints he made about a racially hostile work environment at a Portland towing company. The theft investigation was instigated by former West Linn Chief Terry Timeus as a favor for a friend. The friend was Fessers boss Eric Benson, a West Linn resident and owner of A&B Towing Co. in Portland. All theft charges against Fesser were dismissed, and Benson paid Fesser $415,000 to settle a separate civil suit.

Criticism has erupted often in the last few years as photographs have surfaced of politicians and celebrities photographed in blackface.

Several recent depictions tied to Oregon schools also have sparked outrage, including a blackface cake decorated in a culinary arts class at Cleveland High School in Southeast Portland in 2019 and later that year a photo with a racist hashtag showing Lebanon High School teens with their faces painted black at a Halloween event.

In 2016, a University of Oregon law professor wore blackface to a Halloween party to portray Dr. Damon Tweedy, a Black psychiatrist who wrote a best-selling memoir about his experiences with racism in medical school and in his profession. A university investigation found the blackface created an atmosphere of tension and hostility at the law school.

Blackface has been used for centuries as a racist device, especially popular in the Civil War era and often employed by white performers in minstrel shows to dehumanize people of African descent. It has been routinely used to rationalize violence against people of color and segregation, historians say.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
   [Matu Jansangthan]

  ,  4  , matuganga.blogdpot.in , 9718479517

Press Note

08-02-2021

Our condolences to the people martyred in the disaster invited by the government, planners, contractors, politicians.

Uttarakhand again saw a catastrophe. Local residents of Raini village, goat grazing herders and labourer working in the (13.5 MW) Rishi Ganga Power Project have been declared dead or missing in the sudden flood in Rishi Ganga in Chamoli district.

After that, the water disaster reached Dhauliganga, destroyed the entire dam of Tapovan Vishnugads power project (520 MW) and filled the debris and silt in the tunnels leading to the power house. The workers employed in the tunnel of this project are still missing. Some dead bodies have been found and many more are still missing. The exact number of people killed and missing is not clear yet. On the other hand the number of people who were actually killed will never be revealed because the authorities will only talk about the registered labours. There is no record of the number of small contractors involved and how many people were working with them. Till date, there is no complete record of the missing and killed people in the disaster of June 2013.

The nature is being blamed for the whole incident. The news of breaking glaciers is being widely publicized but there is no statement or discussion on the delicate ecology of the Himalayas for the creation of such large projects, the use of uncontrolled explosives, cutting down of forests, and complete neglect of environmental laws and regulations.

Governments have so far ignored dam reports, warnings from environmentalists, warnings of nature. Being situated in the central Himalayas, Uttarakhand state is full of natural beauty, but at the same time there is always the risk of natural disasters. Constant tampering with nature makes such disaster more frightening.

The so-called glacier rupture incident of February 7, 2021, if these two dams were not there, would have caused the loss of life and property to the barest minimum. Governments should see that it is because of these projects that laborers and other workers, residents of the village and Bakarwal have been killed. The people of Raini village constantly raised the issue of excessive use of explosives for construction of projects. Villagers also went to the Uttarakhand High Court and the court gave the responsibility to the District Magistrate.

We, Matu Jansangthan also challenged the environmental clearance of the Tapovan-Vishnugad project in the then "National Environmental Appellate Authority". Which was canceled by the authority on the issue of filing this appeal after the deadline. Even after this, we kept raising all the issues related to the environment, but the government never paid any attention. We believe that the local administration, the concerned departments of Uttarakhand state and the Union environment ministry are responsible for the environmental violations in both projects.

Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Late Narayan Dutt Tiwari said after the Tehri Dam that no such big dam will be built in future. Despite that the public hearing of Pancheshwar and Rupali Gad dam on Mahakali River were held in 2017 with full deception. The government is moving forward to a large Kishau dam on the Tons River. It is an invitation to another direct disaster.

After the June 2013 disaster, the Supreme Court, in the case of "Alaknanda Hydro Power Company Limited v. Anuj Joshi and others", took cognizance of the Uttarakhand disaster and ordered the central and state government not to sanction any dam project in Uttarakhand. And the Government should assess the impact of hydropower projects on the rivers.

The Ministry of Environment limited the order of the Supreme Court to some rivers of Ganges. The Supreme Court never took any cognizance for limiting its order. The committee headed by Ravi Chopra recommended stoppage of 23 out of 24 projects stated in the 2012 report of Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. But the Supreme Court considered all 24 projects preventable.

After this, the Ministry of Environment formed a new committee and recommended that six of the 24 major projects be taken forward. The Central Electricity Authority also formed a committee. But the joint affidavit from the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Power Ministry and Environment Ministry which was to be filed in the Supreme Court has not happened till date. The Supreme Court has not held any hearing for a long time.

The Supreme Court is guilty of not hearing such a big case related to climate change and killings of people. Therefore the Supreme Court is also responsible for this accident.

Whereas in 2016, the then Power Minister Piyush Goyal had said that we are producing more electricity than required. According to government data, if the current power projects also produce 70 to 75%, then we have no need for new projects. Then what is the need of such projects in such sensitive areas of the Himalayas? It is also a matter of fact that rehabilitation and environmental conditions have not been fulfilled literally even in a single dam project in Uttarakhand,. The same has happened here. Dams change the natural calamity of any river into a formidable form. The Ravi Chopra Committee wrote this clearly in its report.

We have many such examples in the June 2013 disaster. If the Vishnuprayag dam built on the Alaknanda River does not break, then the bridges below do not break. Thousands of pilgrims of Badrinath ji and Hemkund Saheb do not have to get stuck. Because of Srinagar dam on the same river, the government and non-government property of the lower area became submerged. People are still fighting for the compensation.

The government did not learn any lessons from the June, 2013 disaster. The Supreme Court has not taken any step on this till date.

Apart from the Matu Janasangathan, Himalayan lovers and environmentalists of the Uttarakhand and the country warned the government in 2013 on the issue that such accidents can happen again, so big projects should be stopped.

Accountability of public representatives, policymakers, officers and government should be ensured on all these issues. They are the one who leads these dams for development and power.

Orders should be issued to make complete record of labourers working in all projects.

Vimal Bhai

https://t.co/13gDa6IdHn



Matu Jansangthan

Web site: matuganga.in

Visit our blog<matuganga.blogspot.in>
The Ideas Party of Democracy, an opposition political party in Zimbabwe conducted a first of its kind online internal party elections in an effort to beat the lockdown.

With Zimbabwe under a COVID-19 induced lockdown, large gatherings have been stopped hence rendering it impossible to hold elections the traditional way.

In a statement to the media, IPD leader Herbert Chamuka said the online elections tested the party's resolve to be organised and democratic, tests which the party passed.

"Over the weekend, the Ideas Party Of Democracy (IPD) conducted the first of its kind online inter-party online elections in Zimbabwe as we beat the lockdown to deliver democracy to our legion of supporters by ushering in new leadership.

"With Zimbabwe still under a COVID-19 lockdown, we needed to come up with ways to ensure that the elections which we had previously rescheduled, went ahead as planned to enable intraparty democracy to prevail," Chamuka said.

He noted that his party formation has the respect of the laws of the land, hence they could not risk gathering people against government's regulations.

"We have great care for every citizen hence we did not want to put anyone in harm's way by exposing them to the ravaging virus which has killed our family members, our friends and neighbours.

"The lockdown put our democracy to test as we were due for elections but we improvised and we delivered. Together with the top leadership of the party and consultations with party supporters, we realized we needed to have online elections which would be fair, credible and democratic," he further stated.

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There have been calls by independent elections lobby bodies to allow elections, both internal and national, to proceed despite the lockdown.

Meanwhile, Chamuka has challenged political party leaders to come together and work for the betterment of the country.

He said leaders must inculcate the spirit of nationalism and put their personal difference aside.

We are not a party that is fighting anyone, we are trying to bring anyone to the table and find solutions for this nation. A win for one is a win for all.

We are ready to engage with the ruling and opposing parties to look at how we can take Zimbabwe out of the doldrums that it finds itself in. The challenges facing Zimbabwe do not require arrogance but need reasoning. We need to put our heads together to work for our nation," he said.

He further challenged the political leadership in the country to respect the rule of law and human rights if Zimbabwe is to unlock key investments.

"Zimbabwe needs a leader who knows that the country belongs to the 16 million Zimbabweans, not a few individuals. The national cake must be shared equally.

Those are values which make IPD the party of choice. Days of an authoritarian rule must be over, we need democratic leaders. We need unifiers and that is what IPD stands for," Chamuka said.
BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- China is providing vaccine aid to 53 developing countries including Pakistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Monday.

China has exported or is in the process of exporting vaccines to 22 countries, the spokesperson told a routine press briefing.

China has taken concrete steps to honor its pledge to make vaccines global public goods, once available, with greater affordability and accessibility in developing countries, Wang said.

China has joined COVAX and decided to offer 10 million vaccines to COVAX, mainly to help meet the needs of developing countries, he added.

Reiterating China's support for domestic companies in promoting vaccine research, development and manufacturing with their foreign counterparts, Wang said China supports relevant companies to export vaccines to countries that are in urgent need, accept and have authorized the emergency use of Chinese vaccines.

"Pakistan was the first country to receive Chinese vaccine aid. Cambodia received China's vaccine aid yesterday and Laos did today. Vaccine aid to Equatorial Guinea will be shipped tomorrow. Meanwhile, the first batch of vaccines exported by China to Peru arrived today," the spokesperson said.

"China will continue its vaccine cooperation with relevant countries, offer support within its capability and make concrete contributions to securing a victory against the pandemic as soon as possible and to building a global community of health for all," he added.
MASON CITY, Iowa - Iowa's mask mandate is gone and gatherings are no longer restricted. Still, some businesses are deciding to carry on with the COVID safety procedures.

Hair salons have made a lot of changes to the way they operate during the pandemic. Now they will have to make the tough decision whether or not to keep those precautions in place.

One salon owner says she's staying the course. Diane Arndt, who owns Reflections Salon in Mason City says masks will still be the rule for customers and stylists.

Arndt does think the Governor's order rescinding the mask mandate is a little early, because not enough people have been vaccinated.

She says masks can be a bit of an inconvenience, but the day will come when the pandemic is finally behind us.

"We just need to stick together and stay strong. I think it's important for our customers. I think it's important for people who really seriously have some concerns and I think it's just not time yet to give up," said Arndt.

KIMT News 3 also spoke with Renee Kramer, who owns Hair and Company in Clear Lake. She says her salon will stick with following their mitigation efforts.

The proclamation easing up Iowa restrictions went into effect on Sunday.
Nominations for the Sales Partnerships Awards for Ethics in Sales will be accepted through Friday, February 26. This award will recognize organizations for best practices and achievements in demonstrating the highest ethical standards in the sales industry.

Nominations in the 2021 (15th annual) Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service have closed, but one special category sponsored by Sales Partnerships is still accepting nominations, with no entry fee.

Nominations for the Sales Partnerships Awards for Ethics in Sales will be accepted through Friday, February 26 at https://stevieawards.com/sales/nominate-2021-sales-partnerships-ethics-sales-award. This award will recognize organizations for best practices and achievements in demonstrating the highest ethical standards in the sales industry. Entrants can submit specific examples, case studies, practices, etc. that illustrates why the organization being nominated should be considered an excellent example of best practices in sales. Achievement since the beginning of 2020 may be nominated.

Sales Partnerships, Inc. provides turnkey, outsourced selling solutions. Founder and CEO Fred Kessler said, The Stevie Award for Sales & Customer Service has grown to be the premier honor for sales professionals worldwide, and the program has proven to be an outstanding platform on which Sales Partnerships can interact with sales leaders in many industries. The Sales Partnerships Award for Ethics in Sales recognizes companies who, like us, understand that being the best performing sales force also means having an uncompromising focus on selling ethically.

We are pleased that longtime Stevie Awards sponsor Sales Partnership has decided to sponsor this special award. The judges are eager to review these Ethics in Sales nominations, said Stevie Awards president Maggie Gallagher.

Nominations in this category will be reviewed the week of March 1, and its winners announced March 22.

Winners in this category and all other categories in the 15th Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service will be celebrated during a virtual awards ceremony on April 14.

About the Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

Sponsors and supporters of the 15th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service include Sales Partnerships, Inc. and ValueSelling Associates, Inc.
Locals have fenced-off land where government is implementing a fish farming project in Tarogali Parish, Ibuje Sub-county in Apac District, citing irregularities in the compensation process.

The land under contention measures 197 acres and is part of the 556 acres of land, which residents of Onekgwok and Teboke villages in Tarogali Parish had in 2018 offered to government.

The Shs44 billion project, which is financed by the government of Uganda and the European Union, is aimed at improving fish production.

A local contractor, Hardscreen Logistics Ltd, was hired to design and build the aquaculture park.

Local leaders say the affected persons were fully compensated Shs4.1 billion, however, of that money Shs1.1 billion ended up in wrong hands.

The money was allegedly deposited to two accounts; one belonging to the personal account of the area parish chairperson Constantino Okao and another account is that of Ogora clan community, with Rev Nelson Okello Ocen as a signatory. Rev Ocen is now accused of sharing the money with some landless people who are part of the account.

Rev Okello, however, said those making noise are not beneficiaries of the compensation cash.

Mr Okao said he shared the money with genuine beneficiaries.

On Friday, drama ensued when angry residents went to the site and fenced part of the land having learnt that the contractor had cleared the land for building their store.

They accused the contractor of not honouring the agreement reached earlier between them and the Apac District leadership.

According to the agreement, the land should not be touched until the issue of compensation is cleared.

Ms Catherine Tino, a resident of Teboke Village, said they are demarcating the boundary of their land until the agreement could be respected.

"We have been using this land for grazing our animals. When the government requested for land, we accepted and they compensated us but some few embezzled the money. When you ask for the money, they are so aggressive. No one is going to use this land until we are paid," she said.

Mr William Ogwang, also the project affected person, said: "This is our land and it was said that the surrounding community would share the compensation package but I did not see the money yet part of my grandparents' land is here."

Mr Lawrence Bongonyinge, another resident, expressed disappointment with the way money was distributed.

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"What we want is our money but we have not rejected the project. The project can go on but not on our land," he said.

The Apac Resident District Commissioner, Mr Emma Ngabiriano, warned complainants against sabotaging the government programme, adding that the issue of compensation is being handled.

"A committee of 14 members was formed to handle that issue and last week we held a meeting with them and we agreed that they give that committee two weeks to settle the issue," he said.

In March 2020, government assured European Union (EU) on the success of the project, dismissing reports that the project faces challenges.

The five-year project, which is expected to promote environmentally sustainable commercial aquaculture, is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

Ms Joyce Ikwaput Nyeko, the acting commissioner aquaculture management and development, dismissed reports of delayed land compensation.

"We may have made mistakes in the past but this time I want to assure you once again that we are going to get it correct, [and] all relevant stakeholders will play their role," she said in Apac Town on March 2, 2020.

Ms Nyeko said: "Everybody has already been compensated" for their land. The officials and EU representatives were in the area for a site visit."

Mr David Russell, the EU chief technical adviser, called for transparency during the project implementation.

"EU by its nature gives a lot of money but they demand accountability for it," he said.
Posted Tuesday, February 9, 2021 10:51 am

Washington's Supreme Court has signaled approval of resentencing a three-strikes prisoner serving a life sentence after robbing a Snohomish County 7-Eleven store, even though the court declined a broader constitutional review that could have freed dozens of people sentenced under the state's three-strikes law.

"I absolutely am so excited I can barely contain myself," wrote Lawrence Fillion, the prisoner who petitioned the court, in an email. With resentencing scheduled for Feb. 24 in Snohomish County Superior Court, he is likely to be released after serving 24 years.

Prosecutors have debated the legality of resentencing three-strikes prisoners after the Legislature passed a bill last year allowing them to seek judicial action when an original sentence "no longer advances the interests of justice."

Sen. Manka Dhingra, a Redmond Democrat and sponsor of the bill, said it was aimedm in partm at addressing a sentencing discrepancy that arose the previous year when lawmakers dropped second-degree robbery  usually committed without a weapon or causing physical injury  from the list of possible strikes but did not make the law retroactive. At the time, 64 people with second-degree robbery strikes, including Fillion, were left serving life sentences.

Some prosecutors have said they are bound by the law in effect at the time of the crime and cannot  or should not, given accountability owed victims  try to undo three-strikes and other mandatory sentences.

The debate has come as lawmakers, prosecutors and others are rethinking the tough-on-crime ethos of past decades. Washington voters passed the three-strikes law in 1993, making it the first such law in the country and imposing life sentences to "persistent offenders" who commit a broad array of crimes, from robbery to assault to murder.

While Fillion and many three-strikes prisoners are white, Black people account for 38% of such prisoners but only about 4% of the state's population  a startling disproportionality amid intensifying calls for racial equity in criminal justice after the police killing of George Floyd.

Fillion argued in legal papers that his continued imprisonment, in light of the way second-degree robbery is now treated, constitutes cruel and unusual punishment and violates the constitutional right to equal protection.

Snohomish County Prosecutor Adam Cornell agreed, referring to an "evolving standard of decency" placing more emphasis on mercy and rehabilitation. He told the court he would not fight Fillion's motion for review.

Cornell did not, however, believe resentencing was possible  until the court, in a brief order earlier last month, said it would not review the case because Fillion could be resentenced.

Cornell said he now believes resentencing is permissible in cases similar to Fillion's, where a second-degree robbery strike is involved. He added other prosecutors may have different interpretations, although a bill filed in Olympia would give them no choice. Sponsored by Tacoma Democrat Sen. Jeannie Darneille, Senate Bill 5164 would compel resentencing in three-strikes cases involving a second-degree robbery.

As for Fillion, Cornell said immediately after the Supreme Court's order he would seek resentencing "as soon as we can make it happen," eventually getting the court date this month. Because the standard maximum sentence for second-degree robbery is now 10 years, the prosecutor said he expects Fillion to be released with time served.

Fillion was 23 when he robbed the 7-Eleven with three friends, one of whom said he had a gun, according to legal papers. Fillion made threatening gestures, a clerk testified, and grabbed beer and cigarettes. He had previously been convicted of another second-degree robbery and a second-degree assault.

Now 48, he said he thought he would die in prison. His mother died while he was incarcerated, he added, and he wants to finally give his father "the love he deserves," help his sister and make his family proud "instead of being an embarrassment."

Meanwhile, other efforts are afoot to review three-strikes cases. Senate Bill 5036, sponsored by Dhingra, would give prisoners with a second-degree robbery strike priority before an expanded state Clemency & Pardons Board.

And some prosecutors are backing select clemency petitions. Pierce County Prosecutor Mary Robnett did so for Marcus Price, sentenced to life in 1995 under three strikes for crimes that were all robberies or attempted robbery.

In January, Gov. Jay Inslee granted Price clemency.

"Wow, it feels somewhat surreal. I still don't believe it's truly happening," wrote Price, 53, in an email, saying he felt "excited, anxious, appreciative, apprehensive," and "nervous."
Tourism in Wales could re-open by Easter as Health Minister says people will benefit if they do the right thing

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Feb 9th, 2021

Tourism in Wales could potentially re-open in time for Easter depending on the outcome of future reviews, the countrys Health Minister has said.

However Vaughan Gething said that ramping the industry back up again would be dependent on people complying with the coronavirus regulations and infection rates being low.

During a press conference held yesterday afternoon, he said the main priority for the Welsh Government was ensuring children can return to school.

Further reviews may then consider whether its safe for tourist attractions to open their doors, depending on whether the NHS could cope with the potential impact of such a move.





When questioned on the possible re-opening at Easter, he said: These things are possible but as we say, well work through each of our reviews every three weeks to understand the headroom we have available and to understand our first priority, that being reopening face to face learning for children and young people.

Well then work through to see what else is possible. Well have more choices, though, if we can be successful together and continue to drive down coronavirus case rates and continue to make sure theres room to ensure that our National Health Service is not overwhelmed.

Thats part of the purpose of all of this is to make sure were all doing the right thing, because well all benefit by getting to the end of this sooner rather than later.

Thats about washing your hands regularly, its about keeping your distance, wearing a face covering, good ventilation and please do get a test if you have symptoms and stay at home.
Hi Kelowna,

Stuart Park is getting a little interesting these days. The RCMP arrived early. They wandered over to the Freedom Fighters and told them to stay on their side of the street this week. We've had problems with them coming over and getting in our faces. We don't leave the sidewalk. Seems odd that people fighting for freedom don't understand that counter protesting is exactly what they are fighting for as well, but here we are.

I struggle to understand what they think freedom actually means. I had a chat with my friend Tyler Paulson about it. He explained it well.

"They think of freedom only as a justification to make them feel righteous in their fear and anger."

I watch the videos they put out. I listen to the conversations they have.

One of them said "Freedom means being able to do whatever I want without people complaining about it". He used a different word. It rhymes with witching.

Another said "I want to be able to stick my nose in where it doesn't belong".

Again, I asked Tyler to help me understand that.

"They want freedom from criticism. And even with this shallow and privileged concept of freedom they're still hypocritical and inconsistent in their application of it. They want freedom of speech but can't accept that means people can criticism them for it".

Freedom is a word that gets thrown around a lot. Freedom doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want without facing backlash. I know a lot of us think it does because we have never faced real consequences or oppression before, but it doesn't. Watching these rallies for weeks before I ever said a word against them, I realized this a group of people who needed someone to say that to them.

No one else seemed interested in doing it so I did. I am so grateful to the folks who started joining me. It was getting lonely.

I imagine David Crawford from the highway protests felt the same. It is great to have met him and protest against this with him.

You might say it is unnecessary. We disagree.

The longer something like this allowed to go unchecked the longer it has to grow.

The numbers are shrinking.

They are busing people in for the mega rally. Is that because they know they won't have the numbers? Your guess is as good as mine.

Anyway, freedom does not mean you get to do and say whatever you want without facing consequences.

More of us need to learn that. Like a lot more.

More of us need to be willing to think beyond ourselves, but that's a different conversation.

Heather Friesen


The changing of the guard at the White House has raised hopes for diplomatic settlements to decade-long conflicts in Libya, Yemen and Syria. It has also promised reduced tensions in Iraq and Sudan, and support for their governments reconstruction programmes.

Of course, whenever a new president enters the Oval Office, the people of the region hope for a fresh and balanced approach to the Palestinian question. The Trump administrations determination to pressure a number of Arab countries into normalising relations with Israel while ignoring the need to pursue a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has only complicated the task of resolving a conflict that has lasted more than 70 years.

For the moment, however, President Joe Biden and his administration are preoccupied with urgent domestic needs shaped, above all, by the Covid-19 pandemic, the economic downturn, mounting unemployment and the volatile sociopolitical polarisation epitomised by the storming of the Capitol building. On the foreign policy front, most of the focus is on the question of the Iranian nuclear programme, reengaging with Europe and strengthening the Western alliance, as well as sending signals heralding shifts in policies towards China and Russia.

Washington certainly has a lot on its plate, probably more than at any time since the end of the Cold War, and it is struggling to order priorities. For our region, this raises the question of whether it is possible to rely on the US to achieve sustainable resolutions to Middle East conflicts. Despite all the excitement over the new faces in the White House, there are no clear indications of how efficacious US interventions would be under Biden, though it would be safe to say that where Trump was inclined to military and economic threats and arm twisting, Biden will lean towards diplomatic leverage underpinned by US military and economic power.

Judging from his first few weeks in office, Bidens approach to the Middle East, in general, rests on solid alliances with Washingtons historic partners: the Gulf countries, Israel and, of course, Egypt, Jordan and  according to observers, the latest addition to this group  Sudan. As his Secretary of State Antony Blinken put it, this is the time to restore and revitalise alliances. According to experts, changing circumstances and conditions, especially the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, will be among the main factors to determine how Washington goes about this.

For example, it was the brutal humanitarian plight in Yemen that led Biden to revoke the terrorist designation that the Trump administration had applied to the Houthi rebel group in his final days in office. State Department officials made it clear that this did not alter Washingtons position on the Houthis behaviour and that the step was only necessary in order to facilitate humanitarian relief operations. At the same time, Washington has reiterated its long-standing commitment to protecting the Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia, in particular.

The Biden teams position on Iran, on the other hand, is still up in the air. Although Biden has stated that he hopes to return to the nuclear agreement from which Trump unilaterally withdrew, Blinken has said that this process could take a long time. He then cautioned that, if Iran lifted more of the agreements restraints it could come closer to having enough material to produce a nuclear weapon. The US is caught in the dilemma of having to determine how to tackle Tehran: by being tough or by inducements to encourage it back to the negotiating table.

Nevertheless, it does say something that, in his first major policy address last week, President Biden mentioned the Middle East only once (in connection with Yemen). As mentioned above, his administration is prioritising those foreign policy issues that impact his countrys interests most directly, such the competition with China over world leadership, clipping Russias wings and utilising the Western alliance for such purposes.

This does not signify that Washington, under Biden, will avoid taking action on matters related to the region. But it does mean that Washington might lack the enthusiasm needed to play a more definitive role in resolving complex issues such as the civil wars in Libya and Yemen.

Hopefully, the Biden administration will see these conflicts in a strategic framework that transcends the Cold War-like head-butting with adversaries in the global power game. In recent years the Middle East has endured far too much warfare, suffering and attrition. Its people want world powers to play more constructive roles and to remedy the wrongs that drove the region to uncontainable wildfires of strife.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 February , 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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A man was fatally shot in Algiers on Monday night in the second shooting of the day under police investigation in New Orleans.

Gunfire erupted near an apartment complex in the 2100 block of Springbrook Lane some time before 9:35 p.m. Paramedics took the victim to the hospital, where he died of his injuries.

The identity of the man will be released by the Coroner's Office in the coming days. Details on possible suspects or a motive in this case were not immediately available.

Hours earlier, a teenager was hospitalized at the UMC Trauma Center after he was shot in the 600 block of North Prieur Street. Police released few details about the shooting, but there were at least 24 evidence markers sprawled out on the sidewalk and near a sedan.

Stay with NOLA.com for more updates.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-10 00:50:44|Editor: huaxia

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--China-CEEC cooperation is part and parcel of China-EU relations, whose good progress means new opportunities for China-CEEC cooperation.

--China and CEE countries need to tackle COVID-19 head-on and boost confidence in cooperation to tide over the tough times.

--China and CEE countries share the conviction that openness brings opportunities and inclusiveness ensures diversity.

BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday lauded the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC), calling on relevant countries to keep up the momentum and work together for a new chapter in China-CEEC cooperation.

"China-CEEC cooperation is part and parcel of China-EU relations, whose good progress means new opportunities for China-CEEC cooperation," said Xi while delivering a keynote speech at the China-CEEC Summit via video link.

Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs the China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Summit and delivers a keynote speech via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 9, 2021. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

"17 PLUS 1 COULD MAKE MORE THAN 18"

Xi lauded China-CEEC cooperation, saying that "17 plus 1 could make more than 18."

In 2020, overall China-EU relations made new progress despite the challenges caused by the pandemic. The two sides concluded schedule negotiations on the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment and signed a geographical indications agreement. They also launched partnerships for green and digital cooperation.

"The two sides also stood firm for multilateralism and took on global challenges together," Xi said.

"Today, trade between China and CEE countries is nearly 85 percent bigger than nine years ago," Xi noted, adding that the China-Europe Railway Express has reached most of the CEE countries, running more than 30,000 freight services so far.



A China-Europe freight train heading for Belgrade prepares to depart from Wujiashan railway container center station in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, May 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

The China-CEEC cooperation mechanism came into being in 2012 against the backdrop of the European debt crisis.

"Impressive progress has been made in several cooperation projects, including the Port of Piraeus in Greece, the Smederevo Steel Plant in Serbia, and the Peljesac Bridge in Croatia," said Xi.

China-CEEC cooperation is based on mutual respect and has no political strings attached, Xi stressed. He added that all countries involved, regardless of their size, are equal partners in a cooperation mechanism featuring extensive consultation, joint contributions, and shared benefits.

Xi lauded the progress jointly made by China and CEE countries in the Belt and Road cooperation. He said that in an innovative and pioneering spirit, China and CEE countries took steps early to explore the possibility of aligning cross-regional cooperation with Belt and Road cooperation. It makes Central and Eastern Europe the first region where all countries have signed agreements on Belt and Road cooperation.

Aerial photo taken on Feb. 15, 2019 shows the COSCO Shipping Pisces approaching Piraeus port, Greece. (Xinhua/Wu Lu)

ENHANCING COOPERATION AMID DIFFICULTIES

"We need to tackle COVID-19 head-on and boost confidence in cooperation to tide over the tough times," Xi said, adding China will work with CEE countries through solidarity, coordination, and cooperation to complete the pressing task of pandemic responses.

COVID-19 vaccines serve as a powerful weapon to defeat the ravaging coronavirus, and those developed and produced by China are gaining popularity. Serbia has received one million doses of vaccines from a Chinese company so far, and there is ongoing cooperation between Hungary and Chinese vaccine companies.

"China will actively consider such cooperation with other CEE countries if there is a need," said Xi.

Workers unload a container of China's Sinopharm inactivated coronavirus vaccines at the Belgrade Airport, Serbia, Jan. 16, 2021. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua)



Noting China and CEE countries need to develop smooth avenues of cooperation for interconnected development, Xi proposed pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. It means speeding up significant projects like the Budapest-Belgrade Railway and continuing the development of the China-Europe Railway Express to unlock the full potential of cooperation.

To achieve concrete cooperation results and increasing cooperation outcomes that benefit both sides, Xi mentioned in particular, the coming five years. He said China intends to "import more than 170 billion U.S. dollars of goods from CEE countries" and will "work to double CEE countries' agricultural exports to China and raise two-way agricultural trade by 50 percent."

Also, eying green development and forging drivers of future-oriented cooperation, Xi urged advancing international cooperation on climate change. He also urged the joint implementation of the Paris Agreement and capitalizing on various emerging business forms to widen the cooperation of the digital economy, e-commerce, and the health sector.

"The proposals put forward by Xi for advancing cooperation with CEE countries have given adequate consideration to the core interests of those countries. It has also demonstrated China's sense of global responsibility and the readiness to work for win-win results," said Liu Zuokui, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

CHINA'S OPENING-UP TO BROADEN HORIZONS FOR COOPERATION

"China and CEE countries share the conviction that openness brings opportunities and inclusiveness ensures diversity. This is the key to the sustained vibrancy of China-CEEC cooperation," said Xi.

During the speech, Xi pledged that China would continue to open its doors wider with a focus on institutional opening-up that covers rules, regulations, management, and standards to broaden the horizons for China-CEEC cooperation.

A Serbian worker (L) discusses with a Chinese engineer at the Chinese-invested HBIS Group Serbia Iron & Steel in Smederevo, Serbia, Oct. 10, 2019.(Xinhua/Shi Zhongyu)

"We will continue our efforts to foster a business environment based on market principles, governed by law, and up to international standards," he said.

This year marks the beginning of China's 14th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development and the start of the country's new journey toward building a modern socialist country.

China has also been fostering a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other.

"This will unlock the full potential of China's vast market and domestic demand generated by the 1.4 billion population, including the over 400 million Chinese in the middle-income group. It will thus boost global demand and create more opportunities for the rest of the world," Xi said.

The Chinese president vowed to take a more active role in bilateral, multilateral, and regional cooperation that delivers higher levels of mutual benefit for all.

"We also welcome the participation of other countries and international organizations in our cooperation to achieve win-win results," said Xi.
Russian researchers from HSE University have studied a hypothesis regarding the capability of the visual system to automatically categorize objects (i.e., without requiring attention span). The results of a simple and beautiful experiment confirmed this assumption. The paper was published in the journal Scientific Reports. The study was supported by a Russian Science Foundation grant.

Humans receive a lot of information from the environment through their vision. Every day, we face a flow of varied visual stimuli. At the same time, information processing requires cognitive resources. Like a computer processor, the human brain has limited capacity in terms of the data it is able to process and save in its memory. One hypothesis states that the visual system somehow 'decreases files' resolution in order to avoid overloading. As a result of such 'compression', instead of a detailed analysis of the observed objects, the visual system categorizes them by simple general attributes, such as size. Later, such 'primary data' can be used for a more thorough analysis.

Researchers sought to answer the following question: is the visual system capable of automatic object categorization (i.e., without attention)? In their study, the researchers tried to determine the conditions in which such automatic categorization would work. They used the visual mismatch negativity (vMMN) component measured by electroencephalography (EEG) as a marker of automatic sensory discrimination. vMMN shows the difference between the brain's reactions to a standard (frequent) or a deviant (rare) stimulus. vMMN demonstrates that the visual system noticed a difference between stimuli and, importantly, that it did so without requiring attention.

'We are very interested and amazed by the human visual system's ability to categorize high numbers of objects. For example, when humans look at an apple tree, they immediately differentiate apples from leaves. This study shows that the process of quick categorization can be performed automatically based on the information on differences between objects', says Vladislav Khvostov, Junior Research Fellow at the HSE Laboratory for Cognitive Research, School of Psychology, one of the paper's authors.

To study the automatic distribution of objects into groups using vMMN, the researchers conducted a simple experiment with a fillertask. Study participants were asked to look at a small asymmetrical cross in the centre of the field and press the button each time the cross changed its orientation. This way, the participants' attention was focused on the position of the cross in the centre of the field. The cross was surrounded by rows of lines of varied lengths and orientation. In each experiment block, the combination of these parameters was different. While the participants' attention was focused on the central figure, the researchers used EEG to record brain activity in response to background visual stimulation. In each block of the experiment, the participants were shown 700 visual stimuli, each of which was presented on the screen for 200 ms followed by 400 ms of empty screen. Most of the stimuli included a fixed combination of lines' length and orientation (for example, long lines were steep, and short ones were flat), but in 10% of cases, the combination of parameters was the opposite.

According to Vladislav Khvostov, the only task for the participants was to press a button when the central cross rotated (third image from the left). In the image above, the central cross size is magnified for illustrational purposes. Together with the cross, the participants observed a background visual stimulation consisting of lines with different lengths and orientations. In most cases (standard stimuli) the combination of length and orientation was the same: long lines were flat, and short ones were steep, but in very rare cases (deviant stimuli, seventh image) this combination changed to the opposite: long lines became steep, while short ones became flat. The participants did not pay attention to the change of stimuli, but analysis of EEG indicators showed that the visual system tracked these changes as well.

The researchers were interested in the brain's reaction to the replacement of a standard stimulus with a deviant one. If the feature had only two peak values (short/long in case of length; vertical/horizontal in case of orientation), it was called 'segmentable'. If the attribute had interim values, it was defined as 'non-segmentable.'

The researchers found considerable visual mismatch negativity in response to a deviant stimulus in cases when either both of the features were segmentable, or only length was. Since on all stimuli inside each block, the distribution of lengths and orientations remained constant, the researchers concluded that categorization was not made by one simple feature. This means that the visual system categorized the lines by their combinations. In their experiment, the researchers thus contradicted the assumption that the visual system categorizes the objects only by simple feature. It can solve a less trivial version of the task and use combinations of features.

###
Met Eireann has issued new weather warnings for snow with a 24-hour alert covering the entire country as more snow is on the way to many parts of Ireland.

A Status Yellow - Snow/Ice warning for Munster, Connacht and Leinster Met Eireann weather warning was issued on Tuesday morning.

It says a band of sleet and snow will spread northeastwards during Thursday giving snow accumulations of up to 5cm in some areas (higher over the mountains), but transitioning to rain in the west and south on Thursday night.

It is valid from 8am Thursday to 8am Friday, February 11 to 12.

A Met Eireann Weather Advisory remains in place for the whole country until 6pm on Wednesday. It warns of very cold temperatures in low single figures by day and with sharp or severe frosts and icy patches at night.

The Advisory says showers of sleet or snow at times in eastern counties. It alerts people to hazardous conditions on roads and paths.

Wednesday will not be an end to it, however. Snow will spread further inland from the east on Wednesday night while Thursday is set to blow snow through the country.

The overview is that it will remain cold and unsettled with more widespread falls of sleet and snow. Becoming windy over the weekend with spells of rain, possibly falling as snow in the eastern half of the country.

The cold snap is being powered by a weather front from Russia which has already caused Storm Darcy which dumped extensive snow on the Netherlands and parts of Europe. It is pushing eastwards in a similar way to the Beast from the East in 2018 which culminated in Storm Emma. FULL DETAILS BELOW.

NATIONAL FORECAST issued at 8:32am February 9.

TUESDAY: Cold and blustery today with scattered wintry showers of sleet or snow giving some accumulations in places. There will be a mix of cloud with some bright or sunny spells too. Highest temperatures of just 1 to 3 degrees, with icy stretches lingering in some areas through the day and an added wind chill factor due to fresh and gusty easterly winds.

Very cold night with a widespread sharp to severe frost setting in. Scattered wintry showers will continue overnight, mainly confined to the eastern half of the country as long clear spells develop elsewhere. Winds will ease to a light or moderate northeast breeze. Temperatures dropping to between -5 and 0 degrees with icy stretches.

WEDNESDAY: A bright, crisp start tomorrow morning for many areas with lingering frost and ice. It will be very cold again with wintry showers of sleet or snow mainly affecting north Leinster, east Ulster and the midlands. Many areas elsewhere will stay dry with sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 1 to 3 degrees, in moderate easterly breezes.

Largely dry, cold night with isolated wintry showers and clear spells. However rain, sleet and snow will move into the southwest overnight as southeasterly breezes freshen. Winds will become strong and gusty across the southwest. Lowest temperatures of -4 to +1 degrees with frost and ice forming, coldest in Ulster.

Thursday: Sleet and snow will slowly extend northwards from the southwest across much of Munster, Connacht and Leinster, with snow accumulations leading to hazardous conditions. Highest temperatures of 1 to 3 degrees. Feeling colder in fresh and gusty southeast winds, strongest in western and southwestern counties.

Remaining breezy overnight with sleet and snow continuing to fall over much of the east, midlands and north leading to further accumulations. However, precipitation will turn to rain in parts of the south and west. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +2 degrees with fresh southeasterly winds.

Friday: Some lingering falls of sleet and snow in the eastern half of the country, with outbreaks of rain elsewhere. More persistent rain will move into western counties during the evening. Southeast breezes will strengthen during the day, becoming strong and gusty in coastal counties. Highest temperatures generally of 1 to 4 degrees, however less cold in southwestern counties with highs of 5 to 8 degrees.

A wet, windy night with rain turning to snow over the north, east and midlands, leading to some accumulations. Cold night for many, with lowest temperatures of -1 to +2 degrees however much of Munster and southern Connacht will be less cold with lows of 4 to 7 degrees. Fresh to strong and gusty southeast winds.

Saturday: Windy with outbreaks of rain, possibly continuing to fall as sleet and snow in Ulster and north Leinster for a time. Southeast winds will be fresh to strong and gusty. Remaining cold across the north, east and midlands with highest afternoon temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees, a few degrees milder elsewhere. Windy overnight with further falls of rain, heavy in places, possibly turning wintry in parts of the north and east. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees, with milder conditions persisting in the southwest.

Sunday: Current indications suggest Sunday will remain unsettled with breezy conditions and further rainfall. Some uncertainty regarding temperatures, with a possibility of colder and wintry conditions persisting in eastern areas.
Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration designated, on Monday called for the consolidation of the Ghana-Saudi Arabia relations for the mutual benefit of their people.



She noted that Ghana had been keen in exploring avenues to expand the existing cordial relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including a visit by the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



Madam Ayorkor Botchwey said this, when Mr Ahmed Kattan, Minister of State for African Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, paid a courtesy call on her in Accra.



The meeting formed part of Mr Kattan's three-day visit to Ghana, during which he would also hold a bilateral meeting with President Akufo-Addo.



The essence of Mr Kattans visit to Ghana was to consolidate Saudi Arabias relations with Ghana and to seek Ghanas continuous support for Saudi Arabias interests in the Middle East Region.



"It is significant to note that Saudi Arabia has long coveted Ghanas friendship and this has been underscored by the Kingdom in various meetings with officials of the Ghana Mission in Riyadh," she stated.



She said since Ghana established Diplomatic Relations with the Kingdom in the 1960s with the opening of the Riyadh Mission in March 1960, very little political and economic activities had taking place between the two countries except for the annual ritual of Hajj undertaken by Ghanaian pilgrims.



She said Ghanas economic engagement with the Kingdom was through the Saudi Fund; stating that however, not much had been realized from the Saudi Fund despite its preparedness to cooperate with Ghana.



Madam Ayorkor Botchwey expressed gratitude to the Kingdom for the courtesies extended to Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamud Bawumia and her good self (Minister-Designate) when they both visited the Kingdom in 2018 and 2020 respectively.



She also, express gratitude for the Kingdoms long-standing facilitation of Ghanaian pilgrims in the annual Hajj.



She congratulated Saudi Arabia for successfully steering the Presidency of the G20 at the time when the world was grappling with the emergence of the COVID-19 and expressed the hope that the Kingdom would continue to be a voice for developing countries at the G20, particularly on matters such as equitable access to vaccines and debts forgiveness.



She urged Mr Kattan to encourage Saudi companies to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to invest in Ghana and use the country as the springboard to export to other parts of the continent.



Madam Ayorkor Botchwey thanked the Saudi Government for the funds, which had been obtained from the Saudi Fund for Development for the expansion of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital and the approval of $20million for the procurement of equipment to upgrade the status of that Hospital.



She also solicited the assistance of Mr Kattan for the reactivation of financial facility from the Saudi Fund for the Korle-Bu Accident Centre project.



She said the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Political Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would enable the two countries foster close ties on several areas of cooperation.



The Minister-Designate reiterated Ghanas support for the two-state solution in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and call on all stakeholders to support the peace process within the framework of the UN.









Madam Ayorkor Botchwey extended warm felicitations to the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and wish them good health and Gods blessings.



On his part, Mr Kattan said the meeting provided a good opportunity for them to exchange views on ways to foster their relations to coordinate their efforts concerning issues of mutual concern.



"I want to express our deep appreciation for the distinguish relations our two countries are enjoying. I also want to commend your personal efforts in this regard, including your recent visit to Saudi Arabia in January of last year, which I hope proved to be fruitful."





Source: GNA









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Oakland's Chinatown district is suffering a 'surge' in violent crime which has led locals to raise $62,000 for a private armed security force even as cops vow to step up patrols ahead of Lunar New Year.

Brutal footage of a 91-year-old man being callously shoved to the ground on a street corner last month is among the incidents to have caused outrage in the community.

But cops warn that many other attacks go unreported, and the police department says it has 'reallocated resources and patrols to Chinatown' for the New Year events.

The wave of robberies and assaults has also led to political finger-pointing - with Oakland's mayor berating supporters of last summer's 'defund the police' movement which she said would have made the problem worse.

While politicians bicker, some activists have taken matters into their own hands by crowd-sourcing funds for a special security patrol.

Oakland Police Department released CCTV of a 91-year-old man being pushed violently to the ground by a hooded, masked figure in the city's Chinatown district

Carl Chan, the head of Chinatown's chamber of commerce, said it was 'mostly Asians being targeted, and unfortunately they are also targeting our seniors'.

'Unfortunately they are not only robbing the people, but most of the people are also being hurt,' he said.

'We also have many juveniles driving cars around Chinatown and carrying guns,' he said, adding: 'We need to do something to battle this crime.'

Chan urged Oakland authorities to set up more walking police patrols during Lunar New Year, while also calling for more security cameras in the neighborhood.

A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for armed patrols said that city officials had 'failed to protect members of our community'.

The fundraisers said their project, which had raised $62,473 as of Tuesday morning, was supported by the Chinatown chamber of commerce.

Many Asian-Americans say they have experienced discrimination since the start of the pandemic that began in China in late 2019.

A survey last year found that Asian-Americans were the most likely group to say that people had acted uncomfortably around them since the coronavirus outbreak.

In this incident, a thief was seen stealing from a woman at a Chinatown grocery store in Oakland

Oakland's Democratic mayor, Libby Schaaf, condemned what she called a 'racist targeting of the Asian community' in the city.

'The intentional targeting of Asian merchants and residents is abhorrent and we will do everything within our power and resources to put an end to it,' she said.

But taking aim at two Oakland councilmembers, she added: 'I have not forgotten that this last summer, they brought a proposal to cut $25million from the Oakland PD as a political statement, not because of operational or financial need.

'If that had been passed, those walking officers would have been gone long ago. So I do not forget that history.

'We have to pay attention to the financial and policy decisions that this council is making during this time.'

Schaaf acknowledged that she had herself made some cuts to the police budget, citing funding pressure during the current economic crisis.

But she said: 'We are answering your call. We will provide more resources for Chinatown, particularly during this critical moment during the Lunar New Year.

'I cannot imagine the trauma that you, your family, your loved ones and this entire community is feeling as a reverberation from this violence.

'We recognize that Oakland is not alone in this recent increase in violent crime. Cities across the country are suffering.'

Carl Chan (pictured left), the head of Chinatown's chamber of commerce, said it was 'mostly Asians being targeted', while Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf (right) pointed the finger at local politicians who called for police budget cuts

One of the councilmembers berated by the mayor, Nikki Fortunato Bas, blasted back by saying Schaaf's comments were 'disrespectful, not only to me, but to the Chinatown community'.

Defending her budget proposal, she described it as merely 're-allocating funds from excessive overtime and vacancy savings' to other services.

Bas had said at press conference where she was attacked by the mayor that the increase in crime was 'very, very distressing'.

'Whether we're in Covid, or we're not in Covid, we have to make sure that your safety and your well-being is paramount to all of us as your representatives,' she said.

In one shocking incident, a 91-year-old man was pushed to the ground on an Oakland sidewalk last month by a man also suspected of attacking two other people.

The suspect, 28-year-old Yahya Muslim, has been charged with assault, battery, elder abuse and flouting bail conditions related to other offenses, according to CBS.

Muslim had already been in custody since last Monday because of an unrelated criminal case, police said.

Actors Daniel Dae Kim and Daniel Wu were offering a $25,000 reward for information after footage emerged of the attack.

Meanwhile in San Francisco, a suspect was held without bail on Monday over a fatal attack on 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee, originally from Thailand, who died of his injuries after being knocked over while out on a walk last month.
Presidential Advisor on health and former Director-general of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare has disclosed that the number of active COVID-19 cases recorded in the country continues to shoot up.



He has thus appealed to Ghanaians to strictly observe the COVID-19 safety protocols as people are being infected on daily basis.



Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' program, he explained that though the government is working to ensure that the number of active cases reduces, Ghanaians owe it a duty to also ensure that they observe the necessary safety protocols at all levels of their engagement.



"The numbers are going up and it is very terrifying because like South Africa where they have even gotten vaccines, their numbers are still rising on a daily basis because they are finding it difficult to treat the new variant with the vaccine and the same may be our case even if government imports the vaccine into the country."



"The vaccines do not cure or immune someone from getting the virus entirely, but they boost the immune system to make it quite difficult to get infected," he explained.



"The surest way of staying safe is to observe all the safety protocols and ensure that you will visit the nearest hospital when you feel sick in order not expose others to it," he added.



As of February 04, 2021, 696 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were registered in Ghana. As of the same date, there was a total of 440 casualties and 62,729 recoveries in the country. Overall cases reached its highest at 69,255, and Greater Accra was the most affected region. On January 31, 2021, the highest daily increase in cases was recorded in Ghana at 1,583.



Ghanas active coronavirus case count currently stands at 6,411.



New variants of the virus from the UK, South Africa, and Brazil were recently detected in Ghana.



The UK variant is believed to be contributing to the recent surge in cases and severity of symptoms.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recently reimposed some restrictions on public gatherings in a bid to contain the virus.





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RTHK: Water cannon used against Myanmar protesters

Police fired water cannon at protesters in the Myanmar capital on Monday as tens of thousands of people joined a third day of nationwide demonstrations against the military's removal of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi a week ago.

Calls to join protests and to back a campaign of civil disobedience have grown louder and more organised since last Monday's coup, which drew widespread international condemnation.

"We health workers are leading this campaign to urge all government staff to join the (civil disobedience movement)", Aye Misan, a nurse at a government hospital said at a protest in the biggest city of Yangon. "Our message to the public is that we aim to completely abolish this military regime and we have to fight for our destiny."

Police in the capital Naypyidaw fired brief bursts of a water cannon against a group of the protesters who had gathered on Monday, video from the scene showed.

Thousands marched also in the southeastern coastal city of Dawei and in the Kachin state capital in the far north, the massive crowds reflecting a rejection of military rule by diverse ethnic groups, even those who have been critical of Suu Kyi and accused her government of neglecting minorities.

In Yangon, a group of saffron-robed monks marched in the vanguard of protests with workers and students. They flew multicoloured Buddhist flags alongside red banners in the colour of Suu Kyi's National league for Democracy, which won a landslide election in November.

"Release Our Leaders, Respect Our Votes, Reject Military Coup," said one sign. Other signs read "Save democracy" and "Say No to Dictatorship".

Weekend protests were the biggest since the "Saffron Revolution" led by Buddhist monks in 2007 that helped prompt democratic reforms that were upended by the February 1 coup.

So far gatherings have been peaceful, unlike bloody crackdowns during previous widespread protests in 1988 and 2007. A convoy of military trucks was seen passing into Yangon late on Sunday, raising fears that could change.

Reuters has been unable to contact the junta for comment on the protests and state media has not mentioned them.

The government lifted a day-long internet ban at the weekend that prompted even more anger in a country fearful of returning to the isolation and even greater poverty before a transition to democracy began in 2011.

In addition to the street protests, a campaign of civil disobedience has begun, first with doctors and joined by some teachers and other government workers.

"We request government staff from all departments not to attend work from Monday," said activist Min Ko Naing, a veteran of the demonstrations in 1988 that first brought Suu Kyi to prominence.

Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for campaigning for democracy, and spent nearly 15 years under house arrest during decades of struggling to end almost half a century of army rule.

The 75-year-old has been kept incommunicado since army chief Min Aung Hlaing seized power in the early hours of February 1 to counter what the military said was widespread election fraud. Myanmar's electoral commission has rejected those claims.

Suu Kyi faces charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkies and is being held in police detention for investigation until February 15. Her lawyer said he has not been allowed to see her.

The United Nations Security Council called for the release of Suu Kyi and other detainees last week and the United States is considering targeted sanctions.

Australia, which has condemned the coup, demanded the immediate release of a citizen who was working as an economic adviser to the Suu Kyi government and was arrested over the weekend.

The United Nations continued to press for a restoration of democracy.

"Protesters in Myanmar continue to inspire the world as actions spread throughout the country," Thomas Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar said on Twitter. "Myanmar is rising up to free all who have been detained and reject military dictatorship once and for all. We are with you." (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2021-02-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The Telegraph

An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.

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Mendoza noted that she is the only candidate who went through the candidate process of knocking on doors and collecting signatures to appear on the ballot, a process that as clerk we will be able to teach and help others navigate.
[February 09, 2021] Blackline Safety Recurring Revenue Business Model Enables New $15M Financing Facility From National Bank of Canada

Blackline Safety Corp. (TSX.V: BLN), a technology company with recurring revenue and a strong working capital position, today announced the recent closing of a financing facility offer of $15 million with National Bank of Canada. The company worked with the Bank's Technology and Innovation Banking Group, which offers specialized support to fast-growing technology businesses across Canada. This new credit instrument further increases Blackline's financial flexibility beyond its current enhanced capitalized position following the closing of a Brokered Private Placement in September 2020. "We're pleased to partner with National Bank for this new chapter in our growth trajectory. This recurring revenue-based financing facility will provide Blackline with an even more flexible working capital strategy, ensuring that we are more prepared to scale our business and deploy connected safety and worker technologies to enterprises around the world," said Shane Grennan, Chief Financial Officer of Blackline Safety. "National Bank's Technology and Innovation Banking Group is excited to partner with Blackline in support of its tremendous global growth story. This collaboration further demonstrates our unwavering commitment to Canada's export economy and the opportunity to leverage Canada's world class tech talent to build a stronger, more resilient economy," said Irfan S. Daya, Managing Director of National Bank's Technology and Innovation Banking Group for Central & Western Canada. The financing facility consists of an operating line of credit of $15M with the borrowing base driven by Blackline's monthly recurring revenue, providing Blackline with increased financial flexibility to support its day-to-day operations and continue global growth. As part of the financing facility, Blackline is partnering with National Bank of Canada for Canadian banking, including investments, foreign exchange transactions and operating accounts. The financing facility is secured, including by a general security agreement over the property of both Blackline Safety Corp. and its subsidiary Blackline Safety Europe Ltd.



About National Bank of Canada With $332 billion in assets as at October 31, 2020, National Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups. It has more than 26,500 employees in knowledge-intensive positions and has been recognized numerous times as a top employer and for its commitment to diversity. Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank's activities at nbc.ca or via social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Blackline Safety: Blackline Safety is a global connected safety leader that helps to ensure every worker gets their job done and returns home safe each day. Blackline provides wearable safety technology, personal and area gas monitoring, cloud-connected software and data analytics to meet demanding safety challenges and increase productivity of organizations in more than 100 countries. Blackline Safety wearables provide a lifeline to tens of thousands of men and women, having reported over 100 billion data-points and initiated over five million emergency responses. Armed with cellular and satellite connectivity, we ensure that help is never too far away. For more information, visit www.BlacklineSafety.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005416/en/

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Online press releases have taken over offline strategies. It is because of the Internets global presence. PRs increase the online presence of a business on the Google search engine. Optimization of PRs is crucial and comes with various benefits. In any marketing plan, SEO-friendly press releases always stand out. Issuewire is a PR distribution company that offers the best PR writing and distribution possibilities. They have been in the business 
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Turkish fast-fashion leader introduces an integrated and robust data-driven PLM solution to speed up decision-making and increase revenue

CAMPBELL, Calif., February 9, 2021 - Top Turkish fast-fashion company Koton has chosen Centric Softwares Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) to streamline its processes and boost productivity. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to plan, design, develop, source and sell products such as apparel, footwear, sporting goods, furniture, home decor, cosmetics, food & beverage and luxury to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.

Founded in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1988, Koton is now present in 30 countries with 500 stores internationally and over 1,000 points of sale around the world. With a vision to become a global fashion brand across five continents, more than 90 million product sales are made per year across its main womens and mens ranges and its trademarked sub-brands in other categories including lingerie, jeans, accessories, sport, beauty and kids lines.

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing store closures and impacting their revenues, introducing this new, digital-first way of working became more crucial than ever for Koton to modernize its processes  from design, sourcing and merchandising for stores to its e-commerce business  and adopt a robust, integrated, data-driven system to support decision-making throughout the entire product lifecycle.

We realised the whole process was a hybrid system  we had some in-house systems, some legacy systems and manual processes all at work, explains Mesut Akyldz, Director of IT and Process Development at Koton. Information was passed between all of these departments, often on paper, sometimes verbally, and changes were made but not all recorded, so it was very difficult to pinpoint problems and evaluate all the processes to identify what needed to be fixed.

Centric PLM was the obvious choice for Koton, as not only did many high-profile brands recommend Centric with glowing references, Koton was impressed with Centrics professionalism, expertise and intention to support their business to produce tangible results.

Speaking directly with President and CEO of Centric Software Chris Groves made us feel we were a very valuable customer, says Akyldz. When we heard from Chris about how the company has grown, and his passion for the Centric ethos, this really made a difference for us. The application was also very robust - when we asked questions, we got very detailed answers from the Centric team. Whenever I need support, I am confident I am going to get it from Centric.

Now were in the implementation stage, the Centric project team is setting up all the processes and understanding our requirements. With Centric PLM, we are expecting a big increase in productivity in the next five years, as well as faster processes that meet customer requirements, and create products more appropriate for their needs. We predict revenues will increase and be impacted in a positive way.

Centric PLM is also enabling Koton to achieve its sustainability objectives by more easily managing its new sustainable fashion line, which uses recycled materials to help environmental causes and the community.

We are thrilled to be working with Koton to support its digital transformation goals, comments Chris Groves, President and CEO of Centric Software. We are proud that Koton considers Centric as not just a vendor but its long-term technology partner, and we look forward to continuing this exciting journey together.

Request a Demo

Koton (www.koton.com)

Fast-fashion brand Koton was founded in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1988 and now has over 300 stores in Turkey, 200 stores internationally across 30 countries and over 1000 points of sale around the world. It is the second largest brand in Turkey, and the first Turkish brand to become a Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) member.

Eighty new designs are introduced to Koton stores every day, with 30,000 new styles produced per year and more than 90 million product sales made annually across its main womens and mens lines and trademarked sub-brands including lingerie, jeans, accessories, sport, beauty and kids sub-categories under the Koton brand name.

The company comprises more than 10,000 employees, with over 220 people in the design team, and considers sustainability as the main framework of its existence, with a number of initiatives under its Respect Life manifesto, respecting four main pillars: the planet, business, people and communities.

Koton's HandCraft Collection is part of the Business Call to Action Platform of the United Nations Development Program, and is an inclusive Business Model aiming to improve the living conditions of hundreds of women outside the workforce.

Centric Software (www.centricsoftware.com)

From its headquarters in Silicon Valley, Centric Software provides a Digital Transformation Platform for the most prestigious names in fashion, retail, footwear, luxury, outdoor and consumer goods including cosmetics, beauty, food and beverage. Centrics flagship Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) platform, Centric 8, delivers enterprise-class merchandise planning, product development, sourcing, quality and collection management functionality tailored for fast-moving consumer industries. Centric SMB provides innovative PLM technology and key industry learnings for emerging brands. Centric Visual Innovation Platform (VIP) offers a new fully visual and digital experience for collaboration and decision-making and includes the Centric Buying Board to transform internal buying sessions and maximize retail value and the Centric Concept Board for driving creativity and evolving product concepts. All Centric innovations shorten time to market, boost product innovation and reduce costs.

Centric Software is majority-owned by Dassault Systemes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), the world leader in 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and PLM solutions.

Centric Software has received multiple industry awards and recognition, including being named by Red Herring to its Top 100 Global list in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Centric also received various excellence awards from Frost & Sullivan in 2012, 2016, 2018 and 2021.

Centric Software is a registered trademark of Centric Software Inc. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Media Contacts:

Centric Software

Americas: Jennifer Forsythe, jforsythe@centricsoftware.com

EMEA: Kristen Salaun-Batby, ksalaun-batby@centricsoftware.com

APAC: Lily Dong, lily.dong@centricsoftware.com
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- This time is different may be the most dangerous words in business: billions of dollars have been lost betting that history wont repeat itself. And yet now, in the oil world, it looks like this time really will be.For the first time in decades, oil companies arent rushing to increase production to chase rising oil prices as Brent crude approaches $70. Even in the Permian, the prolific shale basin at the center of the U.S. energy boom, drillers are resisting their traditional boom-and-bust cycle of spending.The oil industry is on the ropes, constrained by Wall Street investors demanding that companies spend less on drilling and instead return more money to shareholders, and climate change activists pushing against fossil fuels. Exxon Mobil Corp. is paradigmatic of the trend, after its humiliating defeat at the hands of a tiny activist elbowing itself onto the board.The dramatic events in the industry last week only add to what is emerging as an opportunity for the producers of OPEC+, giving the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and Russia more room for maneuver to bring back their own production. As non-OPEC output fails to rebound as fast as many expected -- or feared based on past experience -- the cartel is likely to continue adding more supply when it meets on June 1.CriminalizationShareholders are asking Exxon to drill less and focus on returning money to investors. They have been throwing money down the drill hole like crazy, Christopher Ailman, chief investment officer for CalSTRS. We really saw that company just heading down the hole, not surviving into the future, unless they change and adapt. And now they have to.Exxon is unlikely to be alone. Royal Dutch Shell Plc lost a landmark legal battle last week when a Dutch court told it to cut emissions significantly by 2030 -- something that would require less oil production. Many in the industry fear a wave of lawsuits elsewhere, with western oil majors more immediate targets than the state-owned oil companies that make up much of OPEC production.We see a shift from stigmatization toward criminalization of investing in higher oil production, said Bob McNally, president of consultant Rapidan Energy Group and a former White House official.While its true that non-OPEC+ output is creeping back from the crash of 2020 -- and the ultra-depressed levels of April and May last year -- its far from a full recovery. Overall, non-OPEC+ output will grow this year by 620,000 barrels a day, less than half the 1.3 million barrels a day it fell in 2020. The supply growth forecast through the rest of this year comes nowhere close to matching the expected increase in demand, according to the International Energy Agency.Beyond 2021, oil output is likely to rise in a handful of nations, including the U.S., Brazil, Canada and new oil-producer Guyana. But production will decline elsewhere, from the U.K. to Colombia, Malaysia and Argentina.As non-OPEC+ production increases less than global oil demand, the cartel will be in control of the market, executives and traders said. Its a major break with the past, when oil companies responded to higher prices by rushing to invest again, boosting non-OPEC output and leaving the ministers led by Saudi Arabias Abdulaziz bin Salman with a much more difficult balancing act.Drilling DownSo far, the lack of non-OPEC+ oil production growth isnt registering much in the market. After all, the coronavirus pandemic continues to constrain global oil demand. It may be more noticeable later this year and into 2022. By then, vaccination campaigns against Covid-19 are likely to be bearing fruit, and the world will need more oil. The expected return of Iran into the market will provide some of that, but there will likely be a need for more.When that happens, it will be largely up to OPEC to plug the gap. One signal of how the recovery will be different this time is the U.S. drilling count: It is gradually increasing, but the recovery is slower than it was after the last big oil price crash in 2008-09. Shale companies are sticking to their commitment to return more money to shareholders via dividends. While before the pandemic shale companies re-used 70-90% of their cash flow into further drilling, they are now keeping that metric at around 50%.The result is that U.S. crude production has flat-lined at around 11 million barrels a day since July 2020. Outside the U.S. and Canada, the outlook is even more somber: at the end of April, the ex-North America oil rig count stood at 523, lower than it was a year ago, and nearly 40% below the same month two years earlier, according to data from Baker Hughes Co.When Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz predicted earlier this year that drill, baby, drill is gone for ever, it sounded like a bold call. As ministers meet this week, they may dare to hope hes right.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.

Drivers considering a trip to state Motor Vehicle Commission agencies lost one and gained one on Monday.

The Turnersville Vehicle Center closed Monday due to an employee testing positive for the coronavirus, while the Somerville Vehicle center reopened Monday, after a closure for sanitizing, contract tracing and quarantining, officials announced.

That leaves a total of three agencies closed, including North Bergen and West Deptford. Drivers gained some ground when four agencies reopened on Friday in Trenton, Paterson, Camden and Wayne.

The MVC still has the lowest number of closed agencies since the year started. The closure means drivers who had appointments at Turnersville will have to reschedule them.

The three closed agencies are scheduled to reopen on the following dates:

West Deptford Regional/Licensing Center - Tuesday, Feb 16.

North Bergen Licensing Center - Thursday, Feb 18.

Turnersville Vehcile Center  Monday Feb. 22.

MVC Inspection stations will be closed this Friday for Abraham Lincolns Birthday, but MVC agencies and road test facilities will be open.

Appointments at motor vehicle centers for new titles/registrations and registration renewals for customers ineligible for online renewal can be scheduled at NJMVC.gov. More appointment times are being added.

Drivers are advised to check the status of the agency they intend to visit on NJMVC.gov before traveling there. They also should check the cheat sheet guide on the MVC website to determine if they need an appointment or can do their transactions on the MVC website.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
Bob Saget remains a good friend to Full House costar Lori Loughlin.

'I love her,' Saget, 64, said of Loughlin, 56, appearing on the latest edition of Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum set to debut Tuesday, adding that he's 'been asked a lot' of questions about his costar's legal troubles over the past few years in the college admissions scandal.

'I've gotten whittled down,' he said of Loughlin, E! News reported. 'I just love her. I don't know, I'd like to see a lot of other people doing time.'

The latest: Bob Saget, 64, remains a good friend to Full House costar Lori Loughlin, 56, as he tells Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum, 'I love her,' adding that he's 'been asked a lot' of questions about his costar's legal troubles in the college admissions scandal

The actor, who played Danny Tanner on both the ABC series and its Netflix reboot, Fuller House, implied that commenting on his friend's issue was a no-win situation.

'We're in such a place where no matter what I say I'm screwed, and I just love her,' he said. 'That's where I am on that.'

Speaking with Us Weekly in December 2019, the one-time America's Funniest Home Videos host explained why he remained a friend to the star amid the troubled times.

'I don't cut people that I love from my life unless they shot me in the eye,' he said. 'No matter what, everyone does something in their life that comes out in the press - no matter what we do. I just love her and I'll always love her.'

Stalwart: The actor played Danny Tanner on both the ABC series Full House and its Netflix reboot Fuller House. He was snapped in 2018 in LA

Pals: The former costars were snapped at a Beverly Hills, California event in 2007

Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, 57, were initially arrested in March 2019.

In May of 2020, both pleaded guilty in connection with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting they paid an admissions fixer $500,000 to arrange for the University of Southern California to recruit daughters Isabella Rose, 22, and Olivia Jade, 21, onto the school's rowing team, despite that they had no background in the sport.

In agreement with their plea deals, Loughlin agreed to pay fines of $150,000 and complete 100 hours of community service, while Giannulli is slated to pay fines of $250,000, finish 250 hours of community service and remain on probation for two years.

Loughlin on October 30 entered a Dublin, California federal prison and was released in December. Giannulli's currently in custody in Lompoc, California serving a five-month prison sentence.
A German-Chinese research team has found a new synthetic route to produce biofuel from biomass. The chemists converted the substance 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) produced from biomass into 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF), which could be suitable as a biofuel. Compared to previous methods, they achieved a higher yield and selectivity under milder reaction conditions. The team led by Dr. Baoxiang Peng and Professor Martin Muhler from the Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry at Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (RUB) and the group led by Professor Christof Hattig from the RUB Chair for Theoretical Chemistry described the method together with colleagues from Changzhou, China, in the journal Angewandte Chemie.

The work was part of the German-Chinese research cooperation Novel Functional Materials for Sustainable Chemistry, which is supported by the German Research Foundation.

Better fuel than ethanol

DMF would be well-suited as a biofuel, as it has a higher octane number than ethanol, a better energy intensity and an ideal boiling point of 92 to 94 degree Celsius, explains Baoxiang Peng. Although the conversion from HMF into DMF has been researched intensively, there are several hurdles. DMF production requires relatively harsh reaction conditions, such as high hydrogen pressure, and often only creates a small quantity of the desired product, while also forming unwanted by-products. Researchers are thus looking for new ways to efficiently trigger the reaction under milder conditions. This was achieved in the current work.

Formic acid as the key to success

The team carried out the reaction in the presence of formic acid and hydrogen. Palladium nanoparticles were used as a catalyst. In doing so, the chemists achieved a five-times larger reaction rate than those reported with previous methods. The addition of formic acid, in particular, played a crucial role in creating favourable reaction conditions, as shown by the researchers in their detailed investigations.

They performed the reaction with various additives and compared the yield and selectivity, which were best in the presence of formic acid. The substance facilitates a faster reaction pathway and also prevents the occurrence of unwanted side reactions.
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NEW DELHI: Actress Alia Bhatt, who had been shooting extensively for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' and dabbling the mega south project 'RRR', took off to the island nation last week with her sister Shaheen and BFFs Akansha Ranjan and Anushka Ranjan. Over the last few days, the gals have been sharing pics and glimpses of her exotic time, pool time and picturesque sunsets. And the internet is all but blazing with photos of the girls slaying it in beachwear in the picturesque locations of the Maldives.

On Tuesday, Alia took to Instagram to share another picture of herself where she is seen having a fun time with her gal pals. In the first picture shared by the 'Shandaar' girl is seen sporting a pout as she posed for the camera alongside her BFFs. Alia can be seen rocketing a neon pink bikini. The actress summed up her holiday mood in her caption, writing, ""Heal, learn, grow, love."

Alia's sister Shaheen too shared a picture of herself with her sista as they pose against the blue water of Maldives. She captioned the selfied with two fishes emojis.

Over the last few days, Akansha and Anushka Ranjan have also been sharing stunning photos and videos from the island.

While Alia is vacationing in Maldives her boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor returned from Delhi after wrapping up the first schedule of Luv Ranjan's untitled film. The film features Shraddha Kapoor as female protagonist.

Alia had earlier celebrated the New Year at Ranthambore National Park along with her boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor, sister Shaheen and mother Soni Razdan. Ranbir's family members including his mother Neetu Singh, sister Riddhima Kapoor Sahni along with her husband Bharat and daughter Samara, had also joined the trip. Ranbir's close friend and filmmaker Ayan Mukerji was present.
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When her gynecologist recommended genetic testing, Mai Tran was reluctant.

"I didn't really want to do it," recalled Tran, who had just turned 21 and was living in New York City, "but she kept on emailing me about it and was really adamant that I do it."

Tran knew she had an elevated risk of developing breast cancer because of her family history  her mother died of the disease and a maternal aunt was diagnosed and survived. Given this, she planned to follow the standard recommendations to begin breast cancer screenings at an early age.

But she feared that if the testing her doctor was suggesting revealed a genetic variation known to cause breast cancer, she would have to decide whether to have her breasts surgically removed. That was a decision she was not ready to make.

Doctors are increasingly testing people's genes for signs of hereditary risks for cancer, said Dr. Allison Kurian, a medical oncologist and the director of the Women's Clinical Cancer Genetics Program at Stanford University. If the tests find a genetic variation known to cause cancer, treatments or preventive measures may be recommended to prevent the disease, she said.

But the trend can unsettle patients like Tran, sometimes unnecessarily, because many genetic findings are ambiguous, leaving doctors uncertain about whether a particular variant is truly dangerous.

Multiple-gene panel tests emerged in 2012 and the number of genes covered in these panels has since ballooned, with tests that include more than 80 genes associated with cancer commonly available.

However, the chances of finding an inconclusive result  which can be troubling for patients and confusing for doctors to interpret  rises as more genes are tested. A study by Kurian showed that multiple-gene screening was 10 times more likely to find inconclusive results than a test that examines only two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, long associated with a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

An inconclusive result is known within the medical community as a variant of uncertain significance, or VUS. It may be a harmless variation in a gene  or one linked to cancer.

Detecting such variations is common. A review showed the percentage of patients who learn they have a VUS after multiple-gene panel testing varied in studies from 20% to 40%.

"The larger the panel someone orders, the more likely we are to find one or even multiple variants of uncertain significance," said genetic counselor Meagan Farmer, director of genetic clinical operations at My Gene Counsel, a Connecticut company that provides online genetic counseling tools.

Farmer has seen patients change their minds when she informs them of this reality. "That patient that thought they wanted everything [tested] might then kind of scale back what they were looking for."

Kurian said patients can be tested for all the cancer genes available as long as they understand that the analysis of many genes will likely not be informative. Several years later, if more evidence accumulates for a particular gene, those results may inform medical decisions.

"It's not wrong" to conduct the tests, said Kurian. "But it needs to be appropriately handled by all parties."

In fall 2018, having never heard of a VUS, Tran settled on the most comprehensive screening: a gene panel that at the time evaluated 67 genes for various cancer types.

People who belong to racial minority groups have an especially high likelihood of harboring a VUS because most genes were sequenced first in white people, who also tend to have better access to testing, according to a study by Stanford researchers including Kurian. It showed that, among a racially diverse group of people who had multiple-gene panel testing, more than one-third who were not white had a VUS result, whereas one-quarter who were white did.

Testing revealed that Tran, who is Vietnamese, had a VUS in a gene associated with Lynch syndrome, a hereditary condition that increases the risk of developing colon cancer, uterine cancer and other cancers. The genetic counselor explained the VUS was inconclusive and should not be used to inform medical decisions.

Although Tran does not dwell on the VUS, the testing process itself caused emotional turmoil. "I really did the test mostly for my doctor and not for myself," Tran said. "If I could have chosen, I would not have done it."

But other patients are more unnerved by uncertain results. "The VUS is scary because it's a crapshoot," said Logan Marcus, of Beverly Hills, California. She has a rare variation in BRCA1 that one genetic testing company said is "likely pathogenic" and another said is a "VUS."

A genetic variant found in testing can be classified  in decreasing severity  as "pathogenic," "likely pathogenic," "VUS," "likely benign" or "benign," and studies have shown that commercial laboratories and companies sometimes disagree on how to classify a variant.

The consensus among experts is not to make medical decisions, such as whether to have surgery, based on a VUS because it often turns out to be benign as more research is done and more people are tested.

Yet, doctors who do not have training in genetics often don't follow that advice.

"I've actually seen this a number of times, and it's a very real concern," said Dr. Kenan Onel, a clinical cancer geneticist and the director of the Center for Cancer Prevention and Wellness at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

Researchers recently found evidence that doctors may be inappropriately recommending surgery based on a VUS. The results were presented virtually at the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting and have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

More than 7,000 women were surveyed about their experience with multiple-gene panel testing, and among those with a VUS in a gene associated with ovarian cancer, 15% had their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed. Surgery was not warranted for these women because experts say a VUS should not be used to make medical decisions. Furthermore, many of these women did not have a family history of ovarian cancer and had not reached menopause, yet 80% reported that their doctor recommended surgery or discussed it as an option.

It is not just the procedure that causes problems, explained the researcher who led the study,Dr. Susan Domchek, a medical oncologist and executive director of the Basser Center for BRCA at Penn Medicines Abramson Cancer Center. Women who have their ovaries taken out before menopause start menopause early, which raises their risk of developing health problems such as osteoporosis and heart disease.

The study also showed that doctors often recommended surgery even for women who had alterations in genes not associated with ovarian cancer  more evidence, Domchek said, that doctors who lack training in genetics often misinterpret these results.

In another study, Farmer and her colleagues described instances when health care providers ordered the wrong genetic test or misinterpreted the results. Other researchers found that nearly half of 100 surveyed doctors were unable to correctly define a VUS.

Experts say patients who learn they have a VUS or receive conflicting results should see a provider with expertise in genetics, such as a genetic counselor or clinical cancer geneticist, especially if surgery is being recommended.

Having had multiple relatives with cancer and after seeking advice from a genetic counselor, Marcus plans to have a double mastectomy to prevent breast cancer and give her peace of mind, but she's unsure whether she'll have her ovaries removed to prevent ovarian cancer. At age 39, she has not had children yet.

"This has been a two-plus-year struggle for me," said Marcus. "I felt very alone, and nobody could give me any answers."
Congress launches massive drive to recruit 5 lakh 'social media warriors'

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Feb 09: The Congress has launched a nationwide campaign to recruit as many as five lakh "social media warriors" to challenge the BJP in the digital space.

Former party president Rahul Gandhi said a "paid troll army" is spreading hatred and anger in the country and it was time to counter that.

Digvijaya Singh slams PM Modi over BJP's FDI of 'Divide and Rule' ideology

"As a young person, you could see what is going on... In your schools, universities and colleges you can see the oppression. You can see the attack on the idea of India. Look outside Delhi, you can see what is happening to the farmers. The backbone of this war on the nation is a troll army... We also need warriors to defend liberal values, to defend the ideas of compassion, peace, harmony and affection," he had said.

In Rajya Sabha PM gives emotional farewell to Ghulam Nabi Azad

"This is an army of truth. This is an army that will defend the idea of India. We are building this platform for you. To give you tools to fight this battle and win," he added.

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

Launching a "Join Congress Social Media" campaign, AICC social media head Rohan Gupta, AICC in-charge (Administration) Pawan Kumar Bansal and party spokesperson Pawan Khera said people can join through website, toll-free number or by WhatsApp.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 12:18 [IST]
BJP president J P Nadda on Tuesday asserted that the rich culture of West Bengal is under threat in Mamata Banerjee's rule, and said she should atone for the "misrule and misgovernance" of her regime as days of TMC ministry are numbered.

Nadda, who flagged off the second and third phases of the 'Parivartan Yatra' from Tarapith in Birbhum district and Lalgarh in Jhargram district, slammed the TMC for dividing communities by branding people as "insiders and outsiders".

Nadda had on Saturday launched the rath yatra which would criss-cross poll-bound Bengal.

He alleged the state government has "criminalised politics, institutionalised corruption and politicised the police".

The BJP chief also said the "cut money government" will be defeated by the people in the upcoming assembly elections.

Polls to 294-member Bengal house are expected in April-May.

"Under Mamata Banerjee's rule, the rich culture and heritage of West Bengal are under threat. Only the BJP can protect it. The insider-outsider slogan is not the real culture of Bengal.

"The Trinamool Congress is pitting people against one another by branding them as insiders and outsiders. This is shameful. It is not the culture of the land of Swami Vivekananda, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore," Nadda said.

The TMC's slogan of 'Maa, Mati, Manush' (mother, land and people) has been reduced to "dictatorship, tolabaji (extortion) and appeasement", he said, adding the BJP would bring "asol paribartan" (real change) in Bengal.

Lashing out at "dynastic politics" in the TMC, Nadda criticised its MP Abhishek Banerjee for attacking newly- inducted BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari at a rally in Midnapore.

"In politics, you can have differences, and that has to be fought politically. It doesn't mean you will call names. Those who have inherited power can only behave in such a manner," the senior BJP leader said.

"The type of adjectives she used for me recently, the kind of outsider comments made by her and others in the party against us, shows Mamata ji and her nephew are not fit to protect the legacy of Bengal, its inclusiveness known for centuries," he said at Tarapith.

After Naddas convoy was attacked in December last year allegedly by the TMC supporters, Banerjee had mockingly said "They (BJP) has no other work. At times the Home Minister is here. Other times its Chaddha, Nadda, Fadda, Bhaddha here."



Later while flagging off rath yatra from Lalgarh, once a hotbed of Maoist insurgency, Nadda said Banerjee should start atonement for the "misrule and misgovernance" of her regime as the days of TMC ministry are numbered.

"The TMC's politics of polarisation, autocracy, corruption and cut-money breed corruption. Mamata ji, the people of Bengal, will not forgive you and teach you an apt lesson.

"They will show you the doors and bring in the government that works for the people of Bengal," Nadda said here.

"Mamata ji days of your government are numbered. You have done nothing in terms of development in the last ten years. You and your party should start atonement for the misrule of TMC dispensation," he said mounting attack on the TMC supremo.

Nadda also said Banerjee has "problems" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders coming to Bengal.

"A few days back, the prime minister came to Haldia and inaugurated a project. Mamata ji, PM will come and bring development projects to Bengal. The central government wants such projects in Bengal. It is your government which is creating hurdles... Mamata ji doesn't want development. The TMC is only interested in politics," he said.

Nadda alleged that only the ruling TMC leaders have benefited under Banerjee, and even funds meant for relief in the aftermath of cyclone Amphan,were misappropriated by them.

Continuing his attack on Banerjee, he said the people of Bengal have made up their mind to elect a BJP government in the assembly polls.

Coming to the defence of deserters from the TMC, Nadda said leaders like Suvendu Adhikari have understood that there is no place for "Maa, Maati or Manush" (Mother, land and people) in the TMC's scheme of things.

Adhikari had recently switched over to the saffron camp.

"The BJP will bring the change for development, prosperity and restoration of democracy. In the first cabinet meeting of the BJP government, a decision will be taken to implement all central schemes in the state," he asserted.

Banerjee had ridiculed BJP's rath yatra as a "five-star hotel on the wheels".

"This is not rath but a five-star hotel. They are travelling on five-star hotel and are lecturing us," the feisty Bengal leader said while addressing a rally at Murshidabad.

The TMC leadership said those who have destroyed the country's inclusive culture are giving sermons to others.

"The BJP and its affiliates have destroyed the rich culture and heritage of the country.

"The BJP leaders who know nothing about Bengal's rich heritage should be the last person to lecture us on protecting its culture," senior TMC leader and minister Chandrima Bhattacharya 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.)
omg noooooooooooooooooooooooooo not Nimona :( :( :( :( :(

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obligatory fuck disney



Edited at 2021-02-09 08:15 pm (UTC)

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Goddammit

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I'm gonna need a fuck Disney icon at this rate.

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Disney is evil, pls dont pay for their content

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That's why I will never pay for Disney +. If I really want to watch their movie, I refuse to do it on Disney +.

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This is why I was against the whole Disney buying Fox. I was hoping that someone else could have bought them as Disney needs to stay in their lane. They do family shit and them taking another company and trying to become a monopoly. Nah, I'm not here for that shit.

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I think they are past the "trying to become a monopoly" stage.

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disney's been a monopoly for a long time already. if you look at what they own/partially own, it's a huge portion of american media. abc, vice, espn, a&e, history channel, lifetime, hollywood records, fox, nat geo, hulu, fx, etc. this is not even counting the parks, the construction companies, the llcs that they own

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I knew they got Hulu, Espn but I didn't know they got a&e, history channel(!). . . is that why they're now talking about how Aliens did everything? Because the 90's History Channel was awesome and then when I watched in 2001, it was all Hitler and now it's Aliens. Like, is that because they're owned by Disney?



Now I'm really Fuck Disney.

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Speaking of Disney, adult disney stans who just *need* to go to a Disney park during a pandemic can eat my ass. Truly freaks of nature who need jesus



Edited at 2021-02-09 08:29 pm (UTC)

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Nothing creepier than an adult obsessed with Disney.

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Finding out about about Nimona--I might as well have been punched in the face

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Buy your competition so you can kill your competition.

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I was just wondering how it was going with the Nimona movie the other day. I guess now I know. 

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Time to cancel my Disney+ account.

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Disney really needs to be broken up; they own so much in entertainment, movies, tv, books, games etc. It's ridiculous to have one company be in charge of so much of our media.

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Regardless of how people feel about the quality of their movies this is still really fucked up

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Love your icon! My husband and I just watched Wolfwalkers the other night and I thought it was so lovely and Mehb is insanely adorable. <3



Also, support indie studios, etc.

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Id argue that the quality of their films overall have gone down since theyve been more overt about their market saturation. Im sure Ive missed some gems, but I just cant with Disney anymore

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So angry for Noelle. I really hope another studio is able to pick up Nimona.

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The upcoming DFS is one of three key planks en route to 135,000-plus ounces per annum gold production.

The company is confident of growing the Bardoc projects 3.03-million-ounce resource.

( ) (FRA:4SF) is on track to deliver its definitive feasibility study during the current quarter as it aims to become a significant gold producer on the doorstep of Kalgoorlie, one of Australias most famed gold regions.

The company today released a new investor presentation documenting the mammoth progress made towards that goal in 2020, despite a global pandemic, and outlining its near-future plans.

Following the DFS, Bardoc will conduct environmental permitting before a final investment decision is made on its namesake Bardoc Gold Project, which has a resource estimate of 3.03 million ounces of gold to date across 250 square kilometres some 40 kilometres north Kalgoorlie.

Bardoc is also fully-funded through until the completion of the final investment decision, following a transformational $24 million institutional capital raise in 2020.

Watertight investment case

Bardoc chief executive Robert Ryan outlined the exciting investment case on Tuesday, pointing not only to the project's proximity to Kalgoorlie and recent drilling results but also its future potential.

We have a resource in excess of 3 million ounces with three cornerstone deposits, plus a growth pipeline of greenfields and brownfields projects, he said.

There is a significant opportunity to grow the mining reserve and resource estimations through further exploration, with additional funds available to expand our drilling program.

Bardoc is targeting commencement of mining by the September quarter this year, and production in excess of 135,000 ounces per annum, at an all-in sustaining cost of just $1,220 per ounce.

Recent results

The company has begun 2021 as it ended 2020, with consistent positive newsflow - in late January it received wide gold intersections from recent infill and exploration drilling at the Zorastrian and Excelsior deposits that could further grow the 3.03-million-ounce resource estimate.

Meanwhile, just yesterday it announced that it had intersected extensive zones of shallow gold mineralisation in wide-spaced aircore drilling at its separate North Kanowna Star Project, just 29 kilometres southeast of the proposed mill and infrastructure of the Bardoc Gold Project.

Bardoc, which has a market cap of approximately $144 million, wholly owns the North Kanowna Star project and hopes to use it to boost its overall resource estimate.

Looking ahead

Ryan said investors could look forward to consistent, strong newsflow in 2021.

With exploration in full swing, we now have two clear avenues for growing shareholder value at Bardoc, he said.

One is through project development, with the definitive feasibility study now in its final stages and on track for completion in late March  paving the way for project funding and the final investment decision.

The other is through organic growth and exploration  and we are now increasingly confident that we will be able to deliver significant exploration success, growth and excitement through the drill bit in the course of this year.

- Daniel Paproth
The 20 or so very fit men gathered deep in the forests of northeast Cambodia at the Tropaing Tear Base in the Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary.

On their uniforms, a patch richly embroidered with the map of Cambodia and its protected landscapes, elephants, tigers, one of the national flowers and the Ministry of Environment logo did little to counter their overall dont-mess-with-us attitude.

I live in the forest more than my home, said Reth Phearun, a 26-year-old ranger who commands the Chas Yang Base in the Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary. Half a century ago, the region rivaled the East African savannah for its diversity and abundance of wildlife -- banteng, Asian elephants, Elds deer, Indochinese tigers, leopards and more.

Today, those beasts exist in critically low numbers, but the recent and increased protection effort leaves hope that at some point in the future wildlife populations in the region can be restored to their former glory, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Thats where Reth Phearun comes in. One of six rangers who recently received awards for outstanding service, he was born in the provinces Koh Nhek district, graduated from high school in 2013, and began his ranger career three years ago.

Nationwide, Cambodia employs some 1,200 rangers to guard endangered species on more than 7.3 million hectares of protected forests, according to the Ministry of Environment. In the critical 6,000-square-kilometer bioregion of the Srepok and Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, there are just 51 rangers, 46 wildlife guards, and 588 community patrol teams.

These vast areas swallow this protection. In Mondulkiri province, there is less than one ranger per 100 square kilometers, far below the international standard of eight rangers for that amount of territory.

Although few Cambodians want to become rangers, those who do see the job as a calling, putting themselves in danger and sacrificing home life.

The rangers patrol Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary four times a month on trips over four days and three nights, according to Reth Phearun.

It is very challenging at night in some areas. We get no sleep at night, and must help each other patrol until morning, he said.

Reth Phearun worries about encounters with poachers and loggers, saying, If they see us, they will definitely shoot us. They are not afraid of us at all.

One of his colleagues, Cheng Chanty, was sleeping near a creek in the Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary when poachers arrived around 3 a.m. Jan. 29, 2019.

They were on motorbikes, said Cheng Chanty, 42. We told them to stop, but they didn't. We followed them and they shot at us. I was shot in my front abdomen and the bullet went through to my buttock. The wound took four months to heal.

All of the alleged poachers remain at large. Cheng Chanty remains on the job.

The attack on Cheng Chanty was not unusual.

An Environment Ministry ranger, a Wildlife Conservation Society staffer , and a military police officer were killed by Cambodian armed forces aligned with illegal loggers in the provinces Keo Seima District on Jan. 30, 2018.

Six law enforcement officers, three of them police who usually worked on the Cambodia-Vietnam border, were arrested and detained. In October 2019, the shooter, Phal Penh, a border post chief, was sentenced to life in prison and two accomplices were sentenced to 30 years and two years in prison.

Two months later, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned the Cambodian tycoon Try Pheap, saying he has used his vast network inside Cambodia to build a large-scale illegal logging consortium that relies on the collusion of Cambodian officials, to include purchasing protection from the government, including military protection, for the movement of his illegal products.

A 2015 report by Global Witness called Try Pheap, the King of Rosewood, and stated that more than $5.6 million in timber by Try Pheap Group was exported to the Hong Kong-based Kin Chung Transportation Company.

The rangers have only five days off a month, which upends any hope of work-family balance. I have brothers to talk and joke with here, said Reth Phearun. I am closer with them than I am with my wife and children, he joked.

The son of farmers and wine makers, Reth Phearun is the fifth of six children. Recently married, he now has a 6-month-old son.

When my wife was giving birth, I got only five days off, he said.

His family pitched in when Reth Phaerun returned to the forest. I cannot leave my work for too long, because the more time I take off, the more the forest crime there is.

His solution is to take one day off when I miss my son, he said.

Kroeurng Tola, a representative of the Bunong indigenous community, acknowledged the rangers efforts but said they are limited.

An activist who exposes misuse of natural reserves, Kroeurng Tola said, Our rangers have strong will in protecting the forest and wildlife, but their job is still being limited when there are orders from the higher level not to arrest any culprit.

Reth Phearun remains passionate about protecting the forests and their endangered wildlife.

"I want to improve my (ranger) base" with a bigger building fully supplied with electricity and linked into the mobile network, he said, adding a better road to improve accessibility and more rangers would be good, too.

I want to see wildlife and forest increase" he said. "And I want to see tourists coming in and out in the future. If there are tourists, we will benefit from them.
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Approvals for forestry felling licences for private woodlands will have to increase eight-fold by 2025 if Ireland is to realise the full potential of plantations established in the 1980s.

Less than half of the one million cubic metres of timber which could have been harvested from mature private forests in 2020 was actually cut.

Just 400,000 cubic metres of timber was harvested last year as the continuing logjam in the Department of Agricultures forestry licensing regime significantly curtailed woodland activity.

And those involved in the forestry industry have warned that the situation is likely to get a lot worse over the next four years as applications for felling licences are set to treble.

Paddy Bruton of Kilkenny-based Forestry Services Limited explained that the volume of timber available to harvest from private plantations is set to increase sharply to 3.0 million cubic metres by 2025 as woodlands planted in the late 1980s finally mature.

However, industry sources pointed out that Ireland will be in a position to harvest just 15pc of these timber volumes unless the current approval rate for felling licences significantly improves.

A total revamp of the Department of Agricultures forestry licensing regime has been demanded by the sector, with calls for the current procedures to be totally streamlined.

It is estimated that in excess of 250,000 tonnes of timber was imported from Scotland last year by Irish sawmills due to the inability of the Departments Forestry Service to process felling licences. The cost of the imports is put at over 25 million.

Read More

The state, having invested billions into private sector forestry, is squandering that investment for its citizens, the industry and the forest owners. Once a forest is established, harvesting will ultimately occur, Mr Bruton said.

Describing the current difficulties in the forestry licensing regime as a scandal, he said it illustrated a lack of planning and management within the Forest Service.

Department officials attempts to divert the blame for this debacle to court cases and objectors are disingenuous in the extreme. The responsibility rests with the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Mr Bruton claimed.

The question at this point is, what are Minister McConalogue and Senator Hackett going to do about this. We have had enough of commitments to engage with the stakeholders; it's time for action, not for talking, he said.

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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
Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange traded 25 points higher at 15,167 around 8.25 am, indicating a positive start for benchmark indices on Tuesday.

Here are the top stocks that are likely to be in focus today:

RIL, Future Retail: The Delhi High Court, on Monday, overturned an order that had stalled Future Group's $3.4 billion deal to sell its retail assets to Reliance in a setback for Future's partner Amazon.com Inc, which has challenged the sale. READ MORE

Vodafone Idea: The Indian government has challenged in the Singapore High Court an international arbitration tribunal's verdict that overturned its demand for Rs 22,100 crore in back taxes from Vodafone Group Plc. READ MORE

Q3 earnings: Tata Steel, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, Berger Paints India, Burger King India, Central Bank of India, Future Retail, Lemon Tree Hotels, and Torrent Power are among 218 companies slated to announce their quarterly earnings today.

NMDC: The company said its consolidated net profit jumped 53 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 2,108 crore for the quarter ended in December.

BPCL: The firm has reported Rs 1,900.63 crore consolidated profit for the third quarter of FY21. This is a fall from the Rs 2,051 crore profit reported by the company in the same months of the previous financial year. The Board also declared an interim dividend of Rs 16 per equity share of face value Rs 10 each or 160 per cent.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals: The company reported an 18.32 per cent YoY rise in its consolidated net profit to Rs 297 crore for the quarter ended December 2020. Consolidated revenue of the company stood at Rs 1,995 crore.

Wipro: The IT major announced the appointment of Michael Seiger as the country head and managing director for Germany and Austria.

Jindal Stainless Hisar: The firm posted an over three-fold jump in its consolidated net profit to Rs 270 crore for the December 2020 quarter.

Galaxy Surfactants: The company on Monday reported a 77.59 per cent YoY growth in profit after tax (PAT) during the quarter ending December 31, 2020, at Rs 85.23 crore.

Titan: The firm has expanded its portfolio within the wearable category by launching its new smart fitness gear brand TraQ. TRAQ is the first-ever smart gear developed entirely by Titan and conceptualised in-house at the design studio in Bengaluru, the company said in a statement.

Tata Motors: JLR UK sales was down 42.8 per cent YoY at 4,542 units. while Jaguar UK sales fell 60.7 per cent at 914 units. Land Rover UK sales went down 35.4 per cent at 3,628 units.

Crompton Greaves Consumer: Promoter Amalfiaco Holdings plans to sell 2.83 crore shares or 4.5 per cent of the total equity through a block deal. As per a Bloomberg report, the floor price of the deal is set at Rs 387 per share which is a 5.2 per cent discount to Monday's closing price.

Vedanta: A meeting of Committee of Directors is slated to be held on February 11 to consider offering of secured NCDs aggregating up to Rs 500 crore in one or more tranches.

AstraZeneca Pharma India: The company on Monday reported a 21 per cent YoY decline in net profit at Rs 21.05 crore for the quarter ended in December. It had posted a profit of Rs 26.70 crore for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.
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Another blast of winter weather is expected to hit portions of New Jersey Tuesday, with forecasts calling for up to 4 inches of snow in northern counties.

Forecasters expect the snow to be mostly contained to northern New Jersey with winter weather advisories in place for early Tuesday through early Wednesday. Advisories cover areas of Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 4 AM Tuesday to 1 AM Wednesday. Accumulating snow Tuesday will create hazardous travel, especially on any untreated roads. #NYCwx #NYwx #CTwx #NJwx pic.twitter.com/2qf3B99fZk  NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) February 8, 2021

Forecasts call for the snow to begin sometime after 6 a.m. before moving away from the area in the afternoon Tuesday and a change to rain from the south to north.

This storm is going to be a quick-mover, spreading snow across parts of the Midwest and into the Northeast through Tuesday, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Courtney Travis said on the companys website.

According to AccuWeather.com, an icy rain and snow mixture is possible for areas of New Jersey on Tuesday.

Even if only a few inches of snow falls in most places, it is likely to be enough to accumulate on roadways and cause tricky and slowed travel, Travis said.

AccuWeather.com reported snow was expected to fall in New Jersey early Tuesday.AccuWeather.com

Around the Newark area, snow is likely to fall mostly between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday, with about 1 to 3 inches in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service. Some snow earlier is also possible.

By Tuesday night, the chance of snow drops, though bitter cold is likely in store. A low of around 22 is expected in the area.

The chance of snow remains in the forecast though the weekend. Another storm could hit overnight Thursday and last through Friday. Expected snowfall totals for later in the week remained unclear Monday.

This is the National Weather Service's snow forecast for most of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania for Tuesday, Feb. 9.National Weather Service

This is the National Weather Service's snow forecast for northeastern New Jersey, New York City and the Hudson Valley for Tuesday, Feb. 9.National Weather Service

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Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
For years, the fear of being deported kept Vanessa Rodriguez from applying to a federal program that would have protected her precisely from that worst-case scenario.

Now, however, she says her apprehensions are disappearing since President Joe Biden took office. She is finally applying for Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals, a program created in 2012 by the Barack Obama administration to protect young immigrants like her  who are in the country illegally  from deportation.

Rodriguez, 31, arrived in the U.S. from Mexico when she was 7 years old. The Houston area is the only place she has ever called home. Its where she graduated from Alvin High School and where she had three American children of her own. But she feared giving information to the government in applying to DACA, particularly during the Donald Trump administration.

I was scared because I have kids, she said. I didnt know if they would know where we live and come and deport us.

Help with DACA BakerRipley: Call 346-867-3871 to make an appointment for a virtual consultation. More information: www.bakerripley.org/citizenship-and-immigration-services Justice for our Neighbors: Call 713-454-6470 for orientation. More information: www.jfonhouston.org FIEL Houston: Call 713-364-3435 or contact the organization via Facebook, www.facebook.com/FIELHoustonOrg . ImmigrationHelp: Go to www.ImmigrationHelp.org and follow instructions to get help preparing immigration forms. See More Collapse

Lawyers and immigrant advocacy organizations in Houston and around the country have seen dramatic increases in new applications for DACA from immigrants like Rodriguez in the days since Trump left office. Although Biden signed an executive order to preserve the program on his first day in office, its future remains uncertain. A court challenge from Texas Republicans to eliminate DACA could be decided any day.

We are getting twice as many people seeking help with DACA since Biden became president, said Alain Cisneros, an organizer with FIEL Houston, the largest nonprofit of dreamers in the city. The name Dreamers comes from the the DREAM Act  Development, Relief, and Education for Immigrant Minors  which was introduced in Congress in 2001 to provide a permanent immigration status with a path to citizenship for them.

National organizations such as ImmigrationHelp.org, a nonprofit that helps immigrants apply for several programs free of charge, are also seeing an uptick.

This new administration is much more accepting of DACA and immigrants, and I think that translates into less fear among them, said Fernando Urbina, a Harvard University student and one of the founders of ImmigrationHelp.org

The DACA program, renewable every two years, has been under fire since the Trump administration announced it was going to close it in 2017. His administration argued that DACA is unlawful because Obama didnt have the authority to implement a policy that should instead be established by congressional legislation. Such an open-ended circumvention of immigration laws was an unconstitutional exercise of authority by the Executive Branch, said then Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Several challenges in court have kept it active for those who were already DACA holders, currently just over 640,000 nationwide, according to the latest data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Litigation reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in June last year that the Trump administration failed to provide a reasonable explanation for suspending the program. The administration allowed those already enrolled in DACA to renew, but continued banning new applications.

The door opened for first-timers on Dec. 7, after a federal court in New York ordered the government to restart the program in full.

Their confidence in actually filing applications has definitely gone up since the inauguration, said Jill Campbell, director of Immigration and Citizenship at BakerRipley, the largest charitable organization in Texas providing immigration and other services.

Many of the immigrants applying now for the first time are young people in their 20s and 30s who, like Rodriguez, were afraid to give their information to the authorities.

Others have aged into eligibility over the past three years. Approximately 61,000 eligible immigrants have reached the minimum age required to apply while the program was closed to first-timers, according to the National Immigration Forum.

Immigrants must meet several conditions to qualify: They have to have come to the U.S. before the age of 16, been in residence here continuously since 2007, and be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012.

To be in the program, they also must be currently in school or have graduated with at least a GED.

The only state with more current DACA holders than Texas, with 105,000, is California, according to the USCIS. In Houston, 32,000 are active recipients but thousands more could benefit from applying now.

Possible setback

People have been waiting to apply since (DACA) was halted and they are taking that step now, said Gabriela Lopez-Compean, an attorney with the nonprofit Justice for our Neighbors in Houston that offers services to immigrants. And people are very hopeful now that something can happen through Congress that could bring some sort of reform.

Immigrants and organizations welcomed the introduction Thursday of a bipartisan immigration reform bill in the Senate to protect Dreamers.

The proposal filed by Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, and Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, replicates those first introduced in 2001 and in the last two Congressional sessions. As presented, it would provide a path to citizenship for dreamers.

Bidens call to find a permanent solution for dreamers has been enthusiastically welcomed by many of the potential beneficiaries, said Cisneros, from FIEL Houston.

The excitement is mostly among the youngest dreamers, those who are now eligible for the first time, he said, because they havent gone through the disappointments and disillusionment in the past after the failure of several attempts in Congress to pass reform.

While veteran dreamers recognize a fundamental change in White House approaches to immigration policies, they remain concerned about a looming decision in a federal court in Houston that could jeopardize the immediate future of dreamers if Congress doesnt act swiftly.

The case to discontinue DACA, led by Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, was filed in 2018 with eight other states. A hearing on the case was held in Houston in December. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen is expected to announce his ruling at any time.

After being demonized during the last four years, immigrants like me are feeling hopeful now with the new government, said Leezia Dhalla, immigration press director with FWD.us, a nonprofit funded by tech and business moguls such as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

But the looming federal court decision could change the rules and dreamers could be back in limbo and at risk of deportation again if Congress doesnt act.

olivia.tallet@chron.com

Twitter.com/oliviaptallet
CNC Hires Senior VP for Strategy

Catastrophe & National Claims, an insurance adjusting firm based in Mobile, Ala., has appointed Tom Noonan as senior vice president of strategy and innovation.

Noonan has more than 36 years of experience in operations and business development within the claims industry, CNC said in a press release. He began his career with Hartford Insurance in 1985 and launched his own insurance adjusting/private investigation firm in 1993. In 1997, he sold his interest in the firm and joined Cunningham Lindsey as an assistant vice president overseeing operations in the West.

Wanting to spend less time traveling, he left and opened his own general construction/insurance restoration firm in 2003. Selling his interest in the company in 2008, he was hired as Haag Engineerings vice president of sales and marketing. Noonan was appointed regional manager for American Technologies in 2012, overseeing both operations and sales. In 2015, he became director of business development for Rimkus Consulting. In August 2017, he joined Leading Edge Claims Service, where he most recently served as vice president of strategy and development.

Noonan was voted onto Haags Board of Directors in 2011 and has also been a speaker at several conferences. He holds a bachelors of science degree in management from Bowling Green State University.

Crawford & Co. Appoints Loss Adjusting COO

Crawford & Co. has appointed Larry Milburn as chief operating officer of U.S. loss adjusting.

Milburn will share leadership of Crawfords U.S. loss adjusting business with Paul Kottler, president of global technical services.

Milburn started his career with Crawford directly after college in the companys Philadelphia office. He was promoted to his first management role in 1994.

Most recently, Milburn was vice president and managing director of the mid-Atlantic region, which encompasses Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C., and northern Virginia. He also oversaw Crawfords U.S. London hub.

In his prior role, Larry was responsible for the development and implementation of the sales, account management and operational strategies for the region.

Kottler is now responsible for leading all U.S. loss adjusting services, including the management of national managing directors, sales executives and dedicated account managers. He shares that responsibility with Kottler.

Alacrity Solutions Appoints Chief Client Officer

Alacrity Solutions Group, an insurance services firm based in Fishers, Indiana, has appointed Randy Thornton as chief client officer.

Thornton has held leadership positions at Sedgwick, York Risk, and ICAT Managers during his 20-year insurance industry, Alacrity said in a press release. He has consistently worked to help clients solve their most critical problems and achieve their desired results. Most recently, he was a managing director for Sedgwick in Clearwater, Fla. Thornton has a bachelors of science in finance from the University of South Florida.

At Alacrity, Thornton is responsible for leading management and growth of current and new clients and achieving the companys growth goals.

Alacrity is an independent provider of insurance claims management services in North America. The company also provides staffing services and operates a nationwide managed repair network to national and regional insurance companies, managing general agents, third-party administrators and self-insured businesses and state and federal agencies.

Kohlberg & Company, a New York-based private equity firm, acquired a majority stake in Alacrity in 2019.


Estonia and Latvia, two NATO member states, have objected to planned Russian 5G experiments that could interfere with their military aviation systems. The frequency band to be tested is currently used by the blocs aircraft.

According to Moscow daily newspaper Kommersant, citing an anonymous source, objections have also come from Finland, not a NATO member but a close ally of the bloc.

The problem has arisen following planned experiments by MTS, the largest mobile network operator in Russia, in the town of Kronstadt. Kronstadt is located on a small island in the Gulf of Finland near St. Petersburg, not far from both Helsinki and Tallinn. Russia plans to use 4.8-4.99 GHz frequencies for its 5G signal. In NATO countries, this frequency band is used by the friend or foe identification system on military planes, and Russias decision to allocate it to telecommunications could cause interference for hundreds of kilometers.

According to the newspaper, the Latvian, Estonian and Finnish authorities have not yet publicly commented on the situation.

In recent years, Russian technology companies have been in battle with the countrys Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications over the implementation of 5G, with the government refusing to let go of the 3.4-3.8 GHz band, currently used by the defense ministry for military and intelligence services. These frequencies are considered to be the most suitable for 5G. For example, Germany is using 3.6 GHz, right in the middle of the range.

Instead, the ministry proposed that Russian communications companies use the 4.4-4.99 GHz frequencies, overlapping with those used by NATO planes.
Boris Johnson should 'knock heads together in Whitehall' to bring in promised legislation to protect veterans who served in Northern Ireland from 'unfair prosecutions', MPs were told yesterday.

Former Armed Forces minister Mark Francois said the absence of even draft legislation added to the 'burning injustice' felt by soldiers.

Addressing the Commons during a reading of the Armed Forces Bill, the Tory MP said it did little to help veterans who served in Northern Ireland, many of whom have the 'sword of Damocles still hanging over them'.

Mark Francois said the absence of even draft legislation added to the 'burning injustice' felt by soldiers during a reading of the Armed Forces Bill

Last week, the Daily Mail revealed another 12 veterans are facing charges related to Troubles shootings. They could follow six already charged.

However yesterday it emerged that the Police Service of Northern Ireland has no 'live' investigations into the murders of hundreds of British soldiers killed by IRA terrorists.

Pointing out that Mr Johnson promised to pass new legislation on Northern Ireland 18 months ago, Mr Francois said: 'The Prime Minister urgently needs to knock heads together in Whitehall in order to get this critical legislation on to the statute book.

'Unlike some others, our service veterans have no letters of comfort while the Northern Ireland Office - whose Bill this is supposed to be - continues to endlessly drag their feet for fear of upsetting Sinn Fein.'

The Tory MP pointed out that Boris Johnson promised to pass new legislation on Northern Ireland 18 months ago

He added: 'We want actions now, not words.'

Great-grandfather Dennis Hutchings, 79, a former soldier in the Life Guards, faces trial in later this year for attempted murder in relation to a shooting in Northern Ireland in 1974.

He has previously been cleared twice over the incident. Last night he said: 'The Prime Minister promised to fix this and nothing has happened since.

'I am very pleased the issue is being raised in the Commons. I just hope something happens because it is never-ending.'

An element of Army Special Operations Command has distanced itself from a unit logo that has been adopted by a domestic extremist group.

Just last week, the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School advised all of its personnel to avoid using more than a dozen symbols linked by law enforcement to extremist activity.

One, featuring a Roman numeral "III" surrounded by a circle of stars, is now the symbol of the Three Percenters, a "militia movement/paramilitary group with members who adhere to a far-right/libertarian ideology with a primary focus on firearms ownership right and opposition to expansive U.S. federal government authority," according to a JFK SWCS slide briefing.

The image had been part of the long-time unofficial symbol of Trauma 3, an 18-month, special operations medical course focused on tactical combat casualty care.

Read Next: Marine Corps Changes Policy to Give New Moms 1-Year Break from Fitness, Weight Rules

"Certain aspects of that logo have a striking resemblance to the symbology of an extremist organization -- specifically the Roman numeral three with the Betsy Ross star circle, which was used by Trauma 3," Col. Matt Gomlack, chief of staff at the JFK SWCS, told Military.com.

Trauma 3 had used the symbol "way longer" than the Three Percenters, which was formed in 2008, Gomlack said, describing how its military use goes back to the 1990s. The Trauma 3 shirt with the logo, which has drawn most of the attention, was created in 2016 and changed in 2020.

Concerns over domestic extremism exploded after rioters in Washington, D.C., breached the U.S. Capitol building, resulting in more than 25,000 National Guard members being ordered to the city to beef up security for the Jan. 20 inauguration of President Joe Biden.

On Feb. 3, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III ordered commanders across the services to take time over the next two months to discuss the problem of extremist ideology in the ranks with all formations.

But Gomlack said unit leaders started addressing the issue before Austin's directive. In fact, Trauma 3 decided to remove the III and the circle of stars from its logo in August, when a student identified it as the symbol of the Three Percenters.

"A member of Trauma 3, one of the students, said, 'Hey, do you guys know that this symbol looks a lot like the symbol of the Three Percenters? And they were like, 'Who the hell are the Three Percenters?'" he said.

Trauma 3's logo -- which features a skull that combines a paddle for the Marine Forces Special Operations Command, a trident for the Navy SEALs and an arrow for Army Special Forces -- no longer features the III and the circle of stars on the skull.

"It was actually organically detected, and we took steps to change it then," Gomlack said.

The unit also sold T-shirts over the years featuring an American flag with the III surrounded by the circle of stars in a blue field, he added. "But of course those shirts that we sold five years prior in a blissful state of ignorance of our symbology that parallels this extremist group -- they are still out there."

The Jan. 6 Capitol breach "really brought to the national attention this issue of extremism and, frankly, it brought issues of the symbology that these extremist organizations use," Gomlack said.

"We really started to have concerns about the perception of linking our symbology with the symbology of extremist organizations, so to protect the members of our command, we said we need to understand what symbology is out there that is affiliated with extremism," he explained. "We are still in the process of developing a comprehensive policy that will put in the right levers of checks and reviews, so that we can avoid producing a T-shirt or a unit logo or a course logo or something that somebody could mistakenly attribute to an extremist organization."

The command has also briefed all of its personnel on a list of 14 symbols that have been linked to extremist groups by the New York Police Department's Intelligence Bureau. The symbols range from the Nazi swastika to the Oath Keepers' symbol, which bears the far-right militia group's name on a gold and black tab resembling that of the Army Rangers.

The command released a statement late Friday to all of its personnel stating that the future wear or posting of "any of these symbols" could result in "military punishment."

"The command is doing two things: We are protecting our formation from potential misperceptions ... and two, we are also sending a message that extremism is not tolerated in the Department of Defense and certainly not in our organization." Gomlack said.

Editor's Note: This story was updated to clarify when the Trauma III logo shirt was created.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related: SecDef Gives Military Services 60 Days to Hold Stand-Down on Extremism in the Ranks
MANZINI  I want the Municipal Council of Manzini to reimburse me money worth the current value of plots at Mkhosi Township, says Phindile Mashwama.

Mashwama was one of five people who appeared before the Zonke Magagula-led Commission of Enquiry on the Mkhosi Township Petition. The commission started listening to submissions from members of the public who had registered and paid a commitment fee of securing plots at the township in the year 2000. The township, which is in the outskirts of Manzini along the corner of Magnolia and Southern Distributor Roads, had 60 people sign a petition and present it to Parliament, alleging injustice in the sale of the plots.

Mashwama is one of the people who alleged that they were treated unfairly by the municipality. She laid two options that she would take from the municipality which was to be fully compensated at the current cost of her plot.

Alternatively, Mashwama said she be allocated land under phase two of the project which was not yet allocated. She said: I need to get the land as I showed an interest from the onset.

Mashwama alleged that she had learnt of the sale of plots through an advertisement in this publication which invited the public who had never owned property.

Upon seeing this advert, Mashwama claimed that she showed an initiative and paid a commitment fee of E2 000 on her way to the airport as she was leaving the country for 15 months to study abroad.

The plot she was committing to was numbered 1919 and was about 800 metres squared. At the time, a square metre cost E40. While abroad, she claimed that she sent money to her children to pay for the plot; but they were turned back as they were informed that payments were not yet accepted.

In 2001, Mashwama alleged that she visited the municipality wherein a certain make Mkhabela engaged her on the issue and said progress was stalling.

In 2013, I received a letter inviting me to a meeting in which we would be shown the plots; however, on the day of the meeting, we were informed that we could not see the plots as it was a forest, she alleged.

According to Mashwama, in the same year, she alleged that they were informed that there had been a challenge as the size of the plots had been minimised.

She claimed that she was informed that if she agreed to the new size of the plot, which was numbered 156, she should sign a particular document.

The plot she was being allocated at the time, she purported, was 613 metres square.

Register

Out of desperation, Mashwama claimed, she signed the document as she resided at Lomahasha and commuting was cumbersome for her. In a subsequent meeting, purportedly in September 2013, she was supposedly informed that she had aged and should either register the plot under one of her childrens names and or give it away.

I didnt want to give it away and I relayed to them that they were not aware of my savings; so Id use them to pay the desired amount.

Later on, Mashwama alleged that she was informed that the township had been subdivided into phases and she was being listed in the second phase of the project.

She supposed that noting that her first-born child was in the final year of tertiary education, she consented to the offer as means to buy time while hopeful that when her child completed, she would get monetary assistance to pay-off and construct her house.

When questioned if she had been informed about the phases in the allocation of plots from the onset, Mashwama claimed that it had not been communicated.

She submitted that her understanding was that the phases that were being referred to by the municipalitys planning department meant that they would be allowed to construct their homesteads in intervals, with those in the first phase taking the lead.

Towards the end of June 2018, Mashwama claimed that she was informed that the prices of the plots now ranged at about E300 000 and they wanted her to be under phase one.

In response to this proposal, she purportedly requested that her name be retained under phase two. She said when this offer was extended to her, the municipality personnel relayed to her that she had to pay the E300 000 within seven days.

This, she claimed, resulted in her seeking others who she was aware had shown interest in procuring plots at Mkhosi Township whereupon they wrote a petition to Parliament.

In all these dealings with the municipality, Mashwama claimed that she had never been shown her plot or given a title deed.
WASHINGTON  The director of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention suggested that testing people for the coronavirus before U.S. domestic flights could help reduce transmission, as she urged state and local leaders to maintain steps to limit COVID-19s spread.

Requiring travelers to receive a negative coronavirus test before boarding domestic flights could be another mitigation measure, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said Monday during a press briefing. She didnt say whether the CDC will move forward with the policy, which the Biden administration is actively considering.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told Axios the discussion is ongoing and the decision will be guided by data, by science, by medicine, and by the input of the people who are actually going to have to carry this out.

Walenskys comments came as federal health officials watch for more evidence that a variant of the coronavirus widespread in the U.K. will become the dominant strain in the U.S. Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that could happen by the end of March.

So far, 699 variant cases have been identified, 690 of which are the U.K. strain. Walensky said the U.S. expects to at least triple its sequencing in the next several weeks, giving it a better snapshot of how widely the variants may have already spread on U.S. soil.

Once we have more sequencing thats happening, well have a better idea as to how many variants there are and what proportion are out there, she said.

Walensky advised state and local officials against loosening restrictions despite a decline in COVID-19 cases. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds over the weekend lifted the states mask mandate and other guidelines implemented amid a crush of cases in the fall.

Im asking everyone to please keep your guard up. The continued proliferation of variants remains a great concern, Walensky said.

The administration plans to release guidance on reopening schools in coming days, she said.

Officials also urged patience as COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out.

Fauci pushed back on the idea of administering just one of two required vaccine doses to expand capacity. Trial data indicates the immune response is far greater after someone receives both doses and cutting it to one could inadvertently create new mutant strains, he said.

___

Angelica LaVito and Josh Wingrove of Bloomberg News wrote this story.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

2021 Bloomberg L.P.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
The feedback was overwhelming from guests requesting the Impossible Melt, stating it is the best of its kind.-- Patrick Conlin, President of Wayback Burgers

Wayback Burgers, one of the nations fastest-growing burger franchises, is celebrating serving up 30 years of deliciousness! As part of the celebration, Americas Favorite Hometown Burger Joint is excited to announce the return of a popular menu item just in time for Lent.

Back by popular demand, the Impossible Melt will be available for a limited time beginning on February 17  the start of the Lenten season  through April 30. For the nearly 25 percent of Americans who abstain from meat during Lent, this burger offers a great alternative.

This delicious melt starts with an Impossible patty made from plants and features spicy garlic aioli sauce, topped with swiss cheese and sauteed onions, all sandwiched between Wayback Burgers signature toasted, inverted, buttered buns. Its perfect for people who crave meat!

Although the Melt will only be around until April 30, Impossible Burgers will become a permanent menu item at Wayback Burgers locations in the Craft Your Own section. Guests will be able to build whatever kind of Impossible sandwich they want!

"Delicious meat made from plants, for meat lovers, is how Impossible Foods describes its popular burger. By bringing this item back and giving Impossible burgers a permanent place on the menu board, Wayback Burgers is answering the call of guests who want mouth-watering options to beef all year round.

The feedback was overwhelming from guests requesting the Impossible Melt, stating it is the best of its kind, said Wayback Burgers President Patrick Conlin. We are also excited about keeping Impossible patties on our menu board permanently in the Craft Your Own section. It perfectly aligns with our commitment to serving high-quality burgers. Of course, we will always have our traditional cooked-to-order beef burgers that people also love.

With the demand for plant-based meat options growing  a nearly 80 percent increase in plant-based burgers consumed at restaurants, according to the NPD Group  Wayback first introduced the Impossible Burger option to guests in 2020. Customers sampled it and came back for more, citing the combination of a tasty burger made from plants with Wayback Burgers unique twist of adding spicy garlic aioli sauce and two toasted, inverted buttered buns.

Wayback Burgers is committed to the highest quality levels, using the freshest ingredients, and unmatched guest service.

Also available for a limited time at Wayback Burgers is the Chocolate Cake Shake, which is as decadent as it sounds. The shake features chocolate cake with cream filling mixed in, and a drizzle of chocolate syrup, topped with whipped cream and more cake! It is available from February 17 March 31.

For more information on Wayback Burgers and all 2021 promotions/limited time offers, please visit their website (https://waybackburgers.com/) and social media profiles  Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more information on the Wayback Burgers franchise opportunity, please visit https://waybackburgers.com/franchising/.

About Wayback Burgers

Founded in 1991 in Newark, Delaware, Wayback Burgers is a Connecticut-based fast-casual franchise with a reputation for cooked-to-order burgers and thick, hand-dipped milkshakes, served in an environment that hearkens back to a simpler place and time  when guest service meant something and everyone felt the warmth of the community.

Wayback Burgers currently operates in 31 states with over 166 locations nationally and internationally in Brunei, Sudan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Pakistan, The Netherlands, and Manitoba, Canada. Through its executed international franchise agreements, Wayback Burgers plans to open in 38 provinces/countries, including the Middle East, Northern Africa, South Africa, Bangladesh, Ireland, Germany, and, in Canada, Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Currently, there is an LOI for Japan.

For more information about Wayback Burgers, please go to https://waybackburgers.com/.

For franchising information about Wayback Burgers, please go to https://waybackburgers.com/franchising.



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.
Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press

California Gov. Gavin Newsom made a strong pitch for the youngest children in the state to return to public schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic in a Tuesday press briefing, with the priority being the most vulnerable kids including those in foster care and with special emotional needs.

"I am of the firm belief that we can safely get our youngest children back into schools in small cohorts," Newsom said, speaking from a new mass vaccine site opening at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. "K-2, K-6, we can get this done, and we must get this done if we care about equity, if we care about diversity, if we care about the values we preach, then we have to get our youngest kids back into in-person instruction, in-person environments where their social-emotional needs are being met, not just their intellectual and academic needs are being met."
A massive plume of Saharan-desert dust has painted European landscapes a reddish-brown hue reminiscent of Mars, reducing air-quality and solar-power production across southern swathes of the continent.

Dust kicked up by storms over Algeria last week was transported north and deposited throughout European mountain ranges stretching from the Pyrenees to the Alps, climate monitors reported Tuesday. Measurements of air-born particulate matter that can endanger health were several orders of magnitude larger than normal.

View Full Image Photo: Bloomberg





We saw air quality values in the affected regions drop significantly," said Mark Parrington, a scientist at the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. The impact of the Saharan dust clouds is clearly visible for affected cities, such as, for example, Barcelona or Marseille."

View Full Image Photo: Bloomberg

Europes climate service has tracked the dispersion of dust from previous Saharan storms as far as the Gulf of Mexico. This weeks event was predicted by Copernicus models, which combine data from scientists in the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and the US. The agency uses billions of measurements from satellites, ships, aircraft and weather stations around the world for its monthly and seasonal forecasts.

View Full Image Photo: Bloomberg

Our forecasts, even those from Feb. 2, were very reliable in describing the size and extent of the dust plume as well as its development and direction," Parrington said. Airlines and utilities are among the companies that use Copernicus data to make business decisions.

Improving the accuracy of weather forecasts has become increasingly critical as the world tries to mitigate climate change. Timely information about wind flows and solar radiation are needed for grid operators to plan intermittent electricity. Air quality and emissions data inform policy decisions on congestion management and tariffs.

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YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Ruling bloc MP, representative of the Russian community of Armenia Alexey Sandikov says he sees new prerequisites for the development of the relations between Armenia and Russia after the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh War.

In an interview with ARMENPRESS, MP Sandikov said that Russia has further strengthened its positions in the region after the war which Azerbaijan unleashed upon Artsakh.

The friendship between Armenia and Russia, especially Russias mediation efforts after the end of the war, the volume of the deployment of peacekeeping forces and the humanitarian aid speaks about the fact that Russia has strengthened its positions in this region even more as a friendly country, and I believe that this creates new prerequisites between Armenia and Russia, both for deepening integration processes and further development of collegial relations, Sandikov said.

The lawmaker praised Russia for their high-level implementation of the peacekeeping mission.

General Muradov is fully engaged in the deployment of the peacekeeping forces in the region and the implementation of their duties in the defined order, he said, referring to the Commander of the Russian peacemaking forces in Nagorno Karabakh.

Russia also has a huge mediation role in the issue of returning the captives, therefore I think that the dynamics is only positive.

According to Sandikov, Russias interest for the region hasnt changed in the last 25 years and the region has always been in the focus of Russias great interest.

Especially in the current phase of the conflict, when Russia has a military base not only in Gyumri, but has also expanded its peacemaking potential in southern Armenia, in Artsakh, I believe that big prerequisites are created here also for development in the humanitarian sector. I am speaking especially about education, the current situation will lead to projects like the increase of Russian schools and classes, Sandikov said.

He noted that in 2020 the coronavirus pandemic sometimes obstructed the meetings between Armenian and Russian lawmakers, but these meetings were nevertheless held online.

During the days of the war I visited Russia, I met with my colleague lawmakers. Now we are in contact online. Soon I am planning to visit Russia again to have contacts with my colleagues regarding humanitarian issues and moving these issues to a more practical phase, he said.

Interview by Norayr Shoghikyan

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan


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A head teacher has hit out at 'moaning' parents for saying they dont have time to let their children play in the snow, after some schools announced they had cancelled online lessons and told kids to go sledging instead.

Sue Blyth, a headteacher at Fourfields Community Primary School in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, took a swipe at working parents who had complained about children being give time to play in the snow during school hours.

In a post on Twitter, replying to other teachers who had organised 'online snow days', she said: 'We also did this and then had some parents complain they hadn't got time to let their children play in the snow because of their full time work! There was a proper Facebook moan about it!

In her tweet, posted yesterday and which has since been deleted, she added: 'Fortunately most families were grateful.'

It comes as large parts of the UK were hit with snow from Storm Darcy yesterday and today, forcing hundreds of schools, which are currently open to children of key workers, to close. Many schools moved lessons online.

But one school leader suggested online lessons should be scrapped in favour of a 'snow day', before adding that she 'didn't care' about the reaction from parents.

The row comes amid a huge clash between the Government and teaching unions ahead of the reopening of schools in England after lockdown. The Government is currently pinpointing March 8 to begin what is likely to be a phased return to schools.

The Government also plans to extend the school year in England, with Boris Johnson vowing to go 'flat out' to help children catch up on lost learning during lockdown.

But unions last night pushed back at the proposals, insisting parents are 'craving getting back to normal', as they also faced accusations of using the Covid pandemic to 'push for pay rises' for teachers.

Meanwhile council bosses today begged for more students to be home-schooled because face-to-face classes for key worker children are currently 'over-capacity'.

Sue Blyth (pictured), headteacher at Fourfields Community School in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, took a swipe at parents who had complained about the decision to have a 'snow day' at the school

As large parts of the UK were hit with snow from Storm Darcy, some headteachers took it upon themselves to call a 'snow day' for home school students, scrapping online lessons and telling children to go out sledding instead (pictured: A child enjoys the snow at Farthing Common today)

The blazing row over schools raged as some head teachers suggested there should be a 'snow day' for online students in the wake of Storm Darcy - which has brought freezing temperatures and left some areas covered in snow.

Unions accused of 'highjacking' pandemic to push for pay rises Britain's biggest teaching union has been accused of 'hijacking' the coronavirus crisis to push for pay rises and long-term perks while the educations of millions of children are shipwrecked. The National Education Union (NEU) is including pay increases in 'key demands' and bosses have called for any reduction in class sizes to be 'long-term' - not just for social distancing during the pandemic. Union leaders congratulated their members for getting schools closed down, claiming it was their threats to not turn up to class which led to Prime Minister Boris Johnson shutting schools in England in January. The NEU came under fire from furious Tory backbenchers after a 'gloating' email from the union to its 500,000 members was leaked which told them 'You did it!' as the third national lockdown was announced. The union, which has described the pandemic as a 'turning point' in relations between teachers and Downing Street, has thwarted every proposal by the government to get children back into classrooms. Now it has set out 'key demands for all workplaces' in a five-point 'Covid bulletin' to reps which calls for a 'permanent' and 'automatic' pay rise, an end to work assessments during the coronavirus crisis, risk assessments, and extra time to plan, prepare and assess students' work. Advertisement

Principal Clare Greene from Eastcote Primary Academy, in Bexley, London, announced she wanted home-schooled students to 'make a snowman' for a lesson.

She said on Twitter: 'Looking forward to a snow day. Online learning tasks include making a snowman and having a snowball fight.'

Responding to a tweet about an online 'snow day' at another school, she said: 'The remote learning tasks will be: make a snowman, go sledging, have a snowball fight and show me a pic of a snow angel. I'm sure one parent will complain, I just don't care.'

The school is run by the Leigh Academy Trust, who were approached for comment. But the trust told MailOnline that the school remained open yesterday.

In a statement, they said: 'The school was open yesterday to the children of key workers and vulnerable children and those children not in attendance were undertaking remote learning from home as normal.

'Whilst we would never stop children playing in the snow at home we would not encourage it as an alternative to taking part in online learning.'

The trust added the tweet was on an account not linked to her work and was not designed to be seen by parents.

MailOnline also contacted Cambridgeshire County Council, who are responsible for Fourfields Community Primary School, for comment.

The school had previously posted about a closure due to snow on January 24. In the post the school said lessons would 'continue as normal' with 'some snow day activities thrown in for good measure'.

A spokesperson for the authority told MailOnline: 'Cambridgeshire County Council does not have a policy relating to the provision of online lessons in the event of adverse weather.

'Schools are responsible for lesson schedules, and any changes to these will be communicated directly to parents via their school.'

In a thread of Tweets, other headteachers also rushed to praise schools for stopping online learning due to snow.

One PE teacher, said: 'Very proud that our school took that approach also and also had a lovely email saying please do not feel any pressure to be 'on it' today and they'd much rather we enjoyed this unique weather with your family where you can. I thought this was awesome!'

Others praised the decision to stop online learning as 'brave'. One, an English teacher, said: 'A school in our area (not ours) called an old fashioned 'snow day' and set the following tasks for the day: build a snow man; have a socially distanced good natured snow ball fight; send in snow pictures. A brave head who has the well-being of her staff and students as a priority.'

But among anger from parents, a Department for Education spokesperson appeared to back teachers.

Single mother says she is suffering from depression after being forced to take unpaid leave to home school her son A single mother says she is suffering from depression after being forced to take unpaid leave to home school her son because her bosses refused to furlough her. The mother - who does not want to be named for fear of losing her job - is one of more than 2,000 parents who have had their requests to be furloughed refused amid lockdown this year. The job retention scheme currently allows bosses to furlough parents who can't work due to a lack of childcare while schools remain closed to all but vulnerable children or those of key workers. But it is at the employer's discretion whether or not to grant them furlough - which would see parents receive 80 per cent of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of 2,500. Nearly 80 per cent of working mothers who asked to be furloughed for childcare reasons since schools shut have been refused, a survey by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) found. Meanwhile, some 90 per cent had seen their anxiety and stress levels increase during the latest lockdown - while almost half were worried about being treated negatively by their employers because of their childcare responsibilities. Employers are now being warned they face an imminent 'mental health crisis' and could be guilty of sex discrimination if they refuse to furlough parents. Earlier this week, Analise La-Band - a chartered occupational psychologist and mother-of-two - revealed had to quit her job last summer in order to teach her children at home as schools closed during lockdown. Issues sourcing childcare is a valid reason for employers to offer full-time or part-time furlough to staff unable to work their full contracted hours. However, thousands of struggling mothers are getting turned down by bosses. One single mother from Hull said: 'Being a single mum I had no childcare and was worried and my anxiety was not good, so I asked my company for furlough. 'They point-blank refused because they are still open and do not want to be taking on a cover person and furlough me as well. 'But if they did it's the Government that would be paying me so I am confused as to why its not an option. But I'm a "leave it alone" person rather than a fighter. 'I am constantly worrying about work and depression is taking over my life. 'I believe its not a difficult solution due to my circumstances but I have had to go to HR but they have told me similar. 'So I am very close to be handing my notice in. That won't help financially but my son comes [before] work.' Advertisement

A spokesperson said: 'Schools and teachers are working tremendously hard at delivering remote education while pupils learn from home, and we know that they have been doing an excellent job with students around the country benefiting.

'Schools are expected to offer 3-5 hours per day of remote education for pupils, dependent on Key Stage, including time for independent study and also either recorded or live direct teaching.'

Asked directly if the department was backing the decision, a spokesperson added: 'We expect schools to make sensible decisions on it based on their situation and we expect a certain amount of online learning to take place when it is possible.'

The 'snow day' row came as Storm Darcy blanketed large parts of the UK in snow, causing chaos on Britain's roads, sparking physical school closures and forcing vaccination centres to shut.

And weather experts warn six more inches of snow could be on its way later today along with a -7C chill.

Police have warned people not to travel due to the dangerous conditions.

Meanwhile, council bosses have today begged for more students to be home schooled because so many parents have asked to send their children to school during lockdown.

A number of schools across the county are said to be over-subscribed, due to the number of parents who qualify as critical workers during the third national lockdown.

A letter, sent to parents and carers of county pupils by Jane Moore - director of children and family services at Leicestershire County Council - has urged them to teach their children at home if they can.

In the letter, she wrote: 'Across Leicestershire we are seeing an increasing number of children requiring an onsite school place and, in some places, this is greater than the school's capacity.

'The key message from government is to keep your child at home if you possibly can, even if you are a critical worker.

'To keep both pupils and staff safe, the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Local Resilience Forum (LLR) have set out a guide for school leaders to ensure that those most in need of a place can access one.'

Yesterday it was revealed Unions were pushing back at plans to extend the school year in England as Boris Johnson vowed to go 'flat out' to help children catch up.

The PM said getting pupils' learning on track was the government's 'single biggest priority' amid fears the most vulnerable have fallen even further behind during the pandemic.

The comments came after it emerged ministers are looking at continuing the summer term for another two weeks, with the holiday time redistributed to existing breaks in the autumn and winter.

Study during the warmer months could be easier as windows and doors can be kept open in school buildings to improve ventilation and reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading.

A new study has found that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds found remote learning significantly more difficult than other students last year.

However, unions have signalled they will oppose the changes, insisting parents are 'craving getting back to normal'.

On a visit to a vaccination centre in Derbyshire yesterday, Mr Johnson said Education Secretary Gavin Williamson will be announcing a full catch-up blueprint soon.

'We have got to work flat out now as a country as a society to remedy the loss of learning that we have had,' he said.

The government is looking at continuing the summer term for another two weeks, with the holiday time redistributed to existing breaks in the autumn and winter (file picture)

On a visit to a vaccination centre in Derbyshire yesterday, Mr Johnson said Education Secretary Gavin Williamson will be announcing a full catch-up blueprint soon

Storm Darcy causes chaos on Britain's ice rink roads: Police warn people not to travel as vaccine centres and schools close again with SIX inches of snow set to fall today Storm Darcy has been causing chaos on Britain's roads this morning as weather experts warn six more inches of snow could be on its way later today along with a -7C chill. Police have warned people not to travel due to the dangerous conditions on the roads, while some schools and Covid vaccination centres will shut. It comes as the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for up to 15cm (6in) of snow to fall in eastern parts of the country later. In Suffolk, police helped after a white van driver crashed into a tree near Stowmarket after coming off the road in the snowy conditions There have already been depths of 30cm in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, 23cm in Andrewsfield, Essex and 14cm in Manston, Kent. Stirling and Perth in Scotland remain under an an amber warning today, putting the area at a higher risk of power cuts, while rural communities could be cut off with delays on roads likely. Icy conditions in Glasgow overnight were captured by passers-by, as they filmed cars losing control at the top of the hill before skidding down toward other crashed vehicles. Temperatures dropped to -8C on Monday as a 'bitterly cold' weather system swept in from Ukraine and the Black Sea. They are expected to reach -7C today, before dropping as low as -12C overnight in the early hours of Wednesday morning. There were temperatures as low as -15C in some parts of Scotland overnight. Covid vaccine centres in parts of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk shut their doors. Hundreds of schools, which had previously been open for the children of key workers, shut yesterday due to snow and will remain shut today. Disruption has also hit rail services, with Southeastern advising passengers not to travel and Greater Anglia expecting disruption until midday. A foot of snow has already been reported in Tendring, Essex, while drifts of up to three feet have been reported in parts of East Anglia. Advertisement

The extension is being considered as No10 insisted that the worrying news about the AstraZeneca being less effective against the South African variant had not changed plans to get children back in classrooms from March 8.

Many schools across England are due to break up for the summer holidays on Friday July 23.

A two-week extension would therefore see pupils continuing to attend class during the first week of August.

Asked on a round of interviews this morning whether ministers are considering making the summer term longer, health minister Edward Argar told BBC Breakfast: 'It's quite right that Gavin (Williamson, the Education Secretary) is looking at a whole range of things to see how we can make sure the impact on them is minimised to the extent that's possible.

'But it would be premature for me to comment on what may or may not be what he does announce.'

Boris Johnson has said schools across England will not reopen until March 8 at the earliest.

The Prime Minister has said he will publish a lockdown exit strategy later this month amid mounting pressure from Tory MPs to bring forward a return to classrooms.

Changing the school year is one of a number of options reportedly being looked at by Number 10 as the Government develops its plans to help students catch up on lost time.

Government sources made clear that no decisions have been taken at this stage.

But there are reports the two weeks of lost summer holidays could be added to the autumn half-term and the Christmas holidays.

Extending those holidays would also provide a longer so-called 'fire break' in the colder months, providing more time for infections to fall.

As the policy work continues, research by non-profit body ImpactEd again highlighted the damage to the prospects of children.

Its study monitored 62,000 pupils in England through eight months of 2020 to assess the effect of online schooling during the pandemic.

Their report, Lockdown Lessons, found that among pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds  those at schools eligible for the Government's Pupil Premium grant  only 45 per cent said they understood their schoolwork in lockdown, compared with 57% among other students.

The survey assessed pupils using a range of measures including their home learning environment, their metacognitive strategies and their learning habits, in order to determine a 'Covid-19 Learning Index'.

It found pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds gave their home environment a 6% lower score than other students and reported lower scores on metacognition, leading to a sharply lower Covid-19 Learning Index score of 3.21 compared with 3.35 from non-disadvantaged pupils.

'Across all of these learning measures, and those associated with wellbeing, students eligible for Pupil Premium reported worse than average outcomes,' the report said, adding disadvantaged students had also scored 5 per cent lower on questions about their resilience.

The report's authors recommended that 'post-lockdown support should be carefully evaluated to ensure that pupils who come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are benefiting'.

'If interventions are not having the desired effect, they should be stopped,' the report said.

The survey also found pupil wellbeing overall across the first period of lockdown was perhaps not as adversely affected as feared.

Using a 35-point scale, the average score for wellbeing was 23.8 in May, 24.1 in June, and 24.0 in July, compared with a pre-lockdown score of 23.6.

Pupils in years 10 and 11 reported the greatest challenges with motivation, the survey said, a condition which did not improve after lockdown.

The PM visited a vaccination hub in Derbyshire yesterday as the UK rollout continues, with more than 12 million people in Britain vaccinated already

Education secretary Gavin Williamson is looking at ways of helping children catch up from the face-to-face learning they have lost during the pandemic

Boris Johnson has said schools across England will not reopen until March 8 at the earliest - making it one of the first lockdown measures to be relaxed

Children's Commissioner demands clear plan on vaccinating teachers, testing pupils and reopening classes The Children's Commissioner has insisted teachers should receive Covid-19 vaccinations after the first on the priority list as calls grow for schools to reopen. Anne Longfield said about 500,000 teachers and 500,000 support staff could all be given the jab 'in a couple of days' given recent data on UK vaccination capacity. She added that this would only mean the under-70s would have to wait an extra 48 hours while teachers got their vaccinations in order to get schools reopened. Writing in The Sun last week, 60-year-old Mrs Longfield said: 'There are about a million school employees, half of whom are teachers and the others support staff. 'Given that we vaccinated nearly 600,000 people in one day at the weekend, there is the capacity to do this at pace.' She added: 'We must get children back to school to prevent our kids becoming part of a lost generation.' Schools are set to be shut until at least March 8 for all but vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers. This date was last week pushed back by the Prime Minister from after February half-term - but there are fears schools could be closed until after Easter. However Mrs Longfield said she wanted primaries to reopen by late February with unions and councils telling her it was 'very doable to get younger pupils back'. Given reasons for this, she claimed primary-age children are less able to work online and are less likely to be ill from the virus, and pointed to evidence that they are also less likely to transmit it. Mrs Longfield wrote in the Sun: 'Children who are aged three have spent a third of their life in lockdown and parents of very young children say they are very worried. 'We have reports of little ones being tearful and clingy, and they are losing the ability to play with friends in the playground.' Advertisement

A quarter of KS4 pupils complained they could not attain help from their families if they had questions about their schoolwork.

Furthermore, 40 per cent of these students said they did not have a routine which helped them learn, according to the study, which also found pupils who exercised regularly were more likely  58 per cent to 33 per cent  to report they had developed a positive learning routine.

Robert Halfon, the Conservative chairman of the Education Select Committee, told Sunday Times that the change to the school year is under consideration by ministers.

He said: 'We have to reform the school year. There has to be change; things cannot carry on the way they did pre-Covid. From my discussions with No10, everything is up for debate.'

The Welsh government has already suggested it could move to extend the summer term.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that some private schools are preparing similar plans.

Some private schools are looking at bringing forward the Easter holidays to make more time for the summer term.

Geoff Barton, from the ASCL head teachers' union, said changes to the school year should not happen now.

He said: 'It's nice to think about doing things differently, and this is the moment to rethink them. But anyone trying to force that through this summer will find people are just craving getting back to normal.'

It emerged last week that ministers are also considering plans to extend the school day.

The idea is being pushed by some Tory MPs and the Government is said to be receptive to it.

However, teaching unions have urged ministers to reject the proposals, claiming there are 'better methods' to help pupils catch up on lost time in the classroom.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders' union, said: 'Research evidence shows that there are better methods to help pupils than lengthening the school day.

'The Government must filter out loud calls for superficially attractive schemes and listen to the experts instead.'

Should teaching unions try to stand in the way of the move if the Government adopts the proposals, volunteers could cover the extended lessons, according to The Times.

Downing Street said last Friday that the Government is working with teachers and parents on catch-up plans, adding: 'The PM acknowledges that extended schools closures have had a huge impact on pupils' learning which will clearly take time to make up.'

Mr Johnson last week refused to bow to demands to bring forward the reopening of schools.

Boris Johnson insists schools WON'T open before March 8 despite Tory backlash Boris Johnson last week refused to bow to growing Tory pressure to bring forward the reopening of schools in England as he said he intends to 'stick' to his date of March 8 at the earliest for a return to classrooms. The Prime Minister warned that reopening schools too soon could force the country 'into reverse' and threaten the progress made during lockdown. He said his March 8 date represents the 'prudent and cautious approach' and that he does not intend to deviate from it. An increasing number of Conservative MPs are pushing for the PM to bring back schools earlier than planned as coronavirus cases continue to fall while a crucial study found the AstraZeneca vaccine cuts transmission of the disease. Fresh analysis from Oxford University showed the jab offers 76 per cent protection up to three months after the first dose, and can dramatically reduce the potential for passing on infection. Nicola Sturgeon piled the pressure on Mr Johnson last week after she said pupils in Scotland will start going back from February 22. Senior Conservatives seized on the AstraZeneca news to demand the country gets back up and running faster, with huge damage being wreaked on children's education and the economy. Mark Harper, chair of the lockdown-sceptic Covid Recovery Group of Tory MPs, pointed to Ms Sturgeon's date for reopening schools and questioned why England couldnot do something similar. The Tory former chief whip said: 'The PM said last week that reopening schools was a ''national priority''. 'Now that Scotland has indicated that schools are likely to return from February 22, there needs to be a very good reason for keeping English schools shut for so much longer.' However, Government sources played down the idea that the timetable could be speeded up, with case levels still high and fears over mutant strains. 'It's March 8, no change,' one said. 'It's good reassuring news about the AstraZeneca vaccine, but steady as she goes.' Advertisement

The Prime Minister warned that reopening schools too soon could force the country 'into reverse' and threaten the progress made during lockdown.

He said his March 8 date represents the 'prudent and cautious approach' and that he does not intend to deviate from it.

An increasing number of Conservative MPs are pushing for the PM to bring back schools earlier than planned as coronavirus cases continue to fall while a crucial study found the AstraZeneca vaccine cuts transmission of the disease.

Fresh analysis from Oxford University showed the jab offers 76 per cent protection up to three months after the first dose, and can dramatically reduce the potential for passing on infection.

Nicola Sturgeon piled the pressure on Mr Johnson last week after she said pupils in Scotland will start going back from February 22.

Senior Conservatives seized on the AstraZeneca news to demand the country gets back up and running faster, with huge damage being wreaked on children's education and the economy.

Mark Harper, chair of the lockdown-sceptic Covid Recovery Group of Tory MPs, pointed to Ms Sturgeon's date for reopening schools and questioned why England couldnot do something similar.

The Tory former chief whip said: 'The PM said last week that reopening schools was a ''national priority''.

'Now that Scotland has indicated that schools are likely to return from February 22, there needs to be a very good reason for keeping English schools shut for so much longer.'

However, Government sources played down the idea that the timetable could be speeded up, with case levels still high and fears over mutant strains.

'It's March 8, no change,' one said. 'It's good reassuring news about the AstraZeneca vaccine, but steady as she goes.'

Last week, the Children's Commissioner insisted teachers should receive Covid-19 vaccinations after the first on the priority list as calls grow for schools to reopen.

Anne Longfield said about 500,000 teachers and 500,000 support staff could all be given the jab 'in a couple of days' given recent data on UK vaccination capacity.

She added that this would only mean the under-70s would have to wait an extra 48 hours while teachers got their vaccinations in order to get schools reopened.

Mrs Longfield added that headteachers have told her it is vital to carry out rapid lateral flow tests on pupils to 'help ensure schools stay open for good this time'.

Writing in The Sun last week, 60-year-old Mrs Longfield said: 'There are about a million school employees, half of whom are teachers and the others support staff.

'Given that we vaccinated nearly 600,000 people in one day at the weekend, there is the capacity to do this at pace.'

Children's Commissioner Anne Longfieldwants teachers to be prioritised for Covid-19 jabs as most pupils across Britain continue to carry out their schoolwork at home

She added: 'We must get children back to school to prevent our kids becoming part of a lost generation.'

Schools are set to be shut until at least March 8 for all but vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers.

This date was last week pushed back by the Prime Minister from after February half-term - but there are fears schools could be closed until after Easter.

However Mrs Longfield said she wanted primaries to reopen by late February with unions and councils telling her it was 'very doable to get younger pupils back'.

Given reasons for this, she claimed primary-age children are less able to work online and are less likely to be ill from the virus, and pointed to evidence that they are also less likely to transmit it.

Mrs Longfield wrote in the Sun: 'Children who are aged three have spent a third of their life in lockdown and parents of very young children say they are very worried.

'We have reports of little ones being tearful and clingy, and they are losing the ability to play with friends in the playground.'
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry left on Tuesday for Athens at an official invitation of his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias to participate in a ministerial meeting on conditions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.



In a press release, the Foreign Ministry said that Shoukry is scheduled to hold talks with a number of foreign ministers to discuss boosting bilateral cooperation and a host of regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Short link:


New Delhi, Feb 9 : Even as over 26 bodies have been recovered after the flood near Joshimath in Uttarakhand so far, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said a landslide triggered the snow avalanche leading to the tragic incident in the state.

The Minister said the landslide triggered snow avalanche covering approximately 14 square km area and caused a flash flood in the Rishiganga river downstream in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district.

He further said that the incident was observed from the satellite data (Planet Lab) of February 7, 2021 (Sunday) in catchment of Rishi Ganga river at the terminus of the glacier at an altitude of 5,600 metres.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on the tragedy that occurred at 10 a.m. on Sunday, the Minister said the avalanche hit the upper catchment of Rishiganga river, a tributary of Alaknanda river in Chamoli, leading to a sudden rise in the water levels of Rishiganga river.

Due to flash floods on account of rising of water levels in the Rishiganga, the Minister said, a functional Rishiganga small hydro project of 13.2 megawatt was washed away.

"The flash floods also affected the under construction 520-megawatt NTPC Hydro Power Project downstream at Tapovan on the river Dhauli Ganga," Shah further said.

Citing information shared by Uttarakhand government, the Minister said there was no danger of downstream flooding and the rise in water levels has been contained.

Shah said that the Centre and the state government have been keeping a strict vigil on the situation which is being monitored round the clock by the Central government at the highest level.

"The Prime Minister himself is monitoring the situation closely and both Control Rooms of Ministry of Home Affairs are monitoring the situation round the clock, ensuring possible help to the state." He said that Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has set up its Control Room and 450 ITBP personnel with all necessary equipment are engaged in rescue and relief operations.

Five National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have also reached the spot and are engaged in rescue and relief operations, said the Minister, adding eight teams of the Indian Army, including one Engineer Task Force (ETF), are carrying out rescue operations at the site.

"One medical column with two ambulances is also deployed and one diving team of Indian Navy has also reached the site. Five helicopters of Indian Air Force have also been engaged in rescue operations. A control room has been established at Joshimath." In spite of adverse conditions at the incident site, the Minister said the search and rescue operation is continuously being carried out and the Army has cleared debris at the opening of the tunnel to rescue the persons trapped in it.

"All the staff of the Central Water Commission deployed in Alaknanda and Ganga Basin up to Haridwar are on alert. One team of Sashstra Seema Bal (SSB) is also deployed at incident site. A team of Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) has also reached at the site for surveillance and reconnaissance." As per information received from Uttarakhand government till last evening, the Minister said a total of 197 persons are reported missing. The missing persons includes 139 persons of under construction project of NTPC, 46 persons of the functional Rishiganga Project and 12 villagers.

He further clarified that the state government has gathered this information from different sources, and this may change.

The Minister said that rescue operation to evacuate these persons is going on war footing and all-out efforts are simultaneously being made for searching missing persons.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Myanmar: Days after the military coup in Myanmar, as many as 90 townships in 30 cities across the country have been placed under curfew.

According to a report by The Myanmar Times, 90 townships in 30 cities, including 44 townships in Yangon, have been placed under an 8 pm to 4 am curfew since February 8. Besides, the residents have been banned from gathering in groups of more than five in public.

The affected areas include -- Nay Pyi Taw, Lewe, Tatkone, Zeyar Thiri, Mandalay, Magwe, Sagaing, Monywa, Shwebo, Kalay, Waingmaw, Bamaw, Mokaung, Shweku, Monyin, Hpakant, Loikaw, Mawlamyine, Thanphyu Zayat, Ye, Kyaikhto, Kengtung and Taunggyi.

As per the order issued by each town`s General Administration Department, public gatherings of more than five people, delivering speeches and protests have been banned.Action can be taken against the violators under Section 144 of the Penal Code, The Myanmar Times reported.

However, the curfew has failed to deter the people from participating in protest marches across the country calling for the release of detainees.

Earlier today, Myanmar`s political parties had rejected the Tatmadaw, also known as military locally, government`s invitation to take part in the Tatmadaw-formed peace talks committee.

According to The Myanmar Times, the military has informed the ethnic armed groups that future peace talks will be continued only with the military-formed peace committee.

"We have been informed that the NRPC has been abolished...If there is any need for talks, we should only discuss with the group formed by the military. The members of the Northern Alliance have yet to show any clear stance on the situation," said Lamai Gum Ja, a member of the Peace-Talk Creation Group (PCG).

As things stand, the Tatmadaw government has disbanded the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre (NRPC), the leading internal peace process mechanism of the previous government and arrested some of its civilian leaders.

Myanmar`s military arrested the chief ministers of Karen State and Sagaing Region on Monday from the government residences where they were under house arrest after they posted videos supporting the protest.

Moreover, Myanmar`s military regime has warned anti-coup protesters that legal measures will be taken to prevent any offences harming the stability of the state, public safety or the rule of law. The military has issued a written order and banned the assembly of more than five people. Besides, it has imposed a night curfew (8 PM to 4 AM) in parts of Yangon, Mandalay, Monywa, Loikaw, Hpasaung, Taunggyi, Kalay, Yaykyi and Meikhtila.

Earlier today, US President Joe Biden discussed the situation in Myanmar in a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A White House readout of their call stated that the two leaders `resolved that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld in Burma`.The United States` ambassador to Myanmar Thomas Vajda in a statement has supported peoples right to protest and called again for the military regime to restore the democratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government, restore telecommunications and release all detainees.

At the United Nations, the UN Human Rights Council will hold a special session on the situation in Myanmar on coming Friday following a request for a meeting by the UK and European Union supported so far by 47 countries.

According to media reports cited by UN, scores of people took to the streets in Yangon last week to protest the military`s takeover and the arrest of several elected leaders, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.

The military takeover followed escalating tensions between the military and the government after the November 2020 elections, which was won by San Suu Kyi-led NLD.
A legal spat between Amazon.com Inc. and its Indian partner that started with an arbitration verdict in Singapore has got fiercer in New Delhi courtrooms. And neither side is ready to back off.

The US e-commerce giant and Mumbai-based Future Group, whose retail assets billionaire Mukesh Ambanis Reliance Industries Ltd. agreed to buy for $3.4 billion in August, are locked in a dispute over that deal. Amazon says Future violated a partnership contract with the asset sale to its rival and wants to scuttle it, while the indebted Indian group says it would collapse if the transaction fails.

The Jeff Bezos-led e-tailer accuses Future and its founder Kishore Biyani of flouting an interim order in October from a Singapore arbitration court that halted the asset sale. Amazon also recently asked an Indian court to jail Biyani and has petitioned local regulators not to approve the Future-Reliance deal while the arbitration is underway.

Amazon gained an early legal advantage in Singapore but Future scored in an Indian court this week that allowed the deal to proceed. With Amazon likely to take the fight next to Indias apex court, the legal wrangle continues to threaten Indias biggest retail acquisition.

But why is the worlds largest e-commerce company seeking to derail a deal thats essentially bailing out a beleaguered retailer, whose market valuation is less than 1% of its own? Heres what we know so far:

What led to the feud?

Amazon, in early October, accused its partner Future Group of breaching terms of a mutual agreement by announcing an asset sale deal with Reliance, the conglomerate helmed by Asias richest man.

Amazon had bought 49% in one of Futures unlisted firms last year, with the right to buy into the listed flagship Future Retail Ltd. after a few years. But the retailer ran into a severe cash crunch when India went into a lockdown in March to curb the coronavirus outbreak.

In May, Amazon was considering increasing its stake in Future Retail, people familiar with the matter said at the time. But no such transaction materialized quickly and Future cut a deal with Reliance, infuriating Amazon. The U.S. firm claims that its contract with the unlisted Future unit barred a transaction with a number of persons and companies, including Ambani and Reliance.

Whats the fight really about?

The fight is essentially for the dominance of Indias estimated $1 trillion consumer retail market. Future Group is caught in the middle of this tussle between companies helmed by two of the worlds richest men.

Reliance is already the countrys biggest brick-and-mortar retailer. Acquiring Futures retail, wholesale, logistics and warehousing units would almost double its footprint and give it unparalleled edge over rivals -- an advantage Amazon is not willing to cede. Blocking Reliance is crucial for Amazon if it wants to hold sway over the only billion-people plus consumer market still open to foreign firms. It has pledged to invest $6.5 billion, a sign of its commitment to the Indian market.

What did the courts in India and Singapore say?

After accusing Future of breaching its contract, Amazon secured emergency relief from an arbitration court in Singapore in October that temporarily restrained Future Group from going ahead with the asset sale. Future and Reliance have said that the Singapore courts interim ruling is not binding.

Soon after the arbitration courts order, Reliance had said it intends to buy Futures assets without any delay." Future Group said back then that the matter will have to be tested" under Indian laws.

Amazon sought enforcement of the arbitration order in India and asked a local court in January to detain Biyani as well as seize Future Groups assets if it doesnt comply. A judge at the Delhi High Court earlier this month agreed with Amazon and halted the asset sale.

Future Retail appealed the order before a two-judge panel, which within days overturned the ruling saying that the agreement between Amazon and another Future Group firm cannot be enforced as Future Retail was not a party to that pact. The US e-commerce firm can -- and most likely will -- appeal the adverse ruling in Indias Supreme Court.

The setback for Amazon comes weeks after it wrote letters to local regulators requesting them to stop approvals for the deal. The local antitrust regulator gave its approval in November. The stock exchanges said in January that they had no adverse observations. Future Group is now awaiting a company courts nod on the deal.

What are the arguments by the two sides?

During courtroom arguments, Futures lawyers have said that Future Retail -- the entity selling the assets -- was not part of the contract between Amazon and the unlisted group firm in which the US e-tailer acquired a stake. Amazons counsel argued that both the Future firms were controlled by the same owners.

Future Groups lawyers have also argued that its existence hinges on the sale to Reliance, and an aborted deal would result in the loss of tens of thousands of jobs. They say the Indian retailer is being driven to bankruptcy by a global giant.

Amazon has hinted that this spat is about Indias willingness to enforce business contracts. If Future is allowed to renege on a contract, itll mean business contracts are not sacrosanct and investments in India are risky -- an inconvenient image as the nation looks to lure foreign investment.

Who is representing the parties?

A battery of Indias highly-paid top legal brains are arguing for the two sides, showing the high stakes involved in the case. More than 50 lawyers have represented the companies, Biyani and his family in the Indian court during the hearing -- some of them video conferencing from their London homes or farm houses on the outskirts of New Delhi.

Some of the legal hot shots include Indias former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, two former solicitor generals Harish Salve and Gopal Subramanium as well as former additional solicitor general and politician, Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

Whos hanging by the thread awaiting a verdict?

Future Retail and the group at large, since their survival depends on it. The group defaulted on obligations in August 2020 and missed an interest payment on its dollar bond this January. Future Retail has posted losses for four straight quarters and its shares have plunged 76% in the past year.

The firm has refused to explore an out-of-court settlement with Amazon as it has already sought regulatory approvals for the deal with Reliance.

The Indian retailer will go bankrupt if the deal fails, Salve has argued in court in the past. Amazon doesnt want Reliance to acquire Futures assets even if it means its actions sink the ship," he said. Amazon has denied that saying it intends to save the Indian retailer.

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Digital.com, a leading independent review website for small business online tools, products, and services, has announced the best SEO (Search Engine Optimization) firms in Austin. The top companies were selected based on multiple service lines, size of the firm, industry focus, and customer feedback.

Experts at Digital.com examined companies that offer additional digital marketing services, such as website design, link building, and PPC. The study includes a variety of small to large firms that can cater to businesses in need of customized services or those seeking quick turnarounds. Each service provider was also expected to work with clients across various industries or focus on niche markets like healthcare, education, and finance.

This guide is a valuable tool because it highlights SEO firms that also offer additional services that will enable clients to scale, says Christelle Feniza, Communications Manager of Digital.com. Businesses can narrow their search for top firms in Austin and get honest feedback from customers.

Researchers at Digital.com conducted a 40-hour assessment of over 75 companies across the web. To access the complete list of best SEO firms in Austin, please visit https://digital.com/seo-companies/austin/.

15 Best SEO Firms in Austin



ABOUT DIGITAL.COM

Digital.com reviews and compares the best products, services, and software for running or growing a small business website or online shop. The platform collects twitter comments and uses sentiment analysis to score companies and their products. Digital.com was founded in 2015 and formerly known as Review Squirrel. To learn more, visit https://digital.com/.
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Malibu, CA, Feb 9, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - In this segment of The Ellis Martin Report we speak with Tim Termuende, the CEO of Eagle Plains Resources (TSX-V:EPL/OTC:EGPLF) as the company along with partner SKRR Exploration intersects significant gold mineralization at the Olson Gold Project in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada.Listen for an overview of the company's projects.To view the interview, please visit:About Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.

Based in Cranbrook, B.C., Eagle Plains continues to conduct research, acquire and explore mineral projects throughout western Canada. The Company is committed to steadily enhancing shareholder value by advancing our diverse portfolio of projects toward discovery through collaborative partnerships and development of a highly experienced technical team. Managements' current focus is to preserve its treasury while advancing its most promising exploration projects. In addition, Eagle Plains continues to seek out and secure high-quality, unencumbered projects through research, staking and strategic acquisitions. Since 2012, Eagle Plains has added to its portfolio a number of new projects exceeding 130,000 ha targeting mainly gold, uranium and base-metals in Saskatchewan, a highly-prospective mining jurisdiction which was recently recognized by the Fraser Institute as one of the top 3 jurisdictions in the world in terms of Investment Attractiveness. Throughout the exploration process, our mission is to help maintain prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities while building lasting relationships through honest and respectful business practices.
In his first press conference since taking his post in Ankara over a year and a half ago, US Ambassador David Satterfield dismissed Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylus unfounded allegations that the US had masterminded the July 2016 coup attempt. Theyre not responsible statements from an ally and a strategic partner. And we regret them, he said, proceeding with an assessment of US-Turkish relations.

We hope that the issue of S-400 can be resolved. But if it cannot be, we will continue to focus on all the areas of our cooperation that are not directly affected by the sanctions which we put into place, he said, making it clear that Washington had no intention of reversing the action that the Trump administration had taken on 14 December. He explained that the sanctions were an implementation of US law - specifically, the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) - and that the only way they could be lifted would be for Ankara to give up the Russian made S-400 defence system which Washington maintains is incompatible with its F-35 fighter jet programme and NATO defence systems in general.

In what observers described as a stinging rebuke to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, what is more, Satterfield stated that his country was not planning to create a working group with Ankara to resolve the dispute over Turkeys acquisition of the S400s.

Cavusoglu had previously claimed that the White House had proposed forming such a group to discuss the technical details pertaining to missiles that Turkey has already deployed and tested. The ambassador then turned to a subject guaranteed to hit a nerve in the presidential palace in Ankara: The Kurds, who have been fighting IS in northeastern Syria. US policy has not changed. We will keep working together with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), he said, referring to the predominantly Kurdish force that Ankara insists is part of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Nor did Satterfield ignore Turkish domestic issues of concern to the US, especially those affecting economic relations between the two countries. The Turkish economy needs an accountable, transparent and foreseeable monetary policy, he said. We believe that these characteristics are very important both for international markets and the Turkish economy. He also reiterated US State Department spokesperson Ned Prices condemnation of the anti-LGBT+ hate speech which Turkish officials have been using as one of the states weapons against the Bogazici University protestors.

Neither in Turkey, nor in the world, should such language of hatred have a place, he said. The protests, which began on 4 January, were sparked by President Recep Tayyip Erdogans appointment of a ruling party affiliate, Melih Bulu, as the university rector. The protests against encroachment on the universitys autonomy and academic freedoms have been gathering support at other universities and academic circles in Turkey and abroad.

Satterfield may as well have said it outright: The atmosphere between Ankara and Washington is grim. Put simply, the Turkish government views the United States as a strategic threat rather than an ally, and a growing majority in Washington have come to view Turkey the same way, writes Nicholas Danforth in a report for the Brookings Institute portions that has been cited in Turkish opposition media. If some in Ankara had pinned their hopes on turning a page in bilateral relations after Biden was sworn in, it did not help that Erdogans cronies and supporters had long since lined up to take potshots at the man who would become the USs 46th president.

Cavusoglu was among the first in line. In a press statement following a meeting with his US counterpart, Mike Pompeo, in the Dominican Republic in August last year, he said he believed that, when Biden was vice president under president Obama, they had dealings with terrorist elements and that Biden was probably among those behind the July 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan.

At the time Pompeo must have reassured Cavusoglu that Trump would win a second term. Presidential Spokesman and Advisor Ibrahim Kalin, former minister of European Affairs Omer Celik, and the man in charge of media and communications in the presidency Fahrettin Altun were similarly confident when they said Biden would pay for his remarks that Erdogan was an autocrat and that the US should support Turkish opposition leaders to be able to take on and defeat Erdogan. Not by a coup, but by the electoral process.

But Biden made it through and, as Danforth put it, there began yet another chapter in a deeply dysfunctional US-Turkey relationship. Officials in Ankara were left hanging for days as Biden, his Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Secretary of State Lloyd Austin contacted their counterparts everywhere in the world except Turkey. Increasingly worried by how far down their country was on the waiting list, they decided to make the first move. Kalin was charged with contacting US national security advisor Jake Sullivan.

Their exploratory talks covered a number of issues, such as Syria, Libya, the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus, and Nagorno-Karabakh, perhaps to identify which might be most likely to trigger tensions between the two sides in the near future. As the Arabic edition of the Ahval news site observed on 3 February, Biden does not seem inclined to clash with Ankara over existing differences on such questions as the Russian S-400 deal, Syria, Turkish intervention in Libya, and Ankaras violations in the Eastern Mediterranean, but he will also not be soft in the face of Turkish persistence, according to the assessments of international observers following the developments of the crisis in bilateral relations.

That said, it is worth noting that two days after his conversation with Kalin, in a phone call with Bjoern Seibert, who heads the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyens cabinet, Jake Sullivan placed Turkey in the same category as China. This came soon after Blinken, during his Senate confirmation hearing, described Turkey as an ally that in many ways... is not acting as an ally and this is a very, very significant challenge for us and were very clear-eyed about it.

Under Biden, US policy toward Turkey will almost certainly continue its gradual shift from cooperation toward containment, Danforth observed in the aforementioned report. He argues that Washington should not expect a durable reset in its relations with Turkey. The fundamental assumptions of Turkish foreign policy thinking ensure that both countries will continue to work at cross purposes and face future crises, he writes, proposing that the US should focus on building a kind of coalition based around NATO, the EU and US partners in the Middle East. If need be, they can push back against Turkeys adventurism.

When we add to this the fact that EU leaders had deferred imposing sanctions on Turkey until Biden was settled in Oval Office, we can expect that Turkey will soon find itself facing pressures of a magnitude unparalleled since its invasion of northern Cyprus in 1974. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel, though?

Ilhan Tanir, a Washington-based Turkish journalist who covers Turkish-US relations, believes that Michael Carpenter, the managing director of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy & Global Engagement, has suggested the path forward. In her article for Ahval, Tanir quotes Carpenter as saying that Turkey and its allies need frank conversations to set right the bilateral and multilateral relations. But Carter also held that NATO member states should present a united front, which may persuade Erdogan that there is room for cooperation, but there are also very negative consequences to pursuing a more aggressive policy.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 February , 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Melinda Modisette, 18, and Tina Walsh, 13, both of Albuquerque, today were named New Mexico's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Melinda and Tina will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are New Mexico's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Melinda Modisette

Nominated by Albuquerque Academy

Melinda, a senior at Albuquerque Academy, started a cross-cultural art exchange that arranges for high school students in different cities around the world to collaborate on art pieces that reflect and celebrate cultural differences. Mindful of the growing tensions in recent years between the United States and China, Melinda used to think about the issues dividing the two nationsand the many things their citizens had in common "From my many visits to China, I know that teenagers there are growing up the same as we are here," she said. Perhaps, she thought, the different worlds of American and Chinese students could be bridged through art, something Melinda is passionate about.

So she contacted five schools in China before finding a private art-class teacher in the city of Lanzhou who agreed to participate in a collaborative project. After recruiting six students from his class and six students at her school in Albuquerque, Melinda hosted discussions between the two groups every two weeks through WeChat to talk about current events and cultural differences. Then, each student was asked to illustrate, on one half of a canvas, the culture and characteristics of their home city. Next, the half-paintings were shipped overseas to be completed by their counterparts. The 12 finished art pieces, said Melinda, "show that it is the contrast between us that creates something beautiful. We realized that no matter what was happening in the world around us, we had found something with each other that was far more important."

Middle Level State Honoree: Tina Walsh

Nominated by Holy Ghost Catholic School

Tina, an eighth-grader at Holy Ghost Catholic School, has volunteered for three years as an assistant to several therapists at a clinic in Albuquerque specializing in the treatment of children. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as an infant, Tina spent several years in her early childhood doing different kinds of therapy. "I came out of all this thinking that I can help children with the challenges they face," she said. So she offered to volunteer at the clinic that had provided some of her therapy. "I love young children, and wanted to do something where I knew the environment," said Tina.

At the clinic, Tina gathers items needed for sessions, helps clients with their tasks, and sometimes creates new activities. She is particularly helpful in keeping young children interested and focused during their therapy, encouraging them to work hard and never give up. "I have to make sure tasks and activities are fun and enjoyable," she said. After each session ends, Tina is responsible for straightening up and getting ready for the next one. "Volunteering has helped me remember how much I had to work to overcome the challenges I faced when I was a child," she said, and how important it is to "continue trying and not give up."

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

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Nick Bain, R-Corinth, speaks during a joint hearing of the House Corrections and Judiciary B Committees on corrections issues in 2020. Bain wants to expand the states circuit court system by dividing his own regions court district, but a bill he authored to do just that was defeated in the House, Tuesday.


Hunter's award-winning book, Miracles Of Recovery: Daily Meditations Of Hope, Courage and Faith, features 365-powerful daily inspirations based on the A.A. 12 Step Program. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT



Alcoholism is not a recent phenomenon. Alcoholism and other forms of addiction have been with us for thousands of years. Unfortunately, the situation is worsening today. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found increases in all categories and age groups in their 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. COVID, and all of its residual hardships, have dramatically accentuated the number being reported, including deaths from alcoholism, drugs and suicide.



Nobody is immune. Those who suffer from alcoholism can be found from the boardroom to the mail room. Celebrities who have battled alcohol addiction include the late Amy Winehouse, Shia LaBeouf, Bradley Cooper, Mel Gibson and Janeane Garofalo to name a few. Some of our coworkers, some of our neighbors and most likely some of our family members continue to suffer, most often in silence from alcoholism and drug abuse.



While there are many treatment approaches and programs, what is common to all successful individuals within a substance abuse program is the pain and the loneliness shared, together with an ongoing support system for the person battling the disease. That support system is what Harriet Hunter provides in Miracles of Recovery: Daily Meditations of Hope, Courage and Faith.



Featuring 365-daily inspirations. Miracles of Recovery was written not just for those addicted, but for the parents, the spouses - anyone touched by the disease because addiction is absolutely a family affair. Using the 12-Steps as its foundation, Miracles of Recovery embraces a holistic solution as a practical approach for those who must face life on life's terms, clean and sober. Encouraging and thought-provoking, Miracles of Recovery inspires with Universal Truths, because, Harriet says, Once we know better, we do better. Miracles of Recovery is written to show through example how to achieve long-term sobriety, regardless of what happens in one's life and brings a personal, sometimes raw reflection of the truth about addiction seldom seen elsewhere.



The new book encourages readers to embrace healthy, positive thoughts by taking the necessary actions to reinforce this new way of thinking. Miracles of Recovery provides the tools necessary to work the 12 Steps and change one's life by changing ones perspective. It suggests that readers "Do life differently," through exercises, solutions, and methods to improve self-esteem, confidence, and embrace a profound sense of hope needed to succeed. The author encourages the reader to embrace the belief that, regardless of challenges life presents, NOTHING can change the course of recovery when you keep yourself, your sobriety, and your Higher Power first in your lives. In short, Miracles of Recovery offers hope where there is none through a simple program of actions for complicated people.



Without the gift of desperation, (where we see ourselves overlooking the great crevasse of life or death,) we would never be able to face our own denial enough to admit that alcoholism and drug addiction are diseases of perception and that we would die trying to overcome, Hunter stated. In chronic drinkers gravely affected, we understand that alcoholism is progressive which makes it particularly deadly. People die not because of lengthy years of sobriety, and then they slip, but rather because they forget we are never cured, only through abstinence. We are not, Like normal people, nor will we ever be. For instance, those of us in long-term recovery understand that once we cross that imaginary line of no return into alcoholic or drug insanity, we can never return to a normal life. Weve heard it said We cannot change a pickle back into a cucumber. We live with and understand the depth of our allergy, the psychological and long-term, often irreversible physiological effects our disease has on us.



Alcoholism is well documented as being a three-fold disease that, once we pass through the phenomenon of craving, affects us physically, emotionally and spiritually. This is not a situation of weakness, of sloth, or of being pulled up by our bootstraps. If it were that easy to quit there would BE no alcoholism! We are drinking to overcome a craving beyond our mental control. (Taken from AA, page xxx}



Hunter has received rave reviews for her work from readers and reviewers alike. Vernita Taylor of Readers Favorite stated, Miracles of Recovery: Daily Meditations of Hope, Courage, and Faith by Harriet Hunter is a great choice if youre struggling with addiction because it offers a full year of inspiration and affirmations which I enjoyed. I see this book as a mentor or sponsor that is walking by your side and helping to lead you to a better, more improved you while teaching you how to deal with your stressors. The best teacher is someone who has been there and done that and this book doesnt disappoint. The author knows first-hand what it takes and how it feels to be addicted, and the journey to recovery. If you need help along your journey, pick up a copy of this book; its highly recommended.



Anthony Capozzolli of Dismantled Life Podcast said, Miracles of Recovery has been a feast for my recovering soul. Every page is filled with love and helpful insights that lead to discovery. I read each page by date and randomly turn to other pages for an additional spiritual hug when I need one. Its almost as if Harriet wrote her wonderful book for me. Page after page hits so close to home I often tear up from positive awareness and clarity of emotion.



Miracles Of Recovery received the first place Presidents Award in nonfiction from the Florida Authors and Publishers Association.



Since her walk into recovery in 1999, Harriet has had one primary purpose: to show others how they can achieve their miracles with a vision and determination to never, ever go backwards, one day at a time.



Harriet strives to be a conduit of encouragement to others in their disease of alcoholism and drugs of choice, by showing them what works. Using practical tools, principles and promises as found in Alcoholics Anonymous and other literature, she attempts to mirror examples of how anyone can be free from the bondage of self, regardless of their situation.



Those who purchase a signed copy of Miracles Of Recovery from her website will also receive a no-charge copy of "Your Daily Reprieve; How To Maintain Long-Term Sobriety Serenely One Day At A Time" in PDF format.



Harriet Hunter has also developed a six-module course for individuals who thrive on personal insight and emotional growth as they seek to connect the dots of their lives. Journaling with a Purpose! is a thought-provoking, sometimes intensive exercise for self-seekers who want more from lives. Its focus is emotionally therapeutic and entertaining, as participants look inside themselves for resilient, positive changes to solutions and characteristics they expect more from. During the course worked on ones own time, Harriet is never far away. She hosts two web-based meetings, while delivering videos, offers no-charge gifts, handouts and many prompts that encourages and explains what the writer can expect with each module. More information is available at her website.



Harriet Hunter is available for media interviews and speaking engagements and can be contacted using the information below or by email at serenelywritten yahoo.com. An autographed copy of the paperback, Miracles of Recovery is available on her website or online by at Amazon. More information, including the journaling course, no-charge audios, handouts and other gifts and programs can be found by visiting https://www.harriethunter.org.



About Harriet Hunter:



Author Harriet Hunter has worked with hundreds of women who also suffered with alcoholism and drug addiction to help them find a peace without drugs and alcohol right where they are. She facilitates meetings, brings hope to women incarcerated, and sponsors women both face-to-face and on line. Readers can find her in the global recovery site, InTheRooms.com, where shes been given her own room and brings Miracles to life for others each Sunday at 2;00 P.M.
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1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

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

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

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

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

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The NineTwelve center is the first of its kind in the U.S. to create 5G rapid development for faster, low-cost 5G applications with the potential to transform businesses in one of the most vibrant, innovation-rich communities in the world.

An innovative 5G "living lab" center called NineTwelve Convergence features state-of-the-art 5G networking and wireless connectivity where companies can partner with Purdue University, SBA Communications, NineTwelve and others will open in June in Purdue's Discovery Park District, officials announced Tuesday (Feb. 9).

"Purdue University's world-class researchers and others are collaborating to realize the full potential promised by 5G and transforming the digital economy around the world. We all realize that 5G will completely revamp the ecosystem of innovation, and we embrace these opportunities," said Mung Chiang, Purdue's John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering. "What's uniquely powerful about this 5G center is that it is a 5G 'living lab' where we can define the use case and innovate the deployment. We have the spectrum and the building access, along with several very innovative technologies. This will be an impactful partnership."

This 5G center will be the first facility in the U.S. providing full-suite development and testing capabilities, revolutionizing the speed at which products get to market while at the same time controlling risk and lowering development costs.

"As a state, we understand and embrace the enabling disruption that 5G is making a reality," said Dave Roberts, chief innovation officer for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. "The advent and commercialization of trends in connected and autonomous mobility - as well as IoT-laden smart cities - will transform communities, and we could not be happier that this evolution is happening right here in Indiana, making our state even more attractive to companies here and around the world."

The 5G center will focus on emerging technologies in essential fields such as advanced manufacturing, hypersonics and microelectronics.

"5G technology holds the promise of transforming business in ways that are only beginning to be imagined. It is so much more than your cellphone," said Dan Hasler, CMO for Nine Twelve. "Corporate CEOs need a place where their current business processes can be appropriately challenged and rapidly advanced through 5G technology. This 'living lab' will be housed in Convergence in Discovery Park District, next door to some of the finest minds in the country."

Software development and IT operations, called DevOps, will be a critical part of moving these new technologies to the market rapidly and at the quality levels required for things like critical infrastructure.

"Discovery Park District's connected community is the perfect location for the 5G living lab at Convergence," said David Broecker, chief innovation and collaboration officer for Purdue Research Foundation. "In combination with the district's neutral host capabilities and private CBRS wireless networks, the 5G lab is another component to creating the nation's first, fully integrated test bed at scale for innovators, companies and key stakeholders."

Located at the "front door" to a top research university, NineTwelve Convergence provides an environment for collaboration and includes a full-suite of solutions to solve the challenges of DevOps, including building, integrating, testing, configuring and releasing products to market.

"Convergence is about converging! A place that brings technologies, industry and academic partners in a creative environment and enables prototyping and experimentation resulting in fast-to-market, high-value products and services," said Sean Hendrix, chief technology officer of NineTwelve and managing director of its sister facility, the Indiana 5G Zone. "By becoming a member of NineTwelve Convergence and conducting an opportunity assessment, companies can focus on their products and how they integrate into the system to deliver the value promised."

Discovery Park District is being built to support an advanced connected community through partnerships with Tilson, a national network deployment services firm, and SBA Communications, an independent owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure.

"The 5G testing center is an important addition for Discovery Park District's strategic goal of providing cutting-edge connectivity services for all those living, working and learning in the district," said Piyush Raj, managing director of connected venues at SBA Communications. "These important collaborations lay a strong foundation that can make the district a national leader in 5G and all that is needed for the dynamics involved in high-speed bandwidth."

###

For more information, contact convergence@ninetwelve.us

About NineTwelve Convergence

NineTwelve teams industry, government and academia to meet critical technology needs. Its unique collaboration platform accelerates the design and implementation of emergent solutions by bringing together the key elements of innovation: collaboration, prototyping and experimentation. By creating these cross-sector collaborative networks that design and deliver groundbreaking solutions, NineTwelve focuses on emergent technologies such as 5G, advanced manufacturing, and trusted microelectronics. The Indiana 5G Zone, Emerging Manufacturing Collaboration Center, one of many NineTwelve collaborators, advances the transformation of physical industries by powering smart cities, intelligent logistics and advanced manufacturing.

About Purdue Research Foundation

Purdue Research Foundation supports Purdue University's land-grant mission by helping the university improve the world through its technologies and graduates. Established in 1930, PRF is a private, nonprofit foundation. The foundation helps patent and commercialize Purdue technologies; builds places to encourage innovation, invention, investment, commercialization and entrepreneurship; and makes equity available to students to finance their Purdue education. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org. For more information about involvement and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org.

About SBA Communications

SBA Communications Corp. (SBA) is an independent owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure, which includes towers, buildings, rooftops, distributed antenna systems (DAS) and small cells. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, SBA has operations in 14 markets across the Americas and South Africa. Listed on NASDAQ under the symbol: SBAC, our organization is also part of the S&P 500 and is one of the top 20 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) based on market capitalization.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 21:34:04|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- It has been nine years since cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) began. This cooperation covers a wide range of sectors, including a "green consensus."

Considerable work can be done to advance international cooperation on climate change, jointly implement the Paris Agreement and contribute to the success of COP26 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, both to be held this year.

China and the European Union (EU) have both committed to achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions and have launched a partnership for green cooperation, to which China-CEEC cooperation can make an important contribution.

China has vowed to peak its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. It resists the old way of developing the economy at the cost of the environment. For their part, the CEE countries see the post-pandemic era as an important period to develop a green economy. To double CEE countries' agricultural exports to China and develop more tourism products with local features, for instance, deeper exchanges and cooperation in terms of the green economy are required.

Healthy and sustainable development for both sides will inject new momentum into China-CEEC cooperation in many other domains, including but not limited to coordination and cooperation in COVID-19 response, energy, innovation and cultural exchange.

China-CEEC cooperation arises from the shared interests of China and the CEEC. As part of China-EU cooperation, the cooperation between the two sides has always been open and transparent, contributing to the development of the CEEC as well as Europe's integration process.

The cooperation is in no way intended to start all over again, let alone to divide Europe, as some Western skeptics groundlessly conjectured. The EU and other interested parties are invited to observe every conference within the China-CEEC framework, and the consensus reached under the cooperation mechanism is open and beneficial to all sides. This partnership is a helpful complement to China's cooperation with the EU.

The cooperation between China and the CEEC has supported the development of all parties involved and bettered people's lives. With shared commitment and efforts, the two sides will achieve more solid, substantive and enduring progress, setting an example of practical trans-regional cooperation for the world community. Enditem
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A model-based analysis of the run-off shows Zelensky is taking the lead in pair with all major rivals, namely Poroshenko, Boyko and Razumkov.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains in the lead of the presidential ratings.

These are the findings of a survey conducted by the Razumkov Center from January 29 to February 3.

In particular, if the presidential elections had been held in the near future, as many as 15.8% of respondents among those who intend to vote and 23.1% of those who have made up their mind would have supported the incumbent president.

Another 13% and 19.9%, respectively, would vote for co-chair of the Opposition Platform - For Life Party Yuriy Boyko; 11.7% and 17.8% for ex-President, leader of the European Solidarity Party Petro Poroshenko; 7.9% and 11.2% would back the leader of the Batkivshchyna Party, Yulia Tymoshenko. Another 3.5% and 4.9% would cast ballots for the leader of the Syla i Chest (Strength and Honor) Party Ihor Smeshko, 2.5% and 3.4% would root for leader of the Hromadianska Pozytsia (Civil Position) Party Anatoliy Hrytsenko, 2.4% and 3.1% would vote for the leader of the Ukrainian Strategy Party, Volodymyr Groysman.

Some 2.4% and 2.8% would have cast their votes for Radical Party leader Oleh Liashko, 1.3% and 2.1% for Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov, 1.1% and 1.6% for member of the All-Ukrainian Union Svoboda Ruslan Koshulynsky, 1% and 1.5% for leader of the Opposition Bloc Party Oleksandr Vilkul, and 0.8% and 1.2% for incumbent Kyiv Mayor, UDAR Party leader Vitaliy Klitschko.

A model-based analysis of the run-off shows Zelensky is taking the lead in pair with all major rivals, namely Poroshenko, Boyko, and Razumkov.

Also, Razumkov takes the lead if paired with Poroshenko and Boyko, while Poroshenko takes the lead if paired with Boyko.

Read alsoJournalists with banned pro-Russian media could be denied access to gov't bodiesAt the same time, the early termination of the president's powers and the holding of early presidential elections were supported by 49% of the respondents (34% opposed them).

Poll: Details

The survey was conducted through personal formalized (face-to-face) interviews.

The sample is representative of the adult population (aged 18 and older).

Some 2,019 respondents were polled in all regions of Ukraine except Crimea and other Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine, namely certain districts in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The margin of error does not exceed 2.3%.

Reporting by UNIAN
Ahmedabad: At least 80 per cent personnel of the Gujarat police have so far been covered under the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive, an official said on Tuesday. As per an official release, 1.32 lakh personnel, including 81,000 from the regular police force, 22,000 home guards, 22,000 jawans of gram rakshak dal and around 4,000 traffic brigade personnel, have received the vaccine.

Personnel from the prisons department, CID, State Reserve Police and Anti-Corruption Bureau were also being inoculated across the state, the release from the office of the Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) stated. The state health department and civic bodies have set up booths exclusively to administer shots to policemen, the statement said.

While the COVID-19 vaccination drive began in Gujarat on January 16, immunisation for frontline workers, including police personnel, started from January 31. At least 80 per cent of police personnel were already covered and the remaining will get the shots in the next two to three days, the release said.

State DGP Ashish Bhatia had taken the vaccine on the first day to clear all doubts surrounding the vaccine, it was stated. Till February 8, as many as 6.04 lakh 'Corona Warriors', including healthcare and frontline workers, were covered in the immunisation drive.

According to the health department, 49,000 persons were inoculated at 976 session sites across Gujarat on Monday.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : The Delhi government will now work with IIT-Delhi, IIT-Kanpur and TERI to identify the sources of pollution in Delhi in real time. On Tuesday, the three leading institutions made a presentation to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal about the technology that has been developed in this regard.

IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Delhi and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) have developed this technology after conducting research to ascertain the sources of pollution in real time.

In any place affected by pollution, the factors responsible can be identified and how much of it is contributed by vehicles, dust and smoke from factory. Based on real time information, the Delhi government will be able to take action to control it.

A super site and mobile site will be installed at a location to detect the source of pollution occurring in real time. These machines will be put on trial under a pilot project and it will be analysed how they collect information about the sources of pollution. The Delhi government will then assess it and take action.

Kejriwal said, "If we come to know the sources of pollution on a real time basis, it will help us to take immediate action. Now it will be proposed in the Cabinet and after getting approval, this technology will be implemented. The Delhi government will be the first state government in the country to provide a real-time technology to detect the sources of pollution." After the presentation Kejriwal said, "IIT-Delhi, IIT-Kanpur and TERI have developed techniques for real-time source detection. We will work with them to implement this in Delhi. The Delhi government is attacking pollution in different ways. For this purpose, electric vehicle policy has also been introduced. Now Delhi government will be able to identify the sources of pollution in real time with the help of technology, so that steps can be taken accordingly. " Kejriwal directed the officials concerned to start the process of adopting this technology.

After approval from the Cabinet, work to implement this technology will be started under the leadership of Professor Mukesh Sharma of IIT-Kanpur.
Elsa Hosk is just weeks away from welcoming her first child.

And the blonde beauty was happy to share her pregnancy journey on Instagram Monday, posting a photo of herself lifting her purple pajamas to reveal her third-trimester bump.

'Oh she lowwwwww,' the Swedish model, 32, wrote on top of the mirror selfie, adding a loved up emoji for good measure.

Belly up! Elsa Hosk shared a snap of her third-trimester baby bump on her Instagram Story Monday

Elsa's face was out of frame in the shot. Later on she shared another angle and slapped a cartoon baby emoji on top.

The supermodel announced she was pregnant in September as she posted a stunning photoshoot by photographer Sante D'Orazio, where she went nude and displayed her growing baby bump with a fur coat draped over her.

Elsa revealed that she was already 'halfway there' with her pregnancy, she penned: 'Been keeping this angel in my belly a secret for a while...

'Feeling beyond excited and lucky to be having a baby and begin the next chapter of life with the man of my dreams!!!! Half way there @tomtomdaly .'

Hot mama: The Swedish stunner is currently expecting her first child with partner Tom Daly

Bun in the oven: Elsa's face was out of frame in the shot. Later on she shared another angle and slapped a cartoon baby emoji on top

Pregnant: Elsa posed for an Instagram snap wearing a lacy pale blue bra and showing off her huge bump last week

Elsa has been dating partner Tom Daly since 2015 after he first shared a photo of the couple together during Halloween that year. They were friends beforehand.

The duo appear to be a perfect match as they both share a love for the arts with Elsa a supermodel and Danish entrepreneur, Tom, the founder of District Vision, a company that focuses on holistic-inspired products for runners.

Recently, Elsa hosted an Instagram 'ask me something' session, in which she opened up about her struggle with anxiety that left her 'crying all day' amid her baby joy.

The supermodel also spoke about her 'stronger and beautiful' changing pregnancy body and joked that she currently does zero training to maintain her model figure.

Taking to her Instagram, Elsa asked her fans to ask her anything, with her 6.4M followers inquiring about a variety of subjects including her pregnancy, her haircare regime and modelling career.

Glowing: The supermodel announced she was pregnant in September as she posted a stunning photoshoot by photographer Sante D'Orazio, where she went nude and displayed her growing baby bump with a fur coat draped over her (pictured in a behind-the-scenes snap)

Sweet: Elsa revealed that she was already 'halfway there' with her pregnancy, she penned: 'Been keeping this angel in my belly a secret for a while...'

She penned: 'I know, so many of us are, It's been such a hard and strange year.

'I struggle at times too... the other day I felt so sad I cried all day. Then I was back to normal.

'I think knowing you are not alone and actively taking steps to get out of your head is one of the most effective ways to feel better.

'Some days it's super hard but some days you have the power to swing your mood around and taking action by doing the opposite of what your head is telling you.'

She added: 'Feeling beyond excited and lucky to be having a baby and begin the next chapter of life with the man of my dreams!!!! Half way there @tomtomdaly .'

Beautiful: The supermodel also spoke about her 'stronger and beautiful' changing pregnancy body and joked that she currently does zero training to maintain her model figure

Meanwhile, the star opened up about the pregnancy body after one fan asked: 'Do you have doubts about the pregnancy thinking your body would get ruined?'

Alongside a stunning black and white snap of her growing baby bump, Elsa said: 'I don't believe the body gets ruined by pregnancy. I believe it gets stronger and more beautiful. It's carried life!'

During the Q&A, the model also admitted she does 'zero training' to maintain her figure, joking the only exercise she gets is daily walks to the coffee shop.
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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Gov. John Bel Edwards is readying to receive his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine. His vaccination Tuesday comes a day after he expanded access to the shots to include Louisiana government officials involved in pandemic response work. The 54-year-old Democrat was scheduled to get his vaccination in the afternoon at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center campus in Baton Rouge, along with several other state officials who are newly able under Louisianas latest eligibility criteria. Edwards widened Louisiana residents' access to the coronavirus vaccine Monday. He lowered the eligibility age from 70 to 65 and added officials handling COVID-19 response work and workers for the March 20 election.

Keith Levit arrived at the corner of Princess Street and Alexander Avenue holding a piece of history in his hands: a Graflex Crown Graphic four-by-five camera. Covered with the patina that comes with over 70 years of existence, its body oxidized a soft burgundy, it looks like it belongs on a shelf, not on a street corner in the bitter Winnipeg cold.

Keith Levit arrived at the corner of Princess Street and Alexander Avenue holding a piece of history in his hands: a Graflex Crown Graphic four-by-five camera. Covered with the patina that comes with over 70 years of existence, its body oxidized a soft burgundy, it looks like it belongs on a shelf, not on a street corner in the bitter Winnipeg cold.

Keith Levit with his large-format 4x5 camera hes used to take photos of street scenes in downtown Winnipeg. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

For a while, thats exactly where it sat: on a shelf, in Levits enviable collection of 100 vintage cameras, acquired in antique shops around the world and displayed lovingly as relics, rather than pieces of technology that served a direct purpose other than aesthetic. Some dated back more than a century, with rudimentary materials and an appearance that recalled an era few alive can remember.

Though he started shooting film in 1974 with a silver and black Ricohflex Model VI, the digital revolution came and stayed, and the vintage cameras  beautiful as they were  were relegated to shelf duty.

"I didnt care if they worked. I mostly cared if they looked good," says Levit, who acquired the Crown Graphic in a Havana coffee shop for US$75 after spotting it on vacation a few years ago. The shop owner threw in a box of cigars for good measure.

A new trend developing? Across the city, people are digging up their old film cameras from closets full of junk and showing up at Dons Photo, wondering if they can still use them, says James Wall, the assistant manager of the Portage Avenue store. click to read more Across the city, people are digging up their old film cameras from closets full of junk and showing up at Dons Photo, wondering if they can still use them, says James Wall, the assistant manager of the Portage Avenue store. Wall says few have had cameras as old as Levits, but many find models from the 1970s and 1980s, and are looking to get some nostalgic fun out on the street or in the forest. A lot of younger people are grabbing their grandparents cameras, he says. A lot of hand-me-downs. Wall says that you dont need to be a seasoned professional to develop your own film at home, though experience helps. He says Dons has sold more home developing and chemistry kits, notably one made by the American company Cinestill, than ever before over the pandemic. Ditto for developing tanks. Ive sold more the past few months than the past few years, he says. Black-and-white film developing chemicals sales are up five times, he estimates, while colour is almost 100 per cent more. Cinestill, the company that makes the most popular kit at Dons, started selling the colour kit shortly before the pandemic started, hence the sharp uptick, Wall says. Close

But then the pandemic hit, and Levit, a professional photographer since the 1980s, looked at the cameras in a new light. He started cleaning them, repairing them as needed, labelling them, researching them, trying to recall exactly where they came from.

There were those he used before digital: the Ricohflex, the 1977 Nikkormat he got as a high-school graduation gift and a Hasselblad purchased in 1984. There were Soviet models manufactured in the Communist era  KIEVs and Moskvas  found in St. Petersburg, Russia, and several Kodaks  Juniors and Jiffys and different models of the Brownie  dating back as far as 1915. A 1939 Welta with a Stelo lens, his wife Lindas grandmothers camera. Several press cameras formerly belonging to legendary Winnipeg photographer Barney Charach, given to Levit after Charachs death in 2013.

From left: Levits Kodak No. 3A folding pocket camera (c. 1915); Moskva-4 camera (c. 1947-56); Kodak Junior folding camera (c. 1930). (Keith Levit photos)

From left: Keith Levit's Busch Pressman 6x7; Keith Levits Zorki camera (c. 1948); Graflex Crown Graphic 4x5. (Keith Levit photos)

Slowly, Levit came around to what seemed like a crazy idea: what if these cameras worked? Hed never checked before, but now, with nothing to do and nowhere to go but Winnipeg, it seemed like a good time to find out.

That also meant creating a home darkroom for the first time since he switched to digital and relearning the developing process. In Charachs collection were about 100 rolls of expired film, and Levit had several in the downstairs freezer. Part of the challenge was getting 20-year-old film to fit in 80-year-old cameras

A photo taken by Keith Levit with his Graflex Crown Graphic 4x5 camera. (Keith Levit photo)

He went into Dons Photo on Portage Avenue, telling the employees there of his plan and buying a home chemistry set suitable for developing black-and-white and colour film.

"I started processing," he says. "And I was hooked."

Soon, he was gallivanting around the Exchange District carrying the Ricohflex his dad let him use in 1974. Snapping photos of True North Squares curvature and Transit buses with a Busch Pressman six-by-seven camera that was manufactured when the city still had streetcars. The Kodak No. 3A folding pocket camera, manufactured in 1915, was toted along for a trip to Assiniboine Park. Lindas grandmothers Welta was in Levits hands on the frozen river. He didnt drop it.

Keith Levit frames a shot in the ground glass viewer of his large-format 4x5 camera. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

Then the processing. Until he gets into the darkroom, Levit has no clue whether anything worked. The film could be aged beyond use. The camera could have an invisible flaw. Maybe they should have stayed on the shelf?

Keith Levit with his large-format 4x5 camera hes used to take photos of street scenes in downtown Winnipeg. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

When the processing is done, "my heart starts pounding," says Levit. Who knows if it was all for naught?

It wasnt, though there were some duds, and Levit soon took his shots to the Manitoba Camera Club, the countrys oldest, to share his work and see what others were coming up with as part of the clubs daily photo challenge.

"I was absolutely amazed by it," says Viola Davidson, a member of the Manitoba Camera Club who started taking photos when she was a 19-year-old nursing student. "I hear people say all the time, Ive got these old film cameras, what can I do with them? Heres something."

A photo taken by Keith Levit with his Graflex Crown Graphic 4x5 camera. (Keith Levit photo)

The results of Levits experiment were inspiring to Davidson and others. Most photos taken today are on smartphones, and with good reason: theyre economical, democratized, fit for use by amateurs and professionals alike, and have virtually unlimited storage. But here was an example of the painstaking effort once required to capture a moment, the focus, and the risk and potential to come up short, something somewhat lost in the era of Instagram.

At the same time, the proof the old cameras still could serve their intended purpose carries a message: dust and rust may accrue, but whats old still has value and utility. And while pleasure travel to foreign lands  of which Levit has been to dozens  is not just disallowed, but unethical and dangerous, its still possible to take a trip without leaving the city perimeter.

Keith Levit focuses the large-format 4x5 camera hes used to take photos of street scenes in downtown Winnipeg. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

The trip can occur in a geographic sense, but also in a chronological one: nostalgias draw is especially strong when ones left with no choice but to explore what theyve already seen.

A photo taken by Keith Levit with his Busch Pressman (c. 1950-1960) camera. (Keith Levit photo)

"I find beauty in my backyard, and Winnipeg is a huge backyard, with buildings and nature and people," Levit says. "Ive been exploring the last few months more than I had in the last few years. I always realized what was around me," he said. He just had never looked at it through a 100-year-old lens.

On Princess Street, Levit clutches the Graflex, hoists it up and points it toward an old building, the Bathgate Block, built in 1883. It looks ancient, as hybrid cars and giant trucks drive by, but it really isnt. Its 77 years older than Levit, probably 50 years older than the camera hes holding.

A photo taken by Keith Levit with his Busch Pressman (c. 1950-1960) camera. (Keith Levit photo)

How many times has this building been photographed? How many times has it been driven past by horses and Model Ts and electric bikes? How many people have walked in and out in 138 years and felt the rush of a Winnipeg winter greet their cheeks with a harsh kiss?

Who knows? But its a safe bet its only been shot by a camera this old, on this day in the year 2021, once. Will the film work or will it be a dud? Who knows?

ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca
Mumbai, Feb 9 : A massive bout of profit booking erased the entire intra-day gains that led both key indices to touch record highs during Tuesday's trade session.

The market opened at record high on back of favourable cues from global bourses.

The positive cues led S&P BSE Sensex touched a record high of 51,835.86 and the Nifty50 on the National Stock Exchange to a record high of 15,257.10 points.

The market continued to remain in favour of advancing counter till around 2.15 p.m. However, a last hour profit booking pulled the market lower.

Globally, Asian stocks were mostly higher on Tuesday, though off the intra day highs, as volumes remained thin ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays.

European stock markets were mixed on Tuesday, punctuating a rally since the start of the month as the price of oil continued its march higher into pre-pandemic highs.

Among sectors, banks ended in the positive while media, auto, pharma and metals indices ended in the red.

The S&P BSE Sensex closed at 51,329.08, lower by 19.69 points, or 0.04 per cent, from its previous close.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty50 also slipped. It ended the day's trade at 15,109.30, lower by 6.50 points, or 0.04 per cent, from its previous close.

"The global markets have come under minor profit taking on the seventh day of the rally," said Deepak Jasani, Head of Retail Research at HDFC Securities.

"If this continues, we could see the Nifty correcting more towards 14,913 and later 14,753." Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Retail Research, Motilal Oswal Financial Services, said: "After another solid start, markets cooled off, giving up all morning gains." "M&M and Tata Motors were the biggest losers among Nifty stocks after Automobile dealers' body FADA today said PV retail sales in January witnessed a YoY decline of 4.46 per cent." "With the Budget behind now, the focus is now back on corporate earnings which is in its last leg. The overall long term trend of the market remains positive given confluence of economic recovery, containment of Covid-19, earnings beat, and an expansionary budget."
[February 09, 2021] cloudHQ Connects Gmail to Sheets with Latest Product Release

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- cloudHQ, an email management company based out of San Francisco, California, released an upgraded version of Export Email to Google Sheets , a Google Chrome-based web application that empowers Gmail users to save email data directly to Google Sheets spreadsheets. "Copying the information in emails from Gmail to Sheets gives small businesses the power to sort, analyze, and prepare email data in ways that simply wasn't possible before," said Naomi Assaraf, cloudHQ's co-founder and chief marketing officer. By exporting Gmail to Sheets, entrepreneurs and businesses can: Parse order, return, and shipping notifications.

Parse and save invoices and receipts for easy processing by your accountant.

Extract phone numbers, email addresses, location data, andorder preferences from orders, returns, or other regular emails.

Filter notifications from other communication services such as support chats, social media, error reports, system notifications, or field reports.

Create custom parsing rules to extract exactly the right data and instead of simply "all text from an email."



Export Gmail to Google Sheets by cloudHQ has a free Basic Plan and a premium plan. The Basic Plan limits you to 50 parsed emails per month, whereas the Premium Plan is unlimited. It's the latest addition to cloudHQ's library of over 70 free email management Chrome extensions .

cloudHQ, LLC is located in San Francisco, California, with a distributed team of just under 10 people, all working remotely. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cloudhq-connects-gmail-to-sheets-with-latest-product-release-301224597.html SOURCE cloudHQ

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Myanmar's web-savvy protest movement has overcome social media blocks and even a nationwide internet blackout to transmit real-time information out of the country, as the new military regime struggles to tamp down opposition to last week's coup.

After spending most of the last 60 years under the yoke of army rule, Myanmar is no stranger to bold public condemnations of its armed forces -- many of which were suppressed with lethal violence.

But unlike earlier years, when generals used onerous censorship laws and travel bans to keep crackdowns hidden from the outside world, thousands of people around the country have been wielding their phones to document defiance in real time.

"Actually, I'm not interested in politics at all," said Aung, who has spent the last few days uploading footage from protests in his hometown.

"But what the military did is so disgusting."

Aung, who asked for his real name to be withheld, said he cried while watching the television broadcast last week that confirmed the putsch after the dawn raids that saw Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian leaders taken into custody.

Since Monday, he has marched around the streets of his town with his old high school teacher -- pushed along in the procession in her wheelchair -- demanding the military respect the results of recent elections that Suu Kyi's party won in a landslide.

"They arrested our leaders, our representatives," the 20-year-old told AFP. "We feel like our dreams have disappeared."

State TV channels now under military control have gone to great lengths to ignore the chorus of outrage erupting around the country, broadcasting karaoke reels and traditional dance routines even as police respond to rallies with tear gas and rubber bullets.

But on Facebook and other platforms, private media outlets and ordinary citizens are running live videos that document huge crowds thronging the streets, along with tense confrontations between demonstrators and officers.

Story continues

- 'What's going on?' -

The blanket footage of Myanmar's burgeoning anti-coup movement is a stark contrast to the last uprising against military rule in 2007, when Buddhist monks led a protest against fuel price hikes that morphed into demands for democratic rule.

Some foreign media outlets were able to pipe out images of the bloody crackdown that followed, but the full extent of the carnage only became clear to the outside world after undercover Myanmar journalists smuggled handheld video cameras over the border into Thailand.

Myanmar's decade-long experiment with civilian rule also democratised the flow of information in the country, with the entrance of foreign telecoms making SIM cards affordable for the entire population and the end of draconian censorship rules.

The new military regime attempted to turn the tide last week as a civil disobedience campaign gained momentum, first by demanding mobile operators block Facebook and other social media platforms, and then ordering a blanket internet shutdown over the weekend.

But even as most local web traffic ground to a standstill, protesters still managed to livestream snowballing demonstrations across the city using foreign SIM cards with data roaming services.

"They called and asked me what's going on -- what's the situation, has there been any more international pressure?" said Natty Tangmeesang.

The Thai public relations professional and former Yangon resident returned home to Bangkok last year during the Covid pandemic but managed to make contact with her friends back in Myanmar during the blackout.

Internet services had largely returned by Sunday afternoon, hours before the shutdown was supposed to end, by which time hundreds of thousands of people were on the streets all over the country.

Yangon-based activist Ingyin, who uses one name to protect her identity, said the attempt by the junta to cut her country off from the world might have backfired.

"People felt that when they couldn't talk about what happened online, they had to go out on the street," she told AFP.

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Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do
Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.

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Children in Amber Alert found safe near Mitchell

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Sebi has barred two entities and five individuals for indulging in fraudulent trading activities with respect to GDR issuance by Soma Textiles & Industries Ltd.

Soma Textiles & Industries Ltd "is hereby restrained from accessing the securities market...directly or indirectly...for a period of 3 years from the date of this order," Sebi said in an order passed on Monday.

Others facing the prohibition are -- SK Somany, AK Somany, P Bandopadhyay, Prafull Anubhai, Sunil Patel and Whiteview Trading Corporation.

The ban has been imposed for a period ranging from 1-3 year.

An investigation was conducted by Sebi with respect to the GDR (Global Depository Receipt) issuance by the company during October 1-31, 2006.

The regulator in its investigation observed that Soma had issued GDRs amounting to $17.29 million.

It was noted that the entire GDR proceeds were subscribed to only one entity -- Whiteview Trading Corporation (Whiteview).

It was also observed that the subscription amount was paid by Whiteview by obtaining a loan from BANCO EFISA, S A - a bank based in Lisbon, Portugal.

Later, it was revealed that Whiteview signed a credit agreement with BANCO for payment of the subscription of GDRs.

The loan was further secured by Soma itself by securing the GDR proceeds, Sebi said.

Thereafter, the company had facilitated subscription of its own GDR by entering into an arrangement where Whiteview, the only subscriber to the GDR issued by Soma, obtained the loan from Banco for subscribing the issue, and Soma pledged the GDR proceeds with Banco for securing the loan taken by Whiteview from Banco, it added.

The noticees were part of the board meeting wherein, approvals were made to, among others, authorising Banco to use the GDR proceeds as security in connection with the loan and Patel had signed the account charge agreement on behalf of Soma.

The individuals were also the directors of Soma during the period when corporate announcements were made by the company regarding the GDR issue, which were false and misleading.

By doing so, they violated the provisions of the Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices (PFUTP) Regulations.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Burma Crackdown Intensifies as Anti-Coup Protesters Defy Assembly Ban in Myanmar

Military troops are deployed in Yangon's Hledan on Tuesday. / The Irrawaddy

YANGONAfter days of passively monitoring the growing anti-coup protests, Myanmar police began to crack down on the demonstrations on Tuesday after hundreds of thousands of people defied the military regimes ban on public gatherings.

Since Saturday, people have staged peaceful protests against the militarys toppling of their democratically elected government and the arrests of President U Win Myint and the countrys de facto leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The regime imposed a ban on gatherings of more than four people in 10 regions and states including Yangon on Tuesday morning, as the rallies were gaining momentum.

However, tens of thousands of people ignored the order and thronged the streets across the country.

With the announcement of the ban on Tuesday, military troops dressed in camouflage were deployed in Yangon for the first time since the protests broke out, intensifying fears of a major crackdown.

While there were some isolated reports of police acting against demonstrators in recent days, riot police in many areas largely refrained from violence through Monday.

However, in Myanmars capital Naypyitaw on Tuesday, they opened fire on protesters, injuring at least six people. A 20-year-old woman who was shot in the head is now in critical condition.

At least two protesters were injured in Mandalay, the countrys second-biggest city, as the police knocked them down with water cannons and fired teargas and rubber bullets into the crowd. Around 40 people were reportedly arrested. The military TV channel Myawaddy announced on Tuesday night that four police officers were injured and some police vehicles were damaged in Mandalay due to violent attacks by destructive demonstrators. There was no mention of the Naypyitaw crackdown, though.

Protesters in Bago were also dispersed by water cannons.

In Myanmars largest city, Yangon, downtown thoroughfares and the busy Hledan junction near Yangon University were swamped with protesters. The situation between protesters and riot police in Hledan grew increasingly tense from the morning. At one point, charity organizations and commuters parked their cars in front of a column of anti-coup protesters to shield them from riot police who were trying to advance on the demonstrators. There was no serious attempt to crack down on demonstrators in Yangon on Tuesday, however.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Coup Leader Tells Public to Keep Emotions in Check

Six Protesters Injured After Myanmar Police Fire on Protest
India has asked for a greater and comprehensive reform in the responses, processes and character of the UN

While it can be argued that a Security Council of a smaller number of countries is desirable to make the UN effective, it must also reflect world realities and be more representative of its diversity. (Photo: AFP)

Sometime recently, T.S. Tirumurti, our permanent representative at the United Nations in New York, once again pleaded for the expansion of the UN Security Council permanent membership (P-5) to make it more broad-based. Addressing the UN General Assembly by video on September 26 in the landmark 75th General Debate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also raised the issue of Indias entry into the Security Council as a permanent member. He posed the question: How long will India, the worlds largest democracy and home to 1.3 billion people, be kept out of the decision-making structures of the United Nations? He also asserted that reform in the responses, processes and very character of the global body was the need of the hour.

This is interesting, because for the first time India has asked for more than just a mere expansion of the UNSC by accommodating it as a permanent member. India has asked for a greater and comprehensive reform in the responses, processes and character of the UN.

The United States, Russia and China have already unveiled their visions of an expanded UN Security Council. During his visit to New Delhi as chief guest at Indias Republic Day celebrations in 2015, then US President Barack Obama categorically said he supported a reformed UNSC with India as a permanent member. But no sooner Obama had returned to the US after his New Delhi visit, then US ambassador to the UN Samantha Powers said: It is very critical that any reform proposal enjoy broad consensus among member states. This position takes it very close to the proposal of nations under the banner Uniting for Consensus Group, which is opposed to the UNSCs expansion by adding the G-4 of India, Germany, Japan and Brazil to it.

This group, led by Canada, Italy, Colombia and Pakistan, has made a counter proposal that envisages an enlargement of the number of non-permanent members from 10 to 20. The non-permanent members would be elected by the General Assembly for a two-year term and would be eligible for immediate re-election, subject to the decision of their respective geographical blocs.

The Chinese want small and medium-sized countries to take turns to serve on the UNSC. Russia, while not opposed to any expansion, has taken the position that the powers of the members of present UNSC should remain the same with full veto powers, meaning there could be two or three classes of UNSC members. The G-5 with veto powers, G-4 permanent members without the veto, and whoever else may be elected by the General Assembly.

The creation of the United Nations to preserve world peace began in October 30, 1943 when Britain, China, the Soviet Union and the US signed the Moscow Declaration on General Security. The signatories then met continuously from August to October 1944 at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington D.C. and fashioned a basic plan for the UN. The centerpiece of this plan was a Security Council in which the US, the Soviet Union, Britain, France and China would be permanent members.

Fifty nations then met in San Francisco on April 25, 1945, less than a fortnight before Germany surrendered and four months before Japan was defeated, to consider this plan. After much deliberation the differences, mostly over the veto power demanded by the then Big Three  the US, USSR and Britain  were papered over and on June 26, 1945 the 50 nations present signed the UN Charter and the world body formally came into being.

As an immediate response to a destructive world war, the UN reflected the reality and ethos of that age. Nothing reflected this more than the composition of the permanent members of the Security Council. Four out of the five were white nations. Two, China and France, were defeated nations. Two, Britain and France, were colonial powers. The other 10 members of the Security Council are elected members from the various regions. These are members without the veto and with little voice or clout.

While it can be argued that a Security Council of a smaller number of countries is desirable to make the UN effective, it must also reflect world realities and be more representative of its diversity. For instance, Africa and Latin America are not represented in the P-5. Likewise, the Islamic world does not find a place. India, which has a fifth of the worlds population, does not find a place. The biggest economy in Europe, Germany, does not find a place. On the other hand, with two members, Britain and France, Western Europe is clearly over-represented. With Russia added, Europe has three members. Clearly this is not a satisfactory arrangement. The UN Security Council, as it is now, does not reflect the world order or its diversity.

In the Cold War era, veto powers ensured that one bloc could not override the interests of the other one. The veto thus came to be used 252 times since 1946. Since 1996, Russia has not exercised the veto even once whereas the United States has used it six times and China twice. This presumably reflects the settled shape of the world order now.

Clearly, the use of the veto itself must be reviewed. One nation alone must no longer be allowed to block the consensus of the UNSC. It is time that a threshold of members to collectively enforce the veto be discussed.

The times have also changed. The United States is no longer the dominant economic and political power it was in the latter half of the twentieth century. The G-4 nations are all bigger economies than Russia, France and Britain. They possibly have bigger global footprints than the three. How can the power to veto be justified for these three and denied to the G-4?

In the past few years, Indias diplomacy has centered around a craving to just become a member of the UN Security Council. It seems a second-class membership is still feasible. The big question then is whether this is what India really wants? Or do we want a greater democratisation of the UNSC to reflect the status and size of the G-4?
Srinagar: The occupied Kashmir is observing a spontaneous shutdown on Tuesday to mark the eighth martyrdom anniversary of Mohammad Afzal Guru.

Call for the strike was given by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and other pro-freedom leaders and organizations. All shops and business establishments are closed while traffic is off the road.

Thousands of personnel of Indian army, police and paramilitary forces are patrolling the deserted streets in the valley to prevent pro-freedom and anti-India protests.

India had hanged Muhammad Afzal Guru in New Delhis Tihar Jail on 9th February, 2013 and Muhammad Maqbool Butt in the same jail on 11th February, 1984. Their bodies remain buried in the premises of the jail.

Meanwhile, police arrested several youth including a woman during house raids and cordon and search operations in Srinagar, Shopian and other areas of the territory.
New guidance on what social distancing measures are best for people who are fully vaccinated is on the way, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday.

Right now, the advice from health officials is to keep wearing your mask, keep social distancing and keep away from gatherings after you receive both shots of coronavirus vaccine.

But during a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 91-year-old Esther Cohen asked Fauci when she and her friendswho all have received both vaccine shotscan safely resume their mah-jongg games, CNN reported.

In response, Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said there is no CDC guidance on what to do when groups of people who have received both vaccine doses want to get together.

"But I believe that's going to change," Fauci said. "We're talking about this at the level of the CDC."

Vaccinations began in the United States on Dec, 14. More than 9.5 million people have been fully vaccinated with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to CDC data updated Monday.

The two authorized vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer prevent symptomatic infections in most, but not all, cases. And it is still unclear whether they stop asymptomatic infection, CNN reported.

If you are asymptomatic, you would still test positive for COVID-19, and even if you are vaccinated, you could still spread the virus. That's why the guidance now is that even the vaccinated still need to wear masks. A person could be an asymptomatic carrier and have the virus in their nasal passageways, so when they are breathing or speaking or sneezing they could still pass the novel coronavirus on to others, health experts have explained.

Fauci said that he and his daughter, who have both been fully vaccinated, still follow the standard social distancing and quarantine guidelines before seeing each other.

"I'm doubly vaccinated. My daughter is doubly vaccinated. The last time she tried to come home, she had to go quarantine for 14 days and get tested," he said. "It was a big, big deal to finally see my daughter in the same room. I think that's going to have to change."

"What's the reason to get vaccinated in the first place, if you don't want to get to normal?" he added.

British COVID variant spreading rapidly across U.S.

The highly contagious coronavirus variant that drove Britain into lockdown in December is now spreading quickly across the United States, a new study shows.

What has been dubbed the B.1.1.7 variant is doubling its prevalence every nine days in this country, according to a report posted on the preprint server MedRxiv on Sunday and not yet peer-reviewed or published in a journal. The findings, from a large collaboration of scientists, buttresses a forecast issued last month by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that showed the variant becoming dominant in this country by late March.

The researchers scrutinized genomic analyses of the virus samples from 10 states, including from 212 infections involving the variant, and concluded that the variant has been 35% to 45% more transmissible than other variants in the United States.

"It is here, it's got its hooks deep into this country, and it's on its way to very quickly becoming the dominant lineage," study co-author Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona, told the Washington Post.

"Those models are very sensitive to assumptions about how many people the average infected person passes the virus to. If those assumptions are off by just a bit, or if we let our guard down and relax mitigation measures, I believe we could well see a dangerous upward surge of cases as B.1.1.7 comes to dominate the U.S. epidemic in March," Worobey added.

"Our study shows that the U.S. is on a similar trajectory as other countries, where B.1.1.7 rapidly became the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant, requiring immediate and decisive action to minimize COVID-19 morbidity and mortality," the authors of the new report said.

In the study, Florida stands out as the state with the highest estimated prevalence of the variant. The new report estimated the doubling time of B.1.1.7 prevalence in positive test results at just over nine days.

Florida leads the nation in reported B.1.1.7 cases, with 201 as of Tuesday, followed by much more populous California with 150, according to the CDC. A total of 690 cases have been reported in 33 states, according to the CDC.

The new study only looked at data through the end of January, but the percentage of B.1.1.7 infections in Florida may have risen from a little less than 5 percent to approximately 10 percent in just the past week in Florida, study co-author Kristian Andersen, an immunologist at Scripps Research Institute, told the Post.

Mary Jo Trepka, an epidemiologist at Florida International University, told the newspaper she is not surprised by the spread of the variant in Florida, because the state has not been strict about mask mandates or other restrictions, while at the same time it is a hub for international travel.

"The message is that we have to work harder to prevent transmission of all these cases of COVID," she said. "If we don't, we'll potentially see more variants. We need to get everybody vaccinated and we need to do a much better job at preventing transmission."

The variant first appeared in genomic surveys in the United Kingdom in September, but did not get tagged as a "variant of concern" until early December when its rapid spread stunned scientists and prompted lockdowns in southern England.

"What concerns me is the exponential growth in the early stages doesn't look very fast," Andrew Noymer, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Irvine, who was not part of the new study, told the Post. "It kind of putzes alongand then goes boom."

U.S. health officials say they are in a race against time to increase the number of Americans vaccinated as more contagious variants of the virus spread across America. By Tuesday, more than 42.4 million Americans had been vaccinated, while 59.3 million doses have been distributed. Just over 9.5 million people have had their second shot, according to the CDC.

Coronavirus cases drop across U.S.

Even as the U.K. variant makes a foothold in the United States, overall coronavirus case counts are steadily dropping among Americans, as the worst of the latest surge in the pandemic seems to be subsiding.

Some parts of the country, including the Upper Midwest, are experiencing bigger decreases in new cases than others. Four states in the regionMinnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowahave seen average daily cases fall by 80 percent or more, The New York Times reported.

There was yet another glimmer of hope last week, after Johnson & Johnson announced it had asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency approval of what would be the first single-dose vaccine in the country. If approved, this latest vaccine would join the two-dose vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna that are already being administered to Americans.

As for coronavirus cases, the places with the steepest decreases tended to be small counties where the overall case count is relatively small, leading to wild swings in the data, the Times said. Using data on roughly 600 counties that had at least 100 daily cases at their recent peak shows that cases have fallen 60 percent, on average.

The current decline in infections remains most pronounced in the Midwest. In Hennepin County, home to Minneapolis, daily cases have fallen to roughly 200 from 1,200, the Times reported. Wayne County, home to Detroit, saw a similar drop, to 220 from 1,200. While trending downward now, the current number of new cases is still higher than anything many of these areas experienced during the first six months of the coronavirus crisis, the newspaper said.

For instance, Maine saw relatively low case counts until November, when cases began to rise before peaking in late January at nearly 12 times the level of the state's peak last year, the Times reported. Despite that, the current daily case count in Maine pales in comparison to states like Texas, whose rate is triple that of Maine when adjusted for population.

A global scourge

By Tuesday, the U.S. coronavirus case count passed 27.1 million while the death toll neared 465,000, according to a Times tally. On Tuesday, the top five states for coronavirus infections were: California with over 3.4 million cases; Texas with more than 2.5 million cases; Florida with nearly 1.8 million cases; New York with nearly 1.5 million cases; and Illinois with over 1.1 million cases.

Curbing the spread of the coronavirus in the rest of the world remains challenging.

In India, the coronavirus case count was more than 10.8 million by Tuesday, a Johns Hopkins University tally showed. Brazil had over 9.5 million cases and more than 231,500 deaths as of Tuesday, the Hopkins tally showed.

Worldwide, the number of reported infections passed 106.5 million on Tuesday, with over 2.3 million deaths recorded, according to the Hopkins tally.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus

Copyright  2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Washington, Feb 9 : US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will quarantine for 14 days after a member of his security tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The agent had been in close contact with Buttigieg "including this morning prior to the agent's positive result", Department of Transportation's Chief of Staff Laura Schiller said in a statement on Monday.

Buttigieg tested negative Monday and has had no symptoms, Xinhua news agency quoted Schiller as further saying in the statement.

The Secretary had received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine in recent weeks, and will be administered the second jab when his quarantine is completed, the Chief of Staff added.

Speaking to CNN later in the day, Buttigieg said that both he and the Covid infected agent "felt fine".

"I did have a negative test today and I feel fine. I spoke to the agent and he feels all right as well. He's not having any symptoms but he did test positive," he was quoted as saying.

Buttigieg, 39, former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, was sworn in as the Transportation Secretary on February.

Also a former Democratic presidential candidate, he is the first openly gay Cabinet member in US history.

Buttigieg is also the youngest Cabinet secretary in the Joe Biden administration and the youngest person to serve as the Transportation Secretary.
She's been inseparable with Megan Fox's estranged husband Brian Austin Green ever since they confirmed their relationship earlier this year.

But Sharna Burgess made a rare appearance without the actor as she joined her friends Brooke Chamberlin and Mike Manning for dinner at La Boheme restaurant in West Hollywood on Monday evening.

The Dancing with the Stars star, 35, appeared in great spirits as she flashed a peace sign and sported a protective face mask amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Night out: Sharna Burgess made a rare appearance without her boyfriend Brian Austin Green as she headed out for dinner at La Boheme restaurant in West Hollywood on Monday

Opting for an all-black look, the Australian choreographer teamed a turtleneck jumper dress with chic knee-high boots by Christian Louboutin.

The ballroom dancer rounded off her look with a trendy fedora hat and dainty gold jewellery, while carrying her essentials in a plaid clutch.

Matte foundation and minimal mascara highlighted her naturally-stunning features, which were framed with straight tresses

In good company: The Dancing with the Stars star, 35, flashed a peace sign and sported a protective face mask as she joined her friends Brooke Chamberlin (R) and Mike Manning (L)

Turning heads: Opting for an all-black look, the Australian choreographer teamed a turtleneck jumper dress with chic knee-high boots by Christian Louboutin

All in the details: The ballroom dancer rounded off her look with a trendy fedora hat and dainty gold jewellery, while carrying her essentials in a plaid clutch

The blonde beauty and her partner, 47, made their romance Instagram official last month.

On their dating status, a delighted Brian said in a recent interview with Access Daily: 'She's super responsible and she's super sweet and caring and compassionate and fun to be around, so I feel blessed right now.

'It's all going really well right now. You know, it's early on so we don't have any labels for anything obviously but we're really enjoying each other's company, and she's an amazing woman.'

Sealed with a kiss! The blonde has been inseparable with Megan Fox's estranged husband, 47, ever since they confirmed their relationship earlier this year

The ex files: The Beverly Hills, 90210 hunk announced his split from his wife of 10 years Megan, 34, last May, with the actress filing for divorce just before Thanksgiving (pictured in 2014)

The Beverly Hills, 90210 hunk announced his split from his wife of 10 years Megan, 34, last May, with the actress filing for divorce just before Thanksgiving.

The TV and film star has since moved on with rapper Machine Gun Kelly, 30, and even got a tattoo reading 'el pistolero' in reference to him.

Meanwhile, Brian dated tattoo shop owner Tina Louise, 38, and reportedly enjoyed a brief fling with model Courtney Stodden, 26.
Here are todays leading news stories:

Politics

-- Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on Monday for a delegation of ambassadors and chief representatives from United Nations (UN) agencies in Vietnam led by Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator in the country.

Society

-- Vietnams Ministry of Health recorded three local COVID-19 infections in the northern province of Quang Ninh on Tuesday morning, raising the countrys tally to 2,053, with 1,472 recoveries and 35 deaths.

-- About 1,800 health workers at 175 Military Hospital in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City were tested for COVID-19 on Monday night and early Tuesday morning as a COVID-19 patient had visited the infirmary prior to his diagnosis.

-- Competent authorities in Vietnam have culled more than 100,000 chickens after discovering 40 avian influenza outbreaks in 14 provinces and cities since the beginning of 2021.

-- Police in the north-central province of Thua Thien-Hue, in coordination with their counterparts in south-central Khanh Hoa Province, have arrested three members of a ring that organized for Chinese people to enter Vietnam illegally since November 2020.

-- Seven people in Hanoi have been fined a combined VND52.5 million (US$2,290) for posting fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic on their Facebook accounts.

-- Authorities in the northern province of Hai Duong confirmed on Monday they had imposed a VND20 million ($872) fine upon a 44-year-old man, who is a direct contact of a COVID-19 patient, for escaping from a quarantine camp on February 5.

-- An unseasonal rain dampened Ho Chi Minh City and some other southern localities on Monday afternoon due to an enhanced cold spell, the southern meteorological center reported, adding that the phenomenon may occur again on Tuesday.

-- One person was killed while four others hospitalized following an accident between an automobile and tractor-trailer in the northern province of Son La on Monday.

Business

-- Such ride-hailing apps as Grab and Gojek will apply additional charges worth VND5,000-15,000 ($0.22-0.65) during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A Danish man convicted of torturing and murdering a Swedish journalist on his homemade submarine has been given a 19-month sentence for his attempt to escape from prison.

Peter Madsen was quickly apprehended on October 20 near the Herstedvester prison in suburban Copenhagen  where he is serving a life sentence for the killing of Kim Wall  after he threatened staff with a fake gun and fake explosives.

The conviction does not matter in reality as it will not be added to the life sentence. However, it may play a role if Madsen at some point makes a probation request. Madsen, 50, accepted the ruling.

Expand Close A police van carrying Madsen arrives at the court in Copenhagen (Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp A police van carrying Madsen arrives at the court in Copenhagen (Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Before the verdict was announced, Madsen told the Glostrup City Court in suburban Copenhagen that he wanted to flee because he considered the prison conditions poor, according to the Ekstra Bladet tabloid newspaper.

Madsen, one of Denmarks most notorious criminals, was captured about five minutes after the escape and less than half a mile from the prison. Staff who followed him saw that he had jumped into a passing white van and informed police.

He used a fake hand gun and mock explosives he had made in jail as he threatened his way out of prison. Madsen told the court that his plan was to hijack cars, take the owners mobile phones and move south and eventually reach Germany.

In 2018, Madsen was sentenced in the Copenhagen City Court to life in prison for killing Ms Wall, a 30-year-old reporter from Sweden whom he lured aboard his homemade submarine the previous year with the promise of an interview. He dismembered her body and dumped it at sea.

Expand Close Madsen was sentenced at Glostrup City Court (Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Madsen was sentenced at Glostrup City Court (Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Madsen later lost his appeal, shortly after apologising to the victims family who were present in the appeals court. The sensational case has gripped Scandinavia.

Madsen denies murdering Ms Wall. He claims she died accidentally inside the submarine, but he has confessed to throwing her body parts into the Baltic Sea.

Life sentences in Denmark usually mean 16 years in prison, but convicts are reassessed to determine whether they would pose a danger to society if released and can be kept longer.

Ms Wall had planned to interview Madsen  a self-taught engineer  for a story on a rocket programme he founded in 2014, with the goal of building a crowdfunded rocket to launch himself into space. But by the time he finally responded to her, his cash flow had dried up and he had cancelled the planned test launch.
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ROME, N.Y.  The New York correctional officers union is still pushing for a secure vendor program, as drugs continue to make their way into state prisons.

Last Monday, Feb. 1, an inmate who appeared to be under the influence of some kind of drug fell out of his bed at Mohawk Correctional Facility, according to the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA). The officer who witnessed the incident searched the inmates pockets and found a bundle of paper coated in what is believed to be Suboxone, a drug used to treat opioid addiction.

The drugs were seized and the inmate is facing disciplinary charges.

A few days later on Friday, Feb. 5, an officer processing mail found suspected Suboxone in a towel mailed to an inmate. According to NYSCOPBA, the officer noticed uneven stitching on the towel, and opened it up to find 16 orange strips believe to be Suboxone. The package was mailed from Elmhurst.

Once again, this is a call for the secure vendor program. With the secure vendor program, drugs like this wouldnt stand a chance of getting inside of our prisons. DOCCS owes it to the safety of staff to reinstate it and stop the constant attempts to smuggle drugs into our prisons, said Bryan Hluska, NYSCOPBA Central Region vice president.

A secure vendor program would allow people to purchase items for inmates from select vendors chosen by the state, in order to prevent people from sending contraband in mail packages. A program like this would have to be implemented by the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Omans Ministry of Energy and Minerals has signed a new exploration and production sharing agreement (EPSA) with Majan Energy, offering the firm concession to develop Block 71, a stretch of 282 sq km.



The agreement was signed on behalf of the government by Dr Mohammed Hamad al-Rumhy, Minister of Energy and Minerals (MEM), and Eyhab al-Haj, Chairman, Majan Energy, reported Oman News Agency (ONA).



The company will conduct geological and geophysical studies, drill appraisal and pilot wells and use enhanced oil recovery (EOR) to evaluate and produce the ultra-heavy crude in Habhab field.



Dr Salman Mohammed Al-Shidi, Director General of Oil and Gas Investments Affairs, MEM, said that Habhab oilfield of Block 71 is a promising reservoir, which the company will take 3 to 5 years to explore, using new technologies.



Al-Shidi said that Majan Energy will work with partners from China to use the latest technology, and that the company will invest $15-20 million in its tasks, including the drilling of wells, according to the ONA report.


MEDINA, Ohio -- The Bear had a way of bringing people together. So its no surprise that the family of former Medina police chief Patrick Berarducci live-streamed his funeral Mass on Saturday (Feb. 6).

Berarducci, 70, died on Jan. 30.

His family hoped that, despite current conditions, Berarducci could bring friends and family together one last time.

Berarducci, known by many as Bear or Chief, served the Medina community as police chief from 2009 to 2017, when he retired, according to the Medina Police Department, which shared a post to its Facebook page last week.

Previously, he had served as police chief in Boardman, Ohio, and was a former supervisory special agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

He had a number of professional achievements and milestones that led to him receiving several honors, as well.

At this weeks City Council meeting, Mayor Dennis Hanwell said a few words about Berarducci.

Id like to extend, on behalf of the city, thoughts and prayers for the family of our former police chief, Patrick Berarducci. Chief Berarducci had 43 years of public service, said Hanwell, who preceded Berarducci as police chief before being elected mayor.

Berarduccis public service and work for the Medina community will live on in peoples memories and within the community.

His obituary can be found at https://www.waitefuneralhome.com/obituary/patrick-berarducci.

Read more from the Medina Sun.




Haiti - FLASH : Haiti has 2 Presidents





After the arrest of the judge at the Court of Cassation Ivickel Dabresil who was to be installed by the opposition as provisional President, as part of the attempted coup https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32966-haiti-flash-coup-foiled-all-official-details.html , radical opposition parties, far from giving up, appointed a new transitional President on the night from Sunday to Monday, Me Joseph Mecene Jean Louis, the 2nd oldest judge of the Court of Cassation.



In a video message, the 72-year-old magistrate, Joseph Mecene Jean-Louis, member of the Court of Cassation since 2011, read a short speech in which he declares "to accept the choice of the opposition and of civil society to be able to serve his country as provisional president of the transition."







Reacting to this designation, Pradel Henriquez, the Minister of Communications informs in a press note "[...] The Government of the Republic takes note of the self-proclamation of the judge at the Court of Cassation, Joseph Mecene Jean Louis, as provisional President of Haiti.



While noting that this constitutes a usurpation of title and a serious violation of the Constitution and the laws of the Republic, the Government is sorry to note that such acts are in reality only intended to create disturbances, to complicate the climate of instability and undermine the foundations of the rule of law on which we continuously work.



However, with any escalation of violence and violations of republican laws, the public authorities will have no other choice to crack down with the utmost rigor against all the troublemakers and supporters of chaos.



The Government takes this opportunity to renew its appeal for calm, dialogue and unity for the protection of our dear common homeland."



Rockefeller Vincent, the Minister of Justice specifies for his part "By wanting to usurp the title of President of the Republic, the self-proclaimed violates the provisions of art. 5 of the law on the statute of the Magistracy which stipulates "Any political action or demonstration of a partisan nature is prohibited to judges and officers of the Public Prosecution."



For his part, President Jovenel Moise in a presidential decree published on Monday February 8 in Le Moniteur retires the 3 oldest judges of the Court of Cassation and invites them to assert their right to a pension. They are judges Yvickel Dieujuste Dabrezil (arrested for the attempted coup), Me Wendelle Coq Thelot judge approached by the opposition to occupy the post of President and Me Joseph Mecene Jean Louis who has just been proclaimed President by radical opposition.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32967-haiti-coup-the-national-association-of-magistrates-demands-the-release-of-judge-dabresil.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32966-haiti-flash-coup-foiled-all-official-details.html



SL/ HaitiLibre



















WellMed has reopened its telephone reservation hotline for certain health care workers, senior citizens, pregnant women and people with specific medical conditions seeking to get their COVID-19 vaccinations.

The phone number to schedule an appointment is 833-968-1745. Calls will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily while supply lasts.

Scheduled appointments begin Wednesday.

Only registered recipients with appointments will receive the vaccine at Elvira Cisneros Senior Community Activity Center, 517 S.W. Military Drive, or at Alicia Trevino Lopez Senior One-Stop Center, 8353 Culebra Road. No walk-ins will be accepted.

Two groups of people are currently eligible to receive the vaccine  group 1A, which includes certain health care workers, and group 1B, which includes seniors 65 and older, pregnant women and anyone 16 or older with a pre-existing medical condition. Such conditions include cancer, heart issues such as heart failure or coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, solid organ transplant, obesity or severe obesity, sickle cell disease or Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

People who dont fall into either of these groups should not make vaccine appointments with WellMed because they will be taking available spots from others in need.

Health care workers in group 1A are asked to bring their health care badges to their appointments.

Residents living in San Antonio ZIP codes 78221, 28223, 78211, 78210 and 78214 have secured the most WellMed vaccine appointments so far. Registrants have ranged from 18 years old to more than 100 years old. The highest percentage of vaccinations given by WellMed have gone to patients ranging from 65 to 74 years old.

Visit wellmedhealthcare.com/vaccine/ or WellMeds Facebook page for the latest information on its COVID vaccine distribution.

pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: Peggy_OHare
"Impossible" to complete Nord Stream 2  expert

Any company potentially involved in retrofitting the Russian pipe-laying ship Fortuna would automatically face sanctions.

Reporting by UNIAN

If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter
The glitch came just days before Walgreens expects to begin administering vaccine doses being sent to its stores as part of a new federal program. Walgreens has said it anticipates receiving an additional 39,300 doses a week in Illinois through the program, and expects to begin vaccinating people with those doses Friday.
TAIYUAN, China (Reuters) - Technologies founder Ren Zhengfei said on Tuesday he was confident of the company's ability to survive and that it had more means to overcome difficulties, even as its mobile business remains under pressure.

Ren, in his first media appearance since March last year, said the company achieved positive growth for both 2020 revenue and net profit, and that it continued to see significant levels of confidence from its customers.

He was speaking in the northern mining city of Taiyuan, as the company launched a 5G mining project with state-owned companies and the provincial government.

(This story was corrected officially after the company clarified that Ren made last media appearance in March, not February last year in paragraph 2)

(Reporting by David Kirton in Taiyuan; Writing by Brenda Goh; Editing by Himani Sarkar)

(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.)
Like Mr. Crumb and other underground cartoonists, Mr. Wilson was frequently accused of being a misogynist. His defenders preferred to think of him as a misanthrope, pointing out that the male characters in his strips were also subject to rape and abuse and that the female characters were their equals in brutality.

In addition to Zap, Mr. Wilsons cartoons were published in other underground comics books, alternative newspapers like The Berkeley Barb and Paul Krassners satirical magazine The Realist, as well as, somewhat trepidatiously, in aboveground publications like Playboy. In 1971 Mr. Wilson published Bent, a comic book whose single issue was exclusively devoted to his work, mostly a frenzied 22-page story, Thumb and Tongue Tales, involving a mad scientist, a private eye, a band of lascivious female pirates and the Checkered Demon.

Mr. Wilson also contributed to Arcade, the ambitious if short-lived comic-book quarterly edited in the mid-1970s by Bill Griffith and Art Spiegelman. The fourth issue featured a story by William S. Burroughs that was illustrated by Mr. Wilson and that led to a long association with him.

Mr. Burroughs wrote introductions for the catalog to Mr. Wilsons 1982 show at the Museum of the Surreal and Fantastique in New York and to an anthology of Mr. Wilsons comics, The Collected Checkered Demon, in 1996. Mr. Wilson subsequently drew illustrations for German editions of two Burroughs novels, Cities of the Red Night and The Wild Boys. Modulating his content a bit, he also illustrated collections of fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm.

Some of his fans compared Mr. Wilson to William Hogarth and George Grosz. But while his work matched theirs in savagery, he had little interest in social satire or social restraint. At heart, he was a formalist.
Best of Print & Digital 2021 Delivering an exceptional customer experience is not an event, but rather in the DNA of the company from the top down. They are true front-runners and they find a way to win under adverse conditions.

Butler Street, a management consulting, training and research firm and the industrys leading provider of client loyalty and retention programs, today announced its 2021 Best of Print & Digital Award Winners and Best of Print & Digital 5 Year Award Winners. Best of Print & Digital provides benchmarking data and growth plans for the participating companies in the industry. Only those companies achieving a level of excellence in providing a frictionless customer experience are awarded each year.

Understanding and acting upon customer feedback was more important than ever this past year. The 2021 winners have proven that, amid the chaos caused by Covid-19, they adapted to the changing needs of their customers and executed. resulting in higher customer loyalty and profitable growth, shares Butler Streets founder and managing partner, Mike Jacoutot

Winning companies are selected based on their Net Promoter Score (NPS)  which has been widely regarded as the most accurate leading indicator of client loyalty and future revenue.

This year, two companies achieved the Best of Print & Digital 5-Year Award and will join this elite group of companies that have won this award 5 years in a row. If there is one thing the last ten months have shown us, is that the cream rises to the top. offered Mike Jacoutot, managing partner of Butler Street. Our five-year winners have proven that delivering an exceptional customer experience is not an event, but rather in the DNA of the company from the top down. They are true front-runners and they find a way to win under adverse conditions.

The 2021 Best of Print & Digital 5 Year Award Winners are (in alphabetical order):



Cooley Group, Inc. Rochester, NY

Superior Business Solutions  Kalamazoo, MI

The 2021 Best of Print & Digital Award Winners are (in alphabetical order):

Cooley Group, Inc.  Rochester, NY

Drummond  Jacksonville, FL (6th year recipient)

KOMAX Business Systems  South Charleston, WV

Modern Litho  Jefferson City, MO

Prosource  Cincinnati, OH

Superior Business Solutions  Kalamazoo, MI

Wise  Alpharetta, GA (6th year recipient)

To qualify for the award, companies must have received an NPS score of at least 40 in conjunction with a minimum customer response rate. Only the top scoring companies in the print industry achieved this distinct honor.

NPS has been the number one metric across the entire company, said Brad Cates, Prosource CEO. Our whole strategy is built around customer intimacy, the customer experience, and we want to deliver the best customer experience in the industry. Butler Streets NPS survey allowed us to take a step back, expand our pool of recipients, and learn about the overall relationship with our company versus the experience of a specific customer service instance.

About Butler Street

Butler Street is a management consulting, training and research firm that specializes in client and talent development. Butler Streets managing partners have years of experience in executive level sales, marketing, and operations experience across the print, staffing, and revenue cycle industries. Butler Street helps companies and their people grow by providing customized tools, technology and training programs and delivers lasting results in the two most challenging areas that companies face: client and talent development. Companies that work with Butler Street average 4x industry growth.

For more information, visit: or contact: Susan Galloway, sgalloway@butlerstreet.com.

About Net Promoter Score (NPS)

Net Promoter, Net Promoter System, Net Promoter Score, NPS and the NPS-related emoticons are registered trademarks of Bain & Company, Inc., Fred Reichheld and Satmetrix Systems, Inc. Developed in 2003, NPS across leading companies worldwide is considered as the standard for measuring customer loyalty.
BINGEN AM RHEIN, Germany and DALLAS, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Unibright, the enterprise blockchain business integrator, will integrate its Unibright Freequity Platform with the Hedera Token Service (HTS) to scale asset tokenization and decentralized finance activities for enterprise adoption.

Unibright now can offer a fully integrated market infrastructure to all token issuers and enterprises, leveraging HTS as well. Unibright Freequity is a blockchain agnostic, low-code DeFi platform, and bundles issuance, regulatory compliant tools and guaranteed liquidity to provide a full 360 degrees market integration. The Unibright-HTS integration will help bootstrap liquidity for token issuers, while providing the regulatory and compliance solutions market participants need to effectively engage in the tokenization process.

Stefan Schmidt, Chief Technology Officer at Unibright, said "At Unibright we constantly strive to integrate those technologies, platforms and distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) that match our business needs and objectives. The Hedera Token Service (HTS) adds perfectly to Unibright Freequity and delivers most advanced tokenization at scale, low cost, with instant finality. The ability for HTS to leverage existing network primitives was a major appeal in deciding to integrate Unibright Freequity with Hedera."

The new Hedera Token Service (HTS) provides the ability to issue tokens on a globally distributed public network without compromising performance, security, or stability. This allows users to leverage the existing network primitives, along with configurable compliance, and low predictable fees. In addition, developers can rely on a robust set of APIs for the configuration, minting, and management of tokens on Hedera, without needing to set up and deploy a smart contract.

Unibright plays a major role in developing the Baseline Protocol, with the Unibright Framework being "baseline ready" to support visual smart contract modelling, generation, connection and monitoring of baselined processes. Multiple companies use the Unibright Framework technology as part of the Provide Stack to digitally manage purchase orders and volume discount agreements across SAP and Microsoft D365 systems.

Mance Harmon, CEO and Co-Founder of Hedera Hashgraph, said "We are delighted to be working with the team at Unibright to build a fully integrated token marketplace to drive the future of Enterprise DeFi. With full market integration, the value of tokenization can be realised far beyond financial instruments to include a broad set of data assets. That's why we're excited to help Unibright integrate its processes to help organizations take full advantage of token issuing, trading, liquidity, derived financial instruments, big data and custodian services."

About Hedera

Hedera is a decentralized enterprise-grade public network on which anyone can build secure, fair applications with near real-time finality. The platform is owned and governed by a council of the world's leading organizations including Avery Dennison, Boeing, Dentons, Deutsche Telekom, DLA Piper, eftpos, FIS (WorldPay), Google, IBM, LG Electronics, Magalu, Nomura, Swirlds, Tata Communications, University College London (UCL), Wipro, and Zain Group.

For more information, visit www.hedera.com , or follow us on Twitter at @hedera , Telegram at t.me/hederahashgraph , or Discord at www.hedera.com/discord . The Hedera whitepaper can be found at www.hedera.com/papers .

About Unibright

Unibright is a team of blockchain specialists, architects, developers and consultants with 20+ years of experience in business processes and integration. Unibright offers Consulting with Unibright Solutions, Low-Code-Integration Tools as part of the Provide Framework, programmable DeFi with Unibright Freequity, and the Universal Business Token UBT.

Unibright's founders Marten Jung and Stefan Schmidt look back on 20+ years of experience in software development, process integration and technology consulting. Unibright are first movers in supporting business processes with blockchain technology, enabling new and improving existing processes in efficiency, transparency and security.

Unibright's team and network offers the best architects, blockchain developers and integration specialists to build any blockchain application. Unibright is well-positioned by partnerships with the industry's top companies and resources.

For more information, visit https://unibright.io , the Unibright blog at https://medium.com/unibrightio or follow Unibright on Twitter at @UnibrightIO.

For Media Enquiries

Zenobia Godschalk

E: [email protected]

SOURCE Hedera Hashgraph
The appliance technology that home cooks everywhere have been pining for, it combines sensor microwave cooking with dual convection fans for turntable-free baking, roasting, grilling, and air frying to provide a revolutionary and modern cooking experience. And of course, you'll find all the features that you've come to expect from a world-class, Wi-Fi enabled, Smart-Home Ready, Microwave Drawer Oven from Sharp, including Easy Wave Open, and concealed panel with premium touch-glass controls.

The 24" SMD2499FS Convection Microwave Drawer Oven allows users to take their cooking capabilities to the next level with this microwave oven's smart features, including access to recipes, tips, and, remote control through the Sharp Kitchen app and compatibility with Amazon Echo devices for voice-enabled commands1.

"Forward-thinking innovation has always been a top priority for Sharp, especially when we look to propel our brand promise of Simply Better Living to help consumers live healthier lifestyles," Jim Sanduski, President, SHCA. "The Smart Convection Microwave Drawer Oven is our next step in advancing the modern kitchen, and we're excited to see the benefits this appliance will bring to home cooks everywhere."

In addition to its smart features, the SMD2499FS is built with efficiency and convenience in mind to enhance everyday cooking needs:

Three Speed Cook modes that mix convection with microwave cooking for faster, tastier meals.

Air Fry mode makes food tender on the inside and crispy golden-brown on the outside.

mode makes food tender on the inside and crispy golden-brown on the outside. Convection Grill mode allows you to cook beef, pork, chicken, or fish. Grill-up some burgers and hot-dogs indoors for a fast, family meal any time of the year.

mode allows you to cook beef, pork, chicken, or fish. Grill-up some burgers and hot-dogs indoors for a fast, family meal any time of the year. Convection Bake mode is perfect for bread, muffins, cakes, and pizza. The dual convection fans circulate heated air and lift your baking to new heights.

mode is perfect for bread, muffins, cakes, and pizza. The dual convection fans circulate heated air and lift your baking to new heights. Convection Roast mode is perfect for roast dishes such as whole chicken, beef, and pork.

mode is perfect for roast dishes such as whole chicken, beef, and pork. Toast mode makes toasting up-to 6 slices of bread and bagels in your Convection Microwave Drawer Oven simple by selecting the desired level of browning with pre-timed options on the SHARP KITCHEN app.

Warm mode turns your Convection Microwave Drawer Oven into the warming drawer that every kitchen needs. Keep family dishes such as casseroles, vegetables, and quiches warm and delicious.

Includes a dishwasher safe, porcelain cooking dish with two racks that can be used individually or simultaneously for up to two 9" x 13" baking dishes.

The concealed, drop-down touch-glass controls are easy-to-see and operate at a convenient 45 o angle.

angle. Features Sharp's "Easy Wave Open" function for touchless accessibility and opening of the microwave drawer.

Built-in airflow control safely redirects hot air ventilation away from surfaces, including walls and cabinets, allowing for flush mounting.

Plugs into a standard 120V/15-amp household outlet for a simplified installation.

The optional, 2-drawer under-the-counter pedestal accessory (SKCD24U0GS) simply slides in for easy installation.

"Beyond the glamour and luxury of this new appliance, our focus at Sharp is always to deliver products that make life easier in the kitchen, and the SMD2499FS comes with all the bells and whistles to achieve that," said Peter Weedfald, Senior V.P. of Sales and Marketing, Sharp Electronics Marketing Company of America.

The SMD2499FS follows the recently released Sharp Smart Countertop Microwave Oven the first-ever Alexa-enabled microwave from Sharp.

The 24" SMD2499FS Convection Microwave Drawer Oven will be available for $2,229.99 at select retail locations. Visit Sharp virtually at KBIS from February 9-12, 2021.

About Sharp Home Electronics Company of America (SHCA)

SHCA is the U.S. Consumer Products Group of Sharp Electronics Corporation, the U.S. sales subsidiary of Sharp Corporation, a worldwide developer and manufacturer of one-of-a-kind premium technology products. SHCA includes the manufacturing of certain home appliances in Memphis, TN together with the sales & marketing and servicing of home electronics in the United States. Leading products include Sharp Carousel, Microwave Drawer, SuperSteam+ ovens, and Plasmacluster Ion air purifiers.

Sharp Corporation appears on Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies for 2020, received a 2018 Thomson Reuters TOP 100 Global Technology Leader Award, and appeared on the Forbes America's Best Employers 2017 list. Learn more at http://www.sharpusa.com/.

Sharp, Carousel, Microwave Drawer, SuperSteam+, Plasmacluster, Healsio, and all related trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sharp Corporation and/or its affiliated companies. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Press Contact:

Kellyn Curtis

972.816.1355

[email protected]

SOURCE Sharp Electronics Corporation

Related Links

http://www.sharpusa.com


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Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349
NGO to launch partnership platform over Hyperledger-based app 'DocuWalk' in support of the Holy See (Vatican) impact initiatives

ROME, IL / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 2021 / Humanity 2.0, a Non-Profit (Non-Government Organization) focused on identifying and removing the most significant impediments to human flourishing through technology, media, and thought-leadership, in collaboration with the Holy See (Vatican), announced today it has signed a strategic public-private partnership with ShelterZoom, a Hyperledger blockchain-based SaaS document management platform (DocuWalk).

The partnership will support and power Humanity 2.0's impact partnership programs by providing a dynamic and secure document management solution that handles, processes, and distributes participating entities documents and agreements to all engaged collaborators. The platform is expected to launch in March 2021.

Matthew Sanders, CEO, and Co-founder of Humanity 2.0, commented, "ShelterZoom is committed to the development of bold and innovative technologies and has some very advanced blockchain services in play. We are looking to work with ShelterZoom to establish a safe and secure platform to help advance our aligned goals of integrating new technology for the betterment of humanity. Humanity 2.0 is looking forward to working closely with ShelterZoom to build on the missions of both organizations."

Chao Cheng-Shorland, CEO and Co-founder of ShelterZoom and DocuWalk, commented, "We are excited to be working with an initiative with a powerful mission like Humanity 2.0. This collaboration will help support and advance our aligned missions of integrating technology in a safe and sustainable way that will achieve the human flourishing initiative."

About ShelterZoom and DocuWalk

ShelterZoom, creator of DocuWalk, provides blockchain-based SaaS software that underpins the daily operations of businesses around the world. As first-to-market leaders in the space, ShelterZoom delivers a new type of highly private and secure document and contract platform to fully support remote operations with virtual negotiation rooms and blockchain signatures. A full suite of tools brings together multiple platforms into one central, secure workspace so businesses around the world can work seamlessly, whether they are in-person or operating from remote locations. In just two years, the company's footprint has expanded to several countries outside the U.S. and continues to see strong demand from around the globe.

For more information: www.docuwalk.com | www.shelterzoom.com| Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

About Humanity 2.0

Humanity 2.0 is a Non-Profit NGO (Non-Government Organization) focused on identifying and removing impediments to human flourishing through the use of technology and human ingenuity. A vehicle for facilitating collaborative ventures between the traditionally siloed public, private, and faith-based sectors. Its mission is to identify impediments to human flourishing and then work collaboratively across sectors to remove them by sourcing and scaling bold and innovative solutions. Developed in collaboration with the Dicastery of Promoting Integral Human Development at the Holy See and a consortium of leaders and luminaries, Humanity 2.0 seeks to unite humanity in the common cause of realizing a better world for our children.

For more information: humanity2-0.org | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

CONTACT:

Humanity 2.0 Partnerships Contact:

Matt Bird

Advisory Board Member

Humanity 2.0

C: +1 (646) 401-4499

E: matt@commpro.com

Communications Contact:

Nicole Liddy

Project Manager

CommPro Worldwide

C: +1 (848) 702-4173

E: nicole.liddy@commpro.com

SOURCE: Humanity 2.0

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628508/Humanity-20-Signs-Strategic-Partnership-with-ShelterZooms-DocuWalk-to-Power-Impact-Initiatives-with-Document-Management-Solution--Rome

Famous Toastery, a casual dining better breakfast concept with dozens of locations around Charlotte, North Carolina and the Southeast, didnt just survive the pandemic, it laid the groundwork for a full on takeover of the pent-up demand for dine-in restaurants when the country gets back on its feet.

In some ways, Famous Toasterys response to the pandemic followed a familiar playbook in the casual dining scene. According to David Burgess, the brands chief operating officer, the company had long been eyeing more tech platforms and payment options for customers, but the pandemic really spurred them on.

Things like touchless payment and curbside delivery  we had talked about doing those things but it wasnt until the pandemic that we put them into practice, Burgess said. 2020 taught us we had to get it done.

And get it done they did. Famous Toastery always prided itself on giving service with personality and genuine interpersonal connections, but now its had to pivot to selling food online.

Some of it was just pure grit, said Burgess of the struggle to digitize the entire operation overnight. Wed spend 24 hours a day finding the right partner. Once we had that, we spent every waking moment finishing it, partnering with our online ordering platform and making sure we were working through the kinks and not accepting failure on it. We needed it to survive. We did what we had to do to put it in place and make sure our franchisees were ready for it.

Instead of just dropping an entirely new process on the brands franchisees, Burgess and the leaders at corporate eased them into the new mode of business.

We handled a lot of the backoffice side of it to take the pressure off franchisees, said Burgess. We waited until they were ready for it. Once they had their systems in their store and were executing on online ordering, we rolled out the next wave on the reporting and refund and promoting side. In the beginning, we dealt with the customers and the backend of it.

Now, with limited dining room reopenings, the brand has applied that same work ethic to revamping the entire dining experience. While Famous Toastery already boasted the every server is your server model of service, it took that to the next level by making virtually any form of payment or communication accessible and acceptable.

We learned that we cant be one dimensional when it comes to the approach for a customer, said Burgess. We readied ourselves for growth with system-wide touchless payments, pay at the table or via phone options, or you can even scan a QR code and process it there. We went to a digital waitlist. Customers can check in through Google and not even leave their car until theyre ready to be sat. Well bring the food out to you. Customers can really do everything from their car in a much more streamlined dining service. However the guest wants to be taken care of, we have the ability to do it.

Overall, the pandemic caused Famous Toastery to double down on franchisee support. Burgess and CEO Robert Maynard personally stepped in to help franchisees renegotiate leases on real estate when the going got tough. In the future, the brand will create an entirely new position thats 100% devoted to supporting franchisees with these business challenges.

We basically helped mostly all the franchisees in negotiations with landlords, banks and on PPP stuff. Theyre not there to run the corporate side, they're there to serve people, said Maynard. We take that off their plate. They just dont have the time or knowhow, and we step in and help them negotiate deals and deferment.

But besides nailing the basics of adapting to the pandemic and supporting franchisees through uncertainty, Maynard says the brand took another, more aggressive approach that will pay dividends as the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel draws near.

While the pandemic restrictions have caused a boom in QSR, pizza and delivery sales, Maynard says the American people are really missing eating out in a restaurant again. All available statistics and metrics back him up on that claim.

Life is all about food and beverage, said Maynard. What are you doing Friday night? Its always around bars and restaurants. People are craving going out to nice breakfasts. People want that more than a QSR, theyre really craving that human connectivity theyre not getting. I think you're gonna see an explosion in the casual dining and fine dining world with all this pent-up demand.

So how has Famous Toastery prepared for the coming boom in dine-in restaurants? By boldly growing the brand while others were struggling to survive.

Were setting ourselves up for that boom, said Maynard. Were very bullish for the future. All things pass, and the pandemic will too. So we opened three new locations that show were really forging ahead and sticking to our local markets.

With the first COVID-19 vaccines already in circulation far ahead of schedule, Maynard says Famous Toastery will be there for guests when they feel safe dining out again. For that reason, the time to buy into the growing franchise is now, before the boom.

For any franchise, if you can grow your brand it helps everyone, he said. A rising tide lifts all boats.
(Natural News) A new study claims the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) violated federal laws by artificially inflating COVID-19 death counts.

The study published in Science, Public Health Policy and The Law exposes major problems with how the CDC was able to generate inaccurate data during a crisis. It added that the CDCs methods in collecting and classifying data significantly [impact] the published fatalities count due to COVID-19.

CDC violated federal laws when tallying COVID-19 deaths

A National File piece written by former Big League Politics Editor-In-Chief Patrick Howley asserted that the CDC willfully violated multiple federal laws. Some of the laws Howley claimed the CDC flouted include the Information Quality Act, Paperwork Reduction act and Administrative Procedures Act.

In a statement provided to the National File, Watchdog group All Concerned Citizens said that the CDC illegally enacted new rules for data collection and reporting for COVID-19 cases. These new rules resulted in a 1,600 percent increase in the number of COVID-19 fatalities. Despite being required to maintain full compliance with federal laws even during an emergency, the CDC failed to facilitate mandatory federal oversight and public scientific comment.

The research [paper] asserts that CDC willfully compromised the accuracy and integrity of all COVID-19 case and fatality data from the onset of this crisis in order to fraudulently inflate case and fatality [numbers], the watchdog continued.

The paper posited that the CDC compromised COVID-19 statistics by using two documents that did not undergo federal scrutiny as benchmarks for reporting.

Back in March 2020, the National Vital Statistics System issued COVID-19 Alert No. 2 under CDCs direction. The alert was issued to all physicians, medical examiners and coroners with regard to reporting COVID-19 fatalities on death certificates. Deaths arising from comorbidities were de-emphasized in favor of COVID-19 as a cause of death. This March 20 alert superseded widely-adopted rules and procedures in place for at least 17 years.

In April 2020, the CDC adopted a position paper by the non-profit Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. Four CDC subject matter experts assisted in its creation. Section VII of the said paper established rules for COVID-19 data classification and collection, but not how to prevent one person from being counted multiple times as new COVID-19 cases. Because of this, people already hospitalized who return a positive PCR test could be counted as a new COVID-19 case every time. (Related: CDC chief admits hospitals have perverse incentive to inflate coronavirus deaths.)

All Concerned Citizens said a formal petition has been sent to the Department of Justice. U.S. All U.S. attorneys have also sought an immediate grand jury investigation into the matter, it added.

CDC hiding real COVID-19 death numbers

A Health Impact News article by Brian Shilhavy alleged that the public health body is hiding the actual number of COVID-19 deaths. Shilhavy posted screenshots from late December 2020 sent by a reader, showing the CDC websites COVID-19 statistics platform. The said platform now displays an error message as of writing.

Based on the screenshot, total deaths for 2020  including those from COVID-19  amounted to 2,902,664. But the CDC website currently reports 3,320,435 total deaths for 2020. (Related: CDC admits false positives are being mistakenly included in official coronavirus data.)

Manipulating key data is just a small aspect of what public health bodies such as the CDC can and will do to keep the public confused and unaware of the actual situation. They have pushed for vaccines, lockdowns and monitoring amid the ongoing Wuhan coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the dangers of coronavirus vaccines, public health bodies have considered it making mandatory  striking back against those who opt not to get the jab and those who advocate against it. They have also used coronavirus cases to justify lockdowns despite the negative effects of such mandates on the economy. Lastly, they have pushed for monitoring citizens who got their COVID-19 jab despite privacy concerns.

Head over to DisInfo.news to read more about public health bodies manipulation of official COVID-19 figures.

Sources include:

HumansAreFree.com

HealthImpactNews.com 1 [PDF]

NationalFile.com

HealthImpactNews.com 2

Senior Reporter

ENCOURAGED by the work being done by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and her Angel of Hope Foundation in easing the plight of victims of various disasters and vulnerable communities, a local plastic, soap-making and waste management concern, LowForth Investments, has donated 1,5 tonnes of laundry soap and 1 000 buckets for onward distribution to the needy.

The First Lady is the country's health and child care ambassador who has been leading from the front in mobilising resources for vulnerable and marginalised communities.

She has also been holding interactive sessions with communities on the best ways to prevent Covid-19 and distributing face masks, sanitisers and food to the people.

Her interventions have been timely as the country is under lockdown to prevent the deadly pandemic, which has killed thousands of people globally and pulled back the global economy by many factors.

Zimbabwe has not been spared as it has lost over 1 300 people to the pandemic and is grappling with challenges of domestic violence and juvenile delinquency, which rear their ugly head in the lockdown, hence the First Lady's intervention.

In handing over the donation at Zimbabwe House in Harare yesterday, LowForth Investments representative Mr Zvandiri Born-Awake Kapururira passed condolences to President Mnangagwa and the First Lady for the sad loss of over 1 000 people, including five national heroes due to Covid-19.

"In the past years and couple of weeks, we were very saddened to see many Zimbabweans in the Eastern region of Chimanimani and surrounding areas being displaced by serious floods caused by heavy torrential rain," he said.

"As a result, many people died, a great number of people have lost their homes and property. Bridges and roads were destroyed or badly damaged, business and normal life of the people are interrupted.

"As the effects of the natural disaster are still with us, the suffering of the people still lingers and many people are waiting in a desperate situation for urgent aid and relief.

"In this regard, Lowforth Investments cherishes so much the philanthropic work being carried by Amai through the Angel of Hope Foundation in assisting the affected and marginalised communities. We are pleased to announce our readiness to assist the First Lady through her Angel of Hope in alleviating the lives of the underprivileged and keeping our environment clean."

Mr Kapururira described the donation as a token of the sincere support his company has for the work being done by Angel of Hope Foundation.

"We have witnessed what Amai has been doing with the Angel of Hope Foundation, so we felt compelled to assist. We felt there are vulnerable groups that are among us that need assistance and our First Lady has been working hard in assisting them," he said.

In receiving the donation, the First Lady who was represented by the Foundation's board vice chairperson Mrs Chipo Mtasa, said since inception, the foundation has been proactive in the quest to better the plight of the marginalised, underprivileged, women, youth and children.

"Our core principles are three-fold and these are to shore up vulnerable populations in having their quota entree to health productions and services that will enable them to lead health wholesome lives, to support underprivileged women and youth in acquiring wherewithal the resources they need to become secure and earn a noble living and to act in response to communities by addressing both economic and social vulnerabilities enabling them to be economically empowered an meet the demands of their livelihood."

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She said soap was a basic commodity which had proven effective in the fight against Covid-19 through washing hands, overall cleaning of surfaces and the maintenance of good hygiene.

"This thoughtful donation is complementary as buckets are essential for the storage of clean water in remote areas. This endorsement will go a long way in helping the marginalised and underprivileged in remote areas to access this much-needed sanitation product."

Amai Mnangagwa encouraged other indigenous companies to help those in need in societies since "we are all brothers and sisters."

"Angel of Hope Foundation has no donation that is too big or too small, please, whatever you have will go very far in touching lives," she said.

Yesterday's donation will complement the already running programmes being undertaken by the First Lady to cushion vulnerable families.
In the middle of a pandemic where the U.S. death count is approaching 500,000, pharmaceutical firms have substantially raised prices for drugs. They did this in January, at a time when millions of people in the U.S. had already lost their jobs and their health insurance, forcing patients to go without drugs or pay out of pocket. The latter option is a pipe dream for many families because 30% of the American public admit they would have difficulty paying an emergency bill of $400.

Massive costs for drugs are common even for people with health insurance. Donna Talla of Springfield, Va. recently told The British Medical Journal that shes thousands of dollars in debt for the medications she received after contracting COVID-19, despite having private insurance through her employer. I think Im going to have to sell my house, Talla, 56, told The BMJ.

Amid all this calamity, the pharma companies last month raised drug prices by an average thats more than three time the cost of living increase. In fact, according to Reuters, citing data from the research firm 3 Axis Advisors, the industry raised prices on more drugs in January than in any other month during the past three years. The prices of 619 branded drugs, those that are patent protected, rose by an average of 5.2%. Prices on some of the best-selling brands were raised even more. Humira, the worlds top-selling drug, received a price hike of 7.4%.

Physicians now report that an increasing percentage of their patients must skip doses, cut pills in half or fail to fill prescriptions because of unaffordable prices. Although this is a worldwide problem, it is especially dire in the U.S. In a study published last week, the RAND Corporation found that prices for brand name drugs in the U.S. average 3.44 times higher than in other countries. Across the world, national health systems use a variety of measures to constrain drug prices. The U.S. uses none of these.

In response to complaints about their pricing, the pharma companies give the false answer that they must charge high prices to conduct research that leads to better medications.

That is deceptive in more ways that can be discredited here. Suffice it to say that the overwhelming majority of new medications that pharma companies launch are me-too products with no therapeutic advantage over existing drugs.

In fairness, it should be acknowledged that the pharma companies have played an important role in rapidly developing effective vaccines for the pandemic. But it hasnt been an altruistic endeavor. Nearly all of these vaccines were developed with government funding. At the same time, the government subsidized revenue for the pharma companies by agreeing to pay billions of dollars for the finished products, even before they were approved.

Take remdesivir, which treats infected coronavirus patients. The government heavily subsidized the development of this drug, which is only marginally effective. Yet its maker Gilead Sciences still set a price of $3,120 for a course of treatment that a patient or her insurer must bear.

The cost of COVID-19 vaccines is a better deal for consumers. Since the federal government has purchased hundreds of millions of doses, the vaccines are now free to all Americans, although Pfizer and AstraZeneca refused to state what prices they may charge in future years if modifications are needed.

The situation in poorer countries is more troublesome because most drug makers are charging higher prices than what many nations can afford. Although some may say thats not our problem, epidemiologists know this is a hazard for us. If the virus continues running rampant anywhere in the world, it provides more opportunities for mutations that can re-enter the U.S. and resist available vaccines, prolonging the pandemic.

So is there anything that might constrain the drug companies from fleecing American consumers and taxpayers? The short answer is yes.

Some federal efforts, such as enabling Medicare to negotiate prices, would require Congressional approval. Other methods only need executive action, such as invoking U.S. federal statute 28 USC 1498 that would let the government use any patented technology.

Several states could also form interstate compacts to limit the prices of drugs sold there.

But proposals like these have been around for many years. It remains to be seen whether Americans will now make their officeholders address public needs instead of favoring pharmas campaign contributions.

Daniel R. Hoffman, Ph.D., is president of Pharmaceutical Business Research Associates and co-author of, The Global Pharmaceutical Industry (Routledge).
THE government plans to construct 45 km road stretch from Masasi to Nachingwea to tarmac level, the Parliament was told on Monday.

Deputy Minister for Works and Transport, Eng Godfrey Kasekenya said in the House that the government has already set aside 1.45bn/- in the 2020/21 budget for the project.

He said as the government also continues with the mobilization of funds so that it will be maintained after construction so that it remains passable all the time.

"For the year 2020/21 the government allocated 232.6m/- for maintenance of the said road so that it could be on use throughout the year," he said, while responding to a question by Nachingwea MP, Amandus Chikuwile.

Earlier, Mr Chikuwile wanted to know the government's plans on the construction of road to tarmac, adding that its smooth passage would easy transportation of goods and movement of people for both social and economic purposes.

He said the completion of the road will help to easy services and connect parts of Mtwara and Lindi regions.

In related development, the government has pledged to continue increasing the Vocational Education Training Institutions (VETA) budget.

The Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Technology Omar Kipanga made the assurance in the Parliament, yesterday while responding to a question by Special Seats MP Regina Qwaray, who wanted to know the government's plans in increasing the budget for Vocations training institutes in Manyara region.

In response, Mr Kipanga said the government has been improving the budget to improve the performance of the vocational education sector, and that it would continue doing the same for other colleges countrywide.

He said, between 2018-2020 the government concentrated a lot on improving the sector including building staff houses and VETA related infrastructure in Manyara region.

"Also some 337m/- was spent on constructing a workshop and administration office for the Gorowa VTC, 223.9m/- allocated for procuring teaching materials for Simanjiro VTC and 259m/- spent on sponsoring short courses in all colleges in the region," he noted.
ERSA is located within the renowned Sierra de Las Minas District of southern La Rioja province, home to several past producing gold and silver mines

The company has signed an amended agreement with Esperanza Resources SA and Rojnica Ivo

( ) (OTCPINK:FGLDF) said Tuesday it has successfully renegotiated an agreement for its interest in the ERSA property in Argentina.

The company said that it has signed an amended agreement with Esperanza Resources SA and Rojnica Ivo, both vendors of the 11,072-hectare gold-silver-copper property.

Under the renegotiated agreement to earn its initial 80% interest, Falcon has agreed to make payments to the vendors over a four-year option period totalling 500,000 Falcon shares and 500,000 warrants. During the four-year option period, Falcon is to make minimum expenditures on the property amounting to US$350,000.

Each warrant to be issued is exercisable for one Falcon share valued at a price set on each date of issue at 125% of the closing price for Falcon shares traded on the TSX Venture Exchange for a 12-month term.

Falcon also has the option to purchase the remaining 20% interest for another two million shares and a US$1.5 million payment which includes a 1% NSR buy back with the vendors retaining 1%.

ERSA is located within the renowned Sierra de Las Minas District of southern La Rioja province, home to several past-producing gold and silver mines.

Sampling work conducted by Falcon in 2018 included a 1 metre sample that returned 5,619 parts per billion (ppb) gold. A 2.5-metre continuous chip sample from the north end of the Callanas West exposure showed 5,905 ppb gold, 20.6 ppm silver and 0.3% copper. Additional samples included 27 grams per ton (g/t) gold across 50 centimetres from the Callana III vein. From the Callana IV vein  across a 50 centimetre width where visible gold was identified  assays returned 45.7 g/t gold with silver content greater than 100 ppm and copper analyses of 7,869.6 ppm.

Falcon CEO Karim Rayani told shareholders that the company was thrilled to return to Argentina and work with Esperanza Resources.

Our previous work on the ERSA concessions has given Falcon the ability to jump into its exploration and development work with its advanced knowledge of the locations and structural controls on significant gold, silver and copper zones, Rayani said in a statement.

Falcons Argentina team is headed by Juan Carlos Navas, a long-time associate and seasoned mining executive.

The junior company is focused on acquiring and advancing projects in the Americas.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
gaitQ Provides Business Update

Recent fundraising to support early testing of Parkinson's system in a clinical study

Support received from Parkinson's UK

Progress in user recruitment for clinical study

Oxford, UK, 9 February 2021 - gaitQ, a spin-out from the University of Oxford which is developing a wearable, smart medical device that helps those with Parkinson's overcome gait freezing episodes, is pleased to announce a business update on its recent and ongoing activities since launching in March 2020.

Funding

Since its inception in 2020, the company has made significant progress towards the development of the gaitQ system after attracting GBP 625,000 in pre-seed capital from both the University of Oxford Innovation Fund V, managed by Parkwalk Advisors, and via a private investment from Simon Godwin, recently appointed Chairman of gaitQ. Proceeds from the financing are being used to advance the early testing and development of gaitQ's device.

Parkinson's UK

Parkinson's UK has confirmed they will continue to support the development of gaitQ by facilitating patient and public involvement activities. The organisation, Europe's largest charitable funder of Parkinson's research, will help to build gaitQ's increasing network and advise on how the Company can engage with people with Parkinson's, their carers, clinicians and other key stakeholders.

Natasha Ratcliffe, Research Involvement Manager at Parkinson's UK, said: "People with Parkinson's are at the heart of all the work we do and their invaluable experiences and insights are helping to shape all forms of pioneering research. We're really pleased to support gaitQ to involve the Parkinson's community as they develop a device to overcome mobility issues."

"Freezing is one of the most distressing yet least known symptoms of Parkinson's, and a recent survey we carried out highlighted that this issue becomes increasingly important to people as the condition progresses. Innovative technologies like the gaitQ system that could reduce freezing episodes hold real promise to significantly improve the quality of life for 145,000 people living with Parkinson's in the UK, giving them more freedom to enjoy daily activities."

User recruitment

gaitQ is recruiting individuals with Parkinson's for a study investigating the use of a range of device capabilities, in a clinical setting. The gaitQ system will include functionality to deliver personalized, adaptive cueing for people with Parkinson's experiencing gait-freezing in a discreet, unobtrusive device. Data collected using the gaitQ system will accurately reflect the episodes of gait freezing symptoms and walking quality over time to allow the progression of the condition to be tracked. In the future, data from the gaitQ system could help clinicians optimize medication delivery or be provided to pharma companies as real-world evidence in developing new treatment options.

Tristan Collins, CEO of gaitQ, said: "The last year has been very important for gaitQ and we are pleased to have made significant progress towards the development of our system despite the challenging COVID-19 environment that we are operating in. The investment, combined with the continued support from Parkinson's UK, enhances the credibility and integrity of gaitQ and will help us achieve our mission of improving mobility in people with Parkinson's. We are thankful for the continued support of our shareholders and are looking forward to receiving clinical validation from the upcoming clinical study which will take us to the next step in our development."

Simon Godwin, Chairman of gaitQ, said: "I am very proud of the gaitQ team who have continued to drive forward the company which was spun out of the University of Oxford at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. I am excited about the year ahead as the company continues to grow from strength to strength."

About gaitQ

gaitQ is a spinout from the University of Oxford developing a wearable, smart medical device aimed at restoring mobility in people with Parkinson's. Around 45% of people with Parkinson's eventually develop gait-freezing, an intermittent failure to initiate or maintain walking - often described as the most debilitating symptom of the condition1. gaitQ's first product will be a cueing device that helps individuals overcome gait-freezing episodes and maintain their levels of activity for longer. gaitQ features personalised, adaptive cueing during periods of gait-freezing in a discrete, unobtrusive device. Powered by proprietary machine learning algorithms, gaitQ's technology has been in development for more than three years within Oxford University's Institute of Biomedical Engineering

About Parkinson's and Parkinson's UK

Parkinson's is what happens when the brain cells that make dopamine start to die. There are more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety. Some are treatable, but the drugs can have serious side effects. It gets worse over time and there's no cure. Yet.

Parkinson's is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. Around 145,000 people in the UK have Parkinson's.

For more facts and statistics, please click here.

Further information, advice and support is available on our website, www.parkinsons.org.uk.

For more information please contact:

gaitQ

Tristan Collins

info@gaitq.com

Consilium Strategic Communications

Mary-Jane Elliott / Alexandra Harrison / Davide Salvi

gaitq@consilium-comms.com

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5700







1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22795382




A hearing into whether a Massachusetts developer will be allowed to build a massive warehousing complex near the exit 138 of Interstate 81 will be held later this month.

The Kline Twp. Planning Commission will hold a public hearing Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. at the Kline Twp. municipal complex on Fifth Street in Kelayres to review the final subdivision and land development plan of Brewster Land Co. Inc. The company wants to develop a 350-acre parcel of land located near the Haddock section of the township, north of Lofty Road and south of Interstate 81.

The original application was to build 3.75 million square feet  which has since been reduced somewhat  on a parcel known as Devils Mountain, a popular hunting ground. The land is right off exit 138 of I-81.

Mark Semanchik, Kline Twp. solicitor, said the planning commissions role in the proposal is to review all of the information submitted by Brewster, and then recommend to the township supervisors what action to take in regard to the plan.

They (Brewster) have submitted a whole ton of information that will be reviewed at the 23rd meeting, Semanchik said. The first submissions came right at the beginning of the new year. There was another big pile of information submitted maybe 10 days ago. Whether it measures up to get final approval remains to be seen. They granted preliminary plan approval because the plan met all of the preliminary requirements in the subdivision ordinance. To get to final plan approval, there is another set of requirements. Thats where the information has to be compared to what the requirements are. Its up to them (the planning commission) to make sure they meet all of the requirements.

What happens on Feb. 23 depends on how the planning commission members read the information Brewster submitted, Semanchik said.

They (the planning commission) could recommend final approval, Semanchik said. They could recommend no approval, tabling the action, or granting final approval with certain conditions. Its all based on the engineering review of everything theyve submitted.

Lehigh Engineering is the township engineer reviewing all of the information.

Monday night, the supervisors granted conditional approval to the planning module for the proposed development, subject to planning commission approval.

Semanchik noted the planning module had already been approved by Kline Twp. Municipal Authority, McAdoo Borough Sewer Authority and Kline-Banks-McAdoo Sewer Authority. But he said the water and sewer lines for the development will be owned by the authorities, not the township.

The Kline Twp. proposal is one of several in the Hazleton area that are in various stages of development.
George Okoh writes that the minority ethnic groups in Benue State, particularly the Idomas are mounting a sustained pressure to have the governorship position zoned in their favour.

Though 2023 is still very far for the conduct of governorship elections in Nigeria, agitation for who wl succeed the incumbent Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has started as several politicians across party line have started consultation and some have openly declared their intention to succeed Ortom even as some have cleverly erected billboards in strategic areas of the state.

However, despite the agitation by individuals to take a short at the position,the real battle appears to come from the senatorial zones in the state.

Benue like all states in Nigeria is divided into three senatorial zones which comprises of Benue South, Benue North-east and the Benue North-west.

The present Benue state governor Ortom is from the North-west. Despite this, some sections of the zone are still showing strong interest in the race in 2023. The zonal battle for the position has rather started very early as moves by very strong politicians showing interest in the race have come under the zones.

A keen observation of the political arena has shown that all the zones are interested in the race which has always rotated between the Benue North-east and the Benue North-west.

Since the creation of the state and from the 1979 election till date the two zones have dominated the position.

Those from the Benue South have continuously agitated for power shift to the predominantly Idoma speaking area but have not succeeded.The question on the lips of observers is will 2023 be different?

As the tenure of the incumbent governor begins to lurch towards 2023 the agitation has intensified.

It may sound ridiculous to talk about the governorship race two years ahead, but it is inextricably tied to uncertainties on which zone will produce the next governor

Benue South Quest

The move by the Benue South has started very strongly.

Pressure groups demanding for power shift are spring up across the state using social media platforms in galvanizing support for the project.

A group known as the Benue Rebirth Movement (BRM)and the Benue Patriots led by AVM Monday Morgan and Barrister A Ochojila respectively have been at the forefront demanding that power should shift to the zone in 2023.

These groups have been going round dialoguing with the other zones that the governorship position be zoned to Benue South.

Recently the BRM took its consultation to the Traditional ruler of the TiV nation the Tor TiV, former governors of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam and Senator George Akume appealing to their conscience on the need for power shift to Benue South senatorial district.

AVM Morgan appealed to the Benue leaders to see reason with the group's submission inferring that since the creation of the state 44 years ago a person of Benue South extraction has never been given the chance to govern the state.

He recognized the fact that the Tiv speaking part of Benue state which consists of Benue Zone A and B were the majority in the state and in a democratic setting numbers mattered a lot, not withstanding, he appealed to the Senators and Tor Tiv to see the plight of the people of Benue South and of cause help in pleading with their people and all stakeholders of Tiv land in general to help in entrenching the true meaning of democracy , void of tribal and ethnic divide and one which seeks to accommodate all in leadership and in service.

In his comment on the quest by the Benue South, a popular youth activist and All Progressives Congress Chieftain Honourable Anthony Adah said the TiV people of Benue North-east and west must consider the people of Benue south in their sharing formula.He said the people of Benue south should dialogue, romance and possibly beg to be considered without being confrontational.

"The state stands to gain a lot if Benue south is giving the position as the two other zones with assembly member from 14 local governments council will be a check in the state assembly as against the 9 councils of Zone C.

So far prominent persons in the Benue South have showed interest in the position. Among those interested in the race is a former Deputy Governor of Benue State Chief Steven Lawani.Many pundits are of the opinion that if the people in the zone rallied round Lawani they may have a chance to the Government House in 2023.

Others being touted are All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship running mate in the 2019 election Dr Samuel Ode,AVM Monday Morgan, former NTA director Maxwell Uloko and a youth activist Mr Anthony Adah

Benue North East for 2023

A section of the Benue North-east known as the Jechira people have launched a strong force to ensure the zone produced the next governor of the state.

A youth wing of Jechira Gubernatorial Movement (JGM) on Tuesday, 2nd February, 2021 held talks with the young people of Lobi, comprising Makurdi and Guma Local Government Areas (LGAs) over the position of 2023 governorship race

Leader of the movement, Mr Dan Nyikwagh during the talks reminded the people of Lobi of the Benue North-west about the long standing relationship between Jechira and the people of Minda, saying, same would be sustained.

According to Nyikwagh, the youth wing of JGM is a forerunner movement that is beyond party consideration and assured the young people of Lobi that their interest in a Jechira governorship arrangement will be protected.

He called on the youth to support the Jechira governorship project in the interest of fair play and justice.

In their supporting remarks, Manasseh Kyernum and Terfa Chagba (all of Jemgbagh) and Terna Gile implored Lobi youth to support the Jechira Governorship ambition in the over all interest of the state.

Kyernum noted that a critical analysis of the contending blocks for the 2023 Governorship race puts Jechira ahead of the others given their positioning in the scheme of affairs in the state.

In their response, youth leaders of the two dorminant political parties in the state, PDP and APC from Makurdi and Guma LGAs said they are pleased with the unity of purpose exhibited by Jechira youth in their quest to occupy the Makurdi Government House from 2023.

Terngu Iornenge (APC/Makurdi), Stephen Datso (PDP/Makurdi), Vitalis Koryol (PDP/Guma) and Isherev Yakubu (APC/Guma) said the approach of JGM (Youth Wing) is a reflection of the way of life of the Tiv.

Speaking on behalf of Jechira aspirants, Tyoakura Member (for PDP) and Emmanuel Tyonum (for APC), said Jechira will not leave out Minda in the scheme of affairs when they make it to Makurdi Government House in 2023.

Before the talks began, JGM, paid homage on the Tor Lobi and Chairman Lobi Intermediate Area Traditional Council with his council.

His Highness Moses Anagende, Tor Lobi said the young people of Jechira have done the right thing. He said he was pleased see representatives from Jemgbagh on the team.

He noted that Jechira and Minda have a long standing relationship dating back to the olden days.

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His Highness therefore blessed the movement on behalf of his council for luck and the achievement of their dream.

The movement equally has been going round to agitate for the position. An avalanche of possible winners have emerged from the unit such as Chief Barnabas Gemade, Professor Terhemba Shija,Honourable Herman Hembe Professor Dennis Tsvaryar, Achitect Bernard Yisa, Dr Paul Angya amongst others.

Another group from the Benue North-east known as the Kwande people also have launched a serious move for the position.Top politicians like Terwase Obunde, Dr Paul Ubwa are being considered.

For the Benue North-west, according to pundits it will be a hercullian task for the zone to produce Ortom's successor.This so so because the incumbent Ortom is from the zone.

There have been arguments from the Gwer section of the zone that the governorship position usually rotates between the five Tiv speaking traditional institutions which comprises of the Kwande, Jechira , Jemgba, Sankara and Minda which they claimed is wrong, arguing that it should have been among the six first class chiefs in the chiefdom. With the argument, Minda has two first class chiefs, the Lobi and Gwer. Ortom is from Lobi and so it's clear for a candidate from Gwer to contest.

QUOTE

Since the creation of the state and from the 1979 election till date the two zones have dominated the position.

Those from the Benue South have continuously agitated for power shift to the predominantly Idoma speaking area but have not succeeded.The question on the lips of observers is will 2023 be different?

As the tenure of the incumbent governor begins to lurch towards 2023 the agitation has intensified. It may sound ridiculous to talk about the governorship race two years ahead, but it is inextricably tied to uncertainties on which zone will produce the next governor
A man is being treated in hospital this morning after the car he was driving crashed into a bridge before plunging into the water at Turloughmore in Co Galway.

Gardai are still at the scene of the collision at Lackagh Bridge that happened at 5am.

Power lines have been damaged as a result of the collision and the road is currently closed with local diversions in place.

Read More

A vehicle collided with the bridge and entered the water, Gardai said.

The male driver of the car was taken to University Hospital Galway for treatment of what are believed to be non-serious injuries.

Enquiries are ongoing.
Domestic benchmarks reversed intraday gains and ended near the flat line after a volatile session on Tuesday. As per provisional closing data, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, fell 19.69 points or 0.04% to 51,329.08. The Nifty 50 index lost 6.50 points or 0.04% to 15,109.30.

The Sensex hit a record high of 51,835.86 and the Nifty hit a record high of 15,257.10 in mid-afternoon trade. Investors booked profits after both the indices surged about 11% in the past six consecutive sessions.

Mahindra & Mahindra (down 3.04%), ITC (down 1.76%), Bajaj Finance (down 1.59%), TCS (down 1.10%) and Hindustan Unilever (down 0.93%) offset gains in Asian Paints (up 3.70%), Larsen & Toubro (up 0.83%), ICICI Bank (up 0.66%), HDFC Bank (up 0.45%) and HDFC (up 0.33%).

The correction was broad based. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index slipped 0.18% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index declined 0.26%.

The market breadth was negative. On the BSE, 1313 shares rose and 1656 shares fell. A total of 189 shares were unchanged.

COVID-19 Update:

Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 106,460,230 with 2,324,916 deaths. India reported 143,625 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 155,158 deaths while 104,96,308 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Earnings Impact:

Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) added 0.05% to Rs 582. The company posted a 16.23% increase in net profit to Rs 1576.53 crore on 11.59% rise in total income to Rs 4274.49 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20.

Total operating revenue grew by 12% to Rs 3,746 crore in Q3 FY21 from Rs 3,336 crore in Q3 FY20. Port revenue has increased by 35% and revenue from logistics business increased by 8% during the period under review. Consolidated operating EBITDA grew by 9% to Rs 2,488 crore in Q3 FY21 from Rs 2,287 crore in Q3 FY20.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) shed 0.25% to Rs 418.85. the corporation's net profit surged 120.3% to Rs 2,777.62 crore on 10.7% decline in net sales to Rs 66,731.39 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20.

The oil marketing company's other income in the third quarter was Rs 1,514.55 crore as against Rs 514.82 crore in the same period last year. In Q3 December 2020, the company incurred a one-time cost of Rs 419 crore towards an employee stock purchase option scheme 2020.

The state-owned refiner's throughput in the quarter declined 13.9% year-on-year (YoY) to 7.24 million tonne. The company's market sales in the quarter were largely flat at 11.10 million tonne as compared to the same period last year.

The Average Gross Refining Margin (GRM) of the Corporation during nine months ended 31 December 2020 Is $2.90 per barrel as compared to $3.15 per barrel in April - December 2019.

NMDC slipped 0.89% to Rs 116.70. The state-run miner's standalone net profit increased 53.2% to Rs 2108.9 crore on a 44.9% jump in net sales to Rs 4355.1 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20. EBITDA margin improved to 66% in Q3 FY21 from 50% in Q3 FY20.

During the quarter ended December 2020, the company's iron ore production increased 70% to 96 lakh tonnes (LT), iron ore sales jumped 41% to 92.84 LT over the same period last year. The average domestic realization spiked 41% to Rs 4,402 per ton in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20.

Balaji Amines soared 13.30% to Rs 1433.50 after the company's standalone net profit jumped 162.5% to Rs 70.16 crore on 64.5% rise in net sales to Rs 364.73 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20.

During the quarter ended December 2020, the company's sales volume grew by 33.9% to 28,353 MT from 21,160 MT in the same period last year. Amines volumes stood at 4,952 MT, Amines Derivatives volumes stood at 10,812 MT while Specialty Chemicals volumes stood at 12,589 MT in quarter ended December 2020.

EBITDA for Q3FY21 was Rs 98.77 crore as compared to Rs 45.81 crore in Q3FY20, posting a growth of 115.6%. EBITDA margin for Q3FY21 was at 26.92%, up by 647 basis points, compared with 20.45% in Q3FY20. The improvement in operating margins was primarily on account of improvement in operating leverage due to increase in volume offtake and better price realization.

AstraZeneca Pharma India lost 3.98% to Rs 3744.25. The company's net profit declined 21.2% to Rs 21.05 crore in Q3 FY21 from Rs 26.7 crore in Q3 FY20. Net sales for Q3 FY21 stood at Rs 200.25 crore, a 10.5% fall over Rs 223.86 crore recorded in Q3 FY20.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals slumped 6.72% to Rs 2572.90. On a consolidated basis, the drug maker's net profit jumped 18.3% to Rs 297 crore on a 2.5% increase in net sales at Rs 1,972 crore in Q3 December 2020 over Q3 December 2019. Total revenues rose 1% to Rs 1,995 crore in Q3 FY21 as against Rs 1,966 crore in Q3 FY20. Gross margins were at 72% and operating EBITDA margins were at 30%.

Gross profit rose 1% to Rs 1,433 crore in Q3 FY21 over Rs 1,424 crore in Q3 FY20. Operational EBITDA jumped 12% to Rs 607 crore in Q3 FY21 as against Rs 540 crore in Q3 FY20 driven by cost efficiencies. R&D spend grew 2% to Rs 112 crore in Q3 FY21 from Rs 110 crore in Q3 FY20.

Balkrishna Industries tumbled 9.92% to Rs 1656.95. The company's consolidated net profit jumped 45.3% to Rs 325.07 crore on a 30.6% increase in net sales at Rs 1,509.23 crore in Q3 December 2020 over Q3 December 2019. Consolidated profit before tax (PBT) surged 53.7% to Rs 427.57 crore in Q3 December 2020 as against Rs 278.27 crore in Q3 December 2019. The company's board approved capex plans worth Rs 1,900 crore will be funded by internal accruals and debt, if required.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Tata Steel (down 0.38%) will announce quarterly earnings today.

Shares of Reliance Industries (RIL) and Future Group companies were in demand after Delhi High Court quashed an order that had stalled Future Group's deal to sell its retail assets to conglomerate RIL.

A New Delhi court last week had sided with Future's partner Amazon Inc's challenge and put Future's $3.4 billion asset sale deal with RIL on hold, which led to an appeal from the Indian retail group.

The e-commerce giant Amazon had reportedly argued that Future breached certain 2019 contracts by agreeing to the deal with RIL.

Future Retail (FRL) had filed an appeal before the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court, against an ad interim status quo order dated 2 February 2021 (Impugned Order) passed by a Ld. Single Judge in proceedings filed by Amazon.Com NV Investment Holdings LLC (Amazon) asking for a stay on the proposed transaction with the Reliance Group.

"A Division Bench comprising of the Chief Justice D. N. Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh has stayed the operation and effect of order passed by the Ld. Single Judge, for the prima facie reason that the company is not a party to the shareholders agreement dated 22 August 2019 executed between Amazon, Future Coupons and the promoters of FRL, under which arbitration was initiated by Amazon in Singapore. The court also observed that statutory authorities cannot be restrained in private litigation from acting in accordance with law," Future Retail said in a stock exchange filing.

Shares of RIL added 0.10% to Rs 1953.50. Among the Future Group stocks, Future Retail (up 9.77%), Future Lifestyle Fashions (up 10%), Future Consumer (up 9%) and Future Enterprises (up 9%) advanced.

IRCON International jumped 8.35% to Rs 93.45 after the company said that its board will consider bonus issue of shares on Monday, 15 February 2021. In the same meeting, the company's board will also consider Q3 earnings and interim dividend.

JSW Steel fell 2.24% to Rs 408. The company's crude steel production grew by 2% to 14.32 lakh tonnes in January 2021 as compared to 14.10 lakh tonnes in January 2020. The average capacity utilisation was 96% during the month of January 2021. Production of flat rolled products fell 1% to 10.14 lakh tonnes while that of long rolled products rose 5% to 3.59 lakh tonnes in January 2021 over January 2020.

Global Markets:

European stocks corrected on Tuesday. Most Asian markets, however, managed to end the day in the green.

In US, Wall Street reached all-time closing highs on Monday as investor optimism was stoked by prospects of a speedier economic recovery from the global health crisis, driven by increased stimulus and an accelerated vaccine rollout.

Biden has set a goal to administer at least 100 million COVID vaccine doses during his first 100 days in office, but he warned it will be very difficult to achieve herd immunity in the U.S. by the end of summer.

Commodities prices pointed to renewed optimism in the global economic recovery. Brent oil extended an advance above $60 a barrel on signs the global market is tightening and demand is improving. Bitcoin jumped to a record after Tesla Inc. bought $1.5 billion of the cryptocurrency.

Investors are taking comfort from vaccine rollouts and signs of progress on stimulus, though worries remain about stretched valuations.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Posted Monday, February 8, 2021 4:30 pm

State lawmakers continued their busy schedule of committee hearings on a wide range of issues last week as they approached the first cutoff deadline for legislative action just days from now.

Monday, Feb. 15, is the last day for policy committees to pass bills in their originating house for further consideration this legislative session. The House and Senate also took full floor votes on more than a dozen measures this week. Most passed by unanimous or near-unanimous votes, but in the House, a bill to spend $2.2 billion in federal COVID relief money for the state (HB 1368) passed by a split vote on Monday.

The House also passed SB 5061, a measure to provide unemployment tax relief for small businesses, making it the first bill to reach the governors desk for signing this session.

On Wednesday, the Senate passed SB 5121 to expand the states program for early release of prisoners into the community. Senators debated proposed amendments to tighten restrictions on the early-release program at length, but the amendments failed and the bill passed along strictly partisan lines by a vote of 28-21.

Senate Bill 5061, concerning unemployment insurance, passed the House on Jan. 29 by a vote of 89-8, with one member excused.

This bill would provide unemployment insurance tax relief by not charging rate increases to employers for unemployment benefits during a public health emergency for high-risk individuals unable to work from home and shared work benefits paid or reimbursed by the federal government. For workers, the bill would expand eligibility for those in high-risk households and waive the waiting period when federally reimbursed. It would also increase the minimum benefit from 15 to 20% of the average weekly wage and limit benefits to a person's weekly wage.

 Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet  No

 Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen  No

 Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia  Yes

 Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama  Yes

House Bill 1368, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic through state actions supported by federal funding, passed the House on Feb. 1 by a vote of 61-36, with one member excused.

This bill would distribute $2.2 billion in federal COVID relief funds made available to the state. It includes $668 million for school funding, and $618 for a Public Health Response account for programs such as COVID testing and contact tracing. A further $68 million is earmarked for vaccine distribution and administration. The bill would also provide $365 million for housing and rental assistance, and $240 million in grants for Washingtons small businesses. Also, $65 million would be allocated for the Washington Immigrant Relief fund, and $50 million in financial help for child care providers.

 Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet  No

 Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen  No

 Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia  No

 Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama  No

Senate Bill 5121, expanding eligibility for the graduated reentry program, passed the Senate on Feb. 3 by a vote of 28-21.

The bill would expand eligibility for the Graduated Reentry Program in the Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) that allows incarcerated persons to serve part of their sentence in the community rather than in prison. Under current law, which was created in 2018, individuals must have served at least 12 months in confinement at a state prison before becoming eligible to serve up to the last six months of their sentence in the community with electronic home monitoring under the jurisdiction of the DOC. SB 5121 would reduce the required confinement time a person must serve in prison before eligibility for the reentry program to six months for most offenders who are not under a deportation order or civil commitment. It would further reduce the required confinement time to four months for those who are not currently serving a sentence for a sex, violent, or crime-against-a-person offense. The bill would also allow eligible inmates to serve the entire remaining term of their sentence at home, with electronic monitoring supervised by the DOC.

 Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview  No

 Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia  No



WashingtonVotes.org is a project of the Washington Policy Center.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 15:47:10|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Ahead of the Summit of China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs), experts and businesses have voiced hope for stronger bilateral ties, saying China-CEEC cooperation has been an exemplar of transregional cooperation.

In a small town in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Stanari Thermal Power Plant has directly created hundreds of jobs. It is the first China-built power plant in Europe and "very very green," Aleksandar Milic, the plant's technical director, told Xinhua.

"Running the plant of this scale means maintaining connection with Chinese companies. We have been satisfied with our cooperation so far," Milic said. "We will keep the cooperation better in the future because it is the key to keeping the power plant stable, safe and helpful."

Ivana Antunovic, senior editor of state-owned Croatian Radiotelevision, said cooperation between Europe and China is now needed more than ever.

Considering the Port of Rijeka as a center of more intensive cooperation between the two countries, Antunovic said, "Europe ... should use Chinese builders more, especially after the excellent experience in the construction of the Peljesac Bridge."

"In the future, greater cooperation in the field of science and research should be achieved, and the experience of China regarding the production of COVID-19 vaccines should be used," Antunovic added.

Latvia's ABC Timber has established steady ties with China. "We have found quite a few good business partners in China. We are very happy to work with them," the company's CEO Valts Strazdins said. "In recent years China has become one of Latvia's largest export partners, for which we are thankful."

Expressing the hope that the summit will take the partnership further, Strazdins said, "This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has left most European economies struggling, whereas China continues to show sustained growth."

For Airbus, it values its strong partnership with China and is willing to support the modernization of China's industry by further strengthening cooperation with China's supply chain and business partners, the aerospace giant's CEO Guillaume Faury told Xinhua.

Airbus is convinced that the China-EU investment agreement, the completion of whose negotiations was announced at the end of 2020, and strong momentum of China's economy will lay a solid foundation for the global recovery and create opportunities for cooperation, Faury said. Enditem
After her husband was recently killed by bush fire in Kiang 'Wurokang', Mama Fanndeh, now a widow is finding life difficult as she struggles to survive with her 2-month-old daughter.

According to the 22-year-old widow, who was found sitting mourning her husband while chatting with her mother, she could not even afford to buy baby pampers, coupled with the fact that their daily survival is becoming a problem too.

"Since my husband's death, I now find it so hard to cope. I don't even have any single penny to buy baby pampers. I usually call people to help me buy pampers for my baby," she said.

The widow made these remarks during a second visit to the decedent's family by this reporter on Saturday, 6th February 2021.

Fanndeh's husband died aged 36 after bush fire burned him to death. Her husband was engaged in firewood business. He would fetch woods, sell them and used that money to buy food items and their baby's needs.

"My situation is getting worst right now. I've no butut with me. If he was alive, this will not happen," the widow said, adding her husband was very supportive, hard-working and a breadwinner, who loved all and sundry in the family.

Fanndeh is now finding it difficult to make ends meet including buying breakfast for herself and her mother who came to keep her accompany. She thus called on NGOs or any Samaritan to help her because she is currently breastfeeding a 2-month-old.

Fanndeh spent two years in marriage with her husband before the bush fire snatched him away, leaving her and the baby lonely.

Lamin Jammeh graduated from Arabic School with certificates but lack of job opportunities forced him into the "dangerous bush to look for firewood and sell it to make ends meet."

"I really need help. If you do not have good meals, you will not be able to breastfeed your child properly. I am calling on every Gambian to support us because we are in need of help," she called.

Fanndeh recalled the last moment she had with her husband before he was announced death.

She explained: "My last word with him was when I informed him that my mother was not feeling well and she really needs me there. He then gave me green light to visit my mother."

According to the widow, her husband showed her off to the highway and asked her to extend his warmly greetings to her mother.

"This was his final words with me," she said. "When the incident happened, I received a phone call from his relatives but I was not informed directly as to what had happened to him. I was told that Lamin was seriously ill and he is already taken to hospital."

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Upon returning home, she added: "I saw people trooping in and out of the house weeping and one of his uncles informed me that Lamin had passed-away after bushfire caught him in the forest."

"Lamin is gone. His 2-month-old girl will grow without seeing his father," the widow said and tears started cascading down her checks. "I will cry none stop all day, when I start breastfeeding our baby."

Kanndeh's mother, a high blood patient, is in a state of shock and anxiety, thinking about how they would cope with the daily challenges of life now that Lamin has left for eternity.

Lamin Jammeh was found lying death after huge fire burned his entire body in the forest. His pile of wood, found 100 meters away from him was not burned. His remaining clothes, watch and 'jujus' were also seen beside him too.

Recently, residents described the bush fire as one of the country's largest one which destroyed timber trees, farm crops, grasses, small ground species - animals in Kiang, Lower River Region (LRR). Residents, who are also living in fear, have called on the authorities to intervene to ensure annual fire outbreaks in the country are nipped in the bud.
Representative of Ukraine to the European Union, Ambassador Mykola Tochytskyi said that the EU-Ukraine Association Council, which will meet in Brussels on February 11, will be the first opportunity to discuss at a high political level new initiatives of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, which formed the EU Associated Trio within the Eastern Partnership.

"This week, the ambitious initiative of the associated Trio (Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova) for in-depth cooperation with the EU will be on the agenda of the Council of Association and EU Institutions," Tochytskiy told Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian diplomat said that the EU associated Trio's initiative, based on progress in the implementation of the association agreements with the EU by the three associate partners, is not a new idea, but was officially recorded only in early February, when EU High Representative Josep Borrell and European Commissioner for European Affairs Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Oliver Varhelyi was sent an official letter to the three foreign ministers of the countries concerned.

"In fact, this initiative is the implementation of 'more for more' one of the key principles of the development of relations with the EU. We are not trying to obtain an exclusive status or dissociate ourselves from other countries of the Eastern Partnership, but each state has its own tasks and speed in relations with the EU," Tochytskyi said.

At the same time, he said the EU associated Trio, although "strives for deeper cooperation, which is absolutely logical for the current stage of dialogue with the European Union," keeps "the doors always open for other states of the Eastern Partnership within the associated Trio, where we can share our experience and motivate others to the activation of mutually beneficial areas of interaction."

"Our aspirations and further steps have already been agreed in the capitals and will be discussed during the visit of Ukrainian officials to participate in the regular meeting of the Ukraine-EU Association Council, which will be held in Brussels on February 11," the ambassador said.

According to Tochytskyi, also this week the European Parliament will adopt a report on the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. "This is a very complex document that concerns not only the Agreement itself, but also a much wider range of our relations with the EU. We expect that the report will also outline the position of the European Parliament on the initiative of the associated Trio. Surely, we expect support from the European Parliament," the Ukrainian diplomat said.
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Brave tourists have set free a trapped kangaroo after coming across the helpless animal in the outback.

A husband and wife were driving along the Murray River in South Australia when they saw a distressed roo trapped in a wired fence.

The couple who are new to Australia were initially scared to free the kangaroo and were worried about its volatile nature.

Husband and wife were driving along the Murray River in South Australia when they saw a distressed kangaroo trapped in a wired fencing (pictured)

The man bravely approached the kangaroo and freed the feeble animal as it dangled upside down (pictured)

The husband bravely freed the marsupial as it dangled upside down.

'My husband wanted to free the kangaroo while it was still alive,' the wife said in the video.

The two part footage uploaded to Tik Tok, showed the man using a blade to cut the wire away from the animal's feet.

He proceeded to tug on the wire until both legs of the kangaroo were released.

The caption read: 'Mission accomplished.'

Viewers have since commended the man for his actions.

'Good man, nice to see someone helping animals,' commented one person.

'You're a star,' another agreed.

The couple commented that they returned to check on the kangaroo a few hours later as it did not move for some time once freed.

'We made sure he went through (the fence) and came back to check on him when the night came,' they commented.

The video has been watched more than 25,000 views.

Nakuru  Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha on Monday said 15 million learners had reported back to school since the resumption of in-person learning on January 4.

Magoha said the virus containment measures put in schools have proved effective, adding that the ministry will continue to ensure that schools remain safe for learners.

While noting that maintaining social distance has remained a challenge, Magoha lauded teachers who have devised ways to create extra spaces for lears.

"The Government is happy to report that so far the learning for the 15 million learners has continued well and schools are now preparing for national examinations," he said.

Magoha said he is confident that candidates will pass in their examinations, despite findings of a recent study which warned of mass failure in the national exams following the disruption in learning due to COVID-19 outbreak.

He urged learners to ignore the report as he exuded confidence that teachers on the readiness by candidates for the national exams administered by the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) due in under two weeks.

The CS also announced the ministry plans to distribute free face masks to vulnerable learners and those in informal settlements, even as he urged parents to continue providing their children with face masks as they have become part of the school uniform.

He said 7.5 million face masks were availed by the Ministry of Health to support the needy and most vulnerable students including those from low income backgrounds.

Magoha said schools with a higher enrollment rate, those in informal settlements, special schools and schools located in pockets of poverty will be given priority.
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Egypt's oldest political party Al-Wafd has announced the final expulsion of eight of its prominent members  two of whom are members at the country's newly elected House of the Representatives and Senate  over internal rifts.

The decision was announced by the party's chairperson, Bahaa Eddin Abu-Shoka, in a press conference held on Tuesday at the party headquarters in Giza.

Abu Shoka accused the expelled members of participating in what he termed the "great conspiracy" against Al-Wafd in a bid to "take control of the party's organisations and to marginalise its chairperson."

He said the "plotters" were planning to hold a meeting for the party's High Committee on Saturday on a pretext of discussing the party's financial situation, but with an intention of preparing a vote of no confidence to unseat the party's Secretary-General and diminish the role of the party's chairperson.

The eight-member list included Yasser Al-Hudaybi, the party Vice-Chairman and the Senate member; Mohamed Abdel-Alleem Dawoud, a Member of both the party's High Committee and the House of the Representatives, and others.

The "mastermind" of the move was planned to take over the position of the party's Secretary-General after withdrawing the confidence from the incumbent secretary, said Abu Shoka, who is also a member of the Senate.

"The conspiracy is to empty the party of its leaders," MP Dawoud wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday in response to the expulsion announcement.

Dawoud said the decision targeted all those who showed solidarity with him and refused what he described as "constitutional violations," in reference to the latest House's decision under which he was referred to the parliament's ethics committee for internal investigations.

The referral decision came on the back of the MP's comments that are believed to be against the parliament's majority during a House's session in January. The MP's attendance to the House's sessions has since been suspended.

In response to the referral decision, Dawoud had previously said the parliamentarians are not asked about his opinions expressed inside the House or its committees as per the constitution, denying directing any accusation against any particular party in the House.

Tuesdays expulsion decision may put the membership of the two House and Senate members at stake because any change in the party status, under which the parliament members were elected, is one of the reasons that could lead to the revocation of the parliamentary membership.

According to the House and Senate laws, the membership could be revoked by a decision issued by a two-thirds majority of both bodies' members if the members partys affiliation registered during the nomination phase - before voting - was changed.

Short link:


UAE space probe enters Mars orbit

An attendee poses as he arrives at an event in Dubai to mark the probe entering orbit around Mars. Photo: Reuters

The United Arab Emirates' "Hope" probe on Monday successfully entered Mars' orbit, mission officials said, in the Arab world's first interplanetary mission.



"To the people of the UAE, to the Arab and Muslim nations, we announce the succesful arrival to Mars orbit. Praise be to God," said Omran Sharaf, the mission's project manager.



Sharaf and other officials at mission control broke into applause, visibly relieved after a tense half-hour as the probe carried out a "burn" to slow itself enough to be pulled in by Martian gravity, in what was the most perilous stage of the journey.



It rotated and fired all six of its powerful thrusters to dramatically slow its average cruising speed of 121,000 kilometres per hour to about 18,000 kph.



Hope, which is designed to reveal the secrets of Martian weather, is the first of three spacecraft to arrive at the Red Planet this month.



The United Arab Emirates, China and the United States all launched missions in July, taking advantage of a period when the Earth and Mars are nearest.



The UAE's venture marks the 50th anniversary of the unification of the UAE's seven emirates.



While the probe is designed to provide a comprehensive image of the planet's weather dynamics, it is also a step towards a much more ambitious goal -- building a human settlement on Mars within 100 years. (AFP)

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 07:40:29|Editor: huaxia

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Wang Pian (1st R) views fireworks with her students in Miaojiling Village of Zhuting Township in Yichun City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Feb. 4, 2021. Wang Pian, 25, is a teacher of Zhuting Central Elementary School in Zhuting Township of Yichun City. As the Spring Festival is approaching, Wang is not able to meet her parents for this year's holiday season, when people across the country traditionally return home for family union, because her parents work in other places in China and have chosen to stay put over the holiday to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections during the travel rush. Wang decided to celebrate the festival with four of her students who are in the same situation with her at the school. Various activities such as barbecue, dancing, fireworks, picking strawberries and paper-cutting for window decoration are organized for them at a farmhouse in hope that they will have a happy holiday. "I am not feeling that lonely as I am going to be with my students during the Spring Festival holiday," said Wang. (Xinhua/Hu Chenhuan)
A representation of virtual currency Bitcoin and small toy figures are placed on computer motherboard in this illustration taken on Jan. 7, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

German Regulators Seize $60 Million in Bitcoin but Fail to Find out Password

FRANKFURTGerman prosecutors have confiscated more than 50 million euros ($60 million) worth of bitcoin from a fraudster, but they cant unlock the money because he wont give them the password.

The man was sentenced to jail and has since served his term, maintaining his silence throughout while police made repeated failed efforts to crack the code to access more than 1,700 bitcoin, said a prosecutor in the Bavarian town of Kempten.

We asked him but he didnt say, prosecutor Sebastian Murer told Reuters on Friday. Perhaps he doesnt know.

Bitcoin is stored on software known as a digital wallet that is secured through encryption. A password is used as a decryption key to open the wallet and access the bitcoin. When a password is lost the user cannot open the wallet.

The fraudster had been sentenced to more than two years in jail for covertly installing software on other computers to harness their power to mine or produce bitcoin.

When he went behind bars, his bitcoin stash would have been worth a fraction of the current value. The price of bitcoin has surged over the past year, hitting a record high of $42,000 in January. It was trading at $37,577 on Friday, according to cryptocurrency and blockchain website Coindesk.

Prosecutors have ensured the man cannot access the largesse, however.

($1 = 0.8349 euros)

By John ODonnell
BUFFALO, Minn. (AP)  A 67-year-old man unhappy with the health care he'd received opened fire at a clinic Tuesday, killing one person and wounding four others, and bomb technicians were investigating a suspicious device left there and others at a motel where he was staying, authorities said.

All five victims were rushed to the hospital, and a hospital spokeswoman confirmed the one death Tuesday night. Three remained in stable but critical condition and a fourth had been discharged.

The attack happened Tuesday morning at an Allina clinic in Buffalo, a community of about 15,000 people roughly 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Minneapolis. Authorities said Gregory Paul Ulrich, of Buffalo, opened fire at the facility and was arrested before noon.

Though police said it was too early to tell if Ulrich had targeted a specific doctor, court records show he at one point had been ordered to have no contact with a man whose name matches that of a doctor at the clinic.

As authorities searched the clinic for more victims, they found the suspicious device and evacuated the building, Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer said.

It was not immediately clear whether that device exploded, but TV footage showed several shattered plate-glass windows at the clinic. Deringer said suspicious devices were also found at a local Super 8 motel where Ulrich had been staying, and there were at least two shattered windows there as well.

Hennepin County Medical Center spokeswoman Christine Hill said Tuesday night that a person brought to the hospital after being shot at the Buffalo clinic had died. Hill said she could not release any other details.

Police Chief Pat Budke became emotional and had to pause during a news conference as he told reporters our heart breaks as a community." While an exact motive wasn't immediately known, Budke said Ulrich has had a long history of conflict with health care clinics in the area.

All I can say is, its a history that spans several years and theres certainly a history of him being unhappy with health care ... with the health care that hed received, Budke said.

Budke said Ulrich's history led investigators to believe he was targeting the clinic or someone inside but that it was too early in the investigation to know if it was a specific doctor. He said the shooting did not appear to be a case of domestic terrorism.

None of the information that we have from our past contact with him would indicate that he was unhappy with, or would direct his anger at, anyone other than people within the facilities where he had been treated or where they had attempted to give treatment, Budke said.

Deringer said Ulrich was well known to law enforcement before the attack, and there were calls for service dating back to 2003.

Court records for Ulrich list a handful of arrests and convictions for drunken driving and possession of small amounts of marijuana from 2004 through 2015, mostly in Wright County, including two convictions for gross misdemeanor drunken driving that resulted in short jail sentences. A 2018 charge of violating a harassment restraining order was dismissed last April when the prosecutor said Ulrich was found mentally incompetent to proceed.

An order issued in 2018 and 2019 in the harassment case showed Ulrich was to have no contact with a man. The order didn't identify that man beyond giving his name, but the name appeared to match that of a doctor listed on the clinic's staff list.

It was not known if that doctor was among Ulrichs victims. A phone call placed to the doctor's home listing went unanswered Tuesday.

A court services agent who conducted a pre-sentence investigation wrote in a June 2019 filing that he had just learned that Ulrich had applied to police for a permit to purchase  apparently meaning a permit to buy a gun  but had not yet been approved. The agent said he highly recommended that Ulrich not be allowed to have use of or possession of any dangerous weapons or firearms as a condition of his probation.

Ulrich also had raised concerns for a local church. According to an August 2019 update on the website of Zion Lutheran Church, the church obtained a no trespassing order for Ulrich after the pastor received a disturbing letter. Church staff were given a picture of Ulrich and told to call 911 if he appeared on any of Zions properties.

The FBI sent its bomb technicians to the scene, and the Minneapolis Police Department sent its bomb squad. Members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' enforcement group and special agents from the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension also responded.

The clinic is set off at the edge of Buffalo near an old red barn with flaking paint. Dozens of emergency vehicles and law enforcement officers carrying guns were on the scene, setting up a perimeter. TV footage showed little activity at the clinic itself.

Hours after the attack, law enforcement cordoned off a small mobile home park near the citys Pulaski Lake, about a mile from the clinic, and searched a mobile home where Ulrich had lived. Officers went in and out of the home wearing rubber gloves. Several neighbors who declined to give their names described Ulrich as argumentative and said they tried to avoid him.

Tom Potter, a 43-year-old who lives in the neighborhood, said Ulrich was nice to Potters kids yet described him as an odd guy.

Hed get into fights with neighbors, accuse them of stealing stuff, Potter said.

He said Ulrich spent a lot of time on a bench by the lake, listening to a radio, fishing and always drinking.

Another neighbor, Walter Rohde, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that he was shocked to hear Ulrich was suspected of shooting people. He said Ulrich helped him build a shed over the summer and would often come over to sit at his fire ring in the evenings to chat.

I just knew him as a kindly old man, Rohde said.

Rohde said Ulrich was unemployed, living on disability.

Most doctors listed on the clinics website are family practitioners. It wasnt immediately clear if the clinic gives COVID-19 vaccinations. Allinas website says it gives the shots to staff and older patients at only three sites throughout its extensive system.

___

Ehlke reported from Milwaukee. Associated Press writers Tim Sullivan, in Buffalo, and Amy Forliti and Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed.

___

Mohamed Ibrahim is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
In first systematic analysis of their ambushing behavior, U of M researchers find wolves' hunting strategies are highly-flexible depending on their prey.

Wolves are arguably the most well-studied large predators in the world, yet new research shows there is still a lot to learn about their hunting tactics. Typically, wolves hunt large mammals like moose, deer, and bison in packs by outrunning, outlasting, and exhausting their prey. However, throughout the dense boreal forests in North America and Eurasia, during the summer wolves often hunt beavers by themselves.

But how does a wolf catch a semi-aquatic prey that spends little time on land and never ventures far from the safety of its pond? Turns out with patience, and a lot of waiting.

In a new paper published in the journal Behavioral Ecology, researchers from the University of Minnesota and the Voyageurs Wolf Project--which studies wolves in the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem in the northwoods of Minnesota--show that wolves have evolved ambush hunting tactics specifically tailored for catching and killing beavers.

"Over a five-year period, we estimate that our field research team collectively put in over 15,000 person-hours to search nearly 12,000 locations where wolves had spent time. Through this effort, we ended up documenting 748 locations where wolves waited to ambush beavers but were unsuccessful, and 214 instances where wolves killed beavers," said Sean Johnson-Bice, a co-author of the study. "This dedicated fieldwork has provided unprecedented insight into the hunting tactics wolves use in boreal environments."

Beavers have extremely poor eyesight, so they rely primarily on their well-developed sense of smell to detect predators on land--and wolves appear to have learned this through time. Researchers discovered wolves choose ambushing sites within a few feet of where beavers are active on land because wolves have learned beavers cannot visually detect them. When doing so, wolves almost always choose ambushing sites that are downwind to avoid being smelled by beavers.

"The results are very clear," said Tom Gable, the study's lead-author: "89-94% of the ambushing sites were downwind, where beavers were likely unable to smell wolves."

When staking out beavers, wolves appear to be surprisingly patient. They spend substantial periods of time waiting next to areas where beavers are active on land, such as near beaver dams and trails.

"Wolves waited an average of four hours during each stakeout. But they often waited eight-12 hours or more, and one wolf even waited-in-ambush for 30 hours," said study co-author Austin Homkes.

The researchers note that these behaviors were not unique to a few wolves. Instead, wolves from multiple packs across several years used the same ambushing tactics, indicating that this behavior is widespread throughout the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem and likely other ecosystems where wolves hunt beavers. Notably, wolves and beavers co-occur across much of the Northern Hemisphere so the implications have wide applicability.

"Gathering data to demonstrate how wind direction influences the ambushing behavior of predators has been difficult for animal ecologists," said co-author Joseph Bump. "Scientists have long-thought that ambush predators are able to strategically choose ambush sites in areas where prey are unable to detect them via scent. Until now though, documenting these hunting tactics in exhaustive detail proved extremely challenging."

Ultimately, the study challenges the classic concept that wolves are solely cursorial predators (i.e., predators that kill their prey by outrunning and outlasting them). Instead, wolf-hunting strategies appear highly flexible, and they are able to switch between hunting modes (cursorial and ambush hunting) depending on their prey.

"It is the first systematic analysis of wolf ambushing behavior," said Gable. "It overturns the traditional notion that wolves rely solely on hunting strategies that involve pursuing, testing, and running down prey."

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Professor Sir Ian Boyd, an infectious disease expert at the University of St Andrews and member of SAGE, said the UK could be stuck in a pattern of 'control and release for a long time to come'

Britain could be trapped in coronavirus lockdown cycles for 'several years' as it's forced to wrestle with new variants that could scupper vaccines, top scientists have warned.

Professor Sir Ian Boyd, an infectious disease expert at the University of St Andrews and member of SAGE, said the emergence of potentially jab-resistant strains means the UK could be stuck in a pattern of 'control and release for a long time to come'.

Evidence suggests the Oxford University vaccine  the main weapon in Britain's arsenal to combat the virus  does not stop people falling ill with the South African variant, which is feared to be spreading in the community already. But No10's top scientific advisers believe it still protects against severe illness and death.

Professor Boyd and several other prominent SAGE members have warned reopening the current shutdown too early could risk allowing new, equally concerning variants to spawn.

Mutations randomly happen as viruses spread but most changes never change the way it looks or behaves. Very high transmission gives the virus more opportunity to mutate and, therefore, drives up the risk that one of the alterations could change the course of the disease.

Professor Boyd told The Times: 'It stands to reason that the more people there are in the population with infections  the prevalence  the more virus that is replicating and the more chance there is of even highly improbable mutations happening.'

He warned even if Britain gets on top of the South African strain, there will be more concerning ones down the line. He added: 'My suspicion is that we will experience a damped oscillation of control-release for a long time to come  perhaps several years.'

Professor Graham Medley, another SAGE member and infectious disease expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said 'everything works better' when there is lower prevalence, adding that the emergence of new variants 'strengthens that case'.

Despite the claims, the lead researcher behind trials of the Oxford jab said today results suggesting the Oxford University coronavirus vaccine doesn't stop people falling mildly unwell with the South African variant are not a 'reason for alarm'.

Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, claimed evidence from Oxford's own human trials in South Africa strongly indicated the vaccine still prevents serious illness and death against the new strain.

The Government has promised to look at lifting the most draconian curbs when the most vulnerable have been given at least one dose of vaccine, which they hope will drive down hospital admissions and deaths to manageable levels.

But yesterday Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock left the door open to longer restrictions in the face of the South African strain  risking furious backlash from Tory backbenchers who've accused No10 of 'moving the goalposts' over ending lockdown.

The three Covid variants causing international alarm emerged in Britain, South Africa and Brazil

'Surge testing' has been ordered in several areas to tackle the South African and Kent variant of coronavirus. Parts of Manchester have now been added to the list

Almost 12.5million have already received their first dose of vaccine and the health service is administering 450,000 on average every day

Professor Graham Medley (left), of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Professor Mike Tildesley (right), from Warwick University, who both sit on the expert panel, have thrown their support behind longer restrictions

Professor Robin Shattock, of Imperial College London, who does not sit on SAGE but is a leader in advanced vaccine development, said it would be 'very advisable' to get cases down even further through lockdown

Lead expert behind Oxford Covid jab says 'we're going to be fine' because it should still prevent deaths Results suggesting the Oxford University coronavirus vaccine doesn't stop people falling mildly unwell with the South African variant are not a 'reason for alarm', the lead scientist behind trials of the jab said today. Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, claimed evidence from Oxford's own human trials in South Africa strongly indicated the vaccine still prevents serious illness and death against the new strain. He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'As long as we have enough immunity to prevent severe disease, hospitalisations and death, then we're going to be fine in the future in the pandemic.' A small study in Johannesburg on Sunday showed Oxford/AstraZeneca's jab may not stop many people from falling unwell. The finding caused widespread panic because it suggests vaccinated people can still pick up and transmit the disease. But Professor Pollard urged people not to lose sight of the main goal of the vaccines, which is to bring hospital admissions and fatality rates down to manageable levels so that draconian lockdowns can be eased. He said new variants could become a staple in the future, but so long as they only cause mild illness then they will be no different to 'most of the viruses that cause colds every winter'. Advertisement

Several other prominent leading scientists have already come out in support of extending the current shutdown to reduce the risk of the South African stain becoming widespread.

Professor Robin Shattock, of Imperial College London, who does not sit on SAGE but is a leader in advanced vaccine development, told The Times: 'It would be very advisable to try to push the cases as low as possible to reduce the chance of additional variants. This would make sense alongside border restrictions.'

And Professor Mike Tildesley, from Warwick University, who also sits on SAGE, threw his support behind longer restrictions yesterday.

He told the BBC that 'more restrictions might be needed for longer if we can't get on top of this [variant]'.

It comes after an alarming study published on Sunday found the British-made Oxford jab had 'minimal effect' in preventing mild disease caused by the strain, suggesting vaccinated people may still be able to catch and spread it.

Top experts  including Oxford academics and the UK's leading vaccine panel  say the jab should still protect against severe illness, ultimately easing pressure on the NHS when lockdown restrictions are eventually lifted and saving tens of thousands of lives.

So far there have only been 147 confirmed cases of the South African variant in the UK but this is likely to be a vast underestimate because up until last week officials were only analysing 10 per cent of random positive swabs.

Scientists say the true number of cases is likely 10 to 20 times higher than the official count. No10 has deployed extra testing into more than 10 areas of England where the South African strain is thought to be spreading in the community.

The Prime Minister yesterday refused to rule out extending lockdown if the South African variant continues to spread.

Pressed on whether there may need to be a delay to easing restrictions if the jab is proven to be less effective at reducing transmission of the South African variant, the Prime Minister said vaccines are 'going to offer a way out' and 'remain of massive benefit to our country'  but failed to dismiss the prospect of a lockdown extension.

During a visit to a coronavirus test manufacturing facility in Derby, he said: 'We're very confident in all the vaccines that we're using. And I think it's important for people to bear in mind that all of them, we think, are effective in delivering a high degree of protection against serious illness and death, which is the most important thing.'

But Government sources said on Sunday night there was 'no indication' the easing of lockdown would be affected by the findings that the Oxford vaccine is less effective against the South African variant.

A tweaked version of the Oxford vaccine that targets the new strain is already in development and should be ready by August.

The highly anticipated Bergin report into Crown Resorts says a proposed NSW government-issued gambling card would be a powerful tool to combat money laundering and organised crime.

Commissioner Patricia Bergins scathing report into the suitability of the gambling giant to hold a licence for its new Sydney casino in Barangaroo found evidence of money laundering at Crowns Melbourne and Perth casinos.

The Bergin inquiry says a gambling card would be a powerful tool to combat money laundering. Credit:Photo: Brendan Esposito

The NSW government has also identified money laundering as a major issue in clubs and pubs and estimates 20 per cent of money put through poker machines in NSW relates to organised crime.

Poker machines are dispersed across 4000 venues in NSW, with only 1500 of the total 96,000 machines in the Star casino.
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Cape Town  Zwelenkosi Ngidi's wheelchair was broken in November last year

Zwelenkosi Ngidi's wheelchair was damaged by metro police at Cape Town police station in November.

He had gone there to find out about community leaders who had been arrested during protests.

The video of the incident, made by a witness, shocked South Africa.

He wants the City of Cape Town to provide him with a new wheelchair.

The City, which suspended the two officers involved, says it is in talks with Ngidi's lawyer.

Zwelenkosi Ngidi is hoping the City of Cape Town will replace the wheelchair which was broken when Metro police threw him off his wheelchair at Cape Town police station in November last year.

Ngidi had approached the police to ask about the detention of community leaders during protests in Khayelitsha. "I wanted to ask why the leaders were arrested, what charges they were facing and where they would appear, but the police threw me off my wheelchair."

At the time, the City of Cape Town condemned the incident and said the two metro police officers involved had been suspended.

Ngidi served as a spokesperson for Intlungu Yabahlali Basematyotyombeni, which was protesting for the provision of basic services in areas established during the hard lockdown.

He spent R400 to get his wheelchair welded, but it kept breaking down, he said. "I used to be able to wheel myself to my destinations. Now I have to ask someone to move me around because the wheels come off," he said. He said he kept buying new screws to attach the wheels to the chair but the screws broke. The foot ramps on the wheelchair were also broken and he has to rest his feet on a string.

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Ngidi said he had to pay taxi fare for the person who accompanies and wheels him to his destinations outside Ethembeni, where he settled after struggling to pay rent in nearby Makhaza. His disability grant goes to food, airtime, taxi fare and doctors' fees.

He uses the wheelchair to attend community meetings and to go to clinics, academic institutions and Makhaza Mall, he said. He also uses it to go to Makhaza to take a bath and to relieve himself because he can't use the mobile toilets in Ethembeni. "I go to an RDP house and use an inside toilet in Makhaza," he said.

His lawyer sent a claim to the City of Cape Town shortly after the incident in November last year, he said, but he had not yet received a response.

Richard Bosman, Executive Director for Safety and Security, City of Cape Town, said: "The City has received a claim and we are engaging with the claimant's attorneys. The staff members concerned have been suspended and an investigation is under way. Disciplinary action will be taken in terms of the relevant policies," he said.

"All due process must be followed."
New COVID-19 cases and deaths reported in Northeast Pennsylvania sharply declined Monday, according to state Department of Health figures.

The seven-county region of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties saw new cases fall by 46% compared to Sunday, with new deaths dropping by nearly 79%, according to the departments COVID-19 dashboard on Monday night.

The Department of Health released its daily figures hours later than usual. A department spokeswoman cited technical maintenance to the data server on Sunday.

New cases in the region fell from 317 reported on Sunday to 171 on Monday, with Luzerne County accounting for about 44% of the new cases. Lackawanna Countys three new deaths were the only deaths in the region, a significant decline from the 14 deaths reported Sunday.

Mondays figures raise the regional total to 53,093 cases since the pandemic began and 1,491 deaths.

Statewide, cases increased by 2,504 to 872,825, with 116,300 probable, and deaths increased by four to 22,471, according to the COVID-19 dashboard. It was unclear Monday night whether technical maintenance affected reporting of statewide totals.

Locally:

Lackawanna added 54 cases for 12,838 total, including 1,762 probable. Three new deaths raised the county total to 383.

Luzerne added 75 cases for 23,602 total, including 1,678 probable. Deaths remained at 669.

Monroe added 27 cases for 8,902 total, including 215 probable. Deaths stayed at 250.

Pike added three cases for 2,254 total, including 163 probable. Total deaths remained at 45.

Susquehanna added one case for 1,588 total, including 163 probable. The death toll remained at 51.

Wayne added eight cases for 2,818 total, including 229 probable. The death toll remained at 55.

Wyoming added three cases for 1,091 total, including 183 probable. The death toll remained at 38.
As the United States struggles to distribute and administer COVID-19 vaccines, were looking back at the history of vaccine rollouts in our country, including the logistical roadblocks to shots and communicating with a fearful public. The COVID vaccines have been widely shown to be safe and effective, unlike some historical examples that had significant associated risks. But what can stories of failures from the past teach us about how to fairly administer them?

On Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 1 p.m. Eastern, join Future Tense for a conversation with Atul Gawande and Helene Gayle, co-chair of the National Academies framework for vaccine distribution, about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

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Baby boomers remember both the fear of poliomyelitisthe viral infection that attacks the nervous system, leaving some who contract it paralyzed, or deadand the relief that they felt when the rollout of Jonas Salks vaccine put an end to repeated midcentury summer outbreaks of the disease. In 1954, the summer before this rollout, 1.8 million kids participated in a widely publicized trial of the new vaccine. From the vantage point of 2020, when vaccine skepticism floats right below the surface of public debate, the widespread embrace of the new vaccine feels surprising. Was the March of Dimesfinanced rollout of Salks miracle jab, conducted in a hurry as polio threatened to strike again in the summer of 1955, really as smooth as history makes it seem?

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I sent Charlotte DeCroes Jacobs, a historian and medical doctor whose books include the biography Jonas Salk: A Life, some questions about the surprising level of public acceptance of the new vaccine, which persisted even after a series of children were paralyzed by a bad batch the summer of the rollout. Jacobsalso a Polio Pioneer who participated, as a child, in the huge 1954 trialreplied over email. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Rebecca Onion: Before Salks vaccine, there had been failed attempts to vaccinate for polio, including in the 1930s. Can you tell us about them? How did they affect public perception of Salks vaccine in 195455, if at all?

Charlotte DeCroes Jacobs: In 1934, a polio outbreak had just devastated Los Angeles; the public was becoming frantic. The press announced that two scientists were on the verge of preventing polio. Maurice Brodie of New York University prepared a polio vaccine using inactivated virus from the spinal cord of infected monkeys. After inoculating himself and a handful of children, he reported the vaccine to be safe. At the same time, Philadelphia researcher John Kolmer made a vaccine using a live virus weakened by chemicals. Having inoculated 42 monkeys, his two children, and himself, he publicized his success two days after Brodies announcement. In a race to see whose vaccine would be first to rid the world of polio, they vaccinated around 10,000 children each, in two different trials. When a number of children became paralyzed, Brodie and Kolmer were chastised by the scientific community for rushing into human experimentation without proper animal work and safety tests. Brodies career plummeted; a few years later, he died suddenly from a suspected suicide.

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At the time many questions remained about the poliovirus: How was it transmitted? How many strains existed? Following the 1934 tragedy, investigators became leery, constraining further vaccine work. Years passed with almost no progress. The public had long forgotten about Brodie and Kolmer. Near panic erupted year after year when the summer plague afflicted children. And then polio dealt a blow to its most famed victim, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Basil OConnor, Roosevelts law partner, helped found the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, a voluntary health organization devoted to fighting polio. OConnor organized the March of Dimes, collecting millions of dollars from the public to help defray polio victims medical costs and to initiate a research program, under the direction of Harry Weaver [a neuroscientist who was director of research at the foundation]. Weaver recruited elite scientists, including esteemed virologist Albert Sabin, to solve the polio problem. They advanced slowly until an eager, young physician-scientist named Jonas Salk joined them.

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How much did the public know, or understand, about the science of Salks vaccine, before the large-scale trial in 1954? There were heated debates between scientists over the idea of using a killed virus, as Salks did, versus a live oneand, then, whether it would be safe to use the virulent strain named Mahoney in the vaccine, as Salks did. Were those debates public knowledgeor were these behind-the-scenes conversations?

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When Salk joined the group of senior scientists supported by the March of Dimes, he had a major point of divergence. They believed that only a vaccine containing live, weakened virus could impart effective lifelong immunity by inducing a low-grade infection, as was the case with smallpox and yellow fever. Salk believed he could make a vaccine with an inactivated or killed virus which could impart immunity while being completely safe. Most researchers, led by Sabin, maintained that protection from a killed virus vaccine would last only a few months.

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Salk didnt want to stand in line behind this cadre of senior scientists, waiting to help make a live-virus vaccine on their timeline. He and his relatively small Pittsburgh laboratory groupnot some large pharmaceutical companymade a killed poliovirus vaccine in just over three months, in 1952. Later that year, he conducted trials at the Watson Home for Crippled Children, giving every shot himself. The parents and staff were sworn to secrecy as he knew the press would hover, and senior scientists would try to block him. After he measured anti-polio antibodies in the first vaccinated child, he knew he could prevent poliomyelitis.

When Salk disclosed his work to the scientific advisory group for the March of Dimes, they took sides: those in favor of an immediate nationwide trial and those who were adamantly opposed, waiting for a live virus vaccine. The former prevailed. Such a trial would constitute one of the largest clinical trials ever conducted, and it would involve experimentation with children.

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A Pittsburgh Press reporter leaked the story. The public didnt know about the scientific arguments over live versus killed virus vaccine, or whether the one of the strains used in the vaccine may be too virulent. They were anxiously anticipating a vaccine, and Jonas Salk rapidly became a hero in waiting. Starting in the spring, hundreds of thousands of children would be getting shotshalf with a polio vaccine, half with salt solution.

Although most objections stayed within the scientific community, they occasionally made headlines: Polio vaccine researchers got into a hassle last week, Time reported. Several States Balk at Tests of Polio Vaccine, read a headline in the Chicago Daily News. The World Health Organization issued a statement that read, Mass immunization should not be generally adopted until such times as scientific data are available on the innocuity and efficacy of the vaccine.

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At the same time, Salk began to receive disturbing mail. Among the most vitriolic came from D.H. Miller, self-proclaimed president of Polio Prevention Inc., who circulated antipolio vaccine articles nationwide. One, titled Little White Coffins, began, Only God above will know how many thousands of little white coffins will be used to bury the victims of Salks heinous, fraudulent vaccine.

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But most of the public believed in Jonas Salk. He had come to personify the fight against polio. Pictures of this humble physician with an engaging smile appeared on the front pages of newspapers, on the cover of magazines. Few scientists had reached out to the public as did Salk. He answered their questions, calmed their concerns.

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In April 1954, Walter Winchell, radio commentator and gossip columnist, broadcast a report on ABC raising alarm over Salks vaccine. What happened?

Before the clinical trial, all vaccine had been made in Salks laboratory. Once production left his hands [since there was no way his lab could make enough doses for the trial], there was always the possibility for error. He found vaccine made by one pharmaceutical company tainted with live virus. Someone leaked the story, and three weeks before the trial was to begin, Winchell shocked the public when he announced: In a few moments I will report on a new polio vaccine. It may be a killer! The public reaction ranged from fear to outrage. The public is entitled to accuracy in journalistic reporting, a Pittsburgh judge wrote to ABC, not statements made in reckless disregard of their accuracy. Even Albert Sabin [usually a Salk opponent] called Winchells broadcast irresponsible. Still the harm had been done: Frightened parents withdrew an estimated 150,000 children from the trial, and the state of Minnesota declined to participate.

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Nevertheless, at 9:35 a.m. on April 26, 1954, the biggest clinical trial in the history of American medicine commenced when 6-year-old Randy Kerr of McLean, Virginia, was vaccinated against poliomyelitis.

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What do you recall about being part of the Polio Pioneers trials? How did your parents talk to you about it, before it happened? Do you remember your parents being at all worried about it?

When I was a child, the carefree atmosphere of summer was dampened by the threat of polio. I cringed at the newsreel at the local movie house showing clips of children struggling with crutches and rooms full of iron lungs. When the ushers passed around the March of Dimes collection boxes, I dropped in my dime. Then in 1954, my hometown of Kingsport, Tennessee, was selected as a test site for the trial of Salks polio vaccine. I was sent home from school with a note to my parents from [the March of Dimes], which read, This is one of the most important projects in medical history. Its success depends on the cooperation of parents. We feel sure you will want your child to take part. My parents had no qualms. They trusted the government, and they trusted Jonas Salk.

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On April 28, 1954, Miss Thompson, my second grade teacher, told us how lucky we were: We were Polio Pioneers. We had been chosen to get the first polio shots. Then she lined us up and marched us into the gymnasium at Andrew Johnson Elementary School. I could smell the alcohol the minute I entered the gym. Since my last name began with D, I was near the front of the line. I knew I had to be brave, even though I wasnt, because if I started to cry, I would scare everyone behind me. So I rolled up my sleeve and gritted my teeth as the nurse stuck a needle in my arm. As compensation I received a Polio Pioneer button, a red lollipop, and the hope that I would be spared.

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What a historic trial that wasmonumental in size, conducted solely in children, financed and conducted by volunteers through the March of Dimes. In selected elementary schools across the country, over a million first, second, and third graders were assigned by random draw to receive vaccine or placebo. The March of Dimes carried out the trial not with some professional research organization but with an army of volunteers: 20,000 physicians and public health officials, 40,000 nurses, 14,000 school principals, 50,000 teachers, and 220,000 housewives.

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On April 12, 1955, the results of the trial were announced. The vaccine had been 80 to 90 percent effective against paralytic polio and harmed not one child. Jonas Salk became an international hero overnight.

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After the vaccine was licensed in the spring of 1955, what was the governments approach to prioritizing who would get the shots, and when? And what major logistical issues did companies face in producing the vaccine?

Within hours after the announcement, the director of the Laboratory of Biologics Control said the vaccine warranted careful consideration for licensure under the Biologics Control Act. That same afternoon Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Oveta Culp Hobby announced amid great fanfare that the vaccine had been licensed.

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The March of Dimes was ready. Six months before he knew the trials outcome, OConnor had ordered 27 million doses of vaccine from Parke, Davis, and Eli Lilly, which had supplied vaccine for the trial, and four other firms. All agreed to follow Salks detailed manufacturing guidelines. Vaccine would first be offered free to the 1.4 million children who had participated in the study but not received vaccine, followed by 4.8 million children who would enter the first grade (the most susceptible group) and pregnant women.

Thousands of pounds of polio vaccine were rushed across the country within hours of its being licensed. The nationwide vaccination plans did not proceed smoothly, however. The U.S. government had relied on the March of Dimes to perform the vaccine trial, after which OConnor passed oversight of production and distribution to the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. The government faltered in that transition.

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With an overwhelming demand for vaccine, the American system of free enterprise gave rise to chaos. Before children to whom vaccine had been allocated were given a shot, half a million doses were shipped to private physicians. Employees in some pharmaceutical firms were vaccinated. Price gouging became rampant so that families with means received shots first. The six manufacturers could not produce vaccine fast enough for the waiting public, creating mass exasperation. The polio season had just started, heightening the distress. President Eisenhower took charge and ordered that an equitable distribution plan be created.

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What about whats been called the Cutter incidentthe paralysis of children injected with vaccine from Cutter Laboratories? What is your best explanation of why these events unfolded? And what effects did the Cutter incident have on the production process for Salks vaccine, going forward?

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Two weeks into the national immunization program, the surgeon general received reports that seven children had become paralyzed following inoculation, most with vaccine from Cutter Laboratories in Berkeley, California. He suspended all vaccinations. Although government regulators reported no problems with Cutters production, Salk did his own investigation and found Cutter had deviated from his procedures, which left behind live virus in some lots of vaccine.

In the March of Dimes trial, no one had contracted polio from the vaccine. But commercial vaccine production differed from that used in the field trial in several major ways. [In the trial], triple-testing for live virus was performed by the company, the Biologics Control Laboratory, and Jonas Salks laboratory. [In commercial vaccine production, that] had been reduced to one test, done by the company itself. The government laboratory had neither the funds nor staff to test all manufactured vaccine before its release. Secondly, the six pharmaceutical companies varied somewhat in their interpretation of the manufacturing requirements. And thirdly, the Public Health Service rules had been relaxed such that the companies did not have to divulge how many batches they had thrown away because of live virus contamination.

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Two hundred sixty people contracted polio directly or indirectly from Cutters vaccine; 11 died. Salk felt devastated. Then came the finger-pointing: The government, the companies, the March of Dimes, and Salk himself were among those blamed for the tragedy. Stricter manufacturing guidelines were imposed, and the vaccination program resumed.

Parents obviously continued to vaccinate their children with Salks vaccine, so in some way, the government, scientists, and pharmaceutical companies must have regained their trust. How?

By the fall of 1955, six states reported a 75 percent reduction in incidence of polio in those inoculated. Not a single case of paralytic polio occurred in New York among vaccinated children. Denmark reported inoculation of 430,000 children; none developed polio. Nine hundred thousand Canadian children got vaccinations [leading to] a dramatic reduction in polio cases. On Aug. 12, 1955, the Polio Vaccination Assistance Act allotted grants to states to buy vaccine for the needy. By 1961, the total number of polio cases nationwide had declined by 97 percent below the pre-vaccine years. Six years following the introduction of the Salk vaccine, polio was almost eradicated as a major public health problem in the United States.

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Even so, most senior virologists still maintained that only a live-virus vaccine could provide lifelong immunity. Albert Sabin prepared such a vaccine that could be delivered in a sugar cube, and tested it in Russia, demonstrating efficacy and safety. In 1961, the U.S. Public Health Service replaced Salks vaccine with Sabins oral vaccine, citing cost and convenience. Salk warned that live virus, although weakened, could revert to a virulent form and cause polio. In his efforts to have Sabins vaccine delicensed, he was overruled by the major medical decision-makers, and by 1968, U.S. pharmaceutical companies had stopped manufacturing the Salk vaccine.

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Although with time most cases of paralyzing polio in the U.S. could be traced to Sabins vaccine, the numbers were few, and Sabin denied the charge. Salk tried desperately to reverse what he called a risky, politically driven decision. He petitioned the major medical associations, testified before two congressional committees, appealed to presidents. In 1999, the U.S. government recalled the Sabin vaccine, replacing it with a newer version of Salks vaccine. By then Jonas Salk was dead.

In a sense both vaccines played a role in eradicating polio. The United States has been polio-free since 1979. Salks inactivated poliovirus vaccine is the only vaccine available in the U.S. today and is used in most developed countries. Due to cost and ease of administration, live virus vaccines are still used in some developing countries.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
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Kilkenny LEADER Partnership (KLP), members of the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) who as Local Action Group directly deliver the LEADER Programme in County Kilkenny, are calling for the 190 million Covid-19 EU Recovery Instrument available for Rural Development in 2021 and 2022 to be used to bolster the LEADER Programme.

They have urged the Minister for Agriculture Food and Marine Charlie McConalogue and the Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys TD to consider availing of the 190 million COVID-19 EU Recovery Instrument (EURI).

The EURI is a fund established by the European Union to support recovery in the aftermath of the pandemic. A figure of 190 million is to be allocated to Ireland from the Instrument over the period 2021-2022 for agriculture and rural development.

The LEADER Programme offers the ideal vehicle for the delivery of this funding to rural areas in the most effective manner," said Declan Rice, CEO of KLP.

"By allocating a portion of the EU Recovery funding available to Ireland to the LEADER Programme, the Government can maximise drawdown of the available fund, deliver critical stimulus to Rural areas to help drive the post Covid recovery and meet the expectations of the EU in terms of the requirements of the Recovery Instrument.

By fully utilising the funds available under the Recovery Instrument for the purposes of LEADER in 2021/2022, the Government can also maximise the future LEADER programme for the period 2023-2027 thus ensuring a sustainable level of funding for the purposes of Rural development across the decade."
IN NUMBERS: Daily infections dip to 9,110

Some 9,110 new infections were recorded in the past 24 hours nationwide, taking the cumulative caseload to 10,847,304, according to a report in the Scroll. Seventy eight deaths were reported, taking the total death toll to 155,158, according to central health ministry data updated on Monday. The total recoveries have surged to 10,548,521. The national recovery rate has climbed to 97.25 per cent. The active caseload has reduced to 143,625. About 6.2 million healthcare workers have been inoculated since the nationwide inoculation programme kicked off on January 16. Read more here

Young children may have low Covid infection rate: Lancet study

A French study has suggested that children in daycare centres aged between 5 months and 4 years are not spreading the virus widely in such settings, according to a report in ThePrint. The children who were included in the study attended 13 daycare centres across three French cities during lockdown from March to May 2020 and showed low infection rates. The study is the first to estimate seroprevalence in pre-school settings and the findings were published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. Read more here

Virus mutations can be "silent" or "non-silent": Expert

Amit Dutt, a scientist at the Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) at the Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai, explains what kind of mutations are more prevalent, in a report for The Indian Express. Dutt says mutations can be "silent" or "non-silent". The non-silent mutations are the ones where alterations in the genetic make-up of a virus could lead to a difference in the structure of function of the associated amino acids. Such mutations also offer selection advantage to the new variant, particularly when the mutation is forced in any particular direction due to external pressures, like vaccination. These non-silent mutations are meant to strengthen the mutant's ability to spread and are expected to be more prevalent. Read more here

Citizen science can help tackle the spread of misinformation

Ensuring that real-time and real information is disseminated during a pandemic plays a critical role in controlling the spread. To bridge the gap between scientific information and the public, 'citizen science' has emerged as a powerful tool, according to a report in ThePrint. To fight misinformation, a team of scientists and engineers have created a crowdsourced citizen science project called Covid19Kerala.info. The project is run by the Collective for Open Data Distribution-Keralam (CODD-K). CODD-K collects Covid-19 data in real-time, curates it, and makes it available to the public through a user-friendly dashboard. Read more here

Tool to ease novel genome mutation analysis

A computational tool called Infectious Pathogen Detector (IPD), developed by the research and development wing of Mumbai's Tata Memorial Centre, to identify the presence of 1,060 different pathogens in any genome sequence sample and perform mutation analysis has become even more useful with the addition of a module for the novel coronavirus, according to a report in The Hindu. Read more here
This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal . The author of this post is Johnny Kampis North Carolina, which saw a tightening of the presidential race in the 2020 election, was among the states that saw an influx of money from Mark Zuckerberg in the months leading up to the voting.Donald Trump won the state by 177,000 votes over Hillary Clinton in 2016, but the Democrats cut the margin of victory by more than half in 2020, when Trump won by 74,000 votes over Joe Biden.Capital Research Center noted that Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, donated $350 million to the Center for Technology and Civic Life, which in turn gave the money to local election officials. CRC argues that the formerly small groupCRC said $4.3 million of these "Zuck bucks" went to 34 North Carolina cities and counties, in addition to a $1 million grant to the state board of elections. CRC said Biden gained about 80,000 votes in the counties that received the grants.CRC examined grants in other battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada and  most notably  Georgia, which saw its electoral votes flip narrowly to Biden and whose two Senate seats flipped from red to blue.Scott Walter, CRC's director, testified about the donations to a Senate committee, imploring lawmakers to look into the issue.Walter wrote in a recent blog post.The Zuckerberg donations follow along with a general trend in politics last year. A joint analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics and the National Institute on Money in Politics found unprecedented growth in donations to federal Democratic candidates. Whereas spending on Democratic and Republican candidates in the past two presidential election cycles was relatively even at about $1.5 billion for each party, the advantage was stark for Democrats in 2020, who raised nearly $5 billion to the GOP's $2 billion.That includes $1 billion in self-funding by Michael Bloomberg for his presidential campaign. Take that away and Democrats  who captured the Oval Office, the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate  still held a 2-to-1 federal fundraising advantage in 2020.The joint study said small donors giving $200 or less had a lot to do with the growth. Small donors gave $1.8 billion to federal candidates in 2020, triple the number from 2016. Democrats got 41% of their donations from these pledges.the analysis noted.


Police have charged a second person in relation to a boat rage incident at Tairua Wharf.

A 52-year-old woman has been charged with common assault and is due to appear in Thames District Court on Thursday, February 18.

A video of the incident has been posted to social media and shows a man in an inflatable boat ramming another boat, before an oar-wielding woman jumps into the water.

Footage of the January 23 confrontation has been widely shared on social media, including on the NZ Fishing Community Facebook page, and police and the local harbourmaster are investigating the altercation.

In the video, the man claims the woman's larger boat had broken the speed limit and caused $1000 of damage to his vessel.

After yelling and swearing between the pair, he rams the woman's boat, which has children on board.

She then wades over to him with an oar, getting a couple of swings in before a bystander takes it from her.

Earlier today a 58-year-old man was charged with assault and operating a vessel dangerously.

He is due to appear in Hamilton District Court tomorrow.

Sergeant Will Hamilton says police encourage people to consider the impact of the content they post on social media after the video was posted online.

As the matter is before the courts Police will not be making further comment.
New Delhi: The Republican Party of India (RPI) President Ram Das Athawale on Tuesday (February 9, 2021) told Ghulam Nabi Azad, the outgoing Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, that if the Congress doesn't bring him back, then they are ready to do it.

"You should return to the House. If Congress doesn't bring you back, then, we are ready to do it. This House needs you," Ramdas Athawale told Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said that the name may be 'Ghulam' (slave) but all remained 'Azad' (free). He said that Azad will always be remembered because he is a 'large-hearted person'.

Athawale's comments came as the upper house bid farewell to the veteran Congress leader.

Rajya Sabha member @RamdasAthawale bids farewell to retiring members. https://t.co/bwItQ9myUs  Rajya Sabha TV (@rajyasabhatv) February 9, 2021

Ghulam Nabi Azad during his 28-minute speech said that he feels proud to be an Indian Muslim. He also recalled his association with several leaders, including stalwarts from other parties, that helped him learn many things.

The former Union minister said that he is among those 'lucky' people who have never gone to Pakistan.

"When I read about the state of affairs in Pakistan, I feel proud that I am a Hindustani Musalman," he said.

"Muslims in India should have pride for themselves as they have kept away from the evils that are there in the neighbouring countries," Azad expressed.

He added, "The majority community should also take two steps forward."

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi got emotional in Parliament during his farewell address for Azad and said that his legacy in national politics will be hard to replace.

"As a leader of the opposition, its easy to engage in party politics, but Ghulam Nabi Azad Ji rose above this and always prioritised the prosperity of the country first, PM Modi said. "During the pandemic, it was Azads proposal to call an all-party meet to fight the crisis as one nation," PM Modi said.

PM Modi also hailed Azad's legacy and his contribution as Rajya Sabha MP and expressed, "The person who will replace Ghulam Nabi Ji (as Leader of Opposition) will have difficulty matching his work because he was not only concerned about his party but also about the country and the House."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Rotunda Rumblings

Mapmaker, mapmaker, make me a map: A little more than two years after voters approved a constitutional amendment overhauling how the state draws congressional districts, Ohioans are set to find out this year how the law holds up against partisan interests, Andrew Tobias writes. The new rules are designed to make gerrymandering in the state much more difficult, with Tobias providing a rundown of some of the current seats that will likely be significantly reworked.

Vaccine, case trends: Close to 2 million Ohioans have either been vaccinated or known to have contracted the coronavirus. This is based on the state reporting through Monday of the vaccination of 1,058,141 people and the known case count of 922,143, though an unknown number of people fall into both groups. Rich Exner reports that this means about 1-in-9 Ohio adults have been vaccinated, and about 1-in-13 Ohioans of all ages are known to have contracted the coronavirus.

Hospital milestone: After a dramatic rise in the fall, coronavirus hospitalizations across Ohio have fallen sharply since mid-December and on Sunday reached a milestone with the number of patients dipping below 2,000 for the first time since Nov. 4. In mid-December, the patient count was over 5,300, Exner reports. Gov. Mike DeWine has said a week straight of hospitalizations below 2,500 will result in elimination of the curfew. Its been below that number since Feb. 2. The current 11 p.m. curfew is in place at least through Thursday morning.

Low rider: Laura Hancock reports that Mondays 1,926 coronavirus cases are the lowest total since October. Mondays tend to be lighter days for coronavirus cases numbers, though the last time Ohio saw cases dip below 2,000 was Oct. 19, when there were 1,837 cases.

Slow rider: Despite people aged 65 to 69 being eligible for the coronavirus vaccine starting Monday, the CVS website blocked that age group from registering to get the shot, the Columbus Dispatchs Randy Ludlow reports. Ohio does not have a statewide portal for access to the vaccine, leaving people in that age group who were trying to get it from CVS out of luck for the time being.

Sick note: Enrollment in Ohios K-12 schools decreased by 53,000 - about the same size as the states largest district, Columbus City Schools  in the autumn, higher than in previous years, the Associated Presss Kantele Franko reports. Reasons are likely due to the pandemic, such as parents delaying kindergarten, enrolling children in private schools because they dont think theyre learning much remotely in the public schools, kids leaving high school to work and other factors.

Road show: DeWines $6.7 billion transportation budget plan includes nearly $5.9 billion for highway construction and maintenance, according to a summary from the Legislative Service Commission. The LSC also says gas tax revenues jumped from $1.94 billion in 2019 to $2.59 billion (before refunds) in 2020, thanks to the gas-tax hike, but overall gas consumption dropped last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The LSC projects annual gas tax revenues will reach $2.5 billion by the end of 2023, still short of the 2020 numbers. Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks is expected to testify about the budget plan before the House Finance Committee at 10 a.m. today.

Getting the band back together: Former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Jane Timken has hired two veterans of Sen. Rob Portmans campaigns as she marches toward the seemingly inevitable announcement that she will join the race to succeed him. Per the Cincinnati Enquirers Jason Williams, Timken hired Corry Bliss and Natalie Baur, who both worked on Portmans wildly successful 2016 campaign.

Yeesh: Politicos James Arkin took a turn writing about the bleak prospects of Democrats in Ohio, especially with the heightened national profile of an open Senate seat. Bliss, who was quoted in the piece, had some choice words as well: The Ohio Democratic Party is so bad they should be investigated for point-shaving. They cannot and do not know how to win.

Now, children: Displaying all the hallmarks of maturity that you want to see in elected officials, Republican former Gov. John Kasich and Rep. Bill Johnson of Marietta decided to get into a Twitter spat Monday. As the Cincinnati Enquirers Jessie Balmert writes, it all started when Johnson  who is weighing a potential bid for Senate  launched ads attacking Kasich for wanting to influence the Senate race. Kasich responded by snidely quipping about Johnsons Senate prospects. Not wanting to be the bigger man, Johnson responded with something along the lines of I know you are but what am I? We recommend either a time out or sending the two to bed without dessert.

Back off, taxman: Ohios GOP congressional delegation, along with 27 other House Republicans, is urging the Biden Administration to ensure victims of unemployment benefits fraud arent penalized for claims falsely filed in their name. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, the lawmakers asked that the Internal Revenue Service not punish any taxpayers who dont report jobless benefit income thats being reviewed for fraud.

Jimmy rigged: Attorneys for corrupt former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora requested the U.S. Supreme Court to hear his case and potentially overturn the 28 years Dimora is serving on bribery-related charges, John Caniglia reports. Dimora contends that he was wrongly sentenced because while he accepted free home improvements, dinners and a Las Vegas trip, he did not trade his votes or any other official act for them.

Coast to coast: Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, is taking an interest in Ohio, possibly laying the groundwork for a future presidential run. Per an opinion piece in the Washington Post by Art Cullen, Khanna is working with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, to boost electric vehicle manufacturing at Lordstown Motors, along with promoting tech education and industries in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. Per Cullen: All these states supported Donald Trump in spades, because he offered them greatness. But Trump did not deliver. Lordstown has not recovered. Khanna believes that a progressive vision has a chance in that vacuum  if a jaded people is shown that government actually can work for them.

Gambling for dollars: Ohio casino and racino revenue dipped by $14 million in January from the record January a year ago. But business was up at three facilities, JACK Thistledown Racino, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, and Hollywood Casino Toledo, Exner reports. The drop in revenue statewide means about $5 million less and fees and taxes to the state.

Put the phone down: DeWines budget proposal includes stricter rules against using phones, GPS systems, or other wireless devices while driving. As Pelzer reports, the governor proposed similar rules last year, but they went nowhere in the Ohio General Assembly.

Suspended license: The Ohio Supreme Court suspended the law license of Portsmouth attorney Michael Mearan for an interim period, writes the APs John Seewer. Mearan, a former member of city council, has been charged in connection to human trafficking involving six women, most former clients who were poor, addicted to drugs and facing criminal charges.

Full Disclosure

Five things we learned from the Feb. 18, 2020 financial disclosure form of Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican.

1. Aside from his legislative salary of $89,996.22, Huffman reported earning up to $999 in interest from Citizens National Bank and Superior Credit union, $10,000 to $24,999 from rental property income, $25,000 to $49,999 in retirement pay from the state of Ohio and as a member of Huffman, Kelley, Brock and Gottschalk LLC and more than $100,000 as an attorney at Huffman, Kelley, Brock and Gotschalk LLC.

2. Huffmans reported investments include a 401(k)through his law firm, a retirement fund through the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System and a mutual fund through Ohio Public Employee Deferred Compensation.

3. Huffmans rental income came from the rent paid by his law firm for their office space at 540 W. Market St. in Lima. He also owns a vacant lot onHigh Street in Lima.

4. At some point in 2019, Huffman owed more than $1,000 to Superior Credit Union, a Visa Southwest card, a Visa BP card, an American Express Hilton Honors card, Discover, Princeton University and his law firms 401(k).

5. Huffman received travel expenses of $3,744 for mileage from the Ohio Senate, $1,372.66 from Excellence in Education, $1,181.25 from the National Conference of State Legislatures, $210.33 from the RSCC and $117.30 from the American Federation for Children.

On the Move

The Ohio Manufacturers Association named Rachael Carl its director of public policy services, overseeing advocacy and lobbying efforts at the Ohio Statehouse and within the executive branch and state agencies. Most recently, she worked as a legislative liaison for the office of Gov. Mike DeWine. Carls also worked as a legislative director for the Ohio Department of Commerce and as a legislative aide in the Ohio House of Representatives, according to the Manufacturers Association.

Birthdays

State Rep. Jeff LaRe

Andy DiPalma, Ohio House Democrats deputy chief of staff

Ex-President William Henry Harrison (1773-1841)

Straight from the Source

We knew exactly what we were getting into.

-Stark County GOP Chairman and Board of Elections Director Jeff Matthews quoted in a Washington Post story about the boards decision to buy Dominion voting machines. Allies of Republican former President Donald Trump have routinely spewed conspiracy theories about the machines and a stolen election, leading to some headaches among the all-Republican county commission in completing the purchase.

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.
Cambodian authorities on Monday released five environmental activists after they were detained for three days for protesting against illegal logging inside one of the country's biggest wildlife sanctuaries.

The five, including Ouch Leng, a 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize winner, were detained by rangers on Friday for being inside the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary without permission, Environment Ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra said.

The Kratie Provincial Court court had released the five who signed an agreement not to enter restricted areas without permission, Neth Pheaktra said. A case has also been filed against Ouch Leng's Cambodian Human Rights Task Force for not being registered with the Interior Ministry, he said.

Ouch Leng told Reuters he was released because he did not do anything wrong.

"A prosecutor said there is no crime and told us to go home," Ouch Leng said.

The activists still intended to go back to the sanctuary even if permission was not granted, he said.

The activists had mounted a campaign at Prey Lang last month, posting signs saying "don't cut down trees" and placing Buddhist robes on trees to protect the sanctuary, Ouch Leng said.

"They detained us so that they could take our cameras, pictures and phones so that we don't report logging crimes," he said.

A report by Global Witness said Prey Lang - which is home to endangered plants and animals - lost nearly a tenth of its forest cover in about two decades to 2018 and that illegal logging has escalated during the pandemic.

Asked whether illegal logging was taking place in the sanctuary, Neth Pheaktra said any evidence should be presented to the ministry.
For supply of SDR-Tac

Bharat Electronics and Ministry of Defence have signed a contract for procurement of Software Defined Radio Tactical (SDR-Tac) worth Rs 1000 crore on 08 February 2021.

The SDR-Tac, jointly designed and developed by Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL) of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) through a consortium of domestic agencies and industry (Comprising Weapons and Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment (WESEE), Bharat Electronics, Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics (CAIR) and Indian Navy) will bring strategic depth to the Indian Navy.

The delivery will take place within three years. BEL is already supplying SDR Naval Combat (NC) version and SDR-Air is under user evaluation trial. DRDO and BEL are planning to provide latest SDR with the best security grading to the Indian Navy.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ANGIER, N.C., Feb. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Swamp School LLC, the gold standard of training and certifications for government agencies and clients in the private sector seeking to advance their wetland careers, has developed a cloud-based Antecedent Precipitation Tool (APT).

The new APT tool is designed to meet the requirements of the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule, which updates the definition of jurisdictional waters in the U.S. A significant part of this definition requires the user to limit their wetland delineation work to typical rainfall years.

To aid with compliance for the accurate timing of delineation work, the Swamp School has developed a user-friendly, cloud-based APT solution. The tool runs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE)- developed software, which is only available on limited platforms, on the Swamp Schools secure cloud servers, making it accessible on any Internet-connected device. There is no software to download or install, and all-weather station FTP connections happen on the Swamp Schools servers, eliminating any potential security breaches to systems.

We continue to bring new innovative applications to wetland science, said Marc Seelinger, founder, director and lead instructor of the Swamp School. The new APT solution democratizes the USACOE software tool and makes its valuable data truly accessible to our students and clients.

To use the tool, simply enter the study area location and study date. Within minutes, the system will report a 90-day window of precipitation history and compare it to 30-year historical data. A one-page PDF report is generated that details the wet, dry or normal conditions of the study for the selected date.

All of the database heavy lifting is done in the cloud, reducing the bandwidth required to run the tool. The PDF file generated is usually about 100K in size, so even a poor Internet connection is sufficient.

The Swamp School is currently offering a 7-day free trial of the tool. Thereafter, a $19.99 monthly subscription service to access the tool will apply. The service includes technical support, training guides and automatic version updates. Subscribers can cancel at any time and the charge will cease at the end of the billing cycle.

The APT is yet another service we offer to help both government agencies and clients in the private sector to fulfill their mission and leverage the latest wetland science, Seelinger said. Students who sign up for our Online Wetland Basic Delineation Training will receive complimentary access to the tool for the duration of their class.

ABOUT THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ANTECEDENT PRECIPITATION TOOL

The APT is an automation software application that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers developed to facilitate the comparison of antecedent or recent rainfall conditions for a given location to the range of normal rainfall conditions that occurred during the preceding 30 years. In addition to providing a standardized methodology to evaluate normal precipitation conditions (precipitation normalcy), the APT can also be used to assess the presence of drought conditions, as well as the approximate dates of the wet and dry seasons for a given location.

ABOUT SWAMP SCHOOL LLC

Based in Angier, North Carolina, the Swamp School offers post-secondary/college classes and webinars in wetland assessment, delineation and design, and other topics relating to the management of wetlands. The classes are designed to help environmental professionals enhance their skills and expand their business.

Find out more about the Swamp School online at swampschool.org





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On February 4, 2021, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued its judgment in the case of the Prosecutor v Dominic Ongwen. A former child abductee and child soldier in the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a guerrilla group that formerly operated in northern Uganda, Ongwen rose through the ranks to commander of LRA's Sinia Brigade, responsible for military strategy and reporting directlyto the group's leader Joseph Kony. The ICC found Ongwen guilty of 61 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Northern Uganda between July 1, 2002, and December 31, 2005. The verdict recognizes the enduring impact of the crimes committed by the LRA on the population in Northern Uganda. Specifically, for the first time since its inception, the ICC found a suspect guilty of the crime of forced pregnancy, which was a common practice used by the LRA.

It is the first ICC verdict emanating out of the situation in northern Uganda. It comes after a trial that lasted more than four years, was spread across 231 hearing days, and involved the testimony of 130 witnesses and experts, including numerous insiders, and the participation of 4,065 victims through their legal representatives. For the many victims, justice has been a long time coming, at least since January 2004 when Uganda first referred the matter to the ICC for investigation. Dominic Ongwen was charged with 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage, torture, conscription, and use of children under the age of 15 in the armed conflict. These crimes were committed at Pajule internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in October 2003, Odek IDP camp in April 2004, Lukodi IDP camp in May 2004, and Abok IDP camp in June 2004.

Ongwen was found guilty as a direct perpetrator and an indirect co-perpetrator for ordering and participating in the attacks on the IDP camps. The court found that Ongwen jointly with other LRA leaders commanded LRA soldiers to carry out attacks on the camps. For instance, Ongwen together with Vincent Otti, Raska Lukwiya, Okot Odhiambo, and other LRA leaders ordered LRA soldiers to attack the Pajule IDP camp and commit other crimes including murder, torture, enslavement, outrages upon personal dignity, pillaging, and destruction of civilian property.

The ICC convicted Ongwen on all 19 counts of sexual and gender-based crimes including forced marriage, torture, rape, slavery, enslavement, forced pregnancy, and outrages upon personal dignity. The court established that Ongwen is criminally responsible for the SGBV crimes committed against the seven women who were abducted and placed in his household. He is further responsible for the SGBV crimes that soldiers subordinate to him in the Sinia Brigade committed against women and girls. The conviction on all counts of sexual violence marks a major milestone in advancing a progressive jurisprudence on gender justice and accountability for sexual crimes in contexts of armed conflict.

Ongwen was also found liable for the crime of conscripting children under the age of 15 and using them as active combatants in hostilities. As the court found, the abduction of children and their forced conscription into the Sinia Brigade "took place pursuant to a coordinated and methodical effort," on the part of soldiers under Ongwen's command and Ongwen himself. Although the exact number of children the LRA conscripted remains unknown, best estimates put it at more than 7,000. Worldwide, the problem of child recruitment by armed groups is a massive and growing problem. Child Soldiers International has reported a 159 percent increase in the number of children participating in armed conflict around the world since 2012 documenting almost 30,000 verified cases of child recruitment in 2018. This verdict should thus serve as a reminder of the enormous toll this horrific crime has taken of the population in Northern Uganda. Many former child soldiers in Northern Uganda live with the lasting effects of war including physical and psychological trauma, stigma, and social rejection.

The verdict also addresses Ongwen's dual victim-perpetrator identity, which was a key feature of public debate when Ongwen's trial commenced. A section of the population in Northern Uganda sympathizes with Ongwen because he was abducted as a child and not protected by the government. They argue that, instead of being prosecuted, he should have been forgiven and undergone Mato Oput, a traditional justice process that would reintegrate him into the community. However, for the victims of his crimes, his own victimization does not exonerate him from accountability. In its decision, the ICC Trial Chamber acknowledged that the LRA abducted Ongwen at the age of about 9 years and that he experienced significant suffering in his childhood and youth as a result. However, Ongwen committed the crimes in question when he was adult in mid- to late-twenties and fully responsible for his actions. That said, the court did leave open the possibility that that it might weigh the impact of his victimization in childhood at the later sentencing stage.

The court rejected the two affirmative defenses of mental disease and duress that were raised by Ongwen's legal team. The court found that the evidence presented did not prove that he had a mental disease that incapacitated him from appreciating the unlawfulness of the crimes. A former LRA fighter who testified before court described Ongwen as a serious soldier who thoroughly planned an attack in advance. In addition, expert witnesses indicated that he did not have any mental disease or disorder.

The court further determined that the evidence did not show that Ongwen was "subjected to a threat of imminent death or imminent or continuing serious bodily harm to himself or another person at the time of his conduct underlying the charged crimes." Witness testimony revealed that Ongwen was not fully subordinate to Kony and acted independently of him. When announcing the verdict, Judge Bertram Schmitt said the defendant was not "a puppet on a string," but rather willfully stayed in the LRA and advanced through the ranks to become one of its top commanders. The court also concluded that Ongwen willingly committed SGBV crimes in private. Therefore, the defense of duress does not apply to him.

As Judge Schmitt read out the names of the known victims of the crimes committed during the attacks on the four IDP camps, family members and survivors listening to the verdict on the radio quietly shed tears and clapped as the names of their relatives were mentioned. Naming the victims of the crimes committed in a judgment is a good practice that should be replicated in future proceedings. In doing so, the trial chamber focused attention on the victims and their suffering and went beyond establishing whether the legal threshold or burden of proof had been met to convict the perpetrator.

So far, the reaction to the verdict among victims and members of the affected communities has been mixed. For example, one of the survivors told a reporter, "we shall sleep soundly knowing at least one of our tormenters will spend time in jail without fear he will get out to come and kill us in revenge." Another survivor welcomed the judgment but conceded that "it cannot replace the deaths we suffered." Wives of former commanders in the LRA and other former fighters found the judgment against Ongwen unfair since abductees were "forced" to commit the same crimes as he did. Victims who participated in the trial expressed excitement about receiving reparations and an end to their long wait for compensation.

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For the 4,095 victims who were allowed to participate in the proceedings and a few other eligible ones, Ongwen's conviction means they can now look forward to reparations for the harms they suffered. However, many other victims of atrocities that fell outside the scope of this case and were committed by both the LRA and the Uganda People's Defence Force (Uganda's armed forces) will be excluded from the reparations process. For them, the verdict will have little impact on their lives. The court's own independent review process estimated that over 15,000 victims were left out, an assuredly conservative number by most other measures.

The long delay in providing reparations to victims has heightened their vulnerability, a reality that has only worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ongwen verdict presents an opportunity to have an open discussion about a nuanced and multifaceted approach to justice to end the despair of victims in Northern Uganda. In addition to criminal accountability, the government of Uganda should urgently implement other transitional justice measures that will contribute to truth, acknowledgment, redress, and healing.

Dominic Ongwen listens to his guilty verdict in the ICC's Trial Chamber IX on February 4, 2021. (ICC-CPI)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-10 01:01:15|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The survival of Somalia is facing new uncertainties amid a prolonged impasse over national elections which threaten ongoing efforts to achieve durable peace, stability, economic development and cohesion in the Horn of African nation.

Despite pressure from the international community and regional blocs, Somali leaders are yet to agree on a date and modalities of electing a new president and lawmakers despite the expiry of their terms in office, hence placing the country's future in jeopardy.

Somalia was set to hold national elections in November 2020 but they were shelved amid logistical hiccups and political differences among the current crop of leaders.

The National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) announced in 2020 that the earliest it could oversee national polls was March, citing inadequate preparations.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, whose term in office ended officially on Feb. 8, has been unable to find a truce with regional leaders and agree on a timetable for electing new officeholders.

Farmajo who won hotly contested presidential elections in 2017 recently convened a meeting of heads of regional governments in the central town of Dhusamareb to try to end the impasse over elections but no breakthrough was achieved.

Previous attempts by the UN and regional blocs to reconcile Farmajo and two heads of federal member states of Jubbaland and Puntland are yet to bear fruit, hence escalating impasse over modalities of conducting the polls.

Among the three major contentious issues that have thrown Somalia's electoral process in disarray include the composition of the Federal Indirect Elections Team (FIET) where the opposition has accused Farmajo of filing the slots with his loyalists.

The impasse was resolved on Feb.5 when Farmajo agreed to revoke the appointment of loyalists at the electoral body who had caused an uproar within opposition ranks.

The second contentious issue behind delayed elections in Somalia revolves around sharp differences between Farmajo and Jubbaland leader Ahmed Madobe over the deployment of troops in the Gedo region where 16 electoral seats will be up for grabs.

Farmajo has however refused to withdraw troops from the Gedo region and instead proposed the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) police to oversee the elections.

His archival, Madobe has however stood his ground and demanded to have a strong hand in the appointment of a new administration to take charge of elections instead of the government-appointed officials.

The third contentious issue that has escalated electoral gridlock in Somalia is the selection of senators and members of parliament to represent the breakaway region of Somaliland.

President Farmajo and speaker of the Upper House, Abdi Hashi clashed over the matter as the latter demanded to play a major role in the appointment of regional lawmakers.

The contentious issue was partly resolved when Speaker Hashi and Deputy Prime Minister Mahid Guled were tasked with appointing the electoral team since both of them hail from Somaliland.

As the impasse over presidential and parliamentary elections in Somalia persists, there is a heated debate on political or legislative interventions that can be invoked to find a breakthrough.

The debate in the capital Mogadishu has revolved around the country's future after the lapse of the term of the current president and parliament.

Hassan Sheikh Ali, a university professor said the resolution on extending the term of the president and parliament violated the constitution and should be disregarded to avert chaos.

"The resolution is against the constitution which sets the term of parliament and president to four years," Ali told Xinhua during an interview on Tuesday.

"The resolution was unconstitutional and baseless and creates several conflicts and might lead to military confrontation," Ali added.

Efforts to end the electoral stalemate in Somalia have gathered steam with UN and foreign embassies urging resumption of talks while the Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC), an umbrella body representing 14 presidential candidates including two ex-presidents proposing the formation of a transitional council to oversee elections, citing Farmajo's continued stay at the helm untenable.

Of major concern is the latest spate of attacks by al-Shabab militants who are determined to disrupt the national polls in order to reassert their influence.

Going forward, there is likelihood the international community and pan-African blocs will intensify pressure on the federal and regional governments to strike a compromise and pave way for free and fair elections. Enditem
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The coronavirus-induced economic downturn saw just 12 companies list on the Australian sharemarket in the first part of 2020 but the year finished with 74 new listings, with five posting first-day gains of at least 100 per cent.

One of the striking features of the 2020 initial public offering (IPO) market was an abnormally high number from the retail sector, says Marcus Ohm, partner at HLB Mann Judd Perth and author of the IPO Watch Australia Report.

Managing director Phillip Britt saw shares of Aussie Broadband, the company he co-founded, soar from an IPO issue price of $1 to more than $2.70.

Retail listings tended to be those whose sales have boomed during the pandemic as their customers spent more time at home, Ohm says.

Beauty products supplier Adore Beauty is seeing sales of soap, hand sanitiser and handwash increase through its online-only model.
Christians warn of censorship as 'conversion therapy' is banned in Australia

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Christians in the Australian state of Victoria are fearing for their religious freedom after the legislature voted to ban so-called conversion therapy.

The Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill criminalizes practices seeking to change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

Christians have voiced concern over a subclause making it an offense to carry out "a religious practice, including but not limited to, a prayer based practice, a deliverance practice or an exorcism."

Church leaders in the state fear that they could fall foul of the law simply for offering prayer or counseling to someone struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Under the bill, conducting suppression practices carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years or a $10,000 fine.

Ahead of the vote, dozens of faith leaders raised their opposition in an open letter to Daniel Andrews, the premier of Victoria.

"Religious organizations, parents and families, faith-based schools, ministries, and other individuals will face scrutiny, investigation, censorship, significant jail terms and large fines for exercising their religious duty to teach or advise individuals who request support to maintain adherence to religious constructs of sexuality and gender," they wrote.

The bill passed the legislative council on Thursday night by 29 votes to nine after a 12-hour debate.

Martyn Iles, managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby, said the bill "basically criminalizes the truth."

"It takes those truths about marriage, about gender, about sex, about family ... things that Christians hold dear, which are part of Creation itself, and it says that those ideas, the expression of them, the living out of them can become criminal acts.

"There's not many laws that I can say that about."

He went on to say that Christians must continue to support and pray for those who come to them for help, even if it means breaking the law.

"I want to say something that's going to sound a little bit radical but it's so true, especially in this case. We must live as though this bill doesn't exist," he said.

Originally published at Christian Today
UN Secretary General Antnio Guterres has welcomed the decision of the United States to re-engage with the Human Rights Council, saying the world organisation looks forward to hearing Washington's crucial voice across the Council's urgent work.

"The Human Rights Council is the world's leading forum for addressing the full range of human rights challenges. The Council's mechanisms and special procedures are vital tools for ensuring action and accountability," a statement issued by the UN Chief's spokesperson said Monday.

"The looks forward to hearing the crucial voice of the United States across the Council's urgent work, the statement said.

Under the Trump administration, the US had withdrawn from the Human Rights Council, condemning the "hypocrisy" of its members and its alleged "unrelenting bias" against Israel.

"As Secretary Blinken said, effective use of multilateral tools is an important part of the Biden administration's recommitment to a US foreign policy centered on democracy, human rights, and equality, the US Mission to the UN said in a statement Monday, adding that the best way to realise this commitment is through our continued engagement with allies, partners, non-governmental organisations, civil society, and multilateral organisations, including within the UN system.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said President Joe Biden has instructed the Department of State to reengage immediately and robustly with the

We recognise that the Human Rights Council is a flawed body, in need of reform to its agenda, membership, and focus, including its disproportionate focus on Israel. However, our withdrawal in June 2018 did nothing to encourage meaningful change, but instead created a vacuum of US leadership, which countries with authoritarian agendas have used to their advantage, Blinken said.

The US Mission to the UN added that Washington recognises the has its flaws, but we also believe it can help promote fundamental freedoms around the world.

The only way we can ensure the Human Rights Council fulfills this important mandate is by being at the table as an observer and working with our partners and allies in a principled fashion to make it better.

The Mission added that through Washington's leadership on the UN Security Council and by reengaging with the Human Rights Council, the United States will continue to fight for global peace and security, and to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.

Blinken said in the immediate term, the United States will engage with the Council as an observer, and in that capacity will have the "opportunity to speak in the Council, participate in negotiations, and partner with others to introduce resolutions.

It is our view that the best way to improve the Council is to engage with it and its members in a principled fashion. We strongly believe that when the United States engages constructively with the Council, in concert with our allies and friends, positive change is within reach."



Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said that the Human Rights Council is a poor defender of human rights.

Worse than that, the Human Rights Council has become an exercise in shameless hypocrisy with many of the world's worst human rights abuses going ignored, and some of the world's most serious offenders sitting on the council itself, he had said as the US quit the Council.

Former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley had said the Council has been a protector of human rights abusers and a cesspool of political bias.

She said she had made it clear to the Human Rights Council that the US will remain a part of it if essential reforms were achieved, reforms that were needed in order to make the council a serious advocate for human rights.

Human rights abusers continue to serve on and be elected to the council. The world's most inhumane regimes continue to escape scrutiny, and the council continues politicising and scapegoating of countries with positive human rights records in an attempt to distract from the abusers in their ranks, she had said.

In remarks at the Human Rights Council Organisational Meeting in Geneva, US Charg d'Affaires Mark Cassayre said the Biden administration believes in a foreign policy centered on democracy, human rights, and equalityEffective use of multilateral tools is an important element of that vision.

Cassayre added that while recognising the Council's flaws, we know that this body has the potential to be an important forum for those fighting tyranny and injustice around the world.

By being present at the table, we seek to ensure it can live up to that potential.

The Human Rights Council was created by the United Nations General Assembly in March 2006. The Council is made of 47 Member States, which are elected by the majority of members of the General Assembly of the United Nations through direct and secret ballot.

Members of the Council serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.

(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.)
Peiffer Wolf: What's Next for 17,000 Victims of the Nearly $2 Billion GPB Capital Ponzi Scheme?

The filing of criminal charges last Thursday (February 4th) against GPB Capital on the grounds that it is a Ponzi scheme involving 17,000 Main Street investors with $2 billion in losses is likely to result in another major uptick in lawsuits and arbitrations filed by victims, according to Joseph Peiffer, managing partner, Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane & Conway (Peiffer Wolf).

Peiffer Wolf is the leading U.S. law firm seeking justice for victims of GPB Capital. In June 2020, Peiffer Wolf turned up the heat with a major update to their class action lawsuit and by reaching the nearly three-dozen mark in related FINRA arbitration cases seeking recovery for defrauded investors. As of today, Peiffer Wolf is dealing with hundreds of GPB Capital investors and the law firm expects to see those numbers grow significantly in the coming days.

Joseph Peiffer, managing partner, Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane & Conway, said: "The filing of criminal charges against GPB Capital's kingpins puts the lie to the siren song of GPB and its 'helpers.' Unfortunately, this stalling tactic is a common element of Ponzi schemes and only allows the scam artists involved to make off with even more of the loot. With this most recent development, the big lie has been exposed."







Contrary to an erroneous media report crediting another law firm, the first GPB Capital arbitration case reaching a positive outcome was handled by Peiffer Wolf. In November 2020, a FINRA arbitration panel awarded the Stanley and Millicent Barasch Living Trust $1.3 million. After hearing evidence about the horrendous GPB advice Millicent Barasch received from her brokerage firm, the panel awarded punitive damages. Notably, this award was rendered shortly after Millicent succumbed to Covid-19. She was 93.

Peiffer added: "My law firm has been sounding the alarm on this for 18 months. GPB Capital is a classic Ponzi scheme involving nearly $2 billion from thousands of Main Street investors who got roped in by thirsty hustlers. It is disappointing that the financial world essentially gave GPB Capital a pass. After Madoff, there is just no excuse."

In July 2020, Peiffer Wolf warned that the controversial GPB Capital Ponzi scheme is getting up to $7 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds in what "may be one of the most flagrant abuses of taxpayer dollars of this century." The law firm called on the White House and Congress to compel the return of taxpayer dollars.

In November 2019, Peiffer Wolf held a New York City news conference to present a GPB whistleblower who discovered the inherent abuses and conflicts of interest within the GPB Capital Ponzi scheme. In September 2019, Peiffer Wolf and the law firm Meyer Wilson labeled GPB Capital a Ponzi scheme and forecast an "avalanche" of retiree arbitration cases in the unfolding scandal.

Many of the defrauded GPB Capital victims are retirees concentrated in Texas, Florida, and Arizona.

Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane & Conway, LLP is a national law firm with offices in Austin, New York, Missouri, Cleveland, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. www.gpblawyer.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005837/en/
New Delhi: US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed in a telephone call to strengthen Indo-Pacific security through the Quad grouping of countries that is seen as a way to push back against Chinas growing assertiveness in the region.

India, United States, Japan and Australia are members of the Quad, an informal group that Washington has been promoting to work as a potential bulwark against Chinas increasing political, commercial and military activity in the Indo-Pacific, diplomats say.

On Tuesday two US carrier groups conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea, days after a US warship sailed near Chinese-controlled islands in the disputed waters that have emerged as another flashpoint in strained Sino-US relations.

USS aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt at the weekend entered the South China Sea with its accompanying strike group on what the Navy described as routine operations to ensure freedom of the seas. Credit:AP

The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group conducted a multitude of exercises aimed at increasing interoperability between assets as well as command and control capabilities, the US Navy said, marking the first dual carrier operations in the busy waterway since July 2020.
Nigeria's former finance minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala looks set to become the first woman to lead the World Trade Organization after the Biden administration gave her the green light. Her only rival, South Korea's Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, withdrew her candidacy last Thursday.

Okonjo-Iweala, 66, will become the first woman and first African to take up the post of director general of the WTO.

The race for the top job was frozen on 6 November 2020 when President Donald Trump insisted he would veto her candidacy in favour of Yoo.

But on 5 February the Biden administration declared its "strong support" for Okonjo-Iweala to serve as the WTO's next director-general. She already had the backing of over 70 percent of WTO members.

I look forward to finalizing the process of @WTO DG. My gratitude to HE @CyrilRamaphosa, all African Heads of State, the AUC Chair. Special thanks to ECOWAS Heads of State for outstanding support. I thank @PressACP, @Miaamormottley, EU, all Officials & Leaders of WTO Members. - Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) February 6, 2021

Shift in Nigeria-US relations

Okonjo-Iweala is a Harvard-educated development economist who spent 25 years at the World Bank where she rose to managing director. She worked as Nigerian finance minister under both Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan when she introduced a reformist agenda and worked hard to crack down on corruption.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who nominated her as candidate for director-general of the WTO in June 2020, said: "We welcome the decision of the new US administration to remove the last obstacle in the path of Dr Okonjo-Iweala to becoming the first female and the first person of African descent to lead the organisation."

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The new US position, he said, signified "a shift and an important turnaround in the relations between our continent and the United States under the Biden administration".

The WTO administrators had been due to meet in March over the election. But after Yoo's withdrawal, Okonjo-Iweala could take over much sooner.

Reforming the WTO

"The WTO must turn its focus to the Covid-19 pandemic and global economic recovery," her spokeswoman Molly Toomey told The Africa Report. "Dr Okonjo-Iweala is eager to focus on the many needed reforms at the WTO. She is humbled by the support she has received from WTO members and champions in Nigeria and other parts of the world."

Last October Okonjo-Iweala suggested one of her priorities was to rebuild the WTO Appellate Body which solves trade disputes and which was torpedoed by the Trump administration.

If Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala ran the World Bank

She will also encourage women.

In her job application she said the WTO "should also be responsive to the challenge of facilitating the greater participation of women in international trade, particularly in developing countries, where greater efforts should be made to include women owned enterprises in the formal sector".
Firefighters are still working to put out hot spots Tuesday morning hours after a massive fire gutted a warehouse in Pleasantville and forced evacuations of surrounding residences.

The fire broke out around midnight at an auto parts and tire warehouse on Main Street and led to a the evacuation high-rise that houses senior citizens as well as other nearby apartments, according to 6abc.com.

The senior citizens were later allowed to return home.

The Red Cross of New Jersey said it is assisting 18 people from six families with temporary lodging, food, clothing.

Watch: Video from a Pleasantville, NJ police officer of 4-alarm fire overnight off Main Street. Police say 20 apartments evacuated. All out safely @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/CGuBWr5RZy  Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) February 9, 2021

The roof of the warehouse collapsed during the fire with nearby retail businesses suffering smoke damage, the television station said.

Two firefighters were treated for minor injuries, 6abc.com added.

Pleasantville police couldnt immediately be reached by NJ Advance Media on Tuesday.

Chief Gene Wellington was still at the scene as of 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to a firefighter who answered the phone at the departments administration building.

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.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Medication errors refer to mistakes in prescribing, dispensing and giving medications. They injure hundreds of thousands of people every year in the United States. Yet most medication errors can be prevented. How can you protect yourself and your family?

One of the best ways to reduce your risk of a medication error is to take an active role in your own health care. Learn about the medications you takeincluding possible side effects. Never hesitate to ask questions or share concerns with your health care provider, pharmacist and other health care providers.

What exactly are medication errors?

Medication errors are preventable events due to the inappropriate use of medications. Medication errors that cause harm are called preventable adverse drug events. If a medication error occurred, but didn't hurt anyone, it's called a potential adverse drug event.

An example of a medication error is taking an over-the-counter product that contains acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) when you're already taking a prescription pain medicine that contains this exact ingredient. This mistake could cause you to take more than the recommended dose of acetaminophen, putting yourself at risk of liver damage.

Another example of a possible medication error is taking a depression medication called fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem) with a migraine drug called sumatriptan (Imitrex). Both medicines affect levels of a brain chemical called serotonin. Taking them together may lead to a potentially life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome. Symptoms of the dangerous drug interaction include confusion, agitation, rapid heartbeat and increased body temperature, among others.

How do medication errors happen?

Medication errors can happen to anyone in any place, including your own home and at the health care provider's office, hospital, pharmacy and senior living facility. Kids are especially at high risk for medication errors because they typically need different drug doses than adults.

Knowing what you're up against can help you play it safe. The most common causes of medication errors are:

Poor communication between your doctors

Poor communication between you and your doctors

Drug names that sound alike and medications that look alike

Medical abbreviations

Know how to prevent medication errors

Knowledge is your best defense. If you don't understand something your doctor says, ask for an explanation. Whenever you start a new medication, make sure you know the answers to these questions:

What is the brand or generic name of the medication?

What is the medication supposed to do? How long will it be until I see results?

What is the dose?

How long should I take it?

What should I do if I miss a dose?

What should I do if I accidentally take more than the recommended dose?

Are there any foods, drinks, other medications or activities I should avoid while taking this medicine?

What are the possible side effects? What should I do if they occur?

Will this new medication interfere with my other medication(s)? If so, how?

Your health care provider can help prevent medication errors by using a computer to enter and print (or digitally send) any prescription details, instead of hand writing one.

Participate in medication reconciliation

Asking questions is essential, but it isn't enough. Your health care providers can follow a process called medication reconciliation to significantly decrease your risk of medication errors.

Medication reconciliation is a safety strategy that involves comparing the list of medications your health care provider currently has with the list of medications you are currently taking. This process is done to avoid medication errors such as:

Missing medications (omissions)

Duplicate medications

Dosing errors

Drug interactions

Medication reconciliation should be done at every transition of care in which new medications are ordered or existing orders are rewritten. Transitions in care include changes in setting (such as being admitted or discharged from the hospital), health care provider or level of care.

Sharing your most up-to-date information with your health care providers gives the clearest picture of your condition and helps avoid medication mistakes.

Here's what you need to tell your health care providers:

The name and strength of all medications you're taking and when you take them, including prescription medications, herbs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, over-the-counter drugs, vaccines and anything received intravenously, including diagnostic and contrast agents, radioactive medications, feeding tube supplements and blood products

Any medications that you're allergic to or that have caused problems for you in the past

Whether you have any chronic or serious health problems

If you might be pregnant or you're trying to become pregnant

Avoid these mistakes

The following medication errors have happened to some people. Don't make these same mistakes:

Confusing eardrops and eyedrops. Always double-check the label. If a medication says "otic," it's for the ears. If it says "ophthalmic," it's for the eyes.

Chewing nonchewables. Don't assume chewing a pill is as good as swallowing it. Some medications should never be chewed, cut or crushed. Doing so may change how they're absorbed by the body.

Cutting up pills. Never split pills unless your doctor or pharmacist has told you it's safe to do so. Some medications shouldn't be cut because they're specially coated to be long acting or to protect the stomach.

Using the wrong spoon. The spoons in your silverware drawer aren't measuring spoons. To get an accurate dose, use an oral syringe (available at pharmacies) or the dose cup that came with the medication.

Make safety a habit

Get into the habit of playing it safe with these medication tips:

Keep an up-to-date list of all your medications, including nonprescription drugs and supplements.

Store medications in their original labeled containers.

Keep your medications organized by using a pillbox or an automatic pill dispenser.

Save the information sheets that come with your medications.

Use the same pharmacy, if possible, for all of your prescriptions.

When you pick up a prescription, check that it's the one your doctor ordered.

Don't give your prescription medication to someone else and don't take someone else's.

A final word on medication errors

"Don't ask, don't tell" is never a smart policy when it comes to medications and your health. Don't hesitate to ask questions or to tell your health care providers if anything seems amiss. Remember, you're the final line of defense against medication errors.

If despite your efforts you have problems with a medication, talk with your health care provider or pharmacist about whether to report it to MedWatchthe Food and Drug Administration safety and adverse event reporting program. Reporting to MedWatch is easy, confidential and secureand it can help save others from being harmed by medication errors.

Explore further Medication errors: tips to keep you safe

2021 Mayo Clinic News Network

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
He is set to portray his late father James Gandolfini's character Tony Soprano in the highly-anticipated Sopranos prequel The Many Saints Of Newark.

And Michael Gandolfini discussed his initial reservations about taking the part with Vanity Fair on Wednesday last week, claiming he learned to have 'unspoken trust' in creator David Chase's decision to cast him.

While he first felt he was unsuitable to play Tony, the actor, 21, said of the audition: 'I had this unspoken trust that David wasn't going to cast me if there was even a shred that this isn't going to work.'

Candid: James Gandolfini's son Michael admitted on Tuesday he had reservations about playing his father's Sopranos character but had 'unspoken trust' in creator David Chase

Michael prepared for the role by watching The Sopranos' first season for the first time, learning his father's many monologues for the audition.

Of the process, he admitted: 'It was really hard to watch my dad. I recorded four hours of his monologues with Melfi and walked around New York with them constantly, constantly, constantly playing in my ear.'

The prequel to the iconic HBO series The Sopranos focuses on the origins of its lead character, who eventually becomes a mob boss.

In his honour: Michael is set to portray a younger version of Tony Soprano in the highly-anticipated Sopranos prequel The Many Saints Of Newark (James Gandolfini in the role)

Meant to be: The actor (left) said of the audition: 'I had this unspoken trust that David wasn't going to cast me if there was even a shred that this isn't going to work'

Michael said of the film's premise: 'The Tony Soprano we know has this beautiful vulnerability underneath and this rough exterior, but what if we flip that on its side and you watch a creative, hopeful, kind, curious kid get whittled down and formed into what he has to be?'

The Many Saints Of Newark will also explore the tension that existed between African-American and Italian people who lived in the titular New Jersey community amid the unrest of the 1967 Newark riots, which left 26 people dead and hundreds more injured.

Warner Bros/HBO Max released a sizzle reel of its upcoming 2021 slate last month, and in the very short from The Many Saints Of Newark, young Tony Soprano was seen staring at someone who says 'Antonio Soprano' before being attacked.

Process: Michael prepared for the role by watching The Sopranos' first season for the first time, and he admitted 'it was really hard to watch my dad'

The film's release date was been pushed back from March 12 to a new premiere date of September 24 due to the coronavirus crisis.

It was written by the show's creator Chase and Lawrence Konner, and is being released by Warner Bros. and produced by New Line Cinemas.

The movie is set to debut simultaneously in cinemas and on HBO Max in the USA amid changes in the film industry with massive closures and uncertainty amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Principle photography on the motion picture commenced in April of 2019, and the movie was wrapped prior to the March 2020 shutdown amid the spread of the virus.

A few scenes in the movie were re-shot this past September, and sources told Variety that the postponement is so the film will be better set for award season with a debut run on the festival circuit this autumn.

The cast of the prequel includes Ray Liotta, Vera Farmiga, and Alessandro Nivola as Dickie Moltisanti, the father of Michael Imperiolis original-series character Christopher Moltisanti.

The series - which famously ended on a cliffhanger - debuted in January 1999 and ran through May of 2007. The show and its stars piled up Emmy awards during its run and it's considered a firebrand in the TV genre.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 48F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
New Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong burns incense during his visit to the National Cemetery in Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap



'US, China are both important to South Korea' says Chung



By Kang Seung-woo



Newly appointed Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, who started his term Tuesday, is tasked with coordinating with the United States on North Korea policy and mending fences with Japan.



The replacement of the Moon Jae-in administration's top diplomat comes as Seoul and Washington are now at an important inflection point over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program after the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden in January.



In addition, another daunting task for the new minister will be navigating the country's diplomacy amid the escalating Sino-U.S. rivalry.



Despite the "good relations" between former U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, championed by President Moon Jae-in who viewed their talks as critical to establishing a durable peace on the Korean Peninsula, there was no progress toward denuclearization and in that sense, Biden is set to pull back from his predecessor's policy.



Although Biden has repeated his intention to improve relations and work with U.S. allies, including South Korea, there are growing concerns that the two sides may clash over how to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue.



"Bilateral difficulties could surface, however, over North Korea policy. Moon's government favors easing sanctions against Pyongyang, a stance that could create tension with Washington," said the Congressional Research Service, updated Feb. 2.



The South Korean government wants the new U.S. administration to quickly restart nuclear negotiations with the North Korean regime by inheriting the principles from the 2018 Singapore agreement between Trump and Kim.



However, the Biden team appears to be abandoning Trump's policy, as evidenced by State Secretary Antony Blinken who said the U.S. government was reviewing its entire approach to the North during his confirmation hearing.



Given this situation, Chung is expected to assume the job of reducing the gap between the two countries over North Korea policy and making sure they stay on the same page on Moon's Korean Peninsula "peace process" without causing strains in the alliance.



"Although there may be differing views between South Korea and the U.S. on some issues, I believe we have no problem reconciling them behind the strong bilateral alliance despite media speculation that they are not on the same page on North Korea's denuclearization," Chung told reporters Tuesday, his first day on the job.



While Seoul is caught in the middle of Sino-U.S. rivalry, Washington, its long-time security ally, wants it to join the anti-China coalition, or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). However, the Moon administration has been reluctant to participate in the alliance due to China being the country's largest-trading partner.



"The U.S. and China are both important to us. The alliance with the U.S. is the linchpin of our peace and prosperity, while China is our strategic partner which is also an important player for peace on the Korean Peninsula," Chung said, adding that South Korea can play a role in helping the two countries build trust through cooperation in common areas like climate change and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.



As for Quad participation, the minister said, "The government is taking changes in the regional situation seriously as it gives us both a challenge and an opportunity. If a regional strategic forum operates in a transparent, open and inclusive manner and observes international rules, we are willing to cooperate in any forums or partners."



Another task for Chung is repairing ties with Japan that have reached their lowest point in years due to sensitive historical issues.



Relations between Seoul and Tokyo have plummeted, sparked by the latter's imposition of export controls on three key materials critical for Korea's semiconductor and display industries in apparent political retaliation for a ruling by the 2018 Korean Supreme Court ordering Japanese companies to compensate surviving Korean victims of forced wartime labor.



In addition, the Seoul Central District Court ordered Japan to make reparations of 100 million won ($90,000) each to 12 sexual slavery victims last month, creating further hostility.



The Biden administration is seeking trilateral cooperation to contain China as well as resolving the North's nuclear issue, so South Korea is expected to face pressure from the U.S. to improve relations with Japan.



Chung said during his confirmation hearing that the South Korean government would pursue a two-track strategy with the neighboring country of settling historical issues while seeking economic cooperation.





With this included in our annual set of audits, we are able to display compliance across a diverse set of security guidelines.

OATI has successfully completed its National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53 (NIST SP 800-53) examination, further reinforcing OATIs commitment to adhering to stringent industry information security standards.

The NIST SP 800-53 audit, conducted by Schellman & Company, LLC, thoroughly inspects OATI Data Center Operations in accordance with the NIST 800-53 Standards. OATI was found to be in compliance with all Low baseline controls and some moderate baseline controls across all OATI operations.

For the past nine years, OATI has remained compliant with these attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. OATI strives to exceed the energy industrys standards of cyber and physical security, doing so through a diverse set of audits. The NIST SP 800-53 Examination confirms OATIs security as suitable for hosting federal information systems.

We believe our compliance with NIST standards sets OATI apart from the field, said Sasan Mohktari, President and CEO of OATI. With this included in our annual set of audits, we are able to display compliance across a diverse set of security guidelines.

About OATI

OATI (http://www.oati.com) is the leading provider of advanced solutions to streamline and empower todays energy commerce and Smart Grid. Since pioneering Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) in 1995, OATI delivers innovative Distribution, Electric Vehicle Management, Energy Trading/Risk Management, Transmission Scheduling, Gas Trading/Pipeline Management, and Grid and Market Management solutions.

Working alongside utilities, their customers, and providers, OATI successfully designs, implements, deploys, and hosts mission-critical solutions committed to industry standards and stringent security guidelines, Transforming the Business of Energy. OATI is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with offices in California, Punjab, Telangana, and Singapore. For more information, please contact info@oati.net.
European demand for goods and services creates environmental impacts outside the borders of the EU, which has implications for the EU's climate goals. Credit: Hugh Nelson/Wikimedia, licensed under CC 3.0

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic upended international trade. Countries shut their borders, breaking the webs of supply chains that crisscross the globe. These systems of people, organisations and companies work to supply consumers with products, such as mobile phones, or services, like transportation. While some supply chains have since returned to a semblance of normality, understanding their extentand how they interactmay be vital if humanity wants to confront its other great challenge: climate change.

The European Union's Green Deal places environmental sustainability at the heart of future economic development and targets a climate-neutral economy by 2050. But in a world of globalised supply chains, the bloc must be careful not to outsource its environmental impact to other nations, say experts.

The first step to avoid this is to develop methods to measure the extent of Europe's supply chains and how they interact.

The vast majority of the EU's food production takes place within its borders, but about two-thirds of the non-food cropssuch as those used to produce biofuelsits residents consume are from other regions, according to research by FINEPRINT, a project which uses fine-scale data, for example satellites, to create global maps of where natural resources are being extracted.

To address the environmental impacts linked to mining, agriculture and forestry, requires identifying where the extraction is taking place within a country, says Dr. Stefan Giljum, an associate professor in the Institute for Ecological Economics at Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria, and FINEPRINT principal investigator. It is not sufficient to look at the average national impact, he says.

He gives the example of soybean exports from Brazil, and whether the beans were either grown 'in a rainforest (area) that was cleared last year or in the south where agriculture has been around for about 300 years."

But Dr. Giljum and colleagues found that many of the datasets necessary to their research 'simply did not exist," so they decided to create their own. Their map of global mining activity, for example, found that mining activity uses an area of about 57,277 km, about double the size of Belgium.

Mines

The team manually identified and marked more than 6,000 mining locations on satellite images, and the next step is to automate the recognition process. This would allow them to identify new mines, and investigate how land use has changed over time. "The main problem with (automatically detecting mines from satellite images) is that you need solid training data in order to make sure that the algorithm can learn what is a mine versus a road or a building," Dr. Giljum said. And this large new mining dataset can help train the software.

FINEPRINT, which ends in 2022, is also looking at other commodities and uses data about soybean, oil palm, copper, iron, coal and oil production among others. "A high percentage of environmental impacts occur at the very first stages of the supply chain," Dr. Giljum said. The ultimate aim is to connect fine-scale data of resource extraction and related environmental and social impacts and trace them along international supply chains all the way to the final consumer, he says. "We want to create information for decision-makers, so that we can inform them of (a specific commodity's) environmental profile."

This is particularly important if the EU wants to push its Green Deal agenda: "Europe is in a special position because it is (highly) dependent on imports and ecosystem services in other parts of the world, and we have a responsibility to be concerned about these (distant) impacts," he said.

But the reality is that while Europe is able to control what occurs in member states, the blocand the worldneeds frameworks to understand how supply chains intersect and influence each other.

Soybean

"There are environmental impacts that arise outside the borders of the EU, but that occur because of the demand taking place across the EU," says Simon Bager, a doctoral candidate at the Universite catholique de Louvain in Belgium. Bager's work focuses on deforestation and how policy action by the EU can reduce ecosystem destruction linked to commodity imports, such as beef, soy, palm oil, and cocoa. Large swathes of natural forests, such as the Amazon rainforest in South America, have been uprooted in favour of commodity production to meet consumer demand for food and feed. China consumes the majority of Brazil's soy exports. In the EU, soybeansmainly sourced from the United States  are primarily used for animal feed. Each year, the EU alone imports commodities associated with the destruction of some 190,000 ha of forest. Bager is part of COUPLED, a project which aims to understand the factorsfrom local governance to global demandthat influence land use in an increasingly interconnected world.

COUPLED uses an idea called 'telecoupling' to explain these connections, says Professor Jonas stergaard Nielsen, a specialist in human land use and global climate change at The Integrative Research Institute on Transformations of Human-Environment Systems, based at Humboldt University in Germany, and COUPLED coordinator. "The concept of telecouplings originated in the area of climate change research, where it is called "teleconnections,"' said Prof. Nielsen. Teleconnections, a concept often used in atmospheric science, refers to climate links between two geographically separate regions. "They say you can have a storm in the North Atlantic and that manifests as a drought in central Australia."

He gives the example of a dry forest in Argentina becoming a soybean field in order to feed pigs in Germany, whose meat is ultimately sold to China. The supply chain encircles the globe, but 'land use is local' and influenced by individuals, companies and governments with their own agendas. COUPLED, which is a training programme, brought together 15 Ph.D. candidates to investigate telecoupling as a method to track global supply chains.

"The real issue is spillover systems and whether your supply chain is sustainable from a systemic perspective," Prof. Nielsen said. He points to sustainably produced pineapples in Costa Rica, which are packed on pallets made from rainforest-sourced wood. The spillover system (the pallets) renders the supply chain unsustainable. "Things are connected and often in surprising and unexpected ways."

Telecoupling

Telecoupling allows those involved in the system not only to map out the supply chain's extent, but also look for possible solutions. As part of his work on deforestation, Bager and colleagues developed a research paper on EU policy options for addressing deforestation associated with commodity consumption within the EU. In this, they identified eight specific 'actors' involved in the supply chains that can lead to deforestation such as consumers, governments, companies, landowners, etc., and summarised existing proposals into 86 unique policy options which target different actors. These range from the politically difficult, such as trade agreements, to fairly easy, such as the EU providing information to consumers, says Bager, but also vary in the ability to reduce deforestation. To increase impact, it is also important to concentrate efforts on sectors that are the most responsible for deforestation, such as soy, palm oil and cocoa, rather than rubber or maize which have smaller deforestation footprints.

But if the EUand the world in generalplans to reduce its environmental footprint and curb climate change, it will need to better understand the extent of its supply chains and devise ways to regulate and control them.

Because of its economic heft, the EU has the ability to drive change and chart a path towards environmentally sustainable supply chains, Bager says. "Our work focuses on deforestation, but you can also talk about biodiversity loss and water. The EU is getting more and more aware that it needs to address these impacts (beyond its own borders)."

Explore further Researcher investigates how to make the global food supply more resilient
Rwanda and Central African Republic (CAR) are committed to cement bilateral cooperation, including in such areas as security and economic development, the two countries' foreign affairs ministers have said.

They made the remarks Monday, February 8, in Kigali, during a news briefing related to the working visit of Sylvie Baipo Temon, CAR's foreign minister.

Sylvie Baipo Temon, Central African Republic's Minister of Foreign Affairs addresses media in Kigali on Feb 8 (Dan Nsengiyumva).

The visit is in line with efforts to further enhance her country's ties with Rwanda.

Her Rwandan counterpart, Dr Vincent Biruta, said CAR is currently going through difficult security challenges, underlining that Rwanda was committed to continue supporting it in its efforts to secure its territory and lead its people toward sustainable development.

Rwanda in December last year sent a contingent of protection force t to CAR, in addition to the Rwandan troops already deployed under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Biruta addresses journalists in Kigali . / Dan Nsengiyumva

"The armed groups were threatening to harm our soldiers who perform well to counter those groups that wanted to topple the Central African Republic authority. Therefore, it was necessary that we send more troops to boost their defence," he said.

He added that the protection force also had a mission to ensure a peaceful election period i

in the country, indicating that the target was achieved because the election was held, with Faustin Archange Touadera being re-elected President of CAR.

On her part, Minister Temon thanked Rwanda's soldiers and those from other countries for helping repulse attacks from armed groups that sought to destabilise democratic election processes.

Learning from Rwanda's experience

Sharing Rwanda's experience, Biruta said that the Genocide against Tutsi in 1994 claimed over a million lives, and left the country in ruins.

"But, there are initiatives that were set up which contributed to the rebuilding of the country. They include fostering unity and reconciliation, demobilization or reintegration of former soldiers and members of armed groups, and they were fruitful as they enabled the country to implement development initiatives," he said.

This experience, he said, can help Central African Republic to get rid of the persisting problems it has been facing.

"They can engage in dialogue [to reach common ground], unity and reconciliation initiatives, and demobilise the members of the armed groups, as well as be able to execute livelihoods projects," he said.

Minister Temon said that the fact that Rwanda suffered the Genocide and was able to move ahead gives a great lesson.

"We would like to learn from Rwanda's experience to confront a bitter past. The current results [in Rwanda] are encouraging, and they help to rekindle hope for the reconstruction of the country," she said.

Expanding partnership

Biruta said that it is not enough to conduct military activities to restore security, and elect leaders.

"There is a third aspect regarding development activities so that jobs get created and people get employment for their livelihoods, and promote investment," he said.

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He said that, last week, on February 3, 2021, Rwanda's national carrier RwandAir launched flights to CAR's Capital city Bangui, pointing out that there were Rwandan investors among passengers onboard the maiden flight in order to explore investment opportunities in the country.

The airline will be operating two weekly flights from Kigali to Bangui-M'poko International Airport, on Wednesdays and Sundays.

"They went to consider areas of investment in the country, which can support development there for the country to be able to rebuild itself," he said.

Temon indicated that they would like to reinforce and extend bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and CAR to various domains, pointing out that the CAR is mobilising investors to come and venture in the country.

"There is no development without peace, and there is no peace without development. They should rather go hand in hand," she said.
ATLANTA, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Georgia Power signed on to the Metro Atlanta Chamber's (MAC's) "Atl Action for Racial Equity" initiative to elevate diversity, equity and inclusion in the business community, while honoring the city's civil rights history.

Through today's initiative announcement, Georgia Power joins more than 150 companies across the region including Newell Brands, Cox, Coca-Cola, UPS, Truist, AT&T, Delta Airlines, The Home Depot and Chick-fil-A to address the effects of systemic racism in the community and workplace.

"At Georgia Power, we deeply value the diversity of our team and the communities we serve. That's why we are committed to creating an environment where employees and customers feel a sense of belonging and can be their true authentic selves. We're proud to be a part of the Metro Atlanta Chamber's Atl Action for Racial Equity efforts to do the same here in Atlanta. We believe businesses working together to ensure equality is how we can make a collective impact, and we're thankful for all of the Chamber's hard work to bring us together," said Paul Bowers, Chairman and CEO and Chris Womack, president of Georgia Power.

Last year, MAC announced four key areas to drive collective impact to address the region's racial equity challenges including advancing black talent, championing inclusive economic development, expanding access to quality education, and investing in workforce development.

In 2020, Georgia Power, along with a coalition of leading Georgia businesses, signed a letter asking the Georgia General Assembly to support, approve and sign into law a comprehensive, specific and clear bill against hate crimes.

House Bill 426, also known as the Georgia Hate Crimes Act, was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp following bipartisan support to extend protections to individuals targeted based on biases.

About Georgia Power

Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.6 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

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Native people have been disproportionately hit by Covid-19, experiencing higher rates of infection, hospitalization and death than White people in the US. But when it comes to vaccine administration, tribal health providers are often outpacing counties and states.

For the most part, the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in the US so far has been beset by long lines, glitchy websites and canceled appointments. Meanwhile, many tribal nations and health clinics have moved efficiently through their vaccine allotments and distribution phases -- with some already offering shots to Native people as young as 16.

"We have some real crushing challenges in Indian Country," said Stacy Bohlen, chief executive officer of the National Indian Health Board. "We have a perfect storm for a pandemic like this to really knock us down. But we are also very, very resilient people."

It's important to note that there are 574 federally recognized tribes, making it difficult to broadly characterize how the vaccine rollout is going across Indian Country. Native people get their health care from a patchwork system of Indian Health Service facilities, tribally-operated clinics and urban Indian health centers, and vaccination efforts have varied from tribe to tribe and state to state.

Still, the successes of some tribal health providers offer lessons for communities struggling to vaccinate their populations efficiently. Here are some of them.

They tailored their messaging to build trust

From the beginning, vaccine hesitancy was a public health challenge for tribal health providers, especially given the federal government's history of unethical research and medical abuses committed against Native people.

A recent survey of 1,435 American Indians and Alaska Natives from the Urban Indian Health Institute found that 75% of participants were willing to get a Covid-19 vaccine, largely out of a sense of responsibility to protect their communities and preserve their cultures. That suggests that culturally relevant messaging is key to building vaccine acceptance among Native people, the report's authors wrote.

It's a strategy that the Cherokee Nation says has worked for them.

The Cherokee Nation has administered more than 17,000 vaccines as of February 8, according to the tribe. About 141,000 Cherokee Nation citizens live within the bounds of the tribe's reservation in northeastern Oklahoma, suggesting an impressive pace so far.

The tribe's "biggest confidence builder" in the vaccine has been its decision to put fluent Cherokee speakers at the front of the line, said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.

Cherokee speakers were among the first groups eligible for the vaccine, as part of the tribe's effort to save its language from the existential threat of Covid-19. Only about 2,000 people could speak Cherokee fluently before the pandemic. The virus claimed the lives of an estimated 45 speakers.

By inoculating its most revered and treasured citizens first, the Cherokee Nation signaled to others who may have been on the fence that it believed the vaccine was safe.

"That's done something to create a sense of optimism among our people and also to boost the confidence of other Cherokees who see these very revered Cherokee elders, in many cases who are fluent speakers, getting the vaccines and celebrating it," he told CNN.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said that people were hesitant to get the vaccine early on, so he got the shot on camera to help build confidence in it. The tribe has also been answering questions Navajo people have over the radio and in twice weekly town halls, sometimes bringing in experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Also key to the tribe's confidence-building efforts are Navajo doctors and health care professionals, who are able to speak to citizens in their own language and alleviate any concerns about its safety.

"Utilizing our way of life and teaching helps our Navajo people feel it's okay to take the shots," Nez said.

About three out of four Navajo citizens are now interested in getting the vaccine, according to Nez. To accommodate that interest, the tribe has been holding mass vaccination events seven days a week.

As of February 8, nearly one in three people on the Navajo Nation have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 4.3% have been fully vaccinated -- a rate higher than most states. It's a story of resilience and perseverance, Nez said, especially given how hard Covid-19 hit the tribe.

They have the autonomy to decide who gets priority

Tribes are sovereign nations with the autonomy to determine how to provide for the health care needs of their communities. For those that operate their own health systems, that meant being able to decide who should get priority for the vaccine.

That autonomy allows tribes to adequately respond to the unique challenges they face, said Bohlen.

For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that initial phases of the vaccine distribution include people 75 and older because they are at higher risk of severe illness and death for Covid-19. But certain tribes might decide to expand those parameters because of the health disparities their populations experience.

"Our life expectancy is so much lower than the general population that we have to be able to make the decision that maybe a 55-year-old is in fact an elder, if you're in a tribe where the life expectancy is 58," Bohlen said.

In Washington state, that self-determination also extends to urban Indian health centers.

The Seattle Indian Health Board, a community health center that specializes in the care of American Indians and Alaska Natives, opened vaccinations to American Indians and Alaska Natives 55 and older early on in their distribution plan. That ensured that they could protect all of the elders served by their elders program, many of who are homeless, said CEO Esther Lucero.

"That's sometimes the only place they get a warm meal or get social interaction or not have to be out in really terrible weather," she said, referring to the location where elders in the program congregate. "So that was really important to us."

As of February 1, the organization has opened appointments to all people 50 and older, Native or not.

This health system is owned by its people

Having successfully inoculated some of their most vulnerable populations, some tribal health providers are now opening up appointments even to younger, relatively healthy Native people -- groups that would otherwise likely be months away from getting a vaccine.

Southcentral Foundation, a regional health organization owned and operated by the local Native community in southern central Alaska, offered its first vaccines to frontline healthcare workers and Native people 85 and older. Once the organization acquired the necessary staffing to operate larger vaccination clinics, it quickly scaled up its distribution to offer the shot to successively younger age groups, said interim president and CEO April Kyle.

It has been vaccinating Native people 16 and older since January 22.

Southcentral Foundation has administered more than 12,000 vaccine doses as of February 8, according to the health care system. The organization serves about 65,000 Alaska Native and American Indian people in Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and surrounding rural villages.

Southcentral Foundation's success is a credit to its community-owned health care model, Kyle said.

Kyle attributes the organization's smooth vaccine rollout so far to the Native people in southern central Alaska, who developed a community-focused health care system that in turn was able to plan for how to get vaccines even to people in challenging terrains.

She's seeing similar results in tribal health systems across the country.

"I'm watching the news, and I'm really impressed with the passion and sophistication of tribal health care and the ways that communities are able to know how in their community to get that vaccine out," she said.

They made big investments in health care

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Hoskin has some advice for how the US can replicate the tribe's success. But it's not a quick fix.

"We're a country that doesn't make access to health care just part of being a citizen," he said. "Because of that, there's uneven access to health care across the country. That's a problem during good times, and it's certainly a problem during the pandemic."

Meanwhile, the Cherokee Nation has spent the past decade shoring up its health care system, which is now the largest tribally-operated health system in the US, Hoskin said.

That robust infrastructure allowed the tribe to set up a call center early on to reach eligible citizens efficiently -- a step that many states are only now taking. Contacting residents via robocalls also helped the tribal government avoid the long lines and confusing online signup forms that have plagued residents in so many counties and states.

"I hope the lesson people can learn from Cherokee Nation's success is that you've got to invest in health care during the good times, make it a priority for your nation and make it universally accessible for your citizens," Hoskin said.

Ultimately, success depends on the nation's vaccine supply

The tribal health providers interviewed by CNN say they're getting shots out the door and into arms soon after they receive shipments, which come either from the Indian Health Service or their state governments.

But whether they can keep up their steady vaccination rates ultimately depends on whether the US can continue to provide vaccines at the speed and volume at which they need -- a challenge that has already slowed down efforts for counties and states.

There's reason for optimism: President Joe Biden's administration recently rolled out a series of measures aimed at ramping up vaccination efforts, which include purchasing 200 million more vaccine doses and increasing distribution to states by millions of doses.

If that turns out to be the case, tribal health providers say they'll be ready.

"Can the United States keep up with the Cherokee Nation?" Hoskin asked. "That's really the key question for us."



CORRECTION: This piece has been corrected to say that the virus claimed the lives of an estimated 45 Cherokee speakers.
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Furious Tories savaged Matt Hancock over a 'forever lockdown' today after the Health Secretary warned border restrictions may need to stay until autumn  despite figures showing the UK's epidemic is firmly in retreat.

Lockdown-sceptic backbenchers took aim at Mr Hancock when he unveiled the latest brutal squeeze aimed at preventing mutant coronavirus strains getting into the country.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health announced 12,364 more coronavirus cases and 1,052 deaths in the past 24 hours as the winter wave continues to shrink because of lockdown.

Both figures have dropped by more than a quarter compared to last week, with today's infections down 26.6 per cent on last Tuesday's figure and deaths by 27.4 per cent. The number of Covid patients in hospital has also fallen by a fifth in a week, with nearly 27,000 beds now taken up by Covid sufferers.

The DoH revealed another 356,291 coronavirus jabs were administered yesterday, with 12.6million Brits having now received their first dose. With six days still to go, No10 is within touching distance of delivering on its target of injecting the 15million most vulnerable by February 15.

But hopes the world-beating vaccine roll-out will mean lockdown curbs can be significantly eased any time soon were shot down today by Mr Hancock, who unveiled the latest suite of border curbs and warned they could last until the Autumn when booster vaccines will be available.

As of Monday travellers from high-risk 'red list' countries will be forced to spend 10 days in 'quarantine hotels', and all arrivals must test negative three times through gold-standard PCR coronavirus tests before being allowed to freely move around the UK. Anyone who lies about whether they have been to places on the banned list recently will face up to 10 years in prison.

Travel and hospitality bosses warned today the UK faces a second summer write off as uncertainty over when restrictions will end squashes demand for holidays and social venues. They called for reassurances that curbs will be eased from April to avoid pushing their industries 'over a cliff-edge'.

In a Commons statement this afternoon, Mr Hancock was confronted by a series of senior Conservatives over when the restrictions might ease  and whether the goalposts were being shifted on relaxing the wider lockdown.

Former chief whip Mark Harper, chair of the lockdown-sceptic CRG bloc of around 70 MPs, urged the government to reconsider its approach with Covid likely to be a permanent issue. 'If the virus continues to mutate, surely the risk is going to be there forever,' he said.

Tory MP Craig Mackinlay told MailOnline that he was sceptical about the border crackdown and it might do more damage than it tries to solve. He added: This whole trying to stop things from coming in, I think we are way beyond that frankly. The virus does its own thing no matter where it is.'

It came as one of Oxford's vaccine chiefs, Professor Andrew Pollard, said today the South African variant was not a 'reason for alarm' and jabs should work to prevent hospitalisations and deaths and reduce the disease to 'the sniffles'.

Boris Johnson is due to unveil his 'road map' for easing the lockdown in the week of February 22, by which time the four most vulnerable groups should have received vaccine doses. Schools are set to be the first things back from March 8, but the concerns about mutant strains have sparked warnings from scientists that any relaxation must be slower.

Matt Hancock was assailed by demands for an exit strategy when he unveiled the latest squeeze aimed at preventing variant coronavirus strains getting into the country

Former chief whip Mark Harper (left), chair of the lockdown-sceptic CRG bloc of around 70 MPs, and transport committee chair Huw Merriman (right) were among the Tories who challenged Mr Hancock

In other coronavirus developments today:

Travellers who lie about whether they have been to mutant coronavirus hotspots face up to ten years in prison, under a brutal crackdown unveiled by Matt Hancock;

One of Oxford's vaccine chiefs said the South African variant was not a 'reason for alarm' and jabs should work in preventing hospitalisations and deaths from the strain;

The NHS's performance during the coronavirus pandemic has been 'nothing special' and many countries without similar public healthcare have performed better, a think tank claimed;

Vaccinated Britons could get scannable QR codes as soon as next month, allowing them to travel abroad as part of controversial Covid 'vaccine passport' schemes funded by the taxpayer;

Britain could be trapped in lockdown cycles for 'several years' as it's forced to wrestle with new variants that could scupper vaccines, top scientists warned;

Fever and losing the sense of taste or smell are not the most common symptoms of people who test positive for coronavirus, a testing survey has found, with infected people in England more likely to feel fatigued or to develop head or muscle aches;

World Health Organization scientists sent on a coronavirus fact-finding mission to China have today thrown their weight behind Beijing - dismissing theories the virus leaked from a lab wile backing theories that the virus was imported on frozen meat.

Speaking on the latest border measures, Mr Mackinlay told MailOnline: I think it is a little bit abstract to say this is uniquely South African and if we close the border to South Africa it wont come in, he said.

These things will mutate no matter where it is, in any population around the world. Im not sure it doesnt do more damage than it is trying to solve.

How will the new border rules work? Matt Hancock has announced details of the tougher border measures to MPs. RULES FOR RED LIST TRAVELLERS People will be required to test negative for coronavirus 72 hours before departure, using a kit that meets UK government standards. On arrival they will be taken to a 'quarantine hotel' for a 10-day stay that will leave them with a 1,750 bill - although the government pays up front. They will be tested again on day two and day eight of quarantine, with costs included in the wider charge. RULES FOR NON-RED LIST The same requirement for a negative test result 72 hours before departure applies. Once in the UK, they must isolate for 10 days at home or in private accommodation, with the authorities able to check that they are obeying the rules. Tests will be required on day two and day eight of isolation, and must be booked through a government portal in advance of travel. The portal will be launched on Thursday. The costs are not yet known but PCR tests typically cost around 120 a time. It is thought many people will opt for the test and release scheme - which means they can escape restrictions after testing negative on day five. However, Mr Hancock suggested they will still be required to take tests on day two and day eight - meaning they could be screened four times in total. Advertisement

But Mr Hancock played down the fall in case numbers and said there was still too much pressure on hospitals to consider easing restrictions at this time.

He said he made 'no apologies' for the incredibly harsh new border measures, warning that protecting the UK from variant strains that can potentially evade vaccines is 'mission critical'.

He revealed the government is creating a new criminal offence of hiding from the authorities that you have visited one of the countries on the UK's 'red list'.

The draconian step came as he confirmed that from Monday all arrivals will have to take three gold-standard PCR coronavirus tests - one pre-departure and two during their isolation period. Those who fail to get the checks could be hit with thousands of pounds in fines.

Millions of Britons have already booked trips ahead of the Prime Minister's announcement of the country's plan for easing restrictions on February 22 and Matt Hancock has previously predicted a 'Great British Summer'.

But several government figures are hinting coronavirus restrictions could last well into summer - despite fears it will spell the death knell for businesses across the UK when the furlough scheme ends on April 30.

Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy firm the PC Agency, said the government needs to signal restrictions will be diluted from the start of April so travel can recover.

He said 'The government needs to signal that these tougher restrictions will be diluted from the start of April, enabling travel to recover again.

'Otherwise, the huge drop in travellers and number of flights will push the sector over a cliff-edge, with the resulting hundreds of thousands of job losses and business failures.'

He added: 'The outlook may seem cloudy right now, as government tightens restrictions for those entering the UK.

'But, when infection and mortality rates are much lower and the NHS is not under pressure due to vaccines taking effect, then there is no reason for such measures to be in place.'

The beleaguered hospitality industry also has pressing questions about when trade can resume, calling on the government to give a 'strong signal' Britain will be open in the summer.

UK hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: 'We hope that the government will give a strong signal that Britain will be open this summer, so that businesses can begin to make preparations.

'We can't downplay how serious this has been for our sector. Businesses are telling us that only one in five have enough cash flow to last past the end of this month.

'We have suffered over 600,000 job losses and we still have more than one million staff on furlough. Lots of businesses have gone under, but many have persevered doggedly throughout the crisis.

Meanwhile wedding experts are advising people to postpone their nuptials until next year so they can have the ceremony they want - free of tight restrictions.

And the festival industry - which saw most events called off or moved online last year - is trying to find ways to hold shows this year but has called for clarity from the government.

Mr Hancock also declared that 4,600 rooms have now been secured by the government from 16 hotels so the 'quarantine hotel' system can get up and running as planned on Monday, although the Department of Health refused to name them.

All incomers from 'red list' countries must stay in the rooms for 10 days, costing 1,750 each including food and drink and their testing bill.

Arrivals from dozens of high-risk countries on the 'red list' will have to test negative 72 hours before travelling, and then be screened again twice, on day two and day eight.

Failure to stick to the hotel quarantine will be punishable with a fine of up to 10,000, Mr Hancock said.

Meanwhile, all other travellers will also have to show a negative result before coming to the UK, and then face two more tests while isolating at home or in other private accommodation. The government has not said how much that will cost although typically it is around 120 per test.

The existing 'test and release' scheme will stay in place so people can escape restrictions five days after arrival - but they will still have to be tested on day two and day eight regardless.

Mr Hancock said failure to get the screening - which must be booked in advance through a government portal - will be punishable with a 1,000 fine on the first occasion, and 2,000 on the second.

And he said people who lie about whether they have been to 'red list' countries could be hit with a jail sentence of up to 10 years under a new law.

But Mr Harper told the Commons: 'When is this policy going to end, if ever? Because if the virus continues to mutate, surely the risk is going to be there forever and so when can it be removed?'

Mr Hancock responded: 'The risk of mutations absolutely can and will be managed through the evolution of vaccines in the way that the annual flu jab changes each year and allows us to protect ourselves.

'Of course these measures, whilst necessary now, are not measures that can be in place permanently. We need to replace them over time with a system of safe and free international travel. That's where we need to get to.

'The first task is to vaccinate the population. If we get good news on the vaccination impact on hospitalisations and deaths from people who have new mutations, then we will be in a better place. If we do not get such good news, then we will need to use the updated vaccines to protect against the variants of concerns.

Travellers who lie about whether they have been to mutant Covid hotspots face up to TEN YEARS in prison Travellers who lie about whether they have been to mutant coronavirus hotspots face up to ten years in prison, under a brutal crackdown unveiled by Matt Hancock today. The Health Secretary said he made 'no apologies' for incredibly harsh measures, warning that protecting the UK from variant strains that can potentially evade vaccines is 'mission critical' - and hinting they might need to be in place until the Autumn. He revealed the government is creating a new criminal offence of hiding from the authorities that you have visited one of the countries on the UK's 'red list'. The draconian step came as he confirmed that from Monday all arrivals will have to take three gold-standard PCR coronavirus tests - one pre-departure and two during their isolation period. Those who fail to get the checks could be hit with thousands of pounds in fines. Mr Hancock also declared that 4,600 rooms have now been secured by the government from 16 hotels so the 'quarantine hotel' system can get up and running as planned on Monday, although the Department of Health refused to name them. All incomers from 'red list' countries must stay in the rooms for 10 days, costing 1,750 each - with a supplement for people sharing rooms - including food and drink and their testing bill. Arrivals from dozens of high-risk countries on the 'red list' will have to test negative 72 hours before travelling, and then be screened again twice, on day two and day eight. Failure to stick to the hotel quarantine will be punishable with a fine of up to 10,000, Mr Hancock said. Advertisement

'The scientists inform and advise me that there are repeatedly independently around the world mutations of the same type in the E484K area of the virus, as mentioned by (Jonathan Ashworth). Now that gives the scientists a good start in where to target the new updated vaccine.'

Huw Merriman, chairman of the Transport Select Committee, also called for a schedule, pointing to the impact on the summer travel industry.

'Summer travel is so important to the aviation industry,' he said.

'Is this just to last until we've vaccinated 99 per cent of the mortality risk, which should be by May, or is it until we tweak the vaccination  in which case this could really, really have an impact on the aviation industry?'

Mr Hancock insisted: 'We want to exit from this into a system of safe international travel as soon as practicable and as soon as is safe.'

He said work is ongoing to assess the current vaccines against variants of the virus, but added: 'If that isn't forthcoming then we will need to vaccinate with a further booster jab in the autumn, which we're working with the vaccine industry.

'These are the uncertainties within which we are operating and hence, for now, my judgment is the package we've announced today is the right one.'

Tory MP William Wragg asked whether the conditions for ending lockdown have changed.

'The original purpose of lockdown was to keep hospitals from falling over and to reduce hospitalisations,' he said.

'So if that is achieved through a vaccination programme, is it now the Government's intention to use the level of the virus in circulation  the number of cases in the population  as the determination as when to ease lockdown?'

Mr Hancock replied by stressing that Mr Johnson had cited criteria including NHS pressure, deaths and variants as well as cases.

'No  the Prime Minister has set out the four conditions that need to be met and he'll be saying more about this on 22 February,' he said.

It comes as a top SAGE scientist warned Britain could be trapped in lockdown cycles for 'several years' as it's forced to wrestle with new variants that could scupper vaccines.

Professor Sir Ian Boyd, an infectious disease expert at the University of St Andrews and member of SAGE, said the emergence of potentially jab-resistant strains means the UK could be stuck in a pattern of 'control and release for a long time to come'.

Evidence suggests the Oxford University vaccine  the main weapon in Britain's arsenal to combat the virus  does not stop people falling ill with the South African variant, which is feared to be spreading in the community already. But No10's top scientific advisers believe it still protects against severe illness and death.

Professor Boyd and several other prominent SAGE members have warned reopening the current shutdown too early could risk allowing new, equally concerning variants to spawn.

The paper, written by the IEA's Dr Kristian Niemietz (pictured), pointed out that nations with the fewest Covid deaths and least economic and social disruption, like Taiwan and South Korea, had low public spending in the lead-up to the outbreak of the virus in China and no public health services.

Britain could be trapped in lockdown cycles for YEARS in fight with Covid variants Britain could be trapped in coronavirus lockdown cycles for 'several years' as it's forced to wrestle with new variants that could scupper vaccines, top scientists have warned. Professor Sir Ian Boyd, an infectious disease expert at the University of St Andrews and member of SAGE, said the emergence of potentially jab-resistant strains means the UK could be stuck in a pattern of 'control and release for a long time to come'. Evidence suggests the Oxford University vaccine  the main weapon in Britain's arsenal to combat the virus  does not stop people falling ill with the South African variant, which is feared to be spreading in the community already. But No10's top scientific advisers believe it still protects against severe illness and death. Professor Boyd and several other prominent SAGE members have warned reopening the current shutdown too early could risk allowing new, equally concerning variants to spawn. Mutations randomly happen as viruses spread but most changes never change the way it looks or behaves. Very high transmission gives the virus more opportunity to mutate and, therefore, drives up the risk that one of the alterations could change the course of the disease. Professor Boyd told The Times: 'It stands to reason that the more people there are in the population with infections  the prevalence  the more virus that is replicating and the more chance there is of even highly improbable mutations happening.' He warned even if Britain gets on top of the South African strain, there will be more concerning ones down the line. He added: 'My suspicion is that we will experience a damped oscillation of control-release for a long time to come  perhaps several years.' Professor Graham Medley, another SAGE member and infectious disease expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said 'everything works better' when there is lower prevalence, adding that the emergence of new variants 'strengthens that case'. Advertisement

Mutations randomly happen as viruses spread but most changes never change the way it looks or behaves. Very high transmission gives the virus more opportunity to mutate and, therefore, drives up the risk that one of the alterations could change the course of the disease.

Professor Boyd told The Times: 'It stands to reason that the more people there are in the population with infections  the prevalence  the more virus that is replicating and the more chance there is of even highly improbable mutations happening.'

He warned even if Britain gets on top of the South African strain, there will be more concerning ones down the line. He added: 'My suspicion is that we will experience a damped oscillation of control-release for a long time to come  perhaps several years.'

Professor Graham Medley, another SAGE member and infectious disease expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said 'everything works better' when there is lower prevalence, adding that the emergence of new variants 'strengthens that case'.

Despite the claims, the lead researcher behind trials of the Oxford jab said today results suggesting the Oxford University coronavirus vaccine doesn't stop people falling mildly unwell with the South African variant are not a 'reason for alarm'.

Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, claimed evidence from Oxford's own human trials in South Africa strongly indicated the vaccine still prevents serious illness and death against the new strain.

The Government has promised to look at lifting the most draconian curbs when the most vulnerable have been given at least one dose of vaccine, which they hope will drive down hospital admissions and deaths to manageable levels.

But yesterday Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock left the door open to longer restrictions in the face of the South African strain  risking furious backlash from Tory backbenchers who've accused No10 of 'moving the goalposts' over ending lockdown.

Several other prominent leading scientists have already come out in support of extending the current shutdown to reduce the risk of the South African stain becoming widespread.

Professor Robin Shattock, of Imperial College London, who does not sit on SAGE but is a leader in advanced vaccine development, told The Times: 'It would be very advisable to try to push the cases as low as possible to reduce the chance of additional variants. This would make sense alongside border restrictions.'

And Professor Mike Tildesley, from Warwick University, who also sits on SAGE, threw his support behind longer restrictions yesterday.

He told the BBC that 'more restrictions might be needed for longer if we can't get on top of this [variant]'.

It comes after an alarming study published on Sunday found the British-made Oxford jab had 'minimal effect' in preventing mild disease caused by the strain, suggesting vaccinated people may still be able to catch and spread it.

Top experts  including Oxford academics and the UK's leading vaccine panel  say the jab should still protect against severe illness, ultimately easing pressure on the NHS when lockdown restrictions are eventually lifted and saving tens of thousands of lives.

So far there have only been 147 confirmed cases of the South African variant in the UK but this is likely to be a vast underestimate because up until last week officials were only analysing 10 per cent of random positive swabs.

Scientists say the true number of cases is likely 10 to 20 times higher than the official count. No10 has deployed extra testing into more than 10 areas of England where the South African strain is thought to be spreading in the community.

NHS has been 'nothing special' during the pandemic says free-market think tank The NHS's performance during the coronavirus pandemic has been 'nothing special' and many countries without similar public healthcare have performed better, a think tank claimed today. The Institute for Economic Affairs said 'there is no rational basis for the adulation the NHS is currently receiving' as it attacked 'confirmation bias' on both sides of the political spectrum. In a new report it accused politicians across the board of trying to fit the pandemic into their pre-existing world-view. This included leftwingers who used the deadly pandemic to criticise low public spending but also those on the right who have demanded that the UK become much more self-sufficient. The paper, written by the IEA's Dr Kristian Niemietz, pointed out that nations with the fewest Covid deaths and least economic and social disruption, like Taiwan and South Korea, had low public spending in the lead-up to the outbreak of the virus in China and no public health services. They did, however, take steps to close their borders and introduce massive testing programmes early last year that allowed them to stamp on outbreaks much more successfully than the UK. 'What is safe to say is that there is no rational basis for the adulation the NHS is currently receiving, and no reason to be ''grateful'' for the fact that we have it,' Dr Niemietz wrote, criticising Boris Johnson among others for praising the health service. 'It should go without saying that if the UK did not have the NHS, it would not have no healthcare system. It would have a different healthcare system. 'Maybe it would have a public health insurance system similar to the Taiwanese or the Australian one, or maybe it would have a social health insurance system similar to the Swiss or the German one. 'There is no guarantee that this would have served the UK better during the pandemic, but there is certainly no reason to believe that it would have done any worse. 'There is nothing special about the NHS, neither during this pandemic, nor at any other time.' German Dr Niemietz also attacked the 'clap for the NHS' during the first lockdown, saying it was part of a 'false Covid-19 narrative' of 'how lucky we are to have the National Health Service, and how grateful we have to be for that.' But Downing Street defended the Prime minister's actions today. His press secretary Allegra Stratton told reporters: 'You have heard him in his own words at the beginning of the pandemic. He was out every Thursday night clapping for carers because of the extraordinary efforts and exhausting work and job all of them have done to care for our families and loved ones. 'In the beginning he was clapping for the NHS and has spoken on many occasions about the sterling work it has done. 'It's for think tanks to conclude whatever they deem right and an accurate reflection of the work them have done 'But of course it is something he talks about every time he is in front of you all at press conferences. 'And let's not forget that he himself has recovered from Covid and was treated in hospital when he was incredibly unwell and he remains grateful to the people who nursed him then. Advertisement

The Prime Minister yesterday refused to rule out extending lockdown if the South African variant continues to spread.

Pressed on whether there may need to be a delay to easing restrictions if the jab is proven to be less effective at reducing transmission of the South African variant, the Prime Minister said vaccines are 'going to offer a way out' and 'remain of massive benefit to our country'  but failed to dismiss the prospect of a lockdown extension.

During a visit to a coronavirus test manufacturing facility in Derby, he said: 'We're very confident in all the vaccines that we're using. And I think it's important for people to bear in mind that all of them, we think, are effective in delivering a high degree of protection against serious illness and death, which is the most important thing.'

But Government sources said on Sunday night there was 'no indication' the easing of lockdown would be affected by the findings that the Oxford vaccine is less effective against the South African variant.

A tweaked version of the Oxford vaccine that targets the new strain is already in development and should be ready by August.

Meanwhile, an explosive report by a think tank claimed today that the NHS's performance during the coronavirus pandemic has been 'nothing special' and many countries without similar public healthcare have performed better.

The Institute for Economic Affairs said 'there is no rational basis for the adulation the NHS is currently receiving' as it attacked 'confirmation bias' on both sides of the political spectrum.

In a new report it accused politicians across the board of trying to fit the pandemic into their pre-existing world-view.

This included leftwingers who used the deadly pandemic to criticise low public spending but also those on the right who have demanded that the UK become much more self-sufficient.

The paper, written by the IEA's Dr Kristian Niemietz, pointed out that nations with the fewest Covid deaths and least economic and social disruption, like Taiwan and South Korea, had low public spending in the lead-up to the outbreak of the virus in China and no public health services.

They did, however, take steps to close their borders and introduce massive testing programmes early last year that allowed them to stamp on outbreaks much more successfully than the UK.

'What is safe to say is that there is no rational basis for the adulation the NHS is currently receiving, and no reason to be ''grateful'' for the fact that we have it,' Dr Niemietz wrote, criticising Boris Johnson among others for praising the health service.

'It should go without saying that if the UK did not have the NHS, it would not have no healthcare system. It would have a different healthcare system.

'Maybe it would have a public health insurance system similar to the Taiwanese or the Australian one, or maybe it would have a social health insurance system similar to the Swiss or the German one.

'There is no guarantee that this would have served the UK better during the pandemic, but there is certainly no reason to believe that it would have done any worse.

'There is nothing special about the NHS, neither during this pandemic, nor at any other time.'

German Dr Niemietz also attacked the 'clap for the NHS' during the first lockdown, saying it was part of a 'false Covid-19 narrative' of 'how lucky we are to have the National Health Service, and how grateful we have to be for that.'

But Downing Street defended the Prime minister's actions today.

His press secretary Allegra Stratton told reporters: 'You have heard him in his own words at the beginning of the pandemic. He was out every Thursday night clapping for carers because of the extraordinary efforts and exhausting work and job all of them have done to care for our families and loved ones.

'In the beginning he was clapping for the NHS and has spoken on many occasions about the sterling work it has done.

'It's for think tanks to conclude whatever they deem right and an accurate reflection of the work them have done

'But of course it is something he talks about every time he is in front of you all at press conferences.

'And let's not forget that he himself has recovered from Covid and was treated in hospital when he was incredibly unwell and he remains grateful to the people who nursed him then.'

Labour reacted with fury to the report. Deputy leader Angela Rayner demanded Health Secretary Matt Hancock return a donation of 32,000 he received from the IEA's chairman Neil Record.

'It is deeply concerning that the Health Secretary has such a close relationship with - and is bankrolled by - an organisation that wants to dismantle and privatise our NHS and says that the idea that the NHS has done an amazing job during the Covid crisis is a ''false narrative'',' she said.

'If Matt Hancock is grateful to our NHS and the NHS heroes who have sacrificed so much during this crisis he must demonstrate this by condemning this disgraceful report, distancing himself from the IEA and paying back the donations he has received from the IEA chair Neil Record.'

Where did the second wave of Covid hit the hardest? Hastings in Sussex saw 19 TIMES as many coronavirus deaths in January than it did during darkest spell of outbreak last spring

More than half of local authorities in England and Wales were hit harder by the pandemic in January than at the peak of the first wave, official figures reveal.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows 54 per cent - 182 out of 336 - registered more deaths from Covid in the first four weeks of this year than between March 28 and April 24 last year.

East Sussex suffered the biggest hit, with three of its five local authorities in the top ten worst affected. These included Hastings, where Covid fatalities surged 19-fold, and Eastbourne, where they leapt four-fold.

Norfolk faced the second-biggest toll after two of its seven councils were also on the list, with Norwich seeing Covid deaths spiral eight-fold, and Broadland recording a three-fold spike.

Experts heralded the figures as painting a picture of the 'huge difference' in the impact of the waves on different areas today, adding it appeared some places had 'got off lightly' in the first wave only to be pummelled by the second.

Across England and Wales almost 29,000 deaths linked to Covid-19 were registered during the periods of both the first and second waves considered, revealing the uneven pressures faced by people living in different areas.

It comes after Britain today recorded another 12,364 coronavirus cases, a 27 per cent drop on the same time last week, and a further 1,052 deaths from the virus.

WHICH AREAS WERE WORST HIT DURING THE SECOND WAVE? Local authority First wave deaths Second wave deaths Hastings Norwich Rother Ceredigion Arun Wrexham Eastbourne Ribble Valley Broadland West Lindsey 6 10 19 4 31 23 32 11 32 12 116 93 147 29 159 115 157 48 135 49 The first wave was dated for four weeks from March 28 to April 24, after England's first lockdown was declared. The second wave was dated for four weeks from January 2 to 29, after England's third lockdown was declared. Advertisement

Hastings and Norwich suffered the biggest hits from the second wave, after Covid deaths jumped from six to 116 fatalities and 10 to 93 respectively.

Rother, in East Sussex, suffered the third biggest hit after Covid deaths jumped seven-fold between the waves from 19 to 147.

It was followed by Ceredigion, in Wales, where they jumped six-fold from 4 to 29, Arun, in West Sussex, where they jumped four-fold from 31 to 159, and Wrexham, also in Wales, where they jumped four-fold from 23 to 115.

In Norfolk Broadland was also among the top ten with the biggest impact from the second wave, where deaths leapt three-fold from 32 to 135.

Of the 56 local authorities where Covid-19 deaths in the second wave were at least double that in the first, 15 were in the South East and 16 were in the East of England.

The far larger impact in the south of the country is likely down to the more infectious Kent variant, scientists say, which spread rapidly in the run-up to Christmas.

It has a key mutation - dubbed N501Y - which is thought to allow it to jump between humans and trigger more infections more easily.

These will inevitably lead to more deaths from the virus, because it will spread to more people in total than the old virus was able to.

Top scientists have also warned the strain - dubbed B.1.1.7. - is slightly more deadly, but they say as this accounts for less than ten additional deaths for every 1,000 caused the impact is minimal.

In East Sussex, for example, its Conquest and Eastbourne District General Hospital grappled with five times more Covid-19 patients last month than during the first wave, with approximately half of its beds used up by those suffering from the virus.

Nonetheless, the impact was not as great in London - with only Kingston-upon-Thames suffering at least double the number of fatalities as in the first wave - despite the new variant already being more widespread there.

It has been suggested this could be linked to higher levels of immunity to the virus in the capital, which surveys have consistently shown has higher levels of antibodies - virus-fighting proteins - in its population compared to other areas.

But it may also be connected to the impact of the first wave on the city, which was the country's hotspot and the first place to take the full force of the virus.

WHICH AREAS WERE WORST HIT DURING THE FIRST WAVE? Local authority First wave deaths Second wave deaths Salford Harrogate Cheltenham Craven Trafford West Lancashire Gateshead Leeds City Sunderland Stockport 207 84 93 38 116 72 137 368 227 201 45 25 34 14 45 28 55 157 97 86 The first wave was dated for four weeks from March 28 to April 24, after England's first lockdown was declared. The second wave was dated for four weeks from January 2 to 29, after England's third lockdown was declared. Advertisement

The areas that suffered the biggest impact from the first wave compared to the second are mostly based in the North of England, ONS data reveals.

Salford had the biggest impact, with fatalities four-fold higher at 207 in April compared to 45 in January.

It was followed by Harrogate, in North Yorkshire, where fatalities were three-fold higher at 84 compared to 25.

And Cheltenham, in the South West, where they were also three-fold higher at 93 compared to 34.

In Craven, North Yorkshire, deaths were three-fold higher in the first wave at 38 compared to 14 in the first four weeks of January.

In Trafford, Greater Manchester, they were up by almost three-fold at 116 compared to 45 in the next wave.

As many as five out of the ten areas suffering the biggest hit in the first wave compared to the second were in the North East and Yorkshire, with four in the North West and one in the South West.

It wasn't clear why this could be the case, although experts have previously pointed to months of tougher restrictions in the regions compared to the rest of the country to explain a lower death toll.

They said that these kept the lid on cases for longer, meaning the there were fewer infections and hence fewer deaths.

Under the first and second tier system the harshest measures were quickly imposed on the north of the country, as official data suggested cases were rising, but were not brought in for the South until later on.

They add that the more infectious variant of Covid-19 was not widespread in the North, compared to the south, leading to fewer infections and therefore fewer deaths.

The four weeks after January 2 were chosen for the second wave because these were just after England's third national lockdown was declared on January 4And the four week from March 28 were chosen for the first wave because these were just after the first national lockdown was declared on March 23. A lag of a week was given to ensure both peaks were comparable.
The Hidden Women Series presented by The Berkshire Historical Society will kick off this Friday, Feb. 12, with Elizabeth MumBet Freeman.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (J) said it now expects fiscal 2021 adjusted EBITDA of $1.075 billion to $1.155 billion and adjusted EPS of $5.30 to $6.00, revised from previous outlook of adjusted EBITDA of $1.055 billion to $1.155 billion and adjusted EPS of $5.20 to $6.00. First quarter adjusted EPS from continuing operations was $1.41, up 17% year-over-year. Revenue was $3.4 billion, an increase of 0.6% year-over-year. Net revenue was flat pro forma, for the quarter. The company's backlog was at $25.1 billion, up 11% year-over-year and up 7% on a pro forma basis. 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.


New Delhi, Feb 9 : The expert committee, appointed by the Supreme Court to facilitate discussions on the three farm laws, on Tuesday held meetings with 18 stakeholders, including representatives from various industries.

Committee member, Dr Pramod Joshi told IANS that in the meeting, which was also attended by other panel members, Ashok Gulati and Anil Ghanwat, representatives from the private sector also gave their suggestions. This was the seventh meeting of the committee.

In a statement after the talks, the committee said that they held discussions, via video conferencing, with members of various agro-processing industries, agro-processing cooperatives and purchase agencies on Tuesday.

These included Amul, ITC, the Food Corporation of India, Suguna Foods, Venkateshwara Hatcheries, industry chambers CII and FICCI, the Marine Products Export Development Authority, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, the Horticulture Products Exporters Association, the All India Rice Millers Association, the All India Rice Exporters Association, the Tractors Manufacturers Association, the Cotton Association of India, the Fertiliser Association of India, the India Pulses and Grain Association, and the India Poultry Feed Manufacturers Association.

The committee is tasked with holding discussions with various stakeholders, including the protesting farmers over the three laws, whose implementation has been stayed by the top court, and to submit its recommendations to the court.
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The work, led by NYU Tandon and the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, could lead to efficient, detailed artificial bone tissue, opening doors to disease modeling, in vitro cell research on targeted therapies, drug screening and more.

BROOKLYN, New York, Monday, February 8, 2021 -- A holy grail for orthopedic research is a method for not only creating artificial bone tissue that precisely matches the real thing, but does so in such microscopic detail that it includes tiny structures potentially important for stem cell differentiation, which is key to bone regeneration.

Researchers at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering and New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute (NYSF) have taken a major step by creating the exact replica of a bone using a system that pairs biothermal imaging with a heated "nano-chisel." In a study, "Cost and Time Effective Lithography of Reusable Millimeter Size Bone Tissue Replicas with Sub-15 nm Feature Size on a Biocompatible Polymer," which appears in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, the investigators detail a system allowing them to sculpt, in a biocompatible material, the exact structure of the bone tissue, with features smaller than the size of a single protein -- a billion times smaller than a meter. This platform, called, bio-thermal scanning probe lithography (bio-tSPL), takes a "photograph" of the bone tissue, and then uses the photograph to produce a bona-fide replica of it.

The team, led by Elisa Riedo, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at NYU Tandon, and Giuseppe Maria de Peppo, a Ralph Lauren Senior Principal Investigator at the NYSF, demonstrated that it is possible to scale up bio-tSPL to produce bone replicas on a size meaningful for biomedical studies and applications, at an affordable cost. These bone replicas support the growth of bone cells derived from a patient's own stem cells, creating the possibility of pioneering new stem cell applications with broad research and therapeutic potential. This technology could revolutionize drug discovery and result in the development of better orthopedic implants and devices.

The research, "Cost and time effective lithography of reusable millimeter size bone tissue replicas with sub-15 nm feature size on a biocompatible polymer," appears in Advanced Functional Materials.

In the human body, cells live in specific environments that control their behavior and support tissue regeneration via provision of morphological and chemical signals at the molecular scale. In particular, bone stem cells are embedded in a matrix of fibers -- aggregates of collagen molecules, bone proteins, and minerals. The bone hierarchical structure consists of an assembly of micro- and nano- structures, whose complexity has hindered their replication by standard fabrication methods so far.

"tSPL is a powerful nanofabrication method that my lab pioneered a few years ago, and it is at present implemented by using a commercially available instrument, the NanoFrazor," said Riedo. "However, until today, limitations in terms of throughput and biocompatibility of the materials have prevented its use in biological research. We are very excited to have broken these barriers and to have led tSPL into the realm of biomedical applications."

Its time- and cost-effectiveness, as well as the cell compatibility and reusability of the bone replicas, make bio-tSPL an affordable platform for the production of surfaces that perfectly reproduce any biological tissue with unprecedented precision.

"I am excited about the precision achieved using bio-tSPL. Bone-mimetic surfaces, such as the one reproduced in this study, create unique possibilities for understanding cell biology and modeling bone diseases, and for developing more advanced drug screening platforms," said de Peppo. "As a tissue engineer, I am especially excited that this new platform could also help us create more effective orthopedic implants to treat skeletal and maxillofacial defects resulting from injury or disease."

###

The research was supported by the US Army Research Office, the National Science Foundation (CMMI and CBET programs), the Office of Basic Energy Sciences of the US Department of Energy, the New York Stem Cell Foundation, and the Ralph and Ricky Lauren Family Foundation. The NanoFrazor was acquired through an NSF CMMI MRI grant.

About the New York University Tandon School of Engineering

The NYU Tandon School of Engineering dates to 1854, the founding date for both the New York University School of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. A January 2014 merger created a comprehensive school of education and research in engineering and applied sciences as part of a global university, with close connections to engineering programs at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai. NYU Tandon is rooted in a vibrant tradition of entrepreneurship, intellectual curiosity, and innovative solutions to humanity's most pressing global challenges. Research at Tandon focuses on vital intersections between communications/IT, cybersecurity, and data science/AI/robotics systems and tools and critical areas of society that they influence, including emerging media, health, sustainability, and urban living. We believe diversity is integral to excellence, and are creating a vibrant, inclusive, and equitable environment for all of our students, faculty and staff. For more information, visit engineering.nyu.edu.
-in politics and leadership

The Embassy of the United States here encourages Liberian political parties and leaders as well as elected officials to listen to the Liberian people, including the half of the population who are female, and seriously consider measures to bring more women into political participation.

"In a free and democratic society, women must be able to fully and safely participate in the political and electoral process at all levels - as voters, candidates, election administrators, and elected officials", the U.S. Embassy says in a statement.

It says the Embassy of the United States of America respects the robust and open Liberian stakeholder consultations and civil society discussions that informed electoral reform measures submitted to the Liberian legislature.

But notes that unfortunately, lawmakers chose to avoid public debate about ways to increase the number of women holding elected office, effectively sidestepping an issue constituents have indicated matters deeply to them.

The U.S. Embassy says all around the world, people and countries are beginning to accept the basic truth that nations are more peaceful and prosperous when women are accorded full and equal rights and opportunities, adding, There is increased focus by global policy makers and governments on the need for women's participation in political processes and on their contributions to building stronger societies, and that study after study has shown that when countries increase the number of women engaged in all levels of government, there is greater governmental attention to and funding for the issues that affect the lives of ordinary citizens.

"While we can all be proud of the trailblazing women who have succeeded in politics against the odds, from former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to current U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, we cannot rest on their success or minimize the factors that limit women's participation - including the high costs associated with running for public office, the power of incumbency, persistent discrimination, insufficient childcare, and lack of family and peer support networks."

Former President Ellen Johnson Sirlieaf at a recent women program in Monrovia called on Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor to lead the campaign for women leadership in Liberia in the next election in 2023, promising to be in the shadow, providing support.

Speaking at induction ceremony for officers of the Liberian Women NGO Secretariat in Monrovia, MsSirleaf said women in the country face marginalization from their male counterparts, particularly in politics as evidenced by having only one female currently in the current 30-member Liberian Senate.

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She rallied women to rise up and contest for political leadership both in the Legislature and the presidency with assurance that she would remain in the background to provide her support.

"Vice President Jewel Taylor should take the lead in 2023 and I will be in the shadow to give my support", the former President said.

Beyan Kota, head of the Christian Association of the Blind or CAB is supportive of the former President's position. Mr. Kota lamented that people with disabilities in Liberia have been neglected, but believes that if more women are placed in leadership, they would give attention to disadvantaged people, including the blind and physically-challenged.

The statement notes that recently, as noted by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, backlash to women's political participation has included threats, sexist verbal attacks, sexual harassment, public condemnation, and assault. Such attacks can crush the political aspirations of other women and girls. U.S. Embassy
Agence France-Presse

A rare uncensored app  Clubhouse  that had attracted Chinese internet users to freely discuss taboo topics, including the mass detention of Uighurs, democracy protests in Hong Kong and the concept of Taiwanese independence appeared to have been blocked on Monday night. Authoritarian China deploys a vast and sophisticated surveillance state to scrub the internet of dissent and prevent citizens from accessing international social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter in what is often known as the "Great Firewall".

But the Clubhouse app had for a brief while side-stepped the censors and drawn crowds of Chinese internet users  but appeared to quickly fall foul of the censors.

The American invite-only audio app allows users to listen and participate in loosely moderated live conversations in digital "rooms".

(Also read: Clubhouse is the cool new members-only drop-in audio chat platform: How it works, how to participate)

And in recent days, Chinese online users have filled those rooms discussing highly censored subjects  such as Beijing's sweeping incarceration of mostly Muslim minority Uighur communities in the far western Xinjiang region.

By Monday night, however, the app showed an error message to users without a VPN to establish a secure connection, and Chinese-language rooms quickly turned to discussion over the app's ban.

Top trending groups turned to topics about the ban, and some Chinese language users began to discuss security implications of being on the app and whether they would face official monitoring.

"I saw many rooms chatting cross-Straits issues and sensitive issues... and thought this app wouldn't last too long," one Chinese-language user lamented after the app was blocked, referring to the thorny issue of Taiwan.

"What comes after the block is compiling the list of people on the platform," worried another.

The real internet

Clubhouse was launched in May last year and is currently only available on Apple devices, something only wealthier Chinese consumers can afford.

It rocketed in popularity after billionaire Elon Musk participated in a conversation on the app earlier this month.

Over the weekend the number of Chinese language discussions had drawn wider attention including on social media platform Twitter.

"A young woman from mainland China just said on Clubhouse: this is my first time getting on the real internet," Isabelle Niu, a journalist listening to a conversation, tweeted on Sunday.

Taobao, a popular online marketplace used by millions daily, and other e-commerce sites was selling membership invitations for sale with prices ranging from 10 to 100 yuan ($1.5-$15), allowing some to bypass restrictions placed on invitations.

Kaiser Kuo, host of the China-focused Sinica Podcast, live-tweeted on Sunday some of the conversations he was hearing in a room discussing the Uighur situation.

He noted how Han Chinese  the dominant ethnic group in China  and people from the persecuted Uighur community were interacting in the space.

An AFP reporter heard a speaker identifying as mainland Chinese express opposition to the term "concentration camps"  although acknowledging the existence of facilities.

Many of those listening in were fascinated by the candour of the online discussions.

"I'm in a Taiwanese-run room in Clubhouse where 4,000 Mandarin speakers  including Uyghurs and Han Chinese IN CHINA, and outside are talking about... everything," Berlin-based journalist Melissa Chan tweeted.

"From surveillance, to friends who've left re-educations camps, to normal stuff."

But analysts had warned that it was likely Beijing would prevent access to the app before long.

"The window for listening in on frank Clubhouse conversations about politics in Chinese is already closing," said Fergus Ryan, at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's International Cyber Policy Centre, ahead of the ban.
Maintaining the partnership between Romania and the United Kingdom during this difficult period was one of the topics of the discussions that took place on Tuesday between Deputy Prime Minister Kelemen Hunor and the British Ambassador in Bucharest, Andrew Noble.

"Today I received His Excellency Mr. Andrew Noble, the British Ambassador in Bucharest, with whom we had a discussion, among other things, on the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and the post-Brexit transition phase. It is important to be able to maintain a good partnership between the two countries in these difficult times, but we must also have more ambitious goals: in the areas where it is possible, we must progress, to capitalize on new opportunities," Kelemen Hunor wrote on Facebook.

Therefore, the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out, there is a need for closer cooperation between Romania and the United Kingdom in the field of environmental management and sustainable development, in elimination of social inequities and in the development of a strategy for managing the situation of the Roma people."The ambassador said that the institution he leads pays special attention to combating trafficking in human beings and crimes against minors. He has asked me for the Romanian Government to focus its resources on them. I agreed with Mr. Andrew Noble that the objectives formulated by the governing coalition in which UDMR [Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania] also participates are oriented towards the future," the deputy prime minister also stated.

AGERPRES

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Parents are breathing a sigh of relief after learning that the Patty Jischke Early Care and Education Center will remain open. This after parents received notice from the university that the center would close and no alternative would open. However, Purdue quickly pivoted after parents fought back.

"This feels like par for the course for parenting during a pandemic," said Professor Alice Pawley with a tired laugh. She is a parent of two children who attend the Purdue University Early Care and Education Center.

Parents everywhere have had to deal with the whiplash of juggling work, kids and life during the pandemic, and the parents of the Patty Jischke Early Care and Education Center were blindsided by a letter on January 27th.

"We received a note from KinderCare saying that they were told to be out of the building by June the 1st, that the center was going to be demolished and turned into a parking lot, and that we were not going to have replacement care of any kind," said Purdue Researcher, Amanda Mayes.

She said PJC is a home away from home for her daughter Laney, who is four-years-old.

"She been there since she was eight weeks old," she said. "She has literally grown up with the teachers and the group of kids there, so it's very personal wanting to keep that center open."

Pawley and Mayes explained how PJC has been in limbo for almost two years. Parents received notification in 2019 that the center would be torn down, but that a newer and bigger center would open in six months' time in the new Research Park. Pawley said PJC currently can accommodate 88 kids and that they were told this new center would hold 150. This is big and important news for a lot of Purdue families.

"There's already a child care shortage in this area and specifically on campus," said Mayes. "I have friends who are 90 deep on a wait list to get into a center that was going to be demolished, so it just didn't make good sense."

"There are people on the wait list who saw that announcement of the expanded care thinking wow, maybe we'll have a chance," said Pawley.

However, when the pandemic hit, the parents were told that all plans to demolish or construct any child care centers would be put on hold. This was something Pawley and Mayes said was reasonable given the circumstances of COVID. The parents were still in that unknowing period until they received the most recent news that the PJC would be demolished. The letter gave no details on the original 2019 plan to build the new center.

Purdue child care parents and community members rallied together to fight for PJC. Hundreds signed on to an open letter sent to Purdue's leaders. For many, the thought of losing their child care was the last straw.

"The just overwhelming and fast response of everyone to say 'this is ridiculous and you should stop' was a result of a lot of pent up frustration," said Pawley. She added that having her two kids e-learning from home while dealing with teaching and keeping her students safe has been stressful.

And Purdue listened. A week later, on February 3rd, the university said they would not tear down the center for now. Click here to read Purdue's full statement.

Both parents say they are very grateful that Purdue took their concerns and acted so quickly. However, the new release still did not give any information about plans for a new center, meaning things are still in a sense of limbo.

Pawley and Mayes said this whole situation still raised bigger issues surrounding child care.

"Parenting still disproportionately falls on women, it falls on people of color in complex and different ways and so ignoring thinking about care givers is an issue of equity," said Pawley. She said she has been advocating for Purdue to prioritize care giving in general more in the past months, as many are dealing with struggles of day-to-day life and health safety.

"In Tippecanoe County right now, the Indiana Early Learning Committee estimates that only 36% of children have access to high quality care," said Mayes.

Pawley said Purdue can also do better in creating betting working conditions for the teachers. She acknowledged her own privilege in that she is a tenured faculty member at Purdue. The majority of Purdue families don't have such stability in their job.

"To pay to have my kids go to the Purdue child care centers, I pay more than Purdue charges in-state student tuition," she said. "The teachers who care for our children have very minimal health insurance, they don't have paid parental leave, they do not have the benefits that the people who bring their children to the center get. This is an essential service."

Ultimately they want to see Purdue become a leader in child care among its peers.

"Right now Purdue is still middle of the road in terms of capacity among our Big Ten sister institutions at 324 students," said Mayes "That's obviously pretty small compared to the number of faculty and staff. We would like to see Purdue fulfill the promise to add child care to campus."

News 18 reached out to the Director of PJC for comment on this story but did not hear back. Photos provided to News 18 by a Patty Jischke Center parent who received them in the mail. Names and contact information have been covered for privacy.
TERRE HAUTE, ind (WTHI) - The Terre Haute Police Department has four brand new officers. Today, the department welcomed John Callahan, Hanna Atwood, Tyeson Mundy, and Andrew Milner. The department now consists of 133 total officers. Atwood joins only three other women currently on the force.

These new officers come at a time when recruitment is down 60% across the country. The Police Chief says filling vacant openings is key to the departments success.

It is critical to continue our operations, Shawn Keen, Terre Haute Police Chief, said. Having them in the field, and to answer calls, all of those things especially with COVID. I mean, we have been stretched pretty thin.

These four new recruits will join a group of 23 other officers from the area in a new remote training academy coming to Terre Haute.

The Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board recently approved this new remote academy to help local officers. Terre Haute police say hosting the program is a big honor.

All new police officers have to go through training programs from the state. However, because of COVID, state leaders have had to shut them down several times. This has caused a huge backlog in officer training all over the state including Terre Haute.

Eleven officers from Terre Haute and an additional sixteen officers from surrounding counties will join together in this new training program. It will last 15 weeks and consist of a combination of physical training and several fundamental courses. Keen says this is critical for the success of these officers.

This was a huge, huge thing for us and I am just glad we are able to help other agencies in the process, Keen said.

As this new training program begins, the THPD is also accepting applications for new officers. Applicants who meet the requirements will be placed on the hiring eligibility list. The deadline to apply is April 12. For more information, please visit their website at https://www.terrehaute.in.gov/departments/pd.
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List of states, UTs that have extended lockdown-like Covid curbs in India: Check here

Bihar Cabinet Expansion: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar set to give BJP 9 more berths, JDU settles with 8

India

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Patna, Feb 09: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will on Tuesday expand his cabinet. Induction of new members in the state cabinet will take place in the afternoon at Raj Bhavan where they will be administered the oath by Governor Phagu Chauhan.

The much-awaited expansion of Nitish Kumar's cabinet comes 80 days after he was sworn-in as Chief Minister for the fifth time. The BJP is expected to get nine berths while the JD(U) eight.

PM Modi to reply President's address in Lok Sabha on Wednesday

The difference is a reminder of reversed power equations in the ruling alliance after the Assembly election held in October-November 2020. The NDA formed the government with 125 seats in a closely-contested poll last year. It secured 122 seats in the 243 seats Legislative Assembly. The Grand Alliance of the RJD and Congress won 110 seats.

The BJP is the most lag constituent of the alliance with 74 seats. The JDU has 43 members. Other ruling constituents include the HAM of Jitan Ram Manjhi (4 seats) and the Vikassheel Insaan Party of Mukesh Sahani (4 seats).

Govt planning to build 825-km all-weather roads in Uttarakhand: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

Among the BJP leaders who may take oath today is Shahnawaz Hussain. Hussain hails from Bhagalpur. He was recently elected unopposed to the Legislative Council. Others include Bankipur MLA Nitin Naveen, Gopalganj MLA Subhash Singh, Ramnagar MLA Bhagirathi Devi and Banmakhi MLA Krishna Kuma Rishi.

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

Currently, the Cabinet consists of 14 members. This included CM Nitish Kumar. Of these seven are from the BJP, including the two Deputy Chief Ministers -- Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi, and five from the JDU. The two remaining seats were given to HAM and VIP.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 9:30 [IST]
Acting Minister of Energy of Ukraine Yuriy Vitrenko within the framework of cooperation in the hydrogen economy being discussed with Germany will propose to consider the possibility of advancing the transportation or export of "green" hydrogen from Ukraine to Germany.

"We would like to consider the possibility of structuring the relevant contracts, which provide for advance payments for "green" hydrogen by Germany," the press service of the Ministry of Energy reported, quoting Vitrenko as saying during a video conference with representatives of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

According to the acting minister, with the help of the advance funds Ukraine will be able to finance the development of green and hydropower, which replaces coal generation.

"We need to move from investing in coal generation to investing in renewable sources, energy storage systems, and the latest technologies. This will allow Ukraine to get rid of coal dependence," Vitrenko said.

According to experts, the transportation of hydrogen could also be an alternative to gas transit, the volume of which may still fall after the completion of the contract with Gazprom in 2025.

The participants of the meeting, led by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, also discussed cooperation with the German society on the project of transformation of coal regions, which will be implemented with the support of the German government.

"It is important that today, during the meeting with German partners, the prime minister for the first time announced specific dates for Ukraine's refusal to use coal. We are considering several scenarios of phasing out," Deputy Energy Minister Yaroslav Demchenkov said.

According to him, the first scenario involves a gradual phasing out by 2040. It is possible provided that Ukraine receives international financial support for the process of physical closure of mines, integration of Ukrainian and European power markets and implementation of investment projects to replace thermal coal generation with climate-neutral facilities.

"Another scenario  pessimistic  is the abandonment of coal consumption by 2070. We must strengthen international cooperation and make a technological leap to achieve the goal by 2040 and become a climate-neutral country by 2050," he said.

By Liu Tian and Li Hao

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 9 -- A handover ceremony of the COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to Pakistan's armed forces was held at the Nur Khan Airbase near Pakistan's capital Islamabad.

Maj. Gen. Chen Wenrong, defense attache of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, and Pakistani Lt. Gen. Nigar Johar, surgeon general of the Pakistan army, attended the handover ceremony.

On the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Chen expressed that a batch of China-gifted COVID-19 vaccines were handed over to the Pakistani side a week ago, making Pakistan the first country in the world to receive the Chinese government-donated COVID-19 vaccines. Now the vaccines donated by the Chinese military to the Pakistani military has also arrived, making Pakistani military the first foreign military to receive the COVID-19 vaccine aid from the Chinese military. All these have demonstrated the unbreakable friendship between the two iron brothers". This batch of COVID-19 vaccines will play an important role in the cooperation between two countries and two militaries to fight the pandemic, Chen added.

Thanking the Chinese military for providing the vaccines, Lt. Gen. Johar stressed that in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in Pakistan last year, the supply aid and medical experts from the Chinese military had played a key role in effectively containing the epidemic in Pakistan. Now, the Chinese military has provided the Pakistani military with the much-needed vaccines in a timely fashion. The Pakistani side is deeply grateful for this, said Johar.

According to a statement released by Pakistani army's media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday, the Chinese military-backed vaccines will be included in Pakistan's national vaccination drive for frontline healthcare workers.
Ben Caspit talks this week with the executive director of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism Gilad Kariv. Placed 4th on the Israeli Labor list for the March 23 elections, Kariv hopes to be the first non-Orthodox rabbi in the Knesset. Kariv criticizes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for caving in to ultra-Orthodox pressure, neglecting his duty to protect the Israeli center. He says that Israeli leaders must now "establish a new paradigm in state relations with the ultra-Orthodox community".
I am advised that I am the only person in the history of the party that is required to face the Disputes Tribunal on the new presumption of guilt, rather than the presumption of innocence. This campaign, with its obvious predetermined outcome leading up to the administrators charges, left me in no doubt that the process was arbitrary and lacked any degree of fairness. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The objectives of our party include a fundamental commitment to political and social values of equality, democracy, liberty and social co-operation; recognition and protection of ... civil rights, including ... the right to privacy and fairness. In my case, these principles have been trounced by the administrators. A party ally who has been supporting Ms Kairouz said that the MP has taken legal action with a heavy heart.

Several members of the national executive told The Age they had not received any formal legal correspondence, but had been told to expect it in the coming days. One member, who also declined to be named, said the national executive  the top decision-making body of the federal branch of the party  played no role in any disciplinary matters relating to Ms Kairouz. A spokesman for Mr Albanese, who is travelling in northern Queensland, said it was a matter for the Victorian division. In legal documents seen by The Age, dated February 8, Ms Kairouz claims the appointment of Mr Bracks and former minister Jenny Macklin as administrators was null and void. The interim governance committee of the Victorian branch of the party  which includes Australian Workers Union boss Ben Davis and Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Union secretary Michael Donovan  have also been listed as defendants.

Loading In the legal papers, Ms Kairouz says the charges are unjust because she was charged with a definition of branch stacking that did not exist at the time of her alleged offences. She also claims the national executive acted improperly when it appointed Mr Bracks and Ms Macklin as administrators. The National Executive had no power to make the [decision] because it did not form the opinion required, as a condition precedent for the exercise of the power under clause 16(f) of the Constitution, the documents state. Accordingly, the Administration Resolution is and was ultra vires and invalid, and consequently, the purported appointment of the Administrators is and was invalid.

Loading Further or alternatively, the purported appointment of the Administrators was not an

intervention by the National Executive in a state branch or section, or the taking over and

directing by the National Executive of the conduct of that state branch or section, within the

meaning of clause 16(f)(ii) of the Constitution. In 2019, union boss John Setka failed in his bid to have the Supreme Court stop a vote to expel him from the Australian Labor Party, with the judge ruling the court did not have the jurisdiction to decide the matter. Mr Setka argued the partys national executive did not have the power to expel him because it was a matter for the Victorian branch of the Labor Party. Justice Peter Riordan said at the time that the court could not interfere with internal decisions of voluntary unincorporated associations in matters like this.

The question of the legitimacy or otherwise of the motion to expel him [Mr Setka] from the ALP is not within the courts jurisdiction, Justice Riordan wrote in his 45-page ruling. Last week, the Victorian Labor Party charged Ms Kairouz under Labors internal rules with a string of branch-stacking offences and revoked the memberships of 1800 people. Ms Kairouz defended herself in a statement she posted to Twitter last Monday, saying the charges did not directly link her to branch stacking and claimed it was something she had never engaged in. The Kororoit MP will be referred to the partys internal disputes tribunal and, if found guilty, will be kicked out of the ALP. Mr Bracks and Ms Macklin, whose six-month term as administrators ended in January, did not identify who they had charged, or the specific charges, but said they had referred two of what we believe to be most serious cases to the partys internal disputes tribunal for alleged breach of branch-stacking rules.
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James Lock and Yazmin Oukhellou have split 'for good' following a series of furious rows and are now living apart in Dubai.

The TOWIE couple have mutually agreed to cut ties after their relationship turned toxic, with James, 34, planning to fly home while Yazmin, 26, stays in the UAE.

A source revealed to MailOnline that James and Yazmin are currently living in the same Dubai hotel but in separate rooms after frustrations in their romance reached a climatic point last week.

James Lock and Yazmin Oukhellou have split 'for good' following a series of furious rows and are now living apart in Dubai

An insider said: 'James and Yazmin haven't been in a good place for a while now and living together in Dubai only put further strain on their relationship.

'Arguments between them have intensified and turned nasty, resulting in the couple deciding between them to go their separate ways  and this time, for good.

'James plans to return to the UK for TOWIE filming but Yazmin has work in Dubai so is staying put.'

A spokeswoman for Yazmin said: 'I can confirm James and Yazmin have split up.

'It's an amicable split and both of them are certain that it's time to move on with no animosity.'

The Essex couple has experienced a tempestuous relationship, splitting up and reconciling on a number of occasions after they first started dating in 2017.

'Arguments between them have intensified': The TOWIE couple have agreed to cut ties after their relationship turned toxic, with James planning to fly home while Yazmin stays in the UAE

'Toxic': A source revealed to MailOnline that James and Yazmin are currently living in the same Dubai hotel but in separate rooms after frustrations in their romance reached a climatic point

They split in 2019 after Yazmin accused James of betraying her by partying with a group of women in a hotel room in Turkey, where the couple were on holiday together.

A year after their bitter breakup they got back together, confirming their romance by kissing on a beach in Mallorca.

Yazmin eventually took James back after the pair failed to keep their distance from each other amid filming for TOWIE and sharing the same group of friends.

Last year, Yazmin said: 'I feel like the things that went wrong in the relationship before, we now know to put right this time. I look at that as a test run  and now this is the real run.'

They are currently in Dubai despite the UAE being added to the UK's 'red list' of countries, with many influencers and reality stars flying home the last fortnight.

Last week it was announced that beach clubs, hotels and shopping malls are limited to 70 per cent capacity while bars and pubs have been temporarily shut down.

Mandatory hotel quarantine stays are also being implemented by the government from February 15 for those returning from the UAE to the UK.

Yazmin insisted she and James have been in Dubai for 'work purposes.'

She said in late December: 'Just so those of you know, me and James have come to Dubai because I am launching something very exciting here in the New Year, so I've had to come now to get everything set up and we will be keeping you posted.'
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Prisoners live with fear and anxiety as prisons keep volunteer ministers out during COVID-19

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As many prisons nationwide have limited visitor access to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, advocates warn that life in prison under lockdown can be hopeless when access is restricted to chaplains and ministry volunteers.

Without access to volunteer Christian ministries that show love to prisoners, life in prison under lockdown is dark, former prisoner Rodney Massey told The Christian Post in a recent interview.

Its very gloomy. Youre already in an environment that is very dark and is hopeless. Its torture not to know the state of your family and loved ones. That begins to mess with your psyche, said Massey, who served a 25-year sentence in Illinois for drug dealing but now serves as a ministry volunteer.

If not for the grace of God, my mind would have been messed up. Ive seen a lot of people literally lose their mind in there. Without the Lord Jesus at my side, I dont know what I would have done. Its only because of the believers in my life.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois Department of Corrections stopped all visits to prisons. This ban includes volunteer prison ministry visitors like Massey, who visited prisoners with the prison ministry Koinonia House.

Massey went to prison after being shot four times and arrested by the police, he said. While lying on a hospital bed in the county jail, he remembered how his mother used to tell him about Jesus. And that's when he realized he needed Jesus to make a difference in his life.

The love that prison ministry volunteers showed him helped him get through his sentence. Volunteers have shone a light in a place of darkness, he said.

Prison ministry volunteers play a massive role in supporting prisoners in their walk with God, said Illinois Department of Corrections Chief Chaplain Chase Wilhelm.

Religious volunteers play a huge role, he said. Theyve historically been crucial. They have remained crucial through this time period as well. Weve been leaning on tech services as well.

Every prison chaplain relies on the support of 13 to 100 volunteers to provide religious services, depending on the size of the prison they serve. Illinois has 28 prisons.

Without volunteers and with heavy restrictions on movement during COVID-19, chaplains have merged services and used resources like pre-recorded videos to continue reaching prisoners, said Wilhelm.

Although these efforts often lead to good conversations between Christians from different denominations, the overall situation remains difficult.

[Emotion inside prisons now is] overwhelming, the chaplain said. Anxiety is high. Fear is very, very real right now. Theres a high-risk factor there. I think that amps everything up. Were really in the dark night of the soul for many people.

The Illinois prison system employs 12,719 people who consistently enter and exit prisons for their jobs. Koinonia House prison ministry Executive Director Manny Mill told CP that Illinois has approximately 1,000 prison ministry volunteers.

Of course, they all dont come every week, Mill said.

As of Dec. 22, the Illinois prison system experienced over 10,000 COVID-19 cases among both staff and inmates. According to the COVID Prison Project, the rate of coronavirus infections inside prisons is on average almost four times greater than the rate of infection for the general population.

Mill said Department of Corrections leaders dont have full control over how they design policy for religious volunteers. If COVID-19 cases resulted from volunteer entry, they could get sued.

Their view is to bring in the least people because those offices are essential. The main thing for any prison is only one thing  security, Mill detailed. If you have a grandfather or grandmother who lives in a nursing home, they wont let you in either. But we believe that we are also essential workers.

According to Department of Corrections statistics, the Illinois prison system has 4,494 inmates 55 and above out of a total of 29,111 inmates.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that older adults are at a greater risk of requiring hospitalization or dying if diagnosed with COVID-19.

Corrections officers and others who consistently enter and leave the prisons bring the virus in, argued prison ministry volunteer Mark Macy. He doesnt know why religious volunteers arent allowed into prisons when thousands of other employees enter and leave every day. Macy recently applied to become an associate prison chaplain.

Ive never heard an answer to that, he said. If it was posed to decision-makers, they would say they cant not have the officers come in, and the fewer people, the lesser the risk. I do think that they have to begin to think about a change. It is inhumane.

When the COVID-19 lockdowns first started, even official chaplains werent allowed in prison and prisoners couldnt leave their cells, Macy recalled.

The restrictions became less strict as the pandemic wore on but remained challenging. When chaplains were finally allowed in, they could only visit inmates one at a time and couldnt host group services.

Wilhelm said the Department of Corrections keeps religious volunteers from visiting prisons for their own protection. COVID-19 might endanger older prison volunteers.

The demand signal to protect everyone is so paramount that I personally do not want to take a risk for any of my religious volunteers if I dont have to, the prison systems chief chaplain said. It only takes one person to get it and then it can ravage an entire population. The last thing that I would ever want on my heart is to have one of my religious volunteers come down with COVID-19 and pass [away].

Massey said he longs to get back into prison for ministry. Prisoners need people who will visit them and love them, he believes.

I was in prison for 25 years and [ministry visits] were the wind beneath my wings. Nothing takes the place of a corporate anointing. Nothing takes the place of corporate gathering, he contends. I cant even imagine the loneliness. We were never created to be alone.
For years, the fear of being deported kept Vanessa Rodriguez from applying to a federal program that would have protected her precisely from that worst-case scenario.

Now, however, she says her apprehensions are disappearing since President Joe Biden took office. She is finally applying for Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals, a program created in 2012 by the Barack Obama administration to protect young immigrants like her  who are in the country illegally  from deportation.

Rodriguez, 31, arrived in the U.S. from Mexico when she was 7 years old. The Houston area is the only place she has ever called home. Its where she graduated from Alvin High School and where she had three American children of her own. But she feared giving information to the government in applying to DACA, particularly during the Donald Trump administration.

I was scared because I have kids, she said. I didnt know if they would know where we live and come and deport us.

Lawyers and immigrant advocacy organizations in Houston and around the country have seen dramatic increases in new applications for DACA from immigrants like Rodriguez in the days since Trump left office. Although Biden signed an executive order to preserve the program on his first day in office, its future remains uncertain. A court challenge from Texas Republicans to eliminate DACA could be decided any day.

We are getting twice as many people seeking help with DACA since Biden became president, said Alain Cisneros, an organizer with FIEL Houston, the largest nonprofit of dreamers in the city. The name Dreamers comes from the the DREAM Act  Development, Relief, and Education for Immigrant Minors  which was introduced in Congress in 2001 to provide a permanent immigration status with a path to citizenship for them.

National organizations such as ImmigrationHelp.org, a nonprofit that helps immigrants apply for several programs free of charge, are also seeing an uptick.

This new administration is much more accepting of DACA and immigrants, and I think that translates into less fear among them, said Fernando Urbina, a Harvard University student and one of the founders of ImmigrationHelp.org

The DACA program, renewable every two years, has been under fire since the Trump administration announced it was going to close it in 2017. His administration argued that DACA is unlawful because Obama didnt have the authority to implement a policy that should instead be established by congressional legislation. Such an open-ended circumvention of immigration laws was an unconstitutional exercise of authority by the Executive Branch, said then Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Several challenges in court have kept it active for those who were already DACA holders, currently just over 640,000 nationwide, according to the latest data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Help with DACA BakerRipley: Call 346-867-3871 to make an appointment for a virtual consultation. More information: www.bakerripley.org/citizenship-and-immigration-services Justice for our Neighbors: Call 713-454-6470 for orientation. More information: www.jfonhouston.org FIEL Houston: Call 713-364-3435 or contact the organization via Facebook, www.facebook.com/FIELHoustonOrg . ImmigrationHelp: Go to www.ImmigrationHelp.org and follow instructions to get help preparing immigration forms. See More Collapse

Litigation reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in June last year that the Trump administration failed to provide a reasonable explanation for suspending the program. The administration allowed those already enrolled in DACA to renew, but continued banning new applications.

The door opened for first-timers on Dec. 7, after a federal court in New York ordered the government to restart the program in full.

Their confidence in actually filing applications has definitely gone up since the inauguration, said Jill Campbell, director of Immigration and Citizenship at BakerRipley, the largest charitable organization in Texas providing immigration and other services.

Many of the immigrants applying now for the first time are young people in their 20s and 30s who, like Rodriguez, were afraid to give their information to the authorities.

Others have aged into eligibility over the past three years. Approximately 61,000 eligible immigrants have reached the minimum age required to apply while the program was closed to first-timers, according to the National Immigration Forum.

Immigrants must meet several conditions to qualify: They have to have come to the U.S. before the age of 16, been in residence here continuously since 2007, and be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012.

To be in the program, they also must be currently in school or have graduated with at least a GED.

The only state with more current DACA holders than Texas, with 105,000, is California, according to the USCIS. In Houston, 32,000 are active recipients but thousands more could benefit from applying now.

Possible setback

People have been waiting to apply since (DACA) was halted and they are taking that step now, said Gabriela Lopez-Compean, an attorney with the nonprofit Justice for our Neighbors in Houston that offers services to immigrants. And people are very hopeful now that something can happen through Congress that could bring some sort of reform.

Immigrants and organizations welcomed the introduction Thursday of a bipartisan immigration reform bill in the Senate to protect Dreamers.

The proposal filed by Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, and Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, replicates those first introduced in 2001 and in the last two Congressional sessions. As presented, it would provide a path to citizenship for dreamers.

Bidens call to find a permanent solution for dreamers has been enthusiastically welcomed by many of the potential beneficiaries, said Cisneros, from FIEL Houston.

The excitement is mostly among the youngest dreamers, those who are now eligible for the first time, he said, because they havent gone through the disappointments and disillusionment in the past after the failure of several attempts in Congress to pass reform.

While veteran dreamers recognize a fundamental change in White House approaches to immigration policies, they remain concerned about a looming decision in a federal court in Houston that could jeopardize the immediate future of dreamers if Congress doesnt act swiftly.

The case to discontinue DACA, led by Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, was filed in 2018 with eight other states. A hearing on the case was held in Houston in December. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen is expected to announce his ruling at any time.

After being demonized during the last four years, immigrants like me are feeling hopeful now with the new government, said Leezia Dhalla, immigration press director with FWD.us, a nonprofit funded by tech and business moguls such as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

But the looming federal court decision could change the rules and dreamers could be back in limbo and at risk of deportation again if Congress doesnt act.

olivia.tallet@chron.com

Twitter.com/oliviaptallet
Badrinath temple in Uttarakhand opens portals after winter break, no pilgrims allowed due to Covid

Saving lives is the biggest challenge right now: Pokhriyal on Uttarakhand floods

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

Chamoli, Feb 09: As five more bodies have been recovered on Tuesday, the death toll from the Uttarakhand glacier disaster rose to 31 Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal said saving lives is the biggest challenge right now.

Pokhriyal said teams of Army, NDRF, ITBP and SDRF are working day-night amid challenging situations to rescue people who are trapped and missing.

206 people are still missing and searches are underway for them, inform the minister.

A joint team of ITBP, NDRF, SDRF and other agencies conducting rescue operation used drone camera to see feasibility to enter beyond cleared site inside Tapovan tunnel.

ITBP, however, said they have not been successful so far.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also issued a statement in Rajya Sabha on the avalanche in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district and said all concerned agencies of Centre and State are monitoring the situation.

"PM himself is monitoring it. Both the control rooms of the Home Ministry are monitoring the situation round the clock and the state is being provided with all the possible help," he said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 18:45 [IST]
I think this is a time for us to have incredible reverence for Karen, who was really brilliant, smart, everything Ive heard about her, and her name has come up quite a bit in the last couple weeks about how she handled things and just was able to really be a fierce advocate for teachers but also had a great love of this city, Lightfoot said. Im sure as people gather, her life will be present and on their minds, but I cant speculate about whether that will have an effect on the ultimate vote.
UHL-based colorectal and general surgeon Colin Peirce has been bestowed with one of the most prestigious honours a surgeon in Ireland can receive, when he was chosen to deliver the 43rd annual Millin Lecture for 2020.

A significant event in the RCSI calendar, the Millin Lecture is traditionally delivered during the Colleges annual Millin Meeting each November, before an audience including the lecturers loved ones and hundreds of surgeons from all across Ireland.

This year, in line with public health guidance on social and physical distancing, Mr Peirce had to pre-record the Lecture, for online transmission during the Colleges virtually hosted 2020 Millin Meeting week as part of the 2021 Charter Day Meetings.

Electrodes to robots - evidence based change in surgical practice



Mr Colin Peirce, MD, FRCSI, delivered the 43rd Millin Lecture at #RCSIMillin.



Watch: https://t.co/2W7c7RDy0B @colin_peirce @ULHospitals pic.twitter.com/nqzRL7WD9B  RCSI (@RCSI_Irl) February 4, 2021

Distancing has not diminished the honour Mr Peirce feels for the recognition by his peers of his contributions to practice nationally and internationally, and for what the honour means for UL Hospitals Group.

Best known for his work on pioneering robotic colorectal surgery at University Hospital Limerick, Mr Peirce delivered his lecture entitled Electrodes to Robots  Evidence based change in surgical practice to a large online audience.

The Millin Lecture is named in honour of the remarkable Irish surgeon Terence Millin, who is regarded as Irelands greatest urologist. Millin developed a radical operation for prostate cancer and trained surgeons worldwide to perform it, and he also played international rugby for Ireland in 1925.

Millin was also a two-term President of the RCSI. Recipients of the lecture honouring Millin are nominated by Fellows and selected by a panel of Council Members of the RCSI.

Those who receive the honour are drawn from all surgical specialties and will be either advanced in surgical training or in their first five years in consultant practice.

Mr Peirce, a native of Crecora, County Limerick, who was appointed to UL Hospitals Group as a Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon in November 2016, is best known for his work on the pioneering robotics team who use the Da Vinci Xi Dual Console robot to perform colorectal surgery, delivering unique and nationally unparalleled surgical options to patients in the Mid-West region.

Immediately prior to his appointment, Mr Peirce had completed a year of international fellowship in the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, with a strong focus on robotic colorectal surgery.

Recently, Mr Peirce and the Robotic Colorectal Team at UHL made a breakthrough for treatment of early stage bowel cancer in this country by performing the first Robotic Trans-Anal Minimally Invasive Surgery (TAMIS) operation in Ireland.

Although his lecture focused in part on TAMIS and other robotic surgeries, Mr Peirce also covered other research which has been one of the cornerstones of his career to date. He has received a number of national and international awards and accolades and is a keen contributor to the surgical literature.

I have a huge interest in surgical site infection, which in laypersons language is what happens when the healing wound from an operation becomes infected. Unfortunately, this occurs worldwide more commonly than we would like, so Ive designed and run a number of trials in Limerick and weve shown how we can reduce the incidence of postoperative wound infection," he explained.

This is very important, because that kind of infection adds greatly to the patients healthcare costs, increases the time a patient needs to spend in the hospital and is also draining for the patient as it can take a number of weeks for a wound to heal. In one of the trials we were able to reduce the infection rate four-fold by applying a different sort of dressing  termed a negative pressure wound therapy dressing. This garnered a lot of international debate, led to the publication of further trials and ultimately, this has become a recommendation worldwide. It has sparked a lot of interest in the field and it is great to have been involved with something that can be described as practice changing, he added.

Mr Peirce said he was very proud to have been awarded the honour of delivering the Millin Lecture. My own hopes for the lecture would be that people would watch it, listen to it, and think about the things they are doing in practice and research, and how the findings can help them to improve. Its a great honour to have been chosen for the entirety of the body of work, with contributions to research as well as clinical practice leading to practice change; it is about contributing to our overall body of knowledge to improve outcomes for our patients, something we must continue to strive to do each day we go to work, he said.
Businesses yesterday called for tougher lockdown measures, with some going as far as proposing a long curfew spanning from 6 p.m to 6 a.m.

The curfew now starts at 9 p.m. and goes till 5 a.m. Businesses also called on the Government to free up the importation of Covid-19 vaccines to allow private sector participation and to allow people to travel overseas to get vaccinated.
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California's initial vaccine rollout focused on health care workers and in mid-January it expanded to seniors.

With the vaccine in scarce supply, appointments were nearly impossible to come by at first, and many seniors especially experienced countless hurdles in their efforts to get the vaccine, spending hours maneuvering dysfunctional websites and confused customer service representatives. Appointments were even canceled for some.

This week, appointments are becoming slightly easier to score, and on Monday morning, SFGATE visited the state site myturn.ca.gov to check availability at a handful of locations, such as Moscone Center in San Francisco, and found spots (of course, they were gone by by noon).

Now that the distribution to seniors seems to be moving a bit more smoothly, who gets the shot next?

Essential workers in the sectors of education and child care, emergency services and law enforcement and food and agriculture are next in the state's prioritization framework.

While the state has given the green light to administer shots to people working in these areas, counties and providers are slower in jumping into this phase. Alameda County announced it was starting this week, for example.

The rollout is based on a multiphased prioritization framework from the state that has changed multiple times in the past month and is built on guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Phase 1A includes health care workers and long-term care residents, while Phase 1B comprises seniors 65 and older first followed by essential workers. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that the state would next move to an age-based system, outraging some who would move farther back in line.

The homeless people and incarcerated people, as well as people under 65 with chronic health conditions and a list of other essential workers  including transit workers, factory and warehouse workers and janitors  are no longer being prioritized, the Sacramento Bee reported.

While counties and health care providers have final say over who gets vaccinated, they are generally following the state's lead.

Newsom said Monday the state has administered 4.68 million vaccines.

. ( ) said the second quarter has started very strongly after posting some satisfying first-quarter numbers.

In the three months to 31 March, the CBD company posted a 377% increase in revenue to 1.3mln, with gross profit up 234% to 707,000.

Adjusted underlying loss was halved to 404,000 and loss per share was 63% lower at 0.3p.

The group also submitted a novel food application to the Food Standards Agency ahead of the 31 March 2021 deadline.
Scientific and public health experts have been raising the alarm for decades, imploring public officials to prepare for the inevitability of a viral pandemic. Infectious epidemics seemingly as benign as "the flu" and as deadly as the Ebola virus provided ample warning, yet government officials seemed caught off guard and ill prepared for dealing with COVID-19. Three future-oriented researchers and policy experts map out an "Epidemiological Blueprint for Understanding the Dynamics of a Pandemic."

COVID Detectives

Researchers around the world have become forensic, Sherlock Holmes-like "consulting detectives" for government officials and public health organizations. Handling tens of thousands of samples, epidemiologists, like ETH Zurich Professor Tanja Stadler, can now reconstruct the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in areas where contact tracing is otherwise unavailable. Unlike the fictional Holmes, today's researchers benefit from real-time statistical tools to decipher the genetic code of various viral strains. Stadler, who serves on the Swiss National COVID Science Task Force says, "Just like in humans, the genetic code of pathogens reveals a blueprint with information about the virus' evolution and its origins. The blueprint enables us to understand the type and possible origin of the virus strains circulating within a country; identify new variants with novel characteristics; and determine its reproductive rate - the average number of secondary infections perpetuated by an infected person."

Stadler's team monitors the spread of new variants within Switzerland and places the sequences in an international context. Prior to the discovery of the new B 1.1.7 variant in the United Kingdom, scientists used Stadler's genomic data to identify another variant that spread rapidly throughout Europe over the summer of 2020. It was first detected in an agricultural region of Spain and some possible super-spreading events led to the rapid expansion of this variant. Compared to B 1.1.7, the variant of the virus from Spain showed no transmission advantage over the original virus strain. The timing of the outbreak of this strain occurred in a summer vacation period and, according to Stadler, likely spread when foreign visitors returned home to Switzerland, the UK, and to other countries.

Like many other viruses, SARS-CoV-2 mutates every two-weeks. Scientists are unable to determine at this point, how fast the virus adapts to the human immune system and whether or not annual vaccinations will be necessary in the future. Currently patient meta-data and genomic sequencing are not connected. Disconnected data represents one of the many missing links for fully understanding the dynamics of the pandemic. Stadler proposes that if scientists were able to connect this information while, of course, ensuring patient privacy, they would be better able to respond to important questions about new variants and their rates of transmission.

The Hunt for Animal X

Over the past quarter of a century, bats have transmitted some of the world's deadliest outbreaks of Zoonotic viruses. Since bats live in high-density colonies and are the only mammals that fly, they often serve as an intermediary viral host between animals (horses, pigs, and even camels) or transmit viruses directly to humans. Professor Linfa Wang from the Duke-NUS Medical School explains that one of the concerning aspects of SARS-CoV-2 is the fact that humans can also transmit the virus to other species, as we have seen reported with minks and other animals. Animals can then re-transmit mutated strains of the virus back to humans in a process known as "spillback."

Mitigating future viral pandemics has prompted international experts and scientists to hunt down "Animal X" to determine the origin of SARS-Cov-2. While the hunt may start in Wuhan, China, the high number of bat colonies in parts of South-East Asia and Southern China leave experts suspecting that similar viruses may have been circulating in the human population of these regions for many years. Recent findings have confirmed such hypotheses. To the best of Professor Wang's knowledge, bat colonies in North America currently do not carry any SARS-like viruses, but given the potential for spillback, Wang recommends a Serological survey. Monitoring changes in bat populations could serve as an advance warning system for potential future public health threats.

In May 2020, just 70 days after Wang conceived the idea, he and his team developed and patented the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved neutralizing antibody detection test for SARS-CoV-2. Known as the "cPass," the test measures neutralizing antibodies that may prove valuable in developing a future "immunity passport." Working with the World Health Organization (WHO), Wang is now creating a global surveillance protocol, an international standard measurement unit, and neutralizing antibody testing. These heroic feats in the face of a pandemic are, perhaps, what prompted his unofficial title as "The Batman of Singapore."

Facing Existential Threat

Microbes existed long before the human species and they will likely be around long after we cease to exist. While it may not seem so in the midst of a pandemic, "In the modern world of medicine, we have (for the most part) won the battle against the microbes," says Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. Osterholm also served on the Biden Transition Team's COVID-19 Advisory Board. He has spent much of his career in a chess-like match anticipating microbial evolution's next move and strategizing public health policies to address unimaginable threats.

A blueprint for understanding the dynamics of a pandemic requires a "creative imagination - an ability to anticipate the unthinkable and create a plausible public response," says Osterholm. Referencing the death rate of U.S. soldiers during World War I, Osterholm indicates that nearly 7 out of 8 American soldiers died not from combat, but from the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. With an historical knowledge of pandemics and outbreaks such as SARS, MERS, and Ebola, he asks, "Why did COVID-19 catch the world off guard, unprepared, and seemingly unable to fathom the sheer scale of the pandemic's impact?" The current pandemic is most likely "not even the big one," he suggests. "Another influenza pandemic, like the Spanish flu, could prove even more devastating than COVID-19."

Infectious disease exposes the weaknesses in global societies from the world's food systems to demographic inequalities. Osterholm explained that in order to feed the nearly 8 billion people on earth, we raise about 23 billion chickens, and, as of 2020, 678 million pigs. While avian flu viruses generally do not infect humans, when chickens live in close proximity to pigs, transmission occurs. Pigs can contract both human and bird viruses creating genetic exchanges and new mutations transmissible to humans with potentially deadly outcomes. Osterholm emphasized that ethnic groups and indigenous societies are suffering a disproportionate impact for a myriad of reasons - many of which stem from societal discrimination, inequality, and poverty.

Tanja Stadler, Linfa Wang, and Michael Osterholm agree and advocate for an internationally coordinated response to COVID-19. Osterholm expressed a need for understanding how public health practices interface with everyday life in various countries around the world. He says, "The greatest vaccines and the best tools in the world will be rendered ineffective unless we achieve public support and acceptance."

###

ETH Zurich's AAAS 2021 Scientific Sessions:

EurekAlert! / AAAS 2021 News Briefing

Tuesday, February 9th, 2021 at 10:00 AM EST

Speakers: Tanja Stadler, ETH Zurich, Linfa Wang, Duke-NUS Medical School, and Sarah Cobey, University of Chicago.

LIVE Discussion

Tuesday, February 9th, 2021 at 11:00 AM EST

Speakers: Tanja Stadler, ETH Zurich, Linfa Wang, Duke-NUS Medical School, and Michael Osterholm, University of Minnesota

Respondent: Sarah Cobey, University of Chicago

Moderator: Chris Luebkeman, ETH Zurich

Speaker Videos

Log into the AAAS 2021 Virtual Platform and Video Library, search for "blueprint" to find videos pertaining to this session.
(CNN)  Mars has long been a point of fascination for scientists as they try to uncover the planet's past and determine if it ever supported life.

It turns out that Phobos, one of the Martian moons, may hold a treasure trove of information about what Mars was like in the past, according to new research.

Mars has two small, funky-looking moons. The lumpy moons, Phobos and Deimos, were both discovered in 1877 and named after the sons of Ares from Greek mythology. (Mars is named after the Roman god of war, which is Ares in Greek). Phobos means fear or panic and Deimos means dread.

One NASA orbiter called MAVEN, short for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, has been circling Mars for more than six years, collecting data about the planet to help scientists piece together how the planet lost its atmosphere and why its climate changed.

Mars once had a thick atmosphere that allowed liquid water to exist on the planet's surface. Now, the Martian atmosphere is incredibly thin at just 1% the density of Earth's atmosphere.

Phobos is such a close companion of Mars, about 60 times closer than the moon orbiting Earth, that it has crossed with MAVEN's path multiple times a day during the orbiter's mission.

While scientists don't know how Mars lost its atmosphere over time, they do know it escaped out into space -- and Phobos is right in that escape path, said Quentin Nenon, lead study author and a researcher at the Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley.

Using data from Maven, Nenon and his colleagues took a closer look and determined that the orbit of Phobos passes right through a stream of ions (charged atoms and molecules) that flow from Mars' atmosphere.

These ions, which include nitrogen, argon, carbon and oxygen, have been escaping from Mars as it has shed its atmosphere over billions of years -- and some of those may have essentially crashed into Phobos.

The study published last week in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Phobos is tidally locked with Mars, meaning that the same side of the moon always faces Mars. This is similar to how our moon always shows the same side to Earth.

This means that one side of Phobos has been hit with a steady stream of particles from Mars -- 20 to 100 times more than the far side of the moon has received.

"Phobos has been patiently accumulating particles escaping the Martian atmosphere and may therefore have been holding for millennia a possible record of the lost atmosphere of the red planet," Nenon said.

In other words, rocks and soil on the surface of Mars likely contain particles from the Martian atmosphere and could contain information about how that atmosphere evolved.

A mission to Phobos

It's fortuitous that the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is sending a mission to Phobos in 2024 called the Martian Moons Exploration probe. The probe will collect the very first samples from the surface of Phobos and return them to Earth.

Multiple missions orbiting and on the surface of Mars have helped scientists learn a tremendous amount about the red planet. The moons, however, are another story -- and scientists aren't even sure where the moons came from.

Researchers have three possible scenarios for these moons. It's possible that the moons formed at the same time as Mars or maybe they were created after a large body impacted Mars. Given their appearance, they may even be asteroids captured by the planet's gravitational pull, Nenon said.

"I think the main reason why this enigma persists is because we do not really know the chemical composition of Phobos and Deimos from remote optical observations," he said. "The best way to determine the composition of the Martian moons would be to analyze in laboratories rocks brought back to Earth. This is exactly what the Martian Moons Exploration mission aims to do."

If the probe, also known as MMX, lands on the side of Phobos that faces Mars, the samples there may tell two different stories -- one about Phobos and another about Mars.

Nenon said that the Martian particles only reached the very surface of rocks on Phobos. A sample from the near-side of the moon facing Mars "would therefore contain a unique record of the Martian atmosphere in its shallow layers, while showing the unaltered 'primitive' composition of Phobos in its inner core," he said.

It's up to the MMX team how they want to use the information Nenon and his colleagues have gathered.

"To understand the origin of Phobos, we need to determine the primitive characteristics of its surface," Nenon said. "We have created surface maps to show exactly where Martian atmospheric particles are being deposited on the surface of Phobos."

The goals of MMX include revealing where Phobos came from and how it has evolved, as well as how it is linked with Mars.

"Previously, scientists have shown that material coming from the surface of Mars is also likely present on Phobos' surface, due to large impacts on Mars which formed craters on the planet and liberated into space gigantic quantities of Martian surface material, which then showered onto Phobos," Nenon added.

Studying a moon to learn more about the planet it orbits is something scientists have long applied to Earth's moon as well. After all, our own moon is hit with particles that stream away from Earth.

Moons like ours and Phobos act like time capsules; they have no atmosphere or other elements that may erase the moon's record of its existence in the solar system.

"What we've seen in Apollo samples is that the Moon has been patiently recording individual atoms coming from the Sun and from Earth," said Andrew Poppe, study coauthor and associate research scientist at the Space Sciences Laboratory, in a statement. "It's a really cool historical record."

While Apollo astronauts were the ones to collect samples from the lunar surface to return to Earth, a rover about the size of a microwave will accompany the MMX spacecraft on the journey to Mars.

The spacecraft will drop the rover on the surface of Phobos and it will explore the moon for about 100 days, capturing images and collecting samples that will later be returned to Earth.

This story was first published on CNN.com Martian moon Phobos could tell us what Mars was like in the past
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Spain has done more or less what it had to do to combat the economic effects of the coronavirus crisis, but it has spent less money on the effort than other countries, according to the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Although the executives rhetoric has not changed significantly, the Economy Ministry is now admitting that the third wave of the pandemic will negatively affect growth at least in the first quarter of the year, according to a document seen by EL PAIS that also warns against prematurely ending relief measures for struggling businesses.

We are going to increase direct aid to businesses and the self-employed affected by the pandemic Economy Minister Nadia Calvino

The deterioration of the economic forecast in a country that has already experienced one of the sharpest contractions in Europe, and the risks that this entails, suggests that Spain will introduce more support initiatives over the coming months while the country waits for the positive effects of the Covid vaccines and the release of 140 billion in European recovery funds.

Failing that, there is a serious risk that the economy could soon be dealing with a wave of insolvencies that both the IMF and the ECB have been warning about. And that could lead to trouble for the banking sector, which the government wants to avoid at all costs.

The report seen by EL PAIS underscores the need for measures, stating that it is indispensable to avoid a premature withdrawal of support, and to organize schemes to assist viable businesses.

And at a talk organized by Barcelonas Cercle dEconomia association on Monday, Economy Minister Nadia Calvino offered a few more details about the kind of policies planned by Spains minority government, made up of a coalition of the Socialist Party (PSOE) and the leftist Unidas Podemos.

Direct aid

An empty sidewalk cafe in Pamplona, Navarre. jesus Diges / EFe

The executive wants to activate as soon as possible direct aid for struggling companies, which has been a key demand of business leaders, unions and others who are dissatisfied with a recent relief package that focused on tax breaks, state-guaranteed loans and other forms of indirect support. Regional governments in tourism-dependent areas have been especially vocal in their demands for direct aid, a move that is also supported by Bank of Spain Governor Pablo Hernandez de Cos, the opposition Popular Party (PP), and even some members of the executive itself.

The Economy Ministrys document cites a report by the Bank of Spain, whose position is that while the governments credit-based measures have helped companies stay afloat, the latters debt levels have soared as a result. In other countries, credit schemes have been complemented with direct aid. The Spanish central bank has warned that insolvency could affect nearly one in five companies if the effects of the crisis are long-lasting, particularly in an economy that is highly dependent on sectors hard hit by the pandemic such as tourism. And the effects could be compounded by the structural problems of the Spanish labor market, which relies heavily on temporary contracts.

Forecasts overtaken by reality

Calvino continues to uphold the ministrys economic forecast for this year  a growth rate of 7.2% that could rise to 9.8% if the EU funds are spent  but the market consensus is that those figures have been overtaken by reality. And the 28-page report seen by this newspaper admits that some of the sectors hardest hit by the crisis (hospitality, transportation and recreational services) will still not be back to a normal situation at the end of the year.

The minister defended the governments policies despite the warnings from international organizations about the countrys insufficient response to the crisis. She noted that the executives measures represent 20% of gross domestic product (GDP) including public loan guarantees, the ERTE job retention scheme, support for the self-employed and the guaranteed minimum income scheme.

But she also pledged to adopt new measures or instruments as long as they are necessary, and stressed that we are going to increase direct aid to businesses and the self-employed affected by the pandemic, with a focus on small and medium companies and on viable firms. The key will lie in defining what is a viable firm.

A piece of advice that former ECB governor Mario Draghi reportedly gave French finance minister Bruno LeMaire at the outset of the coronavirus crisis could well make sense for Spain too: Spend your money, my friend. The time has come to spend. Now. Later it will be too late.

English version by Susana Urra.
Relatives have pleaded with the Government to restart essential care home visits by next month.

Six groups called for urgent action to reopen care homes in England 'as a matter of safety, common decency, and fundamental human rights'.

It comes after a couple married for 61 years celebrated moving into the same care home together with their first kiss in eight months.

Meanwhile, Brendan, a helpline caller who has received two vaccine doses, has only had two meaningful visits to see his wife of more than 60 years since England entered lockdown on March 23.

And an elderly woman separated from her dementia-hit husband while his care home was closed for visitors was reunited just minutes before he died on January 1.

Six groups called for urgent action to reopen care homes in England 'as a matter of safety and fundamental human rights'. Pictured, 95-year-old Second World War veteran Signalman Eric Bradshaw, is pictured on VE day last year at Anchor's Millfield care home in Oldham

As a first step, campaigners say visits must be in place for relatives who help with essential care by March 1.

They are calling on care providers, relatives and friends, local and national government and the care regulator to 'work together to make this a reality'.

Susan Ogden had desperately wanted to hold her husband Peter's hand following nine months of separation due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But when the moment they were reunited finally arrived on New Year's Day, it was only to say her final goodbye to her partner of 51 years.

The couple, both 72, were separated in March 2020 when care homes closed to visitors to protect residents from the virus.

Mary Orme (right) and her son Michael McKimm embrace their mother and grandmother, Rose McKimm, during a Christmas Day visit at Aspen Hill Village care home in Hunslet, Leeds

However, Susan's hopes of one day being reunited with her husband came to a tragic end when Peter developed a chest infection and died on January 1.

For the last month she had been living in fear that Peter could have died before they saw each other after her scheduled visit days earlier had been cancelled because of a surge in coronavirus cases.

Susan, from North Shields, said: 'All that protecting didn't manage to save Peter's life.

'There's a deep sadness that follows his death that although you know you didn't let him down, you feel that you did let him down.'

Susan said she spent approximately 10 minutes with Peter before he died and described feeling in a 'state of shock'.

Susan Ogden (pictured with Peter in Algarve in 2016), 72, was separated from her dementia-hit husband Peter in a care home while it was closed for visitors, before the couple were reunited just minutes before he died on January 1

She added: 'When I saw him I froze. I hope he knew I was there.'

Age UK, John's Campaign, the National Care Forum, Relatives & Residents, Rights for Residents and Registered Nursing Homes Association have issued a joint statement demanding the Government allow Britons to see their loved ones before it's too late.

They say: 'If we delay any longer, many residents will have waited more than a year to see and touch their loved ones. This is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue.

'The absence of meaningful indoor visiting fails to recognise the fundamental role that relationships and love play in a resident's wellbeing.'

The rollout of rapid-result lateral flow tests in the weeks up to Christmas enabled indoor visits in some care homes, with visitors testing negative able to hug their loved ones.

How care homes closed to visitors during coronavirus lockdown Relatives have spent lockdown visiting their loved ones from the other side of care home windows. Here's how the Government's policy changed: March 10/12: Some homes decided to close their doors to visitors, with care groups Barchester and HC-One stopping non-essential visits. March 11: Scottish Care advised care homes to close to visits. March 13: Government guidance changed to 'care home providers are advised to review their visiting policy, by asking no-one to visit who has suspected Covid-19 or is generally unwell, and by emphasising good hand hygiene for visitors'. March 16: The Prime Minister said 'we don't want to see people unnecessarily visiting care homes'. April 2: Department of Health and Social Care said 'family and friends should be advised not to visit care homes, except next of kin in exceptional situations such as end of life'. June: Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced visitors would be allowed to see loved ones in care homes. September: Care homes were advised to close to visitors amid a new wave in coronavirus cases. December: Mr Hancock said visits could resume amid the roll out of 30 minute lateral flow tests. January: Despite the third lockdown, visits involving screens, pods and through windows continue. Advertisement

Close contact indoor visits are not permitted during the current lockdown, but they can take place outdoors, through windows, in visiting pods, or indoors with a substantial screen.

Last week, the Prime Minister appealed for caution because 'far too many' deaths of older people are still occurring.

The Government has said it is looking to ensure a wider range of visiting arrangements are made available 'when it is safe to do so'.

The charities and groups want relatives to be 'recognised as central to the person's care; enabled to provide the support crucial to the health and well-being of their loved one; and provided with relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing in line with the safety measures applied to the staff'.

They say care homes need to use individualised assessments to balance the risk of harm from the virus with the risk of harm from isolation.

Care homes should also be better supported to enable meaningful visits, they added. 'Ultimately it is impossible to entirely eliminate risk.'

'Providers, commissioners, relatives, friends, regulators and the wider public must recognise this as a shared priority - holding a collective responsibility for what we know is right for humanity.'

Helen Wildbore, director of the Relatives & Residents Association, said: 'Almost a year of isolation is having a devastating impact on older people in care.

'Our helpline hears the distress, despair and heartbreak of separation, and the desperation for a light at the end of the tunnel.

'We must safely reconnect families and friends, to stop the human rights crisis unfolding in care.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'We know visits to care homes are crucial in supporting the health and wellbeing of residents, which is why we have updated guidance to ensure visits can continue to take place safely during periods of national lockdown.

While the vaccines provide protection from serious disease, we do not yet know if they prevent someone from passing on the virus to others. This means it is still important to follow the visiting guidance.

'We will do everything possible to make close contact visits possible the moment it is safe to do so.'

Brendan, who surname was not revealed, was able to hug his wife Joan and hold her hand at Christmas, but is now only able to have window visits.

As it is too cold to stand outside, he writes notes telling his wife he loves her and holds them up to the window.

He said: 'This is what we are reduced to. The past year has been hell.

'Something must be in place in care homes to let us see our loved ones. I don't care about anything else, only being with Joan.'

Meanwhile, Lewis Tunnicliffe, 84, and his wife Barbara, 81, were reunited at Bradwell Hall care home in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, on February 5 after being apart since July last year.

The couple had never spent longer than a few days apart and had been inseparable since they tied the knot in 1960.

But Barbara was forced to move into Bradwell Hall care home last summer after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Lewis Tunnicliffe, 84, and his wife Barbara, 81, were reunited at Bradwell Hall care home in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, on February 5 after being apart since July last year

The couple, who met in 1958 and have two daughters and four grandchildren, had been apart since July last year. Pictured, their wedding day in 1960

Due to Covid restrictions Lewis could only visit her once a week while separated by a glass screen and was unable to hug or hold her hand.

Tear-jerking footage filmed by staff captured the moving moment the pair were reunited with Lewis embracing Barbara, telling her: 'You're beautiful'.

As they held hands and hugged, Lewis said: 'I've waited so long for this' and 'I'll be stopping here now.'

The couple, who met in 1958 and have two daughters and four grandchildren, had been apart since July last year.

Daughter Sam Jackson, 52, asked care home staff to film their long-awaited reunion on Friday.

She said her father was anxious that Barbara wouldn't recognise him and he described it as 'like having their first date again.'

Digby Manor Residential Care Home resident George, whose surname is unknown, is pictured during a visit with a loved one

Nicky Clough looks through the window at her mother Pam Harrison opening a present on Christmas Day at Alexander House Care Home in Wimbledon

The married mother-of-one, from Stoke-on-Trent, said: 'He was apprehensive and didn't sleep the night before he was so nervous. He had a shave that morning and said it was like having a first date again.

'The girls at the home did mum's hair and her nails. They were absolutely great. He has always been loved up with her since they first met when he was 20.

'It was very emotional to watch the video and bitter sweet really to have both parents in care homes. But we were delighted to see them back together after so long apart. It was wonderful to see them holding hands and smiling and so emotional.

'Now they spend all day sitting together, eating together and holding hands. I did ask the hall if they would video it because no family was able to be there.

'Dad has missed her so much over the summer although he has been in a bubble with my sister, he has been very lonely.'
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.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 21:01:55|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, speaks with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva via video link at request on Feb. 9, 2021. They exchanged in-depth views on macroeconomics, trade, climate change financing, and support for the development of low-income countries. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He spoke with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva via video link at request on Tuesday.

They exchanged in-depth views on macroeconomics, trade, climate change financing, and support for the development of low-income countries.

Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China's economy has a sound recovery momentum, its financial system is sustainable, and its market entities are resilient.

He said China is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with the IMF to promote the world economy's stable recovery.

Georgieva said the IMF hopes to improve comprehensive cooperation with China. She also thanked China and the Chinese people for their strong support of the IMF. Enditem
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An expert team from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that has spent the last four weeks in the Chinese city of Wuhan, investigating the origins of the coronavirus disease, is expected to brief the media on Tuesday.

The WHO team is set to present its findings at a news conference that begins at 08.00 GMT at the Hilton Optics Valley Hotel in Wuhan.

During their visit to Wuhan, which was the worlds first COVID-19 hotspot, WHO experts toured the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the Huanan market where the first known cases were identified.

The team also visited a hospital where the first COVID-19 patients were treated.

Participants in the WHO visit spent 14 days in quarantine upon their arrival in the Chinese city one month ago.

Vladimir Dedkov, a Russian expert participating in the WHO mission, said this past week that it was unlikely the disease could have spread from Wuhans virology institute.

(NAN)
Detectives have returned to the home of Epping mother Ju Zhang as they appeal for CCTV footage from neighbours following her disappearance last week.

It comes after her partner, Joon Seong Tan, was released without charge on Monday night after he was interviewed for hours by police.

Detectives at the Epping property on Tuesday. Credit:Nine News

Ms Zhang, also known as Kelly, was last seen at the home she shares with her eight-year-old son on Winchester Avenue in Epping about 5.30pm on February 1.

The 33-year-old was wearing a pink pyjama top, shorts and no shoes when she was last seen. She had no personal belongings with her other than her mobile phone, which has not been located.
Mexico & Banderas Bay Area News



Tablets Distributed to 580 Small Businesses in Vallarta



Through 'Reactiva Municipios,' part of the the Jalisco Plan for Economic Reactivation, tablets will be delivered to 580 small businesses in Puerto Vallarta to facilitate the online sale of their products. Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - Last week, Mayor Arturo DAvalos delivered the first of 580 tablets to be distributed to small businessmen and entrepreneurs in Puerto Vallarta as part of the 'Reactiva Municipios' program, an effort to support this sector by providing the tools and technologies that will help them sell their products and services online.



This support is part of a joint effort by the state and local governments under the Jalisco Plan for Economic Reactivation, which launched a call to access this initiative last month. 580 Puerto Vallarta businesses met the stipulated requirements and are now benefiting from this program.



Leading the symbolic delivery to the first beneficiaries was Mayor Arturo DAvalos, who stressed that the city and state have been working as a team to achieve a balance between health and economic development during this pandemic, with programs such as the delivery of these tablets.



"This will help you to continue promoting your establishment, your business, online and through social networks, which is now a new modality." He went on to explain that nowadays the internet is a key place for people to shop, choose what they need, order, pay and receive their products or services, without leaving the safety of their homes.



In this sense, the Mayor expressed appreciation for the joint work that the councilor Guadalupe Guerrero Carvajal, president of the Tourism and Economic Development Commission, and the general director of Internal Trade of the Jalisco Secretariat of Economic Development, Pedro MartAnez Ponce, maintained to launch this program for the benefit of Vallarta tradesmen.



DAvalos took this opportunity to reiterate that we must not lower our guard against Covid-19, but should instead continue to follow all health measures, "because it will take the commitment and responsibility of everyone to get ahead in the face of this global pandemic," he asserted.



Councilor Guadalupe Guerrero Carvajal stressed that the tablets are an important support for small businesses, "especially for entrepreneurs, who can use them to reactivate sales in these trying times by offering their products and services online."



She added that the tablet recipients will be contacted by the Directorate of Tourism and Economic Development to schedule virtual free training courses in online marketing and sales, focused on each business' products and services, so that they can take better advantage of the device that was delivered to them.



Pedro MartAnez Ponce, general director of Internal Trade of the State Secretariat for Economic Development, specified that 'Reactiva Municipios' is a transversal program in which the state government and municipalities combine resources for the acquisition of these tablets, with which they seek to help reactivate the economy. He indicated that work will continue on other economic reactivation schemes for Puerto Vallarta.



On behalf of the beneficiaries, Mayra Yadira Uribe RodrAguez was the first to receive this device, for which she thanked the municipal president for the support he gives her and her colleagues. "I am a merchant, I am dedicated to catalog sales and receiving a device in these times is very helpful; it's going to help me increase my income. I am very pleased to know that we have a municipal president who manages resources and programs for our city," she said.



The Director of Tourism and Economic Development of the city council, RamAn GonzAlez LomelA, was also present for this first delivery of the tablets to be distributed.



Puerto Vallarta Municipal Government news bulletin translated and edited by Lorena Sonrisas for BanderasNews.com. - Last week, Mayor Arturo DAvalos delivered the first of 580 tablets to be distributed to small businessmen and entrepreneurs in Puerto Vallarta as part of the 'Reactiva Municipios' program, an effort to support this sector by providing the tools and technologies that will help them sell their products and services online.This support is part of a joint effort by the state and local governments under the Jalisco Plan for Economic Reactivation, which launched a call to access this initiative last month. 580 Puerto Vallarta businesses met the stipulated requirements and are now benefiting from this program.Leading the symbolic delivery to the first beneficiaries was Mayor Arturo DAvalos, who stressed that the city and state have been working as a team to achieve a balance between health and economic development during this pandemic, with programs such as the delivery of these tablets."This will help you to continue promoting your establishment, your business, online and through social networks, which is now a new modality." He went on to explain that nowadays the internet is a key place for people to shop, choose what they need, order, pay and receive their products or services, without leaving the safety of their homes.In this sense, the Mayor expressed appreciation for the joint work that the councilor Guadalupe Guerrero Carvajal, president of the Tourism and Economic Development Commission, and the general director of Internal Trade of the Jalisco Secretariat of Economic Development, Pedro MartAnez Ponce, maintained to launch this program for the benefit of Vallarta tradesmen.DAvalos took this opportunity to reiterate that we must not lower our guard against Covid-19, but should instead continue to follow all health measures, "because it will take the commitment and responsibility of everyone to get ahead in the face of this global pandemic," he asserted.Councilor Guadalupe Guerrero Carvajal stressed that the tablets are an important support for small businesses, "especially for entrepreneurs, who can use them to reactivate sales in these trying times by offering their products and services online."She added that the tablet recipients will be contacted by the Directorate of Tourism and Economic Development to schedule virtual free training courses in online marketing and sales, focused on each business' products and services, so that they can take better advantage of the device that was delivered to them.Pedro MartAnez Ponce, general director of Internal Trade of the State Secretariat for Economic Development, specified that 'Reactiva Municipios' is a transversal program in which the state government and municipalities combine resources for the acquisition of these tablets, with which they seek to help reactivate the economy. He indicated that work will continue on other economic reactivation schemes for Puerto Vallarta.On behalf of the beneficiaries, Mayra Yadira Uribe RodrAguez was the first to receive this device, for which she thanked the municipal president for the support he gives her and her colleagues. "I am a merchant, I am dedicated to catalog sales and receiving a device in these times is very helpful; it's going to help me increase my income. I am very pleased to know that we have a municipal president who manages resources and programs for our city," she said.The Director of Tourism and Economic Development of the city council, RamAn GonzAlez LomelA, was also present for this first delivery of the tablets to be distributed.



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Ascent, a Singapore-headquartered SaaS, AI, and ML-driven company, has announced the appointment of Reza Asgari as Chief Executive Officer of Ascent Business Technology for the US market.

In his new role as CEO, Reza will be leading Ascent's US business and will work closely with Companys Founder and President Kundan Shekhawat in the expansion of the US market and achieving its next level growth. Apart from the US market, Reza will also be involved in various business aspects of Ascent at the global level

Prior to joining Ascent Reza Asgari has spent the first half of his career in CIO positions managing technology for various banks and brokerage firms building trading floors and complex trading applications. In the second half of his career, Reza has held Partner positions in Unisys and other large organizations such as Coopers & Lybrand, PwC, and most recently as a Partner at IBM with practices in Financial Risk Management and Payment Cyber Security. Reza has a BS in Accounting, MBA in Corporate Finance and his PhD course work is in Information Technology and minor in Finance

Welcoming Reza, Kundan Shekhawat, Founder and President of Ascent Business Technology, said, "Im very pleased to announce the appointment of Reza Asgari to our growing team in the US. Reza comes with a wealth of experience in Finance and Technology in the Financial Services industry in the US and the Emerging Markets. I am convinced he will bring what is needed to develop and expand Ascent Business to achieve the next level of growth not just in the US market but also globally."

Speaking on his appointment, Reza Asgari, CEO, Ascent Business Technology - US, I am incredibly elated by this opportunity and look forward to working with a fast-growing and ambitious firm such as Ascent to build an innovative competitive edge with a client-centric approach in the US region, as well as globally.

Ascent Business is expanding its global footprints and recently started its operations in Toronto to cater to the growing demand of the fintech industry in Canada. With a deep understanding of the global economy and markets, Ascent ensures that its clients stay ahead of the seismic changes brought by the rapid development of cutting-edge fintech. The company enables this through a host of different innovations, leveraging its considerable expertise in the worlds of machine learning and AI. Ascent serves clients throughout North America, Asia, and the Middle East, including some of the worlds largest financial institutions, including Kotak Bank, ICICI Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Bank Dhofar, Doha Bank, Burgan Bank, Emirates Global Aluminium, and HCL.
Missouri

Lane Roberts

Joplin

House Crime Prevention Committee

Missouri Department of Public Safety

Janice Thompson

Lisa Saylor

Richard West

Wentzville

(TNS)  Technological advances have brought new ways for stalkers to track and intimidate their victims.Butlaw against stalking hasn't kept up, said Rep.. TheRepublican is seeking to update the law to change the definition of stalking as it relates to adult abuse."Having to look someone who is a victim of stalking in the eye and tell them you can't do anything to help them," while they are being terrorized, is a terrible feeling, Roberts said during ahearing Monday.Current law didn't anticipate the ways abusers can use cellphones, tracking devices and social media to surveil and harass, he said."Too frequently I was one of the people trying to explain to you why we couldn't do anything," he told the two stalking victims who testified. Roberts has served as a chief of police and director of theBoth victims spoke about their experiences being abused and stalked.described the persistence of her ex-husband."If he could not come to your home to intimidate you then he would find other ways to send the message that he was watching and you were always in danger," she said.Those ways included mailing her gifts, sending his roommate to her workplace multiple times, and, recently, signing her up for spam texts that use his name.Even seemingly minor actions take on a different meaning "when you're dealing with an abuser like him," Thompson said. "You know there is a message being sent: 'I am watching you, and short of living your life completely off the grid, you're not going to get away from me.'"Thompson's ex-husband was eventually imprisoned for ambushing his ex-fiancee, severely beating her and shooting her boyfriend five times.told the committee that her abuser, on probation for stalking and sexually assaulting her while she was in the hospital, was finally sent to prison after the eighth time he violated probation.While in prison, he continued to send her mail, got his family to contact her, and even discovered her new address, prompting her to move, Saylor said.Saylor said her abuser is now released and still isn't leaving her alone. He takes screenshots of photos from her Facebook page and sends them to her family members, asking questions."Because there's no rule that covers that right now, even making a police report, nothing can be done," she said.In current law, stalking is an unwanted course of conduct that reasonably causes alarm to another person or someone living in their household. The law only mentions following, communicating and unwanted contact as examples of stalking, though it says stalking is not limited to those actions.Roberts' bill expands the definition of "course of conduct" to include two or more acts of following, monitoring, observing, surveilling, threatening or communicating to or about the person "by any action, method or device." Actions that are direct, indirect or through a third party are included.Committee members were supportive of the bill but had some questions about how it would apply.Rep., R-, said that as a former police officer he knows "there's very few resources when you have someone who is continually followed and abused."But he asked if hiring a private investigator in a divorce or custody case would count as harassment through a third party.Roberts said he thought it typically would not, unless the investigator was hired for the purpose of harassment. That would have to be determined on an "evidentiary" basis, he said.Other legislators, playing "devil's advocate," have pointed out that people might gain the ability to track others through legal means, such as a shared phone account, Roberts said."I would submit to you this," he said. "Unless you have personally been the victim of stalking, you can't imagine what it means to live under that threat all the time. It frankly doesn't matter by what means you obtain the technology to do it. It is still stalking. It is still wrong. And this legislation has the ability to do something about it."
LONDON - Almost all people previously infected with Covid-19 have high levels of antibodies for at least six months that are likely to protect them from reinfection with the disease, results of a major UK study showed.

FILE PHOTO: A man wearing a protective face mask walks past an illustration of a virus outside a regional science centre amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, in Oldham, Britain August 3, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

Scientists said the study, which measured levels of previous Covid-19 infection in populations across Britain, as well as how long antibodies persisted in those infected, should provide some reassurance that swift cases of reinfection will be rare."The vast majority of people retain detectable antibodies for at least six months after infection with the coronavirus," said Naomi Allen, a professor and chief scientist at the UK Biobank, where the study was carried out.Among participants who had tested positive for previous Covid-19 infection, 99% retained antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 for three months, the results showed. After the full six months of follow-up in the study, 88% still had them."Although we cannot be certain how this relates to immunity, the results suggest that people may be protected against subsequent infection for at least six months following natural infection," Allen said.She said the findings were also consistent with results of other studies in the United Kingdom and Iceland which found that antibodies to the coronavirus tended to persist for several months in those who have had the disease and recovered.A study of UK healthcare workers published last month found that people who have had Covid-19 were likely to be protected for at least five months, but noted that those with antibodies may still be able to carry and spread the virus.The UK Biobank study also found that the proportion of the UK population with Covid-19 antibodies - a measure known as seroprevalence - rose from 6.6% at the start of the study period in May/June 2020 to 8.8% by November/December 2020.SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was most common in London, at 12.4%, and least common in Scotland at 5.5%, it found.
Chennai, Feb 9 : In a scene straight out of a movie, a functionary of Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK not only resisted an attack by a gang but snatched a machete from one of the assailants as he chased and attacked them in turn.

The incident occurred on Monday at Ayapakam near Chennai when a gang of four encircled M. Murthy on a road and attacked him.

Murthy, a leader of AIADMK affiliated union and a former councillor, showed courage to resist the attack. He snatched a machete from one of the attackers and began attacking them.

Taken aback, the attackers ran for safety. Murthy chased them and injured one of them, identified as Prabhakaran.

Police reached the spot and took Prabhakaran to the government-run Kilpauk Medical College Hospital while Murthy was admitted to a private hospital.

A case was registered against Prabhakaran and his aides S. Vijayabhaskar, S. Raju and M. Muthu at Thirumullaivoyal police station.

Police investigations revealed that Prabhakaran, along his friends, hatched a plan to kill Murthy to take revenge for his helping a man who had earlier attacked Prabhakaran to come out on bail. A police officer said Prabhakaran and Murthy had old enmity among themselves and Murthy's move to help the attacker of Prabhakaran come out on bail had further angered him.

Police registered no case against Murthy as he acted in self-defence.
Ayushmann Khurrana On Safer Internet Day: Through Education, We Can Empower Children To Stay Safe Online

Youth icon and Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana is a thought leader who is aiming to bring constructive, positive changes in society with his progressive, conversation starting entertainers. Ayushmann, voted as one of the most influential people of the world by TIME Magazine, has been recently appointed as UNICEFs Celebrity Advocate for their global campaign EVAC (Ending Violence Against Children). On Safer Internet Day today, Ayushmann and UNICEF have collaborated again to create awareness on how education can lead children to harness the full potential of the internet.

The online world presents such a great chance for children to learn and share their ideas. This Safer Internet Day, lets encourage children, especially girls to explore the internet and fuel their ambitions and dreams for a promising future, says Ayushmann, who is the fastest growing Bollywood star on the internet today according to the latest Duff & Phelps report. His social media following increased by a staggering 70 percent as compared to 2019, the report stated.

He adds, The opportunities presented by the internet are endless. Children can learn more and share their ideas with the world. The internet is full of ideas and imagination, much like the mind of a child. There are also dangers, but through education we can empower children to stay safe online. This Safer Internet Day, lets work to end violence online and make the online world a safer space for every child.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (2018), every hour 5 cases of child sexual abuse are reported in India. The National Family Health Survey - 4 reveals that 1 in 5 adolescent girls experience physical violence since age 15; that 99% of school children are subject to physical and mental abuse by teachers (according to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights 2012). These are just reported figures.
Washington, Feb 10 (UNI) A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to US President Joe Biden, their first conversation after his inauguration, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday held discussion on the Indo-Pacific developments, coup in Myanmar and the Quad cooperation.

During the telephonic conversation, Mr Jaishankar and Mr Blinken talked to reaffirm the strength of the US-India partnership and also discussed issues of mutual concern, including the situation in Burma (Myanmar), the US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said.

Secretary Blinken expressed concern over the military coup and the importance of rule of law and the democratic process in Burma, Mr Price further added.

In Myanmar, the military took control and imposed state of emergency for one year after staging coup against State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar president Win Myint, citing 'election fraud in last year's elections, in which Nobel Laureate Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party secured the majority.

The Secretary and the Minister also discussed regional developments, including the value of US-India cooperation across the Indo-Pacific. Both sides look forward to expanded regional cooperation, including through the Quad, and to address the challenges of COVID and climate change.

Earlier in the day, Mr Jaishankar took to twitter to inform that he held discussion with Secretary Blinken on Myanmar, Indo-Pacific and the Quad.

"Welcomed the comprehensive discussion today with @SecBlinken. Reviewed Indo-Pacific developments and the Quad cooperation. Exchanged views on the situation in Myanmar. Look forward to remaining in touch," the Minister tweeted.

Both India and US have been expanding cooperation bilaterally as well as under the framework of the Quad to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The Quad is group of India, Australia, Japan and the US.

These issues also figured in the PM Modi and President Biden's telephonic conversation.

UNI XC GK 0421
Delays: The development of Glanbia's cheese plant at Belview in south Kilkenny has been delayed due to objections and legal action

Glanbia has said it has no plans to make 2021 a reference year for future milk supplies but a spokesman declined to comment when asked if such a move was being considered for 2020.

Glanbia Ireland told the Farming Independent that it had sufficient capacity to process all milk this year.

However, continuing supply growth to the co-op, and delays in the development of a major cheese plant at Belview in south Kilkenny due to objections and legal action, mean that dealing with peak milk volumes has become more challenging for the countrys largest dairy processor.

In a statement, Glanbia Ireland insisted that it has sufficient processing capacity to handle increased milk volumes this year. Glanbia Ireland has capacity in place to handle forecast milk supply volumes in 2021, said a Glanbia spokesman. In relation to future years, a number of projects are currently underway to optimise peak milk processing capacity, both internally at Glanbia Ireland plants and through existing relationships with other milk processors. However, a Glanbia spokesman declined to comment when asked if the business planned to limit future supply growth during peak months from its dairy farmers. There are fears that continuing dairy expansion will put intense pressure on Glanbias capacity to process peak milk supplies from 2022. This situation has been exacerbated by delays in developing a major cheese plant beside Glanbias existing facility at Belview in south Kilkenny. The proposed factory, which is a 140m development with Dutch firm Royal A-Ware, was due to be commissioned in 2022 and produce up to 50,000 tonnes of continental-style cheeses. The development has been delayed following objections by An Taisce and Friends of the Irish Environment. A judicial review of planning decisions relating to the new Belview plant is due to be heard later this spring. The delay in commissioning the new Belview facility will adversely impact the overall capacity of both Glanbia and the dairy sector generally to cope with peak milk supplies from late April to mid-June. Glanbias milk pool increased by 4.8pc in 2020 and is expected to increase by a further 4pc this year. The national milk pool rose by 3.8pc in 2020 to around 8.3 billion litres, and growth of more than 3pc is forecast for this year. The dairy sector is estimated to have just 1pc spare processing capacity during the height of the milk supply season in May.
Dean McAuley of Kerlouge Road, Irishtown, Dublin pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) on Parkgate Street in Dublin for a court appearance. Pic: Collins Courts

A man who fractured his then partner's nose and left her sitting in a pool of her own blood has been jailed for six months.

Dubliner Dean McAuley (28) twice punched his then girlfriend in the face and struck her with his knee while she was on the ground.

McAuley of Kerlouge Road, Irishtown pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Rachel Williams at Kingswood Luas Stop, Kilnamanagh, Tallaght, on September 13, 2019.

His five previous convictions include convictions for violent behaviour in a garda station, intoxication in a public place and possession of controlled drugs.

Garda Dean O'Neill told Antonia Boyle BL, prosecuting, that on the night in question, McAuley and Ms Williams were on their way back to his home having attended her family home for dinner. They had been in a relationship for over a year at that time.

Gda O'Neill said a bottle of wine they were carrying fell to the ground and smashed. He said they began arguing before McAuley pushed her and then punched her in the face, knocking her to the ground.

While Ms Williams was on the ground, McAuley struck her in the face with his knee. Ms Williams got back to her feet, only for McAuley to punch her in the face a second time and again knock her to the ground.

When gardai arrived at the scene, Ms Williams was bleeding heavily from her nose and sitting in a pool of blood which had formed on the ground. She also had two swollen eyes and was crying.

Gardai spoke to McAuley at the scene, who was unsteady on his feet and slurring his speech. In interview with gardai following his arrest, McAuley denied assaulting the victim.

Ms Williams was brought to hospital and treated for a fractured nose. McAuley was apologetic to the victim in the hospital and they departed together the following day.

Gda O'Neill agreed with Sarah-Jane O'Callaghan BL, defending, that alcohol was a problem area for her client. He agreed that McAuley is no longer communicating with the victim and is engaged to another woman.

Ms O'Callaghan said her client has suffered from depression his whole life. She said he has had to leave his family home for his own mental health and is currently homeless and residing in hostels.

Counsel described the offence as a moment of utter madness that will change his life forever.

Judge Martin Nolan said some of McAuley's previous convictions display a bad temper particularly with drink taken. He said he should have known that drink does not affect him well.

Judge Nolan said this was a serious offence. He said he believes McAuley is well capable of contributing to society and reforming himself.

He sentenced McAuley to two years imprisonment but suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions.

Judge Nolan said if McAuley had a more substantial record of conviction then the deduction of the sentence would have been lesser.

An Allentown man faces a charge of homicide by vehicle and related counts in a crash last September in the city that left a woman dead, authorities announced Tuesday.

Josue Joel Santiago-Serpa, 27, was taken into custody Tuesday morning, arraigned and sent to Lehigh County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

He is accused of crashing while fleeing from police at 68 mph in a 30 mph zone, then running off on foot and leaving passenger Aschlly Diaz-Brown behind with serious injuries that would later prove fatal.

The crash occurred Sept. 10, 2020, when Pennsylvania State Police tried to stop a Honda CR-V on Airport Road near Hanover Avenue for its license plate belonging to a different vehicle, according to a news release from Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin.

Police say the driver of the Honda CR-V ignored the troopers emergency lights and sirens and began to flee south on Airport Road before driving onto North Irving Street, Martin says in the release. Police say the Honda passed a vehicle in the oncoming lane and traveled at a high rate of speed through a red traffic light at Hanover Avenue and continued to travel south on North Irving Street.

The driver of the Honda lost control and struck the rear of a parked vehicle on the southbound shoulder of the roadway and damaged two other parked vehicles.

Santiago-Serpa then fled on foot, authorities said.

Diaz-Brown was found unconscious and trapped in the front passenger seat. She was taken to St. Lukes Hospital in Allentown, where she was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, fractured ribs and a carotid artery dissection, among other serious injuries, according to the prosecutor.

Santiago-Serpa surrendered to police Sept. 13, and investigators determined hed been driving under suspension stemming from an earlier DUI charge. In the September crash, police said they found a plastic bag of marijuana in plain view on the drivers side floor of the Honda.

Diaz-Brown died Nov. 16 at St. Lukes Hospice in Northampton County. Coroner Zachary Lysek said the cause was blunt-force head trauma with a brain abscess, and he ruled the death an accident. She was 32 and from Allentown, Lysek said.

Santiago-Serpa was arraigned before District Judge Michael DAmore on felony counts of failing to render aid in an accident involving death or personal injury, homicide by vehicle, failing to render aid in an accident involving death or personal injury while not licensed, and fleeing or attempting to elude police, in addition to misdemeanor reckless endangerment and possession of a small amount of marijuana and a dozen summary offenses.

He faces a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled Feb. 16 before DAmore to determine if there is sufficient evidence to send the charges toward trial in Lehigh County Court.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
With less than a year to launch, NASA's Lucy mission's third and final scientific instrument has been integrated onto the spacecraft.

The spacecraft, which will be the first to explore the Trojan asteroids---a population of small bodies that share an orbit with Jupiter---is in the final stages of the assembly process. Just five months ago, at the beginning of the Assembly, Testing and Launch operations (ATLO) process, the components of the Lucy spacecraft were being built all over the country. Today, a nearly assembled spacecraft sits in the high bay in Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colorado.

"A bit over a year and a half ago, I was excited to hold the first small pieces of metal that were destined to travel to the Trojan asteroids," says Hal Levison, principal investigator from the Southwest Research Institute. "Now there is an actual spacecraft, nearly ready to go. It is incredible."

The final instrument, L'Ralph, was built by NASA's Goddard Space Center in Greenbelt, Maryland and was received at Lockheed Martin on January 21 and integrated on to the spacecraft on January 26. L'Ralph is the most complicated instrument that will fly on Lucy, as it is actually two instruments in one. The Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC), will take visible light color images of the Trojan asteroids. The Linear Etalon Imaging Spectral Array (LEISA), will collect infrared spectra of the asteroids. Both of these components will work together to allow Lucy to determine the composition of the Trojan asteroids and provide insight into the early history of our solar system.

The L'Ralph instrument experienced significant COVID-19 related delays, particularly when construction had to be halted when Goddard was placed under stage 4 COVID restrictions in April of last year. However, both the L'Ralph team at Goddard and the ATLO team at Lockheed Martin rose to the challenge and developed a new schedule that allowed everyone to work safely while keeping the spacecraft on track for its originally planned October 16, 2021 launch.

"The L'Ralph team has done an outstanding job to deliver a fantastic instrument," says Dennis Reuter, L'Ralph instrument principal investigator, from Goddard. "Doing what they did under normal conditions would have been remarkable. Doing it under the actual conditions that had to be dealt with is amazing."

L'Ralph has been installed on Lucy's Instrument Pointing Platform. This platform provides the spacecraft significant flexibility during the encounters---the instruments can point at the Trojan asteroids during the high-speed flybys while the high gain antenna remains pointed at Earth---as well as carrying out fine adjustments and out-of-plane pointing to get the best data possible on these elusive objects.

Lucy's other two scientific instruments, L'TES and L'LORRI, designed and built at Arizona State University, and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, respectively, as well as the two Terminal Tracking Cameras have already been installed on the platform. Now that L'Ralph is installed, the platform itself will be installed onto the spacecraft bus - making Lucy one step closer to ready for her 12-year-long journey to the Trojans.

"Lucy ATLO has been tremendously successful and having L'Ralph delivered and integrated onto the Instrument Pointing Platform is a great start to the new year," said Donya Douglas-Bradshaw, mission project manager from Goddard.

###

Southwest Research Institute's Hal Levison and Cathy Olkin are the principal investigator and deputy principal investigator of the Lucy Mission. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center provides overall mission management, systems engineering and safety and mission assurance. Lockheed Martin Space is building the spacecraft. Lucy is the 13th mission in NASA's Discovery Program. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the Discovery Program for the agency's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C.

Nancy Neal Jones

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Katherine Kretke

Southwest Research Institute
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The death has occurred of Johnny Brennan

Of Hyde Road, Prospect

Late of Revenue Commissioners, Crescent Clothing Company and Young Munster RFC

On February 9, 2021 peacefully in St. Johns Hospital.

Regretted by his loving brother Buddy, sisters-in-law Geraldine and Mary, nephews, nieces, cousin Ger Brennan. Predeceased by his brothers Paddy and Michael.

May he rest in peace.

Requiem Mass for family will take place on Thursday, February 11 at 12 noon in The Dominican Church, Glentworth Street with burial afterwards in Mount St Oliver Cemetery.

In the interests of public health, attendance at Requiem Mass will be restricted to accord with government guidelines and in line with social distancing protocols. Messages of sympathy can be sent to Thompsons, Thomas Street.

The death has occurred of Kate Curtin (nee Daly)

Of Dromtrasna Collins, Abbeyfeale, and Brosna, Kerry

Passed away unexpectedly in the wonderful care of the director and staff at Teach Altra, Newmarket on Tuesday February 2 , 2021.

Kate, beloved wife of Mike and dear mother of Jimmy (Australia) and Nora Mary (OConnor), (Newmarket), is very sadly missed by her loving husband, family, grandchildren Liam, Alisha, Peig, Hugh and Kate, daughter-in-law Justine, son-in-law Danny, cousins, neighbours and wonderful friends.

The day thou gavest, Lord, is over.

A private family funeral will take place for immediate family due to government advice and HSE guidelines regarding public gatherings.

Funeral cortege will depart Harnetts Funeral Home, Abbeyfeale, on Wednesday at 10.30am en route to Church of the Assumption Abbeyfeale to arrive for Requiem Mass at 11.00am. Requiem Mass will then be live streamed on the following link:

https://youtu.be/9HYasWkyoSk

Also on www.churchservices.tv/abbeyfealeparish

Funeral afterwards to The Old Cemetery, The Square, Brosna. No flowers please. Donations in lieu to The Alzheimer Society of Ireland.

Those who would have liked to attend the funeral, but due to current restrictions cannot, please feel free to leave a message in the Condolence Book at the bottom of this page or send Mass cards and letters of sympathy by post c/o Harnetts Funeral Home, The Square, Abbeyfeale.

You may also send your condolences by email to: harnettsfuneralhome@gmail.com

The death has occurred of Michael Lane

Of 14 Churchview, Castlemahon, Limerick

Died on February 8. 2021, peacefully in the loving care of the management and staff at St Catherine's Nursing Home. Survived by wife Joan, daughters Mary and Eileen, brothers, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sons-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

May he rest in peace

In accordance with government guidelines a private family funeral Mass will take place in Castlemahon Church on Wednesday at 2pm. Burial afterwards in local cemetery.

Mass will be live streamed on this link: https://youtu.be/nVvLbImylSo

Mass cards and letters of sympathy to Riedy's Undertakers.

The death has occurred of William K (Bill) Lowry

Of Lissanalta, Dooradoyle and Bunratty, Clare

Formerly of Armagh.

Late of Foxwald, Hill Road, Bunratty.

Peacefully in Milford Care Centre.

Predeceased by his wife Phyllis Mullen Lowry.

Deeply regretted by his loving family, son Darrell, daughter Shauna, daughter-in-law Dorothy, son-in-law Will, grandchildren, sister Mazie, his stepdaughters, stepson and their families.

May he rest in peace.

In accordance with current government guidelines a private cremation service will take place in Shannon Crematorium on Thursday, February 11 at 11am.

Message of sympathy can be sent to McMahon Funeral Directors.

The death has occurred of Joseph (Joey) Lyons

Of Bolane, Kildimo

Formerly of San Francisco. Aged 58.

Joey passed away peacefully at his sisters residence on February 8, 2021. Predeceased by his parents Joan and Joe. Deeply regretted by his loving brothers John and Eamon, sisters Mary, Florence, Bernie, Geraldine, Siobhan, Ann and Catherine, sisters in law, brothers in law, nieces, nephews, relatives and many friends here and abroad.

May he rest in peace

Requiem Mass for family and friends will take place at 1pm on Wednesday, February 10 at St Josephs Church, Kildimo. Funeral afterwards to Shannon Crematorium. Joeys Mass will be live streamed by clicking on the following link https://youtu.be/Yu5jccJ_PCA

In compliance with the current HSE guidelines, the funeral will be limited to 10 people. Please ensure social distancing and public health advice is adhered to.

Messages of sympathy may be expressed through the condolence section below or cards and letters of sympathy can be sent to Downeys Undertakers, Pallaskenry, Co. Limerick.

The death has occurred of Gerard McNamara

Of St Ita`s Street, St Mary`s Park

Gerard, passed away (suddenly) at his residence.

Predeceased by his father John and his brother John. Very deeply regretted by his mother Bernie, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, other relatives and friends.

May he rest in peace

Arriving for a private requiem Mass, for family only, on Wednesday, February 10 at 1pm in St. Mary's Church, Athlunkard Street. Funeral afterwards to Mount St. Oliver Cemetery.

In compliance with the current HSE guidelines, the funeral will be limited to 10 people. Please ensure social distancing and public health advice is adhered to.

Cards and letters of sympathy can be sent to Cross' Funeral Directors, Lower Gerald Griffin Street, Limerick.

The death has occurred of Timothy Michael Meyenberg

Of 3 Fernview, Kilmeedy, Limerick

Formerly of Chicago. Died on February 7, 2021 suddenly at his residence. Deeply regretted by loving wife Joanne, son Thomas, and daughter Lauren, brother, sisters, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

May he rest in peace

In accordance with government guidelines a private family funeral Mass will take place in Kilmeedy Church on Thursday, February 11, at 11 am. Cremation after in Shannon Crematorium, Mass will be live streamed on the following link:

https://youtu.be/WLEruLCybwE

Mass cards and letters of sympathy to Riedys Undertakers.

The death has occurred of Sr Ellen Morton

Of Limerick City and Buttevant

Sisters of Mercy, Mount St Vincent, OConnell Avenue and formerly of Ballinguile, Buttevant, Co. Cork.

Sr. Ellen died unexpectedly but peacefully, in University Hospital Limerick, surrounded by her nieces and Sisters of Mercy.

Deeply regretted by her sisters Sr Elizabeth and Sr Nora, her nieces Gerarda, Eilish and Dolores, grandnephews and grandniece, her Sisters of Mercy, Mount St. Vincent and sisters in South Central province. Pre-deceased by her sister Mary (OSullivan) and brother-in-law William.

Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, February 11 in St. Josephs Church, OConnell Avenue at 2pm and will be streamed live.

Funeral afterwards to St. Bridget's Cemetery, Buttevant.

Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam dilis

In-line with current guidelines Mass is restricted to 10 people only.

Please observe social distance.

Messages of sympathy may be expressed through the death notices section of www.griffinfunerals.com or by post to Griffins Funeral Home.

The death has occurred of Pat O'Shea

Of 9 Cluain Mhuire, Pallaskenry

On February 8, 2021. Deeply regretted by his wife Bridie, daughter Paula, sons Brian, Brendan and Pauric, grandchildren Faye, Niall, James, Ella and Alex, his mother Mary, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces, relatives, neighbours, and friends.

May he rest in peace

A private family funeral Mass will take place at 12noon on Thursday, February 11, at St. Marys Church, Pallaskenry. Burial afterwards in Cappagh Cemetery.

In compliance with the current HSE guidelines, the funeral will be limited to 10 people. Please ensure social distancing and public health advice is adhered to.

Mass cards and messages of sympathy may be expressed through Downey Funeral Directors, Pallaskenry, Contact 061-393111.

The death has occurred of Patrick Quille

Of Glenderough, Templeglantine

Died on February 9, 2021, peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family. Sadly missed by his loving wife Mary, sons Liam, Padraig and Declan, daughters Marie and Deirdre, sons in law Pierce and Gerard, daughters-in-law Sylvia and Nessa, grandchildren, sisters, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours, and friends.

May he rest in peace

In accordance with current government guidelines on public gatherings the funeral will take place privately. Funeral cortege will leave his home on Thursday, February 11, at 10 am for 11 am Requiem Mass in Church of Most Holy Trinity, Templeglantine. Burial after in adjoining Cemetery, Reilig na Trinoide. Family flowers only please, donations, if desired, to Milford Hospice.

Requiem Mass will be streamed live on link:

https://youtu.be/__sWB84fIUM

Mass cards and letters of sympathy can be sent to Riedy's Undertakers.

The death has occurred of James Ryan

Of Coolishal, Ballysimon,

James died peacefully, surrounded by his family at home.

Beloved husband of Catherine, dearest father of Sarah, Denis and Richard and adored grandad to Josh, Matthew, Ben, James and Hugh. Sadly missed by his loving family, son-in-law Declan, Richards partner Ann, sister Anna (London), brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives neighbours and friends.

Rest in peace.

Requiem Mass for family only, will take place in Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Bohermore on Wednesday, February 10 at 11:30am.

Funeral afterwards to Mount St. Lawrence Cemetery.

House private please

In-line with current guidelines Mass is restricted to 10 people only. Please observe social distance.

Messages of sympathy may be expressed through the death notices section of our website: www.griffinfunerals.com or by post to Griffins Funeral Home.

The death has occurred of Patrick Ryan

Of Roxtown, Grange and Kilmallock

Late of the Galvone Box Factory

Patrick, passed away (suddenly) at home.

Very deeply regretted by his sisters Maeve and Christine, brothers Denis, Sean and Mossy, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

May he rest in peace

Patrick's funeral cortege will leave his residence on Thursday, February 11 at 1.30pm on route to St. John the Baptist Church, Fedamore, for a private requiem Mass, for family only, at 2pm.

Funeral afterwards to Shannon crematorium.

In compliance with the current HSE guidelines, the funeral will be limited to 10 people. Please ensure social distancing and public health advice is adhered to.

Messages of sympathy may be expressed through the condolence section below or cards and letters of sympathy can be sent to Cross' Funeral Directors, Ballyneety.

House strictly private, please.

The death has occurred of John Ryan

Of Oola Hills, Oola

Of Luton, England and late of Oola Hills. On February 5, 2021. Beloved father of Amanda, Grace, James and the late Roger. Lovingly remembered by his brother James B (Ryan - Kilfeacle), sister Maureen (Whelan - Dublin), sister-in-law Mary C (Ryan - Kilfeacle), son-in-law Craig (Searle), nephew Brendan (Ryan) and niece Grace (Ryan). Predeceased by his parents John and Ida and sisters Sister Rosario (Ryan) and Sister Eda (Ryan). Deeply regretted also by his grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives, extended family and friends.

May John rest in peace

Private cremation service will take place in Luton in the coming weeks. A memorial Mass will take place at a later stage when the current restrictions are lifted.

The death has occurred of Krzysztof Krzyzanowski

Of 130 Arraview, Newcastle West

Died on February 5, 2021 at his residence. Survived by his sister, niece, cousin, neighbours, relatives and friends.

May he rest in peace.

In accordance with government guidelines a private family funeral Mass will take place in Newcastle West Church this Wednesday, February 10 at 11.30am. Cremation afterwards in Shannon crematorium.
A teenager accused of mowing down a pregnant couple on Australia Day will not be charged with a third count of murder relating to the woman's unborn son.

Kate Leadbetter and her partner Matt Field were hit and killed while walking their two beloved dogs in Alexandra Hills, Brisbane, on Australia Day.

Police allege the teenage driver was high on drugs and driving a stolen car at the time of the crash.

He has been charged with two counts of murder and one of dangerous operation of a vehicle.

But the 17-year-old is facing a string of new charges, including three more counts of dangerous driving while under the influence of drugs, and one count of driving with a disqualified license.

Devastated friends and family have farewelled Matt Field, 37, (left), Kate Leadbetter, 31 (right) and their unborn son Miles who were killed in an Australia Day tragedy in Alexandra Hills

Devastated members of the families hugged one another and dogs Django and Frankie watch on as two police officers on motorbikes led the hearse into the private school

The new charges come one day after Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field's devastated family held an emotional funeral to say their final goodbyes.

The couple, along with their unborn son, Miles, were farewelled in a private ceremony at Mr Field's old school, Iona College.

But police have since confirmed they will not be pursuing a charge of murder for Miles' death based on expert legal advice.

Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said instead, Miles' death would be treated as an 'aggravated element of the murder charge relating to the death of his mother, Kate'.

'This advice has been provided to the families and we will continue to support and engage with them throughout our investigation and subsequent court proceedings,' he said.

The accused teenager was out on bail at the time of the alleged incident.

The matter was mentioned in Brisbane Children's Court on January 27th, but was adjourned until late March. He has since been given a notice to appear in court on February 15.

Kate Leadbetter, 31, and her boyfriend Matthew Field, 37, died after they were allegedly hit by a teenage driver in Alexandra Hills on the evening of Australia Day. Also pictured are their beloved pets, dogs Frankie and Django and their cat

Devastated members of Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field's families hugged one another as two police officers on motorbikes led the hearse into Iona College for the funerals on Monday.

The couple, along with Miles, were farewelled in a joint ceremony.

Mourners dressed in bright colours and floral patterns, while a group of young men in Iona College uniforms lined the streets as the caskets of the young couple were brought through.

The large crowd gathered outdoors on the school grounds before relocating for the service.

Assistant Commissioner Codd said it was an honour to be included in Monday's proceedings.

'It was a privilege to be invited along with Commissioner Carroll and a number of my first responder colleagues to join family, friends and community members, to the funeral and celebration of the lives of Matt, Kate and baby Miles yesterday,' he said.

Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field (pictured) had been dating for more than four years and were expecting their first child

This map shows the movements of the teen accused of running the couple down

'The strength and dignity of the families is an example to all of us at this enormously difficult time.

'While the family and we as a community grieve, the investigative team continues the work of painstakingly and tirelessly building the brief of evidence for consideration of the courts in due course.'

Both of the couple's dogs, Frankie and Django, were present at the memorial service held on Monday morning for the couple.

Frankie still bears telltale markings of the accident, with her back leg bandaged in pink tape and sections of her front leg shaved. She disappeared immediately after the crash, and wasn't found until midday the following day.

Some 1,300 locals came together to help find her after the family revealed she suffered from Addison's disease and required daily medication to say alive.

Both of the couple's beloved dogs Django and Frankie (wearing pink bandage) attended the funeral, and looked lost as the family said their goodbyes
Shares of Reliance Industries (RIL) and Future Group companies were in demand after Delhi High Court quashed an order that had stalled Future Group's deal to sell its retail assets to conglomerate RIL.

A New Delhi court last week had sided with Future's partner Amazon Inc's challenge and put Future's $3.4 billion asset sale deal with RIL on hold, which led to an appeal from the Indian retail group.

The e-commerce giant Amazon had reportedly argued that Future breached certain 2019 contracts by agreeing to the deal with RIL.

Future Retail (FRL) had filed an appeal before the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court, against an ad interim status quo order dated 2 February 2021 (Impugned Order) passed by a Ld. Single Judge in proceedings filed by Amazon.Com NV Investment Holdings LLC (Amazon) asking for a stay on the proposed transaction with the Reliance Group.

"A Division Bench comprising of the Chief Justice D. N. Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh has stayed the operation and effect of order passed by the Ld. Single Judge, for the prima facie reason that the company is not a party to the shareholders agreement dated 22 August 2019 executed between Amazon, Future Coupons and the promoters of FRL, under which arbitration was initiated by Amazon in Singapore. The court also observed that statutory authorities cannot be restrained in private litigation from acting in accordance with law," Future Retail said in a stock exchange filing.

Shares of Reliance Industries (RIL) gained 1.45% to Rs 1979.75.

Among the Future Group stocks, Future Retail (up 9.77%), Future Lifestyle Fashions (up 10%), Future Consumer (up 9%) and Future Enterprises (up 9%) advanced.

In August 2020, RIL announced the acquisition of retail & wholesale business and logistics & warehousing business from the Future Group as going concerns on a slump sale basis for Rs 24,713 crore through its subsidiary Reliance Retail Ventures (RRVL).

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Los Angeles: Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon and her banner Hello Sunshines president of TV and film, Lauren Neustadter, will be honoured as producers of the year at The Caucus for Producers, Writers & Directors 2021 Caucus Awards next month. According to Variety, the 38th annual gala event will be held virtually on March 4.

Greys Anatomy" actor James Pickets Jr will serve as the host. Screenwriter-filmmaker Aaron Sorkin, director Susanne Bier, Black-ish star and emerging producer Marsai Martin and Vin Di Bona will also be honoured at the ceremony. Community leaders and philanthropists Jeanne and her late husband Tom Townsend will be bestowed with the Humanitarian Award.

Caucus co-founder Norman Lear will make a special guest appearance at the virtual awards ceremony. The Caucus Foundation, spearheaded by its President Sharon Arnett, was created to give production grants to worthy students to promote diversity. The annual awards dinner has enabled the foundation to award nearly USD two million to date to students at accredited colleges and universities across the US for completion of their thesis projects.
ROME, FEB 9 - Italy's borrowing costs fell to an all-time low Tuesday on the prospect of former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi leading a new government. The yield on the 10-year BTP Treasury bond fell to just 0.59%. The spread between Italian 10-year bond yields and their German equivalents was steady at 95 points. Draghi's new national unity government is expected to be sworn in by the weekend. (ANSA).

Godrej Appliances, part of the Godrej & Boyce Group, is launching specially refrigerated mobile vans and ultra-low temperature freezers to help in transportation of coronavirus vaccines in India.

Godrej has 63 years of experience in refrigeration technologies. Godrej Appliances is currently deploying vaccine refrigerators that maintain a precise temperature of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius to store the highly temperature-sensitive Covaxin and CoviShield vaccines being administered in India, said Jamshyd Godrej, Chairman & Managing Director, Godrej & Boyce. "Medical freezing technologies are required not only for vaccines but also for plasma, blood banks, drugs etc. Our latest offering of ultra-low temperature freezers will help make India more ready for vaccines of the future as well," he said.

The company introduced ultra-low temperature freezers which can store m-RNA technology vaccines like the ones developed by US-based Moderna and Pfizer, that require deep freezing of up to -20 and -80 degree celsius. The current manufacturing capacity for ultra-low temperature freezers is 12,000 units per annum, which Godrej Appliances is working towards quickly ramping up to 30,000 units per annum. With capacities ranging from 125 litres to 400 litres, these freezers cost between Rs 16,000 to Rs 1.5 lakhs.

Godrej had received orders for 12,000 units in October from the Government, which included 9,000 for medical use refrigerators. Already 2,500 units have been delivered and the rest of the order will be executed by March, said Kamal Nandi, Business Head and Executive Vice President, Godrej Appliances. The Indian medical refrigeration market is worth Rs 2,000-2,500 crore a year. He said the company is also executing international orders worth Rs 55 crore. Godrej has 5,000 trained technicians and 680 service centers across India to assist in the vaccination process, he said.

Godrej Appliances has also successfully piloted a mobile clinic in rural Maharashtra, running an ambulance equipped with a vaccine refrigerator, without connecting it to a power source for three days. The temperature was monitored every 2 hours and met the required temperature norms. As India accelerates the pace of vaccinations, the vans can be used by non-Governmental organisations and the Government to deploy vaccines to the last mile remote villages, said company officials.

Also Read: Oberoi Realty, Godrej Properties, others rise up to 7% as Maharashtra cuts levies on realty projects by 50%
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The Telegraph

An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.
Supreme Court Rules for Worshipper in California on Church Restrictions

After a series of recent pro-worshipper rulings, the Supreme Court granted a California worshippers emergency application asking for the states far-reaching restrictions on in-person religious services to be rolled back.

The ruling, in the case known as Gish v. Newsom, came late on Feb. 8 after applicants filed an emergency application for an injunction a month ago. Wendy Gish, one of the four worshippers who brought the application, attends Shield of Faith Family Church in San Bernardino County, California.

The application was referred to Justice Elena Kagan, who referred it to the full court.

The application for injunctive relief  is treated as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment, and the petition is granted, stated the unsigned order in court file No. 20A120.

The high court didnt provide any rationale for its ruling, in which it overruled the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. It instructed that the case be returned to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California for further consideration in light of the Supreme Courts previous 63 ruling in South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom, which held that Gov. Gavin Newsoms restrictions violated First Amendment-protected freedom of worship guarantees.

Gishs counsel of record, Mark P. Meuser of Dhillon Law Group Inc. in San Francisco, told The Epoch Times in an interview that the new ruling is an exciting victory for all believers in the state of California.

It is sad that it took them so long to allow houses of worship to open in the state, he said.

This lawsuit was originally filed back in April, when the governor shut down churches throughout the state. The District Court judge used an erroneous statement and allowed the church to remain closed, and our clients are pleased that they finally were vindicated in court.

This was one of the first church cases brought in the nation. People have to understand that sometimes it takes a while to get the right decision.

In briefs, the applicant stated that Newsom, a Democrat, and unelected public health bureaucrats on the State and County level have issued executive orders and public health directives to help control the spread of COVID-19 which prohibit in-person religious services or otherwise restrict in-person religious gatherings more strictly than secular activities.

Those executive orders and public health directives were harshly and unconditionally limiting worship by congregations, while at the same time allowing shopping malls, marijuana dispensaries, grocery stores, repair shops, childcare facilities, airports, public transportation, and other services to open at reduced capacity, depending on which Tier a region or county currently stands, the litigants argued in the application.

The decision comes after the Supreme Court granted part of the relief requested on Feb. 5 to another California church in Harvest Rock Church v. Newsom. In that order, the high court rolled back some of the heavy-handed restrictions that Newsom had imposed on churches amid the current pandemic.

The court lifted the ban on in-person worship in the Tier 1 area of the state and allowed Newsom to enforce a 25 percent attendance limitation on indoor worship services in that tier. At the same time, it refused to disturb the governors ban on singing and chanting during indoor services, which he claimed made it easier for the novel coronavirus to be transmitted.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch indicated they would have granted the application in full. Justice Samuel Alito indicated he would have lifted the attendance restrictions and the ban on singing and chanting indoors.

In a sharply worded dissent, the three liberal justices disagreed. The dissent, by Kagan, stated, Justices of this Court are not scientists. Nor do we know much about public health policy. Yet today, the Court displaces the judgments of experts about how to respond to a raging pandemic.

The Court orders California to weaken its restrictions on public gatherings by making a special exception for worship services. The majority does so even though the States policies treat worship just as favorably as secular activities (including political assemblies) that, according to medical evidence, pose the same risk of COVID transmission. Under the Courts injunction, the State must instead treat worship services like secular activities that pose a much lesser danger.

Newsoms office didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

Former Robinhood customer service staff have revealed how the app's users are left to fend for themselves as agents do not have the qualifications that authorize them to give financial advice.

The former employees claim that pleas from users often going unanswered as licensed brokers are too busy to give support and the staff hired to answered the company's hotline  which has since been terminated  unable to offer the help that was needed.

Customers have previously raised concerns over the response time from the company with more than 650 complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission about Robinhood Financial LLC and its subsidiaries in 2020 alone.

It comes after the family of a 20-year-old college student who killed himself last year after seeing a negative cash balance of more than $730,000 in his Robinhood account sued the company this week for wrongful death.

Alex Kearns, 20, died on June 12, 2020, after apparently throwing himself in front of an oncoming freight train in his hometown of Naperville, Illinois.

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Former Robinhood employee Katy LaPlante revealed flaws with its customer service

It comes after 20-year-old college student Alex Kearns killed himself last year after the company failed to answer any of his emails looking for help with his account

Robinhood has offered no customer service phone number since 2018

In an interview with CBS This Morning, his parents Dan and Dorothy Kearns said they believe Robinhood pushes young and inexperienced customers, like their son, to engage in risky trading.

They are suing for wrongful death, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and unfair business practices, as they claim that their son would be alive today if Robinhood had answered his questions.

In the lawsuit, which was obtained by CBS, the Kearns say Robinhood provided no 'meaningful customer support' when their son reached out for help with the matter.

He had allegedly emailed the company three times on the day before his death but only received an automated response.

Robinhood had also already terminated its hotline giving Kearns and other customers no phone number to call in cases of emergency.

'He just needed a little help,' Dan Kearns said.

The lack of response from Robinhood was a common theme from the complaints filed with the FTC about the company.

'I am unable to withdraw my money or invest in stock from my account,' one user wrote, according to documents obtained by CBS. 'In need of money in these difficult times as I lost my job yesterday.'

'I do not have a clue what is happening to my claim or if it's even open anymore,' another user said. 'They have no way to contact by phone so I can't even communicate with anyone.'

Robinhood offers no live email or chat service and got rid of its phoneline in 2018.

Katy LaPlante said she learned that customers calling the number had serious financial issues but that brokers were too busy to take on her referrals or to answer customers questions

Attorneys for the Kearns family Ethan Brown and Benjamin Blakeman claim if Robinhood had answered his queries, the college student 'would have been alive and well today'

According to CBS, the company terminated the phone line because of the difficulties it faced in keeping up with the volume of calls.

Katy LaPlante previously worked as a contractor on the phone line between 2016 and 2017.

As she was not a licensed broker, she told CBS that when she answered customer queries 'there was so little we could talk about' and that they main goal of the hotline was 'to answer enough questions so that the customer would hang up'.

LaPlante said she learned that customers calling the number had serious financial issues but that brokers were too busy to take on her referrals or to answer customers questions.

'But when we're talking about, like, "Why couldn't I sell my stock?"' she said, 'What service could I give you? I couldn't give you a service. I had to basically put you off.

'If it was really egregious, I would pitch a huge fit. And I mean, a fit. Like, put down my phone, put you on hold, start really getting aggressive with my supervisors but how many times in a day can you do that?'

Five other former customer service workers confirmed with CBS that brokers were rarely available to those who needed financial advice.

'I feel sick,' LaPlante said of Alex's death, 'because [customer service] was an issue then. It's an issue now. Why didn't you fix it?'

'He should've been able to pick up the phone.

'There should've been someone for him to call to say, "Hey, don't worry about it, like, it'll be okay." And that's what made me sick.'

Alex Kearns, pictured with his family, set up a Robinhood account in high school

The Kearns family is now suing Robinhood for his wrongful death

Alex's parents believed he had 'limited exposure' and they didn't realize that Robinhood had approved Alex to buy and sell options, which has the potential for huge losses

Attorneys for the Kearns family have argued that if Robinhood had answered his queries, the college student 'would have been alive and well today'.

'They didn't set it up so that they had customer service. And they didn't set it up for the benefit of their customers,' said Ethan Brown and Benjamin Blakeman.

In response to the allegations made in Monday's lawsuit, a Robinhood spokesperson said: 'We disagree with the allegations in the complaint by the Massachusetts Securities Division and intend to defend the company vigorously.'

The company also told CBS that since Alex's death, it have tripled the size of its customer support team and hired hundreds more licensed brokers to provide customer support.

In December, it also added a call back feature for people in Alex's position but still don't have a customer service number.

According to his parents, Alex started investing his money earned from lifeguarding and funds given to him from his grandparents.

They added that he was always interested in investing and before he graduated from high school, he opened an account with Robinhood.

In an interview with CBS This Morning, Dan and Dorothy Kearns (pictured) said they are planning to file a lawsuit on Monday, accusing Robinhood of wrongful death, negligent infliction of emotional distress and unfair business practices

Alex left this screenshot of his account, showing a negative cash balance of $730,165.62

This note, shared online by Alex's cousin, was found after the college student died

'All told he might've had maybe $5,000 in his savings,' Dan said. 'I didn't see the harm in doing that.'

Alex's parents believed he had 'limited exposure' and they didn't realize that Robinhood had approved Alex to buy and sell options, which has the potential for huge losses.

'I don't understand how they allowed that to happen in the first place,' Dan told the network.

Alex, a University of Nebraska student, left a heartbreaking suicide note, part of which was published online by his cousin-in-law Bill Brewster.

'How was a 20-year-old with no income able to get assigned almost a million dollars' worth of leverage?' the note reads. 'A painful lesson. F**k Robinhood.'

Although the details of Alex's trades have not been made public, there is reason to believe that his negative cash balance was temporarily displayed as various trades settled, and he was not in fact $730,000 in debt as he believed.

From his note, Alex appeared to have been using what's known as a 'bull put spread,' a strategy that limits risk for a trader by both buying and selling put options at different strike prices.

It's likely that the negative balance appeared in Alex's account only temporarily, as one half of the trade settled before the other did.

His investing value of $16,176.14 indicates that his account was still in the positive.

Robinhood and similar trading app offerings make it easy to get involved in trading options, which can be wildly lucrative but also can have higher risks

In addition to the lawsuit, the Kearns family also revealed that when Alex saw the negative balance of $730,000, he reached out to Robinhood telling them it had to be a mistake.

Alex's Robinhood account was restricted on June 11 and later that night, the company send him an automated email demanding Alex take 'immediate action,' and pay them $170,000.

'He thought he blew up his life. He thought he screwed up beyond repair,' Dan told CBS.

Robinhood had no customer service phone number, but Alex emailed its support address three times on June 11 and the next day.

According to his parents, Alex had asked for help with understanding what had happened, and whether he could still offset the losses with another trade.

'I was incorrectly assigned more money than I should have, my bought puts should have covered the puts I sold. Could someone please look into this?' Alex wrote in one email.

He received an automated message from Robinhood that reads: 'Thanks for reaching out to our support team! We wanted to let you know that we're working to get back to you as soon as possible, but that our response time to you may be delayed.'

On June 12, Alex took his own life.

The bull put spread investing strategy Alex Kearns appeared to have been using the 'bull put spread' strategy on Robinhood. The strategy is used by an investor when they expect a moderate rise in the price of the underlying asset. This gives two put options to form a range, which consists of a high strike price and a low strike price. The investor would then receive the net credit from the difference between the two premiums from the options. Investors use the put options to profit from declines in a stock's price, since a put option gives them the ability to sell a stock at or before the expiration date of the contract. In this situation, the maximum loss is equal to the difference between the strike prices and the net credit received. On the other hand, the maximum profit, which is the net credit, only occurs if the stock's price closes above the higher strike price at expiry. Source: Investopedia Advertisement

'I lost the love of my life. I miss him more than anything,' Dorothy told CBS. 'I can't tell you how incredibly painful it is. It's the kind of pain that I don't think should be humanly possible for a parent to overcome.'

According to the network, the day after Alex died, Robinhood sent an automated email saying he didn't owe any money.

'Great news! We're reaching out to confirm that you've met your margin call and we've lifted your trade restrictions. If you have any questions about your margin call, please feel free to reach out. We're happy to help!' the email reads.

But it was too late. Alex was gone and he left his family a note.

At the time, his cousin-in-law Bill Brewster shared the painful details of Kearns' death on Twitter, hoping to educate the public and push Robinhood to make changes to its interface to avoid future tragedy.

'When he saw that $730,000 number as a negative, he thought that he had blown up his entire future,' Brewster told Forbes at the time. 'I mean this is a kid that when he was younger was so conscious about savings.'

'Tragically, I don't even think he made that big of a mistake. This is an interface issue; they have slick interfaces. Confetti popping everywhere,' Brewster told Forbes, referring to the shower of colorful confetti Robinhood displays when cash is deposited into an account.

'They try to gamify trading and couch it as investment,' he said.

Since launching in 2013, Robinhood has exploded in popularity, attracting 13 million users with a median age of 31.

The app, which is commission-free, has pushed traditional brokerages such as Charles Shwab and Merrill Lynch to offer free online trading in order to compete.

Robinhood and similar offerings make it easy to get involved in trading options, which are agreements to buy or sell blocks of stock at a certain price by a certain date.

Options trading can be wildly lucrative, but it is also highly complex and comes with greater risk.

Unlike trading stock, in which it is impossible to lose more money than you initially invest, in certain situations options trading can expose the trader to losing a theoretically infinite amount of money.

Defenders of Robinhood point out that it follows the same federal regulations regarding identifying and vetting potential customers that all brokerages are subject to.

But Brewster urged anyone who is considering options trading to educate themselves and understand the risks well.

'The markets are bananas right now. It's not the time for amateurs,' warned Brewster, an analyst at Chicago-based Sullimar Capital Group, in a tweet.

'Really really pay attention to position sizing. Stay away from exotic instruments like options and futures.'

If you or someone you know needs support, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
https://www.aish.com/jw/s/Poles-and-Jews-in-Wartime-Scotland-Setting-the-Record-Straight.html

Examining the complex relationship between Jews and Poles in Scotland during World War II.

The relationship between Jews and Poles in Scotland during the Second World War was deeply complex. In many ways the interactions were correct, even cordial at best, but fraught, hostile and potentially violent at worst and problems tended to follow the desperate wartime conditions. Attitudes followed patterns that had been formed during the many centuries of Jewish life in Poland and which in the twentieth century represented the greatest Jewish community in Europe. Polands three million Jews formed an important section of the countrys thirty million people, forming around a third of its urban population.

Jewish life in Poland was also diverse. Traditional religious life flourished in both rural and urban areas. This society that no longer exists in its homelands but echoes of it can be found in its extensive diaspora. Growing number of Jews assimilated into the Polish mainstream, adopting the Polish language in place of Yiddish and seeing themselves as Poles of the Mosaic faith. Some acculturated Jews retained aspects of their traditions while others went to so far as to convert to Christianity.

Poles and Jews came together in Scotland during the dark days of the Second World War while the Nazi Holocaust was decimating the Jewish community in Poland. At the same time, Polish cultural and intellectual life was being eliminated and the interplay of Jewish and Polish tragedies was to have ramifications well beyond Polands boundaries. They met each other in Scotland mainly in the Polish Army in exile, but also in the Polish School of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.

The Polish Army in Scotland

Following the evacuation of the British Army at Dunkirk units of the Polish Army in west joined their British allies. Poles living in France and Belgium had enlisted to aid these countries in their fight against Nazi Germany and in time they were joined by soldiers who had managed to travel, by various circuitous routes passing through Hungary and Romania, to reach Western Europe before the fall of France, Belgium and the Netherlands. After the invasion of Russia by the German Army in 1941, interned Polish soldiers were released from captivity in the Gulag, and were able to make their way through Iraq, Iran to British Palestine from where lengthy travel routes to Britain were available. All of these groups of soldiers contained some Jews.

A further, and much smaller, group of Poles who had served with the Wehrmacht and were captured in North Africa at the end of November 1941 were allowed to join the Polish Army in Britain rather than become prisoners of war. Their nationalist ideology was often blamed for exacerbating what was already a tense situation between Poles and Jews in the Polish ranks. However, complaints about Polish anti-Semitism in the military based in Britain began almost as soon as the first units of the Polish Army arrived in Scotland.

The Polish Army was in Scotland to defend the North Sea coast from hostile enemy activity. In practice, there was little to do but drill and prepare for the eventual invasion of Normandy and the liberation of occupied Europe, which did not occur until 1944. These four long years of training took their toll. One of the first Jews to complain of anti-Semitism in the Polish Army was the writer, journalist and left-wing political activist Isaac Deutscher who was in Britain when War began. In 1940 he joined the Polish Army in Scotland, but most of his army life was spent in the Polish detention camp on the Isle of Bute near Rothesay. He was classified as a dangerous and subversive element  what his wife described as the return for his unceasing protests against the anti-Semitism rampant in that army.

Tensions between Poles and Jews rose during 1943 and 1944 with serious concerns about anti-Semitism in the Polish Army. By this stage there were around 1,000 Jewish soldiers out of a total of about 30,000 Polish servicemen based in Scotland. The Jewish soldiers had reached the Polish Army from Russia, Spain, France, Belgium, Holland and South America. Jews, serving in the Polish Army, were also becoming a noticeable part of the Jewish community in Scotland.

During 1943 various claims of anti-Semitism in the Polish Army were brought to the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Board leaders held regular meetings with British officials as well as the most senior members of the Polish Government-in-Exile armed with details of specific complaints made by individual soldiers. The Board felt that the accusations need investigated and this was carried out by Ignacy Schwarzbart, one of two Jewish representatives on the Polish National Council of the Polish Government-in-Exile.

Schwartzbart took evidence from all the complainants but found little substance in them with only one case that could be substantiated. He followed this up by asking the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council to investigate. Statements were made by the Jewish soldiers that they had been told by their comrades that when the war was over they would finish Hitlers job and cut the throats of the rest of them. The conclusion from Glasgow was that most of the evidence they received was unsubstantiated hearsay though they did feel that there were units where anti-Semitism was significant while there were others where no problems had emerged.

The Polish military authorities did have some significant sanctions they could impose on miscreants. Their bases were sovereign Polish territory and a detention camp was set up, as noted, to hold political prisoners, petty criminals and so-called undesirables. Conditions were harsh and punishments often severe. Further centres were established at Auchterarder and Tighnabruach, and later also at Inverkeithing, and it was claimed that many of the inmates were Jewish. Simon Webb described these detention centres and army prisons as 'concentration camps' in his book British Concentration Camps: A Brief History from 1900  1975, published in 2016, but most reviewers have considered that the case for the term was not proven, citing the absence of slave labour and policies which promoted starvation and disease.

Schwarzbart commented, during a visit to Glasgow in April 1943, that the information given by the Jewish soldiers was, in the main, fairly reliable though some of it seemed likely exaggerated. There is clear archival evidence that Schwarzbart was prepared to stand his ground in the Polish National Council when Jewish concerns were raised. At the same time, he regularly counselled Jewish soldiers to give him time to sort out the issues which were troubling them. The situation changed with a wave of Jewish desertions from the Polish Army as Jewish soldiers sought to enlist in the British Army. In January 1944, a group of 68 Jewish soldiers, visiting London on a weekend break from bases in Scotland, demanded to be transferred to the British Army. A quiet transfer took place as did a further transfer after the desertion of a further 136 soldiers in February 1944. The Jewish bodies were divided about what action to take: returning the men to their units was not a practical suggestion. When a third group, of 31 soldiers, deserted the following month the Polish Army took action and the men were tried, convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment. The sentencing caused an outcry both in Britain and America.

Schwartzbart recorded in his diaries his feeling that the Poles actually preferred to have the Jews leave the Polish Army while giving the impression that they did not want them to do so. Schwarzbart, like the Board of Deputies, was unhappy that the matter was taken up in Parliament by left-wing MPs led by Tom Driberg as they were worried about the effect of publicity on already troubled relationships between Poles and Jews. The Polish Foreign Minister, Tadeusz Romer, known for his positive attitude to Polands Jews, tried unsuccessfully to get some of the anti-Semites tried.

General Marian Kukiel promised the deserters that the charges would be reduced to absence without leave, which carried a much smaller penalty, but in the end the men were amnestied. There had been previous Jewish desertions from the Polish Army before, especially as the troops of Anders Army passed through Palestine after leaving Russia. Many Jewish soldiers had experienced anti-Semitism on the journey from Russia and felt that they should remain in Palestine. Poles saw these desertions as a lack of loyalty to Poland.

The Jewish Polish Army chaplain Rabbi Heszel Klepfisczs memoir made no mention of anti-Semitism recalling the provision for Jewish observances at the Army bases and the role of the Jewish soldiers in the liberation of Europe. One of them, Henryk Seid, was awarded the Virtuti Militari, Polands highest decoration for bravery on the battlefield.

The Polish School of Medicine (PSM)

There had been a strong culture of anti-Semitism at the Polish medical schools in the inter-war years. Jews particularly favoured careers in medicine and law but the increasing anti-Semitic atmosphere led to quotas on Jews studying medicine and those that were admitted were submitted to humiliating conditions, such as the ghetto benches in lecture halls and sometimes exposed them to violence from racist gangs on campus. Many Jews enrolled in medical schools abroad.

The University of Edinburgh agreed to the formation of a Polish Medical School in November 1940, organised according to Polish university regulations, taught substantially in Polish. Accordingly, the Polish Army transferred around 22 professors and their assistants along with 25 medical graduates and 15 undergraduates to inaugurate the School. There was a significant Jewish presence at the PSM, both in the student body and in the faculty members. One of the leading figures was a Jewish convert to Christianity, namely Jakub (Rothfeld) Rostowski (1884-1971), Professor of Neurology and the last Dean of the PSM. The staff of 24 teachers at the PSM included four Jews, namely Jerzy Figler, Henryk Reiss, Leon Lakner, and Antoni Fidler. Of the 361 students at the PSM 34 were identified as Jewish and a further six had Jewish origins, making a proportion similar to the Jewish proportion of the Polish population at the outset of War in September 1939. One of the outstanding graduates of the PSM was Hannah Segal (nee Poznanska) whose background exemplifies the Jewish assimilation in Poland. Her father, Czeslaw Poznanski, officially converted to Catholicism in 1905 to prove his Polish loyalty during the 1905 Revolution and her mother, Izabella Weintrob, who came from a more traditional Jewish family, converted before their wedding.

Accusations of anti-Semitism at the PSM began to appear in 1943, and Michal Palacz found that some Polish post-war memoirs do provide some indications of possible trouble with students who had been active in student racist groupings in pre-war Poland. It was also claimed that Jewish students had to sit at separate tables at mealtimes, echoing the ghetto benches at pre-war medical schools in Poland. The Board of Deputies and Ignacy Schwartzbart followed this up and could get no confirmation of the story. The further allegation of a Jewish quota was clearly untrue, but it was confirmed that an anti-Semitic, and illegal, journal called Walka was circulating.

These claims led to a letter being sent by some 21 Jewish students to the Dean of the PSM specifically denying all these charges, saying that relations between Polish students were friendly and frequently cordial. Other students remembered things differently and acknowledged the presence of anti-Semitism at the PSM, though accepting that it was usually not direct as the Poles were aware that this was frowned upon in Britain.

Conclusion

The relations between ethnic Poles and Jews were, as noted, complex, ranging from friendly to accusations of anti-Semitism, some possibly of a violent nature. Most of the accusations were hard to substantiate, despite detailed investigations. The perception was, for many, of an uncomfortable atmosphere, which led to almost a quarter of the Jewish soldiers enlisting in the British Army.

The watchful eye of the British authorities ensured that the Poles had to take their commitment to equality of treatment seriously. Concentration Camps entered the English language with the British treatment of enemy civilians during the Boer War, but it was murderous regime of the Nazi Concentration Camps which has coloured the use of the term.

There were no Polish concentration camps in Scotland but there were army prisons and internment camps where opponents of the regime, criminals, homosexuals and miscreants were dealt with, strictly sometimes harshly.

Acknowledgements

The following assisted in this research: the Centre for Research Collections at Edinburgh University Library; the Archives of the Polish School of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh; Michal Palacz, doctoral candidate at the University of Edinburgh; the Archives at Yad Vashem; the Board of Deputies of British Jews archives; the Archives Section at the National Library of Israel; the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre.


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La representante Marjorie Taylor Greene, habla durante una conferencia de prensa fuera del Capitolio de EE. UU. (Getty Images)

Scandal-plagued Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was hit by yet another furious backlash after she suggested that the Capitol rioters were not Trump supporters despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Over a dozen of the rioters have said that they were following Mr Trump's directions.

She asked on Twitter: "If the January 6 organizers were Trump supporters, then why did they attack us while we were objecting to electoral college votes for Joe Biden?

"The attack RUINED our objection that we spent weeks preparing for, which devastated our efforts on behalf of Trump and his voters."

She added: "They placed pipe bombs at the RNC and the DNC the night before. They did NOT just target one party. They targeted Republicans and Democrats. They were against the government ALL together.

"I was in the Chamber when the attack occurred. I was very upset, scared, and terrified for ALL of us - every person from Capitol staff, press, police to every Member R and D. I even made a video telling people to stop and they should protest peacefully."

The day before the riot, Marjorie Taylor Greene was filmed outside the Capitol speaking to camera, saying: "Tomorrow we're prepared to object to the stolen electoral college votes. President Trump was elected to four more years. Tomorrow is a very important day in America's history, we can't allow the integrity of our elections to be stolen. We must object to this vote, so let's get ready to fight for America tomorrow."

Read more: Follow live updates on the Trump post-presidency

The co-founder of the Democratic Coalition Scott Dworkin responded to Ms Greene's tweet in which she suggested that the rioters weren't Trump supporters, saying: "Im sure this tweet has nothing to do with this video".

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People responded to Ms Greene's claims by posting evidence of Ms Greene herself boosting the "Stop the Steal rally" and saying that she needs a "massive grassroots army behind me to stop the steal," as she tried to distance herself from the mob that took over the Capitol.

Story continues

Mr Dworkin called for Ms Greene's tweets to be deleted to "end this dangerous conspiracy theory before it goes any further".

Claiming victimhood for both herself and former President Trump, Ms Greene tweeted: "The Capitol attack was planned and organized, NOT incited in the moment by President Trump, and NO Republican Member was involved. We were ALL victims that day. And once again, Trump is the victim of the never ending hate fueled witch hunt."

She added: "This impeachment trial is a circus for the Democrat media mob to entertain the masses that they have brainwashed and addicted to hate, so they dont see the Dem policies being rapidly forced into place that are destroying our lives, stealing our freedoms, and putting America last."

Mr Dworkin also tweeted a video from late December in which Ms Greene said after coming out of the White House: "We had a great planning session for our January 6th objection. We aren't going to let this election be stolen by Joe Biden and the Democrats. President Trump won by a landslide."

Citing the video, Mr Dworkin asked Ms Greene: "Didnt you help organize the rally-turned-riot? From the White House?"

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Star Trek actor John Hertzler tweeted to Ms Greene: "Are you REALLY that f****** obtuse, or are you just stupid? Trump sent his mob to the Capitol to STOP MIKE PENCE FROM CERTIFYING THE ELECTORAL COUNT!"

Legal Affairs Editor at Conde Nast Luke Zaleski said: "No incitement is the new 'no collusion.' A goalpost being moved. Trump fomented a riot that served as a coup attempt. It was likely planned and it was definitely encouraged. It was for him. It was to stop his loss. It was organized and spontaneous..."

Read More

What does impeachment mean for Trump?

Chuck Schumer promises new evidence against Trump as Democrats stand firm ahead of impeachment trial

Punished by Democrats, Greene consolidates support at home

It is dangerous to write off Marjorie Taylor Greene as just a wacky distraction  people did that with Trump

Trump shot down ad attacking Biden on women to avoid own can of worms, report says
press release

Drop Charges Against Witnesses, Investigate Alleged Perpetrators

Six months after a woman reported that several men had gang-raped her in Cairo's Fairmont Hotel in 2014, Egyptian authorities have failed to adequately investigate the suspects, four of whom remain in pretrial detention while several others are under investigation. Yet authorities are pursuing charges against four witnesses in the case and two of their acquaintances on spurious "immorality" and "debauchery" charges; the all-encompassing terms Egypt routinely uses as pretexts to prosecute women and LGBT people.

Instead of supporting these key witnesses, authorities kept them in pretrial custody, one for up to five months, subjected them to forced anal exams, "virginity tests," and drug testing, traumatized their families, and publicly smeared their reputations. Although all witnesses have been released, they remain accused of activities that should not be crimes in the first place: "suspicion of homosexuality," "inciting debauchery," personal drug use, and "misuse of social media."

Several Fairmont witnesses told Human Rights Watch that authorities have banned them from traveling to "stop them from escaping punishment" and "prevent interference with the investigation." Meanwhile, the prosecution waited weeks before ordering the arrest of the men accused of the gang rape, which allowed several suspects to flee the country unquestioned. Three were extradited from Lebanon in September.

One witness, Nazli Karim, 28, said she was accused of "promoting homosexuality" because she had a "rainbow flag filter on her profile picture" on social media. Two men, Seif Bedour, 21, and Ahmed Ganzoury, 40, were detained for months in the same cell as four of the alleged rapists. Security officers unlawfully searched their phones, as they did all other witnesses', and used photos they found to allege the men had engaged in same-sex conduct.

Egyptian officials' misogynistic and homophobic motivations continue to ruin ordinary people's lives, while their twisted idea of "justice" equates alleged rapists with witnesses whose only mistake was trusting their government to deliver justice.

Prosecutors should immediately drop all abusive charges and investigations against witnesses in the Fairmont case. Egyptian authorities should implement a timely, transparent, and comprehensive investigation into the assault and bring the case to fair trial to ensure that all suspects, not only the four who remain in pretrial detention, are held accountable in court.
A patient who damaged a computer, monitor and printer by throwing them on the floor at a nurse's station at the Ross Thomson Unit in Coleraine's Causeway Hospital has been put on Probation for 18 months

A patient who damaged a computer, monitor and printer by throwing them on the floor at a nurse's station at the Ross Thomson Unit in Coleraine's Causeway Hospital has been put on Probation for 18 months.

Eamon Connor Graham (29), with an address listed as Church Street in Portstewart, caused criminal damage on November 21 last year.

A prosecutor told Coleraine Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena yesterday, staff said the defendant had been "kicking off" after returning to the Ross Thomson Unit under the influence.

The defendant told police he had a bottle of vodka the previous night and wished to apologise as he was "absolutely ashamed because the staff there were very good to him." The court heard a pre-sentence report had been prepared for Graham who had previously pleaded guilty. Defence barrister Ben Thompson said it was acknowledged it was a serious offence as it was in a hospital and Graham wished to extend sincere apologies to staff. The lawyer said he suspected the damage was "reasonably significant in monetary value". District Judge Peter King told the defendant, who appeared at court via video from his solicitor's office, he had offended on "NHS property" whilst receiving treatment. He said a pre-sentence report said there was a "high likelihood of re-offending". The judge said he would put him on Probation for 18 months including addiction treatment to see if the offending cycle could be broken and re-suspended the suspended sentences to run for another two years.
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Sydney office workers and residents will be offered a new retail concept with Romeos Retail Group opening a new European-inspired food hall concept at the $2 billion Brookfield Place Sydney.

The food hall will anchor the lower concourse retail level within Brookfield Properties office and retail development at the normally-busy Wynyard train station that connects to George Street. The office tower will be anchored by the National Australia Bank.

Brookfield Place Sydney sits atop the station and comprises a new 27-level office tower, with the revamped precinct set to deliver around 68,000 square metres of commercial office space and 6000 sq m of retail space.

Romeos Retail Group will deliver a new-to-Australia, European-inspired food hall concept to the Sydney CBD, opening its Locali by Romeos at Brookfield Place Sydney.

Under the deal Locali has leased 1,260 sq m on a 10-year lease term with two further five-year options, and will be located on the lower concourse level within the Wynyard rail precinct.
Dur-A-Flex headquarters in East Hartford, Conn. Dur-A-Flex, Inc. is committed to investing in innovation and people to ensure customer needs remain the primary focus. The addition of OConnell and Barnum is an investment to secure the companys valuation and strategies for future growth.

In a strategic move to support their continued growth, Dur-A-Flex, Inc. has added two key hires to its leadership team. Ken Barnum joined Dur-A-Flex as the new Vice President of Marketing, and Patrick OConnell is the new Director of Operations, Quality & Continuous Improvement.

Ken Barnum is an experienced global business leader with proven success in product development, new product launches, lead generation, marketing, sales, strategic planning, and acquisitions. His leadership experience spans multiple industries in both privately held companies as well as publicly traded Fortune 500 companies. The majority of Barnums career has been spent in the floor covering industry focused on a variety of hard surfaces including wood, tile and laminate as well as cementitious underlayments and adhesives.

Prior to joining Dur-A-Flex, Barnum was with Veeder-Root in Simsbury, Conn. where he was Senior Director of Global Marketing in their Fuel Management business. Prior to Veeder-Root he was with Laticrete International, Inc. in roles of increasing responsibility ranging from marketing to business development. Barnum has also worked for Shaw Industries, Inc., as a Territory Manager for Hard Surfaces. He received his MBA from the John F. Welch College of Business at Sacred Heart University and his undergraduate degree from Western Connecticut State University.

Having worked at family-owned companies as well as large multinational organizations, Ken brings the right blend of organizational experiences to Dur-A-Flex, says Peter Ferris, President and Chief Operating Officer. His lean management mindset and commercial expertise will provide an immediate impact to our business, added Ferris.

Patrick OConnell is a hands-on manufacturing operations leader with a proven track record for developing a culture of employee alignment and engagement, leading to higher efficiency and increased productivity. As a member of several senior leadership teams, he has successfully implemented Lean Management Systems across a diverse range of processes and international markets.

Prior to joining Dur-A-Flex, OConnell was with Rollease Acmeda Inc. in Stamford, Conn. where he was VP of Global Quality & Continuous Improvement and Operations. Prior to Rollease, he was with Boston-based AccuRounds Inc. where OConnell was a member of the senior leadership team responsible for Manufacturing Operations. OConnell has extensive multi-site manufacturing and international experience. His education includes Industrial Engineering at the Dublin Institute of Technology in Dublin, Ireland.

Regarding OConnells arrival, Ferris stated, Each member of the production, shipping, quality, sample, engineering, facilities, and continuous improvement teams has contributed to the meaningful progress we have made over the course of the past decade. Patricks arrival signals our continued commitment to our culture of safety and Lean Six Sigma as we enter a new decade of growth.

Dur-A-Flex, Inc. has seen significant growth in the last decade and continues on this positive trajectory. The company is committed to investing in innovation and people to ensure customer needs remain the primary focus. The addition of OConnell and Barnum is an investment to secure the companys valuation and strategies for future growth.

To learn more about Dur-A-Flex, Inc. please visit http://www.dur-a-flex.com.

###

Dur-A-Flex, Inc., is a leading manufacturer of commercial, industrial, and institutional resinous flooring and wall systems. Founded in 1966, Dur-A-Flex continues to lead in innovation, technology, and prides itself on the highest-quality customer service.
Union Power Minister RK Singh today said that 93 workers of National Thermal Power Corporation Limited(NTPC) are still missing due to the avalanche caused by a glacial burst in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district.

"93 NTPC workers are missing, 39 still stuck in the tunnel, we're trying to reach them. We are planning to install Early Warning System as a precautionary measure against avalanche. Financial aid of 20 lakhs will be given to deceased's family," RK Singh said while speaking to news agency ANI.

The Uttarakhand glacier burst has caused an estimated loss of 1,500 crore at the NTPC's 480 mw Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project.

RK Singh visited Tapovan on Monday to assess the extent of damage at the project site, a day after the glacier burst in Chamoli district.

"The project was scheduled to be commissioned in 2023. But there is a question mark now on how long it will take to desilt it as lakhs of tonnes of silt is lying at the project site," Singh told reporters in Tapovan.

"As of now it is difficult to say when we will be able to resume work at the site and when the project will be commissioned," he said.

To a question, he said estimated losses caused to the project are worth around 1,500 crore.

However, the Union minister ruled out any possibility of the project being scrapped.

NTPC will install early warning systems in its projects located in hill states prone to natural disasters, Union Power Minister R K Singh said on his return from an on the spot assessment of the state-run power producer's damaged hydel project at Tapovan on Monday.

He also announced a compensation of 20 lakh each to the families of deceased NTPC workers in the avalanche.

"The private hydel project in Rishi Ganga was totally washed away while the NTPC's Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project also suffered major damage but owing to the solid structure of its barrage, the torrents of muddy water and silt could not cause much damage to villages located downstream," Singh said.

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South Africa: WHO to make a decision on emergency use listing of AstraZeneca vaccine

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is expected to decide on the emergency use listing of the AstraZeneca vaccine, for the two sites in India and the Republic of Korea, which will produce it for COVAX.

The announcement comes after results showed that the two-dose regimen of the University of Oxfords AstraZeneca vaccine offers minimal protection against mild-moderate COVID-19 infection from the 501Y.V2 or B.1.351 Coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa in November 2020.

South Africa has since put brakes on its rollout of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which arrived in the country last week.

New studies released by researchers in South Africa and the United Kingdom last week showed that the AstraZeneca vaccine is less effective against the mutated B.1.351, which would allow ongoing transmission of the inoculated populations.

According to the Wits Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics (VIDA) Research Unit, in this study of about 2 000 volunteers where the median age was 31 years old, the mild disease was defined as at least one symptom of COVID-19.

However, protection against moderate-severe disease, hospitalisation or death could not be assessed in this study as the target population were at low risk.

During his opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 on Monday, WHOs Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the agency was committed to using all available data to make those assessments.

In the meantime, COVAX continues to prepare for its first-quarter distribution, and to add to its vaccine portfolio.

Given the limited sample size of the trial and the younger, healthier profile of the participants, Ghebreyesus believes that it is vital to determine whether the vaccine remains effective in preventing more severe illness.

The Ministerial Advisory Committee Co-chair, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, said the overall efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine was 66% in the larger study including the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa.

However, when researchers zoomed into South Africa, the effectiveness diminished to 22%.

That study that only looked at mild and moderate infections raise concerns not because we were expecting some diminishing activity, but it was the level in which it had diminished.

He said government is unclear and uncertain about the efficacy of the jab in preventing hospitalisation and severe disease.

We know from the overall trial that the AstraZeneca vaccine is effective against other pre-existing variants, were just not confident about its efficacy against the 501Y.V2.

Government considering different proposals

The Professor said government is considering different proposals.

This includes rolling it out in a staggered manner, where only 100 000 people will receive the jab while monitoring the hospitalisation rate.

If theyre below the threshold that were looking for then well be confident that the vaccine is effective in preventing hospitalisation and then we can roll it out.

Otherwise, if it is above the threshold, government needs to look at alternatives, he said.

We dont want to end up with a situation where we vaccinate a million people or two million people with a vaccine that may or may not be effective in preventing hospitalisation or severe disease.

In the meantime, Karim said the rolling out of the AstraZeneca vaccine has been delayed until all processes are in place.

The WHO DG said the results are a reminder that the country needs to do everything they can to reduce the circulation of the virus with proven public health measures.

Manufacturers called to adjust to evolution of virus

In addition, Ghebreyesus is calling manufacturers to adjust to the evolution of the virus, taking into account the latest variants for future shots, including boosters.

We know viruses mutate and we know we have to be ready to adapt vaccines so they remain effective.

This is what happens with flu vaccines, which are updated twice a year to match the dominant strain, he explained.

Tracking and evaluating variants

Meanwhile, Ghebreyesus said the WHO has mechanisms for tracking and evaluating variants of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Its vital that countries continue to report these variants to WHO, so we can coordinate global efforts to monitor their impact and advise countries accordingly.

In addition, manufacturers need to scale up producing for vaccines to be distributed as quickly as possible to protect people before they are exposed to new variants, he recommended.

We also need to continue designing and conducting new trials and we need to keep a close eye on the impact vaccines are having on epidemiology, severe disease and death so we can use vaccines to maximum effect.

COVAX

COVAX has signed advanced purchase agreements with AstraZeneca and the Serum Institute of India and plans to distribute nearly 350 million doses in the first half of the year.

COVAX is expecting a decision this month from WHO on whether the vaccines will be granted emergency use listing as well as a recommendation on its optimal use.

Should the emergency use listing be forthcoming, we expect the vaccine to play a key role in our effort to protect high-risk persons and to help end the acute phase of the pandemic.

COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, abbreviated as COVAX, is a global initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines led by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and others.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-02-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 48F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.



Nakuru  Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui has revealed that all County Assemblies in the Mt Kenya bloc will pass the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) referendum Bill on February 23.

Speaking at Maombini PCEA Church in Subukia on Sunday, Kinyanjui said 24 Counties are expected to have approved the Bill before end of the month.

He said Nakuru County Assembly of Nakuru led by Speaker Joel Kairu will also pass BBI Bill on the same day.

Kinyanjui said more County Assemblies are set to pass the document after House sittings resume from a two-month-long recess.

The Governor called on the religious institutions to take their rightful role and lead on matters that would take the country forward.

He warned religious leaders against fence-sitting as politicians tire the country apart.

Kinyanjui urged parents and the religious institutions to guide the youth against being misused by politicians as the country heads to elections.

Area MP Samuel Gachobe called better public sensitization on the proposed law adding that people will make a prudent decision if they are informed.
A deficiency in a certain human protein, which is more common in Europe and USA than in Asia, could be why COVID is not spreading as quickly in Asian countries, as per a TOI report.

However, this protein is kept in check by the biological system, which produces another protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT). AAT deficiency leads to higher levels of neutrophil elastase in the cells, which in turn helps in faster spread of the virus. This deficiency is known to be much higher in Europe and America than among Asians. The study has been published in the journal, Infection, Genetics and Evolution.

The team of scientists led by Nidhan Biswas and Partha Majumder observed that the rate of the spread of the mutant virus  D614G  has been non-uniform across geographical regions. The researchers say that, in order to reach 50% relative frequency, the 614G subtype took significantly longer time in East Asia (5.5 months) compared to Europe (2.15 months) as well as North-America (2.83 months).

AFP

Many were speculating why coronavirus spreads differentially across geographies. The most popular speculation was the higher temperature in Asia was not congenial to the spread of the coronavirus. We believed the cause had to be biological, rather than physical or social, said Majumder.

The researchers linked the differential spread to an additional cleavage site created by the D614G mutant virus, for entry into the human cell.

However, some naturally-occurring mutations in the AAT-producing gene results in deficiency of the AAT protein. This deficiency is known to be much higher in the Caucasians of Europe and America than among Asians, said Majumder. While we used AAT deficiency data from East Asia, along with North America and Europe, for the study, considering the pace at which the coronavirus is spreading, the numbers are representative of other Asian regions too, including India.

AFP

As per their data, AAT deficiency is the least in East Asian countries  8 per 1,000 individuals in Malaysia, 5.4 per 1,000 in South Korea, 2.5 in Singapore. On the other hand, 67.3 in per 1,000 individuals in Spain are AAT deficient, 34.6 in the UK and 51.9 in France and in the US it is prevalent in 29 individuals among 1,000.

The researchers emphasized that this finding along with other social factors may explain the differential geographical/ethnic spread of the mutant virus.


Birminghams Capstone Building Corp., and real estate developer EYC Companies, have begun a $20 million single-family rental development in North Carolina.

Construction recently began on Heartsease Shallotte, located in Shallotte, N.C., which is set to be completed in early 2022.

An 83-unit luxury craftsman-style cottage community, Heartsease Shallotte is described as modern and highly functional single-level living spaces, with garages, private yards and driveways. There will be three acres of community green space, a clubhouse and fitness center, walking trails, a swimming pool and game courts.

Cottages will range from 650 to 1,600 square feet and feature 10 foot ceilings, stone countertops and stainless-steel appliances. Located in Brunswick County, N.C., Heartsease Shallotte will be less than one mile from the Ocean Highway/U.S. 17.

We are pleased to announce the start of this new luxury craftsman-style community with developer EYC Companies, Capstone Building Co. President and CEO Jay Chapman said. We appreciate EYC Companies for trusting us to bring their vision for the Heartsease Shallotte to life, and we look forward to bringing this new concept to the Shallotte, N.C. area.

President Joe Biden's administration plans to continue to seek to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from the United Kingdom to the United States to face hacking conspiracy charges, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Justice Department spokesman Marc Raimondi on Tuesday said the U.S. government will continue to challenge a British judge's ruling last month that Assange should not be extradited to the United States because of the risk he would commit suicide.

In a Jan. 4 ruling, the judge, Vanessa Baraitser, said, "I find that the mental condition of Mr. Assange is such that it would be oppressive to extradite him to the United States of America."

The British judge set Friday as a deadline for the United States to appeal her ruling forbidding Assange's extradition.

Raimondi said the United States will challenge Baraitser's ruling. "We continue to seek his extradition."

WikiLeaks drew fury from the U.S. government after publishing thousands of pages of once-secret reports and documents generated by American military and intelligence agencies, including detailed descriptions of CIA hacking capabilities. WikiLeaks also published emails hacked from Democrat Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign and a key adviser, which Clinton and some of her supporters say was a factor in her election defeat to Republican Donald Trump.

Debate over possible American moves to seek Assange's extradition from Britain first arose nearly a decade ago when Barack Obama served as president and Joe Biden as his vice president.

Obama's Justice Department decided not to seek Assange's extradition on the grounds that what Assange and WikiLeaks did was too similar to journalistic activities protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Trump administration officials stepped up public criticism of Assange and WikiLeaks only weeks after taking office in January 2017 and subsequently filed a series of increasingly harsh criminal charges accusing Assange of participating in a hacking conspiracy.

Assange supporters have been pressing the Biden administration to drop charges against him during Biden's first 100 days in the White House.

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For a man who gave sworn evidence at a murder trial that he couldn't read, Sammy Buckshot did remarkably well as an antiques trader.

Buckshot, whose real name was Simon Quilligan, was the original Rathkeale Rover, capable of doing business anywhere in the world.

Extraordinarily gifted at spotting items worth thousands of euros, he was no ordinary antiques dealer and became a multi-millionaire.

His success inspired other Traveller traders from the Limerick town to find ways of making money, but not all stayed on the straight and narrow. By the time Buckshot died in 2015 at the age of 77, the Rathkeale Rovers had become infamous for trading in bogus electrical goods, smuggled cigarettes, classic cars, tarmacking and, most bizarrely of all - rhino horns.

Last week, a new scam was added to the list, as the Rathkeale Rovers were singled out by Europol as peddling fake coronavirus test certificates that allow people to travel.

The criminal element within the Rathkeale Traveller community work very hard at what they do, rarely missing a day to hustle for cash. Bogus Covid test certificates are simply the latest way to make money.

Read More

Driven by a sharp sense of rivalry among themselves, their Facebook pages are full of photos of a huge roll of cash with a caption such as "not bad for Monday morning". But the real displays of wealth are reserved for the annual Christmas pilgrimage home to Rathkeale at the wheel of a high-end car.

The festive season has seen the streets of Rathkeale lined with high-end Porsches, BMWs and Mercedes, collectively worth millions of euros.

Over the years, the Sunday World has tracked the various locations around the world where the Rathkealers have roamed and found themselves causing or getting into trouble.

In 2004, Belgian authorities had finally decided to crack down on people harassing truckers near their sea-ports to Britain who wanted packages of cigarettes and tobacco brought across the channel.

Several men from Rathkeale were convicted and jailed, including Richard 'Kerry' O'Brien Jr and Danny 'Turkey' O'Brien.

Expand Close Richard Kerry OBrien Jnr in 2004 at Bruges court. / Facebook

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It was the height of the so-called 'ant-smuggling' tobacco trade to the UK, where the higher duty meant that the hard-working ants could make as much as stg7,000 a day. One older trader from Rathkeale complained that he couldn't get anyone to sell his suites of furniture because they were making too much from the 'baccy'.

In the boom years from 2000 to 2008, the Rathkealers made out like bandits as up to 25 tarmacking crews knocked on doors all over Europe and beyond.

It's a business model that is not restricted by cultural differences or language barrier and the Rathkeale hawkers can sell you a line in just about every European language.

I watched Claudio's face fall as our interpreter explained we were tracking a tarmacking gang that were ripping off customers.

The fireman in Bergamo, northern Italy, said he had paid them 7,000 and his neighbour a similar amount to have their shared driveway surfaced.

The Sunday World's story and the activities of the 'asfaltaris Irlandese' later made the TV news in Italy.

In Germany they're known as 'teerkolonne' and as 'les faux bitumeurs' in France.

Another crew made fools of themselves when tarmacking in South Africa when they posted a video of their crew racially abusing one of the black workers they'd hired to do the heavy lifting.

The tarmackers have turned up in the most unlikely of places including Chile, Colombia, Mexico and all over north America.

One Romanian businessman complained how a Rathkeale crew had taken his rental construction machinery and never returned.

Norwegian police reported how the tarmackers had turned up in all but one of their 27 police districts.

One Rathkealer came to the attention of police on an island off Iceland and others were robbed at knife-point in New Zealand.

In 2009, Australian authorities made a point of driving a bulldozer over shoddy electrical generators that were hawked from Darwin to Sydney by Rathkeale traders.

Expand Close Rathkeale traders selling dodgy generators in Sydney, Australia, in 2008 / Facebook

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Dozens were arrested but left before any prosecutions took place.

Some 'Rovers' with connections to the antiques trade found a lucrative niche in the illegal practice of buying and selling rhino horns.

A spate of museum break-ins all over Europe and attempts to buy rhino horns in the United States saw 'The Dead Zoo Gang' in full flow.

Sought by the rich elites of Vietnam and China, a kilo of rhino could command up to 60,000.

The rhino horn stolen from a storage warehouse used by the Natural History Museum was likely worth 150,000 on the black market.

Richard 'Kerry' O'Brien Jr ended up behind bars again this time in Denver, Colorado, after a sting operation by special agents from US Parks and Wildlife service.

His cousin Richard Sheridan was another of the half a dozen Rathkealers to be jailed in the US for attempts to trade in rhino horns.

O'Brien Jr, Sheridan and 'Turkey' O'Brien were also among 14 people convicted in the UK of conspiracy to steal museum artefacts.

Richard 'Kerry' O'Brien Sr, who had been arrested during the operation but not charged has been the target of the Criminal Assets Bureau.

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He is not the only Rathkeale Rover targeted by CAB; others have had vehicles seized by Revenue and face legal wrangles with local authorities over houses and yards built without the correct permissions.

Coronavirus restrictions has had an effect on the Rathkeale Rovers activities, but if anyone can make money during a pandemic they can.

RATHKEALE TIMELINE

The original Rathkeale Rover antique dealer Sammy Buckshot at his shop, in Adare, Co. Limerick.

Bruges, 2004: Richard 'Kerry' O'Brien jr was convicted of cigarette smuggling along with his brother-in-law Danny 'Turkey' O'Brien.

Sydney, Australia: A group of Rathkeale traders selling electrical generators in the summer of 2008.

Brohers Jereiah and Michael O'Brien caught with 500,000 worth of rhino horn flying into Shannon from Portugal.

Bergamo, Italy: A householder shows us the botch job done by a Rathkeale tarmac crew in 2010.

Richard O'Bren Jr, arrested in Colorado later convicted of illegally trading in rhino horns in 2010.

Rhino horns reported stolen throughout 2010 until 2013 in France, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Italy, England and Ireland.

Operation Griffin sees 19 arrests in 2013 that leads to convictions of 14 people, including Richard O'Brien Jr, Richard Sheridan and Danny 'Turkey' O'Brien.

After launching Operation Oakleaf in 2011, Europol again singled out the Rathkeale Rovers this week over the selling of fake Covid test result certificates.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 18:43:59|Editor: huaxia

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Chen Zhihao's father, Chen Guoqian, hangs festive red lanterns at the courtyard of the family's home in Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 8, 2021. Chen Zhihao is a "post-90s" midwife at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou. Although the 2021 Spring Festival is just around the corner and returning to one's hometown has been the tradition, Chen opts to stay put in Guangzhou, as required by work schedule under stricter COVID-19 prevention regulations. Since the long-anticipated family reunion becomes out of the question, Chen says she has plans to join local friends on a holiday outing. She wishes her parents good health and hopes the global pandemic could end soon. For the last Spring Festival, Chen would have been enjoying the Spring Festival family reunion in her hometown Tai'an, but decided to get back early to work in Guangzhou a few days after COVID-19 broke out in the country. While volunteering for medical aid in Wuhan, she had taken care of more than a hundred COVID-19 patients in severe or critical condition. Given that Chen would not be able to see her parents this coming Spring Festival, our photographers based in Guangdong and Shandong provinces have collaborated on a series of special reunion portraits for the family separated by COVID-19. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)
Behind the scenes EVERYBODY who has worked with Mayor Sly knows that he's grumpy most of the time and can be downright caustic when challenged on his many bad ideas.

Look at old photos from his time in office and notice a lot of people rolling their eyes as the former mayor effectively put on a happy face for cameras as he smiled, sang and danced with the plebs but fought viciously with colleagues.

We're not sure if the format works via audio and his media handlers weren't smart enough to realize as much . . . And so a few more smiley pix promote the former Mayor's latest endeavor.

Read more . . .
Laurel Schwass-Drew was shell-shocked when, a few months into the pandemic, she lost her job of 38 years as an art educator and, along with it, her health insurance.

A broker helped her enroll in an individual health plan through healthcare.gov. But even more surprising  and upsetting  was when the broker told her that if her income continued to decline, she may qualify for Medicaid, the publicly funded health program for low-income adults and children.

Im not ready to wrap my head around it, said Schwass-Drew, 59, of Mount Airy, who is experiencing unemployment for the first time in her adult life. She doesnt think theres anything wrong with Medicaid or accepting help. She just never pictured herself needing the help.

You feel like you did everything correctly, she said. I just never thought Id experience this in my life.

Medicaid enrollment among adults has soared during the pandemic: New Jerseys adult enrollment was up 27% in January compared to this time last year, and up 13% among Pennsylvania adults in December compared to the same month last year.

The rise in enrollment is largely driven by unprecedented unemployment that has brought to the program thousands of adults who have been covered by employer-sponsored health insurance most of their lives. Now supported by a government poverty program many never anticipated needing, a growing number of Americans must reconsider their view of Medicaid and the stigma associated with the public safety net.

 READ MORE: Pandemic unemployment spurs health insurance marketplace enrollment as exchanges prepare to reopen

Were seeing people for the first time who cant pay their rent, cant pay their mortgage  a fair number are applying [to Medicaid] for the first time, said Robin Stockton, a senior program director at Center For Family Services, which helps New Jersey residents enroll in Medicaid and ACA marketplace plans. It is nobodys fault that the pandemic has affected them the way it has. Its not a reflection of who you are as a person or how hard youve worked your whole life.

Unprecedented Medicaid growth

Medicaid, a joint program of the federal and state governments, used to be mainly for the very poor, pregnant women, and children. The Affordable Care Act, created during the Obama administration, provided states with money to loosen up the rules somewhat. In states that expanded Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, people are eligible if their monthly household income is within 138% of the federal poverty level  about $1,468 for a single person and $3,013 for a family of four.

Adults who qualify for Medicaid under the expansion rules are driving new enrollment in New Jersey. As of January, total enrollment  which includes children, pregnant women, elderly, and disabled individuals who have always been able to qualify for coverage  was up 14% compared to the year-ago month. Among adults, many of whom newly qualified under expansion rules, enrollment was up 27%.

A bad economy always swells Medicaid rolls, but the rise of Medicaid in New Jersey during the pandemic is unprecedented, said Maura Collinsgru, the health care program director for NJ Citizen Action, which advocates for consumer health issues and helps people enroll in coverage.

 READ MORE: Unemployed and uninsured because of coronavirus? You may be eligible for Medicaid.

This isnt like 2009, where it was an economic crisis. This is a health crisis that prompted an economic crisis  health insurance is all the more important, Collinsgru said.

In Pennsylvania, total Medicaid enrollment in December was up 11%, while enrollment among adults was up 13% compared to the same month the previous year.

When William Allen lost his buffet server jobs last year, he gained health coverage through Medicaid. Allen, 60, of Philadelphia, used to earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford an individual plan, and never got insurance through an employer.

Allen wants to get back to work, but he now sees the benefits of having health coverage.

Its a weird trade-off. Before, I was working and couldnt get health insurance. Now Im not working and I can get health insurance, he said. Where do I go from here?

The pandemic has drawn attention to predicaments like Allens, which are common year-round. Collinsgru said she hopes the spotlight the pandemic has cast on the challenges people face affording health care will encourage lawmaker to do more to address the high costs.

People having their health insurance tied to their jobs creates a lot of turnover and keeps a lot of people out of coverage, Collinsgru said. We believe the expansion of public programming is essential if we are going to see a maintenance of coverage across the board.

Tackling Medicaids stigma

Pennsylvanias Medicaid enrollment has grown steadily since the beginning of the pandemic, but not as much as administrators anticipated.

Given that so many people were losing their jobs or having their hours reduced, we expected that we would see a surge in enrollment across our programs, said Teresa Miller, Pennsylvanias Department of Human Services commissioner. We thought wed see the impact, frankly, of the human suffering that was going on.

Normally, states have a steady churn of people joining and leaving Medicaid, as they find jobs with better pay and benefits, or fail to complete the annual renewal process and get kicked out of the program. But as a condition of receiving federal COVID-19 funding, states agreed to stop disenrolling people from Medicaid. That means anyone who was covered when the pandemic started will remain so for the duration of the federal health emergency.

The rule change has kept Medicaid enrollment high, but does not explain why Pennsylvania didnt see the expected spike in sign-ups. To figure that out, the Department of Human Services partnered with the University of Pittsburgh to survey residents about their situation and knowledge of services available to them.

What were finding is that people are optimistic  they didnt want to or didnt feel they needed assistance, Miller said.

Miller said she hopes the increased need will begin to change peoples opinion of public assistance programs.

No one wants to need services from DHS, but they are really important in a pandemic to make sure everyones basic needs are met, she said.

Sylvia Thelemaque, 28, is among those who never envisioned needing that kind of help. Through college she was covered under a parents health plan, and then bought insurance through her employer.

After losing her job earlier this year, Thelemaque, who lives in Burlington County, signed up for a marketplace health plan, but later found out she qualified for Medicaid. She was hesitant about enrolling in Medicaid, worried about the quality of the plans. She has found, however, that the coverage is good and a lot more affordable.

I am simply grateful to have coverage, she said.
A man who was convicted of killing 11 women and then leaving their bodies around his house in Cleveland has died.

Former Marine Anthony Sowell, 61, had been jailed at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution in Ohio.

The Ohio Department of Corrections said Sowell have been receiving end-of-life care at the Franklin Medical Center for a terminal illness which was not COVID related.

Anthony Sowell, 61, was a serial killer who terrorized a Cleveland neighborhood a decade ago. He died on Monday afternoon from a terminal illness in an Ohio hospital

Michelle Dozier, left, Tonia Carmichael, center, Nancy Ann Cobbs, right, were all killed

Telacia Fortson, left, Amelda Hunter, center, Leshanda Long, right, were all murdered

Michelle Mason, left, Kim Yvette Smith, center, Diane Turner, right, all lost their lives

Tishana Catherine Culver, left, Janice Denise Webb, right, were both Sowell's victims

Sowell's horrific crimes we uncovered as Cleveland police were investigating a rape.

As his home was searched in October 2009, police discovered two bodies in a room next to his bedroom before eventually discovering three more bodies and a skull in the house with five bodies buried in shallow graves in the backyard.

Soon enough, investigators uncovered the remains of 11 women: Tonia Carmichael, Nancy Cobbs, Tishana Culver, Crystal Dozier, Telacia Fortson, Amelda Hunter, Leshanda Long, Michelle Mason, Kim Yvette Smith, Diane Turner and Janice Webb.

Sowell was found guilty on 81 counts, including aggravated murder and kidnapping.

He was found guilty in the murders of 11 women whose bodies were found around his Cleveland home, pictured in white

Police found decomposing bodies in upstairs bedrooms, the living room, along with shallow graves in the backyard with another grave in the basement

Sowell's eventual list totaled at least 81 women that he was convicted of committing crimes against between June 2007 and September 2009

Sowell was also convicted of raping two other women and attempting to rape another.

Despite being sentenced to death, he continued to appeal against his sentence. His last appeal was as recent as May 2020.

'I am glad he is dead. God made it happen. I will never ever ever forgive him,' said Donnita Carmichael, daughter of Tonia Carmichael.

'We can go on because he's dead. We don't have to hear about him any more,' said Joann Moore, sister of Janice Webb to Fox 8.

Many of the slain women had been missing for weeks or months, and some had criminal records which meant their disappearances were not always immediately reported to police.

Donnita Carmichael comforts her grandmother Barbara Carmichael as convicted rapist and serial killer Anthony Sowell listens as the guilty verdicts are read at the conclusion of his murder trial in Cleveland, in July 2011. Donnita's mother was Tonia Carmichael was a victim

A make-shift memorial across the street from the house where 11 bodies were discovered

Sowell's first victims were found in October 2009 before the rotting corpses of 11 women were then found on his property

The victims were strangled and bound with apparently random items, including shoe-strings, socks, a belt, a bag strap, a coaxial cable and a cell-phone charger cord.

Their bodies were disposed of in garbage bags and plastic sheets, then dumped in various parts of the house and yard. There was little left of one victim: a skull in a plastic bucket with non-human bite marks on the edge.

The rotting bodies created an overpowering stench that neighbors blamed on an adjacent sausage factory. The owner spent $20,000 on new plumbing fixtures and sewer lines, to no avail.

Most of the victims were nude from the waist down, strangled with household objects and had traces of cocaine or depressants in their systems. All the victims were black.

Neighbors thought the stench of rotting corpses was a local sausage factory

Jurors sat through weeks of disturbing and emotional testimony before convicting Sowell. They saw photographs of the victims' blackened, skeletal corpses lying on autopsy tables and listened to police describe how their bodies had been left to rot in Sowell's Cleveland home and backyard.

At his sentencing Sowell took to the stand to apologize.

'The only thing I want to say is I'm sorry,' Sowell told the jury. 'I know that might not sound like much, but I truly am sorry from the bottom of my heart.'

Prosecutors labelled him a 'vile and disgusting' serial killer but they never found out why he killed the women and lived in the house for two years with their remains bagged in corners or buried in the backyard.
February 9, 2021: Oslo, Norway, PGS ASA (the "Company" or "PGS") is pleased to announce that the amendments to its term loan B ("TLB"), revoloving credit facility ("RCF") and export credit facility ("ECF") (jointly the "Transaction"), as described in the Company's announcement on October 21, 2020 and subsequent announcements, have now become effective pursuant to the UK Scheme of Arrangement proposed by the Company and approved by the High Court of Justice of England and Wales on February 2, 2021. All of the conditions precedent and implementation steps have been satisfied as of today, including the payment of fee related to the Transaction and the issuance of the convertible bond.



Overview of the Transaction

The Transaction enabled PGS to extend its near-term maturity and amortization profile under its TLB, RCF and ECF facilities by approximately two years. Together with the cost saving initiatives previously announced, the Transaction will strengthen PGS's liquidity profile in the currently challenging operating environment. The main terms of the Transaction are as follows:

The $135 million RCF due 2020, the $215 million RCF due 2023 and the ~$2 million TLB due 2021 have each been converted into a new TLB on the same terms as the ~$520 million 2024 TLB

Quarterly amortization payments of up to 5% per annum of the original principal amount of the ~$520 million 2024 TLB have been replaced by the new amortization payments described below

The post transaction total debt under these credit facilities of ~$873 million (including increases in principal due to payment-in-kind fees and reduction in principal due to lenders electing to exchange part of their existing debt into new convertible bond; see further below) maturing in March 2024 will have following amortization profile (payable pro-rata to all TLB lenders): ~$135 million amortization payment due in September 2022 $200 million amortization payment due in September 2023 ~$9 million quarterly amortization starting March 2023

Quarterly amortization payments totalling ~$106 million due over the next two years under the ECF have been deferred and will be repaid over four quarters starting December 2022

The previous excess cash flow sweep for the TLB and RCF facilities has been replaced by an excess liquidity sweep for any liquidity reserve in excess of $200 million at each quarter end, with such amounts to be applied against (i) the deferred amortization amounts under the ECF and (ii) the ~$135 million TLB amortization, until they have both been paid in full; thereafter, any liquidity reserve in excess of $175 million at each quarter end will be applied against the remaining TLB amortizations

The financial maintenance covenants have been amended, with the net leverage ratio to be 4.5x through June 30, 2021, 4.25x through December 31, 2021, 3.25x through December 31, 2022 and 2.75x thereafter

The lenders' security package has been strengthened

Total fees across the lender groups of $8.0 million payable in cash and $8.4 million payable in kind (i.e. added to the loan balance)

Issuance of a NOK 116.2 million 3-year 5% unsecured convertible bond (the "CB") which can be converted into new PGS shares at NOK 3 per share (corresponding to 38,720,699 shares, equalling 10% of the currently outstanding PGS shares). Certain lenders under the RCF and TLB facilities have subscribed for the CB against conversion of a corresponding amount of their existing secured loans (~NOK 67.1 million/~$7.8 million) and for cash (~NOK 49.1 million/~$5.7 million). PGS will be able to require that bondholders convert the CB into shares if the PGS share price exceeds NOK 6 for 30 consecutive trading days

The Transaction remains subject to customary conditions subsequent.

Further information on the Transaction can be found in the presentation titled Cleansing Presentation on the Company's website www.pgs.com - Investors - Presentations and in the Company's press release dated October 21, 2020.

FOR DETAILS, CONTACT: BARD STENBERG, VP IR & CORPORATE COMMUNICATION

MOBILE: +47 99 24 52 35

***

PGS is an integrated marine geophysical company, providing advanced subsurface seismic images the energy companies use to find and produce oil and gas. PGS MultiClient data library is among the largest in the seismic industry, with modern 3D coverage in all significant offshore hydrocarbon provinces worldwide. The Company operates on a worldwide basis with headquarters in Oslo, Norway and the PGS share is listed on the Oslo stock exchange.

***

The information included herein contains certain forward-looking statements that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. These statements are based on various assumptions made by the Company, which are beyond its control and are subject to certain additional risks and uncertainties. The Company is subject to a large number of risk factors including but not limited to the demand for seismic services, the demand for data from our MultiClient data library, the attractiveness of our technology, unpredictable changes in governmental regulations affecting our markets and extreme weather conditions. For a further description of other relevant risk factors we refer to our Annual Report for 2019. As a result of these and other risk factors, actual events and our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The reservation is also made that inaccuracies or mistakes may occur in the information given above about current status of the Company or its business. Any reliance on the information above is at the risk of the reader, and PGS disclaims any and all liability in this respect.

--END--




Several injured in Mizoram-Assam border clash

India

pti-Briti Roy Barman

Aizawl, Feb 09: Several people were injured in a clash due to fresh dispute on the Mizoram-Assam border near Bairabi town in Mizoram's Kolasib district on Tuesday, state police said.

The area is also called Kachurthal by Assam and falls within Hailakandi district. The clash between the border residents of the two states took place when two employees of Mizoram power and electricity department and a member of Bairabi village council who had gone for a survey were allegedly beaten up by some people of Assam when they took some photos, the police said.

There was, however, no casualty in the clash, the police said. Assam has allegedly constructed a link road into the disputed land. The situation was brought under control after security forces were deployed on both sides of the inter-state border.

Hailakandi Deputy commissioner Meghnidhi Dahal and superintendent of police Pabindra Kumar Nath rushed to the site to take stock of the situation.

The last incident of border dispute took place on August 9, 2020, when a farm hut was set on fire and a plantation was damaged near Thinghlun village in west Mizoram's Mamit district.

On August 17 there was a violent clash along Mizorams boundary with Assam's Cachar district in which a group of people torched makeshift bamboo huts and stalls erected along NH-306. More than seven people from the two states were injured in the clash prompting the Centre to intervene.

Central armed forces were deployed on either side of the border after yet another clash in November and meetings chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla were held. Three districts of Mizoram - Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit share a 164.6-km-long inter-state border with Assam's Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj district.
United Nations, Feb 9 : The Presidents of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and Security Council have signed a joint letter to member states, which officially launched the selection and appointment process for the position of Secretary-General, a top official said here.

"That letter, which had been posted on our website, states that member states presenting candidates should do so in a letter to the presidents of the General Assembly and Security Council," Xinhua news agency quoted Brenden Varma, spokesperson for UNGA President Volkan Bozkir, as saying at a press briefing on Monday.

The Presidents will jointly circulate to all member states the names of individuals that have been submitted for consideration when received, the spokesman said.

They will also offer all candidates opportunities for informal dialogues or meetings with members of their respective bodies, Varma added.

The letter states that informal dialogues with candidates in the General Assembly will take place before the Council begins its selection by May or June, and might continue, if necessary, throughout the process of selection.

"Our office has just launched a web page, which should help the public to better understand the secretary-general selection and appointment process," said the spokesperson.

Asked if any candidates had been presented thus far, Varma noted that the incumbent, Antonio Guterres, had confirmed to the UNGA President his availability to serve.

Regarding any other candidates, none had been presented as of yet.

In that context, the spokesman said that the letter outlining the procedure for member states to present candidates, if they so wished, had only been sent out on the afternoon of February 5.

If candidates were presented, the membership would be informed, and candidates' profiles would be posted online, said Varma.

Asked whether there was a deadline for member states to present candidates, the spokesperson said there was nothing set in stone and recalled that the UNGA President had said in his last press conference that candidates could be presented "even one month before January".

The joint letter mentioned May or June, as a time by when informal dialogues with candidates in the General Assembly might happen.

But that was not an official deadline, as member states had not imposed time limits on the process, according to the spokesperson.

Varma recalled that the UNGA President had said at his press conference that, depending on the number of candidates and when they were presented, there may also be different waves of dialogues.

The term of a UN Secretary-General is five years. Guterres took office on January 1, 2017.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- This time is different may be the most dangerous words in business: billions of dollars have been lost betting that history wont repeat itself. And yet now, in the oil world, it looks like this time really will be.For the first time in decades, oil companies arent rushing to increase production to chase rising oil prices as Brent crude approaches $70. Even in the Permian, the prolific shale basin at the center of the U.S. energy boom, drillers are resisting their traditional boom-and-bust cycle of spending.The oil industry is on the ropes, constrained by Wall Street investors demanding that companies spend less on drilling and instead return more money to shareholders, and climate change activists pushing against fossil fuels. Exxon Mobil Corp. is paradigmatic of the trend, after its humiliating defeat at the hands of a tiny activist elbowing itself onto the board.The dramatic events in the industry last week only add to what is emerging as an opportunity for the producers of OPEC+, giving the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and Russia more room for maneuver to bring back their own production. As non-OPEC output fails to rebound as fast as many expected -- or feared based on past experience -- the cartel is likely to continue adding more supply when it meets on June 1.CriminalizationShareholders are asking Exxon to drill less and focus on returning money to investors. They have been throwing money down the drill hole like crazy, Christopher Ailman, chief investment officer for CalSTRS. We really saw that company just heading down the hole, not surviving into the future, unless they change and adapt. And now they have to.Exxon is unlikely to be alone. Royal Dutch Shell Plc lost a landmark legal battle last week when a Dutch court told it to cut emissions significantly by 2030 -- something that would require less oil production. Many in the industry fear a wave of lawsuits elsewhere, with western oil majors more immediate targets than the state-owned oil companies that make up much of OPEC production.We see a shift from stigmatization toward criminalization of investing in higher oil production, said Bob McNally, president of consultant Rapidan Energy Group and a former White House official.While its true that non-OPEC+ output is creeping back from the crash of 2020 -- and the ultra-depressed levels of April and May last year -- its far from a full recovery. Overall, non-OPEC+ output will grow this year by 620,000 barrels a day, less than half the 1.3 million barrels a day it fell in 2020. The supply growth forecast through the rest of this year comes nowhere close to matching the expected increase in demand, according to the International Energy Agency.Beyond 2021, oil output is likely to rise in a handful of nations, including the U.S., Brazil, Canada and new oil-producer Guyana. But production will decline elsewhere, from the U.K. to Colombia, Malaysia and Argentina.As non-OPEC+ production increases less than global oil demand, the cartel will be in control of the market, executives and traders said. Its a major break with the past, when oil companies responded to higher prices by rushing to invest again, boosting non-OPEC output and leaving the ministers led by Saudi Arabias Abdulaziz bin Salman with a much more difficult balancing act.Drilling DownSo far, the lack of non-OPEC+ oil production growth isnt registering much in the market. After all, the coronavirus pandemic continues to constrain global oil demand. It may be more noticeable later this year and into 2022. By then, vaccination campaigns against Covid-19 are likely to be bearing fruit, and the world will need more oil. The expected return of Iran into the market will provide some of that, but there will likely be a need for more.When that happens, it will be largely up to OPEC to plug the gap. One signal of how the recovery will be different this time is the U.S. drilling count: It is gradually increasing, but the recovery is slower than it was after the last big oil price crash in 2008-09. Shale companies are sticking to their commitment to return more money to shareholders via dividends. While before the pandemic shale companies re-used 70-90% of their cash flow into further drilling, they are now keeping that metric at around 50%.The result is that U.S. crude production has flat-lined at around 11 million barrels a day since July 2020. Outside the U.S. and Canada, the outlook is even more somber: at the end of April, the ex-North America oil rig count stood at 523, lower than it was a year ago, and nearly 40% below the same month two years earlier, according to data from Baker Hughes Co.When Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz predicted earlier this year that drill, baby, drill is gone for ever, it sounded like a bold call. As ministers meet this week, they may dare to hope hes right.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.
The abduction of two children by suspected car thieves in San Francisco over the weekend sparked a massive manhunt and set in motion the states protocol for activating an Amber Alert  the emergency broadcast that pinged phones in the region with a description of the children, the vehicle and the kidnapper.

While the two children were later found safe, the harrowing incident has raised questions about why it took officials more than two hours from the time of the abduction to activate the Amber Alert system, which can spread information about child abduction emergencies to thousands of people instantaneously.

The abduction happened at around 8:47 p.m. Saturday, when the childrens father, a DoorDash delivery driver, left his engine running and his children in the car while delivering food near Jackson and Laguna streets.

The abduction and a description of the car were reported by the Citizen app, which allows users to post information about law-enforcement scanner chatter, at about 9:18 p.m. Yet an Amber Alert didnt reach phones until 10:57 p.m.

By that time, reports of the kidnapping had spread across social media  as had questions about why the alert hadnt been broadcast more quickly.

City law enforcement agencies must get permission from California Highway Patrol officials and follow a range of protocols before an Amber Alert can be issued, San Francisco police said Monday. Those protocols can result in delays between the time an abduction is first reported and when an Amber Alert is sent out.

In a statement, CHP said San Francisco police did well in contacting us as quickly as they did as we were able to assist them through the entire process and expediate the activation and ultimately the recovery of the missing children.

Every incident, Amber Alerts included, presents an opportunity for lessons learned, CHP Capt. Sarah Richards said.

Two hours is actually on the quicker end of the spectrum for Amber Alert activation times, according to figures kept by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Of the 114 Amber Alerts activated nationwide in 2019 where information about the time between the child being reported missing and the activation of the alert was available, only 35  or about 31%  were issued within three hours of the time that the children were reported missing. About 34% of Amber Alerts activated in 2018 were issued within three hours, as were 36% of those issued in 2017.

From 2017 to 2019, only 18 Amber Alerts were activated within one hour, representing about 5% of all activations in those years where the time frame is available.

Sgt. Michael Andraychak, a spokesman for the San Francisco Police Department, said several things need to happen before the department can request an Amber Alert, including a response to the scene, obtaining information about the children and the kidnapper, and notifications internally at SFPD and to the California Highway Patrol, which activates the alert.

It is important to remember that there are investigatory steps that need to occur before an Amber Alert can be issued, Andraychak said in an email. As a society, I think we are accustomed to the immediacy of the Internet, particularly social media.

CHP was alerted to the kidnapping within about an hour of the abduction, Andraychak said. The agency also issued be-on-the-lookout reports and other notifications about the abductions to other agencies.

Other issues may have caused delays for the alert to arrive to some phones. There is a 10 p.m. cutoff for the use of the emergency alert system that pings phones, Andraychak said. The departments request to issue the alert after that time required additional approval, which was eventually provided. Technical issues with wireless service providers could have also caused delays, Andraychak said.

The children were found safely inside the vehicle in San Franciscos Bayview neighborhood about 1:15 a.m. Sunday morning  more than four hours after they were abducted  and released to their father after being examined by medical professionals. The suspects accused of stealing the car remain at large.

Michael Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: michael.williams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michaeldamianw
Vicky Phelan has started a new clinical trial in the US.

Vicky Phelan has started a new wonder drug as part of a clinical trial in Maryland in the US.

Taking to social media today, the cervical cancer campaigner said the new drug, called M7824, is Pembro 2.0- the drug that she was previously taking in Ireland.

Ms Phelan gives credit to Pembro for allowing her to really live (her) life and make memories", however the drug has stopped working for her and thus she decided to join this new trial.

Tweeting to her 53,000 followers, she wrote: And it's going in....Today, I finally got the wonder drug, M7824 (it's Pembro 2.0)

Here's hoping that this drug does for me what Pembro has achieved - a quality of life that has allowed me to really live my life and make memories

Thank you to EVERYONE for your well wishes.

And it's going in....Today, I finally got the wonder drug, M7824 (it's Pembro 2.0)



Here's hoping that this drug does for me what Pembro has achieved - a quality of life that has allowed me to really live my life and make memories a



Thank you to EVERYONE for your well wishes pic.twitter.com/k139l4ZUVW  Vicky Phelan (@PhelanVicky) February 9, 2021

The Limerick woman began treatment in the US a couple of weeks ago, and on her first day in the National Institute of Health she was in the same building as Vice President Kamala Harris as she received her Covid-19 vaccine.

Appearing by video call on The Late Late Show, Ms Phelan said saying goodbye to her young children, Amelia and Darragh, was heartbreaking.

I wasn't breaking down even though I could feel it bubbling very close to the surface and then Darragh came down with a little letter that he wrote to me, a little note with a picture on the front but it was the words inside, she said.

When I read it that was it, I just crumbled, I couldn't do it anymore.

I just got upset and I was bawling and he was hugging me, I was hugging him, it was just beautiful.

Host Ryan Tubridy read Darraghs touching letter on the show, which said: You are strong Mam and you always face your fears to save peoples lives so I try to keep you as strong as I can with my kisses and hugs and you will be with me every day because we all love you, Darragh, Dad and Amelia love you so much.

I will see you every day and always be with you. See you in March, love Darragh.


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9)  The Commission on Elections said Monday it will remove 39 groups from the list of organizations that could run in the 2022 polls.

Comelec said it is legally authorized to cancel the registration of groups for either failing to participate or not obtaining at least 2% of votes cast under the party-list system in the last two preceding elections.

The commission said nine groups did not join the last two polls. They are the Advance Community Development in New Generation, 1-A Action Moral & Values Recovery Reform of the Phils., Inc, Una Ang Pamilya, Ang Galing Pinoy, Alagad Party-List, Alliance For Nationalism and Democracy, Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala, Inc., Kalikasan Partylist, and Usa An Aton Nahigugma Nga Iroy Nga Tuna.

Meanwhile, the following organizations failed to get at least 2% of the votes cast for the party-list system and failed to obtain a seat in the second round of seat allocation for the party-list system in the last two preceding elections, the election body said in a statement.

-Alay Buhay Community Development Foundation, Inc.

-Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba

-Alliance of Volunteer Educators

-Abakada Guro

-Barangay Natin

-Abante Mindanao, Inc

-Append, Inc

-Ang Nars, Inc.

-Ang Tao Muna at Bayan

-Ako An Bisaya

-Alliance of National Urban Poor Organizations Assembly, Inc.

-Confederation of Non-Stock Savings and Loan Associations, Inc.

-Academicians, Students and Educators Alliance, Inc.

-Amepa OFW Access Center, Inc.,

-Federation of International Cable TV and Telecommunications Associations of the Philippines

-Global Workers and Family Federation, Inc.

-Kaisahan ng mga Maliliit na Magsasaka

-Movement For Economic Transformation and Righteous Opportunities

-Partido Manggagawa

-Sandigan ng mga Manggagawa sa Konstruksiyon

-Sinag Tungo Sa Kaunlaran

-Tanggol Maralita, Inc.

-Tinderong Pinoy Party

-Tribal Communities Association of the Philippines

-Union of Nationalist Democratic Filipino Organization

-Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federations Inc.

-Awareness of Keepers of the Environment, Inc.

-Kamais Pilipinas (Kapatirang Magmamais ng Pilipinas Inc.)

-Partido ng Bayan ang Bida

-One Bagong Ahapo ng Pilipinas Party-List

COMELEC has given organizations until March 31 this year to register as party-list candidates for the 2022 elections. Groups or coalitions already registered with the COMELEC must also manifest their intent to take part in next year's polls on or before the same date.

Government data showed there were 134 party-list candidates in the May 2019 elections.
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opinion

Introduction

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about loyalty - Maybe it's the Covid-19 blues or something more? Is Covid-19 exacerbating workplace loyalty? It is common knowledge that work will not be the same after the Covid-19 crisis. Employers will be different. Employees returning to work will be different. People have had a lot of time to think deeply, and to interrogate their priorities. Employees will be looking out to see that things are done differently in the workplace. Staff would want employers who truly care about their development as individuals, and not just about the business. And this goes beyond bonus payouts, sending goodwill messages and disseminating health and safety advices. These are good, but beyond these, devotion to the growth of your people is essential. It is usual for employers to demand loyalty from staff, but how can employers show loyalty to staff? What was the measure of workplace loyalty before the pandemic? Is it any better now or worse? As I sat down to write this piece, my mind drifted to my Country's 33-word pledge of loyalty - "I pledge to Nigeria my country, to be faithful, loyal and honest. To serve Nigeria will all my strength, to defend her unity, and uphold her honour and glory, so help me God." - A strong expression of allegiance to my nation. Rendered by standing at attention with the right hand placed on the heart, and the other held high. As children, it used to be fun to scream it out every day at the School Assembly in front of the National flag. The words were a persistent admonition of the allegiance we owe to our country. It was not clear then, as children, what the nation owed us. With time what the nation owed us became clearer. As we observed citizens of other nations, and the way the world works. As we understood the resources we had, and the responsibilities of the government entrusted with the guardianship of those resources. Freedom? Security? Education, Basic Infrastructure? All these took on new meaning.

Loyalty to Country

According to the World Economic Forum - governments primarily exist as a protector; providing security of lives and property, protecting citizens from violence. When a nation becomes fragile, and increasingly have ungoverned and insecure regions - it depicts the failure of government. Much as when employers ensure employees' health and safety (HSE). Also primal, is the concept of government as a provider. Government as a provider of infrastructure, to enable citizens to flourish socially and economically. Providing the means of physical travel, such as good roads, modern bridges and functional ports of all kinds, and even the means of virtual travel, such as broadband - 3G, 4G, and the notorious 5G. Note that Countries such as Norway, Netherlands, Hungary are already providing faster internet speed like 7G or 8G. At best, these are public goods governments provides, that are necessary to ensure a well-functioning society and a competitive economy to enable citizens create their own economic haven. Much as when employers provide training, and functional work tools to employees. Anne Marie Slaughter, an American international Lawyer and foreign policy analyst, author of "The New World Order," puts it well by saying "wherever possible, governments should invest in citizen's capabilities to provide for themselves." Anne-Marie is described as "a think and action tank dedicated to renewing the promise of America, calling it to live up to its highest ideals". Shouldn't we all have these same appellation after our names? We read of governments making huge priority investments in research, and in the education of their citizens - programs described as "cradle-to-grave Education." A government that can bolster the ability of its citizens to provide for themselves, particularly in the vulnerable period of youth, old age, and circumstances of sickness, disability and unemployment due to economic forces beyond their control, earns allegiance in quantum.

It is common knowledge that the first five years of the life of children are particularly essential, as the brain development in those years determines how well children will be able to learn and process what they learn for the rest of their lives. We observed as some of these governments - determined to "catch them young" - finance an entire infrastructure of child development from pregnancy to the beginning of formal schooling, including child nourishment and health, even parenting classes, home visits and appropriate early education programs with stipends for their infant citizens. Focus is also given to harness the potentials of their youth. These governments provide special developmental programs accessible to all. I may be guilty of painting an ideal picture of a government that believes in the talent and potential of its citizens, and develop a strategic blueprint (actionable blueprint, not left in the archives, gathering dust); a government that is applying a large portion of its tax revenues to investing in its citizens to help them reach their potential, is really raising an army that may be willing to lay down their lives in defence of such a nation. And with several foreign governments offering these incentives and more to young productive immigrants, plus citizenship, the result is the immigrants' divided loyalties. How do you maintain allegiance to a country or an organisation, when these have been brought to question - promises broken, and expectations dashed repeatedly? At the risk of sounding like a desperate, jilted ex-girlfriend, I ask - "How do you remain loyal to somebody who just keeps on taking from you and demanding more, and never gives back commensurately?" What will be a proportionate relationship between citizens and a country that will produce deep seated loyalties? How do you keep faith? What would a synergised relationship with my country or workplace look like? As you begin to expect less and less from a country or a workplace, do you also feel loyalty wearing off?

The American Dream

Several pointers and anecdotal evidence suggest that, Covid-19 turned the tide to Biden's advantage in the recently concluded US election - a lot of "trumpeters" jumped ship over Covid-19 and Mr. Donald's handling of it. Are employees jumping ship because of Covid-19 and our organisation's handling of it? So, I watched as the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden took his oath of office. Forgive me, I don't know why I am taking Panadol for another man's headache. I watched it repeatedly on YouTube. I heard the baby crying in the background, and tried to decipher the expressions on the faces of everyone around him - including his wife, son, and daughter as he took his oath of allegiance. I noted particularly, the tension on the face of his daughter. What is this oath of allegiance that he is taking? What is the import? Incoming Presidents in the US raise their right hand and place the left on a Bible, while taking the oath of office. I understand that the George Washington Inaugural Bible, the Bible that was sworn upon by George Washington himself when he took office as the first President of the United States on April 30, 1789, is the Bible that has subsequently been used in the inauguration rituals of several other U.S. Presidents. I stayed glued to the screen watching Joe Biden recite the following 35-word or more oath of office administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, --"I (with his full names inserted) do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States - so help me God" - with his hand on the five-inch thick Bible, that has been in his family for nearly 130 years (a big deal right?) held by his wife Jill Biden during his swearing in. With the swearing over, I heard, "Congratulations Mr. President!" Followed by the loud cheers, the band playing, hugs, kisses, applauds, etc. My mind fast-forwarded to the work ahead - his next 100 days in office - Covid-19, the Economy, Police Brutality and the #BlackLivesMatter Movement, Climate Change Issues, China, Iran, Russia, Israel, the Taliban, the 2,500 US troops still in Afghanistan etc. - The next 1,460 days of his work in office. What will help him succeed? How will he leave office? What will the changing indices for success look like in four years' time? To my mind, the United States of America had always been an epitome of loyalty to a country, and a country's loyalty to citizens. We were used to seeing the pride and confidence the Americans exude in themselves, and in their government. Over the past couple of years that has changed. Joe Biden is coming in as President of a country with deeply divided loyalties - which he aptly described as "... uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal." How would he work to gain the loyalty of the other divide? How will he demonstrate loyalty to a section of the country, who admittedly are still loyal to his predecessor?

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A Workplace Pledge of Loyalty

I thought of all this, and I thought of the workplace. What exceptional actions can employers take, especially in this period of Covid-19 that demonstrates fidelity to staff? Employers cannot expect much loyalty from staff if they indiscriminately downsize, show favouritism, tolerate poor performance, skimp on training, or don't provide room for advancement. Commitment is a give-and-take. How would employers show care to staff and demonstrate that the organisation is genuinely vested in their success? What does it mean to be a loyal employer? Is it by tending to employee's every whim? Or by being all things to all staff? By trying everything possible to make an unwilling horse stay with you? During a crisis like Covid-19, people are even more critical to your surviving. You want your required staff to stay with you through thick and thin; be proud ambassadors, boasting about your firm - and even if they leave the firm, you want them to remain loyal. And to go to extraordinary lengths when needed, to help the firm succeed. To get this kind of loyalty, employers must demonstrate constant support for staff's well-being. Even when they become ex-staff, show genuine interest in what they do, and provide support when needed.

Would it be weird to have a workplace pledge of loyalty, apart from the employment contract? A 15-20-word document? What will the document contain? Does leaving a workplace call to question staff loyalty? Maybe not. Maybe it is a question of how ex-staff leave? Maybe the loyalty of those still in the workplace is indeed, more questionable than those who leave. There may be some still at the workplace today, but their hearts have left ages ago. Therefore, it is wise to carefully manage exits - so staff who leave will remain loyal to the employer even after they exit. In Part 2 we shall examine more practical ways of keeping staff loyalty during an economic downturn. (To be continued).
Source: Reuters

Crude oil futures edged higher to Rs 4,253 per barrel on February 9 after hitting a fresh high of Rs 4,278 for February series during intraday trade on the MCX. Crude oil jumped on hopes of further US economic stimulus and production cuts among key producers.

Crude oil managed to extend its upward momentum and tested the highest level since January 2020 on COVID vaccine progress and tighter global market on Saudi's voluntary production cut of a million barrels per day until March.

NYMEX crude trades higher near $58.2/bbl supported by hopes of the tighter market as Saudis 1 million bpd production cuts and decline in US crude stocks may tighten supply while demand may improve with vaccine progress and US stimulus measures. Waning hopes that US may lift sanctions on Iran resulting in higher exports also supported prices. Crude may continue to trade higher ahead of weekly inventory report however the rally is overstretched and if inventory report disappoints we may see some correction, said Ravindra Rao, VP- Head Commodity Research at Kotak Securities.

West Texas Intermediate crude was up 0.47 percent to $58.24 per barrel, while Brent crude, the London-based international benchmark soared 0.40 percent to $60.94 per barrel.

MCX iCOMDEX Crude Oil Index inched higher 22.73 points, or 0.47 percent, at 4,830.49 at 15:23.

In the futures market, crude oil for February delivery touched an intraday high of Rs 4,278 and an intraday low of Rs 4,237 per barrel on MCX. So far in the current series, black gold has touched a low of Rs 3,486 and a high of Rs 4,278.

Crude oil delivery for February rose Rs 22, or 0.52 percent, to Rs 4,253 per barrel at 15:24 hours IST with a business turnover of 4,692 lots.

Crude oil delivery for March jumped Rs 18, or 0.42 percent to Rs 4,260 per barrel with a business volume of 295 lots.

The value of February and March contracts traded so far is Rs 684.80 crore and Rs 9.04 crore, respectively.

Trading strategy

Tapan Patel- Senior Analyst (Commodities), HDFC Securities

Crude oil prices were boosted by lower supply concerns from major oil producers and demand recovery from stimulus hopes. The additional supply cuts from Saudi Arabia till March has achieved some of the target of balancing the oil market.

We expect crude oil prices to trade up with support at $57 and resistance at $60. MCX Crude oil February has support at Rs 4,190, resistance at Rs 4,320.

For all commodities-related news, click here

: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
ISLAMABAD: In a sensational claim that is likely to worsen problems for former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Farrukh Habib has claimed that that former slain al-Qaeda founder Osama bin-Laden had funded the PML-N government.

Habib had alleged that former PM Nawaz Sharifs party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had conceded before the countrys Election Commissions scrutiny committee that it had received funds from Al-Qaeda terrorist Osama bin Laden.

Habib had further claimed that Sharif had opened the gates for foreign interference in Pakistans electoral process by receiving funds from Osama bin-Laden - global terrorist - to topple the then former Prime Minister Benazir Bhuttos government.

Habib made these remarks while speaking to the reporters after hearings of foreign funding cases against the PML-N and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) last week.

The PTI leader Farrukh Habib claimed that PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party had failed to provide the details of their donors. Habib also slammed the Islamic outfit Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and alleged that its chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also received funds from Libya and Iraq.

It may be recalled that last week, Pakistans former envoy to the US, Abida Hussain, had claimed that al-Qaeda terrorist Osama bin Laden had supported and extended financial assistance to former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Yes, he (Osama bin Laden) supported Mian Nawaz Sharif at one time. However, that is a complicated story. He (Osama) used to extend financial assistance (to Nawaz Sharif) him, the former envoy had said.

Abida, who was also a former minister in Nawaz Sharifs government, said that Osama was very popular and liked by everyone including the Americans but at a later stage, he was treated as a stranger.

Osama was killed in a midnight raid by the US Navy SEALs in Pakistans garrison town of Abbottabad in 2011. Pakistan, which had initially rejected allegations of giving safe haven for the Al-Qaeda terror chief, had to face massive embarrassment after he was killed by the US forces in Abbottabad, inside Pakistan.

Nawaz Sharif, who was the Prime Minister of Pakistan for three non-consecutive terms, has been accused of receiving money from Osama bin-Ladens outfit in order to promote jihad in Kashmir and fund terror against India.

He served as prime minister from 1990-93, 1997-98, and 2013-17. The 70-year-old Nawaz is currently residing in London undergoing treatment. He was ousted from power in 2017 by the Supreme Court on corruption charges.

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said two persons have been arrested for alleged impersonation during an examination in Kano State.

The Board made this known in a statement by its spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, on Tuesday.

Mr Benjamin said it was discovered that a registered candidate had paid someone to source for an examination-taker to sit the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for him.

He said the impersonation was discovered when all the candidates details including his identity card carried the passport of the hired examination-taker.

What appears to be yet another vindication of the Boards position regarding the mandatory use of pictures taken during UTME/DE candidates registration to forestall impersonation came to light with the arrest of the duo of Mr Buhari Abubakar Ismail and Mr. Ajeru who were arrested in Kano.

Mr Abubakar, a candidate, had paid Ajeru to source for an examination-taker to sit the UTME for him, on the basis of which he secured admission into Bayero University, Kano (BUK), he said.

Mr Abubakar had sought ways he could change the passport of the examination-taker to his own but was unsuccessful in the course of which he was arrested. Mr Abdullahi Sarki, also arrested, had promised to change the passport of the examination taker to that of Mr Abubakar, which he couldnt.

The official said upon interrogation, Mr Abubakar confessed to paying Mr Ajeru N25,000 to get someone to register and take the examination on his behalf.

Mr Abubakar had confessed during interrogation that he paid Mr Ajeru the sum of N25, 000 to get a mercenary to register and take the examination for him, Mr Benjamin said.

Checks by the Board revealed that the said registration was done at SMS ICT Institute of Training Ltd, Kano. The centre had since been blacklisted by the Board to serve as deterrent to others.

Mr Benjamin explained that the apprehension was made possible because BUK had complied fully with the ministerial directive that only data supplied by candidates during registration should be used by institutions during the freshers registration.

He said were it not for the implementation of the ministerial directive, the candidate would have brought in a fresh passport and got himself properly registered into the university without anybodys knowledge.

This is just one out of the many arrests that the Board had made in recent times with respect to candidates who hired mercenaries to sit the examination only to discover that they cannot change the images and biometric attached to their details, he said.
After working at a local Thai restaurant for four years, Pear Chaisittisinsuk decided to take a leap of faith and open up her own food truck, Aroy Ver.

Chaisittisinsuk, 27, said she's incorporating her Thailand roots into the business on wheels, cooking up items on her menu that she grew up eating and enjoying.

READ ALSO: Eat your heart out with these unique chicken-on-a-sticks in San Antonio

"The Thai style grilled pork (Moo Ping) is something I used to eat every morning before heading into my high school," Chaisittisinsuk, who's lived in San Antonio for the past five years, said. "Making it now for others just brings me back."

Aroy Ver opened last week in the Shell parking lot at 6576 Babcock Road, near De Zavala Road - an area Chaisittisinsuk says she loves due to the lack of traffic.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9)  The Philippines called for the "complete restoration" of Southeast Asian neighbor Myanmar's democracy following a military power grab that sparked a series of demonstrations.

"The realization of this democratic process can only be achieved through the complete restoration of the status quo ante," Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. said in a statement.

Locsin said the Philippines has been supportive of Myanmar's progress towards a fuller democracy, recognizing the military's role in preserving its territorial integrity and national security, as well as the "unifying role" of detained State Counsellor and democracy icon Aung Sang Suu Kyi.

The DFA had expressed concern about the situation in Myanmar on February 1, the day the military took over the civilian government. It contradicted Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque's remark that the Philippines will not interfere in Myanmar's political situation because it is an "internal matter."

Both the DFA and the Palace, however, said they are regularly checking the welfare of Filipinos in Myanmar.

In a separate tweet, Locsin also reiterated the country's stance in seeking refuge for the Rohingya people amid the political turmoil in Myanmar. The Rohingyas are a Muslim minority group in Myanmar who are still facing persecution back home and in other countries that do not accept them as refugees.

"Our President Rodrigo Duterte offered a partial real solution: refuge for Rohingya. The West whine about them but reject them as refugees because they are dark and destitute," Locsin said.

Thousands in Myanmar have been defying curfews to protest the military takeover. Soldiers had detained Suu Kyi and other key politicians, claiming the November 2020 general elections were fraudulent. A state of emergency has also been declared in Myanmar.

In his first televised address since the coup, Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing on Tuesday said the new military government will hold elections and hand over power to the winner.

"For a multi-party democratic system, a fair and free election is important for the long term of the democratic system. We will have a multi-party election and we'll hand over the power to the one who wins in that election according to the rules of democracy," he said.

Locsin later tweeted: "One small step to the total return of the status quo ante."
As a newly-graduated journalist in 2015 I was, like most other journalists of my age and with my experience, earning pennies working in my first job as a news reporter for a local paper in Donegal.

I was completely financially independent for the first time and was starting to realise just how expensive it was to be an adult in the Republic.

I couldnt afford a car and when I went home to Dublin, I didnt have the spending power of my friends who had chosen careers in financial services or legal professions, who spent recklessly on nights out without a second thought.

When my job moved to Derry, I certainly wasnt flush with cash  but I was surprised by how I could now afford a car and insurance, the groceries were so much cheaper in the supermarket, and I drank cocktails to my hearts content on nights out despite paying roughly the same rent and utilities in my house.

Read More

I was still earning the same salary, but in sterling instead of in euro.

I remember visiting the doctor for the first time in Northern Ireland and trying to pay for a prescription in the chemist, not knowing I could get the medication I needed for free.

At home in Dublin, I could easily have been down 100 for the same visit and if I needed the emergency room, that would have been 100 too.

For the dentist, I handed over in the region of 15 for a check-up, whereas in my family dentist, the same visit cost 95.

So when I read that households in the Republic may have more money and longer life expectancy, I say that so far, Northern Ireland has offered me more from a financial perspective than the south ever did as a young adult trying to climb the career and property ladder.

Having had no connections with this part of the world before I moved here in 2016, Ive discovered its possible to achieve some financial milestones as a journalist in my 20s that I would never have been able to in the south  mainly that I have been able to buy a home in a town I love, without having compromised on location or size with a boost given by the Help-To-Buy ISA, for which the Government added to some of my savings by 25 per cent.

Home ownership is something I would still be dreaming of if I was trying to find 1,000 a month to live in a house share with three other people in Dublin, a situation that has escalated in recent years to make many feel they are getting no benefit at all from their sometimes significant salaries.

I certainly wouldnt have been able to buy where I grew up and near my parents.

There are definitely some benefits to having grown up in the south.

One that springs to mind is the free Bachelors degree for students funded by the Irish Exchequer, albeit with a registration fee attached that has reached 3,000 per annum in recent years.

There are many things I miss about living in Dublin and in the Republic in general  but the cost of living isnt one of them.
The New York Times reported on February 8 that David Schoen, one of the lawyers representing private citizen Donald J. Trump in his Senate trial on impeachment, has asked that the Senate not to convene on Saturday because Mr. Schoen is a Sabbath-observing Orthodox Jew. The article, by Michael S. Schmidt and Maggie Haberman, stated that Schoen is among "a second group of lawyers who has stepped in to represent Mr. Trump in his second impeachment trial."

This account then explained that the first set of Trump lawyers for the second impeachment trial "quit after [they] refused to commit to the former president's preferred trial strategy  that they defend him by repeating his baseless claims that the election was stolen from him."

The interjection of the invidious words "baseless claims" leads one to speculate that Times reporters are required to insert anti-Trump propaganda in their coverage of Donald Trump lest staffers demand the immediate termination of any Timesperson who does not comply with the paper's anti-Trump line.

The Schmidt-Haberman story also reported that Schoen said he has not been given a schedule for the Senate trial or told the amount of time set aside for arguments. Will Senator Patrick Leahy, presiding at this "trial," not give President Trump's attorneys time to prepare their case to deal with leftist zealotry?

The reporters also noted that Democrats know "almost certainly" that they lack the votes to convict Trump, who was not described anywhere in this article as private citizen. This acknowledgment is unlikely to pass without notice from the de facto commissar's directing the paper's party line on Trump. Will the paper settle for an editorial or two demanding the ouster of any and all senators who did not vote to convict private citizen Trump?

At the New York Times, all the news that is fit to print does not, apparently, allow for references to constitutional provisions that present difficulties for that paper's zealous campaign to destroy Donald Trump. Schmidt and Haberman did not, for example, inform the paper's readers that the Constitution does not allow bills of attainder against private citizens  that is to say, legislative enactments finding persons guilty of charged offenses (Article I, Section 9).

It is not unreasonable to conclude that Schmidt and Haberman are committing acts of faux journalism  omitting key facts, directly asserting propaganda as fact  worthy of reportage, Stalin-style. And so, in this era of name-changing, shouldn't the Times reconstitute itself as the New York Pravda?

Image: New York Times.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 17:05:39|Editor: huaxia

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VIENTIANE, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Lao Ministry of Health urged officials and people countrywide to stay vigilant and continue to fully comply with the COVID-19 prevention measures.

Authorities and people across the country must remain vigilant and adapt to new normal in order to stop the spread of COVID-19, Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Disease Control under the health ministry, Latsamy Vongkhamsao, told a press briefing held in the Lao capital Vientiane on Tuesday.

Latsamy advised people to adapt to the new normal to prevent a second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The public should avoid leaving home for unnecessary reasons, wear masks when going outdoors or visiting risky places, and avoid using public transport means, according to the official.

As many as 2,386 people entered Laos through international border checkpoints on Monday with their body temperatures checked before being taken to quarantine centers.

As of Tuesday, 106,722 suspected cases have been tested in Laos with 45 being confirmed with COVID-19, including 41 recoveries.

Laos reported its first two confirmed cases of COVID-19 on March 24. Enditem
Bacanora Lithium's ( ) Peter Secker catches up with Proactive London's Katie Pilbeam about their latest US$65m financing with Ganfeng Lithium exercising its pre-emptive rights.

The chinese giant has increased its position to 28.8% meaning that it remains BCNs largest shareholder.

Secker says the company is now 'fully financed and ready to develop the Sonora mine project in Mexico.

A busy two years of production ahead with the plan to sell 50% of product to China and the remainder to Japan.
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Two senior finance managers of a private company were arraigned Monday over conspiracy to steal more than Sh80 million. the enterprise.

Bernard Omondi Odhiambo and Jimmy Nandwa, of Vintage Africa Limited (VAL), faced four counts before Milimani Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku.

Mr Odhiambo is a finance manager while Mr Nandwa is a chief finance officer.

They were jointly charged with conspiring to steal Sh80,673,324 between June 1,2018 and May 21, 2020 .

Mr Odhiambo was separately charged with stealing Sh12,249,874 from the company while trading as Sense of Africa.

He faced an alternative charge of receiving that amount through his two M-Pesa accounts.

Mr Nandwa is accused of stealing Sh81,000 and retaining the same amount in his M-Pesa account.

He faced another charge of false accounting for allegedly showing that the Sh80.6 million had been debited from VAL's account and used to pay its suppliers.

Defence lawyer Stanley Kang'ahi successfully applied for the release of the two on a Sh1 million bond.

Covid-19 has changed the way we approach our workday with many commutes being eliminated, allowing for that time to be used differently.

In the recent Macra na Feirme Rural Youth Survey, those working in rural Ireland outside of farming were asked a series of questions concerning their work/life balance and the impact of Covid-19 on their lives.

53% of all young rural people surveyed responded that yes, they would like to work from home or from a remote working hub in the future, with 34% of respondents answering that no, they would not like to work from home or from a remote work hub in the future.

We have already seen that young people have been disproportionately affected by this pandemic, not just in terms of loss of jobs but socially too. Thankfully, we have also seen some benefits emerging such as more time with family and new skills learned," said Macra na Feirme national president Thomas Duffy.

Over 47% of those surveyed were happy with their current work life balance. Of that cohort, 30% shared that their workload has decreased since Covid-19 and 70% commented that their workload remained the same.

53% of those surveyed were unhappy with their current work life balance. Within that group, 57% stated their workload has increased since Covid-19, with 43% identifying that their workload has stayed the same.

59% of those surveyed identified spending more time with their families as a positive to Covid-19, with 48% of respondents believed that there had been an increase in spending in the local economy. Other positives identified included learning new skills, greater care towards the environment and more community spirit.

Macra asked some of its members to share with their experiences of working from home during the pandemic.

Claire Gough - Civil Service, Meath

At the start I found it difficult to get used to. I found myself getting jealous of my family who were frontline workers and got to see people outside the home.

However, I have begun to love it. I was commuting from Athboy in Meath to Dublin City Centre every day with about four hours in a car, so now I have a lot more free time to myself in the mornings and evenings.

I have a quite strong internet connection at home, but my phone coverage can be shocking at times so I communicate a lot by email rather than phone, which can take time to get replies and can delay projects moving on. I hope I can continue working from home for the foreseeable future with possibly one or two days per week.

Sarah Kelly  Teacher, Offaly

It wasnt long until the frustration and a longing to be back to my work environment kicked in.

Thankfully, most of my communicating with my class and parents is done through the class dojo app so I can rely on my data coverage for that.

The internet in place is not suited for remote learning as I often lag or get cut off from Soom meetings. While there are some upsides to remote learning, I think the downsides outweigh them and the teaching profession is one that is not suited to it.

The social interaction between both the staff and pupils is definitely missed and theres a constant worry to whether Im doing enough to support the pupils learning and the familys wellbeing also. Fortunately, this is only a temporary set up and I, like most teachers, am looking forward to getting back into the classroom again.

Helen Hayes  Marketing Manager, North Tipperary

I've worked remotely for the last seven years. The pandemic has changed the way I work in that it has become more remote than usual. My work usually takes me out of the country once a month, but as of last March I've been grounded.

I've had to adapt and work within the limits of the restrictions. Internet is crucial for me to be able to work.

Physical meetings/conferences have been replaced with phone calls, emails and Zoom.

I recently moved to a new house, and I am currently in a rural area that is awaiting broadband and will most likely be still waiting for quite some time. We have had to opt for mobile broadband which I'm grateful for, but we had to do quite a bit of research to get and even as is, it's not the strongest.

I'm hopeful that when we eventually get high-fibre broadband it will lessen the chance of the freezing of my friends on WhatsApp calls and being able to converse more on Zoom without having to resort to the chat box or worrying about signal interference.

Gavin Treacy - Quantity Surveyor, Galway

I work as a Quantity Surveyor with a construction company. Pre-Covid times my role and job would be 90% office based with a visit to site once or twice a week.

However, since last March I have been working from home due to Government restrictions. It has its ups and downs for many reasons. Some of which I will touch on here. At first it seemed a nice change as the weather was good and there was a sense of freedom to working from home.

But that soon wore off when the issue of poor rural internet had a big effect on the speed at which I was able to do my work compared to the high-speed broadband that I was so used to having in the company office in town.

There is also the social aspect to is - you meet nobody and everyone is virtual nowadays with Zoom meetings. It just doesn't have the real feel to it.
press release

The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu has issued a clarion call to potential investors including the banking institutions to assist government's efforts in meeting the demand for social housing units by investing into social housing projects. Sisulu says the investment opportunities are spread across the country's metros.

The Minister's call was as a result of the recent high demand from various potential beneficiaries of social housing projects in the Provinces such as Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu Natal including Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape which currently do not have social housing units. It is estimated that the current demand for social housing units is sitting at over 300 000.

Currently the Social Housing Regulator Authority (SHRA) has 52 projects in the pipeline which are expected to yield 21 000 units. This would require debt investment funding of 3,6 billion. The social housing projects are meant for beneficiaries earning between R1500 and R15 000 per month whilst those who earn less than the minimum amount qualify for fully subsidize government housing or Breaking New Ground house (BNG).

Over the past six years the Department of Human Settlements through its entity the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) has delivered close to 30 000 units mainly in Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape.

"Through partnerships with the private sector we have transformed the lives of our people over the years. As we face the social housing demand, we cannot turn to any other reliable partners than those who have shown interest in our work. Our target delivery of over 30 000 units in the 2019-2024 Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) will only be possible if the private investors partner with us", said Minister Sisulu.

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"68% of accredited social housing institutions are women controlled and I am encouraged that in 2020 we had some new women entries in KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape venturing into the social housing sector. This is long overdue and we encourage other women to consider partnering with us to be accredited as social housing institutions", added Sisulu.

Minister Sisulu has also called upon the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works to make some land parcels available to the Department of Human Settlements to enable the speed delivery of affordable housing in the City of Cape Town. This after media reports that there has been a delay in the execution of the social housing projects in the City as a result of land parcels which are yet to be transferred to the Department of Human Settlements.

A Malaysian woman who blackmailed the parents of a dying baby with precious photos on their stolen phone thinks she ought be released from jail early because they were already suffering.

A judge told Siti Kamal her actions were 'reprehensible' and 'amoral' as he sentenced her to at least two years in prison in March last year.

On Tuesday, she brought on an appeal at the Supreme Court of Victoria amid accusations her maximum three year sentence was 'manifestly excessive'.

Kamal (pictured, right, with her own children) had contacted the couple as they spent their last precious moments with their dying daughter

A woman tried to exploit the couple's vulnerability by extorting $1,000 out of them while their daughter was dying

Melbourne couple Jay and Dee Windross' (pictured) 11-month-old daughter Amiyah had been fighting an 'undiagnosed neurological issue from the day she was born', and died in April

Kamal pretended she had found Dee Windross' lost phone, filled with photos of the woman's dying 11-month-old daughter Amiyah.

She cruelly demanded $1,000 from Ms Windross and her husband Jay for the phone's return in April 2019.

Kamal's bid to extort money from the suffering couple was blasted by County Court of Victoria Judge Elizabeth Gaynor at the time.

Her barrister, Tim Marsh, told the Court of Appeal the judge had got it wrong when she described his client's offending as at the 'upper end' of the spectrum of seriousness when it came to the offence of blackmail.

Mr Marsh suggested if anything, other people found guilty of blackmail and sentenced to less time in jail were worse offenders because they had solely caused the victim's suffering.

The Windross family was already distraught upon losing their phone and were only tormented by Kamal for a day before she was brought undone, he argued.

'The sentencing judge's characteristic of the applicant's offending overstated it's objective gravity,' Mr Marsh argued.

'While it is true the offending was persistent, the victim was vulnerable and victim impact high, it lacked many other aggravating factors often present in blackmail cases, such as breach of trust, elaborate planning, prolonged offending, threats of violence, sophistication, demands and payments of large amounts of money.'

Baby Amiyah (pictured) tragically died in April after succumbing to an undiagnosed neurological issue

Ms Windross (pictured, left) left her phone in a toilet cubicle at Melbourne's Chadstone Shopping Centre on April 20, and her husband (right) made a desperate plea for its return

In a series of gripes by the heartless con woman's barrister, the court heard Kamal believed the sentencing judge failed to appropriately recognise her supposed remorse, financial hardship at the time, lack of prior offending and the fact she will be deported back to Malaysia on release.

Both courts have heard Kamal's own children will be waiting for her when she is eventually shipped back to Malaysia.

Kamal had tried to suppress details of her reasons for appeal hidden from the public amid complaints she had been picked on while in jail due to adverse publicity.

Siti Kamal (pictured), 24, admitted to trying to blackmail $1,000 from the parents of the dying baby girl

Her subsequent isolation had seen her unable to mix with fellow Muslims and other Malasian nationals caged alongside her, she sooked.

Prosecutors dismissed suggestions the sentence Kamal received was too harsh.

'It is submitted that the characterisation of the offending as amoral was entirely justified by the nature of the offending ... the conclusion that the offending indicated an absence of moral principles or standards can hardly be regarded as controversial,' the Crown argued.

Judge Gaynor had slammed Kamal for her 'extraordinary cruelty' after she tried to extort $1,000 from the anguished couple, whose baby was dying.

'That you should be so inspired in the first place by such suffering ... I find to be so reprehensible as to be amoral,' the judge said in March.

'The immorality of your actions must have been clear to you form the outset.'

The couple had issued an urgent plea to trace their stolen phone in April 2019, as it contained special memories of their daughter Amiyah.

Kamal contacted the couple via WhatsApp after they made several desperate posts on social media to help them retrieve the phone. Her husband is pictured leaving court

Little Amiyah died in April, days after a mobile phone containing irreplaceable family pictures was stolen from a Melbourne shopping centre.

'You've got a couple spending their last days with their dying child,' the judge told Kamal during a previous plea hearing.

'In a situation of almost indescribable anguish ... I can hardly think of a worse case (of blackmail).

'The extraordinary cruelty that this involved is a concern.'

Kamal, 24, pleaded guilty in 2019 to blackmailing the couple in the hours before and after little Amiyah's death from an undiagnosed neurological condition.

She had contacted Mr and Ms Windross on WhatsApp after they made a desperate public plea for the return of the Samsung Galaxy S8 phone.

The cruel thief said she would only return the phone - and the precious pictures - if the grieving couple paid her.

In a cruel twist - Kamal never even had the phone, and it still hasn't been returned.

Mr Windross said she continued to text him through the night while he had been trying to spend 'every emotional minute' with his child.

'It was a hoax. Not only was it a complete and utter waste of my time, it was interrupting my final moments with my dying daughter,' he wrote on Facebook.

The couple believe the phone was stolen from the toilets next to Target at Chadstone Shopping Centre in April that year.

'It's despicable. It's disgusting, Ms Windross said at the time.

'Why would anyone do that and she knew the position we were in. You could tell by the messages. How could you be so disgraceful?'

'The hours that we spent holding our daughter, this woman was sitting in her own house demanding money from us. '

The Court of Appeal has reserved its decision.
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One of San Antonio's most iconic hotels was named as one of the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

Hotel Emma, located at the Pearl, was ranked 23 out of 50 in the publication's list of Top Hotels in the U.S. for 2021.

According to the report, the San Antonio hotel made the list because of its visual aesthetic with the dark wood and leather furniture and its in-room amenities like flat-screen TVs, seersucker bathrobes and pantries stocked with locally made products. The hotel's restaurant, Supper, and boutique food store, Larder, were also noted as highlights.

The rankings were based on an analysis of expert and user opinions, though the researchers emphasize that everyone's travel experience may vary. Only luxury hotels and resorts were included in the list. The number and prominence of awards and recommendations a hotel has received from expert travel industry sources and guest ratings are also taken into consideration.

Hotel Emma wasn't the only Texas hotel to make the list, The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston was also a favorite. Impressing with its "sprawling lobby complete with crystal chandeliers" and its spa, pool, five restaurants, patisserie and bar with a wine cellar featuring 30,000 bottles of vino. The hotel came in at No. 13.

The two Lone Star luxuries were also joined by places like the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles and The Langham in Chicago. The Four Seasons Resort Lanai In Hawaii came in as the best hotel in the country for 2021, according to the list.

Visit U.S. News & World Report for the complete list.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for ExpressNews.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
In February 1971, onboard the Apollo 14 Command and Service Module Kitty Hawk, Command Module Pilot Stuart Roosa was conducting observations, experiments, and scientific investigations in lunar orbit, while his fellow crew members, Commander Alan Shepard and Lunar Module Pilot Edgar Mitchell explored the Fra Mauro formation on the Moons surface.

A statement by NASA History, on Feb. 4, recounts that 50 years ago onboard Kitty Hawk, in Roosas personal travel kit, was a canister of approximately 400-500 loblolly pine, sweet gum, redwood, Douglas fir, and sycamore tree seeds.

When the mission returned to Earth, NASA stated, the seeds were germinated and grew into what were referred to as, Moon Trees, which can be found around the U.S. and the world.

NASA cites acting NASA Chief Historian Brian Odom, who said in the statement: The historic voyages of the Apollo program were about bold exploration and incredible scientific discovery. He added, Apollo 14 included the widest range of scientific experiments to that point in the program, but in the case of Roosas Moon Trees, it was what the astronauts took with them on their lunar journey that has left such an indelible mark on the landscape back on Earth.

According to the statement, it was a joint effort between NASA and the U.S. Forest Service, with a two-fold purpose - as part of an experiment to determine the effects of deep space on seeds, and also to help raise awareness about the Forest Service and particularly the wildland forest firefighters called smokejumpers, who jumped out of airplanes to combat the blazes.

Where did the idea come from?

According to NASA, Ed Cliff, chief of the Forest Service, came up with the Moon Tree concept.

Cliff, who was aware that Roosa, in the 1950s - before becoming a military aviator and astronaut - had served as a smokejumper, contacted the astronaut to propose the idea, NASA said.

In charge of the project, was Stan Krugman, a geneticist at the Forest Service, who selected the seeds that flew on Apollo 14 into lunar orbit, NASA said.

There was a mishap.

During decontamination processes following the mission, the canister ruptured, mixing the seeds together, and compromising the experiments environment, according to NASA.

Although the seeds were feared to be dead, according to NASA, they were sent to Forest Service offices in Gulfport, Mississippi, and Placerville, California, to see if any could be germinated and grown into saplings. Some 450 saplings were grown.

Where did the saplings go?

NASA History noted that Moon Tree saplings were gifted to schools, universities, parks, and government offices, many as part of the U.S. bicentennial celebrations in 1976, with locations being chosen, in part, to ensure compatibility of climate conditions to the respective tree species.

NASA cited then-President Gerald Ford, who said in a telegram to U.S. Bicentennial Moon Tree planting ceremonies: This tree which was carried by Astronauts Stuart Roosa, Alan Shepard, and Edgar Mitchell on their mission to the Moon, is a living symbol of our spectacular human and scientific achievements. It is a fitting tribute to our national space program which has brought out the best of American patriotism, dedication, and determination to succeed.

After decades of growth, NASA noted, trees that traveled to the Moon, which were planted beside their Earth-grown counterparts, show no differences from those that never left Earth.

Read more: Fifty years ago, Alan Shepard blasted from an endless sand trap and we just now found his ball

Where were they planted?

According to NASA, a Loblolly Pine was planted at the White House, and trees were planted in Brazil, Switzerland, and presented to the Emperor of Japan, among others. Trees have also been planted in Washington Square in Philadelphia, at Valley Forge, in the International Forest of Friendship, and at various universities and NASA centers. A sycamore Moon Tree is growing at Koch Girl Scout Camp in Cannelton, Indiana as well as Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. A list of Moon Tree locations can be found here.

There is a second generation of trees.

NASA explained that second-generation trees, grown from Moon Tree seeds, are sometimes known as Half-Moon Trees and are also growing around the world.

One such Half-Moon Tree can be found at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama - standing outside a building that played a key role in development of the Saturn V rocket that launched the Apollo 14 mission, NASA said.

NASA had this to say, All crops grown in space have Apollo 14 in their roots. Five decades after the mission that took seeds to the Moon, the trees that grew from the seeds stand as living, leafy testaments to humanitys first voyages to the Moon, while the crops grown in space since enable the continuation of humanitys exploration of the cosmos.

READ MORE:
CORK City Council is to borrow a sum not exceeding 40m to be used as a bridging facility in the delivery of affordable homes in the city.

Speaking at this week's full council meeting, the citys assistant chief executive Brian Geaney said there is an urgent need for the council to start delivering affordable homes "at pace".

"Certainly, substantial progress has been made in the delivery of social housing over the last number of years and we now want to put this facility in place to accelerate the delivery of affordable homes for the people of Cork," he said.

The bridging facility is to be ring-fenced for the sole purpose as a working facility for the council to proceed with the delivery of affordable homes.

It will be used to fund site acquisition, stage payments to contractors or service providers and other purposes deemed necessary by Cork City Council to facilitate the delivery of such homes.

The bridging facility will be "repaid and replenished by income from home sales and various government affordable housing supports," a report to councillors stated.

Cork City Councillors will be consulted on "the detailed works and locations where the facility is being used to facilitate the delivery of affordable homes across the city," the report continued.

The initiative stemmed from a motion submitted several months ago by the Fianna Fail group leader in Cork City Council, Councillor Sean Martin.

"We have an opportunity in our small way of actually allowing people to purchase affordable houses," he said.

Mr Martin thanked management at Cork City Council for "coming up with solutions, rather than putting up barriers".

His party colleague, Colm Kelleher, praised the initiative which he said coupled with Minister Darragh O'Brien's housing legislation currently before the houses of the Oireachtas, will enable Cork City Council to "lead from the front" in delivering affordable homes.

"When the legislation is passed at a national level, we will be out of the traps ahead of most local authorities.

"I do feel that whats being done here tonight in relation to the bridging facility will enable us to strike while the iron is hot and deliver these houses for people that are caught in the middle," he said.

Fine Gael councillor Shane O'Callaghan also welcomed the proposal as a "fantastic initiative by Cork City Council to show that Cork City Council is leading the way in terms of affordable housing".
RTE has launched the Tech2Students campaign to get laptops to students who need them most around the country.

An initiative by Camara Education Ireland and Trinity Access (Trinity College Dublin), Tech2Students seeks to bridge the digital divide so no-one gets left behind as learning continues online in 2021.

Tech2Students has been repurposing laptops and chromebooks for Leaving Cert students from disadvantaged groups including those in DEIS schools, in direct provision, adult learners in vulnerable groups, as well as youth groups such as Foroige and An Cosan.

RTE is lending a hand to supersize the initiative and has brought An Post on board as delivery partner alongside ESB, NUI Galway Access Centre and Rethink Ireland.

RTE 2fms Eoghan McDermott said: "Thousands of students around the country are shut out of virtual classrooms and are falling behind. We need to change that! Were calling on businesses and individuals to make a donation at techspace.ie with the aim of raising 1 million or 5,000 laptops."

Blathnaid Treacy said: "No student should be left offline and we can make a difference. Go to techspace.ie to find out how to donate, either money or a disused laptop. Every laptop counts and goes directly to someone who need it."

Marianne Checkley, CEO of Camara Education Ireland, said: "It's critical for us all to get together and act on the growing digital divide across the country. Students who are completely disconnected from their teachers and schools over the last year are making amazing efforts to keep up in challenging circumstances. We need to get them back on a level playing field so they have the opportunity to fulfil their potential."

Dr Cliona Hannon, director of Trinity Access, said: "One in two Leaving Cert students in many DEIS schools do not have access to an adequate device for online learning, which puts them at a significant disadvantage. This is one practical way we can support young people by connecting them to learning and to each other."
A 6-year-old girl survived a fall Monday afternoon from a second-floor window in her home in Ocean County, authorities said.

Police in Toms River were called about 4:15 p.m. to a house on Hazelwood Road for reports that a child accidentally fell out of a window.

After the fall, she was alert and conscious. She walked to the front door to seek help from her mother, Toms River Police Chief Mitchell A. Little said in a statement.

The girl was taken by ambulance to Jersey Shore Medical Center as a precaution and due to the nature of the incident, Little said. The incident remained under investigation Monday night, police said.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone talk with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the initiative of the Israeli side on Monday, according to the Kremlin press service.

Putin and Netanyahu exchanged opinions on international issues as well as regional affairs in the Middle East, it said in a statement.

The leaders agreed to further maintain contacts at various levels, it added.
Former Neighbours actor Ben Lawson is starring in the hit Netflix drama Firefly Lane.

And fans of the show were left scratching their heads recently after they spotted his character wearing a Queensland State of Origin jersey during a scene.

Ben, 41, who hails from Brisbane, told 9Honey he'd snuck the vintage jersey into the show's wardrobe and convinced the producers to let him wear it.

Surprise! Fans of Netflix drama Firefly Lane were left scratching their heads recently after they spotted Ben Lawson's character wearing a Queensland State of Origin jersey during a scene

Ben explained: 'I saw the scene coming up in the script and thought it was an opportunity to reveal something about Johnny [Ryan, his character] with the kind of old knock-around clothes he'd wear at home.'

He then spoke to the costume department, who were happy to let him wear it.

'First I spent a couple of hours scouring the Internet for something that would be period-appropriate,' he said.

Aussie: Ben, 41, who hails from Brisbane, told 9Honey he'd snuck the vintage jersey into the show's wardrobe and convinced the producers to let him wear it

'I found the '91 Queensland jersey, sent her the link and said, "I know this makes no sense to you but it's perfect for Johnny,"' he said.

'And a whole bunch of people on the other side of the world will really appreciate it.

'She bought it and had it express delivered. I think it arrived the day before the scene, it ended up being the right size and we were away.'

All-star cast: Ben plays a TV producer named Johnny Ryan in Firefly Lane, which also stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke (all pictured)

Ben plays a TV producer named Johnny Ryan in Firefly Lane, which also stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke.

The Australian actor, who played Frazer Yeats in Neighbours from 2006 to 2008, has been making waves in Hollywood since moving stateside several years ago.

Ben notably starred as Lachlan Murdoch in the 2019 film Bombshell, about the sexual harassment scandal at Fox News.
MANKATO, Minn.  A prison sentence has been handed down for a Blue Earth County home invasion.

Thiyang Biel Gatkuoth, 21 of Mankato, pleaded guilty 1st degree aggravated robbery and 2nd degree assault with a dangerous weapon for a May 28, 2020, armed robbery in the 47000 block of 127th Street.

Gatkuoth was arrested in June 2020 and has now been sentenced to five years and four months behind bars, with credit for 228 days already served.
At least 36 people have developed a rare, life-threatening blood disorder, called thrombocytopenia, after receiving either of the two COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the US.

One of them, Miami obstetrician Dr Gregory Michael, died after thrombocytopenia caused his platelets to drop to virtually zero. He was just 56 and died of a brain hemorrhage just 16 days after receiving Pfizer's shot.

And doctors ordered Luz Legaspi, 72, not to leave her bed for over a week, for fear a bump, bruise, fall or other minor injury could lead to a similar hemorrhage and prove fatal for her.

Thrombocytopenia has been seen after other vaccines as well, and experts suspect that the shot does act as a trigger in some way - they just don't know why yet.

But so far, the platelet-suppressing condition appears exceedingly rare - affecting just 36 people out of 43 million doses administered in the US - and scientists theorize that only a small fraction of the population may have some predisposition that could lead vaccines to trigger the blood disorder.

Of 15 people included in a forthcoming study, only one had a recent history of low platelet counts, and there were no clear common threads that predict who might be the very few to develop thrombocytopenia after vaccination.

But with the exception of Dr Michael, all others so far have recovered after treatment.

Dr Gregory Michael, 56, died of a brain hemorrhage from thrombocytopenia 16 days after he received Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine (left). Luz Legaspi, 72, developed the rare blood disorder a day after her first shot of Moderna's vaccine and had to be put on total bed rest to prevent a potentially deadly hemorrhage (right)

The US is giving about 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccinations a day and only 36 people have developed thrombocytopenia

The vast majority of people who have received COVID-19 vaccines have done so without incident.

What is thrombocytopenia? (ITP) Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a blood disorder characterized by a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood. Platelets are cells in the blood that help stop bleeding. A decrease in platelets can cause easy bruising, bleeding gums, and internal bleeding. This disease is caused by an immune reaction against one's own platelets. It has also been called autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. There are two forms of ITP: Acute thrombocytopenic purpura: This usually affects young children, ages 2 to 6 years old. The symptoms may follow a viral illness, such as chickenpox. Acute ITP usually starts suddenly and the symptoms usually disappear in less than 6 months, often within a few weeks. Treatment is often not needed. The disorder usually does not recur. Acute ITP is the most common form of the disorder. Chronic thrombocytopenic purpura: The onset of the disorder can happen at any age, and the symptoms can last a minimum of 6 months, several years, or a lifetime. Adults have this form more often than children do, but it does affect adolescents. Females have it more often than males. Chronic ITP can recur often and requires continual follow-up care with a blood specialist (hematologist). Causes Medications (including over-the-counter medications) can cause an allergy that cross-reacts with platelets.

Infections, typically viral infections, including the viruses that cause chicken pox, hepatitis C, and AIDS, can prompt antibodies that cross-react with platelets.

Pregnancy

Immune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus

Low-grade lymphomas and leukemias may produce abnormal antibodies against platelet proteins.

Sometimes the cause of immune thrombocytopenic purpura is not known. Symptoms The purple color of the skin after blood has 'leaked' under it. Persons with ITP may have large bruises from no known injury. Bruises can appear at the joints of elbows and knees just from movement.

Tiny red dots under the skin that are a result of very small bleeds.

Nosebleeds

Bleeding in the mouth and/or in and around the gums

Heavy menstrual periods

Blood in the vomit, urine, or stool

Bleeding in the head. This is the most dangerous symptom of ITP. Any head injury that occurs when there are not enough platelets to stop the bleeding can be life threatening. SOURCE: Johns Hopkins Medicine Advertisement

But between the December 14 start of the US coronavirus vaccine rollout and January 31, 36 reports were made to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) monitoring system of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) after vaccinations, according to the New York Times.

The database logs incidents doctors and nurses observe after people get vaccinations, but it doesn't determine whether or not vaccines were the cause of the reported problems, known as 'adverse events.'

No cases of thrombocytopenia were reported during the trials of either Moderna's or Pfizer's vaccines.

However, since they're authorizations, cases have been linked to each vaccine.

Pfizer told DailyMail.com that it is investigating the death of Dr Michael, an obstetrician whose wife says was in good health before his death in December.

'In my mind his death was 100 percent linked to the vaccine. There is no other explanation,' she told DailyMail.com in an interview last month, fighting back tears.

Dr Michael received his first dose of Pfizer's shot on December 18 and had no immediate reaction to the shot.

But three days later, he noticed red splotches all over his body.

The spots dappling his body were petechiae, warning signs of bleeding under the skin.

He went to Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami. During his exam, Dr Michael remained upbeat and energetic.

But bloodwork showed his count of platelets - disk-shaped cell fragments that form clots to prevent uncontrolled bleeding - was zero, his wife said.

Anything below 150,000 would qualify as thrombocytopenia, but Dr Michael's condition was dire.

Transfusions and other attempts to restore his platelets failed over his two weeks in the hospital, and Dr Michael ultimately died of a brain hemorrhage.

Luz Legaspi, 72, was healthy and all for vaccination in January, when she got her first dose of the Moderna.

But the next day, she woke to find her legs and arms covered in petechiae, and bleeding blisters inside her mouth, according to the New York Times.

She was admitted to the hospital in Elmhurst, Queens in New York City.

At the time, Legaspi's platelet count was zero and she was ordered not to leave her bed to prevent her from falling or otherwise injuring herself. Even a normally harmless bruise can lead to hemorrhage when someone has not platelets to stop the bleeding.

In adults, thrombocytopenia can be caused by one marrow diseases, some cancer treatments and alcoholism.

But some forms are also the result of an autoimmune condition, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy platelets instead of legitimate threats and pathogens. Sometimes thrombocytopenia arises after viral infections.

In these cases, it is usually treated platelet transfusions, with steroids and immune globulins - a treatment meant to prevent the spleen from destroying platelets, as it does in thrombocytopenia.

Legaspi received these treatments, but was still not improving 10 days after she had been admitted to the hospital.

Michael's wife Heidi Neckelman (left) said her husband's death was 'due to a strong reaction' to the vaccine. Pictured: Dr. Michael with his wife Heidi and daughter

'I don't think she understands shes like a ticking bomb,' her daughter, who did not reveal her name upon her employer's request, told the Times on Legaspi's ninth day in the hospital.

'I don't use the term. I dont want to tell her that.'

Remarkably, a foremost expert on the rare condition caught wind of Legaspi's dire, and stagnant, condition and contacted her physician in Elmhurst.

Dr James Bussel, a pediatrician and expert in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), which most commonly affects children advised a change of course, although what specific treatment he advised is not clear.

Within two days, Legaspi's platelet count was over 70,000 and she was able to return home the next day, February 2.

Dr Bussel and his colleague, Dr Eun-Ju Lee, studied 15 cases of thrombocytopenia that developed after people got COVID-19 vaccines.

Their article is still being reviewed for publication in a medical journal.

But he told the Times there may well some link not just to COVID-19 vaccines, but vaccines more generally, it's just not clear exactly what.

'Having it happen after a vaccine is well-known and has been seen with many other vaccines. Why it happens, we dont know,' Dr Bussel said.

'I think it is possible that there is an association.

'Im assuming theres something that made the people who developed thrombocytopenia susceptible, given what a tiny percentage of recipients they are.'

Dr Bussel, and even Luz Legaspi and her daughter, say that people should still get the COVID-19 vaccine, and for most, thrombocytopenia won't be an issue.

Nonetheless, Dr Bussel, his colleagues and both Pfizer and Moderna are trying to work out who might have this life-threatening reaction, so they could advise these people against getting the vaccine, as US officials have done for people with a history of anaphylactic reactions to any ingredients in the shots.


February 09, 2021 / 11:00 PM IST

Price (MSP) system being retained. Multiple rounds of talks between the Centre and the farmers union leaders have ended in a stalemate. Protesting farmers fear that the new laws will dismantle the MSP system and corporatise farming. The 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. On January 26, the protest turned violent when some farmers deviated from a pre-decided route for their Republic Day tractor rally and clashed with police. Some protesters scaled the ramparts of the Red Fort. Several protestors and police personnel were injured in the ensuing clashes. The farmers' unions also held a 'chakka jam' on February 6 where they blocked national and state highways between 12 pm and 3 pm to protest the internet ban in areas near their agitation sites and harassment allegedly meted out to them by authorities, among other issues.

The 'Delhi Chalo' farmers' protest at border points of New Delhi has entered the 76th 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
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Great Wall Motor (GWM), the Chinese largest SUV and pickup manufacturer, is about to make inroads into chip industry, according to a local media outlet, citing persons familiar with the matter.

The persons revealed GWM is likely to strategically invest in Horizon Robotics, the leading Chinese AI chip manufacturer. Both parties may carry out collaboration on a slew of areas like ADAS (advanced driver assistance system), high-level autonomous driving and intelligent cockpit.

After being reached for a comment, Horizon Robotics said the result should be in compliance with the announcement from GWM, while the automaker has not made any comments yet.

Photo credit: GWM



GWM previously disclosed its interest on chips. With the rapid development of such emerging industries as 5G, AI and big data, the automobile industry is facing a profound transition to intelligentization. Great Wall Motor is paying constant attention to chips, the core parts for the development of intelligence, Fu Xiaokang, vice president of GWM, said at a media interview.

On the side of R&D, GWM and Horizon Robotics will team up on ADAS, autonomous driving, multimodal interaction of intelligent cockpit and SDV (software-defined vehicle) by leveraging GWMs leading manufacturing technologies and development experience, and Horizon Robotics advantages in AI, automotive-grade AI-powered chips, visual perception, HD (high-definition) map and intelligent speech, said one of the persons.

Based on GWMs demands, Horizon Robotics may offer the automaker its integral intelligent vehicle solution combining chip, algorithm and cloud, covering the AI-enabled processor for intelligent driving, the computing platform for autonomous driving, the algorithm for visual perception, the multimodal interaction as well as the crowdsourcing for mapping.

The strategic investment will knit together GWM's multi-year technical accumulations in auto intelligentization and Horizon Robotics industry-leading auto-related smart chips and algorithm, helping GWM speed up its strategic transition to being a global technology mobility company and better satisfy the diversified demands from the users of its intelligent-connected vehicles (ICVs), said an industrial analyst.

Horizon Robotics says it is the world's first automotive smart chip startup company based on deep learning technology, and it claims to have achieved mass production of automotive-grade factory-installed smart chips.

The startup recently announced it has obtained a strategic investment from Sunny Optical Technology (Group) Co.,Ltd. (called Sunny Optical for short), a leading optical device manufacturer in China, marking a further drive for the startup's deployment of intelligence businesses.

Meanwhile, Horizon Robotics entered into a strategic partnership with Zhejiang Shunyu Zhiling Technology Co.,Ltd., a subsidiary of Sunny Optical, to jointly explore automobile intelligence technologies with ADAS, autonomous driving and intelligent cockpit as the focus, so as to offer the auto industry highly reliably vision solutions, help OEMs stand out from their rivals, and speed up the R&D and mass production of the products related to intelligent vehicles.
A computer-rendered image of VinFast VF33, an SUV in segment E, is expected to reach US consumers in Q2/2022. (Photo VinFast)

Hanoi - VinFast has just become the 57th automaker to receive a licence to test self-driving electric vehicles in California, the US.

The company said its three SUV models VF31, VF32 and VF33 met the highest global safety standards including five-star ratings from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the European New Car Assessment Programme.

VinFast has just become the 57th automaker to receive a licence to test self-driving electric vehicles in California, the US.

As required in the US, electric vehicles with autonomous technology are required to carry out testing procedures and secure an Autonomous Test Vehicle Permit (ATVP) by the California Vehicle Administration.

Automakers, including big names such as Apple, Tesla, BMW, and Volkswagen according to California's Department of Motor Vehicles website, have also secured their licences to test run their vehicles in the Golden State, the world's largest technology and innovation hub.

All three of the company's models are to be equipped with level 2-3 autonomous features, which include 30 smart features divided into seven groups: intelligent steering assist system, lane control system, active journey control system, multi-point collision warning system, comprehensive collision mitigation system, intelligent automated parking system and driver monitoring system.

Models VF32 and VF33 will be sold in the US, Canada and Europe markets from 2022. The launch of high-tech electric vehicles, including electric scooters, electric buses and personal electric cars, is part of VinFast's pre-defined roadmap since entering the automotive market three years ago.

Customers can start ordering the cars in May this year in Vietnam and in November in the US, Canada and the EU.

In Vietnam, Vietnamese automakers also started to install electric vehicle charging stations at commercial centres at Vinhomes Ocean Park, Vincom Long Bien in Hanoi to serve the first electric cars produced, expected to be available this year.

VinFast sold 31,500 cars in Vietnam last year, with its VinFast sedan and SUV models among the bestsellers in their respective segments.
(Adds details)

By Jeff Lewis

TORONTO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Mongolia wants more tax revenue

under a revised deal to expand Rio Tinto's Oyu

Tolgoi copper-gold mine rather than a larger ownership stake in

the project, a person with direct knowledge of the government's

thinking told Reuters on Monday, as the two sides bid to resolve

a long-running standoff over the development.

On Sunday, the Financial Times reported Ulaanbaatar is

seeking agreement with Rio to terminate a deal to expand the

mine and replace it with a new pact that offers better terms.

We obviously would like to have more tax revenues," the

person said, declining to be identified owing to the sensitivity

of the issue.

The mine is one of the world's largest-known copper and gold

deposits. The government holds a 34% stake in the $6.75 billion

project, while Rio Tinto-controlled Turquoise Hill owns

the rest.

Ulaanbaatar has previously told Rio it was concerned that

the economic benefits of developing the mine have been eroded

due to the significant increase in costs.

Under current plans, Ulaanbaatar won't receive dividends

until 2051 while Oyu Tolgoi won't pay "meaningful" corporate

income tax, the person said. "That's really concerning."

Rio did not immediately return a request for comment.

The miner on its website says Oyu Tolgoi has paid the

government more than $2.7 billion in taxes, fees and other

payments since 2010.

The source said government representatives met last week

with Bold Baatar, a Mongolian national whose recent appointment

as head of Rio's copper operations is widely seen as an attempt

to improve government relations and make progress in talks on

the project.

Baatar has vowed to discuss the plans with the new

government and work towards a resolution.

The underground expansion will push annual production to

nearly 500,000 tonnes per year, making it among the worlds

biggest copper mines.

(Reporting by Jeff Lewis; Editing by Mark Potter and Chizu

Nomiyama)
Two months ago, Lehigh County Jail was grappling with the spread of COVID-19 among inmates and staff.

By Dec. 8, the Allentown facility had 24 active inmate cases and 20 staff cases. By the end of January, it lost an inmate and corrections officer Gary Dean to the coronavirus.

In a lehighvalleylive.com report last year, inmates said the jail had done a poor job protecting them from COVID-19, and healthy and sick inmates were being kept in the same housing blocks.

Things are looking a little better. As of Monday, there are only two active inmate cases and two staffers recovering from the virus, county spokeswoman Laura Grammes said.

During the pandemic, a total of 304 inmates and 97 staff tested positive at Lehighs jail.

The dwindling cases in Lehigh County come as Northampton County officials on Monday lauded that the county prison currently has zero COVID-19 cases among staff and its 513 inmates.

Last week, there were no inmate cases, but one prison employee was still in quarantine.

The 171 inmates who tested positive at Northampton County Prison during the pandemic have all either finished their quarantine or are no longer in the Easton facility, county officials said. The 50 staffers who tested positive have all returned to work, county officials said.

COVID-19s toll continues, even as the cases are decreasing in corrections facilities. Lehigh County officials have said jail officers and staff are working double shifts and overtime to cover for the coworkers in quarantine and recovering from the virus.

Staff at both facilities have started getting vaccinated against COVID-19, but both counties are still working to get vaccines for inmates. PrimeCare Medical, Northampton County prisons medical provider, is working with the state to make vaccines available to all inmates when supplies become available.

In Lehigh County, officials have asked the state for vaccinations for inmates, officers and staff at the jail in Allentown as soon as possible; additional COVID-19 testing; and money for architectural expansion to allow for appropriate social distancing measures, according to a letter from County Executive Phillips Armstrong, county Commissioner Geoff Brace, and state Reps. Mike Schlossberg and Peter Schweyer, who represent Allentown.

Inmate vaccinations have varied across the country. In January, the federal Bureau of Prisons said it started giving the vaccine to its staff and inmates.

Last week in Oregon, a judge ordered all inmates in the Oregon prison system be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccinations. The move put inmates in the same inoculation category as people living in nursing homes and other congregate care settings.

In Pennsylvania, state Department of Corrections medical staff are eligible to be vaccinated under phase 1A and began receiving COVID-19 vaccines at outside facilities.

This week state legislators asked Gov. Tom Wolf to increase the number of inmates released under the coronavirus reprieve program in order to immediately reduce the prison population during the pandemic.

The letter dated Feb. 8 notes while Wolfs plan intended to release more than 1,200 inmates, only 159 have been released so far.

Since that time the virus has become more dangerous and a greater threat to our communities. A growing volume of reporting has made clear the worsening conditions within our correctional facilities. While your initial action to offer reprieve was prudent and lifesaving, the death count reported by the Department of Corrections now exceeds one per day. A persons fundamental right to be safe and free from disease does not stop at the prison wall, stated the letter, which includes Lehigh Valley representatives Schlossberg, Schweyer and state Sen. Lisa Boscola among the signees.

Last year 84 state prison inmates died from COVID-19, and in the first 20 days of 2021 at least 27 inmates and two staffers died of coronavirus.

By the time you read this letter, more men and women will have died within our correctional facilities. Their deaths were preventable. We call on you to recommit to use your singular power of reprieve to save lives, the letter read.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
Greece recently called for bids on a contract to provide advanced pilot training for new fighter pilots. This was a 20-year long project that involved providing jet trainers, simulators, instructors and a credible track record for doing this sort of thing. Israelis won the contract, which came as no surprise. Israeli F-16s, modified for Israeli use, are among the best in the world and Israeli F-16 pilots have scored more air combat victories with the F-16 than any other user nation.

There are a growing number of firms that can handle jobs like this at lower cost than most governments. In this case Israel, not a private contractor, won the competition. This was not surprising because Israel has, in the past provided military training for allies, but never to this extent. It was no surprise that Israel won the contract because the Israeli and Greek air forces have been increasingly engaging in joint training and other forms of cooperation. Currently Greece and Israel have a common adversary in Turkey, which has become increasingly aggressive and Islamic since 2000 when an Islamic party won control of the government. Since its founding in 1948 until 2000, Turkey and Israel were trading partners and had good diplomatic relations. Since 2000 Greece has become more of an ally with Israel and Turkey more of a foe. All three countries have something else, using the F-16 as their primary jet fighter. While that used to be an advantage for Turkey, when they were close with Israel, after 2000 Greece was drawn to Israel in part by joint military needs and a common problem with Turkish hostility. Israel and Greece also have growing economic ties when it comes to developing oil and natural gas resources in offshore waters. Israel wants to build an underwater natural gas pipeline that will go through Greek EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) waters now illegally claimed by Turkey.

For over a decade Greek and other foreign pilots have been able to see Israeli combat pilot training up close because Israel has been hosting joint training exercises at its training center for "aggressor (or dissimilar) training." Several times in the last decade Greek pilots have participated and came away impressed.

The Israeli Air Force has hosted foreign fighter pilots for tactical training. Israeli fighter pilots are considered the best trained in the world, and Israel maintains a special training program, complete with pilots trained and equipped to operate as likely foes would, to train their own pilots. A growing number of NATO nations, including new members like Poland, send fighters and pilots to Israel for training.

The Israeli training center is based on the one pioneered by the U.S. Air Force Red Flag program and the U.S. Navy's Top Gun training in the 1960s and 70s. Initially American aircraft were used for the enemy, or dissimilar, training. The original "Top Gun" fighter pilot school was established in 1969, by the U.S. Navy, in response to the poor performance of its pilots against North Vietnamese pilots flying Russian fighters. What made the Top Gun operation different was that its training emphasized how enemy aircraft and pilots operated. This was called "dissimilar training". In the past, American pilots practiced against American pilots, with everyone flying American aircraft and using American tactics. It worked in World War II because the enemy pilots were not getting a lot of practice and were using similar aircraft and tactics anyway. Most importantly there was a lot of aerial combat going on, providing ample opportunity for on-the-job training. Not so in Vietnam, where the quite different Russian-trained North Vietnamese were giving U.S. aviators an awful time. The four-week Top Gun program solved the problem. The air force followed in the 1970s with its Red Flag school.

Israel adopted its own Blue Flag training program during the 1980s. Plenty of other nations eventually did the same. After 2010 China and Russia also developed "dissimilar training" programs.

Because Israel has been at war or under imminent threat of attack since the late 1940s, it has developed one of the best Red Flag operations outside the United States. The Chinese effort to create a Red Flag operation was based largely on the success the United States and Israel have had with it, and shows that they are serious about preparing their pilots to fight and defeat Taiwanese and American pilots. Dissimilar training is how that is done and for many nations Israel is the nearest place to get it. The Israelis are glad to offer access for friendly nations, which now includes Arab states like the UAE.

This success in pilot training was a major reason Israel won the Greek pilot training program. Greece has a smaller air force than Turkey but was always considered to have better trained pilot. Turkey lost its edge in F-16 pilot training after a 2016 purge of the Turkish air force because the Islamic government suspected the air force of being disloyal. Turkey lost so many F-16s pilots that it had problems training new ones. Recent encounters between Greek and Turkish F-16s made it clear that the Greeks had a pilot edge and, with the new Israeli run pilot training program, the Greeks hope to hold onto it.

The training contract has Israel providing ten Italian M-346 advanced jet trainers, which are what the Israeli air force uses. Israel obtained 30 M-346s in 2012 instead of trying to replace the elderly A-4 light bombers used as jet trainers with older F-16s. The A-4 wasn't a great trainer aircraft given its age and high maintenance cost. Israel eventually realized that older F-16s would not be much better as trainers. The M-346s were obtained at a price Israel could afford via a billion-dollar barter deal. Israel was pleased with the performance of the M-346s. That meant obtaining Israel as a jet trainer export customer was a big deal for Italy as it played a role in obtaining more export sales.

The M-346 is a 9.5-ton, twin engine, two-seat aircraft. Top speed is 1,000 kilometers an hour. Max range with two drop tanks is 2,500 kilometers. The aircraft can also carry three tons of weapons including bombs, missiles, and a cannon pod. The M-346 is an excellent dual-use aircraft, as a trainer and fighter-bomber. The M-346 began production in 2008. Development began in the 1990s as a joint venture with Russia. But the two projects split in 2000, with the Russians continuing to develop theirs as the Yak-130.
WASHINGTON, DC  The second impeachment trial of former President Donald J. Trump begins Tuesday, putting the responsibility on the Senate to decide if he should be acquitted or convicted on a charge that he incited the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.



All 100 senators will act as jurors in the trial, which will feature hours of graphic testimony about the events that left five people dead, sent lawmakers scurrying for safety and spurred a sprawling investigation by the FBI and Justice Department to track down the scores of people who attacked the Capitol.

Trump is only the third U.S. president to be impeached  the first two were Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998  and the only one to be impeached twice.

The 45th president was impeached for a second historic time a week after his supporters stormed the Capitol as a joint session of Congress was certifying Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election.

The impeachment charge centers on the fiery speech Trump delivered to supporters rallying on the National Mall the morning Congress was certifying the results of an election he falsely claimed had been stolen from him. He encouraged his supporters to fight like hell for his presidency.

Trumps first impeachment was in early 2020 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. He was acquitted in a Senate trial that began almost one year ago.

A conviction requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate, split evenly between Democrats and Republicans. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul forced a vote last week to set aside the trial as unconstitutional because Trump is no longer in office, and won support from 44 other Republicans  seen as a harbinger of Trumps likely acquittal.

The five Republicans who joined with Democrats to reject Pauls motion: Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

The trial starts at 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Story continues

Here are five things to know about the impeachment trial:

1. Is the trial constitutional?

The first order of business Tuesday will be a debate and vote on whether the Constitution allows prosecution of a former president on impeachment charges  an argument that appeals to Republicans who dont want to vote to convict Trump, but dont want to condone his behavior, either.

The Constitution states: 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.

Trumps lawyers and opponents to the trial say the proceeding is unconstitutional because Trump's term has ended, and he cant be removed from office. However, conservative constitutional lawyer Charles J. Cooper argued in a Sunday Wall Street Journal op-ed that the provision simply establishes what is known in criminal law as a mandatory minimum punishment.

2. Why does it matter now?

The argument would be compelling, Campbell wrote in his Wall Street Journal op-ed, if not removal from office was the only punishment. The Constitution also allows the Senate to take a vote on whether those convicted of impeachment should be barred from holding future public office.

Given that the Constitution permits the Senate to impose the penalty of permanent disqualification only on former officeholders, it defies logic to suggest that the Senate is prohibited from trying and convicting former officeholders, Cooper wrote.

There is some precedent for trying people who have already left office. Tennessee Sen. William Blount was tried and expelled in 1797, after he left office. Secretary of War William Belknap resigned moments before the House of Representatives was set to vote on his impeachment in 1876; the House went ahead, and Belknap was acquitted on five articles of impeachment by the Senate.

3. Will Trump testify?

Trump, holed up at his Mar-A-Lago club in Florida, has declined the request to testify in his defense. In a letter to the former president, House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat and former constitutional law professor at American University, pointed out that Trumps testimony would be subject to cross-examination.

The eyewitness accounts of the senator-jurors who fled the chamber for safety after the insurrectionists stormed the Capitol will be backed up with videos of the carnage.

4. What is Trumps defense?

In a trial memo Monday, Trumps lawyers lobbed a wide-ranging attack against the article of impeachment approved by the House, calling the trial political theater and arguing that Trump enjoys the First Amendment right to express his belief that the election results were suspect.

The Trump legal team denies he threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coequal branch of government.

They also argue the proceeding is unconstitutional now that he is out of office.

While never willing to allow a good crisis to go to waste, the Democratic leadership is incapable of understanding that not everything can always be blamed on their political adversaries," the Trump lawyers said in the memo.

House impeachment managers responded in their own document, countering that his incitement of insurrection against the United States government  which disrupted the peaceful transfer of power  is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president.

5. How long will the trial last?

Its unclear, but it is expected to be significantly shorter than Trumps first impeachment trial, which lasted nearly three weeks. The case is less complicated and senators, having witnessed the insurrection at the Capitol, know many of the details.

Opening arguments begin Wednesday at noon local time, with up to 16 hours per side for presentations. At the request of Trumps legal team, the trial will break Friday evening for the Jewish Sabbath and resume Sunday.

Democrats want to handle the matter quickly so they dont tie up the Senate and delay confirmation votes on Bidens Cabinet and debate on the new presidents legislative priorities, including a massive coronavirus relief package.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on the Across America Patch
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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - RF Capital Group Inc. (TSX: RCG) ("RF Capital") today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Richardson Wealth Limited ("Richardson Wealth") and Bloom Burton & Co. Inc. ("Bloom Burton"), two of Canada's premier independent financial services firms, have entered into a strategic alliance dedicated exclusively on the healthcare sector.

This strategic alliance helps unlock growth potential for both firms. Richardson Wealth expands an already broad shelf of wealth solutions by providing advisors and their high net worth clients preferred access to Bloom Burton's leading healthcare-specialized research, investment ideas, new issues, investment funds and investor events. Meanwhile, Bloom Burton's issuer clients and institutional investors will benefit from the investment capacity and expertise of Richardson Wealth's established and growing network of professional, experienced, and knowledgeable investment advisors. The firms also contemplate extensive cross-referral opportunities to better serve their clients.

"Our talented investment advisors and their clients are front and center to everything we do. Our top priority is to continue supporting them by providing access to a broad and growing suite of innovative wealth management solutions to deliver a differentiated client experience. This powerful alliance with Bloom Burton, and its leadership and expertise in the essential and growing healthcare sector, perfectly complements that commitment to advisors. Bloom Burton covers dozens of healthcare companies in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical technology and healthcare services sectors, and they are at the top of every Canadian healthcare league table for financings and corporate advisory", said Kish Kapoor, President and CEO of RF Capital Group Inc.

Brian Bloom, Chairman and CEO of Bloom Burton commented, "With over 19 Canadian locations, high caliber investment advisory teams, 32,000 clients and over $30 billion in client assets, Richardson Wealth is the ideal partner for Bloom Burton as we support the Canadian healthcare sector together. We look forward to having greater access to capital and networks, as we partner with one of Canada's leading independent investment firms."

About Bloom Burton & Co.

Bloom Burton & Co. is a firm dedicated to accelerating returns in the healthcare sector for both investors and companies. Bloom Burton and its affiliates provide capital raising, M&A advisory, equity research, business strategy and scientific consulting, company creation and incubation services, and direct investing via the award-winning Bloom Burton Healthcare Lending Trust and the Bloom Burton Canadian Healthcare Fund. The annual Bloom Burton & Co. Healthcare Investor Conference plays a pivotal role in bringing together companies and investors in the healthcare sector, while the Bloom Burton Award celebrates the most significant contributor to the innovative healthcare sector each year. Bloom Burton Securities Inc. is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and is also a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). Please visit www.bloomburton.com to learn more.

About RF Capital Group Inc.:

RF Capital Group Inc. (RF Capital) currently operates through two business segments: Wealth Management and Operations Clearing; and a Corporate segment. Wealth Management consists of RF Capital's wholly owned subsidiary Richardson Wealth. Richardson Wealth is one of the largest independent wealth management firms in Canada with $30.6 billion in assets under administration (as at January 31, 2021) and 19 offices across the country. The firm's Advisor teams are focused exclusively on providing strategic wealth advice and innovative investment solutions customized for each high net worth or ultra-high net worth client family, entrepreneur, or business owner. Operations Clearing, through RF Securities Clearing LP, provides carrying broker services to Richardson Wealth and other third parties, including trade execution, clearing, settlement, custody, and certain other middle- and back-office services, and other expenses associated with providing such services. RF Capital is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "RCG". For further information, please visit our corporate website at www.rfcapgroup.com.

About Richardson Wealth

One of Canada's leading independent wealth management firms, Richardson Wealth provides strategic wealth advice and innovative investment solutions customized for high net worth and ultra-high net worth families and entrepreneurs. The firm is committed to maintaining exceptional fiduciary standards and has earned certification - determined annually - from the Center for Fiduciary Excellence for the Separately Managed and Portfolio Management Account platforms. Richardson Wealth has also been recognized as a Great Place to Work for the past three years. For further information, please visit our corporate website at www.RichardsonWealth.com.

For Further Information Please Contact:

Bloom Burton & Co.

Brian Bloom, Chairman & CEO

(416) 640-7580

bbloom@bloomburton.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74079
William Luther /Staff photographer

More students in the San Antonio Independent School District will be able to return to the classroom later this month.



The news comes following Monday night's COVID-19 update after officials announced that the positivity rate is now at 9.7 percent. The new positivity rate moves the risk level to yellow for the San Antonio community, which allows schools to operate at 50 percent student capacity.



As long as our local positivity rate remains in single digits, we will continue a gradual return of students, said SAISD Superintendent Pedro Martinez. We know families have been patient, and we appreciate them working with us to keep student occupancy low until it has become safer in the community to open our schools to more students.



According to a press release, campuses will begin reaching out to families this week, prioritizing those students who are struggling the most with remote learning.

READ ALSO: Joint Base San Antonio changes mask policy effective immediately
Auto-manufacturing workers who were crammed together in Volkswagen's Uitenhage factory during the Covid-19 pandemic want their shop stewards reinstated.

More than a dozen National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) shop stewards who were fired by Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) in January have filed a dispute at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). It is scheduled to be heard on 15 February.

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has said it will stage an enormous protest outside the VWSA factory in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, after the company refused early in February to reinstate the 14 shop stewards.

Saftu held a protest outside the factory on 3 February at the same time as a general meeting was being held inside the factory to discuss the dismissals. Saftu regional secretary Mzikazi Nkata said the federation had hoped the general meeting would result in VWSA management agreeing to reinstate the shop stewards. But the company refused to back down.

Saftu spokesperson Luyolo Makwabe said the federation protested in support of the fired shop stewards because their dismissal was set against the backdrop of three million workers losing their jobs during the Covid-19 lockdown, the public-sector wage freeze and billions of rands in public funds being eaten away by corruption during the pandemic.

"Saftu sees all this as a war against the working class and thus we condemn the added insult to this injury by Volkswagen dismissing 14 elected shop stewards," he said.

Saftu views the mass dismissal "as a tool used by VWSA to instil fear and vulnerability in workers in that company," Makwabe added.

The shop stewards were fired for "inciting" workers to stop work on 17 July 2020, after an internal VWSA newsletter revealed that 120 workers had tested positive for the coronavirus and a further 60 were in quarantine while awaiting their Covid-19 test results.

The federation said the work stoppage was protected by the Department of Employment and Labour's gazetted Covid-19 regulations, which state that workers can refuse to work if they can reasonably justify that working would mean "imminent and serious risk of their exposure to Covid-19".

Crowded factory floor

The shop stewards referred questions to Numsa. Regional secretary Mziyanda Twani said VWSA refused to redesign the factory floor during the pandemic so workers could physically distance themselves from one another, and that there were too many workers crowded into a small space.

"It was just not possible for workers to have social distancing in terms of how the work operations had been designed," Twani said, adding that the department had told VWSA that it was not complying properly with Covid-19 regulations on physical distancing.

Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said VWSA had, at that time, "cleared workers to return to work at alarming rates without complying with the necessary protocols". The company was also "disciplining employees who are close to exceeding their annual sick leave entitlement" and apparently threatening to withhold sick leave from sick employees on the grounds that they must have contracted the coronavirus outside of work, he said.

"The company's human resources manager, Richard Kasika, was not even prepared to meet with Numsa representatives in circumstances where he felt the number of delegates presented a risk to his health," added Jim.

According to Numsa, VWSA cut workers' pay by 50% for some months of the lockdown and they had not yet been reimbursed by the Unemployment Insurance Fund's Covid-19 temporary relief scheme.

Numsa applied for an interdict against VWSA after it suspended the shop stewards, but withdrew it when VWSA promised to lift the suspensions.

"To our surprise, after we withdrew from the court case, VWSA lifted the suspensions but refused to have discussions with Numsa," Twani said. The shop stewards were then called to disciplinary hearings and fired in January.

German metal workers' union IG Metall had supported Numsa and asked the VW head office in Germany to ensure that the shop stewards were not dismissed. But Twani said that VWSA defied its head office, which had said it "must go back and have discussions with Numsa in order to find an amicable solution".

Jim said hundreds of Numsa members at the VWSA plant in Uitenhage now have no union representatives at the factory and that management rebuffed his request to meet.

Historical significance

The concept of a worker-controlled union has historic importance at VWSA. In 2000, the company fired more than 1 300 workers who had gone on strike after refusing to accept Numsa's decision not to recognise the shop stewards they had elected. This mass axing removed a stable income from the lives of about 10 000 people in the Uitenhage and KwaNobuhle area. Many of those workers have not had a permanent job since, according to a committee of these dismissed workers that still exists 21 years later.

Jim said he "did not want history to repeat itself". He reminded VWSA chief executive Robert Cisek "of our dreadful past, where the very same management was directly involved in the mass dismissal of workers.

"We told the CEO about the importance of having a management team that is prepared to transform industrial relations at VWSA. We want the company to be successful, but not as a result of oppression and exploitation, but rather through the recognition and realisation of workers' rights and cooperation," said Jim.

VWSA spokesperson Andile Dlamini said that the shop stewards had been dismissed for serious misconduct and that all other information related to the dismissals was confidential.

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Dlamini said the VWSA workers had not asked the company to reinstate the shop stewards. "The matter has been referred to the CCMA by Numsa and it must be allowed to follow the due legal process," he said.

He added that Numsa's allegations of breaches of Covid-19 protocols last year were incorrect.

"The company followed and still follows all the necessary protocols to clear the employees to return to work after they had tested positive for Covid-19 or [been] exposed to a person who had tested positive. There is no truth in any suggestion that any employee of the Company was disciplined for any Covid-19 related absence from work, nor was there any employee disciplined for being close to exceeding his/her sick leave entitlement irrespective of whether such employees contracted Covid-19," said Dlamini.

Local media reported in May last year that the Covid-19 pandemic would reduce the auto-manufacturing sector by 40%, with some factories shedding jobs and other planned new factories in the Eastern Cape unlikely to open.

Eastern Cape auto-manufacturing workers remain in a precarious position. The factories they work at are often the major employers in their communities. When they close down abruptly - as the Bridgestone tyre-manufacturing plant in Port Elizabeth did last year, and the DCD Wind Towers solar and wind-power manufacturing plant did in 2019 - there are no other jobs available for retrenched workers.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The ground shook. Debris rained down as the sharp teeth of an excavator bucket chewed at the concrete innards of a three-story, brick-faced building. A man in heavy work clothes and a hard hat sprayed water from a hose to keep the dust down.

That was the scene Monday as contractors began tearing down the former Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Big 8' apartment complex on West 25th Street in Ohio City, a block south of Detroit Avenue.

After more than a decade of planning, dreaming, designing, and grant-writing, the demolition marked the first highly visible step toward the creation of a 23-acre park at Irishtown Bend overlooking the Cuyahoga River and the downtown skyline.

Every bite of the excavators bucket opened up a bit more of the view.

Once the site of a 19th-century Irish immigrant settlement, Irishtown Bend is a sodden, unstable, weed-covered slope on the outer curve of the Cuyahoga River opposite Columbus Road Peninsula, with a few buildings on top, along West 25th Street.

For decades, the hillside has threatened to avalanche into the river, an event that could rupture a major sewer line and block ore boats from reaching steel mills upstream.

The Port of Cleveland, Cleveland Metroparks, LAND Studio, Ohio City Inc., the City of Cleveland and other nonprofit organizations and government agencies have joined forces to stabilize the slope, rebuild waterside bulkheads, and create a park with trails zig-zagging down to the water.

Other partners include the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA),

West Creek Conservancy, CMHA, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, and the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless.

Its a pretty monumental day,' said Tom McNair executive director of Ohio City Inc. Its an odd thing in our business where you literally spend years working making things happen. To reach a point where you can see actual, tangible progress on a project is pretty incredible.

McNair and other advocates have long described the Irishtown project as a gigantic two-fer, with numerous benefits to communities and businesses.

Safeguarding the slope would protect a $3.5-billion shipping industry that serves 20,000 jobs in the region, according to information attributed to the Port of Cleveland on LAND Studios website.

The park also has the potential to become one of Ohios best public waterfronts, with trails connecting it to Lake Erie at nearby Wendy Park on Whiskey Island, and to the Towpath Trail, which links Cleveland to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Akron, and points south.

The northernmost five miles of the Towpath, reaching Canal Basin Park opposite Irishtown Bend, are scheduled for completion this summer.

Other nearby trails nearing completion this year include the 2.25-mile Red Line Greenway, which will intersect the Towpath at Columbus Road at Franklin Boulevard, and reach deep into the West Side.

The Irishtown Bend project is also likely to help spur residential redevelopment on the citys West Side, where a reverse migration after decades of white flight has brought an influx of new residents.

New and upcoming projects in the neighborhood include the 158-unit Church and State apartment building at Detroit Avenue and West 28th Street, and the 10-story, 288-unit Intro apartment building at West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue, which bills itself as Americas tallest timber-framed building.

McNair said the project to stabilize the Irishtown slope and build the park has so far attracted roughly $40 million in grants and donated property.

The funding includes $9 million awarded for the project in 2019 by the U.S. Department of Transportation through NOACA for slope stabilization.

Linda Sternheimer, the director of planning and urban development at the Port of Cleveland said the agency hopes by this fall to complete engineering plans for stabilization of the slope and to start construction by next winter.

NOACA, meanwhile, has identified $3.3 million to extend a half-mile section of the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail across the lower edge of Irishtown Bend along the river, which will connect to already completed sections leading north to Whiskey Island and south to the Towpath.

Cleveland Metroparks said the trail link could be finished as soon as 2024.

To pay for the acquisition and demolition of the CMHA apartments and a nearby former CMHA office, which will also be demolished soon, LAND Studio obtained a $1.4 million grant from the Ohio Public Works Commissions Clean Ohio Conservation Fund.

Cleveland Metroparks is leading the demolitions. The two buildings have been vacant for nearly a decade. McNair said the Big 8 building, a long, rectangular, three-story structure, took its name from its role in housing families with up to eight members.

Various plans for the transformation of Irishtown Bend have been underway at least since 2006. It was then that nonprofits including ParkWorks, a predecessor of LAND Studio, initiated discussions about the area.

In 2007, Michael Christoff and Bradley Fink, two then-recent graduates of Kent State Universitys College of Architecture and Environmental Design, organized a low-cost international design competition to brainstorm ideas for a future park on the bend.

Two years later, ParkWorks and other organizations completed a Flats Connection Plan,' using part of a $740,000 grant from the Gund Foundation. Many of the trails envisioned in that plan have been built or are close to being completed.

In late 2009, the Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit land conservation organization based in San Francisco, announced it had closed a $3.2 million deal to preserve 1.3 miles of abandoned rail bed on the west bank of the Flats for a future trail network.

In 2014, the Cleveland Foundation announced it would devote $5 million toward building those trails, most of which are now complete or soon will be, except for the Irishtown Bend section.

In 2017, LAND Studio, Ohio City and partnering agencies unveiled the first conceptual plans for the new park on the bend. Those plans continue to evolve in synch with the Ports work on engineering the stabilization of the slope.

We know theres a long way left to go with this,' McNair said. But to reach the point where we finally see buildings coming down and opening up the viewshed so people can see whats so exciting, is really special.
Supplier News

9 February 2021

Alpharetta, GA - Zoox Smart Data ("Zoox"), an international provider of technological solutions that harnesses big data to build customer profiles from existing Wi-Fi networks, has announced a series of strategic partnerships that will provide more seamless access to its targeted advertising capabilities in Europe and Asia. Within the European hospitality and travel markets, this includes signing an agreement with KelTech IoT, headquartered in Ireland and a provider of smart technology solutions throughout Europe. By facilitating integrations with KloudWIFI, a complete wireless network solution provider, Zoox Smart Data can additionally ensure instant compatibility of its advanced customer profile technology for businesses throughout India.

Key to Zoox's rapid global expansion has been its ability to provide businesses with solutions that can effortlessly integrate into existing operations and that can leverage such interconnectivity to update profiles reflecting the preferences of each individual guest or customer. Several luxury hotels within Ireland and the United Kingdom are set to integrate various network and smart technology platforms with Zoox Smart Data in order to compile analytics that demonstrate the ideal hotel stay environment for individual guests.

As leading Wi-Fi network providers for their respective regions, both KelTech IoT and KloudWIFI customers can significantly leverage a seamless integration process with Zoox to receive detailed insight on which available services and promotions best resonate with individual experience expectations. Once a consumer agrees to take part in the Zoox service, this can include receiving valuable details on an individual's marital status, income level, hobbies, sport interests, memberships and much more. The same pre-existing Wi-Fi network can then be used to automatically push relevant ad messaging to personal devices, catering to growing demands for experience personalization and boosting satisfaction levels, while monetizing Wi-Fi services that traditionally offered minimal ROI potential.

"Most hospitality and travel industry professionals now recognize the tremendous value that experience personalization and hyper-targeted advertising provides, however, many can often overlook the fact that existing services such as Wi-Fi supply the exact data they need to implement such abilities," said David Tyre, VP of Business Development - North America for Zoox. "Zoox is proud to work alongside third-party providers that are likewise committed to increasing client revenues via integrations that are proven to enhance personalization, satisfaction and loyalty among a client's customer base. We look forward to forging additional partnerships in the near future that will ensure even that more organizations across the world can effortlessly adopt the latest advances in smart data profile technology."

Zoox customers that have implemented the company's Smart Data and Media advertising solutions alongside pre-existing network and IoT infrastructure include Choice Hotels International and other major hotel groups, airports, train stations, bus terminals and casinos located around the globe. One additional advantage of Zoox is that each time a consumer logs their device onto one of the thousands of Zoox-enabled networks, profiles are automatically updated to present an always accurate and up-to-date representation of preferences and interests, ensuring that promotional campaigns continue to reach appropriate target audiences.

For more information, please visit www.zooxsmart.com.
(Newser)  A serial killer and rapist who terrorized Cleveland before the bodies of 11 women were found on his property has died on death row. "Cleveland strangler" Anthony Sowell was moved Jan. 21 from Ohio's Chillicothe Correctional Institute to the end-of-life care unit at the Franklin Medical Center in Columbus, where he died Monday afternoon of an undisclosed terminal illness, per Cleveland.com. A spokesperson for Ohio's corrections agency confirmed the 61-year-old did not die of COVID-19, per the New York Times. Sowell, a former Marine, was convicted of raping a woman he'd lured to his home in 1990. He was released from prison in 2005 but arrested again in 2009 as authorities uncovered remains around his property in Cleveland's Mount Pleasant neighborhood. The decomposed remains of 11 Black women were eventually found.

story continues below

Sowell, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, was convicted of 81 counts, including the attempted murder of three women, in 2011, per WJW. The city would later pay more than $1.3 million to settle lawsuits with victims and their families, who argued police didn't properly investigate missing person reports for women with drug problems, per Cleveland.com. There were also claims that the street on which Sowell lived had reeked of decomposing bodies. Sowell's home was later demolished. The site hosted a protest in October, with participants calling for an end to Sowell's steady stream of appeals, per WEWS. The Ohio Supreme Court upheld his conviction in 2016, and a state appellate court denied an appeal last year. "We can go on because he's dead," Joann Moore, sister of victim Janice Webb, tells WJW. "We don't have to hear about him any more." (Read more Anthony Sowell stories.)
A FATHER-of-one has been accused of acting as a middle man in a 6m worldwide invoice fraud and money laundering conspiracy.

Francis Ogbuefi (37), who was allegedly linked to fraudulent transactions through an Irish bank account, was arrested after gardai raided his Dublin home and seized luxury and designer goods bought in a 27,000 spending spree.

Judge Alan Mitchell refused to grant him bail and remanded him in custody when he appeared before Dublin District Court today.

Mr Ogbuefi of Clonard Road, Crumlin, is charged with two counts of money laundering and one of conspiracy.

Objecting to bail, Detective Garda Stephen Kelly said the two money laundering offences were alleged to have happened on dates between December 7 and 31 last.

They related to an invoice redirect fraud and involved an Ulster Bank account in Monaghan, he said, with sums of 19,476 and 36,429 allegedly transferred to that account.

Read More

The conspiracy charge relates to dates between March 5, 2018, and December 31, 2020.

The accused was allegedly linked to the offences through information on a phone that was seized in a search of his home. It was alleged that during the search, Mr Ogbuefi attempted to conceal the phone by placing it under dishes in the sink.

It was alleged that withdrawals were made from the account and high-end luxury items including designer clothing and electronics were bought in a spending spree.

The accused was allegedly seen on CCTV using the bank card and a large amount of goods were found in his home, including a 55-inch TV mounted on the wall facing the accuseds bed, Det Gda Kelly said.

It was alleged the accused was involved in a worldwide fraud and money laundering conspiracy operating in a "multitude" of countries throughout Europe, North and Central America, Africa and the Middle and Far East, and totalling 6.17m, the garda said.

The accused was allegedly a middle man who received 800,000, which was a 20pc share of the Irish transfers.

Det Gda Kelly said Mr Ogbuefi only came to Ireland from Nigeria in 2018 to commit these alleged offences. The garda believed the accused would not attend court if granted bail.

Applying for bail, defence solicitor Jenny McGeever said the accused was presumed innocent. He strongly denied ownership or use of the phone in question and at no time was referred to by name in messages on it, she said.

When he was asked if it was him on the CCTV, he said no. The accused was on Pandemic Unemployment Payment had only 600 in his bank account and was not a man of means, Ms McGeever said.

Judge Mitchell refused bail and remanded Mr Ogbuefi in custody, to appear in Cloverhill District Court on February 12.


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Budapest (Hungary) 08 February 2021 (SPS)- World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) denounced in a press release, issued Monday, the dubious death of young Saharawi, Mohamed Salem Fahim, whose dead body was found by family hidden for more than 2 weeks in Moroccan morgue in occupied El Aaiun.

WFDY shows its solidarity with the family and friends of the late Mohamed Salem Fahim, as well as with all the victims of the Moroccan occupation, the press release emphasised.

Following is the full text of the Press Release:

-----------------

The young Saharawi Mohamed Salem Fahim had been missing for more than 20 days under mysterious circumstances. The 5th of February his family found his body in the morgue of El-Aaiun Hospital. The fact that the Moroccan authorities hid the body for so many days and have not given any explanation for his death suggests the worst, that is, that we are facing a new political assassination by the Moroccan occupation.



The brutality suffered by the Sahrawi youth and people has been aggravated since that fateful morning of 13 November of 2020, when the Moroccan occupation forces opened three breaches east of the wall of shame in clear violation of the ceasefire agreement to attack a group of peaceful Saharawi civilians who were peacefully protesting in front of the illegal Guerguerat breach.



In this situation, it is worth denouncing the complicity that several countries in the world, political leaders and representatives, etc. have shown towards the occupation of Western Sahara. From the then President of the United States, Donald Trump, validating the Moroccan occupation by recognising Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara; to the latest delirious case of the self-proclaimed president of Venezuela, Juan Guaido, in which this representative of the pro-imperialist coup-plotters in Venezuela supported the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara.



The World Federation of Democratic Youth shows its solidarity with the family and friends of the late Mohamed Salem Fahim, as well as with all the victims of the Moroccan occupation.



The World Federation of Democratic Youth reaffirms its steadfast position on the side of the Saharawi youth and their right to a free sovereign state. The only solution to the situation of the Saharawi youth and people is exercising the right of self-determination.



The World Federation of Democratic Youth condemns the complicity and negligence of all those who are contributing to the normalisation of the occupation; who are whitewashing the crimes of the Moroccan occupation; and who are denying or obstructing the exercise of the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people in total violation of all relevant UN and AU resolutions and against the basic principles of international law. (SPS)

090/500/60 (SPS)
Dairy product sales, both at home and abroad, have changed more in the past 12 months than in any previous five- or 10-year time frame. Last year at Dairy Forum, I said, Wed see more change in the next five years than weve seen in the last 15 years. Oh my goodness, I had no idea what we would encounter during the year of 2020, but we have certainly seen change, said Michael Dykes, the president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA).

Our dairy industry, I think, ends 2020 in pretty good shape and far better than any of us would have guessed back in April, May, and June, continued Dykes in his opening comments at this years virtual Dairy Forum. We came together to do the things we thought we needed to do, and it turned out better than we even expected. Some will even tell you that we turned out in 2020 better than 2019.

I think people are understanding the importance of agriculture in a different way than they have in the past, explained ranking Senate Ag Committee member John Boozman (R-Ark.), who spoke later during the event. Again, its making people aware that you dont get your food from the grocery store. Theres a supply chain.

One of the things we learned during COVID-19 is that the supply chain is pretty fragile, said Boozman. You (the dairy industry) certainly have experienced that firsthand in so many different ways such as dumping milk. Thats one of the things we need to look at to see how we can strengthen that (supply chain) going forward, said the senator, who happens to hold an A.I. training certificate to breed his beef herd.



What about this year?

I would say that the commercial demand is a little wobbly, Dykes said to global attendees steeped in dairy processing expertise. We are still in lockdowns. Schools remain closed, and our exports are kind of mixed because our No. 1 trading partner (Mexico) is battling COVID-19 and its economy.

One of the biggest things we have now is the U.S. government demand. What happens when the food boxes end in April? he asked rhetorically. The U.S. government was about 40% of the net farm income in 2020. So, we have some significant challenges that lie ahead.

Consumers hold the keys

The consumer is the boss of all of us, Dykes advised everyone. They trust the food industry more than they trust the government. We have to reward that trust with innovation, affordability, and wholesome and nutritious products. We (dairy) can be a food for all occasions, he went on to explain.

We have to focus on some of the emerging trends, Dykes said with an eye on the future. Consumers are very interested in animal welfare. How well are we treating our animals? How well are we treating our people?

Consumers are concerned about climate, he continued, noting the issue tops the list in many consumer product polls. What are we doing to the environment in terms of carbon, in terms of methane, the amount of water we use, and the amount of energy we use?

Senate ag chair sets expectations

I am hopeful that were going to be able to help support a return to stability in dairy markets and provide additional support going forward as we come out of this very difficult challenge around this health pandemic, explained Senate Ag Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).

After focusing on ways to continue navigating the pandemic, the 20-year Senate veteran went on to discuss creating a new commodity market for farmers and the food industry. That centers around carbon and tackling the climate crisis.

We have a real opportunity to have agriculture, the food industry, and forestry lead the way and at the same time create new revenue streams, which is really important, said the senator. I start with the idea that whatever we do will be voluntary, it will be producer led, and it will be bipartisan, she continued.

I am really pleased that the dairy industry is leading the way and pushing for net zero, she added. The Senate Ag Committee held two hearings on the topic last year. Tom Vilsack, in his capacity at the U.S. Dairy Export Council, testified and talked about all the strides your industry is making, and it was actually very impressive, she said of Bidens choice for USDA secretary.

The 2018 Farm Bill contains a lot of areas in which we want to build upon in terms of climate and ag policies, including the landmark Soil Health Demonstration trials, Stabenow continued. What we really want to do is help farmers scale up sustainable practices and tap into this new economic opportunity through voluntary carbon markets.

I think we all agree, for all kinds of reasons, we need to address climate. Its the right thing to do as far as air, water, and all those things. But I am concerned about heavy handedness, said Boozman during a separate one-on-one interview with Dykes. My concerns are, certainly as we go down the path, I want it to be voluntary, he continued. I dont want a bunch of mandates on farmers that drive the cost up even higher, then you are going to get increased consolidation.



The Senator then went on to speak of dairys already impressive record on doing more with fewer inputs. You are all such a tremendous example of having fewer cows and so much increased production than when you go back to the 1960s.

An actionable plan

The trust and values that consumers are looking for in the companies they do business with have really changed over time, explained Heather Anfang, senior vice president of U.S. dairy foods for Land OLakes. We all have terrific stories to tell in this area around sustainability.

We started our own sustainability division about four or five years ago called TruTerra, Anfang said while speaking during Dairy Forum. From that foundation, Land OLakes took the sustainability concept one step further.

One area I would say that we have really pushed on, and this is new as a program that is being introduced this week actually, is TruCarbon. Its really where we are leveraging back into our farmer network to provide carbon credits to private sector buyers who are looking to make their own offsets. Our first customer buyer in 2021 will be Microsoft, she continued.

When you think about Microsoft, its a huge corporation. It has significant and aggressive goals around carbon reduction and to be carbon negative by 2030. Its really seen the value of a company like Land OLakes that can leverage all the way back to the farmer.

Farmers are the original environmentalists, Anfang reminded the mixed crowd of dairy producers and processors. You are working that land for your livelihood, and you are also entrepreneurs. Think about the opportunity to put an environmentalist and an entrepreneur together. The runway is long!

Farmers have reinvented themselves for generations. That needs to happen again, right now in a really accelerated way, she said of the future. We have the structure in place to help do that, and we are making considerable inroads here as we think about the carbon market sequestration and how we take that to scale.

Dykes took the future one step further. I think . . . in the very near future, we will need to make sustainability relatable at the point of purchase, he said.
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When the Reverend William Barber prayed for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, he asked for them to be blessed with courage.

The challenges they were inheriting from Donald Trump, he said, called for bold and progressive solutions. They needed to act with speed. Most of all, they should give up on securing change by pursuing simplistic calls for unity.

We are in a jam today. Trouble is real, and whether we like it or not, we are in this mess together as a nation, said Rev. Barber, who also quoted from the Book of Issiah. If we want to come out of this jam and move forward together, we cannot accept the racial disparities, violence, and breaches that impact Black, brown, native and Asian Americans while offering collateral damage to our poor white brothers and sisters and ultimately our entire democracy.

If his words sounded as much a political rallying cry as a homily, that is because they were; since establishing in 2017 the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for a Moral Revival, Rev. Barber has combined scripture with unambiguously liberal politics.

Yet, what may have been startling, after having for four years watched President Trump seek to marshal the levers of religion to benefit those on the right, was to hear such progressive language delivered from the pulpit as part of the presidential inauguration service broadcast from the Washington National Cathedral.

Liberation theology, theology that says the primary work of faith is to challenge lies with truth, challenge hate with love, challenge injustice with justice, is actually orthodox Christianity, Rev. Barber, 57, tells The Independent.

What we have seen is an aberration. We have a lot of theological malpractice, that borders on heresy.

He adds: When people try to suggest being Christian is a private state, that has nothing to do with public realities, or when people try to use Christianity to justify greed, to justify racism, to justify hate, or to justify xenophobia, that's not Christianity, that's heresy.

 Poor People's Campaign Rev. William Barber says Biden admin must not sacrifice racial and economic justice for false unity_1.mp4

Rev. Barbers comments come as Mr Biden seeks to deliver on a campaign promise to work with both parties. He says he needs cooperation from Republicans and Democrats alike, not only on a Covid-relief package, but for other parts of his agenda. This week, 10 Republican senators met Mr Biden in the Oval Office where they sought to reduce his proposal of $1.9 trillion to around $618 billion.

Rev. Barber says Mr Biden must remember unity is not the same as unanimous. In short, he says, they already have the numbers to get busy.

There's a difference between unity and unanimous. If the idea of unity means everybody together, everybody going in the same direction, that is certainly one of our hopes, he says.

Yet he says at key moments in the nations history when people sought to press forward, such as Franklin D Roosevelts fight to pass the New Deal, or during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, there was a staunch push-back from those opposed to change.

What we mean by unity is enough of us. Enough people who will go forward in this moment, he says. Fifty-five per cent of poor and low wealth people in this last election voted wanting to go forward, they voted for Biden-Harris, they voted for living wages, they voted to address systemic racism, they voted to expand healthcare.

He says politics is a game of 50 plus one, a point similarly made by the likes of senator Bernie Sanders who has said by making use of so-called the so-called reconciliation process  which is not quite what it sounds like  Democrats can pass budgetary bills without the need to secure the 60 votes needed to overcome any filibuster.

We need enough of us, and there are enough of us  Black, white, brown, Asian, native, young, old, gay, straight, says Rev. Barber.

If it's enough Democrats, well do it. If its Democrats and Republicans, you do it together. But what you don't do is  you don't sacrifice living wages, healthcare, expanding voting rights, addressing climate realities. You don't sacrifice those things for some false sense, or simplistic idea about total unity.

It still the very earliest of days in the Biden administration. The prayer service a day after inauguration in which Rev. Barber spoke, was barely two weeks ago. How does he judge the presidents performance so far?

First of all, we have to remember its just one week, after four years of intense regression under Trump, and 50 years of regression under the Republicans, he says.

Joe Biden has vowed to work with Republicans (Getty Images)

Rev. Barber, whose organisation has highlighted 14 policies Biden ought to introduce immediately, says he is encouraged by some of the steps he and Harris have taken. In the past, he says, Democrats often pursued neoliberal ideas aimed at helping the middle class, while the pandemic has underscored how the nation needs to be lifted from the bottom up.

He says the executive orders signed on issues ranging from countering racism, to climate change and boosting the minimum wage for contractors, are a start but are not the same as real legislation, which is more difficult to overturn. Also, he is concerned that the wage increases are not immediate, and may not apply to all federally contracted workers.

We have a $1.9 trillion bill he has put on the table for Covid relief. Well, we gave $4 trillion dollars to corporations. So while we are happy at about the $1.9 trillion, we are not satisfied with the $1.9 trillion, he says.

Regarding the orders President Biden has signed to address some challenges of systematic racism, Barber says such moves cannot only focus on prisons and the criminal justice system.

We have to look at what is means when it comes to housing, when it comes to wages, when it comes to disparities in healthcare, when it comes to the disparities in economic development in poor and low-wealth communities and Black and brown communities, he says

What is he going to do about indigenous people? For us, racism is not just a Black-white issue. Systemic racism is never just about prisons and police reform. It's about looking at the way throughout the system that racial disparities play, and having a racial lens, and making sure in every policy that there is a consideration.

Rev. Barber, who has been a pastor at the Greenleaf Christian Church, in Goldsboro, North Carolina, since 1993, has authored several books. Among the most influential was The Third Reconstruction: Moral Mondays, Fusion Politics, and the Rise of a New Justice Movement. In it, he argues the United States must commit to a third reconstruction.

Barber believes the future of America will be decided by the poor (Getty Images)

The first so-called reconstruction followed the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, a 12-year period that allowed many to think the nation was moving towards equality. It ended in 1877 in a deal that saw Republican Rutherford Hayes elected president, on the condition federal troops be removed from three key southern states. Their removal permitted what became known as the Jim Crow system in the South, one of intense violence and discrimination against African Americans, that many likened to slavery.

The second reconstruction is sometimes used to described the civil rights movement headed by Dr Martin Luther King and others, that resulted in  among other achievements  the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Like the later focus of Dr King, who was assassinated in 1968, much of Rev. Barbers work has sought to bring together poor white communities and people of colour.

Last year, he was an inspiration to Charles Booker, a Democratic candidate in the senate primary in Kentucky. His campaign similarly sought to connect poor rural communities with those in the inner cities, and came within a few thousand votes of defeating the vastly better funded campaign of Amy McGrath.

Why have elites always been afraid of such an alliance?

If Black people, white people, brown people and native people come together, they are an unstoppable force. Poor people represent one third almost of the entire electorate now, over 64 million votes, says Rev. Barber.

The south of this country  which is the home grown place of racism and the ancestors of slavery and Jim Crow  one-third of all poor people live in the south, and one third of all white people live in the south, he says.

And the majority of African Americans live in the south. So building relationships is the key to transforming the South. If you change the South you change the country. There are 170 electoral college votes in the south.

He says the political establishment, or Bourbon class, has always been aware of the threat of such an alliance and sought to undermine it.

Every time theres the possibility of the masses of Black people and white people to come together and change society and make it a loving community, that aristocracy has sown division, he says.

You have to see the intersection between race and greed and racism, and the need to hold power. And those who want the power, and the money, they cannot have the political power to do it unless they divide the masses of Black and white people, which is why our campaign is so intent on organising and building those, because we have now gotten behind the veil.

What does Rev. Barber make of the events of Jan 6 2021, when hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol?

He says we cannot live in an innocence that this was the first time America had witnessed political violence. It may have been the second time in history the legislature was ransacked, but people of colour and the poor have suffered violence all their lives, whether it was lynching, or the violence of poverty.

What happened on the 6th, he says. Was the whole world got to see what happened. On the 6th, the legislators and the people in the Congress, they felt what marginalised and poor people and others have felt in this country down through its history.

In his inaugural prayer, Rev. Barber quoted from Isaiah 58, a passage from the Old Testament of the Bible, that talks of repairing the breach. He has taken the phrase for a non-profit group he heads and that seeks to build a moral agenda rooted in a framework that uplifts our deepest moral and constitutional values to redeem the heart and soul of our country.

The passage he says is sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims.

There are over 2000 scriptures in the Bible, more than any other subject in the Bible, has to do with how we treat the poor, and those on the margins. The greatest sin in the Bible is idolatry  self-worship. The second greatest is when that self-worship leads to the kind of political injustices that create poverty and hurt, he says.

Isaiah he says, is speaking out against a nation that would attempt to use religiosity  While they leave the structures of injustice in place.

Issiah is saying we can reveal, we can renew, we can revive, if  and the if is  if we loose the bands of wickedness, which translated out of Hebrew literally means if we pay people what they deserve, if we stop unjust practices, if we lift the poor and if we stopped blaming people for their poverty and we actually started looking at that systems that created it.

He adds: That is why Issiah 58 is such an important text.
There is insufficient evidence to determine that coronavirus was being spread in China's central Wuhan before December 2019, a joint World Health Organization (WHO) and Chinese expert mission into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic in Wuhan said on Tuesday.

"There is no indication of the transmission of the Sars-Cov-2 in the population of the period before Dec 2019," said Liang Wannian, head of the China team, at a press briefing, adding that there was "not enough evidence" to determine if the virus had spread in the city prior to that.

Addressing the press meet, Ben Embarek, head of the WHO mission, said that the focus of the study is whether coronavirus had 'previous history' and was circulating earlier than December 2019.

Experts from the WHO has also eliminated a controversial theory that Covid-19 came from a laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

"The laboratory incident hypothesis is extremely unlikely to explain the introduction of the virus into the human population," said Embarek. "Therefore is not in the hypotheses that we will suggest for future studies."

The WHO scientists also said that the global health body's mission to China to uncover the origins of the coronavirus has failed to identify the animal source.

Experts believe the disease -- which has gone on to kill more than 2.3 million people worldwide -- originated in bats and could have been transmitted to humans via another mammal.

While transmission from animals was the likely route, so far "the reservoir hosts remain to be identified", Liang Wannian said.

He added that studies showed the virus "can be carried long-distance on cold chain products," appearing to nudge towards the possible importation of the virus -- a theory that has abounded in China in recent months.

Wannian has also said that the virus that causes Covid-19 could have been circulating in other regions before it was identified in the central Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019.

Former US President Donald Trump repeated a controversial theory that a lab leak may have been the source of the pandemic.

The WHO team arrived in Wuhan on 14 January and after two weeks of quarantine, visited key sites like the Huanan seafood market, the location of the first known cluster of infections, as well as the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has been involved in coronavirus research.

During the closely-monitored visit, reporters were largely kept at arms' length from the experts, but snippets of their findings crept out over Twitter and interviews.

WHO's mission is a diplomatically knotty one, which was trailed before it began by fears of a whitewash, with the US demanding a "robust" probe and China firing back with a warning not to "politicise" the investigation.

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Rwanda and Qatar on Monday, February 8, signed a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) that intends to deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.

The agreement clarifies the taxing rights of contracting states on all forms of income flows arising from business activities, and avoids the double taxation of such income.

The treaty applies to individuals who are residents in the contracting states.

Speaking exclusively to The New Times about what the country will benefit from the pact, Francois Nkulikiyimfura, Ambassador of Rwanda to the State of Qatar said that it is a stepping stone to existing economic cooperation between the two countries.

"The DTA Agreement will allow to further develop economic relationship with Qatar, boost trade and investment flows between the two countries, and facilitate outbound investment by residents of both countries," he told The New Times on Monday.

Besides the transfer of skills and technology between two countries that is likely to increase due to the latest development, according to Nkulikiyimfura, going forward, the treaty will also cement cooperation in tax matters.

"The agreement will ensure an effective and appropriate collection of taxes on income and prevent any fiscal evasion by sharing tax information with Qatar," he noted.

So far, Rwanda has signed double tax avoidance treaties with 12 countries around the world, and there are five others under negotiations.

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The latest DTAA with the Gulf State will become effective once ratified by both countries.

Following Monday's signing ceremony, concerned ministries of both countries will present a detailed document of the agreement to their cabinet for approval and then to the parliament for review, a step after which the agreement will come into force.

Existing cooperation between Rwanda and Qatar

The two countries currently cooperate in matters related to diplomacy, aviation, politics, agriculture, technology, mining, transport, and tourism among others.

The relations between Rwanda and Qatar has been among others enhanced by the exchange of visits between President Paul Kagame and His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad.

Following Kagame's visit to the Gulf State in 2018, the Emir of Qatar visited Rwanda in April 2019, and the two countries signed four bilateral agreements covering culture, sports, tourism, and business events.

Months later, Rwanda opened its Embassy in Qatar and so did the latter.


Senegalese regulator ARTP (LAutorite de Regulation des Telecommunications et des Postes) has formally warned Expresso Telecom that it must improve its services or face being stripped of its operating licence.

According to Agence Ecofin, Expresso has failed to meet the service obligations stipulated by the terms of its licence due to years of underinvesting in its network.

Expresso lags behind its rivals Orange and Free in terms of 4G services. While these operators launched LTE services in July 2018 and October 2019 respectively, in March 2020 Expresso delayed its planned 4G offering due to the pandemic and has not yet launched services.

TeleGeography reports that the operator, which is Senegals third largest by subscribers, also owes the regulator XOF7 billion (US$12.9 million) in unpaid fees. ARTP has reportedly already begun procedures to revoke Expressos licence unless it improves, although the timeline for this has not been disclosed.
It could take more than two months to get the first San Francisco public school students back into classrooms even after the district reached a tentative deal with labor unions to reopen schools, officials said.

The deal, announced Sunday, prompted more questions than it answered as families, city officials and educators wondered whether students would actually be back in class this year and, if so, for more than a few hours a week.

Some families, already stretched to the breaking point, were skeptical that the deal would lead to a meaningful return to school for students, many of whom are struggling academically and emotionally.

At this point, with less than 16 weeks to go in the school year, the goal is to give students at least six weeks of in-person instruction before the academic year ends on June 2, said district spokeswoman Laura Dudnick.

While the tentative agreement set the health and safety conditions needed for staff to return, the district must now negotiate with the teachers union on what the school day will look like, including class sizes, daily schedule and hours of in-person instruction, with students on campus part time, possibly a couple of hours two days a week. Schools cant open without that agreement, and its unclear how long it will take to get one.

They also cant reopen without authorization by the citys Department of Public Health. So far, the district of 52,000 students has only applied to reopen six of the 64 elementary schools. The district previously said it is unlikely that middle and high schools will reopen this school year. Officials did not respond to a request for comment on whether that remained true.

Yet even if schools do reopen, it could be too late to stem an exodus of well-off families who are enrolling in private schools, or moving to places like Marin County, where public schools are open. For the majority of families without those options, that could further widen the academic gulf between wealthier and low-income students that the district is tracking.

Adam Keats, who has two children at Leonard Flynn Elementary, said he watched 114 private and charter schools  serving more than 15,000 students  reopen in San Francisco, starting in late September.

I think most parents Ive talked to have given up on this semester, he said. Its very clear theres no willingness in the district or union to open up this school year.

San Francisco is among many Bay Area districts that have yet to reopen, but given the citys low death rate and case count compared with other regions, health experts and city officials have repeatedly said since September that its safe for students to go back with proper protocols in place.

The district has been working on getting school facilities ready, improving ventilation, ensuring social distancing in classrooms and other areas, while stocking masks, soap and hand sanitizer, among other requirements.

Keats said he allowed himself a little bit of optimism when he heard Sunday that district officials and labor unions had reached the tentative agreement on health and safety standards needed to reopen classrooms.

But he  and many others  noticed there were a lot of ifs and only whens embedded in the agreement, mostly connected to vaccines and case rates, and a lot of question marks, including whether its even possible for schools to start reopening in April and if they do, whether it will be worth it to send students to class for something like two hours, two days a week.

I have yet to see the details that give me confidence our students will be back in the classroom this school year, said Mayor London Breed in a statement to The Chronicle on Monday. We need clear plans with concrete timelines, which I hope are coming soon.

The tentative labor agreement is the first step. It allows a return to classrooms once the city reaches the red tier, the second-most-restrictive level of Californias reopening blueprint, if vaccinations are available to on-site school staff.

If the city progresses to the orange tier, a less restrictive category with moderate virus spread, teachers and other staff would return without demanding vaccinations.

San Francisco could reach the red tier within the next two weeks, based on current trends in the case rate, but the state requires three weeks in the red before the city can enter the orange tier.

In the meantime, its unclear when teachers will get to the front of the line for vaccines in San Francisco, although both Breed and Gov. Gavin Newsom said educators are a priority for the shots in the next round.

Also unclear: how long it will take to reach an agreement with the teachers union on what in-person learning would like look. Superintendent Vincent Matthews said the district is continuing to talk with the United Educators of San Francisco, although he had no timeline on an agreement.

Right now, what were ramping up to do is nail down the details, Matthews said.

Once all of that is in place, including a plan to regularly test students and teachers, it will still take the district at least five weeks to implement the changes, including contacting families, scheduling students, conducting initial COVID-19 tests, and finalizing all details of a reopening at each school.

The district expects to phase in reopening, with about 12 schools in the first set.

To offset learning loss, the district is also looking at expanded summer school for students, officials said.

COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.

Putting together all the pieces of reopening has been like pushing a very large boulder uphill, said school board member Kevine Boggess.

Im optimistic weve hit a downhill slope at this point, he said. Im hoping that were going to be showing a lot of progress in a short amount of time.

Parent Minerva Pacheco said she hopes so too. She stopped working in March to supervise her three children, ages 11, 8 and 7, in distance learning, and at times, its been chaos.

Its difficult because I dont have the knowledge or the resources to help them with assignments or homework like a teacher does, so it can be challenging, she said. I would like schools to reopen so that my kids can receive the quality education that they have the right to receive in a classroom.

She said her kids are frustrated because they want to move, play and jump. They are tired of computer screens and crashing internet.

I see other private schools that have returned to in-person instruction, and sure, its not quite the same with masks and social distancing, but I ask myself why we cannot do the same, she said. I don't know how this pandemic, remote learning, and lack of socialization with their friends may affect my childrens long-term development.

Parent Mohita Mohan said she has a lot of empathy for the teachers and was glad to see progress in reopening.

Its been hard on all sides, she said. I do feel like teachers need to feel safe before going back. You cant do your best work if youre afraid.

Mohan doesnt know if shell send her kindergarten daughter back to Jefferson Elementary if it reopens. Currently, her daughter is in a small isolated cohort at a private camp after distance learning each day and would have to stop to attend in-person instruction given safety protocols at the camp.

Yes, the school might be open, Mohan said, but if its not open enough, are we even going to be able to commit to it?

Chronicle staff writers Vanessa Arredondo and Aidin Vaziri contributed to this report.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju said granting a one-time relaxation on age limit to UPSC civil service aspirants would be discriminatory to other candidates

New Delhi: The Centre Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it is against granting one-time relaxation on age limit to UPSC civil service aspirants, including those who had exhausted their last attempt in 2020 exam amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as it would be discriminatory to other candidates.

The Centre told this to a bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar which reserved its verdict on a plea which had sought one more chance in the UPSC's civil services exam to those aspirants who could not appear in their last attempt in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Centre, said that initially the government was not willing to concede the extra chance and it was later done at the suggestion of the bench. "This is not the exam where you prepare at the last minutes. People prepare for years together," Raju told the bench, adding, "My first offer remains".

The Centre had on 5 February told the apex court that it was agreeable to give an extra chance as a one-time relaxation to those civil service aspirants, who had appeared in their last attempt in the 2020 exam and are otherwise not age-barred.

It, however, had said that no relaxation shall be granted for 2021 exam to those candidates who have not exhausted their permissible number of attempts or to those who are otherwise age-barred from appearing in 2021 exam as per the prescribed age limits of different categories, or to any other candidate for any other reason whatsoever.

The counsel appearing for the petitioners had Monday argued that there should be one-time relaxation on age limit for the aspirants. On 5 February, the Centre had filed a note in the apex court which said, "Relaxation, only to the extent of providing one extra attempt for Civil Service Examination (CSE), specifically limited to CSE-2021, may be granted to only those candidates who appeared for CSE-2020 as their last permissible attempt and are otherwise not age-barred from appearing in CSE-2021."

"This relaxation for the candidates and to the extent as prescribed above, shall be a one-time relaxation only and shall apply only for appearing in CSE-2021 and shall not be treated as a precedent," it had said.

"As per the suggestion of this court, the Union of India is agreeable for the following ex-gratia, one-time, restricted relaxation to be granted to the prospective candidates, subject to the same being part of a consent order, disposing off the petition," the note had said.

On 1 February, the Centre had told the top court that it cannot grant an extra chance to civil services aspirants who could not appear or prepare well for their last attempt in the UPSC civil service exam in 2020 due to the pandemic while reiterating that it would amount to extending differential treatment to similarly placed candidates.

The Centre had earlier furnished a chart in the apex court giving details of relaxation given by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in civil services exams since its inception and had said that in 1979, 1992 and 2015 relaxations were given to the candidates due to change in patterns of examination. The top court on September 30 last year had refused to postpone the UPSC civil services preliminary exam because of the COVID-19 pandemic and floods in several parts of the country.

However, it had directed the central government and the UPSC to consider granting an extra chance to candidates who have their last attempt in 2020, with the corresponding extension of the upper age-limit.
The Director of the weekly satirical newspaper, Raymond Malonga, aged 60, was arrested on 2 February on libel charges following the publication of an article about the wife of a high ranking official in Congo Brazzaville. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns this deliberate act of intimidation and harassment against the Congolese media and calls for respect for journalists' independence.

The satirical magazine Sal Piment ,which is highly critical of the government of President Denis Sassou Nguesso, was suspended several weeks ago by the countrys media regulator, High Council for Freedom of Communication (CSLC).

According to media reports, Raymond Malonga was arrested at a hospital in the capital city Brazzaville where he was admitted fro for malaria treatment . He was taken to the capitals main prison and held in a quarantine area for detainees with Covid-19.

Journalists unions and human rights groups condemned the arrest of Raymond Malonga as an act of intimidation to silence the media, ahead of the presidential elections on 21 March.

The General Secretary of the IFJ, Anthony Bellanger, said: The IFJ condemns the arrest of Raymond Malonga, which seems to be a clear targeted reprisal for his work. We call on the Government of President Denis Sassou Nguesso to release him immediately and unconditionally and urge the authorities to guarantee freedom of information and expression before and during the incoming elections."
Port Harcourt  There is a fundamental interdependence between host countries and the international oil companies (IOCs) in the development of natural resources.

The interests of these two parties differ much but mainly converge on resource production-sharing. Two other major stakeholders are the National Oil Companies (NOC's) and the host communities, and traditionally these two stakeholders' interests have been subsumed under the host country interests.

The fact that oil and gas resources are vested in the Federal Government of Nigeria does not exclude the host communities as major stakeholders.

These communities bear the brunt of environmental degradation (acid rain, oil spillage, foul air and water) that usually attend resource extraction and refining processes.

These call to question the urgent need for environmental remediation in host communities and environmental justice for those that bear the brunt! A successful negotiation of the PIB will take into account the contending interests of stakeholders, which I will briefly narrate here.

Let us commence with the host country's interests. Nigeria is characterised by high population growth, excessive unemployment, low per capital income, a low level of economic development (reflected in a lack of social services and resources), a low quality of education, low electric power supply, poor infrastructure development and maintenance, and short life expectancies).

Given this setting, the critical concern of government should be economic growth.

As a major oil exporter, oil E & P activities should secure a reasonable tax base for the government, revenue from the world oil market, capital for economic expansion, and employment and income for individual workers. There are other economic, social, and political factors of interest to the host country. These include acquisition of technology and expertise from foreign oil companies, increasing local content in supplies and other forms of contracting, access to foreign markets, infrastructure development in the course of E & P activities, such as roads, communications, port facilities, etc.

Few developing countries have the capital, technology and trained personnel necessary to develop oil reserves, and so must rely to varying degrees on foreign investment by the IOCs.

The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) offered by the IOCs provides the host country with technology, managerial and technical expertise, and a reduced vulnerability to downturns in the world's economy, and with capital.

FDI also provides the opportunity to shift the responsibility of building and maintaining the requisite support services and infrastructure facilities to the IOCs.

Therefore, it is in the interest of host countries to maintain this historical interdependence with the IOCs.

The IOCs interests are principally driven by the characteristics of petroleum E & P operations. There is a considerable lag between an investment in a petroleum prospect and the realisation of any profit from the enterprise.

E & P operations are capital - intensive and frequently entail the creation of a robust infrastructure before actual extraction can take place. These operations are also high- risk in nature (the existence, extent and quality of oil reserves; production costs; and world crude oil prices are all difficult to determine well in advance). Therefore, profitability is never assured.

Generally, most IOCs tend to improve their profitability by improving the crude oil which accounts for why they get involved in the entire value chain of the industry.

Also hydrocarbon reserves are finite, so IOCs must continually acquire new reserves which again are capital - intensive. The fiscal incentives available in different oil producing countries tend to determine where the IOCs sink their oil rigs.

IOCs are compelled to be far more concerned about government policies and regulations than most other businesses. These companies have to deal directly with the government (through their agencies) being the custodian of national oil reserves, but also must deal with the political and legal hazards associated with extracting the reserves that in most cases is the host country's major source of revenue.

The primary interest of the IOCs as with any other business are maximisation of profits and minimisation of risks or at least ensuring that unavoidable risk are factored into the potential 'upside' of the enterprise.

For the IOCs the principal risks are geological, economic, and political. Political risks include a sudden increase in taxes, uncertain fiscal terms, unfavorable alteration of the production- sharing ratio, government instability, agency - in-fighting, outright confiscation of production, and nationalisation of foreign oil assets.

These interests and risks have to be factored into the PIB debate and negotiations to ensure the IOCs are not discouraged from making further investments in the host country.

Else, they would be encouraged to move away and invest in other countries with more stable and better fiscal regimes.

NOCs (e.g. NNPC) are created to develop petroleum resources within the host country and in most cases are typically multi - layered in structure, and organised into subsidiaries in accordance with function, such as E & P, refining, marketing, petrochemicals, retail etc.

The corporate forms of NOCs mimics that of the IOCs, but the overall objectives of NOCs are less clear than the purely -for- profit IOCs. NOCs are basically government agencies, and as such are responsive to government pressures and policies. Examples are: capping prices to domestic purchasers, purchasing from local suppliers (i.e. increasing local content) whose materials may be inferior and costlier, paying high wages that are not co-related to profitability, adopting inefficient labor- intensive production methods to increase employment, making uneconomic investments to promote political goals, etc.

The NOCs can afford to carry-on in this manner, confident in the belief that when and where necessary, the government is likely to grant the company better tax treatment than private companies.

Additional State Aid or bail-out measures may come in the forms of providing access to capital on favorable terms, including low-cost government loans, government loan guarantees, and direct capital infusions from the government coffers.

In a situation where the NOC is economically threatened, the government will most likely step in as 'savior of last resort' and take remedial steps to prevent the NOC from collapse, or from defaulting on its domestic and foreign obligations.

The widespread dissatisfaction with the efficiency levels of NOCs has led many oil- producing countries to gravitate towards privatisation. This trend is more evident in South America than in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. For example, Argentina began to privatize its NOC, YPF (Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales) as early as 1989, and most other South American countries have at least partially privatised their NOCs.

Some of these NOCs have broadened their role into international downstream activities, which includes building transnational pipelines to transport petroleum and natural gas to the marketplace, acquisition of refineries in the US & Western Europe, and also retailing directly to consumers in these foreign countries.

For example, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A (PDVSA) owns CITGO Petroleum Corporation through which the NOC carries out extensive refining, marketing and transportation operations in the US.

Conversely, countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Nigeria, Angola, etc. have made no significant efforts toward privatizing their NOCs which still enjoy monopoly control. However, countries like Mexico, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia have reorganised and restructured their NOCs and introduced diverse cost -cutting measures and audit controls to make them operate more efficiently and competitively in the global marketplace.

To arrive at this minimal point is part of what the PIB should seek to achieve. The suggested restructuring of NNPC in the PIB would ensure that the Nigerian petroleum industry at the least operates efficiently and an eventual privatisation of NNPC assets would ensure competitiveness in the global marketplace.

Host communities are often disregarded but together they constitute a powerful interest and pressure group. It is a recognised fact that economic gains from petroleum reserves development outweigh the attendant social costs brought about by both upstream and downstream operations.

The social costs include population displacement, cultural changes, and environmental effects.

The environmental effects are not limited to the immediate impact on land, water, and air around the host communities but include effects on traditional economic activities that are dependent on water, natural wildlife, and vegetation.

Claims by, and on behalf of, indigenous host communities around the world to participate in the decision-making process on whether to incur such social and environmental costs, and if so, how to allocate them are advancing with increasing frequency.

Where such claims are suppressed, it has often led to emergence of militant groups with full intent on impeding or crippling oil operations and engaging in hostage takings as a means of raising funds for arms. In a mono-product economy such as Nigeria, successful militant activities in oil- producing locations spells disaster in terms of government revenues.

Crude oil/fuel theft and pipeline vandalism are becoming regular features of the Nigerian petroleum sector. This is partly attributable to militancy activities, and nefarious criminals who ride on the back of the attendant confusion to achieve personal economic gains.

The federal government can ill-afford such activities, particularly now that the price of crude oil has taken a downturn and the economy has headed 'south'. Militancy in the oil-rich Niger Delta region in Nigeria remains a clear and present danger to oil operations.

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The federal government has over a period of time made some concessions to the host communities who bear the social costs associated with oil production and refining, e.g. by setting up the Niger Delta Ministry, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Amnesty Deal, extra- budgetary allocations to oil producing State governments.

There have been some contributions too from the IOC's under corporate social responsibilities.

Regardless of these palliatives, a visit to the Niger Delta Region still reveals insignificant human and infrastructural developments at the moment.

Besides, who can tell how much of these benefits end up in individual possessions, and the proportion that in actually channeled towards real infrastructural development e.g. quality schools, markets, clean water plants, road and bridges, port facilities, etc. Nevertheless, more still needs to be done to ameliorate the social and environmental costs in host communities in Nigeria.

The PIB should make additional concessions to host communities in the interest of environment equity and justice.

Furthermore, the PIB should more importantly incorporate strategies into the Bill that ensure that the benefits incorporated in the Bill accrue in real terms to all peoples of the host communities.

In Nigeria, as previously stated, the ownership rights to oil and gas are vested in the federal government.

However, it would be a mistake in the course of negotiations to subsume the interests of host communities and the NOC under those of the host country just because the latter holds the ownership rights.

The social costs of oil extraction and processing are not equally felt across the country. The concept of environmental justice is applicable here.

My best advice is for the National Assembly to consider these contending interests in the course of reviewing the current version of the bill. Modifications can be made along the implementation route, as common sense would dictate that such changes may be necessary from time to time in the interest of all stakeholders.

Alternatively, the bill can be passed in three or four tranches provided the aim is not to bye-pass critical stakeholder interests.

Prof. Nwaozuzu is the Ex-British Chevening Scholar, Ex-PTDF PhD Scholar; and Director, Emerald Energy Institute for Petroleum & Economics, Policy, & Strategic Studies, University of Port Harcourt
Neera Tanden, President Joe Biden's nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget, apologized on Tuesday for past attacks on Republicans on social media, which have been a focus of opposition to her nomination from members of that party.

She was asked about her past tweets during her Senate confirmation hearing.

'You wrote that Susan Collins is 'the worst'; that Tom Cotton is a 'fraud'; that vampires have more heart than Ted Cruz; you called Leader McConnell 'Moscow Mitch' and 'Voldemort,' Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio told her.

'I'm concerned that your personal attacks on specific senators will make it more difficult to work with them,' he noted.

Tanden apologized for the tweets, which she wrote as president of the liberal Center for American Progress. She deleted over one thousand tweets from her personal Twitter account - most of them about Republicans.

'I recognize the concern. I deeply regret and apologize for my language, and some of my past language,' Tanden said at her hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. She is due to appear before the Senate Budget Committee on Wednesday.

'I recognize this role is a bipartisan role and I know I have to earn the trust of senators across the board. I will work very aggressively to meet that concern,' she said.

'I'm sorry. And I'm sorry for any hurts they may have caused,' Tanden said of her tweets.

Neera Tanden, President Joe Biden's nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget, apologized for her tweets attacking Republican senators

'You wrote that Susan Collins is 'the worst'; that Tom Cotton is a 'fraud'; that vampires have more heart than Ted Cruz; you called Leader McConnell 'Moscow Mitch' and 'Voldemort,' Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio said to Tanden during her Senate confirmation hearing

The Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, serves as the gatekeeper for the $4 trillion federal budget.

When Biden picked Tanden, chief executive of the left-leaning Center for American Progress think tank, in November, Republicans pointed to her past strong comments on Twitter, such as referring to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell as 'Moscow Mitch,' implying that he was working for Russia, or calling Republican Senator Susan Collins 'criminally ignorant.'

However, now that Democrats control the Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris able to break a tie, Tanden can get the 51 votes needed to become director of OMB even if she wins no Republican support in the 100-member chamber.3

Tanden said that part of her role at the think tank was to be 'an impassioned advocate,' but she knew directing the OMB would be different. 'I understand, though, that the role of OMB director calls for bipartisan action, as well as nonpartisan adherence to fact and evidence,' she said.

Asked about news media reports that she had deleted more than 1,000 tweets, Tanden acknowledged she had deleted many tweets over several months.

'I appreciate people's concerns about my tweets. I've regretted them. I deleted tweets because I regretted my tone,' she said. 'I deleted tweets over many months.'

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at her briefing Tuesday that the administration did not request Tanden to apologize.

'We certainly did not ask her to make any specific comments in her testimony today,' Psaki said, expressing confidence Tanden would be confirmed.

Tandeen's hearing took place hours before the Senate was to begin the impeachment trial of Republican former President Donald Trump, who is accused of inciting the deadly Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Before her stint at the Center for American Progress, Tanden served in the administration of Democratic former President Bill Clinton. She also helped create Democratic former President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act healthcare plan, which Republicans have tried repeatedly to repeal.

Tanden, who is Indian-American, would be the first woman of color to serve as director of the OMB.

She has been viewed as Biden's most controversial nominee, attacked not just by Republicans but also criticized by some of the most left-leaning Democrats for being insufficiently progressive.

Neera Tanden, President Joe Biden's nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget, tweeted criticism of Republican Senators (from top left) Susan Collins, Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell

Democrats scoffed at Republican concern about Tanden's past tweets. They called such concern hypocritical in light of the party's support for Trump, who was known for blasting those he saw as opponents - particularly women - as 'nasty' or criminals who should be locked up.

Democrats praised Tanden as experienced and qualified.

Introducing Tanden, Senator Amy Klobuchar called her 'smart, organized and tenacious. Those are good qualities for this job.'

Tanden has been criticized from the left over her support for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rather than Senator Bernie Sanders during the 2016 Democratic presidential race.

Sanders has not said publicly whether he will support Tanden. But the senator, now chairman of the Budget Committee, is unlikely to have scheduled her confirmation hearing if he were strongly opposed to her selection.
Acquired in 2018, East Hill is fully integrated into the Quadpack brand, as the company boosts its expansion strategy in the American continent

International beauty packaging manufacturer and provider Quadpack has started a major expansion drive, to broaden its operations in the Americas region. Quadpack aims to conquer one per cent of the $6 billion beauty packaging market by 2025. Preparations include the integration of East Hill Industries into the Quadpack brand, new sales offices in New York, Los Angeles and Miami, and a sourcing center in Mexico.

"The time is right to broaden our reach," said Anthony Le Minoux, Quadpack Managing Director - Americas. "Since strengthening our US presence by joining with East Hill in 2018, we have doubled the size of our business. All the pieces are in place: we have a targeted portfolio of own-manufactured products, a network of satellite offices in key US cities, a sourcing center in Mexico to work with continental partners and a massively expanded US decoration plant. We're ready to take our business in the Americas to the next level."

Quadpack's portfolio includes both its own Q-Line range and packaging solutions from its manufacturing partners. Q-Line is a collection of smart, modular solutions made at Quadpack's European factories, that are locally stocked, assembled and personalized at Quadpack's warehousing and decoration plant in Dallas, Texas. The business model gives Quadpack the agility to offer late differentiation, an accelerated time to market and a lower carbon footprint. A third of all orders are produced or assembled locally, according to its practise of delivering solutions in the region, for the region.

Two years since its last major US push, Quadpack has led innovations in wooden packaging, jar manufacture and sustainable solutions for beauty brands worldwide. What's more, Quadpack was among the first beauty packaging companies to embrace e-commerce in the Americas. Its online store, InStockPack, managed from the Dallas office, has been successfully servicing start-ups, indie brands and fillers since its launch in 2019.

The expansion plans will give beauty brands in the region access to Quadpack's packaging expertise and innovations, particularly in airless, wood and other sustainable solutions such as Sulapac biocomposite packaging. They will also be able to purchase from InStockPack.

Quadpack is currently surveying local markets with a view to expanding its network of manufacturing partners.

Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, Quadpack Industries operates in its three key territories of Europe, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region.

-ENDS-

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UK PM gets married in London

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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)

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Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

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Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

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NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

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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

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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
Stormont's Agriculture Minister used his withdrawn ports staff as pawns in the DUP's campaign against the Northern Ireland Protocol, a Sinn Fein MLA has said.

It comes as unions warned they were considering suspending industrial relations unless comments made by Mid and East Antrim Council about the threats were withdrawn.

In the Assembly John O'Dowd suggested Gordon Lyons may be acting contrary to the ministerial code.

Inspections of animal-based food produce arriving at Belfast and Larne ports were suspended last Monday amid concerns over the safety of staff, and the minister said their wellbeing came first.

Former Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots made the call to withdraw staff.

Mr Lyons took over the role last week as Mr Poots took leave for medical treatment following a cancer diagnosis.

PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne said they had no evidence of a credible threat against staff working at ports at Belfast and Larne.

Former junior minister Mr Lyons maintained Mr Poots' position over the staff.

John O'Dowd said: "The information given to this Assembly and to Mid and East Antrim Council was based on half-truths, misinformation and erroneous information."

The Sinn Fein member added: "Workers were used as pawns in a very, very cruel game."

They were withdrawn after threatening graffiti appeared last month.

Mr O'Dowd suggested the danger was "non-existent".

"The fact (is) that there is no credible threat, which has been stated by the PSNI, and the fact that they allowed it half way around the world before the truth got its pants on, that that agenda of those workers being removed suits your political agenda.

"And rather than dealing with the facts, minister, you are allowing these non-existent threats to carry forward a political agenda, which would be contrary to your statutory duty and the code that you have as a minister."

Mr Lyons said it was a "disgraceful" assertion.

"I have very clearly demonstrated staff safety comes first."

He said a process had been put in place which he had not interfered with.

The minister said his department was in discussions with police and workers' unions.

"I find that an entirely appropriate response to what has gone on."

He said the graffiti was very much viewed as a threat and it was only right precautionary measures were taken and risks assessed. He said any mitigations needed would be put in place.

"It is important that we take precautions and we put the safety and wellbeing of our staff first and foremost and that is what we have done."

Meanwhile trade unions have issued fresh calls for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council's to withdraw remarks made by the DUP Mayor Peter Johnston.

The trade unions say he was not representing their position when making a statement on February 1, by saying they had raised "serious concerns" around suspicious activity at the port.

"We remain extremely disappointed that management have failed to recognise the seriousness of this incident and the likely impact it will have on industrial relations," the joint statement read.

"We repeat our call to withdraw the untruthful remarks and advise that suspension of industrial relations is under active consideration."

The unions have said they expect the remarks to be withdrawn and an apology issued.
Imperial Valley News Center

Border Patrol Arrests Sexual Predator

Tecate, California - Saturday morning, San Diego Sector (SDC) Border Patrol agents arrested a previously deported sex offender who had entered the U.S. illegally.

On January 30 at approximately 10 a.m., agents patrolling west of the Tecate Port of Entry observed a grey Nissan Altima stop in a dirt lot close to the U.S./Mexico International Boundary. Four men quickly ran to the sedan and got in. Agents stopped the vehicle and discovered that all four passengers were Mexican nationals illegally present in the U.S. The Nissan driver was a 25-year-old male U.S. citizen. The agents arrested all five individuals and transported them to a nearby Border Patrol station.

At the station, record checks revealed that one of the Mexican national men had been convicted in 2006 for Aggravated Kidnapping and Unlawful Restraint. The man is registered as a Sexual Predator in the Child Sex Offender Information Database of Illinois. He was sentenced to four years in prison. The man was subsequently removed to Mexico in 2009.

The 36-year-old registered sex offender will be held in Federal custody pending prosecution for felony illegal reentry after deportation.

The driver of the vehicle was charged with alien smuggling and the Nissan Altima was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

The work our agents do, matters not only to communities along the border, but to every city and town in America, said Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke. Vigilant agents prevented this dangerous individual from re-entering our communities and I am proud of their dedication.

In fiscal year 2021, which began on Oct. 1, 2020, SDCs Border Patrol agents have arrested 19 sex offenders thus far. During fiscal year 2020, 25 sex offenders were arrested in San Diego Sector.

To prevent illegal entry and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on corridors of egress away from our Nations borders. To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.
Communities living around protected areas prone to the human-wildlife conflict are set to benefit from the support offered by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) aimed at cushioning them against the adverse effects of such conflicts.

This comes after KWS and Bidco Africa partnered to launch a project involving the growing sunflowers and beekeeping geared toward reducing human-wildlife incidents.

The project will enable the target community to receive support in planting sunflowers during the short rains season to keep away elephants who are the biggest perpetrators of such incidents.

KWS Director General Brigadier (Rtd) John Waweru said they have settled on growing sunflowers as elephants are not attracted to sunflowers as a food source.

Thus, planting the crop will uplift community livelihoods as well as lower human-wildlife incidents.

Waweru said KWS would buy the sunflower seeds through Bidco and distribute them to the community for planting. KWS will also reach out to Bidco to provide beehives to residents.

On the other hand, Bidco will provide an off-take market for all sunflowers grown by communities, undertake training and sensitization on sunflower farming to communities.

The firm will also ensure prompt payment of harvested and delivered flowers to farmers as well as connecting communities to a honey value chain player, Agriculture Venture Limited.

"Obtaining community support by having them benefit directly from living adjacent to wildlife is a win-win for all, considering that a majority of wildlife live outside protected areas. Human-wildlife co-existence will be amplified if communities have a sense of ownership, and benefit from proximity to wildlife," said Waweru.

Further, KWS will identify appropriate areas for location of projects and pilot them before scaling to other locations that experience serious human-elephant conflicts such as Amboseli, Kimana, and Loitoktok.

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In 2020, KWS facilitated the identification and mobilization of communities in the identified locations and provided seeds to the farmers identified with 178 farmers registered with the exercise set to continue this week targeting 300 farmers to take advantage of the planting season.

Bidco Group director Chris Diaz said that the company's biggest objective is to work with communities, adding that their agribusiness-driven project has a membership of 30,000 farmers who grow sunflower and soya to sell back to the firm ensuring revenues are ploughed back into communities to develop their livelihoods.

On her part, Managing Director Agriculture Venture Pauline Kamwara said the firm will incorporate beekeeping in sunflower production which increases sunflower yields and produces extra revenue streams from sales of honey.
The issue of consent has been pushed to the forefront of public discussion over the past years. Following numerous reports of sexual assault, one thing has become increasingly clear that we urgently need more education and discussion about consent. Keeping the sexual consent in mind and in a bid to reduce the number of sexual violence, a new Danish sexual consent app has been launched. The app, called iConsent allows lovers 24-hour consent contract, to have sex. The creators argue that the purpose of the app is to ensure both parties agree to intercourse. The new app was launched after Denmark passed new rape law.

What is iConsent app? With the press of a button on the app, users are permitted one intercourse, which is valid for 24 hours and can be withdrawn at any time. Users can enter the number of the person they want to have sex with and send a requestthe other is then given the option to accept or reject it. The encrypted data is stored on the app in case it is needed for criminal inquiries. According to reports, developers of the app are of the opinion that it gives people to document your consent to intercourse by allowing lovers to send and receive requests via their phones. Besides, users can also call up their consent history which the app says is stored on secure servers, and only shared in the event of a criminal investigation.

Denmarks parliament passed a new law in December, 2020 expanding the definition of rape to include any sex without explicit consent. Earlier, the prosecutors had to show that the rapist had used violence or attacked someone who was unable to resist. The iConsent app coincided with the launch of the new law which came into effect on January 1, 2021. What Is Sexual Consent and Why Is It the Most Important Factor While Having An Intimate Relationship.

However, the app has received criticisms too. Many slammed the app as non-sensical and argue it undermines the complexity of consent. Others voiced fears that the app could be abused by forcing one party to accept the request, creating a bogus digital record of consent they had not really granted. As per the justice ministrys figures, around 11,400 women a year are raped or subjected to attempted rape in Denmark.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 09, 2021 01:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).

Is it safe to visit the grandparents once they have been vaccinated against Covid-19?

The bottom line

The risks of getting sick are lower for grandparents after they have been vaccinated. But vaccination doesnt eliminate riskto grandparents or to their visitorsso its a good idea to assess your circumstances, continue to take some precautions and make sure everyone is comfortable with the terms of the visit.

The details

The virus that causes Covid-19 continues to mutate, raising the prospect that certain variants may make the vaccines less effective. And its not yet clear how much protection vaccines offer against transmission of the virusso it may be possible for grandparents to spread Covid-19 to their visitors even if the vaccine keeps them from getting sick themselves.

Vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have been shown to be highly effective in preventing disease. And those vaccines, which were cleared for use in the U.S. in December before certain new variants were identified, appeared to provide at least some protection against emerging strains in lab tests. Yet they werent tested in humans exposed to the new strains. And vaccines from Johnson & Johnson and Novavax recorded lower effectiveness levels in studies in South Africa that took place after a new variant was identified there, compared with their performance in other regions. (Vaccine makers are readying new shots that would zero in on the new variants more precisely.)

Scientists also dont yet have enough information to fully determine how much protection the vaccines offer against transmission. One encouraging sign came recently when researchers from the University of Oxford said its Covid-19 vaccine could have a substantial effect on curbing virus transmission after one dose, the first data to show a vaccine might be able to slow the spread of the disease, not only prevent people from developing symptoms of it. But the data was preliminary and not peer reviewed.

At the same time, spending time with family is important, tooespecially with grandparents who have been isolated for months and may not have many years left to see their loved ones. Thats not trivial," says Arthur Caplan, director of the division of bioethics at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. Some are thinkingIm not sure Ill be here another year," he says.

If you decide to visit, its still a good idea to take precautions, such as masking or meeting outdoors. If an outside visit isnt possible, staying more than 6 feet away, adding ventilation and washing hands can help reduce risks.

And dont just show up. Come to a consensus about what each generation is comfortable with before the meeting, says Dr. Caplan. Decide how long youre staying, determine the exact location and make sure everyone is clear on whether youre still planning to social distance and wear masks. It needs to be a mutually agreed upon visit," he says.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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In yet another reversal of the Trump-era policy, Biden administration is set to announce US return to the UN Human Rights Council, which 45th President abandoned nearly three years ago. Biden is seeking 'observer' status for the US in confirmation of his campaign pledge. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and a senior US diplomat in Geneva will announce Washingtons reenlisting on the Geneva-based multilateral organization UNHRC in the week ahead. The decision, however, is likely to draw criticism from the American conservatives and pro-Israel officials. Blinken, a long-time human rights champion, said in a statement that the UNHRC corresponds with the US support of liberal values, and shines a spotlight on countries with the worst human rights records. Furthermore, he stressed, that the body serves as an important forum in combatting injustice and tyranny.

When we work closely with our allies and friends, we are able to call countries with the worst human rights records to account in the @UN Human Rights Council. U.S. leadership matters.  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) February 8, 2021

In 2018, US quit the 47-member council under the Trump administrations America First policy, labelling the council a "cesspool of political bias and a self-serving organization displaying unending hostility towards Israel. The then US envoy to the UN, Nikki Haley, slammed the UNHRC of being a "hypocritical" body, which makes "mockery of human rights.Haley delivered remarks alongside the former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who in turn, called the UN Human Rights Council "a protector of human rights abuses. In response to Trumps withdrawal from the council, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed regret, while UN's human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein labelled Trumps decision "disappointing, if not really surprising, news. Israel, meanwhile, hailed the US dismissal.

Trump, among other objections, raised the issue of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Russia and Venezuela, being a member to the intergovernmental council, all of whom have held the history of human rights violations and humanitarian crimes. Blinken, meanwhile, in his recent address at a presser argued that the United States can cement the body's deficiencies by being at the table, and reforming agenda, membership, and focus, adding that it was a shame to give up on 'influential tool'.

Read: 'We Can Keep Businesses Open': Biden Connects With Americans To Sell COVID Relief Packages

Read: Joe Biden Says 'difficult' To Achieve Herd Immunity By Summer End

To secure one of three seats

Biden administration, next week, aims to secure one of three full member seats  held by Austria, Denmark, and Italy  from the "Western Europe and other states group" that will be up for grabs later this year, The Associated Press reported, citing US State Department officials statement. We know that the Council has the potential to be an important forum for those fighting tyranny and injustice around the world, agency further quoted Secretary of State Antony Blinken as saying. By being present at the table, we seek to reform it and ensure it can live up to that potential, he said. 193-member UN General Assembly is expected to elect members later this year for up to a maximum of three years. No members that can exceed two consecutive terms. A secret ballot will be cast for a fair and just representation.

Read: Joe Biden Says US Will Not Lift Sanctions Until Iran Stops Uranium Enrichment

Read: Immigrants, Activists Worry Biden Won't End Trump Barriers

(Image Credit: AP)
[February 09, 2021] Veritex Bank Extends Lease at 777 Post Oak Blvd Office Through 2025; Adds Top of Building Signage

(www.veritexbank.com) Veritex Community Bank has announced they will stay in the heart of the Galleria area with their CRE and Community Banking teams at 777 Post Oak Blvd. Veritex sought the assistance of the CBRE Tenant Representation Team of Collin Grimes and Weldon Martin to help secure the deal which includes adding top building signage at 777 Post Oak Blvd. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209006137/en/



Jon Heine, Veritex Community Bank - Houston Market President (Photo: Business Wire)

"We are thrilled to have the Veritex Bank name on a premier address in Houston convenient to both our customers and colleagues," said Jon Heine, Houston Market President. It's an exciting time for us as we continue to grow our presence in the Houston market. The new lease provides bold signage at the top of 777 Post Oak Blvd, making the Veritex Community Bank brand visible to millions of Houstonians travelling the West Loop. Prior to the 2019 merger with Green Bank, Veritex Community Bank settled in 777 Post Oak Blvd to begin building their Houston legacy. Veritex chose the location because of its thriving retail and business activity, new connectivity to the Houston Metro Rail, adjacent to the Galleria's only 5-star hotel and central location to the city. About Veritex Bank Veritex Community Bank is a mid-sized community bank serving its customers with a full suite of banking products and services. The bank has over 40 branch locations in Houston, Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas, with total assets of over $8 billion. The bank, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, specializes in providing depository and credit services small- to mid-size businesses, which have been largely neglected by national banks. The name "Veritex" is derived from the Latin word "veritas," meaning truth, and "Texas." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209006137/en/

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Fernando Ochoa, a 9-year-old Guatemalan boy, is fighting his father's deportation due to fears that he may be separated from him a third time despite U.S. President Joe Biden's 100-day moratorium on deportations and creation of a family reunification task force.



Fernando said that he is very sad for his father who is not with him in a letter he wrote to Biden. "It makes me very sad to see other parents playing with their children because I can't play with my dad nor receive a hug from my dad," Fernando's letter read as reported by Remezcla.

Fernando gave his attorney a letter he wrote to Biden on Wednesday morning just outside an immigration court. The boy asked Biden through his letter in Spanish to let his dad go free, according to an NBC News report.

Related story: After Guatemalan Forces Break up Bigger Caravan, Some 3,000 U.S.-Bound Migrants Continue On

Seeking Asylum

Fernando and his father, Ubaldo Ochoa Lopez, fled Guatemala over two years ago and sought asylum in the United States. However, Fernando, who was 6-year-old at the time, was separated from his father by immigration authorities.

Fernando was one of at least 2,800 migrant children who were separated from their parents in 2018 as part of former president Donald Trump's zero tolerance policy, which was implemented to hinder migrants from seeking asylum in the United States.

Andani Alcantara, their attorney, said that during the first 35 days of being apart from his child, Ubaldo could not event contact Fernando.

"So those 35 days of zero contact, not knowing what was going on, were very traumatic for both of them," Alcantara was quoted on a report.

After they were reunited, Fernando and his father continued their legal efforts to get asylum, but they were separated for the second time in October.

This was when Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Ubaldo after he was convicted of driving while intoxicated, according to Alcantara.

She added that it was only a Class B misdemeanor, but ICE has treated it as a huge crime and has decided that it is enough reason not to allow Ubaldo to be with his child. Fernando, currently, does not have another parent in the United States.

Ubaldo is currently in an ICE detention center in Pearsall, Texas. The Biden administration announced on Monday new policies on immigration enforcement.

Alcantara says she hopes this helps Lopez's case since ICE I supposed to prioritize aggravated felons.

Alcantara added that ICE always has the discretion to let anybody out of detention, and they are choosing not to, according to a People Espanol report.

Meanwhile, the Texas immigrant's rights advocacy group RAICES has been helping Fernando with his asylum case while urging ICE to reunite him with his father.

Erika Andiola, the organization's chief of advocacy, said that it is necessary to note that Ubaldo went through the criminal justice system when he was charged and convicted last year. She added that if it was someone else, like someone who was born in this country, he would be back with his son.

Related story: Biden Transition Official Tells Migrant Caravans Now's Not the Time To Move to U.S.
The Mayor post has been reserved for a woman in the general category for this time, making aspirants from all castes vie for the post. With this, ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs have all stepped up lobbying to bag the Mayor post for their kith and kin. (Photo:DC)

Hyderabad: All eyes in the TRS are on the sealed cover after party chief and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao announced on Sunday at the partys state executive that names of TRS nominees for the election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts in the GHMC will be placed in a sealed cover and revealed at the time of election on February 11.

Raos announcement has kept ministers, party MLAs and other senior leaders on their toes, especially those who have stepped up their efforts to secure the two coveted posts for their better halves or other relatives, after it is now certain that TRS would bag both these posts comfortably.

Given the present political combinations, although none of the parties have secured magic figure to bag these posts, TRS has the advantage of being the single largest party in the GHMC, besides its highest strength of ex-officio members, comprising party MLAs, MLCs and MPs, who can vote in the GHMC Mayoral election.

The Mayor post has been reserved for a woman in the general category for this time, making aspirants from all castes vie for the post. With this, ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs have all stepped up lobbying to bag the Mayor post for their kith and kin. Some ministers even stepped in to bag the Mayor post for their supporters.

The incumbent Mayor Bonthu Rammohan is lobbying hard to secure the post for his wife Bonthu Sridevi, who won from Cherlapally division, a ward vacated by him. Since she won for the first time, his opponents are opposing her candidature on this ground.

Prominent names doing the rounds within the TRS for the Mayor post, include the daughters of former Congress heavyweight leader from Khairatabad late P. Janardhan Reddy, TRS secretary general and Rajya Sabha member K. Keshava Rao.

Interestingly, both PJRs daughter P. Vijaya Reddy (Khairatabad ward) and Keshav Raos daughter Gadwal Vijayalakshmi (Banjara Hills) ward got elected as corporator from the TRS for a second time in a row. Both strongly argue that they deserve the Mayor post for this reason.

This apart, Bharathi Nagar corporator Sindhu Adarsh Reddy, Alwal corporator Chintala Vijayashanthi, Manne Kavitha Reddy from Venkateshwara Colony ward and Mothe Sri Latha Reddy from Tarnaka ward are also said to be in the race for Mayors post.

Of them, Sindhu Adarsh Reddy is daughter-in-law of TRS MLC V. Bhoopal Reddy, Chintala Vijayashanthi is daughter-in-law of former TRS MLA Chintala Kanaka Reddy, who died in May 2019, Manne Kavitha Reddy is wife of city TRS leader Manne Govardhan Reddy and Mothe Sri Latha Reddy is married to city TRS leader Mothe Shobhan Reddy.

Though no party could secure the magic figure of 75 seats out of 150 to bag the Mayoral post on its own, TRS emerged as the single largest party by winning 56 seats while the BJP stood second with 48 seats (now 47, after one of its corporator-elect died), AIMIM third was with 44 seats while the decimated Congress is fourth with two seats.

Only 44 out of the total 52 ex-officio members were found to be eligible to vote in the election. Of them, 32 belong to TRS, 10 to AIMIM and two to BJP. The remaining eight ex-officio members (six from TRS and two from Congress) have exercised their votes in other municipal corporations and hence their names were deleted from the GHMC election.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.  Klamath Falls Police say that a 68-year-old man died on Sunday after crashing into a truck at the intersection of Main Street and 5th Street.

Officers responded just before 2:30 p.m. on Sunday after reports of a crash at the intersection between a truck and a motorcycle. Callers said that the motorcycle rider "was down and appeared to be unresponsive," police said.

KFPD arrived to find 68-year-old John Manuel Sarabia lying on the ground next to his motorcycle. Officers tried to provide lifesaving measures on Sarabia until paramedics could arrive and take over, but he was later pronounced dead at the scene.

A preliminary investigation found that the driver of a 2000 Dodge Dakota was traveling south on Main Street when he passed through an intersection. KFPD said that it was "purported to be" a green light for the driver at the time. Sarabia's motorcycle slammed into the Dakota's passenger door, the driver told police.

The driver of the Dakota was uninjured in the crash, and stayed on the scene until police arrived.

"The speed of the motorcycle may have been a contributing factor, at this point it is unknown if alcohol was involved," KFPD said. "The investigation is ongoing."
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different result. Some say this was said by none other than Einstein but others dispute it. Regardless, despite all past failures to expand his partys reach beyond the borders of Bihar, Janata Dal  U president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is planning to contest on 32 seats in the upcoming Assam Assembly elections without joining hands with any other party.

A JD-U spokesperson said that out of a total of 126 Assembly seats in Assam, the party of Nitish Kumar is considering contesting on 32 seats. Some political parties in Assam have expressed their interest in joining hands with the JD-U but we have decided to go solo, said Sanjay Verma, a party spokesperson in Patna.

Elections in Assam are to be held in April this year.

It is worth noting that in the 2016 polls in Assam, JD-U had formed alliance with the All-India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). It contested at four seats and lost in all registering an embarrassing 0.07% votes in the state.

In the 2020 Delhi Assembly polls, Kumar had fielded two candidates both of whom lost to their nearest rivals.

JD-U did, however, win seven of the 14 seats in Arunachal Pradesh state elections in 2019 though it is highly unlikely he will be able to pull a similar victory in Assam in view of the fact that he has zero base in the state.
US, Britain seek new WHO look into possible origins of COVID-19 in China

VK Singhs LAC remark unwitting confession by India: China

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Feb 09: Union minister Gen (retd) V K Singh's remark that India has transgressed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) more times than China is an "unwitting confession", the Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday.

In response to a question, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said "India's transgressions" were the root cause of tensions at the de-facto border between the two countries.

"This is an unwitting confession by the Indian side. For a long time, the Indian side has conducted frequent acts of trespass in the border area in an attempt to encroach on China's territory and constantly created disputes and frictions, which is the root cause of the tensions at the China-India border," Wang Wenbin said.

As per The Hindu, the former Indian Army chief, addressing the media in Madurai, said the border with China has never been demarcated.

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

"China had transgressed many times over the years with its own perception of the LAC," Singh said."Similarly, none of you come to know how many times we have transgressed as per our perception. Chinese media does not cover it."

"Let me assure you, if China has transgressed 10 times, we must have done it at least 50 times," he added, as per the newspaper.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 10:17 [IST]
The Executive Office is under a legal duty to fund a pension scheme for victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Court of Appeal ruled on Tuesday.

Senior judges made the declaration in an ongoing legal battle by one of the so-called Hooded Men to break the political stalemate over who pays the compensation.

First Minister Arlene Foster welcomed the ruling.

"It is reassuring for innocent victims. It restates the law and emphasises that the Northern Ireland Executive must ensure payments are made to victims," she said.

"It is disappointing that Sinn Fein ministers blocked and delayed this scheme. I look forward to payments being made.

"Whilst the payments will be made from the Northern Ireland Executive, there is a strong argument that the Government should be increasing the Northern Ireland budget accordingly to fund the pension. After all some of the eligible claimants live outside Northern Ireland. I have been pressing this with the Government and we need to see action.

In August last year the High Court held that the Executive Office deliberately stymied introduction of the scheme in a bid to force the UK Government into footing the bill.

Following that verdict the Department of Justice was designated to administer the programme.

Since then, however, a funding dispute between Stormont and Westminster has continued.

A draft budget announced by Sinn Fein Finance Minister Conor Murphy last month only included the administrative costs of pensions.

With no order made in the first court case to provide grant funding, Brian Turley appealed that outcome in a bid to ensure the necessary financial package is immediately put in place.

He was among 14 men detained, forced to wear hoods and subjected to special interrogation methods by the British military as the conflict in Northern Ireland raged during the early 1970s.

His lawyers described the ongoing failure to pay compensation as "outrageous".

They argued that the scheme, which involves a victims' board assessing eligibility and the level of payouts, could be wrongly frustrated by up to a year.

Ruling on the appeal today, Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan backed submissions that there is no discretion involved.

He said: "We declare there is a legal duty on the Executive Office to fund victim's payments and lump sums under the 2020 Regulations so that the Board can make the necessary payments.

"We express no view on the dispute between the Northern Ireland Executive and the NIO."

The verdict is the latest stage in Mr Turley's continuing legal campaign on the issue of compensation for victims of the conflict.

Along with Jennifier McNern, who lost both legs in an IRA bomb attack in Belfast in 1972, he took the original challenge to delays in implementing the pension scheme.

Adjourning the outstanding issues in the appeal until March 5, Sir Declan said it was to "allow the parties to find an agreed solution".

He added: "If that is not possible the case will be re-listed on notice to the Department of Finance as an additional party on that day."

Outside court Mr Turley's solicitor, Darragh Mackin, said: "Today's judgment by the Court of Appeal makes it unequivocally clear that there is, and has always been, a legal duty on the Executive Office to make the payments necessary for the purposes of the legacy victims' pensions.

"Our client, who is a victim of state-sponsored torture, has waited long enough for the pension payment to which he is entitled.

"Whilst it is regrettable that he has had to pursue litigation of this kind to obtain the pension he is duly entitled, this case again epitomises the importance of judicial review in cases of this kind whereby there are victims' fundamental rights at stake."

Mr Turley hailed the judgment as confirmation that there is no justifiable reason for delaying payments to victims.

He said: "The need to keep taking cases to Court to obtain what I am entitled to is another form if torture.

"I welcome the Lord Chief Justice's comments that no further delay will be tolerated and look forward to seeing this matter resolved before March 5."
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Supreme Court Justices during hearing of Bobi Wine's application to amend his petition challenging President Yoweri Museveni's victory, February 9, 2021.

The Supreme Court in Uganda has dismissed an application by National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine to amend his election petition challenging President Museveni's victory.

The musician turned politician through his lawyers led by Mr Medard Ssegona had asked court to amend the petition to allow more evidence on grounds that after the presidential elections on January 14, he (Kyagulanyi) was placed under house arrest which subjected him to post election detention trauma that hindered him from putting together all the evidence he had for his petition in the stipulated time (15 days).

Mr Kyagulanyi had presented 15 new electoral offences in the application.

However, a panel of nine Justices led by the Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo dismissed Mr Kyagulanyi's application on grounds that the matters brought challenging the legality of Museveni election are new and were filed out of time.

The judges unanimously ordered Kyagulanyi through his lawyers to present evidence to prove their case.

Earlier, Mr Museveni, the electoral commission through their lawyers and the Attorney General, Mr William Byaruhanga (3rd respondent) had also asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the application for amendment.

"The election petition is constitutionally time-bound. The petitioner has had time to read through my answers and then come up with amendments. The said (amendment) application is intended to defeat the answers of the respondent," Mr Byaruhanga said.

The ruling was read by Justice Stella Arach Amoko on behalf of the nine Justices.

Others are Paul Mugamba, Dr Esther Kisakye, Ezekiel Muhanguzi, Mike Chibita, Night Percy Tuhaise.

Museveni victory

Museveni, a 76-year-old former rebel leader who has ruled since 1986, won a sixth term with 58.4 percent of the vote, according to the latest updated count from the electoral commission.

Mr Kyagulanyi, secured 35.1 percent and slammed the vote as a sham.

Under the constitution Mr Kyagulanyi had 15 days from the declaration of results by the electoral commission to challenge the outcome.

Losing candidates have sought unsuccessfully in the past to overturn Museveni's wins in court. One of Africa's longest-serving rulers, Museveni has won every election since 1996, almost all marred by allegations of irregularities.

'Invaded polling stations'

There were allegations that soldiers invaded polling stations and stuffed ballot boxes with pre-ticket votes in addition to tampering with electoral registers.

Mr Museveni, however, declared the election the cleanest in Uganda's post-independence history.

The run-up to the vote was marred by violence, and a sustained crackdown on government critics and Museveni's rivals.

In November, at least 54 people were shot dead by security forces loyal to Museveni during protests against one of Mr Kyagulanyi's numerous arrests.

The opposition leader was held under effective house arrest from polling day until a court ordered security forces end his detention last week.

Access to the headquarters of his political party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), has been blocked for weeks now.

Kidnapped, tortured supporters

Several supporters of Mr Kyagulanyi across the country have been kidnapped by armed men believed to be security operatives and tortured. Some are still missing as relatives trace their whereabouts or wait for them to be arraigned in court.

The latest victim is one Ronald Segawa, 22, who had appeared in a video, encouraging Ugandans to vote for Mr Kyagulanyi.

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He was reportedly trailed by security operatives, abducted and detained for the two weeks he had gone missing.

"He was later dropped off at Mulago mortuary- those who picked him thought he was dead. He was burnt, electrocuted and his fingernails plucked out. Puss has been oozing out of his nose and eyes. His entire body bears marks of extreme torture. He remains unconscious. That's why we're taking Gen. Museveni to the ICC. These crimes against humanity must be accounted for," Mr Kyagulanyi tweeted.

By law, Mr Kyagulanyi must prove to the court that any alleged irregularities affected the outcome of the election "to a substantial manner" - a much higher burden of proof than in civil cases.

Ugandan courts do not "look at elections as a process but only at events on polling day and declaration day, which makes it very difficult to prove substantial effect of fraud wrongdoing," independent election analyst Crispin Kaheru said earlier.
WASHINGTON - House prosecutors on Tuesday wrenched senators and the nation back to the deadly attack on Congress as they opened Donald Trumps historic second impeachment trial with graphic video of the insurrection and Trumps own calls for a rally crowd to march to the iconic building and fight like hell against his reelection defeat.

The Capitol is seen behind reinforced barricades as the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump begins in the Senate in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Trump was charged by the House with incitement of insurrection for his role in agitating a violent mob of his supporters that laid siege to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, and sent members of Congress into hiding as they met to validate President Joe Biden's victory. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON - House prosecutors on Tuesday wrenched senators and the nation back to the deadly attack on Congress as they opened Donald Trumps historic second impeachment trial with graphic video of the insurrection and Trumps own calls for a rally crowd to march to the iconic building and fight like hell against his reelection defeat.

The detailed and emotional presentation by Democrats was followed by meandering and occasionally confrontational arguments from the Trump defence team, which insisted that his remarks were protected by the First Amendment and asserted that he cannot be convicted as a former president. Even Trumps backers in the Senate winced, several saying his lawyers were not helpful to his case.

A list of whom the House has impeached and the outcomes of those impeachments. (AP Graphic)

The senators sitting as jurors, many of whom fled for safety themselves the day of the attack, watched and listened, unable to avoid the jarring video of Trump supporters battling past police to storm the halls, Trump flags waving. While many minds are made up, the senators will face their own moment to decide whether to convict or acquit Trump of the sole charge incitement of insurrection.

The heavy emotional weight of the trial punctuates Trumps enduring legacy as the first president to face impeachment trial after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached. The Jan. 6 Capitol siege stunned the world as hundreds of rioters ransacked the building to try to stop the certification of Democrat Joe Bidens victory, a domestic attack on the nations seat of government unlike any in its history. Five people died.

Thats a high crime and misdemeanour, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., declared in opening remarks. If thats not an impeachable offence, then theres no such thing.

In this image from video, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the president pro tempore of the Senate, who is presiding over the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, opens the trial day in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)

Trumps lawyers insist he is not guilty, his fiery words just figures of speech.

In a key early test, senators rejected an effort by Trump's allies to halt the trial, instead affirming the Senates authority under the Constitution to decide the case. They voted 56-44 to confirm their jurisdiction, ruling that impeaching a president after he leaves office is constitutionally permissible. Six Republicans joined the Democrats.

Security remained extremely tight at the Capitol on Tuesday, a changed place after the attack, fenced off with razor wire and with armed National Guard troops on patrol. The nine House managers walked across the shuttered building to prosecute the case before the Senate.

Members of the National Guard stand the Senate subway as Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, arrives ahead of the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would not be watching the trial of his predecessor.

Joe Biden is the president, hes not a pundit, hes not going to opine on back and forth arguments, she said.

With senators gathered as the court of impeachment, sworn to deliver impartial justice, the trial started with the Democratic House managers' gripping recollections, as they described police officers maimed in the chaos and rioters parading in the very chamber where the trial was being held.

In this image from video, David Schoen, an attorney for former President Donald Trump, speaks during the second impeachment trial of Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)

Trumps team countered that the Constitution doesnt allow impeachment at this late date. Though the trial now proceeds, thats a legal issue that could resonate with Republicans eager to acquit Trump without being seen as condoning his behaviour.

Lead lawyer Bruce Castor said he shifted his planned approach after hearing the prosecutors opening and instead spoke conversationally to the senators, saying Trumps team would do nothing but denounce the repugnant attack and in the strongest possible way denounce the rioters. He appealed to the senators as patriots first, and encouraged them to be cool headed as they assess the arguments.

Trump attorney David Schoen turned the trial toward starkly partisan tones, saying the Democrats were fueled by a base hatred of the former president.

In this image from video, Bruce Castor, an attorney for former President Donald Trump, speaks during the second impeachment trial of Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)

Republicans made it clear that they were unhappy with Trumps defence, many of them saying they didnt understand where it was going -- particularly Castors opening. Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who voted with Democrats to move forward with the trial, said that Trumps team did a terrible job. Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who also voted with Democrats, said she was perplexed. Sen. Lisa Murkowki of Alaska said it was a missed opportunity for the defence.

The early defence struggles also underscored the uphill battle that Trumps lawyers face in defending conduct that preceded an insurrection that senators themselves personally experienced. Though they will almost certainly win Trump's acquittal  by virtue of the composition of the Senate  they nonetheless face a challenge of defanging the emotion from a trial centred on events that remain raw and visceral, even for Republicans.

At one pivotal point, Raskin told his personal story of bringing his family to the Capitol the day of the riot, to witness the certification of the Electoral College vote, only to have his daughter and son-in-law hiding in an office, fearing for their lives.

Members of the national guard patrol the area outside of the U.S. Capitol during the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump at Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Senators, this cannot be our future, Raskin said through tears. This cannot be the future of America.

The House prosecutors had argued there is no January exception for a president to avoid impeachment on his way out the door. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., referred to the corruption case of William Belknap, a war secretary in the Grant administration, who was impeached, tried and ultimately acquitted by the Senate after leaving office.

If Congress stands by, it would invite future presidents to use their power without any fear of accountability," he said.

On the vote, six Republicans joined with Democrats pursue the trial, just one more than on a similar vote last week. Cassidy joined Collins, Murkowski, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. But the total of 56 was still far from the two-thirds threshold of 67 votes that would be needed for conviction.

It appears unlikely that the House prosecutors will call witnesses, in part because the senators were witnesses themselves. At his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump has declined a request to testify.

Presidential impeachment trials have been conducted only three times before, leading to acquittals for Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and then Trump last year.

Because of the COVID-19 crisis, senators were allowed to spread out, including in the marble room just off the Senate floor or even in the public galleries, but most were at their desks.

Presiding was not the chief justice of the United States, as in previous presidential impeachment trials, but the chambers senior-most member of the majority party, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

Under an agreement between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the substantive opening arguments will begin at noon Wednesday. The trial is expected to continue into the weekend.

Trump's second impeachment trial is expected to diverge from the lengthy, complicated affair of a year ago. In that case, Trump was charged with having privately pressured Ukraine to dig up dirt on Biden, then a Democratic rival for the presidency.

This time, Trump's stop the steal rally rhetoric and the storming of the Capitol played out for the world to see.

The Democratic-led House impeached the president swiftly, one week after the attack. Five people died, including a woman shot by police inside the building and a police officer who died the next day of his injuries.

Timothy Naftali, a clinical associate professor at New York University and an expert on impeachment, said in an interview, This trial is one way of having that difficult national conversation about the difference between dissent and insurrection.
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Mumbai, Feb 9 : Bollywood actress Vaani Kapoor, says she wants to do more films that celebrate women, their lives and decisions.

"As a woman, I want to do more films that celebrate women, their lives and decisions. I have been fortunate that in my short career span, I have got films like Shudh Desi Romance, Befikre and War that have highlighted some brilliant aspects of being a woman. They showed how women are free-spirited, ambitious, resilient and strong," Vaani said.

The actress added that she always wanted to do films that celebrate women as a symbol of independence, and work in projects that bridge the gender perception about what a woman can or cannot do.

"Luckily, today, we are part of a generation that's extremely forward-thinking and they want to see films where a woman is not treated as a flower vase. I'm thankful to be working in an era where people want to see more from a woman than just look stunningly gorgeous on screen," she said.

In the coming months, Vaani will be seen in the Akshay Kumar-starrer Bell Bottom, Shamshera starring Ranbir Kapoor, and in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui with Ayushmann Khurrana.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text

Mark Sykes survived being shot four times during the attack, which also claimed the life of his 18-year-old brother-in-law Peter Magee (Liam McBurney/PA)

A man arrested at a memorial event to those killed in the 1992 Sean Graham bookmakers massacre has said police intervention "should never have happened".

Mark Sykes, who was shot multiple times during the atrocity, said about 14 people were at the commemoration.

Police have previously said around 30 people had gathered at the memorial on the Ormeau Road in Belfast.

Mr Sykes said he did not think it was in breach of Covid regulations.

"I now know that the regulation is six but there's 25 for funerals.... We had prayers. There was a prayer service going on," he told the BBC.

Five people were shot dead by loyalists in the 1992 gun attack, including Mr Sykes' brother-in-law.

On Saturday night, PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne issued an apology to the families present at the memorial service and said one of the officers present has been suspended over the incident, while another had been re-positioned.

Read More

Mr Sykes admitted to swearing at the officer who spoke to him, but insisted was not physically aggressive. He was detained by police at later released.

"I didn't get up on Friday morning to be arrested. I am sure the person who arrested me didn't get up on Friday morning to arrest me," he said.

"But somebody decided to arrest me on Friday and I think we need to get to the bottom of that.

"He went for the handcuffs and pursued me around a vehicle that was parked on the street. I was eventually stopped in among family members and relatives.

"He put the cuffs on. I couldn't move my arms, and they were behind my back and I was put into the back of the [PSNI] car and taken to Musgrave Street [police station]."

"It's obviously been a difficult couple of days for all and it should never have happened."

On Tuesday it emerged that the two young officers present during the memorial event asked for the advice of their sergeant before intervening.

Read More

In a statement to the BBC's Nolan Show, the PSNI said: [The two officers] were a passing police patrol who on seeing the gathering sought advice from their sergeant and were advised to engage with persons present and establish what was happening.

We have reviewed body worn footage of the event and are confident that the officers assessment of numbers and attendance was accurate.

Mark Lindsay, chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, said things escalated when the officers approached the gathering after the service.

Under no circumstances did they go there to cause any hurt or offence, they were simply unaware of it," he said.

He added that both officers were from different community backgrounds - one a Protestant and the other Catholic - and that, as a younger generation, they may not have appreciated the full context of the memorial event.

Asked if he felt the chief constable had apologised, he said: I think there were comments made that were unfortunate, I think that is certainly the feeling of many people, serving and retired officers, people who have walked in their shoes.

I have walked in their shoes certainly on many occasions and I know how difficult it is when youre put into the middle of positions which all of a sudden escalate.

I think that apologies have come out too soon, apology yes for the hurt, but maybe not apologise until were sure of exactly what has happened.
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Worldwide sales of Open RAN are to grow at double-digit rates over the next six years according to analyst firm DellOro Group.

In its Open RAN Advanced Research Report, DellOro predicts that cumulative investments in the technology, which is key for the development and take-up of 5G networks, will reach $10 billion during the 2020-2025 forecast period.

Other findings from the report show that short-term projections have been adjusted upward while the near-term outlook has been revised slightly downward, reflecting the state of the market for both greenfield and brownfield networks.

Meanwhile, cumulative virtualised RAN revenues  defined as the proportion of RAN baseband/compute capex that will use general-purpose processors for CU and/or DU  are projected to surpass $5 billion over the forecast period.

In January 2021, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica and Vodafone announced they are joining forces to support the rollout of Open RAN as the technology of choice for future mobile networks across Europe.



The conversation and the overall attitude towards Open RAN has clearly changed over the past six months," said DellOro VP and analyst Stefan Pongratz commenting on the Open RAN Advanced Research Report. "It is no longer a question of if Open RAN will happen it is now more [about] the timing and the scope."
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The Senate on Monday confirmed Denis McDonough as President Joe Bidens veterans affairs secretary, choosing a non-veteran but a manager with years of government service to lead the sprawling health and benefits agency.

McDonough, 51, was chief of staff in President Barack Obamas second term and held senior roles on the National Security Council and on Capitol Hill before that. He told senators at his confirmation hearing that while he is not a veteran, his long career as a behind-the-scenes troubleshooter and policymaker would serve him well at the Department of Veterans Affairs, a massive bureaucracy beset by multiple challenges.

I can unstick problems inside agencies and across agencies, especially at an agency as large as VA, McDonough told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in January.

Before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called VAs mission to care for veterans one of organization, institutional know-how, and administrative troubleshooting.

McDonoughs decades of experience at the highest levels of government qualify him for that mission, Schumer said.

McDonough was confirmed on an 87-7 vote.

VA, the second-largest federal agency, includes health care services for 9 million veterans, a vast benefits bureaucracy and dozens of national cemeteries. Management and workforce challenges have long beset leaders in both parties. A scandal over fudged wait-time lists for medical appointments led Obama to fire his first veterans chief.

McDonough succeeds Robert Wilkie, former President Donald Trumps second VA leader. Under Wilkie, the agency expanded options for veterans to see private doctors outside the government-run system and advanced an ambitious, multibillion dollar modernization of its antiquated medical records system.

Wilkies tenure closed out with a scathing inspector generals report in December that found he campaigned to discredit a congressional aide who said she was sexually assaulted at VAs medical center in the District. Wilkie, who left office on Inauguration Day, disputed the findings.

McDonough, a Minnesota native, was Obamas deputy national security adviser during the Navy SEAL raid in 2011 that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. He was also a longtime congressional staffer, which appealed to senators in both parties who during his confirmation hearing demanded better transparency and communication than they said they got from Wilkie.

McDonoughs profile in the Obama White House grew around one of the administrations most ambitious second-term initiatives to counter the wait-times scandal, the Veterans Choice Act. The legislation expanded the ability of veterans to receive private health care. Trump expanded the program with the Mission Act.

McDonough takes over a VA that is struggling to ensure that health care workers and veterans in its care are vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive timely treatment when they test positive for the virus.

Female veterans, the fastest-growing group of former service members, have reported sexual harassment at VA facilities. The electronic records project, which aims to sync veterans medical records with Defense Department records from their military service, has run into rollout delays, cost increases and in recent weeks, operational glitches at its first pilot site in Spokane, Wash.

McDonough is the second non-veteran to lead VA, following David Shulkin, a physician and former hospital executive who was Wilkies predecessor under Trump. Veterans groups had pushed for a leader from the post-9/11 era and were caught off guard when Biden nominated McDonough, continuing his pattern of turning to Obama-era staffers for his Cabinet.
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After about 40 website searches, Ancestry.com, we were able to locate both of them within about a week and a half to two weeks, Mr. McKee said, adding that he had also searched obituaries and websites of military organizations. One of the wallets belonged to Paul Howard, who died in 2016; it was given to his daughter, Mr. McKee said.

He tracked down Mr. Grisham through a blog post from 2012 on the Naval Weather Service Associations website. He called Mr. Grisham on Jan. 26. Hey, are you missing a wallet? he asked.

He was a joy to speak with, Mr. McKee added. He could not believe we had found that wallet for him.

Mr. McKee, who served in the Air Force, said it was important for him to reunite people with their lost items because each was a memory of an individual's service, a loved one, a friend, a time or a place.

My wife and I lost everything we had to a flood in 2008, he said. I decided that if I could help someone get an item back, I would make every effort to do so. Hes currently trying to find the owner of two items: a dog tag found by a Naval contractor and a Gideon Bible from World War II.

Mr. Grisham was born in Douglas, Ariz., on the Mexican border. He enlisted in the Navy straight out of high school and went to boot camp in San Diego. Im not going back to that desert, he recalled thinking when he saw the ocean.

He spent 25 years in the Navy, first as a weather technician and then as a weather forecaster. Mr. Grisham was living in sunny California when he was ordered to Antarctica in 1967. The toughest part, he said, was leaving his family, in particular his two children, who were 4 and 7 at the time.
Oman's Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has announced plans to build a total of 141 residential units for its low-income families (whose monthly income does not exceed RO300) as well as the social security families, from this years budget, said a report.

The ministry is also set to grant 3,600 housing assistance this year, including 878 housing assistance to the tune of RO21.9 million currently under process from the 2020 budget. This is in addition to another 2,800 cases at a value of RO70 million which are expected to be finalized in the current year, reported Oman Observer.

In addition, in case of availability of financial allocations, the ministry plans to construct 26 residential units in Sarij township in the Wilayat of Jaalan Bani Bu Ali in South Al Sharqiyah Governorate as well as 9 residential units in the Niyabat of Tiwi, 51 residential units in Wadi Bani Khalid, 30 residential units in Musandam Governorate and 25 in Al Buraimi Governorate, it stated.

In another development, the ministry said it has plans to establish a cooperative housing system which is aimed at attracting and regulating housing assistance provided by charitable and public organizations and social responsibility sectors at the private sector as well as citizens willing to contribute, and bringing them under one umbrella.

The unified system is expected to enhance the role of the cooperative and charitable sector as well as reduce reliance on the government in implementing social housing programmes, it added.
An Air National Guard lieutenant colonel who also serves as a U.S. representative from Illinois wants to hold former President Donald Trump accountable by convicting him during his impeachment trial.

In an Washington Post Op-Ed titled, "My fellow Republicans, convicting Trump is necessary to save America," Rep. Adam Kinzinger made the case Monday to convict Trump on the charge of "incitement of insurrection."

Trump is the first U.S. president to be impeached twice. Lawmakers charged him last month with "inciting violence against the government of the United States" over the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot.

"Impeachment offers a chance to say enough is enough," Kinzinger wrote. "I firmly believe the majority of Americans -- Republican, Democrat, independent, you name it -- reject the madness of the past four years. But we'll never move forward by ignoring what happened or refusing to hold accountable those responsible. That will embolden the few who led us here and dishearten the many who know America is better than this. It will make it more likely that we see more anger, violence and chaos in the years ahead."

Read Next: Marine Corps Changes Policy to Give New Moms 1-Year Break from Fitness, Weight Rules

Kinzinger challenged those who claim the second trial, currently underway in the Senate, sows more division or is "a waste of time."

"It's a matter of accountability," he wrote. "If the GOP doesn't take a stand, the chaos of the past few months, and the past four years, could quickly return. The future of our party and our country depends on confronting what happened -- so it doesn't happen again."

Kinzinger, an RC-26 pilot in the Wisconsin Air National Guard, has been an outspoken critic of other Republican lawmakers who sought to overturn some states' electoral results prior to the inauguration of President Joe Biden on Jan. 20.

Last month, he was one of 10 Republicans who voted for Trump's impeachment.

Since the vote, the Illinois Republican has received backlash from constituents calling him a traitor or RINO, which stands for "Republican In Name Only," according to The Atlantic.

Kinzinger admitted he'll likely face opposition during the 2022 primary election, telling CNN's political consultant and strategist David Axelrod that voting for the impeachment mattered more than his political ambitions.

"I did it knowing full well it could very well be terminal to my career," Kinzinger said last month during an episode of "The Axe Files." "But I also knew that I couldn't live with myself having, you know, try to just protect it and just felt like the one time I was called to do a really tough duty, I didn't do it."

Kinzinger took time off from his political duties in February 2019 when he deployed with his intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance unit to the southern U.S. border for the security mission.

His situation as both a member of the military and a lawmaker could put him in a precarious position.

A spokesman with the Wisconsin National Guard emphasized that the Guard was apolitical.

"Congressman Kinzingers comments on political matters occur in his capacity as a congressman, when he is not on duty or acting in his National Guard capacity," Maj. Joe Travato said in a statement to Military.com.

Law experts have questioned whether service members, even retired, may speak out against superiors, and whether they would be subject to Uniform Code of Military Justice disciplinary action. According to the Lawfare Blog, "contemptuous speech" is prohibited by Article 88 of the UCMJ.

It criminalizes "contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Governor or legislature of any State," Lawfare's Rick Houghton, an Army veteran, wrote of the provision.

Article 134 of the UCMJ speaks to "the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces," and any "conduct of a nature that brings discredit upon the armed forces."

It's not clear whether the measure applies to Kinzinger since Trump is no longer the commander in chief.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include comment from the Wisconsin National Guard.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: National Guard Weighs Action Against Deployed Lawmaker Who Criticized Governor
Vietnam reported 16 new cases of Covid-19, including 13 locally-transmitted and 3 imported cases at 6pm, February 9, bringing the total number to 2,069.

The 13 domestically-transmitted cases were reported in 5 provinces, including: Hai Duong (6), Hanoi (2), Hung Yen (2), Ho Chi Minh City (2), Gia Lai (1).

Hai Duong confirmed 6 new cases (patients from No. 2054 to N. 2059), who are related to the hotspot in Chi Linh city. They have been quarantined for a time. Their third tests on February 8 were positive for SARS-CoV-2. These people are treated at the Medical Center of Chi Linh city, Hai Duong province.

Hanoi had two new patients No. 2060 and 2064. The first is a 38-year-old man, who is related to a Covid-19 outbreak in Lai Cach district of Hai Duong province. The second patient is a 73-year-old man, who had contact with patient 1819 and has been under quarantine since January 30. Both patients are treated at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Dong Anh District, Hanoi.

The northern province of Hung Yen reported two cases, who are two women of Yen My district and had contact with patient 2060. Both of them are treated at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Dong Anh District, Hanoi.

HCM City had two cases, No.2065 and 2066. Patient 2065 is a 43-year-old man, an employee of Vietnam Airlines southern branch, working in the cargo handling supervision division. Patient 2066 is a 25-year-old baggage handle at Tan Son Nhat airport. They are treated at Cu Chi field hospital, HCM City.

The Central Highlands province of Gia Lai reported one more patient, No. 2069, a 6-year-old girl in Ayun Pa town. She is treated at Ayunpa Town Medical Center, Gia Lai province.

Three imported cases were quarantined immediately after arrival. Two of them are Vietnamese citizens, with one returning from Japan and the other from the US. The third is a Costa Rica citizen arriving from the US.

As of February 9, the Tan Son Nhat Airport logged seven COVID-19 infections. The patients work at the baggage handling team at the airport apron. Besides, there were 25 other cases related to the airport's workers.

Right after receving information about infections at Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh province, the citys steering board for COVID-19 prevention and control decided to conduct mass testing for the airport's staff from January 30. All airport staff are tested for COVID-19 before they enter the next working day.

The same day, all 1,800 samples of workers of the Military Hospital 175 taken for the coronavirus test showed negative results. The testing was conducted after Patient 1,979, who is a luggage handler at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport, went there for medical examination on February 3 and 5.

While in the north, nearly 160 workers at the Van Don International Airport, who were put under quarantine, were negative for the virus twice, Sun Group said on February 9.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health reported the first locally-transmitted case in Quang Ninh - a security worker at the Van Don airport. Relating to the airport outbreak, Quang Ninh saw an additional ten cases who work at Noi Bai Airport's security team, Vietnam Air Petrol Company Limited (SKYPEC), air traffic control centre, and VOR station.

The Van Don airport has been shut down for 12 days, and is expected to reopen on February 21.

The national count now reaches 2,068, with 1,176 local cases.

Two more patients were given the all-clear, raising the total recoveries to 1,474, while the number of fatalities remained at 35.

Among patients still under treatment, 14 have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, 14 twice and four thrice.

More than 99,850 people are being quarantined across the country.

Thuy Hanh
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Robert L. Dilenschneider

Sometime later this year, the COVID pandemic will come to an end, or at least will be under control. When that happens, organizations of all kindsfrom corporations to foundations, from municipalities to museumswill start anew to address the future.

Communications will be the key. Those who handle it well will create enormous opportunities for their enterprises. Those who dont? Well, enough said.

The challenge will be to get it right. This will be the time to be strong-minded, to eliminate wishful thinking and self-deception, to make the hard decisions that will bring value to your clients.

There will be many factors clients will need to consider: customer service, employee morale, supply chains, investor relations and so forth. But the one I want to look at right now is government relations. Its a certainty that a lot of decisions are going to be made and policies set in city halls, state capitals and the corridors of Washington. The organizations that get the most skillful advice for communicating with those power centers will be among those that are best positioned for the future.

One key will be advancing your clients ideas, not waiting for legislators, mayors and governors to put their ideas out there and forcing everyone to react. We know, for instance, that Washington is going to consider a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure bill. If that passes, its going to mean a lot of contracts will be negotiated and a lot of government regulations will be proposed, debated and put into effect.

So, among the big questions right now is first, will any of your clients be affected by this initiative? If so, how can you help them? Will it be important to ensure, for example, that the contracting process is open and transparent? Or will they be concerned about the regulatory process? Whatever their needs, your goal will be to make sure their voices are heard in the right places.

This may be, in fact, a good moment for your clients to reach out to important members of Congress and to local and state executives and legislators with ideas and suggestions for how the future should unfold. Waiting could be a big mistake. You and your clients dont want to let the politicians and career officials advance their ideas without any input.

A good recent example of how inaction and hesitancy can have real costs: Not every business applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan even when they were qualified and could have gotten one. Many renters did not take advantage of the moratorium on paying rent put in place by some states, and still fewer applied for government assistance.

So, if we know there are likely to be many public initiatives in the future as America remakes itself, how can you ensure your clients are heard in the rooms where the decisions are made?

First, develop a detailed communications plan that outlines the benefits your organization can provide and the places where you have contacts and can get clients viewpoints presented.

Even though the media focus will be mainly on Washington, dont overlook state and municipal officials. We can expect all kinds of recovery projects to take place on those levels in the months ahead. So, take a look at what makes the most sense for your clients and give advice on how to advance their interests.

Speaking of the media, they must be, as always, a big part of any communications strategy. Journalists will be busy reporting on the progressor lack of itof government initiatives. A big part of their coverage should be the reactions of the organizations that will be affected, and so if you have clients that are in that basket, you need to be pro-active on their behalf. Youll need to stay on top of events so that you know when something Senator Doe or Secretary Roe has done affects Client XYZ. Then youll need to get a reaction statement drafted, approved and into reporters hands on a timely basis. I dont have to tell you that timing is everything in media relations. Miss the deadline, and the best-prepared statement never gets in the papers or on the air.

Dont forget about your clients internal communications challenges. Their employees may be shellshocked at what has happened to them in the COVID period. Some may have had to go on unemployment lines to get through the hard times, for example, and all of them are bound to be anxious about their futures. So, ask yourself how you can help clients build new levels of support and trust.

We know that the pandemic restrictions have caused many people to build up savings. Much of that money is going to get loosened up when the all-clear sounds, with a whole lot of consumer spending. If youve got clients who stand to benefit from this pent-up demand, now is the time to develop communications plans for them that put every tool in the kitpublic relations, media contacts, marketing, advertisinginto full effect.

Now is the moment to look at all the communications demands your clients are going to have and to think through what you need to do for a future that will take a very different shape from the past.

***

Robert L. Dilenschneider is the Founder and CEO of The Dilenschneider Group, an international communications firm that provides strategic advice and counsel to Fortune 500 companies and leading families and individuals in fields ranging from mergers and acquisitions, to crisis communications, to marketing, government affairs and foreign media.
(Editor's Note: The report contains graphic details.)

Reports recount horrific tales of how women from religious minorities suffer from China's "re-education" camps.

Women from religious minorities suffer terribly in internment camps in China, The Christian Post reported.

Aside from the horrific torture, women suffer from sexual abuse and worse, systematic rape from men they do not know and even soldiers manning the camp.

Several women who were once detained in the internment camps in the Xinjiang region shared their firsthand experience of the horrific events.

One woman who spent nine months inside the so-called "re-education" camps recounted how women were raped "every night" by masked Chinese men. The woman herself shared how the Chinese tortured her with electric shocks before being gang-raped by two to three men.

The soldiers do not consider the fragility of women in the camps kicking them with heavy boots when they can't provide the information they were asked for.

Another woman who was detained for 18 months recounted how she became an accomplice to torturing and abusing the women in the internment camps.

"My job was to remove their clothes above the waist and handcuff them so they cannot move. Then I would leave the women in the room and a man would enter - some Chinese man from outside or policeman. I sat silently next to the door, and when the man left the room I took the woman for a shower."

What happens is that Chinese men would pay "to have their pick of the prettiest young inmates" before subjecting them to rape. When disobedient, the women will be subjected to "four kinds of electric shock... the chair, the glove, the helmet, and anal rape with a stick."

All these abuse, torture and rape made many people in the "re-education" camps to lose their minds.

"The screams echoed throughout the building," one of the women recounted. "I could hear them during lunch and sometimes when I was in class."

A policewoman in the Chinese camp disclosed some details of the horrific experience of women from religious minorities inside the camps.

"The rape has become a culture. It is gang rape and the Chinese police not only rape them but also electrocute them."

It gets much worse because women are forced to take pills, IUDs or sterilized. They were also vaccinated to keep them numb and nauseous, unable to fight their abusers. They were also forced to watch propaganda videos, sing patriotic songs, and memorize books about Xi Jinping. If the women fail to do so, they were punished with beatings and food deprivation.

Despite spoken accounts and evidences, China has continuously denied its persecution of religious minorities, particularly the Uyghur Muslims.

The Trump administration considered the persecution of religious minorities in China as "crimes against humanity."

Mike Pompeo, the former Secretary of State, called the Chinese Communist Party's abuse and brute force, particularly against the Uyghurs, as "genocide."

"I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state."

Russell Moore, Southern Baptist ethicist has called for Christians around the world to "pay attention" and pray for those who are persecuted for the sake of their faith.

"The way of Jesus Christ says that we pay attention to our neighbor on the side of the road who is persecuted, who is being beaten. So let's pray for the Uyghur [and] for other persecuted peoples. Let's pray not just individually, but together, and pray for them by name," Moore said.
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.
[February 09, 2021] Aleph Farms and The Technion Reveal World's First Cultivated Ribeye Steak

REHOVOT, Israel , Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aleph Farms Ltd . (the Company) and its research partner at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at the Technion  Israel Institute of Technology, have successfully cultivated the world's first slaughter-free ribeye steak, using three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology and natural building blocks of meat  real cow cells, without genetic engineering and immortalization. With this proprietary technology developed just two short years after it unveiled the world's first cultivated thin-cut steak in 2018 which did not utilize 3D bioprinting, the Company now has the ability to produce any type of steak and plans to expand its portfolio of quality meat products. Unlike 3D printing technology, Aleph Farms' 3D bioprinting technology is the printing of actual living cells that are then incubated to grow, differentiate, and interact, in order to acquire the texture and qualities of a real steak. A proprietary system, similar to the vascularization that occurs naturally in tissues, enables the perfusion of nutrients across the thicker tissue and grants the steak with the similar shape and structure of its native form as found in livestock before and during cooking. "This breakthrough reflects an artistic expression of the scientific expertise of our team," enthuses Didier Toubia, Co-Founder and CEO of Aleph Farms. "I am blessed to work with some of the greatest people in this industry. We recognize some consumers will crave thicker and fattier cuts of meat. This accomplishment represents our commitment to meeting our consumer's unique preferences and taste buds, and we will continue to progressively diversify our offerings," adds Toubia. "Additional meat designs will drive a larger impact in the mid and long term. This milestone for me marks a major leap in fulfilling our vision of leading a global food system transition toward a more sustainable, equitable and secure world." The cultivated ribeye steak is a thicker cut than the company's first product  a thin-cut steak. It incorporates muscle and fat similar to its slaughtered counterpart and boasts the same organoleptic attributes of a delicious tender, juicy ribeye steak you'd buy from the butcher. "With the realization of this milestone, we have broken the barriers to introducing new levels of variety into the cultivated meat cuts we can now produce. As we look into the future of 3D bioprinting, the opportunities are endless," says Technion Professor Shulamit Levenberg, Aleph's Co-Founder, Chief Scientific Advisor and a major brainpower behind the company's IP. Levenberg is considered a global leader in tissue engineering and has amassed over two decades of research in the field at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in the United States and at the Technion, in Israel. Levenberg is also the former Dean of the Biomedical Engineering Faculty at the Technion. Aleph Farms' zealous plans to diversify its offering align with its mission to create a global platform for local production, leveraging a highly scalable technology to create culinary experiences that can be adapted for the different food cultures around the world. About the Technion  Israel Institute of Technology and the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering: Technion  Israel Institute of Technology, consistently ranked among the world's top science and technology research universities, is Israel's first university. Since its founding in 1912, the institute has educated generations of engineers, architects, and scientists who have played a key role in laying the State of Israel's infrastructure and establishing its crucial high-tech industries. The Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at the Technion offers undergraduate and graduate programs for students interested in integrating research, development and engineering methods in all areas of medicine. The Faculty's state-of-the-art research labs enable the acquisition of skills and practical experience in diverse fields which are at the forefront of contemporary science. About Aleph Farms: Aleph Farms is a food company that is paving a new way forward as a leader of the global sustainable food ecosystem, working passionately to grow delicious beef steaks from non-genetically engineered cells, isolated from a cow, using a fraction of the resources required for raising an entire animal for meat, without antibiotics and without the use of Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS). Aleph Farms was co-founded with The Kitchen Hub of the Strauss Group and with Professor Shulamit Levenberg, former Dean of the Biomedical Engineering faculty of the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. Aleph Farms is backed by some of the world's most innovative food producers, such as Cargill, Migros, and the Strauss Group. The company has recently received top accolades for its contribution to the global sustainability movement from the World Economic Forum, UNESCO, Netexplo Forum, FAO and EIT Food. Twitter/LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram/YouTube/Medium: @AlephFarms For further information, please contact:







Company Contact: Press Contact Aleph Farms NutriPR Mr. Yoav Reisler

External Relations Manager at Aleph Farms

Tel: +972-52-4559924

press@aleph-farms.com

Ms. Liat Simha Tel: +972-9-974-2893 liat@nutripr.com www.nutripr.com Twitter: @LiatSimha

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aleph-farms-and-the-technion-reveal-worlds-first-cultivated-ribeye-steak-301224800.html SOURCE Aleph Farms

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 9 (ANI/BusinessWire India): It was a general consensus that to make sales happen and to expand your business, it is mandatory to visit the clients or customers in person, but this mindset has changed completely post-COVID19. Now, companies and businesses need not go anywhere to expand their business because Bluemark's 'Ablifree Business Network' (ABN) is offering global marketplace opportunities for all Indian businesses - small or large. Hence Indian businesses - especially small businesses can now expand their business from local to national and national to international markets at ease.

Ablifree Business Network (ABN) is a family of 50,000+ businesses from all around the world. ABN was created by its founders with a vision to give a seamless connection and networking platform to Indian businesses so that they can connect with global businesses with ease. Our vision was, any Indian business, small or big, should be able to easily connect with maximum customers globally. With this vision, ABN created technologically advanced tools to bring the dream into reality.

Today, hundreds of Indian businesses are reaching to USA, Europe, Australia, Asian countries, and the middle east every month with the help of Ablifree Business Network. That too with no requirement of heavy budget. This has become possible because of ABN's technology-driven platforms. With a combination of Global networking app; "Ablifree" and Global online exhibition platform; "Abliexpo", SMEs and MSMEs of India are getting customers from India as well as foreign countries.

ABN is helping its members to become digitally fit for the new decade. Small businesses generally don't have the digital fitness required to grow beyond their locality. ABN supports these businesses to achieve the required digital fitness in their business and takes them to the next level. On the virtue of 50,000+ business members, ABN helps each of its members to promote in and outside the network. With this, businesses start getting customer flow to their business. Businesses also require expert assistance while growing their business in new geography/markets. ABN provides this support to businesses through its Global Expert network.

Govinda Sadamate, CEO of Ablifree Business Network said, "Any business can become the part of ABN's global network for free by contacting us or simply downloading the app Ablifree. ABN's expert team then helps the businesses with their growth. We believe, in order to grow as a great nation, our SMEs and MSMEs need to prosper. And ABN is committed to the mission of helping every single Indian business to grow locally as well as globally."

Sanjay Landge, Managing Director of Ablifree Business Network said, "Every business member of ABN is like a family member. ABN conducts various beneficial online exhibitions for the members. Through these exhibitions, the members get National and Global scale reach in negligible cost as compared to the funds required to take your business global via a traditional path."

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.)
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured both Houses that the Centre is taking every possible step to rescue people and bring back life to normalcy in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand following the destruction caused by the avalanche that occurred on Sunday

On the seventh day of the Budget Session of the Parliament, the Lok Sabha continued its debate on the motion thanking the President for his address to the joint sitting of Parliament and the contentious farm laws well beyond midnight with Congres MPs from Punjab stating that they would be moving a private members bill to repeal the laws, while the Rajya Sabha bid an emotional adieu to Congress MP and leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Congress leader and Lok Sabha member Manish Tewari told reporters earlier today that the Repealing and Amendment Bill 2021 will be moved in the Lower House by a group of party MPs from Punjab, including himself, Preneet Kaur, Jasbir Singh Gill, and Santokh Chaudhary. Tewari said they will seek the support of fellow MPs from other parties who have sympathies for the farmers and support their stand on the new legislation.

In his farewell speech in Rajya Sabha, Azad said that he was among the fortunate people who never went to Pakistan and he felt proud to be an Indian Muslim. When I read about circumstances in Pakistan, I feel proud to be a Hindustani Muslim, Azad said.

Click here for the latest updates on Budget Session of Parliament

The Congress leader and three other MPs from Jammu and Kashmir  Nazir Ahmad Laway, Shamsher Singh Manhas, and Mir Mohammad Fayaz will complete their terms in the Rajya Sabha next week.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured both Houses of the Parliament that the Centre is taking every possible step to rescue people and bring normalcy in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand following the destruction caused by the avalanche that occurred on Sunday.

In his statement made in the Rajya Sabha and later in the Lok Sabha today, Shah informed that according to the state government the floods dont pose a risk to the low-lying areas anymore. He said that the water level is receding in the area.

The government also informed the Lower House in a written reply that the Delhi Police had acted swiftly and in an "impartial and fair manner" while dealing with the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy also said that proportionate and appropriate actions were taken by the Delhi Police to control the situation.

Tuesday also saw the Upper House of the Parliament passing the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2021, to regularise unauthorised colonies in Delhi. The bill provides protection to certain forms of unauthorised developments in Delhi from punitive action where adequate measures are yet to be taken.

Proud to be Hindustani Muslim, says Ghulam Nabi Azad

Leaders from across parties bid an emotional farewell to senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on his retirement from the Rajya Sabha.

Azad said he is proud to be a Hindustani Muslim and "lucky" that he did not go to Pakistan as the Congress veteran received accolades from leaders across the political spectrum including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who broke down several times recalling their close association.

In his 28-minute farewell speech in the Upper House of Parliament, Azad, 71, recited several couplets and hoped for the restoration of peace in Jammu and Kashmir and the return of Kashmiri Pandits back to the Valley.

Azad was among the four members in the Rajya Sabha who were given an emotional farewell by the House.

He and Nazir Ahmed Laway (PDP) are due to retire on 15 February while the terms of Mir Mohammad Fayaz (PDP) and Shamsher Singh Manhas (BJP) will end on 10 February. All are from Jammu and Kashmir.

Attributing his success to Indira Gandhi, Azad said the former prime minister and Sanjay Gandhi gave him opportunities to work under the Congress. He noted the opportunities given to him under the leadership of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, current Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

Azad specially thanked former prime minister Indira Gandhi and late Congress leader Sanjay Gandhi, saying he reached here only because of them.

"I have worked with five presidents and around four or five prime ministers as a member of their cabinets. I also got the opportunity to work as the party in-charge of states and Union territories 35-36 times," he said, adding that he got to learn several things from these experiences.

Azad set very high standards as Opposition leader, says PM in RS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke down several times in the Upper House on Tuesday while reminiscing about his close association with the Congress leader and said that Azad had has set very high standards as MP and Opposition leader.

"I worry that after Azad whosoever will take over from him will have to fill very big boots because he cared not only about his party but about the country as well as the House. This is not a small thing, this a big thing," Modi said.

He noted that Azad had called him to ask for an all-party meeting during the COVID-19 period.

"I liked that and also did it. This kind of connection is there because he has the experience of both being in power and in Opposition. Twenty-eight years experience in all, it is a big thing," the prime minister said.

Reminiscing about their long association, Modi said that as chief ministers of Jammu ad Kashmir and Gujarat, both of them kept in touch with each other.

The prime minister got emotional recalling Azads help and efforts to bring back Gujarati pilgrims stuck in Kashmir during a terror attack in 2007.

Sharing details of their communication, Modi said Azad was the first one to call him about the incident.

"Azad was the first person to call me. During that call he could not stop crying," Modi said.

#WATCH: PM Modi gets emotional while reminiscing an incident involving Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, during farewell to retiring members in Rajya Sabha. pic.twitter.com/vXqzqAVXFT  ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

Rajya Sabha

197 people missing, 20 dead in Uttarakhand flood: Amit Shah

Briefing the Upper House on the Uttarakhand disaster, Union home minister Amit Shah said that as many as 197 people are missing while 20 have died in Sunday's avalanche and flash floods in the state.

He said the figures received from the state government may change and the situation is being monitored round-the-clock at the highest level by the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.

Shah told the Rajya Sabha that the rising water levels washed away the functional Rishiganga small hydro project of 13.2 MW and also affected the under-construction 520 MW NTPC Hydro Power Project at Tapovan on the downstream of the Dhauli Ganga river.

"As per information received from the Government of Uttarakhand, 20 people have died and six persons have been injured so far. As per information, a total of 197 people are reported missing which includes 139 of an under-construction project of NTPC, 46 of the functional Rishi Ganga Project, and 12 villagers," he said.

Twelve people working on the NTPC project and 15 on the Rishi Ganga one have been saved. In a tunnel of the NTPC project, approximately 25-35 people are suspected to be trapped, Shah informed.

"Rescue operation to evacuate these people is going on a war footing and all-out efforts are being made for searching missing persons.

"I assure the House that the Centre is extending all possible assistance to the state government for relief and rescue work. The Central government is working in close coordination with the state and all necessary steps, which are considered appropriate, are being taken," he said.

Since a bridge has been washed away due to the deluge, 13 villages around the place of the incident have been cut off. Necessary supplies and medical assistance are being provided to these villages through helicopters, the Union Home Minister said.

The state government has reported that there is no danger of downstream flooding and the rise in water level has been contained, he said, adding "The centre and the state governments are keeping a strict vigil on the situation."

A meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) under the chairmanship of cabinet secretary was held on 7 February, wherein all the agencies concerned were directed to work in close coordination and to extend all requisite assistance to the state administration.

Shah said both the control rooms of the Ministry of Home Affairs are monitoring the situation and are providing all possible help to the state.

Centre to bring bill on cryptocurrencies 'soon'

Replying to a question in the Upper House, Minister of State For Finance Anurag Thakur told Rajya Sabha that the government will soon bring a bill on cryptocurrencies as existing laws are inadequate to deal with issues concerning them

Thakur said regulatory bodies like RBI and Sebi do not have any legal framework to directly regulate cryptocurrencies as they are not currencies, assets, securities, or, commodities issued by identifiable users.

"The existing laws are inadequate to deal with the subject," he said, "A bill (on cryptocurrencies) is being finalised and it will soon be sent to the Cabinet. We will soon be bringing a bill," he added.

RS passes bill to protect unauthorised colonies in Delhi

The Upper House of Parliament on Tuesday passed the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to regularise unauthorised colonies in Delhi.

The bill replaces the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, which was promulgated by President Ram Nath Kovind on 30 December, 2020, to extend the validity of the act of 2011 for a period of three years from 1 January, 2021, to 31 December, 2023.

"1.35 crore people of Delhi, those living in unauthorised colonies, will get their ownership right," Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said in Rajya Sabha.

The bill provides protection to certain forms of unauthorised developments in Delhi from punitive action where adequate measures are yet to be taken.

Puri said that tenders have been floated for "Jahan Jhuggi Wahan Makaan".

"Delhi will not only benefit from the improvement in living conditions of 1.35 crore people, but the Central Vista project will also make Delhi one of the finest cities in the world," Puri said.

The minister said that the number of 1.35 crore is expected in the next census later this year.

Lok Sabha

Opposition asks govt to shed its 'arrogance' over farm laws

Opposition members on Tuesday asked the government in Lok Sabha to shed its "arrogance" over the three farm laws even as BJP MPs hailed the Centre for its welfare and pro-farmer measures.

Speaking during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President's address, Preneet Kaur of the Congress dubbed the three acts, which have triggered protests, as black laws and asked the government to repeal them.

She referred to "Khalistani" and "Maoists" barbs used by some people against a section of protesting farmers and said this was wrong while adding that a brother of a protester was a soldier who had laid down his life in the Galwan Valley clash with Chinese soldiers in Ladakh.

"This government is a real threat to our democracy, not farmers," she said, asking the government to shed its arrogance.

Speaking over the new farm laws in the House, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said these laws are not religious scripture to which changes cannot be made. If they (farmers) want it to be repealed, why cant you talk to them? I request that lets not stand on prestige. Its our nation. We belong to this nation, lets respect everybody in the nation, he said.

TMC's Saugata Roy alleged that several Union ministers are doing "political tourism" in West Bengal.

In an apparent reference to the upcoming state Assembly polls, he said it was a battle between "Bengali and outsiders" and said the state cannot be ruled from Gujarat.

He also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his 'aandolan-jivi' remark and said the BJP's ideological forebears never went to jail during the freedom struggle. Roy also demanded the repeal of the farm laws.

Former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav too hit out at Modi over his andolan-jivi remarks in Parliament.

Yadav said that in spite of the country achieving countless rights through agitation, those who carry on the tradition are being earmarked as "andolan-jivis".

Yadav also slammed the Centre over the new farm laws asking why they are not being repealed when the farmers themselves are against it, citing the allegations of corporate houses getting powerful.

If the government says that laws are for farmers, why is it not taking it back if farmers aren't accepting it? People, for whom it has been formed, don't want it. Who is stopping the government? Are allegations that you rolled out the carpet for corporates and brought these laws not right? he asked in the Lok Sabha.

Participating in the discussion on the motion thanking the President for his address to the joint sitting of Parliament, Congress member Ravneet Singh Bittu claimed that one of the three agri bills has mentioned that Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) mandis will be scrapped and private mandis will be developed.

Objecting to the remarks, the Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Anurag Thakur said that the Congress member should tell the House where it was stated in the bill that the mandis will be scrapped. "These people are misleading farmers and the people of the country," he said while referring to the opposition members.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi too raised objections about the claims made by Singh.

Singh also alleged that it was Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav's people who were responsible for violence on 26 January in the National Capital.

Seeking withdrawal of the laws, Bhagwant Mann (AAP) said that some people are terming the protesting farmers as terrorists and questioning the source of funding for 'langar' ( free community kitchens).

Expressing disappointment over the Presidential address, NK Premachandran (RSP) said, "It was completely silent about issues of unemployment, economic recession, territorial integrity, and growing intolerance".

"None of the pertinent issues concerning the country is highlighted in the President's address," he said. He said that the speech did mention the construction of the temple in Ayodhya but not about the construction of the mosque.

Premachandran too demanded a repeal of the three farm laws and sought a detailed discussion in the Parliament. "This agitation (of farmers) is a warning to the government against these oppressive laws...The agitation of farmers is going to signal the downfall of this government," he said.

Shah rejects Adhir Chowdhury's claim that he sat on Tagore's chair

Home Minister Amit Shah rejected the claim by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury that he sat on Rabindranath Tagore's chair during his visit to Visva Bharati.

The minister said the record pertaining to this should be set right, as he produced documents to support his statement and sought Speaker Om Birla's permission to lay them before the House.

"I have a letter from Visva Bharati's Vice-Chancellor where I have sought clarification from him and tell me after analysing the photos and videos whether I sat (on Tagore's chair) there or not.

"He has very clearly stated that nothing of this sort has happened. The reference to the place I sat is a window and anyone can sit there," Shah said.

Shah said that "a former president of the country, (another former President) Pranab Mukherjee, (former Prime Minister) Rajiv Gandhi... and even I sat there (window)".

"And when Bangladesh's Prime Minister paid a visit, she also sat at the same place and penned her comments," Shah said.

Chowdhury had on Monday claimed in the House that Shah during his visit to Shantiniketan sat on Tagore's chair. Shah said before speaking in the House, members should ascertain the facts.

Meanwhile, Shah had also informed Lok Sabha about the situation in Uttarakhand and the response of the government. Essential food and medical supplies are being provided to affected villages through helicopters, Shah said.

The state Public Works Department and the Border Roads Organisation have started repairing five damaged bridges. Central Water Commission personnel are on high alert and a DRDO team is keeping a vigil on avalanches, he said.

BJP MPs move privilege motion against Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

Two BJP MPs in Lok Sabha have moved a notice of privilege against Chowdhury, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Tuesday.

The notice has been given against the Congress leader for calling teen activist Greta Thunberg "persona non grata".

Chowdhury had made these remarks on Monday while participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address. The notice of privilege has been moved against Chowdhury by BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and PP Chowdhary.

Delhi Police acted in 'impartial manner' during northeast Delhi riots, says Centre

The Delhi Police had acted swiftly and in an impartial and fair manner, while dealing with the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy also said that proportionate and appropriate actions were taken by the Delhi Police to control the situation.

"During the northeast Delhi riots, Delhi Police acted swiftly in an impartial and fair manner. Proportionate and appropriate actions were taken by Delhi Police to control the situation," he said replying to a written question.

"Sincere, dedicated and incessant efforts made by Delhi Police brought the riotous situation to normalcy within a short span of time and also prevented the riots from spreading across to other areas of Delhi and NCR," he added.

Reddy said the police used appropriate force to control the crowd and disperse it and necessary legal and preventive actions were taken by Delhi Police on all complaints and calls received, as per law and procedures.

The sitting for the Lok Sabha was extended beyond midnight on Tuesday till all listed speakers finish talking. This article will be updated in the morning.

With inputs from PTI
After announcing that it will open a theme park based around its beloved animated films next year, Studio Ghibli has unveiled concept art for its upcoming attractions centering on Howl's Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke.

Related | A Loewe x Totoro Collection Is Coming

The images, shared by Japanese culture news source Otaku Calendar on Twitter, show a replica of the titular moving castle  sadly not capable of movement but definitely built to scale. As well as the picturesque settlement of Irontown from Princess Mononoke.

Already so better than The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, am I right? The park is being built near Nagoya, Japan, and will include iconic settings from the movies but also a theater and exhibition spaces providing behind-the-scenes info about the iconic animation studio's artistry.

The perfect reward for riding out the pandemic just might be a trip to Japan to visit Whisper of the Heart's antique shop, or the forest from My Neighbor Totoro. Goro Miyazaki's new release Earwig and the Witch, now streaming on HBO Max, will surely get an exhibit too. And with the news that Hayao Miyazaki is coming out of retirement and making more movies, the theme park won't run out of material.

Related | The Girl Who Can Change Her Face

Slated to open in Fall 2022, we just hope Studio Ghibli's take on the theme park isn't controlled by witches who enjoy turning unsuspecting patrons into pigs.

(Reuters) - Police and protesters clashed in Myanmar on Tuesday in the most violent day of demonstrations against a military coup that overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi, and a doctor said one woman was unlikely to survive a gunshot wound to the head.

Three other people were being treated for wounds from suspected rubber bullets after police fired guns, mostly into the air, and used water cannon to try to clear protesters in the capital Naypyitaw.

State television reported injuries to police during their attempts to disperse protesters - its first acknowledgement of the demonstrations taking place in the country.

The incidents marked the first bloodshed since the military, led by army chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, overthrew Suu Kyi's newly elected government on Feb. 1 and detained her and other politicians from her National League for Democracy (NLD).

The military alleged that the NLD won by fraud - an accusation dismissed by the election committee and Western governments.

Late on Tuesday, police in Myanmar raided the NLD's headquarters in Yangon, two elected NLD lawmakers said.

The raid was carried out by about a dozen police personnel, who forced their way into the building in the commercial capital after dark, they said.

'DISPROPORTIONATE FORCE'

The protests are the largest in Myanmar for more than a decade, reviving memories of almost half a century of direct army rule and spasms of bloody uprisings until the military began a process of withdrawing from civilian politics in 2011.

The United Nations called on Myanmar's security forces to respect people's right to protest peacefully.

"The use of disproportionate force against demonstrators is unacceptable," Ola Almgren, the UN representative in Myanmar, said.

The U.S. State Department said it was reviewing assistance to Myanmar to ensure those responsible for the coup face "significant consequences".

According to reports from Naypyitaw, Mandalay and other cities, numerous demonstrators have been hurt, some of them seriously, by security forces.

Story continues

A doctor in the Naypyitaw hospital said the shot woman had suffered what was most likely to be a fatal head wound.

"She hasn't passed away yet, she's in the emergency unit, but it's 100% certain the injury is fatal," said the doctor, who declined to be identified. "According to the X-ray, it's a live bullet."

Neither police nor the hospital responded to a request for comment.

A man had a chest wound but was not in critical condition. It was not clear if he was hit with a bullet or rubber bullet, the doctor said.

State-run MRTV news said a police truck had been destroyed at a demonstration in Mandalay, Myanmar's second biggest city. It showed footage of the aftermath, including wounded police.

MRTV described the protests as being orchestrated by people who wanted to harm the nation's stability and had acted aggressively. It made no mention of the coup or other demonstrations across the country.

Earlier, witnesses said police fired into the air in Naypyitaw as a crowd refused to disperse. They then blasted them with water cannon while the protesters responded with stones, a witness said.

Footage posted on social media and verified by Reuters of the woman who was shot showed her with other protesters by what appeared to be a bus-stop shelter some distance from a row of riot police as a water cannon sprayed and several shots could be heard.

The woman, wearing a motorbike helmet, suddenly collapsed. Pictures of her helmet showed what appeared to be a bullet hole.

Video from the central town of Bago showed police confronting a crowd and firing water cannon. Police arrested at least 27 demonstrators in Mandalay, domestic media reported.

The situation nationwide was quiet by nightfall. Orders banning gatherings of more than four people and a curfew from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. have been imposed on Yangon and Mandalay.

PROMISES OF NEW ELECTION

Suu Kyi's party had won a 2015 election but Myanmar's transition to democracy was brought to a halt by the Feb. 1 coup staged as her government was due to start a second term.

Promises on Monday from Min Aung Hlaing to eventually hold a new election drew scorn. He said the junta would form a "true and disciplined democracy", different to previous eras of military rule, which brought years of isolation and poverty.

He gave no timeframe but the junta has said a state of emergency would last a year.

A civil disobedience movement affecting hospitals, schools and government offices shows no sign of ending but the crowds in Yangon, Myanmar's former capital and commercial hub, appeared smaller on Tuesday than the previous day.

"The main thing is we don't want a coup," said a 24-year-old woman in Yangon. "If we young people dont come out who will?"

Activists are also seeking the abolition of a 2008 constitution drawn up under military supervision that gave the generals a veto in parliament and control of several ministries, and for a federal system in ethnically diverse Myanmar.

Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for campaigning for democracy and spent nearly 15 years under house arrest.

The 75-year-old faces charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkies and is being held in detention until Feb. 15. Her lawyer said he has not been allowed to see her.

Suu Kyi remains hugely popular at home despitedamage to her international reputation over the plight of theMuslim Rohingya minority.

(Reporting by Reuters staff; Writing by Matthew Tostevin, Lincoln Feast and Robert Birsel; Editing by Richard Pullin, Angus MacSwan and Alex Richardson)
Its not every day that a parent can say their children acted alongside legendary actor Will Smith, but for one Southington family, that dream became a reality during the pandemic.

ACC Network studio producer Daniel Presser and his wife, Beth  along with their two children, 4-year-old Maddie and 2-year-old Barton  have been producing online viral videos throughout the pandemic as a way to help the family stay connected with friends and family. The videos, which typically run a minute long, feature the Pressers' children recreating some of the most iconic movie scenes.

Movies are international, and cute kids are international, Presser said about his reasoning to recreate movie clips.

Some of the familys most-popular videos include recreations of scenes from A League of Their Own, The Shining and Pretty Woman.

According to Presser, the online videos started innocently as they began the series as a way to kill time.

We sent it to our family and they really liked it, and then we were like, Oh, lets post some on our social media accounts, Presser said. Its a nice reprieve from all the nonsense that people are going through.

From there, the Presser family came up with the idea to have children of friends and family included in the digital shorts. Presser said that he would ask people to send quick videos of their kids and in turn, he would edit the children into the movie he was working on alongside Maddie and Barton.

Its how Maddie can stay close with her friends without actually seeing them, Presser added.

Aside from the connectivity aspect of the videos, the Presser family found the videos to be a way to give back to those in need during the pandemic. Inspired after watching the charity Disney sing-alongs that aired earlier in the pandemic, Presser and his family thought it would be best to give back to a charity that meant the most to them  Feeding America.

We tried to explain to her how not everybody has mac-and-cheese or the food that they wanted. [Maddie] was taken very aback by the fact that not every kid had mac-and-cheese, Presser said. I cant donate $10 million like Mark Cuban can but we can do what we can contribute.

With almost 1,000 YouTube subscribers, the Pressers' channel became a hit during the pandemic. Their videos, along with their activism, began to get the attention of the media, earning write-ups from the likes of CNN and Good Morning America.

Other celebrities, including Wonder Woman actress Lucy Davis and author Tony Robbins  who donated $13,000 to the Pressers' cause  took note of their videos and began to spread the word around. Soon, according to Presser, the family began to receive donations from all over the globe.

Contributed by Daniel Presser

Shortly after, the Presser family was in contact with Smiths multimedia company, Westbrook Inc., who wanted to have the family as his guests on his Snapchat series Will From Home.

I grew up in the 90s. Will Smith is as big as it gets in the 90s Presser said. He was very genuine  he wanted to give Maddie all these thanks.

After logging into a Zoom call with the actor for "Will From Home," a bond was instantly formed between Maddie and Smith, who were already planning on doing a video together.

Hey, I love everything youre doing. My only problem is that you dont have a lot [of] Will Smith videos. Presser recalls Smith saying to his daughter.

Smith followed up by jumping in front of a green screen and recreating the welcome to Earth scene from Independence Day alongside Maddie. Smith steps in as the alien and gets punched by Maddie, just as in the movie.

The family and Smith also produced a few other clips, including scenes from Aladdin and Men in Black. After a $15,000 donation from Smith, the family has raised a total of $57,000 for Feeding America.

According to Presser, the family will next tackle scenes from Good Will Hunting, White Men Cant Jump and E.T.
Detectives have returned to the home of Epping mother Ju Zhang as they appeal for CCTV footage from neighbours following her disappearance last week.

It comes after her partner, Joon Seong Tan, was released without charge on Monday night after he was interviewed for hours by police.

Detectives at the Epping property on Tuesday. Credit:Nine News

Ms Zhang, also known as Kelly, was last seen at the home she shares with her eight-year-old son on Winchester Avenue in Epping about 5.30pm on February 1.

The 33-year-old was wearing a pink pyjama top, shorts and no shoes when she was last seen. She had no personal belongings with her other than her mobile phone, which has not been located.
Sino-US ties will stay tense as US President Joe Biden is unlikely to rush into new deals with the world's second largest economy or reduce tariffs on China, even if he is willing to re-engage with multilateral trade, economists and strategists said. Following former president Donald Trump's "America First" stance, the Biden administration has a "Buy American" policy for federal procurement. That means continued tensions, Rashmi Banga, senior economist at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, told the Reuters Global Market Forum. ...
[February 09, 2021] Actsoft, Inc. is One of Tampa Bay's Top Companies to Work For

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Actsoft, Inc. was just named one of Tampa Bay's 2021 Best Places to Work by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. This annual award is presented to select regional companies that meet certain eligibility criteria ranked by employees. For consideration, all nominated area companies had to open up a voluntary and anonymous survey to each of its local employees. The survey, which was conducted by Quantum Workplace, measured workers' perceptions of each nominee, including effectiveness, retention, trust, and management, among other categories. One thing that has always remained the same isits devotion to putting its employees first.



Actsoft was one of the top 15 large-size Tampa Bay companies to make this prestigious list. The company attributes its high rankings to its ever-present effort to maintain an inviting, diverse work environment for its staff with a focus on career development, open dialogue, and creating a family-like atmosphere. Additionally, in Q1 2020, Actsoft pivoted from a predominantly on-site organization to a mostly virtual organization as a necessary precaution needed to keep its workers safe amid the ongoing global pandemic. The company worked quickly to accommodate its employees' changing needs, including offering flexible hours for caregivers while keeping every person working full-time.

"I'm proud and humbled that my team thinks so highly of their experience working as members of Actsoft's ever-growing family," said CEO Tom Mitchell. "This award is truly a testament to all the hard work and tenacity each team member has shown, particularly during such a challenging year. I'm proud of all of their hard work and dedication, and I'm looking forward to seeing where this year takes us." In its 25 years, Actsoft has continued to evolve its product to meet the changing needs of its customers, both current and prospective. But one thing that has always remained the same is its devotion to putting its employees first. About Actsoft, Inc. Founded in 1996, Actsoft, Inc. is a leading software development company headquartered in Tampa, Florida. They specialize in the production of GPS-based mobile management applications for businesses with workers and vehicles on the go and provide a suite of enterprise solutions through all major wireless carriers to thousands of companies around the world. The company is the recipient of multiple Frost & Sullivan awards and was most recently voted one of Tampa Bay's Best Places to Work. For more information, visit Actsoft.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/actsoft-inc-is-one-of-tampa-bays-top-companies-to-work-for-301225419.html SOURCE Actsoft, Inc.

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Tencent Holdings Ltd may be the world's largest gaming company and a Chinese internet powerhouse worth more than $900 billion, but it's also spooked. Rapidly growing ByteDance, the owner of TikTok and the similar Chinese short video platform Douyin, has made sizeable inroads into business areas Tencent holds dear - including ads, gaming, livestreaming, social media and office software.

That has forced Tencent over the past year to become less of absent parent and much more hands-on with some of the 800-plus companies it has invested in, sources at Tencent and its portfolio firms told Reuters. It is now helping key firms revamp their business models to head off ByteDance while coaxing them to stop competing with each other, the sources said.

To buttress its core gaming division, the Shenzhen-based company has also stepped up acquisitions and the development of casual games. "ByteDance is pressing hard so as a defensive strategy, Tencent has to go on the offensive and at the same time exert more influence on portfolio companies to form a line of defence," said a Tencent executive.

The executive, like other sources for this article, declined to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to media on the matter.

NO LOVE LOST

In 2018, ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming traded barbs with Tencent founder Pony Ma, accusing Tencent of blocking and copying Douyin, and the feud has since escalated into a volley of lawsuits. That includes a suit from Douyin last week accusing Tencent of monopolistic behaviour. Tencent said the claims were false, accused Douyin of illegally gaining user information and vowed to file more suits against ByteDance.

Asked to comment on changes to its strategies and the feud, Tencent said in a statement to Reuters that ByteDance and related companies have hurt the interests of its partners and rights of its users. "We are committed and will take legal action to protect our healthy ecosystem," it said.

ByteDance argues WeChat users should have control of their data and the data isn't owned by Tencent. It said in a statement it was seeking to protect its rights and those of its users and that "competition is better for consumers and promotes innovation". Established only in 2012, Beijing-based ByteDance has become a prolific 'app factory' valued at some $180 billion. It is now 22-year-old Tencent's biggest threat, eclipsing long-time rivals Alibaba Group Holding and Baidu Inc, Tencent sources said.

In 2019, ByteDance became China's second largest digital ad player behind Alibaba, leapfrogging Tencent and Baidu in the process. Its share of Chinese app users' screen time has also grown, to 15% as of end-September from 12% a year earlier, while Tencent's share fell to 41% from 45%, according to analytics firm QuestMobile.

The potential for ByteDance to use Douyin and other apps to direct traffic to new business lines, similar to how Tencent leveraged its WeChat and QQ social media products, has pushed Tencent to formulate new strategies, the sources added.

MAKING IT HARD FOR BYTEDANCE

Best known for more sophisticated money-making titles like "Honor of Kings", Tencent is also now churning out simple casual games typically played on mobile phones - a segment it was once dismissive of as not very profitable, sources said. The reason? ByteDance's growing library of such games, currently over 150, that include notable hits like "My Kungfu is Special" and "Rooster Defense".

Tencent has boosted its line-up with an investment last year in France's Voodoo, which already had a presence in China. Tencent then acquired Chinese firm Leyou, known for the action game "Warframe", but which also has many simple casual games. "Obviously these games don't bring Tencent much revenue. The sole purpose is to just make it hard for ByteDance to succeed," said a ByteDance gaming executive.

Tencent invested in 30 gaming firms last year compared to its usual practice of about 10 per year - a strategy aimed at preventing ByteDance, which has been working on more sophisticated games, from gaining a greater foothold in the industry, sources said. Tencent is also responsible for game-streaming firm Huya Inc's plans to acquire DouYu International Holdings - putting an end to a destructive rivalry that saw regular poaching of each other's celebrities, sources familiar with the matter said.

It took action after Douyin and another rival Bilibili began gaining traction in games livestreaming services, they added. In other business areas, ByteDance's development of a search engine was a factor behind Tencent's plans to buy out the rest of search engine Sogou for $3.5 billion and take it private, one of the sources said.

For majority-owned China Literature, Tencent sent one of its senior executives to lead the online reading platform and made most of its content free - moves analysts have said were made in response to the success of a rival offering launched by ByteDance. Attempts by Tencent to ward off ByteDance's encroachment of its territory could, however, become complicated by a recent antitrust review by Chinese regulators of internet firms.

The gaming market remains fragmented and Tencent is less vulnerable to regulatory action there, but the overwhelming dominance of WeChat as a social media forum in China - the basis for ByteDance's latest suit - is hard to deny, lawyers say. Regulatory approval of the Huya-DouYu deal might come with the condition that other platforms be allowed to livestream Tencent-owned games, said You Yunting, a lawyer with Shanghai-based The Bund Law Office.

Sources with direct knowledge of the matter have also said Tencent's Sogou deal will face a thorough review and there is a good chance it may not close as planned.

Also read: Tencent sacks 100 employees, blacklists 37 firms over embezzelement, bribery incidents

Los Angeles: The Bridge", a new reality competition series with His Dark Materials" star James McAvoy as host, is slated to start streaming on HBO Max from February 11. According to Variety, the show will see 12 strangers from the US, UK and Ireland set out into the British wilderness to compete for the winning prize of 100,000 pounds (USD 131,000). But the catch is that the prize lies out of reach on an island 250 metres away from where the contributors are based, and to reach it, they must work as a team to build an 850-foot bridge in 20 days.

If the group successfully works together and reaches the cash before the deadline, overcoming various twists in the process, each will get a vote on who they think is the most deserving of the prize. The winner then faces the choice of splitting the money or keeping it for themselves. The show marks one of the first unscripted endeavours for McAvoy, who has lent his voice work to feature films such as Gnomeo & Juliet" and Watership Down".

The Bridge" made its international debut in Spain in 2017 and aired for two seasons on Movistar Pluss #0 where it is known locally as El Puente".
OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 9, 2021 /CNW/ - Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada has provided urgently-needed income support to millions of Canadians, which has helped them put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads during this crisis. The federal government is committed to continuing to support Canadians throughout this crisis.

Today, the Government of Canada announced that self-employed individuals who applied for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and would have qualified based on their gross income will not be required to repay the benefit, provided they also met all other eligibility requirements. The same approach will apply whether the individual applied through the Canada Revenue Agency or Service Canada.

This means that, self-employed individuals whose net self-employment income was less than $5,000 and who applied for the CERB will not be required to repay the CERB, as long as their gross self-employment income was at least $5,000 and they met all other eligibility criteria.

Some self-employed individuals whose net self-employment income was less than $5,000 may have already voluntarily repaid the CERB. The CRA and Service Canada will return any repaid amounts to these individuals. Additional details will be available in the coming weeks.

In addition, today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, announced that the Government of Canada will provide targeted interest relief to Canadians who received COVID-related income support benefits. Once individuals have filed their 2020 income tax and benefit return, they will not be required to pay interest on any outstanding income tax debt for the 2020 tax year until April 30, 2022. This will give Canadians more time and flexibility to pay if they have an amount owing.

To qualify for targeted interest relief, individuals must have had a total taxable income of $75,000 or less in 2020 and have received income support in 2020 through one or more of the following COVID-19 measures:

the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB);

Emergency Response Benefit (CERB); the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB);

Emergency Student Benefit (CESB); the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB);

the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB);

the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB);

Employment Insurance benefits; or

similar provincial emergency benefits.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will automatically apply the interest relief measure for individuals who meet these criteria.

Additionally, any CRA-administered credits and benefits normally paid monthly or quarterly, such as the Canada Child Benefit and the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax credit will not be applied to reduce individuals' tax debt owing for the 2020 tax year. Canadians are strongly encouraged to file their tax returns by the filing deadline to ensure that their benefit payments continue without interruption.

The Government of Canada recognizes that many Canadians continue to face serious financial impacts as a result of the ongoing pandemic. The interest relief measure announced today will provide an estimated 4.5 million low- and middle-income Canadians with the flexibility required to feel confident about accessing the COVID-19 income support without facing additional stress at tax time.

Quotes

"From day one we said we would be there to help Canadians get through this difficult time. Emergency supports like the CERB helped millions of Canadians pay for things like food and rent. We made the CERB's eligibility criteria as broad and inclusive as possible so that workers who needed support could get it. This announcement is giving certainty to self-employed Canadians who applied for the CERB in good faith, while also protecting their financial well-being. We have gone to great lengths to support workers during this pandemic, and will continue to do so as we build back better together."

 Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough

"Our government will continue to do whatever it takes, for however long it takes to get through the current public health crisis. Today's announcement demonstrates the Canada Revenue Agency's commitment to putting Canadians at the centre of everything it does.. We will continue to provide support to Canadians as they tackle the many challenges of this pandemic until they are able to get back on their feet."

- The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue

Quick Facts

All individuals are encouraged to file their income tax returns.

Any amounts owing are determined based on an individual's personal circumstances and the credits and benefits they may receive.

Like Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, the COVID-19 emergency and recovery benefits, including similar provincial benefits, are taxable. Although 10% of the benefit amount for the three Canada Recovery Benefits (CRB, CRCB, and CRSB) is withheld at source, many other emergency benefits, including the CERB and the CESB did not withhold tax at source. Today's announcement will give those Canadians who owe any taxes as a result of accessing these benefits more time and flexibility to pay those amounts.

The CRA has not extended the tax filing deadline. Canadians should complete and submit their tax returns by April 30, 2021 , the filing due date for most individuals. Canadians are strongly encouraged to file their tax returns to ensure that their benefit payments continue uninterrupted.

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You can also watch our tax-related videos on YouTube

SOURCE Canada Revenue Agency

For further information: Jeremy Bellefeuille, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of National Revenue, 613-995-2960; Marielle Hossack, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, [email protected]; Media Relations, Canada Revenue Agency, 613-948-8366, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/


If youre just joining us now, here is what you need to know. Today the NSW government tabled the long-awaited report of the Bergin inquiry into Sydneys second casino licence, which is held by the James Packer-backed Crown Resorts.

Crown opened its new $2.2 billion complex in Barangaroo in late December, but without the gaming rooms that underpinned the project.

James Packer giving evidence at the NSW casino inquiry in October.

Commissioner Patricia Bergin, a former NSW Supreme Court judge, was appointed to inquire into the Barangaroo licence in August 2019. Today, she found:

A Crown Resorts subsidiary, Crown Sydney Gaming, was not a suitable person to hold the casino licence, and Crown Resorts was not a suitable person to be a close associate of the licensee.

Commissioner Bergin said the finding of Crowns unsuitability stemmed from evidence of money laundering at its Melbourne and Perth casinos, the arrest of 19 staff in China in 2016 and its partnerships with junket tour operators linked to organised crime.

However, she said the companies could engage in a process of conversion to suitability. This would include a major shakeup of the Crown Resorts board and a full and wide-ranging forensic audit of all of their accounts to ensure they are not being used for money-laundering.

Crown Resorts chief executive Ken Barton came under fire, along with directors Andrew Demetriou and Michael Johnston. Commissioner Bergin said it was unlikely Crown or its subsidiary company could become suitable persons while they remained as directors.

Importantly, Commissioner Bergin did not make a recommendation that Crown be stripped of its licence or that James Packer be forced to sell his controlling 36 per cent stake in Crown Resorts.

However, she did suggest the NSW gaming authority consider whether Mr Packer should remain as an approved close associate of the licensee and noted that he wields the real power at Crown even though he is not a director.

Commissioner Bergin also made a series of recommendations aimed at systemic reform, including:

Changing NSWs casino laws so that no single shareholder can hold, acquire or transfer an interest of 10 per cent or more in a casino licensee without being approved by the states casino regulator.

Setting up a specialist, independent casino regulator.

Barring NSW casino operators from dealing with junket operators.

This is Michaela Whitbourn signing off on the live blog. Thank you for reading and good night.

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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.
Like other assets, cryptocurrency such as Bitcoins is also subjected to tax. However, the process becomes so complex that only a few pay the tax. The non-filers consider cryptocurrency as a gateway that can be utilized to generate multiple income streams and transform their black money into moveable cash. Therefore, due to this misconception, they (the non-filers) keenly avoid paying the taxable income because if they do, they will come under legal jurisdiction.

Consistent improvements and worldwide acceptance of cryptocurrency (as a mainstream currency) gained a lot of IRS's attention (Internal Revenue Service). In the past, the federal legal services were not paying any attention to this digital currency, however, when the cryptocurrency gained a lot of user's attention across the globe, it came under the radar of several treasury services.

Therefore, people dealing and trading in cryptocurrency became more concerned than ever to pay the subjectable tax amount. The article elaborates on cryptocurrency taxes. You can find out more about the types that are subjectable to tax.

Understanding the main types

From the beginning, people across the world considered cryptocurrency as a form or alternate of fiat (paper) currency. However, the guidelines on virtual currencies consider cryptocurrency as property. This consideration calls for a capital gains tax as paid on different property assets. Therefore, for paying the tax, it is better to understand what are the types of different capital gains tax.

In general, capital gains taxes are divided into short-term and long-term. As the name suggests, short-term taxes are payable when you have had cryptocurrencies for less than a year. On the contrary, long term taxes are subjectable if you had owned a cryptocurrency for over a year. And in the year, you have not traded or sold that cryptocurrency. As far as the tax rate is concerned, it can be affected by several factors including the state you are living in. Long-term taxes are not that high.

In some cases, cryptocurrencies are also subjectable to income tax. Like when you are working for some company and are paid in cryptocurrency. Here, cryptocurrency will be declared as your official earning and you will pay a certain amount against it in the form of income tax. Furthermore, both the employees and end the employers will have to present their crypto withholding and earning as they previously reported fiat currency.

Realizing the taxable types

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Before jumping to any conclusions, it is better to realize and undermine that which types of cryptocurrencies are taxable and which can be exempted.

You have to pay for the tradings.

It is compulsory from the IRS department that the ones who are trading in cryptocurrency must report their earnings and losses. Like in some cases, a merchant accepts the payments in cryptocurrency and then converts them into dollars. In such a scenario, he will be subjected to a one-time tax before spending that income.

Not everything crypto-related is taxed.

Based on the previously stated statement, you are not subjected to pay taxes in case of withholding or buying the cryptocurrency. For a cryptocurrency to become taxable, it must be traded or converted into the standard fiat currency. And similar to fiat, if you lose some crypto money during the trade, you hold complete rights to claim a loss.

Crypto-miners must pay their taxes.

The miners creating their cryptocurrency by solving various algorithms are subjected to tax. It is because they will come under the category of self-employment which calls for a self-employment tax. In such cases, they (miners) will have to pay around 15% of their mined crypto-income.

The bottom line:

It is better to pay your crypto taxes on time otherwise you will be committing tax fraud. And in case of avoiding cryptocurrency, the government can impose a heavy fine of $250,000 or you could end up in jail for five years.
FM spokesperson: China deeply mourns for passing of former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz

BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- China deeply mourns for the passing of former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz and expresses sincere sympathy to his loved ones, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular press conference Monday.

Shultz is a veteran statesman and diplomat, who made positive efforts and contributions to promoting China-U.S. relations during his tenure of office, Wang said.

After leaving office, he remained committed to enhancing mutual understanding and trust between the two countries and advancing China-U.S. friendly cooperation, Wang said.

"We deeply mourn for his passing and express our sincere sympathy to his loved ones," he said.

According to reports, Shultz passed away at the age of 100 on Feb. 6 local time. He served as U.S. secretary of state between 1982 and 1989.
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DETROIT  A 58-year-old lawyer died on Monday when his car was hit by a Detroit Police vehicle, The Associated Press reports.

The victim was Cliff Woodards, a longtime Detroit-area defense attorney, The AP confirmed with colleagues.

Woodards was traveling south near the intersection of I-96 Service Road and West Chicago when his car was struck by a patrol vehicle traveling east with lights and siren activated, police said. Woodards was pronounced dead at a local hospital while two police officers were examined and released.

RELATED: Michigan man killed in crash with police vehicle using lights, sirens

Detroit Police Chief James Craig said the officers actions were troubling and that the patrol vehicle was going so fast that it couldnt be safely stopped to avoid the crash, The AP reports.

Woodards was known for his colorful clothing and aggressive advocacy that could bring joy to a courtroom, said Lillian Diallo, vice president of the Wayne County Bar Association. He was unapologetically who he was. He decided he was going to be himself and not apologize for it. This is such a loss.

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Benin City  The Executive Director of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Dr. Olusegun Awolowo said the Council has sponsored over 4000 Nigerian women entrepreneurs.

Dr Awolowo disclosed this in Benin in a one-day capacity building programme for women-owned businesses (BOBs), on the use of Shetrades in Commonwealth Crisis Management Toolkit.

He said the council also surveyed 400 women-owned businesses nationwide.

"Shetrades in Commonwealth is a project under Shetrades Initiative that aims to increase the participation of women-owned businesses in international trade, not only here in Nigeria, but across other Commonwealth nations.

"Through collaboration with International Trade Centre ITC, NEPC has sponsored the participation of Nigerian women entrepreneurs at International events like Shetrades global conducted numerous training."
All of SIGs cement plants now operate on alternative fuels

09 February 2021

PT Semen Indonesia Tbk (SMGR) has released a goal of getting all of its cement plants to operate on alternative fuel. This effort will also support the governments aim of reducing Indonesias use of coal.

"We want to provide a long-term solution in overcoming the problem of domestic waste that can have a positive impact on the environment and society at large," said SMGR Director, Hendi Prio Santoso, in a press statement in Jakarta.

He explained that all SMGR factories now without exception have used biomass as an alternative fuel. At Solusi Bangun Andalas factory (Aceh), Semen Padang (West Sumatra) and Semen Tonasa (South Sulawesi), for example, the alternative fuels used come from rice husks and sawdust. Additionally, since 2008, all operations at the Tuban factory, East Java, have also used biomass fuel from rice husks, coconut husks, tobacco waste and corn kernels.

"We get all agricultural waste from a number of districts in East Java, including Tuban, Lamongan, Bojonegoro and Banyuwangi. This year, every month the Tuban Factory receives 2553t of rice husk, 244t of coco peat, 244t of tobacco waste and 90t of reject paper, all for our alternative fuel sources, " said Mr Santoso.

As for the factory owned by PT Solusi Bangun Indonesia Tbk (SBI), which is one of SIG's subsidiaries, the company has used municipal solid waste (MSW) as an alternative fuel in making cement through the Integrated Refused Derived Waste Management Facility (TPS RDF) in the Tritih Lor, Jeruklegi, Cilacap Regency. This facility was inaugurated in July 2020 and is the first integrated domestic waste processing facility in Indonesia.

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The Union government will soon offer companies the flexibility to choose a shorter four-day work week, albeit with longer shifts.

The weekly 48-hour work limit will stay but employers will be able to deploy people on four, 12-hour workdays per week; or five, around 10-hour days; or six, eight-hour days, labour secretary Apurva Chandra told reporters on Monday.

We are not forcing employees or employers. It gives flexibility. Its an enabling provision in sync with the changing work culture," Chandra said.

Also Read | India should worry about its public debt

The provision will be part of the labour code, and once the new rules are implemented, employers will no longer be required to seek government permission to shift to a four- or a five-day working week if their employees approve the arrangement.

Chandra said employers will have to ensure that if they choose a four-day work week, there has to be a three-day break, and if it is a five-day week, two days of break before starting a new work week has to be implemented.

Once the new labour code is in place, experts said employers will have the freedom to choose to have 8 to 12 hours workdays, based on demand, industry and location.

Many employees are likely to be thrilled with the possibility of spending extra time on leisure activities and recover effectively from their weekly pressures.

Companies can also benefit from lower office rental costs and more energized and productive staff.

It will benefit sectors such as information technology and shared services. In the banking and financial services industry, 20-30% people can use the long working hours template for four or five days and enjoy a longer break. Profiles like human resources and finance verticals can easily adopt such a practice faster," said Kamal Karanth, co-founder of human resource firm Xpheno.

It shall also benefit a new generation of workers who value me time and would prefer working long hours for fewer days to get an extra off. Besides, foreign firms will be the first to adopt it as this will reduce their real estate expenditure at one end and improve productivity of workers on the other. The covid-19 work culture has given companies a proof of concept and its adoption wont be tough," said Karanth, a former managing director (India) of global staffing firm Kelly Services.

Rituparna Chakraborty, executive vice-president and co-founder of staffing company TeamLease Services, said the move will benefit both employees and employers.

Its not enforcement but an option. I believe labour-intensive sectors such as manufacturing will adopt them. Imagine a company doing the same work in four days instead of five and the benefit of saving one day of operational costthats a big positive," said Chakraborty.

However, some experts say that this may lead to a days work converting into two shifts instead of three and reduce employment opportunities.

Up to 12 hours of work plus commute time for four and five days, will be taxing on workers, especially in factory settings. The work-life balance may get impacted, said K.R. Shyam Sundar, a labour economist.

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A Turkish military convoy has entered Syrias northwestern de-escalation zone, despite the Russian-Turkish agreement to demilitarize the Idleb Governorate, writes North Press.

Turkish forces brought new military reinforcements to the Syrian territories on February 6, as Turkey attempts to solidify its posts in the de-escalation zone of northwestern Syria.

A Turkish military convoy entered through the Kafr Lossin border crossing and headed towards Syrian territories, a field source told North Press.

The Turkish convoy consisted of 20 vehicles loaded with armored vehicles, artillery, logistical equipment, and guard cabins heading towards the Turkish posts in Zawiya mountain, in the southern countryside of Idleb.

The Russian-Turkish agreement from 2017 and its additional protocol in March 2020 provide for the demilitarisation of the Idleb Governorate and its surroundings.

Since the Turkish military intervention in Syria, Turkey has constructed more than 60 military bases and posts across Idleb, Hama, Aleppo, and Latakia in the northwestern part of the country.

Mutual shelling

On a different note, Syrian government forces bombed armed opposition groups in the town of Bara and Kansafra in the Zawiya mountains, south of Idleb on Monday, field sources told North Press.

The bombing caused significant material damage to public and private property, without casualties reported.

The government bombing coincided with an intense flight of Russian drones over Idleb, the northern countryside of Latakia, and the western countryside of Hama.

On the other hand, the Ansar al-Tawhid group targeted government forces sites in the Kafr Nabl area in the southern countryside of Idleb.

On February 7, the government forces targeted the armed opposition groups in Fatira, Kansafrah, Sufohn, Fleifel, and Bara villages in the Zawiya mountains with missiles and artillery shells.

The military escalation by government forces and opposition groups is taking place despite the Russian-Turkish signed understanding to halt the military operations in the de-escalation zone, in northwestern 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.
The North Korean ruling party held a plenary meeting to further implement the strategies adopted at the eighth Party Congress last month, a state media report said on Tuesday.

In the report, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that leader Kim Jong-un attended the second plenary meeting of the eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) on Monday.

Kim said the WPK Central Committee should powerfully lead the masses to implement the decisions, stressing the need to provide party organisations and their members with practical means for innovation which would help bring about practical change and substantial progress from the first year of the five-year plan, Xinhua news agency quoted the KCNA report as saying.

He sharply "criticised the passive and self-protecting tendencies revealed by the state economic guidance organs in the course of setting this year's goals, and stressed the principled matters for overcoming the tendencies and organising the economic work in an innovative and meticulous way", the report said.

As the decisions made at the party congress are mid- and long-term tasks to be fulfilled during the coming five years, it is necessary to examine this year's plans down to details at the plenary meeting, Kim said.

He also indicated important goals to be achieved this year by key industrial fields including electric power and coal industries, and by the fields of railway transport, construction and building materials, light industry and commerce, as well as practical ways to attain them, according to the report.

At the eighth WPK Congress last month, unveiled a new five-year economic development plan with focus on self-reliance to face the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and sanctions.

--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.)

PRESIDENT Hussein Mwinyi had since his presidential campaign for the October 2020 general election been touting the blue economy as the panacea for Zanzibar's socioeconomic woes.

No wonder immediately after assuming power he established a special Blue Economy and Fisheries Ministry as an impetus for the country's drive to optimally explore the enormous maritime wealth.

"Zanzibar is endowed with massive maritime wealth, which we haven't explored yet," President Mwinyi has repeatedly said in his speeches.

The blue economy refers to the sustainable use of marine resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and job creation.

It entails established traditional marine industries like fisheries, tourism and marine transport as well as emerging activities, including renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed extractive activities and marine biotechnology.

Within three months in the State House, Dr Mwinyi has led the country in signing of two contracts to implement blue economy mega projects.

The signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a feasibility study on January 28 to construct a multi-terminal port in Unguja's Mangapwani and subsequent signing of another deal on Mpigaduri Port have opened another chapter for the Indian Ocean semi-autonomous archipelago.

The Revolutionary Government signed a deal to implement Mangapwani Project with Oman Investment Authority, while the Spanish Intertorco Group signed a dealt to implement Mpigaduri Project.

"This is the beginning of our journey to build the new and exceptional Zanzibar," President Mwinyi said of the two ambitious deals, which he firmly believes would uplift Zanzibar's economy.

President Mwinyi has directed to conduct feasibility studies for the multibillion projects, saying the government had no time to waste on rhetoric.

Through the giant projects, the Revolutionary Government seeks to transform the Spice Islands into the East and Central Africa's commercial and tourism hub.

Under the all-inclusive Mangapwani Project, the government envisages a huge and modern port with various terminals for containerised and general cargo, fuel, fishing vessels, oil and natural gas as well as a satellite city with all essential business facilities.

The envisaged new port is expected to reduce congestion at Malindi Harbour, which the government intends to transform into a tourism port.

Besides fishing facilities, the project will have industrial infrastructure and maritime training institutions, which will facilitate the country's blue economy initiative.

The government and its partners sealed the $6.3bn (over 14tri/-) Mpigaduri Project on February 3, 2021 at Vuga State House, with project implementers hinting that the project will enable Zanzibar to surpass Dubai and Mauritius in business.

Madrid-headquartered Intertorco Group represents 12 companies from five countries-Norway, Germany, Spain, South Korea and the United States-into the mega deal.

According to Intertorco's Micheal Angange, the project that entails the construction of integrated fisheries ports in Unguja's Mpiga Duri and Pemba, gas generation plant and fish processing plants will create massive jobs for islanders.

The proposed fish port complex will as well include facilities for deep sea fishing vessels, fishing gear manufacturing plant and fish cooling facilities.

Development of dry dock facilities, ship and boat assembling plant, as well as Unguja-based marine science institute and its constituent college in Pemba offer high prospects on Zanzibar's fishing industry.

Accomplishment of the projects promises great market relief to small-scale fishermen, who have for many years been longing for reliable markets.

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One of President Mwinyi's pledges to Zanzibaris is to empower fishermen through funding, fishing gear and training to increase their catches, which they will sell at the envisaged processing plants.

Gladly, fish demand in Zanzibar is on the rise as tourist hotels and restaurants seek high value species like swordfish, squid, octopus, crab, marlin, snappers, prawns, tuna and Kingfish-a huge business opportunity for Zanzibar.

Through the proposed international fish auction market, Zanzibar aspires to feed the entire world with its delicious fishes while using fish waste for production of organic fertilisers to boost the country's organic farming for domestic consumption and export markets.

The projects seem too good to be realistic. But, President Mwinyi remains optimistic. "We have engaged serious, experienced and capable companies. We have vetted them and I have no doubt on their ability to do the job," he said.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday stopped short of endorsing the Trump administration's recognition of the occupied Golan Heights as part of Israel, instead noting that the territory was important for Israel's security.

Former President Donald Trump officially granted U.S. recognition of the Golan as Israeli territory in 2019 - a dramatic shift from decades of U.S. policy. Israel captured the Golan from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in 1981 in a move that is not recognized internationally.

"As a practical matter, the control of the Golan in that situation I think remains of real importance to Israels security," Blinken told CNN. "Legal questions are something else and over time if the situation were to change in Syria, that's something we look at, but we are nowhere near that."

He added that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government as well as the presence of militia groups backed by Iran pose a 'significant security threat' to Israel.

Bidens advisers had said previously that he would not withdraw U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan.

Blinken also reiterated the Biden administration's commitment to keep the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, after the Trump administration recognized the city as the capital of Israel, reversing previous U.S. policy.

Trump was broadly in lockstep on Middle East policy with his closest ally in the region, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Biden and his team have said they will restore ties with the Palestinians that were cut by Trump, resume aid and reject unilateral actions, such as construction of Israeli settlements on occupied territory.

Bidens failure to speak with Netanyahu so far among his calls with foreign leaders has raised eyebrows in Israel and among Middle East experts.

Obama and Trump both spoke to him within days of taking office.

When asked why Biden has not spoken with Netanyahu, Blinken said: "I'm sure that they'll have occasion to speak in the near future."

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- The British Journal of Dermatology has published evidence of sustained efficacy in tildrakizumab responders and a favourable long-term safety profile with total tildrakizumab exposure of over 5400 patient-years through 5 years (256 weeks)[1]

- The full complete pooled dataset demonstrates long-term psoriasis control with tildrakizumab with a consistent long-term safety profile through 5 years (256 weeks)[1]

- This is the first and longest complete pooled dataset published in a medical journal on an anti-IL23p19 inhibitor

BARELONA, Spain, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Almirall, S.A. (BME: ALM), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on skin health, announced today that the British Journal of Dermatology (BJD) has published a full 5-year pooled data analysis from two phase III clinical studies, reSURFACE 1 and reSURFACE 2 of Ilumetri (tildrakizumab), an IL-23p19 inhibitor for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, and can be found in the BJD online library. These data provide evidence of sustained efficacy in tildrakizumab responders and in patients switched from etanercept to tildrakizumab at week 28, and a favourable long-term safety profile with total tildrakizumab exposure of over 5400 patient-years. During this period, PASI and PGA response rates were maintained in a large proportion of patients[1]. This is the first and longest complete dataset published in a medical journal on an anti-IL23p19 inhibitor.

Long-term efficacy and safety: up to 5-year results from reSURFACE 1 and reSURFACE 2[1]

Results of the 5-year pooled data from reSURFACE 1 and reSURFACE 2 demonstrated long-term control of psoriasis, with a large proportion of patients who responded at week 28 maintaining efficacy by both relative and absolute PASI. Absolute PASI <3 at week 244 for tildrakizumab 100mg and 200mg were 78.8% and 82.6% respectively. PGA 0/1 at week 244 for tildrakizumab 100mg and 200mg were 68.5% and 74.2%, respectively (multiple imputation for missing data). Results show a favourable long-term safety profile with a total tildrakizumab exposure of over 5400 patient-years. Both 100mg and 200mg doses were generally well tolerated with low rates of serious adverse events and adverse events of special interest through 5 years.

"In our study, patients who responded to tildrakizumab maintained a clinically significant response over 5 years. Control of psoriasis was sustained with a reassuring safety profile. This tildrakizumab study confirms the role that the IL23p19 class can play in achieving long term control for our psoriasis patients," stated Prof Diamant Thaci, Director of the Comprehensive Centre for Inflammation Medicine at Lubeck University in Germany, the first author of the study.

Safety was further explored in different analyses examining incidence rates of severe infections, malignancies, and major adverse cardiovascular events, as well as overall safety in patients over 65 years of age. No new reported signals were found in any of the sub-groups.

About tildrakizumab[2]

Tildrakizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the p19 subunit of interleukin-23 (IL-23) and inhibits the release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines with limited impact on the rest of the immune system. Indicated for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy. Tildrakizumab demonstrated superiority vs placebo and etanercept in the phase 3 reSURFACE programme. Significantly more tildrakizumab patients achieved PASI 75 at Week 12 vs. placebo in both studies [re-SURFACE-1/2: 64%/61% (100 mg), 62%/66% (200 mg) vs 6%/6% (PBO), p<0.0001] and vs. etanercept [reSURFACE-2: 61% (100 mg, p=0.001), 66% (200 mg, p<0.0001) vs 48%]. Significantly more tildrakizumab patients achieved a PGA score of 'clear' or 'minimal', with = 2-grade reduction from baseline at Week 12 in both studies vs. placebo [re-SURFACE-1/2: 58%/55% (100 mg), 59%/59% (200 mg) vs 7%/4% (PBO), p<0.0001], TIL 200 mg (59%, p=0.0031) and TIL 100 mg (55%, p=0.0663) vs. ETA (48%). The incidence of severe infections, malignancies, and major adverse cardiovascular events seen in the clinical trials were low and similar across treatment groups, with the most common AE being nasopharyngitis. Tildrakizumab was administered as 100 or 200 mg injection(s) at week 0 and 4 in the induction phase and then every 12 weeks thereafter for maintenance. DLQI 0/1 at week 12 was achieved by 42% of patients (n=309); by week 28 it was achieved by 52% of the patients (n=299) with patients reporting that psoriasis no longer affected their lives. By week 52, 64% of the responders at week 28 achieved DLQI 0/1 (n=113).

Almirall in-licensed Tildrakizumab from Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Sun Pharma) in July 2016. The agreement is for development and commercialization of tildrakizumab in Europe. So far, tildrakizumab has been launched in Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Spain, Italy and France.

References

1. Thaci D, Piaserico S, Warren RB, et al. Five-year efficacy and safety of tildrakizumab in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis who respond at week 28: pooled analyses of two randomised phase 3 clinical trials (reSURFACE 1 and reSURFACE 2). Br J Dermatol. 2021 Feb 5. doi: 10.1111/bjd.19866.

2. IlumetriI (tildrakizumab) Summary of Product Characteristics.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1217694/Almirall_Logo.jpg
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Before the pandemic, celebrating Valentines Day was fairly routine. Pick out a romantic restaurant and then spend the evening making googly eyes at each other while eating things with fancy names such as omakase or amuse-bouche.

Date night, of course, is different these days. The coronavirus means fewer tables, that is, if youre comfortable with indoor dining at all. The upside is there are more takeout options than ever before. Indeed, almost two dozen restaurants in the Cleveland Independents consortium of locally-owned restaurants are offering special Valentines Day prix fixe menus to go this weekend.

But were not talking about cheeseburgers and pizza. The chefs at these places are bringing their A-game for V-Day, offering signature dishes such as LAlbatros Coq au Vin or Lagos Lobster Risotto for your romantic dinner at home.

Heres a sampling of whats on the takeout menus at 10 Cleveland Independents restaurants this weekend. For a full list of participating restaurants and their menus, visit clevelandindependents.com/valentines.

Astoria Market and Cafe is located at 5417 Detroit Ave. in Cleveland.The Plain Dealer

Astoria Market & Cafe

This popular Mediterranean spot in Gordon Square is offering a Valentines Day Meal Kit with curbside pickup on Feb. 14. Three-course are included: a Camembert cheese appetizer, followed by a choice of Steak aux Champignons or Campanelle ai Frutti di Mare, and then lemon ricotta cheesecake for dessert. Wine accompaniments are available for an additional charge.

5417 Detroit Ave., Cleveland

astoriacafemarket.com

Batuqui's owners have announced plans to open a second location, in Chagrin Falls.John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Batuqui

Clevelands favorite Brazilian restaurant has a three-course dinner available for two ($90) or four people ($170). Diners choose from a curated menu of appetizers, entrees and dessert. Entree options include lamb chops, Shrimp na Moranga or Strogonoff Vegetariano.

12706 Larchmere Blvd, Cleveland

batuquicleveland.com

Bruno's Ristorante is located at 2644 West 41st St. in Cleveland. (Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer)The Plain Dealer

Brunos Ristorante

Clevelands classic Italian-American neighborhood restaurant is offering a special Romance of Italy dinner Feb. 11-14. For $35 a person, the five-course meal includes Salmone Affumicato, pillow pasta stuffed with Buffalo mozzarella, choice of Filet di Bruno or Pesce di San Valentino, salad and Brunos choice of dessert. Add a bottle of white or red wine for $20-$55.

2644 W. 41st Street, Cleveland

brunosristorante.net

The main entrance of the historic Don's Pomeroy House restaurant in Strongsville, photographed May 24, 2016. John Kuntz, cleveland.com ORG XMIT: CLE1606061758387351 The Plain DealerThe Plain Dealer

Dons Pomeroy House

This restaurant located in a historic mansion has been Strongsvilles go-to romantic restaurant since it opened in 1980. This year, its offering a special Valentines Day to-go dinner for two. For $125, your meal includes Caesar salad, two 6 oz. filet mignons with shiitake mushrooms, one crab-stuffed whole Maine lobster with lobster bisque sauce to share, crispy brussels sprouts, bread and butter, chocolate-covered strawberries and a bottle of Prosecco.

13664 Pearl Road, Strongsville

donspomeroy.com

Edwin's Restaurant is located at 1301 Shaker Square in Cleveland. (Photo by Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer)Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer

Edwins Restaurant

Having dinner at home doesnt mean it has to be less fancy. Enjoy French cuisine with Chef Brandon Chrostowskis special menu: roasted carrot soup or a mixed greens salad to start, followed by an entree of either honey and chili glazed salmon, wild rice and haricot verts or Provencal short ribs with herbed risotto, and your choice of dessert, triple chocolate pot du creme or creme brulee. The menu is available Feb. 12-13 for $65 a person.

1301 Shaker Square, Cleveland

edwinsrestaurant.org

Fahrenheit is located at 2417 Professor Ave. in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)The Plain Dealer

Fahrenheit

Chef Rocco Whalens Tremont spot is known for making special occasions even more special. This year, the restaurant is doing it with a five-course Valentines Day to-go dinner for two. Starter options include lobster or mushroom bisque and chorizo-stuffed dates or shrimp cocktail, followed by a pair of house salads. For their entree, diners choose between the filet mignon, Kobe beef short ribs or butter-poached Maine lobster mac & cheese. Couples share a big slice of coconut cream pie for dessert.

2417 Professor Ave., Cleveland

chefroccowhalen.com/fahrenheit-cleveland

Mallorca has been a Warehouse District favorite since 1997. Marc Bona, cleveland.com

Mallorca

Enjoy a sunny slice of Spain on Valentines Day with Mallocras Love In A Box promotion. For $149, each box contains four courses for two people. Entree options include Paella Valenciana, stuffed salmon or veal in lemon pepper sauce. You also get a full pitcher of sangria (red or white), plus flowers and a crown.

1390 W 9th St.

mallorcacle.com

Pier W is located at 12700 Lake Ave. in Lakewood. (John Benson/cleveland.com)

Pier W

Clevelands quintessential Valentines Day restaurant is offering a special takeout dinner for two. For $70, each diner receives a beef tenderloin filet with roasted Gulf shrimp scampi, tarragon dumplings with lobster coulis and roasted brussels sprouts, plus their own slice of carrot cake cheesecake for dessert. The meal also comes with a half-bottle of wine.

12700 Lake Ave., Lakewood

pierw.com

Ekmek is a classic Greek dessert made with shredded filo, candied almonds, chocolate semolina custard, fresh berries and whipped cream. (Photo courtesy David Petkiewitcz)

Takis Greek Kitchen

If youre near Avon and in the mood for authentic Greek cuisine, Takis is offering a special Valentines Day-themed dinner for two. Available for $128 on Feb. 11-13, the three-course meal includes a stuffed long-stem artichoke, 7 oz. CAB filet with Vlahotyri mashed potatoes and a chocolate-strawberry Ekmek for dessert.

377 Lear Rd., Avon Lake

takisgreekkitchen.com

Thyme2 is located at 113 W Smith Rd. in Medina (Photo by Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)cleveland.com

Thyme2

One of Medinas finest restaurants is offering a heat-and-eat takeout dinner for two on Valentines Day. For $65, you get a shrimp cocktail, twin beef tenderloin filets with asparagus and twice-baked potato, and a pair of white chocolate and raspberry tarts. The filet and sides come with heating instructions. Pickup is available from 3-5 p.m. Sunday.

113 West Smith Rd., Medina

thymetherestaurant.com
She recently returned to London following her 'work' trip to the United Arab Emirates.

And Eve Gale seemed to bring the heat from Dubai to the English capital as she uploaded sizzling images to Instagram on Monday evening.

The Love Island star, 21, left little to the imagination as she posed up a storm in red lingerie by Missy Empire.

Wow-factor! Eve Gale seemed to bring the heat from Dubai to the English capital as she uploaded sizzling images to Instagram on Monday evening following her recent getaway

Showcasing her killer curves, the former VIP hostess teamed a bondage-style bra with a tiny thong.

The glamour model sent temperatures soaring as she rounded off her set with a traditional garter belt.

With her tresses worn in glamorous waves, the reality TV star complemented her beauty with dewy make-up.

Killer curves: The Love Island star, 21, left little to the imagination as she posed up a storm in red lingerie by Missy Empire

Eve and her twin sister Jess were just two of many celebrities who jetted to Dubai in recent weeks, joining many other Love Islanders including Joanna Chimonides, Hayley Hughes and Francesca Allen.

After Dubai joined UK's travel ban list, celebrities have been flocking to Mexico's bars and beaches as it establishes itself as the latest COVID getaway destination.

The country appears to be the new destination of choice for global jet-setters and could rocket in popularity.

Travel abroad is now banned from the UK without a legally permitted reason, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced last month, as she criticised influencers for 'showing off in sunny parts of the world'.

Sun-soaked: The bombshell recently returned to London following her 'work' trip to the United Arab Emirates (pictured with twin sister Jess)

Many stars insisted their trips are for 'work purposes', with several influencers forced to hit back at fans after they were criticised for jetting off on holiday during the global pandemic.

Former Coronation Street star Kym Marsh previously hit out at social media stars for travelling in the midst of Britain's third lockdown.

The TV presenter, 44, wrote in her OK! magazine: 'Lots of influencers seem to be going abroad. If you've got to travel for work then fair enough, but I personally would be putting off that trip and staying home.

'From what I can see from the pictures of people in Dubai, every man and his dog is there and it doesn't look particularly socially distanced!'
The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is pictured as it enters the port in Da Nang, Vietnam, on March 5, 2020. (Kham/File Photo/Reuters)

2 US Carrier Groups Conduct Exercises in South China Sea

Two U.S. carrier groups conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea on Tuesday, days after a U.S. warship sailed near Chinese-controlled islands in the disputed waters, as China denounced the United States for damaging peace and stability.

The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group conducted a multitude of exercises aimed at increasing interoperability between assets as well as command and control capabilities, the U.S. Navy said, marking the first dual carrier operations in the busy waterway since July 2020.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the frequent moves by U.S. warships and aircraft into the South China Sea was not conducive to regional peace and stability.

China will continue to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and security and work with countries in the region to firmly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, he said.

The exercise comes days after China condemned the sailing of the destroyer, the USS John S. McCain, near the Chinese-controlled Paracel Islands in what the United States calls a freedom of navigation operationthe first such mission by the U.S. Navy since President Joe Biden took office.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin takes a question during a daily Foreign Ministry briefing in Beijing on July 24, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

Last month, the U.S. military said Chinese military flights over the South China Sea fit a pattern of destabilizing and aggressive behavior but posed no threat to a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike group in the region.

The United States has contested Chinas extensive territorial claims in the region, accusing it of militarizing the South China Sea and trying to intimidate neighbors such as Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, who have claims that overlap with Chinas in the resource-rich area.

We are committed to ensuring the lawful use of the sea that all nations enjoy under international law, Rear Adm. Jim Kirk, commander of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, said in a statement.

China says it has irrefutable sovereignty and has accused the United States of deliberately stoking tension.

U.S. warships have also sailed through the Taiwan Strait, including one last week, the first such operation under the Biden administration.

Speaking in Taipei, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said U.S. ships and aircraft carrying out freedom of navigation operations was reassuring.

This demonstrates the clear U.S. attitude towards challenges to the security status quo in the Indo-Pacific region, she said.

By Se Young Lee
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 21:29:23|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Honda Motor Co. on Tuesday announced that it had lowered its global auto sales projection for the January to March quarter by 100,000 vehicles owing to a worldwide semiconductor shortfall.

The Tokyo-headquartered automaker also downwardly revised its sales outlook for the year to March 2021 to 4.5 million vehicles. This compares to the automaker's former projection of 4.6 million units.

"The chip supply crunch has been gradually easing recently and we expect no impact in the next business year starting in April," Honda Executive Vice President Seiji Kuraishi told a press conference on the matter.

But in terms of the effects on the automaker of the global chip shortage, Kuraishi said production of some of Honda's most popular models such as the Fit compact car in Japan and the Civic and Accord sedans in the United States were badly affected.

Despite Honda upgrading its full-year earnings estimates, Kuraishi said that results for the current business year could have been better were it not for the scarcity of chips.

He also said that Honda may look to review its supply chains in a bid to avoid potential damage by certain auto parts not being available if a similar supply shortage were to occur.

Kuraishi also said that Honda may look into boosting its stockpiles of auto parts to further ensure production is not affected in the event of an external parts supply shortage.

Honda's net profit for fiscal 2020, meanwhile, was revised up from a previous estimate of 390 billion yen (3.72 billion U.S. dollars) to 465 billion yen (4.44 billion U.S. dollars).

The upward revision was down to solid sales of motorbikes in India and Indonesia and cost cutting initiatives, the automaker said.

Compared to a 420 billion yen operating profit projected in November, Honda said it now expects an operating profit of 520 billion yen.

Honda's net profit, however, dropped 8.5 percent from a year earlier for the nine months through December, to 444.10 billion yen.

The automaker also said its operating profit declined 30.1 percent to 447 billion yen.

This was based on sales of 9.55 trillion yen, which was a drop of 16.8 percent. (1 U.S. dollar equals 104.62 yen). Enditem
The Covid-19 induced recession has had a serious and diverse impact on jobs across Northern Ireland. Turnover has collapse for the businesses worst affected.

Entertainment and holiday activities have virtually disappeared. Hotels and travel businesses have been hit hard.

Service businesses such as the motor trade have experienced a major fall in turnover.

Similarly, the private sector housing market is coping with smaller sales figures.

But the starker and larger changes have been in retailing. High street shopping malls have been seriously challenged.

Shop workers have lost jobs and property-owning commercial businesses are facing impossible financial challenges as rental incomes fall whilst borrowing costs continue.

The differing degrees of changes in turnover, all with serious implications, pose difficult policy questions for government.

Should government stand by as a neutral observer or is there a case for intervention?

During much of the year 2021, the key question is whether the pandemic effects will be reducing and the economy will recover partially on its own momentum.

Until the pandemic is finally in retreat, extra measures to rebuild employment will be difficult.

City centre retail stores have been hit hard by the current recession.

High streets now have levels of vacant shop frontages which are uncomfortably higher than for some years past.

Large retail chains and well known brands have contracted or closed and caught the headlines.

Smaller, usually owner-managed, 'corner shop' outlets have also been squeezed.

Now is a time for some realism about the mixture of temporary job losses and permanent changes in retailing, both in scale and style, being determined by consumers own life-style choices.

The recession has accelerated changes that were already in evidence but on a scale that was not foreseen.

The recession linked to the Covid-19 pandemic has, sometimes because of government regulations, kept customers at home.

Turnover in retailing has fallen, particularly for goods deemed non-essential.

A critical feature is that, whilst high street shopping has been disrupted, turnover has fallen through two sequences.

First, high street shopping has been directly deterred by advice to stay at home.

Second, high street shopping has been diverted into a big increase in online sales.

Parcels delivery services from warehouse centres, usually in England, are enjoying extra business.

The immediate impact of the recession induced by the response to Covid-19 has been severe and has had a greater impact for longer than initially expected.

Unemployment, or periods of furloughed lay-off, has been large.

With unemployment or short-time working now a persistent feature of the labour market for people who had been employed by retail organisations, there are important questions about what happens next.

Will retail businesses soon be seeking to rehire employees or recruit new employees, and to what degree will there be structural changes in this sector, meaning jobs lost 'for good'?

Recovering from the current recession will be slow, sometimes very slow, and will be uneven with respect to different sectors.

Perhaps the largest proportionate change will be the near permanent fall in high street turnover as consumer preferences shift from goods to services (as a feature of rising living standards) and shift to online options to purchase both goods and services.

Two particular features will test government policy. First, how should government, meaning the Department for the Economy, take a realistic approach to a shift from furloughed employees to an acknowledgement that the jobs have gone permanently?

Second, how should government (at a UK level) change the property law which allows creditors voluntary arrangements (CVAs) which shift property liabilities away from tenants partially on to landlords, often themselves pension fund investors?

Moving from furlough arrangements for employees to recognition that jobs 'have gone' will not be a popular move.

That dilemma was unavoidable when the furlough scheme was devised. It has created a more acceptable answer than simply relying on unemployment benefit or universal credit.

With hindsight, furlough has been too easy an option while universal credit was (and is) too tight.

The Chancellor should have this as a budget issue for his imminent statement.

Building routes out of the Covid-19 pandemic is now an urgent task.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 03:20:32|Editor: huaxia

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A visitor walks past the booth of L'Oreal at the Consumer Goods exhibition area during the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

"China is by far the first buyer of French lipsticks, with more than one in four exported lipsticks. Likewise, all categories relating to skin care, creams and skin care products, but also make-up for the complexion, remain very popular with Chinese consumers," it added.

PARIS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua)--China is becoming the leading market for French cosmetics which experienced a "contrasted 2020" at the international level but remains the second-largest contributor to France's positive foreign trade balance, said the French Federation for Beauty Companies (FEBEA) in its report on exports in 2020.

"In the midst of the health and economic crisis, French cosmetics exported more than 15.7 billion euro (about 19 billion U.S. dollars) of products, a drop of 11.8 percent compared to 2019," said the federation in a recent statement.

It added, however, the drop was more moderate than in other sectors, and the sector contributed a positive balance of 10.6 billion euros to the French economy.

"These results rank cosmetics the second among exporting sectors in France, behind aeronautics," said the federation. "France remains the world leader in cosmetics."

Impacted by the health and economic crisis that hit the whole world in 2020, the sector saw its exports to Asia remain encouraging and grow strongly in China -- close to 20.7 percent in one year, said the federation.

A staff member introduces Lancome products at the France pavilion during the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2019. France is one of the 15 guest countries of honor at the second CIIE. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

"China is by far the first buyer of French lipsticks, with more than one in four exported lipsticks. Likewise, all categories relating to skin care, creams and skin care products, but also make-up for the complexion, remain very popular with Chinese consumers," it added.

Due to the sanitary measures, sales of French soaps registered an 11.3-percent growth in value all over the world, with the strongest growths in Asia and Europe -- 22 percent and 19 percent respectively.

Being the official trade union in the cosmetics industry for manufacturers operating in France, the FEBEA brings together over 300 members from the sector, responsible for over 95 percent of the industry's turnover. 
Police in the southern Vietnamese province of Dong Nai have arrested 26 members of an illegal ring that had sold to the market approximately 200 million liters of fake and substandard gasoline.

The provincial Department of Public Security has apprehended and initiated legal proceedings against 26 suspects for smuggling, production and trade of counterfeit goods, and illegal trade of receipts, officers confirmed during a press meeting on Tuesday morning.

Dong Nai police, in coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security, mobilized 500 officers to inspect multiple warehouses, filling stations, and offices in Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Vinh Long, Long An, and Vung Tau on Saturday night.

Police organize a press meeting on the investigation into the fake gasoline ring in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam, February 9, 2021. Photo: H.M. / Tuoi Tre

They also caught several ring members red-handed transferring a large amount of smuggled gasoline from two ships to several barges in Vinh Long Province.

The suspects attempted to run away but were eventually captured by officers.

Police confiscated two ships weighing 1,500 metric tons each, five barges weighing 400-1,000 metric tons each, six tanker trucks containing nearly 2.7 million liters of gasoline, four barrels of chemicals used for coloring, over VND100 billion (US$4.3 million), and 12 boxes of related documents.

Officers examine a filling station in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam in this supplied photo.

According to police investigation, the illicit racket was run by Phan Thanh Huu, a 64-year-old Ho Chi Minh City resident, and Nguyen Huu Tu, 55, who hails from Vinh Long Province.

The suspects claimed they had distributed about one million liters of fake and low-quality gasoline per day.

Since August 2020, the ring had sold to the market more than 200 million liters of fake and substandard gasoline.

A warehouse belonging to a fake gasoline ring in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam in this supplied photo

The ring members used their ships to purchase fake gasoline from foreign partners near Vietnams maritime border, before using chemicals to turn the products into A95 fuel, which is widely sold in the country.

The bogus A95 gasoline was transferred from these ships to barges at a floating dock along the Hau (Back) River in Vinh Long Province, before being brought to warehouses in multiple localities and distributed to local filling stations.

Many members were in charge of keeping watch to make sure their illegal activities were not detected by competent authorities.

Phan Thanh Huu is held at the police station in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam. Photo: H.M. / Tuoi Tre

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GRAHAM, Texas, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Echo Production, Inc., an independent oil and gas company located in Graham, Texas, has appointed the following energy experts as outside Directors to the Company's Board of Directors:

Kevin Hughes - KPMG Partner (retired), Dallas, Texas

- KPMG Partner (retired), Matthew Brown - HGM Private Equity EVP, Santa Monica, California

- HGM Private Equity EVP, Adam Plumbley - Jackson Walker Partner , Fort Worth, Texas

With addition of the new members, Echo's Board will be increased to six Directors.

In today's O&G industry, many companies are at risk due to steep decline in petroleum long-term demand. The next decade will require companies to be nimble, consolidate, downsize CAPEX and leverage financial engineering to survive and grow. Based on these challenges, Echo has implemented its new Horizon growth strategy. With a focus on rapid scalability, Horizon provides a blueprint for accelerated growth.

"Our new outside Directors bring knowledge capital to Echo and the company's new Horizon growth strategy including robust M&A initiatives with strong capital infusion expertise," said Anne Street, Co-Owner and Chief Executive Officer. "In addition, we acknowledge the importance and commitment of ESG to our future growth planning, operations and acquisitions."

Energy transition, transformation and digitization will impact all economic variables and mitigate disruption in the O&G value chain. Agile production, operations and business systems will augment efficiencies and reduce G&A cost.

"Echo's Horizon strategy enables smaller O&G operators merger options to gain critical mass and reduced lifting cost. The larger 'plays' provides partners and investors unique options such as Joint Ventures, SPACs, 'carve-outs', etc. With our expanded leadership team, Echo will be a valued partner in both deal-flow and closures," said Tompie Hall, Chief Financial Officer.

Echo Production is a 70 year old O&G producer operating in North Texas and the Fort Worth basin. Currently, the Company has production in nine north Texas counties. Anne Street and her brother Glenn Street are co-owners with family ties to the Graham family. Their grandmother, Bertha Graham Street, was the youngest daughter of the founder of Graham.

www.echoproduction.com

SOURCE Echo Production

Related Links

https://www.echoproduction.com


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ROME, N.Y.  A Taberg woman who was one of Oneida County Sheriffs Offices Ten Most Wanted was taken into custody during a traffic stop in Rome Sunday.

Sarah J. Vaughn, 38, has been wanted since August of 2020 on a second-degree assault charge.

She was pulled over on Route 49 in Rome Sunday evening, where Oneida County troopers took her into custody without incident.

Vaughn was remanded to the Oneida County Correctional Facility and will appear in court to answer the charge at a later date.
New measures are being implemented in a dorm lockdown as UC Berkeley continues to grapple with a spike of COVID-19 cases on campus.

First reported by the Daily Californian, the self-sequester mandate for UC Berkeley students living in the dormitories, originally intended to end Monday, has been extended for another week, with stricter security measures in place, including third-party security and student "campus security" officers affiliated with university police.

We dont wish for residents to be alarmed by this increased UCPD presence, but we must ensure the health of our community, an email sent out to students reads. The email also notes that more university staff will be monitoring dorms, in addition to campus security officers.

One university police officer, a Berkeley spokeswoman told SFGATE, is posted outside the Foothill and Stern buildings  which are being used for quarantining students with COVID-19.

Another new measure also in place: a ban on solitary outdoor exercise, which was not in place during the initial lockdown period. (Alameda County does not have this ban in place.)

"We are working with the city of Berkeley to determine whether outdoor exercise may be permitted, and we will provide more information on this in the near future," reads a memo from the university on the matter.

The policies that remain in effect for students include not leaving their rooms unless it is to obtain a COVID-19 test or medical care (including mental health care), use the bathroom or grab food from the dining halls.

Students who violate these measures, the university says, may face the threat of suspension or removal from dorms.

The self-sequester only affects students living in Berkeley-sponsored dorms and not those living in housing off-campus or apartments owned by the school.

Students have allegedly reported external violations of COVID-19 guidelines, however  including parties in fraternities and other, off-campus sites.

"Im just mad at the individuals who are getting together in large, unsafe groups, then bringing back [COVID] to their living spaces, one student told the Daily Californian.

Between Jan. 31 and Feb. 6, 164 students, faculty and staff tested positive for COVID-19, according to the university's COVID-19 dashboard, a 12% increase from the week earlier. That coincided with a slight decrease in the number of tests administered, meaning the increase in cases can't be explained by expanded testing.

Editor's note: This story has been amended to clarify the security measures in place outside of Berkeley dorms.
UPDATE: At 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, state police announced the highway had been reopened.

______________________

Eastbound traffic on the Massachusetts Turnpike is shut down because of a tractor-trailer crash in Russell that left the truck blocking the road, state police said.

A photo from the scene shows the truck with its front end in a ditch along the side of the road, and the trailer blocking the highway. Eastbound lanes are completely closed off to traffic.

State Police say the crash caused a major fuel spill that will result in a lengthy recovery at the scene.

No injuries were reported.

The state Department of Transportation announced that because of the weather, no tandem trailers or tanker trucks are allowed on the pike from the New York State line to mile marker 40.4 in Westfield.

Power dressing is a distant memory for most, thanks to the perils of lockdown.

But Eiza Gonzalez was dressed for success and she arrived at a meeting at DreamWorks Studios in Los Angeles on Monday.

With her coffee and phone in hand, the actress, 31, looked work-ready as she turned heads in a pair of high-waisted mustard trousers.

Power move: Eiza Gonzalez was dressed for success and she arrived at a meeting at DreamWorks Studios in Los Angeles on Monday

Eiza paired her statement slacks with a crisp white shirt and matching open-toe kitten heels to create a sleek business look.

She softened the office aesthetic by wearing her gorgeous chestnut locks in relaxed bouncy curls.

The Baby Driver actress kept things COVID safe as she masked up in a midnight blue protective face covering from Lapcos.

The outing comes a day after the star took a tumble off her bicycle in West Hollywood on Sunday.

She means business: The Baby Driver actress, 31, paired her statement slacks with a crisp white shirt and matching open-toe kitten heels

In a video posted to Instagram, Eiza could be seen cruising happily along the street in the sunshine.

After adjusting her hat, the star misjudged the positioning of her handlebars and flew towards the pavement.

The busy actress has no time for injuries with an action-packed year of work ahead of her.

Most recently, Eiza has been spotted filming the latest Michael Bay thriller, Ambulance, alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

She is set to star as a paramedic who has been taken hostage, alongside a patient in critial condition, by two ruthless criminals.

The Mexican-born actress will also star alongside Millie Bobby Brown in HBO's hotly anticipated Godzilla vs. Kong, which premieres on March 31.

Princess Charlotte known for her resemblance to her great-grandmother the Queen, but eagle-eyed royal fans have spotted a sweet gesture that the young Princess and her mother Kate Middleton have in common.

During a video call last week, the Duchess of Cambridge, 39, was spotted reaching back to twirl her ponytail during a conversation with teachers about how they've coped with lockdown.

Kate was chatting with staff from Ribbon Academy last Tuesday when she reached back and swirled her hair around her fingers, which was styled in a low ponytail.

A fan account on Instagram noticed a similarity to Princess Charlotte's mannerisms on her first day of school in September 2019.

Eagle-eyed royal fans have spotted a hair habit which Princess Charlotte picked up from her mother Kate Middleton, 39, as she twirled her ponytail while on a video call with teachers last week

Charlotte, now five, made the same gesture with her hair as she greeted the Thomas's Battersea's head Helen Haslem.

Her hair was styled in a low ponytail as she arrived at school, accompanied by Kate and her father Princess William, 38, and her older brother Prince George, now seven.

Kate is currently living at their Norfolk residence of Anmer Hall with Prince William and their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, two.

During the call, the royal praised the staff members for their hard work amid the Covid-19 crisis and urged them to continue to 'look after themselves'.

She said: 'I wanted to say a massive thank you to teachers across the country for doing fantastic jobs. It's been really hard work but please look after yourselves.'

A fan account on Instagram noticed a similarity to Princess Charlotte's first day of school in September 2019, as the young royal, five, fussed with her hair

Kate has supported the annual Children's Mental Health Week since it was launched in 2015 - to highlight the importance of children and young people's mental health - by Place2Be, a children's mental health charity of which she is royal patron.

She spoke one-on-one with teachers from the school about the important work they have been doing during the pandemic to support children and their families, and thanked them for their efforts.

During the call, Kate asked the teachers some quick fire questions and heard from Head Teacher Ashleigh Sheridan and teachers Hannah Rispin and Louise Tweedie about how children have been faring during the pandemic.

Meanwhile she also heard how Place2Be supports the wellbeing of the whole school community, including teachers.

Kate marked Children's Mental Health Week at the end of January with a selfie video during a jog in the Norfolk countryside.

The royal appeared to be speaking from the grounds of her Norfolk home and donned a cosy navy beanie with a huge fluffy bobble and a navy quilted Barbour jacket.

In the clip, she appealed to parents to 'look after' themselves during this 'hugely challenging time'.

Kate said mothers and fathers need to be 'the very best versions of ourselves for the children in our care' in her address.

Princess Charlotte - who was accompanied by her parents Kate and Prince William, 38, and her older brother Prince George, now seven - twirled her low ponytail as she greeted the Thomas's Battersea's head Helen Haslem

The message comes after the royal confessed parenting during lockdown has left her 'exhausted' and joked about her children recoiling in 'horror' when she became their hairdresser.

In her message, Kate said: 'This year's Children's Mental Health Week is all about expressing yourself - about finding creative ways in which to share your thoughts, ideas and feelings.

'So whether that's through photography, through art, through drama, through music or poetry - it's finding those things that make you feel good about yourself.

'And while this is Children's Mental Health Week there has never been a more important time to talk about parental wellbeing and mental health too.

'Last year you told me just how important this was, that many of us find it hard to prioritise. This is a hugely challenging time for us all so please look after yourself too.

'Find those ways in which to share your thoughts and your feelings or find someone to talk to because we really do need to be the very best versions of ourselves for the children in our care.'

 Flash

Sweden has expelled a Russian diplomat in response of Moscow's declaration of a Swedish diplomat "persona non-grata" last week.

"We have informed the Russian Ambassador that a person from the Russian embassy is asked to leave Sweden. This is a clear response to the unacceptable decision to expel a Swedish diplomat who was only performing his duties," Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde announced in a tweet on Monday.

Together with colleagues from Germany and Poland, the Swedish diplomat was seen connected with a demonstration in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in the city of St. Petersburg on Jan. 23.

Claiming the three foreign diplomats had participated in the protest and thereby committing "illegal actions," Moscow on Friday declared them "personae non gratae" in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and expelled them.

Sweden, Poland and Germany said they were merely there as observers. All three countries have now announced they have expelled Russian diplomats in response.

Some churches have said the cost of data is preventing less privileged members from accessing sermons.

The digital era has paved a lee-way for congregations to worship in the comfort of their homes at the same time protecting themselves from the novel virus.

Guta Ra Mwari Religion, Heartfelt International Ministries, United Congregational Church of Southern Africa are part of the indigenous churches which have resorted to social media to conduct online sermons triggering more than a thousand active participants on WhatsApp and Facebook.

Mr Moses Tshuma an Evangelist at Guta Ra Mwari Religion said the lockdown of churches does not mean worship is also on lockdown. Mr Tshuma advised other congregates not to sit and wait for the physical churches to open but engage in online sermons as they are a safer alternative to curb the novel virus.

"With the lockdown our congregates now receive the sermon in the comfort of their homes and families with less exposure to Covid-19," said Mr Tshuma.

"We use Zoom, Skype and WhatsApp for pre- recorded audios. We have now advanced to a situation where a sermon delivered on Zoom is live streamed on YouTube which is much stable a virtual platform," he said.

Tshuma says more than a thousand congregates participate on WhatsApp sermons while YouTube and Zoom get more than two hundred participants.

"The older generation prefers WhatsApp because it is easily accessible while the Youth prefer YouTube and Skype," said Mr Tshuma.

"Online sermons are no different from the physical ones, once you familiarise yourself with them you will realize that it has become the new normal," said Mr Tshuma.

Pastor Ephert Ndlovu of the Heartfelt International Ministries also proclaimed dedication to helping people overcome spiritual attacks online through prayer and deliverance. He said the deliverance is free all they ask is for people to testify.

"We are dedicated to helping people overcome spiritual attacks on social media since churches are closed, we do spiritual deliverance and healing and the number of testimonies we get is quite remarkable," said Pastor Ndlovu.

Heartfelt International Ministries has more than 35 000 thousand followers on Facebook, and more than 600 congregates participate in online sermons.

"Some believers even go as far as calling requesting for healing, and they will be healed over the phone," said Pastor Ndlovu.

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However, Mrs Xolani Ncube from The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa expressed the need to physically fellowship as some church services like the Holy Communion (isidlo senkosi) cannot be administered online.

"Mingling as congregates is greatly missed especially for services like the Holy Communion that cannot be done online," she said.

Mrs Ncube said the new normal was straining on the pocket.

"Online services are challenging as other people face financial constraints in terms of buying data to access the sermons. We are a big church of about 300 worshipers but only a range of twenty to twenty- five people take part in online sermons which means others are left out," said Mrs Ncube.

"Despite these challenges' online church services, are safer at a time like this, because if churches are opened social distancing will not be maintained and worshipers will be exposed to the virus. It is better to be safe than sorry," said Mrs Ncube.
Highlights The Canon Cinema EOS C300 Mark II seems to be the new favourite among filmmakers, as seen at the Sundance Film Festival.

The camera was launched in 2015, and the surprising bit is that six years later, it is still the preferred choice for filmmakers.

The EOS C300 Mark II also has a successor, the Canon Cinema EOS C300 Mark III, launched in April 2020.

Filmmaking is a step-by-step process to reach a final visual product. It can be a feature film, a documentary, a short clip, or even an advertisement. Irrespective of the form, the process remains the same - pre-production, production, and post-production. All the three stages are equally important but here, we will emphasise on production.

There must have been times when as a viewer, you just watched a film and fell for it. Not for the story, but for all the other aesthetics involved. It can be due to the cinematic shots, frame composition, colours, lighting et cetera. The one thing that a filmmaker requires to capture all this is a decent cinema camera.

The Canon Cinema EOS C300 Mark II seems to be the new favourite among filmmakers, as seen at the Sundance Film Festival. For those unaware, it is an annual event which takes place in the United States in January. This year's event witnessed many professional filmmakers opting for the Canon Cinema EOS C300 Mark II camera for shooting over others. The camera was launched in 2015, and the surprising bit is that six years later, it is still the preferred choice for filmmakers. The EOS C300 Mark II also has a successor, the Canon Cinema EOS C300 Mark III, launched in April 2020 with a new type of Dual Gain Output (DGO) sensor.

According to a report by Canon Rumors, "This year, the Canon Cinema EOS C300 Mark II was the runaway choice for documentary filmmakers, it was used in 8 of the 18 documentaries shown at Sundance." The statement actually leads us to another fact that the choice of cameras tends to differ between a documentary filmmaker and a narrative filmmaker.

On the narrative side, the German camera maker ARRI secures the top position with its ARRI ALEXA Mini. But what makes the Canon Cinema EOS C300 Mark II a top choice among documentary filmmakers?

The reason

The Cinema EOS C300 Mark II is the go-to-option for documentary filmmakers for multiple reasons. The camera comes with a compact form factor, is handy for makers while commuting as well as reliable for single shooter productions.

Canon's digital motion picture camera comes with an affordable price tag and most importantly, features top-flight specifications despite being old. It has an 8.85-megapixel 35mm CMOS sensor and dual DIGIC DV 5 image processors as well as XF AVC codec that allows you to record 10-bit, 4:2:2 4K files. Other specs and features include bit rates up to 410Mbps, dual-pixel CMOS autofocus, simultaneous 4K and HD recording and 2K/UHD frame rates up to 120FPS.

Other than the EOS C300 Mark II model, there are more Canon cameras that got the Sundance-featured such as the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and EOS 5D Mark IV.
Crown Resorts new $2.2 billion gambling mecca at Barangaroo may never open its doors after an independent inquiry found that the James Packer-backed group is unfit to hold a casino licence in NSW.

Former Supreme Court judge Patricia Bergin said in her 750-page final report released on Tuesday afternoon following an 18-month probe into the company that Crown needed a management overhaul if it ever wanted to hold a casino licence, and that the states gambling regulator should reconsider Mr Packers involvement.

The findings from an 18-month into Crowns Sydney casino licence have been released. Credit:Nick Moir

Commissioner Bergin said an examination of a 2019 investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and 60 Minutes into Crown that sparked the inquiry confirmed Crown had facilitated money laundering through its bank accounts; disregarded the welfare of its staff in China before 19 were arrested there in 2016, and went into business with high-roller junket tour groups linked to Triad and other organised crime groups.

This made Crown unsuitable to hold a casino licence with its core problem being poor corporate governance, deficient risk management structures and processes and a poor corporate culture.

[February 09, 2021] Pacific Prime Acquires CXA Group's Brokerages to Become the 3rd Largest Employee Benefits Broker in Singapore and Hong Kong

Global insurance brokerage Pacific Prime has solidified its foothold in Asia Pacific by acquiring the Hong Kong and Singapore brokerage arms of CXA Group, an insurtech company that has exited this sector to focus on its cloud-based enterprise SaaS (News - Alert) business. The acquisition deal took place on February 4th, 2021. CXA's insurtech business is backed by HSBC, Singtel Innov8, the Singapore Economic Development Board's investment arm EDBI and B Capital Group, the venture firm of Facebook (News - Alert) co-founder Eduardo Saverin. The acquisition of CXA Group's brokerage arms in Hong Kong and Singapore is a breakthrough, as Pacific Prime seeks to continually expand in the Asia Pacific region and globally. The acquisition gives Pacific Prime the technology to offer full-flex and simplified flex solutions to all of its clients around the world. Neil Raymond, CEO of Pacific Prime, welcomed this move: "CXA Group has expertise that we can beneit from, particularly in using technology to transform the employee benefits landscape. I believe this makes us the third biggest employee benefits broker in Singapore and Hong Kong after the mergers of Aon-WTW and Mercer-JLT. This acquisition propels us towards our long-term objective of being the leading global employee benefits specialist."



Rosaline Chow Koo, CEO of CXA Group, said: "We're confident to leave our Hong Kong and Singapore brokerage arms with Pacific Prime, as we share the same commitment to being technology-driven." Historically, Pacific Prime has built all of its own insurtech in-house; 15% of its 600 staff are IT-focused. This insurtech approach has been largely responsible for Pacific Prime's growth over the past decade. The technology it is acquiring as part of the CXA deal is extremely complementary to Pacific Prime's in-house technology, and will allow Pacific Prime to offer employee benefits flex solutions to large multinationals, as well as smaller SMEs.

The acquisition will serve to bolster Pacific Prime's employee benefits and compensation technology, enabling global HR teams to simplify plan administration across multiple jurisdictions and leverage valuable insights from data, as well as streamline total rewards management. About Pacific Prime Pacific Prime is a global leader in the corporate insurance and employee benefits space, operating out of 10 locations across the world. The brokerage has a unique approach to employee benefits broking, building technology to support its clients. To learn more about Pacific Prime, visit: https://www.pacificprime.com/corporate. About CXA Group CXA Group is Asia's one-stop, predictive and data intelligence platform. Headquartered in Singapore, the insurtech start-up is dedicated to promoting better health, wealth, and wellness choices. To learn more about CXA, visit: https://www.cxagroup.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005303/en/

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Press Release

Paris, 9 February 2021 - 6 pm

Appointment of Andrew Vile for US rollout

of the Madvertise and SYNC offer

Madvertise (Euronext Growth - FR0010812230 - ALMNG), the French AdTech company dedicated to mobile advertising, continues to develop its international sales, and its partnership with SYNC will allow it to move into new territory. Andrew Vile, who joined its partner's US team as Sales Manager, will be responsible for marketing SYNC and Madvertise's joint offer to media agencies in the US.

The SYNC offer, already available for one year in the US via its platform for recognizing TV commercials that is compatible with all distribution networks, has, after successful testing results, won over major players in the US. This offer, which has performed remarkably well with a 300 to 500% increase in click-through rates, will be reinforced and benefit from all of Madvertise's areas of expertise with respect to targeted mobile advertising.

Thanks to over eight years' experience in marketing and advertising at companies such as Yelp.com, NetElixir, Inc., and Brightedge, Andrew Vile will be able to apply his expertise in strategic sales, his knowledge of media agencies and his motivation to implement solutions and develop client relations and prospects in the US.

"Madvertise is pleased to be taking its first steps on American soil alongside SYNC. Andrew's experience means we couldn't ask for a better person to promote the relevance of our platform. As it is respectful of users and amazingly efficient, we are confident that many players will join the shift toward virtuous targeted advertising," said Francois Roloff, CEO of Madvertise.

"SYNC will be able to develop its presence in the US and allow both companies to benefit, as they already do in France, from the significant synergies they bring to each other. Other countries are in the works and should ensure a significant increase in revenue," added Damien Bachelot, CEO of SYNC.

About Madvertise

Madvertise is a European pioneer of AdTech founded in 2011 in the heart of Europe. Positioned as Europe's largest independent mobile advertising network in the premium segment in France, Germany and Italy, Madvertise has developed proprietary technology to maximize advertiser visibility and publisher revenues. By developing its technologies in-house Madvertise offers a range of advertising solutions combining mobile display, Digital Out of Home and Social Media to provide advertisers with the best possible results. With an audience of 55 million unique visitors per month and more than 250 premium publishers to its credit, Madvertise is the best choice to ensure that advertisers in Europe are seen, heard and desired. With its goal to become CO2 neutral by the end of 2022, Madvertise is an environmentally friendly European AdTech player and equipped with an unrivalled SaaS solution Made in Europe.

Madvertise is listed on Euronext Growth Paris (FR0010812230 - ALMNG).

More information on www.madvertise.com

Contacts

AELIUM FINANCE - Investors

Valentine Boivin / Solene Kennis

+33 (0)1 75 77 54 65

madvertise@aelium.fr

About SYNC

SYNC is a French deep tech which offers advertising formats for new, innovative mobile uses, synchronized with television and radio. Advertising is enriched by an open solution of dynamic and synchronized pre-loading thanks to a technology patented by SYNC.

Three complementary offers have been developed to meet all needs:

 SYNC DISPLAY shows rich ad formats on mobile devices synchronized with the TV. This is new advertising inventory for advertisers and agencies, with additional revenue for app providers.

 SYNC ACTIVATE helps optimize keyword campaigns through real-time TV synchronization, not only with Google, but also with Facebook and other digital platforms.

 SYNC ENGAGE provides media groups with the most widely used white label interactive accompanying multi-screen solution. The clients won include the world's largest media companies such as Disney, Endemol, NBC, NFL, Yahoo and Sony.

www.sync.tv

https://twitter.com/synctv

https://fr.linkedin.com/company/sync-sas

This press release contains forward-looking information concerning Madvertise's financial position and results. Although based on reasonable assumptions, such forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including matters that are unknown to the company or are not presently considered material, and there can be no assurance that the anticipated events will occur or that the stated objectives will be achieved. In particular, the consequences of the Covid-19 epidemic are uncertain and the health crisis could aggravate risks facing the Group.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Abaco Systems, Inc. announces a design win with an initial value of $505k, and a lifetime potential of $4.5m supporting a major defense prime upgrade to an existing Side Head Up Display platform in AC-130J gunships. This Side HUD application is to enable operational visibility of the battlespace for the platform.

Abaco's newest high performance embedded computing system, the MAGIC1A, was chosen after a competitive selection process, by meeting and exceeding the requirements for key upgrade features including increased storage space for mission and flight data, higher processing capacity, and cybersecurity capabilities. Abaco was selected for its ability to innovate and deliver while meeting critical schedule requirements.

Abaco has delivered ~50 legacy MAGIC1 systems over the past several years for this application. The MAGIC1A delivers the latest in Graphics and Computer Processing to a rugged SWaP-C3 improvement on a legacy design, which ensures seamless integration and an extensible technology roadmap. The operational stability of the legacy product combined with a clean tech insertion and upgrade path to current generation capabilities with the MAGIC1A system made Abaco the ideal choice for this design win. The customer required pin-compatibility with the legacy system and an upgrade to the MAGIC1A met that need. Abaco's innovative approach will allow the customer to reduce the technology footprint on the platform via an SDI I/O upgrade on the system. Delivery of these systems is planned for the first quarter of 2021.

John Muller, Chief Growth Officer at Abaco Systems, Inc. said, "We have had an excellent source of relationship capital with this customer from years of exceptional service. Our innovative approach met synchronized expectations to deliver exactly what the customer needed to succeed. This design win is a prime example of Abaco's ability to innovate so that we can deliver best in class military and aerospace contributions."

About Abaco Systems

With more than 30 years' experience, Abaco Systems is a global leader in open architecture computing and electronic systems for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. We create innovative, modular solutions based on open standards that are characterized by outstanding price/performance, ultimate rugged reliability and minimal SWaP. Our goal is to be a significant contributor to our customers' success, partnering with them to reduce cost, time-to-deployment and risk and supporting them over the long term. With an active presence in hundreds of national asset platforms on land, sea and in the air, Abaco Systems is trusted where it matters most. www.abaco.com

SOURCE Abaco Systems

Related Links

https://www.abaco.com


DUBLIN, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "U.S. Financial Wellness Benefits Market - Industry Outlook and Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

In-depth Analysis and Data-driven Insights on the Impact of COVID-19 Included in this U.S. Financial Wellness Benefits Market Report



The U.S. financial wellness benefits market by revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of approx. 13% during the period 2021-2026.



The U.S. financial wellness benefits market has undergone a major shift with employees in the US changing their thinking toward financial wellness, especially after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The pandemic has driven wellness benefits such as futuristic planning, flexible pay, and loan repayment schemes backed by employees. COVID-19 has led to new realities and advancements in the market. Pay raises in the near future have been affected as companies face unpredictable revenue streams and budgets. As employers begin to realize that monetary benefits are not the only way to retain employees, they have become inclined to offer customized schemes. Larger employers are offering wellness programs in sync with retirement plans. Companies also focused on certain other benefits such as debt counseling services and emergency savings accounts during the pandemic. Since millennials and the older workforce nearing retirement age are the ones most struggling, wellness programs that tend to them are expected to witness the increased engagement.



The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the U.S. financial wellness benefits market during the forecast period:

Financial Fitness Champions gaining Ground

Democratization of Financial Wellness for Special Groups

Early Wage Access Witnessing Exponential Growth

Data Analytics in Financial Wellness

The study considers the present scenario of the U.S. financial wellness benefits market and its market dynamics for the period 2020-2026. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The report offers both the demand and supply aspects of the market. It profiles and examines leading companies and other prominent ones operating in the market.



U.S. Financial Wellness Benefits Market Segmentation



The U.S. financial wellness benefits market research report includes a detailed segmentation by program, end-user, delivery, type, industry, geography. The fluidity of the current pandemic-afflicted landscape has increased the importance of financial planning programs among employees. As employers increasingly realize the impact that it can have on business in terms of performance, they are onboarding financial planning advisors and asset managers, thereby boosting the growth of the segment. The pandemic is also driving the demand for planning to build savings in preparation for future emergencies. Financial wellness tends to be a way of life for most workers in the US with monetary challenges expecting not to go away anytime soon, making the market a lucrative one.



Large businesses are blending physical, mental, and financial programs to provide holistic support to their employees. The concept of "health meets wealth" is gaining immense traction in the market because both are largely interdependent and healthcare costs are continuing to rise as well. However, a major challenge for large-sized companies is that almost 35% of workers have no clue that their employer offered benefits in the financial wellness realm. Participation rates are often low as well. The segment is expected to witness the growth due to the growing realization among employers to observe the link between financially well employees and how they work - aka employee productivity. Nearly 40% of employers are thus offering wellness programs with about 30% citing "differentiation from other employers" as the second most important reason.



Although the growth rate of personalized financial wellness programs is expected to grow at the highest rate, online/digital wellness programs are not much beyond. Personalized counseling for finances is growing a rapid rate since advisers can easily adapt to the needs of the employee. They are particularly popular in workforces with highly diverse employees. Employees are asking for one-on-one interactions more than ever in order to help navigate finances, which increasing advisers to meet employees regularly, thereby driving up revenues of one-on-one programs.



Workplace financial wellness programs in healthcare companies have been going strong in the US because the industry is specifically susceptible to disadvantageous outcomes due to workforce volatility in a system, where reliable and consistent care is a priority. The Gen Z and millennial workers are driving this market, showing interest in budgeting, investment advice, debt management, student loan repayment, retirement income planning, college expense planning, special needs planning, and protection.



Consumer tools are gaining popularity as employees increasingly want solutions to their grievances in an instant. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for wellness services that include accountability prompts and personalized delivery of content. Firms are investing in a combination of high-touch and high-tech. Technology is increasingly being used to optimize financial health holistically and seamlessly integrate it into the employee's daily life and schedule.



INSIGHTS BY VENDORS



With the future of financial wellness benefits expected to be governed by targeted communication, integrated, multichannel approach, accessibility to reliable resources, and personalized learning paths for exponential engagement, the US financial wellness benefits market is witnessing a steady entry of EAP, healthcare, insurance, and employee benefits service providers. The market has over 300 players. Vendors compete in terms of cost, ease of implementation, brand value, expertise, breadth of benefits, customization ability, employee communications, skilled workforce, and technological capability.



KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED

1. What is the growth of the U.S. financial wellness benefits market during the forecast period?

2. What role data analytics play to increase the growth of the financial wellness benefits market?

3. Who are the major market players in the financial wellness industry?

4. What is the impact of COVID-19 in the financial wellness benefits market?

5. Which segment is likely to generate the highest revenue during the forecast period?



Companies Mentioned



Prudential Financial

Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Fidelity Investments

Mercer

Financial Finesse

Aduro

Ayco

Beacon Health Options

Best Money Moves

BrightDime

Brightside

DHS Group

Edukate

Enrich Financial Wellness

Even

FlexWage

Financial Fitness Group

Financial Knowledge

HealthCheck360

Holberg Financial

Health Advocate

LearnLux

Limeade

Money Starts Here

PayActiv

Purchasing Power

Ramsey Solutions

Transamerica

My Secure Advantage

LifeCents

Origin

BrightPlan

Savology

Sqwire

FinFit

Pro Financial Health

FutureFuel.io

Salary Finance

Social Finance (SoFi)

GoPlan 101

The Financial Gym

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/13ycq

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


Magi Helena

Tribune Content Agency

BIRTHDAY STAR: Actress Kelli Berglund was born in Moorpark, Calif., on this day in 1996. This birthday star is known to TV fans for her roles as Ren on the TV sitcom The Goldbergs, Carly Carlson on Now Apocalypse and Bree Davenport on Lab Rats. On the big screen, Berglunds film work includes parts in Ghost in the Graveyard, Going for Gold and Raising the Bar. Berglund is slated to star in the upcoming series Heels.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You could turn an outsider into an ally by flashing a smile their way. Mend fences and make amends while people are in the mood to accept apologies. Co-workers and friends expect you to honor commitments and appointments.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You may encounter resistance if you change things that have outworn their usefulness. It may seem expeditious to start fresh, but there could be a good reason to keep old things around. Enjoy a healthy social life.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Set your imaginative mind loose on any problem and come up with a perfect solution. You might have a tendency to rush ahead and take care of loose ends without checking with a loved one first.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Even if you think your mind is made up, be open to additional facts. New information can cause you to change your mind, and the outcome is likely to be better once you implement your new plan.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Your fascination with the latest gadgets and trends can pump new enthusiasm into your daily routines. You may prefer trying something new and exotic rather than staying in familiar territory with friends and family.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Discussions can glue together the bonds of affection with a loved one, but only if you handle them delicately. Be gracious and cooperative to avoid sparking an argument even if youre challenged.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A sincere apology always works magic. Use your best manners to win someone over to your side or settle an issue. Your special someone might be in the mood to pamper you or shower you with affection.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Polish up your reputation by honoring a promise or commitment to a friend. Talking over your future and laying out your plans may result in some helpful feedback. Love and affection are in abundance.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You may be preoccupied with using money to make more money rather than investing in mere trinkets. There may be an excellent opportunity to talk over long-term plans with loved ones and define joint objectives.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Maybe you are attracted to expensive goodies and luxurious gifts because that is what friends are talking about. Your dissatisfaction with your possessions may send you off on a search for items of elegance and refinement.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Someone in close connection can provide a dynamic example of advanced thinking. You may initially resist changes, but once you think it through, you might realize theres merit to new ideas.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Show your love by clearing up a potential misunderstanding and offering an apology. Your charm could be evident as you navigate the choppy seas of social gatherings. You can get your way at the workplace by being empathetic.

IF FEBRUARY 9 IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: You could build an extended family by joining a virtual club or participating in Zoom gatherings during the next two to three weeks. Take advantage of any opportunities that arrive in March, when you are luckier than usual and your judgment is at its zenith. Helpful people can give you good advice or give your most important dreams a thumbs-up. April is the best time to make crucial business or financial decisions because your savvy and grasp of business strategies are at their best. This is also an ideal time to make key changes or appear in public, where you could shine. Take a vacation or rest on your laurels in June and early July, but keep your money in your pocket, as your financial schemes could go awry.

Learn more at https://magihelena.com/ Questions? Reach out to Helena at questionsmagihelena.com.

2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
At least one person was killed and another three were injured after two rival gangs opened fire on each at a high end Mexican restaurant Monday.

The gang war reportedly broke out after one drugs gang attempted to kidnap a rival member at Los Oates restaurant, in the Jalisco municipality of Zapopan, according to Jalisco State Attorney General Gerardo Solis. The gangs involved had not yet been identified.

A mobster was killed in the ensuing shootout between the gangs, and police who responded to the scene, while two male waiters and an off-duty police officer were wounded.

Surveillance footage from the restaurant captured the moment after the kidnapping attempt, when a group of gunmen entered and opened fired at a table of rival gang members, all wearing bulletproof vests.

A gunman aims his gun at an individual inside a restaurant in Zapopan, Mexico, during a kidnapping attempt Monday afternoon that resulted in a shootout between two rival criminal groups and cops. Two waiters and an off-duty cop were wounded, and an assassin linked to the gunman's group was shot dead, according the Jalisco state prosecutor's office

According to a preliminary report issued by Solis on Monday evening, the injured off-duty cop and another police officer, were outside the restaurant when he heard the commotion. Both bravely ran inside to confront the gunmen, and opened fire.

Video shows around 15 gang members diving for safety to avoid the hail of bullets.

The footage also shows members of gang who first opened fire, tending to their fatally injured accomplice after he had been shot.

It appears that the would-be kidnapping victim was able to flee in the chaos, when his gang turned up and opened fire.

A second video, recorded by a resident outside the restaurant, shows the gunmen loading the man's body into the flatbed of a pickup truck. The gang, who were armed with military rifles, then jump in four vehicles and follow the pick up truck as they flee the scene.

Gunmen place the body of one of their accomplices in the back of a pickup truck before fleeing a restaurant in Zapopan, Mexico, where they had a shootout with a rival group on Monday. The wounded assassin was dropped off at a hospital where he was declared dead, according to Jalisco State Attorney General Gerardo Solis.

Video recorded by residents in Zapopan, Mexico, captures the moment an alleged gang member opens fire before he and his accomplices escaped from a restaurant where they were involved in a shootout with a rival group and cops during a kidnapping attempt on Monday

Solis said the unidentified gang member was declared dead at a local hospital where the gunmen had dropped him off.

At least 100 bullet casings from military rifles and handguns were recovered from the crime scene.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Solis' office and the state and local police had not announced any arrests.
On Sunday, the Chinese Communist Party warned the countries that will join in boycotting the 2022 Winter Olympics that will be held in Beijing, saying they will face "serious sanctions."

Both the British and the U.S. lawmakers, together with the coalition of human rights advocates, called to boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics over CCP's human rights violations.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to deny the allegations of "genocide" against the Uyghur Muslim minorities despite being reported to imprison Uyghurs and subjecting them to political re-education.

"It is important to note that the so-called China's genocide in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and its suppression of human rights in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are simply extreme accusations made by a few Western countries, and even by some forces within those countries." an editor from Global Times China claimed.

The editor of the state-controlled Global Times Hu Xijin also said on Sunday that China will "seriously sanction" countries that participate in the boycotting of the Winter Olympics.

"Now if a country or group of countries boycotts the Olympic Games for political reasons, there will be strong opposition from the IOC and athletes from relevant countries. Although the previous U.S. administration seemed to have prepared a new cold war with China, it was more like an empty show and it was far from a real trend. A boycott by the U.S. and the UK would be seen as a farce even in their own countries, with huge resistance and associated uncertainty," he wrote.

He first posted the warning on his Twitter account saying that the boycott propaganda will not receive wide support and anyone who follows such a call will be sanctioned.

He then wrote in his editorial the extent of punishment that China will impose:

"China is a sporting and economic power with growing political influence. If any country is encouraged by extremist forces to take concrete actions to boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics, China will definitely retaliate fiercely. China certainly has the resources and means to do that."

Despite China's denial of the allegations, there are cited witnesses who came forth and went on record with BBC News to describe the "extremely gruesome torture by CCP" against the Uyghur women.

"Their goal is to destroy everyone," the Uyghur camp detainees said, accusing the CCP of systematic rape with the use of torture devices.

The CCP also imposed numerous policies that further vioates human rights including the implementation of labor camps in Tibet and forcing them to use the Han Mandarin language even if it is not their native language, a policy of language and cultural erasure in Inner Mongolia, and the imposing of national security in Hong Kong.

The human rights coalition of over 180 groups started the call to boycott the Olympic Games and called on the government to "take a stand and demonstrate that they have the political will to push back against China's reprehensible human rights abuses." in which the UK and U.S. lawmakers responded to.
BEIJING, Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sponsored by China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Co., Ltd. (CNPIEC), the "China Books Around the World" book sales event has been launched in the Chinese bookstores of 24 countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan. Traveling thousands of miles from Beijing, quality and content-rich Chinese publications greet local readers at overseas Chinese bookstores. Designed to connect people from across the world through reading with the help of local Chinese bookstores, this event will reach its peak around Chinese New Year in 2021.

To widen the spectrum of content and diversify the variety of publications, a diverse array of books is selected for this event which were published by nearly 30 well-known Chinese publishing houses in the past year, including People's Publishing House, Foreign Languages Press, CITIC Press Group, Social Sciences Academic Press (China), The Commercial Press, and People's Literature Publishing House.

This event coincides with the Spring Festival of 2021, a special occasion for family reunion of Chinese people. Due to the pandemic of COVID-19, many overseas Chinese might not have the chance to reunite with their families back in China. On this occasion, CNPIEC has gifted these overseas Chinese bookstores with cultural and creative products of traditional Chinese festivity such as Spring Festival couplets, Chinese character "Fu" (signifying blessings), window paper-cuts, as well as epidemic prevention supplies and books. This kind gesture not only delivers the blessings and festivity of the Chinese New Year, but also embodies the care and love of their motherland for overseas Chinese and its deep gratitude for their support since the outbreak of COVID-19 in China.

Generous support has been garnered from overseas Chinese bookstores. POPULAR Book Company in Singapore and Malaysia work closely with CNPIEC in co-organizing activities despite the increasingly severe local epidemic of COVID-19, putting up posters at 88 branches in Singapore and Malaysia, and promoting the event on their online sales platforms. Xinhua Bookstore in Canada joins hands with CNPIEC in planning a wide range of online and offline Spring Festival activities, including "Chinese Community Calligraphy and Painting Competition", "Traditional Spring Festival Knowledge Quiz", "Little Reciters: Chinese Children Recitation Competition", to carry on the tradition of celebrating the Chinese New Year and appreciate the care of the motherland during the pandemic.

CNPIEC is dedicated to the 11th "China Books Around the World" event by drawing on its overseas resources amassed over many years, in a bid to nourish the hearts and souls of overseas Chinese and foreign readers, so that they will have a in-depth and comprehensive understanding of modern China through reading.

Chinese bookstores in the US and Canada participating in the event:

XINHUA BOOK STORE

101-10190 152A Street Surrey, BC

V3R 1J SURREY

Canada

XIN HUA BOOKSTORE INC

7373A Convoy CT. San Diego

CA92111 USA

NIMING BOOKS INC

12417.Elliott Ave, El Monte.

Los Angeles, CA91732.

U.S.A.

Tel: (213)-249-2671

Enlighten Books & Gifts

1015 S. Nogales St., Ste # 133

Rowland Heights, CA 91748

Tel: 626-913-2481

World Journal Bookstore

141-07 20th AVE.

WHITESTONE, NY 11357

U.S.A.

For overseas Chinese bookstores that are interested in this event or overseas readers who wish to buy Chinese books, please contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corporation

Related Links

www.cnpiec.com.cn


A San Francisco man who the FBI says appeared in a livestream at the Capitol riot Jan. 6 has been arrested in Texas.

On Jan. 15, the FBI charged Daniel Goodwyn, 32, with knowingly entering a restricted building and "intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of government business." According to the complaint, Goodwyn identified himself by his first and last name on a livestream posted by Baked Alaska, the stage name of popular right-wing agitator Anthime Gionet. Gionet was arrested last month in Houston.

Local media outlets in Denton County, Texas, report that Goodwyn was apprehended by federal officers at his family's home in Corinth on Jan. 29.

"While in the building the defendant was called out as 'sfthoughtcriminal,' by Anthime Gionet aka 'Baked Alaska,'" the complaint reads. "Goodwyn, who was wearing dark sunglasses, a MAGA hat, and a tan and black jacket approached Gionet. Goodwyn then told Gionet to stop 'doxing' him and stated that his name was Daniel Goodwyn."

According to the FBI, Capitol Police then ordered Goodwyn to leave. As he exited, the complaint says he called the officer an "oathbreaker," a derogatory term used by the far right against law enforcement they deem unsympathetic to their cause.

Goodwyn has a large digital footprint. According to his personal website, he attended City College of San Francisco and works as a freelance web and app developer. He lists Jews for Jesus as one of his clients and, strangely, posts links to everything from his Gab, Parler, Venmo and Pandora accounts to his dating app profiles. His social media says he drove from San Francisco to D.C. for the Stop the Steal rally that, as the afternoon wore on, turned into an all-out assault on the U.S. Capitol building.

On his Twitter account, Goodwyn claimed in September he was "arrested and cited" for not wearing a mask on Muni. Afterward, he posted video of himself on YouTube, maskless, reading a statement in front of the Hall of Justice. In it, he repeats a number of lies about the coronavirus pandemic, including denying it outright and falsely claiming COVID-19 vaccines will contain "a microchip."

He used the citation to fundraise for himself on a Christian crowdfunding site used by other far-right extremists like Stop the Steal founder Ali Alexander. Goodwyn raised $1,689 of his $5,000 goal.

FBI/Handout

In addition to his alleged appearance on Baked Alaska's stream, the FBI complaint alleges Goodwyn posted about the riot on his own social media. Screenshots in the complaint show a livestream posted on Goodwyn's Instagram, accompanied by the caption, "I didnt break or take anything but I went inside for a couple of minutes." The FBI says an associate of Goodwyn's who saw the posts alerted the agency to Goodwyn's possible involvement.

The complaint also notes that Goodwyn is a "self-proclaimed member of the Proud Boys." The Proud Boys are an anti-immigrant, far-right group who self-describe as "Western chauvinists." The Southern Poverty Law Center designates them as a hate group.

You can read the full complaint here.
LYDNEY, Gloucestershire, Feb. 09, 2021is pleased to announce that it has successfully delivered two critical construction site access bridges in support of a multi-billion-dollar modernisation and infrastructure improvement programme led by the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco).

The Bapco Modernization Programme (BMP), which constitutes Bapco's largest capital investment in its 90-year history, is designed to increase its refining capacity, as well as improve energy efficiency, with a vision to becoming one of the most competitive and environmentally-compliant oil refineries in the region, in support of the Kingdom of Bahrain's comprehensive, kingdom-wide economic development programme "Bahrain Economic Vision 2030," where infrastructure improvements play a vital role.

Mabey Bridge's role was to support the construction of Bapco's new industrial facilities with the supply of two 2-lane bridges. The aim was to facilitate easy access of construction vehicles and deliveries of specialist equipment to the construction site, without any interference to the local road network.

Two identical Compact 200 bridges were supplied to meet the requirement, each one sized 27m x 6.3m, complete with parapets and anti-skid decks. They were installed in one week sideby-side to provide an access route in both directions, so the project could begin as soon as possible.

The two-way spans helped ensure that the main roadways would be clear of large construction vehicles and civilian transportation would not be interrupted in any way. Post-installation technical assistance was also provided by Mabey Bridge to ensure extra-heavy load requirements were met.

On behalf of the Owner's Integrated Project Management Team (Bapco and Worley), BMP Project Director Mr Hafedh AlQassab said,

"The quality of service provided by Mabey Bridge, in the design and installation of the bridge, was first-rate and recognized by all stakeholders as a positive addition to the BMP Project allowing the safe movement of materials from the main project laydown area to the site."

Michael Treacy, CEO Mabey Bridge, said,

"We're extremely proud to be playing a role in this prestigious programme in Bahrain. The provision of quick, safe access to site for construction traffic is of paramount importance and we are delighted to have been able to demonstrate how modular steel solutions can deliver real project efficiencies in transformational construction projects like this."

About Mabey Bridge

Mabey Bridge is a leading international provider of high-quality modular bridging solutions. We specialise in rapid-build, pre-engineered modular steel bridges to enable accelerated bridge construction and improve connectivity in urban and rural areas. We also deliver bridging solutions for the construction, oil and gas, and mining sectors, as well as for specialist military applications, humanitarian emergencies and disaster relief.

Mabey Bridge, an Acrow Group company, is based in Gloucestershire, UK and has supplied modular bridging solutions to over 150 countries worldwide. For more information on how we can help with your project, please visit our website www.mabeybridge.com.

Bapco at a Glance

The Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) was registered on 11 January 1929. Since then, Bapco has grown to be a powerful organisation that continues to play a key role in Bahrain's development as a pioneering industrial force. Bahrain was the first country in the Arabian Gulf where oil was discovered in 1932. Bapco was instrumental in that discovery and helped in setting up the building blocks of the region's hydrocarbon industry when it commenced the export of oil on 7 June 1934, and then began refining it from 1937.

Bapco has been at the forefront of developing Bahrain's human capital, preparing Bahrainis to meet the demands of the oil industry, enhancing their capabilities, and helping them emerge as globally competitive professionals. Bapco's success over the last 90 years has been shaped by the support of countless national and international employees in writing the company's growth story. Originally owned by the Standard Oil Company of California, Bapco today, is wholly owned by the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Bapco currently owns a 267,000 bpd refinery, along with storage facilities for 14 million barrels and marketing and marine terminals for its portfolio of petroleum products. The Bapco Modernization Programme (BMP) will expand the processing capacity to 380,000 bpd.

Media contacts:

Fiona Ranson-Sasaki

Global Head of Marketing, The Acrow Group

+44 1291 623801

Tracy Van Buskirk

Marketcom PR

001

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/952a3c20-06b5-4d44-a274-28aff53ccc0f
New Delhi, Feb 9 : The Union Health Ministry has directed states and Union Territories to conclude the first dose administration of all frontline workers by March 6, officials said on Tuesday.

Ministry officials said that they have communicated to all the states and Union Territories that vaccination for all frontline workers must be scheduled once by March 1. The states and UTs are further directed to conclude mop-up rounds latest by March 6.

States and UTs were told that they must schedule vaccination for all the healthcare workers listed in the CoWIN application by March 1. Further, they have been asked that all frontline workers must be given the opportunity of mop-up rounds by March 6.

Earlier, the Health Ministry had asked all states and UTs to complete the administration of the first dose of Covid vaccines to their healthcare workers by February 20 and conclude mop-up round by February 24.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said during a press briefing that the aim should be that no willing beneficiary is left behind and for that, states and UTs are free to conduct as many mop-up rounds they want.

"They can do multiple rounds depending on their strength. The aim of the mop-up rounds is to ensure that those healthcare and frontline workers, who could not come during their scheduled vaccination sessions, will then be availed an opportunity afforded by the mop-up rounds to get their dose of vaccination," he said.

However, Bhushan also said that those healthcare and frontline workers, who fail to appear even during the mop-up rounds, will be relegated to age specific appropriate vaccination rounds.

"Those who would not come forward even during the mop-ups, will receive vaccine doses when the age specific vaccination rounds will roll out for the general public. There, they will be provided vaccines on the age group they fall," he added.
SOUTH HAVEN, MI-- Often, the best way to appreciate the beauty of the ice on Lake Michigan is from above.

In the wake of a winter storm that turned the lakeshore into a ice-covered version of itself, MLive flew a drone Monday, Feb. 8, to get a different perspective.

Related: Lake Michigan shoreline transformed into winter wonderland of ice

From high above the South Haven pier, beautiful pancakes of ice can be seen floating, many frozen together, where the Black River empties into the lake and stretched about half a mile into the big lake. The piers themselves were covered in ice and snow, with a dramatic-looking ice coating, shaped by wind, covering the west face of South Havens lighthouse.

Lake Michigans famous ice shelves have also taken shape along the shoreline in the wake of the weekend storm, and the visually captivating blue ice has been spotted yet again near the Mackinac Bridge.

First responders in South Haven and elsewhere along the Lake Michigan shoreline caution residents and visitors against going out onto the piers during the winter months, warning of dangerous conditions and treacherous ice.

44 Ice takes over Lake Michigan shoreline in South Haven

See more photos of the ice-covered pier in South Haven.

Also on MLive.com:

When will Michigan climb above freezing? It might be a long time

Lake Michigan saves part of state from plunging to 20 below zero

Blue ice building up near Michigans Mackinac Bridge

Michigan recorded its coldest temperature on this day in 1934
PHOENIX, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With more and more people over 50 making the leap from dreamer to entrepreneur, Assisted Living Locators, one of the nation's top senior care franchisors, is seeing baby boomers as a driving force in their franchisee sales growth.

Baby boomers, born between the years 1946 and 1964, consist of 20 percent the national population -- some 76 million people.

The senior placement franchisor is matching men and women of this generation with a boomer-friendly opportunity to build their own business.

"The baby boomers aren't slowing down," said Angela Olea, Assisted Living Locators CEO RN. "We've seen this first-hand at our company, as more and more of our franchise applicants are in this over 50 age bracket. In 2020, 50 percent of our new franchisees were baby boomers and are energetically making their mark as an entrepreneur."

Olea explained the baby boomers choose entrepreneurship as an encore career in order to pursue a passion, work on their own terms and continue to create wealth for themselves and their families. She noted that a great route for them to take is with a franchisor, like Assisted Living Locators, that offers a business opportunity that makes sense for this generation.

"Baby boomers themselves are taking advantage of the senior care market by starting businesses that serve their older, generational counterparts," said Olea. "Our senior placement and referral franchise allows for baby boomers to easily relate to their customer base. We are also recession-and COVID-19 resilient because we are an essential service to the community. Our home-based franchise offers a lower initial investment accompanied by a high potential for revenue and a feel-good energy."

Mike McClernon of Long Island, NY, age 59, embraced the opportunity to become an Assisted Living Locators franchisee. As a former CEO of a medical care business, he brings his past experience to his successful franchise, enjoys helping seniors get the right care and makes a difference in his community. "Most important, I didn't have to build my business from scratch," said McClernon. "I had the advantage of built-in name recognition, a proven business model and extensive support from Assisted Living Locators for building and marketing my business."

Olea stated baby boomers interested in starting a business should look at their age and experience as an asset. "Baby Boomers are goal-oriented, competitive and independent which are three characteristics that contribute to being successful in a franchise," she added.

Lori Sears of Phoenix, AZ, age 57, wanted to find a franchise that leveraged her years of experience and professional network in skilled nursing. "As a registered nurse, I was looking to own my own business with a franchise that matched my interest and knowledge in senior care," she explained. Sears found her answer in Assisted Living Locators franchise that she has owned for the last four years as a top performer.

"It's exciting to see how the DNA of America's entrepreneur is shifting," said Olea. "We can help baby boomers match their interests, their entrepreneurial spirit and help them attain small business success. We encourage qualified candidates to apply as we expand across the U.S."

To learn more about Assisted Living Locators franchising, call 800-267-7816 or visit: www.assistedlivinglocatorsfranchise.com.

SOURCE Assisted Living Locators

Related Links

http://www.assistedlivinglocators.com


Gardai drive at up to 160 km/h to catch a speeding motorist, Naas District Court heard on January 27.

Declan Boylan, 42, whose address was given as 94 Greenfort Lawns, Clondalkin, Dublin,was prosecuted for dangerous driving on the M7 at Osberstown, Naas, on March 21, 2020.

Sgt Jim Kelly said the incident happened shortly before midnight and the defendant was travelling at a high speed in the outside lane and the gardai had to drive at 180 km/h to catch him - though there is no suggestion that the defendant was driving at this speed.

Sgt Kelly also said that road conditions were good at the time.

Solicitor David Gibbons said that the evidence suggested his client was driving at less than that speed.

Read more County Kildare news

He also said he was cooperative and there was no altercation with the gardai.

He said the defendant has two children and a grandchild, who he minds every weekend.

He also said he works as a window fitter in the building trade and he looks after his father.

Judge Desmond Zaidan said he has a duty to protect the public and the defendant could have died in an accident or put the safety of other road users at risk.

He disqualified him from driving for two years and imposed a 600 fine.
Flu Shot Clinic for UW Students Friday Afternoon

The University of Wyomings Student Health Service will conduct a flu shot clinic in the Wyoming Unions West Ballroom Friday, Feb. 12, from 1:30-4 p.m. for UW students on a first-come, first-served basis, with no appointment needed.

Students should take their WyoOne ID cards or know their W numbers.

The clinic is unable to provide flu vaccines to faculty, staff or the public.

Flu shots are $25 each and will be charged to the students accounts. For those students who have the student medical insurance offered through UW, the flu vaccine is covered, and Student Health Service will bill the student medical insurance for students. Students who have other insurance coverage can request a charge statement the following week and can use that statement to self-submit to their own insurance for reimbursement.

If students are not able to attend the flu shot clinic, shots also are available at Student Health Service by appointment while supplies last. Call 766-2130 to schedule an appointment.

Mask use and social distancing are required per UW policy, and students should not come to campus if they do not have a green COVID Pass; if they are feeling ill; if theyre quarantining due to COVID-19 exposure; or if theyre isolating due to current infection with COVID-19.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has ordered a strict adherence to the timeframe set for construction in the New Administrative Capital during a tour of the mega citys main neighbourhoods and buildings.

According to a statement by the presidency, El-Sisi was briefed on the construction of Egypts Islamic Cultural Centre, which will be home to one of the worlds largest mosques, Misr Mosque.

The mosque, which has a 140-metre-high minaret, can accommodate up to 107,000 worshippers and includes several spacious halls for celebrations, events and Quranic schools.

El-Sisi also inspected the new capitals House of Representatives headquarters, which is slated to be the largest in the Middle East with its main hall accommodating up to 1,000 members.

Attached to the headquarters are several service buildings which include a house of worship, a medical centre, a police centre, a media centre and others.

He also inspected the new capitals government district, which will be home to the Cabinets headquarters, ministries and other government bodies.

El-Sisi also toured the Peoples Square, which has the highest flagpole in the world.

In 2015, Egypt started construction on the New Administrative Capital 45km east of Cairo as part of the government's plan to reduce pressure on an overpopulated 20-million strong capital, expand urban areas and develop the infrastructure of the 104 million nation.

The New Administrative Capital, which is being built over 714 square kilometres by tens of thousands of workers, will be home to a government housing district, 29 ministries and other state institutions  including the cabinet and parliament buildings  and 20 residential neighbourhoods that can accommodate 6.5 million people.

Government offices were due to be relocated to the mega-city in 2020, but the step was delayed to this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Its a journey that took 103 years, but Eva Saumell Del Castillo on Monday took the oath of citizenship and was officially welcomed as a new citizen of the United States.

I am very honored, she said, speaking through a translator at the Albuquerque offices of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

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................................................................

Life was idyllic growing up in Cuba on a small farm in a small town where her father owned a convenience-type store and made a modest living. The family later moved to the city of Manzanillo where he had other business interests.

It wasnt until Fidel Castros revolution consumed the country in 1958 that she began to think about moving to the United States, but I didnt know how or in what manner, she said. Living in a communist country was terrible. I left Cuba because of all the chaos and the dictatorship.

And because it was dangerous.

Her niece, whom she raised, Yamila Saumell Naranjo, was a writer, poet and journalist. She operated a newspaper that was critical of Castros revolution and its human rights abuses. The regime, Saumell Naranjo said, persecuted her and made death threats against her, and endangered the rest of her family, she said.

In 2010, Saumell Naranjo and her children came to the United States as political refugees. They immediately began efforts to bring Saumell Del Castillo to the U.S., and in 2013 succeeded.

Saumell Del Castillo was born in 1917. Half a world away, the Czar of Russia abdicated and was replaced by a communist revolution. World War I was raging, and the Spanish flu was about to storm across the globe, infecting an estimated 500 million people and killing up to 50 million.

For the last seven years, Saumell Del Castillo has been witness to life in the United States, which she described as a dream compared to living under Castro.

On Monday she became the first member of her immediate family in the United States to become a U.S. citizen. Her niece and her nieces children, who were present for the ceremony, said they hope to take the oath soon.

Because of her age, the USCIS worked to make Saumell Del Castillos citizenship occur as quickly as possible, said Michael Smith, director of the USCIS Albuquerque field office.

Monday was also a first for Smith. In his 12 years with the service, and prior assignments in Denver, Louisville, Memphis and Buffalo, and witnessing thousands of people taking the oath of citizenship, Saumell Del Castillo was the first one over age 100 to take the oath in his presence.

Its very unusual, so we tried to make it special, he said.

And for a smiling centenarian-plus, holding a miniature U.S. flag, colorful balloons and her certificate as a newly minted American, it was no doubt about as special as it gets.
UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

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Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has chaired a long-delayed summit with Central and Eastern European countries amid growing division in the region over how to view Beijing's growing influence.

The February 9 virtual meeting that took place via video link focused on access to COVID-19 vaccines and post-pandemic economic recovery as Beijing convened the 17+1 bloc -- a format launched in 2012 for China to engage with Central and Eastern European nations, of which 12 are European Union members.

The summit took place after more than a year of delays and friction as Beijing looked to capitalize on the momentum of a EU-China investment deal signed in late 2020 and to highlight its growing ties with the continent by having Xi lead the event in place of Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, the usual top official.

But Beijing's preferred optics were overshadowed by the geopolitical backdrop of the summit, in which many Central and Eastern European countries have grown frustrated with China's unkept promises for trade and investment.

Many are also increasingly sensitive to concerns that the 17+1 is being used to divide European Union policy on China.

In a sign of growing skepticism in the region toward China, six countries -- Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovenia -- elected to send ministers instead of their head of state or government.

The episode highlights a growing split taking place in Central and Eastern Europe in which many countries have a more sober assessment of engagement with China and are carefully positioning themselves between Beijing and Washington amid the deepening rivalry.

"There is a more realistic approach being taken to China and the 17+1 format," Frank Juris, an expert on China's role in the region at the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute under the International Center for Defense and Security in Tallinn, told RFE/RL. "This is not only true for the Baltic states, but the wider region. There has been almost a decade of Chinese promises that we haven't seen develop."

In addition to the countries that sent lower-level representation, the 17+1 group also includes European Union members Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia -- and prospective members Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.

With ties between the United States and China frosty and the new U.S. administration of President Joe Biden looking for greater coordination with Europe in helping to counterbalance Beijing, many countries are sensitive to tensions between the two larger powers. This remains especially true for countries in Central and Eastern Europe that see Russia as their main defense issue and are dependent on close security cooperation with both the United States and NATO.

"On the China issue, there is a split in the European Union between old member states and new member states," Ivana Karaskova, the founder of China Observers in Central and Eastern Europe (CHOICE) and a China research fellow at the Association for International Affairs in Prague, told RFE/RL. "In 17+1 you have a number of U.S. allies that are more receptive to American goals."

China Looms Large

Despite the cooling ties between Beijing and some 17+1 members, Chinas stature has also grown more prominent in recent years.

The signing of the European Union-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) in late December 2020 marked a geopolitical win for China and sent a message to Washington that Beijings connections to Europe would be a more permanent fixture, despite lingering concerns over the deal in the European Parliament.

What role Europe will play in U.S.-China tensions is a focal point of policy discussions in both Beijing and Washington.

While Jake Sullivan, President Biden's national-security adviser, has spoken about the need to work more closely with European countries in the United States competition with China, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi encouraged the EU during a video meeting with the bloc's foreign-policy chief, Josep Borrell, on February 8 to act "independently and autonomously" amid the growing rivalry.

In reconvening the 17+1 group again, China is hoping to continue that success and help ensure the format's continued relevance after last years in-person summit was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the informal bloc has so far delivered meager trade and investment results for its members since it was launched in 2012.

According to the Mercator Institute for China Studies, a Berlin-based think tank, nearly 50 percent of EU exports to China are from Germany, followed distantly by France.

Similarly, Chinese trade with the 17 Central and Eastern European countries reached $100 billion for the first time in 2020. Achieving that benchmark, however, was first put forward in 2012 at the first 17+1 summit, with the goal of achieving it by 2015.

Instead, China used the February 9 summit to push for the further use of Chinese-made vaccines in Central and Eastern Europe as the EU faces shortages. Beijing also pledged to import more than $170 billion in farm products from the region over the next five years.

Hungary, which maintains strong ties with Beijing, already became the first European Union country to sign up for distribution of China's Sinopharm vaccine, and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis indicated last week that his government could follow.

Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro have also either already purchased Chinese vaccines or expressed a strong interest in doing so. Serbia, which is one of China's closest partners in the region, has relied heavily on the Chinese injections for its rollout campaign.

Entering A New Period

China's efforts to shore up its ties in Central and Eastern Europe come after a largely successful U.S. campaign to persuade European nations to restrict Chinese operators from Chinese 5G networks.

Limiting providers such as Huawei and ZTE from next-generation networks was a priority of the administration of President Donald Trump and a policy that Biden looks to continue due to security concerns that the Chinese equipment could be used to spy.

Both Chinese telecom giants deny those allegations.

Some of the strongest support for the U.S. measures came from Central and Eastern Europe, with a number of countries from the region signing onto the United States Clean Network Initiative, committing to use other non-Chinese vendors for their networks.

Central and Eastern European countries' "relations with China have also changed because of the more confrontational U.S. position against China," Andreea Brinza, vice president of the Romanian Institute for the Study of the Asia-Pacific (RISAP), told RFE/RL.

Even Germany, which has followed a policy of quiet engagement with China, is expected to reduce its use of Chinese equipment and Berlin plans to provide 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) to develop alternative 5G suppliers.

Yet despite security concerns and tensions due to Beijing's internment of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang and the erosion of civil rights in Hong Kong, China's footprint across Europe is set to grow.

Beijing's investment deal with the European Union is meant to provide more access to Chinese markets for European businesses, although the deal is seen to mostly benefit German companies, particularly the German auto industry.

While still lacking direct Chinese investment, Central and Eastern European economies are linked to Germany and could still stand to benefit.

"The tide in the region is turning and it is continuing to turn," Karaskova said. "But the whole China issue puts Central and Eastern Europe in an awkward position."
Just days after NBC announced an April 1 premiere for a two-hour crossover of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and the new spin-off Law & Order: Organized Crime, stars Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni were seen on the set.

Hargitay, 57, and Meloni, 59, were spotted on the New York City set on Monday, in what may have been a funeral scene.

Hargitay and Meloni were both spotted alongside an actor wearing priest robes, so it's possible their reunion happens at a funeral for a mutual acquaintance.

Reunited: Just days after NBC announced an April 1 premiere for a two-hour crossover of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and the new spin-off Law & Order: Organized Crime, stars Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni were seen on the set

Funeral?: Hargitay and Meloni were both spotted alongside an actor wearing priest robes, so it's possible their reunion happens at a funeral for a mutual acquaintance

Hargitay was seen wearing a thick full-length black wool overcoat to keep warm from the chilly New York environment.

She was also seen staying safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic with a black face mask with a grey heart covering her mouth and nose as she waited between takes.

An olive green top was seen peeking out from her overcoat, as she completed her look with black leather gloves, black pants and black

Mariska's look: An olive green top was seen peeking out from her overcoat, as she completed her look with black leather gloves, black pants and black

Meloni, who starred as Elliot Stabler alongside Hargitay's Olivia Benson for the first 12 seasons of SVU between 1999 and 2011, also stayed warm on the set.

The actor rocked a grey wool suit with a mauve scarf wrapped around his neck to stave off the elements.

He completed his look with matching grey pants and black shoes as he chatted amicably with his longtime co-star between takes.

Chit-chat: Meloni, who starred as Elliot Stabler alongside Hargitay's Olivia Benson for the first 12 seasons of SVU between 1999 and 2011, also stayed warm on the set

NBC announced last week that there will be a two-hour crossover block on April 1 where Benson and Stabler will reunite.

The crossover will begin with a regular one-hour episode of Law & Order: SVU at 9 PM, followed by the series premiere of Law & Order: Organized Crime at 10 PM.

The new spin-off Organized Crime will follow Stabler as he returns to the New York Police Department after a 'devastating personal loss.'

Crossover block: NBC announced last week that there will be a two-hour crossover block on April 1 where Benson and Stabler will reunite

Stabler will aim to rebuild his life as part of a new elite task force that is taking apart the city's most powerful criminal syndicates one by one.

Meloni stars alongside Dylan McDermott and Tamara Taylor, though no details about their characters were given.

Law & Order: Organized Crime was created by Dick Wolf, who will executive produce along with showrunner Ilene Chaiken and Terry Miller, Fred Berner, Arthur W. Forney and Peter Jankowski.

Rebuild: Stabler will aim to rebuild his life as part of a new elite task force that is taking apart the city's most powerful criminal syndicates one by one
Our future Auburn students need to know those Auburn natives of accomplishment who were born, raised and educated in Auburn, New York. It is time to recognize Auburn leaders of accomplishment from professional fields of endeavor. Let's equate important recognition when it comes to honoring individuals who have established permanent benchmarks in the fields of science, religion, medicine, literature, music, law, social justice, government, business, art, education and philanthropy. Our Auburn community has saturated, to a point, branding or recognizing Harriet Tubman (rightly so). I am and have been in support of what recognition and accomplishments Harriet Tubman has earned and endured, especially during one of our nation's most challenging periods.

However, let us (Auburn) even the important field of recognition when it comes to honoring those Auburn individuals who have contributed permanent benchmarks. I commend all (AHS students, plus) who have taken an interest in recognizing Harriet Tubman's decision to spend her concluding years of life in Auburn. We can dig a little deeper in Auburn's history, present and past, for subdued accomplishments making humanity better than before. Lastly, it is incumbent of me and all Auburn High School graduates to stand by and never rename Auburn High School, moreover, in defense for the thousands who have performed on fields of endeavor while wearing our identity, Auburn Maroon and White.
Solution flexibility and finance expertise key for the Canadian Insurer

LONDON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aptitude Software, a leading provider of financial management solutions, is delighted to welcome CAA Club Group of Companies as its newest Canadian Insurance client. They join an established global group of insurance clients.

CAA Club Group selected Aptitude's IFRS 17 Solution based on its flexibility and incorporation of expertise and knowledge gathered from many successful implementations. Out-of-the-box capabilities such as IFRS 17 Models, Accounting Events and Disclosures will reduce the risk and cost of implementation.

The CAA Club Group of Companies is comprised of two automobile clubs, CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba, providing roadside assistance, travel, insurance service and member savings for over 2.2 million members. It also includes the CAA Insurance Company, a national property and casualty insurance company; the Orion Travel Insurance Company; and Echelon Insurance, a specialty insurer. CAA Insurance, Echelon Insurance, and Orion Travel Insurance have selected the Aptitude IFRS 17 Solution to support their compliance program.

CAA Club Group is part of the Canadian Automobile Association, (CAA) a federation of eight independent Clubs, and one of Canada's largest consumer-based organizations, serving over six million members.

Apra Sekhon, Chief Innovation Officer, CAA Club Group, remarks, "The strength of Aptitude's references, the completeness of their IFRS 17 Solution and the specialist nature and focus of their organization was important to us when making this decision. Their deep understanding of the Insurance industry and the IFRS 17 standard will help us implement the standard faster than other vendor alternatives."

Alex Curran, EVP North America, Aptitude Software, states, "We are seeing more and more P&C carriers come to market searching for an IFRS 17 solution. Our ability to showcase our IFRS 17 expertise - especially in the PAA method - was critical to win the trust of CAA."

Aptitude has two products to accelerate IFRS 17 compliance. Aptitude's IFRS 17 Solution is the most mature solution on the market and is the solution of choice for many insurers across the globe looking to comply with the standard and support broader business benefits. IFRS 17 Comply is a SaaS solution designed for rapid compliance.

Recently, Aptitude was named a Category Leader by Chartis in the Insurance Risk Systems for IFRS 17 and LDTI Compliance, 2020: Market Update and Vendor Landscape.

About Aptitude Software

Aptitude Software provides software solutions that enable finance professionals to run their global businesses, forecast decision outcomes and comply with complex regulations. Uniquely combining deep finance expertise and IP rich technology, Aptitude gives finance leaders the tools they need to transform their business and achieve their ambitions. Aptitude Software is an operating company of Aptitude Software Group plc.

Please visit: https://www.aptitudesoftware.com

About CAA Club Group

For over a hundred years, CAA has been helping Canadians stay mobile, safe and protected. The CAA Club Group of Companies is comprised of two automobile clubs, CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba, providing roadside assistance, travel, insurance service and Member savings for over 2.2 million members.

It also includes the CAA Insurance Company, a national property and casualty insurance company; the Orion Travel Insurance Company; and Echelon Insurance, a specialty insurer.

Please visit: https://www.caasco.com/about-us/corporate-news

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It is extremely unlikely that the coronavirus leaked from a lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where Covid-19 first emerged, according to the head of a team of experts that on Tuesday released the first details of its fact-finding mission into the virus's origins.

Dr. Peter Ben Embarek from the World Health Organization said it was more likely that the virus, which has now claimed more than 2.3 million lives worldwide, had jumped to humans from an animal.

Our initial findings suggest that the introduction through an intermediary host species is the most likely pathway and one that will require more studies and more specific targeted research, he said at a press conference.

The theory that the virus was introduced into the human population as a result of a lab accident did not warrant future study, he added.

There was speculation early on in the pandemic  partially fueled by then-President Donald Trump  that the virus was either manufactured at or accidentally leaked from a lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has been involved in coronavirus research. But this theory has been largely dismissed by the global scientific community and Chinese researchers working at the lab.

Speaking alongside Embarek, the head of the Covid-19 panel at China's National Health Commission and the Chinese lead on the international team of experts, Dr. Liang Wannian, said early data suggested that the coronavirus could have been circulating for weeks before it was identified in Wuhan.

"This indicates the possibility of the missed reported circulation in other regions," Liang said, adding that there was no evidence to suggest the virus was spreading in Wuhan before December 2019  when the first cases of the pneumonia-like illness were reported in the city of some 11 million people.

The Covid-19 pandemic became a geopolitical battleground for China and the Trump administration, with Trump routinely referring to Covid-19 as "the China virus" and accusing Beijing of misinformation. China had strongly criticized what it called an attempt to politicize the pandemic and denied allegations of a cover-up.

Story continues

So far, the Biden administration is refraining from judgment until the United States directly receives the World Health Organization report on their findings, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Tuesday.

Rather than rush to conclusions that may be motivated by anything other than the science, we want to see where that data leaves us, and based on that, we'll come to a conclusion, Price said.

China has faced heavy criticism for allegedly downplaying the severity of the initial outbreak of the mysterious, pneumonia-like illness in late 2019, and for not acting quickly enough to alert the WHO of evidence of human-to-human transmission.

Suspicion about Chinas handling of the outbreak came after its problematic response to the 2003 SARS pandemic, when it was found that Chinese officials had suppressed and deliberately withheld information from the public. The WHO praised China early for its efforts to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, but questions still remain about where and how the pathogen emerged.

Embarek said ongoing work into the origin of the virus points to bats as a possible natural reservoir for Covid-19, but since Wuhan is not a natural environment for the animal it remains unclear how the virus was introduced into the city.

Beijing has been keen to promote the idea that Wuhan was just the first city to raise the alarm about the new virus and was not responsible for the outbreak. It has previously suggested the virus could have been imported into the country with frozen food products.

Both Liang and Embarek said Tuesday transmission of Covid-19 through frozen products was a possibility that requires further research.

Image: Officials in protective suits checking on an elderly man wearing a facemask who collapsed and died on a street near a hospital in Wuhan (Hector Retamal / AFP - Getty Images file)

The WHO's team landed in Wuhan last month, more than a year after Covid-19 was first detected there. The long-awaited visit is part of what will be a lengthy process of piecing together the viruss origin to answer key questions about the pathogen and how to prevent similar  and possibly worse  future outbreaks.

Team members said they have visited key sites such as the Huanan seafood market, which was linked to an early cluster of infections, as well as the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Last week, a member of the team said the Chinese side granted full access to all sites and personnel they requested  a level of openness that even he hadnt expected, The Associated Press reported.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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ST. PAUL, Minn.  A new COVIE-19 community vaccination site is being launched in Rochester.

Governor Walz says the large-scale permanent vaccination site is expected to provide shots to around 1,500 Minnesotans 65 and old in its first week of operation.

Were building a reliable network of options for Minnesotans to access the vaccine, says Governor Walz. Today, we are expanding that network in southern Minnesota to give more Minnesotans access to shots where they live, so we can crush COVID-19 and get back to business as usual.

The Rochester site joins community vaccination locations in Minneapolis and Duluth.

We still need more supply, but we have to be ready when the federal government ramps up to meet the demand, says Walz. Just as Minnesota is leading in testing, we are leading in community vaccination. We will be ready to continue expanding access until every Minnesotan has the opportunity to receive the vaccine, regardless of where they live.

More than 220,000 Minnesotans age 65 and older registered for the states COVID-19 65+ vaccine registry.

Our elders are among our most vulnerable Minnesotans when it comes to the risks of COVID-19, says Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. Today we are moving forward with our plan of expanding access across the state, and setting the stage for the day federal vaccine supply catches up with demand. We are determined to ensure every Minnesotan has the opportunity to access the vaccine, no matter where they live.

Representative Tina Liebling (DFL  Rochester) and Representative Liz Boldon (DFL  Rochester) issued the following statements on Governor Walz' announcement:.

Liebling - People in Rochester and SE Minnesota are anxious to get vaccinated against COVID-19, so Im glad that the Minnesota Department of Health has decided to locate one of the semi-permanent vaccination sites in Rochester. This site will offer one of many options for people seeking vaccination. Were still counting on the federal government to deliver greater supplies of the vaccine, and this site will help ensure that we will be ready to quickly distribute the doses when we receive them.

Boldon - "While our hard work and sacrifice has reduced the amount of daily Covid cases in Minnesota, there is still a dangerous amount of community spread that we will continue to struggle with until the majority of Minnesotans receive a vaccine. I am grateful that we will have a prominent vaccination site conveniently located in our community that can serve as a launch pad for getting vaccines to our neighbors throughout southern Minnesota."
UPDATE: After a several-hour pause, a final band of snow will move through the Lehigh Valley over the next couple of hours, EPAWA Weather Consulting metrologist Bobby Martrich said in a tweet just before 11:30 a.m. The area most impacted will be south of Interstate 78 after the early morning snow stayed mostly north of there, he said.

UPDATE 2: Interstate 80 returned to its regular speed limit just after 2:30 p.m.

INITIAL POST: Tuesdays mornings snow, which reached the Easton area by 5 a.m., should be relatively light and end by midday, a WeatherWorks meteorologist said before dawn.

The Hackettstown-based forecasting company says 1 to 2 inches in the Lehigh Valley with less to the south. The National Weather Services says 2 to 4 inches. EPAWA Weather Consulting says 2 to 4 inches.

The National Weather Service's snow accumulation forecast for Feb. 9, 2021.National Weather Service

There could be 3 to 6 inches in the southern Poconos, the weather service said.

Snowfall could become moderate for a time in the Lehigh Valley and to the north, EPAWA Weather Consulting said in its alert. But meteorologist Bobby Martrich summed up the weeks theme as weak wave after weak wave but placed in different spots.

A winter weather advisory is in effect until 5 p.m. and roads could be slippery during the morning commute, the weather service said.

A crash closed a lane before 6 a.m. on Route 22 East between Route 378 and Schoenersville Road, a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation camera on 511pa.com showed. Traffic was slowly getting by in the right lane. There were several other crashes in the next hour on the highway, including an eastbound wreck at Airport Road that caused a long backup, PennDOT said.

Local roads were quickly snow-covered but highways were in better shape, traffic cameras showed at 6 oclock. There was blowing snow on Route 22 at the 7th Street/MacArthur Road interchange heading into Allentown.

The speed limit was lowered to 45 mph on Interstate 80 west of the Pennsylvania border, PennDOT said.

Nothing ridiculous is expected in Tuesdays snow, WeatherWorks meteorologist Zach Chabala told lehighvalleylive.com.

Snow stopped for a time before 8 a.m. in the southern portion of the Lehigh Valley, but Martrich said it was expected to be intermittent and should continue into the afternoon.

It will give way to a mix of clouds and sun in the second half of the day and with the temperature edging above freezing and the more direct sun angle of February, at least some of what falls in the morning could melt in the afternoon, Chabala said. But there will be plenty of snow still on the ground from previous storms.

The EPAWA Weather Consulting snow forecast for Feb. 9, 2021.EPAWA Weather Consulting

A warm nose could lift into the area after the morning rush and turn the snow into sleet or freezing rain just south of the Lehigh Valley, the weather service said.

The next nuisance snow is expected Wednesday night into early Thursday. WeatherWorks sees a half to 3 inches, while the weather service says 1 to 3 inches south of Interstate 78.

Thursday night into Friday is a question if the snow reaches far enough north. WeatherWorks forecasts very minor accumulation while the forecast discussion from the weather service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, shows 2 to 5 inches with it most likely to fall in the southern portion of the region.

A coastal low bears watching over the weekend, but its too early to determine what impact it may have, Chabala and the weather service said. It could bring more ice than snow on Sunday, Martrich said.

Going into Tuesday, 44.7 inches of snow have fallen this season, against an average by this date of 19.7 inches. A normal year gets 32.9 inches of snow, in figures recorded at Lehigh Valley International Airport. The record is 75.2 inches in the winter of 1993-94.

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.
Appointment

9 February 2021

The hospitality professional, who has a long track of working worldwide from UEA to Switzerland in different roles within the industry, reservations to sales, marketing and most recently housekeeping management roles for luxury brands, has been appointed as Chapter Leader Hamburg at WHTT.

Victoria Knauer - Hansen's appointment to WHTT is further the organisation's mission to increase the success and engagement in the workplace for women and other underrepresented groups, and to enable companies to attract, develop and retain potential diverse talent, nurtured by a powerful community. WHTT believes that by inspiring communities to enter the industry and organizations to leverage and retain in the sector, will create more diverse and inclusive leadership. Victoria will take WHTT's global mission to the next level by opening a new local Chapter from Hamburg.
Engineer and university administrator Gary S. May receives 2021 AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award

Gary S. May, chancellor of the University of California, Davis, will receive the 2021 Lifetime Mentor Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award honors researchers who, for 25 years or more, have positively impacted the atmosphere of a department or institution by mentoring students who are underrepresented in STEM fields, such as women, African American, Native American and Hispanic men, and people with disabilities. Over a three-decade career as a professor of computer engineering and university administrator, May has founded numerous programs that support underrepresented minority STEM students and mentored more than 100 Ph.D. candidates. Many of May's mentees are now mentors in their own right, with high-ranking positions in academia and industry.

"In every role Chancellor May has played in higher education, he has sought to support the entry and success of students from underrepresented minority populations and first-generation college students," said Shirley Malcom, director of SEA Change, a AAAS initiative that helps universities build more inclusive campuses. "Leadership matters a lot in diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM, and we are pleased he has been recognized for a lifetime of such leadership."

Hired by the Georgia Institute of Technology as an assistant professor in 1991, May went on to spend 26 years on the school's faculty. In 2011, he became dean of Georgia Tech's college of engineering, a position he held until moving to UC Davis in 2017.

In 1998, May founded the Facilitating Academic Careers in Engineering and Science (FACES) program to encourage students from underrepresented minorities to pursue careers in academia. Over the duration of the program, more than 430 minority students earned STEM Ph.D.s at Georgia Tech, a number that led the nation.

Samuel Graham arrived at Georgia Tech as a graduate student in 1995. He met May that year and later become one of the first recipients of a FACES grant. Graham is now the first African American chair of Georgia Tech's school of mechanical engineering.

"Even as he was busy successfully progressing through the ranks of his career, Chancellor May was always accessible to provide guidance," Graham wrote in a letter recommending May for the AAAS award. "I am a professor and administrator today in large part due to the mentorship that he provided me."

In 1992, May founded the Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering/Sciences (SURE) program. Of the more than 500 undergraduates who have participated in SURE, 75% have gone on to attend graduate school. In 2013, May helped launch the University Center of Exemplary Mentoring, an initiative that awards stipend support to minority Ph.D. students in the eight schools of Georgia Tech's college of engineering.

In addition to providing direct benefits to students, May's enthusiasm has inspired other academic leaders to step up their own commitment to mentoring. Kenneth Ball, dean of George Mason University's school of engineering, met May at a seminar in 2007, and they have kept in touch ever since.

"I have witnessed first-hand the impact that Gary has had on literally hundreds of other deans and senior leaders in engineering education," Ball wrote in a letter to AAAS. "Indeed, I consider myself to be one of Gary's many mentees. His example serves as an inspiration to me, and I am a better dean and academic leader because of Gary's involvement in my life and career."

May has won several other awards in honor of his mentoring initiatives and research on the manufacturing of integrated circuits, tiny chips that are the foundation of modern electronics. He received the AAAS Mentor Award in 2006 and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring from President Obama in 2015. He was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 2018 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2020.

###

The AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award was established in 1991. In considering nominations, the award committee looks at quantitative data and letters of support for evidence of how a researcher's work resulted in departmental or institutional change with regard to the granting of doctorate degrees to underrepresented students. Such efforts include providing psychological support, helping students to publish their work, and lending career guidance.

May will receive the award in a virtual ceremony on Feb. 10, during the 187th AAAS Annual Meeting. AAAS will begin accepting nominations for the 2022 award on April 15. More information on eligibility requirements can be found here.

This story has been published on: 2021-02-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-08 23:59:00|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's central bank has reiterated that it will prioritize stability in its monetary policy and avoid making sudden shifts.

The prudent monetary policy will be more flexible, precise, reasonable and moderate, and will strike a balance between economic recovery and risk prevention, according to the 2020 Q4 monetary policy report released by the People's Bank of China (PBOC) on Monday.

It aimed to maintain liquidity at a reasonably ample level, with the growth of broad money supply and social financing basically matching nominal economic growth, the report said.

The PBOC will also keep the macro leverage ratio basically stable and flexibly adjust the intensity, pace and focus of the policy in light of changes in the situation.

It will give full play to the "drip irrigation" function of the structural monetary policy tools, while providing more financial support to technological innovation, small and micro-sized businesses, and green development, according to the report. Enditem
Mumbai, Feb 9 : The web series, Bombay Begums will release on March 8, on the occasion of International Women's Day. The show casts Pooja Bhatt, Shahana Goswam, Amruta Subhash and Rahul Bose in pivotal roles, and is created and directed by Alankrita Shrivastava of Lipstick Under My Burkha fame.

The series touches upon themes of ambition, desire, struggle for power and vulnerability through the stories of five modern Indian women in Mumbai.

Said Shrivastava: "'Bombay Begums' is a story about Indian women that I hope women in India and across the world will connect with.

"The series explores the complex journey of working Indian women who are ambitious for power and success, but have many other battles to fight too. It's the story of their daily hustle, the story of their dreams - sometimes buried, sometimes fulfilled," she added.

"It's the story of glass ceilings shattered, and also of the hearts broken in the process. I have tried to create a world that reflects the realities of urban working women. I hope audiences relate to the characters and find pieces of their own journey reflected in the story," Shrivastava continued.

"I am excited and proud that 'Bombay Begums' is coming on the occasion of International Women's Day," she added.

The series also features Plabita Borthakur and Aadhya Anand along with Vivek Gomber and Danish Husain in important roles. It is slated to release on Netflix.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Nepal and China face each other on Mount Qomolangma, internationally known as Mount Everest. Although the worlds highest mountain blocks the two countries, it does not hinder the profound friendship between the two peoples across the long river of history. Instead, it is a symbol of friendship between the two countries from generations to generations. It not only borders but also acts as the peak of friendship between China and Nepal.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between Nepal and China on August 1, 1955, China-Nepal relations have been developing in a sustained, stable and sound way no matter how the international situation changes.

After the Wenchuan earthquake in China in 2008, the Nepali government and people donated money and materials enthusiastically. After the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, China immediately extended a helping hand and made great efforts to assist in the post-disaster reconstruction. The two peoples are true friends.

File: Presidents of Nepal and China, Bidya Devi Bhandari and Xi Jinping respectively (R-L), meet, in Kathmandu, on Saturday, October 12, 2019.

President Xi Jinpings state visit to Nepal on Oct 12, 2019, was his first visit to the friendly neighbour and the first visit by a Chinese president to the country in 23 years. The two countries issued a joint statement, stating the two sides would like to advance cooperation on climate change and ecological and environmental protection given that Mount Qomolangma is an eternal symbol of China-Nepal friendship. They also announced the two sides would jointly announce the height of Mount Qomolangma and conduct scientific research cooperation.

On April 30, 2020, the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Nepal marked the official launch of the 2020 Qomolangma Elevation Survey, a new measure to develop the friendship between the two countries.

On December 8, 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari exchanged letters, formally announcing to the world on behalf of China and Nepal that the new height of Mount Qomolangma is 8,848.86 meters, ending decades of debate on the height of the worlds highest peak. The year 2020 also marked the 60th anniversary of the first successful ascent of Mt Qomolangma from the north slope and the 45th anniversary of the first accurate measurement and announcement of the height of Mt Qomolangma in China. It is of great historical significance to carry out the height measurement of Mt Qomolangma.

Since the signing of the One Belt And One Road cooperation memorandum of understanding between China and Nepal, the two countries have made many positive achievements in cooperation in connectivity, infrastructure, post-disaster reconstruction, economy, trade and investment, people-to-people exchanges and other fields. For example, in terms of economic and trade investment, in 2019, Chinas project contract value and turnover in Nepal increased by 12.9% and 39.6% year-on-year, Chinas non-financial direct investment in Nepal increased by 96.1% and the total bilateral trade between China and Nepal increased by 37.9% year-on-year.

China has become Nepals second-largest source of tourists. More than 6,400 Nepali students are studying in China. Various China-aided projects have made significant progress.

On connectivity cooperation between China and Nepal, it is the common aspiration of the two peoples to build a cross-border railway. The two sides have announced the launch of a feasibility study on the project and are steadily advancing relevant work in accordance with the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries. We believe that as long as the two sides work together, there will be a way out one day. While pushing forward the railway project, relevant departments of the two countries are making joint efforts on the upgrading and renovation of the China-Nepal highways and the construction of port infrastructures.

The outbreak of novel coronavirus as a global public health event has given a serious blow to the Nepal Tourism Year 2020 project. Many Nepali tour operators say their number of visitors from the Chinese market is down by more than 80 per cent compared with the same period last year. But, China has given full support to Nepal in its fight against the epidemic. The two countries have worked side by side in the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic, writing a new chapter of China-Nepal friendship, which has spawned the Digital Silk Road and the Health Silk Road. After the epidemic is brought under control, China will also encourage more Chinese citizens to travel to Nepal and realise economic recovery. China will provide more government scholarships to outstanding young people from Nepal to cultivate more talents needed for Nepals development. We welcome more young Nepali students to study in China.

With the initiative of people from all walks of life in China and Nepal, the economic and trade cooperation between China and Nepal has become more extensive and expanded, which has exerted a positive impact on the economic and social development of Nepal and the improvement of peoples well-being. Nepal on the other side of the mountain has always been an old friend, extending a hand of friendship and holding hands with China on the top of Mount Qomolangma. China-Nepal relations and bilateral relations have entered a new era, and the friendship between the two countries across the Himalayas has reached a new height worthy of expectation.

Both of the writers are scholars of Sichuan Police College.
Four years have passed since Sister Gloria Cecilia Narvaez Argoti was kidnapped by Islamist militants in Mali, where the Colombian religious sister remains in captivity.

By Lisa Zengarini

February 7th marked the 4th anniversary of the kidnapping in Mali of Sister Gloria Cecilia Narvaez Argoti.

The Colombian nun of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate was abducted in 2017 from the village of Karangasso, near the town of Koutiala, in the southern Region of Sikasso, where she worked amongst the poorest.

Her fellow sisters remembered her abduction in a post on Facebook asking for prayers for her release.

Dear Sister Gloria Cecilia, we are there for you pleading the Lord to give you strength and protection during your captivity. Your fellow sisters, who love you, are looking forward to seeing you again, the post reads.

Prayers for release from captivity

So far efforts to secure her release havent been successful. The kidnappers are linked to al-Qaeda who in January 2018 sent a video on the internet in which Sister Gloria, who appeared to be in good health conditions, appealed for Pope Francis intervention.

On 7 February last year, the Church in Mali united for a day of prayer for Sister Glorias release.

The same happened in 2018, when the Bishops Conference of Mali published a message on a number various media out-puts of Western Africa.

According to Sophie Petronin, a French humanitarian worker released with other Western hostages, including the Italian missionary Father Pierluigi Maccalli, the nun is alive but in poor health conditions. Her elderly mother, who never gave up hope for her safe return, died in September last year.

Courageous educator

Sister Gloria has long worked as a teacher. Before arriving in Mali, she worked in the field of education in Colombia, Mexico and Benin.

In Karangasso she helped her religious community who carries out missionary work in a health center, an orphanage and a centre for women's empowerment and also held catechism classes for the local children and young people.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-08 21:13:32|Editor: huaxia

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Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (C), Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (L) and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein attend the tripartite meeting in Cairo, Egypt, on Feb. 8, 2021. Foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq agreed here Monday on the importance of stopping all forms of foreign interventions in the Arab countries' affairs, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

CAIRO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq agreed here Monday on the importance of stopping all forms of foreign interventions in the Arab countries' affairs, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The three top diplomats stressed that only the political solutions could settle the conflicts that some Arab countries like Syria, Libya, and Yemen have been suffering from, the statement said.

They also exchanged opinions about the Palestinian cause and the peace process, the statement added, noting that the three FMs also discussed the common efforts for combating terrorism and maintaining the security and safety of the region.

The foreign ministers also reviewed regional issues of mutual concern and discussed means to boost joint relations and carrying out the strategic projects that pour in the interests of the three sides, the statement added.

The Egyptian and the Jordanian foreign ministers touched upon means of providing a suitable environment to bring the Israeli-Palestinian sides to the table of serious negotiations, it added.

The tripartite meeting has come ahead of an emergency Arab League foreign ministers' meeting set later in Cairo on the Palestinian cause that was called upon by Egypt and Jordan. Enditem
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Actor-activist Deep Sidhu who was "a prominent player" behind the violence at the Red Fort on Republic Day has been arrested by the Delhi Police, officials said on Tuesday. Later in the day, a city court sent him to seven-day police custody after police alleged that Sidhu was one of the main instigators of the violent incidents at the Red Fort on January 26.

The arrest was made by a team of the Delhi Police's Special Cell, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. Sidhu was arrested from the Karnal Bypass at 10.40 pm on Monday, Yadav told PTI, adding that he was wanted in connection with the case of instigating the crowd at the Red Fort on Republic Day.

"The Crime Branch will investigate his role in detail," the DCP said. Asked where he was hiding after the January 26 violence, Yadav said the investigation at in an initial stage.

Taking to Twitter, the Special Cell claimed that Sidhu was "a prominent player" behind the Republic Day violence and he was instigating youngsters with his provocative speeches and stardom even when he was hiding from the law. Police had announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to Sidhu's arrest.

After the January 26 violence, which had left over 500 security personnel injured and one protestor dead, the 36-year-old actor-activist was posting videos on social media. "Sidhu was in contact with a woman friend who lives in California. He used to make videos and send it to her, and she used to upload them on his Facebook account," a police source said.

Sidhu kept changing his locations to evade arrest, sources said, adding that several teams are working to arrest other persons who were involved in the violence. Sidhu was sent to seven-day police custody by Metropolitan Magistrate Prigya Gupta.

However, Sidhu's counsel claimed that he had nothing to do with the violence and was at the wrong place at the wrong time. The violence took place when tens of thousands of farmers broke barriers to storm the national capital on January 26 during their tractor parade to highlight their demand for repealing the new agri laws.

However, their parade dissolved 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. 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, where the religious flag was also hoisted. Over 500 police personnel were injured and one protestors died.

At the Red Fort on January 26, several police personnel had fell or jumped tens of feet down a wall after being pushed to the edge by a marauding mob. In the FIR registered in connection with the Red Fort violence, police said two magazines with 20 live cartridges were snatched from two constables by protestors who also damaged vehicles and robbed anti-riot gear.

"The mob later hoisted different flags there. They also started creating nuisance on the rampart. The unruly mob was asked to come downstairs. They went to Meena Bazar area to enter the into Red Fort. When the police tried to take them out of Lahore Gate, the mob became violent and attacked personnel. The mob thrashed the police personnel and threw them in the wells," police had said in the FIR. "They damaged a bus, a government gypsy and other vehicles. The mob robbed the anti-riots gears -- cane stick, shields, body protectors, helmets etc from the police personnel," it had also said.
HONOLULU, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 9, 2021, the Board of Directors of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI) (NYSE: HE) increased HEI's quarterly cash dividend from $0.33 to $0.34 per share, payable March 10, 2021, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 25, 2021 (ex-dividend date of February 24, 2021). The dividend would be equivalent to an annual rate of $1.36 per share.

Dividends have been paid on an uninterrupted basis since 1901. At the indicated annual dividend rate and based on the closing share price on February 9, 2021 of $33.98, HEI's dividend yield would be 4.0%.

HEI and Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (Hawaiian Electric) intend to continue to use HEI's website, www.hei.com, as a means of disclosing additional information; such disclosures will be included in the Investor Relations section of the website. Accordingly, investors should routinely monitor the Investor Relations section of HEI's website, in addition to following HEI's, Hawaiian Electric's and American Savings Bank's press releases, HEI's and Hawaiian Electric's SEC filings and HEI's public conference calls and webcasts. Investors may sign up to receive e-mail alerts via the "Investor Relations" section of the website. The information on HEI's website is not incorporated by reference into this document or into HEI's and Hawaiian Electric's SEC filings unless, and except to the extent, specifically incorporated by reference.

Investors may also wish to refer to the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Hawaii (PUC) website at dms.puc.hawaii.gov/dms to review documents filed with, and issued by, the PUC. No information on the PUC website is incorporated by reference into this document or into HEI's and Hawaiian Electric's SEC filings.

HEI supplies power to approximately 95% of Hawaii's population through its electric utility, Hawaiian Electric; provides a wide array of banking and other financial services to consumers and businesses through American, one of Hawaii's largest financial institutions; and helps advance Hawaii's clean energy and sustainability goals through investments by its non-regulated subsidiary, Pacific Current.

Contact: Julie Smolinski Telephone: (808) 543-7300

Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Sustainability E-mail: [email protected]







SOURCE Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.hei.com/



Brittney Hayes, pictured, was told by Biden that she 'looks like a freshman'

President Joe Biden has been called 'creepy' after he was seen telling a nurse running a vaccine site that she 'looks like a freshman.'

The president has been accused of attempting to flirt with the young nurse during a public video conference call with health care workers in Glendale, Arizona.

During the video conference, health care workers provided Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with a virtual tour of the State Farm Stadium vaccination site.

Nurse Brittney Hayes had just finished describing the process for residents to get the Pfizer vaccine and how it is being called a 'dose of hope' when the president made his comments.

'Are you a freshman at the university?' Biden asked, possibly referring to the nearby Arizona State University in Tempe.

Hayes, whose face was obscured by a mask, laughs as she responds: 'No. No. No.'

'You look like a freshman,' the president responded, as he then thanked her for working on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

Harris then took a turn asking the 'tough' questions, such as asking Hayes for her advice to others who are setting up massive vaccination operations.

When Harris was done talking with Hayes, Biden chimed back in appearing to show confusion about her status as a nurse.

Hayes, right, was on a conference call with President Joe Biden, top left, and VP Kamala Harris

Biden, left, later asked Hayes again if she was a nurse during the live, public exchange

Hayes, right, had just finished describing the process for residents to get the Pfizer vaccine when the exchange happened

Donald Trump Jr. was quick to comment about the exchange, simply calling it 'cringe'

Hayes, right, told the president that she has been a registered nurse for about nine years

'And you're a  are you a nurse?' the president asked Hayes.

'I am. I'm a nurse. I'm an RN. I've been an RN for about nine years now,' she responds.

Biden, 78, then said: 'Well, I know, having been a significant consumer of healthcare, I can tell  I know the Vice President knows this, when I say it: Doctors let you live; nurses make you want to live. If there's any angels in Heaven, they're all nurses, male and female. And that's not an exaggeration.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Hayes for additional comment.

Donald Trump Jr., son of former president Donald Trump, was quick to comment on the video, simply writing: 'Cringe.'

Other Twitter users also joined in bashing the president for the 'awkward' exchange and noting previous examples when he appeared to get handsy and invade the personal space of multiple women.

Some Twitter users took to the platform to criticize President Joe Biden for the exchange

'Creepy Joe at it again. It's never going to stop,' wrote @Livinthedream47.

Twitter user @StephenPorterJr called the exchange 'predator behavior.'

'Why has this creepy old Guy not been #MeToo into extinction?!? That question from this guy is creepy and cringe. His documented video evidence behavior leads one to believe that he has creepy thinking for young ladies,' wrote @migriv75.

Another Twitter user used the opportunity to joke about the president's age.

'When you're as old as Joe, everybody looks like a Freshman,' quipped @MollyWags88.

Some, however, defended the president despite, calling it a 'benign interaction.'

'OMG! Hold the presses! Are you trying to manufacture an issue? That was a benign interaction and response,' tweeted @EuphorbiaZ in response to a post from Bloomberg News reporter Jennifer Jacobs.

Others, however, defended Joe Biden and instead criticized former President Donald Trump

Another user @karrin21262 noted: 'He didn't mention her looks, he said she look like a college student. He could have done the same thing with a guy.'

'If someone mistook me for a college freshman, I'd take it as a compliment and wouldn't wig out about it,' wrote @LauraDurnell.

Other called the interaction a 'compliment' to the nurse, urging others to 'stop making him out to be creepy.'

'OMG it was a compliment, stop making him out to be creepy. He didn't suggest grabbing her pu$y, which is apparently acceptable,' wrote @CathoCall, referring to the infamous Access Hollywood tape with former President Trump.

President Joe Biden has often faced criticism for invading the personal spaces of women

In one photo, Biden was seen kissing a volunteer's hand as they help assemble care kits for U.S. military service members

Biden repeatedly faced scrutiny for his interactions with women and girls during the 2020 presidential campaign.

Ina photo from 2012, Biden was seen touching his head to a young girl's forehead during a campaign event with former President Barack Obama.

In March 2019, Nevada Democrat Lucy Flores accused Biden of gripping her shoulders from behind, smelling her hair and kissing the back of her head without her consent during a campaign event in 2014.

In April 2019, former Senate aide Tara Reade first accused Biden of touching her in ways that made her feel uncomfortable while she worked for his office in 1993.

She later accused him of penetrating her with his fingers in March 2020 - which Biden has denied.
First-Generation WSU Junior Exemplifies Focus of International Day of Women and Girls in Science

February 9, 2021

OGDEN, Utah  Jennifer Morales has never found herself short of opportunities while attending Weber State University, and an award from the Women Tech Council is proof shes taken advantage of all thats available.

Morales, 20, is a junior double majoring in computer science and professional sales in WSUs College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology. The United Nations marks Feb. 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. As the oldest of seven siblings and the first in her family to attend college, Morales said support for education and science started in her home when she was a child.

I first realized the difference in being a first-generation college student when I was a little girl and my parents couldnt help me with my homework. That was luxury I didnt realize other people had, she said. However, my parents have always supported me. They always told me, Go to college. Thats the future.

Morales grew up in Ogden and graduated from Ben Lomond High School. She applied to become a WSU Ambassador, and when she was accepted, began to participate in events on campus.

With all the opportunities Weber State had for students, it just seemed like a place I could call home, she said. I could stay in the city where I grew up.

Being a first-generation student comes with unique challenges, but its also made her more resourceful and open to options that come her way, Morales said. When she took home a prestigious award for her college work, her parents were at her side.

In October 2020, Morales was honored with the Student Pathways award from the Women Tech Council. The Women Tech Awards aim to recognize the talent, impact, change-agents, innovators and women in technology that work wirelessly to build companies, communities and careers, according to their website.

Morales had heard about the award when a friend was previously nominated and imagined it would be nice to be recognized that way. She was surprised when she found out she had been nominated  and even more so when her name was called during the ceremony.

I did not think I was going to win, so I had nothing prepared, Morales said. I walked out on stage and spoke from my heart. I thanked my parents, I thanked everyone supporting the mission of women in tech. All the award winners are amazing. It was cool to be among those women.

Ana Reyes and Breanna Campbell in the Weber State Center for Technology Outreach nominated Morales for the Student Pathways award. They praised her involvement in on-campus clubs and activities and for her volunteer work with the center. Morales held an internship involving software engineering at Northrop Grumman in the fall.

Through many challenges and adaptations, Jennifer has made a difference at our university, exemplified the mission of Weber State, and has positively impacted the people around her, they wrote in the nomination letter.

In the United States, women earn only 18% of computer science degrees, according to the statistics from the National Science Board. Weber States computer science program is made up of 17.6% female students. Being one of the few women in STEM can come with unique pressures, but Morales said she took it as a challenge to prove herself. Finding support among other women was also important.

Definitely surround yourself with women who are doing what you want to do, she said. Its so powerful to have that community of women. We're just able to reassure each other and remind each other that yes this is hard, but we can do it, and its going to be worth it in the end.

While at Weber State, Morales said shes never been told no when it comes to opportunity  whether thats deciding to be a double major or pursuing internships in her field. Once she graduates, Morales said she hopes to work as a programmer for a start-up with a mission to make the world a better place.

Weber State has never put any limits on what I can or what I should do, she said. They give you the resources to be the best you can be.

For photos, visit the following link.

wsueast.smugmug.com/Computer-Science/Women-Tech-Award-Jennifer-Morales/n-JK4fM3

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
The coronavirus-induced economic downturn saw just 12 companies list on the Australian sharemarket in the first part of 2020 but the year finished with 74 new listings, with five posting first-day gains of at least 100 per cent.

One of the striking features of the 2020 initial public offering (IPO) market was an abnormally high number from the retail sector, says Marcus Ohm, partner at HLB Mann Judd Perth and author of the IPO Watch Australia Report.

Managing director Phillip Britt saw shares of Aussie Broadband, the company he co-founded, soar from an IPO issue price of $1 to more than $2.70.

Retail listings tended to be those whose sales have boomed during the pandemic as their customers spent more time at home, Ohm says.

Beauty products supplier Adore Beauty is seeing sales of soap, hand sanitiser and handwash increase through its online-only model.
The Hope probe, the United Arab Emiratess first Mars mission, is expected to enter the red planets orbit on Tuesday.

The spacecraft will explore the atmosphere of the planet, something that has not been done by any previous probe to the planet.

Hope will aim to answer a number of questions, including how conditions throughout the Martian atmosphere affect rates of escape of hydrogen and oxygen  the building blocks of life.

And how the Martian exosphere (upper atmosphere) behaves at different times during the day and at different distances relative to Mars.

The instruments on board will collect different data points on the atmosphere to also gauge seasonal and daily changes.

But entering Marss orbit all depends on one critical upcoming operation  Mars Orbital Insertion (MOI).

Achieving MOI is a complex manoeuvre, the spacecraft is rotated to position for a deceleration burn of 27 minutes and slowed down from its cruising speed of 121,000km/h to something nearer to 18,000km/h.

The burn will start at around 1530 GMT (1930 GST).

After the gravity of Mars captures Hope it will enter a phase called the capture orbit.

(PA Graphics)

The capture orbit takes the spacecraft from a distance of 1,000 to 49,380km from Marss planetary surface.

In this phase instrumentation will be tested and the spacecraft will, over the coming two months, transition to its science orbit.

The transition to Hopes science orbit will be completed by April 2021.

The probe has a 20,00043,000km elliptical science orbit and completes one orbit of the planet every 55 hours.

While it will be in daily contact with Earth during the capture orbit phase, in its science orbit contacts will take place two to three times a week. It will take six to eight hours each time for data to be downloaded and updates and instructions to be uploaded.

Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, minister of state for advanced technologies, chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, said she hopes the mission will be in a position to share data by September.

She told the PA news agency: A lot of what were hoping to discover from the data of this mission is new, and this is a highly complimentary mission to other missions so we truly hope that others missions around Mars will utilise also our data in conjunction with their data.

The Hope mission was one of three that launched to Mars from Earth in July, including Nasas Perseverance rover and Chinas Tianwen-1 mission.

Tianwen-1, which is expected to enter the red planets orbit on Wednesday, will orbit the planet and land on it.
Entrepreneur Mark Cuban is planning to launch Fireside, a new podcast platform that will allow hosts to conduct live conversations, reports TheVerge. The concept is said to be similar to the live audio platform Clubhouse that is becoming increasingly popular. The Fireside platform is expected to go live for the public later this year.

Cuban is working with Falon Fatemi, who is also the co-founder of the Fireside app. Fatemi in an email to creators said that the app will give creators a platform to broadcast, record and even monetise conversations. The app will also come with a built-in analytics tool to gauge the performance of their content. The analytics tool is likely to be similar to Facebooks and Googles.

According to the report, Fireside has so far raised multi-million dollar in seed rounds. The report further says that the creators will have multiple options to monetise their content. It also notes that it wont allow everyone on the platform.

ALSO READ: Why Clubhouse is being hailed as the next big thing

Today we say goodbye to current media platform limitations created by one-way conversations, a lack of interactivity, and non-existent analytics, Fatemi wrote in the email. We level the playing field by empowering creators based on what they have to say (not how loud they yell) and we give their ideas the reach to turn a single conversation into the seed of the next media empire.

Separately, Cuban has confirmed his association with the platform. "All I can tell you is that I'm involved and love the project," he told Business Insider in an email.

Cubans involvement in the Fireside audio platform comes at a time when users are flocking to Clubhouse, which describes itself as a new type of social network based on voicewhere people around the world come together to talk, listen and learn from each other in real-time. The app is still invite-only. Clubhouse is said to have hit $1 billion valuations already.

A Trump supporter has been arrested for threatening Mitch McConnell's grandkids on Parler.

Brad Houck from Oklahoma made death threats on social media against several public officials, using sites such as Facebook and Parler.

Mr Houck posted numerous threatening messages on Parler in the lead up to and after the Capitol riot on 6 January, one of which was directed at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Mr Houck wrote: "Hey Mitch, how are your grandkids doing?"

An FBI affidavit said that a detective for the Moore, Oklahoma police department contacted federal investigators to inform them of complaints the department had received about Mr Houck's Parler account, KOCO-TV reporter Dillon Richards reported.

Federal agents in Oklahoma City contacted the city's police department and were sent more screenshots of Mr Houck's posts, one of which threatened Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts. Mr Houck wrote on 3 January: "Hey Justice Roberts, we are coming for you and your illegal adopted kids!! Finished! They will get to watch you hang."

The FBI got a warrant and travelled to Mr Houck's home. After announcing their arrival by loudspeaker several times to no response, they finally made verbal contact with Mr Houck after breaching a window. Mr Houck went further back into the house, according to the FBI criminal complaint.

Read more: Follow live Trump impeachment updates

Mr Houck finally exited his home while smoking a cigarette, asking if this was about "the posts". Despite being told to raise his hands, Mr Houck kept them down, telling agents to come to him. He eventually approached the agents.

According to the FBI, they found 24 guns along with thousands of rounds of ammunition in Mr Houck's home. They also located almost $4,800 in cash and several "personal electronic devices".

Mr Houck further threatened former President George W Bush, posting on 6 December 2020: "GWB is a dead man... we will find you georgie boy."

On 24 December 2020, Mr Houck issued a different threat against Chief Justice Roberts, writing: "Supreme Court justices are appointed for life... You give us only one way to remove treasonous judges... death! It's coming John Roberts!"

He also threatened Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, and Republican Oklahoma Senator James Lankford, among others.

Mr Houck posted on 22 December 2020: "We must storm that Capitol and remove these people by force!"

Mr Houck was ordered detained by Magistrate Judge Amanda Maxfield Green until his hearing on Wednesday in Oklahoma City.

According to the Criminal Complaint by the FBI, Mr Houck bragged to people about being banned from Facebook and Parler for his posts. Showing the posts to his wife, the FBI said that she thought that they were not acceptable, but that her husband had not been to Washington, DC on 6 January, the day of the Capitol riot.
Bahrain's Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa stressed kingdoms resolve to continue to achieve desired development goals despite the challenges facing the kingdom and the world due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

During a remote meeting with editors in chief of local newspapers, the minister outlined the preliminary financial results for 2020, stressing the importance of stepping up cooperation and coordination between the executive and legislative branches of government and putting citizens interest above all considerations, a Bahrain News Agency report said.

The results showed that the 2020 revenues were BD2.139 billion -- BD 807 million less than the budgeted BD2.946 billion. The expenditure came at BD3.763 billion, an increase of BD9 million compared with the budgeted BD3.754 billion.

The deficit rose by BD817 million from budgeted BD807 million to BD1.624 billion, said the report.

The preliminary financial results achieved during 2020 compared to the 2020 budget reflected the government's commitment to public expenditure levels compared to previous levels, despite the increase in emergency and emerging expenditures related to confronting the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, he said.

He said that the Ministry of Finance and National Economy is moving forward to implement all its plans and initiatives and seek to achieve the aspirations of citizens as they are the focus of development and its primary goal.

Shaikh Salman lauded the role and contributions of local newspapers as an essential partner in achieving all national initiatives and programmes of the development march, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Air travel has been at a standstill for almost a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but some people keep buying huge amounts of products in duty-free shops.

These Chinese resellers or "daigou" buy goods in duty-free shops and sell them to Chinese customers at marked-up prices. Daigou have been around for many years, but now they are evolving.

"The coronavirus pandemic was practically a death sentence for our industry, but hundreds of these merchants are keeping us alive," a staffer at a duty-free shop here said.

But how do they do it? A long queue formed on the morning of Jan. 26 in front of Lotte Department Store in downtown Seoul with around a hundred people dressed in padded jackets and sneakers holding numbered tickets. One man who stood in line said, "This is a VIP ticket passed out to customers who bought more than US$3,000 worth of goods here yesterday."

Customers can jump the queue with these tickets and can enter the store when it opens. At 9:30 a.m., a staffer checked the temperatures of customers and let them in 10 at a time. They got into an elevator and headed for the 10th floor, which is home to luxury labels like Chanel, Hermes and Louis Vuitton.

"Most of these people are either Chinese or ethnic Koreans from China," a staffer said.
Workers at risk of developing an incurable, progressive and fatal lung disease need greater protections across a range of workplaces, the union movement says, warning proposed new health and safety measures wont help thousands of Australians.

Joanna McNeill, a 34-year-old mother of two, was diagnosed with silicosis last year after returning from maternity leave. She worked in an administration role at a quarry and was exposed to dust with her office close to the main blast site.

Joanna McNeill was diagnosed with silicosis after coming back from maternity leave last year. Shes just 34 years old.

Its the unknown which is so terrifying, Ms McNeill said. At the moment I am feeling healthy, but I dont know if that will be the case in one year, let alone five or 10 years and as a mum of two young daughters that terrifies me.

The Australian Workers Union is leading a push for tougher national regulations to protect all workers exposed to deadly silica dust, with fears Australia could be hit with a tsunami of deaths in the coming decades.
The father of a teenage boy, who was killed allegedly in an encounter by the army, has been charged with a stringent anti-terror law by police in the federal Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir, even as the family insisted that the minor was innocent and demanded that his body be returned.

Mushtaq Ahmed Wani and six others, including his two brothers, have been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for organising illegal processions, abetted anti-national elements and spreading disaffection against the state, reported Associated Press.

Mr Wani, 42, from Bellow village in Pulwama, is the father of 16-year-old Ather Mushtaq, who was shot dead along with two others on 30 December during what police claimed was an encounter with terrorists on the outskirts of the main city of Srinagar.

Speaking to The Independent on Tuesday, Mr Wani said he is being charged for demanding the body of his son.

Is that a crime? asked Mr Wani. We are humans, we have emotions. Why cant I get the basic right demanding my sons body back, he said.

Mr Wani had held a rally on 5 February and raised slogans after Fridays prayer near a village mosque in presence of senior police officials.

It was a peaceful gathering and we pressed our demand in front of the officials thinking they would listen to us. We dispersed from there just in five to ten minutes and later I was informed that mosques cleric has been detained, he said.

He said he got the information that he was being charged under UAPA from his neighbours after some of them were summoned for questioning by police.

They want to silence me, intimidate me. They should prove the wrongdoing of my son and then arrest me, said Mr Wani, adding that he would fight legally if jailed.

While the army called those killed in the encounter hardcore associates of terrorists, the family opposed the claim.

The Independent had spoken to the families of the three men and the families contradicted the Indian armys claim that their sons were terrorists. They had demanded an investigation into the encounter, calling it a staged killing.

Mr Wani said he has kept a fresh grave ready near his home where he wants to rest his son.

Hundreds of civilians and militants have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir in counter-terrorism operations by the Indian army which blame Pakistan for radicalising youths.

Mr Wani had been holding small protests in his area as well as in Srinagar city ever since the death of his son, demanding that the army return his body so he could give him a proper burial.

The three men killed in the alleged encounter were buried in a remote graveyard about 115 km (70 miles) from their ancestral villages. The authorities have buried over 150 alleged Kashmiri militants in unmarked graves, in a bid to thwart large-scale public funerals and protests.

The police document said on 5 February the Rajpora police station got the information that a violent mob congregated outside a mosque, reported Al Jazeera.

The mob was led by seven people to obstruct the main road and were raising anti-national slogans against the integrity of the nation, said the document. The said persons are organising such illegal processions under criminal conspiracy and are abetting anti-national elements.

Mr Wani and six others have been charged under UAPA, the law amended under prime minister Narendra Modi's government in 2019, allowing police to detain a person for six months without producing any evidence. An accused charged under UAPA can be jailed for up to seven years. The law has been termed draconian by rights groups.

The encounter came days after Indian army indicted its officer for the extrajudicial killing of three Kashmiri labourers and acknowledged that they were killed in a staged gunfight in July, 2020.

Kashmir has been riddled with a long-running dispute between India and Pakistan who have fought two wars in the region. Militants have been fighting against Indian rule since the early 1990s. In 2020, the army said it killed 225 terrorists as compared to 152 in 2019.
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The police in Zamfara on Tuesday said repentant bandits have surendered 22 weapons and renounced criminality.

The police said the bandits came from their base in Dumburum forest in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state to hand over the weapons.

The commissioner of police, Abutu Yaro, stated this at a press briefing in Gusau on Tuesday.

He said the police received the arms from the leader of the bandits, Auwalu Daudawa, after they accepted the state governments offer of dialogue.

Mr Yaro said the former outlaws surrendered 22 sophisticated arms and ammunition .

He said Mr Daudawa led one of the largest and most notorious groups of criminals using the Dumburum forest as their base.

Mr Yaro said the crime kingpin surrendered with five of his lieutenants,

The police boss said the arms they received from the suspects include a rocket propelled grenade, one anti-aircraft rifle, one AK 49 and 19 AK 47 rifles with 72 rounds of live ammunition fot anti-aircraft rifles.

He said their surrender of the sophisticated weapons was a further demonstration that the peace initiative of the state government was yielding result.

Let me enjoin other bandits in different locations of the state to also embrace the Peace Accord and surrender their weapons so that the peace and security of the state can be improved and sustained for economic, social and political development, Mr Yaro added.

Bandits still on the rampage

Mr Yaro said the police recovered 14 motorcycles abandoned by suspected bandits in Gidan Giye village in Tsafe Local Government Area.

The police boss said they made the recovery on February 2 following a distress call that armed bandits had blocked the Tsafe  Funtua road.

On receipt of the report, the DPO mobilised a combined team of special forces and conventional policemen to the scene.

After serious gun duel with the bandits, they fled to the bush with possible gun wounds and left their fourteen (14) operational motorcycles and other bags containing their clothes and military camouflage uniforms, the commissioner said.
What Ive learned: James Hyslop

Christies head of Science and Natural History on the magic of meteorites, celestial globes and selling STAN, one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons ever found

My first experience of Christies was as a bidder in the saleroom. After graduating, I worked at the Whipple Museum of the History of Science at Cambridge University. The museum had a small acquisition fund, and part of my job was to scour auction catalogues in search of objects for the collection. I still remember one of the first lots I missed out on, in 2006: seven extremely rare plaster models of single-celled organisms. They came back up for sale six years later, by which time I had moved to Christies. I catalogued them and gave the museum a heads-up. Gratifyingly, the Whipple went on to place the winning bid.

We dont deal in the ordinary. So when you glimpse something in one of the Christies warehouses that really sings, you know you are looking at a masterpiece. The best part of my job is getting to spend time with such extraordinary items on their own, outside of the wider context of an exhibition or auction. These quiet behind-the-scenes moments are what make my job so fantastic.

At Christies, I get to be a temporary custodian of the very best specimens of science and natural history in the world  James Hyslop

Part of my job is spotting fakes. As with all works of art, youre looking for tell-tale signs such as the quality of the engraving on a scientific instrument or the age of the brass. I did my undergraduate dissertation on a group of 19th-century fake scientific instruments on display at the Whipple. At the time, I couldnt believe that people were collecting these things in the 19th century, let alone faking them. My teacher warned me that scientific instruments are addictive. Once you get a taste for them, theres no going back. Id love to have a time machine to see how modern British artists such as Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore would have responded to gogottes  mesmerising sandstone concretions from Fontainebleau that resemble abstract sculptures. They definitely collected flints from the coast that have holes in them reminiscent of those in their artworks, so it would be interesting to know their thoughts.

A pair of gogottes, Fontainebleau, France. 16 in (42.5cm) high. Sold for 20,000 on 7 November 2019 at Christie's Online

I grew up in Canada near the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, so Ive always had an interest in rocks and fossils. Its the most wonderful museum, in the Badlands, a magical landscape full of dinosaur remains and dramatic rock formations. One of my favourite exhibition galleries has a lab  protected behind glass, of course  where you can see the museums scientists chipping away at new discoveries. Its a really great way of connecting what you see in the museum with the science. Look where it led me.

A male Tyrannosaurus rex (aka STAN). From the Hell Creek Formation, 16 metres below the K-T boundary, Maastrichtian, late Cretaceous (circa 67 million years ago). Sold for $31,847,500 on 6 October 2020 at Christies in New York

Coming face to face with STAN for the first time was awe-inspiring. He was bigger and scarier than Id imagined. When I first saw him, he was just a jumble of bones in a crate. But over the next eight to 12 hours, I got to see him being assembled, bone by bone. It was breathtaking. Its not often you get so close to one of the most complete T. rex skeletons ever found. Instagram is a new way of existing. We should all embrace it. Two years ago, I consigned an amazing celestial globe from about 1550 via Instagram. I sent the owner a message saying that we could probably pin down a date and a maker and, if so, would they like to offer it for sale. It was a recent discovery and extremely sought-after. We sold it for 125,000.

Discovering a rare Islamic spherical astrolabe in Brussels was a stop-the-clock moment. What looked like a modest pocket globe turned out to be a signed instrument made in Mecca in around 1662, presumably for the ruling family at the time. My French is good but not perfect, so there was a hilarious moment of misunderstanding when I told the client that my valuation was cent a cent cinquante. They were a little disappointed to hear it was worth only a few hundred pounds. After an awkward moment, and with the help of a colleague in the Brussels office, I was able to clarify that I meant 100,000-150,000. They consigned there and then. The astrolabe went on to sell for 722,500. It really is a special piece. Meteorites are highly sought-after by a range of collectors, but notably Old Master collectors. It might be because they are kind of memento mori, reminding us of the death of the dinosaurs. Christies is offering a really large, very sculptural meteorite this month, which set a world record when it sold for $68,500 in 1996. The market has moved on so much since then that it is likely to set another. Id really like to handle a transitional fossil called Archaeopteryx, a bird-like dinosaur that lived in the Jurassic period. There are only about 10 of them known and most are in state collections. The Berlin specimen, also known as the fallen angel, in the Natural History Museum in Berlin is absolutely magnificent. If you shine a light on it, you can still see its feathers.

The 150-million-year-old Berlin specimen of the primeval bird Archaeopteryx lithographica in the Natural History Museum, Berlin. The fossil was found in limestone deposits on the Blumenberg near Eichstatt, Bavaria, in 1875. Photo:  Carola Radke, Museum fur Naturkunde, Berlin

Buy a fossil that looks alive. Nobody wants to live with a dead fish! If the fish looks like its swimming, its much nicer to have around. The Berlin Archaeopteryx is the only specimen I can think of that goes against that rule, as its neck is broken  I presume thats how it died. The way its arms are spread out makes it look almost like Christ on the cross. Its very moving when you see it up close.

The dodo skeleton was one of the most exciting discoveries Ive come across at Christies. It was last published in 1976 and had subsequently been forgotten about by everyone apart from the family whod owned it since the 19th century. As soon as we got the call, I dropped everything to go and see it. The fossil itself did not disappoint: it was in fantastic condition and made a record price at 491,250. Which didnt surprise me. The dodo is such an iconic figure of extinction and a poignant reminder of our responsibilities to look after all the species of our planet.

A dodo skeleton, Mauritius, before 1690. 25 x 22 x 14 in (64 x 55 x 35 cm). Sold for 491,250 on 24 May 2019 at Christies in London

I wish Id known what was going to happen to the enigma machine market. When I joined Christies in 2007, enigma machines fetched between 15,000 and 20,000. Now they are selling for 200,000 to 300,000 or more. Theyve just gone up and up. I think about the reason for that all the time. The story of Alan Turing and the code-breaking at Bletchley Park hadnt been told very well outside academic circles. But when the National Museum of Computing opened at Bletchley in 2007, the story became more widely known. Two Hollywood blockbusters on the subject will no doubt have helped too. The continuing rise of cryptography for our day-to-day transactions has also brought new collectors to this bit of historical code-breaking.

At Christies, I get to be a temporary custodian of the very best specimens of science and natural history in the world. I could never compete in the category as a collector. But I do collect first editions of detective fiction. I have two sets of books at home: first editions that remain out of the reach of kids, and those that you can just pick off the shelf and read.



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Cosmetics companies traditionally have relied on in-person retail sales to attract new customers and maintain existing clientele. The pandemic, however, has upended the cosmetics industry, bringing new challenges as well as a host of opportunities for companies that are agile and creative enough to take advantage.

The E-Commerce Times spoke with experts in cosmetic sales and e-commerce about trends in this dynamic and evolving industry.

Personalization Trends

One way that cosmetics companies can appeal to online customers is to provide increasingly personalized services.

"What sets us apart is we've created an expert online beauty assessment that's been developed by a team of data scientists, makeup artists and skin care specialists," Jaleh Bisharat, co-founder and CEO of the cosmetics company NakedPoppy, told the E-Commerce Times.

"Think of it as your online beauty consultant. Once you've taken your three-minute assessment, we use patent-pending technology to rate every product in our store just for you. This creates your personalized clean beauty boutique, featuring your perfect picks."

That kind of personalization can help bridge the gap between customers and an online store, approximating and perhaps surpassing the experience they might get at a physical makeup counter.

"We believe the future is in personalization," explained Bisharat. "I see a world in which some day everyone will shop their unique, personalized beauty boutique and not have to waste time on the products that are not for them."

Cosmetics companies can gather data about new customers and maintain information about existing ones to provide a unique online shopping experience tailored to each customer's needs.

"Marketers could display a survey for first-time visitors to learn more about their preferences, like a store associate would," Ben Malki, director of customer success for Dynamic Yield, explained to the E-Commerce Times.

"Then, using the information captured, such as whether they are interested in clean or vegan products or have sensitive skin, to serve up a more customized experience. Product recommendations can act as another helpful extension of the in-store staff."

This kind of personalization can also help to link customers' in-store experiences with their online shopping.

"For those who previously engaged with brands exclusively offline but are now starting to do so digitally, marketers from the beauty industry can combine offline transactions with their online activity," said Malki.

"This can be done by building a segment consisting of those who recently made a purchase offline and serving them with relevant content upon arriving to the site or opening an email, converting them into online shoppers more efficiently."

Ultimately, personalization can maintain and grow a customer base and also prevent revenue lost from returned and unusable products.

"Personalization can also help minimize product returns," noted Malki. "As purchased beauty products cannot be re-shelved and sold, by implementing a greater degree of personalization, customers can be matched with items that best suit their distinct needs. This not only increases the likelihood of product satisfaction, but also reduces the costs associated with returns."

Pricing and Packaging Beauty

The cosmetics industry is also being transformed by new trends in pricing and packaging. Smart pricing strategies, for instance, are helping companies to maintain an edge in a competitive e-commerce marketplace.

"Cosmetics companies are part of the lucky minority in the global e-commerce landscape, in the sense that they have really high margins," explained Burc Tanir, CEO of Prisync, a company that provides competitor price tracking and a dynamic pricing engine for e-commerce businesses.

"This is actually a great opportunity in a growing market with a growing customer base, where pricing can be a secret marketing weapon. E-commerce companies in this space can adjust their prices competitively without sacrificing their solid profit margins at all. In other words, they can maintain a competitively-priced yet profitable position in their market to grow their top-line and bottom-line at the same time."

Similarly, as consumers are becoming more eco-conscious, cosmetics companies are changing how their products are packaged and sold.

"The use of recycled plastics is a first step for environmentally-friendly cosmetics packaging," Robert Lockyer, CEO of Delta Global, a luxury packaging company, told the E-Commerce Times.

"Alongside this, recyclable packaging is also needed, as well as efforts to educate customers how items should be disposed of sustainably -- for instance, with clear labelling on bottles and tubes."

Reusable packaging has become another way that cosmetics companies can appeal to environmentally-minded consumers.

"Companies can promote a circular economy by creating packaging that can be reused," said Lockyer. "For example, perfume bottles or makeup tubes can be cleaned and displayed as decorative ornaments. However, this requires investment into high-quality and visually-appealing packaging, whereby the exterior becomes just as much a part of the product as the internal formula."

A New Complexion

The new world of cosmetics e-commerce is just that -- a global endeavor, no longer limited to customers within a specific country.

"COVID-19 has accelerated the need for retailers to strengthen their online presence and accessibility to global shoppers," Matthew Merrilees, CEO North America of Global-e, explained to the E-Commerce Times.

"While domestic e-commerce sales have increased, they're not necessarily enough to replace the current loss of brick-and-mortar, so retailers must increasingly take advantage of the enormous untapped potential of selling to international customers to expand their revenue."

The changes the pandemic has brought to the cosmetics industry will likely remain even after COVID-19 is over, and those companies that can adapt to the new realities of online cosmetics sales will be those that can survive and thrive in the future.

"The desire for no-touch shopping won't disappear any time soon," said NakedPoppy's Bisharat. "I think consumers are now sensitized to how viruses or bacteria of any kind can spread, and I predict that as a result, people will avoid or minimize the use of testers.

"Some will also maintain a residual preference to not have another person get near their face. What this means is any solution that helps her find and buy perfect-for-her cosmetics in no-touch fashion will have an advantage."

Vivian Wagner has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2008. Her main areas of focus are technology, business, CRM, e-commerce, privacy, security, arts, culture and diversity. She has extensive experience reporting on business and technology for a variety of outlets, including The Atlantic, The Establishment and O, The Oprah Magazine. She holds a PhD in English with a specialty in modern American literature and culture. She received a first-place feature reporting award from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, and is the author of Women in Tech: 20 Trailblazers Share Their Journeys, published by ECT News Network in May 2020. Email Vivian.


[February 09, 2021]

Cadenza Innovation Founder Explores the Advanced Battery Architectures Fueling a Safer Transition to Clean Energy

WILTON, Conn., Feb. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cadenza Innovation , provider of the patented and UL-listed supercell design for manufacturing safer, higher-performing, lower-cost lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, today announced that Founder and CEO Dr. Christina Lampe-Onnerud will share her insights during this weeks NAATBatt Annual Conference and at next months International Battery Seminar & Exhibit, the worlds longest-running annual battery industry event.



A renowned battery expert with dozens of patents in the space, Dr. Lampe-Onnerud will discuss the global demand for safe, high-performing and cost-effective batteries to drive even more rapid deployment of energy storage systems (ESS) installations, especially in urban settings. Her presentations follow a webcast on the topic earlier this month hosted by Greentech Media and moderated by Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables Head of Energy Storage Daniel Finn-Foley.

Details and links to Dr. Lampe-Onneruds virtual event participation follow:

NAATBatt 2021: Innovation in Battery Pack Design and Strategy: Can Our Industry Support the Global Energy Transition?

Thursday, February 11, 12:30  1:30 p.m. EST

Summary: Moderated by American Battery Solutions Chief Customer Officer John Warner, Dr. Lampe-Onnerud will join SVOLT Vice President of International Sales and Marketing Jeff Yambrick to examine new battery technology advances and the evolving markets for innovative batteries. Core to the discussion will be the ESS demonstration project at the White Plains headquarters of the New York Power Authority (NYPA), which highlights Cadenzas collaboration with NYPA  the largest state public power organization in the nation. Cadenzas safe, high-performing, low-cost supercell is the cornerstone of the novel project, which showcases peak shaving and demand management capabilities and is another key step in advancing New York States nation-leading climate and clean energy goals.

38th Annual International Battery Seminar & Exhibit:  Trust, But Verify: Best Practices in Architecting and Testing Bttery Safety 





Tuesday, March 9, 10:20  10:50 a.m. EST

Summary: Fires involving the Arizona Public Service, NIO and Tesla  along with more than a dozen at South Korea power grid facilities  have heightened questions and concerns about Li-ion battery safety. Rightly so. Any number of fires is unacceptable; safety is always paramount. However, Li-ion batteries arent inherently unsafe. Its how theyre architected that directly affects their safety. Through real-world examples, including Cadenzas grid energy storage project at NYPAs White Plains headquarters, Dr. Lampe-Onnerud will explore the current state and future of Li-ion, architecting battery safety and the criticality of testing. Following her presentation, Dr. Lampe-Onnerud will participate in a Q&A panel session to conclude the events Safety Testing track.

Greentech Media Webinar: Deploying Energy Storage Systems in Urban Environments: Safety Driving Global Growth Opportunity

On-demand replay available via registration link above

Summary: While critical to driving the global clean energy transition, ESS deployments remain limited in urban areas due to safety concerns inherent in legacy batteries. Now, advanced Li-ion battery architectures, paired with extensive testing and compliance requirements, are overcoming the risks of fires and explosions. Led by Finn-Foley, this session features Dr. Lampe-Onnerud, NYPA President and CEO Gil Quiniones and CarbonQuest Vice President Doug Staker providing actionable insights and best practices to ensure safe, reliable, low-cost ESS deployments, particularly in urban areas.

Cadenza licenses a patented and UL-listed Li-ion battery technology platform to global manufacturers targeting the utility, commercial/industrial, transportation and prosumer markets. With safety at the heart of its design, the companys supercell technology features a highly simplified energy storage platform designed to eliminate the risk of fires caused by cascading thermal runaway. The platforms architecture provides a pathway for Li-based storage systems to break through cost barriers and achieve the discharge duration desired while maintaining the fast response and high-efficiency performance characteristics that Li-ion cells deliver. Notably, UL 9540A testing confirms Cadenzas battery design prevents thermal propagation in grid energy storage applications.

About Cadenza Innovation, Inc.

Founded in 2012 by lithium-ion battery experts with more than 125 patents, Cadenza Innovation is capitalizing on its intellectual property, field-proven operational and mass production expertise and partner network to establish itself as a leader in safe, low-cost and energy dense storage solutions. Licensing its UL-listed technology for immediate access, company executives have held key roles at lithium-ion battery cell, pack and system provider Boston-Power, investment firm Bridgewater Associates, consulting firm Arthur D. Little and other globally respected organizations. Cadenza Innovation is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the states of New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, Golden Seeds and private investors. The companys corporate headquarters and advanced technology development labs are based in Connecticut. For more information, visit www.cadenzainnovation.com or follow us at @CadenzaInno.

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact:

Bryan Grillo

CHEN PR for Cadenza Innovation

bgrillo@chenpr.com

781.672.3129

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fd87c570-5156-4803-a102-d615dcb4a518
Autism Treatment Study Underway

VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 9, 2021 /CNW/ - Nova Mentis Life Science Corp. (CSE: NOVA) (FSE: HN3Q) (OTCPK: LIBFF) ("NOVA" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its proprietary drug psilocybin has been shipped to the laboratory of Dr. Viviana Trezza, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy. NOVA was notified by its U.S. drug manufacturer that the required controlled substances export application had been approved by the U. S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Division (DEA).

The psilocybin will be evaluated in the ongoing prenatal valproic acid (VPA) model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this model, which is well accepted by neuroscientists, pregnant rats are exposed to VPA and the resultant offspring have ASD behavioral symptoms (*Tartaglione, 2019). This animal model mimics the behavioral and social deficits seen in human ASD.

"Psychedelic research is currently undergoing a renaissance and we, at NOVA, are exuberant that the U.S. DEA has seen fit to approve the shipment of our proprietary psilocybin to Italy to be evaluated in ASD," stated Marvin S. Hausman MD, Chairman, NOVA's Scientific Advisory Board. "We look forward with great anticipation to be able to report that our drug ameliorated the social behavioral abnormalities in ASD. The therapeutic doses that will be established in the animal model will be extrapolated to a human study that is currently being designed."

The shipped psilocybin, greater than 95 per cent purity, will be used to treat ASD offspring that have severe behavioral symptoms. This preclinical ASD diagnostic and treatment study began in January 2021 and fecal specimens are being collected to measure changes that occur in the microbial environment within the intestines of pregnant mothers and offspring after VPA exposure of the pregnant mothers.

A NOVA ASD Microbiome Diagnostic Index is being generated that will be potentially applicable to establish subsets of disorders to be treated with psychedelic compounds within the human spectrum called ASD. Animals with severe ASD behavioral symptoms are scheduled in the current study to undergo treatment with NOVA's proprietary psilocybin. Comparisons will be made to control animals. The treatment phase will begin once ASD symptomatic pups have been weened away from the mother.

The study is designed to determine the efficacy of psilocybin in ASD and to establish therapeutic amounts of the drug to be used in an upcoming human trial. NOVA intends to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with U.S. and European regulatory agencies as soon as possible to begin Phase 1 human trials.

*Tartaglione, A.T., Schiavi, S., Calamandrei, G. and Trezza, V. 2019. Prenatal valproate in rodents as a tool to understand the neural underpinnings of social dysfunctions in autism spectrum disorder. Neuropharmacology 159,107477.

About Nova Mentis Life Science Corp.

Nova Mentis Life Science Corp. is a Canadian based biotechnology company that is focused on the emerging field of psychedelic medicine. The Company aims to become a global leader in this field by integrating the latest state-of-the-art medical and scientific technology into its drug development program. The goal is to diagnose and treat debilitating chronic conditions that have unmet medical needs, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

On Behalf of the Board

Will Rascan, President & CEO

Nova Mentis Life Science Corp.

Phone: 778-819-0244

Toll Free: 1-833-542-5323

Twitter: @novamentislsc

Instagram: @novamentislsc

Facebook: @novamentislsc

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.

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Nova Mentis Life Science's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur.

SOURCE Nova Mentis Life Science Corp.

For further information: For further information on the Company, please visit https://www.novamentis.ca or email [email protected] .
Ministers branded the EU decision to place restrictions on live UK shellfish exports 'indefensible' today - as even a senior MEP admitted it 'makes no sense'.

Environment Secretary George Eustice insisted there is 'no legal barrier' to the trade as he demanded the European Commission behaves reasonably.

The introduction of new checks and paperwork since the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31 has caused disruption to exports of fresh fish and seafood to the EU.

Many British waters are classed as Grade B, and since Brexit shellfish have to be cleaned before being sent to Europe.

But there are not enough facilities in the UK as the catches used to be sent to the EU for purification. Ministers had expected the bloc would permit the trade to resume once a new health certificate was produced, but say it has now backtracked.

French MEP Pierre Karleskind, who chairs the European Parliament's committee on fisheries, hit out at the commission today saying 'the UK waters did not become dirty on the 31st December at midnight'.

Last month seafood hauliers protested against the Brexit fishing deal by stacking lorries in central London.

Mr Eustice said the Commission changed its position last week, and that prior to that 'they had been clear that this was a trade that could continue'.

Environment Secretary George Eustice insisted there is 'no legal barrier' to the trade as he demanded the European Commission behaves reasonably

The introduction of new checks and paperwork since the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31 has caused disruption to exports of fresh fish and seafood to the EU. Pictured, fleets at Scarborough

He said in an interview with LBC that the action, which puts a 'ban on the trade altogether' was 'quite unexpected and really indefensible'.

'Whereas previously they'd been clear that this is trade that could continue, and all they needed to do was design the right export health certificate,' he added.

And he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We wrote to the Commissioner yesterday, we have been in dialogue with them.

'The truth is there is no legal barrier to this trade continuing, both on animal health grounds and on public health grounds  there is legal provision within existing EU regulations to allow such trade to continue from the UK.

'We are just asking the EU to abide by their existing regulations and not to seek to change them.

'They did change their position just last week  prior to that they had been clear that this was a trade that could continue  so we want to work to understand why they are proposing a change at this stage.'

He said the UK is hoping it can resolve the issue with the EU and 'get them to abide by their own regulations'.

French MEP Pierre Karleskind, who chairs the European Parliament's committee on fisheries, told Today that Brexit was to blame for the issues but said they do not make sense.

'I have no problem with the fact that we have to find this solution, unfortunately so far the answer that I received from Mrs (Stella) Kyriakides, the (European) commissioner for health, was no.

'So I am not satisfied so far with this question and the fact is that the UK waters did not become dirty on the 31st December at midnight, so this really doesn't make any sense.

'Except that we have to find a way to be sure in the long term we will have the insurance that what we import from the UK does satisfy the high standards of quality and of sanitary quality for our consumer.'
Airlines fear any lack of rooms under the quarantine hotels scheme could force them to leave travellers stuck abroad.

It is understood ministers are considering adding a section to passenger locator forms, which all must fill out before departure. It could ask them if they have booked into a quarantine hotel in the UK.

But it is unclear whether carriers will be expected to bar travellers who answer no, leaving them stranded.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock will announce today that the Government has struck its first deals with hotel chains to accommodate those quarantining.

It is understood ministers are considering adding a section to passenger locator forms, which all must fill out before departure. It could ask them if they have booked into a quarantine hotel in the UK

Ministers are expected to unveil a booking system for travellers this week.

But an aviation source said yesterday: Were completely in the dark. We dont know yet whether the Government will want us to deny boarding. Airlines are legally required to check passenger locator forms have been completed. They also have to check that a passenger has a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of travel.

Ministers have been accused of being too slow to bring in quarantine hotels. The policy was announced in the Commons on January 27 but does not come into force until Monday.

Under the rules, hotels will have to provide three meals a day for guests for 11 nights. Travellers will be tested twice, on the second and eighth day of their stay.

Security guards will be stationed on each floor and by entrances and exits, with police on standby if passengers try to abscond.

But Heathrow airport has raised concerns about how the new scheme will work at borders.

A spokesman said: Now that the Government has set a date, ministers need to work with industry to establish how this policy will actually be implemented at the border.

Our offer to support remains, but time is ticking and this very complex initiative requires airports, airlines and the Government to work closely together for it to be workable.

Lucy Moreton, professional officer at the Immigration Services Union, which represents border staff, said border guards were yet to receive any fresh guidance about how the policy will work.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock will announce today that the Government has struck its first deals with hotel chains to accommodate those quarantining

She said: Weve heard absolutely nothing yet. You cant rule out that the airlines would be asked to enforce it, but it would require a change to legislation and that isnt easy.

From a Border Force perspective it would be magnificent if the airlines were responsible for that because it would reduce the checks were having to do at the border.

This is all likely to be honesty-based though. Short of us physically getting off the arrivals desks and phoning the hotels to check that those individuals have booked into them, we have no way of confirming.

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Following the National Air and Space Museum and the Yankee Air Museum each acquiring retired former Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornets in recent weeks, the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum has had the good fortune to receive their own example. On February 2nd, they too welcomed one of these iconic blue and gold jets into their collection, this being F/A-18C Bu.163768, the former Blue Angel #4. A crew from Hawaii Stevedores unloaded the Hornet from her trans-Pacific container ship, the M/V Jean Anne, at Honolulu Harbor, and then delivered the disassembled aircraft to the museum.

The Blue Angels are larger than life and have left audiences thunderstruck for 75 years, said Elissa Lines, Executive Director, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. We are honored to display this Blue Angel F/A-18C, a symbol of strength, discipline, and innovation, within the context of our historic site. It will be a source of inspiration, especially for youth who dream of flight.

Traditionally, the pilot of the Blue Angel #4 serves as the demonstration safety officer, due largely to the perspective afforded from the slot position within the formation, as well as the pilots status as a second-year demonstration pilot. The Museums Hornet has supported the Blue Angels team in a variety of slot positions throughout the years before ending its service as Blue Angel #4.

Blue Angel #4 left Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida in late 2020, making her final-ever flight to NAS North Island, in San Diego, California. Here, navy technicians demilitarized the Hornet, removed her wings removed, and prepared her for shipment to Honolulu.

Transporting Blue Angel #4 on its final voyage to Honolulu was a privilege, said George Pasha, IV, President and CEO, Pasha Hawaii. The Blue Angels are one of our nations most revered symbols of our militarys greatness and commitment to service. Pasha Hawaii is proud to support the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museums mission to share such an important icon with the general public.

Normally museum artifact deliveries take place after hours, however this time proved the exception. The delivery team off-loaded the Hornet and positioned her inside historic Hangar 79 in full view of the public on February 5th. Furthermore, the public will be able to watch as the Museum restoration team and volunteers reassemble the historic jet, preparing it for Museum display. This should take place between February 10th and 12th, although all dates are tentative and subject to change.

As readers well know, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels retired and demilitarized their legacy F/A-18C Hornets at the end of 2020 and will begin using the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets in their stead in 2021. While these next generation Hornets look very similar their forebears, they are actually 25% larger, and radically different in almost every other aspect. Interestingly, 2021 marks the Blue Angels 75th anniversary. Admiral Chester Nimitz was responsible for their formation as Chief of Naval Operations and former Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, headquartered at Pearl Harbor.

Created just after World War II to raise public interest in naval aviation and boost Navy morale, the Blue Angels have thrilled audiences by the million with their precision combat maneuvers, aerobatic flight demonstrations, close-quarters formation flying, and high-speed, low-level passes. The Blue Angels have flown a number of types over the past three quarters of a century, but flew the F/A-18C Hornets longer than any other type, from their debut in 1986 until their final demonstration flight on November 4, 2020.
Private legal Practitioner Lawyer Maurice Ampaw has said under no circumstance can the petitioner of the ongoing election petition compel the first respondent to testify before the court.



He said the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, who is the first respondent can only testify at her own will without being forced by the petitioner.



Maurice Ampaw, however, sited a biblical example with how Jesus Christ refused to answer questions at the palace of the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.



This is not the first time a respondent can decide not to answer questions. You can remain silent even at the edge of death. Jesus Christ did the same. In front of Pontius Pilate when asked if he is the Messiah, he remained silent, he said in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie.



Counsel to the first respondent told the Apex Court Monday, February 8, 2021, that Mrs Jean Mensa, who is also the Chairperson of the EC, will not give any evidence.



Mr Justin Amenuvor explained that the first respondent has decided not to adduce any evidence and therefore the court should decide the petition filed by former President John Dramani on its merit.



He premised his argument on Order 36 (4) sub-rule 3 of the High Court (Civil Procedure Rule ), C. I 47, which he argued allowed the respondent to decide not to adduce any evidence.



The case of the first respondent is that we do not wish to adduce any evidence. Our case is closed, he argued.



But the first respondent decision is being challenged by the petitioner who forcefully wants the first respondent in the witness box to testify.



Listen to interview





Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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As Donald Trump makes history as the first former United States president to be tried in the Senate, his defense lawyers argue that such an impeachment trial is unconstitutional, that its too late for such a proceeding because hes no longer in office.

So why wasnt the trial held sooner?

The Insurrection

On Jan. 6, then-President Trump addressed a sea of supporters on the Ellipse south of the White House, telling them, "We fight like Hell, and if you don't fight like Hell, you're not going to have a country anymore."

The crowd had traveled to Washington to protest Congress certification of electoral ballots from each state, the normally-sedate formality cementing Joe Biden's election victory.

For weeks, Trump embraced multiple false claims of election fraud, before presenting a crescendo of closing arguments to a crowd of his most ardent supporters the day of the certification.

The former president continued his call to action, urging the crowd to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol building to try and give the lawmakers inside the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country.

Action followed. Thousands of people flooded Pennsylvania Avenue and the National Mall and then surrounded the U.S. Capitol perimeter. Rioters then stormed barricades and climbed the buildings scaffolding to gain access inside. As pro-Trump mobs vandalized the Capitol and assaulted law enforcement, the rally swiftly turned into a fatal insurrection.

Five people died, including a Capitol Hill police officer. Within days, two officers committed suicide, authorities said.

Article of impeachment Introduced

Five days later, on Jan. 11, House Democrats introduced an article of impeachment against Pres. Trump for inciting violence against the government of the United States."

With Trump still in office and Mitch McConnell still the Senate majority leader, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Donald Trump on Jan. 13.

Ten Republicans joined the measure.

No Action in the Senate

Democrats called on then Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to schedule a swift trial in the Senate while Trump was still in office.

There were seven days remaining before the end of Trump's presidency, and the Senate was already scheduled to be in session for three of those days; it would have been a tight, but possible amount of time to begin or conclude a trial while Trump was still in the White House.

McConnell, who at that point still controlled the Senate calendar, decided not to bring the Senate back early to begin the trial of the current president.

Biden takes office

On Jan. 20, Biden was sworn in as president.

Trump left office at noon, heading to Mar-a-Lago, his south Florida retreat, as a former president.

Five days later, House managers carried the article of impeachment to the Senate, where Trump's defense team now argues he cannot be impeached because he is no longer in office.

However, as the timeline shows, Republicans refused to hold a trial when he was in office  when Trump still had seven days left as president -- only to now argue that because of their own moves, it's too late.

House impeachment managers note there is no 'January exception' to impeachment clause in the Constitution. Five Senate Republicans agreed, voting with all Democrats to make Donald Trump the first former president to stand trial in the Senate.

Mark Albert is the chief national investigative correspondent for the Hearst Television National Investigative Unit, based in Washington D.C., Amanda Rooker is a researcher with the Unit. April Chunko contributed to this report.



Know of waste, fraud, abuse or a safety risk that needs to be investigated? Send information and documents confidentially to the National Investigative Unit at investigate@hearst.com. You have the option to remain anonymous.


For full access, please log in, register your subscription or subscribe.

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The death toll from the Uttarakhand glacier disaster rose to 28 with the recovery of two more bodies, even as a multi-agency operation to rescue around 30 workers feared trapped inside a swamped tunnel at the Tapovan power project in Chamoli district continued on Tuesday, officials said.

Around 170 people are still missing after the Sunday's disaster apparently caused by a glacier burst, according to the latest data.

The Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said its personnel recovered two bodies from debris in Raini village on Tuesday morning.

The workers have been trapped in the 12-foot-high and about 2.5-km-long 'head race tunnel' (HRT).

"Clearing of debris and slush continued the whole night. About 120 metres of the tunnel entrance stretch is now clear," ITBP spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said in Delhi.

"Height of accumulated slush reduced more. ITBP personnel are waiting to enter as soon as any movement deep inside the tunnel is possible," he said.

A senior official, however, said the rescuers have not been able to make any contact with those stuck inside but they are hopeful for "signs of life".

Relief is also being distributed by helicopters among residents of more than a dozen villages cut off due to the washing away of a bridge in the avalanche at Malari.

Private and IAF helicopters have so far distributed around 100 ration kits in the affected areas of 13 villages with a total population of around 2,500, officials said.

On Tuesday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister undertook an aerial survey of the affected areas, visited the ITBP hospital in Joshimath and met the 12 workers who were rescued from a small tunnel in Tapovan on Sunday evening.

Talking to reporters, Rawat said the priority is to get to those trapped inside the tunnel and save as many lives as possible.

Additional heavy machines could be pressed into service to expedite the process of clearing tonnes of debris inside the tunnel, blocking the path of rescue personnel.

The clearing of slush and debris is a painstaking exercise but the multi-agency group of rescuers have a strong strength at the spot and they are taking turns to dig in deeper with the help of heavy machines and manual efforts.

Personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, NDRF, state disaster response force and the Army have been toiling with heavy earth-moving equipment since Sunday night to clear the tunnel and rescue those trapped.

As the temperature dipped to freezing levels, bonfires were lit at multiple locations to keep the rescuers warm.

The site, replete with slush, silt and debris in the aftermath of the flash flood was on Monday visited by Uttarakhand CM Rawat, Director General of Police Ashok Kumar and other senior officials as they made an on-spot assessment.

The about 1,500-metre tunnel has become the focal point of rescue operations in this disaster that appears to have been triggered after a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier possibly burst through its banks in Chamoli district on Sunday, leading to an avalanche and a deluge that ripped through the Alaknanda river system in the upper reaches of the ecologically fragile Himalayas.

While the ITBP has deployed as many as 300 personnel for conducting rescue operations at this site, a strong strength of the NDRF, SDRF and Army personnel is also present here.

The ITBP and other rescuers are carrying tall wooden planks which are being used by rescuers to wade in through the slush and will later also help create a platform to pull out the trapped people using ropes.

Pandey had earlier said these teams are ready with dragon light sets, oxygen cylinders and stretchers to provide immediate medical help to those trapped inside.

(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.)

[February 09, 2021] Plus Commits to Deploy Ouster's Digital Lidar Sensors to Support Global Deployment of Automated Trucks

Plus, a leading developer of automated truck technology, and Ouster, Inc. ("Ouster"), a leading provider of high-resolution digital lidar sensors for the industrial automation, smart infrastructure, robotics, and automotive industries, today announced the signing of a strategic customer agreement for Ouster to provide its digital lidar sensor to outfit key elements of Plus's automated truck system. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209006027/en/ An Ouster lidar sensor on a Plus truck. (Photo: Business Wire) Plus is the first automated trucking developer to start mass production of its automated driving system, beginning this year. The company is partnered with the largest shippers, carriers, and truck makers, including the world's largest heavy truck manufacturer, FAW, to deploy automated trucks powered by its automated driving system. "Lidar is a critical sensing modality to include in our sensor suite in order to develop the safest automated trucks," said Shawn Kerrigan, COO and co-founder of Plus. "As we start to deploy our automated driving system commercially this year, we need a lidar partner with cutting-edge technology that is high performing, reliable, and of production quality that is immediately available at scale. Ouster delivers on all of those requirements." Per the agreement, Ouster will supply a minimum of 2,000 digital lidar sensors to Plus in an initial rollout, and is prepared to aggressively increase its supply over the next five years, having already migrated the majority of its production volume to contract manufacturer Benchmark Electronics (News - Alert) in Thailand. Additionally, Ouster will provide engineering support to enable Plus's automated driving system deployment across multiple continents. "Plus is rapidly accelerating innovation in automated trucks and we are very excited to be able to meet their rigorous technology, reliability, and immediate volume production requirements to win this contract," said Angus Pacala, Co-Founder and CEO of Ouster. "We are focused on four industries where we believe digital lidar will be a technology lynchpin, and we see a huge opportunity in automated trucks that is driving significant demand for our sensors today and is growing exponentially in the near future." In December, Ouster entered into a definitive merger agreement with Colonnade Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: CLA) ("CLA") in a transaction that would result in Ouster being listed on the NYSE. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions. About Plus Plus is a world leader in self-driving truck technology. Headquartered in Cupertino, CA (News - Alert) , the heart of Silicon Valley, the company was founded in 2016 by a group of serial entrepreneurs and industry veterans, each with over 20 years of experience in high tech and artificial intelligence. Plus specializes in providing full-stack self-driving technology to enable large scale autonomous commercial transport. Plus is currently working with some of the world's largest truck manufacturers, shippers, and top fleet operators to begin mass production of its automated driving system. About Ouster Ouster invented its digital lidar in 2015 and is a leading manufacturer of high-resolution digital lidar sensors used throughout the industrial automation, smart infrastructure, robotics, and automotive industries. Ouster's sensors are reliable, compact, affordable and highly customizable, laying the foundation for digital lidar ubiquity across endless applications and industries. Already hundreds of customers have incorporated Ouster lidar sensors incurrent products or those in development for imminent commercial release. Ouster has previously announced a merger agreement with CLA, a special purpose acquisition company, that would result in Ouster becoming a publicly listed company. For more information, visit www.ouster.com, or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.



Additional Information and Where to Find It This document relates to a proposed business combination (the "Business Combination") between CLA and Ouster. This document does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed Business Combination and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the Business Combination. In connection with the proposed Business Combination, CLA filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC (News - Alert) ") on December 22, 2020, which included a proxy statement/prospectus of CLA. CLA's shareholders, Ouster's stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement and the amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with the proposed Business Combination, as these materials will contain important information about Ouster, CLA and the Business Combination. When available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials for the proposed Business Combination will be mailed to stockholders of Ouster and shareholders of CLA as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed Business Combination. CLA shareholders and Ouster stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the preliminary proxy statement, the definitive proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC, without charge, once available, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to CLA's secretary at 1400 Centrepark Blvd, Suite 810, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, (561) 712-7860.

Participants in the Solicitation CLA and its directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from CLA's shareholders with respect to the proposed Business Combination. A list of the names of those directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in CLA is contained in CLA's proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on December 22, 2020, which is available free of charge at the SEC's website at P. To the extent such holdings of CLA's securities may have changed since that time, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Ouster and its directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of CLA in connection with the proposed Business Combination. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the proposed Business Combination is contained in CLA's proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on December 22, 2020, which is available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Forward-Looking Statements This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the anticipated timing of the Business Combination, the products and services offered by Ouster and the markets in which it operates. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to: (i) the risk that the Business Combination may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, (ii) the risk that the Business Combination may not be completed by CLA's business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by CLA, (iii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Business Combination, including the adoption of the agreement and plan of merger by the shareholders of CLA and Ouster, the satisfaction of the minimum trust account amount following redemptions by CLA's public shareholders and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals, (iv) the lack of a third-party valuation in determining whether or not to pursue the proposed Business Combination, (v) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the agreement and plan of merger, (vi) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the Business Combination on Ouster's business relationships, performance and business generally, (vii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts and other expectations after the completion of the proposed Business Combination and (viii) the risk of downturns in the highly competitive lidar technology and related industries. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of CLA's prospectus dated August 20, 2020 relating to its initial public offering, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, the registration statement on Form S-4 and proxy statement/prospectus discussed above and other documents filed by CLA from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Ouster and CLA assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither Ouster nor CLA gives any assurance that either Ouster or CLA will achieve its expectations. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209006027/en/

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Spain has surpassed another milestone in the coronavirus pandemic this Tuesday (9 February) by exceeding the three million bar of the number of people who have tested positive with the Covid-19 virus.

Only six other countries - with much larger populations - have exceeded the number: the United States (with 27 million infections), India (10.8), Russia (3.9), Brazil (9.5), United Kingdom (3.9) and France (3.3).

The 16,402 cases declared in Spain today - paradoxically, the lowest number of positives since 29 December - brings the total number of infections to 3,005,487 since the start of the pandemic.

The Ministry of Health data has also offered up another record number with 766 deaths in the last 24 hours, the highest number of deaths in the third wave.

However, the incidence rate for the virus has fallen for the thirteenth consecutive day and stands at 630 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, 37 points down on the previous day.
The World Health Organization expressed concern Monday over new reports that vaccines against the coronavirus may not sufficiently protect against new variants.

On Sunday, South Africa suspended its vaccination campaign against COVID-19 after a new study revealed that the AstraZeneca vaccine is less effective against a variant of the virus found in the country.

Speaking at a media briefing a day later, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a media briefing that the decision is "a reminder that we need to do everything we can to reduce circulation of the virus with proven public health measures."

FILE - A clinical trial patient receives a dose of AstraZeneca test vaccine at the University of Witwatersrand facility in Soweto, South Africa, Nov. 30, 2020.

The study, conducted by the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and not yet peer reviewed, concluded that the British vaccine offered only "limited protection against moderate forms of the disease caused by the South African variant, in young adults."

The news was a blow to South Africa, which has seen more than 46,000 people die from the virus. It had planned to begin inoculating its population with a million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the coming days. But the study found that the vaccine was only 22% effective in moderate cases of the South African variant of the disease.

The study did not explore the vaccine's effect against severe cases. The variant has been found in at least 32 other countries, including the United States.

AstraZeneca said Sunday it was developing another vaccine that would be more effective against the South African variant, which could be expected by this autumn.

A man photographs his mother getting a shot of China's Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine for COVID-19 during a priority vaccination program for the elderly at a drive-thru site in the Pacaembu soccer stadium parking lot in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Feb. 8, 2021.

But WHO's chief scientist, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, cautioned Monday that countries should not assume the AstraZeneca vaccine does not work, noting that all available evidence shows that vaccines reduce death, hospitalizations and severe disease.

Millions of Mexicans were frustrated last week with the rollout of the country's website to register people for coronavirus vaccine appointments. The first group designated to use the site to arrange appointments were the country's senior citizens.

One man told Britain's Guardian newspaper that he "spent three days fighting with the website" to get a vaccination appointment for his mother. He told the newspaper his mother "would have been unable to do it without me."

Florida seniors have their temperatures taken before receiving the second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Jackson Health System, in Miami, Feb. 8, 2021.

The shaky launch of the site is disheartening for a country that has the third-highest number of deaths from the coronavirus. Mexico has more than 166,200 COVID-19 deaths. Only Brazil and the U.S. have more, with 231,534 and 463,477 respectively, according to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

The U.S. remains at the top of Johns Hopkins' list as the place with the most COVID-19 infections. The U.S. now has more than 27 million cases, followed by India with 10.8 million and Brazil with 9.5 million.

Head of Iran's Razi Vaccine and Serum research Institute Ali Eshaghi speaks during a press conference after the unveiling ceremony of the locally-made Razi Cov Pars coronavirus vaccine, in the northern Alborz Province, Feb. 8, 2021.

Over the weekend, both Iran and China unveiled new vaccines against the virus. On Sunday, Iran announced it had developed the Razi Cov Pars vaccine manufactured by the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute. Scientists will begin testing the vaccine on people this week.

More than 59 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed across the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday. More than 41 million doses of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines had been administered by Sunday morning, with more than 31.5 million people receiving the first inoculation, according to the CDC. More than 9 million people received their second dose.

VOA's Fern Robinson contributed to this report.


A suspect in the Sunday night murder of a Montgomery was arrested Monday by Florida law enforcement after leading them on a chase into Alabama, authorities said.

Michael Thomas Conway, 29, fled from a Holmes County, Florida sheriffs deputy pursuing him for allegedly driving a car that had been stolen in Bonifay earlier Monday, the sheriffs office said.

Conway avoided a set of spike strips and crossed into Alabama, causing the car to leave the road and overturn. The chase ended near Geneva County Roads 61 and 67, near the Florida border, authorities said.

Montgomery police spokeswoman Capt. Saba Coleman said Conway is a suspect in the Sunday night murder of 24-year-old Pervis Martin Jr., who was shot and killed in the 1200 block of Eastern Boulevard.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Spain, one of Europe's hardest-hit nations, has topped three million since the start of the pandemic, the health ministry said Tuesday.

Spain recorded another 16,402 cases in the last 24 hours, taking its overall figure to 3,005,487. Seroprevalence studies, which test for antibodies using a blood serum sample, suggest the real figure is far higher.

Over the same 24-hour period, Spain also saw another 766 deaths, bringing the overall toll to 63,061 in the nation of some 47 million people.

Spain became the first European country to record a million coronavirus infections on October 21, and reached the two million mark on January 7.

Infections then increased by another million in just over a month.

But in mid-December, a seroprevalence study suggested around 4.7 million people had been infected by the virussome 10 percent of Spain's population.

Spain saw a surge in infections at the start of the year, with health officials blaming an easing of restrictions over the Christmas holidays.

Since then, the incident rate has started to come down as regional governments, which are in charge of health care, have cracked down.

So far, Spain has not seen a major surge in new variants but has imposed a ban on arrivals by air from Britain, Brazil and South Africa which on Tuesday was renewed until March 2.

The fear is these variants could spread more rapidly or contain mutations allowing the virus to bypass vaccines.

On Friday, Spain confirmed its first case of the Brazilian variant. It has so far confirmed several cases of the South African variant and around 480 cases of the variant discovered in Britain in November.

Officials believe the British variant could become the dominant strain in Spain by March.

Spain has so far vaccinated just over two million people since it began its immunisation campaign at the end of December.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government has vowed to have covered 70 percent of Spain's population by the summer's end, a goal reaffirmed by the government despite shortages and delays in vaccine supplies.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
Sen. Danny Carroll's Legislative Update

By Kentucky State Senator Danny Carroll

PADUCAH - Week 3 of the 2021 Regular SessionThe Kentucky General Assembly reconvened in Frankfort this week for the second portion of the 2021 Regular Session, having now completed 11 out of the required 30-days. Legislative business at the Capitol resumed full speed ahead, as both the House and Senate spent the week meeting in committees, voting bills out of the chamber, and overriding vetoes recently cast by the governor.During the recess period, the governor vetoed six priority bills. They included Senate Bills (SB) 1 and 2, and House Bills (HB) 1, 2, 3, and 5. The policy measures disapproved by the governor consist of language to implement a 30-day expiration of executive orders concerning restrictions placed on schools, businesses, and nonprofits - unless extended by the approval of the General Assembly. The same would go for executive orders that regulate political, religious, and social gatherings or impose mandatory isolation or quarantine requirements.All of the gubernatorial vetoes listed above were overridden this week by the legislative majority and have effectively become law. As elected officials representing Kentuckians throughout the Commonwealth, we are eager to be involved in these consequential decisions moving forward.You can find more details on each of these bills in my previous legislative updates or online at www.legislature.ky.gov.It comes as no surprise that the governor has already filed litigation challenging some of the veto overrides. However, I am grateful to say that Senate Bill 9, the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, became enacted law without the governor's signature.While we were in recess, budget conference committees, including members from both the House and Senate, began meeting to deliberate an agreed-upon budget bill. Luckily, the state's Consensus Forecasting Group predicted in December that Kentucky would see a small increase in revenue at roughly $53 million in the next year, with economists expecting the state's budget will not be as hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic as initially thought. These discussions will remain a vital part of the session as these conference committees hammer out details of the state's annual budget plan.The Senate passed several bills to the House this week, including:SB 8Senate priority legislation that provides exemptions to mandatory immunization requirements during an epidemic based on religious grounds or conscientiously held beliefs. If enacted into law, it would require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to develop and make available on its website a standardized form relating to exemptions from immunization requirements.SB 11provides recourse for property owners to pursue legal action for intentional damages done to rental property. The bill would classify the deliberate or wanton destruction, defacement, and damage to residential rental property as criminal mischief. It also strives to provide landlords with notifications on background checks if a prospective applicant has previously been charged with causing substantial and intentional damage to rental property.SB 21allows originating hospitals to voluntarily transport mental health patients to a different hospital or facility upon staff authorization and a patient's signed written agreement. It would prevent an adult or child patient who has voluntarily been transported from being released during the transport to a receiving facility. The bill would also establish that a qualified mutual health professional may provide outpatient counseling to any child who is age 16 or older.SB 38requires the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to implement regulations requiring health facilities to use a smoke evacuation system during any surgical procedure that is likely to produce surgical smoke. It defines "surgical smoke" to mean the by-product resulting from tissue contact by an energy generating device. The bill's primary intent is to protect operating room nurses and other personnel, along with patients, from the hazards of surgical smoke.SB 61establishes training standards for the staff of personal services agencies and home health agencies that serve patients with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. If enacted into law, the bill would improve the care provided to these patients. The hope is that it would also address retention of direct-care staff by better preparing them for job dutiesresulting in less stress and dissatisfaction.Additionally, I was pleased to present a police accountability bill I am sponsoring in the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, Senate Bill 80, which aims to strengthen the police decertification process here in Kentucky.There is still much work to be done, but I will continue to keep you updated and informed in the weeks ahead. Thank you for staying engaged in this year's legislative session. It is a great honor to serve you in Frankfort.If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me Danny.Carroll@LRC.ky.gov. Or, you can review the legislatures work online at www.Legislature.ky.gov.Views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the authors are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies of West Kentucky Star.com, Bristol Broadcasting or any employee thereof. Bristol Broadcasting makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use.

Hungarian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Andras Szabo on Monday, held a meeting with Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister Designate for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, to discuss the growing bilateral relations between the two nations.



The meeting enables the two parties to discuss necessary steps to enhance the bilateral relations and socioeconomic development interventions.



The visit was also to enable the Ambassador to personally hand over a congratulatory birthday letter and a gift sent by Mr Peter Szijjarto, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary to Madam Botchwey.



Mr Szijjarto said since the re-opening of the Hungarian Embassy in Accra in 2016, successful projects in the water, sanitation, health, agriculture and food industry showed the potential and commitment from both countries on the highest levels.



Madam Botchwey said after four successful years, Hungary doubled the quotas towards Ghana for its Governmental Scholarship Programme receiving 100 new students each year on various degrees.



The Reverend Dr. Lawrence Tetteh, an Evangelist Pastor, who also obtained his first degree in Hungary in the 1990's accompanied the Hungarian Ambassdor to have an engagement with the Minister.



He has always been an advocate of efforts to promote the bilateral relations between Ghana and Hungary.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Rilke, the German poet, in one of his letters to his beloved Lou Andreas - Salome said Now I come to you full of future. And from habit we begin to live our past.

This remark, though made in amorous context, aptly describes the preoccupation of our leadership and the tragedy of our country. Saddled with the claims accrued in the past we have deferred thinking about our present and have prorogued the future. Looking back and walking forward, we are fighting tomorrows battle with yesterdays weapons.

The two main issues which are engaging the mind of the nation are related in curious ways, and must be considered as part of an integral whole: they are both throwbacks to our past. It is along these axes that the democratic politics is active today. The clamour to construct Ram Mandir at Ayodhya as well as the more strident assertions for reservation, hew in to the same logic: they seek full reparation today for injustices done to aggrieved groups in historical past.

It is a large, general, and undisputed fact of history that the Muslim invaders demolished countless temples and built mosques on the rubble and showed the contempt of a conqueror towards a subjugated populace in many other ways. Whether Babri Masjid was definitively one such is in a parlous state of confusion. Some groups like VHP and other hardliners demand three temples to indemnify them for the large-scale destruction of temples by Muslims in the past irrespective of historical specificity of their claims. The combined wisdom of Indian judiciary is busy boning up the fine points of historical scholarship on the veracity of the claim that there was a Hindu temple at Ayodhya before Babri mosque was built. To this extent the juridical principle has been recognized that demand for specific reparation must establish the specific nature of grievance.



The forefathers of members of today's scheduled castes and tribes suffered inhuman indignities and denial of opportunities at the hands of the caste Hindus for ages and it is one of the most shameful chapters of our history. Reservation for them today, also called affirmative action, is by way of compensating them for the lost opportunities to their ancestors in the past. And what could be more affirmative and demonstrative than robbing the present-day Peter to pay present day Paul!

Those who came of age in 1950s were discriminated against to advance the claim of their SC/ST compatriots. They philosophized this deprivation as their share of the burden for promoting the newly born Republic. The rights of their children were similarly taken away to accommodate the children of the privileged father who had taken away their fathers right. To this generation philosophizing offered no solace. They recognized their helplessness and let the matter rest there. Now when the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the same groups are similarly being forced by the third and fourth generation of the newly privileged dynasties, they know they are victims of profane majoritarianism, political convenience and the palpable sense of frustration even anger can be seen all over.



Man, mineral and microbes live in different time spans. The constitution provided for a ten year limit to this arrangement which was consistent with the human life span, which is measured neither thousands of years nor in hours and days like mineral and microbes respectively. Many a ten years have gone by and it is now seventy years and looks like going to go on forever and forever. For the proponents of social justice, it is an open-ended programme which seeks reversal to the old iniquitous and unjust system. They now want to cast themselves in the role of the oppressor, because they are rich in votes, the currency of power today. If the reservation is to last for another thousand, even fifty years what is there to keep the many generations of Indians affected by reservation interested in democratic politics? What does equality of opportunity mean, after all you have only one life to live.

Reservation as envisaged only makes entitlement for Peter and disenfranchisement for Paul hereditary. Give it a free run and it will recreate the arrangement in the vilified Manu Smriti. The dalit should not only be uplifted, the Brahmin must be diminished and demonized. (Tilak, Taraju aur Talwar, inko maro jute char. BHURA Baal Saaf Karo, Abki bar bhado mein, gori kalayian kado mein).

Is it any different from the desire of some ill-advised aggressive elements among Hindus, who would like the arrangement reversed, with Hindus at the top and Muslims relegated to secondary status like it was in the days of hegemony of Muslim rulers? Our politics does not aim at uplifting the outcast, it merely wants to put the tag on other groups by shutting out some castes- from opportunities and relegate them to illiteracy and poverty for long will.

Surprisingly, the secular liberal opinion favours a judicial verdict on Ayodhya on the basis of concrete historical evidence but it also supports the strange jurisprudence of indemnifying the living and identifiable beneficiaries for the injustices caused to the anonymous, unidentified ancestors by robbing identifiable progenies of unidentifiable ancestors in the present.

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Pataliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
Lim Ching Hwang. (SCREENSHOT: YouTube)

SINGAPORE  When a Malaysian boy was around 13 years old, he came to study in the Singapore Sports School where his education was subsidised under a scholarship programme.

Lim Ching Hwang, 24, was later granted Singapore permanent residency status under the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme. He was required to enlist for National Service (NS).

When it was time to serve NS, however, Lim pursued his university studies in the USA under a Malaysian scholarship.

Lim was sentenced to eight weeks jail on Tuesday (9 February), after he pleaded guilty to two of three counts under the Enlistment Act for remaining outside Singapore without a valid exit permit for two separate periods totalling nearly three years. The remaining count was taken into consideration for his sentencing.

Addressing the court in person, Lim, who was a swimming athlete, said that he was deeply regretful of his actions and said that he wished to apply for citizenship when his situation settled.

I was too focused on swimming (and) couldnt resist the temptation of a Malaysian scholarship to study at a prestigious university to further (my) career.

He added that he listened to his parents ill-advice to finish his studies before completing his NS obligations. In hindsight, he said he should have nudged them to settle his exit permit issues first.

Lim completed his NS on 2 February this year.

In 2010, Lim came to Singapore and studied at the Singapore Sports School until 2013. His training fees and education were subsidised at $25,000 per year by the Singapore government under the Foreign Sports Scholarship Scheme. He later represented Malaysia in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games for the mens freestyle relay race.

Lims application for permanent residency was supported by the Singapore Swimming Association and his status was granted on 4 March 2014.

Two days later, Lim reached the NS enlistment age of 18. He received a notice to register for NS from 12 May 2014 to 31 May 2014. Around the same period, he was offered a scholarship by a Malaysian entity to pursue his university studies in the USA in September 2014.

Story continues

On 29 May 2014, Lim registered for NS and applied for deferment and he was granted a deferment until May 2017 to pursue diploma studies at Republic Polytechnic.

He left his studies at the polytechnic midway and left Singapore on 17 July 2014. In the same month, he tried to apply for deferment from NS to pursue his university studies, but his application was rejected by the Ministry of Defence.

His family became unhappy with requirement of having to place a bond for an exit permit.

Lims family continued to apply to defer his NS enlistment and did not provide any bond. He was informed that he had to book a date for his medical screening prior to enlisting.

In February 2015, Lims father told the authorities that Lim had already begun his university studies in the USA and that his son would be renouncing his Singapore permanent residency status as his deferment from NS was not granted.

Lim returned to Singapore on 2 June 2015 and underwent his medical screening. He did so as he was worried that he would not be able to enter Singapore for the 2015 Southeast Asian Games due to his Enlistment Act offences.

On 7 July 2015, Lim left for the USA and continued unsuccessfully to apply for NS deferment. He gave excuses for not enlisting for NS, claiming that he wanted to renounce his permanent residency status as he was unhappy that his deferment was not granted. He failed to report for enlistment on 11 November 2015.

Lim only returned to Singapore on 11 June 2018 after he finished his studies.

He said that he wanted to resolve his NS offences because he intended to swim competitively in Singapore and pursue a career in Singapore in the future, Deputy Public Prosecutor R Arvindren told the court.

In mitigation, Lim, who was represented by lawyer Kalaithasan Karuppaya, said that he experienced mental stress and was glad that he was able to complete his NS without creating any problems.

He added that he wanted to tell all boys that it was beneficial to serve NS before finishing university as NS exposes young men to leadership skills that a university could not teach.

I strongly encourage young men to look forward to NS and to serve it diligently as (it is related to) Singapores security, he added.

He told the court that he had a girlfriend and friends in Singapore, and a promising job lined up while awaiting for his court case to conclude.

In response, DPP Arvindren said that Lims culpability lay in his unfair advantage over his law-abiding peers as he was able to pursue his own aspirations.

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ROME, FEB 9 - The health director at Italy's premier infectious disease hub, Rome's Spallanzani Hospital, on Tuesday urged Italian health authorities to approve the use of Russia's Sputnik vaccine in Italy. "The COVID-19 variants do not scare me, and Sputnik should be approved," Francesco Vaia told Rome daily Il Messaggero. "There is a war on and we will root out the virus," he added. Vaia noted that the Sputnik jab had a stated efficacy of 90% and said "I hope the European and Italian authorities, EMA and AIFA, authorise it as soon as possible". The Sputnik vaccine, the first to be developed against the COVID-19 virus, is being used by several countries around the world. (ANSA).

Saudi Arabia has commuted the death sentences of three Shiite men arrested nearly a decade ago for taking part in anti-government protesters when they were teenagers.

Ali al-Nimr, Abdullah al-Zaher and Dawood al-Marhoon had their sentences reduced to 10 years in prison, according to the state-backed Saudi Arabian Human Rights Commission. They are scheduled to be released in 2022.

The three men were arrested in 2012 on terrorism-related charges after participating in anti-government protests in Saudi Arabias Eastern Province. Al-Nimr was 17, Al-Marhoun was 17 and al-Zaher was 15.

The Specialized Criminal Court, which handles terrorism cases in Saudi Arabia, sentenced the three men to death in 2014 in what rights groups said were highly flawed trials that relied on torture-induced confessions.

The commission said their new sentences were in line with a royal decree that retroactively applies the Juvenile Law to all individuals sentenced to the death penalty for crimes committed while they were minors.

In April King Salman ordered the resentencing of prisoners on death row for crimes committed before they were 18 and set the maximum penalty at 10 years in a juvenile detention center. The next month, Riyadh announced it was ending the use of flogging as a punishment for certain crimes.

This must serve as a clear turning point for Saudi Arabia, said Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty Internationals Middle East research director.

The authorities must ensure this marks a definitive end to the practice of sentencing juvenile offenders to death regardless of the nature of the crime, and must build on these reforms by taking steps towards abolishing the death penalty completely for all crimes, Maalouf said.

The conservative Muslim kingdom had long been a world leader in capital punishment. After carrying out a record 185 executions in 2019, Saudi Arabia executed 27 people in 2020, according to government figures.

The Saudi governments mass executions and human rights record were thrust into the spotlight after the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. A Saudi court originally ordered the execution of five people convicted of Khashoggis murder, but after the journalist's son said he forgave his father's killers, the court reduced their sentences to 20 years in prison.
In this screen shot from a YouTube video posted by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri speaks during a news conference as Oldsmar, Fla., Mayor Eric Seidel, left, listens, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, in Oldsmar, Fla. Authorities say a hacker gained access to Oldsmar's water treatment plant in an unsuccessful attempt to taint the water supply with a caustic chemical. (Pinellas County Sheriff's Office via AP)

A hacker's botched attempt to poison the water supply of a small Florida city is raising alarms about just how vulnerable the nation's water systems may be to attacks by more sophisticated intruders. Treatment plants are typically cash-strapped, and lack the cybersecurity depth of the power grid and nuclear plants.

A local sheriff's startling announcement Monday that the water supply of Oldsmar, population 15,000, was briefly in jeopardy last week exhibited uncharacteristic transparency. Suspicious incidents are rarely reported, and usually chalked up to mechanical or procedural errors, experts say. No federal reporting requirement exists, and state and local rules vary widely.

"In the industry, we were all expecting this to happen. We have known for a long time that municipal water utilities are extremely underfunded and under-resourced, and that makes them a soft target for cyber attacks," said Lesley Carhart, principal incident responder at Dragos Security, which specializes in industrial control systems.

"I deal with a lot of municipal water utilities for small, medium and large-sized cities. And in a lot of cases, all of them have a very small IT staff. Some of them have no dedicated security staff at all," she said.

The nation's 151,000 public water systems lack the financial fortification of the corporate owners of nuclear power plants and electrical utilities. They are a heterogenous patchwork, less uniform in technology and security measures than in other rich countries.

As the computer networks of vital infrastructure become easier to reach via the internetand with remote access multiplying dizzily during the COVID-19 pandemicsecurity measures often get sacrificed.

"It's a hard problem, but one that we need to start addressing," said Joe Slowik, senior security researcher at DomainTools. He said the hack illustrates "a systemic weakness in this sector."

Cybersecurity experts said the attack at the plant 15 miles northwest of Tampa seemed ham-handed, it was so blatant: Whoever breached Oldsmar's plant on Friday using a remote access program shared by plant workers briefly increased the amount of lyesodium hydroxideby a factor of 100, according to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. Lye is used to lower acidity, but in high concentrations it is highly caustic and can burn. It's found in drain cleaning products.

The intruder's timing and visibility seemed almost comical to cybersecurity experts. A supervisor monitoring a plant console about 1:30 p.m. saw a cursor move across the screen and change settings, Gualtieri said, and was able to immediately reverse it. The intruder was in and out in five minutes.

The public was never in peril, though the intruder took "the sodium hydroxide up to dangerous levels," the sheriff said. Also, plant safeguards would have detected the chemical alteration in the 24-36 hours it would have taken to affect the water supply, he said.

Gualtieri said Tuesday that water goes to holding tanks before reaching customers, and "it would have been caught by a secondary chemical check." He did not know if the hacker was domestic or foreignand said no one related to a plant employee was suspected. He said the FBI and Secret Service were assisting in the investigation. How the hacker got in remains unclear, he said, though it was possible the hacker was able to create administrator credentials.

Jake Williams, CEO of the cybersecurity firm Rendition Infosec, said engineers have been creating safeguards "since before remote control via cyber was a thing," making it highly unlikely the breach could have led to "a cascade of failures" tainting Oldsmar's water.

There's been an uptick in hacking attempts of water treatment plants in the past year, the cybersecurity firm FireEye said, but most were by novices, many stumbling on systems while using a kind of search engine for industrial control systems called Shodan.

The serious threat is from nation-state hackers like the Russian agents blamed for the months-long SolarWinds campaign that has plagued U.S. agencies and the private sector for at least eight months and was discovered in December. While U.S. officials have called SolarWinds a grave threat, they also call it cyberespionage, rather than an attempt to do damage.

Laying boobytraps that could be triggered in an armed conflict is another matter. Russian hackers are known to have infiltrated U.S. industrial control systems, including the power grid, and Iranian agents are blamed for the breach of a suburban New York dam in 2013. But there is no indication any "logic bombs" have been activated, as Russia did in Ukraine when military hackers briefly brought down parts of the electrical grid in the winters of 2015 and 2016.

A 2020 paper in the Journal of Environmental Engineering found that water utilities have been hacked by a variety of actors, including amateurs just poking around, disgruntled former employees, cybercriminals looking to profit and state-sponsored hackers. Although such incidents have been relatively few that does not mean the risk is low and that most water systems are secure. This is because so-called "air gaps" between internet-connected networks and the systems that directly manage pumps and other plant components are becoming less common.

"The reality is that many cybersecurity incidents either go undetected, and consequently unreported or are not disclosed because doing so may jeopardize the victims reputation, customers trust, and, consequently, revenues," the paper says.

After Friday's incident, Oldsmar officials disabled the remote-access system and warned other city leaders in the regionwhich was hosting the Super Bowlto check their systems.

In May, Israel's cyber chief s aid the country had thwarted a major cyber attack the previous month against its water systems, an assault widely attributed to Iran. Had Israel not detected the attack in real time, he said chlorine or other chemicals could have entered the water, leading to a "disastrous" outcome.

The Biden administration has already signaled its intention of beefing up cybersecurity, a sector its predecessor was roundly accused of not taking seriously enough.

So far this year, the Department of Homeland Security has issued 25 advisories listing various industrial control systems that could be vulnerable to hacking. Affected products range from 3-D rendering software to security cameras to insulin pumps.

Chris Sistrunk, a technical manager at FireEye's Mandiant division, said cybersecurity issues are relatively new for U.S. water utilities, whose biggest problems are pipes freezing and busting in winter or getting clogged with disposable wipes. The Oldsmar hack highlights the need for more training and basic security protocols, but not drastic measures like sweeping new regulations.

"We have to do something, we can't do nothing. But we can't overreact," he said.

Explore further Warning issued on industrial plants as 'Triton' hack resurfaces

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Viva Energys plant in Geelong and Ampols site at Lytton in Queensland are the two refineries that remain open. The decision has sparked warnings about fuel security in Australia, with the Altona plant producing half of Victorias refined fuel needs. Mr Tomlinson was unsure what job he could transition to given the dwindling number of refineries. Crane operator Gavin Carney speaks after the announcement that the Altona fuel refinery will close. Credit:Jason South This is all Ive ever done  36 years Ive been in this industry, oil and gas, he said. Its all Ive ever known. Theres not many places left. The number of refineries operating in Australia will have halved since last years federal budget unveiled a $2.3 billion support program amid concern about the nations fuel security. That budget scheme was accelerated in December, with funding brought forward by six months.

Loading At the time, Energy Minister Angus Taylor said the strategy would create 1000 jobs. Crane operator Gavin Carney, 51, said he believed more could have been done to keep the essential industry alive. You just sort of wonder what the future is for heavy industry like this, things have been shutting down, closing down. You wonder what the future holds, he said. Theres just no need for us anymore, pretty much.

United Workers Union national secretary Tim Kennedy said there were 260 workers employed at the site and many specialised contractors who depended on it. It is a key piece of Melbournes and Victorias and Australias advanced manufacturing structure, he said. The ExxonMobil refinery in Altona. Credit:Jessica Shapiro Mr Kennedy said major manufacturers such as plastics producer Qenos relied on the Altona refinery and would now likely have to source material from China, which was less reliable. In a statement, ExxonMobil the refinery was no longer economically viable and would be converted to an import terminal following a review.

ExxonMobil Australia chairman Nathan Fay said we are grateful for the tremendous efforts by our employees to improve the viability of the operation. We extend our thanks to the federal government for the significant support offered to Altona and other refineries. Our decision to convert our facility to a terminal is not a reflection of those efforts. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The Energy Minister said on Wednesday, the decision to close the refinery was extremely disappointing. ExxonMobil has made clear that the impacts of COVID-19, declining crude production and other commercial factors have significantly impacted their earnings, leading to todays decision, he said.

Mr Taylor said the closure would not affect Australian fuel stockpiles and that the government was supporting the sector through JobKeeper to maintain operations and protect jobs. He said the government support package would boost onshore diesel stocks and protect motorists and industry from future higher fuel prices. The government will continue to work with the sector to support Australias refining capability and fuel security, which will support our farmers, miners and truckies into the future, he said. Mr Kennedy said the support could not make up for the lack of plans for energy and for advanced manufacturing and the fact that BP and ExxonMobil had both decided not to take it up showed it was insufficient.

Loading Its lazy thinking and reckless with taxpayer money, it is kicking the can down the road, he said. Mr Kennedy said it was likely the plant would close in about October as ExxonMobil looked to quickly focus its attention elsewhere in its global operations. Some workers might secure redeployment into ExxonMobils upstream oil operations, but the future for those businesses, including in Bass Strait, was not bright either, he said. This company has made it quite clear it doesnt see a future in Australia, he said. The oil component will run down to dry in Bass Strait in five years.

Construction of the Altona refinery began in 1946 and it commenced operation in 1949. ExxonMobil had not publicly stated whether it would seek support from the government to keep the plant open. ExxonMobils Altona refinery in Victoria looks slated for closure with the loss of up to 350 jobs. Credit:Luis Ascui Mr Kennedy said he believed Lytton was also likely to close, but declined to comment on the prospects for the Viva plant in Geelong. A Commonwealth parliamentary library report published in December noted local refineries were relatively small and old and have to compete against larger and more efficient refineries in the Asian region.

The report also noted there were concerns in some quarters that the loss of refining capability could leave Australia vulnerable to supply disruptions. Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles said it was a tragic day for the refinery workers and Australian industry as a whole. Workers at the Altona refinery on Wednesday Credit:Jason South This is an absolute crisis, he said. This is a government that does not have a plan for manufacturing in this country. Local federal Labor MP Tim Watts said the news was a "jobs disaster" and questioned whether local chemical businesses that relied on the refinery would now be under a cloud.
Karl Stefanovic and his wife Jasmine Yarbrough couldn't keep their hands - or lips - off each other on Sunday.

The Today show host, 46, and the shoe designer, 36, shared a passionate kiss after reuniting at Sydney Airport.

The couple were spotted embracing one another and shared a smooch after Jasmine arrived back home.

Get a room! Today show host Karl Stefanovic and his wife Jasmine Yarbrough packed on the PDA and shared a passionate kiss as they reunited at Sydney Airport on Sunday

Together again: The couple were spotted embracing one another and shared a smooch after Jasmine exited the airport

Jasmine wrapped her arms around her man and pulled him in close as he picked her up.

The blonde beauty looked stylish in black pants, a white shirt and checkered blazer.

She completed her ensemble with a pair of white sandals and carried a Louis Vuitton bag, which retails for $2,240.

Jasmine tied her blonde locks in as high bun and wore a neutral palette of makeup for the flight.

Passionate kiss: Jasmine wrapped her arms around her man and pulled him in close as he picked her up

Reunited: Karl and Jasmine couldn't keep their hands - or lips - off each other

Meanwhile, Karl wore comfortable printed shorts and a black T-shirt as he embraced his wife.

He accessorised the outfit with a pair of black shoes, several bracelets and also wore a hat.

After sharing a passionate kiss with her husband, Jasmine couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she reunited with her daughter Harper May.

Stylish: The blonde beauty looked stylish in black pants, a white shirt and checkered blazer

Accessories: She completed her ensemble with a pair of white sandals and carried a Louis Vuitton bag, which retails for $2,240

Beauty: Jasmine tied her blonde locks in as high bun and wore a neutral palette of makeup. She was all smiles as she also reunited with her daughter Harper May

Karl and Jasmine welcomed their daughter Harper on May 1. She was born at North Shore Private Hospital in Sydney.

In a statement to Nine's Today show at the time, Karl said: 'Harper and Jasmine are doing well and dad had a great night's sleep.'

He added: 'I am in awe. Harper is absolutely perfect.'

Comfort: Meanwhile, Karl wore comfortable printed shorts and a black T-shirt

Final touches: He accessorised the outfit with a pair of black shoes, several bracelets and also wore a hat as he stopped at a petrol station on his way back home

Karl met Jasmine in late 2016, five months after he separated from his first wife, former TV producer Cassandra Thorburn.

The couple wed in a lavish ceremony at the One&Only Palmilla resort in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, in December 2018.

In addition to baby Harper, Karl has three children from his marriage to Cassandra: sons Jackson and River, and daughter Ava Willow.

Family: Karl and Jasmine welcomed their daughter Harper on May 1. She was born at North Shore Private Hospital in Sydney
A pilot was safe Monday evening after he landed a small plane on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Lebanon County.

Mark Sites, who described himself as a first responder with the Pa. Turnpike, said the plane was experiencing engine failure and needed to make an emergency landing.

Emergency crews were still working to remove a small plane from the westbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike around 9 p.m. Monday. There were no injuries, officials said.

The plane landed at mile marker 258, between Lebanon-Lancaster Exit 266 and Harrisburg East Exit 247 in South Londonderry Township, around 6:30 p.m.

Turnpike Commission spokesman Carl DeFebo told WGAL TV-8 described the aircraft as a propeller plane.

Sites said after landing, the plane was hit by a tractor-trailer that pushed it into a snowbank, then was hit in the back by another tractor-trailer.

Despite all of that, there were no injuries reported in the crash.

He was very lucky, Sites said.

Sites, who did not know why the pilot chose to land on the turnpike, speculated that he might have been looking for the closest thing to a runway.

In the immediate aftermath, the right westbound lanes were closed, but just before 9 oclock, the entire emergency response was moved to an emergency pull-off area.

Sites said the wings will need to be taken off the plane to get it through the interchange. Once they do that, the plane will be hauled away.

Earlier:
A World Health Organization investigation in China found that the coronavirus most likely jumped to humans through an animal host or frozen wildlife products, finding that it's "extremely unlikely" it came from a laboratory leak.

No further research is needed to look into the theory about a leak, Peter Ben Embarek, a WHO official, told reporters Tuesday at a joint briefing with China in Wuhan, the city where covid-19 first mushroomed at the end of 2019. That speculation has been promulgated by former U.S. President Donald Trump and some others.

The virus could have been introduced to the Huanan wet market in Wuhan, which many of the first covid patients were linked to, by a person who was infected or by a product that was sold there, Ben Embarek said.

"Among the more interesting products were frozen wildlife animals," he said. "Some of these species are known to be susceptible to these kinds of viruses."

The highly anticipated mission followed months of negotiation with a defensive China to facilitate and cooperate with the probe. Stung by criticism that it initially covered up the extent of the crisis, Chinese state media and officials have promoted the theory that the virus didn't start in China, but was brought in. The WHO's validation of a potential cold-chain transmission route is likely to bolster those efforts.

The team also examined tens of thousands of patient samples from Wuhan prior to the emergence of sick people in 2019. There was no evidence of significant outbreaks in the country before December 2019, WHO officials said.

"We embarked on a very detailed and profound search for other cases that may have been missed early on in 2019," said Embarek. "The conclusion was we did not find evidence of large outbreaks that could be related to cases of covid-19 prior to December 2019 in Wuhan or elsewhere."

The panel, comprising 17 Chinese and 17 international experts, looked for clues to understand how SARS-CoV-2 -- whose closest known relative came from bats 1,000 miles away -- spread explosively in Wuhan before causing the worst contagion in more than a century. Finding the source will inform efforts to stop the virus, and other pathogens with pandemic potential, spilling over into human populations.

Worldwide, covid-19 has caused more than 106 million infections and 2.3 million deaths.

Mission delegates worked in three groups that focused on the epidemiology or spread of the disease, the potential involvement of animals and the environment, and the molecular evolution of the virus.

Researchers found a coronavirus related to SARS-CoV-2 in bats at a wildlife sanctuary in Thailand, according to a study released Tuesday in the Nature Communications journal, another indication of how widespread such viruses are. While highly similar to the coronavirus that causes covid-19, the Thai version doesn't appear adapted to spread in humans by the same mechanism, researchers from Thailand and Singapore said in the report.

Scientists still don't understand if the virus can spread to humans after persisting in frozen conditions, and how that would occur, according to Ben Embarek. More work is needed to study that possible path and trace the source of animal products, he said.

"It's interesting to explore if a frozen wild animal that was infected could be a potential vehicle for the introduction of the virus into market environments where we know the temperature, humidity, environment could be conducive to rapid spread of the virus," he said.

The lack of a clear pathway from bats to humans had stoked speculation -- refuted by many scientists -- that the virus might have escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, home to a maximum bio-containment laboratory that studies bat-borne coronaviruses.

Members of the WHO mission visited the lab last week and asked Shi Zhengli, who has collected and analyzed these viruses for more than a decade, about the research and the earliest known coronavirus cases.

Rep. Richard Heath's Legislative Update

By Rep. Richard Heath

MAYFIELD -I joined legislators from throughout the Commonwealth in Frankfort this week as we reconvened for the second portion of the 2021 session. On the first day back at the Capitol after the recess, the House of Representatives and the Senate voted to override six vetoes issued by Governor Beshear. Ordinarily, all six bills would become effective once the Secretary of State signs them because they include emergency clauses. However, the Governor filed a lawsuit challenging three of these bills within minutes of our overrides, so their fate remains in the hands of a Franklin County Circuit Judge.Legislators wasted no time passing legislation in committee meetings as we put into law the policies vetted throughout 2020. I want to share some insight on the legislative movements we saw this week during committee meetings and on the House Floor.Agriculture: As chair of this committee, I presented and members voted to send SB 3 to the full House for consideration. The bill moves the Agricultural Development Board and the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation from the Governor's Office to the Department of Agriculture. This fund's proper placement is with the Department of Agriculture because they have the knowledge and a better feel for what agriculture needs. The full House approved an amended version of the bill before we left Frankfort on Thursday, so now it returns to the Senate for its consideration.Small Business and Information Technology: Members discussed HB 190, which would exempt food service establishments from any state or local laws and administrative regulations that prohibit the sale of grocery items such as bread, milk, and other grocery staples to customers. This issue was temporarily addressed with the passage of SB 150 during the 2020 session at the beginning of COVID-19. Many in the restaurant industry are utilizing innovative tactics to survive the pandemic, including allowing customers to purchase produce, meat, and other essential pantry items during these unforeseen times. It just makes sense to make this change permanent.State Government: Representatives heard testimony about three retirement-related bills. HB 258, which also passed the full House on Thursday by a vote of 67-28, would change the retirement benefit option available to new hires as of 2022. It creates a hybrid plan that includes a traditionally defined benefit plan, called the foundational benefit, a smaller savings account, the supplemental benefit, and a stabilization fund. After a great deal of careful consideration, I voted for this bill because I know how much is at stake. I appreciate the work that the bills sponsor and other legislators did in crafting it. Over the summer and fall, they met with various education stakeholders, including the KEA, KSBA, JCTA, and TRS, to discuss funding issues facing TRS and the Commonwealth. Those discussions resulted in HB 258. Some may say the plan is unnecessary, but TRS costs to the Commonwealth have grown to more than $1 billion. They are expected to reach $2.5 billion by 2040. This hybrid plan for new hires helps stabilize costs in the future while allowing them to have a reliable income replacement at retirement. I also want to point out that this measure has been endorsed by the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents, the Kentucky Association of School Administration, public universities, and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. It is also important to note that not a single education organization opposed it when we voted.As you can see, its been a busy week, but it is in these moments I am reminded of what a privilege it is to serve this district. I hope you will not hesitate to reach out to me to share your thoughts on the issues coming before us in Frankfort. I can be reached during the week from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (EST) through the toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via e-mail at Richard.Heath@lrc.ky.gov.
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The United Arab Emirates' "Hope" probe on Monday successfully entered Mars' orbit, making history as the Arab world's first interplanetary mission.

The probe is designed to reveal the secrets of Martian weather, but the UAE also wants it to serve as an inspiration for the region's youth.

"To the people of the UAE, to the Arab and Muslim nations, we announce the succesful arrival to Mars' orbit. Praise be to God," said Omran Sharaf, the mission's project manager.

Officials at mission control broke into applause, visibly relieved after a tense half-hour as the probe carried out a "burn" to slow itself enough to be pulled in by Martian gravity, in what was the most perilous stage of the journey.

Hope is the first of three spacecraft to arrive at the Red Planet this month after China and the US also launched missions in July, taking advantage of a period when the Earth and Mars are nearest.

The UAE's venture is also timed to mark the 50th anniversary of the unification of the nation's seven emirates.

"What you have accomplished is an honour for you, and an honour for the nation. I want to congratulate you," said Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed after entering the control room.

The probe, named "Al-Amal", Arabic for "Hope" rotated and fired all six of its powerful thrusters to dramatically slow its average cruising speed of 121,000 kilometres (75,000 miles) per hour to about 18,000 kph.

As the clock ticked down, Dubai's needle-shaped Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower, lit up in red with blue laser lights, and erupted into a light and fountain show with news of the success.

Landmarks across the Gulf state have been illuminated in red at night and government accounts and police patrol cars emblazoned with the #ArabstoMars hashtag.

The UAE this week also projected onto the Dubai night sky images of Mars' two moons -- Phobos and Deimos -- to allow residents "to see what the probe sees".

- 'Bigger objective' -

While the probe is designed to provide a comprehensive image of the planet's weather dynamics, it is also a step towards a much more ambitious goal -- building a human settlement on Mars within 100 years.

And apart from cementing its status as a key regional player, the UAE also wants to engage youth in a region too often wracked by sectarian conflicts and economic crises.

"This project means a lot for the nation, for the whole region, and for the global scientific and space community," Sharaf told AFP before the launch.

"It's not about reaching Mars; it's a tool for a much bigger objective. The government wanted to see a big shift in the mindset of Emirati youth... to expedite the creation of an advanced science and technology sector in the UAE."

The wealthy Gulf state now becomes the fifth space entity to reach Mars, with the China mission due to become the sixth on Wednesday.

Only the US, India, the former Soviet Union and the European Space Agency have successfully reached the Red Planet in the past.

"As a young nation, it is a particular point of pride that we are now in a position to make a tangible contribution to humanity's understanding of Mars," said Sarah al-Amiri, the 34-year-old UAE minister who is one of the drivers behind the project.

"Hope" will orbit the Red planet for at least one Martian year, or 687 days, using three scientific instruments to monitor the Martian atmosphere.

It is expected to begin transmitting information back to Earth in September 2021, with the data available for scientists around the world to study.

Unlike the other two Mars ventures, China's Tianwen-1 and the Mars 2020 Perseverance from the United States, the UAE's probe will not land on the Red Planet.

"Dear @HopeMarsMission, congratulations on arriving at Mars!" NASA's Perseverance Twitter account said, citing the words of the great 10th century poet Al Mutanabbi.

"If you ventured in pursuit of glory, don't be satisfied with less than the stars."

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Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do
Twelve communities in Upper River, Central River and Lower River Regions are benefitting from a training on enhance inclusive participation in grassroots governance.

The training which began on Thursday is undergoing in four venues in each of the regions.

The National Council for Civic Education (NCCE), Gambia's premier civic education institution, on Thursday commenced the training of decentralized community structures on civic education and inclusive participation in decision-making processes in the regions.

The twelve-day training is supported by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) through the United Nations Peace Building Fund (UNPBF).

Delivery his opening statement in Basse, Mr Yusupha Bojang, the Programme Manager of NCCE, said the training targets about 480 participants from Multi-Disciplinary Facilitation Teams (MDFTs), VDCs, WDCs and Mothers' Clubs.

According to him, the campaign is meant to promote civic education to increase inclusiveness and participation in decision-making in grassroots governance.

Bojang said the targeted participants represent the critical mass in the grassroots and therefore have a staggering potential "in influencing the thinking and actions of your people."

He reiterated his institution's commitment to intensify civic education campaigns as the country braces itself for a crucial presidential election that will be a pivotal moment to consolidate and cement the democratic trajectory of the Gambia.

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Bojang used the opportunity to call on citizens, particularly young people to respect the laws of the land and desist from the abuse of social media. He also urged the youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians as pawns in the political chess game.

Speaking on behalf of the Governor of URR, Alhaji Jatta commended the timing of the training and encouraged NCCE to further increase their efforts towards rigorous citizenship education across the country.

He urged the NCCE to broaden its partnership with community structures and other stakeholders working in the field of civic education, so as to educate as many people as possible on their rights and duties.

Mr Foday Danjo, Chairman Basse Area Council, praised NCCE for upholding its constitutional mandate of educating Gambians on their rights and duties. Danjo called on the Government and other partners to support NCCE in any way that will increase its full effectiveness and presence throughout the country.

For Lady Councilor Jonfolo Jarju of Basse, the training is tailor-made to make them aware of their duties and responsibilities, so that they can function properly in the development of their communities.

Councilor Jarju said women have long been left behind in development, including education and others.
One of the perks of press interviews going virtual thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic is conducting pantsless interviews, according to Tom Holland.

The 24-year-old actor shared a new snap on his Instagram story on Monday, featuring a behind-the-scenes look at his 'virtual interview' setup.

While the Spider-Man: Far From Home star appeared to be wearing a full suit for the interview, he decided to go pantsless.

Pantsless: One of the perks of press interviews going virtual thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic is conducting pantsless interviews, according to Tom Holland

'Virtual press be like... It's fashion,' he said in the caption of his snap, which showed him wearing a black suit coat and a white dress shirt unbuttoned at the collar.

He was also seen with a pair of wireless headphones (possibly Apple AirPods) with a Ring lighting rig off to the side.

While Holland didn't mention what he was promoting in the interview, it's likely his new film Cherry, which debuts in theaters February 26 before arriving exclusively on Apple TV Plus on March 12.

New movie: While Holland didn't mention what he was promoting in the interview, it's likely his new film Cherry, which debuts in theaters February 26 before arriving exclusively on Apple TV Plus on March 12

Cherry follows Holland's title character, a former Army medic suffering from PTSD who turns to robbing banks to pay for his drug addiction.

Holland stars alongside Ciara Bravo, Jack Reynor, Michael Rispoli, Jeff Wahlberg (Mark and Donnie Wahlberg's nephew) and Michael Gandolfini (the late James Gandolfini's son).

Holland reunites with Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo.

Army medic: Cherry follows Holland's title character, a former Army medic suffering from PTSD who turns to robbing banks to pay for his drug addiction

The Russo brothers direct from a script by their sister, Angela Russo-Otstot and Jessica Golberg, based on the novel by Nico Walker.

This is the first film the Russo's have directed outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2006's You, Me and Dupree.

While it's unclear if the Russo's will return to the MCU anytime soon, Holland will be returning as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

Spider-Man: While it's unclear if the Russo's will return to the MCU anytime soon, Holland will be returning as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man

Holland is currently filming the currently-untitled third Spider-Man movie, following 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming and 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home.

There have been rumors that original Spider-Man trilogy star Tobey Maguire will return alongside The Amazing Spider-Man star Andrew Garfield, which Holland recently addressed in an interview with Variety.

'Beats me, I don't know. If they are, they never told me yet,' the 24-year-old Englishman told Variety's awards editor Clayton Davis.

Filming: Holland is currently filming the currently-untitled third Spider-Man movie, following 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming and 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home

by Shafique Khokhar

Educators, activists and experts met yesterday to discuss the government's national education plan for 2021. One goal is to correct past mistakes that have led to discrimination and abuse. In order to achieve full educational development, the role of Christian schools should be recognised. The decision to teach Arabic should be reviewed.

Islamabad (AsiaNews)  A meeting sponsored by the Centre for Social Justice was held yesterday in Islamabad, bringing together activists, experts, educators and Christian leaders. This followed a call by the Pakistani government for suggestions and recommendations from stakeholders and ordinary citizens concerning its education policy for 2021.

Participants stressed the need to recognise the role of Christian schools in the educational development of Pakistan, remove all hate speech and discrimination from textbooks, and review the decision to enhance the study of Arabic.

Some of the leading activists and educators who took part in yesterdays meeting in the Pakistani capital have advocated for years the development of education as the only way to avoid the Talibanisation of the country.

Yaqoob Bangash, A H Nayyar, Zeeba Hashmi, Anjum James Paul, Peter Jacob, Afshan Human, Abraham Murad and Anjum James Paul brought their expertise and experience to the discussion, stressing how education is the way to guarantee dignity and social development for all human beings.

The meeting focused on the analysis of six past government educational plans and the corrections needed to ensure pluralism, equal dignity and rights.

There was no lack of criticism against some unreasonable experiments of recent years, like the nationalisation of schools in 1972 and the policies that damaged the quality and level of education of students, combined with the lack of adequate resources and funding.

For the experts, this is one of the reasons Pakistan ranks low in terms of literacy, educational standards and quality of teaching.

Participants reiterated their commitment to education in Pakistan, and called on the government to consider five points when formulating its national education policy for 2021.

First of all, the policy should recognise the role of Christian schools in the history and development of Pakistan.

Secondly, it should fully apply the decentralisation plan approved in 1980 but not yet fully implemented, which mainly concerns the Province of Punjab and Catholic or Church-run educational establishments.

To this end, it should ensure adequate funding for Catholic schools, which are mostly non-profit organisations unable to obtain the necessary resources only through tuition and school fees.

The government should also remove material that promotes hatred and intolerance on the basis of gender, religion, language or ethnicity, ensuring that there is no preference for any one group.

Finally, the authorities should review the decision to enhance Arabic teaching by consulting with experts, linguists and teachers on its feasibility.
The New York Times

Einsteinium is an element with a famous name that almost no one has heard of. With 99 protons and 99 electrons, it sits in obscurity near the bottom of the periodic table of chemical elements, between californium and fermium. It first showed up in the explosive debris of the first hydrogen bomb in 1952, and the team of scientists who discovered it gave it a name to honor Albert Einstein. Even today, scientists know little about it. Einsteinium is highly radioactive. Because there are no stable versions that do not fall apart within a few years, it is not found in nature. It can be produced in a few specialized nuclear reactors, but only in minute amounts.

Writing in the journal Nature, researchers led by Rebecca J Abergel, who leads the heavy element chemistry group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, reported Wednesday that they have now worked out some basic chemical properties of einsteinium. It was not easy. Indeed, Abergel described her paper as the culmination of a long series of unfortunate events.

David L Clark, a scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory who was not involved with the research, said the end result was a tour de force and part of a renaissance in the study of these heavy elements, which have very different properties than lighter, more common elements and could be used in novel nuclear reactors or cancer therapies.

This kind of work hasnt been done before, Clark said. Its state of the art.

It took a while to get started.

A few years ago, Abergel missed out on a chance to obtain some einsteinium that was produced at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee  a federal research center that was central to the production of the uranium used in the first atomic bombs  because she had not raised money for research in time. She was ready for the next einsteinium production campaign in 2019.

After she and her colleagues designed the experiments and safety procedures for handling the radioactive element, Oak Ridge told them that there would not be any einsteinium after all. But about a week later, Oak Ridge then said it could provide some einsteinium. All of a sudden, its like, Oh, its coming, Abergel recalled. But you only get one-third of what you thought.

That smaller amount was less than 250 nanograms, or 250 billionths of a gram  less than 0.00000001 of an ounce.

Worse, the sample that the Berkeley researchers received was heavily contaminated with einsteiniums periodic table neighbor, californium. That thwarted their initial plans, to stack the einsteinium atoms into a crystal and then illuminate the elements chemical properties by bombarding it with X-rays before examining the pattern of rays bouncing off.

Instead, they turned to a large molecular structure that essentially worked as a claw to hold an atom of einsteinium, bonding it in eight places. But to study this structure, they needed to use a different research center, at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory on the other side of San Francisco Bay. During one of the early preparations, a sample was too acidic, causing a container to fail.

Even though no radiation leaked out, Abergel said, because we have so many safety protocols  and rightfully so  we were told we had to re-evaluate everything, reassess our techniques.

Los Alamos National Laboratory, the birthplace of atomic bombs, designed a new container for the Berkeley team. That took a few months, and finally, Abergel and her colleagues were able to conduct their experiments.

They were investigating an isotope of einsteinium that has 155 neutrons in addition to the 99 protons in its nucleus. That is the second longest-lived version of einsteinium, with a half-life of 276 days. With each delay, they had less einsteinium left to study. About 7% of the einsteinium atoms disappeared each month.

Then, with the coronavirus pandemic, all of the laboratories  including those needed to study other aspects of the einsteinium  shut down. When they resumed work, most of the sample was gone. But there was still enough to finish most of the research.

From the experiments at SLAC, they measured the lengths of the molecular bonds between the einsteinium and the eight atoms in the molecular claw holding it. The length turned out to be 2.38 angstroms. (One angstrom is one hundred-millionth of a centimeter.)

They were expecting 2.42 or 2.43 angstroms, said Korey P. Carter, a professor of chemistry at the University of Iowa and another author of the Nature paper. A statistically significant difference, he said.

The emission of light by the einsteinium also unexpectedly shifted to a shorter wavelength when it was bound in the molecular claw. The researchers had expected the wavelength to become longer.

Abergel said the differences indicated that the electrons were moving differently than had been thought.

That is not surprising. With 99 electrons whizzing around an einsteinium nucleus, it is hard to come up with a model that accurately describes what is going on. Unlike in lighter elements, the large positive charge in einsteinium and other heavy elements causes electrons to travel at speeds that reach a sizable fraction of the speed of light. That means the effects from Einsteins theory of special relativity also have to be taken into account.

The electrons are moving so fast that chemistry changes, because chemistry is all about the behavior of electrons, said Thomas Albrecht-Schonzart, a professor of chemistry at Florida State University who was not involved with the research. Almost by definition, youre going to get strange properties.

That question will be studied for quite a while.

The problem is, those calculations are super hard, Albrecht-Schonzart said.

Einsteinium itself is unlikely to find any practical use anytime soon. But other heavy elements could, like actinium, which is a bit lighter with 89 protons and 89 electrons. And what scientists learn about einsteinium could also offer even more insights on those elements. The similarity in this part of the periodic table teaches us principles of structure and bonding, said Clark, the scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Actinium is already being tested as a cancer treatment. Because the chemistry of heavy elements is not well-understood, it is harder to design molecules containing them.

But if we can understand and master that chemistry at that level of chemical bond- making, then we can go after things like cancer treatment, Clark said.

Kenneth Chang. c.2021 The New York Times Company
A medical worker shows a vial of Sputnik V vaccine during COVID-19 vaccinations at a clinic near Moscow in this December 2020 file photo. / Reuters-Yonhap



Government considers introducing Sputnik V to Korea



By Park Jae-hyuk



GC Pharma is emerging as a potential contract manufacturing organization (CMO) of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, according to media reports and industry officials, Monday.



Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong also said that day that the government is considering introducing the Russian vaccine to cope with uncertainties over mutations and supply issues.



The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the country's sovereign wealth fund that invested in the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology for the development of the vaccine, chose Hankook Korus Pharm, a subsidiary of biotech company GL Rapha, as a Korean manufacturing partner last November.



The small pharmaceutical firm has produced Sputnik V at its factory in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, to export the entire output to the Middle East. Its annual production capacity for the vaccine, named after the world's first satellite that the Soviet Union launched in 1957, is about 150 million doses.



Industry sources said the RDIF is looking for another manufacturer here because more countries want to import the Russian vaccine, after the Lancet, one of the world's oldest and most respected medical journals, confirmed the vaccine's efficacy at 91.6 percent.



GC Pharma has been mentioned as the strongest candidate, given the drug maker signed an agreement last October with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) on reserving its vaccine production capacity to produce CEPI-funded vaccines.



At the time of the agreement, CEPI said GC Pharma will produce at least one of the vaccine candidates in CEPI's portfolio, adding the capacity is estimated to exceed 500 million vaccine doses.



If the RDIF signs an agreement with GC Pharma, the Korean firm is expected to produce Sputnik V at its factory in Ochang, North Chungcheong Province.



GC Pharma has reiterated that it cannot confirm the report until the conclusion of a contract, as the company had also said when it was mentioned as a Korean CMO of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine last December.



However, the company reportedly told local securities analysts in a private meeting last month that it had received proposals from multiple COVID-19 vaccine developers and rearranged the production schedule at its Ochang factory.



"The shortage of vaccine production facilities seems inevitable due to the development of a variety of vaccines, so the contract manufacturing of GC Pharma's COVID-19 vaccine is considered a matter of the timing of the announcement," Hana Financial Investment analyst Sun Min-jung said.



The RDIF has yet to comment on whether it is in talks with GC Pharma or the Korean government, but its CEO Kirill Dmitriev said in a previous interview with The Korea Times that the sovereign wealth fund was in talks with two major Korean pharmaceutical companies.



"We aim to make it available for use in countries globally and to create strategic partnerships for vaccine production in all parts of the world, including South Korea," he said at that time.


JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Founding Shareholders of Red Sea Gateway Terminal Limited (RSGT), a privately-owned independent terminal operating company, have signed separate Share Purchase Agreements with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and with COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited (CSPL) (SEHK:1199) (1199.HK) through its wholly-owned subsidiary Sound Joyce Enterprises Limited, for the sale of 40% equity interest in RSGT (with 20% each) for total consideration of SAR 1,050 million / USD 280 million. The aforementioned two transactions imply an enterprise value for RSGT of SAR 3,300 million / USD 880 million.

The completion of both transactions is subject to the approval of the Saudi Arabian Ports Authority (Mawani), as well as other customary approvals.

Having commenced operation in 2009, RSGT was founded by leading Saudi and international investors (Founding Shareholders), including Saudi Industrial Services Company ("SISCO"), Xenel Industries, and City Island Holding Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MMC Corporation Berhad (Malaysian conglomerate with extensive port operations).

Upon completion of both transactions, PIF and CSPL will become shareholders of RSGT (with 20% shareholding each), while the Founding Shareholders will retain the remaining 60% shareholding in RSGT.

RSGT will remain an independent terminal operator, focused on servicing its existing and future customers in the global logistics chain. The company signed a new 30-year build, operate and transfer agreement with Mawani in December 2019 (the "BOT Agreement"), which envisages the investment of USD 1.7 billion in automation, infrastructure, and equipment through 2050, in order to reach an annual throughput capacity of approximately 9 million TEU. Under the new BOT Agreement, in April 2020 RSGT significantly expanded its handling capacity having assumed the operations of the northern section of Jeddah Islamic Port (previously known as the North Container Terminal or "NCT"). As a result, RSGT's annual throughput capacity increased from 2.5 million TEU in 2019 to 5.2 million TEU.

"Adding PIF and CSPL as shareholders will accelerate RSGT's domestic and international growth plans. As the largest terminal operator on the Red Sea and in Saudi Arabia, we are committed to serving the growing requirements of international cargo and container services throughout the global logistics chain and to fulfilling our customers' needs and the goals of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 program for infrastructure and port development. The transactions highlight the strong commercial proposition and service excellence of RSGT [whereas the new shareholders are expected to further strengthen our customer value proposition]. As an independent terminal operator, we thank all our customers for their trust, and we will continue tailoring our services to meet their current and future needs." said RSGT's CEO Jens O. Floe with respect to the transactions.

As the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, PIF is the economic engine of Vision 2030, with a clear strategy to drive the diversification of the Kingdom's economy and become a global investment partner of choice. The development of RSGT into both regional and global logistics hub supports PIF's mission of unlocking new economic opportunities across the Kingdom and deploying patient capital to support emerging sectors with significant long-term growth potential. RSGT will play a significant role in achieving these objectives, capitalizing on the country's strategic location along the main Red Sea shipping routes.

About RSGT

Located at Jeddah Islamic Port, RSGT was established in 2006 as Saudi Arabia's first private sector Build-Operate-Transfer project. With a current annual container throughput capacity of approximately 5.2 million TEU, envisaged to grow to about 9 million TEU under the BOT Agreement, RSGT is providing world-class integrated logistics solutions, which serve as an engine of growth for both local and regional economies. More information can be found at www.rsgt.com

About the Public Investment Fund

The Public Investment Fund is one of the largest and most impactful sovereign wealth funds in the world, driving the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia for the benefit of its people while helping shape the future global economy. PIF is building a world-class portfolio through investments in attractive, long-term opportunities across diverse industries and asset classes internationally, while unlocking new sectors at home. PIF works alongside global strategic partners and renowned investment managers, and acts as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's primary investment arm aiming toward generating long-term value for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in line with Vision 2030. More information can be found at www.pif.gov.sa

About CSPL

CSPL is a leading global port operator with a portfolio of terminals located at the five main port regions of Mainland China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, South America, and the Mediterranean. As of 30 September 2020, CSPL operates and manages 360 berths at 36 ports worldwide, of which 206 are for containers, with a combined annual handling capacity of 115 million TEU. CSPL is a subsidiary of China COSCO SHIPPING Corporation Limited (COSCO SHIPPING Group), which operates COSCO SHIPPING Lines and Orient Overseas Container Line, the world's third-largest container shipping line and a member of the OCEAN Alliance consortium alongside CMA-CGM/APL and Evergreen Marine. More information can be found at https://ports.coscoshipping.com/en/

J.P. Morgan acted as the sole financial advisor and Legal Advisors Abdulaziz Alajlan & Partners in association with Baker & McKenzie Limited acted as the legal advisor to the Founding Shareholders on the transactions.

HSBC SA acted as the sole financial advisor to PIF and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in association with the Law Firm of Salah Al-Hejailan acted as the sole legal advisor to PIF on the transaction.

SOURCE Red Sea Gateway Terminal Limited and Public Investment Fund; COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited

Related Links

https://ports.coscoshipping.com/en/


Capitol Breach Suspect Who Violated Terms of Pre-Trial Release Wont Be Jailed: Judge

A Utah man facing charges in the Capitol breach incident will not be sent back to jail despite having violated the terms of his pre-trial release orders, a judge ruled Monday.

While John Sullivan violated a release order by buying a smartphone, attempting to access Twitter, and trying to promote his organization, Insurgence USA, in an interview on Infowars, U.S. Magistrate Judge Robin Meriweather declined to send him back to prison, according to Buzzfeed News.

Meriweather expressed concerns that Sullivan violated the order but said she didnt believe he poses a danger to the community, according to the report. She cautioned that if Sullivan continued to violate court orders, he may be jailed ahead of his trial, but said that, I dont believe we are there yet in this case.

Sullivans attorney Steven Kiersh said that there could have been miscommunications about the restrictions on his clients Internet use and buying a smartphone.

Sullivan was released conditionally without bail in mid-January after he was arrested and charged for his alleged activities during the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. He faces charges of violating restricted building or grounds, civil disorder, and violent entry or disorderly conduct, according to a complaint (pdf).

Prosecutors allege that he entered the U.S. Capitol through a window, pushed past Capitol Police once inside, and admitted to filming and being depicted in video footage that shows him present, outside of the Speakers Lobby within the U.S. Capitol, at the shooting of a woman by a U.S. Capitol Police officer. The woman was identified as Ashli (Ashley) Babbitt, an Air Force veteran.

Sullivan made his first appearance in court via a virtual hearing in Salt Lake City on Jan. 15. Magistrate Judge Daphne Oberg of the United States District Court for the District of Utah ordered that Sullivan remain off social media before his pre-trial and be put under strict Internet monitoring. She also said that any violation of the bail conditions would not be taken lightly, reported Deseret News.

He was released under the condition that he surrenders his passport, wears a GPS monitor, undergoes a mental health check, and remains home except for court-approved activities including work, religious services, and medical treatment. Sullivan also has to maintain or seek full-time employment and stop working for Insurgence USA, an activist group he founded, although he doesnt have to surrender control of the group. The group calls itself anti-fascist and opposes police brutality.

Prosecutors had argued that Sullivan should remain in custody until the legal case resolves, alleging that Sullivan thrives at inciting chaos, the outlet reported.

Sullivan is one of over 150 people who have been charged in connection with the Capitol breach.

Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report.
EDWARDSVILLE  Being a parent or a teacher is tough enough under any circumstances, but a new book by an Edwardsville resident discusses the issues that make it even tougher in 2021.

Making It: What Todays Kids Need for Tomorrows World is the first book by Stephanie Malia Krauss and will hit bookshelves and mailboxes on March 3.

The book tackles COVID, the economic crisis, racial uprisings, and the many other complex challenges we have all been experiencing, paying special attention to what it means for our kids and their futures.

Im pleased that as a working mom I managed to finish a book during a pandemic, Krauss said. This will be one of the first books to come out on the market that talks about COVID. Its deeply researched, but its also personal because Im an educator and worried about my kids.

Ive had the opportunity to write for other outlets, but this is my first long-form book. I hope it wont be my last and I have plans for what book comes next.

More Information If You Shop The Book "Making It: What Today's Kids Need for Tomorrow's World" will be available locally at Afterwords Books, Seams for the Soul Boutique, and Books-A-Million. Krauss plans to sign any books that are delivered to local stores. It is also available at bookshop.org, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. An audiobook version will be available on March 9, for Audible and other platforms. For more information about Krauss and her book, go to https://www.stephaniemaliakrauss.com/ or @stephanie_malia on Twitter. See More Collapse

Krauss and her husband, Evan, are both from New Jersey and met at Washington University in St. Louis while in graduate school. Along with their two sons, ages 7 and 10, they have lived in Edwardsville for six years.

Krauss, who has a background in education and social work, serves as a senior advisor to Jobs for the Future and is a staff consultant to the Youth Transition Funders Group.

Evan, meanwhile, facilitates East Side Aligned, which is a collective impact effort in East St. Louis.

I never would have expected becoming a Midwesterner and raising my kids here, but we met and married in St. Louis, worked in the city and made this home, Krauss said.

Eight years ago, Krauss left working on the frontlines of education because she was worried that earning a diploma was not the same thing as being ready for college, work and life.

Her book explores what her research and work since then have shown to be the four currencies todays kids need to make it in tomorrows world: competencies, connections, credentials, and cash.

A former elementary school teacher in Phoenix, Arizona, Krauss also had the opportunity during the summers to provide professional development to teachers in East Africa.

At the time, the AIDS epidemic was raging in the area of East Africa where I was, so a lot of the professionally trained teachers were either sick or taking care of family members who were sick, Krauss said.

There was a wave of university students who were taking leaves to go home to teach in the rural communities where they had grown up. During the school year, I taught a mostly urban and migrant population, and then I would go to East Africa and see a different set of challenges for teachers and students.

The overall experience left a lasting impression on Krauss and made her question many aspects of traditional education.

The combination of my experience in the classroom in Arizona and what I was seeing internationally made it clear that there were so many other life factors that went into what was happening in kids lives and educational experience, Krauss said. While I loved teaching, I was conflicted about that reality.

For three years starting in 2010, Krauss ran Shearwater Education Foundation, a nonprofit that operated a high school for students who had dropped out, giving them a second chance at a diploma. The school was located on the campus of Ranken Technical College in St. Louis.

In May of 2013, Krauss announced the closure of the school at the end of the school year.

We were the only high school in the history of Missouri to electively close ourselves, Krauss said. The number of cumbersome compliance and content requirements on what it meant to be a Missouri public high school was in conflict with what we knew our students needed.

After Shearwater closed, Krauss had a toddler and a baby and was considering a career change.

Thats when she made a connection that set her on the path to writing a book.

At that time, a national organization located in Washington, D.C., reached out and asked me if graduating from high school wasnt fully preparing kids for life, then what does readiness require? They had been working to answer this question for years, Krauss said. I decided to join their team, which started my national work, research and writing. Eight years later, this is my love letter back to the frontlines, for educators, counselors, youth workers, administrators and parents.

Working nationally has given me the chance to work with everyone from governors to the White House to many national organizations and networks. I have been privy to so much information about what is happening with kids and what is happening in the world. I wanted to give that back to those who are still running schools, teaching in classrooms and raising kids.

The book discusses how todays kids are growing up during a time of rapid change, and how different things could look by the time they reach adulthood.

One of the things I talk about in the book is that this years high school graduating class is living through COVID and they started school in the middle of the Great Recession. Their entire K-12 experience is bookended by major crises, Krauss said.

This is a recession-resilient generation who want stability. In the absence of economic stability, which we cant promise them, we have to be able to offer them social stability.
-- The New Eurasian Land Bridge is an international passageway linking the Pacific and the Atlantic. The bridge runs from China's coastal cities of Lianyungang and Rizhao to Rotterdam of the Netherlands and Belgium's Antwerp, passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany. It serves more than 30 countries and regions.

-- Over the past 28 years, the land bridge has undergone various changes, including the trains running over the route and the commodities the trains transport.

-- The land bridge has helped bring closer economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe.

NANJING/BERLIN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- At the port of Lianyungang in east China's Jiangsu Province, several cranes are seen slowly lifting colorful containers and arranging them in a line, ready to be transported by China-Europe freight trains.

The commodities, including face masks, elevators and construction materials, will be shipped to Asian and European destinations before the Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 12 this year.

A returning China-Europe freight train from Kazakhstan arrives at the Xinzhu Station of China Railway Xi'an Bureau Group Co., Ltd. in Xi'an City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Feb. 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)

The city of Lianyungang is the eastern terminal of the 10,900-km-long New Eurasian Land Bridge (NELB), an international passageway linking the Pacific and the Atlantic. The bridge runs from China's coastal cities of Lianyungang and Rizhao to Rotterdam of the Netherlands and Belgium's Antwerp, passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany. It serves more than 30 countries and regions.

In the past five years, international freight trains made about 4,000 trips from Lianyungang's port.

"In January alone, 32 China-Europe freight trains went through the port of Lianyungang, and 23 freight trains are slated for departure in February," said Zuo Xuemei, vice general manager of Lianyungang China-Kazakhstan International Logistics Co., Ltd.

YEARS OF CHANGE

On Dec. 1, 1992, a locomotive pulled the first international freight train to Central Asia and Europe from Lianyungang, marking the official opening of the NELB. The locomotive has been preserved to this day in the port of Lianyungang, bearing testimony to the transformation of economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe.

Shen Gang, with Sinotrans Land Bridge Transportation Co., Ltd., said the company is the pioneer in providing transportation services on the NELB.

"The first international train was loaded with 30 containers and 15 carriages of bulk cargo," said Shen. "At first, it was an internal-combustion locomotive with an average speed of 40 km per hour. Today, the railway has been electrified, with an average speed of 80 to 120 km per hour."

Last year, 554 China-Europe freight trains departed from and arrived in Lianyungang.

File photo taken on April 19, 2017 shows a worker operating a forklift to arrange products at a milk plant in Lowicz, Poland. The European Union (EU) is one of the largest milk suppliers to Chinese market. (Xinhua/Chen Xu)

Recalling the old days, Shen said earlier workers had to go with the trains to ensure the safe arrival of commodities. "However, now we can obtain logistics information through the internet at any time, making the whole process more convenient and effective," Shen added.

Bruce Wei, the general manager of World Jaguar Logistics Inc., Lianyungang Branch, started engaging in railway transportation services along the NELB in 2012. Products delivered through this route have undergone significant changes over the years, he said.

"In the past, the main goods were second-hand automobiles and construction materials. But, today elevators, electronic products and solar panels are also shipped, which reflects improvements in people's living standards along the NELB," Wei said.

The NELB is not just a mere transport corridor, it also links the inland Chinese provinces with Europe and connects all the inland countries between them, said Li Yuan, a professor at the Institute of East Asian Studies, the University of Duisburg-Essen.

When the pandemic hit hard global maritime logistics, made-in-China medical supplies were consistently sent to Europe through the Eurasian continental bridge. This signifies the importance of the land-based transportation corridor, Li said.

Last year, China-Europe freight trains transported 5,580 tonnes of anti-epidemic supplies to European countries including Germany, Serbia, Poland and Austria from the central Chinese city of Wuhan alone, authorities said in December.

CLOSER COOPERATION

China has become the biggest trade partner of the EU while the EU is now China's second-largest trade partner. The EU is also China's third-largest source and destination of investment.

On Dec. 30, it was announced that China and the European Union completed investment agreement negotiations as scheduled after 35 rounds of negotiations, a milestone in the development of China-EU relations. The agreement will provide greater market access, higher level of the business environment, stronger institutional guarantees and brighter cooperation prospects for mutual investment.

"The strengthening of economic ties, especially the elimination of investment and trade barriers between China and Europe, will lead to the steady recovery and growth of the global economy in the post-pandemic era," Li said.

Aerial photo taken on Feb. 28, 2020 shows a China-Europe freight train at Zhengzhou Station, central China's Henan Province. (Xinhua/Li An)

Over the years, the land bridge has helped bring closer economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe.

In the German inland port city of Duisburg, containers specifically made for China-Europe freight trains are often seen in various transfer hubs. They are used to export clothes, electronic products and domestic appliances from China to Europe. Meanwhile, more and more cars, machinery and food continue to enter China from Europe via the land bridge.

Xavier Wanderpepen, who is responsible for China-Europe rail freight activities at Forwardis, a subsidiary of France's national railway company SNCF Logistics, was impressed by the surge of freight train operations between China and Europe during the first half of 2020.

"In my company, since April 2020, demand for trains has increased sharply. The increase is more than 20 percent compared to 2019," Wanderpepen said.

According to official figures, a record 12,400 China-Europe freight train trips were made in 2020, up 50 percent from the previous year. This is also the first time freight train trips between China and Europe have exceeded 10,000 per year.

Workers load a container onto a train at Urumqi China-Europe Railway Express Hub in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 12, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

Riding on the success of booming cooperation, Chinese and European companies are also seeing an increase in exchanges. In Duisburg, for example, more than 100 Chinese companies have started doing business, compared to just 40 in 2014, according to official figures. An investment center and a commercial association have also been established there.

Even during the COVID-19 outbreak, China and Europe saw growth in bilateral trade, with the import and export between China and 27 European Union member nations rising about 2.6 percent year on year during the first seven months of 2020.

"The China-Europe freight trains have played a big role in the economic development along the New Eurasian Land Bridge and in the growth of China-Europe bilateral trade in 2020," said Chen Fengying, a researcher with the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

Aerial photo taken on Feb. 7, 2021 shows a view of the port in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Wu Xinsheng)

Strengthening bilateral economic relations between the two sides would generate more business opportunities, create new jobs, and increase confidence in the economic recovery of China, Europe and the rest of the world, said Li Yuan.

Chinese and European firms have huge opportunities for cooperation to build new economic corridors along the NELB, Li added.

Logistics diversification is an advantage, and good land-based connections, such as the NELB, will make connections "broader and more robust," said Dr. Michael Borchmann, former ministerial director of the State of Hesse, Germany, and senior adviser of the China International Investment Promotion Agency.
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New Delhi, Feb 9 : Union minister Ratanlal Kataria on Tuesday said that no government has done as much as the Modi government for the welfare of farmers and Dalits, so Dalits will not be misled by anyone.

Union Minister of State for Water Power, Social Justice and Empowerment, Kataria is a noted Dalit leader from Haryana and he was reacting to a statement of a farmer leader of his state.

Gurnam Singh Chaduni, state president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) in Haryana, through a video message, appealed to the Dalit community of the country to participate in the farmers' movement.

In the video message, Chaduni says, "If the Dalit brothers join this movement, the BJP government might have to bow down." On this, Kataria said in a special conversation with IANS, "Chaduni sir, it is good to keep this valuable suggestion with you, because there are already many problems facing the Dalit society, for which the society has been fighting for years." He said, "The first struggle of the Dalits is to get what Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar has promised to them in the Constitution. Modiji has tried a lot in that direction by celebrating Constitution Day since November 26, 2015." Kataria said that as Minister of Social Justice, he is also trying to solve issues faced by the Dalits for the education of their children and their dignity and to protect them from atrocities.

He also appealed to the farmers agitating against the new agricultural laws to believe in the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Kataria said, "We are also appealing to the farmers that the Prime Minister has clearly told you that MSP (Minimum Support Price) was, is and will remain, then what is the concern?" He appealed to the farmers to sit down and find solutions through dialogue.

The farmers have been camping since November 26 last year on the borders of Delhi demanding repealing of the three new farm laws and they want a new law for procurement of crops on MSP.

Kataria said this intention to seduce Dalits for the movement is part of "dirty politics".
The Federal Customs Service opened the case in December against H&Ms Russian unit for not including some of the license fees it pays to its Swedish parent in declarations when importing goods from 2016 to 2019, according to documents seen by Bloomberg News.

H&M paid 3.1 billion rubles in 2019 to cover the discrepancy after an audit, a person with knowledge of the matter said, asking not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue. The payment did not forestall the criminal case, which could result in fines of as much as twice the calculated discrepancy or even jail sentences for senior executives, the person said.

H&Ms press office in Stockholm confirmed there is an investigation, but couldnt provide details because they had not received information from local authorities. The Federal Customs Service didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

H&M shares extended an initial drop and fell as much as 1.7%, leading declines in Stockholms OMX 30 index.

H&M sales in Russia were 6.23 billion kronor ($745 million) in the financial year ending Nov. 30, according to a company report. The retailer had 155 stores in the country, which is its seventh biggest market.

In 2014, Swedish beauty-products producer Oriflame was fined 1 billion rubles by Russian authorities for tax violations in a case that seriously concerned the European business community," the Association of European Businesses in Moscow said at the time.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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When it came to surgery, this wasnt George Sabins first rodeo.

He landed in the hospital at age 13 after a motorcycle accident. Five years later, another wreck brought him back to the emergency room and ultimately resulted in the loss of his arm.

Sabins more recent surgeries have included repairing a torn rotator cuff, injured knee and two herniated disks.

With all of his hospital experiences, Sabin now has his recovery routine down pat.

For Sabin, that means skipping the opioids generally prescribed as painkillers. Instead, he prefers extra strength doses of aspirin, Tylenol or ibuprofen.

Im always driving somewhere, trying to do something, he said. I cant have a diminished ability to get done what I want to do. I try to avoid opioids as much as possible. They just slow me down.

The opioid epidemic, which claims the lives of an estimated 130 people a day and was declared a public health emergency by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2017, only reinforced Sabins reluctance to take the painkillers.

Fortunately, after his recent diagnosis with colon cancer, he found a physician on the same page: Atif Iqbal, associate professor and chief of colorectal surgery at Baylor College of Medicine.

After working to reduce opioid use in his treatments for the past 10 years, the doctor has completely eliminated using the drugs.

He tells you what your options are, instead of telling you what to do, Sabin said. And I was trying to avoid painkillers at all costs.

Annie Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Contributor

Billy Moreton, of Huntsville, also opted to forego opioids when he headed to Houston after a knee replacement surgery had gone bad. Moreton never healed fully from an earlier operation in 2018, and his knee became infected.

Its been a nightmare, said Moreton who has stuck to a rotation of Tylenol, Motrin and Advil to navigate the pain over the past two years.

Like Sabin, he also discovered a surgeon who allowed him to avoid opioids when repairing his knee: Dr. Mohamad Halawi, Baylor College of Medicine associate professor of orthopedic, hip and knee replacement surgery.

Halawi doesnt even prescribe opioids, and I didnt ask for them, Moreton said. So many people get hooked on opioids. I dont like to take them unless I absolutely have to.

In the late 1990s, health care providers began prescribing opioids at increasingly high rates, after assurances from drug companies that the product was not addictive. But it was  very much so. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 10.3 million people misused prescription opioids in 2018. Now, as more light is shed on the crisis cause dby their use, more patients are asking for alternatives to opioids these days.

More and more patients are on board with not using narcotics, Iqbal said.

Still, both Iqbal and Halawi believe its up to the medical community to lead the way when it comes to opioid-free treatment.

And the extra effort is well worth it, according to the surgeons.

Its definitely easier to do it on this end than to have to rehab the patients, Iqbal said.

Halawi prefers eliminating the prescriptions in the first place - and he hopes that other surgeons will catch on to the trend.

Its a leap of faith for the surgeon, he said. It takes courage to break with old habits, but I really think opioid-free surgery is the way of the future.

Moving away from narcotics

For the past year, Halawi performed completely opioid-free surgeries, and before that, he wanted to minimize the use of narcotics in his treatments.

As a physician, I cannot think of a class of prescriptions with a higher capacity for addiction and overdoseor a greater number of side effects, he said. Ive seen firsthand how much those side effects have hindered recovery.

In Halawis mind, opioids were causing more problems than they were solving.

And one of the big principles of medicine is do no harm, he said.

When he started practicing, he assumed that dealing with the side effects of opioids was par for the course.

I literally went by the book, he said. This was the way we were trained, prescribing opioids to each patient after surgery. We were trying to solve a problem. In the process of solving the problem, though, we actually created other problems.

His patients consistently complained about common side effects, like constipation, nausea, drowsiness and even difficulty breathing.

Annie Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Contributor

It was all completely avoidable, Halawi said. I realized that I was losing sight of the actual recovery and focusing on unnecessary issues.

Iqbal had a similar realization while practicing in Florida, where the opioid epidemic was raging.

Half the deaths involved prescription opioids, he said. More than a third of those prescriptions were traced back to the surgical setting. Often patients first took the pills while recovering from an operation.

Surgeons are creatures of habit, Iqbal said. We do something the same way every time, just because it works. And we were taught that narcotics were the first and only way to deal with post-operation pain.

Thats simply not the case, he discovered.

Unfortunately, that realization is not mainstream yet, and physicians have to be a part of ending this epidemic, he said.

A new way of approaching pain

Before moving to Houston, Iqbal was surprised to find that patients who did not receive opioids saw no difference in pain levels, compared with those who did.

Their pain scores were the same. Thats a big deal, he said.

I eventually realized that pain is actually determined by a combination of objective and subjective factors, Iqbal said. While patients did objectively feel pain after surgery, they also had certain pre-operation perceptions and expectations.

Those fears and anxieties about surgery itself drove up the level of complaints for patients.

Keeping them updated every step of the way, allaying anxiety and fear, treating a patient with dignity and respect, goes a long way, Iqbal said.

Then, before a surgery, patients can begin taking Tylenol, Motrin or Gabapentin, a nerve pain medication.

Annie Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Contributor

During operations, surgeons follow a multi-pronged approach, using local analgesics, nerve blocks and spinal anesthesia instead of general anesthesia.

After the procedure, the patients return to Tylenol, Motrin and Gabapentin.

If all else fails, narcotics may be needed, but even then we can start with less, Iqbal said. Compare this to how we were taught, that every single patient gets an IV pump full of narcotics. Its a change in how were doing things. Even more important, its a change in how were thinking.

It requires a cultural shift, said Halawi. In the past, he said, pain treatment was reactionary. Doctors would evaluate a patients pain level and then turn to opioid doses to provide relief.

Then, we would give them more and more opioids until the pain went away, Halawi said. Now, we can start ahead of the pain and continue to stay ahead. The idea of all the interventions is to stop the pain in its tracks.

A new mindset

Gone are the days of telling patients that there will be zero pain after a surgery, Iqbal said.

A more realistic expectation is that discomfort will be minimal.

That leads to a change in the mindset of patients, and theyre actually happier, Iqbal said. In the past, patients would often feel drugged and stay in bed, which could result in blood clots and pneumonia.

Thats a compounding problem, Iqbal said.

Without using opioids, Halawi actually able to reduce the amount of time patients spend in the hospital and speed up recovery.

Its effective, more efficient and the patients experience is a lot better, he said. A patient doesnt have to go through the side effects, and they can recover very quickly.

Halawi wants patients to know they have options - and that eliminating opioids does not mean added pain.

People have a choice, he said

Annie Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Contributor

Opioid-free in the time of COVID-19

During the coronavirus pandemic, Halawi said, the need for efficient procedures has become increasingly evident.

In a COVID era, we can leave hospital beds for those patients who really need them, he said. You can do major, complex cases and still recover from home. As physicians, we can drive down the cost and provide better care.

Delivering better value is central to health care reform, he said, noting that rethinking the business of medicine has been a side effect of the pandemic.

Staying in the hospital longer is bad, Iqbal said. The more hospitals are full, the more elective surgeries are canceled and that can keep patients from getting the care they need.

When the pandemic started, non-essential operations completely ceased, including the knee and hip replacements Halawi performs. Sometimes, that left a patient living in pain for months.

Instead of being at the mercy of disease surges, Halawi suggests developing ways to offer same-day surgeries, where patients can recover at home, reducing stress on hospitals and medical resources.

We can continue offering help to patients and, at the same time, reserve vital resources for the patients who need them, Halawi said. Were stuck with COVID-19 for some time. The way to do business has to be more nimble. We can use this as a learning experience.

Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer.
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Jubilee Party has expelled six of its nominated Senators over "disciplinary violations".

The move on Monday followed deliberations by the party's National Management Committee (CMC) on reports submitted by the disciplinary committee.

The six are Isaac Mwaura, Millicent Omanga, Mary Seneta, Falhada Dekow, Naomi Waqo and Victor Prengei.

In a statement, Jubilee Secretary-General Raphael Tuju said they appeared before the committee in 2020 and earlier this year on "disciplinary violations as per Article 13 of the party's constitution".

Mr Tuju said the NMC relied on Article 7 (2A) of the constitution in taking the action against the senators.

"The expulsions are with immediate effect and have been communicated to the Senate and Registrar of Political Parties," he said.

"The affected senators are at liberty to exercise their right of appeal."

Mr Tuju further told the Nation that the NCM, sitting Monday, acted on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) as per the party's constitution.

The Jubilee constitution states that the "NMC is mandated to act on behalf of the NEC on urgent matters, where in its opinion, the NEC cannot be sufficiently convened to undertake such urgent decisions."

Ms Omanga, Ms Seneta, Ms Dekow, Ms Waqo and Mr Prengei are accused of skipping the State House Senate Parliamentary Group meeting convened by President Uhuru Kenyatta in May last year.

Mr Mwaura, who faced the disciplinary committee last week, is accused of disloyalty to the party and advocating for the interests of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), associated with Deputy President William Ruto.
Donald Trump spent years crossing lines involving decorum, statesmanship, outrageous claims and flip-flops of the sort that would have ended the political career of any one who came before him. Then on Jan. 6, he crossed a line we never could have imagined.

After months of arguing that absentee voting was inherently fraudulent and then, starting on Election Day, 64 days of arguing that he had actually won reelection and demanding that local, state and federal officials overturn the results, Mr. Trump whipped up a crowd near the White House to demand that the Congress not certify Joe Biden's victory. He again claimed that then-Vice President Mike Pence had the authority to keep both of them in office and told the self-styled patriots that if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore. Then he urged his supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol, where they stormed over police, breached the building and ransacked our seat of government.

Even if you believe that Mr. Trump didnt incite the mob  even if you believe that he intended them only to protest peacefully, and that people who said they were there in his name would have stormed the Capitol if he hadn't even showed up for the rally  you cant ignore what he did and didnt do after rioters broke into the building: First, he tweeted out another message attacking Mr. Pence for not taking actions he had no power to take. Then he tweeted two tepid messages asking supporters to stay peaceful. The rioters had been inside the Capitol for more than two hours before he posted a 1-minute video urging them to go home.

That might sound like a quick response  unless you were one of the people the insurrectionists were coming after inside the Capitol. Consider the perspective of U.S. Rep. Tom Rice, the South Carolina Republican who voted to impeach Mr. Trump: "Once the violence began, when the Capitol was under siege, when the Capitol Police were being beaten and killed, and when the Vice President and the Congress were being locked down, the President was watching and tweeted about the Vice Presidents lack of courage.

"For hours while the riot continued, the President communicated only on Twitter and offered only weak requests for restraint. I was on the floor of the House of Representatives when the rioters were beating on the door with tear gas, zip tie restraints, and pipe bombs in their possession. It is only by the grace of God and the blood of the Capitol Police that the death toll was not much, much higher."

As inconceivable as the events of Jan. 6 still seem, whats more inconceivable is that the Congress is about to let bygones be bygones. To do nothing, beyond a few emotional speeches hours after the assault, to punish or even reprimand Mr. Trump for refusing to do everything  or even a few things  in his power to abort the insurrection.

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As his impeachment trial begins Tuesday in the U.S. Senate, we are told that there is no chance that the former president will be convicted, because that would require 17 Republicans to vote to convict, and the idea of 17 Republican senators voting that way is inconceivable.

What an indictment of the Republican senators, who are so afraid of Mr. Trump and his supporters that they will allow even this inconceivable assault on our democracy to go unpunished. They hide behind constitutional arguments that are at best debatable, at worst spurious and in any event, as the U.S. Supreme Court has made clear, wholly within their power to interpret.

What an indictment of House Democrats, who refused to work with Republicans to tailor an article of impeachment in a way that would generate more than token Republican support in the House and the Senate  an article that focused on abuse of power, dereliction of duty and violation of oath rather than the more technical (and thus more easily rejected) inciting a riot. House Democrats, having failed to do that, are so myopic, so cocooned in their echo chamber that they could not comprehend that they would only drive deeper wedges into our nation  and make Mr. Trump stronger  by sending the article of impeachment to the Senate knowing there would be no conviction, or at the least not having any reason to believe there would be one.

What an indictment of all of us, for what we have allowed our country to become: no longer a nation but a land of competing tribes, none willing to acknowledge that its leaders could ever be wrong about anything, no matter how wrong they clearly are.
by Sumon Corraya

In the village of Chonguria, members of the local tribal community are full of joy for the first houses built under a housing programme launched by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the Year of Mujib. Every year my shack was destroyed by the storm, said one beneficiary. I hope this house will last a long time now.

Gaibandha (AsiaNews)  A group of 50 ethnic Santal in Chonguria, a village in Gaibandha district, received a brick house from the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina. The beneficiaries include 12 Christians.

The initiative is part of a national programme for the distribution of 70,000 new houses for more than 880,000 people that the Bangladeshi government launched on the occasion of the Year of Mujib.

The celebrations include a series of events marking the centenary of the birth of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh.

Overall, some 3,500 houses will go to members of tribal communities, half of them Christians.

In Chonguria the gift was welcomed with joy. I lived in a dilapidated house, said Amra Mardi, a 70-year-old Christian Santal widow. During the rainy season I couldn't properly sleep. Now I have a new home.

Bahula Hasda, another ethnic Santal woman, thanked Prime Minister Hasina. Every year my shack was destroyed by the storm. I repaired it and the following year the same thing happened again. I hope this house will last a long time now.

The village of Chonguria is located in the Catholic parish of Mariampur, Diocese of Dinajpur.

Father Samson Marandi, who is also a Santal, is full of joy for the new houses. It is a good initiative by the government, he told AsiaNews. Christians in need will benefit greatly.

Many people in Bangladesh are homeless and landless due to soil erosion caused by river floods.

No one will be left homeless, Prime Minister Hasina promised on 23 January, as she inaugurated the Mujib Year programme.

Each new house has two rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a veranda with an estimated cost for the government of 175,000 taka (about US$ 2,000).
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fletcher Horne, 15, of Laurel and Abygail Buchanan, 13, of Florence today were named Mississippi's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Fletcher and Abygail will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are Mississippi's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Fletcher Horne

Nominated by Laurel Christian School

Fletcher, a sophomore at Laurel Christian School, arranged to provide more than 1,300 hot meals for hospital and nursing home workers to thank them for their dedication and sacrifice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because his father is a doctor and chief medical officer at a local hospital, "our family has had a front-row seat to the toll COVID-19 can have on healthcare workers," said Fletcher. One morning, his dad bought donuts for his ICU nursing staff and told Fletcher how appreciative they were. "I started thinking about what I could do to help in a similar way," he said. Before long, he had developed a plan to purchase hot meals from restaurants that were struggling and deliver them to South Central Regional Medical Center and two nursing homes.

Fletcher set up a GoFundMe to solicit donations, and received $5,000 in just 24 hours. He opened a checking account to manage the funds, and approached local restaurants, which eagerly agreed to provide meals at a reduced price. He then recruited fellow students and 10 adult volunteers to make contactless deliveries to on-duty hospital and nursing home staff. Local news coverage of Fletcher's "Feed the Frontline" project kept donations flowing in, and made him a local celebrity. "I couldn't go anywhere without people thanking me for starting this project," he said. In the end, Fletcher raised more than $12,000 from 177 donors, which enabled him to not only make 24 meal deliveries, but also donate $5,000 to the hospital's healthcare foundation.

Middle Level State Honoree: Abygail Buchanan

Nominated by Rankin County 4-H

Abygail, an eighth-grader at Florence Middle School, helped lead a local drive that collected more than 1,800 toiletries and other personal care items to fill tote bags for veterans experiencing homelessness. When Abygail was asked by her 4-H extension agent to serve as a lead ambassador for the county 4-H participation in the Red Cross's Totes of Hope campaign, she immediately said yes. "I have family members that are veterans and their service means the world to me," she said. "I felt this was a great way to show my support and gratitude to the veterans that have served our country."

As an ambassador, Abygail joined a team that set up two drive-through sites for community members to drop off donated items, and promoted the collection effort on social media. They then gathered up and sorted all of the donations  including things like soap, deodorant, shaving cream, razors, puzzle books and socks  and packaged them in zippered tote bags. In the end, 47 "totes of hope" were made available to veterans through VA hospitals or veterans outreach programs.

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

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By Kim Bo-eun



KT's businesses in artificial intelligence (AI) and media drove its earnings for 2020, the telecom firm said Tuesday. This development has placed KT's transformation into a global platform company on track, it said.



KT saw its operating and net profit for 2020 climb to 1.18 trillion won and 703.4 billion won, respectively, each seeing a 2.1 percent and 5.6 percent improvement from 2019.



KT's platform business drove earnings, with sales from B2B digital businesses growing 11.8 percent from the previous year. Businesses in Internet data centers and cloud computing saw two-digit growth, as companies accelerate their drives to go digital.



KT is expanding its customer base for cloud projects, centering on public and financial institutions. KT is also expanding its AI contact center solutions, based on speech-to-text and personalized text-to-speech technologies to conglomerates, financial firms and education institutions.



Sales from the blockchain business surged nearly sevenfold from 2019, as local governments increased issuance of their cash equivalents in the form of certificates, in a move to bolster businesses affected by COVID-19.



IPTV sales also contributed largely to KT's sales. KT said IPTV sales grew 7.7 percent from a year earlier, based on an influx of subscribers, as partnerships were expanded to offer a greater variety of content.



Last year, KT CEO Ku Hyeon-mo unveiled plans to turn the telecom firm into a globally competitive platform company.



KT is seeking to find growth opportunities by providing digital services utilizing artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing for business clients.



The company also sees opportunities in the Korean New Deal project, which centers on digital and green development.



KT is in the process of restructuring to better align itself to businesses driving future growth. Aside from businesses in digital transformation, KT is also seeking to strengthen media content, commerce and finance as core business areas. As part of related efforts, KT set up a new unit, KT Studio Genie, to be in charge of its media content business.



"In 2021, KT will be a company that grows in a differentiated way by expanding its digital platform business and changing its business portfolio drastically," KT's finance chief Kim Young-jin said.



"In B2B communications, where KT is No.1 in the market, we will combine AI, big data and cloud computing to develop new digital transformation business models to further expand our market share."




Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 20:10:40|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Aug. 1, 2020 shows a Kenya Airways plane arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, capital of Kenya. (Xinhua/Fred Mutune)



Kenya is ready to license additional foreign air cargo operators in order to bridge the export transport deficit.

NAIROBI, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is ready to license additional foreign air cargo operators in order to bridge the export transport deficit, a senior government official said Monday.

James Macharia, cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, told journalists in Nairobi that the country is facing growing demand for exports especially for horticultural products to the European Union.

"So as long as there is fresh produce for exports which requires airlifting we shall continue to license even foreign aircraft because what is important is to have aircraft to carry produce from here," Macharia said when Kenya Airways commissioned its first re-purposed passenger Boeing 787 dreamliner to a cargo aircraft.

A florist goes about her work at City Market in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Nov. 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Charles Onyango)



The Kenyan official said that it is secondary whether Kenya Airways or any other foreign airline ferries Kenyan produce to the rest of the world markets.

"What is critical is that all produce is taken out of this country," Macharia stressed.

He noted that Kenya Airways has been gradually increasing its fleet of air cargo planes but it has not been sufficient to meet domestic demand hence the need to complement with foreign air carriers.

The east African nation two weeks ago licensed a 767 Boeing aircraft to ferry goods out of the country amid growing demand for exports.

"So we are gradually managing to increase capacity and this is what makes a big difference," Macharia noted.

He added that the country is keen to encourage exports of fresh produce because it is a key source of foreign exchange earnings as well as a source of employment, especially in the rural areas. 
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In a message of solidarity with Afghan people, Prime Minister on Tuesday said no external power can stop the development of or its friendship with India and that both the neighbours want to see their region free from the grave threat of terrorism and extremism.

He also expressed concern over increasing incidents of violence in including cowardly targeting of innocent citizens, journalists and activists, and noted that India supports a comprehensive ceasefire to end the hostilities. Modi was speaking at a virtual meeting with Afghan President which was organised to sign a 0 that would help in meeting the drinking water requirement of city.

I want to assure every Afghan brother and sister, from Badakhshan to Nimroz and Herat to Kandahar that India stands with you. At every step of your journey of patience, courage and determination, India will be with you, Modi said.

In his remarks, Ghani said peace in is within the grasp if parties and their backers in the Taliban embrace a true political solution, seen as a clear reference to Pakistan.

The Afghan President said terrorism must be seen as a full eco-system and not as isolated groups or individuals, noting that the destructive forces are threatening the future of the region.

Modi said strengthening internal unity among Afghan people is very important and exuded confidence that a united Afghanistan will be able to face any challenge.





ALSO READ: Indian ministers switch to local platform Koo as Twitter standoff continues

No external power can stop the development of Afghanistan, or the India-Afghanistan friendship, he said. India has been a major stakeholder in Afghanistan and it has extended developmental assistance to tune of around $3 billion in the last few years to the country.

We are concerned about the increasing violence in Afghanistan. Innocent citizens, journalists and activists are being cowardly targeted. We have called for an immediate end to the violence, and we immediately support a comprehensive ceasefire, Modi said.

Violence is a retaliation for peace, and the two cannot go together. As a close neighbour and strong strategic partner, both India and Afghanistan want to see their region free from the grave crisis of terrorism and extremism, he said. The prime minister noted that India has been supportive of a peace process that is led, owned and controlled by Afghanistan.

In the success of Afghanistan, we see the success of India and its entire region, Modi said.

In his brief address at the meeting, Ghani said all stakeholders must be asked to respect rules of sovereignty' and stop giving "sanctuaries" and interfering in the affairs of their neighbours, in an apparent reference to Pakistan. Peace in Afghanistan is within grasp if parties and their backers in the Taliban embrace a true political solution. But Afghan people will not submit or surrender. It must be understood that our security forces are not defeated, he said.

The Afghan president also cautioned that if his country plunges into uncertainty, then the consequences for the region and the world will be "dire".



ALSO READ: Farm laws not religious scriptures that can't be changed: Farooq Abdullah

Describing India as a true partner, Ghani thanked it for "gift of water" and said the Shatoot dam will inject sufficient water into river.

He said India's assistance provided the foundation of Afghanistan's democratic stability and prosperity.

"India's assistance is iconically marked on our landscapes from the Salma dam to the transmission lines to the parliament of Afghanistan, the symbol of our democracy," he said. "We would like to thank (Rabindranath) Tagore again for having given the Indian people the image of Kabuliwala and today on behalf of Kabuliwalas, I would like to say thank you to you," he told Modi.

The Lalandar dam, popularly known as Shatoot is a part of India's new development assistance for Afghanistan.

"The Lalandar dam would meet the safe drinking water needs of City, provide irrigation water to nearby areas, rehabilitate the existing irrigation and drainage network, aid in flood protection and management efforts in the area, and also provide electricity to the region," the Ministry of External Affairs said.

It is the second major dam being built by India in Afghanistan after the Salma Dam, which was inaugurated by Modi in June 2016.

"Signing of the MoU on Lalandar (Shatoot) dam is a reflection of India's strong and long-term commitment towards the socio-economic development of Afghanistan and the enduring partnership between our two countries," the MEA said.

It said India has completed more than 400 projects covering all 34 provinces of Afghanistan so far.
One Million Moms boycotts American Girl's 'Girl of the Year' doll over LGBT storyline

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Over 20,000 people have backed an online petition asking The American Girl company to scrap an LGBT storyline tied to its 2021 Girl of the Year doll, urging the company to remain neutral in what they call a culture war.

One Million Moms, a Christian conservative organization that regularly launches campaigns against organizations that produce questionable content, launched an online campaign after Mattel named 10-year-old Kira Bailey from Michigan the 2021 Girl of the Year in December.

The doll comes with an accompanying book Kira Down Under. In the book, Kira visits an animal sanctuary in Australia operated by her great aunts, who are in a same-sex marriage. The book details how the aunts got married after laws were changed in 2017 to allow for same-sex marriages.

The One Million Moms petition, backed by 20,665 signatories as of Sunday afternoon, calls the storyline unacceptable.

As Christians, we know that even though something is legalized doesnt make it moral or right, One Million Moms argues.

American Girl could have chosen another storyline or characters to write about and remained neutral in the culture war. American Girl is attempting to desensitize our youth by featuring a storyline with two lesbian aunts.

The organization calls on parents to not let their daughters see the doll so they can avoid a premature conversation that she is far too young to understand.

American Girl, which is known as a brand that helps girls grow up with confidence and character, argues that its line of contemporary characters is designed to inspire children to make a positive difference in the world.

Kira is the first character whose story mentions a same-sex relationship, according to Yahoo Life. But the brand has produced other LGBT-related content. The organization previously updated its book A Smart Girls Guide: Crushes to include same-sex relationships. The book was previously known as A Smart Girls Guide to Boys.

The news outlet also reports that the company also plans to publish a book that features a mixed-race family with two dads in February.

Julie Parks, an American Girl spokesperson, defended the storyline in a statement made to Yahoo Life.

From the beginning, our Girl of the Year characters have been designed to reflect girls lives today and the realities of the times, Parks stated.

As a brand, weve always strived to share the message that theres no magic recipe for a family and that families can be made up of all kinds of ingredients  and each is unique and lovely.

Parks added that there are girls that can directly relate to Kiras circumstances, whether that be a girl whose father passed away or family members in same-sex relationships.

American Girl was built on a foundation of diversity and inclusion, and we remain committed to empowering the next generation of girls who will emerge as leaders who value empathy, equality and respect, Parks stressed. Were proud of our reputation for having a wide range of inclusive and diverse dolls, accessories and content and were excited about our upcoming plans that will allow for even more girls to see themselves reflected in our products.

One Million Moms is not the only organization that has voiced its opposition to the storyline.

Kimberly Fletcher, president and founder of Moms for America, argues that American Girl is destroying yet another valuable support for mothers raising children.

My daughter grew up with American Girl dolls. She not only had the Josefina doll, she watched all the movies, read all the books and learned the stories of America's history and heritage while developing strong moral values, Fletcher said in a statement shared with Charisma News. It is heartbreaking to learn that such a trusted and cherished franchise has given in to feminist lies and deception, destroying yet another valuable support for mothers raising children.
Some of our KICK-ASS TKC READERS sent us this EPIC post penned by a Health care software architect who works in biomedical engineering/cardiovascular biomechanics . . . So I'm pretty sure his expertise can be discounted by calling him racist or hoping there's a #MeToo indiscretion in his social media history.



Then again, his numbers and conclusion seem reasonable and offer an important ALTERNATIVE consideration of the "logic" which powers the local COVID crackdown.

Check-it . . .
Furious Tory backbenchers tore into Boris Johnson today for using 'arcane games' in parliaments to block their attempt to veto trade deals with nations accused of genocide.

The China hawks lashed out in the latest round of an ongoing battle within the Conservatives over how hard a line to take against Beijing over its treatment of the Uighurs.

They are demanding firm action from the Government over gross human rights abuses against the Muslim minority in the Xinjiang province.

Rebels including former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith are threatening to back a House of Lords amendment forcing ministers to withdraw from any free trade agreement with a country which the High Court rules is engaged in genocide.

Ministers want to overturn the measure in a Commons vote later today, arguing that trade deals should be a matter for the Government and Parliament rather than the courts.

They are backing a compromise amendment tabled by senior Conservative Sir Bob Neill, which seeks to give Parliament a say on deals involving countries with concerns of genocide.

But his proposal prevents a straight up and down vote on the Lords genocide amendment, instead seeking to disagree with that and one other and replace it with the compromise proposal.

It provoked a furious response, with Sir Bob accused of tabling the amendment as part of a plan to be made Attorney General when incumbent Suella Braverman goes on maternity leave.

Tory former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith accused the Government of deliberately blocking a vote on the Lords amendment on genocide.

He told the Commons: 'I just want to say something about the procedure today - of course we wouldn't be sitting here if it was not in order for these proceedings, but there are different ways to be in order.

'And the reality of bundling together all of these things into one motion, an amendment put forward by the Government, means that of course there's no way we will get to vote on the Lords amendment on genocide, I simply make that fact.

'It reminds me, this little dispute's a little bit like Handforth Parish Council and it's always a good idea to read the standing orders. I read them and it told me what happened, the Government deliberately has blocked this.'

Sir Iain added: 'I say to my honourable friends, I've been here long enough, and I simply say I think this is beneath them and I wish they had thought again and they don't try this one again.'

Tory former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith called for a 'straight vote' on the amendment, saying: 'The Government has run out of arguments and is now using arcane procedural games which demean our democracy and the House of Commons'

The Beijing government has been accused of widespread abuse in the area, home to the Muslim Uighurs, including allegations of forced sterilisation, slave labour and mass internment

Members of the Uighur minority group have reportedly been made to pick cotton in Xinjiang province, leading to concerns British consumers could inadvertently be buying tainted goods

Trade minister Greg Hands earlier claimed countries committing genocide could enjoy a propaganda boost if a UK court could not prove the allegations.

He told the Commons: 'Genocide is notoriously hard to prove with a high legal threshold.

'If a judge was unable to make a preliminary determination on genocide, which is highly probable, it would be a huge propaganda win for the country in question - effectively allowing that state to claim it had been cleared by the UK courts.'

Britain is refusing to follow the US's lead and rule that the treatment of the Uighurs is genocide. Last month, 34 Tories rebelled to back the amendment amid reports of abuses, slashing Boris Johnson's working Commons majority from more than 80 to just 11.

Conservative former minister Nusrat Ghani accused the Government of using 'every tactic and trick in the book to prevent a vote on the New Genocide Amendment'.

'The Government first says that genocide is a 'judicial matter' and then attempts to outlaw the courts from getting involved, and now they're banning Parliament from playing a role and voting as well. Is this really how we want our country to behave in the face of genocide?'

Tory MP Bob Blackman said: 'Last week we all remembered the atrocities of the Holocaust, vowed to learn the lessons of the past and all stood up to say 'never again' must we let this happen anywhere in the world.

'Today was Parliament's chance to make 'never again' a reality yet instead the Government has chosen to deny a clear majority of the House of Commons a chance to vote. Genocide is not a game and Global Britain should be above this political gamesmanship.'

Conservative Imran Ahmad Khan added: 'I am disappointed by the cynical manipulation of procedure which seeks to deny the House the right to vote on an issue it clearly wishes to divide on.

'We must not let this sort of game playing go unopposed. It is vital colleagues vote against the Neill amendment.'

It comes amid renewed international scrutiny of Beijing's treatment of the Uighur minority population in China's Xinjiang province.

When the Commons considered the amendment to the Trade Bill last month, the Government's majority was cut to just 11 - with more than 30 Tory MPs voting to retain it.

That emboldened the Lords to defy the Government and to send it back to the Commons for a second time, in the hope that more Conservatives will be persuaded to back it.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said on Monday: 'The Government shares the grave concerns about human rights abuses in Xinjiang behind Lord Alton's amendment and understands the strength of feeling on this issue.

'However, that amendment could embroil the courts in the formulation of trade policy and conduct of international relations and risks undermining the separation of powers.

'The amendment put forward by the chair of the select committee, which the Government will be supporting, addresses the concerns raised by the parliamentarians to take a stand on credible reports of genocide by a prospective trade partner while ensuring a specific duty on government to act.'
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) received complaints against 1,509 digital lending applications, Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. According to Thakur, the RBI received complaints against 1,019 unregistered or unregulated digital loan applications and 490 registered non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) engaged in digital lending.

The central bank in December cautioned the public against unauthorised digital lending platforms/apps and appealed to them to verify the antecedents of the service provider, the Union Minister further stated.

He added amid rising incidents of online lending-related harassment, a working group (WG) has been promulgated to study all aspects of digital lending activities in both regulated and unregulated financial sectors so that a proper regulatory approach can be put in place.

While replying to another question, Thakur told the Lower House that 41.75 crore accounts under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) till January 27, 2021. He said that the Jan Dhan Yojana scheme has played an important role in increasing banking penetration and promoting nationwide financial inclusion.

Talking about the policies of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government aimed at financial inclusion Thakur said, "Approximately, 30.69 crore RuPay cards with an inbuilt accidental insurance of Rs 1 lakh (Rs 2 lakh for accounts opened after 28.8.2018) coverage have been provided to PMJDY account holders. About 80 per cent of the total operative accounts under PMJDY have been seeded with Aadhaar and eligible accounts are getting Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in their accounts."

Edited with PTI inputs; by Mehak Agarwal

Also read: Digital lending: Now more than ever we need fintechs to democratise credit, uplift livelihoods

Also read: Harassment in fintech loan recovery: Why onus is on borrowers too
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The head of the World Food Programme has said he has reached a deal with Ethiopia to expand access for aid workers and scale up operations in the countrys conflict-hit northern Tigray region.

David Beasleys announcement on Twitter late Saturday comes as fears grow of a humanitarian catastrophe in Tigray, three months after fighting erupted between forces loyal to the regional ruling party and the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

The government and WFP have agreed on concrete steps to expand access for humanitarians across #Tigray, and WFP will scale up its operations, Beasley said on Twitter following a visit to the Tigray capital Mekele.

A statement by the WFP  the 2020 Nobel peace laureate  said Ethiopian officials had agreed to speed up reviews of aid workers requests to move within the region.

It also said WFP had agreed to government requests to provide emergency food aid to one million people in Tigray and help with transportation to hard-to-reach rural areas.

Ethiopian peace minister Muferihat Kamil said in a separate statement the government was moving with urgency to approve requests for international staff movements into and within Tigray.

Top UN officials and international NGOs have repeatedly complained about access restrictions to Tigray, where fighting persists despite Abiys declaration of victory in late November after federal forces entered the regional capital.

The new terms fall under the existing agreement between the government and the UN on aid, according to the WFP statement.

That agreement restricted UN access to areas under government control.

But a senior UN official told AFP the progress was nevertheless significant and would facilitate access deeper into Tigray.

Its not good enough to just stick to the safe routes, the secure routes, the official said.

Our role is to be determined to get to where the last person in need is, and the presence of militias should not really hamper us.

The WFP statement noted that armed escorts for humanitarian cargo and personnel will be undertaken as a last resort.

Tigray remains largely cut off to media, making it difficult to assess the situation on the ground.

The UN official noted that insecure areas (are) were many and significant.

 No time to waste 

The government has played down fears of widespread starvation while touting its own efforts to meet the needs of a population of around six million.

It says it has provided emergency food aid to 1.8 million people.

During a visit to Ethiopia last week, UN refugees chief Filippo Grandi stressed the need for a more efficient system of facilitating access for aid workers and distributing aid.

We heard from everywhere, including from the local authorities, that more is needed beyond what the government is providing, Grandi said.

The situation as I said is very grave, is very urgent. Without further action it will get worse.

In his Twitter post Saturday, Beasley said nearly 3 million people need our help NOW and we have no time to waste.

SOURCE: AFP
The charges do not state how Hoover may have made such a decision given that he was in solitary confinement. But Grayson attached to his motion a 2015 disciplinary report for Hoover showing hed been caught communicating with Dobbins, who was imprisoned at the same facility, through an elaborate code hidden in a list of legal cases and deciphered using a pocket dictionary.
[February 09, 2021] Dottid Unveils First-Ever Leasing, Asset Management Platform for Industrial Properties

DALLAS, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dottid, the commercial real estate (CRE) SaaS technology platform for asset management and leasing transactions, announced the launch of Dottid Industrial, the first-ever workflow management platform built specifically to facilitate deal-making and value-enhancement in the industrial property asset class. Dottid Industrial gives asset managers, property owners and their leasing teams the appropriate data, visualizations and processes to keep up with today's massive industrial sector demand, while offering efficiencies and savings to both time and costs for all parties involved in a transaction. "We're excited to offer a single location for industrial property owners, brokers and tenants to come together in an easy-to-manage environment, rich with visual tools to track every square foot and transaction from vacancy to offering, tour to transaction, and build-out to move-in," said Dottid's CEO and Founder Kyle Waldrep. "It's time for the commercial real estate industry to catch up with the innovation industrial property tenants are used to. Dottid has customized the efficiencies, technologies and collaborative tools that solve huge logistical challenges for industrial property use." Dottid was introduced in January of 2020, with a custom platform based on four years of input from CRE leasing and asset management professionals to offer an exceptional user experience and design simplicity. Within the first month of Dottid Industrial launching, over 10M sq. ft. has joined the platform along with impending pilots with several of the largest industrial owners in the country. It is the only platform to track every moment of a leasing transaction  from managing invenory of space through offering, negotiation, tenant improvements, occupancy and rent collection. Dottid Industrial, a custom extension of the original Dottid offering, was designed with new tools to bring all parties together for managing and transacting business in industrial properties  individual assets, business parks, and large portfolios.



"We spent years working with industry professionals  fund managers, brokers, asset managers, property managers and tenants  to track and find ways to automate the processes involved in each moment in the lifeline of a transaction," Waldrep explained. "The goal is to streamline the process, allowing owners and brokers and tenants to close more deals, faster and with lower costs. We've had proven results with office and retail transactions and are now able to offer a superior platform for industrial players. With the velocity of deals in the industrial sector today, there's no time to waste." Dottid has benefitted from the support of CRE industry titans including David Ridley, Founder and former CEO of Invesco Real Estate, Laurie Dotter, current investment board member for two public Texas pension funds, and David Farmer, former COO of Invesco Real Estate. Dottid has also built a team of advisors such as Jonathan Crowder, Partner at Intelis Capital; Don Goldstein, former CIO and CISO of CBRE; Brian Liikala, former Senior Investment Manager Real Estate and Infrastructure Division at State of Michigan Retirement Systems ; and Catherine Rodewald, former President and CEO of Prudential Asset Resources Inc., who have contributed their years of industry insights and expertise to ensure that the Dottid platform is a solution for every constituent involved within leasing transactions.

"We are the most cost-effective, efficient, intuitive and visual tool for collaboration in this industry, and we are excited to roll Dottid Industrial out with portfolio owners in markets including Dallas, Austin and Houston," Waldrep said. "Once an industrial asset manager sees the Dottid offering, it's hard to go back to traditional spreadsheet files or costly, unwieldly technology that has dominated the sector. We look forward to disrupting old habits, but even more, to being a real partner for the industrial sector's owners to achieve greater success." About Dottid: Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Dottid provides a workflow solution that drives commercial real estate leasing transactions designed by and for CRE professionals. Dottid aims to revolutionize the CRE industry through the use of technology and streamlining the leasing transaction process, allowing owners, brokers, and tenants to close more deals faster and with lower costs, ultimately creating a better customer experience for the tenant. Media Contact: Great Ink  212-741-2977

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Eric Nizguretsky  291138@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dottid-unveils-first-ever-leasing-asset-management-platform-for-industrial-properties-301225082.html SOURCE Dottid

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KYODO NEWS - Feb 9, 2021 - 16:42 | World, All

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to take necessary steps to rebuild the nation's sluggish economy even amid concern over the novel coronavirus outbreak, state-run media reported Tuesday.

At a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party on Monday, Kim promised to overcome "negative elements obstructing the socialist construction," the official Korean Central News Agency said.

Kim was quoted by KCNA as saying his party will "take important measures to push forward the economic construction and provide the people with more stable and improved living conditions despite the persistent emergency anti-epidemic situation."

The North Korean leader made a public appearance for the first time in 21 days.

Related coverage:

North Korea apparently starts removing snow at key missile facility

North Korea designates Nov. 29 as holiday to commemorate ICBM launch

North Korean diplomat defected to South Korea in 2019: media

At the first congress of the ruling party in nearly five years, which was held for eight days through Jan. 12, the country's new five-year national economic development strategy was mapped out.

North Korea's economy has further languished after cutting off traffic to and from neighbors China and Russia since early last year to prevent the virus, first detected in late 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, from entering the nation.

Kim said in a speech at the congress that North Korea failed to achieve the economic development goals set in its strategy through 2020 in almost all sectors.

North Korea is believed to be vulnerable to infectious diseases against a backdrop of chronic shortages of food and medical supplies triggered by economic sanctions aimed at thwarting its nuclear and ballistic missile ambitions.
To prosecute the article of impeachment against former president Donald Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., named nine impeachment managers - House members who will present the case against former president Donald Trump to the Senate, attempting to convince two-thirds of the chamber, or 67 senators, to vote in favor of conviction.

The impeachment managers will take turns prosecuting the case, similar to how lawyers would in a courtroom. Their job: To prove he incited the attempted insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6 that sought to prevent the certification of the 2020 election results. Trump's lawyers will later mount a defense.

None of the impeachment managers of 2020 are back this time. The new group of nine is led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md. All of them are lawyers, many former litigators.

"It is their constitutional and patriotic duty to present the case for the President's impeachment and removal," Pelosi said in a news release announcing the impeachment managers. "They will do so guided by their great love of country, determination to protect our democracy and loyalty to our oath to the Constitution."

- Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., Lead House impeachment manager

Why Pelosi picked him: Raskin began drafting articles of impeachment against Trump the morning after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. The Maryland congressman's son Thomas had died by suicide just a week earlier, and Raskin told The Washington Post memories of his son are his source of strength.

"I felt him in my heart and in my chest," Raskin said. "All the way through the counting of the electoral college votes and through the nightmare of the armed attack on the Capitol."

Raskin, who spent more than a quarter century teaching constitutional law at American University, drafted both a resolution asking Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove then-President Trump from office, and an article of impeachment charging Trump with inciting the attempted insurrection.

Impeachment is familiar territory for Raskin; when House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler was unable to attend a Rules Committee meeting during Trump's first impeachment, Raskin took his place, testifying for hours on Democrats' case. He was on the Judiciary Committee as members discussed the merits of Trump's 2019 impeachment charges and questioned witnesses.

This time, he's been out front in articulating why Democrats believe Trump's second impeachment was justified, and why they think he should be convicted by the Senate. A constitutional law professor and frequent Trump critic, Pelosi is counting on him to start and finish Democrats' argument.

What he has said about convicting Trump: "People are asking me why I decided to do this. First of all, I don't know if you've ever tried to say no to Speaker Pelosi about anything - she's actually been very sensitive and thoughtful - but she wanted me to do it because she knows that I've devoted my life to the Constitution and to the republic. I am a professor of constitutional law. But I did it really with my son in my heart, and helping lead the way. I feel him in my chest . . . I'm not going to lose my son at the end of 2020, and lose my country and my republic in 2021. It's not going to happen."

- Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo.

Why Pelosi picked her: Put simply, Pelosi trusts her during important moments. DeGette was tapped to preside over the House debate during Trump's first impeachment, a moment Pelosi wanted to get right procedurally, and for the cameras. She's served as Democrats' chief deputy whip three times, so she knows the caucus well,

DeGette has been in Congress for a while; she just started her thirteenth term in office. She was previously a civil rights lawyer - another litigator on Pelosi's list.

What she has said about convicting Trump: "Already [Republicans] are saying we shouldn't have a trial, even though the precedent is clear that you can have an impeachment trial after somebody leaves office. So I'm sure that we'll hear all kinds of arguments, but I know that the trial will be fair ... the evidence is so clear in this case. We have everything, pretty much, on TV."

- Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif.

Why Pelosi probably picked him: Swalwell has been a visible Trump critic for a long time - since way before the inquiry that led to Trump's first impeachment in 2019. A member of both the intelligence and judiciary committees, Swalwell was front and center the last time the impeachment process played out.

He's a former prosecutor, and is in his fifth term in Congress. He sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, is prolific on social media and a frequent cable news guest, so his national profile is higher than most others on this list.

What he has said about convicting Trump: "I've read many of my G.O.P. colleagues know that the president is wrong, but are afraid for their lives if they cross the president. I'm sorry that you're living in fear, but now is a time to summon your courage to guide you. We have all seen the images of the courageous officers who have risked their lives so that you could flee this floor and see your families. That was almost a week ago right now. Officers engaged in hand-to-hand combat for hours with these terrorists. Capitol police were spit on, beaten, stampeded, and one of them lost their lives. I'm not asking you to summon the courage they did. I'm just asking you to do your job and hold this president accountable."

- Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I.

Why Pelosi probably picked him: Cicilline is a former D.C. public defender who has been in Congress for over a decade and is on the Judiciary Committee. The Rhode Island congressman, who when sworn in became only the fourth openly gay person elected to Congress, was also on the Judiciary Committee for Trump's last impeachment, and helped write the article of impeachment with Reps. Raskin and Ted Lieu, D-Calif., this time around.

What he has said about convicting Trump: "We will present a very strong case - overwhelming evidence that the president of the United States committed the high crime and misdemeanor of inciting an insurrection against the government of the United States by inciting a violent attack, in which domestic terrorists stormed the building with plans to hang the vice president, assassinate the speaker, hunt down members of Congress and disrupt the peaceful transition of power."

- Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa.

Why Pelosi probably picked her: Dean, a Pennsylvania congresswoman, has said repeatedly that she believes there need to be consequences for Trump's actions. A member of the Judiciary Committee and former lawyer, Dean was on the House floor when protesters stormed the building on Jan. 6. She's one of the newer members of Congress on Pelosi's list, currently serving her second term, and was part of the wave of swing-district members who won in 2018, giving Pelosi the majority back.

What she has said about convicting Trump: "Never would I have thought that I would be sitting on the House floor when domestic terrorists surrounded the chambers - motivated and infected by dangerous lies - seeking to assassinate a Speaker, hang a Vice President, and hunt down members of Congress, staff, and reporters. The case is clear: it is our solemn duty to impeach Donald J. Trump. This tragedy must have consequences."

- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas

Why Pelosi probably picked him: Castro follows a familiar theme in Pelosi's picks: Members who sat on the committees that took the lead investigating Trump's first impeachment. Castro is on the House Intelligence Committee, and like others on this list is a former litigator.

Castro's twin brother Julian ran for president in the 2020 cycle, and the two are some of the more visible Democrats in Texas politics. Rep. Castro called for the resignation of Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz over his continued objections to the election results.

What he has said about convicting Trump: "Donald Trump is the most dangerous man to ever occupy the Oval Office. I want to take you back one week ago today, when people were barging through these doors, breaking the windows with weapons, armed, pipe bombs, coming here to harm all of you, to harm the speaker, to harm the Senate. Let me ask you a question. What do you think they would have done if they had gotten in? What do you think they would have done to you? And who do you think sent them here? The most dangerous man to ever occupy the Oval Office. If inciting a deadly insurrection is not enough to get a president impeached, then what is?"

- Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif.

Why Pelosi picked him: Lieu is the third member of this list to have helped author the impeachment article against Trump, working with Reps. Raskin and Cicilline. A former active duty Air Force officer who served as a prosecutor in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, Lieu is an experienced lawyer and litigator.

Lieu reportedly started texting Judiciary Committee colleagues about drafting impeachment articles against Trump while the Capitol siege was still ongoing.

What he has said about convicting Trump: Per the Los Angeles Times: The committee "should start drafting articles of impeachment now, regardless of what leadership says," he wrote in the 3:09 p.m. (text) message. "We have seen the consequences of being weak against Trump and not holding him accountable these last couple months. If we don't do anything besides send strongly worded press releases, then we are complicit in battering lady justice and our Constitution."

- Rep. Stacey Plaskett, D-U.S. Virgin Islands

Why Pelosi picked her: Plaskett is a nonvoting member of Congress who represents the U.S. Virgin Islands. Though she didn't have a vote in actually impeaching Trump, Plaskett is an experienced lawyer who has worked both as an assistant district attorney in the Bronx DA's office and as a senior counsel at the Department of Justice.

What she has said about convicting Trump: "I have sworn an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Donald J. Trump has been and continues to be a clear and present danger to our republic, to our constitution, and to the people of this nation. I will do my duty and defend our blessed country."

- Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo.

Why Pelosi picked him: Neguse is a rising star among House Democrats, serving in his second term. He's already in the lower levels of the Democratic leadership, working on a committee that hones Democratic messaging. Crafting an argument around why Trump should be convicted, both to the public and to Republican senators, is why the impeachment managers are there to begin with. At 36, he'll be the youngest lawmaker ever to serve as an impeachment manager in a Senate trial.

What he has said about convicting Trump: "He must be impeached. If Congress does not act, if we shrink from our constitutional responsibilities to defend our republic, it will define the vision of America as the last best hope on earth that Abraham Lincoln so eloquently said so many years ago. To the millions of Americans watching today, I hope you understand we are proceeding on this path out of love for our country."

NORTH ADAMS  For weeks now, police have used space heaters to keep the basement of the citys public safety building warm, as a broken heating system becomes the latest issue to plague the aging structure.

The North Adams Public Safety Committee took up concerns about city infrastructure at a meeting Monday night, including fire hydrants in disrepair and acute problems in the building that houses the citys fire and police departments.

Councilors and police officers said the buildings basement has been without heat since mid-December and that indoor temperatures have dipped into the 30s during recent cold snaps.

We put a thermometer down there; its currently 45 degrees downstairs, said Detective David Sherman, who spoke on behalf of the local police union. Weve been working around these issues for years. Its just to the point where, I dont know how many issues you can work around after a while.

Officers reported that heat has not returned to the basement. Councilors Jason LaForest and Pete Oleskiewicz also said they recorded temperatures in the 40s on separate visits to the building Monday.

On Tuesday, Mayor Tom Bernard told The Eagle that the city had ordered equipment to do the repairs but that the necessary supplies were back-ordered.

We want to move as fast as we can, because this is an untenable situation, he said.

Sherman said the heating problem in the building began after the buildings radiant heating tubes rotted out.

The heating loss affects the buildings COVID-19 screening area, the downstairs bathroom, the locker rooms and the interview room, according to descriptions from officers and councilors. Sherman said officers have stopped using the interview room and brought in their own space heaters to keep some parts of the building warm, including the locker rooms.

ADA noncompliance snags North Adams public safety building repair plans NORTH ADAMS  Don't remove that tarp just yet.Plans to repair the North Adams public safety building's porous roof have been put on hold over the building's lack of handicapped 

The recent heating concerns come on the heels of years of issues with the building. At Mondays meeting, officers and councilors described a panoply of long-standing problems, including jail cells without clean water, mold from previous leaks and accessibility violations.

Our biggest concern is, obviously, the handicap access, Sherman said. Its a hardship here, in terms of anyone who comes into the building.

In a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice nearly a decade ago, the city agreed to make the facility accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The city since has made substantial improvements to the roof, effectively stopping the structures extensive leaks, but it has not undertaken the accessibility modifications.

The structure was built in the 1950s, decades before the ADA passed, and has no wheelchair ramp. Officers have to lead suspected perpetrators up three flights of stairs, and the buildings glass front door has been shattered multiple times while police brought in prisoners, seriously injuring at least one officer, according to retired Police Sgt. James Burdick.

At Mondays meeting, Burdick also said the city has been sued over the condition of the building and has paid numerous medical bills to civilians injured on its uneven stairs, which he said are not up to code.

If you had a state inspector come in and look at the wiring in that building, the plumbing, theyd condemn the building and close us down, Burdick said.

Councilors and officers expressed concerns about the effect that the buildings conditions might have on prisoners. According to Sherman, officers have been providing individual water bottles to inmates  the only actual clean water available on the premises.

The cell block area is a big concern of mine, Sgt. Preston Kelly said at the meeting. The safety is a concern. And the potential liability of housing people who dont necessarily want to be in custody  and something goes wrong.

Bernard said that the city is looking for money to study whether the existing site could be renovated and continue to house one or both of the departments  and to examine potential new locations for the building.

Weve talked at 10,000-foot level about possible sites, he said. But, what we need is a real focused analysis of those issues.

The city is considering applying to the states District Local Technical Assistance Program for assistance surveying options, according to Bernard.

Fire hydrantsAt the meeting, the committee also took up concerns around fire hydrants, after the recent fire at Greylock Valley Apartments.

According to LaForest, about 100 hydrants across North Adams are not operational  up to one-fourth of the citys hydrants.

In a letter to city councilors, the Association of Firefighters Local 1781 detailed how an out-of-service hydrant near the building forced firefighters to stretch several hundred feet of supply line to the next available hydrant.

This resulted in invaluable manpower and time being taken away from the first arriving crew of five firefighters, wrote Matthew Labonte, the local union president. The hydrant system has not improved as promised over the last few years. It has continued to decay and puts the lives of our community members at great risk.

Councilors agreed that the repairs needed to be undertaken but pointed out the high expense associated with the task. According to LaForest, each hydrant costs several thousand dollars to replace, especially when the valves connected to the hydrant no longer are being manufactured. The complications could mean a total cost of $250,000 to replace the 100 hydrants estimated to be out of order.

People need to feel safe in their home, said Councilor Marie Harpin. They need to feel safe that if somethings going to happen, its going to be taken care of.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called newly elected US President Joe Biden and the two leaders discussed regional, environmental, and other issues.

The Prime Minister, in a tweet, wrote, "We discussed regional issues and our shared priorities. We also agreed to further our co-operation against climate change". Further, PM Modi said he and Biden are committed to a rules-based international order.

"We look forward to consolidating our strategic partnership to further peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond," the PM added.





Spoke to @POTUS@JoeBiden and conveyed my best wishes for his success. We discussed regional issues and our shared priorities. We also agreed to further our co-operation against climate change.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 8, 2021

President @JoeBiden and I are committed to a rules-based international order. We look forward to consolidating our strategic partnership to further peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. @POTUS  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 8, 2021

The two leaders agreed to work together on the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, rebuild the global economy that benefits the people of both countries, and stand together against the scourge of global terrorism, the White House in an official statement said.

Besides, they agreed to continue close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, including support for freedom of navigation, territorial integrity, and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad, the statement said.

The White House further informed that the two leaders agreed to stay in close touch on a range of global challenges and look forward to what the United States and India will achieve together for their people and for their nations.

During the call, Biden underscored his desire to defend democratic institutions and norms around the world. The US President noted that a shared commitment to democratic values is the bedrock for the US-India relationship.

"They further resolved that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld in Burma," the White House stated.

Previously, Biden and PM Modi had a talk on the telephone when the former was announced as the President-elect in November 2020.

At that time, PM Modi tweeted, "Spoke to US President-elect @JoeBiden on phone to congratulate him. We reiterated our firm commitment to the Indo-US strategic partnership and discussed our shared priorities and concerns - Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region".

On January 20, PM Modi congratulated Biden for assuming office as the President of the United States. "I look forward to working with him to strengthen India-US strategic partnership," PM Modi had tweeted.

Also read: Metros account for 50% bank complaints in FY20; Chandigarh highest

Also read: PSU banks' credit growth to depend on govt capital support: Fitch
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 17:24:49|Editor: huaxia

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VIENNA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) daily basket price stood at 59.58 U.S. dollars a barrel on Monday, compared with 58.92 dollars per barrel on Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations released Tuesday.

Also known as the OPEC reference basket of crude oil, the OPEC basket, a weighted average of oil prices from different OPEC members around the world, is used as an important benchmark for crude oil prices. Enditem
Pope Francis on Monday reaffirmed the right to life "from conception in the womb until its natural end" during a gathering at Vatican's Benediction Hall with the members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.

Addressing the ambassadors, the Pope emphasized the importance of international agreements to "foster mutual trust and enable the Church to cooperate more effectively in the spiritual and social well-being" of their respective countries.

He raised that the pandemic showed the "face of a world that is seriously ill" not only because of the virus but also in matters of the natural environment, "economic and political processes," and "human relationships." Of this illnesses, he pointed out the lack of regard of human life in all its phases.

"The pandemic forced us to confront two unavoidable dimensions of human existence: sickness and death. In doing so, it reminded us of the value of life, of every individual human life and its dignity, at every moment of its earthly pilgrimage, from conception in the womb until its natural end. It is painful, however, to note that under the pretext of guaranteeing presumed subjective rights, a growing number of legal systems in our world seem to be moving away from their inalienable duty to protect human life at every one of its phases," he said.

The Pope also said that the pandemic reminded of the right "of each human being to dignified care" and then renewed his appeal for this in stressing that "it is indispensible that political and government leaders work above all to ensure universal access to basic healthcare" including with the "equitable distribution of the vaccines" for the benefit of "humanity as a whole."

In addition, the Pope also reinforced the important role of marriage and family as the "foundation of every civil society" and the "right to freedom of religion" as a "primary and fundamental human right," which he said must be "respected, protected and defended by civil authorities, like the right to bodily and physical health. For that matter, sound care of the body can never ignore care of the soul."

The Pope ended his address to the ambassadors by inviting them to "fraternity" as a means to "cure" the pandemic before blessing and thanking them for their presence.

"2021 is a time that must not be wasted. And it will not be wasted if we can work together with generosity and commitment. In this regard, I am convinced that fraternity is the true cure for the pandemic and the many evils that have affected us. Along with vaccines, fraternity and hope are, as it were, the medicine we need in today's world," he said.

Breitbart reported that Pope Francis "lamented the exploitation" of the pandemic as a means to push "reproductive rights" and cited the move of the United States Catholic Bishops Conference against President Joseph Biden, Jr. who signed anti-life executive orders in the first 1100 days of office.

"It is grievous that one of President Biden's first official acts actively promotes the destruction of human lives in developing nations," the U.S. Bishops said in a statement released late January alongside Biden's revocation of the Mexico City Policy.

"This Executive Order is antithetical to reason, violates human dignity, and is incompatible with Catholic teaching. We and our brother bishops strongly oppose this action," the bishops added.
The four labour codes enacted by the Parliament in 2020 are set to be implemented soon.

According to Labour and Employment Secretary Apurva Chandra, the labour ministry is formulating relevant rules and regulations to implement the four new labour codes in the next few weeks.

Once the rules are notified, the codes would come into effect.

The government introduced the codes with the aim to streamline and simplify the country's existing and overlapping labour laws. Since the subject of labour comes under the Concurrent List of the Constitution, there were hundreds of state and central labour laws.

India's Parliament, in the monsoon session in 2020, passed three labour codes - the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 amidst massive criticism and protests, especially in northern parts of the country. In the monsoon session of 2019, it also passed the Code on Wages. Together, these four codes merged 44 pre-existing labour laws.

Moneycontrol takes a dive into the four codes, what have been the concerns around it and the announcements in Budget 2021.

Code on Wages, 2019

The Code of Wages was passed in August 2019. It makes provisions for minimum and timely payment of wages to all the workers in India.

It consolidates four laws relating to wages and bonus, namely - Payment of Wages Act, 1936, Minimum Wages Act, 1948, Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 and Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.

The Code introduces the concept of floor wages wherein the rates will be fixed by the central government by taking into account the minimum living standards of the workers. Once the code is enacted, the minimum rates of wages fixed by the State Government cannot be less than floor wages as determined by the Central Government. The Code applies to all the establishments irrespective of the number of employees working in the establishment. It also applies to all the employees employed in both the organized and the unorganized sector.

The draft rules on the Code on Wages were floated by the government in July 2020. As per the new definition of wages under the Code on Wages, 2019, the government has put a cap on the allowances at 50 percent of the total compensation.

Industrial Relations Code, 2020

The Industrial Relations Code aims to streamline the laws regulating industrial disputes and trade unions in India. The Code would replace three existing labour laws - Trade Union Act 1962; Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 and The Industrial Disputes Act of 1947.

The code stipulates that companies with up to 300 workers will not be required to take prior government approval for firing employees and shutting down the plant or factory. However, those with over 300 workers will still be required to seek government approval.

Further, the code also introduces conditions on the rights of the workers to go on strike. It proposes that employees working in an industrial establishment will be required to provide 60 days' strike notice. Further, if the proceedings are pending before an Industrial tribunal or a labour tribunal, the workers cannot go on a strike for 60 days after the proceedings have been completed. Also, flash strikes have been made illegal.

The draft rules for Industrial Relations Code were floated in October 2020 by the labour ministry.

Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code aims to regulate the safety, health and working conditions of workers employed in establishments. The Code proposes to widen its applicability to different varieties of workers, namely inter-state migrants, sales promotion employees and audio-visual workers. Further, attempting to promote gender equality, it also proposes to let women workers work during the night time after gaining their consent. It also proposes to let inter-state migrant workers avail the benefits of the Public Distribution System in either their home state or the state of employment.

The Code integrates thirteen labour laws relating to safety, health and working conditions. The draft rules for the OSH Code were floated in November last year.

According to the draft rules published in November 2020, no employee shall be employed in any establishment unless he has been issued a letter of appointment. It also made provision for annual health examinations to be conducted by the employer free of cost for every worker of factory, dock, mine and building or other construction work, who has completed 45 years of age.

The labour ministry has proposed a maximum of 12 working hours in a day inclusive of intervals under the draft rules for OSH Code. However, the weekly working hours limit has been fixed at 48 hours. It will also provide the employers the flexibility of providing four-day work-week of 12 hours followed by three days of leave.

Code on Social Security, 2020

The Code on Social Security, 2020 has for the very first time extended social security benefits like maternity leave, disability insurance, gratuity, health insurance and old age protection to workers in the countrys booming unorganized sector. These include gig workers, platform workers, contract workers, freelancers and home-based workers.

It also stipulates the gratuity benefits to fixed-term employees without any conditions on minimum service. The Code proposes the creation of a social security fund for extending these benefits to workers in the unorganized sector. The scheme for the social security fund envisages that the platforms and aggregators make contributions to the fund which would be either 1-2 percent of the turnover or 5 percent of the workers wages. Central and the state governments can also contribute to the social security fund.

The draft rules on Code on Social Security were released in November 2020.

It integrates nine previous regulations relating to social security namely, The Employees Compensation Act, 1923; The Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952; The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948; The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961; The Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 2008; The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972; The Employees Exchange Act, 1959; The Building and Other Construction Workers Cess Act, 1996 and The Cine Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1981.

Why are trade unions seeing the codes as a cause for concern?

Many experts and labour union bodies across the country have deemed the labour codes to be highly anti-worker and pro-employer in nature.

For instance, one key feature that has emerged from the labour codes is that they provide size-based applicability to industrial establishments. Thus, thousands of industrial units employing a lesser number of workers do not fall under the ambit of the Codes.

While the government argues that raising the threshold for government approval in case of winding up and firing employees to 300 will increase employment creation, the labour unions are of the opinion that this move would allow employers to hire and fire as many 300 workers freely as per their will. The IR code is, therefore, seen as being highly skewed in favour of employers.

Furthermore, by increasing the strike notice period to 60 days, the negotiating power of the unions has been diminished. This has made it difficult for workers to collectively agitate against wrongful practices of employers and in fact, has yielded more power in the hands of industrial establishments. The unions say that the government has rolled out the code to delegitimize the system of strikes. The unions have also noted that the right to strike has not been extended to workers in the unorganized sector.

Changes between the proposed labour codes and earlier labour laws

Earlier, the unorganized sector was not eligible for social security cover, but now, it can avail the benefits under CSS 2020. Another feature is that workers with only 1 year of service are eligible to draw gratuity whereas earlier they were eligible to do so after 5 years of service.

Previously, there was no provision for minimum wages for the workers, while now under the Code on Wages, the central government will determine the minimum wages. Under the OSH Code, the maximum work hours should not exceed 12 hours a day unlike the previous provision of 9 hours a day.

As for the IR Code 2020, firms with up to 100 workers did not require the government's permission to fire workers. However, now firms with up to 300 workers do not require government permission to fire workers. Also, earlier, two weeks' strike notice was required to be submitted whereas now 60 days' notice is required.

What Budget 2021 had in store for labour

The Union Budget 2021-22 proposed to set to set up a database of informal sector employees including gig and platform workers which may help in offering social security and welfare benefits to them.

"To further extend our efforts towards the unorganised labour force migrant workers particularly, I propose to launch a portal that will collect relevant information on gig, building, and construction-workers among others. This will help formulate Health, Housing, Skill, Insurance, Credit, and food schemes for migrant workers," Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced.

The labour secretary recently said that the portal will be rolled out by May or June for registration and other facilities for workers in the unorganised sector. Workers enrolled on the portal will be provided with an incentive of accidental and disability cover under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), which will be free for one year.We will conclude a process that began 20 years ago, with the implementation of the four labour codes. For the first time globally, social security benefits will extend to gig and platform workers. Minimum wages will apply to all categories of workers, and they will all be covered by the Employees State Insurance Corporation. Women will be allowed to work in all categories and also in the night-shifts with adequate protection. At the same time, compliance burden on employers will be reduced with single registration and licensing, and online returns, Sitharaman added.
[February 09, 2021] Baozun Strengthens Luxury E-commerce Leadership with Full Jet Acquisition

SINGAPORE, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Baozun Inc., China's leading e-commerce service firm, announced the acquisition of Full Jet Limited ("Full Jet"), a luxury-focused brand management company, as part of its move to strengthen its leadership in China's flourishing luxury e-commerce sector. Together, both companies will build on their strengths to better support luxury firms in scaling and capitalizing on the booming e-commerce market in China, enabling global brands across Singapore, London, Tokyo, Korea and more to better penetrate the market. According to a 2020 report by Bain & Co., China's personal luxury market grew by more than 45% in 2020, spearheaded a by robust e-commerce demand. Many premium and luxury brands opened online stores to capitalize on this surge. The appetite of Chinese consumers for luxury products will also continue to grow, taking 46% of the global market by 2025 according to Bain. At this rate, China is on track to be almost half of the world's luxury market. But while the luxury market is growing fast in China, tapping into this takes significant cultural understanding. China's e-commerce market is represented by a much younger luxury consumer population (50% of luxury purchases in China are made by those under 30), fierce competition, and rapidly evolving e-commerce platforms. International brands also find it costly to build their team from scratch. The strategic acquisition aims to help global luxury brands address these China market entry challenges by offering greater end-to-end e-commerce capabilities, omni-channel coverage, and tech-driven solutions, as well as robust consulting ad digital marketing services. From channel strategy, product selection, marketing tactics, operational and practical solutions, to multicultural understanding, consumer needs insights, source integration capabilities, and infrastructure, the combined entity will be able to empower brands to get the most out of China's booming luxury market.



"We are very much looking forward to this partnership with Full Jet," said Mr. Vincent Qiu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Baozun. "Our common goal is to help our international luxury and premium brand partners quickly capture the market opportunities in China. With our excellent performance in e-commerce operations, deep insight into the luxury market, and strong infrastructure, coupled with Full Jet's brand and business development expertise, we will be able to empower more international brands to succeed in the Chinese market. By leveraging our respective strengths, we are poised to unlock future growth potential in premium and luxury sectors. We believe that the premium and luxury business will be a strong growth driver for Baozun and predicted to generate an annual GMV (gross transaction volume) of RMB 20 billion over the next three to five years." Ms. Sandrine Zerbib, Founder and Managing Partner of Full Jet, said, "We look forward to starting this new journey with Baozun. This acquisition provides a gateway to many opportunities for both parties. We have been impressed by the broad vision and great execution that Mr. Vincent Qiu and his team have shown, which has helped make Baozun an undisputed leader in China's rapidly growing e-commerce operation and service market. As we share the same vision as Baozun, we expect this acquisition to take the international premium and luxury e-commerce industry to the next level."

About Baozun Inc. Baozun Inc. is the leader and a pioneer in the brand e-commerce service industry in China. Baozun empowers a broad and diverse range of brands to grow and succeed by leveraging its end-to-end e-commerce service capabilities, omni-channel coverage and technology-driven solutions. Its integrated one-stop solutions address all core aspects of the e-commerce operations covering IT solutions, online store operations, digital marketing, customer services, and warehousing and fulfillment. For more information, please visit http://ir.baozun.com About Full Jet Limited Full Jet was founded by brand experts, with its founder of 27 years of experience in brand building in China. It started as a consulting agency advising fashion and sports multinationals with regards to their China development with a focus on positioning and distribution. It then developed its operational services starting with offline distribution assistance, brand management, and finally online e-commerce solutions. Leveraging its international perspective tailored for China, it has demonstrated its strengths in pitching and communicating with foreign premium and luxury brands entering China or developing their China business. For more information, please visit http://www.fulljet.com.cn/ SOURCE Full Jet

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UPDATE 9:04 a.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says starting next week, anyone arriving in Canada by land will also need to show a recent negative COVID-19 test.

Trudeau says the new measure will kick in Feb. 15, the latest move to keep COVID-19 from spreading within Canada from people who travelled outside it.

That is particularly relevant with multiple, more contagious variants of the novel coronavirus now circling, many of them already within Canada.

The government began requiring all people arriving in Canada by air to show a negative PCR-based COVID-19 test in early January.

But more people are coming into the country in a vehicle than on an airplane.

The latest statistics from the Canada Border Services Agency show that since the end of March 2.9 million people, excluding truck drivers, entered through a land border crossing, while 2.4 million arrived by airplane.

Trudeau said the federal government cannot prevent Canadians from returning to the country at a land border, even without a test, but if they don't have the required test they can be fined up to $3,000.

Monday will also mark the start of a new plan for how many doses those vaccinating people against COVID-19 can get out of a single vial from Pfizer-BioNTech.

Dr. Supriya Sharma, the chief medical adviser at Health Canada, says that after a review, the regulatory team agrees with the companies that each vial of their vaccine contains six doses, rather than five.

"Based on its assessment, Health Canada has determined that each vial will reliably contain six doses of vaccine plus the sufficient overfill volume when proper technique is used," Sharma said Tuesday.

The change means Pfizer will fulfil its contract to ship four million doses to Canada by March by sending fewer vials.

Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, the military commander overseeing Ottawa's vaccine distribution program, says next week Canada will get the same number of vials it was expecting, but instead of Pfizer saying those 67,275 vials contained about 336,000 doses, they will count them as 400,000 doses.

The week after that, Canada will get 79,170 vials, which will now be counted as 475,000 doses instead of the previous 395,850 doses.

Health Canada normally requires vaccine vials to contain a small amount of extra liquid to account for how much gets trapped in syringes when the vaccines are injected.

Pfizer's vials typically contained about 2.25 ml of vaccine once the dilution solution is added. Each dose is only 0.3 ml, which means even at six doses, almost half a millilitre is left.

Medical professionals began noticing they had enough left for a sixth dose when the vaccine was first approved in December, but Health Canada's advice up until the announcement Tuesday was only to extract that dose if possible.

Getting the sixth dose requires the use of a syringe that traps less vaccine inside after it is injected.

Health Canada has ordered 64 million of the syringes, and deliveries began last week. Procurement Minister Anita Anand says the deliveries will continue through May.

Fortin said the testing on the shipments was accelerated and they are now being sent to provinces so they are ready for use next week.

The label change doesnt affect this weeks doses from Pfizer, and will kick in on Feb. 15.

Sharma said Pfizer did its own testing with nine types of syringes and found it could reliably get six doses from a vial.

She added she has heard anecdotally that sometimes people have even been able to get seven doses.

The label change requires the company to take reports on difficulties getting that sixth dose.

Health Canada is also providing webinar training this week to guide medical professionals in how to get the sixth dose.

Canada's contract with Pfizer and BioNTech is to buy 40 million doses this year, with four million to be shipped by the end of March, and most of the rest before the end of September.

The United States, Europe and the World Health Organization all made the dose change last month.

ORIGINAL 8:36 a.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says starting next week, anyone arriving in Canada by land will also need to show a recent negative COVID-19 test.

Trudeau says the new measure will kick in Feb. 15.

The government began requiring all people arriving in Canada by air to show a negative PCR-based COVID-19 test in early January.

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When I was growing up, my mother would constantly tell me to mind my attitude. This most often occurred while I was doing household chores at her request. What she meant was for me to not only respect her but also be gracious and grateful, even while doing chores.
Foster is smiling, he said. All of the African Americans are very cheerful, but beyond it the original lyrics for Oh Susanna were very, very racist. They were later omitted from the song. There is a big gap between how everything looks so great and what Stephen Foster wrote. The missing verse was so gross that I could not mention it in what I wrote about the piece.
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On Sunday, Shabir Madhi, a vaccines expert in Johannesburg, went on South African TV and shared news from a study he had been working on: the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and researchers at Oxford University, he said, appears not to be very effective at preventing mild to moderate cases of the coronavirus variant that has become dominant in his country. The finding, which led the South African government to temporarily stop rolling out the AstraZeneca vaccine, echoed in grim headlines around the world. A blow for vaccine touted as worlds best hope for defeating COVID-19, CNN said. The New York Times led with South Africa says AstraZenecas Covid-19 vaccine is not effective at stopping variant; a push notification sent out by the Washington Post said that the study had found minimal efficacy against the variant; a headline in the New York Post, among other outlets, pinned the efficacy rate at about 10%. Under the shockingly ambiguous headline Why you cant get the AstraZeneca vaccine, Politico referred to the South Africa news as a scandal. In the United Kingdom, which has been rapidly deploying the vaccine, Novara Media, a left-wing news site, welcomed viewers to a YouTube stream with the rubric: The Oxford AstraZenaca Vaccine Nightmare. (It later removed the misspelled proper noun and changed nightmare to major setback.)

These headlines and many others like them elided some crucial caveats. The study in question had a small sample size, young average participant age, and wide confidence intervalsso much so that, as Stats Helen Branswell noted, its hard to know what was foundand there are questions, too, as to the relation between vaccine efficacy and the time between doses. Many expertsincluding Madhistressed that the study did not assess the AstraZeneca vaccines efficacy against hospitalization and severe disease, which are more important metrics than mild to moderate disease incidence, and expressed optimism that the vaccine will still offer protection against severe illness; in any case, the South Africa variant, while present in other countries (including the US), isnt yet dominant elsewhere, and the vaccines makers are already at work on an updated formula, which isnt expected to be too hard to develop. Richard Hatchett, who helps lead the global COVAX program focused on vaccination in poorer countries, told Reuters that it is vastly too early to be dismissing this vaccine. In the USwhere the AstraZeneca vaccine is on order pending official authorizationDr. Anthony Fauci said, during a briefing, that he hopes the virus will be brought under much better control generally before the South Africa variant, specifically, can pose a widespread threat. The stories and the headlines around variant viruses and vaccines are a bit scary, Jonathan Van-Tam, a top health official in the UK, said, also at a briefing yesterday. I wish they werent.

New from CJR: Hiding in plain sight

This is far from the first time that the AstraZeneca vaccineand media reporting about ithas caused confusion. As I reported recently, the German newspaper Handelsblatt stoked something approaching a diplomatic incident after it reported that the vaccine was only 8-percent effective in older recipientsa figure quoted by anonymous political sources (who may have committed a basic misreading of the vaccines trial data) that has not subsequently been supported by any public data (though some European regulators did point to a general lack of data to justify cautious recommendations around use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in older people). Last week, a study published by researchers at Oxford fueled a more positive story, spread widely by news outlets worldwide, that the vaccine significantly reduces viral transmissionbut, as Branswell and Matthew Herper wrote for Stat, the paper, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, does not prove or even claim that; its authors argued that fewer people carrying the virus necessarily means a drop in transmission, but outside experts called that a big and unjustified leap. There has also repeatedly been confusion about the vaccines dosage regimen, with its efficacy, counterintuitively, seeming to decrease after a second shot.

News organizations arent solely to blame for such confusionstudies of the AstraZeneca vaccine raise a number of perplexing questions, there are real data issues, and the company (like many of its rivals) has not always communicated clearly. As Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, told Politico yesterday, Were in an age of science by press release. But much recent reporting on the vaccine clearly also speaks to a series of broader errors that have bedeviled coverage of the pandemic ever since it began: an inability to consistently processand to reorient the typical pace and mechanics of breaking news towardpersistent, life-altering uncertainty. This has been communicated deftly in much good coveragebut it often hasnt been, and it is routinely missing from the headlines and topline framing that busy readers skim and digest, while skipping right past the nuance.

Its not just vaccines. Yesterday, for instance, The Atlantics Derek Thompson returned to the topic of hygiene theater, a term he first used last year to describe our collective obsession with surfaces, even though the virus travels more effectively by air; since he last wrote about it, the evidence has become even more compelling, yet still, he writes, we are wasting precious resourcesand fostering a false sense of security aroundcleanliness. Crucially, Thompson situates hygiene theater as part of a wider problem: the cliched idea that we must all follow the science, when science is not, and never has been, a singular thing. Bad studies, good studies, and mediocre studies are all part of the cacophonous hydra of science that is constantly saying stuff, he writes. In the telephone game between scientific research, media reports, and public understanding, dubious studies get simplified, exaggerated, and concretized as gospel.

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As Ive written before, science advances through a messy process of trial and error, advance and retreat. Thats a good thing, but it has not translated well to the immense, fast-moving gaze of public scrutiny that the pandemic has occasioned, nor to an information climate characterized by mass conspiracism and the broader pursuit of false certainty. The scienceas a blunt moral conceptwas arguably a necessary rhetorical weapon early in the pandemic, when everything was new, simple mass actions were required, and the president was pumping out garbage, but it seems since to have ossified into a procession of glib cable-news-style talking points and sloganeering. Last summer, medical pundits coined the phrase herd immunity is mass murder to fight the specific, terrible idea, then gaining traction with Trump, of letting the virus rip. When I searched herd immunity today on Google News, all the top results concerned the specific, good idea of mass vaccination. Its no wonder we all have whiplash.

We do, of course, now know a lot more about the pandemic than we did in its early months. But our collective accretion of knowledge has not been linear, and new developments, from vaccines to variants, keep throwing up hurdles to our understanding. The result is that were still disoriented while growing increasingly tired of disorientation. As Nate Silver, of FiveThirtyEight, put it yesterday, there arguably hasnt been any point in the pandemic at which theres been such a confusing mix of good *and* bad COVID news; this uncertainty, he added, demands nuance, but ironically, people arent looking for nuance at times of greater uncertainty. The medias job, still, is to persevere with nuance and avoid contrived certainty, even if that means holding off on the banner headlines and just waiting to see how things pan out.

Last week, Branswell and Herper, of Stat, noted that a rigorous American study of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which it is hoped will provide more definitive answers, is on the way, and could be published before the end of the month. Unfortunately, they wrote, in a pandemic, there is nothing more difficult than waiting.

Below, more on the pandemic:



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: Covering the insurrection, one month on

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
A Garda checkpoint on the Irish border between Emyvale and Aughnacloy (Liam McBurney/PA)

People travelling from Northern Ireland into the Republic are being turned back at the border if they do not have an essential reason for travel.

A number of Garda checkpoints were operating along the border on Monday to enforce the new Covid-19 regulations.

People living in Northern Ireland who cross the Irish border without a reasonable excuse face a 100 euro fine.

One such checkpoint, near Emyvale on the Tyrone-Monaghan border, had seen three motorists turned back on Monday morning.

Inspector Adrian Durcan from the Monaghan Garda Station told the PA News Agency: We have a checkpoint which is here to enforce the regulations which are currently in existence, to ensure that people comply with the Covid rules.

From 7 oclock this morning, were here to advise people that anybody who is not ordinarily resident in this state, they are now liable to a fine of 100 euros, if they are travelling without an essential reason to be here.

Inspector Durcan said no fines have been issued so far, but that some people have been turned back.

He said: We have engaged with a few people who have not had essential reasons and on the advice of the guards, they have turned back.

People have turned back when requested. I think it was three so far this morning.

He said Gardai would issue fines to those not complying with the regulations and follow up through court summons.

They will receive the fine and have 28 days to pay the fine. Failure to pay that fine will result in a court appearance, he said.

If they dont pay it we will issue a summons in respect of the offence and we will follow through on that summons.

We would have no concerns at the minute other than to ensure that people have an essential reason to travel.

Were here to encourage them and to explain to them that unless they are essential reasons we will be issuing fines.

He added: At the minute we have had excellent compliance from the majority of people and we thank them for that.

But theres still a minority of people who are not complying with the regulations and were here to ensure that these breaches arent reoccurring.

The new measures apply to anyone who is not ordinarily resident in the Republic of Ireland.

The Garda said, if enforcement is required, a fixed payment notice for 100 euro will be issued to each person who is in breach of the regulation.

If Gardai stop a car with a driver and two passengers, then each of the three adults will receive a fine of 100 euro.

Expand Close Garda stop vehicles at a checkpoint on the Irish border between Emyvale and Aughnacloy (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook

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The new rules mean the Garda can turn back day trippers from Northern Ireland who cross the border.

Under Irelands current Covid-19 public health restrictions, travel is restricted to within five kilometres of a persons home except for essential reasons.

Around 4,600 people have been fined for breaching Covid-19 regulations in Ireland.

About 3,500 of the fines were for non-essential travel, including around 375 for non-essential journeys to airports/ports.

People travelling to an airport or port to take a holiday abroad are liable for a 500 euro fine for undertaking a non-essential journey.

The Irish Government has advised against all non-essential travel.

On Monday, a further six deaths with coronavirus in Ireland were announced, along with 829 confirmed cases of the virus.

There were 1,212 Covid-positive patients in hospital, 176 of whom were in intensive care.

Chair of NPHETs Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group Professor Philip Nolan said there continues to be steady progress against all indicators of the disease.
On February 5, historian Joseph Scalice, a postdoctoral researcher at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, published an opinion piece on the fiftieth anniversary of the event known as the Diliman Commune in Rappler, a major daily news publication in the Philippines. The World Socialist Web Site is republishing the article below.

Dr. Scalice was responding to a comment also published in Rappler regurgitating the myths about the Diliman Commune propagated broadly by the so-called Philippine left.

He exposes the role played by the Stalinist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in subordinating the mass social anger of the early 1970s behind the political interests of their ruling class allies. The standard narrative of the Commune has focused on its supposed spontaneous, isolated and victorious character. Scalice reveals these to be myths, writing As is always the case, the glorification of spontaneity serves to cover up the historical betrayals of leadership.

For more than half a century, the CPP has tied the struggles of the Filipino working class and oppressed masses to the hostile class interests of a section of the capitalist class in name of nationalism. When in August 2020, Scalice delivered a lecture documenting in meticulous detail the enthusiastic support given by the CPP to fascistic Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016, the founder and ideological leader of the CPP, Jose Ma. Sison, launched a series of slanderous attacks against him.

The World Socialist Web Site organised a campaign in defense of Dr. Scalice, bringing the support of the international working class behind his critical exposure of the historical betrayals of Stalinism.

Dr. Joseph Scalice

February 1 to 9 marks the 50th anniversary of the Diliman Commune. In 1971, students erected barricades at the entrances to the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus, occupied buildings and facilities, and fought off incursions by military and police forces with Molotov cocktails and inventive forms of resistance, holding the campus for nine days.

The anniversary is of more than mere historical significance. The problems that confronted these students have reemerged with a vengeance: an immense social crisis, attacks on academic freedom, and advanced preparations for authoritarian rule.

On January 15, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were unilaterally abrogating their long-standing agreement with banning the entrance of military forces from campuses. Citing alleged communist recruitment, Lorenzana declared that the campuses had become a safe haven for enemies of the state.

The anniversary of the Commune is thus necessarily less an occasion for celebration and nostalgia, and far more urgently an opportunity to assess the lessons and legacy of the experience, which prove to be of immediate relevance today.

Drawing such lessons requires above all a correct understanding of history and politics. The dominant narrative of the Diliman Commune is predicated upon three myths: that it was a spontaneous occurrence, that it was limited to the Diliman campus, and that it was a victory for the students.

A recently published opinion piece in Rappler repeated these ubiquitous myths, declaring that a careful piecing together of archival material, media reports, eye-witness accounts, and narratives by surviving participants would show that the Diliman Commune was a spontaneous outburst amid repression.

The authors of the essayOrly Putong, Karlo Mongaya, and Rochel Bernidoattempted to present scholarly criticism of these myths as a right-wing plot. They wrote, Anti-communist scholars and state propagandists have painted a picture of the Commune as a premeditated plan by conspirators to foment anarchy and destabilize the Marcos regime in favor of their liberal political allies.

There is a stock right-wing account, promoted by the military, that depicts every outbreak of social unrest as a communist plot for a supposed seizure of power. The function of this narrative is to serve as a pretext for reactionary laws, repression, and dictatorship.

What Mongaya and his co-authors imply, however, is that any criticism of the role of the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in the Diliman Commune is illegitimate as it is equivalent to these right-wing falsifications. As is always the case, the glorification of spontaneity serves to cover up the historical betrayals of leadership.

As I extensively detailed in an article published in Philippine Studies in 2018, the Diliman Commune was neither purely spontaneous nor limited solely to the Diliman campus. The real lessons of the events for students and workers today can only be drawn through a critical examination of the political forces involved, particularly the CPP.

The barricades of the Diliman Commune, far from being a spontaneous response to unanticipated developments, were part of a coordinated set of barricades erected throughout the University Belt and at UP Los Banos. Six students were killed in street battles on Recto Avenue and Mendiola Bridge, while only one was killed at Diliman, but their names have been forgotten as a result of the myth of the isolated and spontaneous Commune.

Certainly the social anger of the students was not fomented by outside agitators. It expressed the crisis of capitalism in the late 1960s and early 70s and was part of a growing revolutionary sentiment among workers and youth around the globe. This anger received political direction, however, from the Communist Party of the Philippines through two youth organizations that followed the CPPs political line: the Kabataang Makabayan (KM) and the Samahan ng Demokratikong Kabataan (SDK).

The CPP is not a Marxist party, and never has been. It was founded by Jose Ma. Sison at the beginning of 1969 out of a break with the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP). Both the PKP and CPP were Stalinist; their programs were dedicated not to socialist revolution but to a national democratic revolution, which would be carried out through an alliance with a section of the capitalist class, whom they called the national bourgeoisie.

The PKP supported Marcos, and after he imposed martial law the party endorsed his dictatorship and entered his cabinet. The CPP allied with the Liberal Party and the elite opposition to Marcos, who were conspiring to remove him from power. The elite opposition supplied the CPP-allied organizations with funding, favorable press coverage, and regular air time on radio and television.

Looking to destabilize Marcos at the beginning of an election year, Sison launched a brief ultra-Left policy of uninterrupted upsurge. The KM and SDK attempted to seize control of the trade unions in which they were working and split them in February 1971, forming new red unions with limited membership and headquartered at Vinzons Hall on the Diliman campus.

The barricades of February 1971 were part of this policy. They were ostensibly erected in support of a jeepney driver strike, but in fact contributed to the suppression of the strike. Within weeks the KM and SDK had split the jeepney drivers union, fragmenting the workers struggle, leading to the temporary curtailment of a strike wave.

On historical examination, the Diliman Commune was an unmitigated defeat for the radicalized youth and students of 1971. This was not due to their lack of courage or audacity, but the guiding political programStalinismto which that energy was subordinated.

The fundamental task confronting workers and youth in 1971 was to prevent the imposition of dictatorship. To hail the Commune as a victory when the writ of habeas corpus was suspended within months and martial law imposed the next year is to ignore the realities of history.

The CPP used the Stalinist program of national democracy to channel social unrest behind the political interests of a section of the elite who were not seeking to defend democracy but to remove Marcos from office. Fundamentally opposed to the Marxist perspective of the independent fight of workers for a socialist program, the CPP subordinated the vast social force capable of defending democracy, the working class, to the conspiratorial interests of a rival faction of the elite. This is what made martial law possible.

This remains the perspective of the CPP. It was in the name of national democracy that they enthusiastically supported Duterte in 2016. In a statement published on February 1, the CPP made their own assessment of the lessons of the Commune, in which it called on students today to struggle waving the red banner of national democracy.

The lessons of the Diliman Commune can be drawn not by cheering its supposed victory, but through a clear-eyed assessment of its failure.

The essential lesson is this: it is impossible to wage a successful fight against the growing threat of dictatorship on the basis of the Stalinist program of national democracy and its orientation to forming an alliance with a section of the elite. All the courage and audacity in the world will end in defeat if it is mobilized behind a banner that serves hostile class interests.

This historical assessment of the CPP is a criticism from the Left, not the Right; it safeguards the interests of workers and young people, not the state. The Marxist opposition to Stalinism has a century-long history. Those looking to understand it should study the political struggles waged by Leon Trotsky and the movement he founded.
Saudi Arabias $400 billion Public Investment Fund became the latest sovereign investor to enter the growing market for direct lending.

The PIF, as its known, will anchor a $300 million Shariah-compliant fund started by Dubai-based private equity firm NBK Capital Partners, according to a statement. Yaser Moustafa, senior managing director at NBK Capital, said that the vehicle will also involve a very prominent US family office and large institutional investors.

Private credit has emerged as a popular asset class in recent years, ballooning into an $850 billion market as it attracted interest from the worlds largest sovereign investors.

NBK Capital, the private equity arm of Kuwaits largest bank, said it completed the first closing of the credit fund, which will work with mid-sized Middle Eastern firms that are struggling to secure attractive financing.


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- Europe's largest veterinary care provider welcomes additional investment and renewed long-term commitment from largest shareholder EQT Private Equity

- New minority investment from technology leader Silver Lake validates success to date and compelling opportunities ahead

- The expanded partnership is expected to accelerate continued growth and further broaden IVC's digitalization and innovation capabilities

STOCKHOLM, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IVC Evidensia ("IVC" or "the Company"), Europe's largest veterinary care provider, announces an expanded partnership among its shareholders to support IVC in driving its next phase of accelerating growth. The aggregated new investment from the expanded partnership transaction totals 3.5 billion and values IVC at an enterprise value of approximately 12.3 billion.

Headquartered in Bristol, UK, IVC is a leading veterinary services provider with a network of more than 1,500 clinics and hospitals and approximately 22,000 employees across Europe. Founded in 2011, IVC operates a decentralized model promoting innovation and clinical freedom balanced with integrated support functions such as procurement, veterinary advisors and clinical boards. With the purpose of providing the world's best veterinary services by caring for pets and people, IVC is leading the way in bringing new standards to animal care and staff wellbeing in the sector globally.

IVC was acquired by EQT Private Equity in December 2016, through its EQT VII fund, and in May 2017 the Company merged with Evidensia, a Swedish veterinary group acquired by EQT Private Equity in 2014. Since then, IVC Evidensia has transformed into the leading European veterinary services provider through accelerated organic growth and a large number of strategic add-on acquisitions. EQT has supported IVC through hiring a new leadership team around CEO, Steve Clarke, and Chairperson, Kate Swann, and revenue has more than tripled since the merger.

As part of its long-term commitment to IVC, EQT Private Equity is making a substantial investment through its EQT IX fund, and with the transaction EQT VII is partially exiting its stake but will remain invested in the Company. As its largest shareholder, EQT Private Equity's new investment is a validation of the successful partnership and continued potential for substantial growth in IVC.

Silver Lake, a leading global technology investment firm, is making a new substantial minority investment in IVC to help further unlock growth from digital and technology opportunities. Silver Lake has strong expertise and relationships in technology and plans to support IVC as it digitalises its business and develops cutting edge digital products and solutions.

Nestle, which joined EQT Private Equity in 2019 as a minority investor and strategic partner, is also increasing its minority stake in IVC as part of this transaction. IVC will continue to operate as an independent business and this partnership will allow the Company to leverage Nestle Purina PetCare's leading expertise in pet health, pet nutrition and scientific innovation, while Nestle Purina PetCare EMENA benefits from unique insights into veterinary care which help to improve and deliver advanced pet food solutions and first-class pet care services.

Steve Clarke, CEO of IVC Evidensia, said: "This expanded partnership underscores and reflects our vision for what great veterinary care can be. We are very pleased about the strong renewed commitment from our largest shareholder EQT Private Equity, who has built this company and set the foundation for its sustained growth, and Nestle Purina PetCare EMENA, with whom we have a powerful partnership combining unique insights across pet nutrition and veterinary care. We believe that we can accelerate our growth through various digital opportunities and are excited to welcome Silver Lake to the shareholder group, who together with EQT, will support us with expanding our digital products and solutions. The totality of this new partnership is exciting and we look forward to together building a digital ecosystem around IVC."

Per Franzen, Partner and Investment Advisor to EQT Private Equity, said: "We have seen tremendous growth over the past several years and the additional investments will help to fuel IVC's continued innovation in veterinary care and cement its leadership position in Europe. EQT Private Equity is delighted to both welcome Silver Lake as an investor and continue with the strong support from IVC's existing partner, Nestle Purina PetCare EMENA."

Simon Patterson, Managing Director of Silver Lake and Co-Head of EMEA, said: "IVC is a strong, well-managed business investing effectively in digital technology to create better outcomes for customers and clinicians. We are excited to partner with the existing investors and the highly talented management team to help the company accelerate the implementation of its digital strategy and build a world-class direct-to-consumer platform for pet care."

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. It is expected to close in Q2 2021 at the latest. Goldman Sachs and Jefferies acted as financial advisors to the sellside. J.P. Morgan and Numis acted as financial advisors to Silver Lake.

With this transaction, EQT IX is expected to be 35-40 percent invested (including closed and/or signed investments, announced public offers, if applicable, and less any expected syndication) based on its target fund size, and subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Contacts



For IVC Evidensia:

Fiona Micallef-Eynaud, Brunswick Group, IVCEvidensia@brunswickgroup.com, + 44 207 404 5959



For EQT:

EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com, +46 8 506 55 334



For Silver Lake:

Jess Gill, Edelman Smithfield, jess.gill@edelmansmithfield.com, +44 (0)7980 684 247

For Nestle:

Christoph Meier, mediarelations@nestle.com, +41 21 924 2200

About IVC

IVC is the largest and most diversified vet services platform in Europe with more than 1,500 clinics and hospitals across 12 countries. IVC employs approximately 22,000 people, including over 6000 veterinarians.

More info: www.ivc.group

About EQT

EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with more than EUR 84 billion in raised capital and over EUR 52 billion in assets under management across 17 active funds. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America with total sales of more than EUR 27 billion and approximately 159,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com

Follow EQT on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram

About Silver Lake

Silver Lake is a global technology investment firm, with approximately $75 billion in combined assets under management and committed capital and a team of professionals based in North America, Europe and Asia. Silver Lake's portfolio of investments collectively generates more than $180 billion of revenue annually and employs more than 400,000 people globally. For more information about Silver Lake and its portfolio, please visit www.silverlake.com.

About Nestle Purina PetCare EMENA

Nestle Purina PetCare EMENA (Europe, Middle East, and North Africa) believes that pets and people are better together and is committed to helping pets live longer, happier and healthier lives through proper nutrition and care. For over 120 years, Purina has been one of the pioneers in providing nutritious and palatable products made to the highest standards of quality and safety. Purina's passion for pets goes beyond the advancement of pet nutrition,?and in 2016,?Purina PetCare Europe launched the 10 Purina in Society commitments to have a positive impact on pets and society, including promoting pet adoption, pets in the workplace and helping to reduce the risk of pet obesity. The Purina portfolio includes many of the best-known and best-loved pet foods including Purina FELIX, Purina FRISKIES, Purina?BENEFUL, Purina BEYOND, Purina FIDO, Purina ONE, Purina GOURMET, Purina PRO PLAN and Purina BAKERS.??

A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestle Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestle S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.?

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/ivc-evidensia-expands-partnership-to-drive-next-phase-of-accelerating-growth,c3283184

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New Delhi: The Kapoor family woke up to unfortunate news of Rajiv Kapoor's demise on February 9, 2021 morning. Late actor Rishi and Randhir Kapoor's younger brother, Rajiv Kapoor was 58. He suffered a cardiac arrest and was rushed to the hospital. However, he succumbed to the attack.

As soon as the news broke out online, several people including family members such as Neetu Kapoor, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, Kareena and Karisma Kapoor expressed their grief. Many fans and celeb friends also offered their condolences to the family in this hour of need.

Rajiv Kapoor led a very private life - away from all the limelight. Not much is out in the open about his personal life.

Veteran actor Raza Murad mourned Rajiv Kapoor's untimely demise and told Zee News, "I have known Rajiv since a very long time. After his debut film, 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili' released, his career failed as an actor. In those days, all other actors of his time did well but Rajiv Kapoor's career never took off. He then tried his hands at the direction with 'Prem Granth' starring brother Rishi Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit but even that didn't work out. Rajiv was disappointed in life and very lonely because he was not successful in his career and marriage also failed."

Rajiv Kapoor stayed at father and late legendary filmmaker-actor Raj Kapoor's old bungalow in Chembur, Mumbai.

According to sources, Rajiv led a lonely life after his marriage with Aarti Sabharwal didn't work out well. The couple got married in 2001 and were divorced in 2003. The duo did not have any kids together.

Reportedly, he was also into drinking and many times his caretakers looked after him.

The 58-year-old Kapoor son's untimely death has shaken Bollywood and fans alike.

May his soul rest in peace!
Bombay HC rejects default bail plea filed by Gautam Navlakha

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Mumbai, Feb 09: The Bombay High Court has rejected a plea filed by activist Gautam Navlakha seeking default bail. He is accused of alleged naxal links in the 2018 Elgar Parishad case.

Lodged in the Taloja jail, he had appealed against the order of the NIA court which had rejected his bail on the grounds that his house arrest constituted custody. The HC excluded his 34 days of house arrest in 2018 from the duration of custody within which the chargesheet had to be filed.

Navlakha said that the chargesheet against him was not filed within 90 days as prescribed by the law and hence he was entitled for default bail. The court however agreed with the counsel for the NIA who said that only when the detention is authorised by a magistrate after arrest can the custody period of 90 days be counted.

The ISI connect: Gautam Navlakha united 'intellectuals to defeat a democratic govt

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

The court said that the question before it was whether the house arrest period constituted custody under the default bail position in the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Bench noted that during the house arrest, police had no access to the accused not the occasion to interrogate him. They relied on a Supreme Court ruling which said for detention under police custody, the police ought to have access to the accused.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 8:34 [IST]
Media freedom groups and supporters of Julian Assange have asked the Biden administration to drop the USs pursuit of the WikiLeaks' founder, saying Donald Trump was opposed to the idea of a free press.

In their first appeal to the US government since Joe Biden became president less than three weeks ago, more than 20 groups working to promote human right and a free media, wrote to the department of justice, asking it to drop the case against Mr Assange, saying they were fearful "the way that a precedent created by prosecuting Assange could be leveraged.

The indictment of Mr Assange threatens press freedom because much of the conduct described in the indictment is conduct that journalists engage in routinely  and that they must engage in in order to do the work the public needs them to do, said the letter, signed by groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Freedom of the Press Foundation.

Journalists at major news publications regularly speak with sources, ask for clarification or more documentation, and receive and publish documents the government considers secret. In our view, such a precedent in this case could effectively criminalise these common journalistic practices.

Read more: Follow live Trump impeachment updates

There was no immediate response from the White House. But in a short statement released on Monday evening, a spokesperson for the department of justice, said: "We are continuing our efforts to seek the extradition of Julian Assange."

In early January, a British judge in London turned down a request extradition from the US to send Mr Assange to America to face a total of 18 charges, that accused him of breaches of the Espionage Act and hacking into a Pentagon computer.

The 1917 Espionage Act, passed at a time when the US was at war, does not allow a defendant to argue they were acting in the public interest.

In her ruling on January 4, the the judge, Vanessa Baraitser of Westminster Magistrates Court, said she believed the case had been brought in good faith and said the accusations levelled at Mr Assange would constitute a crime in Britain.

Yet, she said she feared the risk the 49-year might take his own life, were he sent to the US, was very high. As a result, she ordered Mr Assange to be remain in jail while the US authorities appealed her decision, and sought to provide additional information about the steps that would be taken to ensure the WikiLeaks' founder did not harm himself, if he was extradited.

Supporters of Mr Assange welcomed the judges ruling in the short term, but said they feared the US would continue to seek to punish the Australian citizen.

He and his supporters say the US wants to stop him and his organisation from publishing details of the Wests deadly actions around the world, often carried out as part of the so-called war on terror.

Julian has the reputation as a speaker of the truth. And WikiLeaks revealed war crimes, and crimes against humanity, Mr Assanges father, John Shipton toldThe Independent earlier this year.

The persecution of Julian is to destroy the capacity of Julian to speak the truth about what's happened over the last 20 years or so, and the destruction of the Middle East.

Some of the most powerful information was provided to WiliLeaks by former army intelligence officer Chelsea Manning. She was arrested in 2010, and sentenced her to 35 years in a military prison at Fort Leavenworth.

She spent almost seven years in detention, much of it in solitary confinement, before the sentence was commuted by Barack Obama shortly before he left office.

In their letter, the activists point out the Obama administration, of which Mr Biden was a key part, decided not to pursue the prosecution of Mr Assange. The Trump administration positioned itself as an antagonist to the institution of a free and unfettered press in numerous ways. Its abuse of its prosecutorial powers was among the most disturbing, the letter says.

We are deeply concerned about the way that a precedent created by prosecuting Assange could be leveragedperhaps by a future administrationagainst publishers and journalists of all stripes.

The New York Times said the department had a deadline of Friday to file a brief in the British court if it wanted to continue to pursue the matter. The department is currently headed by a caretaker official, Monty Wilkinson, the acting attorney general. The letter was addressed to him.

In recent days, Stella Morris, Mr Assanges partner and the mother of two of his children, has said despite Britain being hit by cold weather, his winter clothes remained in prison storage.

She wrote: Julian should be warm, at home with me and his two sons.
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As of Monday, more students in New Mexico were able to get back into the classroom, giving some middle and high school students the chance to learn at school for the first time in almost 11 months.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently cleared the way for face-to-face schooling at all grade levels across the state amid the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the decision up to school boards and charter school leaders as long as they met safety requirements.

Three in-person options were given to schools, including a hybrid of in-person and online learning that allows up to 50% of students back to school at a time.

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According to state Public Education Department counts that do not include charter schools, 30 school districts welcomed students back to elementaries in a hybrid model for the first time this school year, contributing to a total of 47 districts currently open for hybrid at elementary schools. And 41 of the states 89 districts had secondary students on campus through that mixed learning approach.

But opening was not mandated and Albuquerque Public Schools and Santa Fe Public Schools are among the districts that are teaching virtually for now despite the governors recent action.

Hobbs Superintendent T.J. Parks said Monday was the first day many students in the district would be back in classrooms since March 2020, when the pandemic hit New Mexico.

He also said Hobbs has seen an enrollment drop of about 900 students, as many families have either permanently or temporarily relocated to Texas in order to go to school in person and play sports.

I believe that families who live in poverty have suffered the greatest lack of learning, Parks said.

He was testifying in support of a bill that would allow school boards to determine whether to reopen schools during a public health emergency  including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But that stalled Monday in a Senate committee on a tie vote.

The legislation, Senate Bill 171, has drawn bipartisan support from lawmakers who believe local school leaders should have more say in reopening decisions.

What happens in Eunice is not the same as what happens in Albuquerque and other parts of the state, said Sen. David Gallegos, R-Eunice.

But critics of the bill defended Lujan Grishams handling of the pandemic.

I do not think local school boards should have the power to override the public health orders our governor and the Department of Health put in place, said Sen. Bill Soules, D-Las Cruces, the chairman of the Senate Education Committee.

The bill ultimately failed to advance out of the committee on a 4-4 vote, with Sen. Martin Hickey, D-Albuquerque, a physician, voting in favor of it along with the panels three Republican members. The other four Democrats on the committee voted against advancing the legislation.
"Nagamasa Global's expanding international client base appreciates our regular travel to Europe, Dubai, India and the APAC region. These efforts continue to increase our global footprint," said Kazuo Yoshika, Senior Vice President, Business Development. "We avoid the proprietary trading conflict of interest and invest time, effort and resources strengthening client relationships."

"I made trips to Hong Kong visiting clients and prospects. I see my Hong Kong clients almost as often as when I lived there," added Tetsu Jinnai, Executive Vice President, Business Development.

Our International Execution Desk provides clients market access and a backup plan to electronic trading. Overnight operations, risk and technology support combine with server colocation services enabling clients to trade with speed and confidence from across the globe and knowing that Nagamasa Global is available for them around the clock.

"Nagamasa Global's increasingly global client base reflects the success of our travel commitment. Regular travel to Europe, the Middle East and U.S. regions provides a personal touch valued by our international clients," continued Mr. Kazuo Yoshika. "We invest time, effort and resources to strengthen these important relationships."

"I travel with a team of professionals hired specifically to service Nagamasa Global's European clients. In the last six months, we visited London, Dublin, Wien and Paris. Face-to-face meetings are critical to serve our international clients and explore new business opportunities," added Tetsu Jinnai, Executive Vice President, Business Development.

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, Tetsu Jinnai, or Kazuo Yoshika. 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

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Minister for State for Finance Anurag Singh Thakur on Tuesday said the Indian rupee was one of the better performing Asian currencies in 2020.

"In the financial year 2020-21, the Indian rupee (INR) has appreciated by 3.53 percent till February 2, 2021, as per the information provided by Reserve Bank of India," Thakur said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

He also said India enforced one of the most stringent lockdowns during April-June, 2020, compared to other key Asian countries and the contraction in gross domestic product (GDP) is consistent with the effect of the stringent lockdown.

"Owing to stringent lockdown measures, India was able to significantly contain the death rate from COVID-19. With gradual unlocking of the country, the economy made a significant V-shaped recovery," he said.

Sharing various steps taken by the government during 2020-21 to revive growth hit by COVID-19 pandemic, the minister said the government announced a special economic and comprehensive package under

AatmaNirbhar Bharat including measures taken by RBI amounting to about Rs 27.1 lakh crores  more than 13 percent of India's GDP  to combat the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to revive economic growth.

The package included, among others, in-kind and cash transfer relief measures for households, employment provision measures under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan and increased allocation under MGNREGS, credit guarantee and equity infusion-based relief measures for MSMEs and NBFCs and regulatory and compliance measures, he said.

Structural reforms were also announced as part of the AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package which included deregulation of the agricultural sector, change in definition of MSMEs, new PSU policy, commercialization of coal mining, higher FDI limits in defence and space sector and development of Industrial Land/ Land Bank and Industrial Information System.
Homeowners associations in Texas would be barred from restricting property owners from putting up religious displays in their yards under a new bill filed in the Texas Legislature.

State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, called the legislation a slam dunk and said some homeowners associations have gone too far in hassling property owners about their religious expression.

The bottom line is simply that if a homeowner wants to display a Nativity scene, put a cross or Menorah on their door, or exercise their religious freedom, whatever their religion might be, a homeowners association should not have the right to prevent that, Bettencourt said.

Bettencourt pointed to a 2018 case in which a Houston homeowner was told by his association that a small cross with the words He has risen stuck in the ground next to shrubs in his yard violated the communitys deed restrictions and needed to be removed.

Bettencourt is getting plenty of support for the bill. Sens Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, have also signed onto the proposal in the Senate, while State Rep. Mike Schofield, R-Katy, has filed an identical bill in the Texas House.

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Preventing someone from having a religious symbol on their own lawn is an infringement on freedom that is positively un-Texan, and it must stop, Schofield said.

Other states have passed similar legislation. In 2020, California enacted a law that bars HOAs from forcing homeowners to take down religious displays on their doors or entryways.

Texas law already bars homeowners associations from making people remove religious items on their door. But SB 581 would expand that to include peoples yards as well.

But critics say the legislation has a problem. When a similar bill was proposed in 2019, it stalled in the Legislature when some warned it could lead to unintended consequences. The Texas Community Association Advocates, which represents homeowners associations, warned the broad language could allow homeowners to put up satanic symbols, Wiccan displays or even swastikas, which were an ancient religious symbol before being co-opted by the Nazis.

There is a lot of potential for abuse, warned Trisha Farine, of the Texas Community Association Advocates.

The bill has not yet had its first hearing and would need to pass both chambers of the Texas Legislature by the end of the session on May 31 to have a chance of being signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com
WASHINGTON  Democrats plan to include an at least $3,000-per-child annual tax credit, paid to American families monthly in 2021, in the coronavirus relief bill that is hurtling toward passage by Congress.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, has been pushing to expand the child tax credit for 20 years in Congress and now as chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, she helped secure this temporary increase  and is leading the fight to make it permanent.

Aimed at fighting child poverty during the pandemic, the proposal in the coronavirus bill would raise the child tax credit to $3,600 for families with children up to six years old and pay $3,000 per child up to age 17 for couples earning up to $150,000 or individuals up to $75,000. The credit would decrease in size for higher income earners until it is phased out.

The child tax credit is normally $2,000. Its not fully accessible to low-income people who do not pay taxes. But using lessons learned from distributed stimulus checks to non-taxpayers, Democrats now plan to pay the new enhanced tax credit to non-tax filers.

Over one in three children do not qualify for the tax credit because their parents earn too little, according to the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University. In Connecticut, 26 percent of all children do not qualify, a DeLauro aide said.

Also, unlike the lump sum refund, parents will get this tax credit paid in monthly installments of $300 for parents of young children or $250 for older children.

Increasing the child tax credit during the pandemic has bipartisan support. But not everyone favors doing so permanently like DeLauro.

In the current pandemic relief bill under consideration, we would support increasing the Child Tax Credit to $3,500, and $4,500 for young children, said Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Marco Rubio of Florida. However, we do not support turning the Child Tax Credit into what has been called a child allowance, paid out as a universal basic income to all parents. That is not tax relief for working parents; it is welfare assistance.

DeLauro, whos been pushing to reform the child tax credit since 2003, made clear Monday that she believes a temporary expansion should be the stepping stone to permanent change. Shes pushing the Biden administration on that point and brought up the child tax credit in a Oval Office meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday.

We build the architecture for the future ... so were not just throwing money at a situation but we are looking at enduring transformation change, DeLauro said.

DeLauros permanent expansion would offer the credit to more families of higher income levels: up to $150,000 per year for individuals and $200,000 per year for couples.

The non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation estimates it will cost $117 billion to expand the child tax credit per year.

But Democrats like Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., and Ritchie Neal, D-N.Y., argued the investment would have significant returns by cutting poverty. They cited estimates that their bill could cut child poverty by nearly 45 percent, cut Black child poverty by 52.4 percent, Hispanic child poverty by 45.4 percent and Native American child poverty by 61.5 percent.

Increasing the child tax credit generally has some bipartisan support and proposals to expand it now have been offered by Democrats and Republicans. In their tax reform bill in 2017, Republicans doubled the maximum child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, recently released a proposal to give parents a $350 per month benefit for young children and $250 a month for school-aged children, while eliminating other federal tax benefits for families, like head-of-household status and the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program. He would also get rid of the state and local tax deduction completely to pay for his proposal, an idea sure to have opposition from high tax blue states like Connecticut.

DeLauro said she welcomes ideas to the table but opposed his decision to cut other programs helping low-income families, suggesting this change would mean Romneys proposal would not cut poverty as much as as her own proposal.

Romney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Other Democratic proposals to reform the child tax credit have also been proposed.

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

On Wednesday, February 10, at 10.30, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled "Social, Political Orientations of Ukraine's population" based on the results of a survey of Ukraine's population conducted by the Ukrainian Sociological Group company from January 26 to February 2, 2021. Participants include Director of the Ukrainian Sociological Group company Oleksandr Levtsun; Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies New Ukraine Svyatoslav Denysenko (8/5a Reitarska Street). The press conference will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot. Media accreditation by phone: (097) 560 9009 (Liudmyla Kovaliovska).
A hippo warning stands on the shore of a lagoon near Doral, Colombia, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. The offspring of hippos illegally imported to Colombia by drug kingpin Pablo Escobar in the 1980s are flourishing in the lush area and experts are warning about the dangers of the growing numbers. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Tucked between mountain ranges, the sprawling palace of Pablo Escobar was home to kangaroos, giraffes, elephants and other exotic animalsa private zoo of illegally imported animals that was the greatest ostentation of the feared drug kingpin as he reigned over the cocaine trade in Colombia.

Escobar and his Medellin Cartel are long dead, but one of the zoo's prized specimens is flourishing in the tropical countryside and wetlands in and around the palace-turned-theme parkthe hippopotamus. Like the man who introduced them to this country after obtaining them from a U.S. zoo, they are a source of endless controversy.

Government attempts to control their reproduction have had no real impact on population growth, with the number of hippos increasing in the last eight years from 35 to somewhere between 65 and 80.

A group of scientists is now warning that the hippos pose a major threat to the area's biodiversity and could lead to deadly encounters between the huge animals and humans. They say hippo numbers could reach around 1,500 by 2035 if nothing is done.

They say some of the animals need to be killed.

"I believe that it is one of the greatest challenges of invasive species in the world," said Nataly Castelblanco-Martinez, an ecologist at the University of Quintana Roo in Mexico and lead author of the group's study.

Hippos float in the lake at Hacienda Napoles Park, once the private estate of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar who imported three female hippos and one male decades ago in Puerto Triunfo, Colombia, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. The population has increased in the last eight years from 35 to somewhere between 65 and 80. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

The idea of killing some in the herd has already drawn some criticism and is likely to see more. There was an outcry years ago when three hippos wandered from the Escobar compound and were causing problems and one was killed by hunters sent after the animals.

The humans in this rural area have embraced the hippos as their own, in part because of the tourist dollars they bring in. For outsiders, it can be a puzzling bond, considering the animals kill more people per year in Africa than any other wildlife species. Here, elementary school students are used to walking past a sign that reads "Dangerhippopotamus present."

But the experts say the government's attempt to keep down numbers by sterilizing some hippos just isn't enough.

"Everyone asks, 'Why is this happening?' Well, imagine a town of 50 people and you perform a vasectomy on one man and in two years on another man, obviously, that is not going to control the reproduction of the entire population," Castelblanco-Martinez said.

A pink statue of a hippo greets tourists at Hacienda Napoles Park in Puerto Triunfo, Colombia, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. Hacienda Napoles was once a private zoo with illegally imported animals that belonged to drug trafficker Pablo Escobar. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

The scientists began working on the hippo population forecast last year after one of the animals chased and severely injured a poor farmer. Their study was published in the journal Biological Conservation in January.

Another study last year by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, found the hippos are changing the quality of the water in which they spend much of their time and defecate. As their population continues to grow, they could end up displacing native animals like the Antillean manatees, Castelblanco-Martinez said.

Escobar in the 1980s arranged for three female hippos and one male to be brought to his 5,500-acre (2,225-hectare) estate, Hacienda Napoles. After his death in a shootout with authorities in 1993, most of the exotic animals were relocated or died. But the hippos were abandoned at the estate due to the cost and logistical issues associated with transporting 3-ton animals and the violence that plagued the area at the time.

The hippos thrive in the fertile region lying between Medellin and Colombia's capital, Bogota. They live in the area around the Rio Magdalenathe Mississippi River of Colombiaspending the day mostly in the lakes and waterways and the night roaming endless grass pastures. Unlike in their native Africa, they have no natural predators in Colombia.

Hippos float in the lake at Hacienda Napoles Park, once the private estate of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar who imported three female hippos and one male decades ago in Puerto Triunfo, Colombia, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. After his death in a shootout with authorities in 1993, the hippos were abandoned at the estate due to the cost and logistical issues associated with transporting 3-ton animals and the violence that plagued the area at the time. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

"About 10 years ago, we realized that we have a giant population of hippopotamuses. We began to learn how the population was constituted, to see if there was an immediate solution," said David Echeverri-Lopez, a researcher at the regional environmental agency that oversees the hippos. "We really began to realize the dimensions of the problem."

While Echeverri agreed that killing some of the hippos would be the best solution, he said the animals' magnetic personality and government regulation may never allow it.

After the public criticism erupted more than a decade ago over the killing of the hippo by hunters, touched off by a photo showing soldiers posing with the hippo as a hunting trophy, the government instituted a ban on hunting hippos.

It decided to try sterilization, but that is a complex and expensive process. First, an animal must be tricked into entering a huge metal corral to be sedated. Then a team of wildlife experts must spend about three hours cutting through the animal's thick skin and then try to find its reproductive organs, which is not easy.

Hippos swim in the lake at Hacienda Napoles Park, once the private estate of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar who imported three female hippos and one male decades ago in Puerto Triunfo, Colombia, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. Government attempts to control their reproduction have had no real impact on population growth, with the number of hippos increasing in the last eight years from 35 to somewhere between 65 and 80. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

A boy rides his bicycle in a park decorated with hippo statues in Doradal, Colombia, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. Pablo Escobar and his Cartel de Medellin are long dead, but the hippos from his personal zoo continue to flourish in tropical countryside and wetlands in and around his former hacienda. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

"The community keeps an eye on us to make sure that we are actually sterilizing (the hippo) and not doing anything else," said Gina Serna-Trujillo, a veterinarian who has conducted some of the sterilizations. "They love them."

Serna said each procedure can cost around $8,500a steep price for the regional environmental agency that oversees the animals. She said a documentary's production sponsored the cost of one procedure in 2019 and another film will do the same this year. No procedures were conducted in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Echeverri said the agency has conducted 10 sterilizations and relocated four juvenile hippos to Colombian zoos. Zoos in other countries have shown interest, but bureaucratic red tape has gotten in the way. This year, the agency hopes to be able to start carrying out a type of chemical sterilization that has worked on pigs.

Tourists buy souvenirs of the late drug baron Pablo Escobar, featured as a statue with a sign that says one will be charged for taking photos inside a store in Doradal, Colombia, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. Escobar and his Medellin Cartel are long dead, but one of the zoo's prized specimens is flourishing in the tropical countryside and wetlands in and around the palace-turned-theme parkthe hippopotamus.(AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Castelblanco understands the appeal of hippos, even describing a baby hippo as "the most beautiful thing in the world," but said the discussions over their future in Colombia should not be ruled by warm feelings the animals generate.

"We have other invasive species in Colombia that have undergone normal protocols, and no one ever makes a fuss because they are fishing lionfish," she said referring to a fish native to the Indo-Pacific that is now an invasive species in the Atlantic Ocean. "You can't even talk about (culling hippos) because the rejection is staggering. ... I am being called a murderer."

Explore further Beloved Colombian hippos pose environmental dilemma

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Dear Editor,

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Rutte in September of 2015, former Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, along with former Prime Ministers Eman of Aruba and Whiteman of Curacao questioned whether the Netherlands Antilles were ever decolonized. In the letter, all three Prime Ministers reminded Mr. Rutte that the United Nations had serious doubts about the sincerity of the Dutch State to decolonize these islands and questioned whether the Kingdom Charter had decolonized the islands. The honorable Prime Ministers pointed out that the UN General Assembly had warned of the danger of abusing the position of governor to violate the autonomy of the islands. Additionally, the former Prime Ministers pointed out that the Antillian Prime Minister Jonkheer (circa 1955) managed to persuade a skeptical UN General Assembly that the Netherlands Antilles would not hesitate to call on the international community should their rights be violated.

The UN General Assembly suspicion of the Dutch intentions (at the time The Netherlands had a bad reputation because of its conduct during the war in Indonesia) was reflected in the vote on Resolution 945X of December 15, 1955. The General Assembly adopted two amendments which their sponsors (India and Uruguay) stated were intended to declare that the Netherlands Antilles were not fully self-governing, as well as, restricting itself to only Article 73e of the UN Charter while allowing the rest of Article 73 to remain in force. Resolution 945X was adopted with a 28% vote of approval while 43% of the members abstained. It is the lowest score achieved by any nation during the decolonization process. Inge Klinkers, who wrote "De Weg Naar Het Statuut", states that the UN vote was a bitter pill for the Netherlands.

Pro Soualiga Foundation

Click here to read letter from former PM Gumbs to PM Rutte.
A Turkish militia leader has been assassinated near Idleb, according to Baladi News.

On Sunday, unknown assailants shot dead a Turkish leader in the western countryside of Idleb, days after an attempt to assassinate him with a car bomb.

The Baladi News correspondent in the Idleb countryside said that unidentified masked gunmen on a motorcycle shot down a Turkish leader known as Abou Younes al-Almani (The German), killing him instantly.

He was considered the military leader in charge of the German and Turkish fighters in northwestern Syria.

The assassination took place after Almani left the Maghrib prayer, on Sunday, in front of the Al-Farooq Mosque in the northwestern neighborhood of the city of Jisr al-Shughur in the western countryside of Idleb.

On February 2, Almani was exposed to an assassination attempt when his car was targeted with an explosive device in front of his house in Jisr al-Shughur.

Almani was known for being independent from other factions and military formations after he separated from the Guardians of Religion Organization amid the disputes with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham mid-last year.

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.
Baton Rouge-based Southern University and Xavier University and Dillard University in New Orleans are participating in a small business loan and educational program through Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses and Hope Enterprise Corporation.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- David DeVillers, the U.S attorney for the Southern District of Ohio who is overseeing the corruption probe into the passage of Ohio House Bill 6, announced Tuesday he will resign at the end of this month as part of a broader move by the Biden administration to replace U.S. attorneys appointed under former President Donald Trump.

Justice Department leadership in Washington, D.C. requested DeVillers resignation in a 12 p.m. call, according to a source with knowledge of the conversation. DeVillers issued a statement later Tuesday afternoon announcing his resignation, effective Feb. 28, with a heavy heart. The Justice Department issued its own statement Tuesday announcing the transition process for DeVillers and other Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys who remain in their jobs.

It has been the honor of my life to serve as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, DeVillers said. While it was my hope to continue on for a few more months to finish some of the work we have started, I am absolutely certain that the AUSAs and investigators working for the people of the Southern District of Ohio will bring this work to a successful and just closure. I am committed to support and assist whoever the President and Senate choose to permanently replace me to the best that I can. I encourage that person to be just, apolitical, aggressive and impactful.

In an interview, DeVillers said hed known his days were numbered, but thought hed have more time. He said his focus will be preparing his top assistant U.S. attorney, Vipal Patel, to handle the office on an interim basis.

He also said the HB6 corruption probe and other major cases his office is working on, including the investigation of the fatal shooting of Casey Goodson, an unarmed Black man who was shot and killed by a sheriffs deputy in Columbus last December, will continue uninterrupted, managed by the assistant U.S. attorneys who have been working on them.

Ive got a couple weeks. I was hoping to have a couple months, but now Im going to have a couple weeks, he said.

Timing aside, the move is not unexpected. Sen Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, put out a call for applicants interested in replacing DeVillers on Jan. 20, hours after President Joe Bidens inauguration. Its typical for U.S. attorneys to be replaced when new presidents take office, especially if the new president is from a different political party from the old one. DeVillers has held the office since November 2019. Before that, he spent two decades as a prosecutor, focusing primarily on investigating gangs and violent crime.

The Justice Department issued a statement Tuesday afternoon acknowledging it had begun the transition process for the U.S. Attorneys.

We are committed to ensuring a seamless transition, acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson said in a statement. Until U.S. Attorney nominees are confirmed, the interim and acting leaders in the U.S. Attorneys Offices will make sure that the department continues to accomplish its critical law enforcement mission, vigorously defend the rule of law and pursue the fair and impartial administration of justice for all.

The Southern District makes up roughly half of Ohio, and includes Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton. But DeVillers impact has extended into Northeast Ohio through his offices prosecution of the probe into HB6, the tainted nuclear bailout bill.

Prosecutors say that Akron-based FirstEnergy and its affiliates gave $61 million in bribes, in the form of political contributions and other political spending, to a group controlled by former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and his allies. The money helped Householder, a Republican, gain his leadership position, and in exchange, prosecutors say, Householder helped pass the bill, which was supposed to send $1 billion to two Ohio nuclear plants owned by a former FirstEnergy affiliate.

The investigation became public last July, after Householder and four others were arrested and charged with racketeering. FirstEnergy hasnt been charged, but charging documents make it clear that the utility and its affiliates funded the bribery scheme. Householder has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.

Two political operatives who worked on the campaign to pass HB6, Jeff Longstreth and Juan Cespedes, have pleaded guilty. Generation Now, a political dark money group prosecutors said the $61 million was anonymously funneled through, has agreed to plead guilty, according to a court filing from last Friday.
Cases of COVID-19 infection continue to climb in Vietnam following a new outbreak of the pandemic on Jan. 28, with 45 new cases discovered just in the last day, over 10 of them of them in southern Vietnams Ho Chi Minh City, sources in the country say.

The total number of confirmed infections in Vietnam has now risen to 2,050 in 11 separate provinces or cities, with 35 reported deaths, according to state media quoting Vietnams National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Everyone here is very anxious, Vo Xuan Sona doctor at the citys EXSON International Medical Clinictold RFAs Vietnamese Service on Monday. In Saigon, over 10 COVID cases were reported only this morning, Vo added, referring to Ho Chi Minh City by an older name.

No one knows why the pandemic has broken out again, because people are getting contradictory information, Vo said, adding, It may have been surging again for a while now, resulting in [so many] people being found positive in a single day.

The problem with the outbreak here is that we dont know yet where it started. The virus this time doesnt appear to be the UK variant, so people think that what were seeing now may have been around for a long time.

Vo said it is too soon to predict how effective attempts at controlling the new outbreak will be. But surely handling the epidemic in Ho Chi Minh City this time will be more complicated than it was in Chi Linh City or in Da Nang, which were hit a few months ago, he said, adding that lines of transmission have been difficult to trace.

I stay at home all day because of the spread of COVID-19, one city resident told RFA. Local authorities are not releasing much information about the pandemic or about the positive cases in the community, he said.

The anti-pandemic measures now in place are the same ones weve had for a long time.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc called on Monday for city medical services to take stronger measures to control the further spread of the disease, enforcing social distancing in some parts of the city.

Also on Monday, Vuong Dinh HueCommunist Party chief in Vietnams capital Hanoiwarned that city authorities would deal harshly with anyone found not to have declared their condition of health within 12 days of a diagnosis of infection.

Law-enforcement authorities in Hanoi last week proposed 15 penalties in cases of residents deliberately concealing cases of infection, with fines going as high as VND $200 million and prison terms going up to 20 years, state media said.

More vaccines from China

The government of Laos has meanwhile received an additional 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Chinamost of it for use by persons designated high-risk individuals, including health workers and officials working at the border-crossings with neighboring countries.

The new batch follows a delivery at the end of January of 2,000 doses of Chinas Sinopharm vaccine used to vaccinate health workers at a special COVID-19 unit in a 150-bed hospital in Vientiane.

Lao officials are now meeting to decide how to distribute the vaccines, an official from the countrys Department of Health told RFAs Lao Service on Monday, adding that these will be given to high-risk groups first.

They will be looking first for medical workers and others who work with high-risk persons in hospitals and clinics around the country, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Though members of the general public, migrant workers, and persons over 65 years of age will not be vaccinated for now, they are being considered, he added.

The official told RFA that he had already received the vaccine himself, and that while he suffered no side effects, there had been some minor problems, including a dryness of the skin after the injection, that have already been cleared up.

There is still a risk of infection, though, since the World Health Organization has said these vaccines dont provide 100 percent protection, he said.

Also speaking to RFA, a health official in the capital Vientiane said that he will receive the vaccine soon himself, adding that though he has confidence in the vaccine, he will still continue to protect himself from infection.

Even after we are vaccinated, we will have to wear our N95 mask whenever we go anywhere. We dont dare take any risks, he said.

Health officials in Luang Prabang and Savannakhet provinces said they are also looking forward to receiving the vaccine, and that they believe the vaccinations while not 100 percent effective will protect them from severe cases of infection even if they fall ill.

China has promised to eventually send Laos 1,500,000 doses of their COVID-19 vaccineenough to vaccinate 10 percent of the countrys populationand shipments of Russias Sputnik V vaccine and vaccines from the WHO-backed COVAX organization are expected to arrive in April.

Laos has so far reported a total of 45 cases of COVID-19 infection, with four cases still being treated in hospital for mild symptoms, and 41 reported cured.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese and Lao Service. Translated by Huy Le and Sidney Khotpanya. Written in English by Richard Finney.

Iza Kavedzija calls it an attitude of gratitude. Thats what struck the anthropology and aging expert after she spent years interviewing the elderly and super-elderly in the Japanese city of Osaka, and trying to understand why they seemed so happy.

Kavedzija, a professor at Exeter University in England, interviewed elderly Osakans over more than a decade. She has just published Making Meaningful Lives: Tales from an Aging Japan.

Time and again, she found, Osakans in their 70s, 80s and 90s would express gratitude while describing their life stories. I am grateful (arigatai), they would say, with a meaningful, thoughtful pause just before using the phrase.

Many of my interview recordings, I later came to realize, captured the same space of silence before an expression of gratitude, Dr. Kavedzija writes in the latest edition of the journal Aging & Anthropology.

Its a racing certainty that in the years ahead those of us in the West are going to be turning Horace Greeley on his head and looking East, old man. Japan is the oldest society in the world. Yet somehow it is doing more than a few things right when it comes to caring for the elderly.

(In the past year, for example, Japan has managed to suffer a death rate from COVID that is, so far, a staggering 93% below that of Germany and 96% below that of the United States.)

Where Japan has trod, other countries will follow. The number of over-65s in America has nearly doubled in 20 years. By 2035 we are expected to have more senior citizens than minors, for the first time in history.

Read: Baby boomers face financial distress and age discrimination

In Japan, economists have been worried about the growing number of elderly who are at economic risk from an increasingly threadbare safety net, Kavedzija reports. Yet studies have found that many of the elderly there are in better psychological shape than economists might have predicted. Among the reasons: Faith in the future, social connections, and this attitude of gratitude. Many of the people she interviewed were reluctant to say they were satisfied with life, because it might sound like bragging. Instead they would say I am grateful.
You dont build a skyscraper to conceal a dead mouse, as Saul Bellow the Nobel Prize winning novelist would have asked. The entire nation was in a state of ferment over Pranab Mukherjees proposed speech on the occasion of the visit of the RSS headquarter. The national media had created such an air of expectancy as if a modern-day version of Book of Revelation was going to be launched from the ramparts of the RSS headquarters.

Pranab Mukherjee is no prophet, nor is he a great political thinker, nor a spellbinder, nor a man of compelling moral authority. He is just an astute politician endowed with a superlative skill for survival. Citizen Pranab Mukherjee could be described best in these lines from W. H. Audens poem The Unknown Citizen:

"Our researchers into Public Opinion are content

That he held the proper opinions for the time of year;

When there was peace, he was for peace: when there was war,

he went.



Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard."

Never the one to court controversy, he got away with the account of tempestuous years in his Autobiography without creating enemies. Why would he do so now?



In its complete banality his speech did not surprise anyone. It was a boring bricolage of what has been said ad nauseum: pious, trite, time-worn, as cliched as cliches could be; homilies, sermons and the mantra like invocation of pluralism, inclusiveness, unity in diversity. It was a consummate use of language as political gesture; therefore, necessarily the words were sanitized and drained out of any significant content.

His presence at the RSS headquarters itself was the message, the rest was floral gift wrapping.

Umberto Ecco once said, "The politician, when speaking, is actually sending a message in code that emanates from one power group to another and is destined for another. The two groups sender and receiver understand one another perfectly well. It is clear, moreover, that in order for communication between power groups to carry on undisturbed it must go over the heads of the public just like the coded messages passing between two armed camps in a war situation, which might be intercepted by ham radio groups but never understood the fact of its not being understood by others is the indispensable condition for the maintenance of private relationship between power groups."

His other ambitions were fulfilled but his ambition of the lifetime to become the Prime Minister of India was stymied. His memoir gives out the sense of hurt. The silent, subservient, suave and self-effacing Manmohan Singh became the natural choice over the more experienced and infinitely wily Pranab Mukherjee. Is there political life after Presidency of the Republic? Is that the coded message? Was it a private message sent to the BJP as well as select groups in his own party from a public platform which leapfrogs the eager public?

The political pot is simmering but no one knows what broth will be cooking in 2019. But one thing is for sure: there is the realization that the Congress has gone too far in "othering" the RSS - a corner stone of its policy - and, by a distant association, the many noncommitted, relatively nonparochial Hindu elements as well.

The political scenario has changed considerably and balanced, even tempered, Hindus are having a look around at the secularism, for good or for bad, which is now being perceived as an unabashed appeasement of the minorities and a deliberate short shifting of the Hindus.

Bismarck once said that there is no such thing as intuition: political genius consisted in listening to the hoof beats of history and then by a superhuman effort leaping and latching on to the coat tails of the horseman.

Is Pranab Mukherjee hearing the distant hoof beats of History? Is he taking a forward position? Only time will tell.

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Pataliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
[February 09, 2021] Nation Lawyers Obtains Default from Florida Court for Client, PotNetwork Holdings, Inc., in Pending Lawsuit Against Thunder Energies Corporation

Nation Lawyers Chartered, announced today that it had obtained a Florida court ordered Default against Thunder Energies Corporation, d/b/a the Hemp Plug, LLC and Nature Consulting, LLC on behalf of its client, PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. (OTC Pink: POTN ). About the Case. On November 16, 2020, First Capital Venture Co., a subsidiary of the client, d/b/a Diamond CBD, filed a civil "Verified Complaint" against Thunder Energie Corporation, f/k/a Thunder Fusion Corporation and CCJ Acquisition Corp, d/b/a the "Hemp Plug, LLC" and "Nature Consulting, LLC," and certain individuals, (the "Defendants"), in the pending 17th Judicial Circuit Court in and for Broward County, Florida, (the "Florida Court"), Case Number CACE-20-019111 (the "Complaint").



First Capital Venture Co., as Plaintiff, alleged that the Defendants misappropriated Diamond CBD's customer and distributor lists, and other confidential, proprietary files, documents and trade secrets, interfered with Diamond CBD's business relationships with customers and employees, and used said information to compete against Diamond CBD. Plaintiff also alleged that the Defendants had acted maliciously, in "bad faith" and willful wanton disregard of existing agreements with Diamond CBD, and had deliberately ignored "cease and desist" demands and warning letters sent before the filing of the Complaint. In addition, Plaintiff alleged that the Defendants have failed to disclose to investors in its filings with OTC Markets and the Securities and Exchange Commission (Thunder Energies' CIK#0001524872) the existence of this litigation.

On January 26, 2021, as a result of the Complaint, the Florida Court reviewed and granted a "Motion and Order of Default" against the Defendants. After entry of the Default, Plaintiff is poised to seek monetary judgment, the amount of which will be determined in the pending lawsuit, plus injunctive relief and other remedies in law and equity to include compensation for lost revenues, legal fees and expenses. As a result of continued efforts by Nation Lawyers, on February 1, 2021, the Court granted an "Ex-Parte Motion to Compel" that the Defendants failed to respond to the Plaintiff's December 3, 2020 discovery demand, which will be utilized in part to determine the amount of monetary damages due the Plaintiff. Legal counsel to First Capital Venture Co. is Jonathan Jaffe, Esquire of Nation Lawyers Chartered, who announced the entry of the default in the pending litigation. About Nation Lawyers Chartered. Serving Florida from West Palm Beach to the Keys, and headquartered in Sunrise, Florida, outside Ft. Lauderdale, Nation Lawyers Chartered is a professional corporation comprised of a knowledgeable and experienced team of attorneys, paralegals, and support staff providing services in the numerous areas of federal and state law and regulation, including civil and criminal matters, immigration, real estate, family, consumer, business law and complex litigation. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005121/en/

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Cisco Systems ranked No. 1, followed closely by Google (Alphabet) and Johnson Johnson.

WilsonHCG's 2021 Fortune 500 Employment Branding Report analyzes and ranks the employment brands of each Fortune 500 company. In its seventh year of publication, the ranking's top spot went to Cisco Systems for the first time.

Covering 20,000 data points, researchers evaluated each Fortune 500 company on the following categories: recruitment marketing, career advertising, career pages, accolades, corporate social responsibility, and employee reviews and candidate experience.

This year's report shows the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on employment branding and drives home the importance for employers to be transparent and overcommunicate.

"Our research showed the companies who invested in their people throughout the pandemic excelled in our ranking," said John Wilson, CEO at WilsonHCG. "We expect to see this trend continuing. How companies dealt with their employees during the pandemic will be a factor in the decision-making process for candidates when selecting new opportunity."

Taking a proactive approach to talent and catering employment branding efforts to all generations and segments of workers will differentiate the employers of choice in the new world of work, as will taking a strong stance when it comes to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB).

Key findings:

Employee-generated content valued in recruitment marketing: The average score in the recruitment marketing category was 10 points out of 17. Companies that scored above average embraced employee-generated content in unique ways, leveraged more social media channels and made greater use of talent communities.

Organizations with talent communities/networks doubled: Whether companies are anticipating a spike in hiring this year or are planning for future access to top talent, prioritizing a talent community and genuine engagement made the top of the list.

Career advertising hit by hiring freezes: Many companies halted hiring in 2020, so this category saw the greatest decrease in average points earned, dropping 50% from last year.

Rise of the bot: The number of companies with chatbots on their career sites doubled compared with the previous year's research. This is a trend that will continue throughout 2021 as there are more candidates in the job market so the requirement to automate time-consuming tasks will become more apparent.

To access a copy of WilsonHCG's 2021 Fortune 500 Top 100 Employment Branding Report, click here.

About WilsonHCG

WilsonHCG is an award-winning, global leader in total talent solutions. Operating as a strategic partner, it helps some of the world's most admired brands build comprehensive talent functions. With a global presence spanning more than 65 countries and six continents, WilsonHCG provides a full suite of configurable talent services including recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), executive search, contingent talent solutions and technology advisory.

TALENT. It's more than a solution; it's who we are

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005567/en/

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+44 7889901517

813-418-4479

kirsty.hewitt@wilsonhcg.com

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After cartoonist Johannes Leak triggered a Twitterstorm last year when a hamfisted depiction of US Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris drew criticisms of racism, it was always going to take someone with nerves of steel to give Leak his next high profile gig.

Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit:

Step forward Tony Abbott, who has handpicked Leak to paint his official portrait to be hung in Parliament House. Leak, a cartoonist at The Australian who is the son of the broadsheets late celebrated cartoonist and provocateur Bill Leak, scored the official government portrait contract earlier this month via the Historic Memorials Collection. Department documents show hell be paid more than $40,000 for the honour, too.

Perhaps sensing the commission might ruffle some feathers inside the more progressive wings of the federal governments bureaucracy, the Department of Parliamentary Services wouldnt offer much information about the gig on Tuesday. A spokeswoman declined to tell CBD who Leak would be painting.

The process to produce official portraits involves the subject of the portrait selecting an artist. Their selection is then approved by the National Portrait Gallery prior to the contract being awarded, a spokeswoman said. The subject of official portraits is formally announced when the portrait is unveiled.
The Fox News Channel finished the quarter with its highest average ratings, he said on an earnings call with analysts. We are now seeing expected audience pullback since the election, a phenomenon that he said was consistent with prior election cycles. He expects audiences to eventually return to the network.

The company also announced a multiyear renewal contract for Suzanne Scott, the head of the network, dispelling any concerns that she may be replaced given its recent ratings performance.

Suzannes track record of success, innovative sprit and dedication to excellence make her the ideal person to continue to lead and grow Fox News, Lachlan Murdoch said in a statement on Tuesday.

The network did not disclose the exact length or financial terms of the deal.

But hanging over the companys financial future is a defamation lawsuit recently brought against Fox Corporation by a little-known technology provider. The suit, filed by Smartmatic, whose system was used in the presidential election in Los Angeles County, is seeking at least $2.7 billion in damages against Fox Corporation, Fox News and several of its prime-time stars for participating in the conspiracy to defame and disparage Smartmatic and its election technology and software, according to the suit.

Mr. Trump and his supporters repeatedly described the election as rigged, and Fox News and its sister network Fox Business have given significant airtime to personalities and anchors who have sown doubt about the election results. The suit names the Fox anchors Maria Bartiromo, Lou Dobbs and Jeanine Pirro. Mr. Dobbss show was abruptly canceled last week, bringing his decade-long run at the company to an end.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 48F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.


Five people have been taken into police custody today for making death threats against the French teenager who said Islam was a 's**t' religion in a viral video.

The teenage girl, identified only as Mila, had previously defended her strong atheist convictions on French TV after she insulted Islam and claimed that the Koran is 'full of hate' in an outburst online.

The five people, aged 18 to 29, were arrested in different regions of France over 'cyberbullying' and 'death threats' against Mila, announced the Paris prosecutor's office on Tuesday.

Mila (pictured) was removed from her sixth-form college in Lyon, south-east France, by police 'for her own safety' and has faced a torrent of insults and threats to rape and kill her

The Tuesday arrests were part of investigations carried out by France's national anti-hate centre, recently created within the Paris prosecutor's office.

It came after the prosecutor's office in Vienne, near Lyon, investigated the comments on Mila's profile in an attempt to identify the perpetrators of the abuse against her.

The French teenager faced a fierce public backlash early last year after she called Islam a 'religion of hate' in an Instagram post.

She was removed from her sixth-form college in Lyon, south-east France, by police 'for her own safety' and has faced a torrent of insults and threats to rape and kill her.

In November, Mila sparked fresh controversy herself after posting a TikTok video, lashing out on her detractor and saying 'watch your buddy Allah, please', reported Le Parisien.

'Because my fingers in her a**hole, I still haven't got them out,' she added.

France's left-wing elite was criticised at the time for failing to support the 16-year-old girl who has faced death threats for insulting Islam.

Mila had also appeared on a French TV programme following her viral video to say she 'does not regret' her comments.

In the show Quotidien aired in February last year, Mila defended her right to her strong atheist convictions during the interview.

In February 2020, Mila appeared on a French TV programme to say she 'does not regret' her comments. She defended her right to her strong atheist convictions during the interview

Mila est notre invitee dans #Quotidien pour sa seule et unique interview. pic.twitter.com/cZ1VqObHrR  Quotidien (@Qofficiel) February 3, 2020

Mila said: 'I would like to clarify that... I would like to come back to the subject about the fact that I absolutely do not regret what I said, that it was really what I thought.'

Then show host Yann Barhes says: 'That you don't regret the right to blaspheme?'

Mila replies: 'Yes, that's right. The right to blaspheme. And I don't have to hide for this reason. I don't have to stop living for this.

'But I would still like to say that in some way I am a little bit sorry towards the people who I might have hurt who practise their religion in peace, and I never wanted to target human beings.

'I simply wanted to... blaspheme... I wanted to talk about a religion, and say what I thought about it, and that's all.'

Mila also told the show host: 'There are two things I regret in this story. The first is that I said it on social media because I had not taken into account how big it could get and [I also regret] having said it in such a vulgar way, because I could have argued my point better.'

When asked by Yann Barthes: 'Could you have said these words about another religion?'

Mila replies: 'Yes, of course.'

Barthes then asks: 'Have you always been an atheist?'

And Mila replies: 'I have always been an atheist.'

Barthes then says: 'The law says something very simple. One can insult a religion but not citizens because of their religious beliefs. And you say in the video "one cannot be racist towards a religion." Is this a question you had already thought about?'

Mila replies: 'Yes, of course.'

Barthes says: 'To be so on point.'

Mila then replies: 'There is a difference between religion and people. And people who are not capable of telling the difference are morons.'

Mila's original post, which went viral online, caused heated debate in France, where the country's left-wing elite has been accused of cowardice for not speaking out in defence of the teenager, who faced death threats for insulting Islam.

Police reportedly told her that it is too dangerous for her to return to her high school and she is said to be struggling to find another that would be willing to take her in.

Richard Malka, her lawyer, told The Times: 'It is the left that traditionally defends secularism in this country. It saddens me that it has not done so in this case', adding that her situation had been ignored by feminist and left-wing groups, which are usually quick to defend female victims of verbal and physical violence.

Mila told French publication Bellica how she feels 'the whole of France wants me dead' after no one stood up for her following the attacks, and as though she can 'no longer set foot in my high school, and I can't even change my high school'.

The teenager's lawyer, Richard Malka, said her plight has been completely ignored by the left, and accused them of disregarding the values laid down by Voltaire in the 18th century

The threats came about after Mila, who loves singing and whose profile is adorned with an LGBT flag, was talking with her followers on Instagram and one of them reportedly began harassing her.

After rebuffing the follower's advances, he reportedly began insulting her with homophobic attacks and accusations of racism.

Then the attacks took a religious tone, with some users reportedly accusing Mila of insulting 'our God Allah, the one and only' and hoping that she would 'burn in hell.'

It is then that Mila decided to post footage criticising religion in general and Islam.

'I hate religion, [...] there is nothing but hate in the Koran, Islam is s**t, that's what I think,' she said in the videos posted to her Instagram stories on January 19, 2020.

'I am not racist, not at all. You cannot be racist towards a religion. I said what I thought, you will not make me regret it. There are still people who will get excited, I clearly don't give a damn, I say what I want, what I think.'

French media point out that under French law, Mila has done nothing illegal, there being no restrictions on 'blasphemy' in France.
A five-year-old girl started hallucinating and feeling 'like she was in the TV' after eating a brownie which was allegedly laced with marijuana, a court has heard.

Perth Magistrates Court was on Monday told the girl, her younger brother and mother started feeling unwell after eating a brownie purchased from the Bada Bing Cafe in Woodlands on March 2, 2019.

The cafe's owner Nathan Sharp is on trial on two charges of selling food that was unsuitable for sale, which he denies.

The court heard the two children - Emily, five, and Thomas, three - were taken to Perth Children's Hospital after the girl complained her 'eyes weren't right' and 'she felt like she was in the TV', ABC News reported.

The owner of the Bada Bing Cafe (pictured) in Woodlands, Perth's West, is on trial on two charges of selling food that was unsuitable for sale on March 2 and 3, 2019

The siblings undertook blood and urine tests, which detected tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), or cannabis, in their system.

The children's mother Sharon Hoysted was later taken to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital where tests also found cannabis in her system but her husband, Michael Maxwell, who had not eaten a brownie, returned negative results.

Mr Maxwell went back to the cafe the next day and purchased a brownie which Prosecutor Peter Gillett told the court was also found to contain THC after being tested by the ChemCentre.

Mr Maxwell told the court that after eating the brownie his daughter had 'started describing to me unusual things with her vision' while his wife 'started describing visual disturbances' while waiting in hospital.

Mr Sharp allegedly told police, who visited the cafe six days later, he made brownies after being given cannabis butter by a friend and 'one must have fallen off the fridge or freezer and got mixed up with the ones used in the shop'.

He is alleged to have told a City of Stirling environmental health officer two months later he was given cannabis brownies but never took them to his cafe.

Perth Magistrates Court was told on Monday a mother and her two children started feeling unwell after eating brownies that were allegedly laced with marijuana (stock image)

Mr Sharp has maintained he never made cannabis brownies at his cafe.

His lawyer Tom Percy QC told the court no other customer who purchased brownies on the same day as the family reported being affected.

Mr Percy claimed the 'goods in question were never sold' as the family were seen in CCTV footage leaving the cafe 'without paying'.

He told the court there were problems with the evidence presented, including being gathered under the wrong legislation, and Mr Sharp's comments to police and the environmental health officer were inadmissible because they were not recorded.

The trial continues.
Turkey will discuss withdrawing its forces from Libya if other foreign troops are withdrawn first, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

Speaking at an event in Ankara, Erdogan said that Turkish armed forces personnel were deployed in Libya solely to train units loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

Short link:


New Delhi, Feb 9 : The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday slammed the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) for its decision to charge Rs 5 per head for use of public toilets in the city.

AAP leader Durgesh Pathak, who is also in-charge of MCD bypolls, slammed the BJP calling it an "anti-poor party".

Pathak added, "It will increase open defecation in the city again because poor people cannot access free toilets in south Delhi after this decision." The MCD bypolls in five municipal wards (three in East MCD and two in North MCD), are scheduled on February 28. The AAP has sharpened its attack on the city's municipal bodies ruled by the BJP.

The BJP-ruled SDMC on Monday decided to charge Rs 5 per person for use of public toilets in its jurisdiction.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
As the world remains grounded, carriers have sped up the retirement of older aircraft to bring in newer planes that are greener and go further, faster.

In the latest edition of CNNs Business Traveller, host Richard Quest examines how aviation fleets have been reimagined during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The rollout of several new aircraft, including the Boeing 777X, has been delayed by the pandemic, but the opaque nature of the industrys recovery has made purchasing new models an even more challenging negotiation.

Quest speaks to Akbar Al Baker, the CEO of Qatar Airways, who says he prides himself on getting the best from aircraft manufacturers: If you ask both Airbus and Boeing, they will tell you that Qatar Airways tortures them before we sign an agreement with them. We are very meticulous, we make sure that we protect the interests of the airline but at the same time, we play very fair with our suppliers both Airbus and Boeing. It's a two-way street.

In the era of more fuel-efficient planes, CNN hears that changing aircrafts of different routes can make a huge difference to profitability. Business Traveller examines which is the pivotal factor in this equation: the route or the aircraft?

To understand how airlines decide which plane to purchase, CNN speaks to aviation industry analyst Henry Harteveldt: If you take a look at the performance specifications: range, passenger and cargo capacity, you'll often see the in the proverbial Venn diagram. If you cross the two aircraft, there's a lot of commonality in terms of what they can do. They want an airplane that can operate multiple missions. They don't want aircraft to be specialists if they can avoid it.

Before the pandemic, airlines had been able to open new routes that previously had been too expensive to run, such as Perth-London and Singapore-New York. Now, with routes closed and fewer passengers flying, airlines are still trying to keep as many jets in operation with a greater emphasis on cargo capacity.

Finnairss Traffic Analysis Manager, Aaron McGarvey, explains to Quest how the airline is managing their fleet in response to the pandemic: We've actually kind of simplified it. The strategy has been keeping the smallest, most cost-efficient aircraft in Helsinki and park the rest. We have a very sophisticated origin and destination forecasting system from our revenue management colleagues, which kind of tries to forecast how many passengers will be on any given plane at one point in time. It solves that 3D jigsaw puzzle.
Senators in Donald Trumps historic second impeachment trial have agreed to consider the case, rejecting an attempt by the former presidents defense team and some Republican allies to halt the trial because he is no longer in office.

The vote was 56-44 on Tuesday on the question of whether the Senate has jurisdiction and could proceed. It came after four hours of arguments from Trumps lawyers and the Democratic impeachment managers, who are arguing that the former president incited the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

The impeachment managers managed to pick up one additional vote from Republicans  Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy. Two weeks ago, he voted in favor of an effort to dismiss, but on Tuesday he voted with Democrats to move forward. Cassidy joined Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Mitt Romney of Utah in dismissing the Trump teams claims.

Cassidy told reporters earlier that the impeachment managers arguments were strong arguments and it was a very good opening.

Cassidy said, I have always said I was approaching this with an open mind.
National Police officers have dismantled a criminal gang on the Costa del Sol suspected of stealing items - primarily from tourist rental cars parked at shopping centres - along the coast.

Those arrested - five men between the ages of 38 and 75, of Spanish and Algerian nationality and a 22-year-old woman of Spanish nationality - are charged with theft by force, receiving stolen goods and belonging to a criminal organisation.

While several members stole valuables from inside the vehicles, others put the items up for sale on internet platforms.

In addition, the gang had a network to export stolen goods to Morocco, via Ceuta and Melilla.

Police have recovered 4,320 euros in cash, 25 suitcases with clothes and belongings, 38 cameras, 45 electronic tablets, computer equipment, two electric bicycles, a car, a van and a motorcycle.

It is claimed that the organised gang was based in Malaga and Torremolinos and operated mainly in the car parks of shopping centres in the province. Their modus operandi was always the same, they stole from inside parked vehicles either by breaking the glass or forcing the doors open.

Police investigations determined that the gang focused on tourists in rental vehicles.

The police operation began in the summer of last year and officers have been able to locate most of the addresses and storage rooms that the gang used to hide the stolen goods.

A total of 19 robberies have been uncovered - mostly in Malaga, Torremolinos and Fuengirola, except for one that happened in Granada.

Some of the recovered goods have already been identified by the victims and have been returned to them.

The case is now in the hands of the court.


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Supreme Court receives another claim from individual to challenge decree on television channels

The Supreme Court of Ukraine received another lawsuit from an individual against President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, demanding to declare illegal the decree enacting the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) decision on sanctions against the 112 Ukraine, NewsOne and ZIK television channels.

"Another lawsuit has been received from an individual challenging the decree on sanctions," the Supreme Court told Interfax-Ukraine.

At the same time, the court said the claim had just submitted, that proceedings were not initiated on it and the date of consideration was not set, as well as for those received earlier.

As it became known, this lawsuit was filed by Kharkiv's lawyer, a member of Chuhuev human rights group Roman Likhachev.

Earlier, the Supreme Court received two lawsuits from individuals demanding that the presidential decree be declared illegal.

Craft cannabis grower, Supernova Farms Inc. (SFI) is launching into the Canadian cannabis market this year with an exciting new line of high-grade AAAA quad-level cannabis strains. Aptly named for their cosmic characteristics, these strains are joining the explosive demand for high-grade legal cannabis across Canada. There are many great products coming from our fellow Canadian growers, but we want to provide something new and extraordinary for Canadians, said CEO, Sam Kim. 
(Former) President Trump left office in due course, yet the Senate is set to take up his second impeachment trial this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern). The first item on the trial schedule is debate over the constitutionality of trial of a former president. Byron York reviewed the issue of constitutionality in his Daily Memo yesterday. The correct answer is no.

After the arguments, the Senate will vote on whether it has the jurisdiction to try a former president. The threshold to pass is a simple majority of 51 votes. The number of Republican Senators who vote that the trial is unconstitutional will presage Trumps acquittal at the end of this travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of two mockeries of a sham, to borrow the formulation of Fielding Mellish in Woody Allens Bananas.

My favorite among the seven House impeachment managers is Rep. Eric Swalwell. Swalwell is a member of the House Intelligence Committee who formerly made it with the Chinese spy Fang Fang, a/k/a Bang Bang. Swalwell perfectly represents the farcical nature of the proceedings. Those of us who remember Trumps first impeachment trial are left to wonder. Where have you gone Jerry Nadler? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

Where have you gone, Adam Schiff? Wed like to know a little bit about you for our files. Schiff, you may recall, is the man who pioneered the twilight zone between direct and circumstantial evidence in retailing the Russia hoax while President Trump was in office.

Where have you gone, Chief Justice John Roberts? The Constitution provides that you are to preside over the the Senate trial of the president. Oh, yeah, Trump isnt the president anymore.

Where have you gone, Senator Patrick Leahy? What are you doing up there presiding over the trial? Oh, yeah, Chief Justice Roberts checked out. Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you too, while we try to make out what the heck you are mumbling.

The second impeachment trial of President Trump marks the regularization of impeachment in our politics as a tool of partisan warfare. It extends the maniacal Trump hatred that gripped the Democrat/media axis for the four years of the Trump presidency. This second trial is in a sense a fitting coda to the Trump presidency. It is also a sad day for the United States. As the song puts it, every way you look at this you lose.
Betsy Dubovsky, who served as the first executive director of The Staten Island Foundation in a career that would span 22 years and who managed the operations and the annual allocations of the $75 million foundation, died Tuesday afternoon from complications of pancreatic cancer. She was 69.

The Staten Island Foundation, a champion of results for the least advantaged people on Staten Island, focuses on efforts aiming at population-level improvements in health, education and financial security.

Dubovskys entire professional life, after receiving a masters degree in social work from Rutgers University, has been in service to the not-for-profit community.

A graduate of the Columbia Business School Institute for Not-for-Profit Management Executive Education, she formerly held positions for the American Red Cross in Greater New York, the Community Agency for Senior Citizens, the Visiting Nurse Association, the Eger Health Care & Rehabilitation Center, the Staten Island Branch of the YMCA of Greater New York, and Wagner College.

Dubovsky gained extensive knowledge of community needs, as well as in the non-profit sector and its issues, from experience as a social worker providing services as a director and manager of services, as a fundraising and public relations professional, as an adjunct lecturer and as a board management volunteer.

A full obituary will follow.
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The Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, has announced the postponement of all outstanding 2019/2020 first semester examinations until further notice.

Ademola Adekoya, Coordinator, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations, LASU, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

He said the postponement became necessary due to the national industrial action by the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

According to him, the industrial action by these unions has affected all academic activities.

Students, parents and other stakeholders are, hereby, informed of the postponement of all the remaining examination until further notice, pending the time the national industrial action is called off by the unions.

All concerned students are, however, advised to continue to check the university website, bulletin and other official information platforms of the university from time to time for a new date for the outstanding examination, he said.

The unions commenced strike on Friday to press home their demands, which include rectifying the inconsistencies in the Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System (IPPIS). (NAN)



in Australia, any living thing is out to kill you

This koala wandered on the South Eastern Freeway in Adelaide like it owned the place and, as a direct result, six cars crashed into one another. Technically, 7 News reports, the koala didnt cause the accident on its own, but rather the first driver to spot it in the middle of the road. In a misguided attempt to avoid hitting it, the driver braked and swerved.Luckily, no one was injured, and it is believed the damage to the six vehicles was minimal. However, commuter traffic saw major delays because of the pileup, which is truly the last thing youd want to experience on a Monday morning.Nadia Tugwell was one of those commuters stuck in traffic, and she tells the same media outlet that she got out of her car and put the misbehaving koala into the vehicle for safety. When she got back, she snapped this adorable photo of the animal at the wheel, looking like a boss. This could have been one of those viral Feeling cute, might delete later moments.The koala was checked for injuries and then released onto a nearby property. Authorities warn drivers that,in case of an animal wandering onto the road, any attempt at avoiding it is not advisable.As cruel as it may sound, this six-car crash is the perfect example of why they should not be avoided. In such situations, its best to hit the animal than swerve to avoid it because it can lead to a more serious accident. Koalas are cute, as are all other animals . But your and other drivers safety should come first.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9)  Will President Rodrigo Duterte get his COVID-19 shots from Western vaccines that will first arrive in the country? For Malacanang, only his physician can decide.

"Let's just say this issue will have to be discussed by the President with his physician," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in his government briefing on Tuesday.

"He is, of course, under the advice of his physician," Roque added.

Roque previously claimed the government is "ready" to launch its COVID-19 vaccine drive next Tuesday, February 15, with health workers as first priority under the government's immunization plan.

The first 117,000 doses that will arrive next week will come from the vaccine developed by US drugmaker Pfizer and German firm BioNTech, which is set to arrive via the COVAX facility, a global platform led by the World Health Organization that aims to ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines.

The Philippines is also expecting access to up to 9.2 million doses from British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca by late February or early March  if the WHO includes it in the emergency use listing, a procedure done to review its eligibility prior to its delivery.

RELATED: EXPLAINER: What you need to know about the PH COVID-19 vaccine drive

Roque himself said in the past that Duterte will be among the first to receive a vaccine as he falls under the senior citizen category. However, the latter has narrowed down his options to get his COVID-19 shots from brands that either come from China or Russia, and if it were possible, he would like to get a dose from both countries.

Only vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca were so far granted Emergency Use Authorization by the Food and Drug Administration in the country.
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The coronavirus most likely first infected humans after jumping from an animal, a team of international and Chinese scientists said Tuesday.

A team of World Health Organization (WHO) experts recently completed their closely watched visit to Wuhan. The Chinese city is where the first cases of the new coronavirus were discovered. Peter Ben Embarek led the WHO investigation. He said the teams four-week visit did not result in major changes to the current understanding of the early days of the pandemic.

But the visit did add details to that story, Embarek noted. It also led the joint Chinese-WHO team to dismiss the theory that the virus escaped from a laboratory.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology has collected many virus samples. This led to claims that the institute may have been the place where the outbreak started. Experts now consider the possibility extremely unlikely. Embarek said the team would not even suggest the theory as a path of future study. China had already strongly rejected that possibility and has publicly supported other theories.

The Chinese and foreign experts considered several possibilities for how the disease first appeared in humans. Embarek said the early findings suggest the most likely pathway the virus followed was from a bat to another animal and then to humans.

The findings suggest that the laboratory incidents hypothesis is extremely unlikely to explain the introduction of the virus to the human population, Embarek said.

The investigation was a first step in the process of understanding the beginnings of the virus. Scientists have suggested it may have passed to humans through a wild animal, such as a pangolin or bamboo rat. It is also possible that the virus spread directly from bats to humans, or through the trade in frozen food products.

The team of WHO experts arrived in Wuhan on January 14. Among other places, the experts visited the Huanan Seafood Market. That is where an early group of cases was reported in late 2019.

Marion Koopmans is a Dutch virologist on the WHO team. She said that some animals at the market were from farms in areas that are home to bats that carry the closest related virus to the one that causes COVID-19. Koopmans said the next step would be to look more closely at farms.

Liang Wannian is the head of the Chinese side of the team of experts. He said the virus also appeared to have been spreading in other parts of Wuhan. So, it remains possible that the virus came from somewhere else.

Another member of the WHO team, zoologist Peter Daszak, told The Associated Press late last week that the experts experienced a greater level of openness than they had expected. He said team members were permitted to visit all areas they requested.

The WHO teams visit took months to negotiate. China agreed to the visit following international pressure at the WHOs World Health Assembly meeting last May. China has continued to resist calls for a fully independent investigation.

Im Ashley Thompson.

The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

outbreak n. the sudden start of fighting or the appearance of a disease that can spread widely

hypothesis n. an idea or theory that is not proven but that leads to further study; a proposition that is to be tested by an experiment using the scientific method

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[February 09, 2021] Fortune Minerals Announces 3rd Party Process Residue Disposal Option for Its NICO Project Refinery

Fortune Minerals Limited (TSX: FT) (OTCQB: FTMDF) ("Fortune" or the "Company") (www.fortuneminerals.com) is pleased to announce that it has received indicative terms from a large waste disposal and environmental services company to dispose of the process residue from the planned refinery for the NICO Cobalt (News - Alert) -Gold-Bismuth-Copper Project ("NICO Project"). This waste disposal company operates a number of facilities in western Canada and provided its quote after reviewing the chemistry and environmental characteristics of the process residue produced in Fortune's earlier pilot plant. The ability to dispose of the residue in an existing permitted facility provides Fortune with flexible options to finalize the preferred site for its planed refinery and reduces the amount of land that would need to be acquired as well as the capital costs for the refinery. This contracted disposal solution would also reduce permitting times, technical risks during operations, and eliminates long-term legacy issues associated with a Company-owned facility. Like our news? Click-to-Tweet. The NICO Project is a Canadian, advanced vertically integrated development that is planned to produce cobalt sulphate, gold dore, bismuth ingot and oxide, and copper as a minor by-product. Both cobalt and bismuth are identified on the United States ("U.S.") and European ("E.U.") Critical Minerals Lists, being minerals needed for defense and new technologies, cannot be easily substituted, and have supply chain risks from geographic concentration of production and/or geopolitical issues. Cobalt sulphate is needed to manufacture the cathodes of most lithium-ion rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles, portable electronics and stationary storage cells. Fastmarkets (formerly, Metal Bulletin) reports that cobalt prices are up about 30% over the past two months with cathodes trading above US$20 per pound. There is also a significant premium being paid for cobalt contained in sulphate, which represents a price of approximately US$25 per pound of cobalt. The NICO Project stands out among other cobalt developments with 12% of global bismuth reserves, and 1.1 million ounces of gold contained in the Mineral Reserves, the latter providing a countercyclical and highly liquid co-product. The NICO Project is comprised of a planned open pit and underground mine and mill in Canada's Northwest Territories ("NWT") and a related hydrometallurgical refinery in southern Canada. The Company has received environmental assessment ("EA") approval, the Land Use Permit, and the Type "A" Water License to construct and operate the NICO mine and concentrator in the NWT. The Tlicho Highway under construction for the NWT government, is a key enabler for the NICO development and is nearing completion and expected to open to the public later this year. This C$213 million, 97-kilometre all-season road to the community of Whati, together with the spur road Fortune plans to construct, will allow metal concentrates to be trucked from the mine to the rail head at Hay River or Enterprise, NWT for railway delivery to the Company's planned refinery. Fortune received EA approval for a refinery site in Saskatchewan, but is looking at alternative locations in western Canada with the municipal industrial planning approvals already in place. They include brownfield sites withexisting permits and facilities to reduce capital costs for the planned development. The Company is also working with Canadian government departments, several Provinces as well as the U.S. and E.U. for their support of a new reliable Canadian producer of Critical Minerals with supply chain transparency of metals from ore through to the production of value-added products.



Fortune has already completed a positive Feasibility Study for the NICO development in 2014, prepared by Micon International Limited. The economics for the NICO development will be re-assessed when the refinery site has been finalized and after the Company completes the optimizations underway to produce a more financially robust project to mitigate metal price volatility. For more detailed information about the NICO Mineral Reserves and certain technical information in this news release, please refer to the Technical Report on the NICO Project, entitled "Technical Report on the Feasibility Study for the NICO-Gold-Cobalt-Bismuth-Copper Project, Northwest Territories, Canada", dated April 2, 2014 and prepared by Micon International Limited which has been filed on SEDAR and is available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

The disclosure of scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Robin Goad, M.Sc., P.Geo., President and Chief Executive Officer of Fortune, who is a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101. About Fortune Minerals: Fortune is a Canadian mining company focused on developing the NICO Gold-Cobalt-Bismuth-Copper Project in the NWT. The Company has an option to purchase lands in Saskatchewan where it may build the hydrometallurgical plant to process NICO metal concentrates. Fortune also owns the satellite Sue-Dianne Copper-Silver-Gold Deposit located 25 km north of the NICO Project, which is a potential future source of incremental mill feed to extend the life of the NICO Project mill. Follow Fortune Minerals: Click here to subscribe to Fortune's email list. Click here to follow Fortune on LinkedIn (News - Alert) . @FortuneMineral on Twitter. This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. This forward-looking information includes statements with respect to, among other things, a potential contract for the disposal of the process residue from the planned refinery for the NICO Project, the Company's plans to develop the NICO Project, the construction ot he Tlicho Highway and the potential for the Sue-Dianne property to provide incremental mill feed to the NICO Project. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management as well as certain assumptions at the date the information is given (including, in respect of the forward-looking information contained in this press release, assumptions regarding: the Company's ability to conclude a contract for the disposal of the process residue from the planned refinery for the NICO Project on the indicative terms provided to it, the anticipated completion of the Tlicho Highway, the Company's ability to secure a site in southern Canada for the construction of a NICO Project refinery; the Company's ability to arrange the necessary financing to continue operations and develop the NICO Project; the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals for the construction and operation of the NICO Project and the related hydrometallurgical refinery and the timing thereof; growth in the demand for cobalt; the time required to construct the NICO Project; and the economic environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of gold, cobalt and other by-product metals, anticipated costs and the volumes of metals to be produced at the NICO Project). However, such forward-looking information 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. These factors include the risks that : the Company may not be able to conclude a contract for the disposal of the process residue from the planned refinery for the NICO Project on the indicative terms provided to it,, the NICO Project may not receive the benefit of any financing under the published initiatives of the United States and European Union with respect to critical minerals or any other benefits therefrom, the Company may not be able to secure a site for the construction of a refinery, the Company may not be able to finance and develop NICO on favourable terms or at all, uncertainties with respect to the receipt or timing of required permits, approvals and agreements for the development of the NICO Project, including the related hydrometallurgical refinery, the construction of the Tlicho Highway and the NICO Project may take longer than anticipated, the Company may not be able to secure offtake agreements for the metals to be produced at the NICO Project, the Sue-Dianne Property may not be developed to the point where it can provide mill feed to the NICO Project, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties and in the mining industry in general, the market for products that use cobalt or bismuth may not grow to the extent anticipated, the future supply of cobalt and bismuth may not be as limited as anticipated, the risk of decreases in the market prices of cobalt, bismuth and other metals to be produced by the NICO Project, discrepancies between actual and estimated Mineral Resources or between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries, uncertainties associated with estimating Mineral Resources and Reserves and the risk that even if such Mineral Resources prove accurate the risk that such Mineral Resources may not be converted into Mineral Reserves once economic conditions are applied, the Company's production of cobalt, bismuth and other metals may be less than anticipated and other operational and development risks, market risks and regulatory risks. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information because it is possible that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forms of forward-looking information will not be achieved by the Company. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise it to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005610/en/

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PHOENIX  The Arizona Court of Appeals has declined to revive an effort to seek the death penalty against a Mexican immigrant charged in the 2015 killing of a convenience store clerk during a robbery in metro Phoenix.

Prosecutors asked the appeals court to reverse a lower court ruling that dismissed the states intent to seek the death penalty against Apolinar Altamirano and concluded his intellectual deficits affected his ability to meet the standard of personal independence and social responsibility for a person of his age and cultural background.

In the appeals court decision Friday, a judge said the case file seems replete with evidence that Altamirano was able to meet that standard, but also noted conflicting evidence. The appeals court deferred to the lower court judges conclusions on the credibility of the evidence.

Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adels office, which is prosecuting Altamirano, said its reviewing the decision to determine whether it will file an appeal.

Altamirano is accused of fatally shooting Grant Ronnebeck, a 21-year-old clerk at a Mesa convenience store, after Ronnebeck insisted that Altamirano pay for a pack of cigarettes. Authorities say Altamirano stepped over Ronnebeck to get several packs of cigarettes before leaving the store.

Altamirano has pleaded not guilty to murder, robbery and other charges in Ronnebecks death. Altamirano has already been sentenced to six years in prison for separate guilty pleas in the case and misconduct involving weapons.

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Altamirano is a citizen of Mexico who has lived in the U.S. without authorization for about 20 years. He has been deported and returned to the U.S. in the past. Then-President Donald Trump repeatedly cited Altamiranos case as an example of crimes committed by immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally.

A judge first dismissed the effort to seek the death penalty in 2019 after concluding that Altamirano was intellectually disabled. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2002 barred the execution of intellectually disabled people.

Last summer, the Arizona Supreme Court reversed that decision, ruling the lower court judge correctly considered the strengths and weaknesses of Altamiranos life skills, but failed to assess his ability to meet societys expectations of him and sent the issue back to the lower court to consider.

Late last year, the judge dismissed the states death penalty bid again, finding that Altamiranos intellectual deficits affected his ability to meet the standard of personal independence and social responsibility.
EMILY ST. LAWRENCE, Chariho girls lacrosse, senior: St. Lawrence tied a school record for goals in a game with nine in a win over Smithfield. St. Lawrence scored 17 goals for the week and has 32 for the season.

CARLY CONSTANTINE, Stonington softball, sophomore: Constantine singled home Shea OConnor with the winning run to hand Waterford, the states No. 2 ranked team at the time, its first loss of the season. For the week, Constantine was 5 for 15.

GREG GORMAN, Westerly baseball, junior: Gorman, a junior, hit a massive home run in a win against Barrington. The homer went over the fence in center field and landed in a nearby road. Gorman was 3 for 3 with four RBIs in the game. He is hitting .571 with 10 RBIs for the season.

BRADIN ANDERSON, Wheeler baseball, freshman: Anderson, a freshman, pitched a complete-game shutout to beat Grasso Tech. Anderson struck out three to earn the first win of his varsity career.

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An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.
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Kathleen H. Hicks appears before the Senate Armed Services Committee at a hearing to consider her nomination to be deputy secretary of defense, in Washington, on Feb. 2, 2021. (EJ Hersom/Department of Defense)

Senate Confirms Kathleen Hicks as Deputy Defense Secretary

The Senate late Monday confirmed Kathleen Hicks, a former Obama administration official, as Deputy Secretary of Defense.

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) confirmed Hicks for the position by a voice vote after approving her nomination on Feb. 4.

Hicks, 50, was previously a deputy undersecretary of defense under the Obama administration. More recently, she led Bidens transition team at the Pentagon.

Prior to her nomination as deputy defense secretary, she led the international security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and was also the think tanks senior vice president.

At a hearing to consider her nomination last week, Hicks told the Senate Armed Services Committee that China and Russia are among the top challenges for the United States.

Armed conflict between the United States and China is not desirable, and it is not inevitable. The U.S. military plays a critical role in preventing that outcome, she said.

Recently-appointed Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, a retired military general, had pledged to recuse himself from any decisions related to U.S. company Raytheon Technologies while serving as defense secretary because he previously served on the defense contractors board of directors.

Retired General Lloyd Austin prepares to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing to be the next Secretary of Defense, in Washington, on Jan. 19, 2021. (Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool via REUTERS)

As such, programmatic decisions involving Raytheon will be overseen by Hicks, and involve at least two nuclear initiatives: a new nuclear cruise missile called the Long Range Standoff Weapon (LRSO) for which Raytheon is a prime contractor; and a replacement program for the countrys intercontinental ballistic missiles called the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), for which Raytheons subsidiary is a subcontractor.

Hicks is the first woman to be confirmed as the countrys deputy defense secretary.

Congratulations to Kathleen Hicks on her historic confirmation as the new Deputy Secretary of Defense! Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-R.I.) wrote on Twitter.

She is a highly regarded defense policy expert who has served in multiple administrations with integrity and distinction, Reed said in a statement to Defense News. She is a true professional. I am pleased she will join Secretary Austin in leading the Department of Defense forward, defending our nation, and upholding our values.

Hicks told senators at her confirmation hearing last week that her top priorities would include reforming and modernizing the military, including supporting innovation in areas involving hypersonics, quantum computing. and other technologies to aid warfighters. She added that she would prioritize modernizing the nuclear triad, although did not elaborate on any specific weapons programs.

My view is that the triad has served us very well, it has created stability and it has value, Hicks said. She noted that decisions on U.S. nuclear policy would be deferred to Austin and Biden.

Hicks also said at the confirmation hearing that she is concerned by the extreme consolidation of weapons producers and suppliers in the United States.

Yes, I am concerned, she said when asked about the matter by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), adding, extreme consolidation does create challenges for innovation.

We need to have a lot of different good ideas out there. Thats our competitive advantage over authoritarian states like China, and Russia. And so if we move all competition out, obviously, thats a challenge for the taxpayer. But its also a challenge in terms of the innovation piece, she added.

Blumenthal had mentioned that the number of submarine suppliers had decreased over recent decades from 17,000 to 5,000 and how the phenomenon suggested that there are problems facing the defense industrial base.

Im hoping you will focus on the supply chain that is vitally important to suppliers like Electric Boat or Raytheon or any of our major sources of supply, Blumenthal said. He also noted that Hicks had committed to help small suppliers as well as develop new suppliers.
THE threat of the South African Covid-19 variant, which has already been detected in 11 people who travelled here, is among the "unknowns" which could leave the country facing restrictions and quarantine measures in the coming months, it emerged last night.

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said that while the country is likely to have passed the worst of the disease this year, there will be a need to keep virus levels low.

He could not confirm whether or not the construction industry will reopen early next month.

Dr Glynn said priorities are the reopening of education and non-Covid healthcare.

Once case numbers go down, he said, "we must keep the virus actively suppressed".

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"If they go back up, we have seen what will happen," he added. The dominant strain in Ireland right now is the more infectious UK variant.

"I would hope we will move in a steady, more positive frame over the coming months," he said, referring to more people being outdoors, which is lower risk. But case numbers must be kept down, he insisted.

Dr Glynn was speaking as a preliminary study found the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine - which is being rolled out to healthcare workers here this week - offered only limited protection against mild to moderate disease in vaccinated people who caught the South African variant, although it may still prevent severe illness.

That variant has been contained here and has not spread into the community.

Dr Cillian de Gascun, head of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, said it is essential that we reduce the virus's ability to replicate or reproduce, because that is when mutations happen.

"Variants will continue to emerge. We focused on three but it is likely there will be more in the coming months or years," he said.

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It is likely that people will need booster shots of vaccine in the coming years. With the aid of technology, jabs can be adapted to deal with new variants in a short time.

Earlier, Prof Kingston Mills, of the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin, said that if the study findings are confirmed, it highlighted the need for the Government to step up measures around mandatory quarantine for airline passengers.

Asked about reports that some nursing-home staff have had to be offered "prizes" by management to take the vaccine, Dr Glynn said nobody should be unduly pressurised to take the vaccine.

He said he hoped healthcare workers would get vaccinated, but if they have legitimate concerns around side effects, they should consult their doctor.

There is no proposal to make vaccination mandatory.

Questioned on claims that some doctors are charging patients for Covid-19 assessments, he said these are free and if that is the case, people should go to another medic.

Professor Philip Nolan, of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet), said there were six additional Covid-19 deaths yesterday and 829 new cases.

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The reintroduction of testing of close contacts will add to the daily toll for some time before they fall, he said, adding that the Health Service Executive (HSE) was now going to resume offering close contacts two tests, he said.

"Steady progress" is being made, he said, and the hope was that daily cases could be reduced to between 200 and 400 a day by the end of February.

Prof Nolan added that mortality remains high and it would take some time to come down. Meanwhile, latest vaccination figures showed that, up to last Friday, 230,766 doses of Covid-19 vaccines had been administered across the country, including 84,220 to residents and staff in long-term care.
[February 09, 2021] Cubicall & Puro Lighting Combat Viruses in the Office with UV-Integrated Privacy Pods

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cubicall, a custom U.S. manufacturer of modular privacy pods and isolation rooms, has announced an integration with PURO Lighting, one of the leaders in ultraviolet (UV) technology offering breakthrough solutions in disinfection. Addressing needs of the "new normal," the collaboration will seamlessly integrate PURO Lighting's pulsed-Xenon UV lamps, powered by Violet Defense technology, within Cubicall phone booths, meeting rooms, and isolation pods to provide hassle-free disinfection after each use. The automated process inactivates pathogens and viruses including SARS-CoV-2 up to 99.99%. Learn more about Cubicall UV integrated office solutions here. "As businesses bring employees back into the office, priority is being placed on how to do so safely," explains Anthony Pucci, co-founder of Cubicall. "Integration with PURO Lighting's innovative technology allows our customers to efficiently provide space their employees need with proven disinfection after each use ensuring their workplace is safe and compliant." Cubicall brings productivity back to modern offices through custom pre-built phone booths and meeting rooms that deliver visual and acoustical privacy offering efficient workspaces for virtual meetings, heads-down work, private collaboration, or a simple break from distractions. "Cubicall's prefabricated phone booths and meeting rooms are essential additions within modern offices," says PURO Lighting CEO, Brian Stern. "With shared spaces like those in the workplace, employers are looking for solutions to protect against COVID-19 or whatever may arise in the future. PURO Lighting's integration with Cubicall provides a cost-effective and hassle-free disinfection for employers and peace of mind for employees." The PUROUV Disinfection Lighting fixture, powered by Violet Defense technology, has been proven to disinfect viruses, bacteria, and fungal pathogens including Norovirus, C. diff, E. coli, Salmonella, MRSA, and C. auris. In November of 2020, independent studies conclusively confirmed PURO UV Disinfection Lighting fixtures inactivate up to 99.99% of live SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, compared to most competitors that test against a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate.



PURO Lighting fixtures seamlessly integrate within Cubicall ceilings for automatic UV disinfection. The proprietary pulsed-Xenon UV lamp disinfects for a 10-minute cycle that utilizes full spectrum UV light to destroy the DNA, RNA, and cell walls of pathogens. The integration includes built-in safety features to ensure protection of anyone occupying the booth or within the vicinity. Any Cubicall phone booth can be upgraded or retrofitted to include a PURO UV Disinfection Lighting fixture. For more information, click here. About Cubicall:

Cubicall manufactures American-made office privacy and healthcare isolation solutions that work within current floor plans. Designed with flexibility in mind to move with changes in the workplace, the prefabricated phone booths, meeting rooms, and medical exam pods ship flat, easily assemble, are modular and fully customizable. The industry's only patent-pending bifold door allows Cubicall products to fit within floor plans where every inch of space is critical and helps more businesses comply with International Building Codes. Cubicall has been featured on Fox Business Channel, The New York Times, Interior Design, Fast Company, Inc. and was called "an efficient privacy solution to open-plan distractions" by Forbes magazine. Based out of Las Vegas, Nevada, Cubicall products are designed, engineered, and manufactured in the USA. cubicallbooth.com - Twitter  291055@email4pr.com About PURO UV Disinfection Lighting Launched in 2019 in Lakewood, Colorado, PURO Lighting products, powered by Violet Defense technology, have taken proven UV light disinfection technology to the next level by making it more powerful, more affordable and most importantly, smaller and easier to utilize. PURO Lighting products can rapidly disinfect any room of any size and at any time using the proprietary miniaturized, pulsed-Xenon Light Engine System. Our high intensity broad-spectrum UV disinfection units rapidly kill up to 99.9% of viruses and bacteria and can significantly reduce the growth of fungi such as yeasts and moldsall in remarkably small, yet powerful fixed or mobile units designed for any sized space. For more information, visit www.purolighting.com or contact Sonia Awan at 291055@email4pr.com. Media Contact:

Nick Pucci

+1 (888) 965-0341

291055@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cubicall--puro-lighting-combat-viruses-in-the-office-with-uv-integrated-privacy-pods-301224662.html SOURCE Cubicall

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Republican Ineptitude and Democratic Ruthlessness Put Liberties in Danger

Commentary

Lets start with this: the disturbance at the Capitol on January 6, as Donald Trump and his supporters made a last-ditch attempt to somehow overturn the results of the 2020 election, was neither an insurrection nor a siege, nor was it conducted by seditionists. At best, it was an ill-advised, unsupervised, possibly provoked demonstration in a lost cause that could have no good effect other than the venting of personal pique and MAGA fury.

The fact is, the election was lost back in the summer, and even White House veterans knew itout of money and essentially rudderless, and marked by supererogatory campaign events that likely provoked more hostility among Trumps foes than new voters. The churn among the campaign staff, including one campaign manager who wound up being taken down by Florida police after a family dispute, was emblematic of a president who trusted no one but his family members, some of whom did not always have his best political interests at heart.

It almost didnt matter who his opponent was. A cardboard cutout would have had more intelligence and charisma than Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr., and still likely would have won against a president whose approval ratings were underwater for his entire presidency and who elicited such fear and loathing. As a recent Time Magazine piece made all too clear, the Democrats, the media, the swamp, and the establishments of both parties were ready for him this time, mobilizing well in advance of Election Day to make sure he couldnt win.

There was a conspiracy unfolding behind the scenes, wrote Molly Ball in her Feb. 4 Time article, a vast, cross-partisan campaign to protect the electionan extraordinary shadow effort dedicated not to winning the vote but to ensuring it would be free and fair, credible and uncorrupted. It is the story of an unprecedented, creative and determined campaign whose success also reveals how close the nation came to disaster.

Every attempt to interfere with the proper outcome of the election was defeated, says Ian Bassin, co-founder of Protect Democracy, a nonpartisan rule-of-law advocacy group. But its massively important for the country to understand that it didnt happen accidentally. The system didnt work magically. Democracy is not self-executing.

Punishing Dissent

The institutional Left, however, cannot be satisfied with simply having won (or won) an election they so successfully manipulated in order to achieve the proper outcome. Now they must ruin Trumps reputation as well, with a blatantly unconstitutional sham impeachment of a private citizen and a similarly unconstitutional attempt to prevent him from ever running for office again.

Even worse, they and their allies in the media, tech, and corporate America have mounted a full-scale attack on his supporters in an attempt to criminalize political differences, turn patriots into Nazis, undermine the validity of the two-party system, besmirch the very term Republican, and create a Narrative in which they heroically saved the country from 75 million hostile voters.

During the Bush and Trump administration, the Left lauded dissent (if not outright treason) as the highest form of patriotism. But since Jan. 20, any dissent from the prevailing woke orthodoxy is actually punishable, by firing, ostracism, banishment, or governmental action. They dont mean to get caught with their pants down at the polls ever again.

So back to the Jan. 6 siege, a term designed, Communist-style, to evoke and extol the Lefts heroic resistance to the forces of evil, a la the two and a half-year siege of Leningrad in World War II by the Germans. Now that was a siege: the Wehrmacht attempted to starve the city to death, resulting in millions of casualties, and was marked by widespread cannibalism among the desperate Soviets.

By contrast, the event in Washington, while deplorableas the saying goes, it was worse than a crime, it was a blunderwas less violent than the average weekend in Portland, which continues to suffer attacks from neo-Marxist radicals. Not to mention Seattle, Minneapolis, and elsewhere over the course of the past four years. The one death directly attributed to the trouble, that of Air Force veteran Ashley Babbitt (also spelt Ashli)who was shot by a still unnamed Capitol policemanwill likely result in no charges against the officer.

Surrendering Liberties

Meanwhile, more than 200 demonstrators have been charged with various crimes, and the number is expected to grow. By contrast, 234 protestors were arrested by D.C. police at Trumps inauguration in 2017, and only one (who pleaded guilty) served any jail time. The others were either found not guilty or had their charges dropped.

That progressive prosecutors and juries in the District are overwhelmingly hostile to conservatives and Republicans comes as no surprise. But the combination of electoral maneuvering and selective law enforcement has resulted in the grotesquely un-American spectacle of some 26,000 armed soldiers protecting the capital during Bidens inauguration; at least 7,000 of them will remain through March 12, and 5,000 will stay indefinitely.

Why? As far as the federal government is concerned, nearly all conservatives are suspect, whether theyre public figures, politicians, or ordinary soldiers in the ranks. The events of Jan. 6 have allowed both the feds and their robinettes in the media to tar them all as extremists. And so a Department of Pre-Crime has been established, to monitor American citizens for any lack of fealty to the proper outcome.

Americans have already unwisely surrendered far too many of their constitutionally guaranteed liberties during the absurd and continuing panic over Covid-19, but in the few short weeks since Biden assumed office under armed guard, the rate of attrition has grown.

A feeble figurehead, an avatar of Barack Hussein Obama and his inner circle, issues executive order after executive order from behind barbed wire and a mask, killing jobs and attacking vital industries under the illusion of climate change, while Congress (now in the hands of the Democrats) does nothing. The federal judges who were so quick to throw a judicial spanner into Trumps orders are mute. The media, who once championed free speech, call for outright censorship of their competitors.

Meanwhile, as construction of the still-unfinished border wall is halted, the caravans from Latin America are once again rolling northward. Gas prices are soaring. The tech giantsTwitter, Facebook, Googleare as busy as Madame Defarge, clacking their knitting needles in joy as heads fall from the deplatforming and demonetizing guillotines into the baskets.

And all of this because the Democrats, thanks to their foresight and ruthlessness and GOP ineptitude and self-sabotagewon the slimmest of procedural majorities in the Senate, actually lost seats in the House, and have in the form of the Canadian-raised Kamala Harris, who despite having failed spectacularly during the Democrat primaries, a chief-executive-in-waiting with malice aforethought and thoroughly nasty plans for a country she didnt even grow up in.

As Joe Kennedy said to his son, Jack, during JFKs primary campaign in West Virginia as he sought the 1960 nomination: dont buy a single vote more than necessary. Ill be damned if Im going to pay for a landslide. It was supposed to be a joke, and everybody yukked it up when Kennedy would tell that story.

Whos laughing now?

Michael Walsh is the editor of The-Pipeline.org and the author of The Devils Pleasure Palace and The Fiery Angel, both published by Encounter Books. His latest book, Last Stands, a cultural study of military history from the Greeks to the Korean War, was recently published.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Ah, Lamour. That glowing neon red scrawl, the love symbol that, as surely as a signature, tells you Baz Luhrmann was here.

It featured prominently in the movie Moulin Rouge (hence the promotional team for the stage musical version installing it in the foyer of Melbournes Regent Theatre this week). It had a blink-and-youd-miss it appearance in Romeo + Juliet, as the Montagues hopped in their car and headed to a fateful party.

Nelson Pollard (left) and Matt Spargo install a recreation of Baz Luhrmanns glowing red Lamour sign at the Regent to celebrate the return of theatre to Melbourne. Credit:Justin McManus

It dominated the set, glowing heart-red as two lovers fell for each other in the acclaimed production of opera La Boheme that Luhrmann first staged at Sydney Opera House in 1990, aged just 27. And it was, in utero, the huge Coca-Cola ad on the roof where the lovers in his breakout hit Strictly Ballroom practised their secret dance.

For the first time, Luhrmann and his wife and long-time collaborator Catherine Martin have told the full story of this symbol, which Martin calls their talisman, and Luhrmann says is part of their aesthetic DNA.
The Vietnamese Embassies in Australia and Italy and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Vladivostok, Russia, held gatherings with the local Vietnamese communities ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival on February 7.

OVs and diplomats in Australia. (Photo: VNA)

The Vietnamese Embassies in Australia and Italy and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Vladivostok, Russia, held gatherings with the local Vietnamese communities ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival on February 7.

Talking via the format of videoconference, Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh affirmed that the Vietnamese Embassy and Consulate Generals will continue to act as common houses and partner with the overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in the country.

He said with delight that Vietnam and Australia are carrying out projects within the framework of the strategic partnership on the pillars of politics, economy and science-technology. The two countries have increasingly understood, trusted and respected each other, Thanh said.

The ambassador expressed his belief that bilateral ties will keep growing on the back of important policies recently adopted at the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

According to the diplomat, Vietnams vision to become a developed industrialised nation by 2045 will be a turning point for national development and bring trust to all Vietnamese citizens at home and abroad.

OVs in Vientiane, Laos, are making "Banh chung" (Vietnamese sticky rice cake). (Photo: VNA)

Member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and Chairman of the Vietnamese Business Association in Australia Tran Ba Phuc said OVs are delighted with Vietnams socio-economic achievements over the past five years, as well as the strong development of Vietnam  Australia ties.

Talking online with OVs in Italy, the Republic of Cyprus and the Republic of Malta, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Thi Bich Hue said Vietnam became a spotlight in the region and the world in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic last year, with its economic growth among the worlds highest.

She added that Vietnam well performed its role as ASEAN Chair and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2020 with many initiatives being highly welcomed, thus improving its position on the international arena.

At the recently-closed 13th National Party Congress, a new leadership for the next five years was elected and orientations for national development in the coming period were outlined, she said.

Hue also hailed the Vietnamese community in Italy, Cyprus and Malta for offering support to local residents hit by flooding in Vietnam's central region last year.

The diplomat also affirmed the determination of Vietnamese authorities at all levels in the fight against the pandemic.

In Russia, Vietnamese Consul General Nguyen Hoang Viet met a team of volunteers who have supported the community in the fight against COVID-19 in Primorye Province. They are mainly students of the Far Eastern Federal University and the Nevelskoy Maritime State University.

Since the pandemic broke out, about 400 Vietnamese people in the region have tested positive for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, including two deaths.

With the support of the volunteers, almost infected cases in Primorye have been given access to medical services, contributing to protecting their health and lives. VNA

The UN Security Council called Tuesday on Somalia's leaders to quickly resume dialogue to arrange new elections, hoping to resolve a new crisis in the violence-ravaged nation.

In a statement approved unanimously, the 15-nation Security Council asked Somalis to "resume their dialogue urgently and work together, in the interests of the people of Somalia."

The statement encouraged leaders to "reach consensus on the arrangements for the conduct of inclusive elections with a view to holding them as soon as possible."

Britain called the closed-door meeting a day after Somalia's central government and federal states missed a deadline on how to proceed with a vote on choosing the next president.

Due to the impasse, the opposition said it no longer recognized the authority of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, compounding trouble in a nation facing a violent Islamist insurgency, a locust invasion and serious food shortages.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price warned that delays in setting the election "will only increase the risk of instability."

"While this is an issue for Somalis to resolve, the United States views immediate elections as critical to Somalia's future. Consensus can be reached," Price told reporters.

The Security Council also condemned renewed violence by the Shebab jihadist group and reaffirmed support for the territorial integrity of Somalia -- where Somaliland declared independence during the 1991 civil war.

The Security Council will meet again on February 22 to renew the mandate of the African Union mission in Somalia.

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Hey all - David Estcourt here closing the blog for the night.

We ran a very short one today to cover the breaking news about the two fresh cases at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport, and to take you through the report from the World Health Organisation in China, who released the findings from their COVID-19 origins investigation.

The Health Department late on Tuesday released a list of exposure sites from the cases at the qurantine hotel.

To catch up on developments in that, check it out here:

A worker and a returned traveller have tested positive for coronavirus at Melbourne Airports Holiday Inn, forcing an entire floor of people into isolation and prompting a further review of the states hotel quarantine system.

Earlier in the day, it was revealed that more than 100 people, including dozens of police and Defence Force personnel, were in isolation after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday.

As always, thank you for joining us. Night all.

Britain will require passengers arriving from countries where worrying coronavirus variants are spreading to pay for 10 days of quarantine in hotels, while rule-breakers will face heavy fines or jail terms, under tighter restrictions from next week.

The new travel rules add to restrictions that already ban travel abroad for holidays. The government said the stronger measures were needed to prevent new variants of the virus from thwarting Britain's rapid vaccination programme.

Airlines and travel companies called for more government aid, saying the new rules would deepen a crisis that has seen them lose nearly all their revenue.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said people could be sent to prison and fined up to 10,000 pounds ($14,000) if they break the rules which come into force on Feb. 15.

"Anyone who lies on the passenger locator form and tries to conceal that they've been in a country on the 'red list' in the 10 days before arrival here, will face a prison sentence of up to 10 years," Hancock told parliament.

British and Irish nationals arriving in England who have been in high risk countries in the last 10 days would be required to pay 1,750 pounds ($2,400) to cover the cost of a minimum 10-day quarantine in a designated hotel, Hancock said.

All arrivals into the UK will also have to take further COVID-19 tests on day 2 and day 8 of their quarantines, he said, on top of a pre-departure test already required.

Britain has rolled out the fastest vaccination programme of any large country. But there has been alarm in recent days after reports that the vaccines it is using may be less effective against some new variants of the virus, such as one that has spread rapidly in South Africa.

NO END IN SIGHT

The government, criticised in recent weeks for being slow to bring in tougher border measures, said the stricter rules could stay in place until it is sure vaccines work against new variants, or booster shots become available.

"Strong protections at the border are part of defending and safely allowing the domestic opening up," Hancock said.

British airlines and airports issued a new cry for help, the latest of many, urging the government to provide more support to make sure the sector makes it through the year, and to issue a roadmap on how it will ease restrictions.

"Airports and airlines are battling to survive with almost zero revenue and a huge cost base, and practically every week a further blow lands," aviation trade bodies said.

Hancock said the measures could not be in place permanently and would be replaced "over time with a system of safe and free international travel".

The government said it had contracted 16 hotels for an initial 4,600 rooms for hotel quarantine and would secure more as needed, with further details due to be published on Thursday.

Quarantines in hotels have been used by Australia and New Zealand as a strategy to sharply limit the spread of the coronavirus.

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New York, Feb 9 : After being torn between a fuller revenge against former US President Donald Trump and advancing incumbent President Joe Biden's agenda, both Democrats and Republicans have opted for a short Senate impeachment trial starting on Tuesday.

On Monday, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnel hammered out an agreement that could see the Trump's trial wrap-up within a week or so, allowing Congress to proceed with important legislative work.

Indications are that the trial would only be a catharsis for the Democrats as he would ultimately be acquitted at the Senate because they seem to lack the 67 votes needed in the 100-member upper chamber to convict him.

Trump, who is now living in Florida, has refused to appear before the Senate trial.

On January 13, the former leader was impeached for a second time by the House of Representatives accusing him of instigating the deadly January 6 Capitol riots, paving the way for the judicial-style trial in the Senate.

This is his second impeachment. The first was a year ago on charges for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress ended in his acquittal because all 53 Republicans voted against conviction on one charge and in the other only one, former presidential candidate Mitt Romney, switched sides.

This time in the chamber divided 50-50, at least five Republicans are expected to go with the Democrats, a number not sufficient to convict.

Trump's lawyers in their briefs ahead of the trial have questioned the constitutionality of impeaching a president who is not in office and have raised the constitution's First Amendment guaranteeing free speech against prosecuting Trump for the speech to his supporters that the Democrats say instigated the riots.

Democratic prosecutors have asserted that the impeachment of former presidents is permitted under the constitution and said that his speech was an "incitement of insurrection" and "is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a President".

Many Democrats chafing under the humiliations heaped on them over four years by Trump wanted an extensive, dramatic trial with witnesses testifying about their ordeal during the attack when the rioters stormed the Capitol and forced their way into the Senate chamber and offices of Congressional leaders.

But Democratic Party's leadership decided on a quick trial so they can get on with the work of legislating Biden's Covid-19 recovery package and confirming key officials so the President could have his cabinet in place.

Only seven officials have been approved so far.

The plan for the trial was "eminently fair" and "will allow for the trial to achieve its purpose: truth and accountability", Schumer said.

Biden himself has not sounded eager for an extensive trial as it could interfere with his agenda.

"His focus is on getting relief to the American people. That's exactly what he's conveyed publicly, of course, and privately as well,," Biden's Press Secretary Jan Psaki said on Monday.

Democrats are aware that Trump is unlikely to be convicted, which would have prevented him from running for offices in the future now that he is already out of office.

Republican leaders also want to close the Trump chapter as quickly as possible and move on while limiting his opportunities to play the martyr and distract the party from its post-Trump agenda of rebuilding.

The short trial "will give senators, as jurors, ample time to review the case and the arguments that each side will present", McConnell said.

Unlike in the January 2020 impeachment trial when the prosecution team made up of Democratic Representatives and Trump's defence team were each given 24 hours over three days to make their arguments, this time they will each get only 16 hours each over two days.

Another wrinkle in the schedule was also ironed out on Monday after Trump's lawyer David Shoen, a devout Jew, withdrew his request to stop the trial from sundown on February 5 to sundown the next day as his faith prohibited him from working during the period considered the Sabbath.

The trial timetable initially accommodated his request, but now it can continue into the weekend.

Under the agreed schedule when the Senate meets on Tuesday, the prosecutors, known technically as impeachment managers, and Trump's defence team will argue on the constitutionality of holding the impeachment trial and the Senators will vote on it.

Only a simple majority is required on the trial's constitutionality for it to proceed.

When the Senate received the Articles of Impeachment, as the chargesheet from the House is known, on January 26 it held a vote on the constitutionality and five Republicans joined the Democrats to vote for it.

When it comes up for a vote on Tuesday, it will be known if any other Republican had switched sides and will give an idea of the final vote for Trump's conviction.

During the shortened trial, the prosecution is expected to use videos of both Trump's speech to his supporters before the assault on the Capitol and the attack itself which took place while the while Congress was in the process of approving the electoral college votes making Biden the winner in the November election.

They cite his exhortation to his supporters to march to Congress and "fight like hell" after alleging that the election was "stolen" through extensive fraud even after courts at various levels have ruled against the allegations.

Trump's lawyers have countered saying that those who attacked the Capitol did so on their own and for their own reasons and not because of what he said.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts presided over the first impeachment trial, but this time he will not participate because Trump is not the President.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also the President of the Senate, will not preside either.

Instead, Democrat Patrick Leahy, who is President pro-tem of the Senate and the senior-most party Senator will preside over the trial.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
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Parole hearings are to be opened up to the public for the first time.

The Ministry of Justice will relax the requirement to hold the hearings in private, in the biggest shake-up since parole boards were introduced more than 50 years ago. The plan raises the prospect of high-profile cases being heard in public.

The change follows the decision to release black cab rapist John Worboys, who was granted parole in a closed hearing in 2018. The ruling was quashed on appeal following uproar from victims.

Victims' families, as well as the public and the press, are already routinely present in court and tribunals.

The Ministry of Justice will relax the requirement to hold parole hearings in private, in the biggest shake-up since parole boards were introduced more than 50 years ago. Pictured: Reading prison (file photo)

The change follows the decision to release black cab rapist John Worboys, pictured, who was granted parole in a closed hearing in 2018. The ruling was quashed on appeal following uproar from victims

Victims and prisoners will be consulted over any decision to bring a hearing into the public eye, but neither will have a veto - though sensitive details may have to be heard in chambers to prevent re-traumatisation.

Lucy Frazer, Minister of State for Prisons and Probation, told the Daily Telegraph: 'The Government wants victims to be allowed to attend parole hearings if they wish, but we appreciate many would find a public hearing distressing.'

They are likely to be held remotely using a video link, as most parole boards take place in jails themselves. Victims must be informed of any forthcoming hearings and are allowed to attend and speak at them.

It is the biggest chance to the parole system since the boards were introduced 60 years ago, and brings the UK system closer to the more open Canadian one.

Parole board chief executive Martin Jones said: 'I would have no problem, in a particularly high-profile case with a high level of public interest, to move the parole hearing into a court building.

Why not hold a hearing where you can have victims sitting in the public gallery and journalists watching that?'

A parole board spokesman confirmed they would launch a pilot scheme, adding: 'Provided there are appropriate safeguards so as not to disrupt the proceedings, the board would welcome a staged approach to opening up hearings.

'We agree with the victims' commissioner that steps should be taken to prevent re-traumatisation of victims. This is of paramount importance to any change in the parole system.

'We look forward to working with the press to make parole hearings more open to the public and will be working hard to create a format to increase understanding across the board.'
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Myanmar police cracked down on people protesting Myanmar's military coup in the capital of Naypyitaw Tuesday by firing warning shots, rubber bullets and water cannons, seriously injuring at least two protesters with what are believed to be gunshot wounds.



Demonstrators gathered in the streets of Myanmars capital for a fourth consecutive day, defying a set of restrictions imposed by the military junta aimed at stopping the massive protests against the overthrow of the elected civilian government.



An unnamed physician who treated protesters at a Naypyitaw hospital told VOAs Burmese Service that at least two demonstrators sustained what he believes were live gunshot wounds, one to the head, the other to the chest.



Twenty-year-old Myat Thwe Khine was placed on a ventilator as she slipped into a coma after receiving a gunshot wound to the head, according to the physician, who said X-rays show the bullet is still lodged in her head.



The doctor said 23-year-old Soe Wai sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.



The doctor could not say how may protesters were injured by bullets or water cannons, but he said most of the 20 people treated at the hospital were not injured by rubber bullets.



Tuesdays protests in Naypyitaw occurred just hours after the military announced an 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew would be imposed in the cities of Yangon and Mandalay. The regime has also banned gatherings of more than four people across the country.



Demonstrations were also staged in Yangon and Mandalay. News agencies say the protesters were blasted with water cannon in all three cities.



Tens of thousands of people have come out in force across Myanmar since the demonstrations began, holding signs reading Save Myanmar, We want democracy, as well as photographs of Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto leader of the deposed government.

Protesters also raised a three-finger salute as they marched, a sign of resistance against tyranny in the popular Hunger Games movies.



The demonstrations entered a new phase Monday as civil servants, railway employees, teachers and workers in other sectors began a nationwide strike.



But Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the general who led the coup, made no mention of the unrest in his address to the nation late Monday, his first since taking power exactly one week earlier.



The general reiterated claims that last Novembers elections, overwhelmingly won by Suu Kyis National League for Democracy party, were fraudulent. But he promised to hold new elections to bring a "true and disciplined democracy" different from previous eras of military rule.



He did not specify when the new elections would take place. The military has declared a one-year state of emergency.



Suu Kyi remains under house arrest at her official residence in Naypyitaw, according to party spokesman Kyi Toe.



She faces charges of illegally importing and using six unregistered walkie-talkie radios found during a search of her home.



On Friday, nearly 300 members of Suu Kyi's deposed ruling party proclaimed themselves to be the only lawful representatives of the countrys citizenry and called for global recognition as the stewards of the government.



The military takeover has been condemned by U.S. President Joe Biden and other world leaders, who have called for the elected government to be restored to power.



New Zealand said Tuesday it is suspending all high-level military and political contacts with Myanmar and is imposing a travel ban on its leaders.



The United Nations has called for the coup to be reversed, urging international actors to carry out calls for a return to democracy. The world bodys Human Rights Council will hold a special session Friday to discuss the crisis.



Myanmar, also known as Burma, has long struggled between civilian and military rule, but until last week had been enjoying a hopeful transition to democracy.



A British colony until 1948, the country was ruled by military-backed dictators from 1962 until 2010.



An uprising in 1988 led to an election in 1990, which the NLD won in a landslide. But the elected members of parliament were imprisoned, and the dictatorship continued.



Suu Kyi, the daughter of Myanmar's assassinated independence hero, Gen. Aung San, emerged as a leader in the pro-democracy rallies and in the NLD. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 while under house arrest.



In 2010, Senior General Than Shwe announced the country would be handed over to civilian leaders, who included retired generals. They freed political prisoners, including the lawmakers from the NLD, and Suu Kyi, who was elected in a 2012 by-election and later became the state counsellor of Myanmar.



While popular among Myanmars Buddhist majority, the 75-year-old Suu Kyi has seen her international reputation decline over her governments treatment of the country's mostly Muslim Rohingya minority.



In 2017, an army crackdown against the Rohingya, sparked by deadly attacks on police stations in Rakhine State, led hundreds of thousands of them to flee to neighboring Bangladesh, where they remain.



The International Criminal Court is investigating Myanmar for crimes against humanity.

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Three veterinarians from Massey University's Wildbase Hospital have been involved with a recent study that has found single-use plastics are an underestimated but notable cause of albatross and fishery-related deaths in the Southern Hemisphere.

The study was a collaboration between New Zealand and Australian researchers. Massey vet Richelle Butcher co-authored the paper with support from Megan Jolly and Stuart Hunter, who are also based at Wildbase Hospital. The lead author Dr. Lauren Roman is from IMAS University of Tasmania and CSIRO and other co-authors included Baukje Lenting and Phil Kowalski, both veterinarians at The Nest Te Kohanga at Wellington Zoo. The Queensland Department of Environment and Science were also involved.

The study, published in the journal Conservation Letters,is the first to estimate the frequency of plastic ingestion-related death in a seabird group across different ocean basins.

Butcher says they were contacted by Dr. Roman who wanted to use cases of plastic ingestion in albatross in Australia and New Zealand to demonstrate that ingestion is becoming more common and more of a threat to the endangered species.

"Lauren had seen a story on Facebook about a light-mantled sooty albatross at Wellington Zoo where I was based at the time as part of my residency rotation. I did the post mortem exam on this bird after it died in care, and found a rubber ring and small plastic fragments obstructing its small intestine."

The researchers looked at 107 beachcast albatrosses from 12 species brought into wildlife hospitals and pathology services across Australia and New Zealand.

Butcher and Jolly contributed their findings on different cases, including one of a southern royal albatross which had swallowed a plastic bottle and was brought to Wildbase in 2019. The team also collated the Wildbase post mortem data base from 2001 to 2020 to see if there were any other cases of plastic ingestion.

Butcher says birds brought into veterinary clinics are frequently emaciated with no obvious trauma, and plastic is often radiolucent, which means it may not be detected in X-rays.

"Because obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract prevents or slows nutrient absorption, it causes dehydration, weakness, lethargy and hypoglycaemia, even when the bird is fed. But dehydration often masks the signs of obstruction."

This ingestion due to pollution can cause death to these endangered species, but it is often underreported she says.

"It is very difficult to save these birds once they present to wildlife hospitals because plastic ingestion is difficult to diagnose and treat. We present a 'checklist' of signs both ante and post mortem to help other clinicians detect plastic ingestion as the cause of illness and death in albatross."

Butcher and her fellow researchers are now using these cases to encourage people to minimize their use of single-use plastics and say this release highlights the importance of continuing to consider this especially over holiday periods.

Explore further Balloons the number one marine debris risk of mortality for seabirds

More information: Lauren Roman et al. Plastic ingestion is an underestimated cause of death for southern hemisphere albatrosses, Conservation Letters (2020). Journal information: Conservation Letters Lauren Roman et al. Plastic ingestion is an underestimated cause of death for southern hemisphere albatrosses,(2020). DOI: 10.1111/conl.12785
This Thai village created a tiny fish reserve years ago. Today, it's thriving

by RACHEL NUWER

February 09,2021 | Source: National Geographic

PEOPLE in Na Doi, a quiet village in northwest Thailand, noticed that their fish catches in the nearby Ngao River were declining. The fish they did manage to net were also getting smaller. Together, Na Dois 75 households decided to try a radical solution: they would set aside a small stretch of river to be strictly off-limits to fishing. Nearly a quarter-century later, the experiment has paid off. The protected section of the Ngao brims with large barb and mahseer (a kind of carp), and catches outside of the reserve, where the villagers fish, have significantly increased. The projects shared ownership has created a greater sense of harmony and unity among villagers, and has benefited them individually, psychologically as well, says Nok Wa, 55, a farmer in Na Doi. Many times, when people in the village are upset, they go to watch the fish, he says. Sometimes the young children ask why we cant eat those fish, and I tell them, Our stomachs cannot eat those fish, but our eyes can still eat.



Na Doi was the second village in the Ngao River valley to adopt this pioneering approach to freshwater fisheries management. Since the late 1990s, at least 50 other villages there have done the same. As a whole, the entirely grassroots-led reserves have been stunningly successful, according to findings recently published in Nature. Most importantly, the Thailand case study provides probably the best real-world proof of concept that fisheries reserves can benefit not just oceans, but freshwater, too. These small, community-based reserves can be a really effective management strategy for sustaining their own resources and conserving fish, says Aaron Koning, a postdoctoral researcher at the Global Water Center at the University of Reno, Nevada, and a National Geographic explorer. This is some of the first science to show that this approach is really effective in freshwater, and suggests that we should maybe start applying this as a conservation tool.



A much-needed break



Such tools are desperately needed. Freshwater animals are declining at rates more than double those of land and marine ones, yet theyre chronically overlooked. Their habitats in many rivers are affected by myriad threats: from dams and irrigation diversions, pollution, sand mining, and invasive species. While freshwater reserves will not solve everything, in places where fish populations are under pressure, they can give species much-needed breathing room to rebuild their numbers, ultimately making them better able to weather other environmental assaults. Larger populations are less likely to go extinct than smaller ones, and are also more adaptable due to higher genetic diversity. Freshwater reserves provide a tool that could buy us some time to start addressing much larger conservation strategies, Koning says.



Southeast Asia, which has rivers and lakes that are some of the most heavily fished in the world, also has a long history of self-governed freshwater reserves, usually established as sacred pools around religious temples. The first Ngao River valley community reserve was established in 1992, and slowly, other villagesobserving the success of their neighborsreplicated the project. The rules are usually simple: no fishing of any kind in an agreed-upon area demarcated by flags or signs. Punishments for violators vary. In Na Doi, for example, fines start at 500 baht (about $17) per fish, regardless of the animals size, and increase for subsequent offenses. In another village, rule breakers must pay with 12 bottles of whiskey and a pig sacrifice to appease the spirits.



Accidental networks



In 2012, Koning, then a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, began investigating the Ngao valley reserves to see how widespread and successful they truly were. Over the next eight years, he spent a total of 18 months living with communities across the region, where he documented around 50 different reserves. He selected 23 to study in depth, interviewing villagers and snorkeling the waters inside and outside the reserves to count and measure fish, along with study co-author Martin Perales.



Koning found, not surprisingly, that older and bigger reserves were more successful, because they offered more time and spaceincluding more kinds of habitatin which to rebuild fish populations and re-establish rare species. But even reserves established in the last couple years showed clear benefits from being spared intense fishing pressure. Reserves that were located closer to a village tended to have an advantage, Koning says, probably because villagers were better able to enforce the rules. These principles have been much more fully developed and demonstrated in marine reserves, but we think thats what might be driving the success that we saw in our study, too, Koning says. While some of the reserves are laughably small, he saysjust the size of a kiddie poolthey are all relatively close together, inadvertently providing a network of safe havens for fish species that travel up and down the river and its tributaries, in addition to those that stay put.



The magnitude of the overall benefits is really surprising, Koning says. He and his colleagues reported that, compared to non-protected stretches of the river, reserves enjoy more than twice the total number of fish and over 20 times the total weight of fish, with big fish found almost exclusively within protected areas. This is the first time we have had such a high-profile, quantitative study thats directly measuring the benefits of freshwater protected areas, says Erin Loury, a fisheries biologist at FISHBIO, a global fisheries and environmental consulting company, who was not involved in the research. The fact that communities did this on their own with very little external support or funding is quite remarkable and is the best-case scenario you could hope for.



Hard-to-see successes



In follow-up studies, Loury would like to see an in-depth analysis of the social factors that contributed to the communities accomplishments. She wonders, for example, if the Thai reserves benefited from the fact that villagers could literally see their successful efforts swimming around in the clear waters of the Ngao River. When freshwater bodies are turbidwhich many arethe gains from fishing limits may be harder to convey. Since the study came out, Koning has received reports about similar initiatives in Malaysia, India, and Namibia. Conservationists have also contacted him about replicating successful aspects of the Thai case study in various countries in South America and Southeast Asia. At the same time, he has begun researching the effects of eight large, government-mandated, no-take zones established in 2013 in Cambodias Tonle Sap Lake, a hugely important fishery where reports indicate fewer and smaller fish are being caught.



By comparing different systems and approaches around the world, Koning and his colleagues hope to identify common factors for success that could be tailored to diverse rivers and lakes. Theres a ton of mystery still in how and why these things work, but the first lesson is that they do work, Koning says. Its a message that Nok Wa heartedly endorses as well. If we didnt have a reserve, our children wouldnt be able to see fish, and we wouldnt have fish to eat, he says. If a community starts a reserve, they will definitely get more fish.

Theme(s): Fisheries Development and Aquaculture, Fisheries Resources, Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods, Freshwater ecosystems and threats, Others, Communities and Organisations, Coastal Ecosystems and Threats, Post Harvest Technology and Trade, Landing Centres.
Commentary At the Heart of Myanmars New Uprising, a Simple Demand

Anti-coup protesters confront riot police in Hledan in Yangon on Feb. 6, 2021. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

Once again, the people of Myanmar have taken a historic stand and poured onto the streets, taking huge risks in an effort to topple the countrys latest military regime which, on Feb. 1, seized power from the elected government without a shred of justification. Like its predecessors, this mass uprising is a righteous one. A vital question is how it will end; innocent citizens are peacefully defying a powerful military that has repeatedly shown its willingness to resort to brutality.

Unquestionably, a military coup is the worst way in which an institution can take power, and military rule is the worst form of governance. For the people of Myanmar, this is not political theorizingits a historical reality. This is the fourth time they have endured this bitter experience. Previous military dictatorships ruled for a combined 51 years. A week ago, the country again fell under the military boot.

This coup was avoidable. But it was what the coup leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of Myanmars powerful military, wanted. Why? Its obvious that he wanted to erase the indisputable result of the Nov. 8 electionthe ruling National League for Democracys landslide victoryby manufacturing a baseless dispute over electoral fraud. Why? He wanted to overthrow the government. Why? He doesnt care for basic democratic norms. Why? Because, many believe, he wants absolute power as head of state in order to make himself president in the future.

The only way to see this new uprising is as another stage in the unfinished struggle between right vs. wrong; elected government vs. military dictatorship; voters vs. power-grabbers; people power vs. might makes right; justice vs. injustice.

I make note of all of those because some peopleobservers, analysts and journalistsaround the world have failed to grasp what is at the heart and soul of this new uprising by Myanmars people, who have been unfairly oppressed for so long at the point of a gun. Incorrectly, those people see this genuine and righteous movement as the result of a rivalry between the military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the ruling party. Completely overlooking the fundamental factsincluding the facts behind the military coup itselfthey characterize the takeover as stemming from a personal rivalry. They have no sense of the real movement that has emerged here among the people of Myanmar. Its an insult to the hundreds of thousands of people who have taken to the streets in recent days and to the millions of voters who cast their ballots last November.

Down with the military dictatorship! is the most common slogan I have heard from the protesters as I have walked around Yangons streets over the past two days. Peaceful protestersof all ages and of every economic statuswere shouting that slogan together with others: Good health to Mother Suu! (referring to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi), and We dont want Min Aung Hlaing! they yelled. They held placards reading, We want our leader [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi], We voted for the NLD; Respect our votes! and Free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint!

These slogans are reverberating in townships across the country. Today as well, we heard them from endless columns of protesters in Yangon. In this city alone, it is believed that the number of protesters reached into the hundreds of thousands.

Even in Naypyitaw, which was built by the previous military junta and is still the capital of the current military leadership, those slogans were heard from peaceful protesterseven as riot police cracked down on them with water cannons on Monday morning. Thanks to mobile phones and the internet, we are hearing the slogans and seeing the placards almost everywhere in the country, from north to south and from east to west. I hear the slogans being chanted in the distance even now, as I sit at my desk and write this article.

The handful of slogans are heartfelt and voiced with strong feeling. The demands they express constitute the real soul of this new peoples uprising. The people are asking for nothing more than what was stolen from them.

This uprising is a continuation of the unfinished struggle between dictatorship and democratic forces that began when the military staged its first coup five decades ago.

In the days following the coup on Feb. 1, it was heartening to see an ever-growing number of responsible and brave citizens take to the streets to oppose the powerful military leadership, who command a force of 400,000 but harbor unkind and insensitive hearts.

Nothing can obscure the basic facts and the gross violation of fundamental democratic norms that has occurred: The majority of Myanmars people chose the NLD in the Nov. 8 election; less than three months later, the military leadership erased the result with a military coup; the military abolished the Parliament just hours before it was due to convene; and it rounded up the elected lawmakers, overthrew the legitimate government and arrested its leaders, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint and many more. There is nothing ambiguous about this. The above recounting of events is not based on personal politicsall of these developments represent clear violations of the principles of democracy.

Now, after days of protests attended by countless numbers of people peacefully and righteously taking to the streets across the country, the primary concern for all of us is shifting away from the militarys ridiculous justification for its coup, and turning to the very real possibilityknowing as we do the militarys history of shocking brutality against its own peoplethat this new regime will crack down hard on those who are demonstrating peacefully.

Thirty-three years ago, in 1988, the predecessors of the current military regime indiscriminately gunned down about 3,000 peaceful demonstrators, including young high-school students who took to the streets in a similar nationwide uprising against a military dictatorship. They arrested thousands of dissidents. Nothingincluding pleas from the international community led by the United Nationscould halt the brutality.

In 2007, the same military leaders crushed the Saffron Revolution, in which demonstrators again took to the streets of Yangon and other cities, this time led by peacefully protesting monks. Again, no oneincluding the most powerful leaders around the worldcould save those innocent freedom fighters.

These are just two of the better known examples among the countless episodes of brutality inflicted over the decades by Myanmars various military dictatorships, not only in cities but also in remote ethnic areas, since 1962.

The military coup on Feb. 1 marked yet another seizure of power from the peoples elected representatives, yet another defiance of the peoples will. I think many people now fear that crackdowns in various forms are imminent, as the uprising gains momentum and finds support across all sectors of society, from students, activists and politicians to civil servants and ordinary people.

There is now an urgent need for every single person, every single nationthe entire world and its global organizationsto give serious thought to how they can support and protect the defenseless people of Myanmar from a recurrence, in the coming days, of the bloodshed that has stained the countrys history. Its time to think about how to end the military dictatorship and secure democracys return.

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Jacksonville Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Ryan M. Hofmeister, 33, of 2976 Illinois Route 104, Franklin, was arrested at 2:29 a.m. Monday on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of adult-use cannabis and cited on a charge of having an obstructed registration plate after the car he was driving was stopped at North East and State streets.

A passenger in his car, Samantha G. Talkington, 30, of 224 S. Pearl St., Palmyra, was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance, according to police reports.

 Toney L. Prather, 23, of 650 S. Prairie St. was arrested at 9:06 a.m. Sunday on a domestic battery charge after being accused of hitting someone in the face several times.



Pike County

State Police

ACCIDENTS

 Karl Hillman, 60, of Wentzville, Missouri, was cited on a charge of driving too fast for conditions after the tractor-trailer truck he was driving went off the road and overturned about 1 p.m. Monday on the Interstate 72 northbound ramp in Pike County.

According to Illinois State Police, Hillman was driving around a curve on I-72 to the Interstate 172 interchange when he lost control of the vehicle on the ice- and snow-packed road.

He was taken to a local hospital for treatment, police said. His condition was unavailable late Monday.

Compiled by David C.L. Bauer

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Officers recently arrested two men in connection with a shooting in San Francisco's Bayview District last month that left a grocery store with a shattered window, police said Monday.

On Jan. 23, officers responded to a report of a shooting near the corner of Third Street and Palou Avenue.

Witnesses at a nearby grocery store said they initially heard gunshots from outside just before bullets struck a storefront window, shattering it.

Surveillance video from the area showed that just before the shooting, a light-colored vehicle was traveling south on Third Street. A suspect in that vehicle then fired several shots toward a man standing on the sidewalk, police said.

The man standing on the sidewalk then brandished a gun and returned fire as the vehicle sped away from the scene, according to police.

With help from the Police Department's Gang Task Force, investigators were able to identify the two shooters as Jermaine McDonald and Kenneth Matthews, both 26 years old and both San Francisco residents, according to police.

Officers located McDonald on Jan. 27 near the corner of Sixth and Jessie streets, finding a loaded semi-automatic firearm in his pocket. Officers arrested McDonald on suspicion of attempted murder as well as a slew of weapons offenses.

Officers located Matthews last Thursday, near the corner of Eddy and Taylor streets. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and weapons offenses as well, police said.

Although two suspects have been arrested, police are continuing to investigate the shooting and are asking anyone with information to contact SFPD's 24-hour tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to text a tip to TIP411 with "SFPD" at the start of the message.

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[February 09, 2021] Regions Bank Names Andrew Nix as Chief Governance Officer

Regions Bank on Tuesday announced Andrew Nix will join the company as chief governance officer, serving in a leadership role advising the Regions Financial Corporation Board of Directors and executive management on a wide range of corporate governance best practices. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005189/en/ Andrew Nix will join Regions as chief governance officer on March 17. (Photo: Business Wire) In addition, Nix will consistently monitor and evolve Regions' corporate governance framework while serving as a liaison to external stakeholders, including institutional stockholders, regarding corporate governance matters. Nix will report to Tara Plimpton, chief legal officer for the bank. "Corporate governance speaks to the heart of who we are as financial professionals committed to making a positive difference for the people, businesses and communities we serve," Plimpton said. "In recent years, Regions has been recognized for our focus on doing right by all of our stakeholders. Andrew's experience and insights will help us build on these accomplishments. Through our policies, procedures and practices, Regions is focused on helping customers and communities succeed, and I know the work of Andrew and his team will make a meaningful impact as we fulfill our mission."



Nix will join Regions in March from Birmingham-based Maynard Cooper & Gale PC. There, he has served as a shareholder with practice areas in banking and financial services; corporate governance and compliance; public company advisory services; securities regulation and corporate finance; and more. Nix's previous legal experience also includes work for Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP and Lightfoot Franklin & White LLC. "As someone who has lived in Birmingham for nearly 20 years, I recognize the significant impact that Regions has not only locally, but also in every market served by the bank," Nix said. "Corporate governance is my passion. At its core, it's about having a strong framework that guides business decisions and, in turn, benefits not only the customers of a company but also the people and businesses who make up the communities where a company does business. Regions has a demonstrated commitment to creating more inclusive prosperity, and I am excited to bring my skills and experience in support of the bank's important work."

Nix commits much of his time to community engagement and professional organizations. In addition to serving on Maynard's Diversity & Inclusion Committee and serving as co-chair of the firm's Pro Bono Committee, he was president of the Birmingham Bar Association in 2020 and is a graduate of the Leadership Birmingham Class of 2020. Nix is a member of the Society for Corporate Governance, the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, the Board of Directors of Better Basics, and the United Way of Central Alabama Tocqueville Society, and he has served on various committees of the Alabama State Bar. A native of Wedowee, Alabama, Nix earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Alabama School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration-Finance from Auburn University. About Regions Financial Corporation Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $147 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,400 banking offices and 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005189/en/

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New Delhi, Feb 9 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted protection from arrest to Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in an alleged hate speech case lodged against him in Uttar Pradesh, however it remarked that he cannot divide society on lines of caste and religion.

A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and R. Subhash Reddy said: "In the meantime, we direct that the petitioner be not arrested in Crime No. 221 of 2020 under Sections 153A, 153B, 501, 505(2), IPC registered at P.S. Hazratganj, Lucknow. Counter affidavit be filed within two weeks." The bench observed that the UP police could seek sanction from the Rajya Sabha chairperson to prosecute Singh in the cases and also sought response from the Uttar Pradesh government. During the hearing, the bench cautioned that Singh cannot divide society on lines of caste and religion. "Looking into the nature of the issue which has been raised in the present case, the matter needs to be finally decided on the next date. List the matter in the third week of March, 2021", said the top court.

Singh's lawyer Vivek Tankha contended that since Singh was a Rajya Sabha member, the permission for his prosecution should have been given by the Chair of the Upper House. Tankha said that identical FIRs have been filed against the AAP leader at dozen places.

After a brief hearing, the bench directed that Singh should not be arrested in the criminal cases registered against him and adjourned the matter for further hearing in the third week of March.

The Supreme Court also issued notice on his plea for clubbing of all FIRs. Singh has cited eight FIRs filed in Lucknow, Sant Kabir Nagar, Khiri, Bagpat, Muzaffarnagar, Basti and Aligarh etc.

"Issue notice limited to the question as to whether the FIRs registered against the petitioner as mentioned at page B and C at Sr. Nos.1 to 7 of synopsis be clubbed with FIR mentioned at Page C at Sr. No. 8 registered at P.S. Hazratganj, Lucknow, Crime No. 221 of 2020", said the top court.

On February 2, Singh failed to get immediate relief from the Supreme Court in a matter pertaining to non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued in a case lodged in Lucknow after his press conference on August 12 last year, wherein he alleged that the state government was favouring a certain section of society.

Singh has moved the top court to seek quashing of FIRs lodged against him in different districts of UP after his press conference and claimed that these cases were a result of "political vendetta".

In his plea, the Rajya Sabha member said that he had merely highlighted certain social issues and the alleged apathy of the state government against certain section of society.
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GODFREY  Longtime Godfrey business owner and educator Kevin Botterbush has officially launched his campaign for Godfrey Village Clerk.

Botterbush said he wants to put his business, education and community knowledge and experience to work helping Godfrey become an even better place to live, raise a family and do business.

Helping the people who live and work in our community is what local government should be doing, and thats why Im running for village clerk, he said in a statement.

Botterbush said he is looking forward to working with the mayor, village trustees and the community to transform the village clerks office into a vital community resource.

Botterbush has been in the real estate business for more than 30 years and owns Botterbush and Associates Real Estate. He also has been an instructor, as well as the Real Estate Program coordinator at Lewis and Clark Community College for nearly 24 years.

He has servwed on numerous boards and committees. Currently he is president of the board of trustees of the Hayner Public Library District, chairman of the Alton Salvation Army Advisory Board and vice chairman of the Piasa Bird District of the Boy Scouts of America.

He previously served on the boards of the Saint Anthonys Hospital Foundation, Junior Achievement, Boy Scouts of America, American Heart Association, RiverBend Growth Association, Godfrey Parks and Recreation, Greater Gateway Association of Realtors, State of Illinois Lewis and Clark Library System and Fireworks on the Mississippi. He also has been an Illinois Department of Natural Resources hunter safety instructor. A

A lifelong resident of Godfrey, he and his wife, Julie, a nurse executive at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, have three children. Kathleen Botterbush is majoring in biomedical engineering, pre-medicine at Saint Louis University and will be attending medical school in 2022. Jonathan Botterbush is a pre-pharmacy student and K.J. Botterbush is studying electrical engineering, both at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will February 22 arraign a former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged financial impropriety.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ms Oduah was scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, but the judge, Inyang Ekwo, had to adjourn the case because the ex-minister was absent and had not been served with the relevant court documents.

Ms Oduah was in February 2014 removed as the aviation minister by then President Goodluck Jonathan following scandals she was involved in.

The former minister who later got involved in the campaigns for Mr Jonathans failed 2015 re-election bid, is currently the senator representing Abia North in the National Assembly.

Charged

The EFCC recently charged her alongside eight others with fraud offences in the case marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/316/20.

According to NAN, the anti-corruption agency alleged that Mrs Oduah misappropriated public funds while serving as a minister.

EFCCs prosecuting counsel, Hassan Liman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, in trying to defend Ms Oduahs absence from Tuesdays proceedings, confirmed to the court that the senator had not been served with the court processes.

The lawyer, therefore, urged the judge to adjourn the case to enable the anti-graft agency to serve the legislator.

My lord, the matter has been set out today (Tuesday) for arraignment but I have been informed by the commission that the first defendant (Oduah) is yet to be served.

In view of that my lord, may I humbly apply for a very short date, he said.

Responding, the judge, Mr Ekwo, said it was the duty of the prosecution to produce defendants in court.

He then adjourned the matter till February 22 for defendants to take their plea.

Scandals

Ms Oduah was sacked by then President Jonathan on February 12, 2014, after she was stained by scandals, one of which was about the purchase of two bullet-proof cars by an agency under her supervision, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for N255 million.

The purchase was in violation of Nigerias public procurement and appropriation laws.

The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, which conducted an investigative hearing on the matter, also found out that in its report that the spending of the N255 million was not covered by the 2013 budget.

The House also noted at the time that Ms Oduah breached Nigerian laws by exceeding her approval limit and signing off over N634 million for the agency to buy 54 vehicles.

Another panel set up by the President also indicted Ms Oduah for breach of relevant laws.

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While battling with the procurement scandal, Ms Oduah was also enmeshed in another certificate scam.

Searchlight

Although she has never been prosecuted, Ms Oduah has since her removal as the minister, come under the searchlight of various investigative bodies.

For instance, the Federal High Court in Abuja had at the instance of the EFCC on October 18, 2019, made an interim order of forfeiture of the assets of some companies which the EFCC believed had links to the former minister.

The two affected companies were Crystal Television Limited and Sabora International Limited.

The firms assets placed under the order of interim forfeiture included dredging vessels and quarry equipment located at Chifuyi village, Apo, Abuja, said to be owned by Sabora International Limited based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The rest of the assets said to be owned by Crystal Television Limited located in Kaura District, Behind Games Village, Abuja, were 20 crates of television/radio equipment, two installed cooling units, one top-class Total Energy 274KVA generator, and mast above 120 feet.

But the judge, Mr Ekwo, on June 8, 2020, vacated the interim forfeiture order on the grounds that there was no proof the firms had any links to Ms Oduah.

The defunct Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP) on the Recovery of Public Property which was being led by Okoi Obono-Obla also filed charges of non-declaration of assets against Ms Oduah at the Federal High Court in Abuja in 2018.

Ms Oduah was never brought to court to answer in respect of the case, but the charges were still pending in court as of the time the SPIP was disbanded by President Muhammadu Buhari in September 2019.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a crack down on young criminals with 'all the force and resources at our disposal' after a series of shocking alleged murders rocked the state.

Courts will now be able to have high risk offenders aged 16 and 17 fitted with GPS trackers as part of bail conditions and police on the Gold Coast will carry metal detecting wands to stamp out knife crime under the tough new measures.

'The new measures will target hardcore youth criminals who repeatedly offend and put the community at risk,' Ms Palaszczuk said on Tuesday.

'They will feel the full force of the law when it comes to our changes on bail.'

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) has announced tough new measures to deal with youth crime

There have been growing calls for action after a Brisbane couple and their unborn baby were killed when a teenager allegedly crashed a suspected stolen car on Australia Day.

On Friday night a Townsville woman was killed when she was hit by a car being driven by a vigilante, who had been chasing down an alleged stolen car being driven by teenagers.

The premier has appointed former police anti-terrorism commander Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon to lead a new youth crime taskforce co-ordinating the crackdown.

'The loss of four innocent lives cannot go unanswered. It is clear to me and to the community that some young offenders simply don't care about consequences,' Ms Palaszczuk said.

'It's this 10 per cent who are responsible for 48 per cent of the crime. They're the ones we are going to target with all the force and resources at our disposal.'

Ms Palaszczuk said the changes target about 400 repeat offenders who are responsible for almost half of all the state's youth crime.

Matt Field, 37, (left), Kate Leadbetter, 31 (right) and their unborn son Miles were killed on Australia Day after they were struck by an allegedly stolen car driven by a teenager in Alexandra Hills, Brisbane

The couple had been dating for more than four years and were expecting their first child. Also pictured are their beloved pets, dogs Frankie and Django and their cat

Assistant Commissioner Scanlan served as a police officer for 33 years and worked in child safety before heading the state's Security and Counter Terrorism Command and is 'the perfect choice' to lead the operation, Ms Palaszczuk said.

Seven legislative changes, including the use of GPS trackers, will be passed by the government later this month.

'It's not the panacea, but it is one tool that we don't have right now,' Assistant Commissioner Scanlon said.

'We have seen it used in other places and that's what the trial is all about.'

Judges will also have a presumption against bail for offenders who commit serious indictable offences such as breaking and entering, sexual assault and armed robbery while on bail.

Parents and guardians will have to provide assurances in court that bail conditions will be met before young offenders are released.

Jennifer Board, 22, (pictured) was killed after after she was hit by a Holden Statesman, which had allegedly been following a stolen Hyundai sedan during a suspected vigilante pursuit

The fatal crash devastated the Far North Queensland city, where many blamed the state's 'broken' youth justice laws for the tragedy

Youth justice laws will be amended to ensure they note that the community must be protected from recidivist offenders and that offending on bail is an aggravating circumstance for sentencing purposes.

Anti-hooning laws will make the vehicle owners responsible for crimes, unless their vehicle is stolen or if they can identify another driver.

Gold Coast police will be given metal detector wands to search youths for knives and a parliamentary inquiry will examine the use of remote engine immobilisers for vehicles.

Ms Palaszczuk said former police commissioner Bob Atkinson will also evaluate the plan after six months.

'Now it's not going to happen overnight, let me be very clear about that, it is going to take time,' she said.

The issue has become highly charged following the deaths of pedestrians Kate Leadbetter, who was pregnant, and her partner Matt Field when they were struck by an allegedly stolen car driven by a teenager in Alexandra Hills on January 26.

Calls for reform increased with the death of 22-year-old motorcyclist Jennifer Board at Thuringowa, Townsville on Friday night.

She was hit by a Holden Statesman, which had allegedly been following a stolen Hyundai sedan during a suspected vigilante pursuit.

The fatal crash devastated the Far North Queensland city, where many blamed the state's 'broken' youth justice laws for the tragedy

YOUTH CRIME CRACK DOWN - Courts will get more powers allowing them to:  Require fitting of electronic monitoring devices (GPS Trackers) as a condition of bail for recidivist high risk offenders aged 16 and 17  Create a presumption against bail for youth offenders arrested for committing further serious indictable offences (such as breaking and entering, serious sexual assault and armed robbery) while on bail  Seek assurances from parents and guardians that bail conditions will be complied with before an offender is released  Strengthen existing bail laws to provide further guidance to the courts  the Youth Justice Act will be amended to include a reference to the community being protected from recidivist youth offenders in the Charter of Youth Justice Principles - Anti-hooning laws will be strengthened to hold the registered owner of a vehicle responsible except where the vehicle has been stolen or the owner can identify another person was driving - Police will be given metal detecting wands to target knife crime on the Gold Coast Source: Annastacia Palaszczuk Advertisement

A 25-year-old Bushland Beach man who was allegedly driving the Holden was charged with murder.

Two 18-year-old men, from Rasmussen and Garbutt, were also charged with theft after the fatal crash.

The state opposition has focused its criticism of the state's youth justice system on what is says are lenient breach of bail laws.

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TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - Tupelo police and Crime Stoppers of North East Mississippi are looking for a suspect connected to a shooting on Saturday.

The shooting happened on Meadows Drive.

Police found a man suffering from a gunshot wound on his lower hip.

Witnesses said the suspect fired shots after an argument started to escalate. According to the police, the suspect fled the scene before they arrived.

The suspect is described as a tall, black man with grey and white facial hair. No one provided his name, but his nickname is C-Bo.

The victim was transported to North Mississippi Medical Center with serious injuries.

Anyone with information on this shooting is asked to call Tupelo Police Department at 662-841-6491 or Crime Stoppers of North East Mississippi at 1-800-773-TIPS.
State health officials reported another 1,276 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total number of active cases to 58,439.

Officials also announced another 55 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll to 14,753 in Massachusetts.

There are currently 1,387 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, including 329 people in intensive care, 188 of whom are intubated.

The seven-day average of positive tests is 2.96%. There have now been 517,806 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts since the pandemic began.

Nationwide, cases have fallen in recent weeks. Forty-four have seen sustained decreases in new cases, and less than half as many cases are being reported every day now compared to last months peak, according to the New York Times. Deaths remain extremely high, however.

Beginning today in Massachusetts, restaurants, gyms and museums, among many other businesses and venues, can up their capacity from 25% to 40% amid encouraging numbers over the last few weeks. Boston officials on Friday also said theyd follow the new state guidance, expanding capacity for those businesses.

While cases continue falling statewide, an outbreak in cases among University of Massachusetts-Amherst students and staff has prompted local officials to issue a 9:30 p.m. curfew and tighten restrictions to help curb the spread of infections.

Total COVID cases by county:

Barnstable County: 9,339

Berkshire County: 4,650

Bristol County: 52,679

Dukes County: 810

Essex County: 79,678

Franklin County: 1,849

Hampden County: 38,761

Hampshire County: 6,324

Middlesex County: 105,526

Nantucket County: 1,115

Norfolk County: 42,286

Plymouth County: 37,721

Suffolk County: 73,952

Worcester County: 61,654

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NEW DELHI : The government has placed orders for 1 crore additional doses of Covishield from Serum Institute of India and 45 lakh more doses of Covaxin from Bharat Biotech, officials of the two vaccine makers said on Tuesday.

India's COVID-19 vaccination drive was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16.

Serum Institute has received another order from the government for 10 million doses of Covishield, a company official said in response to a query.

The government had earlier placed a purchase order with Serum Institute of India (SII) for 1.1 crore doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield.

When asked, a Bharat Biotech spokesperson said, "The company has received a letter of comfort from the Government of India to supply another 4.5 million (or 45 lakh) doses''.

The spokesperson also added that Bharat Biotech will also be exporting its COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, to Brazil and the United Arab Emirates.

The company is also likely to export the vaccine to the Philippines and other South Asian countries, the spokesperson said. The government had earlier placed an order for 55 lakh doses of Covaxin from Bharat Biotech.

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Rahul Gandhi_

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre over its inaction against Union Minister VK Singh despite his LAC remark.

Attacking the BJP for not sacking the retired Army officer turned-politician despite his statement claiming India has transgressed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) 50 times, Rahul Gandhi said on February 9 that VK Singh is helping China make a case against India.

If China transgressed 10 times, India did at least 50 times: VK Singh on LAC row



Why is a BJP minister helping China make a case against India?

He shouldve been sacked. Not sacking him means insulting every Indian Jawan. pic.twitter.com/8NK5nCJTG4  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 9, 2021

The Congress leader took the Twitter and wrote: Why is a BJP minister helping China make a case against India? He should have been sacked. Not sacking him means insulting every Indian Jawan.

VK Singh, who is the Minister of State for Transport and Highways had told the media on February 7: ...none of you come to know how many times we have transgressed as per our perception. Chinese media does not cover it.

He had further said: Let me assure you, if China has transgressed the LAC 10 times, we must have done it at least 50 times.

China was quick to note the statement and used it to blame India for the ongoing border conflict. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said: This is an unwitting confession by the Indian side. For a long time, the Indian side has conducted frequent acts of trespass in the border area in an attempt to encroach on Chinas territory and constantly created disputes and frictions, which is the root cause of the tensions at the China-India border.
Europe's oldest person, French nun Sister Andre, is celebrating her 117th birthday this week after beating COVID-19.

Lucile Randon, who took the name of Sister Andre when she joined a Catholic charitable order in 1944, tested positive for the coronavirus in January but displayed no symptoms.

The supercentenarian living in Toulon of southern France said that she was not afraid of the virus as she 'wasn't scared to die'.

Lucile Randon, who took the name of Sister Andre when she joined a Catholic charitable order in 1944, tested positive for the coronavirus in January but displayed no symptoms. She is seen celebrating her 116th birthday last year in Toulon, southern France

Sister Andre, who was born on February 11, 1904, is the world's second-oldest living person according to the Gerontology Research Group's (GRG) World Supercentenarian Rankings List.

On January 16, Sister Andre tested positive for the virus in her retirement home. She was isolated from other residents, but displayed no symptoms.

David Tavella, spokesman for the Sainte Catherine Laboure retirement home, said she was doing well.

'We consider her to be cured. She is very calm and she is looking forward to celebrating her 117th birthday on Thursday.'

'She has been very lucky,' he added.

Sister Andre, who was born on February 11, 1904, is the world's second-oldest living person according to the Gerontology Research Group's (GRG) World Supercentenarian Rankings List

Asked if she was scared to have COVID, Sister Andre told France's BFM television that she had no fears about death.

'No, I wasn't scared because I wasn't scared to die... I'm happy to be with you,' the nun said. 'but I would wish to be somewhere else join my big brother and my grandfather and my grandmother.'

Sister Andre, who is blind but very spirited, will celebrate her birthday with a smaller group of residents than usual due to coronavirus infection risk, her caregivers said.

The world's oldest person of all time is a French woman named Jeanne Louise Calment, who died in 1997 at the age of 122.

Kane Tanaka from Japan is the oldest living person in the world. She turned 118 on January 2.

The world's 20 oldest people in the GRG list are all female.
Fears have been sparked for Holocaust research after a Warsaw court ruled that two historians must apologise for claiming a Polish villager gave up Jews to the Nazis.

The court ruled on Tuesday that two historians tarnished the memory of a Polish villager in a book about the Holocaust and must apologise, in a case some academics warn could deter impartial research into Poles' actions during World War Two.

More than seven decades on, the conflict remains a live political issue in Poland, where the ruling nationalists say studies showing complicity by some Poles in the killing of Jews by Nazi Germany are an attempt to dishonour a country that suffered immensely in the conflict.

Fears have been sparked for Holocaust research after a Warsaw court ruled that two historians must apologise for claiming a Polish villager gave up Jews to the Nazis (File image)

The court ruled that Barbara Engelking and Jan Grabowski, editors of the two-volume work 'Night without an end. Fate of Jews in selected counties of occupied Poland', must apologise for saying Edward Malinowski gave up Jews to the Nazi Germans.

But it stopped short of ordering them to pay compensation.

'The court's ruling must not have a cooling effect on academic research. In the opinion of the court the demanded sum of 100,000 zlotys (19,592) would constitute such a factor,' said judge Ewa Jonczyk.

Polish academics and Jewish organisations such as Israel's Yad Vashem had expressed concern that the trial may undermine freedom of research, and Engelking said the case aimed to have such an effect.

'There is no doubt this is some sort of an effort to create a freezing effect, to show academics that there are issues on which it is not worth focusing on,' she said.

The World Jewish Congress said in a statement it was 'dismayed' by the ruling.

Engelking and Grabowski plan to appeal Tuesday's verdict.

The case had been brought by Malinowski's 81-year-old niece, Filomena Leszczynska, and funded by the Polish League Against Defamation, which opposes claims of Polish involvement in the murder of Jews.

Leszczynska's lawyer, Monika Brzozowska-Pasieka, argued that Engelking and Grabowski failed to follow correct research methodology when compiling the book, an accusation Grabowski denied.

'Filomena is extremely pleased with this verdict,' Brzozowska-Pasieka said after the trial. 'The question of compensation from the beginning was a secondary issue.'

Almost all of Poland's 3.2 million Jews are understood to have died during more than five years of Nazi rule, accounting for around half the Jews estimated to have been killed in the Holocaust. A further 3 million non-Jewish citizens also died under Poland's Nazi occupation.

Polish academics and Jewish organisations such as Israel's Yad Vashem had expressed concern that the trial may undermine freedom of research. Above, Polish Jews are led away for deportation during the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto by German troops in 1943

A significant body of research suggests that, while thousands of Poles risked their lives to help Jews, thousands also participated in the Holocaust. Many Poles do not accept such findings.

In 2018, an international backlash forced the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party to drop a law that would have made it a crime to suggest Poland bore any responsibility for Nazi atrocities.

Grabowski told Reuters before Tuesday's ruling that the case covered similar ground to the proposed law by attempting to establish offence to national dignity as grounds for suing over any such claims in the future.

Brzozowska-Pasieka denied the case aimed to introduce new avenues for litigation, but simply sought to protect her client's personal rights.
Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, isolated from a patient. Image captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH

Children aged between 5 months and 4 years attending daycare during lockdown in March to May 2020 in France had low rates of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in their bloodknown as seroprevalencesuggesting that virus infection rates were low in this population.

Research assessing seroprevalence in daycare centres that remained open during the first national lockdown in France, suggests that the rate of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection was low at 3.7%, with positive cases likely infected by an adult in their household, rather than whilst at daycare. The seroprevalence rate among daycare staff was similar to that of a control group of adults who were not exposed to children or COVID positive patients in a work setting.

This study, which included 327 children aged between 5 months to 4 years old, is the first to estimate seroprevalence in preschool settings and is published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal. Since the study was conducted, a number of SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged, which are not captured in the data.

SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to infect people of all ages, however, children tend to develop mild, if any symptoms, and very rarely need hospitalisation. The role of very young children as asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 virus spreaders is still unknown and the risk to the community of having daycare centres open is not clear.

Seroprevalence data is thought to reflect the true rate of infection as it shows the levels of antibodies in the blood, whether or not the individual showed symptoms of COVID-19. This study could therefore provide vital information to policy-makers around daycare closures for very young children during further waves of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, although the authors stress that more research in other settings and emerging variants will also be needed.

"Our results suggest that daycare centres are not focus points of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and that young children are not spreading the virus widely in these environments. These findings should be reassuring for parents and staff at daycare centres, especially given that the children included in the study have parents who are keyworkers and are thought to be at higher risk during the first wave of the epidemic," says Dr. Camille Aupiais, lead author from Hopital Jean-Verdier, Paris, France.

COVID-19 has caused over 2 million deaths globally, placing extreme pressures on healthcare systems worldwide. Many countries have closed schools and daycare centres in an effort to stem infection rates. However, these closures have come with an economic cost and raised concerns about the development and wellbeing of children.

During the first French national lockdown in March 17th to May 11th, 2020, most daycare centres and schools were closed with a small number operating at reduced capacity to care for children of critical workers, including healthcare staff and social workers.

Throughout this time, French daycare centres were advised to follow safety protocols which included working with smaller set cohorts of 6-8 children with dedicated staff to each cohort, disinfection of surfaces, and face masks and social distancing measures for staff. Parents were not allowed to enter the daycare centres and were instructed to screen their children for COVID-19 symptoms before sending them in. Children with symptoms were not permitted to attend the daycare centres.

The study included 197 daycare staff (average age 40 years). A staff comparator group of 164 adults (average age 42 years) was comprised of office and lab workers from six hospitals who kept working during the lockdown and were not occupationally exposed to very young children or COVID-19 patients in their work setting.

Data collection took place between June 4th and July 3rd 2020, four to eight weeks after the end of the national lockdown, in daycare centres around the French cities of Paris, Rouen, and Annecy. Blood samples were collected from participantsusing finger pricks for childrenand tested using a rapid lateral flow test to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

In all, 14/327 children, 14/197 daycare staff and 9/164 comparator adults were positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. After adjustment for test sensitivity and specificity, these values were 3.7%, 6.8% and 5.0% respectively. Statistically, the seroprevalence rate among daycare staff did not differ significantly from that observed in the comparator group.

The 14 seropositive children came from 13 daycare centres. In the centre with two seropositive cases, the children had attended separate zones of the daycare centre with no mixing, suggesting that there was no child-child transmission in these cases.

Contact with a confirmed adult household case of COVID-19 during the lockdownbut not sibling cases or daycare peer caseswas more frequent in seropositive children than seronegative children. Seropositive children were significantly more likely to have at least one seropositive parent (55% vs 14%).

The 14 seropositive daycare staff came from eight different daycare centres and there were two centres with three seropositive staff members. No difference was found in seroprevalence rates between staff who were exposed (or not) to a child with confirmed COVID-19.

"Our results suggest that young children are more likely to contract COVID-19 at home, rather than at a daycare centre," says Dr. Aupiais. "We suggest that clinical signs of COVID-19 are not the best indicators of infection or for testing very young children and that the main criterion should be a suspected or confirmed case in an adult household member. Further research is needed to fully understand the role of young children in community transmission."

The authors caution that there are limitations to the study and that new variants of SARS-CoV-2 have arisen since the testing period, including the so-called UK, Brazilian, and South African variants, and it is not established whether young children are more or less susceptible to these newer strains. Furthermore, the daycare centres included in the study were not operating at full capacity during the study period and results may not generalise to centres that are operating normally outside of lockdown.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

More information: SARS-CoV-2 transmission among children and staff in daycare centres during a nationwide lockdown in France: a cross-sectional, multicentre, seroprevalence study, The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, DOI: 10.1016/S2352-4642(21)00024-9 , www.thelancet.com/journals/lan  (21)00024-9/fulltext SARS-CoV-2 transmission among children and staff in daycare centres during a nationwide lockdown in France: a cross-sectional, multicentre, seroprevalence study,
Proceeds to support 

continued development of robust portfolio of AAV-delivered therapeutics with IND initiation of ND4-mediated LHON planned in 2021

completion of Suzhou GMP manufacturing facility in accordance with the international quality standards planned in 2021

initiation of building the translational research centers planned in 2021

WUHAN, China and NEWARK, Del., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Neurophth Biotechnology Ltd., a fully-integrated genetic medicines company developing AAV-delivered gene therapies for the treatment of ocular diseases, today announced the closing of a RMB 400 million ($61.9 million USD) Series-B financing with a premier syndicate of investors, co-led by Guofang Capital and InnoVision Capital. Additional new investors include funds and accounts managed by Oriza Holdings, Harvest Capital and Grand Mount Capital with participating from existing investors Sequoia Capital China and Northern Light Venture Capital. Proceeds from the Series-B financing will support the anticipated IND submissions, completion of the commercially scalable GMP manufacturing facility in accordance with international quality standards, initiation of establishing the translational research centers and development of the company's extensive portfolio of potentially curative gene therapies for the treatment of ocular genetic diseases.

"The support of our investors not only speaks to the immense potential of our development portfolio of transformative treatment options for patients with ocular diseases but is also a reflection of their confidence in the expertise of the Neurophth team," said Alvin Luk, Ph.D., M.B.A., C.C.R.A., Chief Executive Officer at Neurophth. "As we continue to work toward advancing our lead candidate, NR082 (recombinant adeno-associated viral serotype 2 carrying ND4 gene; rAAV2-ND4), into the clinic for Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) associated with ND4 mutations over the coming year, we are focused on our mission to serve patients by offering best-in-class, life-transforming therapies." Neurophth expects to initiate clinical trials for its lead program in ND4-mediated LHON in the first half of 2021, followed by the completion of the Suzhou commercial manufacturing facility and initiation of translational R&D centers. Neurophth is currently developing a deep and sustainable pipeline of 10 gene therapy product candidates in both rare and common ocular diseases.

Story continues

"We have brought together experts in gene therapy with overseas experience to create a company that is uniquely positioned to advance the development and manufacturing of potentially curative gene therapies for ocular diseases, particularly glaucoma and diabetic macular edema with large patient populations," said Bin Li, M.D. Ph.D., Founder and Chairman of the Board of Neurophth. "We believe this financing provides significant validation of our corporate strategy and will enable us to continue to rapidly translate programs from preclinical development into the clinic."

Mr. Yaguang Wei, Partner at Guofang Capital said, "Gene therapy is one of the most promising directions of life science, in which AAV-based gene therapy shows both safety and great clinical potential in the treatment of diseases like ophthalmology. Neurophth has an international top-notch management team and a wealth of ophthalmology gene therapy pipeline, the clinical progress and efficacy of its core pipeline are leading the track in China. We're honored to be part of Neurophth's future success by connecting high-quality industrial resources, facilitating vertical collaboration, and promoting smooth technological transfer for the benefit of patients suffering from eye disorders worldwide."

Mr. Lane Zhao, Founding Partner of InnoVision Capital, said: "Neurophth has achieved significant research and clinical progress since its establishment, showcasing its strong R&D capabilities led by Prof. LI and the world-class seasoned management teams. We are delighted to lead this round, and this investment underscores our long-term commitment to strategically investing in biotech and innovative technologies improving human health and life quality. We look forward to working alongside the Neurophth team to bring high-quality, worldwide competitive, significant gene therapy products to doctors and patients, globally."

"In the past year, Neurophth has made significant progress in product pipeline and team building, which shows the strong executive power of the management. Sequoia Capital China will continue to support the company and believe that Neurophth can make gene therapy products benefit patients all over the world to meet the unmet clinical needs," said Ms. Trency Gu, Managing Director of Sequoia Capital China.

Neurophth closed its Series-A financing in early 2020 to initiate the construction of the commercially scalable GMP manufacturing facility, establish an international leadership team, and accelerate nonclinical studies of its lead candidate, NR082, which was granted an orphan disease designation (ODD) by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of LHON associated with ND4 mutations in Q3-2020, in addition to advancing other gene therapy programs.

About Neurophth

Neurophth is China's first gene therapy company for ophthalmic diseases. Headquartered in Wuhan with subsidiaries in Shanghai, Suzhou, and US, Neurophth, a fully integrated company, is striving to discover and develop gene therapies for patients suffering from blindness and other eye diseases globally. Our AAV validated platform which has been published in Nature - Scientific Reports, Ophthalmology, and EBioMedicine, successfully has delivered proof-of-concept data with investigational gene therapies in the retina. Our most advanced investigational candidate, NR082 (NFS-01 project, rAAV2-ND4), in development for the treatment of ND4-mediated LHON, has received orphan designations in the U.S. The pipeline also includes ND1-mediated LHON, autosomal dominant optic atrophy, glaucoma, diabetic macular edema, and five other preclinical candidates. Neurophth has initiated the scaling up in-house manufacturing process in single-use technologies to support future commercial demand at the Suzhou facility. To learn more about us and our growing pipeline, visit www.neurophth.com.

About Guofang Capital

Guofang Capital was initiated by Shanghai International Group in 2017. Guofang Capital is a professional market-based equity investment platform with an asset under management (AUM) of over 10 billion RMB. Focused on healthcare, AI and IoT industries, the Yangtze River Delta Synergy Industry Investment Fund managed by Guofang Capital aims to play a leading role in guiding private capitals, establishing industrial investment fund ecosystem, and promoting the overall development of China's strategic industries through fund-of-fund (FOF) and direct investment.

About InnoVision Capital

InnoVision Capital is a leading private equity firm founded by former KKR senior executives. With best-in-class international vision, outstanding experience, and industry resources, InnoVision Capital primarily focuses on investment opportunities across the Technology, Consumer, and Healthcare sectors. InnoVision is supported by a diverse group of world-class institutional investors, including university foundations and industry giants among others. Since the inception, the firm has successfully invested into Beike, JD Logistics, China Securities, 58.com, AutoHome, ChannelSoft, Wanhua Chemical, HQWX, China UnionPay Merchant Services, Swan Home Services, Butel, Uni-Ubi, Kedu Healthcare, Huanyu Education, Lalami, Lvkon, Qutoutiao, etc.

About Sequoia Capital China

The Sequoia Capital China team helps daring founders build legendary companies. In partnering with Sequoia Capital China, companies benefit from our unmatched community and the lessons we've learned over 49 years. As "The Entrepreneurs Behind The Entrepreneurs", Sequoia Capital China focuses on three sectors: TMT, healthcare and consumer/service. Over the past 16 years we've had the privilege of working with approximately 600 companies in China.

About Suzhou Oriza Holdings

Suzhou Oriza Holdings Corporation is an investment holding company with nearly 100 billion RMB under management. Its businesses cover equity investment, debt financing and investment & financing services. Oriza Holdings has achieved a great success in exploring financial creation, boosting science creation, guiding fund accumulation and upgrading industries through the coordination of the three businesses of capital operation, risk control and operation allocation, including China' s first national fund-of-funds (FOFs) of equity investment etc. Oriza Holdings is committed to becoming the preferred financial partner for entrepreneurs and an investment holding company with international influence.

About Suzhou Harvest Capital

Suzhou Harvest Capital is a fund management company established by the Management Committee of Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), with a registered capital of 50 million RMB. Currently, the fund management scale is 12 billion RMB, of which 10 billion RMB is a government industry guidance fund and 2 billion RMB of angel funds. The management team members of Harvest Capital are all from well-known domestic investment institutions, with strong industrial background and rich investment experience. Involving in direct investment and fund-of-funds investment, Harvest Capital gives full play to the leading role of industrial guidance fund and fund of angel funds to promote the implementation and development of projects of key industries of SIP, thereby accelerating the construction of SIP into a world-class high-tech industrial park.

About Northern Light Venture Capital

Northern Light Venture Capital (NLVC) is a leading China-focused venture capital firm targeting early stage opportunities of innovation and disruptive technology. Since founded in 2005, Northern Light has backed near 400 ventures in enterprise, healthcare and consumer. Leveraging significant investing and entrepreneurial expertise in both China and the United States, the NLVC team looks to support entrepreneurs with groundbreaking ideas and exceptional vision to develop lasting ventures that positively impact society. For more information: www.NLVC.com.



About Grand Mount Capital

Grand Mount Capital (GMC) is a dedicated healthcare venture capital firm established by state-owned capital and investment professionals in 2019. GMC's investment spans between biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and diagnostics. Adhering to the strategy of "industry participation+ capital assistance", GMC works closely with multiple healthcare conglomerates to add value to portfolio companies by providing active support in market access, collaborations, regulatory guidance, etc. GMC aims to deliver long-term and sustainable return for investors while becoming a trusted partner to entrepreneurs that aim to build great companies with breakthrough technologies.

Reference

Press release from Neurophth. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/neurophth-therapeutics-treatment-of-lebers-hereditary-optic-neuropathy-gene-therapy-nr082-was-granted-orphan-drug-designation-by-us-fda-301138001.html Wan X, Pei H, Zhao MJ, et al. Efficacy and safety of rAAV2-ND4 treatment for Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. Scientific Report, 2016; 6:21587. Yang S, Ma SQ, Wan X, et al. Long-term outcomes of gene therapy for the treatment of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. EBioMedicine, 2016; 10:258-268. Yuan JJ, Zhang Y, Liu H, et al. Seven-year follow-up of gene therapy for Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. Ophthalmology, 2020; 127(8): 1125-1127. Carelli V, Carbonell M, deCoo IF, et al. International consensus statement on the clinical and therapeutic management of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy. Journal of Neuroophthalmology, 2017; 37: 371-381. Meyerson C, Van Stavern G, Mcclelland C. Leber hereditary optic neuropathy: current prespectives. Clinical Ophthalmology, 2015; 9:1165-1176. Yu-Wai-Man P, Votruba M, Burte F, et al. A neurodegenerative perspective on mitochondrial optic neuropathies. Acta Neuropathology, 2016; 132: 789-806. Newman NJ, Lott MT, Wallace DC. The clinical characteristics of pedigrees of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy with the 11778 mutation. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 1991; 111: 750-762. Jurkute N, Harvey J, Yu-Wai-Man P. Treatment strategies for Leber hereditary optic neuropathy. Current Opinion of Neurology, 2019; 32: 99-104.

Cision

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SOURCE Neurophth Therapeutics, Inc.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Two estranged sisters; a family secret that has lain buried for decades: a search for the truth, shocking, poignant, and life affirming, Radhika Swarups "Civil Lines" (Simon & Schuster) is a family saga that explores belonging and an ode to every girl who dreams not of being rescued by a prince but that of a brighter future that lies within her grasp.

In the early 1990s, Rupa Sharma found a magazine and pens her first -- and last -- editorial: "The future has never looked brighter. The fires of communal tension appear to have been vanquished. More women are entering the workforce than ever before, and everywhere I look, I see new possibilities. I see dialogue, I see tolerance, and I see openness. I see hope for myself and my colleagues, and for the two daughters I am bringing up to be fearless inheritors of this earth." Decades later, her daughter Siya travels to Delhi in the wake of her reclusive mother's death, leaving behind a failing relationship and an unravelling life. Waiting at home are her estranged sister Maya and a crumbling Lutyens behemoth that is proving too cumbersome to maintain.

The two sisters rattle around the house until a cryptic note falls out from their mother's papers: "I saw last night as a meeting between old friends. That you considered my conduct over familiar fills me with endless regret." As Siya and Maya try to decipher the words and piece together what happened, they find themselves uncovering both dreams and long buried secrets, finding new resolve as they look to breathe fresh life into their mother's shattered vision.

Radhika Swarup is the author of "Where the River Parts" (2016), which was picked as one of Amazon India's most memorable books of the year and longlisted for the Best First Novel Award of the Author's Club.

She studied at Cambridge University and worked in finance before turning to writing. Swarup lives in London with her husband and two children, and divides her time between England and India.
TAMPA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 2021 / Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its final determination that phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco and Russia are unfairly subsidized. Commerce calculated a subsidy rate of 19.97 percent for Moroccan producer OCP. In the Russia investigation, Commerce calculated rates of 9.19 percent and 47.05 percent for PhosAgro and EuroChem, respectively, and a rate of 17.2 percent for all other producers/exporters.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is conducting a concurrent investigation to determine whether Moroccan and Russian phosphate fertilizer imports materially injure the U.S. phosphate fertilizer industry. A final ruling is expected by mid-March. If the ITC's ruling is affirmative, then Commerce will issue countervailing duty orders, which will remain in place for at least five years.

"Mosaic, the U.S phosphate industry, and all American manufacturers who believe in free and fair trade appreciate the importance of today's ruling," said Mosaic President and CEO Joc O'Rourke. "The Commerce Department's hard work on this case brought us one step closer to ensuring American farmers can depend on high quality, competitive American fertilizer for decades to come."

About The Mosaic Company

The Mosaic Company (NYSE:MOS) is one of the world's leading producers and marketers of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. Mosaic is a single-source provider of phosphate and potash fertilizers and feed ingredients for the global agriculture industry. More information on the company is available at www.mosaicco.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the anticipated benefits or strategic plans and other statements about anticipated future financial, production and operating performance. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of The Mosaic Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: difficulties with realization of the benefits or strategic plans; actual costs of various items differing from management's current estimates, price and demand volatility for our products, other changes in market conditions, accidents and disruptions, including potential mine fires, floods, explosions, seismic events, sinkholes or releases of hazardous or volatile chemicals; changes in foreign currency and exchange rates; international trade risks and other risks associated with Mosaic's international operations, changes in government policy, changes in environmental and other governmental regulation, as well as other risks and uncertainties reported from time to time in The Mosaic Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

The Mosaic Company Contacts:

Media:

Ben Pratt, 813-775-4206

benjamin.pratt@mosaicco.com

Investors:

Laura Gagnon, 813-775-4214

Paul Massoud, 813-244-0669

investor@mosaicco.com

SOURCE: The Mosaic Company

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628789/US-Department-of-Commerce-Issues-Final-Affirmative-Countervailing-Duty-Determinations-on-Phosphate-Fertilizer-Imports-from-Morocco-and-Russia
Panic has gripped fishing communities around Lake Victoria over continued unexplained deaths of fish which is being swept ashore by waves.

The death of thousands of the Nile perch (Mbuta) in the lake is threatening the livelihood of the fishing community in Nyanza and Western regions.

According to fishermen at Marenga Beach in Busalangi, the death of fish threatens the export industry.

The deaths have also raised concerns about the safety of fish from the regional lake.

The cause of death is yet to be established although it is speculated that the fish could be dying due to climactic changes.

"There are few isolated cases in Busia but the situation is worse on the Ugandan side and parts of Nyanza," said Mr Robert Anema, the Marenga Beach manager.

Mr Antony Bahati, a fisherman, confirmed that they are encountering several dead fish in the lake.

In Uganda, dead fish were last month found on the beaches or floating in water at Gerenge and Kigungu landing sites in Entebbe, Wakiso District, Uganda.

Fish appeared 'drunk'

A similar phenomenon was reported last month at Philomena landing site in Mwanza, Tanzania, with local fishers saying fish that appeared "drunk" were swimming close to the water surface but were not dead.

In Homa Bay County, the phenomenon has been witnessed on beaches in Suba and Mbita sub counties.

The county government of Homa Bay said it is working with Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (Kemfri) to establish what is killing the fish.

Agriculture and Fisheries Executive Aguko Juma said samples of dead fish are being collected for tests.

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Oxygen deficiency

Dr Christopher Aura, deputy director in charge of Fresh Water Systems Research at Kemfri said the deaths of the fish could be linked to oxygen deficiency in the water.

This, he said is caused by a process in which cold water with low oxygen level replaces warm water where the fish live.

"This normally happens when there is a sudden change of weather affecting the lake. The longer the water mixes the more the fish die," said Dr Aura.

Meanwhile, officials from the fisheries department in Homa Bay are also investigating a new practice that is taking the fishing industry by storm -- the sale of fish bladder, popularly known as mondo.

Fish bladder trade

Trade in fish bladder is considered more profitable than sale of fish itself.

Mr Juma said his office has received complaints from boat owners that fishermen are discarding fish in the lake after removing bladders, which are sold in foreign markets.

"It is an illegal activity to discard dead fish in the lake. It is a practice that is becoming common among our fishermen," he said.

Meanwhile, fishermen have been warned against picking dead fish for sale. Mr Juma said the fish may harm humans f consumed.

Reported by George Odiwuor, Shaban Makokha and Elizabeth Ojina
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February 09 : Shefali Shah, who has started shooting for the much awaited web series Human, has been sharing interesting and funny behind-the-scene pictures and videos from the sets. Today, the actress shared another picture from the set along with an adorable note. The web series will stream on Hotstar.

The National Award winner, who gained a lot of appreciation for her role in Delhi Crime, is currently shooting for the medical thriller Human that features besides Shefali Shah, Ram Kapoor and Kirti Kulhari as lead characters in the series. The show that went on floors in January this year, is co-directed by Vipul Shah and Mozez.

Shefali shared a picture on her Instagram handle, wherein the talented actress can be seen with co-actor Ram Kapoor and both are laughing over on something very funny. The Delhi Crime actress took this opportunity to praise Ram Kapoor, with whom she shares strong friendship. They have known each other for almost two decades. The actors did three films together, including Mira Nairs Monsoon Wedding and the short film God Place, and Nagesh Kukunoors Lakshmi.

One mad crazy funny warm hearted Human. You make being on sets super fun and enrich me as an actor. Sooooooo happy to work with you again. Adore you to bits @iamramkapoor BTS on Human - directed by #VipulAmrutlalShah & @mozezsingh @sunshinepicturesofficial #Human #Webseries #Shooting #OnSet, wrote Shefali.

The web show is an intense drama about the underbelly of human drugs research and the medical scam world.

After Netflix original Delhi Crime, Human will be Shefalis second project for an OTT platform. The actress made her digital debut with Delhi Crime that won the best drama series at 48th International Emmy Awards.

Human is written by Mozez Singh, Ishani Banerjee, Stuti Nair and Aasif Moyal. Mozez Singh of Vicky Kaushal-starrer film Zubaan fame, has also penned the screenplay of Human. Its dialogues have been written by Darshan Prakaash and Arjun Bhandegoankar. Human will be bankrolled by Shefalis husband and filmmaker Vipul Amrutlal Shah.

Tory peer Lord Freud has apologised in the House of Lords after being found to have breached the Code of Conduct by seeking to influence the judge in the Charlie Elphicke case.

Lord Freud - along with five MPs - wrote to senior members of the judiciary arguing against the publication of character references provided for ex-MP Elphicke, who was convicted of sex offences.

Elphicke was jailed for two years in September 2020 after he was convicted of three counts of assault against two women, during which he was alleged to have described himself as 'a naughty Tory'.

Lord Freud and MPs Bob Stewart, Sir Roger Gale, Adam Holloway and Theresa Villiers all wrote positive character references for Elphicke during his trial.

In December 2020, Mrs Justice Whipple agreed to a representation by the media to release the identities of the character references.

However, Lord Freud and the MPs then wrote a letter to two more senior judges requesting the references not be made public.

Lord Freud - along with five MPs - wrote to senior members of the judiciary arguing against the publication of character references provided to support Charlie Elphicke during his sexual assault trial

Elphicke was jailed for two years in September 2020 after he was convicted of three counts of assault against two women

Lords commissioner for standards Lucy Scott-Moncrieff found there was 'an inherent dishonour in Lord Freud choosing to leverage his position as a parliamentarian to seek to influence the trial judge by writing in private to two other senior judges, and in acting carelessly by failing even to consider the constitutional propriety of him doing so'.

Making a personal statement at the start of the day's proceedings in the Lords, the former minister apologised and said: 'Today the commissioner for standards has published a report into my conduct.

'The report relates to letters to which I was a signatory, to members of the judiciary about references provided to the court to inform sentencing of Mr Elphicke.

'My motive was purely to alert the judiciary to what I considered an important issue of principle.

'However, I recognise it was not my place to do so and should not have added my name to the latter. I apologise to the House and the judiciary.'

The parliamentarians wrote to Lady Justice Thirlwall, the senior presiding judge, and Dame Victoria Sharp, president of the Queen's Bench Division, asking them to consider issues raised by the potential release of character references provided for Elphicke.

The letter, on headed House of Commons notepaper, was also copied to Mrs Justice Whipple, who had heard Elphicke's case and was deciding whether to release the character references.

The politicians said the senior judges should 'consider the crucially important matters of principle which are at stake in this case, prior to any disclosure of names of any member of the public or of the references they have provided in court'.

The letter closed by noting a role for Parliament on this issue: 'So serious a matter with such significant repercussions also should be considered further and fully by Parliament.'

MPs Bob Stewart, Sir Roger Gale, Adam Holloway and Theresa Villiers, and peer Lord Freud, today published letters provided to the court after Charlie Elphicke was convicted in September.

MPs Bob Stewart, Sir Roger Gale, Adam Holloway and Theresa Villiers, and peer Lord Freud, today published letters provided to the court after Charlie Elphicke was convicted in September.

The letter, sent on November 19, earned them a rebuke from Ben Yallop, private secretary to the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, who said 'it is improper to seek to influence the decision of a judge in a matter of which he or she is seized in this way'.

A subsequent letter to Mrs Justice Whipple said 'we do not in any way challenge your authority to take the decision on publication' but 'we only wish you to be aware of the potential impacts of publication and also the concern that some referees are reluctant to make representations at the forthcoming hearing because this will disclose their identity'.

The commissioner found Lord Freud 'readily admitted that being a signatory to the letters was a mistake and one which he now regrets'.

She said making a personal statement to the House of Lords would be an appropriate outcome and Lord Freud had agreed to do so.

Lord Freud and the MPs previously self-published their own references following the media application.
NEW DELHI, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a rare and complex surgery at HCMCT Manipal Hospitals Delhi, a team of Indian surgeons performed one of the most complex life-saving liver transplant on a nine-month-old boy Ali Hamad who suffered from liver failure due to a rare disorder. Normally, surgeons find it risky for a transplant less than one year of age and 10 kg weight. The team of doctors was headed by Dr. Lalwani, Head of the Department of Liver Transplant and Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery and supported by Dr. Lalit Sehgal HOD - General Anesthesia, Liver Transplant Anesthesia, Liver Critical Care, Dr. Vikas Taneja, HOD - Pediatrics and Dr. Sufla Saxena, Consultant - Paediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist. Hamad's mother donated part of her liver to save the life of the baby who was born after her three kids, who perhaps, died of a similar disease that could not be diagnosed and treated timely.

Baby Hamad was a known case of Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis Type II (PFIC TYPE 2). He had jaundice since birth and had multiple hospitalizations in Iraq for jaundice and recurrent cholangitis. Given the history, clinical condition, and pathological diagnosis patient was referred for a liver transplant.

"Hamad was having infection with cholangitis for which he was admitted and treated. Apart from recurrent cholangitis, the patient was having marked ascites and growth failure with a bodyweight of 6.1 kg. He underwent evaluation for a living donor liver transplant and his mother was evaluated as a prospective donor. During an evaluation, CT scan showed cirrhotic changes, hepatosplenomegaly with attenuated portal vein with no portal flow with significant ascites and significant portosystemic collaterals," said Dr. Lalawani

On 3rd January 2021, the baby underwent a transplant. "There was no flow in the portal vein. We placed the interposition vein graft to give inflow to the liver. It took around 9 hours to complete the transplant and baby was shifted to ICU on a ventilator," said Dr. Lalwani.

The baby was off the ventilator the next morning and gradually in the next few days, he started accepting oral feed, tolerating well, and gaining weight. Finally, after 20 days of surgery baby was discharged from the hospital. The family plans to go back to Iraq.

About Manipal Hospitals: Manipal Hospitals is among the largest hospital network in India serving over 2million patients annually. It is first in India to be awarded accreditation by the AAHRPP for ethical standards in clinical research activities. It is also NABL, NABH and ISO certified.

For more details contact:

Manish Bakshi +91-7014677837

manish.bakshi@manipalhospitals.com

manipal.international@manipalhospitals.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1435567/Manipal_Hospitals_Liver_Transplant.jpg




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(Image: Twitter/@ShashiTharoor)

Heres a question to those who closely follow the Congress in Kerala: When was the last time the party leadership took a decision that surprised both Congress political opponents and the party rank and file alike? Late last month saw a few such surprises.

On January 18, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was brought back from the pastures to lead the Congress campaign for the upcoming state polls. A few days later, it was announced that former Union minister and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor would be in-charge of the partys election manifesto in the state.

Whether it was Chandys decision or whether it was prompted by the Congress high command, this marks Tharoors entry into Congress affairs in the state  more than a decade after he won the Parliament seat from the state capital.

Tharoor has a massive following on social media platforms and is popular among various groups  educated youth, women, young professionals and, of course, the Nair community to which he belongs. This in itself is as much a challenge for the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) as it is for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Now, it is up to the CPI(M) and the BJP to come up with a leader to pit against Tharoors stature.

Tharoor is unlike any of his counterpart from Kerala. Tharoor is a Congress leader with no group affiliation, and is now within striking distance of the top post. At 65, though not quite a young man, Tharoor echoes the ideas and aspirations of the educated youngsters and his views often are resonate with the young.

As he begins his interactions with a cross section of the youth in many districts through Talk to Tharoor programmes, fashioned after Chandys celebrated mass contact programmes (jana samparka paripadi), it provides scope for the diplomat-politician to connect at the grassroots, albeit in a limited manner.

Now, preparing the manifesto is not going to be an easy task. Tharoors views have not always aligned with that of the state leaders, and one can expect to see this in the process of preparing the manifesto. Where there are differences, Tharoor is not going to roll over and acquiesce if none of his original ideas pass muster with the entrenched leadership. That is, because, as an author, Tharoor would eschew ownership of a product that does not bear his signature. No doubt, there will be as much pressure on Tharoor not to embarrass the leadership ahead of the elections.

An immediate case in point will be the avowed Congress position on the entry for women (aged 10-50) at the temple in Sabarimla. On February 6, the party came out with the draft of the Sabarimala Ayyappa Devotees (Protection of Religious Rights, Customs and Usages) Act, 2021. The draft Act spells out beyond any ambivalence how things are going to be if the Congress-led United Democratic Front wrests power in upcoming assembly polls.

It says that female devotees below 10 and above 50, will be allowed as per the rules and customs observed by the temple. It suggests that the Devaswom Board (which manages the affairs of the temple), in consultation with the temple priests will ban unauthorised persons from entering the temple, and also suggests punishments (including imprisonment) for those violating it. The draft Act goes on to spell out the same punishment to those who abet, incite or promote the commission of the offence.

This is a bold move by the Congress under Chandy, and it pushes both the CPI(M) and the BJP into a corner where the former will have to hide behind the court verdict and the latter cannot use the temple issue as a political card to either polarise voters and garner support. Tharoor has defended this move saying it is a question of respecting the concern of the majority of believers.

Clearly, Tharoor, as he sets about framing the Congress election manifesto, will have to factor in realpolitik along with principles and sentiments.

The present assignment will be a watermark for Tharoor and offers him the chance for an image makeover as a state politician. For the first time, the outsider, who initially struggled with Malayalam, is poised to become an insider. To a great extent, it will define his ability to emerge as a potential chief minister candidate, cutting through the clutter of wannabe state chiefs, both legislators and KPCC leaders.
UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

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Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

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Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

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Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

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Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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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

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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
Egypt detected 567 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing the total infections toll in the country since the outbreak of the pandemic last year to 170,207.

The health ministry reported 48 deaths, bringing the fatalities from the virus to 9,699.

323 patients have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the virus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 132,698.

Egypt began its COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in late January, with priority to the countrys medical staff who are on the frontline battling the outbreak.

The roll-out would see each person receiving two shots administered 21 days apart.

Last week, health minister Hala Zayed said that vaccination of health staff in 22 isolation hospitals nationwide has been concluded, with the second phase of the immunization program kicking off to cover medical staff in 86 chest and fever hospitals.

Egypt is looking to boost its supply of coronavirus vaccines to face the outbreak in the overpopulous country which many fear could overwhelm the countrys health system.

It is currently awaiting on new deliveries of coronavirus vaccines to expand the vaccinations' access to more categories, especially to top priority groups which include patients suffering from chronic diseases and elderly citizens.

Egypt received the first batch of the Chinese vaccine - 50,000 doses - in December from the UAE and is currently awaiting a second batch.

China said it will provide Egypt with 300,000 doses of its Sinopharm vaccination soon, according to statements by the countrys ambassador to Cairo last week.

The Chinese vaccine is one of three vaccines planned for use in inoculation by the country in innoculating citizens along with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine.

On 31 January, Egypt received the 50,000 doses as a first batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine from the British-Swedish companys branch in India.

The batch, is part of a UPA's agreement that includes 20 million doses of the British AstraZeneca's vaccine  which is developed by India's R-pharma and Serum Institute following their deal to transfer the vaccine manufacturing technology from the British company.



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To Protect Free Markets, Curb Corporate Power

Commentary

Corporate power must be curbed to preserve free enterprise and stave off socialism, stated Milton Friedman and Jane Jacobs, two of the great public intellectuals of the 20th century.

Fifty years before corporate leaders such as Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg and Googles Sergey Brin told their companies to fight climate change, oversee election integrity, and perform other social and political functions, Friedman, in a New York Times Magazine article, characterized such corporate leaders as unwitting puppets of the intellectual forces that have been undermining the basis of a free society these past decades.

The Big Tech titans have become especially powerful politically through their control of social media. This enables them, without meaningful accountability to shareholders, to direct their corporations resources to censor speech and assume other functions that Friedman called governmental in nature, becoming simultaneously legislator, executive, and jurist. Jacobs, in her 1992 book Systems of Survival, likewise warned that corporations assuming governmental functions can become monstrous hybrids that entrench monopolies, destroy competition, and promote corruption.

The problem of unaccountable corporate power, however, isnt limited to Big Tech executives. Today, many if not most leaders of major corporations act as the unwitting puppets that Friedman warned about, backing social causes like Black Lives Matter or a $15-per-hour minimum wage, thus unwittingly contributing to the ascendancy of socialists such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Friedman found such business conduct so destructive as to reveal a suicidal impulse.

Corporate power wasnt always unaccountable, although some, such as Thomas Jefferson, foresaw its potential for harm and wanted to crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and bid defiance to the laws of our country.

Alexander Hamilton, in making the case for corporations, sought to allay fears that they would one day acquire monstrous powers by saying they were but vehicles with limited powers.

An incorporation seems to have been regarded as some great, independent, substantive thingas a political end of peculiar magnitude and moment; whereas it is truly to be considered as a quality, capacity, or means to an end, he assured.

John Marshall, considered the greatest chief justice in U.S. history, likewise saw corporations as strictly limited: A corporation is an artificial being, invisible, intangible, and existing only in contemplation of law  this being does not share in the civil government of the country, unless that be for the purpose for which it was created.

Corporations are nowhere mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. Nevertheless, over the past two centuries, courts increasingly allowed these artificial beings to share in the civil government by giving them constitutional rights under a doctrine known as corporate personhood. Until a 1978 decision, corporations had free speech rights only when necessary to protect their business interests. Then, the Supreme Court decided that corporate persons had the same First Amendment free-speech rights as natural persons, letting corporations enter the world of politics on purely ideological grounds unrelated to the desires of their shareholders or the profitability of their business.

Until a 2010 decision, corporations were limited in making political contributions. Then, the Supreme Court opened the funding floodgates, leading to the billions of dollars that now lard the coffers of politicians of all stripes, and to political agendas more often set by corporations rather than the grassroots.

Corporations were invented and given legislated privileges, said Marshall, chiefly to overcome the inefficiencies of partnerships and sole proprietorships, whose short lives and high transaction costs strip society of value. By being able to manage its own affairs and to hold property without the perplexing intricacies, the hazardous and endless necessity of perpetual conveyances for the purpose of transmitting it from hand to hand, Marshall said, the corporation provides a public benefit. Its legislated privileges werent intended to undermine the citizenrys ability to be self-governing, or to make citizens subservient to corporate power.

Yet, that is exactly the result if corporationsartificial persons conjured up by laws that provide tax benefits and limited liabilitycan augment their privileged ability to generate wealth with the constitutional protections of natural persons. As The New York Times put it prior to the 2010 Supreme Court decision that unleashed corporate donors, Their influence would be overwhelming with the full array of rights that people have.

That overwhelming influence, moreover, would be all to the bad because, as Friedman put it, business executives are incredibly short-sighted and muddle-headed in matters that are outside their businesses but affect the possible survival of business in general.  The short-sightedness is also exemplified in speeches by businessmen on social responsibility. This may gain them kudos in the short run. But it helps to strengthen the already too prevalent view that the pursuit of profits is wicked and immoral and must be curbed and controlled by external forces.

To avoid this perverse curbing and preserve free enterprise, the political power of corporations must instead be checked by returning corporations to their limited roots, barring them from social and political activities that, by rights, should be none of their business.

Lawrence Solomon is a columnist, author, and executive director of the Toronto-based Consumer Policy Institute. @LSolomonTweets LawrenceSolomon@nextcity.com

This is the third installment in a series. For the first and second parts, click here and here.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.


A woman stands at a viewpoint overlooking Lisbon's old center, a site popular with tourists and now mostly deserted, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. Hopes are rising in Portugal that the worst of a devastating pandemic surge might be over, as the number of COVID-19 deaths reported Monday was the lowest in three weeks. Still, the national lockdown could remain in place through mid-March, officials have said. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Portugal's COVID-19 infection rate has dropped sharply after a lockdown aimed at addressing a devastating January pandemic surge, but it is still recording the most daily deaths in the world by size of population, health experts said Tuesday.

Portugal hit a peak of cases on Jan. 29, with a 14-day average of almost 1,700 cases per 100,000 habitants.

Amid a lockdown since Jan. 15, that rate has fallen to around 980 per 100,000a marked improvement but still one of the European Union's highest rates.

But Portugal's seven-day rolling average of daily deaths stands at 2.24 per 100,000significantly above other countries, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

"While the measures are producing results, it's clear that the current lockdown will have to be extended at least through February, and then we'll reassess it," Health Minister Marta Temido said.

The current state of emergency decree, a legal measure which allows authorities to enact limits on movements and gatherings, expires on midnight Sunday. Officials must decide before then whether to prolong the lockdown.

Portugal is one of the EU's smaller countries, with a population of about 10.3 million.

Portugal's president, prime minister and other senior officials held a televised meeting with health experts to consider whether the lockdown should be extended.

A restaurant sign advertises take-away service in a street in Lisbon's Bairro Alto, a neighborhood dense with restaurants and bars, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. Hopes are rising in Portugal that the worst of a devastating pandemic surge might be over, as the number of COVID-19 deaths reported Monday was the lowest in three weeks. Still, the national lockdown could remain in place through mid-March, officials have said. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Portugal's "R" number, indicating the number of people an infected person passes the virus to, has dropped from 1.24 on Jan. 4 to 0.78 on Feb. 3, data shows.

A study suggested that sticking with the lockdown, and keeping schools closed, through the end of March would bring down the number of COVID-19 intensive care unit patients to around 300. There are currently almost 900 in ICUs, which are under severe strain.

Experts noted, however, that it could take weeks before a reduction in the number of infections lowers the number of hospitalizations.

Portugal has officially recorded more than 770,500 cases of COVID-19 and attributed more than 14,500 deaths to the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the coordinator of Portugal's vaccine task force, Rear Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, said a shortage of vaccines is "strangling" rollout efforts.

A woman wearing a face mask walks past closed shops in Lisbon, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. Hopes are rising in Portugal that the worst of a devastating pandemic surge might be over, as the number of COVID-19 deaths reported Monday was the lowest in three weeks. Still, the national lockdown could remain in place through mid-March, officials have said. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

He said the first phase, which was due to be completed by the end of March, will continue into April.

Portugal has so far received just over 500,000 of the almost 2 million vaccine doses it expected in the first quarter of this year, he said. The country is currently administering an average of 22,000 jabs a day.

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.
BRISBANE, Australia, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DateShield, an app that uses questions developed with psychologists to help women assess if a date might not be as sweet as he seems, launched today. The app, which is available in the Apple Store, supports video dating as well as traditional dating.

Hellish Dating Scenario Prompted Development

Is your date sweet or psycho? Partner violence is common

Software developer Nigel Richards built the app after seeing the harm from an abusive relationship.

"When someone close shocked me by revealing the gaslighting, belittling, and other abuse she'd endured," he said, "I was relieved she was out of the relationship. But later, I was dismayed to learn she'd returned to the abuser. She was able to get away finally, but the experience exacted a huge toll. I decided to create an app to alert women to red flags when dating."

What the App Does

The DateShield app guides users through a multi-step process that includes:

answering questions about their dates

journaling impressions of their dates

acting on to-do-list items and reminders to learn more about their dates

being alerted when disturbing characteristics are revealed

Questions assess traits such as evasiveness/honesty, ghosting/reliability, coldness/empathy, contempt/respect and controlling behavior/healthy independence.

After each assessment, the app adjusts a date rating dial based on the user's answers.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Nicole El Marj said, "I've seen a lot of women in private practice seek therapy following toxic and abusive relationships. Words cannot describe the pain and suffering that these women have endured and coming out of such relationships takes a lot of courage and strength. The questions in the app are absolutely on-point. I believe that this app can help individuals think twice before entering and fully investing in a potentially unhealthy relationship."

DateShield also enables users to easily alert trusted contacts and directly dial 911 if they feel threatened. The app can even share a physical description of the date and the street address.

Richards explains, "The CDC estimates that one in five women in the U.S. has been seriously assaulted by an intimate partner. We believe that women deserve respect, safety and autonomy in their relationships, and we hope DateShield will contribute to that outcome."

The app is available on the App Store, and more information is at dateshieldapp.com.

Contact:

Nigel Richards

Founder

DateShield Pty. Ltd.

+61 449 950 889 (Australian EST and after hours)

[email protected]

https://www.dateshieldapp.com

SOURCE DateShield Pty Ltd
Moodys Analytics has earned the top ranking in four categories in the new Center for Financial Professionals (CeFPro) Fintech Leaders 2021 report:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005319/en/

 #1: Balance Sheet Risk

 #1: Credit Risk

 #1: Model Risk

 #1: Stress Testing

As a result of these wins we finished #2 in the reports Top 50 Overall Ecosystem Rankings, up from #5 last year.

Addressing uncertainty is an elemental challenge for all of our customers, irrespective of the specific parts of their business we support. That was the case before the pandemic and is even more so now, said Jacob Grotta, Head of Banking Solutions at Moodys Analytics. Were proud that our customers choose Moodys Analytics to identify and understand sources of risk so they can make their best possible business decisions. Were also very pleased by our performance in this years Fintech Leaders report, with our #2 overall position confirming the value of Moodys Analytics interconnected solutions.

This is an outstanding achievement by Moodys Analytics, said Andreas Simou, Managing Director of CeFPro. CeFPros Fintech Leaders report is based on responses from the end-users in the industry, which in turn reflect the diverse offerings of Moodys Analytics across a number of categories.

CeFPro's research and analysis team surveyed finance, technology, operations, risk, legal, and compliance professionals to decide the category rankings. Votes and follow-up interviews by CeFPro's Fintech Leaders Advisory Board followed, with final review by the managing director of CeFPro. The overall rankings were based on votes cast for individual categories.

Learn more about the Center for Financial Professionals.

These wins add to the industry recognition for Moodys Analytics, which in 2020 totaled more than 70 awards.

Moodys Analytics, Moodys, and all other names, logos, and icons identifying Moodys Analytics and/or its products and services are trademarks of Moodys Analytics, Inc. or its affiliates. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.

About Moodys Analytics

Moodys Analytics provides financial intelligence and analytical tools to help business leaders make better, faster decisions. Our deep risk expertise, expansive information resources, and innovative application of technology help our clients confidently navigate an evolving marketplace. We are known for our industry-leading and award-winning solutions, made up of research, data, software, and professional services, assembled to deliver a seamless customer experience. We create confidence in thousands of organizations worldwide, with our commitment to excellence, open mindset approach, and focus on meeting customer needs. For more information about Moodys Analytics, visit our website or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Moody's Analytics, Inc. is a subsidiary of Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO). Moodys Corporation reported revenue of $4.8 billion in 2019, employs approximately 11,400 people worldwide and maintains a presence in more than 40 countries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005319/en/

Adult progenitor cells are present in the Drosophila fly as early as its larvae stage. These cells are the only ones that are maintained throughout development and they are responsible for giving rise to adult tissues and organs. Headed by Jordi Casanova (also an IBMB-CSIC researcher), the Development and Morphogenesis in Drosophila lab at IRB Barcelona has identified the headcase (hdc) gene as responsible for the unique characteristics of these adult progenitor cells.

"In our study, mainly using the powerful genetic tools available in Drosophila, we were able to show that this gene regulates the development of the organism, including the stages of metamorphosis, by controlling the growth, proliferation, survival and resistance to stress of adult progenitor cells," Casanova explains.

The headcase gene is homologous to the human HECA gene, and it plays a key role in cancer, acting as a tumour suppressor in both organisms, as it slows down cell cycle.

The link between stress and cancer

Besides identifying headcase as an essential gene for adult progenitor cells, the researchers led by Casanova have also characterised its mechanisms of action. In addition to its participation in hormone-stimulated growth control, this gene is also involved in the stress response and it maintains an equilibrium between these two processes.

"The finding that the headcase gene confers stress protection opens up a new avenue to be explored regarding the role of human HECA as it could also act as a stress protector and its absence may induce stress conditions that favour the initiation and progression of cancer," says Panagiotis Giannios, postdoctoral researcher and first author of the paper.

###

This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad of the Spanish Government and its Severo Ochoa Programme, and by the Generalitat de Catalunya and its CERCA Programme.
New York, US (PANA) - UN agencies have received approval from the Ethiopian Government for 25 international staff to provide humanitarian assistance inside the countrys conflict-torn Tigray region, the UN Spokesperson said on Monday
The National Political Bureau of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) on Tuesday unanimously decided to submit a bill to Parliament on the elimination of special pensions for MPs, the leader of the Social Democrat Deputies, Alfred Simonis, has made the announcement.

Simonis told a press conference that the bill was submitted to the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday.

"Over 7 million Romanians will be affected by the austerity measures provided in the state budget law. We all remember how during the election campaign the Government and the President were saying that PSD misinforms when it draws attention to the austerity they will bring over Romania, but it's clear now that we were right. This government of thieves and liars knows how to bring austerity, and the interesting fact is that it brings austerity only for the vulnerable categories: for pensioners, pupils and students or for Romanian companies, which are in deep suffering during this time. USR does not want to eliminate, instead, the benefits of privileged categories (...) Therefore, PSD cannot accept that while Romanians suffer other privileged categories continue to benefit from these bonuses. The laws must be the same for all," said Alfred Simonis.He claimed that PNL (National Liberal Party) and USR PLUS (Save Romania Union - Freedom, Unity, Solidarity Party) did not keep their promises to eliminate special pensions and they have no intention to do so."Today, the Political Bureau of PSD unanimously decided to submit a bill to eliminate these special pensions, in the first phase for MPs, a draft that has already been submitted or will be submitted in a few minutes to the Chamber of Deputies. (...) PNL and USR PLUS have repeatedly promised to eliminate these pensions, they have not kept their promises and we have not seen any intention on their behalf to do so. They lied, the same as they lied about the cuts they are doing right now and about doubling the child allowance, about the pension law. They lied to get the power, to be able to continue the thefts, to be able to hire their proteges and to dismantle the offices of the competent ones," added Simonis.He also said that, in the next period, PSD will initiate other projects related to special pensions or the capping of amounts for the representatives in the GMS and in the Boards of Directors of some companies.The PSD project provides for the modification of Law No. 96/2006 on the Statute of Deputies and Senators in the sense of repealing the articles regarding special pensions."Articles 49 and 50 of Law No. 96/2006 on the Statute of Deputies and Senators with subsequent modifications and supplements are repealed," the draft provides.

AGERPRES
'There is no doubt that stalking is a very serious problem but one women feel is often not taken seriously enough.' Stock image posed by model

When the Northern Ireland Assembly was set up it seemed like a great opportunity for local politicians to create joined-up government and - as Brexiteers were later to say - regain sovereignty over their own affairs.

Sadly, in far too many instances all that happened was any legislation with either a whiff of controversy or constitutional impact, or requiring real leadership, was shelved or repeatedly kicked further down the road in the hope that the issue would just disappear, or that Westminster might step in, becoming the scapegoat if public opinion was stirred.

Therefore it is refreshing that laws mainly, but not exclusively, affecting women are getting on the statute book.

A prime example was the passing last month of legislation making coercive control in abusive personal relationships an offence, as it is in other areas of the UK. Domestic abuse no longer is simply a physical crime but incorporates a partner controlling how the other person in the relationship lives their life.

As well, Sir John Gillen carried out a wide-ranging review of the laws covering serious sexual offences. His task was to ensure that more offenders would be brought to justice and convicted, and to give victims greater confidence in the justice process, thereby encouraging more to report attacks to the police.

Now a third important legislative change is on the cards with Justice Minister Naomi Long bringing forward a Bill making stalking an offence.

Currently we are the only part of the UK that does not have a bespoke stalking law, rather relying on the Protection from Harassment Order (NI) 1997.

Under the Bill convictions for the most serious offences will carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The minister says her proposed new law will benefit thousands of women.

There is no doubt that stalking is a very serious problem but one women feel is often not taken seriously enough.

In 2016 two female MLAs gave graphic accounts of how they had become victims of this disturbing crime. Brenda Hale, who at the time represented Lagan Valley, revealed how she had been stalked by a man she had never met before and how she felt particularly vulnerable, as her husband had been killed in Afghanistan and she lived with two young children.

Clare Bailey, deputy leader of the Green Party, said razor blades were stuck in her car tyres causing them to explode.

Support for the new law is positive and will be welcomed by very many women.
Athena Software employees donated $5,000 to the Counselling Collaborative of Waterloo Region for their annual giving campaign. "It is only because of donations like these that we are able to provide accessible mental health services that inspire hope to those in need during their most vulnerable time."

Athena Software is pleased to announce that its employees have raised $5,000 through its annual holiday giving campaign to support the Counselling Collaborative of Waterloo Region (CCWR).

The CCWR is a partnership between six community service providers in Waterloo Region that provides members of the community with access to quality and coordinated counselling services, regardless of their ability to pay.

The collaborative includes: Carizon Family and Community Services, Interfaith Counselling Centre, Family Counselling Centre of Cambridge and North Dumfries, K-W Counselling Services, Shalom Counselling Services, and Woolwich Counselling Centre.

Its our pleasure to give back to these great organizations who do such valuable work right here in our own community, said Geoff Bellew, CEO of Athena. Their innovative and visionary approach to working together as a group to serve the community is truly inspiring, so its with heartfelt appreciation and gratitude that we make this donation.

Each year, Athena employees raise funds throughout December and January to give back to the community by donating to a local nonprofit or social service organization. The total amount raised is then matched by Athena.

We are grateful to all the employees who supported the Counselling Collaborative of Waterloo Region during the holiday giving campaign and to Athena Software for generously matching these gifts, said Tracy Elop, CEO of Carizon Family and Community Services.

It is only because of donations like these that we are able to provide accessible mental health services that inspire hope to those in need during their most vulnerable time. We are grateful for their generosity and hope that Athena staff members will take great pride in the important difference that their gifts are making, she said.

Each of the agencies in the CCWR offers multiple subsidized services to serve the mental and emotional health needs of the community, including programs for individuals, couples, families, and groups, as well as credit counselling, workplace wellness, and outreach supports. To learn more or to donate to CCWR, visit their website at https://counsellingwr.ca/.

About Athena Software

Athena Software is a leading provider of SaaS Case Management and Client Information Management solutions and services for health and social service agencies around the world. We are passionate about empowering our customers to improve the lives of their communities and drive social impact through the use of our innovative solutions and services. With a global customer base, Athena is headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, with additional employees located in the US, Europe, and Australia.


A group calling itself Asanteman Nkosuo in Ashanti region has rendered an unqualified apology to Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia over recent unguarded statements coupled with untruths contained in a video that went viral on social media.



The group in the supposed video were heard levelling unsubstantiated allegations against the Vice President vowing to scuttle his flagbearer ambition. We will reject him also as NPP flagbearer for failing to attend to us, they vowed accusing him of snubbing them.



But at a press conference in Kumasi on Tuesday, members of the group and its leadership admitted that they erred in the unguarded statements against the second gentleman of the land.



They confessed that the litany of allegations levelled against Dr. Bawumia, his aides and other members of staff in his office were without merit pleading for forgiveness.



We are putting it on record today for the whole world to know that contrary to earlier claims that we were snubbed by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia during a recent visit to Accra, he made time and listened to us. He never sacked us as being portrayed by others but rather there was a disagreement between the leadership and members over who were to meet him in order to table our concerns. We are sorry for the wrong accusations, they confessed.



They added, while we were deliberating over the set of people to represent us and table our concerns before the Vice President which was not made known to all the members, some unscrupulous persons took advantage with doctored videos to peddle falsehood about a good intention of a hardworking Dr. Bawumia.



We are rather appreciative that the Vice President upon noticing our presence at his residence sent his aides to pick our leadership for a meeting at the Jubilee House, the group said.



They continued We wish to place on the emphasis that Dr Bawumia is the only MR in government who has given us the opportunity to enter the jubilee house and we are grateful to him for that.

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.

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An Idaho Falls man was shot and killed by a police officer in his own backyard after being mistaken for a suspect fleeing a traffic stop.

The fatal officer-involved shooting took place in Idaho Falls early Monday morning as police scoured a residential neighborhood in search of a man with a history of violence against law enforcement who was said to be armed.

'There are no words to express how heavy our hearts are today,' said Chief Bryce Johnson. 'This situation is devastatingly tragic for the family, for the officer, and those that love and care about them. We all feel the weight of what has occurred today. Our sincere sympathies are with the family and friends of those involved, and most especially the family of the deceased.'

Police revealed to DailyMail.com on Tuesday that the deceased man was white, while the officer who shot him was Hispanic. They have not been named.

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An Idaho Falls police officer looking for a suspect mistakenly shot and killed a man in his own backyard at Tendoy Drive and Syringa Drive early Monday morning

The real suspect, Tanner Shoesmith, 22, was being sought by police on three outstanding warrants

According to a detailed press release from the Idaho Police Department, the incident began unfolding after midnight, when a Bonneville County Sheriffs deputy attempted to pull over a car for a broken taillight.

The vehicle stopped on the corner of Lincoln Drive off of 1st Street and a male passenger, identified on Tuesday as 22-year-old Tanner Shoesmith, jumped out and ran into a residential neighborhood, where he scaled a fence in someone's backyard and disappeared from view.

The deputy followed and radioed for help, letting other officers know that the suspect was wearing a black shirt and khaki pants.

Several deputies and Idaho Falls police officers joined the manhunt. As they were searching the area, a resident on Holbrook Drive told them they had seen the suspect run through their yard and that they believed he was armed with a gun.

Idaho Falls Police Chief Bryce Johnson described the fatal officer-involved shooting as a 'devastatingly tragic' situation

During the search, a police officer spoke with another resident on the corner of Tendoy Drive and Syringa Drive, telling him that law enforcement officers were looking for a suspect, and that they would be in the area for some time.

Meanwhile, police learned that Shoesmith had multiple warrants out for his arrest, including felony battery on an officer, and two failure to appear warrants with original charges of resisting arrest, and providing false information to law enforcement.

Cops spoke to a woman who was in the car with Shoesmith, and she showed them a message she had received from him sharing his GPS location, reported East Idaho News.

Police used the information to pinpoint the location of the suspect, which showed him in the backyard of a home on the corner of Tendoy Drive and Syringa Drive.

Officers and deputies surrounded the residence and backyard to stop the suspect from fleeing.

'Due to the information that the suspect may be armed, and a prior history of violence when interacting with police officers, law enforcement personnel entered the location with their service weapons drawn,' according to the release.

Officers heard yelling and approached the backyard where they encountered a man wearing a black shirt armed with a firearm. They ordered the man to drop his weapon.

'We do not currently have the answers as to what exactly occurred during these moments,' said Chief Johnson. 'We do know that during this interaction, an Idaho Falls Police Officer discharged his service weapon firing one shot which struck the man.

The incident began unfolding after midnight, when a county sheriff's deputy attempted to pull over a car for a broken taillight, and its passenger jumped out and fled into this area

The suspect was described as wearing a black shirt and khaki pants, and a neighbor told police he may be armed with a gun

Police and paramedics tried to save the man's life but he died from his injuries.

Law enforcement later determined that the deceased man was not the suspect but was the resident of the home. He was the same person an officer had spoken to earlier about the manhunt.

Shortly after the shooting, a deputy reported seeing a man running through the area. Officers and deputies tracked this man to a nearby home, where he was found hiding in a shed in the backyard.

The man was positively identified as Shoesmith and was taken into custody. He was then booked into the county jail on the three outstanding warrants as well as a new misdemeanor charge for resisting arrest.

The entire incident  from the traffic stop to the arrest - lasted 20 minutes.

The Idaho Falls officer who fired the fatal shot has been placed on administrative leave and will not return to duty during the investigation.

The officer was wearing a body camera during the incident. That footage, along with all other body camera and dashboard camera footage from officers on scene, will be handed over to the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force, which was called to conduct the investigation.

Once the task force, led in this case by Idaho State Police, concludes its investigation, which could take weeks or months, the results will be turned over to the Bonneville County prosecutor, who will review the case and make a determination regarding whether the shooting was legally justified.

At the same time, the Idaho Falls Police Department will be conducting an internal affairs investigation. As part of the process, a Use of Force Review Board, which includes two civilians, will determine whether departmental policies and procedures were followed, and make recommendations to the chief.

The chief will then make a final determination regarding whether or not the shooting was within the bound of departmental policy, and whether any disciplinary actions are appropriate.

'The Idaho Falls Police Department has core values, one of those values being integrity,' Chief Johnson stated. 'As we define integrity it means being honest and truthful at all times, even when the truths we have to tell may be difficult. Today, the truths we have to share with the community are difficult and incredibly tragic.'
As per preliminary information, the blaze erupted at a factory at 11.51 am and spread to three adjacent units that deal in acid, packaging and fabrication

Thane: A major fire broke out in at least four factories in the Taloja industrial area in Navi Mumbai on Tuesday, a senior official said.

No casualty is reported so far in the fire that is yet to be brought under control since it broke out around 11.51 am, said Santosh Kadam, chief, Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC), Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).

As per preliminary information, the blaze erupted at a factory and spread to three adjacent units that deal in acid, packaging and fabrication. The cause of the blaze is not known.

At least 12 fire engines drawn from various nodes including Taloja, Rabale, Kalamboli, and Kharghar in Navi Mumbai, and a number of water tankers are struggling to douse the fire, Kadam said. Senior officials of the police and fire departments are supervising the fire-fighting operations, he said.

Taloja town in Raigad district is an extension of the Kharghar node and governed by the Panvel Municipal Corporation.
Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was speaking to Cosmhuintir Fianna Fail, a grassroots organisation within the party, about the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Ireland. Photo: Tony Gavin

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is a slippery eel when it comes to dealing with Anglo-Irish issues, according to former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

Speaking to Ogra Fianna Fail UCC members this evening, he said it can be difficult for the Irish Government to keep a steady relationship with British their counterparts if there is not consistency in the relationship with someone who wobbles one way or another.

Mr Ahern said it may be difficult to know where Mr Johnson is on a Monday and where he might be a Friday.

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I think hes a slippery eel when it comes to dealing with issues, he said.

He added that even though there may be a very clear line and an agreement reached between the Irish Government and the UK, it can be hard to know what Mr Johnson will do on the other side of the pandemic.

Sources at the meeting said Mr Ahern said Mr Johnson can be hard to pin down and jumps around the place, which is something that he has done his entire political life, according to the former Taoiseach.

He told the meeting of approximately 60 members that he does not believe that Anglo-Irish relations are as good now as they used to be.

Mr Ahern said this may also be down to Irish and UK officials, who used to get to know each other very well, not doing this anymore.

Thats a big, big disruptive effect on the Anglo-Irish relations and I think this will be a big loss, he said.

The former Fianna Fail leader said he used to get on well with former Prime Minister Tony Blair and the British Labour government.

He also spoke about the Good Friday Agreement and reunification, saying that during this decade, a conversation needs to be had about the funds the British government contributes towards Northern Ireland.

He said that even after a possible reunification, the UK would perhaps have to make a contribution over a series of years.

SINGAPORE, Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With global interest in decentralized finance peaking, DVP is creating a crowd-testing platform to resolve security challenges and make the DeFi ecosystem safer and more secure with a view to help people leverage the massive opportunities of the sector.

DVP  Decentralized Vulnerability Platform  is the world's first decentralized autonomous organization (DAO)-powered vulnerability testing platform created to solve security issues of DeFi ecosystems. It is an international community of information security professionals (White Hats) that seeks to act as a bridge between the white hats and blockchain projects to provide an efficient and transparent blockchain security information platform, which will help improve the overall security awareness and build a better blockchain ecology. The DVP community of white hats can help blockchain projects identify the security vulnerabilities and deliver them to DVP. As reward, the white hat will be paid the corresponding bounty. Through this model, DVP seeks to achieve a mutually beneficial relationship for both the blockchain projects and the white hats.

How DVP works

DVP is an ecosystem where the community conducts multidimensional audits of smart contracts and protocols to notify blockchain projects about bugs, if any. With the surge in the value locked in DeFi projects, the venture will act to curb the alarmingly high number of security breaches. The bounty program launched by DVP invites white hats to conduct massive testing of blockchain products. Their review will give manufacturers an idea about where the project is heading. In return, they can claim token rewards while the manufacturers save costs, facilitating a win-win situation for both parties.

DVP makes use of blockchain technology and token-incentive schemes to establish an anonymous security crowd-testing platform. It connects blockchain vendors with white hat communities, efficiently reducing the hidden vulnerabilities and safeguarding the interests of the digital information industry.

Why DVP?

2020 has been a phenomenal year for cryptocurrencies, not surprisingly, considering the global economic downturn forced by a pandemic. Market sentiment leaned towards unconventional assets, and the significance of decentralized assets reached a larger mass, not to mention the price rise of most digital assets.

The most important development in the crypto industry has definitely been the wide traction garnered by DeFi. Breaking geographical and financial barriers, DeFi opened up a new trove of possibilities for investors and crypto enthusiasts alike. Despite this, the fact remains that as DeFi grows, so does the number of hacks and security breaches in the ecosystem. Being an industry that is reliant on finance, blockchain, and the web, DeFi carries some potential security threats that could put hundreds of millions of digital assets in jeopardy.

The most efficient solution to eliminate the hidden dangers in the DeFi space is to find the vulnerabilities and fix them in advance. However, most start-up companies that offer security solutions today lack infrastructure and skilled professionals. Established companies may have years of capital and the latest infrastructure, but over-the-roof pricing and the complex processes involved are nightmarish. This is where DVP comes in. "By decentralizing the security testing process using the expertise of white hats, DVP has cracked the challenge of providing excellent services without the need to invest resources, which is difficult for any single company," said Daniel, CEO of DVP.

Forging strategic alliances

DVP offers a wide range of security services tailored to the DeFi industry. From vulnerability search, information aggregation to situation awareness, DVP has got it all covered. Reputed blockchain vendors like Gate.io, Cobo, F2pool, Vechain, Coinw, Kcash, Contentos, and Neo are some of the platforms to make use of the services offered by the DVP community. In the future, DVP will extend comprehensive support to the BSC (Binance Smart Chain) DeFi ecosystem. An exclusive bounty program will be developed and the white hat community will be encouraged to mine for vulnerabilities in DeFi projects on BSC.

Joining hands with the world's top security communities like PeckShield and BCSES, DVP has today grown into a large technical community with more than 15000 White Hats. "By combining the benefits of modern infrastructure with the skilled community of white hats from around the world, DVP will safeguard the interests of the blockchain industry from potential threats. The concept of finding vulnerabilities as a key to solving security issues in the DeFi industry has brought together such a brilliant community of white hats from around the world," said Kateryna, Marketing Director of DVP.

The number of registered white hats increased by around 3,360 in 2020 and the average number of bug submissions per month exceeded 225. Last month alone, the number of big submissions per month hit 229.

Mature business model

DVP has a futuristic business model that aligns with the vision put forth by the DeFi industry. The technical abilities of the diverse community and the bounty incentives offered by thousands of partner vendors have been used for the growth of the platform.

The reward system on DVP goes beyond daily vulnerability mining. Users can make use of the attractive incentive schemes and special bounty activities launched by DVP from time to time. DVP offers rewards as high as 30 ETH. To date, 2003 ETH has been issued, which is around 2.8 million USD.

DVP will continue to support the DeFi industry in its unprecedented track of growth. By strategically finding and eliminating the increasingly complex and intensive attacks that hinder the mass adoption of DeFi, DVP will play a key role in the further evolution of the industry.

The security crowd testing project launched by DVP has been a huge success so far. More white hats are welcome to join the community and lend a hand to DeFi ventures in resolving their shortcomings.

For more information, please visit www.dvpnet.io

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dvpnet.io



SOURCE DVP
Pakistan plans to ask China for relief on payments for power projects Beijing financed over the past eight years, the latest developing nation thats struggling to repay debt under President Xi Jinping s Belt and Road Initiative .

In informal talks, Pakistan and China have discussed easing terms on the repayment of debt on about a dozen power plants, according to a person with knowledge of the matter, who said Islamabad hasnt made a formal request yet. The parties have canvassed Beijings willingness to stagger debt payments, as opposed to lowering equity returns, the person said, requesting anonymity as the plan is private.

An enormous build-out of Chinese-financed power plants in Pakistan, which was originally intended to solve its electricity shortages, has resulted in a surplus that Islamabad isnt able to afford. Infrastructure projects funded by Chinas initiative in other developing nations, such as Sri Lanka and Malaysia, have suffered issues ranging from heavy debt loads to corruption.

Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance, as well as Pakistans power division, didnt respond to requests seeking comment.

China has denied US criticism that the initiative leads to debt traps, while acknowledging that countries have had difficulties repaying loans due to the pandemic-induced global recession. Last year, Beijing cancelled interest-free loans to 15 African countries due to mature by the end of 2020, and it has delayed other payments.

The Belt and Road program had found new life in Pakistan last year with the signing of $11 billion worth of projects, most of which went to revamping the nations railway system.

While Chinese financing has helped Pakistan diversify fuel supplies, it has also resulted in a surplus of electricity, which is problematic for the government in Islamabad because it is the sole buyer and pays producers even when they dont generate. To help tackle the issue, the government has negotiated with power plants, which produce roughly half of its electricity, to lower rates.

Pakistan will formally make the request to defer debt payments to China, as well as other plants that were part of the latest power policy, after it concludes deals with those local power producers to reduce electricity tariffs, said the person with knowledge of the matter. Debt relief from China will also help the government reduce power payments.

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A few clouds from time to time. High 82F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
[February 08, 2021] Peruvian superfoods and national brands on Chinese JD.com

LIMA, Peru and BEIJING, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In November, Promperu launched new superfood and national brand promotion activities in China, culminating December 1st, when Chinese consumers could purchase original Peruvian products on JD.COM. During the first event, on November 28th, solar eclipse critic Dai Tata, space and food explorer Brian Tan, and well-known chef Eduardo Vargas linked up in the the Gourmet Library to live-stream. The public encountered a display of foods, such as quinoa, avocado, blueberries, white prawns and other superfoods. But also, high-altitude coffee and pisco specialties. The main featured dish in the live-stream was a new take on the classic paella. Reinvented with quinoa and prawn fried rice to suit the Chinese consumers. Nowadays, quinoa is also recognised as one of the most nutritious foods in the world. On , the second live-stream of Peru's national brand promotion took place. Travel expert Shenwei shared his fascinating personal experiences while traveling in Peru. A country rich in culture and food.



On the same day the Peruvian Export and Tourism Promotion Committee cooperated with the Shanghai landmark Oriental Pearl on a ten-day "Discover Peruvian Flavor" activity at the Oriental Pearl's 267-meter revolving restaurant. The restaurant presented Peruvian cuisine made with Peruvian superfood ingredients to the audience. In addition, 12 screens around the Plaza of the Oriental Pearl Tower and the large LED screen on the top of the old Shanghai No. 8 restaurant have shown multiple images of Peruvian national brands. Moreover, 38 pictures of Peru's export products and tourist destinations was displayed on the 4-meter ring corridor in the Oriental Pearl Tower.

A Peruvian promotional film was also displayed throughout 16 subway lines and 58,000 mobile TV screens of 9,500 buses in Shanghai. The film helped the public, through images, to understand the customs of Peru. The Peruvian government and the Peruvian Export and Tourism Promotion Committee finally invited the famous Eduardo Vargas to continue live streaming under the theme "Discovering the flavour of Peru" in Yu Carden. Peruvian cuisine can become more approachable for the average consumer. 2021 is the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Peru and China. From the beginning of the year, Promperu will continue featuring stories about Peru and the ancient Inca Empire to Chinese people. SOURCE Promperu

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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) delivers remarks with Senate committee chairs ahead of former President Donald Trump's Senate Impeachment trial on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 9, 2021. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

Schumer: Democrats Will Work on COVID-19 Package Alongside Impeachment Trial

Democrats are still moving forward with a fresh COVID-19 package even as the impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump starts Tuesday, the Senates top Democrat told reporters on Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the trial would not disrupt President Joe Bidens early agenda, including his $1.9 trillion spending package.

We can do both at once, Schumer said during a press conference in Washington.

To the pundits that said we cannot do both at once, you are wrong. We can and we are. Bottom line, the Senate is moving all steam ahead on a bold plan to get this country out of the crisis and speed vaccination distribution and provide a lifeline for small businesses and help schools reopen and so much more.

Both chambers on Friday passed a budget measure that enables Democrats to pass a version of Bidens plan even if no Republicans back it, though they cant afford to lose a single Democrat senator. This method of using a budget tool is only possible because Democrats hold majorities in the House and the Senate.

Republicans have cried foul but can do little to stop the other party, short of convincing at least one Democrat to vote against the final package. Theyve referred to the impeachment trial as a waste of time since a conviction is highly unlikely and Trump left office on Jan. 20.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the president pro tempore of the Senate, who is presiding over the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, swears in members of the Senate for the impeachment trial at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 26, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)

Bidens proposal includes sending $350 billion to state and local governments, a fresh round of stimulus checks, and raising the federal minimum wage to $15.

Biden signaled last week that the minimum wage hike might not be allowed to be part of the budget process, but Schumer told reporters Tuesday hes working with the Senate parliamentarian to get the hike into the budget reconciliation package.

Trumps impeachment trial started early Tuesday afternoon. According to the timeline agreed upon by Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the trial will last around a week, unless witnesses are called.

The House of Representatives this week was planning to start considering the COVID-19 relief package, even as some representatives served as de facto prosecutors in the trial. House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) said his committee on Wednesday would markup relief proposals including extending unemployment insurance and expanding the child tax credit.

At the same time, Senators are considering and confirming a number of Bidens nominees.

I have been asked about how we are going to do this, and I think about how many people are being asked to do all at once under impossible circumstances right now, moms, students, educators, not workers, you name it. They do not have the option to pick just one problem to solve. They have to get it all done, and so do we, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) told reporters. Senate Democrats know that and we will get it done and we are proud to be doing this.
A Texas fourth-grader has died in her sleep three days after she tested positive for COVID-19 despite feeling only mild symptoms.

Makenzie Gongora, 9, had been tucked into bed by her mom Kristle in the early hours of Feb. 2 and never woke up, her family told TODAY.

Makenzie tested positive for COVID on January 29 after having a bad headache with vomiting at her after-school program.

Staff at the after-school program took Makenzie's temperature and found she had a fever and she was taken by her mom to Brooke Army Medical Center.

Makenzie was tested by doctors for strep throat and the flu, but tests came back negative. She tested positive for COVID-19.

Makenzie Gongora, 9, died earlier this month after testing positive for the coronavirus

Makenzie, center, is pictured with her parents Nathan, left, and Kristle, right

Makenzie's family has said they were unaware of any underlying medical conditions before her death

The family has ordered an autopsy to determine her cause of death, which they believe to have been caused by COVID-19

Doctors told Kristle Gongora to take her daughter home to 'make her comfortable' and 'monitor her fever,' said Makenzie's maternal aunt Victoria Southworth.

'Kenzie did not have any respiratory issues,' Southworth, 37, told the outlet.

'There was nothing major going on. All the symptoms were mild.'

Makenzie's aunts wrote in a GoFundMe that the young girl 'seemed to be recuperating over the weekend with waves of symptoms coming and going.'

But Makenzie started to feel tired and went to bed early on February 1.

'My sister-in-law later checked on her at night and realized that she was no longer breathing and could not find a pulse,' said her paternal aunt Erica Gongora.

Makenzie died in her sleep on her father's birthday, and just three days before her mother's birthday.

'She was small, petite, kind of like a little pixie fairy, but very protective and sweet and loving and just very affectionate,' Southworth said. 'Wanted to be everybody's friend. Leaves a huge hole in our hearts, that's for sure.'

The girl's family said that they are not aware if she had any underlying conditions but noted to TODAY that Makenzie was small for her age.

A GoFundMe started for Makenzie's family to pay for her funeral expenses has raised nearly $70,000

Both aunts told the outlet that Makenzie's body has been sent to a lab in Dallas, Texas, to be examined and an autopsy is still pending.

The family has not yet received confirmation that Makenzie died from COVID-19. But Southworth told the San Antonio Express News that her family strongly believe it was caused by the virus.

'We're waiting for the medical examiner report; but our family suspects it, though, because we don't know of anything else that could have caused this,' Southworth said.

'COVID knows no age limit - my niece was 9, hadn't even hit double digits yet. COVID IS AWFUL.'

Makenzie attended Scarborough Elementary in Northside Independent School District, according to the Express News.

The school district has notified the families of her classmates about the death and had additional counselors available for students and staff mourning her loss.

'Our thoughts are with her family during this very difficult time,' Scarborough administrators said in a statement.

Kristle is a front-line essential worker in the medical field and had been vaccinated because she works with vulnerable patients.

Nathan Gongora, Makenzie's dad, is in the Army National Guard and also tested positive for the virus with the couple's other daughter, Sophia.

The family is currently grieving while quarantined, which will delay Makenzie's funeral, outlets reported.

The GoFundMe has since raised nearly $70,000 to pay for her funeral expenses. Makenzie's body will be sent back to San Antonio after the autopsy and she will be buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
Mexico's president is refusing to wear a face mask despite catching coronavirus and recovering, because he claims he was told he is 'not contagious.'

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has repeatedly downplayed the seriousness of the virus and refused to wear a mask, caught the virus last month.

The 61-year-old has reportedly since recovered, and on Monday held his first news conference since testing positive on January 24. During the event, he brushed aside repeated questions from reporters about whether he would wear a mask to help contain the spread of the virus.

'There is no authoritarianism in Mexico ... everything is voluntary, liberty is the most important thing,' Lopez Obrador said. 'It is each person's own decision.'

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Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday gave his daily morning press conference following a two-week absence after he tested positive for coronavirus at the National Palace in Mexico City. The 61-year-old is declining to use a face mask as preventive measure against a virus that as of Tuesday had killed 166,731 people in Mexico, the world's third-highest death toll, according to data from John Hopkins University

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador seen boarding a commercial flight in San Luis Potosi the morning of January 24 before returning to Mexico City and announcing later in the evening that he had tested positive for the coronavirus

When first asked on Monday whether he would set an example by wearing a mask, Lopez Obrador skipped the question and instead launched into a polemic about his adversaries trying to thwart him, in spite of widespread support from top officials and the public for the measure.

Lopez Obrador said he was administered experimental treatments, which he described only as an 'antiviral' medication and an anti-inflammatory drug.

He claimed he would not use a face mask because 'according to what the doctors say, now I'm not contagious.'

Despite his prompt recovery, Lopez Obrador runs the risk of possibly being reinfected.

A study by the Naval Medical Research Center in Silver Springs, Maryland, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, discovered that among young Marine Corps recruits who had previously tested positive, more than 10 percent had a second positive test during a six-week follow-up.

Additionally, the group that became infected again had lower antibody levels than those who were infected for the first time and most lacked detectable neutralizing antibodies against COVID-19, according to the study published published on the pre-print site medRxiv.org.

A patient infected with COVID-19 is covered with a capsule while being admitted into the emergency wing of 21st Century National Medical Center in Mexico City. The pandemic has killed more that 166,000 people in the country

Unlike many of his top officials, Lopez Obrador has shunned face masks throughout the pandemic. Critics believe he is unwilling to do anything that might make him look like he was being muzzled.

The leader tested positive for coronavirus after he had gotten off a commercial flight in Mexico City following a three-day tour throughout the nation.

The 61-year-old, who has high blood pressure and had surgery after a heart attack in December 2013, experienced light COVID-19 symptoms and quarantined at the National Palace while carrying out his daily duties.

A woman adjusts a face mask on a girl's face outside Zone 32 General Hospital in Mexico City Despite residents adhering to measures that require the use of facial covering in public and private settings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday that he will not use a face mask, just two weeks after he tested positive for the coronavirus

Despite Mexico's dearth of vaccines - the country hasn't received new shipments in weeks, and is down to its last 55,000 doses - Lopez Obrador repeated his faith that the country will get enough vaccines from Pfizer, Russia, China and India to vaccinate all Mexicans over the age of 60 by the end of March.

However, Lopez Obrador's attitude goes against the grain of Mexican public opinion, which is overwhelmingly of the view that wearing one is useful, polls show.

Following the president's positive diagnosis, some Mexicans said they thought he could have avoided getting infected had he worn a mask and respected social-distancing measures more.

But Lopez Obrador praised his government for not imposing stricter curbs to contain the virus, which as of Tuesday had killed 166,731 people in Mexico, the world's third-highest death toll, according to data from John Hopkins University.

Mexico has registered 1,936,013 confirmed cases.

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February 22, 2021 10.00 am

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On 20 January 2011, i.e. 10 years ago, LAUDA acquired a plant for industrial circulation chillers in Terrassa near Barcelona, Spain. Owing to the continuous positive development of the Spanish subsidiary, the temperature control specialist was able to celebrate the laying of the foundation stone for a new production facility there at the beginning of the year. The new building of LAUDA's subsidiary LAUDA Ultracool, SL will more than double the production capacity of LAUDA circulation chillers to meet the growing global demand for energy-efficient temperature control solutions. For LAUDA, this is not only the first construction project abroad in the company's 65-year history but also the first complete new building "on a greenfield site". Around 4,000 m of new production space and more than 850 m of office space will be created on a 9,000 m site in the direct vicinity of the existing company headquarters. The Spanish sales company LAUDA Iberica Soluciones Tecnicas will also move into the new building.

LAUDA will manufacture industrial circulation chillers on the new site. LAUDA is investing around 7 million euros in the new building in Spain. Completion is scheduled for the 4th quarter of 2021. Xavier Armengol, Managing Director of LAUDA Ultracool, is proud of the new building: "LAUDA Ultracool will have significantly more space to integrate research and development and production capacities on the new site." The LAUDA Group's investment in these turbulent times was also a strong signal of confidence in the subsidiary and its employees.

The laying of the foundation stone, which took place on 14 January 2021 under strict hygiene conditions without representatives of the parent company, was attended by the management of LAUDA Ultracool, together with the deputy mayor of Terrassa, Ms. Nuria Marin, and high-ranking representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services. A time capsule containing local newspapers, a LAUDA complete brochure, sketches of the building, euro coins and a document with employee signatures was placed in the foundation during the ceremony.

"The new building in Terrassa in the direct vicinity of the megacity of Barcelona has great significance for us," said Dr. Marc Stricker, COO of LAUDA. He noted that the demand for energy-efficient industrial cooling was constantly increasing, e.g. in applications such as the cooling of laser cutting machines or industrial printing machines. "The new building and the possibilities it creates will enable us to meet this demand and continue to drive the future viability of industrial temperature control technology forward at the same time. In this respect, LAUDA Ultracool is playing a leading role in the development of the connection of industrial circulation chillers to the LAUDA Cloud." Constant temperature equipment such as the Ultracool industrial circulation chillers can be monitored and controlled on a decentralized basis via the LAUDA Cloud. Access to the historical data of every device in the LAUDA Cloud also enables predictive and preventive maintenance. President and CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser added: "Our fantastic success story in Catalonia shows that LAUDA is not only growing steadily at home but all over the world. Of the total of five production sites, three are located abroad; in China and the USA in addition to Spain. This means we are close to customers in dynamic industries such as electromobility and bioproduction, which includes vaccine manufacturing."
tech2 News Staff

The Indian Space Research Organisation is all set to launch its first mission of the year 2021, and has chosen to launch its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C51 (PSLV-C51). The rocket will be launching from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota at 10.23 am IST on 28 February. However, the launch is subject to suitable weather conditions at the launchpad. ISRO will be launching a Brazilian satellite along with 20 other Indian satellites. This mission was among those mentioned in the 2021 Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

ISRO chief K Sivan has confirmed the latest launch details and said that the upcoming mission is special for us, special for the entire country and is the beginning of a new era of space (sector) reforms.

About Amazonia 1

Amazonia-1 is an optical earth observation satellite that has been designed, integrated, tested and operated by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE)  the research unit under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. The satellite is a Sun-synchronous polar-orbiting satellite that can generate images every five days states INPE blog. It has a wide-view optical camera with three visible frequency bands and one near-infrared band.

Amazonia-1 will be used to provide remote sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region and analysis of diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory. As per an ISRO statement, Amazonia-1 is NewSpace India Limited's (NSIL) first commercial mission.

NSIL is a public sector undertaking that will commercially exploit ISRO's research and development work, co-produce PSLV, and manage launches of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) which is also being developed with the help of ISRO and the private sector. It is also involved small satellite technology transfer to industry, manufacturing of SSLV and production of PSLVs.

Other satellites on the roster

Along with the primary payload on PSLV-C51, Amazonia-1, there will be 20 other satellites launched as secondary payloads. These include one ISRO nanosatellite INS-2TD, four from IN-SPACe, and 15 from NSIL.

One of the satellites from IN-Space is the Satish Dhawan Satellite from Space Kidz India. The Satish Dhawan satellite (SD SAT) is named after former ISRO chairman Satish Dhawan, according to Space Kidz India. The satellite is designed to study space radiation and the magnetosphere, in addition to demonstrating indigenously-designed and developed nanosatellite components.

"The satellite also tests the capabilities of LoRa technology in Space which could be helpful for many applications in the future in short and M2M communication," the organisation said.

Three other satellites from IN-Space are UNITYsats. According to a TOI report, UNITYsat is a consortium of three satellites: JITsat developed by Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, Sriperumbudur; GHRCEsat by G H Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur; and Sri Shakthi Sat Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore.

Anand, a satellite built by Indian space startup Pixxel, is also on the roster. The company plans to build a constellation of 30 satellites by 2023, and recently inaugurated its new facility last month. Pixxel CEO, Awais Ahmed told PTI, We are elated with the fact that India's first commercial private satellite will now launch on an Indian rocket. This is not only a proud moment for us as an organisation but also as citizens to work with our nation's capabilities.

The PSLV rocket

The PSLV is 44-metre-high and has four stages with six strap-on booster motors on to the first stage that gives it's a higher thrust during the initial flight moments.

ISRO has developed and used different PSLV variants, including ones with either two or four strap-on motors, or the Core Alone variant without any strap-on motors. As the PSLV is not a reusable rocket, the first stage won't be reclaimed and it will crash into the Indian Ocean.
Private investors are taking advantage of low interest rates and are circling assets from pubs to hotels and land banks for development in anticipation of an improving economy in the post-COVID world.

One of the latest sales was the part-renovated General Gordon Hotel located opposite Sydenham train station in Sydney for $30 million.

Having been damaged by fire in 2018, the pub has since been rebuilt and is due to open in April this year.

The vendors, private group White & Partners, tested the waters for interest and the incumbent management team of JDA Hotels became the purchaser.
STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani authorities have barred a group of Armenian Christian pilgrims from entering the Dadivank monastery, demanding that from now on they should receive a manifest listing the identities of pilgrims beforehand.

Previously, the Azerbaijani side was demanding only the number of pilgrims heading to Davdivank, and the number was to be no more than 30 persons, the Prelate of the Diocese of Artsakh of the Armenian Apostlich Church Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan told ARMENPRESS. Now they are demanding us to present nominal lists beforehand. Therefore, on Sunday we will provide the list of pilgrims with the peacekeepers in order not to have other difficulties in entering Dadivank, he said.

Pilgrims from Armenia are visiting Dadivank accompanied by Russian peacekeepers.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
DOORN, Netherlands (AP)  A deep winter freeze gripping the Netherlands is reawakening the national obsession with skating on frozen canals.

With subzero temperatures forecast to last more than a week, ice fever swept the nation Tuesday, offering a welcome respite from grim coronavirus news while also creating a challenge for authorities trying to uphold social distancing rules.

People around the country were rummaging through attics and dusting off long-unused skates, while businesses that sharpen skate blades reported boom times.

Ice skating is a national wintertime passion in the Netherlands, with the country's spandex-clad elite athletes dominating Winter Olympic speedskating races in recent years. Amateurs of all ages eagerly await the Arctic conditions that allow them to take to the country's vast network of canals and waterways.

But with the country in a strict coronavirus lockdown, the prospect of a long-distance skating race in the northern province of Friesland being staged for the first time since 1997 remains remote at best.

The association that organizes the 11 Cities Tour over frozen canals and lakes said in January that under the current coronavirus measures, it is not possible to organize" the near mythical event. Since then, authorities have not relaxed the measures beyond allowing elementary school students back into classrooms this week.

The chairman of the association poured more cold water on people's hopes Tuesday, noting just what a production the race normally involves.

We're talking about a tour with 1--1.5 million spectators, 25,000 participants, thousands of volunteers and half of the Netherlands on the road, Wiebe Wieling told national broadcaster NOS. Every right-thinking person will realize that something like that is not possible amid the pandemic.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte weighed in on the debate Monday night, saying that skating authorities could consider allowing races on natural ice if the country's top 120 racers enter a coronavirus bubble. But he, too, said that staging an event with a huge numbers of spectators was out of the question, even if it is outdoors.

Story continues

Still, Rutte said the Dutch should make the most of the conditions while they last.

Enjoy this beautiful weather and the ice, Rutte said. But do that within the COVID-19 rules.

Dutch media reported a few hardy souls risking a skate on thin ice in parts of the Netherlands on Tuesday, but for the time being temporary ice tracks were the safest place to lace up one's skates.

Local schoolchildren visited the skating club in Doorn, 65 kilometers (40 miles) southeast of Amsterdam, which created its rink by spraying water onto an outdoor inline skating track and built up an even ice surface by dragging a Persian rug around it.

Canals are expected to be frozen solid enough later in the week for people to skate on. Authorities in Amsterdam have closed locks and banned boats on parts of the city's World Heritage-listed ring of canals to give them a better chance of freezing over.

The municipality, however, also warned skaters to stick to social distancing and other coronavirus restrictions.

The coronavirus rules for public places also apply on the ice, City Hall said.

It was not only ice skating fans preparing for the big chill.

A zoo in the central Netherlands moved 15 penguins indoors and out of the cold Tuesday. Unlike their Antarctic cousins, the black-footed penguins hail from South Africa and Namibia and arent used to such icy conditions, Burgers Zoo said.

The freezing conditions also created natural ice sculptures in a marina in the village of Monnikendam, just north of Amsterdam on Markermeer Lake, with boats moored there swathed in swirling sheets of ice.

Lines of wind-blown icicles hung off boat railings and ropes, and ice coated a set of children's swings and trees near the edge of the snow-covered frozen waters of the lake.

Were living in the most beautiful painting of the 17th century, Rutte said.

____

Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands.
Members of the army during the Spanish flu in Olten hospital. Credit: Archive of the History of Medicine, University of Zurich

Researchers from the universities of Zurich and Toronto have found that in the event of a pandemic, delayed reactions and a decentralized approach by the authorities at the start of a follow-up wave can lead to longer-lasting, more severe and more fatal consequences. The interdisciplinary team compared the Spanish flu of 1918 and 1919 in the Canton of Bern with the coronavirus pandemic of 2020.

The Spanish flu was the greatest demographic catastrophe in Switzerland's recent history, causing approximately 25,000 deaths in the country during 1918 and 1919. In the wake of the current coronavirus pandemic, there has been increased public and scientific interest in the events of that time. An interdisciplinary team of researchers in evolutionary medicine, history, geography and epidemiology from the universities of Zurich and Toronto has spent several years analyzing historical data on the spread of influenza-like illnesses during 1918 and 1919 in the Canton of Bern. The canton is ideally suited as a Swiss case study, because it is large and has a diverse landscape; it was hit particularly hard by the Spanish flu, and right at the start of the pandemic in July 1918, it introduced an obligation to report cases.

Public health measures effective in the first wave

The results of the new study show that the spread of Spanish flu differed depending on the region. In the first wave in July and August 1918, the Canton of Bern intervened relatively quickly, strongly and centrally, including by restricting gatherings and closing schools.

"We see from the numbers that these measuressimilar to todaywere associated with a decrease in infection numbers," says co-first author Kaspar Staub of the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine at the University of Zurich. After the first wave had subsided, the canton lifted all measures entirely in September 1918, which led to a rapid resurgence of cases and the onset of a second wave after only a short time.

Delayed action at start of second wave was fatal

At the beginning of the second wave in October 1918, the Canton of Bern reacted hesitantly, unlike in the first wave. Fearing renewed economic consequences, the cantonal authorities left responsibility for new measures up to the individual municipalities for several weeks. "This hesitant and decentralized approach was fatal and contributed to the fact that the second wave became all the stronger and lasted longer," says co-first author Peter Jueni of the University of Toronto.

In addition, shortly after the peak of the second wave in November 2018, there was a national strike with demonstrations on social and labor issues and, most importantly, larger troop deployments. These mass gatherings, as well as a subsequent relaxation of the ban on gatherings when the number of cases was still far too high, were accompanied by a significant resurgence in infections. Ultimately, about 80% of the reported illnesses and deaths were attributable to the second wave.

History repeats itself in 2020

By comparing the weekly case counts of the Spanish flu and coronavirus, the researchers found that the second wave started in almost the same calendar week in both 1918 and 2020, and the official delayed response was similar. "While there are still considerable differences between the two pandemics, the steadily increasing parallels between 1918 and 2020 are remarkable," Staub says. The study also shows that empirical knowledge from past pandemicsfor example, on the challenges and how to deal with follow-up wavesis available.

"Since November 2020, deaths from COVID-19 have far exceeded those caused by cancer or cardiovascular disease and for around three months, it has been the most common cause of death in Switzerland. In view of the high death rate during the second wave in comparison with other countries, and with the threat of a third wave due to virus mutations from England, South Africa and Brazil, lessons from the past could help the authorities and the public to rethink their response," adds Jueni.

Historical archive data with relevance for the present day

The study was based on records in the Bern State Archives of cases of influenza-like illness by municipality and region, as reported weekly by doctors to the cantonal authorities. "These records are a real treasure trove and a great example of how data that is more than 100 years old can be relevant today," Staub says.

In 2015, the research team began transcribing the more than 9,000 medical reports with over 120,000 influenza cases from 473 Bernese municipalities between June 1918 and June 1919. They then analyzed the data using modern epidemiological methods and reconstructed the measures taken at cantonal level to prevent the spread of the pandemic to create an overall picture.

Explore further Sweden sees deadliest November since Spanish flu

More information: Kaspar Staub et al, Public Health Interventions, Epidemic Growth, and Regional Variation of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic Outbreak in a Swiss Canton and Its Greater Regions, Annals of Internal Medicine (2021). Journal information: Annals of Internal Medicine Kaspar Staub et al, Public Health Interventions, Epidemic Growth, and Regional Variation of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic Outbreak in a Swiss Canton and Its Greater Regions,(2021). DOI: 10.7326/M20-6231
Effort by Kaduna based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gummi to convince bandits to lay down arms and embrace peace, may be an exercise in futility as the criminals are used to getting big money and will not repent, Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa'i of Kaduna state has said.

El-Rufai spoke on a BBC Hausa program monitored in Kaduna.

The governor reiterated that Kaduna was at war with the criminal elements, pointing out "my administration is at war with the bandits and so we cannot negotiate. Eliminating them is the only solution to banditry."

He said the Islamic scholar is wasting his time as there won't be any forgiveness and compensation for bandits.

" I never believed that a Fulani herdsman who ventured into banditry and is collecting millions of Naira as ransom will repent. I spoke to Dr Gumi who is my friend, I explained that majority of these bandits don't believe in the religion. That is why they kill mercilessly. "

"Anybody who thinks a Fulani herdsman that was used to only getting N100,000 in a year, after selling a cow, but now is getting millions through kidnapping for ransom will stop, is only wasting his time."

On the synergy to confront the criminal elements in the region, the governor lamented over the division amongst governors in the Northwest region.

According to him, while some of the governors prefer dialogue with the bandits as a solution, he and others did not see that as a solution.

His words: "We the governors, lack unity among ourselves in this region in working as one to neutralize the bandits. We in Kaduna and Niger state are talking on how to end the problem. The governor of Niger state calls me and we are discussing. Anybody that thinks a Fulani man that ventured into kidnapping for ransom and he is earning millions of Naira would go back to his former life of getting N100,000 after selling a cow in a year ,must be deceiving himself."

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"Why should they be compensated after killing people, they destroyed their houses. Who offended them? Ahmad Gummi is my friend and this is what I told him."

"I told him that the majority of these Fulani bandits don't believe in religion. Therefore, I don't believe in what he is doing, that they should be forgiven and compensated, If any bandit is arrested in Kaduna state, the bandit will be killed because Kaduna is in war with bandits."

"They kill without mercy, they don't believe in the religion,' he said.

Vanguard News Nigeria


Injury worries Nadal as he bids for Melbourne title

Spain's Rafael Nadal with coach Francisco Roig during a practice session before the Australian Open. Photo: Reuters

Rafael Nadal's bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title has been overshadowed by fitness concerns as he begins his Australian Open campaign on Tuesday.



The 34-year-old Spaniard will play his first match of the year against 56th-ranked Laslo Djere after back trouble ruled him out of last week's ATP Cup.



Nadal is not the only player troubled by injury after the coronavirus-hit build-up to the year's first Grand Slam, in which players underwent two weeks' quarantine in Australia.



Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams and Simona Halep, who all carried injury worries into their opening matches, safely reached the second round on Monday.



But Nadal raised the alarm on Sunday when he said he'd been "suffering" with the injury for more than two weeks.



"The muscle is still tight, so it is difficult to play with freedom of movement," the second seed told reporters.



"We are doing everything. My physio is here, the doctors here, everybody is helping me in all possible ways. I hope to be ready, that's all. I know sometimes things change quick."



Nadal, currently tied with the absent Roger Federer on 20 Grand Slam titles, is attempting to take sole ownership of the all-time record.



He is also looking to widen the gap from eight-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, who has 17 major titles and won his opening match late on Monday.



Defeat on Tuesday would constitute an Australian Open low for Nadal, the 2009 champion, who has never lost in Melbourne to a player ranked as low as Serbia's Djere, the world number 56.



Women's world number one Ashleigh Barty is also in action on Tuesday as she aims to become the first Australian women's champion since Chris O'Neil in 1978.



Barty, fresh from winning the Yarra Valley Classic final against Garbine Muguruza on Sunday, plays Montenegro's Danka Kovinic in the first evening match on Rod Laver Arena.



"There's no extra pressure for me, that's for sure," Barty said. "It's the same whether it's a Grand Slam or a tour event. I love playing in Australia."



American defending champion Sofia Kenin, who stunned Muguruza in last year's women's final, opens the day's play on the centre court against home hope Maddison Inglis. (AFP)
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).


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She found fame over the weekend when a Zoom call she was hosting went viral, and now Jackie Weaver has revealed which actress she'd like to play her in a movie.

Appearing on The Project on Tuesday, the British woman - who shares the same name as Aussie actress Jacki Weaver - said she'd choose Helen Mirren.

'Oh! Helen Mirren. I definitely think Helen,' she said, leaving panelist Carrie Bickmore somewhat disappointed.

Glorious: She found fame over the weekend when a Zoom call she was policing went viral, and now Jackie Weaver (pictured) has revealed which actress she'd like to play her in a movie

'I would have gone with Jacki Weaver! But Helen's just as good,' responded the 40-year-old TV host.

Earlier in the interview, Carrie jokingly asked Jackie if she had 'read and understood the standing orders' ahead of their interview.

'I have had them tattooed in a place that I cannot possibly share with you!' deadpanned Jackie.

Appearing on The Project on Tuesday, the British woman - who shares the same name as Aussie actress Jacki Weaver - said she'd choose Helen Mirren (pictured in Monte Carlo in September 2020)

Loud and clear: Earlier in the interview, Carrie jokingly asked Jackie if she had 'read and understood the standing orders' ahead of their interview

The question was a reference to Jackie's viral Zoom meeting call with the Handforth Parish Council in December.

During the meeting, three councillors appeared hostile and aggressive, and repeatedly berated Jackie, who tried in vain to diffuse the situation.

'You have no authority here, Jackie Weaver. No authority at all!' shouted chairman Brian Tolver.

'You have no authority here, Jackie Weaver. No authority at all!' shouted chairman Brian Tolver on the now viral Zoom meeting call

Gone: As she struggled to regain control of the spiralling situation, Jackie elected to remove Tolver from the call

As she struggled to regain control of the spiralling situation, Jackie elected to remove Tolver from the call.

The decision prompted the vice chair to yell at Jackie: 'Read the standing orders! Read them and understand them!'

His outburst also saw him removed from the call, before Jackie then asked the remaining councillors to elect a new chairman.
A woman who married a man 51 years her elder says he is a 'very attentive' lover but admits that she doesn't play a step-mum roles to his children who are nearly 30 years older than her.

Terzel Rasmus, 29, from Cape Town, South Africa, met 80-year-old Wilson Rasmus in 2016 at a local newspaper event and fell madly in love, and despite her husband having grandchildren her age she says her love is 'raw and beautiful'.

The law student says the couple had a mutual attraction for one another and began dating immediately, with Wilson keen to have a younger wife to look after him in his old age.

Meanwhile, Terzel enjoys the benefits of her husband's wisdom and life experience.

A woman who married a man 51 years her elder says he is a 'very attentive' lover but admits that she doesn't play a step-mum roles to his children who are nearly 30 years older than her.

Her mother and late father gave their stamp of approval, and the lovebirds were married the following year in a small ceremony, with Wilson's 56-year-old daughter, as the witness.

The couple live together with Terzel financially supporting his wife's studies.

'Wilson quite literally walked into my life,' Terzel said.

'We met at a local newspaper dance where I was the journalist on duty, so I was taking photos for the event.

'When I was done working I settled into the evening to enjoy the dancing and Wilson walked across the dancefloor to where I was sitting and asked if he could sit by me.

'He noticed I was alone and thought the two of us could share company.

Terzel Rasmus, 29, from Cape Town, South Africa, met 80-year-old Wilson Rasmus in 2016 at a local newspaper event and fell madly in love, despite her husband having grandchildren her age

For Terzel, one benefit of their age gap is her not having to play the role of stepmother, to his kids that are older than her own mother

'The truth, which came out later, was that he had noticed me before the event started and wanted to get to know me.

'When he established I was on my own he plucked up the courage to come over and speak to me.

'I said yes and the rest is history  we haven't parted since.'

Terzel immediately felt at home with Wilson, who is 24 years older than her mother, and said there was a 'definite spark' between them.

After swapping numbers, she invited him to a press event the following day, and then for coffee the day after that  at which point their fate was sealed.

Terzel immediately felt at home with Wilson, who is 24 years older than her mother, and said there was a 'definite spark' between them

The law student says the couple had a mutual attraction for one another and began dating immediately, with Wilson keen to have a younger wife to look after him in his old age

She said: 'That was that, we were in a relationship without really stating it officially.

'This is my first long-term relationship and I never considered being in a serious relationship until I met Wilson.

'Three months after we met, I knew I wanted to marry him.

'Wilson was married before and that was his first relationship.

'His late first wife Nelly died in 2002 from cancer and after that he didn't date other women.'

Rather than being put off by the vast difference in their ages, the two believe they complement each other.

'Wilson's experience in life helps greatly,' Terzel, who feels she is mature for her age, added.

Rather than being put off by the vast difference in their ages, the two believe they complement each other. Pictured on their wedding day

Terzal's mother and late father gave their stamp of approval, and the lovebirds were married the following year in a small ceremony, with Wilson's 56-year-old daughter, as the witness. They are pictured on their wedding day

'When my father died, my husband was able to help me with arrangements and guide me in the process of what usually happens after death.

'He also helps by giving advice on big decisions regarding my future and I'm able to go to him and get his advice when I am unsure about something.

'I can rely on him for anything  all I have to do is ask  and he supports me financially, especially helping me pay for my studies.'

The couple's only major issue is that Terzel often has to explain how technology works to her husband.

After swapping numbers on the day they met, Terzal invited him to a press event the following day, and then for coffee the day after that  at which point their fate was sealed

The couple's only major issue is that Terzel often has to explain how technology works to her husband

Wilson said: 'I have never thought of myself as an old person and this has kept me healthy and vibrant  being with Terzel also helps me think and feel this way.

'To marry a younger person is better than to marry someone more or less my age, because we will both be old together and that does not help me as the older person.

'I like the fact that Terzel will be there to look after me in my old age.'

Unlike many other couples with significant age gaps, the duo were both immediately welcomed into the fold by their extended families.

Terzel said: 'My parents love Wilson and my father was impressed with what he could offer me as a partner and always wanted me to be with a man who is level-headed and could look after me.

Unlike many other couples with significant age gaps, the duo were both immediately welcomed into the fold by their extended families

The reaction to the couple when they are out in public has been less welcoming, however, with people often staring and mistaking them for father and daughter

'Wilson's daughters were welcoming and warm towards me and treated me on equal grounds, despite me being half their age.

'We have a friendly relationship and there is no bitterness or resentment towards me.

'They know their father is happy and not alone anymore  that is all that should matter in the end.'

The reaction to the couple when they are out in public has been less welcoming, however, with people often staring and mistaking them for father and daughter.

People have been even more vocal online, with one person calling Terzel a 'gold-digger' and 'cheap floozy s**t' that 'sleep with older men' as she cannot find any her own age.

Wilson, who Terzal describes as a 'very attentive lover' is pictured. They say their main problem is him not being able to use technology

The couple from South Africa are often mistaken for father and daughter and Terzal is often called a 'gold digger'

The student said: 'The slut-shaming was particularly hurtful because what Wilson and I feel for each other is raw and beautiful.

'I almost felt like this person was defiling our relationship.'

She said: 'My hopes and dreams are our hopes and dreams.

'Wilson would love to be there when I take the bench one day and wants to see me succeed and reach my potential  and be by my side through all of it.'

.The couple live together in Cape Town with the doting husband financially supporting his wife's studies

Pictured: Wilson, now 80 (bottom right), pictured throughout the years of his life

For Terzel, one benefit of their age gap is her not having to play the role of stepmother.

She added: 'Luckily for me, Wilson's children are grown so I don't have to deal with young children and his grandchildren are more or less my age so that is also not something I have to involve myself greatly in.

'We don't plan to have children of our own; although if we have a happy accident, then so be it.

'When it comes to sex, Wilson is a very attentive lover and always pleases me when we are intimate.

'Young men tend to be very selfish when it comes to good sexual health and I am grateful to have my husband.

'We love each other the same as other people love their partners  there is nothing disgusting about it.'
EDWARDSVILLE  The Illinois National Guard will begin assisting with Coronavirus vaccinations later this month, according to information at Mondays Madison County Board Public Safety Committee meeting.

Emergency Services Director Tony Falconio said the National Guard will help with vaccination clinics at Lewis and Clark Community College and the Gateway Convention Center. About 20 National Guard members will be deployed with a day of training on Feb. 21 before assisting starting Feb. 22.

Health Department Director Toni Corona had discussed possible use of National Guard troops at health department-related committees last week.

The Madison County Health Department is currently in Phase 1A and 1B of vaccine distribution. The first phase includes healthcare workers and nursing home residents. The second phase includes essential frontline workers and residents 65 and older.

The public safety committee on Monday also approved reimbursing local police departments $798,837 for handling 911 calls. This is the fourth reimbursement for the centers, referred to as Public Service Answering Points.

The funding comes from Madison County 911 service fees.

The reimbursement began as part of the consolidation effort. Traditionally the Emergency Telephone System Board paid for the hardware, while local departments picked up labor costs.

The Madison County 911 consolidation plan, which is still in court, calls for cutting the number of PSAPs to eight. Because of that, some police department officials said they would have to be reimbursed for costs to be able to continue the service. A study completed several years ago put the average cost at about $13 per call.

Also approved was a clean-up and painting of barriers at the Madison County Sheriffs Department shooting range, at a cost of $14,878; a $7,567.84 contract for software for video surveillance cameras on county property; the purchase and licensing of 53 rugged laptops for use by deputies and detectives; and combined drone insurance for the sheriff, coroner and highway departments for $8,496.

Financial matters must also be approved by the Finance and Government Operations Committee, which is scheduled to meet on Wednesday.
Today, UBS BB Investment Bank ("UBS BB") and Banco Patagonia announced an agreement to provide clients in Argentina with enhanced access to leading investment banking services and international capital markets, in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. The agreement combines UBS BB's global and regional platform and experience with Banco Patagonia's robust capabilities and strong relationships across Argentina.

Working together, UBS BB, through its subsidiary UBS Trading S.A.U., and Banco Patagonia will be positioned to become a top provider of investment banking services in Argentina, with one of the most extensive coverage footprints in the country. The agreement will also expand client access to M&A and advisory services, international debt and equity capital markets, and a broad global network of corporates and investors.

"We continue to see significant growth opportunities in Latin America and are thrilled to work with Banco Patagonia, a strong local player with extensive corporate client relationships in Argentina," said Daniel Bassan, UBS BB Chief Executive Officer. "This relationship is a natural next step for UBS BB, as we look to grow our coverage footprint and increase our competitive advantage in Argentina and the region more broadly."

This agreement follows the launch of UBS BB in October 2020 to provide investment banking services in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Paraguay and Uruguay, and institutional securities brokerage in Brazil.

"By working with premier organizations like UBS BB, we're furthering our strategy to expand our presence in the local market and provide our clients with increased access to the international markets," said Joao Pecego, President of Banco Patagonia. "Our clients will greatly benefit from UBS BB's unique platform, leading investment banking services and global reach."

"We are deeply committed to our clients in Argentina and believe that, together with Banco Patagonia, we have the opportunity to become a top investment banking franchise in the country," said Enrique Vivot, UBS BB Head of Southern Cone Global Banking and Chairman of Argentina. "We look forward to providing our current and prospective clients with leading global investment banking services and local expertise."

About UBS BB

Headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and positioned to become the leading investment bank in the region, UBS BB provides clients with access to M&A and advisory capabilities, debt and equity capital markets, and a broad network of corporates and investors, as well as institutional securities brokerage and research. UBS BB, through its relevant subsidiaries, provides investment banking services in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Paraguay and Uruguay and institutional securities brokerage in Brazil.

As announced in November 2019 and following regulatory approvals, UBS BB was established through the combination of assets from both stakeholders. UBS holds a 50.01% ownership stake and Banco do Brasil 49.99%.

About Banco Patagonia

Banco Patagonia S.A. is part of Group Banco do Brasil, the most important finance conglomerate in Latin America. It has over 200 locations in Argentina. With more than a million clients, it is one of the main banks in the Argentine banking sector, with services and products in agribusiness, corporate, small and medium enterprises, individuals and public sector, among others.

Banco Patagonia is one of the leaders in the credit securitization business in the country and is the first Argentine Trustee classified as "Excellent" by Standard Poor's ratings services.

Banco Patagonia is also controlling shareholder in GPat Compania Financiera, Patagonia Valores, Patagonia Inversora and Banco Patagonia Uruguay.

Disclaimer

UBS BB and its subsidiaries complies with all applicable regulatory requirements for the provision or marketing of its services in each of the regions and locations in which it operate.

Banco Patagonia S.A. is registered in the National Securities Commission ("Comision Nacional de Valores") as a settlement and clearing agent and integral trading agent No. 66. The shareholders of Banco Patagonia S.A. (cuit: 30-50000661-3, Av. de Mayo 701 Floor 24 (c1084aac), CABA) limit their liability to the integration of the subscribed shares. As a consequence, neither the majority shareholders of foreign capital nor the local or foreign shareholders are liable in excess of the aforementioned shareholding for the obligations arising from the operations arranged by the financial entity. Law 25,738.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005196/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts:

Ricardo Caetano

ricardo.caetano@ubs.com

Erica Chase

erica.chase@ubs.com

Alejandra Prat

aprat@bancopatagonia.com.ar
Anton Black died after being chased, Tasered and pinned to the ground, the weight of three officers pressing on his 160-pound frame.

His family repeatedly sought records from the small local police department on Maryland's Eastern Shore, desperate to understand the final minutes the 19-year-old college student spent alive. But they were stonewalled.

There was no civilian board to review the behavior of Thomas Webster IV, the officer who first encountered Black in Greensboro, Md. There was no release of Webster's extensive prior disciplinary record. And because of Maryland's renowned Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights, it is likely that Webster's initial interrogation was conducted by officers from his own department and that he had five days to consult with a lawyer before answering questions.

"There was no kind of justice for the community," said Del. Gabriel Acevero, D-Montgomery, who has pushed for changes in policing since Black's death in 2018. "There needs to be transparency and accountability in the way that we serve communities."

Months after George Floyd's death sparked a national demand to overhaul policing, Maryland lawmakers are launching a historic effort to get rid of police protections such as the bill of rights, a decades-old statute that was the first in the country to codify workplace protections for officers accused of misconduct.

The law was a blueprint for 15 other states, including Wisconsin, where Jacob Blake was paralyzed from the waist down after a police-involved shooting this summer; Minnesota, where Floyd was killed after an officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes; and Kentucky, where police stormed into Breonna Taylor's home on a no-knock warrant and fatally shot her.

Repealing the protections might seem relatively easy in Maryland, a state where both legislative chambers have supermajorities of Democrats, who have tended to be sympathetic to calls for police accountability and social justice. But prior efforts have failed, including after Black's death and the fatal injury of another young unarmed Black man, Freddie Gray, in Baltimore police custody three years earlier.

Some blame systemic racism and the disparate treatment of Black people in the state's justice system, noting that 70% of Maryland's prison population is Black - the highest percentage in the country. Others point to the influence of the police union, which argues that police work exposes officers to special risks and, therefore, requires special protections.

"All I hear is a bunch of adults giving illegitimate reasons for why they can't do the right thing," said LaToya Holley, Black's sister.

House Speaker Adrienne Jones, D-Baltimore County, has pledged that this year will be different. She vowed in October to push through a raft of reforms and transparency measures, chief among them repealing the officers' bill of rights.

"The timing is right," Jones, the first Black House speaker in Maryland, said recently. She has shared a personal account of being racially targeted by police decades ago and says the bill of rights "has been misused," leading to a public perception "that officers can get away with anything."

Holley has traveled to Annapolis numerous times since her brother's death to push for a reform bill that Acevero named in her brother's honor. On Tuesday, she will make her plea virtually, during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on legislation to make police disciplinary records public and repeal the officers' bill of rights.

"We need it to protect the Antons to come," she said in an interview. "How many more of our brothers and fathers and sons have to die before you do something?"

- - -

Since Floyd's death, 36 states and Washington D.C. have introduced more than 700 police accountability bills. Nearly 100 have been enacted, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

They range from mandating use-of-force training to creating civilian review boards to requiring departments to report when their officers use their service weapons or other force.

But experts say they are not aware of any state that has repealed the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights. In addition to making disciplinary records public, Maryland lawmakers are also weighing bills that would require independent investigations of officer-involved killings; a statewide use-of-force standard that includes a ban on chokeholds; and a restriction on no-knock warrants.

"Just because it hasn't been done doesn't mean it shouldn't be done," Jones said. "This is the time and place to do it."

Samuel Walker, an emeritus professor of criminal justice at the University of Nebraska Omaha, described Maryland's police bill of rights, enacted in 1974, as one of the "worst" in the country because it contains a provision that makes it impossible for civilians to investigate an officer's conduct. It also gives an officer five days instead of the normal 48 hours to appear before internal investigators.

"It's really disastrous," Walker said.

Maria Haberfeld, an expert on police training and discipline at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, said officers' bills of rights are controversial but may be necessary. Lawmakers who want to ensure good policing, she added, should focus on recruiting and training.

"Policing is a profession that is predicated on use of force," Haberfeld said. "There are situations where [use of force] is the only thing that is left."

Walker said the original notion to give special workplace protections had some racial overtones, approved after the civil rights movement and when crime was on the rise. Police officers "didn't like . . . being accused of misconduct all the time by civil rights groups."

They also were upset, he said, about the 1966 Miranda v. Arizona Supreme Court decision, which affirmed the Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination and created new rules for police interrogations.

The Maryland Fraternal Order of Police has mounted a telephone and email campaign to oppose repealing the bill of rights and, with its local lodges, has hired top lobbyists Frank Boston, Gerard Evans and John Stierhoff to assist.

FOP President Clyde Boatwright said his members are telling legislators to not let "the things that are happening nationally affect our policy." Giving civilians a role in investigations of police conduct, he said, would be akin to allowing members of the public to take part in a soldier's court-martial.

"We need to have a right where our police officers are not unfairly treated," Boatwright said.

The Keep Maryland Safe website frames its pitch around the need to protect the "good officers" - and guaranteeing fairness for Black and Latino officers.

"If the due process rights disappear . . . Maryland is likely to see an exodus of good officers," the website says. "A lack of a statewide due process standard for officers has the potential to put minority officers at risk - allowing police commanders to remove officers from the line of duty and fire them without cause."

- - -

Anton Black's relatives did not receive his autopsy report until four months after his death, following weeks of protests and a statement by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, R, that the family deserved more information.

Then they saw photos of the dozens of contusions and marks on his body. They saw the body-camera footage, which was also released to the public, that showed the initial encounter with Webster and the attempts by paramedics to keep him alive. And they obtained the report from the Maryland State Police.

In December, the family sued the officers, the state medical examiner, the three towns where the officers served and the two police chiefs involved in the case.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, says Webster responded to a 911 call from a woman who reported that Black was dragging a younger boy. Black, who had recently been hospitalized and diagnosed with bipolar disorder, was "acting strangely. . . talking to himself incoherently and making very little sense," the lawsuit states.

The younger boy, whose cousin is married to Black's sister, said yes when the woman asked if she should call police.

Black ran when Webster arrived, and Webster chased him. According to body-camera footage, Webster told a civilian on a motorcycle to help with the pursuit. Black reached his mother's house and slid into a car parked outside. Webster shattered the driver-side window and used a Taser on Black as he jumped out on the passenger side.

"Anton Black died because police employed excessive force, laying him out prone on his stomach, lying on top of him for approximately six minutes and approximately five minutes after he was handcuffed, and folding his legs toward the sky in a manner that further compromised his ability to breathe," the lawsuit states.

It says police falsely claimed Black was high on marijuana laced with another drug and was exhibiting "superhuman" strength. The autopsy found no drugs in Black's system. Bipolar disorder was listed as a contributing cause of his death, which the autopsy labeled an accident.

"They tried to make him look like the bad guy," said Holley, who remembered her younger brother as a popular athlete who won awards in high school track and field and an aspiring model. He was enrolled at Wesley College in Dover, Del., she said.

Webster's attorney, Kevin Karpinski, and attorneys for the other defendants did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

- - -

Black's family eventually learned that Webster had 30 use-of-force complaints filed against him in his previous job on the police force in Dover. In 2013, Webster, who is White, kicked a Black man in the head, knocking him out and fracturing his jaw. Dash-cam footage showed the man kneeling down to surrender when Webster struck him.

Webster was charged with second-degree felony assault but acquitted. After the police department settled a lawsuit filed by the man, Webster was banned from the force.

He was hired less than two years later by Greensboro Police Chief Michael Petyo, who previously worked in Wyoming, Del., next to Dover.

Petyo knew about Webster's disciplinary history in Dover but did not give that information to the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission, as required by law. He pleaded guilty last year to one count of misconduct in office for making "intentional misrepresentations and factual omissions" in Webster's application for certification.

Holley said Black's family still has not seen Webster's disciplinary record from his time as a police officer in Maryland. Unlike more than two dozen other states, Maryland bars the release of such records - another way in which advocates say police are shielded from accountability.

Two bills before the legislature would make such records available. One, co-sponsored by Acevero and Del. Erek L. Barron, D-Prince George's, would allow the public to see both substantiated and unsubstantiated complaints.

It will be discussed at the hearing Tuesday.

"We have an opportunity in Maryland to show the rest of the country what real police reform and accountability looks like," Acevero said.
Rural groups have spoken out against the government's proposal to restrict airgun use for young farmers and gamekeepers under the age of 18.

If enacted, the Home Office's proposal will see 1417 year-olds in England and Wales lose their ability to use airguns unsupervised on private premises.

Currently, airguns can only be used by 1417 year olds with permission from the owner and on private premises.

The government said the new measure would help minimise the risk of tragic accidents.

But rural organisations fear it would impact on thousands of farmers under the age of 18 who use airguns as part of their work, such as pest control.

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (NFYFC) have joined forces to condemn the move.

Curtis Mossop, BASCs head of pathways to shooting said the government had 'significantly underestimated' the impact this proposal would have on those who use airguns.

"As well as for recreation and competitive shooting, thousands of under-18s use their airguns as part of their work, be it an apprentice gamekeeper or a farm worker undertaking pest control.

"This restriction will significantly impact on education and those wanting to move onto other shooting disciplines.

NFYFC agriculture and rural issues chairman Tom Pope, said: This is an issue that will certainly affect our members, many of whom are already dealing with challenges due to the pandemic.

"We hope that together, BASC and NFYFC can have a positive influence on the outcome of the consultation.
Within the constellation Cygnus, an elderly star and its massive companion are having one last hurrah, flinging off mass at an incredible rate before they explode as supernovae and collapse into a black hole.

Now, researchers including recent Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University graduate Laura M. Lee have mapped the elderly star's orbit around its oversized and equally ancient partner. In a scientific first, they have also determined the dynamical mass of both stars that make up a binary system called Wolf-Rayet 133.

The team's findings, published Feb. 9, 2021 by Astrophysical Journal Letters, mark the first-ever visually observed orbit of a rare type of star called a Nitrogen-rich Wolf-Rayet (WN) star. The WN star in question is half of the starry dance duo in the WR 133 binary.

The WN star pirouettes around its partner star, an O9 supergiant, every 112.8 days - a relatively brief orbit, indicating that the two stars are close together, researchers reported. The WN star has 9.3 times more mass than our Sun, while the O9 supergiant is a whopping 22.6 times more massive, the team found.

Imagining the Early Universe

The research opens a new window to the distant past when stars and planets were first beginning to form.

Wolf-Rayet type stars, so named for the astronomers who discovered them in 1867, are massive stars near the end of their lives, said Lee's faculty mentor Dr. Noel Richardson, assistant professor of Physics and Astronomy at Embry-Riddle. They're very hot, a million times more luminous than the Sun, and stellar winds have stripped off their hydrogen envelopes. That has made it difficult to measure their mass - a vital step toward modeling the evolution of stars - until now.

Because the pair of stars in the WR 133 binary are tightly coupled, they've likely exchanged mass, Richardson noted. "In the early universe, we think most stars were very, very massive and they probably exploded early on," he said.

"When these types of binary stars are close enough, they can transfer mass to each other, possibly kicking up space dust, which is necessary for the formation of stars and planets. If they're not close enough to transfer mass, they're still whipping up a huge wind that shoots material into the cosmos, and that can also allow stars and planets to form. This is why we want to know more about this rare type of star."

Lee was still an undergraduate at Embry-Riddle when Richardson invited her to help solve an intriguing astronomy riddle, as part of her senior capstone project. Richardson had been analyzing data from the CHARA Array, a collection of six telescopes positioned across California's Mount Wilson. The array, operated by Georgia State University's Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy, could pluck out celestial details smaller than the angular size of a dime in New York City from the telescopes near Los Angeles, California.

Lee's specific task was to make sense of about 100 spectra - barcode-like graphs that reveal how much light a star is giving off. To better understand WR 133's spectra, provided by Grant M. Hill of the Keck Observatory in Hawaii, Lee used computer code that allowed the team to measure how the two stars were moving. "These measurements are a necessary step because they tell us how the stars move back and forth from us, while the CHARA measurements told us how they move across the sky," Richardson explained. "The combination gives us the ability to see a three-dimensional orbit, which then tells us the masses."

At the time, Lee was laser-focused on earning her Embry-Riddle degree. "I didn't really realize how big of an impact we were making in this field," said Lee, a member of the Sigma Pi Sigma physics honors society who now holds an Astronomy degree with a Mathematics minor. "It was pretty exciting to be a part of the project, especially as an undergraduate student."

`A Blue Marble in Space'

At the Armagh Observatory & Planetarium in Northern Ireland, one of the many institutions involved in the project, Andreas A.C. Sander said the team's findings were somewhat surprising and will prompt researchers to rethink key assumptions. "The results are very interesting as they yield a lower mass than expected for such a star," Sander noted.

"While this might sound like a detail, it will change our perception of the Black Holes resulting from collapsing Wolf-Rayet stars, a crucial ingredient in the astrophysical context of gravitational wave events."

Gail Schaefer of the CHARA Array noted that Richardson's observations using the Georgia State University (GSU) telescopes on Mount Wilson - made possible through an open-access program at the facility - "will help improve our understanding of how binary interactions impact the evolution of these massive stars."

Astronomer Jason Aufdenberg of Embry-Riddle, who has also used the CHARA Array, said that "the kind of work Noel is doing, establishing orbits, is very important because they can get the masses of these things. Knowing about these very hot stars, how many there were and their luminosities is all part of understanding what happened in our universe after the Big Bang."

Now at the beginning of her career, Lee said she hopes to keep learning and being amazed by our universe. "We are on a blue marble floating in space," she said. "It's important to learn more about the complexities of the universe around us. Humans are born to learn. Any knowledge we can gain is a gift."

###

The research project included collaborators from many parts of the world and multiple institutions. In addition to Embry-Riddle, GSU's Chara Array, the Armagh Observatory and the Keck Observatory, the work involved the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, the University of Arizona, the University of Denver, the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, the Institute of Astronomy in Belgium and the Institute of Planetology and Astrophysics in France.

The Astrophysical Journal Letters paper is entitled "The First Dynamical Mass Determination of a Nitrogen-rich Wolf-Rayet Visual and Spectroscopic Orbit." Journalists, please request the full paper if you cannot access it:

https:/ / iopscience. iop. org/ article/ 10. 3847/ 2041-8213/ abd722 .

(DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/abd722.)

A preprint version of the paper is online here: https:/ / arxiv. org/ abs/ 2101. 04232

About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Reporters worldwide contact Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for content experts in all aspects of aviation, aviation business, aerospace, engineering and STEM-related fields. Our faculty experts specialize in unmanned and autonomous systems, security and intelligence, air traffic and airport management, astronomy, human factors psychology, meteorology, spaceflight operations, urban air mobility and much more. Visit the Embry-Riddle Newsroom for story ideas.

Embry-Riddle educates 33,500+ students at its residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida and Prescott, Arizona, at approximately 125 Worldwide Campus locations and through online degree programs. In 2021, U.S. News & World Report named Embry-Riddle Worldwide the nation's No. 1 provider of online bachelor's degree programs.
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It's not easy to experience other cultures right now, but through a stunning new photography book you can get a beguiling insight into the world's most colourful communities from the comfort of your own home.

Vulnerable by Olga Michi, published by teNeues (www.teneues.com), features hundreds of striking photographs of indigenous people taken everywhere from Ethiopia to extreme north-east Russia.

Set against powerful black backdrops, the portraits capture both the historical and contemporary elements of indigenous life around the globe in order to portray 'cultures and individuals in flux'.

In her introduction to the book, Michi says: 'Some are dressed exclusively in the traditional garb of their ancestors, while others hold guns or sit astride motorcycles; here we have traditional jewelry and textiles cohabiting with boomboxes, AK-47s, iPhones and keyrings. I have lived among and learned from the way of life of indigenous peoples from the Kalahari to the Arctic tundra. Few people, I think, have been given more opportunities to be humbled by the awe-inspiring variety of the world and its inhabitants, nor to become aware of the wisdom, capacities and value of cultures on which we have historically looked down.'

The title of the book, meanwhile, is intended to be a question as much as a statement.

Michi explains: 'There's no denying that in any number of ways the world's indigenous peoples are acutely vulnerable. But those peoples are not undifferentiated, anonymous masses, mere statistics: they are groups of individuals, and the individuals that appear in these pages are very far from helpless.' Scroll down for a selection of Michi's stirring shots...

Using her smartphone is as common to this young Mursi woman from south Ethiopia as dying her hair. 'It makes my friends recognise me at the club,' she said

This mesmerising image shows Padaung women, or 'giraffe women', from Myanmar, Southeast Asia. The exact date and reason why they began to lengthen their necks with rings is still a mystery. According to legend, the Padaung people are descended from a dragon with an armoured neck

More than 100 different ethnic groups reside in Myanmar, formerly Burma, in Southeast Asia. The Chin tribes include around 1.5million people and are divided into 37 groups. Only the older women (pictured) of some Chin tribes wear these filigreed face tattoos. It is only a matter of time before this unique tradition dies out, according to Michi

Pictured: A woman of the Mursi ethnic group in Ethiopia in traditional clothing with her child - and holding an AK-47. The automatic Kalashnikov rifle illegally spread to conflict zones of Africa in bulk after the collapse of the Soviet Union

In this photo, traditional fashion meets more modern-day trends. A woman of the Tibeto-Burman Lisu ethnic group, who also reside in southwest China, is pictured with her child

Pictured is a young girl from the Chukchi people. According to Michi, Chukchi could be aptly translated into English as 'genuine people'. This indigenous group, which has about 15,000 members, lives in the extreme northeast of Russia

The Covid-19 pandemic knows no borders. This man of the Mursi people wears his mask as proudly and confidently as his ordinary adornments

Cattle breeding is one of the most important sources of life and survival for the Mursi and Surma people in Ethiopia. The cattle horns that many women wear, including the woman pictured, are not only decorative, but also reflect the tribes attitude towards their animals. In the past, the horns were also used as currency

Dress-up is a favourite game of children all around the world. These boys of the Surma ethnic group in southern Ethiopia wanted to be photographed by Olga Michi multiple times. They disguised themselves so well, so colourfully and imaginatively, that Olga did not recognise them at first in their new costumes and gladly took their photo again

The mobile tent homes of the Chukchi, who live in the extreme northeast of Russia, are called yarangas. These traditional dwellings are made of 35-40 reindeer hides. The difficult set-up process, which often takes hours, is a task reserved for the women

A kaleidoscope of humanity: In this image, present-day East Africa meets the European fashion of the 18th century. The fly on the face of this Mursi woman is said to be reminiscent of the beauty patches popular at the time, especially in France, where they were known as mouches

In the culture of the Mursi, an ethnic group in the Omo Valley of Ethiopia, jewellery is highly valued since it visibly reflects the talent, effort, and creativity of the wearer. The insertion of the lip plate is a rite of passage. The size of the plate is said to determine the bride price upon marriage
Ellen Rubin is a scientist. For years, she worked as an immunologist on impressive health-related projects  like analyzing adverse drugs reactions and conducting research on pulmonary inflammation, to name a couple  for major pharmaceutical firms.

But life, like scientific research, holds much that cant be predicted. For Rubin, that included a problem pregnancy that put her on bedrest, the grave illness of a beloved friend, the collapse of her marriage and the devastating divorce that followed.

Early in those trials, Rubin taught herself to knit. It became her constant through all of the challenges, all of the heartbreak. She also taught others to knit and, like a scientist observing cause and effect, saw how it helped them, too. And in time, a plan took form.

Every fiber of my being was saying, This is what I was put on this earth to do. I was put here to work with people and promote the therapeutic benefits of knitting, Rubin said. Its not about what you make. Its how it makes people feel.

Those beliefs led Rubin, 52, to open her shop, Luv2Knit & More, in Jenkintown in April 2017 and, in recent months, to launch her nonprofit Therapeutic Crafters on Call, which will grow a cadre of knitters and crocheters who teach others to knit and reap its benefits.

Rubin saw some of those benefits years back, when she volunteered to teach knitting to children at an enrichment program at her oldest childs elementary school.

She said the change in the children was noticeable.

It was in [the childrens] demeanor, the light that was in their eyes, their parents saying, Thank you so much for doing this, Rubin said.

Before Rubin opened her own shop, she taught knitting at yarn and sewing stores in the area. When Luv2Knit opened, she of course sold knitting and crocheting supplies, including locally produced yarns and socially responsible products from abroad. But she also used the shop as a base to teach knitting and to teach how to teach it.

Before the pandemic set in, Rubin held outreach knitting classes and programs in the area for foster children, kids with emotional problems, maternity patients, stressed health-care workers, and many others. On Thursday nights at the shop, she held free crafts programs.

Since COVID-19, the latter programs are held every other Thursday via Zoom. And instead of off-site group classes, Rubin offers one-on-one or two-on-one lessons at her Old York Road shop. Meanwhile, Rubin  ever the scientist  collects articles and studies about the benefits of knitting and crafting to relieve stress and tension, compassion fatigue among nurses, and more.

The folks who have felt their lives improved by Rubins tutelage say the changes have been nothing short of amazing.

Semaj Alexander, 19, turned to Rubin to learn knitting and crocheting to make caps for his fledging clothing line, Tristen Larue. It wasnt long before the young Philadelphian realized that doing the handiwork seemed to alleviate the anxiety and inner turmoil he suffers due to post-traumatic stress disorder.

I have a lot of dead friends; the first time I witnessed a murder I was like 12, said Alexander, adding, I got a call the other day that my uncle had passed.

Something about the movement of his hands relaxes him and dissipates the anger that can well up inside him. Sometimes, he said, he knits while on his job as a home health aide.

Whenever I get my anxiety, he said, it helps me to calm down.

Karen Lecks, 62, a retired nurse practitioner, and her daughter Isabel Cohen, 23, have both taken knitting lessons from Rubin. Lecks said her daughter, who has autism and intellectual disabilities, was seeing a therapist for help with anxiety. The therapist told her about Rubin.

The results have been remarkable. Not only has knitting eased her daughters anxiety, it seems to have lessened her need for some of the behaviors associated with autism.

Isabel rocks; its self-soothing. When shes knitting, its less. Less perseveration, less kicking. The knitting has helped her tremendously in terms of all those behaviors, the Wyncote mother said.

Another thing, Lecks said, is that Isabel has very poor fine motor skills, believe it or not. Its difficult for her to tie her shoes, yet she knit a sweater and hat for a baby cousin. For her confidence, its been great.

Cohen said she would recommend knitting to anyone.

It makes me calm and collected, she said. If Im anxious about anything, I can just sit down and try to focus.

Several volunteers have been crucial to Rubins therapeutic knitting mission. One of them is Yolanda Pressley, 47, of Philadelphia, a loyal helper for two years and a convert to the power of knitting.

Pressley helps Rubin manage the store, planning events and communicating with their social knitting network. Pressley said shes seen people use knitting to help them manage all sorts of problems, including overcoming addiction.

Knitting puts you in a trance to where youre not really aware of whats going on around you, Pressley said. Youre more focused on what youre doing at the time. It kind of makes you focus inward, and it gets your mind off other situations.

Pressley said she uses knitting as a pain-management tool for her own ailments, including fibromyalgia. An advocate for victims of domestic violence, Pressley said shes involved in an effort to open a shelter for women and children.

When we get an actual physical location, I want my women to have knitting as a way of coping with some of the mental health issues they will be suffering from, she said.

Rubin is quick to point out that she is far from the first person of science to notice the benefits of knitting and crocheting. Aside the four-inch-thick binder of articles and studies she keeps at the shop, she points out that a number of notable figures have been sold on the value of handiwork.

Albert Einstein, for one, reportedly found that knitting calmed his mind and cleared his thinking. George Washington Carver, who was born into slavery but rose to be a renowned botanist, was not only proficient in knitting and crocheting, but embroidery and weaving as well.

And, of course, one of the people who has most keenly felt the benefits of knitting is the person driven to bring it others  Rubin herself.

Its given me skills I never thought I would have, she said. Its definitely given me more peace. Its definitely given me more love.

The Thursday night group alone has become its own community, said Rubin, and knitting has given her a purpose in life.

I want to make the world a better place, she said. I truly believe if more people knitted and crocheted, the world would be a better place.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday responded to the allegations of Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in Lok Sabha session of Parliament. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had levelled allegations that the during Amit Shah's visit to Viswa Bharati University in West Bengal, he sat on a place which holds historical prominence as Rabindranath Tagore used to sit on that chair where Shah sat. Responding to Choudhury's allegations, Amit Shah stated that many leaders and politicians in the past have sat on that place during their visit to Viswa Bharati University. He also cited a letter from Vice-Chancellor of Visva Bharati University Bidyut Chakraborty to back his statement.

"I have this letter from vice-chancellor of Viswa Bharati as I had asked him to check all the photos and videos and tell me if I sat somewhere where I shouldn't have. He said there has not been any incident as such. The place on which I sat is a window and many have sat on that window before," Amit Shah said while adding that former Presidents Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi have also sat on that window.

READ | Congress MPs To Move Private Members' Bill Against Centre's Farm Laws In Lok Sabha

READ | PM Modi Likely To Reply To President Kovind's Address In Lok Sabha On February 10

Shows mirror to Congress

He stated that even Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also occupied that place and wrote her comments when she visited the Viswa Bharati University. Shah also targeted Congress over the false allegations and urged them to get their facts checked before levelling false charges in Parliament as it discredits the dignity of the house.

"When we hold a discussion in this house then we should first check the facts. If we just pick them up from social media and keep it in parliament then it discredits the dignity of the house. But I don't hold them responsible, its the background of their party which makes them do these things. I never sat on the chair, but I have got photos showing Jawaharlal Nehru sitting in the place where Tagore used to sit and this photo is on record. The second picture is of Rajiv Gandhi. Hence they (Congress) can have that misconception," Shah said while urging speaker Om Birla to place these photographs in the records of the parliament.

Amit Shah's visit to Viswa Bharati

Amit Shah had visited Viswa Bharati University on December 20 to pay homage to Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore at Rabindra Bhavan on the university campus in West Bengal. He had paid floral tributes to Gurudev Tagore at Rabindra Bhavan and showered praises on the Nobel laureate. Amit Shah signed the visitor's book during his visit to Rabindra Bhawan, at Shantiniketan in Birbhum district.

He had then said, "It was my great fortune to have received the opportunity to pay tributes to Gurudev Tagore. Both Mahatma Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose, who were at the forefront of our country's freedom struggle, drew inspiration from Rabindranath Tagore."

"Rabindranath Tagore enhanced Indian literature, language, philosophy, art and culture through Shanti Niketan and Visva Bharati. Tagore is the only person whose composition became the national anthem of two countries," he had said during his visit in December.

Bengal has seen rigorous campaigning by the saffron party which has gone all guns blazing, dispatching its top brass to the state to hold massive rallies and addresses. BJP leaders including Amit Shah, National President JP Nadda, PM Modi have frequented the poll-bound state to campaign for the elections and showcase their strength. West Bengal is most likely to go to polls in April-May 2021.

READ | PM Modi Gets Emotional While Bidding Farewell To Cong MP Ghulam Nabi Azad In Rajya Sabha

READ | Amit Shah On Uttarakhand Tragedy: Medical Assistance Being Provided To 13 Villages
Valentine's Day is just around the corner  and if you want to maintain the interest of a woman on Tinder, a funny chat-up line is the way to go, scientists have revealed.

US researchers tested out various online chat-up lines on 237 young, heterosexual adults  finding that humour was a better opening gambit than compliments.

In fact, they found that men who used funny introductions were seen as more attractive to women, who rated them as more intelligent, kind and trustworthy.

Even if some of the lines were a little cheesy, they found that women still responded to them better than bland, unimaginative greetings like 'Hi, how are you?'

Men, in contrast, were found to overwhelmingly base their evaluations of prospective dates on how attractive they found the woman's profile.

The team noted that, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic closing bars and clubs around the world, singles have surged to apps like Tinder for their dating needs.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner  and if you want to maintain the interest of a woman on Tinder, a funny chat-up line is the way to go, scientists have revealed (stock image)

FUNNY CHAT-UP LINES Here are five classic chat-up lines to take for a spin on Tinder: Do you have any raisins? No? Well, how about a date?

Are you from Tennessee? Because you're the only 10 I see!

I'm not really this tall, I'm sitting on my wallet.

Is you're name wi-fi? Because I think we've got a connection.

Are you a tower? Because Eiffel for you. Advertisement

In the study, the participants each viewed a Tinder profile for a member of the opposite sex before being presented with one of twelve pick-up lines engineered by the researchers  which varied from those that were humorous to those that were complimentary.

Each volunteer then went on to rate the positive attributes that they perceived based on the user's profile and message  and state whether or not they would want to date the person in question.

Positive attributes considered in the study included intelligence, kindness, physical attractiveness and trustworthiness.

The chat up lines rated by women included 'Do you have any raisins? No? How about a date?', 'Are you from Tennessee? Because you're the only ten I can see', 'You have a very nice smile' and 'Hey! What's up?'

The team found that, of the four, the funny chat-up line about Tennessee led to men being rated more attractive by the women in the study.

Furthermore, opening messages that were either humorous or contained a compliment were better received by women than a generic greeting.

When someone looks to strike up a conversation, their opening remarks act as a display of their character, said paper author and communications researcher Minhao Dai of the Kennesaw State University in Georgia.

It enables the sender, he added, to demonstrate 'qualities that may be of interest to the intended recipient.'

'A pick-up line is one of the typical ways of how an individual communicates the intention to converse and pursue romantic courtship.

'People who seek romantic relationships and committed romantic partners use humour to either obtain or enhance their relationships.

'Humour promotes positive emotions in two ways  first through increased perceived credibility, second to reduce psychological reactance.'

US researchers tested out different online chat-up lines on 237 young, heterosexual adults  finding that humour was a better opening gambit than compliments. In fact, they found that men who used funny introductions were seen as more attractive to women, who rated them as more intelligent, kind and trustworthy. Pictured: four of the opening messages tested

'Pick-up lines are the first remark heard when starting a conversation online, and dating apps like Tinder can change pick-up lines' impacts,' the researchers wrote.

'Online dating, by all means, is a complicated communication process that presents its unique ecology.

'We hope the current findings add to the existing knowledge [] and shed more light on a crucial communication cue in online dating  pick-up lines.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Computers in Human Behaviour.

'When someone looks to strike up a conversation, their opening remarks act as a display of their character, said paper author and communications researcher Minhao Dai of the Kennesaw State University in Georgia. Pictured, two of the Tinder profiles used in the study


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Ocean Beauty Seafood LLC is calling back 8450 packages of Publix brand Parmesan-Crusted Wild Alaskan Salmon Fillets citing the possible presence of undeclared soy due to mis-packaging, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.



The Seattle, Washington-based company discovered the problem when a consumer reported that the Teriyaki sauced salmon was found inside the retail box labeled as Parmesan-crusted salmon.



As per the investigation by the co-packer UniSea Cold Storage, the loading box machine operator must have inadvertently grabbed the Parmesan-crusted salmon retail box instead of the correct boxes.



The company estimates that only 300 units of 8450 Teriyaki sauced salmon packages were mis-packaged as Parmesan-Crusted Wild.



The recall involves frozen, 12 oz. Package of Parmesan-Crusted Wild Alaskan Salmon Fillets with UPC 41415 30245 7. The affected fillets retail box bears the code date 'Best Before/Use By date 021122'.



The affected Teriyaki sauced product is observed through a clear inner vacuum package inside the retail box.



The product was distributed directly to Publix Super Markets Inc distribution warehouses located in Florida and Georgia between 9/18/20 and 11/4/20. Publix further distributed the product to their various retail stores in the southeast.



People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy may get serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the recalled product.



However, the company has not received any reports of adverse or allergic reactions related to the affected product to date.



Consumers are urged to either dispose the product or return it to the point of purchase for a refund.



In January, Maine Grains Inc. called back 2,000 pounds of Organic Yellow Peas for undeclared soybeans, and Door County Coffee & Tea Co. recalled French Vanilla Flavored Cappuccino Single Serve Cups for undeclared milk and soy.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Dublin, Feb. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Research Report on the Automobile Tire Industry in China, 2021-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



According to this report, China's automobile industry has developed rapidly since the access to WTO. China has been the world's largest automobile manufacturer and distributor for 12 years from 2009 to 2020. In the meanwhile, China is as well the world's largest producer and exporter of automobile tires.

Demand for automobile tires can be classified into OEM demand from whole-vehicle manufacturing and replacement demand from automobile aftermarket. In developed countries, there is scarce potential for growth of new automobile sales due to the high market saturation. Therefore, the demand for aftermarket becomes the major driving force of the tire industry.

The analyst figures out two factors that drive the automobile tire industry in China: domestic market and export demand. On the one hand, both production volume and reserve volume of automobiles continue to grow in China. In 2019, the production volume of automobiles reached 25.72 million, representing a CAGR of 6.4% from 2009 to 2019. In 2019, the automobile reserve volume exceeded 1.9 million, representing a CAGR of 15% from 2012 to 2016. These two figures were far higher than the global average figures.

On the other hand, the remarkable cost advantage of Chinese tires over international competitors is correlated with an upward trend of tire export from China. In 2016, the export volume of Chinese automobile tires was 3.31 million and the export value was USD 11.46 billion. Continuous increases in the export of Chinese tires have led to huge international trade barriers faced by Chinese tire export enterprises. However, the cost advantage of Chinese tires is favorable to maintain the export volume at a high level in a short time.

The analyst states that China has established an integrated tire industry chain. Except for natural rubber mainly relying on imports, there are a large number of manufacturers of other raw materials of tires such as synthetic rubber, steel cord and carbon black in China. Chinese enterprises are also competitive in producing tire molds, manufacturing machines, etc. Some major global tire manufacturers have entered China and they perceive China as an important global production base. Nowadays in China, over half of the domestic tire market is dominated by foreign-invested enterprises. Moreover, these foreign-invested enterprises occupy most market shares of OEM for whole vehicles that are highly profitable.

According to incomplete statistics by the analyst, the number of Chinese tire manufacturers has exceeded 500 by the end of 2020. A majority of domestic tire manufacturers are characterized by small-scale enterprises that produce in a small volume, facing risks of closing down or being acquired. In order to avoid increasing domestic labor costs and trade barriers, some domestic tire manufacturers start to acquire tire enterprises or establish plants overseas. A survey by the analyst demonstrates that enterprises such as Sailun Jinyu Co., Ltd., Linglong Group, Zhongce Rubber Co., Ltd. and Double Coin Holdings Ltd. have established tire plants in Thailand, Vietnam, etc.

Although China has been the world's largest new automobile market since 2008, automobile reserves per capita remain low, with the automobile reserve volume being less than 200 per thousand persons and lower than the figure of 600-1000 per thousand persons in developed courtiers. It is estimated that China's annual economic growth rate will remain over 5% from 2021 to 2025. The production and sales volume of tires will present an annual growth rate of about 5%. Similarly, the automobile reserve volume will continue to climb, stimulating domestic demand for tires.

According to this analysis, the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic has had an adverse impact on China's tire manufacturing industry in the first quarter of 2020. However, since April 2020, China's tire manufacturing industry has gradually recovered. Although due to the impact of the epidemic, global and Chinese automobile production has declined, reducing the demand for tires in the new car market, the demand for tires in the aftermarket remains high. In 2019, China's tire export volume was about 500.6 million, and the CAGR from 2015 to 2019 was about 3%. The analyst expects that due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, China's tire exports will slightly decline.



From 2021 to 2025, the CAGR of China's tire exports will remain at least 2%. The analyst predicts that the biggest risk facing China's tire industry in the future is due to the rising costs of China's manpower, land, and energy, causing tire manufacturing companies in China to move to Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Relevant Concept of Automobile Tire Industry

1.1 Definition and Classification of Automobile Tires

1.1.1 Definition

1.1.2 Classification

1.2 Analysis of Automobile Tire Manufacturing Industry Chain in China

1.3 Manufacturing Process of Automobile Tires

1.4 The impact of COVID-19 on the Automobile Tires

2 Development Environment of Automobile Tire Industry in China, 2017-2021

2.1 Economic Environment

2.1.1 Global Economy

2.1.2 Chinese Economy

2.1 Policy Environment

2.2.1 Relevant Policies in Automotive Component Industry in China

2.2.2 Relevant Policies in Tire Manufacturing Industry in China

2.2 Development Status of Automobile Industry in China

2.2.1 Production and Sales Status of Automobiles

2.2.2 Vehicle Reserve Volume

2.3 Development Status of Global Automobile Industry

2.3.1 Production and Sales Status of Automobiles

2.3.2 Vehicle Reserve Volume

3 Development Status of Global Automobile Tire Industry, 2019-2021

3.1 Overview of Industry Development

3.2 Market Overview

4 Development Status of Automobile Tire Industry in China, 2019-2021

4.1 Development of Automobile Tire Industry in China

4.2 Analysis of Automobile Tire Industry Chain in China

4.2.2 Carbon Black

4.2.3 Steel Cord

4.3 Supply Status of Automobile Tires in China

4.3.1 Analysis of Production Capacity of Automobile Tires in China

4.3.2 Production Volume of Automobile Tires in China

4.4 Demand Status of Automobile Tires in China

4.4.1 Overall Demand

4.4.2 Demand of OEM (Vehicle Manufacturing) for Tires

4.4.3 Demand of Aftermarket for Tires

4.5 Import and Export Status of Automobile Tires in China

4.5.1 Import of Automobile Tires

4.5.2 Export of Automobile Tires

4.6 Overseas Layout of Chinese Automobile Tire Manufacturers

5 Analysis on Competition of Automobile Tire Industry in China, 2019-2021

5.1 Barriers to Entry of Automobile Tire Industry in China

5.1.1 Technological Barriers

5.1.2 Capital Barriers

5.1.3 Brand Barriers

5.1.4 Sales Channel Barriers

5.2 Competition Structure of Automobile Tire Industry in China

6 Analysis on Major Global Automobile Tire Manufacturers, 2017-2020

6.1 Bridgestone

6.2 Michelin

6.3 Goodyear

6.4 Continental AG

6.5 Pirelli

6.6 Sumitomo Tire Corporation

6.7 Hankook Tires

6.8 Yokohama Tire Corporation

6.9 Cheng Shin Rubber Co., Ltd.

6.10 Cooper

6.11 Toyo Tire Corporation

6.12 Kumho Group

6.13 Giti Tire Co., Ltd

6.14 Zhongce Rubber Co., Ltd.

6.15 Triangle Tire Co., Ltd.

6.16 Shandong Linglong Rubber Co., Ltd.

6.17 Aeolus Tire Co., Ltd.

6.18 Qingdao Doublestar Tire Co., Ltd.

6.19 Prinx Chengshan (Shandong) Tyre Co., Ltd.

6.20 Sailun Jinyu Co., Ltd.

6.21 Guizhou Tire Co., Ltd.

6.22 Jiangsu General Science Technology Co., Ltd.

6.23 Xingyuan Tire Group Ltd.

6.24 Shandong Hengfeng Tire Co., Ltd.

6.25 Double Coin Holdings Ltd.

7 Prospect of Automobile Tire Industry in China, 2021-2025

7.1 Factors Influencing Development of Automobile Tire Industry in China

7.1.1 Driving Forces and Market Opportunities

7.1.2 Risks and Challenges

7.1.3 Development Prospect and Market Opportunities

7.2 Forecast on Competition Pattern of Tire Industry in China

7.3 Forecast on Supply of Automobile Tires in China, 2021-2025

7.3.1 Forecast on Production Capacity of Automobile Tires in China, 2021-2025

7.3.2 Forecast on Production Volume of Automobile Tires in China, 2021-2025

7.4 Forecast on Demand for Automobile Tires in China, 2021-2025

7.4.1 Forecast on Entire Demand for Automobile Tires in China, 2021-2025

7.4.2 Forecast on Niche Demand for Automobile Tires in China, 2021-2025

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/teu0a0




opinion

Banjul  With lot of expectations, a notorious member of a 'Special Operations Unit' involved in allegations of torture under Yahya Jammeh's rule, appeared before the Gambian Truth Commission. Allegedly, Lamin Darboe arrested at least 115 people as an agent of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). But Darboe denied everything, while some of his colleagues confessed all, at the same time, in a continued series of hearings on the NIA.

The Special Operations Unit (SOU) within the Gambian National Intelligence Agency (NIA), according to Lamin Darboe, does night patrols, carries out directives of former president Yahya Jammeh and oversees firing and handing over of ministers sacked, among other tasks.

Darboe is one of the most adversely mentioned torturers at the NIA, which is under the close scrutiny of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) for the last three months. The man on the Commission's grill, this time, is a ninth-grade school dropout who could barely read. When Darboe appeared before the Commission on January 28, he stumbled over the words five times in one paragraph while reading a paper he claimed to have written.

The Unit was created in 2007. And before Darboe, the Unit's head was Alagie Morr. Unlike Darboe, Morr had a secondary school certificate, but the two are among the most adversely mentioned "torturers" before the truth commission. Allegations against Darboe includes torturing several civilians (Sillaba Samateh, Yusupha Saidy, Saikou Drammeh) anti-narcotic officer Lamin Karbou and a number of co-arrestees, former soldier Sarjo Touray, soldier Sam Kambie, a man called Kebba Secka and Gambian dissidents from United States who launched an attack on Gambian presidency on December 30, 2014 to depose the Jammeh.

Lamin Karbou, an anti-narcotic officer was reportedly arrested and severely tortured by the SOU. The SOU was to arrest some alleged drug traffickers from Guinea Bissau, when they ran into Karbou, who was reportedly following the same operation. He was arrested on charges of obstructions with alleged drug peddlers and brutalized. The Truth Commission started to question Darboe on what happened to Karbou, who testified nearly a year ago.

- Lamin Karbou was taken to the Special Operations Unit and he was brutalized, said lead counsel Essa Faal.

- I was not aware of that, replied Darboe.

- And Lamin Sima (another anti-narcotic officer arrested with Lamin Karbou), did you see him?

- In the office? No.

- What did you say to the suggestion by Lamin Sima that you tortured him?

- That is not true.

"You took him to torture chamber?" - "Yes"

Darboe has been accused of torturing a person called Abass Jarju, who was arrested with Amadou Jogoh Sowe and others. Abass reportedly had stolen an unspecified amount of money belonging to the former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh. Another laborious examination of the witness then resumed before the truth commission:

- Basiru Sey (member of the SOU) testified here. He said you and him arrested Abass, said counsel Faal.

- That is not correct, replied Darboe.

- Abass was taken to NIA, correct?

- Yes. He was under my control for 2 days. He was handed to investigation department.

- Abass was not arrested alone?

- Later other people were arrested too, yes.

- Isn't it the case that these people were tortured to confess?

- They weren't tortured.

- So, they gave you what you wanted (boxes allegedly containing money belonging to the former ruler) and nothing happened?

- I told them Junglers were there and they were going to torture them.

- Why were they brought?

- Probably if the boxes were not found, they would torture these people.

- You are saying probably?

- They came there to torture Abass seriously if the boxes were not found.

- How long did it take before you saw the first box?

- In 2 hours...

- As far as you re concern, this was a clean operation by the NIA?

- Yes.

- You are not truthful.

- Okay.

- Everybody who was involved in this operation and came into contact with the TRRC said these people were tortured and you were at the centre of it.

- They did not torture them.

- You took him to torture chamber.

- Yes.

- If he was confessing, why did you take him to the torture chamber?

- I did not take him there alone...

- We are not children here Mr Witness. What you are not saying is that you and the Junglers tortured this man to confess, which your subordinates clearly said...

- If Junglers are beating people. If you are not a member of their team, you do not stay there.

- You were sharing operations with them.

- Okay.

320 people heard by the TRRC

Despite this and many other allegations, Darboe admitted to only one out of dozens of allegations of torture that the Truth Commission found against him during its investigations. "Every staff under the command of this Unit had to be loyal to the director general and keep top secrets secret," said Darboe. "Being a member of this Unit was hazardous and challenging.Members have to face finger-pointing and fabrications," he added.

Over the last two years, the TRRC has heard over 320 people, some of whom were tough witnesses. But none of them were close to Darboe, said an exasperated lead counsel after two hours of confrontational testimony. "Would you shut up and allow me to do my job?" once exploded Faal. "If you continue like this [interrupting me], I will ask the Chair to hold you with contempt and send you to Mile 2. This Commission cannot sit here and allow this gross indiscipline happening."

Few seconds later, the Chairman cut of all mics and addressed Darboe that he cannot "turn the Commission into a circus". "You are the most difficult witness we have ever had in this forum", added Commissioner Ousainou Jallow. "You are not only disrespectful; you have no concern for all the evil deeds you meted on people."

"NIA boys' survival was tied to the survival of the ruling party"

As testimonies before the Commission comes to show the vacuum in the capacities of mostly illiterate agents. While their job was intelligence collection, it meant they had no others means than "extract the truth out of the victim" who went out of their way on a policing duty. The Agency gradually became under the rule of Jammeh a policing institution, with sweeping powers granted by a military decree.

"The environment was toxic"

On February 4, Foday Momodou Hydara, a former NIA deputy director, told the Commission that the apparent defects in the Agency, both by its decree and lack of human capacity, were by design. "The green boys who were recruited into NIA became a thug for the party. Their survival was tied to the survival of the ruling party," said Hydara. By decree, the Agency was placed directly under the authority of the President. According to Hydara, 90% of assignments they were getting from Jammeh had "no bearing on the work of the Agency".

Within the Agency, a serious crime like torture was reduced to simple euphemisms such as giving people "VIP treatment" or perhaps acceptable terms such as "beating". Such was the case, in 2006, against military officers and civilians accused of a coup against Jammeh.

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Hydara was then a member of the NIA "panel" that probed the foil coup. "The environment was toxic. It was treacherous. We were having our interviews, and Musa Jammeh and Tumbul Tamba (both Junglers, Jammeh's hit squad) were crisscrossing and telephones were ringing. We suspect highly that they were talking to the President. So, even us we were threatened. I wished there was any other way of doing it," described Hydara.

"What were the circumstances that made you close your eyes?"

Then it was the turn of another witness, Demba Sowe, a current crime management coordinator at the Gambia police, who also served at the failed coup investigative "panel", to admit before that their report was based on confessions that were illegally obtained.

- You were a police officer and a violation were happening right before you. Isn't that your failure? Asked lead counsel Faal.

- I had no choice. The environment was tense, it was intimidating, responded Sowe.

- What were the circumstances that made you closed your eyes?

- You never know what the repercussions will be.

- People were prosecuted based on statements that you know to have been illegally obtained...

- Yes.

- As a police officer, do you believe that people should be prosecuted based on an illegally obtained statement?

- That is not fair.

Urgent interim reparations for a victim

Last January, a military officer called Sam Kambie was hospitalized two times. According to the Commission's head of reparation, Adelaide Sosseh, his medical complications were as a result of torture he ensured in the hand of the Special Operations Unit. Kambie, who was tortured severely by the Unit in 2007 was placed in Commission's "urgent interim reparations", said Sosseh. "And here you are saying you have not tortured him," he declared at the end of Darboe's testimony. Despite this,Darboe still continues to serve as an agent at the NIA.
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PARIS & TOKYO, Feb 9, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - JCB International Co., Ltd., the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., Japan's only international payment brand, and Worldline, a European leader in the payments and transactional services industry, announce the expansion of their partnership. This established relationship has pivoted to support both the exchange of global ecommerce and the growth of JCB Contactless enablement across Europe.Previously, the two brands coordinated to support digital shopping outside of Europe and worked to enable JCB Contactless in regions such as Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Belgium, and Poland. Now, their collaboration will make room for more of Worldline's merchants to accept face-to-face contactless payments in other European markets from Q2 2021, especially in Nordic regions. Additionally, Worldline merchants around the globe can now welcome online JCB cardmember transactions. JCB's security payment authentication programmes - J/Secure 1.0 and J/Secure 2.0 - will be implemented for online commerce.Worldline and JCB's partnership cements the promise of both companies to provide a simple, enhanced payment experience. Based on the commitment of Worldline, merchants will gain the advantage of 24/7 authorisation of ecommerce, manual and contactless transactions, centralised billing for debit and credit cards and a quick, safeguarded billing process. The JCB Contactless payment solution is compliant with NFC and EMV(R) Contactless Communication Protocols. The number of merchants accepting JCB Contactless is steadily expanding internationally.Roger Niederer, Chief Market Officer Merchant Services of Worldline commented, "Worldline's ambition is to be the partner of choice for merchants. We stand by our customers' side and support their business growth with consumer-friendly and efficient services for their specific needs. Contactless payments and ecommerce are a manifest consumer trend, and I am happy that Worldline is now expanding its global partnership with JCB to apply our advanced payments technology in both face-to-face and ecommerce transactions."Tsuyoshi Notani, Managing Director, JCB International (Europe) Ltd. said, "We are delighted that our positive relationship with Worldline has afforded us the opportunity to expand in not only one but two areas where our cardmembers are showing a spend preference - in contactless payment for face-to-face sales and through secure, easy-to-use ecommerce platforms. This is an exciting step for our 140+ million cardmembers and Worldline's extensive merchant community. It is our sincere hope that this collaboration will support recovery and growth across every region, especially in light of the challenges the pandemic presented."*In some countries, SIX Payment Services and Bambora, who both became part of Worldline at the end of 2018/2020 respectively, are operating under those brands.*EMV(R) is a registered trademark in the U.S. and other countries and an unregistered trademark elsewhere. The EMV trademark is owned by EMVCo, LLC.About JCBJCB is a major global payment brand and a leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes about 35 million merchants in the world. JCB cards are now issued in more than 20 countries and territories with more than 140 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and cardmember base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to providing responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information: www.global.jcb/en/About WorldlineWorldline [Euronext: WLN] is the European leader in the payments and transactional services industry and #4 player worldwide. With its global reach and its commitment to innovation, Worldline is the technology partner of choice for merchants, banks and third-party acquirers as well as public transport operators, government agencies and industrial companies in all sectors. Powered by over 20,000 employees in more than 50 countries, Worldline provides its clients with sustainable, trusted and secure solutions across the payment value chain, fostering their business growth wherever they are. Services offered by Worldline in the areas of Merchant Services; Terminals, Solutions & Services; Financial Services and Mobility & e-Transactional Services include domestic and cross-border commercial acquiring, both in-store and online, highly-secure payment transaction processing, a broad portfolio of payment terminals as well as e-ticketing and digital services in the industrial environment. In 2019 Worldline generated a proforma revenue of 5.3 billion euros. worldline.com. SIX Payment Services has been part of Worldline since the end of 2018. Bambora has been part of Worldline since the end of 2020.JCB Press Office:JCB International/EuropeContact: India StoneEmail: istone@jcbeurope.euPhone: +44 020 7087 4754JCB (Head Office in Japan)Contact: Kumiko Kida, Ayaka NakajimaEmail: jcb-pr@jcb.co.jpPhone: +81 3 5778 8353Worldline Press Office:Contact: Susanne Stoeger, Head of Communications Merchant Services, WorldlineEmail: susanne.stoeger@worldline.comPhone: +43 171701 6524Source: JCBCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.

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WHEN:

From Friday, February 12 through Sunday, February 14 during breakfast hours, Wendy's lovers can set a date with a FREE Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit at participating San Diego-area restaurants. No purchase required and while supplies last.

WHERE:

100+ participating San Diego-area Wendy's restaurants. To find your closest Wendy's San Diego location, visit: https://locations.wendys.com.

HOW:

Just ask  upon request! Head to a participating Wendy's from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM to lock down this sought-after deal. Check your local Wendy's as breakfast hours may vary by location. Oh honey, that biscuit and butter is enough to make any heart flutter.

ABOUT WENDY'S:

Wendy's was founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas in Columbus, Ohio. Dave built his business on the premise, "Quality is our Recipe," which remains the guidepost of the Wendy's system. Wendy's is best known for its made-to-order square hamburgers, using fresh, never frozen beef**, freshly-prepared salads, and other signature items like chili, baked potatoes and the Frosty dessert. The Wendy's Company is committed to doing the right thing and making a positive difference in the lives of others. This is most visible through the Company's support of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and its signature Wendy's Wonderful Kids program, which seeks to find a loving, forever home for every child waiting to be adopted from the North American foster care system. Today, Wendy's and its franchisees employ hundreds of thousands of people across more than 6,800 restaurants worldwide with a vision of becoming the world's most thriving and beloved restaurant brand. For details on franchising, connect with us at www.wendys.com/franchising . Visit www.wendys.com and www.squaredealblog.com for more information and connect with us on Twitter and Instagram using @wendys, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wendys .

*No purchase necessary. Offer valid February 12  14, 2021 during breakfast hours only. Limit one (1) free Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit upon request per customer per day at participating San Diego-area locations while supplies last. Offer not valid for digital or delivery orders. Not valid within a combo.

**Fresh beef available in the contiguous U.S., Alaska, and Canada.

SOURCE The Wendy's Company

Related Links

https://www.wendys.com


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In November 2019, the Balearic minister for energy transition, the governments vice-president Juan Pedro Yllanes, expressed his scepticism regarding plans for a hydrogen plant in Lloseta. This plant was one of a series of projects for a so-called reindustrialisation following the closure of the cement plant. Answering a question in parliament, Yllanes said: Im not going to fool you. We maintain a highly sceptical position.

In January 2019, President Armengol, the national minister for industry, Reyes Maroto, the mayor of Lloseta and representatives from three companies (Cemex one of them), presented the plan to convert the cement plant. The hydrogen replacement, stated Maroto, would be a leading-edge plant in Spain. Despite this apparent alliance between governments, Yllanes was to insist several months later that there was little demand for hydrogen in the Balearics. He raised other issues, such as obtaining licences for production and resident concerns about the environmental impact. A few days later, Armengol stressed that the plant would be going ahead, while conceding that this would entail complex processing. She meant licences, environmental reports and so on.

Hydrogen, green hydrogen that is, has enormous potential for providing clean energy to economic sectors that require fuel that is high in energy density and heated to high temperatures. Hydrogen could decarbonise intense applications, such as shipping. Solar and wind can take care of most clean decarbonising energy needs, but not all of them in an efficient or practical way.

The benefits of hydrogen have long been understood, but as a technology it has had a drawback in that a production process using natural gas not only requires huge amounts of energy it also generates carbon dioxide. By using renewables, e.g. solar, and moving to a system of electrolysis (an electric current through water to split hydrogen atoms from oxygen), the full benefit is obtained. There are no emissions; it is green hydrogen and not grey hydrogen that pollutes.

Like Endesa, Iberdrola, the Spanish electricity multinational, is making a commitment to hydrogen. The company has set out the pros and cons, and one of the latter is the cost. Green or grey hydrogen, a lot of energy is needed for the production process, but Iberdrola suggests that as ever more advance is made in the development of a renewables infrastructure, this cost will come down.

Clean energy going forward therefore demands a complete and integrated package, and for the Balearics - regardless of any scepticism that Juan Pedro Yllanes may have had or still harbour - this integration is set to include hydrogen. The environmental concerns regarding the Lloseta plant would appear to have been dealt with. The two other companies which were represented when the plan was presented in January 2019 - Acciona and Enagas - announced in November last year that they will equip the Cemex plant with an electrolysis system.

Endesa has meanwhile presented a scheme to invest 2,900 million euros in 23 green hydrogen plants across Spain. For Mallorca, the electricity company has earmarked 52 million euros, and the location will be Alcudia - at the Es Murterar power station site.

Both the Alcudia and the Lloseta proposals are ones directed primarily towards the national government, which has its own agenda for energy transition. While the Balearic governments objectives are in line with this, the issue which nevertheless begins to surface is one to do with the layers of administration. And where there are these layers, there are also the submissions and the reports. Its what Armengol referred to - the complex processing.

Even before the Alcudia proposal has made its way to Balearic administrative processing, which would include the town hall, as it has to sign off on the licence (as Lloseta town hall will also have to), the environmentalist lobby is raising its voice. GOB view with suspicion both of these hydrogen plant schemes. The environmentalists suggest that they are designed to take advantage of European New Generation funds for economic reconstruction, while they believe that hydrogen isnt exempt from having an environmental impact. Above all, GOB argue that there should be energy sovereignty that isnt driven by business gain and that the model of energy production should be less intense.

In this regard, and GOB have the support of Amics de la Terra (Friends of the Earth) for this, there are objections not just to hydrogen but also to the various photovoltaic plants that are being planned, such as the one for the Son Bonet aerodrome, which has been proposed by the airports authority, Aena.

Despite the apparent urgency because of the climate emergency (as declared in Mallorca), the complexities inevitably arise, not least because of constant objections from an environmentalist lobby which can at times appear to be contradictory and that are founded, in no small part, on the interests of national entities such as Aena and Endesa.

But these interests are necessary. A great deal of energy is required, and a great deal is required pronto. Or is there not a climate emergency?

?? A traves del Cenares, el Minsa envio a todas las regiones del pais los equipos de proteccion personal y los insumos que se requeriran para aplicar las vacunas contra la #COVID19.

https://t.co/JBicq9LHff
MASON CITY, Iowa - MercyOne North Iowa is recognizing something of a COVID-19 milestone. The hospital is celebrating no COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit for the first time since last March.

President & CEO Rod Schlader attributes that development to the public's willingness to wear masks, social distance, wash their hands and observe safety guidelines. He also points out that the hospital did not experience a predicted post-holiday surge. While there are currently 9 active COVID-19 patients in acute care, to get to this point has lead to overwhelming joy among staff.

"The last couple of weeks, we were in the low teens. Last week, we got down in the single digits. It's given people a break, I'm sure they're not working as many double shifts and extra shifts and such."

Schlader is also upbeat about new out-patient therapy services that have come on-line that he believes help contributed to this milestone.

"We also have some new outpatient therapies that we're doing on patients. We do an IV therapy service. I think it's a combination of a lot of things we've tried, and thank goodness people are staying safe."

With the governor's loosening of restrictions that took effect on Sunday, Schlader is encouraging everyone to stay safe in public by wearing a mask, social distancing and washing hands.

Another positive sign: while MercyOne continues to follow COVID-19 guidelines on visitor restrictions, non-COVID patients are now allowed to have one support person visit the hospital (with an exception being end of life situations).
Mike Tindall's company has been claiming furlough money despite him being a member of the Royal Family with a huge personal wealth.

The former England rugby star, 42, who is married to the Queen's granddaughter Zara, has a firm to manage his speaking engagements, which have dried up during the pandemic.

The company, Kimble Trading Ltd, has confirmed it claimed government aid. Accounts indicate it has only one member of staff.

Mike Tindall's company has been claiming furlough despite him being a member of the Royal Family with a huge personal wealth

The former England rugby star, 42, who is married to the Queen's granddaughter Zara, missed out on speaking engagements due to the pandemic

His company Kimble Trading Ltd has admitted it received the government aid earmarked for at risk companies

Accounts for the year ending March 31 2020, which were filed in December, said that since the balance sheet date the outbreak of Covid-19 and subsequent restrictions imposed have led to a number of events in 2020 being cancelled.

According to The Sun, accounts said: 'The outbreak of Covid-19 and subsequent restrictions imposed have led to a number of events in 2020 being cancelled.

'The company has taken advantage of all available government aid in order to support the business and its employees through the crisis.'

It also appears on a government list of companies which have made use of the government grants.

His speaking firm appears on a government list of companies which have made use of the government grants

Conservative MP Nigel Mills said about the Royal's company: 'It's a bit rich for Mike Tindall to be taking money from the public purse.'

There is no suggestion of any illegality taking place.

What is the furlough scheme? Through furlough, workers can claim 80 per cent of their usual wages, up to a ceiling of 2,500 a month. The employees are not allowed to work during this period, with employers only having to contribute national insurance and pension costs. Businesses can use the scheme for employees for any amount of time and across any shift pattern, including furloughing them full time. For the self-employed, support grants are now available at 80 per cent of average profits. Furlough was replaced in September by the Job Support Scheme which is only for people working at businesses legally required to close. The Treasury estimates costs of a billion pounds a month for every million workers on the scheme. Official figures showed that the scheme, which ends at the end of April, had reached 46.4billion before Christmas. Advertisement

Furlough granted 80 per cent of employees' normal wages up to 2,500 per month.

Tindall's representative said he did not receive the furlough payment.

Tindall and his wife Zara live in the 730-acre Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire and are expecting their third child.

They have bubbled up with Princess Anne and Zara's brother Peter Phillips and his family during lockdown.

He told The Times last week: 'You always worry about money.

'I was very fortunate that I had a couple of ambassadorial roles, so you know there's money coming in, but sponsorships won't last for ever.

'You've got to plan and now with a third on the way and what's coming down the line in terms of school bills, fees to pay...'

Tindall also laughed off suggestions he and Zara were trailblazers for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are now earning their own money.

He described being part of the royal family but needing to work as 'something you just get used to'.

He added: 'It has its benefits and it has its negatives. You think about what you do and you have to be aware of it, but it doesn't necessarily dictate.'

Zara earns money from sponsorships and other ventures, while Tindall currently co-hosts a podcast - The Good, The Bad And The Rugby.

He has also made television appearances including taking part in The Jump and Bear Grylls: Mission Survive.

The government's furlough scheme has so far cost taxpayers an estimated 50billion but has been used legally by a number of stars.

The grants were aimed at helping companies at risk of going under during the pandemic by taking on the wages of staff who could not work or who might have lost their jobs otherwise.

But some of the rich and famous, such as Victoria Beckham, Stella McCartney, Sir Richard Branson and Sir Philip Green, were criticised for claiming the taxpayer money despite their own personal wealth.
The logos of Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft are displayed on a mobile phone and a laptop screen in London on Dec. 18, 2020. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)

Entrepreneur Creates New Internet Browser to Promote Free Speech

A software startup company has created a new internet browser that offers a number of privacy solutions, has no censorship, and no fake profiles in an effort to counter censorship, fake news, invasion of privacy, and the stifling of conservative voices by Big Tech.

The browser, called The New Internet, allows people to comment on any website without being censored or de-platformed, Elizabeth Heng, CEO of The New Internet, told The Epoch Times Crossroads program in a recent interview.

If someones account is censored or banned on a social media platform people can view the banned page on The New Internet, write comments on the top of the page, and share their opinions on it, Heng said. Every user of the New Internet platform is able to post comments on any page, even if they disagree with the content, she added.

However, Twitter considers The New Internet an unsupported browser and doesnt show any posts on The New Internetit displays an error message instead. Meanwhile, other social media platforms and many websites support the new browser.

Twitter displays an error message when it is used on The New Internet browser on Feb. 4, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

Officials at Twitter didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

The browser can have verified users to ensure that people who write comments are real people, not just bots and trolls that we currently see on the old internet, Heng said. The positive aspect of user verification is that people arent able to hide behind sort of fake profiles anymore  [and will] be more willing or more open to having diverse political thoughts and discourse in a civilized way, she added.

The New Internet doesnt censor viewsany person can comment on any article or website regardless of whether they agree or disagree with the content, so any arguments for any topic can be posted, Heng said.

Hengs Family Story

Cambodian women and children huddle close together in fear of incoming fire from Khmer Rouge forces of Highway 5, just northwest of Phnom Penh, April 6, 1975. (AP Photo)

Hengs parents came to the United States as legal refugees from Cambodia, at a time when the country was ruled by the brutal Khmer Rouge communist regime, which was responsible for the deaths of more than 2 million people.

Heng said her parents embraced opportunities available in the United States, and through hard work, they were able to send Elizabeth to Stanford University, where she earned a bachelors degree, and to Yale University, for her MBA.

Her parents werent able to receive a formalized education as their high school in Cambodia became the largest concentration camp during the mass killing campaign referred to as killing fields, she said. The killing fields were where people were executed in droves and buried in mass graves during the Khmer Rouge era.

Heng said her parents realized the opportunities that were afforded to them by being selected to come to the United States as refugees and worked really hard to provide her and her brothers with things they never had.

They instilled in me that through hard work and determination you can really accomplish anything you set your mind to. Those were the values that I have always held onto.

This also inspired her to work toward protecting and maintaining these opportunities that America offers for other individuals and future generations to come.

In 2018, while Heng was running for Congress, she shared on social media her familys story of coming to the United States and striving to live the American dream as a part of her campaign advertising.

For whatever reason, Facebook and Twitter didnt like that message and prevented me from advertising and talking about this on their platforms, Heng said. Her campaign fought back and within a few weeks, both platforms allowed her to advertise and share her familys story.

I was fortunate that at the time I had a platformI was running for Congressso I was able to get national attention and news for this, Heng said.

But the concern is, what about everybody else whos not running for office and dont have that platform? she added. Theyre not able to make a big news flash. How many of those voices have been silenced daily?

That experience and the fact that Big Tech can so easily silence people led Heng to create The New Internet.

[The] First Amendment is paramount to a free society.

Always speak your voice and be unapologetic about that and be who you are, Heng said. That is one of the fundamental things that have been given to us as Americans.
Those big snow piles in northern and central New Jersey grew even bigger after Sundays fast-moving storm swept across the region, and a light coating of snow topped it off in some areas Tuesday.

Which begs the question: Are we heading into record territory?

The answer depends on which region of the state you live in. And how much more snow we get this winter.

Parts of northern and central New Jersey have already gotten more snow than they normally get during the entire snow season  which technically runs from October through April. But no records have been set yet.

Driving this seasons high numbers are the big snowstorm that hit a week before Christmas and the epic snowstorm last week that blanketed parts of the state with 1 to 2 feet of snow, and in some places more than 30 inches.

In the Newark area, this month currently ranks as the 10th snowiest February on record  and we still have 19 days to go. Newark has picked up 21.7 inches of snow from Feb. 1 through Feb. 8, according to data from the National Weather Service.

The Newark area normally gets 9.3 inches of snow during the entire month, and its record is 33.4 inches, set in 1994.

Note: If you are unable to view the chart above on your device, click this link to see it.

During this entire snow season, Newark has been blanketed with 36.8 inches of snow  8 inches more than the area usually gets from October through April. So theres plenty of time remaining to move up in the all-time seasonal snow rankings. For now, this has been the 15th snowiest winter for the Newark region.

The snow picture is far different in South Jersey, where the Atlantic City area has picked up only 0.6 inches of snow in February and a measly 1.6 inches of snow overall since Dec. 1. Thats more than 8 inches below normal, according to weather service data.

Snow totals so far in the Newark area have already been about 8 inches higher than the region normally gets during the entire snow season. And a lot of winter remains.Len Melisurgo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

In Central Jersey, the New Brunswick area has been whitened by 19.3 inches of snow in February and 26 inches this entire season. That makes this the 14th snowiest February so far and the 57th snowiest winter since 1895.

The snow records in the New Brunswick area are 37.4 inches for February, set in 2010, and 76.5 inches for a full season, set in 1995-1996.

Here are some more snow stats for the Newark area, one of the main climate sites monitored by the National Weather Service:

NORMAL SNOW SEASON IN NEWARK AREA

November: 0.4 inches

December: 5.4 inches

January: 7.9 inches

February: 9.3 inches

March: 4.6 inches

April: 0.9 inches

TOTAL: 28.5 inches

CURRENT SNOW SEASON IN NEWARK AREA

November 2020: 0.0 inches

December 2020: 11.9 inches

January 2021: 3.2 inches

February 2021: 21.7 inches (as of Feb. 8)

March 2021: TBD

April 2021: TBD

TOTAL: 36.8 inches (as of Feb. 8)

Current weather radar

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.
The 2021 3-Coin Silver American Eagle Reagan Legacy Set also marks a unique time in history. Modern-day issues of nearly all American Silver Eagle coins are typically produced at the U.S. Mint at West Point. However, due to rising silver demand and global supply constraints over the past year, the U.S. Mint had to supplement the production of Silver American Eagles at the San Francisco and Philadelphia Mints, in addition to its West Point Mint Facility.

"With silver prices more than doubling over the last 11 months, the U.S. Mint is pulling out the stops trying to keep up with demand. It will be a challenge as market forces seem set to drive demand even higher," said Phillip Diehl, president of U.S. Money Reserve. Diehl previously served as the 35th director of the U.S. Mint from 19942000.

This three-coin set contains Silver Eagles from all three Mints and features one of the final appearances of John Mercanti's iconic eagle reverse design. Each coin is certified Museum-Quality MS-70 "First Day of Issue" by PCGS with a special "Type 1" designation and includes a specialty label hand-signed by an esteemed member of the Reagan family as part of U.S. Money Reserve's exclusive Reagan Legacy Signature Series.

The 2021 3-Coin Silver American Eagle Reagan Legacy Set includes:

1 oz. Silver Eagle PCGS MS70 - First Day of Issue - Green Special Emergency Philadelphia Label hand-signed by Michael Reagan

1 oz. Silver Eagle PCGS MS70 - First Day of Issue - Blue West Point Label hand-signed by Cameron Reagan

1 oz. Silver Eagle PCGS MS70 - First Day of Issue - Red Special Emergency San Francisco Label hand-signed by Ashley Reagan

"We are proud to offer our customers the opportunity to own these incredible coins that pays tribute to President Ronald Reagan and his family." said Angela Roberts, CEO of U.S. Money Reserve. "Because of the Liberty Coin Act that was signed by President Reagan in 1985, these beautiful coins remain in production today. There has never been a better opportunity to pay honor to the Reagan Family and their legacy than with these coins that can be passed down to generations to come. Our history and relationship with the Reagan family allowed us the unique opportunity to be the only company to have President Ronald Reagan's son Michael Reagan, and grandchildren Cameron and Ashley Reagan involved in the release of this three-coin set."

Individuals can purchase the 2021 3-Coin Silver American Eagle Reagan Legacy Set at the special price of only $495 (plus shipping and handling) either online at https://bit.ly/2O8BQ9d or by calling 1-844-307-7017.

About U.S. Money Reserve, America's Gold Authority

U.S. Money Reserve is one of the nation's largest private distributors of government-issued gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products.

Founded in 2001, U.S. Money Reserve has grown into one of the world's largest private distributors of U.S. and foreign governmentissued gold, silver, platinum, and palladium legal-tender products. Hundreds of thousands of clients across the country rely on U.S. Money Reserve to diversify their assets with physical precious metals, primarily in the form of legal-tender gold and silver coins.

U.S. Money Reserve's uniquely trained team includes coin research and numismatic professionals equipped with the market knowledge to find products for precious metals buyers at every level. U.S. Money Reserve goes above the industry standard to provide superior customer service, with the goal of establishing a long-term relationship with each and every one of its customers. U.S. Money Reserve is based in Austin, Texas. Like them on Facebook, connect on LinkedIn, and follow on Twitter.

SOURCE U.S. Money Reserve
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the State Revenue Committee Edvard Hovhannisyan received today Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin, the SRC told Armenpress.

The SRC Chairman said there is broad legal-contractual cooperation framework between the two countries in the fields of tax and customs administration which allows to cooperate actively both at the bilateral level and also on the sidelines of the CIS executive committee, the Eurasian Economic Commission and other international organizations.

Both sides expressed readiness to continue and develop the cooperation between the tax and customs authorities in the future.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan



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[February 08, 2021]

Ascenda launches Nexus, the new rapid launch option for its SaaS loyalty solution suite

SINGAPORE, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascenda, the technology company that makes loyalty simple, today announced Nexus, a new rapid launch option for its bank customer engagement solutions, enabled by an innovative zero-integration approach.

Nexus significantly expands the breadth of banks served by Ascenda beyond its current top-tier clients in 30+ markets, unlocking a world-class customer engagement solution for thousands of established banks and neobanks globally who are looking for rapid deployment with minimal complexity and cost.

Ascenda's loyalty capabilities can now be deloyed in a fraction of the typical setup time with Nexus. A first in the industry, the new option eliminates all technical integration, enabling the rollout of compelling new rewards propositions without resource or time constraints. Setup lead time, complexity and cost are all reduced by a factor of ten relative to current industry norms.







Nexus supports Ascenda's entire line-up of points-based and cash-back propositions, including the merchant offers aggregation platform, OffersHub. The full suite of Ascenda redemption capabilities ranging from real-time, everyday satisfiers to premium, aspirational rewards is also available under the new turnkey option.

"Nexus transforms how financial institutions launch rewards propositions, requiring minimal up-front investment and lead-time," said Mark Mullinix, Head of Strategy & Partnerships at Ascenda. "Its simple and rapid deployment model unlocks vast scalability for Ascenda's suite of customer engagement solutions."

Live demonstrations are now available, and Nexus technology and distribution partners will be announced progressively.

About Ascenda

Ascenda is a global provider of innovative loyalty solutions, powering engaging rewards propositions for leading financial services brands and merchants worldwide.

Ascenda makes loyalty simple through solutions rooted in beautiful design, exceptional customer value and rapid implementation. With deep market expertise, best-in-class technology and a rich global content network, Ascenda delivers fully digital, user-friendly and highly compelling rewards offerings that eliminate the trade-off between cost and customer value.

For more information about Ascenda, please visit www.ascendaloyalty.com.

Contact:

Valerie Perridon

valerie.perridon@ascendaloyalty.com

SOURCE Ascenda
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. The meeting of the expert subgroup on Railroad, Auto and Combined Transportation Issues of the deputy prime ministerial Armenia-Russia-Azerbaijan trilateral task force took place, the Armenian ministry of territorial administration and infrastructures said in a news release.

The meeting was held remotely.

Officials included in the relevant commissions of the three countries took part in the session.

Issues related to the condition of the existing railway network in the region for implementing transit transportation and the opportunities of automobile communication routes were observed. The sides exchanged preliminary viewpoints regarding these issues.

With results of the meeting, the subgroups will continue further discussions over the expert assessment.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Yangon: Police cracked down on demonstrators opposing Myanmars military coup, firing warning shots and shooting water cannons to disperse crowds that took to the streets again on Tuesday in defiance of rules making protests illegal.

Water cannons were used in Mandalay, Myanmars second-biggest city, where witnesses said at least two warning shots were fired to try to break up the crowd. Reports on social media said police arrested more than two dozen people there. Police also used water cannons in the capital, Natpyitaw, for a second day and fired shots into the air.

Protesters sit on a road blocked by police as they flash a three-fingered salute, a symbol of resistance, during a protest in Mandalay. Credit:AP

Police were reported to have also shot rubber bullets at the crowd in Naypyitaw, wounding several people. Photos on social media showed an alleged shooter  an officer with a short-barreled gun  and several injured people.

Unconfirmed social media reports circulated of shootings with live rounds and deaths among the protesters, with the potential of sparking violent retaliation against the authorities, an outcome proponents of the countrys civil disobedience movement have warned against. The AP was unable to immediately confirm the reports.
Florence's storied Uffizi Galleries, home to many of the world's most important works of the Italian Renaissance, made history Monday when it announced it had added a painting from the cutting-edge British street artist called Endless to the museum's permanent collection.

The work -- a mixed-media self-portrait donated to the gallery by the artist -- will now be part of the same collection as works of Sandro Botticelli, Caravaggio, Angelico Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian.

Eike Schmidt, director of the Uffizi Galleries, praised Endless's work as "an original blend of punk and pop, which extends to conceptual art in this self-portrait."

Schmidt went on: "In the Uffizi's historical collections, we can see how thirsty the Medici grand dukes were for the latest new thing, even the most audacious work on the art scene. I think they would be happy to see Endless' art become part of the collections that they began and increased centuries ago with such dedication."

Also in a statement, Endless said it was "an honor" to have his painting added to the gallery's permanent collection.

"Artists who come from a street background are rarely acknowledged by prestigious galleries, especially those with such historical and cultural caliber" as the Uffizi, Endless wrote.

After remaining closed for weeks due to health restrictions tied to the coronavirus pandemic, the Uffizi Galleries reopened last month.

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio  A woman was killed and two others, including a child, were wounded Monday night after shots were fired into a vehicle, police say.

The shooting occurred at about 8:39 p.m. near the intersection of Hayden and Superior avenues, according to East Cleveland police. When officers arrived, they found a vehicle that had been hit by multiple gunshots.

Four people were in the vehicle at the time of the shooting. The woman was pronounced dead at 10:05 p.m. at University Hospital, according to police. A wounded male and a wounded child both were in stable condition.

Police are interviewing another male in connection with the shooting. Police did not say if there are any suspects.

No other information was released Monday night.

More crime-related content on cleveland.com:

Cleveland serial killer Anthony Sowell dies of terminal illness in prison hospital

Anthony Sowell: Read The Plain Dealers original coverage of the Imperial Avenue murders, profiles of his victims

Three teens arrested in armed carjacking of Uber driver in Parma, police chase

Cleveland Catholic school music teacher accused of sending sexually-explicit messages to undercover cop posing as teen

Mother, two kids shot while driving on Pearl Road in Strongsville, police say

Witness of fatal shooting by off-duty Cleveland police officer gives account to city investigators
Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, leaves the Federal District Court after a hearing in Washington on May 23, 2018. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo)

Ex-Trump Aide Paul Manafort Cant Be Prosecuted in New York Following Pardon, Court Rules

New Yorks top court has ruled that former President Donald Trumps onetime campaign chairman Paul Manafort cannot be prosecuted on a state level for financial crimes similar to the ones pardoned by Trump.

On Feb. 4, the New York Court of Appeals upheld a lower order from October 2020 that found Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vances attempt to charge Manafort with mortgage fraud and other felonies violated the states so-called double jeopardy law, which bars prosecutors from pursuing crimes that have already been tried on a federal level.

Trump on Dec. 23 pardoned Manafort, who was among several Trump associates who faced charges as a result of former special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. He worked on Trumps White House campaign for five months in 2016.

The White House announced that Manaforts sentence stemmed from convictions prosecuted in Muellers investigation, which was premised on the Russian collusion hoax.

Trumps pardoning of Manafort spared the long-time Republican operative from serving the bulk of his prison term of seven-and-a-half years.

Paul Manafort arrives at a court in New York in a June 27, 2019 file photo. (Seth Wenig/(AP Photo)

However, presidential pardons only cover federal crimes.

Vancewho is also investigating the Trump Organization over allegations of fraudcharged Manafort in 2019 with state crimes in a deliberate attempt to make sure he would be prosecuted in the event that the former president pardoned him.

The Manhattan district attorney aggressively fought the case in court after Manaforts attorneys sought to have it dismissed on double jeopardy grounds.

Manaforts lawyer Todd Blanche said he was pleased by the ruling, which will ensure the former Trump campaign chairman will remain a free man.

As we have said from the time the district attorney announced charges against Mr. Manafort, this is a case that should never have been brought, said Blanche. This is a case that should never have been brought because the dismissed indictment is a clear violation of New York law.

As the trial court held, and the Appellate Division affirmed, the Peoples arguments fall far short of triggering an exception to double jeopardy that would justify this prosecution, the attorney added, The Hill reported. We are pleased that the New York Court of Appeals saw no reason to give leave to the district attorney to appeal the well-reasoned prior decision dismissing the indictment and the Appellate Divisions opinion affirming the same.

Mimi Nguyen Ly and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Group Led by Longtime Trump Attorney Argues Impeachment Trial Unconstitutional

A group led by former President Donald Trumps longtime attorney Jay Sekulow on Monday submitted a legal analysis arguing that the impeachment trial violates the U.S. Constitution.

The American Center for Law and Justice submitted the 45-page legal memorandum (pdf) to the Senate a day before the trial is expected to begin, urging the upper chamber to reject the article of impeachment against Trump on the grounds that the trial is unconstitutional.

The group argues that a plain text reading of relevant provisions of the Constitution would only allow sitting presidents to be impeached.

They say that this reading of the Constitution is backed up by Chief Justice John Roberts decision to not preside over the trial. Roberts is required to preside over trials against presidents under Article I, Section 3. The chief justice did not provide the reason for not presiding, but legal scholars surmise that it was likely because Trump is no longer president.

While not dispositive, the fact that, according to the Senate Democratic Leader, the Chief Justice of the United States was invited to preside over this trial and yet declined to do so, is quite telling, the group argues.

Instead, Senate Democrats, who hold the majority, have announced that Senate President Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) will preside. The group argues that because the Democrats havent insisted on Justice Roberts overseeing the trial, they are admitting that the subject of the trial is non-president.

If the text, the President of the United States, in the constitutional provision requiring the Chief Justice to preside can refer only to the sitting president, and not to former presidents, then the textual identification of [t]he President contained in Article II, Section 4, which makes the President amenable to impeachment in the first place, also excludes anyone other than the sitting President, they argue.

The House has argued that although Trump has already left office, his conduct stipulated in the charge against him occurred when he was in office.

But the group contended, this argument does not in any way alter the Constitutions clear textual identification of the President.'

The group also refuted the opposition argument that the framers of the Constitution intended to include impeachments of former officials because it was the practice of the British parliament, which provided inspiration to the Founding Fathers.

But the fact that early states did expressly provide for late impeachment and the fact that the national Constitution did not actually supports the very opposite conclusion, they said. The Framers were aware of the practice and, unlike the states that expressly allowed it, they chose not to accept late impeachment.

They added, the founders explicitly rejected the British model that allowed Parliament to impeach anyone, even private citizens, except for the King, and so they limited impeachment to certain public officials, including presidents.

They say that subjecting Trump, who has returned to private citizen life, to impeachment would violate this constitutional principle.

The Senate only has jurisdiction over the sitting President, and then only to address questions of potential removal and disqualification, remedies which only apply to a current officeholder. The fact that the Senate lacks the constitutional jurisdiction to try this impeachment against a private United States citizen is further evidenced by the very fact that the Chief Justice of the United States has refused to preside. The maneuvering that occurred in the House was unprecedented and unconstitutional, the group concluded.

Legal Counsel for President Trump, Jay Sekulow, answers a question from a senator during impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 29, 2020. (Senate Television via Getty Images)

Sekulow, who is the groups chief counsel, previously served as Trumps impeachment attorney in the former presidents first impeachment trial. He is not representing Trump in the second impeachment trial.

Trumps legal team is intending to argue the Senate has no jurisdiction to try a former official, that the charge against the 45th president is deficient, that their client was deprived of due process and had his right to free speech violated by the article of impeachment, according a memorandum released by the defense team on Monday.

The Democrat-controlled House on Jan. 13 voted 232197 to impeach Trump on a single article of impeachment, alleging that the president incited an insurrection that they claim resulted in the U.S. Capitol breach on Jan. 6.
Brian Kornfeld wants to make Tampa the city of innovation.

What's happening: Kornfeld is the president of Synapse, a Tampa-based nonprofit for entrepreneurs to accelerate Florida's economic success, and he's getting ready to host the state's first tech summit virtually next month.

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Why Tampa? Companies that once put down roots in places like San Francisco and Chicago are now anchoring themselves in Tampa Bay, Kornfeld said. And it goes beyond our area's relative affordability.

Our leading industries, like health care and cybersecurity, are set for growth during a pandemic.

We've also got support organizations like Embarc Collective, Tampa Bay Wave, the Women in Tech Accelerator and the Tampa Bay Innovation Center alongside a talent pipeline from the University of South Florida and University of Tampa.

Three companies Kornfeld is watching:

OPSWAT, a cybersecurity firm from San Francisco, has grown rapidly since moving to Tampa. TrustLayer, a Silicon Valley insurance tech startup, announced its move here last week after an investment from Lightning owner Jeff Vinik. Drift, a marketing firm from Boston, opened its fourth office in Tampa last year, promising to hire 100 workers by the end of 2021.

Check it out: Synapse Summit, happening March 8-11, will include talks from FUBU CEO and original "Shark Tank" judge Daymond John and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include the correct spelling of both Kornfeld's last name and the Embarc Collective.

This story first appeared in the Axios Tampa Bay newsletter, designed to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news unfolding in their own backyard.

Support safe, smart, sane journalism. Sign up for Axios Newsletters here.

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When Librestream was founded in Winnipeg in 2003 as a hardware company with technology that allowed workers to collaborate remotely, its targeted customers were some of the largest, most demanding companies.

When Librestream was founded in Winnipeg in 2003 as a hardware company with technology that allowed workers to collaborate remotely, its targeted customers were some of the largest, most demanding companies.

Global manufacturing and energy companies that require their field staff to be in touch with the engineering desk at headquarters, such as oil and gas companies or manufacturing firms with far-flung field operations, can also be the most impenetrable and conservative from a new suppliers perspective.

John Bishop, CEO of Librestream.

Fast-forward almost 20 years and some of those companies are not only Librestreams customers, they are now investors as well.

This week, Librestream welcomed Honeywell and Evergy Ventures as investors, both of whom will also get observer status on the board.

Those two new investors, along with Canadian Business Growth Fund, BDC and Export Development Canada, have made follow-on investments (of an undisclosed amount) on the heels of a $24-million funding round that was announced in June.

"One thing that became apparent when we closed the round (in June) was that there was tremendous interest in the company and the market and the results we were delivering," said John Bishop, CEO of Librestream.

The iPhone and ubiquitous connected camera led the Winnipeg company to concentrate less on hardware, and it has evolved into an augmented-reality (AR) software company that can integrate into the digital transformation that many industrial companies are undergoing.

While the company kept achieving more customer breakthroughs with those large global customers Bishop sought strategic partners to have a seat at the table.

"It was not just to get more visibility into what Librestream is doing today," he said. "But to get a broader view and closer connections to companies that are strategic to us."

Evergy Ventures is the venture capital arm of the Midwest energy company and Honeywell has been a longtime customer and reseller of Librestream.

"It is very cool when you say we want to bring in a couple of strategic investors and look back six months later and realize we did exactly what we had hoped to do," he said. "We could not be more proud of the two new investors."

The pandemic has caused a 700 per cent increase in usage of Librestreams Onsight augmented reality platform. And while there may be a little levelling out, Bishop believes the new normal represents a dramatic growth for the company.

Last year the private company (which does not release financial results publicly) achieved "healthy" double-digit growth in revenue, bookings and employment. And Bishop said the budgets for this year are looking at the same pace of growth.

"We still have a lot of execution to do," he said. "Its not smooth sailing. We like the attention and pressure being placed on us as a business right now."

The pandemic has shown the kind of vulnerability all companies can face, for instance, if they cannot get people to mission-critical locations.

"We see COVID as a catalyst, not something that trails away," Bishop said. "The waters have receded a little but the new norm is still five to 10 times where we were coming into last year. What it has done is make this amplification go so much higher."

The latest round of investment was to fund accelerated growth both geographically  it just made its first hires in the Asia Pacific region  and to further develop its technology that is now digitally integrating Internet of Things technology into its collaboration tools.

As well, Bishop said while companies such as Honeywell deploy digital transformation strategies Librestreams technology is becoming more prominent with executives of those companies whose operational units have supported Librestream.

In announcing its follow-on investment, Canadian Business Growth Fund acknowledged that Librestream has "gained executive-level awareness across enterprises."

Dennis Odell, vice-president of Evergy Ventures, said, "The energy sector is undergoing profound transformations enabled by new emerging technologies. We invest in companies that make this transformation more accessible, efficient, and valuable for our utility and customers. Our strongest partnerships come from growth equity investments in revenue-generating businesses that are primed for expansion, and Librestream squarely hits those marks."

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
Queens Consent procedure requires monarch to give go ahead on bill relating to her 'personal interests'

More than 1,000 new laws have been vetted by The Queen or Prince Charles before they were approved by Parliament, it was claimed yesterday.

The procedure, known as Queens Consent, has been used on Bills ranging from social security issues to the Article 50 law allowing Britain to leave EU.

Some of the wide-ranging legislation also affected her powers, wealth and personal property such as her Balmoral and Sandringham estates.

In a list compiled by The Guardian, at least 1,062 parliamentary bills have been subjected to Queens consent.

More than 1,000 new laws have been vetted by The Queen or Prince Charles before they were approved by Parliament, it was claimed yesterday

Stretching back to the London County Council Bill in 1952 at the start of her reign, the data shows that the procedure has been use far more extensively than previously thought.

As well as major legislation on matters like Brexit and establishing the Scottish Parliament, Queen's consent has been used on obscure rules on car parking charges and rates for caravans and boats.

Under the procedure, government ministers are meant to privately notify The Queen of clauses in draft legislation that may affect hers and ask for consent to debate them.

It follows another controversy involving Queen's Consent, in which lawyers for the Queen apparently lobbied ministers to alter a draft law so that her private wealth could be kept secret.

The incident, which happened under Edward Heath's premiership, was over concerns that the 1973 Companies Bill would allow directors to demand that front companies holding their shares reveal the identities of the real owners of the shares.

Under the procedure, government ministers are meant to privately notify The Queen of clauses in draft legislation that may affect hers and ask for consent to debate them

Documents suggest the Queen's legal team was given advance sight of the Bill under the constitutional procedure known as Queen's Consent.

It is claimed there was alarm over the possibility that any 'potentially embarrassing' investments in Her Majesty's shareholdings might be exposed as a result.

Lawyers acting for the Queen challenged the Bill, and following some deep thinkign by the Bank of England, there was an alteration to the Bill which, it was said, would protect heads of state and foreign government interests from having to reveal their shareholdings.

The bill did collapse because Heath's government lost all its planned legislation when it called an election in February 1974, but it did go on to the statute book under Labour in 1976.

Among those involved in altering the Bill, said to be in a bid to protect the Queen, was Geoffrey Howe, then trade and industry secretary and later chancellor and foreign secretary under Margaret Thatcher.

It follows another controversy involving Queen's Consent, in which lawyers for the monarch apparently lobbied ministers to alter a draft companies law so that her private wealth could be kept secret during the premiership of Edward Heath (pictured with Queen)

Howe, who died in 2015, approved a fix developed by the Bank of England and civil servants, which was sold to the public as a means of protecting the identities of foreign heads of states and governments investing in Britain.

He later wrote that he 'discussed this solution with the legal advisers to the Queen', who in turn said 'they could not ask us to do more'.

A spokesperson for the Queen said: 'Queens Consent is a Parliamentary process, with the role of Sovereign purely formal. Consent is always granted by the Monarch where requested by Government. Any assertion that the Sovereign has blocked legislation is simply incorrect.

'Whether Queens Consent is required is decided by Parliament, independently from the Royal Household, in matters that would affect Crown interests, including personal property and personal interests of the Monarch.

'If Consent is required, draft legislation is, by convention, put to the Sovereign to grant solely on advice of Ministers and as a matter of public record.'

The Cabinet Office said: 'Queens consent is a longstanding convention and a requirement of the parliamentary process. Consent is routinely sought by the government and agreed by the monarch as a matter of course.'
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If you ever thought India may never become like China for using censorship to monitor its citizens and press for expressing dissent, you might not be completely right. India wants to now recruit volunteers or informants to repot anti-national social media posts on the internet which can be used against users who show dissent.

 China Briefing

According to a report by The Indian Express, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has already started testing the program where it asks citizens to report illegal content on the internet. The program entails volunteers to identify posts and content that included rape, child pornography, radicalization and anti-national activities.



The Jammu & Kashmir police have already asked people to register as volunteers on the National Cybercrime Reporting portal.

Under this initiative, any Indian citizen can get himself/herself associated by registering in any of the three categories of Cyber Volunteer. Cyber Volunteer Unlawful Content Flagger- for identifying online illegal/unlawful content like child pornography, rape/gang rape, terrorism, radicalisation, anti-national activities etc. and reporting to government the statement said to The Wire.

 Reuters

It is also worth pointing out that volunteers may have to upload a valid government ID in order to proceed with the programme. One can register as a cybercrime volunteer but it explicitly says that those who register cannot exploit it for commercial gain. The programme also prevents volunteers from publicly stating about their associations with the programme. Volunteers are prohibited from using the name or claiming association with MHA on any public platform.

 Reuters

While reporting of content including rape, child pornography, and radicalization should make the internet a safer place, its the ambiguous definition of anti-national activities that might be controversial in the near future. Since there is no legal definition of anti-national content or activity either by the government or the judiciary, this programme can be misused and social media posts expressing dissent could be misconstrued as anti-national. The other problem that might arise is the fact this programme gives citizens too much power over each other without any known repercussions for misusing the programme.



There are also concerns that this program could be misused to promote censorship and encourage spying on individuals. In fact, these sort of restrictions and spying are akin to internet rules Chinese citizens are oppressed with daily. The Centre for Internet and Society has also pointed out in a recent journal that these practices might threaten the safety of people who express dissent against authorities.

Source: The Indian Express, The Wire
PHOENIX, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- V Digital Service 's Kenny Stocker has been named a winner in the 15th Annual Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service.

Stocker, VDS's vice president for sales and partnerships, received a Bronze Stevie in the Senior Sales Executive of the Year category, marking him as one of the nation's highest-performing sales professionals.

VDS Kenny logo

Judging of the 2021 Stevie Awards was conducted between November 2020 and January 2021 by more than 160 professionals worldwide serving on nine specialized juries. Judges' average scores determined the winners, who will be honored during a virtual awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 14.

Judges lauded Stocker for posting impressive sales results during one of the most challenging business climates in recent history, as COVID-19 ravaged the economy and left many businesses struggling to survive.

From June 2019 to December 2020, through the depths of the pandemic, Stocker drove a remarkable 55 percent increase in monthly revenue. He did so largely by pioneering new markets for the company, leveraging his years of industry experience to build relationships in areas such as home services, medical services, and pet daycare and boarding.

"Kenny's gift for generating leads, penetrating new markets, and delivering ROI for clients has been key to his superior performance," said Stuart Folb, EVP of Digital Sales and Marketing of VDS parent company Voice Media Group . "His infectious personality and relentless energy dovetail perfectly with VDS's foundational commitment to a customer-centric approach."

A twenty-year-plus veteran of the digital sales space, Stocker began his career with VDS predecessor company Village Voice Media as a sales director and associate publisher for Denver Westword before working his way up to lead publisher positions at the Riverfront Times of St. Louis and Seattle Weekly.

He transitioned to the burgeoning start-up world in 2013, taking vice-president roles at Cheezburger, Inc. and Fexy Media in Seattle that allowed him to hone his ability to connect with entrepreneurs, business owners, and senior decision-makers.

Stocker rejoined VDS in 2017. Now back in his native Denver, he brings his multi-faceted portfolio to the VDS mission of providing small and large-sized businesses with an array of digital marketing strategies and programmatic offerings that help increase brand visibility and digital presence.

V Digital Services now operates in more than 300 American cities, including a just-opened office in Raleigh, North Carolina, offering premier white-label solutions for a growing number of affiliated media entities and agencies.

The company employs an array of specialists gifted at crafting cutting-edge strategies in organic SEO, paid media, social media management, web development, and both programmatic and pay-per-click advertising.

High-performing individuals interested in pursuing a career with VDS should visit the company's careers page at https://www.vdigitalservices.com.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Jenna Corday at 602-229-8690 or email at [email protected].

SOURCE V Digital Services

The first phase program saw nine reverse circulation holes sunk for 1,505 meters and planning for a second phase is already underway

Tocvan Ventures Corp ( ) (FRA:TV3) has unveiled results from its first drill program at the Pilar gold-silver project in Mexico, which the group said showed "impressive" mineralization, open for expansion.

The first phase program saw nine reverse circulation (RC) holes sunk for 1,505 meters (m) and planning for a second phase is already underway.

The holes were all step-outs from historic holes in the Main zone and highlights included 41.2m at a grade of 1.1 grams per ton (g/t) gold from 57.9m depth. That included an intercept of 3.1 meters at 6 g/t of gold and 12 g/t silver from 71.6m depth.

"We are excited to announce the results for our first drill program at Pilar," said Tocvan CEO Derek Wood in a statement.

"Todays results confirm the impressive gold and silver mineralization at Pilar is open for expansion. Planning is well underway for our next phase of drilling that will continue to expand the areas of known mineralization and test other property-wide targets, drilling deeper and farther out from our established Main Zone," he added.

Another hole hit 1.5 meters at 33.4 g/t of the yellow metal and 1,090 g/t silver from a depth of 96.1m to 97.6m.

Tocvan owns 100% of Pilar and was attracted initially to the asset by the amount of successful drilling on a very concentrated area. This spans 17,700m from surface to a maximum depth of just 150m, leading the company to believe the property hosts an at surface deposit, which is amenable to open-pit mining.

Three zones of mineralization have been identified in the north-west part of the property, referred to as the Main Zone, North Hill and 4 Trench. Over 19,200m of historic drilling have been completed to date.

The company also has the Roger Creek property in Southern British Columbia, which shows promise for a "potential porphyry copper-gold discovery".

Tocvan Ventures shares nudged up 3.2% in Canada to stand at C$0.63 each.

---Updates for share price---

Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
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Grandmother fighting to save 10-y-o grandson from puberty blockers, gender-transition speaks out

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Eight year-old Jack Wilson was on a weekend visit to his grandparents' house in mid-December 2016 when he informed his grandmother that his name was really Jacquelyn.

"Grammy, my name is Jacquelyn," he complained as he walked into the room and sat down at the kitchen table for lunch. He had just received Christmas presents from friends of his grandmother addressed to "Jack" and was visibly upset.

"Why is that your name?" Amanda Wilson, his grandmother, asked in response as she set a plate of chicken and rice in front of him.

He replied: "Because I'm a girl now."

"What makes you think you're a girl?" she inquired.

"It's my gender," he said.

She pressed him: "Well, what's a gender?"

He stared back at her, puzzled, and said: "I don't know."

Amanda Wilson hasn't seen her grandson in two years and each day she longs to hold him in her arms and hug him but can't. Her daughter, Marissa, and her spouse began believing that little Jack was really a girl around three years ago and because Wilson doesn't agree they've cut off all contact with her, no longer speak, and don't allow her and her husband to see him.

Shortly after Jack turned 7, Marissa and her spouse excitedly announced on social media that Jack was a girl and they couldn't wait to start him on puberty blockers in two years when he turned 9. They posted a picture of Marissa's spouse and Jack outside a children's hospital that is home to one of the 55 transgender clinics now operating in the United States.

The social media account Wilson's daughter had was deactivated and Wilson no longer has the exact words of her daughter's happiness about starting Jack on puberty blockers but she still has the picture.

At Wilson's request, The Christian Post is using pseudonyms in this report and has changed or removed identifying details in order to maintain her anonymity. Although she was baptized as a Methodist, Wilson is not a subscriber to any particular religious faith but chose to speak with CP because she felt it was important that the voice of a grandmother is heard as more parents speak out about their heartache of losing their children to what many are calling a transgender "social contagion." She has reached out to many secular journalists to no avail.

In 2008, Marissa, who lives just outside of Portland, Maine, was in a relationship with a man, became pregnant and gave birth to Jack in 2009. That relationship ended soon after Jack was born and just a few years later, when Marissa was 26, she came out as a lesbian and started dating a woman. Approximately 16 months later, they married in June 2013. Seven months into that marriage her spouse came out as transgender and changed her name to a male name and started taking hormones. The couple separated last year and now share custody of Jack.

Wilson, who is from the Boston area and now lives in Amesbury, Massachusetts, first thought something seemed strange in early February 2016 at an event where Jack was there with his mom and he was outside playing. She noticed he had on a girl's leopard-print jacket with pink fur around the cuffs and hood.

Several weeks later on May 1 she received a letter in the mail from Marissa saying that Jack was a transgender girl and that if family and friends did not affirm and support 'her' in this new identity they would be written out of their lives. They were to henceforth call Jack "Jacquelyn," noting they would allow people to call him "Jackie" as a nickname because Jack helped pick that name, but they personally preferred Jacquelyn.

"It seemed like this all happened overnight," Wilson said in a recent interview with CP.

Other than her daughter's spouse transitioning and hearing about it briefly in the news on the radio, she wasn't familiar with transgenderism as an ideology and was not one who followed politics much at all.

Yet when she received the letter she didn't know what to do because although she and her husband didn't believe it, they wanted to do their best to figure out what was happening. Wilson started doing her own research online to find resources on children who believe they're transgender.

For the first year Wilson and her husband decided to play it as cool as they could, especially when Jack was with them, but that soon changed. They would sometimes have Jack for a weekend and just let him have fun and would play with him. They tried not to pay too much attention to the gender issues swirling around him at home.

"But every time we would send him back my daughter was disappointed or mad about something," Wilson said, explaining that Marissa would call her and berate her for not being sufficiently affirming both of Jack as a girl and of her parenting.

What Wilson describes as "the final straw" occurred just over two years ago in February 2017. The Wilsons had Jack for the weekend and Marissa had packed a sleeveless summer dress for Jack to wear but the temperatures were below freezing and they had several inches of snow on the ground. Because it was so cold Wilson washed what Jack had on the day before  a Disney Cinderella T-shirt with glittery gold lettering and girl jeans  so he could be warm when they took him to a birthday party they were going to the next day.

Jack had "loads of fun" at the birthday party, Wilson said, recalling how he was laughing and horsing around with the other kids in the snow with their sleds.

But Marissa was furious and "totally freaked out" when she found out that Jack was never dressed in the summer dress while in the care of his grandparents that weekend, Wilson recounted.

"And that was the last time I spoke to her and saw him," she said, distraught.

Three months before, they had him for another weekend and took him to an event for children at the Boston Museum of Science. Wilson and her husband were wearing Boston Red Sox sweatshirts and Jack said he wanted one so they got him a Red Sox hoodie and a New England Patriots T-shirt  he wanted one with a player's name on it  and a pair of red socks that had the Red Sox logo on them.

"He had a blast, running around like boys do," Wilson said.

Even though Jack always had lots of fun when he was with his grandparents it didn't seem to matter to Marissa. They had always done something wrong. The angry phone calls kept coming, insisting that Jack must be fully affirmed as a girl and that Wilson must also voice her approval of how she was raising him.

"But when he was here with us, we didn't have to be [affirming]. We just played with him. It wasn't a big deal," she said.

Although Jack was being led to believe he was actually a girl he never really caught on that his grandmother was not affirming him as a girl. When he was with her she would say Jack very quickly and it was close enough to Jackie that he never said anything.

Yet right before Christmas in 2016, Jack was again visiting his grandparents and there were many presents for him under the tree from other friends that were addressed to "Jack," and that upset him. Wilson and her husband had left his name off their gifts and just gave them to him.

It was that weekend where Wilson and Jack had the lunchtime conversation about his name and where Wilson asked him "What's a gender?" and he replied that he didn't know what a gender was, even as he was being required to live and function as the opposite one.

For Wilson, that exchange revealed just how much confusion had been sown into her grandson's impressionable, developing mind. She believes today that had Jack not spent his formative years watching his mother's spouse transition that he would have never entertained the idea that he might have been born in the "wrong" body.

Around this same time, Wilson was seeing a therapist herself to sort through her own confusion with this, as she was struggling to know how to continue being a good grandparent in a situation she could not understand. She wanted to tell Jack about "the facts of life" and explain biology in terms a young boy could understand, but she did not because her counselor cautioned against doing that and urged her to be extra careful.

A clinical social worker furthers the deception

Two weeks after the Wilsons received the letter announcing Jack was a girl, her daughter invited them to meet a clinical social worker to alleviate their concerns. The two of them met with her the next week.

"She basically told us, 'just let him explore his gender,'" Wilson said.

The social worker seemed gracious and she appeared to share the concerns they had that their daughter's spouse had some anger issues, Wilson noted. But she had not heard, as Marissa had told Wilson, that Jack had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

Wilson was then extremely confused, as what she was hearing from her daughter conflicted from what the social worker was saying. When she brought this up later on a phone call with her daughter, Marissa became very angry and then said another meeting would take place with all four of them, the Wilsons, Marissa and her spouse. Wilson and her husband agreed to the meeting.

"Well, it was only about a month later and the clinician had a totally different attitude," Wilson recalled.

"She looked at me in the eyes and said: 'Your granddaughter does not think she is a girl. She is a girl."

Wilson was stunned. She could hardly believe this was the same woman who was so understanding and kind a few weeks earlier at their prior meeting.

"I started screaming at her and said 'No, that's not true,'" Wilson continued.

She then turned to her daughter's spouse, pointed at her and told her: "My grandson is no more a girl than you're a guy."

The social worker then tried to calm everyone down as the discussion was growing heated. Wilson's husband then inquired about puberty blockers and their use in young children.

"She just made it sound like it was like kids eating candy, that they were reversible, that there were no harms," she said, disgruntled.

Upon hearing her brush off their questions, Wilson and her husband got up and left, enraged.

Wilson did not buy into the idea that the blockers were like candy because of what she had learned from her own research. She had found critical voices on the practice of chemically suppressing the pubertal signals in the brain, medical perspectives that had reinforced her common sense.

"If I knew nothing about them I think she probably could have convinced my husband and me, but because I did have some knowledge, I was prepared," she said.

In Wilson's mind, Jack was just a little boy who was pretend-playing, putting on dresses and being creative, and that it was no big deal.

At the second meeting with the social worker, Marissa urged her to watch "I Am Jazz" on TLC.

"It's a really great show, and it will teach you a lot of stuff," her daughter said to her in a text message.

Wilson decided to watch the first two episodes of the series and was thoroughly repulsed and horrified when she finished.

"I sent her a text back and said: 'You let my grandson watch that crap? He's 7 years old. And you let him watch that crap?'" Wilson asked.

Wilson and Marissa then got into a big fight.

The horror of puberty blockers

The Massachusetts grandmother doesn't know if her grandson has been started on the blockers but she suspects that he has. And she laments that if indeed he has begun them he will likely be on them for several years and then be put on cross-sex hormones, which will permanently sterilize him. The only connection she has to him is through photos that friends of her daughter's sometimes see and send her. They continue to dress him and treat him as a girl.

After storming out of the therapist's office that day in May 2016, Wilson continued to research puberty blockers and her horror only grew. She started posting about them on her Facebook page along with expressions of her anger and disgust that they were considered legitimate medicine and health care. A friend who agreed with her urged her to take her rants to an even more public forum so more people could see them.

Although she was not computer-savvy she thought that was a good idea, so she opened a Twitter account. She soon connected with other distressed moms who were hiding behind pseudonyms to maintain their anonymity, all of whom were dealing with children who believe they are the opposite sex and were calling themselves transgender or nonbinary.

"I cry myself to sleep every night thinking about it," Wilson said, knowing that her grandson's normal physiological and sexual development is likely being stunted.

Wilson often worries that Jack will end up with a disfigured body and a severely split psyche. The thought that, like 17-year-old Jazz Jennings, her grandson will have a less than fully functional micro-penis because of all of the hormones and drugs he might now be taking frequently torments her.

In her worst moments she is plagued with a bone-rattling fear that after all these transition chemicals Jack might be so dissociated from his body that he will, in a few years, be steered into undergoing a surgical procedure where his underdeveloped gonads are cut off and his smaller than normal penis is inverted to fashion a fake vagina, which would be partially constructed using a bit of his intestine.

"Envisioning him going through that, like Jazz did, it gives me nightmares," she said, mournfully.

Her concerns about the psychological effects of puberty blockers have merit. Dr. Michael Laidlaw, a Rocklin, California-based endocrinologist, told CP in a December interview about Lupron, one of the drugs used in gender clinics across the U.S. Laidlaw said these drugs are psychologically addicting "either because of a direct psychotropic effect or because the child can reassure themselves that they are not growing into an adult male body or an adult female body. It continues the illusion."

A grandmother's agony

"I cry a lot," Wilson said of the sadness she now lives with daily, admitting that she sometimes self-medicates with alcohol. She has been seeing a counselor to process her ongoing anguish but hesitates to go on medication for depression.

In her conversations online with fellow suffering moms, activists and a few journalists who are resisting transgender activism and medicalization, suicide is a topic that comes up in a few contexts in their conversations.

"There have actually been times ... where I thought I could do it," Wilson said, her voice halting.

"But I don't want to really talk to other mothers about that very much because I don't want to put [suicidal] ideas in their heads," she said through tears.

What infuriates Wilson most is the manipulative threat transgender activists often use  that unless children are allowed to undergo gender transition they are at higher risk of or will indeed commit suicide. The fact is that when children are transitioned, it often creates suicidal ideation in their parents and grandparents who do not agree with or support it. Transactivists accuse parents and family who do not support their child's wishes to be the opposite sex as "violence" and that they hate their children when in fact the opposite is true, she explained.

"I don't think I could kill myself, but I just want to die. This has destroyed me so much I just want to die," Wilson said.

"And then I think about my husband, and I think about my other grandchild, and I pick myself up and go on another day."

Losing friends who demand she comply

The losses have been searingly painful and they have extended beyond the zero contact with her grandson and daughter.

Wilson also no longer speaks to a pair of sisters, friends of hers with whom she has shared Thanksgiving and other holidays for over 30 years. These friends have sided with her daughter and fully support the transitioning of Jack.

Ever since it was announced that Jack was really a girl, whenever Wilson would talk on the phone with these friends they would use female pronouns when referring to Jack and correct Wilson when she referred to her grandson with male pronouns. Wilson would not correct her friends even though she did not like hearing them say that. But it finally got to be too much and she could not take it anymore.

"I said: 'Stop correcting me," she said on one particular occasion. But her friend persisted with the female pronouns.

"When she did it a third time I exploded," Wilson said.

"I've not corrected you once. And I've asked you three times to stop correcting me. This is my grandson, not yours," she emphasized, shouting at her through the phone.

A bitter fight ensued and Wilson eventually said to herself "I'm done" and hung up the phone.

The friend's sister heard about it and called Wilson to tell her that she owed her sister an apology for yelling at her.

"I told her, 'Well, she deserved it,'" Wilson recounted.

"So we're not friends anymore," she added. "She had a lot of gall correcting me every time I said 'he' telling me 'it's she' or when I'd say his name and she'd then say the girl name."

The holidays are now especially hard. Wilson said she just "goes through the motions every time one rolls around."

"When I consider how much I've missed in the past two years, there's a big difference between age 8 and 10. When I think of how much I've missed out on, we were always so close before this. I'm not like the see-you-once-a-year grandma, and I think that's why I'm so devastated. We were so close. And now it's just ... gone," she said, mourning that she could not be with him on his recent birthday.

Jack turned 10 on Feb. 28.

Wilson has pursued what she might do legally but she believes she has no recourse. She contacted a few attorneys in Massachusetts and even found one locally who was also licensed to practice law in both her home state and in Maine where her daughter and grandson live but she did not want to get involved. Another Maine-based law firm told her the same thing.

A paralegal there told her that "grandparents' rights are hard enough to fight for on a good day" and with the transgender issues factoring in they did not want the trouble or negative publicity.

Wilson has also called Child Protective Services in hopes they could help her but they could not because gender-transitioning children, legally speaking, is not considered abuse even though many physicians regard it as such.

"I can't find any peace," she explained. "Every time I try to find peace and I say to myself 'OK, you've gotta let this go, you've got to stop, you've done everything you can.' And then I say to myself, 'No, you've got to do more, there's gotta be something more.'

"So I just keep doing it, and the more I keep doing it the less peace I have. And I'm not going to find peace until there is resolution somehow."

Wilson now counsels parents to trust their instincts.

"Let your kid be a kid," she said, when asked what she would tell parents who are being told their children might be transgender.

"Don't take them to any gender clinic. They don't need therapy at that age. They need to just be allowed to play."

If a boy puts on a dress and starts playing around, don't look at it as him somehow sending a gendered message, she added.

"I will never affirm this idea," she continued, that children can change sex. "There is nothing that will ever change my mind."

"And that doesn't stop me from loving them. I mean, I love my daughter. I love my grandson. But wrong is wrong. I can't and won't try to convince myself of something that is not true."

Wilson believes she's as adamant in her fight as she is because she was a victim of childhood sexual trauma; the abuse started before she turned 6 and lasted for many years, she told CP.

"And, of course, at that age, I didn't know I was being abused when I was being abused," she said.

Her current fight to attempt to rescue her grandson has caused many of those horrific memories to resurface, and the pain is particularly potent because she continues to pick up on the red flags and abuse dynamics operating around Jack that are, unfortunately, eerily familiar.

"I'm 57 years old. I'm long past that. And so now, it's not like a trigger but it has brought it back. I think it makes me fight this even harder because I'm just so mad. I see that this is wrong. I know it's wrong," she elaborated, vowing to continue.

"It's wrong what happened to me as a child, even though I didn't know it was wrong then. But I know it now. And that's what's happening to my grandson. But the difference is that he's not going to know it's wrong until he's old enough to say it's wrong, and by then he's probably going to be so brainwashed he's still not going to know it's wrong."
The Executive Office is under a legal duty to fund a pension scheme for victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Court of Appeal ruled on Tuesday.

Senior judges made the declaration in an ongoing legal battle by one of the so-called Hooded Men to break the political stalemate over who pays the compensation.

First Minister Arlene Foster welcomed the ruling.

"It is reassuring for innocent victims. It restates the law and emphasises that the Northern Ireland Executive must ensure payments are made to victims," she said.

"It is disappointing that Sinn Fein ministers blocked and delayed this scheme. I look forward to payments being made.

"Whilst the payments will be made from the Northern Ireland Executive, there is a strong argument that the Government should be increasing the Northern Ireland budget accordingly to fund the pension. After all some of the eligible claimants live outside Northern Ireland. I have been pressing this with the Government and we need to see action.

In August last year the High Court held that the Executive Office deliberately stymied introduction of the scheme in a bid to force the UK Government into footing the bill.

Following that verdict the Department of Justice was designated to administer the programme.

Since then, however, a funding dispute between Stormont and Westminster has continued.

A draft budget announced by Sinn Fein Finance Minister Conor Murphy last month only included the administrative costs of pensions.

With no order made in the first court case to provide grant funding, Brian Turley appealed that outcome in a bid to ensure the necessary financial package is immediately put in place.

He was among 14 men detained, forced to wear hoods and subjected to special interrogation methods by the British military as the conflict in Northern Ireland raged during the early 1970s.

His lawyers described the ongoing failure to pay compensation as "outrageous".

They argued that the scheme, which involves a victims' board assessing eligibility and the level of payouts, could be wrongly frustrated by up to a year.

Ruling on the appeal today, Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan backed submissions that there is no discretion involved.

He said: "We declare there is a legal duty on the Executive Office to fund victim's payments and lump sums under the 2020 Regulations so that the Board can make the necessary payments.

"We express no view on the dispute between the Northern Ireland Executive and the NIO."

The verdict is the latest stage in Mr Turley's continuing legal campaign on the issue of compensation for victims of the conflict.

Along with Jennifier McNern, who lost both legs in an IRA bomb attack in Belfast in 1972, he took the original challenge to delays in implementing the pension scheme.

Adjourning the outstanding issues in the appeal until March 5, Sir Declan said it was to "allow the parties to find an agreed solution".

He added: "If that is not possible the case will be re-listed on notice to the Department of Finance as an additional party on that day."

Outside court Mr Turley's solicitor, Darragh Mackin, said: "Today's judgment by the Court of Appeal makes it unequivocally clear that there is, and has always been, a legal duty on the Executive Office to make the payments necessary for the purposes of the legacy victims' pensions.

"Our client, who is a victim of state-sponsored torture, has waited long enough for the pension payment to which he is entitled.

"Whilst it is regrettable that he has had to pursue litigation of this kind to obtain the pension he is duly entitled, this case again epitomises the importance of judicial review in cases of this kind whereby there are victims' fundamental rights at stake."

Mr Turley hailed the judgment as confirmation that there is no justifiable reason for delaying payments to victims.

He said: "The need to keep taking cases to Court to obtain what I am entitled to is another form if torture.

"I welcome the Lord Chief Justice's comments that no further delay will be tolerated and look forward to seeing this matter resolved before March 5."

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A fishing stage, a traditional building associated with the cod fishery in Newfoundland. (Courtesy of Fogo Island Inn)

Feds to Release Plan for Sustainable Development of Ocean Economy

OTTAWAFisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan says Canada can get more out of its marine resources through a strategy that also protects ocean health.

The federal government is beginning consultations today on a so-called Blue Economy Strategy that it plans to launch in late fall.

Jordan says the goal of a blue economy is to create middle-class jobs while ensuring healthy oceans and sustainable marine industries from aquaculture to shipping.

She says that can be achieved through strategic investment in areas like new technologies that enhance sustainable commercial fisheries, the development of offshore renewable energy, and tourism.

Canadas ocean industries contributed about $31.7 billion to the countrys GDP each year before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

Jordan says Canada can model possible growth on countries like Norway, where one third of GDP comes from marine industries.

I think theres a huge potential for us to really look at the ocean as a space for post-pandemic recovery, she says in an interview.

This isnt about industrialization of the ocean, this is about making sure were doing this in a sustainable, long-term, healthy way.

The government is kicking off engagement with a series of virtual roundtables and will accept feedback from industry, Indigenous groups, academics, the public and other stakeholders until June 15.

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What do nuclear weapons have to do with entrepreneurship?

As an Air Force nuclear operator, I had to build a team of experts from scratch and set a vision that motivated not only my small five-person team, but the larger 100-man unit we served. I staffed the team myself, set parameters for our new program, saw to each person's onboarding, preparation and certification as instructors. Entrepreneurs build teams every day, businesses large and small focused on ideas that many may not understand. Leaders incubate a detailed vision of the future and have the endurance to see it to fruition, no matter the hurdles before them. This was my world in 2014 when I took on a once-in-a-lifetime challenge to rebuild how we taught, trained and led the Air Force's strategic nuclear mission.

I'd been in the Air Force almost six years by the time I arrived in Cheyenne, Wyoming. As an experienced missile operator, I'd witnessed many delegating missteps and knew our community regularly failed to develop better leaders. Up to that point, our individual worth was measured by three monthly tests, each a set of 20 multiple choice questions graded against a 90 percent standard, and whether we asked too many questions. While deployed on alert, young crew members sometimes froze with indecision when facing the complex problems that simple test questions can't replicate. I would be assigned on a new position with responsibilities that included delivering ongoing combat training. My job was to help the team become fearless, with little to no guidance on how to do it. So with a brand-new team of five, where would I start? I knew two things: I needed to keep things simple, and to maintain a consistent message.

Related: Amazon Wants to Hire 3,000 Workers in Finance and Tech

1. Teach values

I brought our team into a sterile conference room on our first day together and asked for patience and flexibility. A lot would change in a short period of time and our work schedules were anything but certain. But our task was straightforward---to build a development program that created world-class operators who would be ready for anything. As you build your team around a great idea, ask yourself: What's your vision for them and what mission will you fulfill together? What are your non-negotiable core values? And when faced with an ethical dilemma, how do you want people to handle it?

We spent many hours discussing values over the ensuing year, but starting with these three questions helped me get to the core of why we were doing what we were doing. More importantly, it helped me convey what I expected of each person. This wasn't about watching them perform; in fact the investment in energy at this stage is incredibly high. Whereas each team member's output is quite low. You won't see dividends from this time spent immediately. You won't see it until something goes wrong and you're facing an irate client, bad product rollout or losing a potential revenue stream.



For my instructor team, as soon as they encountered difficult decisions or a resistant crew member, I could see flexibility, patience and "ready for anything" in action. When trainees struggled, the instructors devoted extra time to helping them, going so far as changing their own schedules to accommodate study sessions. When they built scenarios for use in the simulator, they spent hours crafting difficult, highly complex situations that were realistic yet aimed at pushing every crew member to the limit of their potential. And to face their fears with a safety net before doing so in real life.

2. Train skills

After values comes something more tangible. I had to quickly determine what role each person would fulfill. For a new business owner, this could be anything from running cash registers to client intake and business development. With a well-honed value set, now we get down to the tasks each person performs as part of their job. What skills do they need so they can perform autonomously? What must you demonstrate, or ask someone else to demonstrate, before a team member can operate independently? Who evaluates performance of these skills and decides when a team member is ready. As the leader, are you qualified to train it or do you need help?



There's absolutely nothing wrong with getting help. When it came time to train a new scheduler for my team, I knew nothing about the software we used to view and edit the schedule. So I asked for help from an expert. They joined one of our team meetings and ran a tutorial. Most of the daily tasks proved simple with a few clicks. Anything more troublesome and our team scheduler had a ready-made support structure in place to field questions. For most of our daily tasks, I relied on individual team members to gauge when they were proficient and ready to take full ownership of their role. At this point, your time and energy invested decreases as team members' output increases -- as you train skills, you expect proficient demonstrations from people who are working toward a vision of the future and with a set of values to rely on.

Related: These 27 Companies are the Best Employers in Mexico in 2021

3. Lead by letting go

This was the toughest step for me. After dedicating myself to teaching values and training skills, what did execution look like? For months, despite everything I described above, I kept tasks to myself. I did way more in a day than I had hours available, asking my instructors for help only to validate or backup my work. What I missed was how frustrated they all were. They wanted to invest more of their own time and contribute toward our vision. Yet I'd erected walls around the important stuff, leaving scraps for them as we trudged ahead. Just as I reached the end of my rope, a mentor pulled me into his office and laid out the problem in broad daylight: "Your instructors want more and you need to let go and trust them."

I resisted at first, arguing that I needed to "train them more." But there's always something else you can provide. There's always more to learn, more to discuss, so much so that we can justify holding onto things forever. And watching our team crash and burn as a result. I walked out of his office and into mine, calling in my senior instructor. Without hesitation, I let go and told her she would take over 100 percent of the scheduling responsibility. She knew the software, knew how to handle conflicts and was primed to take on more of a leadership role. A key to the change was this: I wasn't going to check her work. I trusted her, but also knew I had to show that I trusted her. Anything less would've made the whole thing suspect.

Related: 5 Skills that Should be a Part of Every Manager's Training

It's never a good time and you're never ready to let go of something you thought was near and dear. But the sooner you do, the sooner you find the time to focus on bigger challenges lying ahead while building an even bigger, more effective squad in the process. This has never been more true than during our current global pandemic. Indeed a new survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Kajabi, a commerce platform, found that despite the challenges of COVID-19, found that 78% of entrepreneur-respondents have used lockdown as an opportunity to further plan how to grow their business once the vaccines had returned us all to some sense of normalcy.

Leadership way more art than science, so there never will be a one-size-fits-all solution to motivating others. But if there's one thing the best leaders have proven for the rest of us, it's that simplicity matters. The more you take on, the more priorities you set, the less clarity your team will have on the future. Take a step back and follow these three steps to watch your team grow into a powerhouse that makes a difference in the world.

Related:

The Air Force Checklist Will Help You Build a Team That Lasts

Become a Better Leader by Improving Your Communication Skills

Why Do Consumers Buy Certain Products and Services?



Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
As we work through the month May, I want to give a couple of updates from the last few weeks. My priority bill, LB 644, has advanced from the first and second round of debate and will be heading to final reading soon. This bill was designed to help give the taxpayer clear and concise informa
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aberdeen Global Dynamic Dividend Fund (NYSE: AGD) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund, announced today that it will pay a distribution of US $0.065 per share on February 26, 2021 to all shareholders of record as of February 19, 2021 (ex-dividend date February 18, 2021).

In January 2022, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders, which will state the amount and composition of distributions and provide information with respect to their appropriate tax treatment for the 2021 calendar year.

You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution.

In the United States, Aberdeen Standard Investments is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments Australia Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Ltd., Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Advisors LLC and Aberdeen Standard Alternative Funds Limited.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact [email protected]

aberdeenagd.com

SOURCE Aberdeen Global Dynamic Dividend Fund

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FILE - In this Nov. 27, 2020, file photo, tourists pose for pictures at a mountain viewpoint as sun rises over mist covered Laotian villages seen from Phu Chi Fa viewpoint, Chiang Rai, Thailand. Amid fears of new variants of the virus, new restrictions on movement have hit just as people start to look ahead to what is usually a busy time of year for travel. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe, File)

Community feeding hasnt been quite the same salve for all of Rethinks partners. Kiana Muschett-Owes, the owner of Katie Os Soul Food, in Brooklyn, says $5 per meal covers only the cost of her ingredients, not the staff to prepare them or the handwritten notes she tucks into each box of catfish and cheesy grits. Rethink is advising her and others on how to manage costs and obtain lines of credit. It is also looking into creating a group-buying program that would lower food costs for all its partners.

Thats enough for Ms. Muschett-Owes. Feeding her neighbors in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens has always been an essential part of her business. Wed get calls from people. Or wed partner with the church. People of color never stop being in a pandemic, she said. Now someone is helping me.

The big question is whether nonprofit groups and philanthropists will continue to fund restaurants community work once the pandemic is over. To date, Rethink has raised $10 million for its Certified program, and Mr. Jozwiak is in talks with chefs, including Daniel Humm at Eleven Madison Park, to donate a percentage of sales to support the program. Mr. Humm currently donates 10 meals to Rethink for every one ordered through his EMP At Home service.

Alkimiah has also raised private donations, and already has enough to keep running at least through summer. It continues to apply for city grants, and hopes to sign a catering contract to further support its commitment to feeding Baltimore.

We cant continue the restaurant industry as it was before, Ms. Stein said. This works as part of a new, more sustainable business model.
Nicosia, Feb 9 : Cyprus and Greece have said that the only solution to the Cyprus issue is the reunification of the island in a bi-zonal federation, in line with UN Security Council resolutions.

The position of the two countries was set out after talks in Nicosia between Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday, reports Xinhua news agency.

"The solution cannot deviate from the relevant resolutions and decisions of the Security Council and European principles and values," Anastasiades said.

Mitsotakis said the two countries "remained focused on the UN decisions, which make up the only agreed and universally accepted solution framework and form the foundation for the implementation of the European acquis communautaire across the entire island".

Turkey has called for a two-state solution on the grounds that decades-long discussions for a federal solution had failed.

Mitsotakis' visited to Cyprus came ahead of a new effort by the US to end the division of the island.

Anastasiades and Mitsotakis said that Cyprus and Greece were ready to participate in an unofficial international conference UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he would convene once all sides give their consent, in a bid to revive the Cyprus peace negotiations, stalled three and a half years ago.

Guterres had said in a report submitted to the Security Council on January 8 that in pursuit of his Good Offices Mission on Cyprus, he plans to call an unofficial international conference once all sides give their consent.

The last negotiations on Cyprus held in Switzerland after the two sides failed to agree on a Guterres blueprint for a settlement.

The Cyprus issue is an ongoing dispute between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

In 2014, officially renewed reunification talks began between the two sides, but yet to reach a consensus to solve the conflict.
DALLAS, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today celebrates again being named as one of Forbes' 2021 America's Best Employers. The Dallas-based carrier ranks among the top 100 companies in the Large Employer category. This is the sixth year Southwest has made the list.

"We are grateful for this honor, which would not be possible without our People," said Julie Weber, Vice President and Chief People Officer. "Being recognized as one of 'America's Best Employers' demonstrates our 50-year commitment of putting our People first and offering best-in-class Hospitality and Customer Service to our Employees and Customers."

Forbes partnered with Statista to select America's Best Employers 2021 through an independent survey from a vast sample of more than 50,000 American employees working for large or midsize companies. Survey participants were asked to anonymously rate their willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family. Employee evaluations also included other employers in their respective industries that stood out either positively or negatively. The survey has been conducted on companies across 25 industry sectors employing more than 1,000 employees in the United States.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

In its 50th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 56,000 Employees to a Customer base that topped 130 million Passengers in 2019. Southwest has a robust network of point-to-point service with a strong presence across top leisure and business markets. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. In 2020, the carrier added service to Hilo, Hawaii; Cozumel, Mexico; Miami; Palm Springs, Calif.; Steamboat Springs; and Montrose (Telluride), Colo. In 2021, Southwest will begin service to both Chicago (O'Hare) and Sarasota/Bradenton on Feb. 14; both Savannah/Hilton Head and Colorado Springs on March 11; both Houston (Bush) and Santa Barbara, Calif. on April 12; Fresno, Calif. on April 25; and Jackson, Miss. on June 6.

The carrier issued its Southwest Promise in May 2020 to highlight new and round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers and Employees well-being and comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning efforts at airports and onboard aircraft, and face covering requirements for Customers and Employees. Additional details about the Southwest Promise are available at Southwest.com/Promise.

Southwest coined Transfarency to describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances). Southwest does not charge change fees, though fare differences might apply.

Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. Learn more about how the carrier gives back to communities across the world by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship.

Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 20:28:14|Editor: huaxia

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A woman sells flowers for Chinese New Year decorations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Feb. 8, 2021. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

by Nguon Sovan, Mao Pengfei

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- For Meas Channary, a Cambodian of Chinese descent, the Chinese New Year, or known as the Spring Festival, is one of the best annual occasions to honor her ancestors and enjoy a family gathering.

Days ahead of the Spring Festival, the 36-year-old Phnom Penh resident said she has always decorated her house with red-color paper cuts, flowers, red lanterns and Chinese couplets to greet the New Year.

"Usually, we pray to express our gratitude to our ancestors and to ask for happiness and good business in the New Year," she told Xinhua.

"This year, even though our country is still suffering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and our income declines, we still celebrate the Spring Festival because it's our culture and tradition," she added.

Chea Huykong, a 37-year-old vendor of Chinese New Year decorations and items in Phnom Penh, said a few weeks before the festival, business is booming.

"Despite the ongoing COVID-19 threat, a lot of people still come to buy New Year decorations," she told Xinhua.

"I hope that in the New Year, we will be able to return to normal life after China provided COVID-19 vaccines to Cambodia," she said.

BROAD CELEBRATION

The Chinese New Year is not an official holiday in Cambodia, but it is broadly celebrated, as some schools, private companies and institutions are closed by themselves on the occasion.

Long Ponnasirivath, secretary of state and spokesman of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, said that the country usually observes three New Year festivals a year, namely the Universal New Year, the Chinese New Year and the Cambodian New Year.

"Currently, there are a lot of Cambodians with Chinese ancestry, and during the Spring Festival, no matter if they are Cambodians of Chinese descent or pure Cambodians, they take this occasion to enjoy together," he told Xinhua.

The spokesman attributed the broad celebration to the country's respect for cultural diversity and freedom of belief, and excellent relations between the peoples of the two countries.

Sambo Manara, vice president of the Pannasastra University of Cambodia, said that the Spring Festival has been gaining its popularity in the country from year to year thanks to closer ties in politics, economics and culture between the two countries.

"We estimate that about 80 percent of Cambodians living in urban areas and 40 percent in rural areas celebrate the Chinese New Year," he said.

"We can witness with our own eyes, during the Spring Festival, most shops and businesses in the capital are closed as their owners are busy to celebrate the festival," said Manara, who is also a history professor.

HONORING ANCESTORS

Ponnasirivath said both the Cambodian and Chinese people have a very similar way to worship their ancestors, that is why it is easy for them to celebrate the festival together.

"I think both Chinese and Cambodians have the same belief -- worshiping the spirit of their ancestors, so the festival is an occasion for them to pray and express their gratitude to their ancestors," he said.

Diep Sophal, a history professor at the University of Cambodia, said that people usually make offerings of roasted piglets or chickens and other praying items to their ancestors based on their affordable resources, and pray for happiness and good business in the New Year.

He added that some families invite lion dances to perform at their houses or businesses to usher in the Spring Festival and ward off bad luck.

Both Cambodians and Chinese "are very grateful and always honor their ancestors," he noted.

Sophal said that some believe that the celebration will bring good luck to their businesses in the New Year.

FRATERNAL FRIENDSHIP

Ponnasirivath said that according to the history, the Spring Festival has been celebrated in Cambodia since ancient times.

Meanwhile, Manara said the two countries have had centuries of historic, cultural and commercial relationships and that it is believed that Cambodians and Chinese have celebrated the Spring Festival together since the first century when they began to trade with each other.

"This demonstrates that Cambodians are open-hearted to accept the cultural value of other countries," he said. "The close relationship between Cambodia and China today is also a result of centuries of great relationship between the peoples of the two countries."

Similarly, the two peoples "are like brothers and enjoy the festival together," Sophal said.

Chea Monyrith, president of the Chinese Cambodian Evolution Researcher Association, said the wide celebration in Cambodia truly reflects the fraternal relationship between the peoples of both countries.

"People celebrating the Chinese New Year are to build closer friendship with their Chinese friends, their business partners, and their neighbors who have Chinese ancestry," he told Xinhua.
Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red has been hit by what it describes as a "targeted cyber attack."

The Polish studio explained it discovered the breach on February 8, and that some of its internal systems and data were compromised as a result.

"An unidentified actor gained unauthorized access to our internal network, collected certain data belonging to CD Projekt capital group, and left a ransom note (pictured below) the content of which we release to the public," reads a studio statement.

"Although some devices in our network have been encrypted, our backups remain intact. We have already secured our IT infrastructure and begun restoring the data."

The company's investigation into the breach is still ongoing, but at the time of writing it doesn't look like any personal player data was leaked.

CD Projekt said it has contacted the relevant authorities -- including law enforcement, IT forensic specialists, and the president of the Personal Data Protection Office -- to assist with its investigation.

The studio has also refused to co-operate with the perpetrator, who claims to have obtained the entire source code for Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3, Gwent, and "the unreleased version of Witcher 3," along with HR, administrative, legal, investor, and accounting documents.

"We will not give in to the demands nor negotiate with the actor, being aware that this may eventually lead to the release of the compromised data. We are taking necessary steps to mitigate the consequences of such a release, in particular by approaching any parties that may be affected by the breach."

Update: CD Projekt has tweeted a followup, suggesting that former employees of the studio take precautions like enabling fraud alerts or reaching out to CDPR's privacy team via email, though it currently doesn't have any evidence saying ex-employees' data was included in the breach.

A political settlement of the Yemen crisis seemed more plausible than ever last week when American President Joe Biden outlined his administrations foreign policy.

In a speech at the State Department in Washington, Biden said, This war has to end... And to underscore our commitment; we are ending all American support for offensive operations in the war in Yemen, including relevant arm sales.

Yet the American president reiterated Washingtons position in support of Saudi Arabia defending itself in the face of external threats. That meant all defence arms deals will still go ahead.

Every party in the region interpreted Bidens statement the way they liked, but realistic analysts concluded that ending the war in Yemen would require much more than a Biden call. As one Western diplomat who has previously served in the region put it, The anticipated change in the US position on Yemen would not have much impact on the dynamics of the conflict in the war-torn country.

Many are drawing an analogy with Barak Obamas policy in the region, which actually made no difference. When Iran-backed Houthi rebels ended up controlling most of the country, ousting a legitimate government in 2014, a Saudi-led coalition backing said government intervened militarily in the country to push the rebels and reinstate it. All this took place under Obama, when Biden was vice president.

Prominent columnist Abdulrahman Al-Rashed wrote in Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that Bidens stand on Yemen could be the best approach to the most difficult issue in Saudi-American relations.

We were surprised by Bidens vow to protect Saudi Arabia from attacks by Iranian Houthis. It is a step forward, even beyond Trumps administration we expect one of two things: either the Houthis will stop targeting Saudi cities, which would be a positive development making a political solution more viable, or they will send drones and rockets over the border, enabling Saudi F-15 fighters to respond.

The Houthis would then be violating an American ceasefire. Al Rashed suggests that then US would be part of the escalation and stand by its promise to support Saudi Arabia.

But the Houthis went for the second option. Just 48 hours after the American administration notified Congress that it would remove the Houthis from its list of foreign terrorist organisations, Saudi defences intercepted drone attacks from Yemen. The Biden administrations response was to warn the Houthi rebels against ongoing attacks on civilians.

A State Department statement on Sunday said, As the president is taking steps to end the war in Yemen and Saudi Arabia has endorsed a negotiated settlement, the United States is deeply troubled by continued Houthi attacks We call on the Houthis to immediately cease attacks impacting civilian areas inside Saudi Arabia and to halt any new military offensives inside Yemen, which only bring more suffering to the Yemeni people.

For many Saudis, that is not so different from the Trump administrations reaction to attacks on Saudi oil installations in 2019, claimed by Houthis and believed to be launched by Iran. Riyadh expected the Americans to strike Iran, but Trump just expressed verbal support.

But diplomatic rhetoric will not solve the Yemen debacle; even if Yemen is included in an American-Iranian deal on the latters nuclear programme and regional interference. More than six years of war and destruction in the country have left it close to irreparable.

Whether it is Trump or Biden in the White House, it might not make that much difference as the internal scene in Yemen has become more complicated and local parties are now entrenched in a destructive course. Fragmentation on tribal, sectarian and to a lesser extent political lines is wiping out even the small changes external military intervention achieved  mainly weakening the presence of terrorist groups, especially in the south of the country.

The Biden administrations policy might even add to that complication if its anticipated deal with Iran is not comprehensive.

From the start of the war in Yemen, the coalition knew there would be no military solution. At the end of the day, local Yemeni parties would settle the conflict politically. But the Saudis are wary of the Iranian presence on their southern borders via their proxy, the Houthi militia.

Saudi commentator Abdul-Aziz Alkhames told Al Ahram Weekly, It was the initial goal of the coalition to support the legitimate government. [There was] no military solution in Yemen and the crisis would be settled politically.

The military campaign was mainly in opposition to Iranian interference through the Houthi militia. But Alkhames sees the new American position as an opportunity is a different way.

Washingtons disengagement makes room for other powers to play an active role in the region. France is a good example, and President Macron is working closely with allies like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and UAE to sort out many regional issues. The Biden administrations restrictions on arms sales to Saudi Arabia give us to diversify our sources.

Yemenis inside the country welcomed the change in Washington, the main beneficiary of which will probably be the Muslim Brotherhood affiliate Islah Party, now a component of the Saudi-backed government.

Some 80 per cent of the Yemeni population cannot satisfy their basic needs, and they only care about retrieving normality.

As one Yemeni commentator put it, They are less interested in Trumping or Bidening the crisis.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 February , 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Infotecs, a leading international cybersecurity and threat intelligence platform provider, participated at the final panel discussion "Insights: German Tech and Covid-19" of The German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (GACC NY).

Josef Waclaw, CEO Infotecs GmbH, presented the company Infotecs and their ViPNet solution for secure remote working. He explained how technology helps to cope with the negative impact of the Covid crisis and why companies should provide secure connections to corporate resources.

"ViPNet software based solutions are particularly well suited for helping companies meet this challenge," says Josef Waclaw. "Whether you need to provide secure remote access to email, corporate systems, video conferences, voice calls or Cloud resources without changing your network structure, ViPNet's superior security by design can help you provide highly secure remote access that is quick and easy to deploy, manage and maintain."

In November 2020 Infotecs became a member of The German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. The company received the status of Valued Member and has been included in the new Digital National Membership.

This member exclusive directory is an important resource in the German/American community and includes information about all members of GACC NY from over fifty industries, GACC South, GACC Midwest and their respective chapter offices across the US. This allows companies to establish mutually beneficial contacts with leaders of the European industry and, despite the difficulties associated with the pandemic, to develop mutually beneficial businesses.

The Infotecs team appreciates this great opportunity to participate in GACC NY events and looks forward to more future cooperation.

About Infotecs

A leading international security solutions provider and pioneer of software based VPN solutions, Infotecs developed its Peer-to-Peer ViPNet technology to deliver greater security, flexibility, and throughput than other solutions on the market.

ViPNet Security and Threat Intelligence Platform provide complete multi-layer security in one cost-effective solution. ViPNet is the only solution that supports true endpoint-to-endpoint security and delivers robust security that is scalable, flexible, easy to deploy, manage and maintain. The ViPNet solutions seamlessly integrate into existing networks enabling customers to achieve the right balance of high security with low complexity and low risk. ViPNet solutions are backed up by unparalleled world class support, development, technical team and a strong network of partners.

For additional information on the company please visit: www.infotecs.us

SOURCE Infotecs Americas Inc.

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Tata Steel Europe posted a loss of of Rs 724.27 crore in Q3FY21 as against Rs 956.30 crore in Q3FY20.

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After the setback of Sweden's SSAB pulling out of talks to buy the Dutch units, Tata Steel is now focusing on improving cash flows of its European operations.

The Indian steelmaker will continue with the process to separate the Dutch and UK units of its European operations, the company said after announcing financial results for the third quarter ending December 31, 2020.

"Following the termination of the discussions with SSAB on Tata Steel Netherland (TSN), the company will be focusing on performance and cash flows in the immediate term," the company said in a statement on February 9.

"Tata Steel is committed to arrive at a strategic and sustainable resolution for its European portfolio. Tata Steels IJmuiden plant is among the most environmentally efficient and cost competitive steel producers in Europe. The process to separate Tata Steel Netherlands and Tata Steel UK is currently underway," it added.

On January 29, SSAB announced the termination of the talks which were made formal in November. "We cannot align Tata Steel Ijmuiden with our sustainability strategy in the way desired, Martin Lindqvist, President and CEO at SSAB, had said.

Subsequently, industry observers had told Moneycontrol that the Indian company will now be forced to look outside of Europe to get a buyer. "It is a setback for Tata Steel. They have been looking for a solution for their European business. But now with two failed attempts, their scope for a good solution is narrowing," said a senior executive from the European steel industry.

The financial burden

That Tata Steel will need to re-focus investments into Tata Steel Europe was evident from the third quarter results.

The Indian operations reported better-than-expected numbers, with the highest ever quarterly EBITDA of Rs 8,811 crore, more than doubling from the same quarter in the corresponding year. On the other hand, Tata Steel Europe posted loss of of Rs 724.27 crore at EBITDA level in Q3FY21 against Rs 956.30 crore in Q3FY20.

"In Europe, our underlying performance has improved quarter on quarter while the reported EBIDTA was negatively impacted by few one offs. We remain committed to arrive at a strategic and sustainable solution for Tata Steel Europe, though in the immediate term, we will focus upon business performance and cash flows," CEO and Managing Director TV Narendran said.

The company has been in talks with the UK government for financial aid.

Industry observers have said the company would need to invest substantial amount in its European units to ensure lower carbon footprint, an issue that governments are keen on.
San Francisco, Feb 9 : In a sophisticated cyber-attack, a hacker accessed the computer systems of the water treatment facility in a US city and modified drinking water chemical levels to dangerous parameters in an attempt to poison the city of nearly 15,000 residents.

Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, is the main ingredient in liquid drain cleaners, used to control water acidity and remove metals from drinking water in the water treatment plant.

"The hacker changed the sodium hydroxide from about 100 parts per million to 11,100 parts per million. This is obviously a significant and potentially dangerous increase," Bob Gualtieri, Sheriff of Oldsmar city in Florida state in the US, was quoted as saying in local media reports on Monday.

The intrusion took place on February 5 when the hacker remotely accessed a computer system that was set up to allow for the remote control of water treatment operations.

According to a report in Tampa Bay Times, local and federal authorities including the FBI were investigating the attempt to poison the city of Oldsmar.

The city's water supply was not affected.

"A supervisor working remotely saw the concentration being changed on his computer screen and immediately reverted it," Gualtieri said.

The city officials on Monday emphasised that "several other safeguards are in place to prevent contaminated water from entering the water supply and said they've disabled the remote-access system used in the attack".

Though some cities get water through Pinellas County, Oldsmar provides water directly to its businesses and roughly 15,000 residents.

The computer system at the water treatment plant was set up to allow authorised users to remotely access it for troubleshooting.

Contact with sodium hydroxide can kill skin and cause hair loss and ingestion can be fatal.

In November last year, a water utility in Illinois was targeted by suspected Russian hackers and the attempt was foiled.
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Such is the love of some die-hard fans that they not only shower love on their favourite celebs but often celebrate the special moments of that celeb's family members too. This holds true for Bigg Boss 13 winner Sidharth Shukla whose fans recently trended #HBDRitaAunty on the occasion of his mother's birthday. Sidharth's mother, Rita Shukla celebrated her birthday recently and his fans made sure to make the event even more joyous with their Twitter trend. The actor took to his social media handle to thank his fans for the same.

Sidharth Shukla thanked all his 'Sidhearts' for participating on the Twitter trend, #HBDRitaAunty. He mentioned how his mother was extremely happy to see the same. The Balika Vadhu actor further wrote how he made his mother see all the beautiful wishes that his fans showered on her. He added that his mother is grateful and sends her love and blessings for his fans. Take a look at his tweet.

A Big thank you to everyone who has/is participating in the trend #HBDRitaAunty mom was so happy to see this ....made her read the beautiful things youll had written for her..... she is great full and sends love and blessings to all   Sidharth Shukla (@sidharth_shukla) February 8, 2021

That Sidharth Shukla shares a close bond with his mother is known to all. The Dil Se Dil Tak actor was seen getting emotional on seeing his mother visit him inside the Bigg Boss house on his season. In another episode of the same, the actor was also seen getting teary-eyed after he read a letter which was sent to him by his mother. Needless to say, this was indeed a lovely gesture from the actor's fans on his mother's special day.

Also Read: Sidharth Shukla Flaunts His Dapper Physique For His SidHearts Ahead Of Hosting Bigg Boss 14

Meanwhile, on the work front, Sidharth Shukla will soon be seen in ALT Balaji's Broken But Beautiful Season 3. The actor will be seen opposite Sonia Rathee in the same. The fans of the actor were sent into a frenzy ever since producer, Ekta Kapoor announced that he will be essaying the lead role in the same. The show will also mark Sidharth's digital debut. Apart from that, Sidharth was also seen stepping into Salman Khan's shoes to host one of the Weekend Ka Vaar episodes in Bigg Boss 14. He was seen grilling the competing contestants with some of the questions of the viewers. Apart from that, he was also seen in some hit music videos titled 'Shona Shona' and 'Bhula Dunga' alongside rumoured ladylove Shehnaaz Gill.

Also Read: Bigg Boss 14: Sidharth Shukla Shows The Mirror To Nikki Tamboli And Aly Goni About Their Conduct In The House

A woman has told of her shock at not being offered reconstructive surgery to follow a mastectomy for breast cancer.

Enda Waters, a mother of four, was told breast reconstruction was not deemed essential surgery because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The decision was branded cruel in the Seanad after it was raised by Independent Sharon Keogan.

Ms Waters said: I received the news that I had cancer on my own. I went to hospital to undergo surgery on my own and I was not allowed to have visitors.

This was not easy, but I understand the time we are living in, and what has to be done to protect the healthcare system and vulnerable members of our society.

I cannot understand however that rationale for denying women reconstructive surgery at the time of a mastectomy during the pandemic.

Senator Keogan told colleagues at Leinster House: To me, this seems a cruel and unnecessary deviation from the usual standard of care in breast cancer treatment.

Ms Waters, from Garristown, Co Meath, told the Irish Independent that she was told the operation would not be carried out at this time, as it was more extensive surgery that would involve a greater operative time and length of stay in hospital.

When I queried it with my surgeon, he said there was a directive from the HSE.

She found a lump on her right breast on December 17 and finally had it removed on January 21 after going private.

I felt deflated, without making a pun, to be told I wasnt going to have my breast back until Covid is resolved, to be told to put a piece of cotton wool into a bra to make a second.

"As a woman it is part of your femininity to have two boobs.

Read More

She added: I will have to wait several months and go back to another surgery, another hospital admission, another period of recovery.

Frankly, I cannot see the logic in this. I would like to know how and why the decision not to do reconstructive surgery following cancer treatment was made.

In raising the case, Senator Keogan noted the huge physical and psychological impact a decision like this has on women who are undergoing undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

She asked Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to provide a comprehensive assessment of the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on the healthcare system and on the outcomes for diagnosis and treatment of all conditions.

Ms Waters also said she understood some public patients were having to wait up to three years for reconstruction. One programme was just getting up and running, when shut down due to Covid.

Ms Waters said that while the first reaction to a breast cancer diagnosis was panic, being left without reconstruction was inconsiderate to patients who had suffered physical and mental trauma.

Responding to queries last night, a spokesperson for the HSE suggested redirecting the query to the private hospital but at the time of going to press was unable to answer whether or not the HSE had issued any guidance regarding any such surgery.
Mary Wilson, the longest-reigning original Supreme, has died aged 76.

Wilson died on Monday night at her home in Las Vegas and the cause was not immediately clear, said publicist Jay Schwartz.

Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard made up the first successful configuration of The Supremes.

Ballard was replaced by Cindy Birdsong in 1967, and Wilson stayed with the group until it was officially disbanded by Motown in 1977.

The group's first number one, million-selling song, Where Did Our Love Go, was released on June 17 1964.

Touring at the time, Wilson said there was a moment when she realised they had a hit song.

American singing group The Supremes in 1964, (left to right) Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Diana Ross, during a reception at EMI House in London during a visit to Britain. Picture: PA

"I remember that instead of going home on the bus, we flew," she told the Associated Press in 2014.

"That was our first plane ride. We flew home. We had really hit big."

It would be the first of five consecutive number ones, with Baby Love, Come See About Me, Stop! In The Name Of Love and Back In My Arms Again following in quick succession.

"I just woke up to this news," Ross tweeted, offering her condolences to Wilson's family. "I am reminded that each day is a gift," she added, writing: "I have so many wonderful memories of our time together."

The Supremes also recorded the hit songs You Can't Hurry Love, Up The Ladder To The Roof, and Love Child.

"I was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supremes," said Motown founder Berry Gordy in a statement, according to Variety.

"The Supremes were always known as the 'sweethearts of Motown'."
(Newser)  As the impeachment trial of former President Trump begins in Washington, a matter more important to his immediate future is being discussed some 990 miles to the south by the Palm Beach Town Council: whether he can continue living at Mar-a-Lago. Council members will hear their attorney's opinion on whether the town can bar Trump from living at his club, the AP reports. That was the deal Trump's lawyer offered in 1993: He said Trump would be prohibited from living there if he was allowed to convert the place from a residence to a club. According to Palm Beach Post article from the time, a Trump attorney told the council that Trump would be treated like all other members, who can stay in a suite for no more than seven consecutive days and 21 total days a year. But this promise was not specifically included in the written agreement, which may take precedence.

story continues below

Technically, Trump is an employee of the corporation that owns Mar-a-Lagoand the written agreement only bars members from living there. Under town regulations, a club can provide onsite housing to its employees. The South Florida town in December received a letter from an attorney for a neighbor demanding it bar Trump from living at Mar-a-Lago, saying his residency would hurt property values. Trump moved into Mar-a-Lago on Jan. 20, the day he left office. The Trump Organization said in a statement, "There is no document or agreement in place that prohibits President Trump from using Mar-A-Lago as his residence." Trump owns two other homes near Mar-a-Lago.

(Read more Mar-a-Lago stories.)
Uber will soon offer free rides to Walgreens clinics to help people in underserved communities receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The program is aimed at those who live in socially vulnerable areas and may not be able to easily make it to a pharmacy or clinic.

Once you have confirmation of a Walgreens vaccine appointment, you'll receive an email inviting you to book a free ride if youre eligible for one. Pilot transit programs will get underway in cities including Chicago, Houston and El Paso, Texas as the supply of vaccines ramps up, with one in Atlanta getting underway as soon as next week.

Almost four-fifths of US residents live within five miles of a Walgreens pharmacy and the company has opened mobile and offsite clinics to bolster vaccine deliveries. Over 70 percent of the company's COVID-19 testing sites are in socially vulnerable communities.

Uber's transit pledge is part of a commitment it made in December to provide up to 10 million free or discounted rides to help people get vaccinated. Uber and Lyft have both made overtures to the Biden administration to assist with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations, with the ridesharing companies looking to get their drivers prioritized for inoculations and offering to help with transport to appointments.

While the free rides will help more folks get vaccinated, the program doesn't seem to address key issues about the rollout of inoculations in underserved areas. Those who lack a smartphone or internet access and people who struggle with online systems may find it hard to book an appointment.

Meanwhile, Uber plans to add in-app features to help drivers, delivery couriers and freight carriers who take on work for the company to lock in a vaccine appointment when they become more broadly available. There's also an educational program in the works to reduce any hesitancy people might have about taking the vaccine. Uber and Walgreens are developing that with the help of the National Urban League.
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Saipan Chamber of Commerce webinar this Thursday: Understanding changes to US Congress new relief package
Farmers in India should be provided with early forecasts of expected variations in the monsoon season in order to reduce crop losses, scientists say.

Researchers at the University of Reading and the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) led the first ever in-depth study into how accurately ECMWF's latest long-term global weather forecasting system can predict when the summer monsoon will start, and how much rainfall it will bring.

They found the model provided accurate forecasts a month in advance for the timing of the monsoon in India's major agricultural regions. Providing this information to farmers could help them prepare earlier for unexpected heavy rainfall or extended dry periods, both of which regularly destroy crops in India.

Dr Amulya Chevuturi, a monsoon researcher at the University of Reading and lead author of the study, said: "The Indian monsoon brings around 80% of India's annual rainfall, so even small variations in the timing of its arrival can have a huge impact on agriculture. Accurately predicting these year-to-year variations is challenging, but could be the difference between prosperity or poverty for many families.

"The forecasting accuracy we identified in India's main agricultural regions provides a clear opportunity for this system to make a positive difference to people's lives. A month's warning of a drought or deluge is valuable time to understand the likely impact on water availability and for farmers to make provisions to reduce the threat to food supplies.

"Better forecasts save lives, and this kind of in-depth global analysis is only possible when the best scientists and leading research institutes work together for the benefit of the whole planet."

The Indian monsoon season starts around 1 June every year, beginning in south west India before spreading across the whole subcontinent.

Scientists looked at 36 years' worth of monsoon data to evaluate for the first time the effectiveness of the ECMWF's latest seasonal forecasting system - SEAS5 - in predicting how the Indian monsoon would differ from the long-term average.

The team compared forecasts from 1 May each year from 1981-2016 with actual observations of the monsoons that followed.

Their study, published in Climate Dynamics, found the forecasts were accurate for the large-scale processes, like temperature and winds, that drive the monsoon rainfall across India. The study also found that SEAS5 was good at predicting early or late monsoon arrival over the important agricultural regions along the river Ganges plains and the eastern and western coasts of India.

It also identified deficiencies in the system that could pave the way for model improvements, potentially providing more detailed and accurate seasonal long-term monsoon forecasts.

The study showed the forecasts tended to overestimate rainfall over the mountainous Western Ghats and Himalayan regions, and underestimated rainfall along the plains of the river Ganges in the north of the country, and its delta at the Bay of Bengal.

However, the forecasts were correct for the monsoon rainfall pattern across India, making them useful for planning purposes.

###
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The distribution has been scheduled on 11 flight itineraries, between February 9 and 10. Thus, a total of 131 boxes of doses equivalent to six tons will be distributed.





List of today's flights:





1. Huanuco - Anta - Chimbote

2. Cusco - Andahuaylas

3. Ayacucho - Jauja

4. Cajamarca - Jaen - Chachapoyas

5. Ica

6. Huacho





Upon arrival, the medical material will be sent by land and helicopter to the final destinations in order to immunize the medical personnel, Defense Minister Nuria Esparch explained.





Itinerary for Wednesday:





1. Tumbes - Piura - Chiclayo - Trujillo

2. Tacna - Moquegua - Arequipa

3. Iquitos - Pucallpa

4. Puerto Maldonado - Juliaca

5. Tarapoto - Yurimaguas





According to Esparch, aircraft owned by the Air Force, Army, Navy, and National Police are being used for these flights.





The minister noted that this is a comforting moment as it implies the vaccination of 150,000 Peruvians who are on the frontline of the battle against coronavirus





"They will be more likely to continue working and feel safe along with their families," she said.





After the arrival of the second shipment of vaccines from China's Sinopharm scheduled for this weekend new trips to regions will be scheduled, she added.





(END) VVS/CVC/RMB/MVB

Peru's Armed Forces on Tuesday morning began transporting by air the COVID-19 vaccines to regions in the country Published: 2/9/2021

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Pony.ai, a Chinese autonomous driving startup, announced on Feb. 8 it has bagged $100 million for its Series C+ funding, signifying the completion of its Series C round that raises $367 million in total.

The startup completed its Series C round fundraising through two tranches, according to the company's WeChat account. The newest one roped in two investors Brunei Investment Agency and CPE, CITIC Group's PE arm CITIC Private Equity Funds Management.

Photo credit: Pony.ai



Pony.ai said it raised nearly $900 million in total during the past 12 month. In November 2020, it closed the first tranche of the Series C financing led by Teachers' Innovation Platform (TIP), a venture capital and growth investment firm owned by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board, raising $267 million.

Since its foundation in 2016, Pony.ai has to-day gathered over $1.1 billion, which were mainly from leading global institutional investors and OEMs.

The startup has already launched R&D hubs in Silicon Valley, Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai. By virtue of its breakthroughs in AI domain, Pony.ai has formed partnership with many renowned automakers and auto parts suppliers such as Toyota, Hyundai, FAW Group, GAC Group and Bosch.

On Dec. 16, 2020, Pony.ai received a permit from Guangzhou authority that allowed the startup to test its autonomous trucks on public roads, the company announced via its WeChat account.

Pony.ai said its autonomous trucks sailed through many testing items for such complex scenarios as traffic light recognition, obstacle avoidance, car-following, lane merging, overtaking, emergency parking, and travelling across crossroads and roundabouts.

As for the passenger vehicles, Pony.ai has launched autonomous mobility pilots in multiple cities across the U.S. and China, serving hundreds of riders per day. As of Oct. 2020, the startup's fleet had run for over 3.5 million kilometers in road tests with its technologies and system being continuously improved and updated.
LONDON : It is not yet clear whether the world needs a new set of vaccines to fight different variants of the novel coronavirus but scientists are working on new ones so there is no reason for alarm, the head of the Oxford Vaccine Group said on Tuesday.

South Africa has paused a planned rollout of AstraZeneca's vaccines after data showed it gave minimal protection against mild infection among young people from the dominant variant there, stoking fears of a much longer battle with the pathogen.

AstraZeneca and Oxford University aim to produce a next generation of vaccines that will protect against variants as soon as the autumn before the Northern Hemisphere winter, AstraZeneca's research chief said this month.

"There are definitely new questions about variants that we're going to be addressing. And one of those is: do we need new vaccines?," Andrew Pollard, Chief Investigator on the Oxford vaccine trial, told BBC radio.

"I think the jury is out on that at the moment, but all developers are preparing new vaccines so if we do need them, we'll have them available to be able to protect people."

Vaccines are seen as the swiftest path out of the COVID-19 crisis which has killed 2.33 million people and turned normal life upside down for billions.

Researchers from the University of Witwatersrand and the University of Oxford said in a prior-to-peer analysis that the AstraZeneca vaccine provided minimal protection against mild or moderate infection from the South African variant among young people.

Target population

Protection against moderate-severe disease, hospitalisation or death could not be assessed in the study of around 2,000 volunteers who had a median age of 31 as the target population were at such low risk, the researchers said.

"I think there's clearly a risk of confidence in the way that people may perceive you. But as I say I don't think that there is any reason for alarm today," Pollard said.

"The really important question is about severe disease and we didn't study that in South Africa, because that wasn't the point of that study, we were specifically asking questions about young adults."

The so-called South African variant, known by scientists as 20I/501Y.V2 or B.1.351, is the dominant one in South Africa and is circulating in 41 countries around the world including the United States.

Other major variants include the so-called UK variant, or 20I/501Y.V1, and the Brazilian variant known as P.1.

An analysis of infections by the South African variant showed there was only a 22% lower risk of developing mild-to-moderate COVID-19 if vaccinated with the AstraZeneca shot versus those given a placebo.

If vaccines do not work as effectively as hoped against new and emerging variants, the world could be facing a much longer - and more expensive - battle against the virus than previously thought.

"As long as we have enough immunity to prevent severe disease, hospitalisations and death then we're going to be fine in the future in the pandemic," Pollard said.

Pollard said the South African government was right to look at how it deployed the AstraZeneca vaccine because the original plan was to use it in young adults - particularly healthcare workers - who were not expected to get severe disease.

"It needs a relook at how best to deploy the vaccine," Pollard said.

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In my family we were taught to give back to the community and giving back as a solution solver in the insurance industry is my way of doing just that.

Arrow Benefits Group (ABG), the third largest benefits firm in the North Bay, announces the addition of Stuart Wallace to their executive team. His talents further strengthen the leadership expertise that has established ABG as a leader in the industry for over 35 years. Wallace brings over 12 years of experience, most notably in leading-edge use of technology to bridge the experience for both employee and employers alike. In his previous role as director of employee benefits at Vantreo Insurance, Wallace managed multiple accounts throughout California designing effective technology tools utilized for successful account management.

In my family we were taught to give back to the community and giving back as a solution solver in the insurance industry is my way of doing just that, Wallace explains. Understanding and navigating insurance is complex and stressful. My passion is really for helping people. My goal is to take the stress associated with insurance away from clients and step in to help."

To learn more and for straight answers to employee benefits call 707-992-3780 or visit: http://www.arrowbenefitsgroup.com.

Stuarts passion and drive to truly serve clients is perfectly matched to the vison at Arrow Benefits Group to serve our clients. Happy, engaged customers make for happy engaged staff. CEO & Managing Principal Joe Genovese affirms, Were honored to have Stuart join our team. His knowledge and management capabilities are a huge asset to our family. ABG has grown exponentially over the years. Acquiring new talent like his enhances our ability to serve all of our clients and helps build on our strength to deepen our commitment to our North Bay communities. The client services team partners with clients to listen, learn and custom build solutions. Wallaces dedication to the community will bolster these efforts for ABG.

About Arrow Benefits Group

Arrow Benefits Group, the third largest benefits firm in the North Bay, is a proud member of TRUE Network Advisors. Arrow Benefits Group is the single-source solution for managing the complexities of benefits with expert advice, customized programs, and personalized solutions. Arrows innovative programs control costs and give employees a greater sense of financial and emotional security. For straight answers to employee benefits call 707-992-3780 or visit http://www.arrowbenefitsgroup.com.

For the latest updates and news on COVID-19, see our dedicated portal at http://www.arrowbenefitsgroup.com

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About Patriot Growth Insurance Services

Co-Founded by ABG in 2019, Patriot is a growth-focused national insurance services firm that partners with employee benefits and property & casualty agencies across the United States. In its first year of operation, Patriot was ranked the 53rd largest insurance broker in the U.S. by Business Insurance. With over 800 employees operating in 70 locations across 18 states, Patriots collaborative model delivers growth capital, resources and strategic support to its agencies, whose leaders continue to operate with a high degree of autonomy in their local markets. Patriots unique equity model creates true alignment with its partner agencies, and its operating philosophy fosters enhanced career opportunities for its dedicated and professional team. Patriot is backed by growth equity investor Summit Partners. For more information, please visit http://www.patriotgis.com.

Actor Dan Wyllie has been found not guilty of assault charges stemming from an incident in March 2020.

Wyllie, whose credits include Love My Way, Seachange and Puberty Blues was charged last August with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.

But a magistrate cast doubts on evidence from Wyllies wife Shannon Murphy, who alleged a physical altercation took place in their Woollahra home.

Magistrate Greg Elks questioned Ms Murphys account, citing variations in her statements to police and evidence in court, photos of her injuries which he said did not support her account, and her delay in finalising her complaint to police.

He said photos did not show  and police did not observe the following day at Waverley police station  the significant and observable injuries that would be consistent with Ms Murphys accusations of a sustained, vicious attack.

He said photos tendered of Ms Murphy in the wake of the incident were inconsistent with the sustained, vicious attack she described in evidence.

Clearly in the photographs there is not significant injury, he said.

Mr Wyllies barrister, Peggy Dwyer, said he was acting in self defence.

Toni Collette was also called in as a character witness for her close friend Dan Wyllie.

He is one of the best people I know. He is a good and decent person, Ms Collette told the court, adding that Mr Wyllie had a strong moral compass.

Shannon Murphy has directed on On the Ropes, Killing Eve, Rake and Baby Teeth.

National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line 1800 737 732;

Mens Referral Service 1300 766 491;

Lifeline 13 11 14.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald, news.com.au

Related
Businesses in Kilkenny and Carlow struggling to trade, and those seeking to grow their enterprise, will get a helping hand thanks to a new combined BNI chapter for both counties.

The new chapter is being established by the existing Kilkenny division of the business referral group BNI (Business Network International) in response to the growing need for business support in the region.



Carlow and Kilkenny businesses can register for a free visitor day today, (Wednesday), which allows participants to meet with the core members of the group online and make new connections.

Simon Finn, Executive Director for BNIs Ireland East chapters says BNI was extending the support to the business community in Carlow as it had no chapter of its own.

Rebuild

While some businesses have struggled and closed, we want to maximise the support for businesses to try and rebuild what has been lost.

He says BNI was a circle of businesspeople in your own locality that have your back.

Mr Finn also explained that the international structure of BNI allowed Irish members to connect with up to 280,000 businesses across 70 countries. We currently have members who are being supported through Brexit issues.



BNI members are from all walks of life and the group operates on a referral basis with members also having regular one-to-one sessions online to get to know each others business.

BNI offers personal and business development, while members become trusted suppliers and customers.

In 2020 the Irish BNI network generated more than 40 million in business for each other between its 850 members.

To register for this free visitor event, email Thomas@ruby2.ie or call 086 1713455.
[February 09, 2021] Generational Equity Advises Energy & Resource Solutions in its Sale to DNV GL

Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client, Energy & Resource Solutions, Inc. to DNV GL. The acquisition closed December 30, 2020. Energy & Resource Solutions (ERS), locate in North Andover, Massachusetts, is an engineering consultancy which helps organizations to manage and reduce energy costs through program design, outreach, implementation, and evaluation services. The growing need to transform energy markets across all sectors and decarbonize energy supply make this acquisition both timely and crucial. The combination of the two companies' expertise and services creates a unified team that will partner with global customers to address and accelerate the energy transition. ERS works with utilities, governments, and large commercial and industrial end users to solve complex energy and resource problems. The firm also has operations in California, Connecticut, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Texas. Headquartered in Hvik, Norway, DNV GL is a global energy adviser, assurance and risk management specialist, operational in over 100 countries, supporting a range of sectors to decarbonize faster. "The core goal of ERS has been to promote a healthy, sustainable environment, and joining with DNV GL will add to our abilities to enable our customers to achieve their energy and environmental goals," said Gary Epstein, President, and founder of ERS. "We could not have a better partner in DNV GL when it comes to our shared commitment to sustainability, managing energy use and mitigating environmental impacts." Richard Barnes, region president, Energy North America at DNV GL - Energy said: "Helping all energy users, whether they are large industries or individuals, change how and how much energy they use is one of the fastest, lowest-investment approaches to reducing carbon emissions, and we need to ensure that the rates of adoption speed up, especially in areas such as manufacturing and building design." Barnes added, "The values, ambitions, and dedication to accelerating the energy transition that we share made the decision to join with ERS simpleand clear. Our leadership teams both saw where we complement each other, where we each bring in new abilities and services, and see many opportunities to provide our customers with expanded expertise and insights."



Generational Equity Executive Managing Director, M&A-Technology Practice Leader, David Fergusson, and his team led by Senior Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions, Ahmad Behjati, with the support of Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions, Tristan Keefe, successfully closed the deal. Senior Managing Director Ashok Tandon established the initial relationship with ERS. "At Generational Equity, we have the utmost respect for our environment and the legacy that we will leave behind for the next generations. We immediately realized this merger would be a great win for the environment and renewable energy as well as provide a path for the excellent work of Energy & Resource Solutions and their staff to continue into the future. This merger is a win-win situation for Energy & Resource Solutions and DNV-GL," said Behjati.

About Generational Equity Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, Generational Consulting Group, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America. With over 250 professionals located throughout North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing growth consulting, merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. Their six-step approach features strategic and tactical growth consulting, exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A transactional services, and wealth management. The M&A Advisor named the company the 2017 and 2018 Investment Banking Firm of the Year and 2020 Valuation Firm of the Year. For more information, visit https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005145/en/

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Then-President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Valley International Airport after visiting the U.S.-Mexico border wall, in Harlingen, Texas, on Jan. 12, 2021. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

Trump Pleased With Bipartisan Deal on Impeachment Trial Structure

Former President Donald Trump and his legal team are pleased with the agreement reached between Senate Republicans and Democrats on the framework for the upcoming impeachment trial, Trumps office said in a statement.

We appreciate that Senate Republican leadership stood strong for due process and secured a structure that is consistent with past precedent, the statement said.

This process will provide us with an opportunity to explain to Senators why it is absurd and unconstitutional to hold an impeachment trial against a private citizen.

This comes after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced that the upper chamber had reached a bipartisan deal on how the impeachment trial will be run a day before the proceedings are scheduled to begin.

All parties have agreed to a structure that will ensure a fair and honest Senate impeachment trial of the former president, Schumer said on Monday.

The agreement was reached between Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Democratic impeachment managers, and lawyers for Trump.

The trial will begin with a four-hour debate on whether the proceedings should be dismissed, the lawmakers said.

The constitutionality of an impeachment trial of a former president was revisited in January when Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) raised a point of order on the Senate floor, forcing the chamber to take a stance on the constitutionality of the proceedings. It returned a 55-45 vote, meaning the trial will go ahead. But it also revealed that nearly half of the chamber holds the view that the proceedings are unconstitutional.

Following Tuesdays debate, each side will have up to 16 hours to present their cases starting Wednesday at 12 p.m. ET. Then, there will be a total of four hours for senators to question both sides. Should witnesses or documents be subpoenaed, up to four hours can be allotted again between the impeachment managers and Trumps defense, according to Schumer.

The Democrat-controlled House on Jan. 13 voted 232197 to impeach Trump on a single article of impeachment, alleging that the president incited an insurrection that resulted in the U.S. Capitol breach on Jan. 6.

The impeachment, which was completed in a single seven-hour session, has been criticized by Republicans for its speed and lack of due process. Meanwhile, the question of whether the Senate trial is constitutional has prompted a heated public debate among legal scholars and lawmakers.

Trump attorneys on Monday filed a written argument saying the trial is merely political theater, adding that it is unconstitutional to impeach a former president. Democrats have rejected the idea and said they want the trial to serve as a referendum against Trump while ensuring he cannot hold office again.

Taken together, they demonstrate conclusively that indulging House Democrats hunger for this political theater is a danger to our Republic democracy and the rights that we hold dear, Trumps attorneys wrote.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
The New Jersey-area dealer's ongoing charitable work, particularly during the unprecedented challenges of the past year, earned DeSilva the most prestigious award in the automotive dealer industry. Among DeSilva's most recent community service efforts was his involvement as vice president of the Mahwah Board of Education in the planning of safely bringing students and staff back to school during the COVID-19 pandemic. DeSilva was chosen from a field of nearly 17,000 franchised dealers across the country, 40 of whom made the nominee list.

Doug Timmerman, president of Auto Finance at Ally, and Viktoria Degtar, global chief revenue officer of TIME, announced DeSilva as the winner at a virtual ceremony honoring all the dealer nominees. Timmerman remarked: "America's auto dealers have led the way, in their communities and the broader auto industry, during an incredibly challenging year. The TIME Dealer of the Year nominees stand out for their ingenuity in business and unwavering commitment to giving back in their local communities."

In addition to DeSilva, four dealers were recognized as TIME Dealer of the Year finalists:

Christine Alicandro-Karnolt , Marty's GMC Buick, Kingston, Massachusetts

, Marty's GMC Buick, Timothy Crenwelge , Crenwelge Motors, Kerrville, Texas

, Crenwelge Motors, Michael Molstead , Mike Molstead Motors, Inc., Charles City, Iowa

, Mike Molstead Motors, Inc., Christina Dawkins , Co's BMW Center, Loveland, Colorado

Ally, exclusive sponsor of the TIME Dealer of the Year Award, will give $10,000 to the charity of DeSilva's choice. Ally also will donate $5,000 to each of the nonprofit organizations selected by the four finalists and Jim Appleton, president of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers, who nominated DeSilva for the award, will also select a charity recipient. In recognition of their achievements and generosity, Ally also gave $1,000 to the charities of choice for each of 40 nominees. For more information on each of the nominees, please visit www.AllyDealerHeroes.com .

DeSilva's Journey to Becoming TIME Dealer of the Year

DeSilva, a 1993 graduate of Mahwah High School in Mahwah, New Jersey, earned a B.S. in marketing from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, in 1997. He always wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and run an auto dealership. After college, DeSilva entered a management training program with Toyota Motor Sales, USA, learning about customer service, sales and fixed operations. That experience would prove invaluable when he returned to the family business in 2003 to open Liberty Hyundai in Mahwah with his father and brother. Today, the Liberty Family of Dealerships also includes Liberty Kia in Ramsey, New Jersey, and Genesis of Mahwah.

DeSilva is an active member of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers, having served on the association's board of trustees since 2008 and as chairman in 2017.

A recipient of the Subaru Love Promise Customer & Community Commitment Award since the program's inception, DeSilva's dealership hosts annual pet adoption events and has supported Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon; Special Olympics New Jersey Torch Run; Jersey Cares Coat Drive; the Valerie Fund (aids children with cancer and blood disorders); Ramapo College Foundation; New York-New Jersey Trail Conference; Bergen Highlands Ramsey Rotary Gift of Life, among other organizations.

DeSilva has been committed to promoting improvements in education within his community. He was elected to the Mahwah Board of Education in 2012 and continues to serve, currently as first vice president. Over the course of DeSilva's time with the group, he has successfully hired superintendents, expanded bus service to underserved areas and improved facilities, including the creation of a new STEAM [science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics] center.

The TIME Dealer of the Year winner and finalists were chosen by a faculty panel from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan. Dealers are nominated for the award by state and regional automotive trade association executives.

About Ally Financial Inc.

Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a leading digital financial-services company with $182.2 billion in assets as of December 31, 2020.As a customer-centric company with passionate customer service and innovative financial solutions, we are relentlessly focused on "Doing it Right" and being a trusted financial-services provider to our consumer, commercial, and corporate customers. We are one of the largest full-service automotive-finance operations in the country and offer a wide range of financial services and insurance products to automotive dealerships and consumers. Our award-winning online bank (Ally Bank, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender) offers mortgage lending, personal lending, and a variety of deposit and other banking products, including savings, money-market, and checking accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Additionally, we offer securities-brokerage and investment-advisory services through Ally Invest. Our robust corporate finance business offers capital for equity sponsors and middle-market companies.

For more information and disclosures about Ally, visit https://www.ally.com/#disclosures .

For further images and news on Ally, please visit http://media.ally.com .

Contact:

Ann Smith

[email protected]

SOURCE Ally Financial

Related Links

https://www.ally.com


Prime Minister is likely to discuss an agreement on the Shehtoot dam in India- summit-level talks to be held today with the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, sources said.

Shehtoot dam will provide clean drinking water to two million citizens of Kabul and will also be used for irrigation.

The Shehtoot dam is to be constructed on the Kabul river basin, one of the five river basins of Along with the Shehtoot dam, India has pledged to rebuild committing to USD 80 million worth of projects. Around 150 projects have been announced by India in the conflict-ridden country.

Earlier in November 2020, Union Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar had announced at the Geneva Donors Conference that India will be constructing the Shahtoot Dam on the Kabul river in Afghanistan and that the Governments of the two nations have recently concluded an agreement for the same.

(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.)
While hard at working on several upcoming Avatar films, director James Cameron is still pushing for a deeper understanding of Earth's underwater environment. National Geographic announced today that he'll be executive producing a new series for the network, OceanXplorers, which will follow a team of experts and scientists as they investigate the deep with advanced technology. The six-episode series will begin filming this month, and will be produced together with the BBC Studios Natural History Unit (which was behind documentaries like Blue Planet 2) and OceanX Media.

Of course, this isn't the first time Cameron has been involved with ocean exploration. He produced several Titanic-related documentaries after the release of that film, as well as high-profile films like Aliens of the Deep, an investigation of the unique creatures living around the Mid-Ocean Ridge. And let's not forget that Cameron also traveled to the , an experience that he captured for the . (As we said at the time, it was clear he made that trip seven miles below sea level just because he felt like it.)

While Cameron himself won't be traveling with the OceanXplorers crew, the series will feature a multi-talented team including marine biologist Asha de Vos, survival expert Aldo Kane, offshore ecologist Zoleka Filander and former NASA engineer Eric Stackpole, who will control the underwater robots and drones. National Geographic says they'll be traveling on "the most advanced combined exploration and media vessel every built." The show will begin filming in the West Indies, where the team will chart the behavior of endangered hammerhead sharks. Additionally, OceanXplorers, will investigate the waters outside the Azores, the Dominican Republic as well as in the Arctic. The network plans to bring the show to 172 countries in 43 languages.

Described as a cross-platform event, OceanXplorers has the potential to be more than just another big-budget documentary for National Geographic. I'm just hoping the crew manages to capture some 360-degree video for viewing in VR headsets, like (above) by the non-profit Hydrous. As of 2017, Cameron with the state of consumer virtual reality, but things have changed dramatically since then. The has made VR cheaper and easier to use, and most headsets worth buying offer far sharper resolutions than first-gen models. If Nat Geo truly wants to create a cross-platform experience, this is the perfect moment to invest in immersive video.
Israels Cellcom has filed a lawsuit in the Tel Aviv District Court accusing its rival Xfone of illegally terminating their network sharing agreement.

According to CommsUpdate, Xfone failed to pay its dues under the terms of the agreement for both November and December 2020, before sending Cellcom an annulment notice for the deal in January 2021. The network sharing agreement was originally cleared by Israels Ministry of Communications in March 2017.

Xfone argues that Cellcom has materially breached their agreement with its acquisition of Golan Telecoms share capital. Following the purchase, Cellcom terminated Golans mobile operating licence.

Cellcom has dismissed Xfones allegations and initiated legal action to enforce the agreement and demand the unpaid dues totalling approximately ILS34 million (US$10 million). To this end, it has filed for an interim injunction that seeks to block Xfone from forming any network sharing agreement that would contradict its deal with Cellcom.

In a separate development, Israels Ministry of Communications (MoC) has cleared Cellcoms proposed investment in IBC (Israel Broadband Company), which the operator will conduct together with the Israel Infrastructure Fund (IIF) and Hot Telecommunication Systems.

The proposal was recently approved by the Israeli Competition Commissioner, with Cellcom noting at the time that the approval of the MoC would complete the regulatory approvals and changes required for the completion of the transaction. The deal is therefore expected to close imminently.

Covid-19 restrictions are likely to remain in place this time next year, Northern Irelands top doctor has warned.

Dr Michael McBride, the chief medical officer, has said while restrictions will not be fully lifted until 2022, he hopes this summer will bring some respite from the current lockdown.

However, he said it is likely that a range of restrictions will return in the autumn and remain in place into 2022.

The Executive decided on January 21 that it would extend the current lockdown until March 5 and ministers are due to review the situation on February 18. But now Dr McBride has poured cold water on hopes that schools and the economy will be able to reopen next month.

Read More

Speaking at the Department of Healths weekly briefing yesterday afternoon, he said: I suspect that we will require some degree of the current restrictions, certainly for the rest of this year, probably enhanced again in the autumn and winter of this year, and I think it will probably be into the following year before we see things a little more normal.

In the meantime, I hope that this summer will be a little bit like last summer. Hopefully we will be able to do some of the things that we thought were a wonderful thing to do last summer.

Describing the new more infectious strain of Covid-19 as a highly tuned sports car compared to the Ford Fiesta older version, he also stressed that any relaxation of restrictions should be done on a gradual basis to allow experts to monitor the effects of removing measures on infection rates.

It could take nine months before restrictions are fully lifted, he said.

If we were to relax the current restrictions at this point in time, we would have another resurgence and we would have another wave, probably greater than the wave we have just gone through, he explained.

We cannot assume at this point in time that enough people have been vaccinated and our hospital system is not where it needs to be. We know the impact its having on other services for treatment and care, despite the best efforts of us all to put in place alternative arrangements.

So, absolutely if we were to relax quickly or rapidly the current restrictions, we would have another wave without any shadow of a doubt.

That is why I would urge that any decision about relaxation of the current restrictions is gradual and that its delayed, that its delayed for as long as we can to ensure we can keep community transmission at low levels and obviously the lower the level of transmission, the further it has to climb back up again and then that will also do two things.

It will allow some of the pressure to ease on our health service and it will also allow us time to ensure those people who are most at risk are vaccinated.

The daily case rate here has continued to drop, with 275 new cases recorded yesterday and 10 more deaths, but pressure in hospitals remains high, with 582 Covid-19 inpatients, 60 of which were in critical care.

Dr McBride said he would want between 70% and 80% of the population fully vaccinated  meaning they have had both doses of the vaccine  before restrictions can be fully lifted.

Currently, 22% of adults in Northern Ireland have received a first dose of the vaccine.

At yesterdays briefing, Patricia Donnelly, who is heading up the Department of Healths vaccination programme, said the uptake of the vaccine by people aged between 65 and 70 has not been as high as expected.

Meanwhile, Dr McBride warned he cannot predict the effect opening schools will have on the infection rate in Northern Ireland: We do not have experience of relaxing restrictions with this new variant.

My advice is that we need to get community transmission down as far as possible for as long as possible and more people protected by vaccination before we consider a full return of schools, but again those are matters for the Executive.

It will have a greater impact on R than it had before because the new variant is out there and is much more transmissible.
Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do
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In particular, a large quantity of disinfectant will be delivered to Ukraine.

Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg says that critical medical supplies will arrive in Ukraine next week to counter the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

"Our Pandemic Response Trust Fund will be used to deliver critical medical supplies. Including portable oxygen concentrators, mobile X-ray units, personal protective equipment  and next week, a large quantity of disinfectant," he said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Brussels on February 9, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

Read alsoReuters: Ukraine faces delay in delivery of Chinese vaccine in Feb

Stoltenberg recalled that the Alliance and Ukraine mutually supported each other during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"One example is that we have supported each other throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. NATO's disaster relief centre has coordinated the delivery of medical aid to Ukraine. And Allies have chartered Ukrainian [Mriya] aircraft to airlift equipment to counter the pandemic," he said.

He also praised Ukraine-NATO cooperation in other areas.

"Ukraine is already today one of NATO's closest and most important partners. You have provided troops to NATO missions and operations. Including in Afghanistan and Kosovo, as well as for the NATO Response Force," he said.

"We value these contributions, which demonstrate Ukraine's commitment to Euro-Atlantic security. That is why Ukraine is now an Enhanced Opportunities Partner for NATO. This status will further allow us to deepen our cooperation," he said.

Other related news reports

Reporting by UNIAN
Perhaps it goes without saying that the real jury for this trial is not the Senate but the public. Most Americans have decided on Trumps guilt: according to a recent ABC News/Ipsos poll, 56 percent say Trump should be convicted and barred from holding office again. But its still important for Democrats to tell the comprehensive story of how Trump tried to steal the election, and how that attempt ended in death and desecration.

This is necessary not just to cement Trumps disgrace, but because his election lies are being used to justify new restrictions on voting. Trumps attack on democracy didnt begin on Jan. 6, and even though hes out of office, it hasnt ended.

Obviously theres a political price that you pay in looking back instead of looking forward, said Norm Eisen, co-counsel for the Democrats in Trumps first impeachment trial. No one really wants to ever hear from or talk about Donald Trump again, but we have no choice.

The argument for a quick trial is simple: Theres more than enough in the public record to convict him. The single most important witness to what happened is Donald Trump himself, and whether he wants to or not, hell be forced to appear because we have the video, said Eisen. We have Donald Trump saying the words that, on top of a long pattern of incitement, triggered the insurrection on Jan. 6.

But if the broad outlines of Trumps offense are clear, significant details are not. On Fox News this weekend, Liz Cheney, one of just 10 House Republicans to vote for impeachment, spoke about what could be uncovered by the ongoing criminal investigation.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) -- A new youth program is starting up at the Vigo County YMCA. It's sure to get your kids stepping in the right direction. The Indiana State University step team is partnering up with the Vigo County YMCA to introduce stepping into the community.

The new program is called Learn to Step, and it's a youth step program.

President of ISU step team Keira Richmond said stepping is not dancing.

She told News 10 stepping is where you create your own beat by using your body. She said it's a different type of movement and flow where you are your own instrument.

Richmond told News 10 she's excited to teach the youth something new while doing what she loves.

Richmond said, "Personally I want kids to learn how to step so you can make it a thing in Terre Haute. Because precision will always be there, but we're at isu. I want stepping to be in classrooms, in schools, and that could be an extracurricular activity if I don't want to dance, or if I don't want to do ballet."

The Youth Program Director for the Vigo County YMCA Cayce Evans told News 10 she's also excited to bring stepping to the community.

She said she's personally always been interested in stepping herself, but couldn't find a place to learn from.

Evans said now, kids will have the opportunity to branch out and do something new.

Evans said, "So we just kind of want to give that new experience and give kids a chance to try something new. And when they go to college, if that team's available at their school, then that's something they know they would like."

Evans told News 10 this program is 6 weeks long and will end with a recital.

To sign up for the class you can call the Vigo County YMCA at 812-232-8446.

You can also email Cayce Evans directly at Cevans@ymcaswv.org.
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 09.02.2021 - Switzerland has announced the allocation one million Swiss francs to support humanitarian activities in Madagascar. It is responding to the country's authorities' appeal for international aid.

In the south of the island, food is becoming scarce for for more than one million people. According to initial estimates, more than a third of the population in these regions will be dependent on humanitarian aid by May. Covid-19 is making the situation even worse.

In view of these alarming prospects, the authorities of Madagascar have launched an appeal for international aid. Switzerland is responding by providing one million Swiss francs. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is contributing half a million francs to the UN World Food Programme. The other half million is allocated to water and sanitation needs.

The SDC and the Swiss Embassy on the ground will continue to monitor the situation and take further relief measures as needed. Madagascar is currently experiencing the worst drought in the last ten years.

Swiss humanitarian aid

Swiss Humanitarian Aid works to protect the interests of vulnerable people before, during and after conflicts, crises and natural disasters. It focuses on reconstruction and rehabilitation of the affected areas, disaster preparedness, protection of vulnerable persons and emergency aid. Humanitarian Aid is part of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and is part of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html




Overall workflow of SINGLE. Overall workflow and descriptions of each step of SINGLE are shown. SINGLE consists of two major steps: Preprocessing of the time series (orange), including (i) time-window frame averaging with anisotropic motion correction and (ii) tracking particle trajectory with using total variation (TV)based denoising, and particle 3D reconstruction from individual particle trajectories (blue), including (i) graphene background identification and subtraction, (ii) time-restrained 2D clustering with exclusion of out-of-focus images, (iii) initial model generation, and (iv) 3D reconstruction and atomic-scale structure analysis. Credit: Science Advances, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abe6679

Materials scientists typically use solution-phase transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to reveal the unique physiochemical properties of three-dimensional (3-D) structures of nanocrystals. In a new report on Science Advances, Cyril F. Reboul and a research team at the Monash University, Australia, Seoul National University, South Korea, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory U.S., developed a single-particle Brownian 3-D reconstruction method. To accomplish this, they imaged ensembles of colloidal nanocrystals using graphene liquid cell transmission electron microscopy. The team obtained projection images of differently rotated nanocrystals using a direct electron detector to obtain an ensemble of 3-D reconstructions. In this work, they introduced computational methods to successfully reconstruct 3-D nanocrystals at atomic resolution and accomplished this by tracking individual particles throughout time, while subtracting the interfering background. The method could also identify/reject low-quality images to facilitate tailored strategies for 2-D/3-D alignment that differed from those in biological cryo-electron microscopy. The team made the developments available through an open-source software package known as SINGLE. The free software is available on GitHub.

Using SINGLE for Crystallography

Researchers have sustained advances in crystallography in the past 50 years to transform the existing understanding of chemistry and biology. Nevertheless, some targets including solubilized nanocrystals remain intractable to traditional crystallographic methods. For instance, colloidal nanocrystals contain tens to hundreds of atoms and maintain a variety of applications across multidisciplinary fields including electronics, catalysis and biological sensors. The versatilities arise from the high sensitivity of nanocrystal properties to size, chemical composition and other variables during synthesis. Typically, scientists use single-particle, 3-D reconstruction in structural biology to determine the structure of proteins. The technique is relatively new for in-situ 3-D reconstruction of solubilized individual nanocrystals. In this work, Reboul et al. developed SINGLE; a method that relied on the independent 3-D reconstruction of solubilized individual nanocrystals including Brownian motion. The technique is a first-in-study advancement to resolve 3-D atomic structures of nanocrystals directly from the solution phase.

Tracking of individual nanocrystal trajectories. Tracking results of particle 1 (A and B) and 2 (C and D) throughout the movie (blue to red). Representative time averages of raw unaligned particle images (50 frames) are shown (B and D). Scale bars, 1 nm. Credit: Science Advances, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abe6679

The scientists introduced new pre-processing methods to improve the signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio to track the particle trajectories while removing graphene-induced background signal. Advanced computational methods could successfully 3-D reconstruct from the in-situ graphene liquid cell (GLC) transmission electron microscopy data. Compared to existing techniques, the work presented the applicability of an unprecedented computational method to obtain 3-D reconstructions at atomic-resolution for nanocrystals dispersed in solution. They divided the SINGLE workflow into two major steps (1) preprocessing and (2) particle 3-D reconstruction. The scientists aimed to provide the highest possible performance and efficiency on any CPU hardware, including supercomputers to workstations or even laptops.

At first, the team averaged the time-window across several frames with anisotropic motion to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, leading to visible particles and an enhanced graphene signal. The team then identified the particle positions manually in the first time-window average. Thereafter, the team developed a starting model based on the expected crystallographic structure, particle diameter and constituent elements and produced 3-D reconstructions with fitted atomic coordinates for structure analysis at the atomic scale.

Time-restrained 2D clustering. (A) Fraction of angular change throughout the time series. Red dashed line is the trend line. Projection directions are changing rapidly in the regions between frames 1500 to 1600 (orange), frames 3800 to 3900 (green), and frames 5600 to 5700 (blue). Insets are plots depicting angular difference in projection direction in those regions. (B) Schematic depiction of time-restrained 2D class averaging. (C) Plot showing allocated classes for individual frames in the 1 to 400 region. Inset is plot showing allocated classes over all frames. (D) Class averages obtained with time-restrained 2D clustering and alignment. Credit: Science Advances, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abe6679

Reboul et al. introduced a new tracking method using fast Fourier transforms and the phase correlation to identify a correlation maximum with sub-pixel accuracy. The team denoised the extraction time window using total variation (TV)-based denoising and combined denoising and time averaging to provide a robust method to track the motion of individual nanocrystals throughout the sample. The method allowed them to discern the overall shape of the nanocrystals and/or their crystalline featureswhich attested to the robustness of the tracking algorithm. Using the method, they also recovered previously challenging trajectories to obtain 3-D reconstructions and employed a background-subtracted particle trajectory in all image processing steps for graphene subtraction of the GLC (graphene liquid cell). The team further characterized the nature of nanocrystal rotations in the highly confined space of the graphene liquid cell. The method was nontrivial due to the probabilistic nature of the 3-D reconstruction algorithm. The team therefore incorporated a deterministic approach to improve the accuracy of the cluster, while improving the signal-to-noise ratio versus the individual frames.

3D reconstruction results and atomic level structure analysis. (A to C) 3D density maps (A), radial strain maps from fitted atomic coordinates (B), and their slice representation (C). (D) Interatomic distances in the directions of <110> (red), <100> (black), and < 111> (blue) for three nanocrystals. (E) Fitted lattice parameters of previously reported nanocrystals (18) (gray squares) and new results (red stars). (F) Histogram of radial strain of all atoms (top), core atoms (middle), surface atoms (bottom) of particle 3. (G) Unit cell structure of core (red), middle (green), and surface (blue) of particle 3. Scale bars, 1 nm. Credit: Science Advances, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abe6679

Generating models

The researchers next developed a starting model using the knowledge that particles have an approximately cubic atomic position arrangement. They simulated the atomic densities using 5-Gaussian atomic scattering factors. The 2-D projections of the simulated 3-D density represented the character of projections in the core of the nanocrystal, to overcome issues related to translational symmetry and an interfering background signal. The 3-D refinement method in use for biological cryo-electron microscopy could not be straightforwardly applied to time series data of nanocrystals; therefore, Reboul et al. introduced critical modifications. They used a two-stage refinement scheme to establish the correct shape of the nanocrystal to allow atoms and their shapes to drive 3-D alignment. The researchers chose three nanocrystals of varying sizes that were not previously reconstructed for benchmarking, then using atomic maps produced with the method, Reboul et al. obtained microscopic structural details at the atomic level. The work also facilitated atomic maps detailing strain analysis and unit cell structure analysis.

Validation of 3D reconstructions. (A) 3D reconstruction of simulated disordered particle with known atomic structure. Left: Model of a disordered nanocrystal obtained by molecular dynamics simulation. Middle: 5000 multislice simulated images with noise added to give a SNR = 0.1. Right: Atomic map (red) as result of 3D reconstruction overlaid with the ground truth model (gray). (B) Starting 3D models and final 3D density maps obtained from experimental data. (C) Correlation between reprojections of the refined 3D density map and the experimental particle views plotted as a function of iteration for the first stage of 3D refinement. Particles presented in this paper (black, red, and blue color) and presented in a previous study (18) (green, purple, and ocher color) are plotted. (D) Comparison of class averages (indicated as projection) with reprojections for validation of the three structures. (E) Time-dependent atomic representation of the projection directions for the three structures: white (beginning) to pink (middle) to red (end). Red, yellow, and blue arrows indicate x, y, and z axes, respectively. Credit: Science Advances, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abe6679

Validating the 3-D reconstructions

The researchers further generated a model of a disordered nanocrystal using molecular dynamics simulations to understand the applicability of SINGLE to highly disordered nanocrystals. Using multi-slice simulations, they applied translational motion and random defocus variations to represent realistic particle motion. They then obtained a 3-D density map of the disordered nanocrystal from 500 simulated images with a signal-to-noise ratio of 0.1 and a starting model with perfect crystalline order to agree excellently with the original particles. The team obtained the distribution of the projection directions of the rotating nanocrystals to validate the quality of the 3-D reconstruction and will require further studies to understand how the actual atomic structures of nanocrystals affect rotational dynamics.

In this way, Cyril F. Reboul and colleagues demonstrated computational methods in SINGLE to obtain atomic-resolution nanocrystal density maps. Using an advanced liquid cell configuration such as graphene liquid cells with ordered nanochambers, the team allowed control of the liquid thickness to extend the applicability of SINGLE for efficient data acquisition. The SINGLE suite provided a first-in-study efficient analytical platform to understand the structural origin of the unique physical and chemical properties of nanocrystals in their native solution phase.

Explore further Scientists reveal dynamic mechanism of lead-free quadruple perovskite nanocrystals

More information: Reboul C. F. et al. SINGLE: Atomic-resolution structure identification of nanocrystals by graphene liquid cell EM, Science Advances, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe6679 Reboul C. F. et al. SINGLE: Atomic-resolution structure identification of nanocrystals by graphene liquid cell EM, Baldi A. et al. In situ detection of hydrogen-induced phase transitions in individual palladium nanocrystals. Nature Materials, doi.org/10.1038/nmat4086 Park J. et al. Nanoparticle imaging. 3D structure of individual nanocrystals in solution by electron microscopy. Science, 10.1126/science.aab1343 Journal information: Science Advances , Nature Materials , Science

 2021 Science X Network
Myanmar military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (C, back) presides over a meeting of the State Administrative Council in Naypyidaw, Feb. 8, 2021.

Political parties in Myanmar are largely refusing to take up roles in the military juntas State Administrative Council government, rejecting the regimes effort to draw in civilian and ethnic minority parties a week after it deposed democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other officials in a nonviolent coup.

The State Administrative Council (SAC) was formed a day after the Feb. 1 coup in which the countrys powerful military grabbed power from the civilian-led National League for Democracy government, and detained leaders, lawmakers, and state and regional chief ministers.

The military, called the Tatmadaw in Burmese, justified the takeover with the unsubstantiated claim that the landslide victory by Aung San Suu Kyis party in Nov. 8 elections was fraudulent. Outside observers judged the elections to be free and fair, and the countrys electoral body rejected the fraud claims.

The 15-member SAC, headed by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, is trying to broaden its base amid growing street protests across the country of 54 million people by inviting leaders of ethnic political parties that hold seats in border states. Many are also opponents of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD).

Parties allied with the military proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) have accepted offers to be part of the junta government, but a range of other parties have turned down the offers to join Min Aung Hlaings government.

M Kawn La, chairman of the Kachin National Congress Party, said his partys main goal is to get a mandate from the people, not simply to obtain power through the military government.

We can do politics only with the peoples mandate, he said. Otherwise, we will become opportunists. That is why we made this decision [not to join the junta government].

Gumgrawng Awng Hkam, second vice chairman of the Kachin State Peoples Party, said his party can work for a future federal union only if the military or democratic forces hold trilateral talks with all ethnic groups, not just select parties.

Otherwise, if things go on like this, we will never get any tangible results, he said. Thats why the best thing is to have a dialogue when talking about the future.

Sai Nyunt Lwin, chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, said the junta offered the party one position, but the SNLD turned it down.

We didnt accept it because we are not yet ready, he said. It has to be something agreed to by all.

Ye Naing Aung, general secretary of the Peoples Party, a political party set up in 2018 by members of the 88 Generation activist group that grew out of a 1988 pro-democracy uprising, also said that party members decided not to accept any positions from the military government, but did not elaborate.

The Kachin National Party, the Asho Chin National Party, and the Chin National League for Democracy have also made statements or told reporters they would refuse to accept any offers for positions with the SAC.

One ethnic party, the Mon Unity Party, has agreed to take a seat on the SAC, assigning Banya Aung Myo, an elected lawmaker, to the position, party officials said.

In the past, we all have taken the confrontational route, and along the way many people as well as students and monks shed a lot of blood, [while] many others sacrificed their lives, said party secretary Nai Letama.

Based on that experience, we now want to avoid a confrontational way that could lead to bloodshed, so weve decided to accept the offer hoping to find a solution through cooperation.

Reported by RFAs Myamar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
A quick fix is often no fix, leading to patchwork remedies that prove to be as disappointing as they are temporary. Executive orders are quick fixes that can be undone by future presidents. They should not be confused with lasting bipartisan legislation.

On this latter front, we remain hopeful for President Joe Bidens proposed comprehensive immigration reform, but three recent executive orders on immigration are also welcome, necessary and merit expedience.

Each order is aimed at undoing the draconian measures of the previous administration. The first  and perhaps most important  will create a task force to reunite immigrant families separated at the southern border under a zero tolerance policy.

Almost 70,000 migrant children, many of them unaccompanied by their parents, were held in U.S. custody in 2019, according to the Associated Press. It was a record number. The Trump administration compounded this egregious policy by rushing the deportation of children detained in U.S. facilities.

Biden did the right thing. The zero tolerance policy, meant as a deterrent to illegal immigration, used children as pawns. Their well-being was never a consideration under the last administration. Civil rights organizations throughout the world condemned the policy, citing the physical and psychological impact on the children.

Were going to work to undo the moral and national shame of the previous administration that literally, not figuratively, ripped children from the arms of their families, their mothers and fathers, at the border, Biden told reporters. And with no plan, none whatsoever, to reunify the children, who are still in custody, and their parents.

In another order, the president directed agencies to undergo a broad review of U.S. asylum policy, tainted by politics and nationalism under the previous administration. Previous policy required immigrants to wait in Mexico while filing asylum claims, a measure that lessened the opportunity for asylum among those who passed through other countries on their way to the United States. Critics derided the measure as unnecessarily punitive. While waiting in Mexico, asylum-seekers were often preyed upon by gangs and rarely connected with lawyers.

The final order directs agencies to review policies that exacerbated the obstacles to asylum for immigrants who might have to rely on government assistance, including food stamps. It was a policy that ignored the significant contributions immigrants make to the U.S. economy, often while working jobs shunned by citizens. These workers were essential before and during the pandemic.

Theres a lot of talk, with good reason, about the number of executive orders Ive signed, Biden said Im not making law. Im eliminating bad policy.

These orders were just and necessary. There is nothing to compromise when it comes to the shameful policy of family separation or the abandonment of asylum law  and no time to waste.

But crafting good policy often takes time. Its here, we hope, that Biden relies on his 40 years in the Senate to reach bipartisan support for COVID-19 relief and, this spring, immigration reform.
Since the inception of Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana County, there has been a push and pull between refugees and the host community.

For decades, the relationship between the refugees and the local Turkana ethnic group had been strained by several violent incidents, giving the national government and the United Nations Refugee Agency a headache for years.

However, the situation has changed over the years, with both sides now embracing one another after the national, county governments and development partners showed commitment to cultivating integration at Kakuma Refugee Camp.

Refugees and the Turkana community say they are no longer at loggerhead with one another, something they acknowledge has improved their livelihoods as a result of doing business.

This integration is a result of the establishment of the Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement.

Water scarcity was the main cause of tension because refugees would get the all-important resource at the expense of the host community.

"In the past, we have been having issues with refugees because they used to discriminate against us. We could not use their water or health facilities, but now, we share a lot, trade ... even this market, it is built for them but we all use it," said Mr Lochuro Lokele Nyanga, a Turkana businessman at Natukobenyo fresh food market.

The integration has gone a notch higher, with each side learning the other's culture.

"Now there is no conflict with the host community, we share markets, greenhouses, water; we intermarry and learn the traditional ways from each other. For example, some of us never used to eat cabbage and they never used to eat mrenda (jute mallow) but that has changed," said Mr Hajim Jacob, a refugee trader at Natukobenyo fresh food market.

"Refugees are now providing us with a huge market for our products, including charcoal, and that is why we live in harmony. There are no conflicts like before when we used to be sidelined on our land," said Ms Anne Lobur Achwaa, the treasurer of the market.

Refugees and locals relating better

According to camp manager Kasili Mutambo, refugees and locals are relating better.

"When we launched a common market within, locals demanded that refugees come out and do business ... it is on a 50-50 basis. Schools, water, hospitals. There is interdependence and a study by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and World Bank, 3 per cent of Turkana's GDP depends on refugees," said Mr Mutambo.

Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok argued that the settlement was to exploit the socio-economic impact of refugees on Turkana. It was perceived that host populations were worse off than their guests, in terms of access to schools, health care and business opportunities.

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Refugees that have been living in the Kakuma camps since 1992 have also been expressing frustrations regarding limitations placed on their freedom of movement, which prevented their full participation in the socio-economic aspects of the country that had welcomed them.

"Generally, why my administration backed the idea of establishing the Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement was to make refugees an integral part of the economic development of the proposed Kakuma/Kalobeyei Municipality through integration to ensure self-reliance and poverty reduction," said the county boss.

For instance, the Turkana County Government and World Food Programme (WFP) have already partnered to establish three markets at Kakuma in Turkana West Sub County to enhance trade between refugees and the host community.

With funding from the European Union Trust Fund, the Sh23 million Natukobenyo, Tumaini and Towokayeni fresh produce markets are strategically built to cultivate integration through consistent interaction.

WFP Deputy Country Director Emmanuel Bigenimana said functional and efficient local markets for fresh foods and vegetables grown under irrigation at Kalobeyei and Kakuma are critical in achieving zero hunger among vulnerable communities.

Trade was critical for promoting harmony between the two groups, said Mr Pius Ewoton, the Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Turkana Chapter Chairman.

"Markets in Kakuma have unique products due to different cultures and nationalities. With huge numbers of locals and refugees within Kakuma, there will be an increase in both revenues for the county and income for traders," he said.
If youre just joining us now, here is what you need to know. Today the NSW government tabled the long-awaited report of the Bergin inquiry into Sydneys second casino licence, which is held by the James Packer-backed Crown Resorts.

Crown opened its new $2.2 billion complex in Barangaroo in late December, but without the gaming rooms that underpinned the project.

James Packer giving evidence at the NSW casino inquiry in October.

Commissioner Patricia Bergin, a former NSW Supreme Court judge, was appointed to inquire into the Barangaroo licence in August 2019. Today, she found:

A Crown Resorts subsidiary, Crown Sydney Gaming, was not a suitable person to hold the casino licence, and Crown Resorts was not a suitable person to be a close associate of the licensee.

Commissioner Bergin said the finding of Crowns unsuitability stemmed from evidence of money laundering at its Melbourne and Perth casinos, the arrest of 19 staff in China in 2016 and its partnerships with junket tour operators linked to organised crime.

However, she said the companies could engage in a process of conversion to suitability. This would include a major shakeup of the Crown Resorts board and a full and wide-ranging forensic audit of all of their accounts to ensure they are not being used for money-laundering.

Crown Resorts chief executive Ken Barton came under fire, along with directors Andrew Demetriou and Michael Johnston. Commissioner Bergin said it was unlikely Crown or its subsidiary company could become suitable persons while they remained as directors.

Importantly, Commissioner Bergin did not make a recommendation that Crown be stripped of its licence or that James Packer be forced to sell his controlling 36 per cent stake in Crown Resorts.

However, she did suggest the NSW gaming authority consider whether Mr Packer should remain as an approved close associate of the licensee and noted that he wields the real power at Crown even though he is not a director.

Commissioner Bergin also made a series of recommendations aimed at systemic reform, including:

Changing NSWs casino laws so that no single shareholder can hold, acquire or transfer an interest of 10 per cent or more in a casino licensee without being approved by the states casino regulator.

Setting up a specialist, independent casino regulator.

Barring NSW casino operators from dealing with junket operators.

This is Michaela Whitbourn signing off on the live blog. Thank you for reading and good night.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9)  Some top government officials could be part of the first group to receive the country's limited batch of coronavirus vaccines, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Tuesday.

Mentioning vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. and testing czar Vince Dizon, Duque said inoculating these officials could help boost vaccine confidence in Filipinos.

"Isasabay sila sa mga mauuna para makita ng taumbayan na may tiwala tayo sa bakunang ituturok natin," he said in a media briefing at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

[Translation: They will be among the first ones inoculated so the public can see that we trust the vaccines.]

Only a limited supply of vaccines is set to arrive this month. In the first batch from the COVAX facility, only 117,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines are expected to be shipped next week. Healthcare workers are on top of the prioritization list, meaning the arriving vaccines can only cover 58,500 frontliners since Pfizer's vaccines require two doses.

The government has already allocated the vaccines for the 56,000 employees of four COVID-19 referral hospitals in Metro Manila.

RELATED:WHO wants medical workers vaccinated with first COVID-19 doses from COVAX

Duque added that healthcare workers in the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines could also be inoculated soon if there are leftovers from the batch arriving this month from the World Health Organization.

"Kung may natira, ibibigay natin sa healthcare workers ng AFP, PNP kasi kasama sila sa ating prioritization," the official said.

[Translation: If there are leftovers, it will be given to the healthcare workers in the PNP and AFP because they are part of the prioritization.]

The government said the Pfizer doses would be allocated for COVID-19 dedicated hospitals, COVID-19 referral hospitals, DOH-owned hospitals, local government hospitals, hospitals for uniformed personnel, and private hospitals, in this order.

The country's first batch of coronavirus vaccines is expected to be shipped next week. The Philippines hopes to have its initial rollout of coronavirus vaccines within the first quarter of the year and mass vaccination in the third quarter of 2021.
Comparing the number of asymptomatic, mild, severe, and deceased coronavirus cases in each age group with different levels of social distancing enforcement. "Actual NPIs" (blue) represents the nonpharmaceutical intervention procedures implemented in New York City. Credit: Jiannan Yang, Qingpeng Zhang, Zhidong Cao, Jianxi Gao, Dirk Udo Pfeiffer, Lu Zhong, and Daniel Zeng

School closures, the loss of public spaces, and having to work remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic have caused major disruptions in people's social lives all over the world.

Researchers from City University of Hong Kong, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute suggest a reduction in fatal coronavirus cases can be achieved without the need for so much social disruption. They discuss the impacts of the closures of various types of facilities in the journal Chaos.

After running thousands of simulations of the pandemic response in New York City with variations in social distancing behavior at home, in schools, at public facilities, and in the workplace while considering differences in interactions between different age groups, the results were stunning. The researchers found school closures are not largely beneficial in preventing serious cases of COVID-19. Less surprisingly, social distancing in public places, particularly among elderly populations, is the most important.

"School only represents a small proportion of social contact. ... It is more likely that people get exposure to viruses in public facilities, like restaurants and shopping malls," said Qingpeng Zhang, one of the authors. "Since we focus here on the severe infections and deceased cases, closing schools contributes little if the elderly citizens are not protected in public facilities and other places."

Because New York City is so densely populated, the effects of schools are significantly smaller than general day-to-day interactions in public, because students are generally the least vulnerable to severe infections. But keeping public spaces open allows for spread to occur from less-vulnerable young people to the more-vulnerable older population.

"Students may bridge the connection between vulnerable people, but these people are already highly exposed in public facilities," Zhang said. "In other cities where people are much more distanced, the results may change."

Though the present findings are specific to New York, replacing the age and location parameters in the model can extend its results to any city. This will help determine the ideal local control measures to contain the pandemic with minimal social disruptions.

"These patterns are unique for different cities, and good practice in one city may not translate to another city," said Zhang.

The authors emphasized that while these findings have promising implications, the model is still just a model, and it cannot capture the intricacies and subtle details of real-life interactions to a perfect extent. The inclusion of mobile phone, census, transportation, or other big data in the future can help inform a more realistic decision.

"Given the age and location mixing patterns, there are so many variables to be considered, so the optimization is challenging," said Zhang. "Our model is an attempt."

Explore further Hong Kong to impose new virus restrictions to battle fourth wave

More information: "The impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the prevention and control of COVID-19 in New York City" Chaos (2021). Journal information: Chaos "The impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the prevention and control of COVID-19 in New York City"(2021). aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/5.0040560
A British technology tycoon should not be sent to the US to face charges of multibillion-dollar fraud, and should instead be dealt with in a UK court, his lawyer has told an extradition hearing.

Michael Lynch is wanted by American authorities over the sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett Packard (HP) in 2011 for 11 billion dollars (8.5 billion), which resulted in heavy losses for the US firm.

US authorities claim Mr Lynch deliberately overstated the value of his company, which specialised in software to sort through large data sets.

Mr Lynch, a 55-year-old father of two teenage daughters from Chelsea, south-west London, denies wrongdoing.

Michael Lynch arriving at Westminster Magistrates Court (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

His lawyer told an extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday that the case belonged in the UK.

Alex Bailin QC said: The US is not the global marshal of the corporate world.

We say this case belongs here in Britain.

It concerns events, the majority of which involved the UK, it involved a British citizen (Mr Lynch) with strong lifelong links to the UK.

He added: Mr Lynch vehemently denies he was involved in any form of accounting wrongdoing, or fraud, or conspiracy or cover-up.

But it ought to be examined by the English courts.

A US extradition request for the businessman  who was previously a scientific adviser to the UK government and has a PhD in signal processing from the University of Cambridge  was submitted to British authorities in November 2019.

He faces 17 criminal charges in the US including wire fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy to defraud.

Supporters say he faces up to a decade in prison if convicted in the US.

HP is seeking damages of five billion dollars (3.8 billion) from Lynch in a separate civil case in Londons High Court.

Mr Lynch claims any loss was down to the tech giants mismanagement of the acquisition.

Mr Bailin, on his clients behalf, said: We say, putting it bluntly, that that is a classic case of buyers remorse.

It is suggested he (Mr Lynch) conducted a smear campaign against Hewlett Packard  thats denied.

Former Brexit secretary David Davis arriving at Westminster Magistrates Court for the extradition hearing of Michael Lynch (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

He added: Theres no good reason why the criminal allegations arising from the same conduct in the civil trial could not be tried here, at Southwark Crown Court for example.

Mr Bailin said: It is not in the interests of justice for extradition to take place.

He said there were also concerns about the impact on Mr Lynchs pre-existing health conditions were he to be held in a certain American jail, and warned he may not face trial in the US until two years after any extradition.

Mark Summers, briefly outlining the US governments case, said the defence opening laid entirely bare the utter legal irrelevance of vast swathes of its evidence.

Addressing the judge, he added: You may think that the defence protestation that all they are doing is disputing the allegation rather than entering into the trial arena  which is squarely prohibited  is a hollow claim.

Mr Summers will continue his opening after lunch.

Former Brexit secretary David Davis, who has previously supported Mr Lynchs bid not to be extradited, was sat in the public gallery for the defence opening statement.

The extradition hearing is expected to last all week, and a judgment reserved to a later date.
Chennai: The usual six-hour ride from Bengaluru to Chennai took a little more than 22 hours for former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa's close aide VK Sasikala. Starting before 7:30 am on Monday (February 8), Sasikala reached her niece's residence at T Nagar in the city around 6:15 am on Tuesday.

As she entered, she was welcomed by party and family members and the gates were closed for media. Since she entered the Tamil Nadu border around 9:00 am on Monday, she was stopped at various places on her way to Chennai by none other than AIADMK cadres who garlanded her, took selfies and fell before her car.

There was drama enroute with the police and revenue officials stopping her vehicle and asking her to remove the AIADMK flag. She immediately moved to another vehicle, owned by an AIADMK functionary, thereby avoiding the issue of using the party flag.

Also read: 'Will Partake in Active Politics': Sasikala's War Cry as She Enters Chennai with Eye on AIADMK Reins

AIADMK later expelled the vehicle owner Dakshnamoorthy, as well as a few others, for having shared his vehicle with Sasikala. Women with children waited for her along her route. Some women lost gold chains, some lost mobile phones, as well as cash, amid the bustle.

Speaking to media near Vaniyambadi, 100km from Chennai on Monday evening, Sasikala said she will engage herself in serious politics and that she was a slave of their love but not a slave to anybody else. Asked whether she will visit the Jayalalithaa memorial or the AIADMK headquarters, Sasikala asked the reporters to wait and see.

Also read: As Sasikala Returns, a 'Jittery' AIADMK Warns of Riots; TN Govt Seizes Property of Her Kin

Meanwhile, AIADMK had gagged all its media spokesperson on the issue of Sasikala returning to Chennai. None of the spokespersons participated in any debate in the evening news channels as they were banned from speaking on the issue.

Fisheries minister D Jayakumar alone said that there was no doubt that Sasikala will not be allowed to return to the party. He called Sasikala and her supporters as the "B-Team of DMK".

(with inputs from Prakash Pandian and Nanda)
About 9:30 p.m., two men, ages 19 and 38, were standing in the hallway of a residential building in the 10500 block of South Oglesby Avenue when a man approached them, took out a handgun and started firing, police said. The 19-year-old, identified as Jalin Osborne, was shot in the neck and chest and transported to the U. of C. Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:28 p.m. Osborne lived in the same block of Oglesby where he was shot, according to information released by the Cook County medical examiners office, which initially had given his last name as Kosborne.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia NIkol Pashinyan received newly appointed Ambassador of China to Armenia Fan Yong on February 9, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Nikol Pashinyan congratulated the diplomat and wished his productive work for the sake of the development of the Armenian-Chinese relations. The PM recalled with satisfaction his visit to China in 2019 and the impressive meetings with the President and Prime Minister of China, noting that the agreements reached during those meetings are being successfully implemented. Armenia and China have intensive relations, Chinese Business, culture, education are tangibly represented in our country. We are ready to consistently deepen cooperation in political, economic, humanitarian and other areas, the PM said.

According to Nikol Pashinyan, despite the difficulties in 2020 caused by the pandemic,, the volume of exports from Armenia to China has increased, which shows the positive dynamics of bilateral trade. The Prime Minister thanked the Chinese government for the assistance to the Armenian healthcare sector in the fight against coronavirus.

Thanking for the warm reception, the Chinese Ambassador assessed it an honor to hold a diplomatic position in Armenia and assured that he will make all efforts for the development of the Armenian-Chinese relations. According to him, the two countries are bound by mutual trust and understanding, and the Chinese government highlights partnership with Armenia.

The sides exchanged views on the post-war situation in Artsakh. The Prime Minister thanked China for its impartial position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, noting that the issue of the status of Nagorno Karabakh remains unsolved and that Armenia highlights the negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs format.

Referring to the humanitarian aspect, Nikol Pashinyan stressed that the return of the detainees remains a priority, as well as the protection of the Armenian historical, cultural and religious heritage in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan.

Fan Yong noted that China supports the establishment of security, stability and peaceful cooperation in the region, and supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

The interlocutors discussed issues related to the agenda of bilateral relations and its further expansion. In the context of the development of economic relations, the sides referred to the expansion of Chinese investments in Armenia, increase of trade turnover, implementation of infrastructural programs, activation of touristic flows, as well as the cooperation opportunities in the sidelines of the EAEU. Both sides considered promising the cooperation in high technologies, education and humanitarian fields.. The Prime Minister offered the Chinese companies to present to the Chinese companies the investment opportunities created by the unblocking of regional communications, the Chinese Ambassador assured that the information will be conveyed to Chinese business circles.

The Chinese Ambassador conveyed to the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan the invitation to participate in the "Shanghai Expo - 2021" exhibition.
As the Texaco Art Competition heats up, Junction 14, Mayfield, Newlodge Service Station, Monasterevin and Monread Fare in Naas are encouraging young artists all over Kildare and Laois to take part in this national celebration of Children's Art.

Texaco are marking 67 years of their Children's Art Competition, and it has been acknowledged as the longest running arts sponsorship in the history of arts sponsoring in Ireland. In existence since 1955, the competition has enjoyed a great history of success and continuity.

The closing date for the current competition is Wednesday, 24th March 2021 and it is hoped that entries will reflect the outstanding creativity and talent that has come through every year.

The Texaco Art Competition has always had great interest form young people from the locality, and we feel that this year, with so many families being home schooled and not being able to participate in their favorite activities, the art competition offers a welcome opportunity to young talented artists to participate and to showcase their ability said Liam Fitzpatrick of the Lidon Group, owners of the three local Texaco stations.

Of course, we love to see local winners of national competitions so we are hopeful that there will be a large number of entries from the locality. Our advice is to get the forms downloaded or collect them in-store and just be creative!! Liam concluded.

To enter, The School Art Application Form can be downloaded from www.texacochildrensart.com or alternatively, the forms can be collected at Monread Fare in Naas, Junction 14, Mayfield or at Newlodge Service Station in Monasterevin.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Many states have signed Memorandums of Understanding regarding the central government's 'SVAMITVA' scheme, slated to be implemented from April next, while others are considering it, a senior central government officer said.

Pramod Kumar Jha New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS) Many states have signed Memorandums of Understanding regarding the central government's 'SVAMITVA' scheme, slated to be implemented from April next, while others are considering it, a senior central government officer said.

"With the signing of a MoU in Andhra Pradesh, a drone survey has started. Chhattisgarh and Tripura have also signed the MOUs, while Goa, Gujarat, Kerala and Odisha have agreed to implement the scheme, for which MoUs will be signed this month," Union Panchayati Raj Secretary Sunil Kumar told IANS.

"The ownership scheme is still under consideration in Bihar and Jharkhand while no response has been received so far from West Bengal." Delhi and Chandigarh are outside the scheme's purview due to no panchayati raj institutions there.

SVAMITVA scheme -- which aims to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India -- was launched by the Prime Minister on April 24, 2020.

The Panchayati Raj Ministry is the nodal agency for its implementation. In the states, Revenue/Land Records Departments will be nodal departments to implement it with the support of Panchayati Raj Departments. The Survey of India will work as a technology partner.

The ambitious scheme of digital mapping in residential areas of villages through drone survey was launched after the success of a pilot project.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has earmarked Rs 200 crore in the Budget for the 2021-22 fiscal for the scheme.

Kumar said that preparations for the scheme's implementation began in November 2020 and letters were sent out to state Chief Secretaries for appointment of nodal officers, signing of MoUs and publicity on district-wise surveys.

In the villages, banks have been giving loans for shops but no loans to build houses. But now, ownership cards will make it easier for people to raise bank loans to build and repair houses and also to get benefit of all government schemes.

On the possibility of disputes over land ownership arising due to the scheme, he said that it was rather helping in settling disputes in rural areas.

"About 90-95 per cent of the disputes have been resolved through the drone survey," the Panchayati Raj Secretary said, adding that the scheme will comply with the revenue laws of the states.

"The districts where the drone surveys will commence have already been told so that even people living outside boundaries of villages can also participate in these activities," he said.
Mr. Carusone pinpoints spring 2017 as a moment of symbolic transition. Thats when the Fox News host Sean Hannity began embracing a series of baseless claims tying Hillary Clinton to the death of a Democratic aide, claims that Mr. Trump had co-signed. In August of 2016, Sean Hannity was chastising conservative media figures for promoting the Seth Rich conspiracy theories, Mr. Carusone said. And yet in May of 2017, Hannity is launching his own investigation into who in Hillary Clintons campaign murdered Seth Rich. There is no clearer moment of when they shifted their posture.

Mr. Carusone said that Mr. Hannitys evolution was goaded by Mr. Trumps ability to use social media to promote unproven, reckless arguments  and by social media companies ability to give him a platform without themselves facing repercussions for his speech, thanks to Section 230. Trump increasingly was able to leapfrog Fox News, in terms of building a relationship to Fox Newss own audience, he said. So Fox News lost the keys to the gate.

But in the past month, Mr. Trump has lost his set of keys, too. He was kicked off Twitter and Facebook after the Capitol riot, and since leaving the White House he has been as quiet as a church mouse. In his absence, Fox News has begun to focus more on attacking Mr. Biden and other Democrats on the news of the day than on importing conspiracy theories from online.

Going forward, Mr. Carusone said, I think theyll try to soften some of the content on the edges, and to lean heavier into the partisan attacks and less on the right-wing fever swamp fantasies and narratives.

Proponents of media reform say that this moment presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink government policy related to online speech in particular. Ellen Goodman, a Rutgers Law School professor who focuses on information policy, said that maintaining a healthy marketplace of ideas was crucial to democracy.

If this is a moment of radical, Build Back Better adjustments, and a revival of the middle class, what would the democracy-building part of that look like? she said. She proposed instituting taxes or regulations that would make the surveillance-capitalism model less attractive, preventing social media companies from microtargeting audiences in the interest of selling them products.

Jonathan Zittrain, a Harvard Law School professor who studies digital media, sees a sea change coming. In the early decades of the internet, he said, most legal discussions were guided by a question of rights, particularly the right to free speech under the First Amendment. But in recent years, a new interest in what he called the public health framework has taken hold.
In spite of the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, there is total disregard for the safety protocols at the Asafo market in the Kumasi metropolis.



Both buyers and traders are seen going about their business without wearing face masks and the use of Veronica buckets for handwashing are also absent.



Enforcement



While the city authorities are concentrating on checking non-compliance with the safety protocols on the streets, the police, who are expected to check and ensure that the citizens abide by the safety protocols are not seen to be doing so.



When the Daily Graphic visited the market last Friday, the traders, mostly women, downplayed the significance of the safety protocols on COVID-19 and even made mockery of the existence of the virus.



To some, it was a mere political ploy to frustrate the citizenry and to unnecessarily thwart their efforts to eke out a living.



Others were of the view that the daily purchase of face masks at GH 1 was a drain on their pockets and suggested that the city authority provided the people with face masks free of charge.



Fear, panic



A trader, who wants to remain anonymous, told the Daily Graphic that the persistent talks and write ups on adherence to the safety protocols on COVID-19 amounted to creating fear and panic among the populace, saying " the government must stop that."



Instead, she urged the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to provide the people with face masks daily, "If it wants to stop the spread."



Shift system



Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of the KMA, Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, has commenced the processes to introduce the shift system at markets in the city to ensure social distancing among traders, in particular, and buyers.



Last week, the KMA had the first of its engagement with traders at the Asafo market on the shift system. However, the date for commencement of the system was yet to be announced.



For now, the Asafo market remains a different "republic" with each one's future and survival in their own hands.



Other places



The story is indeed no different at other markets in Kumasi. The situation is similar in the central business district where traders and commuters have blatantly ignored the wearing of face masks.



To some, the wearing of face masks was a discomfort and made them find it difficult to breathe.



A drivers mate said he was unable to call out for passengers when he had a face mask on hence his decision not to put one on.





Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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School closures may do little to reduce the spread of coronavirus, a new modeling study suggests.

Researchers found that preventing in-person learning only lowered the number of infections among young people by four percent in New York City.

By comparison, social distancing of the entire population in public places lowered the number of cases and deaths by as much as 50 percent.

The team, from City University of Hong Kong and the Institute of Automation at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, says its findings show how cases and fatalities can be achieved 'without the need for so much social disruption.'

Researchers from Hong Kong and Beijing looked at the impacts of the closures of various types of facilities, including schools, workplaces and public facilities in New York City in 2020. Pictured: Kindergartners, including Destin Saley (right) space out at tables during class Tat Park Brook Elementary School in Brooklyn Park, New York City, January 19

Social distancing of the entire population in public places (red line) lowered the number of coronavirus cases by 47% and deaths by 51% while school closures were found to be hardly effective (yellow line), only lowering the number of COVID-19 infections by 4%

Models showed that school-age children (second from left) have few contacts during the day and many more contacts are made at workplaces (second from right) and other public facilities (far right)

'School only represents a small proportion of social contact...It is more likely that people get exposure to viruses in public facilities, like restaurants and shopping malls,' said co-author Dr Qingpeng Zhang from the School of Data Science at City University of Hong Kong.

'Since we focus here on the severe infections and deceased cases, closing schools contributes little if the elderly citizens are not protected in public facilities and other places.'

For the study, published in the journal Chaos, the team looked at the impacts of the closures of various types of facilities in New York City known as non-pharmaceutical interventions in 2020.

Overall. these control policies reduced the number of coronavirus infections by 72 percent and the number of deaths by 76 percent.

However, the researchers set tout to see which closures had the most impact in the Big Apple.

They ran thousands of simulation with variations in social distancing behavior at home, in schools, at public facilities, and in the workplace.

School closures were almost ineffective and was found to reduce as many cases as if there were no control at all.

Closing classrooms was found to reduce the number of infections in people below age 25 by just about four percent.

This is because school-age children are the least vulnerable age group, have the fewest contact and make up a small percentage of the U.S. population.

In fact, 40 percent of all contact are between people aged 25 and 65 with their own age group, let alone contact between them and other age groups.

They add that, because New York City is so densely populated, the effects of school closures are smaller than day-to-day interactions.

'Students may bridge the connection between vulnerable people, but these people are already highly exposed in public facilities,' Zhang said.

'In other cities where people are much more distanced, the results may change.'

However, social distancing in public places, particularly among the elderly, was found to be the most important.

Social distancing for the entire population in all public places reduced infections in New York City by 47 percent and deaths by 51 percent.

Among senior citizens - who are among the most-high risk groups - it reduced total infections and deaths each by 47 percent, but not so much for other age groups.

The team adds that, although its study was specific to New York, the model can be used in other cities by replacing the age and location to determine 'ideal control measures with minimal social disruptions.'

The findings echo calls made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to open schools for in-person learning.

During a White House news briefing on COVID-19 last week, CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky said teachers do not need to get vaccinated before schools can safely reopen.

'There is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen and that safe reopening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated,' she said.

'Vaccinations of teachers is not a prerequisite for safely reopening schools.'

In an interview that aired on CBS on Sunday, President Joe Biden said the CDC could lay out the requirements for schools to reopen as early as Wednesday.
Photo: The Canadian Press A protester waves a Myanmar flag during protesters in Mandalay, Myanmar, on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. Tension in the confrontations between the authorities and demonstrators against last week's coup in Myanmar boiled over Monday, as police fired a water cannon at peaceful protesters in the capital Naypyitaw. (AP Photo)

Myanmars new military rulers on Monday signalled their intention to crack down on opponents of their takeover, issuing decrees that effectively banned peaceful public protests in the countrys two biggest cities.

The restrictions were ordered after police fired water cannons at hundreds of protesters in the capital, Naypyitaw, who were demanding the military hand power back to elected officials. It was just one of many demonstrations around the country.

Rallies and gatherings of more than five people, along with motorized processions, were banned, and an 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew was imposed for areas of Yangon and Mandalay, the countrys first- and second-biggest cities, where thousands of people have been demonstrating since Saturday.

Protesters in Yangon rallied Monday at a major downtown intersection raising three-finger salutes that are symbols of resistance and carrying placards saying, Reject the military coup and Justice for Myanmar.

There were also demonstrations in towns in the north, southeast and east of the country.

The decrees enabling the new restrictive measures were issued on a township-by-township basis, and were expected to be extended to other areas as well. They say they were issued in response to people carrying out unlawful actions that harm the rule of law, a reference to the protests.

The growing defiance was striking in a country where past demonstrations have been met with deadly force. That resistance was happening in Naypyitaw, whose population includes many civil servants and their families, spoke to the level of anger among people who had only begun to taste democracy in recent years after five decades of military rule.

We do not want the military junta, said Daw Moe, a protester in Yangon. We never ever wanted this junta. Nobody wants it. All the people are ready to fight them.

The coup came the day newly elected lawmakers were supposed to take their seats in Parliament after November elections. The generals have said that vote was marred by fraud  though the countrys election commission has dismissed that claim.

State media for the first time on Monday made reference to the protests, claiming they were endangering the countrys stability.

Democracy can be destroyed if there is no discipline, declared a statement from the Ministry of Information, read on state television station MRTV. We will have to take legal actions to prevent acts that are violating state stability, public safety and the rule of law.

However, the military commander who led the coup and is now Myanmars leader made no mention of the unrest in a 20-minute televised speech Monday night, his first to the public since the takeover.

Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing instead repeated the claims about voting fraud that have been the justification for the militarys takeover, allegations that were refuted by the state election commission. He added that his junta would hold new elections as promised in a year and hand over power to the winners, and explained the juntas intended policies for COVID-19 control and the economy.

The growing protests recall previous movements in the Southeast Asian countrys long and bloody struggle for democracy. On Sunday, tens of thousands of protesters rallied at Yangons Sule Pagoda, which was a focal point of demonstrations against military rule during a massive 1988 uprising and again during a 2007 revolt led by Buddhist monks. The military used deadly force to end both of those uprisings. Aside from a few officers, soldiers have not been in the streets at protests this past week.

Photos of the standoff in Naypyitaw on Monday showed a vast crowd of protesters hemmed in on several sides by large numbers of police and police vehicles. Officers there trained a water cannon on the crowd, which was gathered near a giant statue of Aung San, who led the countrys 1940s fight for independence from Britain and is the father of Aung San Suu Kyi, the elected leader who was deposed by last weeks takeover.

Suu Kyi  who became an international symbol of the countrys fight for freedom while detained in her home for 15 years and earned the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts  is now back under house arrest.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an independent watchdog group, says 165 people, mostly politicians, had been detained since the Feb. 1 coup, with just 13 released.

One foreigner has been confirmed held by the authorities, Sean Turnell, an economist at Australias Macquarie University who was an adviser to Suu Kyis government. He was detained Saturday under unclear circumstances.

A statement from the office of Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said he was being provided with consular support and described him as a highly regarded adviser, member of the academic community" who should immediately be released.
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Dr. Noel Richardson, assistant professor of Physics and Astronomy at Embry-Riddle, mentored now-alumna Laura M. Lee, who helped determine the visual orbit and dynamical mass of the Wolf-Rayet 133 binary system as part of her capstone thesis project. Credit: Embry-Riddle/Jason Kadah

Within the constellation Cygnus, an elderly star and its massive companion are having one last hurrah, flinging off mass at an incredible rate before they explode as supernovae and collapse into a black hole.

Now, researchers including recent Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University graduate Laura M. Lee have mapped the elderly star's orbit around its oversized and equally ancient partner. In a scientific first, they have also determined the dynamical mass of both stars that make up a binary system called Wolf-Rayet 133.

The team's findings, published Feb. 9, 2021 by Astrophysical Journal Letters, mark the first-ever visually observed orbit of a rare type of star called a Nitrogen-rich Wolf-Rayet (WN) star. The WN star in question is half of the starry dance duo in the WR 133 binary.

The WN star pirouettes around its partner star, an O9 supergiant, every 112.8 daysa relatively brief orbit, indicating that the two stars are close together, researchers reported. The WN star has 9.3 times more mass than our Sun, while the O9 supergiant is a whopping 22.6 times more massive, the team found.

Imagining the Early Universe

The research opens a new window to the distant past when stars and planets were first beginning to form.

Wolf-Rayet type stars, so named for the astronomers who discovered them in 1867, are massive stars near the end of their lives, said Lee's faculty mentor Dr. Noel Richardson, assistant professor of Physics and Astronomy at Embry-Riddle. They're very hot, a million times more luminous than the Sun, and stellar winds have stripped off their hydrogen envelopes. That has made it difficult to measure their massa vital step toward modeling the evolution of starsuntil now.

Because the pair of stars in the WR 133 binary are tightly coupled, they've likely exchanged mass, Richardson noted. "In the early universe, we think most stars were very, very massive and they probably exploded early on," he said.

"When these types of binary stars are close enough, they can transfer mass to each other, possibly kicking up space dust, which is necessary for the formation of stars and planets. If they're not close enough to transfer mass, they're still whipping up a huge wind that shoots material into the cosmos, and that can also allow stars and planets to form. This is why we want to know more about this rare type of star."

Lee was still an undergraduate at Embry-Riddle when Richardson invited her to help solve an intriguing astronomy riddle, as part of her senior capstone project. Richardson had been analyzing data from the CHARA Array, a collection of six telescopes positioned across California's Mount Wilson. The array, operated by Georgia State University's Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy, could pluck out celestial details smaller than the angular size of a dime in New York City from the telescopes near Los Angeles, California.

Lee's specific task was to make sense of about 100 spectrabarcode-like graphs that reveal how much light a star is giving off. To better understand WR 133's spectra, provided by Grant M. Hill of the Keck Observatory in Hawaii, Lee used computer code that allowed the team to measure how the two stars were moving. "These measurements are a necessary step because they tell us how the stars move back and forth from us, while the CHARA measurements told us how they move across the sky," Richardson explained. "The combination gives us the ability to see a three-dimensional orbit, which then tells us the masses."

At the time, Lee was laser-focused on earning her Embry-Riddle degree. "I didn't really realize how big of an impact we were making in this field," said Lee, a member of the Sigma Pi Sigma physics honors society who now holds an Astronomy degree with a Mathematics minor. "It was pretty exciting to be a part of the project, especially as an undergraduate student."

`A Blue Marble in Space'

At the Armagh Observatory & Planetarium in Northern Ireland, one of the many institutions involved in the project, Andreas A.C. Sander said the team's findings were somewhat surprising and will prompt researchers to rethink key assumptions. "The results are very interesting as they yield a lower mass than expected for such a star," Sander noted.

"While this might sound like a detail, it will change our perception of the Black Holes resulting from collapsing Wolf-Rayet stars, a crucial ingredient in the astrophysical context of gravitational wave events."

Gail Schaefer of the CHARA Array noted that Richardson's observations using the Georgia State University (GSU) telescopes on Mount Wilsonmade possible through an open-access program at the facility"will help improve our understanding of how binary interactions impact the evolution of these massive stars."

Astronomer Jason Aufdenberg of Embry-Riddle, who has also used the CHARA Array, said that "the kind of work Noel is doing, establishing orbits, is very important because they can get the masses of these things. Knowing about these very hot stars, how many there were and their luminosities is all part of understanding what happened in our universe after the Big Bang."

Now at the beginning of her career, Lee said she hopes to keep learning and being amazed by our universe. "We are on a blue marble floating in space," she said. "It's important to learn more about the complexities of the universe around us. Humans are born to learn. Any knowledge we can gain is a gift."

Explore further Stars exploding as supernovae lose their mass to companion stars during their lives

More information: "The First Dynamical Mass Determination of a Nitrogen-rich Wolf-Rayet Visual and Spectroscopic Orbit." Astrophysical Journal Letters (2021). Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Letters "The First Dynamical Mass Determination of a Nitrogen-rich Wolf-Rayet Visual and Spectroscopic Orbit."(2021). iopscience.iop.org/article/10.  847/2041-8213/abd722

Provided by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
South Africa: SONA 2021 to reflect on the new normal

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver this years State of the Nation Address (SONA) under a significantly altered global and domestic environment.

This environment is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to sweep through the world, claiming lives and livelihoods in its wake.

The new normal which all of us have had to adapt to, includes social distancing, the continuous washing of hands and the compulsory wearing of masks when going out into public spaces.

This new way of life has also necessitated that the annual SONA be held virtually. The President will present the pared down address that will not include signature traditions such as the 21-gun salute and the ceremonial guard.

While there will be no red carpet at this years joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, President Ramaphosa will still share with citizens, governments service delivery plans while also highlighting areas of focus for government.

The past year has been a difficult one for many countries, South Africa included, as world leaders scrambled to strike a balance between saving lives and livelihoods as the virus spread across the world.

As President Ramaphosa fine-tunes his speech ahead of the address on Thursday night, which will be delivered under the current COVID-19 regulations, SAnews took a look at some of the accomplishments government has made over the past year, under difficult circumstances.

Saving lives and livelihoods

While it is common knowledge that the South African economy has been battling weak economic growth even prior to the country reporting its first COVID-19 case on 5 March 2020, South Africa got to work and implemented several measures aimed at saving lives and jobs.

Having imposed a national lockdown in March, government announced a massive social relief and economic support package of R500 billion which amounts to around 10% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to mitigate against the blow of COVID-19.

Just over R300 billion was for interventions related to tax relief for businesses hit by the pandemic. The remainder was to act as a safety net for social relief.

A bulk of this was distributed to support vulnerable households (R40.9 billion) - R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant, a Temporary Employment/Employee (TERS); health (R21.54 billion); support to municipalities (R20 billion); other frontline services (R13.62 billion); basic and higher education (R12.54 billion).

The rest was distributed among other services and of this, R68.9 billion (47%) had been spent by July 2020.

The TERS was introduced by government to provide economic relief to the vulnerable and assist employers to protect jobs while the Social Relief of Distress grant was set up for unemployed individuals who do not receive any other form of social grant or Unemployment Insurance Fund payment.

By December, R13.5 billion had been disbursed through the special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant to more than six million eligible beneficiaries.

Government also announced that an additional amount of R2 billion would be made available to assist small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) and spaza shop owners and other small businesses.

Fighting corruption

While the country continues to wage war against fraud and corruption, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) recently announced that 6 140 government officials face criminal liability after investigations found that they had dipped into the TERS to the tune of R41 million.

To this effect, government has opened 75 criminal cases that are currently under investigation.

The office of the Auditor-General has previously found that among those who benefited from the scheme were people beyond the legal age of employment, or were deceased, working in government, receiving social grants or students funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.

The President has described the SIU report into procurement during the Coronavirus state of disaster as a disturbing read, while assuring South Africans that the net is closing in on those involved in corrupt acts.

Despite the documented challenges, millions of households have been shielded by these government interventions which included the extension of the SRD grant to the end of January 2021. The grant was meant to end in October 2020.

Growing the economy and attracting investment

In jump-starting the economy amid the pandemic, government further announced a commitment of R100 billion to support and create over 800 000 employment opportunities over the next three years.

This will be done through the Reconstruction and Recovery Plan aimed at steering the country back to desirable growth levels in the aftermath of the Coronavirus pandemic.

In addition, over 60 000 jobs will be created for labour-intensive maintenance and construction of municipal infrastructure and rural roads.

While the country continues to battle the pandemic, it has not taken the focus off attracting investment.

Earlier this month, government welcomed car maker Fords investment into the South African economy. The investment at the manufacturers Silverton plant will pump R1.3 billion in wages and salaries annually into the Tshwane economy when completed.

The R16 billion in investment would cover expansion of the Ford assembly plant in phases to reach a capacity to assemble 200 000 vehicles locally, principally centred on the new Ford Ranger bakkie.

An anticipated 1 200 jobs would be created in the Ford plant with thousands of additional jobs at suppliers to the company.

This brings hope to a country facing a myriad of challenges.

Meanwhile, the Presidents drive to attract R1.2 trillion worth of investment, has not slowed down since he announced it in 2018. This investment drive aims to stimulate sustainable, equitable and inclusive growth as the foundation for socio-economic transformation.

Last year, the Presidents third instalment of the countrys Investment Conference secured R109.6 billion in investment pledges, bringing the total amount of investment pledges to R773.6 billion in the last three years.

Having secured these pledges, South Africa has now reached 64% of the R1.2 trillion target.

Meanwhile, the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) -- developer and operator of the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) -- located in the Eastern Cape, has signed four new investors that are estimated to be valued in excess of R49 million.

The investors are expected to create about 100 new jobs.

This is as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Investment Trends Monitor published last month revealed that global foreign direct investment collapsed in 2020, falling 42% from $1.5 trillion in 2019 to an estimated $859 billion.

Despite this, South Africa is making headway.

Vaccines

Meanwhile, South Africa alongside other countries on the continent is making progress in obtaining COVID-19 vaccines for its population.

The country recently handed over its chairship of the African Union (AU) to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), having played a role in helping to secure vaccines for the continent.

In January, the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) confirmed the acquisition of a provisional 270 million vaccine doses for African countries, with at least 50 million being available for the crucial period of April to June 2021.

The 10-member AVATT, was established by then AU Chair, President Ramaphosa in August with the aim to ensure that the continent is able to secure sufficient vaccine doses to achieve herd immunity.

The vaccines will be supplied by Pfizer, AstraZeneca (through an independent licensee, Serum Institute of India) and Johnson & Johnson.

These complement the COVAX facility, a World Health Organisation and Gavi Vaccine Alliance initiative to help low- and middle-income countries secure access to vaccines on a fair and equitable basis.

On home soil, South Africa took delivery of its first batch of one million Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine doses out of the 1.5 million procured from the Serum Institute of India (SII).

To date, the rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has been temporarily suspended after new studies showed that it is less effective against the mutated SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 variant, which is common in South Africa.

This as Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize and a panel of experts outlined new developments in South Africas COVID-19 vaccine acquisition and rollout programme.

According to research, the vaccine showed tremendous potential before the new variant began spreading.

However, it is not all doom and gloom as vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna seem to do reasonably well against the 501Y.V2 variant, even with their neutralising activity diminished.

In addition, the country is expecting Johnson & Johnson and the Pfizer vaccines in the next coming weeks, which will be made available to healthcare workers.

Government has also outlined how South Africans will be inoculated. The plan is divided into three phases with the first phase targeting healthcare workers. The second phase targets frontline workers and those living with comorbidities and the aged. Other adults would receive their jabs in the third phase.

The SONA will take the form of a hybrid joint sitting, with at least no more than 50 Members of Parliament, representatives from the Judiciary and the Executive in the physical chamber and the rest of this category connecting virtually.

South Africans are encouraged to turn on their television and radio sets to listen to the Presidents address at 7pm. Proceedings will also be live streamed on social media platforms, Parliamentary television and Parliaments YouTube channels.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-02-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Partnership Expands The Reach Of PacketFabric's Network-As-A-Service Platform Via A Software Defined Interconnection With Colt

PacketFabric, an innovator of on-demand connectivity for enterprise customers to the secure private internet, today announced a strategic partnership with Colt Technology Services, a leading provider of global high bandwidth connectivity solutions. This partnership sees Colt's On Demand offering being directly integrated with PacketFabric's Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) platform, initially enabling PacketFabric's enterprise customers to benefit from real-time network connectivity to 100 key data center locations across Europe.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005271/en/

PacketFabric's global customer base can now create private, secure, low latency hybrid cloud and backbone connectivity in minutes, enabled via an API-based software defined interconnection with Colt. Colt's On Demand platform is underpinned by the Colt IQ Network, which spans more than 29,000 on net buildings and 900 data centers globally, and will significantly increase the reach of PacketFabric's advanced NaaS platform throughout Europe. Through this integration, PacketFabric's enterprise customers will be able to benefit from a true SDN experience, which sees services being delivered in real-time via a portal, creating greater agility for the fast-paced business landscape of today.

"When we looked at our European expansion plans, it was clear that Colt was the right strategic partner for PacketFabric," said Jezzibell Gilmore, PacketFabric Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer. "Not only is Colt an innovator and pioneer in connectivity services, but they lead the telecom industry in diversity and inclusion. As a women-founded start-up, we are passionate how Colt CEO Keri Gilder has been a champion for women in the telecom and tech industry-so this partnership is personally meaningful for me and my co-founder Anna Claiborne."

"Colt strives to transform the way the world works through the power of connectivity and this collaboration with PacketFabric will offer enterprise customers the agility and flexibility they need to take on the business challenges of today," said Keri Gilder, CEO of Colt. "At Colt, we don't just want to transform how networks are provisioned, we also believe in changing how this sector is viewed and the voices that are heard in it. I am passionate about championing women and I am proud to be partnering with a company created and led by women. I see this collaboration being just an example of how we are innovating and delivering the networks of tomorrow for customers globally."

"Structure Research's Global Data Center and Colocation Report reported that EU interconnection will continue to populate and expand, and the market will see significant expansion which bodes well for our partnership and joint enterprise customers," said Anna Claiborne, PacketFabric Co-founder and SVP Product and Engineering.

The Colt IQ Network connects data centers across Europe, Asia and North America's largest business hubs. PacketFabric's Network-as-a-Service platform orchestrates and guarantees connectivity between colocation facilities, clouds, and offers private network interconnection. PacketFabric was recently awarded the "2020 Fierce Telecom Innovation Award for Cloud Services," a "2020 Cool Vendor in Enhanced Internet Services and Cloud Connectivity" by Gartner and one of the "10 Hottest Networking Startups of 2020" by CRN.

About PacketFabric

PacketFabric redefines how the enterprise moves data by automating network connectivity services. Leveraging an entirely automated SDN-based network architecture and the latest in optical and packet switching technology, PacketFabric enables dynamic, real-time connectivity services between more than hundreds of premier colocation facilities across many global markets. The PacketFabric Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) platform delivers simple, cost-effective, and scalable network deployment via its advanced Application Program Interface (API) and web portal. PacketFabric was named the "2020 Fierce Telecom Innovation Award for Cloud Services," one of the "10 Hottest Networking Startups of 2020" by CRN and a "2020 Cool Vendor in Enhanced Internet Services and Cloud Connectivity" by Gartner. PacketFabric investors include NantWorks and Digital Alpha Advisors. For more information, visit packetfabric.com.

About Colt

Colt strives to transform the way the world works through the power of connectivity, taking what's always been in its DNA to enable customers' success. The Colt IQ Network connects more than 900+ data centers and over 29,000 on net buildings across Europe, Asia and North America's largest business hubs.

Colt understands today's shifting connectivity requirements and provides agile, on-demand and secure high bandwidth networking and voice solutions to ensure enterprises can thrive. Customers include data-intensive organizations spanning over 210 cities in more than 30 countries. Colt is a recognized innovator and pioneer in Software Defined Networks (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV). Privately owned, Colt is one of the most financially sound companies in the sector, and because of this, it's able to put its customers' needs at its core. For more information, please visit www.colt.net.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005271/en/

Contacts:

Lauren de la Fuente

VP Marketing, PacketFabric

+1 310-283-8488

lauren.delafuente@packetfabric.com

Sarah Homewood

Head of PR, Colt

+44 758-827-5199

sarah.homewood@colt.net
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday said that it was too early to be dismissing the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and regarded it still as an essential tool to tackle the pandemic after South Africa delayed its immunisation programme. While WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called delaying of inoculation in South Africa as a concerning news, the head of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which co-leads the Covax vaccine facility Richard Hatchett said it was too early" to suspend the vaccine.

Hatchett further told the reporters in coronavirus bi-weekly briefing on February 8, It is absolutely crucial to use the tools that we have as effectively as we possibly can.

AstraZeneca vaccine is currently a vital part of the WHO-sponsored Covax programme which was set up in order to procure the COVID-19 vaccines and ensure their equitable distribution across the globe in the fight against the pandemic. The OXford-AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine candidate reportedly amounts for all of the 337.2 million vaccine doses Covax is preparing to ship to around 145 nations during the first half of 2021 after it received the WHO authorisation. As per reports, it is expected next week. Tedros noted that AstraZeneca prevents severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalisation and death.

Yesterday, South Africa announced it was putting a temporary hold on the rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after a study showed it was minimally effective at preventing mild to moderate disease caused by a variant first identified in South Africa, said WHO chief.

This is clearly concerning news. However, there are some important caveats. Given the limited sample size of the trial and the younger, healthier profile of the participants, it is important to determine whether or not the vaccine remains effective in preventing more severe illness, he added.

Read - South Africa Suspends AstraZeneca Vaccine Plan

Read - French Health Minister Gets AstraZeneca Vaccine

AstraZeneca vaccine against South African variant

Oxford and AstraZeneca noted that their COVID-19 vaccine candidate will not protect people against mild to moderate covid illness that is caused by the South African variant. However, all vaccines have been found to provide immunisation against the most severe disease, hospitalisation and death.

As per The Guardian report, Shabir Madhi, professor of vaccinology at the University of the Witwatersrand who has been the chief investigator on a number of COVID-19 vaccine trials in South Africa including the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, has said that it was now time to rethink the goals of mass immunisation from the highly-infectious disease caused by the coronavirus. A study involving over 2,000 participants in South Africa that included two vaccines, from Novavax and Janssen that was found to have around 60% efficacy.

Read - S Africa Puts On Hold AstraZeneca Vaccination Rollout After Concern Over Efficacy

Read - South Africa Suspends AstraZeneca Vaccine Drive



Kent is the pothole capital of Britain, with more than 52,000 defects recorded in the past three years  almost 50 a day.

Across the country nearly 600,000 potholes were reported between 2018 and 2020, with repairs costing 99million a year, according to data from 67 of the UK's biggest councils and Highways England.

The most potholes were reported in Kent, with 52,245, followed by Staffordshire with 40,725 and Fife with 36,056, according to Freedom of Information data obtained by comparison site GoCompare.

The fewest were in the London boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham with 141 and Royal Greenwich with 199.

Kent is the pothole capital of Britain, with 52,245 defects recorded in the past three years, according to Freedom of Information data obtained by the comparison site GoCompare. (Stock image)

The data also showed councils in south-east England took the longest time to report and repair potholes, with an average of 31.3 days.

Highways England  which looks after motorways and major A-roads  and Birmingham and Sunderland councils, were the fastest with an average of just one day.

Potholes can cause damage from burst tyres to catastrophic impacts on suspension which may lead to a vehicle being written off.

The AA found one in three motorists said their vehicle had been damaged by potholes in the previous two years.

A spokesman for GoCompare said: 'Drivers can claim for pothole damage on their car insurance, but they can also claim from the council, or authority, responsible for maintaining the road where it occurred.'

The data also showed Staffordshire had 40,725 potholes and Fife in Scotland had 36,056. (Stock image)

The AA said that although the effects included 'damage to tyres and bodywork, and even led to crashes', just only one in five had reported the pothole to the local council or Highways England.

A spokesman added: 'Unfortunately, potholes can't be prevented as they're caused by changes in temperature and water in cracks of the road surface.

'Reporting them can help them get fixed more quickly, if the council doesn't know about it, they won't know it needs to be repaired.'

Potholes can be reported at https://www.gov.uk/report-pothole

[February 08, 2021] Document Security Systems, Inc., Coinstreet Partners and GSX Group Collaborate to Develop Digital Asset Exchange Business in the US

NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSE American: DSS) ("DSS"), a multinational company operating businesses focusing on brand protection technology, blockchain security, direct marketing, healthcare, real estate, and securitized digital assets, today announced it entered a joint venture ("JV") with Coinstreet Partners ("Coinstreet"), a global decentralized digital investment banking group and digital asset financial service firm, and GSX Group ("GSX"), a global digital exchange ecosystem for the issuance, trading, and settlement of tokenized securities, using its proprietary blockchain solution. This JV collaboration forms a unique partnership of three key leaders in their field, combining traditional capital market experience, Fintech innovations, and business networks from three continents, North America, Europe, and Asia, to capitalize on unique digital asset opportunities. The newly formed JV will first pursue a digital securities exchange license in the US. Moving forward, this JV will be the key operational company building and operating a digital securities exchange that utilizes the GSX STACS blockchain technology, serving corporate issuers and investors in the sector. Frank D. Heuszel, CEO of DSS, commented on the news of the new JV, saying:



"We have been looking for the right opportunity to accelerate our digital asset business and believe this collaboration will provide a strong foundation for success. The transformative potential of digital securities is extremely exciting, and we look forward to pursuing the massive opportunity in the US for a secondary market in securities tokens." A key facilitator in the new JV, Samson Lee, Founder & CEO of Coinstreet Partners commented: "For the past 4 years, Coinstreet has been focusing on primary market activities for STO and digital assets in the international market. We are delighted to establish a strategic partnership with DSS and GSX to develop a digital asset exchange in the US. This is a major step forward for Coinstreet, and it will allow us to vertically integrate our primary market services with regulated secondary trading venues in the US, which is a very important market for us." Nick Cowan, CEO of GSX Group, added on the deal's conclusion:



"Through this strategic joint venture, we are realizing our vision to establish a paradigm shift in the capital markets. With the help of our new partners, DSS and Coinstreet, and using our underlying bespoke blockchain for securities, the GSX STACS network, we believe this new exchange will provide some exciting opportunities for US and global issuers." According to a survey from the World Economic Forum, 10% of the world's GDP will be tokenized by 2027 -- with an estimated market capitalization of US$24 trillion. With increased clarity in the regulatory framework and many positive developments in the industry, such as wider adoption of digital assets from financial institutions and innovative digital security offerings from large entrprises, both asset tokenization and digitized securities are gaining much momentum for new growth in the financial industry.



Through their JV collaboration, DSS, Coinstreet Partners, and GSX Group could become the next digital asset exchange to secure FINRA registration as an alternative trading system (ATS). Please click these links for Chinese, Japanese and Korean versions.

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 US$25 billion. For more information on DSS visit http://www.dsssecure.com. About Coinstreet Partners (Coinstreet)



Founded in 2017, Coinstreet is an award-winning, AI-powered decentralized investment banking group, a premium financial services firm for private wealth, and a professional consultancy firm in the Digital Asset and FinTech sectors, providing a business eco-system for the new era of digital economy. Coinstreet focuses on five key business segments: (1) Digital Asset Investment Banking, (2) Digital Asset/Wealth Management & Private Banking, (3) Digital Asset Global Distribution Coordination, (4) Asset Tokenization & Security Digitization Management Solution, and (5) Decentralized Finance & DLT Solution. Coinstreet is a co-organizer of Global Online Investor Roadshow ( www.GOIR.info ) - the next generation, institutional scale, online private placement platform for private equity, alternative investments, and digital asset opportunities; and a co-organizer of TADS Awards ( www.TADSawards.org ) - the world's first international award for Tokenized Assets and Digitized Securities sector. For more information on Coinstreet, visit https://coinstreet.partners/ About GSX Group GSX Group, that owns and operates the Gibraltar Stock Exchange (GSX) is a growing Fintech ecosystem of digital securities exchanges. GSX Group seeks to build a digital ecosystem to exploit the next evolutionary stage in capital markets development: the tokenization of economies facilitating the adoption by, and convergence between, issuers and investors. For more information on GSX Group, visit https://www.gsxgroup.global/ 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 management's 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 management's 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. SOURCE Coinstreet Partners

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King Buc-ee is having some issues expanding his kingdom.

Apparently, not everyone wants an absurdly massive gas station looming over the local highway. Texas Monthly's Dan Solomon reports that the most iconic beaver in Texas isn't always welcome in or out of state, and the plans for what was to be the first North Carolina Buc-ee's have been scrapped.

CONVENIENCE STORE WARS: Hey, New York, you're not the only city with convenience stores

North Carolinians in the tiny town of Efland in Orange County feared the planned Buc-ee's "would worsen traffic congestion, pollute a protected watershed, and offend aesthetic sensitivities." A whole group of irate citizens formed "A Voice 4 Efland & Orange" to oppose the 64,000-square-foot convenience store with sixty gas pumps and a 250-foot car wash.

A lot of it goes to the identity of this county, and thats not a massive eighty-foot bucktooth beaver sign with billboards saying LOL, Its Party Time. Its quite frankly tacky, Voice 4 Efland member Del Ward told Solomon.

Ouch.

A Voice for Efland & Orange won, and Buc-ee's announced it was abandoning the project.

Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Back in September when I first heard about the plans for a North Carolina Buc-ee's outpost, I had hoped its residents would have appreciated Buc-ee's for its over-the-top garishness that offends all sensibilities if you think about it for more than a minute or two.

A NEW TWIST: Topo Chico is releasing a new flavor for the first time in 4 years

But alas, the excess of Buc-ee's that draws travelers across this great state has actually served as its downfall at times. Solomon reports that even some Texans have turned their back on the beaver, with residents in Corinth, Denton and Boerne protesting the opening of a gas station behemoth in their communities. (Denton and Boerne each got a Buc-ee's anyway, so the protests don't always work.)

And look, I get it. Buc-ee's might be one of the most ridiculous things about Texas. I have never been to a QT or Valero and thought, "Hm, needs more gas pumps and also a home decor section." Buc-ee's speaks to Texans' unwavering belief that bigger is always better, especially when you throw a barbecue stand in it. We can't expect the 23rd smallest state in the country to understand when even some Texans don't understand. They just weren't ready to accept the warm embrace of a massive eighty-foot bucktooth beaver.

But King Buc-ee will not be deterred. The purveyor of beef jerky and clean bathrooms made clear that it remains "committed" to North Carolina one way or another.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

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Veolia Water Technologies Gulf was awarded a contract by Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al-Kharafi & Sons (Al-Kharafi) to supply, supervise, install and commission 53 AnoxKaldnes Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) packaged sewage treatment plants.

This order is the largest ever received by Veolia for this type of packaged plants and will allow for 40,000 cu m of water to be reused each day in Kuwait, said the statement from Veolia.

The company said that compact and packaged sewage treatment units will be installed at various locations throughout the country where they will compensate a shortage in sewage handling.

As per the deal, Veolia will also supply pretreatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection as well as proprietary Veolia technologies Multiflo for clarification and Hydrotech Drumfilters for tertiary treatment.

Its digital solution Hubgrade will also be provided to support the operational teams in their daily monitoring with a proactive, data-driven service and remote reporting, said the statement.

A major advantage of these smaller, packaged units when compared to one big wastewater treatment plant is that the size of the network is vastly reduced as it is possible to spread the units in various parts of the housing development or city. Capital costs are lowered while more flexibility is gained, it added.

Following treatment, the effluents will be reused for irrigation, therefore saving freshwater that would otherwise have been desalinated at high cost, particularly in terms of energy.

In Sabah Al Ahmad City, a planned community located 80 km south of Kuwait City in Khiran Kuwait, 23 AnoxKaldnes MBBR package plants with a total treatment capacity of 17,000 cu m/day will be added to existing sewage treatment installations.

In West Abdullah City, new sewage treatment installations will be built and will include 27 package plants totalling 23,000 m3/day. Finally, three more units will be installed as provisional items at other locations.

On the big order win, CEO Middle East Thierry Froment said: "2020 has proven a very challenging year in many aspects, but it has also brought us some great successes. This project exemplifies the benefits of combining our expert technologies available throughout Veolias network of business units with our digital services to offer our customers the best possible solution."

"After having worked on the Sulaibiya WWTP Expansion Project, we are honored to have been chosen by Al-Kharafi once again and we look forward to continuing our successful collaboration," he stated.

The first units will be delivered early in 2021, with all 53 units delivered in less than 12 months, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
MINSK -- Two journalists for the Polish-funded Belsat satellite television station have gone on trial in Minsk on a charge of "organizing public events aimed at disrupting civil order."

Katsyaryna Andreyeva and Darya Chultsova were arrested on November 15 while they were covering a rally in Minsk commemorating Raman Bandarenka.

Bandarenka died from injuries sustained in a vicious beating by a group of masked assailants -- whom rights activists allege were affiliated with the authorities -- during one of the weekly rallies demanding the resignation of authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

The two journalists said as the trial started on February 9 that they were just doing their jobs as journalists at the event where they were arrested.

WATCH: Belarusian Journalists Go On Trial

If found guilty, the two women face up to three years in prison.

Belarusian human rights organizations have declared Andreyeva and Chultsova political prisoners and demanded their immediate release and the dropping of all charges against them.

Lukashenka, who has run the country since 1994, was declared the victor of an August 9 presidential election, but opposition and public outrage over what they saw as a rigged vote has sparked continuous protests since, bringing tens of thousands onto the streets with demands he step down and new elections be held.

Security officials have cracked down hard on the demonstrators, arresting thousands, including dozens of journalists covering the rallies, and driving most of the top opposition figures out of the country.

Several protesters have been killed in the violence and some rights organizations say there is credible evidence some detained protesters being tortured.

Lukashenka has denied any wrongdoing with regard to the election and refuses to negotiate with the opposition on stepping down and holding new elections.

The European Union, United States, Canada, and other countries have refused to recognize Lukashenka, 66, as the legitimate leader of Belarus and have slapped him and senior Belarusian officials with sanctions in response to the "falsification" of the vote and the postelection crackdown.

The operator of a ship carrying tonnes of Australian coal stranded off the coast of China is diverting the vessel to Japan in a high stakes dash that will see 18 sailors relieved after a six-month diplomatic stalemate.

The move from the ships operator, the Mediterranean Shipping Company, follows months of frustration and deteriorating conditions on board the vessel, where Indian sailors have become pawns in a $20 billion trade dispute between China and Australia. The ship is one of dozens of ships held up in Bohai Bay carrying up to $700 million in Australian coal.

The Anastasia crew in December.

MSC, which maintains the vessel and organises its crew, said it was was left with no option but to advise the master of Anastasia to make a short hop to Japan on February 4 after it exhausted all possible options for a crew change including through Indian and Chinese authorities.

The company said already grave concerns for the safety and well-being of the seafarers intensified in the past week and it had taken the decision to avoid a humanitarian crisis onboard.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is asking residents in parts of some west Atlanta neighborhoods for permission to test their soil for lead.

The agency has been sampling yards and removing soil in parts of the Vine City and English Avenue neighborhoods west of downtown since 2018 after an Emory University graduate student found dangerously high levels of lead in the area.

Since then, the agency has tested close to 500 yards for lead, but it would like to sample more.

Weve only received access for about 50 percent of the properties in our study area, the EPAs Leigh Lattimore said at a virtual community meeting, according to WABE-FM. Were really focused on getting the remaining 50 percent and sampling those properties.

Of the properties the EPA has tested, 205 had high enough lead levels to qualify for the agency to pay to remove and replace the soil. That work has been finished on 59 properties; two are getting worked on now. The EPA began excavating yards a year ago.

The coronavirus has made outreach to residents and getting signed permission to sample yards harder, said Abena Moore, community involvement coordinator with the EPA.

We are restricted from going door-to-door right now, she said. In addition, a high number of property owners live out of the state or the country. And lastly, there are properties that have been abandoned, and we havent been able to find the property owner.

EPA on-scene coordinator Chuck Berry said the agency has spent about $8 million of $18 million in authorized funding for the cleanup, but it expects to seek more money.

Lead is especially dangerous for children; it can affect their brains and nervous systems.

The lead in English Avenue and Vine City likely came from waste from Atlanta foundries that was used as fill, the EPA reports.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Pollution

The police officer brother of Jurassic World actor Chris Pratt supports a far-right group connected to the Capitol riot, according to a series of social media posts unearthed by a local reporter.

Chris Pratt, 41, is close to his older brother Daniel, known as Cully, a sergeant in the Solano County sheriffs office in California.

Cully Pratt has a side business making decorative wood carvings: among those he made was a rifle display created for his colleague, Sgt. Roy Stockton, who has also been elected member of Vacaville City Council.

The wooden rack features the slogan 'will not comply' - a slogan popular with the Three Percenters, an anti-government militia group.

Chris Pratt's own political views came under scrutiny last year when his name was conspicuously absent from a cast of Marvel stars who headlined a fundraiser for the Biden/Harris campaign ahead of the November election.

Pratt was labelled 'the worst Hollywood Chris' amid suspicion that the Parks and Recreation star had MAGA sympathies - but he has not confirmed or denied this.

Actor Chris Pratt (left) with his mother Kathy and brother Cully in April 2017

Cully Pratt in October 2018 proudly showed off the rifle holder with Three Percenter symbols

What are the Three Percenters? The Three Percenters were founded in 2008. Their name comes from the myth that only three per cent of Americans fought the British in the Revolutionary War. They are pro-gun, anti-government and see themselves as patriots against tyranny. Advertisement

The Three Percenters, founded in 2008, take their name from the false belief that only three per cent of Americans fought in the Revolutionary War against the British, and see themselves as a small number of patriots protecting U.S. citizens from tyranny.

In Pratt's creation, 13 shotgun shells, arranged like the stars of the Betsy Ross flag - which bore 13 stars to represent the 13 colonies that fought against the British during the Revolutionary War - form a circle around the Roman numeral III.

He is seen posing with the rifle holder in the 2018 Instagram post, unearthed by the blog Open Vallejo.

He labeled the post with the hashtag '#3percenter.'

At least one person with Three Percenter ties has been charged in connection with the January 6 storming of the Capitol.

Others have been connected to bombings and kidnapping plots.

Open Vallejo found that Pratt - who has since deleted his Instagram account - had for years posted Three Percenter imagery on his accounts.

Daniel 'Cully' Pratt, left, with his brother Chris in March 2019 at an airshow at Travis base

Chris Pratt with brother Cully, wearing a Solano County sheriffs' hat at the 2018 Super Bowl

Daniel 'Cully' Pratt, the older brother of the Hollywood star

Pratt has not commented on the posts.

Solano County spokesperson Matthew Davis declined to comment on whether county officials are active members of any anti-government militia.

Stockton sells a variety of far-right items online under the names High Brass Leather and Live Free EDC, Open Vallejo found. Among items he sold were a silver Gadsden flag bottle opener listed at $746.40.

He posted a photo of several guns before the November 2016 election, with the caption: 'getting ready for the election tomorrow.'

Stockton told Open Vallejo: 'I strongly condemn the violent and racist views of these extreme right, militia, and anti-government groups.

'I believe that law enforcement officers and other public officials cannot keep their oaths to uphold the Constitution if they are associated with any extremist or anti-government groups.'

The blog found that other members of the Vallejo force, including their homeless outreach coordinator, Deputy Dale Matsuoka, posted Three Percenter symbols on his public Facebook page.

On July 16, the site reported, Matsuoka changed his Facebook profile picture to the Three Percenter logo and the slogan: 'When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty.'

At least 31 police officers in 12 states are being investigated for their role in the riot at the Capitol, according to the Associated Press.

Chris and Cully Pratt at a UFC tournament, in a photo posted on Cully's Instagram

Chris Pratt (right) and brother Cully. Cully is accused of supporting the Three Percenters

Chris Pratt was at the center of a bizarre row last year when his fellow Hollywood stars rallied to defend him after he was branded 'Hollywood's Worst Chris' amid claims he had sympathies for Trump.

Pratt was not among the six Avengers stars who agreed to appear at a fundraiser for Joe Biden shortly before the end of the presidential campaign.

He also came under fire for making light of the election in an Instagram post in which he parodied appeals about the importance of voting to urge people to back Pixar movie Onward in the People's Choice Awards.

'I get this is supposed to be a cute little joke but it comes off as really insensitive,' said one unamused Instagram user.

In 2019, Pratt was forced to deny claims that the Hillsong Church where he worships was 'anti-LGBTQ', insisting that 'I go to a church that opens their doors to absolutely everyone'.

Despite despite the suspicions of online sleuths, Pratt has not identified himself as either a Democrat or Republican - and reportedly donated to Barack Obama in 2012.

'I don't feel represented by either side. I really feel there's common ground out there that's missed because we focus on the things that separate us,' he said in 2017.

Iowa Auditor Rob Sand released a report Tuesday saying proceeds from an FFA fundraiser at the North Butler Community School District were not properly collected and deposited.

The press release said the investigation identified an estimated $2,170 of "uncollected or undeposited collections for the annual FFA fruit and cider sales fundraiser held during academic years 2018/2019 and 2019/2020."

Sand also reported that the investigation identified nearly $6,000 of improper disbursements.

"The improper disbursements identified include the purchase of additional fruit and cider to be donated or gifted to others. The improper disbursements identified also include the purchase of FFA t-shirts and jackets which were kept by the students and did not comply with guidance established by the Iowa Department of Education," Sand said.

Copies of this report have been filed with the Butler County Sheriffs Office, the Division of Criminal Investigation, the Butler County Attorneys Office, and the Attorney Generals Office.
(CNN)  WHO's international team of experts investigating the origins of Covid-19 has concluded its four-week mission to Wuhan, the original epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.

They presented a summary of their findings during a joint press conference with Chinese authorities at a hotel in Wuhan on Tuesday, prior to their departure from China.

Liang Wannian, Head of the Expert Panel of COVID-19 Response of China National Health Commission (NHC) said at the "WHO-China Joint Study" press conference that "the findings indicated that there was no substantial unrecognized circulation of #SARScov2 in Wuhan during the latter part of 2019."

He said that the "first part," or the "Chinese part" of the global tracing research has been completed.

The international team visited the Huanan Seafood Market that was linked to early case clusters and the hospital where the first cases were detected.

They visited the Wuhan Institute of Virology and probed data provided by Chinese authorities from Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control.

The field visits concluded on February 6, and the team have been poring over data with Chinese counterparts.

WHO investigators spent fourteen days in quarantine collaborating with Chinese scientists, reviewing data on Zoom calls and conducted field visits in Wuhan to understand more about the origins of the Covid-19 virus.

The WHO team members are expected to depart from China on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This story was first published on CNN.com.
The U.K.'s plan for "surge testing" to detect and suppress new variants of coronavirus is unlikely to work unless it is done on a larger scale, a scientific adviser to the government said. Mike Tildesley, an academic at the University of Warwick who advises Boris Johnson's government on pandemic modeling, said authorities should "cast their net slightly wider" to pick up cases and make sure people with the virus are staying home. Surge testing is being extended to areas around Manchester, northwest England, in a bid to control the spread of new variants that could prove resistant to vaccines, the health department said Monday. That's in addition to eight other areas in England, which have seen more mobile testing sites and door-to-door visits by health officials.

Johnson insisted he is "very confident" the vaccines being used in the U.K. are effective against the South African variant of the disease. But early data found the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot has limited efficacy against mild and moderate cases. There were no clear results on more serious illness.

While only 147 confirmed cases of the South Africa mutation have been identified in the U.K., the true number is likely to be far higher because until last week fewer than 10% of positive coronavirus tests were sequenced to find the variant. Tildesley said surge testing needs to be on a bigger scale, not least because many cases are only coming to light several days after infection. "I fear it's not going to be effective," he said in an interview. "Unless you do slightly larger-scale blanket testing, it's very hard to capture."

"If you're going to do surge testing, cast your net slightly wider than you think you might need to," he added. "Why not do it over slightly larger geographical area than postcode areas? It would significantly increase the chances of detecting more cases and putting in the necessary isolation protocols."

Attention is turning to the U.K.'s 22 billion-pound ($30 billion) test and trace system as infections continue to fall across the country as a result of the third national lockdown. As increasing numbers of Britons are vaccinated, effective mass testing is crucial so officials can pinpoint fresh outbreaks, trace the contacts of positive cases and ensure they stay home.

Tildesley said the key is to ensure people self-isolate properly. Dido Harding, the head of the test and trace program, told Parliament last week that at least 20,000 a day were failing to do so.

"We know that's been a problem throughout, that only a relatively small proportion of people are seeing out their full 10-day isolation period," Tildesley said. "We really need to get that message out, that that's extremely important. It comes down to really clear government messaging."

He said the government needs to incentivize people to isolate. Some on low incomes may be taking the 500-pound payment from the state for isolating but "still not be adhering because actually they still can't afford to not be in work for 10 days," he said.

Test and trace works best when infections come down to a manageable level and ministers need to make sure the system is effective when that happens, Tildesley said. "That's when we need to put in the resources to make sure we've got as much capacity as possible to make that effective."
Around 190 students and 70 teachers of two government schools in Malappuram have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting health officials to ask school authorities in the district to keep extra vigil and strictly implement the COVID-19 protocol.

A district health official said around 150 students and 34 teachers of the Maranchery higher secondary school tested positive for the virus on Sunday.

Twitter

"Over 600 students of the school were subjected to virus testing after a student had tested positive late last week. All the students who were tested positive belonged to Class X and classmates of the student who tested positive first," the official told news agency PTI.



In the other case, 39 students and 36 teachers of the Vanneri higher secondary school at Ponnani tested positive.

Kerala reopened schools in the state January 1 onwards

The rapid rate of spread of the virus has made authorities implement stricter norms of social distancing and other health protocols in all schools.

TNN

District health authorities have asked school authorities to strictly implement use of masks and thermal testing of students.

Parents and family members of students and teachers who tested positive have been instructed to go into quarantine.

Both the schools are now closed for disinfecting.

India presently has 1,43,625 active COVID cases (as on February 9 morning) with Kerala (65670 cases) accounting for around 45 percent of the total active cases in the country.


AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizens, Inc. (NYSE: CIA) today announced that the Harold E. Riley Foundation (the "Foundation") has agreed to dismiss all claims against Citizens and the members of its Board of Directors in connection with the Colorado litigation filed by the Foundation's former trustees and to sell all outstanding Class B common stock to Citizens. The purchase of the Class B common stock by Citizens is expected to be consummated in March 2021.

The dismissal of the Colorado litigation and sale of the Class B common stock were partially the result of the two sole charitable beneficiaries of the Foundation, Baylor University and Southwestern Theological Seminary, resolving their litigation with the Foundation's trustees in Texas. In such litigation, of which neither the Company nor its Board was a party, the charitable beneficiaries alleged that certain of the Foundation's trustees breached their fiduciary duties to the Foundation and misused Foundation monies for personal benefit, including bringing the Colorado litigation against Citizens and its Board in an attempt to seat themselves on Citizens' Board. The Texas Attorney General intervened in the case on behalf of Baylor and Southwestern in December 2020. As a result of their settlement, the trustees who filed the lawsuit against Citizens were removed from the Foundation. Upon gaining control of the Foundation, Baylor and Southwestern appointed their own trustees to the Foundation, who worked collaboratively with Citizens to enter into a Mutual Agreement for Compromise, Settlement and Release (the "Foundation Settlement Agreement"), which agreement was conditioned, in part, on the dismissal of all claims by all parties in the Colorado litigation including claims by and against prior Foundation trustees or officers including Mr. Mike Hughes and Mr. Charlie Hott, as well as the execution of mutual releases.

As a result of the Foundation Settlement Agreement:

Citizens, its directors and the Foundation will dismiss all claims in the Colorado litigation;

litigation; Citizens restored its Board and Bylaws to the form they existed as of August 12, 2020 ;

; The Foundation agreed to sell and Citizens agreed to buy 100% of the Citizens Class B Shares that were owned by the Foundation; and

Citizens will have one class of voting shares outstanding (Class A common stock)Class B Shares will remain authorized but will be unissued.

Because the Foundation has the right to elect a simple majority to Citizens' Board of directors, upon consummation of Citizens' acquisition of the Class B common stock, Citizens will no longer be a "controlled" company and the holders of the Class A common stock will elect all of the directors at Citizens upcoming annual shareholders' meeting.

Gerald W. Shields, Vice-Chairman of the Board and Interim CEO, said, "This agreement is fantastic news for the Company, policyholders and shareholders putting a significant legal distraction behind us. We have already shifted our full attention to running the business, focusing on growth and executing the strategic initiatives that are important to meeting the needs of our policyholders and delivering sustainable value. By not having a control party, Citizens can now chart the course of its own destiny."

"We appreciate the collaboration of Baylor University and Southwestern Theological Seminary to resolve this matter. Upon completion of the purchase of the Class B shares, Citizens will have one class of voting stock, and the Board can continue to adopt best governance practices conforming to all NYSE requirements," said J.D. "Chip" Davis, Jr., Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Davis continued, "This agreement is a turning point for Citizens. We are now poised to resume our CEO search and continue building our leadership bench and accelerate our growth priorities."

Citizens is committed to furthering Mr. Riley's wishes of benefiting students at Baylor and Southwestern. As part this commitment, Citizens has pledged to make donations to Baylor and Southwestern over the next two years.

About Citizens, Inc.

Citizens, Inc. is a financial services company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CIA. The Company utilizes a three-pronged strategy for growth based upon worldwide sales of U.S. Dollar-denominated whole life cash value insurance policies, life insurance product sales in the U.S. and final expense and limited liability property product sales in the U.S.

Information herein contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which can be identified by words such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate", "intends," "continue" or comparable words. In addition, all statements other than statements of historical facts that address activities that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Readers are encouraged to read the periodic reports the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its current reports on Form 8-K, for "Risk Factors" and other meaningful cautionary language disclosing why actual results may vary materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in the Company's expectations. Accordingly, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company also disclaims any duty to comment upon or correct information that may be contained in reports published by the investment community.

For further information contact:

Investor Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE Citizens, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.citizensinc.com


Kisumu  ODM party leader Raila Odinga is Monday set to convene a Nyanza consultative forum bringing the four counties of Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori.

The meeting that will be held at Ciala Resort in the outskirts of Kisumu City will bring 200 delegates per county.

Politicians, the clergy, business people and Luo Council of Elders will be in attendance.

Local leaders privy to the meeting said the forum will focus on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) constitutional amendment Bill with Raila keen to cement his grip of the region ahead of an anticipated referendum in June and the 2022 general election.

The Raila's meeting comes barely a week after President Uhuru Kenyatta hold a four day talks with different stakeholders from central region.

Kisumu-based lawyer Joshua Nyamori explained Raila too felt the need to retreat to his backyard and summon his people for a consultative forum.

Siaya County Assembly has already passed the draft Bill on BBI, setting pace for other county assemblies in Nyanza region.

The Bill requires the support of 24 county assemblies for it to be presented to the tow houses of Parliament from where, if approved, the electoral agency can hold a national referendum.

Locals in Nyanza region see the passage of BBI in the referendum as a stepping stone for Raila in his last quest for the presidency.

Monday's meeting will be closely watched by both supporters of Raila and his competitors as the 2022 race nears.
(Adds background on mine development, comment)

By Jeff Lewis

TORONTO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Mongolia wants more tax revenue

under a revised deal to expand Rio Tinto's Oyu

Tolgoi copper-gold mine rather than a larger ownership stake in

the project, a person with direct knowledge of the government's

thinking told Reuters on Monday, as the two sides bid to resolve

a long-running standoff over the development.

On Sunday, the Financial Times reported Ulaanbaatar is

seeking agreement with Rio to terminate a deal to expand the

mine and replace it with a new pact that offers better terms.

We obviously would like to have more tax revenues," the

person said, declining to be identified owing to the sensitivity

of the issue.

The mine is one of the world's largest-known copper and gold

deposits. The government holds a 34% stake in the $6.75 billion

project, while Rio Tinto-controlled Turquoise Hill owns

the rest.

Ulaanbaatar has previously told Rio it was concerned that

the economic benefits of developing the mine have been eroded

due to the significant increase in costs.

Under current plans, Ulaanbaatar won't receive dividends

until 2051 while Oyu Tolgoi won't pay "meaningful" corporate

income tax, the person said. "That's really concerning."

(Reporting by Jeff Lewis; Editing by Chris Reese and Mark

Potter)
Posted Tuesday, February 9, 2021 3:17 am

Just one day before the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, seized on the opportunity to defend her yes vote on impeachment during a virtual town hall with constituents.

The range of comments she received Monday spoke to how divisive her vote proved to be in the district  while some said they were proud of her decision, others condemned her. Herrera Beutler said she was happy to field criticism, including that of a man who said she should be removed from office for denying Trump due process.

First of all, an impeachment trial is not the same as a criminal trial or civil suit  so when you talk about due process, its not the same thing, she said. Hell have his day in court. Literally, it starts tomorrow.

Herrera Beutler broke down impeachment proceedings into two components: the Houses vote on articles of impeachment, and the subsequent Senate trial, which is a process outside the criminal realm. Representatives votes to impeach, she said, are basically a question of whether there is enough information to investigate.

And I would say, hell yes, theres something to investigate, she said.

Herrera Beutler was on the House floor during the Jan. 6 insurrection that left five dead after a pro-Trump mob broke into the Capitol and forced lawmakers into hiding in an attempt to halt the counting of electoral votes, which had been certified by all 50 states. The attack was preceded by a rally in which Trump told supporters to march to the capitol to take back our country.

Leading up to the speech there were certainly calls for violence. There were calls to overthrow the process, Herrera Beutler told listeners. The president himself said things like were never going to give up, well never concede, it doesnt happen, you dont concede when thefts involved.

But the sixth-term congresswoman said theres room for debate around whether Trumps words that day directly incited the insurrection. Whats more damning, she said, and indicative of the former presidents motives, was his inaction during the hours-long attack.

Herrera Beutler described Republicans calling for the commander-in-chief to step in to no avail. One heated conversation between House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Trump was chilling, Herrera Beutler said.

He said well, Kevin, I guess theyre just more upset about this election theft than you are, she said. The president was basically saying nah, Im OK with this.

Did he send anyone in to help? No. But he did place calls to senators while they were in lockdown. And you know what he said? He said can you do something to further delay the electoral counting?

The inaction, she said, was a direct violation of Trumps oath to protect the Constitution, considering the counting of electoral votes is the actual Constitution in progress.

Thats as impeachable as it gets, in my books, Herrera Beutler said.

The final straw for the Battle Ground Republican was a tweet Trump sent later that day which read these are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long.

The tweet was taken down by Twitter, which later suspended Trumps account permanently.

Herrera Beutler told listeners that the attack was a terrible personal experience, and that shes just sorry that my children had to see it.

She also repeated her denunciation of baseless claims of widespread election fraud that underpinned the events of Jan. 6. She said shes shocked at how many people didnt know the truth.

I think thats on all of us elected leaders. I really do, Herrera Beutler said. I think we need to be honest with the people we serve and with the people in our own party.

Vaccinations

Clark County Health Officer Dr. Alan Melnick also joined Herrera Beutler during the town hall to field questions on vaccinations, many of which came from older constituents struggling to acquire a dose of the life-saving medicine.

While Melnick cited the state Department of Healths hotline (1-800-525-0127), he also echoed what public health officials have been voicing across the state: that demand for the vaccine is simply outweighing supply.

To put it in context, Melnick said Clark County has more than 89,000 people now eligible for the vaccine due to their age. Yet the county is only receiving 1,500 to 5,000 doses each week. Plus, some people in the first phase of eligibility  health care workers and emergency responders  are still waiting for a dose.

But Melnick  who works with several counties in Southwest Washington  said hes working with the state to learn more about allocation and potentially get more doses locked in for rural areas. He said Pacific County, for example, is seeing fewer doses than he would like considering how many older Washingtonians live there. Herrera Beutler said shes also going to bat with the governors office to ensure equitable distribution.

To speed up vaccination across the state and country, Herrera Beutler also told constituents that shes pushing to break off a chunk of a major COVID-19 relief bill stuck in Congress. Of the $1.9 trillion in the proposed stimulus bill, she said, $160 million specifically targets vaccine distribution and acquisition.

So were just saying pull that piece out and pass it now, she said. We cant wait.
Vancouver, British Columbia - February 9, 2021 (Investorideas.com Newswire and and MiningSectorStocks.com report) AUX Resources Corporation (TSXV: AUX) (OTC: AUXRF) is pleased to report assay results for the 2020 drill program at the Georgia Project, which hosts the past-producing Georgia River Mine. Georgia is located on the Portland Canal tidewater, 16 kilometres south of the town of Stewart, BC, in the prolific Golden Triangle.

Highlights

2020 Georgia drill program extends mineralization from the historic high-grade gold mine along strike and at depth

Drill results include 103 g/t gold and 53 g/t silver over 2.74 metres (GE20023) and 126 g/t gold and 74 g/t silver over 1.1 metres (GE20022)

Assays pending on 5,000 metres of recovered historic diamond drill core at Georgia

Assays pending on channel samples from extensive outcropping silver mineralization over 1,400 metres of strike length at the Silver Crown property

"Despite having been explored for over a century, our intercepts of the SW Vein are among the best ever recorded around the Georgia River Mine. Our drilling confirms that the target is open in multiple directions, including depth," comments Ian Slater, Chief Executive Officer, "The opportunity to look at this historic high-grade mine with new perspectives shows enormous potential. Advancing underexplored historic mines has long been a powerful and successful driver in the Golden Triangle, and we see numerous parallels with other projects in the area, including Brucejack and the Scottie Gold Mine."

The 2020 drilling program focused on testing the extensions, both along strike and at depth, of the SW Vein. The high-grade intercepts returned for the SW Vein at depth indicate that the zone remains open at depth and along strike. Drilling in 2021 will be focused on testing the limits of this high-grade ore zone and testing structural controls of subsidiary high-grade ore shoots. Other local veins sets will be further evaluated for the potential to host similar mineralization.

In addition to the drilling completed this year, AUX recovered 5,000 metres of historic diamond drill core from exploration between 1979 and 1996. The majority of this core had only been selectively sampled at obvious veins with minimal shoulder sampling. An extensive recovery program was completed, and the re-boxed core was moved to AUX's warehouse in Stewart for re-logging, re-sampling, and improved geochemistry. The majority of these historic diamond drill holes intersect the SW Vein and will contribute to an improved understanding of this zone. Results are expected in February.

Table 1. Results from 2020 drill program at Georgia. *True width is estimated to be 80 to 95% of interval width.

Exploration in and around the Georgia River Mine began in 1910 with the majority of work focused on the Bullion, SW, and Gem veins. The mine was put into production in 1937 with a head grade of 22.6 g/t gold. There was a hiatus in mining and exploration activities between 1939 and 1979. Between 1979 and 2003 exploration included geochemical exploration and mapping, several ground geophysical surveys, using magnetic, max-min and induced polarisation techniques and diamond drill programs. Exploration by AUX from 2010 onwards comprised further geological mapping and geochemical sampling, a property-wide airborne magnetic and V-TEM survey and a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) survey.

Historic drill intercepts at Georgia include:

4 g/t gold and 171 g/t silver over 0.49 metres (110.79 to 111.28 metres)

and 171 g/t silver over 0.49 metres (110.79 to 111.28 metres) 2 g/t gold and 66.4 g/t silver over 1.4 metres (72.71 to 74.09 metres) including 342.5 g/t gold and 190.6 g/t silver over 0.3 metres (73.48 to 73.78 metres)

and 66.4 g/t silver over 1.4 metres (72.71 to 74.09 metres) including and 190.6 g/t silver over 0.3 metres (73.48 to 73.78 metres) 8 g/t gold and 213.5 g/t silver over 0.6 metres (33.93 to 34.54 metres)

The most recent documented, unclassified historic resource estimate for the SW Vein of the Georgia River Mine was completed in 1990 (BC Assessment Report 19,983) and estimated 276,403 tonnes of 27.6 g/t gold and 20.9 g/t silver. The estimate was based on 50 drill holes and considers a minimum mining width of 1.22 metres. The SW Vein historical estimate does not comply with CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves as required by NI 43-101 and has no comparable resource classification. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource and AUX is not treating this historical resource as a current resource.

Figure 1. Plan view map of the 2020 SW and Bullion Vein drilling program.

Silver Crown

The 2020 field season also comprised extensive work on the newly acquired Silver Crown property, including field mapping and surficial sampling. Strike length of the mineralized corridor was confirmed to be in excess of 1,400 metres. Channel samples were collected over 500 metres of vein strike length with samples collected every 40 metres. Results from the Silver Crown channel sampling are expected in February. A 3,500 metre diamond drill program is planned for Silver Crown for the 2021 field season.

Quality Assurance and Control

Samples were analyzed at MSALABS in Langley, Canada (an ISO 9001 accredited facility). The sampling program was conducted by the geological team under the supervision of Dr. Craig Stewart, Exploration Manager. A secure chain of custody was maintained in transporting and storing samples. Gold was assayed using fire assay with atomic absorption spectrometry and gravimetric finish when required (i.e., >9 g/t gold). Analysis by four acid digestion with 48 element ICP-MS analysis was conducted on all samples with silver and base metal overlimits being re-analyzed by emission spectrometry.

About AUX Resources

AUX holds more than 27,000 hectares of strategic claims in the Stewart Mining Camp in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia, which is among the world's most prolific mineralized districts, including the high-grade gold Georgia Project centred on the past-producing Georgia River Mine. The Georgia River Mine, which last operated in 1939 with a head grade of 22.6 g/t gold, contains 1.2 kilometres of underground access on three levels. AUX is actively consolidating the Stewart Mining Camp.

The technical disclosures in this release has been read and approved by Dr. Thomas Mumford, Ph.D., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

For further information please see www.auxrc.com or contact:

Ian Slater, Chief Executive Officer

+1 604 638 2545

info@auxrc.com

Mars Investor Relations

+1 604 715 6845

aux@marsinvestorrelations.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. This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although AUX 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 forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions and regulatory and administrative approvals, processes and filing requirements. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Paid News -Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Disclosure : this news release featuring AUX Resources Corporation is a paid for service on Investorideas.com ($750) More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com

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Enjoy the 70-degree weather the next three days before a cold front moves in Wednesday to start a run of chilly days that will include a blast of arctic air Sunday into Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Expect highs in the upper 70s Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before the temperatures drop to 59 on Thursday as the cold front moves in. Friday's high is expected to be 55 and Saturday's 53. Overnight temps are also expected to take a tumble into the 30s, beginning Friday when the low is forecasted to be 37. On Saturday, the forecast calls for a low of 38.

On Thursday, there is a chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms but NWS meteorologists say not to expect significant precipitation.

After Saturday, it may get really chilly in San Antonio as a second cold front moves in that will likely include the arctic air. NWS meteorologists, however, say its too early to say how cold it will get Sunday and into early next week but say lows may range between the 30s and 20s. They also says it too early predict snow, but are not ruling it out.

"It really has to be the perfect timing for us to see some winter conditions," said NWS meteorologist Paul Yura. "If it does get cold enough for enough days and if we get some precipitation, we could see snow."

Yura said San Antonio's chance for snow depends on where the cold front moves. As of now, Yura says the front may end up east of the city, decreasing the chance for snow.

As of Monday, the Weather Channel was predicting low temperatures will fall into the low 20s this weekend. Overnight Saturday will be 22 followed by 24 on Sunday and 23 on Monday, according to weather.com

Temperatures in San Antonio have been warmer than usual the past few weeks and a possible arctic blast will give the area a winter feel that has been absent this year, Yura said.

"It is February, we should be seeing some cold weather even though I think San Antonians have been enjoying the warmer weather more," Yura said.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for ExpressNews.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
'Abortion clinic to the stars' shuts down

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An abortion clinic known as the "abortion clinic to the stars" has ceased operations at its Beverly Hills location, according to a report from a pro-life group.

The business certificate for the Pro-Choice Medical Center in Beverly Hills, also known as Sinai Women's Center and Sinai Surgical Center, was scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, 2020. According to a document obtained by the pro-life group Operation Rescue, the business record lists the "reason for closure" simply as "business closing."

The facility, which was located at 99 N. La Cienega Blvd., Suite 303, will be available for lease in April, according to the commercial real estate website LoopNet. A city official who spoke with Operation Rescue said "the office was vacated over the weekend" of Jan. 30-31.

According to Operation Rescue, "The Beverly Hills facility catered to the upper class of society, charging the exorbitant sum of $1,200.00 for a routine first-trimester abortion  almost twice (the) national average cost of 2020 of $620.00." The clinic's website, which remains online, lists its sole services as "first-trimester abortion, second-trimester abortion and late-term abortion."

Dr. Josepha Seletz, the abortionist who owned the Pro-Choice Medical Center, was frequently referred to as "abortionist to the stars" in light of the clinic's proximity to Hollywood as well as its location in an upscale neighborhood. Seletz previously worked at the Eve Surgical Center, a now-closed Los Angeles abortion clinic where the practice of partial-birth abortion was invented.

Over the years, Operation Rescue has kept track of the number of women who've been injured during abortion procedures at Pro-Choice Medical Center. Between November 2015 and May 2018, eight women were transported to the hospital in an ambulance as a result of medical emergencies that transpired while they were undergoing abortions.

The contents of 911 calls made by the Pro-Choice Medical Center, obtained by Operation Rescue, featured several redactions. Arguing that "redactions are covering up the truth," the pro-life group maintained that "transparency is needed to protect the public from abortion dangers that exist at this and other outpatient abortion mills."

An Operation Rescue report published in January revealed that 45 abortion clinics nationwide either closed or halted abortion procedures in 2020.

While the number of abortion clinics across the U.S. has decreased, more clinics are opening that offer chemical abortions (pills) instead of surgical abortions.

Chemical abortions save the clinics money because they're not responsible for the costs associated with disposing of the aborted babies  what is deemed "medical waste"  or coordinating the transfer of the babies' remains to a cemetery for cremation or burial in states that require it.

"The number of surgical abortion clinics continues to decline with six fewer today than last year at this time," Operation Rescue added. "In fact, the number of surgical abortion clinics has fallen each year for at least the past decade from 713 in 2009 to a record low of 458.

"That represents a decrease of 255 surgical facilities  36 percent  over the past 10 years."

The data used in the report was collected between Nov. 16 and Dec. 16, 2020, meaning that it might not reflect the closure of Pro-Choice Medical Center at the end of the year. Although the state saw eight abortion clinics close in 2020, California was one of 12 states where the number of abortion facilities increased over the past year.

A subsequent report based on the same data listed Pro-Choice Medical Center as one of eight abortion facilities that perform abortions up to birth, despite the fact that it has a stated limit of 24 weeks in accordance with California law. The report acknowledged that the abortion facility "limited abortions to under 11 weeks for a portion of 2020 due to the China virus" but later resumed the procedures on a "limited availability" basis.

"I thank God this notorious abortion business is closed. No more babies will die, and no more women will suffer traumatic injuries there. That is a victory worth celebrating!" Troy Newman, the president of Operation Rescue, said in a statement.

The Christian Post reached out to the Pro-Choice Medical Center for comment about its operation status. A response was not received by press time.
A Christian college president wrote about the irony of Joe Biden's Roman Catholic faith and his massive support on abortion programs.

The president of Southern Evangelical Seminary in North Carolina, Dr. Richard D. Land, published an article in The Christian Post, where he also works as an executive editor, criticizing Biden's action on upholding abortion in the country and the world.

He noted how Biden transformed from being "Sleepy Joe," moderate and "sober antidote to the phalanx of progressively more aggressive leftist democratic presidential candidates" into "whirlwind Joe" who overturned a number of his predecessor's policies by releasing Executive Orders, one of which massively expands the federal funding of abortion in the country and overseas.

Land observed that Biden "has completely broken with his church's bedrock beliefs in the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death" but "continues to enjoy the accolades" of the press for his "devotion" and "deep faith."

He said that Biden did not only turn his back on his Catholic faith, he is also out of tune with the majority of the American people.

"According to a poll conducted this week, significant majorities of Americans of all faiths reject the radical pro-abortion agenda now being implemented with breakneck speed by that 'devout Catholic,' President Biden," he wrote.

He also spoke about Catholic Association's Ashley McGuire who addressed the "glaring contradiction" of Biden's faith and politics, saying, "If there's an area where Catholics are most confused, it's how can you be somebody who's so ardently promoting your Catholicity while at the same time adopting views that are so extremely divergent from where you Church is on the issue."

Land stated that Americans do not agree with "Biden's radical pro-abortion positions." According to a recent survey, about 60% of the American people of all beliefs and political affiliations, which include the 31% of Americans who identified themselves as "pro-choice," disagree on federal funding of abortions in the country.

In addition, Land said that 77% of Americans oppose the federal funding for abortions abroad and only 19% of the respondents agreed, stating that they "strongly support" or "support" the program, a policy that Biden heavily upholds and just implemented.

He stated that the country is "now confronted with a pro-abortion Trojan horse like Joe Biden," 48 years after Roe v. Wade. Further, he said that the American government is supposedly "of the people, by the people, for the people" but it chose "to ignore the will of the people and to impose on the people the policies they believe should hold sway" and forced "the American people to subsidize such policies."

He is also troubled about the fact that America ranks as the 13th "most abortive nation per capita in the world," with an estimated 825,000 abortions annually.

Moreover, Land warned saying that, "This level of frustration of the people's will by ruling managerial elites will lead over time to great disillusionment with the system itself and stifle the body of Christ's efforts to be the salt and light in society that God has commanded us to be."

"In time if continually ignored, it will lead to explosive rage and resistance against a calcified political system apparently incapable in its ossified state to respond to the will of the people. Let us all covenant together to make sure that doesn't happen. The consequences of inaction are too dire to contemplate," Land concluded.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9) The police chief of Silay, Negros Occidental on Tuesday said he had no intention to humiliate quarantine violators in the town, saying the zombie walk caught on camera was done to ensure distancing.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Silay Police Chief Maj. Rollie Pondevilla explained that the violators  seen on video lined up on the street with both arms extended forward  were being brought to a covered court near the station. He said the order to lift the arms was only a preventive measure to ensure space between the individuals.

Hindi naman talaga parusa iyon sa kanila - preventive measure lang iyon na pinapa-hands forward natin para mame-maintain nila physical distancing papunta doon sa covered court, Pondevilla told The Source, adding the clip may be subject to misinterpretation.

Ang intention ko lang naman talaga is para naman sa kapakanan nila wala akong intention na ipahiya po sila, he stressed.

[Translation: Its not actually a punishment for them, it was a preventive measure, making them keep their hands forward so they can maintain physical distancing going to the covered court. My intention really was for their welfare I had no intention to humiliate them.]

The alleged zombie parade drew flak from netizens and even government officials, with Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon slamming the local police for the unnecessary order.

Too much TV. I urge our police to do away with theatrics, Drilon said in a statement on Monday. If they believe a violation is committed, then file charges in accordance with our existing laws.

The Commission on Human Rights said it would also be looking into the report. It also urged law enforcers to consider human rights in their implementation of policies, including respect for every persons dignity.
French renewables specialist Enercoop has secured an annual solar power supply of 25 GWh over a 30-year period through three new deals.From pv magazine France Enercoop has agreed to buy more solar capacity under three new power purchase agreements. Its Enercoop Midi-Pyrenees unit signed one of the 30-year PPAs for 1.2 GWh of annual generating capacity. The group signed a second PPA with Energie Partagee and Changeons notre vision de l'energie for 6.5 GWh per year. And it closed another deal with Valorem and other parties for another 6.5 GWh of solar per year. Enercoop aims to have 90 GWh of annual ...

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.
Piper Sandler Co. chemicals materials investment banking group (The Valence Group) served as lead financial advisor to Bain Capital Private Equity and Cinven on their joint acquisition of Lonza Specialty Ingredients (LSI), a division of Lonza AG. The transaction, valued at CHF 4.2 billion (USD 4.7 billion), is expected to close in 2021, subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory clearances.

LSI is a world-leading provider of specialty chemicals for microbial control solutions, used to eliminate or control harmful and unwanted micro-organisms. LSI's products are critical ingredients in disinfectants, preservatives, sanitizers, personal care products, as well as coatings and other industrial uses. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, LSI has approximately 2,800 employees, 11 R&D centers and 17 manufacturing sites across the world. The business serves circa 5,300 customers across a wide range of end-markets.

"Piper Sandler is extremely pleased to have played a significant supporting role in advising two long-term private equity clients in such a landmark transaction," said Telly Zachariades, co-head of chemicals materials investment banking at Piper Sandler (New York).

Anton Ticktin, managing director, Piper Sandler (London), further commented, "Our team has helped to deliver yet another multi-billion dollar, cross-border transaction, one of the largest LBOs in the chemical industry." Ian George, managing director, Piper Sandler (London), added, "We look forward to helping Bain and Cinven write the next chapter of the LSI story."

Peter Hall, head of European investment banking at Piper Sandler stated, "This transaction reflects the strong position we have in targeted sectors of the European investment banking market".

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/20210209006085/en/

Contacts:

Pamela Steensland

Tel: 612 303-8185

pamela.steensland@psc.com


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Realme Narzo 30 India launch has been teased. The company has asked its social media followers to vote for the retail box. It did not give any further details on the upcoming smartphone launch date. However, we can expect the Narzo 30 series launch in India in March.

Realme has asked its fans and followers to vote for the Narzo 30 box. The company has listed as many as six options for the box. You can click on the Google form here to vote.

The Narzo 30 will be a successor to the Narzo 20 series launched in September 2020. The current Narzo 20 series comprises of the Narzo 20A, Narzo 20, and the Narzo 20 Pro. The company launched the Narzo series first with the Narzo 10A and the Narzo 10 in May 2020.

Realme Narzo 30 series India launch date is under the wraps at the moment. Specifications and features of the upcoming phone are currently unknown. The company has said that fans should stay tuned for more details about the launch.

The Narzo series is Realmes budget offering with phones priced between Rs 10-20,000 in India. The Narzo 20A was launched in India for Rs 8,499, whereas the Narzo 20 was launched for Rs 10,499. The Narzo 20 Pro price in India was set at Rs 14,999 upon launch. The Pro model came in 6GB + 64GB/ 8GB + 128GB storage configurations.
More than 5,000 PriorityBids have already been made in the February 15  20, 2021 event

ORLANDO, Flo., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Ritchie Bros. has been conducting massive auctions in Orlando, FL for decades, attracting travelers from around the world to the sunshine state every Februarythis year will be different. Due to COVID-19, to ensure the safety of its customers and employees, Ritchie Bros. will be conducting its six-day February Orlando event entirely online, and bidding has already begun. In fact, customers have already placed more than 5,000 PriorityBids on the 12,000 items available in the February 15  20 auction.

"Over the past year we have seen customers become more engaged online, researching equipment and pricing, watchlisting items, and placing PriorityBids ahead of auction day," said Kari Taylor, President, North American Sales, Ritchie Bros. "While the auctioneer may not start calling until next week, the Orlando auction has already begun thanks to PriorityBid. Get online, get registered, and start bidding today!"

With PriorityBid, customers can submit the amount they are willing to bid up to and the Ritchie Bros. system will bid the lowest amount required for them to win the item. The bid is secret, and the system will only raise a customer's bid if someone outbids them. Notifications can be set to inform customers if they have been outbid or won the item. PriorityBid is open now, with live auction bidding starting on Monday, February 15.

"Our Orlando auction site is open for in-person inspections ahead of and during the auction, with onsite parking available," added Ms. Taylor. "Other enhancements to this year's event include video inspections on several asset categories, PriorityBid open significantly earlier for increased customer convenience, and enhanced dynamic bidding for all Timed Auction items. Onsite or online, you can count on Ritchie Bros. to deliver an auction like no other."

Auction Schedule:

Monday, February 15 : Skid Steer Loaders, Multi Terrain Loaders, Loader Backhoes, Motor Scrapers, Motor Graders, Forklifts, Rough Terrain Forklifts, Telescopic Forklifts, Boom Lifts, Electric Forklifts, Scissor Lifts, Light Towers, Sign Boards, Heavy Gen Sets, Industrial Gen Sets, Light Gen Sets, Welders, Pumps





Skid Steer Loaders, Multi Terrain Loaders, Loader Backhoes, Motor Scrapers, Motor Graders, Forklifts, Rough Terrain Forklifts, Telescopic Forklifts, Boom Lifts, Electric Forklifts, Scissor Lifts, Light Towers, Sign Boards, Heavy Gen Sets, Industrial Gen Sets, Light Gen Sets, Welders, Pumps Tuesday, February 16 : Dumpers, Tack Tractors, Wheel Loaders, Wheel Dozers, Articulated Dump Trucks, Rock Trucks, Water Wagons, Utility Tractors, 2WD Tractors, MFWD Tractors, 4WD Tractors, Track Tractors, Trenchers, Cable Plows, Directional Drills, Boring Machines, Drills, Vacuum Trailers, Pull Scrapers, Feller Bunchers, Skidders, Air Compressors





Dumpers, Tack Tractors, Wheel Loaders, Wheel Dozers, Articulated Dump Trucks, Rock Trucks, Water Wagons, Utility Tractors, 2WD Tractors, MFWD Tractors, 4WD Tractors, Track Tractors, Trenchers, Cable Plows, Directional Drills, Boring Machines, Drills, Vacuum Trailers, Pull Scrapers, Feller Bunchers, Skidders, Air Compressors Wednesday, February 17 : Brooms, Rollers, Tandem Rollers, Vibratory Rollers, Vibratory Padfoot Compactors, Compactors, Crawler Loaders, Crawler Tractors, Carry Deck Cranes, Boom Trucks (straight), All Terrain Cranes, Rough Terrain Cranes, Hydraulic Truck Cranes, Conventional Truck Cranes, Crawler Cranes, Pile Driver, Jaw Crushers, Impact Crushers, Screen Plants, Feeder, Conveyors, Profilers, Pulverizers, Pavers, Asphalt Distributor Trucks, Road Wideners, Concrete Pavers, Barges, Planters, Cultivators, Discs, Harrows, Seeders, Spreaders, Fruit Harvesting Equipment, Harrow





Brooms, Rollers, Tandem Rollers, Vibratory Rollers, Vibratory Padfoot Compactors, Compactors, Crawler Loaders, Crawler Tractors, Carry Deck Cranes, Boom Trucks (straight), All Terrain Cranes, Rough Terrain Cranes, Hydraulic Truck Cranes, Conventional Truck Cranes, Crawler Cranes, Pile Driver, Jaw Crushers, Impact Crushers, Screen Plants, Feeder, Conveyors, Profilers, Pulverizers, Pavers, Asphalt Distributor Trucks, Road Wideners, Concrete Pavers, Barges, Planters, Cultivators, Discs, Harrows, Seeders, Spreaders, Fruit Harvesting Equipment, Harrow Thursday, February 18 : Compactors, Material Handlers, Hydraulic Excavators, Mobile Excavators, Midi Excavators, Mini Excavators, Office Trailers, Automobiles, Sport Utility Vehicles, Pickups





Compactors, Material Handlers, Hydraulic Excavators, Mobile Excavators, Midi Excavators, Mini Excavators, Office Trailers, Automobiles, Sport Utility Vehicles, Pickups Friday, February 19 : Heavy Haul Trucks, Truck Tractors (Tri/A), Truck Tractors (T/A), Truck Tractors (S/A), Car Haulers, Street Sweepers, Vacuum Trucks, Tank Trucks, Water Trucks, Fuel & Lube Trucks, Mixer Trucks, Concrete Pump Trucks, Dump Trucks, Mechanics Trucks, Service Trucks, Utility Trucks, Shears





Heavy Haul Trucks, Truck Tractors (Tri/A), Truck Tractors (T/A), Truck Tractors (S/A), Car Haulers, Street Sweepers, Vacuum Trucks, Tank Trucks, Water Trucks, Fuel & Lube Trucks, Mixer Trucks, Concrete Pump Trucks, Dump Trucks, Mechanics Trucks, Service Trucks, Utility Trucks, Shears Saturday, February 20 : Cab & Chassis, Buses, Bucket Trucks, Digger Derrick Trucks , Boom Trucks (knuckle), Sanitation Trucks, Rolloff Trucks, Tow Trucks, Rollback Trucks, Plow Trucks, Emergency Vehicles, Flatbed Dump Trucks, Flatbed Trucks, Reefer Trucks, Van Trucks , Lowboys, Jeeps & Dollies, Step Deck Trailers, Hiboys, End Dump Trailers, Grain Trailers, Tank Trailers, Van Trailers, Reel Trailers

For more information, visit rbauction.com/orlando2021.

About Ritchie Bros.:

Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets. Operating in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, mining, and forestry, the company's selling channels include: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world's largest industrial auctioneer offers live auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with featured weekly auctions and providing the exclusive IronClad Assurance equipment condition certification; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace offering multiple price and timing options; Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service; and Ritchie Bros. Private Treaty, offering privately negotiated sales. The Company's suite of solutions also includes Ritchie Bros. Asset Solutions and Rouse Services LLC, which together provides a complete end-to-end asset management, data-driven intelligence and performance benchmarking system. Ritchie Bros. also offers sector-specific solutions including GovPlanet, TruckPlanet, and Kruse Energy, plus equipment financing and leasing through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services. For more information about Ritchie Bros., visit RitchieBros.com.

Photos and video for embedding in media stories are available at rbauction.com/media.

SOURCE Ritchie Bros.
[February 09, 2021] 3Pillar Global Expands Growth Capabilities With Two Executive Hires

FAIRFAX, Va., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 3Pillar Global ("3Pillar"), a leading developer of innovative digital products, today announced the creation of two new roles to continue driving the company's era of rapid expansion through mergers and acquisitions. Former Senior Vice President at Envolve PeopleCare, a Centene specialty company, Quincy Strong, joins the 3Pillar team as Vice President of Acquisition and Integration, and former Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at MarginEdge, Dan Henderson, joins the team as Vice President of Corporate Development. The hires come amidst a wave of growth toward a globally distributed delivery model, offering clients increased flexibility and value. In 2020, 3Pillar acquired Isthmus Software and Tiempo Development, expanding the company's global footprint and adding more than 600 team members across Mexico and Costa Rica. "Our pace of growth and expansion is only accelerating," said Dave Sawatzky, Chief Delivery Officer at 3Pillar Global. "We're thrilled to welcome Quincy and Dan to help us propel the business forward and ultimately deepen our client service capabilities with strong teams in strategic industries and locations across the globe." As 3Pillar looks ahead to further acquisitions in 2021, Strong's and Henderson's decades of experience will support the company's ability to pursue key business goals, deepen digital development capabilities and strategically expand client service capacity. During her tenure at Centene, Strong served as Senior Vice President of Product & Services at Envolve PeopleCare, where she set the stategy for the combined PeopleCare product portfolio, delivering digital and clinical services to more than 14 million Medicaid, Private Exchange and Medicare members. Following the successful acquisition of employer wellness start-up LiveHealthier, by Centene in 2015, where Strong led Client Services, Strong supported the integration of 4 specialty companies into PeopleCare. Prior to joining LiveHealthier's leadership team, Strong was the Vice President of Sales Development and Marketing at HealthCentral.



Henderson comes to his role at 3Pillar from MarginEdge where he led corporate development and strategic partnerships. He was also Investment Director at CIT GAP Funds, where he invested in and managed a portfolio of over 26 technology companies. Henderson previously served as Senior Vice President of BeClose, a venture-backed home wireless health company, and was a founding team member of FastSoft, which was acquired by Akamai in 2012. Earlier in his career, he founded IT services company i-Vantage Inc., which was acquired by a private business group in India. For more information on 3Pillar Global and their work building software products for digitally-transforming businesses, visit www.3pillarglobal.com .

About 3Pillar Global 3Pillar Global builds breakthrough software products that power digital businesses. 3Pillar is an innovative product development partner whose solutions drive rapid revenue, market share, and customer growth for industry leaders like CARFAX, Fortune, and PBS. Leveraging a lean and agile approach, 3Pillar delivers value-generating, digital solutions with specialized product strategy and management, user experience design, as well as software and data engineering expertise across mobile, cloud, and disruptive technologies. Visit www.3pillarglobal.com for more information and career opportunities. To learn more about the Product Mindset, visit www.productmindset.com and pick up a copy of "The Product Mindset: Succeed in the Digital Economy by Changing the Way Your Organization Thinks," by 3Pillar CEO David DeWolf and VP of UX/UI for CoStar Group Jessica Hall. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/3pillar-global-expands-growth-capabilities-with-two-executive-hires-301224718.html SOURCE 3Pillar Global

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Former US president Donald Trumps second impeachment trial will force members of Congress to relive the violent events of January 6.

The trial is expected to last into the weekend and possibly longer. Heres what to watch for as the trial kicks off:

 First, an effort to dismiss

Spoiler alert:

The case against Trump is obvious and powerful yet few @GOP senators will risk the wrath of a base that remains loyal to him. So rather than defend his indefensible actions, theyall call the trial aunconstitutionala and vote to acquit. Thatas how it will end...  David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) February 9, 2021

Tuesdays proceedings will begin with a debate to dismiss the trial before it even begins. Mr Trumps lawyers have argued the trial is moot now that Mr Trump is out of office, and 45 Senate Republicans have already voted once to move forward with an effort to dismiss the trial on those grounds.

The Senate will debate the constitutionality of the trial for four hours on Tuesday and then hold a vote on whether to dismiss it. The effort to dismiss is expected to fail, allowing arguments in the trial to begin on Wednesday.

Democrats point to the opinion of many legal scholars  including conservatives  who say the trial is valid under the US Constitution. They point to an 1876 impeachment trial of a secretary of war who had resigned and note that Mr Trump was impeached before he left office. Mr Trumps lawyers dismiss that precedent and say language in the Constitution is on their side.

 Wednesday: Arguments begin

Donald Trump should NEVER be allowed to hold public office again.



Convicting him disqualifies him from running any future races.#HoldTrumpAccountable  House Democrats (@HouseDemocrats) February 7, 2021

The nine Democratic impeachment managers for the House of Representatives will present their arguments first, beginning on Wednesday. Each side will have up to 16 hours, running no more than eight hours per day.

The Democrats are expected to try and take advantage of the senators own experiences, tapping into their emotions as they describe in detail  and show on video  what happened as the mob broke through police barriers, injured law enforcement officers, ransacked the Capitol and hunted for members of Congress. The carnage led to five deaths.

The impeachment managers have argued that the mob subverted democracy and that Mr Trump was singularly responsible for their actions after months of falsely saying there was widespread fraud in the election. They will appeal to Senate Republicans to vote to convict after most of them criticised Mr Trump in the wake of the riots, with many saying he was responsible for the violence.

There was no widespread fraud in the election. Election officials across the country, and even then-attorney general William Barr, contradicted Mr Trumps claims, and dozens of legal challenges to the election put forth by Mr Trump and his allies were dismissed.

It appears unlikely, for now, that there will be witnesses at the trial. But the managers can ask for a Senate vote on calling witnesses if they so choose.

 Trumps team hits back

Expand Close Donald Trumps impeachment lawyer Bruce Castor (AP/Matt Rourke, File) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Donald Trumps impeachment lawyer Bruce Castor (AP/Matt Rourke, File)

Defence arguments are likely to begin on Friday. In their main filing with the Senate, Mr Trumps lawyers made clear that they will not only argue against the trial on process grounds, but also present a full-throated defence of Mr Trumps actions that day and why they believe he did not incite the riot.

While the Democrats are expected to appeal to the senators emotions, Mr Trumps lawyers have signalled they will try and tap into raw partisan anger. They repeatedly go after the Democrats personally in the brief, describing their case as a selfish attempt by Democratic leadership in the House to prey upon the feelings of horror and confusion and another example of Trump derangement syndrome after four years of trying to drive him out of office.

The lawyers argue that Mr Trumps words fight like hell did not mean to literally fight, that the rioters acted on their own accord.

 A (less) captive audience

As they were last year, at Mr Trumps first impeachment trial, senators are expected to listen to every word of the arguments before they cast their votes.

But this trial will look a bit different than the last one due to Covid-19 restrictions. To protect against the virus, senators do not have to be stuck at their desks for the entirety of the trial, and will be allowed to spread out in the upper galleries or watch a video feed in a room just off the chamber.

 Republicans to watch

Expand Close Republican senator Susan Collins (AP/Evan Vucci) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Republican senator Susan Collins (AP/Evan Vucci)

Five Republican senators voted with Democrats two weeks ago not to dismiss the trial on constitutional grounds. Those senators so far appear the most likely to vote to convict Mr Trump.

The five senators, all of whom have harshly criticised the presidents behaviour, are Susan Collins of Maine, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

Democrats appear to have little chance of persuading 17 Republicans to find Mr Trump guilty, the minimum number that they would need for conviction. But some Republican senators who voted in favour of the effort to dismiss, such as Rob Portman of Ohio and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, have said they are coming into the trial with an open mind.

Democrats are likely to focus, too, on senators who are retiring in 2022 and will have less to lose politically if they vote to convict. In addition to Mr Toomey and Mr Portman, also retiring are Alabama senator Richard Shelby and North Carolina senator Richard Burr.
Regulations for a medical marijuana program in Mississippi will be in place by a July 1 deadline, members of the state Board of Health said last week. But they cautioned that its unclear how soon marijuana might be available to patients.

Aug. 15 is the deadline for the state to begin issuing licenses for dispensaries and cards for patients.

I worry that theres a little bit of a misconception among some in the public about what that means, board member Jim Perry said. They may be expecting that on Aug. 15, that you can walk into a dispensary or treatment center, whatever the nomenclature may be, and say, `I got my card this morning. Im here for my marijuana.

Perry said growing marijuana plants for the program could take months. He said people cannot grow plants before they get a license, and then regulators will need to test the medicinal strength of the plants.

It could be months after Aug. 15 before theres actually product at a treatment center for a cardholder to purchase, Perry said.

The state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, said it could take six to nine weeks for growers to get viable plants for use in the program. He said the Health Department could try to get a little ahead of the July 1 and Aug. 15 deadlines.

Mississippi residents voted by a wide margin in November to adopt a medical marijuana initiative. The constitutional amendment requires the Health Department to create a program so marijuana can be available to people with debilitating medical conditions. The long list includes cancer, epilepsy and sickle cell anemia.

During the Board of Health meeting Wednesday, Dr. Luke Lampton said that based on conversations he has had with Mississippi residents, he would like the board to limit involvement by out-of-state corporations in growing or dispensing medical marijuana.

The Mississippi Supreme Court is set to hear arguments April 14 in Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butlers lawsuit that is seeking to block the medical marijuana program. She argues that the initiative was improperly on the ballot because petitioners gathered signatures from outdated congressional districts. State attorneys argue that the petitioners were using guidance from a former attorney general.

Separately, Mississippi legislators are starting to consider bills that would regulate a medical marijuana program  a route that might be needed if the Supreme Court sides with Butler.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Legislation Cannabis Mississippi
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Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, left, listens to a researcher at Seegene Medical Foundation's laboratory in Seoul, Jan. 6. / Joint press corps



COVID-19 test kit maker fined for cooking the books



By Park Jae-hyuk



Seegene, a local molecular diagnosis company that has drawn attention for its COVID-19 test kits, vowed to practice transparent management to prevent the recurrence of accounting fraud, a day after the financial regulator decided to fine the company for exaggerating its earnings.



The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), under the Financial Services Commission (FSC), said Monday evening that the fifth-largest company on the tech-heavy Kosdaq market by market capitalization was found to have overstated its sales between 2011 and 2019, by dumping its oversupplied products on its agencies.



The SFC agreed to levy a fine on the firm and to advise it to dismiss the executive who handled it.



The company could be fined more than 500 million won ($450,000), as the SFC said the specific amount of the fine would be finalized in the following FSC meeting. If a fine is to exceed 500 million won, the SFC must defer to the FSC to set the amount.



Seegene said the executive in charge has already left the company, adding it corrected its balance sheet during the third quarter of 2019.



"The regulator's latest measure resulted from our company's relatively poorer management system and lack of experts in the past," a Seegene official said.



"We have reinforced our accounting experts and implemented our internal accounting management system since last year to improve the insufficiency caused by the lack of experts and system. With the establishment of a compliance and risk management department and the implementation of a global enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, we will do our best to prevent the recurrence of similar accidents."



After the company announced its reform measures, Seegene's stock price, which opened 5 percent lower than the previous session's closing price, rose gradually and closed at 175,100 won, down 2.78 percent from the previous session's closing price.





Possible next target



However, there still remains concerns that the financial regulator's heavy punishment on the biotech company could have repercussions for the nation's entire biopharmaceutical industry.



Celltrion is mentioned as a "possible next target" because the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) began to look into its marketing subsidiary, Celltrion Healthcare, in December 2018 over allegations that it committed accounting fraud to the amount of 21.8 billion won, by reselling its exclusive right to Celltrion products to the parent company.



While Celltrion produces and develops biopharmaceutical products, its subsidiary Celltrion Healthcare is in charge of marketing and selling the products. Celltrion is seeking to merge its three affiliates  Celltrion, Celltrion Healthcare and Celltrion Pharm  by the end of this year.



At the time when the FSS launched the investigation, Celltrion Healthcare said the transaction was a legitimate part of corporate accounting.



"We consider profits made from exercising an exclusive sales right we hold as sales. Such sales activities are also in compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards," it said.



Industry officials said the financial watchdog has yet to draw a conclusion for its two-year investigation into whether or not the largest company on the Kosdaq market in market cap had cooked the books.


NSW recorded no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases for the 23rd day in a row, as Victoria contends with a growing cluster emerging from a Melbourne quarantine hotel.

Two cases were reported in overseas travellers in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday to bring the total number of cases in NSW to 4936.

In Melbourne, a COVID cluster linked to the Holiday Inn quarantine hotel has grown to three, after a returned traveller recently released from hotel quarantine and a food and beverage worker at the hotel both tested positive for the virus.

The Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport. Credit:Penny Stephens

The first case linked to the Holiday Inn near Melbourne Airport was a quarantine work in her 50s who tested positive on Sunday. Genomic testing confirmed the woman had the UK variant of the virus.
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Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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
The Vatican released the itinerary of Pope Francis March visit to Iraq on Monday. The schedule, packed with events and meetings with religious and political figures across the country, reveals a trip with two missions: to highlight the plight of the countrys dwindling Christian population and to promote interfaith dialogue.

The March 5-8 trip will be Francis first foreign outing in 16 months due to the coronavirus pandemic. His touchdown at Baghdad International Airport comes amid an uptick of new coronavirus cases in the country, growing influence of armed groups and a pair of bombings in Baghdad claimed by the Islamic State. The Catholic leader says now is the time to extend a visit to some of the oldest Christian communities in the world.

In our time, interreligious dialogue is an important component of the encounter between peoples and cultures, Francis told ambassadors of the Holy See, the government of the Catholic Church, on Monday. When it is viewed not in terms of compromising our own identity but as an occasion for mutual understanding and enrichment, dialogue can become an opportunity for religious leaders and the followers of different confessions, and can support the responsible efforts of political leaders to promote the common good.

Two years ago, Francis announced plans to visit Iraq by 2020, but the plan was halted as the coronavirus began to spread.

So when Francis again announced in December of last year that he would make the trip in 2021, groups were initially skeptical as the pandemic continues to grip the country and the state faces glaring security issues. The Iraqi Health Ministry reported 1,660 new coronavirus cases on Saturday.

But the pope believes there is now a window of opportunity to move ahead with the trip. Recent arrest warrants issued for armed groups operating outside the governments control have offered small signs of progress in curbing this influence.

The country will receive thousands of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as well as Chinese Sinovac vaccine this month. Francis was vaccinated against the coronavirus in January. His top aide, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the pope is eager to make the trip. It will be the first-ever papal visit to the country.

Francis will land in Baghdad on March 5 before traveling to Najaf, Nasiriya, Erbil and Mosul to meet with Iraqi President Barham Salih, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali-Husaymi Al-Sistani in Najaf as well as local bishops and priests. He will celebrate mass at the Chaldean Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Baghdad.

Since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, the number of Christians in the country has plummeted from roughly 1.5 million to fewer than 400,000. Francis previously condemned a murderous indifference toward Christians in the Middle East.

Indifference kills, and we desire to lift up our voices in opposition to this murderous indifference, he said at a service in July 2018. For the Middle East today is weeping, suffering and silent as others trample upon those lands in search of power or riches.

In a conversation with the Chaldean Catholic patriarch in August, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi urged Iraqi Christians to return.

Iraq is a country for everyone and Christians are the original children of the country, Kadhimi said. We are serious about providing assistance to our Christian families and solving their problems. We are glad that Christians will return to Iraq and contribute to its reconstruction. Iraqis of all sects are yearning for a new Iraq that believes in peace and rejects violence.

But the Christians who have remained in Iraq continue to face threats from militant groups and complain of a lack of protective measures by both Baghdad and Erbil.

Many have criticized Kadhimi's remarks as unrealistic and demanded the federal government first rein in the armed militias that continue to threaten their safety. There is little faith that either Kurdish peshmerga or Iraqi security forces can keep these communities safe, Suzan Younan, an Assyrian in Erbil, told Al-Monitor.

When the vulnerable communities witness their history being stolen, destroyed and sold in their areas of origin, that fear increases dramatically, she said.

Yet the patriarch, Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako, expressed the church's support for the premier's actions "towards acheiving security and stability," adding that "Christians are proud of their Iraqi identity, and they feel more reassured" by the government's handling of the issue.


The Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH) administration is in a spot after the unearthing of a man masquerading as a qualified anaesthetist who has been attending to patients for the past eight years.

The suspect has been working at the region's main health facility using a fraudulent practicing licence.

The incident has sparked fears among residents about the quality of services being offered at the hospital.

The man -- who the Nation cannot name at this point due to legal reasons -- has gone into hiding and is being sought by criminal investigations officers.

"According to our records, the said person is not a clinical officer and the registration number he is using belongs to Mr Musa Atepa, a clinical officer based in West Pokot," said Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (Kuco) secretary-general, George Gibore.

Patient dies after operation

Mr Gibore said that investigations indicate that the suspect was involved in an operation carried out on a patient a month ago who later died, while another one is in critical condition.

Kuco Kisii branch secretary, Dr Victor Bwanchete, said he had received numerous complaints from clinical officers about the colleague who was reporting on duty at night while they were on strike.

"While doing routine assessment on the strike, I was informed that there was a colleague who was sabotaging us. When I followed up the matter I established that indeed he was on duty. I have known him for more than eight years," said Dr Bwanchete.

He said he alerted the union's national officials who checked his details in their records and found out that he had a practicing licence that did not originate from the council.

"The clinical officers' council received a complaint from Kuco Kisii branch concerning (the suspect) who purported to be a clinical officer anaesthetist as an employee of the county government."

Health workers' strike

The county government last month fired 103 striking nurses and clinical officers for allegedly absconding duty in a strike that has paralysed operations in most public hospitals.

"Please note that the officers whose names appear in the list were dismissed from Public service by the office of the County Secretary and Head of Public Service with effect from 19 December, 2020," reads the notice signed by Ms Alice Abuki, chief officer at the department of health.

The notice further directed KTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr Enock Ondari to ensure the dismissed health workers were barred from accessing their working stations.

"As such, you are asked to ensure that they, dismissed workers, are not allowed access to their previous work stations or any other county health facility within your jurisdiction."

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The county government has not responded to the matter, with the County Health Executive Sarah Omache referring the issue to Dr Ondari.

"I have been away on official matters hence I can't comment on that matter now. Reach out to the hospital's CEO for a comment," she said.

Not aware of matter

When contacted, Dr Ondari (CEO) said he was not aware of the matter.

The director for medical services, Mr Geoffrey Otomu, requested for more time to investigate the matter.

Mr Gibore challenged the suspect to furnish the union with all documentary evidence showing he is a trained clinical officer registered by the council and the training institution he attended and proof of graduation.

"The hospital should come out clear and tell the public how the said health worker made his way to the hospital. However, we have reported the matter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and we hope the law will take its own course" he added.
Heather Rae Young paid a declaration of love to her fiance Tarek El Moussa by getting his name tattooed on her hip as an early Valentine's Day present.

The Selling Sunset star, 33, who is set to wed Flip Or Flop presenter, 39, later this year, took to Instagram on Tuesday to reveal the inking.

The tattoo read: 'Yes Sir, Mr El Moussa'.

'Yes Sir!': Heather Rae Young paid a declaration of love to her fiance Tarek El Moussa by getting his name tattooed on her hip as an early Valentine's Day present.

Heather captioned the post: 'Happy Valentine's Day Mr El Moussa. I love you handsome! Best friends forever'.

To which, Tarek replied: 'Forever and ever and ever'.

However the love tattoo divided opinion in the comment section, with some of Heather's followers describing it as a 'cute' gesture, while others said: 'yikes'.

'I love you handsome!': The Selling Sunset star, 33, who is set to wed Flip Or Flop presenter, 39, later this year, took to Instagram on Tuesday to reveal the inking

Best friends forever: The tattoo were the words: 'Yes Sir, Mr El Moussa'

Smitten: Heather captioned the post: 'Happy Valentine's Day Mr El Moussa. I love you handsome! Best friends forever'. To which Tarek replied: 'Forever and ever and ever'

One follower wrote: 'This is a little too much... Very obsessive and shows no self love. Bad, bad move. Hope you have no regrets one day', while another added: 'I love you, but I hate the tattoo'.

A third chimed: 'There is a lot going on here'.

However others appeared a fan of the inking with one follower telling Heather: 'This is a vibe', while another added: 'So happy for you two'.

Controversial: However the love tattoo divided opinion in the comment section, with some of Heather's followers describing it as a 'cute' gesture, while others said: 'yikes'

Declaration of love: Others appeared a fan of the inking with one follower telling Heather: 'This is a vibe', while another added: 'So happy for you two'

Heather and Tarek got engaged in July 2020, when he surprised her on an anniversary trip to Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Southern California.

The longtime HGTV star was previously married to his Flip Or Flop cohost Christina Anstead, 37, with whom he shares 10-year-old daughter Taylor and five-year-old son Brayden.

The couple were married from 20092018. Christina subsequently married English TV presenter Ant Anstead in 2018.

Wedding bells: Heather and Tarek got engaged in July 2020, when he surprised her on an anniversary trip to Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Southern California

So far, Heather and Tarek have been coy about a wedding date.

They previously indicated they wanted a summer wedding, and Heather claimed to have locked in a date back in October.

However, Tarek speculated that they might have a September wedding during an appearance on HGTV House Party in January, as neither person wanted the weather to be too hot.
The initial drilling campaign identified three anomalies which the company believes could represent a secondary supergene gold enrichment that has developed over a primary gold deposit.

An aircore rig is booked for March to follow up the three anomalies.

Carnavale Resources Limited ( ) (FRA:YBB) is encouraged by results from a first pass 6,539-metre aircore drilling program at Kookynie Gold Project in the Western Australian Goldfields.

A total of 139 holes were completed at the underexplored project, targeting structurally controlled, high-grade gold mineralisation with the program completed on time and below budget.

All assays have been received and key results include:

7 metres at 1.89 g/t from 14 metres (including 4 metres at 3.24 g/t), ended in mineralisation;

8 metres at 0.51 g/t from 18 metres;

2 metres at 1.46 g/t from 22 metres and 6 metres at 0.29 g/t from 54 metres;

2 metres at 0.86 g/t from 52 metres;

4 metres at 0.37 g/t from 62 metres and 6 metres at 0.49 g/t from 70 metres;

12 metres at 0.21 g/t from 30 metres;

4 metres at 0.63 g/t from 20 metres;

10 metres at 0.23 g/t from 34 metres;

6 metres at 0.36 g/t from 46 metres; and

10 metres at 0.20 g/t from 26 metres.

Strong results in new target areas

Drilling identified three areas of significant gold anomalism associated with intervals of mineralisation within the weathered rock profile, with strong prospectivity for additional mineralisation open along structural corridors.

Carnavale chairman Ron Gajewski said: Carnavale continues to deliver on its goal of fast-track exploration at the Kookynie Gold Project, with the initial drilling program completed successfully, we are ready to follow up these encouraging results.

We are very pleased by the strong gold results received in the three new target areas and have a drill rig lined up to start finding the limits of these new anomalies.

Carnavale tenement holding with production from historic deposits.

Gold anomalism regional relevance

Kookynie Project is along strike and adjacent to ( ) (FRA:41N) and s ( ) (FRA:P8O) high-grade historic Leipold, McTavish, Cosmopolitan and Champion deposits.

Strong gold anomalism detected in the weathered profile is anticipated to provide a vector to high-grade gold mineralisation similar to that hosted by Cosmopolitan, Leipold and McTavish.

The gold anomaly to the north of NME and MCTs McTavish tenement is characterised by several shallow old workings and pits.

Immediately to the east of NME and MCTs McTavish tenement, Carnavale also discovered a gold anomaly with a strike length of over 1-kilometre.

The third broad gold anomaly is in the northern part of the tenement package, immediately south of NME and MCTs Champion deposit, along the same structural corridor.

Carnavale is excited by these encouraging results and has an aircore drill rig booked for early March to follow up on the high priority targets.
Members of the National Guard patrol at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 9, 2021. (Reuters/Joshua Roberts)

Senate Authorizes Impeachment Trial

The U.S. Senate voted on Feb. 9 to authorize the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, overruling an argument by the defense alleging the Senate doesnt have jurisdiction to try Trump because hes now a private citizen.

Over the course of four hours, House impeachment managers and Trumps attorneys presented their arguments for and against the constitutionality of the trial. In the end, 44 Republican senators voted in favor of dropping the trial because its illegitimate, seven votes short of the majority needed to stop the proceedings at the gate.

The lead impeachment manager, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), argued that discontinuing the trial because Trump has left office would create a January exception, during which future presidents could abuse their power without fear of being convicted and barred from holding future office.

Conduct that would be a high crime and misdemeanor in your first year as president, in your second year as president, in your third year as president, and for the vast majority of your fourth year as president, you can suddenly do in your last few weeks in office without facing any constitutional accountability at all. This would create a brand new January exception to the Constitution of the United States of America, Raskin said.

Bruce Castor, one of Trumps attorneys, argued that the idea of a January amnesty is nonsense.

If my colleagues on this side of the chamber actually think that President Trump committed a criminal offense  after hes out of office, you go and arrest him. So there is no opportunity where the president of the United States can run rampant in January at the end of his term and just go away scot-free. The Department of Justice does know what to do with such people.

The people who breached the Capitol havent been accused of conspiring with the president, Castor noted.

Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) cited two historical precedents from the U.S. Senate, including the impeachment of Secretary of War William Belknap, who unsuccessfully argued that the Senate couldnt try him because he had already been expelled. Neguse noted that the senators at the time were outraged by the proposition and, after deliberation, voted to proceed with the trial.

The Belknap case is clear precedent that the Senate must proceed with this trial since it rejected pre-trial dismissal, affirmed its jurisdiction, and moved to full consideration of the merits, Neguse said.

The defense had argued, in a trial memorandum, that Belknaps case doesnt apply because he wasnt a president, among other reasons.

Trump attorney David Schoen argued that the trial should be dismissed because Trump wasnt afforded due process in the House of Representatives, which voted to impeach the president without hearing witnesses, presenting evidence, or allowing for committee deliberation. He noted that the Democrats rationale for rushing the proceedings fell flat, considering that they delayed sending the article of impeachment to the Senate for 12 days after adopting it.

The House leadership unilaterally and by choice waited 12 days to deliver the article to this Senate to begin the trial process. In other words, the House leadership spent more time holding the adopted article than it did on the whole process leading up to the adoption of the article, Schoen said.

Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), another impeachment manager, argued that due process in the House wasnt necessary and that Trump would be afforded due process in the Senate, where he will be given an opportunity to respond to evidence and was offered a chance to testify.

Both sides used video clips during their presentations. Raskin played an extended clip of the crowd breaching the Capitol interspersed with the speech Trump gave at the same time and the proceedings inside the building. The video showed that Trump was still speaking some 30 minutes away when a separate crowd breached the outer perimeter of the Capitol.

Schoen played a clip of Democrat politicians calling for Trumps impeachment beginning in early 2017. He accused the Democrats of using the impeachment for purely partisan purposes and warned that should the trial go forward, it would set a precedent for future legislatures to go after former officials based on the partisan whims of the moment.

Under their unsupportable constitutional theory and tortured reading of the text, every civil officer who has served is at risk of impeachment if any given group elected to the House decides that what was thought to be important service to the country when they served now deserves to be canceled, Schoen said.

Raskin concluded his opening remarks with an emotional appeal to the Senate by describing his familys ordeal on Jan. 6. He appeared overcome by sentiment when recalling that his adult daughter told him she never wants to visit the Capitol again.

Castor opened the defenses arguments condemning the violence at the Capitol.

You will not hear any of the team representing former President Trump say anything but in the strongest possible way denounce the violence of the rioters and those that breached the Capitol, the very citadel of our Democracy, literally the very symbol that flashes on television whenever youre trying to explain that were talking about the United States. Instant symbol. To have it attacked is repugnant in every sense of the word. The loss of life is horrific.
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- International Paper Company (NYSE: IP) announced the election of Anton V. Vincent to its Board of Directors effective March 1, 2021.

Mr. Vincent currently serves as President, Mars Wrigley North America, part of Mars. Incorporated, a global, family-owned business with $40 billion in annual sales and a diverse and expanding portfolio of confectionery, food, and petcare products and services. He joined the company in 2019, after serving as Chief Executive Officer at Greencore USA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Greencore Group, Plc. Before Greencore Group, he spent 23 years at General Mills, a leading global consumer packaged goods company, advancing to become President of three separate business divisions. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in Finance from Sam Houston State University and an MBA from Kelly School of Business at Indiana University.

"Anton's enterprise, marketing, and deep consumer market experience will bring a valuable perspective to the International Paper Board of Directors," said Mark Sutton, Chairman and CEO. "Anton can help us accelerate value creation as we look to build a better IP, and we are extremely pleased to have him join our Board."

Mr. Vincent has been recognized by a variety of organizations and publications for his leadership excellence, including 2014, 2016, 2019 Savoy Magazine Top 100 Most Influential African Americans in Corporate America 2012, Black Enterprise Most Powerful African Americans in Corporate America and 2008 Minneapolis Business Journal Minority Corporate Executive of the Year. He is active as a board member for National Confectionary Association, Sustainable Foods Policy Alliance and the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Dean's Council.

The company also announced the retirement of two directors. J. Steven Whisler, former chairman and chief executive officer of Phelps Dodge Corporation, is retiring and not standing for reelection at the company's next annual meeting of shareowners in May 2021. He has served on the Board at International Paper since 2007. Also, William J. Burns is the current nominee for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and is therefore resigning from the Board at the end of this month.

Sutton continued, "I want to thank Steve for his 13 years of service in helping transform International Paper into a global leader in fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper. Among his many contributions, he has been a catalyst and advocate for safety, helping drive our commitment and improvement efforts at the Board level. I also want to recognize Bill for his impact and contributions. His understanding of geo-politics and the intersection of policy and business were impactful in helping us to successfully navigate in the global marketplace. I wish him the very best with the Senate confirmation and in his new role."

Mr. Vincent was identified through a national search that was conducted by Diversified Search. To learn more about other members of International Paper's Board of Directors, visit www.internationalpaper.com under the Company and Leadership tab.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL PAPER

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa and Russia. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable world-wide commerce; pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal hygiene products that promote health and wellness; and papers that facilitate education and communication. We are headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., employ approximately 48,000 colleagues, and serve more than 25,000 customers in 150 countries. Net sales for 2020 were $21 billion. For more information about International Paper, our products and global citizenship efforts, please visit internationalpaper.com.

SOURCE International Paper

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Former cabinet ministers and G40 cabal masterminds, Walter Mzembi and Saviour Kasukuwere have endorsed the recent appointment by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, of Ambassador Fredrick Shava as the Foreign Minister.

Shava, a United Nations Diplomat, replaced Sibusiso Moyo who died last month of COVID-19 related illnesses. However, the new ambassador's past is tainted with scandals after being implicated in the infamous Willgate corruption fiasco in 1988.

Together with a syndicate of other ministers, Shava is alleged to have fraudulently acquired motor vehicles from the then functioning Willovale Motors.

He was sentenced to nine months in prison after lying under oaths during the trial of the case but was later pardoned by the then president, the late, Robert Mugabe.

In a surprise twist of events, Mzembi and Kasukuwere, who have remained strong critics of Mnangagwa, albeit in exile, sang praises for Shava's appointment.

"This is an appropriate appointment, he is an experienced diplomat with multilateral UN station and Sino geopolitical experience. Cabinet is not new to him, and he should hit the ground running. Congratulations to Ambassador Shava" echoed Mzembi in a tweet post-Tuesday morning.

Kasukuwere, who escaped death during the 2017 coup, said Shava is the best candidate for the job.

"He has the appropriate credentials to go with his new assignment and a matured approach to issues. All the best Dr Shava, all eyes on you," Kasukuwere retorted.

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Defending his statement after getting criticized, Kasukuwere said he will not judge Shava's past.

"... knowing what I know about the cabinet, he is better! He was punished and pardoned. He spent quite a long time as a backbencher and I will not judge him harshly seeing that he did show remorse and exercised extreme discipline over the years. He made a mistake and acknowledged his failings," he added.

The duo's endorsements did not go well with their longtime friend and G40 mastermind, Professor Jonathan Moyo who said Shava's appointment was not merit-based but nepotism since he hails from Mnangagwa's rural area.

"Shava can't be a "new dispensation" pick. He has no strategic purpose beyond his clanship value to Mnangagwa, who has tossed SB Moyo's engagement thrust out of the window," Moyo said.

He further fuelled factional fissures between Mnangagwa and his deputy, Vice President Chiwenga, who he said is the only remaining 'coup soldier' in the current cabinet as he accused the president of choosing his kith and kin for top cabinet posts while sidelining those aligned to Chiwenga.

"With this appointment and that of Felix Mhona as transport minister, General Chiwenga is now the only coup soldier remaining in Cabinet, which is now full of Mnangagwa homies," he said.

Mnangagwa appointed Mhona as the Transport Minister, replacing the late Biggie Matiza, who also succumbed to COVID-19 same time with SB Moyo.
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Washington DC: Days after the military coup in Myanmar, US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved to uphold the rule of law along with the democratic process in Burma.

White House on Monday issued a press statement in which it said, "The President (Biden) underscored his desire to defend democratic institutions and norms around the world and noted that a shared commitment to democratic values is the bedrock for the US-India relationship. They further resolved that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld in Burma (Myanmar)."

"President Joseph R Biden, Jr. spoke today with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, committing that the United States and India will work closely together to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, renew their partnership on climate change, rebuild the global economy," the White House statement said.

In his first official interaction with Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday discussed a host of issues with the US President and also took the opportunity to invite him and First lady, Dr Jill Biden, to visit India at their earliest convenience.

In a tweet, PM Modi said that he conveyed his best wishes to the US President, and the two leaders discussed regional issues as well as shared priorities. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders discussed at length regional developments and the wider geopolitical context. They also noted that the India-US partnership is firmly anchored in a shared commitment to democratic values and common strategic interests.

Prime Minister Modi warmly congratulated President Biden, conveyed best wishes for his tenure, and said he looked forward to working closely with him to further elevate the India-US Strategic Partnership.

Both the leaders reiterated the importance of working with like-minded countries to ensure a rules-based international order and a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. The statement from the White House came days after Myanmars military launched a coup last week and detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Win Myint and other National League for Democracy (NLD) members.

Moreover, hundreds of protestors including political leaders and students, who had demonstrated, were arrested.

The military also announced a one-year state of emergency in the country, vowing to "take action" against alleged voter fraud during the November 8 general election, which saw Suu Kyis NLD party secure a resounding victory. According to media reports cited by the United Nations, scores of people took to the streets in Yangon last week to protest the military`s takeover and the arrest of several elected leaders.

Access to the internet and social media was severely restricted following the overthrow of the government. As thousands of people continued to participate in protest marches across the country, curfew was imposed in seven townships on Monday, to stop the people from protesting against the junta rule.

Moreover, the military disbanded the National reconciliation and Peace Centre, the leading internal peace process mechanism of the previous National League for Democracy government, while arresting some of its civilian leaders.

Live TV

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and Philips have signed a MoU which is aimed at promoting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the health care system in Saudi Arabia in line with the healthcare goals of the kingdom's Vision 2030.

Lauding the agreement, Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah said: "It will expand the provision of AI services in the health field in an effort to improve the service of citizens and expatriates in various medical fields, in a way that will directly contribute to achieving the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals."

Ministry of Health is working with SDAIA to benefit from AI technologies and to support joint local and global efforts to form a knowledge system that combines AI with health and operational expertise in order to develop integrated solutions that contribute to improving the performance and productivity of health care systems and improving the level of national competencies working in this field by adopting AI technologies, he noted.

SDAIA President Dr Abdullah bin Sharaf Al Ghamdi affirmed that the kingdom is witnessing today, under the umbrella of its Vision 2030, a developmental renaissance in all fields, at the forefront of which are technical fields.

This agreement comes as part of SDAIA's efforts to promote advanced technologies in the health sector, support the exchange of experiences, and develop national capabilities that would improve the quality of services provided in the health sector, create new job opportunities, and improve the national economy to be among the AI and data-driven economies.

Supervisor of the National Center for Artificial Intelligence, Dr Majid bin Mohammed Al Tuwaijri, said the cooperation plan between SDAIA and Philips will focus on five main areas.

These include employing the capabilities of AI in the health care sector, establishing a knowledge center for AI, giving priority to the application of health technology solutions that employ AI in health work paths, access to a network that includes senior opinion leaders and specialists in the field to facilitate the exchange of information and joint research, and support ways to adopt new AI applications, in addition to contributing to creating new job opportunities related to AI in the field of health care services.
The recurring incidents of herders, farmers' clashes in some parts of the country will receive the attention of the Senate as it reconvenes from its Christmas break this week.

The Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, who disclosed this to newsmen on Monday, also submitted that the issues should be resolved through dialogue locally without the involvement of the federal government.

The Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ajayi Borrofice, disclosed that a motion to discuss the herders, farmers' clashes would be moved at Senate plenary either on Tuesday or Wednesday.

He said: "There would be hopefully tomorrow or Wednesday, a general motion I think it will be sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ajayi Borroficce, who will come with a motion on the issue on the floor of the Senate tomorrow.

"Of course, in the course of the discussion, we are dealing with the old generic thing about this particular issue that you are raising on the conflagration all over the country and then on the basis of that, some prayers are coming on, some explanations are there and some senators will resolve and discuss all these issues.

"When senators discuss, it is going to be very rich because we come from the variety of areas all over the country, who will share their own experiences and then on the basis of that we come up with resolutions that will address some of these issues and make some recommendations that various authorities at whatever level will see what is to be done to find solutions."

Abdullahi stressed the need for the clashes to be resolved through dialogue at the level of the local government, state and the herders rather than involving the federal government which is far from the centre of the crisis.

He said: "This is a kind of crisis and my own personal observation is that the country is tending towards governance trajectory where some political actors and ethnic entrepreneurs are coming into the process and spoiling the waters. These are existential issues that have set communities that have hitherto been living together peacefully, against each other either for political advantage or political matters.

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"I think these are issues that should be resolved at the local level either through dialogue or give and take. They are people that lived together, they should come together over dialogue at the local level. Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan and late renowned professor of History, Prof. Tekena Tamuno, once said distant hosts do not quench local fire, the federal government is too distant to resolve every communal dispute everywhere.

"Inter communal dispute should be resolved by the people in the area. They should be resolved by political leaders at whatever levels, at the level of the National Assembly, at the level of the governors, local government councillors to sit down with their people so that a lot of these issues can be articulated and addressed by the local population.

"This is what the governors at their levels should do not to always run to the Presidency, to solve one dispute here and there. How many arms does the federal government have? This is a federation and we are all politically responsible leaders. At the various levels where they are, they should sit down and talk to one another on this disputes. I can assure you that in no distant time these intercommunal conflagrations would be resolved. I think the way it may be resolved is in the interest of this country's unity and integrity."
Troops of Operations Whirl Stroke have arrested 10 suspected criminals in connection with the crises that rocked Ibilla and Ukpa communities of Oju local government area of Benue during the delineation exercise and recovered 16 riffles alongside other ammunition.

Our Correspondent gathered that National Population Commission (NPC) officials arrived the area to carry out the delineation exercise when some members of the two communities took up arms against each other and started shooting sporadically in all directions which led to the destruction of several houses.

It was also gathered that the joint military troops of OPWS and that of the 72 Battalion were immediately deployed to the area and in the process, 10 suspects were arrested, and 16 firearms and 59 rounds of ammunition were recovered from them.

A source from one of the warring communities who spoke to newsmen on the condition of anonymity, said the arrival of the joint military troops to Ibilla and Ukpa communities brought the situation under control.

He further said that the joint troops carried out a two day cordon and search operations to be able to arrest more culprits.

According to him, on the first day that the army arrived at the areas, they arrested nine people, recovered nine firearms, 59 ammunitions, eight cutlasses, two axes, nine handsets and one Volkswagen car.
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Hungama Artist Aloud, a platform that supports and promotes independent content, has launched independent artist Sonalisa Mishras latest song, Bin Tere from her new album Pyaar Ho Gaya. The album has five songs and popular composers Viraal and Arya have composed the music for the album and penned the lyrics as well. The album has an eclectic mix of 5 different genres of music from melancholy to peppy dance numbers and vibrant Rajasthani Folk. Bin Tere is a pleasant melody that evokes deep emotions and aims to bring immense comfort to its listeners.

Always mesmerizing listeners through her classical vocals, Sonalisas music is driven by feelings and emotions that one experiences in their day-to-day lives. Her originals have a deeper meaning and express complicated love in a simple manner making them relatable for everyone. Her music has a touch of Hindustani classical vocals depicting her roots and love for classical music. Sonalisa is an Australian Icon Title winner and has also competed in three International Indian Icon shows in the U.S.A.

Speaking about her latest song, Sonalisa said, Bin Tere is a beautiful composition with touching lyrics and I am sure that both the audio and the music video will truly appeal to all Indipop Music lovers worldwide who have lost someone dear in life. I have tried my best in singing the song and truly hope everyone will connect with my melodic feelings.

Finally, it was a great experience working with composers Viraal & Arya, who recorded the entire album with me online via Skype from India and me being in Australia. The musical outcome has come out wonderful, as they have gotten the best out of me, and made my Album Pyaar Ho Gaya a perfect album with great musical variety. So please do watch out for my song Bin Tere and hear my entire album releasing worldwide soon through the best Independent Music platform, Hungama Artist Aloud, she added.

Elaborating on Hungama Artist Alouds support for independent music artists, Soumini Sridhara Paul, Senior Vice President, Hungama Artist Aloud said, Hungama Artist Aloud offers independent artists the opportunity to showcase their talent on a global level and reach out to as wide an audience as possible. This creates a conducive environment that enhances their creativity and allows them to contribute to the growth of independent music. Sonalisas music is well appreciated across the globe and her latest track Bin Tere is surely going to resonate with our audience.

Released by Hungama Artist Aloud, Bin Tere is now available to stream on Hungama Artist Aloud, Hungama Music and all major music streaming platforms from today.

Listen to the song here - https://www.hungama.com/song/bin-tere/61955206/

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New Delhi:

India said on Thursday it will continue to use diplomatic channels with China to resolve Dokalam stand off and insisted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held conversation on range of issues in Hamburg.

There is a stand off between the armies of India and China in the Dokalam area in the Sikkim sector, where Indian troops stopped road construction by Chinese soldiers on June 16.

We have diplomatic channels available. We have embassies in both countries. Those channels will continue to be used, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said when asked about the nearly month-long stand off in Dokalam.

He also referred to Foreign Secretary S Jaishankars remarks at an event in Singapore on the issue.

Baglay noted that there were well-established and mutually agreed mechanisms to address differences on border issue as well as tri-junctions.

I would only refer you back to the information we put out after the meeting (in Hamburg). There was a picture that we had tweeted. There was a brief text that...said at the BRICS leaders informal meeting at Hamburg on the sidelines of the G0-20 summi, the BRICS leaders an informal meeting was hosted by China.

Prime Minister Modi and President Xi had a conversation on a range of issues, Baglay said when asked about the Chinese foreign ministry spokesmans remarks that there was no bilateral meeting between the two leaders.

However, he refused to give details on the range of issues, saying, It is not for me to comment as to what grounds the two leaders covered.

On whether Dokalam stand off also figured during the conversation on range of issues between Modi and Xi, Baglay said, There was a conversation between them. There were a range of issues that was the subject matter of that conversation.

Asked if his remarks on diplomatic resolution of Dokalam stand off indicated any shift in Chinese demand for withdrawal of Indian troops from the area, he said India has already outlined its position on the issue.

There was also a conversation on a range of issues between the leaders of India and China in Hamburg. And today I have said that there are diplomatic channels which will continue to be used. So, you have to see everything in totality, he asserted.

On strong rhetorics in Chinese media warning India on the Dokalam stan doff, Baglay said, This matter we are dealing with is a serious matter and it has implications. We remain engaged in addressing this matter...

On whether National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was travelling to Bejing on July 26, he said there was no information with him.

Doval, who is the Special Representative for the India-China border talks, is expected to visit Beijing on July 26 to attend the meeting of the NSAs from BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Baglay also declined to comment on recent meeting between the top Chinese envoy and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, saying the MEA does not comment on activities of embassies or political parties.

Also read: Rajnath, Sushma to brief leaders of Opposition parties on China stand-off, situation in J&K

Also read: Sikkim standoff different from previous border frictions along LAC, says China



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Former head of United Mining and Chemical Company Oleksandr Hladushko has denied allegations of withdrawing funds from the company by its incumbent management.

In a comment to the Interfax-Ukraine agency he claims that there were no overdue receivables for products at the time of transfer of control to the new management in February 2020.

"For a year now, United Mining and Chemical Company has been managed by new managers. And suddenly we learn about a debt of $ 38 million for 2019, they have been modestly silent about all this time? This alogism can only be explained by the fact that on the eve of privatization, the team of Artur Somov [the incumbent head of the company] is trying to shift responsibility for their managerial mistakes onto their predecessors," the report says.

According to Hladushko, at the time of his team's departure from the company, it was profitable and financially secure: by the end of the first quarter of 2020, it received UAH 245 million in net profit, the balance of payments of the enterprise was positive.

"By January, the company's accounts had over UAH 405.3 million. This was enough to keep production and supply running smoothly, pay salaries, and taxes for three to four months," the ex-head says.

Commenting on the news about the shutdown of Vilnohirsk GOK in May 2020 and non-payment of wages to miners, and later - about production downtime due to an unstable financial support, Hladushko expressed opinion that the above funds were spent, and new ones were not earned, which led to cash breaks in the company.

The ex-head also named among the achievements of his team the growth of income of the company almost twofold - up to UAH 3.5 billion, payments to budgets almost fourfold - up to UAH 1.4 billion, investments in production by 8.3 times, up to UAH 749.6 million, as well as an increase in the value of assets by more than four times - up to UAH 3.4 billion.

Acting chairman of the board of United Mining and Chemical Company Artur Somov said earlier that the company intends to collect $ 38 million through the International Commercial Arbitration Court under contracts with the companies Bollwerk Finanzierungs- und Industriemanagement AG (Austria) and Defessa Trans F.Z.E (the UAE), through which the ex-management of United Mining and Chemical Company laundered funds from the enterprise.

Earlier, PrJSC United Mining and Chemical Company, which managed Vilnohirsk Mining and Metallurgical Plant (Dnipropetrovsk region) and Irshansk Mining and Processing Plant (Zhytomyr region), initiated the process of collecting a debt of $ 38 million, according to the company, withdrawn by the previous management.

"The funds were laundered from the company during the time of ex-managers Ruslan Zhurylo (the former chairman of the board) and Oleksiy Hladushko (the former acting chairman of the board). State JSC United Mining and Chemical Company appealed to the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry with a claim against the gasket companies Bollwerk Finanzierungs-und Industriemanagement AG (Austria) and Defessa Trans F.Z.E (the UAE)," according to a press release of the company.

The state enterprise United Mining and Chemical Company began its actual activity in August 2014, when the government of Ukraine decided to transfer the property complexes of Vilnohirsk and Irshansk GOKs to it. On December 8, 2016, the state enterprise was transformed into PJSC United Mining and Chemical Company, on December 26, 2018 - into PrJSC.

United Mining and Chemical Company sells its products to more than 30 countries of the world. The main sales markets are the EU, China, Turkey, as well as the United States and African countries.

In August 2016, the government included United Mining and Chemical Company in the list of companies that are subject to privatization in 2017. Its terms were postponed several times, most recently due to the coronavirus crisis and quarantine. BDO Corporate Finance as part of the consortium Baker McKenzie, Baker Tilly Ukraine and Asset Expertise, prepares the company for privatization.

The management of the SPF proposes to put United Mining and Chemical Company up for sale in the first half of this year, declares about 15 applicants for the enterprise and predicts the starting price of the object from UAH 3 billion to UAH 5 billion.
We need to speak of serious integration, Kocharian told the Russian Sputnik news agency in an interview published over the weekend. A regionalization of the world is underway. Global processes are giving way to some regional integration processes.

In this regard, I believe that Armenia should very seriously think about deeper interaction with Russia. A much deeper one that exists now, he said without elaborating.

Kocharian already made a case for closer ties with Russia in early December. He insisted that only Moscow can help Armenia rebuild its armed forces and confront new security challenges in the aftermath of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian announced on New Years Eve plans to further deepen the Russian-Armenian relationship, saying that his country needs new security guarantees now. Pashinian reaffirmed those plans at a January 11 meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Similar statements have also been made by other Armenian politicians. Edmon Marukian, who leads one of the two opposition parties represented in the Armenian parliament, called in late December for the opening of a second Russian military base in the South Caucasus state.

On February 6 a group of fringe parties and politicians held in Yerevan the founding congress of a new movement that will campaign for a new union of Armenia and Russia.

Commenting on these developments, Hakob Badalian, a political analyst, suggested that Armenian political actors are increasingly vying for Moscows support in their domestic political struggle. He noted a lack of specifics in their pro-Russian discourse.

One gets the impression that they are offering their services to Russia, Badalian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. Namely, [they are competing to demonstrate] who will better serve Russia and who will offer Armenias deeper subordination to Russia, and in return for that expect Russian support in terms of solving Armenias political issues.

Badalian said that Kocharian is particularly keen to secure such support for his bid to return to power. He said Russian influence in Armenia has grown significantly since the Karabakh war and Moscow is not averse to expanding it further.
The news release, TransDigm Group Reports Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Results, issued Feb. 9, 2021 by TransDigm Group Inc. was transmitted incorrectly by PR Newswire. The financial ticker symbol for TransDigm Group was not coded for, which prevented it from appearing on the appropriate financial pages. The release is being resent to correct this.

TransDigm Group Reports Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Results

CLEVELAND, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE: TDG), a leading global designer, producer and supplier of highly engineered aircraft components, today reported results for the first quarter ended January 2, 2021, which were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

First quarter highlights include:

Net sales of $1,108 million , down 24.4% from $1,465 million in the prior year's quarter;

, down 24.4% from in the prior year's quarter; Income from continuing operations of $50 million ;

; Loss per share from continuing operations of $(0.42) , with the loss driven by $1.32 per share of dividend equivalent payments made during the quarter, pursuant with the Company's employee stock option program;

, with the loss driven by per share of dividend equivalent payments made during the quarter, pursuant with the Company's employee stock option program; EBITDA As Defined margin of 42.8%, representing sequential improvement;

EBITDA As Defined of $474 million ;

; Adjusted earnings per share of $1.97 ; and

; and Strong operating cash flow generation of $274 million .

Fiscal 2021 financial guidance will not be issued at this time.

Net sales for the quarter declined 24.4%, or $357 million, to $1,108 million from $1,465 million in the comparable quarter a year ago. In the current quarter, all sales represent organic sales.

Income from continuing operations for the quarter was $50 million, a decrease of 78.6% compared to $234 million in the comparable quarter a year ago. The decrease in income from continuing operations primarily reflects the decline in net sales described above and higher interest expense, partially offset by a lower effective tax rate.

GAAP earnings per share were reduced in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and 2020 by $1.32 per share and $3.22 per share, respectively, as a result of dividend equivalent payments made during each quarter. As a reminder, GAAP earnings per share are reduced when TransDigm makes dividend equivalent payments pursuant to the Company's stock option plans. These dividend equivalent payments are made during the Company's first fiscal quarter each year and also upon payment of any special dividends.

Adjusted net income for the quarter decreased 59.4% to $115 million, or $1.97 per share, from $283 million, or $4.93 per share, in the comparable quarter a year ago.

EBITDA for the quarter decreased 38.0% to $378 million from $610 million for the comparable quarter a year ago. EBITDA As Defined for the period decreased 30.4% to $474 million compared with $681 million in the comparable quarter a year ago. EBITDA As Defined as a percentage of net sales for the quarter was 42.8%.

"Although commercial air travel demand has shown slight signs of recovery in recent months, the recovery is expected to continue to be slow and uneven depending on factors such as COVID-19 infection rates, vaccine rollout and effectiveness, and the easing of quarantines and travel restrictions, among other factors. Despite the challenges the commercial aerospace industry continues to face, I am pleased that we were able to sequentially expand our EBITDA As Defined margin to 42.8% as a result of careful management of our cost structure and focus on our operating strategy," stated Kevin Stein, TransDigm Group's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Additionally, we are excited to have recently closed the acquisition of Cobham Aero Connectivity. Cobham Aero Connectivity has established positions across a diverse range of new and existing aircraft platforms and the business fits well with our long-standing strategy."

The effective tax rate in the current quarter of 5.5% was favorably impacted by the timing of tax benefits associated with the Company's equity compensation plans. For the full 2021 fiscal year, consistent with previously disclosed expectations, the Company expects its GAAP, Cash and Adjusted tax rates to be in the range of 18-22%.

Acquisition of Cobham Aero Connectivity

Subsequent to the quarter, on January 5, 2021, TransDigm completed substantially all of the acquisition of Cobham Aero Connectivity ("CAC") for approximately $965 million, including tax benefits to be realized by TransDigm. CAC is a leading provider of highly engineered antennas and radios for the aerospace end market. The products are primarily proprietary with significant aftermarket content and have a strong presence across major defense platforms as well as select commercial applications. Nearly 60% of CAC's revenue is derived from international sales and over 70% of CAC's revenue comes from the aftermarket. CAC has a strong presence across a diverse range of both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

A portion of the CAC acquisition representing approximately 2% of the total purchase price remains subject to Finnish regulatory approval and is expected to close during the second quarter of fiscal 2021.

Financing Activity Subsequent to the Quarter

On January 20, 2021, TransDigm successfully completed a private offering of $1.2 billion of 4.625% senior subordinated notes due 2029. TransDigm expects to use the net proceeds from the offering, plus cash on hand, to redeem all of its $1.2 billion of outstanding 6.50% senior subordinated notes due 2024.

Please see the attached tables for a reconciliation of income from continuing operations to EBITDA, EBITDA As Defined, and adjusted net income; a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to EBITDA and EBITDA As Defined, and a reconciliation of (loss) earnings per share to adjusted earnings per share for the periods discussed in this press release.

Fiscal 2021 Outlook

Given the considerable uncertainty around the extent and duration of business disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how that will impact operations, the Company will not provide fiscal year 2021 guidance at this time.

Earnings Conference Call

TransDigm Group will host a conference call for investors and security analysts on February 9, 2021, beginning at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time. To join the call, dial (833) 397-0943 and enter the passcode 3665508. International callers should dial (720) 405-3217 and use the same passcode. A live audio webcast can be accessed online at http://www.transdigm.com. A slide presentation will also be available for reference during the conference call; go to the investor relations page of our website and click on "Presentations."

The call will be archived on the website and available for replay at approximately 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time. A telephone replay will be available for one week by dialing (855) 859-2056 and entering the passcode 3665508. International callers should dial (404) 537-3406 and use the same passcode.

About TransDigm Group

TransDigm Group, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a leading global designer, producer and supplier of highly engineered aircraft components for use on nearly all commercial and military aircraft in service today. Major product offerings, substantially all of which are ultimately provided to end-users in the aerospace industry, include mechanical/electro-mechanical actuators and controls, ignition systems and engine technology, specialized pumps and valves, power conditioning devices, specialized AC/DC electric motors and generators, batteries and chargers, engineered latching and locking devices, engineered rods, engineered connectors and elastomer sealing solutions, databus and power controls, cockpit security components and systems, specialized and advanced cockpit displays, aircraft audio systems, specialized lavatory components, seat belts and safety restraints, engineered and customized interior surfaces and related components, advanced sensor products, switches and relay panels, thermal protection and insulation, lighting and control technology, parachutes, high performance hoists, winches and lifting devices, and cargo loading, handling and delivery systems.

Non-GAAP Supplemental Information

EBITDA, EBITDA As Defined, EBITDA As Defined Margin, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share are non-GAAP financial measures presented in this press release as supplemental disclosures to net income and reported results. TransDigm Group defines EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and defines EBITDA As Defined as EBITDA plus certain non-operating items recorded as corporate expenses, including non-cash compensation charges incurred in connection with TransDigm Group's stock incentive plans, restructuring costs related to TransDigm Group's cost reduction measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign currency gains and losses, acquisition-integration costs, acquisition transaction-related expenses, and refinancing costs. TransDigm Group defines adjusted net income as net income plus purchase accounting backlog amortization expense, effects from the sale on businesses, non-cash compensation charges incurred in connection with TransDigm Group's stock incentive plans, restructuring costs related to TransDigm Group's cost reduction measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign currency gains and losses, acquisition-integration costs, acquisition transaction-related expenses, and refinancing costs. EBITDA As Defined Margin represents EBITDA As Defined as a percentage of net sales. TransDigm Group defines adjusted diluted earnings per share as adjusted net income divided by the total shares for basic and diluted earnings per share. For more information regarding the computation of EBITDA, EBITDA As Defined and adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share, please see the attached financial tables.

TransDigm Group presents these non-GAAP financial measures because it believes that they are useful indicators of its operating performance. TransDigm Group believes that EBITDA is useful to investors because it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to measure operating performance among companies with different capital structures, effective tax rates and tax attributes, capitalized asset values and employee compensation structures, all of which can vary substantially from company to company. In addition, analysts, rating agencies and others use EBITDA to evaluate a company's ability to incur and service debt. EBITDA As Defined is used to measure TransDigm Inc.'s compliance with the financial covenant contained in its credit facility. TransDigm Group's management also uses EBITDA As Defined to review and assess its operating performance, to prepare its annual budget and financial projections and to review and evaluate its management team in connection with employee incentive programs. Moreover, TransDigm Group's management uses EBITDA As Defined to evaluate acquisitions and as a liquidity measure. In addition, TransDigm Group's management uses adjusted net income as a measure of comparable operating performance between time periods and among companies as it is reflective of changes in pricing decisions, cost controls and other factors that affect operating performance.

None of EBITDA, EBITDA As Defined, EBITDA As Defined Margin, adjusted net income or adjusted earnings per share is a measurement of financial performance under U.S. GAAP and such financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income, earnings per share, cash flows from operating activities or other measures of performance determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, TransDigm Group's calculation of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to the calculation of similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Although we use EBITDA and EBITDA As Defined as measures to assess the performance of our business and for the other purposes set forth above, the use of these non-GAAP financial measures as analytical tools has limitations, and you should not consider any of them in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results of operations as reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

neither EBITDA nor EBITDA As Defined reflects the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements, necessary to service interest payments on our indebtedness;





although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and neither EBITDA nor EBITDA As Defined reflects any cash requirements for such replacements;





the omission of the substantial amortization expense associated with our intangible assets further limits the usefulness of EBITDA and EBITDA As Defined;





neither EBITDA nor EBITDA As Defined includes the payment of taxes, which is a necessary element of our operations; and





EBITDA As Defined excludes the cash expense we have incurred to integrate acquired businesses into our operations, which is a necessary element of certain of our acquisitions.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements under the heading "Fiscal 2021 Outlook," are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believe," "may," "will," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "predict," "anticipate," "estimate," or "continue" and other words and terms of similar meaning may identify forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause TransDigm Group's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, TransDigm Group. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has on the TransDigm Group's business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity; the sensitivity of TransDigm Group's business to the number of flight hours that its customers' planes spend aloft and its customers' profitability, both of which are affected by general economic conditions; future geopolitical or other worldwide events; cyber-security threats and natural disasters; TransDigm Group's reliance on certain customers; the U.S. defense budget and risks associated with being a government supplier including government audits and investigations; failure to maintain government or industry approvals; failure to complete or successfully integrate acquisitions; TransDigm Group's indebtedness; potential environmental liabilities; liabilities arising in connection with litigation; increases in raw material costs, taxes and labor costs that cannot be recovered in product pricing; risks and costs associated with TransDigm Group's international sales and operations; and other factors. Further information regarding the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results can be found in TransDigm Group's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 and other reports that TransDigm Group or its subsidiaries have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, TransDigm Group undertakes no obligation to revise or update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED



CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME FOR THE THIRTEEN WEEK PERIODS ENDED JANUARY 02, 2021 AND DECEMBER 28, 2019 (Amounts in millions, except per share amounts)

TABLE 1 (Unaudited)









Thirteen Week Periods Ended



January 2, 2021

December 28, 2019 NET SALES

$ 1,108



$ 1,465

COST OF SALES

567



664

GROSS PROFIT

541



801

SELLING AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

197



201

AMORTIZATION OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS

29



40

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

315



560

INTEREST EXPENSENET

267



248

REFINANCING COSTS





22

OTHER INCOME

(5)



(3)

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

53



293

INCOME TAX PROVISION

3



59

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

50



234

INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX





71

NET INCOME

50



305

LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS





(1)

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO TD GROUP

$ 50



$ 304

NET (LOSS) INCOME APPLICABLE TO TD GROUP COMMON STOCKHOLDERS

$ (23)



$ 119

(Loss) Earnings per share attributable to TD Group common stockholders:







(Loss) Earnings per share from continuing operationsbasic and diluted

$ (0.42)



$ 0.83

Earnings per share from discontinued operationsbasic and diluted





1.24

(Loss) Earnings per share

$ (0.42)



$ 2.07

Cash dividends paid per common share

$ 



$ 32.50

Weighted-average shares outstanding:







Weighted-average common shares outstanding

54.7



53.6

Vested options deemed participating securities





3.8

Total shares for basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share (1)

54.7



57.4







(1) Total weighted-average common shares outstanding for calculating basic and diluted adjusted earnings per share are 58.4 million shares as 3.7 million

shares of vested options deemed participating securities are included when calculating weighted-average common shares outstanding for basic and

diluted adjusted earnings per share.

TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED



SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA, EBITDA AS DEFINED TO INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS FOR THE THIRTEEN WEEK PERIODS ENDED JANUARY 02, 2021 AND DECEMBER 28, 2019 (Amounts in millions, except per share amounts)

TABLE 2 (Unaudited)









Thirteen Week Periods Ended



January 2, 2021

December 28, 2019 Income from continuing operations

$ 50



$ 234

Adjustments:







Depreciation and amortization expense

58



69

Interest expense, net

267



248

Income tax provision

3



59

EBITDA

378



610

Adjustments:







Acquisition-related expenses and adjustments (1)

4



7

Non-cash stock compensation expense (2)

49



26

Refinancing costs (3)





22

COVID-19 pandemic restructuring costs (4)

21





Other, net (5)

22



16

Gross Adjustments to EBITDA

96



71

EBITDA As Defined

$ 474



$ 681

EBITDA As Defined, Margin (6)

42.8 %

46.5 %





(1) Represents costs incurred to integrate acquired businesses and product lines into TD Group's operations, facility relocation costs and other acquisition-related costs; transaction-related costs comprising deal fees; legal, financial and tax due diligence expenses; and valuation costs that are required to be expensed as incurred.



(2) Represents the compensation expense recognized by TD Group under our stock incentive plans.



(3) Represents costs expensed related to debt financing activities, including new issuances, extinguishments, refinancings and amendments to existing agreements.



(4) Represents restructuring costs related to the Company's cost reduction measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic ($20 million for the thirteen week period ended January 2, 2021). These were costs related to the Company's actions to reduce its workforce to align with customer demand. This also includes $1 million for the thirteen week period ended January 2, 2021 of incremental costs related to the pandemic that are not expected to recur once the pandemic has subsided and are clearly separable from normal operations (e.g., additional cleaning and disinfecting of facilities by contractors above and beyond normal requirements, personal protective equipment, etc.).



(5) Primarily represents foreign currency transaction gains or losses, payroll withholding taxes related to special dividend and dividend equivalent payments and stock option exercises, non-service related pension costs, deferred compensation and gain or loss on sale of fixed assets.



(6) The EBITDA As Defined margin represents the amount of EBITDA As Defined as a percentage of sales.

TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED



SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED (LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE TO ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE FOR THE THIRTEEN WEEK PERIODS ENDED JANUARY 02, 2021 AND DECEMBER 28, 2019 (Amounts in millions, except per share amounts)

TABLE 3 (Unaudited)









Thirteen Week Periods Ended



January 2, 2021

December 28, 2019 Reported (Loss) Earnings Per Share







Income from continuing operations

$ 50



$ 234

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests





(1)

Net income from continuing operations attributable to TD Group

50



233

Less: Special dividends declared or paid on participating securities, including

dividend equivalent payments

(73)



(185)





(23)



48

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax





71

Net (loss) income applicable to TD Group common stockholders - basic and diluted

$ (23)



$ 119

Weighted-average shares outstanding under the two-class method







Total shares for basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share - GAAP basis

54.7



57.4

Total shares for basic and diluted adjusted earnings per share - Adjusted basis

58.4



57.4

(Loss) Earnings per share from continuing operationsbasic and diluted

$ (0.42)



$ 0.83

Earnings per share from discontinued operationsbasic and diluted





1.24

(Loss) Earnings per share

$ (0.42)



$ 2.07

Adjusted Earnings Per Share



Income from continuing operations

$ 50



$ 234

Gross adjustments to EBITDA

96



71

Purchase accounting backlog amortization





11

Tax adjustment (1)

(31)



(33)

Adjusted net income

$ 115



$ 283

Adjusted diluted earnings per share under the two-class method

$ 1.97



$ 4.93

Diluted (Loss) Earnings Per Share to Adjusted Earnings Per Share



Diluted (loss) earnings per share from continuing operations

$ (0.42)



$ 0.83

Allocation of undistributed losses to participating securities

0.03





Adjustments to diluted (loss) earnings per share:







Inclusion of the dividend and dividend equivalent payments

1.24



3.22

Acquisition-related expenses and adjustments

0.05



0.24

Non-cash stock compensation expense

0.64



0.34

Refinancing costs





0.30

Change in income tax provision due to excess tax benefits on stock compensation

(0.16)



(0.22)

COVID-19 pandemic restructuring costs

0.27





Other, net

0.32



0.22

Adjusted earnings per share

$ 1.97



$ 4.93























(1) For the thirteen week periods ended January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the Tax adjustment represents the tax effect of the adjustments at

the applicable effective tax rate, as well as the impact on the effective tax rate when excluding the excess tax benefits on stock option exercises. Stock

compensation expense is excluded from adjusted net income and therefore we have excluded the impact that the excess tax benefits on stock option

exercises have on the effective tax rate for determining adjusted net income.

TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED







SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH



PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO EBITDA,

EBITDA AS DEFINED

FOR THE THIRTEEN WEEK PERIODS ENDED

JANUARY 02, 2021 AND DECEMBER 28, 2019





(Amounts in millions)





TABLE 4 (Unaudited)









Thirteen Week Periods Ended



January 2, 2021

December 28, 2019 Net cash provided by operating activities

$ 274



$ 433











Adjustments:







Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions of

businesses

(103)



(102)

Interest expense, net (1)

258



240

Income tax provision - current

(2)



87

Non-cash stock compensation expense (2)

(49)



(26)

Refinancing costs (3)





(22)

EBITDA

378



610

Adjustments:







Acquisition-related expenses and adjustments (4)

4



7

Non-cash stock compensation expense (2)

49



26

Refinancing costs (3)





22

COVID-19 pandemic restructuring costs (5)

21





Other, net (6)

22



16

EBITDA As Defined

$ 474



$ 681







(1) Represents interest expense excluding the amortization of debt issue costs and premium and discount on debt.



(2) Represents the compensation expense recognized by TD Group under our stock incentive plans.



(3) Represents costs expensed related to debt financing activities, including new issuances, extinguishments, refinancings and amendments to existing agreements.



(4) Represents costs incurred to integrate acquired businesses and product lines into TD Group's operations, facility relocation costs and other acquisition-related costs; transaction-related costs comprising deal fees; legal, financial and tax due diligence expenses and valuation costs that are required to be expensed as incurred.



(5) Represents restructuring costs related to the Company's cost reduction measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic ($20 million). These were costs related to the Company's actions to reduce its workforce to align with customer demand. This also includes $1 million of incremental costs related to the pandemic that are not expected to recur once the pandemic has subsided and are clearly separable from normal operations (e.g., additional cleaning and disinfecting of facilities by contractors above and beyond normal requirements, personal protective equipment, etc.).



(6) Primarily represents foreign currency transaction gain or loss, payroll withholding taxes related to special dividend and dividend equivalent payments and stock option exercises, non-service related pension costs, deferred compensation and gain or loss on sale of fixed assets.



TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED





SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - BALANCE SHEET DATA

TABLE 5 (Amounts in millions)





(Unaudited)











January 2, 2021

September 30, 2020 Cash and cash equivalents

$ 4,907



$ 4,717

Trade accounts receivable - net

627



720

Inventories - net

1,284



1,283

Current portion of long-term debt

276



276

Short-term borrowings-trade receivable securitization facility

350



349

Accounts payable

197



218

Accrued current liabilities

740



773

Long-term debt

19,394



19,384

Total TD Group stockholders' deficit

(3,728)



(3,972)



SOURCE TransDigm Group Inc.

Related Links

http://www.transdigm.com


CLEVELAND, Ohio  Teachers and students at Cuyahoga County school districts are eager to return to in-person classes, and the countys vaccinations plan should help them achieve the goal.

You can listen online here.

The Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio will vaccinate 23,000 Cuyahoga County school staff against the coronavirus during the next two weeks. Giant Eagle, the pharmacy partner, will vaccinate 1,920 school staff a day, which averages to 20 vaccines every five minutes. It appears to be a solid plan to get districts closer to a return to normal. Meanwhile, Ohioans will find out this year if a system approved in 2018 to end gerrymandering actually works. And lawyers for former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora again are trying to get his bribery-related convictions overturned.

Hear cleveland.com editor Chris Quinn discuss these stories and more in The Wake Up podcast.

The podcast is a summary of cleveland.coms morning newsletter The Wake Up. You can receive The Wake Up through email at 5:30 a.m. each weekday by subscribing here.

You can get our podcasts delivered directly to your phone, and we have an Apple podcasts channel exclusively for this podcast. Subscribe here.

Do you get your podcasts on Spotify? Find us here.

If you use Stitcher, we are here.

RadioPublic is another popular podcast vehicle, and we are here.

On Google Podcasts, we are here.

On PodParadise, find us here.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 23:43:34|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell for the third consecutive month in January, a new report issued here said Tuesday.

The monthly report for January issued by Stanbic Bank Uganda showed the PMI in January dipped to 49.8 from 51.2 in December and 53.9 in November last year.

The report also showed that for the first time in seven months the PMI fell below the threshold of 50, which is a baseline to indicate an increase or decline in business conditions.

The decline is attributed to uncertainties about the recently concluded general elections which caused a slowdown in company orders for new items and forced them to scale back their purchasing activities.

The election fear, which built on the already negative impact of COVID-19, saw companies scaling down their staffing levels in January, according to the report.

The report showed that in spite of signs of weakness at the start of the year, firms remained confident that output will rise during the year. Enditem
The Netherlands has temporarily halted all adoptions from abroad after an investigation found that the government had failed to act on known abuses, including child theft and trafficking, between 1967 and 1998.

Adoptees deserve recognition for mistakes that were made in the past, Sander Dekker, the minister for legal protection, said on Monday, as the results of the investigative report were made public. They have to be able to count on our help in the present. And for the future we have to critically ask ourselves if and how to continue adoption from abroad.

The government formed an independent commission in 2018 to look into international abuses after a lawsuit showed that the Dutch government had been involved in an illegal adoption from Brazil in 1980, and pointed to the possibility of more such cases. Experts said they knew of no other Western country that had stopped international adoptions.

In its report, the commission said it had found systematic wrongdoing, including pressuring poor women to give up their babies, falsifying documents, engaging in fraud and corruption, and, in effect, buying and selling children. In some cases, the Dutch government was aware of misdeeds in adoptions from Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, but did nothing about them and allowed them to continue, the report said.
Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Yucheng (C) is seen on a giant TV screen delivering a speech before the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in Geneva, on Nov. 6, 2018. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

Bidens Decision to Re-Engage UN Human Rights Council Met With Praise and Criticism

The Biden administration has received mixed responses from Congress over its decision to have the United States re-engage with the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Under the Trump administration, the United States withdrew from the 47-member council in June 2018, noting that some of the worst human rights abusersChina, Cuba, and Venezuelawere council members.

On Feb. 8, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken slammed the 2018 decision, saying the withdrawal did nothing to encourage meaningful change, but instead created a vacuum of U.S. leadership, according to a press statement.

Acknowledging that the council is a flawed body in need of reform, Blinken said that President Joe Biden instructed the State Department to re-engage immediately and robustly with the UN Human Rights Council as an observer.

An observer in the council can submit draft resolutions but does not have voting rights.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), criticized Biden, saying he should not give any shred of credibility to the council since it has become a place for despotic regimes to come together and receive international cover to continue to commit their horrific abuses, according to a statement from his office.

Rubio pointed to human rights abuses currently happening under the watch of four current membersChina, Cuba, Russia, and Venezuela. For the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), it has detained more than 1 million ethnic minorities, including Uyghur, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz peoples, in internment camps in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region.

In January, then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo designated the CCPs persecution against these minorities as genocide and crimes against humanity.

Tibetans, Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Hongkongers, Southern Mongolians, Taiwanese, and Chinese Democracy Activists join together to call on governments to stand against the Chinese Communist Partys suppression of freedom, democracy, and human rights, in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Oct. 1, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Rubio suggested the Biden administration turn its focus to working with democratic allies to press for accountability and justice for these brutal regimes and advance the protection of human rights everywhere.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called the Biden administrations decision a tragic mistake, according to a statement.

He said: The Biden Administration must make it absolutely clear that the United States stands for human rights and reject engaging with an organization that turns a blind eye to genocide.

While top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul did not call for Biden to withdraw from the U.N. body, he said, I urge the @POTUS @JoeBiden & @SecBlinken is to keep in mind the atrocities committed by members of UNHRC as the admin reengages.

Our participation should be focused on implementing significant reforms at UNHRC, including ending the clear bias against Israel, and having the body investigate the genocide in #Xinjiang without delay, he added.

Our participation should be focused on implementing significant reforms at UNHRC, including ending the clear bias against Israel, and having the body investigate the genocide in #Xinjiang without delay. (3/3)  House Foreign Affairs GOP (@HouseForeignGOP) February 8, 2021

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the U.S. decision for re-engagement, according to a statement issued by his spokesman, calling the council worlds leading forum for addressing the full range of human rights challenges.

Several Democrats took to Twitter to voice support for the Biden administrations decision, including Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.). She said that the move is empowering the oppressed, & reestablishing Americas credibility in the world.

Last week, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and 44 other Republican House lawmakers sent a letter to Biden, asking the president not to join the council that has adopted zero resolutions condemning countries including China, Russia, Cuba, and Pakistan between 2006 and 2019.

I joined House Republicans last week in urging President Biden not to rejoin the @UN Human Rights Council. The US should not become party to a body that systematically shields the worlds worst regimes from accountability: pic.twitter.com/3OEJxUefWv  Rep. Mark Green (@RepMarkGreen) February 8, 2021

We believe [former] President Trump was right to withdraw the United States from the Human Rights Council. The United States participation in this body has not led to any meaningful reforms, they added.

Unnamed U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the United State will seek one of the three full member seats in the Western Europe and other States groupcurrency held by Austria, Denmark, and Italy until the end of 2021in the upcoming election this year. Winning countries will have a three-year term on the council.

The council is divided into five regional groups, and China currently holds a member seat in the Asia-Pacific States group until 2023, after winning the seat in an October election last year. Before this, China held a seat in the council from 2017-2019.

The opening session of the 38th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on June 18, 2018. (Alain Grosclaude/AFP/Getty Images)

Former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, who took to Twitter in January urging Biden not to rejoin the council, expressed disappointment over the re-engagement decision.

Sad to see the Biden admin legitimize an org that has become a farce to human rights advocates around the world, Haley wrote on Twitter.

Hillel Neuer, executive director of U.N. Watch, called on the Biden administration to avoid repeating the actions of the Obama administrationacting like a cheerleader for the council. He called on Biden to demand serious reforms, such as removing despots from the council such as Venezuelas Maduro regime. 

The U.S. should avoid lending legitimacy to a council where tyrannies and other non-democracies now comprise 60 percent of the membership, he added.

He concluded: [T]he Biden Administration should be candid in calling out the councils abuses, and holding their feet to the fire.
Wu Jianfu is making various dough oxen to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival.

As the Spring Festival approaches, the Year of the Ox is celebrated in Paifang Township, Feidong County, Anhui Province, with all kinds of exquisite and vivid cartoon oxen made by Wu Jianfu, an inheritor of the local intangible cultural heritage "Wulang dough modeling".

Born in the 1980s, Wu is a fervent enthusiast of Chinese dough modeling who devotes himself to combining this traditional art with contemporary trends. His works are popular among teenagers as he is adept at making dough sculptures of characters in comics and animations.

Chinese dough modeling is a folk art which originates in the Han dynasty (202 BC  220 AD). It mainly uses flour or glutinous rice flour as raw material to make vivid figurines through kneading, rolling, rubbing, engraving, and cutting.

Wu Jianfu is making various dough oxen to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival.

Wu Jianfu is making various dough oxen to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival.

Wu Jianfu is making various dough oxen to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival.

Wu Jianfu is making various dough oxen to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival.

Wu Jianfu is making various dough oxen to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival.
The House of Representatives finally approved on Tuesday new amendments to the Traffic Law (No.66/1973).

The amendments generally aim to impose new annual fees on vehicle licensing. A report prepared by parliaments transport committee said the new amendments to the traffic law aim to support smart transport systems, which are necessary to reduce car accidents, improve road quality, and cut fuel consumption and pollution.

The fees will cover all private, public, and diplomatic vehicles and will depend on engine size.

The report indicated that the amendments will help traffic authorities impose automatic control on the movement of vehicles on all kinds of roads.

Egypt is currently building a big number of roads using new smart technology necessary to achieve traffic discipline, implementing the states development objectives, and bringing car licensing under strict control, said the report, adding that in order to meet these objectives, the government will need new financial resources to support roads with new modern technology systems and techniques.

The report said there will be amendments to three articles of the traffic law.

Article 51 will be amended to impose an annual fee on vehicle licensing to be used in developing smart transport systems, this fee will be increased by 6 percent every year, said the report, adding that all vehicles will be asked to use electronic stickers against a payment ranging between EGP 75 and EGP 300 per one. Vehicles owned by the ministries of defence and interior will be exempted from paying any new annual fees for national security reasons.

The report also indicated that article four will be amended to impose fees on vehicles depending on their engine size.

A private car with less than 1300 litre capacity, for example, will pay an annual fee of EGP 60 and those with a litre capacity between 1300 and 1600 will pay EGP 75, etc, added the report.

All kinds of buses, motorcycles, and tuk tuks will be also be required to pay fees ranging from EGP 20 and EGP 600. Commercial vehicles will pay a fee of EGP 2500.

All vehicles will have to adjust their conditions in line with the above amendments within six months of the date of the issuing of the laws executive regulations.

Some MPs, however, rejected the amendments, arguing that it is bad that the government always resorts to imposing fees to improve services. Ihab El-Tamawy, deputy chairman of the Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee, rejected the amendments, arguing that the new fees are not justified.

When you impose a new fee, this should be against a new service, but here citizens will not receive any new service in return for these fees, said Tamawy.

Ayman Abu El-Ela, deputy chairman of the Human Rights Committee, complained that the amendments impose prison sentences.

I think freedom restricting penalties are very bad and should be removed from the law, said Abu El-Ela.

Soliman Wahdan, a Wafdist MP, also complained that it is very bad that every now and then the government imposes new fees on citizens.

In fact, this represents a lot of financial burdens for citizens at a time they are feeling the pinch of the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, said Wahdan.

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As the United States struggles to distribute and administer COVID-19 vaccines, were looking back at the history of vaccine rollouts in our country, including the logistical roadblocks to shots and communicating with a fearful public. The COVID vaccines have been widely shown to be safe and effective, unlike some historical examples that had significant associated risks. But what can stories of failures from the past teach us about how to fairly administer them?

On Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 1 p.m. Eastern, join Future Tense for a conversation with Atul Gawande and Helene Gayle, co-chair of the National Academies framework for vaccine distribution, about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

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On Dec. 13, 2002, President George W. Bush went on television and announced that military personnel serving in high-risk areas would be getting smallpox shots. Americans were no longer regularly inoculated against variola, a virus the WHO had declared eradicated in 1980, and Bush and his administration were convinced Iraq might use it as a weapon in the coming war. The president told viewers he would get a shot himself, to share risk with the troops. Then, he issued a stern warning: America has stockpiled enough vaccine and is now prepared to inoculate our entire population in the event of a smallpox attack. Americans and anyone who would think of harming Americans can be certain that we are prepared to respond quickly to a smallpox emergency.

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Bushs announcement followed seven months of discussions within his administration about the shape a smallpox vaccination program might take. The goals of the programs Phase I, as it was announced in late 2002, were to immunize 500,000 military personnel on a mandatory basis and to persuade 500,000 people who would be on the front lines in the case of a bioterror attackhealth care workers, public health officials, emergency personnelto take the vaccine voluntarily. In Phase II, the program intended to vaccinate 10 million more first responders and health care workers over the course of a year. The idea was, in case of an actual smallpox attack, these vaccinated personnel would be able to administer vaccines to others and retain a semblance of social order.

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In the end, the program was a failureand, given some reports of health care workers hesitancy in the course of the COVID vaccine rollout, perhaps an instructive one. By January 2004, 578,286 military personnel had been vaccinated, but only 39,353 health care workers had made the decision to take the shot. Health care workers reluctance, fueled by concern over side effects and uncertainty around compensation if anything were to go wrong, drowned out the governments pleas for nurses, doctors, and staff to get on board. Whats more, after the United States invaded Iraq but failed to turn up any evidence of biological and chemical weapons, what started as personal hesitancy around the shot turned, for some health care workers, into something more like active resistance to the idea of being vaccinated as part of this particular war effort.

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The smallpox shot was a bigger ask for health care workers than other vaccinations might have been. As Anthony Fauci (the man has been around) said in a briefing on the possibility of smallpox vaccination in July 2002, smallpox shots were probably the least safe human vaccine. People with eczema and atopic dermatitis could get eczema vaccinatum, a serious (and terrifying) rash that can be fatal if left untreated; pregnant women whose condition slipped through pre-vaccination screenings could suffer the rare complication of fetal vaccinia, which could cause stillbirth; there was the possibility of developing myopericarditis (as some vaccinated service members did) or post-vaccinal encephalitis.

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These concerns were prominent in some health care workers decision-making around taking the vaccine. Daniel J. Kuhles and David M. Ackman, then public health officials in Nassau County, New York, wrote in late 2003 in a status report on the vaccination push that the CDC had provided an elaborate process of screening and informed consent that was supposed to exclude people at risk of reactions. But that process, they thought, also dissuaded a large number of people without contraindications who had expressed interest in being vaccinated. Their local results werent encouraging: Of the 95 people the department asked to consider vaccination, just 11 went ahead with it.

There was also some confusion over how vaccinees who experienced adverse reactions might be compensated. People who get the smallpox vaccine can be contagious to others for a period of a few weeks afterward, and Kuhles and Ackman wrote that since state workers compensation programs would be responsible, at least in New York, it was unclear whether family members hurt by unintentional spread would also be compensated. This uncertainty, they wrote, might have created the impression that the government wanted individuals to foot the bill for national bioterrorism preparedness.

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But more than anything, health care workers were unconvinced that the shot was necessary. Kuhles and Ackman point out that even as these workers were being asked to get vaccinated, the federal government was offering messages of reassurance to the public, soothing them by downplaying the risk of a smallpox attack. And then, throughout 2003, as the military failed to turn up the promised stockpiles of biological weapons in Iraq, an attack came to seem less and less likely.

More than anything, health care workers were unconvinced that the shot was necessary.

Many nurses initially supported the vaccination program and then turned against it. Nurses, gender studies scholar Gwen DArcangelis found in a look back at the professions reaction to the vaccination program, were quite worried about they might inadvertently infect a vulnerable patient with smallpox. DArcangelis also found evidence that health professionals questioned the very basis for the program, arguing that the predictive modeling used to show the smallpox threat relied too heavily on worst-case scenarios.

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The American Nurses Association, state-level nurse associations, and labor unions organized against vaccination. In January 2003, the ANA sent a letter to Bush highlighting their concerns: among others, worries about transmission to patients and family members, questions about who would provide compensation if a vaccinee needed to miss work for an adverse reaction, and the lack of professional protection for any nurse who refused vaccination. Also that month, the Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees called for the government to suspend vaccinations unless the administration would provide medical screening of volunteers and compensation for anyone who had a negative reaction to the vaccine.

The matter of pay for those who experienced adverse reactions became a sticking point. Under the provisions of the Homeland Security Act, such a vaccinee would have to sue the federal government and prove its negligence. The problem still is, SEIU president Andrew L. Stern told the Washington Post on Jan. 17, 2003, if a worker or patient get sick as a result of this vaccine, theyll be lucky if they receive a get-well card from Washington. With the passage in April of the Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act of 2003, those who reacted poorly to the vaccine were coveredbut for the Bush administrations program, it was too late.

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Nurses associations in Massachusetts and California also opposed the program for political reasons. DArcangelis found a newsletter of the Massachusetts Nurses Association from JanuaryFebruary 2003 with a piece titled Vaccinate Against War, Not Smallpox:

We say NO not out of fear for our own health. Every day we face the risk of infectious diseases at work. WE have never shied away. We say NO not out of fear of side effects of the vaccine.  We say NO because vaccinating the face of no known threat is wrong. It represents the use of health care as an extension of an aggressive military posture.

For some in the press, the nurses refusal became a partisan issue. On Jan. 23, 2003, the Washington Timesthen, as now, a right-wing paperran an editorial titled Smallpox Refuseniks, which scolded health care workers for resisting the program and expressed surprise that the president could not force their cooperation. While the health professional[s] undoubtedly realize that theres a war on, the editorial ran, they fail to appreciate how grave the smallpox threat is, and will remain, regardless of what happens in Iraq. While their patriotism may be unimpeachable, their judgment is questionable.

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Surveying the refuseniks by telephone in 2003 and 2004, a team led by Pascale M. Wortley found that about half refused because they, personally, had contraindications (like eczema) or worried about affecting somebody in their household who had them. Others were worried about adverse reactions to the vaccine, and 20 percent of that second group believed that the risk of an actual outbreak wasnt high enough to be worth the potential issues with the shot. Hispanics, blacks, and Asians, Wortley and colleagues wrote, were significantly more likely than whites to be somewhat or very concerned about side effects. And while surveying physicians at Yale University in FebruaryApril 2003, Andrea L. Benin and her co-authors found that only 5 percent had been or intended to be vaccinated. Fifty-five percent believed that the benefits of vaccination did not outweigh the risks, and only 3 percent thought a smallpox attack in the next half-decade was likely or very likely.

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It wasnt only individual employees and their professional associationssome hospitals also threw wrenches into the governments efforts. Edward P. Richards and co-authors, in a 2004 postmortem analyzing legal aspects of the vaccination drive, found that health care employers realized that vaccinating employees would impose significant administrative burdens and legal risks. They would need to set up surveillance systems to keep track of those who had vaccine sores that could be contagious. Theyd have to find out which independent contractors might be at risk for vaccine-related injuries and make sure they signed agreements. When most health care employers considered the uncertainties in the plan along with the medical and legal risks, the researchers wrote, they decided not to participate.

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In June 2003, the CDC put aside the Phase II plan to expand vaccination after 52 cases of heart inflammation surfaced in vaccinated soldiers and civilians. As the program went out with a whimper, the independent U.S. Institute of Medicine issued a report in August 2003 strongly arguing that the entire thing was a waste of time and money that should have been spent on surveillance and response planning. There are many things more important than vaccinating people. We have no idea if were prepared for a bioterrorist attack, Brian Strom, lead author of the report, told the New Scientist. Though half a million military personnel were vaccinated, Strom pointed out, there was still no real plan for mobilization in the case of a smallpox attack.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
The government will soon propose new approaches to supporting culture and creative industries, Culture and Information Policy Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko has said.

He said this during the All-Ukrainian Forum "Ukraine 30. Coronavirus: Challenges and Responses" in Kyiv on February 9, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Since we have to constantly adapt, we will offer new creative solutions this year. For example, we plan to issue certificates to increase the demand for our areas. In particular, in the fields of reading, movement and travel, when buying tickets to museums and cinemas. That is, it is important for us to increase demand. And instead of direct support, this indirect support will help us a lot, Tkachenko said.

In his opinion, it is also vital to constantly review business support to encourage investment in culture and creative industries, including in order to preserve jobs.

This is not only about digitalization and the search for new approaches, but also about the promotion of exports, since we have areas that are able to seek new sales markets and earn money, the minister added.

The official praised the fact that the government has finally understood the important role of creative industries and the need to create an ecosystem in this area.

I am very glad that we have finally switched to three-year planning, because in this form, together with the parliament, we can lay the foundations, thanks to which, regardless of changes in the political situation, these decisions will be permanent and will develop, the minister said.

As Ukrinform reported, on August 18, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree "On measures to support the cultural sector, protect cultural heritage, and develop creative industries and tourism."

The document is aimed at promoting the development of Ukraines cultural potential, preserving, promoting and the effective use of the national cultural heritage, creating conditions for the tourist attractiveness of cultural heritage sites and supporting the creative economy.

Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko previously stated that a Great Restoration project will be launched in Ukraine in 2021.

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Jerusalem, Feb 9 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pleaded not guilty at the resumption of his corruption trial in Jerusalem.

Wearing a black mask, Netanyahu on Monday appeared in front of a three-judge panel at the Jerusalem District Court to officially deny the allegations against him, reports Xinhua news agency.

"I confirm the written answer submitted in my name," the Prime Minister said, referring to a document submitted by his lawyers in which they rejected the charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

He left after about 20 minutes without providing an explanation, while his lawyers continued to argue on his behalf.

The Hebrew-language Ha'aretz newspaper reported that the judges approved his departure.

His lawyers, Boaz Ben Zur and Amit Hadad, argued that constitutional procedures had been breached.

The prosecution rejected the allegation and said the opening of the investigation was approved by Attorney General Avihai Mandelblit.

Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister stood trial over corruption charges in three separate cases.

According to his indictment, he accepted luxurious gifts from wealthy friends and offered regulatory benefits to media tycoons in return for favourable media coverage.

The 71-year-old leader has repeatedly that the allegations are part of "a witch hunt" orchestrated by the "leftist" media.

Netanyahu is the first serving Prime Minister to stand to trial in Israel.

On March 23, Israel will hold its fourth general elections in two years.

Netanyahu is handling his trial while leading the struggle to curb the coronavirus spread and the ensuing economic crisis.

He is facing weekly demonstrations throughout Israel calling him to resign.
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A Texas man accused of attacking a Kenner hotel owner who later died from his injuries has been charged with manslaughter, Jefferson Parish court records show.

David Schulien, 31, of Harris, Texas, was on a business trip when Kenner police say he encountered Ashok Patel, 67, owner and manager of the Radisson Hotel New Orleans, in the hotel's arking lot.

Schulien had allegedly sped through the lot while trying to exit but was stopped by a locked gate, police said.

When Patel tried to confront Schulien about the speeding, Schulien got out of his car, knocked Patel to the ground and kicked the elder mans leg, breaking it, police said.

Schulien then allegedly sped off, leaving the injured Patel on the ground. Patel was taken to the hospital and underwent several surgeries to repair his broken leg, according to his family. But Patel developed a blood clot that traveled to his heart, killing him on Sept. 10, Kenner police said.

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By then, detectives had identified Schulien as the suspected attacker through license plate information, according to authorities. He was initially arrested Aug. 28 and booked with second-degree battery. But police upgraded the count to second-degree murder after Patels death.

A Jefferson Parish grand jury that met Thursday declined to indict Schulien with second-degree murder, defined as the killing of a person when the offender has the specific intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm, according to court records.

The Jefferson Parish District Attorneys Office then charged Schulien with manslaughter, a homicide committed without any intent to cause death or great bodily harm.

Schulien was not in custody as of Monday. After his arrest on the murder charge, he was released Sept. 22 on a $250,000 bond.

Schuliens attorney, Jake Lemmon, could not be reached for comment Monday. No arraignment date has been set.
In a controversial decision, the San Francisco school board voted 6-1 on Tuesday to rename 44 schools throughout the city, including schools named after Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe.

According to the resolution, which was adopted in May 2018, a panel of community members met for a year to examine school names in the San Francisco Unified School District. The panel identified more than 40 schools named after 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 Sacramento Bee reports that some of the reasons behind the name changes are that George Washington owned slaves. Abraham Lincoln backed policies that harmed Native American tribes. And former mayor Dianne Feinstein  whose namesake school, Dianne Feinstein Elementary, is also on the list  has been accused of [reportedly] ordering a Confederate flag to be replaced after it was torn down in the 1980s while she was mayor of San Francisco.

A San Francisco school-names advisory committee is recommending to remove Abraham Lincoln's name from San Francisco's Abraham Lincoln High School because of the 16th president's past treatment of Native Americans. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

This 2018 resolution came to the school board in the wake of the attacks in Charlottesville, San Francisco Board of Education president Gabriela Lopez tells Yahoo Life. The school-names change is our work alongside the rest of the country to dismantle symbols of racism and white supremacy culture.

The renaming process will reportedly cost $440,000, with one news outlet reporting it will cost $1 million. Schools have until April 19 to decide on new names, which will be voted on by the school board. We know schools were already beginning the process of coming up with ideas, so we formally finalized the list during our meeting last night, Lopez says. Next, schools will come back to the board with the ideas theyve put forward with their school community in April.

While replacement names havent been finalized yet, there are some ideas floating around, which are Maya Angelou, Richard Bradley, Michelle Obama, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, says Lopez. There's a push to uplift names of women, Asian-American and Jewish activists, among others.

Not surprisingly, reactions to the controversial decision have been mixed. San Francisco Mayor London Breed questioned the timing of the decision when many children are not currently attending in-person school because of the pandemic. Breed tweeted a statement on Wednesday that while its an important conversation to have, she cannot understand 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 added, 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.

Community member Jean Barish agrees about the timing, telling the San Francisco Chronicle: I must admit there are reasons to support this resolution, but I cant. These are not decisions that should be made in haste.

Social media users had their own reactions, with one Twitter user calling the decision disgraceful. Another Twitter user balked at the cost, writing: $1 million in the middle of a pandemic-caused budget deficit to rename schools instead of helping parents with distance learning seems like a horrible misuse of SFUSD resources. Be better SF School Board.

Some were surprised to see such names as Abraham Lincoln High School and Dianne Feinstein Elementary on the list. One Twitter user wrote: San Francisco school board is voting soon on whether to cancel Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln. Until yesterday our icon of goodness and hope. Another wrote that Senator Feinstein deserves better than this.

James Campbell, a professor of U.S. history at Stanford University, tells Yahoo Life that while he doesnt object to removing names or monuments that honor things that we as a society no longer regard as honorable, he does worry about how such decisions get made, and I also worry about where the process stops.

While Campbell says he wasnt privy to the deliberations of the San Francisco school board, offhand I have to say that the idea of removing the name of Abraham Lincoln from a public building seems not just ill-considered but profoundly ignorant, Campbell says. I don't use that word often  I almost never use it  but it applies here. If Lincoln is now beneath us, it's hard to imagine who is left to name a school after.

But others seemed to welcome the name changes. Nguyen Louie, a parent whose children attend Adolph Sutro Elementary in San Francisco  named after a former mayor of San Francisco in the late 1800s, who reportedlydiscriminated against Black people, and which is set to be renamed  told the San Francisco Chronicle: I think its important to do the right thing. ... We should not honor him with the name of our elementary school. Give us a chance to come up with our own new name. One we can be proud of.

One Twitter user wrote: People may think were erasing history... No, were just correcting it and fixing and redlining a few errors.

Bridget Ford, professor and chair of the history department at California State University East Bay, shared a similar opinion in a 2020 article about renaming schools in California. I dont think that by renaming a school were erasing history, Ford said to EdSource. Its not an erasure. There are many, many individuals in history whove done astounding things to improve American lives whove never been recognized. That, in its own way, is a kind of erasure. We should be lifting up and celebrating those people.

Campbell tells Yahoo Life that there are several reasons schools across the country have sought to rename themselves in recent years. The roiling of racial animosities by the Trump administration, the repeated examples of police killings of Black people, the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, the ongoing controversy over Confederate monuments, the deadly confrontation at Charlottesville  all these and other factors have contributed to the current public concern over naming.

But Campbell points out that its not enough to simply rename buildings and remove controversial monuments. If we truly wish to survive as a society  and as a diverse, multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual democratic society  then we need to have the courage to look squarely and honestly at our history, to own not only those elements of our past that are gracious and honorable but also those that are grievous and horrific.

Campbell says that the goal is not simply to conquer the memorial landscape, but to think deeply about our own complicity in systems of profound injustice and thereby to move forward to building a more just, more inclusive present and future.

He continues: If these kinds of confrontations with painful pasts serve that goal, then Im all for them. But if all we're doing is toppling a few monuments or sanding the names off the pediments of a few school buildings and then patting ourselves on the back for our own superior morality  well, then I want no part of it.

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[February 09, 2021] G2 Reveals Best Software Companies for 2021: GoCardless Earns Multiple Spots on Prestigious List

GoCardless, the leading fintech for recurring payments, today announced that it has been recognized as one of G2's (News - Alert) Best Software Companies for 2021. GoCardless placed 17th for Best Software in EMEA and received a #2 ranking in the category of Best Finance Product as part of G2's annual Best Software Awards. In both cases, GoCardless achieved a rare "Top 50" designation among the companies evaluated by G2. Akin to The People's Choice Awards for tech companies, G2's Best Software Awards rank the world's best software companies and products based on authentic, timely reviews from real users. Tech companies on the list have proven their commitment and value based on thousands of verified reviews. "GoCardless is being recognized on both the Best Software and Best Finance Product lists, achievements that can only be earned through the endorsement of users," said G2 CEO Godard Abel. G2 created the Best Software and Best Finance Product lists based on data from over 1 million authentic, verified customer reviews. These reviews were written and published between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020. "This isn't a subjective list based on a few opinions," explained Abel. "With the highest traffic and engagement, largest selection of products and services, and highest-quality data, G2 analyzes more than 4 million data points to determine which products and companies make the list." GoCardless earned its place on the list because GoCardless solutions make it simple to collet recurring and one-off payments from customers worldwide via bank debit schemes, including ACH debit in the US. Designed to support both small businesses and enterprises, GoCardless solutions help improve cash flow and more effectively track payments, while reducing international barriers, decreasing churn conversion risk and failed payments, and helping to achieve lower operational costs while simultaneously enabling businesses to get paid faster.



Andrew "AG" Gilboy, General Manager of North America for GoCardless, said, "We're thrilled about receiving this honor from G2, because it independently validates the success that our customers have achieved with GoCardless. We're focused on providing payment solutions that help businesses get paid easily. These customer reviews and this recognition are a validation that we offer a valuable solution and that we're on the right path." For more information, please reach out to PRforGoCardless@bospar.com.

Criteria: Winners were determined based on reviews left at G2.com between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020. All scores are calculated using G2's algorithms, including for Satisfaction and Market Presence, explained in detail here. Further information on methodology is available upon request. About GoCardless GoCardless is a global leader in recurring payments. The GoCardless global payments network and technology platform takes the pain out of getting paid for more than 55,000 businesses worldwide, from multinational corporations to small businesses. Each year GoCardless processes US$15 billion of payments across more than 30 countries. GoCardless is headquartered in the UK, with additional offices in Australia, France, Germany, and the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.gocardless.com and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @GoCardless. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209006047/en/

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More than 33,000 teachers are competing to fill 15,726 promotion vacancies advertised by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) last year.

The number excludes members of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), which has had a frosty relationship with the TSC.

Knut members were not considered for the promotions owing to a protracted disagreement between the union and TSC over the evaluation criteria.

The interviews will take place between today and February 19; before the hearing of a case in which the teachers union has sued the TSC chief executive, Nancy Macharia, for contempt of court starts the following week.

"The interviewees will not need to travel to Nairobi, but the commission will go out to all counties and meet shortlisted teachers there," said Mrs Macharia in a statement.

TSC also announced that it will affirmatively confirm all acting heads of institutions and acting deputy heads of institutions in all counties under arid and semi-arid lands.

Filed case

Two weeks ago, the commission also invited diploma holders to apply for 1,000 promotion slots.

The commission will promote the teachers based on the Career Progression Guidelines (CPGs) that Knut is opposed to and which leaves out its members.

Mrs Macharia said that the promotion of the 15,726 teachers will bring the total number of teachers promoted this year to over 90,000.

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Knut has filed a case under a certificate of urgency before the Employment and Labour Relations Court seeking to have Mrs Macharia cited for contempt and jailed over a previous court ruling regarding the implementation of the contentious CPGs.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection is listed as an interested party in the case.

Promoted teachers

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (Kusnet) have applied to be enjoined in the case.

The ruling on their plea will be heard on February 19, while the hearing of the case is set to begin on February 261. Knut secretary-general Wilson Sossion, refused to be drawn into the intricacies of the dispute.

"We have an active matter in court. While we are not opposed to promotions, it should be conducted in accordance to the law," he told the Nation.

Knut is seeking to have Mrs Macharia, the TSC and its chair jailed for six months "for disobeying the orders of this Honourable Court on July 12, 2019 directing the stay of the implementation of career progression guidelines".

Since the ruling was made by Justice Byram Ongaya, TSC has left Knut members out of pay increments and promotions as it no longer uses the Schemes of Service and Teachers Code of Regulations favoured by Knut and contained in their collective bargaining agreement.

It is not yet clear what would be the fate of the teachers promoted under the CPGs after the court case.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping (L) speaks after reviewing the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fleet in the South China Sea on April 12, 2018. (Li Gang/Xinhua via AP)

21 Percent of Chinese Sailors Stationed in the South China Sea Suffer From Mental Health Issues: Study

A recent study by the Naval Medical University in Shanghai found that about one-fifth of Chinas servicemen in the submarine force stationed in the South China Sea have psychological problems.

According to an analysis by Taiwanese military experts, submariners need to have very strong psychological health. However, problems have been reported that may be related to the frequent military exercises conducted by the Chinese regime. In addition, there may be problems with the psychological counseling provided to military personnel.

The study, published in the international journal Military Medicine on Jan. 7, found that among the 580 male participants, 21 percent of respondents were suffering from some degree of mental health issues, most often anxiety and paranoid ideation.

The extreme isolation submariners face could be part of the problem. The submarine environment entails prolonged isolation, which can involve 60 to 90 days of submerged cruising, which is exacerbated by the fact that China increased the number of cruising and sea maneuvers to strengthen protection of the South China Sea, the study said.

Beijing has territorial claims over most of the waterways covering the South China Sea, which were ruled as unlawful in a 2016 decision by an international tribunal. Several neighboring countries have competing claims in the waterways. Home to rich fishing grounds and potentially valuable natural resources, the South China Sea is also one of the worlds major shipping routes.

The regime has in recent years sought to bolster its claims in the strategic waterway by building military outposts on artificial islands and conducting military exercises. In addition, it has deployed coast guard ships and Chinese fishing boats to intimidate foreign vessels, block access to waterways, and seize shoals and reefs.

How Mentally Fit Are Chinas Submariners?

The researchers stated, This study is the first psychological survey on soldiers and officers in the submarine force in the South China Sea.

The study also explained, Previous studies have demonstrated that military maneuvers can produce psychological and physiological stress. Additionally, they are confined to tiny living spaces and exposed to manufactured air and artificial light.

One of Chinas man-made islands in the South China Sea, May 21, 2015. (U.S. Navy/Handout via Reuters)

The state-run Peoples Liberation Army Daily (PLA Daily) also reported psychological stress among submariners in a Sept. 1, 2020 article: A leader of the detachment said that in a previous psychological survey, several divers self-reported that they had psychological discomfort after performing the task.

Do Chinese Submariners Receive Psychological Counseling?

In September last year, Yunnan, Jiangxi and other provinces in the mainland reported incidents of young Chinese males being punished for resisting military service, according to a report by the Chinese-language Epoch Times. Such cases have become common in recent years. In the same month, a video circulated on the internet, showing soldiers singing and crying on the bus while they were en route to the Sino-Indian border.

Also, in 2020, the PLA Daily did something rare: it published articles on naval psychological counseling three times in one year.

However, there are differences between Chinas armed forces and those of other countries in terms of counseling for military servicemen, experts said. Dr. Ying-Yu Lin, an expert in the field of strategic and international affairs who has focused on the PLA, told Radio Free Asia (RFA) that there are priests on board U.S. military submarines and psychological counselors in Taiwans navy.

Lin said, conversely, the people performing relevant duties in the PLA are political commissars, whose duties include psychological operations; and can a political commissar relieve the pressure seamen feel, or effectively communicate with them? He also said the frequency of political training and gatherings under the PLA will only drag down morale.

Frequent Military Drills Cause Stress

Lee Zhen-shou, a researcher at the National Policy Foundation in Taiwan, suggested that frequent maneuvers in the South China Sea could have contributed to the psychological issues Chinese servicemen face.

Lee told RFA that enduring such long journeys is psychologically draining. He said that the U.S. military has different fleets take turns to perform operations so that officers and seamen can periodically go ashore and resume normal life.

According to public information, since July 2020, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has conducted intensive naval military exercises.

In recent months, for example, the CCP conducted military training in the waters southwest, south, and southeast of Hainan Island from Dec. 29, 2020 to Jan. 7, 2021. Following that, the Chinese military conducted another drill in the South China Sea from Jan. 27 to 30.

Earlier, the PLA conducted military exercises in parts of the South China Sea from Nov. 17 to 30, 2020.

In August 2020 alone, the CCP conducted at least 10 military exercises in the South China Sea, Yellow Sea, Bohai Sea, and East China Sea.

Prior to that, five-day military training exercises were held in the waters of the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on July 1, 2020.
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Deepfake detectors can be defeated, computer scientists show for the first time

Systems designed to detect deepfakes --videos that manipulate real-life footage via artificial intelligence--can be deceived, computer scientists showed for the first time at the WACV 2021 conference which took place online Jan. 5 to 9, 2021.

Researchers showed detectors can be defeated by inserting inputs called adversarial examples into every video frame. The adversarial examples are slightly manipulated inputs which cause artificial intelligence systems such as machine learning models to make a mistake. In addition, the team showed that the attack still works after videos are compressed.

"Our work shows that attacks on deepfake detectors could be a real-world threat," said Shehzeen Hussain, a UC San Diego computer engineering Ph.D. student and first co-author on the WACV paper. "More alarmingly, we demonstrate that it's possible to craft robust adversarial deepfakes in even when an adversary may not be aware of the inner workings of the machine learning model used by the detector."

In deepfakes, a subject's face is modified in order to create convincingly realistic footage of events that never actually happened. As a result, typical deepfake detectors focus on the face in videos: first tracking it and then passing on the cropped face data to a neural network that determines whether it is real or fake. For example, eye blinking is not reproduced well in deepfakes, so detectors focus on eye movements as one way to make that determination. State-of-the-art Deepfake detectors rely on machine learning models for identifying fake videos.

The extensive spread of fake videos through social media platforms has raised significant concerns worldwide, particularly hampering the credibility of digital media, the researchers point out. ""If the attackers have some knowledge of the detection system, they can design inputs to target the blind spots of the detector and bypass it," " said Paarth Neekhara, the paper's other first coauthor and a UC San Diego computer science student.

Researchers created an adversarial example for every face in a video frame. But while standard operations such as compressing and resizing video usually remove adversarial examples from an image, these examples are built to withstand these processes. The attack algorithm does this by estimating over a set of input transformations how the model ranks images as real or fake. From there, it uses this estimation to transform images in such a way that the adversarial image remains effective even after compression and decompression.??

The modified version of the face is then inserted in all the video frames. The process is then repeated for all frames in the video to create a deepfake video. The attack can also be applied on detectors that operate on entire video frames as opposed to just face crops.

The team declined to release their code so it wouldn't be used by hostile parties.

High success rate

Researchers tested their attacks in two scenarios: one where the attackers have complete access to the detector model, including the face extraction pipeline and the architecture and parameters of the classification model; and one where attackers can only query the machine a learning model to figure out the probabilities of a frame being classified as real or fake. In the first scenario, the attack's success rate is above 99 percent for uncompressed videos. For compressed videos, it was 84.96 percent. In the second scenario, the success rate was 86.43 percent for uncompressed and 78.33 percent for compressed videos. This is the first work which demonstrates successful attacks on state-of-the-art deepfake detectors.

"To use these deepfake detectors in practice, we argue that it is essential to evaluate them against an adaptive adversary who is aware of these defenses and is intentionally trying to foil these defenses," the researchers write. "We show that the current state of the art methods for deepfake detection can be easily bypassed if the adversary has complete or even partial knowledge of the detector."

To improve detectors, researchers recommend an approach similar to what is known as adversarial training: during training, an adaptive adversary continues to generate new deepfakes that can bypass the current state of the art detector; and the detector continues improving in order to detect the new deepfakes.

###

Adversarial Deepfakes: Evaluating Vulnerability of Deepfake Detectors to Adversarial Examples

*Shehzeen Hussain, Malhar Jere, Farinaz Koushanfar, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UC San Diego Paarth Neekhara, Julian McAuley, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, UC San Diego

This story has been published on: 2021-02-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
HENRIETTA Rushwaya, who is facing gold smuggling charges has been unanimously reinstated as the Zimbabwe Miners federations (ZMF) president during a meeting that was held by the national executive members.

Rushwaya had been suspended as the president of the federation following her arrest at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International airport on allegations of attempting to smuggle 6 kilograms of gold worth $333 0000 to Dubai.ZMF chief executive officer Wely Takavarasha confirmed her reinstatement to NewsDay.

He said, I can confirm that Henrietta Rushwaya has been unanimously reinstated as ZMF president. A national executive meeting has been held at Rainbow Towers hotel today and all members agreed that she be given back her position.

She is out on $100 000 bail.
The director of a Co Antrim roofing company has pleaded guilty on behalf of the firm to the corporate manslaughter of one of their employees Hugh Thomas Jack four years ago.

The 59-year-old father-of-five died following the accident at premises where he was working in Carryduff on the outskirts of Belfast on December 3, 2016.

Following the guilty plea by Stephen Heaney on behalf of H&M Engineering and Roofing, a charge directly accusing him of the unlawful killing of was withdrawn and 'allowed to remain on the books'.

While no details surrounding the death of the Scotsman were given during the short hearing before Downpatrick Crown Court, defence QC Frank O'Donoghue apologised on behalf of Mr Heaney and the Ballymena Company. Mr O'Donoghue said the 52-year-old company director wished him to publically apologise and acknowledge the death of Mr Jack which obviously had been very traumatic for his immediate and surrounding family. Counsel added that Mr Heaney and Mr Jack had worked closely together for many years and his death has also obviously significantly impacted on his client who wanted at this stage to express his regret and understanding of the seriousness of the matter. In addition to the corporate manslaughter charge Mr Heaney pleaded on behalf of H&M Engineering and Roofing Specialists Ltd of Hillview House, Hillview Street, Ballymena, to five breaches in Health and Safety Regulations by the firm. Judge Geoffrey Miller QC, sitting in Belfast, who asked for written submissions and other reports on the case, adjourned sentencing until next month.
Letters: In Louisiana, the 'haves' working their way to front of the line

So far as we know, only two former British prime ministers have favoured a united Ireland. These were Alec Douglas-Home (pronounced Hume) and Harold Wilson. The paucity of such champions of severing the Union at the highest level of political life suggests that this is almost an eccentric idea that great political minds baulk at.

Logical as it might seem to some that Britain should just be rid of the burden and embarrassment of governing Northern Ireland, whenever the idea occurs to a senior politician there are always plenty of others around to kill it off.

In 1998, during the talks towards the Good Friday Agreement, Sinn Fein tried to insist that Britain should "act as a persuader" for Irish unity and Tony Blair refused. British prime ministers might not have cherished the Union, but few have considered it even possible to dispense with it.

One was Harold Wilson, who thought in 1971 that the two parts of Ireland might be given 15 years to get used to the idea and that, in the interim, Britain would ease them towards concluding arrangements.

When back in office three years later, he berated the Ulster loyalists as "spongers", but he made no further move to promote a united Ireland. Perhaps he realised that he simply couldn't and there was no point in trying.

A modern European nation can't simply divest itself of a chunk of territory and its population if only a minority portion of that population wants it to.

Douglas-Home urged Ted Heath in 1972 not to impose direct rule without a clear programme for nudging us into a united Ireland and the timeframe he had in mind seems to have been months rather than years.

Both former prime ministers had, of course, been motivated by the apparently intractable challenge of bringing violence to an end through agreement.

Northern Ireland looked like a problem that was never going to go away. This seemed even more pressing after Bloody Sunday, which nearly wrote off any prospect of the wider Catholic population, which did not support the Provos, ever again putting faith in Britain's ability to manage the crisis.

Until then, the demand of the civil rights movement and the SDLP had been that Britain should intervene and teach the unionists to govern inclusively.

The premiss at the heart of such a demand was that Britain was politically more mature and more able than the Unionist Party. That idea took a total trashing when paratroopers murdered civilians in Derry and British ministers and diplomats rushed to provide them with cover. It had seemed for a time, as John Hume observed, that for many a united Ireland was now the only conceivable solution. But that horrific level of disaffection was not sustained.

The Irish government after direct rule urged the British to make a united Ireland the goal of policy and the British refused, but, even so, northern nationalists in the SDLP - the largest nationalist party then - were willing to enter negotiations on a solution short of that.

Had the majority really thought that it was "a united Ireland or nothing", Gerry Fitt, Paddy Devlin and John Hume would have had to represent that position and would have had Irish government support in doing so.

If prime ministers find breaking the Union difficult, but not always impossible to contemplate, then it remains possible that a current or future holder of that office might return to the idea, if the old problems of division and dissension here seem ultimately intractable.

And the last week has made it seem so again.

A recent article by Kevin Rooney in Spiked argues that Northern Ireland is a vulnerability that hinders Britain from getting the fullest advantage from Brexit and exercising its sovereignty.

He writes: "Brexit has demonstrated that the Union with Northern Ireland is not only a denial of national sovereignty to the Irish people, but also a limit to the sovereignty of the British people."

Now, what if that idea occurred to Boris Johnson? It would enable him to pass off a severance of Northern Ireland from the Union as an act of generosity, or tough love, and, at the same time, a more robust underpinning of Brexit and sovereignty.

If any prime minister was to be so reckless then surely the most likely is the tousle-mopped chappie who holds that office today.

Johnson is, however, Minister of the Union. It's likely that he only adopted that title to impress the DUP with a level of commitment which he has, from their perspective, already undermined.

He would have to find a mechanism for breaking the Union. An all-UK referendum? After all, if Scotland and Northern Ireland are entitled to leave the Union, shouldn't England have the same right?

And the DUP has insisted that the referendum on Brexit was an all-UK referendum and that the majority here against it is irrelevant. By the same argument, a majority here for retaining the Union might also be undermined.

I am speculating here on what a truly reckless prime minister might come up with. For now, something else holds Johnson back. He has pledged himself to denying a referendum on independence to Scotland. That is another shallow and senseless position to take, since it will only enrage Scots further and increase the demand for independence. What's he going to do? Send in the Army?

But while he holds to that insistence on keeping Scotland, he can not trifle with the idea of losing Northern Ireland - no matter how attractive that idea is made by harder and yet harder Brexiteers whispering in one ear and the DUP boring him through the other.

Making the idea potentially more attractive still comes the claim from Professor Vernon Bogdanor, a constitutional expert, that Britain would be in breach of the Act of Union if it made a trade deal that excluded Northern Ireland, which it would have to do if it agreed to standards or regulations which diverged from those of the European Union which are binding here.

That means that we could see the Supreme Court striking down a trade deal with the United States. We'd then be back to an all-UK backstop - if the EU would agree to it - and the only alternative would be somehow getting Northern Ireland out of the Union, or going back to the discarded idea of a land border. Johnson may soon have reason to be as exasperated with Northern Ireland as Wilson and Douglas-Home were.

It would be tactically wise of the DUP not to add to that exasperation.
Despite the challenges, due to the current circumstances, Radisson Hotel Group has started moving towards normality with a host of expansion and opening announcements over the past months.

From the first Radisson RED in the region to making history with the appointment of the worlds first female Saudi General Manager in the hospitality industry, Radisson Hotel Group looks back on a year of mixed emotions and many great achievements.

Looking back at 2020, Radisson Hotel Group has announced more than 40 new hotel signings across EMEA, five of which comprising 1,500 keys fall within the Middle East region. With that in mind, Radisson Hotel Group is confident that travel will continue to rebound, and more capital will be invested in the industry from both the private and public sectors.

While customer preferences, financial markets, and real estate dynamics may evolve, the group continues to put their owners and guests at the heart of its initiatives. While many hotel groups have put their development plans on hold, Radisson Hotel Group and its shareholders have remained committed towards their ambitions. The group remains focused on its mission to be recognised as one of the top three hotel brands in the world and the brand of choice for owners, guests, and talent. The recently announced signings re-affirm the groups commitment to its owners, employees, guests, and partners and further strengthens its global scale of over 1,100 hotels in operation and another 300 in the pipeline.

Elie Milky, Vice President Business Development Middle East, Cyprus, Greece and Pakistan, said: Moving forward we aim to continue expanding our brand architecture covering all product types and hospitality models as we strengthen our presence across the Middle East, primarily through conversions. We have a very proactive and engaging approach with our partners and investors, and we believe in building long-standing relationships with our owners based on trust and responsibility. Our growth journey continues across sub-markets and key owners where we are selectively targeting high profile developments and, where available, benefiting from the tourism funds with some of our major partners where we could add value.

With the recent launch of the Radisson Individuals affiliation, the group aims to respond to the evolving demands of the modern market for both hotel owners and guests by improving further its conversions proposition. Allowing regional hotel brands and independent operations seeking to explore additional distribution channels and/or co-branding options, Radisson Individuals is an ideal first step for such hotels with strong service scores who wish to remain independent or who may be considering transitioning to a global brand one day.

Due to the increasing demand for spacious offerings and the extended stay product, Radisson Hotel Group aims to expand its serviced apartments portfolio even further not only in the Middle East but globally. Over the past months, this hospitality model has proven to be very resilient and an attractive asset proposition to investors which has further strengthened the groups commitment to this product offering.

Moving forward, the Middle East remains a key focus for Radisson Hotel Groups global strategy as it is set to reinforce its position as a global leader across the region. The region currently has 73 hotels, resorts and serviced apartments in operation and 38 under development. Contributing to 50 per cent of the groups Middle East portfolio, Radisson currently operates over 20 hotels, resorts and serviced apartments with over 3,500 keys in Saudi Arabia alone  with a pipeline set to double the portfolio by 2025.

The groups aggressive conversion strategy has yielded results as Radisson aims to open six properties across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and two hotels within the UAE in 2021. From the first airport hotel in Saudi Arabia located in Riyadh to the first Radisson for the UAE located in Dubai, Radisson Hotel Group continues to further strengthen the position of its brands within the region, especially during these unprecedented times. - TradeArabia News Service
Saudi officials are working to overhaul the countrys unpredictable judicial system by the end of this year, partly to encourage long deterred by the perceived arbitrariness of the kingdoms courts.

Authorities are working to codify a system that has historically granted judges wide discretion to issue rulings based on individual interpretations of Islamic law. This discretionary arrangement has created risk for both Saudi and because it can lead to conflicting rulings from different judges even in similar cases.

While legislation will still be rooted in Islamic law, the codification will contribute to the predictability of rulings and limit individualism in issuing verdicts, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, said in a statement published late Monday by the official Saudi Press Agency. Some of the changes will aid women in particular, he added.

This could be quite significant, said Kristin Diwan, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. This lack of predictability is a real problem as MBS looks to attract more foreign investment and to lure more foreign businesses and tourists to the kingdom.

Authorities are preparing four new regulations to govern civil transactions, criminal law, rules of evidence and personal status or family law, the prince said. The news is the latest in a series of dramatic economic and social reforms launched by the 35-year-old crown prince aimed at modernising the kingdom. It fits into his Vision 2030 agenda which aims to diversify the away from oil and attract foreign talent and investment to the kingdom, and comes as pitches itself as a destination for business headquarters.
OREM, Utah, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With increasingly sophisticated tactics and no shortage of cyber tools, hackers continue to compromise organizations.

"Businessesespecially those with remote locations and large networks in retail, hospitality, and healthcaremake irresistible targets to threat actors for several reasons: there is more exposure to cyber risks and less awareness of complex and evolving threats," says SecurityMetrics SOC Operations Director, Matt Heffelfinger.

Organizations with remote locations that are part of an extended network face additional security risks. Remote locations traditionally lack security visibility and have therefore become easy targets among threat actors.

Heffelfinger continues, "An effective IT team would need a mix of specific skills, threat intelligence capabilities, and incident response resources to adequately prevent or respond to a cybersecurity incident. IT teams have a big advantage if they can view their data security through a wider lens than endpoint protection, a risk audit or vulnerability scan alone."

If you are a mid-enterprise business in retail, healthcare, or hospitality and need a partner for extended network security, the SecurityMetrics Threat Intelligence Center has innovative solutions to help you monitor the security of your network, report on attack surfaces, and act on vulnerabilities. One of these solutions is SecurityMetrics Pulse:

Pulse is a managed security product that monitors business locations using sensors, which are placed on and around attack surfaces.

Pulse helps businesses see, understand, and act on the root causes of their vulnerabilities.

Through the SecurityMetrics Threat Intelligence Center, SecurityMetrics customers are offered a suite of integrated solutions and products backed by decades of security audit insight to help them protect their attack surfaces. With a focus on continuous improvement and innovation, these products and services include:

Dynamic security data collection

Monitored firewall services

Endpoint protection

Regular asset testing

Security Operations Center (SOC) data analysis

Regular threat intelligence reports

1:1 support from security analysts

To learn more about the SecurityMetrics Threat Intelligence Center, please visit the Pulse webpage .

For press or other inquiries, contact Meagan Elguera at [email protected].

About SecurityMetrics

SecurityMetrics helps customers close data security and compliance gaps to avoid data breaches. They provide managed data security services and are certified to help customers achieve the highest data security and compliance standards.

As an Approved Scanning Vendor, Qualified Security Assessor, Certified Forensic Investigator, and Managed Security provider SecurityMetrics guides organizations through data security testing and compliance mandates (PCI, HIPAA, GDPR). With over 15 years of forensic investigations, penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and compliance audits, SecurityMetrics has tested over 1 million systems for vulnerabilities. The privately held company is headquartered in Orem, Utah where it maintains a Security Operations Center (SOC) and 24/7 multilingual technical support.

SOURCE SecurityMetrics

Related Links

http://www.securitymetrics.com


Celebrants of the Lunar New Year have received an unexpected gift from 'Your Boy in Hanoi' a.ka. US ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink, who dropped a surprise rap to mark the occasion.

A video of the song has set the local internet alight, drawing admiration and some cringing from those who've watched it.

Kritenbrink, a career diplomat with previous postings in Kuwait, China and Japan, is seen roaming the streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City wearing headphones and rhyming a Tet message in English and Vietnamese as he prepares his entry for a popular rap competition.

Celebrants of the Lunar New Year have received an unexpected gift from 'Your Boy in Hanoi' a.ka. US ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink (centre), who dropped a surprise rap to mark the occasion

A video of the song, which features Vietnamese rapper Wowy (right) has set the local internet alight, drawing admiration and some cringing from those who've watched it

The Lunar New Year, known locally at Tet, is the most important annual holiday for Vietnamese and is centred around family gatherings, which will be more modest this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It also has enormous significance in relations between Washington and Hanoi, as North Vietnam launched what became known as the 'Tet offensive' over the holiday in 1968, catching the US-backed southern Saigon government unawares.

Kritenbrink takes a lighter approach to the occasion, rapping: 'Tet in Vietnam is tops' while he sips coffee and samples local delicacies with Vietnamese rapper Wowy.

The song includes several nods to holiday traditions including cleaning the house and buying cherry or peach blossoms and features Kritenbrink with a duster, rapping: 'Clean the house now, friends are on the way'.

The three-minute video, produced by culture magazine Vietcetera has been viewed, liked and shared thousands of times since it was uploaded on Tuesday.

Most praised it as 'lovely' or 'fun' - but others were less complimentary.

Kritenbrink, a career diplomat with previous postings in Kuwait, China and Japan, is seen roaming the streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City wearing headphones and rhyming a Tet message in English and Vietnamese as he prepares his entry for a popular rap competition

The three-minute video, produced by culture magazine Vietcetera has been viewed, liked and shared thousands of times since it was uploaded on Tuesday

'Has the US State Department turned into a rapper department?' asked Phuong Nguyen in a post on the US embassy's official Facebook page.

Stephen Turban seemed to disagree: 'Unbelievable. Truly unbelievable. A work that will be remembered for generations to come,' he wrote jokingly on YouTube.

'It's so cuteeeee,' Huyen Nguyen wrote underneath the video, while YouTube user Minh Thi Pham said it might be her favourite video of the year.

After the decades-long war between the US and Vietnam, relations between the two powers were formally reset when then-President Barack Obama visited in 2016 and lifted a long-standing embargo.

Trade tensions have recently ramped up, however, after Washington accused Hanoi of currency manipulation.

None of that appeared to silence the ambassador.

'From my shores to your shores, our friendship endures,' he rapped.

'US and Vietnam, from now to forever, we're trusted partners, prospering together.'

At one point in the video, American-Vietnamese rapper BinZ congratulates Kritenbrink on the song, telling him: 'Good job!', before the diplomat signs off his rap with a cheerful: 'Chuc mung nam moi [happy new year] from your boy in Hanoi!'
Tom Holland has said Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield will not be appearing in the next Spider-Man film.

The previous actors to play Peter Parker had been heavily rumoured to make appearances in the currently untitled superhero film, but Holland, 24, who has played the role since 2016, said this is not the case.

He told Esquire magazine: No, no, they will not be appearing in this film.

The star seems pretty certain about this popular MCU theory. https://t.co/zyad5Gh8K6  Esquire (@esquire) February 9, 2021

Unless they have hidden the most massive piece of information from me, which I think is too big of a secret for them to keep from me.

But as of yet, no.

Itll be a continuation of the Spider-Man movies that weve been making.

Holland has previously been accused of sharing significant spoilers about the Marvel films, so he said he is given heavily redacted or misleading scripts so he cannot inadvertently reveal plot details.

He said: They do it all the time.

In (Endgame) Robert Downey Jrs funeral scene, for the longest time I was under the impression that it was a wedding.

Im 100% sure that theyre still tricking me.

Holland has a reputation in the Marvel universe for divulging details about forthcoming films at inopportune moments.aI will always argue that I didnata spoil anything, he says, aand Marvel and Sony will always argue that I did.a https://t.co/uqXRELUGq7 pic.twitter.com/S9ziDfr7RQ  Esquire (@esquire) February 9, 2021

Holland said this is also the case on the new film, joking: I honestly have no idea what this film is about and Im eight weeks into shooting it.

He added: I will always argue that I didnt (spoil anything) and Marvel and Sony will always argue that I did.
A month-long investigation into the origins of COVID-19 has dismissed suggestions that it could have been introduced to humans through a laboratory leak, finding it was most likely to have been transmitted through an intermediate animal host and may have been spread through frozen food.

The World Health Organisation and Chinese investigators on Tuesday announced several key findings including that the virus was likely to have been active outside the Wuhan market for weeks before cases were first detected. The team raised the possibility that the virus could have been present in other regions or countries before the first cases were reported in Wuhan.

World Health Organisation investigators Marion Koopmans, right, and Peter Ben Embarek, pictured during the press conference in Wuhan. Credit:AP

But the zoonotic origin of the virus remains a mystery, with investigators finding no clear link to bats, pangolins or other wild animals, while calling for more samples to be taken from felines and other species.

China team lead Dr Liang Wannian, a senior official at the National Health Commission, said mortality rates in Wuhan show there was not likely to be a large spread of the disease or unidentified respiratory pneumonia between October and December 2019.
Head of the National Committee for the coordination of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, doctor Valeriu Gheorghita, informs that the total number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 until February 8, with Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, has reached 661,062, with 430,776 people who got the first dose and 230,286 people who got the second dose as well.

"Regarding the balance of vaccinations on February 8, the total number of Pfizer and Moderna doses administered until February 8 is 891,348 doses, and the total number of people vaccinated until February 8, with Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, respectively, is 661,062, with 430,776 of whom received the first dose only and 230,286 the second dose. Basically, there are persons who have completed the vaccination scheme. The total number of Pfizer doses administered starting with December 27 is approximately 855,894 corresponding to a number of 625,608 persons, and the total number of Moderna doses administered since February 4 is about 35,454, obviously to the same number of people," Valeriu Gheorghita said at the Victoria Governmental Palace on Tuesday.

He noted that the number of doses administered in the past 24 hours was 35,026, with 4,885 people having received the first dose and 30,141 the second dose.The head of CNCAV added that by February 8, 409,564 people have been vaccinated under the second stage of the vaccination campaign."This means that 80.9pct of the vulnerable persons, namely persons with chronic diseases, persons over 65, persons from the medical-social and residential centres and persons who cannot leave their homes (...)," Gheorghita explained.He specified that, regarding the number of persons serving essential activities, there are 78,018 who have already got the vaccine, which represents 19.04pct of the total number of vaccinated persons starting with January 15.

AGERPRES
Sovos is uniquely positioned to deliver a complete solution for modern tax -- including tax determination, continuous transaction control compliance and tax reporting -- to support companies doing business all over the world.

Global tax software provider Sovos today announced that Ruth Fornell has joined the company in the newly created role of chief operations officer. Fornell comes to Sovos with extensive experience leading global teams, most recently as a general manager at payment systems company ACI Worldwide. Previously, she held numerous leadership roles during more than 20 years with banking and commerce software provider NCR Corporation. As chief operations officer, Fornell will lead Sovos regional teams to ensure a consistent global customer experience fueled by local expertise as the company embarks on its next stage of growth.

Following new investments from Hg and TA Associates in 2020, Sovos is advancing its mission to Solve Tax for Good amid the converging digital transformation of government, technology and business. The addition of the chief operations officer role augments the Sovos leadership team as the company pursues continued geographic expansion, an expanded partner ecosystem and rapid response to accelerating tax and regulatory change. Sovos also recently seated its new board, including previous and new members from Hg, which first invested in the company in 2016, and TA Associates, which joined as an investor last year.

Sovos is uniquely positioned to deliver a complete solution for modern tax -- including tax determination, continuous transaction control compliance and tax reporting -- to support companies doing business all over the world, said Andy Hovancik, CEO, Sovos. Ruths experience in global operations and enterprise software combined with her passion for building high-performance teams are a great fit for Sovos and this moment in our growth.

As executive vice president and general manager of retail/consumer payment solutions at ACI Worldwide, Fornell led a global team that defined, developed and brought to market innovative payment solutions for banking and financial intermediary customers. Earlier, she was senior vice president and general manager of professional services at NCR, where she led a $600 million business focused on digital services and channel transformation, as well as a team of 3,800 employees across 58 countries. In her new role, Fornell will provide strategic, operational and programmatic direction to Sovos worldwide sales, demand marketing, client operations and customer success teams.

Throughout my career, I have thrived in situations where I can help cultivate and drive diverse teams toward strategic change and growth, said Fornell. At Sovos, I can already see Ive joined a company that's focused on delivering results for our customers and fulfilling the clear global vision to remove the friction from tax compliance so businesses prosper and communities thrive.

Sovos also announced today the seating of its new board, which includes:



Jonathan Boyes, partner, Hg

Tjada DOyen McKenna, CEO, Mercy Corps

Hythem El-Nazer, managing director, TA Associates

Dave Habiger, president and CEO, J.D. Power

Andy Hovancik, CEO, Sovos

Alexander Johnson, principal, Hg

Morgan Seigler, managing director, TA Associates

Mohit Talwar, senior principal, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan

Bob White, CFO, Sovos

Gero Wittemann, partner, Hg

Jonathan Wulkan, principal, Hg

Learn more about Sovos global leadership here.

About Sovos

Sovos was built to solve the complexities of the digital transformation of tax, with complete, connected offerings for tax determination, continuous transaction control compliance, tax reporting and more. The company supports more than 8,000 customers, including half of the Fortune 500, operating in over 70 countries. Its SaaS products and proprietary Sovos S1 Platform integrate with a wide variety of business applications and government compliance processes. Sovos has employees throughout North America, Latin America and Europe, and is owned by Hg and TA Associates. For more information visit http://www.sovos.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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 arguments constituted Mr. Trumps first sustained defense since the violence of Jan. 6 and came on the same day that Senate leaders agreed to rules for a swift impeachment trial. The proceedings are set to begin today with a debate and a vote on the constitutionality question.

In a memo, House impeachment managers rebutted the assertions of Mr. Trumps lawyers by saying, There is no January exception to the Constitution that allows presidents to abuse power in their final days without accountability. If a simple majority of senators agree to move forward after the debate, as expected, the prosecution and the defense will have up to 16 hours each to present their cases starting at noon on Wednesday.

Timeline: Heres how Mr. Trumps second impeachment has unfolded so far, and what may be yet to come.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : A Delhi court has granted bail to three men, who were arrested for allegedly indulging in violence, attacking police personnel and breaking barricades during the tractor rally against three farm laws on the Republic Day, saying that there was no specific involvement of the trio.

The Delhi Police told the court that "three rioters -- Lovepreet Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Jaswinder Singh -- were on a motorcycle during the violence". They were arrested, their mobiles phones were confiscated and sent to the forensic science laboratory, police said, adding that the "Investigation is at an initial stage so the bail must not be granted." Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Vinod Kumar Meena, however, noted that the police did not mention the role of the accused anywhere in their reply. "As per reply of the IO there is no case in which accused were having any previous involvement," the court added.

The court also observed that there is no specific involvement of the accused in any violence or breaking of the barricading. It was also noted in the order dated February 8 that the accused are relatively young and there are no previous involvements.

"No further recovery is to be sought. Mobile phones which have been recovered have already been sent to the FSL. No fruitful purpose would be served by keeping the accused in custody," the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate observed while granting bail.

Accused were let off on bail on furnishing personal and surety bond of Rs 20,000 each subject to the various conditions, including to not leave the country without permission of the court, not threaten witnesses or complainant or involve in any other offence in future.

Advocate Amarveer Singh Bhullar and Vikas Yadav, counsels for three accused, submitted that the accused were on motorcycle, were part of langer sewa and not involved in any case of violence as alleged by the prosecution.

They said that the trio have been falsely implicated in the case and that there were no specific allegations against the accused person.

On January 26, protesting farmers had clashed with the police during the tractor rally against three farm laws. During the clash, a section of protesters had entered the Red Fort and hoisted Sikh flag. So far, the police have arrested 127 people.

A total of eight people arrested in the violence case have been let out on bail till now.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
ROME, FEB 9 - Good news on COVID vaccines from the EU is on the way, premier-designate Mario Draghi told political parties in government-formation talks, sources told ANSA Tuesday. Vaccination campaigns that have been dogged by delays will soon be sped up thanks to contracts with producers, he said. On the domestic front, Draghi said moves would be made to speed jab delivery by working on logistics. Draghi added that teachers should get the jab before other categories. (ANSA).
New Delhi:

73 per cent Indians have confidence in their government, highest in the world. According to a report published in Forbes magazine, quoting OECD's Government at a Glance report, people's faith in Modi Government surpasses every other government in the world.



With 73 per cent India sits firmly at the top, while Justin Trudeau's government comes second having earned the confidence of 62 per cent of its people. Turkey (58%), Russia (58%) and Germany also secured spots in top 5, the data quoted by report indicated.



In the United States, where fake news, scandals and allegations about Russian collision are still dogging the White House, only 30 per cent of people have confidence in their government. In the United Kingdom which is attempting to negotiate an amicable divorce from the European Union, trust stands at 41 per cent, Forbes report said.



Government trust levels are generally determined by whether or not people consider their government stable and reliable, if it's able to protect its citizens from risk and whether it can effectively deliver public services.

Trust in government serves as a driving force for a country's economic development, makes governmental decisions more effective and leads to greater compliance with regulations and the tax system.

Credit: Forbes/Statista

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Shandong Province in China prohibits citizens from publishing audios and videos of sermons and preachings from online gatherings and services, a report revealed.

According to China Aid, the Three-Self Patriotic Association, and the Christian Council of Qingdao City published a notice on January 29 that relates to the banning of live Christian broadcasts and the releasing of audios/videos from preaching services in Shandong Province.

Just a few days ago, a notice to ban Christian believers in the Shandong Province from broadcasting Christian activities online was issued by the United Front Work Department.

The published notice clearly stated that groups should follow the unified policies of the United Front Work Department on regulating internet public opinion security, especially in the Christian sector. In order to prevent the exploitation of illegal missionary activities on the internet, they banned all publications of video/audio preachings in the post-pandemic period, according to the International Christian Concern.

Shandong Qingdao's authorities claim that the banning of all Christian churches and gatherings, including the suspension of all church activities, was due to the latest COVID-19 outbreak in various regions, and imposing stricter measures will combat the spread of the virus

The draft for "Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services" was released way back in September 2018 by China's State Administration for Religious Affairs. It states that:

"[N]o organizations nor individuals are permitted to [produce] live broadcasts by means of texts, pictures, audios, and videos on the internet, etc., including writing religious texts, worship services, mass, baptisms, and religious activities."

After the draft's release in 2018, internet platforms and chatrooms are said to have received warnings for the use of "sensitive" religious words such as "Amen" and "Jesus."

Also on February 23, last year, the Chinese authorities already requested Christians to stop their live preaching activities on the internet as well as private gatherings and services.

Although they mentioned in their request that they will be "appropriately considerate [of] the beliefs and feelings of believers, and actively guide them in other ways without gathering together," it did not clearly state anything on what methods could be used to guide Christians while they are under restrictions.

Christians around the world, including China, are exerting effort in combating the spread of the coronavirus by cooperating and following lockdown protocols. They suspended their regular church gatherings and instead switched to live preachings on the internet to prevent the further spread of the virus.

Despite Chinese Christians' cooperation with the protocols, the United Front Work Department of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee still targets Christian believers in the province by adding more and more restrictions to their religious activities.

As Christianity continues to flourish in China, the government is imposing new and stricter measures to crack down on the spread of Christianity --- hence, the banning of audio and video preachings online since it is easier for Christians and seekers to access sermons from the church with the use of the internet.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) only promotes state-approved Three Self churches as they bring no threat to the country because of their alliance. Despite that, these churches also face the brunt of the communist regime's anti-God actions.
 CCRC releases a "Reintegration Agenda for the 117th Congress" | Main | New California Committee on the Revision of the Penal Code issues report urging sweeping sentencing reforms 

February 9, 2021

Coalition of civil rights groups calls on Prez Biden to commute all federal death sentences and halt capital activity

As reported in this AP piece, "civil rights and advocacy organizations are calling on the Biden administration to immediately halt federal executions after an unprecedented run of capital punishment under President Donald Trump and to commute the sentences of inmates on federal death row." Here is more (with links from the original):

The organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and 80 others, sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Tuesday morning, urging that he act immediately on your promise of ensuring equality, equity, and justice in our criminal legal system. Biden has been systematically undoing many Trump administration policies on climate, immigration and ethics rules. Although he is against the death penalty and has said he will work to end its use, Biden has not commented on what he will do with Trumps unprecedented push for the federal death penalty. The Bureau of Prisons carried out more executions under Trump, 13, than any previous president.... The groups say Biden should step in immediately and take action, as his administration works to establish priorities, address systemic racism and overhaul parts of the criminal justice system. In the letter, the civil rights groups said the use of the death penalty continues to perpetuate patterns of racial and economic oppression endemic to the American criminal legal system.... Any criminal legal system truly dedicated to the pursuit of justice should recognize the humanity of all those who come into contact with it, not sanction the use of a discriminatory practice that denies individuals their rights, fails to respect their dignity, and stands in stark contrast to the fundamental values of our democratic system of governance, the letter said.... The groups told Biden he has the power to dismantle the death chamber building at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana  the small building where the 13 executions were carried out in six months  in addition to rescinding the Justice Departments execution protocols and a regulation that no longer required federal death sentences to be carried out by lethal injection and cleared the way to use other methods like firing squads and poison gas. They also said Biden could prohibit prosecutors from seeking death sentences and commute the sentences of the several dozen inmates on federal death row. Far-reaching steps by Biden, the letter said, would also preclude any future president from restarting federal executions. Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama, halted federal executions but never cleared death row or sought to strike the death penalty from U.S. statutes. That left the door open for Trump to resume them. We  recognize that if there is one thing that the waning months of the Trump presidency also made clear, it is the horrendous implications of simply having an informal federal death penalty moratorium in place, it said. Cynthia Roseberry, the ACLUs deputy director of policy for the justice division, said she knows that Biden has a lot on his plate and that he should be given some time to act on the death penalty. But she said the groups wanted to assure Biden that there is broad based support to be bold on the issue and that some dont require complicated policy initiatives or new legislation. These things, Roseberry said, can be accomplished with the stroke of the pen.

The full ACLU press release about this letter is available at this link, and the full letter from the coaltion is available at this link.

I noted here in response to last month's similar letter by 37 Democratic members of Congress that the call for commuting all of federal death row came with a request to "ensur[e] that each person is provided with an adequate and unique re-sentencing process." This new call here to "immediately commuting the sentences of all individuals under federal sentence of death" does not alternative sentencing with any specificity, but it obviously avoids advocating that Prez Biden converting death sentences into life without parole sentences. This is yet another reminder that modern adocacy against LWOP sentences, which often calls LWOP just a death sentence by another name, serves to complicate a bit advocacy against capital punishment.

February 9, 2021 at 10:29 AM | Permalink

Comments

Given commentary during the campaign (regarding the push to complete as many executions as possible before Trump left office) I am actually somewhat surprised Biden has not already done so. It would be easy, give him some good press for a bit and I don't see it being particularly politically costly (the people who would complain, such as myself, weren't going to support him anyway).

Actually, I suppose that could be a reason not to do it right now. He can halt progress toward any more executions without commuting any sentences for the time being then grant a general DP commutation during the next election cycle.

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Feb 9, 2021 7:03:32 PM

As I've pointed out previously on this blog, I really doubt it wouldn't be "particularly politically costly" to implement this proposal. Obviously, Biden's a savvy operator, and he's been in the game longer than most, so if his cost/benefit analysis had come to the same result, he would've done it already. But I see the proposal as being quite fraught with peril.

If nothing elseas I've notedfederal death row currently includes both Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Dylann Roof. The delicate political nature of those two cases pretty much goes without saying. Moreover, those were DP cases brought under Obama, so in essence, Biden would be undoing the work of his most recent Democratic predecessor, but also the very person with whom he served as VP. Finally, both of those cases are still on appeal, and at least for Tsarnaev, there's a possibility of mooting the DP issue via DOJ maneuvering at SCOTUS.

I'm quite skeptical that Biden is merely biding (couldn't resist!) his time to save the DP commutations for another election cycle. He probably views that move as a last resort. The path of least resistance for him is to implement a moratoriumexpress or implicitwhile also hoping/pushing for a lasting solution via Congress, i.e., repeal of some kind. Obviously SCOTUS is going to be of no help absent court packing and/or the untimely demise of at least two reactionary Justices.

Posted by: hardreaders | Feb 9, 2021 11:21:04 PM

It is pretty easy to write the attack ad if Biden commutes the death sentence of Dylan Roof.

Posted by: William C Jockusch | Feb 10, 2021 7:24:21 AM

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Dramatic footage has emerged of police arresting two shirtless teenagers allegedly linked to crime spree and fatal crash.

Police video shows cops jumping fences in Rasmussen, Townsville, on Monday night, arresting one of the 18-year-olds on his bed and the other in a backyard.

The pair were allegedly travelling in a stolen Hyundai sedan allegedly involved in a pursuit which allegedly killed a motorcyclist on Friday night.

Aspiring policewoman Jennifer Board, 22, was killed instantly while riding her motorcycle, and a 25-year-old man has been charged with murder over her death.

Police allege Christoper Hughes, 25, from Bushland Beach, was behind the wheel of a Holden Statesman which collided with the Hyundai and crossed onto the wrong side of the road.

Jennifer Board (pictured) had got a learner's permit to ride her motorcycle three months before the tragic crash

Two teenagers were arrested (pictured) in Rasmussen on Monday for their alleged involvement in a horror three-vehicle crash that killed Jennifer Board

The men arrested on Monday had allegedly been on the run for three days after allegedly going on a crime spree to Cairns and back following the crash, Townsville Bulletin reported.

The two men allegedly broke into at least two homes in Mt Sheridan and White Rock, Cairns, evaded police at Parramatta Park and returned south.

Gregory Clubb, 18, the alleged driver of the stolen vehicle, has been charged with seven counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, three counts each of burglary and stealing and two counts of dangerous driving.

Layne Newman, 18, has been charged with four counts each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing and two counts of attempted burglary.

Police have also arrested another alleged passenger of the Hyundai, a 17-year-old Aitkenvale girl, who was charged on Sunday with five counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count of stealing.

The men arrested (pictured) on Monday had allegedly been on the run for three days after allegedly going on a crime spree to Cairns and back following the crash

Aspiring policewoman Jennifer Board (pictured), 22, was killed instantly while riding her motorcycle, and a 25-year-old man has been charged with murder over her death

Clubb and Newman will appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Hughes has been behind bars since his arrest and did not apply for bail at the same court on Tuesday when his case was mentioned, Townsville Bulletin reported.

His lawyer Jarred Mace asked for the case to be adjourned and asked for a brief of police evidence.

Since the death of Jennifer Board, police have announced a special task force to combat young criminals and high-risk repeat property offenders in Townsville.

The taskforce would be 'solely' focused on high-visibility policing in key areas and would target a small cohort of repeat offenders in the region who showed 'no regard' for anyone, Brett Schafferius, Northern Police Region Assistant Commissioner said.

Police said the task force would target these offenders by targeting their known addresses, locations where they frequent, their associates and other public spaces.

Six officers from the Brisbane-based crime and intel command would be flown up to help up to 100 regional officers overseen by the Townsville Detective Inspector.

Ms Board's final post to Instagram in December showed her celebrating the moment she received her restricted motorcycle licence, having got her learner's permit three months earlier.

Ms Board also revealed that her sister had recently applied for the police service.

Having just moved to Darwin, she is now desperately trying to get back to Queensland to farewell Jennifer.
Photo: (Photo : Ekaterina Shakharova / Unsplash)

There are many reasons why families grow apart. Sometimes, it could be a toxic family member. It could be changes like divorce that could take children away from their parents, and later even their children become estranged from their grandparents.

In light of this, estranged grandparents in Italy have sought the court's help to be with their grandchild, and other grandparents with the same concerns are given hope.

Estranged Grandparents Seek Access to their Granddaughter Living in Malta

There is an ongoing case in Malta concerning two Italian grandparents who desire to gain access to their estranged granddaughter living in Malta. The grandparents' desire to contact the child after relations with her parents grew strained after the family relocated to Malta.

Back in Italy, the grandparents were able to visit their granddaughter frequently. But since their daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter moved to Malta, communication became more and more difficult. Further, the child's parents claimed that the grandparents had been negatively influenced and intrusive on their marriage, The World News reported.

The grandparents first tried to seek help from Italian courts. However, the Italian court declared that they had no jurisdiction since the child moved to Malta.

So, the grandparents sought help from Maltese courts. They cited human rights case law noting that they have a legal right to ensure that the child can access all family members, grandparents included.

ALSO READ: Lester Holt's GrandKids Follow His and His Son's Footsteps

The European Court of Human Rights interpreted human rights regulation as access rights given to parents and other persons important to the child, including grandparents.

Mr. Justice Anthony Vella presided over the case, observing that while Maltese law does not contemplate grandparents' access rights, human rights regulation should still prevail.

In light of this, the court rejected the plea made by the minor's parents. They pleaded lack of juridical interest, arguing that the grandparents' general and emotional appeals were not recognized by law.

Yet, the court of appeal said that though the Civil Code contains no express provision granting the grandparents' right to seek access, the Civil Code did impose grandparents should provide children's maintenance and education whereas parents lacked sufficient means or defaulted.

As such, these obligations included the participation of grandparents in their grandchildren's lives. Mr. Justice Vella declared that granting grandparents' access rights would be subject to the best interests of the child.

Further, the Family Court will determine such right on a case by case basis.

ALSO READ: Ways on How to Bond with Grandchildren Despite the Pandemic: According to WHO

However, the judgment on the case would not mean grandparents can interfere with the grandchildren's upbringing.

Instead, it should provide grandparents the opportunity to seek contact with their minor grandchild. The court observed that ultimately, the minor would reap benefits from keeping contact with their ascendants.

ALSO READ: Grandparents Are "Too Soft" or Too Lenient to Kids, According to a Study

Hundreds of Grandparents Denied Company of Grandkids, Now Have Hope

Fondazzjoni Nanniet Malta, a foundation representing estranged grandparents who are denied access to their grandchildren, said the Italian grandparents having difficulty communicating with their minor grandchild is not unique.

Instead, there are hundreds of such cases. With that in mind, the organization considers the ongoing case a "breakthrough" and a "landmark" judgment, Times of Malta reported.

There are currently no provisions by law that grant grandparents such rights.

The Court of Appeal ruled grandparents have a legal standing and juridical interest to ask for access to their grandkids. The foundation president Philip Chircop said the case opened doors for other similar cases.

Whereas parental authority had long been interpreted as parents can choose whether to allow visitation of grandparents and the latter can do nothing about it. Chircop added that the case instilled hope for others that things will move forward in their cases, too.

Grandparents Want to Hug, Give Gifts to Grandkids

As for now, the foundation can only encourage grandkids to care for and appreciate their grandparents. They receive calls from other estranged grandparents who do not take action because they do not want to take their children to court.

Some of the stories the foundation has learned about include grandparents who want to give their grandkids toys, show them around, and show what their parent's parent is like. They want to share their experiences with their grandchildren, too, and bond with them.

Gili, the estranged grandmother, says she only wants to hug her grandchild for at least 5 minutes, adding that "grandparents love their children's children, almost more than their own." One day, she hopes she can give the presents and birthday cards she stored for her "beautiful angel."
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pooja Veerareddy, 18, of Shreveport and Preston Horton, 11, of Zachary today were named Louisiana's top youth volunteers of 2021 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.

As State Honorees, Pooja and Preston will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the program's virtual national recognition celebration in April, where 10 of the 102 State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers of the year. Those 10 National Honorees will earn an additional $5,000 scholarship, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their nominating organization and a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We created the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 26 years ago to highlight and support the work of young people taking on the challenges of a changing world  a mission that rings truer than ever given the events of last year," said Charles Lowrey, Prudential's chairman and CEO. "We are proud to celebrate the vision and determination of Spirit of Community's Class of 2021, and all the ways they're making their communities safer, healthier and more equitable places to live."

These are Louisiana's top youth volunteers of 2021:

High School State Honoree: Pooja Veerareddy

Nominated by Caddo Magnet High School

Pooja, a senior at Caddo Magnet High School, co-founded a nonprofit organization that has provided under-funded hospitals in the Indian state of Telangana with critical health-related supplies since 2017. For many years, Pooja's grandmother had to travel between Telangana and the United States to get treatment for renal cancer. "Following her passing, we became aware of a need for medical supplies in many government and other low-budget hospitals in the region," said Pooja. "I personally felt it was important to give back to the community that my parents and family are from." So Pooja, with help from her father and sister, created a charitable organization called the Vijaya Project, named after and in honor of her grandmother.

Pooja persuaded the CEO of a Louisiana hospital to partner with her family and donate medical supplies, such as catheters, coronary stents, coronary balloons, arterial sheaths and angioplasty wires, for government and private hospitals in Telangana. She then wrote letters to hospital administrators in the southern Indian state to get documentation to bring the items through Indian customs. Once her family had the donated supplies in hand, they spent weeks packing them into large suitcases that they could deliver, in person, to various hospitals. So far, they have made three trips to India, transporting more than $86,000 worth of crucial supplies. "I was humbled to have been a small piece of the large picture that improved the services in their hospitals," said Pooja.

Middle Level State Honoree: Preston Horton

Nominated by Copper Mill Elementary School

Preston, a sixth-grader at Copper Mill Elementary School, formed a music group called "Joyful Melodies" to perform and brighten the days of senior citizens in his community. Preston's inspiration was his 89-year-old grandfather, who was often lonely after the death of his wife. "When I realized that there were so many other elderly persons just like him, my heart was saddened," said Preston. He discovered through research that many elderly people reported experiencing loneliness, so he began brainstorming ways to help. Since he was musically talented, Preston decided to sing joyful songs and play music for seniors throughout the community to ease their loneliness.

He began performing with his siblings, but soon recruited more volunteer musicians from his church. They scheduled performances twice a month, being careful to social-distance after the COVID-19 pandemic hit. They also raised money to provide their audiences with gift baskets filled with treats. Over the past two years, Preston and his fellow musicians have sung for hundreds of senior citizens, and raised more than $1,000 to provide them with gift baskets. Preston also has bagged food at a local food bank, participated in a canned-food drive for the food bank, and volunteered as a musician at his church. "I truly believe we are making a difference in the lives of those who are hurting," he said.

State Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Class of 2021  the top middle level and high school volunteer from all 50 states and the District of Columbia  were selected for service initiatives completed, at least in part, between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020. Selection was based on criteria including impact, effort, initiative and the personal growth demonstrated over the course of the project. Several Distinguished Finalists and runners-up were also selected in each state, and all qualifying applicants received President's Volunteer Service Awards.

"It speaks volumes about the character of today's secondary school students that the Spirit of Community program heard from more than 21,000 applicants this fall  most of them stories of young volunteers overcoming the hardships of a global pandemic to support those in need," said Ronn Nozoe, Chief Executive Officer, NASSP. "While we're especially proud to celebrate this year's 102 State Honorees, NASSP applauds every student who's found a way to volunteer this past year. You inspire your peers and adults alike to remember that, even in times of crisis, we all have something to give."

To read the names and stories of all of this year's State Honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at http://nassp.org.

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

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Book Urges Strengthening of Transparency and Accountability Systems To Save RTI Activists

Going by the research conducted and compiled in the book Life and Death in the Time of RTI, the 13 slain RTI activists of Maharashtra between 2010 and 2018 have yet to get even an iota of justice, thanks to a callous criminal justice system and apathy by the state administration, society in general and the media.

The 13 RTI activists who were brutally killed between 2010-2018 were: Satish Shetty (Pune  2010); Dattatreya Patil (Kolhapur  2010); Ramdas Bapuji Ubale-Gadegaonkar (Nanded  2010); Vitthal Gitte (Beed  2011); Premnath Jha (Thane  2012); Com.

Kapurchand Gupta (Mumbai Suburban  2012); Sunil Kumar Loharia (Mumbai Suburban  2013); Vasant Patil (Mumbai Suburban  2013); Abrar Ahmad Jamil Ansari (Thane  2013)

; Bhupendra Vira (Mumbai Suburban  2016); Mohan Ganuji Waghmare (Yavatmal  2017); Suhas Bhaurao Haldankar (Pune  2017) and Shailesh Nimse (Thane  2018).

All of them had filed a series of RTI applications to get information on financial irregularities, corruption and land grabs in various villages, towns and cities of the seven districts of Maharashtra. None of them had any vested interest but were epitomes of citizen pro-activeness that strengthens democracy. All they wanted was transparency and accountability in governance, for the larger social good. Instead, they suffered brutal deaths in broad daylight, leaving their families fearful and in most cases, in financial distress.

The study observes that every RTI user in this country is unsafe as he or she has no protection from the untoward elements. It states, At the end of this study we are reasonably convinced, unless transparency and accountability systems are strengthened, the phenomenon of attacks on RTI activists and users is not likely to disappear. If examples of other attacks where the victims survived to tell the tale are any indication, even a citizens maiden RTI intervention to unearth possible wrongdoing in a government agency could become hazardous to his life and safety. In these 13 cases of murder that we investigated, the acquittals of the alleged accused and the delayed trials have had a chilling effect not only on the survivors but also other members of the community in which the victims lived and walked.

The research offers the following recommendations that governments, public authorities and information commissions (within and outside Maharashtra) must urgently implement to ensure a safe atmosphere for RTI activists and whistle-blowers:

 the Central government must immediately bring into force the Whistle-blowers Protection Act (WBP Act), which Parliament enacted in February 2014 without making any of the retrograde amendments that were proposed in 2015;

 the state government must urgently notify competent authorities to act upon complaints from whistle-blowers including RTI activists who submit evidence-based complaints of wrongdoing and corruption in public authorities;

 the state government must put in place a scheme for ensuring safety of RTI activists and whistle-blowers by expanding upon the WBP Act to prevent such attacks, after widespread consultation with civil society actors, media representatives and citizen activists;

 Maharasthras Lokayukta Act must be reviewed in the light of the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayukta Acts that Parliament enacted in 2013 to ensure alignment between the two laws and provide for an effective mechanism to act on complaints of corruption and other offences and irregularities committed by public servants;

 The human rights commissions at the state and national level must adopt a policy of treating all individuals who use RTI in matters of public interest or indulge in whistle-blowing on corruption and wrongdoing in public authorities, as human rights defenders;

 The human rights commissions must use their powers under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 to ensure professional and time-bound investigation of cases of attacks on RTI activists and users and become observers of the ensuing criminal trials;

 As custodians of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, the high courts must put in place systems to seek reports from the respective courts to ensure fair and speedy trial of criminal cases pertaining to attacks on RTI activists and whisteblowers. Article 227 of the Constitution empowers them with such wide powers of superintendence over the trial courts;

 Police departments and commissionerates must work in tandem with the state information commissions to develop protocols and training programmes for investigating officers to explore linkages with the RTI activism of victims of crime before filing their final reports or charge sheets before the courts for further action;

 Civil society groups must conduct capacity building programmes for RTI activists and whistle-blowers who work without any organisational affiliation to engage in media advocacy in order to publicise the outcomes of their interventions. A fair amount of publicity for their work can act as a deterrent against possible attacks from vested interests;

 RTI activists and whistle-blowers must be sensitised and trained to handle their RTI interventions in a professional manner without turning it into a one-on-one attack on officers or politicians or vested interests who may be involved in the wrongdoing. This can reduce the possibility of enmity taking root and obviate the possibility of murderous attacks on RTI activists and whistle-blowers; and

 Governments must invest sufficient resources in developing the capacity of public authorities to proactively publish on their website all RTI applications, replies and information supplied to requestors including whistle-blower complaints and action taken in such matters. When information about allegations of wrongdoing and of corruption become public knowledge

through official channels, targeted attacks on RTI activists and whistle-blowers are likely to be reduced.

(The study conducted by my colleague Prasannakumar Keskar and me is an outcome of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) fellowship awarded to us. It was conceptualised and edited by Venkatesh Nayak, CHRIs RTI researcher.)

ROME, FEB 9 - Tax reform must be based on progressive system, premier-designate Mario Draghi has told parties during government-formation talks, according to sources present. Rates and brackets must be rejigged according to progressive principles, the former head of the European Central bank said. Draghi reportedly ruled out new taxes or duties. He also said the tax reform must address the "endemic evil" of tax evasion. (ANSA).
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. The House of Representatives of the Netherlands wants the government to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide, NL Times reports, stating that so far, the cabinet was always careful to speak of the Armenian genocide.

The parliamentary majority approved the motion submitted by the Christian Union (ChristenUnie).

According to ChristenUnie parliamentarian Joel Voordewind, it is over 100 years since the genocide and Armenians are still feeling threatened by Turkey. He added that last year, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan supported Azerbaijan in their fight against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. This aggression must be stopped, Voordewind said.

And a majority in parliament - PVV, CDA, SP, GroenLinks, SGP, PvdD, 50Plus, FvD, and independent MPs Henk Krol and Femke Van Kooten-Arissen - agree that acknowledging the genocide can help promote reconciliation and prevent another genocide. That is why it is first of all very important that countries speak out clearly. A large majority in parliament calls on the Dutch government to finally do this, Voordewind said. The motion will be put to the vote in the House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon.
On February 2, a nine-year-old child in Texas died from COVID-19. The little girl, Mackenzie Gongora from the city of San Antonio, was diagnosed with the disease just three days earlier. Her family received a call from the after-school program Mackenzie attended on January 29 telling them that she had a headache, stomachache and fever. They immediately took her to the doctor, where they discovered that she had coronavirus.

Elementary school students in Godley, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

With Mackenzie presenting mild symptoms and there being no indication of respiratory problems, physicians told her parents to take her home and make her comfortable and to return to the hospital if her condition worsened. Her illness did not appear to progress. But on the morning of February 2also her fathers birthdayMackenzies aunt found her lifeless body. The parents are, no doubt, destroyed.They are still waiting on the medical examiner's final ruling on her death and whether some unknown condition was a contributing factor.

Mackenzies father and eight-year-old sister have also tested positive for COVID-19. Scarborough Elementary School, where she attended, issued a pro forma statement stating the community is saddened. It has not announced on its website any plans to close the school for quarantine, or even mourning.

The little girls death follows quickly on the heels of the loss of two other children to coronavirus in Texas. In Tarrant County, nine-year-old J.J. Boatman and a child under the age of one died in late January. Like Mackenzie, J.J. was attending in-person school.

Dr. Arthur Caplan, professor of bioethics at New York University, told the World Socialist Web Site: You cant underestimate potential health dangers for children. We do know there are some who are severely damaged. Were not sure yet what the virus might be doing over time to them. So we want to be cautious, not cavalier, about protecting children, and that means carefully following up and monitoring whats happening to some sub-sample of numbers. We shouldnt ignore them in our studies. We want to get them to school for social and psychological purposes, but that doesnt mean that we should just throw away caution because theyre kids.

After noting the importance of testing vaccines on children, he added that this was still six to nine months away.

According to the latest data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 276 children under the age of 17 have died from the illness and 2,241,893 have tested positivemaking up over 12 percent of total infections in the US. Case numbers for the young are rising, a fact that, as COVID-19 whistleblower Rebekah Jones has pointed out on Twitter, coincides with many post-holiday school reopenings. As the more contagious UK variant of the virus becomes dominant in the US, these numbers will grow.

Hospitalizations of those under 17 have been rising since October, increasing alongside the overall rising rate in the adult population. The number of children receiving in-patient care for COVID-19 last spring and summerwhen schools were overwhelmingly shutteredwas much lower and seemed to be following a different trend than that of adults at the time.

A central claim behind the back-to-school drive being implemented by the Biden administration with the support of the education unions and backed to the hilt by every section of the political establishmentfrom the left to the far rightis that COVID-19 does not pose a serious risk to children. This claim rests upon the one-sided interpretation of data, the suppression of data and, perhaps most fundamentally, data that do not exist.

The World Socialist Web Site has written an extensive critique of media reports and the CDCs claim that it is safe to reopen schools. In short, many studies indicating that schools are significant sites of transmission have been ignored, in favor of very limited research conducted in settings where the school environment looks nothing like that found in the majority of K-12 systems in the US or during times when schools were largely closed.

Beyond this, however, an enormous amount of information about COVID-19 is simply missing, particularly as it applies to children. Testing for coronavirus in the young is low, compared to their overall share of the population and total tests done. For instance, working with data from 10 states, the American Association of Pediatrics found that just 6 to 18 percent of all testing was carried out on children.

This is attributable not to the fact that children do not get coronavirus, but that they, similar to a large segment of the adult population, are mostly asymptomatic or only mildly symptomatic. In other words, their infection rate appears low not because children do not get infected but because those infections are not being recorded.

However, undetected COVID-19 is not harmless to the body. Current data show that asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic infections can pose serious long-term risks, including to a patients respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

All those stampeding educators and children into the classroom know this. They simply lie about it when arguing that reopenings can be done safely.

A December 28 article published in Forbes noted: Kids dont get sick from COVID-19. Early into the pandemic, this was one of the false claims that far too many parents, and even medical professionals, were quick to embrace and repeat. But we learned more.  We now know that children can absolutely get sick from COVID-19, that they can die from it, and that they can develop long-term health complications, even if their initial presentation seemed mild.

Because COVID-19 is a new virus, there has only been limited time to study its lasting effects. However, it is well-known that viruses in general scar the body, including adenoviruses, enteroviruses, Coxsackie viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), chicken pox, Ebola, West Nile virus and other coronaviruses (a category that includes SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19). Some of the illnesses associated with these viruses include diabetes, chronic anemia, hepatitis, hearing loss, muscle weakness, abnormal gait, abnormal reflexes, memory loss, muscle and joint pain, chronic fatigue, headaches, asthma, decreased lung function, myocarditis, pericarditis, persistent heart failure, and on and on.

Among adults sufferers of COVID-19 it is already clear that lasting effects include brain fog, chronic fatigue, joint aches, blood clots, rashes, hair loss, loss of taste and smell, depression, anxiety, and damage to the heart, lungs and kidneys. In some cases, these conditions are life-threatening. It is unclear when or whether they will resolve.

One of the most concerning problems witnessed in asymptomatic patientsincluding childrenis serious damage to the respiratory system. Studies coming out of China, for instance, albeit working with limited sample sizes, have found what are called ground glass opacities in asymptomatic young people, similar to those seen older patients. Doctors do not yet know what the implications of this damage is or how it will develop as individuals age.

According to an article posted on WebMD in August, the director of Palm Beach Countys health department, Dr. Alina Alonso, found these Chinese studies so concerning that she warned county officials in July about the danger of school reopenings.

They are seeing there is damage to the lungs in these asymptomatic children.  We dont know how that is going to manifest a year from now or 2 years from now. Is that child going to have chronic pulmonary problems or not? she told commissioners.

There are myriad other dimensions of long-haul coronavirus infections.

A November 2020 Swedish study of five children found fatigue, dyspnoea, heart palpitations or chest pain, and four had headaches, difficulties concentrating, muscle weakness, dizziness and sore throats to be lasting problems. One child had to be hospitalized for perimyocarditis. And while, some had improved after 68 months  they all suffered from fatigue and none had fully returned to school. The studys authors made a particular point about the problem of extremely limited data regarding COVID-19 in children.

Neurological and psychiatric illnesses are also appearing in young long-haulers. In August, ABC News carried a report about a 15-year-old in Britain who tested negative on COVID-19 diagnostic and antibody tests but clearly had the illness. She currently suffers from encephalitis and has undergone a significant mental regression as well as a change in personality. Her acute symptoms included hallucinations and violent seizures.

Her physician, a pediatric neurologist at the Evalina London Childrens Hospital, noted, I think that COVID has taught us that every time we feel complacent, that we know the spectrum, a new spectrum sort of evolves.

We worry that the long-term effect would be in essentially brain growth, he added, with children having a lot of this ahead of them.

In October, the Union of Pediatricians in Russia reported that scientists have found a 30 percent decline in the cognitive functioning of children infected with the virus. They also detected a fall in the sperm count of boys with severe cases, which could impact their future fertility. They have no idea if either condition will resolve itself.

This list goes on.

A Wall Street Journal piece published in August reported the comments of a New York doctor who reported seeing young patients with auto-immune disorders. She believes they were triggered by COVID-19. In a study of adults, researchers at the University Hospital Frankfurt have found clear evidence of heart damage among some asymptomatic COVID-19 sufferers.

What is being carried out with the forced reopening of schools is effectively a medical experiment on more than 50 million children. COVID-19 will spread within the schools under conditions in which nobody yet has a full picture of how widespread, severe and long-lasting the impact of the virus is on the young. The early data are alarming.

Some children will die, others will become severely ill. How many will grow up with organ damage, cognitive decline, mental and psychological problems, auto-immune disorders and the like? The answer of the politicians and union leadersall of whom endlessly bellyache about the well-being of the childrenis: Lets find out.
Washington: US President Joe Bidens administration plans to continue to seek to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from the United Kingdom to the United States to face hacking conspiracy charges, the Justice Department said.

Department spokesman Marc Raimondi on Tuesday, local time, said the US government would continue to challenge a British judges ruling last month that Assange should not be extradited because of the risk he would commit suicide.

Julian Assange is taken from court in London in 2019. Credit:AP

In a January 4 ruling, the judge, Vanessa Baraitser, said, I find that the mental condition of Mr Assange is such that it would be oppressive to extradite him to the United States of America.

The British judge set Friday as a deadline for the US to appeal her ruling forbidding Assanges extradition.
Walk the Global Walks European winter school 2021

The Walk the Global Walk (WtGW) project utilises Global citizenship education (GCE) to engage and mobilise young people to affect change. By localising the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the project aims to create new educational models addressing issues associated with climate change, sustainable development, and our natural environment. Key global issues relating to migration, climate change and gender equality are being adapted to fit into the formal education curriculum across the 11 participating countries (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Scotland and Wales).

In collaboration with Oxfam Italy and the European Union the project connects local authorities, schools, and communities to promote action on three SDGs. Now in its third year, the WTGW project is focussing on SDG 16 Peace, justice and strong institutions. Last year (2020), the team at the University of Glasgow and Glasgow city council co-organised and participated in several events and activities corresponding to SDG 13 Climate action. The years activities culminated in a European winter school that saw over 20 young leaders from schools across Europe, come together to create a climate action manifesto that would be delivered to local governments, and to make commitments towards taking climate action.

The manifesto was built from engaging and informed discussion between the pupils that took place both before and during the virtual winter school, with pupils interacting with education leaders and sustainability professionals. The young leaders took initiative in starting conversations amongst themselves, through the chat function, discussing the manifesto, and proposed actions. Several pupils delivered bold statements and questions to external guests, highlighting their informed perspective on the steps needed to be taken to achieve SDG 13.

In attendance at the winter school were external stakeholders, such as Kirsty Leask, project manager for the connecting classrooms initiative at Learning for Sustainability Scotland, representatives from the European Union, such as Nicola di Vriglio, a researcher for the agriculture and rural development commission and local municipal council representatives, such as Giorgos Antonopoulos of the Fyli municipality in Greece. The guests gave detailed answers to questions from young leaders, which queried the responses of institutions in tackling climate change whilst discussing strategies for ensuring young people were being equipped with the knowledge, and given opportunities, to become climate leaders.

Pledges within the manifesto ranged from individual changes (recycle more and use less plastic for example, to larger systemic changes, for example, infrastructure and funding for sustainable travel and greater public education) were agreed to be fundamental towards securing a greener future. Many pupils also called for more climate education and funding for green initiatives both in schools and across society.

Despite the complexity of organising a virtual school for over 70 people across Europe, the event was a success. The discussions between pupils, teachers, and local, national and international authorities resulted in a comprehensive and hopeful climate action manifesto. The event highlighted the potential of collaborative working, and the need for young people to be listened to, and involved, in taking steps towards achieving the sustainable development goals.

The WtGW project is Coordinated in Scotland by Dr Ria Dunkley and Dr Ines Alves, with support from Ben Murphy and Lesley Atkins (Education Officer).

No Covid-19-related death was reported in 15 states and union territories in the last 24 hours and none in seven states in the last three weeks as India continued to decline its epidemic curve, data showed.

There has been a 55 per cent fall in the average daily deaths in the past five weeks  from over 200 in the second week of January to less than 100 in early February.

Kerala and Maharashtra continued to account for more than 70 per cent of the total active caseload. While the number has declined in Maharashtra in the last one month, it shows no sign of abatement in Kerala. For India, the cumulative positivity rate has come down to 5.35 per cent with only 58 cases per million reported in the last week.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to congratulate the city for reporting no deaths on Tuesday. Corona cases have declined and vaccination is gathering speed. We still have to be cautious and take precautions.





ALSO READ: Covid-19 may have taken 'convoluted path' to Wuhan, says WHO team leader

India will start administering the second dose of vaccine to health workers from February 13. More than 6.3 million have received the jab.



The national committee on adverse effects following immunisation, which held its meeting on February 5, has sought the chemical analysis and histopathology or biopsy report of three deaths to conduct a casualty assessment. The committee, which discussed eight cases of adverse effects, has found no relation of hospitalisation or deaths in the other five cases with the vaccine.

We will proactively put this information in the public domain, said Rajesh Bhushan, secretary, health and family welfare ministry.

The government is also keeping an eye on the variants and the effect of vaccines on them. Regarding the South African mutation, V K Paul, member-health, Niti Aayog, said some studies show the vaccines have been found to be effective against preventing serious disease and improving mortality but not very effective in mild cases.

Covishield continues to be effective...We have no concern at this point. We have a system to detect the variant, Paul said. We are sequencing the viruses being isolated in the country. We will intensify our surveillance. This variant (South African) is not in the country, he added.
A troubling vaccine halt

Just as South Africa was preparing to distribute its first million doses of AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine, devastating news emerged: A clinical trial failed to demonstrate that the vaccine offered protection against mild or moderate illness caused by the South African variant, which is estimated to make up 90 percent of all cases there.

As a result, the South African government paused the rollout of AstraZenecas vaccine. The country will store its supply in warehouses.

The companys trial of about 2,000 people found that the vaccine was only about 10 percent effective against the South Africa variant. Because the trial volunteers were relatively young and unlikely to become severely ill, it was impossible to know whether the vaccine would safeguard against hospitalizations or death.

Even though the study was small and has yet to be peer-reviewed, theres no point in giving people a vaccine if you dont know whether it works, my colleague Carl Zimmer, who writes about science for The Times, told me.
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Attention residents who park cars on their lawns: Being ticketed for this offense could cost you a lot more money than it has in the past.

City Councils Legislative Committee held a virtual meeting Monday (Feb. 8), during which the main topic was how to limit the number of residents who park on their front or back lawns and those who block sidewalk access while parked in their driveways.

Housing Manager Sally Martin and Police Chief Kevin Nietert brought the issue to councils attention.

If council acts, the offenses would become part of the citys nuisance-abatement ordinance. Nuisance-abatement matters are those in which the police are repeatedly called to a property -- commercial or residential -- to deal with issues and which can result in property owners being charged for officers time.

Councilwoman-at-Large Susan Hardy, who chairs the Legislative Committee, said that of South Euclids approximately 9,500 homes, about 200 are on the nuisance-abatement list of properties where officers make repeated visits. Hardy said the percentage of homes on the list isnt that great, as it is similar to the percentage in Lakewood.

Its not something that I think is heavily abused (in South Euclid) at this point, Hardy said, but the thing about nuisance properties is that it might just be one, but that nuisance can have a negative effect on all the houses around them, even the neighborhood, which is why I like nuisance-abatement ordinances. They can really make the neighborhood prosper.

Martin said the city has had a nuisance-abatement ordinance for years that has included, among other things, repeated city visits for offenses such as high grass and weeds.

For cutting grass, Martin said the city charges $60 through its contractor, but that often hasnt been enough to convince some residents to do the job, so these offenses were later attached to the nuisance-abatement ordinance. The accompanying stiffer penalty, she said, has proven to be more effective.

In the case of parking cars where city code states they shouldnt be parked, violators are now ticketed $15 per offense. If council approves attaching the offenses to the nuisance-abatement ordinance, the first two offenses would still cost an offender $15 each, but a third offense within a 12-month period would result in a nuisance bill of $250 -- and would grow from there if offenses continue.

While this sounds kind of innocuous, Martin said of cars being parked on grass, theres not much we can do. We try and work with the police department to get those vehicles ticketed but, lets face it, this is a low-level crime (police) are not anxious to go out and enforce.

And its difficult, because if we take someone to court for constantly parking their car on the grass, well, they may not be parked on the grass when they end up in court, so theres little teeth in it.

Ward 1 Councilwoman Ruth Gray noted that codes pertaining to parking at residences were put into effect decades ago, at a time when many households had just one car and people did not own recreational vehicles. Gray suggested that a study be done to learn why people feel they need to park on the grass.

What is it we on council need to look at to grasp a better understanding of whats going on here? Gray said.

Gray said it could be that council may need to address residents problems with parking through the citys zoning code, possibly by granting a variance that would allow for more concrete to be added to enlarge or widen a driveway.

Martin said the city works with those who want to enlarge their driveways and understands that people have difficulty maneuvering cars, causing them to pull onto a lawn.

Were sympathetic to that, she said, but the idea of driving onto your grass and digging big ruts in your grass is a problem that Im not sure we can remedy, necessarily. If theres six cars and its a one-car-garage home with a small driveway, they really have to figure out what theyre going to do.

They cant illegally park all over their lawn like its a parking lot.

Nietert agrees that something stronger must be done.

Giving a parking citation to somebody parking on the lawn for $15 doesnt seem to get the impact that we would like to see, and thats change of behavior, he said.

Im a big advocate for nuisance abatement. I think its probably one of our most effective tools. I know theres a misconception that this is kind of a far-reaching ordinance, he said.

But, Nietert added, there is often an overlap, in that the police department and housing department will have problems with the same property.

One of the reasons I think (nuisance abatement) is such an effective tool is because the issuance of a criminal citation or a parking violation doesnt have the same impact when it comes to the criminal nuisance abatement, he said.

When you get to fines of $250 and $500, it certainly gets the owners attention and incentivizes them to correct the nuisance.

The committee agreed to put the issue on the next council meeting agenda, on Feb. 22, for its first reading.

Landmark Commission

During a virtual Zoning & Planning Committee meeting that followed the Legislative Committee meeting, it was agreed that Councilwoman-at-Large Chanell Elston will represent council on the citys Landmark Commission.

Council last month voted to form the commission to preserve significant South Euclid buildings. The commission will consist of seven members, five of whom will be residents Mayor Georgine Welo will appoint. A Planning Commission member will also serve on the commission.

Elston is, so far, the only member named.

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Karnataka: Rampancy of trawling near shore raises alarm

by Deepthi Sanjiv

February 09,2021 | Source: The Times of India

Experts, including marine conservationists, have raised concern about the rampant trawling taking place near the shore, across the Karnataka coast, that is leading to the destruction of fish breeding locations on the seabed, and severe depletion of marine stocks. The Karnataka Marine Fishing Regulatory Act permits mechanised fishing only after six nautical miles, and fishing near the shore is restricted to only traditional crafts. Several factors have led to a rise in fishing near the shore. Experts believe many traditional fishermen have either left their profession, or may have joined as mechanised labourers. Excess fishing and increasing demand for trash fish by fish meal units, have resulted in depleting fish catch. Even during the lockdown period, though fishing activities had come to a halt, there has been no drastic rise in fish catch.



Several factors like over mechanisation and mesh size regulation not being monitored, light fishing, bull trawling, bottom trawling and use of high-speed engines are causing harm to marine biodiversity, as they are picking up everything, including seaweeds and corals, which is alarming. Dr Shantanu Kalambi from Reef Watch told TOI, We are noticing this phenomenon across the Karnataka coast, and the frequency of trawling near the shore has been on the rise. We have noticed birds waiting on the shore every day to pick up dead fish that wash up after a trawler drives past. Unregulated trawling near the shore will lead to an ecological catastrophe from which we will not easily recover, as well as destroy the livelihoods of artisanal fishermen, he said. Dr A Senthil Vel, professor and dean (fisheries) Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, College of Fisheries, Mangaluru, said the issue was discussed at a recent meeting with fisherman representatives. Other than the strict implementation of guidelines, creating awareness among the fishermen on the impact of trawling near the shore, and bottom trawling, is the need of the hour. Dr Dinesh Kumar Y K, DCF, forest ecology and environment, stating that the situation is alarming, said that community conservation reserves through peoples participation, should be identified, and these areas should be developed as buffer sites.

 2021 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.
Kampala  The Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party will this Thursday hold talks with representatives of the European Union member states in Uganda.

The talks come after the EU envoys held similar talks with Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, of National Unity Platform party, and asked him to seek dialogue with President Museveni, a call he rejected.

Mr Patrick Oboi Amuriat, the FDC president, confirmed the scheduled talks, and said his party will not change its agenda to remove President Museveni from power. Mr Amuriat said while the EU is a strong proponent of good governance and rule of law in Uganda, they have sometimes been too lenient with Mr Museveni whom he accused of being a dictator.

"On Thursday, we will be talking to the European Union representatives in the country. We did speak with them prior to the elections and we told them that they were not doing enough to ensure that the dictator is brought to his knees.

They thought that one more election would probably help us to be proved wrong, but it hasn't because in the election of 2021 the only constant person who has been in every election was President Museveni. The rest of the candidates were all newcomers," he said at the weekend.

The FDC president added that even those who had a glimmer of hope that change would this time come have been proved wrong and the only way is to unite and exert pressure on the ruling NRM party to relinquish power.

"What this election has helped us was to prove wrong even the most optimistic people and players who thought that this election would bring change," he said.

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Mr Amuriat also said FDC will not engage in dialogue with Mr Museveni if the process is not properly structured.

During the NRM day celebrations at State House Entebbe recently, Mr Museveni said he does not want any mediator for talks with the opposition politicians because he knows where to find them.

'Trickster'

Mr Amuriat called Mr Museveni a trickster who should not be trusted in anyway, saying without a mediator and a guarantor, he will jump in any talks with the ruling NRM party.

"Museveni, in a veiled attempt to reduce the anger of Ugandans, has begun to talk about dialogue. The other time he said there shouldn't be any mediator in the dialogue with the opposition and that he knows where to find them. That is treating us casually. We are going to reject this with the contempt it deserves," he said.

"As we have always said, if there has to be any dialogue it has to be structured with a mediator, with clear agenda while we know who is going to participate in that dialogue. Knowing that Museveni is a trickster there has to be a guarantor whatever comes out of such dialogue," Mr Amuriat said.

REThinking Hand Safety - How to Build an Effective Hand Safety Program

Around the globe, hand injuries are the number one preventable industrial accident in manufacturing, construction, oil & gas, you name it. So, if theyre preventable, why are hand injuries so common? And how have some companies reduced their hand injuries by 50, even 90 percent? In this webinar, Joe Geng, author of the best-selling hand safety book REThinking Hand Safety, will share what hes learned from a lifetime of hand safety work and research.

Joe will cover key topics from his book, including what the most and least successful hand safety programs have in common, practical tips for building a hand safety program that works, and how to achieve team buy-in.

Learn what the most and least successful hand safety programs have in common

Get practical tips to build a hand safety program that reduces injuries

Understand how to get team buy-in on your hand safety program

Ask your hand safety questions live  Joe Geng will answer as many as possible in allotted time

Register below for this free webinar!

DATE: April 21, 2021

TIME: 2:00PM ET - 1:00PM CT - 11:00AM PT

Speaker:

Joe Geng - Vice President at Superior Glove

Joe grew up among the tanneries of Canada helping his father make gloves, and he has spent his entire life studying industrial hand safety, overseeing glove R&D, and consulting with leading companies like Toyota, Honda, SpaceX, General Motors, Bombardier Aircraft, and Shell Oil. He serves as Vice President at Superior Glove, a family business considered one of the worlds most innovative and disruptive glove manufacturers.

Joe holds degrees from Trinity Western University and attended Reutlingen leather school in Germany, which he describes as the Hogwarts of leather making. Joe lives in Ontario, Canada, with his wife and three children.

Duration: 1 Hour
CHICAGO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Eric Barth, MD, an internist with almost four decades of experience, has transformed his practice with a change to Specialdocs' concierge medicine model. His personalized, proactive approach offers the opportunity to experience a markedly different type of care, centered on the powerful physician-patient relationship.

"In the past year, the benefits of our concierge medicine model have never been more needed," says Specialdocs CEO Terry Bauer. "High-quality, empathetic care provided by a physician who serves as their patient's advocate are more important than ever."

For Dr. Barth, the need to change from a traditional model of care grew stronger with each year in practice. "The most essential components of care were rapidly disappearing in our dysfunctional healthcare environment: prompt attention when a patient is ill, continuity of care from home to hospital and back, a deep understanding of each patient that goes beyond their medical concerns, and time to educate and work toward wellness. All were restored in my concierge practice," he says.

Keeping the patient panel intentionally small means same-day appointments, little or no waiting time, extended, unhurried visits and a strong emphasis on prevention and wellness. Telemedicine consultations offer a convenient option for patients who request them, and house calls are offered in certain circumstances as well. Dr. Barth advocates personally for his patients if they are hospitalized, and eases the way through complex medical situations that may require specialist referrals. Importantly, patients receive Dr. Barth's personal cell phone number and email for direct contact after hours.

"There's a lot to be said for peace of mind knowing Dr. Barth is available when I need him," says long-time patient MB of Long Island, now a member of the practice. "He is very, very thorough and gave me his complete attention at every visit, but I knew he always had a full schedule of patients. Before the change in practice, I was more apt to use urgent care after hours. Now I text him with a question at night, receive a prompt answer and feel completely reassured."

MB, in her early 50s, also appreciates the focus on prevention. "I know how much better it is to catch things early, but there's not as much chance of that happening in a traditional practice. Our healthcare system really is broken, and this is the right way to fix it."

Dr. Barth, an Internal Medicine specialist in practice since 1982, is located at 2155 Wantagh Ave., Wantagh, NY, (516) 324-2300. He completed his residency at New York University Medical Center at Booth Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Barth is affiliated with Mercy Medical Center, Rockville Centre and Mount Sinai Medical Center, NY.

A pioneer in concierge medicine transitions, since 2002 Specialdocs has helped physicians nationwide transform their practices. We believe in personalized, preventive patient care; autonomy and professional satisfaction for physicians; and the healing power of the physician-patient relationship.

Contact: Mindy Kolof, [email protected]

SOURCE Specialdocs Consultants

Related Links

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The Gladwin Board of Commissioners recently selected incoming commissioner Karen Moore as its new chairwoman, making her the second female to serve in that role.

Moore, unanimously elected to the chair seat, attended board meetings for the last five years  long before tossing her hat into the commissioners election for District 4, covering Tobacco, Hay and Buckeye townships. She filled the seat vacated by former chairwoman, Sharron Smith. Smith was the first female chair and one of Moores high school teachers.

I wanted to be selected chair, said Moore, noting the many challenges facing commissioners.

Because she attended meetings before taking her seat, she is educated on the many issues the county is dealing with.

Moore said while the lakes aftermath is important, it is not all the sole challenge.

There are 6,600 people on the lakes in the county and there are 25,000 people living in Gladwin County, Moore said. We can not forget about those not living on the lakes.

We have to remember everything thats going on in the county, Moore added.

Moore, who has two doctorate degrees  her juris doctorate and another in strategic management and leadership. She said she wanted to become a lawyer as a way of helping people. She knew when she was very young, she wanted for fight for injustice and make the world a better place.

Born in Maine, she moved to Gladwin County when she was in seventh grade and deems it home.

I love this community, Moore said.

One of the first acts by the board of commissioners, was opting to hire a county administrator.

It was just the perfect time, Moore said, noting there were staff changes such as the resignation of the board secretary and a new county clerk.

The former clerk is serving as the interim county administrator while the board seeks to fill the position. They recently changed the language for the position that required a bachelors degree to allow for experience. The job has been posted.

I want the best person Gladwin County can afford, Moore said.

Moore said the county use to have a county administrator years ago, but the role was at some point retired. This left other departments picking up the jobs served by the administrator, such as human resources and other governmental duties.

This is a positive change, Moore said of renewing the county administrator position.

Once commissioners begin interviewing for the position, Moore said the interviews will be public.
"This is not a trial of a president, but of a private citizen. . . . This proceeding . . . violates the Constitution." - Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., in remarks on the Senate floor, Jan. 26, 2021

"The theory that the impeachment of a former official is unconstitutional is flat-out wrong by every frame of analysis: constitutional context, historical practice, precedent and basic common sense. It's been completely debunked by constitutional scholars from all across the political spectrum." - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in remarks on the Senate floor, Jan. 26, 2021

- - -

When we fact-checked this question in 2019 - whether former presidents are subject to impeachment - it was little more than an offbeat debate among some legal scholars, the kind of situation that never actually happens.

Well, it's happening now and the debate has reached its wonky crescendo. Scores of law professors, historians and pundits have weighed in as the Senate begins its trial of former president Donald Trump, who was impeached by the House for inciting insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Our 2019 fact check was prompted by a tweet from Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., a Trump ally who said "you actually can impeach former presidents" and suggested former president Barack Obama get the treatment. (This came during Trump's first impeachment, over his dealings with Ukraine.)

Now the shoe is on the other foot. In recent weeks, some of the same scholars we spoke to in 2019 about the Obama claim have firmed up their views when asked about Trump. For his part, Gaetz is now giving kudos to the "brilliance" of Paul's floor remarks, in which the senator argued that impeaching former officials is unconstitutional. Go figure.

We won't be giving any Pinocchios, because the question is still a "known unknown," as we previously found. Instead, we will give readers the legal lay of the land.

No court appears to have ruled on this question, the text of the Constitution doesn't spell out the answer, and past practice in Congress is an inconclusive guide. The bottom line is the Constitution gives the Senate the "sole power" to try all impeachments, and so whatever the Senate decides will settle the debate once and for all.

- - -

Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution, says, "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."

This section lists only sitting officers, not former officials, but it says nothing about disqualifying people from holding future office.

Article I, Section 3, says: "The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present. 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."

This section says the maximum penalty for those impeached and convicted is not just getting fired. The Senate also may choose to impose a ban from holding future office. It raises several questions. Aren't all people who get banned from office by necessity former officeholders? (It's hard to be both banned and in office at the same time.) Could the Senate proceed with a trial and ban an official who resigned or left office some other way?

Charles Cooper, a noted conservative lawyer, wrote in a Wall Street Journal opinion article that Trump could be tried as a former president. He noted that under established Senate procedures, "a vote by the Senate to disqualify can be taken only after the officer has been removed and is by definition a former officer."

"Given that the Constitution permits the Senate to impose the penalty of permanent disqualification only on former officeholders, it defies logic to suggest that the Senate is prohibited from trying and convicting former officeholders," Cooper argued.

Some argue that in the phrase "the Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments," "all" would permissibly include the impeachment a president who has left office.

In Trump's case, the House impeached him as a sitting president, but the Senate trial began after his term ended on Jan. 20. That adds another wrinkle of uncertainty. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the longest-serving senator in the majority, is presiding over Trump's trial, not Chief Justice John Roberts, who was asked to preside and declined.

"All means all, and there are no exceptions to the rule," Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a constitutional law professor and the lead impeachment manager, said on the Senate floor Feb. 9, at the start of Trump's second impeachment trial.

"While the framers very clearly envisaged the occasional necessity of initiating impeachment proceedings, they put in place only a very general framework to guide future action," according to the Senate Historical Office.

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled in 1993 that the Senate had the sole power to try impeached officials and that judges could not step in to resolve disputes concerning the rules and procedures senators used to conduct such trials. Such disputes are "nonjusticiable," Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist wrote in deciding Walter Nixon v. United States, meaning they cannot be heard by the courts, unless they involve the basic requirements listed in the Constitution (such as a two-thirds majority of senators needed to convict).

Rehnquist wrote that the "controversy . . . involves a political question" and that "the word 'sole' indicates that this authority is reposed in the Senate and nowhere else."

While reporting our fact-check in 2019, some scholars argued it was impossible to impeach former officials. Some said it was possible - if Congress wanted to ban them from holding federal office again. One scholar said a definitive answer would come only after a court battle on these issues.

Frank O. Bowman III of the University of Missouri School of Law, the author of "High Crimes and Misdemeanors: A History of Impeachment for the Age of Trump," told us in 2019 that the answer was "unknowable." This year, in a letter signed by numerous legal scholars, Bowman adopted the view that "the Constitution permits the impeachment, conviction, and disqualification of former officers, including presidents."

Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University, also signed the letter. In 2019, he told us the courts would have to resolve the question.

"This is an unresolved question in which there are plausible arguments both ways," he said then. "There has been debate on it going back to the 18th and 19th centuries."

Let's say Congress impeached and convicted a former officeholder, and then the official went to court challenging the move. The ruling in that case could settle the question once and for all. The courts could also kick the case back to Congress, which would make clear that it's a decision for lawmakers and not judges, Somin said in 2019. He added that his personal opinion was that former officials could be impeached, so his views are consistent.

Others told us that it was not possible and that impeachment was designed to remove sitting presidents between elections, and as the sole mechanism to remove sitting judges.

"One could argue that impeachment might still be important if an officer resigns from the office so as to disqualify a former officeholder in the future (for example, Trump could not run again for president), but that seems tangential to the critical separation of powers role that impeachment plays: affording Congress a check on the sitting president," Harold J. Krent, a law professor who studies the U.S. presidency at the Illinois Institute of Technology's Chicago-Kent College of Law, told us in 2019. He still holds that view today, Krent told us.

Former senator Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, once suggested that former president Bill Clinton could be re-impeached for pardoning Democratic donor and fugitive Marc Rich on his last day in office. Clinton had been impeached on different charges and acquitted while in office.

The House impeached Sen. William Blount of Tennessee in 1797 on treason charges related to land speculation (trying to sell off Florida and Louisiana), and the Senate quickly expelled him. Senators held an impeachment trial after expelling Blount, but later acquitted him.

President Ulysses S. Grant's secretary of war, William Belknap, resigned shortly before being impeached by the House for bribery. The Senate nevertheless heard from more than 40 witnesses in his 1876 trial, "as House managers argued that Belknap should not be allowed to escape from justice simply by resigning his office," according to the Senate Historical Office.

Neither precedent really settles the question Gaetz raised, Bowman told us in 2019. The Constitution requires a two-thirds Senate majority to convict an official on impeachment charges, but can a simple majority set a working precedent?

We are about to find out.

Share market indices Sensex and Nifty turned volatile on Tuesday amid mixed global equities and closed flat with negative bias. After rising for six straight sessions, Sensex ended 19 points lower at 51,329 and Nifty fell 6 points to 15,109.

The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, rose 1.30% to 24.27. Sensex hit a record high of 51,753 and Nifty hit a all-time high of 51,753 in early trade today. Both benchmark indices have gained over 11% in seven straight sessions.

Yesterday, Sensex closed 617 points higher at 51,348 and Nifty climbed 191 points to end at 15,115.

Asian Paints, Axis Bank, ONGC, HDFC, Titan, L&T were the top gainers while SBI, Kotak Bank, Dr Reddy, NTPC, TCS were among the top losers.

Top gainers today: List of five shares that rose over 3%

Sectorally, except for private banking and financial stocks, all the major indices closed in red territory, with over 1.8% drop in media, followed by a 1.4% fall in auto stocks.

Keshav Lahoti- Associate Equity Analyst, Angel Broking said,"Indian shares opened on a positive note, tracking positive trends in global peers amid bets that U.S. President Joe Biden will be able to push through his massive stimulus. The market corrected in the last trading hour to close flat for the day. Sectoral indices were mixed for the day. Market fundamentals and sentiments are strong to take the market to new highs. Continuous FII Inflow is very important for the rally in the market."

S Ranganathan, Head of Research at LKP Securities said, "Markets remained strong before giving away all its gains in afternoon trade due to profit-taking in autos and select pivotals. The broader markets, however, witnessed the demand for FMCG stocks, insurers, select NBFC and gas stocks."

Overseas, Asian stocks opened higher following overnight gains on Wall Street that saw the major indexes rallying to record closing highs as investors were optimistic on stimulus and an accelerated vaccine rollout. Biden has set a goal to administer at least 100 million COVID vaccine doses during his first 100 days in office.

European stocks were mostly in negative, while most Asian indices turned flat by Tuesday's afternoon session.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services said, "The market failed to hold onto its upward rally to close flat due to heavy selling towards the close, mirroring the weakness seen in the European market and outflows in equity mutual funds. Most of the sectors ended hitting rough weather with auto, pharma and media stocks being the worst affected. However, banking and finance stocks were in positive territory. US markets remained firm on hopes of the additional stimulus package and swifter economic recovery continued to maintain optimism."

On Nifty's technicals, Ashis Biswas, Head of Technical at CapitalVia Global Research said, "The market witnessed extend the gain further after the decisive break from the Nifty 50 Index level of 15000. The market has already attained the projected level of 15230-15250. The level of 15230-15250 act as short-term resistance. The momentum indicators like RSI, MACD to show divergence, supporting our view that the market is likely to pause around this level."

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Share Market Live: Sensex rises 100 points to record high, Nifty at 15,160; Titan, Asian Paints top gainers

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With the Indian government deciding to appeal against an international arbitration award that went against it, Plc will directly knock at the doors of the Indian government for honouring of the award verdict. CEO Simon Thomson would be meeting Union finance minister in Delhi next week.

"The arbitration is now finalised and the award has been given and we would request along with others, that the Indian government moves swiftly to adhere to the award that has been given. That's important, it's important for our shareholders, who are global financial institutions and who want to see a positive investment climate in India," said Simon Thomson in a video address to all stakeholders.

A senior company executive said the company waited for seven years for the verdict and its shareholders needed to know when it would be concluded. "I'm sure that in working together with the government, we can swiftly draw this to conclusion, and reassure those investors as to the positive investment climate that India offers, said Thomson hinting at an amicable solution between the two sides.

Thomson, who would be in India on February 17, in his statement said, "Cairn is a wonderful example of successful investment and partnership in India. Over decades we built a legacy business that's generated so far over $20 billion of revenue for the Government of India is also shown massive benefit for the local populations where we operated in Gujarat, in Andhra Pradesh and in Rajasthan."





ALSO READ: Govt funding on its own won't suffice for infra: P R Jaishankar, MD, IIFCL

In a major setback to the Indian government, it lost the international arbitration case to Cairn Plc under the retrospective tax legislation amendment in a verdict that came on December 22. India was asked to pay damages worth $1.2 billion (Rs 8,842 crore) to the UK oil major. The verdict came three months after India lost arbitration to Vodafone over the retrospective legislation.

Business Standard reported on Tuesday that India was in talks with senior Dutch lawyers to file an appeal against the Cairn verdict at The Hague in the coming weeks. The Rs 8,800-crore award will likely be contested on two key grounds  jurisdiction and international public policy. India is expected to take a stand that the government has the sovereign right of taxation and private individuals cannot decide on that.

The international court of arbitration at The Hague has maintained that the Cairn tax issue is not a tax dispute but a tax related investment dispute. Hence, it falls under its jurisdiction. It has ruled that Indias demand in past taxes were in breach of fair treatment under a bilateral investment protection pact. The case pertains to Rs 24,500 crore tax demand on capital gains made by the oil major in reorganization of its India business in 2006-07.

The Indian government was asked to pay Cairn Rs 8,842 crore in damages, which include the shares attached by the income tax department in January 2014 and sold in 2018 to partially recover the tax dues. had held 4.95 per cent stake in mining major Vedanta Ltd which the Income Tax Department had attached after issuing tax demand to the British company in 2014. The government has been asked to pay damages at the share value of Rs 330 in 2014 instead of Rs 220-240 per share price on which it was actually sold by the I-T department in 2018 in tranches. The damages also include Rs 1,590 crore of tax refund due to the British company besides the legal fees.

The tax demand by India was in respect of Cairn UK transferring shares of Cairn India Holdings to Cairn India, as part of an internal group reorganisation in 2006-07. This gave rise to different interpretations on whether the UK-based company made capital gains, preceding an initial public offering (IPO) of shares by Cairn India. The I-T department had contended that Cairn UK made a capital gain of Rs 24,503.5 crore. Before the Cairn India IPO, the India operations of Cairn Energy were owned by a company called Cairn India Holdings-Cayman Island and its subsidiaries. Cairn India Holdings was a fully owned subsidiary of Cairn UK Holdings, in turn a fully owned subsidiary of Cairn Energy.

At the time of IPO, the ownership of the India assets was transferred from Cairn UK Holdings to a new company, Cairn India. In 2006, Cairn India acquired the entire share capital of Cairn India Holdings from Cairn UK Holdings. In exchange, 69 per cent of the shares in Cairn India were issued to Cairn UK Holdings. Hence, Cairn Energy, through Cairn UK Holdings, held 69 per cent in Cairn India.

Later, in 2011, Cairn Energy sold Cairn India to mining billionaire Anil Agarwals Vedanta Group, barring a minor stake of 9.8 per cent. It wanted to sell the residual stake as well but was barred by the I-T department from doing so. The government also froze payment of dividend by Cairn India to Cairn Energy.
Health official: 'I am hopeful for the brighter days ahead'
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) -QcX Gold Corp. (TSXV: QCX) (OTCQB: QCXGF) (FSE: 21MA) ("QcX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has completed a high-resolution magnetic geophysical survey across the Golden Giant project and the West Block of the Fernet Project, both located in Quebec, Canada. Preliminary results, including imagery, are expected over the coming days and final reports in the next weeks. QcX Gold is also pleased to announce the commencement of an Induced Polarisation (IP) Geophysical Program on the Golden Giant Project. Line-cutters are on site clearing the way for equipment, with the geophysical team to follow shortly after. The program is expected to be completed towards the end of February, with results to follow in March.

These two geophysical surveys examine very different geological features. The airborne magnetics survey is useful to pinpoint geological contacts and structures including faults, shear zones and unconformities. The IP program aids in detecting the presence of sulphide mineralization below the earths surface as well as areas of increased or decreased resistivity which may indicate hydrothermal activity. Disseminated sulphides, including pyrite, chalcopyrite, and arsenopyrite, are associated with gold mineralization found in grab samples at Golden Giant. Information from both surveys will be key inputs for the upcoming drill program.

Albert Contardi, President and CEO of QcX, stated, "We are pleased to see the airborne magnetics survey completed on-time. We have covered an extremely vast land package with this survey, totalling 23,472 hectares, at a high resolution of 50 metre spacings. With these results, we will be able to advance our understanding of the structural layout at Golden Giant and Fernet West. We look forward to updating the market with our findings."

Aaron Stone, Vice President Exploration of QcX, added, "Following the completion of the magnetics survey, work has now begun on a focused 37km IP program on our Golden Giant East and Golden Giant West blocks. This ground-based survey will hone-in on areas where we discovered new gold showings during last summer's first pass exploration work. The majority of our gold showings discovered last year were associated with disseminated sulphides ranging between 2-10%. On the Golden Giant West, gold mineralization is associated with silicification and presumably increased resistivity. On the Golden Giant East, gold mineralization is commonly associated with shear zones and phyllic alteration which should have a lower resistivity signature. Our IP program, following interpretation and inversion, will provide us with definitive drill targets for our upcoming fully-funded diamond drilling campaign."

The Golden Giant project comprises 3 properties, Golden Giant East, Golden Giant West and the Kali East block, covering 18,992 hectares and is contiguous to Azimut Exploration Inc.'s Patwon project as shown in Figure 1. The Fernet project comprises two properties, Fernet West and Fernet East, covering 7,195 hectares and is contiguous to Wallbridge Mining's Fenelon and Martiniere projects as shown in Figure 2.



Figure 1: Location of the Golden Giant Project (red) with respect to neighbouring companies.



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1791/73971_664e85c694536bfb_001full.jpg







Figure 2: Location of the Fernet Project (red) with respect to neighbouring companies.



To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1791/73971_664e85c694536bfb_002full.jpg

About QcX Gold

QcX Gold is exploring for gold and VMS style mineralization on its highly prospective and well-located properties in Quebec, Canada. The Golden Giant Project is located in the James Bay region of Quebec, only 2.9 km away from Azimut Exploration Inc.'s Patwon discovery on their Elmer gold project. The Fernet Project is located in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in the Province of Quebec and is contiguous with Wallbridge Mining Company Limited's Fenelon/Martiniere property. Both properties are in close proximity to major discoveries which bodes well for exploration.

For further information, please contact:

Aaron Stone

Vice President Exploration

aaron.stone@qcxgold.com

514-235-6012

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements. 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, the expected positive exploration results, 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73971
NEW DELHI : No case of South African variant of COVID-19 virus has been found in the country so far, said NITI Aayog member (health) Dr VK Paul on Tuesday.

"South Africa variant of COVID19 is under the watch. It has come forward that this variant spreads faster. As of yesterday, this particular variant is not in the country," Dr Paul said while addressing a press conference.

The Union Health Ministry said that 15 States and union territories have not reported any death linked to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the last 24 hours.

NITI Aayog member lauded the improvement in the Covid-19 situation in national capital Delhi and said," It is remarkable that no death has been reported due to COVID-19 in Delhi, in the last 24 hours."

Dr Paul also shared his views on the progress of the COVID-19 vaccination program in the country and added," We can confidently say that the strategy to implement vaccination programme and the experience of vaccination is now consistently, very highly rated by people."

The health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that 97 per cent people are satisfied with the overall vaccination experience.

Bhushan said that so far 63,10,194 beneficiaries including healthcare and frontline workers have been vaccinated with the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of now.

"Administration of the second dose of vaccine will begin on February 13. We cannot indefinitely keep on scheduling and rescheduling healthcare workers. States/UTs have been advised that all healthcare workers must be scheduled at least once for vaccination by Feb 20. Timelines are communicated to states," he added.

According to Union Health Ministry, there are 1,43,635 active COVID-19 cases, 10,54,8,521 discharged and 15,5,158 deaths due to the disease.

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The UKs exit from the EU has meant that online shopping isnt what it used to be for Irish consumers.

Now more than ever, you need to know who youre buying from, where theyre based and what additional charges may apply.

The Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has a just brought out a list of top tips that consumers need to know before buying online.

First of all, a .ie domain name doesnt necessarily mean that the business youre buying from is based here. Check the businesss registered address in the terms and conditions (T&Cs) section of the website.

This is an essential step, even if youve bought from this business before, or if the site has a .ie or even a .eu domain.

If you cant find these details, consider buying elsewhere.

The key point here is that if the registered address is within the EU, they are not only required to provide their trading name and address, they must also comply with a range of long standing consumer protections.

If the registered address is outside of the EU  in the UK for example  your consumer rights will be different. And if a business has more than one website with a number of different domains  e.g. .de or .co.uk be sure to check the registered address on each website before you buy from it.

From the first of last month, all online shopping orders received from the UK (excluding Northern Ireland) are subject to Irish Vat and customs charges, depending on the value and the type of items purchased.

Before ordering from outside the EU, check the T&Cs to find out what Vat and import charges you may have to pay.

Full information about the additional charges can be found at revenue.ie.

EU websites are required to tell you about any additional c

osts before you make a purchase.

If you make a purchase and only find out about additional charges when the goods arrive at your house, you can refuse to pay and send them back.

Distance buying within the EU also gives you an automatic right of return for any reason on most goods. This means that if you do decide not to accept the delivery, you should immediately contact the business, tell them youre cancelling your order and want a full refund.

More details about your right to cancel are available at

CCPC or by calling the CCPCs dedicated consumer helpline on 01 402 5555.

Rights to return

If youre buying from a non-EU website, you wont automatically have the right to return a purchase. So, before you buy, always check the T&Cs. Find out if you can return an item if you change your mind, and if so, within what timeframe.

Find out too if you can you cancel an order before its dispatched.

Know who pays for the cost of returning it  you, or the business.

Also check what the T&Cs say about faulty products and if there are any limits to the businesss returns or faulty goods policy. If so, it might be worthwhile switching to an EU-based website to get those beefed up consumer rights.

The CCPC notes that weve seen a lot of reports of delayed deliveries in the past few weeks. They point out that if you buy from an EU website youre entitled to delivery within 30 days.

If the business doesnt deliver within the timeframe, you can cancel and get a refund, or you can agree a new delivery date.

Remember that the business is responsible for the purchase until it arrives at your house  unless of course you organised your own delivery.

This means that if a business organises a courier to deliver a purchase to you, its up to them to make sure it arrives. If it never shows, they have to organise a replacement or a refund.

Refunds

Buying from a UK website means that the suite of consumer protections afforded by EU law do not automatically apply and therefore, if something does go wrong it may be more difficult to get the issue resolved.

This is particularly important to consider if you are buying high-value items.

The European Consumer Centre (ECC Ireland) makes a good point: Brexit hasnt changed everything.

Read More Families in lockdown increased grocery spending by 172 in January

If you make a purchase from a UK trader with a registered presence in Ireland, your redress options and any request for repair, replacement, or refund are the same as they were before.

The business may be headquartered in the UK, but its operating in an EU country, and that means it must continue to adhere to EU rules.

Note too that if you do find yourself in dispute with a UK trader over a purchase, theres always chargeback.

Chargeback

If the supplier will not refund your money and you paid using a credit or debit card, your card provider can reverse the transaction. This is called a chargeback.

In order to start a chargeback, contact your bank or credit card provider as soon as possible. Give them details of the disputed transaction and request that they follow it up.

There are different terms and conditions depending on whether your card is Visa or MasterCard.

Most schemes offer full chargeback rights but there can be specific timeframes for requesting a chargeback, such as 120 or 180 days after the transaction takes place, or the agreed date of delivery.

The other recent development of note is the news that Amazon is building what it calls a fulfillment centre in Baldonnell, Co Dublin. Fulfillment centres are basically warehouses where the company receives and dispatches orders.

Amazon also has a facility in Rathcoole, Co. Dublin, but this is more of a distribution hub, there to facilitate Amazon Prime deliveries within Ireland.

With the news of the Baldonnell facility however comes speculation that we may now be getting an Amazon.ie. Time will tell.

In the meantime, the pandemic has seen so many great Irish businesses improve their online sales channels. If you can buy locally, do it.

Read More UK exports to EU fall 68% since deal as Brexit chaos worsens




The Biden administration turned down a meeting request with El Salvadors president on an unannounced trip to Washington last week, as criticism of the Central American leader mounts among Democrats, three people with knowledge of the decision said Monday.

The trip by Nayib Bukele, which has not been previously reported, came after a senior White House official warned in an interview with a Salvadoran news outlet highly critical of Bukele that the Biden administration expected to have differences with him.

Bukele was quick to embrace former President Donald Trumps hardline immigration policies restricting asylum requests, which won him a great deal of U.S. support for his tough governing style in El Salvador, where he is popular. But like other world leaders befriended by Trump, he faces an uphill climb pivoting to the Biden administration, which is seeking to undo those policies and has signaled its relationship with El Salvador is under review.

The presidents surprise trip amid a pandemic posed a dilemma for U.S. policy makers. They were given little advance notice and are mostly avoiding in-person meetings due to the coronavirus and because many senior positions remain vacant, said the the three people, all of whom are in Washington and insisted on speaking anonymously in return for discussing internal decision-making.

In rejecting Bukeles request, the Biden officials wanted to ensure Bukele didnt try to tout any meeting as a show of support before legislative elections later this month where he's seeking to expand his power base, the people said. However, they did make an exception for Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno, who met in Washington with senior Biden officials 11 days before the Andean nations presidential election.

Bukele insisted that the trip was private and that he didn't request any meeting with Biden officials.

What president in the world will go to a trip with his wife and baby girl to sit down in Washington and ask for random meetings to be held immediately? That doesnt even make sense, he said in a text message.

Story continues

The three people didn't say how the request for a meeting was made. But they said the decision not to meet with Bukele was deliberate.

While the Biden administration hopes to eventually engage Bukele in its $4 billion plan to attack the root causes of migration from Central America, it has serious concerns about his respect for the rule of law and democracy, the people added.

Clearly conditions have changed for Bukele, said Jose Miguel Vivanco, the Americas director at Human Rights Watch in Washington. His popularity in El Salvador doesnt insulate him from legitimate scrutiny in Washington over his record on human rights and respect for the rule of law.

The State Departments Western Hemisphere section said the Biden administration values what it considers a strong relationship between El Salvador and the United States and will work closely with its partners to address challenges in the region. A spokesperson declined further comment.

During the visit to Washington, Bukele did meet with Luis Almagro, the secretary general of the Organization of American States, said Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill, who did not accompany the president on the trip.

The OAS, which last year announced it would send an observer mission to El Salvador for the Feb. 28 congressional election, didn't respond to a request for comment nor put out any statement about the visit. Almagro is known to regularly tweet about his meetings with visiting dignitaries and on the same day he met with Bukele promoted his participation in a Zoom call with diplomats from Colombia.

Bukele took office in 2019 as an independent vowing to rescue El Salvador from the deep divisions left by uncontrolled gang violence and systemic corruption in both right- and left-wing governments that followed the end of a bloody civil war in 1992.

Polls say an overwhelming majority of Salvadorans approve of his tough approach, which is credited with reducing high levels of violence, and his allies are expected to win a majority in this months congressional vote.

But increasingly Democrats, but also some Republicans, have criticized Bukele for strong arm tactics like sending troops to surround Congress last year to pressure lawmakers to vote on funding for the fight against the gangs.

Over the weekend, two House Democrats, Rep. Norma Torres and Rep. Albio Sires, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Latin America, sent a letter to Bukele urging him not to stoke divisions in the interest of political gain.

The letter was prompted by the Jan. 31 killing of two individuals returning from a rally by Bukeles opponents from the leftist FMLN party. Police have arrested two FMLN members and a bodyguard who works for the Health Ministry as suspects.

Both Bukele and his opponents seized on the confusing incident, which is under investigation, to mutually accuse each other of inciting political violence.

It looks like the moribund parties have put into practice their final plan, Bukele wrote in the immediate aftermath of the killings, countering criticism on social media from opponents that his rhetoric was to blame for the deaths. Theyre so desperate not to lose their privileges and corruption.

The Biden administration last week terminated Trump-era bilateral agreements with El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala that required people seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border to go instead to one of the Central America nations and pursue their claims there.

Legislation passed last year and supported by Democrats curbs U.S. foreign aid to El Salvador to fund the purchase of U.S. military equipment. The State Department is also required to come up within six months a public list of corrupt individuals in Central America subject to sanctions, a move that could include some of the regions most-powerful politicians.

Juan Gonzalez, the National Security Councils senior director for the Western Hemisphere, said last month that the Biden administration expected to have differences with El Salvadors president and that any leader unwilling to tackle corruption wont be considered a U.S. ally.

Gonzalezs comments carried added weight because they were his first as head of White House policy toward Latin America and because they were made in an interview with El Faro, a frequent target of Bukele.

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Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have been given their first coronavirus jab, Clarence House has revealed.

Charles, 72, and Camilla, 73, are likely to have received it from a royal doctor at home. The couple have been isolating at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, although the Duchess is currently at her Wiltshire home, Ray Mill House.

It is likely, although not confirmed, that Charles and Camilla would have had the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, as did the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. A friend said Camilla seemed very happy.

Both Prince Charles and his son Prince William were struck down with Covid-19 during the first wave of the pandemic last year.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have received their first Covid-19 vaccinations. Pictured, the couple at the Gloucestershire Vaccination Centre in December

Charles has previously confirmed his intention to get vaccinated, but stressed that neither he  nor his wife  would expectany preferential treatment and would wait for their call as part of the over-70s group.

In December, Charles told staff administering the injection that he was way down the list to receive it.

He made the admission as he visited the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucester to meet frontline health workers.

The royal told staff: I think Ill have to wait for the AstraZeneca one before it gets to my turn. Im some way down the list and will have to wait.

It is not known where they were administered or which version of the vaccine Prince Charles, 72, and Camilla, 73, received. Pictured, Prince Charles on an engagement in December

Last month it was revealed that the Queen, 94, and 99-year-old Prince Philip were among the first wave to receive their Covid-19 jabs.

A royal source said the vaccinations were administered by a household doctor at Windsor Castle.

Buckingham Palace had initially insisted the Queen would not let it be known if and when she had it as it was a private medical matter.

But it was explained that she had changed her mind in order to prevent speculation.

The Government had been keen to make the news public as part of its drive to encourage people to be vaccinated.
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[February 09, 2021] Clearbridge Mobile Adds New Features to Mental Health App to Help Adolescents and Young Adults Increase Psychological Resilience

TORONTO, Feb. 9, 2021 /CNW/ - Clearbridge Mobile is proud to have supported and facilitated the latest round of updates applied to the JoyPop app. The JoyPop app aims to improve the psychological resilience of those within vulnerable populations and students transitioning to University through a set of activities, games, and reflection. These new updates provide greater functionality and accessibility for a wide range of target users. Working with Dr. Christine Wekerle and her team, Clearbridge Mobile translated academic research and previous insights gained from working with other healthcare organizations like Dynacare, CANet, and Crohn's and Colitis Canada, into engaging app features that would best resonate with adolescents and young adults. The first version of the app was launched in 2018 so that research studies could begin to gather insights and capture data to facilitate other positive mental health initiatives. "Working with the various experts in Clearbridge, it was a wonderful experience to learn how the app was seen as relevant to the designer's lives, that they could relate to its goals and see how it would have been a resource to their younger selves," says Dr. Christine Wekerle, Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University. "From the colour palette to the tag line, "Happiness starts with you" to the user-friendly and intuitive use of water sounds for easing to sleep, the design process has maintained the focus on positives and consistency through the user experience." Clearbridge Mobile's design thinking process reslts in a product roadmap, highlighting features to introduce into the app as it progresses through its lifecycle. Now, in the "next" phase of the project, the latest features introduced include:



The app interface and functionality now support French-language users.

"Elder/Mentor" has been added as a contact type in the in-app calling feature to support those in Indigenous communities.

"SleepEase" has been added as an activity aimed to help calm users as they try to fall asleep. Other features of the app include: In-app calling to reach population-specific helplines for immediate support.

Breathing exercises, games, and doodling to help users express emotions and manage stress levels.

Journaling prompts to help users recognize, process, and write down their thoughts, struggles and feelings.

A mood rating function that enables users to rate their mood, have the option to complete an activity to cope based on their mood, and monitor activities' effectiveness. "Clearbridge Mobile has been great to work with as we implemented the JoyPop app as a support for students making the transition to university," says Dr. Aislin Mushquash, Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Lakehead University.

"We found that using it more often was associated with improvements in emotion regulation and depressive symptoms." Data gathered from the numerous research studies, and feedback from participants also support Mushquash's claims. "I was really impressed with the fact that it brought my attention more to how I was feeling," says an app user from the Lakehead research study. "So, instead of just acknowledging that I was stressed and then managing with that, it really brought attention to why I was feeling that and just acknowledging that which I thought was really cool." "As a company, it is our goal to develop mobile applications that positively impact the lives of the user. Having had previous experience developing healthcare-related solutions allowed us to understand the needs of the user better, and ultimately helped us achieve that with this app," says Clearbridge Mobile CEO Deepak Chopra. "We continue to expand into the healthcare space to support various health conditions and initiatives, and aim to make a meaningful impact through our mobile, cloud, and web solutions." In tandem with being used for research studies, the JoyPop app is also available to the general public through the App Store . For more information on the JoyPop app, click here . About Clearbridge Mobile

Clearbridge Mobile is an award-winning full-stack mobile app development company that provides user-centric design and engineering services to the world's top enterprises, helping them meet their digital initiatives. With more than 250 apps successfully delivered for enterprise clients like Dynacare, Crohn's and Colitis Canada, Participaction, Bell Canada, TD Bank, and Rogers Communications, Clearbridge Mobile is the right partner to help you capitalize on the momentum of today's digital consumer. About McMaster University

Founded in 1887, McMaster University is ranked in the world's Top 75 by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. Home to more than 70 research centres and institutes, McMaster University comprises the Arts & Science Program and six Faculties: The DeGroote School of Business, and the Faculties of Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences. About Lakehead University

Dynamic, modern, and highly learner-centred, we acknowledge all of our students as valued leaders of tomorrow, whose education and success are most paramount to our institution. Both campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia promise the total university experience: a blend of academic excellence and opportunity with a rich variety of social and recreational activities. We also promise excellence in research; Lakehead is the proud host to eleven Canada Research Chairs and revolutionary facilities such as our world-renowned Paleo-DNA Laboratory and our Biorefining Research Institute. SOURCE Clearbridge Mobile Inc.

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Actor Salman Khan took to his social media handle to add something special to his timeline. He shared a video taken 33 years ago. The actor decided to wish his childhood friend Sadiq on the occasion of his wedding anniversary by posting the funny clip. While sharing the throwback video, on Monday, Salman also cracked a joke and said to his friend's wife, Rehaana that she still has time to run away from the marriage.

The clip shows a young Salman dressed in a formal outfit, walking to the dais and hugging his friend. It appears the clip Salman played on his television, is from his friends wedding day.

He wished the couple on their anniversary by saying that his friend got married when he was a child. He wished them both all the best and a happy marriage anniversary. Salman expressed his respect for Sadiqs wife Rehaana for making their marriage work.

In terms of work, hosting the 14th season of television reality showBigg Boss is keeping him busy. He will next be seen in Prabhudeva's Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai, co-starring his Bharat co-stars Jackie Shroff and Disha Patani. The upcoming action film, which is the Bollywood remake of 2017 Korean thriller, The Outlaws, will also feature Randeep Hooda. The actor is also committed to Kick 2 also starring Jacqueline Fernandez. Salman is also looking forward to Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali directed by Farhad Samji.

Other than that, the actor is currently shooting for Antim: The Final Truth. He plays a Sikh cop alongside his brother-in-law and actor Aayush Sharma who plays the antagonist in the film. Directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, the film is a Hindi remake of the Marathi hit film Mulshi Pattern. The recently released teaser of the film revealed Aayush in a new beefed up avatar.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 9 : Kerala's coronavirus test positivity rate has fallen to 7.47 per cent on Tuesday, health officials said.

Last month, the positivity rate in Kerala shot over 12 per cent, forcing authorities to tighten the Covid norms across the state.

Kerala Health Minister K.K.Shailaja said that even as the state has recorded 5,214 new Covid cases, the total recoveries in the state now stands at 9,09,102.

Meanwhile, 19 deaths were reported in the state, taking the toll to 3,902.
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 convicted sex offender accused of violating parole locked himself in a New Orleans East hotel room after being confronted by law enforcement officers Tuesday, setting up an hourslong standoff, authorities said.

Update: Man taken into custody after more than 12 hours

Charles Mangrum, 35, of Covington was wanted on warrants for failing to register as a sex offender and violating his parole on a weapons conviction. New Orleans police officers and deputy U.S. marshals tracked him to the Trident Inn & Suites in the 12300 block of the South Interstate 10 Service Road, but Mangrum refused to come out and locked himself in his room, Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said.

At about 11:35 a.m. the Police Department sent members of its Special Operations Division to the scene with negotiators to speak with Mangrum, who was thought to have a woman and several weapons inside. Ferguson said it was unclear whether the woman was there voluntarily or being held hostage, but she exited the room by 3:45 p.m., leaving Mangrum inside, police said.

The standoff was continued as of 7:30 p.m., officials said. Ferguson said authorities wanted to persuade Mangrum to surrender peacefully, no matter how many hours it takes.

+4 Standoff ends after 17 hours between New Orleans police, convicted sex offender The man was wanted on warrants for failing to register as a sex offender and violating his parole on a weapons conviction.

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As always, at the end of the day, we want everyone to leave this situation safely  not just our officers but the offender as well, Ferguson said. We are going to be as patient as we can.

Ferguson said police had moved guests out of the hotel and that the local Red Cross chapter would help find accommodations for displaced from the hotel or the nearby area.

+11 After standoff, New Orleans police arrest man linked to robberies, shooting near Tulane campus New Orleans police arrested a man wanted in connection with a series of robberies and a shooting in the neighborhood around Tulane University 

It was at least the third standoff with a recalcitrant suspect in New Orleans in six days.

On Feb. 3, a man accused of exchanging gunfire with police and locking himself inside his Lower 9th Ward home surrendered after a seven-hour standoff. And on Monday a suspect in a shooting and series of robberies in a neighborhood near Tulane University refused for five hours to come out of a home before being arrested.

Records show that Mangrum was convicted in 2009 of carnal knowledge of a juvenile, indecent behavior with a juvenile and possession of child pornography. In 2018, he was convicted of illegally possessing a gun as a convicted felon and later went on parole, records show.

Cryptocurrency prices are soaring after Tesla said that it had purchased $1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin with company funds. The electric carmaker wasnt the first company to shift corporate cash into cryptocurrencies, but it was one of the biggest. It could make finance chiefs elsewhere consider whether they should follow suit, the DealBook newsletter reports.

Teslas move is an exclamation point for institutional acceptance of Bitcoin, said Matthew Graham, the chief executive of the Beijing-based blockchain investment firm Sino Global Capital. Its clear that Bitcoin is ready for Main Street.

Elon Musk, Teslas chief executive, is known for bucking convention, so his companys purchase is not as surprising as it would be at, say, Ford or General Motors.

Tesla had more than $19 billion in cash at the end of 2020, a big enough cushion to make the Bitcoin purchase a relatively small share of its resources. But much of that cash was raised in recent stock sales, and the company only recently reported its second year of positive free cash flow. Because of Bitcoins unique characteristics, Tesla will have to record declines in the value of its Bitcoin against its earnings, but cannot book gains.
Ten million deaths per year by 2050 related to antimicrobial resistance  thats what a large British study, conducted in 2014, predicts if the current trend continues. Despite the strong efforts deployed in recent years, these figures are unfortunately still valid.

Opinion

Ten million deaths per year by 2050 related to antimicrobial resistance  thats what a large British study, conducted in 2014, predicts if the current trend continues. Despite the strong efforts deployed in recent years, these figures are unfortunately still valid.

In contrast to the new viral pandemics that regularly make headlines, this resistance plague does not concern a single pathogen but rather a multitude of viruses, parasites, fungi and especially bacteria.

Antimicrobials are substances that kill or slow the growth of microorganisms, including viruses (antivirals), parasites (antiparasites), fungi (antifungals) and bacteria (antibiotics). Antibiotics are a class of antimicrobials that are specific against bacteria.

Since the commercialization of penicillin in the 1940s, the development of new antibiotics has been followed closely by the discovery of bacteria resistant to them.

While the development of new molecules has become slower and slower, the development of antibacterial resistance is on the contrary increasingly rapid. Its a real race against time. Ultimately, this problem could lead us into a post-antibiotic era, where the slightest injury or surgery would constitute a significant risk of dangerous infection.

A global priority

The scientific world has been warning us about the magnitude of the problem of antimicrobial resistance for several decades. As with climate change, it has unfortunately taken a long time to make governments and the general public aware of the seriousness of the situation.

The World Health Organization (WHO), a key player in this field, identified antimicrobial resistance in 2019 as one of the 10 greatest public health threats facing humanity. More recently, the WHO has also published a list of critical health challenges for the next 10 years, including not only the eradication of infectious diseases but also the preservation of antimicrobial drugs.

The fight against antimicrobial resistance concerns all microorganisms. However, a few bacteria alone are responsible for many of the problems caused by this resistance. The WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recently identified the most problematic bacteria in order to focus efforts to combat this scourge.

Where does this resistance come from?

All bacteria can become resistant, not only those that cause disease. The development of resistance to an antibiotic is a natural phenomenon that occurs either as a result of a mutation in the DNA of the bacterium, or by the acquisition of a resistance gene. This phenomenon, which is quite rare, is not problematic as long as resistant bacteria do not proliferate and transmit their resistance to a pathogen.

On the other hand, when bacteria are exposed to an antibiotic, susceptible bacteria will die and resistant ones will multiply. This is the principle of selection. Exposure to a small amount of antibiotic or repeated exposure accelerates the selection of resistant bacteria. Paradoxically, the use of antibiotics is therefore a major factor in the spread of resistant bacteria. This is exactly why it is important to use antibiotics properly and limit their use as much as possible.

Unfortunately, sometimes it only takes one resistant bacteria to cause serious problems. Although spontaneous DNA mutations very rarely lead to resistance, bacteria are quite efficient at exchanging genes, including resistance genes. Some species have even developed a characteristic that greatly promotes gene exchange: natural competence.

Natural competence allows some microorganisms to take DNA from their environment and use it as if it were their own, through a mechanism called transformation.

When a cell dies, its genetic material (DNA) is released into the environment. Since our body is home to several billion bacteria that multiply and die all the time, we are literally a gigantic DNA reservoir. If an antibiotic resistance gene is found among this DNA and a competent bacterium gets hold of it, this gene will be passed on to all its descendants, in addition to potentially being transferred to other species.

Coincidentally, although it is a relatively rare characteristic, natural competence is found in many pathogenic species. Among these are those responsible for cholera (V. cholerae), pneumonia (S. pneumoniae), Legionnaires disease (L. pneumophila), gastric ulcers (H. pylori) and, most importantly, meningitis (N. meningitidis) and gonorrhea (N. gonorrhoeae).

Gonorrhea on the rise

Bacteria of the genus Neisseria are true experts at exchanging DNA. Unlike other naturally competent species, they can acquire genes from their environment at any time and at a very high frequency. This is one of the main reasons why the only two pathogenic Neisseria species, N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae, evolve very rapidly.

Its strong natural competence is also one of the main reasons why N. gonorrhoeae accumulates a high level of antibiotic resistance, prompting the CDC to classify it as an urgent threat and the WHO to deem it a high research priority.

In Canada, the incidence of gonorrhea has grown rapidly in recent years, reaching nearly 30,000 cases in 2017. Over time, the bacterium responsible for this sexually transmitted infection has become resistant to many antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin (57 per cent of isolates in 2018), erythromycin (56 per cent), tetracycline (47 per cent) and penicillin (nine per cent).

The recommended antibiotics, known as first-line antibiotics, have to be substituted many times to ensure effective treatment despite this resistance. Today, only three antibiotics are still recommended to treat gonorrhea: azithromycin, ceftriaxone and cefixime.

However, 13 per cent of strains isolated in 2017 were already resistant to at least one of these treatments. If the progression of resistance continues, there will soon be no effective treatment for the infection, hence the importance of developing new antibiotics and stopping its spread.

Major efforts are being made worldwide to develop new antibiotics. These treatments also aim to be as selective as possible, in order to only eliminate harmful bacteria and limit the spread of resistance.

In addition to antibiotics, other types of treatments are being studied, such as phagotherapy, which uses viruses that specifically kill bacteria. However, scientists alone will not be able to limit the public health catastrophe that is looming.

In Canada, the federal government developed an action plan in 2015 to combat antimicrobial resistance. This plan involves several organizations, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, to take action on all fronts. This pan-Canadian collaboration has resulted in numerous investments in research, as well as a focus on surveillance and prevention.

Despite a having a low profile compared to some viral diseases such as COVID-19, antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance can indeed be described as a pandemic. In the long term, its economic and public health toll is likely to be much worse than the current crisis. However, the challenges we face have taught us that global co-operation is possible. If the scientific community and society as a whole work together as they are against COVID-19, we can hope to stop this other pandemic, or at least limit its impact.

Martin Chenal is a PhD student in biology (microbiology), National Institute for Scientific Research (INRS).

This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 23:49:04|Editor: huaxia

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MUSCAT, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Oman's total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 136,187, with 197 new cases registered on Tuesday, local media reported.

The total recoveries rose to 128,089, and the fatalities hit 1,536, with one new death, according to a ministry statement quoted by the official Oman News Agency (ONA).

Oman witnessed a steady increase in the number of new cases infected with COVID-19, Adel Al Wahaibi, director of the ministry's Epidemiological Surveillance Department was quoted as saying by the ONA.

"Within the next two days, we will sound the alarm bell due to the increase," he said.

"The country, with its precautionary measures, was able to control the cases coming from abroad... but the local infections remained soaring," he added. Enditem
The Presidency, on Tuesday, says the President, Muhammadu Buhari, will be a talkative if he speaks on every matter including the herdsmen ...

The Presidency, on Tuesday, says the President, Muhammadu Buhari, will be a talkative if he speaks on every matter including the herdsmen crisis.

Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, spoke on Channels Televisions Politics Today programme.





Many Nigerians including Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, had urged the President to address Nigerians and make it known publicly that he does not support the criminal activities of some herdsmen in parts of the country.

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, had also called for the enactment of a law to abolish the movement of cattle by herdsmen from the Northern part of the country to other parts in order to prevent the incessant herdsmen-farmers clashes rocking parts of the country.

When asked about the reaction of the President on the idea suggested by Ganduje, Adesina said, When you have knotty issues like this, many ideas will be proffered, many solutions will be canvassed. The President does not have to speak on each and every one of them.

He does not have to, it was just an idea being proffered. It should be looked into and then if it is a consensus, it should be adopted. But it is not as one idea comes the President speaks on it, another idea comes, the President speaks on it, such must be a talkative President.





The South-West region has been in the eye of the storm lately over the activities of gun-wielding herdsmen who kidnap, kill, rape, and destroy farmlands in Yorubaland with impunity.





Many Nigerians including Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and a leader of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, had spoken against the killer herdsmen who move about with AK-47 rifles while private citizens are denied of ammunition to protect themselves.

However, speaking on Tuesday, Adesina said the position of Buhari has always been that anybody who bears arms unlawfully should be arrested and tried.

His (Buharis) position has always been that anybody that bears arms unlawfully should be arrested and tried irrespective of where he comes from, the presidential aide said, adding that the country must explore the option of ranching to solve the herdsmen crisis at hand.

Adesina also said contrary to claims by critics, hundreds of criminal herders have been arrested and tried in the past.
An enemy of Kocner with many friends in politics. Daniel Lipsic is the new special prosecutor

Kocner ordered his murder, Harabin predicted he would end up in jail.

June 2011. Police Corps President Jaroslav Spisiak and Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic present new logo "Help and protect" that will be located at police vehicles. (Source: Archive of Sme)

Mobster Marian Kocner used to call him Gambino. He feared the idea that Daniel Lipsic could get into power because the state would then start paying attention to how Kocner and his friend Norbert Bodor earned their millions.

When Robert Fico's government started wobbling after the murder of Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova, Kocner conversed about it in the coded Threema app with tax fraudster Ladislav Basternak.

"F**k, it's headed for a fall. When it falls, we won't have time to leave. Every press conference is like you and me, and Bodor mooched hundreds of millions of euros. I never fear anything, but I'm starting to be afraid. Laco, if this falls, we will go into custody the next day. Said Matovic and Lipsic," Kocner wrote back then.

Today, Kocner is serving a 19-year prison sentence for the forgery of promissory notes. Basternak is serving five years in prison for tax fraud. Bodor is in pretrial custody regarding the corruption case Dobytkar (Cattle Breeder).

Daniel Lipsic has been elected special prosecutor by MPs of the ruling coalition led by OLaNO of Igor Matovic.

Lipsic quit politics only four years ago, which weakens the trust in his independence in the prosecution post. In the intervening years, as an attorney at law, Lipsic's clients included penitents prosecuted by those who will now be Lipsic's subordinates.

"Now his election could threaten the perceived independence of the prosecution service beyond acceptable levels," the non-governmental watchdog Transparency International Slovakia wrote on its blog.

Early start in politics

9. Feb 2021 at 15:44 | Roman Cuprik
Hyde follows family tradition, takes home PIAA gold in shot put

"It's awesome," Hyde said. "It really feels like a tradition, now. It will be cool to see our names next to each other in the record books."
The 2021 Honda HR-V has arrived at Capital Honda. The crossover has a sporty exterior along with an impressive fuel economy and great safety features.

Individuals who have been thinking about purchasing a new larger vehicle can now take advantage of the 2021 Honda HR-V being available at Capital Honda. The crossover has a sporty exterior along with an impressive fuel economy and great safety features. The three trim levels it is available in include the Sport, Touring and LX.

All three trim levels of the 2021 Honda HR-V come standard with the same engine. It is a 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC four-cylinder engine that produces 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque. In addition, there is an Eco Assist system that gives drivers information about driving habits and how these habits affect the vehicles fuel economy.

The estimated fuel economy will depend on the drivetrain that the 2021 Honda HR-V comes with. The first is front-wheel-drive and the crossover will get approximately 8.4 L/100 KM in the city, 7.0 L/100 KM on the highway and 7.8 L/100 KM combined. This drivetrain is only available on the LX trim levels. Next, there is an all-wheel-drive drivetrain also available. The LX trim level gets approximately 8.8 L/100 KM in the city, 7.5 L/100 KM on the highway and 8.2 L/100 KM combined while the Sport and Touring get approximately 9.1 L/100 KM in the city, 7.7 L/100 KM on the highway and 8.5 L/100 KM combined.

Finally, Honda Sensing Technologies come standard on the 2021 Honda HR-V. Systems include Forward Collision Warning, Collision Mitigation, Lane Departure and more.

Individuals who would like to learn more about the 2021 Honda HR-V can visit the dealerships website https://www.capitalhonda.com/. Potential customers can reach someone at the dealership by calling 902-566-1101. Finally, Capital Honda is located at 40 lower Malpeque Road for those who wish the see the crossover in person.
As some Alabama districts are seeing their teachers get the coronavirus shot the DeKalb County Schools superintendent tells WAAY 31 he isn't sure when his staff will get their chance.

"I want to do it for myself, but more important for my mother and daddy who are up in age and have some underlying health conditions," explained Mary Crosby, DeKalb Co. Schools. Crosby is waiting for her chance to get the coronavirus vaccine. She's part of the more than 60 percent of DeKalb County Schools employees who say they want the shot but will have to wait.

"Regrettably we don't have any vaccines to provide them at this time," said Dr. Jason Barnett, DeKalb County Schools superintendent.

It's not for lack of trying. In a letter to his staff sent out Monday afternoon, Barnett explained that he's worked with state lawmakers, the Department of Health, Emergency Management and more to try to get the shot available to his employees.

He says its been frustrating, but he understands the department of health is doing the best it can with limited vaccine supply.

"I know they're working hard, and I know it means a lot to them to prevent the spread and get their vaccine in everybody's hands," said Barnett.

In the meantime, the district has placed an order with a local pharmaceutical company for vaccines.

"Once we have that vaccine available we're going to put our plan in place and get them vaccinated as soon as possible," said Barnett.

Right now there are a couple plans ready to go depending on how those vaccines are delivered. One plan will potentially be to give out the vaccines at the DeKalb County Coliseum. If you call the DeKalb County Health department to set up a coronavirus vaccine you're referred to the state scheduling website. At last check, no vaccine appointments are available in DeKalb County to schedule.

Next week, the DeKalb County Emergency Management Office plans to hold a vaccine clinic at the Northeast Alabama Agribusiness Center. This clinic will be for those who attended the first clinic last month to get their second dose. It starts on Feb. 16 at 8:30 a.m.


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The on Monday withdrew the additional police force deployed at capital borders, where farmers are camping for over two months demanding withdrawal of three farm laws.

As per an internal communication of Delhi Police, the additional forces are asked to go back to their respective units and districts.

The deployment of the police force was increased in the Delhi borders following the violence during the farmers' tractor rally on January 26.

On Republic Day, protestors did not follow the prearranged route and broke barricades to enter Delhi, clashed with police and vandalised property in several parts of the capital during the farmers' tractor rally. They also entered the Red Fort and unfurled their flags from its ramparts.

Police had also announced a reward of Rs 50,000 each for the arrest of Jajbir Singh, Buta Singh, Sukhdev Singh and Iqbal Singh for their alleged involvement in the January 26 violence, according to the

Farmers have been protesting at the different borders of the 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.

(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.)
Retail prices of petrol hit a new record high on Tuesday in the national capital with oil marketing companies (OMCs) raising pump prices by 35 paise a litre to 87.30. Diesel prices were also up 35 paise a litre, selling at 77.48 a litre in Delhi, according to price notification of state-owned fuel retailers

Petrol and diesel retailed at a record high in Mumbai as well, at 93.83 a litre and 84.36 a litre respectively.

Petrol, Diesel prices in metros

Delhi - 87.30, 77.48

Mumbai - 93.83, 84.36

Koltata - 88.63, 81.06

Chennai - 89.70, 82.66

Petrol and diesel prices are revised on a daily basis in line with benchmark international price and foreign exchange rates.

Global oil prices today rose to their highest in 13 months as supply cuts by major producers and optimism over fuel demand recovery support energy markets. Brent crude futures for April gained 29 cents, or 0.5%, to $60.85 a barrel.

Additional supply reductions by top exporter Saudi Arabia in February and March, on top of cuts by producers in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies, are tightening supplies and balancing global markets.

Investors are also pinning hopes on oil demand recovery when COVID-19 vaccines take effect. A weak dollar has also helped shored up prices of commodities.

With inputs from agencies

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Last week French universities began to partially reopen to students. Following a tweet from French President Emmanuel Macron on January 21 announcing the partial reopening, new rules this term will allow each student to attend classes one day per week. Macrons tweet was made a day after a series of small student protests led by the New Anti-capitalist Party (NPA) and student unions called for the immediate reopening of universities on January 20.

Universite de Paris - Faculte de Droit, Place de Pantheon (Image Credit: Peter Haas/Wikipedia)

The measure will throw hundreds of thousands of students back into classroom settings every day. For example, at just the University of Orleans, 4,000 students will return for in-person education each day. The risk of infection is not limited to the classroom. Students, professors and staff will increase the number of people on public transport and lead to unmasked, crowded lunches in cafeterias.

Even if strict protocols are followed, the virus will inevitably spread in an educational setting. This has been shown by multiple scientific studies. However, in all likelihood there will be a repeat of the September reopening of universities and schools, where supposedly strict rules will not be followed by most universities. Lectures will again take place in poorly ventilated rooms and halls without enough space for social distancing.

In current conditions the policy means a further acceleration in the spread of the virus, leading to more infections and deaths both among students and the wider population. Since the September reopening, nearly 50,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the country.

The relaxation of these measures comes as dangerous variants of the virus become further entrenched in France. On Thursday, Prime Minister Jean Castex reported that 14 percent of COVID-19 cases in the country already involved the more infectious B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the UK. In France, an average of 419 people have died every day over the past week.

On Sunday, preliminary results from a study were published showing that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was significantly less effective against the South African variant. In some cases, the British variant has also developed the E484K mutation that is believed to cause the reduction in vaccine efficacy. The rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine in France began on Saturday and is a key part of the governments vaccination campaign, which has still reached less than 3 percent of the population. The government is using the campaign for vaccines as a justification for its refusal to impose a lockdown until the population can be vaccinated and the virus stopped.

Contrary to the notion promoted by capitalist governments and the media, teenagers and young adults do get seriously ill from the disease. At the time of writing, 294 people aged under 30 are hospitalized with the virus, and 51 people in this age category have died from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. Health care workers treating patients with the British and South African variants have also emphasized that they are generally much younger than during the first wave.

Although undertaken in the name of defending students mental health, the partial reopening of universities is a tactical step in the governments broader herd immunity policy. Macron has been pushing for a premature reopening of universities since the new year. On January 4, the Ministry of Higher Education decreed that certain groups of students could return in small groups and to sit for exams.

However, this met sharp resistance from students. For example, L2 students at Creteil University launched a petition against in-person exams. The petition stated: The health crisis is far from over and is starting up again with the festive season and the arrival of a new strain of COVID is only making things worse. Doing exams in the classroom, given the current situation, is a dangerous action for everyones health.

Although just over a month later, this remains true, with the exam season finished and a new semester beginning. The university administrations, government and student unions have redoubled their efforts to push for a reopening.

The unions and pseudo-left parties bear central responsibility for creating the conditions for Macron to push through the reopening. It was only following a series of small protests organized by the NPA and a coalition of student unions on January 20 that Macron announced the measure.

The protest encompassed the youth organizations of the Greens, Jean-Luc Melenchons Unsubmissive France and Macrons own party, and was backed by the student unions. Only 1,500 protesters gathered in Paris and only a few hundred in other cities across France, yet these protests supposedly pressured Macron to implement his own right-wing policy. In contrast, when hundreds of thousands of yellow vest protesters demonstrated for months each week against social inequality and tax cuts for the rich, the presidents response was police repression.

In fact, the current reopening has already been criticized among these layers as being too limited. On January 25, Maryam Pougetoux, the head of the National Union of French Students, pushed for even more anti-lockdown measures, stating, We must go further, with levels of 50 percent [in-person].

The claim that accelerating mass death and illness in society will improve the mental health of students is absurd. In fact, according to a recent survey by Odoxa-Backbone Consulting, 46 percent of students fear for their own health, and 80 percent fear for the health of their families.

Nonetheless, Macron, in a February 2 interview, claimed his policies aim to protect our youth as much as possible.

A number of recent student suicides have underlined the mental health crisis engulfing youth both in France and internationally. While social isolation is a considerable huge strain on students, as well as the rest of society, it is not the underlying cause of the mental health crisis. The vast majority of youth face the specter of unemployment, and do not have access to adequate housing or food. A recent viral video of hundreds of students queuing for food parcels highlights the precarity facing French youth in the 21st century.

While the pandemic has compounded these issues, during the last 12 months the billionaire class wealth has rocketed. The youth face the brutal consequences of the European ruling class conscious decision to let hundreds of thousands die, including among their family members and friends. Those of student age have grown up only seeing only austerity at home and imperialist war abroad.

Despite the anti-lockdown campaign of Macron and the pseudo-left parties, there is not popular support for reopening universities among the population or the student body. The handful of students gathered by the student union-NPA protest stands in stark contrast to tens of thousands who have demonstrated against Macrons recent police-state measures: the anti-Muslim Law Affirming Republican Principles and the Global Security Law. A recent poll showed that 70 percent of the French population stated they supported a new lockdown to stop the spread of the virus.

These protests were an effort to divert anger over the social crisis, poor housing, food insecurity and the mental health crisis behind a campaign for an end to lockdown measures. In doing so, they are functioning as the political cheerleaders for a policy aimed at sacrificing tens of thousands of lives for the profits of the corporate and financial elite. The campaign for a reopening is aimed at preventing any impact of a lockdown on corporate profits, and keeping schools open is necessary in order that childrens parents can continue to go to work.

The return to in-person instruction at the universities is a useful tool to increase pressure on schoolteachers to maintain in-person education. It also provides a precedent for the reopening of non-essential enterprise, including restaurants and hospitality venues.

Students and young people must not allow themselves to be used as pawns in the governments efforts to pursue homicidal policy. Schools, universities and non-essential workplaces must be closed, and a comfortable living wage must be provided to the entire population, young and old. To fight for this program, students should turn to the working class, the only social force capable of imposing a scientific response to the pandemic. The fight against the policy of death is the fight against capitalism and for socialism.
(Alliance News) - All travellers arriving in the UK will have to take two coronavirus tests in a fresh attempt to prevent mutant strains entering the country under new rules to be announced this week.

The Department for Health & Social Care said the move was designed to provide a "further level of protection" enabling the authorities to track new cases more effectively.

It is expected that people isolating at home will be told they must get a test two and eight days into their 10-day quarantine period.

It comes after it was confirmed last week that UK nationals returning from 33 "red list" countries would be required to quarantine in closely monitored government-designated hotels, where they would have to take two tests.

A DHSC spokesman said: "Throughout the pandemic, the government has put in place proportionate measures, informed by the advice of scientists, that have led to some of the toughest border regimes in the world.

"Enhancing our testing regime to cover all arrivals while they isolate will provide a further level of protection and enable us to better track any new cases which might be brought into the country, and give us even more opportunities to detect new variants."

A formal announcement could come as early as Tuesday when Health Secretary Matt Hancock updates MPs in a Commons statement on the pandemic.

The move comes as officials sought to reassure the public that vaccines should provide effective protection against people falling seriously ill from the new South African variant.

South Africa has suspended use of the Oxford University and AstraZeneca PLC vaccine after a preliminary trial suggested it offered a reduced level of protection against infection and mild illness from the variant.

However the deputy chief medical officer for England said that, unlike the variant which emerged last year in Kent, there was no evidence it enjoyed a "transmissibility advantage" so was unlikely to become the dominant strain in the UK in the coming months.

Jonathan Van-Tam said he believed it was "likely" the AstraZeneca jab a like the other vaccines a would give "substantial" protection against serious illness from the South Africa variant.

He said that it was possible people would need annual or biennial booster jabs as the vaccines were updated to deal with new variants, and that there were "a lot of steps behind the scenes" to ensure that could happen.

New rules on hotel quarantine are due to come into force on next week a although the government has yet to announce any agreement with any of hotel chains on providing accommodation.

On Monday the prime minister's official spokesman said no formal contracts had yet been awarded after the government issued commercial specifications last Thursday.

However the Financial Times reported that ministers were said to be close to signing up a series of hotels near Heathrow, and were optimistic of agreeing deals with others around Manchester, Gatwick, Birmingham and London City airports.

Some 10,000 extra coronavirus tests will be rolled out in Manchester from Tuesday, after four people from two unconnected households were found to be infected with the E484K mutation linked to the Kent variant, Manchester City Council said.

Meanwhile the government is urging any over 70s in England who have yet to receive an appointment to be vaccinated to contact the NHS to ask for one. Previously people were told to wait until they invited to get the jab.

Ministers remain confident they will hit their target to offer a vaccination to the 15 million people across the UK in the four most vulnerable groups a including the over 70s a by Monday.

Hancock said 12.2 million people have now received the jab, including 91% of all over 80s as well as 93% of eligible care home residents.

The new figures came as the government launched an urgent campaign to recruit more social care staff in England to fill gaps left by staff forced to self-isolate.

DHSC urged the unemployed, volunteers and people on furlough to register to fill short-term gaps in the sector with opportunities including personal care a helping people to wash and dress a providing wellbeing support, collecting and delivering supplies or helping out with cooking and cleaning.

By Gavin Cordon, PA Whitehall Editor

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
A coroner has blasted the 'utterly bewildering' decision to send a ten-week-old baby back to her parents where she died from a catalogue of injuries in the same council where Baby P died in 2007.

Lily-Mai Saint George collapsed in her family home in Tottenham on January 31, 2018, and died of her injuries two days later at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The coroner ruled on Monday that her killing was unlawful but police said there is 'insufficient evidence' to charge either of her parents Darren Hurrell or Lauren Saint George.

An inquest at St Pancras Coroner's Court heard Lily-Mai had 19 rib fractures and a serious head injury which caused her death.

Medical experts said the injuries were due to her being assaulted and that the level of force was more significant than just rough handling.

Lily-Mai was born premature and had spent the first two months of her life in hospital, before she was discharged into her parents' care on January 25 2018.

But just six days later she returned to hospital in a 'critical and life-threatening' condition.

A coroner has blasted the 'utterly bewildering' decision to send a ten-week-old baby back to her parents where she died from a catalogue of injuries, St Pancras Coroner's Court heard

A health visitor and social worker from Haringey Council had shared their concerns that the baby 'was not safe to be left in their care of her parents', the inquest heard.

Ms Saint George, appeared to be 'distracted' from the baby and left Mr Hurrell, a KFC shift manager, to carry out much of the parenting, according to witnesses.

At the inquest, Ms Saint George declined to answer questions while Mr Hurrell said Lily-Mai's rib injuries could have been caused by CPR and he once held her leg 'tightly' to stop her falling.

Senior Coroner Mary Hassell questioned why the anaemic and premature baby was discharged into the parents' care.

She said she will be making a prevention of future deaths report to Haringey Council, whose children's services were previously criticised over the death of Baby P.

Peter Connelly  known as Baby P  was killed following months of abuse while he was on Haringey's 'at risk' register.

Peter was identified as being at risk of neglect and had been seen on around 60 separate occasions by social workers, health visitors and others who failed to save him.

In the eight months while he was on Haringey's child protection register he suffered more than 50 injuries including seven broken ribs and a fractured spine, and was finally found dead in his blood-spattered cot. His mother Tracey Connelly helped to disguise his injuries by smearing his face with chocolate.

She was later jailed over his death, along with her abusive lover Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen.

The council's then head of children's services, Sharon Shoesmith, was later sacked and a serious case review said the 17-month-old's death 'could have been prevented'.

Peter Connelly  known as Baby P  was killed following months of abuse while he was on Haringey's 'at risk' register.

The coroner said about Haringey's treatment of Lily-Mai: 'I have heard the evidence of several professionals who were charged with the care of Lily Mai, the doctors and nurses at Barnet Hospital, who were extremely concerned about her and that they did not believe it was safe for her to be discharged in the care of her parents.

'There were other parents who were of the same view. And yet Haringey Children's Services did facilitate that discharge and that is ultimately bewildering to me.

'I will make a prevention of future deaths report to Haringey Council.

'This is a very, very sad story and I'm afraid it is not the first time that a story has been told.'

Dr Cheentan Singh, from North Middlesex University Hospital, said the baby had been brought to the emergency department on January 31 2018.

In a statement read out in court, he said he told the parents that a head scan showed Lily-Mai had bleeding around the brain, to which her father Darren Hurrell responded by crying.

Dr Singh said the mother, Lauren Saint George, had a 'brief smile on her face', which he thought was an 'abnormal reaction' after he told her Lily-Mai was 'so unwell she may die'.

The court heard Lily-Mai had extensive irreversible brain injury and multiple organ failure, and a post-mortem examination found bruises on her face and head that were not related to therapy.

Giving live evidence, pathologist Dr Nathaniel Cary said the baby had a haemorrhage in multiple compartments of her brain and spinal cord and damage caused by a lack of oxygen, which he said was a pattern explained by trauma.

Lily-Mai Saint George collapsed in her family home in Tottenham on January 31, 2018, and died of her injuries two days later at Great Ormond Street Hospital

He said the cause of death was a head injury caused by shaking and impact, and that the level of force was significantly greater than what would be termed as rough handling.

Dr Cary said fractures found on Lily-Mai's right leg would have been caused two days before she died as a result of 'forceful twisting and traction', describing the level of force as 'inappropriate and in excess of rough handling'.

He said there was a visible and notable change in Lily-Mai's condition and that someone 'would've known something was wrong'.

Dr Peter Ehrhardt, a retired paediatrician, said he agreed with Dr Cary's evidence and told the inquest that he believed Lily-Mai's injuries were due to her being assaulted.

Giving evidence by video link, Mr Hurrell said he told police that the CPR he had administered on his daughter may have caused the rib fractures but that he was not sure whether this was true.

He described himself as a 'big lad and heavy-handed', and said he does not know how Lily-Mai sustained the head injury.

When asked by coroner Mary Hassell whether he had done anything to cause Lily-Mai any injuries, he said: 'No, I wouldn't hurt my little girl.'

Mr Hurrell told the inquest that he had been arrested in April 2018 over the matter.

Senior Coroner Mary Hassell questioned why the anaemic and premature baby was discharged into the parents' care during the inquest at St Pancras Coroner's Court (pictured)

He said he told police he had grabbed Lily-Mai 'tightly' around her leg on one undated occasion to stop her falling off the bed while he was changing her.

Ms Hassell told Lily-Mai's mother, who appeared at the hearing by video link, that she did not have to answer questions if she thought it would incriminate her.

Ms Saint George declined to answer questions and told the court she wanted to stick with what she had said in previous statements.

Sithembile Dzingai, who worked at Barnet Hospital, told the inquest healthcare workers were worried when the parents would not visit for two or three days at a time when Lily-Mai was in hospital after her premature birth.

She said: 'In my 12 years as a health visitor I've never had such feeling of anxiety about a case as I did about Lily-Mai being discharged in this way, because there were a number of concerns.'

Ms Dzingai said a referral to a social worker was made because she felt the baby was unsafe in her parents' care.

Pauline Naraine, a social worker from Haringey Council, read out minutes from the meeting regarding the well-being of Lily-Mai, that was carried out on January 31, 2018.

She said: 'Ms Saint George has not engaged with Lily-Mai and she suffers from depression and was sectioned for a brief time. She has another child which resides with the father.

'The parents have a tumultuous relationship with many verbal arguments. The hospital called security when Lauren started shouting.

'During a home visit, Darren changed the baby and then left her on the edge of the bed despite being told not to do this at hospital.

'There are concerns with [Darren] prioritising [Lauren's] needs over the baby's needs.'

She said if it had been raised with her urgently, then it is likely that emergency residential accommodation would have been found.

Ms Naraine added: 'I think the level of support that was going in when the parents had gone home with Lily-Mai I suppose that support is not how it should have been.

'I think that brings it back that the parents should have been in a residential in a supportive environment that would have safeguarded Lily.'

Theresa Ferguson, another social worker, visited the family a day before the tragic collapse.

She said: 'I didn't think there would be an immediate incident that would result in serious harm.

'I was worried about them picking up on her health needs. I was worried about the baby falling off the bed while both of them were on their phones.

'That's why we were concerned about her going home because they might not be able to pick up on her needs or there might be an accident that we would perceive as careless.

'I did think she would come to harm if she would remain in the care of her parents. I was really worried about her.'

Miss Saint George and Mr Hurrell were informed they were going to go into a residential unit to be observed on their parenting, but that night Lily-Mai was taken into hospital because of her injuries.

Ms Ferguson said: 'Lauren got quite frustrated and angry. Her presentation was immature. Lauren just kept repeating I'm not going anywhere.

'Lily was in Darren's jacket, they were doing skin to skin contact, and she was sleeping on his chest. He responded that he would do anything he could do for his daughter.

'Lauren became completely irate and went to the kitchen area. The door was shut so I couldn't see her and remained in the room with Darren and Lily-Mai.

'She wasn't present for the conversation and Darren would repeat he would do anything he would need for her daughter. Lauren then left the property and Darren started talking how low Lauren could be.

'I was worried about her temper, it seemed very immature, very angry and frustrated.'

The coroner asked Detective Sergeant Ian Valentine, of the Metropolitan Police, why no one had been prosecuted for Lily-Mai's death.

He said: 'After discussions with a senior homicide lawyer, and upon review, they have decided there is insufficient evidence to charge either or both parents at this time.

'We have explored every possible avenue to bring this to criminal justice. The length of time shows how serious we have taken this case.

'I take no pride that, as a homicide detective, that this case has not ended up court.'

In her determination, Senior Coroner Ms Hassell said: 'I've heard evidence that Lily-Mai died as a consequence of a head injury that at the time of her death she suffered 19 rib fractures, that in addition to this she had an injury to her right leg, deep within the growing structure of the bone, and that she also had bleeding around both optic nerves typically associated with a head injury.

'She suffered side to side compression not associated with fractures such as one might sustain from CPR.

'The injury to her right leg was from forceful traction and twisting

'This would have been inappropriate and greatly in excess of rough handling, so I heard.

'The explanations of potential accidental mechanisms of injury from Lily-Mai's parents were discounted by the forensic pathologist who examined Lily Mai after death as not consistent with her injuries.

'When she suffered the head injury the effect would have been immediate and very noticeable.

'In summary, she had a head injury, eye injury, spinal injury, rib fractures and many, many bruises not what you would expect in a newborn baby.

'Taking into account the description from the forensic pathologist and that of the paediatrician that gave expert evidence this was a massive, massive injury I am entirely convinced that Lily Mai-died as a consequence of injuries that were non-accidental.

'Given the force that I've heard that would have needed to be applied to suffer these injuries, I am entirely satisfied that Lily Mai was unlawfully killed.

She added: 'I'm so sorry for the loss of this otherwise healthy baby girl.'
Premium poultry producer Bell & Evans is experiencing significant growth in its organic chicken program, increasing its need for U.S. grown organic-certified corn and soybeans used in its organic chicken feed. The family-owned producer finalized a long-term sourcing agreement with global ag leader Cargill to exclusively secure its organic grain and increase domestic organic grain supply. Under the agreement, Cargill will incentivize U.S. farmers to transition acreage from conventional to organic management through subsidized organic crop consulting services provided by organic pioneer Rodale Institute.

The Bell & Evans Organic Grain Initiative aims to transition 50,000 acres of U.S. corn and soybeans to certified organic production over the next five years. Rodale Institute brings more than seven decades of scientific organic agriculture research to the partnership, offering added value and security to farmers that participate. This is the largest market-financed organic grain transition program backed by science in the world, creating a model for the rest of the food industry.

Farmers with organic interest will benefit by the Bell & Evans U.S. Organic Grain Initiative because it eliminates their most vocalized organic-transition hurdles: knowing where to start, finding education and resources for successful organic land management, and a guaranteed market after the three-year transition period. Contracted growers will receive customized support to aid them through the transition including on-farm consultation, organic system planning, certification assistance, weed management guidance, crop rotation planning, recordkeeping guidance and inspection preparation. Cargill will offer market access for transition crops, and farmers are guaranteed a dedicated market for their certified organic grains through Bell & Evans.

"We want to establish trust, transparency and loyalty with our grain farmers for the success and longevity of the program," said Bell & Evans Executive Vice President Margo Sechler. "The farmer wins from this partnership, as do Bell & Evans, Cargill, Rodale Institute and all Bell & Evans customers who pay a premium for our organic chicken and can trust they are getting true organic product."

Only one percent of total U.S. acreage is certified organic, yet the organic food market is a growing $50 billion industry. National organic food sales rose 4.6% in 2019 according to the Organic Trade Association. In 2020, Bell & Evans experienced 25% growth in organic chicken sales and projects growth of 27% in 2021 and 17-20% each year after that, through 2024.

Bell & Evans' Commitment to 100% U.S. Organic Grains, Growing Organic Program

In 2020, Bell & Evans raised more than 63 million chickens at its partner broiler farms. That number will increase by more than 50% in 2022 with completion of its New Organic Harvesting Facility this year. 100% of Bell & Evans chicks begin on organic-certified feed at its Organic Chicken Hatchery. Nearly 50% of those chickens continue to be raised organic on organic-certified feed on the farms.

Bell & Evans has been committed to sourcing 100% U.S. organic grains for its organic chicken feed since inception of its organic program in 2009. Bell & Evans is one of the largest U.S. organic grain buyers and cites control, traceability, and authenticity of the USDA organic-certified label as reasons for its commitment to domestic grain. That care and commitment to true organic chicken begins with authentic organic grains and extends all the way through Bell & Evans' organic processes and facilities. 100% of Bell & Evans' processing facilities are certified organic including its Hatchery and Rendering Facility, firsts in the world.

Bell & Evans aims to source 100% organic seeds for its organic grain in the long-term, an investment that will take their organic commitment to another level.

Cargill's Support of Specialty Markets

Cargill, a long-time supplier partner to Bell & Evans, is uniquely positioned to help the company meet its growth projections through its robust specialty markets capability and extensive network of farmers.

"Cargill has a long history of providing growers with consistent access to new and emerging markets," said Jeff Vassart, managing director for Cargill's agricultural supply chain in North America. "We're proud to partner with Bell & Evans and Rodale Institute to offer an innovative sourcing solution that not only helps to support their projected growth, but also can remove the barriers for farmers in their transition to organic and access to specialty grain markets."

Rodale Institute's Contracted Support and On-Farm Training

Rodale Institute, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit dedicated to growing the regenerative organic movement, has been leading organic agriculture research, farmer training, and consumer education for over 70 years. Through this partnership with Bell & Evans and Cargill to increase domestic production of certified-organic corn and soybeans, Rodale Institute will provide the educational support and technical assistance to conventional farmers transitioning to organic through its Organic Crop Consulting Services.

Rodale Institute's Organic Crop Consulting Services were established in 2019 through funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Rodale Institute's crop consultants are currently working with more than 150 farmer clients around the U.S. to transition more than 25,000 acres to organic management. They focus on providing individualized advice and one-on-one mentorship for farmers seeking to transition to organic management including certification assistance, equipment, fertility, weed management or crop rotation advice, soil sample analyses and more.

"It has always been a part of Rodale Institute's mission to help farmers transition to organic production," said Sam Malriat, Director of Rodale Institute's Organic Crop Consultancy. "Our decades of research and on-the-ground experience have shown us that organic agriculture is a robust and profitable system that can improve soil health. With this initiative, we can expand our support network and ensure that every farmer has the resources they need to be successful."

About the Partners

Bell & Evans is a 5th generation family-owned business celebrating over 125 years. We produce only premium Raised Without Antibiotics, 100% Air Chilled chicken with nearly 50% organic production. Our comprehensive animal welfare standards set the industry standard. We own the world's first organic certified, animal-welfare-focused Hatchery and are building the most state-of-the-art chicken harvesting facility in the world.

Cargill's 155,000 employees across 70 countries work relentlessly to achieve our purpose of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Every day, we connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive. We combine 155 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 125 countries. Side-by-side, we are building a stronger, sustainable future for agriculture.

Rodale Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to growing the organic movement through rigorous research, farmer training, and consumer education. Widely considered the global leader in regenerative organic agriculture, Rodale Institute has been researching the best practices of organic agriculture and sharing findings with farmers, scientists, and consumers throughout the world since 1947.

SOURCE Bell & Evans
BTU Metals (CVE: BTU- OTC: BTUMF) Vice President of Geology Bruce Durham joined Steve Darling from Proactive with news the company has announced the start of their 2021 drill program at the Dixie Halo Property in Red Lake, Ontario.

Durham shares with Proactive the work that was completed in 2020 and what the program this year is going to focus on.
Finding the cheapest car insurance rate can be easily done by shopping around. By comparing car insurance rates twice per year, policyholders can find out if their current providers offer the cheapest rate, or if its time to look for other providers., said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that presents how to properly compare car insurance quotes and why it is important.

For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/why-drivers-should-compare-car-insurance-quotes/

Not everyone is excited when it comes to comparing car insurance quotes, but by doing this task drivers can save a lot of money. Although insurers look at similar factors when it comes to setting rates, they use different algorithms. The same driver can get two completely different premiums from two different insurers. To find the cheapest rates, drivers should compare multiple car insurance quotes from different car insurance companies.

To properly compare car insurance quotes, drivers should do the following:



Gather information. Drivers will need to fill in personal information such as the address, date of birth, occupation, driver's license and marital status of everyone they want to be included on the policy. They will also need to complete vehicle information like make, model, year, mileage, VIN, and data about their driving history in the last five years such as claims, violations, and tickets. If the drivers had completed driving courses, they should mention them. Furthermore, they will have to add the current or previous insurers name for anyone on the policy or in the household.

Choose the right coverage levels. Liability auto insurance protects policyholders from the worst-case scenario by providing a cushion between their assets and the amount theyre on the hook for. Liability coverage has three parts: bodily injury liability, total bodily injury liability, and physical damage liability. For a 100/300/100 limits option, the insurer will reimburse up to $100,000 for bodily injuries per person the policyholder injures in a crash, up to $300,000 total for all bodily injuries caused by the policyholder in a crash, and up to $100,000 for any damage to a property caused by the policyholder. In some states, the policyholders will be required to get personal injury protection (PIP), medical payments coverage (med pay), or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages.

Decide if full coverage is needed. Besides liability coverage, full coverage contains additional policies like comprehensive and collision coverages. Collision pays for damage to a policyholder's vehicle in an at-fault accident, damage to a vehicle that hits objects like a pole or a fence, damage to a policyholder's vehicle that was caused by another driver. Comprehensive coverage pays for car theft, damage caused by weather like tornadoes, hailstorms, or hurricanes, fire, floods, explosions, falling objects, animal collisions, and vandalism.

Collect as many quotes as possible and compare them. Drivers should compare quotes from at least two or three insurers. When comparing quotes drivers should also include offers from smaller local or regional insurers. To properly compare quotes, drivers should make sure that they compare quotes that each contain the same levels of liability, the same deductibles for full coverage, the same drivers and cars, and the same discounts they are eligible for.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

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Protesters opposed to Myanmars military coup defied bans on big gatherings to extend the largest demonstrations in more than a decade on Tuesday, chanting and confronting police who fired water cannons and arrested more than two dozen people.

The Feb. 1 coup and detention of elected civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has brought four straight days of protests across the Southeast Asian country of 53 million and a growing civil disobedience movement affecting hospitals, schools and government offices.

Myanmar police fired water cannon at peaceful protesters in the countrys capital Naypyitaw for a second day, as the crowd refused to disperse, video posted on Facebook showed. Video in Bago, northeast of the commercial hub of Yangon also showed police firing water cannon and confronting a large crowd.

Police arrested at least 27 demonstrators in the second-biggest city Mandalay, including a journalist, local media organisations said.

The unrest has revived memories of almost half a century of military rule that lasted until 2015.

The coup always come into our thoughts, every time we eat, work and even during resting time," said Yangon resident Khin Min Soe. We are so disappointed and so sad whenever we think about why this has befallen us again."

Promises on Monday from junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to eventually hold a new election in his first address since seizing power drew scorn. He repeated unproven accusations of fraud in last Novembers election, won by Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD) in a landslide.

We will continue to fight," said a statement from youth activist Maung Saungkha, calling for the release of political prisoners and the complete collapse of dictatorship".

Activists are also seeking the abolition of a constitution that gave the army a veto in parliament and for federalism in ethnically-divided Myanmar.

An older generation of activists formed during bloodily suppressed protests in 1988 called for the continuation of the strike action by government workers for another three weeks.

The civil disobedience movement, led by hospital workers, has resulted in a plunge in coronavirus tests, official testing figures showed.

Myanmar has suffered one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Southeast Asia with a total of 31,177 deaths from more than 141,000 cases.

ELECTION PROMISE

After tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Myanmar in recent days, local orders banning gatherings of more than four people were imposed. The U.S. Embassy said it had received reports of an 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. local time curfew in the two biggest cities, Yangon and Mandalay.

There was no further comment from authorities on the measures to stop protesters.

In his first televised address as junta leader on Monday, Min Aung Hlaing said the junta would form a true and disciplined democracy," different to previous eras of military rule which left Myanmar in isolation and poverty.

We will have a multiparty election and we will hand the power to the one who wins in that election, according to the rules of democracy," he said. The electoral commission had dismissed his accusations of fraud in last years ballot.

Min Aung Hlaing gave no time frame but the junta has said a state of emergency will last one year.

Western governments have widely condemned the coup, although there has been little concrete action so far to put pressure on the generals.

New Zealand said on Tuesday it will suspend all high-level political and military contact with Myanmar, ensure aid does not benefit the military and impose a travel ban on its leaders.

A prominent Singapore businessman plans to exit his investment in a Myanmar tobacco firm linked to the military, joining Japanese drinks giant Kirin Holdings which last week scrapped its beer alliance in the country.

The U.N. Security Council has called for the release of SuuKyi and other detainees. The U.N. Human Rights Council will hold a special session on Friday to discuss the crisis at the behest of Britain and the European Union.

Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for campaigningfor democracy and spent nearly 15 years under house arrest.

The 75-year-old faces charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkies and is being held in police detention until Feb. 15.

Her lawyer said he has not been allowed to see her. The U.S. State Department said it tried to reach her, but was denied.

Suu Kyi remains hugely popular at home despitedamage to her international reputation over the plight of theMuslim Rohingya minority.

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
LUDWIGSHAFEN (dpa-AFX) - German chemical company BASF Group (BFA.L, BASFY.PK) announced Tuesday its agreement with Siemens Energy AG (SMEGF.PK SMNEY.PK) to cooperate in the field of Carbon Management. As part of a strategic partnership, the companies plan to accelerate commercial implementation of new technologies designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions. BASF and Siemens Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding for their strategic partnership, which will focus mainly on supporting the chemical company in achieving its ambitious climate targets. For Siemens Energy, the partnership represents a further key step toward pursuing its strategic goals. These include low-emission or emission-free generation of electricity and heat, transmission and storage of electricity, a smaller carbon footprint and lower energy consumption in industrial processes as well as shaping a sustainable hydrogen economy. BASF and Siemens Energy will strive to study the pilot projects identified for technical and commercial feasibility as soon as possible. BASF aims to combine its technological expertise with Siemens Energy's innovative product and services portfolio to lower CO2 emissions in chemical production. BASF noted that several pilot projects at its Ludwigshafen site are under discussion. BASF's headquarters is one of the largest chemical production sites in the world. BASF has sought further reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within the scope of its Carbon Management since 2018. Until the year 2030, the absolute level of BASF's emissions is targeted not to exceed that of 2018. 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.
The study sought to examine whether someone inoculated could still acquire the virus without getting sick and spread it to others

AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine shows a hint that it may reduce transmission of the virus and offers strong protection for three months on just a single dose, researchers said Wednesday in an encouraging turn in the campaign to suppress the outbreak.

The preliminary findings from Oxford University, a co-developer of the vaccine, could vindicate the British governments controversial strategy of delaying the second shot for up to 12 weeks so that more people can be quickly given a first dose. Up to now, the recommended time between doses has been four weeks.

The research could also bring scientists closer to an answer to one of the big questions about the vaccination drive: Will the vaccines actually curb the spread of the coronavirus ?

Its not clear what implications, if any, the findings might have for the two other major vaccines being used in the West, Pfizers and Modernas.

In the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, dismissed the idea of deliberately delaying second shots, saying the U.S. will go by the science and data from the clinical trials. The two doses of the Pifzer and Moderna vaccines are supposed to be given three and four weeks apart.

Still, the research appears to be good news in the desperate effort to arrest the spread of the virus and also suggests a way to ease vaccine shortages and get shots into more arms more quickly.

The makers of all three vaccines have said that their shots proved to be anywhere from 70% to 95% effective in clinical trials in protecting people from illness caused by the virus. But it was unclear whether the vaccines could also suppress transmission of the virus  that is, whether someone inoculated could still acquire the virus without getting sick and spread it to others.

As a result, experts have been saying that even people who have been vaccinated should continue to wear masks and keep their distance from others.

Volunteers in the British study underwent regular nasal swabs to check for the coronavirus , a proxy to try to answer the transmission question. The level of virus-positive swabs  combining volunteers who had asymptomatic infection with those who had symptoms  was 67% lower in the vaccinated group, the researchers reported.

While not a direct measure, thats got to have a really beneficial effect on transmission, Oxford lead researcher Sarah Gilbert told a meeting of the New York Academy of Sciences Wednesday.

The researchers also looked at how likely people who have been vaccinated are to get a symptom-free infection. In one subset of volunteers, there were 16 asymptomatic infections among the vaccinated and 31 in an unvaccinated comparison group.

Pfizer and Moderna also are studying the effect of their vaccines on asymptomatic infections.

Only the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are being used in the United States. Britain is using both AstraZenecas and Pfizers. AstraZenecas has also been authorized by the 27-nation European Union. Pfizer has not endorsed the British governments decision to lengthen the time between doses.

Mene Pangalos, executive vice president of biopharmaceuticals research and development at AstraZeneca, said that no patients experienced severe COVID-19 or required hospitalisation three weeks after receiving a first dose, and that effectiveness appeared to increase up to 12 weeks after the initial shot.

Our data suggest you want to be as close to the 12 weeks as you can for the second dose, Pangalos said.

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the study backs the strategy that weve taken to make sure more people have gotten at least one shot. Britains decision has been criticized as risky by other European countries.

Stephen Evans of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said the studys suggestion that a single dose protected people for 12 weeks was useful but not definitive.

He said that the authors themselves acknowledged their research was not designed to investigate the vaccines dosing schedule and that their conclusions were based on statistical modeling, not actual patients tracked over time.

It certainly isnt very strong evidence, but there is also no indication this is the wrong thing to do, Evans said of Britains strategy.
Journalists revealed that the deputy had been found guilty of stealing an iPhone 6 Plus from a city store.

Karina Diachun, a 22-year-old member of the Opposition Platform - For Life Party, who had worked as secretary for MP Ilya Kiva, has been appointed deputy head of the Poltava District Council.

Journalists revealed Diachun was found guilty in July 2019 of stealing an iPhone 6 Plus from a local store. The woman first snatched the phone and turned it off before switching it back on at home only to receive a call from police, as reported by the local Poltavshchyna (Poltava region) online outlet.

During trial, Diachun, who turned out to be a graduate of the Internal Affairs University where future cops get their education, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a fine of UAH 850 (US$31).

Read alsoUkrainian MP recruiting Yanukovych-era riot police officers to his "activist group"  mediaIn 2020, the woman was put in the party list for local elections. In November, she became a deputy of the Kyiv District Council of the city of Poltava, however, she chose the mandate of a member of the Poltava District Council and was elected its deputy head in January 2021.

At the same time, the MP with the pro-Russian political force, Ilia Kiva, who had earlier hired the woman, never shunned his assistant over her criminal record.

"She worked in the office as my secretary. As for the trial, I'll ask: so what? I had a criminal record, too. I don't see this in any other light than business and human qualities. There is a saying: 'No fence against a flail.' Therefore, I agreed on her appointment as secretary, and then supported her nomination," he said.

Reporting by UNIAN
Algiers, 2 February 2021 (SPS) - Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton said that the decision of former US president Donald Trump, recognizing the alleged sovereignty of Morocco over Western Sahara, is a mistake, because it doesnt reflect the American long-standing policy, underlining that it can be corrected.



In an interview granted to the Algerian Center of Economic Diplomacy (CADE), Bolton said that Trumps administration had made the mistake of recognizing Moroccos alleged sovereignty over Western Sahara.



It is a mistake because, he said, it led to further tension and danger in North Africa and Sahel at a time when we should try to resolve the issue and restore stability.



In this regard, he pointed out that he contributed to the drafting of the resolution of the Security Council in 1991 according to which the United Nations Mission for the referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was created, he said.



The missions objective wasnt only to monitor the ceasefire between the Polisario and Morocco but especially to organize the referendum in order to resolve the status of the territory of Western Sahara. (SPS)



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The attack took place at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes. (PA)

A convicted murderer who lost an eye in a prison attack by a fellow inmate is suing the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) over his injuries.

Lee Newell, 52, also suffered a brain injury in the assault and is seeking up to 111,000 in damages from the MoJ, which he claims failed to protect him.

Newell, who is serving a whole-life sentence for two murders, was "savagely" attacked by another killer Gary Vinter in the exercise yard of HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes in November 2014.

Vinter punched Newell to the ground and repeatedly kicked him in the head in a bid to engineer a move to another prison, the High Court heard.

The Ministry of Justice is accused of failing to protect the prisoner. (PA)

Newell was originally jailed for a murder in 1988 but went on to kill another inmate, Subhan Anwar, at HMP Long Lartin, Worcestershire, in 2013.

Vinter was jailed for killing a work colleague in 1996 and was given a whole-life term for killing his estranged wife in 2008.

Read more: Worrying rise of prison staff contracting coronavirus

He was given a third life sentence for attempted murder over the attack on Newell and the High Court heard he had a particular history of attacking other prisoners in order to achieve things he wanted.

Newells barrister Nick Armstrong told the court that the obvious safeguard to prevent the attack was to stop Vinter associating with other prisoners.

Had that been done, the attack could not have taken place," he added.

He argued that Newell should be awarded damages of between 13,000 and 36,000 for the brain injury, 46,000 to 56,000 for the damage to his eye and between 9,000 and 19,000 for facial injuries which may require further surgery.

Jack Holborn, representing the MoJ, said that both Newell and Vinter were dangerous and violent men, but that the MoJ could not keep them permanently locked up and segregated from other prisoners.

He concluded: Even if there had been 10 officers outside of the door (of the exercise yard), it is clear they could not have intervened in the 27 seconds that it took for Vinter to cause the injuries to Newell.

Story continues

Mr Holborn also said that an award of around 75,000 in damages would be appropriate in the event that the MoJ is found liable to Newell for the attack.

The hearing before Judge Peter Marquand is due to conclude on Wednesday and it is expected that judgment will be reserved to a later date.
Nairobi  The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to Kenya and the United Nations Office for Project Services is expected to hand over medical supplies to the Government during an official ceremony at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).

IGAD Executive Secretary Dr Fatuma Ibrahim Adan, Health Cabinet Secretary Rashid Aman, the Head of the European Delegation to Kenya, Ambassador Simon Mordue, the Ambassador of Germany to Kenya Annet Gunther, and the United Nations Office for Project Services Rainer Frauenfeld are expected at the short handover ceremony on Monday.

The supplies are part of the EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response project in the IGAD region and consist mostly of Personal Protective Equipment, over 25,000 test kits for COVID-19, two standard ambulances, one advanced ambulance and a mobile laboratory worth 1.9 million Euros. They will be put in use at cross-border areas.

The European Union allocated a 60 million Euros package to help tackle the health and socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, in support of IGAD in its mandate to coordinate national responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Horn of Africa.

It is part of the Team Europe Global Response package to support partner countries face the pandemic and its consequences.
Breakbulk Middle East (BBME), the GCCs leading breakbulk and project cargo event, held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, launched its Digital Special today.

High-level officials and professionals from the breakbulk and project cargo industry are taking part in the event.

The live-in person event is scheduled to be held on February 1-2, 2022, a statement said.

Over the years, Breakbulk Middle East has established itself as a recognised forum that allows engaging discussion between changemakers in the industry. Through their various endeavours, they have fuelled industry growth.

Tackling critical topics

The event will feature discussions on topics of importance like the significant role of women in the industry and the need to educate the younger generation about the industry and the opportunities available.

Speaking about the strategic topics that BBME highlights, Princess Sarah Al Saud, Director of Maritime Business Development at the International Forum for Maritime Transport, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport explained: Talking about women in the industry was very important as they have been a major part in the success of the industry. The team at BBME, has year after year, focused on this subject and ensured that women dont shy away from exploring career opportunities in the industry. In a way, it is a reason why we see so many women leading key organizations today. I am thrilled to be a part of the Digital Special as it will shed light on some critical issues that we are facing today, especially due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prof Dr Ismail Abdelghafar Ismail Farag, President of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, emphasised: There is no doubt that the industry has achieved great heights, but we must not forget that securing the future is also integral. Educating the younger generation about the ample opportunities in the industry is an urgent need. In this regard, BBME has constantly done their bit. Their Education Day initiative has been eye-opening for aspiring professionals. They not only learn about the fundamentals of the industry, but they also get the opportunity to interact with some leading names in the sector.

A one-of-its-kind experience

With the constantly evolving business landscape, this years event will be different, yet bigger and better. The Digital Special will provide professionals with an accessible platform to discuss industry challenges despite the global crisis. Featuring on-demand content, it will tackle a multitude of topics, ranging from business outlook, lessons from the pandemic, digitalisation and more.

Eagerly looking forward to the virtual edition, Ben Blamire, Event Director, Breakbulk Middle East, said:

For years, we have provided a platform for the industry to discuss pertinent concerns. We are glad that we are back this year too, though in a different format. The pandemic could not stop us from being back as we understand the importance of the event in the industry. Considering the era we are living in, we were able to identify specific themes that would best elevate the UAE, and the regional breakbulk industrys status. We are certain that all our attendees will be enriched with strategic insights and learn from the best in the industry.

Leslie Meredith, Marketing Director, Breakbulk Events & Media said: As the registrations for this years edition are coming to a close, we are thrilled with the response we have received. Both government and private sector entities have come forward to show their support for the event and we cannot be more grateful. The industrys support has helped us achieve a leading status as one of the leading events in the project cargo and breakbulk sector. And we are confident that it will be only up and upwards from here. We have consciously approached this years event with the intent of ensuring agenda topics reflect the needs of all those involved, and seek to inspire relevant discussions that enhance the overall landscape of the UAE, its maritime stability, and the global breakbulk sector.

Breakbulk Middle East Digital Special will be free for all. Breakbulk also recently launched the Breakbulk365 program that includes engaging webinars and the BreakbulkONE Show to ensure the project cargo industry stays connected and updated on insights and regional information at all times. TradeArabia News Service
UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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
People are seen at Melbourne Airport checking in for flights to New South Wales on Nov. 23, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Scientist Suggest Infectious CCP Virus Mutations Could be the Cause of Hotel Quarantine Leaks

Infectious disease experts believe that the highly infectious variants of the CCP virus could be the cause of quarantine leaks across Australia after Victoria reported three new cases connected to their quarantine program in the past week.

The latest case, a woman in her 50s tested positive for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, on Sunday after she worked at the Holiday Inn near the Melbourne airport.

If these breaches are these more highly contagious strains, then there is a question about whether the sort of prevention should be ramped up even more, Prof. Malcolm Sim, a government adviser, and president of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, said on Monday.

People associated with the Australian Open are seen lining up at a testing facility at the View Melbourne Hotel on February 04, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

In response, Victorian authorities will be examining the hotel ventilation systems. They will also require all quarantine workers be tested daily, including on their days off.

However, La Trobe University epidemiologist Prof. Hassan Vally says that the more infectious variants may challenge any preventative measure currently in place. Vally also suggested that the increase in quarantine leaks could be due to more rigorous testing.

We are getting better at detecting these spillover events better, and thats really important, Vally said.

But the federal minister for health, Greg Hunt, does not believe that a complete review of the hotel quarantine systems is necessary despite the suggestions. Hunt said that quarantine leaks were inevitable, and measures have been put in place to handle these situations.

We have said since the earliest days a year ago, that there would be cases, Hunt said. We have always said hotel quarantine is the inner ring of containment, followed by testing, tracing, and distancing. Where anybody indicates that there is only one line of defence, that would be inaccurate.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt addresses media at Parliament House on December 08, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

However, Assoc. Prof. Paul Griffin, from the University of Queensland, believes that there is insufficient evidence to draw conclusive decisions. He says that other factors also contributed to these transmissions events.

Even though it seems like we are seeing more cases arising from hotel quarantine, were not seeing the transmission in the community that we would really expect to see if these strains were truly as infectious as some people would make us believe, Griffen said. Its not down solely to the strain of the virus; there must have been other factors at play that led to those transmission events occurring in hotel quarantine.

BERLIN  German prosecutors have charged a 100-year-old man with 3,518 counts of being an accessory to murder on allegations he served during World War II as a Nazi SS guard at a concentration camp on the outskirts of Berlin, authorities said Tuesday.

The man is alleged to have worked at the Sachsenhausen camp between 1942 and 1945 as an enlisted member of the Nazi Partys paramilitary wing, said Cyrill Klement, who led the investigation of the centenarian for the Neuruppin prosecutors office.

The mans name wasnt released in line with German privacy laws. Despite his advanced age, the suspect is considered fit enough to stand trial, though accommodations may have to be made to limit how many hours per day the court is in session, Klement told The Associated Press.

The Neuruppin office was handed the case in 2019 by the special federal prosecutors office in Ludwigsburg tasked with investigating Nazi-era war crimes, Klement said.

It comes after prosecutors in the northern town of Itzehoe announced accessory to murder charges last week against a 95-year-old woman who worked during the war as the secretary of the SS commandant of the Stutthof concentration camp. That case and the charges against the 100-year-old man both rely on recent legal precedent in Germany establishing that anyone who helped a Nazi camp function can be prosecuted for accessory to the murders committed there.

Efraim Zuroff, the chief Nazi hunter at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, said the two new cases serve as vital reminders to the dangers of anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia.

The advanced age of the defendants is no excuse to ignore them and allow them to live in the peace and tranquility they denied their victims, he said.

The new legal precedent was established in 2011 with the conviction of former Ohio autoworker John Demjanjuk as an accessory to murder on allegations that he served as a guard at the Sobibor death camp in German-occupied Poland. Demjanjuk, who steadfastly denied the allegations, died before his appeal could be heard.

A federal court subsequently upheld the 2015 conviction of former Auschwitz guard Oskar Groening achieved with the same line of reasoning, solidifying the precedent.

Before that, German courts had required prosecutors to justify charges by presenting evidence of a former guards participation in a specific killing, often a near-impossible task given the anonymity of most guards to the prisoners, coupled with the paucity of witnesses and the passage of time.

The core of this case follows the decision of Demjanjuk and Groening, that being part of the functioning of this machinery of death is sufficient for an accessory to murder conviction, Klement said.

The state court in Neuruppin, northwest of the town of Oranienburg where Sachsenhausen was located, now needs to evaluate the case and the fitness of the defendant, then set a trial date, Klement said.

Sachsenhausen was established in 1936 just north of Berlin as the first new camp after Adolf Hitler gave the SS full control of the Nazi concentration camp system.

It was intended to be a model facility and training camp for the labyrinthine network that the Nazis built across Germany, Austria and occupied territories.

More than 200,000 people were held there between 1936 and 1945, and tens of thousands died of starvation, disease, forced labor, and other causes, as well as through medical experiments and systematic SS extermination operations including shootings, hangings and gassing.

Exact numbers on those killed vary, with upper estimates of some 100,000, though scholars suggest figures of 40,000 to 50,000 are likely more accurate.

In its early years, most prisoners were either political prisoners or criminal prisoners, but also included some Jehovahs Witnesses and homosexuals. The first large group of Jewish prisoners was brought there in 1938 after the Night of Broken Glass, or Kristallnacht, anti-Semitic pogrom.

During the war, it was expanded to include Soviet prisoners of war  who were shot by the thousands  as well as others.

It had special facilities for politically prominent prisoners, including the former Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, who opposed Nazi Germanys annexation of Austria, anti-Nazi pastor Martin Niemoeller, and Soviet dictator Joseph Stalins eldest son, who died there in 1943.

Like in other camps, Jewish prisoners were singled out at Sachsenhausen for particularly harsh treatment, and most who remained alive by 1942 were sent to the Auschwitz death camp.

Thousands of Jews were brought back in later in 1944 to address labor shortages for work details that included clearing the streets of rubble in the German capital as well as in war production in regional factories.

Sachsenhausen was liberated in April 1945 by the Soviets, who turned it into a brutal camp of their own.
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(CNN)  Celebrities began vocalizing their support for Britney Spears following a new documentary that aired on Friday.

The documentary is produced by The New York Times and is called "Framing Britney Spears." It follows Spears' rise to fame and does a deep dive into her court-ordered conservatorship. Spears is currently embroiled in a legal battle with her father, Jamie Spears, who has served as the conservatorship of her finances for more than a decade. Spears says through her attorney, that she no longer wants her father in charge of her finances.

Miley Cyrus, Sarah Jessica Parker and Bette Midler are just some of the big names that showed support for Spears following the film's debut.

Parker and Midler simply tweeted, "#FreeBritney" a hashtag that has gone viral in the past few years, spearheaded by a group of the popstar's fans who believe she should be let out of her conservatorship.

During Cyrus' pre-Super Bowl performance on Sunday she said, "We love Britney," while on stage.

Paramore's Hayley Williams tweeted, "No artist today would have to endure the literal torture that media/society/utter misogynists inflicted upon her. The mental health awareness conversation, culturally, could never be where it is without the awful price she has paid."

CNN has reached out to Spear's representatives for comment.

The next court hearing in Spears' battle for her conservatorship is on February 11.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Sarah Jessica Parker, Miley Cyrus and more show support for Britney Spears in wake of new documentary"
There were 16 new coronavirus cases and no deaths reported in the Upper Thumb since Saturday, according to the state.

On the state report Feb. 8, Huron County saw a two-day increase of three coronavirus cases, bringing the region to 1,572 confirmed cases and 51 deaths.

Tuscola County saw the region's largest increase of nine cases, bringing the county to 2,732 confirmed cases and 121 deaths.

Sanilac County saw an increase of four cases, bringing the county to 1,741 confirmed cases and 69 deaths.

According to state testing data, Huron County saw a positivity rate Feb. 7 of 11.8% with two positive tests out of 17 processed. The day prior the county saw a rate of 2.2% with one positive test out of 46 processed.

Tuscola County saw a positivity rate Feb. 6 of 0% out of 83 tests processed and 8.2% Feb. 7, with 10 positive out of 122 processed.

Sanilac County saw a 0.8% Feb. 6 and 2.9% Feb. 7, with five positive tests out of 170 processed.

Huron County and Tuscola County Public Health Officer Ann Hepfer issued a press release Feb. 9 stating that positivity rates continue to decline in the Upper Thumb and elsewhere around preparedness Region 3, which includes the Upper Thumb.

"Huron and Tuscola Counties continue to see improvements in the number of confirmed cases and test positivity rates are coming down along with hospitalizations for COVID-19," Hepfer said in the release.

Tuscola County reported 28 cases last week and a weekly averaged positivity rate of 6.6%, Hepfer said. Huron County reported 31 cases and a 7.1% test positivity weekly rate.

Despite the improvements, Hepfer said the region needs to continue to work on improving its statistics.

"Our county positivity rates remain higher than the region," she said. "We need to continue to see this rate come down. Please remain diligent in your efforts to reduce these rates by wearing your masks and continue to practice social distancing of 6 feet."

According to Hepfer, there haven't been any reports of the COVID variant identified in Region 3, as of yet.

One month ago there were 42 confirmed cases and three deaths reported in the region. Huron County had a positivity rate of nearly 10%, while Tuscola and Sanilac counties saw 14.7% and 12.5% positivity rates combined.

Vaccinations in the region were just gearing up a month ago, with the Huron County Health Department announcing its first large scale vaccination clinic for Jan. 15. Since the launch of vaccinations in the region, there have been 21,375 vaccinations distributed in the Upper Thumb, with 7,525 in Huron County, 6,650 in Tuscola County, and 7,200 in Sanilac County.

According to state data, as of Feb. 4, CVS and Walgreens had completed all of their first dose administration of the coronavirus vaccines to skilled nursing facilities and CVS was 97% complete with its vaccination of long term care facilities. Walgreens trailed in the skilled nursing facilities with only 76% administered. However, it was administering to nearly three times the number of facilities as CVS.

Statewide the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services estimated nearly 1.2 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine had been administered by Feb. 4.

According to Hepfer, vaccination efforts continue in Huron and Tuscola counties.

"Huron and Tuscola County Health Departments continue to vaccinate eligible individuals based on vaccine supply," she said. "Currently, eligible individuals are those that are 65 and over, health care workers, first responders, police officers, pre-K through 12th grade teachers and workers in childcare centers and protective services. Last week we started vaccinating school and day care providers with 25% of the vaccine, and 75% is being used to vaccinate those ages 65 and older."

Hepfer said the ratio is the same that is being implemented elsewhere around the state until vaccine supplies improve.

The health departments continue to allow people to pre-register for the vaccine, but Hepfer said there is a very high demand, which is compounded by a limited supply.

"Please keep in mind we are only receiving a couple hundred doses of vaccine in a week," she said. "This is not enough to get our communities vaccinated as fast as we would like."

Statewide there was a two-day increase of 1,769 confirmed cases and 11 deaths reported Feb. 8. Since the start of the pandemic there has been 569,417 confirmed cases and 14,905 deaths in Michigan.

For more information on the coronavirus or on vaccination efforts in the county, region, state and nation visit www.michigansthumb.com/coronavirus-vaccine-tracker-huron.
A mass legal action has been launched on behalf of at least one million UK Facebook users over claims that the social media giant failed to protect their personal data.

The representative claim has been filed with the High Court in London and alleges that Facebook allowed a third-party app to access the personal information of users without their knowledge or consent between November 2013 and May 2015.

The alleged failings were revealed in the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where harvested data was used for political advertising.

The legal case has been launched by Peter Jukes, who claims his data and that of a million other UK Facebook users was compromised via the app This is Your Digital Life.

He claims this data may have been opened up to abuse by the likes of Cambridge Analytica and others.

Facebook insists there is 'no evidence' UK or EU users' data was sent to the company.

The representative claim has been filed with the High Court in London and alleges that Facebook allowed a third-party app to access the personal information of users without their knowledge. Pictured is Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg

Announcing his decision to bring the action, Mr Jukes said: 'Facebook profits from its billions of users, who reasonably rely on the platform to protect the personal information they entrust to it.

'Facebook exploited that trust by making users' private data available to a third-party app, without their consent or even knowledge.

'This opened our personal data up to abuse. It is only right that we, as consumers, hold Facebook to account for failing to comply with the law and for putting our personal data at risk, to ensure that this is not allowed to happen again.'

The representative action seeks damages from Facebook, on behalf of affected individuals in England and Wales, as a result of the tech giant's failure to comply with its statutory duties under the Data Protection Act 1998.

The claim is being brought against Facebook Inc and Facebook Ireland Limited under rules which allow a representative claimant to bring a claim on behalf of a class of people with the same interest - who are all included unless they opt out.

Michael Bywell, partner at Hausfeld law firm, which is representing Mr Jukes, said: 'Facebook breached its legal obligations to protect the data of its users.

'The law is clear that Facebook had a duty to safeguard users' personal information - a duty that it neglected.

'We believe this claim offers the best avenue of redress for consumers who suffered at the hands of Facebook's failure to abide by data protection laws.'

Facebook agreed to pay a fine of 500,000 in October 2019 following an investigation into the misuse of personal data in political campaigns.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) carried out a wide-ranging investigation into the use of data analytics for political purposes and issued the penalty to the tech giant in October 2018.

The investigation found that, between 2007 and 2014, Facebook processed user data by letting third-party app developers access personal information without the user's informed consent.

Michael Bywell, partner at Hausfeld law firm, which is representing Mr Jukes, said: 'Facebook breached its legal obligations to protect the data of its user'

The most high-profile aspect of this was political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica after it was found to have harvested data, which resulted in multiple investigations and fines.

Cambridge Analytica, which closed in 2018, is said to have worked with Donald Trump on his US presidential campaign run by whistleblower Christopher Wylie.

In the UK, the firm was accused of using the data to target potential Leave voters in the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Facebook's settings at the time allowed app developers to access the personal data of not just the people who used their app, but of all of their friends as well.

The breach was thought to have affected 87 million users worldwide, with at least one million of them based in the UK.

The ICO later found no evidence that any UK user's data was shared with Cambridge Analytica.

A competing mass legal claim was filed against Facebook in October, by the group Facebook You Owe Us, represented by law firm Milberg London.

Facebook said: 'The Information Commissioner's Office investigation into these issues, which included seizing and interrogating Cambridge Analytica's servers, found no evidence that any UK or EU users' data was transferred by Dr Kogan to Cambridge Analytica.'
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.
Jaunpur (UP): Six people were killed and 11 others injured in a two-vehicle crash on the Varanasi-Jaunpur highway in Jalalpur area of Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur district on Tuesday, police said.

All the 17 people were travelling in a jeep after attending a cremation in Varanasi, they said.

AccidentThe injured have been admitted to a local hospital, where condition of three is stated to be serious, police said.

Those killed were identified as Amar Bahadur Yadav (58), Ram Singar Yadav (38), Munnilal (38), Indrajit Yadav (48), Kamala Prasad Yadav (60) and Ramkumar (65), they said.

Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Sanjay Kumar said 112-year-old Dhanadei Devi, a resident of Jalalpur village in Sarai Khwaja area, had died and her son-in-law Lakshmi Shankar Yadav went to Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi along with 17 people from his village to cremate her.

Accident

Local police reached the spot after getting information about the accident and were joined in by rescue personnel.

The truck driver escaped from the scene after the incident, the ASP said.

The on Tuesday



asked 2008 Malegaon blast accused Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit if he had any documents to show he attended alleged conspiracy meetings for the blast as part of his official duty for the Army.

A bench of Justices SS Shinde and Manish Pitale asked Purohit about a meeting that he had attended on January 26, 2008.

As per the Investigation Agency (NIA), this meeting was organised by a group called Abhinav Bharat and the conspiracy for the blast was hatched here.

Six people were killed and over 100 injured in the blast that took place near a mosque in Malegaon on September 29, 2008.

"The meeting that you attended on 26, where is the reference? Where is the reference that it was part of the official duty?" the bench asked.

The bench had asked a similar question to Purohit on the last hearing on February 3 too.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Purohit in HC last year seeking dropping of all charges against him.

He has maintained before HC that in attending the conspiracy meetings for the blast, he was discharging his duties, collecting intelligence for the Army.

His counsels Neela Gokhale and Shrikant Shivade have argued in all past hearings that by meeting other accused persons and participating in conspiracy meetings, Purohit had merely been collecting information and passing it on to the Army.

In his plea, Purohit has said, since he was working for the Army, the NIA should have obtained a prior sanction before prosecuting him.

On Tuesday, the HC suggested Purohit seek recourse before the trial court.

Shivade, however, argued that if at the end of the trial in the blast case, the lower court was to hold that his prosecution had indeed been without sanction, then why must he go through the trial at all.

Shivade also sought the court's permission to bring Purohit before the HC bench. The bench said it could agree to the request if Purohit "maintained decorum".

HC will continue hearing the arguments in the case on February 24.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Love is kind (1 Corinthians 13:4)

My work as a psychologist includes the dark tragedy of suicide. Patients who have taken their lives still haunt my thoughts.

One man was unusual. I saw him only once. Three days later, he took his life. We met on a Friday. He was smartly dressed in a suit and tie. He spoke eloquently. He was a successful attorney who lauded his education and work status. But his tone that day was flat, his words dark. He lamented a life into which he had fallen, which he described as sexual perversion, drugs, and alcohol.

He reflected on the contrast between his life and the life of his childhood. He described his parents as kind, gentle people who didnt raise me to be this way. He turned and gazed out the window, lost in self-reflection, trapped between the life he had chosen and the kindness modeled to him by his Christian parents.

I thought of the irony. An attorney dedicated to defending human rights, only to be enslaved to choices too heavy to bear.

I thought of my own journey. I too had parents who were kind and gave me the freedom to find myself. But my failures greatly outweighed my personal rights and purist for self-discovery. Failures as a teenager, man, husband and human! My human rights never felt kind when following my own will and wisdom.

What was the kindness that both the attorney and I had lost, in our quest for our personal rights?

When Paul wrote love is kind, was it the quality of kindness my patient had described in my office? What makes kindness one of loves essential attributes?

As used by the apostle Paul, the word kind has a rich history. In the original Greek, kind translates the word chrestos, meaning something of excellence. When used to describe people, it meant decent, morally upright or gentle.

Jesus used the word chrestos when he said, My yoke is easy (chrestos), and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29). Jesus meant the love he offers us is worthy, decent and gentle. Hes implying that the worlds love can be incongruent, inconsistent, and challenging  not always gentle or decent.

I believe thats what my patient the attorney was trying to describe. He had left the kindness of his parents  love that was light, decent, and gentle. In exchange, hed taken on a life that was dark and heavy  too heavy to bear.

Sin is a hefty load. It is cruel, unforgiving, and oppressive. It creates anger, resentment, and roughness of life that burdens the soul. Quickly it can become too heavy to carry.

But Jesus is kind. He invites us all to follow him under his easy yoke to experience the love of God through his kindness.

Last week I wrote an op-ed for The Christian Post entitled, The Dangerous Right to be Human, a controversial piece to challenge ones thinking about our human rights and personal freedom. At the end of the article I asked this question:

During the next four years, new social programs will be developed and implemented by the Biden presidency. Will it be good for our self-esteem and personal identity? Or, like the Group Home, will it throw us out the window because we have lost our identity?

Here is my answer.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39), whether ruled by Republicans, Democrats or Socialists. Not the burdens of my foolish decisions, delusions of self-righteousness, or most grievous sin regardless of my human rights.

Our identity is in Christ and our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). To those who believe in Jesus he gives the right to become children of God (John 1:12), a hope that is an anchor for the soul, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19). A yoke easy, a burden light and freedom of peace that surpasses understanding. (Philippians 4:7)
The Government is set to announce that all travellers arriving in the UK will be required to take two coronavirus tests while they quarantine (Steve Parsons/PA)

All travellers arriving in the UK will have to take two coronavirus tests in a fresh attempt to prevent mutant strains entering the country under new rules to be announced this week.

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the move was designed to provide a further level of protection enabling the authorities to track new cases more effectively.

It is expected that people isolating at home will be told they must get a test two and eight days into their 10-day quarantine period.

It comes after it was confirmed last week that UK nationals returning from 33 red list countries would be required to quarantine in closely monitored government-designated hotels, where they would have to take two tests.

A DHSC spokesman said: Throughout the pandemic, the Government has put in place proportionate measures, informed by the advice of scientists, that have led to some of the toughest border regimes in the world.

Enhancing our testing regime to cover all arrivals while they isolate will provide a further level of protection and enable us to better track any new cases which might be brought into the country, and give us even more opportunities to detect new variants.

A formal announcement could come as early as Tuesday when Health Secretary Matt Hancock updates MPs in a Commons statement on the pandemic.

The move comes as officials sought to reassure the public that vaccines should provide effective protection against people falling seriously ill from the new South African variant.

South Africa has suspended use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine after a preliminary trial suggested it offered a reduced level of protection against infection and mild illness from the variant.

However the deputy chief medical officer for England said that, unlike the variant which emerged last year in Kent, there was no evidence it enjoyed a transmissibility advantage so was unlikely to become the dominant strain in the UK in the coming months.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said he believed it was likely the AstraZeneca jab  like the other vaccines  would give substantial protection against serious illness from the South Africa variant.

He said that it was possible people would need annual or biennial booster jabs as the vaccines were updated to deal with new variants, and that there were a lot of steps behind the scenes to ensure that could happen.

New rules on hotel quarantine are due to come into force on next week  although the Government has yet to announce any agreement with any of hotel chains on providing accommodation.

On Monday the Prime Ministers official spokesman said no formal contracts had yet been awarded after the Government issued commercial specifications last Thursday.

However the Financial Times reported that ministers were said to be close to signing up a series of hotels near Heathrow, and were optimistic of agreeing deals with others around Manchester, Gatwick, Birmingham and London City airports.

Some 10,000 extra coronavirus tests will be rolled out in Manchester from Tuesday, after four people from two unconnected households were found to be infected with the E484K mutation linked to the Kent variant, Manchester City Council said.

Meanwhile the Government is urging any over 70s in England who have yet to receive an appointment to be vaccinated to contact the NHS to ask for one. Previously people were told to wait until they invited to get the jab.

Expand Close Covid-19 vaccinations in the UK (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook

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Ministers remain confident they will hit their target to offer a vaccination to the 15 million people across the UK in the four most vulnerable groups  including the over 70s  by Monday.

Mr Hancock said 12.2 million people have now received the jab, including 91% of all over 80s as well as 93% of eligible care home residents.

The new figures came as the Government launched an urgent campaign to recruit more social care staff in England to fill gaps left by staff forced to self-isolate.

DHSC urged the unemployed, volunteers and people on furlough to register to fill short-term gaps in the sector with opportunities including personal care  helping people to wash and dress  providing wellbeing support, collecting and delivering supplies or helping out with cooking and cleaning.
By Ben Mikek

mikekben@grinnell.edu

COVID-19 vaccination is proceeding apace in Poweshiek County, although thousands of residents are still waiting for their first dose of the vaccine.

For most residents, vaccines are being administered by public health teams from Grinnell Regional Medical Center (GRMC), according to Leah Van Rees, marketing communication supervisor at GRMC. The hospital does not have freezers capable of maintaining the -60 degrees Celsius required for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, so as of now residents will only be receiving the Moderna vaccine which can be stored at temperatures between -25C and -15C .

Individuals who are now eligible to be vaccinated, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health, are members of Phase 1B Tier 1, which includes first responders, teachers from preschool to 12th grade, others who work with children and everyone aged 65 or older. Because of supply limitations, not everyone in the group will be able to receive the vaccine immediately.

Residents and staff of retirement communities in Poweshiek County like the Mayflower Community are receiving vaccines through a separate federally-administered program.

According to Bob Mann, sales and marketing director at Mayflower, 325 vaccine doses were administered by CVS Pharmacy employees at the communitys latest vaccination day on Feb. 5. Most staff members and assisted living residents have now received two doses, and almost all residents have received at least one dose.

Even though the vaccine rollout is still in its early stages, progress is being made in Poweshiek County. According to IDPH data as of Feb. 7, 1,260 Poweshiek County residents  about seven percent  have received a first vaccine dose, and of those, 389 have received their second dose. That puts the county ahead of Iowas statewide vaccination rate of five percent, but behind the United States overall rate of about eight percent, according to Centers for Disease Control data.

On Feb. 1, the first Phase 1B Tier 1 clinic was held in Grinnell, resulting in the vaccination of 200 people. Those being vaccinated under the current guidelines will join those who already received the vaccine in Phase 1A, including medical workers and care home residents, most of whom have already received at least one dose.

Next in line for vaccines are those in Phase 1B Tiers 2-5, including essential workers in food, agriculture and manufacturing, government officials, those with disabilities and incarcerated people and corrections staff. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has yet to set a timeline for the transition to later tiers, but an increase in the number of vaccines received each week is expected.

We are anticipating a more consistent allocation of COVID-19 vaccine to Poweshiek County in the coming weeks and months, wrote Van Rees in an email to The S&B.

The next vaccine clinic will take place on Feb. 10 in Brooklyn; all appointments for this clinic have already been filled.

Even though vaccination now shines as the light at the end of a year-long COVID-19 tunnel, there is still a long way to go.

The greatest challenge facing Poweshiek County Public Health and all public health departments right now is the widespread COVID-19 vaccine shortage, wrote Van Rees. When the vaccine becomes more widely available, we have local pharmacies and clinics that are poised to help administer the COVID-19 vaccines to their patients and our community members.
If youre looking for a job in Delaware, you may be wondering, what is the minimum wage in Dover?

Workers in retail, warehousing, and the restaurant industry are often paid minimum wage. But if you receive tips or youre an independent contractor, you may not be eligible for the state minimum wage.

If youre wondering what hourly wage you can expect to earn in different entry-level roles in Dover, keep reading.

What Is a Minimum Wage?

The minimum wage is the lowest hourly rate that an employer can legally pay a covered nonexempt employee.

A covered nonexempt employee is basically an hourly worker whos eligible for the minimum wage and overtime pay. Most employees fall into this category, except for certain types of workers like independent contractors. They arent legally entitled to the minimum wage because they arent considered employees.

Tipped employees are also exempt from the minimum wage. Their employers are only required to pay them $2.13 per hour. But if they dont earn enough tips to bring them up to the federal or state minimum, the employer must make up the difference.

The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour. But some states, cities, and counties have higher base wages that can increase your pay rate.

Nearly 30 states including Delaware have minimum wage laws that require employers to pay workers more than the federal standard. Some big cities like San Francisco have also chosen to raise base wages to help workers afford the high cost of living.

Now that you know what a minimum wage is, heres some more info about the current minimum wage in Dover, Delaware.

What Is the Minimum Wage in Dover, Delaware?

As of October 1, 2019, the minimum wage in Dover is $9.25 an hour. Employers can pay workers in training and minors ages 14 to 17 at a lower rate of $8.75 per hour.

Delawares minimum direct wage for tipped employees is slightly higher than the federal minimum at $2.23 per hour. If workers dont make the full state minimum after tips are factored in, employers have to pay them enough to bring them up to it.

The minimum wage in Dover is the same as the state minimum wage. A bill to increase Delawares base wage to $15 an hour is likely to be introduced in the state senate this year.

Under the proposed plan, the minimum wage would rise to $11 in 2022 and undergo yearly increases until it reached $15 an hour in 2026.

Is It a Living Wage?

A living wage is the amount of money you need to afford basic necessities like housing, food, transportation, and medical expenses without assistance. It doesnt factor in the funds youd need for retirement savings or fun experiences like travel.

According to calculations by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a living wage for a single adult in Delaware is approximately $12.44 an hour. The minimum wage in Dover falls short of this at just $9.25 per hour.

To make ends meet, you may need to live with roommates or take on a side hustle like driving for Uber. You can also try to upskill to get a job with a higher rate of pay.

Do you think the minimum wage in Dover, Delaware is high enough? Why or why not? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Read more:

Do You Know The Minimum Wage in Hartford, Connecticut?

Side Hustles Galore: 5 Awesome Side Jobs You Should Try

Ways a $10 Minimum Wage Would Help Employees

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. If you want to be able to customize your blog on your own domain and need hosting service, we recommend trying BlueHost. They offer powerful hosting services for $3.95/month!
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Professional winemakers and wine industry employees wanting to enhance their knowledge, skills, business and careers, and serious noncommercial winemakers looking to take their pastime to the professional startup level, can get the technical knowledge they need from Purdue University.

Purdues online Winemaking Certificate course is an affordable, compact, yet comprehensive review of commercial winemaking principles and practices. It includes six progressive modules covering ground from grape to glass. Topics covered range from a critical review of winemaking techniques, styles and traditions to advice on aging, stabilization, filtration, bottling, and shelf-life optimization. Portions of the curriculum focus specifically on winemaking in Indiana and the Midwestern and eastern United States, but much of it is applicable to wineries anywhere in the world.

The online course is valuable for people in the wine business, whether entry-level winery workers or seasoned winemakers. It teaches individuals who already make wine how to make better wine and how to improve their winery's bottom line. Participants should have prior or concurrent winemaking experience, and it may help to have taken an introductory wine course, such as Purdue's Wine Appreciation course series.

The class accommodates different skill and experience levels, and all participants will gain new knowledge and refresh their existing knowledge, even if they have taken other winemaking classes already, said Christian Butzke, Purdues wine professor, who developed and teaches the Winemaking Certificate course.

Butzke, professor of enology (the science of wine and winemaking), is a past president of the American Society of Enology and Viticulture and an award-winning commercial winemaker and wine competition judge. Hes the editor of the technical book Winemaking Problems Solved for commercial winemakers and author of the popular textbook Wine Appreciation.

Butzke has been teaching winemaking for nearly 30 years and was set to be a visiting professor in Italy in 2020 before the viral pandemic made traveling abroad impossible. He ended up packaging his Italian presentations for online consumption, and that led to the idea of developing the new online Winemaking Certificate course.

Everything I know about winemaking is in this course, Butzke said It really brings it all together in a comprehensive package.

Each module includes multiple video lectures and supplemental materials, as well as interaction with the instructor and other students. A comprehensive 100-question exam tests students knowledge at the end with an eye to applying what they learned in their own winemaking endeavors. Butzke is available to consult on technical questions, even after participants complete the course.

If they have a problem, a suggestion or idea that they want to share with other participating winemakers, they can openly or confidentially discuss it in my class, Butzke said.

Someone can finish all the modules in six weeks, but students have a year to work through the self-paced course and earn the Purdue Winemaking Certificate. The cost is $999 for Indiana residents, $1,250 for out of state participants.

The modules include:

Winemaking Principles, recapping techniques, styles and traditions to ground students in the fundamentals of how wine is created commercially and the challenges involved.

Winemaking Issues, covering best practices from designing a winery to running a successful wine business.

Wine Stability, highlighting ways to adjust and assure the desired composition and quality of a finished wine, including major stabilization and fining techniques for a low-input approach to winemaking.

Filtration, Bottling and Closures, presenting methods for assuring that a well-crafted wine's quality is maintained throughout the final steps of processing, and beyond, allowing the winemaker to sleep well at night.

Wine Quality, Aging and Shelf Life, looking at aspects of a fine wine's success in the marketplace and the global wine industry supply chain that allows winemakers to optimize their wines' healthfulness, complexity, aging potential and value.

Regional Typicity, Terroir and Climate Change, contemplating the future of winegrowing and winemaking and preparing winemakers for adjustments in the wake of global warming and changing consumer preferences.

For more information about Purdues online Winemaking Certificate see the course webpage.

Writer: Greg Kline, 765-426-8545, gkline@purdue.edu

Source: Christian Butzke, 765-494-6500, butzke@purdue.edu
A mysterious 'big cat' has been spotted mauling another animal in mobile phone footage captured by a terrified dog walker.

Tom Mears, 34, witnessed the giant beast tussling in the undergrowth with an unidentified animal during his regular evening walk around Castle Hill Country Park in Leicester.

He managed to film the encounter and the grainy night time footage shows a long, dark animal with a long tail moving 'in a feline way'.

Tom, a teaching assistant, said his jackadoodle froze with fear and added that he is now convinced it was a puma-like creature.

Expert Frank Tunbridge, who has seen the footage, also believes it is a big cat, possibly a lynx.

A mysterious big cat has been spotted mauling another animal captured in shocking mobile phone footage (pictured) taken by a startled dog walker in Castle Hill Country Park in Leicester

The grainy night time footage shows a long, dark animal with a long tail moving in a feline way

Tom said he had gone out on February 3 before dark as his dog had become scared of the park at night time.

He claims that he noticed some movement in a clearing among the trees just as he was about to leave.

He said: 'I could see animals but I had no idea what animals they were.

'I first thought it was foxes but when I looked closer that didn't seem right.'

Tom, who was standing around 15 metres away, said he could not figure out what the mysterious beast was.

Tom walked back the next day to assess the scene and found a series of huge paw prints (pictured)

He followed the tracks to a secluded field and found an old badger's skull (pictured) which Tom said had only added to his suspicions

Tom Mears (pictured), who works as a teaching assistant, said his jackadoodle froze with fear during the encounter and added that he is now convinced it was a puma-like big cat

He continued: 'My dog was frozen in terror. This is really unusual as he often plays with foxes and other dogs.

'He's not a cowardly dog at all.

'It looked like one animal was dragging another animal. I think we had witnessed a killing.'

The grainy footage shot on Tom's iPhone shows a mysterious creature moving about the undergrowth.

He also said he saw a swishing tail which looked 'quite feline'.

'When I saw the tail I thought that was a big cat, and wanted to get my dog out of there,' Tom explained.

Tom walked back the next day to assess the scene and found a series of huge paw prints.

He followed the tracks to a secluded field and found an old badger's skull which Tom said had only added to his suspicions.

Big cat investigator Frank Tunbridge (pictured) has since analysed the footage and photos and said he thought it was 'highly probable' the creature was a big cat

Mr Tunbridge said that the tail and paw prints (pictured) were important indicators as they strongly resembled those of a feline

Tom added: 'It looked like an ideal place for wild animals to hide in. Some look like dog prints but others could be a lynx or a big cat.'

He said has sent off his evidence to big cat experts - hoping to discover what terrified his pooch.

'I'll be walking around with my eyes wide open and wary from now on,' Tom added.

Big cat investigator Frank Tunbridge has since analysed the footage and photos and said he thought it was 'highly probable' the creature was a big cat.

He said that the tail and paw prints were important indicators.

Mr Tunbridge explained: 'The shape and form look very catlike - it's long in the body.

'It's not as large as a leopard or a puma but the way it moves is very catlike. It's not a fox, you can see that from the shape of the body.

'You can see it has a long sweeping tail, which is a very good indication that it is a big cat.'

Mr Tunbridge recently identified that there were two wild pumas (left, stock image) stalking the Welsh countryside. Historically lynx (right, stock image) were the UK's biggest cat but they were wiped out by hunters

And Mr Tunbridge said one of the pawprints also resembled a feline.

'Cats' back pads - on their paws - are much larger than on dogs,' he explained.

'You can fit all of their toe prints into the back pad, because it is so large. One of the large pawprints is quite distinctive as that of a cat.'

It comes after another possible big cat sighting around one mile away in Benskins Oval, Leicester, in May last year, when a teenager said they witnessed a big cat walking in the long grass.

And earlier this year, Mr Tunbridge identified that there were two wild pumas stalking the Welsh countryside after seven farmer's sheep were killed amid a series of mysterious sightings.

Historically lynx were the UK's biggest cat but they were wiped out by hunters.

There are plans to rewild the creatures in Scotland, but it is not thought lynx have roamed free on the British Isles for more than 1,000 years.
Robina, QLD: February 8, 2021 : Gold Coast residents who are getting progressively older are being urged to urgently reassess their wills and estates with the help of Carter Green Law Practice, Robina @ The Mind Law Group. Our office has considerable experience in estate and succession law and dealing with wide range of personal and financial circumstances that all impact ones succession plan. Gold Coast families have been benefitting 
Restaurants will no longer be allowed to sell pre-packaged meals through arrangements with supermarkets and other outlets, as Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley definitively closed this loophole yesterday.

Rowley said this would not be allowed to continue, as it defeats the purpose of the public health regulations. Restaurants and street food vendors were among those businesses ordered to close to limit the movement of people and curb the spread of Covid-19.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 22:15:26|Editor: huaxia

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by Saud Abu Ramadan

GAZA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of 14 Palestinian factions resumed on Tuesday their national dialogue in Egypt's capital Cairo to discuss political and technical issues related to the upcoming general elections in Palestine.

The factions that join the dialogue include the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, and several left-wing groups.

A Palestinian source, who is close to the dialogue, told Xinhua that the discussions during the first day of the dialogue, which the Egyptian Security Intelligence Service sponsors, "were positive and encouraging."

The source said representatives of Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas-led Fatah Movement will continue to hold bilateral meetings in a bid to agree on a "code of honor" to allow everyone to campaign freely and commit to respect the outcome of the elections.

The source added the ongoing Cairo meetings focused on discussing the issues related to ending the internal Palestinian division, rearranging the internal Palestinian situation and preparing for the general elections.

The meetings were an outcome of the Egyptian efforts to rearrange the Palestinian situation from inside and achieve a national reconciliation that enables the Palestinians to overcome obstacles at this difficult stage, according to the source.

The most significant issue on the dialogue table, according to the source, is related to the administrative and security issues for the elections, in addition to the procedures for creating an atmosphere and ensuring public freedoms.

Some independent Palestinian figures presented a draft paper that called on the participants in the dialogue to discuss not only the issue of the general elections but also other substantial issues related to rearranging the internal Palestinian situation.

Hani al-Masri, director general of the Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies, who joined the dialogue, told Xinhua from Cairo that some independent Palestinian figures called for forming a transitional government that observes the elections.

In a decree issued last month, Palestinian President Abbas announced that the 2021 general election will include legislative elections being held on May 22, presidential elections on July 31, and the Palestinian National Council elections on Aug. 31.

The last Palestinian presidential elections were held in March 2005 and the legislative elections in January 2006. The result was a victory for Hamas, which received 44.45 percent of the votes and won 74 of the 132 seats. Meanwhile, Fatah received 41.43 percent of the votes and won 45 seats.

The internal Palestinian division between Hamas and Fatah began in 2007 when Hamas forcibly took over the Gaza Strip from Fatah. Since then, the Palestinian territories have been split into a Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and a Fatah-dominated West Bank. Enditem
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 9 : The main accused in the infamous Solar scam case that had rocked the then Oommen Chandy government has maintained that an audio clip of hers doing the rounds is "fake" and hence should be subjected to forensic examination.

In the audio clip, which comes several months ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections, accused Saritha Nair is reportedly heard speaking to a person that the ruling CPI-M has asked her to make money for her "services rendered to that party".

"They (CPI-M ) know me and are slightly scared of me. I am making use of it also," Saritha allegedly tells job aspirant SS Arun, who paid her for getting a government job.

She is allegedly heard claiming that the money so collected is shared between the party and officials who process documents for the jobs.

Arun, who lives on the city outskirts, confirmed that he had got in touch with Saritha and paid money after she promised him a government job. He told the media that there were 317 telephone calls between them and after her call, he found out that the voice of the woman on the audio clip -- who claimed to be an employee at the state Secretariat -- sounded like Saritha's. Later, he said, he asked her if she was Saritha and she replied in the affirmative.

Arun alleged that the promised job never came his way and he had filed a police complaint but no action has been taken so far.

Even as Saritha maintained that she had no clue who Arun was and that the voice was also not hers, the Communist Party of India-Marxist continued to maintain a stoic silence.

Reacting to the controversy, Congress Lok Sabha member K Muraleedharan said it was indeed surprising that the CPI-M was mum on the issue. "No action is forthcoming and this shows the double standards of the ruling party," he claimed.

In the run-up to the 2016 Assembly polls in Kerala, the CPI-M had used Saritha's damning statements against Chandy and his Ministers and others to good effect.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text

Colorado will be punching above the state's weight Tuesday when the Senate launches only the fourth impeachment trial of an American president, with two of the state's congressional Democrats set to argue Donald Trump incited a mob to attack the Capitol last month as part of an attempt to overturn the election.

Lawyers for Trump  the only president to be impeached twice  dismiss the trial as "political theater" and plan to argue it's unconstitutional to hold the proceedings against a private citizen. In addition, they contend in preliminary filings that Trump was merely exercising his First Amendment rights and wasn't to blame for the deadly riot on Jan. 6.

Among the nine House Democrats named to prosecute the former president are U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette, representing Denver for a 13th term, and Joe Neguse of Lafayette, serving his second term.

DeGette said the "managers," as they're known, intend to "finish the job" started by the House on Jan. 13, when 10 Republicans joined every Democrat to impeach Trump on a single article for incitement of insurrection.

The lone Coloradan who has been in their shoes, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jason Crow of Aurora, told Colorado Politics that he's had discussions with DeGette, Neguse and other managers about their approach to the upcoming trial, drawing on his experience prosecuting the first impeachment case against Trump in the Senate a year ago.

DeGette, who worked as a civil rights attorney before election to Congress, and Neguse, an experienced litigator and former head of Colorado's Department of Regulatory Agencies, were appointed to the high-profile positions by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Also named were U.S. Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Ted Lieu of California, Joaquin Castro of Texas, Eric Swalwell of California, Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania and Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Both Coloradans played pivotal roles when the House first impeached Trump in late 2019, with DeGette presiding over the chamber for a daylong debate ahead of the impeachment vote and Neguse helping lead the charge in the House Judiciary Committee.

DeGette was one of the first lawmakers to call for impeaching Trump as the dust was still settling after the then-president's supporters stormed the Capitol and delayed the formal certification of President Joe Biden's win.

Neguse was one of the Democrats leading the argument on the House floor against Republican attempts to reject Arizona's electoral votes when the rioters overtook the Capitol. He also participated in Judiciary Committee work on the article of impeachment, drafted by Cicilline, Raskin and Lieu.

This armed mob did not storm the Capitol on any given day, they did so during the most solemn of proceedings that the United States Congress is engaged in, Neguse told The Denver Post. Clearly the attack was done to stop us from finishing our work.

Crow said the lawmakers prosecuting Trump's second impeachment will be operating under a very different set of circumstances than he and his colleagues faced.

"You have the pandemic, first of all, so it's going to be a different logistical set-up, but this is also an extremely different situation," he said.

"You have a crime here, and the courtroom is actually the scene of the crime, and you have the jurors and the prosecutors that are victims of the crime. And the crime was conducted on live TV in front of the American people, where everybody saw what happened.

"I think it's going to be really critical that they establish context. People know largely what happened, but what led us to that point, I think, is really interesting. That didn't happen overnight; there was lead-up and buildup to that moment. Telling that whole story will be really important."

Crow dismissed the argument put forth by Trump's lawyers that it's unconstitutional to impeach a former president, and he said he wasn't discouraged that 45 Republican senators have already voted that they consider this impeachment trial unconstitutional.

"This argument has no standing," Crow said. "It doesn't pass the common-sense test or pass legal muster."

Not only was the first impeachment trial in U.S. history of a former senator, he said, but Trump's argument didn't make any sense.

"Just the idea that you can't try a president after that president leaves office would basically mean that presidents can do anything they want to do in the last couple months of their term and there's no recourse for it," Crow said. "That can't possibly be the case. There's no December or January exception to impeachment and the oversight of Congress, so that just doesn't pass the common-sense test, either."

Crow said he thinks there's a chance some Republican senators can be swayed by the trial.

"I don't think I would be in this business, doing politics, without being optimistic and thinking there was always a path to get things done and to achieve a goal," he said. "One of my sayings is, today's a good day to do the right thing, and tomorrow will be too."

Bond for Adam Coy, the former Ohio police officer indicted in the shooting death of Andre Hill, was reduced to $1 million during a hearing on Tuesday.

Judge Stephen McIntosh had initially set bond at $3 million after Coy pleaded not guilty to murder in the commission of a felony, felonious assault and two counts of dereliction of duty. Coy was also ordered to have no contact with witnesses in the case and other police officers.

During Tuesday's hearing, attorney Mark Collins argued Coy was not a flight risk and had voluntarily cooperated with the death investigation. He also said the high bond goes in the face of bail reform.

"I know this Court is very active in that process," Collins told the court. "And the $3 million bond basically says that if you're wealthy, you can get out."

He wanted a bond no higher than $400,000.

The attorney also asked the judge to modify the bond agreement so Coy could have contact with off-duty police officers who are not part of the case. Collins said many of Coy's friends and family are in law enforcement and they are his "support system."

The state attorney generals office wanted the high bond to remain and pointed out Hill did not pose a threat and was not armed when he was fatally shot by Coy. The office worried that Coy would not appear for court if released because he faces a life sentence.

"That causes concern for the State that Andre Hill was killed and didn't do anything," the attorney general's office said. "And so that causes me to question the mindset of Officer Coy at the time and the mindset that essentially there was no trigger that was present for him to take this deadly action."

After considering both sides, McIntosh agreed to reduce the bond and said Coy could not have contact with law enforcement "associated with the case."

Hill, a 47-year-old Black man, was fatally shot Dec. 22 after two officers responded to a call that a person in a vehicle had been turning the engine on and off.

Story continues

The officers failed to turn on their body cameras until immediately after the shooting. But an automatic "look back" feature on the device captured 60 seconds of video  without the audio  before the camera was eventually turned on.

The video showed Coy using his flashlight as he and the other officer walked up the driveway of a home where Hill was a guest. Hill, who was in the garage, walked toward the officers while holding a cellphone in his hand and was shot four times by Coy.

Coy was fired from the Columbus Division of Police in December. Coy's attorney had previously said his client believed Hill had a gun. No weapon was found at the scene.
When you think of big bloated boats, sleek white vessels, supermodels, spas, Oligarchs and  of course  watching Formula 1 on TV whilst striding away on an onboard treadmill, places like Monaco, Croatia, Saint-Tropez and Cannes probably spring to mind.

However, unless youve been living in an underground bunker for the last 12 months, youll know a pandemic has thrown the world into turmoil. The upshot? Judging by the 2020 summer season, theres a new centre of the luxury yachting universe, and its none of the above.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Top Yacht   (@topyacht)

According to Istanbul-based luxury yacht manager Candas Balci, Turkey last year enjoyed one of the busiest yachting seasons in the Mediterranean. Thats right: though the old guard of luxury and superyacht destinations like Saint-Tropez or Monaco will inevitably make a come back when the time is right, they are relatively quiet right now.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by D Maris Bay (@dmarisbay)

Because of the pandemic it has been crowded in Turkey, Balci told DMARGE, speaking about last years summer season.

Big numbers of yachts coming to Turkey.

This year  when Europe closed its doors to Russia and the Middle East they [yacht owners from those destinations] chose Turkey for their yachts, Balci told DMARGE in 2020.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aytac Sertel (@aytacsertel)

The scene, Balci says, was, More fun, with fewer people here than there would typically be in Europes hotspots.

[The] end of year [saw] very crowded restaurants.

People enjoyed it but, if they could at [the] end go to Europe or the Adriatic etc. if they open ports.

Balci also told DMARGE there have been big enquiries about yacht management.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by SuperYacht Times (@superyachttimes)

Balci said this could be because certain people, who might usually fly somewhere in a private jet and then stay in a villa on the French Riviera, for instance, are choosing to stay on a luxury yacht in Turkey.

Yachts located in Turkey could go [to the] Greek Islands etc, Balci told us, but Turkish yacht owners  many of them  stayed in Turkish bays.

As for 2021, Balci expects a similar season.

EU restrictions still continue to yes we are still expecting a busy season in Turkey [in 2021].

Its not just the waters of Turkey seeing action. As DMARGE reported last year, a rather lavish Turkish hotel (prices start at 600 AUD a night), Calista Luxury Resort, is getting back in the swing of things too, with guests Instagram posts providing us with a sneak peek into what like is currently like at the 5-star luxury Mediterranean resort.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Calista Luxury Resort (@calistahotel)

Travellers have shared images and videos of everything from four-wheel drive expeditions and boating adventures, to relaxing in the resort.

Suffice to say: the experience is tempting not only for wealthy local residents but overseas tourists (the ones who are permitted to leave their country and visit, anyway). As The Sun reported last year, holidays to Turkey were remarkably cheap, costing British tourists less as the local currency fell.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by IMPERIAL YACHTS ANTALYA (@arenda_yaht_antalya)

As Balci has previously told DMARGE, once The Spicy Cough situation eases, the first places he believes The Super Rich will flock to are: the south of France, Italy, Ibiza, Sardinia and Saint-Tropez.

For one or two years they will stay locally on the Turkish coasts, Greek Islands maybe [which has a more relaxed policy currently in place for visitors] after that  very busy days for Ibiza and Saint-Tropez.

Cannes, Antibes, Portofino, and Monaco are on Candas clients hit lists too.

Read Next

New Delhi, Feb 9 : The Centre is considering issuing certain clarifications to ensure that e-commerce industry works in "true spirit" of the rules laid down for the sector, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.

Addressing a virtual press conference on the Ministry's achievements and budget announcements, he said: "We are also considering (to issue) certain clarifications to ensure that the e-commerce sector works in the true spirit of the law and rules laid down for e-commerce." Goyal was replying to a question regarding traders' complaint against alleged malpractices being exercised by e-commerce players.

"There is no change in the e-commerce policy per se. E-commerce policy is very robust, well-designed and operating in India in several sectors. However, there are several complaints from consumers and small retailers about certain practices by e-commerce companies which are under investigation." "We have sought out several informations and they are being looked into and we are also considering certain clarifications to ensure that the e-commerce sector works in the true spirit of the law and rules laid down for e-commerce," he said.

Goyal said that e-commerce is supposed to provide an agnostic platform, where buyers and sellers can trade with each other and the platform should not become the part of that trading transaction.

He also said that e-commerce companies should neither be funding the transactions, nor should they be having algorithms that give preference.

Furthermore, he said that these platforms should provide all data and information to consumers to make rational choices and "the choice should be a free choice of the consumer".

"Buyers and sellers should be given an opportunity to trade with each other and platform only is only a service provider and those who break that law would certainly have to respond to our concerns and correct their business practices at the earliest."
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 04:08:21|Editor: huaxia

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KHARTOUM, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on Monday announced a new cabinet composed of 26 ministers.

Speaking at a press conference in capital Khartoum, Hamdok said 25 ministers have been named, while the naming of education minister was delayed for further consultations.

Khalid Omer Yousif has been appointed as Cabinet Affairs Minister, Yassin Ibrahim as Defense Minister, Izz-Eddin Al-Sheikh as Interior Minister, and Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi as Foreign Minister.

Four ministers in the previous government have kept their posts, including Irrigation Minister Yasir Abbas, Justice Minister Nasr-Eddin Abdul-Bari, Higher Education Minister Intisar Saghairoun, and Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowment Nasr-Eddin Mufarah.

The peace deal signed by the Sudanese government and armed groups in Juba, South Sudan on Oct. 3, 2020 stipulated involvement of the signatory groups in the transitional period structures, including the sovereign council, the cabinet and the legislative council.

The legislative council is set to be composed of 330 members, while a commission is set to be established for the formulation of the constitution and the constitutional conference.

Earlier, three members of the parties to the peace process have been added to the Sovereign Council to be of 14 members, while seven ministries in the new government have been given to the parties of the peace process. Enditem
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World - GeorgianJournal

Josep Borrell Raises the Issue of Respecting Georgia's Territorial Integrity During His Visit in Moscow 2021-02-09 13:16:19+04:00 Photo Reuters retrieved from VOA The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security PolicyVicePresident of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, held his first visit in Moscow, Russia

US Secretary Blinken Raises the Issue of Russian Military Aggression in Georgia and Ukraine During the Call With Russian FM Lavrov 2021-02-05 16:25:17+04:00 Photo France24 On February 4, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a phone call with his Russian counterpart Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. During the call, Secretary Blinken raised the is

Ukraine Bans 3 Pro-Russian TV Channels 2021-02-04 19:26:41+04:00 Photo Pavlo GoncharSOPA ImagesZUMA Wirepicture alliance retrieved from DW Ukrainian President Volodym Volodymyr Zelenskiy has signed decrees banning three proRussian media outlets in the count

Estonia Becomes the Only Country in the World With Female President and Prime Minister 2021-01-31 18:22:45+04:00 Photo Lounaeestlane.ee On January 26, Kaja Kallas assumed the office of Prime Minister of Estonia. Kallas will be the first female PM of Estonia. In addition, with the appointment of Kallas, Estonia

Moldovan Court Rejects Law on Special Status for Russian Language 2021-01-26 21:09:07+04:00 Photo RFEL The Moldovan constitutional court has overturned the law aiming at giving the Russian language the special status, reports Reuters. According to the agency, the law was adopted by the Mol

Protests Across Russia in Support of Jailed Navalny 2021-01-23 21:27:08+04:00 Photo Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times Today, on January 23, throughout the whole day protesters gather in support of wellknown Russian opposition leader Navalny, who was detained on January

Soon-to-Be US Secretary of State: If Georgia Is Able to Meet the NATO Membership Requirements, the Door Should Remain Open 2021-01-20 18:50:46+04:00 Photo US Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing On January 19, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing of the Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken. During the QampA sessi

Former Georgian Economy Minister to Become UN World Tourism Organization Secretary-General for the Second Term 2021-01-20 14:41:03+04:00 Photo UNWTO The Executive Council of the UN World Tourism Organization nominated Georgian candidate Zurab Pololikashvili for the post of SecretaryGeneral for the second term. Zurab Pololikashvilis

Armenia Appoints New Minister of Healthcare 2021-01-19 15:45:49+04:00 Photo Mediamax.am On January 18, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian appointed Anahit Avanesyan as a new Minister of Healthcare. According to Armenpress, the appointment is based on the motion sent

Azerbiajan Launches Vaccination Against COVID-19 2021-01-19 11:31:10+04:00 Photo Trend News Agency According to Azernews, Azerbaijan launched the vaccination process on January 18. As the agency reports, Azerbaijan purchased 4 million doses of Chinadeveloped Sinovac vacci

EU and US Condemn Navalny's Arrest in Moscow 2021-01-18 14:27:28+04:00 Photo Reuters Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have condemned the arrest of Aleksei Navalny upon his return to Mos

WHO Recommends Against COVID Passports 'For the Time Being' 2021-01-17 11:21:40+04:00 Photo BBC According to Euronews, the World Health Organization WHO opposes the introduction of the socalled COVID19 passports the certificate for vaccination for the purpose of traveling for

Portugal Takes Over EU Presidency, Pledges Global Europe 2021-01-14 21:17:42+04:00 Photo European Union The Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union officially began on 1 January 2021 replacing Germany and will continue through June 2021. According to the Portu

EU Commission Proposes Purchasing Extra Vaccines Partially for Neighbour Countries 2021-01-14 13:43:24+04:00 Photo European Union The European Union Commission has proposed to the memberstates to purchase an additional 200 million doses of COVID19 vaccine, with an option to acquire another 100 million do

Joe Biden Picks Former Ambassador to Russia as CIA Director 2021-01-12 20:51:44+04:00 Photo BBC On January 11, Presidentelect Joe Biden nominated William Joseph Burns to head the Central Intelligence Agency CIA. This decision is perceived as nonpartisan, due to the fact that Burn

Lithuania Approves Sakartvelas (Sakartvelo) as an Official Name for Georgia 2021-01-12 12:20:16+04:00 On December 21, the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language SCLL decided to replace ldquoGruzijardquo with ldquoSakartvelordquo Sakartvelo as the official name for Georgia, meaning tha

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Pope Francis Confirms That He'll Be Vaccinated Against COVID, Says 'It's an Ethical Choice' 2021-01-11 18:43:48+04:00 According to Reuters, Pope Francis affirmed that hell be vaccinated against COVID19. As the Pope explains, its an ethical choice for all, since it protects not only your health but the others too.

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Tracy, an attorney and co-owner of a grocery distribution business, told investigators that after he became Gaming Board chairman, he told his wife ... he could not make contributions to political committees any longer, said the IGs report. He said that he could not tell her to make political contributions, that any contributions she made had to be of her own volition in her own decision. ... When asked whose decision it was to make a certain contribution, each time he said it was his wifes decision ... (he said) he did not direct his wife or tell her to make any of the contributions.
Imperial Valley News Center

CBP Field Operations at Hidalgo International Bridge Arrests Man Wanted on Kidnapping Charges

Hidalgo, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge apprehended a 37-year-old man who was wanted by another federal agency for kidnapping and narcotics violations.

CBP Field Operations works with local, state and federal agencies on a myriad of situations and our ability to screen every person attempting to enter the country by land, sea or air, allows us to identify those individuals who have outstanding arrest warrants, said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Port of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas.

A CBP officer escorts a wanted person at a U.S.

port of entry.

On Jan. 29, 2021, CBP officers at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge encountered Juan Manual Moreno Martinez, a U.S. citizen from Edinburg, Texas arriving from Mexico. Computer checks through CBP and law enforcement databases revealed that Moreno Martinez had an arrest warrant from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on kidnapping for ransom and narcotics charges. Moreno Martinez was taken into custody where biometric verification confirmed the warrant, that was issued in August 2020. CBP OFO later released Moreno Martinez to the custody of the DEA.

Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
A police raid on a gym in Liverpool which breached Covid rules by refusing to close saw officers pin a man to the floor and wield batons at customers and staff who attempted to flee.

Three people were arrested and 52 people were fined when police raided Prophecy Performance Centre in Speke, Merseyside, on Sunday afternoon.

CCTV footage from the scene, shared on social media, shows gym goers trying to escape out the back of the gym before police officers try to stop them from getting away - with one appearing to swing a baton.

The clip also shows a group of officers restraining one person before pulling them to the ground when they resist.

Officers were tipped off that Prophecy Performance Centre had been welcoming fitness enthusiasts in defiance of the national lockdown.

Police raided Prophecy Performance Centre in Speke, Merseyside, on Sunday afternoon and used force on some people outside the gym

Officers were tipped off that Prophecy Performance Centre (pictured) had been welcoming fitness enthusiasts in defiance of the national lockdown

CCTV footage from outside the gym (pictured) shows gym goers trying to escape out the back before police officer try to stop them from getting away - with one appearing to swing a baton.

They attended at around 1pm and observed people gathered inside and remained at the location to observe comings and goings from the gym.

While they were there they issued multiple fixed penalty notices for Covid breaches.

Officers saw also observed that the fire escapes at the rear of the gym were locked and contacted Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service to investigate potential breaches of fire safety regulations.

While patrols were outside, a 34-year-old man became aggressive, swearing at officers and refused to co-operate with attempts to engage with him.

Merseyside Police said it had received reports from a member of the public that up to 50 people were being held against their will at the rear of the gym, in an effort to prevent them from being detected by police.

At around 7pm around 40 people tried to leave the gym via the previously locked fire doors, with some driving away at speed.

Police said several of those attempting to make off behaved aggressively towards officers and a number of them were detained.

Another video showed people fleeing in all directions to get to their cars and away from police.

While police attempt to chase them down, many of them reach their cars and drive off at speed away from the scene.

One officers was also caught on camera falling over as they attempted to chase a gym goer down.

CCTV footage showed a group of officers detained someone who falls to the ground and they pin them down

Police arrested three people after a group of gym goers tried to escape out the back of the gym to avoid the police

To stop others making a speedy get away, police blocked the entrance to the gym with cop cars to prevent people from getting out.

It comes as the Department of Health announced 12,364 more coronavirus cases and 1,052 deaths in the past 24 hours as the winter wave continues to shrink because of lockdown.

Both figures have dropped by more than a quarter compared to last week, with today's infections down 26.6 per cent on last Tuesday's figure and deaths by 27.4 per cent. The number of Covid patients in hospital has also fallen by a fifth in a week, with nearly 27,000 beds now taken up by Covid sufferers.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and was later released under investigation.

A 33-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment. The woman has since been released under investigation.

The 34-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and on suspicion of careless and inconsiderate driving. He was released on conditional bail.

The gym has been issued with a Closure Notice by Liverpool City Council.

Following the incident, Merseyside Police has spoken in defence of its use of force.

Deputy Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: 'The decision to use force is never taken lightly, and in cases where it is appropriate, officers must often make quick, split-second judgements where there is a risk of harm.

'During this incident, the use of force was judged necessary by officers in response to people's behaviour.

'Officers should not be confronted with abuse and violence when attempting to uphold the law which most people are rightly abiding by.'

She continued: 'We are currently in a national lockdown which means people should not be leaving their homes for non-essential reasons or meeting up with other people outside their household or support bubble.

'Flouting Covid rules in this manner is not acceptable.

Merseyside Police said some of those at gym on Sunday had travelled as far as Manchester.

A police officer was seen on CCTV wielding a baton as people tried to make their way out the back of the gym

A person who fled the gym wearing a white T-shirt is cornered by the police and the officer holding a baton when trying to escape

'All attending were not only breaching Covid regulations but putting themselves, their loved ones and their wider communities at risk of catching and spreading coronavirus,' Kennedy continued.

'As well as policing Covid rules, throughout this pandemic officers at Merseyside Police have continued to work to tackle all crime including serious, violent and organised crime to help keep our communities across Merseyside safe.

'Having to deploy officer to incidents like the scenes we saw in Speke last night puts an unnecessary strain on our resources but we will not hesitate to act where the irresponsible actions of a few threaten the welfare of the many.

'I would urge everyone across Merseyside to continue to work together and abide by the rules to help us tackle this deadly virus and hopefully we can return to normality more quickly by doing so.'

Ten cars parked illegally outside the gym received parking fines.

Britain faces a second summer write off: Travel firms, wedding venues, pubs, and event organisers warn uncertainty over when Covid rules will end - if EVER - means hundreds of thousands of jobs and businesses will go

By James Gant for Mail Online

Travel and hospitality bosses today warn the UK faces a second summer write off as uncertainty over when restrictions will end squashes demand for holidays and social venues.

Millions of Britons have already booked trips ahead of the Prime Minister's announcement of the country's plan for easing restrictions on February 22 and Matt Hancock has previously predicted a 'Great British Summer'.

But several government figures are hinting coronavirus restrictions could last well into summer - despite fears it will spell the death knell for businesses across the UK when the furlough scheme ends on April 30.

Mr Hancock indicated today tough border measures - Including ten-day isolation at home for all travellers and hotel quarantine for 33 'red list' countries - will need to be in place until vaccines have been tweaked to deal with variant strains in the Autumn.

It came after Jonathan Van Tam said yesterday the 'more elaborate your plans are for summer holidays, in terms of crossing borders, in terms of household mixing' the greater the risk they will be cancelled.

Meanwhile SAGE expert Professor Sir Ian Boyd predicted social distancing measures will be needed for a 'long time to come  perhaps several years.'

Matt Hancock (left) indicated today that tough border measures including quarantine hotels will need to be in place until vaccines have been tweaked to deal with variant strains in the Autumn. It came after Jonathan Van Tam (right) said yesterday the 'more elaborate your plans are for summer holidays, in terms of crossing borders, in terms of household mixing' the greater the risk they will be cancelled

GDP tumbled by 2.6 per cent in November as the second coronavirus lockdown hammered the economy, official figures showed today. In this chart, 100 represents the size of the economy in 2018

Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy firm the PC Agency, said the government needs to signal restrictions will be diluted from the start of April so travel can recover.

He said 'The government needs to signal that these tougher restrictions will be diluted from the start of April, enabling travel to recover again.

'Otherwise, the huge drop in travellers and number of flights will push the sector over a cliff-edge, with the resulting hundreds of thousands of job losses and business failures.'

He added: 'The outlook may seem cloudy right now, as government tightens restrictions for those entering the UK.

'But, when infection and mortality rates are much lower and the NHS is not under pressure due to vaccines taking effect, then there is no reason for such measures to be in place.'

The beleaguered hospitality industry also has pressing questions about when trade can resume, calling on the government to give a 'strong signal' Britain will be open in the summer.

When could each sector expected to open up? Travel: Tough new quarantine rules announced today including arrivals having to take three Covid tests are set to last until Autumn. But travel experts still hope the vaccine effect on hospitalisations will mean the rules can be eased and short-haul will be possible again from May 1. Weddings: The Prime Minister is set to announce a lockdown exit plan on February 22. Weddings with small numbers will be first. But experts such as wedding planner Holly Poulter have suggested that 2022 may be a better bet for people to get the dates they want and be able to invite more guests. Pubs: UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said the industry hopes to reopen from the start of April. But government sources have already suggested it could be May before pubs re-open under the exit plan. Social events: Some events such as Wimbledon are hoping to go ahead in some capacity this summer. But others, like Glastonbury, have already cancelled. Advertisement

UK hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: 'We hope that the government will give a strong signal that Britain will be open this summer, so that businesses can begin to make preparations.

We can't downplay how serious this has been for our sector. Businesses are telling us that only one in five have enough cash flow to last past the end of this month.

'We have suffered over 600,000 job losses and we still have more than one million staff on furlough. Lots of businesses have gone under, but many have persevered doggedly throughout the crisis.

Meanwhile wedding experts are advising people to postpone their nuptials until next year so they can have the ceremony they want - free of tight restrictions.

And the festival industry - which saw most events called off or moved online last year - is trying to find ways to hold shows this year but has called for clarity from the government.

Fresh figures also show consumer confidence is plummeting, with retail sales in January falling at their fastest pace since May and only 40 per cent of Britons saying they are confident in their job security.

Matthew Fell, CBI Chief UK Policy Director, said: 'Business understands the priority is to protect the health of the population, and supports measures to reduce infections and hasten the return to a normal way of life.

'Yet these new quarantine rules and testing requirements are a further reminder of just how challenging the situation is for the international travel sector right now.

'Further, immediate support is now essential to protect companies and jobs in the aviation sector and its supply chains in the difficult months ahead.

'The government should also be clear on a roadmap to relaxing restrictions when health data permits.'

It comes as figures show Britain has turned the tide on the latest peak of the coronavirus as cases and deaths plummet.

The Department of Health announced 12,364 more coronavirus cases and 1,052 deaths in the past 24 hours as the winter wave continues to shrink because of lockdown.

Both figures have dropped by more than a quarter compared to last week, with today's infections down 26.6 per cent on last week's figure and deaths by 27.4 per cent.

The number of Covid patients in hospital has also fallen by a fifth in a week, with nearly 27,000 beds now taken up by Covid sufferers.

The DoH also revealed another 356,291 coronavirus jabs were administered yesterday, with 12.6million Brits having now received their first dose.

With six days still to go, No10 is within touching distance of delivering on its target of injecting the 15million most vulnerable by February 15.

But hopes the world-beating vaccine roll-out will mean lockdown curbs can be significantly eased any time soon were shot down today by Mr Hancock, who unveiled the latest suite of border curbs and warned they could last until the Autumn when booster vaccines will be available.

Conservative former minister Mark Harper - part of the lockdown sceptic CRG group of MPs - questioned when the policy against the virus was going to end, noting if the virus keeps mutating there would have to be lockdowns forever.

Huw Merriman, chairman of the Transport Select Committee, also called for a schedule, pointing to the impact on the summer travel industry.

And Tory MP William Wragg asked whether the conditions for ending lockdown have changed.

He added: 'The original purpose of lockdown was to keep hospitals from falling over and to reduce hospitalisations.'

Travel

Mr Charles, CEO of travel consultancy firm the PC Agency, said he expects even when travel is allowed countries will still block Britons without a negative Covid test.

He told MailOnline: 'The outlook may seem cloudy right now, as government tightens restrictions for those entering the UK.

Millions of Britons have already booked holidays (pictured, Barcelona last year) ahead of the Prime Minister's announcement of the country's plan for easing restrictions on February 22 and Matt Hancock has previously predicted a 'Great British Summer'

'But, when infection and mortality rates are much lower and the NHS is not under pressure due to vaccines taking effect, then there is no reason for such measures to be in place.

'So, I would still expect travel to short-haul Europe to be likely from 1st May onwards and that's when consumers should be booking for.'

But doubts are growing after Mr Hancock today hinted new quarantine restrictions will stay in place under vaccines can deal with new variants.

Mr Charles continued: 'Some countries will still no doubt insist on negative test proof but travel should very much open up further.

'This will enable people to visit family again and travel on business, as well as for holidays.'

He added: 'The government needs to signal that these tougher restrictions will be diluted from the start of April, enabling travel to recover again.

'Otherwise, the huge drop in travellers and number of flights will push the sector over a cliff-edge, with the resulting hundreds of thousands of job losses and business failures.'

Mr Kelvin, from Points Guy UK travel experts, said people may want to try their luck and book a holiday now due to reduced prices.

He said: 'You might want to save the stress of worrying whether you will be able to take your trip or not, but that doesn't mean it's a blanket no on making future bookings.

'One huge reason to book now is to take advantage of some of the incredible deals available. We may never see such great offers again.

'However there are a number of important things to consider. Aim to book much later in the year (a spring trip or even early summer trip might be unlikely to happen).

Which events are going ahead and which are cancelled this year? Planning to go ahead: Wimbledon Wimbledon has said it will still hold the championships but is expecting it to have to be with a reduced-capacity crowd. A statement said: 'Our aspiration is to stage the best Championships possible - a trusted, best practice, safe event - with the health and safety of all guests, staff and competitors remaining our highest priority. 'With five months remaining until the Championships, we are continuing to develop our detailed scenario planning and work closely with the relevant government and public health authorities to keep abreast of the latest developments in the fight against coronavirus. 'The majority of our planning focus is currently centred on the option of a reduced-capacity Championships and how that would affect each stakeholder group, but we are not yet in a position to rule out any of the other scenarios.' Notting Hill Carnival Notting Hill Carnival, which attracts throngs of people to the upmarket west London street, said there will be efforts to try to run Europe's biggest street party 'in some way' this year. Matthew Phillip, chief executive of Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, said social distancing would be 'devastating' for the event. Mr Phillip told MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which is looking at the cultural and economic impact on the UK's music festivals: 'For Carnival weekend specifically, it would pose a very big problem. 'It would be very difficult to hold Carnival in its traditional format on the streets with social distancing in place. It would be devastating for a second year in a row.' Asked if it would mean cancellation of the August event in west London, Mr Phillip said 'yes' - but added efforts would be made to try and run it in some way. He added: 'It would not take place in its traditional format. We would always hope to do something. 'Carnival means too much to too many people for us to simply ignore it so we would always try to find a way of celebrating Carnival for its artistry and what it means to the community.' Chelsea Flower Show Another event under threat is the Chelsea Flower Show, with its normally colourful delights of late spring, set to turn brown as it moves to the autumn months. For the first time in its 109-year history, the event will take place later in the year  meaning the vibrant displays of mid-May will be replaced by the more mellow tones of the fall. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) announced last month the show, in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, has been moved from May 18-23 to September 21-26. Last year the event had to be scrapped completely because of coronavirus, with a virtual show staged online. RHS director general Sue Biggs said: 'In these challenging times, we have always followed Government advice and made difficult, responsible decisions with the health and safety of people our key concern. 'Whilst we are sad to have had to delay RHS Chelsea, and are sorry for the disruption this will cause, we are excited that we are still planning to bring the world's best-loved gardening event to the nation.' Henley Royal Regatta The organiser of the Henley Royal Regatta and Henley Festival in Oxfordshire said she is planning for the popular five-day boat racing event at the end of June to be 'near normal' this year. Jo Bausor said they are due to revise their decision on the event at the end of February or start of March depending on government guidance. She told the Henley Standard: 'We definitely will have an event this year, no matter what. At the moment we're still planning for a near normal event, as much as we can. 'This does depend on the regatta and what they decide to do. We're working very closely with them and have a very good and productive relationship.' The event usually attracts about 6,000 people but may have to reduce capacity due to social distancing. She added: 'It wouldn't be the full festival but it would have all the artists and all the bits everybody knows and loves.' Pride in London Alison Camps, Co-Chair of Pride in London, said: 'We're aware there's still a lot of uncertainty around how far current restrictions will have been relaxed by the summer, which is why we'll be asking our communities for their thoughts about plans they want to see from us in 2021. The most important thing for us is that all attendees feel safe and reassured. 'Whatever Pride looks like this year, we're determined to continue bringing our communities together and providing a platform for all LGBT+ voices. We'll be sharing more information about our plans for 2021 in due course.' Cancelled: Glastonbury Glastonbury Festival will not take place for a second year in a row because of the coronavirus pandemic, the organisers announced last month. The music festival's co-organiser, Michael Eavis - who curates the lineup with his daughter Emily, said he was 'so sorry' to have to cancel the event for the second year in a row. Most live music events, including Glastonbury, were wiped out last summer by the pandemic and a recent study warned that without state support, Britain's 1.3billion live music industry is heading for another summer washout. Emily had previously teased there would be 'a hell of a lot of surprises' for the festival in 2021, telling reporters last year: 'We're rolling two festivals together for 2021. RideLondon RideLondon event director Hugh Brasher said: 'We know it is very disappointing news that the events planned for May cannot take place, especially for charities. 'However, I am sure everyone understands why this decision has been made and we look forward to welcoming participants and the professional peloton to ride the streets of London in 2022. 'We are currently working with the Mayor's office to deliver a virtual event in the summer designed to inspire as many people as possible to cycle more often, and also to engage some of the hundreds of thousands of new or lapsed cyclists to raise money for the many charities whose income has been so affected by Covid-19.' Advertisement

'Be sure to ensure all bookings are fully refundable or flexible and that you have adequate insurance.

'Finally, book with ATOL or ABTA protected companies (for packages) where relevant and make bookings on a credit card to ensure you a fully protected in case the company you have booked with goes bust.'

Matthew Fell, CBI Chief UK Policy Director, said: 'Business understands the priority is to protect the health of the population, and supports measures to reduce infections and hasten the return to a normal way of life.

'Yet these new quarantine rules and testing requirements are a further reminder of just how challenging the situation is for the international travel sector right now.

'Further, immediate support is now essential to protect companies and jobs in the aviation sector and its supply chains in the difficult months ahead.

'The government should also be clear on a roadmap to relaxing restrictions when health data permits.

'The UK's world-class aviation sector  which underpins so much of our economic activity  must be supported so that it can play its full part in the country's recovery.'

Meanwhile Mark Jit, a professor of vaccine epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told Wired: 'I don't anticipate getting on a plane or even a long distance train.'

And Clare Wenham, assistant professor of global health policy at London School of Economics, added: 'I think we will probably be considering UK holidays this summer again.'

She added: 'I imagine it will be more similar to last summer rather than a normal summer.'

Despite lockdown, 2.8million bookings have already been made with TUI for later in the year and the travel agent confirmed plans to operate at 80 per cent capacity.

Average daily bookings in January are up 70 per cent compared with December, although Tui said it expects a peak booking period is still on its way.

Holidaymakers are expected to wait to see if Covid-19 vaccination programmes are successful, leading to bookings for the summer - including amendments and voucher re-bookings, down 44 per cent compared with summer 2019.

The company added there will be 'significant upside anticipated' should restrictions lift in time for Easter.

A spokesman said: 'Our focus on the end-to-end delivery of safe holidays already resulted in the successful partial recommencement of operations during Summer 2020.

'Destinations have recognised this strength of Tui's, as the governments of Greece and the Balearics selected Tui to implement pilot programmes in summer 2020 aimed at restarting tourism in their regions.

'Our strong customer base and scale gives us an advantage in terms of brand awareness and distribution, securing attractive terms from suppliers, and in gaining greater insight into customer behaviour.

'In addition, selling into a range of source markets helps to diversify our customer base, meaning we are not reliant on a single market.'

But England's deputy chief medical officer put a spanner in the works yesterday by warning prospective holidaymakers not to book elaborate vacations.

Professor Van-Tam said he could not give a proper answer on holidays away from the UK as the data was not available.

Speaking at the No 10 news briefing, he said: 'The more elaborate your plans are for summer holidays, in terms of crossing borders, in terms of household mixing, given where we are now, I think we just have to say the more you are stepping into making guesses about the unknown.

'I can't give people a proper answer at this point because we don't yet have the data. It's just too early.'

Currently Britons are not allowed to leave the country unless they have a legally permitted reason.

Work trips are allowed, so you will have to show some proof that your flight or sea crossing is vital for your employment.

But there are a range of other reasons for 'essential travel', such as medical care, to escape harm, compassionate visits - for example a funeral - and weddings.

Meanwhile airlines fear any lack of rooms under the quarantine hotels scheme could force them to leave travellers stuck abroad.

It is understood ministers are considering adding a section to passenger locator forms, which all must fill out before departure.

It could ask them if they have booked into a quarantine hotel in the UK. But it is unclear if carriers will have to bar travellers who answer no, leaving them stranded.

Mr Hancock announced today arriving travellers put in quarantine hotels in England will be charged 1,750 for their stay.

Passengers face fines of up to 10,000 for failing to quarantine and those who lie on their passenger locator forms face up to 10 years in jail.

The Cabinet minister said the measures announced will need to be replaced to enable 'safe and free international travel' in the future.

He told the Commons that 16 hotels have been contracted to provide 4,600 rooms for the hotel quarantine programme which begins on Monday.

UK nationals or residents returning to England from 33 'red list' countries will be required to spend 10 days in a Government-designated hotel.

Anyone who attempts to conceal that they have been in one of those destinations in the 10 days before arrival faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years, Mr Hancock said.

He also confirmed the new 'enhanced testing' regime for all international travellers, with two tests required during the quarantine process from Monday.

Mr Hancock told the Commons: 'People who flout these rules are putting us all at risk.

'Passenger carriers will have a duty in law to make sure that passengers have signed up for these new arrangements before they travel, and will be fined if they don't, and we will be putting in place tough fines for people who don't comply.

'This includes a 1,000 penalty for any international arrival who fails to take a mandatory test, a 2,000 penalty for any international arrival who fails to take the second mandatory test, as well as automatically extending their quarantine period to 14 days, and a 5,000 fixed penalty notice - rising to 10,000 - for arrivals who fail to quarantine in a designated hotel.'

He added: 'I make no apologies for the strength of these measures, because we're dealing with one of the strongest threats to our public health that we've faced as a nation.'

Asked when the new rules will be relaxed, Mr Hancock replied: 'We want to exit from this into a system of safe international travel as soon as practicable and as soon as is safe.'

He said work is ongoing to assess the current vaccines against variants of the virus, adding: 'If that isn't forthcoming then we will need to vaccinate with a further booster jab in the autumn, which we're working with the vaccine industry.

'These are the uncertainties within which we are operating and hence, for now, my judgment is the package we've announced today is the right one.'

It comes after it was confirmed last week that UK nationals returning from 33 'red list' countries would be required to quarantine in closely monitored Government-designated hotels, where they would have to take two tests - although no contracts have yet been signed with accommodation providers.

Tory former minister Mr Harper told the Commons today: 'When is this policy going to end, if ever? Because if the virus continues to mutate, surely the risk is going to be there forever and so when can it be removed?'

Mr Hancock responded: 'The risk of mutations absolutely can and will be managed through the evolution of vaccines in the way that the annual flu jab changes each year and allows us to protect ourselves.

'Of course these measures, whilst necessary now, are not measures that can be in place permanently. We need to replace them over time with a system of safe and free international travel. That's where we need to get to.

'The first task is to vaccinate the population. If we get good news on the vaccination impact on hospitalisations and deaths from people who have new mutations, then we will be in a better place. If we do not get such good news, then we will need to use the updated vaccines to protect against the variants of concerns.

'The scientists inform and advise me that there are repeatedly independently around the world mutations of the same type in the E484K area of the virus, as mentioned by (Jonathan Ashworth). Now that gives the scientists a good start in where to target the new updated vaccine.'

The Financial Times reported ministers were said to be close to signing up a series of hotels near Heathrow, and were optimistic of agreeing deals with others around Manchester, Gatwick, Birmingham and London City airports.

The extra testing burden - with the cost expected to fall on travellers - has added to concerns in the travel industry.

Derek Jones, chief executive of luxury travel company Kuoni, welcomed the plan to test arriving travellers but called for it to coincide with an easing of mandatory self-isolation requirements.

He said: 'A robust testing regime is the way to open up travel again but it has to replace or at least shorten quarantine. That's the way to get travel moving again.'

But SAGE expert Professor Sir Ian has predicted social distancing measures will be needed for a 'long time to come  perhaps several years.'

The infectious disease expert at the St Andrews University, said the emergence of potentially jab-resistant strains means the UK could be stuck in a pattern of 'control and release for a long time to come'.

Evidence suggests the Oxford University vaccine  the main weapon in Britain's arsenal to combat the virus  does not stop people falling ill with the South African variant, which is feared to be spreading in the community already. But No10's top scientific advisers believe it still protects against severe illness and death.

Professor Sir Ian and several other prominent SAGE members warned reopening the shutdown too early could risk allowing new, equally concerning variants to spawn.

Mutations randomly happen as viruses spread but most changes never change the way it looks or behaves.

Very high transmission gives the virus more opportunity to mutate and, therefore, drives up the risk that one of the alterations could change the course of the disease.

Professor Sir Ian told The Times: 'It stands to reason that the more people there are in the population with infections  the prevalence  the more virus that is replicating and the more chance there is of even highly improbable mutations happening.'

He warned even if Britain gets on top of the South African strain, there will be more concerning ones down the line.

He added: 'My suspicion is that we will experience a damped oscillation of control-release for a long time to come  perhaps several years.'

Pubs

The threat of continued lockdown has also spurred fears pubs may not be open until late in the year.

UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said the industry hopes to reopen from the start of April but notes there are caveats with this.

She said: 'The rapid roll-out of the vaccine gives us good reason to be positive that we are on the road back to normality.

'We are hopeful that we can begin to see a gradual reopening of hospitality from the start of April.

'Obviously, this is likely to be heavily dependent on health metrics, such as the number of vaccinations and new cases, continuing their positive trends.'

She added: 'We will know more about what is going to be achievable on 22 February, but we are confident that people can begin to look at events and holidays this summer.

'We hope that the government will give a strong signal that Britain will be open this summer, so that businesses can begin to make preparations. We must remember that reopening after a shut-down like this takes a lot of time, effort and money.'

It is not yet clear when they will reopen, but the Prime Minister is due to unveil his long-awaited road map 'to unlock' Britain on February 22.

UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said the industry hopes to reopen from the start of April but notes there are caveats with this. Pictured: Borough Market in September

Ministers are expected to adopt a 'tentative' approach - with some sources claiming a 'booze ban' on pubs between April and May was being considered to stop social distancing slipping.

But a senior Government source told MailOnline an alcohol ban in pubs was not on the cards.

They said: 'We are not going to open pubs that can't sell booze. What would be the point of that?'

Labour's shadow minister for business and consumers, Lucy Powell, described the suggestion as 'ridiculous'.

She told BBC Breakfast: 'They (businesses) need to know the economic support that will sit alongside the public health measures. At the moment they diverge quite considerably.

'And we need to make sure for businesses that that route map to reopening allows businesses to open in a viable way.

'So we can't have ridiculous things that we've seen speculated about with pubs saying they can reopen but without serving alcohol, for example.'

Other measures being floated include axing the 10pm curfew - which has been given the go-ahead according to some reports, along with an end to the requirement for drinkers to order a 'substantial meal' with alcohol.

England could also emulate Scotland's indoor alcohol ban - where pubs are able to serve booze but only in outdoor areas - that was in effect during its November lockdown, and allow unlicensed cafes to reopen while keeping pubs closed.

One idea is for pubs to be permitted to sell takeaway pints from April before fully reopening in May, the Sun reported.

The PM also tasked officials with 'simplifying' the rules for pubs, paving the way for the 10pm curfew to be ditched along with the requirement to order a 'substantial meal' with food.

A Government source said: 'As the pandemic has changed in the past year we have always tried to adapt the rules to make them more effective and easier to understand. As we look to cautiously unlock, we will seek to do the same again.'

Another source added: 'There is a hope to not get bogged down in 'scotch egg-gate' again, by effectively simplifying the rules to avoid confusion.'

Limiting indoor mixing is expected to be central to the Government's strategy and venues will be encouraged to promote al fresco dining.

Landlords are desperate to welcome back customers after months shuttered during the crisis.

Pubs have had to throw away up to 87million pints of beer since the start of the pandemic, an industry body claimed.

The British Beer and Pub Association said the waste was equal to 331million in sales, and warned of job losses without more Government support.

Weddings

Meanwhile experts have reviewed advice for weddings for the summer, with some suggesting postponing them.

The Guides for Brides website suggests postponing your wedding this year, especially if you do not want to get married under tight restrictions.

It warns those looking to get hitched in the first few months of 2021 'are likely facing the reality that it will not be the day you have dreamed of'.

But the website said people should check all their options before they decide to cancel the event.

It adds: 'Many are also choosing to move their larger celebrations until they are safe to go ahead.

'This way they can properly celebrate their marriage with their wider friends and family. This approach is known as a sequel wedding.'

The UK Weddings Taskforce, which is negotiating with the government over ceremonies this year, called for clarity from ministers on when they can resume.

A newsletter from the body said a clear roadmap for the resumption of weddings was needed from Downing Street.

It is also lobbying the government to provide a financial support package for wedding businesses to help the industry survive the pandemic.

Wedding planner Holly Poulter also supported the idea of moving a 2021 wedding to 2022.

She told Hello: 'It's a really personal decision since, for many, waiting another two years to tie the knot is just too far off. But for those in no rush, it's worth considering.

'Pushing it all back to 2022 will open up more availability for your suppliers, your guests, and you get to spend all of 2021 chilling, because you'll be the most prepared couple ever.'

Many venues are asking their customers to pay more to move date, sometimes due to the new date being more popular - for example, summer and weekend dates.

Henrietta Dunkley, associate solicitor at Ellis Jones Solicitors, said: 'The venue may well be taking this approach because at the moment it is hoped that weddings will be able to take place in September 2021.

'This is based on the Prime Minister's recent comments to the wedding industry that couples should ''plan with confidence'' because we should be in ''different world'' by summer 2021.

'The coronavirus pandemic has not yet affected weddings in September 2021 and so the venue are entitled to treat your contract with them as such.

'It is generally normal for wedding venues to increase their prices slightly each year, but they cannot just hike up prices unreasonably.'

Experts have reviewed advice for weddings for the summer, with some suggesting postponing them. Pictured: A wedding in Northumberland last year

She added it is worth checking the contract in place with the venue to determine whether there is a contractual entitlement to increase the price of a wedding in certain circumstances.

Whether the new price is unreasonable will likely depend on the terms of the contract and how much the original price has increased by.

Adam French, consumer expert at Which?, added: 'You shouldn't have to pay more if the rescheduled wedding is a comparable date and service.

'If you can't agree on a new date, they are entitled to a refund providing the wedding can't go ahead as initially planned, according to the Competition and Markets Authority's guidance.'

The CMA has set up a taskforce to investigate harmful pricing practices during the pandemic and has created a form that consumers can complete if they feel a business has treated them unfairly.

It comes as consumer spending in the retail sector slid in January as the latest national lockdown hammered shops across the UK, according to new figures.

The BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor for the month showed a slump in total sales, while a separate report from Barclaycard has revealed the sharpest fall in consumer spending since May.

Prices soar in wealthy staycation hotspots Prices are soaring for staycation locations as rich Britons look to cash in on the best trip at home money can buy. One that might just catch their eye is a two-week break for a family of four  at a mere 600,000. Among the enviable holidays on offer is a tour of Scotland on board the privately chartered luxury train the Belmond Royal Scotsman, which comprises nine en suite carriages and a spa. The tour, offered by travel firm Abercrombie & Kent, includes excursions such as seats in the royal box at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in August (if it goes ahead); the chance to 'brush shoulders with the Queen' at the Braemar Gathering (again, if it is held) and VIP access to golf courses graced by celebrities, including Carnoustie and St Andrews' Old Course. The tour is followed by seven days on the Glamis Castle estate, home of the late Queen Mother and the setting for Macbeth. The stay comes with a programme of country pursuits, a tennis session with Sir Andy Murray and mini-versions of West End shows, performed by original cast members. The cost is 'from 600,000' for a family of four. Meanwhile, the Oetker Collection markets a range of 'the most fabulous private homes and castles', with hosts such as James Middleton, brother of the Duchess of Cambridge, who works at the Glen Affric estate in Inverness-shire. Oetker can put you and your party of up to 20 in all-inclusive luxury at Glen Affric for 35,000 a week. Activities include kayaking, shooting and a ceilidh. Mr Middleton, 33, is billed as 'a charming host who will delight in helping you make the most of these magical destinations'. But people with significant sums to spend on such vacations will have to book soon to avoid disappointment  some firms are warning that availability for some bespoke luxury holidays is 'very tight'. Advertisement

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) revealed that total retail sales fell by 1.3 per cent in January as rapid online growth failed to entirely offset the plunge in store sales.

Over the three months to January, sales of non-food items in stores dived by 36.5 per cent as retailers were heavily impacted by the January lockdown.

Total non-food sales were 5.6 per cent lower for the period as online clothing and homeware sales only partially offset closures.

Meanwhile, food sales jumped by 7.9 per cent for the three-month period as grocery stores remained open to shoppers.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: 'January saw retail sales growth decline to its lowest level since May of last year.

'The current lockdown has hit non-essential retailers harder than in November, with the new variant hampering consumer confidence and leading customers to hold back on spending - especially on clothing and footwear.

'Meanwhile, retailers have worked incredibly hard to expand their online delivery and click and collect offerings to ensure everyone can get the products they need during lockdown.

'This has led to record growth for online non-food sales and is a testament to the resilience and innovation of retail, which in the face of the pandemic, has rapidly adapted and invested in online platforms and delivery logistics.'

Paul Martin, UK head of retail at KPMG, said: 'Computing was the hot category and saw triple figure growth online as schools closed and parents rushed to purchase laptops and printers.

'Meanwhile, clothing retailers continued to struggle with physical sales down across all categories.'

A separate report by Barclaycard revealed that consumer spending slumped by 16.3 per cent in January, representing the sharpest decline since May in the face of the latest lockdown.

The analysis of credit and debit card spending showed that shoppers spent almost-a-quarter less on non-essential items against the same period last year amid store closures.

Not-essential spending in January fell by 24.2 per cent, with department store retailers witnessing a 36.8 per cent sales slump while clothing sales were 25 per cent lower.

Meanwhile, the report said that sales of essential items grew 3.9 per cent as high demand for home deliveries sparked a 126.8 per cent surge in online grocery spending.

Shoppers spent significantly less booking holidays in January, with a 87.2 per cent fall in travel agent sales with airlines reporting an 81.6 per cent fall amid travel restrictions.

Raheel Ahmed, head of consumer products at Barclaycard, said: 'As the impact of the latest lockdown start to take its toll, we've seen particular sectors struggle, as physical premises across the UK were forced to close.

'Last month's glimmer of hope for the travel sector also seems to have stalled as tougher border controls saw bookings drop.

'Yet, on a more positive note, we have seen a surge in many online categories as the demand for home deliveries continues to rise.'

Social events

Another industry to have been battered by the pandemic is that of events and festivals.

A swathe of popular events have already been cancelled this year - such as Glastonbury - and others are unsure of how or if they will go ahead.

For live shows such as festivals and sports, crowds play a large part - contributing to the atmosphere and bringing in cash for companies.

There are plans in motion by many organisations to keep their gatherings going in some form this year no matter the restrictions on movement.

Wimbledon has said it will still hold the championships but is expecting it to have to be with a reduced-capacity crowd.

A statement said: 'Our aspiration is to stage the best Championships possible - a trusted, best practice, safe event - with the health and safety of all guests, staff and competitors remaining our highest priority.

'With five months remaining until the Championships, we are continuing to develop our detailed scenario planning and work closely with the relevant government and public health authorities to keep abreast of the latest developments in the fight against coronavirus.

'The majority of our planning focus is currently centred on the option of a reduced-capacity Championships and how that would affect each stakeholder group, but we are not yet in a position to rule out any of the other scenarios.'

Another industry to have been battered by the pandemic is that of events and festivals. Pictured: The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012

Meanwhile Notting Hill Carnival, which attracts throngs of people to the upmarket west London street, said there will be efforts to try to run Europe's biggest street party 'in some way' this year.

Matthew Phillip, chief executive of Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, said social distancing would be 'devastating' for the event.

Mr Phillip told MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which is looking at the cultural and economic impact on the UK's music festivals: 'For Carnival weekend specifically, it would pose a very big problem.

'It would be very difficult to hold Carnival in its traditional format on the streets with social distancing in place. It would be devastating for a second year in a row.'

Asked if it would mean cancellation of the August event in west London, Mr Phillip said 'yes' - but added efforts would be made to try and run it in some way.

He added: 'It would not take place in its traditional format. We would always hope to do something.

'Carnival means too much to too many people for us to simply ignore it so we would always try to find a way of celebrating Carnival for its artistry and what it means to the community.'

Another event under threat is the Chelsea Flower Show, with its normally colourful delights of late spring, set to turn brown as it moves to the autumn months.

For the first time in its 109-year history, the event will take place later in the year  meaning the vibrant displays of mid-May will be replaced by the more mellow tones of the fall.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) announced last month the show, in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, has been moved from May 18-23 to September 21-26.

Last year the event had to be scrapped completely because of coronavirus, with a virtual show staged online.

RHS director general Sue Biggs said: 'In these challenging times, we have always followed Government advice and made difficult, responsible decisions with the health and safety of people our key concern.

'Whilst we are sad to have had to delay RHS Chelsea, and are sorry for the disruption this will cause, we are excited that we are still planning to bring the world's best-loved gardening event to the nation.'

And the organiser of the Henley Royal Regatta and Henley Festival in Oxfordshire said she is planning for the popular five-day boat racing event at the end of June to be 'near normal' this year.

Jo Bausor said they are due to revise their decision on the event at the end of February or start of March depending on government guidance.

She told the Henley Standard: 'We definitely will have an event this year, no matter what. At the moment we're still planning for a near normal event, as much as we can.

'This does depend on the regatta and what they decide to do. We're working very closely with them and have a very good and productive relationship.'

The event usually attracts about 6,000 people but may have to reduce capacity due to social distancing.

She added: 'It wouldn't be the full festival but it would have all the artists and all the bits everybody knows and loves.'

Industry insiders say a festival season is 'still possible' this year despite the cancellation of Glastonbury due to Covid.

The chief executive of the Association of Independent Festivals, Paul Reed, said the UK's largest festival was a 'different beast' and its cancellation did not mean other smaller events could not go ahead.

But he said there is only hope for smaller events if the Government ensures organisers of music events can access insurance to protect against losses as a result of Covid.

Last month, Glastonbury organisers announced the 2021 festival was cancelled because of the pandemic.

The music festival's co-organiser, Michael Eavis - who curates the lineup with his daughter Emily - said he was 'so sorry' to have to cancel the event for the second year in a row.

Most live music events, including Glastonbury, were wiped out last summer by the pandemic.

A recent study warned without state support, Britain's 1.3billion live music industry is heading for another summer washout.

But Mr Reed believed with the right help from ministers, smaller festivals could still go ahead.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast he said: 'I will say about Glastonbury that it is a different beast to most festivals and most likely ran out of time due to the size and complexity of the event.

'For most festivals the cut-off point is more likely the end of March.'

He said we are at a 'serious point in the pandemic and festivals only want to return when it is safe to do so'.

'This is devastating news about Glastonbury, not least for the amount of staff and freelancers and companies involved in delivering the event, but a festival season is still possible for this year if Government act now on insurance.'

He added festivals are currently struggling to get insurance for coronavirus-related cancellations.

'We do need Government to intervene in this issue,' he said.

Edinburgh's festivals face a similar threat, according to bosses who warned it is not a 'foregone conclusion' events will bounce back.

Director of umbrella body Festivals Edinburgh, Julia Amour, said companies which have done 'well out of the pandemic' should step in to help Edinburgh retain its leading culture claim.

Edinburgh's festivals have experienced huge growth in modern times, attracting a record 4.4 million overall attendance in 2019 and generating more than 300m.

Edinburgh's festivals have experienced huge growth in modern times, attracting a record 4.4 million overall attendance in 2019 and generating more than 300million

But heritage groups want a total rethink on how they are staged in the future to reduce their impact on the fabric of the city and cut their carbon footprint.

Ms Amour said new funding would need to be found if growing criticism about their impact on the city was to be tackled.

She said there was an 'economic conundrum' over how to ensure more people living in Edinburgh were able to attend the festivals as well as spread events out more around the city and across the calendar.

Speaking at an online conference hosted by the Cockburn Association heritage group, Ms Amour said: 'We must make sure our festivals continue to feel authentically of our city.

'But we are also an international city and a capital city. That dimension of what the festivals bring to our city is something we need to look carefully at this very perilous moment.

'It is not a foregone conclusion that Edinburgh will be able to hang on to what we most value about our festivals.

'We're proud as festivals to be deeply international in spirit, but first and foremost we want to belong to the city.

'We should not lose sight of the fact that two thirds of people in the city do take part and do see the festivals as belonging to them.

'Yet, at the same time, one third of the population don't access them.

'There is an economic conundrum at the moment and if we are to get what we want, we will have to solve that conundrum.

'People are taking their own risks and putting their own money up to come here.

'People ask why they are so concentrated in the city centre and why they are on at the same time in the year.

'It's because it is a big industry event as well as a big audience event. People need to be there when programmers from other festivals are there.

'That's one of the benefits. But at the same time it makes it very fragile and very difficult.'

A Government spokesman said: 'We are in regular dialogue with public health experts to agree a realistic return date for festivals and other large events.

'Once we are confident we have this, we will be working with organisers to unlock the barriers they face to restarting - including challenges getting insurance.

'Yesterday's decision by the festival organisers reflects the sad fact that the public health outlook did not make it likely 200,000 people could be together without social distancing measures in just a few months' time.

'We are continuing to help festivals with the 1.5 billion Culture Recovery Fund, with many already receiving this support.'

Mr Hancock yesterday claimed Britain is 'turning a corner in our battle against coronavirus' as daily deaths plunged to a six-week low and cases continued to fall.

Department of Health figures show another 333 Covid victims were recorded yesterday, the lowest 24-hour toll since December 27 and a drop of 18 per cent on the 406 last Monday.

Another 14,104 infections were also added to the official tally. The daily figure has dropped by a quarter week-on-week, with yesterday's number lower than at any time since December 8.

Analysis shows infection rates are lower than at any time since before Christmas in all four nations of the UK.

Despite revealing the second wave was shrinking, the Health Secretary warned the number of infected patients in hospital and daily deaths were both still 'far too high'.

Almost 30,000 NHS hospital beds are currently taken up by Covid patients  50 per cent higher than the worst days of the first wave last spring but down from 40,000 at the peak of the second wave in January.

Praising the success of lockdown in tonight's Downing Street press conference, he said: 'We are turning a corner in our battle against coronavirus, the vaccine rollout is going well, and if you are aged 70 or over and haven't been contacted yet please get in touch now.

'And all the time we must be vigilant and do what it takes to tackle any new variants that arise. For now, the most important thing that you can do is get the jab when the time comes, stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.'

While the big picture shows infections are falling in most parts of the country, the decline is slow and positive tests were still rising in 17 areas in the week ending February 3.

One of those areas was Rutland in the Midlands, where new infections more than doubled from 180 per 100,000 people to 386.

And in another glimmer of hope that Britain could be freed from lockdown restrictions within weeks, another 278,988 people got their first dose of a vaccine yesterday.

Despite being one of the slowest days of the rollout so far, it means 12.3million Britons have now been immunised.

It comes after Boris Johnson yesterday refused to rule out longer restrictions if the mutated strain  which Oxford University said could worsen how well its vaccine works  can't be kept under control in Britain. An alarming study found the British-made jab had 'minimal effect' in preventing mild disease caused by the strain.

Mr Hancock also said yesterday all over-70s in England who haven't yet had a Covid vaccine should book their own online.

He claimed take-up of the vaccines has so far been 'significantly better than we hoped for' but said No10 would do everything it could to ensure everyone gets jabbed.

As England's national lockdown enters its second month and the virus continues to fade, an analysis by the Press Association shows that infection rates in all four countries of the UK are now at pre-Christmas lows.

In England, the average infection rate was at 222 positive tests per 100,000 people for the week ending February 3, which was the lowest since 221 per 100,000 in the week to December 13.

Wales saw its rate drop to 122, lower than at any time since before November and a fraction of the 649 per 100,000 it saw at December's peak.

In Scotland the rate dropped to 123 per 100,000, down from 144 a week earlier and lowest since December 20, when it was 121.

Northern Ireland's infection rate fell to 178 per 100,000 which was its lowest positive test rate since 177 in the week up to December 15.
GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Slips despite Lingering Strength in the Pound

Foreign exchange investors sold the British Pound to Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate yesterday, and the Pound has been unable to recover since. While markets remain fairly optimistic around the Pound outlook and Britains coronavirus vaccine rollout, some uncertainties as well as fresh Brexit complications are keeping the Pound under pressure so far. This is making it easier for the Australian Dollar to sturdy on recent Australian data.

Last week saw the Australian Dollar attempting to recover, but appeal was limited leading to mixed GBP/AUD movement throughout the week.

GBP/AUD opened last week at the level of 1.7931 and touched on lows of 1.7799 as well as two months highs of 1.8020 before ultimately closing the week lower.

This weeks GBP/AUD movement has been comparatively more bearish. GBP/AUD opened the week at the level of 1.7890 and has been trending lower since. At the time of writing, GBP/AUD trends in the region of 1.7850.

The Pounds appeal has softened slightly, since last week, but investors still find the British currency appealing over optimism on the UK coronavirus vaccination rollout.

Britains vaccination schemes are ahead of those in other major economies, with around 18% of the population having already received the first dosage of the vaccine. This has been the primary cause for Pound strength in recent weeks.

Analysts believe vaccine hopes continue to support the Pound this week as well.

However, the Pound is sliding against the Australian Dollar. While this is partially due to AUD strength, the Pound is being weighed by some lingering coronavirus and Brexit uncertainties today too.

Reports that existing coronavirus vaccines may not be as effective against newer coronavirus strains, as well as fresh signs of obstacles in Britains post-Brexit relationship with the EU, are weighing on Sterling.

According to Comments from DIHK in Germany:

60% of German companies consider their current business situation in Britain to be bad and 57% expect further deterioration this year. Customs bureaucracy, logistics problems, legal uncertainties and an increase in tariffs are the main challenges German businesses face after Brexit. One in six companies plans to shift investments from Britain to Germany and other EU countries.

Australian Dollar (AUD) Exchange Rates Resilient as Australian Business Confidence Beats Forecasts

Investors bought the Australian Dollar yesterday. This came as the Aussie benefitted from weakness in the US Dollar (USD) after last weeks disappointing Non-Farm Payrolls report.

Expectations for lingering dovishness from the Federal Reserve, as well as uncertainty over how much upcoming fiscal stimulus could boost the US economy, have kept pressure on the US Dollar. This has helped the Australian Dollar to benefit from USD losses.

The Australian Dollar is also a currency correlated to market risk and trade sentiment. Optimism over coronavirus vaccine rollout in major economies, as well as strong iron ore prices, boosted AUD today.

The Australian Dollar also found support in todays stronger than expected Australian business confidence results from NAB.

According to Alan Oster, Chief Economist at NAB Group:

Business started the year on a more optimistic note, even as conditions eased from the strength we saw in December, Importantly, employment conditions remain in positive territory  so overall businesses are still expanding their workforce. We hope to see capacity utilisation rise further over coming months as demand picks up, which should, in turn, see businesses consider expanding capacity through hiring or investing

GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Forecast: Recovery May Struggle Without New Upside in Pound

Demand for the Pound is decent this week so far, but as investors continue to return to the Australian Dollar the Pound may struggle to recover this weeks losses against the Australian Dollar.

The Pound may need a new upside surprise in order for it to mount fresh gains against the Aussie.

If there are any positive developments in Britains coronavirus or Brexit uncertainties, the Pound outlook could rise higher and GBP/AUD would have an easier time advancing.

However, its also possible that these uncertainties could worsen and weigh further on the pair.

Data to keep an eye on in the coming days includes Australian consumer confidence and building permits stats, due during Wednesdays Asian session.

Wednesday will also see a speech from Bank of England (BoE) Governor Andrew Bailey. If Bailey shows any shift in tone, the Pound could be influenced.

While coronavirus and Brexit news will drive the Pound in the coming sessions, Fridays key UK growth data could also influence the Pound to Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate.
A second suspect has been arrested in the overdose death of celebrated Cipriani Dolci chef Andrea Zamperoni, whose body was found in a trash can inside a rundown Queens motel in 2019.

Leslie Lescano, 44, also known as 'Kenny Ween' and 'Ken Ween,' was arrested on Monday and charged with conspiring to distribute a controlled substance, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Lescano is the ex-boyfriend of sex worker Angelina Barini, 42, who was arrested in 2019 in connection to the drug overdose deaths of Zamperoni and two other men between July 4 and August 21 of that year.

Leslie Lescano, 44, also known as 'Ken Ween' (left), has been charged with conspiring with his prostitute ex-girlfriend, Angelina Barini (right), to distribute a controlled substance in connection to a chef's 2019 death

Andrea Zamperoni, 33, the Italian-born head chef at Cipriani Dolci, disappeared on August 18 and was found dead four days later in a motel room in Queens

Barini faces federal charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to a criminal complaint, Lescano teamed up with Barini to lure Zamperoni to the seedy Kamway Lodge motel in Queens, incapacitate him with a date-rape drug and rob him.

After the chef's death, Lescano allegedly used his bank card and helped his ex-girlfriend dispose of the victim's body, which was found upside down in a garbage receptacle.

Zamperoni, 33, had been missing for four days before his body was discovered by police in the corner of Barini's motel room.

According to the complaint, it all started on August 16, 2019, when Barini sent a series of typo-ridden messages to Lescano on Facebook, beginning with: 'I got a biznes opratunady for yaI cute to the chase then i am willing to pay for ur servces [sic]  Are u with it?'

Police arrived at Kemway Lodge in Elmhurst and found Zamperoni wrapped in blankets and stuffed into a trash can

Barini is suspected of slipping a date rape drug into the victim's drink, after which he fell unconscious and died

Lescano replied, 'Yes my queen,' wrote a special agent with the US Department of Homeland Security in the complaint.

As part of the their plan, Lescano booked a room at Kemway Lodge, and on the morning of August 18 Barini brought Zamperoni to the motel, ostensibly to have sex with him in exchange for money.

According to their Facebook exchanges cited in the complaint, Barini sent Lescano a message, telling him to hide in the bathroom.

Lescano emerged from the room 15 minutes later. He would later tell investigators that he found Zamperoni lying unconscious on the floor, according to the complaint.

Lescano (left) was allegedly hiding in the bathroom while Barini was drugging Zamperoni. He later took the victim's credit card and went to buy toiletries and food for her

Surveillance video from outside the hotel and obtained by CBS showed police taking Barini into custody after the chef's body was found

Barini then allegedly handed Lescano the victim's American Express bank card and asked him to go to a pharmacy to pick up gifts cards and toiletries for her, including shampoo and body wash.

She also allegedly instructed him to get her cheese, cold cuts and cigarettes, which Lescano purchased at a deli using the victim's bank card, the complaint states.

He left all the items in a white plastic bag on a bench next to Barini's room and left.

But Barini later summoned him back, asking him in a message to bring blankets and sheets. At 1.30pm that day, the sex worker was caught on video exiting the room and going into an alleyway to retrieve a garbage can, which she dragged inside.

Early the next morning, Barini reached out to multiple people on Facebook, asking to borrow a hand truck.

At around 8.30pm on August 21, police investigating Zamperoni's disappearance arrived at the motel in Elmhurst. Barini opened the door but then quickly shut it.

'Shortly afterwards, Barini reopened the door, at which point law enforcement authorities smelled a strong odor consistent with the smell of a dead body and burning incense,' the complaint states. 'In the corner of the room, law enforcement authorities noticed what appeared to be a garbage can with bed linens stuffed inside and what appeared to be a bare human foot sticking out of the linens.'

A search of the room turned up Zamperoni's American Express card and electronic devices, as well as 'a glass containing a purple liquid with powder at the top of the liquid and around the rim, glass pipes commonly used for smoking narcotics, bottles of bleach and bleach-covered towels, electronics, a saw and an empty suitcase.'

The liquid subsequently tested positive for GBL, which is commonly known as a 'date rape' drug.

Zamperoni had been reported missing by his colleagues when he failed to show for work at the upscale restaurant. The chef, who is originally from Italy, had also missed his weekly call with his mother

Zamperoni's coffin is seen being carried during his funeral in Casalpusterlengo, Italy, in September 2019

During an interview with investigators, Lescano allegedly admitted to booking the motel room for Barini, hiding in the bathroom during her encounter with Zamperoni, and later finding him 'sleeping' on the floor.

'Lescano further asserted...that he believed that Barini gave the victim something to drink that would make him fall asleep because Barini had done that before to other men,' reads the complaint.

Barini has been linked to the deaths of two other men who were found dead in motels in July 2019

Lescano also volunteered the information that he had heard that his ex-girlfriend made her living drugging and robbing men, and that he had heard that another man had died because the sex worker gave him 'fake cocaine.'

Authorities previously said that Barini blamed everything on an unnamed pimp. She allegedly said her pimp told her not to call authorities despite Zamperoni bleeding from his nose and mouth.

She also allegedly claimed her pimp would not let her alert police. Barini said other men came to the room to speak about whether they should cut up the body.

Barini is also linked to the deaths of two other men, including one found dead at the Airway Inn at LaGuardia on July 4 and the July 11, 2019, death of a man at the Crown Motor Inn in Woodside.

Authorities said surveillance video showed her with the two other men at the respective hotels.
A company logo is pictured at the headquarters of Germanys Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt, Germany, on Feb. 13, 2020. (Ralph Orlowski/Reuters)

Commerzbank CEO Finalizes Plans to Cut 10,000 Jobs, Close Branches

FRANKFURTCommerzbank Chief Executive Manfred Knof on Feb. 3 finalized plans to cut 10,000 jobs and close hundreds of branches, a radical overhaul that came a month after he took the reins of Germanys No. 2 bank.

The bank also announced that it would post a net loss of nearly 2.9 billion euros ($3.5 billion) for 2020, compared with a profit of 585 million euros a year earlier.

The banks management team hopes the revamp will revive the fortunes of the partly state-owned lender, which has struggled to boost profits amid executive reshuffles and strategy zig-zags. The bank has never fully recovered after a state bailout during the last financial crisis more than a decade ago.

Knof made public the plans outline two weeks ago but was still discussing details with the supervisory board and management over the next days.

He has argued that the cuts were a necessary bitter pill, while one prominent labour representative said they were simply crazy.

The CEO won the day. Big shareholders like the German government and the U.S. private equity company Cerberus have seen the need for drastic measures, and regulators also support the effort.

Our new strategy creates the prerequisites for a sustainably profitable Commerzbank, Knof said.

The plan means that by 2024 the bank will cut nearly a quarter of its full-time positionsand nearly one in three of its jobs in Germany. The branch network will drop to 450 from 790.

The bank has had a turbulent time over the past two years, with on-again-off-again talks to merge with rival Deutsche Bank and then to sell a big Polish subsidiary.

Knof is trying to make the bank fit enough to stand alone on its own two feet, said Andreas Thomae, a portfolio manager at Deka, a top-10 investor in Commerzbank.

These are grim times for rank-and-file workers in Germanys banking industry. Deutsche Bank is also shedding staff, and low-paid call centre employees have gone on strike in a pay dispute.

The overhaul has been long in the making, with discussions about major job cuts taking place earlier last year. But talks were then put on hold by the sudden resignation of the banks chief executive and supervisory board chief.

By Tom Sims and Patricia Uhlig
In a bid to defend allies against any Russian aggression close to the countrys border the US Air Force is deploying B-1 bombers to Norway for the first time. According to CNN, the US military will operate in the strategically important Arctic region. As per the officials, four US Air Force B-1 bombers and approximately 200 personnel from Dyess Air Force in Texas are being deployed to Orland Air Base in Norway, and within the next three weeks, missions will also begin in the Arctic Circle. The move becomes important for US as bombers are now much closer to Russian bases.

The movement of forces much closer to Moscow means that the United States will be able to react more quickly to potential Russian aggression. Gen. Jeff Harrigian, commander of US Air Forces in Europe and Africa, said that operational readiness and US ability to support allies and partners and respond with speed is critical to combined success. It is worth noting that previously the Pentagon has operated similar groups of B-52 bombers in the Middle East as means of demonstrating ability of the US. Theses bombers missions take weeks to plan so the latest Norway deployment has been the works sometimes, the officials say.

Operational readiness and our ability to support allies and partners and respond with speed are critical to combined success, Air Force General Jeff Harrigian, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa, said in a statement.

We value the enduring partnership we have with Norway and look forward to future opportunities to bolster our collective defense.

The Arctic is among the most strategically significant regions of the world today  the keystone from which the U.S. Air and Space Forces exercise vigilance, said Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett.

This Arctic Strategy recognizes the immense geostrategic consequence of the region and its critical role for protecting the homeland and projecting global power.

READ: Russia Updates Statistics On Virus-linked Deaths In 2020

READ: Josep Borrell Says Russia 'does Not Want' Constructive Dialogue With Europe

US deeply concerned about Russian moves

The newly minted President Joe Biden has already demonstrated that he is prepared to adopt a tougher approach to Moscow than under his predecessor Donald Trump. The defence department, on the other hand, has been deeply concerned about Russian military moves to shut off potential access to the Arctic for natural resources and maritime access as it continues to militarise the Arctic region. The secretary of the Air Force during the Trump administration had earlier even warned that the recent Russian investments in the Arctic include a network of offensive air assets and coastal missile systems.

Amid the rising tensions, the US has also assessed that Russia considers maintaining its own Arctic access increasingly vital with almost 25 per cent of its gross domestic product coming from hydrocarbons north of the Arctic Circle. Its is worth noting that a Russian fighter jet fuel low near the USS Donald Cook, a naval destroyer, in the international waters of the Black Sea last month. The US Navy, on the other hand, routinely sails in those waters to send the message that it will maintain maritime access in the region.

READ: Russia To Launch 40 Discreet Satellites From Across The World In March

READ: European Leaders Condemn Russia's Move To Suspend Diplomats Over Navalny Protests


For years, Bernie Sanders and Joseph R. Biden Jr. wrestled over the Democratic Partys future in a public tug of war that spanned three elections, two administrations and one primary contest.

But when Mr. Sanders walked into his first Oval Office meeting with the new president last week and saw the large portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt opposite the Resolute Desk, the liberal luminary felt as if he were no longer battling Mr. Biden for the soul of the party.

President Biden understands that, like Roosevelt, he has entered office at a time of extraordinary crises and that he is prepared to think big and not small in order to address the many, many problems facing working families, Mr. Sanders said in an interview. There is an understanding that if were going to address the crises facing this country, were all in it together.

After a 15-month primary contest that highlighted deep divides within the party, Mr. Biden and his fractious Democratic coalition are largely holding together. United by a moment of national crisis and the lingering influence of his predecessor, the new president is enjoying an early honeymoon from the political vise of a progressive wing that spent months preparing to squeeze the new administration.
FLINT, MI  A trailblazing Flint doctor, Harrisburg, Pa. native and the first Black chief of staff at Hurley Medical Center has died.

Dr. Samuel R. Dismond Jr. died Friday, Feb. 5., according to Flint Mayor Sheldon A. Neeley, who said he received the news from a member of Dismonds family Saturday morning.

Dismond was 89. He was born in Harrisburg, the son of Samuel R. Dismond Sr. and Carolyn Dismond.

Im so happy that prior to his passing, we had the opportunity as a city to present Dr. Dismond and his family with a key to the city, Neeley said. We honored him for his lifelong achievement and dedication to the Flint community. Im so happy that we were able to do so prior to his passing instead of doing it posthumously. That is a blessing in itself.

Neeley presented the key to the city and a Lifetime Achievement Award to Dismond on Jan. 15. Dr. Lawrence Reynolds, Medical Adviser for the City of Flint, accepted the honor on Dismonds behalf.

A former member of the Flint Institute of Music Board of Trustees and chairperson for the Flint School of Performing Arts, Dismond was drafted into the military after his graduation from Lincoln University in 1953.

What a disappointment for me. I still wanted to be a physician so I thought going to the Army, being drafted to fight, was the worst thing that could happen to a person. I was just so depressed. I can certainly remember the first week of being in the Army we did paperwork, and where it said race, I put human, he said in a February 2007 Flint Journal story. That made me a wise guy and I paid the price in basic training. I can remember being in full U. S. Army dress uniform and being made to go to the back of the bus. Pain, pain, pain. I can remember that. I wasnt a Rosa Parks. ... I just went to the back of the bus and cried literally. I had my first exposure to colored bathrooms, colored telephones, colored drinking fountain, white drinking fountain. That hurt.

I always think in terms of, Sweet are the uses of adversity, which, like a toad, though ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in its crown, because I did get an early discharge to go to medical school at Howard University on the G. I. bill that covered tuition, books, room and board. But looking at the scheme of things  what a blessing. I had no idea Id have no economic pressure in the goal of achieving becoming a physician. So, I kind of see a balance in life there. I think often of the situation  there couldnt be a Mandela without a de Klerk. Theres a wonderful blending of human experience that does happen if we have faith, if we exist, if we stick to a goal, stick to a dream. It happens. Theres no doubt about that. The best exercise for the heart is reaching out and lifting people up, having compassion, still being able to love people, not being so hardened by whats going on in the world, and that on a personal level we can reach out and care for our neighbors.

Dismond came to Flint in 1960 to train at St. Joseph Hospital, with Michigan and California being inviting states for Black physicians. He then opened a private practice in 1962 with Dr. Clarence Kimbrough in downtown Flint, according to MLive-The Flint Journal records.

In 1984, he joined Hurley Medical Center. From 1995 through 2000, Dismond served as the hospitals chief of staff, the first Black physician to hold the title.

He also began serving on the Hurley Medical Center Board of Managers in 1995 and as chairman from 2005 to 2007. He served on the board through 2012.

It is with great fondness and heavy hearts that we remember this pillar of the physician community who shared so much of his time and talent and heart with Hurley Medical Center, said Melany Gavulic, Hurley President and CEO.

She went on to say Dismond was affectionately known as the Voice of Hurley due to his easily recognizable and commanding voice, combined with his passion for Hurley.

Gavulic also referred to a statement Dismond made shortly after he became Hurley Medical Centers chief of staff: One of the things that I hope to accomplish is to help our staff physicians be in step with Hurleys efforts toward courtesy and cultural diversity. The practice of medicine has become burdensome, complicated, and very demanding as we move into areas of managed care, high litigation, and patient satisfaction surveys. The field of medicine is changing more rapidly than ever. As Chief of Staff, I hope to help colleagues cope with these changes, understanding fully that our basic commitment is to our patients and their families.

Dismond received the Physician of the Year Award in 1997 from the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians. In 1999, Dismond received the Physician of the Year Award from the American Academy of Family Physicians.

He also received the Michigan State Medical Society Presidential Citation in 2011.

After more than 50 years in the medical field, during which he delivered more than 1,000 babies, Dismond retired in 2012 at age 80.

When he retired, Dismond said he wanted to become a doctor when he was a child.

I can recall my hero being our family doctor. He was special to me because they made house calls at that time, Dismond told MLive in October 2012. It boils down to the personal relations that a primary care doctors experience. We watch people get well and what a joy that is.  Ive had the dream for quite a while. I had a mother who said you have to give something back.

Neeley said he would keep Dismonds family in his prayers.

Moreover, a legacy is not what you leave someone, but what you leave in someone, Neeley said. His legacy will be lived in for a long time. He left a lot in all of us here through his hard work and dedication.

Read more on MLive:

Flint Dr. Samuel Dismond looks back on 50 years of great joy

Flint mayor awards six keys to the city

Flints Dr. Samuel Dismond will be honored in Burton Community Salute at IMA Brookwood
[February 09, 2021] Raptic's Rise Headphones Stand & Wireless Qi Charger is a work from home must have

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Raptic, a leading manufacturer of slim protective cases, designs a work from home must-have, Raptic Rise Headphones Stand & Wireless Qi Charger . When you've spent good money on premium headphones, you want to give them the showcase they deserve. Enter the Raptic Rise, Headphones Stand & Wireless Qi Charger. The base of the stand is a 12W wireless Qi charger for your smartphone, while the anodized aluminum stand perfectly displays your Apple AirPods Max, Beats, Bose, or any other high-end brand of over-the-ear headphones you use for your office setup. A USB-A port is designed into the base so you can simultaneously charge your wireless over-the-ear headphones with an added cable. Raptic Rise Headphone Stand & Wireless Qi Charger ($69.99) features: A solid aluminum headphone stand built to hold your Apple, Beats, Bose, Sony or any over-the-ear headphones

12W Qi wireless charging base, providing fast charging power for any wireless charging-comatible device

An additional USB-A port at the back of Raptic Rise, allowing wireless headphones to charge while resting on the stand simultaneously

Genuine machined aluminum alloy frame and a sleek black base padded with leather

A built-in cable management system, allowing for organization of any excess length of cable at the bottom of the unit's base, keeping wires out of sight and out of mind.



About Raptic: Based in Santa Monica, California, Raptic designs products that deliver the maximum protection for devices, while maintaining a stylish & sleek exterior worthy of outfitting the hardware it accessorizes. We continue to push the boundaries of technology, manufacturing, materials and design to deliver industry-leading products that our customers are proud of owning.

Our focused approach allows us to keep up with rapidly changing trends and respond with first-to-market stylish & protective products. Our focus, both as a brand and a team, is to provide functional solutions in a stylishly designed package to provide the best-in-class products consumers need and desire. Raptic design team believes and delivers on the idea that mobile accessories should look and feel as good as the products they protect. Learn more about Raptic at www.rapticstrong.com Media & PR Contact:

Ali Melgard

Sales & Marketing Coordinator ali@rapticstrong.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/raptics-rise-headphones-stand--wireless-qi-charger-is-a-work-from-home-must-have-301224888.html SOURCE Raptic

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A decade ago, when I was a junior staffer on Capitol Hill, the congressman I worked for pushed the House Armed Services Committee to launch a series of oversight hearings focused on Chinas military modernization. Hearings on Afghanistan and Iraq were happening monthly  if not weekly  but each year only a single posture hearing with the commander of then-Pacific Command was reserved to discuss the regional military balance. After much back-and-forth, more substantial oversight hearings and briefings were eventually scheduled. Today, the situation has been reversed. From the White House to the halls of Congress, Beijings behavior is at the forefront of policy debates. For those of us engaged in Asia policy, the shift in attention devoted to China has been as important as it has been striking.
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The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, suspended its plenary session, to mourn a member, Ossy Prestige, who died recently.

Mr Prestige, who represented Aba North/South Federal Constituency of Abia State, died at a hospital in Germany.

The Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, said Mr Prestige had been sick since the summer of last year.

He said the late lawmaker was initially in a hospital in the United Kingdom but was later transferred to another hospital in Germany, where he died.

He had been sick for a while, since the summer of last year. He was in a hospital in the UK. I went there to see him before he was later transferred to Germany, Mr Gbajabiamila said.

When I visited him in the UK, he narrated how he travelled to the UK, what happened during the flight -it was pathetic.

The House also postponed reading the letter from President Muhammadu Buhari on the recent appointment of new service chiefs.

The House will be announcing new COVID-19 guidelines against the new variant when it resumes plenary on Wednesday.

According to scientists, the coronavirus is mutating with different variants.

In South Africa, there is B.1.351 which is different from the B.1.1.7. discovered in the UK. There is also the P.1 variant traced to Brazil.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and other institutions have identified a novel strategy that can eliminate bacteria in a specific location before they cause an infection. The strategy uses a phage, a virus that infects and destroys bacteria, that can specifically locate in the same place the bacteria live in the gastrointestinal tract. The proximity between phage and bacteria facilitates the phage's attack and subsequent elimination of the bacteria.

This strategy has the potential of becoming a game changer in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria that live in hard-to-reach places, such as the mucus layer of the gut. The study appears in the journal mBIO.

"Phages are very specific in their ability to infect and destroy certain species or strains of bacteria and not others, such as good bacteria. In the U.S., phage therapy is increasingly becoming an available option to treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, a serious health concern," said first author Dr. Sabrina Green, director of research and development for TAILR labs at Baylor.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as ExPEC ST131, can colonize the human intestine without causing disease, but they also can exit the gut and infect other organs. For instance, these bacteria have been associated with infections of the urinary tract, brain, peritoneum, peripheral organs, blood and in-dwelling devices, such as urinary catheters, vascular devices, feeding tubes and wound drains, resulting in 9 million infections per year.

The team showed in previous work that phages can effectively treat an infection caused by ExPEC ST131 bacteria. In this study, they wanted to see if they could use phages to remove these bacteria to prevent an infection. Finding the right phage

Many phages have a hard time fighting bacteria in the gut. The team discovered that there is a factor present in mammalian intestines that prevents phages from destroying bacteria. They identified the factor as mucin, sticky proteins that form a layer between intestinal epithelial cells and the layer of microorganisms.

The researchers reasoned that although mucins prevent many phages from infecting bacteria, there may be some that have evolved a way to counter the effect of mucins and, as a result, are able to target bacteria in high-mucin environments.

"We screened human sewage and animal feces for phages with unique properties that facilitate their ability to destroy bacteria in the presence of mucins," said corresponding author Dr. Anthony Maresso, associate professor of molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor. "We discovered a novel phage called ES17 that binds to mucins, and this property seemed to enhance its ability to infect bacteria in mucin-rich environments, such as the gut."

Further studies looked closer at this novel phage-mucin interaction. Green, Maresso and their colleagues discovered that phage ES17 binds to particular molecules called heparan sulfate which can be found not only in mucins, but also on the surface of various cells types, including epithelial cells. This prompted the researchers to investigate whether binding to heparan sulfate on epithelial cells, which the researchers had also discovered is the same binding site used by ES17's host bacteria ExPEC, would contribute to ES17's ability to target and destroy the bacteria in the gut environment.

"We tested the effect of phage ES17 on its bacterial host ExPEC in a murine intestine, comparing it with phages known to be unable to infect their bacterial host in complex environments," Green said. "We found that only ES17 had the unique ability to target and eliminate ExPEC bacteria in animal models." A novel strategy to prevent bacterial infections

Taken altogether, the findings suggest that the ability of phage ES17 to bind to heparan sulfate on mucin-rich surfaces and directly on mammalian epithelial cells mediates its localization in areas deep in the gut where reservoirs of bacteria may be present. The researchers propose that being close to ExPEC bacteria facilitates phage invasion and bacterial elimination before they have the opportunity to exit the gut and infect other organs.

"Phages are viruses that specialize in invading and eliminating specific bacteria. Here we have shown the first phage that also binds to epithelial human cells and that this property mediates a novel mechanism for fighting bacterial infections we call positional targeting, as it enables the phage to anticipate where the bacteria it targets will be located," Maresso said. "We foresee the possibility that positional targeting will be the way smart drugs work in the future. Drugs won't be just distributed all through the body in the hopes that some of it will end in the right spot. The drugs of the future will go only precisely where they are supposed to work. Our work with phages is the first case in which this has been achieved."

###

Other contributors to this work include Carmen Gu Liu, Xue Ya, Shelley Gibson, Wilhem Salmen, Anubama Rajan, Hannah E. Carter, Justin R. Clark, Xuezheng Song, Robert F. Ramig, Barbara W. Trautner and Heidi B. Kaplan. The authors are affiliated with one or more of the following institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, Emory University, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

This work is supported in part by a grant from U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA I01-RX002595), Roderick D. MacDonald Research Fund at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, the Mike Hogg Foundation and Baylor College of Medicine Seed Fund.
An independent autopsy of slain Lebanese intellectual Lokman Slim did not reveal signs of torture, according to his family.

Slims wife, film director Monika Borgmann, said his family ordered a private pathologist to examine his corpse. That examination revealed no signs of torture, but the full autopsy is not yet ready, The Associated Press reported Monday.

Slim was found shot dead in southern Lebanon on Thursday. He was known for criticism of the Lebanese political and military organization Hezbollah, which immediately led to speculation that Hezbollah was behind his killing. Hezbollah condemned the slaying shortly after the news broke.

The autopsys preliminary findings contradict reports in Arabic-language media that said Slim had been tortured.

People in Lebanon and around the world called for an investigation into his death, but many Lebanese are skeptical a government investigation would reveal his killers. Several past political assassinations have not led to justice for the perpetrators.

Borgmann has called for an international investigation into Slims death to this end. She also said the private autopsy was necessary to obtain information, the AP reported.
Israeli Prime Minister pleaded not guilty at the resumption of his trial in Jerusalem on Monday.

Wearing a black mask, Netanyahu appeared in front of a three-judge panel at the Jerusalem District Court to officially deny the allegations against him, the Xinhua news agency reported.

"I confirm the written answer submitted in my name," Netanyahu said, referring to a document submitted by his lawyers in which they rejected the charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

He left after about 20 minutes without providing an explanation, while his lawyers continued to argue on his behalf. The Hebrew-language Ha'aretz newspaper reported that the judges approved his departure.

His lawyers, Boaz Ben Zur and Amit Hadad, argued that constitutional procedures had been breached. The prosecution rejected the allegation and said the opening of the investigation was approved by Attorney General Avihai Mandelblit.

Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister stands to trial over charges in three separate cases. According to his indictment, he accepted luxurious gifts from wealthy friends and offered regulatory benefits to media tycoons in return for favorable media coverage.

The 71-year-old leader has repeatedly that the allegations are part of "a witch hunt" orchestrated by the "leftist" media.

Netanyahu is the first serving prime minister to stand to trial in

On March 23, will hold its fourth general elections in two years. Netanyahu is handling his trial while leading the struggle to curb the coronavirus spread and the ensuing economic crisis. He is facing weekly demonstrations throughout calling him to resign.

--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.)
Casino giant Crown Resorts is not fit to run its $2.2 billion Sydney casino because it facilitated money laundering and has other 'deep' problems, a highly anticipated report has found.

Commissioner Patricia Bergin has recommended a number of dramatic changes that Crown would have to make before it could run the casino.

In Ms Bergin's report to the NSW gaming authority, published on Tuesday afternoon, she finds that Crown subsidiaries were used to launder money and that the company's conduct facilitated money laundering for at least five years.

Billionaire James Packer was able to manoeuvre the company's operations from afar, despite no longer being on the board, Ms Bergin says.

An inquiry has found Crown resorts unfit to run its new $2.2billion crown casino in Sydney (pictured under construction in March)

Commissioner Patricia Bergin has recommended a number of dramatic changes that Crown would have to make before it could run the casino (pictured: an artist's impression of the casino)

Though well-intentioned, his actions had 'rather disastrous consequences' for the company.

Ms Bergin has left it to the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority to decide exactly what changes Crown needs to make before gaming could begin at the Barangaroo casino.

But she makes a swag of recommendations, including a forensic probe to make sure all money-laundering in Crown accounts has been uncovered.

While chief executive Ken Barton, former AFL chief Andrew Demetriou and Michael Johnston remain on the board the regulator should have 'very serious doubts' that Crown could be suitable to run the casino, Ms Bergin says.

Crown should have to disclose any agreement to share confidential information with Mr Packer as well, she says.

Ms Bergin also says a new Independent Casino Commission should be set up with the powers of a royal commission to address the risks in casinos and gambling.

Ms Bergin said billionaire James Packer (pictured with his girlfriend Kylie Lim) was able to manoeuvre the company's operations from afar, despite no longer being on the board, which had ' rather disastrous consequences' for the company

Shares in Crown Resorts earlier entered a trading halt as the casino giant braced for the report, which runs to more than 600 pages.

The report's publication is the culmination of an extraordinary probe that has laid bare the governance problems at one of the country's most high-profile companies.

The Liquor and Gaming Authority said a link to the report would be posted on the NSW parliament's website.

The authority commissioned Ms Bergin to make findings and recommendations on Crown's suitability to hold a casino licence in August 2019 after a series of media reports raised concerns about the company's business dealings.

During the inquiry, Crown admitted it was more likely than not that money had been laundered through its bank accounts.

The company was accused by lawyers in the inquiry, and earlier in media reports, of turning a blind eye to money laundering.

Evidence was also aired of the company's links with organised crime figures and a high-risk, profit-driven culture.

The inquiry previously heard Mr Packer (pictured) has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, which he said contributed to 'shameful' and 'disgraceful' conduct on his behalf

The inquiry shone a spotlight on billionaire James Packer, a figure who has long been subject to fascination, scrutiny and gossip.

While giving evidence, Mr Packer revealed he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, an illness that saw him step down from Crown's board twice.

The troubled heir owned up to 'shameful' and 'disgraceful' conduct, which he blamed on his poor mental health.

Counsel assisting the inquiry argued that Ms Bergin should find that neither Crown nor Mr Packer were suitable to be close associates of the casino.

If Ms Bergin does find Crown's problems mean it should not run the casino, she must make recommendations for what changes, if any, can render it suitable.

One suggestion already came from Mr Packer, who admitted that Ms Bergin might consider caps on shareholding and therefore force him to part with his shares in Crown. He owns 36.8 per cent of the company.

Another issue was the independence of the board, which includes a number of Packer family associates.

In her findings, Ms Bergin said the company should not operate the casino because it facilitated money laundering and has other 'deep' problems (artist's impression)

Ms Bergin made a raft of recommendations, including a forensic probe to make sure all money-laundering in Crown accounts has been uncovered (artist's impression pictured)

Crown appointed a new director, Nigel Morrison, to the board last month. The company's media release described the appointment as 'part of a process of board renewal'.

In November, Crown was instructed by gaming regulators to delay the opening of its new casino in Sydney due to 'extremely concerning' evidence tendered at at the inquiry.

At the time, Chairman Phillip Crawford said evidence at the inquiry regarding money laundering was too serious to allow the casino to open its gaming services pending the findings.

The new flagship Barangaroo facility had been scheduled to open on December 14, and the company declined to open its non-gaming operations - the hotel, restaurants and bars - at that time and the casino later.

However, the Crown weeks later decided to open its non-gaming facilities at the end of December after the company was granted an interim liquor licence from the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority.
Now, instead of the chief justice, the trial will be overseen by a biased and partisan senator who will purportedly also act as a juror while ruling on issues that arise during the trial, they wrote in their trial memorandum submitted on Monday.

The role of presiding officer in an impeachment trial has traditionally been a murky and limited one. The Constitution provides little guidance, other than to specify that the chief justice of the Supreme Court should preside over the impeachment trial of a president.

But Mr. Trump is a former president, and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who took great pains to curtail his opinion in Mr. Trumps first impeachment trial in 2020, signaled that he was not interested in reprising the role this time. As president of the Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris was the next logical choice, but she had little appetite for inserting herself into what promised to be a highly politicized trial, in which Mr. Trumps false claims that she and President Biden had stolen the election were likely to be a topic of debate.

So the job landed in Mr. Leahys lap.

Senators have previously overseen impeachment trials of lower officials: Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, a former president pro tempore who died in 2012, presided in 2010 when the Senate tried and removed Thomas G. Porteous Jr., a federal judge.

Mr. Leahy was sworn in for Mr. Trumps trial in late January, taking an oath to do impartial justice before administering it to his colleagues. He oversaw the vote last month in which Democrats banded together with five Republicans to kill a Republican effort to dismiss the proceedings as unconstitutional.

Starting on Tuesday, Mr. Leahy will be responsible for ruling on any questions of trial procedure that arise. He will also have the job of reading aloud written questions that senators submit to the House impeachment prosecutors and Mr. Trumps defense team.

In a letter to his colleagues before the trial, Mr. Leahy vowed to conduct this trial with fairness to all and said he would put any constitutional question before the Senate for a full vote.
Credit: fshoq.com

Consumers have shown that they are willing to pay extra for organic produce grown without pesticides, even if it doesn't taste better.

That has not been the case for organic wine. Organic-labeled wines generally sell at prices similar to those of non-organic wines. And that's despite growing evidence that they actually do taste better.

A new study by Magali Delmas, an environmental economist at UCLA Anderson School of Management, and Olivier Gergaud, an economist at the Kedge Business School in Bordeaux, France, found that organic wines are judged to be higher quality by expertsbut that the difference is not just a matter of whether the wines came from organic or conventionally grown grapes.

That is, the difference in quality is apparent for wines that certified organic by a third-party accreditation service, but not for those that are self-labeled by a French wine industry-backed group for using conscientious practices.

Three esteemed wine guidesGault Millau, Gilbert Gaillard and Bettane Desseauvescored the third-partycertified wines an average of 6.2% higher than those that were certified organic by an industry-backed group. The findings are based on ratings data for 128,182 French wines that were produced from 1995 to 2015.

Wines that were certified as biodynamic by the third-party association performed even better, scoring 11.8% higher. Biodynamic wines take organic farming a step further, using methods that time planting, trimming and harvests to coincide with seasonal and lunar cycles, and integrating animals for a more complete ecosystem.

"Organic and biodynamic wines showed much higher quality," Delmas said. "It's another example of sustainable goods providing additional benefits to consumers."

The paper, published in Ecological Economics, follows a 2016 study by Delmas and Gergaud that yielded similar findings for California wines. In that research, critics scored eco-labeled, organic California wines 4.1% better than unlabeled winesthose not certified by a third-party organization as organic or biodynamic.

Delmas conducted the new study on French varietals to understand whether the results would hold in the world's second-largest wine producing country (after Italy). France's wine-making traditions date back 2,600 years, and in 2019, the nation produced over 1 billion gallons of wineenough to fill the 90,000-seat Rose Bowl in Pasadena 7.4 times.

Conventionally grown wine grapes use more pesticides than most other crops, Delmas said. That puts the health of farm workers, wildlife and neighboring communities at risk.

The dangers of pesticides' use in winemaking was highlighted dramatically in 2014, when teachers and students at a rural school in Bordeaux were hospitalized due to exposure to the toxic chemicals. Protests followed, and winemakers faced strong public pressure. The wine industry in France has evolved more rapidly towards organic farming methods since then.

Rather than turning to third parties to certify that their wines are either organic or biodynamicwhich would involve inspections and audits to ensure products meet certain criteriasome French winemakers devised their own industry certification standard. In the new study, wines that were self-labeled as having been produced using conscientious practices according to that standard received scores that weren't measurably different from those of conventional wines.

Overall, more French winemakers are going organic or biodynamic. Among the wines analyzed in the study, just 3.87% of wines were third-party certified as organic or biodynamic from 1995 to 2000; the figure increased to 7.37% for wines produced between 2001 and 2015. Delmas said owners of smaller vineyards don't want their families and farmworkers exposed to pesticides, and larger vineyards are beginning to follow their lead.

That's worth clinking glasses about.

"It seems like another step in the right direction," Delmas said. "Not just for the health and the environment, but for wine quality."

The challenge of communicating to consumers that organic wines actually taste better, however, is another hurdle. In her 2018 book "The Green Bundle: Pairing the Market with the Planet," Delmas suggests that wine producers advertise their products' quality rather than their environmental benefits. And that they communicate that organic and biodynamic practices are actually in line with centuries-old practicesa nod to the fact that the industry is so steeped in traditionwhereas the use of synthetic pesticides didn't begin until the 1930s.

More information: Magali A. Delmas et al. Sustainable practices and product quality: Is there value in eco-label certification? The case of wine, Ecological Economics (2021). Magali A. Delmas et al. Sustainable practices and product quality: Is there value in eco-label certification? The case of wine,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.106953
A British teacher who was missing for five days in Myanmar has told how he fled the city where he worked as violent protests raged over the military coup.

Ian Richmond dramatically escaped the border city of Tachileik where he works at a school on February 1 as people rioted over the imprisonment of the country's leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The 48-year-old couldn't make contact with worried friends or family back in the UK because the authorities in Myanmar had cut phone signal and the internet.

Ian Richmond, 48, (pictured), from Darlington, County Durham, went missing from the city of Tachileik, on the border with Thailand, where he lives and teaches at a school on February 1

Colleagues at the school where he works contacted MailOnline on Monday to say that they were worried about the safety of the British teacher, pictured with his Chinese partner Xiaoulu

Only yesterday, when Mr Richmond took a 20-minute dinghy ride across the border to Laos to use his phone did he realise that his colleagues were concerned.

Speaking to MailOnline from a village on the Laos border, the English teacher, from Darlington, Country Durham, said: 'I am sorry for the worry I have caused but I had no way of contacting anyone.

'The army have turned off the CCTV in towns and cities, they have blocked transport radio and thousands of people have been arrested.

However, the Briton, pictured with Xiaoulu, contacted MailOnline today to say that he was safe and well and had fled Tachileik during the violent protests over the military coup there

An experienced traveller, Mr Richmond had been living abroad for the past 15 years. He spent 12 years teaching English in China before moving to Myanmar two years ago

'Every night crowds are banging pots and pans in growing numbers in protest and to ward off 'evil spirits', which is the army.

'So I just wanted to stay away from the trouble. It has been very tense here,' he added.

Military junta imposes curfew and bans meetings Myanmar's new military rulers on Monday signaled their intention to crack down on opponents of their takeover, issuing decrees that effectively banned peaceful public protests in the country's two biggest cities. The restrictive measures were ordered after police fired water cannons at hundreds of protesters in the Myanmar capital, Naypyitaw, who were demanding the military hand power back to elected officials. Rallies and gatherings of more than five people, along with motorized processions, were banned, and an 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew was imposed for areas of Yangon and Mandalay. Protesters in Yangon rallied Monday at a major downtown intersection raising three-finger salutes that are symbols of resistance and carrying placards saying, 'Reject the military coup' and 'Justice for Myanmar.' There were also demonstrations in towns in the north, southeast and east of the country. State media for the first time on Monday made reference to the protests, claiming they were endangering the country's stability. However, the military commander who led the coup and is now Myanmar's leader made no mention of the unrest in a 20-minute televised speech Monday night, his first to the public since the takeover. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an independent watchdog group, says 165 people, mostly politicians, had been detained since the Feb. 1 coup, with just 13 released. Advertisement

Peter Stoddart, a close friend in the UK, said: 'Ian has turned up safe and well. He has been holed up with no communications for the last week.

'He was alerted to the fact that people were looking for him and he has reported in and said that he is ok.'

After he vanished, Mr Richmond posted on Facebook on February 3 a copy of a letter from the British Ambassador to Myanmar Dan Chugg in which he urged Britons in the country to stay at home and not to come to the Embassy.

His disappearance prompted worried colleagues at the BH educational logistics group where he works to contact MailOnline.

School director Aung Win Shoon told MailOnline: 'We are in the Shan state of Myanmar, which is currently experiencing unrest and riots like many parts of the country.

'The roads are blocked and there has been some problems with guerillas and the Burmese army.

'We have had internet blocked here so there is an information black out. Banks are closed and roads are shut with phones blocked. It is very tense politically.

'So we are wondering if anyone has heard from Ian in England.

'If he has left Tachileik he would not have been able to return to the area because the military has sealed it off from the rest of the country.'

Mr Richmond said that he would leave Myanmar for Thailand or China if the situation worsens.

The country has experienced the biggest protests for a decade, with tens of thousands of people joining rallies in several cities since the arrest of San Suu Kyi, 75.

The army took control of the country at the beginning of the month, claiming that there had been voting irregularities at the November 8 general election.

San Suu Kyi's ruling party the NLD won 396 out of 476 contested seats giving them another five-year majority in parliament, despite the 25 per cent of seats automatically allocated to the armed forces.

In a television address on Monday General Min Aung Hlaing, who lead the coup, tried to justify the takeover by claiming San Suu Kyi's election victory was fraudulent, despite providing no evidence.

Mr Richmond posted this message on Facebook on February 3 from the British Ambassador to Myanmar Dan Chugg with advice to stay at home and to avoid crowds where possible

An experienced traveller, Mr Richmond had been living abroad for the past 15 years.

He spent 12 years teaching English in China before moving to Myanmar two years ago. He has a Chinese partner called Xiaoulu.
[February 09, 2021] Oracle Expands Hybrid Cloud Portfolio with New Oracle Roving Edge Infrastructure

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle has expanded its hybrid cloud portfolio with Oracle Roving Edge Infrastructure, a new offering that brings core infrastructure services to the edge with Roving Edge Devices (REDs)  ruggedized, portable, scalable server nodes. Using Oracle Roving Edge Infrastructure, organizations can run cloud workloads wherever they need them, even in the world's most remote locations. Whether it is in the back of a plane, a polar observatory, or an oil tanker in the mid-Atlantic, the power of Oracle Cloud is always accessible with Oracle Roving Edge Infrastructure. The new service is part of Oracle's comprehensive hybrid cloud portfolio, which provides customers with more flexibility and control over their cloud deployments than other vendors. Global customers across financial services, public sector, healthcare, logistics, and communications industries are using Oracle's hybrid cloud solutions to support their cloud transformations without the trade-offs in scale, data sovereignty, and control that they have had to make in the past. "Customers want choice when it comes to running workloads in the cloud. Each customer has different requirements based on data sovereignty, scale, or wanting the full experience of a public cloud on-premises with all of Oracle's cloud services. Oracle Roving Edge Infrastructure is the latest example, delivering core infrastructure services to remote locations," said Clay Magouyrk, executive vice president, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. "Oracle's hybrid cloud portfolio essentially delivers a cloud region wherever and however a customer needs it." Only Oracle offers a comprehensive cloud portfolio that meets customers where they are in their cloud transformation. In addition to its public cloud offerings, which include 29 Oracle Cloud regions, Oracle Government Cloud, and six global Oracle-Microsoft Azure Interconnect regions, Oracle offers the most complete support for hybrid cloud strategies. Services include Oracle Dedicated Region Cloud@Customer, Oracle Exadata Cloud@Customer, Oracle VMware Cloud Solution, and now Oracle Roving Edge Infrastructure. Together, these solutions provide customers with flexibility of location and a high degree of customer control so customers can run an identical set of Oracle Cloud services in their datacenters, run core cloud services entirely disconnected from the internet, and minimize dependencies on the public cloud. "With Oracle Roving Edge Infrastructure, Oracle yet again broadens its hybrid cloud portfolio by giving customers a taste of its public cloud wherever they may need it," said Sriram Subramanian, Research Director, IDC. "Oracle designed its cloud infrastructure portfolio to make it as easy as possible for customers to move workloads to the cloud. Oracle Roving Edge, along with other offerings of the Oracle Cloud portfolio, gives customers multiple deployment and control options to run their most important workloads." Oracle's Comprehensive Hybrid Cloud Portfolio Oracle Roving Edge Infrastructure Accelerates Cloud Workloads Outside the Bounds of Data Centers

Oracle Roving Edge Infrastructure delivers core infrastructure services, platform software, enterprise grade security, and applications to the edge and disconnected locations with Roving Edge Devices, ruggedized, portable, scalable server nodes. It enables customers to operate cloud applications and workloads in the field, including machine learning inference, real-time data integration and replication, augmented analytics, and query-intensive data warehouses. In addition, it delivers cloud computing and storage services at the edge of networks for government and enterprise organizations, enabling low-latency processing closer to the point of data generation and ingestion, which provides timely insights into data. Oracle Roving Edge Infrastructure is a fully mobile, connection-independent extension of customers' Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) tenancy with a similar interface and workflow to provide a consistent, unified experience. An Oracle RED device is equipped with high-performance hardware including 40 OCPUs, an NVIDIA T4 Tensor Core GPU, 512 GB RAM, and 61 TB of storage, and can be clustered into groups of 5 to 15 nodes in a single cluster, starting at $160 per node per day. Oracle Dedicated Region Provides All Capabilities of a Public Cloud Region Delivered On-Premises

Oracle Dedicated Region Cloud@Customer is the industry's first fully-managed cloud region that brings all of Oracle's second-generation cloud services, including Oracle Autonomous Database and Cloud applications, to customer datacenters and starts at only $500K a month. Enterprises get the exact same complete set of modern cloud services, APIs, industry-leading SLAs, superior price-performance, and highest levels of security available from Oracle's public cloud regions in their own datacenters. It is ideal for highly regulated or security-focused businesses needing to meet demanding latency and data residency requirements, reduce operational costs, and modernize legacy applications. Since its introduction, 12 new services have been added to the Dedicated Region portfolio, including Autonomous JSON Database, MySQL with Heatwave, and Logging Analytics.



Australian Data Centres (ADC) is the latest organization to turn to Oracle Dedicated Region Cloud@Customer to provide sovereign managed cloud services to the Australian Federal Government and other entities in the Australian Capital Territory. The Australian Government wants to dramatically expand its cloud-based capabilities, and ADC is committed to supporting that growth with the proper platform. "We are committed to building capacity to provide services to the government by Australian providers to assure both the security and reliability of the supply chain," said Rob Kelly, Managing Director, Australian Data Centres. "This is a major step toward enabling more choice for government to access world-leading cloud services, powered and protected by a 100 percent Australian sovereign company, focused on connectivity, security, and simplified deployment. Critically, it addresses data sovereignty, security, and performance attributes required to accelerate Government's shift to the cloud services."

Another example of an organization using Oracle Dedicated Region Cloud@Customer is Nomura Research Institute (NRI), Ltd. , the largest consulting firm and IT solutions provider in Japan. "We have finished deploying Oracle Dedicated Region Cloud@Customer in our data center, and will next migrate our SaaS applications for the financial industry from on-premises to Oracle Dedicated Region Cloud@Customer. With Oracle Dedicated Region Cloud@Customer, we've been able to achieve the same level or even better performance than our existing on-premises system while continuing to maintain the high level of availability we need," said Tomoshiro Takemoto, Senior Corporate Managing Director, NRI. "We look forward to launching our services to customers, as well as our ongoing relationship with Oracle to operate and maintain this Dedicated Region and continuing to drive our digital transformation together." Oracle's Unique Approach to VMware

Customers also want flexibility of location and control for their VMware workloads. Oracle's unique approach to VMware enables customers to maintain a high level of control while increasing their scalability and lowering costs. The Oracle Cloud VMware Solution (OCVS) provides a dedicated, cloud-native VMware-based environment that enables enterprises to quickly and easily move their production VMware workloads to OCI using familiar VMware tools. The solution provides customers with the identical experience in the cloud as in on-premises data centers and seamlessly integrates with Oracle's second-generation cloud infrastructure, including Dedicated Region Cloud@Customer deployments. With OCVS, customers have complete access and control of their VMware environment, including root access, so they fully control the cluster, manage it, and even choose when, or whether, to upgrade elements of the stack. It provides the performance, control, and familiarity of an on-premises VMware cluster, while automating the provisioning and scaling of the infrastructure. Since its introduction, OCVS has expanded scaling to a 64-node cluster (3,328 cores, 49 TB of RAM, and 3.2 PB of NVMe SSD) and offers preview support of VMware 7 with Tanzu. Today, Oracle also announced that its OCVS has obtained Authority to Operate (ATO) at the High impact level from the FedRAMP Joint Authorization Board. With this accreditation, US government customers can now operate VMware Software Defined Data Centers in Oracle Cloud to manage and run critical applications and workloads. This accreditation gives government customers the flexibility to build and manage VMware environments in Oracle Cloud, with the peace-of-mind of industry-leading security. Altair, a global technology company providing software and cloud solutions in the areas of simulation, HPC, and AI, has leveraged OCVS to add capacity and improve connectivity for the development environments used to build its high-performance computing and design tools. "Oracle Cloud VMware Solution allowed us to quickly increase our capacity, implement hybrid and cloud-first architectures with complex connectivity, and offer low-latency connectivity to end users and other Oracle Cloud Infrastructure services," said Jeff Marraccini, Senior Vice President, IT Strategy and Technology, Altair. "Since it gives full access to NSX and other components of the VMware platform, we were able to implement rapidly, and we continue to use our existing disaster recovery and other VMware-compatible tools." Rumo Malha Norte S.A., a subsidiary of Brazilian transport and railway leader Rumo S.A., has migrated its core logistics and business applications from its on-premises VMware environment to OCVS as part of its initiative to move to the cloud. The migrated workloads include Oracle Database, Oracle SOA Suite, Oracle WebLogic Server, and Microsoft SQL Server. "We were able to rapidly migrate mission-critical applications from our data centers to Oracle Cloud VMware Solution with no changes to applications, databases, and middleware," said Christofer Faccin, IT Manager, Rumo Malha Norte. "Higher performance, stability, management and access have resulted in IT productivity and business agility with lower costs than alternative solutions." About Oracle

Oracle offers suites of integrated applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at oracle.com. Additional Resources Watch Oracle Live with Clay Magouyrk

Get an in-depth look at Oracle's hybrid cloud offerings

Read the Oracle Roving Edge Infrastructure blog

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Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oracle-expands-hybrid-cloud-portfolio-with-new-oracle-roving-edge-infrastructure-301224571.html SOURCE Oracle

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RwandAir, the national carrier, has suspended flights to three southern African countries amid concerns over a new Covid-19 variant there.

According to a statement released on Sunday, February 8, suspended routes include Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lusaka and Harare.

"Scheduled flights will resume as soon as there is more clarity on the situation", the airline said in a statement posted on Twitter.

"Affected customers can rebook and fly at a later date at no additional cost or request for a fund," reads part of the statement.

Reports indicate that South Africa, was among the countries which detected new variants of Covid-19, a few weeks ago. Other countries include Brazil, Britain among others.

However, with the variants spreading across the Southern Africa region, experts say that this will arguably make the fight against Covid-19 more demanding.

South African government has already put its roll-out of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on hold after a study showed "disappointing" results against its new Covid variant.

South Africa received one million doses of the AstraZeneca jab and was due to start vaccinating.

Scientists say the strain accounts for 90% of new Covid cases in South Africa.

After months of lockdown last year, RwandAir resumed commercial flights in August 2020 across its global network, including most of its African routes, as well as some long-haul destinations such as London Heathrow, Brussels and Dubai.

The airline recently launched its twice-weekly flights to Central Africa Republic's capital Bangui as part of its recovery strategy from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.

All passengers arriving in Rwanda are required to present a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of boarding their flights.

Upon arrival, they are required to self-quarantine for seven days and take a free of charge PCR test at the end of this period.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) applied for registration of the Sputnik V vaccine in the European Union on January 29, 2021, and scientific consultations with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) were held on January 19, the funds representative told reporters.

"RDIF submitted an application to EMA to participate in a scientific consultation on the Sputnik V vaccine on October 22, 2020. Representatives of the fund, vaccine developers, and EMA representatives held the scientific consultation on January 19," TASS cited the statement as saying.

"RDIF applied for registration of the Sputnik V vaccine in the European Union on January 29, 2021, and launched the process of submitting information to the EMA through a rolling review procedure," the fund said.
Mr Sugandh Rajaram, India High Commissioner to Ghana, has urged Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to be more innovative to help boost their attraction to foreign investors.



Briefing the media on the last day of a five-day official tour of the Eastern Region, he indicated that the region had lots of business potentials and called for standardisation of the packaging to attract investors.



Mr Rajaram said Ghana was seen as the center of political andeconomic stability in West Africa and added that Indian businesses were ready and prepared to invest in local enterprises to improve the local economy of the country.



He assured that once the COVID-19 situation was stabilised, Indian investors would begin to form partnerships and collaborations with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector to expand job opportunities to further deepen the bilateral relations between the two countries.



He thanked the people of Eastern Region for the wonderful love showed him during his visit, especially Mr Eric Kwakye Darfour, outgoing Regional Minister, who accompanied him throughout his duty tour.



Mr Kwakye Darfour noted that Ghana and India since time immemorial, had always stood for each other and expressed hope that the friendly bilateral relationship between both countries would continue.



He later visited the Royal Senchi and Volta International hotels and the Akosombo Dam to assess areas of possible investment and inspected works on the Tema-Akosmbo-Mpakadan railway system being undertaken by an Indian construction company.

Source: GNA









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Hackers successfully infiltrated the computer system controlling a water treatment facility in the U.S. state of Florida and remotely changed a setting that drastically altered the levels of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in the water.

During a press conference held yesterday, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said an operator managed to catch the manipulation in real-time and restored the concentration levels to undo the damage.

"At no time was there a significant effect on the water being treated, and more importantly the public was never in danger," Sheriff Gualtieri said in a statement.

The water treatment facility, which is located in the city of Oldsmar and serves about 15,000 residents, is said to have been breached for approximately 3 to 5 minutes by unknown suspects on February 5, with the remote access occurring twice at 8:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

The attacker briefly increased the amount of sodium hydroxide from 100 parts-per-million to 11,100 parts-per-million using a system that allows for remote access via TeamViewer, a tool that lets users monitor and troubleshoot any system problems from other locations.

"At 1:30 p.m., a plant operator witnessed a second remote access user opening various functions in the system that control the amount of sodium hydroxide in the water," the officials said.

Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, is a corrosive compound used in small amounts to control the acidity of water. In high and undiluted concentrations, it can be toxic and can cause irritation to the skin and eyes.

It is not immediately known if the hack was done from within the U.S. or outside the country. Detectives with the Digital Forensics Unit said an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Although an early intervention averted more serious consequences, the sabotage attempt highlights the exposure of critical infrastructure facilities and industrial control systems to cyberattacks.

The fact that the attacker leveraged TeamViewer to take over the system underscores the need for securing access with multi-factor authentication and preventing such systems from being externally accessible.

"Manually identify software installed on hosts, particularly those critical to the industrial environment such as operator workstations  such as TeamViewer or VNC," said Dragos researcher Ben Miller. "Accessing this on a host-by-host basis may not be practical but it is comprehensive."

"Remote access requirements should be determined, including what IP addresses, what communication types, and what processes can be monitored. All others should be disabled by default. Remote access including process control should be limited as much as possible."



For months Tanzanias government has insisted the country was free from Covid-19  so there are no plans for vaccination.



The BBCs Dickens Olewe has spoken to one family mourning the death of a husband and father suspected of having had the disease.



The fear is that amid the denial, there are many more unacknowledged victims of this highly contagious virus.



A week after Peter  not his real name  arrived home from work with a dry cough and loss of taste, he was taken to hospital, where he died within hours. He had not been tested for Covid. But then, according to Tanzanias government, which has not published data on the coronavirus (COVID-19) for months, the country is Covid-19-free.



There is little testing and no plans for a vaccination programme in the East African country.



It is nearly impossible to gauge the true extent of the virus and only a small number of people are officially allowed to talk about the issue.



Recent public statements have hinted at a different reality at a time when some citizens, like Peters wife, are quietly mourning the deaths of family members suspected to have had the virus.



Several Tanzanian families have had similar experiences but have chosen not to speak out, fearing retribution from the government.



The British government has banned all travellers arriving from Tanzania, while the US has warned against going to the country because of coronavirus.



Since June last year, when President John Magufuli declared the country COVID-19 free, he, along with other top government officials, have mocked the efficacy of masks, doubted if testing works, and teased neighbouring countries which have imposed health measures to curb the virus.



Mr Magufuli has also warned  without providing any evidence  that COVID-19 vaccines could be harmful and has instead been urging Tanzanians to use steam inhalation and herbal medicines, neither of which have been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as treatments.



It is unclear why the president has expressed such skepticism about the vaccines but he recently said that Tanzanians should not be used as guinea pigs.



If the white man was able to come up with vaccinations, he should have found a vaccination for Aids, cancer and TB by now, said Mr Magufuli, who has often cast himself as standing up to Western imperialism.



The WHO disagrees.

Source: bbc









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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9)  As cases of online child sexual exploitation increase, a group is urging parents to play a more active role in guiding their children when it comes to using the internet.

ECPAT Philippines information officer Jenna Serrano told CNN Philippines that it is important for parents to educate their children about the dangers of using the internet and how they can be prevented.

Ang pinakamabisa ay 'yung maayos, mahinahon na pakikipag-usap sa anak kung ano ba 'yung kanilang activities online, she said, while also emphasizing the need for their children to receive all the support so that they will be open and willing to share what they are experiencing.

[Translation: The most effective way is to talk to your children in a proper and calm way to know what their online activities are.]

ECPAT Philippines is a non-government organization that is part of a global network which aims to eliminate all forms of sexual exploitation of children, like child prostitution, child sex trafficking, online sexual abuse and exploitation.

Serrano said reports related to online sexual abuse on children increased during the pandemic, based on a survey they conducted from May to June 2020. Many children also receive unsolicited sexual messages through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok, and online gaming sites.

To speed up response, the group launched an international hotline called E-Protect Kids. This is connected to 46 hotlines worldwide to ensure faster response once a potential online child abuse is reported.

Serrano said the system can also preserve information needed that can be forwarded to authorities for investigation.

To report possible cases of online child abuse, just send the link to http://ecpat.org.ph/report/ or to report@ecpat.org.ph.
The decision of Germany, Sweden, and Poland to expel Russian diplomats is a groundless and unfriendly step, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told the Rossiya 1 television channel.

"Today's decisions made by Poland, Germany, and Sweden are baseless and unfriendly and come as a follow-up to the string of steps and actions which have been undertaken by the West against our country and which we qualify as interference in our internal affairs," Interfax cited her as saying.

Earlier on Monday the three countries said they were each expelling a Russian diplomat in response to a similar move from Moscow.

Last Friday the Russian Foreign Ministry said that it was expelling the Swedish, Polish and German diplomats who participated in unsanctioned rallies on January 23.
The chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha said Nigeria has recorded variant of COVID-19, B117 variant strain.

Speaking at the national briefing on COVID-19, the PTF chairman said: "A total of 13, B117 variant strain have so far been detected in Nigeria. Six out of these numbers were detected in the last one week and they all came out of samples collected between November and January.

"The PTF (through the NCDC) is working with the Africa CDC on genomic surveillance."

Speaking on the treatments and availability of oxygen, the PTF chairman said, "the PTF wishes to report that the shortage of oxygen for case management is gradually being overcome.

"The private sector (CACOVID) is supporting the provision of oxygen nationwide and allocations have been made to states."

Speaking on violation of protocols, the PTF boss said, "The PTF considers the violation of protocols very seriously and urges international passengers arriving Nigeria to ensure compliance with the international travel protocols and observe the Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention measures while in-Country."

Speaking on vaccines, Mustapha said: "The process for accessing vaccines and the plans for getting it to the last mile is progressing.

The PTF wishes to appeal to all Nigerians and particularly, the media to recognize that humanity is at war with an unseen enemy.

Meanwhile, minister of health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is currently studying the Russian Sputnik V and India's Covax vaccines.

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Speaking at the national briefing on COVID-19 yesterday, the minister said: "With regard to vaccines, Nigeria has kept abreast of global development and supports the call of WHO for fair and equitable distribution of vaccines, since COVID-19 is a threat to mankind.

"We subscribed to two multilateral vaccine access platforms; the first being the Covax facility that will supply members, including Nigeria, vaccines free of charge, to cover 20 percent of our population. The expected first wave of 100,000 vaccines derived from this facility.

There has since been a change that now offers Nigeria 16 million vaccine doses in the first half of the year."

He further said, "The increase in oxygen availability began with the repair of two oxygen plants at the National Hospital, Abuja through the federal government intervention and the commendable intervention of the private sector, who have ensured that large quantities of oxygen cylinders are delivered to treatment centers as needed."

While debunking the news that Nigeria was disqualified from vaccine allocation, the minister said "I must here request viewers and readers to disregard the news over the weekend that Nigeria was 'disqualified' from a vaccine allocation. This is false, Nigeria has ultracold (minus 80oC) freezers in strategic stores in Lagos, Abuja and Bauchi, with space to hold over 400,000 doses of vaccines, more than the 320,000 doses WHO Afro had offered", said the minister.
FRANKFURT, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The future opportunity of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is "real," Erich Staake, chief executive officer of German logistics company Duisburger Hafen AG, has said.

"New logistics infrastructures mean new sales markets," Staake told a recent interview with Xinhua, noting that the expansion of infrastructure in the countries and regions along the Belt and Road can open up more sales markets, notably for European companies.

He expressed the confidence that China's role as a critical international trading partner for Europe will even consolidate in the post-pandemic era.

"To achieve this, we need to deal with the expansion of infrastructure," said Staake. In his view, it should be beneficial to further raise efficiency and reduce the cost of rail freight transport across the Eurasian continent by improving infrastructures along the way.

Located in Germany's industrial Ruhr region, the Port of Duisburg is the world's largest inland port as well as the leading logistics hub in Central Europe. Since 2011 when the first regular rail freight connection between Duisburg and the southwest China's megacity of Chongqing was launched, the port has been enjoying sustained momentum of growth and won the position as a key terminal of the freight trains from and to China.

"For a decade now, we have been considered pioneers in Eurasian rail transport," said the 67-year-old chief executive officer, adding that Duisburg has continuously expanded the network with China since 2011.

At that time, the focus was on the Yuxinou (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe) railway, which took 16 days for a single trip, Staake said, however, the operation has been somewhat faster at the current stage.

"The figures speak for themselves," Staake noted. Only around 900 containers were transported by rail between China and Germany in 2011 whereas the number has increased more than 100 times by 2018 when over 4,600 China-Europe freight trains operated between Germany and China, transporting around 95,000 containers in total.

Calling it an "incredible momentum," Staake said the Duisburg logistics hub had contributed to the successful development.

He emphasized that around one-third of the total volume of China-Europe trade by rail flowed via the Duisburg logistics hub, helping create local jobs in the industrial region where tough structural transformation remains underway.

Looking back at 2020, an extremely challenging and extraordinary year due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Staake pointed out the number of freight trains connecting Germany and China still increased to around 10,000, while around 150,000 containers were carried across the Eurasian continent.

"Duisburg's reputation as one of the most important European destinations for Chinese cargo trains was further consolidated, especially in the midst of pandemic," Staake said, adding that his port has changed the COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity.

"Never before have more freight trains run between the port of Duisburg and Chinese destinations than the year of 2020," he said.

Staake told Xinhua that he was deeply impressed by the moment as he in April 2020 attended the welcoming ceremony of the first China-Europe freight train loaded with medical supplies, auto parts, electronic products, etc. from Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province after the city had been locked down for almost 11 weeks over COVID-19 outbreak.

The pandemic has further enhanced the value of rail transport, said Staake, believing the BRI will achieve greater successes as exports of increasing European goods to China via rail are being more facilitated.
82 Advocacy Groups Urge Biden to End Federal Executions

Dozens of nonprofits and other groups on Tuesday urged President Joe Biden to move to end federal executions after 13 were carried out during the Trump administration.

Amnesty International, the American Civil Liberties Union, and 80 other groups wrote in a letter to the Democrat that Biden should act on your promise of ensuring equality, equity, and justice in our criminal legal system by immediately commuting the sentences of all individuals under federal sentence of death, and reinstating the federal moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

Any criminal legal system truly dedicated to the pursuit of justice should recognize the humanity of all those who come into contact with it, not sanction the use of a discriminatory practice that denies individuals their rights, fails to respect their dignity, and stands in stark contrast to the fundamental values of our democratic system of governance. If we are to truly forge a nation as good as its ideals, the federal government must take swift action to commute the sentences of those currently under federal sentence of death and end the governments cruel, ineffective, and irreversible use of the death penalty, they added.

Former President Donald Trump directed the resumption of federal executions in 2019 after a pause approaching two decades. The Department of Justice, by the time Trump left office, had executed 13 convicted criminals, including Keith Nelson, who was convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering a 10-year-old girl; Dustin Honken, convicted of murdering five people in Iowa; and Daniel Lee, who killed a couple and their 8-year-old daughter in 1996.

President Joe Biden walks from Marine One after arriving on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Feb. 8, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Dustin Higgs, who ordered three women killed in Maryland in 1996, was the final execution, on Jan. 16.

Then-Attorney General William Barr said in 2019 that Congress has expressly authorized the death penalty through legislation adopted by the peoples representatives in both houses of Congress and signed by the President. A court battle ended up at the Supreme Court, which cleared the way for the resumption of executions in June 2020.

Biden, during the campaign, pushed for the abolition of the death penalty, pointing to a database that alleges over 160 people sentenced to death in the United States since 1973 were later exonerated.

Because we cannot ensure we get death penalty cases right every time, Biden will work to pass legislation to eliminate the death penalty at the federal level, and incentivize states to follow the federal governments example. These individuals should instead serve life sentences without probation or parole, his campaign website states.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki, asked recently about Bidens plans on following through on the campaign promise, said: The President has spoken about his opposition to the death penalty in the past, but I dont have anything to predict for you or preview for you in terms of additional steps.
By Job Bwire

The Supreme Court in Uganda has dismissed an application by National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine to amend his election petition challenging President Musevenis victory.

The musician turned politician through his lawyers led by Mr Medard Ssegona had asked court to amend the petition to allow more evidence on grounds that after the presidential elections on January 14, he (Kyagulanyi) was placed under house arrest which subjected him to post election detention trauma that hindered him from putting together all the evidence he had for his petition in the stipulated time (15 days).

Mr Kyagulanyi had presented 15 new electoral offences in the application.

Read more: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/supreme-court-dismisses-bobi-s-application-to-amend-petition3285236

Press Release

9 February 2021

Covid-19 has hit businesses of just about every shape and size hard, but few have felt the effects quite as strongly as those in the hospitality industry. Bars, restaurants and hotels in many parts of the world have been forced to close as restrictions to limit the spread of the Coronavirus have taken hold.

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Before the pandemic slammed the breaks on international and domestic travel, the global hotel trade was looking rosy. The corporate travel industry alone was forecast to grow into a $1.7 trillion industry by 2023. But rather than enjoying what was predicted to be one of the biggest growth spurts hoteliers have ever seen, they have been plunged into the most challenging period in the history of the industry.

In the face of spiralling occupancy rates and surging cancellations, businesses could have crumbled, but instead, bed-and-breakfasts, boutique hotels and global chains are adjusting their approaches, refocusing their efforts and doing everything they can to adapt to the new normal.

Photo: Company Debt

The Impact of Coronavirus on the Hotel Industry

There's no denying the devastating impact the pandemic has had on the global hotel industry. Occupancy rates are down across the world, with Europe and North America two of the regions that have been the hardest hit. In the US, figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the unemployment rate for workers in the leisure and hospitality industry is at an unprecedented 28.9%.

Photo: Company Debt

In the UK, the situation is no better, with predicted occupancy rates falling from 75.4% in 2019 to 37.6% in 2020, before rising to 59.2% in 2021. Worse news still is that even with the successful roll-out of the Coronavirus vaccines, PwC forecasts that it could take four years for occupancy rates to return to pre-Covid-19 levels.

Despite the devastating impact that the pandemic continues to have, hotel sales and marketing teams are doubling down on their efforts and doing everything they can to maximise their revenues now, with the knowledge that the end of the pandemic could potentially be in sight.

The Innovative Ways Hotels are Adapting

We often hear about the importance of agility in business, and nowhere is this better illustrated than in the response of many hoteliers to the pandemic. There are numerous tactics and strategies that hoteliers are putting in place to help them outlast the travel crunch and come back. Some are very creative, while others are surprisingly simple.

Check-in Changes and Key Digitisation

Reducing human contact has been a key part of suppressing the virus, so hotels such as the CitySuites Aparthotel in Manchester have made some important changes. Gavin Bailey, the CitySuites director, explains:

"One of the biggest changes we made was creating a contactless, express check-in, which has made the process quicker, easier and safer for our guests. It will also allow us to adapt to any new procedures and requirements Covid-19 compliance may bring in the future".

HayMax Hotels, which has four boutique hotels in Aspen, Colorado and Sun Valley, Idaho, has responded in a similar way. It has invested in technology so that guests can access their rooms via a digital key. That makes the check-in process safer and more efficient by removing the requirement for face-to-face interaction at the front desk.

These are the kind of innovations that many hotel guests have wanted for years. However, without the challenge of a global pandemic, it's something the industry had been slow to adopt.

Whole Spa Rental

Some hotels have gone one step further in their bid to reduce face-to-face interaction. Under Covid-19 restrictions, many communal areas such as hotel spas have been forced to close. However, the Roxbury Hotel in Stratton Falls has come up with a clever way to keep some areas open and generate an income.

Usage of areas such as the hot tub, sauna, steam room and relaxation room has been limited to individuals and family groups that are travelling together. The facilities must be pre-booked for time slots throughout the day. During those times, individuals and family groups have exclusive use of the facilities. That turns a challenging situation into a unique opportunity for guests to enjoy those luxurious surroundings all to themselves.

Day-time Only Stays

In Spain, where the number of foreign visitors has fallen by more than 80%, some hoteliers are keeping their businesses going by turning their rooms into potential workspaces and offering day-time only stays.

So-called day-use hotels are nothing new, but the number of hotels offering daytime bookings at a lower price than overnight stays has risen significantly. This is particularly the case in cities like Madrid, where the number of tourists and business travellers has fallen dramatically.

The Workcation

Some hotels are taking the idea of opening up their rooms to workers one step further. One example is the Rosewood Hotel in London, which is giving workers the chance to escape their daily lockdown routines by booking a workcation.

Hotel rooms come with a workstation already set up and a butler service to handle work-related tasks such as scanning and printing, and even organising tutoring and babysitting for children. There's also a guaranteed early check-in and late checkout so workers can make the most of their time.

Robot Butlers

One hotel that's rising to the innovation challenge is the Mercantile Hotel in New Orleans. It has a state-of-the-art robot butler that can deliver the newspaper to a guest's room in the morning, hand over welcoming nibbles on arrival and even mix drinks.

The robot butler has proved to be very popular among the hotel's guests and is an effective way to reduce face-to-face interactions with staff. It has also become a tool for generating revenue, with the robot charging a fee for delivering items, such as coffee from the lobby cafe, that would not have been able for delivery before.

Flexibility, Safety and Lots of Information

Given the nature of the pandemic, it's perhaps not surprising that travellers and hotel guests are making safety and hygiene measures a priority. Hotels are responding by implementing strict cleaning protocols to combat the virus. The CitySuites Aparthotel in Manchester is a prime example. It has implemented Covid-specific cleaning measures around the building and has received an AA Covid Confidence certificate to provide reassurance for visitors.

Flexibility has become another important feature for guests when booking hotels during the pandemic. With new and sudden restrictions leading to the last-minute cancellation of weekend trips, overnight stays and business meetings, customers want to know that hotels have policies in place that will allow them to rebook, reschedule and receive a full refund.

Many online travel agencies are also now displaying crucial information that's pertinent to the current situation on their hotel listings. That includes explanations and advice about local Coronavirus restrictions, concierge services, details about transfers to and from the airport, expanded information on cleaning procedures and updated details about what is included in the stay. All of these details are now key to generating reservations.

Marketing Rooms Differently

We've already touched on how hotel rooms are being repurposed as a workspace, but that's just one example of how hoteliers are marketing their businesses in a different way. Some hotels are offering special rates for local people who want to self-isolate in comfort away from their families and friends. This provides a useful service for the local community, while the reduced rate shows compassion but still helps to generate an income.

With ongoing travel restrictions, people are getting bored being at home but still want to live their lives and experience something different. Some hotels are helping them do that by offering discounted prices on luxurious rooms so local people can experience their cities in a new way.

Renovating For The Future

While no one would have wished for the pandemic shutdown, it does provide hoteliers with a unique opportunity to renovate and rethink their business models. We've already discussed how hoteliers are taking this opportunity to invest in technology for 'touch-free' check-ins, but others are going a step further by renovating their hotels with sustainability, improved customer convenience and safety in mind.

Hotel owners are putting a greater emphasis on health-related features such as indoor/outdoor architecture, antimicrobial finishes and high-performance ventilation systems to reassure guests and heighten their sense of wellbeing and safety. Other popular retrofits that are taking place include hotel room carpets being replaced with solid flooring that looks and feels cleaner, and shower curtains being replaced by glass doors.

No Business as Usual Until 2023

Photo: Company Debt

While the 2023 target of $1.7 trillion of corporate travel expenditure may now be some way off, there is broad confidence that the hospitality industry will return to something approaching normal in the not so distant future.

For most small UK hotels, getting through the next few months is likely to be the biggest challenge they face. Although it may be a steep learning curve, the message is clear - now is the time to do something different. Adopting a customer-centric and technologically leveraged approach could help to maximise revenue over the next few months. And while some of these new strategies might only be around for the short-term, others could prove to be a reliable source of revenue long after the Covid-19 pandemic subsides.
Police stand guard by their vehicles as protesters rally against the military coup and to demand the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Feb. 8, 2021. Reuters



Myanmar's new military rulers on Monday signaled their intention to crack down on opponents of their takeover, issuing decrees that effectively banned peaceful public protests in the country's two biggest cities.



The restrictions were ordered after police fired water cannons at hundreds of protesters in the capital, Naypyitaw, who were demanding the military hand power back to elected officials. It was just one of many demonstrations around the country.



Rallies and gatherings of more than five people, along with motorized processions, were banned, and an 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew was imposed for areas of Yangon and Mandalay, the country's first- and second-biggest cities, where thousands of people have been demonstrating since Saturday.



Protesters in Yangon rallied Monday at a major downtown intersection raising three-finger salutes that are symbols of resistance and carrying placards saying, ''Reject the military coup'' and ''Justice for Myanmar.''



There were also demonstrations in towns in the north, southeast and east of the country.



The decrees enabling the new restrictive measures were issued on a township-by-township basis, and were expected to be extended to other areas as well. They say they were issued in response to people carrying out unlawful actions that harm the rule of law, a reference to the protests.



The growing defiance was striking in a country where past demonstrations have been met with deadly force. That resistance was happening in Naypyitaw, whose population includes many civil servants and their families, spoke to the level of anger among people who had only begun to taste democracy in recent years after five decades of military rule.



''We do not want the military junta,'' said Daw Moe, a protester in Yangon. ''We never ever wanted this junta. Nobody wants it. All the people are ready to fight them.''







U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, chairman of Ways & Means, speaks at a press conference with Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday afternoon in Boston.

Baker Stands With Neal in Urging Passage of Fed Stimulus Bill

BOSTON  Citizens could see the balance of the promised $2,000 in stimulus money hit their accounts by April 1.

The payments of $1,400 are part of a $1.9 trillion stimulus package working its way through Congress. It follows up on the CARES Act passed last year to address COVID-19 needs and a $600 boost to families that both parties agreed to in the first days of the new year.

"People are struggling, we need to hear their calls for help," said U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, speaking with Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday.

Democrats, now in control of both the House and Senate, have opted to use the parliamentary procedure of reconciliation that will fast track the stimulus package through committee and avoid a Senate filibuster.

"Here's the challenge. The process of reconciliation, it's arcane by procedure, both sides have used it," said Neal, chairman of the powerful Ways & Means Committee. There is a desire for bipartisanship, he continued, "but speed is of the essence."

There will be room for Republicans to make amendments during the process, he said, "and I think it would be very helpful for them to fully participate. I think when you look at the polling data on our proposal, it's pretty wild when it comes down three-quarters of the American people support what we're about to try to do and what in fact, what we're going to do."

The Springfield Democrat appeared with the state's Republican governor to impress the importance of the package to the Bay State's citizens and its economy.

"Our economy and the jobs and the purpose that come with it have been significantly impacted by the pandemic," said Baker. "And we've worked hard over the course of the past 10 months to balance the needs of keeping our economy open safely, while responding to the pandemic. There are still substantial financial challenges that we face as a commonwealth and that other states across the country are facing as well.

"It would be critical from our point of view, for Congress to pass significant relief swiftly to help us beat down the pandemic. And just as importantly, help get our economy back on track."

He compared Neal to former Patriot Tom Brady, saying he was the "greatest of all time" in his support of the state's needs. "The chairman was never a more than a phone call away," Baker said. "You never had to call him more than once if you wanted to talk to him about something that was important to the commonwealth, and I know I speak for the lieutenant governor, for myself and for everybody on our team, when we say how much his organization, his office, and he in particular have meant to our efforts here in the commonwealth."

Baker is one of a number of GOP governors including Vermont's Phil Scott urging the Biden administration and Congress to prop up states dealing with job and revenue losses in concert with urgent health and safety needs to ride out the pandemic. Days ago, West Virginia's Gov. Jim Justice was pressing Congress to "go big" in getting the stimulus package passed.

"We're now in a much better economic spot than we were last spring. But many of our residents are still unable to find a job, and our main streets are hurting, and many small businesses have not recovered from the pandemic and won't for months," said Baker, noting his fiscal 2022 budget is based on a projection of $1 billion less in revenue over last year.

The state is down about 330,000 jobs from last year this time, and the hospitality industry, tied tightly to Massachusetts' cultural economy, continues to take a hit.

Neal said Ways & Means will be writing about $941 billion of the president's stimulus proposal starting Wednesday morning and hopefully concluding on Friday.

"We will not get the economy back up and running until we defeat the virus. Last month's jobs report as you all had a chance to witness on Friday, offered a new glimpse as to where we find ourselves," he said. "Forty-seven thousand jobs created, 10 million jobs that were lost in the pandemic have not been returned."

More than 19 million Americans are receiving unemployment insurance, small businesses in particular are in trouble, and the nation's hospitals are "under siege."

The new stimulus picks up on the provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act passed last March, which Neal said saved the economy at the time, including addressing unemployment, child care tax credits, and health insurance coverage, and shoring up employer pension plans.

"We do not go down this road without seeking a lot of input from a lot of different people. [Treasury Secretary] Janet Yellen and I have talked extensively, she helped me develop the CARES Act, I think that's a fair statement," the chairman said. "And in addition, we have sought advice across the spectrum from people as to how best to proceed, including an individual who has been very helpful as well  Jay Powell, chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, who has said go big. We intend to go big."
Ten years on, three men have been charged with sexual violation

A woman in France has claimed that she was raped by 20 firefighters over a period of two years from the age of 13 to 15.

The woman, now aged 25, said she was groomed by a firefighter who assisted her during an anxiety seizure in 2008.

Ten years on from the alleged abuse, three men have been charged with sexual violation and the country's highest court is set to rule on the case on Wednesday.

The case of the alleged victim, who has been dubbed 'Julie' by French media, has sparked protests in France, with campaigners demanding an age of sexual consent should be enshrined in law.

Dozens of people gathered at Place Saint-Michel to demand 'Justice for Julie' on Sunday

In French law, there is an 'age of sexual majority' at 15, but there is no age below which a minor cannot be deemed to consent, meaning a child is not necessarily considered a rape victim.

It is an offence for someone in a position of authority to have sex with a person under the age of 18.

In comparison, in the UK, sex with under-13s is statutory rape.

Protests broke out across France at the weekend in support of the woman.

Julie claims that one firefighter named Pierre began grooming her at age 13 before she was raped by him and 19 of his colleagues over a period of two years.

In January 2009, Pierre allegedly visited Julie's home and raped her while her mother was out for a dog walk.

Julie told investigators that in November 2009, Pierre, while wearing full uniform, allegedly took Julie to his apartment where two colleagues came over and proceeded to gang-rape her.

In French law, there is an 'age of sexual majority' at 15, but there is no age below which a minor cannot be deemed to consent. Above, protests in Paris on Sunday

At least three of the firefighters have admitted to having intercourse with the then-teenager, although they maintain that the sex was consensual.

Julie says she was 'terrified and paralysed with fear' at the time.

The men visited her home 130 times over two years, according to a report in The Guardian.

The girl's mother told investigators she had no idea what was going on. 'I even made cake for the firemen,' she said.

Of Pierre, she said: 'I thought he was the last person to do such a thing because he had helped her so many times and saw how vulnerable she was.'

Julie's mental and physical health deteriorated following the alleged assaults, and she was prescribed anti-anxiety medication.

After being taken off medication in July 2010, Julie disclosed the abuse to her mother, who filed a police report.

Dozens of people gathered this Sunday at Place Saint-Michel to demand "Justice for Julie"

Her case has been taken to the country's supreme court of appeal and will reach its conclusion on Wednesday.

Currently three men are charged with 'sexual violation' although prosecutors will argue that all 20 men should be convicted of rape.

In France, the maximum sentence for sexual violation is seven years, compared with 20 for rape.

In order to bring rape charges in France, the complainant must prove she was forced or violently coerced.

The victim's legal advocate, Marjolaine Vignola, said: 'Every stereotype about rape is in this case: The judges and the psychiatrist say Julie is a liar, that she consented to sex with all those men and that she is lying about being raped because she is ashamed.'
Press Release

9 February 2021

Airbnb is committed to serving all stakeholders in our community: hosts, guests, communities, employees and shareholders. Today, we are highlighting some of our recent work to partner with the communities our hosts and guests call home.

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Landmark Commitment to the French Government

France is home to the largest and longest-standing Airbnb community in Europe and has inspired some of our most innovative partnerships to promote a healthier form of tourism that benefits the people and places that make it happen. That tradition continues with a new commitment announced today by Airbnb to the French government: To put home sharing at the heart of France's recovery from the devastation to household, small-business and local government finances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the tenets of the commitment, Airbnb will help hosts and guests follow the rules, such as by enforcing registration for hosts in Paris and other major cities across the country who list entire homes, and by launching a dedicated hotline for neighbors to report noise or nuisance. Airbnb also will launch a new campaign to promote year-roundincluding off-seasontravel to French mountain villages and ski resorts.

With listings in more than 220 countries and regions around the world, Airbnb welcomes local regulations that establish clear, fair rules that let hosts share their homes with confidence. As in France, we have partnered with hundreds of governments to achieve such rules. About 70 percent of our top 200 cities by revenue were covered by some form of regulation as of October 2019.

100 Partnerships for Tourism Recovery

The landmark commitment to the French government is the latest in a series of collaborations with governments and destination marketing organizations (DMOs) to help promote local travel. Today, we are also announcing a milestone in our work with DMOs to promote local tourismthat we are on track to secure 100 such partnerships and collaborations by Spring 2021.

Airbnb is committed to strengthening the communities in which we operate by promoting travel that is local, diverse and economically as well as environmentally sustainable. Not only do hosts on Airbnb keep up to 97 percent of what they charge for their listings, and guests spend an average of 43 percent of their trip expenditures in the neighborhoods where they stay, but Airbnb remits difference-making tax dollars to communities where we are allowed to do so: over $2.6 billion as of September 30, 2020. In France alone, we collect hospitality taxes in 29,000 municipalities.

Since the start of the pandemic, we also have increased our efforts to partner with destinations to help ensure that their tourism recovers in ways they want to see. In June 2020, Airbnb announced our effort to formally partner with DMOs to support local economic growth by helping these organizations leverage our platform and our communication channels to promote both local andas travel restrictions permitinternational tourism. In December 2020, Visit Tampa Bay and WWF Mexico and the Mexican Federation of Tourist Associations became our latest DMO partners, bringing us to more than 80 partnerships and collaborations, with organizations spanning more than 25 countries.

City Portal

In September 2020, Airbnb introduced our City Portal, a first-of-its-kind solution that provides governments and tourism organizations with tools, insights and access to the Airbnb community. Specifically, City Portal offers:

Industry-first compliance tools to help governments develop and manage fair short-term rental policies and regulations.

A dashboard providing local and global Airbnb data insights into short-term rental market characteristics

A hub for resources such as the Airbnb Neighborhood Support hotline and Law Enforcement portal.

Direct access via City Portal to an Airbnb team member, providing one-to-one support with the Portal or issues that arise locally.

In late January, Hawaii's County of Kauai became the latest City Portal partner, bringing the number of Portal partners to 40 worldwide, ranging from the City of Toronto to Visit Denmark to the Western Cape of South Africa.

We look forward to providing further updates as we expand our work with more destinations to help them ensure that as their tourism comes back, it comes back in ways that are best for their communities.
The Telegraph

An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.
LeRonne Armstrong, who was sworn in as Oaklands police chief Monday, vowed to be a visible leader who will push for a safer city as his hometown struggles with a surge of homicides.

Armstrong was emotional Monday as he talked to a crowd outside his alma mater, McClymonds High School, pondering his journey to his perch as Oaklands new police chief.

Armstrong said he will work with the community  clergy, city leaders and residents  to fight crime. His swearing-in comes after the city marked 15 homicides in the first month of the year  compared to just one at this time last year.

When a life is lost in Oakland, you will see me in the impacted neighborhoods, Armstrong said. I will be getting up no matter what time it is to come out to those scenes, to make sure families know that it matters to me when someones life is taken.

Mayor Libby Schaaf said she was happy to appoint an Oakland native to the position of top cop. She recalled when she first met Armstrong as an enthusiastic officer nearly 10 years ago. The two discussed why it was important for the city to have a leader that was of this community, from this community. Armstrong has worked for the department for 22 years, most recently as deputy chief.

As we, the city of Oakland, hold Chief Armstrong accountable, we need you to hold him every day, Schaaf said, turning to his family members who joined the ceremony. Hold him in your prayers, hold him in your embrace. This is the hardest job in America. He will need your support, your wisdom and most of all your love.

Armstrong said it was one of his top priorities to lead the department with laser focus to implement reforms in the troubled force as it enters its 18th year under a federal monitor. The monitor was appointed after the Riders scandal in 2003, when a group of rogue officers were accused of beating and framing Oakland citizens for crimes.

The only way to lead the city out from under federal oversight is through cultural change, Armstrong said. He acknowledged the recent criticism after an Oaklandside article revealed that several OPD officers showed support for pro-Trump conspiracy theories on social media.

Armstrong said he plans to introduce a social media policy that governs police staff on and off duty.

These incidents are woefully unacceptable, he said. I want to be clear, if anybody in the Oakland Police Department moving forward is found to be involved in this type of behavior, (they) will not be welcome.

Armstrong takes over from Interim Police Chief Susan Manheimer, who led the department for 10 months. Oakland has gone through 11 police chiefs in the past 21 years. Four took and left the job within the span of nine days in 2016.

Regina Jackson, the chair of the police commission which selected Armstrong as one of four finalists for the job, said no one is better equipped for the job.

The job posting for the chief called for a champion who will fully and finally effect long-sought transformational change of policing in Oakland.

Armstrong is that person, Jackson said Monday.

He is the kind of straight shooter that we need to lead us into a place of more accountable and more responsible policing, Jackson said. We wrote a job description that pretty much asked for someone that walked on water. I dont think anybody is closer to what we were looking for.

Armstrong was born in West Oakland. Raised by a single mother, he spent every Saturday when he was young with his two siblings and mother working on handwriting and strengthening his studies.

She told me when I was a young boy, There is something special about you, Armstrong said, his voice shaking with emotion. Shes told me three things: Maintain your faith in God, always be respectful, and always believe that you can be anything you want to be.

When Armstrong was just 13, his brother was shot and killed. Thats when he knew he wanted a career focused on safety, Armstrong said Monday.

I didnt want any other family to experience what my family had experienced, he said.

Armstrongs daughter Mikhala Armstrong, 24, said she flew in from Los Angeles to see her fathers swearing-in. And she couldnt be more proud.

This is something hes always wanted, She said. Its great that its his time.

Armstrongs mother, Charlotte, was also there.

This is a proud moment for me because I knew what he was capable of, and he proved himself, Charlotte Armstrong told The Chronicle. I taught him to persevere and no matter what the circumstances are, you never give up, and he did that. He would always tell me, Mama, you watch, youll see.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Shares of hit a new high of Rs 3,000 after it rallied 10 per cent on the BSE in Tuesday's intra-day on the expectation of a strong bounce-back in room air conditioner (RAC) volumes during the current quarter (Q4FY21). The stock of the consumer durable company surpassed its previous high of Rs 2,793 touched on February 3, 2021.

In the October-December quarter (Q3FY21), Amber Enterprises had achieved pre-Covid sales level on the back of renewed consumer sentiments which led to demand acceleration. The management believes there is a structural shift in consumer ecosystem as consumers have identified the need to make their living spaces a better one in order to multi-task and make their lives easier.

The company added six new customers for RAC gas filling amid the import ban by the government. The ban on imports with refrigerant filled ACs has opened up new opportunities for the domestic manufacturers and for Amber. RAC contributed 54 per cent of the total revenue of the company.

The management remains optimistic about export prospects for both fully built-up units and components that can potentially emerge over the next 3-4 years. The greenfield expansion in Pune and South India is on track and will benefit from the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.

Analysts at Elara Capital expect a strong recovery in all the subsidiaries and capacity expansion. The brokerage firm expects an earnings CAGR of 16 per cent over FY20-23E, driven by rising demand of the outsourcing model, especially by large MNC firms in the durables industry, emerging export opportunities, upcoming PLI scheme on the air conditioner and operating leverage to help expand margin.

"With RAC channel inventory levels now normalized, we expect a strong bounce-back in RAC volumes in Q4FY21. Management remains optimistic about export prospects for both fully built-up units and components that can potentially emerge over the next 3-4 years," analysts at Emkay Global Financial Services said in result update.

At 01:40 pm, Amber Enterprises was trading 7.5 per cent higher at Rs 2,943 on the BSE as compared to a 0.88 per cent risen in the S&P BSE Sensex. A combined 315,000 equity shares have changed hands on the counter so far on the NSE and BSE.
The number of registered newborns in China plummeted by nearly 15 per cent in 2020 compared to the year before, sparking fears that the country is facing what observers call a 'demographic cliff fall'.

Figures from Chinese authorities showed there were almost 10.04million registered births in the country in 2020, in comparison with 11.79million in 2019.

The 14.9 per cent drop comes after the nation's birth rate last year sank to its lowest in seven decades despite the government's implementation of a 'two-child policy' in a bid to reverse the ageing population.

Figures from Chinese authorities showed there were almost 10.04million registered births in the country in 2020. The above picture shows newborn babies being looked after at the Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital in Lanzhou, China, on February 17, 2016

'The number of newborns are falling off the cliff! A crisis has arrived early...' one Chinese economics columnist warned in an opinion piece last week.

The author, named Chen Xingjie, stressed that the birth rates in many big Chinese cities had been 'shrinking sharply' in the article carried by 163.com.

Mr Chen used Shanghai as an example. Citing official statistics, he pointed out that only 37 babies were born on January 1 this year in the financial hub with a population of more than 22million.

In a separate commentary, titled 'Population cliff fall: what has it got to do with you?', media observer Huan Huan Jun highlighted the 'rapidly growing' percentage of senior citizens in China's overall population structure.

There were 167million citizens over the age of 60 in China in 2009, or 12.5 per cent of the nation's entire population at the time, the author wrote.

But in 2019, the figure rose to 254million, or 18.1 per cent of the population, the article said.

Beijing revised its decades-long one-child policy in 2016 to allow families to have two children as fears grew about China's fast-ageing population and shrinking workforce. Nurses and parents are pictured helping babies to undergo swim training at a hospital in Beijing in 2007

The latest number of China's registered births was released by the nation's Public Security Ministry on Monday.

Among all of the reported, 52.7 per cent were boys, and 47.3 per cent were girls, according to the data.

Last month, the same ministry reported that the total registered births in 2019 were 11.79million. But early last year, the National Bureau of Statistics announced that 14.65million people had been born in China the year before.

The two authorities did not explain why there was a 2.86million difference in the two sets of data.

However, the number of registered births is typically lower than the actual number of births later announced in China, as not all parents register their children immediately.

The National Bureau of Statistics also reported last year that China's birth rate stood at 10.48 per thousand in 2019, the lowest in 70 years and down from 10.94 per thousand in 2018.

China's Public Security Ministry reported that the total registered births in 2019 stood at 11.79million. A man is pictured holding up a child at a shopping district in Beijing on January 18

The publication of the statistics sparked heated discussions on the country's social media.

One user on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform noted the birth figure was 'lower than the number of people taking the college entrance examination', adding that ageing would become more serious in decades to come.

Another called the low rate 'the biggest crisis the Chinese nation is facing'.

China introduced the one-child policy in the late 1970s in a dramatic effort to slow rapid population growth, before reversing it some four decades later.

Beijing revised the rules in 2016 to allow families to have two children as fears grew about China's fast-ageing population and shrinking workforce.

But the change has not yet resulted in a baby boom, with empowered Chinese women often delaying or avoiding childbirth and young couples blaming rising costs and insufficient policy support for families.

'If the whole society regards childbearing as a pain, then there is a problem in this society,' cautioned another on Weibo.

The data also comes after the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc in the global economy, with many families nervous about job security.

The news comes after the nation's birth rate last year sank to its lowest in seven decades. Pictured, Chinese nurses take care of newborn babies at a hospital in Xiangyang city in 2014

In November, China started a once-a-decade census, with much of the attention on whether it indicates any population bump from the relaxation of family planning rules.

Demographic experts have estimated it could take 15 years for the two-child policy to have any noticeable effect on population numbers. Chinese retirees, meanwhile, are expected to number 300million by 2025.

Chinese state media in December quoted civil affairs minister Li Jiheng as saying the country's fertility rate has 'dropped dangerously', well below the population replacement rate of 2.1 births per woman.
WV Gov. says God's guidance, common sense helped put state on top in vaccine rollout

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West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said in a recent interview that the state has managed to administer COVID-19 vaccines to more people per capita than almost any other state, thanks to Gods guidance and good sound thinking.

Its just simply good sound thinking and having the guts to move and get it done, Gov. Justice told CBN News in an interview that aired last Thursday.

Since March 25, which Justice proclaimed as a statewide day of prayer, God has surely guided the boat since that day.

I can promise you that, the Republican governor added.

On the day of prayer, the governor urged people to pray for Gods mercy and intervention.

But Father, I pray for all of us in our great state that You will intervene now and hear our words as I know You will, and some way, somehow intervene to stop this terrible virus, the 69-year-old Justice prayed at the time.

Justice pointed out that the state chose not to go with a federal plan to send the vaccine to big pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens.

We recruited our local pharmacies, our local health clinics. We absolutely put our National Guard right to work. We took this to the people because the people are used to going to certain places and everything, he said. And with all that, we started putting shots in people's arms, and that's why we've led the way.

During Fridays briefing, Justice said he and other state pandemic response leaders are pushing as hard as we can. He urged the federal government to supply more doses of the vaccines.

Were going through every channel we can go through, he said. One thing that I cannot get straight in my head is you have states all across this country that have hundreds of thousands or millions of vaccines that are not in somebodys arm; theyre in a warehouse. Hours mean something  not days, weeks, or months  hours mean something to try to save somebodys life.

According to the latest numbers posted to the CDCs National Vaccination Tracker, out of the over 59 million vaccine doses delivered to states across the country, only 39 million had been administered as of Sunday afternoon.

On Friday, the state reported that West Virginia has successfully administered 294,059 of the 328,600 total doses that have been delivered in the state, an overall administration rate of 89.4 percent.

More than 124,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in West Virginia, while 2,129 people have died due to COVID-19 as of Sunday. There were over 16,000 active cases of COVID-19 as of early Sunday.

Last month, Gov. Justice said on Face the Nation that his state was at 98.1 percent, as far as vaccines in peoples arms or names tied to it that are going to be put into peoples arms immediately.

Were saving all kinds of lives, the governor proclaimed. Were putting our kids back in school. West Virginia has been the diamond in the rough that a lot of people have missed.
Spencer Mandela Nakale's family had planned a huge party to celebrate his fourth birthday yesterday - but instead of a joyous celebration, it was a day of heartache and pain.

The toddler remains missing since his disappearance on 28 December last year at Luderitz. His mother, Julia Ndafyaata, said she spent the day in bed because she could not deal with the emotional roller coaster.

"Today is worse than other days. I am angry, irritated and confused. I don't know what to do any more," she says before bursting into tears.

She also expressed this in a social media post: "Sometimes I wish I could escape the pain by ending my life. But then I do not know where my baby is or what happened to him." Ndafyaata student nurse at a Keetmanshoop health facility was supposed to be on duty on the day her son would have turned four.

She took a day off because the emotions were too much for her to bear.

"We planned a birthday party for him with a helium balloon and a cake because I was hopeful he would have been found. The party was to celebrate his safe return, but now he is not here. I don't know why it has to be me," she sobbed.

Ndafyaata said she also planned that he starts pre-school at Keetmanshoop this year.

She has been attending the psycho-social support sessions. "I went twice, but it only helped for a few hours. I would go in the morning and feel better for a few hours but once something that reminds me of Mandela triggers, everything stops making sense and I break down," added Ndafyaata.

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Police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi said the search for Mandela will continue until he is found whether alive or dead.

"The search continues and anyone with information about the child must come forward. We do not want a scenario similar to the case of the late Shannon Wasserfall where people knew what happened but were reluctant to inform the police," she said.

Shikwambi said police and community efforts to find the child can only yield results with the assistance of the public.

People with information about his whereabouts can contact his parents, Julia and Nelson, on 081 695 4974 or 081 219 3691, or police chief inspector Kotungondo on 081 355 1422, or the investigating officer, detective warrant officer Kenehama, on 081 317 6432.
The government has been pursuing the target of doubling farmers' income by 2022 and several interventions taken are showing a "positive impact", Agriculture Minister told Parliament on Tuesday.

In 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government had set a highly ambitious target of doubling farmers incomes by 2022. An inter-ministerial committee on "Doubling of Farmers' Income" was set up in April 2016 to recommend strategies to achieve this goal.

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Tomar said the committee submitted its report in September 2018. After acceptance of the panel's recommendations, the government has set up an 'Empowered Body' to review and monitor the progress.

Responding to a query whether the target fixed for the year 2022 can be achieved at the present annual growth, the minister said, "The government has been pursuing the target of doubling farmers' income."



He said the implementation of various recommendations of the committee and comprehensive interventions of the government are "having a positive impact on growth of agriculture and income of farmers".

The government has adopted several developmental programmes, schemes, reforms and policies that focus on higher incomes for the farmers, the minister said responding to a separate query on the same topic.

All these policies and programmes are being supported by higher budgetary allocations, non-budgetary financial resources by way of creating corpus funds, and supplementary income transfers under PM-KISAN.

The latest major intervention includes the 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat- Agriculture package' which includes comprehensive market reforms and creation of 'Agricultural Infrastructure Fund' worth Rs 1 lakh crore.

The minister was also asked about state-wise details of the income/wages earned per year by farmers from the base year till date and the annual growth percentage required to achieve the targets fixed for the year 2022. He replied that the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) during its 70th round had conducted 'Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of Agricultural Households' in rural areas in the crop year 2012-13 (July-June).

"There has been no further assessment of the farmers' income thereafter," he said.

As per the NSO survey results, the average monthly income per agricultural household from all sources was estimated to be Rs 6,426, he added.

The minister also mentioned that the committee on doubling farmers' income recommended seven sources of income growth.

These include improvement in crop productivity; improvement in livestock productivity; resource use efficiency or savings in the cost of production; and increase in the cropping intensity. Diversification towards high value crops, improvement in real prices received by farmers, and shift from farm to non-farm occupations are also included, he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin faces an early test as he races to advance a major initiative targeting far-right extremism in the ranks, a challenge that officials acknowledge is complicated by the Pentagon's lack of clarity on the extent of the threat following the U.S. Capitol riot.

Austin's highly unusual order for a military-wide "stand-down," slated to pause normal operations in coming weeks so troops can discuss internal support for extremist movements, underscores the urgency of the task ahead for the former four-star general, who last month became the nation's first African American Pentagon chief.

The Jan. 6 events at the Capitol, in which Trump supporters stormed Congress in an attempt to prevent President Joe Biden from taking office, laid bare the appeal of white supremacist and anti-government groups among some veterans and, in smaller numbers, currently serving troops. Among the 190 people charged in the siege, at least 30 are veterans. Three are reservists or National Guard members.

The involvement of individuals with military links follows several incidents in which troops have espoused support for racist or extremist movements on social media or to their peers.

The military's planned stand-down comes as part of a larger Pentagon effort to reckon with its troubled history of racial discrimination, sexual assault and other internal scourges that officials say harm troops, threaten military values and damage recruitment and retention.

Even as they seek to get the effort off the ground, Pentagon officials are grappling with legal and institutional issues that have posed an impediment to addressing extremism in the past. Separate rules and disciplinary systems across the military services also present a challenge in managing a threat that is constantly evolving and difficult to define.

"We don't know the full breadth and depth of this," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters this month. "It may be more than we're comfortable feeling and admitting, and probably a lot less than the media attention surrounding it seems to suggest it could be. But where is it? It's just not clear."

Officials attribute support in the military for far-right movements among troops to larger trends in American society. But experts say the stakes are particularly high for the military, which imbues specialized training and skills that could make far-right groups more powerful, and dangerous.

"What you want is for people who are trained with safeguarding the population in some capacity, who have military weapons training, to be better than the rest of the country at resisting, at not being susceptible, to propaganda, to ideological radicalization," said Cynthia Miller-Idriss, director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab at American University.

The Pentagon's performance on this issue may constitute a key metric in the Biden administration's effort to demonstrate a break with President Donald Trump, who was seen as tolerating and at times fueling far-right currents, which often overlapped with his political base.

For Austin, it represents both a political and management challenge, as he seeks to marshal the Pentagon's vast bureaucracy and handle sensitivities around personal freedoms as he steps into his new role. The former combat commander, who was the first African American to hold a number of military jobs as he rose up the ranks, has said relatively little in public about his own experiences as a Black man in the U.S. military.

- - -

First among the challenges for Austin and his aides is the lack of centralized means of documenting and tracking incidence of extremism in military units.

Historical data from outside the government has suggested a correlation between military experience and right-wing terrorism. An academic analysis published in 2011 by the Justice Department's Terrorism Research and Analysis Project found that right-wing terrorists have been significantly more likely to have military experience than other terrorists indicted in U.S. courts. They were also more than twice as likely to assume a leadership role in right-wing groups.

According to Michael Jensen, a senior researcher at the University of Maryland's START Center, 15.6% of a sample of 1,534 individuals arrested for ideologically motivated crimes were veterans or serving in the U.S. military, significantly higher than the percentage of the population that are veterans or currently serving in the force. The database Jensen analyzed included U.S. arrests up to 2018 and dating back decades.

But official statistics provide only a fragmentary picture. Last month, Pentagon officials said the FBI had informed them about 68 domestic extremism cases in 2019 involving current or former troops. Little other data exists.

One reason for the military's limited understanding of the problem is that current rules permit troops to join extremist organizations, so long as they don't become "active" members who fundraise, recruit or take part in other prohibited activities. While the distinction is rooted in troops' First Amendment rights, it means supporters of extremist causes can go undetected.

Brad Carson, who served as acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness during the Obama administration, pointed to the military's tradition of bringing together people of different beliefs and backgrounds under a shared mission.

"If people are posting things anonymously in chat rooms and they don't bring it into the workplace, do you get separated for that?" Carson asked. "A lot of people have political views out there. But day in and day out on the range, they're not really showing those things. So we don't inquire too much."

In addition, while the criminal investigation arms of the military services have compiled some data about criminal probes related to white supremacism, they do not aggregate and track other categories of far-right extremist actions or incidents that fall below the criminal threshold, officials said.

Those lesser infractions, which can result in verbal rebukes or administrative actions, like a reduction in rank, are typically handled by commanders and are not required to be reported up through the chain.

"No one has ever asked us to track this in that way," said one defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe internal challenges.

- - -

Even more consequential is the difficulty of establishing a common definition of extremism that officials can use to track internal trends, a challenge enhanced by a rapidly changing ecosystem of extremist groups, symbols and technological access. In some cases, an individual's extremist beliefs might not pose a threat to society at large but could jeopardize order and discipline in the military.

To effectively identify signs of extremist ideology, experts say military commanders must make themselves more familiar with relevant external signs like flags, patches or tattoos. The creation of a military-wide tattoo and symbology database would help, they say.

"Everybody knows what a swastika is, but I don't know that everybody knows what Pepe the Frog is," Jensen said, referring to the green frog meme that became associated with white supremacist and other groups. "So they don't know they are witnessing something that has ties to extremism."

Even before Austin's arrival as defense secretary, the Defense Department had launched a review of policies surrounding extremism. Among the issues it will consider is whether the military needs to alter its vast, decentralized system for screening troops and recruits.

The military services all have some level of screening upon entry into the force that includes looking for extremist or racist tattoos and checking individuals against certain local and federal law enforcement lists for criminal records or extremist affiliations.

The Marine Corps, for example, uses what is known as a "Questionable Conduct/Aberrant Behavior Screening Form," which addresses participation in gangs or extremist organizations and must be signed by applicants to enter the service. It is part of a broader evaluation the service calls "moral qualification screening."

But some extremism experts say the military's screening procedures for recruits are insufficient.

Lawmakers including Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., who chairs the House Armed Services' military personnel subcommittee, are calling for the Biden administration to mandate stronger screening of social media for service members. Under her proposal, recruits would be required to provide social media handles when they apply for security clearances.

"Now that we have an administration that is taking this problem seriously, we must take action," Speier said in a statement.

- - -

Another problem for the Pentagon is deciding which of the movements proliferating online are extremist and how involved service members must be before they are counseled, disciplined or removed from the armed service.

Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, said the military has relatively clear rules concerning involvement in white supremacy groups, but not for anti-government organizations or QAnon, an extremist ideology that the FBI has deemed a domestic terrorism threat.

In another sign of increasing congressional concerns, the annual defense policy bill, passed after Congress overrode a veto by Trump on Jan. 1, established a deputy inspector general to conduct oversight of diversity and inclusion in the military and also track supremacist, extremist or criminal gang activity.

The law requires the Pentagon to include questions about anti-Semitism, racism and white supremacy in its annual workplace climate survey, potentially showing how many service members have encountered racists and extremists in the ranks.

Last year, Speier proposed including a provision in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that would explicitly name violent extremism a crime under military law, but it was removed when Trump threatened to veto the bill, according to Speier's office.

But in December, a Pentagon report recommended a similar change to the Uniform Code of Military Justice that would "address extremist activity." Speier's office said they believe changes to military law could be made by the end of 2021.

Some experts have suggested the military should create deradicalization programs for service members, many of whom are in their teens when they enter the military. That would give commanders tools to potentially avert a more serious problem.

"What if someone is starting to flirt with these things?" Beirich said. "What do you do before they go full-bore on this?"

- - -

The Washington Post's Julie Tate and Alex Horton contributed to this report.
The flash flood that killed dozens of people and left hundreds missing in the Himalayas of India on Sunday was far from the first such disaster to occur among the worlds high-mountain glaciers. In a world with a changing climate, it wont be the last.

Shrinking and thinning of glaciers is one of the most documented signs of the effects of global warming caused by emissions of greenhouse gases, scientists say. Glacial retreat in mountains around the world has been measured, sometimes at a rate of 100 feet or more each year. In the Himalayas, the most glaciated mountain range and home to about 600 billion tons of ice, the rate of retreat has accelerated over the past four decades.

Over the long term, there are concerns about what the loss of glaciers will mean for billions of people around the world who rely on them at least in part for water for drinking, industry and agriculture. But the more acute fear is for the safety of the people who live near 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.
Basel, Switzerland, February 09, 2021



Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. (SIX: BSLN) announced today that sales of the antifungal Cresemba (isavuconazole) by Pfizer in Europe and Israel exceeded the threshold triggering a milestone payment to Basilea of USD 10 million.

Basilea is entitled to receive milestone payments upon Pfizer's cumulative Cresemba sales in Pfizer's licensed territories exceeding certain thresholds. Pfizer is currently commercializing Cresemba in many European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K, as well as in a number of countries in the Asia Pacific region. Under the agreement, sales milestones totaling USD 12 million were triggered in 2019 and regulatory and commercial milestones totaling around USD 6 million were triggered in 2020.

David Veitch, Chief Executive Officer of Basilea, said: "We are very pleased that the continued strong sales performance of Cresemba has now triggered the 10 million US dollar milestone from Pfizer. This confirms that Cresemba is addressing a high medical need and we look forward to making our important antifungal treatment available to patients in a rapidly increasing number of countries around the world."

In November 2017, Basilea and Pfizer extended their existing license agreement for Europe (excluding the Nordics), Russia, Turkey and Israel, to include China, including Hong Kong and Macao, and sixteen countries in the Asia Pacific region. Under the agreement with Pfizer, Basilea is still eligible for regulatory and sales milestone payments of up to approximately USD 620 million, in addition to receiving mid-teen royalties on sales.

Cresemba is currently marketed in around 50 countries, including the United States, most EU member states and several additional countries inside and outside of Europe. For the twelve-month period to the end of September 2020, total "in-market" sales of Cresemba amounted to USD 244 million, a more than 28 percent growth year-on-year.1

About isavuconazole (Cresemba)

Isavuconazole is an intravenous (i.v.) and oral azole antifungal, commercialized under the trade name Cresemba. In the 27 European Union member states, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and the U.K., isavuconazole is approved for the treatment of adult patients with invasive aspergillosis and for the treatment of adult patients with mucormycosis for whom amphotericin B is inappropriate.2 Cresemba is also approved in the United States and several additional countries in Europe and beyond.3 It has orphan drug designation in the U.S., Europe and Australia for its approved indications. Basilea has entered into several license and distribution agreements for isavuconazole covering the United States, Europe, China, Japan, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa region, Canada, Russia, Turkey and Israel.

About Basilea

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, focused on the development of products that address the medical challenges in the therapeutic areas of oncology and infectious diseases. With two commercialized drugs, the company is committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative pharmaceutical products to meet the medical needs of patients with serious and life-threatening conditions. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Disclaimer

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Peer Nils Schroder, PhD



Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Phone +41 61 606 1102 E-mail media_relations@basilea.com (mailto:media_relations@basilea.com)

investor_relations@basilea.com (mailto:investor_relations@basilea.com)

This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com.

References

IQVIA, September 2020. In-market sales reported as moving annual total (MAT) in U.S. dollars corrected for currency fluctuations. European Public Assessment Report (EPAR) Cresemba: http://www.ema.europa.eu (http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Summary_for_the_public/human/002734/WC500196131.pdf) [Accessed: February 08, 2021] The registration status and approved indications may vary from country to country.



Press release
Theres little doubt Thanasi Kokkinakis would give the shirt off his back to have an injury-free and healthy shot at the tennis tour.

Which is notable in itself as the 24-year-old sourced his own kit for this Melbourne Park campaign. The South Australian, whose career has been beset by bad luck, won his first Australian Open match in six years on Tuesday.

Decked out in black, Kokkinakis cleaned up South Koreas Soonwoo Kwon 6-4, 6-1, 6-1, setting up a clash against top-10 player Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Went to Chadstone, bought some $6 tees and went to work. I just felt comfortable in it. Ive tried to order some more online but they got cancelled and they didnt make it through to South Yarra. Its tough out here, man, said Kokkinakis, smiling.

At such a young age, Kokkinakis has ridden the bumpiest of rides in professional tennis. Hes gone through the wringer with a series of physical ailments that have curtailed and challenged him.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street has condemned the owners of GKN over the decision to close its last car parts plant

The Tory mayor of the West Midlands has condemned the owners of GKN after the engineering giant unveiled plans to close its last remaining British car parts factory.

Andy Street, a former boss of department store group John Lewis, said the decision to shut the automotive plant in Birmingham went 'entirely against the spirit' of Melrose's promises when it mounted a hostile takeover of GKN three years ago.

In a letter to the company's management, he also claimed the shock decision makes little sense given the 'enormous opportunities' presented by electric cars, in which the region is seeking to become a world leader. GKN, which was bought by Melrose for 8billion in 2018, announced the closure of the Erdington car component assembly plant last week, putting 519 jobs at risk.

The company insists the plant, which counts Jaguar Land Rover among its customers, is no longer globally competitive.

GKN Aerospace's nearby King's Norton factory closed two years ago.

The Mail campaigned against the takeover of GKN  which made cannonballs used at the Battle of Waterloo and helped build the Spitfire  amid fears it could lead to job losses, site closures and asset sales.

Erdington is thought to be the last British-owned car components plant left in the country, with the skilled work it carries out now expected to be sent abroad  a loss that one expert said puts 'another nail in the coffin' of the UK car industry.

Seen by the Mail, Street's letter to GKN Automotive boss Liam Butterworth said the decision to close the Erdington site  in use for 50 years  was 'deeply disappointing'.

The 57-year-old businessman-turned-politician (pictured) said: 'I'm afraid this proposed closure, combined with the closure in Kings Norton, suggests that I and others were right to question the [GKN] takeover three years ago.

'I would urge you and your Melrose colleagues to reflect on your actions following the commitments given in 2018, and look again at this proposed closure and see if alternative options can be explored to keep the site open.'

Pointing to JLR's plans to develop electric cars and proposals for a battery plant in the Midlands, Street added: 'I see a region that could lead the world in modern automotive production'.

Howard Wheeldon, an industrials analyst, said the closure was 'another nail in the coffin' of the Government's industrial strategy.

A spokesman for Melrose said it had 'honoured every single promise' it made to Government at the time of the GKN takeover, which were 'a matter of public record'.

She added: 'We are investing tens of millions every year into ground breaking research and development projects.'
  ,  Cookies        .          cookies.




Leading Data Provider, Analytics, AI & Digital Marketing Firm Confirms Intent to become Publicly-Traded through Reverse Merger with Public Shell Company

London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - The respective management of The Data Source (UK), Ltd. and CLST Holdings, Inc (OTC Pink: CLHI) are providing this joint stockholder update regarding the status of operations and the pending merger between the two entities. The two companies have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger pursuant to which The Data Source would become a wholly owned subsidiary of publicly held CLST Holdings, Inc. Management anticipates that the merger will close in the first quarter of 2021, subject to customary due diligence and regulatory review.

"The year 2020 has been transformative for The Data Source in many respects," stated Robert Stephenson, its Chief Executive Officer. He further noted that, "Not only has the company consummated a plan and pathway to become publicly-traded, but 2020 performance has been our strongest yet." Last year, The Data Source saw exponential sales growth with a increase in turnover despite the global slowdown. The company had also met a number of its corporate initiatives, including the opening of two new offices in the United Kingdom and its first office in the United States.

Mr. Stephenson continued, "As we turn to 2021, we have set forth a number of aggressive strategies for developing our business and increasing stockholder value as a public company. Those corporate initiatives will see us engaging with a PCAOB audit firm later this year allowing us to become a SEC fully reporting company before we look to up listing to a major north American exchange. The Data Source expects to complete development of its proprietary, AI-driven, analytics lead generation platform in Q2. We also have a further 4 AI & Machine learning projects pencilled in for completion by the end of 2021, The Data Source believe they are in prime position to bring game changing technologies to the market and be one of the leaders in the 4th industrial revolution."

"This year the company will come of age with the new AI, Analytics Lead Generation platform currently being built, with its own user-friendly login and members access, this will be a great addition for any business, with our under-market competitor rates for, Telephone, Email, SMS and Direct Mail marketing. Also, TDS with its initiatives for Acquisitional purchases of; Digital Marketing, AI, 5G, Analytics, Lead Generation, Data management, Blockchain and resourcing and cleansing companies are all geared up to produce an excellent top line and a healthy bottom line. In addition to the organic growth, we are actively looking at complimentary acquisitions and other business verticals we can bring into the group. We are also launching a host of new products and new brands. TDS has already signed up a range of new clients in the USA, UK and Europe in Q1, with nearly 50 (and growing) lead generation websites currently under our brands. TDS has grown into one of the leading data providers and lead generators within the United Kingdom, supplying to blue-chip clients with sales and marketing, consultation, and services. Also, TDS provides its clients with an extensive range of databases to choose from covering most sectors. Moreover, they utilize online campaigns along multiple channels to generate the best quality leads for business."

For more information: www.thedatasource.co.uk

Video Presentation:





Cannot view this video? Visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3ko7t5J-C0

CLST Holdings, Inc.

CLST Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is a publicly-traded company trading under the symbol "CLHI." The company has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with The Data Source (UK), Ltd. pursuant to which The Data Source will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of CLST Holdings. Upon the anticipated closing of the merger, CLST Holdings will seek regulatory approval to change its name and trading symbol to reflect the new business operations of The Data Source.

Statements in this press release that are not historical fact may be deemed 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. Although The Data Source (UK), Ltd and CLST Holdings, Inc. believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, the companies are unable to give any assurance that its expectations will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include the company's ability to consummate the planned merger of the two companies.

Contact:

Astha Ghai: ir@thedatasource.co.uk

The Data Source (UK) Ltd

27 Sheet Street

Windsor

England

SL4 1BN

Follow us on Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedatasourceuk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDataSource

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedatasourceltd/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74046
Energy efficiency or carbon intensity (defined as CO2 emissions per transport work, ed.) is a possible point of convergence between the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and EU regulations to cut GHG emissions and decarbonize shipping. Short term measures to increase energy efficiency and achieve carbon intensity savings include voyage optimization.

A new study led by the CMCC Foundation, realized in the framework of the Interreg Italy-Croatia GUTTA project and recently published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, explores the potential of carbon intensity reduction through voyage optimization in short sea shipping.

To this purpose, the VISIR (discoVerIng Safe and effIcient Routes) ship routing model was upgraded to a "VISIR-2" version, for computing least-CO2 routes for a ferry in presence of waves and currents.

"VISIR can compute optimal routes by suggesting a spatial diversion which leads to avoidance of rough sea and related ship speed loss", explains Gianandrea Mannarini, senior scientist at the CMCC Foundation and Lead author of the study. "Besides least-distance and least-time routes, we added in the latest VISIR version a capacity to compute routes of least-CO2 emissions. Moreover, a more accurate vessel model was introduced in VISIR-2 making use of a coupled bridge-engine room simulator hosted by the GUTTA project partner University of Zadar, from which the performance and emissions of a ferry were estimated at various sea conditions.

The Adriatic Sea, which is routinely crossed by several ferry lanes joining ports in Italy with ports in Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania, was an interesting candidate domain for testing the role of route optimization on short sea shipping. It is relatively small and characterized by not too rough seas. Therefore, if optimization works there, it is scalable to bigger and stormier basins of the world ocean.

On top of that, ferries are quite relevant for emissions, as they account for about 10% of the CO2 emissions in the EEA, despite they represent just 3% of the fleet due to report it (more information here). At International level, there currently is a vivid regulatory activity for curbing ship emissions, and operational measures such a voyage optimization, are considered in the short term.

Therefore, CMCC researchers tried to assess whether path optimization can play a role even for ferries in the Adriatic, what CO2 savings are potentially attainable, and how much ferries' carbon intensity can be decreased. In order to highlight the role of waves and sea currents in the optimization, CMEMS (Copernicus - Marine Environment Monitoring Service) ocean analysis products related to waves and sea currents were used.

"Our results support the thesis that voyage optimization could be a viable operational measure for short-sea shipping to meet short-term targets for both absolute emission and carbon intensity reduction" comments Mannarini. "For a case study, we found out carbon intensity savings up to 11%, and this is an encouraging outcome towards both IMO and EU curbing targets. We now aim to produce more statistically significant estimations through a web tool we are going to develop in the frame of the Italy-Croatia Interreg project GUTTA."

###

The study was realized in the framework of GUTTA project. More information on GUTTA aims and activities here.

For further information, read the integral version of study: Towards Least-CO2 Ferry Routes in the Adriatic Sea Mannarini G., Carelli L., Orovi? J., Martinkus C.P., Coppini G. 2021, Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 9 (2), DOI: 10.3390/jmse9020115
Society - GeorgianJournal

Georgian Diaspora Forum Held in Tbilisi 2021-05-28 19:35:27+04:00 Photo FM David Zalkaliani Facebook page Today, on May 28, the forum ldquoStrong Diaspora for United Georgiardquo was held in Tbilisi. The event was aimed to overview the current state of relatio

Czech Deputy Minister of Health Visits Georgia, New Ways of Cooperation Explored 2021-05-28 12:17:31+04:00 On May 2728, 2021 the Deputy Minister of Health of the Czech Republic Mr. Radek Policar visited Georgia to discuss with Georgian authorities further cooperation fighting the Covid pandemic and beyond

Indian COVID Strain Reported in Georgia 2021-05-28 10:37:27+04:00 Photo Retrieved from InterpressNews 5 cases of Indian coronavirus strain have been confirmed in Georgia. As the National Center for Disease Control NCDC reports, all infected are foreign citizens.

Georgia to Consider Building 123 New HPPs in Next 10 Years 2021-05-27 21:33:48+04:00 Photo VOA Georgia According to a 10year plan recently published by the Georgian State Electrosystem GSE, Georgia is going to consider building 123 new Hydro Power Plants in the next 10 years. The

EUROCONTROL Improves Georgia's Forecast for Flight Recovery and Growth 2021-05-27 12:18:52+04:00 Photo Retrieved from unitingaviation.com As the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency GCAA reports, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation EUROCONTROL has improved its forecast for

Georgia Celebrates Independence Day 2021-05-26 14:37:38+04:00 Photo InterPressNews On May 26 Georgia celebrates Independence Day. This day marks the establishment of the First Democratic Republic of Georgia in 1918 and its independence from the Russian Empire.

Georgia Opens Borders to 7 More Countries 2021-05-25 15:28:01+04:00 Photo GETTY retrieved from The Telegraph Today, on May 25, it became known that the government of Georgia expanded a list of countries whose residents and nationals can enter Georgia with a negati

Georgian Graduates of US Coast Guard Academy Awarded Diplomas by Joe Biden 2021-05-25 11:45:52+04:00 Photo Government of Georgia Nikoloz Tvildiani and Sandro StazhadzeUnited States Coast Guard Academy USCGA students sponsored by Georgias Interior Ministry were congratulated on the completion of

Protest in Tbilisi Against the Construction of Namakhvani HPP 2021-05-24 18:47:45+04:00 Photo InterPressNews Yesterday, on May 23, a protest took place in Tbilisi against the construction of Namakhvani Hydroelectric Power Plant in the Rioni Gorge. The protests against the Namakhvani HP

Georgia Starts Vaccination With Chinese-Made Sinovac Vaccine 2021-05-24 13:06:07+04:00 Photo GETTY IMAGES retrieved from BBC Today, on May 24, Georgia has launched the vaccination process with the Chinesemade Sinovac vaccine. 100 000 doses of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine were delive

Georgia to Receive 1 Million Doses of Pfizer Vaccine 2021-05-20 16:23:07+04:00 Photo Reuters retrieved from BBC According to Georgian news outlet Tabula, an official source from Pfizer confirmed to them that negotiations between Pfizer and Georgian government have been compl

Unemployment Rate in Georgia Increased by 3.7% In the I Quarter of 2021 2021-05-20 13:20:48+04:00 Photo Geostat edited The unemployment rate in Georgia increased by 3.7 in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period of the previous year and mounted to 21.9. As for the employment ra

Three-Kilometer Bus Lane Introduced on Rustaveli Avenue 2021-05-19 20:24:56+04:00 Photo Tbilisi City Hall A 3kilometer bus lane has been introduced on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. According to the Tbilisi City Hall, a 20kilometer bus lane has been set up in the capital this yea

Tbilisi Pride: '15 Political Parties Signed a Joint Agreement on LGBT Rights' 2021-05-17 19:54:41+04:00 Photo Tbilisi Pride According to Tbilisi Pride, a nongovernment organisation fighting for LGBT rights, yesterday, on May 16, 15 political parties signed a joint agreement on LGBT rights. Tbilisi

Georgia Eases Restrictions: Curfew to Start From 23:00, Restaurants to Be Able to Host Guests Outdoors on Weekends 2021-05-17 13:45:48+04:00 Photo InterPressNews According to the decision of the Coordination Council, from today, May 17, the curfew will start from 2300 instead of 2100 and will last until 0500. Based on the detailed

Rallies in Support of Israel Held in Tbilisi and Batumi 2021-05-17 12:42:18+04:00 Photo Retrieved from InterPressNews The rallies in support of Israel were held in the capital Tbilisi and Batumi on May 16. The rally in Tbilisi was held in Rike Park, where the participants also ex

Arabian, Kazakh, Polish and Ukrainian Airlines to Resume Flights to Batumi 2021-05-16 17:54:42+04:00 Photo moneysavingexpert.com Yesterday Kazakh airline Air Astana resumed regular AlmatyBatumiAlmaty flights. Flights will be operated three times a week every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Acc

Municipal Transport Resumes Operation Throughout Georgia 2021-05-13 11:01:22+04:00 Photo InterPressNews Georgia is lifting the COVIDrelated restriction which was introduced in order to reduce mobility during the Orthodox Easter holidays. Accordingly, after 10 days of suspension,

World Bank to Support Georgian Enterprises Affected by the Pandemic 2021-05-12 20:40:11+04:00 Photo World Bank Recently it became known that the World Bankrsquos Board of Executive Directors approved the ldquoGeorgia Relief and Recoveryrdquo loan with a total amount of euro85 million
Germany, Poland and Sweden have expelled a Russian diplomat respectively in a coordinated retaliation over the expulsion of three European Union (EU) officials by Moscow. This had happened when 27-nation-blocs foreign policy chief was visiting last week. On Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the removal of diplomats from Germany, Poland and Sweden who were also accused of participating in anti-government protests last month against the jailed Vladimir Putin critic Alexei Navalny last month, took place before Borrell visit.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell had travelled to Moscow in order to discuss the case with its Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, calling for the immediate release and investigation into the opposition leader Navalny. However, he later said that Russia is dismissing a constructive dialogue with the bloc that Europe must draw the consequences. Further, the trip was accompanied by the expulsion of the EU envoys, which Borrell noted as EU-Russia drifting apart.

German foreign office, in a statement, regarding the removal of Russian diplomat said that the German official ejected by Moscow was only carrying out his task of reporting on developments on the spot in a legal fashion. Subsequently, in a retaliatory move, Poland foreign ministry said it ordered a member of Russias consulate in the city of Poznan to leave in accordance with the principle of reciprocity and in coordination with Germany and Sweden.

Swedish foreign minister, Ann Linde, said its action was a clear response to the unacceptable decision to expel a Swedish diplomat who was only performing his duties. However, Russias foreign ministry labelled the actions by EU countries as unjustified and unfriendly.

Statement issued by a spokesperson on the expulsion of a staff member of the Russian Embassy in Berlin:  pic.twitter.com/9OFLN1MUEw  GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) February 8, 2021

Read - Russia Updates Statistics On Virus-linked Deaths In 2020

MFA statement on the decision to consider a Russian diplomat as a persona non grata



 https://t.co/1fzZ1MeWOs pic.twitter.com/XVnMqNdE8T  Ministry of Foreign Affairs  (@PolandMFA) February 8, 2021

Read - Josep Borrell Says Russia 'does Not Want' Constructive Dialogue With Europe

We have informed the Russian Ambassador that a person from the Russian embassy is asked to leave Sweden. This is a clear response to the unacceptable decision to expel a Swedish diplomat who was only preforming his duties.  Ann Linde (@AnnLinde) February 8, 2021

EU foreign policy chief blog on Russia

In a statement on Twitter, Borrell said that his visit to Moscow highlighted that Russia does not want to seize the opportunity to have more constructive dialogue. He further called it regrettable and added that the EU and Russia were drifting apart after a complicated visit which saw the expulsion of the three EU diplomats over allegations from Moscow that they had attended protests.

At times, the discussion with my Russian counterpart reached high levels of tension, as I called for Mr. Navalnys immediate and unconditional release, as well as for a full and impartial investigation into his assassination attempt, he said

We have to face challenges, including meeting others in their home turf, just when negative events are unfolding. If we want a safer world for tomorrow, we have to act decidedly today and be ready to take some risks, Borrell added as he is scheduled to debrief his trip to EU members on February 22.

My visit to Moscow highlighted that Russia does not want to seize the opportunity to have a more constructive dialogue with the EU. This is regrettable and we will have to draw the consequences.



Read my blog post:https://t.co/S3QP2uSsNO pic.twitter.com/q8pUDbEFAF  Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) February 7, 2021

Read - Russia To Launch 40 Discreet Satellites From Across The World In March

Read - On A Roll, Medvedev Steers Russia To ATP Cup Title




CHICAGO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Dimensions Group (HDG) is proud to announce the management, oversight, and repositioning of Brookdale Burr Ridge to Dimensions Living Burr Ridge. HDG is a leading senior care and living management and consulting firm with extensive experience with day-to-day operations of skilled nursing, continuing care retirement, and assisted and independent living communities.

Dimensions Living Burr Ridge is a distinguished continuum of care senior living community, providing assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing services.

Dimensions Living Burr Ridge

HDG provides management and oversight for 38 senior care and living communities in eight states, serving more than 2,000 residents and overseeing more than 2,000 team members. In Illinois, HDG manages three additional senior care and living communities. The organization also provides consulting services in all 50 states.

"Dimensions Living Burr Ridge is the community of choice for seniors looking for the care needed from tenured staff in a small, quaint, boutique-like setting. Our commitment to our values of hospitality, stewardship, integrity, respect, and humor are the driving force behind our actions," said Amber Rogotzke, president of HDG, "We are excited to partner with community team members committed to providing our residents high-level care and service above and beyond the status quo for senior living."

Dimensions Living Burr Ridge offers quality care for all residents, ranging from assistance with daily activities to 24-7 skilled nursing care. A Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 5-star rated community, Dimensions Living Burr Ridge is located just a short drive from Chicago and an excellent choice for seniors looking to age in place and focus on personal wellness.

About Dimensions Living Burr Ridge:

For additional information about Dimensions Living Burr Ridge and its senior living options, call 630-920-2900 or visit www.dimensionsliving.com or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DimensionsLivingBurrRidge .

About Health Dimensions Group:

Minneapolis-based Health Dimensions Group (HDG) is a leading consulting and management firm, providing services to post-acute, long-term care, and senior living providers, as well as hospitals and health systems across the nation. HDG has been serving health care organizations for more than 20 years with a firm commitment to its values of hospitality, stewardship, integrity, respect, and humor. For additional information about HDG, visit www.healthdimensionsgroup.com , call 763.537.5700, or email [email protected].

Media Contact: Leah Lindgren

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 612.250.2151

SOURCE Health Dimensions Group
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has denied paying N2 billion bribe for his tenure to be extended.

Mr Adamu made the rebuttal on Monday in a statement signed by the Police Spokesperson, Frank Mba.

President Muhammadu Buhari had last week extended the tenure of Mr Adamu as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) by three months.

Mr Adamu was due to retire from the police on February 1, having spent the maximum 35 years in service.

Sahara Reporters had reported that the police chief paid over N2 billion to get a one-year tenure extension.

The report also said the IGP visited traditional rulers and persons of influence across the country and also spent on influencers in the Presidential Villa to get a one-year extension but the efforts did not materialise.

Untrue, unfounded

Reacting to the allegations, Mr Mba described the allegations as untrue, unfounded, libelous and defamatory.

He said the extension was purely the prerogative of the president.

He also threatened to sue Sahara Reporters over the publication.

The Police High Command has described as untrue, unfounded, defamatory and libelous, the publication by Sahara Reporters, dated February 07, 2021, which alleged that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni paid over 2 Billion Naira for the tenure extension. The Force wishes to state categorically that the extension of service of the IGP was strictly the prerogative of the President and was never paid for as maliciously reported in the publication.

The insinuations also by Sahara Reporters that the IGP did not celebrate his extension smacks of ignorance and a pathetic misplacement of priority. The extension does not call for merry-making or celebration but a time for more work, rededication to duty and selfless service to the nation.

The IGP, while assuring the nation of an unwavering commitment by the Force under his leadership, to improved service delivery, safety and security of the citizenry, enjoins members of the public to disregard and discountenance the publication by Sahara Reporters as evidently untrue and unfounded.

The IGP is undistracted and the Force remains motivated and committed to delivering on its mandate, especially the task of neutralizing current and emerging internal security threats.

Meanwhile, the IGP has directed his legal team to commence legal actions against the online publishers, the statement read.

Overdue retirement

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Mr Adamu was due to retire from the police last February 1 having spent the maximum 35 years in service.

Mr Adamu and some other top officials of the Nigerian Police Force retired on February 1, after spending the maximum number of years in service.

The IGP, who joined the service on February 1, 1986, attained the mandatory 35 years in service.

Aside the IGP, three Deputy Inspector-Generals of Police and 10 Assistant Inspector-Generals of Police attained the maximum service year.

ADVERTISEMENT

The DIGs are former EFCC boss, Ibrahim Lamorde, Aminchi Baraya and Nkpa Inakwu.

The affected AIGs are Nkereuwem Akpan, Olafimihan Adeoye, Agunbiade Labore, Undie Adie and Olugbenga Adeyanju.

Others are Asuquo Amba, Mohammad Mustapha, Jonah Jackson, Olushola Babajide and Yunana Babas.

All other top police officers have proceeded on retirement, except Mr Adamu, who according to sources, sought tenure extension.
Online COVID-19 vaccine scams are becoming more widespread, security experts warn.

In the last six weeks, there has been a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 vaccine ads on the "dark web"which connects unidentified buyers with anonymous sellersand the asking prices have doubled or even quadrupled, Mark Ostrowski, head of engineering for the cybersecurity company Check Point, told CBS News.

Searches conducted by his team revealed a wide range of offers, including a deal of 14 doses for $300or $200 below the original $500 pricethat came with a promise of a 100 percent refund if the doses did not arrive. Another seller offered a bulk discount of 10,000 bottles of vaccine for $30,000, and another was asking $1,500 for four doses of a "Chinese vaccine."

Ostrowski's team even sent a Bitcoin payment to one seller to see what would happen. "Our expectations were low, and, of course, they weren't met," Ostrowski said.

As far as he can tell, none of the sellers actually has COVID-19 vaccines, CBS News reported. In December, INTERPOL warned law enforcement in 194 countries about organized crime groups targeting COVID-19 vaccines, both physically and online.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

More information: CBS News Article

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Residents temporarily evacuated from Homestead after fire, no injuries

A Saturday afternoon fire in an apartment at a senior living complex was quickly extinguished and nobody was injured.
First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on February 11, 1941

Welcome to MEN OF H.M.A.S. SYDNEY.

MANY HAPPY REUNIONS.

Plans for City March.

CAPTAIN COLLINS TO SPEAK.

Cheers and coo-ees rang across the Harbour yesterday when Sydney welcomed home again the famous fighting ship that bears her name.

After the official ceremonies, the liberty men - the first lucky batch for leave - carried ashore their baggage. February 10, 1941. Credit:F..J. Halmarick

A few minutes later, most of her 610 officers and men were racing down the gangways to joyous reunions with wives, mothers, and friends.

[February 09, 2021] Tavant and Truterra Deepen Strategic Partnership for Connected Agtech Platform

Tavant, a leading digital products and solutions company, today announced a strategic alliance with Truterra, LLC (formerly Land O'Lakes SUSTAIN) to help expand sustainability management practices while increasing on-farm profitability. Tavant will support Truterra on the next evolution of its Agtech platform, called Truterra Insights Engine, which will include both integrations with Microsoft (News - Alert) FarmBeats and soil analytics for advanced agronomic insights. The Truterra Insights Engine leverages technical capabilities and agronomic expertise from trusted agronomic and conservation sources to boost the value of stewardship across the supply chain. It seamlessly integrates satellite and sensor-derived data and AI-based modeling and analytics techniques. "America's farmers face an increasing number of obstacles that are beyond their control, including extreme weather events and volatile commodity markets," said Jason Weller, Vice President of Truterra. "By leveraging AI, sensors, IoT analytics, and the Azure platform, we expect to help farmers better manage for these risks while taking take transparency and accountability across the food supply chain to the next." Added Weller, "We are thrilled to work with Tavant as they never fail to deliver higher levels of efficiency while ensuring a positive customer experience at every level. This collaboration will help us to accelerate the pace of our digital transformation initiatives." "Data-driven agriculture and predictive analytics provide timely and granular decisin-making. However, powerful data modeling in agriculture requires combining high-quality data from sensors with extensively available data from weather and satellite sources to increase the scale and accuracy of predictions. Our continued partnership with Truterra is a giant leap towards ensuring that farmers receive these insights in the flawless customer experience that has become the Tavant standard," said Vikas Khosla, Executive Vice President, Tavant.



"We are happy to support Truterra' s vision in these digital transformation initiatives in the global agriculture industry. Together, we intend to bring the benefits of data & analytics to farming," added Khosla. About Truterra, LLC

Truterra (formerly Land O'Lakes SUSTAIN) is a leading stewardship solutions provider, advancing and connecting sustainability efforts throughout the food system with scale - from farmers to ag retailers to partners like food companies. Truterra positions farmers for success by providing them tools and resources to establish a stewardship baseline and track progress on every field they farm. The Truterra network brings together the best in agricultural technology and on-farm business management to drive sustainability across the food system, feeding people, safeguarding the planet and supporting farmer livelihoods. Truterra was launched in 2016 by Land O'Lakes, Inc., a member-owned cooperative that spans the spectrum from agricultural production to consumer foods. About Tavant Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Tavant is a digital products and platforms company that provides impactful results to its customers across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Founded in 2000, the company employs over 2500 people and is a recognized top employer. Tavant is creating an AI-powered intelligent enterprise by reimagining customer experiences, driving operational efficiencies, and improving collaboration. Find Tavant on LinkedIn and Twitter. To learn more about Tavant's Agtech solutions, click here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005064/en/

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A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday that lies about China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region concocted by some Western anti-China forces are "a complete farce to slander and smear China."





"Their attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs through Xinjiang-related issues will not succeed," spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a daily press briefing in response to a press query on two interviews given by the chairman of Pakistan's Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Mushahid Hussain Syed and UAE ambassador to China Ali Al Dhaheri.





Recently, senator Syed said in an interview that the economic growth of Xinjiang and the population growth of the Uygur community belie the fiction peddled by a few Western politicians. In another interview, ambassador Dhaheri spoke highly of Xinjiang's economic development and poverty alleviation achievements, praised Xinjiang's counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures, and expressed his expectation to strengthen cooperation with China in these fields.





China appreciates Pakistan and the UAE for their objective and fair positions on Xinjiang-related issues, Wang said, adding that both chairman Syed and ambassador Dhaheri mentioned in the interviews their personal experiences visiting Xinjiang, which truthfully reflected the situation in Xinjiang.





Wang said more than 1,200 people from over 100 countries, including UN officials, foreign envoys to China, permanent representatives of some countries in Geneva, news reporters and people from religious organizations, have visited Xinjiang since 2018.





He said that those who visited Xinjiang have witnessed the stability and prosperity of the region and have praised Xinjiang's experience in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, which is worth learning.





Wang said China welcomes more foreigners to visit Xinjiang and get a real understanding of Xinjiang's economic growth and people's peaceful and happy lives.





"I believe that more and more countries like Pakistan and the UAE will speak out for justice," he said.




Exasol is best-in-class for 10 measures including reliability of technology, technical support and responsiveness, and integrity.

Named an Overall Leader for both customer experience and vendor credibility models.

For the fourth consecutive year, Exasol, the analytics database, has been named a customer experience and a vendor credibility Overall Leader in the Dresner Advisory Services Wisdom of Crowds 2021 Analytical Data Infrastructure (ADI) Report. Exasol also achieved a perfect recommend score again 100% of Exasol's customers who participated in the report would recommend its analytics database. High placement in the upper-right quadrant confirms that customers receive high value and have strong confidence in Exasol.

In addition, Exasol was also ranked best-in-class for ten different measures, including reliability of technology, technical support and responsiveness, and integrity.

The Dresner 2021 ADI Market Study provides a detailed picture of perceptions, intentions, and realities associated with ADI platform choices. The report examines market preferences for ADI platforms including deployment and licensing priorities, data types, data modeling/management of data associated with ADI, and data preparation and loading priorities. It also covers leading choices in ADI development and deployment, as well as ADI interfaces and analytical features.

"We congratulate Exasol on maintaining a perfect recommend score for the fourth consecutive year from customers and receiving best-in-class in ten customer value measurement categories demonstrating the value its customers perceive with its platform," Howard Dresner, founder and chief research officer at Dresner Advisory Services. "Business and IT leaders require robust analytical data infrastructure systems more than ever to deliver business value during these unprecedented times."

According to the Dresner ADI report, business intelligence (BI) related use cases-business reporting and dashboards, specifically-ranked as the top priority for ADI platforms. The appetite for traditional BI use cases continues to increase, as performance ranked as the highest priority for ADI platforms in 2021. Additionally, in-memory data capabilities are an important priority for more than 50% of respondents, and columnar data models surpass row-format based models for organizing analytical data.

The report also found that the majority of business functions prefer a cloud deployment versus on-premise software, but on-prem isn't going away any time soon. It is still a priority for 40% of organizations. According to the report, respondents' preferences are dictated by use cases, with some being more suited to cloud services and others to on-prem deployments. As a result, multiple buying centres are working with hybrid deployment models for ADI platforms, a preference that increases with company size.

"As a customer-obsessed organization, it is validation of our day-to-day work that our customers rate us so highly," said Aaron Auld, CEO at Exasol. "Maintaining a perfect recommend score for the fourth consecutive year is as much as we can hope for and the least which we expect of ourselves. I'm incredibly proud of the Exasol team and the way they put all their energy into helping our customers on their analytics journey. Our outstanding results in the Dresner report are testament to that."

To read the full report, visit our Dresner ADI 2021 page.

ENDS

About Exasol

The Exasol high-performance analytics database is built to run faster than any other database, delivering next-level performance, scale and ease of use. Analyze billions of rows in seconds; run high-performance analytics securely in the cloud or on-premise; deliver frictionless analytics with self-indexing that automatically tunes performance; and scale out analytics for one transparent price.

To learn more, please visit: www.exasol.com

About Dresner Advisory Services, LLC

Dresner Advisory Services was formed by Howard Dresner, an independent analyst, author, lecturer, and business adviser. Dresner Advisory Services, LLC focuses on creating and sharing thought leadership for Business Intelligence (BI) and related areas.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005090/en/

Contacts:

PR contact

Carla Gutierrez, Head of Global Communications, Exasol

Email: Carla.gutierrez@exasol.com
The province has appointed a chartered accountant and former executive with Manitoba Telecom Systems as chair of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority's board of directors.

The province has appointed a chartered accountant and former executive with Manitoba Telecom Systems as chair of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority's board of directors.

Patricia Solman replaces Wayne McWhirter, who stepped down last week after it was reported he travelled to Arizona in January against the advice of public health officials.

MANITOBA LIQUOR AND LOTTERIES Patricia Solman.

Solman served most recently as board vice-chair of Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corp.

Over a 30-year career with MTS, Solman held several senior positions, including treasurer, vice-president of customer service, vice-president of operations and senior vice-president of network and field services.

She has also held various board positions on the United Way and served three years on the national board of Canadian Women in Communications and Technology.

Premier Brian Pallister announced McWhirter's departure in a statement last Monday.

At the same time he declared that all Manitoba government order-in-council appointees, including those serving on agencies, boards and commissions, were not allowed to travel for leisure purposes outside the province, except for communities near the border that are exempt under current public-health orders. Should they do so, he said, their appointments would be terminated.

About 1,400 people are directly affected by the directive, including 1,025 order-in-council appointed board members and about 375 government staff.

Affected staff include deputy ministers, assistant deputy ministers, senior legal officers, medical officers, the chief veterinary officer and senior government officers, as well as political staff in ministerial offices, Executive Council, and the priorities and planning secretariat.

The boards of regional health authorities are responsible for directing the RHAs management and affairs to ensure the delivery and administration of health services.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
Story Highlights Employee recognition can help retain valuable team members

Recognizing employees has a powerful effect on teams

Learn three ways to improve team recognition

One of the most effective tools for accelerating performance is also one of the least used: praise. Gallup finds that only one in three workers in the U.S. and Germany strongly agree that they received recognition or praise in the past seven days for doing good work -- and those who disagree are twice as likely to say they'll quit in the next year. Praise is that powerful.

Recognition has an equally powerful effect on teams, according to recent data from France, Germany, Spain and the U.K.:

Gallup data indicate that praising teams can encourage collaboration by de-incentivizing self-protective behavior like information hoarding . More than half of the people on teams that are recognized strongly agree that they "openly share information, knowledge and ideas with each other."

Praising teams can clarify organizational goals, which can enhance agility in the internal supply chain to the customer. Rivalry remains focused on other companies, not other departments -- it's "us against the competition" rather than "us against the other department." In fact, in businesses that recognize team achievements, only 2% of employees disagree that their company sets ambitious customer goals.

Recognition can reinforce a team's sense of meaning and purpose . Gallup finds that 74% of those who say their team receives praise also strongly agree that they "have the feeling that what [they are] doing at work is valuable and useful." Feeling that your company's mission makes your job important is fundamental to engagement.

Praising teams can improve quality . Two-thirds of workers on praised teams strongly agree that "quality is always a top priority" in their organization. And workers on praised teams are more likely than those on other teams to strongly agree that their coworkers always do what's right for the customer.

Team recognition can inspire trust. Indeed, 66% of those on adequately praised teams strongly agree with this statement: "I trust the colleagues with whom I work on a regular basis." Only about a quarter of employees, 26%, who don't receive team-based recognition trust their colleagues.

Bar graph showing that when employees strongly agree their company recognizes teams, they are also more likely to strongly agree that their company culture includes information-sharing, cooperation between departments, helpfulness, feeling valued, trust, quality, and doing what's right for customers.

Considering the power of team-level recognition, it's alarming that no more than a third of western European and U.S. employees, according to recent Gallup research, strongly agree that their organization recognizes team achievements (33% in the U.K., 33% in Germany, 25% in the U.S., 24% in Spain and 19% in France).

Companies can do better. Here's how.

Make Team Recognition Part of the Culture

To turn those numbers around, leaders need to make praise part of their day-to-day work culture. Scheduling feedback in ongoing manager-employee conversations is an effective method. In fact, consistent feedback is part of the five conversations managers should have consistently. Regular feedback shows workers how they're contributing to the organization and that their contributions are valuable.

That feedback can influence team members' behavior with each other, too. For example, when western European workers' perception of their organization's approach to team recognition is negative to neutral, just 18% strongly agree that in their company, they "openly share information, knowledge and ideas with each other." Conversely, when workers strongly agree that their organization recognizes team achievement, 56% also strongly agree that they "openly share information, knowledge and ideas with each other" in their company.

Regular feedback shows workers how they're contributing to the organization and that their contributions are valuable.

A work culture that abounds with recognition for each team's good work connects those teams' performance to overall corporate goals. For individuals and teams, praise should be tied to a specific event, well-founded and precisely worded. Gallup data also show that group praise is more effective when it's:

1. Public rather than private. On an individual level, leaders and managers should give praise that complements the person's preference (e.g., some don't like public acclaim, and others think it's the only kind that matters). But leaders should highlight a team's efforts to the biggest possible audience. Doing so fosters better cross-team collaboration because it sends a strong message about what the organization values: team sport!

2. Continuous and spontaneous. Feedback has a shelf life. If you wait too long, it loses efficacy. So, use small opportunities in daily work to recognize teams with personalized, authentic and honest praise. Though recognition at big corporate events and team or department meetings bonds a team in a way nothing else can.

3. Encouraged on a peer-to-peer basis. In cultures that encourage employees to celebrate each other, coworkers learn from each other's success. It improves accountability -- hence, higher productivity -- and gives everyone's honest feedback more value. And recognition begets recognition: A study conducted in Germany a few years ago found 66% of employees agreeing with the statement: "If I get recognition, I would also like to give others recognition."

Connect Employee, Team and Organizational Goals

The power of praise can be measured, as the data show. But praise also changes the employee experience in subtle but important ways: Recognition helps individuals accurately assess their performance. It provides the data we need to master new tasks and demands. It creates positive emotions, inspires broader perspectives and stimulates creative thinking -- all at the foundation of innovation.

And recognition is one of the most effective ways to connect the needs of the employee to the needs of the organization. Praising U.S. teams can redirect personal competitiveness toward organizational goals. Praising German teams, on the other hand, can offer a stamp of approval that spurs teams to be more creative.

In cultures that encourage employees to celebrate each other, coworkers learn from each other's success.

When employees are focused on team goals, the outcomes far outweigh any one individual's performance. Some companies have even abolished certain individual rewards. Bosch, for example, has eliminated all bonuses linked to individual goals and now bases end-of-year bonuses on the company's overall performance. Some companies are trying to hire whole teams, knowing a pedigreed team can outperform any individual star, any day.

These companies are laying the foundation for extraordinary partnerships characterized by a common mission, fairness, trust, mutual acceptance and communication, Gallup finds. Some partnerships have two more elements -- forgiveness and unselfishness. These characteristics create extremely productive, virtually frictionless work styles. And they're qualities organizational cultures would profit from.

Quality partnerships -- including team-borne partnerships -- produce outcomes no one person could. It's worth asking: How much more could your teams accomplish if their achievements got the group recognition they deserve?
opinion

Several years ago, during a business trip to one of the African countries, I noticed the large number of houses under construction, which seemed to be untouched for a long time. At that moment I was sure that this was a negative indication of the state of the local economy, when many residents started building their houses and had to stop in the middle, probably due to lack of funds. But as I researched the issue in depth, I was surprised to find that the exact opposite is true, and that those houses under construction are not an indication of financial difficulties, but rather of their high status, representing the local form of savings.

For hundreds of millions in sub-Saharan Africa, basic economic services like formal savings or loans are still a distant dream. As over 66% of the population are unbanked, and lacking access to the most basic formal financial services, informal and creative solutions are a must. Building houses is one of them; as hundreds of millions are managing their financials with cash, long-term savings do not exist, and keeping your cash at home is dangerous. So, as I learned, whenever someone has some spare cash, they start building a house, presenting a much safer saving option. And so, thousands of under-constructed houses arise, waiting for their owners to have some additional cash to finish the work.

Additional creative local solutions are the community operated peer-to-peer saving circles, called "Stokvel", which makes informal financial services available to millions. Known by different names in every country ("Ajo's" in Nigeria, Tontines in Mali and Senegal, and so on), these initiatives respond to the problems of poverty and income insecurity, and enable members to meet their basic needs while providing opportunities to save, invest and even own assets.

This sounds like a nice community endeavor, but looking at the big picture, the market is much bigger than one might imagine. In South Africa alone, the stokvel sector is estimated to have 11.6 million members, collectively saving US$3 billion annually.

These community financing circles promote trust, and honest culture of saving, but they have a massive flaw. Being completely autonomous, and not connected to any official entity, stokvel users are unable to establish a credit history, or longer-term savings, and do not get to enjoy the broader benefits of financial services.

Mobile money is not enough

With hundreds of millions using stokvels, and other informal ways to gain financial access, a massive gap was very noticeable in the continent's sector, that was, and still is, lagging far behind other countries around the world. Mobile money was invented to fill this gap, and began circulating in Kenya in 2007, when Safaricom launched M-PESA. The service quickly became a success, and by 2015 there were about 270 mobile money services in more than 80 markets worldwide, with more than half in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2019, the total number of mobile money users in the region stood at 469 million, and the total value of the 23.8bn transactions exceeded $456bn, reaching 3.5 times the value of transactions recorded in South Asia, the second-largest mobile-money user.

Problem solved, right? Not exactly. Not all is positive in the mobile money sphere, to say the least. Although the service is much more inclusive than classic financial services given by banks, there are still substantial gaps. According to the World Bank, Only 25% of adults in the poorest 40% of households across SSA own a mobile payment account, compared to 46% of those in the richest 60%. Expensive fees are another issue, with higher fees for the small transactions, as high as 31%, exclude many from using the services.

Albeit a massive improvement, mobile money is still unable to provide the coveted financial inclusion that the local communities and governments seek, as access to credit, insurance, and good savings rates are still inadequate. Small business owners and suppliers for example, which make up a vast portion of the working community, have a limited capability for merchant integration with mobile money, and are often unable to accept it as a form of payment. Cash remains king on the continent, responsible for about 90% of consumer payments, which are expected to reach $2.1-trillion in 2025.

A world-leading hub for financial innovation

Africa's FinTech scene began flourishing with the invention of mobile money, and the market is now rapidly expanding, with multiple ventures and companies offering a wide range of financial services. The massive proportion of unbanked and underbanked citizens together with a substantial mobile penetration rate of 44% laid a fertile ground for a FinTech boom, with the number of companies growing from 262 in 2018 to a whopping 674 in 2020.

There are some interesting ventures providing services across the continent. Tala uses a mobile phone and behavioral data to provide quick loans, Sampay is a Zambian startup providing online and mobile payment transactions, and Cryptofully and BitLipa are both crypto-based startups facilitating money transfer using Bitcoin.

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Among the various technologies that fintech encompasses, blockchain is the main presenter of opportunities to tackle issues that banks haven't yet been able to solve. It enables zero-fee borderless microtransactions, which are game-changers for many Africans living on less than $2 per day. It provides businesses and individuals with enhanced transparency, secure transactions and data aggregation, and third party redundancy.

Circling back to the community-led Stokvels, technology can be the epitome of these saving circles, as it depends on peer-to-peer trust, taking it one step further with a digital guarantee. For hundreds of millions in the region who lack trust in banks and other formal entities, it is the perfect solution.

Africa's financial revolution is already here, and with the right policies and smart investments, FinTech could realize its massive potential to bridge the multiple gaps across the continent, while establishing an inclusive economy for all.

The writer is an entrepreneur and investor, leading sustainability-driven companies in Africa and the Middle East.
INDUSTRY INSIGHT

The time is now: Why government cant put off modernization

In the last year, disruption has served as the main driver of change, and organizations and IT leaders have been challenged in more ways than many ever imagined. Between meeting the functional demands of a global remote workforce that essentially appeared overnight and ensuring that the proper technology and solutions are in place to support operations and services that drive mission success, the growing need for new strategies and accelerated transformation has been felt industrywide.

For the government sector in particular, the pressure to modernize has grown. At the onset of COVID-19 in the U.S., many state unemployment insurance systems met their match when the wave of claims crashed legacy systems running decades-old coding languages. Even months later in December 2020, upwards of 15,000 Vermont citizens received their unemployment checks late due to a technical error caused by their mainframes.

The Biden administration planned to take action right away. In his relief proposal, the president emphasized the need to launch the most ambitious effort ever to modernize and secure federal IT and networks, including expanding and improving the Technology Modernization Fund. The $9 billion TMF investment would have helped launch new IT and cybersecurity shared services for the Cyber Security and Information Security Agency and the General Services Administration as well as complete modernization projects at federal agencies, but it was recently pulled out of the COVID relief package.

Meanwhile, to help staff up, the new administrations White House website included a digital Easter egg, calling for technology workers to help support modernization efforts by applying for the U.S. Digital Service, a technology unit within the White House. All are steps in the right direction for change.

Until now, many agencies have avoided the time, resources, cost and risk that come with transformation and have instead chosen to keep the status quo -- especially as it relates to application or mainframe modernization. In some ways, its understandable: These systems and the resources supporting them are complex and highly intertwined with core business operations and processes.

Still, several of the 10 most critical legacy systems in need of modernization use outdated languages, have unsupported hardware and software, and are operating with known security vulnerabilities, according to a 2019 Government Accountability Office report. The GAO findings also showed that a staggering 80% of the governments $90 billion IT budget was spent on maintaining existing technology, including legacy systems.

Given these findings, and in the face of recent events, its increasingly clear that agencies and governing bodies must make a critical assessment of all facets of their outdated systems to address todays issues -- and the foundational infrastructure is no exception to those broader goals.

Pandemic or not, the fact is that maintaining legacy systems will become increasingly difficult down the line amid challenges of diminishing talent, increased application development backlogs and money required for licensing.

According to GAO, successful IT modernization initiatives transform legacy code to modern programming languages and move legacy software to the cloud, ultimately contributing to improved savings. In fact, certain workloads run in a Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program-compliant cloud environment have been shown to require 8-12% of the expense of those run in a mainframe. Modernization could potentially save organizations $31 million if they upgrade the most urgent aspects of their legacy systems overall, according to the 2020 Mainframe Modernization Business Barometer Report.

One of the biggest hurdles for government today is the expedited timelines. Projects that once took years -- or even a decade in some cases -- to complete are now truncated into much shorter windows to quickly meet demand. It will therefore be especially important agencies conduct deep assessments and get their strategies air-tight before embarking on their transformation journeys.

While there are several modernization options to choose from (rehosting, rewriting, system replacement and automated refactoring), and certainly no one-size-fits all solution, automated refactoring is often the fastest, most cost-effective and safest route for government agencies. By leveraging IT experts and specialized tools to migrate systems procedural code bases to modern, object-oriented languages, automated refactoring effectively alleviates agencies reliance on the legacy infrastructure, databases and application code that supports them, thus enabling rapid migration to the cloud or cloud-ready application stacks.

For decades, the public sector has played catch-up with innovation, but in todays challenging landscape, pushing off app modernization, digital transformation and security enhancements will only end in failure for many agencies, negatively impacting constituents. For agencies that expect to realize immediate and future success, the time to act is now.
BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The safety, efficacy and accessibility of Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines have won recognition from many countries as inoculation programs are in full swing worldwide, a renowned Chinese scientist has said.

Building global immunity through vaccinations requires concerted efforts of all countries, and Chinese companies are fulfilling their obligations to push for equitable distribution of vaccines, said Yang Xiaoming, the chief scientist of the vaccine project under China's national "863 Program," in a recent interview with Xinhua.

As all groups of the world population are susceptible to the novel coronavirus, the pandemic can only be contained through collective efforts of immunization, preventive health measures and community-based health management by all countries, said Yang, also the chairman of Sinopharm's China National Biotec Group.

China has decided to provide 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the World Health Organization's COVAX initiative to meet the urgent needs of developing countries, a concrete step to deliver on the promise to make vaccines a global public good, he said.

More than 10 countries and regions, including Hungary, Seychelles, Pakistan and Morocco, have approved the emergency use of the Sinopharm inactivated vaccine, which was also officially registered in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and granted conditional marketing authorization in China, according to Sinopharm.

Currently, most of the exported Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines are destined for developing countries, which have little capacity to develop or produce them, yet are in greater need of the life-saving shots than others, he said, stressing that Chinese companies are doing their part to promote the fair allocation of vaccines.

Compared with developed countries, developing and underdeveloped countries have very limited procurement and payment capacity, as well as inadequate vaccine storage and transportation facilities.

To address that, low-cost Chinese-made vaccines can be produced in large quantities, stored and transported at 2-8 degrees Celsius, which is consistent with existing storage and transportation conditions of vaccines in many countries. Therefore, there is no need to rebuild the cold chain system and facilities, making the vaccines more accessible and better help curb the spread of the virus in the developing world, said Yang.

Yang said that many types of Chinese vaccines including inactivated ones are already the forerunners in global research and development (R&D) of vaccines.

This shows that over the past four decades since China's reform and opening-up, the overall R&D capability of the Chinese vaccine industry as well as its processing equipment and supervision have improved significantly, he said, adding that in the past, Chinese vaccine developers could only follow others, but now they have caught up and even taken the lead.

"Now our R&D and production process of inactivated vaccines are completely different from what they were decades ago -- there are improvements in production process and breakthroughs in technologies," said Yang.

Adopting advanced cell culture and purification techniques, the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine has achieved high production efficiency, and its indicators of quality control have reached internationally advanced level, he said.

Chinese pharma companies are working around the clock to scale up production to ensure timely delivery of the vaccines to countries in urgent need. Sinopharm is expected to produce more than 1 billion doses this year, Yang said.

"A company can contribute to the equitable distribution of the vaccines worldwide by producing more high-quality vaccines faster while meeting safety standards," Yang said.
Dieppe, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - Colibri Resource Corporation (TSXV: CBI) ("Colibri" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its option partner, Tocvan Ventures Corp. ("Tocvan") has reported assay results from its Phase 1 drill program at Colibri's Pilar Gold-Silver Project.

"We are extremely pleased to receive this good news from Tocvan. Our current business model has Colibri quickly building shareholder value by actively advancing four separate projects simultaneously in Sonora, Mexico. Colibri itself is in the field and actively trenching and sampling on the highly prospective Evelyn Gold Project, Property Option partner Tocvan is making tremendous advances at the Pilar Gold & Silver Project, and Earn-In partner Silver Spruce Resources is actively exploring and preparing for a near term drilling program at the El Mezquite Gold & Silver Project. Silver Spruce is also mapping and sampling Colibri's nearby Jackie Gold & Silver Project. Although each project is at a different stage of exploration, they all hold the potential to host significant gold deposits. Colibri is well positioned to deliver significant growth in value on many fronts for its shareholders this year!" says Company President & CEO, Ron Goguen.

Tocvan Reports:

Drilling Highlights

JES-20-32

 94.6 meters at 1.6 g/t Au from 57.9 to 152.5 meters including a high-grade interval of 9.2 meters at 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag from 57.9 to 67.1 meters

JES-20-33

 41.2 meters at 1.1 g/t Au from 57.9 to 99.1 meters including a high-grade interval of 3.1 meters at 6.0 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag from 71.6 to 74.8 meters

JES-20-36

 24.4 meters at 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag from 96.1 to 120.5 meters including a high-grade interval of 9.2 meters at 6.3 g/t Au and 192 g/t Ag from 96.1 to 105.2 meters and also including 1.5 meters at 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag from 96.1 to 97.6 meters

Drill Results Discussion

A total of 1,505 meters of RC drilling in nine (9) drill holes was completed during the Phase One program. All drill holes were step-outs or extensions of previously drilled areas. Results are summarized in Table 1 and highlights of the program are shown in Figure 1. JES-20-32 was a 25 meter step-out of historic drill hole P-9B which reported 28.5 meters at 3.4 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag, hole P-9B ended within a mineralized zone. JES-20-32 was successful in extending the broad mineralization zone seen in P-9B by reporting similar grades and extending the total depth extent of mineralization recorded. JES-20-33 tested 30 meters down-dip of historic drill hole JESP-13-15, which reported 37.5 meters at 1.2 g/t Au. The results from JES-20-33 show continuity of grade at depth. JES-20-36 was a 25 meter step-out from historic drill hole Q8-B, which reported 18 meters at 7.3 g/t Au. Mineralization in JES-20-36 was intersected deeper than anticipated and included a high-grade gold-silver interval of 1.5 meters at 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag. The Pilar Main Zone remains open at depth and along the southeast extension.

Five of the remaining six drill holes returned anomalous values for gold and silver. Structural and geochemical investigations are underway to determine the significance of each.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width* (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AuEq (g/t) JES-20-28 137.2 138.7 1.5 0.88 0 0.89













JES-20-29 39.6 54.9 15.3 0.16 1 0.18 JES-20-29 64.0 77.7 13.7 0.24 2 0.26













JES-20-30A 42.7 44.2 1.5 1.22 0 1.22 JES-20-30A 59.5 61.0 1.5 0.76 1 0.77













JES-20-31 25.9 41.2 15.3 0.37 11 0.49 including 25.9 27.5 1.5 0.87 32 1.21 and 32.0 35.1 3.1 1.31 37 1.70 JES-20-31 80.8 83.9 3.1 0.38 4 0.44













JES-20-32 32.0 44.2 12.2 0.06 10 0.17 JES-20-32 57.9 152.5 94.6 1.63 9 1.72 including 57.9 74.7 16.8 6.29 25 6.55 including 57.9 67.1 9.2 10.80 38 11.20 including 59.5 65.6 6.1 14.73 51 15.27 JES-20-32 134.2 135.7 1.5 5.81 8 5.90













JES-20-33 57.9 99.1 41.2 1.14 4 1.19 including 61.0 76.3 15.3 2.45 10 2.55 including 71.6 74.7 3.1 5.97 12 6.10 JES-20-33 114.4 119.0 4.6 0.17 0 0.18













JES-20-34 54.9 58.0 3.1 0.24 3 0.27 JES-20-34 114.4 128.1 13.7 0.12 8 0.20 including 114.4 119.0 4.6 0.21 17 0.39













JES-20-35 No Significant Values













JES-20-36 6.1 9.2 3.1 0.36 4 0.83 JES-20-36 22.9 27.5 4.6 0.45 10 0.56 JES-20-36 96.1 120.5 24.4 2.47 73 3.24 including 96.1 105.2 9.2 6.31 192 8.35 including 96.1 97.6 1.5 33.40 1090 44.94

*Insufficient drilling has been undertaken to determine true widths. All widths reported are core length. Interval widths are calculated using a 0.15 g/t AuEq cut-off grade with up to 5 meters of internal dilution. Gold equivalent ("AuEq") is calculated using metal prices of $1,700/oz gold and $18/oz silver.

Tocvan is currently in year 2 of a 5 year option agreement to earn an initial 51% ownership of the project. (See Colibri news release dated September 24, 2019 for full details of the agreement.)

About Pilar Gold & Silver Project

The Pilar Gold-Silver property is interpreted as a structurally controlled low-sulphidation epithermal project hosted in andesite and rhyolite rocks. Three zones of mineralization have been identified in the north-west part of the property from historic surface work and drilling and are referred to as the Main Zone, North Hill and 4 Trench. Structural features and zones of mineralization within the structures follow an overall NW-SE trend of mineralization.

Significant historical results:

17,700m of Historic Core & RC drilling. Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 0.8 g/t Au over 61 m 53.5g/t Au & 53 g/t Ag over 16.5 m 9.6 g/t Au over 13 m 10.2 g/t Au & 46 g/t Ag over 9 m



2,650m of surface and trench channel sampling. Highlights include: 55 g/t Au over 3 m 28.6 g/t Au over 6 m 3.4 g/t Au over 50 m



Soil and Rock sampling results from undrilled areas indicate mineralization extends towards the southeast from the Main Zone, North Hill Zone, and 4-Trench Zone.

About Colibri Resource Corporation

Colibri is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (CBI) focused on acquiring and exploring properties in Mexico. The Company currently has five projects at various stages of exploration. The Evelyn Gold Project is 100% owned and explored by the Company and four projects Pilar, El Mezquite, Jackie, and Pitaya are currently subject to joint venture or earn agreements to arms length parties.

For more information about all Company projects please visit: www.colibriresource.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements". 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. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and 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 the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate.

For further information: Ronald J. Goguen, President, Chairperson and Director, Tel: (506) 383-4274, rongoguen@colibriresource.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74032
Single parents separated from their former partners are allegedly turning to controversial recovery agencies to get their children back from former spouses that take them abroad without permission.

Normally, when parents separate, custody of the children is settled by a judge, along with visitation hours and rules, but sometimes one party doesnt want to play by the rules, and thats where agencies specialized in child retrieval come in. Most operators of such controversial services claim they are an essential tools for desperate parents with no other means of retrieving their beloved children from dangerous situations, but some sources claim that that isnt always the case. Some recovery agencies allegedly dont put in the time and effort to objectively research cases, and downright kidnap kids for parents, even if they dont have custody rights.

Louise Screene (pseudonym, to protect her identity), recently told Mail Online the shocking story of how she saw her two children kidnapped from arms length by a recovery agent paid by their father. Following her divorce from Andrew (not his real name), Louise agreed to share custody of their two children, even if that meant they had to travel between the UK and the Middle East, where Andrew had moved.

Photo: kalhh/Pixabay

As the years passed, the mother-ow-two became increasingly worried about Andrews parenting, and when she brought the issue up with him, he became aggressive and threatened to take their passports away so they couldnt return to her. In 2015, she took the children to visit the European country where she and her new husband had settled, and didnt return.

Louise claims that she had permission to leave the Middle East with her kids, and that she didnt plan to separate the kids from their father, but she needed some space to recalibrate. She claims that her lawyers had already started working towards joint custody. But her husband decided to take extreme measures to get the kids back.

One day, as Louise was waiting outside the school of her two children ( ages six and nine), a car pulled up beside her and two men snatched the kids from right in front of her. They were flung into the car as they screamed, and she was powerless to do anything about it. Bystanders got the license plates of the car and a Europe-wide search began.

When the police called to say theyd been stopped at an airport with a man and my ex-husband, I collapsed to the floor with relief, Louise said, adding that the recovery agent managed to flee before the police arrived. Her husband always insisted that the man was just a friend of his, not wanting to admit that he had hired a child recovery agency.

Afterwards I worried he wouldnt be paid in full unless he retrieved the children, the traumatized mother said. Now Im worried their father might arrange another attempt.

The Mail Online also detailed the case of a mother who turned to one of these recovery agencies to have her son retrieved from his father, who kidnapped him in 2014 and took him to Egypt. The African country is not a signatory of the Hague Convention, so doesnt have to cooperate, even if the wronged parent has a court order in their favor. The woman claims that the agent demanded a 25,000 fee to retrieve her young child.

The financial manager from the South East of England ended up paying 12,500 on two occasions, but each time the recovery of her son was botched, and when she confronted the agent about it, he got angry. He wouldnt take her calls for the next two years, but when her ex-husband was arrested and her son retrieved by police, the agent took to Facebook to take credit for the operation.

I asked for my money back but he refused. He said it was my fault the attempts had gone wrong, the woman added.

Apparently, there are at least 10 such child recovery agencies operating around the world, and the people who run them claim that they are a necessity for parents who have no other viable alternatives.

This industry is without doubt unfortunately needed . . . The system is an absolute disgrace. The FCO blatantly ignores the plight of parents and UK kids overseas, Adam Whittington, a former Australian soldier who runs the agency Child Abduction Recovery International, said.

Is it a snatch-back, or are we simply bringing children back to a civilized country where both parents can have another go at raising a kid? I strongly believe that what we do is right, Colin Chapman, who runs Child Recovery Australia, agrees.

However, Chapman agrees that the controversial industry sometimes attracts opportunistic people who rip people off. He also admits that even when through background checks of clients are conducted, there is always a risk that the person paying the bill isnt actually the victim.

Someone could quite easily be an axe-murdering, drug-using rapist and we wouldnt know. If someone wants to subvert the system, its really hard to catch them, he said.

OSLO, Norway, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Expanded Search Options for Students and Enhanced Student Reach and Insights for Higher Ed Institutions

Keystone Academic Solutions ("Keystone") has acquired FindAUniversity, uniting two of the world's most popular higher education student search and resource platforms.

Visited by over 54 million unique prospective students each year, Keystone's student resource portfolio includes 420 websites globally, covering 33 languages and eight higher education verticals - Masterstudies.com, Onlinestudies.com, Healthcarestudies.com, Bachelorstudies.com, MBAstudies.com, Lawstudies.com, Phdstudies.com, and Academiccourses.com.

"Keystone's mission is to help students make one of the most important decisions of their lifetimes, namely, which higher ed programs to attend. Combining FindAUniversity under the Keystone umbrella means significantly expanded search and resource options for students," said Erik Harrell, Chief Executive Officer of Keystone.

"For higher education institutions, this will mean greater audience reach and exposure to over 68 million unique student visitors each year. This expanded audience reach also means enhanced insights for institutions on the latest trends among prospective students," said Harrell.

FindAUniversity was founded in 2001 and is the leading postgraduate resource for prospective students in the United Kingdom, with over 14 million annual unique visitors to its two primary websites - FindAMasters.com and FindAPhD.com. FindAUniversity helps over 800 higher ed institutions connect with the right prospective students, including comprehensive coverage of the UK sector.

Co-founder Andy Pritchard said: "We're extremely excited to be joining forces with Keystone. As well as providing larger student audiences to our customers, we now have the opportunity to offer students even more choices."

"Keystone is a great cultural match for us and our 50-strong team, and we're very much looking forward to working together," said co-founder Andy Holliday. He continued, "We share a common mission to do everything we can to help students find the best higher ed institution for them."

While specific acquisition terms are not being disclosed, as part of Keystone's growth plan, over NOK 200 million (approximately USD 23 million) of debt and equity capital was raised by Keystone simultaneously with the closing of the acquisition.

Media Enquiries to:

Ashlee-Maree Courtney-Eman

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: +47 475 13 692

www.keystoneacademic.com

About Keystone Academic Solutions

Keystone is trusted by more than 54 million unique prospective students every year to help them make one of the most important decisions of their lifetimes, namely, which higher ed program to attend. In turn, Keystone helps over 5000 higher ed institutions reach and communicate with prospective students in more than 190 countries via its 420 websites covering 33 languages and eight core higher ed verticals - Masterstudies.com, Onlinestudies.com, Healthcarestudies.com, Bachelorstudies.com, MBAstudies.com, Lawstudies.com, Phdstudies.com, and Academiccourse.com.

Headquartered in Oslo, Norway and backed by Viking Venture, a leading Nordic venture firm, Keystone has an international staff of more than 80 employees.

About FindAUniversity Ltd

FindAUniversity are experts in everything postgraduate. Formed in 2001 and passionate about higher education ever since, they list more than 27,000 programmes from over 800 institutions across 55 countries on their flagship websites, FindAMasters.com & FindAPhD.com. With an audience of over 14 million prospective students annually, they generate over 3.5 million enquiries and referrals for universities every year.

For prospective students, these websites are an unbeatable resource, providing not only postgraduate programme details, but also extensive study & funding advice articles, student videos, events and community forums to support students on every step of their postgraduate journey.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/keystone-academic-solutions/r/keystone-academic-solutions-acquires-findauniversity,c3282363

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/20258/3282363/1369652.pdf Press release (PDF) https://news.cision.com/keystone-academic-solutions/i/fau-logo,c2875340 FAU Logo

SOURCE Keystone Academic Solutions
Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong holds a phone talk on February 8 with Dmitry Medvedev, Chairman of the United Russia party and Deputy Chair of Russias Security Council (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong held a phone talk on February 8 with Dmitry Medvedev, Chairman of the United Russia party and Deputy Chair of Russias Security Council.

Medvedev congratulated Vietnam on the success of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), and Nguyen Phu Trong on re-election as the Party General Secretary.

He held that the congress is an important milestone for Vietnam with the definition of major tasks for the country to continue boosting economic development for happiness and prosperity of Vietnamese people, contributing to maintaining peace and security in the region and the world.

He conveyed the regards from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong, while highly evaluating the sound partnership between the two parties and countries, and affirming that Russia attaches much importance to the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam.

For his part, Party General Secretary and State President Trong thanked President Putin, Medvedev and the United Russia party as well as Russian people for their warm sentiment towards Vietnam, which manifests the trust and friendship and comprehensive partnership between the two parties and nations.

He briefed the United Russia party leader on major outcomes of the 13th National Party Congress, affirming that the Party and State of Vietnam stick with its policy of paying great attention to reinforcing and strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.

The relationship between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the United Russia party has created an important foundation for the promotion of the partnership between the two countries in a deep and effective manner, benefiting both sides and contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world, he said.

Trong and Medvedev discussed a number of measures to boost bilateral ties in the future. Medvedev said that Russia is willing to work with Vietnam in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and all other aspects.
NEW DELHI : India's fuel demand fell 2.2% in January compared with the same month last year.

Consumption of fuel, a proxy for oil demand, totalled 18.01 million tonnes, data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the oil ministry showed.

Sales of gasoline, or petrol, were 6.3% higher from a year earlier at 2.61 million tonnes.

Cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sales increased by 1.7% to 2.49 million tonnes, while naphtha sales fell 0.5% to 1.27 million tonnes.

Sales of bitumen, used for making roads, were 13.6% up, while fuel oil use edged up 9.6% in January.

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Egypt will host another meeting of the National Palestinian Dialogue in March to discuss the upcoming steps to be taken for the elections of the National Council in Palestine, the Palestinian factions and groups participating in the National Palestinian Dialogue in Egypt announced on Tuesday.

According to a statement released following two days of talks in Cairo, the Palestinian factions and groups agreed to hold national elections based on a Palestinian presidential decree issued on 15 January 2021 to elect a new legislative assembly (Parliament) followed by presidential elections to complete the formation of the National Council.

The parliamentary elections are set to be held on 22 May and the presidential elections have been set for 31 July.

The statement said that the upcoming Cairo-based meeting will focus on finding a consensus on the criteria and procedures needed to complete the formation of the New National Council, as well as to empower and improve the Palestinian Liberation Authority.

The statement continued that the parties involved are committed to the agreed upon timetable for the parliamentary and presidential elections and that they will be held in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza without any exclusion and with a commitment to respect the results of those elections.

An "Elections cases court will be formed to supervise the elections and rule in all its matters and cases. The Palestinian police force will also exclusively secure the polling stations in Gaza and the West Bank. The statement also added that it will find a way to secure the elections process in Jerusalem.

The statement announced the immediate release of all political prisoners who were detained due to tensions between the factions or for speaking out against the governments in the West Bank and Gaza.

The statement also announced that political parties will have the freedom to campaign for the coming elections without being impeded by the security authorities of the West Bank and Gaza, who have been instructed to remain impartial.

The factions have also agreed to delegate the issue of Palestinian detainees at Israeli occupation prisons to the upcoming parliament.

In their statement, the parties and figures involved in the meeting thanked Egypt and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for their efforts in supporting and sponsoring the Palestinian National Dialogue.

The statement called on Egypt to follow up on the agreement between the factions to carry out the elections in all its stages.

On Tuesday, per the directives of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza was opened to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Short link:


Donald Trump Jr., son of former President Donald Trump, speaks during a Republican National Committee Victory Rally at Dalton Regional Airport in Georgia on Jan. 4, 2021. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Trump Jr. Preparing Trip to Wyoming to Campaign Against Cheney

Donald Trump Jr. is gearing up for a trip to Wyoming to campaign against Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump.

The presidents son told Politico he is preparing to travel to the state. I hear its lovely during primary season, he told the news outlet.

Cheney issued a scathing statement announcing her intention to vote in favor of impeachment. Several Democrats cited her remarks in the debate ahead of the impeachment vote on Jan. 13.

Republican firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has already traveled to Wyoming to rally against Cheney.

The truth is that the establishment in both political parties have teamed up to screw our fellow Americans for generations, Gaetz told a crowd in Wyoming on Jan. 28. Now in Washington, D.C., the private insider club of Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney, Nancy Pelosi, and Liz Cheney, they want to return our government to its default settingenriching them, making them more powerful at our expense. But we can stop em and it starts right here in Wyoming.

Trump Jr. had called into the rally and told to the crowd via speakerphone that Cheney had done little for the Republican Party in terms of raising money and recruiting new members.

Its time to have a change at the top. Its time to have people that are going to start representing the people, not their own agendas, not their own nonsense, but their constituency, Trump Jr. said.

The presidents son cautioned the crowd against backing the first challenger that comes along and to vet the candidates before rallying behind Cheneys challenger.

We have some time. Lets find the right one, he said. Lets not split this vote up and blow our opportunity to get rid of a RINO [Republican In Name Only].

At least two Republicans have already declared their intention to run against Cheney in the Republican primary in 2022, including state Sen. Anthony Bouchard (R-Wyo.).

Cheneys office did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

The Wyoming Republican Party voted on Feb. 6 to censure Cheney for her impeachment vote. Days earlier, U.S. House Republicans voted to keep Cheney, elder daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, in her leadership role.

Cheney, the third-ranking House GOP leader, said on Feb. 7 she was undeterred by the censure vote and criticism from some House Republicans and will not resign or back off on her repudiation of Trump.

She suggested that if she were in the Senate, she might vote to convict Trump over his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. Trumps trial in the Senate begins Tuesday.

I would listen to the testimonyI would listen to the evidence, Cheney told Fox News Sunday. I obviously believe and did then that what we already know is enough for his impeachment. What we already know does constitute the gravest violation of his oath of office by any president in the history of the country, and this is not something that we can simply look past or pretend didnt happen or try to move on.

The Senate impeachment trial begins on Tuesday.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Prosecutor General of Armenia Artur Davtyan is in Artsakh on a working visit where he was received by President of the Republic Arayik Harutyunyan, the Office of the Prosecutor General told Armenpress.

During the meeting the officials discussed issues relating to the rights to life, movement of the Artsakh citizens, the organization of the activities of state institutions, the service duties of the Defense Army servicemen, etc.

They also discussed the functions of the Armenian and Artsakh law enforcement agencies in the search operations for the bodies of the dead servicemen, missing in action, the return of the Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan.

Artur Davtyan said his Office continues assisting the Prosecution of Artsakh with all possible means.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Guwahati, Feb 9 : Months ahead of the Assembly polls in Assam, the main opposition Congress on Tuesday launched a 10-day video contest on social media, asking people to post a two-minute video on the biggest issues and problems of the state.

The best videos would be given prizes ranging from iPhone to cash.

To participate in the contest, till February 19, people have to record and post a two-minute video along with the hashtag #AssamBachao on any major social media platform and then submit the link on the AssamBachao website.

Launching the campaign, Lok Sabha Member and party's manifesto committee chief Gaurav Gogoi said that to solve a problem, we have to acknowledge and understand the issue, and this video contest is a first step.

"The feedback from this campaign would tell us what are the most urgent issues to be taken up in our election manifesto and the manifesto would offer the solutions to these very issues and problems," he told the media.

Gogoi, son of former three-time Assam Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader late Tarun Gogoi, said that it is time for the youth to take charge of their own future and save the state from the BJP's evil and motivated designs.

"Ranging from increasing the prices of essential commodities to the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, against the wishes of majority of people, the saffron party has decided to spoil the peace, prosperity and ethnic harmony of Assam," Congress's Deputy leader in the Lok Sabha said.

Congress' state president Ripun Bora said the social media campaign would bring out the people's resentment against the BJP's misrule.

"This is just the first step. The Congress party is gearing up for an innovative campaign that would bring out the people's resentment against the BJP's mis-governance.

The BJP's attempts to muzzle the people's voices with intimidation and fear psychosis won't last till polling day. The people would show through the #AssamBachao campaign how desperate Assam is for change," the Congress leader said.The Congress led by Tarun Gogoi governed Assam from 2001 to 2016 before the BJP came to power five years ago.
Clapping could be heard on the video stream when a Lansing judge on Monday dismissed charges against six hair stylists accused of violating Gov. Gretchen Whitmers coronavirus emergency orders during a protest at the state Capitol last May.

Attorneys representing the Attorney Generals Office were a no-show.

State police issued the women misdemeanor citations for disorderly conduct as they participated in a demonstration organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition and dubbed Operation Haircut.

The protest in support of Karl Manke, an Owosso barber who continued operating despite efforts by state officials to shut his barber shop down, featured barbers and stylists offering free haircuts in defiance of Whitmers executive orders aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19. The emergency orders closed barbershops, salons and other businesses and were later deemed unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court.

Despite the ruling, the charges remained.

No one from the Attorney Generals Office has appeared, Lansing 54-A District Court Judge Kristen D. Simmons said as the hearing began Monday, prompting Lansing-based attorney David A. Kallman to request a dismissal with prejudice, meaning the charges cant be filed at a later date.

Kallman said he previously filed a brief that AG Dana Nessels office never responded to. I guess I would take from that, that they dont oppose our motion, the attorney said.

The judge agreed.

They failed to appear so they failed to prosecute on this matter, so I will grant your motion to dismiss, Simmons said.

According to a statement issued by the Kallman Legal Group following the hearing, nearly 20 hair stylists or barbers were cutting hair on the day of the protest and seven were arrested. All six of Kallmans clients are still facing administrative licensing complaints brought by the state.

No one should live under the threat of losing their liberty and business license merely for speaking out and protesting the governors actions, the statement said.  ... Yet, even after the Supreme Court ruling, the AG refused to dismiss the criminal charges against Danielle Ashcraft, Suzanne Dodoro, Londa Gatt, Angela Rigas, Brenda Root and Rachel Sheeran.

The AGs Office didnt immediately respond to an MLive request for comment on the attorneys statement.

Disorderly person is a crime punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $500 fine.

If a person protests certain issues, the governor will ignore her own orders and walk with you; but if a person protests the governor, she will prosecute you and attempt to destroy your business, Kallman said.

Michigan barber shops and beauty salons were allowed to reopen in June 15 with certain safety precautions in place.

More on MLive:

Supreme Court overturns emergency orders

Operation haircut protest

Dine-in mask mandate violators suspended

Restaurants defying Michigan dine-in ban hit with fines from multiple state agencies

Michigan suspends liquor licenses at comedy club, golf bar for COVID-19 violations

Restaurants reopen today for indoor dining  here are Michigans new rules

Michigan cites 20 employers in latest round of COVID-19 safety violations

Thanks to COVID-19, Michigan had more work safety complaints in 2020 than last 4 years combined
PARMA, Ohio -- The Cuyahoga County Public Library has a new way to help library patrons who need a way to host virtual meetings, webinars and conferences.

Each library branch -- including Brooklyn, Independence, Parma, Parma-Snow and Parma Heights -- has a Zoom Room that patrons can book for their events. The Zoom Rooms can accommodate up to 300 participants and can be reserved for up to two hours at a time.

Zoom Rooms are available during regular hours of operation. For more information, contact your local branch. After successfully booking a Zoom Room, a confirmation email will be sent, along with a dedicated link for the meeting to share with participants.

Hometown Hero banners: There are still a few spots available in Independences Hometown Hero banner program, which celebrates those who have served the country through military service.

The banners are displayed from streetlight poles and provide an opportunity for the community to recognize and honor residents and their immediate family members for their service and sacrifice.

Anyone interested in purchasing a banner should call City Hall at 216-524-4131. Available banner locations will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Resident of the month: Congratulations to Seven Hills resident Sarah Lang, the citys February Hall of Fame Resident of the Month.

After moving to Seven Hills in 2015, Lang said she found it difficult to meet new people, so she started looking into local Facebook groups and recognized the need for a group that was more inclusive, less moderated and less biased so residents could express their opinions about local topics and openly discuss issues.

Seven Hills Chatter evolved from the idea, and residents were receptive to the new platform.

Since then, they have formed their own online world to focus on Seven Hills. New sub-groups developed, including Seven Hills Politics Uncensored, Seven Hills Sells (OH) and Seven Hills Shares (OH).

The newest addition is Seven Hills Local (OH), a place for all Seven Hills businesses and those nearby to promote and advertise so that residents can look in one central location for all things available/going on in the community and support local businesses.

Lang said Seven Hills Shares (OH) is the second-most active group within the Seven Hills sub-groups. It enforces the concept that one persons trash is another persons treasure. Residents can post (or request) items. Everything listed is free.

Lang also operates a nonprofit rescue, Ruff House Animal Rescue. She said the pandemic has deeply affected the operation of nonprofit groups, and shes hoping to team up with some local sponsors to host a (socially distanced) low-cost care clinic within the community to offer vaccinations, microchips and heartworm testing.

The program will help pet owners by providing a way to ensure that their pets remain healthy during these difficult times.

Contact Lang at sarah@rhar.org for more information.

Black History Month Challenge: Citizens is partnering with EVERFI, a leading social impact education innovator, to present the EVERFI Black History Month Challenge during February. Its the first-of-its-kind national competition to help high school students across the country understand the Black American experience through historical perspectives.

The monthlong challenge, created by EVERFI and supported by companies nationwide, features four digital lessons and a capstone essay contest in which students share a plan for maintaining conversations about Black history year-round within their community.

Three winners will receive college scholarships totaling $20,000.

The Black History Month Challenge is designed to inspire students by telling stories about the Black experience in America, empower students through the counter-storytelling of Black perspectives across generations, elevate history as a lens to understand current events and transform students perception of the world around them.

Students will explore topics and events including Juneteenth, Affirmative Action and the protests and marches for civil rights and equality.

In the Black Business Titans lesson, students explore the history behind the racial wealth gap and how Black entrepreneurs and businesspeople are overcoming challenges every day.

In the lesson on Black Contributions to Medicine, students explore the roots of systemic racism in medical care and celebrate Black medical trailblazers historically and today.

In addition to supporting the Black History Month Challenge, Citizens works with EVERFI to provide College Bound Citizens, a digital education program for high school juniors and seniors that aims to help empower students to make wise financial decisions when planning for post-secondary education.

Visit citizens.everfi-next.net/welcome/bhm to learn more about the EVERFI Black History Month Challenge.

Hanging up his hat: Lt. Steve Kordas retires from the Seven Hills Fire Department Wednesday (Feb. 10) after more than 40 years of service to the city.

Kordas joined the department in February 1980 and served as a firefighter until he was promoted to lieutenant in May 2010. During his career, Kordas saw the department grow from fully volunteer to todays fully staffed, part-time department.

His retirement plans include splitting his time between his home behind the fire station and Florida.

Congratulations and best wishes for a long, healthy and happy retirement.

Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. in Brooklyn, Independence, Parma, Parma Heights and Seven Hills for the Sun Postings column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com.

Read more from the Parma Sun Post.


Actor Song Joong-ki / Courtesy of Netflix



By Kwak Yeon-soo



Song Joong-ki said he is blessed to have worked with the most warm-hearted, kind and supportive actors in the hit movie "Space Sweepers," adding that he always loves working with director Jo Sung-hee.



"I have so many wonderful memories. It's a really special movie for me because I filmed it during a dark period of my life. It's not something that I could get over with on my own, but I tried to accept distressing emotions as a natural part of life and brought all energy to my character," he said during an interview with The Korea Times via Zoom, Tuesday.



The actor didn't specify what triggered this dark period but his remarks appear to be associated with his divorce from actress Song Hye-kyo.



"I'm really drawn to movies that encompass extended-family dynamics, and I think family is the most important value in our life. Whenever I have needed a reference for an emotional performance, I watched 'Legends of the Fall,' starring Brad Pitt, to understand the family code. I think I've watched it more than 50 times," he said.



Because the sci-fi film is set in outer space, Song had to push himself to overcome the challenges of acting without complete scenery.



"I had to portray audacity on screen without having a clear idea about the background information such as what nano-bots are and what they look like. Because they were created through visual effects during the post-production stage, Jo had to give us directions based on his extensive research and storyboards. I felt relieved that the other actors also had only the faintest of ideas," he explained.





A scene from "Space Sweepers" / Courtesy of Netflix



Set around a fictional barely habitable Earth in 2092, "Space Sweepers" follows the story of a spaceship crew who collect and sell space junk for a living. During one of their "sweeps" for space debris, they discover a mysterious humanoid robot Dorothy that is in fact a dangerous weapon of mass destruction.









Later on, when the crew learn her true identity and what she is capable of, they decide to strike a money-making deal with the UTS Space Guards, who are searching for Dorothy.



Song plays Kim Tae-ho the pilot of the spaceship Victory, who is able to think on his feet and come up with useful strategies. Though Tae-ho is a shameless opportunist who is predominantly focused on money, he is holding onto the pain of tragically losing his adopted daughter.



"I'm not as shameless as Tae-ho. People often tell me that I'm 'tsundere' (Japanese term for cold outside and warm inside personality). I'm definitely not the kind of person who says sweet things very often," he said.



On playing a father's role for the first time, the actor said he was a bit worried about how the public would perceive it.



"Personally, I felt no burden playing a father. What I focused on was expressing Tae-ho's agony over losing his daughter in order to express a contrast between being a friendly father to his adopted daughter and apathetic to the humanoid robot," he said.





Actor Song Joong-ki / Courtesy of Netflix
Several universities and colleges across China have postponed starting the spring semester amid the COVID-19 pandemic.





The announcement came after the Ministry of Education stressed student safety when starting the spring semester at a January 31 press conference and urged schools to link online and offline education and get ready to adopt online learning when necessary.

Universities in Beijing and the provinces of Anhui, Hebei and Jilin have already announced the move. Meanwhile, Hefei University of Technology in east China's Anhui Province has delayed the start of the upcoming spring semester for a week, requiring its teachers and staff to home-quarantine for a week before returning to campus.

Yanshan University in Qinhuangdao, north China's Hebei Province, issued a notice requiring students to return to school in different batches based on their area of study. A negative COVID-19 certificate within seven days and a green health code are a must. Students from high-risk areas and overseas are suggested not to return to school temporarily.

Universities have been asked to carefully implement anti-virus measures, ensure students' well-being and provide for their study and leisure needs during the holiday, said Wang Dengfeng, a senior official with the Ministry of Education.

As many students heed the country's call to stay put during the upcoming Spring Festival to prevent COVID-19 spread, Chinese universities are expected to see the number of students spending the holiday on campus quadruple that of previous years.

(With input from Xinhua)
A recent Tucker Carlson report should be reminding American citizens just how far down the rabbit hole of tyranny and surveillance their government has gone. It should also be reminding Americans how Big Tech and Big Banking work hand in glove toward the destruction of freedom.

(And if you think this is bad, imagine how much worse a cashless society would be.)

Bank of America gives unknowing customers information to the authorities

According to Carlsons report on FOX News, Bank of America searched through customer transactions to target people who may have been involved in the riot at the Capitol. BOA then handed over information to federal authorities at the request of those authorities.

The bank said it identified 211 customers who fit the profile. Some deciding factors used to identify these people were making purchases in the D.C. area or buying airline tickets or other accommodations in the days surrounding the event.

Carlson reports that at least one person who BOA identified was taken in for questioning but was later found to have no links to the event. Carlson justly accused BOA of spying on its customers and sharing their private information. Indeed, BOA gave the information to law enforcement and federal authorities without the knowledge of those concerned.

Reporter states, Something awful is going to happen.

Carlson also accused BOA of treating its customers like a member of al Qaeda for handing over their information. He then accused the left of creating extremists as they did in Iraq, saying that this gross overreaction and overreach by both government and major corporations were dramatically elevating the chance that something awful is going to happen.

Carlson said, At one level, that does not sound bad. Because no sane person is for political extremism, especially violent extremism. But, he argued, they have to be more precise in the investigations. Heres the remarkable thing about this public conversation were having. No one is doing that. Have you noticed? None of these newly energized and highly empowered extremist hunters have told us exactly what an extremist is, he continued.

Carlson alleged that the corporation, Americas second-largest bank serving (to use polite language) more than 60 million customers, is actively but secretly engaged in the hunt for extremists in cooperation with the government. He also went on to say: Bank of America is, without the knowledge or the consent of its customers, sharing private information with federal law enforcement agencies.

Bank of America effectively is acting as an intelligence agency. But they are not telling you about it, stated Carlson.

BofA went through records of citizens searching for specific criteria

Carlson correctly stated that BOA had rifled through the records of American citizens who had not committed a crime, searching for the ones who fit specific criteria. What did that criteria include?

People who had made debit or credit card purchases in Washington DC between January 5 and 6, for one.

Those who purchased hotels and Airbnb reservations in Washington, Virginia, or Maryland, after January 6 were also targeted.

Carlson claimed that other criteria included people who purchased weapons or purchases at a weapons-related merchant between January 7 and their stay in D.C.

Airline-related purchase since January 6.

Carlson stated that the profile was remarkably broad and said that it cast an absurdly wide net.

Any overnight stay anywhere in the three-state area. That spans hundreds of miles, he fumed. And then any airline-related purchases. Not just flights to Washington, flights to anywhere, to Omaha, to Thailand.

He criticized BofA for handing the information over to federal investigators without notifying the customers who were being spied upon. He added that federal investigators had interviewed one of the people who hadnt done anything wrong and in the end was cleared.

Imagine if you were that person? Carlson fumed.

No further information was given about what grounds the interview was based on or if the interview was linked to terrorism charges.

Carlson continued:

The FBI hauls you in for questioning in a terror investigation. Not because you have done anything suspicious. You havent. You bought plane tickets and visited your countrys Capitol. You thought you could do that. You thought it was your country. Now they are sweating you because your bank, which you trust with your most private information, information of everything you buy has ratted you out to the fed without telling you without your knowledge. Because Bank of America did that, you are being treated like a member of Al Qaeda. What country is this? That actually happened to someone. Its hard to believe it, but it did.

The bank did not deny allegations.

When asked about this investigation, this is what BofA said in a statement to FOX:

We dont comment on our communications with law enforcement. All banks have responsibilities under federal law to cooperate with law enforcement in full compliance with the law.

Of course, most gullible onlookers assume that corporations such as BofA would have required the government to do more than ask. Perhaps obtain a warrant or subpoena?

The government was never going to do that, and corporations would never protect your information. That became well known to researchers and civil liberties activists after 9/11. Theyve recently discussed widening the definition of domestic terrorists in a way that could include at least half the country.

As a matter of fact, this is precisely the type of thing those researchers and activists warned about twenty years ago. This website has long discussed unbanking and underbanking and it looks like that just became a whole lot more important.
By David Morgan and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump's historic impeachment trial on a charge of inciting last month's deadly storming of the U.S. Capitol began on Tuesday, making the Republican the first former U.S. president to be tried in the Senate.

House of Representatives Democrats serving as prosecutors opened their case by showing video of Trump supporters violently overwhelming police at the Capitol in the Jan. 6 attack after he had encouraged people in a speech to "fight like hell" to overcome his Nov. 3 election defeat.

The video showed Trump backers throwing down barriers, hitting police officers and at one point telling one: "We outnumber you a million to one out here."

Convicting Trump would require a two-thirds vote in the 100-member chamber, meaning that at least 17 Republicans would need to join the Senate's 48 Democrats and two independents in voting against Trump. That is a tall order.

In the Capitol assault, the mob attacked police, sent lawmakers scrambling for safety and interrupted the formal congressional certification of President Joe Biden's victory after Trump had spent two months challenging the election results. Five people died, including a police officer.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, called the accusation against Trump: "The gravest charges ever brought against a president of the United States in American history."

Trump, a Republican, was impeached by the Democratic-led House on Jan. 13 on a charge of inciting an insurrection, becoming the only president to have been impeached twice and the only former president to face a Senate trial.

Before the attack, he claimed falsely that widespread voting fraud lost him the election to Biden.

Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin, who is leading the prosecution, said presidents would create a "January exception" that allowed them to break the law with impunity in the last month of their term if senators did not convict Trump.

"The January exception is an invitation to our founders' worst nightmare. ... We risk allowing Jan. 6 to become our future," he told the trial, in which senators serve as jurors.

Defense lawyers plan to argue on Tuesday that only a sitting president can face an impeachment trial.

But a majority of legal experts say it is constitutional to have the trial after an official has left office, said Michigan State University law professor Brian Kalt, a leading impeachment scholar.

Senate Democrats are expected to prevail in Tuesday's vote on the constitutionality of the trial. A Republican effort to block the trial on those grounds was defeated 55-45 last month.

The trial is being held with extraordinary security around the Capitol in the wake of the siege including armed security forces and a perimeter of fencing and razor wire.

The trial could provide clues on the direction of the Republican Party following Trump's tumultuous four-year presidency. Sharp divisions have emerged between Trump loyalists and those hoping to move the party in a new direction. Meanwhile, Democrats are concerned the trial could impede Biden's ability to swiftly advance an ambitious legislative agenda.

Trump's defense has also argued he was exercising his right to free speech under the Constitution's First Amendment when he addressed supporters at a rally in Washington on the day of the Capitol attack and urged them to "fight" against the election result.

In a pre-trial document released on Tuesday, the House managers described that approach as "legally frivolous."

"Accepting President Trump's argument would mean that Congress could not impeach a President who burned an American flag on national television, or who spoke at a Ku Klux Klan rally in a white hood, or who wore a swastika while leading a march through a Jewish neighborhood - all of which is expression protected by the First Amendment but would obviously be grounds for impeachment," the Democrats said.

On Wednesday, the prosecution and defense are due to turn to the merits of the charge. They will have 32 hours evenly divided over no more than four days to present their cases. The proceedings could be extended further, with senators having time to question both sides.

One year ago, the then Republican-controlled Senate acquitted Trump on charges of obstructing Congress and abuse of power related to his pressure on Ukraine to launch an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter in 2019.

(Reporting by Will Dunham)
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[February 09, 2021] Transact Launches 'One Transact' Brand Campaign as Company Transforms to One Vision, One Mission, One Company, One Mindset

Transact, the leader in innovative payment solutions for a connected campus, today announced the launch of its new "One Transact" brand campaign representing its transformation to One Vision, One Mission, One Company, and One Mindset. The enterprise-wide initiative began inside the organization and will reach every internal and external touchpoint by the end of the year. As part of the One Transact transformation, Transact released a newly designed website, www.transactcampus.com, that showcases a new look and expertise as a one-stop-shop for campus solutions for integrated payments, IDs, & commerce. Transact is known for its expertise in higher education and highly configurable, compliant technologysolutions.



"Our people are so energized by Transact's purpose: to empower our clients to transform the student experience and create lifelong engagement," said David Marr, CEO, Transact. "We have committed, as One Transact, to create compelling technology that uniquely simplifies campus operations and makes a meaningful difference in students' lives. Our brand transformation is as much about connecting, innovating, and delivering simple experiences as the technology solutions we create." In addition, the company streamlined product names, changing the name of its award-winning payments product line from Cashnet to Transact Payments. The simplified product name further supports Transact Payments' development as the most trusted, secure, and innovative payments and commerce technology provider in higher education. Product functionality and support remain the same, with a roadmap of innovative enhancement under development.

Over the past year, Transact has had the opportunity to expand its talent base, including launching a new international headquarters in Limerick, Ireland, and advancing its infrastructure as part of its strong commitment to innovation and customer service. About Transact

Transact is the leader in innovative payment solutions for a connected campus. Its highly configurable, mobile-centric campus technology ecosystem simplifies the student experience across the full spectrum of student life. Transact's offerings include integrated solutions for tuition and other student expense payments, multi-purpose campus IDs, and campus commerce. With a long-standing reputation of serving the higher education community, Transact proudly assists millions of students each year with its innovative products and solutions. For more information, visit www.transactcampus.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005308/en/

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Mayfield Couple Sought by Police Found, Arrested

By West Kentucky Star Staff

GRAVES COUNTY - A Mayfield couple sought by police are now behind bars.The Graves County Sheriffs Office says 52-year-old Fred (Freddy) Max Balisteri Jr. and 37-year-old Diana Kay Balisteri have been located and arrested.Both were being sought for probation violation warrants. Both were supposed to turn themselves in but failed to do so. The Balisteri's were recently charged with first degree trafficking in a controlled substance when a search warrant was executed at their home on January 3.Fred Balisteri Jr. was already on probation for a 2016 Graves County Circuit Court case for a felony charge of receiving stolen property. Diana Balisteri was on probation for a 2018 Graves County Circuit Court case on a charge of trafficking in a controlled substance.
The detectives partner saw what was happening and came to his aid, which prompted the assailants to take off running. Other officers were called to the area and one of two men suspected of attacking the detective was arrested in the 2300 block of East 75th Street. The man who was arrested was the one who had been armed with a gun, Bown said.
A Scottish woman collapsed with suspected hypothermia after hundreds of pensioners were forced to wait for hours in snow and ice due to an overbooking blunder - before many were sent home and told to re-book.

NHS Fife has apologised after five centres saw delays on Monday, leaving over 70s, including some in wheelchairs and others using walking sticks, standing outside as Storm Darcy hit eastern parts of the country.

Labour MSP Alex Rowley tweeted: 'I think queues round the block of over 70s some in wheelchairs, some with walking aids to get vaccine at Lochgelly Centre, one lady collapsing with suspected hypothermia is poor organisation.'

NHS Fife said it is working to 'rapidly expand capacity and staffing,' at venues today, adding it has gone to NHS National Services Scotland for an explanation on the booking error.

Pensioners in Fife, Scotland, were left queuing for their Covid-19 vaccine in freezing temperatures on Monday after appointments were overbooked at five centres, including the Randolph Weymss Memorial Hospital in Buckhaven (pictured)

Mr Rowley said the local health trust 'cannot continue with such bad practice and bad organisation whilst those on the front line are working hard doing their best'.

All patients who could not be vaccinated yesterday are being offered a rescheduled appointment 'as soon as possible,' the health trust said.

NHS Fife assured patients that supplies of vaccines remain 'good'.

Chief executive Carol Potter said: 'I want to offer our most sincere apologies to those who had to wait in significant queues at some of our community vaccination clinics today.

'This was entirely unacceptable and we are working with our colleagues in NHS National Services Scotland to understand how this scheduling error occurred and ensure that it does not happen again.

As over 70s queued in Buckhaven (pictured), a woman at another centre in Lochgelly collapsed with suspected, Scottish MSP Alex Rowley said yesterday

'We know that local people are incredibly keen to get vaccinated as quickly as possible against COVID-19 and we have prioritised prompt actions to expand the capacity and quicken the flow of patients through our clinics.

'Patients who could not be vaccinated today will be contacted directly and will be offered a rescheduled appointment as quickly as possible.

'The residents of Fife have shown a great deal of patience and understanding today, and we want to thank local people for their incredible support they have offered us over recent months.

'I also want to thank our vaccination teams for the additional effort required this week to ensure that we minimise any disruption to our vaccination programme.'

NHS Fife's chief executive Carol Potter offered 'sincere apologies,' to patients yesterday, as many faced having to get their jab rebooked. The trust said it was expanding its capacity at all five sites, including the Randolph Wemyss Memorial Hospital, to meet overbooked demand

The centres affected are the East Neuk Centre, Anstruther, the Lochgelly Centre, the Randolph Wemyss Memorial Hospital, Buckhaven, Rothes Halls in Glenrothes and Templehall Community Centre in Kirkcaldy.

A spokesperson for NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) said: 'An IT issue within the vaccination scheduling system has resulted in delays at a number of clinics within NHS Fife.

'We are working urgently with our partners and have identified the cause of the issue and are ensuring measures are immediately put in place to ensure there can be no repeat of the problem.

'We are also supporting NHS Fife colleagues, Scottish Government and other partners to put in place alternative arrangements for those affected by the over-booking.

'We apologise to all of those affected and greatly appreciate the patience they have shown.'
Mentz, N.Y.  A truck driver was killed Monday afternoon when two trucks collided on Route 31, Cayuga County Detective Lt. Frederick Cornelius said.

Two full-size trucks collided at the intersection of Route 31 and Centerport Road, he said.

Multiple people called the Cayuga County 911 Center starting at 3:14 p.m. to report the head-on crash at the intersection of Route 31 and Centerport Road in the town of Mentz, dispatchers said. One vehicle rolled over on its side, according to police dispatch reports.

Cayuga County sheriffs deputies; Port Byron and Weedsport fire departments; and American Medical Response (AMR) and Jordan Ambulance responded to the scene, according to 911.

Shortly after they arrived, emergency crews closed a section of Route 31. The road remained closed for about three hours.

The driver of one of the truck was pronounced dead, Cornelius said.

The Cayuga County Sheriffs Office is continuing to investigate the crash.

Check back for updates.

***INCIDENT*** Cayuga County MVA Port Byron,Weedsport Rescue, Jordan and AMR Ambulance are going to Rt31 and CenterPort Rd for a two car mva. Posted by Cayuga/Seneca Fire Wire on Monday, February 8, 2021

Have a tip or a story idea? Contact Catie OToole: cotoole@syracuse.com | text/call 315-470-2134 | Twitter | Facebook

Recep Mirzan, a 63-year-old retired postman shares a moment with Garip, a female swan that he rescued 37 years ago, during their walk on the outskirts of Karaagac, in Turkey's western Edirne province, bordering Greece, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021. Mirzan found the swan, wounded with a broken wing, in an empty field and took her to his home to protect her from wildlife. Mirzan and Garip live in the man's farm and the swan follows the man whenever he is out of his pen, accompanying him when he is doing his chores around the farm or for his daily evening walks. (AP Photo/Ergin Yildiz)
The bodies of two young brothers who were allegedly mowed down and killed by an unlicensed driver remain in the morgue five weeks after the tragedy.

Sheldon, 6, and Shane Shorey, 7, died after Jacob Steven Donn, 25, allegedly lost control of his vehicle and crashed into them outside a public swimming pool in Wellington, New South Wales, on January 5.

Their funerals have been delayed because their father Joseph Shorey and mum Shayleen Frail are unable to agree on where, or even if, they should be buried.

Ms Frail, 34, - who was with her sons when they died and suffered serious injuries - wants them to be buried close to her in Wellington.

But Mr Shorey, who now lives in Queensland, wants them to be cremated so both parents - and also their older brother - can share the ashes of the two boys.

Joseph Shorey (left) and Shayleen Frail (right) remain at odds over the best way to lay their two sons Sheldon, 6, and Shane Shorey, 7, to rest almost five weeks after a car crash in New South Wales that claimed their lives

Sheldon (left), 6, and Shane (right), 7, were killed when an out-of-control car allegedly driven by Jacob Steven Donn, 35, ploughed into them on Warne Street, Wellington, on January 5

Police allege Donn was performing burnouts on Warne Street in his red Holden (pictured) when he lost control, mounted the gutter and hit the group of five pedestrians

A costly legal battle in the Supreme Court is now underway as the boys' bodies remain in a Newcastle morgue.

'All we want now is to have a cremation so we can have their ashes and spirits with us. I'm not wanting to bury the kids up here, because it's a long distance from her family. I want a cremation where we both get to have the boys with us and have them close,' Mr Shorey told The Dubbo News.

Members of the public donated about $25,000 to help with the boys funeral costs.

But with the matter set to go before court on February 17, Mr Shorey said he has used a portion of the money on legal bills.

'It's there for the funerals, but I'm off work at the moment so we've paid a couple of bills out of it too,' Mr Shorey said.

'I spoke to the person who set it up and they said "yeah make sure you're paying the bills so you're not losing your house and that".'

Donn is facing a total of 14 charges, including dangerous driving occasioning death and drug possession

The grieving father was laid off from his coal mining job in December and says he's now struggling to provide for his remaining family.

Despite the tragedy occurring in Wellington, the boys had only spent a few years of their lives there.

Shane was born in Dubbo in 2011, before they moved to Mudgee ahead of Sheldon's birth in 2014.

They moved to Wellington two years later, but Ms Frail would spend almost two out of the next four years in prison.

This led to Mr Shorey moving up to Queensland with his three boys.

The boys' father Joseph Shorey (pictured in blue) made an emotional visit to the scene a day after the crash, having driven through the night from his Queensland home

Mr Shorey lays a hand on the broken black fence that Donn's red Holden allegedly ploughed through

The crash happened just outside the Wellington Aquatic Leisure Centre (pictured) where Ms Frail was intending to take her sons, and two other boys, for a swim

But Ms Frail told Nine News her sons must be buried in Wellington.

'Wellington most definitely was and still is their home, they started off their little lives here,' she said.

'They need to come home, they need to be buried here in Wellington where they are loved, where their family is.'

Donn has been charged with 14 offences including dangerous driving causing death, negligent driving causing death and drug procession.

He is yet to enter a plea and remains behind bars on remand.

He is due to appear in court in March.

More than $25,000 has so far been raised to help fund the funerals for Shane and Sheldon via generous
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9)  The new armed forces chief described as alarming and very irresponsible Chinas new law that allows its coast guard to fire at foreign vessels entering disputed waters in the South China Sea.

Iyong pronouncement ng China na their coast guard can open fire on people intruding into the territory  it is very alarming po iyan. I should say it is a very irresponsible statement dahil ang ating kababayan ay hindi pumupunta sa disputed area para makipag-giyera kung hindi maghanapbuhay, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Cirilito Sobejana told a briefing on Tuesday.

[Translation: The pronouncement from China that their coast guard can open fire on people intruding into the territory  it is very alarming. I should say it is a very irresponsible statement because our countrymen dont go to the disputed area to wage war but to earn a living.]

Because of the perceived threat brought about by the new measure, Sobejana said they will increase visibility in contested areas through the deployment of more naval assets. But he was quick to clarify that our navy presence there is not to wage war against China, but to secure our people.

The Philippines recently filed a diplomatic protest over the law that took effect this month, with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin saying it is a verbal threat of war to any country that defies it.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, however, allayed fears about the new law. He said it was crafted to crack down on extremely vicious crimes only.

Last month, Larry Hugo, a long-time fisherman, told CNN Philippines he was blocked by a Chinese coast guard ship while on his way to a regular fishing area near the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island, which is part of the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea. He said he got scared and turned back.

China insists on owning almost the entire South China Sea, despite a 2016 ruling of a tribunal constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and backed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. The landmark decision invalidated Chinas "nine-dash line" claim and recognized the Philippines sovereign rights in areas in the West Philippine Sea, which Beijing contests.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Arc Publishing today announces that United Arab Emirates-based media company International Media Investments has selected Arc's digital experience platform to power digital publishing for its portfolio of English news sites, starting with its flagship publication, The National, which reaches more than 9 million English-speaking readers daily around the world through its 6 digital editions. With this, Arc expands into the Middle East and serves customers in 24 countries worldwide.

"Arc's industry-leading, cloud-based platform and advanced capabilities continue to drive digital growth and transformation for publishers, broadcasters and brands around the world. With an intuitive design and seamless integration, Arc enables organizations to get up and running quickly even with a remote workforce," said Scot Gillespie, CTO and GM of Arc Publishing. "We are extremely pleased to support IMI in their digital expansion and look forward to collaborating with their engineering team to implement Arc."

With additional launches planned later in the year, Arc will serve as a strategic partner to IMI in their strategy to rapidly innovate, modernize and expand the reach of their news sites as they establish themselves as the authoritative source for news on the Middle East.

"As The National continues its global expansion by adding more journalists around the world in key locations, we are also delighted to announce that Arc will become our core content management and publishing platform. Arc will further help enable our future digital growth as we continue our journey to being the number one source of quality Middle East news and analysis," said Alan Griffin, Head of Digital at The National.

About Arc Publishing

Arc Publishing (https://www.arcpublishing.com/) is an award-winning, state-of-the-art digital experience platform and suite of tools that's engineered to meet the demands of modern publishers, brands and broadcasters around the world. Built by The Washington Post, Arc technology handles complex multi-site publishing and audience needs across video, web, apps, subscriptions and ad monetization, providing a competitive advantage enhanced by a set of sophisticated machine learning and AI-powered tools. Arc has powered the digital transformation of clients both large and small across the globe, currently serving 1,400 sites in 24 countries that reach more than 1.5 billion unique visitors monthly. At its core, Arc is about speed and innovation: for readers, newsrooms, brands, advertisers and developers.

About The National

The National was founded in 2008, setting a new standard for quality journalism in the Middle East. The National reaches more than 9 million influential, English-speaking readers daily, delivering the latest in news, business, arts, culture, lifestyle and sports, while leading the region in analytical content and commentary. The National has been extensively awarded for its design, reporting, photography, and video work, while its indisputable reputation for excellence appeals to business leaders and decision-makers. Publishing across all digital platforms, The National harnesses the latest multimedia tools while continuing to produce a print edition six days a week in the United Arab Emirates. The National is the destination to understand the Middle East at a time when the region has never been more important.

The National is owned by International Media Investments FZ LLC and can be found online at www.thenationalnews.com and online app stores at TheNationalNews. Content from The National can also be accessed on all major social media platforms: Twitter/ Facebook/ LinkedIn: @TheNationalNews and Instagram: @TheNationalNews.com

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A Nevada couple who divorced in 1965 has rekindled their romance and remarried  59 years to the day after their first wedding.

Vietnam veteran Dennis Reynolds and his wife Diane, both 77, were junior high sweethearts who first tied the knot right after high school graduation in 1961  but after two kids and four years of marriage, they called it quits and went their separate ways.

Over the following five and a half decades, Dennis and Diane both remarried, had more kids, and lived totally different lives before fate and a telephone call drew them back to one another.

Reunited! Dennis Reynolds and his wife Diane, both 77, have remarried 55 years after they divorced

Looking back: They tied the knot the first time in 1961, five months after high school graduation. They were both 18

The lovebirds first met at just 13 years old when they were both students at Sun Valley Junior High in Los Angeles.

'For me, it was love at first sight,' Dennis told Fox News. 'I think Diane was curious because I was a hillbilly from Oregon.'

'He had a cute accent,' Diane added. 'I mean, we were only kids. We were like 13. We were going steady when we started to see each other  that was a big deal then, you know?'

'I used to take her to the movies all the time,' Dennis said, speaking to People. 'We'd hold hands in the movies.'

They continued to date while attending different high schools, and five months after graduation, they got married on Nov. 11, 1961. They were both 18.

Together, the two quickly welcomed two sons: Curtis, who was born in 1962, and Keith, who was born in 1963.

But it wasn't long before the pair drifted apart and decided that things weren't going to work  and in 1965, they divorced.

So young: The lovebirds first met at just 13 years old when they were both students at Sun Valley Junior High in Los Angeles

Military service: Dennis is a Vietnam veteran (pictured in his uniform)

In the intervening years, both moved on and lived full lives. Dennis remarried twice, first to Bonnie in 1969 (who died in 2000) and then to Cher in 2001 (who died in 2018).

Diane, meanwhile, married John in 1967. He died in 1981.

Diane also had four more kids, but tragically, the two she and Dennis shared died young: Curtis passed at age 38 in 2001 as a result of injuries he sustained in the military, while Keith died by suicide at age 25 in 1989 after he contracted AIDS.

Though Dennis and Diane shared kids and grandchildren, the two barely kept in touch over the years.

But in the summer of 2019, they were both single and thinking that they'd like companionship.

'After about a year or so of being by myself, you know, I had family and my kids, but I was lonely,' Dennis admitted.

Together, the two welcomed two sons: Curtis, who was born in 1962, and Keith, who was born in 1963

Split: But it wasn't long before the pair drifted apart and decided that things weren't going to work  and in 1965, they divorced

Diane insists she didn't think much of Dennis over the years, but he never stopped loving her

Diane, meanwhile, had fallen on her way to work and was put on disability  and she prayed for a relationship to help her through.

'I wasn't recuperating very well, and I said, "God, I'd like to have a relationship with somebody,"' she recalled.

'And the next day, Dennis called me. 'I said, "God, couldn't you have done a little better than that?"'

Dennis had just called Diane to check in on her, but the two continued to talk. After several calls, Diane, who at the time lived in Washington, DC, decided to pay Dennis a visit.

She flew to Las Vegas to see him and her daughter, who happened to live nearby. While her daughter was at work, Dennis took her out, showing her around town and taking her to lunch.

Take two: The two got remarried on November 11, 2020, 59 years to the day after their first wedding

Time and wisdom: Both widowed, they'd reconnected when Dennis reached out

The two had a great time.

Diane says that she had hardly been pining away for her ex  in fact, she didn't even really think of him  but spending time together once again changed things.

'He just really melted my heart,' Diane admitted. 'Call it fate, call it whatever you want, but we just feel like it was probably meant to be.'

Dennis, meanwhile, insists he never stopped loving Diane.

'It was kind of exciting to get back together and fill in all of those gaps. During those 50 years, we were both in different directions,' Diane said.

By February 2020, the rekindled couple were going strong, and Diane moved across the country to be with Dennis.

In love: By February 2020, the rekindled couple were going strong, and Diane moved across the country to be with Dennis

'I think that we both matured and blossomed and learned a lot,' Diane said. 'We both were very successful for what we had been through'

'Our kids thought we were crazy,' Diane said in a video for Veterans United Home Loans.

Just over a year after reconnecting, the couple got remarried on their original wedding anniversary, November 11  59 years after their first wedding.

'I think that we both matured and blossomed and learned a lot,' Diane said. 'We both were very successful for what we had been through.

'When we got back together, it was just wonderful because we had that simplicity again, and we had the money, the maturity that we could go out and do some fun things.'

Dennis says that he is 'excited about the future,' gushing that the best part of being back together is 'waking up and seeing her every morning.'
Two men charged with painting graffiti condemning Irish Sea border checks in a Northern Ireland port town have been granted bail.

Mechanic William Donnell (21) and farm labourer Mitchell Leeburn (25) appeared at Coleraine Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Donnell, from Belfast Road in Larne, and Leeburn, from Deerpark Road, Kilwaughter, both face eight counts of criminal damage and a further count of possessing an article, namely spray paint, with intent to damage property. All the alleged offences occurred in Larne on Saturday.

The charges relate to graffiti at a variety of locations in the town, including on several retail outlets, NI Housing Executive properties, a Roads Service road sign, a number of walls and a billboard.

Police objected to bail on the grounds the two accused could commit offences if released.

District Judge Peter King granted bail with several conditions attached, including a night-time curfew and a prohibition on entering Larne town centre.

The accused, who appeared via video-link from a PSNI station in Antrim, having been in custody since Saturday, spoke only briefly to confirm they understood the charges.

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Inspections on animal-based food produce arriving at Belfast and Larne ports were suspended last Monday amid concerns over the safety of staff.

That came after separate graffiti threatening port staff appeared last month.

Officials from Mid and East Antrim Council, Stormont's Department of Agriculture and the EU Commission all stopped working at the facilities, which carry out checks required as part of Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol.

Environmental health staff from Mid and East Antrim Council returned to their duties at Larne Port on Friday. It has not been confirmed when the other officials, who work at both Larne and Belfast, might return to work.

On Monday, a detective constable told Judge King he could connect the men accused of the graffiti to the charges.

The officer said the PSNI was opposing bail amid concerns the pair could commit offences if released.

"There's been 22 incidents of criminal damage in relation to the EU exit in Northern Ireland since the 1st of January this year," he said.

He referred to the "political fallout" since Brexit.

"There has been heightened tensions in the area of Larne that has resulted in checks in Larne being stopped due to the perceived threat," he said.

The judge made clear there was no evidence before court that the two accused had anything to do with those threats.

The officer said there had been eight separate incidents of graffiti in one night and the only reason the perpetrators stopped was because "police chased them".

The detective constable said the graffiti included "target signs".

Barrister Aaron Thompson, representing the two accused, suggested the target sign was painted by altering the vowel "O" within a word.

The judge responded: "I think it's slightly beyond that.

"It's a separate character as opposed to a vowel inside the graffiti."

The judge said police had provided him with an album of images of the graffiti, adding that the slogans included "All bets are off", "Larne says no to Irish Sea border", "We do not support the Irish Sea border" and other variations on the same theme.

Mr Thompson said Donnell had offered an explanation to police as to why spray paint had been found in his car when it was searched by officers.

"He's a mechanic and he said it wouldn't be in any way unusual for him to have access to spray paint and he's denied the matters," he said.

Bail was set at 500 for each accused.

The case will be heard again at Ballymena Magistrates Court on March 25.
A sales executive who sold highly combustible cladding to Grenfell Tower has said her training focused on sales targets but did not tell her the product was flammable.

Deborah French, UK sales manager for US firm Arconic, told the Grenfell Inquiry today that her induction involved a 'strong focus' on sales but 'very limited' technical specifics on the products.

She was tasked with selling cladding panels with a polyethylene (PE) core and others with a fire retardant (FR) core.

The inquiry's first phase concluded that it was the thousands of square feet of Arconic's Reynobond PE panel which were a 'source of fuel' for the fire which killed 72 people in June 2017.

Richard Millett QC, lead counsel to the inquiry, questioned Ms French about the week of training she received in Merxheim, France, upon joining the company in 2007.

Deborah French, UK sales manager for US firm Arconic, told the Grenfell Inquiry today that her induction involved a 'strong focus' on sales but 'very limited' technical specifics on the products. She started working for the company in 2007 and left in 2014

Richard Millett QC, lead counsel to the inquiry, questioned Ms French today

He asked her: 'Did anybody ever give you a technical introduction to the products that you were to sell?'

She replied: 'I had an overview of the products but I wouldn't say that I had in depth technical overview, no.'

The QC asked: 'Do I understand that there was a strong focus on sales in that training session?'

'Yes there was,' answered Ms French.

Prior to joining Arconic, Ms French's background was in sales  she started selling aluminium sheets to contractors for Alcan straight after leaving school in 1983.

Ms French said she had no relevant formal qualifications and no knowledge of cladding before she started working for the American firm.

She told the inquiry that she never had discussions with customers about the combustibility of the cladding nor did she ever consider that the height of a building was relevant.

'I didn't have conversations with customers about the combustibility of it. It's not something that I was asked, it's not something that I would have felt comfortable with, I haven't got the technical knowledge to be able to do that. I would have sought further advice to have been able to do it,' Ms French said.

'Conversations about fire were just not something that happened. They weren't part of the everyday discussions, it didn't come from any part of the process of the people involved in the chain.'

Mr Millett asked Ms French whether she was given any training by Arconic to help her 'fill in the gaps' of her knowledge and experience.

She told the QC she was not provided with any, learning most of it on the job but that in any case, most of what the customers were interested in was the aesthetics of the material.

Mr Millett asked: 'Did anyone give you a focus on UK related regulations?'

Ms French replied: 'I don't remember receiving any.'

She added: 'I remember having training on the product but I don't specifically remember having fire training on the product.

'My knowledge on the technical side was very limited. I was basically taking (for granted) that the product that I was being given to go and promote in the UK was suitable for the UK market.

'I didn't have the background or the technical knowledge to question the product any further.'

Ms French said that she took it on good faith that a company like hers would not be selling anything that was in breach of regulatory standards.

She told the inquiry: 'Working for an organisation like Arcoa (now Arconic) I didn't even question, it never even entered my head whether it (the cladding) was or wasn't suitable.

'As far as I was concerned it was a product that was being used and they were a big known company and it was all perfectly suitable for what it needed to do in the UK.'

Claude Wehrle, a technical manager who trained Ms French, told the inquiry in writing that she would have had the relevant technical aspects explained to her during her 'on-boarding process.'

Ms French is the first Arconic employee to appear as a witness before the inquiry, others including Claude Schmidt, CEO of the firm's European subsidiary, are due to appear.

Three former employees, including Mr Wehrle, are refusing to give evidence.

Mr Wehrle and Gwenaelle Derrendinger, who live in France, and Peter Froehlich, based in Germany, claim they will be at risk of prosecution in France if they speak to the public inquiry.

A huge fire engulfs the 24 story Grenfell Tower in Latimer Road, West London, on June 14, 2017

Speaking at the start of Tuesday's session, Mr Millett said: 'Each of these witnesses has been given a final chance to decide whether or not to come to give evidence to the inquiry.

'They still refuse to come to assist you, I regret to say.'

Mr Millett said their refusal cites the so-called French Blocking Statute (FBS), which bans people from disclosing documents or information of an economic, commercial, industrial, financial or technical nature with a view to establishing evidence in foreign judicial or administrative proceedings.

The French authorities disagree with this.

Reading from a note received by the inquiry in December, Mr Millett said: 'The French authorities do not share the position that the blocking statute constitutes an obstacle to the examination of Arconic's employees before the inquiry.'

However the note did not offer the witnesses immunity from prosecution, as that is deemed a matter for the French courts.

Mr Millett went on: 'Since this inquiry is not a court, and cannot determine a person's civil or criminal liability, it appears to the inquiry to be very doubtful that the FBS has any application to any evidence given to the inquiry.'

He added: 'The inquiry's position is that the refusal of these witnesses to come and give evidence is unreasonable.'
Modi said in the Rajya Sabha that the Congress should take pride that he had to do what the former prime minister wanted

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defending the Centre's new agriculture-related laws in Parliament on Monday, quoted his predecessor Manmohan Singh on the need for reforms in the farm sector.

Modi said in the Rajya Sabha that the Congress should take pride that he had to do what the former prime minister wanted.

Interestingly, through these remarks, Modi was essentially repeating an argument that was first made by a prominent former spokesperson of the Congress party  Sanjay Jha.

In an article for The Times of India on 30 September, Jha (who had been suspended from the party less than three months earlier) had said that by opposing the farm laws, the Congress was "saying goodbye to Manmohanomics".

He pointed that Congress had pitched for similar reforms as part of its 2019 poll promises, and opined that the party should instead claim the credit by citing its own manifesto commitment.

Indeed, Congress seems to be struggling to reconcile its present position with its earlier contradictory stands on the same issues.

A look back at the Congress' manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha election helps to shed light on Jha's contentions. In the document, the party had promised to replace the Essential Commodities Act by an enabling law that can be invoked only in the case of emergencies. The party had also promised to repeal the Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC) Act. The possible dismantling of the APMC system is precisely the fear that protesting farmers have expressed in response to the new laws.

However, Congress continues to stridently oppose the Centre's three new farm laws. The party has set a timeline for its state units to launch campaigns against the legislation and report back to the central leadership.

KC Venugopal, Congress' general secretary-in-charge of organisation, has also called for block-level conventions on the farm laws to be organised before 10 February.

An article by Hindustan Times also quotes a letter sent by Venugopal to state party chiefs as saying that they should organise district-level padayatras before 20 February.

It is also clear that Congress' present position is to seek a complete rollback of the laws and not merely pushing for amendments to protect the interests of cultivators. The party's foremost leader, Rahul Gandhi, said as much on 19 January, when he asserted at a press conference that the 'only solution' to the current impasse is repealing the legislations.

However, with the prime minister himself laying emphasis on the Congress' own support for even more radical measures than the ones it is opposing now, the grand old party could find itself pushed to a corner.

Of course, Congress is not the only party that can be accused of political hypocrisy. As Sanjay Jha further pointed out in the article quoted above, the BJP is now allowing the very reforms that it vociferously opposed in the UPA years  such as FDI in multi-brand retail. The BJP, after coming to power, has also pushed ahead with UPA-era initiatives such as GST, Aadhaar, and MGNREGA, despite criticising them at that time.

Nevertheless, the BJP's criticisms on foreign direct investment and MGNREGA are now much more distant memories, as compared to the Congress' manifesto for the 2019 parliamentary polls. That, combined with the Congress' present insistence on total repeal of the farm laws, makes the grand old party particularly vulnerable to charges of political opportunism.
Egypt will host another meeting of the National Palestinian Dialogue in March to discuss the upcoming steps to be taken for the elections of the National Council in Palestine, the Palestinian factions and groups participating in the National Palestinian Dialogue in Egypt announced on Tuesday.

According to a statement released following two days of talks in Cairo, the Palestinian factions and groups agreed to hold national elections based on a Palestinian presidential decree issued on 15 January 2021 to elect a new legislative assembly (Parliament) followed by presidential elections to complete the formation of the National Council.

The parliamentary elections are set to be held on 22 May and the presidential elections have been set for 31 July.

The statement said that the upcoming Cairo-based meeting will focus on finding a consensus on the criteria and procedures needed to complete the formation of the New National Council, as well as to empower and improve the Palestinian Liberation Authority.

The statement continued that the parties involved are committed to the agreed upon timetable for the parliamentary and presidential elections and that they will be held in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza without any exclusion and with a commitment to respect the results of those elections.

An "Elections cases court will be formed to supervise the elections and rule in all its matters and cases. The Palestinian police force will also exclusively secure the polling stations in Gaza and the West Bank. The statement also added that it will find a way to secure the elections process in Jerusalem.

The statement announced the immediate release of all political prisoners who were detained due to tensions between the factions or for speaking out against the governments in the West Bank and Gaza.

The statement also announced that political parties will have the freedom to campaign for the coming elections without being impeded by the security authorities of the West Bank and Gaza, who have been instructed to remain impartial.

The factions have also agreed to delegate the issue of Palestinian detainees at Israeli occupation prisons to the upcoming parliament.

In their statement, the parties and figures involved in the meeting thanked Egypt and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for their efforts in supporting and sponsoring the Palestinian National Dialogue.

The statement called on Egypt to follow up on the agreement between the factions to carry out the elections in all its stages.

On Tuesday, per the directives of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza was opened to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

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-Supreme Court sentences ex- Defense Minister

Liberia's Supreme Court has upheld a lower court's ruling but with modification, convicting ex-President Ellen Johnson - Sirleaf's longest serving Defense Minister, now Lofa County Senator - elect Mr. Brownie Samukai and two other former defense officials for the unauthorized spending of soldiers' pension money.

In a ruling Monday, 8 February at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia, the Supreme Court sentenced former Minister J. Brownie Samukai, his deputy Joseph P. Johnson and Mr. James Nyumah Dorkor to serve a term of two years each in a common jail.

After initially being given a suspended sentence by the Criminal Court "C" last year, Mr. Samukai later in December 2020 won the Senatorial election in Lofa County, but has not been seated yet in the Senate due challenges brought against the election results by his rival.

All three officials were last year adjudged guilty by the lower court of the crimes of misuse of public money, a felony of the first degree, theft of property for over a million USD, a felony of the second degree, and criminal conspiracy.

However, the Supreme Court ruled in the corruption case Monday that the sentences shall be suspended provided that the convicted officials shall restitute the full amount of US$1.147,656m or (pay) 50 percent within the period of six months, and following that, make appropriate arrangement to pay the remaining percent in one calendar year.

Should the defendants fail on these mandates, the Supreme Court says they shall be incarcerated in common jail and remain there until the full amount is paid. In its judgement, the Supreme Court says every withdrawal from the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) Pension Account should have been by authorization or consent of the AFL soldiers.

The Court therefore says the unrelated expenses of US$1.147,656m on the instruction of former President Sirleaf was without the pale of the law, and the appelants (defendants) are held personally liable for the unauthorized expenditure on the account.

Last year, Criminal Court "C" Judge Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay sentenced Samukai and his deputy Joseph P. Johnson to two years suspended imprisonment, provided that they resituate the whole or substantial amount of the judgment sum within six months and stipulate restitution of the balance within 12 months.

Further, Judge Gbeisay had sentenced the third defendant James Nyumah Dorkor to a suspended six months imprisonment, provided that he resitutes his share of the judgment sum in whole or in substantial part in six months and files a stipulation to pay the balance in 12 months.

Announcing the sentences Thursday, 23 April 2020, Judge Gbeisay recalled that the court, following a regular trial, adjudged all the three defendants guilty of the crimes of misuse of public money, a felony of the first degree, theft of property for over a million USD, a felony of the second degree, and criminal conspiracy.

The three former Defense Ministry officials had been awaiting sentencing after they were convicted through a bench trial for allegedly misusing funds generated through deducting the salaries of officers of the Armed Forces of Liberia for saving into a compulsory retirement funds account established in 2009.

Judge Gbeisay said he was suspending Samukai and Johnson's two years sentence provided that they elect to make restitution, as failure on their part the convicts would have served the full two years sentence.

Further, Judge Gbeisay said though defendant James Nyumah Dorkor elected to reserve the right to the privacy of his health status, the court, considering his physical condition and his minor role in the commission of the crime, sentenced him to six months imprisonment.

Judge Gbeisay added that the six month sentence for Dorkor was also suspended, but warned that failure for the defendant to restitute, he shall serve the full six months in common prison and make restitution.

The judge explained that under Chapter 50.5 and Chapter 15, Section 15.4 of the Penal Law, misuse of public money is a felony of the first degree with a maximum prison term of 10 years.

Under the provision, he said theft of property in which the value of the property exceeds 50,000.00 is a second degree felony with a maximum prison of five years respectively.

He continued that the minimum term of imprisonment not being stated, it is presumably left within the sound discretion of the trial court, giving due consideration to the fact and circumstances of the commission of the crimes and the defendants' previous records.

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Judge Gbeisay recalled that in the court's final judgment, it ordered the restitution of US$687,656.35 to the AFL retirement funds and US$460,000.00 to the Government of Liberia's account and further ordered the Probation Services Division of Montserrado County, to conduct a pre-sentence investigation of the defendants' conducts and file its report with the court in 14 days, in obedience to Chapter 31.5 of the Criminal Procedure Law.

Judge Gbeisay noted that the report was filed with the Clerk of the Court, adding that the synopsis indicated that it found no previous criminal record against any of the defendants.

However, he said it concluded that the crimes as charged and proven by the State post a national security threat to the nation, considering that the money, subject of the crimes, is for men and women of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
One conclusion that US President Joe Biden will have taken from his first few weeks in office is that resetting US foreign policy after four years of former president Donald Trump will not be easy.

In a major speech at the State Department, Biden declared that America is back diplomacy is back, even as he had tough things to say on China and Russia. He promised to stand up to the Chinese governments attacks on human rights, to push the Russian government to release the opposition activist Alexei Navalny, and to impose consequences for the military coup in Myanmar.

He had nothing to say on Iran and Israel. This might be a sign of upcoming difficulties and the complexity of achieving diplomatic breakthroughs on tough challenges like Iran without disturbing close allies like Israel.

But Biden used all the familiar vocabulary to reassure US allies. He called for defending freedom, upholding universal rights, respecting the rule of law and treating every person with dignity emphasising that these principles constitute our inexhaustible source of strength and Americas abiding advantage.

He also underlined the importance of addressing global challenges ranging from the Covid-19 pandemic to the climate crisis, saying that these challenges will only be solved by nations working together and in common.

The tone and language of the speech made clear that Biden understands the damage done by Trump, who was never mentioned by name. Weve moved quickly to begin restoring American engagement internationally, Biden said, because it is imperative to earn back our leadership position and to reclaim our credibility and moral authority.

Proclaiming a broad reset of US foreign policy, he declared that he would halt the withdrawal of US troops stationed in Germany, end support for Saudi Arabias military offensive in Yemen, and make support for democracy and human rights a cornerstone of US diplomacy.

The timing of Bidens visit to the State Department so early in his term was deliberate as it is a nod to his interest in foreign policy and his years as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Trump waited more than a year to visit the department, making his first appearance for the swearing-in of former secretary of state Mike Pompeo in 2018. He repeatedly assailed it as part of the deep state out to undermine his administration, and he unsuccessfully tried to slash its budget by up to 35 per cent.

Biden, by contrast, has chosen long-time confidant Antony Blinken as his secretary of state, aiming to reinvigorate an American diplomatic corps that had been demoralised under four years of Trump. Although his first nominations to senior positions have trended heavily toward political appointees, he has pledged to promote career staffers.

To that end, the Biden administration is set to name a long-time US diplomat to the Middle East, Tim Lenderking, as its special envoy in Yemen. The move comes as Biden is searching for a diplomatic end to the Saudi-led military campaign that has deepened humanitarian suffering in the Arabian Peninsulas poorest country.

Lenderking, a career foreign service member, has served in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other countries in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Announcing the ending of support for Saudi offensive operations in Yemen was Bidens biggest policy announcement during his speech. But despite his endorsement of international institutions, he left two key human-rights bodies dangling to the dismay of advocates.

As Biden trumpeted the US governments re-joining of the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organisation (WHO), he said nothing about re-engaging with the UN Human Rights Council, which Trump abandoned, or lifting Trumps sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), an affront to the rule of law, said Kenneth Roth, executive director of the US-based Human Rights Watch.

According to Roth, these were mistakes. With the UN Security Council often stymied by Russian and Chinese vetoes, the Human Rights Council has frequently been the most important source of multilateral pressure on highly abusive governments. And the International Criminal Court, which just hours before Bidens speech convicted a notorious commander of Ugandas brutal Lords Resistance Army, represents an international commitment to fight impunity for mass atrocities, he said.

For the US government to join with its democratic partners in defending human rights, re-engaging with these two core human-rights institutions should be a central part of the plan, he added.

Despite the welcome rhetoric, US allies in Europe know that resetting US foreign policy will take time and will be difficult because a lot has changed over the last four years.

Ending the civil war in Yemen is a common goal of the US and its European allies, for example, but there is no road map to try to achieve it.

More importantly, different countries move at different speeds and have different priorities. While the US, Italy, and Germany announced the cessation of military support for the Saudi Coalition in Yemen, the British government has not spoken yet despite pressure from MPs in the British parliament.

A UK government spokesperson told Al-Ahram Weekly that decisions on arms sales are a matter for each respective government. The UK takes its arms export responsibilities seriously, and we will continue to assess all export licenses in accordance with strict licensing criteria.

The spokesperson added that the UK is deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Yemen and will continue to work with the US and other allies to find a peaceful resolution. We are actively supporting UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths to reach a political solution and have pledged almost 1 billion of UK aid to the humanitarian response since the conflict began.

Unlocking one problem in the Middle East could lead to a domino effect, and this may be the thinking behind Bidens team making efforts to restore the Iran nuclear deal.

Easing the tension with Tehran in the early days of the administration could play a significant role in the peace process in Syria and Yemen.

Iran and America could benefit if they follow the Persian proverb that the wise man sits on the holes in his carpet. But after four years of Trump, there are many holes in the Iranian carpet, including disagreements between reformists and conservatives about conditions for returning to the nuclear agreement and how to deal with western demands to widen it and expand its time range.

There is a difficult economic situation in Iran and a health emergency that needs immediate care. There are also a lot of holes in the American carpet, and the Biden administrations efforts to end the wars in Yemen and Syria could need an Iranian helping hand.

As a result, the logjam between Tehran and Washington about who should take the first step towards returning to the nuclear deal represents a challenge, but it is one that can be overcome because Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Biden have a lot to lose if they fail.

Britain, Germany, and France have told Iran that it no longer has the right to set conditions because it has backed away from its obligations just like America has reneged on its obligations.

Despite the eagerness in London, Berlin, and Paris, Tehran will not be given an easy ride in reviving the nuclear deal. British priorities remain preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability, promoting stability and security in the region, securing the release of UK nationals, and keeping the diplomatic door open for discussions on a new and more comprehensive deal.

There is relief in Europe that the talks between Tehran and Washington have started. Britain, France, and Germany have all welcomed Bidens commitment that if Iran returns to compliance with the deal, the US will re-enter the agreement, seeking to strengthen and extend it. In their view, this is an important opportunity to restart engagement and to realise the objectives of the nuclear deal.

The sooner the deal is restored, the better it will be, as there are deep concerns about Irans non-compliance with its nuclear commitments under the deal after Trumps withdrawal from it in 2018.

Europe will be reasonably happy with what Biden has to say about resetting US foreign policy. But no one in Europe will be under the illusion that the task will be straightforward.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 February , 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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THE Moonlight Hope Charity has been feeding more than 30 children and 20 adults for the past six years at Kamanjab.

Willemina Kandume (50) started the soup kitchen, aiming to uplift the less privileged in her community by providing them with three meals a week.

She says this is near impossible due to a lack of support.

"I feed them twice a week although my aim is at least three warm meals a week. I started the soup kitchen with my N$1 300 I disability grant from the government," Kandume says.

The children she feeds are either vulnerable, orphaned or live with disabilities, she says. Kandume says the unemployment rate is high at Kamanjab and some parents struggle to provide their children with proper meals.

She says she has approached several businesses, which have assisted her with chips and clothes. The mother of two adult children says she has approached some local schools for mealie meal.

"We have to look after our children and feed them as they are the future generation. Future leaders deserve a proper meal," she says.

Kandume also hosts a girls' club, which advises teenage girls how to take care of themselves.

"I am not excluding boys, but girls are vulnerable, so I advise them on life, the dangers that lurk around them, and why it's important to take their education seriously," she says.

She says she plans to also start a boys' club in the future.

Kamanjab constituency councillor Nico Somaeb says his office acknowledges the existence of the Moonlight Hope Charity soup kitchen.

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"We know of its existence. Kunene Regional Council officials visited the project for assessments and to see it can to be assisted if funding is available," he says.

Somaeb says he plans to provide Moonlight Hope Charity with a monthly contribution in his personal capacity, and the Kamanjab constituency councillor's office plans to donate pots.

"Moonlight Hope Charity stands in where there is a shortage of parental involvement. Kandume steps in, and she advises girls. She impacts others positively and gives that parental love to children," Somaeb says.

He says the Kamanjab constituency councillor's office will not hesitate to support such an initiative.

Businesses, farmers' associations and individuals are called upon to assist were they can.

Kandume operates the soup kitchen from her house and says she wants to build a hostel and kitchen for the children so that they can be accommodated and looked after on a daily basis.

The Moonlight Hope Charity soup kitchen needs food, cutlery, crockery and a gas stove.
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The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday approved the mechanism proposed by to distribute Rs 9,122 crore to unitholders of the six shuttered debt schemes of Mutual Fund.

The distribution mechanism was framed in consultation with the market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), and MF.

 MF will provide all assistance to SBI MF to distribute the available cash to respective unitholders, at the earliest, said a spokesperson for Franklin Templeton MF.

The apex court will next hear the matter on February 17 to consider other aspects of the appeal.





ALSO READ: Budget sops may spur up to 10% Mauritius funds to relocate to IFSC

In an order passed on February 2, the SC had directed the distribution of Rs 9,122 crore (distributable surplus as of January 15) to respective unitholders in proportion to their holdings in the schemes that have been wound up. The apex court had appointed SBI MF to undertake the distribution exercise.

The fund house had earlier stated that between April 24 and January 29, the six schemes under winding up had received Rs 14,391 crore from maturities, pre-payments, and coupons.

Part of this cash had been used to repay borrowings. The inflows received across six schemes were nearly 46 per cent higher than anticipated in the maturity profile published on April 23, 2020.

In April last year, the fund house decided to shut the six debt schemes citing redemption pressure and lack of liquidity in the debt market.
Congressman Tom McClintock spoke last week on the US House Floor.

McClintock was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

We are now nearly a year into the most self-destructive social experiment in the recorded history of human civilization.

On this day a year ago, we enjoyed the greatest economic expansion in our lifetimes. The poverty rate was the lowest in 60 years. The unemployment rate was the lowest in 50 years. Wage growth was the strongest in 40 years. The wage gap was narrowing, with blue collar wages growing the fastest. Unemployment rates for minority groups and women was the lowest ever recorded.

And then, over a course of just a few catastrophic weeks, our government took a wrecking ball to it all. In the second quarter, GDP plunged by a third  the worst decline in productivity ever recorded. Unemployment exploded to its highest levels since the great depression. Tens of millions of Americans lost their jobs. Trillions of dollars of the nations wealth were squandered.

In the months since, our children have been robbed of a year of their educations. Millions of Americans have been forbidden from earning a living by their own government. Shopkeepers have seen their lifes work destroyed and when in desperation they try to hold on, they are led away in handcuffs. Our most cherished rights to worship freely, to peaceably assemble, and not to be deprived of our lives, liberty, or property without due process of law have been destroyed.

Covid didnt cause this damage. Public officials did. They promised us it was for our own good  that it would save lives.

But mounting evidence in multiple scientific studies is putting the lie to these sophistries. It is becoming increasingly, tragically, and bitterly clear that the lockdowns have not only failed to save lives  but are costing lives.

Last month, the University of Denmark released the results of a study comparing Danish municipalities that locked down and those that did not. Their conclusion: the lockdowns had limited and statistically insignificant effects.

Their conclusion mirrored a similar study out of Stanford University that compared eight lockdown nations and two non-lockdown nations. They concluded: We fail to find an additional benefit of stay-at-home orders or business closures.

These are studies based not on assumptions and predictions, but on actual real-life hard-core data. This is what the science is telling us, and its telling us the same thing from multiple studies: the lockdowns have not saved lives  certainly not to any statistically significant level.

But it gets worse  much worse. We are now seeing mounting evidence that lockdowns are costing lives on a staggering scale.

Last month, the National Bureau of Economic Research warned that increases in poverty caused by the lockdowns will cost more than 800,000 American lives over the next 15 years due to higher poverty levels  with the deaths disproportionally affecting African Americans and women. That comports with a UN warning that tens of millions of people worldwide will be pushed to the brink of starvation.

Suicide rates have jumped dramatically over the past year. Dementia deaths between March and September jumped 13,000 as patients were left with little means of social interaction. San Francisco reported that additional deaths from drug overdoses exceeded Covid deaths in 2020.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the CDC reported 475,000 excess deaths in the United States at a time when it was reporting 281,000 Covid-related fatalities. The difference is 194,000 additional deaths unexplained by normal mortality and Covid combined. Could this be the butchers bill from a folly that has produced skyrocketing suicides, drug and alcohol deaths, domestic homicides, isolation-related deaths, delayed health screenings and delayed health treatments and poverty related deaths?

Unlike Covid, which is a curse brought us by nature, lockdown deaths are the fault of specific individuals in positions of public trust who imposed Draconian restrictions out of panic, ignorance, or egotism. They preened and virtue-signaled and boasted how much they cared for the lives of others while they have pursued a folly  never attempted in recorded history  that is needlessly taking an appalling toll of lives and livelihoods.

Some of those responsible hold power by virtue of appointments by elected officials. Others hold power directly from the voters. The American people ultimately must decide how much longer they will put up with this dystopian and authoritarian world. I fear this nightmare will not end until the officials who are responsible for it are removed from the offices they hold.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
She's one of 19 children in her family.

And Bringing Up Bates star Alyssa Webster added another little one to her household after giving birth to a baby girl on Tuesday, according to People.

The 26-year-old reality star was supported by her husband John as they revealed their daughter's name, Maci Jo, in the sweet announcement.

Bringing Up Bates star Alyssa Webster added another little one to her household after giving birth to a baby girl on Tuesday, according to People

Alyssa delivered their fourth child at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 9., with the newborn weighing in at 6 lbs., 3 oz., and measured 18 inches long.

'We couldn't be happier or more thankful to add a fourth little girl to our family,' the couple said in a statement. 'Maci Jo is perfect in every way and we can't wait to see the girls reactions to meeting her for the first time.'

John and Alyssa also have three daughters at home: Zoey Joy, two, Lexi Mae, four, and Allie Jane, five.

Bless: Alyssa delivered their fourth child at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 9., with the newborn weighing in at 6 lbs., 3 oz., and measured 18 inches long

'We praise God for a healthy labor and delivery and are very grateful Mommy and Baby are both doing well! We are enjoying these precious moments together!' they added in the statement.

The couple announced they were expecting in August following a few health scares when Alyssa had two procedures for a heart condition called superventricular tachycardia in April and August of last year.

'After having so many health scares last year and wondering if we would be able to have more children, God gave us a little surprise blessing,' she said

Family: John and Alyssa also have three daughters at home: Zoey Joy, two, Lexi Mae, four, and Allie Jane, five

The couple had first opened up about her heart condition on Instagram last April.

'For the past several months Alyssa has been having some irregular heart beats and we have been in and out of doctors offices and specialist to find the problem,' John said. 'They found that she had superventricular tachycardia (SVT) which can be fixed with an EP (electrophysiology) study procedure.'

While her ablation was successful, the condition returned, and Alyssa needed another six-hour procedure.

'My doctor said I have won the award for the worst case he's seen for SVT AVNRT,' she said at the time. 'He really thinks he fixed the problem this time (we just won't know for sure for a few more days) but I am so happy that I might be back to normal soon!'

Alyssa and John married on May 24, 2014, at Salem Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, and in November of that year she announced that she was expecting for the first time.
- Services arm 'NUOPTIMA' announced for accelerating highly regulated industries - Multiple healthcare and emerging industry firms join as new signees - Experienced product marketing and advertising executive Ruth Zohrer to join Alphagreen Group's Advisory Board

LONDON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alphagreen, Europe's leading marketplace for alternative healthcare products, has announced the launch of NUOPTIMA, their new services arm, following a 1.1m raise in seed funding last year.

As part of the Alphagreen Group, NUOPTIMA will help ambitious brands in emerging industries scale faster by providing a full-service growth platform. Key features of NUOPTIMA include:

Reach - SEO, influencer marketing, and paid traffic services

- SEO, influencer marketing, and paid traffic services Convert - Creative services, email marketing, and customer service

- Creative services, email marketing, and customer service Run - Set up and manage CMS, Omnichannel management, and distribution between U.S. and UK as well as UK and EU

With the launch of its new services arm, Alphagreen Group will be focused on helping emerging brands reach their audience faster, convert their visitors into customers, and make operations more cost-effective from a fulfillment and online services perspective.

At the time of public launch, NUOPTIMA already counts several healthcare and wellness brands as its clients, including Infused Amphora, Goodbody, VAAY, Mantle, and CBII (part of the H&H group) as well as fintech brand MarketFinance.

NUOPTIMA was trialled in 2020 with the scaling of Alphagreen.io. In just six months, Alphagreen grew to become Europe's largest CBD and Alternative Healthcare marketplace. With continued CBD and Cannabis market growth at 22% annually - projected to be $100 billion by 2026 - more companies are lining up to utilize the platform to take advantage of the industry's surge.

"By providing an end-to-end platform for brands, covering reach, conversion, accelerated growth, localisation, and fulfilment, we're streamlining a set of disciplines and processes for a booming industry," said Alexej Pikovsky, co-founder and CEO of Alphagreen. "We've seen incredible results with the growth of Alphagreen.io to European market leader, and we're eager to replicate and build on this success with some of the most exciting new startups in emerging healthcare."

To support the growth of Alphagreen Group's portfolio, experienced product marketing and advertising executive Ruth Zohrer has joined the company in an advisory capacity. Ruth was responsible for the buy-side services team for AppNexus (now Xandr) in Europe, and brings integral knowledge on building and scaling platform services to Alphagreen. Additionally, Ruth's wealth of experience in branding, media, and marketing strategy honed through several leadership roles within Mindshare - the Top Media Agency Network according to WARC - provides an indispensable advantage to Alphagreen's development in brand, advertising, and data proposition growth.

"I am delighted and honoured to join the advisory board of Alphagreen Group. Alphagreen's success at building and growing a direct-to-consumer marketplace proposition in a highly regulated industry in such a short timeline is a testament to the excellent capabilities that Alexej and the team have built in-house. The alternative healthcare space is an exciting industry, and I can't think of a team better placed to capitalise on its opportunity than Alphagreen." - Ruth Zohrer.

For additional information please contact:

Kevin Maxwell, Kevin@shift6.org, +44 7985 351 797 (UK and Europe)

Melissa Tirey, Melissa@shift6.org, +1 646 823 6776 (New York)

Rhian Humphries, Rhian@shift6.org, +1 408 412 2957 (West Coast)

About Alphagreen Group:

Alphagreen Group is an e-commerce platform and technology provider. The group is focused on emerging e-commerce verticals such as CBD, Medical Cannabis, Nootropics, and Sexual Wellbeing, alongside new exciting brands within the health, wellness and beauty space. Founded in 2019, Alphagreen was born from a passion for health and wellbeing, combined with technology and innovation. Alphagreen is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Alexej Pikovsky and Viktor Khliupko, who encourage you to "Alpha Up Your Life." Alphagreen was created to simplify the entire experience with alternative healthcare products along every step of the consumer journey.

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Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Britain is at growing risk of a chemical and biological attack due to a 'breakdown of world order' as states ignore international rules.

Wallace suggested the internet could be to blame for the increasing threat, amid fears those set on using chemical weapons against their opponents can find a wealth of information online.

He said Syria using chemical weapons on its own people was one example of such a breakdown.

There are now also growing concerns that states may be passing on information to proxies or terrorist groups, The Times reports.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (pictured) warned there is a growing risk of international chemical and biological attacks

Wallace said the threat was increasing due to a 'breakdown of world order', citing examples such as Syria using chemical weapons against its own people. Pictured: Top secret government laboratory Porton Down near Salisbury, Wiltshire

The Defence Secretary cited the Novichok poisonings in Salisbury as a further example of the threat nerve agents pose.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 69, and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with the Russian nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury in March 2018.

Both survived, though Mr Skripal, who was jailed in Russia in 2006 for selling secrets to MI6, required a tracheotomy and now breathes through a tube.

Wallace said: 'There has been a worry that some states think it is acceptable to use that type of method to carry out or further their aims.'

Two Russian nationals were accused of travelling to the Wiltshire city to murder Mr Skripal with Novichok.

The Skripals survived the attack, but the incident later claimed the life of Dawn Sturgess after she came into contact with a perfume bottle believed to have been used in the attack and then discarded.

Ms Sturgess' partner, Charlie Rowley, was left seriously ill but recovered.

The Defence Secretary said the attack in Salisbury demonstrated the need for more police officers to be trained to respond to chemical and biological attacks.

Wallace suggested the internet could be to blame for the increasing threat as people cam find a wealth of information about chemical weapons online. Pictured: Boris Johnson during a visit to Porton Down in November

The MP for Wyre and Preston North's concerns were echoed by Professor Tim Atkins, an expert at the Government's top secret Porton Down facility near Salisbury, Wiltshire.

The microbiologist, who has worked at the secretive laboratory for more than 24 years, said biological weapons are only just in the beginning stages of being invented.

But he fears it will be difficult to know currently how they will evolve - whether they could be used to make beneficial changes or used as a threat.

His words come as he also revealed this week that Porton Down researchers are trialling smart watch and wearable tech that is able to detect coronavirus.

Scientists in the labs are working on a new project which aims to use the data collected from technology, such as heart rate, movement and blood oxygen levels, to help identify patterns in those with the virus.

While the study is in its early stages, it is hoped that if successful it could identify coronavirus before someone feels ill.

Porton Down is working on a new project which aims to use data collected by technology, such as smart watches, to tell if someone has caught coronavirus

The research aims to catch the virus early, using data collected by sensors on the technology to identify patterns in those with Covid. The research, if successful, could detect coronavirus before someone feels ill. Pictured: Professor Tim Atkins speaking at Porton Down

The Defence, Science and Technology lab, has also been working on developing an artificial finger to research how effectively the virus transfers from a surface on to a finger.

It forms part of its wider work looking at the effectiveness of disinfectants.

Porton Down is also used to prepare the British military in the event of a possible chemical or biological attack.

If troops are headed for areas likely to use such methods, they attend the facility where they packed into an airtight space which has non-lethal tear gas pumped into it.

The gas was developed by researchers at the facility, which is the only place in the UK permitted to make chemical weapons, during the Cold War.

They have to stay within the room for a certain amount of time before they are allowed to put their masks on.

As part of their training they also learn how use general service respirators.

Previously there had been discussions to introduce anthrax vaccinations to all British troops but Wallace has ruled it out for now.

In 2018, then Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson considered the measures amid growing tensions between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Previously there had been discussions to introduce anthrax vaccinations to all British troops but Wallace has ruled it out for now

Anthrax is a deadly disease that comes in spray or powder form and is particularly lethal when inhaled.

It causes flu-like symptoms for a few days, which are usually followed by severe breathing problems, shock and often death.

Porton Down is the only location in the UK where people are permitted to make chemical weapons, such as nerve agents. The substances never leave the facility.

It houses and studies some of the deadliest pathogens in the world, such as anthrax, plague and Ebola.

At the facility they create small scale chemicals to ensure methods developed to ensure detection systems are working efficiently.

Scientists from Porton Down were brought in to identify the nerve agent, later found to be Novichok, during the Salisbury poisonings in June 2018.
Quarantined hotel quests on the balcony of the Peppers on Waymouth Hotel in Adelaide, Australia on November 18, 2020. (Kelly Barnes/Getty Images)

South Australia Opens Dedicated CCP Virus Quarantine Hotel

The South Australian (SA) government has taken over a new hotel in the heart of Adelaide as a special CCP virus facility for people who test positive to the novel coronavirus.

The government will continue quarantining returning Australians in hotels, but anyone confirmed to have the virus will be shuttled to Toms Court Hotel in Adelaide starting next week.

Health Minister Stephen Wade said this move marked a significant enhancement of the states quarantine system.

There is never zero risks of COVID-19 entering South Australia, and it is crucial we put as many shields as possible between the virus and the community, Wade said in a statement.

Under the new plan, the brand-new, 72-bed facility will be exclusively staffed by health staff and police who are not deployed to other high-risk locations, including hospitals, aged care homes, and correctional centres.

Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Emily Kirkpatrick said that the government chose Toms Court hotel after a comprehensive and selective process, involving health officials and police.

The facility includes four rooms with apartment-style facilities suitable to accommodate families and two purpose-built disability suites, with many of the rooms having balconies and opening windows providing fresh air to the rooms, Kirkpatrick said.

Most importantly, its central location will allow for a rapid transfer to the Royal Adelaide Hospital should it be required.

SA Health has made some modifications to heating ventilation and air-conditioning systems to ensure that the hotel meets their requirements, and installed more cameras to upgrade CCTV coverage. Additionally, quarantine staff will be able to lodge separate to their families.

All staff working in Toms Court will also still have access to a separate facility, so they have the option to rest away from their home and family if required, Kirkpatrick said.

The facility was promised last November after a hotel quarantine security guard picked up the virus and sparked a cluster in Adelaide.

The government initially signed up for a six-month agreement with Toms Court, and staff has had access from Monday to familiarise themselves with the site and enter training before admitting guests.

Currently those required to quarantine on entry to Australia are tested on days one, five, and 12.

However New South Wales has introduced a test on day 16 after a returned traveller tested positive two days after being released from quarantine.

SA is now also considering adding an additional test to pick up cases developed at the tail end of the isolation period.
The e-scooter industry is showing signs of embracing new tech. Watch for it to also become more consolidated, and maybe even, financially sustainable.Spin, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Co. , is deploying some 300 remote-operated scooters in Boise, Idaho. The devices include technology developed by Tortoise to allow a human operator thousands of miles away to guide the scooter to a proper parking and/or charging location. The technology frees up the need to have workers manually move the devices around. Later this year, Spin is expected to offer scooter hailing, which allows a rider to call the device and have it come to them, company officials say.Imagine, you want a scooter out front of your apartment everyday when you need it, or at your bus stop. Thats going to be possible within the year, said Ben Bear, chief business officer at Spin, explaining the development during a panel at the recent Micromobility World conference.Spin is also rolling out its Drover Technology, which alerts riders when they have taken the device on a sidewalk  a no-no in most cities. The scooter can also be programmed to power down when being operated on a sidewalk or other areas city officials have deemed off limits Micromobility continues to be an exciting category, said Julie Lein, co-founder and managing partner of the Urban Innovation Fund. I think that theres still a lot of room for innovation.I anticipate it will continue to grow post-pandemic, she added, during the Micromobility World conference.Scooter activity is returning on the mobility scene with a much higher demand than ever before, said Quemuel Arroyo, global head of community at Charge, a company focused on setting up public charging stations for e-scooters. This added and new interest in scooters is driven, in part, by lingering fears around the safety of using mass transit  even though transit is largely regarded as safe, with no COVID-19 outbreaks connected to transit.However, the industry is emerging from the nuclear winter brought on by the COVID crisis , he said, and is going to be even bigger than expected.Other industry observers are watching for more consolidation among scooter companies, if only because gobbling up competition is one sure way to ensure market dominance.Theres probably a bit more consolidation that will happen. And certainly, were not seeing as many units as we saw three or four years ago, said Sarah Smith, partner with Bain Capital Ventures.People have figured out, this is really hard to do. And you have to be at scale to get to unit economics, Smith added, during the conference.Despite the bells and whistles on scooters  which generally help operators more than users  riders care about reliability and the convenience of the service, according to analysts.So, whoever can pull that off the best  your scooter can be green, red, orange or yellow  I dont think thats the thing that makes people choose one or the other, said Smith. Its really the reliability, convenience, proximity and safety that matters the most.For its part, Charge is trying to make charging more convenient by expanding its footprint into apartment and office buildings, making it easier to charge either a shared scooter, or a personal device.Charge operates in Paris, and hopes to grow its presence across Europe. And with the green light for scooters in New York, the company aims to begin working with both the city as well as private building operators to locate scooter charging docking stations.Private, personal scooters are also quickly gaining adoption in urban areas, and those users will need locations to charge them, said Arroyo in an interview withlast month.Consumers may gravitate toward buying their own scooter, investor analysts speculate, but expect the market for devices to remain strong.People still buy cars, and people take Uber, and people rent cars, and people use car-share. So I think were going to see this whole stratification, said Kevin Talbot, co-founder and managing partner of Relay Ventures, an early stage venture capital fund, during the conference.
Last week, China toughened its language against Taiwan, warning that independence means war. A few days prior, the Taiwanese Defense Ministry reported 15 aircraft from the Chinese air force inside its air defense identification zone. This uptick in saber-rattling suggests the military challenge posed by China ( PDF ) will likely continue, making it one of the Biden administration's top priorities. Unlike the Trump administration, with its transactional approach to alliances, the Biden administration may find U.S. interests can be best served through strategic engagement with its allies, on this issue as elsewhere. In particular, part of the military challenge posed by China might be answered by turning to its longtime ally Japan and firming up one of the most intrinsic aspects of the United StatesJapan alliance: warfighting.

The U.S.-Japanese relationship has deep roots. Perhaps due to the cultural strength of pacifism in Japan or the legal limits on what Japan's Self-Defense Forces can do, however, the military aspect of the alliance has often been underemphasized in favor of broader strategic discussions about the stabilizing aspect ( PDF ) of the alliance or economic and diplomatic cooperation. Beyond calls for greater interoperability, the specifics of the alliance's military dimension are rarely highlighted despite the fact that the institutional relationship ( PDF ) between their militaries and defense establishments are extremely complex, with several areas of possible improvement.

The remainder of this commentary is available at warontherocks.com.

Ayushmann Khurrana has been busy shooting for Anubhav Sinha's Anek in North East. The actor recently decided to take a break from his schedule to have a blast with his family. From his social media updates, it looks like his trip to Assam became a mix of work and play. Accompanied by his wife Tahira Kashyap and their kids -- son Virajveer and daughter Varushka --they were spotted travelling in and around a jungle safari. The quartet visited Kaziranga National Park and are making the most of the gypsy life.

The 36-year-old actor shared a sun-kissed photograph featuring the family posing around a jeep. Ayushmann took to Instagram to share a glimpse of how his work life turned out to be fun. He wrote, "Gypsies of Kaziranga. Feb 2021.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk)

Tahira, on the other hand, spotted a moment between a mother and baby rhinoceros in the national park trudging around a picturesque landscape at sunset.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by tahirakashyapkhurrana (@tahirakashyap)

Last week, Ayushmann confirmed Anek as his new project and also presented his first look online. Touted to be an action thriller, Anek marks the second collaboration between director Anubhav Sinha and Ayushmann after Article 15 in 2019.

Ayushmann marked Safe Internet Day, on Tuesday, by sharing a few details about its significance. He shared a candid photo of girls sharing a laugh together looking at a phone. He made an attempt by sharing what one can do to be a part of the noble cause and make this world a better place. He urged his fans on the occasion to encourage children to explore the internet and look forward to their dreams and ambitions for a promising future.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk)

Ayushmann was last seen in Shoojit Sircars Gulabo Sitabo, co-starring Amitabh Bachchan. He recently wrapped up Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui helmed by Abhishek Kapoor. He will soon begin shooting for Doctor G.
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Badrinath temple in Uttarakhand opens portals after winter break, no pilgrims allowed due to Covid

93 NTPC workers missing, 39 still stuck in tunnel: Power Minister R K Singh

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

Chamoli, Feb 09: With the recovery of five more bodies on Tuesday, the death toll from the Uttarakhand glacier disaster rose to 31, even as a multi-agency operation to rescue around 35 workers feared trapped inside a swamped tunnel at the Tapovan power project in Chamoli district continued on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Union Power Minister R K Singh today said that 93 workers of National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) are still missing and 39 still stuck in the tunnel due to the avalanche.

"We are trying to reach them. We are planning to install Early Warning System as a precautionary measure against avalanche,' said R K Singh.

Singh also said that financial aid of Rs 20 lakhs will be given to deceased's family.

Union Home Minister Tuesday issued a statement in Rajya Sabha on the avalanche in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district and said all concerned agencies of Centre and State are monitoring the situation.

"450 jawans of ITBP, 5 teams of NDRF, 8 teams of Indian Army, a Navy team and 5 IAF helicopters are engaged in search and rescue operation," Shah said.

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

Informing that the Uttarakhand government had declared that there is no danger in the affected area, Amit Shah said that all the agencies are on alert and are working with full swing.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 16:24 [IST]

By Xiong Xing

The one-China policy has always been the political foundation for developing China-US relations. Still, the Biden administration hasn't yet made an official statement about its attitude toward this policy since it took office.

Until February 3, local time, when asked if the Biden administration supports the one-China policy at a regular briefing, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said "Yes...our policy has not changed"

Both Beijing and Washington are on the "wait-and-see" mode regarding bilateral ties. Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, expounded on China's position in a recent statement. He underscored China's concern over the Taiwan question, which involves China's core interests, and called for both China and the United States to restore the relationship to a constructive and predictable track of development.

Nevertheless, the Biden administration has kept toeing the red line since taking office, and the cross-Strait situation seems to be heating up again, with the US Navy's aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt sailing into the South China Sea via Bashi Channel.

The recent moves by the US indicate an apparent two-sidedness. On the one hand, it seems to be releasing goodwill signals to rebuild mutual trust with China and continue to work together in areas of common interests such as climate change. On the other hand, it has resumed the "strategic ambiguity" approach toward Taiwan to have it both ways and curb China's development by playing the so-called "Taiwan card".

During Trump's term, America's China strategy and policy changed drastically, which led to confrontation and conflicts in diplomatic, economic and trade, sci-tech, and many other fields, and intensified frictions and contradictions became the normal state of bilateral relation. In particular, the Trump administration signed several acts related to Taiwan, kept promoting arms sales to Taiwan, and even dispatched government officials to visit Taiwan, seriously trespassing the red line of China-US ties.

An overview of the views and statements on foreign policy by Biden himself and the key members of his team such as Blinken, Sullivan, and Campbell shows that the new administration's main objective on the diplomatic front is to repair the damages done by unilateralism, protectionism and isolationism forced by the Trump administration. Upholding pragmatism, the new administration will attach importance to multilateralism, work with allies, return to the international stage and rebuild Americas "global leadership".

As to its China policy, the future China-US relationship won't be as bumpy as that during Trump's term, but the US won't slacken its containment of China either, giving rise to a situation where contact and containment, competition and cooperation will coexist in parallel. In his first foreign policy speech delivered on February 4, Biden said China is America's "most serious competitor" and his country "are ready to work with Beijing when its in America's interest to do so".

It is foreseeable that the Biden administration will resume the strategic ambiguity approach to the relation across the Taiwan Strait. As far as national interests are concerned, pursuing maximal national interests is the core of Americas China policy, and its long-term goal is to keep the states of "no unification, no independence and no use of force" in Taiwan question. That way it can get to stay unscathed between the two sides and keep China at bay to the greatest extent possible.

(The author Xiong Xing is a senior researcher at the Center for Taiwan & East Asian Studies, Central China Normal University.)

Editor's note: This article is originally published on china.com.cn, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
Last weekend on behalf of a time-poor daughter who wants to buy her first home, I hopped in my car, opened a mapping app on my phone and went looking. As I travelled the streets, ticking off each place on her list of possibilities and checking again that the vendor really did want that seven-figure amount for that joint, I kept thinking of the Marx Brothers.

As I travelled the streets, I kept thinking of the Marx Brothers.

Their 1940 film Go West is not especially funny, but there is a great sequence near the end. Having commandeered a steam train and needing to get to their destination in a hurry, they use up all their fuel and in order to keep going, they strip all the wood from the carriages and feed it into the firebox. By the end of the journey, theres hardly anything trailing the engine except for bewildered passengers, still in their seats, exposed to the elements.

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More and more, the social and economic model we use to own the roofs that go over our heads resembles that sequence. The relationship between what most of us earn and what we have to pay for a house went beyond ridiculous probably 10 years ago. Soon, it will go past the absurd stage. As the nation emerges from the worst of the pandemic recession, it finds that its property market is going gangbusters. And the boom is not confined to the big cities; its in the regions and parts of the bush too.
Teenagers accused of breaking and entering, robbery or assault while on bail will be forced to prove why they should not be held on remand under law changes announced by Queenslands Premier.

Annastacia Palaszczuk conceded the community expects us to do more after high-profile incidents in the past two weeks pulled the youth justice system into the spotlight.

One, involving an allegedly intoxicated 17-year-old driver in a stolen car, led to the deaths of Matt Field, Kate Leadbetter and their unborn son Miles.

On Tuesday Ms Palaszczuk announced new measures to curb youth crime, four of which relate to bail.
GARDNER, Mass., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Precision Optics Corporation, Inc. (OTCQB: PEYE) (the "Company") today announced that it has scheduled a conference call to discuss second quarter fiscal year 2021 financial results on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 5:00pm ET.

The Company intends to release its financial results and to file its 10-Q after the close of the market on February 16, 2021 followed by the conference call.

Conference Call Details

Date and Time: Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 5:00pm ET

Call-in Information: Interested parties can access the conference call by dialing (844) 735-3662 or

(412) 317-5705.

Live Webcast Information: Interested parties can access the conference call via a live Internet webcast, which is available at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2109/39473.

Replay: A teleconference replay of the call will be available until February 23, 2021 at (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088, confirmation # 10151225. A webcast replay will be available at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2109/39473.

About Precision Optics Corporation

Precision Optics Corporation has been a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced optical instruments since 1982. Using proprietary optical technologies, the Company designs and produces next generation medical instruments, Microprecision micro-optics with characteristic dimensions less than 1 millimeter, and other advanced optical systems for a broad range of customers including some of the largest global medical device companies. The Company's innovative medical instrumentation line includes state-of-the-art endoscopes and endocouplers as well as custom illumination and imaging products for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures. The Company believes that current advances in its proprietary micro-optics and 3D imaging technologies present significant opportunities for expanding applications to numerous potential medical products and procedures. The Company's website is www.poci.com. Investors can find Real-Time Quotes and market information for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com/stock/PEYE/quote.

About Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that express the Company's intentions, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions or any other statements related to the Company's future activities or future events or conditions. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's business based, in part, on assumptions made by the Company's management. These statements are not guarantees of future performances and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including those risks discussed in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K and in other documents that we file from time to time with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report, except as required by law.

Company Contact:

PRECISION OPTICS CORPORATION

22 East Broadway

Gardner, Massachusetts 01440-3338

Telephone: 978-630-1800

Investor Contact:

LYTHAM PARTNERS, LLC

Robert Blum

Phoenix | New York

Telephone: 602-889-9700

[email protected]

SOURCE Precision Optics Corporation

Related Links

http://www.poci.com


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A convicted sex offender was arrested as he tried to blend in with a large group of immigrants who had crossed the border illegally, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Over the weekend, agents stopped two human smuggling attempts in commercial vehicles at Border Patrol checkpoints resulting in the arrest of 138 immigrants. One immigrant was identified as Juan Castro-Castro, a convicted sex offender.

WUHAN, China, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Yole Developpement, the internationally renowned market survey and strategic consulting firm, has launched its latest industry analysis entitled Thermal Imagers and Detectors 2020  COVID-19 Outbreak Impact  Preliminary Report. The report reveals that in 2020, the global infrared thermal imaging market exploded. Regarding shipments, U.S. company FLIR ranks first with a market share of 35%, with Guide Infrared ranking second with a market share of 17%. For the first time a Chinese manufacturer has landed in the top two, becoming the largest of its kind in China with the highest market share.

The outstanding performance in 2020 is due to Guide Infrared mastering its own intellectual property rights for infrared detectors, which boast the advantages of low cost and batch production, allowing the products to maintain excellent performance favored by customers in the global market.

After the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, the Automated Guide IR Fever Warning System was widely used in China, North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and South America, among other places, because of its advantages in large-range temperature screening, accurate measurement, and intelligence and high efficiency, creating a first line of security for global epidemic prevention and control.

At the same time, Guide Infrared has a complete infrared thermal imaging system composed of handheld thermal cameras, online thermal imaging systems, thermal imaging scopes for night observation, consumer-grade thermal cameras for smartphone, UAV photoelectric load and infrared thermal modules.

Yole Developpement has also predicted that by 2025, China will occupy a market share of 64% in the global thermal infrared imaging market. In the coming years, Guide Infrared will continue to focus on infrared technology giving it the capability to bring the benefits of its products to a wider range of people in the general public.

About Guide Sensmart

Guide Sensmart is the subsidiary of Guide Infrared (SZ.002414), the world leading infrared thermal imaging systems manufacturer. Thanks to our group company's 20 years experience in the infrared industry and mass production capacity, Guide Sensmart designs and delivers high quality, affordable thermal imaging products across the globe at scale quantity with the mission to make thermal imaging benefit the public. For more information, visit https://www.guideir.com (follow @GuideSensmart on facebook/Linkedin/Twitter/Youtube).

Website www.guideir.com

SOURCE Guide Sensmart
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Located in Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County, the Levan Center will concentrate on being the gateway and connector between entrepreneurs, leading companies, students, and potential investors in the region. It will offer incubator and accelerator programs for early-stage and young-startup companies; mentoring opportunities; a technology-focused makerspace; a showcase and pitch area; technology and innovation skills classes, and more. Additional programming will include access to a purpose-built cybersecurity training range, industry certifications, specialized workshops, seminars and short courses, industry leading speakers, boot camps, pitch sessions and hackathons complemented by a thoughtfully designed co-working space for people to collaboratively develop their skills. The Levan Center is a continuation of a long-standing public-private partnership with NSU and Broward County.

The Alan B. Levan|NSU Broward Center of Innovation has already launched virtual programming including scheduled panels and workshops focused on trends, challenges, opportunities, and strategies impacting the global startup ecosystem.

"My highest priority as Mayor is to bring high paying jobs to Broward County," said Steve Geller, Mayor of Broward County. "I will work with our friends and partners in the business community to accomplish this. The new Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation will help to provide the infrastructure to accelerate job growth, particularly in high-tech industries and other careers that require high levels of training and skill."

In addition to being ranked among the top locations in the country for entrepreneurial activity, Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County is home to a number of corporate headquarters and major operations including American Express, AutoNation, Chewy, Citrix Systems, Magic Leap, Microsoft, Modernizing Medicine, Motorola, and UKG (formerly Ultimate Software Group), just to name a few.

John Wensveen, Ph.D., NSU's Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director of Levan Center, is working on attracting and retaining industry-leading entrepreneurs, technology, sources of investment capital and seeking out resources to create a premier innovation center. He is cultivating mentors and developing the core programming to support the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem in Broward County and South Florida which includes a special focus on the defined targeted industries: aviation & aerospace, financial services, global logistics, headquarters, life sciences (health/medical), manufacturing, marine industries, and technology.

"This is a dream position and an opportunity for NSU to be a changemaker fostering an innovation mindset in Broward County and beyond, resulting in a hub of scientific, technology and innovation development," said Wensveen. "The Levan Center will connect students, faculty, staff and the community creating products, solutions and accelerate job growth in high tech industries that will drive revenue creation and investment opportunities."

Recently announced, the Alan B. Levan|NSU Broward Center of Innovation Board of Governors represents a wide range of leadership from well-known national corporations, organizations, university, and government. Together they will work together with Alan Levan, Chairman of the Board of Governors and Chairman of BBX Capital and Bluegreen Vacations, to oversee the infrastructure of the Levan Center.

Board of Governors include:

Ron Antevy  President & CEO, e-Builder

 President & CEO, e-Builder Ron Chenail  EVP & Provost, Nova Southeastern University

 EVP & Provost, George L. Hanbury II  President & CEO, Nova Southeastern University

 President & CEO, Marcell Haywood  CEO, Encompass Onsite

 CEO, Encompass Onsite Bertha Henry  Broward County Administrator

 Administrator Keith Koenig  CEO, City Furniture

 CEO, City Furniture Alan B. Levan  NSU Trustee; Chairman, Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation; Chairman, BBX Capital Corporation; Chairman and CEO, Bluegreen Vacations Corporation

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo  CEO, Celebrity Cruises

 CEO, Celebrity Cruises John Machado  CTO, Ultimate Kronos Group, formerly known as Ultimate Software Group

 CTO, Ultimate Kronos Group, formerly known as Ultimate Software Group Harry Moon  EVP, Chief Operating Officer, Nova Southeastern University

 EVP, Chief Operating Officer, George Platt  NSU Trustee; Managing Partner, LSN Partners

 NSU Trustee; Managing Partner, LSN Partners Licenia Rojas  SVP/GM & CIO, American Express

 SVP/GM & CIO, American Express Carl Schramm  Professor, economist, author; former CEO, Kauffman Foundation

 Professor, economist, author; former CEO, Bob Swindell  CEO, Greater Ft. Lauderdale Alliance

 CEO, Greater Ft. Javier Villamizar  Operating Partner, SoftBank Investment Advisors

 Operating Partner, SoftBank Investment Advisors Jonathan Wolfe  Sr. Director, AutoNation

For more information about Levan Center, please visit nova.edu/innovation . To join our community, visit https://www.nova.edu/innovation/join-us.

About the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation:

The Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation (Levan Center) is a public-private partnership between Nova Southeastern University (NSU) and Broward County. The Levan Center is focused on three themes (innovation, technology, entrepreneurship) and four pillars (Ideate, Incubate, Accelerate, Post-Accelerate). The Levan Center serves the NSU, Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County, South Florida communities resulting in breakthrough ideation, new technologies, job creation, talent skills pipeline, new company formation, and scaling of early-stage and young startup companies. Each of the four pillars are supported by customized programs, events, and wraparound services. The Levan Center is an economic development engine for Broward County and South Florida with potential for national and international impact. By powering the innovation ecosystem, the Levan Center is a major stakeholder in the establishment of a tech hub for Broward County and South Florida. For more information, please visit nova.edu/innovation.

About Nova Southeastern University (NSU): At NSU, students don't just get an education, they get the competitive edge they need for real careers, real contributions and real life. A dynamic, private research university, NSU is providing high-quality educational and research programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree levels. Established in 1964, the university includes 15 colleges, the 215,000-square-foot Center for Collaborative Research, the private JK-12 grade University School, the world-class NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale , and the Alvin Sherman Library, Research and Information Technology Center , one of Florida's largest public libraries. NSU students learn at our campuses in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Miramar, Orlando, Palm Beach, and Tampa, Florida, as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico, and online globally. With nearly 200,000 alumni across the nation and globe, the reach of the NSU community is worldwide. Classified as having "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU is one of only 50 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie's Community Engagement Classification and is also the largest private institution in the United States that meets the U.S. Department of Education's criteria as a Hispanic-serving Institution. Please visit www.nova.edu for more information.

MEDIA CONTACT

Kip Hunter Marketing

Aimee Adler Cooke | 561-302-6902 | [email protected]

Nicole Lewis |305-803-9177 | [email protected]



Nova Southeastern University

Tasha Yohan | 954-494-5848| [email protected]



SOURCE Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation

Related Links

http://nova.edu/innovation


Jaipur, Feb 9 : A day after the Supreme Court issued a ruling for parents to pay cent per cent school fees during the pandemic period, many parents in Rajasthan recalled how they had to drop their children from private schools and get them admitted to government schools due to reduced source of income, and wondered how did the apex court fail to take into account the job losses and salary cuts before pronouncing its judgement in favour of the schools.

One parent said that she had to withdraw the admission of her son who was studying in a private school as they were exhausted with their funds and were in huge debt.

"I was working as a contract employee in an educational institute while my husband had a furniture business in partnership. But the lockdown brought a real harsh time for us, as I lost my job and my husband who had just started the business after putting all his savings into it had nothing to earn. So we decided to shift our son to a government school after which he went into depression. We are now seeking medical assistance to cure him, all with borrowed money," she said.

"He has had anxiety attacks for which he is taking medicines. I am sure there must be many other families facing similar blues. If the schools had no money, the government should have announced a package for them too. Why the taxpayers are being burdened," she asked.

Another parent, Veenu, said, "We are looking for options in different schools where the fee is low, as we have already borrowed money to pay the due fees. Presently the schools charged 70 per cent fee going with the high court order. Now thinking of the scenario where we will have to arrange 60 per cent additional fees (30 per cent each for two kids), we spent a sleepless night on Monday. It seems the top court didn't hear the other side at all." Speaking to IANS, Sunil Yadav, the president of the All Rajasthan Private School Parents Forum, said, "We are shocked and surprised with the SC verdict. How can the apex court fail to see that schools had no basic expenses during the lockdowns with online classes running, while the parents had to buy new phones, laptops and printers. Such verdicts shake the trust of the masses in the judiciary. We are in fact planning to file a review petition in this matter." It needs to be mentioned here that the Rajasthan government had earlier announced a fee waiver of 30 per cent for CBSE affiliated schools and 40 per cent for RBSE affiliated, which slashed 30 per cent and 40 per cent syllabus, respectively.

The Rajasthan High Court also announced a similar pattern when a few private school associations approached it in October.

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that parents will have to pay 100 per cent school fees for the academic session 2020-21, which will be equal to the fees paid in the academic session 2019-20.

It further said that parents will have to pay the fee from March 5, 2021, which can be collected in six instalments. Also, the court clarified that no child's name will be omitted from the school due to non-payment of fees. Also, children of Classes X and XII will not be denied to sit in the examination if fees are not deposited.
INDIANAPOLIS (dpa-AFX) - Eli Lilly and Co. (LLY) announced Tuesday the appointment of Anat Ashkenazi as senior vice president and chief financial officer. She most recently served in the role of senior vice president, controller and chief financial officer of Lilly Research Laboratories and has been with Lilly for nearly 20 years. Previously, she served as chief financial officer for several of the company's global business areas. Prior to joining Lilly, she worked in financial services at Ma'alot Standard & Poor's and at Ha'poalim Bank in Israel. Ashkenazi succeeds Josh Smiley, who has resigned as senior vice president and chief financial officer and will be leaving the company. The resignation of Smiley is attributed to allegations of an inappropriate personal relationship between him and an employee. Under the terms of his separation agreement, Smiley will be available to assist in the transition. The company said Smiley's conduct was not related to financial controls, financial statements or any other business matters or judgments. 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.
Worlds richest man, Elon Musk was recently questioned on Twitter regarding accusations of not paying retirement funds to Tesla employees. Given a large amount of wealth Tesla and SpaceX bringing every year, people wondered why they were not contributing to the employees retirement fund: 401(ok) which is the most common retirement account used in the United States of America. In this schematic, a worker adds a share of their pay for saving which is matched by the employers -- something the worlds richest man has not done for the last three years, according to a financial report.

Financial journalist Rob Kozlowski shared a report from @pensionnews and said .@Teslaskips 401(k) match for a third straight year.

This tweet was then picked up by NBC journalist Stephanie Ruhle, who quoted this Tweet and even tagged the owner Musk.What am I missing? Tesla has paid @elonmusk billions & they are unwilling to match employee 401Ks? Do I have this wrong? she asked.

What am I missing?Tesla has paid @elonmusk billions & they are unwilling to match employee 401Ks?Do I have this wrong? https://t.co/94df5Ey6fG Stephanie Ruhle (@SRuhle) February 8, 2021

To everybodys surprise, Musk responded to the Tweet to offer up an explanation.Everyone at Tesla receives stock. My comp is all stock/options, which I do not take off the table. Thats what youre missing, Musk said.

Everyone at Tesla receives stock. My comp is all stock/options, which I do not take off the table. Thats what youre missing. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 9, 2021

As it turns out, Musk isnt lying. In a 2020 article by Electrek, it is clear that Musk offers his employees stocks choice as compensation. According to the website, it is not rare for tech companies to offer stocks as compensation, so Tesla isnt doing anything illegal or unique. Whats rare, however, is that most auto companies (Tesla is an automaker first and foremost, though mixed with tech) do not offer stock compensations for all employees, whether production associates and sales staff, throughout the organization.

With the recent major increase in stock price (more than 200% this year alone), Tesla stocks are creating a bunch of new Tesla millionaires, the reporter claims.

But there was also a downside which states that Tesla has cut the compensation of many employees, especially in the sales staff, over the last few years.

Twitter, as with everything related to Musk, remained deeply divided.

The beauty of twitter-getting the answer direct.That is a win for all employees & a great way to keep everyone incentivized to be there & optimize productivity.How is it structured?If its share based comp, does that count as an expense then added to adjusted earnings? Stephanie Ruhle (@SRuhle) February 9, 2021

Hes lying to you Stephanie. Sure theres stock options, but its not even remotely compensatory for the average employee. Their vesting structure is a mess & they dont have the liquidity to back up those shares. Without the inflated share price, theyd be screwed. Joe G (@redhotnerd) February 9, 2021

Hes lying to you Stephanie. Sure theres stock options, but its not even remotely compensatory for the average employee. Their vesting structure is a mess & they dont have the liquidity to back up those shares. Without the inflated share price, theyd be screwed. Joe G (@redhotnerd) February 9, 2021

I invested a measly 5 shares in Tesla mid-2020 and up now over 100%. My rate of return in 4Q 2020 for my 401k was 13%. If I were a Tesla employee the option of stock vs 401k match is a no-brainer!! jacque w (@wulwick28) February 9, 2021

Why is Enron coming up in my mind... on a serious note, encouraging employees to make decisions on near term stock price is liable to open door to poor decisions, and discouraging retirement savings: employer centric thinking, not employee centric thinking Patrick Murray (@intelpatrick) February 9, 2021

He does give them stock, but fires them before they can vest.@RBReich already went through this Paul Smith (@GreatPaul_Smith) February 9, 2021

So that means you cant match 401(k) contributions? Pretty weird. AM (@AvocadoMan2020) February 9, 2021

@QTRResearch so tesla employees entire financial/retirement future rides on the company they work for?this cant backfire at all Sordi  (@FinsOrDie) February 9, 2021

Musk recently caused the rates of Bitcoin and Dogecoin's shares to soar after he showed his 'support' for the cryptocurrencies.
Amid mounting protests in Myanmar against the February 1 military coup, calls have been issued for a general strike against the junta. Demonstrations throughout the country over the weekend, estimated in the tens of thousands, continued on Monday despite the use of physical force by the police and threats of violence by the military.

On Monday, the Myanmar Now newspaper quoted opposition activist Ei Thinzar Maung urging government employees to stop work in an effort to tear down the military dictatorship.

A crowd of protesters fill a street and a bridge as they demonstrate in Mandalay, Myanmar, on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. (AP Photo)

Aye Misan, a nurse at a government hospital, told Reuters, We health workers are leading this campaign to urge all government staff to stop work. Our message to the public is that we aim to completely abolish this military regime and we have to fight for our destiny.

Those who stopped work yesterday appear to have done so on an individual basis and to have been mainly government employees and professionals. One doctor told the BBC: Today, we, professionalsespecially civil servant professionals such as doctors, engineers and teacherscame out to show that we are all together in this. Our objective is the sameto make the dictatorship fall.

However, industrial workers joined the protest. This is a work day, but we arent going to work even if our salary will be cut, one protester, 28-year-old garment factory worker, Hnin Thazin, told the AFP.

Significantly a protest of about 1,000 people took place yesterday in the countrys capital of Naypyitaw, an artificial city created by the military as a bastion against social unrest and dominated by government offices. Police turned water cannon on demonstrators to try to disperse the gathering on a highway into the capital.

The Australian Associated Press reported: Three lines of police in riot gear could be seen across a road as protesters chanted anti-coup slogans and told police they should serve the people not the military, according to media and a live feed of events. Police placed a sign in the road saying that live ammunition could be used if demonstrators breached the third line of officers.

Naypyidaw is thought to be where top civilian leaders who were seized by the military during the coup, including Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, are being held.

In Myanmars largest city and former capital, Yangon, an internal note for UN staff estimated that some 60,000 people took to the streets to demand the release of political prisoners and an end to the military dictatorship. Nurses, teachers, civil servants and monks joined the rallies with placards such as Say no to dictatorship and We want democracy. Another sign read: Release Our Leaders, Respect Our Votes, Reject Military Coup.

The pretext for the military coup was allegations of electoral irregularities in national elections held last November. Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD) won an overwhelming majority with 83 percent of the vote and took 396 out of 476 seats in the combined upper and lower houses of parliament. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development party won just 33 seats.

In the week leading up to the coup, the military challenged the results in the countrys electoral commission, which dismissed the claims of election rigging. The parliament was due to convene for the first time on February 1 when the military seized power, installed commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as the countrys leader, declared a state of emergency and detained top NLD figures.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, 165 people, mostly politicians, had been detained since February 1, with just 13 released. An Australian economist, Sean Turnell, who was advising the NLD-led government, has been arrested.

Protests have taken place in the countrys second largest city of Mandalay and many towns and villages. Thousands reportedly marched in the southern city of Dawei and in Myitkyina, the state capital of Kachin in the north. In the town of Myawaddy, on Myanmars eastern border with Thailand, police shot into the air to try to disperse a protest.

In Yangon, Kyaw, 58, a small shop owner cited by the Guardian, called for an end to the coup. There are so many young educated people here, this is a revolution of the new generation, he said. He had participated in the 1988 uprising against the military dictatorship that involved not only mass protests but a huge strike movement of the working class.

The military is preparing for a new crackdown. A statement on state-run MRTV on Monday declared there had been violations of the law and threats of force by groups using the excuse of democracy and human rights. It warned of unspecified action against offences which disturb, prevent and destroy the states stability, public safety and the rule of law. In areas of Yangon and Mandalay, the junta has imposed a curfew and banned gatherings of more than five people.

Now, as in 1988, the intervention of the working class is essential to the fight for democratic rights in Myanmar. It is, however, critical that such a movement should draw the necessary political lessons from the events in 1988, which ended with a bloody crackdown by troops that killed thousands.

The 1988 strike movement had brought the military to its knees. It relied on the bourgeois opposition led by Suu Kyi, who were just as terrified of the working class as the military, to call off the protests on the phony promises of an election in 1990. Her intervention provided the army with the opening to turn its guns on workers. Having stabilised the situation, the junta simply ignored its promise to hold the election and put Suu Kyi under house arrest.

Two decades later, the military again turned to Suu Kyi as it sought to mend relations with the US and its allies. It released her from house arrest in 2010 and allowed restricted elections under a new constitution, paving the way for an easing of sanctions and for US President Barack Obama to visit Myanmar in 2016. Suu Kyi and the NLD were even allowed to form a government after winning the 2016 election.

However, the key levers of power have remained in the hands of the armed forces. Over the past five years, Suu Kyi has collaborated closely with the military, touring the world to encourage foreign investment, and acting as the chief apologist for its atrocities against the Muslim Rohingya minority. Like the military, her NLD is deeply imbued with anti-Rohingya chauvinism, branding them illegal immigrants to justify their complete lack of civil rights.

The NLD represents layers of the capitalist class who are hostile to the militarys political and economic domination, but who are equally fearful of social unrest, particularly of the working class. As she has before, Suu Kyi will seek to exploit the protest movement against the junta to strike a new deal with the military at the expense of working people.

Workers can defend their democratic and social rights only by politically breaking from Suu Kyi and the NLD, and fighting for their own independent class interests on the basis of an internationalist and socialist perspective.
Travelers returning to the city from Alaska, North Dakota and Puerto Rico will no longer be subject to any COVID-19 mitigation requirements for now, according to a Chicago Department of Public Health news release. City health officials have moved those states down from the orange tier, which requires a 10-day quarantine or negative COVID-19 test up to 72 hours before arrival, into the yellow stage level that has no requirements. Hawaii already was in the yellow tier.
From: Bo Lebo -- NEO,Inc. -- Literacy Matters Los Angeles , CA Tuesday, February 9, 2021



We can practice learning every day by reading, drawing, and meaning making Video Clip: Click to Watch



With tradeshow cancellations, some people go into their shells. Others take the down time to start new projects and hone their skills. Some negotiate their dream project and find getting accomodations to split daily focus pays off. Whether Jane Marla Robbins, past IRWIN Award Winning poet, and her new Covid 19 lockdown poems or short you tube videos or Jon Baptist working with his employer and recording work on Soul, many cultural creatives have been hard at work to fill a content and distribution opportunity whether on contract or in preparation for having one.



In truth, in Black History Month, there are new projects emerging and several other backlist titles that are classics. These show the pluck and planning of other invisible industry professionals making sure an author, poet, performer, or team of co-writers and editors are represented at their best.



But where do these professionals build skills, prove their merit or apply new mediums, apps and portal skills?



One place might be newly reorganized trade meetings now available with a reservation on Zoom or Skype.



One place you can pitch your product or your niche is the Southern California Book Publicists meeting coming up this week (www.bookpublicists.org/pages/IRWIN)! One of the 2020 IRWIN award winners, Michael Bowker, author of GODS OF OUR TIME: A PARIS LOVE STORY, will present for the Valentines Day meeting.



What better time than to think about Paris in Springtime or to learn about the International Novel of the Year from 2020 in your book campaign setting up sales this Summer for Christmas or the Fall? Make friends you can network with and test out your ideas with, find a copywriter or pitch team member and build your DIY skills to apply in marketing, placement, passion, licensing. Or...since Covid requires finding a place to find your power (Querencia) and build up muscles, resources, and tools to launch, recoup, and succeed through ongoing professional training and making friends or displaying your Spring catalogue or project...call Irwin Zucker or his minions and make a reservation for the event and join as a new or renewing member right now!



Developing a healthy book campaign, a healthy attitude, a healthy business will take a lifetime of learning. Join, register, and celebrate as you learn new skills to use during 2021. Jane Marla Robbins wrote a play about Martin Luther King and you can see a reading on youtube in Black History Month. You can take an idea and develop it to be an online learning course like Dr. Carlin. Whether an Irwin Award winner who writes for children who will begin to write or you tell a historic tale in fiction or an imaginary quip that makes us laugh at ourselves, join the publicists and learn about taking a book to market and keeping it in mind to have a repeat printing or to create a healthy back catalog. A February meeting on Zoom this week. Consider joining and launching your own project this year. With tradeshow cancellations, some people go into their shells. Others take the down time to start new projects and hone their skills. Some negotiate their dream project and find getting accomodations to split daily focus pays off. Whether Jane Marla Robbins, past IRWIN Award Winning poet, and her new Covid 19 lockdown poems or short you tube videos or Jon Baptist working with his employer and recording work on Soul, many cultural creatives have been hard at work to fill a content and distribution opportunity whether on contract or in preparation for having one.In truth, in Black History Month, there are new projects emerging and several other backlist titles that are classics. These show the pluck and planning of other invisible industry professionals making sure an author, poet, performer, or team of co-writers and editors are represented at their best.But where do these professionals build skills, prove their merit or apply new mediums, apps and portal skills?One place might be newly reorganized trade meetings now available with a reservation on Zoom or Skype.One place you can pitch your product or your niche is the Southern California Book Publicists meeting coming up this week (www.bookpublicists.org/pages/IRWIN)! One of the 2020 IRWIN award winners, Michael Bowker, author of GODS OF OUR TIME: A PARIS LOVE STORY, will present for the Valentines Day meeting.What better time than to think about Paris in Springtime or to learn about the International Novel of the Year from 2020 in your book campaign setting up sales this Summer for Christmas or the Fall? Make friends you can network with and test out your ideas with, find a copywriter or pitch team member and build your DIY skills to apply in marketing, placement, passion, licensing. Or...since Covid requires finding a place to find your power (Querencia) and build up muscles, resources, and tools to launch, recoup, and succeed through ongoing professional training and making friends or displaying your Spring catalogue or project...call Irwin Zucker or his minions and make a reservation for the event and join as a new or renewing member right now!Developing a healthy book campaign, a healthy attitude, a healthy business will take a lifetime of learning. Join, register, and celebrate as you learn new skills to use during 2021. Jane Marla Robbins wrote a play about Martin Luther King and you can see a reading on youtube in Black History Month. You can take an idea and develop it to be an online learning course like Dr. Carlin. Whether an Irwin Award winner who writes for children who will begin to write or you tell a historic tale in fiction or an imaginary quip that makes us laugh at ourselves, join the publicists and learn about taking a book to market and keeping it in mind to have a repeat printing or to create a healthy back catalog. A February meeting on Zoom this week. Consider joining and launching your own project this year. Southern California Book Publicists 45th year of ongoing education, laughter, and collaboration in the independent book world. Feb. 11, from 6 to 8 pm on Zoom "How to Get the Media to Fall in Love With You!!!" Key Speaker - Michael Bowker



author of Gods of Our Time: A Paris Love Story A gala, fun-filled Valentine program - Taix French Restaurant (Wine Room);1911 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles. See below to reserve your spot on Zoom. Enjoy!



Join, make a reservation and attend on February 11th: The Southern California Book Publicists Valentines Day Meeting on Zoom: Online Meeting



Thurs., 2/11/21



6 to 8 pm CA time



Events and meetings of Book Publicists of Southern California



Learn from others:



Past IRWIN Award Winners for book publicity campaigns (bookpublicists.org



Find a specialist or study another in the same genre or on new mediums:





Poems of Covid-19 - Stuck in Lockdown, the first three months and more... Jane Marla Robbins-



https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjdS2kyPFujM94uuxDQ9Svg



Website campaign:



http://drdebcarlin.com/



Find out about Michael Bowker and his book adventure before you hear him speak:



Get a cover, be covered, cover yourself...but get the word out and enjoy the process as you go. Michael Bowker the speaker this week!



https://www.godsofourtime.org/





Website campaign:Find out about Michael Bowker and his book adventure before you hear him speak:Get a cover, be covered, cover yourself...but get the word out and enjoy the process as you go. Michael Bowker the speaker this week!


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In a first for the country, the Indian Army is using its dogs for quick detection of coronavirus to cut down time delays associated with regular diagnostic techniques.

Two dogs  two-year-old Casper, a cocker spaniel dog of the Indian Army, and one-year-old Jaya, a 'Chippiparai', which is an indigenous breed from Tamil Nadu  have been trained to detect coronavirus by sniffing samples of sweat and urine, senior Army officials told news agency PTI.

The canine members of the country's armed force are known for their pronounced olfactory capability and have earlier helped in explosive and narcotics detection, search and rescue operations, and other challenging tasks. Now, they have another job.

The Indian Army has trained dogs for detecting Covid-19 cases by smelling urine and sweat samples since September last year after a surge in the deadly virus cases in the Army.

A demonstration of their skills using real samples was held on Tuesday on the premises of the 48 Military Veterinary Hospital at Delhi Cantonment. Their handlers were wearing full PPE kits.

Lt Col Surinder Saini, the instructor at the Dog Training Facility of the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre in Meerut, said these dogs are "pioneering canines" of not just the Army, but of entire India.

"Countries like the UK, Finland, France, Russia, Germany, Lebanon, the UAE and the US have already trained dogs for detection of COVID-19. Dogs have been previously used abroad to detect malaria, diabetes and Parkinson's disease, but this is the first time canines have been used for medical detection in India," he told reporters.

To a question on where the dogs are being deployed, Saini said that after their training in September, the dogs were deployed at the Army's transit camp in Delhi in November. From December, they are being deployed at the transit camp in Chandigarh from where troops move to large areas, including the Ladakh region, under the North Command.

"Army dogs were successfully trained on specific biomarkers emanating from urine and sweat samples of positive patients. These samples do not contain living virus, but only volatile metabolic biomarkers, which the dogs have been trained to detect. Prior to bringing in front of them, to avoid any surface contact transmission to people handling the dogs, the samples are first exposed to UV rays," Saini said.

"This is the first time in India that the olfactory capability of canines are being used to detect tissues infected with pathogens releasing volatile metabolic biomarkers," he added.

The Indian Army has around 1,200 dogs, out of which nearly 700 are deployed, a senior official said.

"Besides these two dogs, eight other dogs, including four labradors, are also undergoing training," Saini said.

One-year-old Mani, another chippiparai dog undergoing training, also showed his skills during the demonstration. Mani is the elder brother of Jaya.

"The use of such canines in detection of COVID-19 can assist in quick and real time detection of the disease, and help in cutting down scale of RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests, both of which take time. And, in Army, time is of the essence. Besides, these dogs can be used at live events to screen people," the instructor said.

Saini said the dogs have sniffed out 22 positive cases of COVID-19 from 800 samples at the Delhi transit camp and nearly 3,000 samples at the Chandigarh transit camp.

"Their response time after detection is one second or even less, and accuracy rate is over 90 per cent," he said.

The dogs have been trained to sit next to a sample kept in a container if it is positive for the disease and move forward after sniffing if it is negative, he added.

Positive and suspected samples were obtained from the Military Hospital, Meerut Cantonment, and the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Subharti Medical College, Meerut, for the purpose of the training, officials said.

"The sensitivity and specificity of both the dogs obtained from screening of 279 urine and 267 sweat samples during the initial trial procedure was found to be very high," a senior official said.

Scientifically, it is evident that infected body tissues release "unique volatile metabolic biomarkers", which are used as disease signatures for detection of disease by medical detection dogs, he said.

A concerted effort has been made to train an indigenous breed of dog under the prime minister's initiative of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' besides a cocker spaniel to detect the "volatilome of COVID-19 disease from urine and sweat samples of positive cases by comparatory method", the official said.

These dogs are constantly monitored by their handlers, and their body temperature is recorded in the morning and the evening, the officials confirmed.

Several nations such as the UK, Finland, Russia, France, UAE, Germany, Lebanon have already started training dogs for coronavirus detection by screening passengers at airports and railway stations.

This is the first time India is using dogs for detecting Covid cases, but is restricted to the military for now.

With agency inputs

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India is the fastest country in the world to vaccinate 6 million people in 24 days, said Union Health Ministry on Monday while comparing its figures with that of the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

"In the last 24 days, India is the fastest country to reach 6 million vaccinations in the world. USA took 26 days to reach while the UK took 46 days to reach 6 million vaccinations," Additional Secretary of Union Health Ministry Manohar Agnani said in the press conference.

Stating the latest numbers, he said, "As of February 8, 2021, at 6 pm, the total vaccination is 60,35,660, out of which healthcare workers who have been vaccinated are 54,12,270. So far, 6,23,390 frontline workers have been vaccinated since February 2. Today vaccination sessions were organised in 35 states and Union Territories and 2,23,298 people have been vaccinated till 6 pm."

The vaccination drive was launched on January 16. Health Care Workers (HCW) coverage of more than 65 per cent in 11 States and Union Territories which is lead by Bihar. While Delhi leads states which has done less than 40 percent vaccination of HCW.

The Additional Secretary said no case of serious or severe AEFI (Adverse event following immunization) or death is attributable to vaccination till date.

"Total 29 persons have been hospitalised so far. This comprises 0.0005 per cent of the total vaccinations. Of the 29 cases of hospitalization, 19 were discharged after treatment, while nine persons died. In the last 24 hours, one person who is suffering from B/L Facial Palsy has been hospitalized at Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and is stable," read the release by the Union Health Ministry.

"Total 23 deaths have been recorded till date. These comprise 0.0004% of the total vaccinations. Of the 23, nine persons died in the hospital while 14 deaths are recorded outside the hospital. In the last 24 hours, one death has been reported of a 29-year-old female, a resident of Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. None of these deaths have been causally linked with COVID-19 vaccination. No case of serious/severe AEFI/Death is attributable to vaccination, till date," it said.

As many as 11,831 new COVID-19 cases and 11,904 recoveries were reported in India in the last 24 hours, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed on Monday.

With this, the total number of cases now stands at 1,08,38,194, including 1,48,609 active cases and 1,05,34,505 recoveries.

So far, 1,55,080 lives have been claimed by the virus in the country including 84 in the last 24 hours.

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FARMINGTON  Patients who have active charts at regional Navajo Nation Indian Health Service facilities can take part in a series of COVID-19 vaccination events in the Shiprock area in the upcoming days.

The Shiprock Service Unit Facebook page on Feb. 8 posted information on upcoming COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

Patients with active charts who are 18 years and older at the Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, Four Corners Regional Health Center in Teec Nos Pos, Arizona and Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle Health Center can get their COVID-19 vaccine at four events scheduled through Feb. 20.

Related: Navajo Nation enterprises seek funds to cover obligations, employee payroll

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................................................................

The upcoming clinics are:

Upper Fruitland Chapter on Feb. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shiprock High School on Feb. 13, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shiprock High School on Feb. 17, from noon to 6 p.m. Shiprock High School on Feb. 20, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Teec Nos Pos and Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle health facilities are also hosting vaccination events.

At the Four Corners Regional Health Center, the event is set on Feb. 11 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Active patients are asked to enter through Navajo Route 35 and Road B4.

Vaccination efforts at Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle Health Center are by invitation only on Feb. 10 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. then on Feb. 11 and 12th from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Patients can call 505-960-7819 to schedule a time.

COVID-19: Updates on coronavirus cases in northwest New Mexico and Navajo Nation

Those seeking the vaccine are asked to bring a pen, their identification and the chart number for the patient.

People who got their first COVID-19 vaccine in January at the Upper Fruitland and Sanostee chapters can receive their second or booster dose of the vaccine at these events.

There could be long wait times so people are urged to pack snacks and water as restrooms will be available.

Joshua Kellogg covers breaking news for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4627 or via email at jkellogg@daily-times.com.

Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e

This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: Active Navajo Nation IHS patients eligible for COVID-19 vaccine events in Shiprock

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(c)2021 The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.)

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In the last 15 years, elite researchers have increased their share of citations from 14 to 21 per cent, shows new research from Aarhus BSS at Aarhus University. The uneven distribution can have negative consequences for research.

In the span of only 15 years, a small academic elite has increased its share of academic citations significantly. In the year 2000, 14 per cent of all citations went to the top one percent of the most cited researchers. New research shows that this figure had risen to 21 per cent in 2015.

The people behind these remarkable findings are senior researcher Jens Peter Andersen, Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy (CFA) at Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, and associate professor Mathias Wullum Nielsen (former CFA, now University of Copenhagen). Their examination of almost 26 million scientific papers and four million authors has just been published in the well-established interdisciplinary journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

"We had expected an increase, but we are surprised to find such a large one, meaning that more than every fifth citation now goes to such a small elite. This development might cause worry because we risk that a small powerful elite acquires immense influence on research ideas; on what is even considered as research topics," says Jens Peter Andersen.

A monopoly on the marketplace of ideas?

You could ask whether healthy competition exists when one per cent of researchers receive such a large share of the citations? Jens Peter Andersen points out that the trend can lead to an increased 'monopoly on the marketplace of ideas'.

According to Jens Peter Andersen, increased international competition leads to an academic world marked by greater inequality and in which the most cited researchers attract a growing part of the attention.

"Our data show that there is an elite who increasingly sets the agenda for the production of knowledge," says Jens Peter Andersen and continues:

"When established researchers set the agenda, we risk a stagnation in breakthroughs. This is a problem of diversity, not only related to those who get the opportunity to do research but also to the scope of ideas and methods that are accommodated - ideas and methods that could develop research along new lines."

An accelerating trend

The data do not say anything about the cause of the increasing citation concentration.

"You could imagine a self-reinforcing circle in which numerous citations lead to more grants and a broader network as a researcher, triggering an even larger number of citations," says Jens Peter Andersen.

According to Jens Peter Andersen, this has unfortunate consequences for the majority of researchers, seeing as citations play a large role in the applications for research funds and employment.

"It is not a one-to-one correlation, but all things being equal, those who receive many citations will often receive more grants and have an easier time getting accepted by the right places," says Jens Peter Andersen and continues:

"This makes it more difficult for others."

Jens Peter Andersen does not expect the accelerating trend to stop here, but rather a further increase in grants, publications and citations among elite researchers.

"We are now seeing more huge teams and interdisciplinary collaborations, the fusion of research fields, big data as well as improved measurements and computational techniques, and these factors could all play a role in increased citation concentration. However, it will require additional research to establish this link," he concludes.

###

The article is a part of the Independent Research Fund Denmark's project "Scientific Elites" which examines different aspects of the elites' education, characteristics and mechanisms for retaining their positions and will run until 2024. Read more about the "Scientific Elites" project here:

http://scientificelites. org/

Read Jens Peter Andersen and Mathias Wullum Nielsen's article "Global citation inequality is on the rise", published in PNAS:

https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1073/ pnas. 2012208118

Contact info for Senior Researcher Jens Peter Andersen at Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University:

https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/persons/jens-peter-andersenhttps://pure.au.dk/portal/en/persons/jens-peter-andersen(b1e70d8a-0883-480d-8c07-5a7775417377).html
A Russian mother who believed she could tame her convicted sex killer boyfriend was left devastated after the man allegedly murdered her young daughter.

Ekaterina Sholokhova, a prison officer, started a relationship with Nikita Silnov on his release from an 11-year sentence in her jail, hoping he would be a changed man.

But the ex-convict is now on Russia's federal wanted list after he is suspected of strangling his girlfriend's 13-year-old daughter, Viktoria Kravtsova.

Ekaterina Sholokhova, a Russian mother (pictured left with her daughter) who believed she could tame her convicted sex killer boyfriend was left devastated after the man allegedly murdered her young daughter, Viktoria Kravtsova (pictured left and right)

Ekaterina Sholokhova (pictured right), a prison officer, started a relationship with Nikita Silnov (left) on his release from an 11-year sentence in her jail, hoping he would be a changed man

Silnov, 33, had been released from jail in 2019 after securing early release from a 15-year sentence for 'murder involving rape'.

He served 11 years and then moved in with Ekaterina, a prison service ensign who he had met during his sentence.

The 40-year-old prison guard was in hospital and left her daughter with her boyfriend in Nelidovo, Tver region near Moscow.

She received a call from Viktoria who told her mother that she was taking the dog for a walk. But the girl did not answer messages afterwards.

Ekaterina (pictured left) received a call from Viktoria (right) who told her mother that she was taking the dog for a walk. But the girl did not answer messages afterwards

Russian police are investigating whether Viktoria (pictured left) was raped before she was killed with a scarf. Her mother's boyfriend, Silnov (right), is suspected of murdering the girl

Ekaterina became suspicious when her boyfriend, Silnov, also stopped answering his phone.

She then asked the emergency services to check her flat. When officers broke into the woman's home, they found the schoolgirl's body.

The ex-convict had vanished, along with Ekaterina's laptop, credit cards and fur coat.

He is said to have taken a taxi to a nearby town before falling off the grid.

Russian police are investigating whether the young girl was raped before she was killed with a scarf.

A murder case has been opened. The girl's funeral is due to be held on Tuesday.
It is not a sin for the executive to lobby the Senate for the confirmation of the immediate past service chiefs as non career ambassadors, a presidential aide has said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Babajide Omoworare, said this in an interview with journalists on Monday, in a bid to justify the act of lobbying of lawmakers to get key requests approved.

President Muhammadu Buhari, had on Thursday, forwarded the names of Gabriel Olonisakin, former chief of defence staff; Tukur Buratai, former chief of army staff; Abubakar Sadique, former chief of air staff and Ibok Ibas, former chief of naval staff, to the senate for confirmation as non-career ambassadors.

The nominations came about one week after they resigned from service and their replacements were named.

The nominations sparked outrage among Nigerians with individuals and civil society groups condemning the presidents decision and rating low the performance of the ex-service chiefs amidst growing insecurity in the country.

The opposition party, PDP, had accused the Buhari administration of attempting to shield the ex-service chiefs from investigation and subsequent prosecution for alleged crimes against humanity.

But in reaction to public criticism, the presidency said the ex-military chiefs gave their best to the nation and would be remembered for that.

It also described the ambassadorial nomination as reward for hard work and exceptional sacrifice.

Lobbying not sin

While he feigned ignorance as to whether or not the presidency is lobbying the Senate for the nominees confirmation, Mr Omoworare expressed confidence that the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs will confirm them.

The presidential aide explained that lobbying in governance between the executive and the legislature is normal and practised in all democracies .

I think if anybody says there is any lobbying going on as regards nominations of former service chiefs for ambassadorial appointments by Mr President, I am not aware, Mr Omoworare said.

But if there is lobbying going on for them to pass through the confirmation process, I sincerely think it is in order, it is not an aberration, its not a transgression, its not a sin for lobbying to occur.

Having been service chiefs before, should they be nominated as ambassadors especially because they Senate and House of representatives have not been on the same page with them, it is normal. That does not mean they cannot be successful ambassadors.

He said it was up to the lawmakers to determine whether or not, the nominees can be good representatives of Nigeria.

For them to even be service chiefs it means they have attained some heights because being service chief is being at the pinnacle of their career which is an achievement.

The President must have done his home work very well on nominations of the former service chiefs which gives me the confidence that the appropriate committee of the Senate will confirm them at the end of the day, he said.

On his part, the Senate Leader, Abdullahi Yahaya, said he could not comment on the decision of the committee because it is made up of responsible and experienced senators who have also been ambassadors themselves.

So they will know what is required for people to be appointed as ambassadors to represent the country in any country. They will work and bring the report to the Senate. I am sure all the questions will not escape the committee.

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I dont want to preempt them. Let them do what is just and right and let them apply all the criteria for appointment of ambassadors for the country.

The executive communication for the nominations will be read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday, upon resumption. Thereafter, it will be referred to the Foreign Affairs Committee for screening of the nominees.

The panel will thereafter submit a recommendation as to whether or not the nominations should be approved or rejected.

EastEnders confirmed on Monday that actress Maddy Hill will be reprising her role as Nancy Carter.

The actress, 31, waved goodbye to Walford in 2016, with her character leaving to go travelling with boyfriend Tamwar Masood (Himesh Patel), with the pair eventually getting married and settling in New Zealand.

But now the daughter of Mick and Linda is coming home, with Nancy returning to a very different dynamic in the Carter household than when she first left.

She's back! EastEnders confirmed on Monday that actress Maddy Hill will be reprising her role as Nancy Carter

Maddy told of her return in an Instagram post shared by EastEnders in which she discussed Nancy's life after leaving Albert Square.

Speaking about her return to the BBC soap, Maddy said: 'Im so excited to be coming back and reconnecting with all the hilarious, warm, talented cast and crew and meeting some lovely new faces.

'I absolutely loved playing Nancy and have often wondered what she's up to, so feel very grateful to be able to rediscover her five years on.'

Meanwhile, executive producer Jon Sen commented: 'We're delighted to have Maddy back and I can't wait for audiences to see what's in store for Nancy.

Back again: The actress, 31, waved goodbye to Walford in 2016, with her character leaving to go travelling with boyfriend Tamwar Masood (Himesh Patel) (pictured as Nancy in 2015)

'There's a lot of mystery surrounding her return and shes coming back to a family that have been through a very difficult year  things are definitely not as Nancy left them.'

Indeed, Nancy is set to face a very different dynamic in the family as her parents Mick (Danny Dyer) and Linda (Kellie Bright) have recently welcomed Mick's long-lost daughter Frankie Lewis (Rose Ayling-Ellis) into their lives.

Frankie is the product of the childhood sexual abuse he faced at the hands of his then support worker Katy Lewis (Simone Labhib), with Mick still suffering from the trauma of what she did to him.

Big changes: But now the daughter of Mick and Linda is coming home, with Nancy returning to a very different dynamic in the Carter household than when she first left

Meanwhile, as a result of Mick shutting down amid Katy's arrival in Walford, Linda was driven to have an affair with Max Branning (Jake Wood).

Though Mick and Linda later reconciled, Nancy has returned home without her husband Tamwar - so could her own marriage be in jeopardy?

Maddy's return comes after she teased in 2018 that she would 'totally' reprise her role as Nancy as she adored working with her onscreen parents Danny and Kellie.

She said: 'I have always said that I'd never say no. I loved everyone I worked with and Danny and Kellie are still there. I would definitely have an open mind about it  definitely.

Issues: Mick is still suffering from the trauma of his childhood abuse at the hands of Katie Lewis, with his recent distant behaviour driving wife Linda to have an affair with Max Branning

Trouble in paradise? Though Mick and Linda later reconciled, Nancy has returned home without her husband Tamwar - so could her own marriage be in jeopardy?

'I am still very much in touch with the Carter family and I was hanging out with Himesh [Patel, who played Tamwar] last week as he was in Cardiff. I am very much still in touch with the cast.'

During her time in the soap, Maddy's character Nancy has faced her fair share of drama including her epilepsy diagnosis and seriously injuring baby brother Ollie during a fight with brother Lee.

But after some ups and downs, the character finally found her happiness when she went to explore the world with her love Tamwar.

So just why has she returned to Albert Square? EastEnders continues on BBC One.
Domestic abusers who threaten to expose naked photographs or sex tapes will become criminals if a campaign to change the law is successful, it has been revealed.

Headed by British actor Olivia Colman and abuse charity Refuge, the campaign was directed at Home Secretary Priti Patel and Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, urging them to make the act of threatening to share explicit images a crime.

According to the Sun, Government ministers are expected to back the change and make 'an intent to share intimate images' an offence under new abuse legislation.

The charity has called for an amendment to Section 33 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 via the Domestic Abuse Bill, focusing on 'threats to share' intimate images, which is not currently a criminal offence.

Domestic abusers who threaten to share naked pictures or sex tapes of their partners will be made criminals after a campaign to change the law headed by British actor Olivia Colman

Refuge last week won the backing of Oscar-winning actor Olivia Colman who recorded a personal message to Priti Patel asking her to support the campaign.

In the video, Olivia, a Refuge ambassador, says: 'Dear Priti, I need your help.

'Unless you act now, millions of women across the UK will be threatened. Right now, women in this country are being abused by partners threatening to share explicit images of them.

'Please change the law. Make threatening to share explicit imagery illegal, now. And protect women from the naked threat.'

Government minister Nicky Morgan has also backed the campaign and put forward an amendment to the Domestic Abuse bill which is currently at the House of Lords but due back before MPs in a matter of weeks.

During the same video, Baroness Morgan called the bill 'a landmark opportunity' for change that could protect millions of women.

Lisa King, Director of communications and external relations at Refuge, said: 'Refuge is beyond delighted to hear that the Government has committed, as part of the Domestic Abuse Bill, we hope, to make threats to share intimate images illegal.

'We have been working around the clock, over many months to bring this to the Governments attention. For the one in seven young women in this country experiencing threats to share intimate images, this commitment shows that the Government is willing to listen to their needs and experiences and put them front and centre of their efforts to tackle domestic abuse.'

Refuge survivor was a teenager when her boyfriend asked her to pose for photographs Natasha Saunders, 31, revealed she was with her ex-husband for six months when he 'ordered' her to remove her clothes to 'pose for intimate photos'. The Refuge survivor said: 'In the beginning, I thought taking these photos was an act of intimacy, but they were actually being used as another form of domestic abuse  and as another way to control me.' She said he would 'berate' and 'mock' her appearance until she gave in. 'Posing for these photos made me feel so dirty and worthless, but I was just a teenager and I wanted to make him happy. 'I never imagined these pictures would become leverage for my abusers campaign of isolation and coercive control. 'The threat of those intimate photos being shared was my worst nightmare  I had no choice but to comply with his continued abuse or face potential shame and humiliation. Advertisement

A recent study by Refuge showed that 1 in 14 adults in England and Wales  4.4 million people  have received these threats to share.

The data showed young women are disproportionately impacted, with 1 in 7 experiencing these threats.

James Constable, criminal associate at B P Collins told MailOnline: 'The use of threats is used in other criminal offences such as threats to cause criminal damage under section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971. It is important to note that the threat would need to be made with the intention of the other party fearing it would be carried out.

'Intention is a subjective state of mind. In matters of revenge porn where explicit images or videos are threatened to be distributed, the impact on the other party is increased as they are often in a vulnerable position and the images and videos are often used to coerce them into continuing the relationship or punishing them for ending it.'

The campaign was also backed by Love Island star Zara McDermott who said: 'I've been on the receiving end of "revenge porn" threats and know exactly how damaging it can be.

'I've heard from countless other women that they too have had similar experiences.

'This change in the law really could make a difference to the lives of so many women.'

According to the Sun, the Home Office and Ministry of Justice 'do not disagree with the objectives of the amendment' and are working to find a solution.

Ms King told the newspaper: 'In a show of amazing commitment many peers stood in the House of Lords at midnight on Monday and called for this vital change to be made to the Bill.

'The time for change is now  women's lives and well-being depend on it.'

Some 72 per cent of women who have received threats to share were threatened by a current or ex-partner and 83 per cent of women who experienced the threat from a current or former partner also experienced other forms of abuse.

This confirmed Refuges assertion that threatening to share intimate images must be treated as a domestic abuse issue, the charity said.

The Domestic Abuse Bill gives the Government a legislative vehicle by which to swiftly enact the change to the law that survivors need, they added.

More than 1 in 10 women felt suicidal as a result of the threat and 1 in 7 felt more at risk of physical violence.

The Domestic Abuse Bill is in its '11th hour' but Refuge has campaigned for an amendment which would make threatening to share explicit imagery an offence under new legislation

Fran Hipperson, family partner at B P Collins, told MailOnline: 'It has been argued since the introduction of the offence of coercive and controlling behaviour that as the offence can only take place where people are living together or in an intimate relationship, there is no protection for a victim of coercive and controlling behaviour once the relationship has ended and they are no longer living in the same property.

'Sadly it is still possible, and some would argue common, for abusive behaviour, such as economic abuse or threats to share intimate images, to continue post separation and a change in the law would give victims greater protection.

'This is why Refuge is asking the government to criminalise the threat to share intimate images in addition to extending the offence of coercive and controlling behaviour to post-separation abuse.

'If the amendments are introduced, they will protect people who are put into a dreadful position when they are threatened or led to believe that images will be released.

'Such threats often include sending images to parents, children and employers all of which has the ability to undermine many areas of the victims life.'

Natasha Saunders, 31, a Refuge survivor said: Id been in a relationship with my ex-husband for six months when he first ordered me to remove my clothes and pose for intimate photos.

'In the beginning, I thought taking these photos was an act of intimacy, but they were actually being used as another form of domestic abuse  and as another way to control me.

'He would berate me and mock my appearance until I gave in. Posing for these photos made me feel so dirty and worthless, but I was just a teenager and I wanted to make him happy.

'I never imagined these pictures would become leverage for my abusers campaign of isolation and coercive control.

'The threat of those intimate photos being shared was my worst nightmare  I had no choice but to comply with his continued abuse or face potential shame and humiliation.

Ministry of Justice declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

Ms Hipperson added: 'The government has appeared willing to consider amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill and it is hoped they will do so again.'

For help and support or more information, you can call Refuge's Freephone 24hr National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 for free, confidential specialist support or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk.
The Telegraph

An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 2021 / Toronto, Ontario, GlobeX Data Ltd. (OTCQB:SWISF)(CSE:SWIS)(FRA:A2PN34) ("GlobeX" or the "Company"), the leader in Swiss hosted secure communications and secure data management, is pleased announce that it is on track to launch its Sekur secure communications solution to the US mass market comprising of privacy enthusasts and businesses looking for security and privacy not offered by other applications.

GlobeX is putting the final touches on its Sekur.com website in order to have a smooth launch in the USA. The Company is targeting all privacy enthusiasts in the consumer and business sectors, as other applications for secure messaging fail to guarantee data privacy and security for their users. The launch is expected to happen between by end of March 2021, as the Company is targeting several million consumers and business executives in search of a secure and private application for all their communications needs. GlobeX plans to first perform several small digital marketing tests and increase the scope of the marketing program once it has fine-tuned the message, in order to maximize its return on investment in the advertising budget. The first phase of the program has a budget of USD 250,000. As the campaign gains traction and success, the Company will increase the budget. Funds for the budget are already allocated and available immediately.

Sekur, which includes SekurMessenger as part of a bundle of email, messaging and file transfer into one app solutions, includes the Company's latest SekurMail technology, which includes proprietary anti-phishing and privacy feature called SekurSend. SekurSend lets a user send an email to any other recipient, whether they have Sekur or not, in full privacy and security as the email never leaves Sekur's encrypted email servers based in Switzerland. The recipient can then click on the notification and reply in the same manner using SekurReply, without the recipient having to register for a Sekur account. The sender can also decide to protect any email sent by adding a password to open it, a read-limit and a self-destruct timer as well. Sending an email with the SekurSend feature allows the senders and recipients to add limitless size attachments to the emails without crowding the recipients' email box. This also eliminates BEC attacks for businesses and email phishing attacks. Additionally, SekurMail includes full control of email delivery, automatic data export for large Enterprises and an automatic Data Loss Prevention technology ("DLP") with real time continuous archiving.

Recent data breaches in messaging applications and in particular in the WhatsApp application have created a certain urgency for businesses and data privacy advocates to protect their communications form cyber-attacks and identity theft via mobile and desktop devices.

SekurMessenger eliminates many of the privacy and security risks by not only not requiring a phone number, which would divulge a user's phone device ID, but also by not social engineering a user's phone or computer contact list and infecting the contacts by default as well, eliminating a huge loophole in security and privacy. SekurMessenger issues each user a username and a SM number. The SM number is the contact ID a user would disclose in order for other SM users to be added. The service comes with a self-destruct timer and other features as well, including GlobeX's proprietary VirtualVaults and HeliX technologies with all data stored in Swiss hosted encrypted servers.

Alain Ghiai, CEO of GlobeX Data said: "We are very excited to get our direct to market launch in the USA. We plan to first do a small test via digital marketing and direct email marketing, and once we have fine-tuned the message and we see a greater conversion, we plan to accelerate the scope and size of the marketing. There is a vast market for consumers, privacy enthusiasts and businesses in the USA and we intend to capture a large part of this market. We have already identified at least 500,000 executives we plan to target, in addition to the millions of privacy and security enthusiast consumers. We are putting the final touches and tutorial videos on our Sekur.com site and have made some investments in beefing up our infrastructure in Switzerland, in anticipation of the increase in users coming to our platform. As we are not connected, and never have been connected, to AWS, Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud platforms, commonly referred to as "Big Tech", we can offer a truly independent, private and secure means of communications through secure messaging, secure voice record transfer, secure voice and video conferencing, and secure email through our proprietary technology and our secure servers based in Switzerland. With security and privacy becoming a global concern, and the new WhatsApp rules to share all users' data with Facebook, we have seen an increase in demand and inquiries for our secure and private communications solutions in particular, and we plan on capitalizing on this demand as much as possible."

GlobeX's Data privacy solutions are all hosted in Switzerland, protecting users' data from any outside data intrusion requests. In Switzerland, the right to privacy is guaranteed in article 13 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. The Federal Act on Data Protection ("FADP") of 19 June 1992 (in force since 1993) has set up a strict protection of privacy by prohibiting virtually any processing of personal data which is not expressly authorized by the data subjects. The protection is subject to the authority of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

Under Swiss federal law, it is a crime to publish information based on leaked "secret official discussions." In 2010 the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland found that IP addresses are personal information and that under Swiss privacy laws they may not be used to track Internet usage without the knowledge of the individuals involved.

About GlobeX Data Ltd.

GlobeX Data Ltd. is a Cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure data management and secure communications. The Company distributes a suite of secure cloud-based storage, disaster recovery, document management, encrypted e-mails, and secure communication tools. GlobeX Data Ltd. sells its products through its approved wholesalers and distributors, and telecommunications companies worldwide. GlobeX Data Ltd. serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide.



On behalf of Management

GLOBEX DATA LTD.

Alain Ghiai

President and Chief Executive Officer

+1.416.644.8690

corporate@globexdatagroup.com

For more information please contact GlobeX Data at corporate@globexdatagroup.com or visit us at https://globexdatagroup.com.



For more information on Sekur visit us at: https://www.sekur.com .

For more information on SekurSafe visit us at: https://www.sekursafe.com .

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guaranteeing future performance. GlobeX cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond GlobeX's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in GlobeX's prospectus dated May 8, 2019 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, GlobeX undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

SOURCE: GlobeX Data Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628573/GlobeX-Data-to-Launch-Its-Swiss-Hosted-Sekurcom-Secure-Email-and-Secure-Messaging-Security-and-Privacy-Application-Solution-to-US-Mass-Market
India will engage with new US Trade Representative Katherine Tai once the Congress approves her nomination and seek her views on the pending mini trade deal, trade minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. This will further the trade relationship between the two countries, he said.

The US just had a change in administration and we are waiting for the new USTR to be confirmed. Once the new USTR is in office we will start a dialogue with them to look at how we can expand our business and international engagement, both through market access, tariffs and other ways of expanding trade relationship," said Goyal.

We have to wait for the new USTR to come in and we have to hear from the new administration about what is on their mind (about the pending trade deal negotiated with the Donald Trump administration). We have thoughts about it. It is only after engaging with the new administration that we can comment on that," he said.

Both sides made their first high-level engagement on Monday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US President Joe Biden on several issues ranging from rebuilding the global economy in the post-covid world and terrorism, to renewing the partnership on climate change, closer cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and developing a stronger regional architecture through the Quad grouping. However, there was no mention of trade engagements in readouts provided.

The mini-trade deal was expected to cover tariff concessions for US farm produce, especially dairy products, pricing of pharma products such as stents and knee implants, and information, besides communication technology products. In return, Washington was expected to restore benefits accorded to Indian exporters under the Generalised System of Preferences. Both sides were also supposed to remove the tit-for-tat measures after the US raised steel and aluminium tariffs.

The Biden administration has signalled that free trade agreements is not its immediate priority. In an interview with The New York Times in December, Biden had said: I am not going to enter any new trade agreement with anybody until we have made major investments here at home and in our workers."

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I certainly hope that the governors budget proposal reflects the will of the voters expressed so clearly in the last election that they want state government to live within its means instead of once again reaching into peoples pockets to balance the state budget, Senate Republican leader Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods said in a statement.
The Code of the West says, Remember that some things arent for sale, but Disney heirs California trustees have different designs on the ranch

(CHEYENNE, WY) A picturesque 110-acre Wyoming ranch in Teton County is at the center of a multi-million-dollar battle by Walt Disney's grandson, Bradford Disney Lund, to secure control of the inheritance put in trust for Lund by his mother, Sharon D. Lund.

The Code of the West seems to elude Lund, who hopes that the Wyoming ranch will continue to be retained by the trust as was intended for use and enjoyment by him and his family. Lund is ensnarled in California's notoriously abusive-prone probate system. As full as Walt Disney was with imagination, he likely would have never dreamt that such an unhappy circumstance would unfold for his grandson.

Hanging in the balance is "Eagle South Fork," the family ranch that is located in Wilson, Wyoming, in Teton County, in the shadow of Grand Teton, not far from Jackson Hole. It's been a Disney family treasure for decades.

But the California trustees of the estate have different designs on that ranch and recently sent Lund a letter demanding that he buy the very ranch of which his trust already owns one-half, or they'll sell it to other outside buyers for millions, which would be contrary to his mother's clear intent according to Lund's filings. In that letter, his trustees  who by law should only act in his best interests  gave him just a few days to pay up with his personal funds at a higher price than would be the case if the ranch were restricted to family uses and contrary to what the trustees and his sister had previously agreed.

In an exclusive interview with The Cheyenne Post, Lund said that "the ranch isn't for sale, I don't want it sold," making it clear that he wants the ranch to stay in the family to continue to enjoy, and not break up and develop. The California trustees apparently have never heard of one of the Codes of the West  "Remember that some things aren't for sale."

Concerning the sale of the Wyoming ranch, Lund objects to any such sale, stating that it would be in violation of the family's long history over 40 years of wanting to keep the 110-acre ranch for the children's use and enjoyment during their lifetimes.

So, Lund went into the district court in Teton County to stop the trustees from selling the ranch to outsiders against Lund's wishes. The Trustees attempted to move the case to California instead of Wyoming because they claimed it was more convenient. The trustees apparently believe that a California court might be more friendly and certainly a world away from understanding Wyoming and better to decide the fate of that little patch of Wyoming ground. The court agreed to transfer the case to California and dismiss Lund's case.

However, Lund recently filed a motion to alter or amend the judgment, which would, in effect, allow the judge to take another look at his decision to transfer the case to California. If the judge does not change his transfer ruling, Lund intends to appeal to the Wyoming Supreme Court.

In our exclusive interview with Bradford Lund this week, he shared ranch stories most stories were happy, and some were sad.

Happy stories recall his father, Bill Lund, developing and building the ranch decades ago, and Lund helped his father set fenceposts (a Wyoming art form), fly-fishing on Fish Creek (the ranch is on the banks of the creek, itself on the edge of Snake River), horseback and ATV adventures and more.

Among the most moving is Brad's desire to establish a permanent memorial for his father on the ranch that Brad says his dad loved so much and always intended to remain with the family. "I'd like for my father's ashes to rest on this ranch (allowed in Wyoming)," Lund said.

Sad stories were  frankly  shocking. Previously able to use and enjoy the ranch whenever he and his family wished, Lund said they have been essentially alienated and deterred from enjoying the ranch due to the trustees' conduct.

"I feel that we were treated viciously by the trustees," he said. Lund also claimed, "the trustees have shown hostility towards me by demanding I move my personal items contained in my bedroom at the ranch to the garage contrary to my custom for the previous 25 years. Also, the trustees ordered that the property of my family, who visit the ranch with me, be removed from the ranch completely. I believe that these actions by the trustees are for the sole purpose of harassing and exerting control over me, demonstrating their consistent hostility towards me. They boxed up all of our possessions and sent them to us."

When Lund tried to place some personal items back at the ranch, "they put my stuff in trash bags and threw it all away."

In my conversation with him that lasted over an hour, Lund very clearly and concisely articulated stories and long-ago memories of enjoying the ranch over the years with his family and the details of his dispute with the trustees that go back years.

"All I want is my freedom, to have what is mine," he said. He clearly has a firm understanding of the complexities of his estate and how he wants to preserve and manage it. Lund said the trustees have kept control of his estate by falsely asserting he isn't competent to manage it himself, despite the fact that an Arizona judge after an extensive trial found that he was competent to handle his personal and financial affairs. This finding was confirmed all the way up to the Arizona Supreme Court. His twin sister Michelle Lund in sworn court testimony, agreed.

When reached by telephone and asked about the issues, Newport Beach, CA. based Douglas M. Strode, one of the trustees, answered questions about the ranch and Mr. Lund with a simple answer, "no comment."

Disney's grandson was recently forced to file court papers in the Los Angeles County Superior Court asking to block his four trustees: L. Andrew Gifford, Robert L. Wilson, Douglas M. Strode, and the First Republic Trust Company, from selling the ranch, according to an attorney representing him - Lanny J. Davis.

For nearly the past decade, Lund has battled estranged family members, trustees, and probate court officials, proving again and again that he is mentally fit to manage an inheritance worth over $400-million. He's had to prove that he doesn't have Down syndrome, as a California judge wrongfully asserted, despite being presented with DNA evidence contradicting his speculation. A court in Arizona even agreed and found Lund capable of handling his affairs.

In representing the Disney heir, attorney Lanny Davis is no stranger to complex legal matters. He served as special counsel to then-President Bill Clinton in the late 1990s and as privacy and civil liberties advisor to President George W. Bush from 2006-2007 and represented President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen. Davis chose to join the Lund legal team out of his concern for the injustices done to Lund.

Mr. Lund's choice of attorney, also including renowned Scottsdale litigator Sandra Slaton, might alone quash any doubts about his ability to manage his affairs.

According to legal filings, the four trustees themselves agreed that the ranch had special personal value to the Lund family  that it was of a "particular nature" with a "connection to the Lund family."

Lund asserted in his court papers that the new proposed sale would be a violation of a prior deal for him to acquire his twin sister's other half of the ranch share, and the 40-year intent of Mr. Lund's parents to keep the Ranch in the Trust for the children's lifetime use and enjoyment. "Our family has always treasured the pristine environment  the rivers and streams and forests and wildlife  of our ranch over many years. We do not want it to be changed."

In his filings, Lund asserted: "An undeniable benefit will be to the Trustees based upon their Real Estate Fee. The Trustees will receive 2% of the purchase price." The trustees have described this fee as "extraordinary." According to the terms of Lund's and his twin sister's trusts, as explained in the legal filings, neither Mr. Lund nor his sister would personally receive an economic benefit if the ranch were sold at the higher price based on commercial subdivisions of the ranch.

Saving the Wyoming ranch would be one step closer for Bradford Lund toward putting the family disputes the trustees created behind him and living his life in peace and freedom.

Liberating himself from the trustees who he says have harmed him so badly over the years is his ultimate goal. "The system is broken," said Rick Black, a director at the Center for Estate Administration Reform in North Carolina. "This is purely an estate-trafficking case, and it is being managed by predatory attorneys," Black told Tony Saavedra of The Orange County Register last year (Lund articles here and here).
Under the tentative compromise, coronavirus testing would be offered to all staff members and all students aged 10 and older before or upon their return to school. Any staff member or students who shows COVID-19 symptoms would be tested, and all of the staff at 134 schools in hard-hit neighborhoods would be tested weekly. In other neighborhoods, 50% of the staff would tested weekly.
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Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said protesting unions were ready to hold talks with the government only if it comes through formal channels

Mr Tikait had recently said that two government representatives had come to meet him, but he had refused to meet them separately.  PTI

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday reiterated farmers demand for a law on MSP for crops along with the repeal of the three agriculture-marketing laws and said that business over hunger will not be allowed in the country.

Desh mein bhook pe vyaapaar nahi hoga. Bhook kitni lagegi anaaj ki keemat utni hogi. Desh mein bhook se vyaapaar karne walon ko baahar nikaala jaaega (There will not be business over hunger in the country. If hunger goes up, price of crops will be decided accordingly. Those wanting business over hunger will be driven out of the country), Mr Tikiat said at Ghazipur border, which has become one of the epicentres of the farmers protests at Delhi borders.

Mr Tikaits comments came in reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modis address in Rajya Sabha where he assured farmers that the MSP will last forever. MSP tha, MSP hai, aur MSP rahega (MSP was there, MSP is there and MSP will continue) Affordable ration for the poor will continue. Mandis will be modernised, Mr Modi said while requesting farmers unions to call off their 75-day agitation.

Mr Tikait, who has now become the face of the agitation, said the farmers protests have highlighted that there is no law on MSP because of which traders loot them by buying crops at lower prices. He said the price of crops will not be decided the way the rates of a flight ticket fluctuate several times a day. The way the rates of a flight ticket fluctuate three to four times a day, the price of crops will not be decided the same way.

On the PM's remark about the emergence of a new community which is engaged in protests, Mr Tikait said, Yes, this time it is the farmers' community which has emerged and people are also supporting the farmers... This movement was first portrayed as Punjab's issue, then Sikhs', then Jats, so on and so forth. The farmers of the country are united. There is no small farmer or big farmer. The movement belongs to all farmers," he said.

Reacting to Mr Modis appeal to protesters to call off their agitation, farmer leader Satnam Singh Sahni said the PM should immediately call a meeting of the union leaders to end the stalemate. "If he (PM) calls a meeting tomorrow, we are ready to attend it Today, the major question before us is how our agriculture mandis can survive, he said.

Another farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said that the protesting unions were ready to hold talks with the government only if it comes through formal channels. "Any issue can be resolved through proper dialogue. We are ready in-principle to resume talks."

Mr Tikait had recently said that two government representatives had come to meet him, but he had refused to meet them separately. Every discussion will be held collectively in the presence of the Kisan Samyukth Morcha (an umbrella body of the protesting farmers unions).
GARDAI have launched an investigation after a Limerick-based business was defrauded out of cash after it was targeted by an online conman.

"The city centre business received an email from what looked like one of their employees. The email was requesting a change to their bank account details for pay purposes The business did this and then paid the employee," said divisional crime prevention officer Sergeant Ber Leetch.

The business subsequently discovered that the employee did not send any email and that the money was paid into an account which has been set up by a scammer.

"We are becoming so accustomed to communicating by email that we maybe a little slow in double checking details. When it comes to handing over cash be it by hand or electronically, you must be certain that you know exactly who you are giving your cash to," added Sgt Leetch.
BAY VILLAGE, Ohio -- The Village Project NOURISH Gala is coming up Feb. 27, from 7 to 9 p.m. The annual Bay Village event will be totally virtual this year, but will remain interactive.

The gala raises money for meals and care for Bay residents who have cancer.

Barb Harrell founded The Village Project in September 2010. During the second year of operation, she learned first-hand how it felt to be a Village Project client when her husband, Jeff, was diagnosed with a watermelon-sized cancerous tumor in his kidney.

While no two cancer experiences are the same, Barb felt she was even more equipped to understand and meet the needs of her clients. Jeff Harrell is now two years cancer free and a spokesman for The Village Project.

Now the projects executive director, Barb Harrell said, Over the past six years, The Village Projects NOURISH Gala has been our largest fundraiser, enabling us to accomplish our mission: to come together as a community of all ages to provide nourishing meals and extended care and service to our neighbors experiencing cancer.

Harrell addressed the virtual nature of this years gala.

Although we will miss holding this years NOURISH live, we are incredibly excited about the virtual interactive platform we will be using this year, she said.

The awesome part of this years event is that you dont have to live within driving distance to attend; if you have a computer and internet connection, you can attend from anywhere.

Harrell said they have guests who will be attending from Florida, California, New York, Illinois, Michigan and South Carolina, as well as Ohio.

We hope to add more states to our list. In addition, if people are not able to attend, they can still participate in our raffle and auction by registering at Nourish2021.givesmart.com.

Local guests will have the option of curbside dinner pickup before the event. Out-of-town guests will be provided free raffle tickets. Raffle items, 50/50 raffle, live auction and a scratch-off match game will give guests an opportunity to win while raising funds to support the mission.

There are also opportunities to participate as a NOURISH event sponsor or to donate an auction item.

Visit www.ourvillageproject.com for more information on The Village Project.

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Elementary students in the Scranton School District will return to their classrooms next month. At the end of a more than five-hour meeting, Scranton school directors voted early this morning to move to a hybrid schedule for the districts youngest students.

All staff will return to buildings March 1, with elementary students starting to return March 15. The resolution passed 7-2, with board President Katie Gilmartin and Director Sarah Cruz voting no. The plan can be adjusted based on recommendations expected this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The hybrid plan includes learning in a classroom two days a week and from home three days a week for elementary students. The district hopes for secondary students to start a hybrid schedule in the spring. Students will still have a virtual option under the hybrid plan.

Virtual learning is not helping us, Anna Hill, a fifth grade student at Prescott Elementary School, said when called to speak four hours after the meeting started. Its hurting us mentally, socially and academically. For my siblings and I, we are not getting the education we deserve.

Leaders assured school directors that buildings would be ready for students returns, from already installing hand sanitizer and hand-washing stations, to having masks for students and face shields for staff.

About 150 staff members with either pre-existing conditions or age 65 or older received vaccines Sunday. Rosemary Boland, president of the Scranton Federation of Teachers, asked the board to consider waiting to resume in-person instruction until more employees have the opportunity to be vaccinated.

Make sure you realize, youre voting tonight on something we consider life or death, Boland said.

Teacher Lynn King said she had a child cry on her virtual meeting Monday morning, asking to return to class. She asked the board to bring students back.

I know we need to protect the health and safety of everyone, but were 11 months into this, she said. We need to have a clear plan.

Earlier Monday night, directors spent more than two hours discussing transportation, a large part of the districts recovery plan. The plan requires the district to address findings from the state auditor generals office, including becoming more efficient.

The district sent letters last month alerting parents their children now face walks of up to 1 miles to elementary school or 2 miles to intermediate school. For years, the district routinely provided bus transportation for students who did not qualify, despite a decades-old policy of creating walk zones.

Chief Recovery Officer Candis Finan, Ed.D., called the timing of the letters sent last month a mistake, and she did not know about the letters before they were sent.

Officials are now reviewing who received the letters and looking for errors. When asked by the board whether employees faced discipline for the letters, Finan said some no longer work for us. She did not elaborate, and directors said they could not discuss anymore because it was a personnel issue.

Directors Sean McAndrew and Tara Yanni last weekend walked the route from George Bancroft Elementary, which is scheduled to close, to Isaac Tripp Elementary, where students will transfer. The directors said they found unshoveled sidewalks and many areas where children would have to walk in the street.

Though the district plans to bus the students from Bancrofts neighborhood to Tripp, the conditions are the same across the city, Yanni said.

Directors said they want a better idea of the hardships and obstacles that parents face in getting their children to school and plan to create a survey and a committee to look at the issues.

The district could also pursue a partnership with the County of Lackawanna Transit System to provide bus passes for high school students. The state could potentially reimburse the district for 78% of the cost of bus passes, Business Manager Patrick Laffey said. The district currently provides no transportation for high school students.

Also Monday night, officials said the district will not use Accelerate Education for the elementary learning platform next year. If a hybrid or virtual platform is needed in the fall, teachers will use a combination of different sites, such as Google Classroom.
PM Modi- Afghan President Ghani to meet virtually today

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 09: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will meet with Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani today virtually.

This would be the PM's first virtual summit in 2021. The summit would see many announcements being made. The two leaders are likely to sign an agreement on the Shatoot Dam that would provide clean water to 2 million residents of Kabul.

This would be the second dam India will be building in the country after the Salma or India-Afghanistan friendship dam in the Herat Province. The agreement was announced by External Affairs Minister, Dr. S Jaishankar during his address to the Afghanistan 2020 conference in November last year.

Afghanistan receives half million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from India

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

Both India and Afghanistan share a close partnership. India had sent 75,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan apart from 20 tonnes of life saving medicines apart from other equipment amidst the COVID-19 challenge. On Sunday, India sent 500,000 vaccines against COVID-19 to Afghanistan.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 8:20 [IST]
Colorectal cancer screening rates jumped by more than 1,000 percent when researchers sent take-at-home tests to patients overdue for testing at a community health center that predominantly serves people of color. Instead of the oft-standard text message that simply reminds a patient that they are overdue for screening, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania made it the default to send a take-at-home test to the patient's home unless they opted out via a text message prompt. The research was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Colorectal cancer screening rates remain limited in underserved populations, which includes those in the clinic we partnered with. We saw that there is an opportunity to use text messaging and new insights from behavioral science to increase uptake." Shivan Mehta, MD, Associate Chief Innovation Officer at Penn Medicine and Assistant Professor of Medicine

Colorectal cancer can be especially deadly if it is not discovered early enough for curative treatment. Across the United States, regular screening rates are relatively low, particularly in community health centers, where less than half of eligible patients are up-to-date. One study, in particular, found that the number of deaths from colorectal cancer among Black people was 40 percent higher than in white people, and 100 percent higher than in Asian/Pacific Islanders.

One method consistently used to boost screenings is the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). These kits just require a stool sample from a patient -- which can be provided at home -- that are then returned to a laboratory by mail and analyzed for the trace blood associated with colorectal cancer. While a colonoscopy remains the gold standard because it is the most thorough check and only needs to be completed once every 10 years, FIT kits are much easier for patients to handle and likely to be completed, even though they only clear a patient for a year.

Looking to increase low completion rates, the researchers -- led by Mehta and the study's first author, Sarah Huf, MBBS, a former Commonwealth Fund Fellow at Penn and now an Honorary Clinical Lecturer at Imperial College London -- decided to focus on completing FIT kits. As such, they randomly split a group of more than 400 patients overdue for screenings into two equal arms: one that just received a single reminder text and another that received FIT kits unless patients sent a response to an introduction text to say that they didn't want them. Almost 90 percent of these patients were Black, and half were Medicaid beneficiaries.

From March to May 2018, these patients were enrolled to either receive the reminder text (the control group) or to receive the FIT kit pending an opt-out (the intervention group). The latter group also received up to three follow-up texts with messages based on proven behavioral science techniques to nudge them into returning the kits.

By the end of the period studied (12 weeks from when each patient received their first text message) a little more than 2 percent of the patients in the control group had completed a FIT kit or had a colonoscopy. But for the intervention arm of the study, nearly 20 percent had done the same.

When looking purely at FIT kit return rates, the intervention arm increased by more than 17 percentage points. In the control, it was less than two. And while screening rates did remain relatively low, the improvement showed great promise for the population served.

"It is important to note that this is a population at a community health center that may not routinely seek out medical care, especially preventive care, so there is a low baseline screening rate," Huf explained. "Future interventions may need to address issues such as reading comprehension and not having a stable place to live."

What was especially important for the type of clinic this study was performed in was the cost to apply it. For the 200 patients in the intervention arm, it only cost about $150.

"For these types of health clinics, minimizing cost is critical for sustainability since they have many competing health priorities for their patients," Mehta said.

Moving forward, Mehta and his fellow researchers plan to explore how best to offer the choice of colonoscopy or FIT kits to patients in the populations that receive care at this type of health center.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 23:28:17|Editor: huaxia

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BLANTYRE, Malawi, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has recently announced that the country is going to embark on an immunization exercise that will see Malawian citizens receiving COVID-19 vaccination.

Responding to the development, local, religious and political leaders in Malawi have hailed government plans to introduce the COVID-19 vaccine as a strong path to saving more people's lives.

The first consignment of AstraZeneca's vaccine targeting 20 percent of the population, roughly 3.8 million people, is expected in Malawi at the end of February with a plan to roll out in March.

This follows a spike in the number of cases in the Southern African country that have since April hit 27,422 with 874 deaths.

Senior Chief Chikumbu of Mulanje, south Malawi, said while the fight against the pandemic is being enhanced on the treatment front, bringing a vaccine is a winning formula.

"The vaccine is not intended at killing anyone, nor is it intended at victimizing any human. The vaccine is rather aimed at protecting us all and bringing the pandemic to an end as soon as possible," she said.

The vaccination program in Malawi starts with front-line health care workers, the elderly who are more vulnerable to the pandemic and people with underlying health conditions.

In his remarks, CCAP Blantyre Synod General Secretary Reverend Billy Gama says by opting for a vaccine, the government means well for its people.

"I don't think there is any other government that can accept a vaccine that can kill its people. It is the responsibility of the government to save the lives of the people," he said.

The doses secured are aimed at giving as many citizens as possible immunity against the virus.

According to legislator Kondwani Nakhumwa who also leads the opposition benches in the Malawi National Assembly, however, there is a need for enhanced awareness for people to understand issues surrounding the vaccine.

"Not much has been done. We have been talking about the vaccine for the past two weeks or so if I am not mistaken. The two weeks are not long enough but I am glad people have started talking about it but as far as civic education is concerned, I think we haven't done much yet. There is a need for a proper strategy to be put in place," Nakhumwa said.

According to Malawi's Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 co-chairperson Dr John Phuka, the vaccine is safe and highly effective.

"It is not the first time we have used a vaccine in Malawi. And we usually accept vaccines very well and we know at this point for example that by itself, we are struggling and that is why we have high numbers of COVID-19 cases," he said. "Therefore the fact that local leaders, religious leaders and legislators have accepted the vaccines, it's a good start that can help us control the disease."

Meanwhile, the government has set aside funds in all Malawi's 28 districts for the procurement of face masks for every Malawian. Enditem
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(Secession is) just a response to the lack of respect toward southeast New Mexico.

 Sen. Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell

If you like Texas better, just pack up your bags and move, its not that far.

 Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque

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While its easy to dismiss a secession measure introduced by state Sen. Cliff Pirtle as silly, doing so would only ignore  and feed  the deep political and cultural divisions that exist in our state.

New Mexico has always had a rural-urban political divide. Lawmakers from Albuquerques metro area combined with legislators in the nearby seat of government in Santa Fe are usually able to carry the day when the votes are tabulated in the Roundhouse. And with others they are working on an ambitious and progressive agenda.

In recent years, months and even days, the divisions between oil-producing southeast New Mexico and urban New Mexico have deepened with the passage of gun restriction laws, the imposition of business and school closures due to the pandemic, and perceived threats to the oil industry. Pirtle says proposals introduced this year to ban animal trapping on public lands and restrict pesticide use are a direct attack on N.M.s rural way of life.

Thats not a new concern. But until last week, no state lawmaker had introduced a secession measure, according to research conducted for the Journal by senior legislative librarian Joanne Vandestreek. We made it through 109 years of statehood before hitting this point.

Pirtles Senate Joint Resolution 15 would allow New Mexicans to vote on a proposed constitutional amendment paving the path for counties to secede. Counties would have to first launch an effort to formally disengage from New Mexico through a unanimous vote of county commissioners or a voter petition drive.

That does not seem out of the realm of possibility given the recent tensions between county commissions in southeast New Mexico and Santa Fe. Roswell Mayor Dennis Kintigh says leaders in Chaves, Eddy and Lea counties feel rejected, unvalued and disrespected.

Under Pirtles bill, at least three contiguous counties would have to be in favor of leaving, and in the case of counties wanting to join another state, at least one of the three would have to border the neighboring state.

The proposed constitutional amendment would require ratification from Congress, in addition to approval from N.M. voters, both houses of the state Legislature and any neighboring state the N.M. counties want to join. In other words, it has little chance  although numerous Virginian counties were able to secede and form West Virginia in 1863.

Pirtle acknowledges his proposal is at least partly intended to send a message, but others say its a childish tantrum that only adds to the existing divisions. Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, embodied that viewpoint when she said she doubted any New Mexico county would actually pursue secession.

The relationship between Little Texas in southeast New Mexico and the rest of the state is akin to a bad relationship, with one party expressing a desire to leave and the other saying Youre not going anywhere. If it were a marriage  it essentially is  wed need counseling.

Stewarts smart aleck remark to pack up your bags and move was insensitive and shortsighted. We expect better from a career educator and certainly the Senates new leader. And Pirtles bill is grandstanding at its worse, like a child stomping his feet in frustration.

But it can not be dismissed out of hand. Not considering where we are today. The Legislature and especially the Senate are supposed to be deliberative bodies where the peoples voices are heard. Is New Mexico still a state that takes pride in its diversity of cultures and opinions?

Or one that tells folks who speak up theres the door?

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.

In 2005, he declined to charge Cosby after Andrea Constand reported Cosby drugged and molested her a year earlier. Castor, according to his later testimony, promised Cosby that the actor would never be tried in the case in return for Cosbys testimony in a civil lawsuit, testimony that was later used to charge and convict Cosby in 2018. Castor later settled a defamation lawsuit filed by Constand outside of court in early 2019 over comments Castor made about why he didnt press charges.
A pioneering exporter who sold lobsters to Europe from the Yorkshire coast has been forced to wind up his 40-year-old family business - because of Brexit red tape.

Sam Baron, who worked alongside his late father to set up Baron Shellfish in Bridlington, East Yorks., said he had to let his 'business head overrule his heart'.

It is believed the firm, the first lobster-tank business in Europe's largest shellfish port, is the first big exporter to have announced its closure.

Mr Baron, 58, who had worked in the fishing industry since he was a schoolboy, cited extra costs and paperwork associated with Brexit as a reason he was closing down.

New regulations came into force on January 1 regarding live exports to the European Union, with a requirement for extra checks and documentation.

Making the closure announcement on Saturday, he said: 'Baron Shellfish Limited took advantage of the common market, increasing business by selling direct to customers in the EU.

Baron Shellfish, a major shellfish exporter which is based at Bridlington Harbour (pictured) has announced this weekend that it will close after 40 years because of red tape after Brexit

'This meant we could competitively buy from our fellow merchants at Bridlington, making us more of a dispatch centre to the EU.

'This in turn meant the costing of conditioning, grading, packaging costs etc were kept in the UK.

'As you can appreciate this meant more of the revenue created by the live lobsters stayed in the UK.

'It is now with deep sadness in my heart I write to inform you that I've had to let my business head overrule my heart and bring Baron Shellfish Limited to closure.

'At this time we would like to thank all our customers and all those who have helped us through the years for their support.'

As a schoolboy, Sam Baron worked alongside his father to set up the lobster tank business from scratch.

Sam Baron, who helped grow the business in East Yorkshire with his father, said he had to rule with his head and not his heart after making the decision, citing 'disruption' in the industry

Over the years the business grew alongside Bridlington Harbour, which became the biggest shellfish port in the UK, and sold catch from UK waters to mainland Europe.

While inside the common market, the company bought lobsters from businesses in Bridlington and sold to countries including Spain, Belgium and Italy.

Mr Baron has exported up to five tonnes of lobster a week to mainland Europe during peak times.

But on Saturday, he was forced to begin dismantling hundreds of crates.

He is planning to pay off three members of staff and sell his crates and vehicles.

He added: 'There is an element of disruption going on and I am currently talking to business leaders and fishermen to establish whether this is short term disruption or if it is a longer term problem.

Bridlington Harbour in East Yorkshire is one of the biggest shellfish ports in Europe (file photo)

'We are very concerned and we are and will be making enquiries as we want to ensure fishing and the shellfish industry remain at the heart of Bridlington.

'It is a thriving industry for the town and we want to make sure it stays that way. and keep a very close eye on it.

'The new Hull and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership will have a look at this issue and make a point of talking to the Government.

'It is early days but we need to make sure all parties are involved to get a speedy solution.'

It comes as ministers branded the EU decision to place restrictions on live UK shellfish exports 'indefensible' today - as even a senior MEP admitted it 'makes no sense'.

Environment Secretary George Eustice insisted there is 'no legal barrier' to the trade as he demanded the European Commission behaves reasonably.

Environment Secretary George Eustice branded the EU decision to place restrictions on live UK shellfish exports 'indefensible' today and said there is 'no legal barrier' to the trade

The introduction of new checks and paperwork since the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31 has caused disruption to exports of fresh fish and seafood to the EU.

Many British waters are classed as Grade B, and since Brexit shellfish have to be cleaned before being sent to Europe.

But there are not enough facilities in the UK as the catches used to be sent to the EU for purification.

Ministers had expected the bloc would permit the trade to resume once a new health certificate was produced, but say it has now backtracked.

French MEP Pierre Karleskind, who chairs the European Parliament's committee on fisheries, hit out at the commission today saying 'the UK waters did not become dirty on the 31st December at midnight'.

Last month seafood hauliers protested against the Brexit fishing deal by stacking lorries in central London.

Mr Eustice said the Commission changed its position last week, and that prior to that 'they had been clear that this was a trade that could continue'.

He said in an interview with LBC that the action, which puts a 'ban on the trade altogether' was 'quite unexpected and really indefensible'.

'Whereas previously they'd been clear that this is trade that could continue, and all they needed to do was design the right export health certificate,' he added.
GENEVA, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese vaccines are "in very advanced stage" of the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing Procedure (EUL) assessment, an official from the WHO said on Friday.

The vaccines, produced by Sinovac and Sinopharm, are among the four vaccines in very advanced phase of approval, said Mariangela Simao, assistant WHO Director-General for Access to Medicines, Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals, at a press conference.

A team of experts from the WHO are now already in China, and they "will start inspections next week" as they are currently in quarantine, she said.

This could bring an approval for the vaccine in a relatively short timeframe as Sinovac and Sinopharm have completed several Phase 3 trials, as shown by a public document weekly updated on the WHO website.

The EUL, a process for licensing new vaccines by the WHO, is important for many applications, not least to be approved as part of the COVAX Facility led by the WHO for efficient and equitable global access to the COVID-19 vaccines.

So far, only the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has received EUL approval. Two other vaccines -- Britain's AstraZeneca and South Korea's SK Bioscience -- are also being assessed, Simao said.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in some countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.

Meanwhile, 238 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 WHO on Tuesday. Enditem

[ Editor: SRQ ]
Suzi Taylor (pictured) is facing 103 charges

Another arrest warrant has been issued for ex-television contestant and former Penthouse cover girl Suzi Taylor.

The reality TV star was earlier accused of breaching strict bail conditions by abusing alcohol and refusing to report to authorities.

But another warrant was issued on Tuesday after Taylor failed to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court.

The Block 2015 contestant, whose real name is Suellen Jan Taylor, faces 103 charges including extortion, deprivation of liberty and more than 70 bail breaches.

Some charges were due to be mentioned on Tuesday, while others were listed for a plea.

Brisbane Supreme Court was told less than two weeks ago Taylor had repeatedly breached bail conditions and could not be located.

The reality TV star (pictured) was accused of breaching strict bail conditions by abusing alcohol and refusing to report to authorities

A warrant was issued for Taylor to show cause why her bail should not be revoked.

She was granted bail in November with strict conditions including wearing an electronic tracking device and a 24-hour curfew.

Taylor was also ordered to live with her mother, surrender her passport and undertake mental health treatment.

In less than a month, she was kicked out of her mother's home for intoxication and breaching curfew conditions.

Taylor was then ordered to reside at a Brisbane mental health facility before again being evicted for intoxication.

The prosecution said earlier Taylor showed an 'unruly attitude' toward bail and had been given repeated chances to abide by the conditions of her release from custody.
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A father-of-two pointed a realistic looking imitation gun into the face of a cash-in-transit van driver during an armed hold up has been jailed for five years.

James Tracey (32) and a co-accused were arrested as Tracey got into a getaway car parked at the bottom of an embankment on the M3 motorway, not far from the hold up at the Aldi in Clonee, Co Meath.

Tracey of Dunsink Park, Finglas, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a firearm with intention to commit robbery and robbery of a cash box on January 6, 2020.

The court heard that Tracey pointed a realistic imitation pistol into the face of a cash-in-transit van driver who had just done a cash pick up at Aldi.

Tracey shouted drop the box and the driver froze, took a step back and put his hands in the air. Tracey ran off and went over a wall and made his way down through the shrubbery of the motorway embankment.

Another man was waiting in a car there and had opened the passenger door for him. As Tracey got to the car members of the Garda Emergency Response Unit moved in and arrested both men.

Tracey still had the cash box and the 27,000 cash in it was recovered in full.

The court heard that victim's hands were shaking so badly that he couldn't press the panic button and he broke down crying when he got home later that day.

In a victim impact statement he said he thought the pistol was a real gun and that he got the shock of his life. He said he still feels more anxious and nervous as a result of the robbery.

Seamus Clarke SC, defending, told the court that his client lost his job as a painter the month before the robbery and had a new born baby and a two year old son.

He said his instructions are that his client had developed a secret drug addiction at the time and had built up a large drug debt and needed money to pay this. Detective Superintendent Derek Maguire told Judge Codd that he had no evidence to suggest there was a drug problem there.

Tracey's former employer told the court that he had employed him as a painter and he was a trustworthy, great worker. He said he let him go in December because of a slowdown in business but said he would have no problem hiring him again.

Dt Supt Maguire told the court that the majority of Tracey's 60 previous convictions are for road traffic offences.

Judge Pauline Codd said that Tracey was caught red-handed. She said she accepted his remorse as genuine and noted he is assessed at being at a moderate level of reoffending.

She suspended the final two years of a seven year sentence on condition that post release supervision for two years
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The extreme demand and limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines has created a marketplace of shady operators trying to sell coronavirus "vaccines" on social media platforms to U.S. consumers. New research released today by the Digital Citizens Alliance (DCA) and the Coalition for a Safer Web (CSW) found sellers, based both in the U.S. and internationally, offering to illegally sell COVID-19 vaccines on Facebook and Telegram.

The report, "A Shot from the Darkest Corners of the Internet," shares conversations researchers had with sellers, including one correspondence that started on Telegram and ended with payment for the purchase of one vial of "vaccine." The report also includes examples of how sellers have developed strategies to work around Facebook's COVID-19 misinformation defenses to offer vaccines made by Sinovac, a Chinese company. The Facebook posts never say they are selling the vaccine, but instead strongly imply the possibility to consumers and encourage further correspondence to get more details.

"The thirst for COVID-19 vaccines creates a fertile ground for scam artists on the internet to do what they do best -- prey on fears to sell hope to the hopeless," said Tom Galvin, executive director of the Digital Citizens Alliance. "As we have seen so many other times, criminals and scammers continuously find ways to get past the limited protections deployed by Facebook and others. These activities put consumers at risk. The questions for us still remain: Are these social media companies that are at the forefront of a wide range of emerging technologies unable to stop illegal and/or illicit activities? Or are they just unwilling?"

Sellers were less subtle on Telegram, where researchers conversed with people who offered vaccines from the same pages where they pushed dangerous narcotics like Percocet and Oxycodone. A DCA researcher actually paid for a supposed vial of COVID-19 "vaccine" for $175 using PayPal. The seller, who said he was shipping the "vaccine" from Richmond, Virginia., claimed that the vial was in transit to DCA.

Twelve days after initial payment, DCA researchers received an email asking for an additional $150 in gift cards, cryptocurrency, MoneyGram, PayPal or bank transfer to cover insurance costs in order for the package to clear the "Aviation Commission" rules and regulations. Upon further investigation, it appears that the "seller" has created an elaborate scheme which includes what appears to be the creation of a website for a logistics company named DeltaAir Express. The website seems to include a fake package tracking mechanism on the site to convince buyers they will receive legitimate packages. The DeltaAir Express website references its founding in 1972, but a WhoIs search revealed the site was created in December 2020, a tell-tale sign that it was created to exploit the extreme demand for COVID-19 vaccinations.

"For all of Facebook's bravado about how well it prevents the sale of illegal drugs, our report confirms once again that Facebook is not enforcing its own rules," said CSW President Mark Ginsberg. "Telegram's enabling of such illegal vaccine sales reaffirms the validity of CSW's twin lawsuits against Apple and Google to compel Telegram to cease violating U.S. laws."

CSW is suing Apple for failure to remove Telegram from its App Store. CSW believes that Telegram refuses to crackdown on violent, extremist conversations and should be removed from the App Store, similar to the way that Apple removed Parler.

"Once again, this is a failure by Facebook to monitor their platform for illegal activity that could put lives at risk," said CSW's Eric Feinberg, the lead investigator on this research. "Facebook claimed it removed posts offering questionable marketplaces offering PPE, COVID remedies and vaccines. This research shows either Facebook can be fooled, or Facebook just doesn't care."

The full "A Shot from the Darkest Corners of the Internet" report can be accessed at https://www.digitalcitizensalliance.org/clientuploads/directory/Reports/A_Shot_from_the_Darkest_Corner_of_the_Internet_Report.pdf.

About Digital Citizens Alliance

The Digital Citizens Alliance is a nonprofit, 501(c)(6) organization that is a consumer-oriented coalition focused on educating the public and policymakers on the threats that consumers face on the Internet. Digital Citizens wants to create a dialogue on the importance for Internet stakeholdersindividuals, government, and industryto make the Web a safer place.

Based in Washington, DC, the Digital Citizens Alliance counts among its supporters: private citizens, the health, pharmaceutical and creative industries as well as online safety experts and other communities focused on Internet safety. Visit us at digitalcitizensalliance.org.

About The Coalition for a Safer Web

The Coalition for a Safer Web is a non-partisan, not-for-profit advocacy organization whose mission is, inter alia, to promote new public/private partnerships to facilitate the expeditious removal of extremist & terrorist incitement and instruction content from social media platforms. Visit us at coalitionsw.org. CSW uses technology from The Global Intellectual Property Enforcement Center (GIPEC). GIPEC Worldwide is a cyber intelligence company that uses patented tools to interrogate the deep web and social media. To learn more about GIPEC visit www.gipec.com.

For more information, please contact Adam Benson at 202.999.9104 or [email protected].

SOURCE Digital Citizens Alliance; Coalition for a Safer Web

Related Links

https://www.digitalcitizensalliance.org


Over the many months of the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, weve heard a consistent message from the governors office: New Jersey public schools should be open, if they can safely be open.

Yet, weve also heard this contrary message: Teachers, as well as others who work in New Jerseys public schools, are not a priority for the COVID vaccine.

Adding to that mixed message is the quandary facing the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey, as well as other public school districts serving students with severe disabilities. We are asked to work with the most medically fragile population in a face-to-face setting, yet we are still not warranted any priority status for vaccine.

Such an alarming fact places our school community in a ludicrous position, as well as sends a message from Trenton that those who work with children with the direst challenges are not afforded the same priority as other frontline heroes in New Jersey.

We have no idea when our teachers and support staff will be inoculated, nor if there is any real talk of when children with disabilities will have the opportunity to get the vaccine to stay safe.

As this state steadily works toward achieving normalcy, lets not forget the challenges that the disability community faced long before this pandemic and will continue to face long afterward.

Ensuring healthy teachers helps keep our classrooms open so our students can learn the basic skills they require to live independent lives.

When will the state recognize our significance?

Mark Finkelstein, Superintendent of Schools, Educational Services Commission of New Jersey, Piscataway

Use Trumps trial as a civics lesson

In view of college freshman Ammu Anils powerful recent opinion article, A Students Plea for Civics Education in New Jersey, we encourage Lead Impeachment Manager Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the other impeachment managers and their Senate colleagues to seize an opportunity for nationwide civic education and learning through this historic trial of Donald J. Trump.

Specifically, the Senate proceedings should advance our understanding of these basic concepts:

Dignity and respect for all. The disciplines that explore our common humanity  history and philosophy; civics and ethics; language and literature; religion and arts  are at the heart of self-governance.

Citizens hold the highest office. The idea that we the people have ultimate authority over Congress, schools, courts, even the Oval Office, is critical and profound.

The Senate is one legislative unit, independent of political parties. Seating senators by geographic region, rather than by political affiliation on different sides of an aisle, could expand common ground.

Whatever the outcome of the trial, a process informed by our elected representatives sincerest views of democracy and fairness could go a long way toward renewing civic understanding, peace, safety and trust throughout our country.

Abegail Douglas-Johnson, West Orange; Susan E. Haig, South Orange; and David A. Niles, Millburn

Note: The authors serve on the Church & Society Committee, First Presbyterian & Trinity Church, South Orange

Cant say so what? to treason

We have an impeachment trial for insurrection of a former president beginning Feb. 8.

I wonder how many members of Congress and others remember the old adage, The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.

This is a trial on charges of a treasonous action. If shoulders are shrugged and so what? is the attitude, what does this say about us as a society and country?

Jean Wands, Roselle Park

Sanitized words hide what abortion really is

The recent opinion article, Why men should support expanding access to abortion, by Brandon McCoy and Oren Jacobsen, has all the necessary appeal to favor women and their plight with unwanted pregnancies.

This includes arguments that abortion is the solution to avoid the financial hardship of raising a child, prevent to risk family economic security, and provide freedom for reproductive health.

One reason why preborn human life is so easily discarded is because of phrases coined by abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood officials have referred to the procedure as simply removing the products of conception.

As soon as we apply euphemisms to describe abortion, we have properly sanitized it. Then abortion seems not so bad after all.

Dan Pryor, Belvidere

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The Nigerian government has published the passport details of another 100 travellers who failed to undergo the mandatory COVID-19 test after returning into the country.

This is the second time passport details of travellers violating compulsory COVID-19 protocols will be published.

The latest details were posted on the official Twitter page of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Tuesday morning.

The affected passengers will be restricted from travelling out of the country for the next six months, according to the PTF.

Presidential Task Force (PTF) sanctions 100 Passports in Second Batch of those who failed to comply with the mandatory Day 7 post-arrival COVID-19 Test.

PENALTY: 6-month travel restriction from Feb 5 to July 30, 2021.

The PTF had in January released details of 100 travellers who violated the protocols put in place to limit spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The Chairman of the PTF, Boss Mustapha, at its briefing said the passports will be suspended to serve as a deterrent to others.

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Passengers arriving into the country are required to proceed on self-isolation and carry out a COVID-19 test seven days after arrival.

But some passengers failed to observe the compulsory isolation or present themselves for the PCR repeat test on day seven, a recent report by PREMIUM TIMES shows.

With new COVID-19 variants ravaging some countries, the PTF has become more strict with all measures to prevent importation of these variants.

As of Monday night, Nigeria has recorded over 140,000 cases of the infection and 1,673 deaths, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

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A majority of teachers at Maun Secondary School have boycotted classes following fear of COVID-19 noncompliance that goes unpunished while cases accelerate nationwide. Botswana Sectors of Educations Trade Union BOSETU Secretary for Secondary Sector Thomas Kajuu, said they as Maun Senior Secondary School teachers have taken a decision to seize working until the work environment is conducive.

Kajuu decried that they are at the mercy of COVID-19 since there is no free flow of information on how many people have the virus, no contact tracing done, no disinfection of the classrooms, no mandatory two hour break. He said that they have suggested that instead of classes going for more than two hours they should be breaks to enable cleaning.

He disclosed in an interview with this publication that they have long requested Ngami DHMT to screen them for Coronavirus to no avail. "Students are testing positive, staff is kept in the dark, what is worrying is that the positive teachers used to teach classes yet no contact tracing has been done", he revealed that about seven teachers have tested positive so far and are told to quarantine in their houses which also puts their housemates at risk as most of them share houses.

For those teachers who tested positive students were not tested besides being in contact with the teachers. Kajuu said that what puzzles them most is that for other schools in the Okavango area serious measures have been implemented, with students being tested fearing a COVID-19 scare Shakawe Senior, Gowa junior school and Okavango Junior Secondary.

BOSETU has even made attempts to call for change in the behavior of the DHMT as it is deemed incompetent. Kajuu described how an earlier attempt was made by the BOSETU Reginal Director Letsweletse Setlhodi which yielded in alleviation of the problem.

The Secondary Sectors Secretary said that until the work environment is mended , a majority of teachers have seized operations as per the Public Service Act Section 27, section 3(e) which states "willful refusal to obey or comply with any safety rules or practices for the prevention or control of accidents or diseases, should not go unpunished. He said if the DHMT does not listen to their cries they call for its full resignation.

In an interview with Ngami District Health Management Team, Acting Director Sandra Maripe she presumed that, escalating cases of COVID-19 devises to shortage of resources. She described how the DHMT is currently understaffed, have shortage of transport, challenged with an outbreak of malaria, incompliance to COVID-19 protocols, inadequate personal protective equipment amongst others.

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The Acting Director also said that cases of the virus in Ngami Land schools are not escalating as of those in the Okavango Region. "We have schools in the Okavango region particularly Gowa Junior school which is now non operation because of the escalating cases", she said.

Shakawe Senior School currently has 53 cases of COVID-19, Shakawe Junior Secondary 64, Gowa Junior Secondary School 290,Etsha 6 21 cases .Maun schools do not have a lot of notable statistics as those in the Okavango.

Maripe however said that people who are on home isolation should always call the DHMT for assistance as they have a long lists of patients, she however assured that those that are on home isolation are mostly asymptomatic. Most people in the region are on home quarantine 1347 housed in Ngami end of From January 31 the district registered new cases with 483 in Ngami Land and 567 in Okavango District .Ngami has 192 active cases meanwhile Okavango has 460 cases. Okavango District record a total of zero deaths while Ngami recorded 21 deaths, with one in December and 20 in January alone.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to the DHMT to work with teachers to work as contact tracing personnel to help locate affected individuals.Dr Maripe said due to the district not having quarantine centers they managed to be given an isolation facility by Sanitise Maun group. Polymerized Chain Reaction tips used for screening for the virus are currently in shortage leading to the use of rapid antigen for testing. The district also has only two ventilators and transfers patients to Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital.
[February 08, 2021] Veteran IT Industry leader, Shigeru Harasawa, joins Sales Acceleration company, Vymo, as Japan President

Vymo has been expanding rapidly in Japan and is driving sales acceleration for some of the region's largest financial services companies TOKYO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vymo, the Sales Acceleration Platform of choice for over 125,000 users in 60+ leading financial institutions across the World, today announced that veteran IT Industry leader, Shigeru Harasawa, has been appointed as Japan President. Mr. Harasawa joins Vymo from leading Enterprise AI company, DataRobot, where he helped build the business in Japan from the ground up as its Country Manager. In a career spanning over 25 years, Mr. Harasawa has held leadership positions in startups such as Netezza, DataStax, and DataRobot and also at large IT companies such as IBM, Microsoft, and Oracle. As Japan President, Mr. Harasawa will lead Vymo's business in the region, reporting directly to the CEO, Ms. Yamini Bhat, and invest in building strategic alliances to ensure the success of Vymo's customers. Speaking on the news, Vymo's Co-founder and CEO, Ms. Yamini Bhat, said: "Japan is a key strategic region for Vymo. Over the last year, we have validated our solution across some of the largest financial institutions in the country. We're confident that Harasawa-san's leadership and experience will help us serve our customers better and grow our presence in the region." Vymo Japan President, Mr. Shigeru Harasawa, said: "I am excited to be joining Vymo. I believe the product is well-positioned to serve the needs of Japanese companies. While CRM and sales software tend to focus solely on sales managers, Vymo's product is also extremely relevant for sales reps. This drives high adoption and impacts sales outcomes. I am confident Vymo will become a de-facto standard for sales teams in Japan in the near future." Vymo's product helps salespeople: report their sales activities automatically;

plan customer engagement inelligently; and

adopt winning behaviors to improve outcomes



Vymo also integrates with leading CRM solutions like Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics and has an adoption rate of over 85%. Vymo was profiled in the JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) Economic Report as a "future unicorn" and noted its ability to help Japanese salespeople cope with the "new normal" of remote engagement.

About Vymo Vymo (www.getvymo.com) is the Sales Acceleration Platform trusted by over 125,000 salespeople across 60+ global enterprises such as AIA, Allianz, AXA, Sunlife, FE Credit, Generali, and HDFC Bank. Vymo is recognized by Gartner as a Cool Vendor and is funded by Emergence Capital and Sequoia Capital. Related Links Vymo Product Overview - https://tinyurl.com/yxpt4hst

Vymo Japan website - www.getvymo.com/jp

Download logo - https://bit.ly/39zfXsp Notes and References Gaku Nakanishi Joins As President and CEO Of Honda Cars India - www.businessworld.in/article/Gaku-Nakanishi-Joins-As-President-CEO-Of-Honda-Cars-India-/02-04-2018-145182/

Capital Group bolsters its Asia business with the appointment of a president and head of its Japan client group. - https://www.finews.asia/finance/33578-capital-group-appoints-president-of-japan-unit

business with the appointment of a president and head of its client group. - https://www.finews.asia/finance/33578-capital-group-appoints-president-of-japan-unit Shigeru Harasawa / LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shigeru-harasawa-127587/?originalSubdomain=jp

/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shigeru-harasawa-127587/?originalSubdomain=jp Salesforce Appoints Gavin Patterson President and Chief Revenue Officer - https://www.salesforce.com/news/press-releases/2020/05/13/salesforce-appoints-gavin-patterson-president-and-chief-revenue-officer-2/

Adobe appoints Simon Tate from Salesforce as APAC lead https://www.thestatesman.com/technology/adobe-appoints-simon-tate-salesforce-apac-lead-1502875129.html

from Salesforce as APAC lead https://www.thestatesman.com/technology/adobe-appoints-simon-tate-salesforce-apac-lead-1502875129.html Salesforce.com Expands Japan Leadership with Appointment of Shinichi Koide as Japan Chairman and CEO https://www.salesforce.com/news/press-releases/2014/04/15/salesforce-com-expands-japan-leadership-with-appointment-of-shinichi-koide-as-japan-chairman-and-ceo/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1434816/Vymo_Shigeru_Harasawa.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1026997/Vymo_Logo.jpg Media Contact (Japan)

Taro Ishikawa

Vymo Japan

taro.ishikawa@getvymo.com Media Contact (Global)

Gunjan Saha

Vymo Inc.

gunjan@getvymo.com SOURCE Vymo

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This is an opinion column.

Brilliant. Thats what we want all our children to be; I think we can agree on that. As brilliant as they can be. As equipped as they need to be to accomplish what their skills, passion, and focus allow them to pursue.

That was also my first thought when I heard Birmingham City Schools is proposing to start its 2021-22 school year in July. To essentially launch a seemingly well thought out plan for year-round school. The districts students would join about 3 million others in 46 states who are on some version of a year-round calendar. Brilliant.

This was my thought, too: Finally.

Finally, a district with the fortitude to do what long should have been donenot just by BCS, but by districts throughout a state thats lagged at or near the bottom of the nation so long weve essentially failed a generation, and many of their parents before them.

Finally, after too many years of hearing of summer slidethat least wonderful time of the year when much of what our children learned the previous school year drains from their brains like post-nasal dripand seeing too few bold, comprehensive efforts to stem it.

Finally, after a global pandemic yanked kids out of the classroom last March, igniting a potential learning loss pandemic without pursuing a vaccine. A cure for, lets call themthe fidgety preschoolers, the distracted adolescents, the anxious college studentsthe Class of COVID-19.

BCS Superintendent Mark Sullivan, an ex-principal who gets it, shared the proposal in a video last week, asking for feedback from parents, teachers, and studentsanyone who cares about our children. Anyone weary of too many of them graduating (do grad rates really mean anything anymore?) ill-equipped to accomplish what they could.

It came just days after a sobering school board working session during which Academic Officer Dr. Jermaine Dawson shared the results of a deep dive into the reading and math levels of the districts K-8 students.

Here are the hard truths:

Just one in four of approximately 15,500 K-8 students (24%) is reading on or above grade level, with nearly half (46%) reading at two or more levels below their grade.

Math proficiency is even more humbling: Barely 1 in 10 students (13%) is on or above grade level; more than half (52%) are two are more grade levels below their classroom.

I clamored for year-round learning last August. Even then, in the throughs of the COVID-19s havoc on childrens learning, it was clear we faced desperate times that were only going to get more desperate.

Times whose effects on our children we may not know for years.

Times calling for desperate measures. Bold measures.

Times calling for year-round school.

Theres no national consensus on its efficacythough studies have shown academic achievement among children in year-round learning is at least as good as, if not better than, students on the traditional calendar.

We do know this: Year-round learning is particularly good for children in low-income families.

Brilliant.

Let me be clear: Im not throwing shade on BCS. Not its administrators, teachers, and certainly not its studentsmost of whom are doing their best amid circumstances, not of their doing.

The effects of a carousel of superintendents (lost count) and chief academic officers in the last several years, along with other factorspoverty, alas, most cruciallyare apparent and well-chronicled. But not the students fault.

Birmingham is not alone in its struggles.

In 2019, 16 counties in the state had no more than one in four third-graders reading at proficiency, according to the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama; one in five read at the lowest level.

Nineteen counties had no more than one in four third graders who were proficient in math.

That was before COVID-19. Before the corona crash. Before beleaguered educators, really beleaguered parents and weary and distracted students did the best they could while staring at a screenor not; absenteeism is ridiculously high.

There will be pushback, of course. The massive summer camp lobby has poured millions into blocking year-round school for yearsblocking it to sustain an industry far beyond the reach of the low-income families year-round teaching benefits most.

Teachers.? Im just waiting for their stance. Love them all, appreciate them allnot more than parents who came to appreciate them as much as life itself in the last 10 months.

Ill just say this: If youre not all in for something with at least an iota of a chance of lifting your students, of keeping them from failing at a time in their lives when they should be reading with joy and curiosity, then perhaps its time for a career change. Just me being clear.

The BCS proposal comes just ahead of the implementation of the new state law requiring third graders to be reading on grade level or be held back. The law is based on a successful, similar model launched in Mississippi in 2014-15 and is in at least 16 other states.

The thought of penalizing students so young for struggling amid conditions not of their own making, and in a manner that could rightfully affect their self-esteem, truly pains me. Though I hear supporters who say the law forces districts to pour new resources into literacy: more training for teachers, workshops for parents on how to incorporate more reading in the home, and funding for summer school classes for poor readers.

Heres a brilliant idea: Start year-round school nowbefore the inevitable test results of our education woes smack young people and their families in the face.

Before we know what we already know.

Before they are left behind.

Hopefully, enough of us will agree on that. Enough of us to save our children.

Unafraid to start uncomfortable conversations, Roy is a voice for whats right and wrong in Birmingham, Alabama (and beyond). His column appears in The Birmingham News and AL.com, as well as in the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register. Reach him at rjohnson@al.com and follow him at twitter.com/roysj
WASHINGTON - Senior House Democrats on Monday night proposed sending $1,400 stimulus payments to Americans with up to $75,000 in annual income, rejecting an earlier plan under consideration to sharply curtail the benefits.

House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., released legislation that would send the full stimulus payment to individuals earning $75,000 per year and couples earning $150,000 per year. Congressional Democrats had explored curtailing that benefit to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for married couples, a position embraced by Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a conservative Democrat.

IRONY: Dan Crenshaw appears to have forgotten he spent 2020 making commercials

The broadening of stimulus check eligibility among middle class households is the latest sign that Democrats are moving ahead without Republican support on President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion economic relief package, which would also extend unemployment benefits, send hundreds billions to schools and local governments as well as strengthen vaccine delivery and health care. Even as the Senate proceeds this week with former president Donald Trump's impeachment trial, the House Ways and Means Committee and other panels will be working to finalize and vote on the coronavirus legislation. The final bill would need to be passed by both chambers of Congress to become law, but that could happen within weeks.

Compared with previous plans, Democrats are accelerating the rate at which the stimulus payments decline for higher-income earners, a move intended to prevent wealthy Americans from receiving the benefit. Under the new plan, singles earning $100,000 a year and couples earning $200,000 would receive no stimulus payments.

The stimulus checks would be based on taxpayers' 2019 or 2020 income returns, according to a summary of the proposal. The plan would aim to give full payments to those who qualify based on their 2020 returns, even if those are not processed for months.

Washington Post photo by Salwan Georges

The proposal comes amid days of internal disagreements among Democrats over how to structure the next round of stimulus payments, a core component of Biden's stimulus plan. The legislation still must be passed through the House and Senate, and it is unclear whether Manchin or other conservative Senate Democrats will object to the proposal.

CANCEL CULTURE: Twitter is reminding Jim Jordan what conservatives did to the Chicks

Along with the stimulus payments, the House Ways and Means Committee released details Monday of other significant parts of the aid package, including a new child income tax credit for millions of American households. That benefit would offer $3,600-per-child over the course of a year for each child younger than six years of age, as well as $3,000-per-child for each child ages six to 17. Those child tax benefits would diminish for singles earning more than $75,000 a year and couples earning over $150,000.

The measure would also extend federal unemployment benefits, now set to expire in mid-March, through the end of August and increase the benefit amount from its current level of $300 a week to $400. Biden's initial plan called for funding additional unemployment benefits through September.

Additionally, Democrats included a $15-per-hour minimum wage in the package, although Biden has said that provision faces long odds in the Senate. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a report on Monday that estimates the minimum wage hike would cost 1.4 million jobs but lift 900,000 people out of poverty, intensifying the debate over that controversial provision.

"Our nation is struggling, the virus is still not contained, and the American people are counting on Congress to meet this moment with bold, immediate action," Neal said in a statement.

The bill would also "dramatically" increase premium subsidies for Americans receiving their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act for two years, said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy for the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit group.

The design of the checks have emerged as one of the most hotly debated provisions in the rescue package. Centrist lawmakers such as Manchin have called for narrowing the payments to prevent them from going to higher-income Americans, arguing that those who have not lost their jobs do not need help. That idea was met with increasing resistance from other members of the party, including Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senate Budget Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as well as House lawmakers in the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Asked about the new thresholds after Neal's plan was released, Manchin did not immediately attack them and said he was "just trying to make sure that people [receiving them] are truly in need."

Wyden said in a statement Monday that he would push for the unemployment benefits to be restored for the duration they were originally. "[I] am going to work to find a resolution that preserves both relief payments and jobless," Wyden said. "We can do both."

Manchin has influence over the issue, because the Senate is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, so Democrats need his vote as they aim to push the legislation forward without GOP support.

Wyden and Sanders have publicly criticized the proposals to lower the income thresholds to $50,000, saying middle-class families have suffered pay cuts and other economic shocks and need relief, too. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., whose election victory in January helped seal Democrats' Senate majority, also opposes lowering the threshold on the checks, according to a spokeswoman.

The White House has repeatedly said it is willing to compromise on the thresholds, with White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki saying the administration is open to negotiations with Congress on the matter. On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen suggested that the administration was not on board with Democrats' plans for lower income thresholds.

"The exact details of how it should be targeted are to be determined, but struggling middle-class families need help, too," Yellen said on CNN.

Biden gave similar remarks in an interview with CBS Evening News, saying he was "wide open" on the precise levels of the income threshold.

The debate about the check thresholds represents one of many disputes Democrats may face as they try to pass Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus package through Congress. There is a wide ideological gulf between the party's moderate and liberal wings, which is likely to produce numerous policy fights - over the $15-an-hour minimum wage; the scale of unemployment assistance; and the overall cost of the bill, among other things - on the way to passing their first major piece of legislation under Biden.

The split within the party appeared to intensify over the weekend. Manchin told WV News last week that he supported the next round of payments not going to individuals earning more than $50,000 or couples earning more than $100,00.

"An individual of $40,000 income or $50,000 income would receive it.  And a family who is making $80,000 or $100,000, not to exceed $100,000, would receive it," Manchin said. "Anything over that would not be eligible, because they are the people who really are hurting right now and need the help the most."

But on Twitter and on CNN this weekend, Sanders slammed Democrats for embracing a plan that would cut out individuals earning $52,000. He also pointed out the potential political downside for the new Democratic administration of sending fewer payments than Trump had. Wyden has also said in a statement that families that had received the first two payments would expect a third.

"Unbelievable  working class people who got checks from Trump would not get them from Biden. Brilliant!," Sanders said on Twitter.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said Monday she is in "nonstop" conversations with White House officials about "why this makes no sense, politically or policy-wise."

While passing a budget resolution through Congress earlier this month that set the stage for approval of the broader relief bill, Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Manchin co-sponsored an amendment to exclude affluent families from the stimulus checks. The plan did not define an income amount, leaving that open to interpretation. Sanders and all Democrats voted for the proposal.
Some Malaysians are calling on Health Minister Adham Baba to resign after he announced relaxed COVID-19 rules for his fellow cabinet ministers.

The 58-year-old announced yesterday that cabinet ministers will be allowed to serve shorter quarantine periods of only three days instead of 10 days upon returning from abroad. The new measure, which is effective from today till August, also allows ministers to return to work immediately after isolating.

Why the double standards? a critic known as @ASAbdull1 wrote on Twitter. Does COVID-19 have a different incubation period for ministers?

Since the announcement, the hashtag #AdhamBabaLetakJawatan (Resign, Adham Baba) has been trending on social media with nearly 6,000 tweets as of this morning.

Adham had signed a federal gazette under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act to allow the new rule to take effect. Ministers were previously required to test negative before they can be discharged from isolation. Under Adhams latest measures, this is also no longer needed. Other Malaysians returning from overseas, however, still have to be quarantined for 10 to 14 days at designated quarantine centers.

Read: Malaysias King declares state of emergency as COVID-19 spirals out of control

Others who criticized Adhams announcement pointed out the spread of COVID-19 among ministers themselves. Five ministers including National Unity Minister Halimah Mohamed Sadique were among those who contracted the virus last month.

We can barely manage the current #klustermenteri (current wave) and yet he wants to add #klustermenteri2 ??!! #AdhamBabaLetakJawatan, Twitter user @noodlesofea said.

Other stories to check out:

Tracking #KlusterMenteri: Here are the Malaysian ministers who had COVID-19

All eyes on Minister Annuar Musas fancy watch during speech on poverty

This article, Malaysians call on Health Minister to resign after relaxing COVID-19 rules for ministers, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company.
A 29-year-old from New Jersey has been charged in the fatal stabbing of another man on a New York City platform last fall, authorities said.

Amado Garzon Moralez, of New Brunswick, was arrested Wednesday and charged with murder, the New York Police Department said in a statement.

Julio C. Hernandez was stabbed in the legs multiple times shortly before 3 p.m. on Oct. 3 inside the Chambers Street station in Manhattan, the NYPD said. Hernandez, 22, of Brooklyn, was later pronounced dead at NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital.

The attack took place on the platform where J and Z trains stop, police said.

Police released a description of the assailant the next day and asked for the publics help in finding him.

A motive for the stabbing was not disclosed.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ.

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Donald Trump's closest confidante in the Senate has accused Democrats on the eve of Trump's second impeachment trial of having 'declared war on the presidency itself', as reports suggested the former president is confident of being acquitted and focused instead on seeking revenge against Republicans who he believes betrayed him.

Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina senator who is in regular contact with Trump, insisted that Tuesday's trial was damaging to the country.

He said that Trump's January 13 conviction in the House was unfair because the 74-year-old was not given time to defend himself. 'What Democrats have done is basically declared war on the presidency itself,' said Graham, speaking on Sean Hannity's Fox News show.

Lindsey Graham on Monday told Fox News' Sean Hannity the impeachment trial was 'crap'

Graham and Hannity joked that the trial, beginning Tuesday, was farcical and ridiculous

Trump, who is currently at Mar-a-Lago, is said to be more focused on punishing his enemies

'The impeachment in the House took place without a hearing, without one witness being called, and without a lawyer for the president of the United States.

'You can't get a traffic ticket based on what they used to impeach President Trump.

'They're going to destroy the presidency itself.'

On Tuesday proceedings will begin with arguments over the constitutionality of the trial, and a vote on whether to proceed.

A simple majority is required to pass, meaning the 50:50 Senate - with Kamala Harris casting the deciding vote - will certainly vote to continue.

Each side will then get 16 hours to present their case, beginning Wednesday at noon.

Cross-examination will take place, followed by a vote, which will likely see Trump acquitted.

Chuck Schumer, laden with bags, is pictured arriving at his office on Monday

Protesters are seen outside the Capitol on Monday night on the eve of Trump's trial

Graham, 65, said the entire process was being carried out to prevent Trump from ever running for office again.

He warned it set a dangerous precedent.

'I know you hate Trump but please pull back before we set in motion this destruction of the presidency by never-ending impeachments based on lack of due process, and political retribution as the motive,' he said.

The senator further argued, as Trump's lawyers intend to, that impeaching a former president was unconstitutional.

Graham said that the Founders never intended to pursue private citizens, and the fact that punishment was removal from office showed that it was not designed for former presidents.

'They never envisioned going after the president once he is out of office because the purpose for impeachment is to remove them, not bar them from running in the future,' Graham argued.

'The whole point is lost, when the person is no longer in office.

'They didn't go after Nixon when he resigned for a reason.

'You're about to set in motion a historical precedent that will put at risk any future president.

'You can be impeached in the future based on hatred, 50 hours, no hearing, no lawyer.

'You can be impeached after you leave office. George Washington can be impeached because he owned slaves.

'We're doing a lot of damage to this country because people hate Trump.'

Trump himself, meanwhile, was said to be relaxed about the forthcoming trial.

Trump, in February 2020, holds up a newspaper showing the Senate acquittal of his first trial

Despite being the only president in U.S. history to be impeached twice, he was focused not on the trial but instead on punishing Republicans in the House who voted to impeach him.

High on the list, CNN reported, was Liz Cheney of Wyoming.

Ten Republicans, including Cheney, voted to impeach Trump.

One Trump adviser said the former president is seeking what he sees as 'accountability' for Republican House members who turned 'against the people.'

The adviser acknowledged, CNN said, that was a 'twisted view of reality' as Trump was the one who was actively attempting to overturn the will of the voters.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Syracuse police arrested a 27-year-old city man they say stabbed a 42-year-old man Monday evening on Gifford Street.

Shaquille Thomas was charged with second-degree assault, a felony, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor.

Thomas is accused of stabbing a 42-year-old man in the midsection at about 5:17 p.m. in the 300 block of Gifford St., Syracuse police spokesman Sgt. Matthew Malinowski said.

Onondaga County 911 dispatchers said police were called to 338 Gifford St., the James Geddes Housing Development, for the reported stabbing.

When emergency crews arrived at the scene, they said the victim had been stabbed in the stomach. American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance took the man to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. He is expected to survive, Malinowski said.

Soon after responding to the stabbing, police called out over their radio system that they were looking for Thomas as a suspect in the stabbing. They said he may be headed to his home on Bellevue Avenue, according to police dispatches.

A short time later, officers arrested Thomas. He was sent to the Onondaga County Justice Center.

Have a tip or a story idea? Contact Catie OToole: cotoole@syracuse.com | text/call 315-470-2134 | Twitter | Facebook

A delegate casts her vote in the electoral process to choose members of parliament into Somalia's House of the People in Mogadishu, Somalia, on 6 December 2016.

press release

Addis Ababa  The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat continues to closely monitor the developments in Somalia.

The Chairperson calls on the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, the Federal member state leaders and the entire Somali national leadership, to work constructively together to resolve the political differences that have led to the present electoral and political impasse. He acknowledges that the recent Dhusammareb consultations have made progress on a number of contentious points but did not reach agreement on the remaining issues. It is therefore, imperative that the political leadership reach consensus on these outstanding issues in order to allow for the holding of parliamentary and presidential elections without much delay.

The Chairperson notes, with grave concern, that the considerable gains made by AMISOM and the Somali Security Forces (SSF), in fighting Al-Shabaab, extending state authority over large parts of the country, and improving security and rule of law for the Somali people, are now being threatened by the escalating political tension.

The Chairperson stresses that the stability of Somalia is at stake and calls on all Somali stakeholders to put national interest first and constructively seek solution to their differences through dialogue and compromise.

The African Union, which has since 2007 shown its solidarity and commitment to the people of Somalia through the deployment of AMISOM, stands ready to continue providing support to the Somali political leadership to implement the outcomes of an inclusive process.

BAY CITY, MI - The annual Bay City St. Patricks Day Parade has fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic for the second year in a row as event organizers decided to cancel the event out of an abundance of caution.

The event was originally scheduled to be held on Sunday, March 21, 2021.

Parade organizer Jan Rau said that there are multiple reasons behind the cancelation, both stemming from the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

I dont think were out of the woods yet and I think that thats part of it but the other part of it is really very simple  I checked with my insurance company and a number of insurance companies are declining policies for events that are applying for insurance, she said.

Rau said that an insurance company is not likely to put themselves at a serious risk for covering a large gathering like the Bay City St. Patricks Day Parade.

In 2016, MLive/The Bay City Times reported an average parade attendance of at least 40,000 people. The number of attendees has been reported to have ballooned to more than 100,000 when the event is graced with warm weather, likely making it Michigans largest St. Patricks Day parade. If cold, unfavorable weather set in, Rau estimated that approximately 10,000 people would still be in attendance.

Until insurance companies are satisfied that there is an all clear they are going to be very reluctant to issue a policy for any large gathering, said Rau.

The cancelation comes after the 2020 event was canceled during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 66th annual Bay City St. Patricks Day parade, which was set for March 15, 2020, was canceled as well.

However, Rau said that a virtual format parade is currently in the works and details will be released as soon as they are available.

In addition, the 48th annual Bay Area Runners Club St. Patricks Day Races will be held in a virtual format for 2021.

The annual races were also canceled in spring of 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic began erupting across the state. The 2020 races were rescheduled to take place in-person in September 2020, but eventually were run in a virtual format.

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Rajasthan leader accused the Centre of being indifferent to the plight of the farmers even as Parliament is in session and said raising a voice in support of the farmers is not a crime in a democracy.

Pilot claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in the Rajya Sabha on Monday during the motion of thanks to the President's address had failed to properly acknowledge the issues due to which the farmers were protesting.

Modi had on Monday slammed those abusing agitating Sikh farmers, saying it would not do the country any good as he went on to appeal to the protesting farmers to call off their over two-month-long stir, assuring them of continuing with the purchase of crops at an administered price or MSP.

"Parliament session is on and there was some hope, but the government has neglected the farmer," Pilot said at a farmer 'mahapanchayat' (large congregation) in Bayana town of Bharatpur district.

Pilot said leader Rahul Gandhi would visit Rajasthan on Friday and Saturday to address farmers' meetings.

"There has not been a single incident of any bad behaviour, hooliganism or untoward incident of breaking of law by any protesting farmers across Delhi borders," Pilot said.

The former deputy chief minister said that what happened at the Red Fort on the Republic day was condemnable and the culprits should be punished, but the farmers have held the sit-in peacefully.

Earlier in the day, Pilot told reporters in Dausa that while the BJP government had promised to double the farmers' income, it was "standing against" the tillers in a time of crisis. "Farmers of the country want to remind the party of its promises," he said.

"Raising farmers' voice is not a crime in a democracy. The is with farmers and will continue to support them," he said.

Modi had on Monday also slammed the mushrooming of a new "breed" of 'andolan jivi' -- professional protestors -- who can be seen at every agitation, adding that "parasites feast on every agitation".

Pilot said the Centre "should abandon its adamant attitude and withdraw the anti-farmer laws which were made without consulting state governments and were imposed on the farmers".

(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.)
"At State Capitol Day events, AFSP's volunteer advocates bravely share their connection to our cause and ask their lawmakers to advance legislation that will address this leading cause of death," said Robert Gebbia, AFSP CEO . "By participating in this advocacy program, our volunteers are helping those who write state laws better understand that suicide affects people throughout their state and that more needs to be done to prevent loss of life from suicide. Even though these events are being held virtually this year, they are just as vital to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide."

As the host organization for these events, AFSP has a list of specific public policy priorities that every state should focus on to reduce the suicide rate. These priorities include efforts such as:

Training for educators about suicide warning signs,

State funding streams for the implementation of the new 9-8-8 dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and

Increasing the number of health professionals who receive regular trauma  and evidence-informed education and training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management.

For a full list of the organization's state legislative priorities, visit: https://www.datocms-assets.com/12810/1609876825-14196afsppolicysynopsis20212022statem1.pdf.

To date, there have been 37 events scheduled this year, with many more expected to be scheduled. AFSP's volunteer Field Advocates in attendance at State Capitol Day events, include suicide loss survivors, those with lived experience of suicide and those who support them, mental health clinicians, and people who are passionate about the cause. Some events will include guest speakers such as the Governor, Lt. Governor and/or state legislators. In the week following each event, advocates will have a phone or video appointment with state legislators to share their story and what legislation can make an impact in their respective state. In 2020, 27 state bills that were supported as part of a State Capitol Day event became law.

The planning for these events began in November of last year. To follow along with the advocates as they make strides in this work, follow #AFSPadvocacy. To join this movement and receive updates about events in your area visit: afsp.org/advocate.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report , and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube .

SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Related Links

www.afsp.org



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Pakistan received a batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese military during a handover ceremony held on Monday at the Noor Khan Air Base near Pakistan's capital Islamabad.

Pakistani Lt.-Gen. Nigar Johar, surgeon general of the Pakistan army, and Maj.-Gen. Chen Wenrong, defense attache of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, attended the handover ceremony.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Sunday delivered a batch of COVID-19 vaccines to the Pakistani military at the latter's request, China's Ministry of National Defense said Sunday.

According to a statement issued by the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan on Monday, Chen said a batch of China-gifted Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines were handed over to the Pakistani side a week ago, making Pakistan the first country in the world to receive the Chinese government-donated COVID-19 vaccines, and the Pakistani army has also become the first foreign military to receive COVID-19 vaccine aid from the Chinese military, which is a manifestation of the unbreakable friendship between the two "iron brothers."

This batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese military is another important step taken by China to fulfill its commitment to making Chinese COVID-19 vaccines, once developed and put into use, a global public good and will promote the military-to-military anti-epidemic cooperation between the two countries, Chen said.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan, and the military-to-military relations of the two countries are an important pillar of bilateral relations, he said, adding that the Chinese military will continue to cooperate with the Pakistani military in various fields to forge a closer China-Pakistan community of shared future in the new era.

Thanking the Chinese military for providing the vaccines, Johar said the fact that the Pakistani army has become the first foreign military to receive COVID-19 vaccine aid from the Chinese military highlights the friendship between Pakistan and China, which is "higher than the mountain, deeper than the sea, and sweeter than the honey," according to the statement.

Pakistan's armed forces extended their deepest gratitude to China and the Chinese military for "this magnanimous donation during testing times," according to a statement released by Pakistani army's media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday.

It has been decided that the vaccine donation of the Chinese military will be used in Pakistan's national vaccination drive to get frontline healthcare workers across Pakistan vaccinated, who are "real heroes fighting against pandemic and saving precious lives," the ISPR said.

After receiving the Chinese vaccines, Pakistan on Wednesday formally started its National COVID Immunization Program simultaneously across the country and the frontline healthcare workers are the first to be vaccinated followed by senior citizens.

Pakistan has confirmed 555,511 COVID-19 cases, while 12,026 people have lost their lives to the disease since the outbreak in the country, according to the data released by Pakistan's Health Ministry on Monday.
(Newser)  The speaker of New Zealand's parliament has thrown a member out of a session for a dress code violationa dispute the booted Maori Party member said is about cultural identity. Rawiri Waititi twice tried to ask questions during the session but was stopped by Speaker Trevor Mallard because he wasn't wearing a necktie; members can go tieless as long as they don't ask questions. Waititi was warned about the rule late last year, the BBC reports. The MP, who has called ties "a colonial noose," was wearing a greenstone pendant instead of a tie. He described his dress as "Maori business attire." In his first speech on the floor, Waititi told Parliament, "Take the noose from around my neck so that I may sing my song." Mallard reconsidered the rule, consulting other members, but decided last week to keep it.

story continues below

The requirement only applies to men, but the party's co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, wore a tie anyway; she tweeted a photo of her with Waititi. Per the Guardian, 21% of the new Parliament is Maori. There have been calls to allow members to wear their culture's versions of business attire. Waititi complained that a Green lawmaker of Mexican descent, whom he called "a foreigner," wore a Bona bolo tie without complaint, per the Herald. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she doesn't mind if members refuse to wear ties, and she doesn't think voters do, either. "This is not about ties, it is about cultural identity," Waititi told reporters as he left. A former political leader spoke up for the dress code, saying, "It's not a bar, or a club, or a business, it's a national Parliament." (The British Parliament changed its rule on ties.)
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday likened herself to a Royal Bengal Tiger, saying that she is not a weak person who can be intimidated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Addressing a rally in Murshidabad's Baharampur, the capital of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daullah's empire, CM Mamata Banerjee also compared those who left the TMC to join the saffron party to Mir Jafar, a commander of his army who betrayed him in the Battle of Plassey against the British in 1757.

"There is no reason to think I am weak, I am not a person to be afraid of anything. I am a strong person and will keep my head high as long as I live and till then I will live like a Royal Bengal Tiger," CM Banerjee said. Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of wrongly claiming at a BJP meeting in Haldia on Sunday that government employees in West Bengal do not get salaries properly, she alleged that it is the Centre which is selling off BSNL, SAIL and privatising the Railways and insurance companies.

#WATCH | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says," ...Bidai dao, bidai dao, BJP ke bidai dao... They have turned India into crematorium, they want to turn Bengal into the same. We will not allow this. In the coming days, 'Maa, Mati, Manush' will emerge victorious." pic.twitter.com/TUAIwEYH4X  ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

CM Banerjee also claimed that the Centre did not give any assistance to West Bengal for dealing with the devastation caused by cyclone Amphan last year, nor did it do anything to support the state to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. Raking up the outsider issue, the TMC supremo claimed that the BJP is a party of Gujarat and Delhi, which is bringing in National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR).

The state chief minister asserted that she will not allow these in West Bengal. "People from Gujarat will not rule Bengal, the Trinamool Congress will rule Bengal," Banerjee said at the rally held ahead of the assembly elections in the state due in April-May. Claiming that corrupt people sell themselves off, she said that those who want to leave the TMC and join the BJP are free to go.

Alleging that some people are joining the saffron party out of fear that they could be implicated in cases related to smuggling of cattle or coal, Banerjee said, "The BJP seems to be a washing machine, those having dirty hands emerge clean after joining it."

She also attacked the Congress and the Left which will contest the assembly polls jointly in the state. "Congress cannot fight the BJP and does not want to do it. The CPI(M) is the BJP's big friend," she said, claiming that it is only the TMC which can take on the might of the saffron party in the state.

with additional inputs from news agency PTI
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Washington, Feb 9 : A new study has suggested that the coronavirus variant first detected in the UK late last year is spreading rapidly across the US, raising concerns over another resurgence in the hardest-hit country.

Analyzing half a million coronavirus tests and hundreds of genomes, researchers have predicted that within a month, the UK variant, known as B.1.1.7, could become predominant in the US, potentially bringing a surge of new cases and increased risk of death, reports Xinhua news agency.

The study, posted on the preprint server MedRxiv on Sunday, echoed a forecast issued last month by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which warned that the B.1.1.7 could become predominant by March if it behaved the way it did in Britain.

According to the study, detection of the variant increased at a logistic rate similar to those observed elsewhere, with a doubling rate of a little over a week and an increased transmission rate of 35 to 45 per cent.

Currently there are three dominant coronavirus variants spreading in the US, according to CDC data.

A total of 699 infection cases of the variants have been reported in at least 34 states.

The vast majority of these cases, 690, were caused by B.1.1.7, while there were six cases of a new strain initially discovered in South Africa, called B.1.351, and three cases of the P.1 strain first discovered in Brazil.

New Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations are declining in the country from recent surges, but health experts have warned that the new contagious strains may threaten to undo progress and lead to a resurgence.

The US still accounts for the highest number of cases and deaths in the world, making it the hardest-hit country globally.

In its latest update on Tuesday morning, the JHU revealed that the country's overall caseload and death toll stood at 27,088,044 and 464,845, respectively.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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Oscar Ofuka, an aide to the governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, has warned against the ceding of parts of Cross River State cocoa plantation to individuals.

Mr Ofuka, an aide on cocoa development, gave the warning on Tuesday in Calabar while giving an update on the allocation of cocoa farms in the state.

He said ceding parts of the state governments cocoa estate in Etung Local Government Area could pose danger to the host community.

Such action would impede the progress of the cocoa revolution agenda of the state government, he said.

Some public officers are doing shady deals by ceding government lands to individuals.

We are suffering in Cross River as a result of the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon and our oil wells to a neighbouring state.

We cannot afford to witness ceding of our cocoa plantation which has become our new crude oil, to any individual.

I want to emphasise once more that the Cross River government is not ready to cede an inch of its cocoa land to any individual, no matter how highly placed, the governors aide said.

He added that the state was committed to its target of becoming the number one cocoa-producing state in Nigeria.

According to him, the plots of cocoa farms were supposed to be allocated to beneficiaries who meet the necessary conditions.

So, the idea that 40 hectares of our cocoa estate had been ceded to an individual is unacceptable.

This government will come and go, but the cocoa estate will remain. We cant afford to have any plot of land ceded to any individual, Mr Ofuka said.

The chairman, Etung Cocoa Estate Landlord Communities Association, Njor Asam, said the move to cede some hectares of the cocoa estate was a threat to the unborn generation.

Mr Asam said the communities would defend the estate against any form of ceding.

We may invoke all traditional methods to stop any individual or group of persons from ceding the estate, he said.

(NAN)
But on February 4 the federal government announced it had managed to secure another 10 million doses of Pfizers vaccine. Problem 1: will the vaccine be approved for over-65s? About 1.4 per cent of people aged over 65 who catch COVID-19 will die from it; that number rises to 15 per cent for people aged 85. So vaccinating older people is very, very important. So why have medical regulators from France, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain and Poland decided against giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to the over-65s, as the BBC has reported? The answer is found in table one of AstraZenecas phase three clinical trial report, published in the Lancet.

The trial enrolled 11,636 people in Britain and Brazil. But just 767 people from that group were aged between 56 and 69. Just 444 were aged over 70. And remember, this group includes people given a placebo, too. Its just not that much data. To make calculations of efficacy, vaccine trials look at the number of people who fell sick, rather than the number of people in the overall trial. AstraZenecas trial recorded just five cases in people aged over 55, and just two cases in people aged 65. The ability to draw conclusions is based not on the number of patients but on the number of people who have an event. It says there were five cases. Its not going to be possible to draw any robust conclusions from that small number of cases, says Vlado Perkovic, dean of medicine at the University of NSW and one of Australias leading clinical trial experts. Compare that with the Pfizer vaccine: 37,706 people enrolled in the trial, 15,921 of whom were aged over 55. A medic administers a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to a colleague in Bethlehem last week. Credit:AP

That does not mean the TGA is going to follow France and Germanys lead. Britain, India, Mexico and Argentina, as well as the European Medicines Agency, have approved AstraZenecas vaccine for the over 65s. The question the TGA will ask, Professor Perkovic says, is not whether the vaccine works for people aged over 65, because we dont know. Its whether we have reason to believe it wont work. When we look across all the vaccines, there is growing evidence they are effective in older populations. What we dont know yet is whether one is more effective than the other. Thats interesting  but only if we have good reason to think one would be more effective than the other. And Im not sure we do at the moment, he says. On a cellular level, we have good reason to think the AstraZeneca vaccine does work for older adults. Immune responses are the same across ages. Vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna and Russias Sputnik have reported no difference in efficacy among older groups. Unless AstraZeneca can provide extra data  and it is working on it  to approve the vaccine for those aged 65-plus, the TGA will have to do some extrapolation. But this type of decision has to be made all the time. One example: Aboriginal Australians. They are unfortunately rarely represented in clinical trials in adequate numbers to know whether something works. We have to extrapolate, says Professor Perkovic.

This is such a compelling, traumatic problem, were going to have to make some judgment calls based on the best available evidence. I would personally support approval  it is a safe vaccine that is effective overall, and very likely to be equally effective in older people who are at highest risk from the disease. I dont think it would be fair to make older people wait for more data before they can be vaccinated. Problem 2: those pesky variants Scientists have been speculating for weeks about what effect the new variants of COVID-19 emerging around the world will have on vaccine efficacy. A South African woman walks past a coronavirus-themed mural promoting the use of face masks in public. Credit:AP B.1.351, the variant first seen in South Africa, contains several mutations that look like they should limit antibody binding. The first tranche of data that emerged  lab tests of viruses made to look like the variants  seemed promising. The vaccines generate such strong immunity that even with a modest dip in efficacy they should still protect people.

Human data has not been so encouraging. Johnson & Johnson and Novavax both reported their vaccines were substantially less effective against the variant. Now we have human evidence that the AstraZeneca vaccine may be hardest hit, after a South African trial put its efficacy against the variant at about 10 per cent. Dont put much weight in that exact number: the trial was so small the number is not statistically significant. But we now have three human studies showing a substantial drop-off in efficacy; AstraZenecas results are troubling enough for South Africa to pause the rollout of the vaccine. AstraZeneca has already started work on a booster.

These results are a reality check. It is time for us, unfortunately, to recalibrate our expectations of COVID-19 vaccines, Shabir Madhi, who led the trial, said at a news conference organised by the South African National Department of Health. Loading Professor Madhi is right. These results should prompt us to think differently about our vaccines, in a couple of ways. First, a lot of the focus has been on vaccines efficacy at preventing infection. But its becoming clear the first-generation vaccines are likely to struggle to do that, particularly as variants emerge (and more will emerge). Ultimately, the more important issue is: are we preventing serious illness? Because that is what is causing the biggest impact, Trevor Drew, director of the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, said this week.


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The United States has reaffirmed its support for Taiwan in the face of threatening activity from the Chinese military.

File image: AP

A total of 60,35,660 beneficiaries have so far been vaccinated for COVID-19 through 1,24,744 sessions held till the evening of February 9, the 24th day of the immunisation drive, according to a provisional report of the Union Health Ministry.

On February 8, 2,23,298 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 6 pm through 8,257 vaccination sessions, the ministry said.

India has become the fastest country to vaccinate 6o lakh beneficiaries countrywide. This feat was achieved in just 24 days. The USA took 26 days to reach this mark whereas the UK achieved this in 46 days, it said.

Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic

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.

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

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:

> More than 9,700 healthcare workers received COVID-19 vaccine shots in Delhi on February 8 in the fourth week of the inoculation drive, with a turnout of over 54 percent. Besides healthcare workers, frontline workers, who include, police, civil defence staff, DJB, and electricity department employees, among others, are also getting jabs since the last couple of days.

> A total of 3,458 people were administered the COVID-19 vaccine in Himachal Pradesh on the day, taking the number of those who have received the jabs in the state to 58,049, a senior health official said. As many as 6,096 healthcare workers were to be administered the vaccine across 95 sessions on the day, but 3,458 people could be given the jabs, which is 56.73 percent coverage, he said.

> A total of 36,266 healthcare and frontline workers were administered COVID-19 vaccines in Maharashtra on the day, taking the tally of beneficiaries beyond the 5-lakh mark, the state government said. According to an official statement, 22,200 healthcare and 14,066 frontline workers were vaccinated against coronavirus during the day. The government said 36,013 of the beneficiaries were administered the Covishield vaccine, while the remaining 253 beneficiaries received the home-grown Covaxin.

> Having the COVID-19 vaccine does not mean one should be complacent, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on the day stressing that preventive measures must be followed now and in the near future as well. These remarks were made by Vardhan, also the Chairman of the Indian Red Cross Society, as he presided over the distribution of masks and soaps among various Transport Unions, a health ministry statement said.

> A leading South African vaccinologist has proposed that the first vaccines which have become available should also be given to the elderly and those with comorbidities, rather than only on health care workers who might not derive maximum benefit from it.

States Total Beneficiaries Andhra Pradesh 3,08,718 Arunachal Pradesh 12,931 Assam 97,379 Bihar 3,92,426 Chandigarh 6,027 Chhattisgarh 1,81,276 Delhi 1,13,138 Goa 8,340 Gujarat 4,70,384 Haryana 1,48,027 Himachal Pradesh 56,594 Jharkhand 1,17,210 Karnataka 4,11,861 Kerala 2,95,965 Madhya Pradesh 3,62,649 Maharashtra 4,97,095 Odisha 2,95,944 Punjab 81,948 Rajasthan 4,62,962 Tamil Nadu 1,66,408 Telangana 2,09,104 Uttar Pradesh 6,73,542 Uttarakhand 77,907 West Bengal 3,68,562

Here is the state-wise vaccination in the country:

(With inputs from PTI)

Follow our full coverage on COVID-19 here
New outbreaks across the globe have stretched the supply of oxygen in hospitals from Los Angeles to Lagos, but in Mexico, the scarcity is being felt inside peoples homes.

Eight in 10 hospital beds are full in Mexico City, the epicenter of the outbreak, and emergency rooms have been turning people away. Many patients refuse to seek medical care at all, driven by a fear of hospitals that runs deep in Mexico.

To survive at home, the sickest patients need to get purified oxygen pumped into their lungs 24 hours a day, sending friends and family members scrambling, often in vain, to find tanks and refill them multiple times a day.

David Menendez Martinez had no idea how oxygen therapy worked until his mother became ill with Covid-19 in December. Now he knows that the smallest tank in Mexico can cost more than $800, up to 10 times as much as in countries like the United States. The oxygen to fill it up costs about $10  and can last as little as six hours.

Mr. Menendez had a few tanks on loan from friends, but still spent hours waiting to refill them in lines that stretch across city blocks and have become a fixture in certain Mexico City neighborhoods.

You see people arrive with their tanks and they want to get in front of the line and they end up crying, theyre desperate, he said, recalling the pleas he heard: My father is at 60 percent oxygen saturation. My brother is at 50 percent saturation. My wife can no longer breathe. Shes turning blue, her lips are blue, help me.


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WASHINGTON  House Democrats on Monday proposed an additional $1,400 in direct payments to individuals as Congress began piecing together a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that tracks President Joe Bidens plan for battling the pandemic and reviving a still staggering economy.

Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee would expand tax credits for families with children, for lower-earning people and those buying health insurance on marketplaces created by the 2010 Affordable Care Act. The panel, which plans to approve the measure by weeks end, would also provide health care subsidies for some unemployed workers.

Less than three weeks into his presidency, Biden has declared that vanquishing the virus and resuscitating the economy are his top priorities. The coronavirus pandemic has killed over 460,000 Americans while the economy has lost 10 million jobs since the crisis began last year.

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Mondays Ways and Means unveiling of its piece of the package  at over $900 billion, nearly half of Bidens entire plan  came with Congress Democratic leaders hoping to rush the legislation to the president for his signature by mid-March, when existing emergency unemployment benefits expire. Their schedule reflects a desire by Biden and congressional Democrats to show they can respond swiftly and decisively to the crisis, even if, as seems likely, they must muscle past solid Republican opposition.

While it is still our hope that Republicans will join us in doing right by the American people, the urgency of the moment demands that we act without further delay, said Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass.

Texas Rep. Kevin Brady, top Republican on that committee, criticized Democrats for driving ahead on the massive measure without bipartisan compromise. He said the GOP wants to focus on vaccine distribution and more targeted relief for workers, families and small businesses  essentially previewing amendments Republicans are expected to propose during committee votes this week, some of which might win Democratic backing.

House Education and Labor Committee Democrats also previewed their plans Monday. Their $350 billion package includes $130 billion to help schools reopen safely, $40 billion for colleges battered by the pandemic and a plan to gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The minimum wage increase faces an uphill climb, and even Biden has conceded it likely wont survive.

The Financial Services Committee proposal includes $50 billion to help the Federal Emergency Management Agency handle pandemic costs, plus $25 billion for struggling rental property owners and people at risk of homelessness. Transportation and Infrastructure Committee spending would include grants of $30 billion for struggling public transit agencies with starkly reduced ridership.

Democrats have only narrow House and Senate majorities. Besides Republican opposition that could be unanimous, Democrats will have to balance party moderates who worry about a package going too far and progressives eager to push Biden as far leftward as they can.

In one potential battleground within the party, the Ways and Means Democrats proposed limiting the full $1,400 relief payments to individuals making $75,000 or less, and phasing them out until they end completely at $100,000. Couples who make up to $150,000 would be entitled to $2,800 relief payments, which would gradually diminish and fully disappear for those earning $200,000.

The income levels at which people qualify for the direct payments has caused rifts among Democrats, with moderates arguing that relief should be more narrowly targeted to people most in need. Biden has said he will not allow the per-person payments to fall below $1,400 but has indicated flexibility on the income thresholds.

There is a discussion right now about what that threshold will look like. A conclusion has not been finalized, said White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

Congress approved $600 per person direct payments in December. The additional $1,400 would bring the total to $2,000. Democrats have sought that amount for months, and it won support from then-President Donald Trump during his unsuccessful reelection campaign, even as it was opposed by many congressional Republicans.

The Ways and Means proposal would increase emergency jobless aid to $400 weekly from its current $300. Benefits would last until Aug. 29, instead of March 14 as now scheduled. The new amount is still below the original $600 extra weekly benefit that was enacted last March but expired July 31.

The plan would fight child poverty by increasing the child tax credit for families for one year. Now a maximum $2,000 annually, it would grow to up to $3,600 per child under 6 and as much as $3,000 for those up to age 17. Payments of the credit would be made monthly, even to families that owe no federal income taxes  a change from current policy.

The bill also provides several pathways for people to get and keep health insurance, including an early test of Bidens pledge to build on Obamas health care law.

One section would sweeten the subsidies provided under former President Barack Obamas health law. The Biden administration has already announced a three-month special sign-up period for ACA coverage starting next Monday. The more generous financial assistance in the House bill would be available for this year and next.

The bill would also cover 85% of the cost of premiums for workers trying to preserve their job-based health insurance after getting laid off. A federal law known as COBRA already allows them to temporarily keep their old employers health plan, but they typically have to pay prohibitively high premiums. The assistance would be available through Sept. 30.

For workers without children, the plan proposes a significant expansion of the earned-income tax credit  a refundable credit currently claimed by taxpayers who earn an average $20,000 a year. The EITC is viewed by its proponents as a major anti-poverty tool for working people.

The legislation calls for the maximum credit for workers without children to be nearly tripled and for wider eligibility. It also contains tax breaks for some restaurants that have received pandemic aid.

The bills details were announced as a report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said boosting the minimum wage to $15 an hour would increase joblessness even as it boosts wages for millions of workers.

Progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., author of the minimum wage legislation, want Democrats to fight for it now. It faces opposition from the GOP and some Democratic moderates wary that it will hurt small businesses during the pandemic.

___

Associated Press writers Marcy Gordon in Washington and Collin Binkley in Boston contributed to this report.
Veyo announced today that it has earned URAC certification in Health Care Management, Version 2.0. URAC is the independent leader in promoting healthcare quality through leadership, accreditation, measurement and innovation.

By achieving this status, Veyo has demonstrated a comprehensive commitment to quality care, improved processes and better patient outcomes. This certification is an update to Veyo's previous Core, 3.0 Program accreditation, and is evident of our commitment to quality and compliance in the management of the transportation benefit for our partners.

We share URACs commitment to improving the quality of healthcare for all, said Veyo President, Josh Komenda. At Veyo, we know that transportation is critical to creating healthier communities, and we are on a mission to transform access to care. We are proud of this designation and remain dedicated to quality and safety for all our members.

With over 3.5 million Medicaid and Medicare lives under management, Veyo is one of the largest full service Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) brokers in the healthcare industry today. The company uses modern technology and data to provide accessible, high quality healthcare services to its members. Veyos platform integrates GPS technology, 24/7 trip monitoring, and real-time trip information with mobile tools and web-based portals to bring efficiency and automation to the management of the NEMT benefit.

Demands for more quality services and value-based care through coordinated services makes the role of transportation more important than ever. Veyo now stands out because it earned Health Care Management, Version 2.0 from URAC. This demonstrates its commitment to quality standards, performance measurement, and continuous improvement in the delivery of services, said URAC President and CEO Shawn Griffin, M.D.

What is URAC?

URAC is an independent, nonprofit accreditation organization committed to improving the quality of the healthcare industry. They use evidence-based measures and develop standards to promote best practices, encourage quality improvement, and protect and empower consumers. URAC website: https://www.urac.org/about-urac

What is the URAC Health Care Management Certification?

The Health Care Management Certification program was developed to offer validation of business operations within health care organizations or serving healthcare organizations. The program standards for this certification define general operating principles identified in most URAC accreditation programs.

The Health Care Management Certification focuses on the following areas:



Health Care Management  IT Systems and Processes, Regulatory Compliance, Code of Conduct and Ethical Business Conduct, Quality Management

Risk Management  Reporting Violations, IT Systems, and Business Continuity

Operations & Infrastructure  Business Management, Policy and Procedures, Staff Management and Performance Reviews, and Training

Performance Monitoring & Improvement  Quality Management & Evaluation Program, Structure, and Oversight, Data Management and Reporting

Consumer Protections & Empowerment  Privacy and Security, Ethical Healthcare Practices, Financial Incentives, and Consumer Safety Protocols and Rights

Why is URAC Certification important?

Achievement of the Health Care Management Certification allows Veyo to demonstrate its commitment to quality and to further be competitive with its NEMT peers related to certain business practices.

---

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 spans 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.

About Veyo

Veyo, headquartered in San Diego, CA, is a full-service transportation brokerage designed specifically for healthcare. Veyo has reinvented the patient transportation model by integrating consumer technology with rideshare fleets to decrease costs and increase efficiency. Veyo is delivering dramatically higher levels of reliability, quality, and transparency to customers, partners, and members. Operating in six states with over 32 million completed trips and a 97.1% on-time rate, were changing NEMT  one trip at a time. For more information about Veyo, please visit https://veyo.com.
In brief: Tech giants suing former employees for allegedly stealing trade secrets is nothing new. The latest company to launch legal action against an ex-worker is Intel, whose lawsuit claims an engineer took 3,900 confidential documents with him when he left for Microsoft.

Dr. Varun Gupta worked for Intel for ten years before leaving the company to join Microsoft as "Principal for Strategic Planning in Cloud and AI" in January 2020. The suit alleges that he transferred 3,900 documents onto two USB drives on his last day at the company, accessing them later using his Microsoft-issued laptop.

The files in question are related to Intel's Xeon processors, including pricing, strategies, and Intel's manufacturing capabilities.

Intel's marketing and engineering team started to suspect Gupta might have stolen trade secrets while conducting business with him after he left for Microsoft. Both companies worked together to investigate the matter.

As reported by The Oregonian, the complaint claims Gupta denied knowing where one of the drives was but later turned it over to Microsoft for analysis. He says he discarded the other thumb drive containing the Xeon secrets.

"In his new role at Microsoft, Gupta used the confidential information and trade secrets he misappropriated from Intel, deploying that information in head-to-head negotiations with Intel concerning customized product design and pricing for significant volumes of Xeon processors," Intel alleged in the suit. Gupta refutes the claims.

Intel is seeking unspecified damages, attorney fees, and an injunction preventing Gupta from using or disclosing any documents on the USB drive.

"We place great faith and trust in our current and former employees, but we have an obligation to protect our intellectual property and other proprietary information, and we will not hesitate to act to prevent their misappropriation," Intel wrote.
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It does not require any particularly perspicacity to realize that the [proclaimed] President Joe Biden Administration has been loaded with Zionists who not only believe in their own vision for Greater Israel but also in some cases have strong and enduring ties to the Israeli government itself. The new Secretary of State Tony Blinken comes from an American Jewish family that has well established ties to Israel. Blinkens paternal grandfather was one of the founders of an organization that eventually evolved into the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Blinken said at his Senate confirmation hearing that the new administration would consult with Israel before any possible return to the 2015 nuclear deal and he also made clear that there will be additional conditions for Iran, an odd position to take since it was the U.S. that withdrew from the agreement and introduced a harsh sanctions regime even though Iran was in compliance. More recently, Blinken claimed that Iran is weeks away from having the enriched uranium needed to make a nuclear weapon. Strangely enough, or perhaps not, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been making the same claim since the 1980s.

Joe Biden himself proclaims proudly that he is a Zionist and Vice President Kamala Harris has spoken at AIPAC gatherings, pledging her unconditional support for the Jewish state. Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer has proclaimed himself shomer or protector of Israel in the Senate while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that the If this Capitol crumbled to the ground, the one thing that would remain would be our commitment to our aid, I dont even call it our aid, our cooperation with Israel. Thats fundamental to who we are. The House Majority Leader, the second ranking Democrat, Steny Hoyer has proudly led numerous Congressional delegations to Israel.

One has to suspect that many White House and Congressional friends of Israel are opportunists, knowledgeable of the fact that Zionism is career enhancing and equally aware that getting on the wrong side of The Lobby is a political death wish. Many politically astute senior officials meanwhile wind up by design in positions in the Department of State, CIA and National Security Council where they will be able to narrow foreign policy options in favor of the Jewish state. Under George W. Bush, folks like Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, Doug Feith and Scooter Libby worked hard to infiltrate the Pentagon and White House and, having succeeded, the disastrous Iraq War was the result.

One might also recall the concurrent purge of the so-called Arabists in the State Department in the 1950s which has led to a domination of key foreign and national security positions relating to the Middle East by American Jews ever since. Indeed, the shift in priorities at State Department has been dramatic, with Foggy Bottom now housing an office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, allegedly because anti-Semitism is surging worldwide, apparently having nothing to do with how Israel and its supporters behave. The incumbent, Elan Carr, has recently been elevated to the rank of Ambassador-at-large and his office, as well as the Biden Administration, now insists that criticism of Israel is ipso facto anti-Semitism. So much for free speech in the new world order.

Once upon a time it was considered unwise to appoint senior officials who had personal ties to other countries lest it create a conflict of interest that would not ultimately be beneficial to either nation. In his often-cited Farewell Address of 1796, George Washington famously warned that  permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular Nations, and passionate attachments for others should be excluded; and that in place of them just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The Nation, which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest.

If Washington were to see the foreign policy ruined by the Israel-centric federal government that has prevailed since the time of Ronald Reagan he would surely be at a loss to understand how that could possibly have developed. Donald Trump even intensified the pander by giving the Israelis gifts that they had not asked for and Joe Biden looks like he will do more of the same. When it comes to Israel, no concession or gift is ever enough.

The FBI, in the past, routinely denied security clearances to appointed officials who had close and enduring ties to other countries that were not part of NATO. Under Donald Trump, it was reported that his son-in-law Jared Kushner had been denied a top-level clearance in part due to his familys close personal connection with Israel, to include its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is regarded as a family friend. Donald Trump ignored the recommendation and used his own authority to grant Kushner the clearance anyway.

The latest friend of Israel to rise to the top as Biden completes his appointments is one Anne Neuberger, who recently was named senior director for cyber policy on the National Security Council. Neuberger has spent the last decade at the National Security Agency, the Pentagons cyber spying arm, where she was recently appointed head of the newly created cybersecurity directorate. Her husband Yehuda meanwhile is chair of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Baltimore executive council. He reportedly lobbied ardent Zionist Senator Ben Cardin to oppose the 2015 Iran nuclear deal the Obama White House had negotiated. Cardin did vote against it in spite of it being strongly supported by his party leader President Barack Obama.

There is, not surprisingly, an additional back story to the tale. It goes something like this: NBC news published on January 27th an article claiming that a family foundation connected to Neuberger has donated $500,000 to AIPAC, which is the largest of the hundreds of Jewish organizations that are dedicated to advancing Israeli interests in the United States. AIPAC had in 2019 an annual budget of $133 million, assets of $157 million and 476 employees. It lobbies Congress heavily and is successful to the point where it actually writes legislation favorable to the Jewish State.

The NBC article stated that: The daughter of billionaire investor George Karfunkel, Neuberger is an officer of a foundation named for her and her husband, the Yehuda and Anne Neuberger Foundation. The foundation was created 12 years ago to carry out the charitable and religious purposes of the Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, according to its tax records From 2012 through 2018  the last year for which tax records for the foundation are available  the Neuberger foundation donated $559,000 to AIPAC, tax record show. In a separate part of the forms, the foundation reports spending that exact amounts of its AIPAC donations under the category of spending for lobbying to influence a legislative body or to influence public opinion

The article also observes that [Israel] operates in its own interest and aggressively spies on the U.S., including using cyber capabilities. It also cites A cross section of current and former intelligence officials and foreign policy experts  none of whom were willing to be named  [who] said the donations created an appearance problem. They noted that Israel, whose companies build and sell spying gear to regimes abroad and whose intelligence agencies hack foreign governments around the world, has a big stake in American cyber policy.

The Neuberger foundation also contributes money to the neocon dominated Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), which, like AIPAC, colludes directly with the Israeli Embassy in Washington. FDD should be registered as a foreign agent, but no Israel connected entity has ever been forced to comply. To be sure, Neubergers involvement with the foundation and her participation in the money contribution to AIPAC should have been an element in her security clearance process, but that process may have been either modified for political reasons or the information was not made available. The NBC report observes that A spokeswoman for the National Security Council declined to answer detailed questions about the matter, saying, As a senior NSC employee, Ms. Neuberger will abide by the Executive Order on Ethics Commitments By Executive Branch Personnel. Its not clear Neuberger would have been required to disclose contributions by her family foundation as part of her ethics or security clearance reviews  so its not known whether the Biden team vetted the donations. Although the donations are listed in public tax filings available on the web, some effort is required to find them.

The supporters of Neuberger are incorrect in that the contributions made in her name to AIPAC, which most in Washington regard as a front for the Israeli government, would have most definitely been relevant to her clearance process. Under normal rules, it would disqualify her from having a top level clearance, but, as should be noted, we are dealing here with Israel. Neubergers appointment as head of U.S. cybersecurity while donating hundreds of thousands to the lobbying arm of a foreign government that recently welcomed to great fanfare a citizen of theirs, Jonathan Pollard, who spied on the U.S., as a hero is unacceptable. One might also add that Israel is regarded as the most active friendly government in respect to its spying on the United States, often using sayanim American Jews as their agents, and its well documented history of stealing U.S. high technology is extensive. It also has highly developed cyber capabilities of its own which it has recently used against American government targets, to include the White House.

The final twist to the Neuberger story is that complaints from Jewish groups and individuals began to pour into NBC after it released the story, some concerned that a wonderful organization like AIPAC was being impugned. AIPAC denounced the piece directly, claiming that its Charges of dual loyalty are anti-Semitic and insult millions of AmericansJewish & non-Jewishwho stand by our ally Israel. The news network then surrendered, pulling and archiving the story after claiming that it had not met its usual standards due to its use of anonymous sources and failure to give Neuberger adequate time to respond. NBC did not contest the AIPAC claim that Israel is an actual American ally, which is itself a lie, nor to the compelling evidence that some American Jews certainly do demonstrate either dual or singular loyalty that favors Israel.

But my favorite contribution in support of Neuberger comes from President Barack Obamas U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, who appears to be in line for a Biden senior foreign policy appointment. He tweeted: I dont know Anne Neuberger, but the charge against her  that shes not fit for national security work because her family foundation supported political work that is fully protected under the Constitution  is offensive and belied by her stellar career. Glad she is serving.

Shapiros claim that a senior national security officials supporting a lobby that exists to obtain favors for a foreign country is a free speech issue is curious. One also wonders about Shapiros ultimate loyalty, recalling how he left his ambassadorial post to live in Israel, where he presumably now holds dual-citizenship. He subsequently told an American Jewish audience that Israel is this miracle, this gift, this jewel and worked as a senior officer in an Israeli national security think tank, representing it in testimony before Congress, which should have required him to register as a foreign agent. But he didnt do so and got away with it because it was Israel, of course. And now he is giving advice on a critical United States national security issue in which he is dead wrong. That is the fundamental problem. We Americans are, at our peril, never allowed to challenge the extent of someones devotion to a foreign country if that country just happens to be Israel.

Philip M. Giraldi, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest, a 501(c)3 tax deductible educational foundation (Federal ID Number #52-1739023) that seeks a more interests-based U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Website is https://councilforthenationalinterest.org address is P.O. Box 2157, Purcellville VA 20134 and its email is inform@cnionline.org
Appearances can suggest we care less about things than we really do
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Amid continued tense situation at Line of Actual Control (LaC) at China border, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur informed the Rajya Sabha that 80 Chinese companies are actively doing business in the country and while there are 92 companies registered.

On question about restricting the Chinese companies, the government said that the rules are already in place and all companies will have to comply to the same.

The government has already banned 59 Chinese apps including the TikTok.

The government also informed that the FDI is regulated by the RBI and except in some sectors including defence, space and atomic energy, it is allowed with permission of the government.

Earlier in the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting on December 24, the government approved the National Security Directive on the telecommunication sector.

The move to create a secured national network would restrict the use of Chinese equipment by telecom operators in future 5G networks.

India and China have been engaged in a nine-month long standoff along the Line of Actual Control. Despite several levels of dialogue, there has not been any breakthrough.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Update: Fugitive wanted in 2020 Syracuse homicide arrested, charged with murder, attempted murder

Syracuse, N.Y.  A fourth person has been charged with shooting a man to death and trying to kill a woman last summer on Syracuses North Side.

Christopher Ayala-Pizarro, 22, has been indicted by an Onondaga County grand jury for killing Draquan McDonald near Washington Square Park. When he was indicted, Ayala-Pizarro was already in the Onondaga County Justice Center on charges accusing him of firing a gun at a crowd on the Near West Side in May 2020.

McDonald died after he was shot in the back shortly after 6 p.m. on July 26, 2020, near Wolf and Park streets. A 55-year-old woman was shot in the leg, but survived.

Draquon McDonald, 24, was pronounced dead at Upstate University Hospital after he was shot in the back on Park Street near Washington Square Park on the citys North Side at around 6:09 p.m. Sunday, July 26, 2020.

Three other suspects have also been indicted for McDonalds death:

Jariel Pinet, 19

Angel Rosario, 15

Jonathan Sanchez , 19

Syracuse police are searching for Pinet. He is wanted for murder and attempted murder.

Pinet is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs about 180 pounds, police said. He has black hair and brown eyes. His last known addresses were 306 Herbert St. and 50 Ponderosa Drive.

Police asked anyone with information about where Pinet is to call the departments warrant squad at (315) 442-5230.

Jariel Pinet, 19, of SyracuseProvided by the Syracuse Police Department

Ayala-Pizarro was arraigned Monday and is being held in jail without bail. Sanchez is also in jail without bail.

Rosario, a juvenile, is not listed as an inmate. The names of juveniles in custody are not normally listed in the countys public inmate records.

All four defendants have been charged with murder and attempted murder. Theyve also been charged with illegally possessing two 9 mm guns and one .40-caliber gun.

McDonald, the man shot to death on the North Side, was nicknamed Draskii, according to his obituary. In the comments left in the digital guestbook below his obituary, friends and family members remembered McDonalds contagious smile and laugh.

READ MORE: 31 people were murdered in Syracuse in 2020: Here are the victims

Staff writer Samantha House covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? Reach her at shouse@syracuse.com.

Nairobi, Kenya  President Uhuru Kenyatta has hailed the contribution of digital technologies to Kenya's transformation saying ICTs are helping the country to create employment opportunities for its youth and enhance delivery of public services.

The president observed that digital technologies have enabled African governments and the private sector to continue operating optimally despite the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"In the face of containment measures necessitated by the pandemic (Covid-19), technology has kept governments and businesses running; and enabled international cooperation and engagements, such as we are involved in today to be sustained," the president said.

He was speaking Monday at State House, Nairobi during the 2021 Africa Business Forum held virtually on the sidelines of the 34th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

President Kenyatta said Kenya had made progress in the delivery public services digitally adding that the country is hinging on technology to transform its economy.

"Currently, the Kenya Government has over 200 digitized services offered through Huduma Centres countrywide as well as an online self-service E-Citizen platform.

"Both platforms, which are widely utilized, offer one-stop access to essential services such as applying for Passports or National Identification Cards; and registering businesses, births, or deaths.

"Kenya is also progressively digitizing core government services such as filing of tax returns, land registries, court procedures and rulings, and public service records," the President said.

He said the cost effective nature of digital technologies is helping African nations to solve the challenge of scarce finances needed to provide infrastructure, institutions and human resources to power economic growth.

While highlighting the transformative nature of digital technologies, President Kenyatta pointed out that 40 percent of private enterprises in Kenya are engaged in e-commerce and 70 percent of all e-commerce payments in the country are settled through various mobile money payment platforms.

The President said his Government is working on ensuring that digital technologies are not abused by investing in training and capacity building of service providers and technology users.

"To ensure technology is embraced, holistically by all business sectors we must contain misuse/abuse of technology. We, therefore, in our training pay particular attention on ethics and values as it is key to sustainable adoption of technology," the President said.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Business ICT By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

To support digital entrepreneurship in the country, the President said the Kenyan Government is working with partners to lower entry barriers for ICT entrepreneurs.

"To strengthen our digital technology footprint, we have established several strategic partnerships. The Smart Africa Initiative is a network of some 30 African countries seeking to leverage technology to create a single digital market on the continent.

"Similarly, the UNDP-led SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Accelerator Lab provides a vehicle for partnerships, investments, and business linkages to accelerate local innovations and ideas; including twinning Silicon Valley with the Kenyan tech community," the President said.

In order to accelerate the creation of a common market, the President said African economies need to harmonize their ICT standards so as to achieve inter-operability of their digital infrastructure.

Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa Vera Songwe who also spoke at the virtual meeting commended President Kenyatta for championing usage of ICT in service delivery and called on other African nations to emulate Kenya.
The Ukrainian official says Ukraine has been doing its homework on its way to NATO membership.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says Ukraine is seeking to receive its Membership Action Plan (MAP) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the short-term outlook.

Shmyhal announced this at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on February 9, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

Read alsoNATO to deliver critical medical supplies to Ukraine to counter COVID-19

"Our short-term strategy at the moment is indeed the aspiration to receive the MAP, and of course, we want to catch up with Georgia and receive the MAP, but we are working actively over this and we feel that our meeting today is quite a positive and symbolic signal, which gives us positive charge, and positive hope," he said.

The Ukrainian prime minister said Ukraine would remain an important and predictable NATO partner seeking to join the Alliance.

"The implementation of reforms is the basis for Ukraine to receive the NATO Membership Action Plan. This is our key short-term goal," he said. "At this stage, the Annual National Program plays the most important role in reforming Ukraine, approaching NATO standards and preparing for NATO membership," Shmyhal said.

In his words, Ukraine maintains a dialogue with NATO on a wide range of issues, including preparation for membership through the implementation of reform. This has been happening in combination with the issues of combating COVID-19 and countering Russian aggression, hybrid forms of warfare and cyber attacks. This also involves measures to enhance regional security, especially in the Black Sea region, and Ukraine's participation in peacekeeping missions and security operations led by NATO, as well as gender equality, strengthening national resilience and the like.

"First of all, when we talk about the future, the perspective and the aspirations of Ukraine, of course the NATO membership for Ukraine is a key priority, it is reflected in our Constitution. And we discussed it with the Secretary General, and we are absolutely ready. And we are indeed doing our homework very well, we have passed a number of legislations, we are reforming our armed forces, we are moving towards NATO standards, we are conducting joint maneuvers and exercises and work together in the peacekeeping operations in the name of the NATO contingent. We have got quite a number of achievements, which now give us hope that we can implement our homework quite quickly," he said.

According to him, "the achievement of the standards of NATO in the sector of security and defense of Ukraine will indeed be a precondition leading us to the NATO membership."

Ukraine-NATO: Previous developments

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview for Axios on the U.S.-based HBO channel that Ukraine wants to be an equal member of NATO. "We are grateful for everything, but Ukraine is not just saying in words that it wants to be an equal member of the Alliance, an equal member of NATO, because this is one of the most important security points  the same security that President [of the United States Joe] Biden is speaking about. How should we further state the desire to accede, if it is enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine  the movement towards the European Union, European integration, as well as accession to NATO? Therefore, I have a very simple question  why is Ukraine still not in NATO? Putting away these phrases that we will all contemplate and communicate, the first simple question from me would be: 'Mr. President, why are we not in NATO yet?'" he said then.

Zelensky expressed the hope that during Biden's presidency, Ukraine and the United States would enter a new stage of security enhancing relations.

Reporting by UNIAN
India and United Kingdom will announce a roadmap for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) and launch an enhanced trade partnership programme during the visit of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to India later this year, says Elizabeth Truss, Secretary of State for International Trade, UK.

In an interaction with BusinessToday.In, Truss, currently on an India visit, said both countries are keen to enhance collaborations in technology, green growth and in areas like life sciences and pharmaceuticals. Reduction of tariffs in certain areas is also being discussed, she said.

Truss had detailed discussions with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and representatives of Indian industry in Delhi and Mumbai respectively. She also visited Serum Institute of India, Pune, the vaccine maker that has a collaboration with UK's Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca for production and distribution of the latter's Covid-19 vaccine.

"We have made real progress in our meeting talking about the enhanced trade partnership and developing a roadmap to the proposed FTA between the UK and India. There is a huge interest from both sides. We want to make sure that it is a very strong proposition on the table so as to launch the trade partnership when the UK Prime Minister visits later this year to India," Truss said.

According to Truss, India and Britain are complimentary economies. 'We are both very strong in technology. India has the third largest startup ecosystem in the world, Britain has the third largest number of unicorns in the world and by working closely together we can benefit both economies by increasing jobs and growth across both UK and India," she said.

The enhanced trade partnership is expected to address several trade barriers that currently exist. Britain is keen to see India reduces barriers on import of agriculture and food items. Truss said that UK has more flexibility in negotiations as the country has exited the European Union. "We have the flexibility to do things differently. For example, if we need to do a consultation on gene editing, we can be more proactive on the development of agriculture technology," she pointed out.

However, UK is not in agreement with India's demand at World Trade Organisation that intellectual property waiver is needed for quick access of Covid-19 related technologies. "We believe that within the current rules of WTO there is flexibility for countries to respond to Covid-19," Truss said.

In addition to India, UK is in negotiations with Australia, New Zealand and US. The country is also in talks to be part of The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) - an FTA between Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam. India-UK trade partnership becomes more significant in the context of the larger market access Britain is striving for. "India is a very important strategic partner for the UK and we want to build this trade and investment relationship. I had very positive talks with Minister Goyal going into very specific details on how we are going to take things forward. It is a priority alongside CPTPP and US talks," Truss said.

"Minister Goyal and I have agreed to an accelerated time table to launch the enhanced trade partnership when the two PMs meet. We are also looking at the idea of early delivery as well on the proposed FTA," she added.

Also read: First new chemical entity discovered by Indian scientists gets USFDA approval

Also read: PM Modi gets teary-eyed, bids emotional farewell to Ghulam Nabi Azad in Parliament

Lucknow, Feb 9 : It is a palatial house, fitted with all modern amenities and located in a posh residential colony. Yet the family members in the house are petrified and living under the shadow of fear.

The reason behind this is that since the past 12 days, strange sounds are emanating from one particular wall of the house.

The sounds come from a wall in Aarti's mother's room.

"I have been living here with my husband, daughter and mother since the past 27 years. For the past two weeks, these noises have started in the house," said Aarti, the homemaker in the house.

Initially, they thought that the noises were coming from a neighbour's house where construction work was underway.

"But the noises then started coming even when there was no work in the neighbour's house. My husband and I go out to work and my daughter and mother stay at home. The volume of the sounds has been increasing with every passing day," she told reporters.

She denied that the house was haunted. "We have been living here for so long. How can a house suddenly become haunted?" Aarti further said that a few days ago, when she returned from work on her scooty, she heard a loud sound of a machine gun. "So scary it was that I fell down in shock," she said.

The family lodged a complaint with the police and Joint Commissioner of Police (JPC) Nilabja Chaudhary said that a woman constable had been posted in the house but she had not heard any sound.

"We are investigating the matter from all angles," he told reporters.

Meanwhile, a local resident said that a woman had died an unnatural death in a nearby house.

"Since then, such rumours have been floating around, "the resident said.

Aarti, however, said, "We are educated people and do not believe in all this. We have been hearing sounds and are petrified because of this."




Haiti - News : Zapping...





Moise cleans up the Court of Cassation

A presidential decree was published on Monday February 8, 2021 in Le Moniteur Special N9: "Decree putting the citizens into retirement Yvickel Dieujuste Dabrezil, Wendelle Coq Thelot and Joseph Mecene Jean Louis, Judges at the Court of Cassation". Let us recall that these three judges were approached by the opposition to replace President Jovenel Moise in case of departure See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32974-haiti-flash-haiti-has-2-presidents.html



President Moise stays the course

On Monday, President Moise presided over an extraordinary Council of Ministers at the National Palace. "The Government is taking all measures to ensure the safety of the population, while staying the course on its priorities : the electrification of the country, the referendum and the elections."



An American Congressman on the opposition side

There is no chance of a real election, a real democracy in Haiti as long as Jovenel Moise remains in power, tweeted on Sunday, Democratic Congressman Andy Levin.



Jacmel : 10 stabbed wounded

Sunday February 7, according to the results of the PNH, at least 10 people (6 men and 4 women) were stabbed wounded and 2 others arrested during the course of the 29th edition of the Carnival of Jacmel in the department of Southeast, Sunday February 7, 2021.



Denial of the Minister of Justice

"The Ministry of Justice has no given instructions to close the main entrance to the Court of Cassation. The barrier is always closed by the guard, to be reopened every morning. In addition, the National Police of Haiti, to avoid any operation of 'dechoucage', ensures the external security of the building," specified the Minister of Justice Rockfeller Vincent.



Covid-19 : Closure of the Haitian Consulate General in New York

The Consulate General of Haiti in New York is advising the general public and the Haitian community in particular that its offices will be closed from February 8 to 19, 2021 due to disinfection, in order to reduce the risk of the spread of covid-19. services will resume normally on Monday 22 February 2021 at 9:00 a.m.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















New trend amid the pandemic has people checking out under their own roof. The topic is sad but not altogether horrible as a great deal of the "death industry" hosts unnecessary expenses.

Read more . . .
New Delhi: Private lender HDFC Bank has invited applications from start-ups and solo entrepreneurs for its SmartUp grants.

This year, the bank will focus on start-ups creating social impact at scale in sectors such as Education  technology (ed-tech) and skill development, among others.

To screen, mentor, and monitor start-ups, HDFC Bank has partnered with nine start-up incubators registered with Govt of Indias MeitY platfrom. The nine incubators are from premier institutes and include: IIT  Delhi, IIT  BHU, AIC BIMTECH Noida, IIM Kashipur, GUSEC Gujarat, C-CAMP Bangalore, Banasthali University  Jaipur, Villgro Incubation  Chennai, and T  HUB Hyderabad.

How to apply and process for HDFC SmartUp grants

Start-ups making social impact can send in their applications by clicking here.



The application window opens on and closes on February 16, 2021.



Further, the banks incubator partners and the SmartUp team will jointly scout for start-ups.



Bank and incubators will jointly reach out and engage with start-ups through the SmartUp portal hosted on Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY's) platform.



Incubator partners will screen and shortlist applications and the SmartUp team will select finalists.



Finalists will pitch their start-ups to a jury comprising senior Management of the Bank.



What is the Evaluation criteria for HDFC SmartUp grants

Market reach, penetration and scalability of product



Degree of social impact in beneficiaries lives



Economic viability of product at scale

Live TV

#mute

"SmartUp grants by HDFC Bank under #Parivartan  the banks umbrella CSR brand  is aimed at finding and deploying long-term, sustainable solutions at scale, to address social issues and contribute to the economic and social development of the country," the company said.

Africa is emerging as the new frontier for forex trading. With over 41 currencies spread across 54 countries, the continent's broad retail and spots forex trading has massive potential. South Africa is leading the way with an extremely promising forex market.

The South African financial market is well organized and developed. For instance, the country is home to big banks like ABSA, Nedbank, and Standard bank. Moreover, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is the biggest bourse in Africa. In regards to forex, South Africa comes second to none. Here is why.

South Africa has a Well-Organized Financial Market

South Africa boasts of the most robust and organized forex market. To put this into perspective, according to furtherafrica.com the retail forex market in South Africa rocketed from$14 billion to $21 billion between 2013 and 2016. Some of the factors that make the South Africa market appealing include impressive regulation of forex brokers operating in SA, geographical position, and liberal political views. Additionally, it has a good relationship with other global economies. As a result, the country has become a popular hub for forex traders and brokers. Financial markets in other African countries are relatively less developed.

Massive Number of Traders

South Africa has about 190000 traders, coming close to Nigeria, which leads with 200000 forex traders. Kenya comes at a distant third with about 50000 forex traders. The rest of the traders in Africa make up about 750 000, bringing the totals to 1.3 million traders. Well, Nigeria seems like it has a huge customer base. However, South Africans have a huge customer deposit. To be precise, South African traders' average customer monthly deposit is $742.04, while Nigeria is second with $514.42 worth of monthly deposits. Kenyan traders deposit about $363.56 monthly.

In 2019, South Africa's forex daily trading volume, including spot and CFDs, was about $2.21 billion. The total turnover for all fx instruments is a whopping $21 billion as per the Bank of International SettlementsSurvey of foreign exchange and OTC markets. Contrastingly, Nigeria's daily volume was $314 million per day, while Kenya's forex volume was just $192.66 million per day. What's more South African rand ranks top of most traded currencies in Africa and ranks 18th globally.

With these enticing numbers, South Africa has become very appealing to both traders and brokers. The country has recorded an increase in the number of brokers, especially from Europe. Also, homegrown companies partake in the highly profitable market.

Robust Regulation

Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA), the local regulator for non-banking financial institutions, has also played a major role in South Africa's forex market growth. It is one of the oldest reputable regulatory bodies with about 1000 registered financial entities under its name.

Initially, South Africa's forex market was not well regulated. As a result, illegal activities and scams increased. The regulator decided to enact strict rules to curb illegal activities. This culminated in establishing a new licensing regime. The new license requires the brokers to provide FSCA with data such as prices, transaction details and investors, and the area of residence. The data is meant to cut down illegal activities and ensure brokers treat the traders fairly.

FSCA regulatory requirements are relatively lower than other global regulators. This enables forex brokers to enjoy massive profits while minimizing operation costs. Consequently, many international brokers have expanded into the market to enjoy a favorable business environment.

Conversely, Nigeria, the second largest FX market, does not have regulations in place. Traders resort to using brokers who are accredited by FCA OR FSCA to avoid dealing with fraudsters. Kenya has performed relatively well in regulating the forex industry. It is one of the best markets for both traders and brokers. Capital markets authority, although in its initial stages, has established measures to regulate brokers in Kenya.

South Africa has therefore established itself as the best market for forex traders and brokers in Africa. The growing demand for fx products, robust financial sector, and existing regulations make the southern African country a beloved market for brokers. In fact, leading brokers around the globe, including Hot forex, FXCM, IG markets, and Capex, have set shops in SA. The brokers are basing their operations in SA to expand their network. To attract traders from SA a good number of these companies offer trading accounts in the South African rand, to such entities is often referred to as Forex Brokers With ZAR Accounts. A trading account in ZAR is the most preferred option in SA.

Apart from few countries like Kenya, many African do not have regulations governing forex trading. In fact, Nigeria, the second-largest economy in Africa, has no foreign exchange regulations in place. Comparatively, South Africa is way ahead of the rest of the continent.

Effect of ESMA Regulations on South Africa and Rest of Africa

Last year intervention measures by the European Securities Market authority significantly affected trading in Africa. Basically, brokers worldwide started looking to expand their bases outside Europe. Africa is one of the places they have found a favorable market to do business.

Thanks to the ready market and proper regulations, South Africa has proved attractive to the brokers. The forex brokers seek FSCA registration and use South Africa as a gateway to Africa.

With an increasing number of traders and demand for forex products such as Spot Fx, cryptocurrencies, indices commodities, and CFDs, more brokers will keep coming to Africa. The region allows brokers to provide bigger leverage and potentially make more profits.

Final Words

As mentioned, the regulatory framework in South Africa is well developed and organized. The trading regulations in South Africa are beneficial to both traders and brokers. These laws attract traders from other countries in Africa. In other words, traders in other countries such as Nigeria resort to trading with FSCA-regulated brokers due to a lack of firm regulations in their countries. In a nutshell, the Africa forex market is on steady growth. However, other countries must up their game to catch up with South Africa.
As the United States struggles to distribute and administer COVID-19 vaccines, were looking back at the history of vaccine rollouts in our country, including the logistical roadblocks to shots and communicating with a fearful public. The COVID vaccines have been widely shown to be safe and effective, unlike some historical examples that had significant associated risks. But what can stories of failures from the past teach us about how to fairly administer them?

On Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 1 p.m. Eastern, join Future Tense for a conversation with Atul Gawande and Helene Gayle, co-chair of the National Academies framework for vaccine distribution, about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

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For many midcentury American families, a bout of the measleskids home from school, feverish and rash-covered, eating Popsicles and reading comic bookswas a rite of passage. To officials looking at the big picture, the public health toll of measles, a common and extremely contagious childhood disease, looked unacceptably high. Measles causes encephalitis in 1 case per 1,000, with further serious complications (deafness, intellectual disabilities) occurring in one-third of those cases. Most kids weathered the measles fine, but there were lots of cases, and thus lots of complications. In the late 1950s, the country saw an average of 4,000 kids get encephalitis from measles every year, while about 450 died.

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The meh reaction to the new measles shots was more a matter of money.

The idea that measles could be conquered emerged from a climate of Kennedy-era liberal altruism mixed with pro-scientific optimism prompted by the success of the polio vaccine. When it came to vaccines improving public health, anything, it seemed, might be possible. So in 1967, the U.S. government launched a campaign to eradicate measles. Alexander Langmuir, the CDCs chief epidemiologist, compared his motives for the campaign to Edmund Hillarys famous reason for climbing Mount Everest: Because it was there. Langmuir embellished, To this may be added   and it can be done. 

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The late-60s measles campaign used a vaccine that was already a few years old. In 1954, Thomas Peebles, a scientist working with famed biomedical researcher John Enders at Boston Childrens Hospital, took advantage of a measles outbreak at the private Fay School in Massachusetts to collect blood samples and isolate a strain that could be used to make a vaccine. (Its called the Edmonston strain, because the sick student who provided the blood was named David Edmonston.) Enders made this strain available to other researchers, and in 1962, Maurice Hilleman and his colleagues at Merck released an attenuated measles vaccine using that strain. This was called Rubeovax, and it needed to be administered with a shot of gamma globulin antibodies to reduce any reactions it might cause. (Gamma globulin, a product made from the blood of a person or animal who has already had a disease, bestows immunity for a much shorter period than a true vaccine.)

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The innovation met, at first, with a lukewarm public reception. This wasnt because the public was afraid of the vaccines effects. Though the measles-mumps-rubella shot would later become a focus of our present-day anti-vaccination movement, in the 50s and 60s, as historian James Colgrove, author of State of Immunity, put it in an interview, there was very little active resistance to vaccines. The success of New York City in vaccinating 6 million residents against smallpox in 1947, ahead of a feared outbreak when one man died of the disease in a city hospital, can partly be attributed to this postwar American mood of easy amiability toward the idea of vaccination.

No, the meh reaction to the new measles shots was more a matter of money. After the first flush of success of the polio vaccination campaign of the mid-1950s, immunization rates dipped among poorer populations in the early 1960s. The Vaccination Assistance Act, which was passed in 1962, funded grants to states to help with vaccine delivery, specifying the use of the money for vaccinations against polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus, hoping to rectify this problem.

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AFL-CIO representative Andrew Biemiller said at a hearing on the act in 1962 that his organization supported government funding for vaccination because of data showing that, among kids under 5 in Atlanta, 78 percent of wealthier people had gotten three or more Salk shots compared with only 30 percent of the less wealthy. Cases of paralytic polio are concentrated in a citys central core, he pointed out, where the poorer, the less privileged, the minority groups are to be found.

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As with polio, so with measles. The new measles vaccines cost about $10 (about $86 today) and were mostly administered by private physicians. Families of kids who didnt have access to the health care system, or couldnt afford to lay out for the shots, stayed away. The act passed. Three years later, it had to be reauthorized, and the language was changed to add measles to the list of diseases eligible for vaccine assistance. Thats when the Centers for Disease Control decided to go for eradication, picking Rubeovax for its shot, even though it required that gamma globulin, because it was cheaper. The difference in price between the two vaccines was enough to make the vaccine available to almost three million additional children, historian Elizabeth Etheridge writes in her history of the CDC, Sentinel for Health.

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The measles eradication campaign used many of the publicity tricks familiar from diphtheria and polio immunization drives of years past. It had the support of President Lyndon Johnson, who announced the effort personally, urging Americans to participate. In New York City, billboards, posters, television commercials, and radio announcements told people that measles was the next childhood disease that could be zapped. (One slogan used in the city was Measles Bites the Dust.) The city held health happeningsgroovyin underserved neighborhoods, with toys and games as prizes for kids who got vaccinated. Charles Schulz signed on, producing a series of Peanuts comic strips promoting the vaccine.

At first, this campaign saw results. In 196768, 11.7 million doses of measles vaccines were given to American children. In 1968, there were only about 22,000 cases of measles recorded nationwide, as opposed to the annual average of 450,000 from the previous five years. But slowly, over the next couple of years, the numbers crept back up, and in 1971, a survey showed a low 57.2 percent rate of measles immunizationonly 41.1 percent in poor urban areas. Why?

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One of the issues was just a lack of perceived threat, Colgrove, the historian, said. I think that was maybe even a bigger obstacle than the lack of a delivery infrastructure. There was, he said, a gap between the way health professionals saw the threat and the way the public thought about it. The folks at the CDC had a global view and knew what a problem measles could be in low-resource settings, where kids who needed to be rushed to the emergency room couldnt be rushed to the emergency room. And they were looking at the incredible contagiousness of measles.

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In postmortems of the campaigns failure, some engaged in poor-blaming, with one study Colgrove quotes in his book arguing that poor people take a rather cavalier attitude toward illness. If the lower and middle classes viewed illness with as great alarm as do the upper classes, their use of physicians would surely rise, the author of this study wrote. But greater barriers were probably the short hours of child health clinics, which tended to fall during the working day, and long waiting times for the shots. By the end of the 1960s, Colgrove said, measles outbreaks were becoming very much concentrated among poor kids in rural areas, like in Appalachia, and in inner-city neighborhoods.

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But perhaps a bigger problem for the measles effort, at least in the 196970 period, was the existence of rubella. In 1964, a German measles epidemic caused deafness, blindness, intellectual disabilities, and heart defects in about 20,000 American newborns. Rubella, as the disease came to be called in an effort to distinguish it from the red measles, is a mild disease for adults, but can be harmful to fetuses in utero. If measles was a minor disease in most parents minds, congenital rubella syndrome was a huge deal. Adding to the fear factor, rubella was very difficult to avoid contracting, as its highly contagious. Pregnant women with kids in school were terrified.

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Scientists thought rubella recurred cyclically, coming back every five to seven years. So, as 196970 approached, public concern grew that another wave of babies born with congenital rubella syndrome was coming. Labs raced to produce a vaccine; finally, an effective one, developed by Stanley Plotkin at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, was licensed in 1969.

Officials decided that the easiest way to try to achieve herd immunity was to give the new rubella vaccine to children instead of adult women and teenage girls, who would be carrying the fetuses who might be affected. There was a chance that already-pregnant women themselves might be vaccinated by mistake and adult women suffered some passing side effects from the vaccine (transient arthritis among them) while children did not. This was the first time kids would be vaccinated for a disease that didnt directly threaten them but was very harmful to others.

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Health organizations like March of Dimes, which had pivoted to a focus on the prevention of birth defects after its success with polio, promoted the rubella shot by selling the idea of it directly to kids. Leslie J. Reagans book about rubella, Dangerous Pregnancies, contains images from a March of Dimes comic that went home with schoolchildren in some cities, along with their consent forms for the rubella vaccine. Titled Rubella Robs the Cradle, the book was aimed at convincing children to submit to the new shots lest they become red-haired Stevie, the protagonist, who unknowingly infects his aunt with rubella and causes his cousin to be born blind. Reagan writes that, compared with the measles vaccines promotional materials, items promoting the rubella shot were more commonly aimed at minority communities; Rubella Robs the Cradle had a Spanish-language counterpart, Sarampion Aleman  Tragedia Que Acecha La Cuna.

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As with measles, American health cares uneven coverage of the population shaped the way the rubella vaccine was administered. Locating and immunizing 100 percent of female teens or women of childbearing age could not perpetually be achieved nationwide in the United States, particularly without a national healthcare system, Reagan writes. In other countries, they managed it; in Britain, Australia, and Israel, the vaccination went into schoolgirls arms only. The strategy was, it turns out, inadequate, as Reagan puts itoutbreaks among adults continued into the middle of the 1970s, and babies continued to be born with CRS (though many fewer than in 1964). Officials shifted their strategies to immunize adult women, soldiers, and college students as well as children, and that seemed to work.

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The diversion of resources from measles to rubella shows how easily vaccination drives aimed at getting rid of endemic diseases can be undermined by the ebb and flow of public concern if theres not a long-term governmental commitment to supporting vaccine access. The competition for government resources between the measles and rubella vaccines ended when Mercks Hilleman combined the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines into the MMR shot in 1971. In the 1970s, almost all states adopted laws forcing children to be vaccinated against these diseases in order to enter school, and the Carter administration pursued vaccination programs in the late 1970s, commissioning PSAs like these memorable ones with characters from Star Wars. At the end of 1979, 90 percent of American children had been immunized with the MMR shot. And then, in 1998, along came Andrew Wakefield, the discredited British physician who helped catalyze the anti-vaccine movement. The rest is a story for our times.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- After the recent presidential election, political divisiveness is a more significant issue than ever in the U.S. But how much does political party affiliation actually impact social relationships? A recent experiment conducted on Twitter by MIT Sloan School of Management Prof. David Rand and MIT Sloan Research Affiliate Mohsen Mosleh, who is also a professor at the University of Exeter Business School, shows that politics matter a lot when strangers are forming new social ties. They found that Democrats and Republicans are equally likely to favor people who share their party affiliation when deciding who to follow.

"Partisanship is often an important part of people's social identity, and many studies have observed that people tend to be more socially connected to co-partisans" says Mosleh, "But that does not necessarily mean that shared partisanship is actually the cause of tie formation. People could simply be forming social connections based on other factors that correlate with partisanship, like age, race, or geographic location. Or maybe people just have more opportunities to make connections with co-partisans, like when social media algorithms suggest new contacts based on shared political views."

Mosleh, Rand, and their MIT Sloan colleagues Cameron Martel and Prof. Dean Eckles set out to test whether shared partisanship leads people to connect online. They created bot Twitter accounts that appeared as humans with identical descriptions, except for their political party and the strength of their party identification. They then used those bot accounts to follow Democratic and Republican users and analyzed how likely the users were to reciprocate and follow the bots back.

"Our experiment shows that shared partisanship does indeed have a large impact on social tie formation. People on both sides of the political divide were roughly three times more likely to form social ties with strangers who identify with the same party, compared to counter-partisans," says Rand.

Their study also found that these new social ties were not just based on pre-existing social circles or algorithm-suggested connections. Rather, people in the study were much more likely to connect with total strangers simply because of shared political views.

"These results emphasize the fundamental psychological bias many people have against interacting with those who do not share their partisanship," says Rand. "Should social media platforms want to foster more connection across party lines, they will likely need to use friend recommendation algorithms to counteract the preexisting bias our study demonstrates."

Mosleh, Martel, Eckles, and Rand are the authors of the paper "Shared partisanship dramatically increases social tie formation in a Twitter field experiment," which was recently published by PNAS.

The MIT Sloan School of Management is where smart, independent leaders come together to solve problems, create new organizations, and improve the world. Learn more at mitsloan.mit.edu.

For further information, contact:



Paul Denning or Patricia Favreau Director of Media Relations

Associate Director of Media Relations (617) 253-0576

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Kanhaiya Kumars totally uncalled for arrest and slapping of the charges of sedition etc. have clouded the issue and furthered the interest of the elements the government claims to rein in.

But before we discuss the issue it would be worthwhile to recapitulate the basic facts of the story which have been told and retold and changed somewhat in every telling. No one has come up yet with the theory that there were two editions of Kanhaiya. Otherwise every fact, every video clipping comes in two versions. You can take your pick.

It is beyond dispute that a group of students in the JNU organised a "cultural" evening to celebrate the death anniversary of the martyred Afzal Guru. To an overwhelmingly large number of Indians, he was a terrorist and enemy of the Indian state. Political leaders across the divide had endorsed this view in the immediate aftermath of the attack. The "cultural artists" chanted their determination to fight till the destruction of the Indian state, and felt ashamed that the killers of Afzal were still alive. They concluded by invoking the blessing of Allah for this project. The slogans need to be quoted in full for the enlarged meaning of "cultural activities".

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Kanhaiya Kumar later distanced himself from the shouting of these slogans and condemned this act. The evening, he said, was meant to commemorate Dr. Ambedkar and reaffirm faith in Indian constitution.

Afzal Guru the "martyr", was hanged to death when the Congress government was in power, after the entire range of curative options available to an accused in a polity governed by due process of law  from the trial court to the mercy petition before the President of India - were exhausted. Having failed to get a favourable verdict, few would dare indulge in public denunciation of the most sacred of our institutions. Democracy is about building institutions; institutions work in tandem with other institutions and they have to be invested with authority by reposing faith in them and not wrecking them for perceived wrongs. That is our share of the democratic burden. Dr. Ambedkar must have turned in his grave to hear the public denunciation of all that we hold sacred.

Lenin used to ask ironically: "Freedom -- yes, but for whom? To do what?"

The idea of free speech is so seductive that it seems wimpish to even suggest caution or moderation in the exercise of this sacred right, but we must wonder whether the democratic idealism provides a standpoint outside of itself to wreck and demolish its very foundational values. No law was violated in the chanting of these slogans, agreed, but are societies run by decrees alone? Are we subject to the prohibition of laws alone? There are no laws against incest. Should that then become an acceptable behaviour? Does good sense and consideration for the feelings of others not curb our freedom of action?

I hear that declaring oneself to be anti-national has become the new normal for the enlightened beings, but there are people who would rather be seen dead than being dubbed anti national. If we inhabit a shared space, we have to consider each others sensibilities. Kanhaiya Kumar was not unaware of this, as his subsequent condemnation of the incident shows. What was then the mainspring of his action?

According to an apostatic ABVP member there is a hierarchy of intellectual order in the JNU; the Brahminical order consists of those from St. Stephen and Presidency College. Cerebral, articulate and fluent in the langua franca of power discourse  English  their minds organised by the fundamentals of Marxism, enjoyed a hegemony till the upstart ABVP types gate-crashed  perhaps riding pillion on the rise of the rightist politics.

"Students in JNUs history centre divided informally along class lines early on. Apart from a few exceptions, those from elite colleges like St Stephens in Delhi and Presidency in Kolkata turned left, while those from small towns were splintered among the left, the ABVP and the Congresss student wing, the National Students Union of India. Apart from my background, it also seemed to me that falling in line with the left would mean acceptance of this intellectual hierarchy. Spurning the system seemed enticing."

http://www.caravanmagazine.in/vantage/why-i-left-sangh-abvp#sthash.hpswBzPE.Y24i6w1M.dpuf

Kashmir is very much on the minds of the Indian people. The ethnic cleansing of the Kashmiri Pandits is an equally emotive issue for an overwhelming number of Indians, but it has never seized the imagination of the progressively oriented JNU( or has it?) because it does not command as much traction as liberation of Kashmir.

If we argue by results they were dead right. JNU has become a global symbol of resistance and Kanhaiya Kumar, a nondescript entity from Bihar with no past to reckon with, is suddenly a martyr to the cause of democracy. Secure in the knowledge that aggressive and institutionally entrenched national and global elite well-versed in the vernacular of law, who exert a tremendous pressure on politics will intervene on their behalf makes such gestures risk free. Prashant Bhushan has offered his services voluntarily; the likes of Arundhati Roy and Chomsky have given him the thumbs up. If the exercise of freedom of speech was this rewarding, who would flinch from murder? The intellectually unsophisticated security personnel guarding the parliament building seemed to have laid down their lives quite gratuitously when martyrdom comes so cheap.

As an Egyptian poet said,

"What have we not done for our fatherland.

Some have laid down their lives, some made speeches."

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
Renault Group Executive Vice President Jose Vicente de Los Mozos, center, attends a briefing session by an unnamed Renault Samsung executive on the sidelines of a guided tour of the Korean affiliate company's manufacturing plant in Busan, the country's second-largest city, January 2019. Courtesy of Renault Samsung



By Kim Yoo-chul



As negotiations between the Renault Samsung Motors union and management over wage-related issues stalled, a senior Renault Group executive asked its Korean affiliate to explore ways to improve productivity.



Such a warning, which are interpreted by many as rare, came as Renault Samsung is currently being operated under its "survival plan" protocol with the central focus on cutting fixed costs and improving profits amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Renault Samsung workers' union approved a plan recently to go on strike.



Last year, Renault Samsung Motors vowed to improve productivity at its key plant in Busan, the country's second-largest city, as a condition to wining some production of the XM3 SUV headed for European markets. Renault Group allowed the plant to produce large number of the XM3 for overseas sales in September.



"But Renault Samsung didn't stick to this as of the end of 2020 because the manufacturing costs per XM3 at the Busan plant are twice that of the Captur SUV's cost-per-unit at (Renault's) Spain plant," Jose Vicente de Los Mozos, Renault Group's executive vice president who is also in charge of the group's supply chain, said in a video message delivered to workers at the Busan plant. The plant is the only manufacturing facility operated by Renault in Korea.



"This clearly shows the Busan plant lags far behind (Renault's other plants). The problems should be tackled immediately," the message read. Due to longer distances, vehicles manufactured at the plant have high logistics costs, resulting in consumers having to pay more, he said.



The executive added he will come up with new plans if promises aren't met, though he declined to elaborate. Renault's Korean affiliate earlier said it plans to cut the number of executives by 30 percent to 40 percent and their pay by 20 percent. Additionally, it also initiated a voluntary retirement program as part of restructuring, a step the union opposes.



But when it comes to Renault Samsung's fact sheets, it's not in good shape as the Korean unit reported an operating loss for the first time in eight years last year as sales fell 35 percent to 116,166 vehicles from 177,450 a year earlier. Exports plunged 78 percent to 20,227 from 90,591.



Hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign and domestic carmakers operating here are suffering from declining vehicle sales. SsangYong Motor is in the process of finding a new owner to avoid court receivership and General Motors Korea appears to have a bumpy road ahead.




The joint organisers of MRO Middle East & Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME), Aviation Week Network/Informa and Tarsus Group, today announced new dates for the regions premier interiors, maintenance, repair and overhaul exhibition, that will now take place on June 15 and 16, 2021 at DWTC, Dubai.

The exhibition, initially planned for March this year, was postponed to take into consideration the health and safety of exhibitors and visitors, as well as travel restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic impacting the international attendees.

We remain committed to the stakeholders, exhibitors and visitors while prioritising everyones wellbeing, said Tim Hawes, Managing Director of Tarsus Aerospace. We have been continually monitoring the developments on travel restrictions from governments around the world in recent weeks. After very careful consideration of the situation and taking into account invaluable feedback from our exhibitors and stakeholders we believe the decision to move the exhibition is in the best interests of the health and safety of our exhibitors, visitors, contractors and staff.

After a recent hiatus in industry events and the significant impact on the commercial aviation industry from the Covid-19 pandemic, the exhibition will provide an important platform for recovery, allowing for the community to discuss solutions to the new challenges we face, share new industry trends and well as showcase the latest technologies, said Lydia Janow, Managing Director/Events at Aviation Week Network.

By attending MRO Middle East & Aircraft Interiors Middle East, organisations will have the chance to display their latest products and services to airlines, MROs, OEMs, lessors, suppliers and aircraft interior specialists.

With the increased vaccination schedules implemented in key markets and the strength of Dubais recovery, we believe that moving the exhibition to June 2021 will allow us to deliver a quality event for everyone, added Hawes.

The upcoming editions of MRO Middle East & AIME will host engaging features including access to hours of free show floor content. The 2021 event will include seminars, workshops and product demonstrations along with a pre-arranged meetings programme to facilitate connections and networking between visitors and exhibitors. In addition, the Airline Buyers Programme will allow attendees to meet and network with regional and global airlines. - TradeArabia News Service
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9)  The Supreme Court on Tuesday junked the petition of two Aetas to intervene in the legal challenge against the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said the high court "unanimously denied" the petition of Japer Gurung and Junior Ramos, who are the first publicly known individuals to be charged under the anti-terrorism law.

Peralta made this announcement during the second day of the oral arguments on the controversial law after Solicitor General Jose Calida said the Aetas were withdrawing their petition. Calida said the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Public Attorney's Office are now the new counsel for the Aetas, who were previously represented by the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers.

Calida said Gurung and Ramos were forced to sign the petition against the Anti-Terrorism Act, citing video clips and affidavits he submitted to the Supreme Court.

"Aming inuurong ang petition for intervention na aming napirmahan sa kadahilanang hindi bukal sa aming puso at kapasyahan ang pagpirma," Calida quoted the documents.

[Translation: We are withdrawing the petition for intervention that we signed because we did not sign it out of our own will.]

Calida's manifestation was cut short after Peralta said the Aetas' petition was junked anyway, prompting the resumption of interpellation on petitions seeking to junk the Anti-Terrorism Act. Peralta, however, did not elaborate why the Aetas' petition was dismissed.

In a statement, the NUPL said Gurung and Ramos, who both could not read or write, willingly affixed their thumbmarks to the documents "after the Anti-Terrorism Act, the pending petitions before the Supreme Court, and the final draft Petition in Intervention were discussed to them patiently."

"In fact, it was a long and tedious process that is why the Petition-in-Intervention was only filed in the morning of the Oral arguments on February 2, 2021," the NUPL said. It added that a representative from the notary public also asked them if the document was explained to them before notarizing it.

The lawyers' group also scored the NCIP and PAO for not disclosing their "intercession."

It said it will wait for a copy of the Supreme Court resolution denying the Aetas' petition so NUPL lawyers could address it, along with the government's allegations.

During last week's oral arguments, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said the petition could be the "actual case" that would warrant the high court to take action on the Anti-Terrorism Act.

It became even more controversial after Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, chief of the Southern Luzon Command and spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, attacked on social media one of the justice beat reporters who wrote about the Aetas' petition. He warned Inquirer.net's Tetch Torres-Tupas could be held liable under the law for "aiding the terrorists by spreading lies." Groups pushed back against Parlade's threat, which the military vowed to investigate.

Thirty-seven sets of petitions are urging the Supreme Court to declare the law unconstitutional, arguing mainly that its provisions are vague and overly broad, violating the Bill of Rights.

READ: Anti-terror law oral arguments: Govt critics not silenced but theres pause, hesitation

The oral arguments will resume on February 16, when Calida and other government lawyers are expected to defend the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The Chief Justice, meanwhile, reminded parties they should refrain from discussing the case in public pending the resolution of the petitions. "Please refrain. We do not like that we'll use our coercive power in disciplining lawyers."
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.

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Armenian-made loitering munitions are undergoing state testing and will then pass a combat test, followed by serial production, Minister of High Tech Industry Hakob Arshakyan said at a news conference.

Arshakyan reminded that the government has recognized the defense industry as a priority.

Speaking about artillery equipment and the capacity of manufacturing ammunitions, he said: The possibilities that were created, will be able to fully meet our domestic military demand in Armenia already this year. I am referring to artillery measures, mortars, grenade launchers and other directions. Rather serious investments were made in Armenia. And in this regard we already have an industrial process and the opportunity for expanding it in 2021.

Arshakyan said there were dozens of funded projects for the development of combat and recon UAVs as part of scientific-research programs. A part of them are now reaching their logical completion. We are already achieving industrial capabilities in terms of both strike and reconnaissance drones. Reconnaissance UAVs that are not lagging behind parameter-wise from similar drones can already be manufactured in Armenia, he said, adding that these Armenian-made drones have been widely used by the Armenian military in the Artsakh war.

He said the loitering munitions are successfully passing the state testing in some cases and the process will be followed by military tests.

Arshakyan said Armenian-developed radar technologies used in air defense equipment have also been successfully used. In this direction we will continue funding  radar systems, communication systems, optical and surveillance, laser systems. In terms of optical surveillance systems we also have rather serious developments, and already industrial capacity, soon we will expand this and greater opportunities will be created both in terms of our military supplies and exports, he said.

In 2017, the government allocated 1,6 billion drams to the defense industry. In 2018 allocations grew to 2,4 billion, then to 3,8 billion in 2019. In 2020, the funding was 3,3 billion, plus an additional 3,4 billion as the war began. In 2021 a 4,6 billion funding is planned.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Credit: Nagoya Institute of Technology

A lot of our medicines and other bioactive drugs are based on chemical structures called enantiomersmolecules that are mirror images of each other and are non-superimposable. Notable among them are chiral N,N-acetals contained in diuretic drugs like bendroflumethiazide and thiabutazide, used to treat high blood pressure and edema. Because an enantiomer and its mirror image version often have different biological activities, with only one of them having pharmacological utility, an enantioselective or asymmetric synthesis yielding the desired enantiomer in greater amounts is highly desirable.

In the case of N,N-acetals, several studies have demonstrated their enantioselective preparation from aldehydes, aldimines, or enamines. However, in all these cases, their reaction partner has been limited to aldehyde or imines. While ketones have been employed, with instances of successful enantioselective N,N-acetal synthesis, their usein generalis not considered effective.

In a recent study published in Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis, scientists from Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech) and Osaka University in Japan explored this situation with an enantioselective synthesis of chiral N,N-acetals from -dicarbonyl compoundscompounds with two carbonyl (ketone) groups on the -carbonin presence of chiral imidazoline phosphoric acid catalysts, and obtained yields as high as 99% with a maximum enantiopurity of 96%.

"Our study presents the first highly stereoselective formation of chiral N,N-acetals from -ketoesters using an original catalyst that can be used for other stereoselective synthetic reactions as well," says Prof. Shuichi Nakamura from NITech, who led the study.

The scientists began by examining the reaction of 2-aminobenzamide with various -ketoesters in presence of different catalysts. The -ketoesters differed from one another in the nature of the functional group attached to the -carbon, while the catalysts chosen were bis(imidazoline)-phosphoric acid with different substituents attached to the nitrogen in the imidazoline ring, mono-imidazoline-phosphoric acid, and two commercial chiral phosphoric acids. Among these various combinations, scientists found the best yield (99%) and enantiopurity (92%) in the case of -ketoester with benzhydryl group and a bis(imidazoline)-phosphoric acid catalyst with 1-naphthalenesulfonyl group.

Scientists next examined the reaction of various aminobenzamides (bearing either an electron-donating methyl group or electron-withdrawing fluoro, chloro, and bromo groups) with different -ketoesters (containing the same benzhydryl group but different functional groups in place of an earlier phenyl group) keeping the same bis(imidazoline)-phosphoric acid catalyst with 1-naphthalenesulfonyl group. All the combinations showed good yield (77-95%) along with high enantioselectivity (82-96%).

In addition, the team looked at the enantioselective synthesis of N,N-acetals via the reaction of N-benzyl isatin (a cyclic -ketoamide), benzil (an acyclic diketone), and benzaldehyde with 2-aminobenzamide for the same catalyst. All three reactions yielded products with high enantiopurity (91-93%).

The team also proposed a possible mechanism for the N,N-acetal formation reaction corresponding to the best yield (99%), involving a ketimine intermediate with an amide group that helps avoid steric repulsion between the phenyl group on imidazoline, enabling the formation of an (R)-isomer with high enantiopurity.

While the mechanism is still speculative and requires further investigation, scientists are excited about the potential implications of the experimental results. "Our new method will enable the synthesis of candidate pharmaceutical drugs that are currently difficult to synthesize, and can even potentially help create and provide people with new and better medicines in the future," concludes Prof. Nakamura.

Now, those are some promising consequences to look forward to!

Explore further Newly designed ligands for a catalytic reaction to synthesize drugs and useful compounds

More information: Shuichi Nakamura et al, Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of N , N Acetals from Dicarbonyl Compounds Using Chiral ImidazolinePhosphoric Acid Catalysts, Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis (2020). Shuichi Nakamura et al, Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of N , N Acetals from Dicarbonyl Compounds Using Chiral ImidazolinePhosphoric Acid Catalysts,(2020). DOI: 10.1002/adsc.202001128
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An Ile-Tuntun Customary Court in Ibadan on Tuesday dissolved a 14-year-old marriage between a hairdresser, Morufat Erioye, and her husband, Ahmed, on the grounds that the man was addicted to alcohol.

In her petition, Ms Erioye also accused her husband of infidelity.

Delivering judgment, the president of the court, Henry Agbaje, said he dissolved the marriage for peace to reign.

Mr Agbaje awarded custody of the two children to Ms Erioye and ordered Mr Ahmed to pay N10,000 monthly as child support.

The arbitrator also ordered Mr Ahmed to be responsible for their education.

In her petition, Ms Erioye said: Ahmed told me that he had stopped drinking but I caught him drinking on many occasions.

He beats me whenever he is drunk. He also sleeps with all sorts of women. Ahmed is an irresponsible husband and father.

In his defence, Mr Ahmed opposed the suit and prayed the court to dismiss his wifes argument for lacking in substance.

She wants to leave me because I am in a tight financial situation presently. Due to the current economic situation in Nigeria, I cant perform my responsibilities as a father and a husband.

She has set a high standard for herself. She is comparing me with those bad friends she keeps, he said.

He accused Mr Erioye of hanging out late, with her friends.

(NAN)
According to the Education Act, schools in the ethnically divided Bosnia and Herzegovina must teach students "democratic ideals in a multicultural society." But according to new research from the University of Copenhagen, the opposite happens: Segregated schools perpetuate ethnic divisions between Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks, making reconciliation after the 1992-1995 wars extremely difficult.

25 years ago, the warring factions in the war in former Yugoslavia signed a peace agreement. Bosnia and Herzegovina, where 100,000 people lost their lives during the war, is now an independent state comprising the Bosnian-Croatian Federation and the Republika Srpska. It is a division that reflects the three groups in the country: The Muslim Bosniaks, the Catholic Croats and the Orthodox Serbs.

The ethnic division of the country is also seen in the education system, where no less than thirteen ministries of education are responsible for teaching in local Serbian, Croatian and Bosniak counties.

"The education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina is an example of how even the best intentions can lead to bad results: In the Education Act, which was drafted on the initiative of the international community, emphasis is placed on promoting students' democratic education in a multicultural society. In principle, this is what all parties have agreed on, says PhD Selma Bukovica Gundersen, who has just defended her PhD dissertation on the history classes in Bosnia and Herzegovina's schools." She continues:

"In practice, this is just not what happens because when the new constitution was written in 1995, the international community also wanted to ensure that children could be taught in their own language. This had the unintended consequence that the previous nationwide education system was replaced with an ethnically segregated system with curricula and textbooks in the now three official languages - which is basically one and the same language. This means, for example, that the pupils are presented with three fundamentally different versions of the war 1992-1995 in their history classes, depending on whether they attend a Croatian, Serbian or Bosniak school. In this way, the schools perpetuate ethnic and religious differences rather than prepare the ground for dialogue about the difficult and sensitive past."

The children are left alone with difficult thoughts

In connection with her dissertation, Selma Bukovica Gundersen interviewed history teachers and the other key actors in school governance, observed history classes and read a large number of documents such as curricula, history books and educational legislation. Finally, she collected and analysed 103 essays written by schoolchildren who were trying to come to grips with their identity and their knowledge of the war 1992-1995:

"The structure of the education system and the teaching materials, which are tailored to suit specific ethnic groups, mean that children primarily identify themselves with their own group, because there is no shared identity they can choose, even if they wanted to. The schools thus sustain a 'discourse of impossibility'- that is, the notion that co-existence across ethnic and religious divides is impossible. And it is clear from the essays that many children are very alone with difficult thoughts about war, grief, identity and belonging, and these are either addressed in a very one-sided fashion at school or not at all," says Selma Bukovica Gundersen and elaborates:

"The newly elected mayor in Banja Luka, which is the capital of the Serbian part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a young man who is perceived as the man of the future, a man with the potential to create change. He is only 27 years old and belongs to the generation I have written about in my dissertation - the generation that has no personal recollection of the war 1992-1995 but has grown up in a divided country. He does not recognise the genocide in Srebrenica or The Hague trials, and he can therefore be said to be a product of the segregated schools that reproduce the ethnonational narratives of the past. The same separation policy that was practised in the late 1980's and early 1990's, when World War II was the contentious subject."

History teachers are under pressure

According to Selma Bukovica Gundersen, the lack of political will in local school districts to handle the memory of the war 1992-1995 in constructive ways challenges teachers when communicating the controversial topic in their classrooms.

"Many teachers try to avoid dealing with the topic in their classes, but also acknowledge that this is hardly a viable or future-proof solution. Other teachers try to navigate between the local demands for rigorous ethnonational communication of history and the national and international demands for diversity and democratic dialogue. This is obviously not easy, and they feel under a lot of pressure," explains Selma Bukovica Gundersen and concludes:

"In my view, it is absolutely crucial that the education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina is capable of introducing future generations to the causes and consequences of the war 1992-1995, but without becoming a tool for narrow religious and ethnic identities, which, unfortunately, is the case now. If the idea is that future generations should be able to unite the divided country, you need to agree on a common language for the past across ethnic boundaries and establish a narrative that subsequent generations can be taught. We must ask ourselves how long a state can survive on the basis of a purely formal and administrative link between the state and its citizens, but without a common understanding of or interpretation of history?"

According to Selma Bukovica Gundersen, the theme of the dissertation is, however, in no way unique to Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is not only important in a post-war society, but in all societies, which must deal with ethnic and religious diversity - in other words, challenges of creating a democracy that includes more cultures, and where more ethnic groups and cultures must be able to coexist peacefully.

###

Read Selma Bukovica Gundersen's dissertation History Teaching as an Arena of Conflicting Memories. The Uses of History, Language and Religion for Ethnic Segregation and the Construction of a 'Discourse of Impossibility' in Post-Dayton Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Denis Walsh (23) left his family home in March 1996 and was only formally identified last week.

The family of a missing man who were unaware his body had been discovered 25 years ago are angry his remains were not identified sooner.

Twenty-three year old Denis Walshs body was discovered on the shore at Inis Mor, off Galway Bay, on April 7, 1996, almost four weeks after he was declared a missing person in Limerick.

Gardai informed Mr Walshs parents for the first time last Friday that the remains belonged to their son.

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Paul Walsh, a brother of the deceased, said they have unanswered questions about why his brothers remains were not identified sooner. The family said they had yet to be told if dental checks were carried out on Deniss remains.

Garda appealed for information in May 1996 and yet no one in Galway connected the dots, he said.

"Its like someone handed in a purse to gardai and they waited for someone to come and claim it, thats how I feel. Look, none of this is going to bring Denis back, but it could have saved us an awful lot of pain.

It emerged yesterday that Mr Walshs body was buried in a communal grave at Bohermore Cemetery in Galway in 2014.

Gardai said the remains were taken to the mortuary at University Hospital Galway and samples were taken and forwarded to the Forensic Science laboratory in Dublin in the hope the remains could be identified.

A post mortem was also conducted on the remains, the results of which have been sought by Mr Walshs family.

There are two Garda divisions involved in the case; the Limerick Division which was investigating a missing persons case, and the Galway Division which was investigating the discovery of unidentified remains on Inis Mor.

Gardai said the remains were finally identified because of advances in DNA profiling methods.

Forensic Science Ireland has recently brought about resolutions to a number of outstanding and historic cases involving missing people and unidentified remains by employing new DNA testing.

However Paul Walsh said: We are very angry about the first few months, particularly that there was a report of a missing person in Limerick in March 1996, and in April, some 60 miles away, there was a body found. Both were males, both 6 ft etc.

"Some might say (the remains) might have been decomposed, but it was less than a month.

My mother and father went to Galway on the 12th of May (1996), they remember the date, because it was the day of the National Hurling League Final in Limerick, and Dad remembers it because he was asked was he at the match. They went into garda stations in Galway, they had flyers all over Galway and North Clare.

On May 13, 1996, gardaI attached to Mayorstone Park in Limerick made an appeal on the RTE Crimeline television programme for information on Denis Walshs whereabouts.

According to a report on the Garda website, a security manager working at the Seacat Ferry in Belfast who was watching the programme, contacted gardaI and informed them he thought he recognised Denis from a photograph used in the appeal as a man who had spent a day waiting for a ferry to the Isle of Man.

When the security manager checked the next day, a ticket in the name of Walsh had been cashed in, unused, gardai stated.

The Walsh family want Deniss remains to be exhumed so he can be laid to rest in his native Limerick.

Today, in response to further questions about the matter, a garda spokeswoman confirmed the body of Denis Walsh was retained at the Mortuary, University Hospital Galway until burial.

The burial of Denis Walsh, in a County Council graveyard, was arranged by University Hospital Galway following consultation with the Coroner.

The spokeswoman also confirmed that gardai do not suspect foul play in the death.

This case was recorded and investigated as a missing persons case, and the case is now closed. The family will be continue to be supported by the family liaison officer, she said.

Galway City and County Councils, the offices of local coroners, and University Hospital Galway, have been asked for comment.

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Children in Amber Alert found safe near Mitchell

The missing children were recovered and are safe, according to the Davison County Sheriff's Office.
Agence France-Presse

Bitcoin hit a record-high near $45,000 on Monday after Elon Musk's electric carmaker Tesla invested $1.5 billion in the digital currency. Bitcoin hit $44,795.20 around 1325 GMT, before cooling slightly to $44,207.95. The cryptocurrency is up by around 50 percent since the start of the year. "This is probably one of the biggest developments for the cryptocurrency industry," noted Fawad Razaqzada, analyst at ThinkMarkets.

"Tesla is going to be a major player in the auto industry and if it starts accepting bitcoin as a form of payment, it will give the digital currency further legitimacy."

Tesla's announcement, in a US Securities and Exchange Commission document, is a sign of confidence in the cryptocurrency that regulators are concerned could be used for illegal transactions.

"As more and more companies start accepting bitcoin, this will only lead to further increases in demand in a market which is limited in supply," Razaqzada added.

"Therefore, the long-term outlook on bitcoin remains bullish even if it is starting to look quite expensive in fiat currency terms."

Tesla's move comes after CEO Musk last week changed his Twitter bio to read simply "#bitcoin".

(Also read: After GameStop, the rise of Dogecoin shows us how memes can move markets)

Just 12 years old, bitcoin has seen a meteoric rise since March, when it stood at $5,000, spurred by online payments giant PayPal saying it would enable account holders to use cryptocurrency.

A number of central banks have responded to the rise of cryptocurrencies and the dwindling global use of cash by announcing plans for bank-backed digital units.

Unregulated by any central bank, bitcoin emerged as an attractive option for investors with an appetite for the exotic  although criminals have also picked up on its under-the-radar appeal.

Debate has raged over the status of the digital asset, launched in late 2008, as to whether it should be seen as a form of money, an asset or a commodity.

After the unit  worth a handful of cents in late 2008  surpassed $1,000 for the first time in 2013, it increasingly began to attract the attention of financial institutions and has experienced wild price swings.

Tesla's move is "the kind of backing that can take bitcoin through $50,000", remarked Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com.

It nonetheless raises "questions for fund managers who may not want to invest in a company with this kind of risk on its balance sheet  we know bitcoin is very volatile", he added.
editorial

The court victory is a warning to oil companies to act more responsibly

After 13 years of legal wrangling, three Nigerian farmers last week secured justice for oil spills that polluted swathes of their land in the Niger Delta. An Appeal Court in the Netherlands ruled that the Nigerian subsidiary of the Royal Dutch Shell was liable for leaks which polluted three communities of Goi, Oruma and Ikot Ada Udo in Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States respectively. "Shell Nigeria is sentenced to compensate farmers for damages," the court held.

Helped by the Dutch arm of environment group Friends of the Earth, four farmers first lodged the complaint in 2008. The case had dragged on so long that two of the four Nigerian farmers who initiated the case have since died. While the court is yet to ascertain the amount of the cost of damages to be paid, it was nonetheless a remarkable victory, underlining the fact that people can get justice after years of devastation of their environment by major oil producers.

The judgment is also a victory for environmentalists. The Niger Delta is one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, but it is also one of the most polluted places on earth. For decades, many energy companies have been conducting large scale oil extraction in the oil-rich area. Nigeria is one of the world's major oil producers, pumping out volumes valued at billions of dollars annually. In 2018 alone, the volume was valued at some $43.6 billion. But for decades, oil spills have been damaging the environment and devastating lives and sources of livelihoods of the local inhabitants. Many of the locals live below the poverty line.

In 2011, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) submitted a report to then President Goodluck Jonathan recommending a scientific rectification of the environment in Ogoniland which is expected to take about 30 years to accomplish with an estimated take-off cost of $1billion. The three-year investigation leading to the report had come up with several revelations, including that the endemic environmental crisis in Ogoniland is as a result of the failure by Shell and other oil firms to meet the minimum requirements of their own environmental standards. While submitting the report of what happened in Ogoniland, Mr. Achim Steiner, then Executive Director of UNEP, said the study "offers a blueprint for how the oil industry and public authorities might operate more responsibly in Africa and beyond at a time of increasing production and exploration across many parts of the continent."

The much-promised environmental rectification of Ogoniland is yet to commence. Meanwhile, Shell, Eni and other corporations working in the Niger Delta have continued to argue that most oil spills are caused by sabotage and theft, an argument the court said last week was not entirely correct. The court ruled that it could not be established "beyond a reasonable doubt" that saboteurs were to blame for all the cases except one. Indeed, some spills are known to have been caused by accidents, corrosion or poor maintenance. This is a vindication of the stance by environmental groups which have been calling on the oil companies to properly clean up the spills when they occur. Perhaps that is why the court also held that the Dutch-based mother company Royal Dutch Shell and its Nigerian subsidiary must fit a leak-detection system to a pipeline that caused one of the spills.

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Friends of the Earth Netherlands director Donald Pols hailed the ruling as a victory for small communities hurt by energy giants. "Until this morning, Dutch multinationals could act with impunity in developing countries," he said. The ruling at The Hague is indeed remarkable as it confirms that multinational oil companies can be held to account for the actions of their overseas subsidiaries.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the French Development Agency (AFD) has launched a new 3.5 million Euro project to improve sustainable wildlife management and food security in the world's largest terrestrial transfrontier conservation area.

David Clode via Unsplash

Community conservancies

Southern Africa's Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, which straddles Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, each year experiences large scale migrations of megafauna, in particular elephants, where 50% of the total population of African elephants can be found. However, the area is also home to poor rural communities whose livelihoods depend on agriculture, fishing and hunting and who are not always able to meet their basic needs due, in part, to erratic rainfall and frequent droughts.Under the Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme , the new project will partner with the governments of Botswana and Namibia to address threats from unsustainable levels of wildlife hunting in some areas, habitats closure and fragmentation, which prevent animals from reaching the resources they need to survive, as well as poaching and killing of animals as a result of human-wildlife conflicts."The focus of the project is to benefit both the wildlife and ecosystems in the Transfrontier Conservation Area and the resilience of local communities that rely on them, at least in part, for food and income," said Mette Wilkie, director, forestry division, FAO.The project will focus on supporting the development of a network of community conservancies and community-based organizations that help manage community-owned land to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of local livelihoods.Namibia already has an impressive network of 86 community conservancies, which collectively cover 20% of the country and are home to nearly 230,000 people."This project aims to establish an effective network of community conservancies since they have proven to be a powerful means to combat rural poverty," said Gilles Kleitz, director of the AFD ecological transition and natural resources department. "In Namibia, for instance, conservancies contributed more than $10m in benefits such as income, employment remuneration, and in-kind, for example, meat, to conservancy members in 2018. The overall economic contributions from these benefits amounted to more than $62m, including the creation of over 5,300 jobs from conservancy related operations and enterprises."The project will be implemented with the support of technical partners such as Wild Entrust Africa in Botswana and the World Wildlife Fund in Namibia and will focus on Botswana's Khaudum -Ngamiland wildlife dispersal area as well as in Namibia's community conservancies of the Zambezi Region and around Khaudum National Park.The results of the project will contribute to the creation of policies aimed at fostering community conservancies development, sustainable hunting and wildlife conservation and enhanced institutional and legal frameworks needed to implement these policies.The Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme is already promoting a similar approach in Zambia and Zimbabwe. It also ensures a participatory and community rights-based approach across all its sites.
[February 09, 2021] SMILE Becomes the Exclusive Distributor of WSO2 Products in France

Paris, France and Mountain View, CA , Feb. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SMILE, the European leader in digital solutions and WSO2, the leader in digital transformation technology, announced today a partnership in which SMILE is now the exclusive distributor of WSO2 products in France. The distribution agreement builds on the successful partnership that the two companies have had in place since 2014. Together through this latest agreement, SMILE and WSO2 will provide French customers with open-source, business-oriented, API-driven solutions to support their digital initiatives. Business applications have been in SMILEs DNA from the very beginning. Headquartered in France, the company has built a network of international agencies with deep expertise in integrating open-source business applications across a range of digital projects. To bring a strong added-value to its clients business needs, SMILE relies on the 100% open-source products from WSO2including API management, integration, identity and access management (IAM), and open bankingwhich provide the flexibility to deploy applications and services on-premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid environments. As a distributor for WSO2, SMILE will expand on its success as the highest selling reseller of WSO2 in France. Jean-Philippe Balanca, international director of SMILE, comments: As the leading European open digital company, Smile sustains end-to-end open-source solutions for its customers, from digital interfaces to the data source, itself. At the core of IT and data architectures, we manage data with WSO2s leading API management solution, as well as IAM, fulfilling this function in an open way. Given SMILE and WSO2s long-term commitment and trust, we will simplify customers projects by offering a single point of contact for their projects, including professional services, products, integration and support. SMILE and WSO2 already work together in providing solutions to leading organizations in the French territory, such as La Poste, Credit Agricoe, Societe Generale, etc. SMILE and WSO2 will expand their collaboration in deploying a set of comprehensive products to help clients of all sizes, private or public, accelerate their digital transformation and grow their businesses.



Jonathan Marsh, vice president of strategy for WSO2, states: WSO2s advanced platform for connecting and securely publishing APIs has seen rapid adoption across France in recent years, driven primarily by the expertise of our key partner SMILE. We are excited to work more deeply with SMILE as our exclusive distributor in the region. The combination of WSO2s industry-leading products and SMILEs proven talent for building effective open-source solutions will help customers to adapt and thrive in an increasingly digital business environment. About WSO2

Founded in 2005, WSO2 enables the composable enterprise. Our open source, API-first, and decentralized approach helps developers and architects to be more productive and rapidly build digital products to meet demand. Customers choose us for our broad, integrated platform, approach to open source, and digital transformation methodology. The companys hybrid platform for developing, reusing, running, and managing integrations prevents lock-in through open source software that runs on-premises or in the cloud. With offices in Australia, Brazil, Germany, Sri Lanka, the UK, and the US, WSO2 employs over 700 engineers, consultants, and professionals worldwide. Today, hundreds of leading brands and thousands of global projects execute over 6.2 trillion transactions annually using WSO2 integration technologies. Visit https://wso2.com to learn more. Follow WSO2 on LinkedIn and Twitter .

About SMILE

We are 1700+ digital creative and doers in 7+ countries. Since we were born, our approach is based on a deep understanding of our customers market specificities, business and financial perspectives, and their expectations from now onwards to the next years. Our open-source DNA is a huge guarantee of our value proposition. We support our customers to take reliable decisions in technology that enhance their business, such as digital and e-commerce platforms, business applications, Data, embedded technologies & IoT, and Infrastructure management. We are fun and innovative, but also pragmatic and result oriented. We are SMILE, the European leader in Open-Source digital services. www.smile.eu Trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

Molly Ryner Lewis Global Communications for WSO2 molly.ryner@teamlewis.com 619-308-5238

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She recently confirmed she has moved to Dubai for a couple of months as the UK remains in it's third nationwide lockdown.

And Luisa Zissman showcased her ample assets in a revealing halterneck dress on Monday as she soaked up the sunshine in the UAE.

The former Apprentice star, 33, framed her visage with reflective heart-shaped glasses as she posed for a chic Instagram snap on the beach.

Sizzling: Luisa Zissman showcased her ample assets in a revealing halterneck dress on Monday as she soaked up the sunshine in Dubai after confirming she is now living there

Luisa styled her brunette tresses in a relaxed straight hairdo while sporting minimal make-up.

She sipped on a delightful cocktail in her photo, which she captioned: 'When life gives you lemons /melons'.

Luisa is staying overseas with her family, due to her husband Andrew Collins' work commitments.

During a Q&A on her Instagram page on Sunday, Luisa let slip that she has seen some celebrities in the country and then checked their social media, which she said suggests that they are at home.

Home is where the heart is: The former Apprentice star, 33, is staying overseas with her family for a few months, due to her husband Andrew Collins' work commitments

Luisa was asked by one of her followers: 'Have you seen any celebs in Dubai that are claiming to be 'in the UK' with the rest of us?'

She replied: 'Yes. I check their Instagrams to see if they have said and quite a few haven't.

'Each to their own. Just have to own the s**t you do and decisions you make though.'

Giving a further insight into her opinion of the reality stars and influencers who have bent the rules to jet out to the sun-soaked location, Luisa answered a question about whether she thought their behaviour was 'selfish'.

Oops! During a Q&A on her Instagram page on Sunday, Luisa let slip that she has seen some celebrities in the country and then checked their social media, which she said suggests that they are at home

She said: 'I think it's stupid to rub it in people's faces. Of course it's going to p*** people off, England is miserable, the country is a mess, the government don't know their a** from their elbow.

'People's kids are driving them mad, everyone is juggling a million things and then Betty from Love Island is showing off her perfect peachy butt in a thong bikini at a really fun beach club.

'I get it. But live and let live, most of the people moaning wish it was them...'

Elsewhere on her Stories, Luisa confirmed that she was definitely living in Dubai rather than just holidaying with her husband and daughters, Dixie, Indigo and Clementine.

Opinion: Giving a further insight into the reality stars and influencers who have bent the rules to jet out to the sun-soaked location, Luisa answered a question about whether she thought their behaviour was 'selfish'

Luisa shares her eldest daughter Dixie with ex-husband Oliver Zissman, while she later welcomed Indigo and Clementine with Andrew.

When asked about her travel plans from Dubai, Luisa said: '[They] haven't changed. We aren't on holiday so it's not really affected us.'

She was also quizzed on if she was sick of being asking her about being in the country, and said: 'Haha. A bit, it's not a hard concept to grasp is it, I'm living here for a few months then I'll be back. Very simple.'

Current rules state that Brits should only travel during lockdown if you have a 'legally permitted reason to do so'.
She recently claimed a number of influencers are 'pretending' to be home when they're actually in Dubai.

And Amy Willerton admitted she 'struggles' about which parts of herself to show the world in an honest post on Tuesday.

The model, 28, looked nothing short of sensational as she shared a photo of herself donning a white bra along with a pair of matching shorts.

Stunning: Amy Willerton looked nothing short of sensational as she shared a photo of herself donning a white bra along with a pair of matching shorts

Posing in the mirror, the former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star displayed her sun-kissed glow and washboard stomach.

Also sporting a gold necklace, Amy let her brunette locks fall loose down her shoulders for the snap.

Alongside the post, she wrote: 'As a woman I sometimes struggle to know which parts of myself to show to the world.

'Some parts I will be praised for, others condemned. Does that make me good or bad? #Human'.

'Human': The model, 28, admitted she 'struggles' about which parts of herself to show the world in an honest post on Tuesday

It comes after Amy recently claimed a number of influencers are 'pretending' to be home when they're actually in Dubai.

The star, who jetted to the United Arab Emirates last year with daughter Demelza, 12 months, said she feels sorry for those 'criticised' who have 'owned' being abroad during the pandemic.

Taking to her Instagram Stories late last month, Amy engaged in a candid Q&A session and said those deceiving fans should 'own their truth'.

'Pretending': Amy previously claimed some influencers are 'pretending' to be home when they're actually in Dubai

The model insisted that she wouldn't 'name any names' but commented on how 'sad' it is that people are 'getting praise' when they're 'completely lying' about their whereabouts.

The I'm A Celeb star was asked for her thoughts on influencers jetting to Dubai over December and January for 'work' and in the process avoiding UK's third lockdown.

To which Amy answered with: 'OK, I have a lot to say about this... some of it which I probably shouldn't say. But I'm a big believer in owning your truth so... I'm here in Dubai, I see a lot of people, who on social media, are pretending they're at home.

'The Netflix, say they're at home, I'm in it with you and they're not... they're here! Remember, smoking mirrors OK? Social media is NOT real! It's a glimpse, it's not that person's life.

'Own it': The model, who jetted to the United Arab Emirates last year with daughter Demelza, 12 months, said she feels sorry for those 'criticised' who have 'owned' being abroad (Chloe Ferry pictured in Dubai recently, there is no suggestion she's the influencer referenced)

Thoughts: The I'm A Celeb star was asked for her thoughts on influencers jetting to Dubai over December and January for 'work' amid the pandemic (Love Island's Amber Gill pictured in Dubai, there is no suggestion she's the influencer referenced)

'I guess I do feel sorry in some ways for the influencers who came over here and actually just owned the fact they were here and are receiving death threats for it...

'I think that is actually really sad when there are a lot of people getting praise when they are completely lying to you all. I'm not naming any names, I'm not like that, but I'm just saying... it's not real.'

Amy went on to admit that she understands why people are 'angry' and 'upset' over people travelling during the pandemic as everyone has 'suffered' so much.

Candid: Taking to her Instagram Stories, Amy engaged in a candid Q&A session and said those deceiving fans should 'own their truth'

She said: 'I'm here in Dubai, I see a lot of people, who on social media, are pretending they're at home. The Netflix, say their at home, I'm in it with you and they're not, they're here! Remember, smoking mirrors OK? Social media is NOT real!' (pictured with her daughter last month)

She said: 'Because people have suffered so much in this, I get why they are angry. I get why people are so upset. I know when I've had fears about things that are out of my control like death for instance, putting it out out there.

'The only comfort I find is we're all in it together, we all have to die at some point. That is my way of comforting with that I guess, it's kind of the same thing in this.

'Because it is so so awful, your comfort, I think everyone has found in all this... is the community that's formed from the suffering. Getting through each day.

'Getting through the first lockdown and we've been so lucky we're not going through that now.

Liars! 'I think that is actually really sad when there are a lot of people getting praise when they are completely lying to you all. I'm not naming any names, I'm not like that, but I'm just saying... it's not real.'

Working abroad: 'I guess I do feel sorry in some ways for the influencers who came over here and actually just owned the fact they were here and are receiving death threats for it,' she added

'I'm not going to pretend to know what everyone's going though right now, I don't, I don't, I have no idea how you're all still doing it. You're all heroes, I would have 100% rebelled by now.'

Amy added: 'This virus spreads in a way that, means a lot of people are vulnerable and a lot of people are at risk.

'We don't know enough about it to be able to just carry on life... so for now, I'm going to own the fact I'm here.

'I'm going to own the fact I'm extremely lucky and I'm going to try and enjoy each day. Because I've got the opportunity to do so which is frigging amazing.'

Abroad: Love Island's Laura Anderson has also been staying in Dubai and sharing several updates (there is no suggestion she is the influencer referenced)

Work trip: Georgia Steel, who has insisted she is on a 'work' trip, recently jetted to the Maldives after flying to Dubai, she has been sharing snaps from her trip (there is no suggestion she is the influencer referenced)

It comes after fellow reality star, Olivia Attwood recently criticised her influencer pals who said they are 'working abroad' amid the coronavirus crisis, before asking fans to stop trolling them.

In January, the Love Island star, 29, took to her Instagram Stories from her Manchester home to criticise her reality star and influencer pals, who remain in Dubai, for claiming they are 'working abroad' amid the coronavirus crisis.

Addressing the furore over her comments later in the week, Olivia insisted that she doesn't want to encourage any 'hurtful behaviour' and told any of her angry followers to instead 'unfollow' people.

Grateful: She ended her video with: 'I'm going to own the fact I'm here. 'I'm going to own the fact I'm extremely lucky and I'm going to try and enjoy each day. Because I've got the opportunity to do so which is frigging amazing.'

Olivia's video came as it was revealed that travellers returning to the UK from the UAE will have to quarantine following a 52 per cent surge in the number of COVID -19 cases there - an undoubted shock for the influencer-packed city.

Influencers' fun-filled getaways 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.

Important: It comes after fellow reality star, Olivia Attwood recently criticised her influencer pals who said they are 'working abroad' amid the coronavirus crisis, before asking fans to stop trolling them in a video from her Manchester home
(Newser)  It's called the "dark web" for a reason, and authorities in Wisconsin say a woman used it to hire a hit man. However, it wasn't police who foiled the alleged plot, but instead a trio of local journalists who were working on a story, reports the Daily Beast. The details:

Kelly Harper, 37, of Columbus has been charged with using the internet to hire someone to commit murder, federal prosecutors announced in a news release. The complaint alleges that she found a murder-for-hire site in the nether regions of the internet and communicated with someone there from October to December.

"The target needs to be killed, he is a white 5 foot 5 male, dark brown short hair, blue eyes, weighs 165 pounds," Harper allegedly wrote to a person claiming to run one such site, per the Wisconsin State Journal. She also provided the intended victim's name, address, phone number, and details about where he worked, authorities say. They didn't identify him.

story continues below

At one point, Harper displayed a screenshot of a bitcoin wallet worth more than $5,000 to show she could pay, say authorities. The FBI was later able to trace a bitcoin transaction back to Harper's IP address, reports WKOW.

The alleged plot came to light because three unnamed local journalists were working on a story about the dark web, reports the Daily Beast. They reportedly saw the messages by Harper, along with the bitcoin transfer, and alerted the intended victim. All four then informed police in Sun Prairie.

So would the alleged "hit" actually have happened? Unlikely. The New York Times reported last year that while murder-for-hire sites do indeed exist on the dark web, they tend to be scams. Not a single murder has been attributed to such a site, though Harper isn't the first person charged with trying. Authorities say she confessed when confronted and now faces up to 10 years in prison.

(An Illinois nurse was similarly charged a few years ago, and she was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty.)
A chef who has cooked for the likes of Kanye West and Anne Hathaway has a new meal on the table - flogging gold-encrusted sandwiches for 50.

Andrea Zagatti, 28, who has been a private chef for Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, has opened a high-end sandwich joint, Mr Z's Luxury Sandwiches, in Chelsea, London.

Despite boasting caviar-filled snacks costing up to 50 and pricey sandwiches on the menu, the owner has claimed that his upmarket treats are an 'affordable luxury'.

But the cheapest sarnie up for grabs costs 25, the equivalent of ten McDonald's happy meals, while the priciest delicacy is the 'millionaire' sandwich for a whopping 50.

Andrea Zagatti, 28, has opened a high-end sandwich joint, Mr Z's Luxury Sandwiches, with most expensive snack on the menu being a gold-encrusted sandwich costing 50 (above)

The luxury sandwich contains aged beef ribeye, chimichurri, chicharrones, buffalo ricotta, king oyster mushrooms which is wrapped in 24 carat edible gold.

And if that isn't extravagant enough, customers can pay another 50 to have a side of caviar with their gold-encrusted treat.

Speaking about his mouth-watering treats, Andrea said: 'I love making sandwiches for my friends, using the highest quality ingredients.

'What I am planning to do with Mr Z's Luxury sandwiches, is bring luxury to everybody.'

Other sandwiches boast elaborate names such as Da Vinci and Poseidon, which is a croissant filled with caviar, smoked salmon, labneh, whipped butter, cucumber and lettuce.

Other sandwiches boast elaborate names such as Da Vinci and Poseidon, which is a croissant filled with caviar, smoked salmon, labneh, whipped butter, cucumber and lettuce (above)

Mr Z's Luxury Sandwiches delivers the snacks to posh London neighbourhoods, including Kensington and Knightsbridge - home to Madonna, the Beckhams and Elton John.

Despite hospitality businesses struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic, Andrea has just opened his takeaway and hopes his luxury sandwiches will cheer people up.

Andrea continued: 'The reason I came up with Mr Z's luxury sandwiches is because the past 12 months have been real hell in how the hospitality industry and luxury hospitality has been doing.

'It has been really challenging for everyone in London to stay in London and not go somewhere else around the world where the situation is a bit better.

'Luxury hospitality - where I work for private clients and cater for the highest members of society - has been damaged pretty badly.'

Despite boasting caviar-filled snacks costing between 25 and 50, owner Andrea (above), who has catered for Kanye West, has said his upmarket treats are an 'affordable luxury'

Mr Z's Luxury Sandwiches (above, full menu) is based in Chelsea, London, and delivers the snacks to other posh London neighbourhoods, including Kensington and Knightsbridge

Each high-end sandwich is made by Andrea himself, who has worked in some of the most prestigious restaurants in the world and catered for celebrities.

He insisted that he wanted to deliver his quality treats for 'everybody to be able to afford' and is aiming for 'Michelin-star standard' with his sandwich joint.

He continued: 'I wanted to deliver it for everybody to be able to afford, without compromising on the quality of the ingredients and the source of the ingredients and the quality of the craftsmanship.

'I'm not saying they are Michelin-star standard, but that is the quality I am aiming for.

'I source all of the ingredients myself from trusted suppliers.

'I will personally make every single sandwich. It's going to be extremely boutique.'

Andrea said he wants to deliver his quality treats for 'everybody to be able to afford' and is aiming for 'Michelin-star standard' with his sandwich joint (above, caviar-filled sandwich)

But some Brits were stunned at the price of his gold-encrusted sandwich and other treats (above, some sandwiches on offer), hitting back at his claims that the treats were 'affordable'

But some Brits were left gobsmacked about the price of his gold-encrusted sandwich, hitting back at his claims that the treats were affordable for 'everyone'.

Taking to Twitter, food writer Jonathan Nunn said: 'I regret to inform you that a new place in Chelsea is delivering "sandwiches for the 1 per cent".'

Another wrote, '50 for a sandwich', as a third person agreed 'the 50 sandwich is chaos'.

While one outraged person commented: 'Those sandwiches are trying too hard.'

And a fifth added: 'Fair play to the sandwich shop, if they've found people who will pay 50 for a sandwich.'

One person even branded the upmarket sandwich a 'rip off', arguing that the price should not be so high just because it has '50p worth of gold leaf' on it.
press release

Rome  FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing strengthened at COFI34

The 34th session of FAO's Committee on Fisheries (COFI34) ended its week-long meeting on Friday with its Members endorsing the first-ever Declaration for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, urging stronger action to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and stressing the importance of recovering from impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Declaration outlines a global vision for fisheries and aquaculture, while highlighting the sector's essential contributions in the fight against poverty, hunger and all forms of malnutrition. This is central to efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda and make agri-food systems more inclusive, resilient and sustainable, a global concern that will be discussed at the UN Food Systems Summit, in September.

In her closing remarks on the last day of COFI34, FAO Deputy-Director General, Maria Helena Semedo, said fisheries and aquaculture were of critical importance for global agri-food systems transformation.

"We all share a common goal - the sustainable management of our valuable aquatic resources," Semedo said. "This is vital to having better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all so that, together, we can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals."

The Declaration builds upon existing international instruments aimed at promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture around the world, such as the landmark FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, recognizing successes since the endorsement of the Code and identifying new and urgent priorities.

COFI34 marked the 25th anniversary of the Code with a High-level Special Event. Since its adoption in 1995, the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries has been the main instrument for developing international agreements, guidelines and tools to ensure the effective conservation, management, utilization and production of living aquatic resources.

In 2018, global fisheries and aquaculture production (excluding aquatic plants) reached an alltime record of nearly 179 million tonnes. Overall capture fisheries, with 96.4 million tonnes represented 54 percent of the total, while aquaculture, with 82.1 million tonnes, accounted for 46 percent.

The 2020 State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) report estimates that total fish production is set to increase to 204 million tonnes in 2030, up 15 percent from 2018, with aquaculture's share growing from its current 46 percent to 53 percent. Aquaculture has been the fastest expanding food production sector globally over the last decades, growing at an average of 5.3 percent per year since the turn of the century.

FAO estimates that 34.2 percent of all marine fish stocks are fished beyond biological sustainable limits, a threefold increase since monitoring started in 1974.

IUU fishing

At COFI34, Members acknowledged the need for greater monitoring and transparency in fishing operations, and noted further efforts were needed to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Countries were urged to become a party to the FAO Agreement on Port State Measure (PSMA), considered a potent international instrument to combat IUU fishing.

During COFI34, the Russian Federation announced it was becoming a Party to the PSMA, joining another 68 FAO Members including the European Union on behalf of its Member States, which have adhered to the Agreement since its adoption in 2009. Earlier this year, the United Kingdom also agreed to become a Party to the Agreement, following its departure from the EU.

FAO confirmed that it would be further strengthening its $20 million Global Capacity Development Programme to support countries in enhancing their capacity to implement the PSMA and complementary international instruments.

COVID-19 response

COFI Members also requested that FAO supports fisherfolk communities affected by the pandemic through its COVID19 response and recovery programme .

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the fisheries and aquaculture sector through changing consumer demands, market access and logistical problems related to transportation and border restrictions.

The report The impact of COVID-19 on fisheries and aquaculture food systems, featured during the COFI34, showed that fish supply, consumption and trade revenues for 2020 are all expected to have declined due to containment restrictions, while global aquaculture production is expected to fall by some 1.3 per cent, the first fall recorded by the sector in several years.

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The report also noted that global fisheries and aquaculture could face further disruption in 2021 as lockdowns affect supply and demand across the sector.

COFI34 recognised the importance of the sustainable use of aquatic resources for biodiversity conservation. In addition, the meeting stressed the crucial need to improve data collection in the fisheries sector to support evidence-based decision making, especially in support of small-scale fishers, whose critical role will be celebrated during the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture in 2022.

FAO is working with Duke University and WorldFish, a non-profit research organization, to assess the economic, environmental and social contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security, nutrition and development at global level.

The next COFI session (COFI35) will be held from September 5-9 in 2022. The committee is the only global inter-governmental forum where FAO Members meet to consider issues and challenges facing fisheries and aquaculture.

Fisheries and aquaculture will also be discussed at the World Ocean Summit in March, as well as the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November and in the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in December.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - FOX News Media said it filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit by electronic voting company Smartmatic, stating that the complaint seeks to 'stifle debate and chill vital First Amendment activities.'



On February 4, Smartmatic said it initiated a lawsuit against Fox Corporation, seeking in excess of $2.7 billion, plus an additional amount for punitive damages, for defamation and disparagement as a result of the disinformation campaign against Smartmatic by Fox and other named defendants following the 2020 US presidential election. The complaint was filed in New York State Court in Manhattan.



Smartmatic alleged that, in November and December 2020, Fox News broadcast multiple reports stating and implying that Smartmatic had fixed and rigged the 2020 election. They repeated the false claims and accusations on air and in articles and social media postings that were together seen by millions in the US and even more around the world.



FOX News Media said Monday that it has moved to dismiss the Smartmatic lawsuit because it is meritless. If the First Amendment means anything, it means that Fox cannot be held liable for fairly reporting and commenting on competing allegations in a hotly contested and actively litigated election.



According to FOX News Media, the motion characterizes 'two separate and independent reasons,' arguing for dismissal and stating that 'Smartmatic's complaint must be dismissed, and its efforts to reject deeply rooted free-press protections must be firmly rejected.' 'Smartmatic has not identified any statement by FOX itself that could be actionable as defamation,' the filing also demonstrates that Smartmatic 'fails to allege that FOX published the challenged statements with actual malice.'



In conclusion, the motion argued that, 'The logic of Smartmatic's position would be that the press must censor all discussion of even the most newsworthy of public controversies to escape imputation of actual malice, even in the context of statements by objectively newsworthy third parties during live television interviews,' which is a blatant affront to the First Amendment.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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In conjunction with World Obesity Day Europe, the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) and The European Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ECPO) are organizing the annual European Obesity Policy Conference which will be held online on Thursday, 4 March 2021.

The need to implement an outcomes-based approach to health systems design, availability and uptake has never been so clear over the course of the past year. Health stakeholders at EU, national and regional levels are all facing the realities of how to meet the ongoing challenges of the "New Reality" whilst ensuring the longer-term resilience and sustainability of health systems.

The European Commission's inaugural Foresight Report and related process has provided a major roadmap for key challenges and opportunities. However, the question of "how can this be meaningfully achieved" remains.

Obesity is one of only two non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to have been highlighted for prioritisation within the European Commission's Foresight Report. This clearly shows the need to act on obesity as a chronic relapsing disease beyond primary prevention.

World Obesity Day Europe on 4 March 2021 provides an excellent opportunity to discuss implementation pathways and to exchange views.
Young drug users who have seen their welfare payments soar due to Covid-19 should have their Centrelink cash taken away to stop them falling into addiction and destroying the lives of innocent Australians, a federal MP is proposing.

Andrew Laming's electorate of Bowman in Brisbane's east was rocked by a drug tragedy on Australia Day when Kate Leadbetter, her boyfriend Matthew Field and their unborn child were allegedly killed by a 17-year-old intoxicated driver.

The Liberal-National MP is now pushing for reforms to the welfare system that could save lives by identifying young people who are using ice and weaning them off the drug before it's too late.

Kate Leadbetter, her boyfriend Matthew Field and their unborn child were allegedly killed by a 17-year-old drug driver on Australia Day

Family and friends with pet dogs Frankie and Django attend Matt Field and Kate Leadbetter's funeral

Ice - also known as crystal meth - is a highly addictive stimulant drug that causes dependence, psychosis and various mental and physical health problems.

Between 2010 and 2019 there was a 28 per cent increase in ice use among people who use methamphetamines.

Dr Laming, who used to be a GP before entering Parliament in 2004, wants Youth Allowance recipients who appear in court or fail to fulfill job search obligations to be tested for ice use.

If they fail a hair follicle or urine test then 80 per cent of their allowance would be quarantined on a cashless debit card to stop them spending taxpayer money on drugs.

His proposal comes after the coronavirus supplement for those on welfare boosted incomes by up to $550 a fortnight, handing each recipient an extra $7,900 between April 2020 and March this year.

'There's more money in the system, there's more liquidity available to people who are addicted,' Dr Laming told Daily Mail Australia.

'It's likely that most addicts have started using before they reach the age of receiving independent centrelink payments - but there are people that enter the cycle at 16 and potentially they could be using Commonwealth funding for their habit,' he said.

Addicts often couch surf with others in a similar situation and pool resources so they can afford to fund their habit, Dr Laming said.

However, he said the doubling of the ice street price due to the Covid-19 pandemic may have stopped users from buying more drugs than normal with their extra cash.

'There has been additional coronavirus supplement paid but also substances needed to manufacture ice can't be imported at the moment so the prices have gone through the roof.

'It's impossible to say if they've bought more drugs but I'm just noting that there's more money in the system,' he said.

The 17-year-old alleged drug driver was captured on CCTV running away from the scene

Two hearses containing the coffins of Matt Field and Kate Leadbetter are given a guard of honour by students after their funeral at Iona College in Brisbane

The MP explained that detecting drug use early was crucial to stamping out the scourge of addiction.

'For hardened drug addicts, you've already missed the boat. These interventions are about identifying as early as possible a user potentially in their first weeks of experimenting with a drug like ice,' he said.

'It's about picking them up when they end up in court for a minor matter or fail to do their mandatory job search obligations at the age of 18 or fall out of school and end up running into problems.

'Under current arrangements people can turn up to court multiple times and no-one even realises if they're addicted and that's a great tragedy. These reforms are designed at the gateway to be doing what we can to get wrap-around support involved.'

Explaining how the testing regime would work, Dr Laming said: 'The way to do it would be a hair bulb or a urine test.

'If positive then they would get some more frequent tests until we could get them clear or steer them in the right direction or deliver the wrap-around services, potentially years before the current system intervenes.'

Under current arrangements people can turn up to court multiple times and no-one even realises if they're addicted and that's a great tragedy Andrew Laming MP

The federal government tried to pass a similar law involving random drug testing of welfare recipients in 2019 - but it stalled because Labor and the Greens objected to random testing.

Dr Laming's proposal may have a better chance of passing Parliament because it involves targeted testing instead.

'This is not random drug testing of people on Newstart but absolutely if you find yourself in those two situations, unable to meet your obligations or you land yourself in court, then some of these federal policies could be expanded or implemented,' he said.

Dr Laming is hosting a forum in his electorate on Friday to discuss youth justice and ice addiction.

He said there has been 'a huge spike in interest' following the tragic deaths of Mr Field and Ms Leadbetter, who was six months pregnant.

The couple were out for a walk with their dogs when a 17-year-old - allegedly high on drugs and driving a stolen four-wheel-drive - ploughed into a truck before his car rolled and crushed them.

Security vision showed the 17-year-old sprinting down a Brisbane street away from the crash before he was arrested and charged with murder.

'We know it's a sensitive time for the community but many are now saying ''well what are we doing about it'',' Dr Laming said.

'The focus is on ice addiction because it tends to be responsible for the most aggressive of youth justice related incidents and also the most intractable and most likely to recur.'

Dr Laming acknowledged that his idea was only part of the solution because addicts have other ways to fund their habit than using taxpayers' cash.

Andrew Laming MP places flowers at the scene where the couple died

'Some of them can be driven to crime if they don't have available, sufficient money to fund their habit, so it's only a small part of the solution but a not-insignificant one,' he said.

The government has been trialling cashless debit cards that quarantine 80 per cent of welfare payments in five regions of rural Australia for the past two years.

In December the government tried to make the cards permanent in the trial sites but instead extended the test for another two years after Labor, Greens and independent senators objected.

One main reason for objecting was that giving a welfare recipient a separate card embarrasses them when they have to use it at the shops.

'You can't deny that some-one may feel shame or stigma using the card but you need to balance the community interest over that individual,' Dr Laming said.

'If you enter the welfare system for the first time you need to do it in a way that isn't contrary to community interest.'

Opponents also said the scheme denies recipients the ability to spend money at fresh fruit and vegetable markets or buy second hand goods from other people.

Dr Laming rejected this argument for young drug users, saying: 'Most 16 to 18-year-olds don't do that, it's a bit of a straw man argument and they've still got 20 per cent of their income for doing those types of things.'

But he said: 'We need to make sure they can get sufficient cash to pay for accommodation when they're couch-surfing and often not on a lease. I'm very sympathetic to those situations.'

Under the trial, a recipient can call a helpline and ask to transfer cash into their unrestricted bank account if they provide evidence of why it's needed.

The cards are on trial in Ceduna in South Australia, the East Kimberley and Goldfields regions of WA, and the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay region of Queensland.

Some 20,000 welfare recipients in the Northern Territory can also chose to move onto the card from the current Basics Card which quarantines 50 per cent of their cash and can only be used at approved shops.

A third of the card users are Indigenous, sparking claims from some Labor and Greens politicians that the scheme is racist and paternalistic.

Independent senator Rex Patrick said the government has presented no credible evidence that the card worked to reduce drug and alcohol related problems - and Dr Laming acknowledged that the trial needs to produce this data.

Senator Jaqui Lambie, who grew up in poverty, said drug users needed job services, training, medical facilities and counsellors alongside the card.
Haiti's President Jovenel Moise tried Tuesday to force out three judges who were proposed as potential interim national leader to replace him in the latest twist of the country's political crisis.

Moise says his term in office lasts until February 2022 -- but the opposition argues it should have ended last weekend, in a standoff over disputed elections.

Officials loyal to Moise claimed Sunday they had foiled an attempt to murder him and overthrow the government in a coup.

"Yvickel Dieujuste Dabrezil, Wendelle Coq Thelot and Joseph Mecene Jean-Louis, judges at the court of appeal, are retired," announced a special overnight edition of the Haitian official journal.

The decree appeared to be contrary to the constitution and Haitian law.

Jean-Louis said earlier this week he accepted the role of interim leader to oversee a transition of power from Moise's government.

The United States has until now backed Moise's stance and he appears to have retained control of the Caribbean island nation, which has a long history of instability and deep poverty worsened by natural disasters.

But in a statement on Twitter, the US embassy in Port-au-Prince said it was "deeply concerned about any actions that risk damaging Haiti's democratic institutions."

"The executive order is now being widely scrutinized to determine whether it conforms to Haiti's Constitution and laws," the statement added.

The dispute over when the president's term ends stems from Moise's original election. He was voted into office in a poll subsequently canceled after allegations of fraud, and then elected again a year later, in 2016.

amb/bgs/wat/ch
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey will discuss withdrawing its forces from Libya if other foreign troops are withdrawn first, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

Speaking at an event in Ankara, Erdogan said that Turkish armed forces personnel were deployed in Libya solely to train units loyal to the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), which is based in Tripoli.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Writing by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
CHARLES CITY, Iowa  A Mason City man charged with gun and drug crimes in Floyd County has pleaded guilty.

Jesse Paul Mugan, 31, was arrested on November 24, 2020. Authorities say he was trying to stop traffic in Nora Springs to ask for a ride and resisted arrest by biting an officer hard enough to break the skin and cause bruising. Court documents state a search of Mugan turned up a modified shotgun with a 2  inch barrel and no stock, a small baggie of methamphetamine, and numerous roaches of marijuana.

Mugan pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm, assault on law enforcement, and possession of meth. Hes been sentenced to 60 days in jail, a $430 fine, and three to five years of supervised probation.
Gov. Ned Lamonts latest executive order will end some COVID liability protections for hospitals and nursing homes.

The move, effective March 1, was hailed by groups including the AARP, but an operator of two nursing homes opposes the order, warning that it could lead to a flood of frivolous lawsuits as a time when insurance premiums are already skyrocketing.

And the Connecticut Hospital Association said it was exdtremely disappointed with the impending withdrawal of protections against civil liabilities.

The different liability standard was enacted early last year in the pandemic, when the state had scarce personal protective equipment, as well as little knowledge of the virus. Neither hospitals nor nursing homes were protected from lawsuits for negligence or malfeasance, but mistakes made by medical professionals, some of whom were coming out of retirement to help in the pandemic, were covered by the immunity.

If you remember back in March, April, May, COVID was hitting us hard, we were bringing a lot of retired folks, retired nurses and others who were there to help out in the hospitals, help out in the nursing homes, trying to keep up with something we were learning about every day, Gov. Lamont said during his Monday news briefing. At that point it was unfair, we thought, to hold people legally accountable for a situation that was so-fast-evolving.

He said that now, facilities are at acceptable capacities, and more and more people are getting vaccinated.

Lamont posted the executive order on his website during the mid-afternoon on Monday.

We held nursing homes accountable, Lamont said, detailing the shutdown of one nursing home and penalties leveled against others, while inspectors increased inspections. We thought there was too much changing, too much uncertainty in terms of what was going on in COVID back during the spring. Thats not the case in February. Its a different situation, so people should be held accountable.

Lamont said he was not aware of any COVID-related lawsuits that might have been filed.

I am very pleased Gov. Lamont has decided it is time to put nursing home residents and their families first, said Nora Duncan, State Director of AARP Connecticut. AARP Connecticut applauds the States successful efforts to prioritize nursing home residents in its vaccine roll-out and thanks Governor Lamont for his decision to repeal civil immunity for nursing homes.

She noted that the states focus on vaccinating nursing home residents has resulted in nearly all residents receiving their inoculations, as fatalities have decreased in those facilities by 70 percent.

But Paul Liistro, CEO of Vernon Manor and Manchester Manor nursing homes, said its too early in the pandemic to pull away the protections. I was very impressed when the governor showed insight and foresight in the effort to stop frivolous lawsuits, Liistro said in a phone interview Monday night. I thought he did a great job. But to lift it at all for COVID-related reasons would never be appropriate.

Liistro said that many nursing home residents of color continue to balk at vaccinations.

Liistro noted that with new strains of the coronavirus being found, no one is sure whether they can be more fatal to residents of nursing homes, where 70 percent of the states fatalities have occurred. Its obvious it was a situation of the compromised immune system and not one thing that any nursing home did, he said, stressing that the price of his liability insurance has gone up 80 percent over the last year.

Unfortunately the governor has lost his foresight and insight, and now is putting us in the jeopardy of being sued, Liistro said. He has done the wrong thing. It was originally a wise, brave decision, and then he caved.

The Connecticut Hospital Association, in a statement, said officials there are reviewing the order to understand the effects.

Hospitals and health systems have responded fearlessly and with unquestioning dedication under uncertain and changing circumstances over the twelve months since this pandemic began, said the statement issued Monday night. We continue the fight against the pandemic for the good of our communities and our patients.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
A total of 93,032 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees are living in the states of Tamil Nadu and Odisha and they may acquire Indian citizenship by registration or naturalisation after fulfilling the eligibility criteria laid down in the Citizenship Act, 1955, the Ministry of Home Affairs told Parliament on Tuesday.

The Home Ministry cited the data provided by the Tamil Nadu government's Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of non-resident Tamils.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the Lok Sabha that 58,843 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees are staying in 108 camps in Tamil Nadu while 34,135 are staying as non-camp refugees but they have registered with the local police.

Besides this, as per available information, 54 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees are staying in refugee camp at Malkangiri, Odisha.

The minister said that citizenship of India is governed by the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and rules made thereunder.

"Any foreigner including a Sri Lankan citizen may acquire Indian citizenship by registration or naturalisation after fulfilling the eligibility criteria laid down in the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the rules made thereunder."
QINGDAO, China, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SOS Limited (NYSE: SOS) (the "Company" or "SOS") announced today that it has received 5000 PCS of mining rigs ahead of schedule on Feb. 9, 2021, five days earlier than the delivery date set by the purchase agreement with the seller.

The first batch of delivery is composed of a pool of 5000 PCS of mining rigs, which can generate about BTC Hash Power 175P and ETH Hash Power 350G. If these machine operates as expected, the annual ROI (return on investment) is projected to be significant based on the current crypto price momentum. The seller also confirmed that they have enough inventories of crypto mining rigs and that they can fulfill the next two batches of shipments as scheduled. SOS Chairman Yandai Wang commented, "we have secured supply of crypto mining equipment that is expected to generate sufficient crypto hash power to allow us to promptly capture the rising cryptocurrency price."

About SOS Limited

SOS is an emerging blockchain-based and big data-driven marketing and solution provider, with a nationwide membership base of approximately 20 million in China. Recently, SOS has outlined its strategy in blockchain and cryptocurrencies, which include a series of initiatives to expand its business into cryptocurrency mining as well as cryptocurrency security and insurance. The core infrastructure of SOS' marketing data, technology and solutions to insurance and emergency rescue services is built on big date, blockchain-based technology, cloud computing, AI, satellite, and 5G network, etc. We have created a SOS cloud emergency rescue service software as a service (SaaS) platform with three major product categories: basic cloud, cooperative cloud, and information. This system provides innovative marketing solutions to clients such as insurance companies, financial institutions, medical institutions, healthcare providers, auto manufacturers, security providers, senior living assistance providers, and other service providers in the emergency rescue services industry.

SOS has obtained a national high-tech enterprise certification and the title of "big data star enterprise," awarded by Gui'an New District Government. Staying on the forefront of digital technology innovation, the Company has registered 99software copyrights and 2 patents. For more information, please visit: http://www.sosyun.com/

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," "outlook," and "project" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Such forward-looking statements include timing of the proposed transaction; the business plans, objectives, expectations and intentions of the parties;, SOS's estimated and future results of operations, business strategies, competitive position, industry environment and potential growth opportunities market acceptance of our products; the ultimate impact of the current Coronavirus pandemic, or any other health epidemic, on our business, our research programs, healthcare systems or the global economy as a whole; our intellectual property; our reliance on third party organizations; our anticipated financial and operating results, including anticipated sources of revenues; our assumptions regarding the size of the available market, benefits of our product offering, product pricing, timing of product launches; management's expectation with respect to future acquisitions; statements regarding our goals, intentions, plans and expectations, including the introduction of new products and markets; and our cash needs and financing plans and etc. These forward-looking statements reflect the current analysis of existing information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. As a result, caution must be exercised in relying on forward-looking statements. SOS may not realize its expectations, and its beliefs may not prove correct. Due to known and unknown risks, our actual results may differ materially from our expectations or projections. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact our expectations and projections can be found in our periodic filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. SOS's SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. SOS disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE SOS Limited
RTHK: Danish 'submarine murderer' gets extra jail time

Peter Madsen, serving a life sentence in Denmark for the grisly murder of a journalist aboard his homemade submarine, was sentenced Tuesday to another 21 months behind bars for a brief jailbreak last year.

The Glostrup district court convicted Madsen, 50, of "escaping from the prison where he was being held and having threatened prison staff, police officers and a motorist," Danish police said in a statement.

In October, Madsen managed to break out of the high-security Herstedvester prison in a Copenhagen suburb where he had been held since being found guilty of the 2017 murder of 30-year-old Kim Wall of Sweden.

Madsen was on the run for only six minutes before police caught up with him and a standoff ensued, but he had been preparing his escape since March or April, prosecutor Rasmus Kim Petersen told the court on Tuesday.

The convicted killer had managed to print out maps of the local area with the help of unsuspecting guards.

He also made fake weapons in the prison woodworking shop, including a phoney gun, which he used to threaten several people.

He had planned to steal several vehicles during his flight, Petersen said.

"I just wanted to play a role in society again," the hobby inventor told the judge, local media reported.

Madsen's new prison sentence could have an impact on his chances of an early release, which he can apply for in 2030.

"At that point, the prosecution's evaluation will depend largely on whether the inmate has committed another crime during his sentence. As a result, today's verdict could play a large role in his life sentence," the prosecutor said.

According to Denmark's justice ministry, Madsen's escape -- during which he threatened a total of eight people -- illustrated gaping security flaws at several prisons.

The country has since beefed up security measures at its penitentiaries and unveiled a national action plan which includes inspections at all prisons, among other things.

Madsen is now being held in another, undisclosed facility. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-02-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The police had announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information about Sidhu, who was accused of inciting protesting farmers to digress from rally routes

New Delhi: Actor Deep Sidhu, who was wanted in connection with the Red Fort incident on Republic Day, has been arrested by the Delhi Police, officials said on Tuesday.

The arrest has been made by a team of Delhi Police's Special Cell, said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell).

The police had announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to Sidhu's arrest.

On 26 January, 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. A religious flag was also hoisted.
'The Aumni team has inspired confidence in the investor community by making transaction data insights readily available at key junctures in deal and decision making.' -- Andrea Walne, general partner at Manhattan Venture Partners.

Aumni, a leader in automated investment analytics for the private capital markets, today announced an expansion of the companys product and marketing focus to address a larger subset of private capital market segments: venture capital funds, family offices, corporate venture firms, and university endowments. Aumnis evolution has been driven by its increasingly vital role as the premier data analytics provider having analyzed financing transactions of private capital investors who represent over $1 trillion in assets under management.

Aumnis significant momentum at a time of uncertainty and economic volatility has inspired us to evolve our brand, said Kelsey Chase, president and co-founder of Aumni. Aumnis combination of innovative technology and ability to cultivate a data-driven mindset empowers our investor clients to cut through the noise and elevate their data strategy. Our rebrand reflects our accomplishments to date, as well as our vision to advance data analytics for private capital markets in 2021 and beyond.

Since its inception in 2018, Aumni has been addressing a major challenge in the private capital industry: unstructured data. Transaction data is buried in dense legal agreements and its extraction has traditionally required time-consuming, manual processes that are prone to critical errors. Aumni has developed a unique method for automatically extracting, organizing, and analyzing transaction data. The companys proprietary engine, AumniSphere, provides near real-time analysis of granular financial and legal data within just a few clicks. Aumni uses a process that combines artificial intelligence (A.I.) and human expertise to reduce errors as well as regularly refine data models. This approach allows Aumni to rapidly deliver accurate investment insights for investors in the private capital space, a major innovation in the market.

What Aumni has accomplished, especially in current market conditions, is remarkable, said Andrea Walne, general partner at Manhattan Venture Partners. The Aumni team has inspired confidence in the investor community by making transaction data insights readily available at key junctures in deal and decision making. We are excited to see what they can achieve in the coming years as their solutions address the data needs of private capital.

To best align with this broader vision, Aumnis rebrand includes a complete redesign of the companys website, logo, graphics, iconography and marketing materials. The main visual element accompanying Aumnis rebrand utilizes a motif based on circles, which conveys completeness. The new logo is flat and lowercase with a blue dot above the i.

Were very happy with our new brand direction," said Pawan Murthy, head of marketing at Aumni. "The rebrand helps focus our narrative on the importance of delivering accurate and timely insights to an industry that has struggled with data integrity. Our new branding provides a strong foundation for us to tell not only Aumnis story, but also the successes of our team and customers.

Aumnis data strategy solutions provide value for funds at any stage of development. Please visit http://www.aumni.fund to learn more or request a demo.

About Aumni

Aumni is an investment analytics platform for private capital markets that include venture funds, family offices, university endowments and corporate venture firms. By combining the best of A.I. and human expertise, Aumnis platform extracts and analyzes critical deal data buried in dense legal agreements. In just a few clicks, Aumni provides the most comprehensive insights related to the financial and legal position of every investment. Aumni has analyzed an unprecedented breadth and depth of private capital data representing investors with over $1 trillion in assets under management. With Aumni, investment leaders can make faster and more informed decisions in an ever-changing world. Follow Aumni on LinkedIn or Twitter.
The past helps illuminate the present, offering insight, for those who care for it, into how this crisis came about, and where it might head

The savage tide of rage broke through the great bronze gates, exploding over the cascades of gemstones, marble and gold that lined the emperors grave. Against him living they could do nothing, the not-invariably reliable memoirs of the physician Niccolao Mannuci record, they therefore reaped vengeance on his sepulchre. That which could not be looted was destroyed. The bones of Abul-Fath Jalal-ud-din Akbar, King of Kings, were dug up and set on fire. In all the centuries it had stood, no greater insult had ever been delivered to the house of Tamerlane.

For weeks now, an improbable romance has been blossoming between metropolitan liberalism and the great Jat caste-associations that have massed on New Delhis peripheries. Not long ago, the khaps were cast as enemies of liberal values; perpetrators of communal and caste savagery. The khaps allies in those battles, Hindu nationalist activists, now present them as enemies of the state.

The story of the sacking of Akbars mausoleum at Sikandra by Rajaram Jats peasant armies in 1687 tells us that rural insurrection speaks its own, special language  a language that power, irrespective of its political colour, has long struggled to understand.

In 1574, the Balian khap had hosted a gathering of peasant khaps at Shoron, near Sisauli  both the place and the clan are the centre of gravity for the ongoing protests  to negotiate terms with the Akbar. Led by Rau Landey Rai, the massed peasants passed an eighteen-point resolution, demanding, other things, official recognition of their khaps, religious freedoms, and, most important, the right to have taxes collected by their own, rather than royal agents. The scholar Mahesh Pradhans careful study of the remarkable Balian clan archives shows Akbar agreed.

That the Mughals, at the high-noon of their power, felt compelled to negotiate with the Balian khap tells of a remarkable transformation in the communitys status and authority, which was bought dearly, with blood.

Early-medieval chronicles show the Jats had a less-than-comfortable relationship with authority. Living along key trade routes, the clans made a living as protectors of caravans and convoysbut also predators, looting merchants, armies and the State.

A chronicle of the Arab conquest of Sindh in 710-714 lamented that the Jats possess a savage temperament, are continually rebelling and disobedient to the rulers. The Jats warred against Ahmad Shah Abdali and Mahmud of Ghazi alike. The Emperor Zahiruddin Babur , whose virtues did not evidently include an ironic sensibility, bitterly complained that the Jats and Gujjars always pour down in countless numbers from hill and plain for loot.

The transformation of Jat power, scholar Ajay Kumar has argued, was driven by the rise of the Delhi Sultanate, in particular Muhammad bin Tughlaqs investments in canals and the turab, or irrigation wheel. From being a pastoralist, tribal society, the Jats became the dominant landholding force in the feudal rural order.

From the mid-1660s, we know from RP Ranas superb work on the rise of Jat power, the happy arrangements arrived with the Shoron khap began to break down. Fed up with the efforts of the Mughal state to expand its revenues under Muhiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb, a surge in banditry began around 1664, involving not only Jats but Ahirs and Gujjars. In 1669, an insurrection led by Gokula Jat of Talpat, near Mathura, had to be bloodily put down.

Evidence that trolls arent an invention of our digital age litters court archives from the period: Mughal officials liberally abused peasant chors [thieves], fasadis [rioters] and haramzaadas [bastards].

The abuse failed to put an end to the insurrection in western Uttar Pradesh. Led by Raja Ram Jat, peasant armies put together by local landowners waged a successful campaign against Mughal power from 1681. Nawab Khan-i-jahan Bahadurs efforts to level the centre of Jat power at Sinsini collapsed, after his own lieutenants proving unwilling to fight a campaign in which they thought defeat was certain.

Aurangzeb now attempted to sub-contract the war to Maharaja Bishan Singh of Ambar. This effort, too, failed.. Though Raja Ram was eventually killed, his successor Churaman Jat successfully expanded Jat power and authority, using guerrilla tactics to effect. Even though the Jat citadel at Sinsini temporarily fell in 1690, the insurrection simply shifted ground into Mewat and the Doab.

When Prince Bedar Bakht was carrying Jorawar Jat, who had been arrested at Sinsini, to the Deccan, Rana records, a strong force of 500 Jats attacked qasba Maujpur in retaliation. The Jats attacked qasba Pilgawa, plundered the bazaar, and imprisoned 700 mahajans [traders] from there. They also arrested Mir Fazil, the imperial karkori from his office. Subsequently, the Jats made raids on the townships of Nogaon, Ferozepur, Kama and Pahari.

Even though early twentieth-century historians sought to read religious nationalism into these events, the story doesnt quite fit that mould. Churaman enthusiastically sided with the Mughal campaign against Banda Singh Bahadurs rebellion, seeking to crush his army of tenant-farmers and artisans who were demanding land redistribution. Raja Suraj Mal  eulogised in last century by historian Kalika Ranjan Qanungo as the Jat Ulysses for his resistance against the Mughalsfamously broke with the Maratha Sadashivrao Bhau at the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761.

The landlord elite who fought both Maratha and Mughal power had one, single concern: to protect their caste and clan, and with it their own power. Through tactical genius and tenacitylaced with occasional treacherythey succeeded in establishing fiefdoms that survived to the coming of British Imperial power, and beyond.

Fifty years ago, the historian EP Thompson published work that revolutionised scholarly understanding of peasant protests and violence. The landscape the peasant operates in, Thompson observed, was grounded upon a consistent traditional view of social norms and obligations, of the proper economic functions of several parties within the community, which, taken together, can be said to constitute the moral economy of the poor. An outrage to these moral assumptions, quite as much as actual deprivation, was the usual occasion for direct action.

The crisis that drives the farmer protests, likely, is not only about laws, any more than the long insurrection which began in 1664 was simply the result of a broken agreement. Instead, the protests are likely shaped by a sense that the power and influence of castes and clans long dominant in the countryside is at threat. The erosion of gains made during the Green Revolution; indebtedness; the fragmentation of land; unemployment; diminishing political power: each of these has helped feed and inform events.

The murderous caste riots of 2016, documented in granular detail by the former Director-General of Police Prakash Singh, and the increasingly brutal policing of caste boundaries by khaps, speak of fear and insecurity. From the point of view of Jat leaders, the terms of the communitys engagement with the world is changing in existentially-threatening ways.

In retrospect, its possible to date this crisis to 1988, when Jat farmers gathered led by Mahendra Singh Tikait staged a remarkable protest in New Delhi. The protests appeared to succeed, but politics delivered the Jats a succession of blows in following decades. The implementation of the Mandal Commission Report empowered competing caste groupings; Uttar Pradeshs Muslims allied with Yadavs, the Jats competitors for political influence.

Every single society transitioning into industrial capitalism has faced similar crisis, from England in the 18th century, to Mao Zedongs China. Transformation, inexorably, involves the tearing up and remaking of the social structure. Aurangzebs efforts to enhance revenue and expand the influence of the State, though, also teach us that change can have unanticipated consequences, and is not without peril.

History teaches, but it has no pupils, Antonio Gramsci wryly observed in 1921. Illusion is the most tenacious weed in the collective consciousness.

Learning lessons from the past is, of course, a fraught business. The peasant rebellions of medieval India are not a mirror of the farmer protests that have broken out in western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. Yet, there the past helps illuminate the present, offering insight, for those who care for it, into how this crisis came about, and where it might head.
Mumbai, Feb 9 : Tamil film icon and politician Kamal Haasan has mourned the death of Oscar-winning screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere, and says he will always miss his young friend.

Carriere, the French screenwriter and novelist, passed away on Monday at his home in Paris. He died of natural causes.

Haasan took to Twitter on Monday to condole his death.

"Jean Claude Carriere, An internationally reputed French Novelist and screenplay writer stepped into his 90th year recently and stepped out of life today. I will miss my young friend always. Our mutual love and our works will live on," he wrote.

Carriere won an Oscar in 1963 for his work with Pierre Etaix on a live-action short film, and received an honorary Academy Award at the Governors Awards in 2014.

He also was Oscar-nominated for his screenplays for "The Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisie" (1972) and "That Obscure Object Of Desire" (1977), both directed and co-written by Luis Bunuel, and for "The Unbearable Lightness Of Being" (1988), shared with Philip Kaufman.

More recently, he wrote "The Salt Of Tears" (2020), directed by Philippe Garrel.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
All 77 BJP MLAs in Bengal to have central security cover

EC's booth app likely to be used in West Bengal polls to root out bogus voters, prevent duplication

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Kolkata, Feb 9: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to use its booth mobile application in a full-fledged manner during the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal to root out bogus electors, prevent duplication of voting and quickly bring out details of the polling process, an official said on Tuesday.

If introduced, West Bengal will be the first state to use the application in a full-fledged manner during an election process.

"It''s in the planning stage. Nothing has been finalised yet. We hope this will help us conduct free and fair polls," the ECI official said.

The official said that the application is connected to the central ECI server and transmits data in an encrypted manner.

"It gives information on gender-wise and age-wise polling, speed of the polling process and other election- related events," he said.

"There will encrypted QR codes on photo voters slips, which will be scanned before allowing the voter to enter the booth. The codes will be scanned for the second time before voters exercise their franchise.

Bengal govt playing politics with people: BJP leader

"The moment the voter casts his/her vote, the data will get transmitted to the ECI server, enabling the returning officer to view information on real-time voter turnout and other poll-related events," the official said.

The system will not only speed up the polling process but also ensure correct entries, he said.

"The booth application, capable of auto-detecting duplicate entries, will alert the polling official with a loud sound on his/her mobile phone," the official said.

The application was pilot launched in five polling stations in Uttar Pradesh, three in Maharashtra, Bihar and Punjab and then in 10 seats in Jharkhand in November 2019.

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly are due in April-May.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 12:07 [IST]
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While the contentious showdown between CPS and the CTU has stolen much of the thunder rumbling over school reopenings in the state, scores of Illinois schools, many of which are in economically disadvantaged communities like Joliet, Cicero and Decatur, have been closed since the arrival of the pandemic last March, and some have already announced plans to remain closed for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.
Children in Amber Alert found safe near Mitchell

The missing children were recovered and are safe, according to the Davison County Sheriff's Office.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Congress' Lok Sabha member Manish Tewari on Tuesday said that the party MPs from Punjab have decided to bring private members' Bills in Parliament to seek the repeal of three new central farm laws opposed by the farmers.

Tewari, who represents Anandpur Sahib, said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on the farm laws in the Rajya Sabha on Monday but no farmers is willing to believe him. We have no alternative, so we decided to adopt this path." The Congress MPs will meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and request him to allow discussion on the Bills submitted to the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

The Congress leader said that they will also meet the Rajya Sabha Chair on the issue.

Another Congress MP Praneet Kaur, who is the wife of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, said that they stood by their demand for the repeal of these laws.

The Punjab MPs appealed to other members of Parliament to initiate such Bills on the farm laws.

Congress MP Jasbir Singh Gill said: "Those MPs who have written their profession as agriculture should bring in private member's Bills." Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu said: "There are 203 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 64 in the Rajya Sabha who have shown agriculture as their profession. So, we appeal to them to help with these private member's Bills by coming out of partisan politics." In parliamentary history, 14 such Bills have been made into laws, Tewari said.

Modi had appealed to the farmers on Monday to end their agitation and resume talks with the Centre to resolve the issue.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
South Africa: SA puts on hold AstraZeneca rollout

South Africa has temporarily suspended the rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after new studies released last week showed that it is less effective against the mutated SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 variant, which is common in South Africa.

On 1 February, the country received its first shipment of one million Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine doses out of the 1.5 million procured from the Serum Institute of India (SII).

Last night, Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize and a panel of experts hosted a media briefing to outline new developments in South Africas COVID-19 vaccine acquisition and rollout programme.

Professor Shabir Madhi, who led the clinical trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine candidate locally, said they conducted a study using 2 000 participants, aged between 18 and 65 years.

According to research, the vaccine showed tremendous potential before the new variant began spreading.

Madhi said just 14 days after taking the first of two jabs, participants showed a 75% lesser likelihood of becoming infected with COVID-19.

However, things changed slightly when the 501Y.V2 variant, first discovered in November 2020, emerged and spread rapidly throughout the country.

Much of the antibody induced by the vaccine was not actually active against the variant circulating in South Africa, Madhi explained.

The study has since shown a substantial drop in the vaccines ability to neutralise the activity of the virus when tested in the lab.

When we analysed individuals in terms of how well the vaccine worked against the 501Y.V2 variant, there was very little difference between the vaccine group and placebo group, Madhi said.

According to the latest data, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will protect three in four people against variants from the first wave, while it protects one in four people from the new variant in the second wave.

According to one of South Africas leading COVID-19 experts, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, it is not all doom and gloom.

Karim said vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna seem to do reasonably well against the 501Y.V2 variant, even with their neutralising activity diminished.

He said Chinas Sinopharm shot also shows a small reduction in efficacy of about 1.5 fold.

However, not all is lost, with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine showing a smaller decline in efficacy against the 501Y.V2 variant, making it a plausible choice for rollout.

COVID vaccines remain effective against existing variants. The next set of vaccines will be made from the 501Y.V2 variant and so they are likely to be effective against the 501Y.V2 variant, Karim said.

Meanwhile, he said the country is expecting two kinds of vaccines, the 501Y.V2 boosters and the next generation of vaccines.

You will take the existing vaccine to give you immunity against the existing variants and then take this booster in order to give you protection from the 501Y.V2 variant.

The next-generation of vaccinations is intended to be much broader and will cover you from the current and future variants. That will take a little longer to develop, Karim said.

Karim said prudence will need to be applied in the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

We can still proceed with our rollout but we need to do it wisely by taking a stepped approach (sic).

Madhi believes that South Africa should also explore the interchangeability of vaccines, possibly using the Johnson & Johnson and Oxford-AstraZeneca together.

South Africa is very likely to, unfortunately, experience another resurgence in the next two or four months. The question we need to ask ourselves -- in the context of knowing that the COVID-19 vaccines, both the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are safe, even though there are question marks of the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine against severe disease -- is do we want to take the risk of not vaccinating high-risk groups, knowing that it may not cause harm and they might be protected against severe disease?

Madhi said it would be reckless to decide to discard all the million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which may still be useful in defending against severe disease.

He believes the country may have to reframe the target group for vaccination in the next few weeks.

Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer vaccines coming soon

According to Minister Mkhize, the country is expecting Johnson & Johnson and the Pfizer vaccines in the next coming weeks, which will be made available to healthcare workers.

Meanwhile, he said the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will remain until scientists have done further investigations.

President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Professor Glenda Gray, said the Johnson & Johnson vaccine protects against severe disease, hospitalisation and death with the current variant.

This is a vaccine that is a silver bullet We have local data now and it will be not good to wait for future vaccines. We have to start with the data that we have, Gray said.

Gray has assured the nation that government is committed to protecting healthcare workers.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-02-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Damian McCaughley was fined a total of 1,000 and ordered to pay 1,700 compensation to the victims

A Lurgan trader has been fined and ordered to pay compensation to an elderly couple he "took advantage of" by carrying out substandard work at their Belfast home.

Damian McCaughley (32), of Princess Street in Lurgan, pleaded guilty to carrying out substandard work at the property, providing false business addresses on paperwork and failing to honour a 10-year guarantee for the work.

In a case brought by the Department for the Economys Trading Standards Service (TSS), Mr McCaughley pleaded guilty to a total of four charges under The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

In June 2018, he 'cold called' the home of pensioner couple in Belfast and offered to carry out work on their home and driveway.

Mr McCaughley gave the couple a flying bearing the name 'Northern Contractors', which show the kind of work he could undertake.

The elderly couple agreed to the trader carrying out repairs to their driveway and re-plastering an external wall.

After the work was completed, the customer paid Mr McCaughley 1,700 and was given a receipt stating that the work would be covered by a 10-year guarantee.

Within days of the work being completed, however, the customer noticed that the plaster on the wall had started to crack and he rang the trader to report the problems.

Mr McCaughley came out to the house and promised to return a few days later to fix the wall, but never did.

The elderly couple wrote a complaint letter to the business address provided on the flyer, which was returned undelivered as the address was false. This prevented the complainant from pursuing any legal redress against Mr McCaughley.

The trader was on Tuesday fined a total of 1,000 and ordered to pay 1,700 compensation to the victims at Laganside Magistrates Court.

Alison Gilchrist of the Trading Standards Service said Mr McCaughley "took advantage" of the elderly couple.

"He cold called at their home, gave a false business address, did not provide cancellation rights and then completed work to a poor standard which he was unwilling to put right," she said.

Consumers should be careful and take their time before deciding to get work done to their home. Recommendation from friends and neighbours is always a better way of finding a reputable trader rather than engaging someone who calls unexpectedly to your home.

"Consumers should be wary of responding to flyers, no matter how professional they look. In many cases, they contain false information leaving the doorstep trader difficult to trace when something goes wrong."

Anyone who believes they have been a victim of a rogue doorstep trader has been urged to contact Consumerline on 0300 123 6262.
David Correia walks from federal court in New York City, on Oct 17, 2019. (Craig Ruttle/AP Photo)

Florida Man Sentenced in Giuliani-Related Fraud Case

NEW YORKA Florida businessman whose fraud-busting business was exposed as a fraud itself was sentenced Monday to a year and a day in prison in a case in which prosecutors said Rudy Giuliani was hired as a consultant to attract investors.

David Correia, 45, was sentenced remotely by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken in Manhattan.

The judge cited Correias lesser role in the fraud schemehe was charged alongside co-defendant Lev Parnasand medical issues that might make his time in prison more challenging as he granted requests for leniency. He also ordered Correia to pay back the roughly $43,000 he received illegally, as well as over $2 million in restitution.

Oetken noted that two of seven victims had urged leniency, though he said it was hard to ignore the irony of a fraud surrounding a business titled Fraud Guarantee.

In October, Correia pleaded guilty to making false statements to the Federal Election Commission and conspiring to commit wire fraud. The plea came in connection with $2.3 million raised for the company that was supposed to protect investors in businesses from becoming fraud victims.

Before the sentence was announced, Correia told Oetken hes tried to be a better father and husband since his arrest.

I feel true remorse, he said.

In court papers, Correia largely blamed his slide into criminal behavior on his association with Parnas. The Securities and Exchange Commission said when it recently filed civil charges related to the fraud that Correia lives in West Palm Beach.

Parnas has pleaded not guilty to charges related to Fraud Guarantee and other charges alleging he made illegal contributions to politicians he thought could aid his political and business interests.

The prosecution generated headlines after Parnas and another co-defendant worked with Giuliani to try to get Ukrainian officials to investigate the son of then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. Giuliani has said he knew nothing about contributions by the men. He has not been charged.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Roos had urged a sentence of about three years in prison for Correia, which was what federal sentencing guidelines suggested.

The prosecutor said Correia was essentially the closer in conversations with investors and bragged about his lavish lifestyle with at least one investor.

He wasnt some sidekick. He wasnt an assistant of Parnas. He was an equal player in a criminal scheme, Roos said.

In court papers, prosecutors noted that Correia also bragged about the involvement of Giuliani as a consultant in the company, enticing one investor who seemed thrilled at Giulianis involvement to contribute $500,000.

Prosecutors said Correia told the investor that Giuliani had agreed that his likeness could be used as the face of the company.

Giuliani, a former New York City mayor who served as ex-President Donald Trumps personal lawyer, has confirmed he was promised $500,000 to consult with the company. Prosecutors have not alleged Giuliani did anything wrong and he was only referenced in court papers and at the sentencing as Attorney-1.

Defense attorney William J. Harrington said his client had good intentions and spent thousands of hours trying to develop the business.

Hes really a good person who did wrong, Harrington said.

By Larry Neumeister
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals today said its board will meet later this week to consider buyback of its Singapore-listed foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs).

"...a meeting of the Board of Directors of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited will be held on February 12, 2021, to consider opportunistic tenders or buybacks of any part of its Singapore listed foreign currency convertible bonds, being, its USD 200 million (as on date outstanding USD 113.5 million) 2 per cent resettable onward starting equity-linked securities due June 28, 2022, issued in 2016 ("FCCBonds")...," the company said in a regulatory filing.

The operations committee, based on market opportunities and conditions, will hold meetings to consider and approve the terms and conditions of any tenders or buybacks, it added.

Meanwhile, Glenmark has received final approval from the US health regulator for Topiramate extended-release capsules, used to treat certain types of seizures.

The approved product is a generic version of Qudexy XR Capsules of Upsher-Smith Laboratories, LLC. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd has received final approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for Topiramate extended-release capsules USP in the strengths of 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg, Glenmark said in a regulatory filing.

Quoting IQVIA sales data for the 12-month period ended December 2020, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said Qudexy extended-release capsules market achieved annual sales of approximately USD 120 million.

The company's current portfolio consists of 169 products authorised for distribution in the US market and 43 abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) pending approval with the USFDA.

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NEW DELHI: A pro-Khalistan terrorist has been arrested from the Nanded district of Maharashtra. He has been identified as Sarabjit Singh Kirat. He hails from Ludhiana district of Punjab.

The man in question was arrested in a joint operation by Punjab's CID team and the Maharashtra Police. The man was arrested on Sunday but the news of his arrest was not disclosed due to the ongoing probe into the alleged anti-India activities of the pro-Khalistan activists.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Police have also arrested an alleged 'pro-Khalistan' terrorist from Lucknow in a joint operation with the Punjab Police.

The arrest was made on Monday. According to a statement by the UP Police, the accused identified as Jagdev Singh aka 'Jagga', is a resident of Punjab`s Firozpur. He was allegedly involved in pro-Khalistan activities.

He was also in touch with Khalistan terrorist Paramjeet Singh Pamma, Maltani Singh and others, police said.

The Punjab Police will take the accused with them after getting transit remand, the statement added.

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The government has placed orders for 1 crore additional doses of Covishield from Serum Institute of India and 45 lakh more doses of Covaxin from Bharat Biotech, officials of the two vaccine makers said on Tuesday. India's COVID-19 vaccination drive was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16.

Serum Institute has received another order from the government for 10 million doses of Covishield, a company official said in response to a query. The government had earlier placed a purchase order with Serum Institute of India (SII) for 1.1 crore doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield.

When asked, a Bharat Biotech spokesperson said, "The company has received a letter of comfort from the Government of India to supply another 4.5 million (or 45 lakh) doses''. The spokesperson also added that Bharat Biotech will also be exporting its COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, to Brazil and the United Arab Emirates. The company is also likely to export the vaccine to the Philippines and other South Asian countries, the spokesperson said.

The government had earlier placed an order for 55 lakh doses of Covaxin from Bharat Biotech.
by Francis Khoo Thwe

Demonstrations continue, despite junta prohibitions. Fire hydrants and rubber bullets used on demonstrators in Naypyidaw. In Yangon, two demonstrators hit by a police car. Bishops forbid priests and nuns to display and use Catholic symbols. "Shameful" directive. One nun: "We follow the social doctrine of the Church and the encyclical of Pope Francis Laudato si '".

Yangon (AsiaNews) - Throughout the country there are demonstrations against the military dictatorship and for the release of the leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Today tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Naypyidaw, the capital, and in Yangon, although the military junta had banned gatherings of more than five people since yesterday.

Police fired rubber bullets and used fire hydrants in Naypyidaw this morning. The violence of the police appears to be on the rise. According to some witnesses, two demonstrators died last night in Yangon when they were hit "on purpose" by a police car.

In the processions of these days, priests, seminarians and Catholic nuns have appeared almost everywhere, marching also asking for the end of the dictatorship and the return to government resulting from the elections.

The photo of the bishop of Mandalay raising the three finger salute was released on social media as proof that the Catholic Church fully supports the demonstrations.

In recent days, an open letter from Card. Charles Maung Bo, president of the Burmese bishops' conference, was judged by priests and faithful to be "overly neutral", asking for dialogue, without blaming the military for the coup.

Today, the Burmese bishops, headed by Card. Bo, issued some directives for priests, seminarians and nuns.

It suggests:

a) that religious personnel manifest unity with the people in the search for democracy by being "at the door" [of their homes or parishes-ed] or "inside the buildings";

b) religious personnel must not go into the streets with religious flags, with Catholic symbols or with the names of Catholic organizations;

c) the lay faithful, as free citizens of Myanmar can express their support for democracy, but without using symbols of the Catholic Church, of Pope Francis, of the nunciature, of episcopal representatives. All Catholic and faithful leaders in the world are asked to "pray that the problem of democracy in Myanmar be resolved in a peaceful way".

Some Yangon faithful have called this directive "shameful". One young woman comments: Here it is not a question of religion, or of prayer: it is a question of resistance to dictatorship and this is important for every person and for every religion. This commitment must be encouraged, albeit in a peaceful way. This message from the bishops is too late: many nuns and seminarians are involved by now.

One religious sister adds: We are with our people. Religious leaders, brothers, nuns, priests, and even the bishop of Mandalay show solidarity with the people. We will do this today and always, in the name of the Church's social doctrine, as well as for our mission and for what Pope Francis says in Laudato si '".

Another religious sister adds: "The bishops, being pastors of the people, should stand in front of everyone, not hide in the rear".
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The Golan Heights will stay forever a part of the State of Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said Tuesday in response to recent comments from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

During a CNN interview, Blinken said on Monday that if the situation in Syria were to change, the administration would look at the Donald Trump administration's controversial decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

As a practical matter, the control of the Golan in that situation I think remains of real importance to Israels security, Blinken told CNN. Legal questions are something else and over time if the situation were to change in Syria, thats something we look at, but we are nowhere near that.

Israel captured most of the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 war. The country annexed the mountainous plateau in 1981, in a move Israel defends as necessary for its security.

Look, leaving aside the legalities of that question, as a practical matter, the Golan is very important to Israels security, Blinken said, adding that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Iranian militias loyal to him pose a significant threat to Israel.

In 2019 Trump broke with decades of US policy by signing a proclamation officially recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli, in a move slammed by Syria as a blatant attack on its sovereignty. The United States became the first country, after Israel, to recognize Israels claim over the Golan Heights.

Shortly after Trumps announcement, the Israeli government rewarded the US president by naming a new settlement in the northern Golan Heights Ramat Trump, or Trump Heights.

Responding to Blinkens comments, Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the Golan will always remain a part of Israel.

With an agreement, without an agreement, we are not coming down from the Golan. It will remain a sovereign part of the State of Israel, the Jerusalem Post quoted him as saying during a visit to a health center near Nazareth.

The Golan Heights recognition was among a number of Trump administration moves seen as favoring Israel in its decades-long conflict with the Palestinians. In a decision widely condemned by US allies, Trump formally recognized Israels capital as Jerusalem in 2017, and months later, moved the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

In the final months of his presidency, the administration ended restrictions on using US taxpayer funding for scientific research projects conducted in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also announced that American citizens born in Jerusalem could begin listing Israel as their place of birth on their passports.

President Joe Biden is expected to roll back a number of Trump-era actions in the region and bring US policy on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict more in line with those of previous administrations. Although Biden plans to restore US humanitarian aid to the Palestinians and resume relations with Ramallah, the US Embassy will remain in Jerusalem.

The hard truth is we are a long way, I think, from seeing peace break out and seeing a final resolution of the problems between Israel and the Palestinians and the creation of a Palestinian state, Blinken told CNN, adding that Biden supports a two-state solution.

America's top diplomat also dismissed concerns that Biden hasnt spoken with Netanyahu since taking office. Blinken pointed out that the two leaders spoke during the transition and that he has held multiple conversations with his Israeli counterparts.

Im sure that theyll have occasion to speak in the near future, Blinken said.
Crown Resorts and its controlling shareholder billionaire James Packer have suffered a humiliating reprimand at the hands of the special inquiry by Patricia Bergin, SC, into their casino business. They have only themselves to blame.

The damning final report of the 10-month inquiry set up by the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority has found that Crown  through its subsidiary Crown Sydney Gaming  is not suitable to hold the licence for the second Sydney casino at Barangaroo.

The inquiry was set up on the back of reports by an Age/Sydney Morning Herald/60 Minutes investigation, which raised allegations that Crown engaged in money-laundering, breached gambling laws, and partnered with junket operators with links to drug traffickers, money launderers, human traffickers, and organised crime groups.

The Victorian government has fast-tracked its next major review of Crown Resorts Melbourne licence. Credit:Joe Armao

In her final report, Ms Bergin, a former NSW Supreme Court judge, described as corporate arrogance Crowns slow and grudging response to the allegations  some of which were discussed internally six years ago.
Baptist Vaccine Signup Full; Lourdes Open Today

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Paducah's two hospitals have updated their status regarding COVID vaccination appointments.As of Monday afternoon, the Purchase District Health Department said that Baptist Health Paducah's appointments have all been scheduled. Their registration started Monday morning, and vaccinations start there on Wednesday.Mercy Health Lourdes began vaccinations on Monday based on appointments set up last week. They announced their hotline will reopen Tuesday for more appointments, beginning at 9 am. Call 866-624-0366 to arrange an appointment, but remember that the schedule will fill up quickly based on high demand.Public Health Director Kent Koster encourages everyone to be patient during this process.Both hospitals are receiving 500 doses of the vaccine each week, and will eventually get 1000 per week so that the second dose can be given.
The U.S.-led air campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria often prioritized tactical, close-air support operations and bombing runs over strategic, "deep strike" missions, according to a new Rand Corp. report.

But while the aggressive effort crippled some ISIS strongholds, it did little to accelerate the caliphate's defeat in the long run, the report found.

In "The Air War Against the Islamic State: The Role of Airpower in Operation Inherent Resolve," researchers conclude that territory-limiting operations were seen as the measure of success during the escalated effort, which ran from 2014 to 2019.

Read Next: Tiny Drones Are the Biggest Threat in the Middle East Since IEDs, Top General Says

"Deep-strike operations helped stress ISIS's finances and hasten its demise but were ultimately peripheral to the overall strategy," according to the study, published Friday. "Because eliminating ISIS's protostate was paramount, territory was the key measure of success in OIR, which in turn meant that the close fight was prioritized over the deep fight."

The 500-page study used open-source data and reporting as well as interviews with officials.

The conflict was complex, waged in two countries with different authorities and rules of engagement for U.S. and coalition partners. As a result, the majority of U.S. military support came from airpower, the report states.

The report breaks the effort into three phases: degrade (2014-15), counterattack (2016-17) and defeat (2018-19), and focuses on offensive campaigns devoted to key geographic locations and timelines. For example, it breaks out how increased B-1B Lancer bomber and fighter sorties were dedicated to driving ISIS fighters out of Kobani, Syria, during the final four months of 2014.

Attack, fighter and bomber aircraft unleashed a great deal of ordnance in a six-year span. Strikes across Iraq and Syria continue to this day.

In a comparison of U.S.-led military interventions in recent decades, the air campaign against ISIS is second only to the 1990-91 Operation Desert Storm in terms of weapons dropped: 115,983 to 227,000, according to the report, though the anti-ISIS effort has run for much longer.

The study did not look at other regions, such as Libya and Afghanistan, which have seen offshoots of ISIS fighter groups.

Reclaiming Ground

Using air power to support local partners' ground forces was the primary strategy to reclaim territory, especially during the first two years of the campaign, the report found.

"Because the United States wanted a 'limited liability, limited risk' approach that also produced an enduring outcome, the United States identified Iraqi and Syrian partner ground force operations as the primary effort," it states. "This in turn meant that [close-air support, or CAS] was prioritized over strategic attack operations."

Rand notes a longstanding debate between ground force commanders and air power theorists on the use of CAS versus strategic strikes.

CAS actions, conducted via attack aircraft such as the A-10 Warthog, aim to cut off the enemy's ability to maneuver.

But air power advocates "argue that air forces are most strategically effective when their capabilities are used in strategic strikes against an enemy's centers of gravity -- that is, high-value targets that produce disproportionate effects against an adversary's military or political will to fight," the report states, adding that, while CAS is essential in any ground-heavy war, its effects "are localized and tactical."

The researchers point out that CAS alone wasn't enough.

MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft were needed to conduct overwatch for ground forces prior to and during a ground assault. They were also indispensable for deliberate targets, or those that required weeks of scrutiny and planning. As a result, the drones were overtasked.

Refueling tankers were also in demand, loitering for hours to provide gas to aircraft engaging forces below. "None of these operations would have been possible without tankers that refueled joint and coalition partner aircraft," the report says.

Slow Target Approval

Fighter aircraft such as F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-15E Strike Eagles were instrumental in the early days of the air campaign, flying a combined 1,784 combat sorties by the end of 2014.

Even with the increased pace of air operations, it was difficult to examine air power's effects during the earliest months of the war "because of the intelligence problems that impeded the development of deliberate targets," according to the report. Those targets included ISIS safe havens where the group centralized cash reserves and sources of revenue, such as oil facilities.

Critics argue that Operation Inherent Resolve was also hindered by "an excessive focus on the avoidance of collateral damage and casualties."

ISIS fighters recognized this and quickly began to modify their behavior, making it harder for U.S. and coalition forces to distinguish them from civilians, according to the report.

After that, targeting time lagged: U.S. pilots reported that the approval process for dynamic targets -- those that weren't defined during a mission's planning stages or sought out ahead of time -- routinely took "more than 30 minutes and sometimes even lasted hours" before they could strike, the report states.

"Anecdotally, we often heard that Iraqi ground forces were frustrated by the slow target-approval process and wanted coalition air strikes to be more responsive to their needs," said the researchers, adding that the views of the government of Iraq, Syrian partners and other coalition members "might have been different."

The airspace over Syria became even more contested as Russia entered the battlespace in 2015, along with Iranian-made drones.

The pace accelerated when target engagement authority was delegated to lower echelons. In 2017, then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis credited President Donald Trump for that decision.

"[Trump] delegated authority to the right level to aggressively and in a timely manner move against enemy vulnerabilities," Mattis told reporters during a briefing at the time.

While this was most effective against small, mobile targets, the results "improved battlefield outcomes," according to the report.

Another problem, according to the report, was that pilots were reluctant to engage forces other than ISIS given the U.S.' limited intervention strategy and had to be reminded they could take actions in self-defense.

Then-Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, the Combined Force Air Component Commander, had "to empower airmen and remind them that they were not only supported but required to execute this defensive mission."

In June 2017, an F/A-18E Super Hornet conducted the U.S. military's first air-to-air kill involving a manned aircraft in nearly two decades when it downed a Syrian Su-22 Fitter south of Taqbah. That same month, F-15Es shot down two armed pro-Syrian regime Shaheed-129 drones.

Lessons for the Future

The report recommends that troops brush up on "atrophied" skills, including coordinated intelligence gathering and targeting. There were many shortcomings in the deliberate target-development process, researchers said, due to a shortage of drones and lack of guidance from proper chain-of-command channels.

Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led international coalition, was under-resourced to execute both the tactical fight and the joint targeting process, the researchers found.

"After decades of flying primarily overwatch mission with little but CAS and dynamic targets since September 11, the joint community's ability and capacity to plan and develop a deliberate

strike operation in the deep areas atrophied," they wrote.

This also affected the Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, where airmen had "to build a target set from scratch."

"This meant that many practitioners lacked experience in applying these processes to real-world operations and the 'muscle memory' to rapidly execute them," according to the report.

The researchers also emphasized that pilots took defensive counterair more seriously only after they were empowered to do so. In order to better prepare airmen for a potential near-peer conflict, self-defense rules of engagement in air-to-air operations "should be stressed" before the mission begins, they wrote.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: Why the F-22 Raptor Didn't Get the Air-to-Air Kill in Syria
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A traveler takes a photo of a COVID-19 testing sign at the Tom Bradley International Terminal, in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 4, 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden Admin May Require COVID-19 Testing for Domestic Air Travel

U.S. health officials are mulling a requirement that airline passengers test negative for COVID-19 before traveling domestically, according to a Biden administration official.

The administration is engaged in an active conversation with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said during a recent interview on Axios on HBO.

What I can tell you is, its going to be guided by data, by science, by medicine, and by the input of the people who are actually going to have to carry this out, Buttigieg added.

The United States requires negative tests for all air passengers entering the country from a foreign nation. The CDC order, which went into effect on Jan. 26, requires passengers to get tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs and to present the negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

Buttigieg added during an appearance Monday on CNN that the CDC is reviewing all of its options.

What we know is that its the appropriate measure for international travel, people traveling into the U.S. given some of those considerations. You know Id say the domestic picture is very different, but you know the CDC is always evaluating what can best be done to keep Americans safe, Buttigieg said.

A man gathers his luggage after arriving at Miami International Airport on a plane from New York in Miami, Fla., on Feb. 1, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told reporters during a Feb. 8 virtual briefing that the more screening thats done in places where people are gathering, the more asymptomatic cases are detected.

And certainly, theres more gathering that happens in airports. And so, to the extent that we have available tests to be able to do testing. First and foremost, I would really encourage people to not travel. But if we are traveling, this would be yet another mitigation measure to try and decrease the spread, she said.

With regard to domestic travel, I think in the words of Dr. Walensky and the CDC, now is not the time to be traveling if at all possible, added Andy Slavitt, an adviser to the Biden administration on COVID-19.

Americans are flying domestically, but the air travel remains lower than normal amid the pandemic.

The Transportation Security Administration reported screening some 864,000 passengers on Monday, down from 2.1 million on the same date the previous year.

Some have pushed back on the proposal to require testing to fly within the country.

Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, told lawmakers during a House committee hearing last week that mandating the testing could lead to airline bankruptcies.

She also questioned why the airline industry was being singled out.

Isolating the airline industry and not doing the same thing for mass transit or doing this at grocery stores or restaurants doesnt make any sense, she told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
The Children's Institute (CI), based at the University of Cape Town (UCT), and the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) have secured a temporary victory in the fight to protect children without birth certificates from repeatedly losing their child support grants (CSGs).

On Monday, 25 January 2021, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) agreed to reinstate the CSGs for thousands of children without birth certificates, following the termination of the grants at the end of December 2020. According to the CI and the LRC, this termination plunged children and their families into destitution midway through the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to SASSA, there were about 16 000 children without birth certificates receiving CSGs in October 2020, and when the grants were terminated at the end of December, the CI and LRC stepped in to ensure that they were reinstated. Because of this, SASSA agreed to reinstate the grants in the February pay run, with backpay for January, and to keep paying the grants for the duration of the national state of disaster.

"This practice is unreasonable and unfair to children and their caregivers."

While this temporary reprieve is welcome, the CI and LRC remain concerned as the state of disaster ends on 15 February 2021, meaning that the CSGs could be terminated again at the end of the month.

"This constant termination of the CSG is unlawful as it is not authorised by the Social Assistance Act or its regulations," said Mbonisi Nyathi, a researcher at the CI.

Since 2009 SASSA has been imposing a three-month restriction on the receipt of the grants by children without birth certificates, during which an application for birth registration must be lodged with Home Affairs. If a caregiver fails to provide a birth certificate or proof of application, SASSA terminates the grant.

"Even in cases where proof of application to Home Affairs is provided to SASSA, our clients still have their grants terminated.

"This practice is unreasonable and unfair to children and their caregivers, as many are unable to apply at Home Affairs or are subjected to long waiting periods before their documents are made available," said Nyathi.

And these waiting periods have increased under the different national lockdown levels due to decreased capacity and limited types of services available at Home Affairs.

Further, children and their caregivers are unnecessarily exposed to the coronavirus each time they undertake a visit to Home Affairs to have the grants reinstated.

Numerous difficulties

Caregivers of children without birth certificates are legally entitled to apply for a social grant in terms of regulation 11(1) of the Social Assistance Act. This provision allows them to receive a grant even though they do not yet have birth certificates, which is ordinarily required at the application stage.

"While parents must register the birth of a child and ensure that the child receives a birth certificate, the reality is that many parents or caregivers are, due to circumstances outside of their control, unable to obtain birth certificates from Home Affairs," Nyathi explained.

"Most of our clients are over the age of one, which means they require a late birth registration, which involves [submitting] multiple supporting documents and an interview process."

"Many of our clients have waited for more than two years for Home Affairs to process their applications for late birth registration."

Difficulties are experienced particularly when the mother's birth was not registered and she does not have an identity document. Where the child is in the care of a grandparent or other family members due to the mother's death or unknown whereabouts, the law requires a social worker to register the child's birth.

"Many relatives struggle to receive support from social workers, and these orphaned and abandoned children remain unregistered for many years," said Paula Proudlock, a senior researcher at the CI.

Unmarried single fathers are also often unable to register their children's births as Home Affairs unlawfully denies them the right to apply for their children's registration in the absence of the mother.

Further, maternity wards will not release maternity certificates to unmarried fathers, even in cases where the child's mother has died or abandoned the family. Without this document, the father cannot register the birth unless he obtains the assistance of a social worker or the children's court.

And in rural areas caregivers often lack the financial resources to continue to travel to Home Affairs to finalise birth registrations, which tend to take several visits.

"Many of our clients have waited for more than two years for Home Affairs to process their applications for late birth registration, while others had to visit the offices on multiple occasions before being allowed to apply," said Proudlock.

Others have been unable to apply as they do not have all the required documentation, and the chances of securing documentation without assistance are slim. Even in cases where the proof of birth registration application was provided to SASSA, the CI and LRC have seen grants being terminated after three months, forcing the caregiver to reapply.

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The CI and LRC have requested SASSA to continue to support these children at least until the end of 2021 when the vaccination process will have lowered the number of infections and Home Affairs and SASSA service levels have improved.

Additional burden

The three-monthly termination of this grant during the COVID-19 pandemic places an additional burden on SASSA and Home Affairs.

"Ultimately, the CI and LRC seek to have the three-month termination practice permanently removed. The burden of obtaining documents from Home Affairs falls disproportionately on children, parents and caregivers, who are unable to control Home Affairs' internal processes or lack of response from social workers," said Proudlock.

"The system should rather place the burden on Home Affairs and [the Department of] Social Development to prioritise processing these children's birth certificates."

The CI and LRC had requested a formal response from the minister and SASSA by Friday, 29 January, with respect to the permanent removal of the three-month termination practice.

At the time of writing, a response had not been received.
EXPERTS SAY STANDARDIZED DATA ARE NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Media Contact:

Marisol Martinez,

mmart150@jhmi.edu

In the age of COVID-19, decisions that affect our day-to-day lives are influenced by analyzing numbers and data. For example, the COVID-19 positivity rate (the percentage of people who test positive for the virus out of the total number tested) influence whether or not businesses may open to the public, or, if schools should offer virtual, hybrid or in-class learning. Data are critical for strategizing, planning and implementing the policies and procedures needed to respond to the crisis and keep people safe. But what happens if different organizations are using different definitions to track the same data? Now, in a commentary published online Dec. 23, 2020, in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, J. Matthew Austin, Ph.D., M.S., and Allen Kachalia, M.D., J.D., highlight how the lack of standardized definitions for many key measures needed to manage the public health response can lead to debate, confusion and politicization of pandemic data.

During the early stages of the pandemic, Austin and Kachalia, at the Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, began to question the methods used to report the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Maryland, as cases were being reported publically by the day the test result was known -- not by the day the test was conducted. In turn, this got them thinking about how the decisions that were being made regarding how to collect and report these data could have a serious impact on how people work and live.

"This is not about a right way or a wrong way of collecting these data," says Austin, a faculty member at the Armstrong Institute and assistant professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "What we're advocating is a standardized way of collecting and analyzing data so that we can effectively manage this pandemic and future ones."

In their commentary, Austin and Kachalia propose, among other recommendations, that health care officials in the United States create a consensus task force to identify and define metrics and, over time, refine them -- based on the prevailing science and public health priorities. They believe that once metrics are standardized, public health leaders and health care organizations will be able to use the improvements in performance and outcomes to identify which strategies are best suited for future public health planning and actions.

MISSED MEDICATIONS AREN'T REASON FOR GREATER RISK OF CLOTS IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19

Media Contact:

Michael E. Newman,

mnewma25@jhmi.edu

According to recent research studies, patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are at high risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE), a potentially deadly condition in which a blood clot forms in the deep veins of the leg, groin or arm (known as a deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) and may dislodge. If that happens, the clot can travel via the bloodstream to lodge in the lungs and cause tissue damage or death from reduced oxygen (known as a pulmonary embolism, or PE). It has recently been thought that missed doses of anti-clotting drugs in patients with COVID-19 in hospital settings might contribute to increased rates of hospital-associated VTEs.

Now, a Johns Hopkins Medicine research team has provided evidence that the high hospital-associated VTE incident rate among patients with COVID-19 is not due to clot-preventing medications -- primarily anticoagulants (commonly called "blood thinners") -- being missed or not prescribed at all during treatment, as previously suspected. The findings were reported online Jan. 28, 2021, in the Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis.

In their retrospective study, the researchers looked at medical records for all 5,790 adult patients discharged from The Johns Hopkins Hospital between March 1 and May 12, 2020 -- including those who tested positively (439) or negatively (2,316) for COVID-19, or weren't tested at all (3,035). They compared the three groups for demographics, clinical characteristics, VTE outcomes, and the prescription and administration of VTE-preventive medications.

"While nonadministration of VTE prophylaxis in hospitals is known to be common, it wasn't the case for the patients with COVID-19 that we studied," says Elliott Haut, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and senior author of the study. "In fact, patients with COVID-19 were more frequently administered all doses of the preventive medications prescribed for them."

Haut says that the team suspects this finding reflects enhanced vigilance and prioritization by physicians (for prescribing) and nurses (for administering), due to the evidence that patients with COVID-19 have a higher risk for VTEs.

"Awareness of the high VTE risk in patients with COVID-19 has resulted in better administration of pharmacologic prophylaxis for these patients," says Mujan Varasteh Kia, M.P.H., a research assistant at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and study lead author.

Before the study, Haut says the research team hypothesized that decreased patient contact and limited supplies of personal protective equipment during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic might have hindered the administration of VTE prophylaxis in patients with the disease. Had the study shown that to be true, Haut explains, educating health care staff to avoid missing doses would have been a relatively simple solution.

"However, we actually learned from our study that doctors and nurses are probably doing a good job of trying to prevent VTEs in patients with COVID-19 through drug intervention," Haut says. "We believe therefore, that future research efforts should prioritize finding and implementing alternative approaches to optimizing VTE prevention in these patients."

Haut and Varasteh Kia are available for interviews.

ORGAN TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS CAN DEVELOP IMMUNITY AFTER COVID-19, DESPITE IMMUNOSUPPRESSION

Media Contact:

Michael E. Newman,

mnewma25@jhmi.edu

Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have shown that it is possible for solid organ transplant recipients who contract COVID-19 to experience a natural immune response to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease. In their study, published online Jan. 19, 2021, in the journal Transplantation, the researchers also suggest that measures used to provide short-term immunity against SARS-CoV-2 -- such as convalescent plasma (which contains antibodies from patients who have recovered from COVID-19) -- may actually reduce the natural response.

"We followed 18 transplant recipients who were taking immunosuppressive medications to prevent rejection and who developed COVID-19 post-transplant," says study co-author Dorry Segev, M.D., Ph.D., the Marjory K. and Thomas Pozefsky Professor of Surgery and Epidemiology and director of the Epidemiology Research Group in Organ Transplantation at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "Our goal was to gain a deeper understanding of the immune response in these individuals, so that clinicians will be better able to treat transplant recipients who get COVID-19, prevent their disease from becoming severe and develop vaccine protocols that fit their special needs."

The study participants, all of whom were receiving immunosuppressive medication, represented a variety of organ transplants: nine kidney, five liver, one kidney and liver, two lung and one composite tissue allograft (composed of different tissue types, such as skin, muscle, bone, bone marrow, lymph nodes, nerves and tendons). The median age was 56, 56% (10) were female, 33% (six) were Black and 11% (two) were Hispanic. COVID-19 occurred at a median of six years following transplant surgery, with 89% (16) experiencing symptoms and 72% (13) requiring hospitalization. Five patients received convalescent plasma during their hospital stay. When the participants were screened for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at a median 98 days after COVID-19 diagnosis, the researchers observed that most had antibody levels suggesting neutralizing immunity -- the ability to prevent reinfection if exposed to the virus in the future.

Transplant recipients who had more severe cases of COVID-19, the researchers say, tended to have the highest antibody levels.

Interestingly, the researchers found that transplant recipients who received convalescent plasma or intravenous immunoglobulin (to reduce the risk of a serious inflammatory response) had lower natural antibody levels against the virus and, therefore, were less likely to have immunity.

"This raises the possibility that administered antibody preparations may blunt the natural formation of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2," says Jacqueline Garonzik Wang, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and study senior author. "Larger studies will be needed to substantiate this finding, which, if proven, would be invaluable to COVID-19 vaccine protocol development for the immunocompromised."

Segev and Garonzik Wang are available for interviews.

STUDY INDICATES COVID-19 VACCINES ARE SAFE FOR ORGAN TRANSPLANT PATIENTS

Media Contact:

Michael E. Newman,

mnewma25@jhmi.edu

In what may be the first study of its kind, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have documented the reaction of nearly 200 solid organ transplant recipients to their first vaccine inoculation against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The findings, they say, provide evidence that both the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines can be safely given to this immunocompromised population.

The study was posted online Feb. 5, 2021, in the journal Transplantation.

To better understand the safety of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines for transplant patients, the researchers studied 187 transplant recipients who received an initial dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines between Dec. 16, 2020and Jan. 16, 2021. The study participants were recruited by invitation through their transplant centers or social media.

Fifty-two percent (97) were kidney transplant recipients; 19% (35) were liver; 14% (26) were heart; 9% (17) were lung; 3% (six) were kidney and pancreas; and (six) were other multi-organ recipients. The median age was 48; 69% (129) were female, 87% (163) were white; and 6% (11) were Hispanic or Latino. Vaccinations occurred at a median of six years following transplant surgery. All were receiving immunosuppression medications to prevent rejection of their transplanted organs.

Between the time of their vaccination and study participation (which consisted of completing a detailed questionnaire one week after they received the vaccine), there were no diagnoses of SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Few of the transplant recipients in the study had systemic adverse reactions, such as fever (seven, or 4%) and chills (17, or 9%), to the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines -- statistics that were similar to those seen for participants in the large, randomized clinical trials that validated the safety of the two prophylactic treatments. The majority of the transplant recipients reported local reactions, including mild pain at the site of inoculation (114, or 61%), mild redness (13, or 7%) and mild swelling (30, or 16%).

Additionally, the researchers say, organ rejection -- a common concern about vaccinating transplant recipients -- did not occur.

"We hope to further this research by exploring any unexpected safety issues with long-term follow-up studies of these patients in the future," says Jacqueline Garonzik Wang, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and study senior author.

"These insights are critical toward protecting the lives and quelling the fears of transplant recipients who might be hesitant about getting the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines," says study co-author Dorry Segev, M.D., Ph.D., the Marjory K. and Thomas Pozefsky Professor of Surgery and Epidemiology and director of the Epidemiology Research Group in Organ Transplantation at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Garonzik Wang and Segev are available for interviews.

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NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cosmetic dentist and philanthropist Dr. Michael Apa has pledged $350,000 to establish a new focus on the intersection of oral health and population health. This investment will support a new scholarship fund for 10 students who aspire to address significant research gaps in the area of oral population health.

"New York is my home and, while I have always been invested in its success, making a deeper pledge feels more important now than ever before. My energy is in giving back as a long-term investment for long term results, in a category that is close to my heart, and to a community that shares my commitment to New York," said Dr. Michael Apa, DDS. "Oral health is a critical issue, demanding deeper examination and thoughtful action. I know CUNY SPH is fit for the challenge and am proud to invest in the next generation of New York's public health professionals."

"The absence of routine and regular dental care is a root cause of many chronic diseases, and its origins can be traced back to many inequities including race, income, and education," said Ayman El-Mohandes, Dean of CUNY SPH. "Despite the pervasiveness of negative oral health among populations, no other school in New York is emphasizing this as a domain of study. Dr. Apa's vision, generosity and commitment to public health is changing that reality."

Fueling Innovation in Oral Population Health

The Dr. Michael Apa Scholarship Fund in Oral Population Health will be CUNY SPH's first named scholarship in a new domain within the school. Beginning fall 2021 and continuing in spring 2022, 10 Apa Scholars will receive full scholarship to study oral population health within one of the school's four departments to earn an MPH degree. This new pilot program will benefit from the guidance and leadership of Distinguished Professor of Epidemiology Luisa Borrell, DDS, PhD.

"The lack of focus on issues related to oral health at the population level highlights a significant gap in the education of public health and an area of need in public health practice," said Dr. Borrell. "We are elated that Dr. Apa has chosen to invest in CUNY SPH to establish this program. These students will be at the core of fighting inequities in oral healthcare, researching, and promoting new interventions to improve the oral health of communities."

"This is a novel idea and Dr. Apa's vision for integrating his passion for dentistry with the needs of populations impacted by inadequate access to oral healthcare is refreshing," said Dr. Lyndon Haviland, Chairman of the CUNY SPH Foundation Board of Directors. "New York City's communities need better dental care. Most people will not take action until there is something truly wrong, and then they go to the emergency room, putting unnecessary pressure on our healthcare system. Educating students in oral population health will address social determinants of health. This is a win for CUNY SPH students and a win for New York City."

Media Contact: Barbara Aaron, 6463649772, [email protected]

SOURCE CUNY SPH

Related Links

https://sph.cuny.edu


New Delhi:

Maharaja Harish Chandra PG College in Moradabad issued a notice banning the use of mobile phones by students in the premises.

The notice issued on Friday prohibits the use of mobile phones by students in the college premises, a move aimed at maintaining discipline in the college.

Mobile has become obstruction in studies. Use of social media & talking to girls banned to maintain discipline, said Dr. Vishesh Gupta, Principal.

Moradabad (UP): Maharaja Harish Chandra PG College issues notice banning use of mobile phones by students in the premises. pic.twitter.com/SRd4cJXXzq  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) July 14, 2017

During the month of May, the State education department has placed a ban on usage of mobile phones at various educational institutes in Himachal Pradesh.

The proposal to ban cell phones in educational institutes has been under the consideration of higher authorities for quite some time. During the recently concluded conference on "challenges in higher education" in Shimla, a senior official from the department had proposed the ban.

ALSO READ: SC may pronounce quantum of sentence against Mallya in contempt case

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Despite the upswing in the market, equity-oriented mutual fund (MF) schemes witnessed net outflows for the seventh consecutive month, in January. Net outflows  the difference between purchase and sale of MF units -- for the month stood at Rs 9,253 crore.

Since July, investors have pulled out over Rs 42,200 crore from equity schemes, even as the Sensex rallied nearly 50 per cent during this period.

While the quantum of outflows in January was lower when compared to the preceding two months, it was still greater than the seven-month average of Rs 6,000 crore, the data from Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) shows.

Market players said profit-booking following the sharp rebound in the market from March 2020 lows and direct equity investing were the key reason for the outflows.

G Pradeepkumar, chief executive officer, Union Asset Management Company (AMC), said: In the past few months, we have seen investors booking profits and moving money to short-term debt funds. But in January, that did not happen. We see a dangerous trend of people selling mutual funds and playing into the directly.





ALSO READ: IndiGo Airlines operator InterGloble settles row with Sebi, pays Rs 2.1 cr

Barring multi-cap, dividend yield, and thematic funds, all other sub-categories in the equity segment recorded outflows in January.

Large-cap funds saw outflows of Rs 2,853 crore, while value funds also witnessed outflows of Rs 1,640 crore. The new flexi-cap category also saw outflows of Rs 5,994 crore.

Last month, several MF houses recategorised their multi-cap schemes as flexi-cap, following Sebis move to tweak the definition.

Since June, the multi-cap category has been witnessing huge net outflows. In January, 16 multi-cap funds were re-categorised as flexi-cap funds. So the multi-cap outflows have now slipped over to flexi-cap, explained Himanshu Srivastava, associate director-manager research, Morningstar India.



The inflows through systematic investment plans (SIPs) stood at Rs 8,023 crore, while assets under management (AUM) of were Rs 3.9 trillion in January 2021.

ALSO READ: IndusInd Bank stock on the rise as demand for commercial vehicle recovers

While equity funds have seen redemptions, numbers look positive and there has been an increase in the folios in equity-oriented schemes, said Pradeepkumar.

As of January, folios of equity-oriented schemes stood at 64.4 million, compared to 63.7 million in December  an increase of 700,000.

The debt segment, too, witnessed outflows of Rs 33,409 crore in January.

In January, liquid funds saw outflows of Rs 45,316 crore. As much as Rs 8,041 crore was pulled out of low-duration funds.

Other categories, such as short-duration funds, corporate bond funds, and banking and PSU funds, also witnessed net inflows. Credit-risk funds saw net inflows of Rs 366.44 crore in January. Investors had turned averse of this segment after troubles at Franklin Templeton last year.

Owing to regulatory measures to ease liquidity, and also the stance to hold on to the policy rates, some of the debt categories like corporate bond fund, banking & PSU fund, short-duration funds have seen positive flows. Even credit-risk funds are now witnessing positive flows, given the risk-return dynamics is working in favour of retail investors, said N S Venkatesh, CEO,

Overall, the saw net outflows of Rs 35,587 crore; net AUM stood at Rs 30.5 trillion.
Minority-owned small businesses have been hard hit by COVID-19. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found 41% of Black-owned businesses closed between February and April, more than twice the rate of white-owned business closures. Chicago has seen the second-steepest drop in local commerce spending behind San Francisco during the pandemic, with extreme declines in low-income neighborhoods, according to a study by the JPMorgan Chase Institute.
Bank unions on Tuesday called for a two-day strike from March 15 to protest against the government's decision to privatise public sector banks (PSBs).

The call for the strike was given by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine unions.

In her Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said the government proposes to take up privatisation of two public sector banks in 2021-22.

The government had privatised IDBI Bank by selling a majority stake in the lender to LIC in 2019 and has merged 14 public sector banks in the last four years.

It has been decided to oppose the government's decision to privatise banks during the meeting of UFBU held on Tuesday, All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) general secretary C H Venkatachalam said.

He said the issues of privatisation of PSBs and one general insurance company, setting up of a bad bank, increasing FDI limit in insurance sector to 74 per cent and aggressive disinvestment were taken up in the meeting, and it was decided to oppose these "retrograde" measures.

(With inputs from PTI)

Also read: Govt to work with RBI to execute bank privatisation announced in Budget: FM

Also read: Disinvestment not equal to 'selling family's silver': FM Sitharaman
Investments in the Russian economy last year declined by only 4.3%, Minister of Russian Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov said during the "Government Hour" at the State Duma.



"We also managed to achieve substantial support for investments. We estimate their reduction at 4.3%, and this is also a good result in the current environment," the Ministry of Economic Development cited him as saying.



The minister also noted that the contribution of anti-crisis support measures to GDP growth amounted to 2.5% as a result, that is, if these measures were not taken, the economic recession would have exceeded 5.5%, instead of 3.1%.



Reshetnikov clarified that manufacturing activity exceeded the previous year's numbers, the growth rate of agricultural production was 1.5%, and the construction sector has recovered.
The Minister of Justice, Stelian Ion, on Tuesday met with the French Ambassador to Romania, Laurence Auer, on which occasion they discussed the process of modifying the laws of justice, but also the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code.

According to a press release of the Ministry of Justice sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday, Stelian Ion had a bilateral meeting with Laurence Auer, France's Ambassador to Romania, the two officials discussing "the excellent bilateral cooperation" and the priorities of the French presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will have its debut on January 1, 2022.

The same source states that the Ambassador expressed the willingness of the French judicial authorities to strengthen cooperation with similar structures in Romania, both institutionally and within joint investigation teams. The Minister of Justice mentioned two areas of interest for expanding cooperation: the digitalisation of justice and environmental crime."The collaboration between our countries must not only concern purely judicial issues, but also a sustained exchange of good practices on issues of interest to both parties. The French system has been a source of inspiration for us for the last hundred years and, given the similarities to the two systems, we can cooperate extremely well, both bilaterally and within the European Union," the Justice Minister was quoted as saying.The Ministry of Justice stated that another topic of interest to the French side was related to the process of modifying the laws of justice, on the one hand, and the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, on the other.Stelian Ion presented the strategy of the Ministry of Justice on these topics, specifying that the draft laws on justice will be submitted to Parliament by the end of April 2021, and those on the modification of the codes in the near future, so as to generate a real and substantive parliamentary debate."We have particularly appreciated your work in Parliament in recent years and your word as Minister is, for us, a guarantee for the proper functioning of the Romanian judiciary in the coming years," Laurence Auer was quoted as saying in the press release.

AGERPRES
Julie Bishop has changed up her signature look for 2021.

The 64-year-old former foreign minister has grown out her iconic blonde pixie hairstyle, sharing photos of her longer locks to Instagram on Monday.

She surprised fans with the debut of her longer bob after being known for her signature shorter haircut.

Changes: Former foreign minister Julie Bishop has surprised fans by ditching her signature pixie hairstyle for a longer blonde bob

'Presiding at virtual grand graduation ceremony for the remarkable class of 2020,' she captioned a series of photos during her virtual appearance for Australian National University graduations via video link.

Her shoulder-length blonde locks were styled in a sleek straight style.

Julie was flooded with messages from fans complimenting her new hair, which she responded to with happy emojis.

'Love your hair like this', 'love the bob' and 'your hair is goals!' were just some of the complimentary messages left for Julie to read.

New look! The 64-year-old has grown out her iconic blonde pixie hairstyle

'Love the bob. Suits you!': Julie was flooded with messages from fans complimenting her new hair, which she responded to with happy emojis

Embracing change: Two weeks ago Julie captioned a photo of her new look with 'long hair don't care'

Two weeks ago Julie captioned a photo of her new look, writing: 'long hair don't care.'

Throughout her career, Julie's fashion-forward ensembles have often attracted just as many headlines as her political endeavours.

Becoming an unexpected fashion icon over the years, she is known for her designer frocks, flashy heels, crisp blazers and pricey handbags.

New woman: Julie's new haircut and style has made her almost unrecognisable

Stylish! Throughout her career, Julie's fashion-forward ensembles have often attracted just as many headlines as her political endeavours. Pictured at 2019's Carla Zampatti show

Speaking to The Sun-Herald last year, Julie revealed the surprising fashion advice she was once given by American Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour.

She said after meeting the British-American journalist, 71, in 2019, she now can't live without sneakers.

Elsewhere in the interview, the former deputy leader of the Liberal Party revealed she had lived in 'Armani, Louis Vuitton and Isabel Marant sneakers' amid the start of the coronavirus pandemic, whereas previously she would wear 'Aquazzura black stiletto pumps'.
Moving costs can sure get hefty, but what if I told you that a certain city down South would actually pay you to relocate there? I'm not just talking about a gift card to the local diner, but a couple thousand bucks to your name.

Here's the deal: the community of Natchez, Mississippi just introduced a new incentive program that will pay folks up to $6,000 to relocate to the area. Officially dubbed the Natchez/Adams County Remote Worker Program, the initiative has a few requirements, but it 100% real.

First, if you haven't already gathered by the program's title, it is only open to remote workers. While COVID-19 has made many of us feel like remote workers, you must be able to prove you're employed by a company outside the Natchez area, and are able to continue doing your job from your new home. Next, you must be willing to buy a property within the city limits of Natchez valued at no less than $150,000. You must also live there for at least a year. And of course, you must be at least 18 years of age and be able to work in the United States.

The Natchez/Adams County community launched this program to help attract new faces to the area. However, as the application explains, this $6,000 incentive wont all come at once. Upon moving to the area, those who are approved for the program will receive $2,500 for relocation expenses. Then, for the next 12 months, the community will offer program members a monthly $300 stipend to further assist with living costs.

The city of Natchez has a population of roughly 15,000 residents and, as evidenced on its social media account @visitnatchez , the area is quaint, charming, and rich in culture. Bordering the Mississippi River, the city offers gorgeous waterfront views for up to 30 miles. Natchez is also home to over 600 historic houses and buildings dating back to the Civil War-era (which is more than any other city in the South), as noted on its website. Natchez also boasts a safe, walkable downtown area stacked with historic sites, museums, shops, and fun dining options.

Interested in moving to Natchez and making $6,000? You can apply for the Natchez/Adams County Remote Worker Program here .

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The Admissions Department and the Honors College at Cleveland State Community College are hosting a Virtual Information Session on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. The online event will work with you in real-time and share details about the Honors College and Presidential Honors Scholarship.Cleveland State is the only Tennessee Board of Regents institution to have an Honors College. From campus to community, the Honors College at Cleveland State offers students opportunities to grow above and beyond the typical classroom.Attendees will be able to learn about the Honors College and the requirements and benefits of the Presidential Honors Scholarship offered at Cleveland State, as well as the application process for both.This is a special award that helps in addition to other funding such at Tennessee Promise, PELL Grants, etc This award can help toward books, living expenses, travel, etc. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is Feb. 28, but applications for the Honors College will be accepted through the end of the summer.We hope to see academically-motivated students who are considering attending CSCC in the fall who are interested in an added challenge and the opportunity to build community through academics, said Dr. Victoria Bryan, dean of the Honors College.Dr. Bryan continued, I know well see many students who are already planning to attend CSCC this fall. For those who are still on the fence, I hope well see you there, too. This scholarship offers $1,000 per semester for up to four semesters on top of scholarships like Tennessee Promise, so it can cover fees, books and just about anything youd like to spend it on. An opportunity like this could be the thing that draws you to Cleveland State for the next part of your educational journey.For more information on the Honors College at Cleveland State, email Bryan at vbryan@clevelandstatecc.edu or if youd like to RSVP to the virtual information session, join the online Zoom session by going to https://forms.gle/V6nr1aZBJdumvrecA
New York, Feb 9 : Former President Donald Trump's historic second impeachment trial on the single charge that he incited an insurrection on January 6 at the US Capitol begins Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. and is likely to consume Washington for a little over a week.

Trump's first impeachment trial, in which he was acquitted on charges that he abused power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate now-President Joe Biden, lasted nearly three weeks.

Round Two is expected to be shorter because the case is less complex and much of the evidence that the House managers plan to present is already out in the open. The House has already impeached Trump. At the Senate trial, two thirds of Senators present are required to convict.

Here's how the Senate trial is expected to play out, based on procedural details released on Monday.

At 1 p.m. Tuesday, the Senate convenes as a "Court of Impeachment". Trump's legal team and House impeachment managers will have a total of four hours to make their case about the constitutionality of the trial. The Senate will then vote on whether it has jurisdiction to hold the trial. A simple majority is required.

The Chief Justice of the United States normally presides over the trial of a President, but because Trump is no longer a sitting President, the longest longest-serving member of the majority - Democratic Senator from Vermont, Patrick Leahy - will preside.

Next, around noon during the next session, each side gets its maximum of 16 hours over a 2 day limit to present its case. There's an eight hour cap per day which means this process could close out the week.

Once both sides have maxed out their 16 hours, senators have a total of four hours to question both sides. Next comes the decision on whether to subpoena witnesses and documents - a total of four hours is allotted for arguments. In case the Senate votes for subpoenas, rules around those depositions will be passed separately. This time, Democrats believe they will not need witnesses and that the grisly images of the insurrection that played out on live television will be enough. Also, lawmakers present in the building during the January 6 attack are witnesses, they will claim.

Both sides share four hours to make closing arguments before each Senator gets up and votes on a single article of impeachment: guilty or not guilty.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland schools kicked off coronavirus vaccinations for teachers and staff on Tuesday, beginning with CEO Eric Gordon.

Gordon said he, and the other school leaders vaccinated on Tuesday morning at East Technical High School, hope to serve as an examples to the community. The vaccinations for school staff and teachers will run for the next two weeks, before looping around for the second dose. There needs to be a gap between the doses.

Though Cleveland schools staff are receiving first doses this week, the district has not yet set a return date for buildings. Gordon, in a Cleveland City Council meeting on Monday, said the best prediction would be April 5, the week after the vaccinations end.

At least 75% of Cleveland schools staff have agreed to get the vaccine, with another 8-9% vaccinated through other providers. Under 10% refused to take the vaccine in this round. Gordon said the vaccine is not mandatory, but when students begin to return to buildings, teachers and staff are expected to report for work.

There are two vaccine locations, East Tech and Max Hayes high schools. The district plans to vaccinate 3,200 this week. The doses are already on-site for this week, but not for next week yet.

More school vaccination news:

-- As coronavirus vaccinations begin this week, Cleveland schools CEO Eric Gordon says in-class learning could return yet this year

-- Cleveland schools share comprehensive coronavirus vaccination plan, including vaccine locations

-- 23,000 Cuyahoga County school staff will be vaccinated against the coronavirus in two weeks: Heres how

Reporter Emily Bamforth contributed to this story.
press release

South Africa has temporarily suspended the rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after new studies released last week showed that it is less effective against the mutated SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 variant, which is common in South Africa.

On 1 February, the country received its first shipment of one million Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine doses out of the 1.5 million procured from the Serum Institute of India (SII).

Last night, Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize and a panel of experts hosted a media briefing to outline new developments in South Africa's COVID-19 vaccine acquisition and rollout programme.

Professor Shabir Madhi, who led the clinical trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine candidate locally, said they conducted a study using 2 000 participants, aged between 18 and 65 years.

According to research, the vaccine showed "tremendous potential" before the new variant began spreading.

Madhi said just 14 days after taking the first of two jabs, participants showed a 75% lesser likelihood of becoming infected with COVID-19.

However, things changed slightly when the 501Y.V2 variant, first discovered in November 2020, emerged and spread rapidly throughout the country.

"Much of the antibody induced by the vaccine was not actually active against the variant circulating in South Africa," Madhi explained.

The study has since shown a "substantial drop" in the vaccine's ability to neutralise the activity of the virus when tested in the lab.

"When we analysed individuals in terms of how well the vaccine worked against the 501Y.V2 variant, there was very little difference between the vaccine group and placebo group," Madhi said.

According to the latest data, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will protect three in four people against variants from the first wave, while it protects one in four people from the new variant in the second wave.

According to one of South Africa's leading COVID-19 experts, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, it is not all doom and gloom.

Karim said vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna seem to do "reasonably well" against the 501Y.V2 variant, even with their neutralising activity diminished.

He said China's Sinopharm shot also shows a small reduction in efficacy of about 1.5 fold.

However, not all is lost, with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine showing a smaller decline in efficacy against the 501Y.V2 variant, making it a plausible choice for rollout.

"COVID vaccines remain effective against existing variants. The next set of vaccines will be made from the 501Y.V2 variant and so they are likely to be effective against the 501Y.V2 variant," Karim said.

Meanwhile, he said the country is expecting two kinds of vaccines, the 501Y.V2 boosters and the next generation of vaccines.

"You will take the existing vaccine to give you immunity against the existing variants and then take this booster in order to give you protection from the 501Y.V2 variant.

"The next-generation of vaccinations is intended to be much broader and will cover you from the current and future variants. That will take a little longer to develop," Karim said.

Karim said prudence will need to be applied in the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

"We can still proceed with our rollout but we need to do it wisely by taking a stepped approach (sic)."

Madhi believes that South Africa should also explore the interchangeability of vaccines, possibly using the Johnson & Johnson and Oxford-AstraZeneca together.

"South Africa is very likely to, unfortunately, experience another resurgence in the next two or four months. The question we need to ask ourselves -- in the context of knowing that the COVID-19 vaccines, both the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are safe, even though there are question marks of the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine against severe disease -- is do we want to take the risk of not vaccinating high-risk groups, knowing that it may not cause harm and they might be protected against severe disease?"

Madhi said it would be "reckless" to decide to discard all the million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which may still be useful in defending against severe disease.

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He believes the country may have to "reframe" the target group for vaccination in the next few weeks.

Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer vaccines coming soon

According to Minister Mkhize, the country is expecting Johnson & Johnson and the Pfizer vaccines in the next coming weeks, which will be made available to healthcare workers.

Meanwhile, he said the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will remain until scientists have done further investigations.

President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Professor Glenda Gray, said the Johnson & Johnson vaccine protects against severe disease, hospitalisation and death with the current variant.

"This is a vaccine that is a silver bullet... We have local data now and it will be not good to wait for future vaccines. We have to start with the data that we have," Gray said.

Gray has assured the nation that government is committed to protecting healthcare workers.
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Spain's government aims to outline in the coming weeks a set of measures to bolster corporate solvency, possibly including haircuts on state-backed loans as well as direct state aid to help smaller firms weather the COVID-19 pandemic, sources said.

"We have to build a bridge to sustain the economy until the vaccination plan is completed and the arrival of the European funds," said a government source present at the discussions.

Treasury head Pablo de Ramon-Laca also told state broadcaster RTVE on Monday the state was working on transforming part of the state-backed credit, known as ICO loans, extended so far into an as yet unspecified type of solvency support.

The European Commission has allowed governments to temporarily provide direct aid and convert some debt into grants to support their economies through the coronavirus pandemic.

Another source familiar with the matter told Reuters the aim was to have a new framework of direct aid and loan haircuts readied by March to alleviate a growing corporate debt burden.

The government is considering applying haircuts on ICO loans, suggesting that banks, who already share some guarantees with the state under the scheme, would also share some of those losses, one of the sources said.

"Write-offs are not for everyone, but there are times when the best private solution between parties is renegotiation," said a financial source with direct knowledge of the discussions, acknowledging that "no one can come out unscathed" from the crisis.

The source said that banks were also trying to work out with the government some ways to compensate them in case of losses, be it in cash, government bonds or deferred taxes.

SMALL BUSINESSES SUFFER

In November, Madrid extended its 140 billion euro ICO liquidity scheme until June, but that was not enough to offset the impact of the third wave of the pandemic on heavily indebted companies that had been warning for months they would not be able to repay their debts.

Nearly one in five companies in Spain may have ended 2020 insolvent, according to a recent Bank of Spain report.

Small companies such as bars, restaurants and hotels, which have been hit hard as the tourism-dependent economy tanked, are in need of direct aid that could come in the form of compensation for fixed costs such as rent or utility bills, a source involved in the negotiations said.

Economy Minister Nadia Calvino has said only viable companies should get aid and the government was still discussing ways to identify those.

A source present at the negotiations said that a system of "leveraged aid", partly privately financed, could be one way of channelling aid to the viable companies.

Around 1.5 million small companies could benefit from the new measures that would bring total solvency aid to up to 20 billion euros, said a senior executive at a consultancy working with some Spanish regions on implementing similar measures.

"How ambitious to make the programme is being weighed," a financial source advising the government said, adding though that "you don't make an omelette without breaking the eggs, so if we fall short, the consequences could reverberate in the economy for years".
Under pressure to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, airlines are experimenting with so-called sustainable aviation fuels, or SAF. The most advanced contender is biofuel, mainly made from cooking oil, animal fats, agricultural crops and unused wood, though it is a struggle to use on more than a small fraction of flights because of the lack of supply and the high costs. In the coming decade, different types of alternative fuels could make flying even cleaner.

SAF are imitations of kerosene, the refined petroleum that has burned in jet engines for decades. Different types of SAF exist, but only biofuel is in use today. Biofuel reduces emissions by up to 80% versus conventional jet fuel. International standards allow carriers to burn up to 50% biofuel with kerosene, but a recent test from U.K. engine maker Rolls-Royce and energy company Royal Dutch Shell showed that 100% biofuel is safe.

SAF are in their infancy. From 2016 to 2020, roughly 300,000 out of around 188 million total flights world-wide used SAFless than 0.2%, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Still, they are key to cutting aviations environmental footprint, industry experts say. Aviation has driven 3.5% of the worlds human-made greenhouse gas emissions, according to a September study by Manchester Metropolitan University. Air traffic, the second biggest source of transport emissions after roads, is expected to grow more than threefold by 2045 compared with 2015, though that doesnt account for the pandemic-related stall in demand, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization.

United Airlines, which is aiming to get to net-zero emissions by 2050, first used biofuel in 2009 and started using it regularly in 2016. It used only 4 million gallons in the last five years, compared with the 4 billion gallons of conventional fuel the airline uses in an average year, says Lauren Riley, managing director of global environmental affairs and sustainability at United.

The airline doesnt have much incentive to buy more: Biofuels cost up to four times more than conventional jet fuel, says Ms. Riley. Thats where the business case falls apart," she says.

It is also not feasible to replace all kerosene jet fuel with biofuel because of the limited supply of biomass, says Andrew Murphy, aviation manager at the nonprofit Transport & Environment. Biomass comes from crops such as soybeans, solid waste such as leftover food, and unused timber such as wood pellets.

In the U.S., there are only around 340 million tons of biomass available, but biofuel would require several hundred million tons alone to power planes as demand for more jet fuel picks up in the coming decades, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Other shipping and transportation companies are also competing for that supply.

Still, there is momentum for biofuel to help make aviation cleaner. Microsoft Corp. signed a deal late last year with Alaska Airlines and SkyNRG, a Netherlands-based maker of biofuel, to use it on some of its frequent business-travel routes. We hope that others follow because if they dont, we arent on track for our overall climate stabilization goals," says Lucas Joppa, chief environmental officer at Microsoft.

Shell, one of the worlds top suppliers of biofuel, took a 40% stake in a plant in Quebec, Canada, this year that will turn 200,000 metric tons of non-recyclable waste and wood waste a year into biofuel. Late last year, it signed deals with Amazon.com Inc. and DHL to provide SAF for their cargo planes.

Airlines say a solution to the pricing problem is government support, which looks more likely under a Biden administration. As part of his $2 trillion climate plan, President Biden pledged to incentivize the creation of new, sustainable fuels for aircraft." The European Union is considering quotas for airlines to use SAF.

Another promising technology on the horizon is e-fuels. Also known as power-to-liquid fuels, they use renewable energy such as solar and wind to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, a process known as electrolysis. To make fuel, the hydrogen is then combined with carbon monoxide created from captured carbon dioxide. This fuel is seen as more promising to decarbonize the aviation industry because, in theory, it would offer an unlimited supply. It will likely still need years before it comes on the market.

Scaling used cooking oil or scaling vegetable oils wont be sustainable in the long run," says Annette Mann, head of corporate responsibility at Deutsche Lufthansa AG. We really need the power-to-liquid technology which is now under development and still needs a lot of investment," she adds.

In early 2019, Lufthansa signed a letter of intent with Heide, a refinery near Hamburg, Germany, to make and purchase power-to-liquid jet fuel. The project will use wind energy from the North Sea. Within five years, the carrier expects to replace 5% of the kerosene it uses at its Hamburg hub with power-to-liquid fuel.

Anna Mascolo, president of global aviation at Shell, predicts costs for e-fuels to fall much like wind and solar as production scaled up, and that they can play a major role in the decarbonization of aviation from 2030 onward. This one has the greatest potential," she says.

Massive government aid through taxes, incentives and subsidies is needed to bring down the costs of SAF and scale production, aviation experts say. These new fuels compete with much cheaper fossil fuels that have enjoyed $4.4 trillion in government subsidies over the past decade, according to the International Energy Agency.

Replacing all jet fuel with SAF is unlikely even by 2050, though halving the use of kerosene would bring airlines substantially closer to the goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions outlined in the Paris climate agreement.

Other technologies such as hydrogen or electric aircraft are on the way, but far from mature yet.

There is no competition between the pathways. You cant say that the future is biofuel or the future is power-to-liquid or the future is hydrogen," says Nicolas Jeuland, environmental and low-carbon fuels prospective manager at French engine maker Safran SA. We have to decarbonize now, we cant afford to wait 10, 20, 30 years."

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Hey all - David Estcourt here closing the blog for the night.

We ran a very short one today to cover the breaking news about the two fresh cases at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport, and to take you through the report from the World Health Organisation in China, who released the findings from their COVID-19 origins investigation.

The Health Department late on Tuesday released a list of exposure sites from the cases at the qurantine hotel.

To catch up on developments in that, check it out here:

A worker and a returned traveller have tested positive for coronavirus at Melbourne Airports Holiday Inn, forcing an entire floor of people into isolation and prompting a further review of the states hotel quarantine system.

Earlier in the day, it was revealed that more than 100 people, including dozens of police and Defence Force personnel, were in isolation after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday.

As always, thank you for joining us. Night all.
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed Congress in his speech In the Lok Sabha session over allegations made by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury that the minister sat in Rabindranath Tagores seat during his visit to Shantiniketan.

HM Shah made it clear that he received an official letter from the Vice-Chancellor of Visva Bharti who clarified that no such incident took place. He also recalled the instances where former presidents Pratibha Patil, Pranab Mukherjee & late PM Rajiv Gandhi sat at that same spot.

Amit Shah was quoted by ANI saying, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said during his speech yesterday that I sat on Rabindranath Tagores seat during my visit to Santiniketan. I have a letter from VC of Visva Bharti where he clarified that no such incident happened, I sat near a window where anyone can sit.

Former presidents Pratibha Patil, Pranab Mukherjee & late PM Rajiv Gandhi sat at that same spot. I didn't sit on Tagore's seat but there are two pictures which show Pandit Nehru & Rajiv Gandhi seating on Tagore' seat: Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha  ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

He further spoke about the matter and said, Former presidents Pratibha Patil, Pranab Mukherjee & late PM Rajiv Gandhi sat at that same spot. I didn't sit on Tagore's seat but there are two pictures which show Pandit Nehru & Rajiv Gandhi seating on Tagore' seat.

The Home Minister earlier spoke about the Centre coordinating with the Uttarakhand state authorities to help speed-up the ongoing rescue and relief efforts. He informed the Lok Sabha that 20 people had lost their lives, 6 people suffered injuries and 197 have gone missing in the tragedy.
As the Senate begins the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, revisiting January's deadly Capitol siege that took aim at American democracy, don't look for hot takes from the White House.

In his young presidency, Joe Biden has taken a hands-off approach to Trump's impeachment, stopping short of saying whether senators should convict Trump on charges of inciting an insurrection. He has also refrained from recommending a timeframe for the trial, which starts Tuesday, as he pushes his own legislative agenda.

The White House says the president will be too busy to closely follow impeachment proceedings. The trial is taking center stage as Biden hopes for a swift passage of his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill in the coming weeks. The president also wants the Senate to confirm his remaining Cabinet nominees, including Merrick Garland as attorney general, which Republicans have held up. Senate Democrats insist they can handle the full load during the trial.

For Biden, engaging in a divisive impeachment trial offers little political upside after he began his presidency calling for "unity" and bipartisanship. Instead, he's sought to frame himself as interested only in bringing relief to Americans hurt by a pandemic and installing his Cabinet  not fixated by the politics of his predecessor.

Biden deferred to the Senate when asked about impeachment in an interview Sunday with CBS.

"Look, I ran like hell to defeat (Trump) because I thought he was unfit to be president," Biden said. "I've watched what everybody else watched, what happened when that  that crew invaded the United States Congress. But, I'm not in the Senate now. I'll let the Senate make that decision."

President Joe Biden on Feb. 8, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

'Let the Senate work that out'

The president Monday resisted another opportunity to weigh in after returning to the White House following a weekend trip to his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. A reporter asked him whether Trump should lose his "political rights," a reference to how, if convicted in the Senate, Trump would be unable to run for federal office again.

Story continues

"He got an offer to come and testify," Biden said of Trump. "He decided not to. Let the Senate work that out."

William Howell, a political science professor at the University of Chicago, said the president is making a fairly straightforward calculation.

"It's not clear what the value-add is by his involvement," he said. "And the downside of him being involved in this is that he needs to devote all of his both political capital and his resources to advancing all kinds of policy agendas."

Through his attorneys, Trump denied a request from Democrats, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, to answer questions under oath about his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. The attack, which resulted in five deaths, came as Congress counted electoral votes confirming Biden's victory and after Trump leveled baseless claims of voter fraud for weeks to falsely claim the election was stolen from him.

Democrats plan to argue that Trump's Jan. 6 speech outside the White House  where he told his supporters, "If you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore"  incited the pro-Trump mob to storm the Capitol.

In need of 17 Republican senators to convict Trump, the Democratic-led effort is widely seen as a longshot. Forty-five Senate Republicans went on record in a vote last month saying it is unconstitutional to convict a former president.

While Biden calling for Trump's conviction might please some on the political left, he would open himself up to criticism: that he chose to engage in a hyper-partisan fight at the expense of his campaign pledges.

"He presented himself as a moderate who's going to unify the country to meet the economic and health challenges that we now face," Howell said. "And I think he just sees nothing but political downside associated with being involved in a highly partisan trial in the Senate."

It's also questionable whether Biden would have success convincing Republican senators to impeach Trump.

"I think the outcome is pretty locked in," Howell said.

Biden focused on COVID-19 relief, not impeachment, White House says

At a White House press briefing Monday, press secretary Jen Psaki stayed on message  that the president has too many priorities to pay attention to the impeachment trial  as she faced a barrage of questions on Biden's position.

"I think it's clear from his schedule and from his intention, he will not spend too much time watching the (impeachment) proceedings at any time over the course of this week," Psaki said after reading off the president's full plate of commitments. "He will leave the pace and the process and the mechanics of the impeachment proceedings up to members of Congress."

Psaki said "he's retired from the Senate, he's president of the United States" when pressed why Biden won't weigh in on impeachment given that he stated Trump's "erratic behavior" should prevent his access to post-presidency intelligence briefings. "His focus is getting relief for the American people," she said.

Later, Psaki addressed whether Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., would be updating Biden on the impeachment trial during their conversations this week.

"I don't expect that would be a primary topic," Psaki said. "I actually expect it would be more about the American Rescue Plan and progress being made on that front."

Barbara Perry, director of presidential studies at the University of Virginia's Miller Center, said it's "prudent politically" for Biden to remain quiet on impeachment because the issue is already poised to "suck up all the oxygen" in Congress. She said Biden doesn't need the same in the White House while he's working on policy.

"He is taking the presidency back to its norms of dignity and statesmanship, which have been sorely missing for the last four years," Perry said. "So he's playing the role of a statesman, which is not to get involved in the muck and mire of politics on Capitol Hill."

Biden also has an interest in not dividing the electorate further, particularly as he enjoys a positive job-approval rating out of the gate. A Gallup poll last week found 57% of Americans approve of Biden's handling of his job  a higher number than Trump ever received. But Biden's 37% disapproval rating, the result of widespread resistance from Republicans, is among the highest ever in a president's first Gallup poll, trailing only Trump.

"He knows that 75 million people voted for Donald Trump," Perry said. "Why get into that situation? He knows that 75% of Republicans don't even think he's a legitimate president. Why put off any more by going after Trump?"

Democrats pledge to keep on track with agenda despite trial

The most notable time Biden went off script on impeachment  predicting to CNN last month that the Senate lacked two-thirds majority to convict Trump  Psaki quickly sought to clean-up his remarks.

"I can promise you that we will leave the vote counting to leaders in the Senate from now on," Psaki said.

Signaling a commitment to push Biden's agenda forward even during the trial, the Democratic-led Senate is scheduled to process multiple Biden nominations this week. That includes hearings for his Office of Management and Budget pick, Neera Tanden, and Labor Secretary nominee Marty Walsh and a committee vote on Michael Regan, his nominee to lead the Environmental Protect Agency.

"Even as senators prepare this week to sit as a court of impeachment, the Senate will continue its work on other responsibilities," Schumer said Monday.

Biden has gotten some pushback for not being vocal about Trump's impeachment, but not much from Democrats wanting Trump convicted. Some Republicans accused Biden of abandoning his call for unity by not asking the House to call off the impeachment before he was sworn in.

"If President-elect Joe Biden had asked Democrats in the House to forego this route, they would have done so," Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said on ABC's This Week on Sunday. "And I can't think of a more unifying act that he could have done."

Even amid a contentious impeachment trial, Psaki said Biden can deliver on his unity pledge  by working to pass COVID-19 relief, reopen schools and increase vaccinations.

"That's how he's spending his time as we started this briefing and how he will continue to spend it moving forward," Psaki said.

Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump impeachment trial: Why President Joe Biden is staying far away
Abigail, the protagonist of "The World to Come," keeps a diary, which, along with thoughts laid down in her letters, provides the narration for this film, set in 1856 in rural upstate New York, and centering on the unhappily married wife of a dour farmer named Dyer (Casey Affleck). When Abigail (Katherine Waterston) mentions that she'd like Dyer to pick up an atlas for her when he next rides into town - she's saved up 90 cents of her own money - he suggests that it might be better spent on buying him a gift.

"What better gift could I give him than a wife who is no longer a dullard?" she thinks to herself (while saying the words to no one but us).

Maybe that's the problem with their marriage. The interiority is stifling, and we feel as much claustrophobia, of the emotional as well as the physical kind, as Abigail surely must.

Based on the title short story from a 2017 collection by Jim Shepard, the film follows what happens when Abigail meets Tallie (Vanessa Kirby), a pretty neighbor who, with her husband, Finney (Christopher Abbott) - a match for Dyer in asperity - has started renting a neighboring farm. Shepard is the kind of writer who fills his historical stories with delicious period details: an enema of molasses, warm water and lard - with a drop of turpentine next to the nose - is a remedy for a cold. And that sensitivity to language and attention to detail carries over to Mona Fastvold's film, which has been adapted for the screen by Shepard and Ron Hansen, who is also a novelist ("The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford").

"In earliest youth," Abigail writes, "I was like a pot-bound root: all curled in upon itself."

And, after Tallie and Abigail have established a rapport: "When (Tallie) arrives, my heart is like a leaf, borne over rapidly moving water."

Okay, so "rapport" is something of an understatement. "The World to Come" is a love story, between two women, in a world in which men hold all the power, and wives are treated almost like property. Initially, it is a story of pot-bound passion, all curled in upon itself - until, of course, it isn't.

With all this writing going on, right under the noses of two men who aren't so thickheaded as to miss an affair between their wives, there are early warning signs that "World" isn't going to end well. But Fastvold, a Brooklyn-based Norwegian actress and filmmaker making only her second effort behind the camera, never gins up the sentiment, the melodrama or even the sensuality. Like Abigail, she's all about sublimation. Until very late in the film, we're not even sure exactly what has been going on between Abigail and Tallie, when Fastvold shows it to us, suddenly and in flashback, as if flipping through the pages of a notebook she's found.

This reticence, this coyness, has the opposite effect than what you might think. Instead of denaturing the ardor - the ecstasy, the rapture, the ultimate tragedy - of the story, Fastvold's light hand only intensifies it. The filmmaker takes a page, beautifully, swooningly, from something Tallie tells Abigail, about how deep feelings can lie hidden in plain sight: "It's been my experience that it is not always those who show the least who actually feel the least."

- - -

Three stars. Rated R. Available March 2 on various streaming platforms. Contains some sexuality and nudity. 98 minutes.

Ratings Guide: Four stars masterpiece, three stars very good, two stars OK, one star poor, no stars waste of time.
A MAN who smashed his exs front door with a slate had issues with his temper, a court heard.

Patrick Newmans former partner was at home alone when she heard breaking glass and came out to find him standing at her shattered door with a slate in his hand.

Judge Treasa Kelly put him on a peace bond for a year and warned him that he needed to control his temper.

Newman (68), with an address at Shanowen Avenue, Santry pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the womans door in the incident.

Read More

Dublin District Court heard the victim was alone in her home at Belclare Terrace, Ballymun at 7.30pm on April 13 last year when she heard a knock on the door.

It was the accused, her ex-partner, and when she went to answer the door, she heard a loud smash and went to see the front door completely smashed, a garda sergeant told the court.

The accused was there with a slate in his hand.

The court heard the value of the damage was 400 and Newman had paid for the cost of the repairs in the immediate aftermath of the incident  the next day.

The accused had 24 previous convictions for offences including assault, the court heard.

Newman was a man approaching the end of middle age who had a long and difficult history with alcohol, his solicitor Robert Purcell said.

He has issues with his temper as well, he added.

Read More

The accused was no longer in a relationship with the victim and he had made good the damage the day after the incident, Mr Purcell said.

Although Newman had previous convictions, he managed to stay out of trouble for long periods of time, the court heard.

Judge Kelly put the accused on a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 months.

She acknowledged the accused had paid for the damage and said you must control your temper obviously.






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, autoworkers at Stellantis' Kenitra plant in Morocco walked out and blocked their factory to demand higher wages, proper health conditions, and improved working conditions. News of the strike spread quickly on social media, gathering strong support from workers in France and internationally. Stellantis is the new entity created by the January 15 merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and French automaker PSA.

Stellantis plant in Kenitra, Morocco (source: Moroccan Interior Ministry)

The 2,500 workers at the site, which is expected to produce 200,000 vehicles this year, including the Peugeot 208 and the Citroen AMI, marched through the plant and blocked the exits. Speaking to the production director, they issued demands which are now circulating on social media. They want to resolve in particular the very low salary (2600 dirhams, $290 monthly), poor sanitary conditions, non-payment of bonuses and overtime, with a performance bonus that has not been paid for six months, and equipment failures.

The Stellantis-Kenitra workers also demanded medical coverage for all, compensation for work accidents, an increase in the length of breaks, and a more respectful attitude towards the workers by the plant managers. The workers said they would not resume before their demands were met.

In Morocco, LOpinion, who contacted strikers in Kenitra, wrote: The majority of workers are hired on a 12-month temp contract that does not provide medical coverage or protection in case of serious accidents, and their monthly salary does not exceed 2,400 dirhams. They also confirmed to us that many of the employees are obliged to work an extra hour after the end of their shift without pay.

On the first evening of the strike, several squads of riot police surrounded the plant to try to intimidate the strikers before the next meeting with management on January 29. On the 28th, however, the workers staged a sit-in in front of the plant. Management refused a deal on the 29th, and the strike is continuing, according to the latest reports.

The Kenitra site is of strategic importance to Stellantis, as Morocco has overtaken South Africa to become the leading automaker in Africa. While its predecessor PSA saw a decline in sales in Europe in 2020, it also saw a 46 percent increase in its market share in the Middle East, thanks in part to significant increases in sales in Turkey and Egypt. A significant portion of Kenitras production is sold to Middle Eastern markets.

The movement at Kenitra reflects the rise in workers' anger internationally at the effects of the pandemic and the working conditions created by the merger between PSA and Fiat Chrysler.

While PSA's sales fell by 27.8 percent and Fiat Chrysler's by 17 percent, the new corporation is trying to create maximum profits by employing a highly exploited workforce in Morocco as well as in France and internationally amid the raging pandemic. COVID-19 has infected 475,589 people and claimed 8,408 lives in Morocco, officially, with 234 new infections confirmed yesterday. There have been 31.4 million cases and 740,000 deaths in Europe.

Workers reacted to news of the strike in Kenitra with great enthusiasm on social media. On Facebook, an Alstom transportation equiment worker in France commented on the difference between the Kenitra strike and the usual corrupt deals between unions and management: They are right, and it's rare, presenting demands at Peugeot, and presenting demands is offensive, its not defensive like when you negotiate on proposals from bosses and management.

Another addressed the Kenitra workers: Youre in a strong position, comrades! Keep going, they are having trouble filling all the car orders that are coming in.

The conditions are ripe for a powerful international strike against Stellantis and a broader mobilization of the working class. This could not only improve the wages and working conditions of Stellantis workers, but also lay the basis for a struggle to stop the COVID-19 pandemic and the wars waged by French imperialism in Mali and across West Africa. In this struggle, the best allies of the workers in Kenitra are Stellantis workers internationally, and their class brothers and sisters around the world.

To wage such a struggle, however, workers will need to organize themselves in rank-and-file committees, independent of the union bureaucracies, and prepare for a political struggle. In the United States, Stellantis workers have already formed such committees at several plants.

The sending of riot police on the first night of the strike in Kenitra is a warning that the corrupt Moroccan monarchy, whose close ties to Washington and Paris are well known, sees a strike at Stellantis as an intolerable threat to its interests and its ties to international finance capital.

Moreover, the applause from French union bureaucracy for the strike at Kenitra is utter hypocrisy. Not only have the French unions given their support to the wars waged by French imperialism in Syria, Libya, Mali and throughout the Mediterranean, but they are led by bureaucrats who work closely with Stellantis management at autoworkers expense.

This is particularly the case of Jean-Marc Mercier, the principal delegate of the Stalinist General Confederation of Labor (CGT) union at Stellantis in France, who released a video cynically hailing the Kenitra strike.

A leading member of the petty-bourgeois Lutte Ouvriere (LO) party, Mercier led LOs list in the 2019 European elections together with LO presidential candidate Nathalie Arthaud. Mercier has a long experience at Stellantis, having coordinated the shutdown of the Stellantis plant in Aulnay, north of Paris, in 2013. He is now a delegate at the Stellantis plant in Poissy.

In his video, Mercier said that in Morocco, as in France, England, Germany and Algeria, wages are blocked. He then stressed the contrast between autoworkers conditions and the financial situation of the company. According to Mercier, Stellantis recorded 2.5 billion euros in profits last year. However, we work every day of the week, Saturdays, nights (...) Our wages, your wages must increase. He promised, We will publicize your strike in factories in France and in all Stellantis factories in Europe.

In fact, Mercier, aware of explosive social anger in Europe against the criminal official handling of the pandemic and the vast increase in social inequalities, is desperately trying to prevent the unions from being overrun by the workers. Whatever token solidarity actions Mercier may organize will not help workers in Kenitra any more than it helped workers at Aulnay.

The way forward is to form an international network of rank-and-file safety committees, independent of the union bureaucracies, that will coordinate strikes and ensure health and safety. This paves the way for a struggle for a vast improvement in living standards, but also to organize a scientifically directed confinement policy, temporarily halting non-essential production to stop the pandemic. Above all, this will require a socialist political perspective to unite the workers of Africa, Europe and America against imperialism, austerity and war.
Early September, the head of New Jerseys prison system told state lawmakers that the federal government had just given him a list of suggested reforms for the states only womens prison.

Since then, 152 days have passed. Six female inmates said they were severely beaten by staff. Three officers face criminal charges.

There is still no agreement on how to reform the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in Hunterdon County. But a growing number of lawmakers do agree on thing: state Corrections Commissioner Marcus Hicks should lose his job.

This is completely unacceptable, and it starts at the top, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday, after joining every other Democratic state senator to call for Hicks ouster. The department has regressed, not improved, under his leadership.

Legislative sources said they didnt know why Gov. Phil Murphy was standing by the prison commissioner, although one thought the Democratic governor was waiting for the results of an independent investigation into the alleged beatings last month. Some sources spoke on condition of anonymity to talk candidly about discussions related to the governors office.

Advocates and legislators gathered virtually Tuesday to ramp up pressure. Participants asked residents to call the governors office, and more lawmakers signaled they would be open to impeaching Hicks after state Assemblywoman Jean Stanfield, R-Burlington, said last week shed introduce a resolution charging Hicks with official misconduct for failing to protect prisoners from serious harm.

I would hope we have a governor who can act on this instantly, state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, said, because both the department and the womens prison needed careful, new, appropriate leadership.

While some Republican and Democratic legislators have said theyd vote for impeachment, it was not immediately clear if leaders in the state Assembly would support a vote.

A Murphy spokesman declined comment. A representative for Hicks did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but she previously defended changes the commissioner has made, including expanding the use of cameras and increasing oversight of how officers use force.

While culture doesnt change overnight, Hicks has taken unprecedented actions to move the department in the right direction, Liz Velez wrote in an email Jan. 27.

Six women have said they were attacked by staff Jan. 11, and at least one said she was sexually assaulted by an officer.

The U.S. Department of Justice previously found evidence of rampant sexual abuse behind bars, and the states top federal prosecutor said Monday they were still negotiating reforms.

We are hopeful we can resolve this matter with the state, acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said Monday. When we do, the resolution will be publicly announced.

Weinberg, the Senate majority leader, said Tuesday the commissioner had led her to believe an agreement had been reached.

If that is not true, then I will add that to the very long line of fictions that have been shared with those of us in the Legislature, she said.

A settlement with federal investigators should have taken place already, said state Sen. Linda Greenstein, D-Middlesex, and she slammed prison leaders for keeping details of the potential reforms from lawmakers.

The prison system previously denied an NJ Advance Media records request for a draft of the proposed reforms.

Lawmakers and advocates also said any changes needed to go far beyond a change in leadership, and cited the need for a federal takeover of the womens prison, an outside board that could receive complaints and better training for officers.

The commissioner also needed to be replaced with someone prepared to challenge an entrenched status quo, said Bonnie Kerness, director for the nonprofit American Friends Service Committees prison program.

Tia Ryans, a former Edna Mahan prisoner who now advocates for inmates, said the cost of inaction was high.

The vast majority of women inside will get out, and many now face a future with post-traumatic stress disorder, rape trauma syndrome, unresolved anger, self-mutilation and drug addiction because of abuse by officers, she said.

NJ Advance Media staff writer S.P. Sullivan contributed to this report.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com.

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com.

Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
Business - GeorgianJournal

Georgian Hi-Tech Startup Reaches Global Market 2021-05-15 23:14:29+04:00 Photo Retrieved from cbw.ge Recently, Georgian startup Pulsar AI was acquired by USbased SpinCar, a global company specializing in digital automotive merchandising. More specifically, Pulsar AI c

Mikheil Lomtadze - 2nd Geogrian Who Makes It to Forbes' Billionare List 2021-04-22 14:53:33+04:00 Photo Retrieved from inform.kz Investor and technology entrepreneur Mikheil Lomtadze made it to Forbess billionaire list with a 3.2B net worth. Lomtadze is the second Georgian who was included in F

Up to 10 International Companies Show Interest in Georgian Investment Incentive Program 'FDI Grant' 2021-04-12 17:30:17+04:00 Photo Retrieved from en.rankiapro.com According to Enterprise Geogria, up to 10 international companies have shown interest in the state investment program FDI Grant mechanism. The FDI Grant is a me

Georgia to Export Snowdrop Flower to EU Market 2021-03-29 19:24:22+04:00 Photo Christiane Pixabay.com retrieved from Garden Design The National Environment Agency of Georgia has issued the license of use for snowdrop flower bulbs for a threeyear period. As the agenc

EBRD to Assist Georgian SMEs in Their Digital Transformation 2021-03-29 17:06:03+04:00 Photo European Union Small and mediumsized enterprises SMEs in Georgia will benefit from enhanced advisory services to advance their digitalisation and access to capital markets against the backd

Georgian Kiwi on Japanese Market 2021-03-04 20:38:36+04:00 Photo Healthline With Enterprise Georgia and The Embassy of Georgia to Japans support, Georgian Kiwi enters the Japanese Market, reports the Enterprise Georgia. According to the agency, Aromapro

One of the Largest European Oil Companies to Start Exploration Works in Georgia Black Sea Waters 2021-02-25 22:35:03+04:00 Photo Retrieved from cruisemapper.com According to the Public Broadcaster, Austrian OMV Group, which is one of the largest oil companies in Europe, will start oil and gas exploration works in Georgi

Norwegian Trout and Salmon To Be Farmed in Guria 2021-02-14 16:18:31+04:00 Photo Geostat edited Under the Affordable Agricultural Credit program, a Guria Fish, a Trout and Norwegian salmon fingerling farm, now operates in in the village of Kviriketi, Ozurgeti Municipalit

'Adjarasport' Buys 'Setanta Sports Eurasia': One of the Largest Deals in Georgian Telecommunication 2021-02-14 11:20:28+04:00 Photo Adjarasport In the beginning of 2021, a Georgian sports media Adjarasport purchased a 100 share of Irelandbased lsquoSetanta Sports Eurasiarsquo sports television network, marking one of

Georgia Becomes a Member of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) 2021-02-02 20:46:50+04:00 Photo Enterprise Georgia edited Georgia has become a member of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies WAIPA through the application of Invest in Georgia, reports Enterprise Georg

Up to 80 Georgian Restaurants to Stop Delivery Service on January 30 in Protest Against Restrictions 2021-01-29 10:48:55+04:00 According to the Georgian Restaurateurs Association, up to 80 restaurants in Tbilisi will stop delivery service in protest against the COVIDrelated restrictions. In addition, the restaurateurs will j

Georgia Increases the Export Volume of Tangerines by 22% 2021-01-27 14:59:07+04:00 Photo Administration of Government of Georgia As of January 24, 2021 and compared to the previous season export volume of mandarins increased by 22, reports the Administration of Government. Acco

FDI Alliance Publishes Article About Investment Potential in Georgia 2021-01-16 13:31:32+04:00 Photo FDI Alliance As Enterprise Georgia reports, the British magazine FDI Alliance has published an article exploring investment climate and opportunities in Georgia. The article is titled as Geor

Online Platform Which Brings Together Georgian Exporters 2020-12-24 16:45:36+04:00 With the support from USAID Agriculture Program, the upgraded functionality of the platform www.tradewithgeorgia.com enables Georgian exporters to get enhanced user experience and service quality usin

Georgia Gets Permission to Export Pet Food to the European Union 2020-12-15 19:59:55+04:00 On 8 December, the EU allowed Georgia to export or transit processed pet food, other than canned pet food. According to the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, this happened after Georgian

How Business Sector Is Going Through the Pandemic in Georgia 2020-12-10 12:31:40+04:00 It goes without saying that the Georgian economy took quite a hit amid the pandemic. Currently, the country is going through the second lockdown which naturally affects and restricts various economic

International IT Companies Enjoy Favorable Tax Benefits in Georgia 2020-12-08 13:08:41+04:00 According to the October 2020 Ordinance of the Government of Georgia on Determining the Status of an International Company, and Approving the List of Permitted Activities and Certain Expenses, enterpr

Georgia Welcomes Remote Workers 2020-12-07 20:30:43+04:00 At the end of August, the Government of Georgia announced the lsquoRemotely from Georgiarsquo project, which started on 27 August. The project is aimed to compensate for the economic losses, which

Hotel Mercure Tbilisi Old Town opens ASADO 2020-10-16 15:21:02+04:00 Located in the heart of the old town, at V. Gorgasali N9, Hotel Mercure Tbilisi Old Town opens ASADO steakhouse with variety of steaks and burgers as well as cozy atmosphere for its guests. ldquoWe
ALBANY  New data published by the state Department of Health this weekend revealed that there were nearly 200 more coronavirus deaths connected to Capital Region long-term care facilities than were previously known.

The data were released after a state Supreme Court justice ordered the state Health Department to fufill a Freedom of Information Law request submitted by the Empire Center for Public Policy, a fiscally conservative think tank based in Albany which had filed a lawsuit seeking to compel the state to release the true tally of nursing home deaths in the state.

The state had previously only released the number of deaths that occurred inside the facilities, and not those deaths that occurred after a resident had become ill and was removed from the facility  typically for transfer to a hospital. The practice was criticized as obscuring the true scope of the pandemic's impact on nursing homes.

As first reported by the Empire Center this weekend, the state published these out-of-facility death counts for nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other adult care facilities in the state on its online COVID-19 dashboard. The deaths were listed both by county and by individual facility, and revealed that 4,067, or 31 percent, of known nursing home deaths in the state occurred outside the facilities.

In the eight-county Capital Region, the data revealed a total of 524 long-term care residents had died due to confirmed or presumed COVID-19 as of Sunday. Among those deaths, 331 occurred inside the facility where the resident fell ill and 193  or more than a third  occurred outside the facility, such as in a hospital. Nursing home residents account for 450 deaths in the region overall, assisted living facility residents account for 51 deaths, and other adult care facility residents account for 23 deaths.

The addition of out-of-facility death data reveals a 58 percent jump in coronavirus fatalities connected to the regions long-term care facilities. Notably, a bombshell report released last month by state Attorney General Letitia James estimated the state Health Department was publicly undercounting statewide nursing home deaths by as much as 50 percent.

The new data also reveal that more than half of the regions known deaths from COVID-19 have originated from long-term care settings. As of Sunday, 955 residents of the eight-county area were known to have died from the disease.

Wesley Health Care Center in Saratoga Springs has the regions highest known nursing home death toll with 33 residents passing away from coronavirus, according to the states figures. Home of the Good Shepherd  also in Saratoga Springs  has the regions highest known assisted living facility toll with a dozen known coronavirus deaths.

Bill Hammond, senior fellow for health policy at the Empire Center, said in a blog post Saturday that the new disclosures represent only a small fraction of the data the state Health Department has been ordered to release.

The department has now posted facility-level totals for a single dayFeb. 4whereas the center requested facility-level numbers for each day of the pandemic," he wrote.

The department published slightly updated counts on Monday, showing data as of Sunday.

Hammond said the additional detail is necessary to gauge the impact certain events and policies may have had on long-term care facilities, such as the departments controversial March 25, 2020 guidance which stated nursing homes could not deny admission to residents on the basis of COVID-status alone, nor could they require they be tested for coronavirus prior to admittance.

Nursing homes have said they took this to mean they had to accept COVID-positive patients being discharged from hospitals, and worried it may have introduced the virus into the highly vulnerable settings. The state Health Department last summer released a report that relied on its own incomplete death count to absolve itself of blame for the devastation in long-term care settings.
The world of business and industry is indisputably changing. Many new and varied considerations are coming into play which are disrupting old methods and ways of thinking  sustainability, logistics, along with technological development, are merely a few of the elements that are leading companies to redefine their operations around the globe.

Questions must now be asked: Why are healthcare costs spiralling out of control and becoming increasingly unsustainable at the same time that 3D modelling is making ground-breaking advances in medical treatments? How can we tackle the rising emissions levels in urban areas where air pollution is a major health risk? How is our society using data now and how will this continue in the future? How will vehicle rentals and parking become convenient in 2021? The Global Thought Leaders series is dedicated to exploring questions such as these, and learning how the answers will shape the world hereafter.

With several inspiring new documentary films that illuminate the evolving nature of business across sectors as diverse as healthcare, city infrastructure and digital technology; this campaign reveals how the current pivotal moment in history is an undeniable opportunity for reshaping systems, cities and urban infrastructure, all the while making a true difference to society.

Paolo Emilio Zanini, CEO of TBD Media Group, says, 'It is important to give businesses a voice when looking at the potential of our future. When faced with the big challenges that will affect how we thrive in the coming decades, companies and their leaders will play a significant role in determining the direction in which we embark as a society.'

Companies featured in this launch:

NREP , Hopital de La Tour , Parkster AB , IJCLab , Echosens SA , Shining 3D , Experian , Fresenius Kabi , QOMPLX , Coastr, Digital Diagnostics , Danfoss Editron Oy , BeAliveHealthClub, CU Aerospace LLC , Applied Autonomy AS with partners

The campaign is available to watch at https://www.globalthoughtleaders.org/ .

About Global Thought Leaders:

The Global Thought Leaders project showcases the businesses of today shaping the world of tomorrow. From digital transformation to industrial innovation, this thoughtful and insightful documentary series is educating the business community on how to use innovation to transform and grow. Businesses that wish to get involved should contact [email protected].

About TBD Media Group:

TBD Media Group is an international, purpose-driven, media developer that helps companies, organisations and governments tell their brand stories in a human and direct way. Learn more at https://www.tbdmediagroup.com/.

Media Contact:

Jenna-Leigh Soobramoney

Head of Marketing

TBD Media Group

[email protected]

SOURCE TBD Media Group
ABU DHABI: The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has issued a press note directing the Indians stranded in UAE while travelling to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to leave for their home. Many Indians got stranded in UAE after the Saudi and Kuwait authority imposed a travel ban due to the rise in COVID cases.

The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi has advised Indian citizens against travelling to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait via the United Arab Emirates due to "Covid-related restrictions on incoming passengers" imposed in the two countries. The citizens were also suggested to carry sufficient "personal provisions and funds to cater to any emergent requirements".

? Due to the COVID related restriction on incoming passengers, currently it is not possible for Indian nationals to transit via Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. All India nationals are therefore advised to kindly ascertain the latest COVID related travel guidelines of their final destination country before embarking on an outward journey from India. They are also advised to carry enough personal provisions and funds to cater to any emergent requirements,? reads the press release.

The Embassy further advised the Indian nationals who were already in the UAE en route to the two countries, to consider returning home and make their travel plans only when the ongoing restrictions were ease.

The advisory comes after the Consulate General of India in Dubai informed the Embassy that several Indians travelling to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were still stranded in the UAE.

Since December 2020, at least 600 Indians, who wanted to travel to Saudi Arabia, have been stranded in the UAE, a Consulate official told Khaleej Times.

"Due to the fast-evolving international travel protocols, the missions strongly advise all travellers to avoid going to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait using transit routes to avoid the inconvenience of being stranded in the UAE," the official said.

India injects 60 lakh corona vaccinations in 24 days: Health ministry

Farmers' protest: Celebs' tweet will be investigated, Javadekar says 'Patriotic crime in Maharashtra?'

Hardik Pandya gives special advice to Anushka Sharma regarding the child
If you ever received a random email from Microsoft, Paypal, or Facebook, you need to think twice before opening it. Security researchers claimed that these big companies are currently being used by cybercriminals in their phishing campaigns.

According to TechRadar, phishing campaigns are currently very popular across the world. Why? Because most companies and their employees are communicating with each other through different email services.

They are forced to do this since governments in different countries are still implementing restrictions, especially since there are new strains of COVID-19 that are now spreading across the United Kingdom, South Africa, and other places.

Why should you avoid these emails?

Vade Secure, a security firm, discovered that Facebook, Microsoft, and Paypal are among the most-impersonated brands in phishing scams last year of 2020. Hackers and other malicious actors are using their name to sound and look more legitimate.

Also Read: If Your Android Device Heats Up, Then Matryosh Botnet Malware Might be Infecting It; Millions of Gadgets At Risk

The security firm examined more than a billion mailboxes across the globe. Results were revealed in Vade Secure's Phishers' Favorites 2020 report.

Right now, Microsoft is still the number one brand name used by different hackers and cybercriminals. This is currently a serious privacy and security issue since most people are exchanging information online.

On the other hand, security experts added that coronavirus-themed emails have increased way back in 2020. Scammers are usually sending fake offers for facemasks, PPE equipment, and even vaccines. Just like the Microsoft-impersonators, they are also using big names such as the World Health Organization and NHS.

How to avoid these phishing emails

To help the public getting fooled by these phishing emails, the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information provided some tips on how to avoid them.

Here are some signs that the email you received is a phishing email;

Say you must confirm some personal informationinclude a fake invoice

Want you to click on a link to make a payment

Say you're eligible to register for a government refundOffer a coupon for free stuff

Say you must confirm some personal informationinclude a fake invoice

Say they've noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts

Claim there's a problem with your account or your payment information

Here are the things you need to do;

Protect your data by backing it up

Protect your accounts by using multi-factor authentication

Protect your computer by using security software

Protect your mobile phone by setting software to update automatically

For more news updates about the latest security issues, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

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Positive Revision of JV Agreement for 64North Project Alaska

Adelaide, Feb 9, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Resolution Minerals Ltd ( ASX:RML ) executed an Option, Earn-in and Joint Venture (JV) agreement on 17 October 2019 as Northern Cobalt Ltd ( ASX:N27 ) (former company name of Resolution Minerals Ltd) with Millrock Resources Inc ( CVE:MRO ).Change FeeAs a change fee to the terms of the original agreement Resolution will issue Millrock (Vendor) 15 million Resolution Minerals Ltd shares as consideration within 20 business days under RML's existing 7.1 placement capacity.Updated Terms of the Option, Earn-in & Joint Venture agreement to earn up to an 60% on the entire project and an 80% interest on a single "best block" include:The new terms require Resolution to make the following spend to earn-in the 64North Project and certain milestone share and cash payments;- Year 2 - spend a further US$0.9m and cash payment of US$100k to reach 42%;- Year 3 - spend US$2.35m, issue 10m shares and a cash payment of US$100k to reach 51%;- Year 4 - spend US$2.35m, issue 10m shares and cash payment of US$100k to reach 60%.- Noting the carry forward Year 1 overspend of US$1m is taken up in the above calculations in Year 2.Resolution can earn up to 60% of the project by sole funding exploration and making the share and cash payments set out above. Resolution may elect to form a joint venture at the completion of any stage and co-funding conditions will commence. Management is to be by committee with voting according to % interest earnt, with the party with the largest interest, holding the right to be Manager/Operator. Non-contributing parties will be diluted according to an industry standard formula (using a two times dilution rate). If any party is diluted to less than a 10% equity ownership interest their interest will revert to a 1.0% Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty.Right to earn up to 80% on one "Best Block"The project is subdivided into nine blocks (West Pogo, North Pogo, East Pogo, South Pogo, LMS-X, Eagle, Shaw, Divide and Last Chance) of ground as shown Figure 2.* After Resolution completes a 60% earn-in on the entire project, a joint venture will be formed over the entire project. At that point, Resolution can elect to form a specific joint venture on one block of interest, and could then earn up to 80% ownership on one block, as per the terms in the table below by loan carrying MRO to first production. Alternatively, Resolution may elect to forgo nominating a best block and co-funding conditions will commence across the entire project. Non-contributing parties will be diluted according to an industry standard formula (using a two times dilution rate).Grace PeriodDuring the sole funding earn-in period, Resolution has the right to trigger a single "grace period", allowing for a six-month extension to meet our required minimum expenditure for a particular earn-in stage.Earn-in and JV Agreement DetailsRML signed the binding term sheet outlining the Option, Earn-in and JV Agreement on 17 October 2019. Since reaching the agreement, RML has spent ~US$6m and will carry forward US$1m overspend to year 2 - (2nd year of Option Agreement - 31 January 2021 to 31 January 2022). The 8% Management fee due to RML as the Operator grosses up the exploration expenditure calculated to meet the earn-in requirements each year (reducing cash spend).Claim Rents and Option paymentsDuring the term of the agreement RML must keep the tenements (claims) in good standing including payment of annual rentals and meeting statutory exploration expenditure. The first period was 15.5 months long and bridged two annual Claim Rental payments and Option payments for a total of ~ US$455k from 17 Oct 2019 - 31 Jan 2021.Annual Labour Commitments - RegulatoryState of Alaska claims require a minimum annual work commitment of US$420k annually across the 64North project. This was achieved comfortably in 2020 (US$6m) and overspend can be carried forward for a period of 5 years.Regional Expenditure requirementsIn years 1 and 2 there is a minimum of US$1m spend requirement on regional exploration outside of the West Pogo Block. This total was met in year 1 and forward carry of expenditure to year 2 will be taken up.In years 3 and 4 a minimum of US$100k must be spent on each Block or the block reverts to Millrock un-encumbered.First Right of RefusalResolution holds a first right of refusal to purchase Millrock's interest in the 64North Project should it wish to divest itself of the project. Millrock must offer RML 30 days to indicate RML's intention to match a bona-fide offer.Withdrawal from Claims or BlocksRML may elect to remove un-wanted claims or blocks from the agreement which then revert to MRO un-encumbered.Resolution must indicate its intention to withdraw its interest by the 30 June of any year, after Year 2.Existing Royalties, Buy Downs & Milestone PaymentsA maximum 1.5% NSR, after buy downs, exists over much of the 64North Project. In early 2019 the EMX project royalty was granted by Millrock over claims not covered by historic royalties, see TSXV (EMX) announcement 24 April 2019 - EMX Royalty Corp. EMX interest is summarised on the EMX Royalty Map below. Buy downs can be triggered at RML's election costing between US$1m to US$5m resulting in a final 0% to 1.5% NSR depending on the prospect under development. On a positive decision to mine and/or filing a North American reporting code NI 43-101 resource estimate of >1m oz Au at the prospects of ER, Aurora, Reflection, Echo, Sharp, Ser, Eagle, Par, Cen and Scot, a milestone payment of $1/oz Au is due to previous prospectors. The cost of buy downs or milestone payments is considered to be insignificant compared to the development cost of a mine in this region.Managing Director, Duncan Chessell commented:The outcropping gold mineralisation at Sunrise Prospect and the 50-150m depth East Pogo drill targets are our focus in Alaska for 2021. Fortunately, these prospects simply don't cost as much to test as last year's deep diamond core drill targets, on which the deal was based. Working with our project partners Millrock Resources, we have re-cut the deal to reflect the more cost-effective shallower RAB drilling targets planned for 2021. The extensive data collected in 2020 sets the company up to test several highly prospective large scale gold drill targets at the 64North Project this year.To view tables and figures, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/3B9DH3DS 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.

Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-08 23:04:58|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Lunar New Year is a great opportunity for Chinese brands to gain awareness globally, as the Year of the Ox, starting from Friday, is around the corner, David Haigh, CEO of Brand Finance, told Xinhua in a written interview.

"Chinese (Lunar) New Year is already a famous festival all over the world, becoming an important cultural event which often presents an opportunity for people to try Chinese brands and products during the celebrations," said Haigh, CEO of the London-based independent brand valuation and strategy consultancy.

An illustrative example is the traditional Chinese spirit, or Baijiu, which "is mainly consumed by Chinese people, but is labelled as the must-have celebration drink for Chinese New Year among foreigners", he said.

Haigh said he believes that Chinese brands should grab this cultural event to gain brand awareness in markets that are usually difficult for them to enter.

"There are many opportunities to be seized upon, such as potentially sponsoring Chinese (Lunar) New Year festivities," he said.

Noting that the increasingly rising Chinese brands are standing out of the world stage, Haigh hailed it as "an impressive feat" which has been achieved over the past decade.

According to the latest Brand Finance Global 500 2021 report, China ranked the second in terms of brand value breakdown by country -- both in the number of brands and total brand value, he added.

"The 84 Chinese brands in the ranking account for over 20 percent of total brand value, amounting to a remarkable 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars," Haigh said.

"This is an impressive feat considering that only 27 Chinese brands featured in the ranking 10 years ago," he noted.

Speaking of the driving factors behind the emergence of Chinese brands, Haigh said they have "benefitted from a strengthening economy, allowing industries with a traditional advantage -- such as banking and insurance -- to become bigger and stronger."

"However, the key driver for Chinese brands' performance is innovation, particularly in technology," he said, adding that WeChat, Huawei and Alibaba "have become superstar brands, meeting the benchmarks set by the likes of Apple, Samsung and Amazon."

Asked whether he believes Chinese brands would continue to go up in the world in the coming years, Haigh answered "Yes".

He explained that while many countries -- including the United States and most of Europe -- are still under restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China's economy has recovered rapidly from the slump caused by the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Haigh said beyond the pandemic Chinese brands have benefited from governmental initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative, which "has boosted the nation's global reputation."

Asked about the current limitation for Chinese brands to reach out the world's consumers, Haigh said a major issue is that "most of them are geographically limited."

"This issue is illustrated in some of the most famous Chinese brands -- ICBC (the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China), Ping An (a Chinese insurance company), and Yili (a Chinese dairy products producer)...Despite being among the world's most valuable in their sectors, (their) brand awareness outside of China is limited," he said.

He further suggested that these Chinese companies should manage to "break through geographical restrictions and gain global influence".

"As more Chinese companies are realizing that their brand is an important asset for long-term business growth, we expect China's brands to continue to flourish," he said. Enditem
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Chennai, Feb 9 : Drone-as-a-Service company Garuda Aerospace will deploy three drones in rescue and relief operations spearheaded by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in relation to the Nanda Devi Deluge in Uttarakhands Chamoli District, said a top company official.

B0y Venkatachari Jagannathan Chennai, Feb 9 (IANS) Drone-as-a-Service company Garuda Aerospace will deploy three drones in rescue and relief operations spearheaded by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in relation to the Nanda Devi Deluge in Uttarakhands Chamoli District, said a top company official.

"We were approached by NDRF to deploy three drones in the rescue and relief operations at Uttarakhand's Chamoli disaster," Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Managing Director of city-based Garuda Aerospace, told IANS.

He said the company will deploy three types of drones to support the NDRF's rescue and relief measures.

Jayaprakash said one drone will be for video surveillance to assess the extent of damage caused and relaying real time information to ground forces. It will also provide information on the trapped workers of NTPC who were building a power plant there.

The other two drones will be used for stringing cables and for delivery of food and emergency supplies, he added.

The stringing drone will lay cables from one point to another to transfer materials while the drone for delivery of food and emergency supplies can lift up to 20kg, Jayaprakash said.

"The delivery drones were used during Covid pandemic for spraying disinfectants and also for spraying pesticides during anti-locust operations," he said.

"Our team of three drones and four pilots are already in Dehradun and will be airlifted by the NDRF to Joshimath to start drone operations soon," Jayaprakash said.

He said the video surveillance drone will provide live high definition transmission and will have flash lights to be used in tunnels or dark areas.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text


From JustLuxe content partner iW Magazine.

As we noted last week, Parmigiani Fleurier celebrated the 70th birthday of its founder, watchmaker Michel Parmigiani, with a seventy-piece limited edition steel Toric Heritage watch in honor of the first watch he designed.

The new Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Heritage, a limited edition of 70.

The new watchs blue dial is decorated with eye-catching, radiating Grain dOrge guilloche, a pattern also found on the gold rotor. Inside, the in-house COSC-certified Caliber PF441 features two barrels and seven hand-beveled bridges.

As is standard with Parmigiani Fleurier, the movement within the 42.8mm steel-cased watch is finished to haute horlogerie standards, with Cotes de Geneve stripes, spiral-wound and circular-graining on the plates alone. The watchs solid 22-karat rose gold rotor, visible through the clear sapphire caseback, features the same Grain dOrge guilloche engraving seen on the dial.

The watchs solid 22-karat rose gold rotor, visible through the clear sapphire caseback, features the same Grain dOrge guilloche engraving seen on the dial.

The Founder

The company chose to echo its founders first watch in large part because the Toric design (which was updated in 2017) reflects Michel Parmigianis own history and interests.

Michel Parmigiani was born in the Swiss canton of Neuchatel and grew up with a devotion to both watchmaking and architecture. He has described the Toric case as a design inspire by the famed Fibonacci mathematical sequence and by the Golden Ratio that has inspired thousands of years of art and architecture.

Toric collection sketch by Michel Parmigiani.

According to Parmigiani, every aspect of the Torics design starts with the Golden Ratio, including the relationship between the hands, the fluted angles in the crown, the length-to-width ratios, the rate of curvature of the lugs as they taper away from the case, even the caseback design and placement of the sapphire crystal.

While he opted to formally study watchmaking (at the Val-de-Travers watchmaking school in the La Chaux-de-Fonds Technicum) Parmigiani started his career restoring historical clocks, pocket watches and related objects. Among the clients who came to Michel for restoration and maintenance was Switzerlands Sandoz Family Foundation, which owned a significant collection of historical automata and clocks.

Michel Parmigiani was in the 4th year of his watchmaking studies in 1967, when this picture was taken.

Parmigiani eventually established his own restoration workshop, attracting a list of haute horlogerie clients that also included the Patek Philippe museum.

I remember feeling a bit like a pariah, starting this adventure against all advice, Parmigiani says in a press release. Restoring antique timepieces saved me from nihilism. Working, as I was during this period, on so many wonders from times gone by, made the idea that traditional watchmaking might disappear absolutely unthinkable to me. Restoration gave me the confidence I needed to pursue my watchmaking dreams, despite the naysayers.

Parmigiani Fleurier headquarters in Fleurier.

The Sandoz foundation encouraged Parmigiani to create his own watch brand with their full support. This was the beginning of Parmigiani Fleurier, which launched in 1996.

Today, Parmigiani Fleurier encompasses five specialized Swiss firms. Each of the factories also produces parts for other haute horlogerie clients, including La Montre Hermes, the watchmaking division of the celebrated French leather goods house, which is a co-owner of the Vaucher movement manufacturer.

Parmigiani Fleurier will make seventy examples of the new Toric Heritage watch. Price: $17,700.

The movement within the 42.8mm steel-cased watch is finished to haute horlogerie standards.

Specifications: Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Heritage

(Ref. PFC909-0000300-HA3282, a limited edition of 70).

Case: 42.8mm by 10mm polished steel, sapphire crystal and back, individually numbered, 30-meters of water resistance.

Dial: Blue Grain dOrge guilloche, indexes are rhodium-plated 18-karat gold, javelin-shaped hands with luminescent coating.

Movement: In-house PF441 automatic, two barrels, 28,800 vph, 55-hour power reserve, 22-karat solid gold rotor with guilloche finish.

Strap: Hermes Abyss Blue alligator strap with steel folding clasp.

Price: $17,700.

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For readers who have been wondering about more of Halifax: Retribution, theres no decision yet from Nine.

With the costs of Drama production the shows future may hinge on international sales.

Nine Programming Director Hamish Turner acknowledged, One of the things people reacted to was it had a sense of scale and international production values, and that comes through having those deals.

So yes, I think youve hit the nail on the head.

The show was recently acquired in the USA for PBS Masterpiece Channel on Prime Video. Beyond Rights is handling international sales.

A return could still be in the offing for 2022, if not necessarily achievable for 2021 broadcast.

Nine will launch new drama Amazing Grace after the Australian Open with more Doctor Doctor after Easter.

Meanwhile Nine has also not yet announced any plans for Hamish & Andy after their Gap Year and Real Stories seasons. Hamish Blake is back with more Lego Masters while Andy Lee is bound for 10s The Cube.

We still have good relationships with both the guys, says Turner. Andys not exclusive to Channel 10, so we continue to talk with them.

Related
As a vote begins among Amazon workers in Bessemer on whether to join a union, both organizers and the online retailer are using the Internet to make their points.

Ballots go out this week for a mail-in vote among more than 5,000 Amazon workers at the companys fulfillment center in Bessemer. The votes will be counted in late March. If approved, the workers would be represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).

The RWDSU has used social media to get out its message nationally, inspiring tweets and retweets from figures such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Amazon workers have the right to form a union.



Anti-union tactics like these, especially from a trillion-dollar company trying to disrupt essential workers from organizing for better wages and dignified working conditions in a pandemic, are wrong. https://t.co/nTDqMUapYs  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 6, 2021

But both the union and Amazon are employing their own special websites to make their cases, pro and con.

The pro-union site, Bamazonunion.com - makes the union drive synonymous with the state, and employs a logo showing the outline of Alabama, turning Amazons smile logo upside down into a frown. Its a familiar tactic - co-opting the company brand, and flipping the Amazon smile have been used in other campaigns.

Here is full coverage of the Alabama Amazon unionization effort

Chelsea Connor, communications director for the RWDSU, said the frown sends the message that there are issues in the workplace.

We want workers to have security and safety, she said. If a symbol helps us tell that story, then we use it.

The website went live in October. The union also uses text messages to drive workers to new content there.

The RWDSU is employing its own website, Bamazonunion.com, along with a sassy social media campaign to encourage workers at Amazon's Bessemer fulfillment center to join the union.

The sites message, with videos and text, paints a picture of a union bringing workers dignity and respect. It also touts benefits of representation, such as just cause terminations instead of at-will firings. The site offers information about grievance procedures, and says that a union can form a worker safety committee to negotiate better safety standards. To underline the point, the site links to several news stories about studies of working conditions in Amazon facilities.

When workers come together to form a union, they win dignity and respect at work, the site says. Together we can win a real seat at the table with Amazon, make our working conditions safer, fight for needed benefits and ensure good jobs in our community.

The unions Twitter account shares video testimonials from workers and retweets news stories and shows of support.

To make its case against a union, Amazons site, doitwithoutdues.com, hammers home a message that members will be on the hook for monthly dues, and at the mercy of a union that could vote to strike, endangering their jobs and benefits.

Dues mean donts! it states. Dont buy that dinner, dont buy those school supplies, dont buy those gifts because you wont have that almost $500 you paid in dues. WHY NOT save the money and get the books, gifts & things you want? DO IT without dues!

Amazon's site, doitwithoutdues.com, gives Q&A sections on what it says would happen if a union comes to the Bessemer fulfillment center.

The Amazon site, which showed up shortly after an election was called, employs a series of questions and answers that create the impression that workers would have little control over what decisions a union makes if they vote to join it. With photos of workers in COVID masks showing thumbs up around the center, it contrasts doers - employees committed to productivity and success, with duers - making a more adversarial work atmosphere.

IF YOURE PAYING DUES it will be RESTRICTIVE meaning it wont be easy to be as helpful and social with each other. So be a DOER, stay friendly and get things done versus paying dues, the website states.

An Amazon spokesperson told The New York Times the website is educational and helps employees understand the facts of joining a union.

At least one answer in the Q&A section, though, is misleading. In answer to the question, Why is voting important? the site claims that if a majority of people voting in the election approve a union, all 5000+ associates at BHM1 are unionized, even if they dont want the union. Dont let the union win by default.

Alabama is a right-to-work state, meaning union membership is not required as a condition of employment, and employees cannot be forced to join a union or pay union dues.

The union site tries to combat some of Amazons talking points, such as the danger of a strike. The union says strikes are rare, and that it would take a supermajority of union members to approve a strike, meaning about 4,000 employees would have to approve. That number, of course, assumes a majority of workers at the center would opt to join.

The Amazon site has even inspired a parody site, Justdue.it, which reuses the images and aesthetics of Amazons anti-union site to give a pro-union message. Connor said the RWDSU is not responsible for this site.


The former Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai (rtd), has said that he would not reply the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the party's criticism of his tenure, insisting he had performed well.

The PDP had faulted his nomination as ambassador, saying it was a ploy by government to shield him and other service chiefs from probe over alleged human rights abuses committed as service chiefs.

Buratai, who spoke at a reception organised by the 29th Regular Course in his honour in Abuja, said he had no word for the position of the opposition.

"It's an honourable retirement and also an honourable appointment. I'm not a politician, so I have no word for the opposition. I have done well", he said.

He said his reign as army chief was eventful.

"I am happy that in July last year, my officers at the Army headquarters compiled a compendium of my achievements.

"In fact, I can't even remember all the projects that we have executed. Is it in terms of infrastructure? Is it in terms of capacity building? Is it in terms of training?", he queried.

Buratai said "since I was appointed, there was never a dull moment in terms of training.

"Remember the various exercises. These are training exercises from 'Python dance', 'Crocodile smile', and even the latest one 'Exercise Sahel Sanity'.

"Is it in the area of medical? In terms of education of our children and wards, the Nigerian Army University are all great achievements."

The former army chief commended members of the 29th Regular Course Association for being such wonderful friends and course mates and organising such a befitting event in his honour, adding that he felt so happy to be celebrated.

"It means a lot to me and my family. It is also a mark of fulfilment and pride that you have been recognised for the service you have rendered to your nation and your people," he said.
Armie Hammer is not a suspect in a Wonder Valley death investigation, despite online claims he was working on a hotel near a site where human remains have been found.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office told The Sun that it had 'no plans' to investigate the Hollywood actor over the unidentified remains, which were found on January 31.

'Armie Hammer's name hasn't come up as a suspect at all. We have no plans to investigate him,' a spokesperson told the paper.

Hammer, 34, has been embroiled in controversy for weeks over accusations of sexual assault made by former partners which have seen him dropped from a number of projects.

Women began coming forward after unverified social media messages, purportedly sent by Hammer, were leaked online.

The messages included graphic descriptions of cannibalism fantasies, abuse and a BDSM fetish.

Hammer has denied the sexual abuse allegations, saying there has been a 'vicious online attack' against him.

Armie Hammer is not a suspect in a Wonder Valley death investigation, despite online claims he was working on a hotel near a site where human remains have been found [File photo]

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office told The Sun that it had 'no plans' to investigate Hammer (pictured) over the unidentified remains, which were found on January 31 [File photo]

The actor was dropped by his agency and publicist over the weekend, throwing the online rumor mill into overdrive amid speculation that a shocking expose was about to be published.

Instagram account Deux Moi, which publishes unverified celebrity gossip, shared a number of submissions indicating that a shocking story about Hammer would be published soon.

House of Effie - the Instagram account which first posted the messages allegedly from Hammer - then posted: 'Holy s**t. I know what's going to come out. It's bad. Really bad. Like I'm shaking and I feel like I'm gonna throw up bad and I'm w[ith] my whole family.

'What he and his friends have done is worse than anything I have posted. Justice will be served.'

The actor was dropped by his agency and publicist over the weekend, throwing the online rumor mill into overdrive amid speculation that a shocking expose was about to be published. Pictured: A post from Instagram account House of Effie

According to The Sun, social media users then began speculating that the reported upcoming story might be linked to the remains found last Sunday.

'This is all alleged with #Armie Hammer until proven otherwise. Remember when Armie Hammer suddenly began working in construction mid-pandemic and mid-divorce last year? Suddenly, he was employed, in between jobs, working on a hotel in the middle of the desert,' online magazine In The Cut wrote on Twitter.

'In the six months during his employment, 10-15 minutes away from the site, the remains of the three women have been found, In The Cut claimed.

'We are not conflating the two ideas, but there have been long-standing rumors for awhile.'

Social media users began speculating that a reportedly explosive upcoming story on Hammer might be linked to the human remains found last Sunday in Wonder Valley

Some social media accounts have speculated that the unidentified remains could belong to Erika Lloyd, a California mom who went missing in Joshua Tree National Park in June 2020.

Hammer's name has come up online in relation to the remains because the actor has said he had worked in construction at a Twentynine Palms property near the park over the summer.

'I have been productive. I've been really fortunate. I mean look, the world's falling apart, it's the apocalypse, but funny enough, my buddy Ashton [Ramsey] bought an old motel out in the desert.

'It was this kind of abandoned, rundown motel, and I came back from the Cayman Islands where I was during quarantine and I was like, 'Dude, I have nothing to do.' He was like, 'Do you wanna come live with me in this abandoned motel and do construction with me?,' Hammer told Jimmy Kimmel Live in October 2020.

Hammer's name has come up online in relation to the remains because the actor has said he had worked in construction at a Twentynine Palms property near the park over the summer. Pictured: An Instagram post shared by Hammer of his friend Ashton Ramsey, with whom he worked on the hotel

Some social media accounts have speculated that the unidentified remains could belong to Erika Lloyd, a California mom who went missing in Joshua Tree National Park in June 2020

He had previously mentioned the project in an Instagram post in August which was tagged at Joshua Tree National Park.

'This one of my best friends, Ashton. For the last 2 months or so I have lived with Ashton, worked construction with Ashton, and hiked with Ashton every day. He has been such a good friend (and boss) and has been the most supportive friend anyone could ever ask for. Today might be my birthday, but I just wanna say thank you to @ashtonramsey and say I love you dude,' Hammer wrote under a picture of his friend.

Deux Moi appeared to deny the speculated link between Hammer and the remains, saying there was 'no way' and that people were 'reaching'.

Another user said in an anonymous screenshot that they did not believe the rumours, claiming Hammer had 'girls there the whole time' and that he would not have mentioned the project on TV 'if he had killed two people.'

Hammer has not commented on the speculation but previously confirmed that he will no longer appear in rom-com Shotgun Wedding with Jennifer Lopez.

''I'm not responding to these bulls**t claims but in light of the vicious and spurious online attacks against me. I cannot in good conscience now leave my children for four months to shoot a film in the Dominican Republic.

'Lionsgate is supporting me in this and I'm grateful to them for that,' he said in a statement to the Daily Mail and other news organisations last month.

Hammer and his wife Elizabeth Chambers - who have two children - separated last July after 10 years of marriage [File photo]

Hammer and his wife Elizabeth Chambers - who have two children - separated last July after 10 years of marriage.

Chambers responded to the allegations against Hammer in an Instagram post last week, saying: 'For weeks, I've been trying to process everything that has transpired. I am shocked, heartbroken, and devastated.

'Heartbreak aside, I am listening, and will continue to listen and educate myself on these delicate matters. I didn't realize how much I didn't know.

'My sole focus and attention will continue to be on our children, on my work and on healing during this incredibly difficult time,' Chambers wrote.

In a recent interview, Hammer's ex-girlfriend Paige Lorenze told The Kyle and Jackie O Show that the actor 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. '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 Rebecca actor would have really eaten her ribs, Lorenze responded firmly: '100 percent.'

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, she said.

Another ex-girlfriend, Courtney Vucekovich, told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview that the 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.
Khartoum / New York  The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) has announced that the UN-EU Counter-Terrorism Partnership for Sudan was launched today, together with Sudan and through its National Commission for Counter-Terrorism (SNCCT). The first capacity-building activity focused on countering the financing of terrorism has been held within this framework.

According to a statement by UNOCT today, the event was opened by Sayed Altyeb, Representative of Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who extended thanks and appreciation to UNOCT and the European Union for developing and financing this constructive programme. "There is no doubt that the noble goals that this programme seeks to achieve, are completely in the context of the efforts adopted by the Sudanese government aimed at raising awareness, building knowledge and providing support to combat terrorism, and developing strategies and programmes that transform these hopes into reality," he added.

In a video message addressed to participants, Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of UNOCT stressed "the excellent cooperation we have developed with Sudan's National Commission for Counter-Terrorism," and that "it is only appropriate that our project's first capacity-building workshop focuses on countering the financing of terrorism, a key priority for the international counter-terrorism agenda."

Daniel Weiss, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Sudan indicated that "Countering the financing of terrorism remains a high priority for the European Union as the EU's leaders declared it last November. Thus, the EU is delighted to support this workshop under the "UN-EU Counter-Terrorism Partnership for Sudan" project, implemented by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism. It's important to highlight that this project - worth well over 1 million dollars, will also make sure that the respect for human dignity and human rights and the rule of law is intertwined in all counter-terrorism measures in Sudan."

The opening session was also attended by senior officials from the government of Sudan, senior representatives from the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) and the UN Country Team as well as the diplomatic community.

The workshop, held today and tomorrow in Khartoum, aims at strengthening the capacity of Sudanese authorities to counter the financing of terrorism by addressing the international countering terrorist financing framework, respect of human rights in counter-terrorism, regional risks and vulnerabilities and the importance of public-private partnerships. It is organized with the Global Programme on Countering the Financing of Terrorism in the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) within UNOCT, the statement says.

This workshop is the first of a series of thematic trainings to be delivered under the UN-EU Counter-Terrorism Partnership for Sudan, an initiative funded by the European Union and aimed at strengthening the capacity of Sudan's authorities to prevent and counter terrorism, in compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law. Within this framework, UNOCT is providing and mobilizing capacity building support to address technical assistance needs jointly identified with Sudanese authorities in areas such as legislative assistance, border security and management and upholding human rights while countering terrorism, the statement concludes.

Sudan removed from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST)

In December 2020, the USA officially announced the removal of Sudan from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) after 30 years of sanctions.

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In a recent op-ed republished by Radio Dabanga, Cameron Hudson, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Africa Centre and former chief of staff to the US special envoy to Sudan asserts: "While Sudan's removal from the terrorism list won't do much in the short term to alleviate the economic pain, it provides a monumental political win for the transitional government, which came into office pledging to remove Sudan from the list and remake the country's relationship with the rest of the world. Removal from the terrorism list was the government's ultimate prize and brings with it a precious injection of political capital that, at a minimum, will provide more time for the government to try to get its economic house in order and make good on the promise of delivering a lasting democracy dividend to Sudan's long-suffering population."
Salesforce, San Franciscos largest private employer, will permanently allow most workers to stay home for two or more days a week, a major shift that could dampen downtowns economic recovery well beyond the coronavirus pandemic.

The cloud software company, which has over 9,000 San Francisco workers, said most staff will be in the office for one to three days per week. Workers who dont need to be in an office can be fully remote, while a minority of workers will be at desks four or five days a week.

The move could lead to a reduction in its office space, but the company said it didnt have immediate details on that. Its a sharp reversal from the years of real estate growth both in San Francisco and around the world. Salesforce and many of its tech peers pushed San Franciscos office prices to record highs, with many cramming employees into densely filled benches and desks.

With numerous tech companies like Twitter, Pinterest, Dropbox, Yelp and now Salesforce embracing remote work programs beyond the pandemic, the Bay Areas status as the premier tech hub, along with its urban economic vitality, is in doubt. Empty streets and shuttered storefronts may linger even as some workers are vaccinated and return to offices if others stay home or leave the region entirely.

The reassessment of office-space needs is broader than tech. Gap Inc. told employees Monday that it would consolidate its San Francisco offices and close a separate headquarters building for Old Navy in Mission Bay. San Francisco office vacancy rose to a 16-year high of 17.8% in January, according to real estate brokerage Cushman & Wakefield. The only significant new lease signed last year was an expansion by life sciences firm Vir Biotechnology, which took a portion of Dropboxs headquarters.

Salesforce is one of the citys biggest office tenants. It leases nearly two-thirds of its namesake Salesforce Tower, the Bay Areas tallest building. It also owns 50 Fremont St. and leases all of 350 Mission St., along with 546 Howard St., an unbuilt tower a few blocks away. Salesforce is buying Slack, which is headquartered at nearby 500 Howard St.

Salesforce said it was rethinking its workplaces and culture to give employees more flexibility and attract new hires from a broader geographic area. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also said that the tech giant will be able to recruit from more diverse areas as it increases remote work. Google is also testing a flexible policy that requires employees to be in the office only three days a week.

This work-from-anywhere model will unlock new growth opportunities that will help us drive greater equality. Our talent strategy is no longer bound by barriers like location, so we can broaden our search beyond traditional city centers and welcome untapped talent from new communities and geographies, Brent Hyder, Salesforces chief people officer, wrote in a blog post.

Employee surveys show that nearly half of workers wanted to come into an office only a few times a month, but the vast majority wanted to have the option. Salesforce has 54,000 total employees and a market capitalization of $218 billion.

The majority of our employees will go back to the office at least some of the time. And weve learned that 80% of our employees are hungry for the connection, camaraderie and innovation that come from gathering in person, Hyder wrote.

Interactive Vaccine Tracker: Latest developments Detailed information about the coronavirus vaccines as it becomes available.

To start, well be redesigning our workspaces over time as community hubs to accommodate a more hybrid workstyle. Gone are the days of a sea of desks  well create more collaboration and breakout spaces to foster the human connection that cant be replicated remotely, he added.

Business groups have warned that the corporate shift to remote work will lure people out of the Bay Area and hurt local government budgets and job growth. Some have argued that a slew of new taxes, many passed at the ballot, and high housing costs are crippling the regions competitiveness.

We need to face reality: the workplace has fundamentally changed, said Jennifer Stojkovic, executive director of SF.citi  the citys main tech industry trade group  in a statement. As we think through the future of work and what it means for San Francisco, I implore our city leadership to consider the policies we are putting in place today  and whether or not these policies will help us grow the next Salesforce and remain competitive as the worlds capital of innovation.

Going remote Businesses that let people work from home during the pandemic out of necessity are now considering longer-term strategies. Here are some terms you need to know, and what some of the region's biggest employers plan. Remote-friendly, remote-flexible: Has policies that accommodate remote work, like holding meetings by video Remote-first, fully remote: All employees work remotely; meetings and workflow assume everyone works from home Hybrid: Some employees work remotely and some work together in-person Split: Members of the same team work in different locations and hence operate as if remote Google: Testing flexible week with employees working remote two days a week Facebook: Employees can request permanent remote work, along with some new hires Salesforce: Majority of employees will be remote at least two days a week Twitter: Permanent remote work for almost all employees Brex, Coinbase, Dropbox, Reddit, Square: Remote-first for all or almost all employees Source: Chronicle reporting See More Collapse

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
Mr. Neffs background, combined with his family history of over 100 total years of success in the real estate business, strikes a sales trifecta that Bielat Santore & Company looks to take advantage of in expanding their team.

Bielat Santore & Company expands their salesforce with the addition of their newest member, Mr. Alex Neff. Mr. Neff joins the firms other salesmen, Robert Gillis, David Alvarez, and Daniel Lynch. Mr. Neffs will be responsible for new business development in both Camden and Gloucester counties in New Jersey.

Alex is no stranger to the food and beverage business gaining experience working in both the front and back of the house at various restaurants since he was 16 years old. He also collected extensive knowledge in business development in the restaurant and hospitality sectors while working as a durables supply broker for a national wholesaling company, receiving several awards and accolades for his admirable work ethic and quality results.

Mr. Neffs background, combined with his family history of over 100 total years of success in the real estate business, strikes a sales trifecta that Bielat Santore & Company looks to take advantage of in expanding their team.

Read more about Alex Neff on Bielat Santore & Companys website at https://www.123bsc.com/meet-the-team/.

About Bielat Santore & Company

Bielat Santore & Company is an established commercial real estate firm. The companys expertise lies chiefly within the restaurant and hospitality industry, specializing in the sale of restaurants and other food and beverage real estate businesses. Since 1978, the principals of Bielat Santore & Company, Barry Bielat and Richard Santore, have sold more restaurants and similar type properties in New Jersey than any other real estate company. Furthermore, the firm has secured in excess of $500,000,000 in financing to facilitate these transactions. Visit the companys website, http://www.123bsc.com for the latest in new listings, property searches, available land, market data, financing trends, RSS feeds, press releases and more.
2 Christians flogged for violating Islamic law in Indonesia

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Two Christian men in Indonesia were flogged on Monday for drinking alcohol and gambling, which are crimes in the conservative Muslim Aceh province.

Agence France Press reports that each of the two men received 40 lashes from a masked Sharia officer who beat their backs with a cane.

Five others were flogged Monday in addition to the Christian men. The five others, all Muslims, were punished for the crimes of adultery and alcohol consumption.

One of the Christian men, who identified only as JF, told the news agency that he chose to be flogged to avoid a criminal prosecution in which he could have been jailed for up to six months.

The Sharia police gave us options, and we consciously decided to comply with the Islamic criminal code, the accused was quoted as saying. No one forced me to choose it.

According to the International Crisis Group, Aceh is the only province in Indonesia with the legal right to apply Islamic law in full. It has slowly put Sharia frameworks in place since 1999.

Although Sharia law is only supposed to apply to Muslim adherents, non-Muslims can choose whether they are punished under the criminal code or Islamic system.

Although flogging of non-Muslims is not common in Aceh, the two men are not the first non-Muslims to be canned in the province.

In 2018, a Christian couple was publicly flogged after being accused of using a childrens game for gambling. According to The Jakarta Post, the couple chose to receive eight and seven lashes rather than spend months in prison.

Last month, a gay couple was flogged nearly 80 times because they were caught engaging in sexual acts. Since Aceh is under ultra-conservative rule, homosexuality is banned in the province.

Islamic [S]haria enforcement is final, no matter who it is, and even visitors must respect local norms, public order official Heru Triwijanarko told AFP at the time.

Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim country, ranks as the 47th worst country for Christian persecution on Open Doors USAs 2021 World Watch List.

The human rights group reports that the situation for Christians in the Southeast Asian country has deteriorated in recent years because the Indonesian society has taken on a more conservative Islamic character. However, the level of persecution Christians face in Indonesia depends on the regions in which they live.

In certain hot spots, like West Java or Aceh, extremist Islamic groups are strong and heavily influence society and politics, an Open Doors factsheet explains. If they catch Christians evangelizing, believers could run into problems. Also, non-traditional church groups tend to experience difficulties getting permission for building churches. Even if they manage to fulfill all legal requirements (including winning court cases), the local authorities still often ignore them.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has advised the U.S. State Department to list Indonesia on its special watch list of countries that engage in or tolerate severe religious freedom violations.

In its 2020 annual report, USCIRF notes that Indonesia's religious freedom conditions are trending negatively since many religious minorities are prosecuted under blasphemy laws, and intolerant hardline groups continue to threaten religious minority houses of worship.

Reports from local nongovernmental organizations indicated that the provinces of West Java, Jakarta, and East Java had the highest number of incidents of religious intolerance  including discrimination, hate speech, acts of violence, and rejections of permits to build houses of worship for minority religious communities, the annual report states.
Filaments made of polymer-coated iron oxide nanoparticles are obtained by exposing the material to a magnetic field under controlled temperature; the applications are myriad and include transporting substances into cells or directing fluids

Researchers at the University of Campinas's Chemistry Institute (IQ-UNICAMP) in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, have developed a template-free technique to fabricate cilia of different sizes that mimic biological functions and have multiple applications, from directing fluids in microchannels to loading material into a cell, for example. The highly flexible cilia are based on polymer-coated iron oxide nanoparticles, and their motion can be controlled by a magnet.

In nature, cilia are microscopic hairlike structures found in large numbers on the surface of certain cells, causing currents in the surrounding fluid or, in some protozoans and other small organisms, providing propulsion.

To fabricate the elongated nanostructures without using a template, Watson Loh and postdoctoral fellow Aline Grein-Iankovski coated particles of iron oxide (-Fe 2 O 3 , known as maghemite) with a layer of a polymer containing thermoresponsive phosphonic acid groups and custom-synthesized by a specialized company. The technique leverages the binding affinity of phosphonic acid groups to metal oxide surfaces, fabricating the cilia by means of temperature control and use of a magnetic field.

"The materials don't bind at room temperature or thereabouts, and form a clump without the stimulus of a magnetic field," Loh explained. "It's the effect of the magnetic field that gives them the elongated shape of a cilium."

Grein-Iankovski started with stable particles in solution and had the idea of obtaining the cilia during an attempt to aggregate the material. "I was preparing loose elongated filaments in solution and thought about changing the direction field," she recalled. "Instead of orienting them parallel to the glass slide, I placed them in a perpendicular position and found they then tended to migrate to the surface of the glass. I realized that if I forced them to stick to the glass, I could obtain a different type of material that wouldn't be loose: its movement would be ordered and collaborative."

The thermoresponsive polymer binds to the surface of the nanoparticles and organizes them into elongated filaments when the mixture is heated and exposed to a magnetic field. The transition occurs at a biologically compatible temperature (around 37 C). The resulting magnetic cilia are "remarkably flexible", she added. By increasing the concentration of the nanoparticles, their length can be varied from 10 to 100 microns. One micron (m) is a millionth of a meter.

"The advantage of not using a template is not being subject to the limitations of this method, such as size, for example," Grein-Inakovski explained. "In this case, to produce very small cilia we would have to create templates with microscopic holes, which would be extremely laborious. Adjustments to coat density and cilium size would require new templates. A different template has to be used for each end-product thickness. Furthermore, using a template adds another stage to the production of cilia, which is the fabrication of the template itself."

Grein-Iankovski is the lead author of an article published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C on the invention, which was part of a Thematic Project supported by FAPESP, with Loh as principal investigator.

"The Thematic Project involves four groups who are investigating how molecules and particles are organized at the colloidal level, meaning at the level of very small structures. Our approach is to try to find ways of controlling these molecules so that they aggregate in response to an external stimulus, giving rise to different shapes with a range of different uses," Loh said.

Reversibility

After the magnetic field is removed, the material remains aggregated for at least 24 hours. It then disaggregates at a speed that depends on the temperature at which it was prepared. "The higher the temperature, the more intense the effect and the longer it remains aggregated outside the magnetic field," Grein-Iankovski said.

According to Loh, the reversibility of the material is a positive point. "In our view, being able to organize and disorganize the material, to 'switch the system on and off', is an advantage," Loh said. "We can adjust the temperature, how long it remains aggregated, cilium length, and coat density. We can customize the material for many different types of use, organize it and shape it for specific purposes. I believe the potential applications are countless, from biological to physical uses, including materials science applications."

Another major advantage, Grein-Iankovski added, is the possibility of manipulating the material externally, where the tool used to do so is not inside the system. "The filaments can be used to homogenize and move particles in a fluid microsystem, in microchannels, simply by approaching a magnet from the outside. They can be made to direct fluid in this way, for example."

The cilia can also be used in sensors, in which the particles respond to stimuli from a molecule, or to feed microscopic living organisms. "Ultimately it's possible to feed a microorganism or cell with loose cilia, which cross the cell membrane under certain conditions. They can be made to enter a cell, and a magnetic field is applied to manipulate their motion inside the cell," Loh said.

For more than ten years, Loh has collaborated with Jean-Francois Berret at Paris Diderot University (Paris 7, France) in research on the same family of polymers to obtain elongated materials for use in the biomedical field. "We're pursuing other partnerships to explore other possible uses of the cilia," he said.

The scientists now plan to include a chemical additive in the nanostructures that will bind the particles chemically, obtaining cilia with a higher mechanical strength that remain functional for longer when not exposed to a magnetic field, if this is desirable.

###

About Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
In his farewell speech in the Rajya Sabha, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad spoke about his 41 years of political journey and then said that he is among 'the fortunate ones who never went to Pakistan'. The Congress veteran leader will retire from the Upper House on February 15.

While referring to Pakistan, Azad said, "I am among those fortunate people who never went to Pakistan. When I read about circumstances in Pakistan, I feel proud to be a Hindustani Muslim."

READ | PM Modi Gets Emotional While Bidding Farewell To Cong MP Ghulam Nabi Azad In Rajya Sabha

PM Modi gets emotional

PM Modi said, "The person who will replace Ghulam Nabi Ji (as Leader of Opposition) will have difficulty matching his work because he was not only concerned about his party but also about the country and the House."

While referring to the incident of a terror attack on Gujarat pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir, teary-eyed PM Modi said that at that time, the Congress MP had called him to inform him about the incident. Speaking further, he said that during that time, Azad had called him twice and had also volunteered to help carry the bodies of those who had died in that incident. "Ghulam Nabi Azad cared about everyone as family members," PM Narendra Modi added.

READ | PM Modi To Reply To 'Motion Of Thanks' On The Presidents Address In Rajya Sabha Today

VP Venkaiah Naidu bids farewell to Ghulam Nabi Azad

While bidding farewell to Ghulam Nabi Azad, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said that the Congress MP had always been a voice of sanity for decades. Stating that he will miss Azad immensely, the Vice President said, "He is the veteran of the House. He speaks softly but conveys points effectively which should be the way. He has helped me resolve issues. You are all only retired but not tired from offering your service. I don't have words to say how much I will miss him. It's going to be painful for all of us."

READ | 'Violence Will Never Be Justified': First Lady Melania Trump Bids Farewell

READ | Trump Congratulates 'new Administration' But Ignores Biden's Name In Farewell Address
The number of newborns in China plummeted 15% in 2020 from a year earlier, according to the ministry of public security, with the onset of the novel coronavirus disrupting the economy and weighing on decisions to have a family. Posts on Chinese social media with the hashtag How to get China out of a low fertility trap" were viewed 120 million times as of Tuesday, with some comments linking low fertility rates to high living costs, while others said social norms were changing, reports Reuters. For more updates, heres Mint Lite.

Colombia stands up for migrants

View Full Image Colombia stands up for migrants

Colombia will register hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants and refugees currently in the country without papers, in a bid to provide them with legal residence permits and facilitate their access to health care and legal employment opportunities. President Ivan Duque said that through a new temporary protection statute, Venezuelan migrants who are in the country illegally will be eligible for 10-year residence permits, while migrants who are currently on temporary residence will be able to extend their stay. The new measure could benefit up to one million Venezuelan citizens who are currently living in Colombia without proper papers, as well as hundreds of thousands who need to extend temporary visas. President Duque announced the protection measure in a stately government palace in Bogota while standing with Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Valneva open for partnerships

View Full Image Valneva open for partnerships

French pharmaceutical company Valneva is looking for production partnerships should its covid-19 vaccine candidate secure approval and generate enough interest beyond Britain and the European Union, its chief financial officer told Reuters. David Lawrence said the drugmaker was exploring an entry into the US market for its vaccine, the only French shot close to entering late-stage human trials. Britain was due to receive the first doses produced in late September at the earliest, he said. Valneva has signed a deal with Britain for up to 190 million doses by 2025 in a transaction worth potentially up to 1.4 billion ($1.69 billion). Lawrence said he expected talks with the European Union for a provisional 60 million doses to conclude within the next few months". The companys vaccine is derived from a licensed Japanese encephalitis vaccine and will be produced in Scotland.

Rescue operations continue

View Full Image Rescue operations continue

The death toll from the Uttarakhand glacier disaster rose to 28 with the recovery of two more bodies, even as a multi-agency operation to rescue around 30 workers feared trapped inside a swamped tunnel at the Tapovan power project in Chamoli district continued on Tuesday. Around 170 people are still missing after Sundays disaster apparently caused by a glacier burst, according to the latest data. The National Disaster Response Force said its personnel recovered two bodies from debris in Raini village on Tuesday morning. The workers have been trapped in the 12-foot-high and about 2.5-km-long head race tunnel. Relief is also being distributed by helicopters among residents of more than a dozen villages cut off due to the washing away of a bridge.

Mars to see busy season

View Full Image Mars to see busy season

A spacecraft from the United Arab Emirates was set to swing into orbit around Mars in the Arab worlds first interplanetary mission on Tuesday, the first of three robotic explorers arriving at the red planet over the next week and a half. The orbiter, called AmalArabic for hopetravelled 500 million km in nearly seven months to get to Mars with the goal of mapping its atmosphere throughout each season. A combination orbiter and lander from China is close behind, scheduled to reach the planet on Wednesday. It will circle Mars until the rover separates and attempts to land on the surface in May to look for signs of ancient life. A rover from the US named Perseverance is set to join the crowd next week, aiming for a landing 18 February. It will be the first leg in a decade-long US-European project to bring Mars rocks back to Earth, reports AP. However, about 60% of all Mars missions have ended in failure.

Fishing nets pose threat to whales

View Full Image Fishing nets pose threat to whales

The risk that whales can get entangled in fishing nets appears to have been underestimated, according to a new study, reports BBC. As many as 60% of blue whales in Canadas Gulf of St Lawrence have come into contact with fishing ropes and nets, based on scarring seen on photographs snapped by drones. Whales can suffocate or starve after getting tied up in fishing gear. Reports of very large whales getting trapped in fishing gear are rare compared with smaller species, leading to the assumption that they arent as much at risk. But a new study, led by experts at the University of St Andrews, Fife, casts doubt on this idea. The researchers analysed images taken by drones of blue and fin whales in Canadas Gulf of St Lawrencean important summer feeding ground for whales. The researchers say deaths from entanglement could tip some whale populations into decline.

Curated by Sohini Sen. Have something to share with us? Write to us at feedback@livemint or tweet to @shohinisen

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She captivated moviegoing audiences in the late 1950s in a role opposite James Stewart in Alfred Hitchcock's classic Vertigo.

And now Kim Novak is opening up about her decision to leave Hollywood, decades later.

In an interview with People for her new book Kim Novak: Her Art and Life, the retired actress, 87, explains that 'It was a survival issue.'

She captivated moviegoing audiences in Alfred Hitchcock's classic Vertigo: And now screen legend Kim Novak is opening up about her decision to leave Hollywood, decades later

'I had to leave to survive,' she told the outlet. 'I lost a sense of who I truly was and what I stood for.'

'I fought all the time back in Hollywood to keep my identity so you do whatever you have to do to hold on to who you are and what you stand for,' Kim also said.

And fight she did, in a time when it was even more difficult for a woman to be heard in Hollywood than it is today.

One of the actress-turned-painter's first points of contention at the time was her name.

In an interview for her new book Kim Novak: Her Art and Life, the retired actress, now 87, explains that 'it was a survival issue'; seen with her husband Robert Malloy in 2013

'I was both dazzled and disturbed to see me being packaged as a Hollywood sex symbol,' Novak writes in the introduction to her new book.

'However, I did win my fight over identity. I wouldn't allow [then-Columbia Pictures chief] Harry Cohn to take my bohemian roots away by denying me my family name. Novak. I stood my ground and won my first major battle,' the star, born Marilyn Pauline Novak, continued.

Novak burst onto the scene in Hollywood in the early '50s, in films such as 1954's Phffft opposite Jack Lemmon, Picnic the following year with William Holden, and 1957's Pal Joey with Frank Sinatra.

Another scene from 1958's Vertigo, opposite James Stewart: 'I was both dazzled and disturbed to see me being packaged as a Hollywood sex symbol,' Novak wrote of the time

But it was two films with Hollywood megastar Jimmy Stewart in 1958  Bell Book and Candle and especially Vertigo  that would make Kim a household name.

'There was constant pressure to be seen and not heard,' she wrote, 'especially if you had a pretty face.

'In Hollywood a lot of people assume who you are, because of the character you play, but also just because of who they expect you to be, how they expect you to dress,' she said.

Blonde bombshell: Novak burst onto the scene in the early '50s, in films such as 1954's Phffft (pictured) opposite Jack Lemmon, and Picnic the following year with William Holden

'I kept feeling like I was going deeper and deeper, lost in almost like a quicksand, where it's swallowing you up, your own personality, and I'd started to wonder who I am,' Novak explained. 'I realized needed to save myself.'

And that was why the retired actress famously left Tinseltown and drove north, eventually moving to the Pacific coast of Oregon.

'I needed the Pacific Ocean to inspire me, the animals, the beauty,' the Chicago native said. 'I wanted to live a normal life and a life with animals.'

Unforgettable: But it was two films with Hollywood megastar Jimmy Stewart in 1958  Bell Book and Candle and especially Vertigo  that would make Kim a household name

In the time since, Kim said she'd been approached numerous times to write a 'tell-all' about her time in Hollywood, but she declined.

'I've never done one of those tell-all books that they wanted me to do for so long, and I thought this is the kind of book I'd like to do,' she said of her new art book. 'Actually, I had written my autobiography and it was almost complete but I had a house fire and the house burned down and I made no copies. I just couldn't go through it again because I had spent so much time. But it was okay because it was a catharsis just to do it.'

'I'm so glad I didn't do the tell-all book, where you write all about your love life,' Kim later added. 'That wasn't who I was. This book tells who I am.'

In the time since: Kim said she'd been approached numerous times to write a 'tell-all' about her time in Hollywood, but she declined; seen here circa 1970 with Malloy

The octogenarian screen siren keeps dogs, cats and horses where she lives, and she still rides her horse to this day.

Kim married her second husband Robert Malloy, an equine veterinarian whom she referred to as her 'soul mate', in 1976, and the pair remained together until his death last November.

'I don't feel 87,' she told People. 'I don't keep tract of the time. If I did, I'd be an old lady and I'm not an old lady. I'm still riding my horse. I stay as healthy as I can.'

Longtime love: Kim married her second husband Robert Malloy, an equine veterinarian, in 1976, and the pair remained together until his death last November

Looking back on her time in Hollywood, it isn't all bad, as she remains proud of some of her films as well as working with the inimitable Stewart  'He didn't let Hollywood change who he was,' Novak reflected.

'People can remember me in movies but I want them to see me as an artist,' she also shared. 'What's great about painting is, you become the director too. No one's telling you how to do it. You get to direct the whole thing.'

'I've been influenced a lot by Hitchcock in my work because he did mysteries and at first glance, I want my painting to be a mystery,' she added.

'This is who I am. I want people to see I was not just a movie star.'
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will expand his cabinet on Tuesday. Induction of new members in the state cabinet will take place in the afternoon at Raj Bhavan where they will be administered the oath by Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan.

The recently elected members of the state legislative council (MLC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shahnawaz Hussain and Vikassheel Insaan Party`s Mukesh Sahni are expected to get ministerial berths in todays cabinet expansion.

At present, Bihar has 15 ministers, including the chief minister. In the House of 243 MLAs, the cabinet can have 36 ministers. On November 16, Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Chief Minister of Bihar for the fourth straight term at a ceremony which was attended by Union Home minister Amit Shah and BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda.

Kumar Janata Dal (United) (JD-U)] formed the government under the umbrella of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), in alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM).

BJP leaders Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi were also sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar, replacing Sushil Kumar Modi who had been Nitish Kumar`s deputy for 15 years.

Governor Phagu Chauhan administered the oath of office to Kumar, along with a 14-member council of ministers. The NDA has secured a 125-seat majority in the 243-seat strong Bihar Legislative Assembly of which BJP won on 74 seats, JD(U) on 43 while eight seats were won by two other NDA constituents.

The RJD, on the other hand, emerged as the single-largest party with 75 seats while the Congress only won 19 seats.

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A federal judge said while there was substantial evidence of creepy behavior by a doctor at Lehigh Universitys Student Health and Wellness Center, a former staffer did not have enough evidence to prove she was wrongfully terminated.

Christine Feit sued Lehigh University in 2019 in federal court, and was seeking $1.7 million from the school.

Feit said she was fired in May 2017 for flagging sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior on the part of Dr. Thomas Novak, the interim director of the student health center.

University officials said Feit was fired after she made a medication dosing error in one case and treated a students scraped toe without following protocols in another.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Joshua Wolson granted Lehighs request to dismiss Feits lawsuit. Feit had no evidence that Lehigh terminated her in retaliation for engaging in protected conduct, the judge wrote.

Instead, rightly or wrongly, Lehigh terminated her because she gave a patient the wrong dose of medicine, Wolson said in his Feb. 5 order.

Ms. Feit has substantial evidence that, at times, Dr. Novak was a creep. Her claims about his conduct are untimely, though, and she does not have enough evidence to suggest that his conduct was severe or pervasive. Ms. Feit also does not have evidence demonstrating that Lehigh terminated her employment in retaliation for engaging in protected conduct, Wolson wrote.

We are very pleased with the courts decision and its ruling that the university did not discriminate against Ms. Feit based upon sex, did not retaliate against her, and terminated her employment for legitimate reasons, Lehigh University spokeswoman Lori Friedman said.

Feit claimed Novak routinely made inappropriate sexual remarks about students and staff members, tried to perform pelvic exams without gloves, and once agreed with a nursing supervisors characterization that he was copping a feel with students.

After being told nothing would be done if she complained, Feit did eventually speak up about Novak, the suit said.

Novak tearfully apologized during a 2012 meeting with human resources, but he wasnt disciplined, according to the suit. Novak continued to sexually harass his colleagues and mistreat students, and a 2016 meeting with human resources went nowhere, the suit said.

Novak was initially suspended after the lawsuit was filed, and barred from campus.

An independent investigation by the Elliott Greenleaf law firm found no evidence to support Feits claims, according to the university. The investigation consisted of extensive interviews and a review of Lehighs Health & Wellness Center records, according to an email sent to students and staff.

The school said while there was no evidence of wrongdoing, the workplace environment in the health center was inconsistent with university values and with professional expectations.

Novak resigned from the university in October 2019.

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Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
POTOMAC, Md., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Maryland-based early-stage company Sparo has joined the Microsoft for Startups Program to scale its trademarked Purchase with a Purpose platform on Microsoft Azure. Microsoft for Startups provides startups with access to powerful technology with a streamlined path to selling alongside Microsoft and its global partner ecosystem. Rob Sobhani, Ph.D., Sparo's founder and CEO stated, "We are honored and delighted to have been chosen by Microsoft to be part of their Startups Program."

Sparo's Purchase with a Purpose platform leverages corporate social responsibility into higher online sales for merchants by marrying e-commerce and charity at the checkout page, thus addressing a major challenge facing online retailers, namely: cart abandonment. Today an average of 67.91% of shopping carts are abandoned. Kyril Revels, Sparo's Chief Software Engineer, explained, "Sparo's plugin can be embedded onto the checkout page of any merchant anywhere in the world thus creating an impact with every online purchase."

Rama Ayman, Sparo's co-founder and CFO added, "We are very excited to scale Sparo within the Microsoft ecosystem and create the world's most consequential company that delivers value to its shareholders, its corporate clients and the public and become a leading force in the $450 billion philanthropy market and the broader $4 trillion global e-commerce industry."

"Microsoft welcomes Sparo to the Microsoft for Startups program," said Tony Shakib, General Manager, IoT Business Acceleration at Microsoft Corp. "Sparo's Purchase with a Purpose democratizes charitable giving by empowering shoppers to select their favorite charity at the checkout page."

About Sparo Corporation

Sparo Corporation was founded in 2018 by noted author and foreign policy expert Rob Sobhani, Ph.D. to democratize global charitable giving. Through its patented e-commerce giving platform, Sparo aims to make it fun and easy to donate to worthy not-for-profits. Sparo operates globally and is based in the Washington, DC Metro area.

Media Contacts:

Rob Sobhani

CEO & Founder

[email protected]

SOURCE Sparo

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The Chinese Communist Party has now found a way to make sure that children will grow to hate God and force their parents to renounce their faith - by brainwashing them as students.

The CCP looks to be doing their worst by exploiting the field of education and brainwashing the children. According to the Epoch Times, students in China are "groomed" to have the "right ideas and thoughts" in school which are in truth rooted in unbelief and atheism.

An anonymous mother who is a Christian disclosed how her child seemed to be a "different person" after attending school

"Before starting school, I told my child about God's creation, and he believed it. But after being taught at school, my child is like a different person. In atheistic China, these pure and innocent children have been taught to hate God."

As one of the most influential sectors of society, China and its communist regime use the schools to raise a generation who hates God and does not believe in Him. Worse, the communist regime not only indoctrinates students with communist ideologies, they also threaten the children by enforcing state rules that detains any family members who attend church or visit any religious places.

In one instance, a child who found a Christian leaflet in their home got worried and warned his mother that according to his teacher, "Christianity is a Xie jiao" or "evil cult."

"My teacher says that Christianity is a Xie jiao. If you believe in it, you will leave home and not take care of me. You might set yourself on fire, too," the child said.

This kind of threat has forced families in China to deny or give up their faith for fear of harming even their children.

In school, students are taught that any religion outside of CCP's control is "Xie jiao" and are considered "terrible." The students even have a textbook entitled "Morality and Society" which discusses how to Xie jiao groups.

The CCP's efforts on brainwashing the children seem to stem from the fact that Christianity is now "competing" for territory and people's hearts and that children as young as kindergartens must expand their ideologies to "improve their political standing" and must pledge to "stay away from religion."

Part of the notice from the education bureau read:

"Christianity is competing with the Communist Party for territory and people's hearts, the work being carried out through churches and religious meeting venues. It is therefore essential that every primary and middle school, as well as kindergartens, expanded ideological work on young people to improve their political standing.

Now, the communist nation uses children to report if their parents are believers and will be expelled in school if their parents or relatives refuse to renounce their faith.

In the Bible, Jesus clearly stated that it is better for those who causes children to stumble to hung a large millstone in their neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea (Matthew 18:6).

The CCP's apparent move to make children hate God at such an early age is something that will cause these little ones to "stumble" in the sight of the LORD.

Even now, the communist party has forced innocent children to become their puppets by displaying huge banners that say "resist religions entering school campuses." Teachers at school are left without a choice and required by the communist government to "make children reject faith from an early age."

A kindergarten teacher admitted, "They are still young and don't understand everything. I don't want to do this, but I have no choice: to meet the government's requirements, I have to go through these..."

Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- This time is different may be the most dangerous words in business: billions of dollars have been lost betting that history wont repeat itself. And yet now, in the oil world, it looks like this time really will be.For the first time in decades, oil companies arent rushing to increase production to chase rising oil prices as Brent crude approaches $70. Even in the Permian, the prolific shale basin at the center of the U.S. energy boom, drillers are resisting their traditional boom-and-bust cycle of spending.The oil industry is on the ropes, constrained by Wall Street investors demanding that companies spend less on drilling and instead return more money to shareholders, and climate change activists pushing against fossil fuels. Exxon Mobil Corp. is paradigmatic of the trend, after its humiliating defeat at the hands of a tiny activist elbowing itself onto the board.The dramatic events in the industry last week only add to what is emerging as an opportunity for the producers of OPEC+, giving the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and Russia more room for maneuver to bring back their own production. As non-OPEC output fails to rebound as fast as many expected -- or feared based on past experience -- the cartel is likely to continue adding more supply when it meets on June 1.CriminalizationShareholders are asking Exxon to drill less and focus on returning money to investors. They have been throwing money down the drill hole like crazy, Christopher Ailman, chief investment officer for CalSTRS. We really saw that company just heading down the hole, not surviving into the future, unless they change and adapt. And now they have to.Exxon is unlikely to be alone. Royal Dutch Shell Plc lost a landmark legal battle last week when a Dutch court told it to cut emissions significantly by 2030 -- something that would require less oil production. Many in the industry fear a wave of lawsuits elsewhere, with western oil majors more immediate targets than the state-owned oil companies that make up much of OPEC production.We see a shift from stigmatization toward criminalization of investing in higher oil production, said Bob McNally, president of consultant Rapidan Energy Group and a former White House official.While its true that non-OPEC+ output is creeping back from the crash of 2020 -- and the ultra-depressed levels of April and May last year -- its far from a full recovery. Overall, non-OPEC+ output will grow this year by 620,000 barrels a day, less than half the 1.3 million barrels a day it fell in 2020. The supply growth forecast through the rest of this year comes nowhere close to matching the expected increase in demand, according to the International Energy Agency.Beyond 2021, oil output is likely to rise in a handful of nations, including the U.S., Brazil, Canada and new oil-producer Guyana. But production will decline elsewhere, from the U.K. to Colombia, Malaysia and Argentina.As non-OPEC+ production increases less than global oil demand, the cartel will be in control of the market, executives and traders said. Its a major break with the past, when oil companies responded to higher prices by rushing to invest again, boosting non-OPEC output and leaving the ministers led by Saudi Arabias Abdulaziz bin Salman with a much more difficult balancing act.Drilling DownSo far, the lack of non-OPEC+ oil production growth isnt registering much in the market. After all, the coronavirus pandemic continues to constrain global oil demand. It may be more noticeable later this year and into 2022. By then, vaccination campaigns against Covid-19 are likely to be bearing fruit, and the world will need more oil. The expected return of Iran into the market will provide some of that, but there will likely be a need for more.When that happens, it will be largely up to OPEC to plug the gap. One signal of how the recovery will be different this time is the U.S. drilling count: It is gradually increasing, but the recovery is slower than it was after the last big oil price crash in 2008-09. Shale companies are sticking to their commitment to return more money to shareholders via dividends. While before the pandemic shale companies re-used 70-90% of their cash flow into further drilling, they are now keeping that metric at around 50%.The result is that U.S. crude production has flat-lined at around 11 million barrels a day since July 2020. Outside the U.S. and Canada, the outlook is even more somber: at the end of April, the ex-North America oil rig count stood at 523, lower than it was a year ago, and nearly 40% below the same month two years earlier, according to data from Baker Hughes Co.When Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz predicted earlier this year that drill, baby, drill is gone for ever, it sounded like a bold call. As ministers meet this week, they may dare to hope hes right.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9)  The Supreme Court on Tuesday junked the petition of two Aetas to intervene in the legal challenge against the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said the high court "unanimously denied" the petition of Japer Gurung and Junior Ramos, who are the first publicly known individuals to be charged under the anti-terrorism law.

Peralta made this announcement during the second day of the oral arguments on the controversial law after Solicitor General Jose Calida said the Aetas were withdrawing their petition. Calida said the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Public Attorney's Office are now the new counsel for the Aetas, who were previously represented by the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers.

Calida said Gurung and Ramos were forced to sign the petition against the Anti-Terrorism Act, citing video clips and affidavits he submitted to the Supreme Court.

"Aming inuurong ang petition for intervention na aming napirmahan sa kadahilanang hindi bukal sa aming puso at kapasyahan ang pagpirma," Calida quoted the documents.

[Translation: We are withdrawing the petition for intervention that we signed because we did not sign it out of our own will.]

Calida's manifestation was cut short after Peralta said the Aetas' petition was junked anyway, prompting the resumption of interpellation on petitions seeking to junk the Anti-Terrorism Act. Peralta, however, did not elaborate why the Aetas' petition was dismissed.

In a statement, the NUPL said Gurung and Ramos, who both could not read or write, willingly affixed their thumbmarks to the documents "after the Anti-Terrorism Act, the pending petitions before the Supreme Court, and the final draft Petition in Intervention were discussed to them patiently."

"In fact, it was a long and tedious process that is why the Petition-in-Intervention was only filed in the morning of the Oral arguments on February 2, 2021," the NUPL said. It added that a representative from the notary public also asked them if the document was explained to them before notarizing it.

The lawyers' group also scored the NCIP and PAO for not disclosing their "intercession."

It said it will wait for a copy of the Supreme Court resolution denying the Aetas' petition so NUPL lawyers could address it, along with the government's allegations.

During last week's oral arguments, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said the petition could be the "actual case" that would warrant the high court to take action on the Anti-Terrorism Act.

It became even more controversial after Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, chief of the Southern Luzon Command and spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, attacked on social media one of the justice beat reporters who wrote about the Aetas' petition. He warned Inquirer.net's Tetch Torres-Tupas could be held liable under the law for "aiding the terrorists by spreading lies." Groups pushed back against Parlade's threat, which the military vowed to investigate.

Thirty-seven sets of petitions are urging the Supreme Court to declare the law unconstitutional, arguing mainly that its provisions are vague and overly broad, violating the Bill of Rights.

READ: Anti-terror law oral arguments: Govt critics not silenced but theres pause, hesitation

The oral arguments will resume on February 16, when Calida and other government lawyers are expected to defend the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The Chief Justice, meanwhile, reminded parties they should refrain from discussing the case in public pending the resolution of the petitions. "Please refrain. We do not like that we'll use our coercive power in disciplining lawyers."
260 days. Thats how long it had been since the Alabama legislature had been in session. Thats 260 days for the coronavirus to spread and 260 days for Alabamians to feel the impact of the virus and our governments response to it. Pair that with the fact that the 2020 session was so abbreviated and you get almost two years since a full legislative session had occurred.

To be fair, it is not the legislatures fault that they were relegated to watching the governor make decisions from afar while they did what they could to plan for the 2021 regular session. Unlike the vast majority of states (36 of 50, in fact), Alabama does not allow the legislature to call itself into a special session. Only the governor can do that. In 2020, our governor opted not to do so.

But now that theyre back, the big question is, What should they do?

The legislature has already fast-tracked bills related to issues that Governor Ivey temporarily addressed through emergency proclamations last year. Specifically, the states law providing economic incentives to businesses in the state and a clarification that federal relief funds wont be taxed by the state.

These are largely uncontroversial. Also uncontroversial and on the way to final passage is an effort to enact Covid-related liability protections for businesses, churches, and other organizations.

Surely, in the midst of a year-long emergency, this is not all the legislature can come up with to help.

Thankfully, there appears to be an appetite to do more to help the people of Alabama from some legislators. Here are some additional areas where they should put that impulse to good use.

First, there is the issue of restoring the balance of power in cases of prolonged emergencies such as what we are experiencing with Covid-19. Currently, the legislative body as a whole does not have to approve of any emergency declaration. This should be changed so that any emergency order by the governor lasting over 30 days must be approved by the legislature as a whole. Senator Whatleys bill (SB97) would make this adjustment. That mess about the legislature not being able to call itself into a special session? Representative Nordgren has a bill (HB21) that would fix that, too.

Second, legislators should make permanent two other executive actions from Governor Ivey by eliminating the certificate of need process (which has been deemed by the federal government as a failed initiative) and by allowing occupational licenses from other states to be accepted within our borders.

Third, the legislature must address the problems with our states education system in a new way (i.e. not throwing more money at the system). The Alabama Accountability Act should be expanded, education savings accounts should be made available for all students, and pods, in which families join together to form schooling communities, should be formally protected from government interference.

Fourth is legislation that is being carried by Representative Danny Garrett and State Senator Dan Roberts that removes impediments to business growth and modernizes the code of Alabama into one more attractive to business and investment.

While were making suggestions, we also have to highlight the fact that, in the midst of the pandemic, Alabama has yet to use any of its rainy day funds ($708 million between the two budgets for 2021). In fact, we hear on a seemingly regular basis that the budgets are doing well. For the state government, it seems like this rainy day has been more of a misty morning.

Not so for the private sector. For them, the governments response to the pandemic has been a hurricane. And just like in a hurricane, businesses across our state had to shutter windows and close their doors. At least in a hurricane closing up and hunkering down is voluntary. This was different. This was compulsory. Even after the lockdowns were lifted, some, especially those businesses in the hospitality and restaurant industries, had gone under for good.

Those businesses which have managed to stay afloat? They face growing challenges every day.

In Montgomery, though, things are fine. Just as always. In fact, theyre flush with cash and looking to expand the budgets.

To rectify this, the legislature should, if not permanently, temporarily lift taxes that disproportionately affect those most vulnerable to the economic downturn. The grocery tax is one such example. Any shortfall that occurs to the state budgets should result in cost savings measures or, after all efforts to cut back on spending have been made, the use of rainy day funds.

Some of these reforms are admittedly major changes. But government as usual isnt looked upon favorably by constituents anymore. Though Joe Biden is president, Donald Trump won Alabama easily because he promised to end government as usual and put Americans first. Since the dynamics in Washington have changed, it is essential for our state legislature to protect our state from the negative effects of misguided federal policy. It would be wise for the Alabama legislature, therefore, to pursue these changes. Both for the states overall well being and because Alabamians expect nothing less.

(Caleb Crosby is president and CEO of the Alabama Policy Institute)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 00:16:06|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong (R) hands over a box of China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines to Lao Vice President Phankham Viphavanh during a hand-over ceremony held in Vientiane, Laos, Feb. 8, 2021. A batch of China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the Lao capital Vientiane early on Monday. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)

VIENTIANE, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A handover ceremony of the China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine was held here Monday in the Lao health ministry.

Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong officially handed over the vaccine to Phankham Viphavanh, a member of the Political Bureau of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and vice president of Laos.

The batch of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine carried by the Chinese YTO Express cargo plane arrived at the Lao capital Vientiane early on Monday.

Addressing the ceremony, Phankham spoke highly of China's achievements against COVID-19, noting the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, while advancing COVID-19 prevention and control efforts at home, have delivered strong support to Laos' fight against the virus with sending medical expert teams and providing a large number of anti-epidemic supplies.

China's assistance has helped improve Laos' capability to combat COVID-19 and demonstrated the long-standing and stable comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership as well as the spirit of good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners between the two countries, Phankham said.

China has been providing vaccine assistance to many countries including Laos, which fully demonstrates China as a responsible major country and its commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Phankham added that the Lao side has found the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to be safe and effective in the earlier emergency use in certain high-risk personnel in Laos.

Speaking on the occasion, Jiang thanked the support from the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, government and people to China's efforts to fight COVID-19.

He said, "We will continue to support Laos in fighting the epidemic, continue to deepen the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future" as well as to enrich the content of joint construction of a community with a shared future for mankind and a global community of health for all. Enditem


Egypt: 100 NGOS tell UN bold action needed to protect rights Urge 'monitoring mecchanism' in letter to Human Rights Council

(ANSAmed) - ROME, 09 FEB - One hundred human rights organisations from across the world have signed a letter to the foreign ministers of member countries of the UN Human Rights Council in which they call for the creation of a "monitoring and reporting mechanism" on the human rights situation in Egypt.



"Egypt's human rights community is facing 'annihilation' by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's government," they said in the letter.



The initiative was taken ahead of the upcoming 46th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council scheduled to begin on February 22, 2021.



In the letter, published by Human Rights Watch, the organisations said such a mechanism "would serve as an important step in raising the profile of the violations and crimes committed, providing remedies for survivors and victims' families, deterring further abuses, and establishing pathways for accountability".



"Governments at the UN Human Rights Council should send the overdue message to the Egyptian government that abuses are and will be monitored and reported, and that brave Egyptians facing oppression every day are not alone in their struggle," said John Fisher, Geneva director at Human Rights Watch.



"The people of Egypt have lived under despotic governments before, but current levels of repression in Egypt are unprecedented in its modern history," said Bahey el-Din Hassan, director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies.



Hassan was sentenced to 15 years in prison in absentia by a Terrorism Circuit Court in Egypt for his human rights advocacy work.



"The consequences are potentially terrible for both human rights and regional stability," Hassan said.



"The survival of the embattled human rights movement in Egypt is at stake," said Kevin Whelan, Amnesty International representative to the UN in Geneva.



"Members of the international community have the responsibility to support efforts to establish a monitoring and reporting mechanism at the Human Rights Council on the situation in Egypt, signaling that Egypt's disregard for human rights will no longer be ignored or tolerated."(ANSA). (ANSAmed).




He says Germany must support "stability, sovereignty, and modernization of Ukraine."

The new leader of Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and strong contender to follow her as chancellor, Armin Laschet, has commented on Ukraine's possible accession to the European Union.

When asked whether Ukraine should also have a path to EU membership, he said in an interview for the journal Internationale Politik (IP) Quarterly: "That's not on the horizon right now. Our interests are very much to support the stability, sovereignty, and modernization of Ukraine. We must support that country on its difficult trajectory, and ultimately open up its perspectives toward Europe."

Read alsoPoland, Sweden and Germany expel three Russian diplomats

Armin Laschet's short bio

In January, Germany's ruling CDU elected its new chairman. Participants of a CDU congress elected the 59-year-old Prime Minister of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Armin Laschet, as new leader of the party.

The new CDU chairman is one of the most likely candidates for the Chancellor's office from the conservative CDU/CSU bloc in the September elections to the Bundestag.

Incumbent German Chancellor, CDU politician Angela Merkel, who has headed the country's government for 15 years, refused to nominate her candidacy for a new term.

Reporting by UNIAN
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Its a hot and dusty October Saturday at Mulatto Meadows on the Hossmoor Ranch in Contra Costa County when 14-year-old Norah Tan finally mounts the horse shes been bonding with.

After a morning grooming the brown mare and learning equine safety, this is the moment the day has been building to. She excitedly situates herself in the saddle and sits tall and straight, surprisingly confident for a first-time rider. Shes beaming as the horse walks around the arena, her parents shouting encouragement.

The temperature has been above 90 in the East Bay, but Tan hasnt minded the heat, or the dirt, or the occasional flies. Over the course of the day the quiet high school freshman has slowly come out of her shell, engaging more with the four other students in the Humble program and learning to handle the horse shes paired with. Its been a hard few months for Tan, says her mother, Jessica Lu: Finishing eighth grade remotely during shelter-in-place was socially isolating and her self-esteem suffered. Seeing her daughter this happy feels like a victory for her parents.

She must have been Mulan in her last life, Lu joke of her daughters natural horsemanship. Its the first time in months shes gotten to laugh and play with other kids.

Now Playing: Video: Manjula Varghese The Chronicle

Nothing about Tans transformation is surprising to Brianna Noble, the founder of the 4-month-old nonprofit Humble program, which brought the students to Briones in rural Contra Costa County that day.

In a firm but upbeat voice she yells out instructions from the center of the arena as students and teachers circle on their horses. When riding time is over, Noble has the students lead their mounts outside to a grassy patch where the kids and their parents hose down the animals. As the families scrub the horses, its clear Tan isnt the only student who opened up on the ranch. That transformation is all part of the magic of horses, Noble says.

For all Nobles seriousness about the animals, shes not above making a joke while teaching. Demonstrating how to clean a horses hooves, she offers a simple life lesson: Always scrape the debris away from you. No one likes horse poop in their eyes, she says. The students laugh and carefully scrape away from themselves, lesson learned.

Months after she achieved viral fame for riding her gelding, Dapper Dan, decked with homemade signs, ahead of the Oakland protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Noble has been characterized as an icon of Black and female empowerment. Nobles renown was such that shes even been featured in an Xfinity commercial this fall, riding a horse through the streets in a way that trades on the imagery from earlier this year.

But even with her rising profile and folk hero status in certain Bay Area circles, Noble says that here, on the ranch with horses and students, is where she feels she can do the most good. The Humble program is her activism now, she says. Bringing access to horses and the benefits of riding to inner-city kids is where Noble feels she can truly make her mark.

Brandon Ruffin / Special to The Chronicle

Standing against the grassy hills, Noble is a striking figure as she supervises the four families visiting the ranch. In her boots, jeans topped with a rodeo-style buckle, Western shirt and wide, flat-topped bolero hat, she looks like a cinematic cowgirl heroine. Her go-to stance, knees bent, thumbs resting in her pockets like an Old West gunslinger, only adds to the picture.

But Noble is not the center of attention. All eyes are trained on five children in the midst of a ranch-themed scavenger hunt that brings them to different corners of the large, rustic property. Some students are reluctant at first to plunge their arms into the watering trough to reach for a prize or feed hay to a cow from their hands.

The hunt is a way for Noble and her fellow teachers to observe the dynamics of the kids and their parents. Some are nervous, some overcome communication obstacles as they work together. What she sees will help her find out what she needs to work on that day to best reach the students.

Theres a lesson she imparts to the families that she will return to throughout the day: Pay attention to the energy the horses are giving off. The horses respond to your energy as much as you respond to theirs, she says.

Horses taught me how to teach, Noble says. I think about the world through a horses lens, horses put up energy to those in front of them. My teaching style feeds from the energy I get from people. Im good at reading people because I read horses.

Stephanie Kelly and Keith Jefferson, parents of Jordan, 9, and Joniya, 14, both grew up around horses, and the East Bay Agency for Children program with Humble was a way they could share riding with their children. At first, Joniya is tentative in her interactions with her horse, nervously clutching the reins when its time to ride. Jordan is more immediately at ease. As Kelly and Jefferson express their gratitude for Humble, Nobles brush with fame enters the conversation.

It was a strong image, says Kelly, the kind of image parents want their children, especially Black daughters, to see.

She would be a strong image anywhere, Jefferson says of Noble. Just look at the way shes getting those kids to respond to her.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

When the photos of Noble at the protest went viral, she became a kind of community icon, inspiring murals in downtown Oakland and hashtags like #blackwomenlead and #urbancowgirl.

To see a woman of color out there supporting the protest on a horse is not an image you see every day, says Antonio Flaggs, coordinator for the youth justice program at the East Bay Agency for Children that brought the students to the ranch.

Noble was conscious of that fact the day she saddled Dapper Dan and rode him through Oakland, telling The Chronicle in June that she decided Im going to give them something to look at that would raise awareness about Black Lives Matter. She is very savvy about how her image reads and, more importantly, how it can benefit her work. From the beginning, Noble says, she hoped the attention would raise awareness of Humble.

Humble is the nonprofit side of her 2-year-old riding business, Mulatto Meadows. Its goals, says Noble (who is Bri to students and friends), is to bring the benefits of horses to inner-city students who might not otherwise have access to the often elite world of riding.

Those benefits include learning discipline and the value of grit and hard work, as well as being able to empathize and connect with the animals. All of it, Noble says, translates to how students interact with other people.

Noble, who grew up in a blue-collar family in San Leandro, learned the benefits of being around horses at an early age after following her sister into riding lessons. But for all the positive things being an equestrian brought into Nobles life, she remained conscious that she and her sister were among the few students of color in an overwhelmingly white sport.

One of the missions behind Humble, says Noble, is to change that exclusivity.

The program officially started this summer and has already raised more than $100,000 toward giving free riding lessons to students in the East Bay. During the week, Noble and her fellow teachers see paying students for riding lessons and intersperse those sessions with free classes for Humble. The weekend program with the East Bay Agency for Children is in its trial stages and will include three all-day Saturday courses when the students will learn horse care, do outdoor activities like the scavenger hunt as team-building exercises, and, of course, ride.

Flaggs says that partnering with Noble and Humble was a natural fit for EBAC, which serves inner-city East Bay families, especially those dealing with issues of trauma and poverty.

Kids in the inner city just dont get a lot of opportunities to be around horses, says Flaggs. We work with the community, she wants to bring the community to the ranch, it just felt like a great opportunity for a partnership.

While Nobles fame was a nice conversation point with some of the families, Flaggs says Humble was the biggest lure.

Its not just the experience of learning to ride that the students leave with. Watching them work together with their parents on the scavenger hunt and while getting to know the horses, you see an evolution in how many of the families communicate. Some who began the day bickering or critical relax and learn to collaborate. Others open up to one another. By end of day, all the families say they look forward to their next visit the next weekend.

Brandon Ruffin / Special to The Chronicle

Noble says she remains proud of the images from the protests and is happy they sparked a conversation about Black equestrians and the Black Lives Matter movement. People still reach out to her, sharing what the sight of her on Dapper Dan meant to them. Shes also grateful that the notoriety has allowed Humble to raise funds and grow. The ultimate goal, she says, is to dedicate herself full-time to the nonprofit and phase out her business. But while she has continued to follow the Black Lives Matter movement and ongoing political developments in the country, she does not plan to regularly engage in protests with Dapper Dan, although she did participate in a Ride Out to Vote event this week in Oakland. Part of it is for safety, her own and her horses, but mostly Noble wants to play to her strengths.

I think the most influential work I can make is at the grassroots level with these kids, Noble says. Humble is my activism now. I know horses, bringing horses into peoples lives is what I do best.

On Friday, Noble will bring three horses to the Sunnydale Boys & Girls Club for a socially distanced Halloween event. The horses will be outfitted in costumes in tribute to the movie Black Panther and its Afro-futurist style by students in the fashion design program at the Oakland School of the Arts, where Noble attended high school. Noble, her sister Brittany Lewis, who is a police officer in Sunnydale, and friend Dale Johnson will also be in Wakanda costume as they ride around the community center and neighborhood. Noble has brought horses into this neighborhood several times with her sister and says that the positive response from children and adults that they inspire is especially needed after months of COVID-related social isolation.

Drew Jenkins, a supervisor at the Boys & Girls Clubs teen program, says he sees Nobles recognition as confirmation of what the Sunnydale community already knew: That shes a gifted and generous woman working to make a difference.

We already recognized Bri, she was already famous in our community because she had been coming out already, says Jenkins. Thats big when someone comes out of the goodness of their heart and gives back. She didnt have to be on TV for us to recognize that.

Tony Bravo is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tbravo@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TonyBravoSF

The Executive Director of the GNPC Foundation, Dr. Dominic Eduah, today, led the technical handing over of a new 6-unit classroom block to Sekondi College in the Western Region.



At a short ceremony, Dr. Eduah noted that the facility, like the many others funded by his outfit, is an investment in Ghanas youth and future. This is not a cosmetic gesture to tick off on our CSR to-do list. It is an intervention that seeks to improve teaching and learning and thus, empower the next generation, he said.



He charged the schools authority to exercise a proper maintenance culture to ensure its longevity.



Thanking the GNPC Foundation for the support, Headmistress of the school, Mrs. Guddey Abena Ampomah Kermah, recounted the schools dire need for infrastructural support and hence their appreciation for GNPCs decision to come to their aid. She assured that the facility would be put to its intended us and under proper care.







MCE of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), Abdul Mumin Issah, who witnessed the ceremony, expressed his satisfaction and praise for GNPC Foundations developmental efforts that has impacted not just his metropolis but also every corner of the country. Your work is known in many parts of the country and we applaud your commitment to uplifting individuals and societies by ensuring the windfall of Ghanas oil business reaches all, he said.



The Executive Director, with his team, used the occasion to inspect another ongoing project at the school; a 24-seater sanitary facility funded by the Foundation.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Police officers walk on patrol along the Marina Bay promenade in Singapore on Dec. 27, 2020.

Singapore has deported a Malaysian man who intended to travel to Syria with his wife to fight alongside the Islamic State extremist group, authorities in the city-state said on Tuesday.

Upon his expulsion to his home country in August, Malaysia charged the man for possession of terror-related items, and a judge is expected to examine case materials on March 1, the countrys counterterrorism chief told BenarNews on Tuesday.

Mohd Firdaus bin Kamal Intdzam (Firdaus), a 33-year-old Malaysian, was arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in July 2020. Investigations revealed that Firdaus, who was working as a cleaner in Singapore, was a supporter of the terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), according to a statement issued by Singapores Ministry of Home Affairs and the city-states Internal Security Department (ISD).

ISD had worked closely with the Malaysian Special Branch (MSB) on the investigations into Firdaus. His Work Pass was canceled and he was repatriated to Malaysia and handed over to MSB in August 2020 upon the completion of ISDs investigation into him.

It was not immediately clear why the Singaporean agencies had waited till Tuesday to announce the deportation. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian counterterrorism police chief Normah Ishak confirmed that Firdaus had been deported in August.

He was charged in August 2020 at the Johor Bahru Session Court in Johor with five charges for possessing items related to terrorist acts under Section 130JB (1) (a) of the Penal Code, Normah told BenarNews.

If convicted, Firdaus could be sentenced to a maximum of seven years in prison, or fined, according to the penal code.

The prosecutor is still waiting for the completed expert and forensic reports [in the case], Normah said via text messages, adding that the judge had set March 1 as the next court date to examine evidence.

The prosecutor is expected to request the court to transfer the case to the Kuala Lumpur High Court, Normah said.

Intention to travel to Syria

According to Singapores investigation, Firdaus began to be radicalized in 2016, when he found Islamic State propaganda online during his research to learn more about religion, Singaporean officials said.

Two years later, he was convinced that the group was fighting for Islam and that its use of violence to create and Islamic state was justified, the ISD said.

Islamic States self-declared Caliph Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, Firdaus believed, was the true Islamic leader. The top IS leader was killed when he detonated a suicide vest he was wearing during a raid by U.S. forces in Syria in October 2019.

Even with the demise of ISISs so-called caliphate in Syria and Iraq, Firdaus remained a fervent supporter of ISIS. He actively posted materials promoting ISIS and armed jihad on his social media accounts.  He harbored the intention to travel to Syria with his wife to fight alongside ISIS, the statement from Singapore said, referring to the Islamic State by another acronym.

ISs last bastion in Syria fell in March 2019.

Meanwhile last August, Singapore imposed severe restrictions on Firdauss wife, Singaporean Ruqayyah Ramli, who was radicalized after her marriage in 2018, according to the ISD.

She was issued with a Restriction Order (RO) under the ISA for a period of two years in August 2020 after investigations found that she had been radicalized by her husband, the department said.

A person under such an order is not permitted to change his or her residence or employment, or travel out of Singapore, without the prior approval of the ISD. The individual also cannot issue public statements, address public meetings, or print and distribute any materials.

Ruqayyah, 34, was a housewife and a part-time religious teacher who supported Firdauss ambition to go to Syria, the agency said.

She was willing to accompany him to Syria, and intended to bring her two children along. She believed that her role in the conflict zone would be to take care of the family (through cooking and housework), and to assist other wounded ISIS fighters, the ISD said.

The investigation did not find proof that Ruqayyah had attempted to spread her pro-IS views.

She is not allowed to conduct religious classes as part of her restriction order conditions. She is presently undergoing religious counseling to steer her away from her radical path, the department said.

7 arrests last year

On Nov. 24, 2020, Singapore announced that another Malaysian national was sent back home after that person was found to have been radicalized. Singapore did not say when it expelled that person.

Malaysia did not take any action against this person because police had cleared that individual, Normah told BenarNews on Tuesday.

Malaysia made seven counterterrorism arrests last year, she said.

In January [2020], six were arrested where three were charged and three more were released due to insufficient evidence. In August 2020, we arrested one individual and successfully charged him in court, Normah said.

By comparison, Malaysia arrested 72 IS-linked suspects in 2019 and 119 the year before that.

Due to health security and pandemic prevention measures, daily movement and activities have been restricted. So this has indirectly reduced the risk and flattened the curve of terrorism in Malaysia, Normah said last month during a symposium on preventing violent extremism.

In September, security analysts told BenarNews that IS was stepping up recruitment in Muslim-majority Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as the Philippines, amid the distraction of a global pandemic.
American Express credit card users can take advantage of an offer that gets you an instant discount of 5% on purchases from Amazon.in as well as No Cost EMI. The offer is now Live and runs through till February 10. The way this works is that you get an instant discount of 5% on all Amazon.in purchases, up to a maximum of Rs 1,500. The minimum transaction to be eligible for the offer of 5% discount has to be Rs 12,000. The purchase that you make which is eligible for the discount is converted into a No Cost EMI and you can choose between 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months and 24 months as the tenure for the purchase. As an American Express credit card user, youll be able to avail this bundle just once in the offer period.

The No Cost EMI and instant discount offer can be availed for transactions made via the Amazon mobile app or via the Amazon.in website, on a desktop or mobile. The credit cards that are eligible for this offer are the American Express Smart Earn credit card, Amazon American Express credit card, American Express Air India credit card, American Express Gold credit card, American Express MakeMyTrip credit card, American Express PAYBACK credit card, American Express Platinum Reserve credit card, American Express Platinum Travel credit card, American Express Rewards credit card and Jet Airways American Express Platinum credit card. This offer is not available on American Express charge cards.

On every product page, the bank offer will be listed for eligible products. Get 5% up to Rs. 1500 Instant Discount on American Express Credit Card EMI transactions, it reads. In case a product does not have this listed under Bank Offers, that means its not part of the offer. For instance, the offer isn't listed for the Apple iPhone 12 Mini to the OnePlus 8T 5G but is available if you are buying a Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, and these are just an illustrative example. Mind you, this offer is not applicable for bill payments or prepaid mobile recharges done on Amazon Pay, or for Amazon Pay balance reloads, Amazon gift cards and select smartphone purchases.

MASON CITY, Iowa - In Cerro Gordo County, more vaccine doses were made available to folks 65 and older on Monday and once again there were a lot of people eager to get the shot.

The online appointments filled up quickly, all of them taken in just 5 minutes. Appointments made by phone ran out shortly before noon.

According to CG Public Health director Brian Hanft, the online sign-ups went smoothly this time around.

About 1,100 doses were set aside for people making appointments over the website and another 300 shots were reserved for folks over the phone.

Hanft explains why appointments over the department's website filled up in just a couple of minutes.

"There's probably thousands of people trying to get that refresh to open up with the signup link, so as soon as it goes live, theres a lot of people accessing our website," said Hanft.

He also assures the public the software used for online sign-ups is robust and handled today's traffic with almost no issues.
New Delhi: In an Instagram post South actress Kajal Aggarwal opened up on her battle from Bronchial Asthma. She shared that she contracted the disease at the tender age of five. Every travel, winter, or every time I was exposed to any sort of dust or smoke, something thats prevalent in our country, my symptoms flared up. In order to deal with such things in the best possible way, I started using inhalers. And I noticed a change almost instantly, she wrote.

Aggarwal added that though using an inhaler is immensely helpful but it has a social stigma attached to it. Pledging to fight against the same, the actor wrote, Sure I get the odd question or a judgemental look every now and then. And while it does not bother me, there are millions of people in our country who need inhalers, but choose not to use them because of this very problem - social stigma.

What is Bronchial Asthma?

Bronchial asthma, which is commonly referred to as asthma is a respiratory disease.

Symptoms of Bronchial Asthma

Tightness in the chest, difficulty in breathing, which causes inflammation in the airways and causes bouts of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath.

Also, cough attack due to dust then share your symptoms with your doctor and get tested as you might not experience an asthma attack in front of your doctor. Spirometry, Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), and a chest X-ray are diagnosed by doctors to find out if you are suffering from the disease.

What triggers bronchial asthma?

Air pollution, smoking, dust, pollen, extreme change in weather can trigger your bronchial asthma.

How to treat bronchial asthma?

There is no cure for the disease however, asthma patients can control it with the help of inhalers. Smoking is a complete no-no for them. A doctor can also prescribe them medicines depending upon their individual medical condition.

Asthma patients should also stay away from dusty surroundings, take extra care during winters, be mindful if they are allergic to anything that causes cough bouts.

These preventive steps can help them lead a healthy life.


CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- oneZero, a global leader in multi-asset enterprise trading technology solutions, today revealed their Institutional Hub designed to put institutional brokers, prime of prime providers and banks in control of their trading. The Institutional Hub adds to oneZero's suite of Hubs that also includes Retail Broker Hub and Liquidity Provider Hub, solving the specific needs of each audience.

oneZero's Institutional Hub allows clients to define all trading criteria with advanced aggregation, price formation, customized distribution, risk management and systematic hedging. Comprehensive price formation capabilities are used in conjunction with intelligence gained from Insights that allow institutional brokers and banks to analyze their liquidity provider performance and client trading behavior.

Together with the Institutional Hub, the oneZero platform also includes EcoSystem for market access and cloud-based Data Source for business intelligence. oneZero empowers Institutional Hub clients to facilitate bilateral relationships between their customers and their liquidity sources. This is strengthened by the stored quote and trade data that is transformed into analytics that enable informed strategies.

oneZero's Software as a Service offering allows clients to get to market quickly, as it is coupled with EcoSystem's connectivity. The technology is proven to be extremely robust, routing billions of quotes daily. With over 100 staff, oneZero offers a follow-the-sun support model, with a global operations team based in Asia, Europe and the United States that provides customer support 24/5.5 to clients in their own time zone. In addition, oneZero is certified to the standards of ISO 27001.

oneZero was founded in 2009 with its roots in building low-latency trading infrastructures, and has more recently invested in highly sophisticated human workflows, which can be seen in the Institutional Hub user interface.

"The Institutional Hub user interface gives control back to the trader, presenting them with a simplistic way of executing complicated workflows. Clients can compare full amount trades with sweepable and bespoke streams," commented Uri Lerman, oneZero's Segment Manager - Wholesale Brokers.

oneZero recently announced the appointment of Stuart Brock as Head of Institutional Sales, UK and Continental Europe , as the company continues to bolster their institutional offering and European footprint.

In 2019, private equity firm Lovell Minnick Partners invested in the firm and FX industry veteran Phil Weisberg was named EVP of Strategic Planning and Partnerships. In 2020, David Quinlan , previously Executive Managing Director at Eze Software, joined the Board of Directors.

About oneZero

oneZero has been a leading innovator in multi-asset class enterprise trading technology for over a decade. Its powerful software encompasses the Hub, EcoSystem and Data Source - that together provide a complete solution for trading technology, distribution and analytics. Through reliable connectivity, technology, infrastructure and market access, oneZero empowers financial institutions and brokers to thrive in the global financial markets through a globally compliant, liquidity-neutral solution. www.onezero.com

SOURCE oneZero Financial Systems

Related Links

https://www.onezero.com


To counter the planned February 13 #OccupyLekkiTollGate protest at the tollgate plaza, some youth have announced a #DefendLagos rally to hold at the same venue.

The plan to #OccupyLekkiTollGate came barely a day after the controversial ruling of the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry to reopen the Lekki Tollgate.

The panel, headed by Doris Okuwobi, a retired judge, on Saturday ruled in favour of the Lekki Concession Company, LCC, to repossess the toll plaza for repairs and insurance claims.

The ruling was supported by five members out of the nine-man panel, with four other members, including Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and the youth representatives dissenting to the ruling.

Despite the dissenting ruling, the Lekki Toll Plaza has been handed over to LCC for reopening.

The tollgate has not been operational since October 20, 2020, when armed soldiers opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing some and injuring several others.

In addition to the #DefendLagos hashtag on social media, the youth are also trending #DemNoBornYourPapaWell, a threat to protesters to stay away from the toll plaza.

Let us protect what the destroyers left behind while we rebuild Lagos. Join the defend Lagos rally at the Lekki toll plaza, read the #DefendLagos banner shared on various social media platforms.

The banner also has pictures of facilities destroyed during the violence that followed the #EndSARS protest in the state.

Prior to the October 20 shooting at the tollgate, armed police officers fired tear gas canisters on residents protesting the tolling of the expressway, in 2011, after the toll gate was constructed. One person died on that day.

See tweets of the planned protest on Saturday below:

Show your love for our Lagos. Get your friends and your neighbors to be there. Join The Defend Lagos Rally at the Lekki Toll Plaza on the 13th of February. We will not cede our city to criminals and insurrectionists. Lagos is our Pride.#defendlagos #DemNoBornYourPapaWell pic.twitter.com/NdRE77zHet  Olusoga Owoeye (@olusogaowoeye) February 8, 2021

The real Lagosians have stand up to defend their state against those IPOB nomads. Gladly, therere newly built correctional facilities coming on stream, its meant for idiots like them. #DefendLagos  Micheal Akanji  (@mickiebrownkie) February 8, 2021

Defend Lagos Rally

Date: Sat, 13 February 2021

Venue: Lekki Toll Plaza#DefendLagos pic.twitter.com/1Yi5Z0b6O6  Theresa Tekenah (@TheresaTekenah) February 8, 2021

I LOVE this. Thank you Lagosians. Defend Lagos and dont let haters or destroyers destroy your beautiful city. #DefendLagos https://t.co/DyoUJVm5vO  Gloria Adagbon (@gloria_adagbon) February 8, 2021

As we #DefendLagos

Remember we are still in business.

Remain blessed and stay safe#tuesdaymotivations  Listo Fabrics (@Listofabrics) February 9, 2021

#DefendLagos is much expected. It's a form of distraction. These are the people who will still endorse Buhari if possible for 3rd time. I sha knw #DemNoBornYourPapaWell to do rubbish on the very day we are going to #OccupyLekkiTollGate in demanding justices for our loved ones.  Ewatee (@Ewajesutomilola) February 9, 2021

Defend Lagos Rally

Date: Sat, 13 February 2021

Venue: Lekki Toll Plaza#DefendLagos if they want to destroy it. pic.twitter.com/27eJVxnR3q  CBN Gov Akinsola Ak (@cbngov_akin1) February 9, 2021

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It remains a life-defining event for most of us that stood gallantly during the last #EndSARS protest, but as much as we demand justice for the victims of the #LekkiMassaccre. I won't support another #OccupyLekkiTollGate, we must #DefendLagos at all cost. pic.twitter.com/Tp8SI5U38G      (@kikiowo_ayoade) February 9, 2021

I said this some days ago, that is what will be happening again with these hashtags #OccupyLekkiTollGate, #DemNoBornYourPapaWell and #DefendLagos, we build nation with oneness not division https://t.co/Urii9xTW0d  EkitiGrandson (@De_light_2) February 9, 2021

We will not cede out city to criminals and insurrectionists. Lagos is our home, Nigeria is our pride. We're taking back our city not only by aluta but also by flooding it with the light of the gospel and incessant prayer. #DefendLagos #NoToInsurgency pic.twitter.com/1uYvfT28IK  Oludotun Oluwamayowa Paul (@olumayor_paul) February 9, 2021

#DefendLagos Lagos is our home we must defend it at all cost. Enough is enough  MACHALA002 (@kayleedman) February 9, 2021

It is now clear that the EndSARs was not about the police,it was a dangerous political agenda by the PDP/IPOB alliance to destroy Lagos and put the SW in danger. The decision to re-open Lekki was 5-4. Only terrorists threaten government #defendLagos #DemNoBornYourPapaWell  Olusoga Owoeye (@olusogaowoeye) February 9, 2021

D job to #DefendLagos is supposed to be that of the security agencies to ensure protest is peaceful.

Now we have#OccupyLekkiTollGate Vs #DefendLagos Can the security agencies that will be sent differentiate

My guess is, the violent group will hav a dresscode.  Safe. (@__Majesty_) February 8, 2021
Cafe Lafitte in Exile on Bourbon Street hung out white flags as a symbolic sign that they were giving up the fight on the day that Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced that bars would have to close for Mardi Gras because of the coronavirus. The bar hung out four white flags cut out from shower curtains. Cantrell made the announcement on Friday, February 5, 2021. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
The production company behind movies such as 12 Years a Slave, Gone Girl and Bohemian Rhapsody has snapped up the film and TV rights for Australian writer Meg Masons latest novel  a book she says was never meant to exist.

Mason, who was born in New Zealand and now lives in Sydney, is the author of two previous works, the memoir Say It Again in a Nice Voice and the novel You Be Mother. She started writing her latest offering, Sorrow and Bliss, in 2019 after grappling for months with a manuscript that was absolutely rotten to the core.

Author Meg Mason says shes so incredibly grateful for the success of Sorrow and Bliss. Credit:James Alcock

I felt like I reached the end of my abilities, Mason says. I resigned to my publisher and told her I wasnt going to publish again. She stunningly said its fine, just have a little rest. But in my mind it wasnt a rest. I was at a loss as to what to do next.

Sorrow and Bliss was released in September last year. It is written in short, striking vignettes from the perspective of a 40-year-old woman whose life is starting to unravel. Reviewers have described it as hilarious but brutal; poignant but dark.
A 37-year-old man convicted of rape and other charges involving a woman he worked with on a construction cleanup crew at a hotel being built at San Francisco International Airport in 2019 has been sentenced to 18 years in state prison, San Mateo County prosecutors said Monday.

A jury in November found Pedro Galvan Martinez, a resident of Ripon in San Joaquin County, guilty of forcible rape with use of a deadly weapon, forcible oral copulation, false imprisonment and making criminal threats in connection with the attack on July 26, 2019.

Prosecutors said Galvan Martinez and the victim were working at the under-construction Grand Hyatt at SFO hotel, which was closed to the public, and he took her to an unoccupied room at the end of the shift and sexually assaulted her.

The victim called 911 after Galvan Martinez left the room, and he later told investigators they were in a relationship and that the sex was consensual. He repeated his assertions of innocence at Friday's sentencing hearing, according to the district attorney's office.

Galvan Martinez's wife Mayra Galvan also defended her husband following his Nov. 10 conviction on the San Mateo County Superior Court jury's third day of deliberation.

"Yes my husband was a cheater, but he is not a rapist," she said. "That jury made a huge mistake."

Galvan said her husband is undocumented and will be deported to Mexico after he serves his sentence.

Judge Elizabeth Hill sentenced Galvan Martinez on Friday to the 18-year prison term with more than a year's credit for time already served in jail, prosecutors said.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  An American Airlines jet made an emergency landing Tuesday in southwestern Missouri after experiencing trouble with its landing gear.

American Airlines flight 3950 landed safely just after 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Springfield-Branson National Airport, Springfield television station KYTV reported. The flight carrying 47 people had departed from Columbia, Missouri, on its way to the Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport when it diverted to Springfield, the station reported.

Officials said the pilot of the 50-seat Embraer ERJ 145 requested the emergency landing because the planes landing gear was stuck in the down position.

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RIGA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th February, 2021) The Russian Embassy in Latvia has slammed the Baltic country's ban on the rebroadcasting of the RTR-Planeta (Russia-RTR) channel in Latvia as a "dictatorship."

On Monday, Latvia's media watchdog barred the rebroadcasting of the Russian channel in the republic for a year. Earlier, Latvian cable operator Tet announced that it would stop rebroadcasting the largest Russian tv channels  PBK (rebroadcaster of Channel One in the Baltic countries), NTV Mir, Ren TV Baltiya, Kinokomediya and Kinomix.

"In the best traditions of the dictatorship, the National Electronic Mass Media Council [of Latvia] decided to ban the rebroadcasting of the Russia-RTR TV channel in Latvia from February 15.

Violation of freedom of speech? Not only. Seems that the Latvian TV channels cannot face competition in the free market, even in their own information space," the embassy wrote on Facebook.

The authorities of the Baltic countries have repeatedly obstructed the work of the Russian media. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced clear signs of a coordinated line of these states. Cases of harassment of the media in the Baltic states "clearly demonstrate what demagogic statements about the adherence of Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn to the principles of democracy and freedom of speech are worth in practice," the Russian Foreign Ministry has said.
Bhopal, Feb 9 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that as much as Rs 800 crore had been recovered by attaching the assets of chit fund companies and the money returned to 50,000 investors.

He also said that 2,000 hectares of government land valued at Rs 10,000 crore was freed from land mafia in the state.

Under 'Operation Smile', 9,500 missing children have been recovered so far, including 80 girls, he said before a meeting of the Council of Ministers here.

Police teams were even sent outside the state to locate the missing children.

"Six factories where adulterated consumables were manufactured were demolished. Similarly, properties of an official involved in black marketing of ration was attached in Indore. As many as 331 persons involved in black marketing of ration were proceeded against by authorities."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text

Thorough quality control and GMP management have minimized the causes of side effects that can occur in the manufacturing process.

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The product contains high purity hyaluronic acid for ophthalmic applications made by Shiseido, a Japanese brand.

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SOURCE Cosmoprof Asia
A protester stands atop a police structure in Ikeja, capital of Lagos state, during #EndSARS demonstrations on October 11, 2020. Ayodeji Adegoroye (@ayodeji_dodo)/Twitter

The tollgate has not been operational since October 20 when armed soldiers opened fire at peaceful protesters gathered at the toll plaza.

Nigerians on social media have planned another protest to express their displeasure over the decision of the Lagos State Judicial Panel to allow Lekki Concession Company to reopen the Lekki tollgate.

The panel of enquiry set up to look at the Lekki shooting incident on Saturday approved the reopening of the tollgate, amidst protests, following a prayer by LCC counsel that its order will allow the company to repair all damages done.

The tollgate has not been operational since October 20 when armed soldiers opened fire at peaceful protesters gathered at the toll plaza.

While five members the nine-man panel led by Doris Okuwobi voted in support of the reopening of the tollgate, four persons rejected.

The dissent notwithstanding, the panel returned the control of the tollgate to LCC. The dissenters, among other complaints, said the report of the forensic examination on the incident that took play is yet to be disclosed.

Following this decision, some Nigerians have planned a protest at the tollgate. The protest is fixed for Saturday, February 13, 2021, from 7 a.m.

Some Nigerian activists, including former presidential candidate and Sahara Reporters' publisher, Omoyele Sowore, have tweeted their support for the planned protest.

See tweets below:

No to the reopening #Lekkitollgate, the perpetrators of #LekkiMassacre must be brought to book. @jidesanwoolu #Buratai must be brought before @IntlCrimCourt #RevolutionNow #Buharimustgo pic.twitter.com/MBNnFAzOPi

- Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) February 8, 2021

No to the reopening #Lekkitollgate, the perpetrators of #LekkiMassacre must be brought to book. @jidesanwoolu #Buratai must be brought before @IntlCrimCourt #RevolutionNow #Buharimustgo pic.twitter.com/MBNnFAzOPi

- Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) February 8, 2021

OCCUPY LAGOS LEKKI TOLL-GATE!

Saturday: 13th Feb, 7AM.

"If there is no justice for the people, let there be no peace for the government" - Emiliano Zapata.#RevolutionNow #EndSARS #OccupyLekkiTollGate

- Ayemojubar (@ayemojubar) February 8, 2021

Lagos State government, Lekki Concession Company and some members of the Lagos State Judicial Panel members inspired the #OccupyLekkiTollGate protest planned for 7am on Saturday, February 13.

- 'Gbenga Sesan (@gbengasesan) February 8, 2021

There's going to be #OccupyLekkiTollGate? 

Date and time?

- Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) February 8, 2021

The Dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to do so for them. #OccupyLekkiTollGate

- Adeyemo Ridwan (@son_of_ot) February 8, 2021

This Saturday.

Let's be ready for violence cos they'd bring it#OccupyLekkiTollGate pic.twitter.com/f9BO7TKOPu

- TimoSneh (@TimoNotWerner) February 8, 2021

The panel was a faux from the onset!

You can't piss on the faces of citizens and tell us it's raining

#OccupyLekkiTollGate pic.twitter.com/fWqUyOImmQ

-  (@mafeemusic) February 8, 2021

#OccupyLekkiTollGate

You can't open a toll gate where victims of state sanctioned murder are yet to get justice.

No Justice, No Re-Opening. pic.twitter.com/P7z5Cr3HCN

- Concerned Nigerians (@ConcernedNIG) February 8, 2021

Omo 13th is too far. Can we begin tomorrow? #OccupyLekkiTollGate#RevolutionNow pic.twitter.com/z2fbfYwsRR

- Omalicha Nwa (@Anayo_El) February 8, 2021

Re-opening of Lekki Toll Gate is the govt saying "forget it, that one has passed". But what they don't know is that youths are determined to get justice.

Lekki Toll Gate must remain closed until investigations are concluded and justice is served. #OccupyLekkiTollGate pic.twitter.com/id2Zo0OgRJ

- K A Y  (@Kaylechi_) February 8, 2021

What we have learned from the Judicial panels , #EndSARS , and #LekkiMassacre ;

1. Never negotiate with this govt.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

2. When you go out on the streets, stay on the streets until your demands are met.

3. Prepare for violence, they always bring it.

We should #OccupyLekkiTollGate

- Somto Onuchukwu (@chosensomto) February 8, 2021

Its exactly three months and eight days since peaceful protesters were sent to thier early graves at the Lekki Toll gate, Yet no one is answering to the genocidal attacks. We won't keep quiet. In an Unjust Society, Silence is an heinous crime. Why wont we #OccupyLekkiTollGate pic.twitter.com/WqgPeYHwGv

- Asiwaju_himself  (@Deji_Obadofin) February 8, 2021

Wake so happy to see this treading on Twitter, Nigeria Youth you are loved  #OccupyLekkiTollGate pic.twitter.com/MIeylLzw9G

- EndSARS africa (@osxtus626) February 8, 2021

Do not let any Mugu or government advocate tell you to calm down! #OccupyLekkiTollGate the army must face justice! Sanwo Olu must face justice! LCC is not bigger than the lives of the lost, they must submit their videos. We saw the killings live on camera! #RevolutionNow pic.twitter.com/TjYHT324SR

- Coconut Head   (@iamProficience) February 7, 2021
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The development and sustainability of quality healthcare for citizens and residents is a government priority.

This was emphasised by the Cabinet during its weekly meeting held remotely yesterday and chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The Cabinet cited the recently inaugurated Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Specialist Cardiac Centre in Awali that forms an important addition to the healthcare sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister officially opened the spacious 53,000-square-metre, seven-storey centre and hailed it as an example of innovation and development in the healthcare sector, under the leadership of His Majesty the King.

The Cabinet recalled the key role of the late HRH the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa in supporting the development of the centre which provides world-class cardiac care facilities and the highest levels of services for patients.

The Cabinet also reviewed COVID-19 developments and again stressed the importance of a renewed commitment to precautionary procedures and preventative measures, as well as encouraging citizens and residents to register for vaccination.

The Cabinet underlined the call for Team Bahrain, made up of citizens and residents, to adhere to all instructions issued by the National Taskforce for Combatting the Coronavirus.

It expressed its appreciation to health workers for their unwavering efforts in safeguarding the community in Bahrain.

The Cabinet also praised the vigilance of the security authorities who foiled terrorist attempts at detonating bombs at two ATM machines in Al Naim and Jidhafs.
NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE: RC) ("Ready Capital" or the "Company") today announced that it priced an underwritten public offering of $175.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Senior Notes due 2026 (the "Notes"). The Notes will be issued in minimum denominations and integral multiples of $25.00. The Company has granted to the underwriters a 30-day over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional $26.25 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to redeem the outstanding aggregate principal amount of our 6.50% Senior Notes due 2021. The Company intends to use the remainder of the net proceeds for general business purposes, including to fund the Company's small balance commercial origination and acquisition pipelines. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Piper Sandler & Co. served as book-running managers for the offering.

The offering is expected to close on February 10, 2021 and is subject to customary closing conditions. The Company intends to apply to list the Notes on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RCC" and, if the application is approved, trading is expected to commence within 30 days of the closing of the offering.

A registration statement relating to the Notes was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on August 4, 2020. The offering was made only by means of a preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, which have been filed with the SEC. A copy of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or from the underwriters by contacting: Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., A Stifel Company at 787 Seventh Avenue, Fourth Floor, New York, NY 10019, or by calling toll-free 1-800-966-1559, or by email at [email protected], or Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC at 1585 Broadway, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, or by calling toll-free 1-800-584-6837, or by email at [email protected], or Piper Sandler & Co. at 1251 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10020, or by calling toll-free 866-805-4128, or by email at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities, nor shall there be any sale of the Company's securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

About Ready Capital Corporation

Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE: RC) is a multi-strategy real estate finance company that originates, acquires, finances and services small- to medium-sized balance commercial loans. Ready Capital specializes in loans backed by commercial real estate, including agency multifamily, investor and bridge as well as U.S. Small Business Administration loans under its Section 7(a) program. Headquartered in New York, New York, Ready Capital employs over 400 lending professionals nationwide. The company is externally managed and advised by Waterfall Asset Management, LLC.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "could," "would," "may," "potential"" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, without limitation, the risk factors and other matters set forth in the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the Company's Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC and in its other filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Contacts:

Investor Relations

Ready Capital Corporation

212-257-4666

[email protected]

SOURCE Ready Capital Corporation
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. High 58F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers late. Low 46F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.


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Oman has decided to maintain the closure of land checkpoints for entry into the Sultanate till further notice, said a report.

The decision was announced during a meeting of the Supreme Committee tasked with tackling developments resulting from coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, Oman News Agency reported.

The move comes as the number of Covid-19 patients continue to increase.

The Committee has decided to allow entry via land borders for Omani citizens abroad wishing to come back home provided they abide by a seven-day institutional health quarantine, in addition to other measures imposed on incoming travellers, the report said.
None of the information that we have from our past contact with him would indicate that he was unhappy with, or would direct his anger at, anyone other than people within the facilities where he had been treated or where they had attempted to give treatment, Budke said.
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BEIJING, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- By empowering AI robotics, leading Chinese AI industrial robotics startup Mech-Mind Robotics (Mech-Mind) helped increase the operational efficiency for over 110 partners in logistics in the year 2020. Focusing on making industrial robots 'smart' by utilizing advanced technologies such as deep learning and 3D vision, Mech-Mind has been growing rapidly in recent months after successive rounds of private funding valuing the 4-year-old startup around US$ 300 million.

With online retail sales growing ten-fold in ten years in China alone, there is already enormous demand for technological solutions to 'fine task' oriented processes in logistics. In addition, the latest reports from Logistics IQ show an expected compound annual growth rate of 14% worldwide in the market of logistics automation, reaching $ US 30 billion by 2026. In adapting to the sheer volumes of packages that are expected to be moved around the world every day, technology companies like Mech-Mind Robotics are poised to provide crucial and cost-effective solutions that genuinely improve operations for logistics providers.

"Complex picking activities in logistics, such as mixed-carton palletizing and depalletizing, order picking and parcel loading, seem fairly complicated and hard to achieve by robots. But actually, it is no longer like that today. We empower integrators with our AI abilities. With our empowerment, integrators can easily deploy AI solutions to end users. We feel very lucky to be riding the wave of AI," said Tianlan Shao, CEO and Founder of Mech-Mind Robotics.

Mech-Mind offers universal platform products, which include Mech-Eye Industrial 3D Camera, Mech-Vision Graphical Machine Vision Software and Mech-Viz Intelligent Robot Programming Environment. Various typical smart applications in actual logistics scenarios can be realized by non-experts in days. By integrating Mech-Mind's products into real solutions, robots are therefore implanted with 'eyes' and 'brains'. Mech-Mind enables a low threshold for robot operators, making the whole software control process completely code-free. Besides, for experienced engineers, Mech-Mind's software also supports secondary development, creating enough flexibility for engineers.

Recently in China, Mech-Mind Robotics has been working with a multinational logistics firm to increase the efficiency of their logistics sorting system. After using Mech-Mind's technology solution, the already highly optimized process recorded a significant efficiency increase. Adapting robots instead of people allowed for round-the-clock processing of packages and was used to alleviate some of the pressure caused by the rise in demand for shipping coupled with a reduction in staff numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, labor dependence was reduced, warehouse management efficiency was improved, and overall transfer capacity was increased.

Mech-Mind Robotics also has rich experience in other major industries, especially in manufacturing. Applications such as machine tending, high-accuracy locating, gluing and assembly in automotive, steel and machinery can also be easily achieved. Mech-Mind Robotics increases the usability of industrial robots through utilizing cutting-edge technologies of 3D vision and motion planning to allow them to observe their environment and then make refined decisions and adjustments through a process of deep learning. Mech-Mind's products have now been widely used in Japan, the US, South Korea, Germany, and other countries.

For more information, please visit http://en.mech-mind.net/.

About Mech-Mind Robotics

Mech-Mind was founded in 2016, aiming at putting intelligence into industrial robots. Through advanced technologies including deep learning, 3D vision, and motion planning, Mech-Mind offers cost-effective solutions to mixed-carton palletizing and depalletizing, bin picking, order sorting, machine tending and assembly/gluing/locating in logistics and manufacturing.

Mech-Mind's intelligent industrial robot solutions have been deployed in automotive OEM plants, appliance plants, steel plants, food plants, logistics warehouses, banks, and hospitals in countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, and the US.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1435525/Mech_Mind_Product_Map.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1435526/Mech_Mind_Robotics.jpg
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The Police in Ogun State have arrested a suspected armed robber, who operates using Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) uniform.

The spokesperson of the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Tuesday.

Mr Oyeyemi said the suspect was arrested on February 5 in Ayetoro, Ayetoro council area, following a complaint by some students of Ayetoro campus of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) on February 4.

He explained that the students had reported at Ayetoro area command that they were robbed of their belongings at gunpoint by a man in NSCDC uniform.

The police spokesman said the students explained that the suspect broke into their apartment and dispossessed them of their phones and laptops.

Upon receiving the report, the Area Commander, ACP Anthony Haruna, detailed his detectives to go after the hoodlum.

After hours of painstaking investigation, the detectives received information about the hideout of the suspect in Ayetoro.

On getting to the hideout in an uncompleted building, the police found a bag containing six phones, one laptop, a pair of NSCDC uniform and a locally-made pistol.

The detectives, thereafter, mounted surveillance in the area and at about 5 p.m., the suspect sneaked into the building and moved straight to where the bag was kept.

He was quickly rounded up and two other stolen phones and a wristwatch were found on him. He was, thereafter, taken to the police station.

The complainants, who returned to the police station on Friday (Feb. 5), identified him as the person who robbed them.

Investigations further revealed that the suspect stole a pair of NSCDC uniform from a parked Toyota Camry car, belonging to an officer of the corps in December 2020 and, thereafter, set the car ablaze.

The NSCDC officer has also identified the uniform as his own, Mr Oyeyemi said.

He added that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Edward Ajogun, had ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department for investigation and prompt prosecution. (NAN)
I have always loved to be surrounded by beautiful things. As a child, I was very particular about colour. I loved unusual hues and shapes, and I was happy not to follow current trends and peer pressure. Growing up, age and many trips to Europe refined my aesthetic, also uncovering my unwavering love for France. The discovery of small intricacies and elegance of vintage tableware gradually led to my joy of table setting.

Whether its a dining room, a patch of lawn shaded by an overhanging tree, or along a sandy stretch of beach, to me, table setting is my creative play (maybe not your typical hobby, but something I enjoy doing, on any occasion) - and its even more fun to dress up to coordinate with the general colour scheme! It doesnt just have to be decorating everything with dainty flowers, I also love to utilise foliage to embellish a table and set the mood as well.

Below are the photos of some of my table settings.

Take a peek at my upcoming Chinese New Year table at home. 
Bir Lehlu (Liberated Zones), Feb 09, 2021 (SPS) - Special units of the Saharawi National Liberation Army have carried out a successful operation against the guard post of the 2nd Battalion of the 9th Armored Division of the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco where weapons, equipment and personal documents were seized, according to war report No. 89 issued by the Ministry of National Defense

The offensive has taken place against positions of the Moroccan occupation army positioned in the Ouarkziz Mountains in the Agha sector, in the middle of Moroccan territory.

The operation has succeeded in demonstrating the ability of the Sahrawi National Liberation Army to continue dealing harsh blows to the Moroccan occupier, advancing from southern Morocco to the southern of Western Sahara.

During this successful offensive, our fighters were able to fully control the target point and destroy it completely, in addition to shooting down the commander of the Moroccan guard, the warrant officer named Al-Naka, and the three guards, including the soldier named Zouali.

Our fighters were also able, during this attack, to seize the following enemy assets and equipment:

PK machine gun with number 1-593

Kalashnikov model assault rifle, under the number MH 0819 (commander of the Moroccan guard)

Kalashnikov model assault rifle, under the number NG8528

Personal and official documents of Moroccan soldiers

SPS/125/090/TRA
Plymouth, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 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 its CODA-1(Cognitive Object Detection Apparatus) system has undergone further successful testing for detection of various concealed weaponry on a person at our PRT laboratories.

CODA is a uniquely designed, ultra-compact radar device that can be utilized for a variety of applications across many industries, covering everything from traditional radar for drone or aircraft detection, to low-power stand-off weapon detection. The CODA system is a production status product - not a prototype and is the size of an electronic tablet, uses off the shelf high-speed processors and can be fitted to or inside a wall. It uses FCC allocated detection frequencies and has been demonstrated in several programs in the United States funded under the NATO Science for Peace and Security Program.

The CODA system has also been through rigorous testing by the US Army Night Vision and Electronic sensors directorate (NVESD) under the Adaptive Red Team / Technical Support and Operational Analysis (ART/TSOA) activity.

USA TODAY 11 January 2021

Congressman Mike Quigley,

'There's not enough security' "I texted all my staff that there's not enough security outside," he recalled. Not long after, Capitol Police told Quigley and others that the building had been breached and ordered lawmakers to grab gas masks stowed nearby.

"We were crouching down and going wherever the police thought that we'd be safest" as loud bangs, either tear gas or bullets, filled the air, he said. "We sort of made a run for it. I've been shot at, so I guess I've been in life-threatening situations, but not one involving the House floor of the most important democracy in the world."

"The words of Congressman Quigley say it all," stated Carl Cagliarini, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of PRT. "As a team, we have worked on technologies that have been used to detect suicide bombers in the Middle East. Those systems, while effective, were very expensive and the computer processor technology available, was at the limit of its technical capability."

"The video we will be posting to our social media channels and outlets not only shows that the device is compact and mobile, but also demonstrates its completely autonomous operation," concluded Cagliarini.

"The unprecedented events of January 6th, 2021 of weapons and pipe bombs being in and around the Capitol Building, and people losing their lives, have highlighted the unfortunate fact that current procedures and security used to protect our democratic establishments, are not where they need to be," stated Dana Wheeler, Co-Founder and CEO of PRT. "To bring security into the 21st century, it requires a two-pronged approach - increased physical security and greater intelligence to detect weaponry in the vicinity of these buildings. Today, we thought that it was time to show what the next level of security can look like in practice," concluded Wheeler.

The video showing the CODA-1 in action, will be made available via our social media platforms on the morning of this release.

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, defense 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/73892
Until recently, renewable natural gas had been a bit under the radar, but it is fast becoming a key fuel source for both transportation and stationary power applications

Shawn Severson, the co-founder of Water Tower Research, said green energy technologies are fast becoming 'cost competitive solutions'

After many false dawns, the sun is shining on the green-energy economy and renewable natural gas (RNG) is a central figure in this megatrend.

co-founder Shawn Severson, who is the Head of Sustainable Investing and BioEconomy Research, says green energy is finally going mainstream, but the process to get there has taken many years.

It has been a combination of technological advancements, the value of carbon reduction, government mandates, and, importantly, consumer and corporate choices. I cant emphasize the latter enough as corporations have been leading the effort in many cases, Severson told Proactive.

READ: Water Tower Research initiates coverage on Polar Power, citing growing demand for EV charging solutions

With the cost of many of these technologies falling, they have reached commercial tipping points and are fast becoming cost-competitive solutions to the incumbent, carbon-heavy solutions.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic alternative-energy spending has held up much better than spending on oil and gas. According to UBS, globally, clean-energy investment was estimated to account for half of total investment in the entire energy sector last year.

Going Mainstream

Support for the environmental movement has soared, as has political backing in many countries. Some US states, including California, are passing laws requiring the development of renewable natural gas. Crucially, the cost of renewable energy can now be competitive with fossil fuels.

Today customers are looking for renewable fuels and technologies to meet their electrical and thermal needs: hot water, steam, direct burner applications. Most of these needs are best met with a combustion solution or better yet a microturbine CHP solution that can provide both thermal and electrical energy on-site. Renewable Natural Gas or RNG powered CHP meets that need from both an environmental and payback perspective, according to ( ) CEO Darren Jamison.

Capstone has continued to see a growth in customer demand for RNG solutions and to a lesser extent hydrogen as 40% of todays population has grown up with climate change as part of their everyday lives, he added.

Capstone, based in Van Nuys, California, offers a product line-up of microturbines that can produce anywhere from 30 kilowatt to 10 megawatts of power, operating on a variety of gaseous or liquid fuels. To date, Capstone has shipped nearly 10,000 units to 83 countries and in FY20, saved customers an estimated $219 million in annual energy costs and 368,000 tons of carbon.

RNG powering transportation

notes that the share of renewable natural gas as part of the transportation energy mix is growing.

Until recently, RNG has been a bit under the radar, but is fast becoming a key fuel source for both transportation and stationary power applications. It is an excellent fuel choice as it can be substituted in most applications for fossil fuel natural gas and in the process, substantially reduce the carbon footprint of the consuming entity, said Severson.

Heavy and medium-duty transportation, which are some of the biggest sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) comes to mind as a tremendous carbon reduction opportunity by using RNG.

Westport Fuel Systems ( ) CEO David Johnson hailed a European Commission proposal in September to reduce emissions by at least 55% from 1990 levels by 2030, and set a target for net-zero carbon by 2050.

Carbon neutrality will only be possible with policies that include a number of technology pathways, including the use of renewable gases, added Johnson.

In January 2020, announced that they will build nearly 50 LNG (liquified natural gas) refueling stations in Germany to supply a blend of fossil and renewable gas that will make their LNG supply carbon neutral.

Vancouver, Canada-based Westport supplies advanced fuel delivery components and systems for clean, low-carbon fuels such as natural gas, renewable natural gas, propane, and hydrogen to the global motor vehicle industry. The firm has operations in Europe, Asia, North America and South America.

Westport's flagship HPDI 2.0 LNG fuel system

Westport develops cleaner-burning solutions for school buses, shuttle buses, and a variety of trucks. Westports HPDI 2.0 LNG fuel system, enables heavy-duty trucks to operate on natural gas with reduced fuel costs, reduced CO2 emissions, and diesel-like performance.

Johnson noted that recent analysis demonstrates that there is sufficient renewable gas feedstock to fuel the entire truck segment in the European Union.

The potential to get to net-zero carbon for trucking in Europe (and globally) using Westport High Pressure Direct Injection 2.0 (HPDI 2.0) and renewable gas is available now and can be done at a competitive total cost of ownership compared to other technologies and with no compromise in performance, reliability, or durability, added Johnson.

Westport Fuel stock rocketed nearly 40% to $12 on Monday morning after Reuters reported that Amazon.com Inc ( ) had ordered hundreds of trucks from Westport that run on compressed natural gas as it tests ways to shift its US fleet away from heavier polluting trucks.

The engines, supplied by a joint venture between Cummins Inc and Westport Fuel Systems are to be used for Amazons trucks that run from warehouses to distribution centers.

"More than 1,000 engines that can operate on both renewable and non-renewable natural gas have been ordered by the supplier," said the news agency.

Investors are betting that new President Joe Biden will further transition the US from an economy reliant on fossil fuels, coal and petroleum to one driven by wind, solar and other renewable-energy sources.

Younger investors are voting with their investment dollars and are fully aware of corporate responsibility, said Severson.

Many of the stocks have already been reactive to the change in administration, but I think the focus runs deeper and stretches beyond policy makers.

The US Energy Information Administration projects that renewables will be the most-used energy source in the world by 2050.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
Sadiq Khan was today accused of 'reducing London's history to politics' after unveiling his diversity taskforce to review landmarks in the capital.

The 15-strong team includes an academic who implied that all international examples of white supremacy can be traced back to Britain, and a campaigner who once confronted the Queen to demand she apologise for historical injustices.

The project has come under fire from politicians concerned that figures of our national past could be erased by 'unelected activists'.

But the Mayor of London stressed the purpose of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm was not to remove statues, only to 'raise public understanding'.

Statues, street names, building names and memorials in the capital will all come under the spotlight.

Sadiq Khan has unveiled his diversity taskforce that will review London's landmarks in the wake of last year's Black Lives Matter protests

Toyin Agbetu grabbed headlines in 2007 after disturbing a ceremony at Westminster Abbey marking the abolition of slavery

The thorny subject of evaluating existing statues will be probed by the panel - many of whom have already been publicly outspoken on the matter.

Toyin Agbetu, a social rights activist, praised activists who painted red the hands of slaver Robert Geffrye's statue in Hackney, to symbolise the 'blood on his hands'.

He hailed them as committing 'a transgressive, yet progressive act of public service' by 'making visible the history and human cost of those involved in such monstrous evil'.

Agbetu grabbed headlines in 2007 after disturbing a ceremony at Westminster Abbey marking the abolition of slavery.

With both the Queen and PM Tony Blair present, he yelled: 'You should be ashamed. We should not be here. This is an insult to us.'

The Commission also includes prominent art critic Aindrea Emelife, who supported the statue of Bristol slave trader Edward Colston being replaced with a BLM activist.

Colston was memorably ripped down and thrown into the harbour during protests last year.

It also includes famous faces such as Emmy-winning actor Riz Ahmed (left), who has starred in Star Wars: Rogue One and US series The Night Of. The Commission also includes prominent art critic Aindrea Emelife (right)

Conservative candidate for mayor Shaun Bailey said: 'Sadiq Khan wants to reduce our history to politics'

It has been replaced with a likeness of Jen Reid, the BLM protester who climbed up on the empty plinth and clenched her fist in the style of Black Power.

At the time, Ms Emelife she described 'seeing the crane lift this up onto the plinth from our lookout point. The rush of adrenaline as this project is realised guerrilla style.'

City Hall said the panel was selected through an 'open recruitment process' and will serve initially for two years.

It also includes famous faces such as Emmy-winning actor Riz Ahmed, who has starred in Star Wars: Rogue One and US series The Night Of.

A staunch critic of the Prime Minister, on a television show he once called Mr Johnson 'an out-and-out complete c***' who is 'overtly racist' and 'blatantly lies to the public'.

He also said he hates the word 'diversity' because it does not equate with true representation.

Fellow panellist, business academic Lynette Nabbosa, who founded an organisation for role models to engage with black youth, has previously suggested that white supremacy is rooted in British history.

She wrote in October: 'The UK seems to be the common denominator in atrocities across the world.

Colston was memorably ripped down and thrown into the harbour during protests last year

'No matter where you find examples of white supremacy, all roads lead back to my country of birth.

'It was the UK's racism that birthed slavery and colonialism. We say it is in the past but our schools, colleges, universities, streets, museums etc have never stopped honouring the enforcers of our oppression.'

Shaun Bailey, Conservative candidate for London Mayor, said: 'London is a city built on history  sometimes bad, more often good, and always complicated. But Sadiq Khan wants to reduce our history to politics.

Curator Sandy Nairne, pictured showing the Duchess of Cambridge around the National Portrait Gallery, is also a member of the Commission

'A commission of fifteen unelected activists should not get to decide which statues to pull down and which streets to rename  which history my children are allowed to see.

'My preference is always to put up new statues instead of tearing down old ones. That's how we truly celebrate our black role models and pioneering women.'

Mr Khan announced his intention to establish the Commission last July following the police killing of George Floyd in the United States.

The death reverberated across the world, and spurred activists in the UK to topple and deface statues of historical figures.

Announcing the panel, Mr Khan said: 'For far too long, too many Londoners have felt unrepresented by the statues, street names and building names all around them, and it's important that we do what we can to ensure our rich and diverse history is celebrated and properly commemorated in our city.

'I'm delighted to bring together this inspiring group of leaders from across London to form the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. Each member brings with them great insight and knowledge that will help to improve the representation of our public landscape.'
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Utica, N.Y.  The Oneida County Executive is calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to fire two elections commissioners whose errors came to light in the 22nd Congressional District race, which finally concluded earlier this week.

Anthony Picente Jr. shared a letter he sent to Cuomos office today, citing the boards failure to register more than 2,400 people who applied on time to be registered voters via the Department of Motor Vehicles, in addition to other errors.

The failures by commissioners Rose Grimaldi, a Republican, and Carolann Cardone, a Democrat, amounted to an abject failure in the Congressional race, Picente said in a statement.

Voters were disenfranchised. The outcome of a congressional race was held in limbo for over three months, leaving this county and district without representation while we fight a global pandemic, Picente said in a statement. I demand better from anyone who represents Oneida County.

Under state law, only Cuomo can remove Cardone and Grimaldi. His office has not previously responded to Syracuse.coms request for comment on the matter, and his office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon.

The incredibly tight margin in the Congressional race between Republican Claudia Tenney and Democrat Anthony Brindisi put the eight counties that comprise the district under a microscope. In the three-month court hearing to determine a winner, Oneida Countys errors continuously made headlines.

The major errors included:

Oneida County commissioners rejected about 1,500 affidavit ballots without allowing both campaigns an opportunity to review them

More than 2,400 people filled out an application on time to vote in Oneida County via the Department of Motor Vehicles, but elections staff didnt process their applications by Election Day;

And county elections staff ignored a state law that allows voters to stay registered to vote when they move from one county to another, so they erroneously rejected 700 ballots . (The ballots were later salvaged, but too late to be counted in any race except for the Congressional race)

In a letter to Cuomo, Picente said the errors led to as many as 1,100 legitimate votes being tossed. Thats not to mention the unknown number of voters who, like those who registered on time via the DMV, might have shown up to a polling place but then walked away when told they werent registered.

The denial of this most fundamental and sacred right of citizenship requires immediate action, he wrote. We have an obligation to act when the rights of our citizens are denied.

On Monday, Brindisi conceded the race after Tenney was certified the victor. She received just 109 more votes than Brindisi of more than 300,000 cast. In a ruling ordering counties and the state to certify Tenneys victory, State Supreme Court Justice Scott DelConte cited systematic failure by county elections boards to follow state and federal voting laws in the race. He singled out Oneida County multiple times.

Brindisi has since called for an investigation into the errors.

See Picentes letter below:

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. sent this letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday.

MORE ON THE NY-22 ELECTION

Anthony Brindisi concedes to Claudia Tenney in NY-22 House race

NY certifies Claudia Tenney as winner of House race over Anthony Brindisi

Amid errors and delays, a lesson from New York 22nd race: How not to run an election

In NY 22nd, judges suggests there are no great options to fix Oneida County mistake

700 votes were tossed in Oneida County. Officials ignored state law in latest mess up

Oneida County botched 2,400 voter signups, preventing their votes in Brindisi-Tenney race

Contact reporter Patrick Lohmann at PLohmann@Syracuse.com or (315)766-6670.
The Metropolitan Police sent letters to 2271 people informing them of charges against them from 2016 to 2019. Pictured is Met commissioner Cressida Dick

Britain's largest police force has charged thousands of suspects by post - including those accused of violent offences such as murder, rape and firearms possession.

The Metropolitan Police sent letters to 2271 people informing them of charges against them from 2016 to 2019. They were accused of a variety of offences but included 19 suspected murderers.

The rise in potentially violent suspects hearing of their charges by post is largely due to changes introduced in 2017, which increased the number of suspects being released under investigation with no bail conditions.

This was intended to stop suspects spending months or years with restrictions on their freedom before they had been found guilty, but the inclusion of suspects accused of violent offences has sparked widespread concern.

Victims Commissioner Dame Vera Baird today told MailOnline that suspects informed of charges by post were less likely to attend court.

'This has been a worrying development on a number of fronts, not least that it has resulted in vulnerable victims being left at risk of harm from their perpetrators,' she said.

'Another consequence is that as a result of fewer suspects being required to attend the police station on a regular basis as a condition of their bail, the use of postal charge requisitions has increased.

'Anecdotal evidence suggests the increase in postal charge requisitions has been mirrored by an increase in defendants failing to attend court. If this is the case, it is a worrying trend and one that will be of concern to victims.'

Home Secretary Priti Patel has vowed to reverse the 2017 bail changes to reduce the number of potentially dangerous suspects released without bail conditions.

Dame Vera backed the proposal, saying it would provide victims with more 'peace of mind' - and in turn reduce the number of people accused of violence offences hearing of charges over the mail rather than in person.

The data revealing the number of suspects being charged by post emerged after a Freedom of Information request by The Times.

Victims Commissioner Dame Vera Baird today told MailOnline that she feared looser bail restrictions were putting victims at risk and that suspects informed of charges by post were less likely to attend court

The newspaper asked the Met to name 19 people who had been charged with murder but they refused, citing data protection law.

The controversial decision was subsequently backed by Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham.

Guidance from the College of Policing states that suspects who have been charged should be named unless there are restrictions put in place, such as to protect the identities of children.

Being charged with an offence means the suspect will face the courts, where they can plead guilty or not guilty and go to trial.

Charging decisions are considered a matter of public record because they allow the public to see not only that justice is done but that it is also being done.

Naming suspects charged with offences like rape may also encourage further victims or witnesses to come forward.

The Met regularly issues press releases naming charged suspects under the principle of open justice.

However, the force said that naming the suspects who had been charged by post 'may lead to unwanted and unsolicited intrusion from the media and others interested in the facts of these matters and/or could lead to harm to the individuals concerned'.

The Met was asked to name the 19 people who had been charged with murder via post but they refused, citing data protection law

Revealing the information would be a 'breach of the first data protection principle, fair and lawful processing of personal information'.

The force added: 'Even if information has entered the public domain some time before the date of the request, this does not mean it remains there indefinitely.'

The Met relied on Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act, which protects 'any information considered personal data'.

The Information Commissioner's Office supported the claim that while naming suspects immediately after they were charged was in the interests of open justice, naming suspects who had been charged historically could breach their data protection rights.

The ICO added that it was 'highly likely' this would also prevent the names of the 2,271 other people charged via the post from being released.

MailOnline asked the Met whether the 19 suspected murderers had seen their legal cases concluded but the force could not provide this information.

A Met spokesman said: 'The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has set out the relevant data protection regulations concerning the release of criminal offence data.

'The release of charging details at the time of charge, either proactively or in response to contemporaneous enquiries from journalists, complies with the regulations as it supports the administration of justice.

'The same justification does not automatically apply to the release of charging details after the conclusion of criminal proceedings.

'FOI requests are assessed on a case by case basis, with an assessment made as to whether the relevant regulations permit a full or partial response. Where individuals are dissatisfied with a response, they can appeal to the ICO.'
Dying care home residents are unable to say a proper goodbye to their families because of 'inhumane' visiting restrictions, say desperate relatives.

Some relatives have to wait for a call saying their husband, wife or parent has entered their last 24 hours before they can hold their hand.

For others, by the time they get to the care home it is too late  or they have only minutes left.

Relatives are unable to see dying care home residents to say a proper goodbye because of 'inhumane' visiting restrictions. Pictured: Susan Ogden only had 10 minutes to say goodbye to husband Peter before he died in January - the first time she had seen him in nine months

Campaigners are pleading with ministers to change the law so relatives can hug loved ones all the time, instead of having to wait until they die.

Yesterday a coalition of six charities demanded that homes open fully to visitors by March 1, with precautions such as testing and PPE in place.

This will be three weeks after all care home residents received their first dose of the vaccine, enough time to develop some immunity.

'Just ten minutes for me to say my last goodbye' Susan and Peter Ogden in August 2016 After being married for 51 years, Susan Ogden had just ten minutes to say goodbye to her husband Peter. Mrs Ogden, 72, was separated from Peter in March when his care home in North Shields near Newcastle upon Tyne was closed to visitors. She finally saw him for the first time in nine months on New Years Day  ten minutes before he died from a chest infection. The grandmother-of-four said: All that protecting didnt manage to save Peters life. Although you know you didnt let him down, you feel that you did let him down. Mrs Ogden said she spent about ten minutes with him before he died, adding: I hope he knew I was there. Before the pandemic, Mrs Ogden, a retired teacher, regularly visited her husband, who had dementia. She said: Our loved ones are not caged animals who must tolerate being stared at from a distance. Advertisement

The groups, including Age UK, the National Care Forum, Rights for Residents and the Relatives & Residents Association, said that indoor visits were 'a matter of fundamental human rights'.

It came as a grieving relatives told of their distress about not being able to say goodbye properly.

Susan Ogden, 72, could not hug her husband Peter, also 72, for nine months, then got to spend just ten minutes with him before he died on New Year's Day.

Meanwhile, Ryan Mee, 41, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, has been told he cannot visit his mother Gillian, 68, who is dying from dementia in a care home in Aberdare, South Wales, because she has weeks to live rather than days.

'It's a barbaric and inhumane approach,' he said.

Care home visits restarted in December following a major Daily Mail campaign which led to the rollout of rapid tests for visitors.

But in-person visits were paused again during lockdown and are yet to resume, despite all elderly residents having had the vaccine.

Government guidance makes clear that in-person visits must go ahead at the end of life.

Almost 120,000 care home residents have died since the beginning of the pandemic  most of whom were denied comfort from their families in their final weeks.

Diane Mayhew, from Rights for Residents, said: 'We hear from people who have lost their mother or father and didn't get a chance to see them. Relatives are tormented by the guilt of not being able to say goodbye properly.'

The Department of Health and Social Care said: 'While the vaccines provide protection from serious disease, we do not yet know if they prevent someone from passing on the virus to others.

'This means it is still important to follow the visiting guidance.

'We will do everything possible to make close contact visits possible the moment it is safe to do so.'
Northern Correctional Institution, the states controversial supermax prison located in Somers, will close by July 1, the Department of Correction announced to its staff on Monday.

The closure is the first since Enfield Correctional Institution was shuttered on Jan. 23, 2018. There are 5,000 fewer people in state correctional facilities since then. The most precipitous decline has been since the onset of the pandemic; there are 3,377 fewer people in prison or jail today than on March 1.

I have been transparent about my intentions to close facilities, ever since [Gov. Ned] Lamont announced that I was his choice to be the next commissioner, Commissioner Designate Angel Quiros told DOC employees in a memo Monday. The decision to close Northern can be largely attributed to the significant drop in the incarcerated population, as well as my obligation to the tax payers of Connecticut to identify cost savings measures. The operational costs associated with Northern Correctional exceed most other locations, and the overall census has not surpassed one hundred inmates in the last six months.

Closing the Somers prison will save the state approximately $12.6 million in annual operating costs.

New prison admissions in Connecticut have declined significantly over the last decade, and the incarcerated population is currently at a 32-year low. This is even as violent, high-risk inmates are serving more of their original sentences than ever before, Lamont said in a statement. Spending millions of dollars annually to operate facilities for a population that continues to get smaller and smaller is not a good use of resources, especially as we work to reduce the cost structure of state government.

Northern was opened in 1995, when the states prison population was much greater and officials were having a hard time managing behavioral infractions occurring throughout the prison system.

Advocates have called for its closure for years, citing its declining population and status as a relic of a bygone tough-on-crime era. There were only 55 people incarcerated at Northern as of Feb. 1, 40 of whom were Black and 11 of whom were Hispanic. The facility was built to hold at least 500 prisoners.

Northern is a monument to cruelty and systemic racism. In sum, it is a symbol of everything that is wrong with incarceration, said David McGuire, executive director of the ACLU of Connecticut. It is critical that the state close Northern in a way that ensures it will never be opened again, and that the money saved from its closure goes toward programs and services to help people most harmed by mass incarceration.

Northern was the subject of a lawsuit filed last week aimed at preventing prisoners with mental illnesses from being sent there. The lawsuit alleges inmates with mental illnesses were shackled and isolated in cold concrete cells, forced to eat food off the floor, for exhibiting behavior consistent with psychiatric symptoms  symptoms exacerbated by the loneliness and isolation that is a function of life at Northern. One man was given a disciplinary ticket for attempting to commit suicide. Another violated DOC policy by putting his hand through the trap of his cell door, desperate for human interaction.

In a previous interview, Quiros, who served as warden at Northern from 2009 to 2011, said the prison had served its purpose. With the criminal justice reform thats going on, the agency will have to take a look at what additional changes we need to make, as far as the programs that are housed at Northern, and then were still keeping staff safety, and offender safety, in mind.

Quiros said during his confirmation hearing that he anticipated closing two correctional facilities due to declining prison and jail populations during the pandemic. Northern is the first; he said that the only facilities not on the table for closure were the city jails  located in Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven  and York Correctional Institution, the states sole prison for women.

Approximately 175 corrections staff work at Northern. They will not be laid off as a result of the closure. The DOC will work with the employees and their unions to send them to other correctional facilities, helping reduce overtime expenses and mitigate the need to hire new staff to take the place of retirees.

At least one corrections union was displeased with the news. AFSCME Local 391 President Collin Provost said in a statement that, Front-line corrections staff are concerned that closing state prisons will prove to be penny-wise and pound-foolish. Shoe-horning inmates into other facilities will undermine safety and security in the prisons and create more difficult conditions for offenders and staff. Were concerned that closing Northern will cause overcrowding, lead to more positives test results and limit the Agencys ability to quarantine. The State and the DOC should think about repurposing Northern instead of shuttering it.

In his internal memo, Quiros pledged that the challenging populations at Northern will be safely transferred to other correctional facilities.

These populations have been managed at other locations in years past, and I am confident we can do so now, Quiros told DOC employees. As always, safety and security will remain a top priority as we navigate through this process.

CT Mirror reporter Dave Altimari contributed to this story.
Egypt reopened the Rafah border crossing to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday in both directions, said an official statement by the Palestinian embassy in Cairo.

Around two million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip use the crossing as the main gateway to the outside world and the only crossing point not controlled by Israel.

The reopening of the crossing comes within intensive bilateral discussions between the Egyptian and Palestinian leaderships to facilitate the travel and return of Palestinian citizens to and from the Gaza Strip, said the embassy statement.

Palestinian Ambassador to Cairo Diab Al-Louh thanked President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and the Egyptian authorities for their sincere and tireless efforts to alleviate burdens on the Palestinian people, along with their constant support for the just Palestinian cause."

Egypt occasionally opens the Rafah crossing for humanitarian cases who need to travel in order to allow the passage of students and medical patients, in addition to those who have foreign passports.

Egypt opened Rafah for four days on 2 February.

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(Bloomberg) -- One year after the first glimmers of the catastrophe awaiting global oil markets -- from deserted Chinese cities to grounded jets -- crude is staging a remarkable turnaround.

The crisis triggered by the deadly coronavirus was the worst the petroleum industry has ever seen. Fuel demand crashed by a fifth, prices slumped below zero, producers fought viciously over customers, and more than a billion surplus barrels poured into storage tanks around the world.

Yet oils emergence from the calamity has been stark.

Futures rallied to a one-year high above $60 a barrel in London on Monday as Chinese consumption surpasses pre-virus levels, the vaccine rollout restores confidence, and the OPEC cartel and its allies keep a tight leash on supply.

With western economies still pounded by a high death toll and lockdowns, demand for transport fuels -- particularly in aviation -- remains depressed. But its roaring for the petroleum products that cater to a society working and consuming at home -- ones that power ships, make plastics, and fire up space heaters.

The recovery is proceeding at a faster rate than people perceived, said Ed Morse, head of commodities research at Citigroup Inc. The demand recovery is going to look stellar. The inventory draw is significantly greater than what many people thought.

The sudden reversal is a salve for an array of producers. Its offering supermajors like Exxon Mobil Corp. and BP Plc a glimmer of hope after a grueling year. For countries like Iraq and Angola, which have sought aid from the International Monetary Fund to quell economic crises, its a lifeline. Even wealthier exporters like Saudi Arabia consider the extra revenue crucial.

Plunging Stockpiles

The strongest sign of the recovery is one of the most esoteric -- a price structure known as backwardation. Near-term futures contracts have built up a sizable premium relative to later months, indicating immediate supplies are tightening fast.

One gauge watched closely by crude traders -- the difference between contracts based on North Sea Brent crude settling in December versus those a year later -- has surged to a two-year high of $2.84 a barrel.

Thats a signal for refiners to dig into the huge stockpiles that built up during the worst of last years demand slump. These inventories are plunging everywhere, from major depots in the U.S., China and the United Arab Emirates to the tanker fleet once commandeered to house spare barrels at sea.

Global inventories have declined by about 300 million barrels since the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners made deep production cuts in May, the International Energy Agency estimates.

The cartel projects that it will deplete another 82 million barrels this quarter, pushing stockpiles in industrialized nations down to their five-year average by August. Bloated inventories weigh on oil prices, so eliminating the overhang could pave the way for a further recovery.

We are drawing stocks, said Ben Luckock, co-head of oil trading at Trafigura Group in Geneva. Prices have recovered well and can seriously perform come summer both in crude and in products.

Asian Recovery

One of the forces driving this rapid turnaround is the rebound in oil consumption, particularly in Asia.

Not only did China have a V-shaped recovery but theyre actually back into significant growth mode, Royal Dutch Shell Plc Chief Executive Officer Ben van Beurden said in a Bloomberg television interview last week. We are quite optimistic about what it is that we are seeing in China.

The worlds biggest crude importers success at containing the coronavirus has allowed a rapid resumption of economic activity. Government data showed a record stockpile decline in December as processing volumes increased.

In India, fuel consumption has inched back toward normal levels as the spread of the coronavirus prompted the use of more cooking fuel and gasoline. Overall, the nations oil-product demand in December was 1.4% lower than year-ago levels, provisional data from its oil ministry showed.

Big Boxes

Asias resilience is only part of oils comeback. Its being amplified by less obvious sources of strength that can be summed up as freight, chemicals, and cold.

Consumers are diverting spending from holidays and restaurant meals toward deliveries of physical goods. That entails shipping box-loads of stuff across the planet, which is spurring demand for diesel to power ships, trucks and freight trains.

United Parcel Service Inc., the courier whose biggest customer is Amazon.com Inc., said it observed a seasonal peak almost without parallel. Profits from making diesel in the U.S. are at a nine-month high of about $15 a barrel.

Diesel has been the standout, said Citigroups Morse. In a lot of parts of the world, trucking demand went up -- and thats part and parcel of the pandemic, where people stop shopping at retail stores and start shopping at home.

The e-commerce boom is lifting other hydrocarbons as well. The packaging needed for all those deliveries is boosting demand for naphtha, used in plastics. Typically trading at a discount to Brent crude, the oil product is at a rare premium of 30 cents a barrel -- the strongest in seasonal terms in at least five years, according to DV Trading.

Chemicals giants like Dow Inc. and BASF SE have reported bumper earnings amid the plastic bonanza, while refiners such as Austrias OMV AG also observed robust demand.

Big Freeze

Then theres exceptionally cold weather this winter, which inflicted freezing temperatures on Asia and one of the worst snow storms to ever hit New York City.

The chill boosted global oil demand by 1 million barrels a day, as soaring prices of natural gas prompted the switch to diesel generators for power, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. It also stirred purchases of propane, used in the heaters that became ubiquitous outside bars and restaurants in parts of the U.S. where indoor dining was discouraged.

In many ways the market is healing, but its not fully recovered.

Global oil consumption is still down about 5% to 7% from a year ago, Shells van Beurden said. Most of that is due to the ongoing loss in jet fuel demand, with air passenger traffic 70% below year-ago levels as of December, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Even Chinese consumption faces headwinds, as resurgent infections force new lockdowns, and the government discourages the travel usually seen during the Lunar New Year. Glitches with the worldwide roll-out of vaccines, and the risk of more dangerous virus mutations, is compounding fears of another market relapse.

There are a plethora of demand uncertainties, said Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at consultants Energy Aspects Ltd.

OPEC+ Accelerator

Yet those concerns have largely been offset by the other big factor in the markets rehabilitation: massive reductions in supply undertaken by the 23-nation alliance of producers known as OPEC+.

The cartels initial response to the coronavirus made the oil-market crisis worse. In March last year, Saudi Arabia and Russia had a bitter disagreement and for several weeks waged a brutal price war. But when the toll on demand became clear, they reunited and slashed production by an unprecedented 10 million barrels a day, or about 10% of global supplies.

OPEC+ returned a portion of that oil to the market in August, but right now its clearly focused on speeding up the elimination of the stockpile surplus. The group will continue to idle about 7 million barrels a day for another two months, before considering whether to gradually ease the cuts. Meanwhile, the Saudis are making an extra 1 million-barrel-a-day reduction in February and March to spur the recovery.

We see the market still balancing between Covid-driven demand destruction and OPECs ability to manage supply cuts, said Torbjorn Tornqvist, chairman and CEO of Gunvor Group Ltd. in Geneva.

2021 Bloomberg L.P.
On the morning of Feb. 8, cameras followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for 20 minutes in Jerusalem District Court. He came for the opening deliberations for the evidence stage in his bribery trial.

Netanyahu arrived exactly on time, escorted by his lawyer and media adviser. When the opening of the session was delayed, Netanyahu could have chosen to wait in a side room. But instead, he chose to remain, visible to all.

Thus, everyone could see Israels prime minister confiding in his lawyers on live broadcast. Their faces were covered with masks, making it more difficult to decipher what they were saying or even their body language. Was Netanyahu nervous? Was he tense or anxious? Afterward he sat down on a chair opposite one of his lawyers, with his back to the camera. Near Netanyahu was an open window, from which the voices of the anti-Netanyahu demonstrators outside could be heard. Some were dressed as handcuffed prisoners, hinting at what they hope will be Netanyahus fate. They shouted, Get lost! to him.

Nothing in this picture was spontaneous. Netanyahu consciously chose to create a moment of pathos where a prime minister who had led a COVID-19 Cabinet meeting until late at night was forced to make an appearance in court like any Joe Blow. And  as Netanyahu hoped  his was the photo that starred in all the news reports, and appeared the next day on newspaper front pages, not only in Israel but around the world.

For those Israelis who see Netanyahu as corrupt and dangerous, this photo reflected the depth of the prime ministers entanglement, another low point on his way out. But for his admirers and supporters, it held a different meaning and was an expression of his persecution by left-wing politicians and the media. Netanyahu directed himself at his supporters; he needs their votes in the upcoming March elections. He must preserve the glue that connects them to him; he is the only one who holds the magic formula, as everyone has seen in the last two years.

Netanyahu is the first Israeli prime minister accused of serious offenses of bribery while in office. Over three election campaigns, his opponents have used this fact to bash and castigate him. Many people were convinced that simply pressing charges against him would bring him down, but the fact is that Netanyahu is still prime minister and still has a decent chance of being reelected again, despite everything.

The conclusion is that the corruption campaign against him is not really working; Netanyahu easily convinces those who are already convinced. In fact, Netanyahu proved that the charges against him actually have had positive electoral value. He succeeded in creating an identity that he shares with his supporters: When others persecute the prime minister, they are persecuting his supporters as well and trying to topple the right wing from the government.

This is the reason that none of Netanyahus major opponents stormed the studio gates Feb. 8 in a major Netanyahu is corrupt campaign. Instead, they just sent the usual messages. They understood that their campaign was not bringing them voters, but only helping Netanyahu unite the right-wing camp.

Count the differences: When Netanyahu made a court appearance in May 2020, he was accompanied by high-ranking, mask-covered Likud members who were backdrops to the prime ministers Jaccuse speech against the prosecutor's office. This time, he chose a more laid-back strategy. The day before, he disseminated a video in which he told his supporters not to make an appearance at the court due to the social-distancing directives of COVID-19. Netanyahu himself was on time (as mentioned above), treated the judges in the hall respectfully and left court only when they gave him permission.

He continued from there to a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who arrived for an official visit in Israel. This, too, was not coincidence: Netanyahu wanted to send out business-as-usual signals to show that even though he was busy with his trial, he also was succeeding in fulfilling his role as prime minister.

Netanyahu did take advantage of his press conference with Mitsotakis to argue that the charges against him were trumped up.

I think everyone knows that I was framed in the cases against me, but today it turned out that the work that was done in trying to frame me wasn't even good, he said. Netanyahu guessed that his trial would not resume before the elections, saying, It doesn't seem to me that they will rush to the evidentiary stage before the elections. In any case, it will be perceived even if this isn't the intention, it will be perceived as blatant interference in the elections.

Well-informed jurists agree with this assessment: that the stage of proof, when the prosecutor's office sends its important witnesses to testify, will not accompany the election campaign.

Is that good or bad for Netanyahu? Whom does it help? As aforementioned, Netanyahus court case and the associated corruption cases never became factors to Netanyahus detriment, at any stage. Netanyahu succeeds in retaining his status as leader of the right who heads the largest party, the Likud. The Likud never deposed him and those in the Likud who wanted to depose him, such as former minister Gideon Saar, left on their own and founded a competing party.

Netanyahus 2021 campaign lacks gifts from President Donald Trump, and the new president occupying the White House  Joe Biden  is giving Netanyahu the cold shoulder.

Thus, it seems that the only thing that will determine the election results is COVID-19. Netanyahu was convinced that morbidity in Israel would drop by this month, due to the successful vaccination project, and that life would return to normal. But the virus proved its cunning once again: Despite the third closure and the vaccinations, morbidity in Israel has not dropped significantly. The hospitals are full of seriously ill COVID-19 patients, and their ages are dropping.

Its almost a year into COVID-19 and we still dont see the light at the end of the tunnel; the Israeli public is worn out after a rocky year of lockdowns, illness and loss of livelihoods. True, Israel isnt the only country in the world coping with COVID-19. But it is the only state whose prime minister is facing a trial; that leaves Israel open to political blackmail on the part of the countrys ultra-Orthodox elements, who are defiantly rebelling against the coronavirus lockdown rules.

If Netanyahu does depart the Israeli stage as a result of the upcoming elections, it will only be due to COVID-19  and not the court case against him.
A New York man has pleaded guilty to insurance fraud after being involved in a hit-and-run incident with a parked car in Hoboken, New Jersey.

On Wednesday, February 3, 2021, Richard Hamedl of West New York pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree insurance fraud in relation to an insurance claim filed following the accident. The plea was accepted by the Honorable Vincent J. Militello, J.S.C., during a virtual plea hearing.

This comes after Hamedl was operating a 2019 BMW X6 on August 26, 2020, when he struck a parked vehicle on 10th Street in Hoboken and fled the scene. A witness at the scene was able to get a license plate for the BMW X6 and police located the vehicles registered owner who advised them that she had lent the vehicle to Hamedl.

After the accident, Hamedl, who had a separate insurance policy for the BMW X6 with Progressive Insurance, called Progressive to modify his coverage. On September 3, 2021, Hamedl filed a fraudulent claim with Progressive stating that the BMW was damaged in a hit-and-run accident that same day while it was parked in Bronx, New York.

Sentencing in this case has been scheduled for March 25, 2021. The state is represented in this case by Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Galler of the Hudson County Prosecutors Office Insurance Fraud Unit.

Source: The Hudson County Prosecutors Office

Topics Fraud New York

NEW HAVEN  A Yale graduate student fatally wounded Saturday may have been targeted for death, instead of being killed in a random act, police said Monday.

Kevin Jiang, 26, who studied at the Yale School of the Environment and lived in West Haven, was shot to death on Lawrence Street between Nicoll Street and Nash Street Saturday night.

At a press conference, Police Chief Otoniel Reyes said Jiang was familiar in the East Rock neighborhood, where he was killed.

He declined to discuss the matter in detail, noting the ongoing investigation.

We are looking into whether or not Mr. Jiang was targeted. We have developed information that the incident may not have been a random act, that he was in effect targeted, Reyes said. This was not, sort of, a drive-by. It seems like it was much more up-close.

The department does not believe the community is at risk of further violence connected to the incident, Reyes said.

In response to the suggestion that the killing may have been an incident of road rage, Reyes said the department is exploring all angles. It is too early to speculate about the motive for the slaying, he said.

Reyes said the department is doing everything we possibly can to arrest Jiangs killer, as well as the individuals who shot at the home of New Haven Assistant Superintendent of Schools Paul Whyte, and to prevent further shootings.

The department has seized 16 guns this year, he said, noting its commitment to curbing violence.

There is no one thing that I can tell you that is contributing to the violence in New Haven, but we are doing everything we can to make sure the citys safe, said Reyes.

Reyes asked the public to supply any information they have about the incident, no matter how seemingly insignificant.

Chief Medical Examiner James Gill announced Jiangs manner and cause of death Monday. He said Jiang suffered gunshot wounds to the head, neck, torso and extremities.

Jiangs death was the citys sixth homicide of the year.

Yale Police Chief Ronnell Higgins said the Yale Police Department had offered the services of our entire investigative unit to help New Haven police with the case. Jiangs death was significant in many ways, he said.

Reyes stressed the importance of the departments collaboration with Yale, saying their partnership could not be closer, as well as with federal partners. The department will continue to leverage those relationships, as well as its ties to the community, he said.

Right now, were in a rough patch, said Reyes. The city is a safe city. Were experiencing a spate of violence, but I have full confidence were going to turn this around.

Mayor Justin Elicker and Yale President Peter Salovey expressed dismay and offered condolences to Jiangs family at Mondays press conference. A man outside Jiangs West Haven home said the family did not want to comment at this time.

The Yale community is grieving right now. This is the loss of an extraordinary young man. He was committed to applying his talents to improving the world, said Salovey. He wanted to use his education and experiences to make a positive difference in the world through environmental stewardship. ... Kevin gave so much to this community, and he had more to give. So we remember him; we remember him fondly. We feel for his family, his fiancee.

Elicker said it was a very, very challenging time for our community, noting that violence had increased in New Haven, as well as in cities across the country, in the past year.

I want to underscore that this is a top priority, addressing the violence in the city, said Elicker. This (period of violence) is a tragedy for our city. We have to do everything possible to make sure were doing everything we can to keep people safe and keep people alive.

Salovey said Jiangs death illustrated the ways in which we are all connected in this world, and reiterated Yales commitment to the community.

Jiang was a volunteer at Trinity Baptist Church, where he was expecting to be married in the near future, Co-Pastor Greg Hendrickson said on Facebook.

As a community, we are grieving deeply right now. But Kevin lived by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Above all he looked forward to Jesus promise of the resurrection from the dead, said Hendrickson. Though his earthly life was cut short, he used the time that he had on earth to the fullest. His example inspires us to do the same.

Jiang originally was from Chicago, was an Army veteran and a graduate of the University of Washington, according to Yale University.

His fiancee, Zion Perry, described Jiang as a gift from God in an email to the Register.

Kevin...was a true and righteous man after Gods own heart. Life is so precious and short, and I am so thankful that God brought us together, Perry said. I know that he is with his Heavenly Father now in perfect peace. I cannot wait to see him again in Heaven and the New Heaven and Earth. I believe God can bring life even out of evil death because God brought salvation to the whole world through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Jiang said in a Jan. 30 Facebook post that he had proposed to Perry and she said yes, and noted his powerful faith and the impact she had made on his life.

The Rev. Boise Kimber, at a separate press event Monday, called for the city to develop a comprehensive strategy for addressing violence in New Haven and expand its partnerships in addressing crime. He called on the community to aid police and noted his support for further investing in the department.

The recent violence had sparked fear among residents, he said. cause behind each of the homicides in the city is important, he said.

This is an urgent call for this administration to pull together a major group to deal with violence in our community, said Kimber.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Craig Harbaugh, 45, pleaded guilty to fraud as part of a plea deal in order to have 12 other charges against him dropped

A Nebraska sheriff's deputy is facing 20 years behind bars after duping friends and neighbors out of $11million in a Ponzi scheme which involved him faking contracts for weapons and tactical gear with state patrols across the country.

Craig Harbaugh, 45, pleaded guilty to fraud as part of a plea deal in order to have 12 other charges against him dropped.

According to prosecutors and his victims, he 'hid behind his badge' to win over the trust of friends and neighbors in Dodge County on the outskirts of Omaha, Nebraska.

The scheme started in 2014 and involved him faking having contracts to provide state patrols with weapons.

He has a legitimate business - a firearms store called Tactical Solutions Gear - which he claimed is how he got the contracts.

He also claimed to have contracts to provide the Department of Defense with rifles. Harbaugh convinced victims to give up their life savings to invest with him.

One couple gave him $1.3million, which they'd been saving for retirement.

He also convinced Great Western Bank to shell out $6million after showing up to appointments in uniform and faking contracts.

Harbaugh used Tactical Solutions Gear - a legitimate business - to dupe neighbors and friends out of $11million

The interior of the store in Fremont, Nebraska, which is near Omaha

Throughout the duration of the fraud, he was working as a deputy in the Dodge County Sheriff's Department

In reality, prosecutors say it was a classic Ponzi scheme - he was making no money, and was gathering money from one person to pay off another and make them think it was a return on their investment.

Harbaugh told one of the bank clerk's he duped that he was sorry

'A lot of times, we just said, "This is too good to be true," one investor said.  This is too good a deal.

'But he hid behind that badge. Our thought was, If you cant trust a cop, who can you trust? one investor said, according to The Omaha World Herald.

It's unclear what exposed the fraud but after the investors found out, they confronted him over text.

The couple who lost all of their money texted him saying: 'Thanks a lot for (losing) all of are (sic) retirement money ... you just kept taking are (sic) money.'

He tried to deny it, insisting that he had only filed personal bankruptcy but that their investment was safe.

As it fell apart, he admitted to at least one person - a loan officer at the bank - that he'd duped them.

'Im so sorry. I never meant to deceive you ... I was irresponsible, immoral, criminal and selfish,' he said in an email.

Harbaugh now faces 20 years behind bars. A judge has not yet indicated what he'll serve under the plea deal.
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- KinerjaPay Corp (OTCQB: KPAY), a Delaware Corporation, a digital payment and e-commerce platform Company ("KinerjaPay" or the "Company") with its business operations based in Indonesia, today announced that the Company received its payment mechanism in the form of a Letter of Credit (L/C) from its Buyer to ship Coal Grade NAR 3,800 kcal/kg (ARB) to Tianjin Port, China. The Letter of Credit was issued by the Buyer's Bank to the Company's bank at China Construction Bank in Indonesia as a payment guarantee for the shipment of 70,000 Metric Tons Coal Grade NAR 3,800 kcal/kg (ARB) with specifications of Ash Content at 5% ADB rate, Moisture at 34% ARB rate, and Volatile Matter at approximately 40% ADB rate.

The laycan period, usually expressed in the terms of layday and canceling dates, is scheduled to be from 20th February to 28th February 2021, in which the contract must start. The Company has negotiated with local suppliers at East Kalimantan and some local miners to fulfill the required quantity. The Company has also negotiated payment terms with the suppliers which follow the terms specified on the Letter of Credit. The Company expects the loading process to be running smoothly upon its commencement.

The first shipment is worth US$2.1 million based on the contract price for the calorific value of NAR 3,800 kcal/kg. Mr. Edwin W. Ng, the Company's CEO & Chairman, commented "We have prepared the groundworks for the loading to start on 20th February, which will mark our first delivery of Coal to China. As soon as the first shipment is completed, our buyer will immediately schedule another laycan date for the next shipment. Each loading period shall take maximum 2 weeks to complete, with each week delivering minimum 5 flat-bottom barges of 7,000 tons per load." This coal contract is expected to earn in excess of $10 million of operating profit at todays prices for the company. Mr. Ng further commented that "We are starting 2021 hitting on all cylinders as all of our other operations are recovering rapidly. We expect this to be a good year for KPAY shareholders."

About KinerjaPay

KinerjaPay enables consumers to "Pay, Play and Buy" through its secure web portal and mobile applications. Based in Indonesia, the Company provides an easy and convenient payment solution while shopping online at its marketplace platform. With its current omni-channel platform, users can perform various payment services such as credit card bill payment, utility, phone bill, healthcare insurance and direct transfer to anyone at their convenience. KinerjaPay is also planning to launch other eCommerce verticals such as travel market, delivery services, and online gaming in the near future. The Company's services are available through its mobile applications and on its website at www.kinerjapay.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, about KPAY's expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, its product development efforts, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. In addition, from time to time, KPAY or its representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing.

Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "may," "should" or "anticipate" or their negatives or other variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. These forward-looking statements may be included in, but are not limited to, various filings made by KPAY with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases or oral statements made by or with the approval of one of KPAY's authorized executive officers. Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause KPAY's actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause KPAY 's actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the factors summarized in KPAY 's filings with the SEC. In addition, KPAY operates in an industry sector where securities values are highly volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond its control. KPAY does not undertake any obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Please see the risk factors associated with an investment in our securities which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on April 20, 2018 and most recently in our Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on December 21, 2018, pursuant to which we are offering 300,000 Shares of 11% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock at $25.00 Per Share.

For more information, please visit our website http://www.kinerjapay.co . There you will find access to all of our past press releases and SEC filings regarding the activities discussed in this release.

Media Contact:

KinerjaPay Corp.

Email: [email protected]

+62-21-2918-1336

SOURCE KinerjaPay Corp.

Related Links

http://www.kinerjapay.com/



According to a contract published by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) on February 8, 2021, BAE Systems Platforms & Services, Minneapolis, Minnesota, is awarded a $17,576,524 fixed-price incentive contract for Virginia-class submarine propulsors of the U.S. Navy.

According to a contract published by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) on February 8, 2021, BAE Systems Platforms & Services, Minneapolis, Minnesota, is awarded a $17,576,524 fixed-price incentive contract for Virginia-class submarine propulsors of the U.S. Navy.

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The Virginia-class attack submarine Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) John Warner (SSN 785) conducts sea trials in the Atlantic Ocean. (Picture source U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy has been procuring Virginia (SSN-774) class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) since FY (Fiscal Year) 1998. The submarine is designed by General Dynamics's Electric Boat (EB) and Huntington Ingalls Industries incorporating the latest in stealth, intelligence gathering, and weapons systems technology.

According to a U.S. Congress report, the Virginia-class design was developed to be less expensive and better optimized for post-Cold War submarine missions than the Seawolf-class design. The baseline Virginia-class design is slightly larger than the Los Angeles-class design12 but incorporates newer technologies, including technologies used in the Seawolf-class design. Los Angeles-class submarines were built in three successive flights from 1972 to 1996. As of 2020, 32 of the Los Angeles class are still in commission and 30 are retired from service.

The U.S. Navy plans to build most Virginia-class boats procured in FY2019 and subsequent years with the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), an additional, 84-foot-long, mid-body section equipped with four large-diameter, vertical launch tubes for storing and launching additional Tomahawk land attack missiles or other payloads.

The VPMs vertical launch tubes are to be used to store and fire additional Tomahawk cruise missiles or other payloads, such as large-diameter unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs).24 The 4 additional launch tubes in the VPM could carry a total of 28 additional Tomahawk cruise missiles,25 which would increase the total number of torpedo-sized weapons carried by the Virginia-class design from about 37 to about 65an increase of about 76%.

In addition to the VPM, the Navy is introducing acoustic and other improvements to the Virginia-class design that are intended to help maintain the designs superiority over Russian and Chinese submarines.

Since 1989, BAE Systems has manufactured propulsors that significantly contribute to the overall stealth and effectiveness of a submarine. Initially delivering this key technology for the Seawolf-class, we continue to successfully manufacture propulsors for Virginia class subs as well. The propulsor is used to improve the propellers efficiency and help lower its sonar signature.
SEA Electric is widely recognized as a market leader in the electrification of commercial vehicles with operations in five countries and over one million miles of independent Original Equipment Manufacturer ("OEM") tested and in-service operation. SEA Electric is currently partnered with commercial vehicle OEM's, dealers, and upfitters to deliver a new range of zero-emissions trucks and is on schedule to deliver more than 1,000 electric vehicles this year and is forecasted to have more than 15,000 vehicles on the road by the end of 2023.

The expanded strategic collaboration agreement (the "agreement" or "collaboration") includes SEA Electric providing Exro with two electric delivery vans to showcase Exro's Battery Control System and facilitate second-life battery storage by the second half of 2021. With a focus on utilizing electric truck batteries for energy storage applications, Exro and SEA will co-develop the BCS for operational validation.

The agreement expands on the initial scope to commercialize the Exro Coil Driver in SEA's electric trucks to now include a Class 8 electric truck for the Canadian market and volume production targets of 400 trucks minimum by the second-year post validation. The Company and SEA Electric will co-demonstrate the Exro-enhanced electric fleet trucks in the North American market by the second half of 2021.

This widened collaboration will significantly accelerate development of Exro's Battery Control System and identify a key end of first-life battery source. It will also highlight a true example of the circular economy and how Exro can impact sustainability and energy consumption by extending batteries to a second life.

"Exro's technology will continue to open new opportunities with applications that have cost-prohibitive components on the market today", said Tony Fairweather, Chief Executive Officer of SEA Electric. "We are excited to expand our partnership with Exro and help to optimize the utilization of batteries in a second-life application."

"This is a big deal for Exro, a major catalyst for Exro toward our vision of becoming a leader in power electronics for mobility and energy management", said Sue Ozdemir, Chief Executive Officer of Exro. "I am very pleased to be expanding our partnership with SEA Electric to further demonstrate the synergy our technology has from commercial trucks to energy storage."

As part of the agreement, Exro will invest US $5 million into SEA Electric by subscribing for 124,380 Series A Preferred Shares (the "Shares") at a price of US $40.1995 per Share. The Shares are convertible into common shares of SEA at the option of Exro and automatically covert to common shares under certain conditions, including SEA completing a going public transaction. The Shares have certain preferences for their holders in relation to dividends and on a winding up of SEA but are otherwise identical to common shares of SEA. Dividends on the Shares will be paid at the discretion of SEA's board of directors, but in any event prior to any dividends being paid to common shareholders.

About Exro Technologies Inc.

Exro is a clean technology company pioneering intelligent control solutions in power electronics to help solve the most challenging problems in electrification. Exro has developed a new class of control technology that expands the capabilities of electric motors, generators, and batteries. Exro enables the application to achieve more with less energy consumed.

Exro's advanced motor control technology, the Coil Driver, expands the capabilities of powertrains by enabling two separate torque profiles within a given motor. A major advancement in the sector, dynamic motor configuration enables efficiency optimization for each operating mode resulting in reduction of energy consumption. The controller automatically selects the appropriate configuration in real time so that power and efficiency are intelligently optimized.

For more information visit our website at www.exro.com .

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/exro-technologies-inc

Twitter https://twitter.com/exrotech

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/exrotech/

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sue Ozdemir, Chief Executive Officer

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing these forward-looking statements are reasonable based upon the information currently available to management as of the date hereof, actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Exro Technologies Inc.
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Wipro Limited on Tuesday said it appointed Tomoaki Takeuchi as the country head and managing director for Japan who will be responsible for enhancing its focus in Japan with an emphasis on more growth, large deals, and significant transformational engagements.

Takeuchi is a seasoned technology and operations professional with more than three decades of experience. Prior to joining Wipro, he headed the Japan operations for Cognizant.

Japan has been a strategic focus for Wipro over the years, even more so now with its growing demand for digital transformation, specialized technology requirements and engineering expertise," said N.S. Bala, CEO-APMEA, Wipro.

A day prior, Wipro also announced the appointment of Michael Seiger as the country head and managing director for Germany and Austria. Prior to joining Wipro, Seiger was the global head of application management at Atos SE, where he was instrumental in winning key deals across Europe.

In his new role, Seiger will work to expand the reach of Wipro by leveraging its engineering expertise, advanced HOLMES AI platform and Topcoder freelancer service to meet emerging demand in Germany and Austria.

Seiger aims to adopt a fresh approach towards the German and Austrian markets and his key focus will be on securing large deals and significant transformational engagements.

With marquee customers and an emphasis on local capabilities and offerings, Germany and Austria have been strategic focus markets for Wipro. Both markets have strong potential in manufacturing, BFSI, energy & utilities and telecom sectors, and we have made significant investments in recent years that have strengthened our relationship with educators and administrators in the region," said Barath Narayanan, chief operating officer, Europe, Wipro. As part of expansion efforts in this dynamic market, we also plan to set up a Digital Innovation Hub for Germany and Austria."

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The BioRescue research project, a programme aiming at saving the northern white rhinoceros from extinction, exemplifies the challenges to overcome when conducting research and conservation in an international consortium in times of a global pandemic. COVID-19 hampered communication and travels, prevented or delayed crucial procedures, caused losses in revenues and by that may have lowered the chances of a survival of the northern white rhino. The consortium adjusted strategies, gained valuable knowledge during these challenging times and continued with its mission. The effects of the pandemic on the BioRescue project are described in detail in a scientific paper published in the Journal of Applied Animal Ethics Research.

There are only two northern white rhino individuals left in the world, both females. To prevent the extinction of the northern white rhino, an international consortium of scientists and conservationists seeks to advance assisted reproduction technologies and stem-cell associated techniques to create northern white rhino embryos in-vitro. In the near future, the embryos will be transferred to southern white rhino surrogate mothers to create northern white rhino offspring. This boundary-pushing programme is conducted by an international team working within a global framework and includes scientists and conservationists from institutions in Germany, Kenya, Japan, Czech Republic, USA and Italy. From March 2020 onwards, the work of the consortium has been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in several ways at the local, national and international level.

At the international level, the most striking obstacle were international travel restrictions. "The consortium partners had previously agreed upon collecting oocytes from the last two northern white rhinos every three to four months. This is considered a safe interval to maintain the health of the females while maximising the number of harvested oocytes, equivalent to potential future embryos and offspring" says BioRescue project head Thomas Hildebrandt from the Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW). Following such an interval, oocyte collection was planned for March 2020 at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. "Owing to international travel restrictions, the procedure had to be cancelled and could only be conducted after the re-opening of Kenya's borders in August 2020," adds Leibniz-IZW BioRescue scientist Susanne Holtze, who shares first authorship of the publication with Hildebrandt. "This does not only mean that one crucial opportunity was missed and possibly several valuable embryos could not be generated, it also affected the subsequent procedure in August 2020," Holtze explains. It is likely that the prolonged interval since the last oocyte collection in December 2019 compromised oocyte quality and was the reason that out of 10 oocytes, no embryos could be created. The delay of possible embryo transfers in Kenya will also decrease chances for northern white rhino calves to grow up with individuals of their kind. This ultimately implies that almost a year was lost for the programme - a serious delay in the race against time to prevent the extinction of the northern white rhino. "On the other hand, the involuntary break provided us with valuable new insights into the reproduction management of northern white rhinos," says Hildebrandt. "We still made progress in 2020 as we could successfully continue our research with our Kenya mission in December."

In addition to the delays in conducting the procedures at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, for which strict travel regulations and on-site hygiene rules had to be followed, the pandemic posed several further challenges to the consortium. Lockdown and temporal closures of public facilities caused notable losses in revenues for the consortium partner Safari Park Dv?r Kralove in the Czech Republic. "We faced the unprecedented situation of having no revenues from entrance fees and other services. However, against all odds, we were quickly able to develop new ways of how to approach our potential visitors and supporters online and this allowed us to keep our support to the northern white rescue programme on the same level as in previous years. Our highest priority is protecting species from extinction and COVID-19 confirmed how important the support by individual donors is," says Jan Stejskal, the Safari Park's Director of Communication and International Projects. Similarly, the not-for-profit Ol Pejeta Conservancy experienced drastic reductions in revenue from international tourism owing to a ban on international travel, national curfews and the isolation of the capital Nairobi. "Therefore, fundraising was necessary to maintain our wildlife and conservation programmes and pay for salaries," says Ol Pejeta Managing Director, Richard Vigne. "Nevertheless, safeguarding the animals and professional veterinary care were maintained at all times in cooperation with the Kenya Wildlife Service."

For the research facilities of the consortium partners in Germany, Italy and Japan, different levels of restrictions were put in place on laboratory work. Crucial work at Leibniz-IZW, Avantea Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies (Italy), Kyushu University (Japan) and the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine (Germany) could be carried on to a limited extent. "Staff at labs was limited, hygiene rules were enacted, transportation of samples and equipment were hampered and last but not least closure of schools and child care facilities forced parents to switch from lab work to mobile work at home," Sebastian Diecke from Max Delbruck Center sums up. Laboratories and offices at the University of Padova were also closed and online-teaching and research was implemented. The team in charge of the ethical monitoring of the BioRescue programme continued working from home, and had to adjust strategies to carry on the ethical assessment for all procedures. "Despite all difficulties, the ethical assessment was always performed and BioRescue procedures have uninterruptedly maintained high standards of quality and respect for the safety and welfare of both researchers and the animals involved," says Barbara de Mori from University of Padua.

"COVID-19 has disastrous consequences all over the world, but two new embryos that we produced in December 2020 demonstrate that our BioRescue team is committed to overcome all scientific and logistic challenges the northern white rhino rescue might bring. We will be grateful for everyone who decides to support us in our mission," adds Jan Stejskal."

Besides the downside effects of the pandemic, there were also a few positive ones. For example, closure of international borders opened up new opportunities for assisted reproduction procedures in Germany which were important for advancing and perfecting methods and techniques. For example, a designated mating partner of a southern white rhino female in a German zoo could not be transferred and therefore, assisted reproduction was a welcome alternative to regular natural mating. Secondly, social distancing regulations helped to establish a new culture of online meetings within the consortium partners on a more regular basis, which proved useful and will continue in future. Lastly, there is a renewed awareness for the destruction of habitat and the loss of biodiversity as key drivers for emerging zoonotic diseases. "BioRescue is not only about saving the northern white rhino. On the long run it also is a much-needed step for the healing of disrupted habitat in Central Africa and therefor for preventing global pandemics in future," says Thomas Hildebrandt. "It is ironic and bitter, that our mission was severely affected by the very thing it ultimately intends to make more unlikely, a pandemic." More information about BioRescue as well as options how to support the project can be found on http://www. biorescue. org .

###

Publication

Hildebrandt TB*, Holtze S*, Biasetti P, Colleoni S, de Mori B, Diecke S, Goritz F, Hayashi K, Hayashi M, Hermes R, Kariuki L, Lazzari G, Mijele D, Mutisya S, Ndeereh D, Ngulu S, Seet S, Zwilling J, Zywitza V, Stejskal J, Galli C (2021): Conservation research in times of Covid-19 - the rescue of the Northern White Rhino. J APPL ANIM ETHICS RES 11, 312. doi: 10.1163/25889567-BJA10009.

Boilerplates

Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW)

The Leibniz-IZW is an internationally renowned German research institute of the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. and a member of the Leibniz Association. Our mission is to examine evolutionary adaptations of wildlife to global change and develop new concepts and measures for the conservation of biodiversity. To achieve this, our scientists use their broad interdisciplinary expertise from biology and veterinary medicine to conduct fundamental and applied research - from molecular to landscape level - in close dialogue with the public and stakeholders. Additionally we are committed to unique and high quality services for the scientific community.

http://www. izw-berlin. de

Safari Park Dv?r Kralove

Safari Park Dv?r Kralove is a safari park in the Czech Republic. It's one of the best rhino breeders outside of Africa and the only place where the northern white rhino bred in human care - both remaining females, Najin and Fatu, were born here. Dv?r Kralove Zoo coordinates efforts to save the northern white rhinos.

https:/ / safaripark. cz/ en/

Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC)

The MDC's research has a long-time goal: to advance medicine today and in the future. Its broad thematic orientation enables highly networked and collaborative projects providing insights into many different aspects of life and disease.

https:/ / www. mdc-berlin. de/ research-approach

Kenya Wildlife Service

Kenya Wildlife Service is the principal government institution that conserves and manages wildlife for Kenyans and the world. It also enforces related laws and regulations.

http://kws. go. ke/

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Ol Pejeta Conservancy is the largest black rhino sanctuary in east Africa, and is the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees. It is also home to the last two northern white rhinos on the planet. Ol Pejeta's cutting-edge wildlife security includes a specialised K-9 unit, motion sensor cameras along its solar-powered electric fence, and a dedicated Rhino Protection Unit.

https:/ / www. olpejetaconservancy. org/

Avantea

Avantea is a laboratory of advanced technologies for biotechnology research and animal reproduction based in Cremona, Italy. Avantea has over twenty years of experience and the know-how in assisted reproduction of livestock developed through years of research conducted in the biomedical and animal reproduction fields.

https:/ / www. avantea. it/ en/

University of Padua

University of Padua in Italy is one of the oldest in the world, celebrating 800 years. Its Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science is developing leading research and education in the field of wildlife conservation and welfare with a special focus on ethical assessment and evaluation of research projects and educational programs.

https:/ / www. unipd. it/ en/

Contacts

Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW)

Prof. Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt

BioRescue project head and head of Department of Reproduction Management

+49305168440

hildebrandt@izw-berlin.de

Steven Seet

Head of Science Communication

+491778572673

seet@izw-berlin.de

Dv?r Kralove Zoo

Jan Stejskal

Director of Communication and International Projects

+420608009072

jan.stejskal@zoodk.cz

Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC)

Dr. Sebastian Diecke

Head of Stem Cell Core Facility BIH

+49 30 9406-3090

Sebastian.Diecke@mdc-berlin.de

Padua University

Barbara de Mori

Director of the Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal

+39-3403747666

barbara.demori@unipd.it

Avantea

Cesare Galli

Director

+390 / 372437242

cesaregalli@avantea.it

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Elodie Sampere

PR & Communications

+254 / 727 341 612

elodie.sampere@olpejetaconservancy.org

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)

Dr David Ndeereh

Head, Veterinary Services

+254/722 556 380

dndeereh@kws.go.ke

Paul Udoto

Corporate Communications Manager

+254/721 453 981

pudoto@kws.go.ke
A DUP MP has said the impact of Covid-19 in primary schools in Northern Ireland has been "minuscule" and that all schools in Northern Ireland should be reopened at the start of March.

The NI Executive will be reviewing the current restrictions next week, with the current lockdown due to end on March 5.

Carla Lockhart MP said that the top priority for the Executive should be to allow schools to open again and added that it has now become unsustainable to keep primary schools closed.

"While some children adapt well to home schooling it must be remembered that for many children and young people they will not be progressing in their education as they should be or need to be," the Upper Bann MP said. "Many parents are still working with limited time to support children, internet provision in some areas is a hindrance, those with special education needs are not supported as they need to be and there is also a significant cost implication of home schooling that is a lot for households to bare.

"With all this in mind we need to see the Executive make school reopening the highest priority, particularly in relation to primary schools. The impact on the R-rate was always minuscule.

"So now with the overall R rate under one, it is unsustainable to keep primary schools closed."

She said that with Scotland now moving towards reopening schools, Northern Ireland should be following the same schedule.

"Education and the personal, social development of children is so important," she said. "These children have sacrificed enough to help the fight against Covid but now is the time for the Executive to put these children's interests at the top of the priority list. Scotland is moving towards reopening for some primary school children later this month. Northern Ireland should do the same at the start of March.

"Ahead of this we should be looking to vaccinate teachers, school staff and those transporting children to school, and making schools as safe as possible."

The Executive has agreed to move teachers in Special Education further up the list of those due to receive Covid vaccinations, but while the Education Minister has said he would support a further move to have all teachers vaccinated as soon as possible, no decision had yet been made.
"This initiative works to close the income and racial wealth gap in the industry. Together, we're holding open the door that would otherwise remain closed to Black professionals and consumers, said Antoine Thompson, National Executive Director for NAREB.

HomeLight, the real estate technology platform that empowers people to achieve better outcomes when buying or selling their home, announced today the launch of the Black Real Estate Agent Program in partnership with the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the largest and oldest minority professional real estate trade association in the United States. The HomeLight-NAREB Black Real Estate Agent Program  the first program of its kind in the United States  will provide financial, educational, and career support for aspiring Black real estate agents across the country, helping them achieve high-production success.

According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, Black Americans represent less than 6 percent of all real estate professionals. The HomeLight-NAREB Black Real Estate Agent Program will seek to increase the number of top-producing Black agents in real estate, with the ultimate goal of helping improve the rate of homeownership for Black Americans across the country.

As part of the program, HomeLight and NAREB will help cover many of the onboarding costs for new agents up to $5,000, including pre-licensing classes, agent exams, and select marketing and technology needs. Each program participant will be paired with an experienced NAREB Realtist who will serve as a mentor and advisor. Participants will also receive ongoing training and education above and beyond that which brokers typically provide.

Our goal is to drive sustainable, structural change by increasing access to job opportunities as well as education around how systematic racism has impacted the real estate industry, said Sumant Sridharan, Chief Operating Officer at HomeLight. Were excited to partner with NAREB to offer this program to aspiring Black real estate professionals. Together, we believe we can fundamentally shift diversity and equality in our industry by increasing access to training, education, and support for Black real estate agents.

NAREB applauds and welcomes the partnership with HomeLight. Our associations goal to achieve Democracy in Housing cannot be reached without the increase in the ranks of Black real estate professionals. Agents are the frontline and introduce homeownership to prospective clients. We are confident that this new program will not only equip Black American program participants with the knowledge and practical experience to become top producers in their communities, but also significantly expand Black homeownership in their communities, said Lydia Pope, President-Elect at NAREB.

Applications are open immediately. HomeLight and NAREB are actively seeking aspiring Black real estate professionals who are:



Between the ages of 18 and 35

Interested in a career in real estate, but not currently established as an agent

Willing to work with a NAREB broker during at least their first year in real estate

Committed to spending five to ten hours per week working with mentors or on continuing education

Located anywhere in the United States

In the aftermath of the racially stoked unrest in 2020, NAREB and HomeLight formed a working partnership to increase the number of Black Americans in the real estate profession. This initiative works to close the income and racial wealth gap in the industry. As important, our efforts are designed to increase Black homeownership. Together, we're holding open the door that would otherwise remain closed to Black professionals and consumers, said Antoine Thompson, National Executive Director for NAREB.

For more information and to sign up, visit https://www.homelight.com/black-agent-program.

About HomeLight

HomeLight is a real estate technology platform powering the best real estate agents in the United States, building the future of how people buy and sell homes. HomeLight provides a variety of software and services to home buyers, sellers, and real estate agents at every step throughout the real estate journey, from finding a top real estate agent, to accessing a network of cash buyers through HomeLight Simple Sale, and providing innovative financing solutions through HomeLight Trade-In. Each year, HomeLight facilitates billions of dollars of real estate on its platform. HomeLight is headquartered in San Francisco and has offices in Manhattan, Scottsdale, and Seattle. For additional information and images, visit https://www.homelight.com/press.

About the National Association of Real Estate Brokers

The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) was formed in 1947 to secure the right to equal housing opportunities, regardless of race, creed, or color. NAREB has advocated for legislation and supported or instigated legal challenges that ensure fair housing, sustainable homeownership, and access to credit for Black Americans. At the same time, NAREB advocates for and promotes access to business opportunity for Black real estate professionals in all of the real estate disciplines. NAREB annually publishes the State of Housing in Black America (SHIBA) report. For more information, visit https://www.nareb.com.
A former Queensland mayor has called for the south-easts controversial recycled water scheme to be fired up amid declining levels of drinking water in the regions dams.

Faced with the Millennium Drought, former Toowoomba mayor Di Thorley championed an Australia-first project in 2006 to pump treated sewage into Toowoombas drinking supply.

Former Toowoomba mayor Di Thorley in 2007. Credit:Glenn Hunt

But the plan was kiboshed after a referendum in which the community overwhelmingly voted no, with 61 per cent of voters rejecting the proposal.

Terms such as Poowoomba were bandied about and the no campaign included a group called Citizens Against Drinking Sewage.
Each unit comprises one company share and one half of a share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant entitling the bearer to acquire one additional company share at an exercise price of C$0.25 for two years from issue

The non-brokered financing is for up to over 26.7 million units at C$0.15 each

African Gold Group Inc ( ) (OTCMKTS:AGGFF) (FRA:3A61) plans to raise C$4 million gross from a private placing to advance infill and exploration drilling at its flagship Kobada project in southern Mali.

The non-brokered financing is for up to over 26.7 million units at C$0.15 each.

Each unit comprises one company share and one half of a share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant entitling the bearer to acquire one additional company share at an exercise price of C$0.25 for two years from issue.

Closing of this offering is expected to occur on or around February 19 this year.

African Gold Group is on track to become Africas next mid-tier gold producer, with the company targeting production of 100,000 gold ounces per year from Kobada by the second quarter of 2022.

Other exploration locations have also been identified on the Kobada, Farada and Kobada Est concessions, offering potential for an increase in resource.

Last week, the company said it had now completed two drill phases - 3A and 4A - at the site, which was aimed at upgrading the oxide resources to the higher confidence indicated and measured category and to initially prove the presence of mineralisation at the neighbouring Gosso shear zone.

The West Africa-focused mining group told investors it aims to include these drill results into the updated resource estimate for Kobada, which is on track for early this year.

Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
BEIRUT, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese authorities on Monday gradually started to ease the total lockdown measures in the country for the fight against COVID-19 due to the economic and financial crisis.

Lebanese authorities adopted a strategy aimed at opening the different sectors in the country in four phases to avoid big gatherings and a further increase in the number of infections, which have reached 319,917 so far with 3,616 deaths from the virus.

Banks and supermarkets opened their doors to clients, prompting people to stand in long queues waiting for their turns to withdraw money and buy their needs after over three weeks of total lockdown. Most people were wearing masks without proper respect for social distancing measures.

During the first phase, banks, supermarkets, public sector in addition to public transport will resume operations, while other sectors including cars companies, travel agencies and trade sector, will open later this month and in March.

Representatives of the different sectors in the country have been calling upon authorities to curb lockdown measures and allow them to operate to be able to survive amid the deteriorating economic situation.

Khaled Itani, a citizen who works at a clothes shop in Hamra, told Xinhua that he is glad the government has come up with a strategy to open the country during the current tough economic situation.

"We cannot stay at home. We want to work and earn money to live," he told Xinhua.

Meanwhile, Hassib Frayha, an owner of a clothes shop in Hamra, told Xinhua he cannot wait to open his business again so as to generate some income and pay his rent.

Meanwhile, experts in the country expressed their concerns about the government's plan to reduce lockdown measures amid continuous increase in infections.

Firas Abiad, director of the Rafic Hariri University Hospital, said that extending the lockdown for another week is preferable because the positive rate of COVID-19 has remained stubbornly high at over 20 percent, which means the virus is still actively spreading in the community.

Abiad noted that easing the lockdown will result in reversing any downward trend and numbers will quickly rebound.

He added that the current rate of more than 2,500 new COVID-19 cases daily is not allowing hospitals to cope with the situation.

Abiad admits that extending lockdown is not a popular decision which will lead to suffering, but the premature easing of restrictions will yield worse results.

For his part, Nasser Yassin, a professor of policy and planning at the American University of Beirut, expressed his concerns about "the high positivity rate of PCR tests at 22 percent, which is one of the highest in the world and it does not encourage the re-opening of the businesses and institutions."

He noted that the World Health Organization is not in favor of resuming various sectors' operations in a country unless the test positivity rate drops to 5 percent of less.

Yassin is also concerned about the low number of people who registered for the vaccination which stands at 248,000 only with 70,000 workers in the health sector, equivalent to only 6.5 percent of the total population in Lebanon.

"This is a very low percentage compared to the desired goal to achieve community immunity at 80 percent," he said.

Yassin also noted that 37 percent of Lebanese families (370,000 families) applied for financial support at the Social Affairs Ministry which indicates that the total lockdown will not yield positive results if it is not accompanied with financial support for all these families.

Meanwhile, Social Affairs Minister Ramzi Musharrafieh noted that the World Bank's loan of 264 million U.S. dollars will only cover 147,000 families.

Yassin emphasized the importance of expanding the capacity of hospitals in the coming days while also launching an awareness campaign about the importance of vaccination, in addition to adopting a proper vaccination strategy to vaccinate 80 percent of the people in a timely manner.

Lebanon is expected to receive the first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines by the end of this week or the beginning of next week. Enditem

[ Editor: SRQ ]

The first for-sale housing is coming to Brooks, a former Air Force base on the South Side that San Antonio leaders are turning into a bustling hub of businesses, apartments, stores and hotels.

Terramark Urban Homes recently bought nearly 5 acres for $1.8 million from the Brooks Development Authority and plans to construct 60 single-family homes. Prices will start at $270,000.

According to property records, the San Antonio company is borrowing $1.5 million for the purchase from the organization, which is overseen by an 11-member board of directors appointed by the mayor and City Council.

The land is next to the Greenline, a 43-acre park that will connect to the Mission Reach trail of the River Walk by this fall. The company plans to break ground in the first quarter, Chief Operating Officer John Cooley said.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio-area home construction jumps to highest point since 2007

The company has concentrated primarily on neighborhoods around downtown, building small clusters of homes on the near East Side and close to the Pearl and St. Marys Strip. It has constructed more than 150 homes in the area.

The housing at Brooks is its most ambitious project to date, Cooley said.

Were bullish on the area, he said. Its a great opportunity to prove the for-sale product on Brooks and how much room there is to grow it. We think theres a lot of demand.

The base was recommended for closure by the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 2005 and decommissioned in 2011. The 1,308-acre site has since been transformed into a master planned community.

Brooks has added four market-rate complexes with 1,174 apartments since the base closed, bringing the total number of residential units at the site to 1,337, spokeswoman Connie Gonzalez said. More than 2,300 people live at Brooks.

Officials are also in discussions about adding two more single-family rental complexes and one multifamily project, which would encompass over 1,000 units, Gonzalez said.

Hilton operates a full-service Embassy Suites hotel at Brooks, and the University of the Incarnate Word opened its School of Osteopathic Medicine there. Brooks is also home to Mission Trail Baptist Hospital.

Japanese manufacturer Nissei Plastic Machinery America Inc. and Virginia food packaging company Cuisine Solutions built facilities at Brooks. Okin Process, which provides business processing services, set up its U.S. headquarters at the site.

Amazon is planning to open a delivery station this year, and a brewery by Southerleigh Hospitality Group is also on the way.

On ExpressNews.com: Occupancy at San Antonio's shopping centers dips

Brooks is one of the regional centers in the citys SA Tomorrow plan, an innovation zone for testing technologies and a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, which reimburses developers for infrastructure improvements from property tax revenue.

Brooks is also among 24 local census tracts designated as an opportunity zone. The community got Texas first project under the program in 2019: a self-storage facility with flex space built by DPR Investments. Amazon is also using the designation, Gonzalez said.

The zones, established as part of then-President Donald Trumps 2017 tax overhaul, are aimed at generating economic growth in low-income neighborhoods. Investors and companies can get tax breaks on capital gains if they put their capital in long-term investments in the zones.

But the program has been criticized for primarily benefiting wealthy investors instead of residents. Research also reveals mixed economic conditions within the zones and shows that many of the local swaths, including Brooks, were already luring investment.

While Brooks didnt necessarily need the designation, it has spurred more interest in projects at the site and could ripple outward, Brooks Development Authority CEO Leo Gomez said in a 2019 interview.

If investment on our campus can strategically lead and leverage investment into the areas outside our campus but still within the opportunity zone, I think thats the real winner in the long term, Gomez said.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
Facebook will crack down on 'misinformation' about Covid-19, including claims that coronavirus was man-made, the tech giant has announced, sparking freedom of speech fears.

The news comes despite the outbreak's source still not being identified, and after WHO scientists researching the origins of Covid in China said it is 'extremely unlikely' the virus leaked from a lab.

Facebook said that it has banned misinformation about all vaccines in a blog post on Monday, after years of controversy over the company's perceived inaction.

Some of the claims that Facebook said it would be clamping down on includes unproven claims that Covid-19 is man-made or manufactured and that vaccines cause autism or have other harmful effects.

Claims that vaccines are not effective against preventing disease and that it is safer to get the disease than to get a vaccine have also been banned from the platform.

Posts making such claims will be removed from the website, as well as Facebook-owned Instagram, the company said in the post that came with a list of 'misinformation' it was banning from its platforms.

But Jim Killock, Executive Director of the Open Rights Group that seeks to protect freedom of speech online, expressed the need for Facebook to be cautious, saying there is a fine line between misinformation and content expressing people's genuine concerns.

Facebook said that it has banned misinformation about all vaccines in a blog post on Monday, after years of controversy over the company's perceived inaction

Some of the false information that Facebook said it would be clamping down on includes unproven claims that Covid-19 is man-made or manufactured and that vaccines cause autism or have other harmful effects. Pictured: The Wuhan lab where some have claimed Covid-19 originated from, which was disputed by WHO researchers on February 9

Facebook's expanded list of banned claims On Monday, Facebook posted a blog saying it would be removing false claims about Covid-19, including claims such as: COVID-19 is man-made or manufactured

Vaccines are not effective at preventing the disease they are meant to protect against

It's safer to get the disease than to get the vaccine

Vaccines are toxic, dangerous or cause autism. Advertisement

'Facebook need to take action, but will inevitably make mistakes. They were recently told by their Oversight Board to reinstate a post relating to the COVID outbreak that was wrongly removed,' Mr Killock told the MailOnline.

'There is always a fine line between material that seeks to deceive, and people expressing legitimate concerns about their health. Facebook need to reassure the public that their rights to criticise and examine Government health policy will not be swept away by careless moderators.'

Mark Johnson, Legal and Policy Officer at Big Brother Watch - another freedom of speech campaign group - said Facebook's 'censorship' was also eroding public trust.

'Facebook's increasing censorship of COVID-19 related content online is not only damaging to free speech but is eroding public trust at a time when it is more important than ever,' Mr Johnson said.

'Tech giants like Facebook are increasingly being leant on by our Government to censor lawful speech. This is a slippery slope. The right to free speech has never been limited to the consensus of authorities. Even during a global pandemic, freedom of speech must be protected.'

The ban has taken effect immediately, with Facebook saying it is paying particular attention to 'Pages, groups and accounts that violate these rules'.

Facebook added that it will be expanding its efforts to stop the spread of what it deems misinformation in the coming weeks.

'There's still a long road ahead, and in 2021 we're focused on supporting health leaders and public officials in their work to vaccinate billions of people against COVID-19,' Kang-Xing Jin, Facebook's head of health, said in a statement.

The company has introduced more stringent policies to combat COVID-19 vaccine misinformation during the pandemic.

But Facebook has had a more hands-off approach to misinformation about other vaccines, which has rarely been removed and only when it was considered to risk 'imminent harm'.

In December, Facebook announced it would remove false claims about COVID-19 vaccines that had been debunked by public health experts.

In recent weeks, however, news reports have identified Facebook pages, groups and Instagram accounts still spreading these false claims.

Pictured: The Huanan seafood market on February 9, 2021 in Wuhan, China, long believed to have been the site where the pandemic began

Outlining the findings of his team's month-long fact-finding mission, Peter Embarek, leader of the WHO team, said the team had failed to establish where the virus came from or how it first jumped into humans. Pictured: Members of the WHO team in Wuhan on Monday

Facebook also said it would help users find out where and when they can receive the coronavirus vaccine.

It will partner with Johns Hopkins and the AARP to reach Black, Latinx, Native Americans and people over 50 with educational content that addresses concerns those groups may have about the new vaccine.

The expanded list of banned claims came after 'consultations with leading health organisations, including the World Health Organisation (WHO),' the statement said.

'Groups, Pages and accounts on Facebook and Instagram that repeatedly share these debunked claims may be removed altogether.'

Facebook has been constantly updating its policies on content relating to Covid-19 since the pandemic began.

In April 2020, the company began to add a panel of facts about the virus from the US' CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) along with posts about coronavirus in an effort to combat misinformation.

The platform has also often made misinformation about vaccines less visible, but until December stopped short of an out-right ban on the content.

Pictured: A man in Stevenage, UK, receives a dose of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine on February 9. Facebook said that it has banned misinformation about all vaccines in a blog pos t on Monday, after years of controversy over the company's perceived inaction

At the end of 2020, the company strengthened its coronavirus policies, and began removing posts from its platforms about claims that had been debunked by experts.

These included posts about false claims that 5G technology either causes or contributes to the spread of the disease, that wearing facemasks does not help prevent the virus' spread, or posts suggesting that vaccines contain microchips.

The new ban does not stop short at content relating to Covid-19, however, and covers misinformation about all vaccines, a problem that was prevalent on the internet long before the start of the pandemic but that has recently grown.

But despite the ban, The Guardian reports that vaccine misinformation is still prevalent on Facebook's platforms, with top search results for 'Covid vaccine' on Instagram still returning conspiracy theory pages as of Monday morning.

Peter Embarek, lead researcher for WHO in Wuhan, has concluded Covid did not leak from a lab and has instead called for research into whether it was imported from overseas

On Tuesday, WHO scientists researching the origins of Covid in China said it is 'extremely unlikely' the virus leaked from a lab and have called for no further study into the theory.

Instead, Peter Embarek, leader of the WHO team investigating the origins of Covid-19 in China, said that further studies should be carried out into whether the virus was imported into the country - possibly on frozen meats sold at the market in Wuhan where the first cluster of cases was detected.

He also backed assertions from Beijing that there is no evidence of transmission 'in Wuhan or elsewhere' in China before December 2019 - despite mounting evidence that the virus was circulating globally months earlier than that.

The findings will be a PR coup for Beijing, which has repeatedly tried to pin the blame for a pandemic which has blighted the world outside its borders.

It will also give ammunition to WHO's critics, who feared the investigation would be used to give legitimacy to a Chinese white-washing exercise with possibly embarrassing or incriminating evidence hidden from investigators.

Dr Liang Wannian, China's lead researcher in Wuhan, also pushed the theory that the virus could have been imported on frozen meats from overseas

Outlining the findings of his team's month-long fact-finding mission, Dr Embarek said the team had failed to establish where the virus came from or how it first jumped into humans. Instead, he said the team had come up with four theories.

Researchers concluded the most likely explanation is that the virus passed from its original host animal into an intermediary animal that comes into close contact with humans, before making the leap into people.

Intermediary animals could include frozen or chilled animal products sold at markets in Wuhan, including those imported from overseas, he said.

The second most-likely theory is that the virus jumped directly from its original host into humans, and Dr Embarek put forward bats as a likely source.

But, he said, humans and bats do not come into close contact in Wuhan and swabs of various other animal species in China - including wild animals, pets, and farm animals - has failed to find the original source.

Dr Embarek called for more research to be carried out into both of these theories, and the possibility that animal products carried the virus.

The only theory he rejected out-of-hand was that the virus had leaked from a lab, saying it was 'extremely unlikely'.
Radio host Mel Greig boxed up her 'skinny clothes' in January 2016, vowing to only wear them again when she reached her goal weight of 68kg.

But more than five years on, Mel has accepted she may never get back to the weight she once was in her twenties and has thrown out her old garments.

The 38-year-old encouraged others to throw out their 'skinny boxes' too, and said: 'No I didn't get back to 68kg, and I don't intend to.'

'Trying to be skinny is exhausting': Radio host Mel Greig has thrown out her old 'skinny clothes' - insisting she would rather be 'happy and healthy' than reach her goal weight of 68kg

The cardboard box, which was labelled 'Skinny clothes. Only open when you are back down to 68 kilos', showed signs of wear, tear and deterioration from being in storage for so long.

Mel has openly discussed her struggle to lose weight in the past.

'I don't aspire to be skinny anymore, I just aspire to be happy and healthy,' Mel wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.

'I don't aspire to be skinny anymore': Mel has accepted she may never get back to the weight she once was in her twenties and has thrown out her old garments

Throwback: Mel boxed up her 'skinny clothes' in January 2016, vowing to only wear them again when she reached her goal weight of 68kg. She did not reach this goal

As she packed up her belongings while preparing to move to the Gold Coast, Mel decided she was no longer going to lug around the 'skinny box'.

'Trying to be skinny is exhausting,' she captioned a video of herself opening the box for the first time in five years.

When fans asked what would happen to the clothes, she said: 'They joined a huge pile of other clothes I'd been hoarding and now have a lovely home at the Salvos.'

Goal weight: Mel has previously used this photo taken in 2010 as motivation. It shows her with red hair and a slimmed-down figure when she weighed 68kg in her late twenties

Changes: Mel has been open about her fluctuating weight in the past, and even came within 5kg of her goal weight in 2016

In January 2016, Mel had boxed up the 'skinny clothing' and embarked on a fitness overhaul. By June of that year, the presenter came within 5kg of her goal weight.

However, her weight fluctuated in the years that followed.

While 'skinny' is no longer her end goal, in January of this year Mel said she wanted to follow in Rebel Wilson's footsteps by making 2021 her own 'Year of Health'.

Inspiration: While 'skinny' is no longer her end goal, in January of this year Mel said she wanted to follow in Rebel Wilson's (right) footsteps by making 2021 her own 'Year of Health'

The DJ struggled to find work after 2012, when she and her then-co-host Mike Christian prank-called the London hospital where The Duchess of Cambridge was receiving treatment during her first pregnancy.

The 2DayFM duo impersonated The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh while speaking with nurse Jacintha Saldanha, questioning her over the Duchess's condition.

Mrs Saldanha, a mother of two, committed suicide once the conversation was aired.

Mel, who appeared on Celebrity Apprentice three years later, has often spoken of her remorse about what happened to Ms Saldanha.
Sophia Antipolis, 09 February 2021: The first evidence from genetic data that high blood pressure is causally associated with the most common heart rhythm disorder is published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology (ESC).1

Study author Dr. Georgios Georgiopoulos of King's College London, UK and National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece said: "Establishing that elevated blood pressure causes atrial fibrillation provides further impetus for public health strategies aimed at improving blood pressure control in the general population and for individual efforts to keep levels in check."

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder, affecting more than 40 million individuals globally.2 People with the disorder have a five times greater risk of having a stroke. Previous studies have shown an association between high blood pressure and developing atrial fibrillation, but there was no strong evidence of direct causality.

To investigate whether blood pressure has a direct impact on the risk of atrial fibrillation, the researchers conducted a naturally randomised controlled trial - called Mendelian randomisation. They used data from the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) on blood pressure and atrial fibrillation which included more than one million individuals of European ancestry - of which 60,620 had atrial fibrillation and 970,216 did not.

The first step was to identify 894 genetic variants associated with blood pressure. Next, the researchers analysed which of those variants play a role in atrial fibrillation. To conduct the naturally randomised controlled trial, the 894 genetic variants were randomly allocated to all participants at conception, giving each individual a blood pressure level. The investigators then analysed the association between blood pressure and atrial fibrillation.

Elevated blood pressure was associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Specifically, 1 mmHg rises in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were associated with 1.8%, 2.6% and 1.4% relative increases in the risk of atrial fibrillation, respectively.

Dr. Georgiopoulos said: "The results provide strong evidence of a causal relationship between blood pressure and atrial fibrillation. Using genetic information in the analyses minimises the likelihood of reverse causality (i.e. that atrial fibrillation causes high blood pressure) or that other traits linked with atrial fibrillation (confounders) were responsible. Our study showed that the relationship was not driven by other conditions including coronary artery disease and obesity."

He concluded: "Our findings confirm the hypothesis that atrial fibrillation is preventable. This indicates that strict blood pressure control could be an effective strategy to stop atrial fibrillation and its complications, which include stroke, heart failure, dementia, and depression."

###

Authors: ESC Press Office

Tel: +33 (0)4 89 87 20 85

Mobile: +33 (0)7 8531 2036

Email: press@escardio.org

Follow us on Twitter @ESCardioNews

Funding: None.

Disclosures: Dr Georgiopoulos was supported by a postdoctoral research fellowship from the Alexander S. Onassis Foundation

Notes

References

1Georgiopoulos G, Ntritsos G, Stamatelopoulos K, et al. The relationship between blood pressure and risk of atrial fibrillation: a Mendelian randomization study. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2021. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwab005.

Link will go live on publication:

https:/ / academic. oup. com/ eurjpc/ article-lookup/ doi/ 10. 1093/ eurjpc/ zwab005

2Hindricks G, Potpara T, Nikolaos Dagres N, et al. 2020 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with the European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). Eur Heart J. 2020. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa612.

About the European Society of Cardiology

The European Society of Cardiology brings together health care professionals from more than 150 countries, working to advance cardiovascular medicine and help people lead longer, healthier lives.

About the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology

The European Journal of Preventive Cardiology is the world's leading preventive cardiology journal, playing a pivotal role in reducing the global burden of cardiovascular disease.
The accelerated growth we continue to see across previous fiscal years is a result of our vision for the eCommerce and digital experience space and our ability to empower our customers and partners with an easy to implement and use platform that allows them to deliver better shopping experiences

ECOMMERCE AND DIGITAL TRANFORMATION MOMENTUM

Dynamicweb's DXP has helped drive growth and eCommerce success among customers worldwide. Dynamicweb's DXP capabilities are fully integrated with a range of Microsoft ERP, other ERP and 3rd party systems, which empowers customers to accelerate their digital transformation and scale their eCommerce success.

Moreover, the need for fast implementation at low risk is met with the Dynamicweb turnkey solution for B2B ecommerce. Dynamicweb offers the possibility to launch a B2B webshop/Customer Portal in a very short turn-around time - without a complex IT project.

The accelerated growth we continue to see across previous fiscal years is a result of our vision for the eCommerce and digital experience space and our ability to empower our customers and partners with an easy to implement and use platform that allows them to deliver better shopping experiences, said Christian Beer, CEO of Dynamicweb.

KEY CUSTOMER WINS

Since July 1st 2020, Dynamicweb added a long list of new customers across industries and verticals, including:



Neets: The leading AV Manufacturer in Scandinavia

Beirholm: B2C webshop with stock sales of luxurious hotel textiles

Jensen Group: Your partner for laundry automation

Carrier: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning company

Kent: Industry-leading experts in strip processing

EMPLOYEE GROWTH AND NEW HIRES

Dynamicweb is not only growing its worldwide partner network and customer base, since July 1st 2020 Dynamicweb has welcomed 29 new team members which is a record. This sets Dynamicweb up to continue its accelerated growth in the coming years.

ABOUT DYNAMICWEB

Dynamicweb offers a cloud-based Digital Experience Platform. We enable customers to deliver better digital customer experiences and to scale ecommerce success through our Content Management, Digital Marketing, Ecommerce, and Product Information Management solutions.

Dynamicwebs 300+ partners, 200+ employees in offices all around the globe are proud to support well over 4.000 brands, which includes leading brands like Lego Wear, Vredestein, Unilever, Winnebago, LOreal, Flying Tiger, Toyota, Europcar, and Skanska. Built on Dynamicweb, these customers are empowered to gain lifelong customer relations, increase revenue and grow their brands.

Learn more at Dynamicweb.com.
Two suspects linked to the bizarre murder of a nine-year-old girl in Tharaka Nithi County have denied committing the crime.

Before Chuka High Court judge Lucy Gitari on Monday, 94-year-old Suleiman Mukiira and 32-year-old Michael Ngugi, the first and second accused, respectively, pleaded not guilty to the offence but promised to tell the court the truth during the hearing.

The court heard that the two beheaded Deborah Kagendi, a Grade Two girl from Mpingu village, at Mr Mukira's home on January 17.

Police arrested them at the scene of the crime on the same day and later presented in court, where mental examinations were ordered to determine their fitness for trial.

Mr Mukiira, whom police claim is a witchdoctor, said it was his co-accused who attacked the girl and that he is ready to narrate events of the fateful day. Mr Ngugi said he will disclose information dating back years.

Application for release

Mr Mukiira's lawyer, Mr Mutegi Mugambi, pleaded with the court to release his client on bond, arguing that he is an old man.

Mr Mugambi also said the court will soon establish that his client is innocent.

He added that because residents irked by the killing may harm him if released, his grandson who lives in Nairobi is willing to stay with him and make sure he attends all court sessions until the matter is determined.

"I understand that the village is volatile but my client has a grandson who lives in Nairobi and is ready to stay with him there for his safety as the case goes on," the lawyer said.

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The prosecutor, Mr Eric Momanyi, asked the court to direct lawyers to file a written bond application, which he said he will challenge as the matter is serious and of great public interest.

He added that the villagers are angry and that the old man's security can only be guaranteed while he is within State premises.

Pre-bail report

Mr Ngugi's lawyer, Mr Charles Mugo, sought pre-bail reports that will enable him to apply for his client's release on bond.

Justice Gitari directed that Mr Mukiira's lawyer submit a written application and serve the State counsel within 14 days, with the response to be filed within 14 days of receipt of the application.

She ordered the probation office to conduct a social inquiry and write a report on the first accused, as well as a pre-bail report for the second accused.

She also directed that Mr Ngugi be taken to a psychiatrist at Embu County Referral Hospital.

The case will be mentioned on March 15 and heard on May 18.

In his office, Chuck Schumer said Saturday the Senate would accommodate a motion from one of the impeachment lawyers of former President to postpone Trump's impeachment trial on the Sabbath day.

"We respect their request and of course will accommodate it. Conversations with the relevant parties about the structure of the trial continue," said Justin Goodman, the spokesman for Chuck Schumer.

Lawyer David Schoen requested that the trial, which is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, be temporarily put on hold if it will not be finished on Friday at 5:24 pm ET by the beginning of the Sabbath reconvene Sunday. An agreement between senators to hold the trial on a Sunday would need to be reached.

"I apologize for the inconvenience my request that impeachment proceedings not be conducted during the Jewish Sabbath undoubtedly will cause other people involved in the proceedings," Schoen stated in his letter. "The practices and prohibitions are mandatory for me, however; so, respectfully, I have no choice but to make this request." he continued.

It has been reported by CNN that former President Donald Trump is likely to be acquitted again by the Senate for the second time, falling well short of the two-thirds of the votes required for conviction.

On both sides, senators have called for a speedy trial, with Democrats willing to advance President Joe Biden's agenda, including passing a sweeping Covid-19 relief bill and approving the nominees for his Cabinet.

Republicans, who have been badly split by the campaign to impeach Trump and do not enjoy a comprehensive discussion of his role in inciting the mob that invaded the Capitol on Jan. 6, have their reasons for quickly getting the trial over.

Trump impeachment trial and the senate with Schumer

Former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial is scheduled to commence on Feb. 9 in the US Senate, but don't expect him to make an appearance. This week, the two sides in the case traded barbs after Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the House's lead impeachment manager, sent a letter to Trump's legal team demanding that the former president testify under oath and submit to cross-examination either before or during the trial.

Trump now faces a single impeachment article accusing him of incitement to insurrection connected with the Jan. 6 riot at the US Capitol, which left five people dead, including a police officer from the Capitol. Trump also encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol in a speech that day fronting the White House as Congress was planning to certify the victory of Joe's Biden's election.

17 Republicans, along with 48 Democrats and two independents, will need to vote to convict Trump to achieve a two-thirds supermajority. Only five Republicans voted against a resolution on Jan. 27, with Senate Democrats to find the trial unconstitutional.

On Tuesday, impeachment managers from the House Democrats submitted their case to the Senate, arguing that the trial would go ahead to preserve democracy and prevent future presidents from inciting violence.

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A $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan from President Joe Biden will provide millions of Americans with the third round of federal stimulus checks. However, while politicians have voiced enthusiasm for the plan from both sides of the aisle, there is less consensus about who should be eligible for cash payments of $1,400.

Americans worry they might not qualify for $1,400 stimulus checks

Congressional Democrats are going forward with a process called budget reconciliation with the passage of Biden's relief bill, which will allow the Senate to pass the effort without any Republican support. As the process goes forward, before setting up and deciding on bills, House and Senate committees will discuss budget priorities. This is expected to happen later this week, as per economists at Goldman Sachs.

On February 4, the Senate approved a compromised bill proposed by Democratic Senator Joe Manchin and Republican Senator Susan Collins to eliminate "upper-income citizens" from the next round of stimulus checks. "However, the proposal notably does not describe "upper income." The measure would guarantee that Collins said in a statement, "the struggling households who need it most" would receive the checks.

According to CBS News via MSN, the amendment adds that the "uncertainty if all the Senate Democrats will support President Joe Biden's full plan. Meanwhile, Joe Manchin already expressing doubts on the need to send $1,400 stimulus checks to those who might not need the money," said Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist at Capital Economics, in a research note to investors.

Read also: Third Round of Stimulus Checks Can be as Much as $5,600 to Families of Four

Why are income limits matters?

The first two federal stimulus checks, $1,200 for the first round and $600 for the second round, set revenue limits that make the payments unavailable for higher-income households. Individual people who earned up to $75,000 and married couples who earned up to $150,000, received the prior rounds of full stimulus payments.

As their wages increased, individuals with higher salaries earned fewer payouts before the checks were fully closed for higher-income households. In the first round, the phaseout peaked at $99,000 for individual persons and $198,000 for married couples.

The phaseout was marginally smaller in the second round: $87,000 per single person and $174,000 a year per married couple. However, that resulted from smaller size of the stimulus checks, provided that for every $100 received over the tax limits for complete compensation, the law lowered all checks by 5%.

The latest economic research suggests that for many lower- and higher-income households, finances have stabilized. It sparked discussion among lawmakers and experts if direct assistance should be aimed at families with lower incomes that are more likely to experience the COVID-19 pandemic's continuing economic effects.

Read also: IRS Could Start Sending Out the Third Stimulus Checks as Early as First Week of March

According to research from the Opportunity Insights Economic Tracker, a non-profit organization headed by Harvard economics professor Raj Chetty, households earning less than $78,000 annually, spent their second stimulus checks easily after receiving them in January. While those with incomes above that amount consumed much of the revenue.

Today, with the announcement that Congress is considering lowering the salary eligibility requirement from $75,000 to $50,000 for people and $150,000 for married couples to $100,000 for the third round of stimulus funds, Marie's financial worries are rising.

Marie, who wanted to be known by her middle name to protect her identity, is "terrified" that she would no longer qualify since she made around $60,000 in 2019. She is one of the hundreds of individuals who reached out to CNBC Make It to voice concern over the upcoming adjustment to the $1,400 stimulus payment qualifications. Some, including Marie, claim that Democrats would renege on their campaign promise to give $2,000 in direct aid payments to poor Americans if they sent them to fewer people.

According to Washington Post, household heads making up to $75,000 will also count under the revised requirements for the full $1,400 payments.

Read also: Pelosi Claims $1,400 Third Stimulus Check To Pass Before February Ends

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Haiti - Politic : Political parties concerned about the coup attempt





Political parties and groups express concern following the foiled coup attempt on February 7, 2021 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32966-haiti-flash-coup-foiled-all-official-details.html



"The facts and events brought to the attention of the general public, relating to the intentions of individuals arrested in a residence in Petit-Bois (commune of Tabarre), are unspeakable and unacceptable from any point of view" We read in a note signed by the politicians of : Consortium, Verite, Concorde Nationale, PHTK, Bouclier, OLAH, KID, Political Party, Tet Ansanm, Konsyans Patriotik, LAVNI, Ann Change Lavi, Patrayil, Parasol...



Concerned by the exacerbation of the crisis, these political leaders urge all actors "to prioritize the superior interests of the Nation and the well-being of peaceful citizens" and ask that light be shed around these events.



In this particularly fragile situation, the signatories invite the political sectors and the institutions of civil society "to intensify the consultations with a view to a dialogue and a political agreement which remain the only way that can guarantee lasting political stability and Peace in Haiti".



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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A Nigerian soldier has reportedly been killed in Bayelsa State, Nigerias South-south, by gunmen suspected to be oil thieves.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the soldier, who was on surveillance duty, was gunned down on Monday afternoon and his AK-47 rifle taken away, in Apoi Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

The killing, according to NAN, occurred in the bush between the boundary of Apoi and Azuzuama communities, where there is an oil pipeline.

The leadership of the Apoi Clan in Southern Ijaw have condemned the killing, describing it as barbaric and inhuman.

Fidelis Duba, a community leader in Apoi Clan, said the killing of the soldier was capable of provoking retaliation from the military.

Mr Duba, who vowed that the clan would work with security agencies to fish out those responsible for the killing, called on hoodlums operating in the Apoi Creek and other areas to desist from their nefarious activities.

ALSO READ: Chevron denies responsibility as oil spill is reported in Bayelsa

The police spokesperson in Bayelsa State, Butswat Asinim, a superintendent of police, declined comment on the incident. He advised PREMIUM TIMES to contact the army.

The spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, 16 Brigade in Yenagoa, Tonye Wenke, declined comment, saying the Directorate of Defence Media Operations was in a better position to speak on the incident.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how some oil thieves recently abducted a civil defence operative during an attack on the security agency in Bayelsa.

(NAN)
The Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) has said that Favipiravir is showing good results in treating mild cases of Covid-19 in the country.

The drug was introduced in the country in January as medics sought for solutions to strengthen the efforts in place for the treatment of people infected with the coronavirus.

Rwanda procured 18,000 doses of the drug, some of which have already been used on patients in the country.

Speaking about the impact the drug has had on patients, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, Director-General, RBC, said medics have since noticed a positive trend.

"The medicine is performing well. We are using it on mild cases and have seen good outcomes. For example, when patients with symptoms like headache and tiredness were given the drug, their situation improved," he said.

Meanwhile, Rwanda is looking at additional methods to treat Covid-19 patients. According to information from the Ministry of Health, the country may soon start to use monoclonal antibodies to treat the disease.

Monoclonal antibodies are a class of medicines that are made up of laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system's ability to fight off harmful pathogens such as viruses.

More about the drug

Favipiravir is an antiviral medication which works by inhibiting viral replication through termination of viral protein synthesis and arresting its survival.

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The drug is developed and manufactured by Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, a Japanese multinational medical equipment and biotechnology company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Initially, it was approved in Japan for the management of emerging pandemic influenza infections in 2014, and it is indicated for novel influenza strains that cause more severe disease rather than seasonal flu.

The current situation implies that the drug is being repurposed to treat Covid-19.

Other countries using the drug

According to information from the US's National Centre for Biotechnology Information, Favipiravir was first used against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in Wuhan, the epicentre of the pandemic.

Then, as the pandemic spread to Europe, this drug received approval for emergency use in Italy, and currently has been in use in Japan, Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Moldova, and Kazakhstan. Approval has also recently been granted in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Thereafter, Turkey, Bangladesh, and most recently Egypt have also commercially launched it.

In June 2020, Favipiravir received approval of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) in India for mild and moderate Covid-19 infections.

According to a study published on December 14, 2020, by the US's National Centre for Biotechnology Information titled "Use in Covid-19: Analysis of Suspected Adverse Drug Events Reported in the WHO Database", Favipiravir appears to be a relatively safe drug.
AMHERST  The University of Massachusetts has suspended the Theta Chi fraternity after reports surfaced that it hosted back-to-back parties just before the start of the semester, ignoring guidelines about COVID-19, social distancing and gathering sizes.

The suspension, handed down Monday night, came after the Amherst campus announced new restrictions because of a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases. The university reported more than 400 cases in the first week of February, and the number rose above 450 by Monday. Administrators moved the campus status from elevated to high risk, requiring students to self-sequester for at least 14 days.

The Massachusetts Daily Collegian reported that the North Pleasant Street fraternity allegedly hosted two parties on the weekend of Jan. 29-30, just before the start of the semester. The student news organization reported that it obtained video from the parties showing people standing on tables and dancing shoulder-to-shoulder with drinks in their hands.

Campus spokesman Ed Blaguszewski said in a prepared statement that the fraternity is on interim suspension pending an investigation by the Student Conduct and Community Standards Office. The chapter has been ordered to cease all chapter-related functions.

UMass Amherst is very aware of reports of gatherings at fraternities and sororities located off campus, he said. We have done extensive communication and outreach to students living in these houses, advising them of the requirement to adhere to current capacity and public health guidelines outlined by the state.

We carefully investigate every complaint through the student conduct process in an effort to ensure our students are acting responsibly and safely and held accountable when warranted.

As part of the high-risk status, all instruction will be remote, no student gatherings of any size are permitted, all campus buildings are restricted, and students residing on campus are being told to remain in their rooms except to get food, medical attention or COVID-19 tests.

All campus athletics are on pause.
She eventually did her doctoral research under the supervision of John Hasbrouck Van Vleck. She received her Ph.D. in 1949, making her the fifth woman to earn a physics Ph.D. from Harvard since it began awarding them in 1873.

After completing her dissertation, she traveled west for a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University, funded by the Atomic Energy Commission. There she met Marshall Rosenbluth, another physicist.

They married in 1951 and moved to New Mexico to work at Los Alamos. One colleague was Edward Teller, the famously fierce advocate of the hydrogen, or thermonuclear, bomb.

Dr. Rosenbluth honed her computing skills when she verified analytic calculations for the first full-scale test of a thermonuclear bomb, in 1952, code-named Ivy Mike. Separately, she and her husband then collaborated with Dr. Teller, his wife, the mathematician Augusta Teller, and the mathematical physicist Nicholas Metropolis to use random sampling to simulate a specific phenomenon in physics: the rearrangement of atoms when a solid melts.

The work resulted in the Metropolis algorithm. The group published its seminal paper, Equation of State Calculations by Fast Computing Machines, in The Journal of Chemical Physics in 1953.

Marshall Rosenbluth told an interviewer in 2003 that the group had discovered an entirely new approach to doing physics, thanks in large part to the advent of computers.

Arianna Rosenbluths contribution was crucial. She actually did all the coding, which at that time was a new art for these new machines, Marshall Rosenbluth said in 2003. Sophisticated programming tools were still years away, so Dr. Rosenbluth programmed in machine language, the strings of 1s and 0s a computer understands.
Bhyripuram, a small village in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district has emerged as a champion of unanimous elections in the past 57 years, with no panchayat elections being held there.

All panchayat elections in these six decades did not see the villagers queuing up at polling centres or showing their fingers to get the indelible mark as the village united to project one single candidate to be the winner, without going for electoral fights.

This unanimous election pattern has been consistent for both ward members elections as well as the sarpanch position.

With a population of 1,500 people, there are 1,100 voters and eight wards in the village, all of whom avail the financial incentives offered by the state government for going unanimous.

"Whenever we have elections, we all sit together and go for unanimous election to select the sarpanch and ward members agreeable to everybody", said a resident of the village.

In the latest election, the village elected Pullati Ramadevi as the Sarpanch.

However, Bhyripuram villagers rescind this unanimous pattern for Assembly and Parliamentary elections to take their respective political party positions.

Though they separate during those polls, immediately after that they get back to normal unity.

It is this unity which could be attributed to their resilience even though they are located in a geography infamous of kidney ailments and cyclones.

Prasad Rao, a village resident said that Bhyripuram has the presence of all the parties but when it comes to village development through Sarpanch elections, everyone is united to lean towards the party which is in power.

All the villagers, including natives settled in different countries, actively engage on social media to update themselves on the state of affairs in the village and its developmental needs.

According to Venkat Rao, empowered by this unity, the villagers managed to lay cement roads, develop local temple and also provide drinking water to all the houses.

Importantly, he said that every street has drainage system in the village. In case some amenity is missing, Rao said all the villagers sit together and work towards achieving it.

However, members of only one family have reaped the benefits of this unanimous unity, Pullata Vasudeva Naidu. All the sarpanchs of Bhyripuram came from this one family.

As sarpanchs, Naidu was succeeded by his son Dasaradha Ramayya and daughter-in-law Prabhavati. In 2021, Naidu's another daughter-in-law, Pullata Rama Devi, was elected as the sarpanch.

Pullata Rama Devi said all the villagers met together to choose the sarpanch and stated that she would develop the village with everybody's cooperation.

The village located 102 km northeast of Visakhapatnam on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal sea also has another claim to fame, not even a single police case being registered on its villagers until now.

As it is impossible to be dispute-free, any disagreements will get peacefully resolved by the villagers and restricted to Bhyripuram, thereby avoiding the ignominy of going to a police station.

According to a Kaviti mandalam police official, no criminal, murder or any kind of police case came to the notice of their police station.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 9, 2021 - 22:41 | News, All, Japan

A group of female Japanese lawmakers wore white in parliament Tuesday in protest of recent comments by Tokyo Olympic organizing committee chief Yoshiro Mori widely criticized at home and abroad as sexist against women.

Opposition members of the House of Representatives attended a plenary session wearing white jackets with white roses on their lapels, an homage to the early 20th century U.S. women's suffrage movement.

Their male colleagues also sported white roses in a show of solidarity, while members of the House of Councillors wearing white attended as observers.

The protest was organized by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan with lawmakers from other opposition parties including the Japanese Communist Party and the Democratic Party for the People participating.

It was reminiscent of President Donald Trump's State of the Union addresses in 2019 and 2020, where a group of female U.S. lawmakers wore white in support of women's issues.

Mori, an 83-year-old former prime minister, came under fire last week for saying at an online gathering of the Japanese Olympic Committee that meetings with women "drag on" because they talk too much due to their "strong sense of rivalry."

The furor over the comments has become another headwind for this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which were postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are facing mounting pressure from the public to be pushed back again or canceled.

The International Olympic Committee on Tuesday released a statement saying the remarks were "absolutely inappropriate" and that "diversity is a fundamental value that we need to respect and draw strength from."

While Mori has since apologized and retracted the remarks, calls for his resignation have continued, and around 390 people have withdrawn their applications to volunteer at this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, according to the organizing committee.

The second-in-charge of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Toshihiro Nikai, has also been criticized for saying Monday that "if (the volunteers) want to quit, we'll recruit new ones."

Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto said in the lower house plenary session the exodus of volunteers should not be taken lightly and that Nikai's comments were "inappropriate."

JOC President Yasuhiro Yamashita echoed those concerns, saying, "I do not take (their decisions) as impulsive, nor should they be taken that way."

Yamashita, the 1984 judo gold medalist in the open division in Los Angeles, reiterated at a press conference that Mori's comments "violate the core of the Olympic spirit of not allowing discrimination of any kind" and were "extremely inappropriate."

He added, however, that there is "no need to relitigate whether it was right or wrong" as Mori has already apologized.

But the remarks have also been criticized by games' sponsors as well as athletes, and Yamashita said the JOC is collecting opinions on the matter through its athletes committee.

Related coverage:

IOC says Tokyo Games chief Mori's sexist remarks "absolutely inappropriate"

FOCUS: Mori sexist remarks show slow progress in narrowing Japan gender gap

Olympics: 390 Tokyo Games volunteers quit after Mori's sexist remarks
Previous Phuket mayors register to contest municipal elections

PHUKET: The previous serving mayors of Phuket Town, Patong, Chalong and Rawai have all registered to contest the upcoming municipal election in their respective areas on Mar 28.

politics

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 9 February 2021, 11:58AM

Pakrit Keesin, younger brother to influential Patong businessman Preechawut Prab Keesin, pictured here with his Rak Patong Party team, registered for election as Patong Mayor. Photo: Rak Patong Party

Registration for candidates for the positions of mayor and councillors opened at each municipality office across the island yesterday (Feb 8) and will close at 4:30pm on Friday (Feb 12).

Somjai Suwansupana registered to be re-elected as Phuket Town Mayor. Ms Somjai, representing the Khon Noom Party (Young People Party), has been allocated No 1 on the ballot.

Saroj Angkhanaphilas, a former Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO, or OrBorJor) councillor, also registered to contest the seat of Phuket Town Mayor yesterday. Representing the Rak Phuket Party (Love Phuket Party), Mr Saroj has been allocated No 2 on the ballot.

Chalermluck Kebsup yesterday registered for re-election as Patong Mayor. Representing the Patong Fa Mai (Patong New Sky), Ms Chalermluck has been allocated No 3 on the ballot.

No 2 on the ballot for Patong Mayor is Pakrit Keesin, younger brother to influential Patong businessman Preechawut Prab Keesin, representing the Rak Patong Party.

In a return to Patong politics is Chalermsak Maneesri, representing the Patong Palang Mai Party (Patong New Power Party), who has been allocated the highly preferred No 1 position on the ballot.

Mr Chalermsak comes with a chequered history in Patong politics. He was elected mayor of Phukets busiest tourism town in November 2002 after his brother Surasak was removed from office by Interior Minister at the time, Purachai Piemsomboon, for election fraud.

Then Mr Chalermsak and his entire 17-member council were themselves dismissed from office for election fraud in November 2003.

Meanwhile, Samran Jindaphon yesterday also registered for re-election as Chalong Mayor. Representing the Chalong Kao Mai Party (Chalong New Step), Mr Samran has been allocated No 1 on the ballot in the Chalong Municipality election.

Independent candidate Somchai Thechathaworncharoen yesterday also registered to contest the seat of Chalong Mayor.

Long-standing previous Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos also registered for re-election, representing the Phattana Rawai Party (Rawai Development Party) with 12 members registering for election as Rawai Municipality councillors.

The Phuket office of the Election Commission of Thailand (PEC) confirmed last Monday (Feb 1) that all mayors and municipal councillors in Phuket had been discharged from their official duties ahead of the municipal election to be held on Mar 28.

The Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) at each municipality will now act as the temporary municipal chief in place of mayors, PEC Director-General Passakon Siripakayapon told The Phuket News.

The other officers can work normally, he added.

In accordance with election law, a ban on the sale of alcohol will be in place in all areas holding an election from 6pm the day before the election (6pm Saturday, Mar 27) through to 6pm on the day of the election itself (6pm Sunday, Mar 28).
Three careless fishermen have been caught casting a line while knee-deep in crocodile-infested water in the Northern Territory.

The brazen trio were photographed fishing at Magela Creek crossing in Kakadu National Park on Monday.

They seemingly ignored a nearby sign which read: 'Crocodiles inhabit this area. Do not enter the water. Keep away from the water's edge.'

A passerby who took a photo of the two men and a woman said a 4.5m crocodile frequents the area where they were fishing.

The brazen trio were photographed fishing at Magela Creek crossing in Kakadu National Park, ignoring all signs warning people not to get in the water

'The water is over 2m deep in places,' they told NT News.

The Parks Australia website told locals that Oenpelli Road is closed at the Magela Creek crossing after recent heavy rain.

'Estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles are present in this area, adhere to all signage and do not enter the water,' the website says.

'Don't risk your life! Refrain from stopping at causeways and from fishing roadside culverts, stay away from the waters edge and observe all signage in place.'

In January a saltwater crocodile was spotted on on the Mudjinbardi Outstation Causeway in Kakadu National Park with prey hanging out of its mouth.

Last week a saltwater crocodile was filmed casually walking through a parking lot in the same national park.

Tradesman Dayne Kopp was pulling into the car park when he spotted a feral pig, closely followed by a saltwater crocodile.

Mr Kopp told Daily Mail Australia he 'hopped back into the car pretty quick' when the monster croc came within ten metres of his ute.

Two days later a dog was left with horrific injuries after a crocodile tried to drag it into a ditch in Tumbling Waters near Darwin.

The three-year-old staffie named Milly was repeatedly bitten by a saltwater crocodile while playing in the run off drains and creeks on his remote property.

He shared shocking images of Milly's swollen nose and mouth covered with deep bites and scratches.

Last week a dog was left with horrific injuries after a crocodile tried to drag it into a ditch in Tumbling Waters near Darwin

On Sunday a woman reeled in a shark while fishing - only for it to be eaten by a crocodile seconds later on the shoreline in Cardwell in Far North Queensland.

Yvonne Palmer shared footage of the moment the 'monster' saltwater crocodile devoured the shark.

The crocodile appeared to be at least four metres long, stalking the shark along the shore after it got caught on the woman's fishing line.

'I just caught a shark, which I couldn't get back into the water because this fella was coming and now he's going to come and eat it and I am going to sh*t myself,' she said in the video.

As the tiny shark flaps on the sand, the croc stalks it and slowly approaches from behind.
The two warring factions have decided to bury their differences, end all court cases and work for the development of the City of Kumba.

For more than a year now, the Kumba City Council has been plagued by internal wrangling emanated from electoral petitions and court suits between Victor Nkelle Ngoh and Gregory Ntemoyok Mewanu. The differences between the two have created a fraction in the political setup in Kumba, with elite divided into two.

It all started last year 2020, when Victor Nkelle Ngoh defeated Gregory Mewanu in the March City Mayor elections. The later failed to accepted defeat and filed a petition at the South West Administrative Court in Buea. The case was dismissed.

He later petitioned the Supreme Court that order for a rerun. The rerun was conducted on October 22, 2020, in which he, Mewanu won. Ngoh Nkelle failed to accept the outcome claiming that Mewanu is a convict and can't hold any public office by law. The Administrative Court found the petition admissible and declared a verdict.

To effect the Administrative Court verdict, the Kumba1 Council summoned her Councillors in a session to evict Gregory Mewanu as Councillor but the move flopped. All these resulted to a stalemate, with activities grounded at the level of the City Council.

It is from this backdrop that the Senior Divisional Officer for Meme, Ntou'ou Ndong Chamberlin, decided to summon the political elite of Meme and the warring parties to seek a lasting solution. Senator Otte Andrew Mofa, Hon. Lawson Tabot Bakia, Justice Benjamin Mutanga Itoe, Bertha Ndoh Bakata, Dr. Zacheus Ebongo Nanje, Mayors of Kumba I, II and III sub divisional council's and others for the peace deal.

After all the pleas from these officials, the two decided to bury their differences, end all Court cases and unit for the growth and development of Kumba. The peace and reconciliation deal that has been appreciated by many, will mark a turning point in the future of the City, that has been in a standstill for more than a year.

At the end of the successful reconciliation, the various factions left very satisfied, giving the impression that all is well. The Administration and Elite congratulated the maturity of Victor Nkelle Ngoh for deciding to drop all court cases for the interest of development.
ALEPPO, Syria  The Syrian regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria reached a Russian-mediated agreement Feb. 2 to end a 20-day siege in Hasakah and Aleppo amid rising tensions between the two parties.

The agreement raised several questions about whether the two parties would abide by it and if its provisions met the demands of the SDF.

Under the agreement, the internal security forces affiliated with the Kurdish autonomous administration declared an end of the siege imposed on the regime-controlled areas in Hasakah in northeastern Syria. The forces, known as the Asayish, said in a Feb. 2 statement, We assert that life will be back to normal and that we will allow the entry of all resources to the areas of presence of the Syrian regime forces in Qamishli and Hasakah.

They added, This is a sign of goodwill to preserve the unity of the Syrian territories and soil and to protect Syrians from bloodshed, noting that the tensions in Qamishli and Hasakah were created by the Syrian regime forces in an attempt to target the stability in our areas.

According to the agreement, the SDF must lift the siege imposed on the two security enclaves of the regime in Hasakah and Qamishli, and allow the entry of wheat provisions to the central neighborhoods of Hasakah in exchange for the entry of aid to the SDF-controlled areas of Sheikh Maqsoud and Tel Rifaat in Aleppo and its northern countryside.

Shortly after the agreement between the SDF and the regime was announced, doubts surfaced about the commitment of both parties to implementing the cease-fire.

On Feb. 3, the regime accused the SDF of noncompliance and of failing to fully lift the siege of the Security Quarter in Qamishli, where the official regime security departments are located. The regime claimed the SDF redeployed its military checkpoints in Hasakah and banned the entry of wheat trucks.

But, it appeared that the regimes claims regarding the return of tensions and the SDFs siege were inaccurate, as wheat was supplied Feb. 4 to the bakeries in Qamishli. For its part, the Thawra newspaper close to the Syrian regime confirmed Feb. 4 the entry of flour to the bakeries in Hasakah.

An official source in the autonomous administration in Hasakah told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, The siege was lifted completely off the neighborhoods where the regime is present in the center of Hasakah and Qamishli. The traffic of food provisions and people has been normal since the agreement entered into force.

A resident of Sheikh Maqsoud told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, The agreement between the SDF and the regime in Hasakah has had positive effects on the SDF-controlled neighborhood and on the areas under their control in Aleppos northern countryside, known as Shahba canton.

The resident added, The regimes checkpoints in the vicinity of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood and around the Shahba canton lifted restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles and reduced the level of security and inspections. The regime forces allowed trucks loaded with oil derivatives to cross to the area, and several trucks carrying food and supplies passed as well. A delegation of Russian officers visited several military points and SDF headquarters in the vicinity of Sheikh Maqsoud. The Russian delegation briefed SDF officials on the terms of the agreement that will be implemented during the coming period, including freedom of movement and lifting the security siege on the SDF-controlled areas in Aleppo.

Othman Malo, a member of the politburo of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Syria, told Al-Monitor, The agreement brokered by Russia between the SDF and the regime will not stand for a long time, because it did not [settle the disputes] between the two parties and did not meet their aspirations. The tensions and siege might resurface any minute.

He added, The SDF wants to maintain its military and political presence in Aleppo by using its power cards in Hasakah. This was mainly the reason it besieged the regimes security enclaves in Hasakah and Qamishli for nearly three weeks. If the regime does not commit to lifting the siege of the SDF-controlled areas, the SDF will exercise its pressure on the regime in Hasakah once again.

He said, The SDF is extracting strength from the US pressure on the Assad regime in its areas of control in Hasakah and all the eastern Euphrates areas. The SDF leadership is also divided and conflicted over the relationship with the regime. The current led by the Kurdistan Workers Party [PKK] within the SDF does not want to escalate against the regime, and it is largely influenced by the relations with Iran and Iranian interests in Syria. Iran is pressuring the SDF through the PKK to distance the US from the eastern Euphrates. The other current in the SDF has a random and constantly changing policy. The first current has authority over the second current. Consequently, the SDFs motives for escalation might resurface any second due to the internal rift.

A representative of the Kurdish Future Movement, Ali Tami, told Al-Monitor, The conflict between the SDF and the Syrian regime in Hasakah and Qamishli probably will not last long. The SDF is testing the seriousness of its relationship with the new US administration. It is trying to open a commercial door with the opposition in the northwestern areas in Syria to achieve economic independence from the regime, which is obviously bothered, as are its allies. The complex demographic composition in the eastern Euphrates may also be a contributing factor to the outbreak of another round of escalation, the persisting conflict and the potential collapse of the SDF administration. The Syrian regime has tried to take advantage of this issue during the recent siege period by mobilizing the public and tribes against the SDF.

Tami said, The SDF is asking the regime for political recognition of its administration in northeastern Syria, but this will not happen for many reasons. The SDF has a weak spot, which is the PKKs control of its military and political decisions. Besides, the PKK has a broad base of support within the SDF, but it is a weak one due to its different ethnic components. It is ruled with an iron fist and might turn against the SDF any minute.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger speaks at a news conference at the State Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia, on Nov. 6, 2020. (Dustin Chambers/Reuters)

Georgia Secretary of States Office Investigating Phone Call Trump Made to Raffensperger About Lawsuits

The Georgia Secretary of States office on Monday launched an investigation into a phone call former President Donald Trump had with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger over settling two lawsuits filed by Trump and his lawyers.

An official with Raffenspergers office confirmed to The Epoch Times that an investigation was started on Feb. 8 into the phone call.

The findings of the investigation will be presented to the State Election Board.

The board can vote to dismiss, choose to impose a fine, issue a letter of instruction, or refer the matter to the state attorney general or a district attorney for prosecution.

The Secretary of States office investigates complaints it receives, Walter Jones, a spokesman for the office, told news outlets. He characterized the investigation as fact finding and administrative.

The investigation will look into an hour-long phone call between Trump, Raffensperger, and their lawyers that took place on Jan. 2.

On Jan. 7, Trumps legal team filed a voluntary dismissal of the lawsuits, citing an out of court settlement agreement.

During the Jan. 2 call, Trump had said of the lawsuits, I just want to find 11,780 votes, referring to the margin of votes by which President Joe Biden won the state. Trump had also claimed in the call, We won by hundreds of thousands of votesclaims that Raffenspergers team repeatedly challenged.

Raffensperger later suggested that the leaked call to The Washington Post had come from his office.

It was a private conversation. He broke privacy when he put out a tweet, but then his tweet was false, Raffensperger told WXIA at the time.

If President Trump hadnt have tweeted out anything and wouldve stayed silent, we wouldve stayed silent as well. And that wouldve just been a conversation between him and I, man to man, and that wouldve been just fine with us. But hes the one that had to put it out on Twitter, he added.

Trumps lawyer Kurt Hilbert condemned the leak, saying we are disappointed that the secretary of state and his staff secretly recorded and released a confidential settlement discussion.

The full transcript of the call that later emerged showed that before Trump said he wanted to find the 11,780 votes, he had asked election officials to look into a number of specific claims of election irregularitiessomething he had been saying publicly for weeks, prior to the call.

The claims included allegations of cheating and corruption that the president said denied him a win in Georgia.

President Donald Trump participates in a Thanksgiving teleconference with members of the military at the White House in Washington on Nov. 26, 2020. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

We have at least two or threeanywhere from 250,000 to 300,000 ballots were dropped mysteriously into the rolls, the then-president claimed on the call. Much of that had to do with Fulton County, which hasnt been checked. We think that if you check the signaturesa real check of the signatures going back in Fulton Countyyoull find at least a couple of hundred thousand of forged signatures of people who have been forged.

Raffensperger and his lawyer, Ryan Germany, repeatedly disagreed with Trumps claims during the call, saying that the issues Trump raised were either inaccurate or have been probed and shown to be untrue.

Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz previously told Just The News that Trumps comments to Raffensperger had been taken out of context by multiple media outlets.

Hes not saying I want you to create the vote, said Dershowitz in the interview. Hes not saying I want you to manufacture or concoct the votes. Hes saying, and hes been saying this for months, on Twitter and his statements and his campaigns, he thinks that people voted for him and those votes werent counted. Hes entitled as a citizen, as a candidate, to say, I want you to find those votes, I want you to find the votes that will pass for me and what werent counted, I want you to find votes that were cast against me that shouldnt have been countedby people who are dead people, who are out of state.

In part of the call, Trump had asked Raffensperger to allow for a full signature audit for Fulton County after the Cobb County audit showed no significant discrepancies with the count. Trump also asked whether ballots in Fulton County had been shredded. Fulton County is where the majority of complaints about potential voting fraud were lodged.

We can go through signature verification, and well find hundreds of thousands of signatures, if you let us do it, Trump pressed. The only way you can do a signature verification is go from the one that signed  and compare it to two years ago, four years ago, six years ago  and youll find that you have many different signatures. But in Fulton, where they dumped ballots. You will find that you have many that arent even signed and you have many that are forgeries.

Neither Raffenspergers office and Trumps office were able to respond in time to a request for comment from The Epoch Times.

Melanie Sun, Tom Ozimek, and Reuters contributed to this report.
THE ONGOING Covid-19 crisis will not deter the Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS), an exercise aimed at eliminating malaria-causing mosquitoes to a tune of a whopping $36 million.

Indoor Residual Spraying involves the application of a residual insecticide to internal walls and ceilings of housing structures where malaria vectors may come into contact with the insecticide.

The Head of the Malaria and other Parasitic Infections Unit at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Dr Aimable Mbituyumuremyi, told this publication in an exclusive interview that the exercise falls between July to June every year and is done in different rounds.

The plan involves spraying twelve districts and a few sectors in Rusizi district. They include all the seven districts in the Eastern Province, five districts in Southern Province which are Kamonyi, Ruhango, Nyanza, Huye, Gisagara and some areas in Rusizi District. That is the plan for July 2020-June 2021," he explained.

Mbituyumuremyi explained that, so far, the districts of Nyagatare, Kirehe, Ngoma, Kamonyi and Ruhango had been sprayed while the exercise is underway in Huye, Nyanza and Gisagara this week.

In March, the exercise will shift to Bugesera, Gatsibo, Rwamagana, Kayonza and Rusizi districts.

Why 12 districts

Mbituyumuremyi said that the 12 districts are chosen based on the malaria burden. "These are the most affected districts. We are spraying in the same exact districts that we sprayed even in 2019/2020 because it is better to build on what we have done and sustain the momentum," he said.

However, he said that the limitations in funding mean that three other districts that should be on the list are not benefitting from the exercise.

"On average, to be able to do indoor spraying in one district, we need about $3m per year. This means that with about Rwf2.5bn, we can spray one district. The entire year costs about $36m," he explained.

Of the twelve, USAID supports the spraying of three districts and these are Kirehe, Nyagatare and Ngoma.

The rest are jointly funded by the government and Global Fund.

Mbituyumuremyi explains that the funds have been impactful and have played a significant role in reducing the number of malaria deaths and infections.

"It may seem like a lot of money but it is very impactful. When we do these indoor spraying exercises, it helps us to save on other areas like malaria tests and drugs because the cases are reducing and we are saving lives," he said.

He said that besides other provinces, in Kigali, the spraying is being done in Jabana sector, Gasabo district.

"We spray every two weeks and we have been doing it since March last year. We are using drones for that and we target wetlands," he said.

Drones have the capacity to fly for about 15 minutes on a single battery and ability to spray an area of 40 hectares in a day.

Covid-19 setbacks

Although Covid-19 posed some challenges in terms of some delays last year, none have so far been registered this year since the program kicked off on schedule.

However, Mbituyumuremyi says that the outbreak of the pandemic influenced the changes in the budget.

"Obviously the pandemic put a strain on our budget because we now have to include other logistics involved in covid-19 prevention like sanitisers. We also had to think about the cost of the changes in transport where cars can only take a particularly small number of people," he said.

Financing gap

Last year, the government was sourcing for $73 million to bridge the funding gap in the funds needed to fight malaria between 2020 and 2024.

The Rwanda National Strategic Plan 2020-2024 to fight malaria drawn up in June 2020 indicates that although the implementation requires Rwf295bn ($280 million), the government already had funding commitment to the tune of $206.8m (equivalent to 74 per cent).

According to the strategic plan, a copy of which The New Times has seen, this leaves a gap of $73 million which it hopes to mobilize from different sources.

The breakdown

With these funds, the government is seeking to protect at least 85 per cent of the population with preventive interventions and to work towards promptly testing and treating suspected malaria cases by 2024.

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To achieve this, the biggest chunk of the funds will be invested in malaria prevention to a tune of $186m, an equivalent of 66 per cent of the entire budget.

The rest of the money will be allocated to program management $44.8m (16 per cent) and malaria case management $30.7m (11 per cent).

A total of $10.6m (four per cent) will go to Health System Strengthening while Surveillance, Monitoring, Evaluation and Operational Research (SMEOR) will take $7.9m (three per cent)

Trials still prevail

While the reduction of malaria in Rwanda can also be attributed to the dedication of community health workers who deal with an estimated 57 per cent of the patients, an increased workload has led to challenges in proper reporting.

In its annual Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Report, the Ministry of Health says that the national malaria incidence reduced from 401 cases per 1,000-person in 2017-2018 fiscal year to 200 cases per 1,000-person in 2019-2020.
Dozens of farmers who were rejected from the Department of Agricultures Organic Farming Scheme in 2018 should be compensated when the scheme reopens next month, the IFA has claimed.

IFA president Tim Cullinan and organic project chairman Nigel Renaghan recently met with Minister of State Pippa Hackett to outline their concerns about the next schemes administration.

Sixty-three farmers were refused admission when it last re-opened due to a flawed points-based system that discriminated against smaller land-based applicants.

Meanwhile, Monaghan-based organic beef and tillage farmer Mark Gillanders urged the minister to redouble efforts to bolster organics advisory services, particularly as Teagasc organic specialist, Dan Clavin, is taking a career break from the field this year.

Speaking to the Farming Independent, Mr Renaghan said: The scheme is due to re-open next month and it will increase the number of organic farmers by up to 30pc.

"But they must recognise and duly compensate the 63 farmers who were refused from the previous scheme in 2018.

"Those farmers have been farming organically for the last two years with no payment. They should receive the conversion rate of payment for two years from the time they enter into the scheme as they will be new entrants.

Although IFA received assurances that these farmers will be prioritised and that the erroneous system will be rectified, the Ulster / North Leinster Regional chairman said no commitment on a retrospective payment was made.

We stressed that additional technical expertise will be needed to fulfil the requirements of the new entrants," said Mr Reneghan, adding that organic farmers must also not be excluded from any new REPS scheme under the new CAP.

As Ireland has one of the lowest organic farming levels in the EU  just 2pc of land under organic production, compared to an EU average of 8pc  Mr Gillanders said support must be targeted at research and development.

If Government wants 8pc of land in organics they must spend more on knowledge extension within Teagasc.

"A lot of farmers will join the organic scheme, but equally a lot are leaving and the reason is the sector is under-resourced and there is no knowledge transfer for organics.
India has fallen from a global ranking of 27 in 2015 to 53 in 2020

While our government responded strongly to Rihanna and Greta Thunberg, with the external affairs ministry issuing a statement, it hasnt said anything on this downgrade, which more people will read and take seriously than someones tweet. (Representational Photo: PTI)

The Economist is a magazine though it refers to itself as a newspaper. It is over 175 years old and sells about 10 lakh copies a week. Its readers are mostly professionals, highly educated and with higher incomes. It is one of the very few magazines in the world, and possibly the only one of its size, which makes more money from subscriptions than it does from advertising. That means that its readers purchase it for its content. One years subscription costs Rs 15,000 in the United States, meaning that each issue is Rs 300.

The magazine promotes free market policies of the sort generally associated with conservative, meaning right-leaning, parties. The Economist Intelligence Unit is its research and analysis division. Each year it compiles a Democracy Index, which shows the state of democracy around the world. This month, it gave its results for 2020. It would be instructive to see what it has said about India.

We have fallen from a global ranking of 27 in 2015 to 53. This is mainly, the Economist Intelligence Unit says, because democratic norms have been under pressure since 2015, and as a result Indias global ranking slipped from 27th to 53rd as a result of democratic backsliding under the leadership of Narendra Modi.

The slippage has not come due to electoral processes and political participation where, as most of us will accept, India continues to do well. The problem is on the side of political culture and civil liberties, where since Narendra Modi took over in 2014 India has declined. In January 2014, in the UPAs last days, the EIU gave India its highest rating of 7.92. This slid to 7.74 in 2015 and then 7.23 in 2017 and then dipped to 6.9 in 2019 and 6.61 in 2020. The EIU classifies India as a flawed democracy.

It describes flawed democracies as countries that have free and fair elections and, even if there are problems (such as infringements on media freedom), basic civil liberties are respected. However, there are significant weaknesses in other aspects of democracy, including problems in governance, an underdeveloped political cu-lture and low levels of political participation.

In the last few years, India has seen the increasing influence of religion under the Modi premiership, whose policies have fomented anti-Muslim feeling and religious strife, has damaged the political fabric of the country.

Remember, this is the magazine the worlds topmost corporate executives and decision makers read. While our government responded strongly to Rihanna and Greta Thunberg, with the external affairs ministry issuing a statement, it hasnt said anything on this downgrade, which more people will read and take seriously than someones tweet.

The EIU says that the enactment in December 2019 of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 continued to fuel riots in 2020, with several left dead following clashes in February in the capital city, New Delhi. The act introduces a religious element to the conceptualisation of Indian citizenship, a step that many critics see as undermi-ning the secular basis of the Indian State.

The magazine does not deny Modis popularity but says that it comes from the same aspects it finds concerning. It says that he participated in the ground-breaking ceremony at the site of the destroyed Babri Masjid, and notes the temples construction will further endear Modi to his Hindu nationalist base.

Unfortunately for us, this is not a popularity contest. The EIU says: On top of these issues, the authorities handling of the pandemic has also led to a further erosion of civil liberties in 2020. And finally, it notes by contrast, the scores for some of Indias regional neighbours, such as Bangladesh, Bhutan and Pakistan, improved marginally in 2020.

For those who think Indias democracy is just fine and there has been no change in the past few years, perhaps it would be instructive to see what has happened on a few issues. The first is the introduction of electoral bonds. This is a mechanism whereby corporates and even foreign entities can donate money anonymously to political parties. Readers may not know that over 90 per cent of the total value of the bonds donated since the scheme began two years ago are bought in Rs1 crore denominations. Meaning its not the common man giving money secretly to parties.

Second, that the Modi government has changed the RTI law to make its commissioners dependent on the government for their term and salary.

Third, that the Constitution was repeatedly violated through bypassing the Rajya Sabha by illegally calling pieces of legislation money bills. The manner of the passing of the farm laws, where the Rajya Sabha was not even allowed to vote despite it not being a money bill, will tell us where things stand today in democratic India.

The Economist also ran a story on India in this weeks edition headlined Indias government is censoring people before they comment. It quotes Idi Amin, late Ugandan dictator, who once declared he respected freedom of speech, but could not guarantee freedom after speech. The magazine says Indias government seems to be taking this concept one step further. Despite running what is often hailed as the worlds biggest democracy, it has gained a taste for curtailing freedom before speech. This is what the world made of issues like the jailing of Siddique Kappan by UP and Munaqar Faruqui by MP.

If you were angered, like Sachin Tendulkar, Lata Mangeshkar, Virat Kohli, Ajay Devgan and Akshay Kumar, by six-word tweets from Western celebrities, you should consider what their most respectable and respected voices are also saying.
At around 7am GMT on Tuesday morning, Bitcoin hit a record high of US$48,042, although as the morning wore on the price slipped back slightly to around US$46,240 just before midday

The rally in the price of Bitcoin, seemingly spurred by news of a US$1.5bn investment into the cryptocurrency by electric car maker ( ) on Monday, showed no signs of letting up on Tuesday morning.

At around 7am GMT on Tuesday morning, Bitcoin hit a record high of US$48,042, although as the morning wore on the price slipped back slightly to around US$46,240 just before midday.

Tesla gave the crypto a further endorsement yesterday when it said it is also planning to accept Bitcoin as a form of payment for its cars in the future, which may feel with provide Bitcoin with a large legitimacy boost of a mainstream form of payment rather than simply as a speculative investment.

Some analysts have also predicted that Bitcoins surge could go further on the back of Teslas endorsement.

Teslas decision to invest US$1.5bn in Bitcoin is the kind of corporate support that bulls will latch on to and could see US$50k taken out quickly, said Markets.coms Neil Wilson.

The analyst also pointed out that Teslas investment was the same as Tesla earned in regulatory tax credits from the US last year, which may draw some accusations of taxpayer money being spaffed on a speculative investment in cryptocurrency.

Meanwhile, AJ Bells Laith Khalaf warned that UK investors could be playing Russian roulette with their money on the cryptocurrency markets if they followed Teslas lead.

There are a number of concerning findings from our research. Not only are many consumers buying cryptocurrencies without having an ISA, pension, or savings account in place, there also seems to be a significant misunderstanding of the risks involved. 30% of cryptocurrency investors are not willing to lose any of the money theyve invested, which suggests they lack an appreciation of the potential downside of their investment, Khalaf said.

The unpredictability of the future of cryptocurrencies means putting money into Bitcoin is more speculation than investment. In ten years time, its possible the price of Bitcoin will be significantly higher than it is now, its also possible it will be close to worthless. Its such a new and evolving market that no one can predict with any confidence which one of these scenarios, or any in between, might prevail, the analyst added.

Heath and hospital treatment provided to an Iranian asylum seeker who died after moving to Tasmania for a fresh start will be examined by a coroner.

Saed Hassanloo spent time in detention across the country, including at Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre, after arriving in the country a decade ago.

In 2015 he embarked on a hunger strike of about 40 days in Perth, which resulted in him needing hospitalisation and was said to be 'near death'.

Mr Hassanloo likely took his own life in Hobart in August 2016 aged 27, about eight months after moving to the city, although his body has never been found.

A coronial inquest began in Hobart on Tuesday which will look at the circumstances around his death.

Saed Hassanloo embarked on a hunger strike in 2015 of about 40 days in Perth, which resulted in him needing hospitalisation and was said to be 'near death'

It will also examine the communication between the federal Immigration Department, the Tasmanian Health Service and Red Cross, which was involved with Mr Hassanloo's care.

Counsel assisting the coroner Cameron Lee said the issue of potential 'roadblocks' in communication would be explored.

Mr Hassanloo was admitted to the Royal Hobart Hospital not long before his death.

Mr Hassanloo likely took his own life in Hobart in August 2016 aged 27, about eight months after moving to the city, although his body has never been found

'A critical issue will be what steps, if any, the hospital could have taken to have Mr Hassanloo stay there until his Red Cross case worker arrived,' Mr Lee said.

The inquest's scope includes whether the hospital had the ability to deal with presentations by asylum seekers.

Mr Hassanloo arrived at Christmas Island by boat in 2010 after leaving Tehran and subsequently made several applications for refugee status, but all were denied.

He claimed he would be persecuted if he was deported to Iran because he converted to Christianity.

Mr Lee said there was significant evidence Mr Hassanloo, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, was not engaging with mental health treatments.

Home Affairs Minister, and then-Immigration Minister, Peter Dutton at the time vowed to deport Mr Hassanloo and refused to be influenced by his hunger strike.

'The difficulty for me is that if you give yourself in to what is essentially emotional blackmail... the clear advice from my department is that I would have hundreds or thousands of people go on hunger strikes tomorrow,' Mr Dutton told ABC radio.

Mr Hassanloo spent time in detention across the country, including at Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre (pictured), after arriving in the country a decade ago

'We can't allow the boats to start up again which they would do if we settled people that don't have a legitimate claim.'

Mr Dutton said his department advised very strongly that Mr Hassanloo's case had been fully examined and his claim for protection could not be substantiated.

The government would do what it could to assist him return to Iran, though that would depend on medical advice.

'We have provided support to many other people in the past where they have been repatriated back to Iran and other countries,' he said in 2015.

The inquest will hear evidence from police officers, health workers and commonwealth representatives.

Lifeline 13 11 14. beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Some New Jersey districts are calling for school closures, delayed opens and other schedule changes with forecasts calling for snow accumulations from 1 to 4 inches early Tuesday.

While hundreds of districts continue to offer fully-remote classes due to the coronavirus outbreak, schools operating under in-person and hybrid models may opt to switch to remote classes for the day rather than cancel school altogether.

Advisories issued Monday afternoon covered portions of Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties, and said those areas could see accumulations of up to 4 inches through early Tuesday to early Wednesday.

South and Central Jersey would likely escape any major snowfall, with forecasts calling for less than an inch, according to the weather service.

The following school districts have made announcements about schedule changes:

BERGEN COUNTY

MOVED TO REMOTE LEARNING:

Carlstadt

Closter

Demarest

East Rutherford

Fair Lawn

Franklin Lakes

Glen Rock

Hasbrouck Heights

Lyndhurst

Mahwah

Midland Park

Norwood

North Arlington Queen of Peace Grammar School

Old Tappan

Paramus

Pascack Valley Regional

Ramapo Indian Hills Regional

Ridgefield

River Vale

Rutherford

Wyckoff

ESSEX COUNTY

MOVED TO REMOTE LEARNING:

Caldwell-West Caldwell

Cedar Grove

Millburn

South Orange-Maplewood

West Orange

HUNTERDON COUNTY

MOVED TO REMOTE LEARNING:

Alexandria

Bloomsbury - asynchronous

Frenchtown

High Bridge

Holland

Lebanon Borough

Lebanon Township

North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional

Union

MORRIS COUNTY

MOVED TO REMOTE LEARNING:

Boonton Town

Boonton Township

Butler

Denville

Mendham Borough

Mendham Township

Mine Hill

Montville

Morris Hills Regional School District

Morris Plains

Mount Arlington

Mountain Lakes

Netcong

Randolph

Riverdale

Rockaway Borough

Rockaway Township

Roxbury

West Morris Regional

Wharton

PASSAIC COUNTY

MOVED TO REMOTE LEARNING:

Bloomingdale

Haledon

Hawthorne

Lakeland Regional

North Haledon

Pompton Lakes

Ringwood

Wanaque

West Milford

Woodland Park

SUSSEX COUNTY

MOVED TO REMOTE LEARNING:

Andover

Frankford Township

Franklin Borough

Fredon

Hamburg

Hampton

Hardyston

High Point Regional

Hopatcong

Kittatinny Regional

Newton

Northern Hills Academy

Ogdensburg

Sandyston-Walpack

Sparta

Stillwater

Sussex-Wantage Regional

Vernon

TWO-HOUR DELAY:

Lenape Valley Regional

UNION COUNTY

MOVED TO REMOTE LEARNING:

Winfield School

WARREN COUNTY

MOVED TO REMOTE LEARNING:

Bethlehem

Blairstown

Frelinghuysen Township

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Hackettstown

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Mansfield

North Warren Regional

Phillipsburg

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Cadiz

Muere un guardia civil atropellado por dos jovenes que huian de los agentes a la entrada de Jerez
At the first stage, 367,000 people are expected to get vaccinated.

Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov says 100% of Ukrainians could have access to a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2021.

He announced this during the Freedom of Speech TV program.

"We want to ensure that 100% of the population have access to a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2021," he said.

He recalled his ministry had developed a roadmap, the National Vaccination Plan, which defines all stages of vaccination against the coronavirus.

At the first stage, 367,000 people are expected to get vaccinated. According to Stepanov, the vaccination campaign should begin in Ukraine on February 15.

"Theoretically, it could be February 16. After February 15  this does not mean March 1," he said.

According to the minister, Ukraine is now awaiting the delivery of the AstraZeneca vaccine (about 1 million doses) and that of Pfizer/BioNTech (117,000 doses).

Read alsoGovernment not to gather this week to decide on future quarantine in Ukraine

COVID-19 vaccine for Ukraine

Ukraine plans to launch a COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the middle of February 2021.

On December 30, 2020, Ukraine signed a contract for the supply of 1.9 million doses of China's Sinovac vaccine.

On January 30, 2021, Ukrainian Deputy Health Minister, Chief Medical Officer Viktor Liashko said Ukraine would receive 117,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine within the COVAX (the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility) in February.

From the middle of February to the end of June 2021, Ukraine will obtain 2.2 million to 3.7 million doses of an AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine.

On February 5, Health Minister Stepanov said shipments of 12 million doses of vaccines produced by AstraZeneca and Novavax to Ukraine had been confirmed.

In December 2020, the Health Ministry's coronavirus task force approved a COVID-19 immunization plan under which at least 50% of Ukrainians (20 million people) are to be vaccinated during 2021-2022.

First to get vaccinated will be healthcare workers, the elderly, and seriously ill patients.

Reporting by UNIAN
Burma Biden, Modi Discuss Myanmar Coup

Riot police man barricades while soldiers stand at the ready behind them, as a large crowd of anti-coup protesters gathers in Yangon on Tuesday. / The Irrawaddy

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Ruslaan Mumtaz made his debut with Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar which got the teenagers excited as they found a new chocolate hero in Ruslaan. Since then, the actor has been making sure that he keeps working and gets noticed for his work. Ruslaan is now entering the OTT world as his next Namaste Wahala releases on Netflix this Valentines Day. This romantic film is about an Indian boy who falls for a Nigerian girl and how both their set of families dont really agree with this alliance. Valentine's Day is all about love and looks like Ruslaan Mumtaz wants to spread love worldwide digitally.



What does love mean to you?

Love, for me, is care and respect. We can say we love someone only if we care about them and respect them.

If you had faced your character Rajs situation in real life, and your wifes parents would have been against you for some reason, what would you have done in reality?

Initially, my in-laws were also sceptical about Nirali marrying me because of me being an actor and like everyone they were scared about sending their daughter into a filmy family but they knew me for many years before I asked for her hand in marriage. Once they met my parents they realised that our family background and upbringing is very similar, so they immediately agreed.





Tell us something more about your movie Namastey Wahala? How did you bag the role?

Rahil Raja, who is the costume designer on this project, had forwarded my pictures to the director Hamisha Daryani-Ahuja and she thought I would be perfect to bring the Bollywood angle in our movie. She wanted to make an Indo-African film and needed an actor who gave the Bollywood vibe. Earlier I was told that this film is to be released only in Africa but I'm very excited about it getting a worldwide release on Netflix.

How would your mother (veteran actress Anjana Mumtaz) have reacted if you had brought home a Nigerian wife?

(Laughs) I think my mom would be shocked as would anyone in India be but eventually, she would have accepted her bahu and would have been happy. At the end our parents want us to be happy and thats the message of the film as well.



You have dabbled into films, TV and now OTT What have you learnt from this journey?

Luckily for actors, there are so many platforms for us to work, earlier this was not the case so this is actually a great time for actors, directors, technicians because we have so many opportunities to showcase our talents. Now with the OTT platforms, our work can be seen all over the world. Namaste Wahala can be watched by my family and friends who are in the USA, Australia, Africa, England. I think that is a big thing for me.

Whats your advice for some aspiring actors?

Acting like any other art form is ever-evolving. You can never perfect it. With every project, I've become better, more confident, more comfortable and my advice to all aspiring actors is keep working, some projects will be big but don't leave the small ones either because we never know when a small project becomes big.

After a point, does money become more important for an actor than pursuing their passion? Your views.

I feel actors who chase money eventually end up doing really well for themselves because they end up working more, doing more films, doing more projects and just being visible to the audience and in today's time, the audience has a very short memory so if you disappear even for a year they forget you so it's best to keep working and money can be a great driving force.

Is this the best phase to be an actor since so much opportunity is out there?

Totally the best time. Also because of the OTT platforms now actors don't need to really worry about how many people will go to the theatre to watch them. Audiences can watch them at the home, office or even while travelling.



Will audiences return to cinema halls sooner or later?

Only really big films and big stars can make audiences return to the cinema. Sooryavanshi is one film that can make people want to go back to theatres.





Is it easy for every star kid in the industry? What is the thing you had to face to make your feet in the industry?

The only thing that survives in the industry is talent and how you maintain yourself over years. Actors who let go of their fitness tend to disappear even when they are star kids. Actors that are not talented, don't make it even if they are associated with the biggest film personalities.



From the current lot of actresses, which actress would you like to romance on-screen and why?

Alia Bhatt is one of my favourite actresses. She has done some great work. I think we'll look good together on the screen. Shes been so good in all her films and performances. And to work with a talented actor is always an experience of a lifetime.





Which film of your favourite actor would you like to have a remake of that starred you?

Andaz Apna Apna and Dil Chahta Hai are my favourite films. So if I got an opportunity to work on any projects which are similar it would be great.
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When the novel coronavirus began wreaking havoc last year, nurse practitioner Erica Joseph would trudge home from an arduous workday feeling exhausted and mentally spent. Joseph would then have to ward off a hug from her 8-year-old daughter for fear of transmitting the deadly virus.

After a day of confronting the effects of the coronavirus, a hug from her daughter was just what Joseph needed. But only after changing out of her scrubs and employing other decontamination measures could she embrace the child, and even then, she felt worried.

I was scared of the unknown, said Joseph, whose household includes her husband and two children. Am I bringing this home to my family?

Like many medical professionals and other caretakers, Joseph has grappled with the emotional toll of the pandemic. As it stretches into its 10th month, people whose professional mission is to heal the sick are themselves facing a growing need for care of the psychological variety.

Joseph has a unique perspective, having served as both an emergency room nurse and a board-certified mental health nurse practitioner during her career. She understands the combat fatigue that doctors and nurses on the front lines of the pandemic are facing.

Its overwhelming, said Joseph, who has a doctorate in nursing practice and nursing philosophy from Southern University in Baton Rouge. Nurses are having to wear so many hats  caretaker, chaplain, family member who holds (patients) hands  Doing all of this and having to watch so many people die. It takes a toll.

Joseph and others have become well acquainted with a phenomenon known as compassion fatigue. An ugly cousin of the burnout concept, it is typically experienced by caregivers and emergency responders who confront disaster scenarios. But it can also impact others who care for elderly or sickly family members.

The National Library of Medicine says compassion fatigue occurs when caregivers develop declining empathetic ability from repeated exposure to others suffering.

Ecoee Rooney, president of the Louisiana Nurses Association, said combating compassion fatigue among nurses has been part of her lifes work even long before the pandemic hit in March.

She and others are concerned about the emotional wreckage the pandemic might leave in its wake, especially among health care workers who watch patient after patient succumb to the virus.

Its primary traumatic stress and its a normal response to abnormal events, Rooney said. Its the feeling that you cant save everyone, and the pandemic has really brought it to light for a lot of people.

Create a cycle of positive thinking as you enter the new year, psychologists recommend As we put the 2020 train wreck in the rearview mirror, a Native American parable comes to mind.

Joseph, whose expertise in mental health allows her to work with nurses prone to compassion fatigue, said she advises others to do what she does to cope. She tries to set aside a few minutes each day to decompress, meditate or do yoga.

You have to give yourself some space, Joseph said. Sometimes I go outside and sit in the sun, alone with my thoughts.

Nurses and doctors should recognize when they are beginning to feel emotionally or otherwise fatigued and realize if they dont take care of themselves, they cant take care of their patients, Joseph said.

You must be honest with yourself and realize it's OK to say Im not OK, that I have nothing left to give and I need some space, she said. Nurses like to fix things but we cant fix everything.

Rooney said nurses can go to nursingworld.org to download apps and other tools that support the mental health and resilience of professional caretakers.

Meanwhile, researchers with the Tulane University School of Social Work are conducting a survey to determine the breadth of the compassion fatigue phenomenon among medical professionals fighting COVID-19.

Charles Figley, director of the Tulane Traumatology Institute and one of the scholars who coined the term compassionate fatigue, said much academic research is underway on the emotional scars brought about by the pandemic. Answers are pending.

While medical professionals remain under a level of strain that can take your heart away, he believes most of the front-line combatants will recover once the pandemic is behind us.

Meanwhile, he said the admiration being displayed for the heroics of health care workers is important in helping them while the battle rages. He said media coverage of nurses and doctors being applauded for their efforts and lawn signs touting their service provide a huge boost.

Theres only so many times you can just say thanks, he said. The show of social appreciation is an important salve.
MALARIA DENGUE TB PLAY SECOND FIDDLE TO COVID-19

Although India has worked relentlessly towards developing innovative testing solutions for COVID-19 throughout last year, the timely detection of a number of other infectious diseases has been sidelined. In India, the range and burden of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, filariasis, leprosy, HIV infection, typhoid, hepatitis etc., are enormous. In fact, inadequate containment of the vector has resulted in recurrent outbreaks of dengue fever and re-emergence of chikungunya virus disease and typhus fever. If India can develop more than 20 different diagnostic tests or devices in a single year to fight COVID-19, many more such innovations can be brought to effectively detect other infections looming in our country.
Foreign affairs experts, including a former ambassador, academic and lawyers have called on the national assembly and even countries where they will be posted to reject President Muhammadu Buharis nomination of the immediate past service chiefs as ambassadors.

Others, who seemed confused by their appointment, have requested further details on the development, saying there may be more to the nomination than meets the eye.

Some of these experts include a professor of History and former ambassador to Germany, Akinjide Osuntokun; a former director general of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Bola Akinterinwa; a senior lawyer Tayo Oyetibo, and a professor of History and Strategic Studies at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), David Aworawo.

The experts positions are hinged on the allegations of rights abuses and crimes against humanity levelled against the former service chiefs while they held sway as commanders of the countrys military.

They also hold the view that the administration of Mr Buhari has flagrantly flouted the recommendation of the erstwhile Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations (PACIR) which pegged the percentage of non-career ambassadors to 25 as against career ambassadors of 75.

The nomination

Barely a week after they resigned from service and their replacements announced, a statement by the presidents media aide, Femi Adesina, said the President Buhari had forwarded the ex-service chiefs names to the Senate for confirmation as non-career ambassadors.

They are the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin; former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; former Chief of Air Staff, Ibok Ibas; and former Chief of Naval Staff, Abubakar Sadique.

The development has been trailed by condemnation, with many Nigerians suggesting that the Presidents decision was aimed at shielding the former military officials from possible prosecution especially by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The allegations against the military chiefs include the 2015 massacre of more than 350 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), a Shiites sect, violent attacks on members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), last Octobers shooting and of innocent Nigerians who took part in the #EndSARS protest at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, and the extrajudicial killings in Oyigbo, an Igbo settlement in Rivers State, among others.

Some commentators relied on Article 29 of the Vienna Convention which protects diplomats from arrest and grants them immunity against civil and criminal prosecution, to conclude that the Presidents decision was to guarantee immunity for the ex-service chiefs.

But others argued that the appointment of the former service chiefs cannot shield them from facing prosecutions over criminal conducts.

Meanwhile, towards avoiding such controversies their possible appointment may ignite, other concerned Nigerians have called for the rejection of their nominations. They added that should they eventually scale through the hurdles of the countrys upper legislative chamber, the countries where they will be posted should reject them.

Why appointment should be rejected

Mr Osuntokun, who was a member of the advisory committee on international relations, said Mr Buharis decision dumbfounded him.

Speaking on the phone with our reporter, the ex-diplomat said that depending on where they may be posted to, he was sure some of them could be rejected by the foreign nations.

This is a very strange development as far as I am concerned. First, the number of non-career ambassadors has now exceeded that of the career ambassadors. I remember that when we set up as a committee to make recommendations on this kind of things, I was a member of that committee and our report said on no account must non-career ambassadors exceed 25 per cent, but as it is now, they are almost 60 per cent while the career is 40 per cent.

Im sure some of them may be rejected if they are posted to Western countries. But if they are sent to China or Russia, those ones will probably agree to host them. But if they are sent to places like Washington or Western Europe, theyll probably be rejected, he said.

In a similar vein, Mr Aworawo, a foreign relations teacher of many years, said the Senate had a huge responsibility to thoroughly weigh the options before allowing the nominees to be posted so that Nigeria is not further embarrassed on the global stage.

He said: When a foreign country takes a position against Nigeria, its not against the government, it is not against an individual, it is against Nigeria. For instance, when Tunde Adeniran was rejected by the United States as an ambassador, it was Nigeria that was rejected. So instead of waiting until they are posted out, I think our advocacy should be that the Senate should let us know why they want to be posted out. Why is it that despite the fact that we have a large number of non-career diplomats already designated to be posted out, additional names are to be added to that list?

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If there is a thorough screening, a whole lot of things will come to light that will help us to take informed positions regarding this nomination. It is the Senate now that we should be querying. They should not allow the culture of take a bow and go on this matter. Such will be counterproductive because if they take a bow and go and they are sent out and then they are rejected, it will not be in the interest of anybody.

My suggestion is that we should not wait for them to be posted out before we begin to cry. Our advocacy should be that they should be rejected by the Senate. Our advocacy should begin here that the senate should do a thorough job such that if there is no real cogent reason, they should not be confirmed.

On his part, the secretary of the Joint Action Front, a coalition of labour unions in the country, Abiodun Aremu, said the issue of the nomination of the ex-service chiefs was a diversionary tactic by the government to take the peoples minds away from discussing key issues of poor governance in the country.

At a time our health and education sectors have completely collapsed and the insecurity issue is festering every second, the President threw up a non-issue to divert our attention. This is unfortunate, Mr Aremu said.

The labour activist queried Nigerias foreign policy, saying the countrys leadership on the African continent has been lost to bad governance at home.

He said: What interests are the existing ambassadors representing? What is the countrys foreign policy? What role is Nigeria playing on the subject of the liberation of Western Sahara? If you have much of leadership that Nigeria provides, these are the challenges that the people eventually face, and I think it is important to address that now, more importantly.

And why will those nations not reject them? Whats our understanding of the security concern? You see a country whose leader is ethnically bias and self-opinionated. This is someone who cannot address global concerns of the country but promoting economic arrangements in which youre dependent as a nation. What you would have expected is that the government would appoint responsible men and women into positions and not people with blood on their hands.

But to Mr Oyetibo, the call for the rejection of the would-be appointees could only be based on moralism but that such is neither here nor there.

He said foreign relations were not based on moralism but much deeper diplomatic issues and facts.

Buhari flouting recommendation on ambassadorial nominations

According to Mr Osuntokun, the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations which was chaired by a former Commonwealth secretary-general, Emeka Anyaokwu, had offered non-stipendiary service to the country between 1999 and 2015, and it was when the Buhari-led administration came on board in 2015 that the council ceased to exist.

Mr Osuntokun did not elaborate on why the council went aground but said there were many key decisions that were taken by the team which he noted gave policy direction to the past administrations on foreign relations since the return to democracy in 1999.

The former ambassador said: Chief Emeka Anyaokwu was the chairman and the members included myself, late Alhaji Hamza Ahmadu, Professor Joy Ogwu, Ambassador Akporode Clark, and I think one other member.

We realised that because there is a career line for professional diplomats, those people who have spent all their lives learning the trade and who are more qualified to handle foreign relations matters. So it is not good to replace them with non-career ambassadors who know next to nothing about protocols. It is not a good thing for the country to have too many non-career ambassadors. But since this administration came into being I have been watching and I have realised that the number of non-career ambassadors now stands at about 60 per cent to 40 per cent career diplomats. That has clearly exceeded the 75 per cent career ambassadors to 25 per cent non-career ambassadors that we recommended.

He said the consequence of the new trend is that the political appointees would focus more on attracting materialism and may end up getting involved in deals that could embarrass the country.

Unfortunately, many of these non-career ambassadors think that there is money in diplomacy but there is none. Theyll be disappointed. Some of them, for six months after being sent to post, there will be no money to support them. They will be totally embarrassed and some of them will now go into deals that will embarrass the country because they have to survive and they are used to large spending.

We are just cutting noses because were going to be disappointed thoroughly and humiliated as a country. I sincerely hope that some of them will be rejected by the countries that they are sent to unless of course, it is China or Russia or such other countries.

Mr Aworawo also said the countrys non-career ambassadors have now outnumbered their career counterparts, and that such is not good for the country. So we need to know why we still want to add these four to the number of non-career diplomats when there are protests that there are too many political appointees that are posted out as ambassadors as against the preference for career ambassadors.

When asked what he thought of the appointment of the former service chiefs as ambassadors, Mr Anyaokwu said he was not ready to share his opinion on the matter.

Will ambassadorial position shield ex-service chiefs from prosecution?

While some experts rely on Article 29 of the Vienna Convention to suggest their appointment would shield the ex-service chiefs from prosecution especially on the international scene, others have faulted such claim, saying their possible appointment is no guarantee for their immunity.

A Washington-based Nigerian lawyer and special counsel to Justice for Jos Project of the US Nigeria Law Group, Emmanuel Ogebe, said under international criminal law, diplomatic immunity does not grant immunity from prosecution over international crimes such as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In his position on the matter, which was mailed to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Ogebe said; The rule is supported by international customary law as well as The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court codified in its Article 27.

If Omar Bashir as then President of Sudan was indicted and a warrant issued for his arrest, it is unclear why Buharis advisers gave him faulty information that these ambassadorships grant immunity for war crimes.

He accused Mr Buhari-led administration of corruption and abuse of power for personal politics of self-preservation.

Similarly, Mr Akinterinwa, a former director general of NIIA, said crimes committed before being appointed as ambassadors are not covered by the immunity guaranteed in the Vienna Convention.

He said; The point is that diplomatic immunity only applies to offences committed by public officials when they are in office. It does not include offences that are committed before anyone is appointed.

So if youre talking about 2015 for instance, the charges are still there, the only thing is just that while they are in office, they could not arrest them, they could not prosecute them. But when they leave office they can be arrested. The example of Charles Taylor is enough as evidence. He was no longer the president of Liberia, so he was arrested and taken to jail.

Also, the former chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, has shared his view on the matter, insisting that the appointment of former service chiefs as Nigerian ambassadors does not grant them immunity from criminal charges.

In a series of tweets shared on Thursday, Mr Odinkalu said to enjoy the immunity that came with ambassadorship, another sovereign country had to accredit them.

He said; Briefly, this isnt exactly good news for the former service chiefs. To begin with, to enjoy Sovereign Immunity (thats what its called) in international law, they have to be accredited to another sovereign as Nigerias ambassadors. Carrying a diplomatic passport isnt enough.

He noted that based on the gravity of the allegations levelled against the former service chiefs, credible countries would not accept them.

In any Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) country, for instance, any effort to deploy them as ambassadors would almost be guaranteed to end up in a raucous domestic and diplomatic mess and will be resisted seriously. In all likelihood, they will not pass muster with those countries, he added.
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Restaurants will no longer be allowed to sell pre-packaged meals through arrangements with supermarkets and other outlets, as Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley definitively closed this loophole yesterday.

Rowley said this would not be allowed to continue, as it defeats the purpose of the public health regulations. Restaurants and street food vendors were among those businesses ordered to close to limit the movement of people and curb the spread of Covid-19.
(Photo : Pexels/Jackson David) Uber and Walgreen team up

Uber and Walgreens are now teaming up in order to make it easier for people who don't own a vehicle or pharmacy near them to get a COVID-19 vaccine shot.

Uber and Walgreens partner up

The two companies announced on February 9 that Uber will offer the public free rids to clinics that offers COVID-19 vaccine shots and to Walgreens stores.

The service is available for those who book an appointment and live in underserved communities. Uber will then work with charitable partners like the National Urban League, in order to help identify those who need the Uber rides.

The program will begin in Chicago, Atlanta, El Paso, Texas and Houston, Texas. A Walgreens spokeswoman stated that free rides will be offered as early as next week in Atlanta and then the program will be expanded to other cities.

Also Read: Uber-Aurora Deal Isn't Really a Complete Sell Out of Self-Driving Car Tech- Here's What the Merger Means

This program is a part of a promise that Uber made in December 2020 to offer 10 million free or discounted rides to make sure that transportation does not prevent people from getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Walgreens, the second-largest pharmacy chain in the United States, will take on an expanded role in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout later this week.

Walgreens will now give COVID-19 vaccines to priority groups such as those with preexisting conditions and senior citizens, starting February 12 at some stores in 15 states and in two cities, New York and Chicago, Illinois.

The Biden administration announced the plans last week to start sending direct shipments of doses to about 6,500 retail stores nationwide. The administration also plans to eventually expand that program to 40,000 pharmacies.

The COVID-19 vaccine roll out has been slowed due to the limited supply. It has also reflected broader health-care inequities.

The majority of the 13 million people given at least a dose of vaccine within the first month of distribution were old, white and female, according to the report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many vaccine sites have relied on its online systems, but it can be complicated to navigate for older Americans or for those who are out of reach for people who don't have a cellphone or any reliable internet access.

COVID-19 vaccine's distribution

COVID-19 has had a disproportionate toll on Hispanic Americans and Black Americans. According to data complied by the COVID-19 Tracking Project, Black Americans have died from COVID-19 at 1.5 times the rate of White people.

On December 2020, The Atlantic released a report stating that 50,000 Black Americans died due to COVID-19. The news site also reported that 31% of Black Americans in the country personally knows someone who has died of COVID-19.

Uber and Walgreens stated that they will also plan to work together in other ways. Uber said that it will add in-app feature that make it easier for Uber drivers, freight workers and delivery people to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment when they are available all over the country.

The two companies are developing an educational program with the National Urban League to reduce vaccine hesitancy.

Related Article: Uber Green Set to Expand to 1,400 North American Cities

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Written by Sieeka Khan

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9)  Senators are calling for the suspension of the vehicle inspection and roadworthiness checks program, as issues continue to hound its implementation.

Hindi maliwanag sa akin anong batas, what law, tell me, authorizes you to do this, to privatize these testing centers? Meron bang batas? Ang tingin ko diyan overreach masyado 'yan eh, Sen. Ralph Recto said during a Senate hearing. Recto is among the lawmakers urging the program's suspension until "we find a better way forward."

[Translation: Its unclear to me what law, tell me, authorizes you to do this, to privatize these testing centers? Is there such a law? I think this is too much of an overreach.]

During the hearing, Land Transportation Office chief Edgar Galvante explained that they previously resorted to offering private entities the opportunity to construct new motor vehicle inspection centers due to the lack of funding then. Pre-existing centers, he added, had already been subject to wear and tear at the time.

The LTO chief likewise said they have tried asking the Senate and the now-abolished Road Board for financing. Recto said he does not recall the agency ever approaching the chamber to present such a request.

Advocacy groups and motorists have raised concerns on the hefty fees imposed by these centers, where an inspection can run from 600 to 1,800. Lawmakers echoed their sentiment that the implementation of the program amid a pandemic was ill-timed.

The Transport Department presented inspection fees in other Asian countries like China, South Korea, Japan and Singapore to contrast with fees charged locally, which the solons likewise criticized.

That is not justifiable na mas mura rito. Iba naman siguro services dito, iba services dun. 'Wag po tayong ganon, said Sen. Koko Pimentel.

[Translation: That is not justifiable just because its relatively cheaper here. Services are most likely different here compared to those countries. Lets not be like that.]

Sen. Joel Villanueva, meanwhile, agreed with road safety advocate Atty. Neil Sias remarks during the hearing, where he said accidents cited by transport officials earlier have been caused mostly by reckless driving involving heavy vehicles like dump trucks and wing vans.

With the program's allowable maximum gross vehicle weight at 4,500 kilograms, these vehicles are currently exempted in their testing operations, Sia added.

Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption president Arsenio Evangelista also warned of corruption as he flagged the lack of a thorough public consultation on the implementation of the program. The LTO insisted its regional directors were ordered to conduct such consultations in their respective areas.

However you look at it legally speaking, morally speaking, practically looking at this particular program, talagang kailangan i-suspend muna ito dahil kulang na kulang, sobrang kulang Madame Chair 'yung [there really is a need to suspend it because there has been an immense lack of] consultation, tapos yung mga [along with] complaints (from motorists), said Villanueva.

Senate Committee on Public Services chair Sen. Grace Poe likewise recommended the suspension of the program's implementation pending the conduct of thorough consultation with the public and operationalization of the adequate number of testing centers in the country.

The lawmaker likewise sought a review of guidelines and parameters to ensure the inspection system follows reasonable standards for developing countries like the Philippines, along with transparency in the selection process of testing centers and accreditation of value-added services and machine and equipment providers.

Commerce and Industry Minister on Tuesday said the (MSP) operations being conducted by the country are completely compliant with the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

"We have a Peace Clause under which for our public procurement purposes, we are permitted to buy from the marketplace and the MSP operations that we are currently doing are completely WTO compliant," he told reporters.

The minister was replying to a question whether MSP is WTO compliant as certain members of the WTO have alleged that the MSP given by India is distorting market conditions and the government has told the protesting farmers that MSP will continue.

Under the global trade norms, a WTO member country's food subsidy bill should not breach the limit of 10 per cent of the value of production based on the reference price of 1986-88.

In the Peace Clause, WTO members agreed to refrain from challenging any breach in the prescribe ceiling by a developing nation at the dispute settlement forum of the Geneva-based organisation. This clause is there till a permanent solution is found to the food stockpiling issue.

Speaking on the matter, Commerce Secretary Anup Wadhawan said that India's subsidies are within the WTO limits and subsidies of developing countries are moderate compared to the developed world.

"Our MSP programmes are WTO compliant. They are within the 10 per cent de-minimis level that we are allowed by way of agricultural subsidies and to the extent because of public procurement for food security, if we exceed our de-minimis, we have the Peace Clause," Wadhawan said.

He said that subsidies do cause distortions but distortions caused by developing countries are of minimal quantum compared to "what the west does".

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at Delhi borders for more than two months seeking repeal of three laws and a legal guarantee for the MSP.

(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.)
Former White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough became the 11th secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs during a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony Tuesday at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C.

Vice President Kamala Harris administered the oath of office to McDonough using his father's Bible. McDonough's wife, Karin Hillstrom, was present at the brief event, as were their two sons. The couple's college-aged daughter, Addie, joined via video.

During his confirmation hearing, McDonough said he would work to ensure that veterans are receiving the best care, support and treatment through the COVID-19 pandemic; he also pledged to ensure that the VA improves services for all veterans.

Read Next: Biden to Review Deportations of Veterans, Military Families That Occurred Under Trump

On Tuesday, he said he would make every decision based on whether it "increases veterans' access to care and benefits and improves outcomes for them."

"Assessments of our efforts will be measured by the outcomes we generate for veterans and by listening to what veterans have to say about their experiences," McDonough said in a message to employees and veterans.

He will "ensure that VA welcomes all veterans, including women, veterans of color and LGBTQ veterans" and strive to make sure employees live up to the department's core values of integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and excellence in "all our interactions," he said.

"This means that all VA patients, staff, their families, caregivers, survivors, visitors and advocates must feel safe in a workplace free of harassment and discrimination. I will not accept discrimination, harassment, or assault at any level or at any facility within VA. We will provide a safe, inclusive environment for Veterans and VA employees," McDonough said.

He also singled out veterans who were sexually assaulted while serving in the military, saying the department will "redouble efforts" to provide care and services for them.

"We can achieve our mission only by embracing the incredible diversity that defines our veteran population and all of America, leveraging everyone's talents and passions," McDonough said.

The Senate confirmed McDonough's nomination Monday in an 87-7 vote; all those who voted against him were Republicans and five were veterans. None of those who opposed the nomination publicly said why they were against it.

Speaking before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the VA has "one of the most sacred missions" of government -- caring for veterans -- and the task requires "organization, institutional know-how, and administrative troubleshooting."

"I am confident that Mr. McDonough's decades of experience at the highest levels of government make him well-qualified to take on the job," Schumer said.

Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas, the highest ranking Republican on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, also praised McDonough before the vote.

"He has experience leading and implementing policy across the federal government and has earned a reputation for being able to make government work better. Although he is not a veteran, he has made his case that he is personally devoted to serving veterans and seeing them achieve success, and it is my belief that he is sincere in that assertion," Moran said.

McDonough takes office as the VA is in the midst of the historic COVID-19 pandemic, which had killed 9,648 VA patients and sickened at least 215,000 as of Tuesday. The department continues to provide support at non-VA facilities, including 2,417 staff members working with state and local health care systems as part of the nationwide pandemic response.

And it is working through the process of vaccinating its nine million VA patients. As of Tuesday, the VA had vaccinated more than 898,000 veterans.

"President Biden gave me a clear mission -- to be a fierce, staunch advocate for veterans and their families. His marching order to me is clear: Fight like hell for veterans," McDonough said.

His nomination came as a surprise to veterans organizations, some of which expressed disappointment in the selection of a non-veteran.

But following his confirmation vote, many expressed a desire to work with him to benefit veterans.

"Though we have and will continue to confront VA policies when we believe they fall short, the American Legion also believes that VA is a system worth preserving for America's veterans. Congratulations, Secretary McDonough," American Legion National Commander Bill Oxford said.

"The new secretary arrives at a time when the VA is challenged to meet the critical needs of veterans during a deadly and continuing pandemic. We encourage him to act as a true partner in helping veterans obtain the quality and timely services they need, and to work transparently and with accountability with the [veteran and military service organization] community toward that goal," Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Executive Vice President Tom Porter said.

Concerned Veterans for America, a conservative organization that supports broader use of private health networks and physicians to provide care to veterans, issued a statement expressing hope that McDonough will preserve the VA's community care programs as they were outlined by the Mission Act, signed by former President Donald Trump.

"We call on the Secretary to provide assurances community care access standards will not be walked back, and veterans will retain the freedom to choose the care that meets their unique needs," CVA Executive Director Nate Anderson said.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime

Related: VA's Complicated Vaccine Prioritization System Causes Disparities, Confusion
At least 20 fishermen in Kalangala District have been arrested on suspicion of engaging in fish poisoning.

The suspects were arrested on Friday by soldiers from the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) with illegal fishing gear and a strange substance suspected to be poison.

According to Mr Sunday Kayita, the chairperson of Mazinga Sub-county, the suspects are part of a group that has been engaging in illegal fishing in the area and are not known to the local fishing community.

"Concerned citizens have been giving us information about the illegal fishing activities being carried out by those criminals, but they always eluded arrest," he said during an interview at the weekend.

Mr Muhammad Nsubuga, the southern regional police spokesperson, confirmed the arrests, saying the suspects are currently detained at Nkose Police Station awaiting transfer to Kalangala Central Police Station.

"After processing their files, all suspects will be arraigned in court and charged in accordance with the Fish Amendment Act of 2011," he said.

Mr Shaban Ssekitoleko, the chairperson of the Beach Management Unit at Kachungwa Landing Site on Kalangala Island, said all the suspects came from Entebbe in Wakiso District and they would hide in thick forests in the area.

"They normally engage in fishing during the day and at night they enter forests where they hide their ice containers," he said.

Communities living in and around the shores of Lake Victoria have since December been complaining of the growing number of dead fish, especially Nile Perch, being washed ashore.

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The dead fish are not only an eyesore, but also emit an odour as the decomposition occurs.

The reason for the mass deaths of seemingly healthy fish remains unclear, leading to speculation of possible poisoning, limited oxygen or adverse temperatures on Lake Victoria.

This has greatly affected the price of fish both on local and international market.

Currently, the price for Nile Perch has reduced from Shs12,000 per kilogramme to Shs7,000 while Tilapia buys at Shs4500 per kilogramme up from Shs8,000.

Mr Jackson Baguma, the Kalangala District fisheries officer, said the fish that were found dead on the shores are not poisoned but died as a result of limited oxygen in some parts of Lake Victoria.

"We took some samples of the dead fish to the laboratory in Entebbe and the results ruled out poisoning," he said.

Before President Museveni deployed soldiers to curb illegal fishing on lakes in January 2017, there were reports of fishermen using poison to catch fish which was exposing fish consumers to risks of contracting gastric cancer.

Illegal fishing

Illegal fishing, according to Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries involves using less than five-inch fishing nets for Tilapia and less than seven-inch fishing nets for Nile Perch that results into the harvesting of immature fish that measures less than 11 inch and 20 inch in length, respectively.

It also entails using fishing boats that are less than 20 feet in length and with absence of life jackets.
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A 30-year-old Cork man who installed hidden cameras in his home to film foreign teenage students who were staying there as they were in states of undress has been jailed.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the victims, also filmed two children who were urinating in bathrooms in shopping centres.

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard the case involved 13 victims with the offences occurring on dates between 2011 and 2016.

Dt Sgt Simon Grace said that that in 2016 gardai in Ireland were contacted by the FBI in the US who were investigating cases of child sexual abuse.

The defendant's voyeuristic filming of girls who were staying in his home had come to their attention after the images were posted on the dark web.

On July 4, 2016, gardai arrested the young man who admitted to producing voyeuristic videos of teenagers who were staying in his home whilst they undertook courses in Ireland.

The girls were primarily in the 13-16-year-old age group.

He also admitted to downloading explicit child abuse imagery from the dark web.

The man subsequently pleaded guilty to 13 counts of production and distribution of child abuse imagery and one count of possession of child abuse imagery.

Dt Sgt Grace said the man uploaded some of the videos on to the web mainly to voyeur forums.

On one occasion he filmed an underage boy masturbating without the knowledge of the youth.

Six victim impact statements were submitted to the court. One teenage girl appeared by video link from France.

She told Judge Sean O'Donnabhain that she was shocked by what had occurred whilst she was in Ireland studying.

She was stunned when police in France made her aware that she had been filmed in a state of undress without her consent whilst staying with an Irish family on a study placement.

The court heard that the 30-year-old man had no previous convictions.

He lost his job when an anonymous call was made to his employer about the offences.

The man has a level six qualification and has been working for all of his adult life to date.

Elizabeth O'Connell, SC, representing the defendant, said her client was fully cooperative with gardai and was remorseful for his actions.

She said the man had not come to the attention of gardai since his arrest in connection with the offences.

Judge O'Donnabhain said the probation report suggested a high risk of reoffending.

He said it was shocking to think that the videos were not only filmed but distributed on the dark web.

He was also cognisant of the fact that the man was charged with possession of explicit child abuse images.

He noted the benefit of the guilty plea in the case acknowledging that it saved the State a complex and intricate investigation and trial process.

He said that the man had invaded the privacy of the people involved and that the filming of young students in states of undress represented a massive breach of trust.

He jailed the man for six years suspending three years of the sentence.
Cape Town  Former Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Chief of Staff, retired Lieutenant-General Douglas Nyikayaramba has died after contracting Covid-19.

The news was confirmed by multiple sources including the independent MP for Norton who took to Twitter to mourn the death of Nyikayaramba.

"Gutted to receive news that Ambassador, Rtd. Major-General Douglas Nyikayaramba is no more after succumbing to Covid-19. A General par excellence, he is certainly most deserving of National Hero status. MHDSRIEP", the statement read.

Other senior military generals who have died from Covid-19 include former Air Force of Zimbabwe commander, Perence Shiri, former Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services boss, Paradzai Zimondi and former Foreign Affairs Minister, Sibusiso Moyo.

Nyikayaramba was Zimbabwe's Ambassador to Mozambique after he was retired by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2019.

He is also the second serving ambassador to die in just under two weeks following that of Zimbabwe's ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Jethro Ndlovu.
P

oliticians are well versed in having to take toe-curling photographs on the campaign trail. Matt Hancock having his crotch sniffed by a labrador , Boris Johnson obliterating a 10-year-old schoolchild in a rugby game , David Miliband awkwardly brandishing a banana, and Theresa May attempting to eat chips like a human all spring to mind. Being willing to look stupid in pictures is as central to the ministerial job description as the ability to shamelessly survive a grilling on breakfast television.

But in a new and rather unexpected addition to the political agenda, ministers seem to have collectively decided that theyre trying something new for 2021: topless material. Normally, tabloid headlines linking a political figure to nude or semi-nude pictures on the internet is cause for a day of emergency PR management in Whitehall, but not in 2021.

Whether there was a Europe-wide email chain sent between governments to encourage such behaviour, or the rise of these images is the result of individuals looking for social media clout, is unclear. And while we can all be glad the coronavirus vaccine rollout is reaching more and more people (by 7 February , 12.2 million in the UK had received the first dose and 512,000 the second dose), we might also need reminding that you can pick up a pack of mens thermal vests at M&S for as little as 12.

It all started on 19 January when Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, 52, shared a photograph of himself getting the jab. Picture the scene: his blue formal shirt is hanging off one arm exposing half of his chest, and although hes wearing a mask, he is definitely smirking. There is also a leather necklace, but the less said about that the better.

Social media lapped it up; the picture was shared far and wide. With hindsight we should have asked the perfectly reasonable question: Mr Mitsotakis, could you not have just rolled your sleeve up instead? Or worn a top underneath? Didnt we wear more clothes than this for our last smear test? But we were too busy being thirsty, and let it slide.

Since then we have paid the price. On 26 January, Conservative MP Brendan Clarke-Smith shared his topless effort , fascinating in its commitment to having his shirt tucked in, a single button done up, and one nipple out. On 8 February, French health minister Olivier Veran tweeted his picture (modesty partially concealed) with the single-word caption, Vaccine, giving it the vibe of a French perfume advert. Tory MP and army man, Johnny Mercer, then shared a photo in which he could, plausibly, be totally naked, such is the absence of clothing.

Offering an explanation , having been mocked and criticised, Mercer said: I simply couldnt get the sleeves over my muscles. Perhaps Mercer should have taken a leaf out of the book of the Croatian finance minister, Zdravko Maric, whose vaccine picture also went viral, although he was fully clothed in it.

The sharing of vaccine pictures to help with public health messaging isnt completely new. During the 2012 flu campaign, Dan Poulter, the Suffolk MP, shared a photograph of himself wearing his shirt hanging off one shoulder like a Roman toga ( see here ); Elvis Presley was famously photographed having the polio jab in 1956; and of course, Vladimir Putin loves a topless horseriding photo for any occasion. But the latest deluge of middle-aged pecs feels different.

It feels like a symptom of where weve found ourselves in the third lockdown  deprived of human touch for over a year

Not only could this be a legitimate premise for a Mumsnet calendar, but it feels like a symptom of where weve found ourselves in the third lockdown  deprived of human touch for over a year. Perhaps it is simply the inevitable consequence of what we shall call The thirst discourse. One minute we were allowing ourselves to ogle at Justin Trudeaus hiking photos (also see him photobombing a beach wedding ), casually using phrases like Dishi Rishi, and reading forums about Andy Burnhams eyelashes. Next thing you know, were here.

And, yes, of course it could just be more evidence that toxic masculinity has to rear its naked head in even the purest of national joys  a vaccine to save us from the crushing angst of a pandemic littered with men who should know better than to post thirst traps  but it seems fairer to conclude that were all just bored and keen for some light relief.

Even those who havent shared topless pics are keen to bring some humour to the situation. Arnold Schwarzenegger posted a video encouraging people to get vaccinated and quoting his Terminator films  Come with me if you want to live, he growled. Star Wars actor Anthony Daniels said: Droids dont get Covid. But humans do. Sir Ian McKellen wore the best rainbow scarf weve ever seen to get his jab done in January. And Vice President Kamala Harris said the instantly meme-worthy: I barely felt it [go in].

So just as we've all come to expect pictures of dogs at polling stations as part and parcel of democracy in action, perhaps over the next few years we can expect the vaxxie [vaccine selfie] to become a staple of British pandemic culture. Now that weve been locked in our homes for a year, the politicians have worked out that it delivers exactly what we want: good news about the pandemic, and a reassuring reminder that none of us have been to the gym since last March.


"I want to thank all of our supporters. Series D round was many times oversubscribed as we originally intended to raise no more than $30 million. We have made quite some efforts to keep this round under $100 million. Such oversubscription continues to happen in the current pre-IPO round," said Mike Xu, CEO of GrubMarket. "Delivering ultra-high growth and profitability remain the priority in all of our geographies. With this injection of capital, we will deepen our investment in people, technology and acquisitions to reach the next level of success. Our objective is to grow our ARR by $200 million in the first quarter of 2021 and expand to most of the regions of the country to reach $1 billion of ARR within the next 12 months. Moreover, we will keep following the fundamentals of conducting a sustainable business and maintain profitability as the foundation of this company. Above all, the only and ultimate success criterion of my entrepreneurial pursuit is whether I can scale up GrubMarket to eventually achieve $100 billion of annual sales."

The company's business comprises commercial segment to grocery stores, meal-kit companies, and restaurants, direct-to-consumer segment and WholesaleWare, its vertical software business, which is gaining significant momentum in recent months, growing over 1,000% and managing hundreds of millions of dollars of food wholesale activities annually.

This investment round follows a series of major milestones  expanding to 4 new states in 2020 including Washington, Texas, New York and Massachusetts and continued growth in Northern and Southern California and Michigan. Today, the company operates from over 30 warehouses across California, Washington, Texas, Massachusetts, New York and Michigan, and with plans to expand to other major metro markets in North America.

GrubMarket was a first mover to re-architect the highly intermediated B2B food supply chain by establishing a producer-centric platform with clear price advantage for market participants, exclusive producer / customer relationships and retention rates of over 95%. GrubMarket's B2B customers include over 5,000 grocery stores, over 8,000 restaurants, and over 2,000 corporate offices. Whole Foods, Kroger, Albertson, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, Raley's Market, 99 Ranch Market are all among its customers. Its meal-kit and e-grocery customers include Blue Apron, Hello Fresh, Fresh Direct, Imperfect Foods, Misfit Market, Sun Basket and GoodEggs, etc.

"I am always so impressed by the progress of GrubMarket and the unfaltering vision of Mike," said Charles Lorenceau, Managing Director of ACE & Company. "Having a proven record of sustained hyper-growth and profitability, GrubMarket stands out as a rare Silicon Valley startup in the food technology and ecommerce segment," said Jay Chen, managing partner of Celtic House Venture Partners. "GrubMarket's creativity and capital efficiency is unmatched by anyone else in this space. Mike's team has done an incredible job growing the company thoughtfully and sustainably. We are proud to be a partner in the company's rapid nationwide expansion and excited by the strong momentum of WholesaleWare, their SaaS suite, which is the best we have seen in space."

About GrubMarket

Founded in 2014, GrubMarket is a San Francisco-based food technology company operating in the space of food ecommerce and providing related software technologies to solve inefficiencies in the American food supply chain. Currently, GrubMarket operates in California, New York, Washington, Texas, Michigan and Massachusetts, with plans to expand to other parts of the country.

For Media Inquiries:

GrubMarket Media Team

[email protected]

(510) 556-4786

GrubMarket

1925 Jerrold Ave.

San Francisco, CA. 94124

SOURCE GrubMarket

Related Links

http://www.grubmarket.com


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The US has condoled the loss of lives due to the avalanche caused by a glacial burst in India's state and extended wishes for a speedy recovery of those injured.

"Our thoughts are with our Indian friends and partners during this challenging time. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, and we hope for a successful rescue effort and a speedy and full recovery for the injured," Ned Price, spokesperson of the Department of State told reporters, said.

A portion of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday, triggering an avalanche and a deluge in the Alaknanda river system that washed away hydroelectric stations and trapped more than 100 labourers who are feared dead.

Twenty-six bodies have been recovered and 171 people still missing as multiple agencies worked at rescuing over 30 workers feared trapped in a tunnel at a power project site.

Congressman Tony Cardenas also expressed his concerns for the people suffered in the incident.

"Praying for the people of India," he said in a tweet.

"We are witnessing the devastating effects of climate change. This is not a crisis we can ignore. This now deserves a response," he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
and on Tuesday held discussions on a wide range of issues relating to the United Nations Security Council, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The MEA said the Chinese delegation was briefed about India's priorities during its tenure in the meeting that took place in the virtual format.

"Both sides discussed a wide range of issues on the agenda. The Indian delegation briefed the Chinese side on India's priorities during its tenure," the MEA said in a statement.

It said both sides agreed to continue their engagement on key issues on the UNSC agenda.

is a permanent member of the UNSC while began its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member on January 1.

In August, is scheduled to serve as the president of the powerful UN body.

The Indian delegation was headed by Prakash Gupta, joint secretary (UNP and Summits) in the MEA.

The Indian team comprised officials from East Asia (EA) and UN Economic and Social (UNES) divisions of the MEA as well as from the India's Permanent Mission in New York and Indian embassy in Beijing.

The Chinese side at the meeting was led by Yang Tao, director general of the department of international organisations and conferences at the Chinese foreign ministry.

India and are locked in a military standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 5 last year.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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


More than 100 banks, exchanges, insurers and other financial firms worldwide were targets of the same type of cyber attack that crippled the New Zealand Stock Exchange in August, though they didnt suffer the same extent of damage.

Most companies responded to the attacks with increased spending on cyber security, including hiring outside help, according to the Financial Services Information Sharing & Analysis Center, a network of financial firms sharing information about cyber threats. Trading at the New Zealand exchange was halted for four days when the DDoS attack  short for distributed denial of service  overwhelmed its network with traffic.

Related: How a 2020 Cyber Attack Brought the New Zealand Stock Exchange to Its Knees

Once we realized this was a concerted campaign and started alerting all our members, they were able to defend themselves more effectively, showing the power of information-sharing in todays cyber threat environment, said Jerry Perullo, chief information security officer of Intercontinental Exchange Inc. and chairman of FS-ISAC. The group declined to identify the firms that were attacked.

Banks, brokers, insurers and other firms have ramped up spending on cybersecurity for at least four years as services move online and attacks escalate. Cyber spending jumped 15% last year, which equates to almost $1 billion for each of the largest U.S. banks. Most financial firms expect cyber spending to rise further this year, according to a Deloitte survey published in November.

The targeted firms all received some form of payment demand to avoid the attacks. Some missed the ransom emails, only to find them in junk-mail folders after being alerted by FS-ISAC. Though the notes were sometimes signed by known North Korean or Russian groups, the perpetrators havent been identified.

No member firm of the information-sharing network paid a ransom, according to Teresa Walsh, head of intelligence at FS-ISAC. Many saw the deadline given by the perpetrator pass without incident, while a few experienced heavy attacks. The worst damage, other than NZX, was a few minutes of down time for those firms, she said.

Photograph: The New Zealand Stock Exchange building, operated by NZX Ltd., center, stands in Wellington, New Zealand, in this photo on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. Photo credit: Birgit Krippner/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

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En espanol | The travel industry  not to mention travelers  are eager for a return to normal so people can once again fly, cruise and road-trip like they did before the pandemic. Now that the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is underway, many are hoping it will be the key to helping us get moving again. Experts offer some answers to the big questions on the vaccines likely effect on travel, as well as what wont change, at least for many months (hint: the need for mask-wearing and other precautions).



Will you need proof of COVID-19 vaccination to fly?

Possibly. Airlines are eager for travelers to be able to avoid quarantine at their destination and for the elimination of blanket travel bans between countries (which will, consequently, help spur air travels recovery). Now airlines are also beginning to test digital health passports that could reliably prove someones negative test results and eventually their vaccination status.

They are also able to offer users updated lists of health requirements and alerts for destinations around the world.

The International Air Transport Association is developing a health app, the IATA Travel Pass, that will allow travelers to store verified test or vaccination results on their mobile devices. Its being tested by more than a dozen international airlines, including Australias Qantas and Air New Zealand.

CLEAR, the private prescreening program that allows its members to speed through security checkpoints, is collaborating with the creators of a similar app, CommonPass, developed by the nonprofit Commons Project and the World Economic Forum that is establishing a registry of trusted health care providers and a standard format for reporting results. Passengers will be able to take a COVID-19 test at home, send their test to a lab and have their results uploaded to the CommonPass app. A QR code certifying that theyre clear for entry will be scanned upon their arrival. Eventually, it can and presumably will be used to upload vaccination status, serving as a kind of immunity passport.

Qantas, as well as other airlines, including Virgin Atlantic and United, are testing CommonPass as well.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said in November that the airline may make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for all passengers flying to or from Australia (where long-haul flights are expected to resume in October).

COVID-19 vaccination may not be required to board domestic flights, however; Deltas CEO, Ed Bastian, told the Today show that may be something exclusive to international travel, whether the airlines do it or international authorities do it. Even COVID-19 testing requirements, Bastian said in January, would be burdensome for domestic travel. Alaska Airlines has said it has no plans to require vaccinations and believes that things like universal mask-wearing and planes highly efficient HEPA filters are sufficient infection-prevention measures.

But the airline (along with American Airlines and a few others) has just begun using a mobile app called VeriFLY, that works like a health passport, allowing international visitors to verify that theyve tested negative for COVID-19  now required of all international airline passengers entering the U.S.

One of many questions remaining about these apps: how they might be integrated with traditional paper passports.

Might some countries require COVID-19 vaccination for entry?

Probably, at least as a way for visitors to avoid restrictions such as quarantine. Several African countries already require vaccinations for yellow fever, for instance, so theres precedent, says Jan L. Jones, a professor of hospitality and tourism at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. So I do think that some places will require it, specifically. And if they dont require it, theyre going to require things like quarantine.

Gavin Delany, founder and CEO of the online trip-planning service Travelstride, agrees, noting that it could be extremely confusing for travelers to suss out different requirements, as some countries are likely to have tiers of entry rules and vaccination [rules] based on traveler age, perceived risk at the origin country and political element.

There have been baby steps taken along this path, however. In January, Iceland became one of the first countries to provide vaccine certificates to its citizens to help them avoid certain border restrictions. It will also recognize the vaccine passports from other countries, allowing visitors to skip COVID-19 testing or quarantine rules if they show proof of full COVID-19 inoculation. Sweden and Denmark are also working on similar vaccine passports.
Three suspected robbers attacked a filling station at Ashongman Monday dawn and allegedly killed a private security man on duty.



The suspected robbers locked up two female attendants in one of the offices at the Ashongman Pure Water GOIL Filling Station after stealing an amount of GH2,006.



Briefing



Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Accra Regional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mrs Effia Tenge, said the police received information about the robbery attack around 3 a.m. yesterday.



The police proceeded to the scene and rescued the two attendants who were locked up in one of the offices at the station.



A private security man, who has been identified only as Efo, and believed to be in his mid-forties, was found dead in a mini bus at the filling station.



The police found multiple cuts on his body.



What happened



Mrs Tenge said the two female attendants told the police that around 2:30 a.m. three young men, who were speaking pidgin English with a foreign accent, broke into their office and robbed them of the previous day's sales.



The suspects, who were armed with a gun, an iron bar and a knife, attempted breaking a safe in the office but were not successful.



The Accra Regional Police PRO said the attendants claimed that the suspects locked them up and in addition to the money they took, they also made away with their phones and a laptop.



Scene secured



The body of the deceased was conveyed to the Police Hospital morgue, following which the police secured the scene to prevent tampering, contamination and destruction of potential evidence.



As of the time of filing this report, the local police were waiting for a team from the Crime Scene Management Unit at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to assist with investigations.









Source: Graphic.com.gh









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Black History Month: 8 historically significant African American churches

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Throughout the centuries of African American history, the Christian faith has been a central component of the culture and heritage of blacks in the United States.

In times when African Americans were barred from voting or holding public office, churches served as the area of community influence and impact over the culture at large.

Here are eight congregations, established at different times, places, and belonging to different denominations that hold great historical significance for a host of reasons, including influence over the broader culture, ties to prominent people, or tragic events.

They include the main pulpit of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the first official black congregation in New York, and the home church of the first African American president of the United States.
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EMILY ST. LAWRENCE, Chariho girls lacrosse, senior: St. Lawrence tied a school record for goals in a game with nine in a win over Smithfield. St. Lawrence scored 17 goals for the week and has 32 for the season.

CARLY CONSTANTINE, Stonington softball, sophomore: Constantine singled home Shea OConnor with the winning run to hand Waterford, the states No. 2 ranked team at the time, its first loss of the season. For the week, Constantine was 5 for 15.

GREG GORMAN, Westerly baseball, junior: Gorman, a junior, hit a massive home run in a win against Barrington. The homer went over the fence in center field and landed in a nearby road. Gorman was 3 for 3 with four RBIs in the game. He is hitting .571 with 10 RBIs for the season.

BRADIN ANDERSON, Wheeler baseball, freshman: Anderson, a freshman, pitched a complete-game shutout to beat Grasso Tech. Anderson struck out three to earn the first win of his varsity career.

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Drishyam 2 is all set to release on February 19, 2021 on Amazon Prime Video. The massive announcement was recently (February 6) made during the trailer launch of the film. Though the trailer was initially planned to be released on February 8, the unfortunate leak left the makers with no other option than to unveil it minutes later.

Helmed by Jeethu Joseph, Drishyam revolves around Georgekutty, who hatches several plots to protect his family from the law and police, after his elder daughter commits a grave crime to defend herself. Actor Mohanlal plays the role of Georgekutty, a protective father and a school dropout who manages to find loopholes inspired by films, to save his family from the grasp of the law. Drishyam 2 follows up on the story.

FilmiBeat was a part of Mohanlal's exclusive interaction with the media, wherein the actor opened up about playing the role of Georgekutty, shooting post-COVID-19 lockdown, his favourite version of Drishyam and much more. Excerpts.

Georgekutty Is A Mystery!

When asked about revisiting Georgekutty and meeting the Drishyam team after 7 years, Mohanlal said, "For me, Georgekutty is a mystery. Still, I don't know what is his character, his emotions and his strength. Nobody knows about it. I was very confused to portray Georgekutty because you cannot show his emotions to the people so he was suppressing all his emotions and projecting some other kind of emotions outside. If you watch the whole film you can see Georgekutty is in a different trance. Portraying Georgekutty was not a challenge, but to script Drishyam 2 was very difficult and Jeethu has succeeded in that."

"To see Rani (Meena) and my children after 7 years, their problems and no body knows about that because people especially the audience do not know about Georgekutty's life. So something again is coming to Georgekutty's house and we do not know how he is going to handle it. So Georgekutty for me is a mystery," he added.

Mohanlal's Favourite Version Of Drishyam

Revealing that he has seen and loved all the versions of Drishyam, the actor said, "I have seen Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. All these movies are good because the storyline is so strong. So hopefully we will watch Drishyam 2 in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and in Chinese also."

Similarity Between Mohanlal And Georgekutty

Talking about the similarity between Mohanlal and Georgekutty from Drishyam, the actor said, "I know about Mohanlal at least a little, but I do not know about Georgekutty. He is a mystery. His behavioural pattern, his character, his way of dealing things and family bonding. It's a mystery for me. Drishyam 2 is also a mystery for me. If you watch the film you can see Georgekutty is within so many things. You will have to watch Drishyam 2 at least 2-3 times, only then you will understand it."

Going Back To The Sets Of Drishyam 2 Post COVID-19 lockdown

Sharing his experience of getting back to sets after almost 6 months due to the COVID-19 lockdown, Mohanlal said, "I didn't find any difficulty because for the last 43 years I am acting and it is Drishyam, so I know about the story, the script and colleague. It is like coming back to my family after 6 months."

Fear And Georgekutty Equals Drishyam 2?

Calling fear a major element of both Drishyam and Drishyam 2, Mohanlal went on to say, "Fear is the reason for so many things. You cannot distribute the fear to everyone. Georgekutty also has fears. He is just cooling down the family tension and is ready to fight to protect his family in a safe and sound manner. There is fear and that's why Drishyam 2 happened and people want to know what is going to happen? What is the fear? And who is the villain? So you will have to watch the film to get all these answers."

On a related note, the supporting cast of Drishyam 2 includes Meena, Esther Anil, Ansiba, Asha Sharath, Kalabhavan Shajon, Siddique and Roshan Basheer among others. The film will begin where the first part ended and is expected to answer all the unanswered questions in Drishyam, that left the audience in awe.

Also Read: Drishyam 2 Trailer Release: Mohanlal-Jeethu Joseph's Film Gets A Release Date!

Also Read: Drishyam 2 Trailer Release: Mohanlal As Georgekutty To Arrive On February 8!
The new year has passed by like always, but with fewer people celebrating on the street.some people did rejoice outside though, we dared not. After all, life matters. We have to stay at home and have some fun with ourselves. Then a question just popped out of my mind: Now that Biden has sworn in as the President, how will he deal with the Chinese fugitive Miles Kwok(aka Guo Wengui who was active in supporting Trump during the presidential election)? Are there any bystanders like me who are curious about this?

Miles Kwok has done quite a lot of ridiculous things since he fled to the United States to run away from China's arrest. Especially after his entanglement with Bannon, a variety of tricks emerged one after another, such as GTV, Gnews, "Take Down the CCP", "Whistleblower Movement" and "New Federal State of China". For Kwok, it seems that his day is in vain without stirring up any news.

I can't figure out why Bannon was willing to work with Miles Kwok.Bannon was a successful financier who once worked for Goldman Sachs,an adviser to Trump for election and a former senior official of the Trump administration. More importantly, he was a thorough nationalist who never concealed himself a white supremacist or a far-rightist. However, Kwok was a dishonest and unscrupulous liar, a profit-oriented businessman who failed, a fugitive wanted by Interpol, a yellow race in the eyes of white people, and a minorityin America. Generally speaking, Kwok should be the object of Bannon's disdain and vomiting. But they seem to be good "faithful allies". How can Bannon think so highly of Kwok?

Definitely,the answer lies in the fact that they found the common interest and reached a tacit agreement for mutual benefit. Kwok, who regards Bannon as a supporter of his stay in the United States, is quite loyal to Bannon. There is no doubt about that, while considering Bannon, atypical proud red neck, became a "faithful pal" with Chinese, I have every reason to question the sincerity of their friendship. In the final analysis, Bannon is more likely to treat Miles Kwok as a pawn for his overall anti-China and anti-Communism attempt.

So in recent years, as long as you turn on your mobile phone, computer, or log on Twitter and Facebook, there will always be several tweets related to Kwok and Bannon. In luxury villas and yachts, wearing a suit and leather shoes, facing the camera with fine red wine and champagne, they talked about the so-called "inside scoop" and "black curtain" of China and the Communist Party of China. Nevertheless, time revealed their untruthfulness and tricks at last.

However, Kwok and Bannon are still addicted to their "Whistleblower Movement". In 2020, a new member, Rudy Giuliani, President Trump's lawyer, joined them, and the year 2020 happened to be the year of the presidential election, so it became more heated and noisy. How can we say that? Bannon and Giuliani are both Trump's senior "faithful fans", and it is undoubtedly an outstanding achievement to offer advice for the boss's election campaign and help him get re-elected. Therefore, they would unquestionably seize this opportunity.

Given western people's inflexible way of thinking, we can guess that Kwok, who is smart, flexible and skilled, finally proposed the idea of "whistleblowing to help win the re-election". Before that, the "Whistleblower Movement" had been adhering to the route of "Whistleblowing China and overturning the Communist Party", then it suddenly switched to the new model of "overturning America, overturning the Democratic Party and overturning Biden".

The tactic is assured already, Kwok and Bannon were familiar with the following action of "whistleblowing". After all, they have been skilled in making fake disclosure since their alliance. In late September, Lude, a core member of Kwok and Bannon's "Whistleblower Movement" team and a celebrity Internet blogger, released the news that there were three hard disks containing astonishing scandals about Biden's son, Hunter Biden. It included evidence of Hunter's secret trade deals in China and Ukraine, as well as the videos of Hunter's drug abuse and sexual abuse, which attracted the attention of many voters. On the eve of the election, Kwok and Bannon published several sexual videos and photos of Hunt through GTV. They also said that Biden and his son shared huge funds from China with Obama to prevent him from speaking about the militarizing in the South China Sea. Then, some medias follow-up reports triggered a new wave of uproar among voters, which indisputably brought great harm to Biden's election.

Nowadays, it is quite well-known that Kwok and Bannon jointly interfered the US presidential election by fabricating fake news to help Trump's re-election. John Pan, a core member of their "Whistleblower Movement" team, has even publicly defected, exposing to the media that Kwok and Bannon's spreading fake information about Biden and his son was actually an attempt to influence the presidential election.

From Biden's point of view, without Kwok and Bannon's interference or destruction on the eve of the election, his vote rate might have a more significant advantage over Trump's, and might avoid the deadlock which made the 80-year-old man worried about the election situation every day for a long time. If you were Biden, what would you do to Kwok and Bannon after assuming the office?

As to Miles Kwok, he has lost his game in gambling on Trump's re-election to consolidate his living space in the United States, and his wishful thinking utterly vanquished. He would have to face Biden's revenge after he became President. We believe that Biden and his advisers have figured out 100 ways to deal with him. Will he throw Kwok into the US prison through FBI investigation or send him as a gift back to China for trial, or send him back to China to continue jail service after being jailed for some time in the United States?


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A single mother appealing the decision of a High Court judge allowing medics to stop providing life-support treatment to her brain-damaged daughter has asked judges to approve a home-care trial.

Doctors treating five-year-old Pippa Knight told the Family Division of the High Court in London that life-support treatment should end for the child, who is in a vegetative state after Flu A left her brain damaged.

Mr Justice Poole last month ruled that medics at the Evelina Children's Hospital could stop providing the treatment - prompting Pippa's devastated mother Paula Parfitt to mount an appeal against the decision.

Ms Parfitt, 41, wants her life support to continue so the five-year-old can take advantage of future advances in medical science.

She is now asking three justices at the Court of Appeal to overturn the High Court decision and approve a home-care trial.

Paula Parfitt is appealing a High Court decision which allowed doctors at Evelina Children's Hospital in London to stop life-support treatment for her daughter Pippa Knight

Pippa was born in April 2015 and initially developed normally, but in December 2016 she became unwell and began to suffer seizures.

Doctors diagnosed acute necrotising encephalopathy, a rare disease characterised by brain damage.

Lady Justice King, Lord Justice Baker and Lady Justice Elisabeth Laing began overseeing a virtual hearing at the Court of Appeal today.

A barrister leading Ms Parfitt's legal team said independent experts based at other children's hospitals thought a home-care trial was in Pippa's best interests.

Vikram Sachdeva QC said other hospitals might have agreed to a home-care trial. He also told appeal judges that though Pippa had no awareness, the benefit to her of being at home and cared for by family 'is a benefit' which 'certainly cannot be excluded'.

'This case involves deciding whether Pippa, a five-year-old girl, should be permitted to undergo a trial of portable ventilation to see whether she is sufficiently stable to go home,' Mr Sachdeva told appeal judges, in a written case summary.

Pippa was born in April 2015 and initially developed normally, but in December 2016 she became unwell and began to suffer seizures. Doctors diagnosed acute necrotising encephalopathy, a rare disease characterised by brain damage

Ms Parfitt, 41, wants her life support to continue so the five-year-old can take advantage of future advances in medical science. She is now asking three justices at the Court of Appeal to overturn the High Court decision and approve a home-care trial

'Pippa's mother, supported by independent expert clinicians from Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, considers that it is in Pippa's best interests to undergo a trial of portable ventilation with a view to her returning home if successful.'

He added: 'If she had been treated at Great Ormond Street or Manchester Children's Hospital a trial may well have been performed without coming to court.'

Mr Sachdeva said Pippa was not suffering pain and there was 'genuine scope for debate' about what was in her best interests.

He said Pippa would not live for a long time, possibly months, and Ms Parfitt wanted her to die at home.

Campaign group the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children is paying for lawyers to represent Ms Parfitt.

'I don't understand why the hospital and the court wouldn't let me find out whether Pippa could come home to be cared for with all her family around her,' Ms Parfitt had said before the hearing.

'Two independent doctors from reputable hospitals in England both said that they thought this was worth trying.'

Mr Justice Poole heard evidence at a trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London in December, and delivered his ruling in January.

Tens of thousands nurses have yet to receive a Covid jab, despite the Government aiming to have vaccinated all frontline health staff by next week.

Some 15 per cent of nurses across the country have yet to be given a single dose of the coronavirus vaccine, a poll by the Royal College of Nurses found.

And the number of nurses working in care homes and in the community without the vaccine is greater still, with 44 per cent of agency staff and 27 per cent of temporary staff yet to receive a jab.

The survey of 24,370 nurses comes days before the Governments February 15 target for vaccinating 15million Britons in the first four priority groups, which includes all health and social care staff and over-70s.

Tens of thousand of nurses have yet to be given the Covid-19 jab, a survey by the Royal College of Nurses has revealed. Pictured: Maureen Mitson, 72, receives an injection of the the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine from NHS nurse Maha Mutardi at the Elland Road vaccination centre in Leeds on Monday

Frontline health workers are among the top four priority groups which make up 15million set to be vaccinated by February 15

RCN chief executive Dame Donna Kinnair told The Guardian that the findings were 'extremely worrying'.

She said: 'Our survey suggests many thousands of nursing staff have yet to be given their Covid vaccine less than a week before the governments deadline.

'With only days to go, every effort must be made to reach all nursing staff to ensure their protection and that of the patients and vulnerable people they care for.'

Who are the top four priority groups the Government is aiming to vaccinate before February 15? Almost 12.5million people have received their first dose of the Covid vaccine and the health service is administering 450,000 on average every day, according to the latest Government statistics. The Department for Health and Social Care is aiming to vaccinate the top four priority groups by next Monday, February 15. The groups are: Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers All those 75 years of age and over All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals (not including pregnant women and those under 16 years of age) Advertisement

The survey found just seven per sent of all nurses have received two doses of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.

Scaling the 15 per cent of nurses who have yet to have their first dose to the RCN's 450,000-strong membership would suggest around 75,000 nurses have yet to be vaccinated.

Of that 15 per cent, just under half (45 per cent) of staff had been offered a vaccine but were either waiting for an appointment or had chosen not to take one.

In total, three per cent of all nurses surveyed were hesitant to accept the vaccine  which would account for some 13,500 staff if scaled up to the RCN's membership.

Dame Donna said: 'Temporary and agency staff work in our communities and hospitals, with patients and the public  and they face the same level of risk as their NHS colleagues.

'Every effort must be made to reach all nursing staff to ensure the protection of patients and vulnerable people.

'The JCVI guidance is clear that the Covid-19 vaccine should be available to all health and social care staff.

'This is irrespective of where they are employed, including agency staff and those employed in the independent sectors.

'Employers are ultimately responsible for ensuring all their staff are able to access the vaccine.

'But the Government must intervene now, as our members have proven this is clearly not the case.'

Of the 1,624 nurses who had been offered a jab, 33 per cent claimed they had an appointment booked and planned to attend.

Some 12 per cent were unable to attend an appointment and four per cent said there were not enough vaccines available when they turned up for a jab.

However, 38 per cent said they did not want to take the jab at the moment or were undecided, while 12 per cent said they did not want to take it at all.

NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson said: 'It is really important that as many staff as possible take the opportunity to get vaccinated to help protect colleagues and patients.'

Almost 12.5million people have received their first dose of vaccine and the health service is administering 450,000 on average every day

The Department for Health and Social Care said that employers are responsible for ensuring all their staff are able to access the vaccine.

The DHSC said: 'We are following advice from the independent JCVI to first vaccinate people deemed most at risk of coronavirus, along with our heroic health and social care staff on the frontline.

'This includes temporary, agency and voluntary workers who are at an increased risk of contracting or transmitting the virus to other people particularly vulnerable to Covid-19, as well as to other staff in a healthcare environment.

'The NHS is working at pace to vaccinate these groups and we are on track to offer a vaccination to everyone in these first four priority groups by mid-February.'

For months, China resisted allowing World Health Organization experts into the country to trace the origins of the global pandemic, concerned that such an inquiry could draw attention to the governments early missteps in handling the outbreak.

After a global uproar, the Chinese government finally relented, allowing a team of 14 scientists to visit laboratories, disease-control centers and live-animal markets over the past 12 days in the city of Wuhan.

But instead of scorn, the W.H.O. experts on Tuesday delivered praise for Chinese officials and endorsed critical parts of their narrative, including some that have been contentious.

The W.H.O. team opened the door to a theory embraced by Chinese officials, saying it was possible the virus might have spread to humans through shipments of frozen food, an idea that has gained little traction with scientists outside China. And the experts pledged to investigate reports that the virus might have been present outside China months before the outbreak in Wuhan in late 2019, a longstanding demand of Chinese officials.

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The niece of a retired school governor who was murdered by her funeral director husband has recalled the moment he 'smirked and winked' at her while standing trial.

On 18 January 2012, Alethea Taylor, 63, from Orleton in Herefordshire, was murdered by her husband of 16 years John, then 61 - six months after he started an affair with widow Alison Dearden, then 53, who he had fallen in love with after organising her husbands funeral.

New crime documentary Countdown to Murder, which airs on 5star today, recounts how John, who killed Alethea and hid her body at home so he could be with Alison, spun a web of callous lies and tried to convinced their community that his wife had developed dementia and vanished without warning.

Speaking in the documentary, Lorraine, Aleathea's niece, tells how John 'smirked and winked' at her during his trial for Alethea's murder, where he was found guilty, given a life sentence and told he must serve a minimum of 17 years.

Lorraine also expresses that she can't move on from her aunt's death because John has always refused to reveal the location of her body.

Alethea Taylor, 63, pictured, was killed by her husband of 16-years John Taylor in their Orleton Village home in Herefordshire on January 18 2012. John wanted to start a new life with his mistress and was found guilty of killing Alethea, a retired school governor, based on evidence

John Taylor, pictured, is currently serving a life sentenced for the murder of his wife after he spun a web of cunning lies and claimed she had developed dementia and vanished without warning

Alethea's niece can be seen shaking her head and biting her lip as she recalls how John behaved during his trial.

'On leaving, I had to walk past John who was sitting looking directly had me,' she explains.

'I didn't want to look at him but I had to, just to see, and he smirked, and winked at me on the way out. I'll never have closure because I don't know where she is.'

'For me to think he'll be out, walking about, living his life, doing whatever he wants to do but she won't...He's got to let us know where she's at.'

In 2019, Helen's Law made it impossible for murderers who refuse to reveal the location of their victims' bodies to be granted parole.

It was implemented following a campaign by Marie MacCourt, the mother of 22-year-old Helen McCourt, who was killed by pub landlord Ian Simms, who has always claimed his innocence and refused to comment on the location of Helen's body.

Lorraine (pictured), Alethea's niece, said she can't get closure over her aunt's death because her body had never been found

Like Simms, John Taylor has never admitted to killing his wife, nor has he ever revealed where her body is.

In the documentary, it's explained that John was convicted solely on evidence found around his own testimonies and those of witnesses - including his mistress, Alison.

John, who was an active member of the church, had a good reputation among the village, where he worked as an undertaker and was the caretaker for the town hall.

He and Alethea were believed to be a happy, doting couple who shared similar interests and were hardly seen without one another.

However, everything changed when John started an affair with Alison and began counting down the days until he could leave Alethea to be with his new girlfriend.

John's relationship with Alison was seen as the main motive for him to murder Alethea in January 2012, six months after the affair had started.

The house where it is believed John killed Alethea before disposing of her body in an unknown location

Alethea's blood was found in the couple's home in Orleton, Herefordshire

John and Alethea had started having an increasing number of rows, which often resulted in Alethea storming off.

She suspected John was having an affair, and was secretly keeping a diary where she referred to him as 'Mr Nasty' and spoke about him cheating on her with a 'little widow'.

However, neighbours and friends explain in the documentary that months before the night Alethea disappeared, John had started to spread rumours about his wife.

He began pretending that she was starting to develop a form of dementia in order to discredit her in the eyes of the community.

Friend of the family Brian recounts how John once knocked on his door three weeks before the murder claiming Alethea had left and 'lost the plot.'

Brian says he and his wife Tina were skeptical of John's claims because they had always considered Alethea to be an articulate lady who was 'on board with things.'

He recounts how that night, he and Tina found Alethea 'sobbing on a bench by the road' - adding that she refused to get in the car with her husband, and when she eventually did, wouldn't sit in the front seat.

Brian, who says he regrets the day he ever became friends with John, goes on to explain that that was the first time he had seen Alethea show any sort of fear towards her husband.

Friend of the family Brian said the murder destroyed the village's faith 'in human nature' and that he regretted ever becoming friends with John

Consultant forensic psychologist Dr Vicky Thakordas-Desai says that Alethea may never have expressed her concerns about John's affair to anyone because she didn't want to come to reality with the truth.

'John was telling others within the community that she was suffering from dementia, gas-lighting her to make her believe that she was losing her mind, that she was losing touch with reality,' she explains. 'Alethea would have found it quite difficult to express to anyone her concerns and her instincts towards John.'

'She was keeping this in because she didn't want to come to reality on where her relationship with John was headed.'

Diary: Mrs Taylor wrote in this document of her suspicions that her husband was having an affair

Eight years on, the impact of Alethea's murder can still be felt on the community of Orleton Village.

'It's almost destroyed our faith in human nature because we'd never had anything quite like this in our lives before,' Brian says.

Former Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll adds: 'The first thing that hits you is that it's a quiet little village, that we'd all love to aspire to live in. And I'm quite sure that they found this terribly traumatic.'

Luke, a friend of the family, continues: 'It sends a shiver down my spine that someone would be so close to us and yet so horrible.'

After a month-long trial at Worcester Crown Court, a jury saw through John's blatant lies and convicted him of her murder.

Michael Burrows, prosecuting, said John Taylor had used the couple's joint bank account to buy a 'love nest', which he was renovating so he could eventually move in with his mistress.

Alethea Taylor helped solve her own murder from beyond the grave - by writing diaries where she branded her evil husband 'Mr Nasty'

Jailing him, Justice Julian Flaux told him: 'Since her body has never been found, only you know what became of her.

'The jury has rejected your defence that you were not responsible.

'You clearly perceived her as an obstacle to happiness with Alison. She had discovered the affair and as her notebooks bear out you were scared she might reveal it.

'There is a dark and violent side to your personality, which perhaps only Alethea knew. Your anger and frustration boiled over.

'You attacked her either in the bedroom where her blood was found or elsewhere and put her, bleeding, on the bed then smothered her with a pillow. You then drove her body away in your car.

The funeral director claimed the blood was from a nose bleed, but a forensic scientist said it had not dripped and probably resulted from direct contact with the sheets.

John was also seen vacuuming the boot of his vehicle outside his home - despite telling police he was somewhere else at the time.

Mr Taylor claimed his wife was still alive when he left their home in Orleton, Herefordshire, on the morning of January 19, but that she then disappeared.

He claimed to have tried to contact his wife by telephone several times after she went missing but cell site analysis showed that he had only called her once and hung up after eight seconds.

John maintained that if his wife was dead, he was not responsible.

Evidence: Specimens of Alethea's blood were also found in the BMW owned by her husband

Search: Despite a major police operation, Alethea's body has still never been found

Alethea's nightdress was missing from the house but her glasses, passport, bank cards and a bracelet were all left behind.

John was 'keen to spread around' the idea she was 'in some way losing her mind' to cover up for her disappearance, the court heard.

David Elliott, Sector Crown Prosecutor from West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service, said he had spun a web of lies in order to avoid justice.

A jury has seen through his deceit, he added. Taylor was unhappy in his marriage and he was having an affair. His wife found out and in a diary which was recovered from the house, Mrs Taylor highlighted her concerns at her husbands infidelity and the future of their marriage.

We will never know how Mrs Taylor was killed or where her body has been concealed. Only the defendant has the knowledge and answers to these questions.

We would encourage him to inform the authorities of where he has hidden the body so that Mrs Taylor can be finally laid to rest and her family and friends can get some form of closure in this tragic case.

Countdown to Murder airs at 9pm on 5Star on Tuesday.
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 2021 / FALCON GOLD CORP. (TSXV:FG)(GR:3FA)(OTC PINK:FGLDF); ("Falcon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has signed a renegotiated agreement for the right to acquire up to a 100% interest in the ERSA mineral concessions located in La Rioja Province, Argentina. The concessions are held by Esperanza Resources S.A. and Mr. Rojnica Ivo (the "Vendors"). The Agreement is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.

The Property

The ERSA Property comprises seven (7) mineral concessions covering an aggregate area of 11,072 hectares ("ha"). The concessions are road accessible, located about 20 kilometres ("km") south-southeast of the town of Chepes within the renowned Sierra de Las Minas District of southern La Rioja province. The District is reported to host several past producing gold and silver mines. The city of San Juan is about 250 km by paved highway to the west-southwest.

High-grade gold mineralization was reportedly first discovered within the District around 1865 at the Callanas occurrences followed by limited mining conducted on a gold, silver and copper zone. Other sites of historical small scale mining within the ERSA concessions include the El Espinillo, Callanas East and West, El Abrita, Cerro Alto, Las Lajas and San Isidro gold mineralized zones.

The Japanese agency, JICA completed 900 metres ("m") of diamond drilling in the Callanas area during the 1990's. Two of the holes returned encouraging intercepts assaying 1m at 9.11 grams per tonne gold ("g/t Au"), 28.59 grams per tonne silver ("g/t Ag") and 0.42m @ 24.3 g/t Au, 61.10 g/t Ag. More recently, Esperanza Resources has reported that the Callanas West zone has been mapped along a northwest-southeast strike for approximately 4,000 m.

In 2018 the Company completed a limited sampling program as part of its initial due diligence. From the Callanas East trenches results included a 1m sample that returned 5,619 ppb gold. A 2.5m continuous chip sample from the north end of the Callanas West exposure showed 5,905 ppb Au, 20.6 ppm Ag and 0.29% Cu. Later in 2018, Falcon completed its first exploration work on the ERSA Property and on January 7, 2019 reported on its findings. Table 1 summarizes some of the surface sampling results including:

from Callana III vein of 27.03 g/t Au across 50 cm; and

from the Callana IV vein across a 50 cm width where visible gold was identified, that assayed 45.71 g/t Au with Ag content greater than 100 ppm and Cu analyses of 7,869.60 ppm

Mr. Karim Rayani Chief Executive Officer commented, "We are thrilled to be able to return to Argentina and work with the professionals at Esperanza Resources. The Company's team in Argentina is headed by Mr. Juan Carlos Navas, a long-time associate and seasoned mining executive. Our previous work on the ERSA concessions has given Falcon the ability to jump into its exploration and development work with its advanced knowledge of the locations and structural controls on significant gold, silver and copper zones."

Table 1: Summary of the sampling and analyses results for the 2018 exploration program on concessions, ERSA VIII, IX & X. Note the high-grade gold beyond the analytical detection limit of 10,000 ppb Au were assayed for better upper grade results.

The New Option Agreement

Under the renegotiated Agreement to earn its initial 80% interest, the Company has agreed to make payments to the Vendors over a four-year option period totalling 500,000 Falcon common shares and 500,000 share purchase warrants. Each Warrant will entitle the Vendor to purchase one Falcon common share for a period of 12 months for a purchase price set on each date of issue at 125% of the closing price for Falcon shares traded on the Toronto Venture Exchange. During the four-year option period, Falcon is to make minimum expenditures on the Property amounting to US$350,000.

Upon completion of payments and expenditures, Falcon will own 80% and the Vendors will retain 20% ownership in the Property. Following which and for a period of 30 months, Falcon will have the right to purchase the Vendors' 20% interest (for Falcon's total ownership of 100% of the Property) for a further payment of 2 million Falcon shares and a US $1.5 payment which includes a 1 % NSR Buy Back with the vendors retaining 1%.

Table One: List of the ESRA mineral concessions in La Rioja province, Argentina

About Falcon Gold Corp., the Central Canada Gold Mine Project, and Jack Lake Trend

Falcon is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on generating, acquiring, and exploring opportunities in the Americas. Falcon's flagship project, the Central Canada Gold Mine, is approximately 20 km south east of Agnico Eagle's Hammond Reef Gold Deposit which has Measured & Indicated estimated resources of 208 million tonnes containing 4.5 million ounces of gold. The Hammond Reef gold property lies on the Hammond fault which is a splay off of the Quetico Fault Zone ("QFZ") and may be the control for the gold deposit. The Central Gold property lies on a similar major splay of the QFZ.

*History of Central Canada gold mine includes;

1901 to 1907 - Shaft constructed to a depth of 12m and 27 oz of gold from 18 tons using a stamp mill.

1930 to 1934 - Central Canada Mines Ltd. installed a 75 ton per day gold mill. Development work included 1,829 m of drilling and a vertical shaft to a depth of 45 m with about 42 m of crosscuts and drifts on the 100-foot level. In December, 1934 the mine had reportedly outlined approximately 230,000 ounces of gold with an average grade of 9.9 g/t Au.

1935 - With the on-going financial crisis of the Great Depression, the Central Canada Mines was unable to fund operations and the mine ceased operations.

1965 - Anjamin Mines completed diamond drilling and in hole S2 returned a 2 ft section of 37.0 g/t Au and hole S3 assayed 44.0 g/t Au across 7 ft.

1985 - Interquest Resources Corp. drilled 13 diamond holes totaling 1,840m in which a 3.8 ft intersection showed 30.0 g/t Au.

2010 to 2012 - TerraX Minerals Inc. conducted programs that included line cutting, geological surveys and 363 m of drilling.

*Historical results reported for the Central Canada Gold Mine project for the period from 1901 to 2012 are recognized as historical in nature only. Previously reported results are considered encouraging and demonstrate the need for additional follow-up gold exploration programs on the property.

July 2020 to December 2020- Falcon Gold Corp. completed its inaugural 17-hole program totaling 2,942.5m of core. In addition, the Company acquired by staking an additional 7,477 ha of mineral claims consisting of 369 units immediately south and northwest of Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.'s Hammond Reef property.

The Company also holds 4 additional projects. The Camping Lake Gold property in the world-renowned Red Lake mining camp; a 49% interest in the Burton Gold property with Iamgold near Sudbury Ontario; the Spitfire-Sunny Boy Gold Claims near Merritt, B.C.; and most recently, the Springpole West Property near Red Lake, Ontario.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Falcon Gold Corp.

"Karim Rayani"

Karim Rayani

Chief Executive Officer, Director

Telephone: (604) 716-0551

Email: info@falcongold.ca

Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, etc. Forward looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Falcon Gold Corp

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628609/Falcon-Renegotiates-its-Agreement-for-Esperanza-GoldSilverCopper-Project-in-La-Rioja-Argentina
CAIRO  The head of the Egyptian Suez Canal Authority (SCA), Osama Rabie, expressed Jan. 29 his countrys concern over the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline project between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel.

The project will allow Israel to transport Emirati oil to its Ashkelon port and from there to European markets.

In statements to the Egyptian TV channel Sada al-Balad, Rabie said that Egypt is closely following up on the project, given its direct impact on ships passing through the Suez Canal.

He noted that any maritime transport project in parallel to the Suez Canal will have a significant impact on maritime traffic passing through the canal. The SCA is currently conducting studies to discuss ways to confront the Israeli-UAE project, which could decrease traffic through the Suez Canal by up to 16%, he warned.

Rabie continued, Egypt has entered into a partnership with China in maritime transport on the Silk Road, which consists of three land, air and sea lines. The ships passing on the Silk Road will pass through the Suez Canal. This partnership, he argued, would curb the effect of the Ashkelon project or any alternative routes for the Suez Canal.

On Oct. 20, 2020, the Israeli state-owned Europe Asia Pipeline (EAPC) company and the UAE-based MED-RED Land Bridge signed a memorandum of understanding to use the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline connecting the Red Sea city of Eilat to Ashkelon in the Mediterranean for transporting Emirati oil to Europe.

The two companies are planning to use a land bridge to transport oil through the deal estimated at $700-$800 million, which would save time, fuel and costs versus crossing the Suez Canal, to transport oil back and forth between other countries, the EAPC stated.

The Israeli company said in a statement following the signing ceremony that the deal is likely to increase the transferred quantities by tens of millions of tons per year.

EAPC further said that the deal offers oil producers and refiners the shortest most efficient and cost-effective route to transport oil and oil products from the Arabian Gulf to the consumption centers in the West, and provides access for consumers in the Far East to oil produced in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions.

EAPC Chairman Erez Calfon described the agreement as historic and noted that this 254-kilometer (158-mile) line could nip off a large share of the oil shipments that now flow through the Suez Canal.

On Sept. 5, 2020, Foreign Policy magazine published a report, saying, The pipelines advantage over the Suez is the ability of the terminals in Ashkelon and Eilat to accommodate the giant supertankers that dominate oil shipping today, but are too big to fit through the canal.

Egypt highly depends on the Suez Canal income as one of the most important sources of foreign currency. In an attempt to calm the Egyptian public opinion following Rabies statements, the SCA issued a statement Feb. 2, saying that the analytical studies drafted by its economic unit found no actual impact from the operation of the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline on the navigation traffic passing through the canal.

On the same day, Rabie said in a telephone intervention on Sada al-Balad channel, I would like to tell those who say the [Suez] Canal will no longer beat the competition that there will be no competition, because there is no one but us.

Basant Fahmy, an economic expert and former member of the parliamentary Economic Affairs Committee, told Al-Monitor that any threat to the Suez Canal is extremely dangerous for Egyptians. The government relies on the Suez Canal as one of the main sources of foreign currency, followed by tourism [revenues] and remittances sent by Egyptian expatriates.

According to a statement by the SCA Jan. 3, the total revenue from the Suez Canal in 2020 amounted to $5.61 billion.

Fahmy said, Unfortunately, the government relies only on three sources to secure hard currency: the Suez Canal, remittances and tourism. After the coronavirus crisis and the subsequent return of a large number of Egyptians [who worked] abroad  not to mention the decline in tourism [revenues]  the Suez Canal has become almost the only source of foreign income. Thus, talk about any alternative way that may affect it will naturally spark fears and concerns [among Egyptians].

Last year, Cairo welcomed back thousands of Egyptian workers who were laid off from their jobs in several Gulf countries due to the economic repercussions of the coronavirus crisis.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, tourism revenues shrunk by more than 69% during 2020 reaching about $4 billion, compared to $13.03 billion in 2019.

Fahmy said that the continuity of the Suez Canal operation under these circumstances and in light of global competition will weaken its performance over time, reduce its revenues and affect Egypt's geostrategic position.

The Suez Canal plays a pivotal role in today's global container shipping. It contributes 24% to international containerization trade and 100% to Asian and Europe containerization trade.

On Dec. 21, 2020, the SCA announced a 48% discount on the transit fee of giant crude oil tankers with a tonnage of more than 250,000, in an attempt to increase the volume of ships passing through it.

Fahmy urged the government to accelerate the development of the Suez Canal axis, by turning it into a global industrial and logistical hub for supply, transport and trade. This would help attract investments in various sectors, rather than standing idle and waiting for the disaster to happen.

He added, We have ports and industrial zones in the Suez Canal area and the [president] is seeking to exploit them. If the government succeeds in exploiting these capabilities, the Suez Canal will have no competitor.

The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) extends over an area of 460 square kilometers (178 square miles) and consists of six ports and four industrial zones in Ain Sokhna, Port Said, Ismailia and West Qantara.

Maj. Gen. Hatem Bashat, a military expert and former member of parliament, told Al-Monitor that the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline project was not a last-minute agreement, but the normalization agreement  signed at the White House on Sept. 15, 2020  between the UAE and Israel helped accelerate its launching.

On the impact of the pipeline on Egyptian-UAE relations, Bashat said that the Egyptian-Emirati relations are strategic and cannot be affected. It is only natural that each country seeks to benefit its own interests in a way that serves its people and strengthens its economy.

Bashat concluded that Egypt has an ambitious and clear strategic plan for development and progress through the Suez Canal, noting that competition is always healthy and natural.
DGAP Voting Rights Announcement: QIAGEN N.V.

QIAGEN N.V.: Release according to Article 40, Section 1 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] with the objective of Europe-wide distribution



09.02.2021 / 22:15

Dissemination of a Voting Rights Announcement transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The AFM (the Netherlands Authority For the Financial Markets) has informed us on February 06, 2021 that a notification related to our institution has been released by the AFM. The following notification has been disclosed in the relevant register on the AFM website: Date of transaction: 03 feb 2021

Person obliged to notify: BlackRock, Inc.

Issuing institution: Qiagen N.V.

Registration Chamber of Commerce: 12036979

Place of residence: VENLO Distribution in numbers Type of share Number of shares Number of voting rights Capital interest Voting rights Manner of disposal Settlement Ordinary share 30.534.930,00 32.819.458,00 Real Real Indirectly - BlackRock, Inc. Ordinary share 1.653.982,00 1.653.982,00 Potential Potential Indirectly - BlackRock, Inc. Physical Delivery Contract for difference 58.236,00 61.467,00 Potential Potential Indirectly - BlackRock, Inc. In Cash

Distribution in percentages Type Total holding Directly real Directly potential Indirectly real Indirectly potential Capital interest 13,97 % 0,00 % 0,00 % 13,23 % 0,74 % Voting rights 14,96 % 0,00 % 0,00 % 14,22 % 0,74 % QIAGEN N.V. is not responsible for the accuracy and correctness of the notification above. The content has been taken from the relevant register of the AFM:

https://www.afm.nl/nl-NL/Professionals/registers/meldingenregisters/substantiele-deelnemingen/Details?id=105807

09.02.2021 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.dgap.de




Jaunpur, Feb 9 : Six persons haven killed and 11 others injured in a road accident in Jaunpur district on Tuesday morning.

The accident took place on the Varanasi-Jaunpur border area and the injured have been rushed to a district hospital with the help of locals in the area.

The accident occurred when a vehicle collided with a truck while returning from Varanasi.

Further details are awaited.

UTICA, N.Y., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Job performance

Overall, Governor Andrew Cuomo's job performance remained solid, with 55% saying his job as governor was positive (excellent and good combined) and 45% saying it was negative (fair and poor combined). Less than a quarter of surveyed likely voters rated his job performance as "excellent" and a third said his job performance was "good."

Regionally, the numbers were slightly different. In Upstate New York, Cuomo's job performance was 46% positive and 54% negative. His numbers were much better in Downstate (55% positive and 45% negative) and NYC (65% positive and 34% negative). Governor Cuomo received some of his highest marks from large city voters (71% positive and 29% negative) and African Americans (70% positive and 29% negative).

Not surprisingly, among the New York politicians surveyed, Governor Cuomo had the best favorability rating (61% favorable/37% unfavorable).

2022 Gubernatorial Race

Nearly half (47%) of voters said it was time for someone new, compared to 41% who said Cuomo deserves re-election and 12% who were not sure.

A majority (51% re-elected/37% someone new) of large city voters thought Cuomo should be re-elected, while majorities of suburban (39% re-elected/51% someone new) and rural voters (26% re-elected/65% someone new) thought it was time for a new leader to step-up. Suburban women (39% re-elected/46% someone new) in particular were somewhat fed-up and wanted someone new.

When we matched Andrew Cuomo against current Attorney General and rising star, Letitia James, Cuomo easily won, 65% to 22%, while, 13% were not sure. His numbers were almost identical against Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY 14). in a hypothetical Democratic party showdown, Cuomo led the firebrand Millennial 67% to 24%, while 9% were not sure. While Ocasio-Cortez did not fair well against Cuomo, she did beat the three term governor among the youngest votersaged 18-29 (Cortez led 47% to 43%, 10% not sure) and aged 18-24 (Cortez led 53% to 43%, 4% not sure).

The hypothetical candidate who polled the best against Governor Cuomo was Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY 22). In a hypothetical match-up, Cuomo received 49% of the vote compared to 37% who supported Stefanik, while 14% were not sure.

While Cuomo is easily beating Stefanik, the three time governor did show areas of vulnerability. Stefanik performed the best with Upstate New York voters, where she beat Andrew Cuomo 46% to 43%. She also performed well with white voters (Cuomo led 45% to 42%), men (Cuomo led 47% to 42%) and voters that were married (Both tied at 44%).

Nursing Home Controversy

With the recent bombshell report released by the New York Attorney General's Office on the nursing home crisis during the pandemic, voters are now blaming Andrew Cuomo for the thousands of deaths that occurred in nursing homes because of decisions made by the Cuomo administration, especially the directive to have nursing homes re-admit sick patients who tested positive for Covid-19. When we asked voters if they thought Governor Cuomo was responsible for the thousands of deaths in nursing homes statewide, half said it was Cuomo's fault, and only a third did not agree; one fifth were not sure.

Among the demographics surveyed, voters in NYC (52% Cuomo/32% not Cuomo) were slightly more likely to blame Governor Andrew Cuomo than voters in Upstate (49% Cuomo/33% not Cuomo) and the suburbs (45% Cuomo/29% not Cuomo). Men (55% Cuomo/32% not Cuomo) blamed Cuomo much more than women (42% Cuomo/31% not Cuomo). While Democrats (39% Cuomo/38% not Cuomo) were split, Republicans (69% Cuomo/24% not Cuomo) and Independents (42% Cuomo/31% not Cuomo) both blamed Cuomo, albeit at different levels of intensity. African Americans (19% Cuomo/50% not Cuomo) were the least likely to blame Cuomo, but white voters felt the opposite and put the blame on Cuomo for thousands of deaths in nursing homes statewide.

SOURCE Zogby Analytics

Related Links

https://www.zogbyanalytics.com


Council Wants Action on College Enrollment Decline

By The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education is urging education leaders to take action to combat declining college enrollment in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.A statement from the council says the latest data shows undergraduate enrollment at four-year public universities declined 2.1% last fall.The Kentucky Community and Technical College System saw enrollment drop 10.5% last semester.The council passed a resolution last week noting the decline and citing fears that educational and economic opportunities in Kentucky could be harmed.It calls for council President Aaron Thompson to work with stakeholders to mitigate the declines.
Reading-based Dialog Semiconductor has agreed to sell itself for 4.3bn to Japan's Renesas Electronics

A chip maker that counts Apple among its customers has become the latest British firm to be targeted by a foreign suitor.

Reading-based Dialog Semiconductor has agreed to sell itself for 4.3billion to Japans Renesas Electronics. The deal is likely to add to fears that British firms whose share prices have been laid low by the pandemic are proving cheap targets for rivals abroad.

From the start of 2020 to mid-March, Frankfurt-listed Dialogs shares plunged by more than 50 per cent as the Covid-19 crisis sent stock markets into a tailspin.

By last month the shares had recovered their losses, and they had increased 25 per cent so far this year, off the back of strong sales of Apples new iPhone, before the Renesas Electronicss offer.

The deal is likely to prove controversial after the saga of British chip group Arm, first taken over by Japans Softbank, and now being bought by US rival Nvidia.

That takeover is being scrutinised by the Competition and Markets Authority amid fears it could result in less competition and higher prices in the global chip market.
Bill Maher calls Capitol riot a 'faith-based initiative,' QAnon a fundamentalist Christian movement Focus on the Family's Jim Daly decries emerging media definition of 'Christian nationalism'

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Well-known late-night comedian Bill Maher described the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol as a "faith-based initiative," using his closing monologue to make the case that the riot and the QAnon conspiracy theory are products of fundamentalist Christian delusion.

On Friday's edition of "Real Time," HBO host Bill Maher addressed the Capitol riot in his satirical segment "New Rules. He proclaimed that as long as we're going to go to the trouble of another impeachment trial, we might as well be honest about what it's really about."

The events of January 6 were a faith-based initiative and Trumpism is a Christian nationalist movement that believes (former President Donald) Trump was literally sent from Heaven to save them, said the 65-year-old Maher, an outspoken atheist who frequently criticizes organized religion.

"There's a lot of talk now in liberal quarters about how Republicans should tell their base who still believe the election was rigged that they need to grow up and move on and stop asking the rest of us to respect their mass delusion," the host continued.

The inconvenient truth here is that if you accord religious faith the kind of exalted respect we do here in America, you've already lost the argument that mass delusion is bad."

Maher equated the QAnon conspiracy theory, which has been criticized by notable conservative Christian leaders, with the Bible.

Have you ever read the book of Revelations?" Maher asked.

After mocking the final book of the New Testament, Maher proclaimed that "magical religious thinking is a virus and QAnon is just its current mutation."

"That's why megachurches play QAnon videos. It's the same basic plot: Q is a prophet, Trump is the Messiah, there's an apocalyptic event looming, the storm, there's a titanic struggle of good vs. evil," he said.

"We need to stop pretending there's no way we'll ever understand why the Trump mob believes in him. It's because they're religious," Maher continued. "They've already made space in their heads for sh** that doesn't make sense."

According toAP VoteCasts election polling conducted after the 2020 presidential election, voters who attend church once a week or more were more likely to vote for Trump, while those who say they attend church a few times a year or less were more likely to support Biden.

"When you're a QAnon fanatic, you're also a fundamentalist Christian. They just go together like macaroni and cheese," Maher added. "It's not a coincidence that every senator who objected to certifying the electoral vote in Arizona is an evangelical Christian."

Many conservative evangelicals have stepped forward to denounce the QAnon movement as a "political cult" and a "satanic movement."

Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, compared the QAnon conspiracy theory to Gnosticism, which he described as "the belief that only a few, an elite, a privileged few are able to see, have inside information."

Maher explained that Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, one of the senators who voted to object to the certification of Arizona's electoral votes, asserted that the idea that the 2020 presidential election was rigged was "reality for nearly half the country. He acknowledged that "you may not agree with that assessment."

The HBO host attempted to paraphrase Cruz's argument.

"In other words, we have no proof the election was stolen, and you may have verifiable evidence that it wasn't, but that doesn't matter. It only matters that we believe it, Maher said jokingly.

"And that's when you're at religion," Maher remarked as the crowd erupted into applause.

He expressed disgust that "you have to respect something just because people believe it."

Maher is the latest cultural figure to attempt to equate conservative Christians and the millions of Americans who voted for former President Donald Trump with the group of protesters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, even though he argued against doing so on his program just three weeks earlier.

Also, Maher is one of many on the political left to issue dire warnings about "Christian nationalism" in recent weeks.

A Jan. 31 USA Today editorial written by Rachel Mikva warned that "Christian nationalism is a threat, and not just from Capitol attackers invoking Jesus."

Mikva, a Jewish studies professor and a senior faculty fellow at the InterReligious Institute at Chicago Theological Seminary, cited Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., one of the senators who voted to object to the certification of electoral votes in Arizona, as one of many elected officials who pose a "threat to religious pluralism in the United States" due to their purported support for white Christian nationalism.

According to Jim Daly, president of the socially conservative organization Focus on the Family, the increased use of the term "Christian nationalist" to describe Hawley and others is a "calculated move done with the hope of silencing those who follow Christ."

Daly criticized Wikipedia for characterizing Christian nationalists as those who "actively promote religious discourses in various fields of social life, including politics, history, culture, and science.

Wikipedia also describes Christian nationalists as those who "support the presence of Christian symbols ... school prayer and the exhibition of nativity scenes during Christmastide or the Christian Cross on Good Friday."

Daly pushed back on the emerging definition of Christian nationalism, offering a more narrow definition of the ideology as "putting love of country (and our self-interests) over love of God."

He argued that just because Hawley is a "devout believer in Jesus Christ and a strong defender of his country" that doesn't make him a "religious nationalist." Daly argued that a Christian nationalist is someone who "fuses his love of God with his country in idolatrous fashion."

Properly understood, Christian nationalism is dangerous. If you think government and God are co-equals, youll be motivated by the wrong things and might even be susceptible to being swept up into violent mobs like we saw in Washington last month, Daly said. Conversely, good Christians are good citizens who have an obligation to serve the Republic. We engage our civic duty and privilege out of our love of neighbor.

This represents a proud and very rare achievement for a homegrown pharmaceutical research company, says CEO Gary Phillips.

( ) ( ) (FRA:UUD) has exported the first shipment of its locally developed and manufactured drug Bronchitol (mannitol) to the US after the cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2020.

Following receipt of an initial payment of US$7 million (approximately A$10 million) from its exclusive US distributor Chiesi, Pharmaxis will now receive a further US$3 million (~A$4 million) milestone payment.

The pharmaceutical research company expects Bronchitol sales in the US to contribute strongly to the products global sales and profit growth, making the Pharmaxis mannitol respiratory business cash flow positive from financial year 2021.

Proud and rare achievement

Pharmaxis CEO Gary Phillips said: This represents a proud and very rare achievement for a homegrown pharmaceutical research company.

Not only did the team at Pharmaxis design, lead and complete the three large-scale international clinical trials, which established Bronchitol as a safe and effective medication for CF patients, we have now manufactured the drug to be used by adult CF patients in the USA.

Production of drugs for delivery to the lungs is one of the most difficult processes undertaken in medicine manufacturing.

Shares were as much as 11% higher today to A$0.097 on volume of more than 2.6 million.

Equipped with technology

Phillips added: Our factory is equipped with the technology to engineer a powder with precise control of the particle size, suitable for delivery via a handheld inhaler.

The powder is put into capsules, and then packaged with all the information required for use by CF patients, who will take the drug twice a day.

Id like to thank our production staff for their unwavering dedication and we look forward to servicing the US market with a new treatment option in CF.

Approved facility in Frenchs Forest

After ramping up production at its purpose-built factory in the Sydney suburb of Frenchs Forest, Pharmaxis dispatched the first shipment of Bronchitol to Atlanta, Georgia.

The drug was manufactured and prepared for export by Pharmaxis employees at the companys high tech Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and FDA approved facility in Sydney.

Bronchitol

CF, a debilitating genetic disease causes progressive damage to the lungs and other organs.

Bronchitol is approved and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listed for the treatment of adults and children in Australia with CF and is also marketed in Europe, Russia and several other countries.

Chiesi Group will be responsible for the commercialisation of Bronchitol in the US.

Aridol

Bronchitol joins Pharmaxis' first commercial product, Aridol, in being FDAapproved.

Aridol is a lung function test designed to help doctors diagnose and manage asthma by detecting active airway inflammation.
After a year of staying at home, many of us are eager to get away. But before you book that big trip, take a few minutes to consider travel insurance. In these uncertain times, it's a smart way to minimize the risk of financial loss.

Military life often throws us curveballs even with the best-laid plans, so having travel insurance for your vacation may be a good idea if your service member's schedule can flip on a dime. In addition, the more complex and expensive the trip, the more likely you will want to purchase travel insurance.

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance is separate insurance that covers specific risks that come with traveling. Every policy is different, so be sure to read carefully before picking the right policy for you. Common coverages include medical expenses, medical evacuation, travel delays, travel interruption, baggage delays, legal referral services and passport replacement assistance. Some plans also offer a "cancel for any reason" option, and certain plans will allow you to cancel if military obligations prevent you from traveling.

What coverage do you need?

Coverage for military duties is a big feature if you're a military family so try to find a plan that has a stipulation such as that. Then consider what type of travel emergencies would be financially hard for you. For example, if you're stretching your budget for the trip, an unexpected hotel stay due to a volcano eruption, strike or hurricane might be hard to cover.

Be sure to check out what the policy does not cover. Many policies don't cover certain high-risk activities such as scuba diving. If your trip includes anything that might be considered high risk, be sure it is covered, or choose a different policy. Some policies don't cover pre-existing conditions, so you may find yourself without benefits if a chronic illness or injury flares up on your trip. In that case, there may be a separate pre-existing conditions waiver that can be added to your policy for an extra cost.

There are also the "cancel for any reason" plans. Details of this coverage vary by plan. Some will reimburse at one rate if there's some sort of justifiable reason for the cancellation, and a different rate if you just change your mind or your reason doesn't fit their guidelines. This is a great option for military families as well in case plans have to change because of your service member's schedule.

Where do you buy travel insurance?

There are a variety of different ways to purchase travel insurance. Sometimes, you'll be offered coverage when you book parts of your trip, such as airfare. If you purchase through a service provider, check into whether your coverage is just for that service, or for other parts of your trip. If you book through a travel agent, they will probably offer you coverage through their preferred provider. Otherwise, you can purchase coverage yourself. A quick Google search will show a wide variety of travel insurance providers. USAA members can also purchase coverage through their affiliation with Travel Insured International. There are even plans that will cover you for all travel during a year for a single premium.

When do you buy travel insurance?

Buy your travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. Policies will have a timeline for when you have to purchase, and the price may increase the closer you get to the travel dates. Many policies have a "free look" period, during which you can cancel the coverage and receive a full refund of the premium paid.

How much does travel insurance cost?

Costs depend on the coverage provided and can vary from a few dollars to cover a single flight to a few hundred dollars for a long, complicated trip overseas. Coverage for additional family members on the same itinerary may be reduced, sometimes significantly.

Life is uncertain, and military life is extra uncertain. If you're spending a significant amount on a special trip, consider whether travel insurance will prevent financial loss in case you can't travel, your travel is disrupted, or you have medical or legal issues arise during your trip. That way you can enjoy your trip without the worry of unexpected costs.

Read the original article on MilitaryFamilies.com.

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(Natural News) If you are a politician or someone with power and influence and you get on Googles bad side, the worlds third largest tech monopoly can make your life a living hell with the virtual flip of a switch.

In a recent interview with SiriusXMs Breitbart News Daily, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told host Alex Marlow that Google and other Big Tech companies hold all kinds of personal information about powerful people that they can weaponize in an instant if it suits their agenda.

Paxton and attorneys general from eight other states filed an antitrust lawsuit back in December alleging that the tech giants routinely abuse their monopoly power in this way, particularly with digital advertising that can be manipulated to harm both consumers and businesses.

Googles monopoly power is especially concerning as it controls the ads that appear not just on its search engine and on many websites, but also on YouTube. Offenders who say the wrong thing or promote the wrong agenda can easily be cut off the financial gravy train, and many of them are learning this the hard way.

Its extremely intimidating because [Google is] not just bigger than any state. They have more money than most countries, Paxton told Marlow.

We have a limited budget by which we can do these investigations and file litigation, and its a challenge for any state to take them on. They have billions and billions. They can hire as many lawyers, as many lobbyists  They can hire all your friends to come out and criticize you. They can fund campaigns [for] your opponent.

Paxton is sure that the next time he runs for office his opponents will all be funded heavily by Google and other Big Tech companies that are concerned about their monopolistic behavior.

Big Tech: All your thoughts belong to us

Back in October, the Department of Justice (DoJ) filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google that was joined by 11 states.

At the time, Reuters reported that the DoJ case against Google marks the biggest antitrust case in a generation, comparable to the suits that were filed against Microsoft in 1998 and against AT&T in 1974.

When you take them on, Paxton added about trying to sue these powerful monopolies, they know a lot about people, and they can use that information as well. So its definitely a risky proposition. If you want safety, these are not the companies you sue.

Google currently has a market capitalization of $1.283 trillion. It ranks among the most highly valued public companies, which include Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft.

Politicians are afraid that if they speak out, that their opponents will be funded, Paxton laments. But if we dont speak out, eventually it will affect all of us, and it is affecting all of us.

When only a few speak out, they wipe them out, and then theyll just work their way down the line until they control everything. If people dont wake up and start speaking out in every possible way right now, it may be too late for all of us.

Marlows response was to categorize what is going on as viewpoint discrimination, meaning the tech giants are punishing people for viewpoints that are considered to be politically incorrect.

Breitbart, as one example, no longer shows up in Google searches because Sundar Pichai and his crew claim that Breitbart spread misinformation that is dangerous to peoples minds.

There are some people that like the fact that there is viewpoint discrimination, Paxton says. It gives an advantage to the Biden [regime].

More related news about Big Tech can be found at Censorship.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

NaturalNews.com
Hong Kong: HK reports 26 COVID-19 cases

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 26 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 21 are locally transmitted.

Among the local cases, five have unknown sources of infection.

At a press briefing this afternoon, the centre's Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan noted that one of the unlinked cases is a Po Leung Kuk On Tai Rehabilitation Centre resident who developed a fever yesterday.

More than 40 residents living on the same floor with the patient and over 30 staff were classified as close contacts and have been put under quarantine.

Dr Chuang added that two rehabilitation centre staff have also tested preliminary positive, one of whom is related to an earlier confirmed COVID-19 case.

"We only understand that the Po Leung Kuk On Tai Rehabilitation Centre staff member, because she is asymptomatic, she did visit the home of her relative who is a confirmed case during the communicable period of the case. So it is possible that she acquired the infection from her.

"But as she is asymptomatic, it is difficult to say when she contracted the virus.

"Also there are two linked cases to her. One is another rehabilitation centre staff and the other one is a resident. So preliminarily, we consider there's an epidemiological link between these cases."

Other confirmed cases include three residents of Wai Lee Building in Quarry Bay who were announced as preliminary positive cases yesterday. Two of them live in 04 units.

Dr Chuang reported that two more residents who live in 05 units of that building have tested preliminary positive for the virus, adding that 04 and 05 units are close to each other.

"For the Wai Lee Building cases, I understand one of them is an immediate neighbour of one of the previously confirmed cases. They shared the same building entrance and they entered their units separately so it is very possible that they had some unknown contact at the door or shared entrance. So essentially, they are quite close to each other.

"But I understand all the residents in that building have been tested, so hopefully all the cases have been identified at this moment.

"Of course, there is still an incubation period, so we have to observe."

The five imported cases involve a family of four from India and a foreign domestic helper from Indonesia.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.

This story has been published on: 2021-02-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Some of the country's most notable diplomats, lawyers and teachers of diplomacy have asked the Senate to reject the nomination of the service chiefs as ambassador.

Foreign affairs experts, including a former ambassador, academic and lawyers have called on the national assembly and even countries where they will be posted to reject President Muhammadu Buhari's nomination of the immediate past service chiefs as ambassadors.

Others, who seemed confused by their appointment, have requested further details on the development, saying there may be more to the nomination than meets the eye.

Some of these experts include a professor of History and former ambassador to Germany, Akinjide Osuntokun; a former director general of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Bola Akinterinwa; a senior lawyer Tayo Oyetibo, and a professor of History and Strategic Studies at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), David Aworawo.

The experts' positions are hinged on the allegations of rights abuses and crimes against humanity levelled against the former service chiefs while they held sway as commanders of the country's military.

They also hold the view that the administration of Mr Buhari has flagrantly flouted the recommendation of the erstwhile Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations (PACIR) which pegged the percentage of non-career ambassadors to 25 as against career ambassadors of 75.

The nomination

Barely a week after they resigned from service and their replacements announced, a statement by the president's media aide, Femi Adesina, said the President Buhari had forwarded the ex-service chiefs' names to the Senate for confirmation as non-career ambassadors.

They are the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin; former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; former Chief of Air Staff, Ibok Ibas; and former Chief of Naval Staff, Abubakar Sadique.

The development has been trailed by condemnation, with many Nigerians suggesting that the President's decision was aimed at shielding the former military officials from possible prosecution especially by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The allegations against the military chiefs include the 2015 massacre of more than 350 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), a Shiites sect, violent attacks on members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), last October's shooting and of innocent Nigerians who took part in the #EndSARS protest at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, and the extrajudicial killings in Oyigbo, an Igbo settlement in Rivers State, among others.

Some commentators relied on Article 29 of the Vienna Convention which protects diplomats from arrest and grants them immunity against civil and criminal prosecution, to conclude that the President's decision was to guarantee immunity for the ex-service chiefs.

But others argued that the appointment of the former service chiefs cannot shield them from facing prosecutions over criminal conducts.

Meanwhile, towards avoiding such controversies their possible appointment may ignite, other concerned Nigerians have called for the rejection of their nominations. They added that should they eventually scale through the hurdles of the country's upper legislative chamber, the countries where they will be posted should reject them.

Why appointment should be rejected

Mr Osuntokun, who was a member of the advisory committee on international relations, said Mr Buhari's decision dumbfounded him.

Speaking on the phone with our reporter, the ex-diplomat said that depending on where they may be posted to, he was sure some of them could be rejected by the foreign nations.

"This is a very strange development as far as I am concerned. First, the number of non-career ambassadors has now exceeded that of the career ambassadors. I remember that when we set up as a committee to make recommendations on this kind of things, I was a member of that committee and our report said on no account must non-career ambassadors exceed 25 per cent, but as it is now, they are almost 60 per cent while the career is 40 per cent.

"I'm sure some of them may be rejected if they are posted to Western countries. But if they are sent to China or Russia, those ones will probably agree to host them. But if they are sent to places like Washington or Western Europe, they'll probably be rejected," he said.

In a similar vein, Mr Aworawo, a foreign relations teacher of many years, said the Senate had a huge responsibility to thoroughly weigh the options before allowing the nominees to be posted so that "Nigeria is not further embarrassed on the global stage."

He said: "When a foreign country takes a position against Nigeria, it's not against the government, it is not against an individual, it is against Nigeria. For instance, when Tunde Adeniran was rejected by the United States as an ambassador, it was Nigeria that was rejected. So instead of waiting until they are posted out, I think our advocacy should be that the Senate should let us know why they want to be posted out. Why is it that despite the fact that we have a large number of non-career diplomats already designated to be posted out, additional names are to be added to that list?

"If there is a thorough screening, a whole lot of things will come to light that will help us to take informed positions regarding this nomination. It is the Senate now that we should be querying. They should not allow the culture of "take a bow and go" on this matter. Such will be counterproductive because if they take a bow and go and they are sent out and then they are rejected, it will not be in the interest of anybody.

"My suggestion is that we should not wait for them to be posted out before we begin to cry. Our advocacy should be that they should be rejected by the Senate. Our advocacy should begin here that the senate should do a thorough job such that if there is no real cogent reason, they should not be confirmed."

On his part, the secretary of the Joint Action Front, a coalition of labour unions in the country, Abiodun Aremu, said the issue of the nomination of the ex-service chiefs was a diversionary tactic by the government to take the people's minds away from discussing key issues of poor governance in the country.

"At a time our health and education sectors have completely collapsed and the insecurity issue is festering every second, the President threw up a non-issue to divert our attention. This is unfortunate," Mr Aremu said.

The labour activist queried Nigeria's foreign policy, saying the country's leadership on the African continent has been lost to bad governance at home.

He said: "What interests are the existing ambassadors representing? What is the country's foreign policy? What role is Nigeria playing on the subject of the liberation of Western Sahara? If you have much of leadership that Nigeria provides, these are the challenges that the people eventually face, and I think it is important to address that now, more importantly.

"And why will those nations not reject them? What's our understanding of the security concern? You see a country whose leader is ethnically bias and self-opinionated. This is someone who cannot address global concerns of the country but promoting economic arrangements in which you're dependent as a nation. What you would have expected is that the government would appoint responsible men and women into positions and not people with blood on their hands."

But to Mr Oyetibo, the call for the rejection of the would-be appointees could only be based on moralism but that "such is neither here nor there."

He said foreign relations were not based on moralism but much deeper diplomatic issues and facts.

Buhari flouting recommendation on ambassadorial nominations

According to Mr Osuntokun, the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations which was chaired by a former Commonwealth secretary-general, Emeka Anyaokwu, had offered non-stipendiary service to the country between 1999 and 2015, and it was when the Buhari-led administration came on board in 2015 that the council ceased to exist.

Mr Osuntokun did not elaborate on why the council went aground but said there were many key decisions that were taken by the team which he noted gave policy direction to the past administrations on foreign relations since the return to democracy in 1999.

The former ambassador said: "Chief Emeka Anyaokwu was the chairman and the members included myself, late Alhaji Hamza Ahmadu, Professor Joy Ogwu, Ambassador Akporode Clark, and I think one other member.

"We realised that because there is a career line for professional diplomats, those people who have spent all their lives learning the trade and who are more qualified to handle foreign relations matters. So it is not good to replace them with non-career ambassadors who know next to nothing about protocols. It is not a good thing for the country to have too many non-career ambassadors. But since this administration came into being I have been watching and I have realised that the number of non-career ambassadors now stands at about 60 per cent to 40 per cent career diplomats. That has clearly exceeded the 75 per cent career ambassadors to 25 per cent non-career ambassadors that we recommended."

He said the consequence of the new trend is that the political appointees would focus more on attracting materialism and may end up getting involved in deals that could embarrass the country.

"Unfortunately, many of these non-career ambassadors think that there is money in diplomacy but there is none. They'll be disappointed. Some of them, for six months after being sent to post, there will be no money to support them. They will be totally embarrassed and some of them will now go into deals that will embarrass the country because they have to survive and they are used to large spending.

"We are just cutting noses because we're going to be disappointed thoroughly and humiliated as a country. I sincerely hope that some of them will be rejected by the countries that they are sent to unless of course, it is China or Russia or such other countries."

Mr Aworawo also said the country's non-career ambassadors have now outnumbered their career counterparts, and that such is not good for the country. "So we need to know why we still want to add these four to the number of non-career diplomats when there are protests that there are too many political appointees that are posted out as ambassadors as against the preference for career ambassadors."

When asked what he thought of the appointment of the former service chiefs as ambassadors, Mr Anyaokwu said he was not ready to share his opinion on the matter.

Will ambassadorial position shield ex-service chiefs from prosecution?

While some experts rely on Article 29 of the Vienna Convention to suggest their appointment would shield the ex-service chiefs from prosecution especially on the international scene, others have faulted such claim, saying their possible appointment is no guarantee for their immunity.

A Washington-based Nigerian lawyer and special counsel to Justice for Jos Project of the US Nigeria Law Group, Emmanuel Ogebe, said under international criminal law, diplomatic immunity does not grant immunity from prosecution over international crimes such as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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In his position on the matter, which was mailed to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Ogebe said; "The rule is supported by international customary law as well as The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court codified in its Article 27.

"If Omar Bashir as then President of Sudan was indicted and a warrant issued for his arrest, it is unclear why Buhari's advisers gave him faulty information that these ambassadorships grant immunity for war crimes."

He accused Mr Buhari-led administration of "corruption and abuse of power for personal politics of self-preservation."

Similarly, Mr Akinterinwa, a former director general of NIIA, said crimes committed before being appointed as ambassadors are not covered by the immunity guaranteed in the Vienna Convention.

He said; "The point is that diplomatic immunity only applies to offences committed by public officials when they are in office. It does not include offences that are committed before anyone is appointed.

So if you're talking about 2015 for instance, the charges are still there, the only thing is just that while they are in office, they could not arrest them, they could not prosecute them. But when they leave office they can be arrested. The example of Charles Taylor is enough as evidence. He was no longer the president of Liberia, so he was arrested and taken to jail."

Also, the former chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, has shared his view on the matter, insisting that the appointment of former service chiefs as Nigerian ambassadors does not grant them immunity from criminal charges.

In a series of tweets shared on Thursday, Mr Odinkalu said to enjoy the immunity that came with ambassadorship, another sovereign country had to accredit them.

He said; "Briefly, this isn't exactly good news for the former service chiefs. To begin with, to enjoy Sovereign Immunity (that's what it's called) in international law, they have to be accredited to another sovereign as Nigeria's ambassadors. Carrying a diplomatic passport isn't enough."

He noted that based on the gravity of the allegations levelled against the former service chiefs, credible countries would not accept them.

"In any Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) country, for instance, any effort to deploy them as ambassadors would almost be guaranteed to end up in a raucous domestic and diplomatic mess and will be resisted seriously. In all likelihood, they will not pass muster with those countries," he added.
Jefferson Parish Schools Superintendent James Gray announced last week the district would be providing its employees with one-time stipends as they continue to teach in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At its Feb. 3 school board meeting, the board unanimously approved giving teachers a payment of $500 and support staff and other employees $250. Teachers present applauded when the votes were cast.

According to an email sent out to employees on Feb. 4, the district was able to find funds for the stipends because tax revenues were better than previously projected. The district said it would send details on how to receive the money to its workers soon.

This school year has been a difficult journey for us all, but your resiliency shines through every day, Gray said in the email. "This was another opportunity to show how much we appreciate you.

Last December, the Jefferson Parish teachers union sent a letter to Gray calling for an immediate move to virtual learning until new Covid cases significantly decreased, but the district has continued to hold in-person classes, even during the latest surge in cases following the holidays.

At last weeks meeting, educators continued to voice their concerns about in-person classes, including what they say is a lack of social distancing at schools, support staff having to cover classes for teachers quarantining and often not knowing who has tested positive for the virus.

Its a constant guessing game as to who got the virus and who doesnt, said Eric Winins, a teacher at West Jefferson High.

Some teachers also called for an increase in salary for support staff at schools, including teacher aides and custodians.

They work harder than anybody, said John Guzda, who also teaches at West Jefferson. They really deserve it.

Jefferson Parish teachers slam school board for continuing in-person classes as COVID-19 cases spike About a dozen Jefferson Parish teachers and students showed up early to Wednesday nights school board meeting, convening outside the district
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The Supreme Court will on Thursday determine whether or not the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensa, must mount the witness box to be cross -examined in the 2020 election petition.



The court will make that determination following over three hours of legal arguments by various counsels to make their respective cases on the issue today.



ECs case



Counsel for the EC, Mrs Justine Amenuvor, argued that the rules of court specifically Order 38 (4) (4) of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, CI47 allowed the EC, which is the first respondent in the petition, not to adduced evidence.



He argued that the decision not to testify is at the behest of parties, and that court has no business on whether or not a party will call witnesses to adduce evidence.



According to him, if the petitioner, Former President John Dramani Mahama, has a good case, he should excited that the respondents have decided not to give evidence.



Counsel of Nana Akufo-Addo (2nd respondent), Mr Akoto Ampaw, associated himself with the submissions of counsel for the EC.



He argued that the petitioner should be happy at the decision by the respondents not to call witnesses.



Tsatsu Tsikata



Counsel for Former President Mahama, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, argued that it was in the interest of justice for the EC Chairperson to be cross-examined.



According to him, Mrs Mensa was the person responsible for the declaration of presidential results and that she had a responsible to account to the people of Ghana.



Also, it was his submission that Mrs Mensa must be in the witness box because she had filed a witness statement and also made certain assertions in her affidavits which presupposes that she was offering herself to be cross -examined.



He further argued that counsel for the EC opposed the petitioners application for interrogatories with the explanation that those interrogatories could be asked during cross-examination.



In view of that he argued the EC chairperson had willing agreed to be cross -examined.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Eli Lilly's chief financial officer Josh Smiley (above) has resigned following a probe into his 'personal relationship with an employee' which uncovered 'inappropriate personal communications' with staff

Eli Lilly's chief financial officer has resigned after 26 years at the firm following a probe into his 'personal relationship with an employee' which uncovered 'inappropriate personal communications' with staff and 'poor judgment'.

Josh Smiley, a 51-year-old father-of-three who earned a total compensation package of $7.3 million in 2019, is standing down from his role as CFO, senior vice president and member of the executive committee with immediate effect, Eli Lilly announced in a press release Tuesday.

However, he will receive $108,000 from the company over the next six months to 'facilitate the transition of his responsibilities.'

Lilly, whose COVID-19 antibody cocktail was given FDA emergency use authorization in December, said it was recently made aware of allegations of an inappropriate personal relationship between Smiley and another employee.

The company immediately hired external counsel to carry out an independent investigation, it said.

The probe revealed what the company described as 'consensual though inappropriate' personal communications between Smiley and multiple employees, as well as behavior that Lilly leadership said exhibited poor judgment by Smiley.

The company said Smiley 'did not meet the standard' expected of its employees - and in particular its top executives - when it comes to meeting the company's core values.

His conduct was not related to financial controls, financial statements or any other business matters or judgments, the company said.

The company did not give further details on the nature of the inappropriate communications or the number of employees involved.

Smiley's bio page had already been removed from the company website Tuesday morning.

His LinkedIn page had also been taken down.

He will be replaced by Anat Ashkenazi, who has worked at the company for almost 20 years, most recently in the role of senior vice president, controller and chief financial officer of Lilly Research Laboratories.

David A. Ricks, Lilly Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said the company expects its workforce to follow its core values of 'integrity, excellence and respect for people.'

Josh Smiley, who was also SVP of the drugmaker and sat on the executive committee and earned a $7.3 million figure salary, is leaving the company, Eli Lilly announced in a press release Tuesday

'Lilly's core values are integrity, excellence and respect for people. We expect all employees to live these values, and we expect exemplary conduct from our executives at all times,' he said in a statement.

Ricks 'wish[ed] him well' in the future and pointed to his successor's 'impeccable track record.

'We are confident in Anat's ability to serve as our next CFO given her impeccable track record of leadership and business success across nearly all major parts of the company, most recently as corporate controller and head of strategy,' he said.

'Having finished 2020 with strong momentum and strong financial performance, we are well positioned to continue delivering on the promise of our pipeline and the potential to grow Lilly and its impact on patients' lives in the decade to come. We appreciate Josh's many contributions to Lilly and wish him well.'

Under the terms of the separation agreement reached between Smiley and the company, he will be available to assist in the transition to Ashkenazi through to July 2021.

Smiley will continue to be paid $9,000 every two weeks throughout this period, according to an SEC filing dated February 9.

He will lose all of his $1 million 2020 cash bonus, around $3 million of his 2018-2020 shareholder value award, and all other current and future equity incentive awards, totaling over $20 million at target value.

The agreement also bans Smiley from working for a competitor for 18 months and also includes a 24-month non-solicitation agreement, customary provisions regarding confidentiality and a release of claims against the company.

Lilly said it was recently made aware of allegations of an inappropriate personal relationship between Smiley and another employee. An independent investigation revealed 'consensual though inappropriate' personal communications between Smiley (above) and multiple staff

Smiley's bio page had already been removed from the company website Tuesday morning (pictured)

Smiley earned around $7.3 million total compensation in the role in 2019, making him the second highest-paid employee at the firm after CEO David Ricks.

He is also a shareholder in the drug firm. SEC filings show he exercised 19,266 shares worth almost $4 million on February 1 - just one week before his departure was announced.

He reportedly still owns around 60,702 units of stock.

Shares in Eli Lilly were down around 2 percent in morning trading following the news to a low of $201.17.

In the last 12 months, shares in the company have risen around 40 percent as the company developed the COVID-19 antibody drug given emergency use authorization in December.

Smiley joined the drugmaker back in 1995 and rose through the ranks working across finance, sales and marketing divisions before being named CFO in 2018.

He was also a member of the company's Six Sigma initial deployment and leadership team and led sales and marketing efforts to payers such as managed care organizations, Medicaid, Medicare and public hospitals.

In 2007, Smiley was appointed to vice president and CFO for Lilly Research Laboratories before being promoted to senior vice president of finance and corporate controller in 2011, making him responsible for the company's financial operations across the globe before being promoted to his latest role in 2018.

Shares in Eli Lilly were down around 2 percent in morning trading following the news to a low of $201.17

In the last 12 months, shares in the company have risen around 40 percent as the company developed the COVID-19 antibody drug given emergency use authorization in December

Prior to joining the drugmaker, Smiley worked in investment banking and consulting including as a financial advisor at Putnam Associates and Prudential Securities.

He was also a board member for CGI Pharmaceuticals, before it was acquired by Gilead Sciences.

In 2005 he was named in Treasury & Risk Magazine's '40 Under 40' list of upandcoming young finance executives across America.

He graduated from Harvard University in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in history.

Smiley is a board member of the National Association of Manufacturers' (NAM) board.

His future on the board is not clear. The association's board of directors' page on the website still featured Smiley Tuesday morning.

A request for comment from NAM was not immediately returned.

He also sits on the board of trustees at Butler University.

Smiley donated $2,800 to Pete Buttigieg's campaign in 2020.

He has previously made donations to Riley Children's Foundation, an NGO dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Indiana's children.

Ashkenazi joined Eli Lilly in 2001 and has held a range of roles across strategy, finance and Six Sigma before being appointed as senior vice president, controller and chief financial officer of Lilly Research Laboratories

Before joining the firm, she worked in financial services at Ma'alot Standard & Poor's and at Ha'poalim Bank in Israel.
TORONTO - On set they called her "COVID Cathy," or "CC" for short.

TORONTO - On set they called her "COVID Cathy," or "CC" for short.

As the COVID-19 supervisor on the new Toronto-shot CBC series "Pretty Hard Cases," Catherine Lang had to not only help develop pandemic protocols for the production, but also keep a close eye on the cast and crew to ensure they were following them.

Meghan McKenna, COVID-19 supervisor on the set of "Coroner," prepares to administer COVID-19 testing in a handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-CBC/Jasper Savage MANDATORY CREDIT

It can be a tricky position, having to police everyone while trying to prevent positive cases, but Lang says she was determined to keep the mood upbeat.

"What I found the hardest about COVID supervising was that it's hard to spend 100 per cent of your day worrying about people's health. And unfortunately, I'm a bit of a worrier," Lang says.

"Eating, breathing, sleeping  24-7  I couldn't get it out of my mind. Because at the beginning all I could think was, 'What if I do something or don't do something and somebody gets sick?' And that was quite a large stress for me."

Lang's position, which is also sometimes called a COVID compliance officer, is a now common one on Canadian film and TV sets. And it's one she predicts will be around for another year or so.

The supervisor typically works alongside the producers and a team of medical, health and safety professionals to create COVID protocols using government guidelines and ensure they're adhered to. Both industry and medical professionals can qualify for the position.

"They were accepted, but definitely were the sort of hall monitors of the production shoot that can frustrate people when they're trying to do their jobs," Alex Jordan, a producer on Global's "Private Eyes," says of their COVID supervising team.

"We had to be very cognizant of the mental health of everyone. To some people's opinion, you're not doing enough. And in some cases, people are like, 'This is too much. You're overkill.'"

"Kim's Convenience" star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee says their COVID protocol officer was Cher Merlo, who has a background in film and TV production. She "worked tirelessly" on things like modifying the actors' masks and shields to ensure they would be effective but wouldn't disrupt their hair and makeup between takes.

"She had the hardest job on set, because her job was to be the bad guy and to remind them of the protocols and of doing things like sanitizing your hands and wearing your mask and staying two metres apart," Lee says.

"Pretty Hard Cases" stars Adrienne C. Moore and Meredith MacNeill say they went to great lengths to help Lang not feel "like a bad guy."

"I remember when Cathy gave her first speech at the start, Adrienne and I looked at each other and then gave her the biggest cheer. We were like 'Cathy!'" says MacNeill.

"We used to call her COVID Cathy. We were like 'CC, yes, in the house!'

The staff knew Lang was "only trying to help," notesMacNeill.

"So we approached it, and the whole crew approached it, with a 'thank you.'"

Lang had worked as an assistant producer and production manager before becoming a COVID supervisor on "Pretty Hard Cases."

Lang says she read everything she could about the virus and "spent many hours on the phone" with producer Wanda Chaffey and executive producer Amy Cameron. The three developed protocols for every department with a consulting physician.

"As I would walk through the set, I would see people adjust their masks and pull their shields down. It was very cute," Lang says laughing.

Of course, Lang also wore personal protective equipment, since she had to be in more spaces on set than most.

She says she "never felt unsafe" but found the thought of somebody getting sick in the workplace "horrifying" and had to learn to stop worrying about things that were out of her control.

"Eventually I had to say to myself, 'I can't stop this. I can control what happens in the workplace to an extent, but I can't control what happens outside of the workplace.'"

The cast and crew were very compliant, Lang says, noting "everybody really wanted to be safe." Chassey and Cameron were with her every step of the way.

In the end, they had no incident of anyone contracting COVID-19 at work, she says. While there were two positive cases, they were contracted outside production, caught through testing and had no community spread.

Toronto nurse Meghan McKenna became a COVID supervisor on the CBC series "Coroner" through her employer, the third-party medical consulting firm Oncidium, which provided guidance and support to the show, including a full-time nursing staff.

She hadn't worked in film and TV before and was "on a steep learning curve" in that regard as they collaborated with producers, she says.

They held mandatory health sessions for everyone on set.

One of McKenna's key goals was for the cast and crew to understand the uncertain nature of a pandemic, so if provincial case numbers rose and protocols changed, they would be onboard instead of feeling they were being fed misinformation.

She also taught everyone how viruses or bacteria spread through communities, so when pandemic fatigue set in, they understood how to protect themselves and why every single protocol matters.

The pressure on the job comes with not wanting to see the production fail, says McKenna. But her experiences working in hospital have taught her she "can't control what people are doing 100 per cent."

She also likes the idea that should someone have a medical issue on set, she's able to guide them through it and manage it.

McKenna's nursing background and experience in emergency rooms also helped her feel "fine with being the police" on set.

"That is such a big part of health teaching, is telling people things they don't want to hear," she says. "I really like the challenge of getting through to someone over time."

While producers say "Coroner" had "a few issues" with COVID-19 cases, they weren't on set, were easily contact-traced and had no community spread.

And no one had to be reminded of the protocols later in production, McKenna says.

"Everyone's helping remind each other," she says.

"The crew is all keeping each other safe," adds "Coroner" executive producer Suzanne Colvin-Goulding. "Everybody has adopted the mentality that we are in this together."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2021.
The has directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government to start the immediate rebuilding of a Hindu temple which was set on fire by a mob in December 2020.

On December 30, 2020, an unruly crowd set fire to the Samadhi of Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj located in Karak district's Teri area after more than a thousand people led by some local elders of a religious party held a protest and demanded the removal of the temple, originally built before 1920.

Last month, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had announced reconstruction of the temple, as well as a crackdown against the attackers.

During the hearing on Monday, a three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed also directed the province to submit a timeline for the shrine's completion, The Express Tribune reported.

Ikram Chaudhry, lawyer for the Evacuee Trust Property Board which maintains Hindu and Sikh places of worship in Pakistan, apprised the bench that no recovery has been made so far on the temple issue.

"The government had approved 30.41 million PKR for the reconstruction of the temple," Chaudhry told the court.

Meanwhile, Ramesh Kumar, head of the Hindu Council and a member of the National Assembly, said that the Karak area was sensitive and that the reconstruction of the temple should be done by the Hindu community, reports The Express Tribune.

This was the second time that the shrine had been attacked. It was demolished in 1997 and then rebuilt in 2015 as per the orders of the Supreme Court.

Monday's order comes after a report submitted to the Supreme Court on February 5 by the one-man Shoaib Suddle Commission had revealed that most of the Hindu holy sites across the country were a "picture of neglect".

The Commission was set up by the apex court in 2019 to oversee implementation of its judgement on minority rights.

It regretted that ETPB "failed to maintain most of the ancient and holy sites of the minority community".

Of the 428 in Pakistan that existed before Partition, only around 20 have survived, according to an official survey.

Some of the major in Pakistan include Shri Hinglaj Mata temple (Balochistan), Shri Ramdev Pir temple (Sindh), Umarkot Shiv Mandir (Sindh), and the Churrio Jabal Durga Mata temple (Sindh).

According to the 2017 Pakistan Census, Hindus make up for 2.14 per cent of the country's overall population.

--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.)
Since the formation of the new system of governance in Iraq in 2003 immediately after the fall of Saddam Hussein there have been a slew of problems between the Federal Government of Iraq (FGI), centred in Baghdad, and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), governed in large part by its government (the KRG) based in Erbil. Back then in 2003/4 it was broadly agreed that the KRG would export a certain volume of oil from its own fields and Kirkuk via the FGIs State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) and would absolutely not independently sell oil from the fields on the international markets. In return, the FGI from Baghdad would disburse a certain level of payments to the KRG from Iraqs central budget. From that point to this there has been near constant dispute over this arrangement but the latest one seriously threatens the decisive splitting of the FGI ad KRI into two completely separate regions, as had also been promised to the KRI by the U.S. in exchange for its army (the Peshmerga) agreeing to be the Wests boots-on-the-ground fighting force against the Islamic State insurgence from 2014.

According to reports from Iraq, the KRIs government, the KRG, is currently in the process of preparing its own separate annual budget for the first time since a new working budget agreement was agreed in November 2014 between it and the Baghdad-based government of the FGI. The November 2014 agreement required that the KRG would agree to export up to 550,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil from its own fields and Kirkuk via SOMO and, in return, Baghdad would send 17 per cent of the federal budget after sovereign expenses (around US$500 million at that time) per month in budget payments to the KRG. This would allow the KRG to pay the expenses of the semi-autonomous government, most notably the salaries of the large number of direct and indirect KRG employees, plus all other expenses. This 2014 agreement, which functioned properly only sporadically, was then superseded by an understanding reached between the KRG and the new government of the FGI formed in October 2018 centred on the 2019 national budget bill. This required the FGI in Baghdad to transfer sufficient funds from the budget to pay the salaries of KRG employees along with other financial compensation in exchange for the KRG handing over responsibility for the export of at least 250,000 bpd of crude oil to SOMO. Shortly thereafter, though, the FGI  nominally headed at that point by Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi but controlled behind the scenes by radical cleric Moqtada a-Sadr  started to deliver the funding for the salaries of the KRG employees on a monthly basis, and after that he KRG started to deliver the agreed upon volume of oil to SOMO on a more ad hoc basis. This has been the pattern ever since.

This already difficult relationship was complicated further  and remains so  by the input of the Kremlin, in the shape of its proxy oil giant, Rosneft, which holds a vice-like grip over the KRIs oil and gas sector, and, by extension, over the KRGs decision-making process. Rosneft effectively took over the ownership of Kurdistans oil sector in 2017 through three principal means. First, Russia had provided the KRG with US$1.5 billion in financing through forward oil sales payable in the following three to five years. Second, it took an 80 per cent working interest in five potentially major oil blocks in the region together with corollary investment and technical, technology, and equipment assistance. And third, it established 60 per cent ownership of the vital KRG export pipeline to the port of Ceyhan in Turkey by dint of a commitment to invest US$1.8 billion to increase its capacity to one million barrels per day. After securing this influence over the KRG, the Kremlin found that it could exert power over the FGI in the south, as the KRG controlled the only fully-functioning oil export pipeline into Europe (through Ceyhan) anywhere in Iraq, which affected at least 300,000 bpd of crude oil previously pumped in the Kirkuk province. Consequently, the Kremlin insisted through the KRG that oil flows would not restart until pipeline transit fees and pumping tariffs were paid to Rosneft, which by that point had its 60 per cent stake in the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline. Moscow also wanted the FGI to look again at its decision to deem invalid the assignment to Rosneft by the KRG of five exploration blocks in Kurdish territory. These are estimated to have aggregate 3P reserves of 670 million barrels, and Rosneft has an 80 per cent stake in each. Related: Is A Career In Oil Still A Safe Bet?

Overlaying all of this was the extreme bad-feeling and complete lack of trust that the Kurdish people of the KRI had developed both in the West as a whole, and the U.S. in particular  with the anger in the short-term focused on the FGI in Baghdad  over what was seen as a double betrayal of the Kurds. The first was the Wests failure to follow-through on its back-room promise to fully support full independence for the northern Kurdish region of Iraq in exchange for its Peshmerga army leading the sustained fight against Islamic State for the three particularly bloody years of fighting from 2014-2017. Specifically, September 2017 saw a referendum on independence for the KRI, which was voted for by over 90 per cent of the Kurds in the region. Although the results of that referendum were not mandatory, the Kurds fully expected that the U.S. would use the resounding vote for independence to quietly manoeuvre the FGI in Baghdad to accept the establishment of an independent Kurdistan state to its north in the coming three to five years. Instead, from the Kurdish perspective, the U.S. did nothing except stand by and watch as Iranian forces, predominantly, rolled into the KRI  particularly around the main oil areas surrounding Kirkuk  and restored order, as diplomats put it, following riots in the region after the yes vote was ignored. The second piece of betrayal from the Kurdish perspective came after former U.S. President Donald Trump made statements in October 2019 that the U.S. was going to allow the Kurds deadliest enemy  Turkey  to invade northern Syria, in which many hundreds of Kurdish Peshmerga fighters were active (doing what the U.S. had asked them to do  that is, fight the remnants of Islamic State) and would almost certainly be slaughtered by the Turkish Army. In the event, according to former U.S. National Security Advisor, John Bolton, pressure was brought on Trump to ensure with the Turks that this did not happen.

As it now stands, then, the fact that the KRG is preparing its own budget that does not include any budget disbursements from Baghdad in exchange for oil going to SOMO  alongside another version that does include this budget funding - underlines that the endgame for Iraq as a unified nation may be in play. If Baghdad does not fully fund the KRG in accordance with the November 2014 deal then the KRG will have no other option than to sell its oil independently in full, which Baghdad regards as an unforgivable and illegal breach of its sovereignty. In order to circumvent this option, the FGI in Baghdad has already requested the International Chamber of Commerce's International Court of Arbitration for US$26 billion in damages based on Turkeys alleged ongoing independent purchases of oil from the KRI, without agreement from Baghdad. According to the KRG, it has authority under Articles 112 and 115 of the Iraq Constitution to manage oil and gas in the Kurdistan Region extracted from fields that were not in production in 2005 - the year that the Constitution was adopted by referendum. SOMO, however, has argued that under Article 111 of the Constitution oil and gas are under the ownership of all the people of Iraq in all the regions and governorates.

If the ruling goes against the KRG then there is little doubt that it will seek to broaden and deepen its relationship with Russia further. If the ruling goes for the KRG then there is little doubt that it will continue to independently export oil to Turkey, so further alienating the FGI in Baghdad.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

JAKARTA - Indonesia will no longer permit mining waste to be disposed in the ocean to allay concerns about the environmental impact of processing nickel used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, a government official and a corporate mining source said.

A worker poses with a handful of nickel ore at the nickel mining factory of PT Vale Tbk, near Sorowako, Indonesia, 8 January, 2014. REUTERS/Yusuf Ahmad//File Photo

China-led investment

The Southeast Asian nation, the world's biggest nickel producer, has not officially banned so-called deep sea tailings (DST) but by not issuing new permits it could delay planned projects and complicate efforts to dispose of waste.Proponents of DST say it is cheaper and less harmful to pipe waste into the sea, especially on tropical islands where earthquakes or heavy rain limit storage, but critics says the impact of such marine disposal is poorly understood "There is no written regulation yet, but the policy is to not issue permits for deep sea tailing for any future projects," Jodi Mahardi, a spokesman for the Maritime and Investment Affairs Coordinating Minister, toldUp to now only one nickel mine in Papua New Guinea is using DST, according to global producer association the Nickel Institute.Indonesia currently uses the disposal method at its second-largest copper mine, run by PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara.Indonesian nickel projects seeking permission for DST did not receive an outright rejection, but a lengthy wait meant that land tailings eventually become "the only option", according to a corporate mining source familiar with the matter.Once the world's biggest exporter of nickel, Indonesia banned ore exports last year amid efforts to develop a full nickel supply chain, starting from extraction, processing into metals and chemicals used in batteries, all the way to building EVs.At least four high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) plants, which process nickel laterite into chemicals used in batteries, are being constructed in Indonesia led by Chinese investors. Most planned to dispose waste in the sea.HPAL projects in Morowali, in Sulawesi, have decided to drop DST, said a source familiar with the matter.Meanwhile, an HPAL project in Obi Island is still waiting for the government's decision.Changing to disposing tailings on land from the ocean would require a major plant rework, said Angela Durrant, a nickel costs researcher at Wood Mackenzie."It would cost a fortune to switch from one established form of tailings disposal to another method," Durrant said. However, she said that most new HPAL projects in Indonesia are unlikely to have set up any disposal systems yet.Despite obstacles, Indonesia is expecting investment in nickel processing to double from 2020 to $35bn by 2033, led by Chinese stainless steel producers and battery makers.The country also signed a $9.8bn EV battery deal with South Korea's LG Energy Solution in December.Indonesia has also been wooing Tesla, which has been looking to find reliable sources of nickel globally after warning the current cost of batteries remains a hurdle to growth. Tesla has sent an investment proposal and the government will meet with the company next week, Septian Hario Seto, the deputy head for investment and mining coordination said on Friday.Maritime and Investment spokesman Jodi said that the Indonesian government was well aware of the need to uphold green standards "otherwise, companies like Tesla would not come here".Indonesia has a chequered environmental track record in mining so EV companies could be cautious about directly investing given environmentally-conscious consumers, experts say."There's potential in Indonesia but there's also risk involved if they don't have the right policies," said Andrew Miller, product director at EV battery metals consultancy firm, Benchmark Intelligence Minerals.
The Princeton-based company Cure Auto Insurance has been accused of mocking sexual harassment in the workplace with its Super Bowl commercial.

Cure said that was not the intention in a statement shared with NJ Advance Media.

The commercial was meant to use humor and encourage a conversation about todays polarized political climate, in which it is unfortunate that people cannot have different opinions without fear of reprisal, chief operating officer Eric Poe said.

Titled Whip It Out, the companys commercial for Super Bowl 2021 makes use of near-double entendre, deploying sexually suggestive language.

Ms. Davis, Tommy just brought me into his office and whipped out his opinion, a female employee says in the workplace-set ad.

I didnt just whip it out, Tommy replies. She was into it. Plus, I have a pretty big opinion.

On Twitter, some viewers expressed dismay at the commercial.

The ad depicts a workplace complaint of a woman against a man.Cure Auto Insurance/YouTube

Awful ad, @Mediagenic tweeted. Straight outta a Proud Boys staff meeting.

Did we just watch a commercial making a joke about workplace sexual harassment??? @oliviaraesmith7 tweeted. Did that happen or did I hallucinate.

I truly cannot believe that in 2021 this commercial was considered appropriate, Kate Fox tweeted. DID BRETT KAVANAUGH WRITE THIS. #MeToo, she said, referring to the Supreme Court justice who was accused of sexual assault before his confirmation.

The #MeToo movement surged in 2017 following revelations about a series of accusations of sexual assault and misconduct against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. Sexual harassment and assault in the workplace played a prominent role in the reckoning with sexual abuse.

The Cure ad continues with the sexually suggestive language.

Oh, please, the female employee says. Its not that big.

She only gave me a second, Tommy says.

Tommy, not everyone in this office wants your opinion, says Ms. Davis, who is ostensibly the boss.

OK, well how about you, last weekend at happy hour when you begged me for my opinion? Tommy says.

I had a pitcher of margaritas, she replies. I wouldve taken Dougs opinion, she says, gesturing to a man in her office, who seems surprised.

You would? Doug says.

No! Ms. Davis says, appalled.

The commercials stated message follows the exchange: We cant protect your opinion but we can protect your car.

But it was the much different message people received that presented a problem.

In his statement, Poe denied that the company was riffing on allegations of sexual assault or misconduct in its 2021 Super Bowl commercial.

The suggestion that the commercial was attempting to poke fun at important societal injustices is misplaced, he said.

Poe went on to say that Cures employee base is 80% female, and that it was founded by a woman of minority descent, Dr. Lena Chang, an award-winning insurance actuary who is the CEO.

We regret that the commercial offended some select viewers, he said, stopping short of apologizing for the ad.

The insurance company often seems to aim for an irreverent approach with its big game ads.

Cures Super Bowl commercial last year featured a woman with an actual (potato) chip on her shoulder.

She is trying to make a point  a complaint  about someone, but a male companion keeps saying, You have a chip on your shoulder. When she fails to grasp the literal nature of his statement and assumes it is a figurative response, he says it again and she slaps him in the face as he reaches out to remove the chip ... from her shoulder.

The same actors were used in Cures 2019 Super Bowl commercial, which revolved around the woman having a screw sticking out of her head.

Its just, theres so much pressure, she says in the spot. I just dont know what it is.

Babe, you got a screw in your head, the man replies. When she doesnt understand, he removes the screw with his mouth and spits it out. Thats why the woman has a bandage on her forehead in the 2020 commercial.

The ads would seem to imply that the woman in question either didnt see that the solution to her problem was right in front of her face, that she was making a big problem of a little problem, or  especially in the case of the screw  that she was focusing on something else when there was a more pressing dilemma at hand.

The end message of both commercials: Sometimes, fixing your car is easier than fixing your life.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter.
A New Hampshire man was indicted by a federal grand jury this week over accusations he threatened to kill a state representative and several members of Congress, ordering the national lawmakers to support former Republican President Donald Trump.

Ryder Winegar, a 33-year-old Amherst, New Hampshire man, was arrested Jan. 11 and indicted Monday on six counts of threatening members of Congress and one count of threatening a New Hampshire state representative, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murrays office said in a statement Tuesday.

Winegar is being detained pending trial, according to the statement.

The criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court claims that on Dec. 16 and 17, Winegar left voicemails at the Washington, D.C. offices of six members of Congress. Those lawmakers are unnamed in court documents.

According to court records, Winegar is accused of leaving voicemails where he threatened to hang the six members of Congress if they did not get behind Donald Trump.

In one message, authorities claimed, the New Hampshire man said, I got some advice for you. Heres the advice, Donald Trump is your president. If you dont get behind him, were going to hang you until you die.

In another voicemail, Winegar is accused of saying, How is there a pandemic when 99.9% of people survive? Huh? It seems like you dont understand what the f*** a pandemic is. You better get behind Donald Trump or were going to hang you, and Im going to laugh.

You better support Donald Trump as your president, he is accused of saying in another message. There has been massive fraud in this country. And if you dont support it, were going to drag you out and were going to hang you by your neck to die. Good luck.

On Dec. 14, Winegar is accused of contacting a New Hampshire state representative by email and threatening to pull him from his bed and hang him, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors said Winegar identified himself by name and stated his telephone number in some of his calls to the congressional members.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police with assistance from the United States Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Amherst, New Hampshire Police Department and the New Hampshire Attorney Generals Office.

In their complaint, authorities also noted that a report provided by Amherst Police Department revealed that an officer made contact with Winegar on June 17 in reference to a complaint about gunfire heard on the property. According to the report, Winegar claimed ownership of the property.
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.

Egypt has opened its border with the Gaza Strip.

Travel resumed at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Palestinian territory on Tuesday. People can now enter Gaza via Egypt and vice versa, according to WAFA News Agency.

The border will remain open until further notice, and some buses have already departed for Egypt, the Palestinian Authority-run news outlet reported.

Rafah is Gazas only border crossing that is not controlled by Israel. Recently, Egypt had only been opening the border for a few days at a time before closing it again, according to Reuters.

Gaza is run internally by the Palestinian military and political organization Hamas. The internationally recognized Palestinian Authority has no presence there, though its relations with Hamas have improved recently.

Israel maintains several restrictions over who and what is allowed into the territory. Hamas and other Gaza-based armed groups periodically clash with Israel. Egypt is in a unique position in the region of having relations with Hamas and longstanding diplomatic ties with Israel.

The border opening followed bilateral discussions between Palestinian and Egyptian officials on facilitating Palestinian travel, the Egyptian state-owned Al-Ahram news outlet reported.

Gaza is highly impoverished amid the ongoing conflict with Israel. Many Palestinians travel in and out of the territory when they have the chance. Rafah was open for four days last week, during which 4,200 people left Gaza and 2,700 returned home, according to WAFA.

Monrovia  The Supreme Court of Liberia has upheld the lower court's ruling against Senator-elect J. Brownie Samukai and two other co-appellants and sentenced them to two years in prison each for misapplication of US$1.1 million intended for the Armed Forces of Liberia.

However, the court ruled that the prison terms could be suspended if the convicts restitute 50 percent of the fund within six months and make full payment within a year.

The ruling of the nation's highest court against Mr. Samukai, the newly elected Senator of Lofa County is a huge blow to his re-emerging political career and the opposition Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) on whose tickets he got elected.

Mr. Samukai, the former Minister of Defense had hoped to have been exonerated by the High Court following his conviction by the lower court in 2020.

Judge Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay of Criminal Court 'C' in March 2020 ruled him and two of his co-defendants, Joseph P. Johnson, former Deputy Minister for Administration and James Nyumah Dorkor, former Comptroller of the Ministry of Defense guilty of the crimes of theft of property, misuse of public money and criminal conspiracy and awarded them separate prison terms. Mr. Samukai was given a higher two-year prison sentence, while his co-defendants were given six months jail terms each but with a condition that their sentences shall be suspended if they all restitute the amount of US$1.1 million in question over a one-year period.

A summary of the prosecution, in this case the Government of Liberia's argument is that defendant Samukai and his co-defendants had no authority to use the AFL pension funds; that in fact said funds were private funds; and that the defendants issued checks in their own names for personal benefits.

But the Defendants took appeal at the Supreme Court and they (serving now as appellants), justified that they acted in line with the Constitution and relevant laws. They claimed that they acted on the orders of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to procure materials and render other services for the soldiers. They claimed that US$50,000 was paid on the instruction of former President Sirleaf as death benefits to the families of the late General Abdurrahman, the Nigerian army officials who served as the first post war first Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia.

They argued that President George Weah was also briefed about the expenditure of the fund and an agreement was reached between him and Sirleaf for the Government to repay the AFL fund, adding that it was based on this commitment that President Weah ordered an initial payment of US$460,000.

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But reading the four to one opinion of the High Court, Associate Justice Yousif D. Kabah said the court did not find substantive evidence that Mr. Samukai and his co-appellants were authorized by the former President. But assuming they were given authorization, they should have declined because the action was against the law.

The Supreme Court also claimed that there is unrefuted evidence gathered from the records of the case that the soldiers of the AFL compulsorily contributed to the fund lodged in the AFL Pension Account established at Ecobank Liberia Limited, and as such the said account is not a public account intended for the operational use of the Ministry of National Defense.

Excerpt of the Court's opinion: "That the evidence culled from the records shows that the appellants were fiduciaries of the soldiers of the AFL Pension Account; hence, every withdrawal from said account should have been by authorization or consent of the soldiers of the AFL. Therefore, the unrelated expenses of US$1,147,656.35 on the instruction of the former President of Liberia was without the pale of the law, and the appellants are held personally liable for the unauthorized expenditure on the accounts."

The high court upheld the lower court's decision with a slight modification that they all should be awarded a two-year prison sentence each since they committed the crimes together.
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This article came into my email yesterday. Thank for Lord I wasn't mid-coffee sip. I'd have choked or had a major keyboard clean up laughing. If you'd like to have a frank conversation with the vast majority of us who have kids with vax injury and who have dedicated and sacrificed to try to prevent others from falling into the same rabbit hole, check out the tax returns of the non-profits. The kitchen table non profits. Age of Autism? We file the post card tax return every year. Google it. Most of the orgs doing on the ground work have salaries that could fill a thimble and leave room for your thumb. Do we deserve to make a decent salary? Hell yes. I made more money when the Apple Mac was the new kid on the block. This work is a labor of agony and love and a refusal to quit. Stubborn. That's what we are. Too stubborn to walk away and make more doing unfulfilling work. Too stubborn to leave behind friends who've become family. Our autism family. Sure, the big orgs like Autism Speaks, who were never about to jeopardize funds by pursuing the V is for Verboten topic, had huge salaries. Maybe other orgs we know do too. God bless them. The orgs that have fought for more than 15 years for every individual with autism that I know and respect operate on shoestrings. Some have partners who help support our work. Others successful non-autism businesses that allow them to rock the autism work. And thank God for that.



Are there shysters and opportunists? Yes. And we've seen some come and go over the years. But I will tell you in no uncertain terms, we do not get rich doing this. WE GET BROKE.



We were here through H1N1 Swine flu. Antivaxxing. We were here through Ebola. Antivaxxing. (By the way, the Ebola vaccine was announced just before Covid, and went into hiding I guess.) And we'll be here during and after the Covid hysteria. Because autism doesn't wax or wane. It's here and even if it disappeared tonight, our loved ones have a long life ahead of them and they need us.



The article below has one mission. Protect the Covax. Become one of the Vaccinointed and you too can join the choir.



###



How COVID-conspiracists and anti-vaxxers are getting organised and making money

By Sanya Burgess and Victoria Elms, reporters

It's easy to dismiss conspiracy theorists who say COVID-19 doesn't exist, or that we are all living through a "plandemic" - an event orchestrated by the evil and powerful.

But NHS workers and the police have told Sky News the people who spread those theories are a "genuine problem", whose "fake news" may damage generations to come.

The Police Federation told Sky News currently around three quarters of protests are against lockdown restrictions. Worryingly, the remainder are largely organised by COVID-conspiracists and anti-vaxxers.

Sky News took a detailed look at those promoting COVID conspiracy theories in the UK - online and offline.

We found endless groups and pages circulating conspiracies, but three organisations dominate the landscape - Stand Up X, Stop New Normal and Save Our Rights UK.

These groups seek to generate money, often through donations. The leader of one group has amassed at least 45,000 from the public. Other groups have launched paid-for social media platforms and a shop.

Our investigation into these three groups shows they push an array of conspiracies including that coronavirus is less harmful than science says, to denying COVID-19 exists at all, to the debunked dangers of taking the vaccine. Read more here.
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The Home Secretary is to probe claims made by a passenger who said she walked through Heathrow unchecked after arriving from South Africa.

Sharon Feinstein, who lives in Islington, north London, claims she walked through the terminal following a trip to Johannesburg, where the mutant strain is rife.

Ms Feinstein landed yesterday after visiting her mother, and had documents to prove she'd had a negative test result - but claims she was ushered through passport control.

Matt Hancock told the Commons today that Priti Patel 'is looking into this individual case'.

This comes as it emerged travellers who lie about whether they have been to mutant coronavirus hotspots face up to ten years in prison, under a brutal crackdown unveiled by Matt Hancock today.

In more coronavirus news today, it emerged:

Matt Hancock says over-70s no longer need to wait for Covid vaccine invite from the NHS and they can book their own jabs online;

Covid deaths hit a six-week low as UK records 333 more victims and 14,104 infections on Monday;

Unions push back at plan to extend school summer term by two weeks as Boris Johnson vows to go 'flat out' to help children catch up after Covid;

Coronavirus patients treated with a experimental hepatitis drug were four times more likely to have cleared the infection within seven days, study finds;

An extra 10,000 people will be tested for Covid in Manchester after four cases of new Kent strain are found in the city;

Boris Johnson refuses to rule out making lockdown longer if South African variant continues to spread.

Sharon Feinstein, from Islington, north London, claims she walked through Heathrow following a trip to Johannesburg

All international arrivals into the UK will be forced to take two tests as the government is set to implement stricter measures to stop new strains of Covid arriving in the country

Hotel quarantine may leave passengers stranded abroad as airlines warn they could refuse flights to those who have failed to book a room in advance Airlines fear any lack of rooms under the quarantine hotels scheme could force them to leave travellers stuck abroad. It is understood ministers are considering adding a section to passenger locator forms, which all must fill out before departure. It could ask them if they have booked into a quarantine hotel in the UK. But it is unclear whether carriers will be expected to bar travellers who answer no, leaving them stranded. Health Secretary Matt Hancock will announce today that the Government has struck its first deals with hotel chains to accommodate those quarantining. Ministers are expected to unveil a booking system for travellers this week. But an aviation source said yesterday: 'We're completely in the dark. We don't know yet whether the Government will want us to deny boarding.' Airlines are legally required to check passenger locator forms have been completed. They also have to check that a passenger has a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of travel. Ministers have been accused of being too slow to bring in quarantine hotels. The policy was announced in the Commons on January 27 but does not come into force until Monday. Under the rules, hotels will have to provide three meals a day for guests for 11 nights. Travellers will be tested twice, on the second and eighth day of their stay. Security guards will be stationed on each floor and by entrances and exits, with police on standby if passengers try to abscond. But Heathrow airport has raised concerns about how the new scheme will work at borders. A spokesman said: 'Now that the Government has set a date, ministers need to work with industry to establish how this policy will actually be implemented at the border. 'Our offer to support remains, but time is ticking and this very complex initiative requires airports, airlines and the Government to work closely together for it to be workable.' Lucy Moreton, professional officer at the Immigration Services Union, which represents border staff, said border guards were yet to receive any fresh guidance about how the policy will work. Advertisement

Ms Feinstein told the Daily Express: 'I could have had Covid, they don't know where I am staying, they didn't ask.

'As a country we're messing up.'

Ms Feinstein said the Covid strain in South Africa was 'rife', but travellers were made to have tests after five days and again 14 days after arriving.

She said: 'Why can a third-world country get it right and we can't?'

Ms Feinstein, a freelance journalist who is now self-isolating at her home, said it took her 10 minutes to get through airport control.

She told Good Morning Britain today: 'I was shocked. I fully expected to take around a hour.

'I had my negative Covid test, I had my passenger locator form, I had various other forms.

'We were all queuing up, then I was ushered towards the electronic booth.

'I was literally through there in 10 minutes. Nobody was there. I was looking around for someone to show my test to.'

Yvette Cooper, Labour chairwoman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said today: 'Yesterday the Home Secretary told me in Parliament that 100% compliance checks were now taking place at the border.

'Yet one passenger arriving at Heathrow yesterday from South Africa via Qatar has reported having no checks on her forms or tests and being sent on her way through passport e-gates.'

Responding, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the Commons: 'The Home Secretary is looking into this individual case and the measures that we announced today further strengthen the enforcement to make sure that the rules that are currently in place are enforced more strongly and indeed that we have brought in a new system of rules to strengthen the safeguards at our border yet further.'

Meanwhile travellers who lie about whether they have been to mutant coronavirus hotspots face up to ten years in prison, it emerged today.

The Health Secretary said he made 'no apologies' for incredibly harsh measures, warning that protecting the UK from variant strains that can potentially evade vaccines is 'mission critical' - and hinting they might need to be in place until the Autumn.

He revealed the government is creating a new criminal offence of hiding from the authorities that you have visited one of the countries on the UK's 'red list'.

The draconian step came as he confirmed that from Monday all arrivals will have to take three coronavirus tests - one pre-departure and two during their isolation period. Those who fail to get the checks could be hit with thousands of pounds in fines.

Mr Hancock also declared that 4,600 rooms have now been secured by the government from 16 hotels so the 'quarantine hotel' system can get up and running as planned on Monday, although the Department of Health refused to name them.

All incomers from 'red list' countries must stay in the rooms for 10 days, costing 1,750 each.

Arrivals from dozens of high-risk countries on the 'red list' will have to test negative 72 hours before travelling, and then be screened again twice, on day two and day eight.

Failure to stick to the hotel quarantine will be punishable with a fine of up to 10,000, Mr Hancock said.

Meanwhile, all other travellers will also have to show a negative result before coming to the UK, and then face two more tests while isolating at home or in other private accommodation.

However, they should be able to use the existing test and release scheme so they can take escape restrictions five days after arrival.

Boris Johnson refuses to rule out making lockdown LONGER if South African variant continues to spread Boris Johnson yesterday refused to rule out extending lockdown if the South African variant continues to spread amid fears Oxford University's vaccine may not stop people falling ill with the mutant strain. An alarming study found the British-made jab had 'minimal effect' in preventing mild disease caused by the strain, suggesting vaccinated people may still be able to catch and spread it. One prominent SAGE adviser claimed the finding meant 'more restrictions might be needed for longer'. Pressed on whether there may need to be a delay to easing restrictions if the jab is proven to be less effective at reducing transmission of the South African variant, the Prime Minister said vaccines are 'going to offer a way out' and 'remain of massive benefit to our country'  but failed to dismiss the prospect of a lockdown extension. During a visit to a coronavirus test manufacturing facility in Derby, he said: 'We're very confident in all the vaccines that we're using. And I think it's important for people to bear in mind that all of them, we think, are effective in delivering a high degree of protection against serious illness and death, which is the most important thing.' Top experts  including Oxford academics and the UK's leading vaccine panel  also believe the jab will protect against severe illness, ultimately easing pressure on the NHS when lockdown restrictions are eventually lifted and saving tens of thousands of lives. Health minister Edward Argar told the public not to lose sight of the main purpose of jabs  which is to drive down hospital admissions and deaths to manageable levels. His comments echoed those of vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi, who said preventing severe disease was the 'vitally important' factor for the roll-out. Government sources insisted the worrying study  which prompted South Africa to stop dishing out the Oxford jab  had not changed the plan to get schools back from March 8. However, they pointed out the PM had cited the threat of new variants as a factor that will be taken into account when decisions are made on easing lockdown. So far there have only been 147 confirmed cases of the South African variant in the UK but this is likely to be a vast underestimate because up until last week officials were only analysing 10 per cent of random positive swabs. Scientists say the true number of cases is likely 10 to 20 times higher than the official count. No10 has deployed extra testing into more than 10 areas of England where the South African strain is thought to be spreading in the community. It comes as at least ten vaccination centres due to inoculate thousands were shut today as Storm Darcy struck the UK with 50mph winds and a foot of snow turning roads into 'lethal' ice rinks. More than 12million Brits have already had their first dose, with the Government on course to hit its ambitious target of vaccinating 15million by February 15. Advertisement

Mr Hancock said failure to take tests - which must be booked in advance through a government portal - will be punishable with a 1,000 fine on the first occasion, and 2,000 on the second.

And he said people who lie about whether they have been to 'red list' countries could be hit with a jail sentence of up to 10 years under a new law.

The maximum punishment puts the offence in a category with some of the most serious, alongside things such as carrying a firearm with intent. Sentences for rape can be shorter than 10 years, although the maximum for that level of crime is life.

The tests required are the 'gold standard' PCR variety rather than the quicker and cheaper lateral flow.

Travellers from all countries are already obliged to prove they have tested negative in the previous 72 hours, and isolate for 10 days, but there are concerns about low compliance.

Setting out the new health measures at the border - which will come into force on Monday - Mr Hancock said: 'The new measures build on the tough action that we've already taken.'

He added: 'Every passenger must demonstrate a negative test result 72 hours before they travel to the UK and every passenger must quarantine for 10 days.

'Arriving in this country involves a two-week process for all.'

On the 33 red list countries, Mr Hancock continued: 'But even with these tough measures in place we must strengthen our defences yet further.

'I appreciate what a significant challenge this is.'

Spelling out the extraordinary new system, Mr Hancock said he made 'no apologies' for how tough they are.

'People who flout these rules are putting us all at risk,' he said.

'Passenger carriers will have a duty in law to make sure that passengers have signed up for these new arrangements before they travel, and will be fined if they don't, and we will be putting in place tough fines for people who don't comply.

'This includes a 1,000 penalty for any international arrival who fails to take a mandatory test, a 2,000 penalty for any international arrival who fails to take the second mandatory test, as well as automatically extending their quarantine period to 14 days, and a 5,000 fixed penalty notice  rising to 10,000  for arrivals who fail to quarantine in a designated hotel.'

He added: 'Anyone who lies on the passenger locator form and tries to conceal that they've been in a country on the red list in the 10 days before arrival here will face a prison sentence of up to 10 years.'

Mr Hancock said the measures will be put into law this week and more resources will be available to enforce them, adding: 'I make no apologies for the strength of these measures because we're dealing with one of the strongest threats to our public health that we've faced as a nation.'

Mr Hancock said: 'From Monday, all international arrivals, whether under home quarantine or hotel quarantine, will be required by law to take further PCR tests on day two and day eight of that quarantine.

'Passengers will have to book these tests through our online booking portal before they travel. Anyone planning to travel to the UK from Monday needs to book these tests and the online portal will go live on Thursday.

'If either of these post-arrival tests comes back positive, they'll have to quarantine for a further 10 days from the date of the test and will of course be offered any NHS treatment that's necessary.

'Any positive test will automatically undergo genomic sequencing to confirm whether they have a variant of concern.'

Mr Hancock said responding to new variants is 'mission critical'.

He told the Commons: 'Coronavirus, just like flu and all other viruses, mutates over time and so responding to new variants as soon as they arise is mission critical to protect ourselves for the long term.'

How will the new border rules work? Matt Hancock has announced details of the tougher border measures to MPs. RULES FOR RED LIST TRAVELLERS People will be required to test negative for coronavirus 72 hours before departure, using a kit that meets UK government standards. On arrival they will be taken to a 'quarantine hotel' for a 10-day stay that will leave them with a 1,750 bill - although the government pays up front. They will be tested again on day two and day eight of quarantine, again at their own cost. RULES FOR NON-RED LIST The same requirement for a negative test result 72 hours before departure applies. Once in the UK, they must isolate for 10 days at home or in private accommodation, with the authorities able to check that they are obeying the rules. Tests will be required on day two and day eight of isolation, and must be booked through a government portal in advance of travel. The portal will be launched on Thursday. The costs are not yet known but PCR tests typically cost around 120 a time. It is thought many people will opt for the test and release scheme - which means they can escape restrictions after testing negative on day five. However, Mr Hancock suggested they will still be required to take tests on day two and day eight - meaning they could be screened four times in total. Advertisement

Outlining the Government's four-part strategy to do this, Mr Hancock said: 'First, the lower the case numbers here, the fewer new variants we get  so the work to lower case numbers domestically is crucial.

'Second, as I set out to the House last week, is enhanced contact tracing, surge testing and genomic sequencing.

'Third is the work on vaccines to tackle variants as set out yesterday by Professor Van-Tam.

'And fourth, health protection at the border to increase our security against new variants of concern arriving from abroad.'

Travel from 'red list' countries to the UK is already banned for everyone apart from Britons and a few other exceptions.

And Mr Hancock said that those arriving from those 33 countries - and potentially more in future if the roster expands - will now have to quarantine in an assigned hotel room.

He told the Commons: 'We're setting up a new system of hotel quarantine for UK and Irish residents who've been in red list countries in the last 10 days.

'In short, this means that any returning residents from these countries will have to quarantine in an assigned hotel room for 10 days from the time of arrival.

'Before they travel, they'll have to book through an online platform and pay for a quarantine package costing 1,750 for an individual travelling alone which includes the hotel, transport and testing.

This booking system will go live on Thursday when we'll also publish the full detailed guidance.

'Passengers will only be able to enter the UK through a small number of ports that currently account for the vast majority of passenger arrivals.

'When they arrive, they'll be escorted to a designated hotel which will be closed to guests who aren't quarantining, for 10 days or for longer if they test positive for Covid-19 during their stay.

'We've contracted 16 hotels for an initial 4,600 rooms and we will secure more as they are needed.

'People will need to remain in their rooms and of course will not be allowed to mix with other guests and there will be visible security in place to ensure compliance alongside necessary support, so even as we protect public health we can look after the people in our care.'

A deserted Terminal 5 as the aviation industry continues to be badly hit by the Covid crisis

Vaccinated Brits could be given scannable QR codes that allow them to travel abroad as soon as NEXT MONTH as part of Covid 'vaccine passport' schemes funded by the taxpayer

By Connor Boyd, Assistant Health Editor for MailOnline

Vaccinated Britons could get scannable QR codes as soon as next month, allowing them to travel abroad as part of coronavirus 'vaccine passport' schemes funded by the taxpayer.

At least eight firms have been awarded Government grants to develop schemes that would allow users to carry digital proof that they have received an approved Covid-19 jab.

The projects, given a total of 450,000 between them, aim to provide a way to get people back to work and reopen international travel without the risk of fuelling the pandemic.

The grants have been dished out by InnovateUK, a non-departmental public agency which claims it 'operates at arm's length from the Government'.

Logifect, a Kent firm handed 62,000 in grants, has designed a phone app linking to a digital passport that includes a photo of them. It is due to launch next month, The Telegraph reports.

London-based iProov and Mvine, in Surrey, have been given 75,000 for their joint effort, according to the newspaper. They are developing digital 'certificates' that would provide people with confirmation of their vaccinations.

Executives at all three firms have said they plan to pitch their technologies to the Government before the current national lockdown ends.

Number 10 has publicly denied it is going down the route of controversial vaccine passports, which are feared could make voluntary vaccination mandatory by proxy.

Critics also argue it would in effect create an 'apartheid' system between those who have the virus and those who do not.

However, sources say ministers are coming round to the idea that some form of system could be useful in the future as a risk-averse way of keeping the economy open.

Vaccinated Britons could be given scannable QR codes that allow them to travel abroad as part of coronavirus 'vaccine passport' schemes funded by the taxpayer

At least eight companies have been awarded Government grants to develop schemes that would allow users to carry digital proof that they have received an approved Covid-19 jab. Pictured: Care worker Felicia Melody gets vaccinated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca covid vaccine at the Med Mart pharmacy in Borehamwood today

Another of the recipient projects is led by Enduring Net, which is working on a 49,678 decentralised system that can digitally provide 'proofs of individuals' Covid-19 credentials', which will include proof of vaccination.

EAS Technologies' project was given 173,876 to develop an accreditation platform that hopes to be used by organisers of the 'world's largest sporting organisations, events, and facilities'.

Covid vaccine centre in Hackney has to close early because of 'really low uptake' A Covid vaccination centre in London has had to reduce its opening hours because not enough people are coming forward for the jab. The John Scott inoculation hub in Hackney, East London, claimed 'really slow patient uptake' forced it to close at 2pm on three days last week. The centre, which is open to patients from 40 GP surgeries, had been administering vaccines from 10am until 8pm every day until the sudden drop-off in appointments. Health chiefs fear vaccine hesitancy among black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) groups is behind the poor uptake in the diverse inner London borough. Around 45 per cent of Hackney's population is made up of people from BAME backgrounds, predominantly of black African or Caribbean ethnicity. Numerous surveys have shown minorities - who studies have shown are up to three times as likely to die from Covid - are more reluctant to get the jabs due to a mistrust in the Government. And a report over the weekend suggested twice as many white over-80s had been for a jab compared to elderly black Britons. Dame Donna Kinnair, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing said today officials had been too slow to shut down anti-vaxx myths online. Other vaccine hubs and GP practices have already began jabbing the over-60s after successful roll-outs in their areas. Health officials could move to lower risk groups if uptake remains low in Hackney  but the priority remains the over-70s, NHS staff, care home residents and workers. NHS City and Hackney clinical commissioning group said staff have been phoning eligible patients who have not turned up to try to convince them. Advertisement

A short description on the funding page suggests the project will be used for proving staff and contractors at events have been vaccinated, but could also provide a 'track and trace' system for those attending the events.

It is believed the projects will look at different areas of society such as healthcare settings and public spaces and how passport schemes could help remove the potential danger of unvaccinated people coming into contact.

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.

Airline Qantas and over-50s travel company Saga have suggested that people wanting to travel with them in future will have to have taken a Covid-19 vaccine before they embark.

UK ministers have contradicted each other on the issue of vaccine passports since they were touted at the end of 2020.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove has said they are 'not the plan', but vaccine tsar Nadhim Zahawi has admitted the Government is 'looking at the technology'.

However, Mr Zahawi has since said there are 'absolutely no plans for vaccine passporting' and said 'mandating vaccinations is discriminatory and completely wrong'.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock last month also denied plans to implement passporting, telling the Spectator: 'It's not an area that we're looking at.'

Department of Health sources told MailOnline in December the schemes were 'exploratory work' and the systems were not being introduced imminently.

'It is about looking at ways we could use this in future,' the source added. 'It is looking at whether it would be possible,' they said at the time. 'There are no plans to introduce immunity passports.'

It comes as tens of thousands nurses have yet to receive a Covid jab, despite the Government aiming to have vaccinated all frontline health staff by next week.

Some 15 per cent of nurses across the country have yet to be given a single dose of the coronavirus vaccine, a poll by the Royal College of Nurses found.

And the number of nurses working in care homes and in the community without the vaccine is greater still, with 44 per cent of agency staff and 27 per cent of temporary staff yet to receive a jab.

The survey of 24,370 nurses comes days before the Governments February 15 target for vaccinating 15million Britons in the first four priority groups, which includes all health and social care staff and over-70s.

RCN chief executive Dame Donna Kinnair told The Guardian that the findings were 'extremely worrying'.

She said: 'Our survey suggests many thousands of nursing staff have yet to be given their Covid vaccine less than a week before the governments deadline.

'With only days to go, every effort must be made to reach all nursing staff to ensure their protection and that of the patients and vulnerable people they care for.'

The survey found just seven per sent of all nurses have received two doses of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.

Scaling the 15 per cent of nurses who have yet to have their first dose to the RCN's 450,000-strong membership would suggest around 75,000 nurses have yet to be vaccinated.

Of that 15 per cent, just under half (45 per cent) of staff had been offered a vaccine but were either waiting for an appointment or had chosen not to take one.

In total, three per cent of all nurses surveyed were hesitant to accept the vaccine  which would account for some 13,500 staff if scaled up to the RCN's membership.
[February 09, 2021] New Management at R&M Americas

WETZIKON, Switzerland and Milpitas, Calif., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- R&M, the globally active developer and provider of connectivity systems for high-quality network infrastructures, based in Wetzikon, Switzerland, has appointed its long-serving, experienced senior manager Paulo Campos as the new executive vice president R&M Americas and managing director R&M USA, Inc. effective February 1, 2021. Both North and South America are important strategic growth markets for R&M. Paulo successfully positioned R&M Iberia in the market from 2010  2015 and over the last six years has just as successfully established R&M in Latin America, with its own production plant. During this time, R&M became one of the leading players in Brazil. The facility in Santa Rita do Sapucai in Minas Gerais has continuously been expanded to meet the demands of new businesses generated in the telecom and data center sector. With his new roles as MD R&M USA, Inc. and executive vice presidentR&M Americas and with the merge of the two regions, Paulo Campos' main focus will be on the continuous further development of R&M's business and positioning in North and South America. He will be relocating to California with his family.



The new managing director for R&M's South America business is Edison Castro, who is based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Edison is an accomplished and proven general manager with significant experience in driving sales and building teams in the data communication industry. He has held various senior management positions in the industry over the last 15 years. Most recently, Edison Castro was the sales director Latam for Prysmian's Multimedia Solutions business. Prior to this, he was in charge of sales for Prysmian's telecom and high voltage business. Both North and South America are important strategic growth markets for R&M. "We are very pleased to appoint two proven senior managers to continue our growth strategy in this important region," said R&M's CEO Michel Riva.

Paulo Campos: "R&M is already well positioned in both markets. I am excited to merge the two regions and to take them to the next level. There are many synergies we can make use of and from which our customers across the two continents can benefit. I am fully committed and motivated to further grow the R&M business in this region. It is a great opportunity for me and my family to move again to a new country and to get to know another new culture." Edison Castro: "It is an honor to be part of R&M, to lead the team and to contribute to the success in this growth region. A new stage in my career has begun. I am completely committed and motivated to be part of R&M's further growth path in South America by supporting our customers with our high-quality products and solutions." About R&M

R&M (Reichle & De-Massari AG) is a globally active group of companies in the information and communication technology sectors, based in Wetzikon, Switzerland. The company develops, manufactures and sells future-proof products and systems for communication and data networks. Thanks to its innovative strength, R&M now covers the entire connectivity range alongside network cabling. R&M network solutions can be used in LAN, telecommunication, Fiber to the Home and data centers. The family company founded in 1964 has its own production plants in ten locations. Website: www.rdm.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-management-at-rm-americas-301224551.html SOURCE R&M

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Ten House Republicans voted to impeach Donald Trump, turning against the president and their party to join with Democrats in its charge of "incitement to insurrection".

Among the highest-ranking was Wyoming's Liz Cheney, chair of the House Republican Conference, who despite calls to step down from GOP leadership over her support of impeaching the president survived a vote and remains in position.

She was joined by John Katko, of New York, Adam Kinzinger, of Illinois, Anthony Gonzalez, of Ohio, Tom Rice, of South Carolina, David Valadao, of California, Fred Upton and Peter Meijer of Michigan, and Jamie Herrera Beutler and Dan Newhouse, both from Washington.

Read more: Trump impeachment timeline

Mr Trump's impeachment trial has now begun in the upper chamber of Congress, and 45 out of 50 Republican senators have already voted that the trial is unconstitutional as he has left office and is a private citizen.

With 67 senators required to convict Mr Trump it appears unlikely that many Republicans will join the 50 Democrats in voting against him.

But the five Republicans who voted with Democrats to move the trial forward are seen as the most likely to support the ex-president's conviction.

These are Senators Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, Ben Sasse, of Nebraska, and Pat Toomey, of Pennsylvania.

Read more: Trump impeachment live: Historic trial shows damning video of ex-president and Capitol riots

Here are the House Republicans who voted to impeach the 45th president of the United States, and the Senate colleagues who may join them.

Liz Cheney, Wyoming's at-large district

Ms Cheney, the third-highest ranking Republican in the House and Wyoming's only member in Congress, indicated her support for the impeachment of Trump for stoking the mob into rioting at the Capitol.

The President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack, Ms Cheney said in a statement before the vote. Everything that followed was his doing. None of this would have happened without the President.

John Katko, New York's 24th district

The former federal prosecutor was the first Republican to indicate he would vote for impeachment, opening the gates for the handful that turned on the outgoing president. He voted against the first impeachment of the president.

To allow the president of the United States to incite this attack without consequence is a direct threat to the future of our democracy, he said in a statement. For that reason, I cannot sit by without taking action."

Adam Kinzinger, Illinoiss 16th district

Mr Kinzinger is a frequent critic of Mr Trump and has called on Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment following the Capitol riot.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the President of the United States broke his oath of office and incited this insurrection," Mr Kinzinger said before the vote. "If these actions--the Article II branch inciting a deadly insurrection against the Article I branch--are not worthy of impeachment, then what is an impeachable offence?"

Fred Upton, Michigan's 6th district

The former chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted against the first impeachment but said Congress must hold the president to account and send a clear message.

"I would have preferred a bipartisan, formal censure rather than a drawn-out impeachment process," he said before the vote. "I fear this will now interfere with important legislative business and a new Biden Administration. But it is time to say: Enough is enough."

Peter Meijer, Michigans 3rd district

The newly sworn-in Republican released a statement saying he wrestled with the division the vote will cause and the precedent it would establish to due process, but that the impeachment was a call to action to reflect on the Capitol riots and ways to correct them.

My job is to apply my best judgement of the article of impeachment that is on the floor of the US Congress. With the facts at hand, I believe the article of impeachment to be accurate, he said.

The president betrayed his oath of office by seeking to undermine our constitutional process, and he bears responsibility for inciting the violent acts of insurrection last week.

Jaime Herrera Beutler, Washington's 3rd district

Ms Beutler made her intentions to impeach the president known on Twitter, saying he acted against his oath of office and "incited a riot to halt the peaceful transfer of power".

"Hours went by before the president did anything meaningful to stop the attack. Instead, he and his lawyer were busy making calls to senators who were still in lockdown, seeking support to further delay the Electoral College certification," she said in a tweet.

Dan Newhouse, Washington's 4th district

Another Republican who did not support the 2019 impeachment, Mr Newhouse said voiting against the latest attempt would be a vote to validate violence at the Capitol.

"It is also a vote to condone President Trumps inaction," he said before the vote. "He did not strongly condemn the attack nor did he call in reinforcements when our officers were overwhelmed. Our country needed and leader, and President Trump failed to fulfil his oath of office.

Anthony Gonzalez, Ohio's 16th district

Mr Gonzalez said in a statement the president helped organize and incite a mob in an attempt to prevent Congress certifying the election results.

During the attack itself, the president abandoned his post while many members asked for help, thus further endangering all present, he said. These are fundamental threats not just to peoples lives but to the very foundation of our republic.

Tom Rice, South Carolinas 7th district

Mr Rice was one of the few Republicans who did not indicate their vote before voicing it in the House. Making the vote even more unexpected were his comments to local news broadcaster News13 on Monday that he didnt support impeaching the president.

Trump acted recklessly last Wednesday, but he only has nine days left in his term, his statement said. Lets not stoke further division.

David Valadao, Californias 21st district

The other surprise Republican to throw their hat in with the Democrats was Mr Valadao of California, who said in a tweet following the vote that Mr Trump was the driving force of the Capitol riot.

Speaker Pelosi has thrown precedent and process out the window by turning what should be a thorough investigation into a rushed political stunt. I wish, more than anything, that we had more time to hold hearings to ensure due process, he said.

Unfortunately, speaker Pelosi did not afford us that option. Based on the facts before me, I have to go with my gut and vote my conscience. I voted to impeach president Trump. His inciting rhetoric was un-American, abhorrent, and absolutely an impeachable offence. Its time to put country over politics.

GOP Senators

At least 17 Republicans in the Senate need to support impeachment to convict Mr Trump and five appear open to voting against him.

Mitt Romney, Utah

Ill of course hear what the lawyers have to say for each side. But I think its pretty clear that the effort is constitutional, Mr Romney, who voted to convict Mr Trump during his first impeachment trial, told CNN.

Susan Collins, Maine

Ive not made a decision yet, I dont pre-judge the evidence at the trial, Ms Collins told NECN.

Lisa Murkowski, Alaska

Like Alaska, Ms Murkowski often stands apart from the rest of the contiguous US Republicans, most notably in her break from the party in her objections to replacing Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the Supreme Court before the presidential election. She did, however, tow the party line in appointing Amy Coney Barrett when the vote went ahead.

I want him to resign. I want him out. He has caused enough damage, she told the Anchorage Daily News.

Ben Sasse, Nebraska

A frequent critic of Mr Trump, Mr Sasse said he would definitely consider articles of impeachment brought by the House, but that it would be weighed against what is best for uniting the country.

"I believe the president has disregarded his oath of office. He swore an oath to the American people to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. He acted against that," Mr Sasse said in an interview with CBS This Morning.

"What he did was wicked. That said, the question of what the House does now and how the Senate responds to it over the next 12 days is a critically important question, but the most important question is the prudential one is how we bring the country back together."

Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania

Mr Toomey has already said he believes the president committed impeachable offences, and has previously condemned his efforts to undermine the results of the election, saying he had descended into a level of madness since his loss.

But that might not be enough to vote for impeachment. Speaking to Fox News, he said: I'm not sure it's desirable to attempt to force him out, what, a day or two or three prior to the day on which hes going to be finished anyway  so I'm not clear that's the best path forward.
The United States is deeply concerned by Russian authorities decision to sentence opposition figure Aleksey Navalny to two years and eight months in prison, replacing his suspended sentence with jail time. Like every Russian citizen, Mr. Navalny is entitled to the rights laid out in the Russian constitution, said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement. Moreover, Russia has international obligations to respect equality before the law and the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

During the hearing before his sentencing, Mr. Navalny made the point that, while authorities can lock him up, Hundreds of thousands [of Russians] cannot be locked up. More and more people will recognize this. And when they recognize this  and that moment will come  all of this will fall apart, because you cannot lock up the whole country.

Tens of thousands of Russian citizens in more than 120 cities and towns turned out each of the last two weekends to peacefully protest the arrest of opposition leader Alexsey Navalny, and to demand his release.

Secretary Blinken again called for the Russian government to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Navalny, as well as the hundreds of other Russian citizens wrongfully detained in recent weeks for exercising their rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly.

The European Court of Human Rights concluded that Mr. Navalnys 2014 conviction, the grounds for the new sentence, was unlawful and arbitrary and politically motivated. The current proceedings against Mr. Navalny, which began with his detention on January 17, are a continuation of efforts to violate Mr. Navalnys rights and suppress political pluralism, as the European Court of Human Rights previously found.

Even as we work with Russia to advance U.S. interests, said Secretary Blinken, we will coordinate closely with our allies and partners to hold Russia accountable for failing to uphold the rights of its citizens.
Islamabad, Feb 9 : The Pakistan Supreme Court has directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government to start the immediate rebuilding of a Hindu temple which was set on fire by a mob in December 2020.

On December 30, 2020, an unruly crowd set fire to the Samadhi of Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj located in Karak district's Teri area after more than a thousand people led by some local elders of a religious party held a protest and demanded the removal of the temple, originally built before 1920.

Last month, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had announced reconstruction of the temple, as well as a crackdown against the attackers.

During the hearing on Monday, a three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed also directed the province to submit a timeline for the shrine's completion, The Express Tribune reported.

Ikram Chaudhry, lawyer for the Evacuee Trust Property Board which maintains Hindu and Sikh places of worship in Pakistan, apprised the bench that no recovery has been made so far on the temple issue.

"The government had approved 30.41 million PKR for the reconstruction of the temple," Chaudhry told the court.

Meanwhile, Ramesh Kumar, head of the Hindu Council and a member of the National Assembly, said that the Karak area was sensitive and that the reconstruction of the temple should be done by the Hindu community, reports The Express Tribune.

This was the second time that the shrine had been attacked. It was demolished in 1997 and then rebuilt in 2015 as per the orders of the Supreme Court.

Monday's order comes after a report submitted to the Supreme Court on February 5 by the one-man Shoaib Suddle Commission had revealed that most of the Hindu holy sites across the country were a "picture of neglect".

The Commission was set up by the apex court in 2019 to oversee implementation of its judgement on minority rights.

It regretted that ETPB "failed to maintain most of the ancient and holy sites of the minority community".

Of the 428 Hindu temples in Pakistan that existed before Partition, only around 20 have survived, according to an official survey.

Some of the major Hindu temples in Pakistan include Shri Hinglaj Mata temple (Balochistan), Shri Ramdev Pir temple (Sindh), Umarkot Shiv Mandir (Sindh), and the Churrio Jabal Durga Mata temple (Sindh).

According to the 2017 Pakistan Census, Hindus make up for 2.14 per cent of the country's overall population.
For the fourth consecutive day, thousands of people took to the streets of Burma to protest the coup d'etat a week ago, challenging a new military ban on demonstrating in Yangon, Mandalay and the capital of Naypyidaw.

Here the police repeatedly used moisturizers to disperse a small crowd of protesters who refused to leave the square.

Meanwhile, New Zealand has announced the breakdown of diplomatic relations with Burma. The premier, Jacinda Ardern, asked the international community to "strongly condemn" the coup and announced sanctions against the military.

(Unioneonline / vl)
One of the top achievers in the 2020 matric results says he was rejected and turned away at many schools because of his then poor command of the English language.

Simon Fransisco is the second-best overall learner nationally in the 2020 grade 12 ordinary level examination.

He is the only pupil in the top ten who is not from the revered St. Boniface College.

Fransisco said he was grateful to Jakob Marengo Tutorial College for accepting him in 2016.

"I achieved second place and what I can do is thank God for all these years," said the 18-year-old Angolan-born, who also paid glowing tribute to his teachers.

"Being an Angolan and being a foreigner who didn't have a slight idea of how to communicate in English was not a walk in the park. In 2016, I started my eighth grade at Jakob Marengo Tutorial College after being rejected by many schools because of my lack of proficiency in the language."

He said, in 2018, he got 41 points and he had the chance to leave the school but didn't. "I had the chance to leave the school because they took me in when I was rejected by many schools in the city, so it is an honour to represent them here," shared Fransisco.

He added: "I give my appreciation to the teachers who dedicated their time and effort, as they too are the reasons why I am here. It is an honour to represent my school. I had many great teachers, and they all played a role and encouraged me all my secondary school years."

Fransisco said he wants to pursue a career in engineering and urged students who didn't make it to dedicate time for their studies.

"The teachers can be in class and teach you, but it is up to you, the student, on how you use that information given to you. The mindsets need to change and that won't be brought to light if we, ourselves, don't change the way we behave in schools.

"You need to envision your goals; you need to have a purpose," stated Fransisco. He said purpose drove him to where he is now, something the school principal, Herbert Schultz, said is vital, having manifested in Fransisco through his years at the school from the eighth till the 12th grade. "I am over the moon; that is the best way to describe how I feel right now.

For the last couple of years, the school has done well, as we have always had a learner among the top 10 nationally," shared Schultz.

"In 1985, the principal founders of the school, Dr Otto Schimming and Ottilie Abrahams, had this thing of giving people second chances in life.

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"Irrespective of economic status and tribal affiliation, everybody is given a chance - no matter the country of origin - and that is why we accepted Fransisco; for him to prove himself."

Schultz said he will remember Fransisco as a modest, God-fearing and principled young man. "All I can say and something I tell my learners is: Be principled and disciplined because, without these two characteristics, you can never go far. What I told Fransisco is that he must maintain those principles because they brought him this far and will take him further," shared Schultz.

Fransisco's Mathematics teacher Aaron Mpandi said it is important for his former learner to keep the same attitude at university level and not lose focus.

"I want to tell him to keep the same attitude he had in school; he is capable of going far much greater heights. I want him to remain loyal and disciplined as always. He must choose the best career, as he is a hard worker.

"I remember him telling me the times he would sleep after studying: he is determined," shared Mpandi.
As the United States struggles to distribute and administer COVID-19 vaccines, were looking back at the history of vaccine rollouts in our country, including the logistical roadblocks to shots and communicating with a fearful public. The COVID vaccines have been widely shown to be safe and effective, unlike some historical examples that had significant associated risks. But what can stories of failures from the past teach us about how to fairly administer them?

On Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 1 p.m. Eastern, join Future Tense for a conversation with Atul Gawande and Helene Gayle, co-chair of the National Academies framework for vaccine distribution, about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

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Three small children, suffering through smallpox, huddled behind two locked tenement doors, until they were snatched away by public health officials conducting vaccination raids backed up by police. Elsewhere, vaccines, produced with no oversight and contaminated with dirt from the stables where they were incubated, delivered tetanus bacilli into the arms of schoolchildren, and employers forced laborers to bare their arms to the vaccinator in order to get their paychecks.

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Historian Michael Willrichs book Pox: An American History is a grim history of the governments response to the smallpox epidemics that peppered American towns, labor camps, and cities at the turn of the 20th century, a generation after the last time smallpox troubled the country, during the Civil War. As a result of what happened during these outbreaks, the government claimed the power to vaccinate, but also began to regulate vaccine production, and to lay the foundation for law that allows vaccine exemptions for some. This is not the story of a vaccine rolloutsmallpox inoculations had been used to curb epidemics in the United States for more than a centurybut because of the force and urgency of the vaccination campaigns, and the resistance those campaigns provoked, its a foundational episode in the history of modern American vaccine distribution.

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I spoke with Willrich about citizens resistance, the legal connection between vaccination and sterilization, and the way this particular history may have been drafted into later anti-vaccine discourse. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Rebecca Onion: Was this the first time Americans were made to get vaccines?

Michael Willrich: Well, yes and no. Massachusetts had the first state law requiring schoolchildren to get the smallpox vaccination, and that was passed in 1855. A lot of the debates around government and vaccination before the late 19th century concerned whether or not governments could use taxpayer funds to pay for vaccine supply. This idea of compulsory vaccination was really a new thing in the middle of the 19th century, and then the turn of the 20th century was really the high point of the effort.

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Your book makes the point that in the late 19th century, people had experienced sort of a loss of generational knowledge about smallpoxor at least, a loss of direct experience with it. What was the situation, when the outbreaks happened around the turn of the century, with peoples understanding of smallpox?

Smallpox was a truly dreadful, horrific disease; historically, smallpox had killed 25 to 40 percent of all people infected, depending on the outbreak. Sometimes the fatality rate was higher than that. And for people who survived, they were often badly scarred from the disease, carrying visible scars on their faces. Some were also left blind.

But when the epidemics began to break across the United States in the 1890s, many local communities hadnt really seen many, or even any, cases in years. So there was a loss of knowledge of the disease, and that was complicated by the fact that during this time, there was a new form of milder smallpox that was circulating in the United States. There were epidemics at the timein New York, Boston, New Orleanswhere hundreds of people died, but there were also epidemics of a fast-spreading milder smallpox that had a much lower case-fatality rate.

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The result was that when outbreaks began in their towns, many people simply refused to believe it was smallpox at all. And its the same kind of thing we see with vaccination todaypeople became less familiar with the disease, and they were no longer very concerned about trying so hard to get vaccinated.

And the vaccines themselvestheir production was not at all regulated, right? What was in a smallpox vaccine, at this time?

At the time, vaccine was still produced by inoculating calves with related viruses. When [material containing] those milder viruses was introduced into human skin, it could produce a reaction that would lead to having a protective immunity of a period of several years. During the time of these epidemics, they were almost entirely produced by commercial makers, which were often very small-time operations. A local doctor might keep a few cows for this very purposeor in places like Philadelphia or Detroit, which were really at the front edge of vaccine development, vaccine production combined the stable and laboratory. But the entire industry for producing vaccines was entirely unregulated, which was one of the reasons why a few communities manufactured their own vaccines.

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Did that mean that those vaccines might be safer? Or that the production might be cleaner?

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Well, its a little hard to say, looking back, but no, maybe not. In New York City the vaccine was produced by the Board of Health in a stable somewhere on the island of Manhattanits not like it was very much better.

So people had reasons to be concerned about taking these vaccines.

Getting the vaccine was an inconvenience to say the least, but even when it was administered in a safe way, and the vaccine wasnt filled with impurities, it tended to give people a fever. Your arm would feel like it was on fireit caused inflammation at the siteso many workers complained that their arms were so sore, they were put out of work for several days, even several weeks.

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And then there were several well-reported incidents where compulsory vaccine drives led to serious consequences. The most famous case was in Camden, New Jersey, in the epidemic of 1901, when the community ordered schoolchildren to get vaccinated, and nine children died of tetanus poisoning.

How did authorities react? It sounds like they were so defensive about itunwilling to acknowledge it.

Right. They said, Clearly the problem is that the kids were dirtythat it couldnt be the vaccine.

This was really the problem of the era: The government was requiring people to get vaccinated but not doing anything to regulate the safety of vaccines. This was an incredibly dangerous policy.

How would the authorities enforce this? It seems like in some places, authorities were saying, Oh, were not forcing people to be vaccinated. But in the news stories you find, its people being dragged out of their houses.

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Yes! The most dramatic example of this kind of cognitive dissonance was in New York, where public health officials might talk about the fact that there was no compulsory vaccination law in the state of New York. But then there were so-called virus squadspublic health people working in tandem with local police, entering tenement districts in the middle of the night, inspecting door to door, looking for sick residents and whether people had evidence of recent successful vaccinations. If they hadnt been vaccinated, theyd be compelled to be vaccinated on the spotsometimes using physical force. So there was this disparity between the public message and the reality that could be very dramatic.

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But there were also a huge range of inducements. Schoolchildren were pretty routinely required to be vaccinated against smallpox before the start of the school year, but then during epidemics, local health boards could use their police powers to compel adults to be vaccinated as well. In particular settings like industrial workplaces, or places of high concentration of population, health departments would enforce vaccination among the public as a whole. They could say, You need to do this, in order to keep your job or in order to get a job. Or, You need to get vaccinated in order to avoid prosecution for contributing to a delinquency of a minor, if you didnt get your kid vaccinated. A wide range of penalties.

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You write that the anti-vaccination activists of the time tended to be middle class, maybe people who came into contact with vaccination because they had children. Is it fair to say that working-class people were the ones who were more likely to be compelled to do it?

Publicly mandated vaccination during this time was really carried out in a class-biased way. For example, people arriving in the United States aboard shipsthey were much more likely to be inspected, vaccinated on the spot, and quarantined in holding facilities if there had been a case of smallpox aboard their ship if they had traveled in steerage versus in the first-class cabins.

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Middle-class and more affluent Americans were much more likely simply to be expected to get the vaccine from their own private physician, but there were very few circumstances where theyd be forced to show their compliance with a vaccine order.

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The case of Jacobson v. Massachusettswhich went to the Supreme Court and was decided in 1905, with the court holding that the state did indeed have the right to compel vaccinationemerged from these epidemics. How did this come about?

The case arose during the Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, smallpox epidemics of 1901 and 1902, in which hundreds of people died in those communities. There was a state law that empowered local boards of health to order compulsory vaccination as they saw fit, and so the board of health of Cambridge ordered people to get vaccinated. There was a wide range of responses, from willing compliance to hesitancy to outright refusal, people running away from the vaccinators or filing lawsuits.

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This case involved an immigrant from Sweden, a Lutheran minister named Henning Jacobson, who was sort of a pillar of this local immigrant community in Cambridge. He had some experience being vaccinated as a child, back in Swedencompulsory vaccination, which theyd had in that nation for many years. He had an adverse reaction to ithe got very sickand he saw his own child become very sick following vaccination, so he was convinced that vaccination was particularly harmful to him and his family members, if not people more generally.

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So he refused. Theres this moment when the head of the local board of health actually comes to Jacobson, knocks on his door, and offers to vaccinate him on the spot, for freeand he refuses. So he gets brought to the local criminal court, put on trial, still refuses; eventually, the case goes through the judicial court of Massachusetts, all the way up to the Supreme Court.

Jacobson and his lawyers argued that the measures violated what they called the inherent right of every free man to take care of his body as he sees fit. And the Supreme Court came out resoundingly, in a 72 decision, in favor of the right of communities to protect themselves from epidemics. They compared it with the inherent right of a community to defend itself from a military invasion. If the government could require the population to take up arms and fight in a war, through conscription, which might result in somebodys death, they should also be able to require vaccination.

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Radical lawyers of a civil libertarian bent and medical people in the anti-vaccination movement said, Wow. This decision is like another Dred Scott. They were certainly wrong about that, but they were right to the extent that there was a slippery slope here. If compulsory vaccination was constitutional, what else might be constitutional? At the time, some critics of the decision raised the concern that compulsory sterilization, in an era of eugenics, might be found constitutionaland in 1927, when the Supreme Court, in Buck v. Bell, upheld compulsory sterilization for people deemed unsafe to have children, the only precedent that Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. cited in his infamous opinion for the court was Jacobson v. Massachusetts.

Then of course, this decision, between then and now, has also given support to all kinds of public health measures we have today, including the fact that all 50 states have mandates requiring schoolchildren to be vaccinated. But Justice John Marshall Harlan, who wrote the opinion for the Jacobson decision, also invoked the idea that there could be cases in which one individual, because of their medical history, could seek an exception. And now, every state has medical exemptions, religious exemptions; about 15 of them also allow for philosophical exemptions to vaccination.

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Reading this history, which is extremely grimforced vaccination; contaminated vaccines; forced isolation in pesthouses, under inhumane conditions; poor and minority citizens getting the brunt of itI feel like Im reading a libertarian fever dream of what the negative consequences of strong public health laws could be. It also fits right into a recent tendency on the right to demonize Progressive Era reformers. What is the cultural afterlife of this history, if thats possible to discern?

Oh no! I mean, I want to say on the record, smallpox vaccination was a very effective measure, supported not just by scientific arguments but by ethical and moral arguments about an individuals debt to their fellow citizen. If the Progressive Era was about anything, it was about this idea of social responsibility and social justice.

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But then where this story from 120 years ago gets so concerning is the biased and dangerous way the vaccinations were carried out, which generated extraordinary levels of resistancewhich in turn has had some very positive effects. One more consequence of this period, for example, was that the federal government, in 1902, enacted the Biologics Control Act, which established the first system of federal licensing and regulation of vaccine production. And there are also real lessons in this history about how not to address a public health crisis.

But the question of legacy is difficult because so much historical experience has intervened in the meantimethe world wars, the influenza epidemic of 191819, and of course the successful development of vaccines against polio, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, all of which have made childhood in particular a much safer passage than in the past.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.

Ruth Bass is an award-winning journalist. Her website is ruthbass.com . The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of The Berkshire Eagle.

Chairperson of the Nepal Communist Party's splinter faction Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' said on Tuesday that his party has appealed to the international community, including India and China, to extend support to its ongoing struggle against Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli's "unconstitutional and undemocratic move" to dissolve Parliament.

Nepal plunged into a political crisis on December 20 after Oli, in a surprise move, dissolved the House of Representatives, amidst a tussle for power with Prachanda. His move to dissolve the 275-member House sparked protests from a large section of the NCP led by Prachanda, also a co-chair of the ruling party.

"The House of Representatives must be reinstated if we are to consolidate federalism and democracy and take the peace process to the logical conclusion," Prachanda said during an interaction with a select group of international media representatives based in Kathmandu.

"I believe that the Supreme Court would not endorse Prime Minister Olis unconstitutional and undemocratic move to dissolve the House of Representatives," he said ahead of his faction's massive protest rally in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

He also warned that if the House is not reinstated, the country would plunge into a grave political crisis.

Prachanda said that his party has appealed to the international community, including neighbouring India and China, to extend support to their ongoing struggle against Oli's unconstitutional move of dissolving the House of Representatives.

"We have conveyed to the international community that Olis move has resulted in the demise of democracy and we seek support from the international community including India, China, European Union and the US to protect hard earned federalism and democracy," said Prachanda.

India has described Oli's sudden decision to dissolve Parliament and call for fresh elections as an "internal matter" that is for the country to decide as per its democratic processes.

However, China sent a four-member high-level delegation to Nepal in December to prevent a split within the ruling party. The team - led by a Vice minister of the Chinese Communist Party, Guo Yezhou - held separate meetings with several top NCP leaders before returning home without much success in its mission.

When asked whether Oli, 68, known for his pro-China leanings, took the decision to dissolve the House under foreign influence, Prachanda said, "we need not drag foreign elements in our internal matter, as such things are largely determined by internal situation rather than external environment."

Commenting on Olis recent activities such as worshipping at the Pashupatinath temple, donating Rs 30 crore to the temple from the government's coffer, talking about building Ram temple in Madi of Chitawan where he had made controversial remarks regarding Lord Rams birth place, Prachanda asked, "whether Oli is the chairman of a communist party or a Hindu organisation?"

He also accused the Oli-led government of engaging in corruption and adopting totalitarian attitude by breaching all democratic norms and values.

The Prachanda-led faction had been holding anti-government protest rallies and public gatherings in various parts of the country, including Kathmandu.

Oli, who is the chairperson of a faction of the NCP, has said he was forced to dissolve the House after knowing that the Prachanda-led faction was planning to file a no-confidence motion against him and introduce an impeachment motion against President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

Oli-led CPN-UML and Prachanda-led NCP (Maoist Centre) merged in May 2018 to form a unified Nepal Communist Party following victory of their alliance in the 2017 general elections.

The Prachanda-led faction, which is currently launching agitation to get official recognition from the Election Commission as the legitimate NCP, will hold a massive rally here on Wednesday in a bid to show its strength.

After breaching the Constitution by dissolving the House, the election being conducted under the present circumstances would be unconstitutional, Prachanda said.

Olis move that breached the constitutional provision has dragged the entire country towards political instability, said another chairperson of the splinter-faction Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Kareena Kapoor Khan is all set to welcome her second child this month and fans are certainly getting impatient for the arrival of the tiny tot. While the rumour mills were abuzz with the news that the actor is all set to deliver her second child on February 14 or 15, now her father and legendary actor Randhir Kapoor has also confirmed her expected due date. Yes, you heard that right!

Talking to Bollywood Bubble about the same, Randhir Kapoor has revealed Kareena Kapoor Khan's due date to be on February 15. The date also happens to match the speculated due date which was doing the rounds. Meanwhile, Kareena and husband Saif Ali Khan have been earning some major brownie points in handling their second pregnancy in a calm and composed manner. While Kareena has managed all her professional commitments in an efficient way during her pregnancy, Saif has made sure to take a paternity break to be there for his wife and newborn child.

Recently, Kareena Kapoor Khan revealed how she is not going berserk during her second pregnancy. Talking about the same with Times Now Digital, Kareena revealed how she is calmer and not going berserk during her second pregnancy, unlike her time with her first child Taimur. The Jab We Met actor also said that she has been much more confident and prepared as she gears up to welcome her second child. This is not a surprise since the actor has been juggling all her commitments smoothly, be it her movie Laal Singh Chaddha's shoot or her radio chat show What Women Want.

Not only that, her husband Saif Ali Khan also opened up about his ongoing paternity break, stating that it is difficult to work with a newborn at home. Talking to Elle Magazine about the same, Saif had stated, "Who wants to work when you have a newborn at home! If you don't see your children growing up, you're making a mistake. And I can take time off from work-it's a privileged position. Rather than follow a 9-to-5 routine, I live like an actor. Your dharma and approach to everything are based on your career."

On the work front, Kareena Kapoor Khan will be seen in the movie Laal Singh Chaddha. She will be sharing screen space with Aamir Khan in the same. Saif Ali Khan on the other hand, will be resuming the shoot of Prabhas-starrer Adipurush after his paternity break.

Also Read: Kareena Kapoor Khan On Her Second Pregnancy: Not Going 'Berserk' And A Lot More Prepared

Also Read: Saif Ali Khan On His Paternity Break: Who Likes To Work With A Newborn At Home?
The assault took place in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor. The military was stationed in the area looking for jihadist militiamen. Yesterday the Syrian authorities announced the discovery of the body of the director of Palmyra, who was beheaded in 2015. DNA tests will be carried out to confirm his identity.

Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A convoy of government army soldiers stationed in the eastern sector of the country, near the border with Iraq, was attacked by militias of the Islamic State (IS, formerly Isis).

According to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an NGO based in the UK with a dense network of correspondents in the area, at least 26 soldiers loyal to President Bashar al-Assad died in the attack yesterday.

Eyewitnesses claim that the jihadist attack took place in the early hours of the day, in the province of Deir Ezzor. The convoy was stationed in the area in search of jihadist cells or lone wolves loyal to the Islamic State and ready to strike.

"Violent clashes between the two sides led to large human losses," says a source, calling the toll from fighting the "largest since the start of the year".

Also yesterday, six years after the beheading at the hands of the militiamen of the caliphate who had aroused great indignation and emotion, the remains of Khaled Asaad, archaeologist and director of Palmyra, who was beheaded for trying to defend the Unesco heritage site, has reportedly been found. The militiamen had brutally killed the 82-year-old scholar because he refused to reveal the whereabouts of precious artefacts, which the group sold on the black market to finance the war in Syria and Iraq.

Syrian state media report that his body is said to be among the three discovered in Kahloul, a town east of Palmyra. In the coming weeks, DNA tests will be carried out to ascertain the identity of the man and confirm his discovery. Khaled Asaad has dedicated over 50 years of his life to the Unesco heritage site, located near an oasis in the Syrian desert, north-east of Damascus.

At the time of the advance of the militiamen, the director's three sons and a son-in-law, also archaeologists, fled to the capital taking with them several artefacts of great value, preserved in the museum of the nearby town of Tadmor. On the other hand, Assad wanted to stay in Palmyra claiming to belong to the area: "I'll stay here - were his words - even if they kill me".

Khaled Asaad was reportedly beheaded in a public square in Tadmor in August 2015 for refusing to collaborate with the jihadists and his body exposed and hung upside down.
The joint organisers of MRO Middle East & Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) have today announced new dates for the events. The exhibitions, organised by Aviation Week Network/Informa and Tarsus Group, will now take place from 15th  16th June 2021 at DWTC, Dubai.

The exhibition, initially planned for March this year, was postponed as the organisers took into consideration the health and safety of exhibitors and visitors, as well as travel restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

We have been continually monitoring the developments on travel restrictions from governments around the world in recent weeks. After very careful consideration of the situation and taking into account invaluable feedback from our exhibitors and stakeholders, we believe the decision to move the exhibition is in the best interests of the health and safety of our exhibitors, visitors, contractors and staff, said Tim Hawes, managing director of Tarsus Aerospace. With the increased vaccination schedules implemented in key markets and the strength of Dubais recovery, we believe that moving the exhibition to June 2021 will allow us to deliver a quality event for everyone.

Lydia Janow, managing director of events at Aviation Week Network added, After a recent hiatus in industry events and the significant impact on the commercial aviation industry from the Covid-19 pandemic, the exhibition will provide an important platform for recovery, allowing for the community to discuss solutions to the new challenges we face, share new industry trends and showcase the latest technologies.

The delay will give the exhibitors at the events a better opportunity to display their latest products and services to airlines, MROs, OEMs, lessors, suppliers and aircraft interior specialists.

The upcoming shows will also include seminars, workshops and product demonstrations, along with a pre-arranged meetings programme to facilitate connections and networking between visitors and exhibitors. In addition, the Airline Buyers Programme will allow attendees to meet and network with regional and global airlines.
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New York, Feb 9 : When the historic second impeachment trial of Donald Trump kicks off at 1 pm om Tuesday, the former President's lawyers will slam Democrats for their "outlandish" and "rushed" trial and accuse them of "cherry-picking" excerpts from an hourlong speech by Trump near the White House about an hour before the first pro-Trump rioters stormed the majestic US Capitol building on January 6.

In a 78-page memo, Donald Trump's lawyers have outlined the broad brushstrokes of their legal strategy. They plan to argue that Trump's "If you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore" statement is being used out of context and that Democrats can't have it "both ways" - where they acknowledge that the law enforcement agencies knew of the potential for violence and that Trump incited it himself.

Below are highlights from the Trump legal team's memo, in their own words: "Mr. Trump's comments echoed his sentiments expressed the day of the rally, as he repeatedly urged protesters to stay peaceful, and told rioters to go home." "An insurrection - unlike a riot - is an organized movement acting for the express purpose to overthrow and take possession of a government's powers. President Trump's speech on January 6, 2021 was not an act encouraging an organized movement to overthrow the United States government." "Democrat members of the House Judiciary Committee publically admitted that they began drafting the Article of Impeachment moments after angry extremists breached the doors of the Capitol." "Media reports and reporters' opinions are not facts and most assuredly are not facts that should form the basis for instituting the grave power of impeachment. More significantly, however, Mr. Trump was never charged in the Article of Impeachment with the claims made in these various reports." "According to investigative reports all released after January 6, 2021, "the Capitol Police, the NYPD and the FBI all had prior warning there was going to be an attack on the Capitola""

"...House Leadership simply cannot have it both ways. Either the President incited the riots, like the Article claims, or the riots were pre-planned by a small group of criminals who deserve punishment to the fullest extent of the law." "The real truth is that the people who criminally breached the Capitol did so of their own accord and for their own reasons and are being criminally prosecuted."
On 1-4 February 2021 the WCO COVID-19 Project, funded by the Government of Japan, held the Online Regional Workshop on Disaster Management and Supply Chain Continuity in times of COVID-19 for the Americas and Caribbean region, an initiative organized in cooperation with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to improve the capacity of WCO Members Customs administrations to address the challenges stemming from COVID-19, other infectious diseases and similar events.

The workshop brought together more than 75 participants from 28 WCO Members and from partner International Organizations. Over four days, the meeting allowed the exchange of best practices on disaster management and supply chain continuity and reviewed the instruments and tools ensuring the expedited delivery of emergency supplies in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and other disruptive events.

Mr. Ricardo Trevino Chapa, WCO Deputy Secretary General, stated in his opening remarks that the pandemic was unexpected, but thanks to the important work carried out by Customs administrations worldwide the international community now has improved tools to tackle the situation. The contribution of the AMS regions WCO Members, with their long-standing experience in natural disaster management, was particularly important in this respect.

Mr. Jaime Granados, Division Chief of Trade and Investment at IDB, underlined the importance of supporting Members in the AMS region, including by building a tool kit for Customs contingency plans, in cooperation with WCO and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). The role of multilateralism and regional cooperation was also stressed by Mr. Werner Ovalle Ramirez, Director General of Guatemala Customs and Vice-Chair of the WCO AMS region, who expressed appreciation for the excellent support provided by WCO during the pandemic.

The opening ceremony was followed by a high-level panel discussion where Heads of Customs administrations examined the COVID-19 challenges and reaffirmed the role of the Customs community in guaranteeing the functioning of the global supply chain and the protection of society.

Subsequent sessions saw the presence of numerous experts, including national delegates, representatives of the IDB, UNOCHA and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Speakers highlighted the vital role played by Customs in the different phases of disaster management and encouraged the ongoing fruitful cooperation with all agencies concerned and with other stakeholders.

The workshop gave ample space to the sharing of experiences on the most effective measures implemented at national and regional levels. Participants and panelists discussed these in relation with some of the most highly relevant topics on the international Customs agenda such as digitalization, business continuity, enhanced preparedness, partnerships and cooperation, the use of technology and the distribution of vaccines.

The COVID-19 project is currently developing the WCO Guidelines on disaster management and supply chain continuity, that will complement previous work in the area of disaster relief and improve Customs response to disruptive events. The WCO will make good use of the knowledge shared during the workshop, drawing on Members national experiences to further develop this new tool.

This Online Regional Workshop for the AMS region is part of a series which has already supported WCO Members of the Asia-Pacific, Eastern and Central and Western and Southern Africa regions. The COVID-19 Project will replicate this interesting initiative for the North of Africa, Near and Middle East (MENA) region in early April.
A San Francisco man who allegedly took part in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol as a self-proclaimed member of the far-right Proud Boys group was arrested by the FBI late last month at his familys home in Texas.

Officials identified Daniel Goodwyn, 32, through a series of videos, Instagram messages and Twitter posts as one of the Capitol rioters who charged through police barricades as Congress was certifying the results of the presidential election, according to an FBI complaint.

Goodwyn was arrested in Corinth, Texas, on Jan. 29 and charged with knowingly entering a restricted building without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Goodwyn remained in custody Monday and is scheduled to appear in court Friday, an FBI spokeswoman said.

It was not clear whether he had retained an attorney.

According to his personal website, Goodwyn is a web and app developer who has worked on and off in San Francisco and the Bay Area for the past eight years. He posted extensively on his social media accounts in favor of former President Donald Trump and his false claims that President Biden stole the election.

Nearly 200 federal cases have been opened against individuals in connection with the riot, according to a database maintained by the Program on Extremism at George Washington University. Many left trails on social media that connected them to the insurrection.

I didnt break or take anything but I went inside for a couple of minutes, Goodwyn posted on Instagram the day of the attack, according to the federal criminal complaint against him.

According to the complaint, Goodwyn was identified in a live-streamed video filmed by Anthime Gionet, a far-right provocateur. In Gionets video, Goodwyn was wearing dark sunglasses and a MAGA hat. He approached Gionet and stated that his name was Daniel Goodwyn.

As a Capitol police officer directed Goodwyn out of the building, he called the officer an oath breaker and yelled for people to get the officers badge number as he left, according to the complaint.

Goodwyns Twitter account was filled with pro-Trump content and baseless claims about the pandemic. He has also used the platform to rail against the results of the election, masks and San Franciscos lockdowns.

Vanessa Arredondo is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vanessa.arredondo@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @v_anana
Republican Liz Cheney, has strongly defended her decision to vote to impeach former US president Donald Trump and called on her Republican colleagues to confront what really did happen in 2020 so they had a chance at winning future elections.

We have to make sure that we are able to convey to the American voters... that we actually can be trusted to handle the challenges this nation faces, like Covid, and thats going to require us to focus on substance and policy, but we should not be embracing the former president, Ms Cheney told Fox News.

Ms Cheney, the third-ranking Republican in the House and daughter of former US vice-president Dick Cheney, was one of only 10 Republican members of Congress who voted to impeach Mr Trump on a charge of incitement of insurrection after a pro-Trump mob overran the US Capitol on January 6 in a violent siege that left five people dead.

At the time, Ms Cheney blasted Mr Trumps rhetoric leading up to the riot and said in a statement: There has never been a greater betrayal by a president of the United States of his office and his oath to the constitution.

Somebody who has provoked an attack on the United States Capitol to prevent the counting of electoral votes, which resulted in five people dying, who refused to stand up immediately when he was asked and stop the violence  that is a person who does not have a role as a leader of our party going forward, she told Fox News.

She has faced fierce blowback from the pro-Trump wing of the GOP for her impeachment vote.

Read More

On Saturday, the Republican Party in her home state of Wyoming formally censured her, making the congresswoman the latest high-profile Republican punished by their state or local party apparatuses for daring to criticise the former president.

Ms Cheney waved off the language of the censure as an indication, she said, that her party leaders were mistaken.

They believe that (Black Lives Matter) and Antifa were behind what happened here at the Capitol. Thats just simply not the case, its not true, Ms Cheney said.

We need to make sure that we as Republicans are the party of truth and that we are being honest about what really did happen in 2020 so we have a chance to win in 2022 and win the White House back in 2024, she added.

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 Washington Post

Budget proposals positive for insurance sector: Fitch Ratings

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India's 2021-2022 Budget proposals to relax foreign-ownership caps on insurers and listing of LIC will help the industry attract foreign capital, strengthen solvency and promote competition, Fitch Ratings has said.

Besides, the ratings agency said, these proposals could encourage global insurers to enter the fast-expanding Indian market, while international insurers already holding minority stakes in domestic companies may try to increase their ownership over the medium term.

The Union Budget FY22 has proposed to raise the foreign-ownership limit on insurers to 74 per cent from 49 per cent, which will allow foreign investors to hold majority stakes in India-based insurer for the first time.

Besides, the Centre also proposed new requirements to ensure sufficient local participation, such as the majority of insurers' key management personnel and board members to be resident Indians and a requirement that at least half of the board comprises independent directors.

Furthermore, the government plans to specify a percentage of profit to be retained as general reserve within the insurer to prevent excessive capital extraction by foreign parents.

"Fitch expects a relaxation of foreign-ownership rules to attract international insurers and promote competition within the sector. This will, in turn, increase the insurers' access to capital and thereby improve the industry's solvency position," the agency said in a statement.

"We also believe that an influx of new capital could be channelled to develop insurers' distribution networks, enable digitisation and bring expertise to areas such as marketing and client servicing, which will improve insurance penetration in the long run."

In addition, the government has used the Budget to reiterate its commitment to list India's largest state-owned insurer, Life Insurance Corporation of India, through an IPO in financial year ending March 2022.

"We believe the listing will improve the insurer's accountability and transparency, while attracting more foreign interest in the industry.

"The proposed IPO, once executed, could broaden the insurer's capital base and improve its regulatory capital position, which was 165 per cent at the end of September 2020, marginally above the regulatory minimum of 150 per cent."

Additionally, the Centre has expressed its intention to privatise a non-life insurer along with some state-owned banks and corporations to meet its disinvestment target.

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.

Indian rescue workers struggled Tuesday to dig away tonnes of rocks and mud to reach survivors in a choked Himalayan tunnel more than two days after a devastating flash flood likely triggered by a glacial burst.

More than 170 people were still missing after a wall of water and debris hurtled down a valley in the northern state of Uttarakhand on Sunday morning, destroying bridges and roads, hitting two hydroelectric power plants and killing at least 32 people.

The disaster has been blamed on rapidly melting glaciers in the Himalayan region caused by global warming.

Building activity for dams, the dredging of riverbeds for sand and the clearing of trees for new roads -- some to beef up defence on the Chinese border -- are other factors.

Most of those missing were employees at two of the many hydro plants being built around Uttarakhand, a mountainous and ecologically fragile state slightly smaller than Switzerland.

Hundreds of rescue workers were involved in the operation across the state, using helicopters equipped with surface-penetrating high-definition cameras, as well as sniffer dogs.

On Tuesday the focus was attempting to locate and extract 34 workers who rescuers hoped were still alive in air pockets in a tunnel system filled with icy water and debris.

Workers toiled throughout the day and as darkness fell the operation was ongoing.

"We are trying to clear the slush inside the tunnel but it has been difficult," said rescue official P.K. Tiwari.

"We are trying to use drones and other tools to get a clearer picture of the situation inside."

Meanwhile, up to 40 staff at a second power plant remain missing.

The plant was obliterated and is now a wasteland thickly coated with viscous grey mud. At a nearby village, four bodies -- including that of a policeman -- as well as a severed arm were found, officials said.

- 'Don't let go' -

One who made it out was Rajesh Kumar, 28, who together with others clung to scaffolding rods in the tunnel for four hours before the water level fell and they were able to escape.

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"Suddenly there was a sound of whistling... there was shouting, people were telling us to come out. We thought it was a fire. We started running but the water gushed in. It was like a Hollywood movie," Kumar told AFP.

"We just kept telling each other -- come what may, we must not let go of the rods," he said from his hospital bed.

Shopkeeper Ramesh Negi was enjoying the Sunday morning sun when he heard a loud roar and saw a huge wall of water smash into and sweep away a bridge.

Dozens of workers on the river bed and grazers leading their cattle along the mountain slopes disappeared beneath the sudden deluge, he recalled.

"There was dust and screams all over," the 36-year-old told AFP.

Mangra, another survivor, remembered hearing a loud, rumbling sound and the screams of other colleagues: "Run, run, run!"

The 28-year-old scrambled out of the tunnel but six of his friends and neighbours from his village didn't make it.

"It felt like the mountain was crashing and the Earth was moving," the 28-year-old told AFP outside the tunnel, cuts and scrapes on his hands and legs.

- Unidentified -

Twenty-five of the 32 bodies recovered were yet to be identified, officials said. Many of the victims are thought to be poor workers from hundreds of miles away in other parts of India.

Netar Singh, 65, said that the body of his policeman brother Balbir, 55, who worked at one of the power plants, was found only a few feet near his car. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

"He had called his family at 9:00am and around 11 am we heard that the flood had struck... There were mountains of debris at the plant and it took authorities around 24 hours to find his body," he said.

Meanwhile villagers such as Pushkar Singh, 37, said they were cut off from their homes after a river bridge was swept away.

"The entire place smelled like explosives and there was dust and panicked residents around the place," Singh said of the devastation near the bridge.

"There was no way to provide any help to them as everything was buried under mud and slush."

Authorities were using ropeways to deliver food and were constructing a temporary bridge.

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Hackers remotely accessed the water treatment plant of a small Florida city last week and briefly changed the levels of lye in the drinking water, in the kind of critical infrastructure intrusion that cybersecurity experts have long warned about.

The attack in Oldsmar, a city of 15,000 people in the Tampa Bay area, was caught before it could inflict harm, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri of Pinellas County said at a news conference on Monday. He said the level of sodium hydroxide  the main ingredient in drain cleaner  was changed from 100 parts per million to 11,100 parts per million, dangerous levels that could have badly sickened residents if it had reached their homes.

This is dangerous stuff, Mr. Gualtieri said, urging managers of critical infrastructure systems, particularly in the Tampa area, to review and tighten their computer systems. Its a bad act. Its a bad actor. Its not just a little chlorine, or a little fluoride  youre basically talking about lye.

In a tweet, Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, said the attempt to poison the water supply should be treated as a matter of national security.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 9, 2021 - 14:11 | All, Japan

The Cabinet approved bills Tuesday to promote the digitalization of Japan centering on the launch of a new government agency in September, with the coronavirus pandemic having exposed shortfalls in the country's provision of administrative services.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's government hopes establishing the agency and revamping computer systems at the central and local governments will boost the quality of services to the public after years of delay by the country in implementing digitalization initiatives.

The Suga government, which has placed top priority on digital reforms, aims to have the bills pass parliament during the current ordinary session through June.

"We want to promote Japan's digitalization and show visible results to the people," Takuya Hirai, minister in charge of digitalization work, told a news conference.

Japan has long been struggling to promote administrative reforms by utilizing information technology, despite having aimed at improvements since around 2000.

After the pandemic hit last year and the government decided to offer cash handouts across the board and subsidies to companies to keep people employed, it came under fire for a slow rollout of the measures.

Earlier this month, meanwhile, Suga apologized for the health ministry's failure to discover a technical glitch that had rendered its smartphone app for COVID-19 contact tracing useless for Android users since September.

The new agency designed to promote digitalization in the public and private sectors would be led by a minister and its top administrative post will be filled by a person tapped from the private sector.

The government plans to have around 500 people at the agency, of whom over 100 are expected to be civilian IT engineers.

The new entity will be tasked with promoting the "My Number" personal identification system, currently under the jurisdiction of the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, so that it can be utilized for the provision of benefits during emergencies like the current pandemic.

Under the planned legislation, the government is seeking to do away with "hanko" seals on official documents and paper documents for many administrative procedures. These have been important parts of the country's working or administrative culture but are viewed as a major factor delaying digitalization.

One of the related bills concerning computer systems used by the public sector would oblige local governments to introduce ones that meet central government standards, a step seen as helping local governments to communicate with each other and helping enhance the provision of public services.
THE Passenger Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has petitioned the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) over police officers fond of throwing tearsmoke on commuter omnibuses.

The petition came soon after an incident last Friday, where police officers threw teargas canisters into a kombi along Seke Road in Harare, which had passengers inside.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he had not received a report about the incident.

A passenger, who spoke to NewsDay, said: Four canisters were fired from the car which was in transit along Seke Road. We were waiting for transport and we ran in all directions after teargas had been thrown into the bus. Smoke is still stuck in my throat.

He said his mask still smelt of tearsmoke. No one was run over or hit by cars since the drivers stopped their cars after seeing commotion, but what surprised me is that there were also other police officers who were waiting for transport at the scene where teargas was thrown into a kombi, he said.

PAZ president Tafadzwa Goliati said: On Friday, we received complaints from passengers that commuters, who were coming from work, were tear-gassed by riot police at Coca-Cola along Seke Road. Today (Monday) in the morning, we received the same news that at the same place, the police in a black Honda Fit vehicle teargassed passengers.

This is dangerous because in the process passengers run for their lives, and they may end up being hit by cars. Teargassing people during the COVID-19 era is not only bad, but it is dangerous. COVID-19 is a respiratory infection, and imagine what teargas will do to weaken the respiratory system.

Goliati said the country needed to be freed from such kinds of torture.

What they are doing is very wrong and it has no place in a democratic world. My question is: who is going to be answerable to the injuries and deaths that might happen as a result of this unbecoming behaviour by our security forces. Zimbabwe needs to be freed from this kind of torture.

Last year, seven police officers who teargassed a commuter omnibus packed with passengers in Harare were arrested. Newsday
A big difference between the second and first impeachment trials of Donald J. Trump is the sound of (relative) silence.

The former president is muzzled on social media, and his allies were putting up a scattered defense of him on Tuesday. Even those willing to step forward have, for the most part, abandoned his false claim that the election was stolen, and were defending him on narrow legal or constitutional grounds.

It was an emblem of how much has changed in the last year. Mr. Trump, a one-term ex-president, still maintains a tight grip on his party. But a year ago, he had them in a headlock.

His biggest booster Tuesday morning was the person who has most tightly bound her political fortunes to him  Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, the freshman Republican from Georgia who was stripped of her committee assignments last week for violent and conspiratorial statements.
For the first time since November, restaurants, bars and brewpubs in the Portland metro area will be allowed to reopen their indoor dining rooms at a limited capacity at the end of the week, Gov. Kate Brown announced Tuesday.

The move comes as falling COVID-19 cases led Brown to shift 10 Oregon counties  including Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington  from the extreme to the high risk category, allowing the partial reopening of some businesses including restaurants, gyms and movie theaters.

For restaurants, the change means that, starting Friday, dining rooms closed since November can now be filled to 25% capacity or 50 people, whichever is fewer, with parties limited to six people from no more than two households. Restaurants will still have to close by 11 p.m.

Oregons four risk categories are extreme, high, moderate and lower. During the most recent two-week period tracked by the state, Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties each had fewer than 200 cases per 100,000 residents and test positivity rates lower than 10%, qualifying them to drop out of the most restrictive category.

In a statement, Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association president Jason Brandt called the announcement a step in the right direction.

The lobbying group described opening and closing restaurant operations as the No. 1 challenge facing the industry, with restaurants forced to lay off or rehire workers and forecast how much food they might need to buy based on whether indoor dining is open or not. Brandt recommended eliminating the extreme risk category altogether to give restaurants more flexibility going forward.

The Independent Restaurant Association of Oregon sounded a more cautious note, calling the move a double-edged sword for restaurants that might find themselves closing temporarily to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks at work, all without a safety net.

We have repeatedly heard that scientists and physicians are concerned about the spread of the virus in enclosed spaces with people are eating and drinking  an activity that cannot be conducted with a mask on, said Katy Connors, board chair for the group. Restaurant workers should not be forced to choose between their financial health and their physical health. They need to be provided with access to the vaccine now.

Dean Griffith, president of the Old Spaghetti Factory, said the Portland-based chain is planning to reopen its metro-area locations Friday, though the high risk restrictions remain costly.

Our Portland restaurant can seat 450 people, so having 50 patrons in a restaurant in that size, its pretty empty, Griffith said. Were not even going to be able to fill all the tables on the riverfront. Im not sure how having a couple of extra people who are socially distanced could create more issues.

Griffith has been frustrated by the states lack of transparency regarding the decision to close restaurants.

Theyre saying statistical analysis says that restaurants might be part of the problem, Griffith said. But we were open for three months in the summer and we didnt see any case load increase. Then they shut us down and it took months for the case load to go down, and the incubation period is so much shorter than that.

Gabriel Rucker, the award-winning chef at Portlands Le Pigeon and Canard restaurants, said hes in no rush to reopen, though hes open to reconsidering in a month or so if case counts continue to fall.

We dont even know about the new variants coming across, Rucker said. Why are we doing this now, just because we reached some arbitrary number? Doesnt it make sense to just really get it under control rather than kind of get it under control?

Le Pigeon was already planning to open a different kind of in-person dining concept on Friday  delivering three-course meals to private rooms at Jupiter Next, a nearby hotel. The novel concept allowed Rucker and business partner Andy Fortgang to double the workforce at Le Pigeon, which has been focused on takeout since November.

I feel blessed that people have come back, Rucker said. But I just did the litmus test of making the calls, and there are people who dont feel comfortable with it. And a lot of our employees have moved on from the restaurant business. Its been a year! So for me, Im going to wait, make sure its actually going to stick, and see that were going to do it right, because it costs a lot of money to do it right.

-- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell
New travel restrictions may be on the way as some passengers have been caught going on holiday and pay the 500 fine, but carry on regardless with their journey.

The three party leaders, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, met yesterday to discuss the tightening of measures for arrivals into the country.

Some of the measures may include an increase of the fine of 500 to higher amounts for those passengers who are happy to pay the fine and go on holiday, regardless of breaching public health advice.

Read More

The measures may also include adding more countries to the Schedule 2 list, which would mean that people coming from those countries must undergo mandatory hotel quarantine.

The Government is also considering mandatory hotel quarantine for people coming into the country for non-essential reasons from holiday destinations.

This comes as Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has called new travel restrictions announced in Britain today as authoritarian.

The new travel measures include travellers who are found to have given false information about being in a "red list" country 10 days before travel could receive up to 10 years in prison.

Those who do not self-isolate could have to pay between 5,000 and 10,000.

I think 10 years is a bit extreme, quite frankly, Mr Varadkar told Independent.ie.

The route theyve gone down is probably a little bit more authoritarian than I think we would find acceptable here.

He said there is a need for a a common policy between the UK and Ireland when it comes to international travel.

It doesnt necessarily mean that the penalties have to be the exact same.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly spoke to his UK counterpart, Matt Hancock, earlier today, to see where Ireland and Britain can align in terms of travel restrictions.

However, the Tanaiste said that freedom of movement within the EU, Irelands Constitution and laws around freedom make our situation more complicated.

There are 2,000 passengers a day, on average, over the past three weeks coming into Ireland, with 60pc of those being Irish people.

Of this 60pc, two-thirds of those are coming back from holiday destinations, according to a Government spokesperson.

Less than 1pc of passengers are arriving into Ireland without a PCR test.

This data shows that harsher travel restrictions have to be examined further by the Government, according to the spokesperson.

Mr Varadkar also said that legislation on mandatory quarantine should be ready by next week, although it is understood that it may be several weeks before it takes effect.

Separately, the Government is also revising the current Living with Covid-19 plan.

It is not believed there will be a major overhaul of the five level system currently in place, however the emergence of new variants has meant the plan needs to further evolve.

The plan will be updated in the coming weeks, with an official launch to take place on February 22.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Peru on Tuesday began its coronavirus immunization program just two days after receiving 300,000 vaccine doses from state-owned Chinese company Sinopharm.

The country has been hard hit by a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping Latin America.

It has recorded around 1.2 million cases and more than 42,000 deaths from COVID-19 among its population of 33 million.

Hospitals are overrun with almost 13,800 COVID patients while they have also reported a lack of oxygen to treat those with breathing problems.

Health care workers at several hospitals in the capital Lima were the first to receive the vaccine on Tuesday morning.

Armed forces airplanes left the capital to take vaccines to the worst hit regions of the country, such as the jungle area of Huanuco, some 350 kilometers (220 miles) northeast of Lima.

Peru will receive another 700,000 doses of the Chinese vaccine on Sunday. It has agreed to purchase 38 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine and another 20 million of the Pfizer/BioNTech one.

Other deals have been made to purchase 14 million AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccines and 13.2 million Covax jabs.

Authorities have yet to announce when immunization of the wider population will begin, but the country plans to vaccinate 26 million people.

The government of President Francisco Sagasti has received harsh criticism over the delays in unrolling an immunization program compared to neighbors Chile and Bolivia.

Sagasti himself was vaccinated Tuesday evening at a Lima hospital.

"Don't be afraid of the vaccine," he said, adding that he hoped all "Peruvians are vaccinated this year."

Meanwhile, Argentina announced it has approved the emergency use of the Indian-made Covishield vaccine.

The Covishield vaccine is essentially the same as the British developed AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine that previously received approval in late December.

Argentina has also approved the use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, having already received 820,000 doses.

It began its immunization program on December 29 and has so far only used the Sputnik V vaccine.

Argentina has recorded just under two million cases and over 49,000 deaths from COVID-19 among its 44 million population.

In neighboring Chile, the ministry of health reported Tuesday that it had vaccinated more than one million people against the coronavirus, six days after launching a mass-vaccination campaign for the elderly.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
REGINA, SK / ACCESSWIRE / February 8, 2021 / Can-Cal Resources Ltd ("Can-Cal" or the "Company") announces a short deferral of the originally planned 11 February 2021 Annual General Meeting (the "AGM"). Challenges related to COVID-19 and the SEC's decision to delist Can-Cal from the exchange on 4 January 2021 (see news release dated 22 January 2021) presented unexpected and unique challenges to fully prepare to meet as previously planned. Can-Cal's bylaws require an AGM each year on March 22. However, Richmond Graham said on behalf of the Board of Directors, "We wish to share information with Shareholders much sooner than March 22. While we must defer our AGM at this time we desire to call a meeting in advance of 22 March 2021 and expect we will be able to do so." The company will release news of a revised date very soon.

Can-Cal also announces the resignation of Mr. Casey Douglass as Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and appointment of Richmond Graham, P.Eng., MBA, PMP, ICD.D. to the role of CEO effective immediately. Mr. Graham is experienced running mining exploration companies, has held the CEO position of many companies, and currently holds the position of Chair of Can-Cal (see news release dated 22 January 2021).

"It was my sincere pleasure to serve Can-Cal and I look forward to an exciting future for the company." said Mr. Douglass.

Mr. Douglass served Can-Cal as CEO from 2016 and has navigated many challenges during his tenure. The Board wishes to extend its gratitude for Mr. Douglass' leadership and contributions during his time as CEO.

For more information contact:

Richmond Graham, Chair and CEO

Can-Cal Resources Ltd.

200 - 1965 Broad St, Regina, SK, Canada, S4P 1Y1

rgraham@mayson.ca

403.910.0900

SOURCE: Can-Cal Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628532/Can-Cal-Resources-Announces-AGM-Date-Deferral-and-Appointment-of-New-CEO
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 48F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
While the investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of flash flood in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, it is being suspected that either an avalanche or a glacier lake outburst flood (GLOF) was responsible for it. So far, 31 deaths have been reported due to the natural calamity which took place on Sunday, and media reports claim that 170 people are still missing.

Dr Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, told News18, "It is quite possible that climate change and melting of fresh snow led to piling up of water in the Uttarakhand area and caused the flash floods. The recent climate change assessment report for India shows that the Himalayas temperatures are warming due to climate change, at a rate of 0.2C per decade. At high elevations (above 4000 m), the warming rate is up to 0.4C per decade. This warming has led to a significant melting and decline in glacier mass over the Himalayan region in recent decades."

Despite the rapid modification in glacial mass due to climate change and dangerous glacial lake formations, the monitoring of Himalayan glaciers is still at a very nascent stage in India.

A brief review of the Mass Balance Status of Indian Himalayan Glaciers (published in 2018) states that according to the Geological Survey of India there are a total 9,575 glaciers in the Indian Himalayan Region (Sangewar and Shukla, 2009), out of which only 15 glaciers have been studied for glacier mass balance till now.

Also Read: Uttarakhand Glacier Burst: All You Need To Know About Nandadevi and How it Triggered the Flood

Apart from that, glaciologists pointed out that to be better prepared for the kind of calamity that happened in Uttarakhand recently, what we need to do urgently is to start mapping the hazard and vulnerable areas where the possibilities of GLOF and landslides are higher, monitor the changes of glacial lakes, incorporate effective warning systems, which can mitigate the loss of lives that we have seen in Uttarakhand this week, and most importantly, invest in glacial research.

Hazard and vulnerability mapping

Koll further pointed out, "Many times, climate change-induced events are accelerated due to land-use changes. Land-use changes, mostly caused by human-made construction and infrastructural development, can loosen up glacier mountains and slopes that are already exposed to climate change."

Dr Shresth Tayal, a glaciologist at the Centre for Himalayan Ecology at TERI, told News18 that such natural calamities could not be controlled. Still, we can better adapt our communities, our constructions, and our resources if we have a definitive hazard and vulnerability mapping of India.

"The possibility is that we can identify individual river valleys and categorise them in terms of their vulnerability to such flash floods. We have done a very similar thing with earthquakes. We have the seismic map for the entire country, and India has been classified into different zones. Therefore, we know that the cities and towns in zone 5 are more vulnerable and prone to earthquakes. Likewise, if a similar mapping of Himalayan glaciers can be done, and vulnerability zones can be identified, we would be better equipped to face such calamities," said Tayal.

Tayal pointed out that once we know the vulnerable zones, we would be able to decide what kind of construction would affect the local terrains adversely and learn more about potential risk zones/areas and take action on such zones on a priority basis to avert Uttarakhand like tragedies.

According to NDMA guidelines, "for GLOFs the starting point for any assessment is establishing a comprehensive and up-to-date lake inventory for the region of interest, including existing information from studies that have assessed hazard and/or risk associated with the mapped lakes."

Identifying potentially Critical Lakes

The guidelines were issued by NDMA last year and aimed to accelerate administrative response and amalgamate the nation's relevant scientific capabilities to mitigate the losses caused by glacier lake outburst floods and landslides.

The guidelines prescribe an immediate need to monitor dangerous lakes such as 'rapidly expanding glacial lakes that result from continuous heavy rainfall, the formation of new glacial lakes resulting from blockages in the glacial hydrological system or associated with surging glaciers, and newly formed landslide lakes.'

Such dangerous lakes are generally identified by field observations, historical records, geomorphologic and geotechnical characteristics of the lake/dam and surroundings.

While glacial lakes expand during monsoon, it also becomes harder to examine the expansion due to cloud cover and optical remote sensing does not work effectively during this time. Therefore, the NDMA guidelines suggest that during such time Synthetic-Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery should be used to automatically detect changes in water bodies, including new lake formations.

The guideline further stated, "Methods and protocols could be developed to allow year-round remote monitoring of lake bodies from space, as a compliment and the precursor to ground-based early warning systems at critical lakes, which are unpredictable. Thus, more time is available to plan and implement measures to reduce the likelihood of GLOF."

Funding the Study of Glaciers, Creating Jobs

Another problem in establishing monitoring systems is that not many Indians are studying glaciers, even though India is nestled in the Himalayas' lap, which has thousands of glaciers. "It is indeed ironical that despite so many glaciers in our country, only a handful of people study glaciology here," said Tayal.

"Since there are a minimal number of jobs available for students after they complete their education in glaciology, they often take up other branches of study which offer more lucrative jobs. Therefore, the first order of business should be to build the human resource by creating more jobs for future students," pointed out Tayal.

Tayal added that what would also help is scaling-up research and development for glacier studies with funding and support from the government and the Science and Technology department. It is vital to establish new educational institutions where glaciology can be studied and empower the existing universities and colleges where the subject is already being taught.

Warning system

Dr Santosh Kumar Rai, Senior Scientist and the head of the Department of Glaciology and Hydrology at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology stated that what India needs is an effective early warning system to ensure that quick actions can be taken during such natural calamities.

"European and American countries have such early warning systems for GLOFs, and a few of them have also been established in Nepal. However, in India, it is logistically, and infrastructure wise a challenging task to establish them since most of the Himalayan glaciers and glacial lakes is at great heights," said Rai.

Rai pointed out that no roads lead up to the glaciers, and glacial lakes in the Himalayan regions, unlike the West where they already have established road connectivity. Therefore, it becomes challenging to navigate such rough terrains and set up a warning system.

However, Rai said that such early warning systems are essential. They forecast probable events; issue alerts before any such event occurs, and help in prompt activation of emergency response.
Parents urge Supreme Court to rule that Maines tuition aid program must include religious schools

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A group of parents in Maine seeking state tuition assistance to put their children in a religious private school have asked the United States Supreme Court to rule on their behalf.

At issue is a state provision that only allows for tuition assistance if a private school is "nonsectarian in accordance with the First Amendment of the United States Constitution."

The First Liberty Institute, the Institute for Justice, and others filed the appeal on behalf of the families to the Supreme Court on Friday in the case of Carson v. Makin.

By singling out religion  and only religion  for exclusion from its tuition assistance program, Maine violates the U.S. Constitution, said Institute for Justice Senior Attorney Michael Bindas in a statement.

By allowing nominally religious schools to participate but excluding schools that actually provide a religious curriculum, Maine is making governmental decisions about how religious is too religious. Government should not have that power.

In 2018, a group of parents in Maine sued over a ban on state tuition assistance for sending children to any private school that includes sectarian aspects to their curriculum.

The plaintiffs include the Carsons and the Gillises, who enroll their children at Bangor Christian School, and the Nelsons, who want to transfer their daughter from a nonsectarian private school to Temple Academy, where their son is already enrolled.

Eventually, the Gillises were removed from the suit as their daughter graduated from high school during the legal proceedings and was no longer potentially eligible for the tuition assistance.

In June 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Brock Hornby ruled against the parents, concluding that Maines educational funding program is constitutional.

Last October, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit unanimously upheld the Hornby decision, with Circuit Judge David Barron authoring the opinion.

In the panel opinion, Barron said that while the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer that a religious school could not be barred from state aid, the high court did not address explicitly religious uses for state funding.

Barron also concluded that the Supreme Court decision Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which ruled that religious schools can qualify for a state tax credit program, differentiated between discrimination in handing out school aid based on the recipient's affiliation with or control by a religious institution and discrimination in handing out that aid based on the religious use to which the recipient would put it.

 this restriction, unlike the one at issue in Espinoza, does not bar schools from receiving funding simply based on their religious identity  a status that in and of itself does not determine how a school would use the funds that it receives to provide educational instruction, stated Barron.

Instead, we understand this restriction to bar BCS and TA from receiving the funding based on the religious use that they would make of it in instructing children in the tuition assistance program.
Russia is turning to its industrial giants, many of which operate in far-flung locations spread across the world's biggest country, to help ramp up its covid-19 vaccination campaign after a slow start.

Companies from the biggest gold miner Polyus PJSC to the largest iron ore producer Metalloinvest Holding are trying to procure the shots and offer logistical support to get supplies of the domestically produced Sputnik V vaccine to the often remote areas where they work.

Russia is dominated by big business, with small and medium enterprises making up just a fifth of the economy compared with as much as 40% in other emerging economies, according to the World Bank. Getting the country's factories and natural resources companies to pitch in could be key to stemming the pandemic as authorities seek to vaccinate 60% of adults in the first half of the year.

Polyus aims to make the vaccine available to all employees and contractors, according to a statement Tuesday. The company, whose main assets are in the Siberian wilderness far from cities or airports, started offering on-site inoculations this month and has shipped 1,100 doses to its Olimpiada and Blagodatnoye mines to date, it said.

Metalloinvest is helping local health officials track its employees who want to receive the vaccine and has made the shots available at some work sites, a spokesman said.

Steelmaker Evraz Plc seeks to vaccinate 50% to 70% of employees, with billionaire Chief Executive Officer Alexander Frolov among the first to get inoculated, according to a spokesman. Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel PJSC lets workers apply for a vaccine appointment via a corporate mobile app, it said in a statement Monday.

The corporate push comes after covid-19 disrupted operations throughout Russia, one of the hardest hit countries worldwide. Russia had the third-highest number of covid-19 deaths last year, after the U.S. and Brazil.

Even so, the public remains wary of Sputnik V, which was authorized for use before large-scale testing had begun. Only 38% of Russians said they would take it, according to a December poll.

Interim research published last week in The Lancet medical journal indicates Sputnik V is highly effective against covid-19, spurring hopes that more people will seek the shot. Alternatives are also becoming available, and on Monday President Vladimir Putin boasted Russia is the only country with three domestically developed coronavirus vaccines.

"covid-19 is still a risk for industrial companies, while vaccines are available mostly in big cities," Kirill Chuyko, head of research at BCS Global Markets, said by phone. "There's a deficit in the regions, so it makes perfect scene for companies to facilitate their employees getting the shots."

[February 09, 2021] Curve Names CreditEase Investment Leader and Former Citi and Standard Chartered Chief Anju Patwardhan as Non-executive Director

Curve, the London-based fintech that combines multiple cards and accounts into one smart card and even smarter app, has named Anju Patwardhan as a non-executive director to the Board. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005705/en/ Curve names former Citi and Standard Chartered chief Anju Patwardhan as non-executive director (Photo: Business Wire) Anju brings decades of expertise and leadership in financial services and innovation to Curve. She was most recently managing partner at CreditEase Fintech VC Fund, one of China's largest fintech venture funds. CreditEase focuses on wealth management and inclusive finance in China, and Anju remains an advisor there. At CreditEase, Anju led the company's $500 million fintech investment fund, and its push into the US, establishing its San Francisco office. She led investments in more than 35 US and UK-based fintechs, including neobanks Upgrade, Dave and Monzo, and payment platforms Marqeta, RailsBank and Taulia. She continues to serve on the boards of Upgrade and RailsBank. She is also a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Gulf International Bank in Saudi Arabia and is a member of the Global Advisory Council of Distinguished Careers Institute at Stanford University. Anju spent many years at Citibank and Standard Chartered in Singapore; where she held global leadership roles, including Chief Innovation Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Risk Officer. As a Non-Executive Director at Curve, Anju will bring unmatched insight into global financial systems, regulatory environments and credit risk, along with a deep understanding of what's driving innovation in the industry. She will also join Curve's Board Risk Committee. With degrees in engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and an MBA from Inian Institute of Management (IIM), Anju is also an academic with a passion for financial inclusion. She spent time as a prestigious Fulbright Fellow & Visiting Scholar at Stanford University, and is a Distinguished Fellow of Singapore Institute of Banking & Finance.



She is a member of the World Economic Forum's steering committee on innovation in financial services, has served as a fintech industry expert at UC Berkeley and was on the advisory board of the Estonian government's e-residency program. She has also previously served on boards of banks and regulated entities in Singapore and Thailand. Shachar Bialick, Founder and CEO of Curve, said: "Anju's impressive knowledge of both traditional finance and digital innovation, and of how to unify them, couldn't be more valuable at this exciting time of growth for Curve. As we work towards our launch in the US, and introduce our lending business via Curve Credit, the whole business will benefit from Anju's exceptional experience. She'll enable us to embed rigour in regulation and risk management across the business. She's a leading light in our industry, and is driving its capacity to transform and unlock opportunities for customers globally. We are privileged to have someone of Anju's calibre join us at this pivotal time in Curve's journey."

Anju Patwardhan said of her appointment: "I'm delighted to have the opportunity to work more closely with Shachar and the talented Curve team, as they continue their mission to simplify the finances of consumers in the UK, Europe and US. I see huge potential in Curve's model to bring innovation to these markets. With the mission of combining multiple cards in a single smart app and a single physical card, Curve brings ease, control and transparency to consumers. I have already replaced a dozen of my credit cards with Curve's smart card, and I look forward to helping Curve fulfil its potential to be the all-in-one financial solution for consumers." END About Curve Curve is a fintech that combines multiple cards and accounts into one smart card and even smarter app. The unique Curve card allows customers to supercharge their legacy banks to the 21st century without leaving their bank. Curve is live in 31 markets across the UK and Europe, and plans to launch in the US later in 2021. Curve offers a host of benefits to its customers, including instant notifications and categorisation across their spend, the capacity to earn instant 1% cashback at selected retailers such as Amazon, Uber, Netflix and Tesco, the ability to fit their cards into Google Pay, Apple (News - Alert) Pay and Samsung Pay, even if their banks don't support this, and Curve's patented Time Travel functionality, which enables customers to swap spend to a different card in the app for up to 90 days after the purchase was made. Curve supports Mastercard and Visa networks. The Curve Card and e-money, related to cards issued in the UK, is issued by Curve OS Limited, authorised in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority to issue electronic money (firm reference number 900926). The Curve Card and e-money, related to cards issued in the EEA, is issued by Curve Europe UAB, authorised in Lithuania by the Bank of Lithuania (electronic money institution license No. 73 issued on 22 of October, 2020). For more information go to www.curve.com, like our Facebook (News - Alert) page and follow us on Twitter @imaginecurve and Instagram @imaginecurve. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005705/en/

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The placement to institutional, sophisticated and professional investors will promote exploration at Golden Rims Kada and Kouri gold projects.

The company is extremely pleased with support for the placement

( ) has filled its boots ahead of a gold exploration campaign in West Africa via a $5 million placement.

Funds raised will accelerate the companys exploration efforts at its Kada Gold Project in Burkina Faso and its Kouri Gold Project in Guinea.

Kouri has a mineral resource estimate of 2 million ounces and Golden Rim has a maiden mineral resource estimate for the Kada project in its sights.

Extremely pleased

Managing director Craig Mackay said the demand for the placement was significant and would allow the company to make the most of its resources in West Africa.

We are extremely pleased with the demand received, we welcome a number of new

institutional and sophisticated investors on the share register and we look forward to aggressively pursuing our work programs through 2021 and beyond and continuing to deliver value for shareholders, he said.

The next steps

Mackay said the funding would allow Golden Rim to proceed with a scoping study for the Kouri project, which precedes pre-feasibility and definitive feasibility studies, and unlock a major works program on the newer Kada project.

Kada aims to deliver a maiden mineral resource in the area of previous Newmont drilling along with systematic exploration on the broader project area which is highly prospective for further gold mineralisation, he said.

Both of our gold projects lie within the highly prospective Birimian greenstones of West Africa which now host more than 60 gold deposits in excess of 1 million ounces of gold and more than 35 gold deposits in excess of 3 million ounces.

Work programs on the Kada project include the newly-acquired Damissa Koura permit adjoining the existing area, where the company is working towards a maiden mineral resource in the second half of this year with airborne geophysics, auger drilling of regional targets and infill drilling planned for the coming months.

At the Kouri project, in addition to the scoping study, diamond drilling will be undertaken on the Diabatou shoot and infill drilling towards a mineral resource update in the second half of the year.

Placement well supported

The placement saw 555,555,556 shares snapped up at 0.9 cents a piece with around 77 per cent of those taken by institutional, sophisticated and professional investors in a single tranche.

The remaining 23 per cent of shares will be issued to a few investors that elected to go into a deferred tranche that is subject to shareholder approval at its next general meeting.

In a show of confidence for Golden Rims prospects, chairman Adonis Pouroulis invested $362,000 in the company by subscribing for more than 40 million shares.

- Daniel Paproth

Gaza: Egypt opens Rafah crossing indefinitely Not just for 3-4 days as had taken place for years

(ANSA) - CAIRO, 09 FEB - Egypt has for the first time in years indefinitely opened the Rafah border crossing, the only access point to the Gaza Strip not controlled by Israelis, said a security source in Cairo, as inter-Palestinian talks got underway Tuesday in the Egyptian capital.



The Rafah crossing has normally only been open for periods of three to four days.



"It is not an ordinary opening," the source said, referring to the passage that Egypt has nearly always kept closed since October 2014 for security reasons.



The source highlighted how the opening coincided with the Palestinian dialogue.



Representatives from the 14 Palestinian factions - including rivals Hamas, currently in power in Gaza, and Fatah, which governs in the occupied West Bank - are gathered in Cairo ahead of the first elections in 15 years.



The talks are expected to conclude already on Tuesday.



On Tuesday morning, Gaza residents went to the terminal and a first bus arrived from the Egyptian side, the security source said.



(ANSAmed). (ANSA).




Nestled in the Texas Hill Country lies the small town of Fredericksburg, which has earned a top spot on a Forbes roundup of the the most idyllic small towns in the U.S. to visit in 2021.

Founded in 1846, the Texas small town gem has lured visitors to its rolling hills dotted with bluebonnets and cool bungalow rentals called "Sunday Houses."

Featured on the Forbes list for small town charm include Deadwood, South Dakota; Rockport Massachusetts, Captiva Island, Florida; Elizabeth City, North Carolinaand our own Texas destination, Fredericksburg. These small town jewels provide travelers with a way to get off the grid and enjoy the small town pace.

TEXAS TRAVEL DESTINATIONS: These are the top 5 Texas travel destinations for 2021

"Equipped with spectacular natural beauty and fascinating historic backgrounds, these five towns are the perfect fit for experiencing the quieter side of the United States," Forbes' Jared Ranahan writes.

Fredericksburg, Texas

Named after Prince Frederick of Prussia, Fredericksburg has been affectionately deemed "The Aspen of Texas," according to Fodor's Travel Publication. Tucked in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, the German-influenced town offers attractions that include a wildflower farm, wine tastings and a historic downtown strip filled with eclectic boutiques. Outdoor enthusiasts might want to spend a day hiking Enchanted Rock or hitting the Texas Wine Trail.

"The truth is that its hard not to love the town where you can shop a day on Main Street and still not see everything...Or spend a day touring the Texas Wine Trail in townor afternoon hiking Enchanted Rock, according to Fodors Hill Country editor Debbie Harmsen.

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Located in the northeastern corner of North Carolina, Elizabeth City has been named one of the "100 Best Small Towns in America." This waterfront small town gem was founded in 1794. Visitors can head out to the beaches of the Outer Banks, Ghost Harbor or Hampton Roads. If you love the outdoors, travelers can explore the 20,000 acres of nearby state parks or head out hiking on the Fenwick-Hollowell Wetlands Trail.

UniversalImagesGroup/Universal Images Group via Getty

Deadwood, South Dakota

If you want a taste of the Old West, Deadwood is a step back in time. The small town destination is nestled among the Black Hills of South Dakota, and the historic downtown area is a perfect spot to stroll through. Travelers can head out to the Black Hills underground mine, Broken Boot Gold Mine or go on one of the historic tours offered by a Wild West tour guide.

John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

Rockport, Massachusetts

If lobsters and lighthouses are more of your thing, consider heading to the small coastal town of Rockport. Venture over to the creative district of Bearskin Neck or the cool waters of Halibut Point State Park. Travelers can also head to Gloucester, Manchester-by-the Sea or the historic Salem for their East Coast journey.

Jeff Greenberg/Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images

Captiva Island, Florida

Just off of Florida's Gulf Coast, the idyllic small town gem of Captiva Island boasts miles of sandy beaches and activities including biking, sailing and birding. If you need a peaceful, off-the-grid getaway, consider some of the other barrier islands, like Sanibel Island and Cayo Costa.
Governance Watch Alliance, a pro-democracy group advancing the cause of the rule of law, has petitioned the Appointments Committee of Ghanas Eight Parliament over the credibility of some Ministers-designate, saying they should not be approved to serve in the government.



They said some public officials, according to the Alliance, were given the opportunity to serve in the first term of the Nana Akufo-Addo-led Administration, but failed to live up to expectation.



They demonstrated a high level of incompetence and ineptitude in the discharge of their duties which cost the country in many ways.



We believe they must not be given the opportunity to serve in such a high office again, the Alliance appealed in a petition jointly signed by Mr. Patrick Kwame Atuah, the President, Mr. Joshua Fugah, the General-Secretary, and Mr. Yakubu Moro, the Director of Research.



The petition, a copy made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Kumasi, cited Mr. Ken Ofori Atta, Minister-designate for Finance, Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah, Minister-designate for National Security, Mr. Dominic Nitiwul, Minister-designate for Defence, and Dr. Afriyie Akoto, Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture.



The others include Ms. Ursula Owusu Ekuful, Minister-designate for Communication, Ms. Hawa Koomson, Minister-designate for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mr. Godfred Dame, Minister-designate for Justice and Attorney-General, as well as Mr. Kwasi Amoako-Atta, Minister-designate for Roads and Highways.



The petition stressed the need for the Vetting Committee to subject the Ministers-designate to critical scrutiny in relation to their various conducts while at their respective portfolios when they make an appearance.



Touching on the revelations as contained in the Corruption Risk Assessment Report conducted by the Special Prosecutors Office on the Agyapa Deal, the Alliance said the direct involvement of Mr. Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister then in the whole saga was unfortunate.



The petition on the eligibility of Mr. Kan Dapaah, cited the Takoradi missing girls saga as well as the murder of undercover investigative journalist, Ahmed Suame, stressing that the failure of the then National Security Minister to deal effectively with the issue was a testimony of his incompetence.



It indicated that the Defence Minister-designate in the analysis of the Alliance could also not pass the litmus test, because under his watch the military has been heavily involved in illegal mining activities of which there are video evidence to that effect.



Mr. Nitiwul as the Minister of Defence witnessed for the first time in the history of the Fourth Republic, the invasion of the Chamber of Parliament by fully-armed military personnel, which brought shame to the country, the petition noted.



It accused the Minister-designate for Agriculture of supervising the collapse of the poultry industry due to his inefficiencies, saying the Ghanaian farmer today was struggling to come by maize, soya, wheat brand and other materials needed for poultry feed.



The petition did not leave out Ms. Koomsom for what it described as her emotional temperaments and personal conduct which are full of insults and not deserving of somebody expected to occupy that high office.



Focusing on the Minister-designate for Communication, the petition said Ms. Owusu Ekuful during her tenure saw a loss to the state of over eighty million US Dollars of the taxpayers money as a result of the Kelni GVG deal.



We appeal to the Appointments Committee not to approve or recommend her nomination. This would enable a review of the Kelni GVG contract in the interest of the nation, the petition appealed.

Source: GNA









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COMPANY "COMPANY" assists businesses in constantly increasing operational efficiency not only by enabling them to adapt to changes in relevant laws and organizational changes but also by providing system implementation, training, and inquiry support services for systems users.

transcosmos inc. hereby announces that the company has formed a business process outsourcing (BPO) services partnership designed for HR department with Works Human Intelligence Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; Representative Director Chief Executive Officer: Tomitaro Anzai; WHI).

The BPO market continues to grow amid the accelerated move for work style reform and digital transformation (DX) among businesses. Business demands for BPO services in HR departments are also on the rise in order to manage a growing workload due to the rapid penetration of teleworking as one of the novel coronavirus infection prevention measures on top of the hiring difficulty as a result of declining working-age population and increased job mobility.

transcosmos has been providing services that help businesses streamline operations in HR and IT departments. "COMPANY" by WHI provides highly versatile "standard features" and it adapts to a wide range of business operational requirements and commercial practice. By designing and building operations according to the relevant models, companies can standardize their operations smoother than ever before. "COMPANY" assists businesses in constantly increasing operational efficiency not only by enabling them to adapt to changes in relevant laws and organizational changes so that they can perform operations in the best possible ways, but also by providing system implementation, training and inquiry support services for systems users.

Under this partnership, the two companies provide BPaaS (Business Process as a Service) by combining "COMPANY," WHI's integrated HR system and BPO services by transcosmos. Through the services, transcosmos and WHI aim to help businesses enhance operational efficiency, focus on high-value operations, hedge against potential business continuity risks caused by external and internal factors, and more.

*"COMPANY" is a registered trademark of Works Human Intelligence Co., Ltd.

*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 Works Human Intelligence Co., Ltd.

Works Human Intelligence (WHI) provides various services related to HR in addition to the development, sales and support of "COMPANY," its integrated HR system.

"COMPANY" is adopted by about 1,200 corporate group customers across diverse industries, and has the No.1 share* in the HR/Payroll operations category in the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) package market.

"COMPANY" provides highly versatile "standard features" for a variety of business requirements and commercial practices required for large enterprises regardless of their industries and sectors.

To help businesses to adapt to changes in their corporate environment, WHI also enhances the standard features of "COMPANY" within the range of the fixed maintentance fees (free update). WHI contributes to Japanese enterprises in streamlining their HR operations and visualizing their IT costs.

*Source: 2018 ERP Package Market HR/Payroll category: Revenue share by vendor, ITR "ITR Market View ERP Market 2020"

https://www.works-hi.co.jp/

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/
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A hospital has told staff to use terms like 'birthing parents' and 'human milk' rather than just referring to 'mothers' and 'breast milk' so transgender people are not offended.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust unveiled a blizzard of 'gender inclusive' phrases in a drive to stamp out 'mainstream transphobia'.

The Trust is the first in the country to formally implement such a radical overhaul for its maternity services department - which will now be known as 'perinatal services'.

Other changes include replacing the use of the word 'woman' with the phrase 'woman or person', and the term 'father' with 'parent', 'co-parent' or 'second biological parent', depending on the circumstances.

Scroll down to see all the new words

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust unveiled a blizzard of 'gender inclusive' phrases in a drive to stamp out 'mainstream transphobia'

The new terms will be used for documents, protocols and Trust-wide communication.

They will also be used when discussing pregnancy, birth and parenting at a population level - such as at a meeting.

The Trust stressed that when interacting with a patient in a one-on-one scenario, midwives should continue referring to their gender.

Brighton hospital's new 'gender inclusive language' Previous term: Breastfeeding New term: Breast/chestfeeding

Previous term: Breastmilk New term: Human milk or breast/chestmilk or milk from the feeding mother or parent Previous term: Her New term: May need to use 'them' or 'their' when replacing 'woman' with 'woman or person' Previous term: Maternal New term: 'Maternal and parental' or 'maternal/parental' Previous term: 'Maternal' or 'maternity' New term: 'Maternity' or 'perinatal' (this acknowledges that 'Maternity' sometimes refers to terminology which it is not possible for BSUH to change at present) Previous term: Maternal consent New term: Informed consent Previous term: 'Maternal notes' or 'maternity notes' New term: 'Hand held notes' or 'Antenatal/Labour and Birth Care/Postnatal Care Record' Previous term: 'Mother/s' New term: 'Mother/s or birthing parent/s' or 'mothers and birthing parents' Previous term: She New term: May need to use 'they' when replacing 'woman' with 'woman or person' Previous term: 'Woman' New term 'Woman or person' Advertisement

A policy document released this week, said staff should not stop using the word 'woman' or other terms describing motherhood but they should consciously start adding in the word 'people' and other more inclusive language.

It said: 'Gender identity can be a source of oppression and health inequality. We are consciously using the words 'women' and 'people' together to make it clear that we are committed to working on addressing health inequalities for all those who use our services.

'As midwives and birth workers, we focus on improving access and health outcomes for marginalised and disadvantaged groups.

'Women are frequently disadvantaged in healthcare, as are trans and non-binary people.

'By continuing to use the term 'woman' we commit to working on addressing health inequalities for all who use our services.

'We also recognise that there is currently biological essentialism and transphobia present within elements of mainstream birth narratives and discourse.

'We strive to protect our trans and non-binary service users and healthcare professionals from additional persecution as a consequence of terminology changes, recognising the significant impact this can have on psychological and emotional wellbeing.

'Acknowledging the cultural context in which service development occurs is vital in making trans and non-binary lives safer.'

The move was welcomed by inclusivity campaigners. Campaign group TransActual tweeted: 'This is fantastic, well done. Let's hope many more trusts follow suit. Everybody deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.'

An estimated 1 per cent of the adult population in Britain identifies as transgender or non-binary but the trans population in Brighton and Hove is thought to be larger.

Although no official figures exist on the trans community, research has shown nearly 10 per cent of the population of Brighton and Hove identify as LGBTQ+, compared to around 2.2 per cent of the general population.

The Office for National Statistics estimates that there are approximately 200,000-500,000 trans people in the UK.

However it says there is no robust or clear indication of the true number.

Freddy McConnell, 34, was the the first British transgender man to ever carry and give birth to a child.

He previously lost a battle to be registered as the 'father' on his son's birth certificate.

Freddy who was able to get pregnant in 2017, was legally male when he gave birth to his first child Jack in 2018.

Having accessed a sperm donor, Freddy stopped taking testosterone to become pregnant and became the UK's first transgender man to carry and give birth to his own baby.

When Jack was born he wanted to be registered as 'father or parent' but a registrar told him that the law, Children Act 1989, requires people who give birth to be registered as mothers.

An appeal to be named 'father' on his child's birth certificate was rejected by Supreme Court Justices in November 2020, because it was seen as not an 'arguable point of law'.

The journalist who had already lost two rounds of a legal battle, said being forced to be recorded as 'mother' breached his human right to respect for private and family life.

In January he revealed that he had suffered a miscarriage at six weeks after having IVF to fall pregnant with his second child.

Freddy discovered that he was pregnant from an embryo transfer in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Mr McConnell started taking testosterone aged 25 and had breast tissue removed a year later, but never had a hysterectomy to remove his uterus because he had not ruled out wanting children.

Posting on Instagram, the father-of-one said he had begun excitedly imagining the next nine months, but he then discovered that he had suffered a loss at six weeks after having blood tests at a clinic in the New Year.

'Pregnancy loss is still taboo and it shouldnt be. Trans and queer pregnancy loss is part of that, however small, however invisible, however fervently denied by a hateful few,' he said.
An environmental and consumer protection group says the German government offered U.S. President Donald Trump's administration financial support of up to 1 billion euros ($1.21 billion) in a bid to prevent Washington from imposing sanctions on the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

According to a document published by Environmental Action Germany (DUH) on February 9, German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz offered the funds for the import of U.S. liquefied natural gas in a personal letter addressed to his counterpart at the time, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

It was dated August 7, 2020, and included the offer in an attached "non-paper."

Sascha Mueller-Kraenner, the DUH executive director, called it a "scandal" and a "dirty deal at the expense of third parties."

According to the paper, the German government offered to invest in developing LNG terminals in Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbuettel on Germany's North Sea coastline.

In return, Washington was allegedly asked to permit the "unhindered construction and operation of Nord Stream 2," a Baltic Sea pipeline set to double deliveries of natural gas from Russia to Germany.

The Finance Ministry in Berlin did not initially comment on the matter, although a spokesman said a statement was being prepared.



The pipeline, which is nearing completion, is intended to carry 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year from Russia to Germany, but work was halted in December 2020 following the threat of sanctions from Washington.

The United States and several European countries have said the pipeline will increase Europe's energy dependency on Russia, bypass Ukraine, and deny Kyiv a lucrative source of transit revenue.

About 150 kilometers of pipe transiting Danish and German waters must be laid to complete pipeline controlled by the Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom.

U.S. President Joe Biden has called Nord Stream 2 a "bad deal for Europe."

With reporting by dpa
Krista Kennell / Shutterstock.com

Amid a calamitous year marked with historic civil unrest, a full-blown pandemic and a whiplashed economy, we could all use some words of encouragement. And to whom shall we turn for those prized pearls of wisdom? Might we suggest financial advisors. These money-minded folks are able to see the state of the economy in a way that the average American doesnt always get to see  unless theyre hiring them or their services. They bring a detached, big-picture perspective to financial affairs, understanding situations not only according to how they feel in the short term, but what they mean in the long term.

The Ultimate Financial Planning Guide: Do It Like the Pros in 6 Steps

Just as people lean on mentors in their respective fields, financial advisors look to successful people in their industry for guidance and perseverance. GOBankingRates consulted 11 different money experts to learn: What quotes spoken by great financial thinkers do they turn to in these times of trouble? How can these words of wisdom help out the average American right now, no matter their money situation?

Last updated: Feb. 26, 2021

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: Financial adviser, author, and TV personality Suze Orman speaks at a press conference at the National Press Club, January 12, 2012, in Washington, DC.

Suze Orman

The only way you will ever permanently take control of your financial life is to dig deep and fix the root problem. If youre not staying on top of your money, you are putting your financial well-being at risk.

Ebony J. Howard, CPA, a financial expert for RetireGuide.com, loves how this quote establishes how to maintain financial security. She added that this bit of Suze Ormans wisdom is essential to help folks become adequately prepared for any crisis that may arise during COVID-19. Ensuring that you have built an emergency savings fund to cover at least six months worth of expenses is the key to stay afloat  while focusing on keeping spending habits under control, lowering debts and only the necessities.

See: 22 Tips for Landing a Job During the Health Crisis

NEW YORK-MAR 30: TV personality Mark Cuban attends the "Woman In Gold" New York premiere, in conjunction with The Carlyle and ef+facto at the Museum of Modern Art on March 30, 2015 in New York City.

Mark Cuban

Creating opportunities means looking where others are not.

Story continues

Nicole Tanenbaum, partner and chief investment strategist at Chequers Financial Management, appreciates this pearl of wisdom from famed entrepreneur Mark Cuban.

The ability to take a contrarian view as an investor and take advantage of others herd mentality can often lead to great outcomes for your portfolio if done using a systematic and strategic approach, Tanenbaum said. Investing in out-of-favor sectors and asset classes when others are shunning them can provide opportunities to create long-term value. This allows the strategic investor to take advantage of short term emotionally-fueled market dislocations. Specifically, setting an allocation objective and sticking to it over time is key, which allows for rebalancing over time as the portfolio moves away from its original target allocation. In other words, buying more stocks as prices fall and selling them as prices rise.

With the stock market on a rollercoaster during this pandemic, its worthwhile to heed this advice and take advantage of some of those sliding share prices.

Check Out: 25 Companies Making the Most Money From Coronavirus

Mellody Hobson

I know many members of our community steer clear of Wall Street because of the perception that the stock market is risky, but I am convinced the biggest risk of all is not taking one.

Tremaine Wills, investment advisor at Mind Over Money, holds dear this quote from Mellody Hobson, co-CEO of Ariel Investments. As a new advisor working to close the wealth gap, this message resonates deeply with me, Wills said. Fear of risk cripples many clients into not taking action which can seal in the fate of perpetual financial stress.

As this pandemic rages on, making any financial moves might feel extra perilous, but try to consider the risk from a place of abundance rather than of fear.

Dave Ramsey

Live like no one else now so you can live like no one else later.

This Zen riddle of a quote from Dave Ramsey is a go-to for Jeff Rose, CFP and founder of the personal finance website Good Financial Cents.

The pandemic is real and not going away anytime soon, Rose said. Most people are in a hold their breath approach  hoping that their job remains secure, or a new job is just around the corner and their savings wont run out. They arent looking to change the way they live, but thats not the right approach to take: Its time to be proactive and cut your spending vigilantly, find ways to start making money (like driving for InstaCart or delivering for Amazon) to boost those savings, and find ways to cut current debt, like refinancing student loans and curbing spending habits.

More Tips: Steal These Money Secrets From 25 Millionaires Under 25

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 19: Philanthropist Warren Buffett (C) is joined onstage by 24 other philanthropist and influential business people featured on the Forbes list of 100 Greatest Business Minds during the Forbes Media Centennial Celebration at Pier 60 on September 19, 2017 in New York City.

Warren Buffett

Over the long term, the stock market news will be good. In the 20th century, the United States endured two world wars and other traumatic and expensive military conflicts; the Depression; a dozen or so recessions and financial panics; oil shocks; a flu epidemic; and the resignation of a disgraced president. Yet the Dow rose from 66 to 11,497.

Warren Buffett wrote these prescient words in The New York Times op-ed in 2008 during the Great Recession. Now, in the bellows of the COVID-19 recession, these words ring true again to Asher Rogovy, chief investment officer at Magnifina.

The pandemic is certainly the biggest economic event which has occurred for many years [and] there was a violent market reaction in March and April, but many analysts predict that by this time next year, it will no longer be affecting the stock market, Rogovy said. This is Buffetts wisdom: to invest with a very very long-term horizon. He is the master at putting aside emotions and focusing strictly on the numbers. According to our research, only 30% of bear markets since 1950 have lasted more than three and a half years. The most recent one didnt even last three quarters.

Charlie Munger, vice president of Berkshire Hathaway is interviewed after the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting held at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb.

Charlie Munger

If you want to be an outlier in achievement, just sit on your a** and read most of your life.

This tough love quote from Warren Buffetts right-hand man Charlie Munger speaks to Sammy Azzouz, JD, CFP, president of Heritage Financial and author of The Boston Advisor blog. It highlights the importance of financial literacy and underscores that curiosity and education are key to smart money moves.

2020 has brought us a lot of things we never would have wanted, but one positive is the ability for people to read more about things theyve always wanted to learn, like how to improve their personal finances or to pursue the next leg of their careers, Azzouz said.

Stackshouse created by Farnoosh Torabi

Farnoosh Torabi

Money is a resource. Its not good, its not bad, its not evil, its just a resource.

Tracy Shen, holistic wealth advisor, managing partner at Florin Group, is endeared to this quote from personal finance expert and journalist Farnoosh Torabi because it instructs us to see money without any drama and to regard it in a more simple and detached way.

This helps some of our clients since they have anxiety with money, Shen said. So we teach them to build a positive relationship with money by finding out their money beliefs.

If you find yourself worrying about money right now, take a deep breath and a step back. Ask yourself whether you think of money as good or evil and then focus on letting go of those associations so as to regain perspective and hopefully, feel a little less stressed.

Benjamin Graham

Benjamin Graham

In the end, how your investments behave is much less important than how you behave.

This witty insight from Benjamin Graham, known as the father of value investing, appeals to Richard Best, a writer for DontPayFull who has over 30 years of experience in financial services. He likes it because it underscores the importance of not letting emotions rule your actions.

Graham and many of the other legendary investors believe investing without a solid investment plan, or the patience and discipline to stick with one, can leave a person vulnerable to [their] emotions, which invariably leads to disastrous results, Best said. Emotions are what make investors do things they later regret, such as fleeing the market after a steep decline or buying at the peak of market euphoria  both of which can have a devastating impact on their long-term investment performance.

In these pandemic-ridden times, the air is charged with fear and anguish. Feel your feelings, but dont let them sneak into your financial decision-making.

Peter Lynch Former Fidelity Magellan fund manager Peter Lynch during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game in BostonPistons Celtics Basketball, Boston, USA.

Peter Lynch

Invest in what you know.

This pithy pearl from Peter Lynch, former fund manager for Magellan at Fidelity, is valued by Tricia Rosen, CFP, Principal, Access Financial Planning, in good times and in bad.

[It means] take advantage of your specialized, local knowledge of a product, service, or company to identify opportunities before they become more widely known, Rosen said. Research them further and then invest in them if they seem like a well-run, viable business. Granted, he said it before the internet and a Google search was common, and when active management was king, but it still holds true today. Most successful products and services get their initial momentum through word of mouth, so when you see a product or service which seems to provide a strong value, its worth looking into further to see if they would be a good investment opportunity.

Again, investing during a struggling economy can feel weird or even frightening  but dont let anxiety stop you from doing your homework; after all, even now people are still becoming billionaires for the first time.

Zig Ziglar

Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.

Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com, appreciates this no-nonsense quote by the sales icon Zig Ziglar during these dark times.

Since the start of the pandemic, Ive urged Americans to hold onto what they have and pay off debt where they can, Dvorkin said. Most people were wise, and credit card spending came to a halt in the second quarter. Many financial intuitions foresee a slow and hard recovery, but there is still time for people to reassess their recession savings plan. Its best for most people not to continue their spending as normal, and this holiday season, Im begging people to keep in mind: the worst is not yet over.

due date calendar and alarm clock with blur business woman hand calculating monthly expenses during tax season.

Jim Rohn

Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.

This quote from entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker Jim Rohn inspires Anthony Appleton-Tattersall, CA, MBA, director of AAT Accounting Services, who finds that it carries special meaning during the pandemic.

During Covid, many people have found out just how much their time is worth, Appleton-Tattersall said. Money is still important of course, but so many are considering switching or downshifting career moves that should have been front of mind years ago.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Advice From Mark Cuban, Warren Buffett and Other Experts That Can Help You Survive a Crisis
Even as he agreed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to continue close US-India cooperation in Indo-Pacific, the new American President Joseph R Biden underscored during the first call with his counterpart in New Delhi that his administration would defend democratic institutions and norms around the world.

Modi and Biden spoke over a phone late on Monday  three weeks after the change of guard at the White House in Washington DC. They agreed to continue close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, including support for freedom of navigation, territorial integrity, and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad, according to a readout issued by the White House early Tuesday. They further resolved that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld in Myanmar, where the military of late taken over power, questioning the legitimacy of the re-election of Aung San Suu Kyis National League of Democracy to power.

During his phone call with the Prime Minister, the US President underscored his desire to defend democratic institutions and norms around the world and noted that a shared commitment to democratic values was the bedrock for the US-India relationship.

The stress on defending democratic norms in the White House statement on Biden-Modi phone call was significant as it came close on the heels of a statement issued by the US State Department, subtly criticising the way the Government of India was dealing with the protest by the farmers against the new agricultural laws.

Also read  Farm laws to improve efficiency of India's markets: US amid ongoing protest

The US State Department noted that peaceful protests were a hallmark of any thriving democracy. It added that unhindered access to information, including the internet, was fundamental to the freedom of expression. The statement was issued after local authorities shut down internet access for the agitating farmers camping on the border of the national capital of India.

Spoke to @POTUS @JoeBiden and conveyed my best wishes for his success. We discussed regional issues and our shared priorities. We also agreed to further our co-operation against climate change.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 8, 2021

India, US, Australia and Japan had first launched the 'Quad' in 2007, but the initiative had fizzled out very soon. The four nations, however, relaunched the 'Quad' in Manila in November 2017  ostensibly to create a bulwark of democratic nations to counter expansionist moves of China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Modi and Biden reiterated the importance of working with like-minded countries to ensure a rules-based international order and a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, according to a separate statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi. The two leaders discussed at length the regional developments and the wider geopolitical context, the MEA added, apparently indicating that the Prime Minister and the US President had exchanged views on growing belligerence of China, not only along its Line of Actual Control with India, but also in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, East China Sea, Taiwan Strait and elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific.

They noted that the India-US partnership was firmly anchored in a shared commitment to democratic values and common strategic interests.

The senior diplomats of the four nations had several meetings ever since the uad was re-launched. It was elevated to the level of Foreign Ministers when the then US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, hosted his counterparts from Japan, Australia and India on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2019. Pompeo and the foreign ministers of the three other nations  S Jaishankar of India, Maris Payne of Australia and Toshimitsu Motegi of Japan  had another meeting in Tokyo on October 6 last year.

But the Trump administrations move to formalise and expand the Quad and turn it into a NATO-like bloc for the Indo-Pacific region did not succeed, as not only India, but Australia and Japan too were not yet ready to go the whole hog and overtly gang up with the US against China.

The Biden administration recently proposed to further elevate the Quad with a virtual meeting of the leaders of the four nations. New Delhi is cautiously studying the proposal.

The Prime Minister and the US President affirmed the importance of addressing the challenge of global climate change.

Modi welcomed Biden's decision to re-commit to the Paris Agreement and highlighted the ambitious targets India has set for itself in the area of renewable energy. The prime minister also welcomed the US Presidents initiative to organise the Climate Leaders Summit in April this year and looked forward to participating in the same.

He invited Biden and his wife Dr Jill Biden to visit India at their earliest convenience.

[February 09, 2021] Accedian Joins TM Forum Community To Accelerate Innovation and Drive Industry Change

MONTREAL, Canada, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Accedian, a leader in performance analytics and end user experience solutions, today announced they have joined TM Forum, the industry association driving digital transformation through collaboration. At a major inflection point in the technology and telecom industries, Accedian will work with the TM Forum to accelerate digital transformation, improve digital experiences, and co-create best practices for interoperability and automated operations. Accedian has also been named a founding member of TM Forum's newly created Diversity & Inclusion Council, a global collaboration project focused on making the telecommunications sector the most diverse and inclusive industry in order to help underpin its continued success in the digital economy. The role of communication service providers (CSPs) in ensuring business continuity has never been more prominent than right now. TM Forum's collaborative approach allows members to work smarter and faster in their goal of delivering seamless service to their end users. As a leading provider of cloud-based network and application performance monitoring and digital experience visibility, Accedian can glean new insights on the challenges CSPs are facing in attaining these goals, while bringing knowledge of performance monitoring, visibility and security to the community. "We're pleased to join TM Forum to help solve challenges around interoperability and openness in the rapidly changing 5G and edge environment," says Dion Joannou, CEO of Accedian. "Their community-first approach that led to the development of assets such as their Open API toolkit, Digital Maturity model, and Catalyst program means we can accelerate industry-wide transformation that ultimately feeds into our main goal: providing operators with the most detailed and comprehensive visibility into their customer's digital experiences, no matter the underlying technology or environment." Accedian also joins TM Forum's Diversity & Inclusion Council, a newly formed committee for conversations on building the future workforce, exploring issues surrounding workplace diversity and equality, and sharing practical guidance and best practices. Additional members include Colt, Deutsche Telekom, Verizon, and Accenture, among others. Welcoming Accedian as a new TM Forum member, and as a founding member of the Forum's Diversity & Inclusion Council, Nik Willetts, CEO, TM Forum, said, "As we begin to adjust to the `next normal', our members are working diligently to address challenges around the long-term impact on people and ways of working; practical ways to accelerate transformation projects; and what truly needs to change to enable innovation and growth - with a focus on future design of network and IT teams." He added, "The work our members are doing is critical to delivering the agility, experience and cost base required for our industry to thrive. We are thrilled to have Accedian on board." CONTACT: Media Contact

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HOUSTON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodman Financial Corporation has announced the hiring of their newest team member, Steven J. VanNostrand, CFP  fulfilling the role of Senior Financial Advisor.

As Senior Financial Advisor, Steve works directly with clients, addressing their financial and investment planning needs. He also oversees client relationships and assists other team members with more complex financial advisory issues.

Steven J. VanNostrand, CFP 

Prior to joining Goodman Financial, Steve was a wealth management advisor at TIAA for five years. Before that, he spent six years at Chase Bank and Bank of America in both branch management and client relationship management roles. He has over 11 years of experience in the financial services industry. Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts, Psychology from the University of Virginia, 2002.

"We are pleased to have Steve join us in his role as Senior Financial Advisor. His extensive experience in helping clients navigate the rapidly changing financial landscape will strongly benefit our entire team and growing client base," said Steve Goodman, President, Goodman Financial.

Goodman Financial is committed to maintaining a top-tier office culture. For this reason, each team member is hired based on not only their experience and professional expertise, but also their character.

About Goodman Financial:

Goodman Financial is a fee-only investment management and financial advisory firm located in Houston, Texas, serving clients nationwide. Founded in 1988, Goodman Financial has over 30 years of experience in helping clients achieve their long-term financial goals. Goodman Financial has no affiliation with insurance companies, banks, mutual funds or brokerage firms, and investment decisions are made with our clients' best interest as our top priority. With a personalized approach and prudent investment decisions, fiduciary services include financial planning, retirement planning, tax efficiency, portfolio management, pension funds, foundations, endowments and associations. Clients include individuals and institutions such as trusts, family limited partnerships, endowments, non-profits, pension plans and private foundations who appreciate personalized service and solutions tailored to their unique goals.

Media contact:

Jennifer McDaniel

[email protected]

832-928-8598

SOURCE Goodman Financial Corporation
The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the arrest of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and six other journalists over their tweets on the Republic Day tractor rally violence at the Red Fort in New Delhi.

The apex court adjourned the matter for hearing after two weeks and issued notices on all petitions on the matter.

Chief Justice of India SA Bobde was quoted by Bar and Bench as saying, "We will hear it after two weeks we will stay arrest in the meanwhile."

A three-judge bench of CJI Bobde, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian heard the petitions filed by Tharoor and journalists Rajdeep Sardesai, Zafar Agha, Mrinal Pande, Vinod K Jose, Paresh Nath, and Anant Nath.

However, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta wanted the case to be heard on Wednesday, which the court refused. Mehta was quoted by Bar and Bench as saying, "I can show you what horrendous effect these tweets have with such lakhs of followers."

Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Jose, told the court, "I appear for editor of Caravan Magazine. There is no religious sentiment which has been hurt. It was a January 26 report on some person being shot and then we corrected it to something else."

The petitioners had sought quashing of the FIRs against them over the tweets.

The FIRs had been filed against all of them in five states and had accused them of writing misleading posts and had been charged under IPC sections pertaining to criminal conspiracy, sedition and promoting enmity.
Arusha  The High Court sitting in Arusha has on Monday ruled in favor of selling four plots owned by Impala to pay 238 employees of the Impala Hotel and Naura Spring Hotel claiming salaries of more than Sh500 million.

The decision was handed down by Judge Mohamed Gwae, who also approved NBC's commercial bank's claim that the Impala Hotel was worth more than sh1.5 billion that the money left over after the debtor's assets were sold and paid to employees should be paid to the bank.

Judge Gwae made the ruling he was convinced that the owners of the hotels to challenge the decision of the registrar of the Arusha Regional High Court, the Sub-Registration of Labor was unfounded.

Judge Gwae ordered plots 20, 21,22 and 23 in Block B Uzunguni, Arusha to be sold and to cover the salaries of about 238 employees including 68 of Naura Springs Hotel who claim more than Sh107 million and 167 employees of Impala Hotel who claim Sh397 million.

The chairman of the staff, Jacob Joel, said he was grateful for the court's decision and for the government to be with them shoulder to shoulder until the ruling was made and believes that court auctioneer Boniface Buberwa would work diligently to reach the point of sale.

Impala Hotel, Naura Spring and Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge were all owned by businessman Melau Mrema who died in 2017.
I think, fundamentally, the president of the union and I sat down over a series of conversations, and I think both wanted to get to the same place, but we were on different pathways to get there, Lightfoot said on MSNBCs Morning Joe when asked how they reached a deal. She said that zeroing in on the children and using that as a focus, we were able to bridge a lot of divides.
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Geneva, Feb 8 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Feb, 2021 ) :The UN Human Rights Council said it will hold a relatively rare special session this Friday to discuss the ongoing political crisis in Myanmar.

The move was officially requested on Monday by Britain and the European Union, with enough backing from countries to automatically trigger the meeting.

The call came a week after Myanmar's generals conducted a coup in the country.

"The Human Rights Council will hold a special session to address the human rights implications of the crisis in Myanmar this Friday," the UN's top rights body said in a statement.

Myanmar's military last week detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and dozens of other members of her National League for Democracy party, ending a decade of civilian rule and triggering international condemnation.

Julian Braithwaite, Britain's ambassador in Geneva, told a council organisational meeting on Monday that London and Brussels were submitting the special session request.

Braithwaite said the call was "in response to the state of emergency imposed in Myanmar, the arbitrary detention of democratically-elected politicians and civil society by the military," which he said had "grave implications for human rights in the country".

"We must respond urgently to the plight of the people of Myanmar and the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation there," he said.

The support of one-third of the 47 council members -- so 16 or more -- is required for a special session to be convened.

It has the backing of 19 so far, including Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Mexico and South Korea, plus EU nations including France, Germany and Italy.

It also has the support of a further 28 observer states, including the United States, which only announced Monday it would "re-engage" with the council nearly three years after the administration of former president Donald Trump decided to withdraw.

It will be the 29th special session of the council.

Braithwaite said backers of the special session call would inform other council members soon about the drafting of a resolution on the issue.

The council will convene an organisational meeting on Thursday, where more specific details on the session will be announced.
A New Jersey lawmaker said Tuesday that she raised concerns a few months ago about a sergeant at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women who has now been charged in connection with an alleged violent assault of multiple women at the prison in January.

Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, D-Bergen, said she contacted the Department of Corrections (DOC) in August to share concerns about Sgt. Amir Bethea after prison advocates reached out to her office regarding Bethea, who they described as a known abuser.

Bonnie Kerness, the program director for the nonprofit American Friends Service Committees prison program, said she has received a number of complaints in recent months about Betheas alleged treatment of inmates and forwarded them to Huttle and the DOC.

Huttle said the DOC received her complaint and confirmed the agency would look into it. She said apparently no action was taken.

The abuse at Edna Mahan is systemic and whatever happened a few weeks ago, I think it could have prevented it if they had taken action and properly investigated who we asked to be investigated, Huttle said in a phone interview Tuesday.

The DOC did not immediately return a request for comment.

The attorney general announced charges last week against Edna Mahan corrections officer Luis Garcia, Sgt. Amir Bethea and Sgt. Anthony Valvano for their roles in an alleged violent attack at the prison in January.

Bethea is now part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the violent attack at the womens prison. Authorities said officers, including Bethea, tried to cover up the attack by falsifying their reports.

At least six women have told investigators they were attacked, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said last week. Three officers have been charged in connection to the attack.

Bethea has been charged with two counts of second-degree official misconduct and two counts of third-degree tampering with public records.

He could not be reached for comment. It is unclear if Bethea has retained an attorney.

At a press conference last week, Grewal laid out how a group of officers allegedly led by Bethea took part in violent cell extractions of multiple women at the prison.

Shortly after one woman threw an unknown liquid substance out of her cell in the prisons Restorative Housing Unit (RHU) on Jan. 12, a team of armored officers led by Bethea and Sgt. Anthony Valvano appeared outside the cell, authorities said. The woman immediately complied with their demands and was handcuffed, authorities said.

Despite the woman complying and being handcuffed, officers allegedly barged into her cell and at least one officer repeatedly struck her with their fist, breaking the womans orbital bone, the criminal complaint said.

The woman had been begging officers not to harm her prior to their entry into (her) cell, according to the criminal complaint.

Bethea allegedly did not intervene and failed to report the use of force in an effort to deceive others within the DOC into believing that the use of force on (the victim) was justified, the complaint said.

Authorities said Bethea pepper sprayed a second victim before giving the woman a chance to comply with demands to be handcuffed. Officers supervised by Bethea then entered the womans cell to forcibly remove her. One officer, Luis Garcia, allegedly punched the woman in the head with a closed fist 28 times as she standing pressed up against a cell wall with her back to the officers, authorities said.

Garcia has been charged with second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree official misconduct, and third-degree tampering with public records or information. His attorney has said Garcia is innocent.

The woman suffered a concussion and a busted lip.

Bethea allegedly did not disclose the womans injuries in his report on the incident, according to the criminal complaint.

The attack and the subsequent criminal charges have led to a large group of lawmakers calling on DOC Commissioner Marcus Hicks to resign. Huttle said the lack of action in investigating Bethea is the latest reason why Hicks should step down.

We really need to fix the toxic culture of abuse in our corrections system, primarily in the womens correctional facility, Huttle said.

NJ Advance Media staff writers Blake Nelson and S.P. Sullivan contributed to this report.

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GALVESTON  A North Dakota man was sentenced to prison Tuesday for attempting to strangle a woman he was dating on a cruise ship off the coast of Galveston.

Hector Blanco, 45, was ordered by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown to serve three years in prison followed by two years of supervised release for his assault conviction. Blanco, a resident of Watford City, N.D., pleaded guilty to the crime last year, admitting to attempting to strangle and suffocate a woman while aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in 2018.

No excuse can justify Hector Blancos violent actions that turned a dream vacation into a dreadful nightmare for his victim, said Perrye K. Turner, a special agent for the FBI. I am extremely proud of FBI special agents in the Texas City Resident Agency and our victim specialists who provided compassionate support to the brave survivor who reported this crime.

Authorities say Blanco intentionally assaulted the unidentified victim in his cabin aboard the Liberty of the Seas cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean, a 7-night cruise that departs from Galveston towards the Western Caribbean Sea.

On Nov. 18, 2018, Blanco and the woman were in a cabin aboard the ship when he placed his hand and then a bath towel over her mouth. He then twisted a towel around her neck and dragged her on the floor of the cabin. Blanco tripped and the woman was able to run out of the cabin and report the incident to security personnel on the cruise ship.

At the time of the assault, the cruise ship was roughly 45 miles from Galveston in the Gulf of Mexico, but still within U.S. maritime jurisdiction. The FBI conducted an investigation of the assault and Kenneth Cusick of the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.

Blanco remains free on bond and will voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility in the near future, according to the U.S. Attorneys office.

nick.powell@chron.com
YEREVAN, 9 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 9 February, USD exchange rate up by 0.80 drams to 522.60 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 5.09 drams to 632.76 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.05 drams to 7.06 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 4.80 drams to 720.14 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 589.08 drams to 30835.83 drams. Silver price up by 11.61 drams to 456.68 drams. Platinum price up by 700.91 drams to 19507.1 drams.
More than 25 districts in Uttar Pradesh to experience heavy rain under Cyclone Yaas impact

CM Yogi orders strict action against elements involved in alleged hostage of Police personnel in Kasganj

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Lucknow, Feb 09: A Sub-Inspector and a constable on patrolling duty were held hostage by liquor mafia in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj and thrashed mercilessly. The constable succumbed to injuries during treatment. The cops had gone to raid an illegal liquor factory in the area.

The Chief Minister has directed for treatment of the inspector who has been injured and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 and govt job for a family member of the constable who lost his life.

PM Modi's brother Prahlad stages dharna at Lucknow airport

Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath has also instructed for strict action against the elements involved in the alleged hostage of Police personnel in Kasganj. Action to be taken against the culprit under NSA.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 23:21 [IST]
Iran on February 9 embarked on the coronavirus immunisation campaign with the rollout of the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine. In a broadcast address, Irans President Hassan Rouhani signalled the start of the campaign. The Iranian health ministers son was among those who received the first shots.

Sputnik V was approved by the Russian health ministry in August last year and has been used in multiple nations for mass inoculations. Sputnik is based on a modified version of adenovirus, a common cold virus. The vector stripped of its disease-causing genes and modified to carry genetic instructions for making the coronavirus spike protein. This prompts the cells to cause an immune response which eventually protects against the SARS-CoV-2.

READ: Iran May Pursue Nuclear Weapon, Intel Minister Warns West

COVID-19 in Iran

Iran received the first batch of 10,000 doses from Russia last week, days after the Islamic Republic approved the drug for mass use. Iran also has unveiled its second indigenously-developed COVID-19 vaccine called Razi Covo-Pars vaccine, which is the first injectable-inhalable vaccine of COVID-19 recombinant protein. It is worth noting that Iran has completed the first phase of the human trial of its other COVID-19 vaccine called COVIran Barekat, which began in December last year after a successful test on animals.

Iran announced the clinical trial of its second COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday. The vaccine has been developed by Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute (RVSRI). Irans Minister of Agriculture Kazem Khavazi, while speaking at the launch event on Sunday, said the vaccine has been developed by following World Health Organization's (WHO) instructions.

READ: Iran Rejects French Mediation For Renewed Nuclear Deal Dialogue With US

The second vaccine will be tested for both the injection-based regimen and inhalation regimen and based on results, experts will decide what method to use while inoculating the mass. Iranian Health Ministry has said that several countries have shown interest in procuring Iran's vaccine after announcing the completion of a successful human trial of its first vaccine.

Iran is one of the worst affected nations in the world with more than 1.46 million COVID-19 cases and over 58,000 deaths so far. Although the daily infection rate in Iran has dropped from its peak in November, it is still relatively high and poses a significant risk to the health infrastructure. Iran registered more than 7,000 new cases, lower than its peak of more than 13,000 daily cases in December.

READ: Iran On Sanctions: US Actions Not Words Important

READ: Joe Biden Says US Will Not Lift Sanctions Until Iran Stops Uranium Enrichment
Switzerland praises Yogi govt

Lucknow, Feb 9 (UNI) The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday came in for a huge praise for developing a conducive environment for investment.

The words of praise came from the land of Switzerland when Dr Ralf Heckner, the Ambassador of Switzerland to India, called on Yogi on Tuesday.

The Swiss Ambassador congratulated the UP CM on tremendous achievements, the state has made in transforming its vision to become the most developed, investment-friendly, front-runner state in India into reality.
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Partly to mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High near 85F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

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Beijing, Feb 9 : Huawei Founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei on Tuesday urged the new US administration to adopt a more "open policy" towards Chinese companies, while he also expressed his desire to talk to President Joe Biden.

This is the first time the Huawei Founder has spoken to international media since the new administration took office in the US.

He said that Huawei, which became a prime target of US restrictions under the Trump administration, hope to avoid getting embroiled in geopolitics, the South China Morning Post reported.

"Our company does not have the energy to be involved in this political whirlpool. We strive to make good products," he was quoted as saying.

"We hope that the US government can have a more open policy for the benefit of American companies and the development of the US economy." The Trump administration put Huawei on the US Department of Commerce's trade blacklist.

The restrictions imposed by the Trump administration blocked Huawei's access to software and hardware of US origin crucial to its business.

Its thriving smartphone business outside of China got seriously impacted as a result of the restrictions as it is unable to license Android from Google.

This led Huawei to part with its subsidiary Honor. However, Ren said that Huawei will not sell its own smartphone division.

"We have decided we absolutely will not sell off our consumer devices, our smartphone business," he said.

The Huawei founder also reiterated his earlier offer to share Huawei's 5G technology with US companies.

"We have said before that our 5G technology can be transferred in its entirety. That includes not only the rights to development but also source programs and source codes. If the US needs our chip technology, we can transfer it. Our words are sincere (but) no company has come to negotiate with us so far," he said.

Ren said that Huawei still relies on globalisation to resolve its current challenges and is committed to the globalisation strategy.
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Public health experts believe more coronavirus infections will escape Australia's hotel quarantine program and are pushing for changes to the system.

In past few months Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth have suffered Covid-19 outbreaks after quarantine workers caught the disease from returned travellers.

All of the outbreaks sparked major lockdowns amid fears that new strains of the virus that are more contagious could spread rapidly through the population.

A leak from hotel quarantine sparked a lockdown in Perth last week with residents (pictured) required to wear masks

Scott Morrison wants to expand the Howard Springs quarantine facility (pictured) in the Northern Territory with 40,000 Australians trying to come home from overseas

The federal government is considering Queensland's proposal for a new quarantine camp in Toowoomba, 125km west of Brisbane, amid fears that CBD hotels are not safe enough.

Scott Morrison also wants to expand the Howard Springs quarantine facility in the Northern Territory with 40,000 Australians trying to come home from overseas and arrival caps increasing from February 15.

Professor Adrian Esterman of the University of South Australia said hotels were not safe places to quarantine returned travellers.

'They were not designed for this, and were only chosen because of the need to act fast,' he told the Herald Sun.

'Location in the middle of a city is not a good idea. Traditionally, quarantine stations have been located in remote areas for a very good reason. With a virus that can be transmitted by aerosol, the ventilation systems are a major problem,' he added.

Melbourne University professor Tony Blakely said there were three main changes that could make the quarantine program safer.

A group of workers in quarantine at the Howard Springs facility on the outskirts of Darwin

He is urging officials to expand purpose built facilities such as Howard Springs, appoint an independent agency to inspect quarantine facilities around the country, and vaccinate quarantine workers as soon as possible.

The federal government expects to start vaccinations in late February, with border workers among the first cohort to get the jab.

After a national cabinet meeting last week, Mr Morrison suggested his preference was to expand Howard Springs rather than set up a new camp.

'There may be a lot more capacity up in Howard Springs and that may prove an effective way to do that.

'Given that you're bringing in charter flights and you're adding to an existing facility in an existing place, you're not adding new areas of health risk where you've been able to demonstrate you can maintain and manage that risk,' he said.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said remote camps were not under consideration in her state because of transport, healthcare and staffing issues.
Nigeria is expected to receive an initial 16 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines through the Vaccines Global Assess Facility, COVAX.

Nigeria's health minister, Osagie Ehanire, said on Monday that the country will receive additional 42 million doses of the approved COVID-19 vaccines in addition to the 16 million initially expected.

Nigeria is expected to receive an initial 16 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines through the Vaccines Global Assess Facility, COVAX, by the end of February.

Mr Ehanire while speaking at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing said the 42 million doses will be delivered to the country through the African Union, African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT).

Mr Ehanire said Nigeria subscribed to two multilateral vaccine access platforms; the first being the COVAX facility which was set-up to divide over a billion doses of vaccines across 92 low-and middle-income countries.

The facility promised access to vaccines for up to 20 per cent of participating countries' population with an initial supply beginning in the first quarter of the year to immunise three per cent of their populations.

The second platform is the AVATT, which has acquired 300 million doses of three types of vaccines to distribute to African countries based on their population, according to Mr Ehanire.

"Nigeria subscribes to this whole-of-Africa approach, that strives to ensure that we are safe and our neighbours are safe," he said.

"We shall be offered over 42 million doses by AVATT. If all the projected vaccines are supplied, we estimate we should have covered over 45 per cent of the population."

Mr Ehanire also noted that Nigeria has had bilateral negotiations with Gamaleya of Russia over their Sputnik V vaccine, which has an efficacy of 91 per cent.

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"We are also in talks with the High Commissioner of India over the COVAX vaccine of Barhat Institute. Both vaccines dossiers are under evaluation with NAFDAC," he said.

At the briefing last week, Mr Ehanire had said the country is experiencing a delay in receiving the first batch of the AstraZeneca vaccines because the manufacturers are yet to decide on when to deploy the vaccines.

He, however, said Nigerians should expect the first roll-out of the vaccines this month.

"The date of first arrival of vaccines in Nigeria has kept changing because the decision lies with the manufacturer, who already has heavy commitments," he said.

Nigeria has recorded over 130,000 COVID-19 cases and over 1,000 deaths.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Starburst , the world's first and only global aerospace and defense accelerator, is expanding its presence in California, building an aerospace innovation hub in Los Angeles in collaboration with UCLA. Starburst and UCLA have been awarded a 2020 Venture Challenge grant of $1.4 million by the US Economic Development Administration to create SCALE Aerospace Ventures, an accelerator for pre-seed and seed stage startups.

Applications for SCALE's summer cohort are open as of today! The 13 week intensive program runs from May 10th through August 6th and includes lectures, workshops, special events, and mentorship, all working together to help startups mature technology, raise capital, and push products into the market. The program is open to all pre-seed and seed stage companies working on technology or supporting systems with aerospace applications. Interested entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors are encouraged to visit the website at ScaleAero.LA to learn more.

SCALE is designed to inspire entrepreneurs and investors to pursue the advancement of novel technologies with aerospace applications and build the next generation of aerospace startups in the Los Angeles area. The accelerator will build on the region's existing aerospace ecosystem, connecting engineering graduates, academics, government research labs, investors, and industry leaders.

"There is no better geography in the world to capitalize on the growth of engineering talent spinning out break-through technologies backed by record breaking investments than here in Southern California. Starburst and UCLA will continue to raise the bar for businesses to emerge and compete in a rapidly changing market," said Van Espahbodi, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Starburst.

Starburst's global influence as a pioneer throughout the aviation and aerospace industry and long track record accelerating high-tech startups, from pre-seed through Series A and beyond, will ensure the effective development of these technological advancements into successful commercial ventures.

SCALE will expand Starburst's ability to support aerospace startups at all stages of growth, from ideation through investment. Starburst has half a dozen accelerators globally and more in development, playing a key role in technological advancement and commercialization across the industry.

About Starburst

Starburst is an innovation catalyst in the aerospace and defense industry. It is the first and only global aerospace and defense accelerator, connecting industry and government with startups while providing strategic innovation and growth consulting for all. With offices in Los Angeles, Paris, Munich, London, Seoul, Singapore and Tel Aviv the team has built an ecosystem of key players in the aerospace and defense industry as well as 6000+ startups. Every year Starburst hosts numerous international and national events bringing together entrepreneurs in aviation, space and defense putting innovation under the spotlight. Starburst supports its clients to acquire and maintain leadership in new markets and identify and fend off disruptive threats. Starburst invests in leading aerospace and defense innovators. Visit starburst.aero .

Media Contact

Matt Jaffe

[email protected]

SOURCE Starburst
A racist Aldi customer was filmed screaming at a female worker's face about 'f***ing Eastern Europeans' in a xenophobic rant caught on camera by a stunned shopper.

Kashif Darr arrived at his local shop in Cambridge last night where he witnessed the expletive laden tirade and recorded it.

The 43-year-old's video shows the man shouting, as he said: 'Everywhere I move there are f***ing Eastern Europeans,' after making the bizarre claim that British people aren't welcome in the store.

An irate customer was filmed screaming at an Aldi worker in Cambridge last night during a racist rant about 'f***ing Eastern Europeans'

The shop worker calmly tells the man he's barred from the shop, but the furious customer turns back around to continue his tirade.

Standing just inches away from the brave worker he declares 'you're from Eastern Europe', and she proudly responds 'yes, I am'.

During the rant the man could be seen waving his hand in the shop worker's face, while not wearing a mask.

As he leaves the customer declares: 'You can ban me from every Aldi in the f***ing world, the sooner this f***ing store is shut down and kicked out the f***ing UK the better.'

Kashiff Darr said he was left 'sickened,' by the rant as he filmed it outside the shop on Monday

Footage showed the customer wave his hand in a shop workers face as she shouted at her, all while not wearing a mask in Cambridge last night

The customer claimed British people weren't allowed in the shop, before shouting that he wanted Aldi to leave the UK. One eyewitness said the tirade was 'unacceptable,' and praised the patient and polite response from staff

The furious man then walks off when he's told to back down by events manager Kashif, but he turns around again to yell 'the sooner this store is kicked out of the UK, the better'.

Kashif, from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, said: 'When I got out of the car all I could hear was abuse, then I turned around and I could see this poor girl getting abused.

'I'm an Asian man myself. I've experienced a bit myself in the past but to see it happen to someone else it sickened me. It was unacceptable.

'He clearly wasn't happy about whatever went on inside. It was shocking to see it happen about a five-minute walk from my house, but it's shocking anyway.

'The woman was really polite and it's great credit to her, but staff shouldn't have to be putting up with that. It really annoyed me and that's why I posted it.'

Mr Darr (pictured) says staff were shaking when he arrived at the shop at 8.45pm and were still visibly moved by the incident when he'd finished filming

Kashif says staff were shaking when he arrived at the shop at 8.45pm and were still visibly moved by the incident when he'd finished filming to enter the store and do some shopping.

The singleton says he's since been contacted by police about the incident and passed over the footage to the brave shop worker.

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said: 'We have received reports of a man shouting abuse at a member of staff at the Aldi store in Histon Road, Cambridge yesterday, 8 February.

'An investigation is underway. Anyone who witnessed the incident should contact us.'
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A new fast food restaurant and credit union are planned for the parking lot of the Westgate Mall in Bethlehem.

The Bethlehem Planning Commission is slated to review sketch plans for the phase three redevelopment of the West Bethlehem mall at its Thursday meeting.

The submitted plans show a credit union where the former Dempseys Diner currently stands at the intersection of Schoenersville and Catasauqua roads.

An unnamed fast food restaurant is proposed for the other end of the parking lot, near the new Weis grocery store at the corner of Westgate Drive and Schoenersville Road in the submitted plan.

The plans also show a gas station in the parking lot and the existing Weis grocery store as a proposed retail space once it relocates to the new anchor store.

Built in 1973, the Westgate Malls management undertook a $5 million facelift in 2015, the same year the popular Sky Zone Trampoline Park opened a 20,000-square-foot activity center at the shopping destination.

The mall changed hands in October 2018 when it was bought by Woodbridge, N.J.-based Onyx Equities.

An Onyx representatives did not respond to requests for more information on the plans.

The Weis grocery store will be moving into the anchor space once home to The Bon-Ton and selling beer and wine.

Weis plans to occupy the front portion of the former department store, about 63,215 square feet. That leaves 42,675 square feet of space to the rear for a new tenant.

The city notes in its response to the plans that sidewalk must be constructed around the mall perimeter on Westgate Drive and Schoenersville and Catasauqua roads during the third phase, per a prior planning commission sidewalk deferral request.

If land development plans are not submitted by September of this year, the sidewalk must be constructed.

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Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.

Editors Note: This story has been updated to reflect that CBRE said it is no longer the listing agent for the property.

Ex-construction official gets 13.5 years in prison in Vostochny Cosmodrome graft case

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

11:15 09/02/2021

MOSCOW, February 9 (RAPSI)  Moscows Babushkinsky District Court found ex-deputy chief of the Federal Agency for Special Construction (Spetsstroy) Alexander Mordovets guilty of bribery and abuse of office during the construction of the Vostochny Cosmodrome and sentenced him to 13.5 year in high-security prison, RAPSI learnt in the Invesstigative Committees press service on Tuesday.

Additionally, he was fined over 97 million rubles ($1.3 million), banned from holding state service posts for 6 years and deprived of his retired Colonel rank.

One more defendant, ex-CEO of Stroymonolit-14 company Oleg Shchurov received 13 years in prison and a fine of more than 97 million rubles.

The both persons were also ordered to compensate the Chief Military Construction Directorate N6 with more than 120 million rubles ($1.6 million).

According to the investigation, between January 2014 and 2017, Mordovets received more than 32 million rubles from one of the construction companies. However, the construction organization failed to work out prepaid expenses and was declared bankrupt that caused damage worth over 120 million rubles to the state.

The construction of the Vostochny Cosmodrome, due to become Russia's main launch site, began in 2012. The first launch vehicle operation was carried out on April 28, 2016. Dozens of cases over embezzlement during the space centers construction have been launched in several Russian regions.




File image: VK Sasikala

Expelled AIADMK leader and confidante of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, VK Sasikala, reached Chennai with fanfare announcing her return to the state politics on the night of February 8 - months before the assembly elections scheduled to take place during April-May 2021.

Draped in green saree, Jayalalithaa's favourite colour, Sasikala, 66, flaunted the AIADMK flag and travelled some distance in the former chief ministers car before reaching the Tamil Nadu capital for the first time since her release on January 27 after a four-year jail term. The 66-year-old was jailed on corruption charges.

Capture the throne

After much speculation, Sasikala announced on February 8 that she will return to active politics, a development that can potentially cause disquiet in political circles, more so in the ruling party that sacked her in August 2917 when she was in jail. Many see it as a direct challenge to chief minister E Palaniswamy, or EPS, as Jayalalithaa's true successor.

My intention is that everyone must work in unity and not let the common enemy capture the throne, Sasikala told reporters as she received a rousing reception all along her road trip from Bengaluru to Chennai.

READ: V K Sasikala returns to Tamil Nadu after four years; AIADMK says she has no link with the party

The party has faced several struggles and risen like a phoenix in the past, she said referring to the work of AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran and his successor Jayalalitha.

Through the symbolism and statement on her return, Sasikala has clearly sent the ball rolling for an interesting election season. Winning or losing is another matter, but that Sasikala is out there to disrupt political equations in Tamil Nadu cannot be denied, analysts say.

Sumanth Raman, a Chennai-based political commentator says that Sasikala intends to re-capture AIADMK which explains her symbolism in her road trip.

She travelled in Jayalalithaas car, made several stops on her way to greet supporters. She said she will be in active politics. She is clearly out to re-capture AIADMK, Raman told Moneycontrol.

After spending about three decades alongside Jayalalithaa, Sasikala has been in prison since February 2017 in Rs 66 crore graft case. She cannot contest elections or hold any position in political office for the next six years, but she is said to hold sway among the rank and file of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

Also, read: V K Sasikala released from prison after serving 4-year jail-term

Four years later, a united OPS and EPS

Soon after Jayalalithaa's death in December 2016, AIADMK suffered a split with O Panneerselvam, or OPS, now deputy chief minister, and EPS heading two factions. Later, the two factions merged and expelled Sasikala in September 2017 along with TTV Dhinakaran and others.

Sasikala floated the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) led by Dhinakaran. The party won the assembly by-election for the RK Nagar seat in Chennai and secured close to 6 percent of the vote in the 2019 general election.

Dhinakaran, who accompanied Sasikala on February 8, said that many functionaries of the ruling AIADMK turned up to welcome her. He said she continued to remain the AIADMK general secretary, pointing to petitions pending in court over her 'expulsion'.

"She is travelling in a car that belongs to the AIADMK functionary who came to welcome her. He is there in the car," TTV told a Tamil TV channel. In the evening, AIADMK expelled seven workers after it was found that she used a car from one of the workers.

The BJP factor

In January, EPS was in Delhi to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inauguration of the new Jayalalithaa memorial in Chennai. But, many say, the release of VK Sasikala was also discussed in the meeting.

AIADMK party is divided on her return, it seems. Many including state dairy development minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji have expressed their willingness to let her in. Others including fisheries minister and AIADMK organisation secretary D Jayakumar assert that the party had taken a stand in 2017 that it wanted to run the government and the party independent of any interference by her.

In the general council meeting of AIADMK on January 9, EPS was announced to be the party's chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), AIADMKs ally, is yet to publicly endorse his candidature, though. The BJP, sources said, has been pushing its ally to let Sasikala in because it doesnt want a split of votes that could benefit rival Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)

Sources said the BJP has been involved in backroom talks with TTV Dinakaran to forge an alliance.

Experts see many options for Sasikala in the coming months. One she will rejoin AIADMK by striking a deal with OPS and EPS. The other option would be AIADMK gets AMMK as an ally. Or AMMK leads the third front to defeat AIADMK in the election.

So can Sasikalas political moves have an impact on Tamil Nadu elections? I have always been doubtful, says Raman.

She has never contested an election. She has not even spoken once from a stage. I doubt that she will be able to lead AIADMK. I do not see any disintegration in AIADMK at least until elections, he said.
When Queen Victoria Larson and Anna Redman were sent home on Matt James Bachelor journey, MJ Snyder (real name Meredith J. Snyder) seemed to emerge as the new season villain. The cast member got into it with Jessenia Cruz in week 5. Now, theyre both headed for the next two-on-one date. So, who is MJ from The Bachelor Season 25? Heres what you need to know about the contestant, from her age to her Instagram.

Who is MJ Snyder from The Bachelor 2021 with Matt James?

MJ Snyder from The Bachelor Season 25 cast | Craig Sjodin via Getty Images

RELATED: Who Is the Next Bachelorette in 2021? Reality Steve Reveals New Season 17 Spoilers

According to MJs Bachelor profile, Matts cast member is a 23-year-old hair stylist from Hudson, Ohio. The contestants bio also reveals that she loves to be outdoors and on the water, as she grew up on a small island in Lake Erie. Of course, this wont come as a surprise to fans who have seen MJs Instagram (@m.j.snyder). The Bachelor stars feed is filled with photos by the water.

Meanwhile, back in December 2020, Chris Harrison teased what to expect from MJ on The Bachelor Season 25. And ultimately, the host hinted that fans would love the new contestant.

She is your hypewoman, she is ready to go. She is 110%, 108% of the time. Just a big personality, Harrison said of MJ. [She] always finds a way to make her presence known. Very competitive, extremely comfortable in her own skin, will just put it all out there. Youre gonna love MJ.

Harison also hinted that MJ has an unusual phobia that will be shown on Matts Bachelor season.

MJ Snyder and Matt James on The Bachelor Season 25 | Craig Sjodin via Getty Images

RELATED: The Bachelorette: Jed Wyatt Claims He Never Cheated on Hannah Brown and Was Highly Manipulated By Producers

When MJ stepped out of the limo in The Bachelor Season 25 premiere, she captured Matts attention with some pizza. The contestant drove up in a pizza delivery car and accidentally locked herself out of the vehicle. Both MJ and Matt had a good laugh about the moment. But regardless, the cast member still managed a successful delivery.

I know this is cheesy. But, the fastest way to a mans heart is through their stomach. So, this is my gift to you, MJ said, handing Matt a pizza box.

Then in a confessional, MJ told producers, Theres definitely a lot more laughs to come.

RELATED: The Bachelor: Abigail Heringer Gets Really Honest With Matt James

That said, MJs time on The Bachelor Season 25 was filled with more drama than laughs. For the most part, the contestant slid into the background following the premiere. But, she started coming out when Michelle Young, Brittany Galvin, Kim Li, Catalina Morales, and Ryan Claytor arrived in the fourth week.

MJ was one of the women who expressed her frustrations when the new cast members joined Matts season. And as time went on, it was clear there was a divide between the original contestants and the new arrivals. Then in the sixth episode, Jessenia told Matt that MJ was an antagonist in the house. Jessenia later revealed MJ was the one who started the varsity and junior varsity squads.

Now, MJ and Jessenia are headed toward a two-on-one date in The Bachelor Season 25 Episode 6. So stay tuned.

The Bachelor Season 25 with Matt James airs Monday nights on ABC.
WASHINGTON  County health department leaders on Monday told U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, they need more COVID-19 vaccine and more money to perform vaccinations.

Our local county health departments are doing an admirable job of getting vaccines administered while still continuing testing and contact tracing operations, said Davis. I heard clear and consistently that departments need more vaccines, further advance communication of allotments for planning purposes, and additional funding to get shots into arms.
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Market Boosters and Key Challenges

Tenecteplase drug refers to a recombinant enzyme that acts as a blood thinning agent. Also known as a clot buster, tenecteplase drug helps dissolve blood clots or clumps, allowing the blood to flow normally. These drugs are generally used for treating patients facing heart-related issues.

Some of the leading factors influencing the market growth include the increasing number of hypertension patients, rising number of deep vein thrombosis cases, early aging, and sedentary lifestyles that lead to blood clotting. The American Heart Association reported in 2017 that every 40 seconds, an individual in the United States (U.S) gets a heart attack. The American College of Cardiology reported in 2018 that the death rate due to high blood pressure (BP) between 2005 and 2015 had increased by 10.5%.

To Get Free Sample Copy visit https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/6401

Additionally, the report states that coronary heart disease (CHD), which accounts for 43.8% is the main cause of deaths due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the United States (US). Whereas, heart failure (HF) (9.0%), high BP (9.4%), stroke (16.8%), and other CVDs (17.9%) are other causes for deaths in the country. Furthermore, the report expects that by 2035, over 130 million adults in the US, around 45.1%, will suffer from some form of CVD. As a result, the overall costs of CVD are estimated to touch the valuation of USD 1.1 trillion by 2035. Therefore, the hike in the rate of cardiovascular diseases is projected to stimulate the tenecteplase drug market growth in the years ahead.

Key Players - Tenecteplase Drug Market

The key companies present in the worldwide tenecteplase drug market include Genentec Inc., Gennova pharmaceutical, Merck Ltd., Hisun USA, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Crunchbase Inc., Rewine pharmaceuticals, Emcure Pharmaceutical, and others.

Industry Update

July 2018

Gennova Biopharmaceuticals has been granted a patent in the United States (US) for its latest tenecteplase drug, to treat ischemic strokes.

Segments - Tenecteplase Drug Market

The worldwide tenecteplase drug market has been segmented on the basis of application, dosage, and end users.

The tenecteplase drug market, with respect to application, is considered for myocardial infarction, stroke, DVT.

As per dosage, tenecteplase drug market can be broken down into intravenous dosage and intracatheter instillation dosage.

The end-users in the market are hospitals and clinics, surgical centers, research centers.

Regional Analysis - Tenecteplase Drug Market

The key markets for tenecteplase drug include Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa and North America.

North America has been estimated as the biggest market for tenecteplase drug, on account of the rising innovations in clinical practice and surge in myocardial infection. The region also benefits from increasing access to stroke treatment, supported by the sophistication of healthcare infrastructure in the region. An article by CDC in 2015 suggested that in the United States (U.S.), close to 350,000 to 900,000 cases of Venous thromboembolism (VTE) are estimated annually. These statistics point towards the high potential of the tenecteplase drug market in North America.

Europe is the second most profitable market for tenecteplase drug, with the chief reason being the increase in incidents of stroke. The United Kingdom (UK) Organization has identified stroke as the 10th primary cause of death globally, with 34,883 mortality cases found in the UK alone in the year 2015. As a result of a surge in hypertension as well as high blood pressure, the stroke cases are on the rise in the region, elevating the market position of tenecteplase drug.

Established as the fastest-expanding region in 2017, Asia Pacific is one of the strong contenders in the worldwide tenecteplase drug market. The market growth in the area is the result of the surging prevalence of hypertension, evolving lifestyle, and rising cases of cardiac diseases. The Australian Bureau of Statistics said in 2015 that roughly 4.1 million people in the country suffered from high blood pressure. These rising cases of high blood pressure, along with other mentioned factors, works in favor of the regional market.

The Middle East and Africa market's performance has been mediocre compared to other regions. The region accounts for the lease share of the global tenecteplase drug market due to the presence of low health expenditure as well as economically backward countries. But the market can expect some growth in the future with the increasing cancer care programs within the Middle East region.

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press release

Statement by Kwazulu-Natal Premier Hon. Mr Sihle Zikalala on King Goodwill's health challenges: "it is our turn to pray for the king, our guiding light"

Kwazulu-Natal Premier Mr Sihle Zikalala has noted a statement from the Zulu Royal Household, concerning the current health challenges faced by His Majesty, King Goodwill Zwelithini.

The Premier, on behalf of the people of KwaZulu-Natal, wishes His Majesty a speedy recovery.

Commenting on the King's hospitalisation, Premier Zikalala said: "We are concerned by His Majesty's ill health. His majesty occupies a special place in our society. His leadership qualities, stature, as well as what he represents in our society cannot be rivalled. He has consistently been our father figure, our guiding light, and an unshakeable pillar of strength at various states of our tumultuous history as a nation - including during times of fear and uncertainty about our future.

"He has always been virtuous, putting the interests of the people first. It is now our turn to pray for his recovery and good health. At this point, the nation needs his wisdom and the steady hand of his exemplary leadership more than ever before.

"We wish to assure the King and the entire Royal Household that our thoughts and prayers are with them, and we wish our beloved monarch maximum strength as he continues to fight to overcome the challenges of ill health."

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.
Pennsylvania has a real chance to change its worst-in-the-nation reputation when it comes to education funding. It is a reputation we should run from  the most inequitably funded education system and the worst charter school law in the nation.

Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed putting Pennsylvania on a new trajectory with $1.5 billion in additional education funding and a plan to make the most underfunded districts whole. He also called for comprehensive reform of Pennsylvanias 24-year-old charter school law  to eliminate wasteful charter school spending and set higher standards to improve performance.

With this budget, Pennsylvania can move from the back of the class to the best in the nation. The General Assembly should not pass up this opportunity to right these two wrongs.

 READ MORE: Wolfs proposed income tax increase would boost school aid. Senate Republicans called it dead on arrival.

You dont have to agree with the precise distribution of funds in the governors proposal to admire the boldness of the idea  students in Philadelphia, Norristown, Pottstown, Bensalem, and other inequitably funded districts getting the resources they need to compete and succeed next year, not in the next decade.

Charter schools and funding adequacy are two sides of the same coin. To break this cycle, a comprehensive reform bill must address both funding reform and accountability.

Superintendents watch every dollar and justify every expenditure to our school boards and our taxpayers. We know we are overpaying for charter school services.

Cyber charter schools are the clearest example. School districts offer robust cyber schools with real-time instruction for less than $5,000 per student  while paying $7,400-$21,600 or more per student for cyber charter schools that provide less instructional time and require more parent supervision.

All 14 cyber charter schools are on the list of lowest-performing schools academically, yet are awash in tax dollars. Commonwealth Charter Academy is now a real estate developer, purchasing an old Macys building it was leasing in Pittsburgh  and collecting rent from other tenants. CCA already spent $15.3 million for a 106,000-square-foot office park in Malvern. The Scranton Times-Tribune reported that Pennsylvania Cyber Charter used federal CARES Act funding on cell phones and gift cards for students.

 READ MORE: Governors budget proposal could destroy Pa. horse racing, but reduce student debt

The time has also come to apply the states special education funding formula to charter schools. This exemption is costly for school districts who pay an average of 25% per student more statewide for the same services. It creates a perverse incentive for charters to recruit students who need lower-cost services while systematically excluding students with significant disabilities.

The worst part is that dollars intended to educate students with disabilities are instead used to pay administrators, build lavish new buildings, and pay exorbitant private management fees.

Former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos gave a Pennsylvania nonprofit $30 million to open new high-quality charter schools, an impossible task given our ineffectual charter school law.

States with high-performing charters, like New York and Massachusetts, have strong laws that set high standards for new schools and allow swift closure for chronic low performance. Pennsylvanias charter law sets a low bar for new applicants, lacks performance standards, allows charters to avoid public scrutiny, and fails to protect against financial mismanagement and misuse of taxpayer funds.

Our state is littered with charter school failures, costly experiments that could and should be prevented. As school superintendents, we see these children all the  they come back to us behind in their learning and confused by the years of turmoil.

State lawmakers will be tempted to see the federal stimulus as an excuse to kick the can down the road on these issues once again, a temptation they should resist. Federal funds to school districts are meant to be temporary and to pay for COVID-related expenses.

The General Assembly led the way in creating the fair funding formula with a bipartisan commission and came close to passing charter reform legislation before. With their help, Pennsylvania can emerge from the pandemic with a stronger public education system that leads us to a more secure and prosperous future.

Frank Gallagher is the superintendent of the Souderton Area School District and the chair of LEARN, a coalition of Pennsylvania school superintendents working to improve charter school accountability, limit school privatization, and encourage youth to choose public education as a career.
Tunis/Tunisia  The parliamentary committee on Security and Defense voted without quorum to hear the Defence Minister in a closed session, Al Bawsala said Monday.

The session was dedicated to the security situation on the borders with Libya and regional issues.

In a statement, the organisation said at the request of the Minister of Defense, members of the committee moved to a vote on closed-door. Only nine members voted and two abstained.

Al Bawsala denounced a violation of the rules of procedure of the House of People's Representatives which stipulates that the vote on the closed-door must be at the request of the representative of the executive and requires the approval of two thirds of the members (15/22).

The watchdog said these practices also undermine the citizens' right to information.

That right is already undermined by the exceptional measures adopted by the parliament within the framework of the health protocol aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, noted the organisation.
A shocked mum has revealed her son's 'classroom requirements list' after being asked to bring in tissues, baby wipes, pump soap and a roll of paper towel.

The Australian mum said she is 'more than happy' to support her son's public school but she 'would have thought in a pandemic enough soap would be provided'.

And she wasn't alone in her thoughts - one dad said he also needed to pay for a box of tissues for his children.

A shocked mum has revealed her son's 'classroom requirements list' after being asked to bring in tissues, baby wipes, pump soap and a roll of paper towel

Poll Do you think parents should have to supply a packet of tissues, soap and baby wipes at the beginning of each year? Yes No It should be optional Do you think parents should have to supply a packet of tissues, soap and baby wipes at the beginning of each year? Yes 30 votes

No 73 votes

It should be optional 16 votes Now share your opinion





'My children's school in Queensland put a claim in for a box of tissues too, to be delivered to the school directly,' he said.

Other mums complained the list included 'overpriced' stationery that had to be bought from their school's suppliers.

'Also they put pencils, pencil case, glue sticks, ruler and eraser every year and you can't not order them. If you shop yourself your child is different from the rest. It was about $36 for kindergarten and this year was $102 year five,' she said.

And one found buying whiteboard markers and paper the real insult, and complained it feels like she always has her hand in her pocket for the school.

'Why how many tissues can a kid use or whiteboard markers or photocopy paper. So much for free education. What about 'voluntary' contributions,' she said.

And she wasn't alone in her thoughts - another said she also needed to pay for a box of tissues for her children

But others found nothing wrong with the requirements list - and said it is 'nothing new'.

'This has nothing to do with COVID. Most public schools ask for general supplies like this every year. It has less to do with under resourcing in a pandemic and more to do with underfunding public education,' one mum said.

She added that if parents didn't drop off the supplies then teachers would likely have to pay for them on their own.
LONDON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Elder Research, an international leader in artificial intelligence and data science, has signed a strategic partnership with Smarter Contracts, a UK based FinTech company focused on data privacy. The two businesses are preparing to launch the first of its kind data privacy platform, by combining the unique features of blockchain technology with artificial intelligence.

Smarter Contracts Elder Research

Pulse is the patent pending data privacy platform built by Smarter Contracts that provides individuals and businesses with greater security, trust, transparency and control over how and where their personal data is being used.

As part of the agreement, Elder Research have made an investment in building the AI and machine learning engine that will power aspects of the Pulse platform and deepen its existing functionality.

This is the second investment Smarter Contracts has received in less than three months and gives the company a post money valuation of 17.5 million.

Wayne Lloyd, CEO of Smarter Contracts comments, "Our vision is to give people the tools they need to manage their data in the same way they can manage money. Elder Research are an exceptionally well-respected AI and data science company who work with some of the world's biggest brands, this partnership provides further validation of the quality and importance of Pulse and provides us with the scale we need to support our growing list of customers."

Elder Research, whose clients have included, Sira-Kvina Hydropower, Capital One, HSBC, Fannie Mae, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and numerous agencies of the US and Canadian governments, pride themselves on being Data Driven and People Centered. Their investment into Smarter Contracts demonstrates their continued focus on fostering new technologies and high-performance organisations that can provide value for their clients and benefits to wider society.

Ramon Perez, Managing Director of Elder Research UK comments, "In my opinion, what Smarter Contracts is building is as important for our private data as what iTunes did for music when Apple introduced digital rights management. I think of Pulse as a data rights management platform, and we are excited to help take it forward, because the value to the end user and the market opportunities are enormous."

Work has already begun, and news of the product launch is expected in April 2021.

About Elder Research

Elder Research is an internationally recognised consulting firm with over 25-years of experience in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Since being founded by Dr. John Elder in 1995, Elder Research has partnered with hundreds of organisations across a diverse set of industries to enhance their client's mission by hand-crafting innovative analytics solutions that inform decisions, deliver value, and transform organisations.

www.elderresearch.com

About Smarter Contracts

Smarter Contracts was Founded in 2019 by Wayne Lloyd and is an independent UK based financial services technology company. Their mission is to provide individuals and businesses with the tools they need to manage their data in the same way they manage their money. The Smarter Contracts team have designed, built and developed their own set of proprietary privacy tools that all work in harmony with their core patent-pending data privacy platform  Pulse.

www.smartercontracts.co.uk

Media Contact:

Emma Critchley-Lloyd

[email protected]

+44 7917695475

SOURCE Smarter Contracts

Related Links

https://smartercontracts.co.uk


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A search is underway for a swimmer reported missing off Maroubra Beach in Sydney's southeast.

Police were called to the northern end of Maroubra Beach about 8pm on Tuesday after reports a swimmer was struggling in the water.

A witness told police the swimmer appeared to be 50 metres from shore.

A search is underway for a swimmer reported missing off Maroubra Beach in Sydney's southeast

Police are conducting a search of the beach with the assistance of a rescue helicopter.

Anyone who was in the water between 7.45pm and 8.15pm is being urged to contact police immediately.
Filaments made of polymer-coated iron oxide nanoparticles are obtained by exposing the material to a magnetic field under controlled temperature. The applications are myriad and include transporting substances into cells or directing fluids. Credit: researchers archive

Researchers at the University of Campinas's Chemistry Institute (IQ-UNICAMP) in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, have developed a template-free technique to fabricate cilia of different sizes that mimic biological functions and have multiple applications, from directing fluids in microchannels to loading material into a cell, for example. The highly flexible cilia are based on polymer-coated iron oxide nanoparticles, and their motion can be controlled by a magnet.

In nature, cilia are microscopic hairlike structures found in large numbers on the surface of certain cells, causing currents in the surrounding fluid or, in some protozoans and other small organisms, providing propulsion.

To fabricate the elongated nanostructures without using a template, Watson Loh and postdoctoral fellow Aline Grein-Iankovski coated particles of iron oxide (-Fe 2 O 3 , known as maghemite) with a layer of a polymer containing thermoresponsive phosphonic acid groups and custom-synthesized by a specialized company. The technique leverages the binding affinity of phosphonic acid groups to metal oxide surfaces, fabricating the cilia by means of temperature control and use of a magnetic field.

"The materials don't bind at room temperature or thereabouts, and form a clump without the stimulus of a magnetic field," Loh explained. "It's the effect of the magnetic field that gives them the elongated shape of a cilium."

Grein-Iankovski started with stable particles in solution and had the idea of obtaining the cilia during an attempt to aggregate the material. "I was preparing loose elongated filaments in solution and thought about changing the direction field," she recalled. "Instead of orienting them parallel to the glass slide, I placed them in a perpendicular position and found they then tended to migrate to the surface of the glass. I realized that if I forced them to stick to the glass, I could obtain a different type of material that wouldn't be loose: its movement would be ordered and collaborative."

The thermoresponsive polymer binds to the surface of the nanoparticles and organizes them into elongated filaments when the mixture is heated and exposed to a magnetic field. The transition occurs at a biologically compatible temperature (around 37 C). The resulting magnetic cilia are "remarkably flexible", she added. By increasing the concentration of the nanoparticles, their length can be varied from 10 to 100 microns. One micron (m) is a millionth of a meter.

"The advantage of not using a template is not being subject to the limitations of this method, such as size, for example," Grein-Inakovski explained. "In this case, to produce very small cilia we would have to create templates with microscopic holes, which would be extremely laborious. Adjustments to coat density and cilium size would require new templates. A different template has to be used for each end-product thickness. Furthermore, using a template adds another stage to the production of cilia, which is the fabrication of the template itself."

Grein-Iankovski is the lead author of an article published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C on the invention, which was part of a Thematic Project supported by FAPESP, with Loh as principal investigator.

"The Thematic Project involves four groups who are investigating how molecules and particles are organized at the colloidal level, meaning at the level of very small structures. Our approach is to try to find ways of controlling these molecules so that they aggregate in response to an external stimulus, giving rise to different shapes with a range of different uses," Loh said.

Reversibility

After the magnetic field is removed, the material remains aggregated for at least 24 hours. It then disaggregates at a speed that depends on the temperature at which it was prepared. "The higher the temperature, the more intense the effect and the longer it remains aggregated outside the magnetic field," Grein-Iankovski said.

According to Loh, the reversibility of the material is a positive point. "In our view, being able to organize and disorganize the material, to 'switch the system on and off', is an advantage," Loh said. "We can adjust the temperature, how long it remains aggregated, cilium length, and coat density. We can customize the material for many different types of use, organize it and shape it for specific purposes. I believe the potential applications are countless, from biological to physical uses, including materials science applications."

Another major advantage, Grein-Iankovski added, is the possibility of manipulating the material externally, where the tool used to do so is not inside the system. "The filaments can be used to homogenize and move particles in a fluid microsystem, in microchannels, simply by approaching a magnet from the outside. They can be made to direct fluid in this way, for example."

The cilia can also be used in sensors, in which the particles respond to stimuli from a molecule, or to feed microscopic living organisms. "Ultimately it's possible to feed a microorganism or cell with loose cilia, which cross the cell membrane under certain conditions. They can be made to enter a cell, and a magnetic field is applied to manipulate their motion inside the cell," Loh said.

For more than ten years, Loh has collaborated with Jean-Francois Berret at Paris Diderot University (Paris 7, France) in research on the same family of polymers to obtain elongated materials for use in the biomedical field. "We're pursuing other partnerships to explore other possible uses of the cilia," he said.

The scientists now plan to include a chemical additive in the nanostructures that will bind the particles chemically, obtaining cilia with a higher mechanical strength that remain functional for longer when not exposed to a magnetic field, if this is desirable.

Explore further Controlling artificial cilia with magnetic fields and light

More information: Aline Grein-Iankovski et al, Template-Free Preparation of Thermoresponsive Magnetic Cilia Compatible with Biological Conditions, The Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2020). Journal information: Journal of Physical Chemistry C Aline Grein-Iankovski et al, Template-Free Preparation of Thermoresponsive Magnetic Cilia Compatible with Biological Conditions,(2020). DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.0c09089
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President Abdel Fattah El Sisi hailed the arrival of the UAE's Hope Probe to Mars on Tuesday.On his social media pages, President Sisi called this an unprecedented step in scientific research, as it heralds a major scientific boom in the Arab region.He greeted the UAE leadership and people for the successful scientific experience that aims to explore new horizons in space.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins the global labour movement in raising a racket to support Myanmar's trade unionists taking to the streets for democracy, human rights and press freedom.

International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) statement:

On 1 February 2021, a day before the newly elected Parliament convened, the Tatmadaw  the Myanmar military  arrested President Win Myint, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, and more than a hundred elected lawmakers from the National League of Democracy (NLD), which scored a landslide victory in the November 2020 election. Claiming last Novembers election fraudulent, the Tatmadaw declared a one-year state of emergency.

The next day, on 2 February 2021, doctors and health workers from 70 hospitals in Myanmar put down their tools in protest against the coup. Residents in Yangon have been banging pots and pans each night at 8 p.m. to oppose the coup.

Within days, workers went on strike all over the country, shutting down workplaces, including the Tatmadaw-controlled Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, Myanmar National Airlines, railways, mines, and government ministries as well as construction sites, garment factories and schools.

ITUCs affiliate, the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM), and the Myanmar Industry Craft and Service Trade Unions Federation (MICS) have left the National Tripartite Labour Forum to demonstrate that they do not recognise the current administration, and they have called upon members to join the general strike on 8 February 2021.

Following coups in 1962 and 1988, the military junta has brutally crushed the democratic movements, imposed martial law and house arrests on opposition leaders, refused to cede power to democratically elected governments, banned trade unions and established an economic stronghold to extract wealth and natural resources in the country.

International sanctions on Myanmar were lifted in 2011 after the release of Aung San Suu Kyi that ended her 15-year house arrest. Following the establishment of the civilian government in 2015, leaders of the then Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB), including Maung Maung, whom the ITUC and international trade unions had been supporting during their exile, returned to Myanmar and registered the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM).

In support of CTUM, and in coordination with the Council of Global Unions (CGU), the ITUC is calling on affiliates worldwide to join the Global Noise Barrage on 11 February 2021 at 20:00 Yangon time (14:30 CET  09:30 EST  10:30 BRT):

Protest loudly in front of union offices and/or Myanmar embassies or consulates. Make sure to respect health and safety protocols and share videos and photos online.

Make noise on social media by posting statements, videos and photos on official and personal social media platforms.

Use your unions communication channels to call on affiliates and workers to join the solidarity action.

Organise press conferences and/or publish opinion pieces in popular media.

When taking action, use the three-finger salute, wear red shirts and carry red balloons, and use whatever noise devices you can find. Suggested hashtags are #Workers4Myanmar and #SaveMyanmar.

Follow and support CTUM on Facebook and consult this action page for materials and updates on the campaign.

Links:

ITUC and international trade unions condemn the coup: ETUC, PSI, IndustriALL, BWI, EI, IFJ

UNSR on Myanmar urges the UN Human Rights Council to convene a special session on Myanmar, 7 February.

EU suspends training with Myanmar Police, 7 February

UN fact-finding mission on the economic ties of Myanmars military, September 2019.

Myanmar military-controlled businesses and associates that require targeted sanctions, Justice for Myanmar, 4 February

Download the Russian, German, Portuguese, Japanese, Arabic and Burnese versions of this statement.

Tunis/Tunisia  A no confidence motion in Speaker of the House of People's Representatives (HPR) Rached Ghannouchi exceeded the 73 signature threshold, MPs Mongi Rahoui and Zouhaier Maghzaoui told TAP on Monday. It was not yet submitted to the registry.

"The initiative is on the right track,"Rahoui (independant) said.

Zouhaier Maghzaoui, Democratic Bloc, said efforts are underway to make sure the no confidence motion is moved in the house and avoid a repeat of mistakes seen in the previous session of parliament.

Rahoui said earlier maladministration of the parliament and public interest are the drivers behind this initiative.
by Sr Rebecca Ray

The coup d'etat is disrupting the countrys development, but also the missionary and social activities of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, who care for girls, seniors and the sick. The military dictatorship will increase poverty. The Sisters decided to stand with the people in the name of the social doctrine of the Church and Pope Francis 'Laudato si'.

Yangon (AsiaNews)  Sister Rebecca Ray, superior of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, decided to express, together with her community, explicit support for non-violent demonstrations against the military dictatorship and the coup detat of 1 February.

The Sisters are one of the many religious institutes that support the protesters who have filled the streets of Myanmar cities: Mandalay, Myitkyina (Kachin), Yangon, Taunggy, etc. They are united with the people, in total harmony; they share their concerns, worries and fears. They want to grow in the future and in the light.

Here is what Sister Rebecca told us.

We want to show our unity with the people. We are in total harmony, we share the same concerns, worries and fears. We don't want to be under the junta, we want a safe life.

In the last 10 years, for better or for worse, we began to enjoy freedom, and were able to meet the world. Our country saw the future and the light grow.

Before the coup, the situation was rather calm. I could communicate with the world; I was able to carry out my missionary work as provincial superior of four countries; I could arrange meetings even without travelling; I could support the work of my Sisters in different countries; I could have relations with our mother house in Rome.

Now all this is gone and nothing is certain. All this makes me sad because it limits my abilities to serve the people.

We do not want to go back to the time of darkness, living in fear and oppression. Life under the dictatorship was terrible, fearing pointed guns, fights. Now we don't know what will happen to us, when and how.

Praying is not enough. I believe in prayer and work and both are the most effective way to support our country.

[In the convent] we have continuous adoration, day and night; the rosary every day and the breviary. We say the rosary together with the people who work with us or with the guests of the clinic for the poor we manage.

In Myanmar last year, due to COVID, the country got poorer. The communities we serve already have many difficulties. If now there is a coup d'etat and tensions arise, I cannot imagine how much worse the situation of poor people will be.

The Sisters of the Good Shepherd have a mission in society. Under the new democratic government, its social works are registered as a foundation. Maybe, under the junta we won't be able to keep this registration anymore and our service to the people will be reduced. We work with many women, with non-profit organisations, with foundations, etc.

Unfortunately, our future is now confused; the future of our nation is dark. We cannot go out, we have restrictions, and we cannot work for the people. All this is terrible for those who need it most, especially women (street girls, abused women, etc.).

As citizens, we stand with our people and for our mission to the poor and need; to women, girls, children; to the most vulnerable. It is unbearable to see our people suffer, lose hope, overwhelmed by fear.

What is happening violates the laws of the country, it violates our human rights and our dignity. It is a great blow to democracy and development, which began to take hold in the country over the past five years.

The military are advising religious leaders to tell their faithful to stay calm, that nothing is going on, that everything will be fine. But we don't believe it. We already see the insecurity and darkness; power supplies, the Internet and telephone lines cut; banking instability, job insecurity, unemployed day labourers. This is the main concern that grieves me: all of this will have an impact on the people of Myanmar.

Perhaps we risk being imprisoned, but we want to be together with the people in the streets, sharing their traumas and suffering. What is happening violates our freedom of expression, our free vote that we cast three months ago, the right to choose our new democratic government, our leaders.

What has happened in recent days is real injustice, a manipulation of power. We want a civilian government; we don't want to be under a military government. We want to be governed by love, attention, not oppression and fear.

At present, according to the constitution, we men and women religious do not have the right to vote, but we want to vote because we too are citizens and have human rights. We want to have the right to life, security and joy.

We want all the people of Myanmar, of all religions, races and ethnicities, to enjoy the same rights and democracy. We all want development for the whole country, like what we have seen over the past 10 years.

In past few days, life has plunged into darkness, uncertainty, full of fear and anger. We no longer want this; we want to stand by our people.

Religious leaders, Brothers, Sisters, priests, even the Bishop of Mandalay have expressed their solidarity with the people. We will do this today and always, in the name of the Church's social doctrine, as well as our mission and for what Pope Francis says in Laudato si.
The Louisiana Department of Health reported 867 more confirmed coronavirus cases and 18 more confirmed deaths in its noon update Tuesday.

The number of hospitalizations decreased by 22, and the number of patients in need of ventilators increased by two.

There are also 55,492 total "probable" coronavirus cases in Louisiana, according to the agency's dashboard.

+10 Mardi Gras 2020 spawned up to 50K coronavirus cases, likely from a single source, study says Public health officials have largely accepted that last year's Mardi Gras helped make New Orleans an early coronavirus hotspot in the U.S., ev

There have been 102,376 more vaccine doses administered in Louisiana since the last update on Thursday. Since Dec. 14, the state has administered a total of 637,361 vaccine doses.

The state releases data on vaccinations twice a week, as part of its regular updates on coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The initial doses are the first of two -- spaced three weeks apart -- required for immunity.

These are another few key statewide statistics as of Tuesday:

Total confirmed cases: 358,862

Total "probable" cases: 55,492

Total confirmed deaths: 8,559

Currently hospitalized: 1,122

Currently on ventilators: 151

Vaccine series initiated: 448,122 (updated twice weekly)

Vaccine series completed: 189,239

Presumed recovered: 363,457 as of Feb. 1 (updated weekly)

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

Note: The Advocate and The Times-Picayune staff calculates daily case count and confirmed death increases based on the difference between today's total and yesterday's total of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths. The Louisiana Department of Health releases a daily case count on its dashboard that includes probable cases as indicated by a positive antigen test. That case count can be different than the one listed here.

Here are some of the parishes with the highest single-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases, based on the Tuesday report:

Jefferson: 121

Orleans: 117

East Baton Rouge: 92

Caddo: 66

St. Tammany: 64

You can view more graphs and charts breaking down the data by clicking here.

Louisiana began reopening for Phase 1 on May 15-16 then moved to Phase 2 on June 5. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards extended Louisiana's Phase 2 restrictions twice in August before moving the state to Phase 3 on Sept. 11. The governor then moved the state back to a modified Phase 2 near the end of November.

This is a developing story. More details and analysis to come.
SALES

Clayton South

Arrow Capital Partners have swooped on a large single-storey warehouse and office building with 7200 sq m of gross leasing space at 110-112 Fairbank Road and 199A Obsorne Avenue. Colliers Internationals Jonathan Mercuri said the industrial facility sold with a seven-year WALE under a lease to MPM Marketing Services. The property fetched $10.4 million.

South Melbourne

A vacant 340 sq m three-level warehouse conversion at 23 Union Street has sold for $2.89 million following more than 120 inquiries. The creative office building with a rooftop courtyard and CBD views fetched a building rate of $8500 per sq m, Fitzroys David Bourke and Mark Talbot said. The COVID-19 period has prompted a reassessment of working arrangements. Many businesses are looking to move to city fringe and inner-suburban locations, they said.
Regulatory News:

AudioValley (Paris:ALAVY) (Brussels:ALAVY), an international specialist in technological digital audio solutions (ISIN Code: BE0974334667/Ticker: ALAVY) brings digital radios closer to local advertisers thanks to Targetspot and its new local development.

The rapid growth in mainstream digital audio is one of the most promising trends of 2021, launching local radio advertising into a new era. Thanks to cutting-edge technologies, such as Passport Local, Targetspot is in a leading position to offer local advertisers a powerful complement to web strategies (Google Ads, Facebook Ads), as well as local FM or DAB+ radio campaigns.

CI Media trusts Targetspot

CI Media is currently the leading independent local advertising agency in France for the Les Indes group. It is also the exclusive advertising agency for the iconic SKYROCK brand. Thanks to the agreement signed with CI Media, based in Marseille (France), Targetspot's entire digital radio offering is open to local advertisers in the South Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur and Auvergne Rhone Alpes regions.

Targetspot and CI Media are offering the Passport Local platform to advertisers. Cross-referencing data makes it possible, through cutting-edge algorithms, to broadcast advertising based on profile, location and activity, in a field that is still conducive to brand awareness.

"The signing of this first partnership at the local level is symbolic for us. It reinforces our strategy of enabling publishers to better monetize their content and local advertisers to jump on the digital audio bandwagon, enjoying unprecedented targeting and reporting techniques," explains Eric van der Haegen, Strategic Partner Development Director Targetspot.

Digital radio is made for regional advertisers

For Alexandre Saboundjian, CEO and Founder of AudioValley, digital audio is the future for local advertisers who have been absent from the digital world for too long: "We are removing all barriers to access, whether economic, technological or even psychological. Local advertisers have everything to gain from contextual and demographic targeting techniques, against which analog radio is currently completely unable to compete."

Next event:

FY Annual Results 2020, April 14, 2021

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005768/en/

Contacts:

AUDIOVALLEY, Investor relations

Sebastien Veldeman

investorrelations@audiovalley.com

AUDIOVALLEY, Press relations

Emilie Dehan

press@audiovalley.com
Three-dimensional culture of human breast cancer cells, with DNA stained blue and a protein in the cell surface membrane stained green. Image created in 2014 by Tom Misteli, Ph.D., and Karen Meaburn, Ph.D. at the NIH IRP.

Breast cancer death rates have stopped declining for women in the U.S. younger than age 40, ending a trend that existed from 1987 to 2010, according to a new study in Radiology. Researchers expressed hope that the findings would raise awareness of breast cancer in younger women and spur research into the causes behind the change.

Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in women in the U.S., accounting for 30% of all cancers in women. Although most invasive breast cancers occur in women age 40 years and older, 4% to 5% of cases happen in women younger than 40 years.

Statistics have shown steady decline in overall breast cancer mortality rates for American women since 1989. From 1989 to 2017, breast cancer mortality rates for all women in the U.S. decreased by 40%, a decrease attributed to improved treatment and increased rates of screening mammography use starting in the early to mid-1980s.

In the new study, researchers determined U.S. trends in female breast cancer mortality rates by 10-year age subgroups based on recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Analysis showed that from 2010 to 2017, mortality rates decreased between 1.2% and 2.2% per year for women in each age decade from 40 to 79 years but increased by a non-significant 0.5% per year for women 20 to 39 years of age.

"It's clear that mortality rates in women under 40 are no longer decreasing," said study lead author R. Edward Hendrick, Ph.D., clinical professor from the Department of Radiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colorado. "I estimate that in two to three years, the mortality rate will be increasing significantly in these women."

The changing mortality rate in younger women is likely related to an increase in distant-stage, or metastatic, breast cancers. The authors' analysis of invasive breast cancer incidence rates from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program found that distant-stage breast cancer incidence rates have increased by over 4% per year since the year 2000 in women ages 20 to 39 years, a much higher rate of increase than in women ages 40 and over.

Unlike breast cancer treatments, imaging recommendations for early detection vary by age. Women 40 and older are offered screening mammography for early breast cancer detection and over half of these women report being screened regularly. Screening is not done for women under 40 unless they are known to be at high risk for breast cancer.

According to the researchers, the continued decline in death rates in women over age 40 may reflect the benefit of regular screening for women in this age group. The difference in mortality trends for women under 40 and over 40 provides further evidence for the essential role mammography screening plays in decreasing breast cancer deaths, they said.

The researchers plan to continue studying these trends to learn more about why mortality rates have stopped declining in younger women.

"Our hope is that these findings focus more attention and research on breast cancer in younger women and what is behind this rapid increase in late-stage cancers," Dr. Hendrick said.

Explore further Risk assessment and prevention of breast cancer

More information: "Breast Cancer Mortality Rates Have Stopped Declining in U.S. Women Younger than 40 Years" Radiology, 2021. Journal information: Radiology "Breast Cancer Mortality Rates Have Stopped Declining in U.S. Women Younger than 40 Years", 2021.
American Burn Associations Burn Awareness Week Begins

The annual Burn Awareness Week will run from Feb. 7 to Feb. 13

Burn Awareness Week, which is hosted by the American Burn Association (ABA), kicked off on Feb. 7.

The annual Burn Awareness Week will last until Feb. 13. The theme for this year is Electrical Safety from Amps to Zap (A-Z). The ABA started this week of burn awareness to mobilize burn, fire and life safety educators to unite in sharing a common burn awareness and prevention message in our communities. It is estimated that about 400,000 people suffer from burn injuries in the United States each year.

Several state governments and city fire departments will be observing Burn Awareness Week. The state of Tennessee referenced the dropping winter temperatures when putting out information about Burn Awareness Week. When temperatures fall below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, fires are twice as likely to occur. The state is also drawing attention to the risk of tap-water scalds and cooking-related burns.

As more Tennesseans will be spending time indoors next week because of the extremely cold temperatures, I remind residents to focus on fire safety in order to prevent potentially dangerous home fires and painful burns, said Assistant Commissioner for Fire Prevention Gary Farley.

The fire department in Newington, New Hampshire shared tips on how to remain safe from burns, which includes checking cords for cracks or frayed sockets, loose or bare wire and loose connections and inspecting heating and ventilation systems annually. Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon made a point to emphasize that most burn incidents happen at home. According to Reardon, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Ohio dealt with about 2,000 burn cases in 2019 and 2020.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will seek to extend strict curbs to fight the pandemic until at least the end of February at crunch talks this week, party sources said Tuesday.

As fatigue grows with the partial lockdown in Europe's top economy, Merkel advised against any loosening of the measures before March 1.

"We would gain nothing if we left lockdown prematurely," Merkel told members of her CDU party according to meeting participants, ahead of talks Wednesday to set policy on the restrictions.

She said first steps toward a reopening could begin in early March with schools and nurseries, shops and hairdressers but only with clear rules to prevent the spread of the virus.

Otherwise, she argued, "the infection rates could soar again", the sources quoted her as saying.

The veteran chancellor expressed understanding for "the difficult situation and great challenges for children, families and retailers" but asked for patience to avoid an endless cycle of openings and shutdowns.

Although a majority of Germans still back Merkel's science-based management of the crisis, weariness is setting in after three long winter months of restrictions and amid a sluggish vaccine rollout.

As the campaign for a general election in September to replace the outgoing Merkel begins to take shape, raising the political stakes, a YouGov poll this week showed that just half of Germans wanted current measures to be maintained or tightened.

That was down from nearly 65 percent in early January, when new daily infections were still near 20,000 with roughly 1,000 deaths a day reported.

Since then, new COVID-19 cases have dropped considerably and the seven-day incidence ratethe number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants over the past weekhas fallen below 75 for the first time since November.

But deaths remain troublingly high at nearly 500 per day.

'Turbo' mutations

"We are over the worst of the second wave, but it is not over, of course," Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert warned Monday.

The country closed restaurants, hotels, culture and leisure centres in November, followed by schools and non-essential shops in December. The measures have since been extended until February 14.

Merkel and her advisors are nervously eyeing an uncontrolled spread of highly contagious coronavirus variants from Britain and South Africa which they fear could rapidly wipe out any progress made in fighting the pandemic.

Officials have called such "turbo" mutations, both of which have been detected in Germany, a "genuine threat".

While Merkel's popularity soared due to her steady handling of the coronavirus outbreak and is still hovering at around 70 percent, only 55 percent of Germans said last week they were satisfied with her government's policies on the pandemic.

That figure was down five points since January and the lowest rating since the shutdown measures began last March.

No 'miracle cure'

The relatively slow distribution of vaccines within the EU has done much to sap good will, with 57 percent of Germans saying they don't believe Merkel's pledge that everyone who wants the jab will get one by the end of September.

The YouGov survey found that 19 percent blamed Merkel's government for the delays, 17 percent the EU and 11 percent the manufacturers. One-third of respondents said each shared equal responsibility.

The powerful Federation of German Industry (BDI) expressed exasperation with the government's incremental measures, demanding a "clear" roadmap with "fair" criteria for reopening the economy.

Conservative daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said the German decision-making was complicated by a look around Europe, where even countries with much higher infection rates and death tolls had granted their citizens greater freedoms.

"Hairdressers are opening in Austria, shoppers are thronging the Champs-Elysees in Paris, as cinemas reopen in Belgium," it said, while adding that "no country has really found the miracle cure to all of this".

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP

Four concerts will be livestreamed to the countries of Greece, Ireland, Finland and Estonia, as part of the ongoing 2021 "Happy Chinese New Year", an annual global celebration with festivities and cultural events held by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and China Media Group.

Recorded at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, the concerts feature a diversity of programs, including performances by the China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra, Chinese pipa player Zhang Hongyan, dancer Li Xiang and acrobatic groups.

Folk music and dancing by artists from Ireland will also be featured in the shows, marking the long friendship and ties between two sister cities, Dublin and Beijing, while celebrating the Lunar New Year.

()
By Carol Stowell

Thank you Secretary Kathy Boockvar for your outstanding service during the most hotly contested election in American history. You oversaw the first revamping of PA election laws in 80 years which included the statewide implementation of mail-in ballots during a pandemic. Working with 67 counties, each with their own equipment and processes, you led the charge to make dramatic changes.

Knowing the Keystone state was the swing state in the Presidential election, you fought against Republican measures to disenfranchise voters. Most notable among them was their refusal to allow pre-canvassing of mail in ballots which caused critical delays in vote counting. Then when PA was part of 60 lawsuits by the Trump administration to challenge the results, you fought back. You implemented recounts while every state court (Democratic and Republican alike) in the country, denied charges of fraud and the cases were dropped.

Then you and I watched as 84 PA Republican legislators signed documents refusing to support the election results for President Biden (reported by WITF January 28). And to this day they have not retracted their signatures, even after a mob of insurrectionists stormed the Capitol killing and injuring police officers and threatening to kill legislators including Vice President Pence. To this day they do not take responsibility for inciting that riot, even though several of our PA legislators were there!

Then on the heels of this, my own legislator Seth Grove, in his first step as leader of the State Government committee, makes his priority attacking election processes with 14 scheduled hearings. In the first, he grills you for your failures in managing the election. Remember he and 83 other PA legislators remain mum about their role in fueling the insurrection!

So yes, Secretary, you then failed to lead the steps required to have an Amendment on child sex abuse posted before the deadline and now the Amendment may be delayed two years. As the survivor of child sex abuse, I, too, am upset and yet honor your decision to take responsibility for your departments negligence. Thank you for taking the honorable step to resign.

However we also want to recognize that you have been working overtime for the past year to defend our constitutional right to vote from a group of Republican state legislators and a past president who has tried to undermine the work of your department. Many of us in PA now call on the 84 PA Republican legislators who helped fuel the insurrection of the Capitol, to follow your honorable example today and resign from their positions!

Carol Stowell writes from Paradise Township, Pa.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden met at the White House on Tuesday with JPMorgan Chase Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon and other leading business executives to discuss the administration's $1.9 trillion economic relief package, as Democrats work to speed the plan through Congress.

The meeting also included Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart; Sonia Syngal from GAP; Marvin Ellison, CEO of Lowe's; and Tom Donohue, of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Vice President Kamala Harris and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also took part.

The meeting with the business executives comes as the White House accelerates its push for Biden's $1.9 trillion relief proposal amid increasing opposition from congressional Republicans. House Democrats have unveiled key portions of the legislation and on Tuesday began holding what will be a lengthy series of committee meetings this week to vote on various portions of the package, leading up to final House passage later this month.

The developments coincided with the start of the Senate's impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump, but Biden told reporters he wasn't watching the trial.

"I have a job. My job is to help people. We have already lost over 450,000 people and we could lose a whole lot more if we don't act and act decisively," Biden said as his meeting with the business leaders got underway. "A lot of people, as I have said before, children are going to bed hungry. A lot of families are food insecure. They are in trouble. That's my job."

The meeting of the business executives also comes amid an intensifying fight over Democrats' proposal to hike the minimum wage to $15 per hour. McMillon, who is also the chairman of the influential Business Roundtable, said last month that he supports a boost to the minimum wage. Dimon has also previously backed a minimum wage hike.

But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has urged lawmakers not to use the "current crisis . . . as an opportunity to enact long-sought permanent policy changes, like raising the minimum wage." The Chamber also called existing $1 trillion annual deficits a "real cause for concern."

The business leaders are expected to bring up the minimum wage proposal at the White House, two people familiar with the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting.

Biden's plan to raise the federal minimum wage has become a particularly contentious element of his relief package, which also includes hundreds of billions of dollars for cities, states and schools; rental assistance and eviction relief; and $160 billion for a national vaccine program, increased testing and other assistance for the health care system.

Additionally, Biden's proposal includes a new round of $1,400 stimulus checks to individuals. Democrats have been debating who should be eligible to receive those checks, and considered lowering the income threshold for individuals to $50,000 from the $75,000 Biden initially proposed, which had applied to previous stimulus payments -- including $600 checks Congress agreed to in December.

However, the Ways and Means Committee on Monday released legislation keeping the $75,000 income limit for individuals and $150,000 for couples, but adding a faster phaseout period so that no money goes to individuals with incomes over $100,000 or couples with incomes over $200,000.

Asked Tuesday whether he supported the structure of the checks as proposed by House Democrats, Biden responded: "Yes."

Many lawmakers are concerned that the minimum wage increase will not be accepted by the Senate parliamentarian under the special budget rules Democrats are using to push the relief bill through Congress without GOP votes.

Asked about that issue Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said: "We're trying to work as well as we can with the parliamentarian to get minimum wage to happen. That's all I'm going to say."

House Democrats debated internally whether to incorporate the minimum wage increase in their bill but the proposal is strongly supported by members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and was ultimately included.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also said it opposes Biden's proposal to raise federal unemployment benefits from $300 per week to $400, saying the measure "distorts the labor market and deters individuals from returning to work."

This is not the first time Biden has met with officials who have criticized elements of his relief plan. Earlier this month, Biden hosted 10 Senate Republicans to discuss the next relief package - although he has appeared to reject their pleas to seek a bipartisan bill.

"As you know I met a long time with my Republican colleagues, have been exchanging correspondence and telephone calls as well to see if there's any way we can follow-up beyond where we are," Biden said. "I think we're in a position to think big and move big and move in a direction that cannot only get the economy back on its feet, but we have to get people well."

Biden also said he was anxious to hear how the business executives felt about the relief package and expressed optimism they could find "common ground," just as he had sought with Senate Republicans.

JPMorgan Chase has previously called for another round of pandemic relief for poorer families as well as the renewal of support for unemployed Americans, among other measures.


New research by Morgan Philbin, PhD, at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and colleagues looks at why Black young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are disproportionately subject to high rates of arrest and incarceration. They find that perceived racial discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination, and HIV-status discrimination are all associated with risk for criminal justice involvement in this population.

The research appears in the journal Stigma and Health.

Various studies have shown that Black men are imprisoned at nearly seven times the rate of white men; sexual minority young adults are nearly three times more likely to report being criminally sanctioned compared to their heterosexual peers; and the rate of HIV among prisoners is multiple times higher than the general population. Discrimination can occur at all stages of criminal justice involvement, from differential enforcement and/or threats of violence by police officers to court proceedings and sentencings.

The longitudinal study of 465 Black YMSM at risk for HIV in North Carolina explored discrimination at baseline and finds that perceived racism was the strongest predictor of subsequent criminal justice involvement (29 percent increased odds) followed by perceptions of sexual orientation discrimination (12 percent increased odds) and HIV discrimination (6 percent increased odds).

Unlike most research on predictors of criminal justice involvement that focus on individual-level factors such as race, homelessness, employment, or substance use, the new study examines community- and structural-level drivers--specifically, experiences of discrimination.

"Discrimination, in this instance related to race, sexual identity and HIV, is an important driver of health and life opportunities because it directly influences physical and mental health outcomes and can constrain access to education, jobs, and housing," says Philbin, the study's first author and Columbia Mailman School assistant professor of sociomedical sciences. "As we see in our new study, perceived discrimination--especially the experience of racism--placed the men in this study at an increased risk for arrest and incarceration."

While some studies have examined discrimination in the context of health outcomes like mental illness, these studies usually focused on single categories of discrimination--not intersectional discrimination of the kind experienced by individuals in this study. "To better understand the lived realities of people burdened with overlapping forms of discrimination, we must account for the compounding nature of these intersecting axes of social inequality," says Philbin. "We find that experiences of racism and discrimination based on sexual orientation and HIV status combine to raise these young men's risk for criminal justice involvement."

Participants completed four online surveys over the course of one year to assess the three predictors at baseline and criminal justice involvement at 3, 6, and 12-month follow-up (the study excluded men with criminal justice involvement at baseline). The researchers assessed discrimination through survey questions asking whether participants were, for example, treated with hostility/coldness by strangers, rejected by a potential sexual/romantic partner, denied a place to live, denied a job, and physically assaulted due to their race, sexual orientation; they also explored how individuals living with HIV were treated within their community.

Looking ahead, future research could focus on Black YMSM in other states beyond North Carolina to see if outcomes differ by geographic location. The research could also examine the effect of overlapping forms of discrimination in other groups, such as sexual minority Black women, Black transgender women, and other YMSM of color.

###

Additional authors include Timothy W. Menza, Oregon Health Authority, Portland; Sara H. Legrand, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; and Kathryn E. Muessig and Lisa Hightow-Weidman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill.

Funding for the study was provided by the National Institutes of Health (MH093275-01, DA039804A, MH105292, MD013623).
SOUTHINGTON  A New York man faces charges after police said he exploited faulty software to fraudulently withdraw thousands of dollars from local bank ATMs.

Gregory Beaumont, 27, of 162 East 2nd St., Apt. C, New York, NY, was charged earlier this month with second-degree larceny and fraudulent use of an automated teller machine.

A Santander bank manager told police the company has been seeing people using multiple bank cards to withdraw thousands of dollars from ATMs, Lt. Keith Egan wrote in a statement. A glitch in the software allowed a user to fraudulently withdraw large denominations without the system recognizing the error.

Beaumont was seen on surveillance video entering the ATM vestibule at Santander Bank, 235 Queen St., on August 18, 2020 and making withdrawals for around 45 minutes. Beaumont denied using the ATMs.

In total, Beaumont is reported to have made a total of 51 separate transactions, Egan wrote.

Beaumont fraudulently withdrew about $10,710, the statement said. After being notified of the incident on August 18, police observed an individual matching the description of Beaumont returning to the area of the Santander Bank later that day. An arrest warrant was issued and Beaumont turned himself in to Southington police on Feb. 3.

He was released on $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in New Britain Superior Court on Feb. 24.

dleithyessian@record-journal.com203-317-2317Twitter: @leith_yessian

The Ministry of has spent around Rs 37 crore in 2019-2020 to promote domestic in the country, Union minister Prahlad Patel informed Parliament on Tuesday.

Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, Patel said that while around Rs 63 crore was spent in 2018-2019, around Rs 25 crore was spent in 2017-2018 on promoting sites within the country.

These included campaigns through print media, television, online, radio, theatre and text messages, he said.

"The Ministry of obtains media plan and releases campaigns through the Bureau of Outreach Communication (BOC), Doordarshan and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).The campaigns are for all states of India and are not state-specific," the minister said.

In reply to another question, he said the ministry launched the 'Dekho Apna Desh' initiative in January 2020 with the objective of creating awareness among the citizens about the rich heritage and culture of the country and to promote domestic tourism. This initiative is in line with the August 15, 2019 address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking every citizen to visit at least 15 destinations by the year 2022.

"Under this initiative, the ministry is carrying out promotional activities like webinars, online pledge and quiz programmes to generate awareness among the public about the country and its tourism destinations/products, including lesser known ones. 'Dekho Apna Desh' initiative is being promoted extensively on social media and the website of the ministry and by domestic India tourism offices," Patel 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.)
After living on what they knew to be their ancestral land for 85 years, more than 3,000 people from the Nubian community in Kisumu faced one of the most inhumane evictions when bulldozers descended on their homes at dawn on Saturday, and a child was killed in the process.

The eviction, conducted by the Kenya Railways (KR) to pave way for the rehabilitation of the old metre-gauge line, caught most Kibos residents unawares. They said the corporation did not give them a notice to vacate.

The child died after being trapped under the debris during the demolition that was done under tight security.

The act has drawn condemnation from Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o, who blamed KR for unilaterally bringing down the houses and creating a settlement crisis.

"I was very surprised when the demolition took place without any reference to me or the city management. I called the MD and cautioned him that we need to work together to maintain a harmonious relationship with the local residents," he said on Sunday.

The governor said President Uhuru Kenyatta had assured him that Kibos was not earmarked for demolition due to the restoration of the more than a century-old railway link.

Prof Nyong'o also revealed that Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i called him to apologise over the incident.

The county has offered 18 acres of land to resettle the families.

Community and county government officials

The governor established a committee of 20 people, drawn from the community and county government officials to handle the most immediate and long-term needs of those affected.

"We want them to provide us with biometric data on the number of school-going children, healthcare needs and mapping of infrastructure, among other needs," said Prof Nyong'o.

However, Mr Rajab Noor, 61, called on the county to issue the families allotment letters for the land, to prevent future evictions.

"This is the second time we are being displaced after we were kicked out of Kogony area to give room for the construction of Kisumu International Airport in 1936," said Mr Noor.

"We don't want to make the mistakes of our forefathers that have seen us live like squatters in our own country. The county should fast-track the issuance of allotment letters to guarantee the safety of the generations to come."

Mr Noor, who has six children and an extended family numbering more than 40, said he has to take care of his 87-year-old mother and young children.

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"As we wait for the construction of new homes, we have to live in the two tents provided by the Kenya Red Cross," he said.

As a temporary measure, Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga said each family will be provided with 130 iron sheets and timber to rebuild their houses.

The county has also committed to start the construction of a permanent mosque after the demolition of the com munity's place of worship.

"We are also in discussion with Kenya Power to have the area connected to electricity within two weeks," he said.

In the meantime, he indicated that the county had provided two standby generators, and was in the process of providing proper sanitation and clean water.

Mr Wanga pointed out that the county is also targeting huge parcels of land that have been encroached around Kibos area, to be provided to the Nubian community.

"This land could be inadequate given that we continue to grow and also need land to till and provide for our families," said Mr Khalifa Hamis, who asked the county to consider allocating them land for a cemetery.

Governor Nyong'o, however, assured them that his administration would ensure that the voice of the minority is heard and respected.

"Out of this suffering, something better will come. We don't ever want to see this shameful act in the history of Kisumu County," he said.
Mobile vaccine vans offering shots in towns dozens of miles from mass vaccination sites. A 24-hour call center open seven days a week to schedule appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine. An outreach director at the top pushing for racial, ethnic, income and geographic equity with every step of the states vaccine rollout.

These are some of the suggestions Massachusetts lawmakers have proposed in the wake of a public vaccination rollout that critics say have prioritized eastern Massachusetts residents, particularly those who can drive or who live in the more affluent parts of Boston. Some have formally introduced these recommendations through legislation, while others have sent Gov. Charlie Bakers office letters urging him to consider the alternatives.

When asked about these recommendations and calls for equity, Baker did not address the recommendations made by lawmakers. With federal funding available, lawmakers are pushing for money to help scale up the states vaccination rollout.

The Biden administration approved more than $200 million in emergency funds to help the state store, distribute and administer the COVID-19 vaccine. In a letter to legislators, House Speaker Ron Mariano said the House will push for funding to expand the vaccine call centers hours, offer mobile vaccines and other recommendations made by his colleagues.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives believes that we can and must do better, Mariano wrote. The House stands ready to work with our partners in government and if need be to pass legislation to ensure that these resources are utilized in accordance with these goals.

Massachusetts first launched a mass vaccination site in Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, followed by another at Fenway Park in Boston. The announcements sparked criticism from Sen. Eric Lesser, Rep. Mindy Domb and other legislators about the lack of options for residents outside of Boston, particularly in Western Massachusetts and on Cape Cod.

At Springfield's Eastfield Mall hundreds of people wait outside in the cold. The temperature is 22 degree's and some over 80s have been waiting for over 30 minutes.(Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Soon after, another was announced at the Eastfield Mall in Springfield, followed by one at the Reggie Lewis Center in Bostons Roxbury neighborhood and a fifth at the Double Tree hotel in Danvers. A sixth is expected to open in mid-February at Worcester State University.

But legislators say theyve received calls from constituents who want to get their shots but struggle to get to a mass vaccination site. State data shows that the majority of people who have taken the COVID-19 vaccine are white, raising questions from legislators about why there arent more vaccine sites and resources in predominantly Black or brown communities.

Meanwhile, complaints piled up about the states website for scheduling appointments. A software engineer who is on maternity leave created a user-friendly website that shows all states available appointments, broken down by location, NBC Boston reported.

When asked about recent letters and bills calling for racial and geographic equity, Baker said the state had been able to move forward with guidance from a diverse group of advisors on the vaccine plan but that some eligible people hesitated to get vaccinated at this point.

Obviously, the campaign we started last week will be something we continue to build on, but I think this is a really important issue, the Republican governor said, referring to his multi-lingual campaign to promote the vaccine. Weve got to make sure that everybody in Massachusetts not only has access to the vaccine, but believes it will be the right thing for them to do.

A MassInc Polling Group survey released in December shows nearly half of respondents saying they would rather wait and see how the vaccine rollout goes before getting a shot. Another 36% said they plan to take the vaccine right away, while 7% said they will never take the vaccine.

Still, lawmakers say the rollout leaves COVID-19 vaccines out of reach for some eligible residents and stand to exclude more.

Im hearing from 75+ about their vaccine experiences, Domb tweeted on Monday. Those with access to resources ([including] a private vehicle) report convenience & access. Those who dont have resource, face barriers. This is morally wrong.

I'm hearing from 75+ about their vaccine experiences. Those with access to resources (incl a private vehicle) report convenience & access. Those who don't have resource, face barriers. This is morally wrong.



An active aggressive commitment to #VaccineEquity would rectify.  Mindy Domb (@MindyForMA) February 8, 2021

Domb was among a group lawmakers who filed a vaccine equity bill last week in the state Legislature. The bill proposed several improvements to the states vaccine rollout, including appointing an outreach director to lead the states efforts to increase vaccine equity and adding mobile vaccine units to fill in the gaps between the states mass vaccination sites.

When asked about the proposed mobile vaccination vans, and other proposed improvements to the rollout, Baker did not comment on any of the recommendations, but rather touted the success of regional health collaboratives in getting people vaccinated.

Part of the idea in places where theres a lot of geography has been these regional collaboratives. Berkshire County ... has the largest percentage of people in Massachusetts who have been vaccinated working it through that regional collaborative, Baker said, saying Berkshire has the largest percentage of people who have been vaccinated.

The states latest COVID-19 vaccination report, which cites figures from Feb. 2, says Berkshire County has received at least 20,325 vaccine doses. A copy of the Berkshire County Collaboratives vaccine totals through Saturday says 15,400 people have gotten the vaccine in the county.

Baker also cited regional collaboratives in Worcester County and Barnstable County as local drivers in the states vaccination efforts.

The Baker administration is considering making improvements to one aspect of the vaccine rollout. Asked about the software engineers website, Baker said state officials plan to meet with her this week and that there might be improvements coming to the states portal for vaccine appointments.

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Koror, Palau, Feb 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Feb, 2021 ) :The Pacific Islands Forum plunged deeper into crisis Tuesday as four more nations vowed to leave because of a leadership dispute, upending diplomacy in a region where the United States and China are competing for influence.

Micronesian countries -- the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia -- said they would follow Palau's decision last week and pull out of the group.

They are angry that their sub-grouping's candidate to be the Forum's next secretary-general was recently rejected in favour of former Cook Islands premier Henry Puna.

"The Micronesian presidents jointly agreed that all five nations will initiate the formal process of withdrawal from the Pacific Islands Forum," the leaders said in a joint communique issued Tuesday.

The Micronesians had argued it was their turn to fill the post under an informal arrangement that has stood for decades and claimed the snub showed the Forum was biased towards members from the South Pacific.

"The forum has lost its original intent to be a regional body," Nauru President Lionel Aingimea said in a statement.

The 18-member Forum is mostly made up of small island states along with Australia and New Zealand, and is a key element of the US allies' diplomatic efforts in the region.

It has become an influential voice in the issue of climate change, amplifying the voice of many of the region's small island states that are threatened by rising seas and ever-more intense cyclones.

A rare split in the Forum's ranks provides a potential opening for China to boost its influence with the sparsely populated but strategically important Pacific island nations, which would alarm the United States and Australia.

There was no immediate response from the Forum, though its chairman Kausea Natano was defiant in the wake of Palau's departure last week, saying he was "steadfast" in his support of the next secretary-general Puna.

"This was a consensus decision following an agreed process... we have upheld our principles and values as characterised through the Pacific way," he said.

Natano also insisted after last week's vote on Puna's appointment that the Micronesian leaders had withdrawn their threat to leave the Forum and the organisation remained unified.
NEW YORK  Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance cannot prosecute Paul Manafort on a state level for financial crimes similar to the ones pardoned by former President Donald Trump, New Yorks top court has ruled, ensuring the former Trump campaign chairman will remain a free man.

The one-page ruling from the New York Court of Appeals upheld a lower order from October that found Vances attempt to charge Manafort with mortgage fraud and other felonies violated the states so-called double jeopardy law, which bars prosecutors from pursuing crimes that have already been tried on a federal level.

Manafort was serving out the rest of a seven-year prison sentence in home confinement when Trump pardoned him Dec. 23 for a range of financial and foreign lobbying crimes uncovered as part of former special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation.

However, presidential pardons only cover federal crimes.

Vance  who is also investigating Trumps namesake business over allegations of fraud  charged Manafort in 2019 with state crimes in a deliberate attempt to make sure he faced justice in the event that the former president pardoned him.

The Manhattan district attorney aggressively fought the case in court after Manaforts attorneys sought to have it dismissed on double jeopardy grounds.

Todd Blanche, an attorney for Manafort, said the former Trump campaign chairman was pleased with the top courts ruling.

As we have said from the time the district attorney announced charges against Mr. Manafort, this is a case that should never have been brought, Blanche said.

A spokesman for Vance declined to comment.

Honeywell to Reopen Idled Metropolis Plant

By West Kentucky Star Staff

METROPOLIS - Honeywell has announced plans to reopen its idled Metropolis plant.In a statement Tuesday morning, the company said it has communicated to employees and officials its intent to reopen the plant.Here is the company's full statement:As the only domestic uranium conversion facility, Honeywells Metropolis Works facility has been an important national strategic asset, well-positioned to satisfy UF6 demand both in the U.S. and abroad. Honeywell is planning to restart production at Metropolis Works in early 2023, with preparations beginning this year. Honeywell will hire 160 full-time employees as well as contractors by the end of next year. Were proud to bring these jobs back to the Metropolis community to meet the needs of our customers.The company idled the plant in 2018, citing "significant challenges" to the uranium industry, including an oversupply of uranium hexafluoride.
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Beta-Thalassemia Market report offers a holistic picture of the market landscape of the Beta Thalassemia key companies, emerging pipeline therapies, Beta-Thalassemia market share occupied by individual therapies, current and forecasted Beta-thal market share in the 6MM (the US, and EU5 (the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) for the study period.

The report highlights the drivers and constraints shaping the present Beta-Thalassemia Market along with the unmet medical needs that offer opportunities to the key players to explore the underlying potential of the market.

Some of the key highlights from the Beta-Thalassemia Market Report:



The Beta-Thalassemia market outlook appears to be ruled by the iron-chelating agents .

. Exjade is the first, once-daily oral iron chelator commercially available to treat chronic transfusional iron overload due to a wide range of underlying anemia.

is the first, once-daily oral iron chelator commercially available to treat chronic transfusional iron overload due to a wide range of underlying anemia. The Beta-Thalassemia market is witnessing an influx of gene therapies and gene-edited cell therapies to eradicate the lifetime burden of the disease.

to eradicate the lifetime burden of the disease. Several of the emerging drugs, including LentiGlobin are receiving or have received Orphan Drug Designation.

Key pharma players dynamically driving the growth of the Beta-Thalassemia market size are Bluebird Bio , Protagonist Therapeutics , Acceleron Pharma , Agios Pharmaceuticals , Ionis Pharmaceuticals, and others.

, , , , and others. The upcoming therapies envisaged transforming the Beta-Thalassemia market scenario are ZYNTEGLO (LentiGlobin BB305), Sotatercept (ACE-011), Mitapivat (AG-348), PTG-300 , IONIS-TMPRSS6-LRx , VIT-2763 , Emeramide , and several others.

(LentiGlobin BB305), (ACE-011), (AG-348), , , , , and several others. Rising global prevalence due to increased rates of human migration, the launch of novel and cutting-edge therapies, improvement in diagnostic techniques, the involvement of patients, major healthcare providers, and governmental programs leading to increased awareness, high-priced gene therapies, and an increase in the R&D activities since the cloning of Betaglobin gene is propelling the growth of the Beta-Thalassemia market size.

Request for Sample @ Beta-Thalassemia Market Outlook and Forecast

Beta-Thalassemia is a rare, genetic disorder, which is inherited in an autosomal, recessive fashion. The primary hallmark of the condition is a lack of haemoglobin in RBCs due to mutations in the HBB gene on chromosome 11. The severity of Beta-Thalassemia varies based on the nature of the mutation and the presence of mutations in one or both alleles.

Clinically, there can be two main categories of Beta-Thalassemia patients based on the patient's need for blood transfusiontransfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) and non-transfusion dependent thalassemia (NTDT).

Beta-Thalassemia Epidemiological Analysis

According to DelveInsight, the total Beta-Thalassemia prevalent population in the 6MM was 14,954 in 2020. Italy accounted for the highest prevalent Beta-Thalassemia patient pool, followed by the US with Spain reporting the least size of the Beta-Thalassemia prevalent patient pool.

DelveInsight's Beta-Thalassemia Market Report puts forward historical as well as forecasted epidemiological analysis for the 6MM for the study period 2017-30 segmented into:



Total Prevalent Cases of Beta-Thalassemia Minor

Diagnosed Prevalence of Beta-Thalassemia

Diagnosed Beta-Thalassemia Patients by Disease Type

Complications of Beta-Thalassemia Patients

Get a clear picture of Beta-Thalassemia Epidemiology and its Changing trends @ Beta-Thalassemia Prevalence

Beta-Thalassemia Treatment Market Outlook

Beta Thalassemia is a genetic disorder that is inherited in an autosomal, recessive fashion. The clinical manifestations seen in patients are severe anemia, abnormal hemoglobin, and build-up of iron in the body. The treatment market mainly focuses on delaying the progression of the disease and relieving the symptoms.

Blood transfusion and iron chelation remain the gold-standard of care for patients with TDT, with the former suppressing ineffective hematopoiesis and its complications, and the latter treating and preventing complications from iron overload. The treatment aims to maintain the levels of haemoglobin of 9-10.5 g/dL. However, excess accrual of iron due to frequent blood transfusions is a common complication in patients. Therefore, the present Beta-Thalassemia therapeutic market is dominated by iron binders/chelators, which helps in maintaining iron balance in the body by excreting excess iron through urine or faeces.

Desferal (deferoxamine mesylate USP) is an iron-chelating agent of Novartis and is available in vials for intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intravenous administration. It is indicated for the treatment of acute iron intoxication and chronic iron overload due to transfusion-dependent anaemia. Novartis also Exjade (Deferasirox), another oral iron chelator, which got FDA nod in 2005. It primarily helps in reducing chronic iron overload in patients who are receiving long-term blood transfusions for conditions such as beta-thalassemia and other chronic anaemias. Recently, Luspatercept (ACE-536), a candidate of Acceleron received an FDA nod for the treatment of anaemia in adult patients with beta-thalassemia who require regular red blood cell transfusions. Moreover, in May 2020, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has also recommended approval of Luspatercept to treat anaemia in both the rare blood disorder beta-thalassemia and haematological cancer myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Got Queries? Contact @ Beta-Thalassemia Marketed Therapies and Treatment Approaches and get a comprehensive understanding of the Beta-Thalassemia therapeutic outlook

Beta-Thalassemia Marketed Therapies

Desferal: Novartis

Exjade: Novartis

Ferrirpox (deferiprone): Apotex

ACE-536: Acceleron Pharma/Celgene Corporation

However, these drugs are mainly curative in nature. Potential curative treatment options present in the Beta-Thalassemia market include bone marrow transplant in selected patients and gene therapies that aim to partially, if not fully, correct the disorder.

Beta-Thalassemia Market Outlook and Forecast

Several emerging therapies including LentiGlobin, PTG-300, ACE-011, Mitapivat, and others are on the horizon anticipated to impact the overall market domain. Among the emerging therapies, PTG-300 is an injectable hepcidin peptide to treat iron overload in patients with Beta-Thalassemia by Protagonist Therapeutics. The drug is expected to be launched within the forecast period [2021-2030] as it has been granted Fast Track designation as well as Orphan Drug designation by FDA and EMA. siRNA targeting Tmprss6, both of which act by increasing the production of endogenous hepcidin, have shown to improve erythropoiesis and anemia in mouse models of Beta-Thalassemia. Ionis Pharmaceuticals, a leader in RNA-targeted drug discovery and development has developed IONIS-TMPRSS6-LRx.

However, the drug which is being labeled as the potential game-changer is LentiGlobin BB305 (Zynteglo) developed by bluebird bio. It is the first-ever gene therapy to be approved for the management of Beta Thalassemia and was given conditional marketing approval by the EU in June 2019 and was first launched in Germany. This will be followed by a large-scale European rollout. Apart from FDA granting LentiGlobin BB305 an Orphan Drug designation, it has also been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for Beta-Thalassemia. bluebird bio has set a price of 1.6 million euros ($1.8 million) for its gene therapy Zynteglo, which so far has only been approved for a rare blood disorder in the European Union. The cost will be spread over five years based on its continued effectiveness, at 315,000 euros a year following an outcome-based payment model. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll by delaying the first commercial treatment using Zynteglo in Germany. The US launch has also been delayed to 2021 due to disagreement with the FDA about providing additional data for the agency's review. Henceforth, the overall regulatory environment and the global crisis are expected to make large inroads on the overall pipeline environment.

Reblozyl (luspatercept-aamt), an activin type II receptor fusion protein developed by Acceleron Pharma/Celgene, on the other hand, became the first drug to receive FDA approval for the treatment of anemia in adults suffering from beta-thalassemia. It has also received a positive CHMP (Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use) opinion in April this year and is expected to enter the European arena by 2021. Another novel therapy that is expected to make an impact on the treatment landscape is VIT-2763 being developed by Vifor Pharma.

Beta-Thalassemia Pipeline Therapies

LentiGlobin BB305: BlueBird Bio

PTG-300: Protagonist Therapeutics

ACE-011 (Sotatercept): Acceleron Pharma/Celgene Corporation

Mitapivat: Agios Pharmaceuticals

IONIS TMPRSS6 LRx: Ionis Pharmaceuticals

VIT 2763: Vifor Pharma

OTL-300: Orchard Therapeutics

ST-400: Sangamo Therapeutics/Sanofi

CTX001: CRISPR Therapeutics/Vertex Pharmaceuticals

DST-0509: DisperSol Technologies

ATIR201: Kiadis

Ruxolitinib: Incyte Corporation/Novartis

EDIT-301: Editas Medicine

Global Blood Therapeutics/Syros Pharmaceuticals

And others.

Beta-Thalassemia Market Outlook: Analysts Comments

Beta-Thalassemia Therapeutic Market is witnessing an increment in the investment, thereby, R&D, with pharmaceutical companies exploring and exploiting novel cutting-edge technologies for the development of drugs. Further, well-designed, randomized controlled trials have contributed to building a robust pipeline that shall propel the Beta-Thalassemia market size growth. Pharma and biotech companies such as Bluebird Bio, Protagonist Therapeutics, Acceleron Pharma, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Ionis Pharmaceuticals among several others are working to optimize available treatment approaches as well as bringing out novel therapies to address the unmet needs. Moreover, the market space is booming with the major collaborations, tie-ups, and licensing agreements taking place.

However, the already availability of gene therapies is expected to give a strong competition to the Beta-Thalassemia emerging therapies. Besides tough competition, the timelines of ongoing clinical trials have faced a major backlash, and owing to the uncertainty that looms, it is still hard to predict the normalcy.

Nevertheless, the Beta-Thalassemia Market Outlook lacks a curative approach despite the stronghold of gene therapies in the market, which DelveInsight estimates to be a significant driving force behind the market size growth. An increasing trend in the prevalence of the disease also appears to add to the patient pool thus the demand for curative approaches. In a nutshell, it can be summarized that as many potential therapies are being investigated for the management of Beta-Thalassemia, it is safe to predict that the treatment space will experience significant reconstitution during the forecast period of 2021-2030.

Know more about the collaborations, tie-ups, and therapies launch @ Beta-Thalassemia Pipeline Therapies and Forecast

Table of Contents

1 Key Insights 2 Executive Summary of Beta-thalassemia 3 SWOT Analysis for Beta-Thalassemia 4 Beta-Thalassemia Market Overview at a Glance 5 Disease Background and Overview 6 Beta-Thalassemia Epidemiology and Patient Population 7 Country-Wise Beta-Thalassemia Epidemiology 8 Beta-Thalassemia Treatment and Management 9 Case Study 10 Beta-Thalassemia Market Unmet Needs 11 Beta-Thalassemia Marketed Products 12 Beta-Thalassemia Emerging Therapies 13 Beta-Thalassemia Promising Candidates 14 Beta-Thalassemia Therapies in the News 15 Beta-Thalassemia Discontinued Therapies 16 Beta-Thalassemia: Six Major Market Analysis 17 Beta-Thalassemia Market Outlook by Country 18 Beta-Thalassemia Market Access and Reimbursement Landscape 19 Beta-Thalassemia Market Drivers 20 Beta-Thalassemia Market Barriers 21 Appendix 22 DelveInsight Capabilities 23 Disclaimer 24 About DelveInsight

Know more of what we are offering @ Beta-Thalassemia Market Outlook

Scope of the Report

Geography Coverage : 6MM - The United States , and EU5 ( Germany , France , Italy , Spain , and the United Kingdom ).

: 6MM - , and EU5 ( , , , , and the ). Study Period : 3-year historical and 11-year forecasted analysis

: 3-year historical and 11-year forecasted analysis Beta-Thalassemia Market Segmentation : Total Prevalent Cases of Beta-thalassemia Minor, Diagnosed Prevalence of Beta-thalassemia, Diagnosed Beta-thalassemia Patients by Disease Type, Complications associated with Beta-thalassemia Patients

: Total Prevalent Cases of Beta-thalassemia Minor, Diagnosed Prevalence of Beta-thalassemia, Diagnosed Beta-thalassemia Patients by Disease Type, Complications associated with Beta-thalassemia Patients Key Players Involved : Novartis, Apotex, Acceleron Pharma/Celgene Corporation, BlueBird Bio, Protagonist Therapeutics, Acceleron Pharma/Celgene Corporation, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Vifor Pharma, EmeraMed, and others.

: Novartis, Apotex, Acceleron Pharma/Celgene Corporation, BlueBird Bio, Protagonist Therapeutics, Acceleron Pharma/Celgene Corporation, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Vifor Pharma, EmeraMed, and others. Analysis : Comparative and conjoint analysis of Beta-Thalassemia Emerging therapies

: Comparative and conjoint analysis of Beta-Thalassemia Emerging therapies Tools used : SWOT analysis, Porter's Five Forces, PESTLE analysis, BCG Matrix analysis methods.

: SWOT analysis, Porter's Five Forces, PESTLE analysis, BCG Matrix analysis methods. Case Studies

KOL's Views

Analyst's Views

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Thurston and Lewis counties are currently the only two Washington counties officially recognized as Purple Heart Counties, a ceremonial designation to honor members of the armed services who have been killed or wounded in action.

Mary Astrid, founder of a Purple Heart committee, wants to extend that honor to the entire state.

It bothered me that the remaining 37 counties had no Purple Heart designation. Thats when in July of 2020, I reached out to Representative Ed Orcutts office asking for his help to become a Purple Heart State, said Astrid in official testimony on House Bill 1250, a bill which, if passed, would officially designate the state of Washington as a Purple Heart State.

She sent me an email and I said lets do this, said Rep. Orcutt, R-Kalama, the primary sponsor of the bill.

Also sponsoring HB 1250 are representatives Cindy Ryu, D-Shoreline, Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, Jeremie Dufault, R-Yakima, and Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane. The bill was introduced on Jan. 18 and referred to the Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations.

Veterans Day is once a year with parades; store front windows have Thank You Troops and then washed off for the next holiday, Astrid said in her testimony. Purple Heart State would be a permanent, visible, year-round thank you to the men and women that recognizes their courage and commitment in protecting our freedom.

Astrid testified in favor of the bill on Jan. 27, along with Alfie Alvarado, director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, and former Lewis County Commissioner Edna Fund.

I want to let you know, Mary Astrid, shes our Lewis County sparkplug who gets things done, and here she does it again, Fund said in her testimony. I really appreciate the movement and thank you to Rep. Orcutt for putting this forward, and I would appreciate all the members of the committee and the rest of the Legislature to approve this bill so we can honor those who receive the Purple Heart.

The designation would authorize state departments to erect signs  especially at the entry points to the state  recognizing that Washington is a Purple Heart State, and allow departments to accept gifts or donations to cover the cost of the signs.

Its basically making a statement that we really appreciate our military, especially our military members who have been wounded in combat, Orcutt said. I think its always a good reminder that freedom is not free, there are costs to our military personnel and their families.

The Purple Heart medal was officially created on Feb. 22, 1932  George Washingtons 200th birthday  in recognition acts of merit that occurred during World War I, and the medal is now awarded to members of the armed services who are killed or wounded in action.

Lewis County became a Purple Heart County in November 2019, and an official Purple Heart County sign now hangs below the Entering Lewis County sign in the 3900 block of Harrison Avenue. At the time, The Chronicle reported that nearly 8,000 veterans resided in Lewis County, and of those, 480 were awarded Purple Heart medals.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 04:45:22|Editor: huaxia

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A traveler wearing a face mask is seen at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, Feb. 2, 2021. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

Researchers predicted that within a month, the coronavirus variant first detected in the UK could become predominant in the United States, potentially bringing a surge of new cases and increased risk of death.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The coronavirus variant first detected in the United Kingdom is spreading rapidly across the United States, new research suggests, adding concern to resurgence of the pandemic in the country.

Analyzing half a million coronavirus tests and hundreds of genomes, researchers predicted that within a month, this variant, known as B.1.1.7, could become predominant in the United States, potentially bringing a surge of new cases and increased risk of death.

The study, posted on the preprint server MedRxiv on Sunday, echoed a forecast issued last month by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which warned that B.1.1.7 could become predominant by March if it behaved the way it did in Britain.

According to the study, detection of the variant increased at a logistic rate similar to those observed elsewhere, with a doubling rate of a little over a week and an increased transmission rate of 35 to 45 percent.

A health care worker administers a dose of COVID-19 vaccine to a recipient at a new vaccination site in the California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, Los Angeles County, California, the United States, Feb. 5, 2021. (Xinhua)

Currently there are three dominant coronavirus variants spreading in the United States, according to CDC data. A total of 699 infection cases of coronavirus variants had been reported in at least 34 U.S. states as of Sunday.

The vast majority of these cases, 690, were caused by B.1.1.7. There were six cases of a new strain initially discovered in South Africa, called B.1.351, and three cases of the P.1 strain first discovered in Brazil.

New COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are declining in the country from recent surges, but health experts warn those contagious coronavirus strains may threaten to undo progress and lead to a resurgence.

The United States has recorded over 27 million cases with nearly 464,000 related deaths as of Monday afternoon, according to the real-time count kept by Johns Hopkins University. 
A 24-year old Dalit labourer and trade union activist from Punjab has been behind bars since January 12. The 24-year old trade union activist Nodeep Kaur was arrested when she joined a labourers' protest at Kundli in Haryana. The activist has been in custody since nearly a month without bail.

Kaur, who is a resident of Gyandar village under Kakhuwali Mandi police station in Punjab's Muktsar Sahib, was arrested on the basis of an FIR under Sections 148 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 452 (trespassing), 384 (extortion) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The case was filed as per a complaint by Lalit Khurana, an accountant at Elecmech Private Limited, Kundli. The accused Nodeep Kaur along with two other women and over 50 men entered the company office and started demanding money.

The police complaint accessed by India Today reads, "When we refused, they created a ruckus and threatened us of dire consequences. We called the cops who were also beaten up by the accused and her accomplices."

The FIR states that Inspector Ravi Kumar and two constables got injured in the incident because of stone pelting and were attacked with sticks as well. The FIR further added, "The accused also tried to snatch a carbine from a gunman besides a file from head constable Rakesh."

It also states that the police officials managed to arrest Kaur with the help of lady constable Rita and also conducted raids to arrest the other co-accused in the case. Kaur's bail plea has been quashed multiple times.

Meanwhile, her sister Rajveer Kaur, a research scholar at the Delhi University has denied these allegations and said, "My sister is a labour and Dalit rights activist. She along with other activists had gone to get the wages of some labourers released, but the owner of the factory opened fire at them. The allegations are false. We also tried to lodge a complaint but that was not entertained."

Police officials have, however, trashed these allegations and said Nodeep was facing two other criminal cases. Sonipat SP Jashandeep Singh Randhawa said, "This is not the first case registered against Nodeep Kaur. She is already facing a criminal case. The allegations are not false as the CCTV footage recovered from the factory premises shows the accused and others assaulting the cops."

The case garnered international traction as lawyer and US Vice President Kamala Harris' niece Meena Harris tweeted about this using the hashtag #ReleaseNodeepKaur.





Weird to see a photo of yourself burned by an extremist mob but imagine what they would do if we lived in India. I'll tell you23 yo labor rights activist Nodeep Kaur was arrested, tortured & sexually assaulted in police custody. She's been detained without bail for over 20 days. pic.twitter.com/Ypt2h1hWJz  Meena Harris (@meenaharris) February 5, 2021

This isn't just about agricultural policy. It's also about the persecution of a vocal religious minority. It's police violence, militant nationalism, and attacks on labor rights. It's global authoritarianism. Don't tell me to stay out of your affairs. These are all of our issues.  Meena Harris (@meenaharris) February 5, 2021

Canadian MP Gurratan Singh also said in a tweet, "Nodeep Kaur, an advocate for Dalit and Worker rights from Punjab, was picked up by the police 21 days ago for supporting farmers. She's been tortured and sexually assaulted in custody. She was denied a medical exam and bail. Calling on leaders to raise their voice for her. #FreeNodeepKaur"

Ravinder Singh of the Khalsa Aid, Instagram poet Rupi Kaur and environmental activist Licypriya Kangujam also tweeted on this issue.

We are all deeply concerned about #NodeepKaur ! A female activist in India



She was arrested by Delhi police, we are hearing reports of sexual abuse in custody! @AmnestyUK@hrw@meenaharris#FarmersProtesthttps://t.co/WPehYrZfEu  ravinder singh (@RaviSinghKA) February 6, 2021

this is a travesty. nodeeps bail hearing is today. punjabs politicians are absolutely useless. cowards. all of them. shame on the entire system for letting nodeep down (and countless others in similar situations) https://t.co/d6LDLhjHNa  rupi kaur (@rupikaur_) February 8, 2021

Arresting #NodeepKaur not going to stop the #FarmersProtest. Better release her and respect women!#SpeakUpForNodeep  Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) February 7, 2021

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Also read: INX Media case: CBI to inspect documents received from Switzerland
The Telegraph

An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.
Selebi Phikwe  The heavy downpours experienced over the weekend resulted in the closure of Selebi Phikwe-Sefhophe road due to the overflowing Lebala River.

Officer Commanding District No. 10, Senior Superintendent Bonosi Molapisi said in an interview that the water level started rising over the weekend.

He added that this did not only affect the motorists travelling to and from Sefhophe and Bobonong, but also affected some parts of Sefhophe, which experienced a spill-over from the overflowing Lebala River.

Senior Superintendent Molapisi said the police and the Botswana Defence Force personnel were working together to ensure the safety of motorists and community members, adding that so far no lives had been lost.

He also warned farmers at Lebala cattlepost to be on alert and wait for the water subside as it was currently dangerous to cross the said road. Senior Superintendent Molapisi further stated that Sefhophe- Bobonong road had also been temporarily closed as the water covered that area.

He said once the water subsided the police and the soldiers would inspect the affected roads for safety reasons prior to opening.

He also warned farmers in cattleposts situated downstream, particularly in the Bobirwa area, to be on alert and evacuate before water reaches them.

Meanwhile, the road to Selebi Phikwe Airport was also immersed in water, making it difficult to access the airport and the Department of Meteorological Services premises. However, Senior Superintendent Molapisi said the water did not find way into the airport.

Source : BOPA
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Pune, India, Feb. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Europe prothrombin complex concentrate market size is projected to reach USD 398.9 million by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period. The substantial advantages offered by prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) will be the primary driving force behind this markets growth, forecasts Fortune Business Insights in its report, titled Europe Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Market Size, Share & Covid-19 Impact Analysis, By Product (4-factor PCC and 3-factor PCC), By Application (Acquired Coagulation Deficiency and Congenital Coagulation Deficiency and By End User (Hospitals & Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Specialty Clinics, and Others), 2020-2027. PCC (factor IX complex) is a medication comprising blood clotting factors II, IX, and X, indicated for treating bleeding in patients with hemophilia B. This line of treatment offers a host of benefits, especially when compared to Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP), a leading anticoagulation-reversal therapy.

Industry Development:

August 2019: Octapharma AG announced the launch of its 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate, Pronativ, indicated to arrest and reverse surgical blood loss.





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Germany to Spearhead the Europe PCC Market; the UK to Display Promising Growth

Germany is anticipated to headline the Europe prothrombin complex concentrate market share during the forecast period owing to a large pool of patients suffering from congenital factor IX deficiency. In 2019, the countrys market size stood at USD 46.0 million. In the UK, on the other hand, the rising incidence of hemophilia B will be the principal growth driver for the countrys market. Further, the market in Scandinavia will be propelled by the strong presence and operations of CSL Behring in the region and the wide popularity of its prothrombin complex concentrate brand, Confidex.

The COVID-19 pandemic eruption has wreaked unprecedented havoc across nations, brought the world economy to a grinding halt, and has given rise to widespread uncertainty, anxiety, and panic across industries. Governments are taking the necessary steps to pull their countries out of this crisis, while private companies are exploring alternative strategies to survive these hard times. At Fortune Business Insights, we are striving to gain market intelligence to equip you with updated information and aid your efforts at wading through this crisis. We are offering precise market reports based on our expertise and experience in the field of market research.





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Increasing Geriatric Populations across Europe to Create Market Opportunities

An emerging factor driving the Europe prothrombin complex concentrate market growth is the rapidly aging populations across the continent. According to the latest data released by the UNs Population Division, nearly 25% of Europes people are aged 60 years and above. Moreover, the European Commission (EC) predicts that the proportion of people above the age of 80 in the EU-27 will increase from 5.8% to 14.6% between 2019 and 2100. Older persons are at a heightened risk of acute liver injury and also face increased susceptibility to the fibrotic response. Prothrombin complex concentrate has proven to be highly effective in treating patients with liver disease as they frequently develop coagulopathy.

A study conducted in 2019 by researchers from the Royal Free Hospital, London and University College London found that PCC therapy was effective in improving coagulation test results in patients with liver disease, without any excess thrombotic events. Such research studies proving the efficacy of PCC treatments, complemented by a rising number of older persons, will bolster the prospects of this market in Europe.





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List of Key Companies Profiled in the Europe Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Market Report:

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Tokyo, Japan)

Kedrion S.p.A (Lucca, Italy)

Grifols, S.A. (Barcelona, Spain)

Sanquin (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Octapharma AG (Lachen, Switzerland)

CSL Limited (Melbourne, Australia)





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Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Epidemiology of Coagulation Factor Deficiency  For Key Countries Recent Industry Developments  Partnerships, Mergers & Acquisitions Regulatory Scenario  For Key Countries Analysis in Relation to Alternatives to PCC PCC Market: Reimbursement Scenario & Key Industry Trends Impact of COVID-19 on Europe PCC Market

Europe Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2016-2027 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Product - By Value (US$, Mn) 3-factor PCC 4-factor PCC Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Application-By Value (US$, Mn) Acquired Coagulation Factor Deficiency Congenital Coagulation Factor Deficiency Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End User - By Value (US$, Mn) Hospitals Ambulatory Surgical Centers Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Country/Sub-region U.K. Germany France Italy Spain Scandinavia Rest of Europe

U.K. Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2016-2027 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Product - By Value (US$, Mn) 3-factor PCC 4-factor PCC Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Application-By Value (US$, Mn) Acquired Coagulation Factor Deficiency Congenital Coagulation Factor Deficiency Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End User - By Value (US$, Mn) Hospitals Ambulatory Surgical Centers Others







TOC Continued.!





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Wilton Manley Councilman, a Navy veteran and 41-year employee of Eveready Battery-Energizer, has completed his new book Slave Fuel: The Beginning: a gripping and potent tale of a man proving his alien abduction by replicating the Slave Fuel he made while enslaved.

Published by Page Publishing, Wilton Manley Councilmans captivating tale follows the narrator as he goes fishing with a friend one morning. On this routine fishing trip, the narrator is abducted by menacing aliens. While in the custody of his alien captors, the narrator is forced to work in the production of a new fuel source, created using seaweed.

After twenty years of captivity, the narrators memory is erased, and he is returned to his life. However, he has not physically aged a day, shocking his family and friends who had assumed he died twenty years earlier. When the narrators memory is restored through a freak stun gun incident, he remembers where he was for twenty years and the formula for the fuel he created while in captivity. To prove his story, he replicates the formula for the so-called Slave Fuel and begins to mass-produce it, challenging the insidious forces of big oil and starting a successful environmentally friendly fuel business in his small community.

Readers who wish to experience this mesmerizing work can purchase Slave Fuel: The Beginning 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.
A better world order is possible. Photo: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

To most on the U.S. left, globalization is a dirty word  the name of that Frankensteinian amalgam of forces that turned Americas industrial centers into Rust Belts, its trade unions into laughingstocks, and New Deal Democrats into anachronisms. And these associations are far from baseless. The model of trade liberalization that the United States pursued in the last quarter of the 20th century favored footloose capital over landlocked labor, financialization over industrial production, and, thus, the corporate wing of the Democratic Party over the progressive one.

For this reason, Blue Americas internal debates over trade policy have traditionally pitted progressive protectionists against moderate globalists. From the battle over NAFTA under Bill Clinton to the fight over the Trans-Pacific Partnership under Barack Obama, centrist free traders advocated for ever-greater economic integration, while labor-liberals championed economic nationalism with progressive characteristics (in 2016, Bernie Sanders condemned corporations who want to invest in low-income countries around the world rather than in the United States of America).

But since Donald Trumps election, the decline in comity between Washington and Beijing has softened these intra-Democratic divisions. In the face of Chinas growing economic power and political authoritarianism, many moderate Democrats have lost faith in free trade and have come to see industrial policy as a precondition for fortifying American global supremacy. Joe Bidens recent Cabinet appointments testify to this convergence of Establishment and left-wing Democrats on questions of global trade.

Not all progressives consider this a victory. In fact, some contend that Americas turn toward protectionism and great power competition will condemn its economy to long-term stagnation and humanity writ large to chronic geopolitical instability (if not world war).

Jake Werner is one such progressive. A historian of modern China, research fellow at Boston Universitys GDP Center, and co-founder of the organization Justice Is Global, Werner argues that a slowdown in global economic growth since the 2008 crisis has bolstered the nationalist right in countries across the world while fostering a spirit of zero-sum conflict between nations. In his analysis, the slowdown in growth is rooted in the negligible purchasing power of the worlds poor, which has prevented total consumer demand in the global economy from rising to meet total productive capacity. According to Werner, if Biden can do on a global scale what Franklin Roosevelt did on a national one  and revive growth by expanding gainful employment to the economically marginalized  then he can initiate a virtuous cycle of shared prosperity and progressive political advance. By contrast, if Biden leaves the root causes of global stagnation unaddressed, and opts to grow the U.S. economy at Chinas expense, he will strengthen reactionary forces both here and abroad. For the moment, Biden appears to be heading toward the latter path  and only the left can stop him.

Intelligencer spoke with Werner last week about his theory of global economic growth, vision of progressive globalization, and hopes for U.S.-China policy in the Biden era.

You frame progressive globalization as an alternative to both the free trade consensus of the 1990s and progressive economic patriotism. What do you think those paradigms get wrong?

Well, lets start with the free-trade consensus. Im not sure it got anything wrong, exactly  because its goal was not to achieve progressive ends but to secure profits for U.S. businesses, keep the economy growing, and consolidate support for the Democratic Party in key sectors of the economic elite. Or, put more broadly, the goal was to maintain stability in the global system. And it actually succeeded up until 2008. I dont think that the rhetoric about increasing openness and integration  or promoting liberalization and democratization and world peace  I dont think that rhetoric was a lie.

I think the people who organized free-market globalization believed that rhetoric. And I think that they had evidence to support that belief. The end of history ideology was right before it was wrong. We were progressing toward that neoliberal utopia  a single global market with democracy and human rights  right up until 2008.

What was the evidence for that progress?

If you take the core components of the idea, economic liberalization and political liberalization, both of those things were proceeding globally. And they were actually proceeding quite rapidly in China. The economic bit is uncontroversial. There was market opening and reform and a larger role for the private sector. But it was also true in the political realm. Obviously, China didnt democratize, but there was increasing space for labor activism and feminist activism. There was increasing tolerance for the work of human-rights lawyers and increasing intellectual freedom for journalists and academics.

The political repression never ended, but there was some opening. And then it shut down and went into reverse  incidentally, at the same time that political liberalization reversed in other nations around the world. Too much discussion of China focuses very narrowly on whats happening within its borders. But you cant understand Chinese development before 2008 without reference to the bigger picture of expanding free trade. And you cant understand whats happened since then without accounting for the ways that this model of globalization delegitimized itself. Economic liberalization brought political opening in China and elsewhere. But it also brought higher inequalities, both economic and social. It brought corruption and, eventually, declining opportunities for more and more people. These are not favorable conditions for political liberalization; theyre favorable conditions for authoritarianism. And as they materialized, we began to see a reactionary turn, both in China and around the world.

So, in your view, it wasnt Xi Jinpings assumption of power that knocked China off the road toward liberalization but rather the social inequities that the global trade regime fostered. Is that correct?

Yeah. I dont think theres any question that these trends started before Xi Jinping took power. He did really escalate it. So I dont want to say that he is irrelevant. But when you look at the history of neoliberalism in the United States, Americas economic model started to shift under Jimmy Carter, who oversaw financial deregulation, capital-gains-tax cuts, austerity. But then Ronald Reagan really ramped it up and consolidated these changes into a new system. I think you can make a similar distinction between the transition from Hu Jintao to Xi Jinping. But the direction was already starting to shift by 2008.

What makes you confident that the global economic system is the key driver of the nationalist rights advance in all of these disparate countries? A skeptic might note that the pattern isnt quite universal and that there are alternative explanations for why authoritarianism might gain strength simultaneously across nations. To take one example, some argue that demographic change is the key variable in the United States and much of Europe: Across the West, you have these societies that were long structured around white supremacy or colonialism seeing an unprecedented rise in the nonwhite or foreign-born share of the population. And this poses an inherent challenge to conceptions of national identity and social hierarchy that are prevalent among segments of the aging white electorate, which the political right can further cultivate and exploit. Why do you think that sort of story, or others rooted in demographic or cultural change at the national level, are insufficient to explain the reactionary turn?

I dont think the choice is between the local and the global. I think those are two sides of the same coin. The global, as a structure, is created and sustained through patterns of everyday life that are irreducibly local. But I think that it is just very hard to explain how it is that societies as different as China, the Philippines, India, Turkey, Poland, France, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Nigeria, among others, have seen a sharp populist shift along the same timeline.

The common denominator across national contexts has been a structural shift against elites, against the unevenness and inequality that has grown so sharply. In some contexts, that unevenness is getting interpreted as racial difference or cultural difference rather than as economic inequality  rather than as class difference. It can take a progressive or reactionary form. But what were seeing all over the world, in all these different countries, is a similar structural shift in politics and, underneath that, a change in sensibilities. And not just at the popular level. Elite sensibilities are changing too.

So whereas before, it was very natural for the elite in places like the United States and China to think about the economy as something that could be conceptually separated from other aspects of politics  such as national security  now, people all over the world are connecting those things and saying, No, actually, economic policy is defense policy. And thats happening more strongly at the elite level, actually, because its more relevant to their projects. There is a breakdown in the quality of common sense, in the framework for interpreting the world, which were seeing across the globe. And that leads me to believe that we need to conceptualize this as a disintegration of  or a transformation within  the global system rather than looking narrowly at individual countries.

That does not mean that there arent idiosyncrasies in individual nations. I mean, the nature of the neoliberal global system was that it generated unevenness: A place that is oriented around manufacturing for export, like China, is going to develop a different set of social relations than a place like the United States, which is oriented around finance, business services, corporate headquarters, and military supremacy. The economic order assigned nations different roles. And that difference is going to manifest socially and politically. But when we see these deep changes in political sentiments, and the way that people think about how the world works  and theyre parallel across all these radically different countries  I think we really need to be able to analyze that at the level of the global system.

So lets analyze it at that level. Youve described the unraveling of neoliberal globalization in broad terms. But could you say, more specifically, why that model of global growth proved unsustainable and how its unraveling has heightened tensions between the United States and China?

Sure. So, in the 90s through 2008, you had this very rapid increase in the growth of trade and foreign direct investment, and both of those were deeply connected to GDP growth at the country level. More and more countries were trying to figure out how to integrate themselves into the global system. And it wasnt just an economic desire; it was also a political, and even aesthetic, desire to be more and more cosmopolitan  to imitate what was considered to be the cutting edge in terms of culture, in terms of music, intellectual currents.

So everyone was going in the same direction. And that was undergirded by the fact that economic growth was very strong and integration was increasing. But as that growth was happening  and as people found a place for themselves within that system  there were also these pressures that were building up. Economically speaking, there was the fact that corporate profitability was built on suppressing wages. Which is effective for a while. But eventually the wage-suppression model hollows out the consumer market that it needs to absorb production. For a while, this hole was plugged by debt-financed consumption in the Global North along with debt-financed public spending by the governments of rich nations.

What happened in 2008 is that this debt bubble fell apart. Consumers became much more wary about taking on debt after the crisis. Public-debt crises rippled through Europe. And Japans long-term stagnation deepened. So these wealthy nations that had previously driven demand in the global economy all cut back their spending simultaneously. That has a major impact in the rich countries, of course, as everyday citizens no longer feel things are getting better. And that pessimism feeds on itself. It becomes self-fulfilling. People cut back spending because they anticipate a future of low growth, which helps to bring that future into being. So you get a cycle of unwinding that is the opposite of the cycle that was playing out when growth was strong.

The impact of that unwinding was mitigated by China, which poured money into the global economy through massive stimulus. Basically, China debt-finances this huge building spree of residential housing and government buildings. You get a huge expansion in a bunch of Chinese industries. As a result, even as the rich countries stagnated, China rapidly recovered. And it pulled much of the developing world up along with it, as it restored global demand for commodities like aluminum and copper.

All this fed into really sharp resentments of China in the rich countries. Because part of what the Chinese stimulus does is push foreign exporters and investors out of the market. And so these powerful, pro-integration interests in rich countries  their buy-in to Chinese growth starts to attenuate.

At the same time, the political elites, especially in the United States, become wracked with anxiety. Because they had really bought into the end-of-history ideology. And they thought everything was going their way, and America was going to be prosperous forever. Now the free-market ideology is discredited. The whole sense of security in the rightness and stability of American global leadership starts to falter. China becomes the focal point for these anxieties.

Meanwhile, Chinese elites are developing their own anxieties. In the immediate term, Beijing revives global growth, but this growth is built on a mountain of debt. And the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] leadership starts to fear that, at any moment, this huge debt bubble that is sustaining the growth in China could collapse. And social order and the partys grip on power could go down with it.

So in both the U.S. and China, elites are more and more insecure about their own status and power. And at a popular level, the ideology of globalization is discredited. People are naturally fed up with globalization. Nationalism, as its opposite, is the most obvious alternative. And nationalist sentiment also provides the raw material that elites can use to construct a new foundation for their own authority  and a new framework for reviving growth.

This has been a slow process. But it really seems like were heading in this nationalist direction. I think the way that Bidens team is talking about these things suggests as much. I think we are heading toward a world in which elites in the United States and China organize their political legitimacy and economic strategy around a framework of nationalist competition and zero-sum struggle in the global economy. And that terrifies me.

How do we get around that? What alternative model for global growth  and of U.S.-China relations  should American progressives be fighting for?

So, right now, the U.S. and China are stuck in a scarcity framework. And if we just accept scarcity, then it is natural to draw lines of conflict over whos going to survive and whos going to suffer. And those lines are liable to trace those of race or nationality or whatever. And it puts you into a toxic cycle of growing resentment along those lines.

But this does not have to be a zero-sum contest. If we bring people together behind public investment and job creation  if we can unite behind policies that bring global demand into alignment with global industrial capacity  then Chinese corporations and American corporations, U.S. workers and Chinese workers, and, importantly, the rest of the worlds workers can all benefit. The model of growth Im describing does not require social revolution; in the short term, at least, it has the potential to dampen class conflict by reducing the sense that either business owners or workers have to win, while the other has to suffer.

But what robust global growth does require is massive public investment in places like India, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Mexico. There are literally billions of people living off the scraps of the global economy. If you invest in them, they will become workers and consumers capable of supplying the demand necessary for the restoration of a high-growth global economy. But that entire Global South is just invisible in the discussions of U.S. elites. And Chinese elites, too. Because the Global South is weak. So it is ignored.

Eventually, it may come back on Washingtons radar as a venue for competition with China. If we continue on this path, we may get to the point where the Global South is seen as a worthy setting for proxy wars and mass death. But for now, its just totally excluded from strategic considerations.

The progressive approach requires foregrounding those who have been excluded and finding a way to bring them into the global economy. And if we did that, we would revive growth and ease the pressures that are steering us toward a great power conflict.

Would it be accurate to characterize this growth model as a globalized version of the New Deal paradigm, which aimed to restore growth by increasing the purchasing power of ordinary laborers?

Absolutely. It was the reforms of the New Deal, and the restructuring of corporate governance and labor rights during World War II, that created the middle class. Which is to say it created a new economic model in which growth was fueled by wage increases, improvements in labor conditions, and the integration of more people into society.

And this inclusive economy fostered non-zero-sum attitudes and thus social progress. As growth proceeded, it improved peoples living conditions, and that in turn created the foundation for a politics of inclusion. One reason why the civil-rights movement happened when it did is that this larger context of inclusive growth made it conceivable that everyone could be included  that gains for the marginalized groups would not necessarily come at the expense of dominant ones. And the sense that everyone could prosper fueled popular outrage over the fact that some were being arbitrarily excluded from prosperity. Obviously, that doesnt mean that struggles for racial justice automatically win under conditions of inclusive growth; theyre still struggles. But shared prosperity is the terrain on which battles for the entire range of democratizing, progressive reforms become winnable. Thats how things worked in the U.S. in the postwar period. Broadly speaking, thats how things worked all over the world. By contrast, in the neoliberal period of slow growth and middle-class decline, all those things became unthinkable. Even people who were sympathetic to such causes dismissed them as impractical.

So progressive globalization is the project of reestablishing this virtuous cycle of economic growth and social integration by scaling it up to the global level.

You sounded a pessimistic note about the Biden administration earlier. But in your account of how the neoliberal growth model broke apart, you suggested that a decline in consumer purchasing power and access to credit sapped demand and spurred stagnation. It seems to me that, on the domestic level, Bidens $1.9 trillion stimulus plan suggests that he shares some portion of your analysis.

Yes. I am borderline ecstatic about what were seeing out of the Biden administration in terms of domestic policy. I think it shows that the ideological strictures of the neoliberal period have completely broken down. And that means that its possible for us to start thinking about how we can reshape the economy through public investment in the way that we need to do  both to save the economy and, of course, to save the climate. And the Biden administrations early moves on climate change also look really great.

The problem, though, is that their vision is strongly oriented around national interest. Theres a lot of discussion about developing a foreign policy that works for the middle class, etcetera, but thats happening within this scarcity mind-set that aims to aid the American middle class at the expense of Chinese workers. I think thats going to fail both politically and economically. Politically, a climate of rising tensions between the U.S. and China is going to be favorable to right-wing forces who can ride jingoism to power and then dismantle the progressive economic project.

But even if that political analysis is wrong, a strictly national economic progressivism just wont be sustainable. Youll see a growth pickup in the short term, assuming that the pandemic comes under control. But to sustain growth in the long term, you need productivity increases. And theres not a lot of space in the U.S. economy to drive productivity increases. The U.S. is already a highly productive economy. The possibilities for productivity growth lie primarily in the Global South. Again, were talking about billions of people whose productivity is essentially zero because theyre shut out of the economy. If we want sustained growth in the United States, we need to invest in the places that have been starved of capital for the last 40 years, or 100 years, and get them contributing to the global economy. And if we do that, then everyone can succeed together. If we try to do it on an individual-nation basis, then were going to exhaust our growth prospects while fostering geopolitical conflicts that themselves stymie global growth.

One concrete way that America has been pursuing national growth at the expense of global growth is through the enforcement of U.S. firms intellectual-property claims. As youve noted, theres a pretty broad political consensus in favor of intellectual-property protectionism; even Bernie Sanders has criticized U.S. corporations for transferring our technology to China. And this has become a central tension in our geopolitical conflict with Beijing, as U.S. leaders lambast China for cheating in global trade. You argue that progressives should welcome such cheating, as Chinas violations of IP laws are better understood as attempts to break the monopoly of the rich countries on high-productivity techniques.

Thats right. And the reasons for this are twofold. First, theres the basic issue of values. I think being progressive means being committed to reducing inequality and improving the lives of those who are most vulnerable. If we take those values seriously, then we need to commit to global development as a human right. Which means we need to figure out a way to diffuse the technologies that are currently enabling a handful of rich countries to be massively wealthier than the vast majority of people in the world.

The stakes of making technology more transferable arent just economic; theyre literally life and death. Were seeing that right now with the pandemic. The Global South has a very limited capacity to produce vaccines, which is partly a product of intellectual-property laws stymieing its development. And then, where developing nations do have the capacity to produce vaccines, IP laws are preventing them from doing so. As a result, billions of people are going to continue to suffer from the pandemic, for the next year or more, because they were unable to break the rules of the global economy. So thats the values argument.

But theres also a very practical argument, which is that Chinas successful skirting of the intellectual-property regime is what allowed China to grow in wealth. And Chinas growing wealth has been the most important driver of growth in the global economy for the last 30 years. That growth hasnt just benefited people in China but also millions of U.S. workers who produce things for export, and universities in the U.S., and filmmakers in the U.S. All of these American industries would have faced stagnant demand if it hadnt been for the Chinese governments success in enriching their society through the violation of intellectual-property laws.

For many left-of-center China hawks in the U.S., the argument for attempting to defeat Beijing in a great power competition rests on the moral horrors of the CCPs governing model: its repression of political dissent, labor rights, and, above all, ethnic minorities. In recent days, reports have emerged that Chinese officials are systematically raping Uighur women imprisoned in forced labor camps as part of an open campaign of cultural genocide. Is prioritizing the avoidance of great power conflict compatible with using American power to combat the Chinese regimes illiberal policies in general, and atrocities against the Uighurs in particular?

I feel very pessimistic about the possibilities for changing things within China in the short term. I think theres no question that the United States, and anyone with humanity, should be condemning whats going on in Xinjiang against the Uighurs and other Muslims. It is a shocking and horrifying atrocity. I dont think there would be any reason to not condemn it in the harshest terms and pursue some of the measures that people have been advocating, such as strengthening protections against forced labor in corporate supply chains in the West.

But I think that, over the longer term, reshaping the global system in the way I describe would foster more democratic impulses within Chinese society. I dont want to say that U.S. hostility toward China is what has caused the reactionary turn in Chinese politics. The reactionary turn predates the ramp-up in U.S. hostility. But we can try to create conditions in which progressive forces in China have some space to push back. As long as the Cold War framework deepens, that space is going to get smaller and smaller. That doesnt mean we stay silent about atrocities. But U.S. pressure on human rights would be much more credible and effective if it werent associated with policies aimed at stifling Chinese economic development.

I feel like this gets at a core tension in your analysis. On the one hand, you oppose a framework of great power competition and champion a form of globalization that can allow everyone to win. On the other hand, you suggest that  under progressive globalization  Xi Jinping will lose. For the Democratic Party, an anti-authoritarian, pro-labor global system isnt just good for the world but conducive to its own political power. For the Chinese Communist Party, by contrast, such a system is a threat to the survival of its one party state. So why isnt the pursuit of such a a system not great power competition by another name?

Its a great question. There definitely is a tension there, but I dont think its an insuperable tension. Just ten years ago, the Chinese Communist Party saw an expanding sphere of independent political action as being perfectly compatible with its own security. I think that these changes would have to roll out relatively gradually, and if there were a sudden upsurge in popular resistance, that might lead to a crackdown. I think the key is to negotiate around issues that the Xi Jinping government sees as being in its interest and compatible with its projects.

For example, the party is now clearly committed to decarbonizing the economy. So theres going to be no problem trying to find common ground there. Labor rights will be more challenging. But the party is actually committed to increasing wages in the domestic economy and transitioning to a more consumption-driven model of growth. And that necessarily requires a certain level of improvement in the power of labor. If a raising of labor standards were implemented through official institutions, such as the All-China Federation of Trade Unions  a labor federation that is part of the party structure, and that nominally represents hundreds of millions of workers in China, but actually functions as a company union  that would create frictions in Chinese society. There would be conflicts between labor and management all over the place, probably. But it would also be in line with the partys large-scale economic goals. And if this happened gradually, it could change the landscape in a way that made the party feel a bit less threatened by democratization than it does now.

I dont want to offer panaceas or anything. But if were serious about democracy  democracy in China, democracy globally, and saving democracy in the U.S., as the Biden administration says it wants to do  then we have to ask, What conditions make democratization thinkable?

It doesnt happen through sanctions or invasions. Much of the U.S. foreign-policy elite has given up on democracy promotion because their preferred way of doing it  invading a country, overthrowing its government, and installing a regime sympathetic to U.S. interests  works poorly. But democratization, historically, has happened through the empowerment of the working class. And progressive globalization is the necessary framework for empowering workers in both the U.S. Rust Belt and in Chinas.
Mr. Modis decision to demonetize big denomination currencies has cast a spell of black magic on the entire political opposition, and even the high-minded and hypocritical parties, have been forced into a stance they would not have taken in normal times.

Completely distraught, they seem to have dropped their guard. Who could have expected them to oppose and thus be perceived by their constituents, to be openly in support of Black Money? The fact that UP elections are just round the corner did not help matters much. The violent opposition by all political parties to demonetization is not only due to the fact that it has immobilized the vast funds of black money parked with them; they suspect a larger political mischief to be at work. Not only have they been robbed of their money they have also been robbed of their agenda.

To assess the full impact of this decision let us first briefly summarize the nature of electoral politics as it has been practiced in India for quite some time. Electoral politics involves inflaming of passions to boiling point around elections which are occasions for trial of strength; voting becomes an act of vendetta. The mutual suspicion between the various factions and group formations, backward vs. forward castes, Dalits vs. Hindus, Hindus vs. Muslims - the entire population is worked up to a feverish pitch, only to cool down after normalcy returns.

The concept of the enemy has been vital to the whole electoral exercise. With the coming of the so called Hindutva government, it has become particularly bitter and vicious. Be it also said that both sides have shown equal zest to slug it out. Now we have strategists like Prashant Kishore, the wonder boy who has his ears close to the ground, who works with his team of hundreds of grass root workers who report the mood and the changing affiliations of the voters in every village on a real-time basis. With their cool heads and colder hearts these strategists apply principles of management on how best to fragment the society and devise winning combination of fractions.

As we all know, Mr. Modi has a troubled, problematic record as the CM of Gujarat. Yet his smooth and swift rise from untouchability to respectability has been watched with dismay, even horror, by those who feel threatened by it. The only weapon in their armoury has been to rake up the sediment of his historical past, and keep it alive as a never-fading frame of reference for all his present deeds and decisions. They feel that this move liberates Mr. Modi from the secularism-Hindutva binary trap where he has been cabined and confined. It has created a clear divergence of interest between two groups, one very large and the other very small. The very large group threatens to leapfrog the barriers created and nurtured by political enterprise as homogenous group rooting for Modi. How can you tether the eradication of black money programme to a communalist or any other divisive agenda? Once you step out of the realm of political concerns into the realm of the economic, you leave your pre-modern competitors clueless, breathless and bereft of ideas. This proposal, whatever its outcome, has captivated the hearts and minds of Indian people and as of now it promises to bring economic democracy one step nearer. Should it work, it would become a game changer.

Not only his detractors but his main support base of hard core Hindutva needs to be both wary and worried, because should he choose to break loose, he will have enough countervailing popular support to take the plunge. Mr. Modi is a populist spellbinder and a clever fabulist. His opponents say he is a conman, which isnt such a bad thing after all, for going places in politics today. For all you know, driving the agenda of anti-corruption, and the broad based support that it is likely to arouse, he may tap into that same area of human awareness which converts common clay into gold.

Fantasizing? In our times when everything is available except hope, fantasizing is a natural avenue of escape!

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
Classes in the Wilkes County Schools will start on Aug. 23 and end on May 25 in 2021-22 as a result of a calendar approved by the Wilkes Board of Education on Feb. 1.
FOREST CITY, Iowa  A Lake Mills man is sentenced in two Winnebago County drug cases.

Michael Lee Groe, 28, was first arrested on August 13, 2020, in Forest City. Authorities say he was caught with 9.1 grams of methamphetamine, 40 pills of alprazolam, and a grinder with marijuana residue in it. Groe was arrested again in Leland on October 21, 2020, and accused of having meth and marijuana oil in his possession.

Groe pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of meth and failure to use a drug tax stamp. Hes been sentenced to three to five years of supervised probation and must follow all substance abuse treatment recommendations.

Groe has also pleaded guilty to possession of meth in Worth County. He was arrested on December 2, 2020, after a traffic stop where law enforcement said it found methamphetamine in his vehicle. No sentencing date has been set in that case.

Massachusetts already requires a negative COVID test for people traveling in and out of the state. The federal governments is considering a similar measure for all domestic air travel.

In an interview with Axios, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said President Joe Bidens administration is discussing with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the possibility of requiring negative tests for domestic air travel.

Theres an active conversation with the CDC right now, Buttigieg told Axios. What I can tell you is, its going to be guided by data, by science, by medicine, and by the input of the people who are actually going to have to carry this out.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said on Monday that screening US travelers for COVID could be helpful, according to CNN.

In January, the CDC announced similar measures for international passengers flying to the United States. Passengers arriving from a foreign country must get tested no more than three days before their flight departs. A negative test result or documentation showing recovery from COVID-19 must be presented to the airline before boarding the flight.

The order took effect on Jan. 26.

Air travel continues to operate at a small percentage of what the capacity from 2019. In 2019 and 2020, more than 2 million passengers passed through TSA checkpoints in the United States on Feb. 7 and 8.

On the same two days this year, though, a little more than 850,000 passengers were screened by TSA.

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100% control of Fusarium wilt TR4 disease at economic rates as low as 5 gal/acre (49 L/ha).

National State of Emergency declared in Colombia in 2019.

Fusarium wilt TR4 is existential threat to the $25 billion global banana industry.

MustGrow advancing to field study trials.

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) -MustGrow Biologics Corp. (CSE: MGRO) (OTCQB: MGROF) (FSE: 0C0) (the "Company", "MustGrow") is pleased to announce further laboratory results of its mustard-derived natural biopesticide on the disease Fusarium wilt TR4 ("Fusarium wilt TR4"). Fusarium wilt TR4 (previously referred to as the Panama Disease) is a devastating pathogen ravaging the $25 billion global banana industry. Testing and reporting in this second Colombia study was completed by a different third party independent laboratory than was used in the first study to add further validation.

MustGrow's safe and effective natural biopesticide is plant-based - harnessing the mustard seed's natural defense mechanism to control diseases, pests, and weeds.

Highlights:

100% control as low as 5 gal/acre (49 L/ha);

Confirmation of economical rates in laboratory;

Field study trials to commence.

Fusarium wilt TR4 samples were treated with MustGrow's mustard-based liquid biopesticide at various low-rate applications which demonstrated 100% control, and also potential economical proficiency if extrapolated to a plantation field scenario. 100% control was achieved at economic rates as low as 5 gal/acre (49 L/ha) within a 3 day testing period. In comparison, control samples (without MustGrow's product) showed Fusarium wilt TR4 was still vibrant and growing. These results further strengthen MustGrow's body of work in Colombia as preparation accelerates for its highly-anticipated field studies.

On Dec. 1, 2020, MustGrow announced it had successfully controlled (100% kill) Fusarium wilt TR4 definitively in a laboratory setting - a unique feat MustGrow believes no other agri-science team has achieved. MustGrow's cumulative laboratory work has reaffirmed its approach to simultaneously pursue a potential "fast-track" registration in Colombia. Additionally, MustGrow believes its work in Colombia will serve as a beachhead to expand into other leading banana producing countries.

Colin Bletsky, COO of MustGrow, commented, "With this additional efficacy confirmation, we are very excited about the opportunity to potentially help the banana industry manage this devastating disease. Reproduction of the same positive results through yet another independent laboratory has further validated our approach. With a more defined dose response, we are now ready to commence field testing with deeper refinement of our study design."

Fusarium wilt TR4

Fusarium wilt TR4 is the world's most destructive banana disease, affecting particularly Cavendish bananas, which comprise half of global banana production. Currently, there are no effective treatments for infected banana plantations, with the disease remaining viable in soil for decades and can cause 100% yield loss. The spread of Fusarium wilt TR4 through banana plantations in South America has prompted Colombia to reportedly declare a National State of Emergency, enacting special measures to stop the disease from spreading, including the preventive eradication of infected plantations. A flurry of media reports has followed, revealing a race to save bananas from extinction after the disease has left a trail of scorched banana plantations in its wake.

About MustGrow

MustGrow is a publicly traded (CSE: MGRO) (OTC: MGROF) (FSE: 0C0) agriculture biotech company focused on providing natural science-based biological solutions for high value crops, including fruits & vegetables and other industries. MustGrow has designed and owns a U.S. EPA-approved natural solution that uses the mustard seed's natural defence mechanism to protect plants from pests and diseases. Over 110 independent tests have been completed, validating MustGrow's safe and effective signature products. The product, in granule format, is EPA-approved across all key U.S. states and by Health Canada's PMRA (Pest Management Regulatory Agency) as a biopesticide for high value crops such as in fruit & vegetables. MustGrow has now concentrated a mustard extract in liquid format, TerraMG, and with regulatory approval, could be applied through standard drip or spray equipment, improving functionality and performance features. In addition, this mustard-derived technology could have other applications in several different industries from pre-plant soil treatment to post harvest disease control and food preservation.

The Company has approximately 42.0 million basic common shares issued and outstanding and 50.6 million shares fully diluted. For further details please visit www.mustgrow.ca.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Corey Giasson"

Director & CEO

Phone: +1-306-668-2652

info@mustgrow.ca

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect the results, performance or achievements of MustGrow.

Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved".

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of MustGrow to differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, MustGrow.

These risks are described in more detail in MustGrow's Prospectus and other continuous disclosure documents filed by MustGrow with the applicable securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com. Readers are referred to such documents for more detailed information about MustGrow, which is subject to the qualifications, assumptions and notes set forth therein.

This release does not constitute an offer for sale of, nor a solicitation for offers to buy, any securities in the United States.



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.

 2021 MustGrow Biologics Corp. All rights reserved.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73949


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President Joe Biden will fly to Wisconsin next week for a primetime CNN town hall meeting, his first work trip out of Washington since taking office

Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Feb, 2021 ) :President Joe Biden will fly to Wisconsin next week for a primetime CNN town hall meeting, his first work trip out of Washington since taking office.

The White House said Biden would go to Milwaukee on February 16. CNN announced that the question-and-answer session with ordinary Americans would take place at 8:00 pm (0100 GMT Wednesday).

The White House did not immediately give details of the trip but CNN indicated that the town hall would cover Biden's main agenda of trying to stop the out-of-control coronavirus pandemic and "jumpstart a troubled economy."Biden, who has made adherence to rules on social distancing and cutting travel a hallmark of his presidency, has only left the Washington area once since being sworn in on January 20 -- a trip last weekend to his home in Delaware.
Celebrities will bring all boys and girls to the yard, they say. If you build a roster of big names, people will come and help. Lets hope the powers of Seinfeld and Shakespeare in Love can bring some healing to a global benefit for Hadassah hospitals.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Jason Alexander will be on hand to support Israel hospitals, who are currently getting overrun by another COVID-19 spike. The gala event, Coming Together to Heal Our World: A Global Benefit for Hadassah Hospitals, will take place on Feb. 21, kicking off at 1 pm. eastern standard time. The livestream benefit kicks off at 1:30 p.m. EST. The event is by invite only, so dont waste any time in finding your spot.

here. A VIP sponsor ticket requests a donation of $36,000, bringing you photo ops with the celebrities, inclusion in post-event montages, a half-page in an e-book, and donor recognition at the Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem, there are other ways to access and attend the event. A simple livestream benefit ticket costs $180, while a Friend Sponsor ticket gets you listed on the Hadassah website following the event and costs $360. There are other levels available. Just know this all benefits the hard workers currently in hospitals fighting a virus that isnt letting up. You can find all the price levels right

Along with Paltrow and Alexander, other celebrities onhand include: Ben Platt (The Politician), Lior Raz (from Fauda), Brad Falchuk (Glee), Michael R. Bloomberg, Kelli OHara, Kate Burton (Greys Anatomy), and a special performance from the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra.

You may not know this, but the Hadassah Hospitals in Jerusalem have been up to the challenge of every COVID-19 related challenge, including medical diagnosis, comprehensive treatment, rehabilitation, and bench to bedside research. They just need a little help. Instead of merely writing a check or clicking submit payment on a website, you can participate in a global event whose sole purpose is to help people climb over this very tall pandemic wall. If you think its been hard on you, just imagine the people in hospitals across the world, where support can be lacking, who are trying to save lives. This is a fun, interactive way to help good people do the best work.

Marvel and Seinfeld fans should be in. Can you imagine climbing on the phone with Alexander, and hearing the neurotic craziness in George Constanzas voice again. Its as priceless as a random helping hand.
In the next several hours, Massachusetts residents can expect to see snow lining their streets.

According to the National Weather Service, as much as 6 to 8 inches of snow will fall across the state Tuesday morning through the evening, with forecasters warning of hazardous driving conditions spurred by the fast-moving winter storm that has already led to school closures and remote learning schedules.

Ahead of the snowstorm, the federal agency issued a winter storm warning for the Pioneer Valley, Worcester County, the Merrimack Valley and the North Shore, where the highest snowfall amounts are predicted.

For much of the rest of the state - including the Berkshires, Greater Boston and nearly all of Southeastern Massachusetts - around 4 to 6 inches is expected, according to forecasters.

Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. The worst conditions are expected during the evening commute, the weather service noted. Slow down and use caution while traveling.

Widespread accumulating snow across southern New England today into tonight. Hazardous travel expected especially for the afternoon commute. Heaviest snowfall between 2-7 PM. #mawx #riwx #ctwx pic.twitter.com/gp1Qcf0nMe  NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) February 9, 2021

The weather services maps show snow from the west-to-east-moving storm started falling as early as 6 a.m. in the Berkshires. The Pioneer Valley will begin to see the winter precipitation around 8 a.m., Worcester County 9 a.m., Greater Boston 11 a.m. and the Cape and Islands 1 p.m.

The agency noted snow from the quick-hitting weather event will fall at rates of up to an inch per hour at times, with reduced visibility expected to develop on roadways by the middle of the afternoon.

In the morning, snowfall should be on the light side. However, by the afternoon and into the evening, the winter precipitation should intensify and become moderate to briefly heavy along and north of the Massachusetts Turnpike, according to forecasters.

Its in this timeframe when conditions should deteriorate, the weather service said.

Although there is some level of uncertainty surrounding the positioning of any bands of winter precipitation, reduced visibility and snowfall rates of an inch per hour associated with Tuesday evenings bands are a recipe for very difficult travel during such a high-traffic period, according to the agency.

Conditions will improve from west to east by nighttime, with snow tapering off between 8 and 10 p.m., officials said.

Snow should stop falling throughout the state by late evening or early nighttime, ending earlier the more west one is. The winter precipitation is forecast to end as early as 5 p.m. in the Berkshires, 6 p.m. in the Pioneer Valley and Worcester Counter, 7 p.m. in Eastern Massachusetts and 8 p.m. on the Cape and in other coastal areas, according to meteorologists.

By the time the snowstorm comes to a halt, around 4 to 6 inches of snow will have fallen across most of Greater Boston, forecasters said. Amounts may vary close to the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border and the southeastern portion of the state.

While Lawrence and Newburyport may see up to 8 inches of snow, Foxborough and Plymouth will receive closer to 3 to 4 inches. The Cape wont see more than 4 inches, according to officials.

Looking at Central Massachusetts, 4 to 6 inches of snow should fall south of the Mass. Pike, while communities north of the highway and Worcester can expect 6 to 8 inches, according to the weather service.

Further west, up to 6 inches of snow is expected to fall in the Springfield area and the Berkshires. In Franklin and Hampshire Counties, 6 to 8 inches of snow is expected.

Related Content:
Seoul, Feb 9 : The number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus variants in South Korea has increased to 80, after 26 people tested positive on Tuesday, health authorities said.

Among the newly confirmed cases, 22 were imported while the remaining four were locally transmitted, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

Out of the combined variant cases, 64 came from Britain, 10 from South Africa and six from Brazil each, reports Xinhua news agency.

The three variants are believed to be more transmissible than the original one.

Passenger flights from the UK has been banned from entering South Korea since December 23, 2020.

The ban has been extended till February 11.

All entrants from foreign countries are required to take two tests before being free from the two-week self-quarantine and to offer papers showing negative test results within 72 hours of departure for South Korea.

South Korea reported 303 new Covid cases on Tuesday, raising the total number of infections to 81,487.
The Presidency yesterday declared that it was not lobbying the Senate for the confirmation of the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin (rtd) and other erstwhile service chiefs as non-career Ambassadors.

President Muhammadu Buhari had last week forwarded to the Senate the name of Olonisakin alongside Lt. Gen. Tukur Y. Buratai (rtd), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (rtd), and Air Vice Marshal Mohammed S. Usman (rtd), for confirmation as non-career Ambassadors.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare, told journalists yesterday that the Presidency has no intention to lobby the Senate as it commences the screening of the non-career Ambassadors today (Tuesday).

He, however, stressed that there is nothing wrong with lobbying which is part of a normal democratic system.

His words: "I am not aware of any lobbying going on but if there is lobbying going on for erstwhile service chiefs to pass I sincerely think it is in order; it is not an aberration; it's not a transgression, it's not a sign for lobbying to occur".

The SSA said lobbying is a two-way thing in democracy with the executive lobbying the legislature and vice versa.

"You cannot achieve anything if you don't talk to each other. Yes, a lot of people will tell you that the parliament is the watchdog of the executive; yes, but you can hardly achieve anything without collaboration and coordination, negotiation. Even private members bill if you want your bill to pass you will try your best to talk to your colleagues to pass your bill.

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"So, there is no problem with lobbying, the executive lobbies legislators 24 hours seven days of the week, the same way the legislators lobby the Presidency same way. If you have a private members bill and you sit in your office and you think the President will assent to it without you lobbying you are making a mistake because after all section 58 of the constitution gives the President the power to either sign or withhold the assent subject to upturning of his veto by the parliament with twobthird of the majority votes", the presidential aide explained.

On his part, speaking on the erstwhile service chiefs scaling, the Senate hurdle, the Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, said:

"Communications for the confirmation would be read hopefully by the Senate president tomorrow and whatever happen we will pass it on to the committee on foreign affairs and then the committee on foreign affairs will now do its deliberation.

"I am not one under this situation to preempt whatever the committee is going to decide because the committee is made up of several responsible and experienced senators who have also been ambassadors themselves so they will know exactly what are required for people to be appointed as ambassadors to represent the country in whatever country.
Children in Amber Alert found safe near Mitchell

The missing children were recovered and are safe, according to the Davison County Sheriff's Office.
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 has been arrested after a seven-hour siege with police that blocked off a suburban street and terrified neighbours.

Police were called to Universal Street in Eastlakes shortly before 9am on Tuesday after concerns were raised for the welfare of a man.

They suspected the man had a gun, sparking a massive police response.

The area was swarmed by dozens of officers who searched homes before they located the man in an apartment in a nearby street seven hours later.

Shocked residents in the street were warned to stay indoors while specialist officers including the tactical operations unit and police negotiators spoke to the man.

Universial Street in Eastlakes was blocked off for much of Tuesday by several police vehicles

The dog and riot squads and two police helicopters were also involved in the operation, which ended just after 4pm following the arrest of the man.

'The man surrounded peacefully without any issues,' South Sydney Acting Superintendent Sean Heaney told reporters.

'As investigations to locate the man continued we were satisfied he was in possession of a firearm.

'We narrowed him down to a unit complex in Maloney Street and called on him to surrender and come out of the unit, which he did without fanfare.'

Police continue to search the unit for the firearm.

Superintendent Heaney thanked the community for the patience during the police operation.

The police dog squad (pictured) was also called in to assist with the seven hour operation

Specialist officers spent seven hours searching the area before the man was found in a unit

The 29-year-old man was taken to Mascot Police Station where he's being questioned by officers.

No charges have yet been laid.

The incident shocked neighbours in the usually quiet street.

'A friend of mine who lives on the street tried to leave to go to the gym and police said 'you can't leave,' Lisa Florence told NCA NewsWire.

'I've lived here for 20 years and nothing like this has ever happened.'

Residents were warned to stay in their homes as specialist police including the dog squad searched the street.
NBC News- The Senate voted Tuesday to proceed with the impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump, with six Republicans joining all Democrats.

The 56-44 vote rejects an argument from Trump's lawyers that it is unconstitutional to try a former president.

Trump's second impeachment trial kicked off earlier Tuesday afternoon with a jarring video montage of the devastating events of the Capitol riots, forcing the chamber of senators to relive some of the most intense moments from Jan. 6.

Following a quick procedural vote on an organizing resolution dictating the structure of the trial, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the Democrats' lead impeachment manager, announced in his initial remarks that the case against Trump "is based on cold, hard facts."

Raskin, after telling lawmakers that they would not hear "extended lectures" from him, then played a devastating 20-minute video reel featuring the most intense moments from the Jan. 6 unrest.

The video showed rioters smashing windows and overrunning barriers until they breached the Capitol building hurling expletives at Capitol Police officers and stalking down lawmakers still in the chamber.

Footage of the rioters was interspersed with scenes of Trump encouraging his supporters while speaking at the Jan. 6 rally and in footage posted to Twitter.

The former president can be heard telling his supporters that "we will stop the steal," and falsely claiming that "we won this election," before telling them, "We're going to walk down to the Capitol" and telling them, "youll never take back our country with weakness." In the video posted to Twitter, Trump tells his supporters, who at the time were still wreaking havoc, that he loves them and they are "very special."

The riots left five people dead, including a Capitol Police officer. Another two officers died by suicide in the weeks after the violence.

Twitter eventually flagged Trump's tweets for spreading false election claims and posing "a risk of violence."

The sounds of the montage echoed through the chamber, filling the air with the haunting chants and screams of the mob. When the video concluded, the room was silent.

Raskin, resuming his remarks, then said Trump was responsible for the historic destruction of the Capitol.

"You ask what a high crime and misdemeanor is under our Constitution? That's a high crime and misdemeanor," he said. Brimming with emotion, Raskin later recalled some of the moments from the riot that moved him the most, including seeing images and reports of violence that included rioters in Trump paraphernalia shoving and punching Capitol Police officers, gouging their eyes and beating them with flagpoles.

"This cannot be the future," said he, holding back tears.

Impeachment managers then proceeded with debate over the constitutionality of the trial. Tuesday's debate was expected to take up to four hours.

Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., another impeachment manager, outlined Democrats' legal justification for trying a former president, saying the Senate had both a legal and ethical obligation to hear the case.

"If Congress were just to stand completely aside in the face of such an extraordinary crime against the republic, it would invite future presidents to use their power without any fear of accountability," Neguse said. "Presidents can't inflame insurrection in their final weeks and then walk away like nothing happened."

Trump's defense began with a meandering, nearly hour-long speech from lawyer Bruce Castor that did not address the crux of the House managers' arguments  particularly those related to the constitutionality of the trial.

Castor condemned the actions of rioters but said that Trump should not be held accountable for his language because of the First Amendment. He said it was the defense's belief that politicians should be able to say just about anything without fear of consequence.

Castor also noted that he had not rebutted the House manager's arguments, telling senators that the legal team does have responses they would soon hear. The attorney suggested that the former president's legal team was caught off guard by the House managers' presentation, noting they believed the day's proceedings would focus solely on jurisdictional questions.

"I'll be quite frank with you, we changed what we were going to do on the count that we thought the House managers' presentation was well done," he said, before handing over to David Schoen, another member of the Trump legal team.

Schoen followed with a presentation focused on the constitutionality of the trial that decried cancel culture, invoked the Civil War and warned the trial "puts the institution of the presidency at risk."

"They tell us that we have to have this impeachment trial such as it is to bring about unity. But they don't want unity. And they know this so-called trial will tear this country in half," he said. "This trial will tear this country apart, perhaps like we have only seen once before in our history."

He also played a video showing Democrats calling for Trump's impeachment in previous years.

Earlier Tuesday, a senior aide on the impeachment manager team said the case that House Democrats had built against Trump in his second impeachment trial would resemble a "violent crime criminal prosecution"  a plan the eye-popping video opening appeared to corroborate.

In their presentation this week, the managers will attempt to show that Trump spent weeks laying the groundwork for the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, and that after he saw what was happening "he incited it further," an aide said.

Trump is the first president to be impeached twice by the House, and he will be the first former president to be put on trial in the Senate.

After the arguments on constitutionality, the Senate will vote on whether to proceed  a measure that needs only a simple majority and is expected to pass. That will set the stage Wednesday for the Senate to start consideration of the "incitement of insurrection" article of impeachment.

While 45 Republican senators voted last month in favor of a measure that argued the proceedings were unconstitutional, some of them said they simply wanted a debate on the issue so their vote may not indicate how they view the issue.

Speaking at a news conference Tuesday morning, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., urged his Republican colleagues to "pay careful attention to the evidence" and dismissed calls from some of them to forgo a trial.

When you have such a serious charge, sweeping it under the rug will not bring unity; it will keep the sore open, and the wounds open, Schumer said. "The Senate has a solemn responsibility to try to hold Donald Trump accountable for the most serious charges ever, ever levied against a president."

Opening arguments are expected to begin at noon on Wednesday, with House managers going first, followed by the attorneys for the president.

Each side will have 16 hours to make their presentations  shorter than the 24 hours allotted for Trump's first trial and then-President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial.

The expectation is that Trump's defense team will most likely not use their full 16 hours, according to two sources familiar with the legal strategy. This is subject to change but reflects the current thinking and outward optimism from the Trump lawyers heading into the trial. The sources believe that House impeachment managers will use all of their allotted time.

The trial is expected to last into the weekend and next week, and each trial day is expected to take roughly eight hours  meaning it would go until at least 8 p.m. ET most days, but later if they take breaks.

When opening arguments are done, senators will be able to question the two sides for four hours by submitting written questions to Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the president pro-tempore of the Senate who will preside over trial and who will read them aloud.

The managers could then have a debate and a vote on calling witnesses or subpoenaing documents. If that does not happen, the two sides would move on to closing arguments, which would last a total of four hours, and then vote on whether to convict.


US President Joe Bidens Secretary of State Tony Blinken and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan believe that China poses the "greatest long-term national security threat to the United States," Republican Rep. Michael McCaul told Fox News after speaking with the officials, but McCaul said they will have a "different approach" to China than the Trump administration, Fox News reported.

McCaul, the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives, during an interview with Fox News, described his conversations with Blinken and Sullivan.

"When I spoke to Secretary of State Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, they both told me that they believe China poses the greatest long-term national security threat to the United States," McCaul said.

During an interview on MSNBC earlier this month, Blinken said there is "no doubt that China poses the most significant challenge" to the US, but he said the Biden administration must approach China "from a position of strength, not weakness."

Top Trump administration officials had also signaled warnings about the threat China poses to the US, including former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe in December, who said China is "the greatest national security threat that we face" on a range of issuesincluding militarily, economically, supply chain issues, technologically, cyber issues and 5G telecommunications.

McCaul raised concerns that the Biden administration wants "to be more open to China," pointing to Bidens move to rejoin the Paris climate accord.

"I worry that they may soften on China to get certain things from them and open up more to China to get them to make concessions when it comes to the Paris Climate Accord," McCaul explained. "I would think, though, that would be a weakening of our foreign policy position toward the Chinese Communist Party."

"Trump was the first president in my lifetime to really stand up to the Chinese Communist Party, and it got their attention," he said.
Law enforcement personnel and first responders gather outside of the Allina Health clinic in Buffalo, Minn., on , Feb. 9, 2021. (David Joles/Star Tribune via AP)

Minnesota Shooting at Health Clinic Leaves Multiple People Injured: Officials

Update: One person is dead and four are injured in the shooting as of late Tuesday. All five people were rushed to the hospital following the shooting. Of the four injured, three are in stable but critical condition and the other person has been discharged from the hospital.

Original article below:

Several people were injured in a shooting incident at a health clinic in Minnesota, said officials on Tuesday.

Police said that shots rang out at around 10:55 a.m. local time at the Allina Health Clinic in Buffalo, Minnesota, according to reports.

Kelly Prestidge, an office manager for the Buffalo Police Department, told The Associated Press that a person who may have been the shooter was taken into custody. She did not reveal the number of people who were shot or if anyone was killed.

#BREAKING @ATFStPaul is in route to a healthcare facility in Buffalo, Minnesota, after reports of an active shooter situation. No further details are available at this time. pic.twitter.com/YVZegzbGr4  ATF St. Paul (@ATFStPaul) February 9, 2021

Emergency dispatchers said that as many as five people were injured, reported the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Emergency dispatch audio said that a bomb went off about 30 minutes later.

We just had a bomb go off in the clinic, dispatch audio said. Theyre evacuating the clinic parking lot, so were going to go stage back at the child-care center we originally staged at.

Local schools have been placed on lockdown, officials told Bringmethenews.com. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) are responding to the scene.

Allina Health, which is based in Minneapolis, owns or operates 12 hospitals and more than 90 clinics in Minnesota, says the companys website.
Maputo  The trial of three people, a man and two women, accused of involvement on the kidnapping of businessman Manish Cantilal, could not begin on Monday, as scheduled, because the defence lawyers abandoned the courtroom.

The case is to be held in the seventh section of the Maputo city court, and the judge, Efigenio Baptista, postponed the start of the trial to 15 February. The defence lawyers justified their walkout on the grounds of a lengthy delay in the start of proceedings (because the vehicle bringing the accused from prison was late), but the judge described their behavior as "not normal".

Baptista also revealed that the lawyers wanted the trial moved from Maputo to the neighbouring city of Matola. He threw this request out: since Cantilal had been kidnapped on Ho Chi Minh Avenue, in the heart of Maputo, it was clear that the Maputo City Court had jurisdiction.

Manish Cantilal was kidnapped on 18 February 2020. Footage broadcast by the Miramar television station suggested that, at around 23.00, the victim had just parked his vehicle, when a group of four or more people, all masked, entered the parking garage. Video from another angle showed Cantilal being bundled moments later into the kidnappers' car. The abduction consummated, they left the scene at high speed.

Manish Cantilal became well known in April 2014, when he was arrested and charged with being the mastermind behind four kidnappings in Maputo. Later that year the Maputo city court restored him to freedom.

Cantilal spent 92 days as a prisoner of the kidnap gang. He was rescued by the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) from the house in Matola where the kidnapers had held him.

One of those arrested in connection with another kidnapping told SERNIC where Cantilal was being kept. But when the police arrived they found Cantilal tied up and alone. His captors had fled.
LIMA, Peru and BEIJING, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In November, Promperu launched new superfood and national brand promotion activities in China, culminatingA December 1st, when Chinese consumers couldA purchase original Peruvian products on JD.COM.

During the first event, on November 28th, solar eclipse critic Dai Tata, space and food explorer Brian Tan, and well-known chef Eduardo Vargas linked upA in theA the Gourmet Library toA live-stream. The public encountered a display of foods, such as quinoa,A avocado,A blueberries, white prawns and other superfoods. But also, high-altitude coffee and piscoA specialties.

The main featured dish in the live-streamA was a new take on the classic paella. Reinvented with quinoa and prawn fried rice to suit the Chinese consumers. Nowadays, quinoa is also recognised as one of the most nutritious foods in the world.

On December 4th, the second live-stream of Peru's national brand promotion took place. Travel expert Shenwei shared his fascinatingA personal experiencesA whileA traveling inA Peru. A country rich in culture and food.

On the same dayA the Peruvian Export and Tourism Promotion Committee cooperated with the Shanghai landmark Oriental Pearl onA a ten-day "Discover Peruvian Flavor" activity at the Oriental Pearl's 267-meter revolving restaurant. The restaurant presentedA Peruvian cuisine made with Peruvian superfood ingredients to the audience.

In addition, 12 screens around the Plaza of the Oriental Pearl Tower and the large LED screen on the top of the old Shanghai No. 8 restaurant have shown multiple images of Peruvian national brands. Moreover, 38 pictures of Peru's export products and tourist destinations was displayed on the 4-meter ring corridor in the Oriental Pearl Tower.

AA Peruvian promotional film was also displayedA throughoutA 16 subway lines and 58,000 mobile TV screens of 9,500 buses in Shanghai. The film helpedA the public, through images, toA understand the customs of Peru.

The Peruvian government and the Peruvian Export and Tourism Promotion CommitteeA finally invited the famous Eduardo Vargas to continue live streaming under the theme "Discovering the flavour of Peru" in Yu Carden. Peruvian cuisine can become more approachable for the average consumer.

2021 is the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Peru and China. From the beginning of the year, Promperu will continue featuringA stories about Peru and the A ancient Inca Empire to Chinese people.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 13:22:54|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- At a store of e-commerce giant Alibaba's retail platform Freshhema in Beijing's Daxing District, deliveryman Liu Shucai was seen nimbly stacking boxes of fruit, vegetables and meat on his motorbike.

After securing his load, Liu started his motorbike and sped forward.

"This is my 30th order of the day, which can be delivered in about 10 minutes," said Liu.

Liu, 41, from the city of Wuchang in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, has been in Beijing for 10 years. In March last year, Liu chose to join Freshhema as a deliveryman, delivering goods within a 3 km radius of the store.

After the outbreak of COVID-19, people were advised to avoid going out to reduce the risk of infection, and the delivery demand increased sharply.

"When the epidemic situation was serious, deliverymen were most needed," said Liu.

At 6:30 a.m. every day, Liu arrives at the store to begin his work -- receiving orders and then delivering packages to customers. After delivering a maximum of 100 orders in a day, he usually finishes work at 7 p.m.

Last June, shortly after Liu began his job, many communities were put under lockdown management due to a resurgence of COVID-19 cases at the Xinfadi wholesale market in Beijing, and Liu felt an obligation to continue his work as a deliveryman.

At that time, he would call customers to ask whether he should place their goods in their communities' temporary storage facilities.

If he was about to come into face-to-face contact with customers, he would remind them to wear masks downstairs, and disinfection measures would also be taken to ensure safety when goods were handed over.

"We worked harder than usual so that people could avoid going out and have stable supplies during the epidemic," said Liu.

During that time, frontline delivery workers like Liu were equipped with ample protective supplies from their companies and the local government, including disposable gloves, alcohol disinfectant, disposable gels, goggles and masks.

Liu was touched by customers' understanding and help in these hard times. When delivering orders, customers often gave him N95 masks and sometimes hot soup. Once when it was raining, a customer called him and told him to take it easy, asking him to deliver the goods when the rain stopped.

Having provided his delivery service in the same area for months, Liu has become familiar with many local residents and established good relationships with them. "I have delivered orders to one customer more than 20 times and the customer now recognizes me quickly and treats me warmly," Liu said.

"Every time I deliver orders to customers, I feel like I am sending goods to my family members," Liu added.

Two weeks ago, Liu received a free COVID-19 vaccination, and will receive his second shot before the Spring Festival. "The vaccine is a protection for both our delivery workers and our customers," he said.

This year, Liu has chosen to stay in Beijing with his wife and children during the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year which falls on Feb. 12. In addition to a triple salary stipulated by the government, he will receive extra subsidies from his company for delivering goods during the festival.

"I will call and send my greetings to my parents in my hometown over Spring Festival. They understand my work and encourage me to stay in Beijing," he said. "The holiday is very important, but safety is even more important under the epidemic situation."

"I hope my family members stay healthy, and that I can earn more money to bring us better lives," said Liu. Enditem

A teenage driver will not be charged with the murder an unborn child killed when his parents were struck crossing an intersection on Australia Day.

But police have laid an extra eight charges against the teenager accused of killing Kate Leadbetter, 31, Matthew Field, 37, and their unborn son, Miles, who were laid to rest in Brisbane on Monday.

Matthew Field and Kate Leadbetter, and their unborn son Miles, are laid to rest in Brisbane.

The 17-year-old male is accused of running a red light in a stolen four-wheel-drive, crashing into a tow truck then rolling the vehicle and ploughing into the couple.

He has been charged with a string of serious offences, including two counts of murder, relating to the deaths of Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field.
Brian Wilson, a writer and a resident of Florida, an owner of bait and tackle shops, has completed his new book Clydes Corner: a fancy read that chronicles Clydes adventures with Warner as they head out to discover what lies beyond the safety of their homes and take a journey towards being brave and facing the unexpected.

Wilson writes, The first in a series of adventures about Clyde the Green Fish comes Clydes corner. Clyde is a young green fish that has a best friend named Warner, and they are ready to go on their first adventure and leave their safe home under their dock. What happens to Clyde and his best friend on their adventure?

Published by Page Publishing, Brian Wilsons fantastic tale allows readers to follow the active and joyful character of Clyde the Green Fish as he takes them on a swim that may hold either danger or new exciting lessons. This book is surely a wild ride underwater!

Readers who wish to experience this delightful work can purchase Clydes Corner 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.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-10 02:10:52|Editor: huaxia

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The Red Castle is under the process of repairing and cleaning in preparation for the 10th anniversary of the Libyan uprising in Tripoli, Libya on Feb. 4, 2021. As the 10th anniversary of the Libyan uprising that toppled late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime approaches, Libyan analysts believe the war-torn country is facing a real chance for restoring political stability, especially with the recent creation of a new executive authority. (Photo by Nada Harib/Xinhua)

by Mahmoud Darwesh

TRIPOLI, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- As the 10th anniversary of the Libyan uprising that toppled late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime approaches, Libyan analysts believe the war-torn country is facing a real chance for restoring political stability, especially with the recent creation of a new executive authority.

"As the Libyans celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Feb. 17 revolution, there is an ideal variable that coincided with this anniversary, which is the political success that was recently achieved in Geneva by choosing a new government," Imad Jalloul, a Libyan political analyst, told Xinhua.

"It will bring the Libyans together and give them stability for the first time in many years," he said.

He urged Libyans to support the new government, and help it hold the general elections. "This will certainly not be easy, given the problems and the legacy of difficult issues that the new government will face from Day One," Jalloul added.

On Friday, Libyan parties voted for a new prime minister and a new presidency council, with the support of the United Nations, following months of talks that aimed to end the country's protracted war.

The new authority will prepare for the general elections scheduled to be held in December, as agreed upon recently by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF).

Despite the recent progress in Libya, there are still challenges and difficulties ahead for the efforts to restore stability in the country, analysts said.

The fate of the armed groups, their dismantling and reintegration remain suspended. Also, the fate of the unification of the country's national army has not been resolved yet, they pointed out.

Miloud Al-Hajj, a Libyan law professor, believes that for 10 years, the revolution has not achieved its goals.

"The country witnessed political chaos and continuous struggle for power, along with the deterioration of the security situation and the expansion of terrorism over the past few years," Al-Hajj told Xinhua.

"However, with all these difficulties, everyone should stand together and see the revolution as a motive for stability by supporting the new political authority that will lead the country, in accordance with the road map, to holding elections for the first time since 2014," Al-Hajj said.

Al-Hajj believed that there is "a great opportunity for political stability" in Libya, calling on all Libyans to support reconciliation.

"The revolution should be exploited to gather and listen to the Libyans rather than to reject them and divide them into supporters and opponents. Any new government will face failure as long as the revolution's controversy continues among the Libyans," Al-Hajj added.

Nearly three months ago, the LPDF members agreed to hold general elections in the country on Dec. 24, 2021.

In October 2020, Libyan parties signed a permanent cease-fire agreement that ended the armed conflict between the eastern-based army and the UN-backed government based in the capital Tripoli, which lasted for more than a year.

Iman Jalal, a Libyan university professor, said that Libyans need to understand the reality created by the revolution 10 years ago.

"Everyone knows that the four individuals (selected for the new executive authority) are from the revolution's creation and came through voting. Therefore, the same option must be supported, which might bring the stability and tranquility that Libya needs, at least until the next general elections," she told Xinhua.

"The opportunity for Libya's stability is now available and must be exploited, especially with the unprecedented international mobilization and support, because the past 10 years were painful and cruel and perhaps today a new political phase begins that will push us toward the desired stability," Jalal added. Enditem
STOCKHOLM, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SyntheticMR AB and United Imaging announced today that they have signed a global license agreement, through which United Imaging will market and sell SyntheticMR's product to customers globally.

SyntheticMR AB develops innovative imaging solutions to speed up imaging workflows and deliver diagnostic support to clinicians. United Imaging was founded in 2011 and is a global provider of advanced medical imaging equipment with global headquarters in Shanghai. The license agreement enables United Imaging to market and sell SyntheticMR's full product package SyMRI NEURO, which provides multiple contrast images, tissue volumes, including industry-first myelin-correlated volumes, and quantitative data in a single, short MRI scan.

"As we partner strategically to serve the needs of our customers, today and in the future, we handpick partners that align with our brand," commented Steve Tan, global head of the MR business for United Imaging. "Like us, SyntheticMR AB is focused on putting the most modern tools in the hands of clinicians so they can help more patients access the most advanced care possible."

"Our partnership with United Imaging enables us to reach more healthcare providers to help speed up workflows and deliver robust, quantitative data to clinicians," says Ulrik Harrysson, CEO SyntheticMR AB. "United Imaging has a strong position in China and a growing global presence. We look forward to working with them to further strengthen and establish our technology on the global market."

Globally, United Imaging surpassed 10,000 installed imaging systems in 2020; it also opened its first headquarters in the United States, located in Houston, Texas, to accelerate meeting demand in that market and position the company for further growth in the region. The company celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2021.

About United Imaging

At United Imaging, we develop and produce advanced medical products, digital healthcare solutions, and intelligent solutions that cover the entire process of imaging diagnosis and treatment. Founded in 2011, our company has subsidiaries and R&D centers across the world. With a cutting-edge digital portfolio and a mission of broader access to healthcare for all, we help drive industry progress and bold change.

About SyntheticMR AB

SyntheticMR AB develops and markets innovative software solutions for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). SyntheticMR AB has developed SyMRI, delivering multiple, adjustable contrast images and quantitative data from a single 6-minute scan. The SyMRI product is available in different packages. SyMRI NEURO delivers multiple contrast images, tissue segmentations and quantitative data on the brain. SyMRI MSK provides multiple contrast images and quantitative data for MSK anatomies. SyMRI NEURO is CE-marked and FDA 510(k) cleared and SyMRI MSK is FDA 510(k) pending. SyMRI is a registered trademark in Europe and the USA. SyntheticMR is listed on the Spotlight Stock Market Exchange in Stockholm, Sweden.

This information is information that SyntheticMR 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 person set out above, on 9 February 2021.

CONTACT:

For additional information, please contact Ulrik Harrysson, CEO, SyntheticMR AB, +46 70 529 29 87 [email protected].

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/syntheticmr-ab/r/syntheticmr-ab-partners-with-united-imaging,c3270114

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE SyntheticMR AB
UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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
[February 09, 2021] HGC appoints Lee Kwan as Chief Network Officer to oversee IT development as well as network engineering and operations

HONG KONG, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) announced today the appointment of Lee Kwan as Chief Network Officer, with immediate effect. Following the recent integration of IT and related functions to the Network Engineering division, Lee will lead the team to further facilitate and streamline the operation by continuous development, engineering and support for the local network and IT to ensure the best services for customers. This initiative will underpin HGC's continuous business development and reinforce the group's position as a leading local and global telecom operator. Lee joined HGC as Director, Network and Engineering in 2019, bringing with him over 35 years' experience in the telecom network and ICT industry. Prior to that, Lee had held key managerial positions at a number of leading telecom network operators in Hong Kong and overseas. He has deep experience in building telecom networks and systems from scratch and engineering network services with the right technologies and processes. Andrew Kwok, Chief Executive Officer of HGC said, "With Lee's impeccable track record i leading HGC's network operations, immense market knowledge and insightful perspectives, I am confident that the new appointment and integration will take the group's operational and business efficiency to the next level and ensure the capture of more business opportunities with one-stop digital solutions and our extensive network services. This will also enhance the company's long-term commitment to deliver even more value to our staff, customers, partners and stakeholders, and ultimately reinforce our digital presence in the ever-changing market environment."



Lee Kwan, Chief Network Officer of HGC said, "I am delighted to take up this new role and continue unleashing HGC's full potential as a comprehensive telecom and digital services provider. Network and technology are rapidly evolving and are an increasingly significant enabler of operational efficiency, especially in the telecom industry whereas digitalisation is critical for stable growth. Moving forward, HGC will continue to maximize the capabilities during the digital era to enhance our service offerings to customers around the globe." About HGC Global Communications Limited

HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) is a leading Hong Kong and international fixed-line operator. The company owns an extensive network and infrastructure in Hong Kong and overseas and provides various kinds of services. HGC has 23 overseas offices, with business over 5 continents. It provides telecom infrastructure service to other operators and serves as a service provider to corporate and households. The company provides full-fledged telecom, data centre services, ICT solutions and broadband services for local, overseas, corporate and mass markets. HGC owns and operates an extensive fibre-optic network, five cross-border telecom routes integrated into tier-one telecom operators in mainland China and connects with hundreds of world-class international telecom operators. HGC is one of Hong Kong's largest Wi-Fi service providers, running over 29,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in Hong Kong. The company is committed to further investing and enriching its current infrastructure and, in parallel, adding on top the latest technologies and developing its infrastructure services and solutions. HGC is a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on energy, utilities and transport in North America, Europe and selected fast-growing economies. To learn more, please visit HGC's website at: www.hgc.com.hk View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hgc-appoints-lee-kwan-as-chief-network-officer-to-oversee-it-development-as-well-as-network-engineering-and-operations-301224694.html SOURCE HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC)

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Twitter Inc has reached out to the government for a formal dialogue. It said that safety of its employees is top priority. The reaction comes after the government asked the social media giant to remove over a thousand more accounts for alleged spreading of misinformation and provocative content about the farmers' protest.

"Safety of our employees is a top priority for us at Twitter. We continue to be engaged with the Government of India from a position of respect and have reached out to the Honourable Minister, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for a formal dialogue," a Twitter spokesperson said.

Twitter acknowledged receiving the non-compliance notice from the government. The Centre had asked the company to take down 1,178 listed handles with Pakistan and Khalistan links. The non-compliance notice said that the social media platform is yet to completely comply with the order.

The company said in its latest statement, "We strongly believe that the open and free exchange of information has a positive global impact, and that the Tweets must continue to flow." It added that the company takes appropriate steps regarding such reports and also makes sure it holds firm the fundamental values and commitment to protect the public conversation.

On January 31, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had sent a list of 257 handles and tweets to be blocked. Twitter blocked these accounts for a few hours and then unblocked them shortly after. On February 4, the ministry issued a fresh list of Khalistan sympathisers, ones that are supported by Pakistan, and ones that threatened public order amid the farmers' protest.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey had liked several tweets by international celebrities on farmers' protests.

Also read: Twitter India public policy head Mahima Kaul resigns

Also read: Farmers' protests: Centre asks Twitter to block 1,178 more accounts with Khalistan, Pakistan links
New Delhi:

In a fresh development in mysterious Sunanda Pushkar death case, Delhi police on Friday sought the damage report of the sealed suite no. 345 from Hotel Leela Palace where Sunanda was found dead on January 17, 2014.

The Hotel Leela Palace room no. 345 has been closed since 2014 and the Police have no clue so far how Sunanda, wife of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor died.

After several forensic experts visits to the room and five others reports from different medical boards, nothing could be found about the cause of her death.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday had adjourned the hearing of the Sunanda Pushkar death case on a plea by fire brand BJP leader Subramanian Swamy till July 20.

Suggested Read: Shashi Tharoor files defamation suit against Goswami, Republic in HC

Swamy on July 6 had filed a petition in the court seeking a court monitored enquiry into the death of Sunanda. The Court also asked Swamy that why he woke up so late for which Swami replied he has come after exhausting all other options.

Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was found dead in a suit of The Hotel Leela Palace in South Delhi on January 17, 2014.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
A glance at some of the day's highlights from the Proactive Investors newswire

( ) shares gained 6.39% as it inked an exclusive licence and development agreement with Excalibur Healthcare Services, for the use of its MagnifEye system for use with Excalibur's proprietary lateral flow rapid COVID-19 diagnostic tests. Excaliburs antigen test has out-performed other competing tests in recent trials with its speed, sensitivity and reliability. The test is approved by the UK regulator for mass population screening in symptomatic and asymptomatic people.

discoverIE Group Plc ( ) told investors that trading continued to strengthen in the four months ended January 31 2020. The electric components company, in a statement, highlighted that its trading performance for the twelve months to March 31 is expected to land at the upper end of market expectations. Order intake is described as strong, up 10% organically over the pre-pandemic levels. It also marks a significant improvement compared to the first half of the financial year.

( ) said it has continued its strong recovery following its interim results to September 30 and that the market for its products continues to improve. In a brief trading update, the construction materials group said lockdown measures that have been in place since November have had little material effect on trading and it had maintained rigorous cost control while continuing to make acquisitions and other strategic investments.

Esken Limited ( ) said its chief executive officer (CEO) Warwick Brady has accepted an offer to become CEO of Swissport, the aviation services business. Company chairman David Shearer will assume executive duties on an interim basis.

( ) said it has appointed Stephen Birrell as an independent non-executive director (NED). Birrell currently serves as a NED of ( ) and Ossian Energy Ltd as well as a background in geoscience. The company said Birell will also bring broad experience of corporate governance, project management, stakeholder relations, joint venture management and business development.

( ) said the international phase III trial of its lupus drug Lupuzor remains on track to begin in the second half.

( ) has returned exceptionally high-grade gold in soil anomalies from the recently completed sampling programme at its Bido project in Burkina Faso, West Africa. "The survey results are excellent and confirm that this area has the potential for high-grade mineralisation, said managing director Mark Bolton. The next stage of work will involve infilling gold in soil sampling of some of the better anomalies, detailed geological mapping and rock chip sampling, and possibly some trenching and geophysics. Subject to these results, we anticipate a drilling programme mid-2021."

( ) has received a mining licence for its 100% owned Khemisset potash project in Morocco. The licence provides the company with the exclusive right to develop and mine the potash deposit in the Khemisset basin, ahead of the anticipated initiation of construction by the end of 2021.

( ) has reported revenue increases across all of its main product areas in its 2020 financial year. In a trading update for the year to December 31, the plastics specialist reported that revenues increased by 19% to 9.8mln, with a further 0.7mln not recognised during the year due to a shipment missing the companys year-end cut-off due to shipment congestion in the Far East.

( ) has reached an agreement with bondholders for an extension to its 6.5% senior notes. The aircraft leasing firms notes had been due to mature in May but have now been extended for more than five years, until October 2026. In a statement, the company said debt deal will assist it to continue successfully navigating the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In a separate statement, Avation said it will be holding a general meeting at 9.00am GMT on March 5, 2021, at 65 Kampong Bahru Road, Singapore 169370, in connection with the maturity extension transaction relating to the Avation Capital S.A. 6.5% senior notes due May 2021.

( ) said it is in strong position to accelerate growth after it told investors it expects to report underlying earnings (EBITDA) significantly ahead of last year for the 12 months ended March 31.

( ), a company exploring and developing multiple early-stage gold, silver and copper targets in Nevada, said it has received a notice of exercise of warrants over 31,250,000 new ordinary shares of 0.0001 each in the share capital of the company at a price of 0.16p each, which were granted in conjunction with its placing on November 13, 2019. The company added that it will receive gross proceeds amounting to 50,000 from the issuance.

( ) ( ) said that following the receipt of notices of exercise, the remaining warrants issued by the company as part of a private placement in February 2019 have now been exercised. Accordingly, the company is issuing 92,083 new ordinary shares with a nominal value of 20p each in the capital of the company at a subscription price of 31p each and has received gross proceeds of 28,546. The placement warrants have been exercised in full, at various stages over the last 24 months, raising in total 1,130,207 for the company,

(LON: BMK), the aquaculture health, advanced nutrition, and genetics business, said it will announce its Q1 results, for the period ended December 31, 2020, on Monday February 22, 2021. It added that Trond Williksen, the groups chief executive officer and Septima Maguire, its chief financial officer will host a webcast for retail investors and wealth managers at 12.00pm GMT on the day. The webcast is open to all existing and potential shareholders. Questions can be submitted during the presentation to be addressed at the end. To register for the presentation, visit: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/9516038965610/WN_DPuJTbmDTbihSCLBZ5DUKw. A recording of the presentation will be available after the event at www.equitydevelopment.co.uk.

Zephyr Energy PLC ( ), the Rocky Mountain oil and gas company focused on responsible resource development, announced that its chief executive officer, Colin Harrington, will be presenting at the Proactive Investors One2One virtual investor forum on Thursday, February 11, 2021, at 6.00pm GMT followed by a Q&A session. To register for the event please use the following link: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/903/1nnlvtpg4


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This week, Mr. Wilkinson also addressed questions about who will lead investigations that pose political challenges for the Biden administration and its hope to restore the Justice Departments image of impartiality.

He allowed John H. Durham, who will tender his resignation as the U.S. attorney in Connecticut, to remain at the department as the special counsel tapped to investigate the origins of the Trump-Russia inquiry, according to a senior Justice Department official.

Since the spring of 2019, Mr. Durham has been investigating whether any Obama administration officials broke the law in examining the Trump campaigns potential ties to Russia, work that Mr. Trump predicted would end in criminal charges against a raft of high-profile former officials. While those indictments did not happen, former Attorney General William P. Barr secretly appointed Mr. Durham to serve as special counsel last fall, all but ensuring the inquiry would live on after Mr. Trump left office.

Mr. Wilkinson also asked David C. Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware appointed by Mr. Trump, to stay on and continue to oversee the tax fraud investigation into Mr. Bidens son, Hunter, the official said.

Dozens of U.S. attorneys appointed by Mr. Trump resigned in the weeks before and after the election, leaving 57 presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed leaders of the nations federal prosecutors offices.

Mr. Wilkinson instructed all of them except for Mr. Weiss to tender their resignations effective Feb. 28, according to the department official who was on the call.

Michael R. Sherwin, the acting U.S. attorney in Washington, will step down but remain at the Justice Department to oversee the sprawling investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob, according to officials briefed on his status. He is likely to work out of the Justice Department headquarters in Washington, but the timing of his shift is unclear, an official said.
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Screen shot shows report published by Bloomberg on Feb. 2.

Turbocharged by a shipment of 1 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines from China, Serbia has the second-fastest roll-out in Europe, according to a report from Bloomberg on Feb. 2.

Strengthening relationship with China has allowed Serbia to diversify vaccine sources, and save the country from being impacted by delayed vaccine deliveries in Europe, said the article.

The EU has adopted a package of 70 million euros to help fund the access of six prospective members in the western Balkans - including Serbia - to COVID-19 shots, but delivery shortage is slowing and ever halting vaccinations.

The unexpected curbs are already making an impact on the ground, which also caused Serbia to secure vaccines from China, Russia and U.S. instead of waiting for the EU. Most of the 1.1 million doses imported by the government in Belgrade have come from Chinese drugmaker Sinopharm.

Serbia is now inoculating a bigger proportion of its population than any other nation in Europe after the UK. According to Bloombergs Vaccine Tracker, the EUs 27 states collectively have inoculated 2.9% of the population compared with 14.7% in the UK. Serbia has injected 6.8% of its 7 million people, more than twice the ratio in the EU.

The article cited Faris Kocan, a foreign policy researcher at the University of Ljublijana as saying that there is a perception of China being more prepared to help than the EU.

"I would have wished that France, Europe could have been more present on your side on the topic of vaccines, " before a lunch with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the problems Europe is having with vaccine delivery, We Europeans must be even more efficient on this.

[ Editor: WXL ]
Amazon Prime Video has picked up upcoming film Tom Clancys Without Remorse as part of a first-look deal with Michael B. Jordans Outlier Society production company.

Under the film pact, Outlier Society will produce and acquire films showcasing diverse, bold filmmakers and talent.

The film will screen on April 30, 2021.

Were excited to deepen our relationship with Outlier Society! Michael, Liz and the team will be key partners in our efforts to showcase compelling, ambitious and addictive content that can reach our global audience. They share our passion for amplifying new and exciting voices with an emphasis on diversity both above and below the line, said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. We cant wait for everyone to see Without Remorse, our next chapter in the Tom Clancy universe  its an action-packed thrill ride fans will love.

Bringing Outlier Societys slate of film, television and multi-media content all under the same roof is an exciting next chapter for us, said Michael B. Jordan, Outlier Society CEO. Amazons global and expansive reach offers us the ability to entertain and engage our audience in innovative ways, while maintaining our commitment to supporting a wide range of stories and storytellers. Im thrilled to be kicking off the partnership with Without Remorse this Spring.

An elite Navy SEAL uncovers an international conspiracy while seeking justice for the murder of his pregnant wife in Tom Clancys Without Remorse, the explosive origin story of action hero John Clark  one of the most popular characters in author Tom Clancys Jack Ryan universe. When a squad of Russian soldiers kills his family in retaliation for his role in a top-secret op, Sr. Chief John Kelly (Michael B. Jordan) pursues the assassins at all costs. Joining forces with a fellow SEAL (Jodie Turner-Smith) and a shadowy CIA agent (Jamie Bell), Kellys mission unwittingly exposes a covert plot that threatens to engulf the U.S. and Russia in an all-out war. Torn between personal honor and loyalty to his country, Kelly must fight his enemies without remorse if he hopes to avert disaster and reveal the powerful figures behind the conspiracy. Tom Clancys Without Remorse stars Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Lauren London, Brett Gelman, Jacob Scipio, Jack Kesy, Colman Domingo, and Guy Pearce.

Tom Clancys Without Remorse is directed by Stefano Sollima, from Paramount Pictures, Skydance and New Republic Pictures. The film is produced by Weed Road Pictures, The Saw Mill and Outlier Society. The screenplay is penned by Taylor Sheridan and Will Staples. Producers are Akiva Goldsman, Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Michael B. Jordan, and executive producers are David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Brian Oliver, Bradley J. Fischer, Valerii An, Alana Mayo, Denis L. Stewart and Gregory Lessans.

Jordan recently anointed Elizabeth Raposo as President of Outlier Society. The former Paramount President of Production will be responsible for overseeing all production and development aspects of the shingle alongside Jordan. Jordan launched Outlier Society in 2016 with the goal of bringing diverse stories and voices to market. The impressive slate of upcoming projects includes the Denzel Washington-directed feature Journal for Jordan with Jordan starring and producing; Creed III, the third installment of the Rocky franchise for MGM which will see Jordan reprise his role as Adonis Creed, and DC property Static Shock.

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Picnooga/Chattanooga Historical Society has acquired the original glass plate negative attributed to the photographer A. A. Haskell of President Benjamin Harrisons April 15, 1891 visit to Chattanooga. Low-resolution and severely cropped copies of the image are in the Chattanooga Public Library and Tennessee State Archives collections.



The glass negative was purchased in an estate sale in Massachusetts. It features a high-resolution view of President Harrison, his son and the postmaster-general. Also present are prominent Chattanoogans, including Judge David M. Key, Capt. Charles A. Lyerly, T. G. Mountague, Charles E. James and Charles Whiteside aboard a string of decorated streetcars. The scene is an expanded view of the bottom station of the steam-powered Incline No. 1. The Incline station was once located at 38th and Church Streets in St. Elmo and ran to the Point Hotel, located just below Point Lookout on Lookout Mountain.



The resolution is very sharp and detailed for 1891, said the Societys President David Moon. It was a surprising find and welcomed addition to our collection. The image was included with other glass plates taken about the same era. Many have already been shared with the public through social media.



Officials said, "Picnooga/Chattanooga Historical Societys mission is to bring local history to the surface and make it accessible to everyone. Locating this essential piece of local and national history has only strengthened their position that more is out there still yet to be rediscovered. The 501(c)3 appreciates public leads to help find other items of historical value. They also accept donations of historical objects."

Visit https://picnooga.org/legacy/ for more information.
Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) boss John Gachomo has confirmed the arrest of nine aides of former Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko's.

"We have them, they will be arraigned tomorrow," said Mr Gachomo Monday morning.

Seven of the nine aides were arrested over the weekend in the city by ATPU officers who also recovered knives and an assortment of other items including some camouflage military fatigue.

The other two were arrested last week outside Kamiti.

ATPU is investigating alleged planning and funding of terror activities by a militia allied to the former governor.

Military uniform

In an affidavit filed in court last week, ATPU detective Newton Thimangu revealed that the former governor was procuring uniforms resembling military attire and was in the process of procuring arms and ammunition using a wide and complex syndicate.

"The suspect herein started arming his private security agents with full military attire namely military boots, military jungle uniform and firearms," the affidavit stated.

It further added that coded signals by Sonko and his aides portray that the militia is ready and armed to create a threat to the stability of the country and to the citizens of Kenya through triggering acts of war.

The court will Tuesday rule on whether to detain the former governor for 30 days as requested by ATPU.
FEED Business Worldwide - September, 2011

Fishmeal prices soften on a restored Peruvian catch

by Eric J. BROOKS

We usually take pride in making predictions that are correct but half of all wisdom comes from humility. In our last fishmeal report several months ago, we anticipated that Peru's ban mid-way through the early year fishing season could make prices skyrocket.

Instead, a coincidence of circumstance made fishmeal prices visibly soften. Below, we examine the conditions that led to this market break and what price and supply conditions aquaculture stakeholders can expect going forward.

El NiAo, La NiAa & Peru drives supply balance

Peru accounts for over half of the fishmeal caught by the top five producers and over half of world fishmeal exports. Hence, the Peruvian catch drives the market more than any other supply-side factor. According to the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organisation (IFFO), from 2006 to 2010, Peru caught an average of 669.8 thousand tonnes of anchovy during in the January to April fishing period.

The first quarter of 2010 saw that year's El NiAo's coastal warm water current devastate anchovy numbers. At 44,298 tonnes, Peru's first quarter catch plunge 93.4% below its five-year average. A country accounting for half of world fishmeal exports had its fishing season kicked out from under it. With Chile's earthquake curtailing the latter's fishmeal production and China coming on the world fishmeal market as its aquaculture season commenced, April 2010 saw fishmeal set a new record price of US$2,000/tonne. This situation was made worse by Chinese inventories, which happened to be at very low levels at that time.

Then, in late 2010, El NiAo was followed by a La NiAa. Although the latter's cold ocean currents create ideal conditions for anchovy, the sudden temperature change's first effect was to reduce the availability of anchovy. With anchovy numbers low and many of them small in size, Peru was forced to drastically curtail its late 2010 and early 2011 fishing season.

This crimped already tight global fishmeal inventories, leading to a partial price recovery back to above US$1,700/tonne. Fortunately, the northern hemisphere's aquaculture growing season had ended by this time so the impact on prices was less than would otherwise have been case.

Peru's rebound more than offsets lower Atlantic catch

Thereafter, the late first quarter and early second quarter brought a series of happy coincidences. First, with La Nina having chilled Peruvian waters to an ideal temperature, anchovy numbers rebounded. Furthermore, the fact that Peru's government practically called off late 2010's anchovy fishing season turned out to be a far sighted measure.

Over the short-term, supply anxieties caused by Peru's early year fishing bans pushed fishmeal back over US$1,700/tonne at that time. Over the longer-term however, it prevented many small anchovy from being caught. With La Nina's cooler waters firmly in place, this enabled them to breed and reproduce under ideal conditions.

This had the effect of constraining world fishmeal output early this year but led to an anchovy population explosion off Peru's coast by March. That gave Peru an especially bountiful anchovy late first quarter and early second quarter fishing season.

By April, Peru's cumulative 2011 catch amounted to 1.64 million tonnes. This was a whopping 3,592% improvement over the same period of 2010's meager 44,298 tonnes. More importantly, it was also a whopping 244% above the average 2006 to 2010 average January to April Peruvian anchovy catch of 0.669 million tonnes.

By comparison, the January to April fishmeal wild ocean catch in other major fishmeal producing countries showed very mixed results. They ranged from a 92% fall off Iceland and the North Atlantic Ocean to a 9% drop off Chile and a 39% jump off Denmark and Norway. But with Peru acting as the Saudi Arabia of global fishmeal exports, among the top five fishmeal producers, the overall raw wild catch jumped by an impressive (and much needed) 204%. This on its own was enough to stabilize the market aand saved the day for the world's aquaculture industry.

According to IFFO, Peru's exceptionally bountiful early 2011 anchovy season boosted total catch of supply of wild fish for use in fishmeal to above 2 million tonnes for the first time since 2008. In fact, at 2.21 million tonnes, raw fishmeal feedstock inventories rose to their highest level since 2005, just before fishmeal exceeded the US$1,000/tonne price barrier for the first time. In all, this was still well below the peak Peruvian catches of the 1980s and 1990s but a vast improvement over the previous decade's fishing seasons.

However, with 2010's catastrophic Peruvian catch having reduced its domestic inventories to near zero, this bountiful anchovy catch was insufficient to push the price to below US$1,000/tonne. It was enough to meet market demand and start a rebuilding of very run down inventories.

Slack China demand tempers prices but supply uncertain

Market conditions were also loosening up on the demand front. On one hand, Peru's rebound meant that during the late first quarter and early second quarter, China was able to rebuild its fishmeal inventories amid weakening prices. IFFO figures show China port inventories rising from a little over 140,000 tonnes in mid March to a peak of some 210,000 tonnes by early July.

Demand-wise, China's cold spring weather led to a slow, lethargic start to that country's fish growing season. With China taking up more than half of world fishmeal imports, this led to slack fishmeal demand just as Peru's large spring catch came in.

According to eFeedLink's early August report, this has left China's fishmeal port prices approximately 20% lower than in the same period in 2010. eFeedLink noted that amid "lackluster aquaculture demand and low piglet inventoriesatraders were more willing to negotiate prices."
The death toll in the disaster rose to 32 with six more bodies being recovered, officials said Tuesday as multiple agencies raced against time to reach about 30 workers trapped inside a tunnel at a power project site and 174 people remained missing.

About 600 rescue workers are involved in the operation, two days after the sudden flood in the Alaknanda river system in Chamoli district that was possibly triggered by an avalanche or glacier burst.

In Parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Centre is working in close coordination with the government.

"Rescue operation to evacuate these people is going on a war-footing and all-out efforts are being made for searching missing persons, he said.

The State Emergency Operation Centre said six bodies were found Tuesday, taking the death toll to 32, and 174 people are still missing.

With the hours ticking by, fears escalated about those missing since the disaster struck on Sunday morning, according to officials.

The missing people include those working at NTPC's 480 MW Tapovan-Vishnugad project and the 13.2 MW Rishiganga Hydel Project and villagers whose homes nearby were washed away.

Some family members of the missing workers are camping at Tapovan, waiting for some news about them.

About 70 missing workers are from Uttar Pradesh, an official said in Lucknow. Among them 34 are from Lakhimpur Kheri district alone.

Teams of the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) coordinated efforts to rescue 25-35 people who were working in a tunnel at the Tapovan-Vishnugad project when the waters came rushing in.

The ITB alone has deployed 450 personnel in the rescue effort, according to Shah's statement.

The workers have been trapped in the 12-ft-high and about 2.5-km-long 'head race tunnel' (HRT).

"Clearing of debris and slush continued the whole night. About 120 metres of the tunnel entrance stretch is now clear," ITBP spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said in Delhi.

"The height of the accumulated slush has reduced more. ITBP personnel are waiting to enter as soon as any movement deep inside the tunnel is possible," he said.

A senior official added that the rescuers have not been able to make any contact with those stuck inside but are hopeful for "signs of life".

DGP Ashok Kumar said efforts are on to push through the debris and expressed hope that a breakthrough could be made soon.

The district administration is also searching for the missing from areas along the Alaknanda river.

Relief is being distributed by helicopters among people at 13 villages cut off due to the washing away of a bridge in the avalanche at Malari. The total population of these villages is around 2,500, officials said.

The villages that lost road connectivity after the calamity are Raini Palli, Pang, Lata, Suraithota, Suki, Bhalgaon, Tolma, Fagrasu, Long Segdi, Gahar, Bhangyul, Juwagwad and Jugju.

On Tuesday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat undertook an aerial survey of the affected areas, visited the ITBP hospital in Joshimath, about 300 km from Dehradun, and met the 12 workers who were rescued from a small tunnel in Tapovan on Sunday evening.

He also visited Lata and Raini to meet residents of the disaster-hit villages.

The priority is to get to those trapped inside the tunnel and save as many lives as possible, he said.

Additional heavy machines could be pressed into service to expedite the process of clearing the tonnes of debris inside the tunnel, blocking the path of rescue personnel.

The clearing of slush and debris is a painstaking exercise but the multi-agency rescuers are there in large numbers and taking turns to dig in deeper with the help of heavy machines, officials said.

As the temperature dipped to freezing levels at the site, awash with slush, silt and debris, bonfires were lit at multiple locations to keep the rescuers warm.

The rescuers are carrying tall wooden planks which are being used by them to wade in through the slush and will later also help create a platform to pull out the trapped people using ropes.

(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| 2021-02-10 00:42:55|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Acting Commissioner of the Chinese foreign ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Yang Yirui said on Tuesday that in the midst of crisis, Hong Kong forged a new path and ushered in a historic transition from chaos to governance and back to the right track in 2020.

Yang made the statement in his speech in a virtual Spring reception held by the commissioner's office. He said that China's internal affairs should not be interfered in, China's sovereign security should not be violated, and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability should not be destroyed.

When reviewing 2020, Yang said the office launched dialogues with foreign consulates in Hong Kong, chambers of commerce and the media to improve mutual trust and dispel concerns in a bid to expand win-win cooperation and reinforce the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

The office fully supported Hong Kong in expanding overseas exchanges and cooperation, Yang said, citing efforts to help Hong Kong set up economic and trade offices overseas and assist Hong Kong businesses in joining industrial parks along the routes of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Yang said the office also helped Hong Kong participate in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Besides, the office worked with the HKSAR government to bring back home more than 2,000 Hong Kong residents stranded overseas due to the COVID-19 epidemic, Yang said.

Looking ahead, Yang said that "one country, two systems" has ushered into a new historical phase and Hong Kong will overcome the current dilemma and regain its glory with the support of the country and the joint efforts of Hong Kong compatriots. Enditem
The Chief Executive Officer of B5 Plus Limited, Mukesh Thakwani has lamented on challenges facing companies as far as movement of goods to other neighboring countries is concerned.



According to Mr. Thakwani, some of the neighboring Ecowas countries no longer accept the Ecowas cards making exportation of goods to these countries a strenuous task.



Speaking in an interview, the multiple award-winning CEO, stated that talks are ongoing with the Trade Ministry and other bodies to enable smooth movement of goods to the neighboring countries.



Exportation of goods to West African countries is very difficult because most do not accept the Ecowas cards Currently, we are in talks with the Trade Ministry to look into it for us to enable smooth transportation of goods to these countries including Ivory Coast Its very challenging.., he said



Covid-19



B5 Plus Limited, a steel manufacturing company were donating oxygen to hospitals nationwide as part of support towards the fight against the devastating disease.



The Tema-based company, aside providing free oxygen to hospitals nationwide, were also providing nose/face masks, sanitizers, Veronica buckets and other coronavirus safety equipments to Ghanaians as part of supports in the fight against the disease.



In the interview, Mr. Mukesh Thakwani stated that his outfit will keep donating free oxygen and Coronavirus equipments to citizens nationwide until coronavirus becomes a thing of the past..



We will keep donating oxygen to both private and government hospitals.. We hope to put Covid-19 behind us in 202. Infact the government of Ghana has done well in the fight against the disease..



In fact 2020 was a very challenging year for all of us due to the disease, but we hope put the disease behind us in 2021..









Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The political parties who have now been made accountable under the RTI will not easily give up and the legal battle may be contested till the bitter end in the higher courts.

In their public postures, however, they have taken the line that they are already furnishing information to other agencies like the election commission and the income tax; they can be inundated by frivolous petitions; the confidentiality of political decision making can be misused etc; it is not possible to maintain records .The legality of the order should better be left to the courts because that is where the legality of the order of the CIC will be decided.

A brief examination of the performance of the Act so far may light up some areas of the debate.

The RTI Act made available to the common people all the information that could be made available to the members of legislatures and members of the parliament. Suddenly the amorphous, undifferentiated, impersonal information potentially accessible to or already in the inert keeping of our public representatives is being mined by RTI seekers to seek a measure of control over their destinies. The master key to force open the secret vault called bureaucracy which had for long eluded the citizenry become available to all and sundry. The accountability scene is undergoing a magical transformation.

RTI activists, autodidacts, and public spirited people are using this as a tool to map the objective reality of their particular situations against the given big picture. People at large nourish fairly sound attitudes based on instinct and memory but they lack a coherent account as to how their local environments of oppression are located within the larger economic or socio-political realities. In order to be able to derive maximum advantage from this legislation, people all over the country are raising themselves to levels of awareness commensurate with their particular situation, are acquiring uncanny legal skills and are extending their circle of influence to initiate a potentially transformative movement. Antonio Gramsci would have approved of these organic intellectuals.

Where does my little postage stamp of a village figure in the double digit growth story of Bihar? To find out Sanjay Sahani, Ramkumar Thakur and a motley group from a nondescript village called Ratnauli in Bihar demanded the information about the implementation of MNREGA in their panchayat. It is but natural that the custodians of all those little bureaucratic lies that collectively go to make the official truth should feel threatened. Ram Kumar Thakur had to be simply put away. But killings are not the norm; slapping of false cases is the standard tactic as the RTI groups have claimed and even the pioneering RTI activist Shiv Prasad Ray was subjected to this fate.

The formidable bureaucracy which had expressed fears of its misuse have realized its subversive potential. So they have taken to something akin to a civil disobedience movement, a strategy of passive resistance against army of information seekers under RTI demanding information as varied as the lifting and disbursal of PDs grains to the amounts of travelling allowance drawn by the civil servants. They just remain silent. Or pretend imbecility. If you ask for information A they furnish B and in some cases no relief could be had even from the information commission. Or they wage semantic guerilla warfare; they ambush you with an ambiguity of meaning. So there is no frivolity involved here. It is a deadly serious business.

There are some other democratic dividends as well. RTI has created a new and thriving public sphere. Village chaupals, hamlets with cyber cafes, small towns - quite different from the traditional city centric public sphere, salons, coffee houses, universities, think tanks and media clubs are the new hubs of activity. Debates on development and public issues are becoming livelier because the range and depth of their information has increased considerably and citizens are acquiring a better understanding of how things are done. The RTI is materializing a public that is living up to instantiate and ideal of public reason.

So should the political parties feel bothered by unnecessary duplication of work or is there an apprehension in the political minds that the information furnished by them, say the accounts of laughable sums of money spent in their election campaigns by candidates could be put to rigorous scrutiny by an army of local volunteers? Everyone knows that the figures are meant just to get past the Election Commission which has neither the time nor the wherewithal to verify them in every particular. But in the hands of the masses it can transform the whole scene. How many taxis were hired, who printed the publicity material, who set up the pandal and for how much? The right to information becomes purposive, goal directed hence an effective tool of accountability; in the statistical keeping of the Election Commission it is merely grist for the academic researchers mill for drawing broad general conclusions.

In the absence of transparency and internal democracy politics has largely become the skill of intrigue among a narrow group of those closest to the instruments of power. Mendacity and cynicism in political discourse - "they know very well what they are doing, but still, they are doing it" has become a sad fact of our lives. So what is at stake here is not the fear of being submerged under frivolous queries, nor is any one afraid of being asked about their internal affairs - the nation has already an unsolicited surfeit of it. RTI is ushering in some kind of a direct democracy and that is a terrifying idea.

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 2021 / RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding AG (SIX:RLF, OTCQB:RLFTF) ("Relief" or the "Company") announces the resignation, effective immediately, of Board of Directors member Thomaz Burckhardt. Mr. Burckhardt has resigned to focus his time and efforts on other professional duties and interests.

Raghuram (Ram) Selvaraju, Chairman of the Board of Relief, commented: "The Board of Directors and I would like to warmly thank Thomaz for his many contributions to the Company over the past years. We wish him well in his future endeavors."

Relief will evaluate potential candidates to serve on the Board of Directors who have substantial life sciences/healthcare experience with respect to appointing a new independent director to fill the current vacancy. The Company will continue to assess opportunities to expand both the Board and Executive Management team in order to optimize Relief's ability to execute on its business strategy going forward.

###

ABOUT RELIEF

Relief focuses primarily on clinical-stage programs based on molecules of natural origin (peptides and proteins) with a history of clinical testing and use in human patients or a strong scientific rationale. Currently, Relief is concentrating its efforts on developing new treatments for respiratory disease indications. Its lead drug candidate RLF-100TM (aviptadil) is being investigated in two placebo-controlled U.S. late-stage clinical trials in respiratory deficiency due to COVID-19. Relief holds a patent issued in the United States and various other countries covering potential formulations of RLF-100TM.

RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding AG is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the symbol RLF and quoted in the U.S. on OTCQB under the symbol RLFTF.

www.relieftherapeutics.com

Follow us on LinkedIn

CONTACT:

RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding AG

Raghuram (Ram) Selvaraju, Ph.D., MBA

Chairman of the Board

Mail: contact@relieftherapeutics.com FOR MEDIA/INVESTOR INQUIRIES:

MC Services AG

Anne Hennecke / Brittney Sojeva

Tel.: +49 (0) 211-529-252-14

Mail: relief@mc-services.eu

Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding AG and its business. The results reported herein may or may not be indicative of the results of future and larger clinical trials for RLF-100 for the treatment of respiratory illnesses. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding AG to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding AG is providing this communication as of this date and do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE: Relief Therapeutics Holdings AG

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628584/Relief-Announces-Resignation-of-Thomaz-Burckhardt-as-Member-of-the-Board-of-Directors
John Getchell, 58, takes a break from planning the reopening of the Blue Benn while at the diner in Bennington on Jan. 12. He has since installed plexiglass dividers between the booths and along the counter.
Ishaan Khatter has Phone Bhoot lined up for which he is often seen heading to the airport with his co-star Siddhant Chaturvedi.



After making headlines for his acting skills, another thing that strikes us about him are his fashion appearances.

From wearing the most confusing pair of shoes to making a statement even in a pair of shorts, Khatter does fashion to the hilt.

 Viral Bhayani

 Viral Bhayani

His non-stop appearances have made us dissect all his looks, so this time, when he was yet again seen at the Mumbai airport, we couldn't help but check out his outfit.



While most people would dread even at the sight of experimenting with pastels, Ishaan here, did a pretty good job at it. Take a look.

 ASOS

Ishaan is seen wearing ASOS Dark Future oversized hoodie with logo embroidery in lilac acid wash. The style is fresh on the streetwear scene and adds a hint of minimalism to the look with relaxed urban staples.



The colour palette looks neat and the oversized silhouette takes the laid-back style to a whole new level.

While this hoodie might appear to be an extravagant piece, it's actually quite affordable. It's available for only Rs 3,344 and that sounds like a good deal, considering that such pieces never come with a fair price tag.

 ASOS

Coming to the pants, these are a unique type of corduroy pants. Ishaan is wearing ASOS DESIGN cord slim trousers in washed purple.



For non-denim days, this one with its side pockets and slim fit makes for another versatile addition to go with the hoodie. The style adds to the street-fashion landscape.

As for the price aspect, these pants cost only Rs 1,400 approximately.

 Nike

As an ensemble, this look with its subtle, subdued hues, manages to turn heads. The sneakers are a contrasting addition, called Nike's Sacai Blazer Mid Hi-Top sneakers that have two contrasting colours overlapping each other.



Considering the aesthetics, the sneakers no doubt look expensive but are actually affordable.

 Viral Bhayani

We also like the way Ishaan has worked his outfit wearing the hood. The black mask has a quirky design on it, which adds to the street appeal of the look.



In all, that's one heck of an airport outfit, Ishaan.
The government must look into the high reserve prices of spectrum for 5G wireless service considering the stress in the telecom sector and Indias underdeveloped ecosystem for a rollout, according to a committee report tabled in Parliament on Monday.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) recommended that 492 crore should be set as the base price for per MHz of spectrum in the 3,300-3,600MHz bands, ideal for 5G.

Also Read | India should worry about its public debt

While telecom operators are of the view that the base price for 5G spectrum is exorbitant in India versus in other countries, the sector regulator believes that the pricing is among the lowest in the world. The panel noted the diverging views of telcos and the regulator and said, there is a need to revisit the nuances of spectrum pricing in other countries".

The parliamentary committee also told the department of telecommunications (DoT) that long-term consumer benefit should be the guiding principle to fix the base price for 5G spectrum auction, rather than short-term revenue maximisation. Factors such as per capita income and average revenue per user (Arpu) should also be considered.

The committee recommend that the issue of high spectrum prices is looked into and DoT/Trai should come out with a convincing spectrum pricing policy that is sustainable, affordable and acceptable to all, focusing on consumer interest and socio-economic goals of our country," the standing committee on information technology said.

The committee also suggested that spectrum auction for 5G should be conducted at the earliest. According to the report, the DoT has informed the committee that it will conduct the auction for 3,300-3,600MHz bands in the next six months.

The DoT will conduct a spectrum auction in March. It has put up for sale 2,251MHz of spectrum at a reserve price of 3.92 trillion. Spectrum in the 700MHz, 800MHz, 900MHz, 1,800MHz, 2,100MHz, 2,300MHz and 2,500MHz bands have been put on the block, while the 3,300-3,600 bands, suggested by Trai for 5G, are not included in the upcoming sale.

The panel slammed DoTs laid back" approach and criticised it for the delay in spectrum auction that would slow down the movement of operators as well as vendors to rollout 5G, even as 118 operators in 59 countries have deployed the wireless service globally.

The DoT also informed the committee that India will be ready for a partial rollout of 5G by the end of 2021 or early 2022. DoT Secretary told the panel that the countrys 5G technology will initially ride on 4G, that is the core (brain of the network) will be 4G, while radio (that transmits signals from tower to handsets) will be 5G.

Even after the initial rollout of 5G, 4G will continue in India for at least five-six years.

Now when many countries are swiftly moving towards 5G technology, India is likely to witness its deployment only by the end of 2021 or early part of 2022, that too partially. So, it is very likely that after missing the 2G, 3G and 4G bus, India is going to miss on 5G opportunities," the committee said in its report.

The US, Canada, the UK, European Union, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and The Philippines have already launched 5G services.

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How can you build a hopeful future without first learning from the painful past?

This question, which has arisen repeatedly over the last year, resonates in three new streaming theater productions for young people. Directed toward audiences 9 and older, each uses African-American history to reflect on current issues, including the Black Lives Matter movement, climate change and the coronavirus pandemic. Frequently unsparing in detail  and even in language  these works should inspire discussions well beyond Black History Month.

A Tribe Called Tubman, from TheaterWorksUSA, is the most fully realized, incisive and moving of the shows, both because of its length  42 minutes  and its reliance on an actors presence. (The other productions feature animation or puppetry.) Available indefinitely on TWUSA.TV, a platform that the company developed for its own work and that of other family-theater producers, the play stars Jada Suzanne Dixon as a serene and commanding Harriet Tubman, the escaped slave who became a leader of the Underground Railroad. (You must wait until the end to discover the identity of the tribe in the title.)
A protester stands atop a police structure in Ikeja, capital of Lagos state, during #EndSARS demonstrations on October 11, 2020. Ayodeji Adegoroye (@ayodeji_dodo)/Twitter

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, on Monday ordered Area Commanders and their respective Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) to tighten security in their respective jurisdictions ahead of the forthcoming#EndSARS protest scheduled to hold on February 13, 2021.

Some civil society groups have planned to kick-start another #EndSARS protest against the judgement of the Lagos State Judicial Panel, which directed the LCC to take over Lekki tollgate, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Lekki tollgate was set ablaze by suspected arsonists on October 20, 2020, after a yet to be ascertained number of youths were shot dead by suspected soldiers deployed to the area. Recalled that at the time the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had denied asking the Nigerian Army to deploy soldiers to disperse the protesters.

A statement which the Army had since refuted.

Presently, armed policemen have been deployed to man strategic areas within the metropolis.

Our correspondent reliably learnt from an impeccable source at the command headquarters who said the state police boss quickly called for an emergency meeting of all area commanders and DPOs as well as principal staff officers during which the issue of the forthcoming #EndSARS protest was discussed.

The source said rising from the meeting, the state police boss directed that security should be beefed up around key government installations around the state.

"At the meeting, area commanders and DPO were ordered to ensure that their stations were adequately protected," the source added.

Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the emergency security meeting called at the instance of the state Commissioner of Police.

Meanwhile, Alakuko area of the state had witnessed series of fracas in the last three days.

Adejobi said policemen had been deployed to Alakuko to restore normalcy to the area.
[February 08, 2021] Crown PropTech Acquisitions Announces Pricing of Upsized $240 Million Initial Public Offering

Crown PropTech Acquisitions (the "Company") announced today that it priced its upsized initial public offering of 24,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit. The units are expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") and trade under the ticker symbol "CPTK.U" beginning on February 9, 2021. Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-third of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. Only whole warrants are exercisable. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares and redeemable warrants are expected to be listed on NYSE under the symbols "CPTK" and "CPTK WS," respectively. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The Company intends to concentrate on businesses that provide technological innovation to the broader real estate ecosystem. This includes a focus on businesses that provide technological solutions that make the built environment more accessible, connected, dynamic, efficient, experiential and sustainable. Certain funds and accounts managed by subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. have agreed to make an anchor investment in the Company. The management team is being led by Richard Chera, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and director, co-founder and Senior Managing Director of Crown Acquisitios Inc. and co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of ReWyre; and Dr. Pius Sprenger, the Company's Chief Financial Officer and director, who was formerly an executive of Cantor Fitzgerald and Deutsche Bank. Rasheq Zarif is serving as the lead strategic advisor to the Company.



RBC Capital Markets, LLC is acting as the sole book-running manager of the offering. The Company has granted the underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 3,600,000 units at the initial public offering price to cover over-allotments, if any. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the prospectus may be obtained from RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10281, or by telephone at (877) 822-4089 or by email at equityprospectus@rbccm.com.

A registration statement relating to the securities has been declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC (News - Alert) ") on February 8, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including with respect to the proposed initial public offering and the anticipated use of the net proceeds. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement and preliminary prospectus for the Company's offering filed with the SEC. Copies of these documents are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005946/en/

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A number of countries around the world have fudged official coronavirus statistics, shared artificially sunny outlooks about the pandemic, or cracked down on reports that counter the official narrative.

Zoom in: But no country has taken coronavirus denial to the extent of Tanzania  which is not only denying that it has a single case, but it's also rejecting vaccines.

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Even North Korea, which has reported zero cases, is set to receive vaccines from the COVAX initiative. So too Turkmenistan, which is officially COVID-free but will soon launch its vaccination campaign with Russia's Sputnik V.

President John Magufuli says Tanzania doesn't need vaccines, and that they don't work anyway: "If the white man was able to come up with vaccinations, he should have found a vaccination for AIDS, cancer and TB by now."

His government has instead recommended herbal remedies, steam treatments, and a ginger and onion smoothie to ward off infection.

Reality check: Magufuli's COVID populism is dangerous for multiple reasons.

Tanzanians are dying. In crowded hospitals, patients on oxygen succumb to what will be officially recorded as acute pneumonia," The Continent reports. The virus crosses borders. The government's decision to refuse vaccines and make any test and trace system all but impossible could be dangerous for Tanzania's neighbors, and potentially the world.

The other side: Doctors and journalists have tried to spread the word about the risks, mostly anonymously due to fear of retribution, and the Catholic church recently raised the alarm.

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Johannesburg  Police in central Johannesburg accused of extorting bribes and preying on women

Police in central Johannesburg who routinely demand to see the passports or ID documents of immigrant women, have been accused of extorting bribes and threatening the women with deportation if they fail to produce documentation. According to a number of women who spoke to GroundUp, sometimes the officers are in plain clothes or wearing reflector vests when they extort bribes.

The women are mostly immigrants from Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Some are asylum seekers whose documents are lost or expired.

They say their traditional clothes and their accents give them away.

Memory, born in Zimbabwe, said she is terrified when she goes twice a week from Springs Kwathema township to the city centre to buy stock for her cleaning product and hair extension business. But as she supports four children she has no option.

"What will happen to my children if l get arrested or deported while they are at home?" she said.

She has been in South Africa for eight years and her passport expired. She said she has had to pay bribes three times to police for not having a valid passport.

Last week on Friday police officers took her last R100. "When I told them that I did not have it [passport] they said I should buy them a 'cold drink' if l did not want to be arrested," she said.

"I can speak Zulu but for some reason they can tell that l am an immigrant. I always wonder what it is that makes me look different from any other person," she said.

Matilda, originally from Lilongwe, Malawi, said, "Two weeks ago I met them [police] while going to buy groceries. After showing me a police card [badge] they told me to 'make a plan' so they do not take me away as l had no passport. I gave them R200 and returned home."

She lives with her husband and two children in a flat in Johannesburg.

Grace and Annie from Zimbabwe, who sell clothes, allege that they too have been extorted.

"They used to come to a Namibian restaurant where l worked. They would take money from Namibian customers who failed to produce passports," said Grace.

"How does one challenge policemen who show proof that they are police? It's best to give them the money," said Annie.

She claims the police took R600 off her at the end of January.

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Keri from Malawi, who sells cold drinks at a taxi rank, said, "Women are the ones who are mostly victimised."

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) has condemned the arrest, detention and solicitation of bribes from immigrant women by law enforcement agents.

Sharon Ekambaram, Head of the Refugee and Migrant Rights Program at LHR, said, "There is little consideration for the plight of migrant women especially at the hands of law enforcement agents. This includes police and at times immigration officers who solicit bribes and exploit the vulnerability of women. Many police and law enforcement agents are perpetrators of violence against migrant women in the name of enforcing the law. This takes place with impunity."

Police spokesperson Kay Makhubele said that immigration officers participate in most operations. "Yes, police can arrest any persons who are in the country illegally. ... Those who complain about corruption, they must report it to the police station."
In 2017, a widely cited study used statistical tools to model how likely the world is to meet the Paris Agreement global temperature targets. The analysis found that on current trends, the planet had only a 5% chance of staying below 2 degrees Celsius warming this century -- the international climate treaty's supposed goal.

Now, the same authors have used their tools to ask: What emissions cuts would actually be required to meet the goal of 2 C warming, considered a threshold for climate stability and climate-related risks such as excessive heat, drought, extreme weather and sea level rise?

The University of Washington study finds that emissions reductions about 80% more ambitious than those in the Paris Agreement, or an average of 1.8% drop in emissions per year rather than 1% per year, would be enough to stay within 2 degrees. The results were published Feb. 9 in Nature's open-access journal Communications Earth & Environment.

"A number of people have been saying, particularly in the past few years, that the emissions targets need to be more ambitious," said lead author Adrian Raftery, a UW professor of statistics. "We went beyond that to ask in a more precise way: How much more ambitious do they need to be?"

The paper uses the same statistical approach to model the three main drivers of human-produced greenhouse gases: national population, gross domestic product per person and the amount of carbon emitted for each dollar of economic activity, known as carbon intensity. It then uses a statistical model to show the range of likely future outcomes based on data and projections so far.

Even with updated methods and five more years of data, now spanning 1960 through 2015, the conclusion remains similar to the previous study: Meeting Paris Agreement targets would give only a 5% probability of staying below 2 degrees Celsius warming.

Assuming that climate policies won't target population growth or economic growth, the authors then ask what change in the "carbon intensity" measure would be needed to meet the 2 degrees warming goal.

Increasing the overall targets to cut carbon emissions by an average of 1.8% annually, and continuing on that path after the Paris Agreement expires in 2030, would give the planet a 50% chance of staying below 2 degrees warming by 2100.

"Achieving the Paris Agreement's temperature goals is something we're not on target to do now, but it wouldn't take that much extra to do it," said first author Peiran Liu, who did the research as part of his doctorate at the UW.

The paper looks at what this overall plan would mean for different countries' Paris Agreement commitments. Nations set their own Paris Agreement emissions-reductions pledges. The United States pledged a 1% drop in carbon emissions per year until 2026, or slightly more ambitious than the average. China pledged to reduce its carbon intensity, or the carbon emissions per unit of economic activity, by 60% of its 2005 levels by 2030.

"Globally, the temperature goal requires an 80% boost in the annual rate of emissions decline compared to the Paris Agreement, but if a country has finished most of its promised mitigation measures, then the extra decline required now will be smaller," Liu said.

Assuming that each country's share of the work remains unchanged, the U.S. would need to increase its goal by 38% to do its part toward actually achieving the 2 degrees goal. China's more ambitious and fairly successful plan would need only a 7% boost, and the United Kingdom, which has made substantial progress already, would need a 17% increase. On the other hand, countries that had pledged cuts but where emissions have risen, like South Korea and Brazil, would need a bigger boost now to make up for the lost time.

The authors also suggest that countries increase their accountability by reviewing progress annually, rather than on the five-year, 10-year or longer timescales included in many existing climate plans.

"To some extent, the discourse around climate has been: 'We have to completely change our lifestyles and everything,'" Raftery said. "The idea from our work is that actually, what's required is not easy, but it's quantifiable. Reducing global emissions by 1.8% per year is a goal that's not astronomical."

From 2011 to 2015, Raftery says, the U.S. did see a drop in emissions, due to efficiencies in industries ranging from lighting to transportation as well as regulation. The pandemic-related economic changes will be short-lived, he predicts, but the creativity and flexibility the pandemic has required may usher in a lasting drop in emissions.

"If you say, 'Everything's a disaster and we need to radically overhaul society,' there's a feeling of hopelessness," Raftery said. "But if we say, 'We need to reduce emissions by 1.8% a year,' that's a different mindset."

###

This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

For more information, contact Raftery at raftery@uw.edu.
Sinn Fein has said that a "continuous pattern of bad policing" raises fundamental questions for the entire PSNI senior leadership team, and not just the Chief Constable.

But the DUP said that criticism of police from Michelle O'Neill's party "rings utterly hollow" given its "antics at the Storey funeral and disregard for Covid-19 rules".

The Chief Constable met Sinn Fein, the DUP and SDLP yesterday in an attempt to defuse tensions following the arrest of a victim at the commemoration for the Sean Graham bookies massacre in south Belfast.

The PSNI was captured on camera on Friday handcuffing Mark Sykes who was injured in the 1992 UDA attack. The Police Ombudsman is investigating the incident.

Simon Byrne has insisted he won't be resigning over the matter for which he has apologised. He has suspended one officer and repositioned another.

Justice Minister Naomi Long said that the Chief Constable retains her confidence. Writing in An Phoblacht, Sinn Fein junior minister Declan Kearney said the question of Mr Byrne's resignation was a diversion from the real issue.

"The deepening crisis of confidence in the PSNI and widespread anger about the continuous pattern of bad and differential policing now raise fundamental questions for the entire senior leadership team of the PSNI, not just its Chief Constable," he wrote.

"This extends to the PSNI institutional culture, human rights' ethos, organisational training, adherence to the principles of the Good Friday Agreement, and commitment to the vision of our peace process."

Mr Kearney said that successive chief constables, and their leadership teams, had "failed to internalise the priorities and requirements of policing in our society as it continues to emerge from conflict".

"For 80 years the RUC was a pillar of the exclusionary, apartheid system, which was the northern state.

"The formation of the PSNI was meant to be a break with that past. The PSNI leadership has a lot of convincing to do within this community, that it is serious about transformative policing, and is indeed up to the task," he added.

Ms O'Neill said there were "frank exchanges" during her party's meeting with Mr Byrne.

"I made it clear that the arrest of a victim laying flowers on the anniversary of the Ormeau Road massacre, and the PSNI's failure to intervene as dozens of masked UVF members roamed the streets, have created a crisis in public confidence in policing.

"I left the Chief Constable in no doubt that the events of recent days are a watershed moment for policing and public confidence in policing."

But speaking after her meeting with Mr Byrne, the DUP leader said PSNI decision-making must be "based on the law and not politics".

Criticising his handling of the controversy, Mrs Foster said: "The swift response by the Chief Constable has all the hallmarks of trial by social media, and of two young officers being scapegoated.

"This will inevitably cause alarm among those starting their career in the police.

"The matter has been referred to the Police Ombudsman. Decisions about the matter should have been made at the completion of that investigation."

Police have said that up to 40 people were present at the Lower Ormeau commemoration on Friday when only six are permitted to gather outside under Covid regulations.

But Relatives for Justice said that no more than 15 people were on the street, socially distanced and in household bubbles.

Mrs Foster said: "The anniversaries of atrocities at Kingsmills and Teebane were marked respectfully and lawfully.

"There is a duty on all organisers to act in compliance with the law.

"While we understand the need for a proportionate and sensitive policing response, operational decisions must be fair and balanced. There should be no apology for enforcing the rule of law."

Ulster Unionist Policing Board member Mike Nesbitt asked if the officers at the bookies commemoration followed the policy of "engage, explain, encourage, enforce".

He said: "The second set of questions is directed to the Chief Constable and his leadership team. Did he act precipitously in suspending one of the officers, given the Ombudsman is on the case?

"Thirdly, while I respect dignified commemorations, there is a question over whether the event organisers fully complied with the Covid regulations and guidance.

"Recently, my party marked the 40th anniversary of the murders of former Stormont Speaker and Somme veteran, Sir Norman Stronge and his son James by the Provisional IRA. We did so with only two people representing the party at the memorial engraving in Parliament Buildings."

Criticising Sinn Fein's response to the controversy, Mr Nesbitt added: "Politicians must avoid the urge to use Friday's events to be divisive and drag us backwards. Instead, we must learn lessons and move forward together."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: "It is difficult to watch the footage of the last week and not be angry. But that frustration with how the PSNI has managed events should be channelled through the police accountability structures. We cannot allow the actions of a few to destabilise the progress we've made. The SDLP will be pursuing these issues through the Policing Board as a matter of urgency."
Irans Foreign Minister Javad Zarif sat down with United Nations lead envoy for the crisis in Yemen, Martin Griffiths, in Tehran on Monday to discuss how to bring about an end to the conflict.

The two exchanged views on Yemen and how to make progress towards a resumption of the political process, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Mr. Zarif and Mr. Griffiths further discussed the urgent need to make progress towards a nationwide ceasefire, the opening of Sanaa airport and the easing of restrictions on Hodeida ports, Dujarric said.

The visit by Griffiths, his first to Iran as Yemen envoy, aimed at supporting a negotiated political solution to the conflict in Yemen that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people, the statement read.

During a meeting with European diplomats last week, Yemens Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed said the conflict could not end without international pressure on Iran, which has links to Yemens Houthi rebels.

Saeed said last week that an attack on Adens airport as Yemens newly-formed government officials arrived back in the country in December was carried out with ballistic missiles. Yemens government has blamed that attack on the Houthis and Iran.

The US government has accused Iran of providing missile technology to the Houthis, who have in turn launched a series of projectile attacks on Saudi Arabia.

Washington called on the Houthis to halt attacks on Saudi Arabia on Monday.

Griffiths on Monday welcomed Iranian officials statement of support for ending conflict, Dujarrics statement said.

The US administration of President Joe Biden has said Yemens six-year civil war must come to an end. Last week, the administration announced it would cease its support for offensive operations in Yemen conducted by the Saudi Arabia-led military coalition against the Houthis.

The US also announced Friday it would end the Trump administrations terror designation for the Houthi rebels, a label that rights groups have said could severely reduce humanitarian aid deliveries to civilians in the conflict.

US President Joseph Biden has said that Iran must return to compliance with 2015 Iran nuclear deal  the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA - before the uS will lift sanctions.

The current US administration also says it will seek to curtail Irans proxy influence campaign in the region via follow-on negotiations, though officials in Tehran have shown little interest in engaging on matters outside the original nuclear deal.

The United Nations has said more than 80% of Yemens population needs humanitarian assistance, and that the US-backed Saudi-led military campaign against the Houthis has worsened the conflict.
Ukraine looks forward to working closely with the United States to promote democracy, human rights and equality worldwide, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.

"Ukraine welcomes US decision to reengage with the UN Human Rights Council. As the Councils member, Ukraine looks forward to working closely with the US to promote democracy, human rights and equality worldwide," Kuleba wrote on his Twitter account.

Ukraine welcomes US decision to reengage with the UN Human Rights Council. As @UN_HRC member, Ukraine looks forward to working closely with the US to promote democracy, human rights and equality worldwide. https://t.co/2iBVzVZzu2  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 8, 2021

As reported, on February 8, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States is reengaging with the United Nations Human Rights Council.

"The UN Human Rights Council is flawed and needs reform, but walking away wont fix it. The best way to improve the Council, so it can achieve its potential, is through robust and principled U.S. leadership. Under President Joe Biden, we are reengaging and ready to lead," he tweeted.

ish
Dear Amy: I recently broke up with my boyfriend of over four years.

Although we love and complement each other well, the relationship was not progressing.

When we started dating, we were on the same page about wanting to get married someday.

I have two children from a previous marriage. Several times over the last two years Ive suggested he spend more time with them. He knows this is important to me. However, he is not interested in doing this.

When I asked if he enjoyed the interactions with my children, he said that he didnt and that he only spent time with them so that I wouldnt get mad at him.

Whenever I tried to discuss any future plans, such as moving in together, he said I dont want to talk about it.

He claims that he feels discouraged about our future because of minor disagreements weve had in the past.

Ive done everything I can to learn and grow from those moments.

All couples have disagreements, but he says he doesnt like any conflict. Whenever I raise an issue, he takes it as a personal insult, which derails any resolution.

Obviously, communication is very challenging. I felt that he was sabotaging the relationship.

We are both taking the break-up really hard.

I have been patient and understanding, but its hard for me to continue in a relationship with no future.

Am I wrong for breaking off an otherwise good relationship because of a communication problem?

 Worried and Wondering

Dear Worried: I do believe youve made some mistakes.

For instance: What took you so long to break up with this guy?

You dont mention how old your children are, but if a future partner doesnt want to spend any time with your children (and then doesnt seem to like them when he does), its game over.

He could be great guy (and your children, not so much), but you and your kids are a package deal.

Furthermore, any person headed toward marriage and being a stepparent had better become acquainted with conflict, no matter the age of the children.

Entering a family system requires tact, humor, a generous spirit, and the ability to survive an occasional argument.

Few people enjoy conflict. But mature people (like you) understand that conflict is inevitable  and often leads toward growth.

And (paraphrasing my mother, here): Being in a loving relationship is not supposed to be quite so much work.

Amy Dickinson, author of the 'Ask Amy' column.TNS

Dear Amy: My mother-in-law is a very sweet, kind and generous woman who hosted a large family gathering for 20 people, despite COVID restrictions in her community.

While the (catered) food was being warmed in the oven and on the stovetop, she stuck her finger right into the food in the stovetop pan. She licked her finger clean and then repeated this with casseroles in the oven.

I was hopeful that the heat of the stove and the oven would kill any virus or bacteria with which she contaminated the food.

My question is, what could I have kindly said to help her understand that her actions rendered the food she was serving extremely unappetizing? I wouldnt want to hurt her feelings, but she doesnt seem to understand that her behavior is gross and unacceptable.

 Lost my Appetite

Dear Lost: You state (with implied disapproval) that your mother-in-law defied COVID restrictions and hosted a large indoor gathering.

You chose to attend this gathering.

Post-holiday, COVID seems to be spreading mainly through these indoor family gatherings.

My point is that you put yourself at far greater risk gathering for an indoor meal with 20 other people, than by consuming a casserole after your mother-in-law had poked her finger into it.

As you know, this virus is spread through respiration, not through someone elses dirty fingers.

Its like that classic scene from the movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The two characters are chased to the edge of a cliff, with no choice but to jump into raging water.

Sundance admits: I cant swim!

Butch says, Are you crazy? The fall will probably kill ya!

You should get tested for COVID as soon as possible.

Dear Amy: Responding to the heartbreaking question from Feeling Lost in Cheyenne, who had recently been through a miscarriage, thank you for sharing your own experience. I believe it really helps to talk with others who have been through this.

My local hospital held an in-person support group. Attending meetings helped me so much.

 Grateful

Dear Grateful: Online support groups are also extremely helpful.

(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)

2021 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Read more advice:

Ask Amy: Separated soulmates are eager to connect

Dear Annie: Looking to hop off the hamster wheel

Dear Abby: Children cut off stepmother with dads power of attorney
Wearing two face masks could slow down the spread of coronavirus even more than just one, Dr Anthony Fauci has claimed  but experts say there isn't enough proof.

Dr Fauci  the US Government's top infectious diseases expert  said that it was 'common sense' that double-masking would be more effective.

He added it was 'likely' to offer better protection against the mutant strain, which studies show partially evades immunity from vaccines and past infections.

And Dr Benjamin Killingley, a scientist advising the UK Government in the pandemic, also said wearing two masks was 'common sense'.

But Dr Killingley, a member of the SAGE advisory group, also admitted the claim isn't 'grounded in lots of study'.

Other experts have warned there is no firm evidence to prove double-masking works although they say it sounds like a 'good idea'.

Professor Cath Noakes  a mechanical engineer at the University of Leeds who advises the government on airborne infections  said wearing two layers of fabric over your face could be uncomfortable.

Face masks have been widespread all over the world during the pandemic and can stop Covid spreading by blocking infectious droplets, which are expelled through coughs, sneezes or speech. They are not perfect, however, and some tiny droplets can still make it past masks and people may also spread the virus on their hands.

Dr Fauci, a top infectious diseases expert in the US, made the claim while on US programme Today yesterday. He is pictured above at a daily press briefing in Washington last month

Double-masking could provide better protection against Covid-19, Dr Anthony Fauci has said. Other scientists warn, however, there is not enough strong evidence (stock image)

Dr Fauci signalled his backing for double-masking yesterday, telling US programme Today: 'It just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective.

SCIENTISTS CLAIM TWO MASKS ARE BETTER THAN ONE Wearing a thicker fabric mask over a surgical one may act like a double-filter and improve the fit of face coverings, University of California, San Francisco, scientists advised in recent commentary. Double-masking may block more than 90 percent of infectious particles, the researchers found. A cloth or surgical mask on its own blocks about 70 percent of infectious particles we exhale. That's not nearly as effective as an N95, which is named for its ability to contain 95 percent of these tiny droplets. In their review of studies on mask efficacy, the UCSF ranked some face coverings as 'basic,' and others as giving 'maximal protection.' A mask with two layers of tightly woven fabric is basic, but its strength lies in fitting the face better, so infectious particles are less likely to travel around the sides, either out or in. Surgical masks provide better filtration, but they fit the face loosely, hampering their coverage. Wearing a cloth mask over a surgical one can give the best of both worlds. Or, you can purchase a tightly woven fabric mask that features a filter, for an all-in-one solution. Advertisement

'You know it likely does [stop infection] because this is a physical covering to prevent droplets and virus to get in.

Dr Killingley, an infectious disease expert at University College London, said it was 'common sense' that wearing two masks made someone less likely to spread the virus.

But he told the Daily Telegraph this was not 'grounded in lots of study... not because there's evidence one way or the other, there just isn't really great evidence.'

He added if one mask reduces droplets leaving someone's mouth by 80 per cent, wearing another mask on top of that would cut that remaining 20 per cent by another 80 per cent.

The added 16 per cent protection could mean that only four per cent of droplets actually escaped from someone's mouth, he suggested, which could make the double-masking worthwhile.

'My stance on it is that I never say to people don't wear two face masks if you really want to, but it's got to be comfortable, wearing two face masks is a bit tighter, it's a bit hotter.'

Professor Noakes, an environmental engineering expert at Leeds University, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme double-masking 'achieves' some additional protection.

'In a way that achieves some of that (protection) because you're providing different materials and you're doubling up on how it fits around your face,' she said.

'I would caution a little bit there though, I mean it could start to get quite uncomfortable.

'The more you've got there the harder it is to breathe through those masks together; it's going to be fairly uncomfortable around your ears and you also probably need to think about the hygiene of two masks as opposed to just one but in theory it will provide a greater degree of protection.'

It comes after the UK recorded another 14,104 infections yesterday, prompting the Health Secretary Matt Hancock to claim the country is 'turning a corner in our battle against the virus'.

A further 333 Covid-19 deaths were also announced, the lowest 24-hour toll since December 27 and a drop of 18 per cent from the previous Monday.

The US recorded its lowest number of daily cases since October yesterday with 77,737, with 38 states also seeing hospitalisations fall by at least 10 per cent.

But the country's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned the downward trend could easily be reversed by new variants.

The US recorded its lowest number of new daily coronavirus cases since October 27 on Monday with 77,737, according to data from the COVID Tracking Project
Bake Sale Today Benefits Restaurant Workers

By Tim Brockwell

PADUCAH - The owner of a downtown Paducah vegan restaurant that was burglarized last week is thanking community members for their outpouring of support, after a bake sale fundraiser raised more than enough to replace what was lost. Now he and his staff are working to raise money for other local restaurant workers.Daniel Dodd, who owns and operates Branch Out Foods at 713 Kentucky Avenue, said a thief broke into the business Friday night and stole a safe that contained money from the till and pooled tips that belonged to employees.Dodd called the burglary an upsetting setback, saying COVID-19 had already placed a strain on his business to the point that he was forced to cut hours for his staff. To help recoup some of the losses, he decided to hold a bake sale on Saturday.The response to the fundraiser was nothing short of overwhelming, according to Dodd."Just the amount of support that was given, we were given a whole month's worth of tips for our employees in one day." Dodd said.Dodd said they ran out of baked goods in a matter of minutes, but people kept donating until they raised well beyond what was lost.The restaurant will hold another bake sale fundraiser on Tuesday to benefit Paducah's Tip Jar, a local charity that assists restaurant workers who have been adversely affected by the pandemic."Any of the baked goods, a hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the Community Tip Jar," Dodd said.The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.Paducah Police Officers arrested 61-year-old Steven Baker Saturday night and charged him with the burglary. Dodd said they have been able to recover about half of what was lost in the crime.On the Net:
In Nepal, political concentration seems to be increasing rapidly at this time. The current caretaker PM KP Sharma Oli is meeting the Election Commission on Tuesday for conducting elections in the country, as well as talks on the controversy within the Communist Party (NCP). Citing sources, Khabarhub said that KP Sharma Oli met the Election Commission today morning and after that, all the preparations are going on. It has been learned that earlier Nepal's former PM Madhav Kumar and Dahal had met the Election Commission. However, Oli did not visit the Election Commission office during the ongoing controversy in the party.

It is also being said that Nepal's President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the lower house on 20 December on the recommendation of Oli and after dissolving the parliament, PM also proposed elections on 30 April and 10 May 2021. Has gone According to the information received, the period of political instability continues in Nepal from December 20. After the announcement of the dissolution of Parliament and fresh elections to be held, a round of protests started against them all over the country.

The steps taken by KP Sharma Oli have been challenged in the Supreme Court. A dozen such petitions are also expected to be decided this month. It is being said that if Oli wins this legal battle, the way of elections in two phases on April 30 and May 10 may be cleared.

Also Read:-

Rising violence in Afghanistan: PM Modi expresses concern

Justice Department demands resignation of attorneys of Trump administration

WHO will present its findings report over origin of coronavirus
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Former Vogue special event planner Stephanie Winston Wolkoff stops in front of the media at Trump Tower in New York on Dec. 5, 2016. (Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)

Justice Department Drops Lawsuit Against Melania Trumps Former Aide

The Department of Justice on Monday dropped a lawsuit that was filed against a former aide to ex-First Lady Melania Trump over a book.

The department voluntarily dismissed the suit against Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, it said in a brief, one-sentence filing in federal court.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, a Clinton nominee, approved the request hours later.

A Department of Justice official told news outlets in a statement, The Department evaluated the case and concluded that dismissal without prejudice was in the best interests of the United States based on the facts and the law.

Wolkoffs lawyer told news outlets, We are very pleased that the Department of Justice is dismissing this lawsuit.

The suit was filed after Wolkoffs book, Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady, was published. The government alleged she failed to submit a draft of her book for review prior to the books release.

The United States seeks to hold Ms. Wolkoff to her contractual and fiduciary obligations and to ensure that she is not unjustly enriched by her breach of the duties she freely assumed when she served as an adviser to the first lady, the complaint stated.

Wolkoff entered into an agreement concerning the release of information in 2017.

Wolkoff protested the suit, claiming that it was an attempt to silence her and in violation of her First Amendment rights.

Then-First Lady Melania Trump during an inspection of the 18.5-foot Fraser fir Christmas tree for the White House Blue Room, outside the White House in Washington on Nov. 23, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

The book is largely critical of Trump. Wolkoff also appeared on CNN shortly after its release, where she played recordings she said were of private conversations between her and the former first lady.

Trump in a statement strove to place blame on news outlets, alleging she barely knew Wolkoff.

We all know that more often than not, information that could be helpful to children is lost in the noise made by self-serving adults. I have most recently found this to be the case as major news outlets eagerly covered salacious claims made by a former contractor who advised my office. A person who said she made me even though she hardly knew me, and someone who clung to me after my husband won the presidency, she said in a note.

This is a woman who secretly recorded our phone calls, releasing portions from me that were out of context, then wrote a book of idle gossip trying to distort my character. Her memoir included blaming me for her ailing health from an accident she had long ago, and for bad news coverage that she brought upon herself and others. Never once looking within at her own dishonest behavior and all in an attempt to be relevant. These kinds of people only care about their personal agendanot about helping others.

Janita Kan contributed to this report.
Editors note: This story was updated with more details at 9:15 p.m.

A small airplane made an emergency landing Monday evening on the westbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Lebanon County, according to reports.

No one was injured, officials said.

The incident occurred at mile marker 258, between Lebanon-Lancaster Exit 266 and Harrisburg East Exit 247 in South Londonderry Township, around 6:30 p.m.

Emergency vehicles were still on the scene at 9 p.m. but the highway was reopened in both directions.

Turnpike Commission spokesman Carl DeFebo told WGAL TV-8 that it was thought to be a propeller plane [that] very likely made an emergency landing.

It was hit by two tractor-trailers after it landed, officials said.
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The U.S. State Department said on Monday that it would reengage with the UN Human Rights Council as an observer.





U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that President Joe Biden had instructed the department to reengage with the UN Human Rights Council "immediately and robustly."





He said the United States in the immediate term would engage with the body as an observer.





Blinken noted that U.S. withdrawal in 2018 "did nothing to encourage meaningful change, but instead created a vacuum of U.S. leadership."





The Trump administration announced its withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council in June 2018, accusing the council of being a "hypocritical and self-serving organization" and biased against Israel.
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WASHINGTON - The Senate prepared Monday to launch a historic second impeachment trial of Donald Trump on the accusation that he instigated the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot, with Democratic and Republican leaders agreeing on a rapid timetable that could bring the proceedings to a close within a week.

The charge is serious and the circumstances are unprecedented - it is the first impeachment trial for an ex-president as well as the first time any president has been impeached and tried twice. But there is little drama surrounding its outcome: The majority of Republican senators have signaled that they will not be voting to convict a former president.

Under a deal negotiated by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., there still exists the possibility that senators could vote after four days of arguments to extend the trial by calling witnesses and examining testimony that could shed new light on Trump's actions and motivations surrounding the events of Jan. 6.

But that appeared exceedingly unlikely Monday, with Democrats wanting to move quickly to pass President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion pandemic relief proposal and Republicans seeking to get past the internally divisive debate over Trump as soon as possible. Several Senate aides, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions, said they expect an acquittal vote as soon as Feb. 15, Presidents' Day.

Schumer said Monday that the deal would "allow for the trial to achieve its purpose: truth and accountability" - and force Republicans to go on the record

"The merits of the case against the former president will be presented, and the former president's counsel will mount a defense," Schumer said. "Ultimately, senators will decide on the one true question at stake in this trial: Is Donald Trump guilty of inciting a violent mob against the United States, a mob whose purpose was to interfere with the constitutional process of counting electoral votes and ensuring a peaceful transfer of power?"

In a new filing Monday, the nine House impeachment managers said the evidence for Trump's conviction was already "overwhelming" and vowed to prove their case in the coming days.

Washington Post photo by Salwan Georges

"We live in a Nation governed by the rule of law, not mob violence incited by Presidents who cannot accept their own electoral defeat," they said.

McConnell and Trump's defense team also praised the trial agreement in brief statements.

"This process will provide us with an opportunity to explain to Senators why it is absurd and unconstitutional to hold an impeachment trial against a private citizen," Trump's lawyers said, hours after they filed a 78-page legal brief - their most complete legal defense of Trump's conduct to date.

In it, they relied heavily on the challenge to the constitutionality of impeaching a former president, as well as a First Amendment defense of Trump's rhetoric leading up to the riot - which sought to disrupt the final congressional certification of Trump's loss.

Mindful that they need to persuade 34 Republican senators to secure an acquittal, Trump's lawyers cast their defense in a political light, calling the rapid impeachment effort the culmination of a long Democratic campaign to "silence a political opponent and a minority party" through impeachment.

"The Senate must summarily reject this brazen political act," Trump attorneys Bruce Castor, David Schoen and Michael van der Veen wrote. They said the lone impeachment article was "unconstitutional for a variety of reasons, any of which alone would be grounds for immediate dismissal."

The defense team added: "Taken together, they demonstrate conclusively that indulging House Democrats hunger for this political theater is a danger to our Republic, democracy and the rights that we hold dear."

The nine House impeachment managers filed expansive arguments in favor of Trump's conviction last week, accusing him of "a betrayal of historic proportions" by promoting the false claim that he, not Democratic candidate Biden, won the November election. Trump then stoked anger among his supporters, summoning them to Washington and finally directing them toward the Capitol as Congress met to count the electoral votes, the managers said.

"If provoking an insurrectionary riot against a Joint Session of Congress after losing an election is not an impeachable offense," they wrote, "it is hard to imagine what would be."

Trump's attorneys outlined their rebuttal to that charge Monday: Simply put, Trump was engaged in free speech protected by the First Amendment when he questioned the election results - highlighting "electoral integrity issues essential to his career that he has consistently advocated, a position unpopular with his political opponents."

"The attempt of the House to transmute Mr. Trump's speech - core free speech under the First Amendment - into an impeachable offense cannot be supported, and convicting him would violate the very Constitution the Senate swears to uphold," they wrote.

In a brief filing Monday, the managers criticized that free-speech argument as "utterly baseless," saying Trump's false claims and incendiary rhetoric were entitled to no such protection.

"When President Trump demanded that the armed, angry crowd at his Save America Rally 'fight like hell' or 'you're not going to have a country anymore,' he wasn't urging them to form political action committees about 'election security in general,' " they said, quoting the Trump defense's words.

The Democratic managers wrote: "The House did not impeach President Trump because he expressed an unpopular political opinion. It impeached him because he willfully incited violent insurrection against the government."

The decision on whether to convict Trump and potentially bar him from future office is now in the hands of an evenly split Senate, with 67 votes out of 100 needed to secure a conviction.

The trial is already on track to be markedly different from Trump's first impeachment trial last year, which lasted three weeks in a GOP-majority chamber, with Chief Justice John Roberts presiding.

This time, Democrats are in charge, and senators of both major political parties are eyeing a more rapid proceeding. Instead of Roberts, Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt. - the Senate president pro tempore - is expected to preside.

Once the rules for the trial are adopted, the proceedings will begin Tuesday with a four-hour debate over whether the Constitution allows the Senate to try a president who has left office.

Trump's legal team, some legal scholars and many Republican lawmakers have embraced arguments that it is unconstitutional to do so. In a signal that theory alone could be enough to win an acquittal, 45 of 50 Republican senators backed Trump on that question in a test vote last month - meaning another 12 Republicans would have to be persuaded that the trial is constitutionally permissible for the managers to have any hope of conviction.

Congressional Democrats and more than 150 constitutional scholars - including a founder of the conservative Federalist Society - say post-presidential impeachment, conviction and disqualification from holding future office are permitted. That view got an endorsement Sunday from an influential Republican lawyer, Charles Cooper, who said in a Wall Street Journal opinion article that removal was only a "mandatory minimum" punishment for an official convicted of impeachment.

"Given that the Constitution permits the Senate to impose the penalty of permanent disqualification only on former officeholders, it defies logic to suggest that the Senate is prohibited from trying and convicting former officeholders," wrote Cooper, who has represented numerous prominent conservative politicians and causes. He is representing House Republicans in a constitutional challenge to a proxy voting system instituted by Democrats.

After the debate, senators will vote Tuesday on the constitutional argument against impeaching a former president. While there are almost certainly enough votes to jump past that initial hurdle, an outcome short of a 67-vote majority could reinforce the likelihood of an acquittal and put the proceedings on a glide path to a final verdict.

After the vote on constitutionality, opening arguments will begin Wednesday, with the House managers and the Trump defense team each entitled to up to 16 hours, spread over two days, to present their cases.

The trial will recess Friday evening through Saturday to honor Trump lawyer David Schoen's request to observe the Jewish Sabbath.

Instead, Schoen said in a letter to the Senate, he has chosen not to participate during that interval.

Schoen said he changed course because of concern "about the delay in the proceedings in a process that I recognize is important to bring to a conclusion for all involved and for the country" and said "adjustments" had been made on the Trump defense team to allow for late Friday and Saturday sessions.

When the defense completes its arguments, senators will be entitled to a four-hour period in which they can ask written questions of the parties. That will be followed by two hours of debate on whether the parties should be permitted to subpoena witnesses or documents, followed by a vote on that question.

Should the Senate vote to subpoena witnesses or documents, the trial schedule would be upended, and senators probably would have to negotiate a new timetable for the completion of the trial, probably extending the proceedings for weeks.

It could pose a dilemma for Democrats who pushed strenuously - and unsuccessfully - for witnesses and documents a year ago during Trump's first impeachment trial. Now, with the trial putting a Democratic president's governing agenda on hold, they are taking a different view.

"The core of the case here is the president's own words that incriminate him, show his guilty intent, his undeniable actions - not just speech - in inciting an assault on the Capitol," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told reporters last week.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., a moderate who has strongly criticized Trump's actions surrounding the Capitol riot, said Monday that witnesses would be more appropriate in a potential criminal trial rather than in the Senate proceedings, which he called a "political trial."

"The purpose is basically for history to know the seditious insurrection that happened and [Trump] being very much involved and responsible," he said. "That's what the trial will show."

Members of the Trump defense team and Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, have warned that if Democrats allow the managers to call witnesses, they could call witnesses of their own - extending the trial further.

"You open up Pandora's box if you call one witness," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who has advised Trump on his impeachment defense, said in a Feb. 1 Fox News interview.

Should the Senate vote to skip witnesses, the proceedings would move quickly to four hours of final argument and to an optional period of private Senate deliberations before a final vote on conviction.

In last year's trial - on abuse of power and contempt of Congress charges surrounding Trump's attempts to force Ukraine to investigate Biden's son - the Senate chose not to deliberate as a group before holding the final votes. Trump was acquitted on both articles, with only one Republican, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, voting to convict.

This time, several other Republicans are believed to be in play for a possible conviction vote - starting with the five who backed the constitutionality of trying a former president in last month's test vote: Romney, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Sen. Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania. But that group falls far short of the 17 Republican votes that would be needed, in addition to 50 Democratic votes, to secure a conviction.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., floated a possible Trump censure resolution last month - a suggestion that quickly sputtered. But he said at a Washington Post Live event Monday that the weight of the trial could support a third option beyond conviction or acquittal.

"The evidence could be so graphic that it might make some Republicans say, 'We have to do something,' and Democrats . . . might decide, maybe it shouldn't be impeachment or nothing, maybe there is an alternative we could consider," Kaine said. "So I think it's still very much a live option."

- - -

The Washington Post's Tom Hamburger and Paulina Firozi contributed to this report.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Police are trying to figure out who was responsible for an assault Monday at Rooster Too!.

Police said a 27-year-old male from Rochester was hit in the head by a male suspect with a big beer glass after a group of men was talking to a female who was at the bar with the victim.

A suspect asked a man at the establishment if he wanted to go outside and box before hitting him in the head with the mug, police said.

Witnesses said the suspect was bleeding from his hand and no arrests have been made.
Appointment

9 February 2021

Aimbridge Hospitality, the leading, global, third-party hotel management company, announces Marco Roca, Jr., has joined the company's business development team as Vice President of Development. In this position, he will support the growth of the Luxury & Resorts vertical, focusing on identifying new resort opportunities in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean as well as sourcing opportunities for Aimbridge's lifestyle arm, Evolution Hospitality, in the Eastern United States.

Roca brings extensive experience to the new role, most recently having held the position of Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Reveille Hospitality. He has previously served as Vice President of Business Development and Corporate Strategy at Trust Hospitality, among other positions at Horwath HTL in Miami and J.P. Morgan in New York City. He has been honored as one of Lifestyle Magazine's "Up & Comers 2020," Hotel Management's "30 Under 30" Winner in 2018, and has been a published author in Hotel Management magazine and Hotel Business. He serves as the co-chairman of the Hospitality & Recreational Development Council at the Urban Land Institute, a board member of the Latino Hotel Association and Routier.io and is a partner and advisor for Revolinks.com.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sparks, a leading global brand experience agency, today announced the acquisition of 3D Exhibits, a known leader in the trade show exhibits industry. The addition of 3D Exhibits, headquartered in the greater Chicago area, with locations in Cleveland, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Las Vegas, completes Sparks' Midwest geographic expansion strategy.

3D Exhibits has joined the Sparks family.

"This acquisition significantly increases our trade show business and is consistent with our approach of viewing this challenging time as an opportunity for dynamic moves that might otherwise not have been possible," states Sparks CEO Scott Tarte. "The addition of 3D Exhibits advances our strategic goal of filling the middle of the country and emerging a stronger, more complete company than we were pre-pandemic."

As the companies work through long-term growth plans, a process estimated to take approximately one year, 3D will retain its name in the marketplace, operating as "3D Exhibits, a Sparks company." 3D clients will benefit from expanded creative and strategic resources, a large proprietary events division, and increased geographic reach both domestically and internationally.

The CEO and owner of 3D Exhibits, Gene Faut, joins the Sparks executive team as President of the 3D Exhibits division and will hold a minority ownership position in a growing Sparks entity.

"I am excited about the partnership between these two strong companies. Our combined resources, global reach, and talented personnel will provide immediate value to all of our customers," says Faut. "While we are two different companies, we share similar philosophies, commitments and standards. Together, these values will make the combined entity stronger as we ride out this storm and build towards the future."

"In 3D, we have acquired a terrific business, with exceptional employees and a proven leader in Gene," adds Tarte. "The entire Sparks organization welcomes them to the family and looks forward to collaborating to build upon their impressive success."

The addition of 3D Exhibits, along with the previously announced acquisition of Group Delphi in Q4 2020, is a continuation of Sparks' multiphase growth plan. Now with major fabrication facilities in Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Wayne, Las Vegas, and Philadelphia, eight sales and service offices across the U.S., and international offices in Paris, France and Shanghai, China, the Company is well-positioned for continued growth in both new and current client channels.

About Sparks.

Sparks is a live + digital brand experience agency. We specialize in creating connection--real human connection--onsite and online. Through a mix of sound strategy, breakthrough creative and flawless execution, we create memorable trade show exhibits, live and virtual events, brand activations, retail environments and other immersive experiences that deepen relationships, inspire action, and build trustand we do it all over the world. Learn more at wearesparks.com.

CONTACTS:

Kristy Elisano (Sparks)

Chief Marketing Officer

215.668.3250

[email protected]

Nicole Genarella (3D Exhibits)

Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing

630.644.5141

[email protected]

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Moscow, Feb 9 : Russia is interested in restoring ties with the European Union (EU), but it firmly opposes the latter interfering in internal affairs, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Russia never initiated the decline in relations with the EU, Peskov told a daily briefing on Monday, stressing the need to build a partnership based on non-interference and respect for each other's interests.

"We are strongly against interference in each other's interests... Let there be no doubt that we will act decisively in this regard," Xinhua news agency quoted the spokesman as saying.

"But this does not mean that we somehow want to distance ourselves or further worsen the already deteriorating relationship between Moscow and Brussels.

"On the contrary, we are interested in its development," he added.

Peskov's comments came the same day after Josep Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, made pessimistic remarks on Russia-EU ties.

"My visit to Moscow highlighted that Russia does not want to seize the opportunity to have a more constructive dialogue with the EU. This is regrettable and we will have to draw the consequences," Borrell said following his trip to Moscow from February 4-7 .

"My meeting with (Russian Foreign) Minister Sergei Lavrov and the messages sent by Russian authorities during my visit confirmed that Europe and Russia are drifting apart," he added.

Prior to Peskov's remarks, Lavrov said earlier in the day that he had told Borrell the blame for the collapse in Russia-EU relations rested on Brussels, TASS News Agency reported.

"During talks with Josep Borrell in Moscow, I spoke about importance of building Russia-EU relations on a systemic basis. I recalled that back in 2014 the EU had ruined the architecture of comprehensive ties with our country, which had been painstakingly built for years," he said in a statement.

But he also said that during the talks with Borrell, the Russian side had reiterated its commitment to normalising relations with the bloc.

"Not on the basis of unilateral ultimatums, but on the basis of mutual respect and reckoning with each other's interests. With such an approach, we are ready for cooperation in those areas where we have similar interests," the Foreign Minister added.
As of February 9, Romania received 1,236,449 doses of Pfizer, Moderna and Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine, of which 981,610 were distributed, Chairman of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Coordination Committee (CNCAV) Valeriu Gheorghita said on Tuesday, according to AGERPRES.

"A total of 1,236,449 doses of Pfizer, Moderna and Astra Zeneca vaccine were received as of February 9, of which 981,610 were distributed. At present, the existing stockpile is about 254,839 doses. The total number of the Pfizer/BioNTech doses received as of February 9 is standing at 1,076,849; the current stockpile of it is approximately 170,879. I want to remind you that another 35,100 doses will arrive probably this evening or tomorrow morning at the latest for the Timisoara and Cluj regional storage centres that could not arrive due to bad weather in Germany," Gheorghita told a news conference at the Government House.

He added that as of February 9, 78,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine was received.

"The existing stockpile at the moment is 37,460 doses," Gheorghita said.

A total of 81,600 doses were received from AstraZeneca in one batch, with 81,000 doses already distributed to regional storage centres, he added.

"It is estimated that on February 12, another 92,400 doses will arrive in Romania from AstraZeneca," said Gheorghita.
2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning --

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We 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.
BJP promises to double farmers' income, but stands against them during crisis: Sachin Pilot

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Jaipur, Feb 09: Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister and Congress leader Sachin Pilot said on Tuesday while the BJP government has promised to double farmers' income, the saffron party is "standing against" the tillers in a time of crisis.

He reiterated the demand of withdrawal of the Centre's three contentious farm laws, saying the Congress is in support of the farmers. "A promise was made to farmers that their income will be doubled, but when there is a crisis, the entire BJP is standing against them.

Explained: Is India prepared to tackle glacial burst?

Farmers of the country want to remind the party of its promises," Pilot told reporters in Dausa. "Raising farmers' voice is not a crime in a democracy. The Congress is with farmers and will continue to support them.

The central government should abandon its adamant attitude and withdraw the anti-farmers laws which were made without consulting state governments and were imposed on the farmers," he said.

Union minister Amit Shah share details of glacier burst in Uttarakhand's Chamoli

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

Pilot said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Rajasthan to raise farmers' issues and will address the farmers' meeting. He said pressure on the central government will be built across the country so that the laws are repealed. Later, Pilot left for Bayana in Bharatpur to address a farmer's mahapanchayat.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 15:44 [IST]
A flock of flamingos glide gracefully by the shores of Lake Nakuru.

ln the lush grassland, buffalos stand in herds, except for one bouncing calf running around.

It is a beautiful sight, but all is not well at the lake that hosts the renowned Lake Nakuru National Park.

The world-famous Lake Nakuru was once a pearl in the chain of lakes that dot the great Rift Valley.

No longer a sight to behold

However, the lake is no longer a sight to behold; it is reeling under the pressure of continued heavy pollution.

The lake, categorised as a Unesco World Heritage tourism site, is slowly losing its allure, choking under pollution.

A cocktail of raw sewage and solid waste from Nakuru town's industries and its suburbs, containing plastic and heavy metals, is washed down into the lake.

Its problems are now compounded by the steadily rising waters, a phenomenon that has affected several other Rift Valley lakes.

Rising water and pollution

The pressure from the rising water and the pollution now threaten to take away the lake's tag as an international tourism site, the Nation can reveal.

Most worrying is the pollution from a nearby Mwariki sewage treatment plant and the heavily polluted River Njoro, which drains its waters into Lake Nakuru.

"Lake Nakuru is in a very sorry state. The quality of water in the lake is not as it used to be because of the waste from Nakuru town disposed of inappropriately, which finds its way into the water body. The sewer treatment plant next to the lake is another great threat," said Mr Julius Muli, a conservationist.

Environmentalists have now warned that continued pollution of the lake caused by discharge of effluent into the lake is endangering the lives of wild animals.

"Lake Nakuru was once very popular due to the abundance of the beautiful flamingos, but if this pollution is not stopped, we risk losing the world heritage site. Both the county and the national government should join hands in efforts to end pollution of the lake," Mr James Wakibia, an environmentalist told the Nation.

Dangerous metals

Lake Nakuru Deputy Senior Warden Sirman Kioko, revealed to the Nation the authorities' fear that wildlife could be quenching their thirst with contaminated water laced with dangerous metals from the neighbouring Mwariki sewage treatment plant, which collects all waste from Nakuru town.

"Wildlife may be feeding on contaminated food and water, the sewage is a great threat to wildlife, "he said in an interview.

Efforts to obtain a comment from the Nakuru County government officials was unsuccessful.

County Environmental and Natural Resources Executive Festus Ng'eno and his chief officer, Mr Kiogora Muriithi, did not answer calls and text messages sent to them.

However, Mr Muriithi, in a past interview with the Nation, admitted that the lake is under pressure from pollution.

The officer said there is need for an upscale of waste water management as well as industrial discharge to ensure only quality water enters the lake.

"We must do this alongside continuous awareness creation on benefits of the lake and enforcement of existing laws and regulations. Regular clean-up exercises should also be intensified to save the lake, which is the pride of Nakuru," said Mr Muriithi.

Rivers heavily polluted

Rivers Njoro, Makalia, Nderit, Naishi and Larmudiak, which flow from the Mau Escarpment and feed the lake, are also heavily polluted.

The Nation has established that pollution is so high that the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (Kemfri) last week banned consumption of fish from Lake Nakuru.

Agriculture Chief Administrative Secretary Lina Jebii Kilimo pointed out that research conducted on samples of the fish drawn from Lake Nakuru indicated the presence of chemical elements that may be poisonous if consumed.

Ms Jebii's sentiments come in the backdrop of a booming fish business in Lake Nakuru, following an upsurge in freshwater fish species.

Hundreds of residents of Mwariki estate around the lake had ventured into the fish business to earn a living after the rising water in the lake covered their homes last year.

Unprecedented water levels

The water levels in the Rift Valley lakes including Nakuru, Baringo, Bogoria, Naivasha and Elmentaita have in the recent past increased, recording unprecedented levels.

A spot check by the Nation at the lake revealed that the current alarmingly rising waters of the lake have also complicated the situation since the water has inundated part of the sewage treatment plant.

Currently, the sewage plant cannot be accessed from Lake Nakuru, after a road leading to the site was submerged.

The lake is currently experiencing rising waters which have swallowed sections of the neighbouring lush grassland, threatening to engulf wildlife habitat.

Already, conservationists and environmental experts have warned that the continued rise of the water threatens to swallow the vegetation that wildlife at the Lake Nakuru National Park feed on.

According to Mr Kioko, about two decades ago, up to two million lesser and greater flamingos (a third of the world's population) would flock the alkaline water to feed on the abundant blue-green algae cultivated by their own droppings.

However, pollution, coupled by the rising water level in recent years -- also experienced in more than five other Rift Valley lakes -- have caused a big drop in salinity, and a number of flamingos have left Lake Nakuru.

"Thousands of the flamingos migrated to other areas including Lake Bogoria, Elmentaita, Magadi and Natron (in Tanzania). The birds have been fleeing Lake Nakuru to other areas in search of food with reduced growth of the blue-green algae -- the flamingos' main food," revealed Mr Kioko.

Lake Nakuru currently supports less than 500,000 flamingos, compared to two to four million just a few years ago.

"Ten years ago, you could see millions of flamingos, it was like a big pink cloud. Today, that number has reduced," a ranger at the park told the Nation.

Out of the five flamingo species, there are two that inhabit Lake Nakuru -- the lesser and the greater flamingo.

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The flamingos feed on blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, which thrive in alkaline water.

Other wildlife at the park are lions, gazelles, baboons, rhinos, zebras, water bucks, buffaloes and the elusive leopard, among other animals.

Lake Nakuru National Park also serves as a sanctuary for endangered black and white rhinos.

Lake 'as good as dead'

However, on March 26, 2019, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala, during a stakeholders' meeting in Naivasha, said that Lake Nakuru was "as good as dead" due to heavy pollution and the migration of flamingos from the water mass.

He called for the formation of a team to address land encroachment at lakes Nakuru, Naivasha and Elmentaita, and asked scientists from the Kenya Wildlife Service to address the loss of biodiversity and the flight of flamingos from Lake Nakuru in a bid to restore it to its former glory.

In May 2019, a clean-up by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) aimed at restoring the glory of Lake Nakuru National Park, which once raised Sh1 billion in revenues yearly, started.

KWS Director-General John Waweru, said the clean-up, under the Rapid Results Initiative, was aimed at upgrading infrastructure within the park and demolishing submerged structures as well as improving the quality of water, within 100 days. This was aimed at attracting back the flamingos.

However, although the birds came back in August 2020, little has been done to tame pollution of the lake.
Everyone needs to stay safe from these invisible but murderously mighty microbes by shunning contact with the unwashed, unmasked and unvaccinated. According to what we hear from officials and the mainstream media, the new variants are the most dangerous and unpredictable beings since Osama bin Laden.

But is that drastic approach  which is accompanied by severe curtailment of civil liberties and constitutional rights  warranted?

It turns out that the case for the variants contagiousness and dangerousness centres largely on the theoretical effects of just one change said to stem from a mutation in the viruss genes. And, as Ill show in this article, that case is very shaky.

I also have an accompanying nine-minute explainer video, below:

That one change is known as N501Y  scientific shorthand for the substitution of one protein building block (amino acid) for another at position 501 in the part of the virus called the spike protein.

Specifically, position 501 lies in the portion of the spike protein thats responsible for the intimate coupling between the virus and cells that lets the virus slip inside and multiply.

[Note that any such amino-acid switcheroo is correctly called a change, not a mutation. Mutations occur only in genes. For some reason many scientists and scribes who ought to know better are mistakenly calling N501Y and other amino-acid changes mutations. ]

A very preliminary study published Dec. 22, 2020, suggested that N501Y also is present in the South African variant named 501Y.V2. And another very preliminary study, published January 12, 2021, asserted it was also present in the new strain emerging from the Brazilian jungle, dubbed P.1.

On top of that, the South African variant is being reported as evading immunity and B.1.1.7 sharing this escape route. And scientists are depicting new variants with N501Y on board as spreading very fast. Some say they make herd immunity impossible, so every single person on earth has to be vaccinated. The models also suggest B.1.1.7 is up to 91% deadlier than the regular novel coronavirus.

(Yet so far it seems the main basis for officials saying its more deadly is shown in the minutes of the Jan. 21, 2021 meeting of an influential UK committee called New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group [NERVTAG ]. There, they cite modeling papers which havent yet been published  which means that until theyre published theres no way to check their work.)

THREE NON-PEER-REVIEWED THEORETICAL-MODELING PAPERS WHICH CATAPULTED VARIANTS INTO THE SPOTLIGHT

Public-health officials, politicians and the mainstream media around the world turned their collective headlights on the variants right after the publication of three theoretical-modeling papers on B.1.1.7, a variant originating in the U.K. The first was a Technical Briefing by Public Health England published Dec. 21 (its the first of an ongoing series of reports on the variant authored by people working at the agency and at other institutions), the second a paper published Dec. 23 by a mathematical-modeling group at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the third a theoretical-modeling manuscript posted Dec. 31 by a large group of UK scientists.

None of the three papers was checked over for accuracy by objective observers  a process called peer review. Nonetheless, all three were portrayed as solid science by many scientists, politicians, public-health officials and the press.

(I reached out for comment to Public Health England, as well as to the first author of the second paper Nicholas Davies, and to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The only reply I received was from a media-relations person at Public Health England; she told me no one was available for an interview.)

(Neil Ferguson was a co-author of the first and third papers. The UK government has relied on Fergusons mathematical modeling for many years. This is despite his work turning out to be highly inaccurate time after time. He also supposedly stepped down from his government-advisory role last May after being caught secretly meeting with his married lover during a time when it was illegal to make contact with anyone outside of ones household, thanks in large part to his modelling. But he was quickly restored to positions of influence. In an article and accompanying video coming out next week, I describe the connections and conflicts of interest surrounding Ferguson and the modeling papers other authors.)

WHAT EFFECT IS N501Y SAID TO HAVE?

In N501Y, the amino acid thats swapped out at position 501 in the spike protein is asparagine; by scientific convention its represented by the letter N. The amino acid thats swapped in in its place is tyrosine, and its represented by the letter Y. Hence N501Y.

Position 501 in the amino-acid sequence sits in the part of the spike protein that protrudes from the surface of the virus. Specifically, its said to lie in the region of the spike protein that latches or binds to the mechanism that is the gatekeeper for whether the virus can enter the cell. That gate-keeping mechanism is known as the ACE2 receptor.

This region of the spike protein  known as the receptor binding domain (RBD)  binds to the gate keeping mechanism, the ACE2 receptor. When the RBD and the ACE2 receptor bind, the cell membrane, which is the circular barrier between the area outside the cell and the cell contents, opens up and allows the virus to enter.

N501Y is posited to make the spike protein bind tighter to the ACE2 receptor. Influential theoreticians have performed mathematical modeling based on this hypothesis. This modeling suggests that this tighter binding allows the virus to enter more easily, and that therefore this makes the virus more transmissible.

Yet as far as Ive been able to find, there is still no concrete, direct proof of this. And note that epidemiological data cannot be used to definitively detect the effect of an amino-acid in a virus. Only experiments involving direct observation of the viruss interaction with the body can determine that.

The main evidence that the top three theoretical-models cite as proof of stronger bonding between the N501Y form of the novel coronavirus and the RBD is from just three scientific manuscripts, and these describe experiments with the virus in mice or petri dishes, not observation of whether in fact the variants are truly more contagious or more deadly.

DETAILS OF THE THREE PAPERS THAT UNDERPIN THE ASSERTION THAT N501Y BOLSTERS CONTAGIOUSNESS

One of those three papers was published Sept. 25, 2020, in Science. It describe experiments involving involving six rounds of division of the virus in mice.

The researchers found a large amount of the virus in the mice lungs right from the first round of division. Based on this, they pronounced the virus to have enhanced infectivity. However, they didnt actually test whether the virus is more transmissible/contagious  that is, whether it moves from mouse to mouse more easily.

They performed deep sequencing and reported that they found the N501Y change in the mouse-adapted virus. Next they did structural remodeling on it and wrote that this analysis

suggested that the N501Y substitution in the RBD of SARS-CoV[-2] S protein increased the binding affinity of the protein to mouse ACE2.

All of this is very different than direct observations of the variant viruss behaviour in mice or humans.

The second paper was posted on bioRiv on Dec. 21, 2020. It describes an engineered decoy receptor for SARS-CoV-2. The complicated series of molecular-biological manoeuvers in vitro were performed that is hard to follow and understand  there is no Methods section laying out the details and sequence of what they did; rather, the researchers approach to their experiments is scattered across all sections of the paper including in the accompanying Supplementary Material. This is many steps removed from real-life situations. The authors conclude from their manoeuvers that laboratory-mutated novel coronavirus with the N501Y mutation seems to bind more tightly to their engineered decoy form of the RBD receptor than the RBD receptor that normally occurs in nature. (The idea, it seems, is that this engineered decoy could be injected into people with the goal of getting the new variant to bind to it rather than to cells, thereby stopping it from gaining entry into cells and reproducing.)

bioRiv is an online-only journal. (Its pronounced bioarchive; thats because the Greek letter  is pronounced kai. I presume the letter  is used in the journals title because the 2 [chi-square] test is a widely used form of statistical analysis in scientific papers.) The journal has the tagline The Preprint Server for Biology. Preprint means non-peer-reviewed. bioRiv focuses entirely on Covid-19-papers and is sponsored by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. It has a sister publication medRiv that also focuses on Covid-19,

The Initiative is the creation of Facebook head Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. Facebook has been among the very active censors of information including scientific papers that diverge from the official narrative about Covid.

The third paper was posted on the website of the online journal bioRiv on June 17, 2020, and then in Cell on Sept. 3, 2020.

Like the other two papers, it is extremely removed from direct observation of the viruss behaviour in live animals or humans. In fact, the third paper doesnt even use human or animal cells. It involves a yeast-surface-display platform as a basis for performing deep mutational scanning of the novel coronaviruss RBD. That platform is an artificial structure the papers authors constructed for measuring binding between antibodies and various RBD regions containing an array of mutations.

According to this paper, the N501Y amino-acid change results in stronger binding of the virus to the RBD.

However, the papers authors state in the last section of their paper that:

It is important to remember that our maps define biochemical phenotypes of the RBD, not how these phenotypes relate to viral fitness. There are many complexities in the relationship between biochemical phenotypes of yeast-displayed RBD and viral fitness.

Translation: Just because our biochemistry experiments showed that the presence of N501Y or other changes in the RBD seems to make the RBD bind tighter to the ACE2 receptor, we dont know whether any of these changes make the virus more fit/transmissible.

And note also that one of the authors of the third paper, Allison Greaney, is quoted as saying in an August 2020 article from the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center where she and several of the other authors work, that:

The virus already has a good enough ability to bind to ACE2. Theres no reason to believe that going beyond that level will make it more pathogenic or transmissible[b]ut the RBD may be able to tolerate a number of mutations.

As another note, the third paper was first published in bioRiv and then published three months later in the peer-reviewed journal Cell. In Cell the paper is labelled Elsevier-Sponsored Documents (see image below) (Elsevier is the publishing empire that owns Cell, among hundreds of other journals). I couldnt find anything online about what Sponsored means, nor about what or who sponsored this particular paper; and I couldnt find any other papers with this designation. So I emailed Cells PR manager John Caputo on the evening of Jan. 18 and followed up by leaving him a voicemail message on Jan. 19. I havent heard back from him.

A BRIEF WORD ABOUT ANOTHER AMINO-ACID CHANGE IN B.1.1.7

Ill quickly turn to another of the key changes said to be present in B.1.1.7. This change, the deletion of three amino acids was described in a paper published on the website of medRiv on November 13, 2020. (Earlier in this article I mention that medRiv is a creation of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.)

The mutation purportedly makes B.1.1.7 invisible to one of the three key functions of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. That function is detection of the gene that has the genetic code for one of the two main spike proteins on the outer surface of the novel coronavirus.

However, that conclusion is based on only sequencing of the virus in a mere six people who tested positive for the novel coronavirus. On top of that, the paper was not subjected to scrutiny by other scientists (a process known as peer review) before it was published.

In addition, the Covid diagnoses of those six people were themselves determined by PCR. And PCR has been shown to have a very high rate of false positives  that is, to very frequently give a positive result in people who in fact do not harbour the novel coronavirus at all.

The authors of that paper themselves conclude that:

this result should be interpreted with caution. As a limited number of samples with the S-negative profile [i.e., tests that were positive for two of the three portions of the PCR test but not for the third, S-gene, portion] were sequenced, we could not exclude the presence of other S mutations associated with this profile. Moreover we could not determine whether the deletion affected the primer or other probe-binding region as their coordinates were not available.

Its a good bet that similar sleights of hand are behind the new wave of papers and headlines focusing on the amino-acid change dubbed E484K.

WHATS THE LESSON FROM ALL THIS?

That the pronouncements about the dire danger posed by the new variants arent based on solid science.

They appear to be aimed more at scaring the public into submitting to harsher and longer restrictions than helping to create truly evidence-based policies.

So follow the golden rules. Read the primary scientific-paper sources. Analyze them and think for yourself. Dont let your reasoning be swept away by the 24-7, fear-filled news cycle.

Rosemary Frei has an MSc in molecular biology from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary, was a freelance medical writer and journalist for 22 years and now is an independent investigative journalist. You can watch her June 15 interview on The Corbett Report, read her other Off-Guardian articles and follow her on Twitter.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested Punjabi actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu who was an wanted in the January 26 Red Fort violence case.

Sidhu was absconding ever since as the police searched for him in various places in Punjab and Haryana and even declared a reward of Rs 1 lakh on him.

"We have arrested the wanted-accused Deep Sidhu," said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, DCP Special Cell.

The Delhi Police had announced the cash reward of Rs 1 lakh each for information on Deep Sidhu, Jugraj Singh, Gurjot Singh and Gurjant Singh; and Rs 50,000 each on Jajbir Singh, Buta Singh, Sukhdev Singh and Iqbal Singh for their alleged involvement in the Republic Day violence that saw at least one person die and several injured, including policemen.

Police would now probe where he got shelter since January 26 and who all provided it. Those who provided shelter to him could also face legal action.

Another co-accused Sukhdev Singh was earlier arrested from Chandigarh.

Sidhu on January 31 uploaded a video on his verified Facebook account. In the 15 minute-long video message, titled 'straight from my soul', he was seen giving an emotional statement in Punjabi, which loosely translates to: "I am being defamed... I had left my whole life behind, and come here to join the Punjabis in their protest. But now I am being labelled a traitor." "All I did was raise a voice for your rights. For so many months, I have been meeting everyone on roads, in tents. Now a single man is being made a traitor," he said addressing the hundreds of farmers, who have been sitting in protests at Delhi's borders since November 26 against the three contentious farm laws.

Within two hours of uploading, it was viewed 19,000 times and received 11,000 comments.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text


Good. No wait.

That was Doris Stevensons quick but clear review Monday of Huntsville Hospitals first day of a weeklong COVID-19 vaccination surge clinic. The Huntsville woman had just left a building at John Hunt Park near south Memorial Parkway where the clinic was being held.

Inside, the hall is divided in halves: vaccination and post-vaccination waiting. The vaccination room has 16 well-marked stations, and there was no waiting shortly after 11 a.m.

Its going great, hospital Chief Operating Officer Jeff Samz said. Well do 1,700 to 1,800 shots today. Some are second shots, about 1,500 new.

The clinic is operating seven days a week, and Samz expects it to give up to 2,000 shots Friday. But that will drop to 500 first doses and 500 second shots Saturday when the states vaccination surge ends and vaccine supply shrinks.

The hospital clinic is by appointment only and opens at 7 a.m. Cars enter a line, and Huntsville police help people navigate traffic cones if necessary. Asked if there have been any issues, Samz said, Some people are coming who dont have an appointment, and we have to turn them away. Thats hard.

Appointments are spaced to keep the flow steady but not crowded. Recipients are 65 years old and older, and that means walkers, wheelchairs and slow pedestrians.

Hospital employees meet each arrival. They direct them to the vaccination stations and then to the waiting to sit for 15 minutes to make sure there is no negative reaction to the vaccine.

The only odd thing about the day, Samz said, is that a lot of people wouldnt voluntarily sit down at Station 13. So, now, the station numbers go from 12 to 14.
Although it is still challenging to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, researchers at the University of Miami are using all the strategies they can to fend off the spread.

That includes using cutting-edge research to detect SARS-CoV-2--the virus that causes COVID-19--in wastewater. Detecting traces of the virus in sewage flowing from campus buildings may provide up to a week's notice ahead of positive COVID-19 test results to warn students and faculty that they should get tested and self-isolate before the illness spreads.

"Research has shown that people will start excreting the virus in their feces and urine before showing symptoms of COVID-19, so the idea is to use wastewater measurements as an early warning for a potential COVID-19 outbreak in the community," said Helena Solo-Gabriele, professor of environmental engineering and associate dean of research for the College of Engineering.

Solo-Gabriele has been studying beach and water contamination in South Florida for more than a decade, so she was supported by University leadership to lead the group effort. And just a few weeks ago, this team of 40 faculty and staff members and students--including Solo-Gabriele's co-investigators Stephan Schurer, a professor of molecular and cellular pharmacology at the Miller School of Medicine; and Christopher Mason, an associate professor of physiology and biophysics and of computational genomics in computational biomedicine, as well as co-director of the WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City--were buoyed by the news that they had received a major grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with funding starting this month. The two-year, $5 million grant will help broaden the University's own pilot program to detect the virus in wastewater.

With this new funding, the team will also join a consortium organized by the NIH to collect and standardize data from institutions across the United States that are testing wastewater for the virus, Schurer said. Therefore, Schurer will work to create data criteria and software tools, so that the wastewater figures and associated information can be seamlessly stored, compiled, and analyzed. This will help scientists correlate information from a range of sources more efficiently, she added.

The researchers are grateful for the boost in funding because the team will now be able expand and further evaluate innovative technologies for collecting, concentrating, and detecting the virus in wastewater. They will also explore the relationship between the environmental concentration of the virus and the results of human testing to create models that can predict COVID-19 outbreaks. Finally, led by Mason, they will utilize next-generation sequencing technology to characterize SARS-CoV-2 genetic variations, look for novel viruses, and link this data to national and global efforts to track emerging pathogens.

Starting in August 2020, the University began regularly testing students who were taking in-person classes to get a comprehensive view of any COVID-19 transmissions and to help keep the virus' spread as low as possible. At the same time, a program was also established for environmental surveillance of the virus using surface, air, and wastewater sampling, led by George Grills, associate director for shared resources at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. As part of this effort, Solo-Gabriele's team began regularly gathering and analyzing the wastewater samples from all three of the University's campuses. Now that this team can ramp up their efforts, Erin Kobetz, who has been leading the University's testing, tracking, and tracing efforts, said the data will likely become even more useful. According to Kobetz, the University hopes to randomly test students in the buildings where they are seeing an increased presence of the virus in the wastewater to help head off any potential COVID-19 outbreaks.

"This is another tool in our armory that will provide critical information to manage the risk of exposure and outbreak," said Kobetz, a trained epidemiologist who is also the University's vice provost for research and scholarship. "It's also incredible this team was able to leverage something that they were establishing to support the University's management of COVID-19 for a broader scientific impact."

Ultimately, Solo-Gabriele hopes to create a primer they can share with leaders across the nation about the best ways to identify the virus in wastewater and how it can be used to quickly warn individuals of potential infection. They also hope to offer strategies that communities can use to reduce imminent transmissions when they detect a spike in wastewater, she added.

The COVID-19 wastewater team at the University includes students and faculty and staff members from the College of Engineering, the Miller School of Medicine, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science, University Facilities and Operations, Risk Management, Environmental Health and Safety, the Institute for Data Science and Computing, and the Miller School's Safety and Compliance Office. The research team also includes students and faculty and staff members from the Department of Physiology and Biophysics and the HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine at Weill Cornell Medicine.

To identify the level of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, Brian Reding, environmental health and safety officer, assisted by a rotation of students and research staff from the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center's Behavioral and Community-Based Research Shared Resource, will collect samples from 13 locations at the University each week. Solo-Gabriele's team will then divide the sample and send a portion for sequencing and analysis to Mason--who has established an international consortium for these studies--at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. The other portion is analyzed at the University. To prep the wastewater for analysis, samples are concentrated down to a few microliters. Then, Solo-Gabriele delivers the concentrate to Mark Sharkey, a research assistant professor of infectious diseases, who uses an innovative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method he developed to determine whether the virus is present in a sample. Sharkey's method can produce results more rapidly and efficiently than other methods, Solo-Gabriele noted. Wastewater samples that are positive for the virus will be analyzed at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Onco-Genomics Shared Resource to detect and identify the viral strain, which can help determine how fast the disease may spread, Grills added.

While the team got its bearings in the fall, it is now accelerating operation by collecting more samples, more frequently, and at a greater number of locations. This will help get a better representation of where the virus may be located, and how it may be spreading, Solo-Gabriele said.

Simultaneously, another member of the team, Naresh Kumar, an associate professor of environmental health, is working with Alejandro Mantero, a biostatics research analyst at the University's Clinical and Translational Science Institute, as well as Mason, to create an infectious disease model that could anticipate potential COVID-19 outbreaks, based on wastewater surveillance, human test results, and local hospitalization figures. The results from this project could help guide University and local leaders to make decisions in a timely way and improve disease transmission control efforts across the globe.

"We are learning that measuring wastewater is a powerful tool to understand what illnesses are in a community and how humans are contributing to these diseases, not only for COVID-19, but for public health in general. Because we can use it to monitor many different [pathogenic] organisms," Solo-Gabriele said.

###
The break-up of Sir Philip Green's empire was completed yesterday  handing his wife a 50million boost.

Boohoo bought the remaining Arcadia brands for 25million  taking the amount raised by administrators Deloitte to 500million.

The online fashion retailer will take Wallis, Dorothy Perkins and Burton online meaning 214 more stores will shut their doors permanently, putting 2,450 people out of work  80 per cent of whom are women.

Payday: Tina Green (pictured with husband Sir Philip Green) will pocket a 50m windfall following the break up of the Arcadia fashion empire

Asos has already bought Miss Selfridge, Topman and Topshop for 265million, and City Chic bought Evans for 23million.

The money raised will be used to pay back some of the 750million owed to creditors.

Green's wife Tina will be one of the first in line for a windfall of 50million, as a loan she made to Topshop is repaid.

The payment will come as former staff face a cut in their income in retirement thanks to a pension deficit estimated to be in excess of 200million.

Pressure is mounting on the Greens, whose wealth mostly comes from a 1.2billion tax-free dividend paid from Arcadia in 2005, to fill the hole.

Further money will be raised through the administration from selling property, including Topshop's prized Oxford Street store, which is expected to fetch between 300million to 400million.

Analysts lauded Boohoo's acquisition, but shares in the AIM-listed stock fell nearly 5 per cent amid fears of a tax raid on online lockdown winners.

Jefferies said: 'We see this deal as a very good one for Boohoo. A very reasonable price for some substantial, scaled assets.'

Boohoo now has 15 brands on its website, putting it in position to mount a challenge on mainstream High Street names such as Next and M&S.

Executive chairman and co-founder Mahmud Kamani said the acquisition allowed the group to 'extend our market share across a broader demographic' and 'capitalise as more and more customers shop online'.
Twitter said on Monday it was seeking talks with India's technology minister, days after the country asked the U.S. social media giant to take down 1,178 accounts it says are spreading misinformation about ongoing farmers' protests.

New Delhi wrote to Twitter on Feb. 4 asking it to remove the accounts, which it said were backed by arch-rival Pakistan or operated by sympathizers of Sikh separatists, two technology ministry sources said, adding the company had yet to comply.

Also Read | India should worry about its public debt

India's security agencies said some of the accounts were being operated from outside the country and were sharing and amplifying misinformation and provocative content on the farmers' protests, one of the tech ministry sources told Reuters, declining to be named as the order was not public.

Twitter did not comment on whether it had complied with the government's order.

"We continue to be engaged with the government of India from a position of respect and have reached out to the Honourable Minister for a formal dialogue," a spokeswoman for Twitter in India said, adding that the safety of its local staff was a top company priority.

Tens of thousands of farmers have camped on the outskirts of India's capital New Delhi for months demanding the withdrawal of new agriculture laws they say benefit private buyers at the expense of growers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government says the reforms open up new opportunities for farmers.

Last week, India sent Twitter a notice of non-compliance, threatening its executives with jail terms and fines after the company did not obey another government order to block content that alleged Modi's administration was trying to wipe out the protesting farmers.

The incident drew criticism of the company from members of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, in one of Twitter's top markets by users.

On Monday, Twitter for the first time said it had formally acknowledged receipt of the government's non-compliance notice.

Twitter reviews all government reports promptly and takes action, while ensuring it upholds free speech, the California-headquartered company said.

"We strongly believe that the open and free exchange of information has a positive global impact, and that the Tweets must continue to flow," the Twitter spokeswoman said.

India's IT ministry did not respond to a request for comment outside business hours.





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Burma Myanmar Military Govt Bans Gatherings of Five or More in Yangon, Other Areas

Anti-coup protesters confront riot police in Hledan, Yangon on Monday. / Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy

YANGONIn a move many fear could herald a crackdown on anti-coup protesters, Myanmars military regime has banned gatherings of more than five people in Yangon and other areas of the country, even as the protests continue to gain momentum with hundreds of thousands of people across the country joining in.

The orders released on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning dont blanket the whole country, but apply to specific townships in 10 regions and states where anti-military coup rallies have been going on since last weekend.

The affected areas are in the regions and states of Yangon, Mandalay, Naypyitaw, Magwe, Sagaing, Kachin, Kayah, Mon, Karen and Shan.

The orders were announced on Tuesday morning via the military information teams Facebook page as protesters across the country were gearing up to take to the streets for a fourth day to express their opposition to military rule. The Myanmar military staged a coup last week, arresting the countrys democratically elected leaders, President U Win Myint and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The restrictions ban the assembly of five or more people in public spaces, rallies, demonstrations [and] delivering public speeches.

They also extend the hours of the nightly curfew to 8 p.m. to dawn. (Previously it had been in effect from midnight to 4 a.m.) Since Monday, in Yangon alone, the number of protesters taking part in the rallies has swelled into the hundreds of thousands as people from all walks of life joined in. The same has occurred in other parts of the country, with some government workers also joining in. Almost all offices and major private banks have been closed since Monday.

Prior to the ban, the military regime warned anti-coup protesters on Monday afternoon that legal measures would be taken to prevent any offenses harming the stability of the state, public safety or the rule of law.

On Monday and Tuesday, police in the capital Naypyitaw used water cannons and fired warning shots to disperse thousands of protesters.

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A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, has advised the CBN to reconsider its recent decision to ban cryptocurrency transactions in the country banking and payment systems.

He also suggested that the central bank could come up with effective regulation of the evolving digital currency revolution and possibly launch its own virtual currency as being done in some countries.

Moghalu, said this during an interview on Arise Television yesterday.

He argued that it would be preferable to regulate the cryptocurrency by either restricting its usage or subjecting it to some form of surveillance that would alert the CBN when abuses that could affect the financial system stability arise.

He said: "I think that there is need for a very serious study about this thing because many Nigerians are involved in cryptocurrencies. If your country is number 10 in the world usage of cryptocurrencies, I do not think that it is a wise approach to either ignore or banish it.

"My recommendation to the CBN is to really take a deep look of this whole thing and perhaps look at the possibility of the issuance of its own digital currency as China, Sweden and Uruguay and other countries are doing. What you do not know can be scary for you.

"If you think that you are too scared of what you do not know, then you will lose many opportunities and a lot of things will be happening under your nose because you pretend that it is a bad thing and you do not like it."

Moghalu also emphasised the need for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch an investment education campaign to educate Nigerians about the risks associated in trading in cryptocurrency.

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"I think the CBN should be imaginative and deploy risk management approach to cryptocurrency. Investments are risks that are personal to the investors as long as they do not affect systemic stability.

"I think this is the attitude we should take in respect of crypto currency," he said.

Moghalu, who was the former Presidential Candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in the 2019 election, called on the CBN to be mindful of the fact that Nigeria is in a depressed economy and lot of Nigerians, especially the youths, are making their living from trading on the virtual currency.

He also debunked the argument that digital currencies are channels for fraud and money laundering, insisting that no payment system is devoid of fraudulent and criminal practices.

"They (cryptocurrencies) are not so large in volume that they could have a significant impact on the country's financial system. It is just a question of policy framework. I do not see the reason why there will be a declaration of a 'third world' war between the central bank and the crypto currencies traders," Moghalu said.
KKR backed Virescent Infrastructure has floated the first infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) in the space. It will be a private Invit for which they have sought the approval for the Securities Exchange of India.

It is in the process of acquiring a portfolio of operational solar assets of close to 76 MWp at different locations including Patan (Gujarat), Jodhpur (Rajasthan) and Mohaba (Uttar Pradesh). The power purchase agreements (PPAs) for these assets are with state-owned counterparties. These assets would be vested in the InvIT.

The InvIT aims to achieve approximately 1.5 GW of assets in the next two to three years.

CRISIL has assigned a provisional AAA/stable rating for the bank loan facilities of Virescent Renewable Energy Trust (VRET). AAA/Stable rating is the highest provisional rating that CRISIL assigns. One of the reasons for the good ratings is the healthy revenue visibility due to long-term PPAs at pre-determined tariffs. Additionally, its track record of enhanced generation capabilities, its healthy financial risk profile, and its expectation of low leverage added to its profile, the company said.

Virescents low leverage has resulted in a healthy debt service coverage ratio over its entire debt tenure, supported by adequate liquidity. VRETs initial portfolio will comprise nine solar energy projects, with an aggregated capacity of approximately 400 MWp. The assets are located in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan.





ALSO READ: Tata Steel consol Q3 PAT at Rs 3,698 cr vs Rs 1,029 cr loss a year ago

The portfolio will continue to be largely focused on solar energy assets  with solar assets estimated to comprise approximately 80-90 per cent of VRETs portfolio -- and that are diversified in terms of location and participating counterparties.



Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech on February 1 allowed tax exemption on debt financing of by foreign portfolio investors. Sanjay Grewal, CEO of Virescent, said, The provisional AAA CRISIL rating for Virescents proposed InvIT opens up a variety of options for us to raise debt financing at competitive rates from various market avenues  including FPIs  to enhance our liquidity position. The AAA rating is reflective of the strong sponsorship of VRET by KKR, in addition to our prudent business strategy centred on building a diversified portfolio of approximately 1.5 GW over the next two to three years.

Grewal added that worth Rs 2 trillion are expected to enter the market over the next five years, and Rs 80,000 crore of are in the pipeline for launch within a year. The proposed InvIT of Virescent Infrastructure gives us a first-mover advantage to create new long-term and stable investment opportunities in Indias fast-growing renewable energy market.

Headquartered in Mumbai, the KKR renewable energy platform Virescent plans to expand its portfolio of operational renewable energy assets by identifying investment opportunities that have stable cash flows stemming from long-term contracts with state and central government counterparties across India.

Burma Six Protesters Injured After Myanmar Police Fire on Protest

Police shot to unarmed protesters who did not cross the restricted line in Naypyitaw. / Facebook
Update 02/10 4:44 p.m.

Officers apprehended Joshua Addington Wednesday afternoon.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff's Department, officers arrested him near Smithville.

Original article below

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WTVA) - Monroe County deputies are looking for an escaped prisoner.

Deputies arrested Joshua Addington Monday on Parham Store Road near Smithville for running away from the Mississippi Department of Corrections two weeks ago.

Investigators found three firearms with Addington, including a sawed-off shotgun.

While deputies were transporting him to the Monroe County Detention Center in Aberdeen, Addington escaped from the patrol car about two blocks away from the jail.

According to Sheriff Kevin Crook, Addington is considered dangerous and willing to do whatever it takes to avoid law enforcement.

Addingtons new charges include felony escape and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Monroe County Sheriffs Office is also charging the suspects father John Addington with harboring an escaped prisoner.

If you have any information on Addington's whereabouts, you should call the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.
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WHO scientists sent on a coronavirus fact-finding mission to China have today thrown their weight behind Beijing - dismissing theories the virus leaked from a lab while backing claims that the virus was imported on frozen meat.

Peter Embarek, leader of the WHO team, said that 'further research' into the imported meat theory - which is being pushed by Beijing - is needed, along with studies looking at early cases of Covid reported outside of China.

At the same time, he dismissed theories that the virus leaked from a lab in Wuhan, saying the possibility is 'extremely unlikely' and does not need to be investigated further - despite US government officials calling it 'the most credible' theory just a few weeks ago.

The findings, which mark the end of the WHO's mission to Wuhan, amount to an almost full backing of Beijing's explanations for the source of the pandemic and will be a PR coup for the ruling communist party, which has repeatedly tried to pin the blame outside its borders.

It will also give ammunition to WHO's critics, who feared the investigation would be used to give legitimacy to a Chinese white-washing exercise with possibly embarrassing or incriminating evidence hidden from investigators.

It is hardly the first time that the WHO has come under fire for uncritically parroting information from Beijing - ex-President Trump made the same allegations last year before pulling US funding, a move that President Biden has now pledged to reverse.

Dr Tedros, the WHO chief, has also come in for heavy criticism for his praise of China - describing its 'commitment to transparency' as 'beyond words' during the early stages of the outbreak, despite strong doubts about data coming from Beijing and a past history of covering up disease outbreaks.

It was also revealed that Dr Tedros received support from Beijing while in the running to become WHO chief, and that China has often donated large sums of money to governments or organisations that he has been a part of.

Peter Embarek, lead researcher for WHO in Wuhan, has put forward four theories about how the virus infected humans: Direct transfer from source animal into people, transfer via an intermediary animal, transfer via food, and transfer via a lab leak (pictured, a chart showing the four routes)

Dr Embarek said his team has ruled out the possibility that the virus leaked from a lab such as the Wuhan Institute of Virology (pictured), saying such a leak is 'extremely unlikely' and should not be investigated further

During his press conference, Dr Embarek also backed assertions from Beijing that there is no evidence of transmission 'in Wuhan or elsewhere' in China before December 2019 - despite multiple studies suggesting the virus was circulating globally months earlier than that.

Did coronavirus originate in Chinese government laboratory? The Wuhan Institute of Virology has been collecting numerous coronaviruses from bats ever since the SARS outbreak in 2002. They have also published papers describing how these bat viruses have interacted with human cells. US Embassy staff visited the lab in 2018 and 'had grave safety concerns' over the protocols which were being observed at the facility. The lab is just eight miles from the Huanan wet market which is where the first cluster of infections erupted in Wuhan. The market is just a few hundred yards from another lab called the Wuhan Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (WHCDC). The WHCDC kept disease-ridden animals in its labs, including some 605 bats. Those who support the theory argue that Covid-19 could have leaked from either or both of these facilities and spread to the wet market. Most argue that this would have been a virus they were studying rather than one which was engineered. Last year a bombshell paper from the Beijing-sponsored South China University of Technology recounted how bats once attacked a researcher at the WHCDC and 'blood of bat was on his skin.' The report says: 'Genome sequences from patients were 96% or 89% identical to the Bat CoV ZC45 coronavirus originally found in Rhinolophus affinis (intermediate horseshoe bat).' It describes how the only native bats are found around 600 miles away from the Wuhan seafood market and that the probability of bats flying from Yunnan and Zhejiang provinces was minimal. In addition there is little to suggest the local populace eat the bats as evidenced by testimonies of 31 residents and 28 visitors. Instead the authors point to research being carried out within 300 yards at the WHCDC. One of the researchers at the WHCDC described quarantining himself for two weeks after a bat's blood got on his skin, according to the report. That same man also quarantined himself after a bat urinated on him. And he also mentions discovering a live tick from a bat - parasites known for their ability to pass infections through a host animal's blood. 'The WHCDC was also adjacent to the Union Hospital (Figure 1, bottom) where the first group of doctors were infected during this epidemic.' The report says. 'It is plausible that the virus leaked around and some of them contaminated the initial patients in this epidemic, though solid proofs are needed in future study.' Advertisement

Outlining the findings of his team's month-long fact-finding mission, Dr Embarek said the team had failed to establish where the virus came from or how it first jumped into humans. Instead, he said the team had come up with four theories about its origins.

He said the most likely explanation is that the virus passed from its original host animal into an intermediary animal that comes into close contact with humans, before making the leap into people.

Intermediary animals could include frozen or chilled animal products sold at markets in Wuhan, including those imported from overseas, he said, outlining his second theory.

The next most-likely theory is that the virus jumped directly from its original host into humans, Dr Embarek said, putting forward bats as a likely source.

But, he said, humans and bats do not come into close contact in Wuhan and swabs of bats and various other animal species in China - including wild animals, pets, and farm animals - has failed to find the original source.

Dr Embarek called for more research to be carried out into all three of these theories, and said teams should be looking outside as well as inside of China's borders.

The only theory he rejected out-of-hand was that the virus had leaked from a lab, saying such an event was 'extremely unlikely'.

Dr Liang Wannian, the head of China's Wuhan research team, further agreed - claiming that there is no evidence that Covid was present at any facility in China before appearing in humans.

If the virus was not present in a lab before the outbreak then it could not have escaped, he said.

Dr Wannian instead pushed the theory - which has become prevalent in China in recent weeks - that frozen food could have been the source, saying his research shows Covid can survive for a long time at low temperatures.

This means that the virus could have travelled long distances to reach Wuhan, he added, without specifically saying that it came from overseas.

He further revealed that Huanan Seafood Market - the market where the first cluster of Covid cases was detected - was not the only market in the city to be hit by the infection.

'While some of the early cases had close association with Huanan Seafood Market, others were associated with other markets,' he said, 'and other cases have no market association at all.

'It is likely that Huanan Market acted as focus for virus transmission, but the virus was also transmitted elsewhere at the same time. It is not possible on basis of current information to establish how the virus was introduced into Hunan market.'

In fact, he claimed, the earliest confirmed case of Covid in Wuhan - which occurred on December 8 - had no connection to any market within the city.

He added that samples taken from early cases at Huanan market showed slight variations in the virus, implying that it had been present in humans for an unknown length of time before causing those infections.

Dr Embarek agreed, saying that the market played a role in the early spread but that it has not be possible to establish how the virus got into the market or how it spread through it.

Putting forward other explanations for how the virus crossed into humans, Dr Wannian suggested that cats could have acted as an intermediary animal after cases were reported in felines around the world.

He also pointed to Covid infections in mink as evidence of another host animal, rather than bats or pangolins - both animals which are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine and cooking.

He added that tens of thousands of PCR tests have been conducted on animals around China since the initial outbreak, including on domestically farmed animals, wild animals, and pets. All of the tests were negative, he said.

Marion Koopmans, another WHO scientist who was part of the team in China, further suggested that a rabbit, a bamboo rat or a ferret badger could have acted as the intermediary because all are susceptible to coronaviruses and some were present at the Huanan market in Wuhan.

The WHO mission has been fraught from the start, first beset by delays and roadblocks thrown up by the Chinese government, and then later by claims that scientists were being fed little more than propaganda by Beijing authorities.

Facebook Covid 'misinformation' crackdown sparks freedom of speech fears Facebook will crack down on 'misinformation' about Covid-19, including claims that coronavirus was man-made, the tech giant has announced, sparking freedom of speech fears. The news comes despite the outbreak's source still not being identified, and after WHO scientists researching the origins of Covid in China said it is 'extremely unlikely' the virus leaked from a lab. Facebook said that it has banned misinformation about all vaccines in a blog post on Monday, after years of controversy over the company's perceived inaction. Some of the claims that Facebook said it would be clamping down on includes unproven claims that Covid-19 is man-made or manufactured and that vaccines cause autism or have other harmful effects. Claims that vaccines are not effective against preventing disease and that it is safer to get the disease than to get a vaccine have also been banned from the platform. Posts making such claims will be removed from the website, as well as Facebook-owned Instagram, the company said in the post that came with a list of 'misinformation' it was banning from its platforms. But Jim Killock, Executive Director of the Open Rights Group, expressed the need for Facebook to be cautious, saying there is a fine line between misinformation and content expressing people's genuine concerns. 'Facebook need to take action, but will inevitably make mistakes. They were recently told by their Oversight Board to reinstate a post relating to the COVID outbreak that was wrongly removed,' Mr Killock told the MailOnline. 'There is always a fine line between material that seeks to deceive, and people expressing legitimate concerns about their health. Facebook need to reassure the public that their rights to criticise and examine Government health policy will not be swept away by careless moderators.' The ban has taken effect immediately, with Facebook saying it is paying particular attention to 'Pages, groups and accounts that violate these rules'. Facebook added that it will be expanding its efforts to stop the spread of what it deems misinformation in the coming weeks. 'There's still a long road ahead, and in 2021 we're focused on supporting health leaders and public officials in their work to vaccinate billions of people against COVID-19,' Kang-Xing Jin, Facebook's head of health, said in a statement. Advertisement

The experts spent one month in China, two weeks in quarantine, and then just two weeks on actual fieldwork.

Journalists were kept at arms' length during the visit while no official itinerary was published - and what little information did leak out was not promising.

For example, it was revealed that scientists spent just an hour at the Huanan Seafood Market but found time to visit a propaganda exhibition celebrating China's recovery from the pandemic.

They also appeared to spend several days inside their hotel receiving visits from various Chinese officials without going out into the city.

Deeper research was carried out at the Wuhan virology institute where they spent nearly four hours and said they met with Chinese scientists there including Shi Zhengli, one of China's leading experts on bat coronaviruses and deputy director of the Wuhan lab.

Former US president Donald Trump repeated a controversial theory that a lab leak may have been the source of the pandemic.

Scientists at the laboratory conduct research on some of the world's most dangerous diseases, including strains of bat coronaviruses similar to Covid-19.

Beijing is desperate to defang criticism of its handling of the chaotic early stages of the outbreak.

It has refocused attention at home - and abroad - on its handling of, and recovery from the outbreak.

Meanwhile an AP investigation has found that the Chinese government put limits on research into the outbreak and prevented scientists from speaking to reporters.

The WHO team's mission is intended to be an initial step delving into the origins of the virus, which is believed to have originated in bats before being passed to humans through another species of wild animal, such as a pangolin or bamboo rat, which is considered an exotic delicacy by some in China.

Transmission through the trade in frozen products has emerged as a recent theory and has since become prevalent in China, and it appears WHO investigators also leaned towards the possibility.

Another member of the WHO team told The Associated Press late last week that they enjoyed a greater level of openness than they had anticipated, and that they were granted full access to all sites and personnel they requested.

That expert, British-born zoologist Peter Daszak, said the team looked into issues including what the first cases were, the link with animals and what, if any, the role that imports of frozen food may have played - a theory that China has long put forward.

The visit by the WHO team took months to negotiate after China only agreed to it amid massive international pressure at the World Health Assembly meeting last May, and Beijing has continued to resist calls for a strictly independent investigation.

While China has weathered some localized resurgences of infection since getting the outbreak under control last year, life in Wuhan itself has largely returned to normal.

Summing up his time in China, Dr Embarek concluded: 'It was fascinating to realise that these people are not holding very exciting clues.

'When we talked to one of first cases, you immediately think they must have some very special habits, hiking in mountains, keeping wild pets at home, instead you realise they are very much like us - spending days on the internet, same jobs, activities and sports as many of us do.

'Illustrating how complicated this work is, it is not possible to come up with all answers after a few weeks of study.

'This needs to be done in a systematic way, building bit by bit to get answers, that is what we will continue to do with our Chinese colleagues.'

The WHO findings will be a PR coup for Beijing and leader Xi Jingping (pictured shaking hands with WHO leader Dr Tedros) with diplomats repeatedly jumping on any evidence that the pandemic which has blighted the world did not start in China

Chinese scientists and officials have been keen to point the finger of blame outside their own borders - variously suggesting that the virus could have originated in Bangladesh, the US, Greece, Australia, India, Italy, Czech Republic, Russia or Serbia

Multiple countries have uncovered evidence that the virus was circulating months earlier than originally thought. While Beijing has tried to insist this proves the virus originated elsewhere, most scientists still think China was the origin - raising the prospect that communist officials simply hid evidence of the early spread

China's official timeline vs new evidence Official timeline Dec 8, 2019 - Earliest date that China has acknowledged an infection Dec 31 - China first reported 'pneumonia of unknown cause' to the World Health Organisation Jan 1, 2020 - Wuhan seafood market closed for disinfection Jan 11 - China reported its first death Jan 23 - Wuhan locked down Jan 31 - WHO declared 'outbreak of international concern' as China admitted having thousands of cases Feb 23 - Italy reports cluster of cases in first major outbreak in the West New evidence Sep 2019- Blood samples are taken in a lung cancer screening trial in Italy which later test positive for coronavirus Oct-Dec - Rise in 'flu and pneumonia' cases in northern Italy which could be linked to coronavirus Nov - Sewage samples taken in Florianopolis, Brazil, suggest virus was present Nov 10 - Milanese woman has a skin biopsy, producing a sample which later shows signs of the virus Nov 17 - Leaked documents suggest case detected in China on this date Dec 1 - Chinese researchers report an infection on this date in a peer-reviewed study, but it has not been acknowledged by Beijing Dec 18 - Sewage samples taken in Milan and Turin suggest virus was circulating in the cities Jan 2020 - Sewage samples from Barcelona suggest virus was in the city Advertisement

China lab leak is the 'most credible' source of the coronavirus outbreak, says top US government official, amid bombshell claims Wuhan scientist has turned whistleblower

Abul Taher, Security Correspondent for the Mail on Sunday

One of America's most senior government officials says the most 'credible' theory about the origin of coronavirus is that it escaped from a laboratory in China.

Matthew Pottinger, who is President Donald Trump's respected Deputy National Security Adviser, told politicians from around the world that even China's leaders now openly admit their previous claims that the virus originated in a Wuhan market are false.

Mr Pottinger said that the latest intelligence points to the virus leaking from the top-secret Wuhan Institute of Virology, 11 miles from the market, saying: 'There is a growing body of evidence that the lab is likely the most credible source of the virus.'

Matthew Pottinger, who is President Donald Trump's respected Deputy National Security Adviser, says the most 'credible' theory about the origin of coronavirus is that it escaped from from the top-secret Wuhan Institute of Virology in China

He claimed the pathogen may have escaped through a 'leak or an accident', adding: 'Even establishment figures in Beijing have openly dismissed the wet market story.'

The comments, which were made during a Zoom conference with MPs on China last week, come as a team of experts from the World Health Organisation prepare to fly to Wuhan to investigate how the pandemic began.

Critics fear the probe will be a whitewash given China's influence on the WHO.

'MPs around the world have a moral role to play in exposing the WHO investigation as a Potemkin exercise,' Mr Pottinger told the parliamentarians, in reference to the fake villages created in the Crimea in the 18th Century, intended to convince the visiting Russian Empress Catherine the Great that the region was in good health.

Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory Party leader who attended the meeting, said Mr Pottinger's comments represented a 'stiffening' of the US position on the theory that the virus came from a leak at the laboratory, amid reports that the Americans are talking to a whistleblower from the Wuhan institute.

'I was told the US have an ex-scientist from the laboratory in America at the moment,' he said. 'That was what I heard a few weeks ago.

'I was led to believe this is how they have been able to stiffen up their position on how this outbreak originated.'

He added that Beijing's refusal to allow journalists to visit the laboratory only served to increase suspicion that it was 'ground zero' for the pandemic.

Mr Pottinger (left) told politicians from around the world that even China's leaders now openly admit their previous claims that the virus originated in a Wuhan market are false.

'The truth is there are people who have been in those labs who maintain that this is the case,' he said.

'We don't know what they have been doing in that laboratory.

'They may well have been fiddling with bat coronaviruses and looking at them and they made a mistake. I've spoken to various people who believe that to be the case.'

Sam Armstrong, communications director at the Henry Jackson Society foreign policy think-tank, said: 'With such a senior and respected intelligence official speaking in support of this claim, the time has come for the British Government to seek both answers about and compensation for Covid-19.'

Mr Pottinger, who speaks fluent Mandarin, previously worked as a journalist for Reuters and The Wall Street Journal, including seven years as its China correspondent.

In 2005, he became a US marine and served as a military intelligence officer before being asked to join the US National Security Council in 2017, becoming Asia director before assuming his current role.

His older brother, Paul, is a virologist at the University of Washington.

President Trump last year accused the WHO of being a 'puppet of China' and withdrew funding.

The visit to Wuhan by the WHO team is already mired in controversy after it published terms of reference revealing it will not investigate the Wuhan institute  the only laboratory in China with the highest international bio-security grading  as a possible source of Covid-19.

WHO's 'China-centric' chief is a career politician who worked for a Communist junta and became the first NON-doctor Director-General 'following intense lobbying from Beijing'

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, a little-known figure before the coronavirus pandemic, has risen to prominence as Director-General of the World Health Organisation which is spearheading global responses to the virus.

Dr Tedros - who has never practised as a medical doctor - is a career politician who was born in what is now Eritrea, began work under the Communist Derg junta, came to study in the UK, then rose to the top of Ethiopia's government first as Health Minister and then Foreign Minister before being elected to lead the WHO in 2017.

He has faced heavy criticism over his handling of the pandemic, especially for praise he heaped on China's communist party for its response - hailing the regime's 'commitment to transparency' and saying the speed with which it detected the virus was 'beyond words'.

That has led to allegations - including by Donald Trump - that the WHO is 'China-centric', and prompted Trump to pull US funding to the UN body.

It was not the first time that Dr Tedros has been accused of cosying up to China. Shortly after his election victory in 2017, it was alleged that Chinese diplomats had been heavily involved in lobbying for him.

UN records also show that Chinese contributions to both Ethiopia's aid budget and the WHO have substantially increased during times when he was in top leadership positions.

Dr Tedros (left) became the first African head of the WHO and the first non-medical doctor to hold the role when he was elected in 2017, amid allegations of heavy lobbying by China (pictured, Dr Tedros in Beijing shortly after his election)

Shortly after his election to the WHO, a report in The Times said: 'Chinese diplomats had campaigned hard for the Ethiopian, using Beijing's financial clout and opaque aid budget to build support for him among developing countries.'

Dr Tedros - who is married and has five children - was born in 1965 in Asmara, which was part of Ethiopia at the time but is now in Eritrea.

As a child he saw his younger brother die to an infection, which he believes was measles, which he later said spurred his determination to work on health and health policy.

He graduated from university in Ethiopia in 1986 with a degree in biology and went to work as a health official in the regime of Marxist dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, while the country was ruled by the Derg military junta.

According to the BBC, Dr Tedros then joined the hard-left TPLF - which started life as a Communist party and played a major role in overthrowing Mariam in 1991. It later became part of the EPRDF, a coalition of left-wing parties that ruled Ethiopia until last year.

Around the same time as Mariam's ouster, Dr Tedros left Ethiopia and came to the UK where he studied at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, graduating with Masters of Science in Immunology of Infectious Diseases in 1992.

He then went on to study at the University of Nottingham, where he received a PhD in community health in 2000.

After this, he returned to Ethiopia where he joined the health ministry and rose through the ranks from regional health minister all the way to national Minister for Heath - a position he took up in 2005.

During his tenure, which lasted until 2012, he was widely praised for opening thousands of health centres, employing tens of thousands of medics, bringing down rates of HIV/AIDS, measles and malaria, as well as bringing information technology and the internet into the heath system.

In November 2012 he was promoted to Foreign Minister, and was widely hailed for helping to negotiate a boost in UN funding for Ethiopia, including as part of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

Indeed, UN funding records show that around this time the country received millions in additional funding - including from China, which had previously given little or nothing to support the country.

In 2015 and 2016 China gave some $16million to Ethiopia in spending commitments and cash contributions, largely in support of food or refugee programmes.

In 2011, just before Dr Tedros took up the role, and in 2017, just after he left, China handed over another $44million in commitments and contributions.

Its total contributions outside of this period, dating back to the year 2000, were just $345,000.

In 2017, Dr Tedros left the Ethiopian government and entered the running for Director-General of the WHO as the tenure of Dr Margaret Chan, a Canadian-Chinese physician, was coming to an end.

The election was the first to take place under a system of polling all UN member states as part of a secret ballot. Previously, leaders were chosen by a closed-door vote of an executive committee.

Eventually the field was boiled down to two candidates - Dr Tedros and Briton Dr David Nabarro, a life-long physician who had helped lead UN responses to previous outbreaks including bird flu, the cholera outbreak in Haiti, and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Before ascending to the top ranks of the WHO, Dr Tedros studied in the UK and served Ethiopia's ruling left-wing coalition as health minister and then as foreign minister (pictured in the role in 2015)

Dr Tedros won the ballot by a reported 133 votes to 50, becoming the first African leader of the WHO and the first non-medic to hold the role. His victory came in part thanks to 50 out of 54 African states voting for him.

However, he quickly mired himself in controversy by recommending African dictator Robert Mugabe as a WHO Goodwill Ambassador, amid allegations he trying to repay favours granted during the election.

There were reports that the move was also intended to reward China, a long-time supporter of Mugabe, for using its influence to have him elected.

The Times added: 'China has praised the authoritarian development model of Ethiopia's regime, which rules under emergency powers and has put down pro-democracy protests.'

During the 2017 election itself, several groups within Ethiopia opposed Dr Tedros's appointment due to his links with the TPLF and allegations that they stifled journalists and repressed minorities.

Dr Tedros was also accused of covering up three separate cholera outbreaks in 2006, 2008 and 2011 by mis-reporting it as 'watery diarrhea', allegations he dismissed as a 'smear campaign' by his British rival.

Following his election to the WHO, Dr Tedros vowed to reform the organisation by placing an emphasis on universal healthcare at its centre while also increasing funding.

Further UN funding records show that, during his tenure, assessed contributions to the WHO by China have also risen significantly - from roughly $23million in 2016 to $38million in 2019.

China has also committed to a further $57million in funding in 2020, though has yet to pay the balance.

Meanwhile funding from other major world economies - including the US, Russia, Japan and Germany - has remained largely flat or even fallen over the same period.

Assessed contributions make up only around a quarter of the WHO's budget, the rest of which comes from donations.

The leader of Irans Islamic regime said if the United States wants the regime to return to its commitments and rejoin the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, it must lift economic sanctions.

Iran has fulfilled all its obligations under the deal, not the United States and the three European countries  If [the U.S.] want Iran to return to its commitments, the United States must in practice  lift all sanctions, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said during a meeting, state TV quoted him as saying.

Then, after verifying whether all sanctions have been lifted correctly, we will return to full compliance  It is the irreversible and final decision and all Iranian officials have consensus over it.

President Joe Biden said he is not planning to comply with Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters in Iran.

Biden replied with a plain no after CBS News anchor Norah ODonnell asked him on Friday if the United States will lift sanctions first.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order that provides an authority to counter Irans conventional arms acquisitions, Irans indigenous manufacturing programs, and Irans ability to support paramilitary organizations with arms and materiel, the State Department said in a statement in September.

Besides the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Russia, China, and the European Union joined the agreement in 2015, which was intended to limit Irans uranium enrichment activity to make it harder for Tehran to develop nuclear arms.

The Trump administration has unilaterally withdrawn the United States from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, saying that the pact had failed to prevent Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons and allowed the Iranian regime to support terrorist activities internationally.

Biden, by contrast, has previously expressed a willingness to revive the deal while campaigning as the Democratic presidential nominee.

In September 2020, he 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.

Tehran has already breached the deals key limits by building up its stockpile of low-enriched uranium, refining uranium to a higher level of purity, and using advanced centrifuges for enrichment.

In January, the Islamic Republic said it has resumed 20 percent uranium enrichment at its underground Fordow nuclear site, well above the deals limit but far short of the 90 percent that is weapons-grade.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Former Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Cathy Cochran, who helped shaped legal policy in Houston and across the state, including with one opinion focused on convictions based on outdated forensic science, died Sunday. She was 76.

Cochran served on the states highest criminal court for almost 14 years. She was considered among the most influential judges on the court, helping draft opinions that shepherded her bench through groundbreaking reforms.

The longtime appellate attorney began her career at the age of 37 after graduating from the University of Houston Law Center in 1984. She worked on trial and appellate cases for the Harris County District Attorneys Office and later joined joined the criminal defense practice Rusty Hardin & Associates, where she worked on and off until her death.

Cochran had dreams of serving on the appellate court - she lost her first bid in 1994 - but entered the policy-making arena when she served on a criminal justice task force for then-Gov. George W. Bush and in 1995 became the director of his criminal justice policy team.

Gov. Rick Perry appointed Cochran to the Texas court of Criminal Appeals in 2001. She was elected to office in 2002, re-elected in 2008, and served there until her retirement from the bench in 2014.

Her time on the court overlapped with an influx of exonerations based on new DNA testing, and she wrote an opinion that led to a law giving inmates another chance to appeal their case if the forensic science behind a conviction has been shown to be outdated, according to Texas Monthly.

An elected Republican, Cochran was known on the bench as the legal brain and moderate swing vote.

Her trove of knowledge made her an invaluable coworker, said Andy Drumheller, a defense attorney who met Cochran while working at Hardins office in 1998.

If I stumble upon a legal issue that I want to get oriented to, I will look for Cathys opinions just as a starting place, Drumheller said. Her scholarship was so wide and her curiosity so great that when she decided to take on a subject ... she gave every issue the treatment of a scholar and the best lawyer you can imagine.

Cochran garnered many accolades, including being the Texas Bar Associations 2006 jurist of the year.

Cochran, who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and had spent several months in hospice care, died at her Wimberley home, the Austin American- Statesman reported.

A private burial at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin is planned, the Statesman reported, adding that the family hopes to hold a public memorial service when the pandemic allows.

samantha.ketterer@chron.com
One in 13 Britons using the NHS Covid-19 app have been sent an alert telling them they have been exposed to the virus and must self-isolate.

Department of Health bosses revealed today the application had pushed alerts to 1.7million of its users since it launched in September.

A total of 21.6million people in England and Wales have signed up to the service, the equivalent of 60 per cent of the adult population. But No10 has refused to say how many are active users.

Analysis by Oxford University also published today found the app had prevented almost 600,000 cases.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock praised the app as an 'important tool' and said it was 'hugely effective at breaking chains of transmission'.

Mr Hancock himself was forced to self-isolate last month after being pinged by the application for a potential exposure to the disease.

The 35million project, which was plagued by glitches and bugs early on in its rollout, has repeatedly been described as a 'waste of money' by Labour.

The app's launch was pushed back for months after it failed to pass trials on the Isle of Wight. Early versions showed the app drained battery power quickly, sent people phantom alerts and couldn't be downloaded on some types of smartphones.

But, after ironing out its early issues, the app seems to be finally chipping away at the UK's epidemic. Scientists today said the results were encouraging, but claimed 'impact could be increased by more people using it'.

One in 13 Britons using the NHS Covid-19 app have been sent an alert telling them they have been exposed to the virus

The NHS Test and Trace app has sent 1.7million alerts telling Britons to self-isolate since it was first launched

The technology is designed to keep an anonymous log of individuals that people come into close contact with using Bluetooth, as well as allowing users to check into venues by scanning a QR code when restaurants and other indoor public spaces are open.

England and Wales's app has now been downloaded 21.63 million times, which the Government says equates to 56 per cent of the 16-plus population.

HOW DOES ENGLAND'S CONTACT TRACING APP WORK? Bluetooth technology keeps a record of which phones spend 15 minutes within 2metres (6'7') of one another and then alert people if they have been near someone who later tests positive for Covid-19. People's phones are only recognised by the system if they are running the app themselves - it cannot detect others. The contacts it keeps track of are all anonymous and phones exchange digital 'tokens' with every app-using phone within Bluetooth range. If one person develops symptoms of the coronavirus or tests positive, they will be able to enter this information into the app. The phone will then send out a notification to all the devices they have exchanged tokens with during the infection window, to make people aware they may have been exposed to COVID-19. Each phone keeps an individual log of the Bluetooth profiles someone has come close to. These will then be linked anonymously to people's NHS apps and alerts can be pushed through that even after the person is out of bluetooth range. People can delete their data from this app at any time. Users will also have an 'isolation companion' which has countdown timer if someone has to self-isolate, and will be able to 'check in' to places such as pubs and restaurants using QR codes. They will also be shown what the risk level is in their local area based on the first half of their postcode, with places being categorised as low, medium or high risk. How well does it work? The app is far from perfect, with the Department of Health has admitted that around half of people who are warned they have been near an infected person will actually not have been within the 2m for 15 minutes danger window. And three out of 10 people who were put at risk - 31 per cent - won't receive a notification at all. In trials it had a 69 per cent accuracy rate at detecting people who had been at risk, and it was 55 per cent accurate at detecting people who had not. Advertisement

Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own apps, though the same underlying technology means isolation alerts can be shared between different apps.

But the technology is automated and does not share details of those told to isolate with Test and Trace, as such the number of people who actually obey warnings from the app is unknown.

Research by The Alan Turing Institute and Oxford University  which is still subject to peer review  suggests that the NHS Covid-19 app has so far prevented 600,000 cases.

'The impact of the app could be increased by more people using it: for each increase in users of 1 per cent of the population, the number of cases can be driven down by approximately 2.3 per cent,' said Professor Christophe Fraser at the University of Oxford.

'The epidemiological outlook remains concerning, and using the app can contribute to reducing infections until we are all vaccinated.'

People can book a test via the app and receive the result within it, or can enter the result manually if booked elsewhere.

Between the two, over 3.1million test results have gone through the app, 825,388 of which came back positive.

Meanwhile, a total of 253 venues were identified as 'at risk' due to outbreaks since December 10, triggering 'warn and inform' alerts being pinged to users who had checked into those places using posters with a QR code.

The Government said the venue check-in feature has been used some 103 million times.

Mr Hancock said: 'The NHS Covid-19 app is an important tool in our pandemic response.

'We know it has instructed hundreds of thousands of at-risk people to self-isolate since it launched in September  including me  and this analysis shows it has been hugely effective at breaking chains of transmission, preventing an estimated 600,000 cases.

'Isolating and knowing when you have been at risk of catching coronavirus is essential to stopping the spread of this virus, and the app is the quickest way to notify you if you are at risk.

'I want to thank all those who have played their part by downloading and using the app, and urge those who haven't to take the simple step to protect your communities and loved ones and download it.'

Baroness Dido Harding, who heads up Test and Trace, said for every one per cent of Britons who download the app it is estimated it could reduce the number of cases by 2.3 per cent.

'If you have already downloaded the app; I would like to thank you for helping to keep your loved ones safe, and please check that you always have the latest version of the app downloaded, as we make ongoing improvements to the app to help keep people even safer,' she said.

The app uses Bluetooth on smartphones to keep an anonymous log of other app users that an individual comes into contact with.

If any of them test positive, it then sends alert informing users whether they have been near someone who has tested positive for the virus and need to self-isolate.

Since launching in September, it has suffered from several bugs, including a 'ghost notification' issue where users were sent alerts saying the app had detected a 'possible Covid-19 exposure' but would then give no further instructions or details.

Another glitch saw users who had their phone set to a language other than the 12 initially supported by the app be presented by a blank screen when opening the app. Both issues were fixed last year.

(Newser)  Donald Trump's second impeachment trial in the Senate started with graphic footage of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack before arguments on the constitutionality of the trial began. Trump's lawyers argue that it is unconstitutional to put a former president on trial, while the House impeachment managers say there is no "January exception" that permits an outgoing president to commit offenses, the Guardian reports. Some big lines:

"The framers' worst nightmare." Rep. Joe Neguse, a House impeachment manager, argued that historical precedent existed for the trial and that Trump's conduct made it necessary, the New York Times reports. "Like every one of you, I was evacuated as this violent mob stormed the Capitols gates," he told senators. "What you experienced that day, what we experienced that day, what our country experienced that day, is the framers' worst nightmare." He added: "Presidents cant inflame insurrection in their final weeks and then walk away like nothing happened."

story continues below

" Every time I read that tweet, it chills me to the core." Another impeachment manager, Rep. David Cicilline, displayed a Trump tweet that described the rioters as "great patriots," the Hill reports. "Every time I read that tweet, it chills me to my core," Cicilline said. "The president of the United States sided with the insurrectionists, he celebrated their cause, he validated their attack, he told them 'remember this day forever.'"

Another impeachment manager, Rep. David Cicilline, displayed a Trump tweet that described the rioters as "great patriots," the Hill reports. "Every time I read that tweet, it chills me to my core," Cicilline said. "The president of the United States sided with the insurrectionists, he celebrated their cause, he validated their attack, he told them 'remember this day forever.'" "This cannot be the future of America." Rep. Jamie Raskin, the leading impeachment manager, choked up as he recounted his experiences on Jan. 6. A day before the riot, Raskin buried his son, who took his own life on Dec. 31. Raskin told senators that his daughter and son-in-law were barricaded in an office during the attack and thought they were going to die, the Washington Post reports. He said he was on the House floor, unable to reach them, and could hear lawmakers around him calling their loved ones to say their goodbyes. "Senators, this cannot be our future," he said. "This cannot be the future of America."

Rep. Jamie Raskin, the leading impeachment manager, choked up as he recounted his experiences on Jan. 6. A day before the riot, Raskin buried his son, who took his own life on Dec. 31. Raskin told senators that his daughter and son-in-law were barricaded in an office during the attack and thought they were going to die, the Washington Post reports. He said he was on the House floor, unable to reach them, and could hear lawmakers around him calling their loved ones to say their goodbyes. "Senators, this cannot be our future," he said. "This cannot be the future of America." "The floodgates will open." In an opening statement described by Politico as "meandering," Trump lawyer Bruce Castor warned the the impeachment trial was a "slippery slope" and said the "floodgates will open" if Trump was convicted. He also described the Capitol riot as "repugnant" and acknowledged that Biden won the election.

In an opening statement described by Politico as "meandering," Trump lawyer Bruce Castor warned the the impeachment trial was a "slippery slope" and said the "floodgates will open" if Trump was convicted. He also described the Capitol riot as "repugnant" and acknowledged that Biden won the election. "This trial will tear this country apart." David Schoen, another Trump lawyer, said trying an ex-president on an impeachment charge was a "radical constitutional theory" and an "affront to the Constitution, the AP reports. "This trial will tear this country apart, perhaps like we have only seen once before in our history," said Schoen, per the Post. He accused the House impeachment managers of "pure, raw, misguided partisanship."

(Read more Trump impeachment stories.)
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A study conducted by a team of psychologists has uncovered that belief in conspiracy theories flourishes in teenage years.

Belief in conspiracy theories is heightened as adolescents reach 14 years of age, reveals new research led by Northumbria University.

A study conducted by a team of psychologists from across the UK has uncovered that belief in conspiracy theories flourishes in teenage years. More specifically, they found that 14 is the age adolescents are most likely to start believing in conspiracy theories, with beliefs remaining constant into early adulthood.

The findings were discovered using the first ever scientific measure of conspiracy beliefs suitable for analyzing younger populations. A paper detailing the research has been published in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology online today.

Addressing gaps in research

Previous research has demonstrated that conspiracy theories can affect people's beliefs and behaviors in significant ways. For example, they can influence people's views and decisions on important issues such as climate change and vaccinations.

With around 60% of British people believing in at least one conspiracy theory, understanding their popularity is important.

Despite their significance, however, all existing research on conspiracy theories has been conducted with adults, and research methods used to measure conspiracy beliefs have been designed only with adults in mind. To date, therefore, there has been a lack of knowledge about when and why conspiracy beliefs develop in young people, and how these beliefs change over time.

Now, a timely project funded by the British Academy has developed and validated a conspiracy beliefs questionnaire suitable for young people, called the Adolescent Conspiracy Beliefs Questionnaire (ACBQ). The project was led by Dr. Daniel Jolley, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Northumbria University, who worked in collaboration with Professor Karen Douglas (University of Kent), Dr. Yvonne Skipper (University of Glasgow), Ms Eleanor Thomas (University of Birmingham), and Ms Darel Cookson (Nottingham Trent University).

Examining conspiracy belief by age

Academics worked with secondary school teachers to devise an initial list of 36 questions. The questions were then tested on a range of young people from schools across the UK through multiple studies, allowing the team to confirm a list of nine questions that effectively measure young people's belief in conspiracy theories. The ACBQ includes statements such as "secret societies influence many political decisions"participants completing the questionnaire are asked to respond to each statement on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). A higher mean score indicates a higher belief in conspiracy theories.

Dr. Daniel Jolley said: "Our project has put the spotlight on young people's conspiracy beliefs for the first time. As part of our scale construction, we uncovered initial evidence that paranoia and mistrust are associated with conspiracy beliefs in young populations. We also found that by the age of 14, conspiracy beliefs appeared to remain constant. Exploring the psychological antecedents and consequences of conspiracy thinking in younger populations is important and timely."

Vanessa Cuthill, director of research at the British Academy, said: "The British Academy is proud to support research that helps deepen our understanding of people and society. High-quality, independent research in the humanities and social sciences points us towards new ways to think about our most pressing concerns. This study is a great example, providing us with new ways in which we can learn more about the origins of conspiracy beliefs and the impact social media and digital technology have on the lives of young people."

More information: Measuring adolescents' beliefs in conspiracy theories: Development and validation of the Adolescent Conspiracy Beliefs Questionnaire (ACBQ). British Journal of Developmental Psychology. doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12368 Measuring adolescents' beliefs in conspiracy theories: Development and validation of the Adolescent Conspiracy Beliefs Questionnaire (ACBQ).
Between January 12 and January 20, 2021, Ugandan security personnel harassed and detained at least four journalists covering the country's general elections, and shut down at least one radio station, according to a statement by the Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda, a local human rights group, and journalists who spoke to CPJ.

Ugandans voted in presidential and parliamentary elections on January 14, and continued voting for local and special representatives until February 3, according to the Electoral Commission's website. CPJ has previously documented numerous press freedom violations in the weeks leading up to the elections--including detention and assaults, as well as internet disruptions.

On the evening of January 12, soldiers in the northern Nebbi district assaulted and detained Emmanuel Ojok, a reporter with the state-owned New Vision newspaper, according to the journalist, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app, and a tweet by Chapter Four Uganda, a local rights group.

Ojok told CPJ that the soldiers noticed him filming a confrontation they were having with Robert Onega, an opposition parliamentary candidate, and started beating the journalist with sticks. Ojok said an officer grabbed his phone, deleted footage he had taken, and smashed it.

The soldiers transferred Ojok to police custody, and he was held at a local police station until the following day; police then released him on bond, pending an investigation into allegations that he committed malicious damage to property, and with a requirement that he appear before police when ordered, he said. Ojok told CPJ that he had made two appearances at the station as of February 4, but police had not specified what damage he allegedly committed. Under Uganda's penal code, malicious property damage carries a prison term of five years to life, depending on the type of property.

Ojok told CPJ that he suffered pains on his shoulder, head, arms, and legs from the beating, and that he was treated at the Nebbi General Hospital.

On January 14, the day voting began, at about 6:30 p.m., police in the eastern city of Jinja surrounded and closed Busoga One, a privately owned radio station whose owners include an opposition politician, and accused the outlet of inciting violence in its coverage of the provisional results of the presidential and parliamentary elections, according to media reports and the station's manager, Innocent Anyole, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app.

Anyole gave a statement to police on January 17, in which he denied the incitement allegations, and the following day police obtained recordings of Busoga One's election-day coverage after presenting a court warrant, Anyole said.

On January 22, Busoga One filed a civil suit against the police and the broadcasting regulator, the Uganda Communications Commission, seeking damages for the closure of the station, according to Anyole and those media reports.

The following day, police, who had occupied the Busoga One premises since January 14, vacated the office and allowed the station back on air, Anyole said. As of February 4, the High Court of Uganda had not set a hearing date for the station's civil suit, Anyole told CPJ.

On January 20, police detained Charles Kyalisiima, a reporter and talk show host with the privately owned broadcaster Radio Kitara, for about an hour while he was reporting at a polling station in the western Masindi district, he told CPJ via messaging app.

Kyalisiima said that about six uniformed police officers and one plains-clothed officer surrounded him while he was broadcasting live, accused him of inciting violence, and questioned him about his work. He said they told him to do his work with "care," warning him that, if he faced charges, he could be entangled in a court case for a long time. The officers then released him unconditionally, he said.

Also on January 20, police in Uganda's eastern Jinja district harassed and briefly detained Hakim Kanyere, a bureau chief with the privately owned NBS TV broadcaster, while he was filming a confrontation among supporters of the opposition National Unity Platform party, electoral officials, and supporters of the ruling National Resistance Movement party, according to the Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda statement and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app.

Kanyere told CPJ that Assistant Superintendent Epaphrus Rukundo Bitamazire, who commands the Walukaba police station in Jinja district, ordered him to stop filming and threatened to break his camera, and when the journalist refused to comply, ordered his arrest. Kanyere said that several police officers forced him into a cell, damaging his camera in the process, but released him unconditionally after a few minutes.

When CPJ called Bitamazire, he declined to comment about Kanyere's case and referred CPJ to the Kiira regional police spokesperson, Abbey Ngako. Ngako also refused to comment in a phone call with CPJ, saying that he would need to verify CPJ's credentials and referred CPJ to the national police spokesperson.

Separately on January 20, at about 9:30 p.m., military personnel in the central Mityana district beat Nyanzi William Kaddu, a reporter with Prime Radio, a broadcaster run by the Seventh-Day Adventist church, after accusing him of contravening coronavirus-related movement restrictions by riding a motorcycle after 6:00 p.m., according to the human rights network's statement and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. The soldiers were riding in a Uganda National Roads Authority pick-up truck, a state agency that builds and maintains roads in the country, Kaddu said.

Kaddu told CPJ that he identified himself as a journalist and showed his Prime Radio identification, and told the soldiers that he was going to the local vote tallying center to cover the results of the district council elections. In an April 2020 address, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni had declared media workers as essential personnel, who are exempted from COVID-19 restrictions.

The soldiers rejected Kaddu's explanation, and started beating him on his back, head, and legs, with sticks and a bicycle cable, he said. He said he started his motorcycle and fled the scene, after sustaining injuries all over his body. Kaddu said he received outpatient treatment at a local hospital the following day.

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On January 21, Kaddu reported the incident to Uganda Army Deputy Spokesperson Deo Akiiki, and the regional police spokesperson, Rachel Kawala, he told CPJ, saying that Kawala promised to follow up on his case.

In a phone interview with CPJ on February 5, Kawala said that Kaddu should file a formal report about the assault to the Mityana Central Police Station, and that police would then carry out an investigation. Kaddu told CPJ that he had not reported the case at the police station, because police had previously told him that they do not investigate cases against the military.

In a February 8 email, Akiiki told CPJ that the military was investigating all complaints brought to its attention, with the exception of matters in court, and urged those affected to make complaints with the army's offices. He did not comment on Kaddu or Ojok's specific cases.

In a February 5 phone call, Hiriga Dauda Were, the Kiira regional police commander whose jurisdiction incudes Jinja, told CPJ that he was not authorized to speak to the press when asked about the shutdown of Busoga One Radio and the assault of Kanyere.

CPJ emailed the Uganda Police Force for comment but did not receive any response. CPJ called national police spokesperson Fred Enanga for comment, but his phone was busy or rang unanswered on multiple occasions and he did not respond to WhatsApp and text messages.

In February 8 email, the Uganda National Roads Authority said that CPJ's queries had been forwarded to "the responsible office" for response "at the earliest convenience." CPJ did not receive any response by the time of publication.
When the coronavirus pandemic hit last year, Japan's booming sauna industry had a problem: packed hot rooms seemed to violate all the new rules of social distancing and ventilation.

But instead of spelling the end of the good times, the challenge has led to a burst of innovation, with the emergence of saunas for individuals and even outdoor versions in such scenic spots as riverbanks.

"It has become an opportunity for novelty to become pervasive," said Yasutaka Kato, 37, representative director of the Japan Association of Sauna and a physician.

Japan's saunas were once seen as the preserve of middle-aged men, but in recent years they have drawn in increasing numbers of younger people and women too. And despite the pandemic, the appetite to sweat one's way to health or beauty or just let the heat unknot a stiff body seems undiminished.

A Japan Sauna Institute survey for 2020 estimated that 27.61 million people visited saunas more than once, a slight uptick from the previous year. Among them, an estimated 3.42 million people visited saunas 4 or more times per month.

The sauna association's Kato predicts the purported health benefits of saunas will only add to their allure and give them a more versatile role to play in the future. But he cautioned that until the pandemic ends, users and facility operators alike should be safety conscious.

The association released guidelines in June 2020 noting that sauna rooms have structurally poor ventilation and that it is difficult to keep distance between users in multiperson hot rooms.

In particular, the guidelines point out that despite a popular belief, heat and humidity cannot be relied on to kill the coronavirus, meaning preventive measures such as adequate physical distancing, disinfecting surfaces, and asking bathers to minimize conversations are essential.
(TNS) - Reluctant to visit a hospital because of coronavirus fears, some people are getting severely sick before seeking emergency help, according to Connecticut emergency room doctors.Too many people suffering symptoms of heart attack and stroke are waiting longer than usual to call their physician or 911, sustaining worse damage  and sometimes risking death, they said.Were seeing fewer people come in, but were seeing sicker people, said Dr. Andrew Lim, director of Bristol Hospitals emergency department.Were definitely seeing people who are waiting too long to come in, said Dr. Peter Jacoby, chairman of emergency medicine at St. Marys Hospital in Waterbury.Some Connecticut hospitals this winter are seeing a second wave of deep reluctance to get medical treatment, at least partly because concerns about the second wave of coronavirus infections.Often, its the patients most at risk of COVID-19 complications who are staying home too long: diabetics, the elderly, the obese and people with high blood pressure.Thats alarming to physicians because those are the same people at most risk from their treatable conditions. Those can be managed with routine medical care, but deteriorate  sometimes dangerously  when regular physician visits and medication management appointments are canceled for whole seasons at a time.Were particularly concerned about the people who are more vulnerable  the elderly, the people with diabetes, the people who are smoking. Thats exactly what were seeing  those are the people who arent coming in, said Dr. Basmah Safdar, director of the chest pain center at Yale New Haven Hospital.After the pandemic started early last year, physicians around the country began noticing that emergency room visits were down. COVID-19 cases were soaring, but there was a steep drop in most others.There was this eerie silence in the emergency department. We were all wondering what happened to the heart attacks and strokes, Safdar said.At least in Connecticut, that seemed to level out a bit by late summer, when the state was in a reopening mode and optimism abounded, according to doctors at several hospitals.But late this fall, as infection rates shot back up, many people again started skipping checkups and medication management visits. Some with warning signs of major trouble have been trying to ride it out, hoping the condition will go away.Both our ER visits and the primary care and preventive care visits are down, said Dr. Justin Lundbye, chief medical officer at Waterbury Hospital. The primary anecdote we hear is that theyre afraid of COVID.There were younger people breaking the rules, and that led to a resurgence of the scare that older people will be exposed. When they do come in, they tend to be a lot sicker from the same conditions than they would have been a year ago. More of them have to be admitted.Lundbye, Lim, Safdar and Jacoby all stressed that Connecticut hospitals this winter are actually pretty safe places to be. Theyve refined cleaning procedures and have developed rigorous systems to divert potential COVID-19 sufferers away from the rest of the hospital population.The physicians also noted that hospitals have instituted telehealth options so patients can get initial consultations over the internet without ever entering a doctors office or hospital. And in situations where the telehealth conclusion is that an in-person visit is needed, then the patient knows the condition cant be ignored.Its a balance people have to strike. Are you concerned about being potentially exposed to a potentially deadly disease, or are you concerned about a disease we know is deadly, Safdar said.Noting that drug overdoses are on the rise, Jacoby said people suffering depression should also reach out for help. Diabetics who are dehydrated or suffering other symptoms should get help.Repeatedly postponing routine medical visits runs other risks, Lim said.There are the silent killers like high blood pressure where you can walk around and not feel symptoms. People feel OK, they dont get the medication refilled, and that feeds a falsehood that they dont need it, Lim said. But were prescribing them to prevent bad outcomes down the road.___(c)2021 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.)Visit The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.) at www.courant.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Senate's President Anca Dragu announces that she received her second dose of anti-COVID vaccine on Tuesday, according to AGERPRES.

"I went to the Military Hospital today for getting the booster. I had no side effects, only a slight discomfort in the injected area the day after the first dose," Anca Dragu wrote on her Facebook page.

The President of the Senate encourages Romanians to get vaccinated.

"I encourage you to get vaccinated and take care of your health and that of your loved ones. Science is on our side!," says Anca Dragu.

On January 19, Anca Dragu was immunized with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccination was performed at the "Dr. Carol Davila" Central Military Emergency University Hospital.
+214% growth in three years

Regulatory News:

For the third year in a row, Claranova (Paris:CLA) ranks among France's 2021 Growth Champions, a prestigious selection of the country's fastest-growing companies based on three-year revenue.

For this 5th edition, Les Echos, the leading French financial media group, in partnership with Statista, the global business data platform, paid tribute to 500 SMEs1 and intermediate-sized companies2, the growth engines of the French economy with revenue between 1.5 million and 2.5 billion.

With average annual growth of 46.5% between 2016 and 2019 or +214% over the three-year period, Claranova ranks sixth among the 25 top-performing companies in terms of sales with revenue of 409 million for FY 2019-20203

In terms of sales growth, the Group moves up into the top tier of the 500 growth champions and now occupies the 122nd position in the overall ranking (up from 266th last year).

"This renewed success confirms the Group's ability to maintain strong growth momentum and add market share worldwide within a constantly evolving technological sector. By leveraging its international and diversified market positions within the digital universe through its different business divisions, PlanetArt (personalized e-commerce), Avanquest (SaaS4 subscription-based software sales) and myDevices (IoT5 solutions), Claranova has major strengths to support continuing rapid development in the coming years."

Pierre Cesarini, CEO of Claranova group

For more information, consult the article of the Les Echos here:

https://www.lesechos.fr/weekend/business-story/le-palmares-2021-des-500-champions-de-la-croissance-1287692

Financial calendar:

FY 2020-2021 annual revenue: February 10, 2021

FY 2020-2021 H1 results: March 31, 2021

Telephone number for individual shareholders available from Tuesday to Thursday between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. for calls within France: 0805 29 10 00 (local rate).

About Claranova:

Claranova is a high-growth international technology group with a long-term vision and resilient business models operating in high potential markets. As the leader in personalized e-commerce (PlanetArt), Claranova provides added value through technological expertise in software publishing (Avanquest) and the Internet of Things (myDevices). These three business divisions share a common mission to simplify access to new technologies through solutions combining innovation and ease of use. Based on these strengths, Claranova has maintained an average annual rate of growth for the past three years of more than 45% and in FY 2019-2020 had revenue of 409 million.

For more information on Claranova group:

https://www.claranova.com or https://twitter.com/claranova_group

Disclaimer:

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that could cause the Company's actual results or performance to be materially different from the expected results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

1 SME: Small and medium-sized enterprises.

2 ETI: Entreprises de Taille Intermediaire, a French classification for the purposes of statistical and economic analysis representing an intermediate category between SMEs and large companies.

3 Fiscal year from July 2019 to June 2020.

4 Software as a Service.

5 Internet of Things.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005601/en/

Contacts:

ANALYSTS INVESTORS

+33 1 41 27 19 74

ir@claranova.com

FINANCIAL COMMUNICATION

AELIUM

ir@claranova.com
Following the military in Myanmar, the military has disbanded the National reconciliation and Peace Centre (NRPC), the leading internal peace process mechanism of the previous National League for Democracy (NLD) government, while arresting some of its civilian leaders.

According to The Times, the Tatmadaw (military) has informed the ethnic armed groups that future peace talks will be continued only with the military-formed peace committee.

The military has only been under the leadership of the NRPC, led by State Counsellor who was detained during the coup, in conducting political talks with armed ethnic groups.

"We have been informed that the NRPC has been abolished...If there is any need for talks, we should only discuss with the group formed by the military. The members of the Northern Alliance have yet to show any clear stance on the situation," said Lamai Gum Ja, a member of the Peace-Talk Creation Group (PCG).

Colonel Khun Okkar, chairman of Pa-O National Liberation Organisation, issued a cautious warning that any political agreement with the new government formed by the military after its power seizure could mean that the armed ethnic groups recognise it, reported The Times.

Meanwhile, according to a report by The Times, a curfew from 8 pm to 4 am was imposed on Monday in seven townships in Mandalay -- Aung Myay Tharzan, Maha Aung Myay, Amarapura, Patheingyi, Pyigyitakon, Chan Aye Tharzan and Chan Myay Tharzi.

Some media reports said that martial law has been imposed in the seven townships in Myanmar.

Myanmar's military launched the one week ago, declaring a year-long state of emergency in the process. The armed forces have claimed that Myanmar's November 8 general election, which saw Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party win by a landslide, was subject to widespread voter fraud, as reported by Sputnik.

Access to the internet and social media have been severely restricted following the overthrow of the government and tens of thousands of people on Monday took to the streets for the third consecutive day of widespread protests against the

(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

An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space programme. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticised for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programme's secrecy and its military connections.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday inaugurated Purvasha Folk and Tribal Art Museum, set up at Barkul near Chilika, for tourists from the state secretariat here.

The Odisha State Museum in association with Chilika-based Purvasha Folk and Tribal Art Museum hosts an international exhibition on folk and tribal art that commenced on Tuesday at Bhubaneswar

The 13-day event will be underway till February 21 featuring 100 paintings from seven countries. Host India apart, the countries represented in the event include South Korea, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The artworks have been curated from the recently hosted Chilika Art Sanctuary 2020 at Purvasha Museum of Odi Art Centre.

Nestling on the shores of Chilika Lake, the Odi Art Centre is developed by ?Society for Development of Rural Literature?, a registered, non-profit, cultural Society.

The centre, which has built Purvasha Folk and Tribal Art Museum with the financial support from Ministry of Culture, Government of India and Department of Tourism & Culture, Government of Odisha, showcases the rich traditions of folk and tribal arts of India.

Chilika, brackish water lagoon, has remained a source of inspiration for the domestic and foreign tourists, poets, writers and creative artists and Odi Art Centre was added as an incubation centre to its cultural and ethnic heritage.

The ethnic art complex, spread over five acres of land, houses nine small amphitheatres and gazebos for folk performances.

Yogi government to present final budget on 22 February

Cyber Security is so much more than a matter of IT! - Insightindia

Mehbooba Mufti's party MP praises Modi government
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FBC Bank (Zimbabwe's overall winner of the Prestigious Banks and Banking Survey Award) launched a unique money transfer service that allows account holders to send funds to cell numbers across all mobile networks in Zimbabwe as part of the bank's financial inclusion and digital transformation thrust.

The innovative service can be accessed through Mobile Moola USSD (*220#) and it allows the bank's clients to enjoy the convenience of sending money to mobile/cell phone numbers across all local networks using their mobile devices without the need for completing physical forms or visiting a physical branch.

Commenting on the development, Roy Nyakunuwa (Acting Head- FBC Group Marketing) said, "These are indeed exciting times for the FBC brand, a major milestone as we continue to provide the market with new and safe solutions in line with the FBC Group's new vision statement which aspires to "nurture sustainable solutions that enable the financial well-being of the communities we serve". The FBC Send-to-Cell service addresses the financial needs of everyone in Zimbabwe who requires access to a secure, instant, convenient and affordable platform to send-or receive funds locally."

FBC Bank and Building Society clients are not required to register for the service.

Existing Mobile Moola users must simply dial *220#, select Send- to- Cell Option and follow prompts in order to complete the transaction. Once the transaction has been successfully completed, the beneficiary or recipient of funds receives an SMS notification from FBC Bank as well as the instructions on how to redeem the funds.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Zimbabwe Banking Innovation By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

The easy steps for Sending Money to All Mobile Numbers via Mobile Moola USSD-

*220# are outlined below:

Step 1: Dial *220#

Step 2: Select Banking Services

Step 3 : Enter PIN

Step 4 : Select Option 3- Send to Cell

Step 5: Select Account

Step 6: Enter destination mobile number

Step 7: Enter amount you wish to send

Step 8: Enter Reference(Optional)

Step 9: Confirm the transaction by Entering 1

Clients will receive a notification that the transaction has been successfully executed FBC Bank continues to be ahead of the curve in innovation and technology adoption.

In August last year, the bank launched a revolutionary digital on-boarding service that has transformed the face of banking in Zimbabwe by allowing clients to open a wide range of bank accounts using their mobile phones. Anyone can open an FBC account via *220# or the FBC Mobile Moola app that is available for free from Google Playstore or Apple Store. FBC is the first bank to enable customers to open a full banking account digitally without submitting papers at the branch in Zimbabwe, and all this in less than five minutes.
OTTAWA - A parliamentary committee has agreed to hold formal hearings into the Liberal governments handling of allegations of inappropriate conduct by former defence chief Gen. Jonathan Vance, which are already the subject of a military police investigation.

Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance sits in the front row during a news conference in Ottawa on June 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - A parliamentary committee has agreed to hold formal hearings into the Liberal governments handling of allegations of inappropriate conduct by former defence chief Gen. Jonathan Vance, which are already the subject of a military police investigation.

Members of the House of Commons defence committee voted unanimously on Tuesday in favour of an investigation following a Global News report last week that Vance allegedly engaged in an ongoing relationship with a woman he significantly outranked.

The Global report also alleged the former chief of the defence staff made a sexual comment to a second, much younger, soldier in 2012, before he was appointed commander of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Vance has not responded to requests for comment by The Canadian Press and the allegations against him have not been independently verified.

Global says Vance, whose tenure as defence chief included a substantial focus on eliminating sexual misconduct from the ranks, has acknowledged that he dated the first woman nearly 20 years ago, but said the relationship had evolved over the years and was not sexual.

Global also reported that Vance said he had no recollection of making a sexual comment to the other junior member, adding if he had made the comment it would have been intended as a joke and that he was prepared to apologize.

The allegations come only weeks after Vance turned over command of the Canadian Armed Forces following five years in the top job, during which he led the militarys efforts to eliminate sexual misconduct from the ranks.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan headlines the list of witnesses who will be called to testify, with Conservatives on the committee indicating they want to hear what the minister knew of the allegations and how he responded to them.

The thing that is of great concern is that these allegations were presented to the minister of defence, Minister Sajjan, Conservative defence critic James Bezan told other committee members.

And we have not gotten any clear answers from the media reporting today on how that information was handled, and whether or not the victims had been talked to and approached and counselling services offered.

Multiple sources have told The Canadian Press that the allegations against Vance were shared with Sajjan in March 2018 by then-military ombudsman Gary Walbourne, who resigned from his position a short time later. Those sources are not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Sajjan has not directly addressed the allegations against Vance, but insisted all proper steps are followed when he receives reports of inappropriate conduct. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also sidestepped questions.

Committee members spent much of the rest of Tuesdays meeting wrangling over what other witnesses to call, with NDP defence critic Randall Garrison wanting Alberta Premier Jason Kenney to appear. Kenney was defence minister when Vance was named defence chief in 2015.

Committee members agreed to invite Kenney to testify.

Conservatives also indicated they want to call former clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick; Sajjans former chief of staff Zita Astravas, who now works for Public Safety Minister Bill Blair; and Department of National Defence deputy minister Jody Thomas.

The committees decision to hold hearings into the allegations against Vance is in addition to a military police investigation and a promise from Sajjan to launch a separate review outside the chain of command.

Trudeau referred to that independent review, which has yet to be launched, when he was again asked about the allegations against Vance on Tuesday.

We are very pleased that there is going to be a review going on to ensure that every step of the way, the right processes were followed, Trudeau said during one of his regular COVID-19 updates.

That's something that will be looked at right now. But I can assure you that we've always taken these very seriously and ensured that those proper steps are followed.

Committee members indicated they were leery of impeding any police investigation into Vances conduct, while suggesting the study should include a focus on pushing the military to better ensure women in uniform are not subject to sexual misconduct.

The question of whether adequate efforts have been made to stem sexual harassment and sexual assault in the military is an important question, but one that we already know the answer to, said Garrison.

Progress has stalled at what can only be said, at its most charitable, (as) very low levels.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2021.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trumps historic second impeachment trial opened Tuesday in the Senate with graphic video of the deadly Jan. 6 attack on Congress and the defeated former president whipping up a rally crowd  Were going to walk down to the Capitol!  as he encouraged a futile fight over his presidency.

The lead House prosecutor told senators the case would present cold, hard facts against Trump, who is charged with inciting the siege of the Capitol to overturn the election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Senators sitting as jurors, many who themselves fled for safety that day, watched the jarring video of the chaotic scene, rioters pushing past police to storm the halls, Trump flags waving.

Thats a high crime and misdemeanor, said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., in opening remarks. If thats not an impeachable offense, then theres no such thing.

Trump is the first president to face impeachment charges after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached . The Capitol siege stunned the world as rioters ransacked the building to try to stop the certification of Bidens victory, a domestic attack on the nations seat of government unlike any in its history. Five people died.

Acquittal is likely, but the trial will test the nations attitude toward his brand of presidential power, the Democrats resolve in pursuing him, and the loyalty of Trumps Republican allies defending him.

Trumps lawyers are insisting that he is not guilty of the sole charge of incitement of insurrection, his fiery words just a figure of speech as he encouraged a rally crowd to fight like hell for his presidency. But prosecutors say he has no good defense and they promise new evidence.

Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye, the acting sergeant at arms intoned to start the trial.

Security remained extremely tight at the Capitol, a changed place after the attack, fenced off with razor wire and armed National Guard troops on patrol. The nine House managers walked across the shuttered building to prosecute the case before the Senate.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that Biden would not be watching the trial of his predecessor.

Joe Biden is the president, hes not a pundit, hes not going to opine on back and forth arguments, she said.

With senators gathered as the court of impeachment, sworn to deliver impartial justice, the trial was starting with debate and a vote over whether its constitutionally permissible to prosecute Trump after he is no longer in the White House.

Trumps defense team has focused on the question of constitutionality, which could resonate with Republicans eager to acquit Trump without being seen as condoning his behavior.

But the House prosecutors argued there is no January exception for a president on his way out the door. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., referred to the corruption case of William Belknap, a war secretary in the Grant administration, who was impeached, tried and ultimately acquitted by the Senate after leaving office.

President Trump was not impeached for run of the mill corruption, misconduct. He was impeached for inciting a violent insurrection - an insurrection where people died, in this building, Neguse said.If Congress stands by, it would invite future presidents to use their power without any fear of accountability.

It appears unlikely that the House prosecutors will call witnesses, in part because the senators were witnesses themselves. At his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump has declined a request to testify.

Trumps defense team has said it plans to counter with its own cache of videos of Democratic politicians making fiery speeches. We have some videos up our sleeve, senior Trump adviser Jason Miller said on a podcast Monday.

In trying to make sense of a second Trump trial, the public should keep in mind that Donald Trump was the first president ever to refuse to accept his defeat, said Timothy Naftali, a clinical associate professor at New York University and an expert on impeachment.

This trial is one way of having that difficult national conversation about the difference between dissent and insurrection, Naftali said.

A first test Tuesday will be on a vote on the constitutionality of the trial, signaling attitudes in the Senate. The chamber is divided 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, with a two-thirds vote, 67 senators, required for conviction.

A similar question was posed late last month, when Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky forced a vote to set aside the trial because Trump was no longer in office. At that time, 45 Republicans voted in favor of Pauls measure. Just five Republicans joined with Democrats to pursue the trial: Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania

15 Donald Trump's second impeachment trial

Presidential impeachment trials have been conducted only three times before, leading to acquittals for Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and then Trump last year.

Typically senators sit at their desks for such occasions, but the COVID-19 crisis has upended even this tradition. Instead, senators will be allowed to spread out, in the marble room just off the Senate floor, where proceedings will be shown on TV, and in the public galleries above the chamber, to accommodate social distancing, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

Presiding is not the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, as has been tradition for the nations few presidential impeachment trials, but the chambers senior-most member of the majority party, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

Under an agreement between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the opening arguments would begin at noon Wednesday, with up to 16 hours per side for presentations. The trial is expected to continue into the weekend.

In filings, lawyers for the former president lobbed a wide-ranging attack against the House case, dismissing the trial as political theater on the same Senate floor invaded by the mob.

Trumps defenders suggest he was simply exercising his First Amendment rights when he encouraged his supporters to protest at the Capitol, and they argue the Senate is not entitled to try Trump now that he has left office.

House impeachment managers, in their own filings, assert that Trump betrayed the American people and has no valid excuse or defense.

Trumps second impeachment trial is expected to diverge from the lengthy, complicated affair of a year ago. In that case, Trump was charged with having privately pressured Ukraine to dig up dirt on Biden, then a Democratic rival for the presidency.

This time, Trumps stop the steal rally rhetoric and the storming of the Capitol played out for the world to see. The trial could be over in half the time.

The Democratic-led House impeached the president swiftly, one week after the most violent attack on Congress in more than 200 years. Five people died, including a woman shot by police inside the building and a police officer who died the next day of his injuries.

--The Associated Press
EMILY ST. LAWRENCE, Chariho girls lacrosse, senior: St. Lawrence tied a school record for goals in a game with nine in a win over Smithfield. St. Lawrence scored 17 goals for the week and has 32 for the season.

CARLY CONSTANTINE, Stonington softball, sophomore: Constantine singled home Shea OConnor with the winning run to hand Waterford, the states No. 2 ranked team at the time, its first loss of the season. For the week, Constantine was 5 for 15.

GREG GORMAN, Westerly baseball, junior: Gorman, a junior, hit a massive home run in a win against Barrington. The homer went over the fence in center field and landed in a nearby road. Gorman was 3 for 3 with four RBIs in the game. He is hitting .571 with 10 RBIs for the season.

BRADIN ANDERSON, Wheeler baseball, freshman: Anderson, a freshman, pitched a complete-game shutout to beat Grasso Tech. Anderson struck out three to earn the first win of his varsity career.

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President Joe Biden has signalled he would seek to deepen the close relationship between the United States and India in his first conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he added climate change and "democratic values" to the agenda.

Modi welcomed calls to collaborate on combating climate change and agreed to participate in a climate summit Biden will host in April, the White House said.

The late Monday phone conversation between the two leaders was part of the formal contacts between the new US administration and India's top leadership that began last month. Both the leaders discussed their shared priorities and emphasised their commitment to a rules-based international order.

The US' new President Joe Biden and India's Prime Minister Modi will be 'working closely' in the coming months as the world continues to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. to work closely to fight COVID-19, renew their partnership on climate change and defend democratic institution and norms around the world, including in Myanmar. "The US and India will work closely together to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, renew their partnership on climate change, rebuild the global economy in a way that benefit the people of both countries, and stand together against the scourge of global terrorism," said the White House press release.

The two leaders also reflagged a common geopolitical agenda, by renewing their support for a free and open Indo-Pacific, widely viewed as a doctrine to counter China's muscle flexing in the Pacific, including the South China Sea as well as the Indian Ocean.

"The leaders agreed to continuing close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, including support for freedom of navigation, territorial integrity, and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad," the White House said in a statement.

"President @JoeBiden and I are committed to a rule based order. We look forward to Consolidating our strategic partnership to further peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond" read Prime Minister Modi said in a tweet.

Specifically, both leaders agreed to continue to work in the QUAD, the quadrilateral security dialogue between the democracies of India, the US, Japan and Australia. Among the four countries, India is the only one which shares a land border with China. India and China are engaged in a major military standoff that had begun in May last year and that shows no signs of being resolved though Indian foreign minister S. Jaiskankar on Saturday reportedly said there was some progress made but there was no "visible expression" of it on the ground.

The QUAD, on a global stage, is seen as a threat to China's rising influence in the Indo-Pacific region. And, less than 24 hours ago, the US national security advisor Jake Sullivan called it the, "foundation upon which to build substantial American policy in the Indo-Pacific." The four participating members may soon hold their first meeting this year.

The importance of the Indo-Pacific for the US was similarly expressed in conversations that Biden had with Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japan's leader Yoshihide Suga.

Yet, the degree to which the Biden will push back against China will come under international scrutiny. The Trump administration had declared a verbal war on the Communist Party of China (CPC), with the subtext of working for the collapse of the CPC, raising the prospects of a new Cold War.

However, analysts say that while seeking dominance in the Indo-Pacific, the Biden administration rather than working for the collapse of the CPC, would be content with carving an accomodation with Beijing. Earlier President Biden has said his administration was ready for "extreme competition" with China but that his approach would be different from his predecessor.

"I'm not going to do it the way Trump did. We're going to focus on nternational rules of the road," , Biden said in an interview with the American broadcaster CBS News on Sunday.

"There's a lot to talk about, a whole lot to talk about. He's very bright. He ( Xi Jinping) is very tough. He doesn't have and I don't mean this as a criticism, just the reality he doesn't have a democratic 'small D' bone in his body." repeating a line he had used on the campaign trail.

Biden said that he knew the Chinese President Xi Jinping "pretty well" after eight years as Barack Obama's vice president, "I had 24, 25 hours of private meetings with him when I was vice president," Biden said. "Travelled 17,000 miles with him. I know him pretty well." Significantly, the call between Modi and Biden is also significant in that it may be a precursor to Biden's highly anticipated initial discussion with President Xi .

The Washington-Beijing relationship is a priority for the Biden administration, but the president reportedly wanted to hold off until he spoke with leaders from South Korea, Japan, and India, which he's now done.

Modi had earlier congratulated Biden on his election on November 8.

They also spoke on phone on November 17, when they exchanged views on working together on "shared priorities and global challenges".

Earlier, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to defence minister Rajnath Singh and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan talked to his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, with the two sides committing themselves to enhanced cooperation on defence and security issues and in the Indo-Pacific region.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar and his new US counterpart Antony Blinken had spoken on phone on January 29 and pledged to expand the strategic partnership between the two countries and to work for peace and security in the Indo-Pacific.

The Modi government's connection with President Joe Biden goes back to the days when External Affairs S. Jaishankar was Indian Ambassador to US during the Obama administration and present Ambassador to US Taranjit Singh Sandhu was his deputy.

The strategic and defence ties between India and the US witnessed major expansion during Barack Obama's presidency and Biden, as the vice president, had played a key role in it. Meanwhile, India-US joint training Exercise 'Yudh Abhyas-20' has started on February 8, at Suratgarh in Rajathan where 270 American soldiers are taking part.

Started in 2004, 'Exercise Yudh Abhyas-20' is the sixteenth edition in the series of bilateral exercises under this banner and would focus on Counter-Terrorism operations under United Nations Mandate.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
Secretary of State in the Health Ministry Andrei Baciu, vice-president of the National Coordinating Committee for Activities on Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, said on Tuesday that Romania will receive the next AstraZeneca vaccine batch on February 12 and on February 15 the one from Pfizer.

"Regarding the next delivery batches, the next delivery is expected from Pfizer on February 15; in February we expect the rest of up to 720,000 doses, and in March - another over 1,100,000 additional doses. For Moderna, we have 167,000 doses in February that include that 20% reduction that will be recouped by the end of March. In March we will receive additional 226,000 doses, probably in two batches. And regarding the doses from AstraZeneca, on February 12 we are expecting the next batch, about 92,000 doses, and by the end of the month additional 740,000 doses, and by mid-March another 370,000 doses," Baciu told a press conference at the Government.

He said negotiations on vaccine doses were continuing at European level and that contracts were likely to be signed with Novavax and Valneva companies. Baciu reminded that since January 30, the European Commission has implemented the Mechanism for monitoring anti-COVID-19 vaccine exports.

AGERPRES
COLUMBUS, Ohio  U.S. Attorney David DeVillers has become one of the most visible Ohio federal prosecutors in recent memory, thanks to his role in the sweeping, ongoing federal corruption probe into the Ohio Statehouse.

But his role in this chapter of Ohio political history wasnt always a given. In fact, he almost didnt get the job.

I was a Plan B, DeVillers said in an interview.

In early 2017, DeVillers was among the two or three finalists for U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, which includes Columbus and Cincinnati, and which became open after Donald Trump was elected president.

Ohios senators passed him over in favor of Greg Hartmann, a former elected official from Hamilton County.

However, Hartmanns nomination stalled for two years for unclear reasons. He eventually withdrew, citing family business conflicts and denying it had anything to do with his public criticism of Trump during the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election.

And the job became open again.

I was actually in D.C., and I was looking at Twitter, and saw that Hartmann dropped out, DeVillers said. And then my phone rang, and it was a 202 number, and it was Sen. [Rob] Portman, asking me if I was interested.

He said, Do you know why Im calling you? I said, Am I plan B? He said Youre plan B.

DeVillers did end up getting confirmed for the office in late 2019, but hes expected to leave soon. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, announced he had launched the process to find DeVillers replacement the day Biden was inaugurated into office. Democratic President Joe Bidens new administration, as Trumps did in March 2017, is expected to ask for all Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys resignation, possibly as soon as today, CNN reported on Monday night. (UPDATE 1:44 p.m.: Justice Department leadership in a 12 p.m. call on Tuesday requested that DeVillers resign before the end of the month.)

When DeVillers does leave, hell leave behind two active corruption investigations  the Statehouse corruption probe into House Bill 6, a nuclear bailout law prosecutors have called the largest bribery probe in state history, and two investigations into Cincinnati City council members, one Democrat and one Republican.

His tenure as U.S. attorney caps a lengthy Justice Department career that included stints assisting the prosecution of Saddam Hussein in Iraq and advising corruption investigations in Eastern Europe. As a candidate for the job, he wasnt especially politically connected, but had a visible public profile in Columbus, thanks to his central role in several prominent street gang prosecutions, and a friendly relationship with local reporters who covered them.

In an interview on Friday, DeVillers said hes comfortable hell be able to hit future milestones on the HB6 case, setting up assistant U.S. attorneys in his office to complete it during the time he expects he has left. He said hes had a good conversation on the general subject of concluding his work in the office with Brown, the Democratic senator.

The case is going to be fine. The indictments already have been handed down and are going to be fine. Im confident that the [assistant U.S. attorneys] that are here right now, especially with the time Ive got left, that were going to be able to get these done, he said.

Kevin Kelley, an assistant U.S. attorney who has worked with DeVillers for years, said U.S. attorneys offices are designed to survive changes in leadership every four or eight years. But he said DeVillers had a track record and an aggressive approach that influenced how the case proceeded.

The true, candid response is the case will carry on, and there are people here to do it, but it does lose its leader, Kelley said. And thats a responsibility the next U.S. attorney has to take on, and not every person in that position has the same attributes that Dave has.

Devillers, 52, is a father of two, and married to Julia, a successful childrens author. Hes a native New Yorker who stayed in Ohio after he moved here to go to law school. He started his legal career as a Franklin County assistant prosecutor in Columbus in the 1990s, trying endless murder cases, eventually leading the offices gang unit. He joined the Justice Department in 2002 as an assistant U.S. attorney, trying more gang and murder cases, but also leaving for temporary overseas assignments, before returning to the U.S. for good in 2012.

DeVillers had a distinguished career and was well respected in the office when he was nominated to lead it, said his predecessor, Ben Glassman.

Dave was definitely a superstar prosecutor, and definitely a leader, said Glassman, who worked with DeVillers on cases before becoming his boss. I could see that, and I told him all the time I was very grateful for him when I was U.S. attorney.

Unbeknownst to the public, while the Hartmann nomination was in limbo, the FBI quietly had been investigating the Ohio Statehouse in what eventually grew into the HB6 probe. While the bill was being debated in Spring and Summer 2019, FBI agents were interviewing lawmakers, setting up an undercover operation and otherwise laying the groundwork for what became a sprawling investigation.

Weeks after DeVillers was nominated in late August 2019, agents directed one political operative to wear a secret recording device, and two undercover FBI agents posing as businessmen met with then-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, a Republican who was one of the most powerful political figures in the state, at a pricey Columbus-area restaurant. Both scenes ended up getting described in charging documents following Householders arrest the following year.

Soon after his nomination, DeVillers was briefed on the corruption case by Glassman, an Obama-era holdover who had hung on while Hartmanns nomination dragged on, and the FBI agents leading the investigation.

DeVillers was enthusiastic, dedicating additional resources to the investigation and setting it as a top priority.

We started putting it together, determine what we needed and how it was going to turn out, DeVillers said.

Those who have worked with DeVillers say he has an aggressive prosecutorial approach, honed through years of trying complex gang cases, that helps explain how he was comfortable green-lighting charges that led to Householders arrest and implicated FirstEnergy, a Fortune 500 company with close ties to state and federal elected officials. FirstEnergy hasnt been charged, but charging documents make it clear that the utility and its affiliates funded the bribery scheme. Householder has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.

Dave is aggressive enough when the FBI brings him a case that he can look at it and say, yeah, heres where we can take our shot, said Ron OBrien, a former Republican Franklin County prosecutor for whom DeVillers worked in the 1990s. And without criticizing past U.S. attorneys, sometimes with cases, whether they be cases or corruption cases or something else out there, I think there has been some hesitation to pull the trigger.

Dave DeVillers has always been a strong and effective leader, said Special Agent in Charge Chris Hoffman, leader of the FBIs Cincinnati office, the primary investigators in the HB6 probe. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with the FBI and aggressively prosecuted violent gang members, corrupt politicians, and terror suspects. I speak with Dave on a regular basis and consider him to be one of the best U.S. Attorneys I have encountered. He has a passion for his work and strives to make a positive impact on our community each day.

Colleagues also say hes dogged and fearless, whether its taking an assignment in Iraq or getting chased on I-270, Columbus outerbelt, while driving home from the office during a gang prosecution, and has a more hands-on approach that has gained him begrudging respect even from some of the people hes worked to put in prison.

A good percentage of them have a good amount of respect for him, said Brian Martinez, an assistant U.S. attorney whos worked with DeVillers. They bad mouth all of us, but they have a certain amount of esteem for him. I dont know what the psychology of that is.

Glassman said he was glad to turn over the HB6 case and other high-profile investigations to a competent career prosecutor like DeVillers, who he said understands what goes into making a complex case.

What I can say about Daves stamp on the cases was that he brought them, from what I can tell, in the correct tradition of the Department of Justice, and thats without fear or favor, he said.

DeVillers thinks prosecutors can be too reluctant to try any complex case, because of the time and resources they entail, and political corruption cases uniquely can pose headaches because of the political blowback they can generate. Hes described the need to take shots on corruption cases like prosecutors might on other, less politically sensitive topics.

Especially if youre an elected prosecutor, youre either going to get blamed for going after a political rival or helping out a political ally whenever you do corruption cases, he said. Im fortunate that I came up through the ranks, and havent gotten a lot of that, but it can be scary for prosecutors and assistant U.S. attorneys to go after powerful people.

And when you dont win, you can feel threatened, and I get that But if theres a crime going on and we think it happened, we should be prosecuting, and not worrying whether were going to win or not, he said.

Similar to the gang cases he spent his career prosecuting, corruption cases are time intensive, and involve starting at a lower level of an organization and gradually working upward, he said.

You have to show its an enterprise and this group of people working together, answer the question, what are their goals. And whether their shtick is corruption, drug dealing or murder for hire, its using the weight of their organization against them. Its showing those connections, showing those things they do together and often getting people to flip. Its the same, no matter what youre doing, he said.

DeVillers didnt say specifically what he plans to do when he leaves office -- hell be barred from rejoining the federal government for five years -- although he said he wants to remain in Ohio. He did rule one career option out.

Im not built for the campaign trail. Ive seen enough to know that. I know there are great and honest politicians the whole aspect of what they have to go through to raise funds is not my cup of tea, he said.

Otherwise, he said he plans to advise his successor on the continuing cases in his office however he can.

I told Sen. Brown I cant come back to the office... But Im still going to work the best I can whenever I resign, whenever we find out whos chosen, Im going to work with the person whos my replacement as best as I can.
This prestigious, globally recognized certification allows us to distinguish our expertise and instill greater trust in our ability to design and implement innovative information technology solutions that support our customers most pressing business objectives.

Focus Technology, a leading provider of next-generation IT infrastructure, managed IT services, cyber security and cloud solutions, today announced that it has successfully completed the MSPAlliances MSP Verify Program (MSPCV) certification and SOC 2.

The MSPCV is based on the ten control objectives of the Unified Certification Standard for Cloud & MSPs (UCS) and is the oldest certification program for cloud computing and managed services providers. Focus Technologys SOC 2 audit was based on the UCS as well as the Trust Services Criteria for Security and the Additional Criteria for Availability and Confidentiality (TSP section 100A  2017).

The MSPCV was the first of its kind created specifically for the managed services and cloud industry. Every certification comes with a written report with the entire process documented, validated and signed by a 3rd party accounting firm. The MSPCV has been reviewed by governmental agencies and regulatory bodies across the globe and is used and accepted in five continents around the world.

As a certified cloud and managed services provider, we are proud to be in the company of the worlds top IT solution practitioners, said Ahmed Fadili, VP of Managed IT Services and Cloud Operations, Focus Technology. This prestigious, globally recognized certification allows us to distinguish our expertise and instill greater trust in our ability to design and implement innovative information technology solutions that support our customers most pressing business objectives.

"The MSPCV certification is a rigorous certification process that benchmarks and verifies the quality of the company providing cloud and/or managed services, said Charles Weaver, MSPAlliance CEO. "We are very proud to have Focus Technology as a member of this elite community of cloud and MSPs.

MSP Verify Program

The UCS consists of ten control objectives and underlying controls that constitute crucial building blocks of a successful managed services (and cloud computing) practice. Once the providers organization has completed all MSPCV documentation on all applicable control objectives (with the assistance of MSPAlliance's readiness assessments, gap analysis, helpful templates and consulting) the results are then examined by an independent third-party accounting firm for verification and signing of a public facing report.

As with any other substantive certification of this type, the MSPCV certification must be renewed annually. The MSPCV was the first certification created specifically for the managed services and cloud industry. The MSPCV has been reviewed by governmental agencies and regulatory bodies across the globe and is used and accepted in five continents around the world.

Customers who select a company that is part of the MSPCV can also rest assured that their IT solution provider has met and exceeded the following standards dealing with:



Objective 1: Governance,

Objective 2: Policies and Procedures,

Objective 3: Confidentiality and Privacy,

Objective 4: Change Management,

Objective 5: Service Operations Management,

Objective 6: Information Security,

Objective 7: Data Management,

Objective 8: Physical Security,

Objective 9: Billing and Reporting, and

Objective 10: Corporate Health.

The MSPCV certification report is signed by a third-party accounting firm.

About Focus Technology

Founded in 1997, Focus Technology is a leading Inc. 5000 Boston-based information technology firm that offers organizations new ways to consume technology. By designing and implementing innovative IT solutions through personalized service, Focus Technology delivers positive results that support the customers strategic vision. Our team of experienced industry-certified solutions architects provides customized solutions specifically designed to address each clients unique business requirements.

As an MSPCV-certified managed IT services and cloud solutions provider that offers advanced expertise in data center infrastructure setup, data analytics and cyber security, Focus Technology is one of the top IT solution companies in the Northeast. The company has earned numerous awards and accolades, including CRN MSP Elite 150, CRN MSP Security 100, CRN Fast Growth 150, CRN Tech Elite 150, CRN Triple Crown, Boston Business Journals Best Places to Work, Boston Business Journal Fast 50 and Inc. 5000.

For more information, visit focustsi.com, Twitter @FocusTSI or LinkedIn
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The death toll of Sunday's Indian glacier flood disaster could reach nearly 200 with dozens already confirmed dead as a desperate search continued on Tuesday for the 165 people still missing.

Hundreds of rescue workers were scouring muck-filled ravines and valleys in northern India on Tuesday looking for survivors after part of a Himalayan glacier broke off, sending a devastating flood downriver that has left at least 26 people dead.

One of the rescue efforts is focused on a tunnel at a hydroelectric power plant where more than three dozen workers have been out of contact since the flood occurred Sunday.

Rescuers used machine excavators and shovels to clear sludge from the tunnel overnight in an attempt to reach the workers as hopes for their survival fade.

The flooding was set off after a chunk of glacier snapped off, sending water barrelling down a valley, obliterated a dam and crashed into two hydroelectric power plants, leaving workers trapped in tunnels.

The disaster was set off after a chunk of glacier snapped off in the Himalayas, sending floodwaters barrelling down a valley. Pictured: An view of the destroyed Tapovan Hydro-Electric Power Dam near the Dhauliganga hydro power project after a portion of Nanda Devi glacier broke off, at Reni village in Chamoli district

Pictured: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) carry the remains of a victim in a body bag as they conduct the rescue operation near the damaged Dhauliganga hydro power plant on Tuesday. At least 26 people have been left dead

Pictured: Houses near the Dhauliganga hydro power project. One of the rescue efforts is focused on a tunnel at a hydroelectric power plant where more than three dozen workers have been out of contact since the flood occurred Sunday

The disaster has been blamed on rapidly melting glaciers in the Himalayan region caused by global warming. Building activity for dams and dredging riverbeds for sand - used for construction - are other suggested factors.

Most of those missing were workers at the two power plants, with some trapped in a 1.7-mile (2.7-kilometre) U-shaped tunnel in Tapovan that filled with mud and rocks when the 70-foot (20-metre-high) flood hit.

Hundreds of workers toiled all night and by morning had cleared 120 metres into the tunnel, with rescue personnel "waiting to enter as soon as any movement deep inside the tunnel is possible", the local government tweeted.

Survivors hung onto scaffolding for four hours to stay afloat after floodwater came rushing into tunnels

While 12 people were pulled alive from one underground shaft on Sunday, another 37 workers were feared trapped in the tunnel where rescuers were trying desperately to hack their way through the debris.

'The rescuers used ropes and shovels to reach the mouth of the tunnel. They dug through the debris and entered the tunnel. They are yet to come in touch with the stranded people,' said state premier Trivendra Singh Rawat.

One survivor, Rajesh Kumar, said workers had 'climbed across the rock debris and forced our way to the mouth of the tunnel' before discovering a shaft of air, getting a phone signal and calling for help.

This diagram shows how the floodwaters which were triggered by a glacier collapse came crashing down a valley in northern India, overrunning a dam before crashing into hydroelectric energy projects and leaving some of their workers trapped

Pictured: People look at the remains of the dam along a river in Tapovan of Chamoli district on February 9, 2021 destroyed after a flash flood caused when a glacier burst on Sunday

Indian army personnel climb down a makeshift ladder in Tapovan dam during rescue efforts to locate missing workers in Tapovan. The desperate search continued on Tuesday for the 165 people still missing.

Pictured: Rescue teams gather near the entrance of a tunnel blocked with mud and debris, where workers are trapped, in Tapovan of Chamoli district on February 9, 2021

A helicopter carrying relief material is seen near the damaged Dhauliganga hydro power project in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, on Monday as rescue efforts to find the missing workers continued

How glaciers can burst and cause floods - with global warming increasing the risk When glaciers retreat, they often leave behind lakes which are bound by rocks and sediment - but pressure or structural weakness can cause natural or manmade dams to burst, unleashing a mass of floodwater into rivers and streams. Scientists warn that global warming can accelerate melting of glaciers, which causes water to rise to potentially dangerous levels. 'Most mountain glaciers around the world were much larger in the past and have been melting and shrinking dramatically due to climate change and global warming,' said Sarah Das, an associate scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. It is not yet known what caused part of the Nanda Devi glacier to snap off on Sunday morning, sending floodwater surging downstream towards power plants and villages in northern India. Seismic activity and a build-up of water pressure can also cause glaciers to burst, but their remote locations mean knowledge is limited about how often such events occur. Past deadly or highly destructive glacial floods have occurred in Peru and Nepal. 'Given the overall pattern of warming, glacier retreat, and increase in infrastructure projects though, it seems natural to hypothesise that these events will occur more frequently and will become overall more destructive if measures are not taken to mitigate these risks,' Das said. A number of imminent potentially deadly glacier burst and flood situations have been identified worldwide, including in the Himalayas and South American Andes. But while monitoring is possible, the remoteness of most glaciers presents challenges. 'There are many glaciers and glacial dammed lakes across the Himalayas, but most are unmonitored,' Das said. 'Many of these lakes are upstream of steep river valleys and have the potential to cause extreme flooding when they break. Where these floods reach inhabited regions and sensitive infrastructure, things will be catastrophic.' A 2010 information page published by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development called for more glacier monitoring in the Hindu Kush Himalayas to better understand 'the real degree of glacial lake instability'. The region where the glacial burst occurred is prone to landslides and flash flooding, and environmentalists have cautioned against building in the region. Advertisement

Several hundred rescue workers including army and navy diving teams resumed their search operation at first light on Monday.

With the main road washed away, paramilitary rescuers had to scale down a hillside on ropes to reach the entrance of one of the tunnels.

Emergency workers were using heavy machinery to remove large piles of rocks from the mouth of one of the tunnels, with more than 300ft of debris still to be cleared.

'The tunnel is filled with debris, which has come from the river. We are using machines to clear the way,' said H Gurung, an Indo-Tibetan Border Police official.

Himalayan border police shared footage of one moment of hope on Sunday when a rescued worker celebrated with his saviours after being pulled alive from one of the tunnels.

The man threw up his hands in relief while rescuers cheered with joy after yanking him from the tunnel, where 12 people were found alive after a four-hour rescue effort.

Rajesh Kumar, one of the survivors, said he and his colleagues were working 300 yards inside the tunnel when they heard shouting telling them to get out.

'Suddenly there was a sound of whistling... there was shouting, people were telling us to come out. We thought it was a fire.

'We started running out but the water gushed in. It was like scenes from a Hollywood movie. We thought we wouldn't make it,' he said.

Another rescued worker, Rakesh Bhatt, said he was working in the tunnel when water rushed in.

'We thought it might be rain and that the water will recede. But when we saw mud and debris enter with great speed, we realised something big had happened,' he said.

Bhatt said one of the workers was able to contact officials via his mobile phone. 'We waited for almost six hours - praying to God and joking with each other to keep our spirits high. I was the first to be rescued and it was a great relief,' he said.

The Uttarakhand state government said on Monday that 18 bodies have been recovered, and chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said at least 200 people were still unaccounted for.

Most of those missing were working at two power plants, with some trapped in the tunnels cut off by the floods and by mud and rocks.

'If this incident happened in the evening, after work hours, the situation wouldn't have been this bad as labourers and workers in and around the work sites would have been at home,' Rawat told reporters.

More than 2,000 members of the military, paramilitary groups and police have been taking part in search-and-rescue operations in the northern state.

Authorities fear many more to be dead and were searching for bodies downstream using boats.

They also walked along river banks and used binoculars to scan for bodies that might have been washed downstream.

The flood was caused when a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier snapped off on Sunday morning, releasing water trapped behind it.

The floodwater rushed down the mountain and into other bodies of water, forcing the evacuation of villages along the banks of the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers.

The muddy, concrete grey floodwaters tumbled through a valley and surged into a dam, breaking it into pieces with little resistance before roaring on downstream.

One hydroelectric plant on the Alaknanda was destroyed, and a plant under construction on the Dhauliganga was damaged, police said.

The trapped workers were at the Dhauliganga plant, where on Sunday 12 workers were rescued from one of the tunnels, including the man in the footage.

Pictured: A general view of an area near the Dhauliganga hydro power project after a portion of Nanda Devi glacier broke off, at Reni village in Chamoli district, Uttrakhand, India 08 February 2021

Underground search: Indian military hardware was deployed to excavate a tunnel where dozens of people are feared to be trapped following the glacier collapse in the Himalayas

From above: The Indian air force took these pictures of the wreckage at the Dhauliganga hydro power project on Monday, close to the tunnels where rescue operations were going on today

A bulldozer is seen at the entrance to a tunnel blocked with debris during Monday's rescue operations, following the disaster which has killed at least 18 people and left at least 200 others missing

Rescued: Delighted Himalayan border police pull a man alive out of a tunnel where he was trapped after a glacier collapse caused a devastating flood in northern India

The day after: This picture taken on Monday shows remains of a dam which was overrun by flash floods on Sunday after part of a glacier broke off in the Himalayas

Wall of debris: Indian army units and the national disaster relief force work to clear a tunnel

Heavy machinery: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police deploy paramilitary hardware to clear dirt and debris from the mouth of a tunnel

Glaciers in the region have been shrinking rapidly in recent years because of global warming, but experts say that the construction of hydroelectric plants could also be a factor.

Floods in 2013 killed 6,000 people and led to calls for a review of projects in Uttarakhand, a state of 10million people bordering Tibet and Nepal.

Vimlendhu Jha, founder of Swechha, an environmental NGO, said the disaster was a 'grim reminder' of the effects of climate change and the 'haphazard development of roads, railways and power plants in ecologically sensitive areas'.

Calamity: A massive burst of water tearing through the Dhauliganga river valley after a chunk of glacier broke off in the Himalayas

Brought to the surface: Rescuers from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police get the man out alive, making him one of 12 to be pulled safely from this tunnel

Celebration: The man threw up his hands in relief after his ordeal in the tunnel ended on Sunday, but others are still trapped in another nearby tunnel

Mission accomplished: The rescuers deposit the man on the ground after pulling him alive from the tunnel following the glacier collapse

Scientists warn that global warming can accelerate melting of glaciers, which causes water to rise to potentially dangerous levels.

'Most mountain glaciers around the world were much larger in the past and have been melting and shrinking dramatically due to climate change and global warming,' said Sarah Das, an associate scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

Seismic activity and a build-up of water pressure can also cause glaciers to burst, but their remote locations mean knowledge is limited about how often such events occur.

Past deadly or highly destructive glacial floods have occurred in Peru and Nepal.

A major study in 2019 said that two-thirds of Himalayan glaciers, the world's 'Third Pole', could melt by 2100 if global emissions are not sharply reduced.

Glaciers in the region are a critical source of water for hundreds of millions of people, feeding many of the world's most important river systems.

Rescue operation: Members of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police carry out search and rescue work today after a river surge that swept away bridges and roads

Search operations are still ongoing to rescue people trapped in one of the tunnels near a destroyed hydroelectric power station

Landscape: Rescuers leave on a boat to search for bodies in the downstream portion of the Alaknanda River in the Indian satate of Uttarakhand
Jet2 has cancelled all holidays and flights until April 14 due to travel restrictions and growing uncertainty over when lockdown will end.

The holiday giant said it was handing out full refunds for holidaymakers who have had their travel plans scrapped.

Jet2 had previously announced plans to suspend their services until late March, but the new announcement has extended the ban up to and including 14 April.

The news comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock indicated today tough border measures - including ten-day isolation at home for all travellers and hotel quarantine for 33 'red list' countries - will need to be in place until vaccines have been tweaked to deal with variant strains in the Autumn.

Jet2 has cancelled all holidays and flights until April 14 due to travel restrictions and growing uncertainty over when lockdown will end (file photo)

It came after Jonathan Van Tam said yesterday the 'more elaborate your plans are for summer holidays, in terms of crossing borders, in terms of household mixing' the greater the risk they will be cancelled.

Currently Britons are not allowed to leave the country unless they have a legally permitted reason.

'Due to the ongoing uncertainty and travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we have taken the decision to extend the suspension of flights and holidays up to and including 14 April 2021,' Jet2 said in a statement.

'Where customers yet to travel are affected by any programme changes, our industry-leading and prompt refunding of over 1bn has been widely praised, and we will continue to automatically cancel affected bookings with a full refund.

'For customers due to travel from 15th April onwards, we will provide further updates closer to the time as appropriate.

'We would like to thank our valued customers for their patience and understanding.'

Currently Britons are not allowed to leave the country unless they have a legally permitted reason. Pictured: Tourists enjoy the seaside in Cyprus

How coronavirus crushed UK airlines Flybe: Europe's largest regional airline collapsed on March 5 after months on the brink, triggering 2,400 job losses and left around 15,000 passengers stranded across the UK and Europe. British Airways: The boss of BA owner IAG demanded ministers set up airport testing after the group swung to a 5.6bn loss. The company, which also owns Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling, lost the equivalent of 900,000 an hour during the first nine months of 2020. Jet2: Reported operating losses of 111.2m for the six months to September 30, against earnings of 361.5m a year earlier. Virgin Atlantic: In September Virgin Atlantic said it could axe a further 1,150 jobs from across the company taking the total number of job losses to 4,700 during the crisis. It also urged the Government to offer carriers emergency credit facilities worth up to 7.5billion. Ryanair: Reported a loss of 197m euro (178m) in the first half of 2020, with 99 per cent of it's fleet grounded for almost four months. Traffic in the first half of the year fell from 86million to 17million passengers compared with the same period last year, and revenue dropped 78 per cent to 1.18billion euros (1.06billion). Easyjet: Crisis saw it crash to an annual loss of 1.27billion - the first in its 25-year history - but the prospect of a vaccine has led to a spike in sales over the past fortnight. Advertisement

Carriers in Britain are estimated to have lost nearly 20billion last year as just 59.5million passengers used UK airports in 2020, which was a fall of 87 per cent from 246.9million in 2019, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.

It comes as Ryanair this month said it is braced for 'the most challenging year' in its 35-year history and expects a full-year loss of nearly 1billion (880million) as it told how Covid-19 continues to 'wreak havoc across the industry'.

Chief executive Michael O'Leary described the year as the most challenging in Ryanair's 35 year history.

Travel bosses today warned the UK faces a second summer write off as uncertainty over travel restrictions squashes demand for holidays.

Millions of Britons have already booked trips ahead of the Prime Minister's announcement of the country's plan for easing restrictions on February 22 and Matt Hancock has previously predicted a 'Great British Summer'.

But several government figures are hinting coronavirus restrictions could last well into summer - despite fears it will spell the death knell for businesses across the UK when the furlough scheme ends on April 30.

Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy firm the PC Agency, said the government needs to signal restrictions will be diluted from the start of April so travel can recover.

He said 'The government needs to signal that these tougher restrictions will be diluted from the start of April, enabling travel to recover again.

'Otherwise, the huge drop in travellers and number of flights will push the sector over a cliff-edge, with the resulting hundreds of thousands of job losses and business failures.'

He added: 'The outlook may seem cloudy right now, as government tightens restrictions for those entering the UK.

'But, when infection and mortality rates are much lower and the NHS is not under pressure due to vaccines taking effect, then there is no reason for such measures to be in place.'

Under current lockdown restrictions, Britons are not allowed to leave the country unless they have a legally permitted reason.

Work trips are allowed, so you will have to show some proof that your flight or sea crossing is vital for your employment.

But there are a range of other reasons for 'essential travel', such as medical care, to escape harm, compassionate visits - for example a funeral - and weddings.

Airlines fear any lack of rooms under the quarantine hotels scheme could force them to leave travellers stuck abroad.

It is understood ministers are considering adding a section to passenger locator forms, which all must fill out before departure.

It could ask them if they have booked into a quarantine hotel in the UK. But it is unclear if carriers will have to bar travellers who answer no, leaving them stranded.

Matt Hancock (left) indicated today that tough border measures including quarantine hotels will need to be in place until vaccines have been tweaked to deal with variant strains in the Autumn. It came after Jonathan Van Tam (right) said yesterday the 'more elaborate your plans are for summer holidays, in terms of crossing borders, in terms of household mixing' the greater the risk they will be cancelled

Mr Hancock announced today arriving travellers put in quarantine hotels in England will be charged 1,750 for their stay.

Passengers face fines of up to 10,000 for failing to quarantine and those who lie on their passenger locator forms face up to 10 years in jail.

The Cabinet minister said the measures announced will need to be replaced to enable 'safe and free international travel' in the future.

He told the Commons that 16 hotels have been contracted to provide 4,600 rooms for the hotel quarantine programme which begins on Monday.

UK nationals or residents returning to England from 33 'red list' countries will be required to spend 10 days in a Government-designated hotel.

Anyone who attempts to conceal that they have been in one of those destinations in the 10 days before arrival faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years, Mr Hancock said.

He also confirmed the new 'enhanced testing' regime for all international travellers, with two tests required during the quarantine process from Monday.

Mr Hancock told the Commons: 'People who flout these rules are putting us all at risk.

'Passenger carriers will have a duty in law to make sure that passengers have signed up for these new arrangements before they travel, and will be fined if they don't, and we will be putting in place tough fines for people who don't comply.

'This includes a 1,000 penalty for any international arrival who fails to take a mandatory test, a 2,000 penalty for any international arrival who fails to take the second mandatory test, as well as automatically extending their quarantine period to 14 days, and a 5,000 fixed penalty notice - rising to 10,000 - for arrivals who fail to quarantine in a designated hotel.'

He added: 'I make no apologies for the strength of these measures, because we're dealing with one of the strongest threats to our public health that we've faced as a nation.'

Asked when the new rules will be relaxed, Mr Hancock replied: 'We want to exit from this into a system of safe international travel as soon as practicable and as soon as is safe.'

It comes after it was confirmed last week that UK nationals returning from 33 'red list' countries would be required to quarantine in closely monitored Government-designated hotels, where they would have to take two tests - although no contracts have yet been signed with accommodation providers.
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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
The citys health department has pushed to encourage Black and Latino New Yorkers to get vaccinated, hoping to address vaccine hesitancy, in light of the history of unethical medical research in the United States. But Mr. de Blasio said last week that he and his wife, who is Black, would not receive the vaccine until they met state eligibility criteria, citing a desire to reassure New Yorkers that the process was fair and equitable.

People need to see that folks they know, folks they trust and respect are getting the vaccine, Mr. de Blasio said at a news conference. They also need to know that the priorities are being respected and those who need it most are getting it first.

After receiving her shot, a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Ms. McCray encouraged eligible New Yorker to sign up for vaccine appointments  though access to those appointments, which are listed on dozens of disparate websites, has been one of the barriers to the equitable distribution of the vaccine.

There really is nothing to be afraid of, Ms. McCray said of being vaccinated. We want to do this for our families, we want to do this for our loved ones, and of course we want to do it for our city.

As of Tuesday, New York City had administered more than a million doses of vaccine. Mr. de Blasio had hoped to provide that many doses in January alone but has blamed a lack of supply for the slower pace.
GERMANTOWN, Md., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Seraxis, a biotech company developing a cell replacement therapy for insulin-dependent diabetes today announced the successful closing of a $40M Series C private financing round. The financing was led by Eli Lilly and Company, with participation from Frazier Healthcare Partners, Polaris Ventures, JDRF T1D Fund, and other investors.

Proceeds from the financing will primarily be used to complete the preclinical testing of SR-01, Seraxis' lead cell therapy treatment for insulin-dependent diabetes and initiate first-in-human clinical trials.

William Rust, PhD, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Seraxis

Seraxis has developed a proprietary human stem cell line, SR1423, and manufacturing process for the generation of lab-grown pancreatic islets that mimic native islets in purity and potency. The islets have shown the potential to reverse diabetes in preclinical animal models. The Company has also developed SeraGraft, an implant device and method that enables survival and function of the cell replacement therapy in the absence of immune suppression. Together, this novel treatment modality has the potential to help millions of people with diabetes.

"I am excited to advance our mission of bringing an islet replacement to diabetes patients. Our team will continue to work relentlessly to complete the development of SR-01," said William Rust, PhD, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Seraxis. "With the continued support of our investors, we believe SR-01 has the potential to become the first clinically validated treatment of its kind."

About Seraxis Inc.

Seraxis is a privately held biotechnology company with operations located in the BioHealth Capital Region, Maryland. Seraxis proprietary transplant ready islets and device were developed in house. Seraxis is advancing its cell therapy/device combination, SR-01 to the clinic. Further information can be found at www.seraxis.com

SOURCE Seraxis

Related Links

https://www.seraxis.com


CLEVELAND, Ohio  Anthony Sowell, the infamous Cleveland serial killer who committed one of the most shocking series of crimes in the citys history, died Monday afternoon at an Ohio prison hospital of an unspecified illness, a state corrections department official confirmed.

Sowell, 61, was awaiting the death penalty for the gruesome and depraved slayings that have haunted the Mount Pleasant neighborhood since police found the decomposed bodies of 11 women on his property more than a decade ago.

State prison officials on Jan. 21 moved Sowell from death row at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution to the end-of-life care unit at the Franklin Medical Center in Columbus. He died at 3:27 p.m., according to a prisons spokeswoman.

Sowell suffered from a terminal illness, but Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction spokeswoman JoEllen Smith could not say what illness. She said his death is not the result of the coronavirus.

His case became an international news story. It highlighted deep deficiencies within the Cleveland-area criminal justice system that saw several of Sowells victims ignored by law enforcement, allowing him to remain free to rape and kill others. It also called into question how seriously police took the families of missing persons known to live on societys fringes.

Cleveland paid out more than $1.3 million to victims and their families to settle lawsuits over how detectives handled accusations against Sowell before his arrest.

Sowell had been free from prison for several years by October 2009, having served a 15-year sentence for rape when officers went to his Imperial Avenue home as part of a new rape investigation. Investigators found two decomposing bodies on the third floor and a freshly dug grave in the basement.

Police took Sowell into custody two days later. Meanwhile, investigators combed through every inch of the house and the property on which it sat.

In the end, they found the decomposed bodies of 10 women, as well as a skull in a bucket in the basement.

Investigators later determined that Sowell lured the victims  all vulnerable women who struggled with drug addiction  into his home. He raped and strangled them, discarding their bodies in shallow graves, crawl spaces and even out to decompose in the open air.

The victims who escaped later recounted how Sowell lured them into his life and transformed into a monster. Some spoke of police officers who didnt believe what they reported.

A jury found Sowell guilty in 2011 of dozens of charges, including multiple counts of aggravated murder and other crimes for the women he killed. He was also convicted of trying to kill three women who survived.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Dick Ambrose sentenced Sowell to death, rejecting arguments that the hard life lived by the killer  a Marine who had an abusive childhood and may have suffered from mental and cognitive disorders  should be a reason to spare his life.

Sowell, like most death-row inmates, continued to fight his case in court to the end.

The discovery of the bodies in Sowells home solved a mystery that had real consequences for the neighborhood and a well-established East Side business. Residents at the time complained of a smell that permeated the neighborhood.

Former City Councilman Zack Reed, whose ward included Mount Pleasant, said there was a woman who lived across the street from Sowell who told him the neighborhood smelled like dead bodies.

Drain pipes were flushed and sewers were replaced because of the smell. The owners of Rays Sausage next to Sowells house spent nearly $20,000 for new plumbing fixtures, sewer lines and grease traps amid complaints that their operation was the source of the odor.

Those women never got justice, Reed said in an interview late Monday after news of Sowells death spread. Those families never got justice. The community never got justice. Rays Sausage never got justice. Theres nothing good that came out of that situation.
The Biden administration has no good answers for serious questions about the fate of the workers laid off in the wake of the abrupt cancelation of the Keystone Pipeline. But his press secretary will punish anyone who dares ask an embarrassing question about them.

Their lives and livelihoods have been have turned upside-down in order to appease green fanatics. The move won't even aid the cause of the fanatics, as rail transport of the oil being produced emits far more carbon than transport via a pipeline. It also causes far more ecological damage from spills. Warren Buffett and other railroad stockholders will do quite well, though, thank you very much.

With such a dismal real-world set of consequences for the Biden decision, Psaki really didn't have much to work with in crafting an answer. Still with a gracelessness that is becoming her hallmark, Psaki tried to punish the lone reporter, Peter Doocy of Fox News, who dared ask a question more probing than the president's ice cream preferences.

Ebony Bowden of the New York Post reports:

"Where is it that they can go for their green job?" Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked Psaki at her Monday afternoon press briefing, referring to Biden's promise to create good-paying union jobs in the green energy sector as his administration attempts to end the nation's reliance on fossil fuels. "That is something the administration has promised and there is now a gap so I'm just curious when that happens, when those people can count on that?" Doocy added. "Well, I'd certainly welcome you to present your data of all the thousands and thousands of people who won't be getting a green job," Psaki snarked. "Maybe next time you're here you can present that."

Huh? There is no denying that Biden has put Keystone workers, about 11,000 of them, out of work. Instead of describing how the Biden administration will see that they get jobs, she demands proof that they won't get jobs?

Doocy pressed further:

"But you said they will be getting green jobs. I'm just asking when that happens[,]" Doocy responded, noting a report by the Laborers' International Union of North America that found 1,000 union jobs on the Keystone project would "immediately vanish."

Psaki could tell the newly unemployed to wait patiently in the freezing cold of the Dakotas, or wherever else they are stuck with no job:

But Psaki swatted away the criticism and made a vague promise that Biden would put a jobs plan forward in the coming weeks.

Watch the sorry episode below:

Photo credit: C-SPAN screen grab via the New York Post.
Australian news presenter Cheng Lei, who has been detained by Chinas authorities since August 2020, was officially arrested on February 5 for allegedly supplying state secrets to an overseas organisation or individual. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns Chengs arrest and calls for her immediate release.

The Chinese-born Australian has been an anchor and reporter for China Global Television Network, the English-language services of the Chinese state media, China Central Television (CCTV), for eight years. Previously, she also worked for CNBC Asia in China and Singapore.

Chengs niece, Louisa Wen, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that she didnt think her aunt would have done anything to harm national security in any way intentionally.

According to Wen, Cheng had been interrogated on multiple occasions and her condition was worsening after being kept in confinement for six months. It is the first time Chengs family has spoken openly about her detention conditions.

Australias foreign minister said the Australian Government had raised its serious concerns about Ms Chengs detention regularly at senior levels, including about her welfare and conditions of detention. Australian embassy officials had been given access to visit the journalist six times since her detention.

Cheng was born in Yueyang, Hunan Province, in 1975 and emigrated to Australia with her parents at the age of 10. She has two children, who returned to Australia in the early onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Both are currently being cared for by Chengs family in Melbourne.

The journalists arrest comes at a time of heightened tension between Australia and China and also amid a clamping down by Chinese authorities on international media working in Mainland China.

During the pandemic in 2020 and immediately preceding it, an increasing number of incidents concerning correspondents being raided or refused visas drew international criticism on the actions of Beijing and its clamping down and intimidation of outside reporting.

Haze Fan, a Chinese journalist in Beijing working for American outlet Bloomberg, was also detained in a national security investigation in December 2020.

The IFJ said the critical concern was for Chengs during her detention without charge and the potential for a prolonged investigation and its impacts on her.

Australian citizen Yang Hengjun has spent more than two years detained in Beijing without trial, accused of espionage. Authorities did not allow him to meet a lawyer until the 19th month of his detention.

The IFJ said: Cheng Lei has been held without charge for six months and during that time authorities have failed to give any clear details of the allegations against her and justification for this confinement away from her family and loved ones. This defies all international standards in terms of respect for human rights. Charges against journalists under national security grounds are disturbing, as they undermine journalists safety and curtail media freedom. The IFJ condemns Chengs arrest and demands her immediate release.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Tuesday that a high-level committee has suggested that all private cryptocurrencies, except any virtual currencies issued by the State, will be prohibited in India.

Repeating the government's stance that it does not consider cryptocurrencies legal tenders or coins, the finance minister said all measures will be taken to eliminate use of these crypto-assets in financing illegitimate activities or as part of the payment system. "The government will explore use of blockchain technology proactively for ushering in digital economy," she said.

While the government proposing such regulations, here's a look at what cyrptocurrencies mean and which nations have and are exploring state-run digital currencies.

A cryptocurrency is a generic name for a virtual currency. A single unit of a cryptocurrency is a complex digital code that cannot be duplicated. It is used as a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange.

Meanwhile, cryptocurrency bitcoin has hit a record-high after electric carmaker Tesla invested $1.5 billion in the digital currency.

While several nations like Ecuador, China, Singapore, Venezuela Tunisia and Senegal have issued their own cryptocurrencies, others like Estonia, Japan, Palestine, Russia and Sweden are exploring options to launch their own digital assets.

Iran too has amended its cryptocurrency legislation to enable the central bank to use virtual currencies to pay for imports, while Turkey will soon pilot digital notes. In Thailand, regulators have approved 13 legal crypto businesses to operate legally in the country.

Meanwhile, China will issue 40 million yuan ($6.2 million) as part of latest trials in digital currency this week to boost consumption over the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.

According to reports, Beijing will distribute 10 million yuan in digital red packets each worth 200 yuan via a lucky draw each on Wednesday for use both online and offline. The city of Suzhou will also distribute 30 million yuan as part of its second trial of the e-yuan.

Switzerland is also reportedly considering the launch of a state-backed cryptocurrency with its government seeking a study on the benefits and concerns regarding e-franc.

Even the Caribbean is becoming a major player for cryptocurrency innovation, with projects backed by central banks in the Bahamas, the Eastern Caribbean and Jamaica.

The Marshall Islands has also launched its legal tender cryptocurrency after a law was passed by its parliament.
Ethiopia has secured nine million doses of COVID-19 vaccines up until April and hopes to inoculate at least a fifth of its 110 million people by the end of the year, the health minister said on Tuesday

'For now up to April we have been allocated close to nine million doses,' Lia Tadesse said.

' Within this year we want to make sure we get at least 20% of the population,' she told Reuters.

Ethiopia was open to possible donations of vaccines, Lia added, and said the country was not doing any procurement of doses independently but only through the COVAX facility.

COVAX is co-led by the GAVI alliance which secures vaccines for poor countries, the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the U.N. Childrens Fund.

African countries are scrambling to obtain COVID-19 vaccine supplies for their 1.3 billion people even as rich nations elsewhere in the world race ahead with mass immunisation campaigns. Only a handful of nations on the continent have begun administering vaccines.

On Tuesday, Lia did not specify which vaccines Ethiopia will be receiving through COVAX.

' We are not getting any specific vaccine we are getting them based on the availability of the COVAX facility, ' she told Reuters.

More than 142,000 Ethiopians have tested positive for COVID-19 with more than 2,100 dying from the disease, according to WHO data.

Short link:


Western Australias gambling regulator wont consider a damning report that found Crown was not suitable to hold a casino licence in New South Wales until it meets in two weeks time.

The Bergin report was tabled in the NSW Parliament on Tuesday and found Crown Sydney Gaming was not suitable to hold Sydneys second casino licence and its parent company Crown Resorts was not a suitable person to be a close associate.

The Crown inquiry report dropped on Tuesday. Credit:Joe Armao

The findings prompted calls from the Greens and independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie for the WA and Victorian Crown casinos to face similar inquiries.

The culture and operation of Crown Resorts in Western Australia and Victoria were part of the NSW assessment process and need to be assessed, said the Greens gambling spokeswoman, WA Senator Rachel Siewert.
This argument relies on a narrow interpretation of the law: essentially, that former presidents cant be tried because the Constitution doesnt explicitly say that they can be. Many legal scholars disagree, including Charles J. Cooper, a prominent conservative lawyer. Mr. Cooper noted in an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal on Sunday that the Constitution lets the Senate bar convicted officials from any future public office, and argued that it therefore defies logic to suggest that the Senate is prohibited from trying and convicting former officeholders.

What happens next

The proceedings will begin on Tuesday with four hours of debate on whether the Senate has jurisdiction to try Mr. Trump. Senators will then vote on that question. A simple majority  51 votes  is all thats needed to proceed, and Democrats should have no trouble getting that.

Then, assuming the Senate decides it has jurisdiction, the prosecution and defense will each have up to 16 hours to present arguments starting on Wednesday. The trial will pause from Friday evening through Saturday, because one of Mr. Trumps lawyers observes Shabbat, and then reconvene on Sunday.

A key part of the House impeachment managers strategy will be to try to force Republicans to engage with the facts of Mr. Trumps behavior and the details of what happened on Jan. 6  to try, in other words, to prevent them from falling back on procedural objections. Democrats are likely to rely heavily on video footage from the riot, and on vivid personal accounts like the one Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York, shared last week.

In some respects, they are trying to recapture the mood of the days immediately after the riot, when the fury at Mr. Trump was bipartisan and it seemed there might actually be 67 votes to convict him in the Senate.

A final vote could happen as soon as next week. To convict Mr. Trump, at least 17 Republican senators would have to join all 50 Democrats. Thats very unlikely, but if it did happen, the Senate could then vote by a simple majority to bar Mr. Trump from future public office.
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When you drive around in an SUV thats got the words Pot Trooper painted on it along with various pro-marijuana slogans, you might expect to attract the attention of the police at some point.

For Ed NJ Weedman Forchion, that point came on Friday evening as he was driving through the Passaic County town of Wanaque.

Early Saturday morning I got a message from Forchion:

I was arrested for weed, it read. Small amount and the police seized all my money.

The ostensible reason for the stop, Forchion told me, was that he had a green light over his license plate instead of a clear one. But once he was pulled over, the Weedman said, the officers Googled him and found out something that most of us who spend time in Trenton already know. He openly operates a pot dispensary, an activity that he maintains is perfectly legal.

The constitutional amendment was enacted on January First and it said marijuana is now legal, Forchion said in a video of the arrest he posted on Facebook.

In November, voters did indeed pass by a 2-1 margin a Constitutional Amendment to Legalize Marijuana.

But that didnt stop the Wanaque cops from charging the Weedman with pot possession and confiscating $9,000 in cash they found in his car.

Forchion also operates a restaurant at his Trenton location, and he maintains the cash came from that operation.

My rent is $4,200 a month, Forchion said. That was my rent money.

Maybe it was. But theres a wonderful irony here that our state legislators would do well to ponder.

Under federal law, marijuana remains illegal. Banks are not permitted to handle the proceeds. That creates considerable complications for the medicinal-marijuana dispensaries now legal under New Jersey law. Presumably those new adult-use dispensaries in New Jersey would face the same problems.

I know one prominent politician in New Jersey who had a solution for that problem. When he ran for president in 2016, then-Gov. Chris Christie said that if elected he would shut down marijuana sales if elected.

If youre getting high in Colorado today, enjoy it, Christie said in 2015. As of January 2017, I will enforce the federal laws.

Christie later softened that stand a bit, saying states have the right to do what they want to do on this. But the federal laws he cited are still on the books. So in the eyes of the feds, Weedmans dispensary and the state-approved dispensaries could both have their cash confiscated.

When I spoke to the Weedman, he said the issue of cops confiscating cash is very much a live one in urban communities.

I dont know how many times they found pot on me and took the money, Forchion said. In urban neighborhoods they take your money.

That is indeed a common practice, said one libertarian activist. John Paff is a retired insurance executive whos devoted a lot of time to fighting asset-forfeiture laws.

For a lot of minorities whove had their cash confiscated, It costs more for them to engage in the process of getting it back, so they lose the money, he said.

Weedman has hired a lawyer to fight the confiscation. Hes also filed a federal suit arguing that marijuana became legal the moment that amendment took effect.

Thats not the Murphy administrations view. But quite a few legislators are sympathetic to the Weedmans stance on how pot laws affect urban minorities. Thats central to the dispute over legislation thats been on the governors desk since Dec. 17.

Murphy has said he wont sign a bill that eliminates penalties for pot possession by juveniles. But legislators from urban areas argue that such penalties would encourage the stop-and-frisk policies, the same policies that Forchion and Paff say can end with cash being confiscated.

The state senator whos been the architect of the legalization bills told me yesterday that a compromise is in the works.

The process should be complete by the end of next week, said state Sen. Nick Scutari (D-Union). Were going to have a hearing Monday, another on Tuesday and have it passed by Thursday.

Once the bill is signed into law, the charges of simple marijuana possession lodged against the Weedman and others should be dismissed, Scutari said.

But at what point would a dealer like the Weedman get to legalize his operation?

Hell have to go through the application process, Scutari said.

That process includes the establishment of a Cannabis Regulatory Commission that would set up rules for the sale of legal weed. I asked Scutari whether that process might stretch out for a year or more.

Lets get through next week first, said the senator. Then we can talk about the next delay.

The Weedman certainly will.

PLUS- THE MORE THINGS CHANGE:

Check this website on the history of alcohol Prohibition in New Jersey. Note the appointment of World War I hero Ira Reeves to head up Prohibition enforcement:

But Reeves quickly became disillusioned. Virtually everyone around him drank with impunity. Under political pressure, he had to promise not to raid the state legislatures annual dinner. But worse was the pervasive corruption of law enforcement officers and entire departments. The chief of police in Trenton had Reeves agents arrested for carrying concealed guns without a permit.

Read the whole thing.
The gunman who allegedly shot five people at a Minnesota health clinic has now been identified, with police revealing they found suspicious devices at both the medical center and at a nearby Super 8 motel and have been 'familiar' with the suspect since 2003.

Gregory Paul Ulrich, 67, from Buffalo, was arrested and is currently being held in the Wright County Jail over the mass shooting that took place at the Allina Health Clinic on Crossroads Campus Drive in Wright County, Buffalo, late Tuesday morning.

At least five people were wounded after the gunman entered the facility not long before 11am and opened fire.

The conditions of the victims is still not known though the police chief said 'we don't know of any fatalities right now.'

Authorities have not confirmed if the victims are staff or patients at the facility which is based in the small community of around 15,000 people.

Gregory Paul Ulrich, 67, was identified as the suspected gunman who allegedly shot five people at a Minnesota health clinic Tuesday

Police said Ulrich had been known to law enforcement for some time and they believe he targeted the Allina Health Clinic on Crossroads Campus Drive in Wright County, Buffalo, (above) and its staff

Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke confirmed the suspect's identity at a press conference Tuesday afternoon where he said earlier reports that four homemade bombs had been detonated at the center are now known to be incorrect.

He said that 'suspicious packages' had been located at both the clinic and the nearby Super 8 motel - roughly one mile from the center - where Ulrich was known to have been staying.

Both sites were evacuated and bomb squads remain on the scene.

Budke said it was not yet clear if any of the devices had detonated and if the damage to the building was from gunfire or an explosive.

Police said Ulrich has been known to law enforcement for some time.

Police were first called to reports of shots being fired at the clinic at 10:54 am.

Officers responded to the scene and found several people injured inside the clinic, who they immediately administered aid to.

They located the suspect and he was taken into custody, police said.

During a secondary search of the building, officers found what they described as a 'suspicious package' in the lobby.

The clinic was evacuated and the Minneapolis bomb squad was called to the scene. They were still on the scene at 3pm.

Authorities then received information that Ulrich was staying at the Super 8.

Officers went to the motel where they found 'additional suspicious devices' and also evacuated the building.

A search warrant was obtained and officers continue to be investigating the scene.

Budke said the situation was contained by 11:42 am and there is no ongoing threat to public safety.

Authorities said there is no indication that Ulrich was connected to any type of domestic terrorism.

Instead, Budke said believe they believe the 67-year-old 'targeted the facility or someone at the facility' because he was unhappy with the care he'd received there.

Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke (center) confirmed the suspect's identity at a press conference Tuesday afternoon where he said earlier reports that four homemade bombs had been detonated at the center are now known to be incorrect

One of the broken windows following the mass shooting and explosion at the clinic

Law enforcement personnel and first responders gathered on the scene outside the clinic

Five people were wounded after the gunman opened fire at the urgent care clinic in Buffalo

'All I can say is, it's a history that spans several years and there's certainly a history of him being unhappy with health care... with the health care that he'd received,' Budke said.

'None of the information that we have from our past contact with him would indicate that he was unhappy with, or would direct his anger at, anyone other than people within the facilities where he had been treated or where they had attempted to give treatment.'

Ulrich has lived in the community for some time and has been in contact with healthcare professionals at the clinic for 'quite some time',' authorities said.

'None of the information we have at this time suggests he would focus on any other individual or clinic.'

Police said they believe he acted alone and they are not looking for any further suspects involved in the shooting.

Both the Buffalo Police Department and the Wright County Sheriff's Department were 'very familiar' with the suspect and had received 'several calls for service [regarding Ulrich] dating back to 2003,' Sheriff Sean Deringer said at the press conference.

'He is no stranger to law enforcement,' authorities said.

Authorities did not go into detail about what type of treatment Ulrich had been receiving at the clinic.

However, Ulrich's brother Richard told KTSP that he had back surgery a couple of years back and was put on opioids for it.

Richard told the outlet he believed the drugs may have led to Tuesday's incident.

A map of the Allina Health Clinic which is just one mile from the Super 8 Motel. Suspicious packages were found at both locations

Five victims were rushed to hospital following the shooting.

Four patients are currently at North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale and the fifth is at Hennepin County Medical Center.

Two of the victims had initially been taken to the Allina-operated Buffalo Hospital before being transferred.

No update was given about their conditions during the press conference.

The North Memorial hospital is known for dealing with the most severe of critical incident injuries.

Budke choked back tears as he said: 'This is a day that no community would want to go through - especially those staff that were there and families of those that were injured.'

There had been conflicting reports about whether any bombs had detonated at the scene.

Initial reports based on police dispatch audio said that four homemade bombs had been detonated inside the family medicine and urgent care clinic at the facility just 30 minutes after the shooting.

'The male is saying that he had four homemade explosive devices. They all went off,' a voice says over the audio, adding that there could be another device inside the suspect's briefcase that had not gone off yet.

The man was 'sprawled out on his stomach' and had said the gun and his briefcase was by the front desk of the clinic, the audio reported.

Wright County spokesman John Holler later told CNN no bombs were found on the scene but Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said at a press conference the incident involved some IEDs.

Police revealed they found suspicious devices at both the medical center (above) and at a nearby Super 8 motel and have been 'familiar' with the suspect since 2003

Aerial footage from the scene shows at least two windows in the facility blown out by the blast while an empty wheelchair is seen outside the front entrance

'At the time what we know is there was an active shooter situation and some improvised explosive devices,' Walz said at a briefing one hour before the local authorities held their press conference.

'It's not confirmed yet the causalities or those injured in this.'

Walz confirmed the suspect was in custody and that the incident appeared to be the work of a single individual.

He added that it was too early to determine the motive for the attack.

The police dispatch audio reported that '15 shots were fired' and 'that somebody came in and started shooting.'

At least five were said to be critically injured with voices later saying there was 'one down' and that there were 'several victims with one [victim's condition being] critical if not fatal.'

Three female victims were said to be by the front entrance with gunshot wounds - with at least one critical and one shot in the abdomen.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said at a press conference the suspect was in custody and that the incident appeared to be the work of a single individual

Local schools were placed on lockdown and a flight ban was issued over the area

At least five people were wounded after the gunman entered the facility not long before 11am and opened fire

A local woman told Fox9 she was dropping her mom off for an appointment when she saw two nurses come running out the front of the building.

'I pulled in and was getting ready to drop her off at the door and two of the nurses came running out and they got in and said they heard about 11 shots within a minute,' she said.

She said the nurses told her they didn't see a shooter.

They then saw the front windows 'be shot out' about two minutes later so they drove away from the scene, she said.

Another local resident Jim Rich told Fox 9 the incident was 'very out of the norm for the area' where everyone knows each other.

A law enforcement source told the outlet the incident was a 'disaster.'

Multiple law enforcement teams were drafted in to the scene with the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm and Hennepin County all sending in teams to assist Buffalo Police and Wright County Sheriff's Department.

The State Patrol reported that it was flying six boxes of blood from the Red Cross to Buffalo Hospital for the victims.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the situation an 'unspeakable depravity' and said the city was also sending in emergency responders to assist Buffalo.

'There is an unspeakable depravity in doing harm to those who work to heal us. Those who have stepped up and risked their own health for ours,' he tweeted.

'Our first responders are on their way to the scene to help. Today Minneapolis stands with our neighbors in Buffalo.'

The conditions of the victims is still not known and authorities have not confirmed if they are staff or patients at the facility (pictured before the shooting)

Local schools went into lockdown and a flight ban was issued over the area Tuesday morning while the investigation was underway.

Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose public schools sent a memo to students' parents saying local schools had gone into lockdown with everyone evacuated from the two closest schools to the facility.

'Today there was an emergency situation at Allina Crossroads Clinic that prompted schools in Buffalo to be in lock-down and, at the direction of the Buffalo Police Department, we evacuated students from the two closest schools [Tatanka Elementary STEM School and PRIDE Transitions] to Buffalo High School,' they said.

'All other schools will dismiss today at their regularly scheduled time. All KidKare sites will be open until 6:30 p.m. Tatanka KidKare students will remain at Buffalo High School until picked up by parents.

'The district acted quickly with the help of the Buffalo Police Department and Wright County Sheriff's Department to make sure that our students are safe and secure. Our thoughts go out to those directly involved with the situation.'

Allina Health owns or operates 12 hospitals and more than 90 clinics across Minnesota.

At the Allina Health Clinic in Buffalo, 11 practitioners are listed on the website.

Buffalo is a city of about 15,000 people based around 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis.
Travellers arriving in the UK will be required to take two Covid tests while in quarantine under tougher new rules to be announced this week.

The Department of Health and Social Care said the rules were being tightened to prevent new variants of coronavirus from entering the country.

Under the new measures, travellers will have to take Covid tests after their second and eighth day of their 10-day quarantine period. They are already required to show proof of a negative test result no more than 72 hours before departure before they can enter the UK.

A spokesperson said: Enhancing our testing regime to cover all arrivals while they isolate will provide a further level of protection and enable us to better track any new cases which might be brought into the country, and give us even more opportunities to detect new variants.

It comes after last weeks announcement that UK nationals returning from coronavirus hotspot destinations will have to carry out mandatory quarantine in government-approved hotels from 15 February.

This will affect an estimated 1,000 UK residents per day returning from high risk red list countries, including several South American and African countries where new Covid variants have been detected in large numbers of people.

But with just seven days to go before the rule comes into force, Downing Street revealed today that no contracts have been signed yet with hotel chains to provide rooms for mandatory quarantine.

Boris Johnsons official spokesperson told a Westminster media briefing: Last week, the Department of Health issued a commercial specification to hotels near ports and airports.

This asked for proposals on how they could deliver and manage quarantine facilities. No formal contracts have been awarded yet.

The government has come under fire for the delays, with Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas Symonds saying it beggars belief that no agreements have been made with hotels, just a few days before the quarantining system is due to begin.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also said it was important for the UK to secure our borders after concerns were raised that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine may be less effective against the South African variant of coronavirus.

He said: I think the South African variant is the single biggest risk at the moment. Its very important therefore that we secure our borders.

We have known about the South African variant for some time. If you can believe it, its going to be 50 days from knowing about the variant to border restrictions, quarantining in hotels, coming in.

Add to that, and this is probably the most significant things number of other countries we now know have the South African variant, and they are not even in the government scheme for quarantining in hotels.

This is leaving a back door open at a vital stage in the battle against the virus, he added.

The prime minister suggested on Monday that border controls could be increased, but only once the UK has brought its own infection rate down significantly.

Mr Johnson said: They are most effective, border controls, when youve got the rate of infection down in your country. For border controls really to make that final difference, so you can isolate new variants as they come in, you need to have infections really much lower so you can track them as they spread.

Additional reporting by PA


New Delhi:

The Supreme Court may pronounce quantam of sentence in the contempt case against fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya on Friday. Mallya had failed to appear before the Apex court despite the later directed to do so.

On Monday, A bench comprising of Justices A K Goel and U U Lalit had scheduled the case for hearing on July 14 and had sought the assistance of the Solicitor General, Ranjit Kumar in the case.

The apex court had on May 9 held Mallya, who is presently in the United Kingdom, guilty of contempt on a plea by the consortium of lender banks, led by the State Bank of India, for his failure to furnish details of all his Indian as well as offshore assets.

It had directed Mallya to appear before it today to argue on the quantum of punishment.

The offence of contempt of court entails a maximum imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of upto Rs 2,000 or both.

#ExpectedToday: SC to pronounce quantum of sentence against #VijayMallya in connection with the contempt of court case. pic.twitter.com/iStNhFfCVz  ANI (@ANI_news) July 14, 2017

India had recently asked Britain to ensure early extradition of Mallya, who is an accused in a bank loan default case of over Rs 9,000 crore involving his defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

The apex courts order had come on a plea by the consortium of banks, led by the State Bank of India (SBI), which had said that Mallya had allegedly transferred USD 40 million received from British firm Diageo to his children in flagrant violation of various judicial orders.

The banks had argued before the court that Mallya had wilfully disobeyed the orders and made vague disclosure about his assets.

Also Read: Vijay Mallya steps down as India's top representative to FIA

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
KENNEWICK, Wash., Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Senske Services announces the acquisition of ExperiGreen Lawn Care of Aurora, CO. With this strategic expansion into Colorado, Senske continues to position itself as a premier provider of lawn, tree, and pest control services across the Western United States.

Founded in 2016, ExperiGreen Lawn Care has offered quality lawn and tree care services to Aurora and the surrounding Denver area residents. After deciding to divest some of their operations on the west coast, ExperiGreen's first call to a potential acquirer was Senske. According to John Moehn, ExperiGreen President, "Senske's dedication to customer service, employees, and 100% satisfaction guarantee made them an attractive option to continue the great work ExperiGreen had started."

Current employees and managers have joined the Senske team. Services will continue for customers uninterrupted with expanded offerings such as Mosquito Control and Full-Service Pest Control now available. When asked about the acquisition, Senske President Chris Senske noted, "I am impressed with the team members here in Aurora. They have a lot to contribute to our success. I look forward to seeing them grow individually as they help Senske grow."

About Senske Services:

Senske Services is a market-leading, multi-state home services company focused on growing organically and through mergers and acquisitions in the Western United States. Senske is a family-owned business, operating since 1947 with a strong legacy and heritage tied to its core values of integrity, community, and loyalty. The Senske family of brands includes Senske Pest Control, Senske Lawn and Tree Care, Senske Grounds Maintenance, Washington Tree & Lawn Care, and Christmas Decor by Senske. Senske is actively exploring expansion opportunities; for companies interested in selling their lawn care or pest control business, contact Bjorn Gjerde at 509.374.5007 or visit www.senske.com.

SOURCE Senske Services

Related Links

https://www.senske.com


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BOULDER, Colo.  The University of Colorado Boulder said thousands of students are returning to campus as the university prepares to begin in-person and hybrid classes.

University spokesperson Scott Pribble said about 4,700 students are moving into residence halls this week, the Daily Camera reported Monday. Each must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result or take a test on campus before moving in.

The semester began on Jan. 14 with all classes only online. The university intends to begin in-person and hybrid classes on Feb. 15.

Were increasing our testing capacity and requirements and will continue with safety measures such as daily check-ins via Buff Pass, required use of face coverings when on campus, reduced density in campus buildings, social distancing in the classroom and proper ventilation, a statement posted to the university website said.

Freshman roommates Erin Ochs and Ellie Vine were among the first 1,000 students who moved in Monday.

Being online to start with wasnt hard, but being online and not being here was difficult  to not be around other people working on their classes. Its easy to be motivated if people around you are, Vine said.

Last semester was pretty difficult, because you dont know how to make friends through your computer, Ochs said, adding that students would message each other on group Zoom calls to hang out and grab coffee.

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LONDON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TBD Media Group is proud to be launching this new edition of its groundbreaking and informative Global Thought Leaders campaign. This new campaign focuses on how businesses are leveraging their response to the realities of today, into careful and innovative planning for the needs of tomorrow.

The world of business and industry is indisputably changing. Many new and varied considerations are coming into play which are disrupting old methods and ways of thinking - sustainability, logistics, along with technological development, are merely a few of the elements that are leading companies to redefine their operations around the globe.

Questions must now be asked: Why are healthcare costs spiralling out of control and becoming increasingly unsustainable at the same time that 3D modelling is making ground-breaking advances in medical treatments? How can we tackle the rising emissions levels in urban areas where air pollution is a major health risk? How is our society using data now and how will this continue in the future? How will vehicle rentals and parking become convenient in 2021? The Global Thought Leaders series is dedicated to exploring questions such as these, and learning how the answers will shape the world hereafter.

With several inspiring new documentary films that illuminate the evolving nature of business across sectors as diverse as healthcare, city infrastructure and digital technology; this campaign reveals how the current pivotal moment in history is an undeniable opportunity for reshaping systems, cities and urban infrastructure, all the while making a true difference to society.

Paolo Emilio Zanini, CEO of TBD Media Group, says, 'It is important to give businesses a voice when looking at the potential of our future. When faced with the big challenges that will affect how we thrive in the coming decades, companies and their leaders will play a significant role in determining the direction in which we embark as a society.'

Companies featured in this launch:

NREP , Hopital de La Tour , Parkster AB , IJCLab , Echosens SA , Shining 3D , Experian , Fresenius Kabi , QOMPLX , Coastr, Digital Diagnostics , Danfoss Editron Oy , BeAliveHealthClub, CU Aerospace LLC , Applied Autonomy AS with partners

The campaign is available to watch at https://www.globalthoughtleaders.org/ .

About Global Thought Leaders:

The Global Thought Leaders project showcases the businesses of today shaping the world of tomorrow. From digital transformation to industrial innovation, this thoughtful and insightful documentary series is educating the business community on how to use innovation to transform and grow. Businesses that wish to get involved should contact info@tbdmediagroup.com.

About TBD Media Group:

TBD Media Group is an international, purpose-driven, media developer that helps companies, organisations and governments tell their brand stories in a human and direct way. Learn more at https://www.tbdmediagroup.com/.

Video: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1435076/TBD_Media__Global_Thought_Leaders_series.mp4



Media Contact:

Jenna-Leigh Soobramoney

Head of Marketing

TBD Media Group

j.soobramoney@tbdmediagroup.com

The National Union of Students in Romania (UNSR) on Monday expressed "concern" over the "limitation" of free train tickets for students and said that "savings cannot be made" from them, according to AGERPRES.

"For both students in general and those from disadvantaged social and economic backgrounds, in particular, free train tickets were an opportunity that facilitated their access to higher education. The news that the Romanian government, led by Prime Minister Florin Citu, is trying again to limit this facility which has brought enormous benefit to students, can only outrage us in the context of gaps in current legislation in the education sector, and the inconsistency of decisions taken by governments results in more distrust on the part of students - a category of citizens that certainly brings added value to our country. The National Union of Students in Romania publicly and firmly expresses the concern of all students about this limitation and finds that no one can be sure for a second as to the validity of the facilities received from the Romanian Government, regardless who will be the residents of Victoria Palace of Government," the students said in a press release.

According to the UNSR, "savings cannot be made" from students, and "true strategies" and the limitation of unnecessary spending can be drawn up "only together with the representatives of the population, in a permanent, consistent and long-lasting dialogue".

"Free transport for students is not eliminated. There is local transport and there is a shuttle, which is settled. For students there are certain discussions, only at the level of the Ministry of Transport, for the moment, it is about access to free travel by rail. No one took considering the total elimination of gratuity," specified the Minister of Education, Sorin Cimpeanu, on Monday evening, on private television broadcaster Realitatea Plus.
Lemmings March into the Sea Thinking Theres Green Power There

Feb. 8 , 2021 (EIRNS)Whom the gods would destroy they first make their governments mad. The Olympian gods of the London and Wall Street oligarchy are making one Western government mad after another.

Denmark approved the biggest project ever, a 28 billion ($34 billion) offshore wind energy hub (dont call it a farm around the lemmings) to eventually produce a maximum of 10 GW rated electric capacitythis assumes the 200 turbines are larger and more powerful than any yet developed anywhere. It will be 80 km offshore in the North Sea. The biggest construction project in Danish history, the public-private partnership is supposed to power 3 million households, indicating real generation of only about 3 GW at perhaps $11 billion/GW. It will have storage facilitiesno doubt in the form of those magical huge batteries that will be perfected soon, and that every country will soon have the lithium and cobalt supplies for. Plus it will be a marvel for ship traffic in the North Sea.

The approval followed Denmarks decision to cancel all future licensing rounds for North Sea oil and gas extraction, according to the British government publication Global Construction Review on Feb. 5. This is to eliminate alternatives to this kind of powerDenmark already has the highest share of interruptibles in Europe, and the highest retain electricity cost, equivalent to 40 cents/kwh.

The South Korean government is going ahead with a $43 billion (48.5 trillion won) wind farm off Sinan on its southwestern coast which is supposed to produce just 8.2 GW of rated power, whereas at Asias very worst that would produce the same 8 GW of nuclear power, which would generate twice as much actual electricity without blocking up the sea lanes. But Korea needs to attract foreign private financing for this PPP, and knows that will come from the direction of BlackRocks Wall Street.

Some lemmings have recognized the problem and called for stopping the march. Japans Energy Minister Hiroshi Kajiyama told the Financial Times on Feb. 3 that power shortages last month, due to heavy snowfall, showed Japan needs to go nuclear again. Kajiyama said: Personally, I think nuclear power will be indispensable. He described Japans electricity supply as touch-and-go during the snowfall last month, resulting in high electricity prices and tight supplies in some areas of the country. Solar wasnt generating. Wind wasnt generating. Im trying to persuade everybody that in the end we need nuclear power.

Only 9 of Japans once-52 nuclear reactors have been reapproved after the March 2011 tsunami took out Fukushima Daiichi, and are generating. Another 18 reactors have applied to restart, but in 2019, nuclear energy provided just 7.5% of the countrys electricity.

NBC News- Donald Trump's second impeachment trial is slated to begin this week, and will look much different than the first.

Trump is the first president to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives, and he'll be the first former president to be put on trial in the Senate. Opening arguments are expected to begin Wednesday, and the trial is expected to last at least a week. Here's what to expect.

What's Trump charged with?

The House impeached Trump on Jan. 13 with a single charge: "incitement of insurrection" for allegedly encouraging the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

The article of impeachment cited Trump's monthslong false claims of election fraud and attempts to strong-arm state officials into changing the results of the Nov. 3 election, as well as his call for his supporters to gather for a rally ahead of the Electoral College vote count. It also cites the speech Trump gave his supporters as Congress began the count, urging them to go to the Capitol. He "willfully made statements that, in context, encouraged  and foreseeably resulted in  lawless action at the Capitol, such as: 'if you don't fight like hell you're not going to have a country anymore,'" the impeachment article says.

What's his defense?

The main defense put forward so far by Trump's lawyers is one that's already proven popular with Republicans  that he shouldn't be tried at all because he's no longer in office.

Democrats say that argument is legally flawed and counter to precedent, but 45 Republican senators signed on to a motion ahead of the trial arguing that the proceeding is unconstitutional. And the Senate is planning to hold a vote on that issue ahead of the start of the trial.

"In the alternative, the 45th president respectfully requests the Senate to acquit him on the merits of the allegations raised in the article of impeachment," his attorneys wrote in a defense filing.

What about Covid safety measures?

Prosecutors from the House and Trump's defense lawyers will sit at long tables designed to give them room to be socially distanced from each other.

To accommodate social distancing among senators during the trial, there will be seats reserved for them in the galleries, so they do not have to sit at their desks on the Senate floor for the entire trial, a Senate official familiar with the planning told NBC News.

Senators may be in the public galleries above the Senate chamber  which have been closed to the public due to the pandemic  and in the "marble room," which is just off the Senate floor and where the trial will be shown on television.

The precautions mean some members will not be at their desks during the trial. Senators will need to be on the Senate floor to vote.

Will there be witnesses?

No witnesses are scheduled to testify, but senators could vote to allow them after the trial begins.

The House managers asked Trump to testify last week after he denied some of the allegations in the article of impeachment, but the former president refused the offer through his lawyers, who called it "a publicity stunt."

Who's presiding?

While Chief Justice John Roberts presided over Trump's first trial, Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the president pro-tempore of the Senate, will preside over the second because of Trump's status as a former president.

The presiding officer's duties are similar to that of a judge, but more limited than that of a judge in a traditional trial. The presiding officer could rule on evidentiary questions  or could pass that role off to the Senate to have it vote on those questions. Leahy's vote in those instances would have the same weight as that of any other senator.

When do proceedings begin?

The proceedings begin Tuesday with four hours of argument on the constitutionality of the trial by the House managers and Trump's lawyers. While 45 Republicans voted in favor of a measure that argued the proceedings were unconstitutional last month, some of those senators said they simply wanted a debate on the issue. The Senate would then hold a vote on whether to proceed  a measure that only needs a simple majority and is expected to pass easily.

What happens in the trial?

The House managers are scheduled to begin their opening arguments at noon ET Wednesday, followed by the attorneys for the president. Each side will have 16 hours to make their presentations  a shorter amount of time than the 24 hours allotted for Trump's first trial and then-President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial. Each trial day is expected to last 8 hours  meaning it would go until about 8 p.m. most days, later if they take breaks.

When opening arguments are done, senators will be able to question the two sides for four hours by submitting written questions to Leahy, who will read them aloud.

The managers could then have a debate and a vote on calling witnesses or subpoenaing documents. If that does not happen, the two sides would move on to closing arguments, which would last a total of four hours.

The trial was set to break from tradition and be held on Sundays instead of Saturdays at the request of Trump's legal team because one of them, David Schoen, can't work on the Sabbath.

However, Schoen in a letter Monday withdrew the request and said the role he would have played will be covered by the defense team, and there shouldnt be any delay on his behalf.

This will likely lead to a change in the schedule laid out in the resolution and will be passed Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the planning.

How many votes needed to convict?

It takes a supermajority  67 votes  to convict. Anything else leads to acquittal. Neither verdict could be appealed to a court.

What happens if Trump is convicted?

Trump doesn't have to worry about being removed from office, but if he's convicted, the Senate could then hold a second vote to disqualify him from ever holding national office again. That penalty would need a simple majority of 51 votes to pass.

Who are the "jurors"?

The entire Senate hears the case, but has more power than a typical civil or criminal jury.

In addition to being able to vote on procedures and evidence, senators can submit questions and objections to the presiding officer. And while judges strive to pick unbiased civil and criminal juries, that's not the case here. The Senate is currently evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.

If there's a 50-50 split on a trial issue, Vice President Kamala Harris could act as a tiebreaking vote. While a vice president is typically excluded from involvement in a presidential impeachment trial because of conflict of interest issues, Trump's status as a former president renders that issue moot.

Who are the "prosecutors"?

There are nine impeachment managers, who essentially act as the prosecutors in the case. The roster is entirely different from the first impeachment trial. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., is the lead manager. He's joined by Reps. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., David Cicilline, D-R.I., Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., Ted Lieu, D-Calif., Joe Neguse, D-Colo., and Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., as well as Delegate Stacey Plaskett, D-U.S. Virgin Islands.

Who are Trump's lawyers?

The former president will also have a different roster of lawyers than he had in his previous trial, and different lawyers than he had originally lined up. He parted ways last month with the first three lawyers who were set to represent him and is being represented by attorneys David Schoen, Bruce Castor Jr. and Michael van der Veen.

Schoen is a civil and criminal defense lawyer who previously represented Trump adviser Roger Stone, whom Trump granted a full pardon during his final weeks in office.

Castor is a former Pennsylvania district attorney who declined to prosecute the disgraced comedian and actor Bill Cosby in 2005. Cosby was convicted of sexual assault in 2018 after a different prosecutor pursued the case.

Van der Veen is a Philadelphia-based personal injury and criminal defense lawyer.
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine can neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 strain mutations that have proliferated in the United Kingdom and South Africa, according to researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

UTMB and the pharmaceutical company Pfizer/BioNTech worked together for a new study, published Tuesday in medical journal Nature Medicine.

The study used serum derived from 20 vaccine recipients to test the efficacy of the Pfizer formula on each known coronavirus variant, said Dr. Pei-Yong Shi, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at UTMB. Another variant that originated in Brazil is still being studied.

The news comes one day after the University of Texas at Austin announced the UK strain was detected on campus, and Houston Methodist Hospital reported the Houston areas first case of the South African variant.

MORE FROM THE HEALTH TEAM: The key to boosting COVID vaccine trust? Vaccinating health care workers. But only 58 percent are willing.

More than 600 cases of the UK strain have been reported in 33 states, while Texas becomes only the fourth state to confirm a case involving the South African variant, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

UTMB, through its year-old partnership with Pfizer, developed a reverse genetic system for Sars-COV-2 to make and manipulate the virus in a petri dish in a laboratory setting, Shi said. Once the system was in place, researchers were able to engineer and insert mutations into the virus to see how they proliferate inside its cells.

By visualizing how mutations infect the cell, scientists were able to understand whether the mRNA vaccine would be effective against the UK and South African variants, Shi said.

The vaccine appears to be more effective against the UK variant than the South African one, though Shi said the difference is "very modest.

More COVID variant studies are underway at the Galveston research hospital, including identifying common amino acid mutations. All of the new variants  regardless of their country of origin  contain the N501 amino acid at the spike protein, according to Shi.

Early results will be available in the next few weeks.

UTMB labs were used in Phase 1, 2 and pre-clinical testing for the Pfizer vaccine. And Shi said the team was thrilled when the company was first to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with 95 percent efficacy.

UTMB is collaborating on a number of studies with Pfizer/BioNTech, which are funded by the pharmaceutical company, grants from the National Institutes of Health and various philanthropic donors.

I thought we could take a break, but then here comes these new variants, Shi said. It threw us into a new chaotic situation.

Houston Methodist found the regions first case of the South African variant on Feb. 6 while sequencing the genomes of positive test results. It also found two cases of the UK variant in that sequence. The first UK variant case in the Houston area was confirmed in early January.

While the vaccine will keep a person from becoming very sick or dying from COVID-19, scientists are still uncertain whether a vaccinated person will contract the virus, become asymptomatic and pass it on.

UTMB researchers are now working to determine if transmission is increased as a result of the mutations. However, being vaccinated will boost the bodys antibody activity, regardless of new variants, Shi said.

These are the things we still dont know, he said. Thats why getting vaccinated is so important because it will limit the virus from transmitting and minimize the chance to make further mutations. The more mutations it can make means a higher chance of eroding the current vaccines efficacy.

julie.garcia@chron.com

Twitter.com/reporterjulie

Mumbai, Feb 9 : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat will attend the muhurat of Karan Razdan's untitled new film on February 15, the filmmaker informs. Razdan adds that he will also launch the title and first look of his new film on that day.

Speaking to IANS, the filmmaker said: "For the lead roles, we have Ashish Sharma, Sonarika Bhadoria and Ankit Raj, who have been doing really good work on television. We start shooting on 15th February and Uttarakhand's chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat will be present at the muhurat shot of the film. On that day, we will announce the title and first look of actors in the film." Talking about the casting process, he added: "I took auditions of 200 to 300 actors for this film and in every screen test, I noticed how professional actors have become in today's time. Even the self-auditions they sent across from their homes are so accurate. I realised that the growing existence of television and digital space have made these actors very professional." Razdan claimed that in the capacity of a screenwriter he always tries creating difficult roles: "I have always written difficult roles -- be it films 'Dilwale' (1994) or 'Diljale' (1996). That's why I decided to cast television actors in my film. Apart from lead actors, we have Anup Jalota and Deepika Chikhalia in the cast." The filmmaker opened up on the songs, too. "In my childhood, I used to hear the devotional song 'Om Jai Jagdish Hare'. I always wanted to include this song in one of my films. We all are proud that we were born in this country and that thing will be celebrated in this film. We have roped in Anup Jalota to sing this song in the film," he said.

The film revolves around childhood friendship, love, religion and politics.
[February 09, 2021] LifeClips, Inc. Appoints Robert Grinberg as President and CEO

AVENTURA, Fla., Feb. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeClips, Inc. (OTC Pink: LCLP) (the Company), announced today that Robert Grinberg has been named the company's President and CEO. He will succeed Victoria Rudman who will continue in the role of Chief Financial Officer. Robert Grinberg is a seasoned entrepreneur with interests in numerous enterprises. For the past 20 years he has been a private investor in public companies through his family office. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Stemtech Corporation, a Florida based nutrition company, and is a founder of Kaya Holdings, Inc., a Jamaica based cannabis company. Prior to managing his personal investments, Mr. Grinberg operated his own brokerage firm, Program Trading Corp. Robert Grinberg, CEO of LifeClips, said, "I became an investor in LifeClips 5 years ago, its been a long road to success. The company needs leadership and direction to have a fighting chance, and I am excited to provide my expertise for this venture. I consider myself a value added investor, and I would like to bring a sustainable infrastructure that can translate that value to all the shareholders. This means I am not only an investor, but I utilize the resources I have to unlock value from public companies through the implementation of financial, operational and governance initiatives." Mr. Grinberg continued, "Just like every other Life Clips shareholder, I have invested my own money, which is why I have taken it upon myself to accept the position and responsibility as the Chief Executive Officer. In this role, my numberone priority will be to attempt to make LifeClips a financial success for all of our shareholders."



Victoria Rudman, Chief Financial Officer of LifeClips said, Robert Grinberg is a great addition to our company. He is a leader who is focused on delivering great outcomes for customers, employees, communities, and shareholders and we look forward to the new ideas he will bring to LifeClips. Visit our corporate website at www.lifeclips.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be preceded by the words intends, may, will, plans, expects, anticipates, projects, predicts, estimates, aims, believes, hopes, potential or similar words. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: (i) the initiation, timing, progress and results of the Companys research, manufacturing and other development efforts; (ii) the Companys ability to advance its products to successfully complete development and commercialization; (iii) the manufacturing, development, commercialization, and market acceptance of the Companys products; (iv) the lack of sufficient funding to finance the product development and business operations; (v) competitive companies and technologies within the Companys industry and introduction of competing products; (vi) the Companys ability to establish and maintain corporate collaborations; (vii) loss of key management personnel; (viii) the scope of protection the Company is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering its products and its ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; (ix) potential failure to comply with applicable health information privacy and security laws and other state and federal privacy and security laws; and (x) the difficulty of predicting actions of the government and its regulations. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement unless required by law. Contact: LifeClips, Inc. Investor Relations: (623) 261-9046 Email: erelationsgroup@gmail.com





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WILTON  The Comfort Inn & Suites in Wilton and the Golden Corral restaurant next door have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid a legal battle between their owners and Adirondack Trust Co.

Niral Patel and his mother, Nirmala, who also own other Golden Corral locations in New York and New Jersey, were sued by Adirondack Trust in state Supreme Court in Saratoga County in October in a lawsuit that alleges they misused nearly $2 million in loans they obtained from the bank through the federal government's COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program.
Seeing more students return to face-to-face learning and seeing school staff members get the COVID-19 vaccine are two points of progress that Coleman Community Schools Superintendent Jen McCormack is happy to report.

"We have gone from having 26% of our students in the online learning academy in the first semester, down to about 14% now," McCormack said, adding that about 90 students out of a total of 637 in the district are still learning virtually.

"(Virtual learning) has been a good thing for some of our families, where either the students or their family members had specific health concerns," she continued. "And some of them have been able to focus a little better (online). But overall, it's always going to be a stronger connection and a deeper connection when they can (learn) face to face. Nothing replaces in-person (learning) and nothing replaces teachers."

Those who are still learning from home are doing so by tuning in to livestreaming of classes being taught in the Coleman schools, and each virtual student is also assigned a mentor teacher who keeps in touch with them to make sure they are keeping up with their assignments.

In terms of vaccinations, McCormack said the staff vaccination clinic for second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will finish on Feb. 19. About 70% of the district staff got the first dose at a scheduled clinic, and some others were able to get vaccinated on a make-up date.

The superintendent is also pleased that Coleman currently has low COVID-19 numbers, with only one person in quarantine due to being a close contact.

Results of virtual learning

McCormack said all the necessary data are not yet available to measure how well the online students performed in the first semester. But she can draw some general conclusions.

"We have a lot of kids who, when they're not (learning) in person, their grades struggle, for sure," she said. "I think our staff did as best as they could to support those students and make sure they were getting everything they needed. We're still in the process of analyzing that.

"But, compared with last spring (when all school buildings in Michigan were ordered to close), we had a lot more success (this past semester). But there's certainly concern with where kids' grades landed."

For virtual students who haven't consistently connected with their teachers, McCormack said the district has followed up to connect with their families.

"There is more flexibility in (taking attendance this year) from the state level," McCormack said. "The staff was very organized. They started recognizing patterns of kids who checked in for only the minimum (required) time each week. They would email the principals, who would contact the families. Then we'd do home visits and bring them Chromebooks or whatever they might need. Even though the state is only requiring minimum contact (for attendance purposes), we wanted more for our kids."

Outlook for next school year and events this spring

McCormack said it's too early to tell how much virtual learning may still take place in the Coleman district for the 2021-22 school year.

"I think we're still reviewing that," she said. "We've always had it to some extent at the junior/senior high school. But our percentages of those who want to continue learning online are pretty low. We'll seek some input from our community to see where they stand.

"I go back to (the stance that) the best teaching is in person," McCormack continued. "So we'll look and see what our community is needing and where we are with COVID at that time (next fall),"

In the short term, in terms of traditional spring events like prom and graduation at Coleman High School, McCormack said those details are still on hold as public health conditions evolve.

"If we do it well and go slowly, hopefully that will help us move faster in the end," she said of the need to mitigate the spread of the virus in order to see restrictions on public gatherings be loosened. "It's stressful for everybody," she acknowledged. "It's hard to slow down when you're excited for your kids to get back to normal."

Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
Tunis/Tunisia  The governorate of Ben Arous, on Monday, recorded one death from coronavirus, taking the overall fatality numbers to 346, since the pandemic spread, the local coronavirus impact monitoring committee said.

The governorate also saw 31 more infections, bringing to 9030 the total number of positive cases detected in the governorate since March 2020.

On the other hand, 56 people have recovered from the disease, taking recoveries to 8314.

Active cases are 370, including 40 admitted to the regional hospital El Yasminet and 232 housed at the health quarantine centre in Borj Cedria.

The rest of the patients are staying at the Monastir COVID centre or observing mandatory quarantine.
For 48 hours, a panicked phone call and ransacked apartment were the only clues; a sign that something was desperately wrong.

David Isteyev, the Russian LGBT Network activist who took the emergency call on Thursday, says it was difficult to make out much above the shrieking. But an SMS message immediately clarified things. Pomogite! it read. Help!

The sender, 20-year-old Salekh Magamadov, was one of hundreds of at-risk LGBT people Isteyev had helped evacuate from Chechnya, the increasingly intolerant republic nestled in the mountains of Russias southern border.
The Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) has told investment firms to beef up their surveillance of insider trading and market manipulation this year or face fines and other sanctions from the regulator.

The CBI said it "wants to see concrete action" from boards and senior executives on market abuse and a range of other market integrity issues in 2021 amid a surge of retail investor interest in stocks such as GameStop.

Regulators are monitoring a host of issues, from how big funds keep clients informed in volatile markets to how brokers treat inexperienced investors, to safeguard market integrity.

How regulated firms and other market participants conduct themselves on securities markets has a powerful impact on trust in financial services," said Colm Kincaid, CBI director of securities and markets supervision. "Firms can expect us to challenge them on these expectations throughout 2021 and beyond, underpinned by the detailed rulebook that is in place and the range of powers available to us to enforce that rulebook."

Expand Close Regulation: The Central Banks Colm Kincaid is concerned by market abuse. Photo: CBI / Facebook

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Whatsapp Regulation: The Central Banks Colm Kincaid is concerned by market abuse. Photo: CBI

The CBI said it is trying to get a handle on what it calls "abusive behaviours" that flourish undetected when trading volumes or volatility spike in markets, overwhelming firms' surveillance systems.

Regulators have warned firms to be vigilant to the potential for new products and changes in trading activity to give rise to unanticipated changes in market dynamics.

According to the Central Bank, volumes tripled during the massive stock sell-off in March 2020 and doubled in the trading day after the US presidential election, increasing the risk for market abuse.

More recently the overwhelming interest of amateur retail investors in so-called meme-stocks' such as GameStop has also attracted the attention of the Central Bank.

It is understood regulators will be asking brokers to prove they are disclosing and mitigating the risks  both to clients and the wider market  of fast volume build-ups in particular securities.

The CBI is also turning its attention to financial firms that greenwash by misrepresenting their environmental credentials to both retail and institutional clients

The new focus comes as the European Central Bank has begun requiring firms to incorporate climate change into their business models.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 00:37:48|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said on Monday that Hong Kong will be more actively participating in the nation's development in 2021, which is the opening year of the country's 14th Five-Year Plan.

When talking to HKSAR deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) online, Lam said Hong Kong will focus on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Belt and Road Initiative and the new development pattern of domestic and international dual circulation.

She expressed the hope that HKSAR deputies to the NPC would continue to express their views on the related work and give their firm support to the HKSAR government.

The NPC and its Standing Committee solved the problems faced by the HKSAR at the constitutional level three times over the past year, which is testimony to the overall jurisdiction over the HKSAR exercised by the central authorities and the constitutional relationship between the central authorities and the HKSAR, Lam said.

A total of 24 deputies expressed their views covering a wide range of topics during the meeting. Enditem
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - EMX Royalty Corporation (NYSE American: EMX) (TSXV: EMX) (the "Company" or "EMX") is pleased to provide an update on its western U.S. royalty generation precious metals portfolio which is being advanced by partner-funded work programs, and has grown via an aggressive program of new project acquisitions that are now available for partnership. EMX controls 42 precious metals assets, including both royalty and royalty generation properties that cover over 250,000 acres in the western U.S., in addition to a growing number of assets in Canada. Seven of EMX's generative precious metals properties have been advanced through partner-funded work programs that totaled more than C$5 million of exploration expenditures in 2020. These programs have made significant strides in building in-the-ground asset value with four drill programs completed in 2020. Five drill programs are planned for 2021.

EMX's royalty generation gold projects are principally in Nevada, with 2020 developments that included the acquisition of two new projects and partnering the Antelope project with Hochschild Mining. In addition, the Company significantly expanded its precious metals generative programs into other jurisdictions. EMX is an early mover in Idaho, building a royalty generation gold portfolio which includes nine new gold projects acquired via staking during 2020 that are now available for partnership. In addition, the Company has three gold projects acquired in 2018-2019 that were partnered with Gold Lion Resources in 2020.

The following are summaries of some recent advancements of EMX's western U.S. royalty generation precious metals portfolio (also refer to Figure 1).

Ridgeline Minerals.The Company is an enthusiastic supporter and shareholder of Ridgeline Minerals Corp. ("Ridgeline") which successfully completed an IPO in 2020. EMX aided Ridgeline in securing its initial portfolio of projects in addition to seed funding, and subsequently provided assistance with the early technical programs (see EMX news release dated May 30, 2019). EMX owns approximately 7% of the post-IPO issued and outstanding shares of Ridgeline. As part of the IPO process, Ridgeline completed its option commitments on the Company's Swift and Selena properties, which have now been converted to a 3.25% NSR royalty interests for EMX.

Swift Project. EMX's Swift royalty property is a Carlin-style gold project located in Nevada's Cortez mining district. "Upper Plate" host rocks exposed across the property are highly altered and anomalously gold mineralized. The project is adjacent to, and partially surrounds, the historical Elder Creek mine. Over the last year, Ridgeline has a) approximately doubled the size of the land position, much of which is covered by an EMX area of interest, b) completed property-wide gravity and soil geochemical surveys, c) acquired and compiled additional historical exploration data, and d) completed a three hole reconnaissance drill program totaling 2,413 meters at the Fallen City target. Two of the three widely spaced drill holes at Fallen City intersected altered rocks of the Wenban and Roberts Mountains Formations, with short intervals (i.e., 0.2-1.5 m at +870 m depth; true widths unknown) of gold and silver intersected (i.e., 0.05-0.55 g/t Au; 6.6-860.0 g/t Ag) in hole SW20-002 (see Ridgeline news releases dated December 17, 2020, and January 13, 2021). Importantly, Ridgeline's program represents the first time the Wenban Formation, one of the primary gold host rocks in the Cortez district, had been intersected within the Swift property.

Selena Project. EMX's Selena royalty property is a sediment-hosted silver-gold project located along the southern extent of Nevada's Carlin Trend. In 2020, Ridgeline completed geologic mapping, soil and gravity surveys, five trenches totaling 180 meters, and 22 reverse circulation drill holes totaling 3,233 meters. This work not only confirmed the original target concept at the "New Discovery" zone, but also expanded the target footprint with 14 of the 22 drill holes returning silver-gold intercepts which included 36.5 meters @ 54.22 g/t silver and 0.31 g/t gold (SE20-014, from 125.0-161.5 m) and 44.2 meters @ 57.2 g/t silver and 0.22 g/t gold (SE20-021, 208.8-253.0 m) (true widths estimated at 80-90% of drilled intercept) (see Ridgeline news releases dated September 15, and December 9, 2020, and January 20, 2021). The "New Discovery" zone has an approximately one kilometer strike length, with mineralization hosted in key host rocks that include both the Pilot Shale and Guillmette Limestone. Additional reconnaissance work has also identified three new target areas that led Ridgeline to stake an additional 1,780 acres of land within EMX's royalty footprint (see Ridgeline news release dated December 15, 2020).

Gold Lion Resources. Despite slowdowns due to the COVID-19 situation, Gold Lion Resources ("Gold Lion") has conducted aggressive field programs since execution of the option agreements with EMX in 2020 for three Idaho gold projects (i.e., Robber Gulch, South Orogrande, and Erickson Ridge). The agreements provide EMX with cash payments, share payments, and work commitments during the option period, and after Gold Lion's earn-in for 100% interest, escalating annual advance royalty ("AAR") as well as milestone payments to EMX, with EMX retaining a 3.5% NSR royalty interest (see EMX news release dated April 7, 2020).

Robber Gulch Project. At Robber Gulch, located in southern Idaho, Gold Lion is targeting Carlin-style gold mineralization exposed in "windows" through post-mineral volcanic cover rocks. Gold Lion has completed several phases of geologic mapping, as well as rock chip and soil sampling that delineated three north-south trending gold anomalies that are each over 800 meters in length. In addition, a new zone of anomalous gold mineralization associated with jasperoid and decalcified, altered host rocks was discovered over two kilometers south of the original target areas. In December, Gold Lion announced commencement of the initial drill program, as well as results from its recent 700 meters of trenching and sampling. Importantly, trench RG-20-03 intersected 0.45 g/t gold over 174 meters, with a subinterval of 0.88 g/t gold over 45 meters in the newly identified Raider target zone (true widths unknown). At year end 2020, Gold Lion had completed one 377.9 meter reverse circulation hole; assay results are pending (see Gold Lion news releases dated December 8, 2020 and January 4, 2021).

South Orogrande and Erickson Ridge Projects.The South Orogrande and Erickson Ridge projects are mesothermal gold properties located along the regional scale Orogrande Shear Zone near Elk City, Idaho. At South Orogrande, Gold Lion expanded the land position southward from the "X-zone", and completed soil sampling and an induced polarization ("IP") geophysical survey to augment historical soil and geophysical data, and cover an open ended four kilometer long gold-in-soil trend. Results from the survey yielded an IP resistivity low coincident with gold-in soil anomalies within a 600 to 800 meter wide portion of the shear zone. At Erickson Ridge, Gold Lion recently completed an IP survey extending from the historical resource area to the north and south along trend. The IP survey highlighted a chargeability anomaly coincident with historically drill defined gold mineralization, as well as a large second untested anomaly in the "hanging wall" of the Top Ten Fault. Both of these anomalies represent high priority drill targets to extend open ended gold mineralization identified from the historical drilling and to test newly identified targets along trend. Gold Lion is in the final stages of permitting 62 drill sites at Erickson Ridge and up to 50 drill sites at South Orogrande with the U.S. Forest Service (see Gold Lion news releases dated May 5, and August 6, 2020, and January 19, 2021).

Hochschild Mining - Antelope Project.EMX's Antelope Carlin-style gold project, located in western White Pine County, Nevada, is optioned to Hochschild Mining PLC ("Hochschild") for work commitments and cash payments during Hochschild's earn-in period, and upon earn-in, a 4% NSR royalty, AAR payments, and milestone payments to EMX's benefit. In Q3 2020, Hochschild conducted geologic mapping, soil sampling program, and an IP survey over the "north target" area. The north target consists of a down dropped portion of the Antelope anticline, interpreted to be a major controlling structure for gold mineralization. Hochschild's exploration results confirmed the initial target concepts, and suggested each faulted segment of the anticlinal axis is sub-horizontal rather than north-plunging, making depths to prospective target rocks much shallower than previously anticipated. As a follow up, Hochschild completed a four hole reconnaissance drill program totaling 1,523 meters. Three holes intercepted Carlin-style alteration consisting of decalcification and silicification of carbonate-bearing lithologies. Assays are pending.

Contact Gold/Ely Gold Royalties - Cathedral Well Project. EMX's Cathedral Well royalty property is located at the southern end of the Carlin Trend adjacent to, and surrounding, the past-producing Greensprings open pit mines. The property was sold by EMX to Ely Gold Royalties ("Ely") in 2014 for cash, a retained 2.5% NSR royalty interest, and AAR payments. Ely subsequently optioned the project to Contact Gold Corp. ("Contact Gold"). Contact Gold filed a Technical Report on SEDAR with an effective date of June 12, 2020 that outlined several exploration targets for follow up drilling. Two of these targets lie 100% within the EMX royalty property, and a third lies partially within EMX's royalty ground. Contact Gold commenced a 9,000 meter drill program in September 2020, which included drill testing of the targets on EMX's royalty ground. By year end Contact Gold announced that they had completed 5,785 meters of the ongoing drill program (see Contact Gold news releases dated September 2, 2020 and January 26, 2021). Assay results are pending.

Royalty Generation Update. Over the last several years, EMX has ramped up its precious metals royalty generation efforts. These programs have paid off with the acquisition of thirteen new precious metals projects via staking of open ground. The projects include Carlin-style, epithermal, and mesothermal vein and disseminated gold targets that are available for partnership. Below are highlights from recent generative work.

Valve House and Timber Butte Projects. These two projects are located in southern and south-central Idaho, respectively, and contain Carlin-style gold mineralization. The Valve House project, ~75 kilometers northeast of Liberty Gold's Black Pine project, covers 9.5 square kilometers of ground that hosts anomalous gold mineralization within carbonate and clastic rocks. Across the property, gold mineralization is hosted in extensive jasperoid replacements developed along northeast oriented structures. Historical exploration conducted in the 1980's identified three separate target areas. Historical drill intercepts from this work include 42.7 meters @ 0.87 g/t gold (from 110.7 to 53.3 m, true width unknown) and 21.3 meters @ 0.705 g/t gold (from 0 to 21.3 m)1. Mineralization is open for expansion. At Timber Butte, EMX has identified widespread anomalous gold-arsenic mineralization associated with jasperoid and decalcified carbonate bearing rocks along north-northwest oriented structures cutting Roberts Mountains Formation, a key host to Carlin-style mineralization in Nevada. EMX rock chip sampling of altered outcrops returned assay results including 1.25 g/t gold (n=19, avg. 0.1 g/t Au) along a strike length of approximately 3.2 kilometers.

Scout Project. EMX staked the Scout project, located in northern Idaho, after completing a regional bulk leach extractable gold ("BLEG") stream sediment sampling program. Scout is road accessible and hosts high-grade, "orogenic-style" gold bearing quartz vein systems within Precambrian quartzites of the Belt Supergroup. EMX's mapping outlined a vein system with average widths of 0.5 to 2 meters over a three kilometer strike length that trends across the property. Reconnaissance sampling by EMX over the southern portion of the system returned multiple samples above 10 g/t gold (n=19, avg. 9.3 g/t Au, max 40 g/t Au). Historical underground channel sampling at the Buckskin Mine returned 18.0 g/t gold over a 0.9 meter vein true width2.

Miller Mountain, Moose Ridge, and Speed Goat Projects. EMX acquired these three intrusion-related gold systems in south-central Idaho and Nevada based upon regional generative sampling programs and review of historical exploration work. Miller Mountain is a district-scale property covering a ~7.5 kilometer strike length of Idaho's Trans-Challis fault zone. The project hosts both residual and modern day alluvial gold placers, as well as meter-wide quartz-sulfide veins and discrete silicified zones associated with weak to moderate sericitic-choritic alteration. These vein and alteration assemblages form two distinct target types: 1) bulk tonnage, disseminated gold mineralization associated with near surface, thin quartz-sulfide veins and silicified zones, and 2) higher-grade quartz vein-hosted gold zones. Reconnaissance rock chip sampling by EMX returned samples with assay results that included 27 g/t gold (n=21, avg. 3.08 g/t Au). The property hosts historical resources at the Miller and Specimen mines.

Moose Ridge is a district-scale intrusion-related gold project that occurs along strike of Idaho's historical Beartrack mine which produced ~600,000 ounces of oxide gold via heap leach in the 1990's, and contains a current resource of 36.6 Mtonnes @ 1.15 g/t gold (1.36 Moz Au contained) as indicated and 47.1 Mtonnes @ 1.08 g/t gold (1.64 Moz contained) as inferred3. Gold mineralization at Beartrack occurs as quartz-sericite-pyrite-arsenopyrite stockworks and breccias hosted within the Panther Creek Shear Zone which projects into the Moose Ridge property. Moose Ridge contains widespread placer gold occurrences along the six kilometer trace of the Panther Creek Shear Zone, as well as to the east where no lode gold source has been identified to date. The project contains limited bedrock exposures, but several outcrops mapped during reconnaissance work along the shear zone are intensely altered (assays pending).

Speed Goat is an intrusion-related gold project within the Battle Mountain-Eureka Trend, Nevada, located 15 kilometers southwest of the past-producing Lone Tree mine and 30 kilometers northwest of the Phoenix-Fortitude intrusion-related skarn system. Gold mineralization occurs within Jurassic granodiorite in a zone of intensely oxidized quartz-feldspar-sulfide sheeted veinlets related to a series of north-south striking porphyry dikes. Reconnaissance work by EMX outlined a 0.6 by 1 kilometer gold-in-soil anomaly (n=73, avg. 82 ppb Au) coincident with rock chip assays from outcrop that included 5.1 g/t gold (n=20, avg. 0.67 g/t Au). Gold mineralization is broadly coincident with highly anomalous Bi-As-Sb-Cu pathfinder elements, consistent with other intrusion-related gold systems in the nearby Battle Mountain district.

Lehman Butte, Independence, Cartwright Canyon Projects. Rounding out the portfolio are three low sulfidation epithermal gold projects EMX recently staked and advanced through reconnaissance exploration work. The Lehman Butte project, located in central Idaho, is associated with widespread quartz-clay-adularia alteration in intermediate volcanic rocks and tuffs and related mineralized jasperoid replacing underlying Mississippian age limestone. Widespread BLEG anomalies and rock chip assays, which include 3.1 g/t gold and 19.8 g/t silver (n=35, avg. 0.185 g/t Au and 6.7 g/t Ag), are coincident with silicified zones and quartz-pyrite veins that are over a meter wide. EMX is targeting bulk-tonnage precious metals mineralization hosted within the permeable tuffs.

The Independence project, located in central Idaho, is hosted in Eocene intermediate volcanic rocks exhibiting eight square kilometers of moderate to intense quartz-clay-iron oxide alteration. Over 600 meters of vertically continuous alteration on the property exposed through erosion indicates a robust low-sulfidation epithermal system. Multiple gossanous breccia zones returned rock chip assays that include 17.5 g/t gold (n=10, avg. 1.95 g/t Au) and 454 g/t silver (n=10, avg. 92.5 g/t Ag).

EMX's Cartwright Canyon project is in western Idaho and contains precious metals bearing quartz sulfide veins and disseminations hosted in Miocene sandstone and basalt, analogous to the ~1 million ounce gold deposits at Almaden, Idaho (60 km northwest)4 and Grassy Mountain, Oregon (95 km west)5. Reconnaissance work demonstrated that mineralization occurs in multiple east-west structural zones with rock chip samples returning assays including 7.8 g/t gold (n=9, avg. 1.57 g/t Au) and 294 g/t silver (n=9, avg. 37.0 g/t Ag). Historical shallow drilling returned intercepts including 16.8 meters @ 2.2 g/t gold and 13.7 meters @ 0.65 g/t gold (silver grades and true widths unknown) from two separate mineralized zones, approximately two kilometers apart6. Much of the property is covered by shallow soils, with drill intercepts that are open along strike.

The Company's new royalty generation precious metals projects described in the update above are available for partnership.

Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for future updates to project availability and portfolio advancements.

Comments on Exploration Programs and Nearby or Adjacent Deposits and Historical Mines. The Company's exploration programs have been conducted in accordance with industry standard best practices. EMX's samples were submitted to ALS laboratories in Reno, Nevada and Vancouver, Canada (ISO 9001:2017 and ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited) for sample preparation and analysis. Gold assays were performed by fire assay with an ICP/AES finish. Silver analyses were performed utilizing four acid digestion and ICP/MS techniques.

EMX conducts routine QA/QC analysis on its exploration samples, including the utilization of certified reference materials, blanks, and duplicate samples.

Based upon EMX's independent field work, including geologic mapping and surface sampling, the historic exploration results referenced are considered to be reliable and relevant.

References to nearby or adjacent historical mines or analogous deposits provide geologic context for EMX's projects and royalty properties, but this is not necessarily indicative that EMX's projects and royalty properties host similar mineralization.

Michael P. Sheehan, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release.

About EMX. EMX is a precious and base metals royalty company. EMX's investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company's common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol EMX.

For further information contact:

David M. Cole

President and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (303) 979-6666

Dave@emxroyalty.com

Scott Close

Director of Investor Relations

Phone: (303) 973-8585

SClose@emxroyalty.com

Isabel Belger

Investor Relations (Europe)

Phone: +49 178 4909039

IBelger@EMXroyalty.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain "forward looking statements" that reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as "estimate," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "will", "believe", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company's future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to: unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company's MD&A for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 (the "MD&A"), and the most recently filed Annual Information Form (the "AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2019, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the AIF and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC's EDGAR website at www.sec.gov.





Figure 1. EMX Western U.S. Royalty and Royalty Generation Precious Metals Properties (February, 2021).

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1508/73990_7bc1ea1a9491f95d_002full.jpg

1 Meridian Gold and Cordex, 1984-1991. Unpublished internal company data.

2 Watts, C.D. and Fancher, J.D., 1990. Scout Project File Note for Cominco American. Unpublished internal company report.

3 Revival Gold Inc, NI-43-101 Technical Report for the Beartrack-Arnett Creek Gold Project, Lemhi County, Idaho. Effective Date: November 17, 2020. Prepared by: Wood USA Mining Consulting, et al.

4 Gold Mining Inc, NI-43-101 Technical Report for the Almaden Gold Property, Washington County, Idaho. Effective Date: April 1, 2020. Prepared by: Global Mineral Resource Services.

5 Paramount Gold Nevada Corp, NI-43-101 Technical Report on Feasibility Study for the Grassy Mountain Project, Oregon. Effective date: September 15, 2020. Prepared by: Ausenco Canada Inc.

6 Sunshine Mining Company, 1993. Cartwright Canyon Project Summary, Boise County, Idaho. Unpublished internal company report.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73990
Former President Donald Trump faces his second Senate impeachment trial starting Tuesday in the U.S. Capitol, which was ransacked last month by a Trump loyalist mob in an unprecedented attack on the American seat of power after the Republican and his allies in Congress promoted false claims that the election was stolen.

The Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol left four rioters and a police officer dead, sparking bipartisan outcry and prompting the House of Representatives to impeach Trump on the single charge of inciting an insurrection against his own Capitol as he sought to thwart Congress from sealing President-elect Joe Bidens victory.

Trumps unprecedented second impeachment came just a week after he urged followers to march on the U.S. Capitol and fight like hell, in comments at a rally that his attorneys say were protected by free speech and did not amount to incitement.

Heres more on the trial.

What time?

Arguments over the constitutionality of the trial begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the U.S. Senate.

According to the rules agreed upon by Senate leaders of both parties, lawmakers will debate for four hours over whether a trial can be held for a president no longer in office. The bulk of the trial will begin in earnest on Wednesday. Each side will have 16 hours to present its case.

How can I watch?

Major networks ABC, CBS and NBC and cable stations including CNN, Fox News and MSNBC will carry the impeachment trial and special coverage live, as will PBS and C-SPAN2, C-SPAN Radio and C-SPANs website.

To watch the cable channel coverage above, you can sign up for a free trial of fuboTV, Sling, CBS All Access, Hulu + Live TV or other cord-cutting live TV service and use it to tune into impeachment coverage.

Will Trump be convicted or acquitted?

Democrats this week plan to release graphic videos and social media posts demonstrating that attackers were directly inspired by Trump.

Images and video from Jan. 6 show Trump supporters, many decked out in MAGA (Make America Great Again, one of the presidents slogans) hats and shirts and carrying Trump flags and others in militia uniforms as they fought with police, broke windows and doors before trashing congressional offices. Many were heard calling for the execution of former Vice President Mike Pence and other lawmakers.

Independent journalist Shay Horse and others captured images of Trump-flag waving supporters around makeshift gallows within sight of the Capitol. Dozens have been arrested and could face charges ranging from unlawful entry to conspiracy and sedition, according to federal authorities.

A noose, insurrection and somehow too much and too little tear gas.



1/6/2021 #CapitolRiots pic.twitter.com/U9P7Xn0gTu  Shay Horse (@HuntedHorse) January 8, 2021

Regardless of any evidence presented, the former presidents lawyers argue the case is unconstitutional to begin with because Trump is out of office already.

But Democratic impeachment managers point to a precedent on their side: Secretary of War William Bellknap resigned under President Ulysses Grant, but he was later impeached and tried by the Senate.

Democratic lawmakers and a handful of Republicans open to conviction could bar Trump from running for office again if hes convicted; they argue that the framers of the Constitution did not want officials to be able to skirt consequences by resigning or leaving office.

Trump will only be convicted if a two-thirds majority, 67 senators, vote in favor. With the Senate evenly-split between Democrats and Republicans, conviction is unlikely.

Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the only GOP senator voting to convict Trump for pressuring Ukrainian officials to dig up dirt on Biden in 2019, is one of a handful of Republicans open to convicting Trump this time around.

The other Republicans who have publicly said theyre willing to hear the evidence in the case and consider conviction are Sens. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

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A police officer fatally shot an Idaho man in his backyard after mistaking him for someone being sought by the police, the authorities said Monday, announcing an investigation into the shooting.

The police did not identify the victim or the officer who shot him. The Idaho Falls Police Department said that the man being pursued was later found hiding in a shed, where he was arrested.

The officer was placed on administrative leave, and Chief Bryce Johnson called the case incredibly tragic, the police department said in a statement. Jessica Clements, a spokeswoman for the police, said Tuesday that the department would not release the victim or officers names until after the initial stages of the investigation are completed, and that the victims family had requested that his name not be shared.

In its statement, the police department said that the Idaho State Police would lead an investigation into the shooting, which took place in Idaho Falls, a city of about 63,000 residents about 250 miles east of Boise. After the investigation, the case will be sent to the Bonneville County prosecutors office to determine any possible charges, it said.
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Cabinet ministers reacted positively to President Hage Geingob's directive to abandon their 'comfort zones' and consequently fast-track service delivery to Namibians.

The head of state expressed concern that the general perception is that politicians only reach out to voters during election campaigns.

A fortnight ago, Geingob called on members of his Cabinet to get out of their 'comfort zone' and avail themselves to meet with community leaders, ordinary citizens, media and the business fraternity.

While addressing the first Cabinet meeting of the year, Geingob said as the constitutional body responsible for the determination of policies, and for directing, coordinating and supervising the activities of various offices, Cabinet ministers have a huge task ahead of them.

The President warned that if ministers do not adopt a progressive approach to executing their duties, then they will not overcome prevailing challenges. Responding to Geingob's call, justice minister Yvonne Dausab said the call envisioned the kind of government that Geingob foresee with the governance culture under the Harambee Prosperity Plan and is something that he (Geingob) has been saying since he took office in 2015.

"The call is anchored under the provisions of the Namibian constitution: the Namibian people are the custodians of the power we have. We are simply representatives of the power and responsibilities they have entrusted to us," Dausab said.

She added, as accountable and transparent government ministers, they must get their mandate from the people and must from time to time seek feedback on what they are delivering to them.

"We can only do that if we are accessible, available and responsive," she said.

Dausab said ministers are the voices and eyes of the head of state on the ground, therefore, they must go to the people and allow the people to come and see them.

"We are servants of the people and when the President refers to comfort zones, he means we must not get complacent with the title we hold. It is a privilege to serve the Namibian people and we must not take our role and responsibilities for granted."

Public enterprises minister Leon Jooste said he embraces Geingob's call, adding that as servants of the people, there is a need for ministers to be responsive to voters' needs and cultivate an accurate understanding for their concerns. "It is not good enough to just hear of their concerns, we need to engage and internalise these and then we need to conceptualise the most appropriate solutions," Jooste said. Personally, Jooste said, he will be challenging himself to communicate better this year to ensure that the country citizens understand what his ministry is doing and even more importantly, the context of why the ministry is doing certain things.

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Attorney General Festus Mbandeka said with regard to the Geingob's call, stakeholder engagement is one of the key functions of government as it is critical to improve and enhance service delivery.

"As public officials it is critical to improve and enhance service delivery, to educate the public on what the government has done, is doing, and will do in executing its mandate in various areas It is part of accountability," he said. "It is an ongoing process, and one must never stop but look at better ways and means to improve on service delivery and public engagement." In essence, Mbandeka said the President's call is a clear testimony that Geingob and government see public engagement as key to delivery of service.

Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said Geingob was absolutely correct to instruct Cabinet members to consult the broader public and gauge views and opinions of the public.

The country's youngest minister, Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Emma Theofelus applauded Geingob for the marching order, saying that as in the year of resilience, meaning recovering and adjusting or changing, Cabinet ministers can achieve that only if they do things differently to achieve better results, hence not in the comfort zone.

"We thank the media for their continuous efforts to inform the nation and count on your continuous cooperation in our efforts to build responsive institutions and maintain effective governance during this 'Year of Resilience'," Theofelus said.
The order has also been promulgated in view of unauthorised movement of commodities including cattle from the district through the areas surrounding the district borders

Silchar: Night curfew and prohibitory orders have been clamped along the India-Bangladesh border in Assam's Cachar district with immediate effect, an official release said on Tuesday.

The order has been promulgated in view of the movement of extremist elements out to create law and order problem in the district and also unauthorised movement of commodities, including cattle from the district through the areas surrounding the district borders.

The order will remain in force for the next two months, the release added. Cachar deputy commissioner Keerthi Jalli issued an order by which movement of individuals shall remain strictly prohibited between sunset to sunrise within one kilometre radius of India-Bangladesh border of Cachar district.

No person shall be allowed to move on Surma river or on its high bank within the limit of the territory in actual control of India in the district between sunset to sunrise. No person shall be allowed to ply their boats on the river for fishing and the requisite permission has to be obtained from the Katigorah circle officer.

No person will be allowed to carry on any vehicle, handcart, rickshaw or any other modes of transport, essential commodities like sugar, rice, wheat, edible oil, salt, and others between sunset to sunrise within the five km belt inside the district along the Bangladesh border. The order will, however, not apply to the state and central government employees on duty in the border areas.
Glenfiddich launches Chinese New Year gift pack for its 18 Years Old whisky

Glenfiddich is embracing the Lunar New Year holiday with the launch of a limited-edition Chinese New Year pack for its 18 Years Old Scotch whisky.

The William Grant & Sons brand has unveiled the imaginative gift pack, designed by Chinese illustrator Rlon Wang, alongside two experiential travel retail pop-ups to mark the occasion.

Following Glenfiddich's 2020 partnership with Rlon Wang, for which he created a special-edition pack design based around the brand's stag icon, the 2021 18 Years Old release will focus on the theme of returning and reuniting with loved ones.

It comes after Glenfiddich unveiled a 21 Years Old special-edition pack for Chinese New Year 2021.

Rlon's design combines Scottish and Asian elements in a warming evocation of the countries' long-standing connection - not least through Speyside whisky legend Charles Gordon, who travelled to Asia to showcase Scotch whisky to the wider world.

Wang said: "I wanted to tell a story that evokes the warmth and excitement of Lunar New Year  the irreplaceable feeling and anticipation of finally coming home to loved ones. Inspired by the Glenfiddich spirit of experimentation and adventure, I created an illustration that comes alive with symbols of generations old and new. I loved playing with the symbiosis of Chinese and Scottish cultures  two connected countries on opposite sides of the world."

The limited-edition design appears on the Glenfiddich 18 Years Old pack, a fruity and robust oak expression matured in Spanish Oloroso wood and American oak by malt master Brian Kinsman.

The Chinese New Year pop-ups, launching alongside the special 18 Years Old release, will run until the end of March at China Duty Free Mall and the end of February ay Lagardere Duty Free in Sanya, Hainan. Each pop-up offers shoppers the chance to taste the Glenfiddich 18 Years Old and 21 Years Old, and offers a range of premium gifts and the chance to participate in a Chinese New Year draw.

Matthew Williams, regional director of GTR  Asia Pacific and Middle East for William Grant & Sons, said: 'Despite the challenging year we had last year, we see green shoots emerging slowly but surely in the region, and being a family-owned company has afforded us the opportunity to invest ahead in the channel for the longer term. Our investments in the channel reflect the continued confidence our executive board has and our commitment to our partners.

"There are great opportunities for our portfolio throughout Asia Pacific, and particularly in China for the Lunar New Year occasion, and we look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional consumer experiences with our valuable partners such as CDF Group and Lagardere both in-store and online."

9 February 2021 - Bethany Whymark
Gaborone  The persistent gender biases and inequalities across various spectra of the society which have led to women and girls being abused is a source of great concern, says Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane.

He said this during the virtual launch of the inter-ministerial committee on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) yesterday.

"This calls for greater effort and commitment from all of us to engage in behavioural change that will, in turn, eliminate societal and cultural norms that perpetuate Gender-Based Violence," he said.

Stating that the importance of gender equality to the sustainable development of any country remained unquestionable, Mr Tsogwane said government was committed to accord women adequate space to explore their potential in the socio-economic, political and cultural development of the nation.

He called on all Batswana to join efforts in the prevention of GBV and the protection of its victim and survivors.

In addition, he urged institutions, both public and private, as well as politicians, dikgosi and faith leaders to gather all the necessary resources to fight GBV.

On the committee, Mr Tsogwane said it was the fulfilment of government's promise to take firm, decisive and swift action to eradicate GBV.

Government, he said, remained committed to fighting GBV with vigour as exemplified by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.

"You will recall that during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence on Women and Children Campaign in 2018, His Excellency pledged to step up his commitment and actions on working hard and smart to end Gender-Based Violence," he said.

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He also noted efforts by government to treat GBV cases with urgency as illustrated by the establishment of special courts.

This, he said, would relieve those affected by the GBV ordeal the trouble of having to wait for long periods of time before their cases were heard.

Mr Tsogwane further expressed concern at the increasing numbers of GBV cases and brutality in the country, a situation he said seemed to have exacerbated since the outbreak of COVID-19.

He thanked civil society, development partners, the media and the business community for their support and commitment towards addressing and ending GBV.

They were also encouraged to continue collaborating with government for it was only through concerted efforts that the scourge could be eliminated.

Source : BOPA


Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 04:00:28|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Dec. 2, 2020 shows the Saint Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin in Moscow, capital of Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)

Peskov stressed the need to build a partnership based on non-interference and respect for each other's interests.



MOSCOW, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Russia is interested in restoring ties with the European Union, while it firmly opposes the latter interfering in its internal affairs, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

Russia never initiated the decline in relations with the EU, Peskov told a daily briefing, stressing the need to build a partnership based on non-interference and respect for each other's interests.

"We are strongly against interference in each other's interests ... Let there be no doubt that we will act decisively in this regard," he said.

"But this does not mean that we somehow want to distance ourselves or further worsen the already deteriorating relationship between Moscow and Brussels. On the contrary, we are interested in its development," he added.

Photo taken on Dec. 24, 2020 shows the EU flags flying outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

Peskov's comments came a day after Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, made pessimistic remarks on Russia-EU ties.

"My meeting with (Russian Foreign) Minister Lavrov and the messages sent by Russian authorities during my visit confirmed that Europe and Russia are drifting apart," Borrell said following his trip to Moscow from Feb. 4 to 6. 
OTTAWA - As the government moves to train 4,000 new personal support workers across the country, Parliament's budget watchdog estimates it will cost $38.5 million over two years.

Personal support workers Ana Nguyen, right, and Olivia Proudfoot tend to Israel Gorlick at Springhurst Manor in Toronto, Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. Training 4,000 new personal support workers across the country will cost an estimated $38.5 million over two years, the PBO said Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

OTTAWA - As the government moves to train 4,000 new personal support workers across the country, Parliament's budget watchdog estimates it will cost $38.5 million over two years.

A costing note from the parliamentary budget office Tuesday says the federal government proposes to fund a six-week accelerated online program and four-month internship.

Parts of the country have faced dire staffing shortages in long-term care homes, where COVID-19 outbreaks have strained resources and caused thousands of deaths.

Measures prohibiting care workers from working at multiple homes in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus have worsened the staffing crunch.

In recent weeks, outbreaks at dozens of homes have raised alarms after the first wave saw more than 80 per cent of COVID-19 deaths occur in long-term care facilities.

The Canadian Red Cross sent workers to five care homes in British Columbia last week, following similar efforts in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec and the military's deployment to nursing homes in Quebec and Ontario last spring.

Miranda Ferrier, who heads the Canadian Support Workers Association, backs the new training regime's intent but worries it amounts to a "Band-Aid solution."

The need for (personal support workers) across every province is immense  but if we dont supply them with the proper training and the proper message to go into long-term care facilities in order to assist and to help, were going to lose them just as fast as we made them," she said.

Ferrier is calling for greater regulation and professional recognition of the industry in order to cement higher wages, full-time hours, benefits and pensions, and thus boost staff retention and care quality.

"We can throw people into long-term care left, right and centre  but are they going to stay? If we want to make long-term care viable, if we want to make it safe for those that are most vulnerable and if we want to make it a career of choice, then we have to be honest about the workload," she said.

The budget office's $38.5-million cost estimate is two-thirds higher than the amount announced in December by Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough, who pledged $23.2 million for Colleges and Institutes Canada to develop and implement the training program.

Its major expenses stem from tuition, intern wages and administration.

The budget office's price tag was based partly on internship wage rates and administration costs provided by Employment and Social Development Canada.

Projected tuition expenses for the six-week virtual program were estimated using a representative sample of support-worker programs in Canada that will be offered this year, the office said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2021.
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Indian Army has trained canines to detect Covid-19 virus for a quick and a real time situation for easier movements of troops. These canines -- 'Chippiparai' and 'Cocker Spaniel' -- have been deployed at transit camps of the force in Delhi and Chandigarh.

The Cocker Spaniel is two-years-old and is named Casper, and Chippiparai is one-year-old and is named Jaya.

Till date, 22 samples have been found positive by the Covid-19 detection dogs after screening around 3,806 troops at both the places.

Explaining how all it started, Lieutenant Colonel Surinder Saini, Instructor at Remount Veterinary Corps based in Meerut, told IANS that Indian Army undertook trials for detection of Covid-19 using the army dogs in controlled conditions after seeing the global trend of using medical detection dogs for various diseases like cancer, malaria, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and others.

There after a concerted effort was made to train an indigenous breed of dog 'Chippiparai' and a 'Cocker Spaniel' to detect the volatilome of Covid-19 disease from urine and sweat samples of positive cases by comparative method.

"Positive and suspected samples were obtained from the Military Hospital, Meerut Cantt and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Subharti Medical College, Meerut for the purpose of training," Lieutenant Colonel Surinder Saini said.

These two dogs were successfully trained on specific biomarkers emanating from urine and sweat samples of positive patients.

Scientifically, it is evident that affected body tissues release unique volatile metabolic biomarkers which are used as disease signatures for detection of disease by the medical detection dogs.

The sensitivity and specificity of both the dogs obtained from screening of 279 urine and 267 sweat samples during the initial trial procedure was found to be very high.

After the training, the dogs were first deployed at a Transit Camp in Delhi for screening of transients and a total of 806 were screened during their deployment here.

Further, both dogs were deployed in the transit camp in Chandigarh. They were used for screening of transients moving to operational areas through the transit camp. "More than 3,000 samples have been screened so far by these dogs over there," he said.

Keeping in mind the success of trial, around eight more dogs have been incorporated in training for Covid-19 virus detection.

In India, it is the first time the olfactory capability of canines have been exploited to detect tissues infected with pathogens releasing volatile metabolic biomarkers.

"The effort will turn out to be the part of detectable disease signatures, thereby paving the way forward for real time detection of various medical diseases by use of trained medical detection dogs," the officer said.

He also said that currently various countries like Britain, Finland, Russia, France, the UAE, Germany, Lebanon have started training dogs for Covid-19 detection by screening passengers at the airports and railway stations.

(Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Dr Christopher Trisos, who directs the Climate Risk Laboratory at the African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), has received the rare honour of being awarded a P-rating by the National Research Foundation (NRF). This recognition is reserved for young researchers (normally younger than 35 years of age) who have held a doctorate for less than five years and are considered likely to become future international leaders in their field.

"It is very affirming that a panel of fellow scientists have recognised the choices that I have made in my career," said Dr Trisos.

His career has taken him from a high school student with a fascination for the outdoors but who did not particularly like classroom biology as a subject to an internationally recognised scholar who advises governments on climate change.

Trisos, whose research is funded by a Future Leaders - African Independent Research (FLAIR) Fellowship from the Royal Society and the African Academy of Sciences, credits his parents and grandparents for instilling in him a love for nature and the outdoors.

"Growing up in Cape Town with its fynbos and the ocean but also deep inequalities in income inspired an interest in ecology and economics," he said.

But it was only in his undergraduate years at UCT that he began to see environmental sciences in a new light and that his passion for research was fired up.

A team effort

While choosing not to take biology as a subject in high school, he enjoyed environmental studies at UCT, especially the field trips led by his lecturers in the then departments of Botany and Zoology. People such as Emeritus Professor William Bond, Emeritus Professor George M Branch and Associate Professor Edmund February made a strong impression on him. Trisos completed his BSc and BSc honours degrees at UCT before he earned a master's and later doctorate in zoology from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.

Returning to UCT in 2019, Trisos set up the Climate Risk Lab. The lab integrates data and methods from environmental and social sciences to help inform rapid, just and equitable responses to the climate crisis. Current research questions include climate change risks to biodiversity and whether ecological disruption from climate change will be gradual or abrupt, climate change risks to wild-harvested food plants, how climate change impacts the prevalence of infectious disease, whether solar geoengineering increases climate change risks, and how to manage risk across interconnected social and environmental systems.

"As the recipient of a 2020 UCT Young Researcher Award, he has already contributed significantly to the university's research enterprise."

He sees the awarding of the P-rating as an opportunity to pause to thank his mentors, collaborators and an incredible team of researchers at the Climate Risk Lab. Not one research paper from the group has appeared under the name of a single author only; their work has been a team effort, Trisos said.

"We are incredibly proud of Dr Trisos and this remarkable achievement, particularly as a researcher who still has the bulk of his academic work ahead of him," said Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Internationalisation Professor Sue Harrison.

"As the recipient of a 2020 UCT Young Researcher Award, he has already contributed significantly to the university's research enterprise, and for that we are thankful. We wish him all of the best in his future endeavours."

The honour will also spur him on to continue growing the lab: "We are at the onset of a climate crisis - there is no doubt that the choices we make now will influence multiple future generations," he said.

The lab is engaged in research on climate change risks, and the research group is building tools to predict where and when climate change risks appear and how best to respond to them.

Changing course

The climate crisis has been brought on by human intervention and we have the power to change the trajectory, Trisos said.

Biodiversity and climate solutions are intricately interlinked, and the more greenhouse gas emissions we can stop, the more our chances improve of stabilising the climate. But society also needs to adapt to reduce negative impacts from a changing climate, such as the risk of another Cape Town drought. Every year of action on reducing emissions and adapting to climate change matters - and earlier action would be better.

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The best analogy is speeding along a highway and missing the exit to your destination.

"You can still take the next exit and, if you miss that, even the next one. What would be foolish would be to continue in the wrong direction along the highway."

Trisos serves on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. He is the lead author on the IPCC's Synthesis Report and is also responsible for Chapter 9 of Working Group II - African Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. The report is due to be released later this year.
The newest missions to Mars are about life on Earth as much as they're about science on the Red Planet.

Why it matters: The United Arab Emirates and China, which each have missions arriving at Mars this week, have tied geopolitical and national ambitions to their Martian endeavors.

Be smart: sign up FREE for the most influential newsletter in America.

Space exploration has always been political, but these missions are being used to demonstrate the countries' technical know-how and prowess far from Earth's orbit.

What's happening: The UAE's Hope probe and China's Tianwen-1 mission will both make it to Mars within a day of one another.

Hope is expected to arrive later this morning and Tianwen-1 will arrive at its orbit around the Red Planet on Wednesday.

China's mission is also expected to release a rover down to the surface of the planet in the next few months, making it one of the most ambitious first-time Mars missions for any nation yet.

If successful, the UAE will become the fifth nation to operate a spacecraft in Mars orbit, with China following close behind as the sixth, and potentially the one other than the U.S. to operate a rover.

Between the lines: Both China and the UAE are driven by desires to be regional leaders when it comes to space, furthering national ambition and pride in the process.

The UAE began its space program in part as a way to create a technical and young workforce that will also help inspire others in the Middle East to enter science and engineering.

And the UAE chose Mars in part because of its difficulty.

"If you want to stimulate growth really rapidly, and you want to enable an entire generation to develop their skills and capacity and capability at a rapid manner, you need to take on large risks," Sarah Al Amiri, chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency told Axios. "You wouldn't get there with something that's more guaranteed."

China, on the other hand, is already a leader in space, with a human exploration program, a future space station and ambitious robotic missions to the Moon.

Story continues

"There is a piece of this that is prestige, but it's not about space  it is about doing real science," the Heritage Foundation's Dean Cheng told Axios.

The big picture: These missions are starting to paint a new picture of space ambitions where soft power and influence and a demonstration of technological prowess are far more important than a specific race between nations  as it was between the U.S. and Soviet Union.

For its part, China initially took a relatively traditional path to the Red Planet. The nation's first attempt to make it to Mars  in 2011  was part of a collaborative mission with Russia.

That mission didn't succeed, but China continued on with its space program, pushing to prove out technology at the Moon and then make it to Mars with not only an orbiter but a rover as well.

"If China is able to successfully land on Mars, its first time out, that's actually a pretty good track record, relative to everybody else's first time efforts," Cheng said. "The Chinese are very big on their firsts being bigger, longer, heavier."

The intrigue: The UAE didn't first send a mission to the Moon or import technology wholesale for its Hope probe.

Instead, the country focused on building technical knowledge at home that can then be applied elsewhere on Earth, in the tech sector.

In total, 200 of the 450 people who worked on the UAE's Mars mission are Emiratis at the space center, and the nation's private space industry is emerging.

The bottom line: Scientifically successful or not, these ambitious missions are revealing how much more accessible space is to those nations that are willing to go there.

Support safe, smart, sane journalism. Sign up for Axios Newsletters here.
When a company called Jonah Energy last year reported that it had become the first to be awarded a low-methane standard by the IES, it didnt exactly steal the headlines. Yet the report was an early sign of a transformational trend looming over gas markets: methane certification.

The Independent Energy Standards Corporation said last year it was expanding its TrustWell Responsible Gas program to include methane certification just as the gas - an indivisible part of natural gas production - started garnering more attention from media, environmentalists, and regulators alike.

"In Europe, a non-profit organization with a global reach was set up recently for the same purpose: MiQ is an independent certifier of methane emissions, which, according to senior advisor Georges Tijbosch, can help both gas producers and regulators." Producers want to gain a competitive edge in an environment of intensifying competitions. They can do this by offering buyers cleaner, lower-emission gas, certified by an independent body such as MiQ or IES. Regulators, on the other hand, want stricter control of methane emissions but, to put it crudely, dont know where to start. Its a win-win for the industry and governments, according to Tijbosch.

Interestingly enough, it is also a win for buyers. Although it might sound counterintuitive at first, it appears that some gas traders would already prefer to pay a premium for gas that has been extracted with fewer methane emissions, Tijbosch told Oilprice. Thats despite a tight spending environment across the industry and it means a lot. It means the industry may be ready for the transformation that, Tijbosch says, will lead to a differentiated gas market.

Related: Is A Career In Oil Still A Safe Bet?

Methane emission reduction costs money. It would mean additional investments for energy companies. Yet it would be money well spent as it would give these companies an advantage over competitors.

Trusted certificates based on robust technology give companies the tools they need to turn good climate stewardship into a competitive advantage and extract a premium for emission-free molecules, Antoine Halff, chief analyst at Kayrros, told Oilprice. Halff, who added that the analytics company was launching a working group to examine the idea of a voluntary market in methane certificates as a way to fast-track the elimination of methane emissions.

The news may be good for those with the means and ambitions to reduce their methane footprint, but it may be bad news for others. U.S. LNG exporters may be among the latter after last year, French Engie canceled a $7-billion deal for the acquisition of a stake in the Rio Grande LNG project of NextDecade. The cancellation, according to media reports, came after pressure from the French government, which was worried about the emissions footprint of the natural gas that would be liquefied at the facility.

Greater regulatory and public attention to methane is driving a change, and this change would be challenging in more than one way. For starters, there are multiple points of methane emissions along the natural gas supply chain, Mark Davis, CEO of Capterio  a company that provides flaring elimination services  told Oilprice. Then there is the question of the investments that need to be made in reducing these emissions.

Related: Fossil Fuels Arent Going Anywhere



While the latter challenge of finding the money to plug the leaky parts of the supply chain remains, the leak detection challenge already has a solution: emissions tracking systems like the ones used by Kayrros to basically create a methane emissions map of the world.

Once the data on what and where is leaking is available, it would be a lot easier for companies to plan their emissions-reduction effort. LNG producers may seem more vulnerable than pipeline gas exporters since the liquefaction process itself involves methane emissions but, as MiQs Tijbosch noted, pipeline gas is also vulnerable because of the leak risk.

All gas producers will be affected by the push for methane verification, Kayrros Halff says, although in different ways. The responsible producers will benefit from being responsible as buyers opt for the cleaner gas. The less responsible ones will get an additional incentive to clean up their act. There is even a benefit for end-consumers: in exchange for a slightly higher price, Halff says, they would be able to load up on methane-free gasoline or use methane-free electricity just like they buy organic vegetables at a slightly higher price.

The issue of the higher price is only an issue on the surface, according to Davis, Tijbosch, and Halff. Despite tighter cash availability, many buyers appear willing to pay more for cleaner gas than less for dirtier gas.

Last month, Wood Mackenzie issued a report that said this year will be a defining one for the natural gas industry. One of the reasons for this was the decarbonization drive spearheaded by European governments but taken up by others as well.

Methane certification has the potential to help the new priorities by providing companies with the means - and motivation - to reduce their methane footprint and by helping government regulators develop rules for emissions by setting standards for these emissions. It also has the potential to change the gas market in such a way as to ensure the bridge-fuel future of the commodity now that this future is being called into question because of methane emissions.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

HOUSTON - (Feb. 9, 2021) - Finding a needle in a haystack is hard enough. But try finding a specific molecule on the needle.

Rice University researchers have achieved something of the sort with a new genome editing tool that targets the supporting players in a cell's nucleus that package DNA and aid gene expression. Their work opens the door to new therapies for cancer and other diseases.

Rice bioengineer Isaac Hilton, postdoctoral researcher and lead author Jing Li and their colleagues programmed a modified CRISPR/Cas9 complex to target specific histones, ubiquitous epigenetic proteins that keep DNA in order, with pinpoint accuracy.

The open-access research appears in Nature Communications.

Histones help regulate many cellular processes. There are four in each nucleosome (the basic "beads on a string" in DNA) that help control the structure and function of our genomes by exposing genes for activation.

"Nucleosomes serve as architectural substrates to fit our DNA inside of our cells, and can also control access to key parts of our genomes," Hilton said.

Like other proteins, histones can be triggered by phosphorylation, the addition of a phosphoryl group that can control protein-protein or protein-DNA interactions.

"Histones can display an exquisitely diverse spectrum of chemical modifications that serve as beacons or regulatory markers and tell which genes to turn on, and when, and how much to do so," Hilton said. "One of these mysterious modifications is phosphorylation, and we aimed to better illuminate the mechanism by which it can rapidly turn human genes on and off."

No other epigenome editing technique has enabled site-specific control over histone phosphorylation, he said. The programmable Rice tool, called dCas9-dMSK1, fuses a deactivated "dCas9" protein and a "hyperactive" human histone kinase, an enzyme that catalyzes phosphorylation.

CRISPR/Cas9 typically employs guide RNAs and Cas9 "scissors" to target and cut sequences in DNA. The new tool programs deactivated dCas9 to target without cutting sequences, instead using the recruited dMSK1 enzyme to phosphorylate the targeted histone and turn on nearby genes.

The researchers used dCas9-dMSK1 to uncover novel genes and pathways that are pivotal for drug resistance. Li used it to identify three genes previously linked to melanoma drug resistance. "And then she identified seven new genes linked to melanoma resistance," Hilton said. "It's an exciting finding that we are following up on.

"Histone proteins that wrap up DNA can have all sorts of chemical marks and combinations on them," he said. "This results in what has been dubbed a histone code, and one of our goals is to work to decipher it."

Li's tool also confirms how specific histone marks communicate with one another. "It tells us that chemical modifications on histones talk to each other, and we can show it happening at specific spots in the human genome," Li said. "And that's linked to a gene turning on, so this allows us to synthetically control them."

Li said a long-term goal is to target a range of other histone marks. "It's a complicated story," she said. "There are a lot of different positions and features of histones that we want to study."

"Getting these technologies into patients is a long process," Hilton added. "But tools like this are the first step and can pave the way towards understanding how normal cellular processes unfortunately go awry in human diseases."

###

Co-authors of the paper are Rice postdoctoral researcher Barun Mahata, graduate students Mario Escobar, Jacob Goell and Kaiyuan Wang and undergraduate Pranav Khemka. Hilton is an assistant professor of bioengineering and biosciences.

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas supported the research.

-30-

Read the paper at https:/ / www. nature. com/ articles/ s41467-021-21188-2 .

This news release can be found online at https:/ / news. rice. edu/ 2021/ 02/ 09/ new-crispr-tech-targets-human-genomes-complex-code/

Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.

Additional Contact:

Mike Williams

713-348-6728

mikewilliams@rice.edu

Related materials:

CPRIT grant brings epigenetics researcher to Rice:

http://news. rice. edu/ 2017/ 05/ 22/ cprit-grant-brings-epigenetics-researcher-to-rice-2/

Rice lab gives structure to histone discovery:

http://news. rice. edu/ 2017/ 12/ 06/ rice-lab-gives-structure-to-histone-discovery/

Chromosome organization emerges from 1D patterns:

http://news. rice. edu/ 2017/ 10/ 31/ chromosome-organization-emerges-from-1-d-patterns-2/

Hilton Lab:

https:/ / hiltonlab. rice. edu

Rice Department of Bioengineering:

https:/ / bioengineering. rice. edu

Rice Department of BioSciences:

https:/ / biosciences. rice. edu

Images for download:

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2021/ 02/ 0215_HISTONE-1-WEB. jpg

Rice University scientists built a new tool to engineer and understand how human genes are turned on. The team created a synthetic two-part protein based on dCas9 and a modified enzyme called dMSK1 to deliver chemical payloads at precise spots near human genes. The tool causes pinpoint changes to histone marks and with the help of other proteins, the activation of silent human genes.

(Credit: Hilton Lab/Rice University)

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2021/ 02/ 0215_HISTONE-2-WEB. jpg

CAPTION: Isaac Hilton.

(Credit: Rice University)

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2021/ 02/ 0215_HISTONE-3-WEB. jpg

CAPTION: Jing Li.

(Credit: Rice University)

Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,978 undergraduates and 3,192 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
Torontos Deputy Police Chief Dr Shawna Coxon and acting Deputy Garda Commissioner Anne Marie McMahon have been ratified to major garda roles today.

Dr Coxon and Ms McMahon were ratified by the Government to Deputy Garda Commissioners at the cabinet meeting this afternoon after being put forward by the Policing Authority.

Ms McMahon has been appointed with effect from February 10 while Dr Coxon will take up duty on April 19.

Candidates for the two vacancies included several experienced garda officers, who had come up through the ranks, as well as applicants from the PSNI and overseas.

This competition was open to chief superintendents as well as assistant commissioners.

Dr Coxon had been Deputy Chief of the Toronto Police Service for over three years, having served as a police officer in the Canadian force for 24 years. She was one of two female deputy chiefs in Toronto who are leaving the role at the same time.

Dr Coxon was one of three deputy chiefs appointed in the Toronto force in 2017 as part of an effort to modernise and transform the service and they were described at the time as innovative and inspirational leaders, who will help move the service forward in a progressive way as we modernise and transform, finding ways to best serve the public and meet the expectations of our community.

Acting Deputy Commissioner McMahon was promoted to the post on an interim basis by Commissioner Drew Harris in March last year as the authorities prepared to hold a new competition to find a candidate to fill the job in a full-time capacity.

A native of Co Clare, Ms McMahon joined the force in 1986 and was appointed as an assistant commissioner in 2016.

She was upgraded temporarily from assistant commissioner to deputy to fill the gap created by the promotion of Donall O Cualain to the rank of Commissioner after Noirin OSullivan left the force.

Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee welcomed the appointments and said:

I offer my wholehearted congratulations to acting Deputy Commissioner Anne Marie McMahon and Dr Shawna Coxon on their appointment to the posts of Deputy Garda Commissioner. Both of these officers have solid records of achievement and delivery and bring deep skill, experience and huge personal commitment to policing to these important senior positions.

These roles are crucial to the effective day to day management and strategic direction of An Garda Siochana as well as supporting the Garda Commissioner in leading the implementation of the extensive reform programme ongoing at present.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said he was very pleased with the appointments.

Anne Marie brings huge policing experience, competence in difficult senior command roles, and drive and determination in delivering change through the Policing Service for our Future reform agenda. Through the exercise of positive leadership and example she has earned the trust and respect of members and staff within An Garda Siochana.

"Deputy Commissioner Coxon brings with her extensive policing experience from her service in Toronto, Canada. In particular, she has experience of change management, community policing in a diverse city and serious crime investigations including utilising intelligence to its full potential.

I look forward to working with the Deputy Commissioners in the months and years ahead as the Policing Service for our Future reforms are delivered and we continue to deliver a policing service that keeps people safe through a strong bond between An Garda Siochana and the community.
Five Micronesian nations have announced they are quitting the Pacifics key regional body in a blow to Australias efforts to unite the region in the face of growing Chinese influence.

The fracturing of the Pacific Islands Forum threatens to derail regional unity at a time when Australia has been trying to counter Chinas growing influence in the area through its Pacific step-up.

Five countries have declared they will leave the Pacific Islands Forum. Credit:AP

The federal opposition and national security experts warned other countries will look to fill the leadership vacuum in the Pacific after the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Kiribati and the Federated States of Micronesia followed Palau in leaving the regional body over the election of a new leader.

Palau announced last week it was leaving the PIF and called on its fellow Micronesian countries to follow suit after former Cook Islands prime minister Henry Puna won a ballot by one vote to become its new secretary-general.
 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday that China-Vietnam relations are standing at a new historical starting point and China is willing to work with Vietnam to push for steady and enduring development of bilateral ties.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a phone conversation with his counterpart, Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Vietnamese president.

China, Xi added, stands ready to join forces with Vietnam to strengthen strategic communication, increase political mutual trust, and maintain the political guidance role of and close communication between the leaderships of the two parties.

Xi congratulated Trong again on his election as the general secretary of the CPV Central Committee, noting that the successful convention of the 13th National Congress of the CPV, which has set development goals for the new stage, bears great significance.

He expressed the belief that under the leadership of the new CPV Central Committee headed by Trong, the CPV and the Vietnamese people would implement in an all-around way the decisions and deployments of the 13th National Congress of the CPV to strive to achieve the development goals of the CPV and the country.

China and Vietnam are a community with a shared future which bears strategic significance, Xi stressed, adding that the continuously sound and stable development of bilateral relations conforms to the fundamental interests of the two parties, countries and peoples, and is conducive to the vigorous development of their socialist causes and to safeguarding regional and world peace and stability to promote development and prosperity.

In the face of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the challenge of complicated external environment, pragmatic cooperation between the two countries in various fields has been enhanced against the headwinds, which reflected the remarkable advantages of the leadership of the communist parties and socialist systems, and demonstrated the great vitality of the relations between the two parties and countries, Xi said.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the beginning of China's 14th Five-Year Plan, Xi said, noting that it is also the first year for Vietnam to implement the spirit of the 13th National Congress of the CPV.

China, Xi added, is willing to work with Vietnam to accelerate the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative with the "Two Corridors, One Economic Belt," promote the construction of cross-border economic cooperation zones between the two countries, and explore exchanges and cooperation in such fields as healthcare, digital economy and humanities.

The two sides should strengthen coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues, firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, oppose protectionism and unilateralism, and support a fast entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, Xi noted.

China and Vietnam, he said, should properly manage the maritime differences and stand against the instigation of external forces to promote the development of regional peace and stability.

Trong thanked Xi for the good wishes on his re-election as the general secretary of the CPV Central Committee, noting that the 13th National Congress of the CPV has set the direction and tasks for the country's economic and social development in the next five years and the development visions to 2030 and 2045.

Developing and strengthening the traditional friendly relations between Vietnam and China have always been the top priority of the CPV and his country, Trong said, adding that the Vietnamese side speaks highly of China's achievements in pandemic prevention and control as well as the recovery of economic development, and congratulated China on its achieving the first centenary goal.

Against the background of complex changes in the current international situation, Trong said, it is of vital importance to consolidate and develop the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties, countries and peoples.

He noted that Vietnam is willing to work with China to deepen political mutual trust, strengthen inter-party exchanges, accelerate the implementation of bilateral pragmatic cooperation agreements, steer the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership along the path of sustained, healthy and stable development, and make contributions to promoting regional and global peace, stability, cooperation and development.

The Vietnamese side congratulated the Communist Party of China on its 100th anniversary and expressed the firm belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, China will make new and greater achievements in its new journey to build a modern socialist country in an all-round way, he said.
"We all share many of the same issues, regardless of age, size, color, style or attitude," said Nicole Smith, CEO, The Functional Chocolate Company. "When we aren't feeling our best, the last thing we want is a bitter pill with uncertain side effects. Pairing chocolate with purposeful, natural ingredients for managing our everyday realities is simply a better option."

Functional Chocolate Company bars are made with Fair Trade 60% cacao from a cooperative of South American farmers. Crafted in the USA, these bars are 100% plant based, vegan, dairy-free, Non-GMO, cholesterol and gluten-free.

Initially, Functional Chocolate bars will address the four most cited conditions that impact women -- Rhythm Chocolate for PMS, Carefree Chocolate for Stress & Anxiety, Hot Chocolate for Menopause symptoms and Sexy Chocolate for Low Libido. Additional formulations will be released in the coming months.

"Women face unique health concerns, many of which continue to remain underserved by traditional wellness and nutraceutical approaches," explained Chris Peruzzi, COO and formulator, The Functional Chocolate Company. "Combining chocolate with active nutraceuticals creates an indulgent and especially effective experience, as the natural healthy fats in the chocolate act as a carrier to improve bioavailability of the other ingredients, and of course, it makes it more likely that customers actually consume it regularly for their best desired individual effects and benefits."

Flexible, fully customizable individual boxes, subscription and gift options are available at funcho.co . Look for Functional Chocolate Company products in your favorite retail locations soon.

About The Functional Chocolate Company:

Founded in 2020, The Functional Chocolate Company is headquartered in Evergreen, Colorado. Through experience, we've learned that there is a better way to treat everyday health realities by delivering purposeful, decadent chocolate for people actively practicing mindful wellness. The Functional Chocolate team brings together expertise across consumer product development, confectionary, nutraceutical, women's health and nutrition disciplines. Learn more at funcho.co .

Supporting Resources:

Learn more about the science of Functional Chocolate on our blog -- https://funcho.co/blogs/articles

Media Inquiries:

Graham Sorkin

[email protected]

###

SOURCE The Functional Chocolate Company

Related Links

https://funcho.co


Working with Dr. Christine Wekerle and her team, Clearbridge Mobile translated academic research and previous insights gained from working with other healthcare organizations like Dynacare, CANet, and Crohn's and Colitis Canada, into engaging app features that would best resonate with adolescents and young adults. The first version of the app was launched in 2018 so that research studies could begin to gather insights and capture data to facilitate other positive mental health initiatives.

"Working with the various experts in Clearbridge, it was a wonderful experience to learn how the app was seen as relevant to the designer's lives, that they could relate to its goals and see how it would have been a resource to their younger selves," says Dr. Christine Wekerle, Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University. "From the colour palette to the tag line, "Happiness starts with you" to the user-friendly and intuitive use of water sounds for easing to sleep, the design process has maintained the focus on positives and consistency through the user experience."

Clearbridge Mobile's design thinking process results in a product roadmap, highlighting features to introduce into the app as it progresses through its lifecycle. Now, in the "next" phase of the project, the latest features introduced include:

The app interface and functionality now support French-language users.

"Elder/Mentor" has been added as a contact type in the in-app calling feature to support those in Indigenous communities.

"SleepEase" has been added as an activity aimed to help calm users as they try to fall asleep.

Other features of the app include:

In-app calling to reach population-specific helplines for immediate support.

Breathing exercises, games, and doodling to help users express emotions and manage stress levels.

Journaling prompts to help users recognize, process, and write down their thoughts, struggles and feelings.

A mood rating function that enables users to rate their mood, have the option to complete an activity to cope based on their mood, and monitor activities' effectiveness.

"Clearbridge Mobile has been great to work with as we implemented the JoyPop app as a support for students making the transition to university," says Dr. Aislin Mushquash, Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Lakehead University.

"We found that using it more often was associated with improvements in emotion regulation and depressive symptoms."

Data gathered from the numerous research studies, and feedback from participants also support Mushquash's claims.

"I was really impressed with the fact that it brought my attention more to how I was feeling," says an app user from the Lakehead research study. "So, instead of just acknowledging that I was stressed and then managing with that, it really brought attention to why I was feeling that and just acknowledging that which I thought was really cool."

"As a company, it is our goal to develop mobile applications that positively impact the lives of the user. Having had previous experience developing healthcare-related solutions allowed us to understand the needs of the user better, and ultimately helped us achieve that with this app," says Clearbridge Mobile CEO Deepak Chopra. "We continue to expand into the healthcare space to support various health conditions and initiatives, and aim to make a meaningful impact through our mobile, cloud, and web solutions."

In tandem with being used for research studies, the JoyPop app is also available to the general public through the App Store .

For more information on the JoyPop app, click here .

About Clearbridge Mobile

Clearbridge Mobile is an award-winning full-stack mobile app development company that provides user-centric design and engineering services to the world's top enterprises, helping them meet their digital initiatives. With more than 250 apps successfully delivered for enterprise clients like Dynacare, Crohn's and Colitis Canada, Participaction, Bell Canada, TD Bank, and Rogers Communications, Clearbridge Mobile is the right partner to help you capitalize on the momentum of today's digital consumer.

About McMaster University

Founded in 1887, McMaster University is ranked in the world's Top 75 by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. Home to more than 70 research centres and institutes, McMaster University comprises the Arts & Science Program and six Faculties: The DeGroote School of Business, and the Faculties of Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences.

About Lakehead University

Dynamic, modern, and highly learner-centred, we acknowledge all of our students as valued leaders of tomorrow, whose education and success are most paramount to our institution. Both campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia promise the total university experience: a blend of academic excellence and opportunity with a rich variety of social and recreational activities. We also promise excellence in research; Lakehead is the proud host to eleven Canada Research Chairs and revolutionary facilities such as our world-renowned Paleo-DNA Laboratory and our Biorefining Research Institute.

SOURCE Clearbridge Mobile Inc.

For further information: Christine Tsang, [email protected]

Related Links

http://clearbridgemobile.com/


NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. ("Aerojet" or the "Company") (NYSE: AJRD) in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company by Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT), a global security and aerospace company. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Aerojet shareholders will receive $56.00 in cash, without interest, less any dividends declared prior to the merger. The per share price is expected to be reduced to $51.00 after the expected pre-closing payment of a special cash dividend of $5.00 per share to Aerojet shareholders.

If you own Aerojet shares and wish to discuss this investigation or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, visit our website:

http://www.weisslawllp.com/AJRD/

Or please contact:

Joshua Rubin, Esq.

WeissLaw LLP

1500 Broadway, 16th Floor

New York, NY 10036

(212) 682-3025

(888) 593-4771

[email protected]

WeissLaw LLP is investigating whether Aerojet's board acted in the best interest of Aerojet's public shareholders in agreeing to the proposed transaction, whether the merger consideration represents full and fair value for Aerojet shares, and whether all information regarding the sales process and valuation of the transaction has been fully and fairly disclosed. Notably, the merger consideration is a discount to Aerojet's 52 week high stock price of $57.27. Additionally, an analyst set a price target of $56.00 for Aerojet, higher than the proposed merger consideration.

WeissLaw LLP has litigated hundreds of stockholder class and derivative actions for violations of corporate and fiduciary duties. We have recovered over a billion dollars for defrauded clients and obtained important corporate governance relief in many of these cases. If you have information or would like legal advice concerning possible corporate wrongdoing (including insider trading, waste of corporate assets, accounting fraud, or materially misleading information), consumer fraud (including false advertising, defective products, or other deceptive business practices), or anti-trust violations, please email us at [email protected]

SOURCE WeissLaw LLP

Related Links

http://weisslawllp.com


This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong!

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EUGENE, Ore. (AP)  Cate Reese scored 25 points and No. 10 Arizona completed a season sweep of 11th-ranked Oregon with a 79-59 win on Monday.

Reese, a 6-foot-2 junior who entered the game averaging 11.3 points, was 11 for 14 from the field while making all three of her 3-point attempts. Sam Thomas scored 14 points and Trinity Baptiste and Aari McDonald each added 13 points as the Wildcats shot 50.8% from the field.

We keep raising the bar for ourselves, Reese said. I think were all pretty excited about the win.

Arizona, which had been off for 17 days with four games postponed because of COVID-19, won consecutive games against the Ducks for the first time since 2011. Coach Adia Barnes dropped her first 10 games against Oregon before this seasons sweep, which kept the Wildcats (12-2, 10-2 Pac-12) in second place in the conference.

Not playing for two weeks and coming on the road to Oregon, that was a little terrifying, Barnes said. But I thought we played really well. I thought we controlled the game, especially the first couple minutes. I thought it was a really great team effort.

Nyara Sabally scored 17 points to lead the Ducks (12-4, 9-4), who dropped to fourth in the Pac-12. Sedona Prince scored 10 points while Taylor Mikesell and Te-Hina Paopao each had nine points as Oregon shot 32.4% from the field, including 3 for 15 on 3-pointers.

We cant feel sorry for ourselves, Oregon coach Kelly Graves said. We won this league three years in a row. You think they want payback? When they see us down they are going to attack us and make us pay.

Arizona led 33-32 at halftime before outscoring the Ducks 27-14 in the third quarter.

The Wildcats opened the second half with a 9-2 run to go ahead 42-34 on a pair of free throws by Thomas. The Wildcats scored 13 straight points before Paopao made a 3-pointer to get the Ducks within 60-46 entering the final period.

They pushed the intensity level up and we didnt go with them, unfortunately, Graves said. It is disappointing. I dont have any other words to say. We played hard to the finish, we just didnt play that well.

Story continues

Reese and Thomas combined to score the first eight points of the game for Arizona, which extended its lead to 21-11 on a 3-pointer by Baptiste. Oregon followed with the final eight points of the first quarter, including back-to-back layups for Lydia Giomi, to get within 21-19.

BIG PICTURE

Arizona: The Wildcats dropped one spot in the AP poll on Monday, but remain ranked for the 28th straight week, a school record. Arizona has won seven of its last 10 games against ranked teams with one more on the schedule in two weeks when it faces No. 5 Stanford.

Oregon: The Ducks have had multiple players miss games this season, including starting guard Taylor Chavez and freshman Maddie Scherr, who were both sidelined Monday due to COVID-19 protocols. Only five Ducks have played in all 16 games this season with Paopao, a freshman point guard, the only one to start each game.

UP NEXT

Arizona: Hosts Washington State on Friday before playing its final home game Sunday against Washington.

Oregon: Hosts last-place California on Friday before first-place Stanford visits on Monday.

___

More AP womens college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9)  The Communist Party of the Philippines on Tuesday vowed rebels will not hamper the movement of COVID-19 vaccines following President Rodrigo Duterte's plea.

"It is a matter of principle for the NPA to respect all humanitarian undertakings that benefit the masses. Thus, the NPA will ensure that transportation of COVID-19 vaccines will be provided a humanitarian corridor for safe and unimpeded passage in guerrilla base and zones," it said in a statement, referring to the New People's Army, the party's armed wing.

Duterte on Monday asked the rebels to allow COVID-19 vaccines to be transported "freely and safely" in far-flung areas once they become available, urging them to "kindly observe the rules of humanity." He said there have been reports of guerrillas disrupting the transport of government aid in rural areas.

The CPP-NPA asked the government to avoid using military vehicles, saying transportation and distribution should be handled by the Philippine Red Cross or other civilian humanitarian agencies. It added that transportation that will be used must be clearly marked with a red cross over white background to avoid being mistaken as a military vehicle.

"We strongly suggest that COVID-19 vaccines not be transported in AFP military vehicles, especially those which are not properly marked and carrying armed soldiers... Using AFP to transport and vaccines will not encourage people to be vaccinated," it said.

The country's first batch of coronavirus vaccines are expected to be shipped next week. The Philippines is expecting to have its initial rollout of coronavirus vaccines within the first quarter of the year and mass vaccination in the third quarter of 2021.
It was billed as a bombshell: an expose on Russian state television that promised to rip the roof off the "luxurious" German house where opposition politician Aleksei Navalny lived while recuperating from a near-fatal nerve-agent poisoning, allegedly at the hands of Russian security agents.

Among the programs explosive findings? The villa had a coffee maker; the buildings swimming pool was a pleasant 26 degrees Celsius; and even the toilet brushes were high standard.

In the days since the broadcast, however, Russian social media has been flooded with quips and memes mocking the report as the ultimate example of much ado about nothing.

By contrast, Navalnys splashy, snarky investigations into official corruption have dominated the Russian mediascape for months -- only gaining steam from August, when he almost died while traveling in Siberia, to his dramatic return to Moscow in January, and his immediate arrest.

The ability of Navalny and his allies to capture public attention and galvanize anti-government sentiment has vexed the Kremlin and the state-owned and financed media that normally dominate Russias airwaves and newsstands.

Exhibit A is the most-watched Russian-language program on YouTube at present: the two-hour documentary Navalnys team published the day after his January 17 arrest that showed a gargantuan, Versailles-like palace perched on a Black Sea bluff. Called Putins Palace, the film alleged the $1.7 billion house was built for Putin and financed through a network of corrupt offshore companies by some of Putins closest allies.

On February 7, in a seven-minute segment on the program Vesti Nedeli, state television responded to the Putin Palace documentary.

Sort of.

Produced by Rossiya-1 television and broadcast nationwide, Vesti Nedeli is the channels main Sunday evening news program. Its hosted by Dmitry Kiselyov, a fire-breathing presenter who has garnered notoriety for making outrageous statements, such as bragging of Russias ability to turn the United States into radioactive ash.

After being released from the Berlin hospital where he was treated -- and where German doctors said he had been poisoned with a substance related to the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok -- Navalny recuperated for nearly two months in a villa in Freiberg, in southwestern Germany.

In its segment, Vesti Nedelis crew gained access to the villa and portrayed Navalnys rental of the place as an exorbitant expense unbefitting of the anti-corruption crusaders image.

The programs presenter, Anastasia Popova, described for viewers "a spacious living room, two sofas, a television. And fresh fruit on the table and a complimentary bottle of wine on the kitchen counter.

At one point, Popova goes swimming in the villas pool. At another, she inspects the villas main bathroom -- and even inspects the bathrooms toilet brush.

It sparkles, but not that much, she said.

The toilet brush is a nod to the findings presented in the Putins Palace documentary, where Navalnys team alleged -- based on architectural and design documents -- that one of the bathrooms included a $700 toilet brush. Some protesters who have taken to the streets in support of Navalny have carried toilet brushes.

The Kremlin has denied that Putin owns the palace. Days after the documentary was released, Arkady Rotenberg, a billionaire childhood friend and former judo partner of Putins, publicly claimed he was the owner.

The Vesti Nedeli program said the 300-square-meter, two-story German villa cost 530 euros a day, a figure that could not be independently confirmed. However, Current Time, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, found a public listing for the same villa for less than half that amount.

The owner of the villa, meanwhile, told the independent news channel TV Dozhd that the Russian reporters rented the residence while pretending to be Belgian tourists. The lead reporter used a made-up French surname, the channel reported.

The owner also said he had contacted German law enforcement after the Russian reporters filmed him with a hidden camera without his consent.

The Vesti Nedeli segment was accompanied by another segment that focused on the nearby film studio where Navalnys team shot and produced the Putins Palace documentary.

Leonid Volkov, a top Navalny aide, later told TV Dozhd that Vesti Nedeli had exaggerated the cost of the villas rental, which he said was paid for by Yevgeny Chichvarkin, a multimillionaire Russian businessman who now lives in self-imposed exile in London. Chichvarkin also helped pay for the rental of the studio space, Volkov said.

Many of the details of Navalnys finances while recuperating in Germany were previously published by Navalny himself on his Instagram account.

You go into journalism. Expectation: You make cool reports and reveal the whole truth. Reality: You shoot a review of Navalny's toilet and show wine for 2 euros, calling it a luxury lifestyle, Ruslan Shaveddinov, a leading member of Navalnys team, said in mocking post on Twitter.

Vladimir Milov, a former Russian deputy energy minister who is now a strident critic of the Kremlin, mocked the Vesti report, saying it focused on what he said was fairly typical German housing.

And he compared it to average housing stock in Russia, where he said an inordinately high percentage of homes lacked indoor plumbing and hot water or showers.

Navalnys return to Russia was followed by two consecutive weekends of nationwide protests -- some of the biggest Russia has seen in years. On February 2, Navalny was ordered to prison by a judge who ruled he had violated conditions of a suspended sentence imposed in 2014 in a case Navalny says was politically motivated. That decision prompted more street protests -- and a brutal response from riot police.

German authorities concluded that Navalny was targeted with a poison related to Novichok, which burst into public attention in 2018 when it was used, allegedly by Russian agents, to try to kill a former Russian intelligence agent in England. Laboratories in Sweden and France, and experts from the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons, later corroborated the German finding.

Aside from physical violence, the Kremlin has also sought repeatedly to discredit Navalny, accusing him of being a foreign agent on the payroll of the CIA or MI6 or similar foreign entities.

"The intelligence agencies of three NATO countries worked on a fake documentary about the fake palace, and Navalny was invited only to do a voice-over," Kiselyov alleged in his own commentary accompanying the Vesti Nedeli segment. "The goal clearly was to harm President Putin personally, as the national leader, and Russia itself."

While the Putins Palace investigation has broken records for Russian viewership on YouTube, its effect on public opinion toward Putin has been more muted.

A poll by the independent Levada Center found that more than one-quarter of Russians had seen the film, but most of the polls respondents -- 77 percent -- who watched or heard of the investigation said their opinions of Putin were unchanged.

With reporting by Current Time and RFE/RLs Russian Service
Rep. Noh Woong-rae, center, the leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's taskforce team for media reform, talks to reporters after a meeting at the National Assembly, Tuesday. Noh said they decided to seek the revision of a law to force media to pay punitive damages for victims of "fake news." Yonhap



By Jung Da-min



The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is planning to revise a law within the National Assembly's February session aimed at requiring media to pay punitive damages for spreading "fake news". While the DPK said that punishment is needed to prevent the distortion of information and the spread of fake news by not only conventional media, but also portal sites and YouTube, conservative critics raised concerns that the law could be used to tame the media in the name of cracking down on fake news.



The DPK's askforce team said, Tuesday, that it would revise the law to apply punitive damages to newspapers, TV broadcasters, portal site operators, YouTubers and other one-person media users for spreading false information.



Before the team's decision, Rep. Yoon Young-chan of the party proposed a revised bill to have YouTubers, other one-person media users and portal site operators to pay up to three times the damages caused by their fake news to the victims. The team also decided that conventional media, such as newspaper and TV, should also be subject to such punishment if they spread fake news.



"When we were first discussing the bill, our primary intention was to target YouTubers or SNS users, as fake news was most abundant on such social media platforms. But we did not exclude the traditional media from the target of punishment," Rep. Noh Woong-rae, leader of the taskforce, said at the National Assembly.



"For portals, they play a major role in providing news here, accounting for 70 to 80 percent of the news supplied to people. But they also publish fake news, including news with no value that only seeks to make money. We need to create a related law that can regulate portals to remove these trashy articles."



Critics said, however, that the ruling DPK's plan could be seen as an attempt to control media and goes against democratic values of freedom of expression.



Emergency committee chief Kim Chong-in, of the main opposition People Power Party, said at the committee's meeting at the National Assembly, Monday, that the DPK was trying to tame the media to produce news favorable to the Moon Jae-in government.



"The DPK's plan to regulate fake news on the Internet is highly likely an attempt to tame the media to make them follow the government's reporting guidelines," Kim said. "Some people actually think that the fake news coming from the government is more serious."



Regarding criticism that the bill undermines the democratic values of freedom of expression, the DPK's Rep. Noh said that whether or not to punish media for spreading fake news will be a decision judged by the courts, after it considers the maliciousness and willfulness of each spreader. Rep. Noh stated that he does not believe that such punishment would be excessive.


When Tom Brady won the Super Bowl once again on Sunday, two Berkshire Medical Center health care workers were in the scaled-down crowd.

And the pair, who flew to Tampa Bay courtesy of the New England Patriots, had nothing but high praise for their all-expenses-paid trip to Florida.

It was absolutely an experience I will never forget, said Dionne Hamilton, a housekeeper on BMCs Environmental Services Team. Until her ride on the Patriots plane, alongside other fully vaccinated New England health care workers, Hamilton had never flown in a plane before.

Kate Heath, a registered nurse in the hospitals Critical Care Unit, was also delighted by the experience.

The Kraft family and Patriots did a phenomenal job of meticulously planning every detail of the trip, she said. We were so well taken care of.

Heath, who snagged a photo with Gov. Charlie Baker before take-off, said that every person she met bent over backwards to make the trip perfect, from its start at Gillette Stadium all the way to Super Bowl LV.

It was touching, she said.

YANGON, Myanmar - Police cracked down on demonstrators opposing Myanmars military coup, firing warning shots and shooting water cannons to disperse crowds that took to the streets again Tuesday in defiance of new protest bans.

Policemen watch as people gather at an intersection in Yangon, Myanmar, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Protesters continued to gather Tuesday morning in Yangon breaching Myanmar's new military rulers ban of public gathering of five or more issued on Monday intended to crack down on peaceful public protests opposing their takeover. (AP Photo)

YANGON, Myanmar - Police cracked down on demonstrators opposing Myanmars military coup, firing warning shots and shooting water cannons to disperse crowds that took to the streets again Tuesday in defiance of new protest bans.

Reports of many injured demonstrators drew strong concern from the U.N.'s office in Myanmar.

According to reports from Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay and other cities, numerous demonstrators have been injured, some of them seriously, by security forces in connection with the current protests across the country, the U.N. said.

The use of disproportionate force against demonstrators is unacceptable, said Ola Almgren, the U.N. resident co-ordinator in Myanmar.

Police in riot gear march to take a position to block demonstrators at an intersection during a protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Police were cracking down on the demonstrators against Myanmars military takeover who took to the streets in defiance of new protest bans. (AP Photo)

Water cannons were used in Mandalay, Myanmars second-biggest city, where witnesses said at least two warning shots were fired in early attempts to break up the crowd. Gunfire could be heard on videos from the city, some of which showed riot police flailing wildly with their batons at people trying to flee. Reports on social media said police arrested more than two dozen people there.

Police also used water cannons in the capital, Natpyitaw, for a second day and fired shots into the air. Police were reported to have also shot rubber bullets at the crowd in Naypyitaw, wounding several people. Photos on social media showed an alleged shooter  an officer with a short-barrelled gun  and several injured people. Protesters posted photos online of bullet casings they said they found at the scene.

Unconfirmed social media reports circulated of shootings with live rounds and deaths among the protesters, with the potential of sparking violent retaliation against the authorities  an outcome proponents of the countrys civil disobedience movement have warned against. The AP was unable to immediately confirm the reports.

The weekly magazine 7Day News reported on Twitter that a 19-year-old woman was shot by police in Naypyidaw and was undergoing emergency surgery at the city's main hospital. It cited Min Thu, the local chairman of the National League for Democracy party of ousted national leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Security forces on Tuesday night raided the NLDs national office in Yangon, following raids of regional party offices last week that the party called illegal. NLD spokesman Kyi Toe wrote on his Facebook page that army personnel took documents and computer hardware.

Police officers stand behind barbed-wire blocking protesters during a demonstration in Mandalay, Myanmar, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Protesters continued to gather Tuesday morning in major cities breaching Myanmar's new military rulers ban of public gathering of five or more issued on Monday intended to crack down on peaceful public protests opposing their takeover. (AP Photo)

The protesters are demanding that power be restored to the deposed civilian government and are seeking freedom for Suu Kyi and other governing party members detained since the military took over and blocked the new session of Parliament from convening on Feb. 1.

The growing defiance is striking in a country where past demonstrations have been met with deadly force and are a reminder of previous movements in the Southeast Asian countrys long and bloody struggle for democracy. The military used deadly force to quash a massive 1988 uprising against military dictatorship and a 2007 revolt led by Buddhist monks.

The protests were banned by decrees issued Monday night for some areas of Yangon and Mandalay that made illegal rallies and gatherings of more than five people, along with motorized processions, while also imposing a 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew. It was not clear if restrictions were imposed for other areas. Violators could be punished by up to six months in prison or a fine.

Demonstrations were also held in other cities Tuesday, including Bago  where city elders negotiated with police to avoid a violent confrontation  and Dawei, and in northern Shan state.

In Magwe in central Myanmar, where water cannons were also used, unconfirmed reports on social media said several police officers had crossed over to join the protesters ranks. Police in Naypyitaw and Pathein, west of Yangon, were also said to have switched sides. The AP was unable to immediately confirm the reports.

In this image taken from a video aired on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, Myanmar Commander-in-Chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing speaks in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. In his first speech to the nation after grabbing power a week ago, Myanmars military chief blamed politicians and the election commission for forcing him to stage the coup detat. (Myawaddy TV via AP)

Crowds also gathered in Yangon, the countrys biggest city where thousands of people have been demonstrating since Saturday, despite a heightened security presence. No violence was reported.

Police, not soldiers, appeared to have been deployed to stop the demonstrations, a small indicator of restraint by the military government. The army has a record of brutality in crushing past revolts as well as in fighting ethnic minorities in border areas seeking self-determination. It also has been accused of carrying out genocide in its 2017 counterinsurgency campaign that drove more than 700,000 members of the Muslim Rohingya minority across the border to seek safety in Bangladesh.

State media for the first time on Monday referred to the protests, saying they were endangering the countrys stability.

Democracy can be destroyed if there is no discipline, declared a statement from the Ministry of Information read on state television station MRTV. We will have to take legal actions to prevent acts that are violating state stability, public safety and the rule of law.

However, the military commander who led the coup and is now Myanmars leader made no mention of the unrest in a 20-minute televised speech Monday night, his first to the public since the takeover.

Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing instead repeated claims about voting fraud that have been the justification for the militarys takeover, allegations that were refuted by the state election commission. He added that his junta would hold new elections as promised in a year and hand over power to the winners, and explained the juntas intended policies for COVID-19 control and the economy.

The general's remarks, which included encouragement for foreign investors, did nothing to assuage concern in the international community.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. condemned violence against the protesters and reiterated the U.S.'s earlier calls for the military to restore power to the elected government. The international community is attempting every avenue to ensure that democracy and civilian leadership is restored in Burma," Price said in Washington, using Myanmar's former name.

The U.N.s Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, will meet Friday to consider the human rights implications of the crisis. Britain and the European Union spearheaded the request for the special session, which will amount to a high-profile public debate among diplomats over Myanmar and could lead to a resolution airing concerns or recommendations of international action.

New Zealand suspended all military and high-level political contact with Myanmar, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced Tuesday in Wellington, adding that any New Zealand aid should not go to or benefit Myanmars military government.

We do not recognize the legitimacy of the military-led government and we call on the military to immediately release all detained political leaders and restore civilian rule, Mahuta said. New Zealand was also placing a travel ban on the military leaders.

Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Nick Perry in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report.

This story has been updated with corrected sourcing for the details on the raid on the ruling party's office.
Erin Ryan, senior vice president at The Night Ministry, suggests that those who want to help homeless people during this extended cold snap can hand out gift cards for food and clothing, which has the added benefit of allowing those without a home the opportunity to get inside to order food and warm up, even if just for a few minutes. With so many places closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the options for getting warm are fewer and further between, she says.


HANOVER (dpa-AFX) - Tour operator TUI AG reported Tuesday a wider loss in its first quarter with sharply lower revenues due to widespread lockdowns and massive travel restrictions amid pandemic crisis. However, despite major uncertainties, customer demand for summer 2021 is strong. TUI shares were trading around 1 percent lower in German and London trading.



Fritz Joussen, CEO of TUI Group, said, 'With strict cost discipline and the realignment of the Group, ..we succeeded in reducing the loss in the past quarter. As expected, customers will book their summer holidays much later this year than in normal years. However, demand remains strong, people want to travel - this is shown by the already good number of bookings for the summer.'



For summer 2021, TUI has recorded a total of 2.8 million bookings, around 56 percent of bookings at the same time for summer 2019, with average prices 20 percent higher than for last year. Capacity for the 2021 summer program remains around 80 percent of the summer 2019 program.



According to the company, the uncertainties of the ongoing pandemic and ever-changing quarantine and travel requirements are having an impact on the timing of bookings, as expected.



For the first quarter, Group loss attributable to shareholders was 802.9 million euros, wider than prior year's loss of 128.6 million euros.



Earnings before interest and tax or EBIT was negative at 720.9 million euros, compared to prior year's negative 77.9 million euros. Adjusted EBIT loss widened to 698.6 million euros from prior year's loss of 146.7 million euros.



In the quarter, revenue was 468.1 million euros, down 87.8 percent from 3.85 billion euros in the previous year. Revenues fell 87.6 percent at constant currency rates.



TUI stated that including the third financial package and the early redemption of the senior bond with a volume of 300 million euros due in October 2021, the company had funds of 2.1 billion euros as of February 3.



In Germany, TUI shares were trading at 3.75 euros, down 0.79 percent. In London, TUI shares were 329.20 pence, down 0.63 percent.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

TUI-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
MERIDEN  City leaders can create a civilian board to review police use of force, but cannot repeat or replace the powers granted the police chief or police union without revising the City Charter or risking lawsuits.

Thats what attorney Thomas R. Gerarde said Monday night to a committee formed to see whether a civilian review board could be a productive fit with the City Council, Meriden Police Department, state law and City Charter.

His opinions answered a question hanging over the committee since city leaders formed it last summer in response to the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, by a Minnesota police officer. Councilors condemned Floyd's treatment and police brutality.

At least one former police chief has maintained that a civilian review board would violate the City Charter.

Gerardes essential answer: Yes, a civilian review board can happen in Meriden.

But unless the city revises the charter, a review board cannot repeat or share the powers granted the police chief to discipline, hire or fire or to investigate officer conduct. A review board cannot do anything to improve the efficiency or discipline of the police department if the authority granted a board is already given to the chief or is outlined in the contracts of the police union or other unions the chief supervises, Gerarde said.

All of that authority is invested in your chief of police under the City Charter, Gerarde said at the meeting.

The powers granted a review board and a chief cannot overlap. They cannot conflict. Any repeated power given to a review board will be challenged in court and it will be an expensive legal battle, Gerarde said.

Any action a review board takes must follow and not precede actions taken by a police chief to preserve the chiefs power and forestall claims by individual officers that the board is violating the unions contact with the city, which stipulates the powers under which a chief may act, Gerarde said.

Anything a review board does that alters those powers could violate a union contract and be subject to grievance or other expensive legal actions, he said.

So what could a review board do barring a charter change?

A board could act after the fact on issues. It could take complaints from civilians after the chief has reviewed or acted upon use of force complaints and then complain to the chief about the action taken, Gerarde said.

The key point, Gerarde said, is that the chief is the decision-maker on all matters of investigation, discipline and efficiency of officers, with feedback coming from citizens or the review board after a decision is made.

Board members will next start reaching out to cities around the state that have review boards to see how to tailor Meriden efforts at creating a board.

According to an informal timeline board members set, they hope to have a recommendation for the formation of a review board set for council review on June 28.

nsambides@record-journal.com203-317-2279Twitter: @JrSambides
New Delhi, Feb 9 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) swooped in action on Tuesday morning and carried out searches at the office premises of a media outlet here in connection with a money laundering probe.

According to ED sources, the agency sleuths started searches around 10 a.m. in the morning in the office premises of Newsclick in Saidulajab area of south Delhi.

The sources said that the action is based on the inputs that the news outlet received foreign funding.

The team of ED also carried out searches at the premises of Newsclick editor Prabir Purkayastha and Pranjal, the sources added.

However, senior officials of the agency are tightlipped about the matter.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - District Copper Corp. (TSXV: DCOP) ("District Copper" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that is has executed a purchase/option agreement (the "Agreement") with prospector David Pollard. Subject to regulatory approval, the Agreement provides District Copper a 100% working interest in the Copper Keg porphyry copper project (the "Property") located at the north end of the Guichon Creek batholith in central British Columbia. Small-scale, high-grade copper production from the property is reported to have occurred in the late 1800s.

District Copper President & CEO, Jevin Werbes comments: "The proposed acquisition of the Copper Keg property exposes the Company to early-stage copper exploration in central British Columbia. The project has excellent road access, logistical support in the area, and features suggestive of a buried porphyry copper system in a proven mining district. On completion of the acquisition, District plans to complete systematic exploration of the property focused on porphyry copper style mineralization".

Transaction:

District Copper can acquire a 100% right, title, and interest in and to the Property for an aggregate payment of $105,000, the issuance of 7,500,000 fully paid and non-assessable shares, and expenditures of no less than $200,000 on the property, as follows:

(a) pay to the Optionor:

a $5,000 non-refundable deposit on signing of this Agreement;

$25,000 and 2,500,000 fully paid and non-assessable shares within six (6) weeks after the date this Agreement is accepted for filing by the TSX Venture Exchange; and

$75,000 and 5,000,000 fully paid and non-assessable shares eighteen (18) months after the date of TSX Venture Exchange acceptance of this Agreement.

(b) incur expenditures on the Property in the minimum amount of $200,000 on or before eighteen (18) months following the date of exchange acceptance of this Agreement.

Geology:

The Property is underlain by Kamloops sediments, Nicola Group volcanics, and intrusive phases of the Guichon Creek Batholith. These rocks have been intruded by several phases of late-stage quartz feldspar porphyry and mafic dikes. The Nicola Group volcanics are reported to be in fault contact with the Guichon Creek batholith, although there are indications from historic assessment reports that an intrusive contact is also a possibility.

Exploration Target:

The central portion of the Guichon Creek batholith hosts the large porphyry copper deposit located in the Highland Valley currently being mined by Teck Resources Limited. This project is located at the northern boundary of the Guichon Creek batholith, and District Copper intends to explore the Property using the porphyry style copper deposits in the Highland Valley as its exploration model.

Exploration History:

The Property was explored intermittently between 1970 and 2012. The exploration work was mostly repetitive and sporadic in nature: restricted to limited outcrop sampling, small scale soil sampling, and geophysical surveys. Mapping and prospecting focused mainly on two large zones of clay alteration. Several short diamond drill holes are reported to have been completed for which results are not available.

Preliminary Interpretation of Historical Data:

The Property is interpreted to represent the surface footprint of a buried porphyry copper system. The combination of Nicola Group volcanics and intrusive phases of the Guichon Creek batholith intruded by late multi-phase dikes along with sporadic geochemical anomalies, hydrothermal clay alteration, and primary and secondary copper mineralogy supports the interpretation of a leach cap resulting from the weathering/oxidization supergene enrichment process of primary copper sulphides. Limited rock and soil sampling has returned copper concentrations within the interpreted leach cap that range from 0.025 to 0.76%. The copper mineralogy, weakly anomalous copper-silver-molybdenum soil anomalies, alteration assemblage (ranges from argillic to potassic), and intense post-intrusive hydrothermal clay alteration suggest a buried porphyry copper system at depth. The Nicola Group and Guichon Creek rocks exhibit intense hydrothermal clay alteration, whereas the late-stage dikes appear to be relatively fresh and not affected by the hydrothermal clay alteration.

Review of the available assessment report on file with the government of British Columbia has identified several features that support the presence of a porphyry copper system underlying the Property. Highlights of the review of these assessment reports are outlined below:

a) The K/Al: Na/Al ratios derived from whole rock analysis indicate an alteration package that ranges from argillic to potassic alteration.

b) Historical petrographic work (4 samples) identified alteration minerals typically of the inner portion of the propylitic alteration zone of a porphyry system. The petrographic work also described secondary biotite (potassic alteration) and sericite (phyllic alteration) and quartz veinlets with pyrite and chalcopyrite.

c) Field mapping has outlined a large pyritic halo associated with two clay alteration zones and copper minerals in outcrop include chalcopyrite and bornite and secondary malachite (copper carbonate).

d) Geochemical surveys identified weakly anomalous copper-silver-molybdenum in soil anomalies. Weathering and oxidization of pyrite associated with the porphyry copper systems create highly acidic conditions that dissolve mobile elements such as copper. Through several cycles of weathering/oxidization/supergene concentration, the downward percolation of these copper bearing solutions create "leach caps". Malachite is an indicator mineral of this process and commonly occurs in leach caps.

e) The two areas of argillic to advanced argillic alteration show a spatial correlation to the interpreted trace of the Barnes Creek fault, a major structure within the Guichon Creek batholith. The first area is approximately 800 m long by 200 m wide. The second area is located approximately 600 m south and is smaller in extent. These gossans exhibit variable copper concentrations and weak copper-silver soil anomalies.

f) An IP survey completed in 1971 (of limited coverage) identified weak to moderate chargeability signatures associated with the gossans/clay alteration zones.

g) Mapping has described several visibly distinct phases of the Guichon Creek intrusive. One outcrop is described as pale grey-green (possibly phyllic alteration) and several late-stage intrusive dikes have been mapped indicating multi-phase intrusive activity in this area.

h) The hydrothermal alteration exhibited in these gossans has affected the Nicola Group and Guichon Creek intrusive but is reported to have not affected late-stage intrusive dikes, indicating the alteration postdates the timing of the Guichon intrusive phase and predates the late-stage multi-phase dike activity.

Chris Healey, P. Geo., a Director of District Copper, is the Company's non-independent, nominated Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101, Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information disclosed in this news release.

About District Copper

District Copper is a Canadian based company engaged in the exploration and acquisition of precious and base metal projects in Canada. The procurement of the Copper Keg project gives the Company access to an early-stage copper exploration asset with excellent infrastructure in central British Columbia.

For further information, please visit www.districtcoppercorp.com to view the Company's profile, or contact Jevin Werbes at 604-620-7737.

Jevin Werbes, President & CEO

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. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. This news release is not for distribution in the United States or over United States newswires.

Cautionary Statement on Forward Looking Statement

Certain information contained in this news release, including information as to our strategy, projects, plans or future financial or operating performance and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance, constitute "forward looking statements". Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such statements. All statements, other than historical fact, included herein, including, without limitations statements regarding future production, 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.

Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding gold mineralization being traced in outcrop over a horizontal distance of 6,000 m, the areas of anomalous to low grade gold mineralization being outlined; comments related to sediment hosted intrusion related orogenic gold deposits and the approximate dimensions of the mineralized zones.

In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, District Copper has made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: the geological advice that District Copper has received is reliable and is based upon practices and methodologies which are consistent with industry standards and the reliability of historical reports. While District Copper considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies.

Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause District Copper'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. Known risk factors include, among others: the dimensions and shape of the mineralized areas may not be as estimated; the mineralization may not represent sediment hosted intrusion related style gold mineralization; uncertainties relating to interpretation of the outcrop sampling results; the geology, continuity and concentration of the mineralization; the financial markets and the overall economy may deteriorate; the need to obtain additional financing and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals.

A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing District Copper is disclosed in District Copper'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 District Copper 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/74020
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 05:40:19|Editor: huaxia

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Workers transfer the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines at the Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru, Feb. 7, 2021. (Peruvian Presidential Press/Handout via Xinhua)

During his speech, Sagasti thanked the Chinese government, "which throughout all these negotiations has demonstrated its good will," as well as Sinopharm.

LIMA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Peru on Sunday received the first batch of vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm as the South American country is preparing for mass vaccination campaigns against COVID-19.

Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti welcomed the vaccines at the Jorge Chavez International Airport, 11 km northwest of Lima's city center, accompanied by Prime Minister Violeta Bermudez, Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti and Foreign Minister Elizabeth Astete.

"We are fulfilling the commitment we made to the entire country to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by obtaining the vaccine, which is the best shield to protect ourselves and to care for all Peruvians," said Sagasti.

"We will start (vaccinations) with intensive care units, emergency units, surgical centers and those who directly support, that is, all those who are in the front line of defense against the effects of the pandemic," the president added.

During his speech, Sagasti thanked the Chinese government, "which throughout all these negotiations has demonstrated its good will," as well as Sinopharm.

Speaking to local TV Peru, Mazzetti welcomed the arrival of the vaccines, saying the rollout of vaccinations will allow medics to combat the pandemic "with a little more peace of mind."

"With the arrival of this emergency vaccine, we will have better conditions to be able to work, and we will also be able to help, in the second and third stages, all the other citizens," Mazzetti said.

The vaccines will be transferred to the headquarters of the National Center for Supply of Strategic Health Resources in Lima.

The distribution of the vaccines to 13 hospitals and health institutes will start Monday, according to the coordinator of the COVID-19 vaccination team of the Health Ministry, Nancy Olivares.

"Everything is ready. The distribution will be nationwide," she told a local media outlet.

As of Sunday, Peru has reported 1,186,698 COVID-19 cases with 42,308 deaths, according to the Health Ministry. 
"Minari" will make local release on March 3. Courtesy of Pancinema



By Lee Gyu-lee



Pancinema, the local distributor of the award-winning film "Minari," threatened to take legal action Monday against anyone making unauthorized attempts to distribute the movie online.



"It came to our attention that Minari has been illegally distributed not only on local and overseas websites but also through social media, cloud sharing platforms, and messengers," Pancinema said in a statement.



It added that it is tracking down every illegal post containing the full video of the movie.






The National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi has asked Ghanaians not to miss the cross-examination of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa at the Supreme Court in the ongoing election petition.



To him, that day will be the day of exposure of the rigging and vote-padding schemes executed by the EC during the 2020 Presidential election.



People should wait for the cross-examination of Jean Mensa by Tsatsu Tsikata. There are a lot of things going on but we dont want to pre-empt. That day certain things will be settled. We will know whether it was a slip or just a mistake. We will see. You cannot afford to miss that. That will be the climax of the election petition. We will see if the figure she declared was a mere error. Just wait for that thunderbolt. Peoples credibility will be tested and all the issues weve raised will be settled, he said on Asempa FM.



Reacting to Sammy Gyamfis comments, NPP Deputy Communications Director Mame Yaa Aboagye says she is disappointed in Sammy Gyamfi and NDC on how desperate they are to tarnish the reputation and integrity of Madam Jean Mensa.



According to her, NDC's main agenda is to discredit the work of Madam Jean Mensa in order to pave way for them to continue wallowing in the propaganda that the 2020 election was rigged.



"I know the main aim of the NDC and Sammy Gyamfi is to discredit, damage, and disgrace Madam Jean Mensa but it will not work because the truth will always prevail over falsehood and injustice will always defend the truth."



Mame Yaa advised Sammy Gyamfi to stop building castles in the air.



"Don't be too quick to say things that will make your supporters disappointed at the end. This is what you did by intentionally inciting your foot soldiers to go on the streets to demonstrate over rigging of the 2020 election. What happened to those allegations? You also claimed Mahama was the President-elect, yet fail to produce the valid total votes he got. Sammy, after collating your results, how much did Mahama get? Don't build castles in the air," she stated.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Pitted against them is a younger, more diverse guard that considers these theories as tools to understanding the willful blind spots of an increasingly diverse nation that still recoils at the mention of race, has yet to come to terms with its colonial past and often waves away the concerns of minorities as identity politics.

Disputes that would have otherwise attracted little attention are now blown up in the news and social media. The new director of the Paris Opera, who said on Monday he wants to diversify its staff and ban blackface, has been attacked by the far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, but also in Le Monde because, though German, he had worked in Toronto and had soaked up American culture for 10 years.

The publication this month of a book critical of racial studies by two veteran social scientists, Stephane Beaud and Gerard Noiriel, fueled criticism from younger scholars  and has received extensive news coverage. Mr. Noiriel has said that race had become a bulldozer crushing other subjects, adding, in an email, that its academic research in France was questionable because race is not recognized by the government and merely subjective data.

The fierce French debate over a handful of academic disciplines on U.S. campuses may surprise those who have witnessed the gradual decline of American influence in many corners of the world. In some ways, it is a proxy fight over some of the most combustible issues in French society, including national identity and the sharing of power. In a nation where intellectuals still hold sway, the stakes are high.
After a year with no new major blockbusters, Jo Sung-hees Space Sweepers arrives as a breath of fresh air. Its not a perfect movie, nor a particularly innovative one, but the science-fiction adventuretouted as the first Korean space blockbusteris certainly fun, with colorful performances and impressive CGI, and a worthy substitute for a new Star Wars or Marvel movie. However, its presence in a year of absences isnt the only thing that makes it noteworthy.

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Unlike nearly all of the movies from those two dominant franchises, Space Sweepers is led by people of color. The main characters are a crew of Koreans, and the film is one of the rare space operas that doesnt posit that English has somehow become a universal language. There are chunks of English dialogue in the film, but the rival gangs our heroes encounter span a range of nationalities, from French to Brazilian to Chinese, and they all speak their own languages, after an early scene establishes that translation devices are so commonplace that everyone can understand each other without any issue.

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Besides the eradication of the language barrier, however, the future seems bleak. In Space Sweepers version of 2092, Earth has become so polluted that its almost uninhabitable. The planets richest citizens, meanwhile, have escaped to Eden, a colony built by the megacorporation UTS and operated in Earths orbit. Roaming bands of space sweepersessentially scavengers who collect and sell space junkmake their living in between the two. Tae-ho (Song Joong-ki), Captain Jang (Kim Tae-ri), Tiger Park (Jin Seon-kyu), and the robot Bubs (a CGI creation voiced by Yoo Hae-jin) make up one of many ragtag teams struggling to scrap together a living, but they find their fortunes changed when they discover a stowaway upon their ship. A young girl named Dorothy (Park Ye-rin), supposedly an android whose body houses a nuclear bomb, has been all over the news and is sought after by both UTS and a clan of terrorists known as the Black Foxes. Each member of the squad wants something that can only be bought with moneyfor example, Bubs wants a cosmetic upgrade to appear convincingly humanand so Dorothys arrival seems like it could be a windfall. However, as Dorothy, who for all intents and purposes is just a child, draws pictures of the group and endears herself to them, the idea of parting with her becomes more and more difficult to stomach.

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Its a worthy substitute for a new Star Wars or Marvel movie.

The individual beats of the story arent particularly surprisingof course our heroes will all come to love Dorothy, and of course the menacing UTS CEO (Richard Armitage), a rich, white Englishman, isnt as altruistic as he claims himself to bebut the multicultural nature of the movies world, which never feels belabored or self-congratulatory, goes a long way toward freshening up even the genres oldest cliches. Like Netflixs other recent foreign importsLupin, Demon Slayerit distinguishes itself through what it brings to the table that cant be as easily found in most mainstream Western media. The fact that the characters are essentially cartoons similarly isnt too much of a problem, given the inherently cartoonish nature of the story being told, and the actors are admirably game. Tiger Park is a stand-outwhen Dorothy first calls him Uncle, his tough-guy demeanor almost instantly meltsand so is Bubs, a marvel of motion capture and also, ironically, one of the movies most fleshed-out characters. Bubs voice is male, but the skins Bubs longs to buy (i.e., the way the android wants to be perceived) are all female. That want is never portrayed as bizarre or even particularly notable in any way. It simply is, which, strange as it may sound, feels like one small step for transgender representation and, arguably, a giant one for blockbuster filmmaking from any nation.

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When properties like Star Wars and Marvel are so homogenous that there are even Saturday Night Live sketches that bemoan the fact that there are apparently only four Black people in the whole galaxy, the mere existence of a film like Space Sweepers feels like an all-too-rare treat. That its cast is so delightful, and its special effects so impressive, is icing on the cakeespecially during a time when the pandemic has resulted in a now nearly year-long famine when it comes to big-budget filmmaking. Amid the dystopian setting (the movies, and also our own), I couldnt help but be charmed by its possibly naive but hopeful idea that all of humanity might still come together to save itself. The fact that the film is climbing up the Netflix charts suggests that the rest of humanity might feel the same way.
Challenges Ahead For Ethiopia as 2021 Polls Loom

Ethiopia is set to hold its sixth general election for members of the federal parliament and regional councils on June 5, 2021. Despite the upbeat expectations, the June elections face serious challenges. The's party system is extremely volatile, weak and fragmented. Moreover, the elections will take place amid the upheaval in Tigray, one of the country's 10 federal regions. However, Girmachew Alemu writes for The Conversation that there are many reasons to be optimismistic.

Firstly, several exiled opposition politicians and political parties are allowed to operate inside the country. Secondly, a new electoral law has set out new rules for political party registration. These have had the effect of pushing out a large number of weak and fragmented political parties from the party system. Thirdly, the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia is now accountable to the House of Peoples' Representatives, the federal legislative house. And, in a significant compromise between the ruling and opposition political parties, a prominent former opposition politician and political prisoner, was appointed by the House of Peoples' Representatives in late 2018 to lead the board.
Progress Made On Unity Water Tower Mural

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MCCRACKEN COUNTY - McCracken County officials made more progress on the United We Stand water tower project during Monday's Fiscal Court meeting.McCracken County NAACP President J.W. Cleary joined the meeting to share that he was able to raise about $11,000 to go toward the project. Cleary said he was able to secure donations from Paducah Bank, Mercy Health, Murray State University, WKCTC, P&L Railway, BFW Engineering, CSI, and others.Judge Executive Craig Clymer discussed hiring Eric Henn Murals of Franklin, Ohio, to paint the mural on the water tower, for a total of $18,500.The commission voted to pay a 25 percent deposit toward the cost of the mural, totaling $4,625.00. In that same motion, commissioners approved another 25 percent payment to Henn once painting begins.Deputy Judge Executive Steve Doolittle said the project is expected to kick off in July.Additionally, commissioners voted unanimously to authorize the creation of a GoFundMe page to make it easier for members of the community to donate to the project.The project was prompted by the flags that fly in Confederate Park along I-24 in Reidland. Clymer believes that people driving along I-24 might not realize the confederate flags are on private property, and perceive the county as divisive or racist. According to Clymer, the water tower could be recognized as government property, and a unity message displayed on the tower would show drivers that the city and county are indeed racially inclusive."The message we want to overcome is one of the perception of racial bias out here where tens of thousands of people pass by up and down the interstate daily. Some repeatedly, some only once in their lifetime." Clymer continued, "They'll see the confederate flags on one side, they'll see our rendition on the other, and if nothing else, maybe it will get them thinking. Hopefully it will discourage any thoughts that our community supports any racial discord or divisiveness."You can see the full discussion below.On the Net:

Megyn Kelly is leading criticism of a Los Angeles Times columnist who compared her neighbors to Nazi sympathizers and Hezbollah because they backed Donald Trump.

The Brooklyn-based author, Virginia Heffernan, wrote in Friday's paper that the 'Trumpites' next door to their 'pandemic getaway' in upstate New York had plowed her drive after a snow storm.

'Of course, on some level, I realize I owe them thanks  and, man, it really looks like the guy back-dragged the driveway like a pro  but how much thanks?' she wrote.

Virginia Heffernan, a journalist and author, sparked fury with her LA Times op ed on Friday

Heffernan compared 'Trumpites' to Hezbollah, Nazi sympathizers and Louis Farrakhan's fans

Heffernan worked at The New York Times before freelancing for Politico, Wired and others

Heffernan, 51, worked from 2003 at The New York Times as a television critic, before specializing in the internet and online culture.

From 2008 to 2012 she wrote 'The Medium,' a weekly column about internet culture, for The New York Times Magazine.

She left The New York Times to work as national correspondent at Yahoo News, and work for a San Francisco venture capital firm, before returning to write freelance for publications such as Wired, Politico and The Wall Street Journal.

She co-hosted Slate's podcast chronicling the past four years, Trumpcast, and on Friday wrote about her struggle to accept the kindness of her Trump-supporting neighbors.

'Hezbollah, the Shiite Islamist political party in Lebanon, also gives things away for free,' she noted, detailing how 'they also demand devotion to their brutal, us-versus-them anti-Sunni cause.'

She gave the example of the Nation of Islam leader, Louis Farrakhan, famously anti-Semitic but, to his followers, 'unfailingly magnanimous.'

Heffernan swapped Brooklyn (pictured) for upstate New York when the pandemic begun

And she told of the wealthy French family she stayed with as a teenager, who refused to join in the 100th birthday commemorations for Charles de Gaulle, who freed his country from Nazi Germany, but had on their walls portraits of Philippe Petain, the Nazi collaborator.

She concluded: 'My neighbors supported a man who showed near-murderous contempt for the majority of Americans. They kept him in business with their support.

'But the plowing.'

She added: 'Free driveway work, as nice as it is, is just not the same currency as justice and truth.'

Heffernan said she was 'not ready to knock on the door with a covered dish yet.'

She did not specify where she was, but has frequently written about her experiences in upstate New York, having left Brooklyn when the pandemic broke out.

Her article sparked a furious backlash online.

Heffernan in video she posted to her Twitter account last month, from her 'pandemic getaway'

'This woman compares her Trump-supporting neighbors, who plowed her driveway, to Nazi sympathizers & Hezbollah & wrestles w/whether to show them any kindness since she 'can't give them absolution,'' said Kelly, the former Fox News anchor.

'Note to Virginia Heffernen's neighbors: don't plow again.'

Tucker Carlson mocked her on his Monday night show, saying: 'Virginia Heffernan, in charge of justice and truth.

'There's something deep about this, very revealing about the state of the country.'

His guest, Greg Gutfeld, said: 'I can't work out if this is real.'

'I want to know how the neighbors feel. I volunteer myself to go and interview them,' he said.

Gutfeld called her 'worse than an idiot'.

One Twitter user urged Heffernan to 'step away from politics'

Still another labeled her 'an arrogant elitist' and urged her to find God

One Twitter user believes the columnist needs to 'get help'

Another commenter questioned the concept of 'wokeness'

As did another Twitter user who mocked the idea of Heffernan being 'woke'

Carlson's guest Greg Gutfeld called Heffernan 'mean' and 'spiteful' for her views

'She's a spiteful, mean person to look at people with a political lens like that, and dehumanize them.

'And under this phony guise - this article was about unification - she calls them Nazis. It's like a Trojan horse.'

Carlson said that it revealed 'ideology is much more important than human kindness'.

Others on Twitter were equally fierce in their criticism.

'This is satire, right?' said one man. 'Take a freaking BREATH!'

Another questioned Heffernan's priorities, saying: 'Maybe don't let politics rule your life?'

A third concluded: 'This column says a lot more about your character than your neighbors.

'I'm very happy that you and your judgmental attitude are not my neighbor.'

(R-L): Tim Gunn, Virginia Heffernan, Bravo TV's President Lauren Zalaznick and Television Personality Gail Simmons, at a May 2008 New York Times gala
After a man from Telangana died in an accident at his workplace in Saudi Arabia on November 1 last year, his wife has approached the state High Court for the repatriation of his body, the News Minute has reported.

Narsareddy, who hailed from Sirnapalli village in Indalwai mandal, Nizamabad district, has not been repatriated even three months after his death, his widow Vontari Laxmi says.

The petition has been filed with the assistance of the Pravasi Mithra Labour Union, and seeks immediate repatriation of Narsareddy's mortal remains from Saudi Arabia to India.

Four days after his death on November 5, his family members had sent petitions to the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the NRI Cell of the Telangana government for the return of his body. They also requested MLAs, MLCs, MPs and Ministers in the Telangana government and Union government to intervene, but no one came to their aid.

After a while, the family members decided to seek help from local leaders, activists and lawyers. Migrant labour leaders reached Hyderabad in February with the family and met with human rights activist P Shashi Kiran. With his help they applied for a writ petition in the High Court, and also submitted a petition to MEA official Mukesh Koushik, the Protector of Emigrants at Hyderabad.

The Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia have been marked as respondents in the writ petition filed on February 4. The petitioners have sought directions to the GoI to send the body from Saudi to India immediately.

Narsareddys mother Sathyamma told the media her son had been working in Saudi Arabia for the last seven years. Were yet to get a response on sending his body back, either from the company that employed him or from authorities. Were in trauma waiting for his body to arrive, she said.
Vallarta Living



Aid to Families of Children With Cancer February News



The pandemic has made this past year especially difficult for Puerto Vallarta families who have a child that's been diagnosed with cancer but, thanks to all of you, the AFCC is continuing to make a difference. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - A child diagnosed with cancer impacts an entire family. Not only does a cancer diagnosis turn a child's entire world upside down, but overwhelming medical expenses can add an enormous amount of financial stress on families with minimal income.



Aid to Families of Children With Cancer (AFCC) is an organization that supports families who have a child diagnosed with cancer in the Puerto Vallarta region. The organization receives no government funding so relies solely on donations from private donors, community organizations, and fundraisers.



The pandemic has made this past year especially difficult for these families but, thanks to all of you, the AFCC is continuing to make a difference. Here's the latest from the AFCC:



We are now well into the second month of 2021 and we are doing our best to make sure the families still have their despensas as well as helping out with their treatments and getting laptops and iPads to keep the kid's schoolwork up to date.



The despensas were held a bit differently yesterday since we are still in the shutdown. Aurora and I are now both banned from Costco (as well as other stores) thanks to being in "a certain age group". We managed to get Walmart gift cards to give to the families who all came at separate times and shopped on their own. One of the mothers went to Sam's Club for Pedisure, Ensure, Lactose-free and regular milk. The whole process went very fast and the mothers enjoyed shopping for their needs.



Some families couldn't join yesterday so they will get their despensas when they return to Vallarta later this month.



Several of the children are still making weekly visits to hospitals in Guadalajara for treatments. One of our little girls, Regina, 8 years old, has been in the hospital for several months over the last year with a tumor on her head. She came home in early January. Her father came to pick up their despensas and was surprised with a laptop for Regina. She hasn't been able to keep up with her schoolwork so she was extremely excited to receive it since she's ready to do some homework. Regina has a tween sister and a younger brother so the laptop will get lots of use in their family.



Another little one, Alanna, was in the hospital in Guadalajara four times in January. She just left last Tuesday and is hoping to be back this week. She loves her iPad and watches children's TV programs to pass the time. She wants to learn English so some of the programs she watches are in English. She and her family continue to need help.



The family of a child with cancer needs continuous help and support from medical, other professionals, relatives, friends and community from the very moment of making a diagnosis and throughout the treatment. We are now providing assistance for 19 families and they depend on us to continue with that support. We need your help to keep giving these families the care that they need. Help us continue our support to each of the families by donating through - A child diagnosed with cancer impacts an entire family. Not only does a cancer diagnosis turn a child's entire world upside down, but overwhelming medical expenses can add an enormous amount of financial stress on families with minimal income.Aid to Families of Children With Cancer (AFCC) is an organization that supports families who have a child diagnosed with cancer in the Puerto Vallarta region. The organization receives no government funding so relies solely on donations from private donors, community organizations, and fundraisers.The pandemic has made this past year especially difficult for these families but, thanks to all of you, the AFCC is continuing to make a difference. Here's the latest from the AFCC:We are now well into the second month of 2021 and we are doing our best to make sure the families still have their despensas as well as helping out with their treatments and getting laptops and iPads to keep the kid's schoolwork up to date.The despensas were held a bit differently yesterday since we are still in the shutdown. Aurora and I are now both banned from Costco (as well as other stores) thanks to being in "a certain age group". We managed to get Walmart gift cards to give to the families who all came at separate times and shopped on their own. One of the mothers went to Sam's Club for Pedisure, Ensure, Lactose-free and regular milk. The whole process went very fast and the mothers enjoyed shopping for their needs.Some families couldn't join yesterday so they will get their despensas when they return to Vallarta later this month.Several of the children are still making weekly visits to hospitals in Guadalajara for treatments. One of our little girls, Regina, 8 years old, has been in the hospital for several months over the last year with a tumor on her head. She came home in early January. Her father came to pick up their despensas and was surprised with a laptop for Regina. She hasn't been able to keep up with her schoolwork so she was extremely excited to receive it since she's ready to do some homework. Regina has a tween sister and a younger brother so the laptop will get lots of use in their family.Another little one, Alanna, was in the hospital in Guadalajara four times in January. She just left last Tuesday and is hoping to be back this week. She loves her iPad and watches children's TV programs to pass the time. She wants to learn English so some of the programs she watches are in English. She and her family continue to need help.The family of a child with cancer needs continuous help and support from medical, other professionals, relatives, friends and community from the very moment of making a diagnosis and throughout the treatment. We are now providing assistance for 19 families and they depend on us to continue with that support. We need your help to keep giving these families the care that they need. Help us continue our support to each of the families by donating through GoGetFunding.com.



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Tourists rush to Fansipan to see snow

Snow has covered Mount Fansipan in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, attracting many visitors.

Up to 60cm of snow has appeared on Mount Fansipan since Monday morning.







Sapa rarely sees such thick snow.







The strong wind has blown the snow from China to Vietnam. It was blocked by Hoang Lien Son Mountain and has fallen into Mount Fansipan.





Many travellers are interested in snow.




(Newser)  Idaho police killed a man in his own backyard on Monday after mistaking him for a suspect on the run. The man police had been chasing, with warrants for felony battery on an officer and failure to appear, was found hiding in a shed on a nearby property in Idaho Falls only after the fatal shooting, Police Chief Bryce Johnson said at a Monday press conference. He'd dashed from a vehicle as a Bonneville County sheriff's deputy made a traffic stop after midnight, per CNN. Several law enforcement officers then began searching for the male, whom a resident reported seeing running through their yard, possibly with a gun, Johnson said. He said location data from a text the suspect had sent a person in the vehicle led officers to a yard, where they found a man with a gun. They demanded the man drop the weapon before an Idaho Falls officer fired a single, fatal shot.

story continues below

"We do not currently have the answers as to what exactly occurred during these moments," Johnson said. The victim, whom police aren't identifying at the request of family, was the homeowner, per KIFI, which reports both he and the suspect were wearing black shirts. An Idaho Falls police officer had actually spoken to the victim earlier in the search, explaining why police were in the area, reports East Idaho News. The suspect was found hiding in a shed in the backyard of another home nearby, Johnson said. "Sometimes everyone does what they think is right and tragedies happen," he added, per CNN, noting the case is "devastatingly tragic for the family" and "for the officer." The unidentified officer is on paid administrative leave while the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force investigates, per the Idaho State Journal, which notes there is body camera footage. (Read more police shooting stories.)
Regan Watts will become First Cobalts new Vice-President of Corporate Affairs and Dr George Puvvada has been hired as the company's Refinery Technical Manager

First Cobalt hopes its Iron Creek copper-cobalt project in Idaho will align with US President Joe Biden's US$2 trillion green energy plan

Corp ( ) ( ) has announced the appointments of Regan Watts as the companys new vice-president of Corporate Affairs and Dr George Puvvada as its Refinery Technical Manager.

Watts, who has more than 20 years of public and private sector experience in regulatory and corporate affairs, is expected to add US corporate and regulatory affairs to his responsibilities to help advance its Iron Creek copper-cobalt project in Idaho, which aligns with US President Joe Biden's US$2 trillion green energy plan.

Dr Puvvada, meanwhile, has more than 25 years of industrial metallurgical experience and will be a key member of the senior leadership team tasked with executing on First Cobalt's refinery expansion and commissioning strategy and qualifying the company's cobalt sulfate product for inclusion in Western automaker electric vehicle batteries.

As the company enters a growth phase with the expansion and recommissioning of our North American cobalt refinery, we mirror that with the growth and strength of our team. Last year's government investment was transformational and validated our strategic plan, First Cobalt CEO Trent Mell said in a statement.

He added: In his new role, Mr Watts will be setting his sights on opportunities with the new administration in the United States, while also continuing to lead First Cobalt's regulatory efforts in Canada.

We are pleased to welcome Dr Puvvada to the team. His experience with hydrometallurgical flow sheets will be instrumental to the successful execution of North America's first and only producer of battery grade cobalt. We will continue to build out our team as we power a better path forward and work towards a greener future.

Watts is a former a member of IBM Canada's senior leadership group, heading the Innovation, Citizenship and Government Affairs team, while Dr Puvvada has worked with some of the world's leading metallurgical and engineering firms, including SNC Lavalin, , Ortech and SGS.

First Cobalt is focused on creating a North American cobalt supply chain through both exploration and refining. The company owns North Americas only permitted cobalt refinery located in Ontario, Canada, which could produce over 25,000 tonnes of cobalt sulfate per year from a third-party feed.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
'Truth is truth': GOP congresswoman who voted for Trump reveals why her faith also led her to vote to impeach him

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Truth is truth. Thats just one of the mantras embraced by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who represents Washington's 3rd Congressional District.

It was Herrera Beutlers quest for truth  rooted in her Christian faith  that she said compelled her to buck the Republican Party line last month and vote to impeach former President Donald Trump  a decision that has sparked frustration among some constituants.

But the congresswoman told the Edifi With Billy Hallowell podcast that she stands by her decision to put truth above politics, adding that the hardest part about the political dilemmas before us is seeing so many people who know better not live it out.

Im just honest enough to believe that truth is truth, she said. Truth actually overcomes fear.

Herrera Beutler said she understands the fear and frustration some have after Trumps loss  emotions that are driving people to turn to harsh political rebukes and rhetoric. But she also offered a rare perspective among political leaders: that faith must be the antecedent to everything else.

Listen to Herrera Beutler reveal why she voted to impeach Trump:

The congresswomans message is particularly pertinent amid ongoing discussion and debate over the proper place for politics among Christians personal priorities.

There is no king but king Jesus.  When anybody or anything creeps onto the throne in your heart, dont be surprised if God Almighty shakes it, she said. Were the salt and the light and if we lose our saltiness, what good are we?

Herrera Beutlers take on Trump, politics, and faith is unique for a plethora of reasons. First and foremost, shes among those who believe there were problems with the way the elections happened in places like Georgia and Pennsylvania. She also voted for Trump in 2020.

But the events surrounding the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol changed everything. Herrera Beutler said she turned to her faith in the wake of the seige, rather than relying on a political blueprint  and falling prey to personal re-election fears.

When I looked at the days events, the things I lived through  I talked to primary sources myself. I tried reaching out to the White House as it was happening, saying, The president needs to get on the TV, she said. Ultimately, it came down to a set of facts.

Herrera Beutler specifically broke down some of the specific events surrounding Trump and the assault that left her in dismay.

Over the course of those three hours  what the president didnt do, to me, was the most compelling, she said, adding that she desperately tried to reach White House officials as well as her own leadership to compel the president to tell protestors to halt the attack.

One of the specific acts that stunned Herrera Beutler was Trumps decision to tweet an attack at [former vice-president] Mike Pence in the midst of the chaos. She saw this tweet as especially problematic considering the intense anger being misdirected at the former vice-president based on inaccurate claims over his faux ability to further delay election results.

But thats not all, as Herrera Beutler alleged that Trump also phoned senators who were under lockdown, urging them to further delay the Electoral College count.

The president was making phone calls to senators as theyre in lockdown, Herrera Beutler said. Theyre still locked down, because there are people still being attacked in the Capitol, and the president isnt calling to say, Are you OK? What can I do? Hes calling, and you know what he says? He says, Can you do what you can to further delay this?

Herrera Beutler said the collective events of the day led her to break ranks as one of just 10 Republicans in the House to vote to impeach the former president. And she knows not everyone in her district is happy about the decision.

Republicans in my district, theyre the ones who brought me to the party, Herrera Beutler said, adding that it was her love for America that led her into politics in the first place.

Even if Herrera Beutler loses her seat in 2022 over her impeachment vote, she stands by it, and is hoping people see the role of truth and faith at the center of it all.

If I lose my seat and all 10 of us who did this get reprimanded  if more people who believe that Jesus really is who he said he was and he really came to offer us life and take away our shame  and out of this we get more people living that way, its all worth it, she said.

In the end, Herrera Beutler wants to see Christians hold themselves and one another to account, while also following Jesus example when it comes to interacting with political and ideological opponents.

Everywhere you look in the Gospel  everywhere that [Jesus] went, He was abundantly gracious and loving to people who were doing the opposite of what He wanted, she said. The only people He was hard on were the religious leaders.

Listen to the full discussion here.
HTMLCountry6 OHCHR in Venezuela



HTMLCountry11 The UN Human Rights Office has a solid monitoring and reporting background on the human rights situation in Venezuela. It has issued two public reports (2017 and 2018) based on the High Commissioners global mandate under General Assembly resolution 48/141, and three additional reports (2019 and 2020) as per Human Rights Council resolutions 39/1 (2018), 42/4 (2019), and 42/25 (2019). Since September 2019, The High Commissioner also presents oral updates on the human rights situation in Venezuela to the Human Rights Council. The UN Human Rights Office will continue its monitoring and reporting work, as mandated by the Human Rights Council resolutions A/HRC/45/L.43 (2020) and A/HRC/45/L.55 (2020). Since 2019, the UN Human Rights Office works in Venezuela as part of the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator. The presence in Venezuela allows the Office to provide support for the effective implementation of recommendations issued in these reports, as well as those from other UN human rights mechanisms, and continue to credibly assess the human rights situation and challenges from the ground. Its work Since October 2019, UN Human Rights in Venezuela has been providing technical assistance and monitoring the human rights situation with the aim to: Prevent the recurrence of human rights violations, through the establishment of an early warning strategy, including the development of a joint mechanism of referral of individual cases of human rights violations to the relevant authorities for urgent measures to be adopted.

Increase implementation of recommendations issued by international human rights mechanisms such as treaty bodies, special procedures, the Human Rights Council and the Universal Periodic Review.

Strengthen the rule of law and accountability for human rights violations. Technical assistance activities have included seminars with the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture and the Office of the Ombudsperson; updating protocols on the use of force; assessing preventive detention centres as well as the impact of sanctions on human rights, among others.

Raise awareness and increase visibility of violations of economic and social rights, further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the disproportionate impact on women, children, indigenous peoples, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Protect and enhance democratic space through the protection of human rights defenders, collaboration with civil society organizations and the promotion of participatory and inclusive processes in the discussions and adoption of human rights plans and policies. OHCHR is also providing support promoting an inclusive and participatory methodology for the development of the second National Plan for Human Rights and the establishment of a national mechanism for reporting and follow-up of recommendations of international human rights mechanisms

Achievements The UN Human Rights Office plays a key role in strengthening the work of human rights organizations in the country by providing tools and advice on accessing international human rights mechanisms, as well as closely monitoring the situation of human rights defenders and media workers and supporting their work. In addition to assisting State institutions, it has also built a broad network of contacts and sources throughout the country. It also plays an important role having direct access to victims and their families. Since it established its presence in the country, OHCHR has gained increasing access to places of detention, including more recently those administered by intelligence services. The UN Human Rights Office was able to continue those visits even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when family and lawyers visits had been suspended, thus bridging the gap between detainees and the outside world. Together with authorities, the UN Human Rights Office has also jointly developed a mechanism of referral of specific cases and situations of human rights violations to the relevant authorities. The presence also provides an opportunity to engage with other United Nations agencies at the country level to contribute to the incorporation of a human rights-based approach to the humanitarian response and to address human rights protection gaps. The UN Human Rights Office plays a key role in strengthening the United Nations early warning system and prompting concrete and preventive responses to critical situations. HTMLCountry7 HTMLCountry9

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Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed on Monday to Mohamed Taher Siala, the minister of foreign affairs of the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya, Egypt's support for a "

Libyan-Libyan" negotiated political solution, and readiness to work with the newly elected interim government.

The Egyptian foreign minister confirmed [to his Libyan counterpart] the fundamentals of the Egyptian stance towards the sisterly neighbour, Libya, to reach a Libyan-Libyan negotiated political solution that preserves its sovereignty and protects the resources of its people, a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry read.

The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League (AL) in Cairo, comes days after the UN-led Libyan Political Dialogue Forum chose a new interim prime minister, Abdel-Hamid Dbeibah, and a new head for the countrys Presidential Council, Mohammad Younes Menfi, a step that Egypt has hailed.

The Egyptian foreign ministry expressed to FM Siala Egypts readiness to work with the new interim Libyan government until an elected government takes over after the elections, which are scheduled in December.

The Arab foreign ministers tackled during the emergency meeting at the AL means to restore Arabs roles in confronting challenges in the region, including the crisis in Libya.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi this week hailed the developments in Libya as a step in the right direction.

Short link:


File / Hearst Connecticut Media

GREENWICH  A local man has been charged with obtaining large quantities of the prescription pill Xanax through the mail and selling the medication, according to his arrest report.

Working with the U.S. Postal Police, Greenwich detectives searched a package that was delivered to the Cos Cob residence of Stephen Bridge, 32, of Decatur Lane, and seized about 1,000 Xanax pills, police announced Tuesday.
(Natural News) Independent journalist Andy Ngo has released a new book about how so-called non-profit organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) are tied at the hip to domestic terrorist groups like Antifa and Black Lives Matter (BLM).

A victim of Antifa violence himself, Ngo discovered that the SPLC, along with local governments in some areas, spur on BLM and Antifa to attack conservatives because for their world to live and thrive, America has to die.

This quote comes straight from the anti-fascist 10 points of belief, by the way, illustrating the paramilitary groups true intentions. There will be no peace until Antifa has destroyed every last pillar of society and replaced it with communism.

The SPLCs role in all this is to help Antifa choose its targets. Anyone who interferes is labeled a fascist and subsequently canceled.

Thats the crazy Leftist triangulation playing out these days on the streets of Portland and in many other riot-prone American cities, writes Victoria Taft for PJ Media.

Though Ive watched the Portland protest scene go from the chill Friday-at-4 drum circles to shrieking animal rights protesters, Occupy encampments, May Day melees, and antifa trying to burn down my hometown, Ngos book is a valuable resource and well told.

Entitled: Unmasked: Antifas Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy, Ngos book catalogs the history of Antifa dating back to the 1920s and 1930s when it was first getting started in Europe. The American version of Antifa started in Minneapolis in the 1980s as a Leftist skinhead group called the Baldies.

 as Ngo discusses in Unmasked, antifa still is a paramilitary group, Taft explains. They train both mind and body, and dont brook differing opinions. Whatever violence the group does, whether or not they started it  as they almost always do  it is considered self-defense.'

Big Tech, mainstream media complicit in Antifa terrorism

Interestingly enough, the bookstore featured in the television series Portlandia is where many Antifa groups have met to train, according to Ngo. Various other bookstores and shell organizations serve as similar fronts across the country.

While Antifa does use some cloak-and-dagger tactics to pull off its stunts, many of them are done right out in the open. Other comrades often join them, providing support in the form of medical supplies and food. And of course the heads of Big Tech companies like Facebook and Twitter do their part to facilitate organizing and fundraising.

The mainstream media also participates by painting Antifa in a positive light and its victims in a negative light. The Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post rag actually published an expose about Antifa clothing, using Antifa members as models to glamorize it in a spread.

The media in Portland highlighted the local colorful characters at the riots and gave short shrift to the fact that theyre helping to burn down the local cop shop or federal courthouse, Taft adds.

Ngo says politicians pick up the media cues and embrace the violent thugs rather than be labeled a racist. They even gave an antifa group, SnackBloc, which supplies food to rioters, a $140,000 grant from federal COVID money thanks to the Oregon Health Department.

Antifa really went hyperdrive once Donald Trump became president because liberals found allies in their common hatred for the president. Suddenly every crazy conspiracy theory about Trump became true, justifying Antifas violent behavior against his supporters and anyone perceived as possibly being his supporter.

They really did believe it was ascendant American fascism and they needed to respond asap or else a holocaust was imminent, Taft reports about Antifas attitude in the Trump era.

More related news on the history of BLM and Antifa can be found at Terrorism.news.

Sources for this article include:

PJMedia.com

NaturalNews.com

Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 13:49:11|Editor: huaxia

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CHONGQING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- When Gianluca Luisi tried spicy Chinese hot pot for the first time, it numbed his mouth so completely that he thought his friends had been pulling a prank on him. But now, the Italian is not only comfortable with the challenging taste but has also dived deep into the spice business.

Luisi's office in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality is filled with all kinds of spices. Spicy sauces are marked in degrees ranging from zero to 75. There are even bracelets and cufflinks inspired by red chilies.

"This is our newly launched product called 'soft ear' pepper powder. 'Soft ear' in the Chongqing dialect means an obedient husband. I am totally soft ear," said Luisi in fluent Chinese. He is known by his Chinese name Zhang Luka.

Luisi, 33, began learning Chinese when he was studying for his bachelor's degree in London. Drawn to Chinese culture and history, he decided to apply for an exchange program at Peking University.

After completing his studies, he joined the newly opened Italian consulate in Chongqing in 2014. During his three years there, he worked to facilitate business in China for Italian companies, turning opportunities into real benefits for both sides.

After settling down in the southwestern Chinese city, Luisi fell in love with the typically spicy local food, though at first, it surprised him how one pot could be stuffed with so many chilies. "I learned that it was the local way to eat and I myself couldn't do away with hot pot now," he said.

Luisi sees market potential in the vast Chinese culinary culture and believes he is well-positioned to increase foreigners' knowledge and appreciation of Chinese cuisine.

At the end of 2017, he quit his job and established a joint venture with DeZhuang, a Chinese company specializing in hotpot, to produce Chinese food for overseas markets.

"When I was young, my dream was to become an astronaut. Then I set foot in diplomacy. Now I am spreading Chinese cuisine to the world. Different careers, but the same in essence. I always want to see the outside world and promote international communication," he said.

Chilies are widely used in many countries and regions such as China, Italy, Mexico and the Republic of Korea, and are a perfect commodity for intercultural business and trade, he said.

Luisi created a brand called ChinEAT. "It's the combination of 'China' and 'eat.' Our aim is to use chili as a medium, and produce and sell creative Chinese food like spicy sauce and spicy noodles," he said.

The ChinEAT team has created more than 100 chili products sold to over 40 countries and regions.

They have categorized spiciness in degrees from zero to 75 for different countries. The spicy 75-degree hotpot base is often shipped to the Republic of Korea, he said.

In addition to bringing Chinese food to the world, Luisi is also bringing foreign food to China. He imports a new type of red wine to pair with spicy cuisine, naming it "MALA," which in Chinese means a numbing and spicy sensation. As the Chinese Lunar New Year approaches, he is preparing to bring the wine to share with his wife's family in Yibin, Sichuan, for their New Year Eve dinner.

As for the future, he is rather confident. "In the past 10 years, China has seen rapid development. When I traveled from Xi'an to Chengdu by train 10 years ago, it took me more than 20 hours. Now it's just four," he said.

"With the fast development, China also gives foreigners lots of opportunities to realize their dreams," he said.

In 2018, Luisi established the World Chili Alliance, a non-profit organization fostering exchanges in the global chili industry. He plans to host the World Chili Festival, establish an international chili museum and expand online and offline sales channels, helping more people appreciate the flavor. Enditem
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Kampala  On Feb, 03 the country woke up to the news that had President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni ordered the Ministry of Finance to suspend all activities of the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) for financing subversive activities in Uganda.

DGF was launched in 2011 by Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, Austria, Norway, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the European Union as a five-year program to support government and non-governmental groups working to promote human rights, deepen democracy and improve accountability. Renewed in 2018 and domiciled within the Danish embassy, the fund says it wants to see a country "where citizens are empowered to engage in democratic governance and the state upholds citizens' rights."

The fund, which has operated in Uganda with the full knowledge of relevant authorities, has supported groups ranging from rights watchdogs to anti-corruption agencies, and even journalists doing investigative work have received funding. Ugandan Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda has praised the work accomplished through the fund.

But in a letter dated Jan.02 Museveni says: "The foreign mission and its co-founders have been given free rein by the Ministry of Finance to choose which activity, entities and amounts to finance without the knowledge or consent of the Government. A big percentage of these funds have been used to finance activities and organisations designed to subvert Government under the guise of improving governance".

In the letter, Museveni says the Ministry of Finance under the hand of the Permanent Secretary, irregularly and unilaterally authorized a 100 million fund, known as the Democratic Governance Facility, to be operated exclusively by a foreign mission in Uganda.

He says unlike prior grant arrangements like the Democratic Governance and Accountability project in which there was transparency and representations the Government of "Uganda has no say or oversight on how the Democratic Governance Facility is administered in Uganda."

He asked the Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija, to explain how and why the Permanent Secretary, Keith Muhakanizi, authorized the operations of DGF without the involvement of cabinet and tasked the Inspectorate of Government, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and the Statehouse Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate Muhakanizi and other government officials over possible subversion, corruption and or criminal negligence.

"I have also established that last year, the Ministry of Finance made a belated and feeble attempt to get a Government Representative on the Board of this fund which would have been of little consequence anyway. However, you were quickly an arrogantly rebuffed by the foreign mission because apparently as you were reminded by that foreign mission, the exclusive management of the fund lies with them and oversight is by the foreign co-founders, exclusively," Museveni said.

"I am therefore directing you to immediately, suspend the activities of this fund, until the cabinet has fully reviewed this matter and a new governance structure in which the elected representatives of the people of Uganda have appropriate oversight, has been put in place and approved by me," he added.

The latest development comes on the backdrop of comments by the President throughout his campaigns that some sections of the opposition are funded by foreigners to destabilise Uganda for their own selfish interests.

Referring to them as fools, Museveni said most of them think he does not know them yet he is well aware of their activities.

"They found our children (youths) here and asked them to cause chaos in Uganda just like they did in Libya, Sudan and Zimbabwe not knowing we are a different cup of tea. Those people lit fire on roads not knowing they were spoiling our tarmac,"Museveni said during a campaign meeting in Hoima on December 19, 2020.

"They tried to disrupt Kampala and the army came in. They thought it was going to be like other countries but the army gave them the medicine they wanted."

Godber Tumushabe the Associate Director at the Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies (GLISS) says that there is more to this because there is no way the president has no knowledge of the things he raised in the letter.

He says that the government has always been uncomfortable with NGOs working on governance issues, working on issues to do with human rights promotion and issues of accountability.

"This has always been an area of contention and as this regime has become more autocratic, these contentions have become more apparent," he says, "The problem is that this regime has made a decision to disrupt every form of civic activity. NGOs are the biggest threats to the government," he says.

"The posture has always been the same. It is the magnitude and manifestations that has changed," he adds.

In 2019, more than 12,000 civil society organisations were told they would no longer operate in Uganda. Observers said the move was the beginning of a purge of NGO activities in the country.

This followed the government's review of the number of officially registered NGOs in Uganda. Only 2,118 were given the green light to operate in the country.

Sylvia Namubiru Mukasa, the Chief Executive Officer Legal Aid Service Providers Network (LASPNET), also says that these allegations and attacks on NGOs have no basis just that the government has grown paranoid concerning NGOs.

"If I have a case, you take me court and the courts of law make a decision not you taking the law in your own hands. The government telling CSOs and NGOs to follow the law are the ones breaking it," Namubiru says.

"You can't just suspend me, freeze my accounts. I should be investigated, arraigned and have an ongoing investigation," she adds.

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Namubiru says that the government is using excessive regulatory force on activities of CSOs which is shrinking their operations because of the deteriorating government environment.

"Before you know it, there will be no civil society sector," she says adding that the space of the civil societies has been shrinking and now it is getting closed because they have now gone for the donor"

"They have now brought the development partner into this. The donor is giving us resources which are employing the people, reducing the vulnerability to poverty, government is getting revenue, supporting state actors, but because someone thinks DGF funds some CSO that is in bad books of government, there is subversion," she adds.

Peter Wandera the Executive Director of Transparency International Uganda says this is all happening because government thinks NGOs are going overboard with their work.

"We are partners with the government but sometimes we disagree and it creates conflict. Like when we point out bad governance, non respect of human rights, government thinks we are fighting them but we are just principled. We can't let injustices pass," he says.

Tumushabe adds that the regime has become more autocratic and that is why it is focusing more on attacking institutions of citizenship.

"They try to co-opt them and when they fail, they try to buy them and when that fails, they attack them and that is how dictatorship starts," he says.
Unveiling the punitive measures, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called for the international community to 'strongly condemn what we're seeing happen in Myanmar'

Wellington: New Zealand announced the suspension of high-level military and political contacts with Myanmar Tuesday, the first major international move to isolate the country's ruling junta following a coup.

Unveiling the measures, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called for the international community to "strongly condemn what we're seeing happen in Myanmar".

"After years of working hard to build a democracy in Myanmar, I think every New Zealander would be devastated to see what we've seen in recent days led by the military," she told reporters.

"Our strong message is we will do what we can from here in New Zealand." Ardern said the measures would include travel bans on senior military figures.

Myanmar's military last week detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and dozens of other members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party, ending a decade of civilian rule.

Ardern said New Zealand wanted the UN Human Rights Council to hold a special session to discuss developments in Myanmar.

She added that New Zealand's aid programmes in Myanmar, worth about $30.5 million, would continue with safeguards that they did not benefit, or come under the control of, the military junta. "We're being very cautious with whatever aid and development work we do there that we are not propping up that regime," she said.

Ardern conceded New Zealand had limited leverage on Myanmar's military but said Suu Kyi had personally thanked her during past meetings for Wellington's help during the country's transition to democracy.

"While it may seem New Zealand's position on this may not seem particularly relevant, one of the last occasions when I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Aung San Suu Kyi, she specifically mentioned some of our representatives from New Zealand in Myanmar," Ardern said.

"They were well regarded and well respected and I think it played a really constructive role in that critical time for Myanmar and their transition." The junta proclaimed a one-year state of emergency last week, promising to hold fresh elections after that, without offering any precise timeframe.

In doing so they ended Myanmar's 10-year experiment with democracy after close to 50 years of military rule.

The generals justified the coup by claiming fraud in November's elections, which the NLD won by a landslide. New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta dismissed the allegations of fraud.

"We do not recognise the legitimacy of the military-led government and we call on the military to immediately release all detained political leaders and restore civilian rule," she said in a statement.
Below please find a summary and link(s) of new coronavirus-related content published today in Annals of Internal Medicine. The summary below is not intended to substitute for the full article as a source of information. A collection of coronavirus-related content is free to the public at https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ topic/ category/ coronavirus .

1. Racial minorities more likely to become infected with COVID-19

An analysis of Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California early in the COVID-19 pandemic found that racial minorities were more likely than white patients to test positive for COVID-19. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from Kaiser Permanente, The Permanente Medical Group, and Stanford Cancer Institute studied health records for 3.5 million patients in the Kaiser Health system, more than 91,000 of whom received a COVID-19 test between Feb. 1 and May 31, 2020. That data showed that Latino patients were nearly 4 times as likely as white patients to become infected with the virus, while Asian and Black patients were 2 times as likely to test positive for COVID-19 compared to white patients. The odds of hospitalization were also higher for Latino, Asian, and Black patients with COVID-19 than for white patients. However, the study did not find racial disparities in mortality among patients hospitalized after infection.

The researchers concluded that while race was a major factor in likelihood of infection, it contributed in a minor way to hospitalization, admission, and death. For those adverse outcomes, age was the major predictor. According to the authors, these findings reinforce that health systems should aim to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in their highest-risk communities by seeking to reduce transmission among the most vulnerable.

Read the full text: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M20-6979 .

Media contacts:

A PDF for this article is not yet available. Please click the link to read full text.

The corresponding author, Gabriel J. Escobar, MD, can be reached through Jan Greene at janice.x.greene@kp.org.

2. Racial opinions of vaccine

Current recommendations for talking to patients about COVID-19 vaccines do not provide specific guidance on how to discuss mistrust. Authors from the University of Chicago, University of Washington School of Medicine, and the University of California, San Francisco suggest specific strategies and language that clinicians can use to address mistrust of COVID-19 vaccines among racial and ethnic minorities. Their advice is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Read the full text: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M21-0055 .

Currently, only 18% of Black Americans and 40% of Latinx Americans trust that a COVID-19 vaccine will be effective. Even fewer trust that it will be safe. The impact of this mistrust is alarming: Fewer than half of Black Americans intend to get vaccinated against COVID-19. To reduce the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality among people of color, this mistrust must be addressed and health care providers are in a unique position to address patients' concerns.

The authors detail four specific strategies to help promote trust among patients of color about COVID-19 vaccines. The authors say health care providers should lead with listening, tailor responses to patient concerns, use accessible language, and acknowledge uncertainty. Prioritizing these discussions using these strategies may help increase the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccinations and improve health outcomes among persons of color.

Media contacts:

A PDF for this article is not yet available. Please click the link to read full text.

The corresponding author, Monica Peek, MD, MPH, MS can be reached through Ashley Skorski at askorski@uchicago.edu.

3. Majority of Los Angeles health care workers surveyed hesitant about getting COVID-19 vaccine

In a recent survey, a majority of Los Angeles area health care workers expressed hesitancy about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Respondents were most heavily influenced by the fast-tracked development of the vaccine (83.5%), the novel and unfolding science of SARS-CoV-2 (75.7%), and the political climate in which the research and regulatory process were playing out at the time of survey distribution (58.5%).

Researchers from the University of California surveyed a volunteer cohort of 1,069 asymptomatic health care workers employed by the University of California, Los Angeles to track incidence and risk factors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. As an addendum, a cross-sectional survey designed to assess attitudes toward vaccines, including prospective acceptance of novel coronavirus vaccines, was distributed to participants in September 2020 and completed online through October 2020. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Among the participants, fewer than half (46.9%) felt that a novel coronavirus vaccine would protect them against COVID-19. Just over one third (34.8%) of participants expressed confidence in the scientific vetting process for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, with almost half (47.8%) reporting they would not be willing to participate in vaccine trials. Most participants (65.5%) indicated they would delay vaccination once coronavirus vaccines became available for distribution (49.4% would prefer to wait and see how the vaccine affects others first, and 16.1% would not get it soon but indicated they might in the future), and 1.30% never intend to get vaccinated. Compared with prescribing clinicians, other health care workers were about 20% to 30% more likely to delay or decline a coronavirus vaccine when all other demographic factors were held equal. Participants identifying as Asian (23.9%) or Latino (26.2%) were less likely to accept vaccination immediately upon availability compared with those in other racial and ethnic groups. Health care workers aged 50 years or older were more likely than their younger coworkers to accept vaccination right away.

Read the full text: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M20-7580 .

Media contacts:

A PDF for this article is not yet available. Please click the link to read full text.

The corresponding author, Anne W. Rimoin, MPH, PhD, can be reached through Brad Smith at bssmith@support.ucla.edu.

4. SARS-CoV-2 clusters can occur in hospitals despite robust control policies

A missed case of SARS-CoV-2 infection may have led to a cluster of cases among patients and health care workers in an acute care hospital, despite robust control policies in the facility. In the paper published in Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers from Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health discuss the cases and insights that may inform future measures to protect patients and staff.

While the patient had tested negative twice on admission, the investigators surmised that he was contagious from at least hospital day 3 and infected staff and patients for at least a week before detection. During this time, the patient had multiple transfers between units and services and also shared rooms with uninfected patients, which contributed to the spread. In addition, failure to wear eye protection and limitations of personal protective equipment (PPE) among those with near-range exposure to the patient may have contributed to some spread.

According to the authors, this case highlights important lessons about the limitations of admission testing. They stress the importance of obtaining more than one sample in high-risk patients, among other improved testing strategies. The authors also note that there is high risk for roommate-to-roommate transmissions in the setting of occult acute infection. They also note the potential value of serial testing to identify infections incubating on admission. They say opportunities to improve adherence to eye protection and masking of patients, surgical masks and face shields for providers with near-range exposure to symptomatic patients, and the value of whole-genome sequencing could also help define and contain hospital clusters.

Read the full text: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M20-7567 .

In an accompanying editorial from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, authors say that this case is just one example that exposes the many weaknesses in our health care systems, including insufficient training in infection prevention. While no single practice was identified as the culprit, there are hints, as there have been with past outbreaks, that small lapses in infection prevention may add up to transmission because of the high-risk activities that occur in health care settings.

Read the full text: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M21-0526 .

Media contacts:

A PDF for this article is not yet available. Please click the link to read full text.

The corresponding author, Michael Klompas, MD, MPH, can be reached through Elaine St. Peter at estpeter@bwh.harvard.edu. Editorialist Trish M. Perl, MD, MSc, can be reached through Remecka Owens at Remekca.Owens@UTSouthwestern.edu.

5. Lessons from 1918 Influenza Pandemic demonstrate the importance of restrictions on public gatherings

Lessons from the 1918 Influenza Pandemic demonstrate why school closures and other restrictions on mass gatherings may be necessary today to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The historical analysis is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Authors from the University of Zurich reviewed detailed public health records from a region in Switzerland to study the effect of school closures, restrictions on mass gatherings, and other measures on the size and duration of the 1918 Spanish Influenza epidemic. Similar data collected in Switzerland during the present COVID-19 epidemic were analyzed, as well, and the two public health responses were compared.

The researchers found that during the first wave of the influenza pandemic in summer 1918 in the canton of Bern, there were salient associations between the centrally enacted, canton-wide public health interventions and the early and rapid containment of epidemic growth. During the second wave in autumn, cantonal authorities reacted hesitantly largely due to concerns about the economic effect of public health interventions experienced during the first wave and the associated political pressure. Mass gatherings and premature relaxation of restrictions of mass gatherings only 1 week later because of public pressure may have contributed to the length and intensity of the second wave, which was 2.6 times longer than the first wave and responsible for approximately 80% of all cases and deaths. The researchers noted strikingly similar patterns in the management of the COVID-19 outbreak in Switzerland in 2020: The second wave had a considerably higher amplitude, prolonged duration, and much higher associated rates of hospitalization and mortality.

Read the full text: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M20-6231 .

The author of an accompanying editorial from Johns Hopkins University says these lessons are important for informing responses to future pandemics. The author highlights the dangers of eschewing those lessons that history provides

Read the editorial: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M21-0449 .

Media contacts:

A PDF for this article is not yet available. Please click the link to read full text.

The lead corresponding authors can be contacted directly. Kaspar Staub, PhD can be reached at kaspar.staub@iem.uzh.ch, and Peter Juni, MD can be reached at peter.juni@utoronto.ca.

The corresponding author of the accompanying editorial, Graham Mooney, PhD, can be reached at 443-208-5505.

Also new today

Update Alert 7: Epidemiology of and Risk Factors for Coronavirus Infection in Health Care Workers

Roger Chou, MD; Tracy Dana, MLS; David I. Buckley, MD, MPH; Shelley Selph, MD, MPH; Rongwei Fu, PhD; Annette M. Totten, PhD

Letters

Full text: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ L21-0034

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Godrej Appliances, the business unit of Godrej & Boyce, has now added ultra-low temperature freezers to its portfolio that cater to vaccine cold chain storage facilities.

These advanced medical freezers can preserve life-saving medical supplies including critical vaccines below -80C and are aimed at boosting both Indian and global medical cold chain.

Moneycontrol had reported earlier that Godrej Appliances has played a part in the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination drive in India through its Made in India, medical refrigeration solutions that safeguard the sensitive vaccines at the right temperature.

The Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 needs to be stored at -70C while the Moderna vaccine needs a temperature of -20C (though it can be kept in the refrigerator at 2C to 8C for up to a month). The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine needs a storage temperature of 2C to 8C.

In an interaction with Moneycontrol, Kamal Nandi, Business Head and Executive Vice President, Godrej Appliances said that the company has received orders of Rs 150 crore for cooling products from the central government and various non-profit organisations for storage of the vaccines.

Godrej Appliances is currently deploying vaccine refrigerators that maintain a precise temperature of 2 to 8C to store the highly temperature-sensitive Covaxin and CoviShield vaccines being administered in India, as part of the national tender it received in October 2020.

Jaishankar Natarajan, Associate Vice President and Head - New Business Development, Godrej Appliances told Moneycontrol that once the general public is also part of the vaccination process (after frontline healthcare workers), there will a further ramp-up in demand.

"A lot of tenders in the pipeline from the state government. Even local municipal corporations will begin the tendering process in due course," he added.

Godrej Appliances has ice-lined medical refrigerators, chest freezers and now ultra-low temperature refrigerators available for storage of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Medical freezers which maintain -20C are also being deployed for diluents and ice packs needed for the last mile delivery in the COVID-19 vaccination drive. The vaccines run the risk of damage if they are subjected to fluctuations beyond the specified temperature band, leading to both health and economic implications.

The medical refrigerators used for storing vaccine help keep the vials (small glass container holding vaccine doses) at an optimum temperature so that it is effective for disease control. In areas where there is regular fluctuation in electricity, solar power is used by the Godrej Appliances' products.

Nandi explained that currently, the company has a capacity of 100,000 chest freezers, 35,000 ice-lined medical refrigerators and 30,000 ultra-low temperature refrigerators.

Going forward, Godrej Appliances is also planning to play a part in mobile clinics by setting up their cooling devices on mobile medical clinics on the Indian roads. Here, the cooling devices are used to stores medicines and other essential medical supplies.

"We are doing a pilot project in India's hinterland fitting our 25-litre medical refrigerator in a van. We will create an ecosystem with vendors and partners to develop and bring this concept alive," he added.
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Observing that pollution-free water is a fundamental right which a welfare state is bound to ensure, the Tuesday sought response from the Ministry of Jal Shakti on a plea with regard to remediation of polluted rivers starting with the issue of contamination of river Yamuna.

The apex court impleaded Ministry of Jal Shakti along with Delhi Jal Board, Municipal Corporation of Faridabad, Prayagraj Nagar Nigam, Agra Nagar Nigam and Aligarh Nagar Nigam as respondents in the matter.

"Issue notice to the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the above newly impleaded respondents in the meantime," said a bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.

Taking cognisance of contamination of rivers by effluent, the top court also issued notices to the Centre, CPCB and five states including Delhi and Haryana on the issue.

The top court, which directed its Registry to register the suo motu case as 'Remediation of polluted rivers', said it would first take up the contamination of the and asked Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to submit a report identifying municipalities along with it which have not installed total treatment plants for sewage.

The order, widening the scope of judicial scrutiny of contamination of water to rivers across the country, was passed while hearing a plea of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) alleging that water containing high pollutants is being released into the from Haryana.

DJB alleged that the water released by neighbouring Haryana into the Yamuna has pollutants including high ammonia content which become carcinogenic after mixing with Chlorine.

The top court had directed the CPCB to submit a report identifying municipalities along the river Yamuna, which have not installed total treatment plants for sewage as per the requirement or have gaps in ensuring that the sewage is not discharged untreated into the river.

(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.)
Sam Frost is celebrating four years as an actress on Home and Away this year.

And on Thursday, the former Bachelorette looked in her acting element at the centre of a fight scene during filming for the Australian soap at Palm Beach, Sydney.

Sam's character Jasmine Delaney was seen running to break up an intense altercation between two young men.

To the rescue! Sam Frost was seen running to split up a Summer Bay fight between actors Kawakawa Fox-Reo and Lukas Radovic in an upcoming brawl on the soap during filming in Sydney's Palm Beach last week

Out for some exercise in a colourful activewear set, Sam's character appeared to see the fight escalate from afar.

Looking as fit as ever, Sam displayed her taut abs and toned arms as she picked up the pace during her run.

Shouting as she approached the scene, it appears her calls for calm fell on deaf ears.

Hey, stop! Out for some exercise in a colourful activewear set, Sam's character appeared to see the fight escalate from afar and called for them to stop

Screen siren: Looking as fit as ever, Sam displayed her taut abs and toned arms as she picked up the pace during her run

Sam's character Jasmine was hoping to stop a feud being played out by actors, Kawakawa Fox-Reo and Lukas Radovic.

In the scene, their characters Nikau Parata (played by Kawa) and Ryder Jackson (played by Lukas) were seen coming to blows.

Rebellious Nikau has had numerous fight scenes in the past due to his explosive temper in the series.

Here she comes! Sam's character (middle) was hoping to stop a feud being played out by actors Kawakawa Fox-Reo (right) and Lukas Radovic (left)

Oh no! In the scene, their characters Nikau Parata (played by Kawa) and Ryder Jackson (played by Lukas) were seen coming to blows

Ryder, who is the grandson of iconic character Alf Stewart, is usually on good terms with Nikau as best friends on the soap.

Jasmine (played by Sam) was obviously keen to keep the peace, wasting no time attempting to diffuse the situation.

However, it appeared Ryder hit the ground after Nikau landed a punch during the disagreement between the men.

It's unclear what causes the upcoming conflict, but the fight looks set to put their relationship on rocky ground.

Knock out: Ryder appeared to hit the ground after Nikau landed a punch during the disagreement between the men on the show

Friendship over? It's unclear what causes the upcoming conflict, but the fight looks set to put their relationship on rocky ground

Is everything OK? Jasmine, who is a nurse on the series, appeared to rush to Ryder's side and look at his injuries

US-born Australian actress Sam Barrett, who hasn't yet had her debut on the series, was also seen in the thick of it.

Exactly who Barrett will play and how her character will come to be in Summer Bay is unclear, but she appears to be close with Ryder.

Barrett's character was seen yelling and pointing at Nikau as Sam's character Jasmine rushed to see if Ryder was okay.

Jasmine is a nurse on the series and appeared to look at Ryder's injuries carefully.

Pointing the finger: Rebellious character Nikau has had numerous fight scenes in the past due to his explosive temper in the series

No drama here: Once the cameras stopped rolling, it was a completely different story between the group of actors

Once the cameras stopped rolling, it was a completely different story between the group of actors.

Actors Lukas and Kawkawa were in high spirits as they spoke with the production crew between takes.

Later in the day, Sam was seen with a small band-aid on her head. However, it's unclear if that was part of the continuation of this scene.

Newcomer: US-born Australian actress Sam Barrett (left), who hasn't yet had her debut on the series, was also seen in the thick of it

Mystery: Exactly who Sam will play and how her character will come to be in Summer Bay is unclear, but she appears to be close with Ryder

What's that for? Later in the day, Sam was seen with a small band-aid on her head. However, it's unclear if that was part of the continuation of this scene

Sam's return to set in 2021 comes as her character Jasmine embarks on a sizzling romance with Lewis Hayes, played by Luke Arnold.

Luke, who became a household name starring as Michael Hutchence on the 2014 mini-series INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, spoke to Daily Mail Australia about joining the long-running soap.

'It's such a staple of Australian TV, and everyone is so friendly, and it's such a well-honed machine, so I have had a really great time on it,' he said.

He also revealed that working with Sam made working on the soap a 'joy', but they have so much fun that it can be 'dangerous' at times.

'Sam is just the loveliest. The most dangerous thing about working with Sam is that she is so bubbly and fun, that you're having such a great time, then they call "action," he joked.

'But it's been great working with her and it makes work a joy.'

Home and Away airs Monday to Thursday from 7pm on Channel Seven
Female Genital Mutilation is performed on women and girls by some ethnic groups in Africa (file photo).

New Delhi, India  Survivors of female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C), are determined to share their stories to end this practice - even though they face ostracisation by their communities.

Masooma Ranalvi, an FGM/C survivor and founder of 'WeSpeakOut', an organisation committed to eliminating FGM/C or khafd/khafz/khatna explains that FGM/C is practised by various communities in India but is prominently practised among the Dawoodi Bohras.

However, speaking out against the harmful practice has not been easy for Ranalvi and the many others who have dared to relive their childhood memory of being 'cut' and share it with the world to end it some-day.

"There is a culture of fear around this issue, a culture of silence. Many do not speak out as there are social boycotts against who do - unofficially declared but carried out by the community," says Ranalvi in an exclusive interview with IPS.

"Twenty years ago, even burial rights after death would be denied to those who dared to differ and economic sanctions against families who did not comply and spoke out," says Ranalvi, who has been a leading voice in pushing for a legal and social end to FGM/C in India and across the globe.

According to a study conducted by 'WeSpeakOut', of the two million people who belong to India's Bohra community and its diaspora, nearly 75%-80% of Bohra women are subject to FGM/C.

Ranalvi is also a petitioner in the legal action initiated in 2017 by lawyer Sunita Tiwari.

Tiwari filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court of India seeking a ban on FGM/C among the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim Community. This practice, which has been the community's best-kept secret and practised by many others worldwide, is increasingly being spoken about, especially by the survivors.

FGM/C involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Religion, culture, and tradition are often cited as motives for those practising it. There are about 92 countries where FGM/C is practised out of which 51 countries have expressly prohibited it under their national laws in some form or another.

In Asia, however, there is not a single country which has a law enacted to prohibit the harmful practice.

Based in the United States, Mariya Taher has co-founded Sahiyo, a non-profit working to end the practice globally and among the Bohra Community. She is a survivor and has been active passing state-level legislation in Massachusetts against it.

"It took five years to do so, but this past August 2020, we were able to pass a law. I am currently working with a group in Connecticut to pass a state law there. In the U.S., while we have a federal law, we also need state legislation, only 39 states have laws against FGM/C at this point," Taher told IPS.

Aarefa Johari, journalist and co-founder of Sahiyo, adds that "enacting legislation against FGM/C has to be preceded by, accompanied and after that followed by intense and robust community activism at the grassroots level. It needs education, awareness and dialogue."

A survivor, she believes that though "a law against FGM/C is vital as a deterrent and as a means of making the State's stance on the practice clear, laws alone cannot bring an end to deep-rooted social norms." This would require a long-term commitment and legal intervention to change the community's mindset, Johari says.

Since many within the various communities use religion to justify the practice, it is important to note that there has been extensive research and writing around the issue by Islamic scholars and others, based on Quranic texts and Hadith (a collection of traditions containing sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad) which discredit the practice as Un-Islamic.

Karamah, Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, in a study published on FGM/C, concludes that FGM/C is a harmful practice that lacks religious mandate.

"The Qur'an does not provide a single verse or instance in which female khitan (FGM/C) is mentioned as obligatory or desirable. Furthermore, contrary to general belief, there is no single authentic hadith of the Prophet that requires female khitan."

Ten-year-old Munira's (name changed) aunt held her hand and took her to the basement of her empty house one Sunday evening promising to play a game with her. Little did Munira know the prize of this game, where she was asked to lie on a table with her underpants down and her lips sealed by her aunt to prevent her screams being heard, would end in her being scarred for life. She was 'cut' by a member of her family. This memory resonates with most survivors of the practice.

"It is never easy for anyone who has experienced some form of gender-based violence to share their story ... My process took years, and it involved me first learning about it, then writing about it. The first thing I ever wrote was for the imagining equality project," Taher says.

"It took many years after that project for me to get comfortable to share it on camera or to be interviewed by the media about my experience. But even as I grew comfortable, I experienced multiple forms of backlash."

The impact on her immediate community meant that some of her relatives stopped speaking to her.

"Our movement (to end FGM/C) itself has faced backlash both publicly and privately from the community - we are trolled a lot online, there are attempts to constantly discredit the stories of survivors and silence those who speak up," says Johari.

The trolling has not stopped the campaign to end FGM/C.

"It is important to emphasise that this is a sign of the importance of our work, and we get as much (or more) positive support from community members as we get negative brickbats," Johari adds.

Many women and some community members against FGM/C sadly choose to remain silent in the interest of the 'larger cause', given the Islamophobic climate that exists.

Taher says that it is difficult not to see the intersection of oppressions when working on FGM/C, Islamophobia, unfortunately, being one of them.

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"Particularly with the false assumption that only Muslims practice FGM/C. FGM/C is global ... occurs in every continent in the world except Antarctica. And where FGM/C does occur in Islamic communities, it is a very small minority," Taher says.

"The truth is FGM/C is a social norm justified in all sorts of ways - religion, health, social status, marriageability, tradition, culture, etc. This social norm was started before the advent of Islam and Christianity - meaning it pre-dates those religions. Yet, in doing this work today, speaking out against Islamophobia as well as xenophobia is vital when working on FGM/C."

Ranalvi said the decision to turn to legal action only happened when all else had failed.

"We knocked at the doors of the courts when all attempts at dialogue with the clergy and leadership within the community failed. The support of enacted laws and of institutional bodies to give power to our resistance and enable us to take control over our bodies and help end this violation, is imperative," adds Ranalvi.

As the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation on February 6th nears, it can only be hoped that FGM/C, a widely prevalent but dark secret that violates women's human rights and practised by various communities across the world, ends.

Mariya Salim is a fellow at IPS UN Bureau

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau

Follow @MariyaS87

KYODO NEWS - Feb 8, 2021 - 23:40 | All, Japan, News

The No. 2 figure of Japan's major ruling party on Monday supported Yoshiro Mori to stay on as the head of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee despite his recent sexist remarks that have drawn criticism at home and abroad.

"I would like him to work hard to meet the expectations of the people around him," Toshihiro Nikai, who has been serving as secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party since 2016 said in a press conference.

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Tokyo Olympic chief Mori's remarks given "gold medal" for sexism

Nikai, an influential figure of the party headed by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, said it will "not be a problem" for Mori to remain as the president of the committee because he has already retracted the comments he made last week about women talking too much during meetings.

The comments have sparked anger in Japan with many calling for Mori to step down. The organizing committee said Monday that about 390 Olympic and Paralympic volunteers have so far withdrawn their registrations in the wake of the remarks.

Commenting on the increasing number of volunteers deciding to turn down their roles, Nikai said he hopes "their thoughts will change once the situation settles down."

Suga and other LDP lawmakers, including Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto, a former Olympian herself, have also backed Mori, an 83-year-old former prime minister from the party, to continue preparations for this summer's Olympics and Paralympics.

On Wednesday, Mori told an online session of the Japanese Olympic Committee that meetings with women tend to "drag on" because they often talk too much. He took back the comments and apologized the following day.

Both the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee released comments stating that Mori's apology closed the matter.
A former altar boy who accused the late Bishop Christopher J. Weldon of sexual assault  and whose claim was found to be unequivocally credible following a review ordered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield  has filed a lawsuit seeking compensation for the physical harm he suffered in the 1960s and continued emotional distress.

The plaintiff, identified as John Doe of Chicopee, says he was between 9 and 11 years old when he was raped multiple times at multiple locations by Weldon and two other members of the clergy.

In a 26-page lawsuit filed in Hampden Superior Court and first reported by The Berkshire Eagle, the plaintiff alleges that current and past church officials, including former Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski and the dioceses longtime attorney, John. J. Egan, engaged in a cover-up to protect Weldons legacy.

In failing to take action and/or intentionally concealing plaintiffs complaint over a period of four years, the RCBS (Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield) demonstrated a callous disregard toward plaintiffs suffering, further victimizing plaintiff, the suit alleges.

In addition to Egan and Rozanski, who is now archbishop of St. Louis, the complaint names as defendants the office of the Springfield bishop; Monsignor Christopher Connelly; Patricia McManamy, director of Counseling, Prevention and Victim Services; Jeffrey Trant, director of the office of Safe Environment and Victim Assistance; John Hale, Review Board chairman; Kevin Murphy, diocesan investigator; and Mark Dupont, diocesan communications director.

The suit alleges the plaintiff recounted his experiences in November 2014 to Connelly and McManamy, who were mandated reporters. Neither immediately notified the Hampden County District Attorneys office of the allegations.

In addition, the suit claims diocesan officials attempted to coverup the allegations and undermine the plaintiff.

Rozanski, Dupont, Trant, Hale and Egan conspired to undermine the plaintiffs credibility and to cover up the RCBSs knowledge that Weldon had in fact raped the plaintiff, the suit states. Rozanski, Dupont, Trant, Hale and Egan intentionally intended to brand plaintiff a liar, one of the most reprehensible things that can be done to a victim of abuse.

The plaintiff is seeking a jury trial. He is represented by attorneys Nancy Frankel Pelletier and David S. Lawless.

Carolee McGrath, the Springfield dioceses media relations manager, said Tuesday the diocese does not comment on pending civil litigation.

In June 2020, a year-long review of sexual abuse allegations against Weldon, who led the Springfield diocese for more than 25 years, found the accusations to be unequivocally credible.

Retired Superior Court Judge Peter A. Velis report concluded the allegations of the Complainant of sexual molestation committed upon him by Bishop Christopher J Weldon, both as a principal, and as a coventurer that included anal rape, indecent assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress are unequivocally credible. The allegations that were investigated and examined are not dubious, vague or ambiguous in any essentials nor are they the product of any chimerical conception, fabrication or schematic design. The unsavory and heinous nature of the offensive behavior attributed to the late bishop is clearly shocking.

In an executive summary, Velis criticized the diocesan Review Board that heard the alleged victims account in June 2018.

It was clear in my examination that the process included an inexplicable modification and manipulation of the reports received by and acted on by the Diocesan Review Board, Velis wrote. Additionally the complaint process was compromised in that mandatory reporters failed in their duties to report the allegations to prosecutorial authorities.

In evaluating the actions of those involved in the Weldon assessment, Velis said he found a reluctance to fervently pursue an evaluation of allegations against (Weldon) due to his prominence and revered legacy in the religious community.

Weldons 27 years as Springfields fourth bishop, starting in 1950, were influential in the growth of the diocese. However, they also have emerged as years when many allegations of sexual abuse by clergy occurred  as well as the murder of an altar boy in which a former priest, Richard R. Lavigne, remains the only publicly identified suspect.

The former bishop died in 1982.

Anne-Gerard Flynn contributed to this report.

Related content:
A school has dropped Winston Churchill and JK Rowling as house names after students said they did not think they represented them.

Stunned parents with children at Seaford Head School in East Sussex received the letter this week slamming both famous figures.

The note - which was marked as being from students - said wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill was 'a figure who promoted racism and inequality, unfairly imprisoning and torturing many'.

It then turned its attention to Harry Potter author JK Rowling, saying it did not think she was a suitable representative following her comments on the trans community.

One parent, who did not wish to be named, said: 'I am surprised about Winston Churchill, I think we do need to honour his achievements in history.

'He helped us fight back the evil of Hitler's Nazi Germany - surely he deserves to be celebrated for this.'

Sir Winston Churchill and JK Rowling will no longer be names used for the schools houses

Seaford Head School's house system was dreamed up in 2016 and based on four icons

Seaford's house system was introduced in 2016 and still shows Churchill and Rowling on the school website.

The former PM's group has the motto 'Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm', a quote generally attributed to the WWII PM, although it cannot be found in his writing or speeches.

Meanwhile the world-famous British author's section carries the phrase 'It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be', which is said by Harry Potter character Dumbledore in The Goblet of Fire book.

Sir Nicholas Soames and His Wife Lady Serena Soames The Cartier Racing Awards

Who's in charge of Seaford Head School? Seaford Head School is led by head teacher Bob Ellis. He is a union rep for ASCL association of school and college leaders. In 2017 the school made headlines with girls were sent home from school when their skirts were deemed too short. In 2019 Seaford celebrated its 80th anniversary, with the teacher declaring 'We enjoy a privileged position in the local community'. Advertisement

The school trumpets their achievements, stating 'The icons that these houses are named after perfectly represent the ethos of our school (chosen by the school council), a set of values that we hold as important and central to our beliefs.'

Pupils can even get their house colours put above their school badge on their uniforms.

But the pair have now fallen out of favour with pupils and leaders at the former college.

The letter read: 'Churchill could be considered an important historical figure.

'However, we are now more aware that Churchill was a figure who promoted racism and inequality, unfairly imprisoning and torturing many.

'Furthermore, as a school committed to stopping bullying and creating a safe environment, we no longer think that JK Rowling is a suitable representative, because of her recent words about the trans community.

'Intolerance and discrimination are treated very severely by our school and we do not want to promote anyone or anything that encourages such prejudice.

The website of the school still shows the old houses and their corresponding famous names

Churchill's most inspiring speeches Churchill's first speech as premier to the House of Commons 'I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this government: 'I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.' 'We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. 'You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. 'You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.' Extract from his first broadcast as PM to the country on May 19, 1940. 'I speak to you for the first time as Prime Minister in a solemn hour for the life of our country, of our Empire, of our allies, and, above all, of the cause of freedom . . . 'It would be foolish . . . to disguise the gravity of the hour. It would be still more foolish to lose heart and courage or to suppose that well-trained, well-equipped armies numbering three or four millions of men can be overcome in the space of a few weeks, or even months... 'Side by side, unaided except by their kith and kin in the great Dominions and by the wide empires which rest beneath their shield  side by side, the British and French peoples have advanced to rescue not only Europe but mankind from the foulest and most soul-destroying tyranny which has ever darkened and stained the pages of history. 'Behind them  behind us, behind the armies and fleets of Britain and France  gather a group of shattered states and bludgeoned races: the Czechs, the Poles, the Norwegians, the Danes, the Dutch, the Belgians  upon all of whom the long night of barbarism will descend, unbroken even by a star of hope, unless we conquer, as conquer we must; as conquer we shall.' Extract from his Commons speech on June 4, 1940, after the evacuation of 338,000 Allied troops from Dunkirk. 'Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous states have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. 'We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.' Extract from his Commons speech on June 18, 1940. 'Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. 'But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. 'Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.' Advertisement

'For these reasons, the student body and leadership team have decided to change the names of the houses, so that the house system reflects the local community, and so that each house can create a new collective identity based on shared values.

'To instill more positive values, and to bring the community together, the house names will be changed to local landmarks.'

The school's houses are currently named after famous historical, political and cultural figures.

It is understood that the houses named after Florence Nightingale and Nelson Mandela will not be changed in any way.

But a decision has been made by Seaford Head's student body and leadership team to change these names, with it proposed that the houses will now be named after nearby geographical locations instead.

Possible new names include: Tide Mills House, Cuckmere Haven House, Friston House, Birling House, Beacon House, Hindover House, Blatchington House and Westmeston House.

The new names will be decided through a student vote.

East Sussex County Council said it would not be commenting on the matter.

Richard Toye, author of Churchill's Empire, wrote that Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin was advised not to appoint Churchill on account of his outdated views.

Meanwhile, the war-time leader's doctor is reported as having said that 'Winston thinks only of the colour of their skin' when considering other races.

And the book 'Debunking the Myths of Colonisation: The Arabs and Europe', contains a quote from Churchill in his testimony to the Palestine Royal Commission

He is reported as saying: 'I do not admit for instance, that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America or the black people of Australia.

'I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place.'

But former Mid Sussex MP Sir Nicholas Soames, grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, has previously defended his relative.

In 2015 he is recorded as saying: 'You're talking about one of the greatest men the world has ever seen, who was a child of the Edwardian age and spoke the language of (it).'

Harry Potter author JK Rowling was criticised after making a series of Tweets last summer.

She was accused of being 'transphobic' after taking issue with an article which used the phrase 'people who menstruate'.

In a post on social media, she said: 'People who menstruate.

'I'm sure there used to be a word for those people.

'Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?'

It was argued that 'trans men who have not transitioned still menstruate' and 'women are not defined by their periods'.

Stars of the Harry Potter series including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson were among those to condemn her comments.

Emma Watson said: 'Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are.'

Following criticism of her Tweets, JK Rowling responded in a lengthy blog post.

She said she had 'followed the debate around the concept of gender identity closely' for several years and listed five reasons why she had felt the need to 'speak up'.

These included her charity, the Volant Charitable Trust, which 'helps fund charitable causes in Scotland, with an emphasis on women and children's issues'.

She also said her former role as a teacher led her to have an 'interest in both education and safeguarding'.

She added that her position as a 'much-banned author' in some parts of the world meant she was 'interested in freedom of speech and have publicly defended it'.
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No matter how talented the executive, or how highly incentivised, a salaried manager brings a different mindset to the role and has a different relationship with the organisation and external parties than the founding entrepreneur. The external voices gain more weight and the internal voices more freedom once the visionary founder exits or, in Bezos case, moves from the executive suite to the boardroom. Loading Will the markets who backed Bezos from Amazons $US382 million IPO in 1997 and applauded a strategy that saw him plough billions into a complex web of expansions - always prioritising market shares and global ambitions over profits - be as tolerant of Jassy? Jassy, who has worked closely with Bezos for most of Amazons history, presumably shares much of his strategic vision and ambitions for the group but second-generations managers tend not to be as driven as founders.

They also confront different challenges. The day-to-day management of a $US1.7 trillion company with nearly 1.3 million employees, global operations and a portfolio of businesses as diverse as Amazons is all-consuming. Moreover, Amazon now faces challenges generated by its own scale and style. Challenger companies are given a lot of leeway by regulators, customers, communities and employees. While Amazon remains a disruptor, a dominant $US1.7 trillion company doesnt get the same latitude to operate as it did when it was seen as a challenger. Where startups can undermine their established competitors by selling products or services at a loss to build market share  as Amazon has done throughout its history  when a company owns about half the e-commerce activity in the US that looks like predatory behaviour. Amazon is both a retailer and a marketplace for third parties. For much of its history the inherent conflict didnt provoke much scrutiny. Thats changing, with regulators in the US and Europe starting to focus on claimed abuses of Amazons insights into the performance of competitors products and services on its platforms.

Big Tech is generally on the nose in the US. Legislators and regulators are bringing anti-trust suits and threatening to break up companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon. Regulators in the US and Europe are taking tougher lines on data privacy. Governments around the world are focused on getting the big tech companies to pay more, or at least some, tax. Amazons employees have been complaining about their working conditions  Amazon is a very demanding employer  and threatening to unionise. Amazons next chief Andy Jassy will face a number of challenges. Credit:Louie Douvis Jassys cloud computing business, which dominates its sector and generates more than 60 per cent of Amazons profits, is facing intensifying competition from companies like Microsoft and Google. The groups foundation e-retailing platform, which has ravaged retailers around the globe, is facing stiffer competition from the surviving bricks and mortar retailers that have learned from it and invested heavily in their supply chains and fulfilment and are leveraging their physical presence  their store networks  into a different and more competitive omni-channel model.

The myriad of challenges that will confront Jassy signal that Amazon has moved into a different and more complex phase of its development and perhaps Bezos decision recognises that the groups leadership structure needs to change and mature to respond to them. That doesnt mean Amazon is a mature company. When Amazon released its 2020 results last week they showed a 38 per cent increase in sales to $US386 billion and an 84 per cent increase in net income to $US21.3 billion. When the pandemic hit the sharemarket last March Amazon was valued at $US850 billion . Its now worth double that amount, reflecting its status as one of the biggest, if not the biggest, beneficiaries of the big shift online by businesses and households in response to the pandemic. Some of that increased online activity is structural and permanent, with Amazon arguably the biggest beneficiary. Under Bezos, Amazon saw itself as a global platform and logistics business that carried and serviced its proprietary businesses alongside those of third parties.

It could be expanded, almost without limitation, into new categories like artificial intelligence, healthcare, financial services and advertising. The possibilities were endless. There is too much momentum in the business for it to stop innovating or competing but the regulatory risks to its growth and ability to commercially exploit its innovation in the ways it has historically are growing rapidly, along with the risk  shared by the other big techs  that lawmakers and competition regulators will seek to disaggregate it, undermining its scale and the network benefits of synergistic businesses. Loading Perhaps Bezos saw what the next phase of Amazons future might look like and decided that the fun part of building one of the worlds greatest commercial empires is behind it and, even though there is plenty of scope for growth and innovation, Amazons CEO is going to spend an inordinate amount of time on unproductive and tedious and unproductive wrangling with external parties. Like many successful entrepreneurs before him, he may well have looked at that unappealing prospect and decided that he could have more fun and use his energy more productively on smaller or more entrepreneurial ventures while still providing counsel and a guiding hand for the phenomenon that he created.
New Delhi: Actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu, who has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the Red Fort violence on January 26 in the national capital, was in regular touch with a woman friend in California, who used to upload his videos on the social media platforms.

According to the Delhi Police sources, Sidhu used to share his videos to the woman in question, who in turn used to upload them on his Facebook account. The woman is also believed to be an actress.

"Deep Sidhu was in contact with a woman friend and actor who lives in California. He used to make videos and send them to her, and she used to upload them on his Facebook account," Delhi Police sources said on Tuesday.

"By doing so, he was trying to divert the attention of agencies investigating the tractor rally violence," the sources added. Deep Sidhu, an accused in the 26th January violence case was arrested from the Zirakpur area between Chandigarh and Ambala, by Delhi Police Special Cell.

The arrest was made by the SWR Range of the Special Cell. Delhi Police will hold a press briefing over the arrest of Sidhu at 12 noon today. The police had announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information of Deep Sidhu, Jugraj Singh, Gurjot Singh and Gurjant Singh.

The names of Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu and gangster Lakka Sadana were included in the FIR registered in connection with the violence at Red Fort in Delhi on January 26, Delhi Police said earlier while adding that Sidhu was involved in the incident.

"On January 26 some people hoisted the flag at Red Fort. Some of them have been identified out of which Deep Sidhu is the prime accused," said Praveer Ranjan, Special Commissioner of Police (CP), Crime.

On Republic Day, protestors did not follow the prearranged route and broke barricades to enter Delhi, clashed with police and vandalised property in several parts of the national capital during the farmers` tractor rally.

They also entered the Red Fort and unfurled their flags from its ramparts. Farmers have been protesting at the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws:

Farmers` Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

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The Irish National Stud near Kildare town was a big winner at this weeks Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association (ITBA) National Breeding & Racing Awards 2020.

At this years Virtual Ceremony, the Irish National Stud was inducted into the ITBA Hall of Fame while the ITBA Next Generation Award 2020 was awarded to Clare Manning from Boherguy Stud.

The prestigious ITBA Hall of Fame award is in recognition of the Irish National Studs invaluable contribution to the Irish thoroughbred industry over many decades and for the contribution it continues to make; from the stallions it stands, to its world-renowned thoroughbred breeding course and the impact the stud makes as a national tourist attraction. On behalf of the Irish State, Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue accepted this most deserving award.

An Taoiseach Micheal Martin welcomed the achievement by noting: It is particularly fitting that this years inductee into the Hall of Fame is the Irish National Stud, which since its establishment has played an integral part in the Irish thoroughbred industry at home and abroad.

"Many of todays leaders of the Irish thoroughbred industry graduated from the INSs breeding course, which has earned itself a world class reputation.

The ITBA Next Generation Award 2020 went to Boherguy Studs Clare Manning, the daughter of legardary jockey Kevin Manning. Clare had an outstanding 2020 with noteworthy sales at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, Goffs Autumn Online Yearling Sale and Tattersalls Ireland November Flat Foal and Breeding-Stock Sale.

The Wild Geese Award 2020 went to the richly deserving Gordon Cunningham of Curragmore Stud in New Zealand.

Thanking the ITBA for his invitation, President Michael D. Higgins, paid tribute to the Irish Thoroughbred Industry: The Irish racing and breeding sector is recognized internationally, and for some time, as one with a proud tradition of excellence. This is an indigenous and mostly rural industry that makes a valuable contribution to the social, economic and cultural fabric of this country.

Concluding the evening, ITBA chairman John McEnery said: Despite all the many challenges facing the industry in 2020, Irish breeders and Irish bred horses continued to excel on both the national and international stage. We are indebted to our loyal sponsors without whom we would be unable to stage these awards. We were delighted with the level of participation and engagement by the many viewers, who tuned in from all corners of the bloodstock world via social media to acknowledge the wonderful people and horses who made 2020 such a memorable year for the Irish thoroughbred breeding industry. Congratulations to all deserving winners!

ITBA National Breeding & Racing Awards 2020 Winners
New Delhi, Feb 9 : Twitter has reached out to Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad for a formal dialogue to resolve the deadlock over the removal of bad accounts amid the ongoing farmer protests.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has sent three notices to Twitter, the latest one asking the company to block 1,178 accounts believed to be linked to Khalistan sympathisers and those backed by Pakistan.

"Safety of our employees is a top priority for us at Twitter. We continue to be engaged with the Government of India from a position of respect and have reached out to the Honourable Minister, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for a formal dialogue," a Twitter spokesperson said in a statement.

The company said that an acknowledgement to the receipt of the non-compliance notice has also been formally communicated.

"We review every report we receive from the government as expeditiously as possible and take appropriate action regarding such reports while making sure we hold firm to our fundamental values and commitment to protecting the public conversation," the Twitter spokesperson said.

In the first notice, MeitY asked Twitter to block 257 accounts using the #ModiPlanningFarmerGenocide hashtag amid the farmers' protest, under Section 69A of the IT Act.

Twitter had suspended some high-profile accounts earlier this month, only to unblock them in a few hours saying that the "content is free speech and newsworthy".

The IT Ministry then took cognizance of a clear attempt to polarise India when international celebrities with hardly any expertise on Indian affairs extended their support to the protesters agitating against the three new farm laws.

The government also took a serious note of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey "liking" a Tweet asking for an emoji for the hashtag #FarmersProtests.

"An update is shared through our established channels of communication with the government. We strongly believe that the open and free exchange of information has a positive global impact, and that the Tweets must continue to flow," the company spokesperson said.
New research led by Monterey Bay Aquarium reveals that even the revered white shark cannot escape the impacts of a changing ocean. The study, published in Scientific Reports, finds that unprecedented sightings of juvenile white sharks at the northern end of Monterey Bay signal a significant shift in the young white sharks' range.

Researchers conclude the northward range shift demonstrates the young sharks are being subjected to a loss of suitable thermal habitat, meaning water temperatures within their preferred temperature range are becoming harder to find.

"Nature has many ways to tell us the status quo is being disrupted, but it's up to us to listen," said Monterey Bay Aquarium Chief Scientist Dr. Kyle Van Houtan. "These sharks - by venturing into territory where they have not historically been found - are telling us how the ocean is being affected by climate change."

Aquarium scientists and their research partners began using electronic tags to learn about juvenile white sharks in southern California two decades ago when they were preparing to display the young white sharks to the public.

When the dramatic North Pacific marine heatwave hit the California coast between 2014-2016, these same researchers started to notice uncharacteristic sightings of juvenile white sharks in nearshore, central California waters near Aptos, California. This is farther north than young white sharks have ever been seen before as the animals historically remain in warmer waters in the southern California Current.

Water temperature in the Aptos area averages about 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius), but temperature extremes have become more common since the heatwave hit, rising as high as 69 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) in August 2020.

Scientists conducted the research by collecting data from tags the Aquarium and its partners deployed on juvenile white sharks beginning in 2002 to see where the animals were spending most of their time.

The team analyzed 22 million electronic data records from 14 sharks and then compared these data to 38 years of ocean temperatures to map the cold edge of the animals' thermal preferences, or "niche."

The study charts the significant northward shift in the young white sharks' range.

Between 1982 and 2013, the northernmost edge of the juveniles' range was located near Santa Barbara (34 N). But after the marine heatwave, their range shifted dramatically north to Bodega Bay (38.5 N). Ever since, the young sharks' range limit has hovered near Monterey (36 N).

"After studying juvenile white shark behavior and movements in southern California for the last 16 years, it is very interesting to see this northerly shift in nursery habitat use," said Dr. Chris Lowe, a co-author of the study and director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach. "I think this is what many biologists have expected to see as the result of climate change and rising ocean temperatures. Frankly, I'll be surprised if we don't see this northerly shift across more species."

Because this shift took scientists by surprise, the team turned to novel sources of data such as community science and recreational fishing records to document this northward movement of the population.

"This study would not have been possible without contributions from our community scientists and treasured Aquarium volunteers," says Dr. Van Houtan. "Eric Mailander, a local firefighter, provided a decade of detailed logbook records of shark sightings, and volunteer Carol Galginaitis transcribed those hand-written data into an electronic database."

The researchers say this study reinforces what scientists have been saying for years: animals and the living world are revealing the impacts of climate change.

"White sharks, otters, kelp, lobsters, corals, redwoods, monarch butterflies - these are all showing us that climate change is happening right here in our backyard," says Dr. Van Houtan. "It's time for us to take notice and listen to this chorus from nature. We know that greenhouse gas emissions are rapidly disrupting our climate and this is taking hold in many ways. Our study showed one example of juvenile white sharks appearing in Monterey Bay. But let's be clear: The sharks are not the problem. Our emissions are the problem. We need to act on climate change and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels."

###

About Monterey Bay Aquarium

With a mission to inspire conservation of the ocean, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is the most admired aquarium in the United States, a leader in science education, and a voice for ocean conservation through comprehensive programs in marine science and public policy. Everything we do works in concert to protect the future of our blue planet. More information at MontereyBayAquarium.org.
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of Buda brought in Freeit Data Solutions, an Austin-based IT service and solutions company, to complete their Office 365 migration and ensure the city could finalize its Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) compliance project.

Buda opted to migrate from Office 365 commercial tenant to the Office 365 US Government Community Cloud (GCC), which is CJIS compliant. While achieving compliance was vital, there was also a goal to minimize the disruptions encountered by users as the switch was made.

Operating since 2010, Freeit developed a methodology that started with outlining the system requirements. First, the solutions provider linked the commercial and GCC tenants to prepare for the move. They then established a pilot to test the configuration to ensure that everything worked properly.

An important step was preparing users for the transition. "Freeit met with employees regularly and was very clear about the process, which provided us with a lot of reassurance," noted Micah Grau, Deputy City Manager, City of Buda.

The final migration featured:

A quarter-million files

About 140 user mailboxes and OneDrive accounts

Approximately 20 shared mailboxes

20 resource mailboxes

All employee Exchange Contacts and Groups

By working with Freeit, Buda successfully cleared the hurdle by moving to a compliant and streamlined hybrid cloud solution. "For any migration, there will always be bumps in the road," said City of Buda's IT Administrator, Richard Martinez. "Freeit was a huge help to us. They were always available and worked tirelessly to address any problem that arose."

"Customer focus is the core of our DNA at Freeit," concluded Wayne Orchid, President & CEO of Freeit. "We were thrilled to learn that completion of this migration not only finalized their CJIS compliance project, but also increased productivity, cleaned up duplicate data records, and simplified their new user onboarding process."

About Freeit Data Solutions:

Freeit Data Solutions is an Austin-based IT services and solutions company that designs and deploys data center solutions for mid-large sized companies, enabling them to better manage and protect their data.

For more information, visit www.freeitdata.com

SOURCE Freeit Data Solutions Inc

Related Links

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GLENDALE, Ariz.  A 6-year-old child in Arizona took his parents car keys and drove a pickup truck into a nearby home, causing a gas leak in the house, authorities said.

The Glendale Police Department reported Tuesday that the officers responded to a car crash in a neighborhood Tuesday about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Phoenix.

No serious injuries were reported, but one person in the home suffered minor injuries, authorities said.

Police said the boy woke up in the middle of the night, grabbed his parents keys to their truck and made it three houses down before crashing into the fourth home, causing serious damage.

The Glendale Fire Department had to secure the utilities before the truck could be safely pulled out of the house. The truck was pulled out of the house around 7:30 a.m., authorities said.

Police say the child is OK and is back with his parents. An investigation is ongoing.

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By Caroline Copley

BERLIN (Reuters) - Dermapharm aims to start making the COVID-19 vaccine from BioNTech and U.S. partner Pfizer at a second site in Germany in May, its chief executive said, as part of efforts to ramp up production to meet demand.

The German drugmaker has been producing the shot at its factory in Brehna in eastern Germany since October and is in the process of converting a second site in Reinbek near Hamburg, Hans-Georg Feldmeier told Reuters in an interview.

"We are trying to start in May," he said. "The big advantage is that we can transfer our know-how from one site to the other. That also shortens the time."

Feldmeier said Dermapharm's two locations were part of a network of 13 production sites, including factories from pharma giants Novartis and Sanofi, that have been contracted by Pfizer/BioNTech to meet their 2021 production goal of 2 billion doses, up from a previous target of 1.3 million.

Dermapharm made a "significant share" of the 50 million doses produced in 2020 and is doubling its production capacity to help deliver 75 million extra doses to the European Union in the second quarter, Feldmeier said.

"With our voluntary increase, we are helping to produce this additional amount," he said, declining to go into more detail.

The company, listed on Germany's small-cap index, had no previous experience in making vaccines.

Instead, it was fortunate to have in-house experts on the niche business of putting the mRNA molecules into lipid nanoparticles to help them reach the designated cells in the human body without getting damaged.

"That was the bridge that led us to BioNTech," he said, adding they had received no state support.

The EU, under pressure over its sluggish vaccination roll-out, has said the limited availability of lipids and other raw materials is constraining COVID-19 vaccine production.

Feldmeier said lipids were like the lithium-ion batteries needed for electric cars. "You could build a lot more cars if there were more lithium-ion batteries," he said.

The main bottleneck for production was scaling up a previously niche technology and duplicating it across multiple locations, he said. "And that's what's happening right now, this rolling out into industrial scale."

(Reporting by Caroline Copley; editing by Douglas Busvine and Jason Neely)

Larry W. Smith/Getty Images

A member of the radical group Iron Youth was charged Monday after he allegedly purchased a machine gun from an undercover police officer, the Department of Justice said in a news release.

Caleb Nathaniel Oliver, 19, of Smiley was charged with unlawful possession of a machine gun  a conviction that holds up to 10 years in prison. Smiley is about 64 miles east of San Antonio.
Elda SASUN

Translation by Janet MITRANI

The concert that has been performed live at the Historical Italian Synagogue which had been built in the 1800s by the Italian Jewish Community, was titled 'Not To Forget - Per Non Dimenticare'. Before the concert the Consul General of Italy in Istanbul Elena Sgarbi, the Director of Istanbul Italian Cultural Institute Salvatore Schirmo, and on behalf of the Italian Jewish Community, Chief Rabbi of Turkey Rabbi Isak Haleva shred their messages with the audience.

During his speech, Chief Rabbi Haleva said, "I appreciate greatly the concert Italian Synagogue has organized together with the Italian Cultural Institute due to the Memorial Day. To face probably the most brutal, most unfair, and most painful era of human history is useful even necessary. Not to forget and to make it unforgotten, Holocaust should be told and taught. Every generation has the responsibility to create an environment suitable for the next generations to learn from the past mistakes, not to hold history responsible but to learn the universal truth. The Holocaust concept is a kind of exam to become a human being beyond just being a mortal." Rabbi Haleva in his speech also thanked our artist Renan Koen who strives internationally via music, to let Holocaust become unforgotten.

The director of Istanbul Italian Cultural Institute Salvatore Schirmo's speech in Italian was conveyed by Rfat Behar, the head of the Italian Jewish Community as follows: "We are greatly honored that the Memorial Day Concert organized in the Historical Italian Jewish Synagogue has been made under the auspices of the Consulate General of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute and of maintaining this collaboration with the synagogue management.

The Head of Istanbul State Opera Choir and the Choir Director Paolo Villa and the soprano pianist Renan Koen will perform pieces composed from the songs and music in the concentration camps. To keep the memory alive and explain the tragedy of Shoah is extremely important to us and it should not be forgotten."

The Consul General of Italy in Istanbul Elena Sgarbi in her speech, said, "The UN General Assembly determined January 27th as the International Holocaust Memorial Day in 2005. The Italian Government had decided to commemorate the victims of the biggest tragedy of humanity in the year 2000. The Shoah is the symbol of evil which can be repeated by humanity at any time. And unfortunately in recent years, all around the world, a great increase in anti-Semitism, racism, and hate crimes is being seen. Not to let it be forgotten and to remind, to create a better, more just, and more humane society has become our major cause. Memorial Day is not only important for the memories that need to be kept alive, it is also a call. In a troublesome year such as this, struggling with pandemic all over the world, the Italian Cultural Institute, the Italian Synagogue, and Consulate General of Italy is reiterating a fundamental tradition of our community. The message of this event is always very important and the same; it is remembering the victims of the past, all together. Let's work to prevent Holocaust from ever happening again in the future and let's not let it be forgotten."

Following the speeches, the concert which was directed and filmed by Alberto Modiano began. Renan Koen and Paolo Villa performed a meaningful musical program consisting of the works of composers who were Holocaust victims.

During the concert streamed live from the historical Italian Synagogue, Renan Koen first played piano pieces by Victor Ullmann who had composed the pieces in the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Then Koen together with Paolo Villa performed pieces for soprano and piano. The first song played by Paolo Villa and sang by soprano Renan Koen was 'I.Kaddish' from the album 'Deux Melodies Hebraiques' by Maurice Ravel. Secondly, Koen sang the song 'Ukolebavka' from the album 'Tri Pisne' composed in Theresienstadt by Gideon Klein. The third piece sang by Koen, composed by Mikis Theodorakis in memory of the Holocaust victims was titled 'Asma Asmaton' from the album 'Mauthausen'. Koen then sang the Romany song 'Mamo Mamo (Mother Mother)' which had been sung by the Romanes in the Auschwitz Birkenau death camp. The final piece of the memorial concert was the Sephardic song 'Arvoles Yoran Por Luvya (Trees Cry for Rain)' by Alberto Hemsi which had been sung by the Thessaloniki Jews in Auschwitz Birkenau.
HARRISBURG  In the weeks since Pennsylvania began its coronavirus vaccine rollout, the Wolf administration has stood by its localized, do-it-yourself system for finding and booking appointments, despite widespread frustration among residents.

The relationship that folks have with their provider or with their pharmacists is what was best suited to actually administer the vaccine, Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said in January. And so we are allowing those providers and those pharmacists to be able to use their scheduling systems.

But the states patchwork approach has left particularly at-risk residents and communities at a tremendous disadvantage. Older Pennsylvanians, who are supposed to be among the first in line to get the vaccine, are struggling with clunky and disjointed online signups and phone numbers that get them nowhere, while those who are more tech-savvy jump ahead.

And more than a month into the rollout, the Pennsylvania health department hasnt done any targeted outreach on the vaccine to communities that dont speak English, many of whom have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

The states map of vaccine providers  which includes information on how and where to book coveted appointments  appears only in English. And a translated fact sheet on the vaccine for Spanish speakers hasnt been updated since late December, before adults 65 and over and younger people with select health conditions became eligible.

Roughly 1.4 million people  more than 11% of the state  speak languages other than English at home, according to U.S. Census data. The majority of those who have been vaccinated so far, state data show, have been white or of an unknown race.

In the absence of official messaging from the state, advocates who serve these communities said they have been deluged with requests for information on the vaccine. Misinformation has circulated quickly.

The communication of who is eligible for the vaccine has not been done adequately in any other language besides English, said Laura Perkins, an organizer at Casa San Jose, an organization that serves immigrants in Allegheny County and elsewhere in southwestern Pennsylvania.

We work primarily with the Latinx community, Perkins added, but we also have a large Russian population, Chinese population, Nepali population, Somali Bantu population, many folks that speak Arabic. And the only attempt at another language is in Spanish and that information is not updated.

Officials are working diligently on improving language access, Department of Health Senior Advisor Lindsey Mauldin said at a news conference last week. On the departments website, information about COVID-19 can be auto-translated, though the governors task force on COVID-19 health disparity recommended in August that related materials be properly translated by professional translators, instead of machine translation.

We are working with our health equity response team to ensure more equity among our vaccine distribution, Mauldin said, though she did not offer a timeline for updated materials.

But this isnt the first time the Wolf administration has failed to prioritize outreach and materials for those who do not speak English. Last year, after Spotlight PA reported on the lack of coronavirus-related information available in other languages, Pennsylvania added Spanish captions to its daily briefings and updated its website to include fact sheets and other materials translated into Spanish. The state also launched a much-needed rental relief program without forms available in languages other than English.

The situation for Spanish speakers is slightly better in Philadelphia, which is managing its own vaccine program. The city has an online interest form in both English and Spanish. But its not enough, some residents and advocates said.

We need numbers where we can call people who speak our language to ask questions and to be able to get answers around the vaccine that understand what were saying, Claudia Garcia of Philadelphia, who cleans houses and provides in-home elder care, told Spotlight PA through a translator.

Language access isnt the only problem vaccine-seekers have sought help with, said Nicole Kligerman, Pennsylvania director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance.

There is limited knowledge of using tech, Kligerman said.

Philadelphia officials are using a system that collects information, like age and occupation, on users who are interested in receiving the vaccine. On its website, the citys department of health says it uses the information to alert residents to places they can receive the vaccine when its their turn.

But many members of the National Domestic Workers Alliance do not have access to smartphones or computers, much less the internet or even an email address.

And even if they do, the registration page is not necessarily user-friendly for everybody, Kligerman added of the Philadelphia platform.

Accessing information has been similarly dire for older Pennsylvanians, who told Spotlight PA the states provider map  the only vaccine access tool the Department of Health has released  is essentially useless. Adults over 70 account for almost 80% of those who have died from the virus in Pennsylvania. And while most residents of the states nursing homes have been offered a vaccine through a federal program, the rollout is going much slower in other long-term care facilities. Many seniors who live independently, meanwhile, are on their own.

Its been frustrating, said 70-year-old Richard Schuetz. And what happens when people get frustrated? They lose confidence in the government.

When vaccine-seekers called providers directly to make appointments using numbers listed on the states map, some told Spotlight PA they were directed back to online portals. Voicemails, many reported, went unreturned. And when they were available, vaccine slots were snapped up quickly.

Fred Hunt, who lives in Bradford County, even synchronized operations with a family member to sign up for appointments online for himself and his wife through a hospitals online portal.

By the time my daughter-in-law and I got it coordinated so wed both have [appointment] times that were similar, all the times were gone, the 80-year-old said.

It was five minutes, he added. In five minutes all 400 slots were gone.

Its like youre trying to get concert tickets, said Sue Burnside, who lives in the Lehigh Valley area, describing her struggle to make vaccine appointments for her mother, 85, and father, 90, who live in Harrisburg.

Ive literally spent more than five days on the computer checking the various links, Burnside said, detailing the process of finding appointments. Checking on all the links  minimally  every half-hour. Six oclock in the morning until nine or 10 at night.

Eventually, she was able to book vaccine appointments for her parents  in two different places on two separate dates.

A spokesperson for the state health department said older Pennsylvanians can call 877-PA-HEALTH to get help finding a vaccine provider.

They cannot make the appointment for people, but they can help them locate providers near them and give them the contact information to make the appointment, a spokesperson said. Meanwhile, we are working with the organizations that support older Pennsylvanians to increase the avenues available for them to connect with a vaccine provider.

The spokesperson did not know how many multilingual speakers staff the hotline.

Pennsylvania officials are grappling with problems outside their control, primarily a limited supply of vaccines from the federal government. President Joe Biden has promised states more doses in the coming weeks, but Pennsylvania officials say this still wont be enough to vaccinate all 4 million people eligible in the first phase in a timely manner.

Still, some states  including California, New Mexico, and New Jersey  have implemented centralized sign-up systems that alert residents when they are eligible to schedule an appointment.

Pennsylvanias plan, meanwhile, has been a competition in which the fittest and most technologically adept  who frankly, arent the people we are really charged with serving first  get the prize, Susan Friedberg Kalson, CEO of Squirrel Hill Health Center in Pittsburgh, told a state House panel last week.

A centralized system could minimize the problem caused when appointment-seekers schedule visits at several places then fail to show up to a planned appointment, Kalson and other administrators said at Wednesdays hearing.

Many people register at multiple locations, compounding the problem of no-shows and potential waste, she added.

Centralizing the states vaccine sign-up system would likely present additional technological considerations, other experts said. To be able to schedule appointments and share records, hospital IT systems would have to work together, something they dont usually do, Spotlight PA previously reported.

Speaking to the House Health Committee last Wednesday, Beam, the acting health secretary, again defended the agencys response, saying that states that centralized their systems have failed to be successful.

There is not enough vaccine, with or without a registration system, she added. And a registration system wont fix that limiting factor.
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Former President Donald Trump's impeachment lawyer David Schoen argued that it was unconstitutional for the Senate to try Trump for incitement of insurrection after he left office  claiming the effort was fueled by 'base hatred' and a 'lust for impeachment.'

'This is a process fueled irresponsibly by base hatred by these house managers and those who gave them their charge, and they are willing to sacrifice our national character to advance their hatred and their fear that one day, they might not be the party in power,' Schoen told senators seated in the chamber at the start of Trump's trial Tuesday.

At one point Schoen held up a copy of the U.S. Constitution, calling its emphasis on due process as its 'life breath.'

David Schoen, an attorney for former President Donald Trump, brandished Mao's little red book as he argued for due process in the Trump Senate impeachment trial

Then, he brandished a copy of Mao Tse Tung's famous 'little red book' seeking to drive home his attack on the proceeding, seeking to tie those who would impeach Trump or deny him his rights to authoritarian regimes.

'Some of them have chosen their own handbooks which direct their citizens' conduct their citizens' conduct on penalty of death. This is one of them. There can be no room for due process in such a system as this, or the system would be lost. Snap decisions are required in a system like this to maintain power for one political philosophy over all others in those kinds of systems.'

He continued: 'But we, as a nation, have rejected those systems in snap decisions they demand to maintain role for one party, for one point of view and for imposed way of life. We choose to live freely under a Constitution that guarantees our freedom. Other countries fear those freedoms and seek to ensure adherence to a party line in all civic, political, spiritual and other affairs and to ensure that the party line is towed.'

Schoen whipped out the handbook after Democratic managers had played dramatic video of the riot waged by Trump supporters in the Capitol, in what they called a desperate effort to overturn a democratic election, following an erratic presentation by his co-counsel.

Castor accused Democrats of harboring an 'insatiable lust for impeachment'

Fellow lawyer Bruce Castor delivered a rambling 47-minute speech at the start of the impeachment trial

Former President Donald Trump is charged with 'incitement of insurrection'

The first order of business was a debate over whether the impeachment trial itself was constitutional  and 50 Democrats and six Republicans ultimately voted that it was, allowing it to go forward.

But it was also an opportunity for lawyers to lay down the foundation of their cases, and Schoen used both legal arguments and plays to emotion and to partisan feeling in a chamber of lawmakers who essentially serve as jurors in the court of impeachment.

'My overriding emotion is frankly, wanting to cry for what I believe these proceedings will do to our great so long enduring sacred constitution, and to the American people,' Schoen said.

He blasted the House Democratic managers representing the will of the Democratic-run House. 'What they really want to accomplish here in the name of the Constitution is to bar Donald Trump from ever running for political office again, but this is an affront to the Constitution no matter who they target today,' he said.

He accused them of harboring an 'insatiable lust for impeachment.'

Schoen's ramarks sought to blast away the foundation for the trial itself. It came after the other member of his team, Bruce Castor, delivered a rambling 47-minute argument to kick off his defense that the House impeachment was unconstitutional  while saying it would lead to unforeseeable consequences in the future.

The performance of Trump's legal team appears to have pushed one Republican away from him, at least on the constitutionality issue.

The floodgates will open, the Philadelphia-based Castor argued before the Senate.

I was going to say it will, instead of floodgates, I was going to say originally it will release the whirlwind. Which is a biblical reference. But I subsequently learned since I got here that that particularly phrase has already been taken, so I figured I better change it to floodgates. But the political pendulum will shift one day, he continued.

'It was disorganized, random, they talked about many things but they didn't talk about the issue at hand. And so if, if Im an impartial juror, and I'm trying to make a decision based upon the facts as presented on this issue, then the house managers did a much better job,' said Sen. Bill Cassidy, of Louisiana, in remarks to CNN and reporters in the Capitol.

Castor veered from topic to topic, occasionally consulting his legal pad or whipping out a copy of the Constitution to read from it. He made several attempts to flatter senators collectively as well as individually.

Senators of the United States, they are not ordinary people. They are extraordinary people, he said, name-dropping home-state senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey.

Senators are patriots. Senators are valiant men and women, he piled on. At one point, he spoke about listening to recordings of the late Sen. Everett Dirksen of Illinois in the late 60s.

My parents were big fans of Senator Everett Dirksen from Illinois, he said. He said they had a recording of his series of lectures. We still know what records are, right? he told the chamber known to be filled with septuagenarians.

He denounced the Capitol riot in the strongest possible way.

To have it attacked is repugnant in every sense of the word, he said.

He said it was natural to recoil, but described impeachment as part of a desire for retribution.

But Castor argued there are clear differences within law that relate to intent. We know we have a specific body of law that deals with passion and rage blinding logic and reason.

Thats the difference between manslaughter and murder, he continued. Manslaughter is the killing of a human being upon sudden and intense provocation. But murder is done with cold blood and reflective thought, Castor said.

Castor tried to mock the argument by House managers, which brought up an 18th century impeachment in Britain that got brought up at the constitutional convention in Philadelphia. Rep. Jamie Raskin brought it up to argue that the founders had assumptions about the extent of the impeachment power based on practice in colonial Great Britain.

I cant believe these fellows are quoting what happened pre-revolution as if it was of some kind of value to us, Castor snipped.

But he himself had made a reference to ancient Athens just moments before, and later brought up Ancient Rome, having kicked off his arguments touting his connection to Philadelphia and appreciation for the history of the Senate.

Occasionally he meandered for long passages before his main point was evident, as when he issued a defense of political speech.

I saw a headline, representative so and so seeks to walk back comments about I forget what it was, something that bothered her. I was devastated when I saw that she thought it was necessary to go on television yesterday or the day before and say she needs to walk back her comments. She should be able to comment as much as she wants, Castor said.

One of the strengths of this body is its deliberative action, he said, mentioning how he saw West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin on television talking about the filibuster  an issue that divides the chamber.

After more than 40 minutes, he said: I think that I want to give my colleagues Mr. Schoen an opportunity to explain to all of us the legal analysis on jurisdiction  the issue he spoke to address. Ill be quite frank with you, we changed what we were going to do on account that we thought that the House managers presentation was well done, he admitted. And I wanted you to know that we have responses to those things.

At one point he referred to Trump as the former president, even though his client makes a point of calling himself the 45th president.

He ridiculed Raskins idea of a January exception to impeachment, pointing to criminal law. So after hes out of office, you go and arrest him, he said. He said there was no opportunity where the president can run rampant in January.

Then in making the case that the Constitutions impeachment clause is meant for current occupants, not former ones, he directly contradicted Trumps claim that he won the election.

President Trump no longer is in office. The object of the Constitution has been achieved. He was removed by the voters, Castor said.
A caricature of William George Aston, a British diplomat in Japan, studying Korean in 1882 / Robert Neff Collection



By Robert Neff



Learning a foreign language can be daunting  even with the dictionaries and translation programs that are easily accessible on our smartphones and computers. Speaking is especially difficult and requires a great deal of effort and humility as there will undoubtedly be many mistakes made. It was especially difficult in the 19th century when Westerners first appeared in Korea and there were no language books except a few basic dictionaries.



There are many amusing anecdotes found in the correspondences and publications by these early Western visitors involving their miscommunications between themselves and their Korean hosts.



Horace N. Allen, the American minister to Korea in the late 1890s through 1905, was fond of one tale that he attributed to his predecessor  possibly Augustine Heard. According to Allen, his predecessor was entertaining a couple of guests and sent a handwritten missive to his Chinese servant to bring him three cocktails.



"The [servant] knew the name of this drink when spoken, and could compound it, but he did not recognize it when slowly spelled out from a written 'chit' he therefore resorted to his dictionary, with the result that after much delay, during which the entire staff was out chasing the fowls around, he came in perspiring and delivered three tail feathers from a very indignant rooster."



Speaking about perspiring, another tale Allen was fond of telling was an incident involving American missionary Horace Underwood. It appears Underwood was giving a sermon to a mixed congregation (the chapel was divided by a curtain into two sides  one side for men and the other for women) and this subject caused quite a stir. According to Allen:



"He was very earnest in his rebuke of the Korean women, because they were so beset with the sin of covetousness, explaining that they could never hope to enter the kingdom of heaven unless they gave up that sin. Finally one old woman, unable to stand it longer, arose and announced that it was impossible to rid themselves of this failing. This only served to bring forth a stronger condemnation till the old woman interrupted the missionary to demand some medicine for the trouble, if it was so bad as all that, since any one might know that this was a thing which faith could not reach. The missionary's teacher thereupon arose and called his pupil's attention to the fact that while he was preaching upon the subject of covetousness he had been using the word for perspire."



I have never been a great fan of Allen. I think he was very sanctimonious  always willing to find fault with others while glossing over or even whitewashing his own faults and inadequacies.



When Allen arrived in Korea in 1884 as a missionary doctor, he hired a Korean to teach him the language but fired him after only a week. In his diary Allen wrote: "The reason he was discharged was that he always has a lot of friends coming to see him and I could do no studying. I may hire him over again after he has learned this lesson."



Allen soon hired a new teacher and one of his first tasks was to help Allen with a troublesome Korean patient  Allen denounced the man as a hypochondriac even though he had removed the man's eye recently. According to Allen's diary entry for Feb. 3, 1885:



"On yesterday I got my teacher to tell him he was a nuisance meaning a vexation but the Chinese word meant 'a very bad stink' and the man was surprised at the intelligence but seemed unabashed."



Communicating in Korean wasn't Allen's only problem  he also had problems with English. In 1889, he was requested to obtain an American assistant and foreman for the Korean government's gold mine but instead hired an assistant and four men. It cost the Korean government a substantial amount of money to return the excess miners to the United States and pay them for their inconvenience.



The Western-owned gold mining concessions in northern Korea in the late 19th and early 20th centuries had their own share of miscommunications. Sometimes these miscommunications were caused by English words that sounded very similar to Korean words but with completely different meanings. In the beginning, most of the heavy equipment used at these mining concessions had to be man-handled into position by gangs of Korean laborers who were supervised by Western foremen. One of these foremen recalled that while his team was trying to lift a very heavy boiler, he yelled out for them to "come on" in an effort to motivate them. As if on cue, his entire team released the ropes they were using to lift the boiler and it came crashing to the ground  narrowly missing the American. Apparently, the Korean miners had mistaken "come on" for the Korean "geu-man" (stop).





Fred Dustin teaching English at Chung-Ang University 1958 / Robert Neff Collection
Unions are at odds over an ad depicting the Prime Minister as a bus driver speeding towards workers, with some officials saying they see the 30-second commercial attacking the governments proposed industrial relations overhaul as counterproductive.

Several senior officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Stop the Bus ad, commissioned by the Electrical Trades Union and construction arm of the CFMMEU, was more about appealing to those unions members than the public.

A depiction of Scott Morrison as a bus driver from the ETU and CFMMEUs ad against the governments industrial relations overhaul.

They fear the ad could alienate crossbench MPs voting on the governments IR bill, both because it has been criticised by road safety advocates for trivialising the issue and because it highlights the hard man image of parts of the union movement.

If this ad is designed to defeat the legislation, which is dependent on the crossbench, its a shocking miscalculation, one senior figure from another union said.
South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co said it is not now in talks with Apple Inc on autonomous electric cars, just a month after it confirmed early-stage talks with the tech giant, sending the automaker's shares skidding.

Wiping $3 billion off its market value, Hyundai's stock slid 6.2%. Shares in its affiliate Kia Corp, which had been tipped in local media reports as the likely operational partner for Apple, tumbled 15% - a $5.5 billion hit.

The announcement brings the curtain down on weeks of internal divisions at Hyundai Motor Co Group - parent to both automakers - about the potential tieup, with some executives raising concerns about becoming a contract manufacturer for the U.S. tech giant in a tieup reminiscent of electronics firm Foxconn's role in making device for Apple like the iPhone.

"We are receiving requests for cooperation in joint development of autonomous electric vehicles from various companies, but they are at early stage and nothing has been decided," the automakers said on Monday, in compliance with stock market rules requiring regular updates to investors regarding market rumours.

"We are not having talks with Apple on developing autonomous vehicles."

Kia shares had jumped 61% since Hyundai initially confirmed a local media report early in January that Apple and Hyundai were in discussions to develop self-driving electric vehicles by 2027 and develop batteries at U.S. factories operated by either Hyundai or Kia.

"Apple and Hyundai are in discussion, but as it is at early stage, nothing has been decided," Hyundai said, before releasing subsequent statements that removed all mentions of Apple but said Hyundai was receiving electric car cooperation requests from parties it didn't identify.

As recently as last week, media outlets including CNBC reported that a deal was close to being finalised. One South Korean report said the two companies were set to sign the deal on Feb. 17.

'AGONISING'

Hyundai is traditionally known for its reluctance to work with outsiders, making engines, transmissions and even its own steel in-house in a vertically integrated supply chain as South Korea's second-largest conglomerate.

Although shares in Kia and Hyundai had surged on news of the talks, internal opposition to becoming an Apple contract manufacturer was considerable, according to people familiar with the matter.

"We are agonising over how to do it, whether it is good to do it or not," a Hyundai executive aware of internal discussions on the tie-up told Reuters in January. "We are not a company which manufactures cars for others," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Apple and Hyundai first started talks over a car partnership in 2018, another person familiar with the matter previously told Reuters. But progress was hampered by the South Korean automaker's reticence on working with outsiders, the person said.

Reuters reported in December that Apple was moving forward with autonomous car technology and aimed to produce a passenger vehicle that could include its own breakthrough battery technology as early as 2024.

Apple, known to keep product plans under tight wraps, has never acknowledged talks with the automaker about building vehicles, and wasn't immediately available for comment outside business hours in the United States.

Analysts said talks might have collapsed over leaks of the partnership plan to media, or over possible insistence by Apple that Hyundai's role in any tieup would be that of an equipment manufacturer, rather than a strategic partner.

"With numerous news reports over discussions between the two companies, which should have been held to non-disclosure agreements, it would have been uncomfortable" said Kwon Soon-woo, an analyst at SK Securities.

Kevin Yoo, an analyst at eBEST Investment & Securities, said, "It seems clear that Hyundai Motor Group has not been too happy with dealing with Apple...They made it clear that they do not want to be treated just as Apple's supplier or manufacturer".

Also read: PM Modi dials Joe Biden, discusses regional, climate change issues

Also read: Protein deficiency behind surge in coronavirus infection in US, Europe
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Several months ago, I wrote an op-ed about how concerned I was for the state of the Church in America if persecution were to reach our shores. Unfortunately, that time may be upon us. I spent over a decade after 9-11 as a US government contractor building community-based programs that would detect and deter Islamic radicals. We used words like "violent extremists" instead of "Islamic" to distinguish between peaceful Muslims and those who used religion to justify violence. "Words matter" was a fundamental US policy because we took pride in protecting religious liberty and the freedom to express unpopular beliefs.



However, since the US Capitol attack, many of our elected officials are unwilling to apply those same principles to conservative Christians. Though a tiny group of anarchists perpetrated the violence, we hear the entire conservative movement described as violent radicals who must be identified, marginalized, and even subject to criminal penalties. It is very alarming to hear Congressional representatives talk about their fellow Americans with such disdain and intolerance. Vilification of millions of Americans who passionately defend the rights of the unborn, Biblical gender roles, and the Christian ideals that are the cornerstone of our constitution can have far-reaching consequences.



Our beliefs are not inherently violent or intolerant. We do not seek to impose our values through violence as the Islamic terrorists explicitly advocate. Yet some in the media and government are equating the two as if we are the new "enemy of the state." What will be the response of our Christian leaders and the Church at large to such a gross mischaracterization? Do we have the internal fortitude and courage to defend our ideals even if we become social outcasts or suffer physical consequences?

God says in the Book of Revelation, "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown." He teaches us that we must be bold during such times, whatever the cost, and never fear the consequences that men can bring. Paul the Apostle knew this principle all too well. He experienced physical torture, ridicule, and even gave up his own life for one reason  his unwavering devotion to spreading the Gospel. Salvation occurs at the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, but that is not the only goal of our redemption. We are called to preach the Gospel so that the whole world can be redeemed and placed perfectly whole at the throne of God. The fact that we get to experience sanctification and the joy that comes from a relationship with Christ is a welcomed byproduct; but, we cannot forget the great commission to reconcile the whole world unto Him, regardless of the personal cost.

After a year of being locked in our homes for fear of a pandemic, having our kids suffering immeasurable harm from being out of school and without meaningful social interaction, people need the grace and peace that can only come from being in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Now more than ever, our society needs Christians to provide a way out of the turmoil of personal circumstances. The power of redemption does not rely on who is president or what society says is acceptable but is based on God's infallible word found in the Bible, going forth from the church. It is the only unwavering source of peace in what would otherwise be a chaotic world. Regardless of how they want to characterize us as extremists or radicals, we know the true power of Jesus Christ to redeem, restore and transform the lives of all who accept Him. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life." [1]



[1] John 3:16
Jessica Hayes has spoken of how she feared for her life while suffering a heartbreaking miscarriage at 19 weeks pregnant last year.

revealed the heartbreaking news via her Instagram page in December, explaining she and fiance Dan Lawry had named their son Teddy. The Love Island contestant, 27,

During the post, Jessica told how she was 'drowning in grief' and wrote 'I'm so sorry I couldn't keep you safe for a little while longer'.

Tragic: Jessica Hayes has spoken of how she feared for her life while suffering a heartbreaking miscarriage last year

The reality personality has since revealed she was worried her own life was in danger while going through the unbearable ordeal, admitting that the past couple of months have been the 'hardest of her life'.

Jessica, who named the child Teddy, told Ok!: 'Although I had Dan with me, I really wanted my mum. So she swapped over and was there with me during the labour.

'It's not that I didn't want Dan but I could only pick one person and I felt like I needed my mum. They also didn't know if I was going to be OK as you can get really sick and I lost a lot of blood.

Heartbreaking: The Love Island contestant, 27, revealed the heartbreaking news via her Instagram page in December, explaining she and fiance Dan Lawry had named their son Teddy

'My life was in danger as well as the baby's.'

Jessica also revealed that she went to say goodbye to Teddy with Dan in the hospital's bereavement suite because she felt she 'owed' it to him to see him.

She added that she feels like he is just as much her son as her first born Presley, 19 months, who she admitted has been her reason to carry on.

Jessica first shared the tragic news alongside a picture of her baby's hand and footprints, a knitted blanket and a teddy bear.

She said: 'To Our little Teddy. I'm so sorry I couldn't keep you safe for a little while longer. I'm sorry I couldn't take you home.

Family: She added that she feels like he is just as much her son as her first born Presley (pictured), 19 months, who she admitted has been her reason to carry on

'I'm sorry we had to say goodbye this way it wasn't supposed to be like this. The pain is unbearable and I feel like I'm drowning in grief.

'My mind spinning thinking of all the what ifs and questions of who you would of grown up to be. When will I wake up From this awful nightmare?

'I look at the clock and count the hours of how old you are time is moving but your not here your not getting older it's not fair. No first times, smiles or laughter.'

The mother-of-one - who welcomed first son Presley James in June 2019 - continued: 'Why did this happen to us? I wish I could of stared at your beautiful face a little while longer and held you in my arms forever.

Sad: Jessica first shared the tragic news alongside a picture of her baby's hand and footprints, a knitted blanket and a teddy bear

Grief: Jessica shared some moving words alongside her heartbreaking announcement

'I look down at my empty stomach where you should still be growing safely and I feel so empty without you there no kicks no flutters.

'I could see Presley in you, you were so beautiful, perfectly formed. You would never get to play together and be best friends in this world and that hurts so much he would of loved you his little brother so much.

'I'm grateful that we shared 19 weeks together and I carried you for as long as I could before it was your time to gain your wings.

'You will always be our beautiful son and I promise you will hold the biggest place in our hearts forever my sweet angel. I will make sure the world knows how special you are.

'Until we meet again my Teddy.. Too special for this world. I love you now, forever and always . Your mummy, Daddy and big brother Presley.'

Family: Jess pictured with her fiance Dan and son Presley (pictured in August)

Tragically, Jessica had only revealed that she and Dan - who announced their engagement in August 2018 - were expecting their second child the week before.

She won Love Island in 2015 alongside Max Morley in the first season of the rebooted show, but they parted ways just 40 days after the final aired.

Afterwards, Jessica didn't minced her words about her ex, saying that she 'would never go near him' again because he's 'vile'.

He went on to date Charlotte Crosby, Love Island 2016 contestant Zara Holland, and ex Love Islander Laura Anderson.

The Sands National Helpline provides a safe, confidential place for anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby

Call the Sands Helpline on 0808 164 3332 helpline@sands.org.uk
Evangelical pastors in Myanmar have taken to the streets alongside their Buddhist neighbors in the week since a military takeover, believing that God is on the peoples side and praying desperately for him to bring justice.

Amid nationwide internet and phone shutdowns, some churches gathering online due to the pandemic couldnt connect to worship together last weekend, the first Sunday since the coup in the Southeast Asian nation formerly known as Burma. Hundreds of displaced Christians have been physically blocked out of their towns due to travel restrictions and roadblocks.

Ministries are scrambling to adapt so they can keep encouraging one another and ensure evangelism efforts dont let up during another dark chapter in their countrys history.

Our friends and relatives are unreachable, but they will not succeed in suppressing our voices, said Michael Koko Maung, who leads a national network of church planters.

On the ground, our brothers and sisters [believers] will continue their movement of peaceful civil disobedience, the drumming of pots and pans, peaceful mass marching demonstrations, and the chants of condemnation to the military. Abroad, we will let the world know that we are fighting back.

Pastors in his network, Nehemiah Ministries, shared masked selfies of themselves crowded onto overpasses and holding signs at intersections as mass protests continued for a third straight day on Monday.

The unrest began a week before, on February 1, when the military detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, cut off communication and news networks, and put a commander in charge of the country. The move harkened back to decades of military rule and Suu Kyis historic fight as a pro-democracy activist.

The takeover exaggerates existing vulnerabilities for Myanmars Christian minority, according to Open Doors. In the past, the military government has upheld Buddhist culture and tradition to the extent that churches become subject to restrictions, one local pastor told the ministry.

Evangelicals make up just under 5 percent of the countrys population and are its largest religious minority. Despite the risk of retribution, some Christian institutions and individual pastors have spoken out. The Myanmar Evangelical Christian Alliance as well as an interdenominational Christian group in Mandalay, the second-largest city in the country, recently issued statements condemning the coup.

The leaders in high positions in the church have the most to lose. If they are vocal, they and their denominations could be targeted for prison/house arrest, or the military could use deadly force as they have in the past and in many of the former leaders memories, said Ellis Craft, Southeast Asia ministry director for the US-based missions organization Reach A Village.

The churches that are growing the fastest in Myanmar like Nehemiah Ministries are nearest to the ground and are active in the communities, said Craft. It makes sense that they are the ones out there standing up to injustice.

Image: Courtesy of Michael Koko Maung

Maung shared with CT over Facebook Messenger that a small group of leaders were able to meet in his office in Yangon Monday to coordinate ministry activities. Since the coup, they have had to figure out how to get funds to pastors in the field while money transfer apps are down and make plans for continuing house worship in cell groups. (COVID-19 restrictions allow gatherings of fewer than 30 to continue to meet.)

Day by day, more of the networks pastors have joined the protests. But more than anything, they continue to pray together. Christians in Myanmar are not timid and coward, but Christians might fight with [their] greatest weapon, prayer and Jesus himself, Maung wrote. We also request all of you who sympathise [with] us, pray for us in this fight to overcome sin and Satans schemes.

The recent unrest threatens internally displaced minorities within the country, such as more than 500 believers, including missionaries, trapped in Kyaukkyi, in the Bago Region without the aid they need, another local Christian reported to Open Doors. In Chin state, a part of Myanmar bordering India and Bangladesh, believers worry about possible human rights abuses as the military presence increases.

The coup compounds the suffering the citizens of Myanmar have known all their lives, leaders say. Christians, though, continue standing on the promises of God and the hope that he will hear their unceasing prayer just as the government hears the protesters filling the streets.

Theres been time to pray, time to wait, time to keep silent, said Maung. But its time to shout.
Egypt reopened the Rafah border crossing to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday in both directions, said an official statement by the Palestinian embassy in Cairo.

Around two million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip use the crossing as the main gateway to the outside world and the only crossing point not controlled by Israel.

The reopening of the crossing comes within intensive bilateral discussions between the Egyptian and Palestinian leaderships to facilitate the travel and return of Palestinian citizens to and from the Gaza Strip, said the embassy statement.

Palestinian Ambassador to Cairo Diab Al-Louh thanked President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and the Egyptian authorities for their sincere and tireless efforts to alleviate burdens on the Palestinian people, along with their constant support for the just Palestinian cause."

Egypt occasionally opens the Rafah crossing for humanitarian cases who need to travel in order to allow the passage of students and medical patients, in addition to those who have foreign passports.

Egypt opened Rafah for four days on 2 February.

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Law enforcement officials in Ukraine, in coordination with authorities from the U.S. and Australia, last week shut down one of the world's largest phishing services that were used to attack financial institutions in 11 countries, causing tens of millions of dollars in losses.

The Ukrainian attorney general's office said it worked with the National Police and its Main Investigation Department to identify a 39-year-old man from the Ternopil region who developed a phishing package and a special administrative panel for the service, which were then aimed at several banks located in Australia, Spain, the U.S., Italy, Chile, the Netherlands, Mexico, France, Switzerland, Germany, and the U.K.

Computer equipment, mobile phones, and hard drives were seized as part of five authorized searches conducted during the course of the operation.

Security researcher Brian Krebs noted the raids were in connection with U-Admin, a phishing framework that makes use of fake web pages to pilfer victim credentials more efficiently.

It is estimated that over 50% of all phishing attacks in 2019 in Australia were carried out using the phishing toolkit.

The hacker is believed to have not only sold his products to customers around the world via an online store in the dark web but also alleged to have provided technical support during phishing attacks.

More than 200 active buyers of malicious software have been identified, Ukrainian officials said.

U-Admin allowed customers to exfiltrate data entered by victims on compromised websites by injecting malicious code into the browser. The crimeware platform's info-stealing capabilities also extended to capturing two-factor authentication codes.

The hacker, who has been arrested on charges of creating and distributing malicious software and breaking into computer networks, faces up to six years of imprisonment if found guilty.
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Rock Wireless, a division of Standing Rock Telecom and the first tribally-owned wireless telecommunications company in the nation, will rely on this spectrum to provide wireless service for K-12 education, residential, and businesses across the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and surrounding communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored how critical internet connectivity is to daily life. This prized Mid-band spectrum will play a critical step in expanding broadband access in these communities.

Rock Wireless selected the BEC MX-210NP R7-Q, the ultra-compact router delivers hassle-free subscriber self-installation to reduce costs and speed up deployments with robust connectivity over LTE Band 41. Subscribers will enjoy the benefits of a feature-rich solution capable of supporting advanced services with multiple Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, high-powered Wi-Fi, and Power over Ethernet (PoE).

"We have been very pleased with the network performance of the BEC equipment and value them as a partner for their quality and excellent customer support," said Fred McLaughlin, General Manager of Standing Rock Telecom.

"BEC is thrilled to support Rock Wireless with this unique opportunity," said D'Andre Ladson, VP of Marketing. "We share the same vision for reliable high-speed broadband connectivity to under-served rural communities."

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Launched in 2010, Standing Rock Telecommunications, Inc. provides cellular and fixed wireless voice, fax, data transmission, and high-speed Internet services for residents and businesses across the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Headquartered in Fort Yates, North Dakota, Standing Rock delivers the benefits of high-quality technology to members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. They are the first tribally owned wireless company in the nation. For more information, visit www.standingrocktelecom.com or www.facebook.com/standingrocktelecom

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Bihar has a long history of organized education. Once upon a time, Bihar was a leading place in terms of higher education. Nalanda and Vikramshila University was the two most important centres for learning in India. Nalanda University being the focal point handled all branches including (Art, Architecture, Painting, Logic, Grammar, Philosophy, Astronomy, Literature, Buddhism, Hinduism, Arthashastra (Economics & Politics), Law, and Medicine, Arithmetic, Theology, Law, Metaphysics, Ethics) and housed up to 10,000 students at its peak.

Students from China, Korea, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia and from all the regions of India came to Nalanda and Vikramshila uinversities to study.



But at present, both Bihar and Nalanda is in ruins. State is highly deficient in the area of good technical institutions. Some institutions of higher learning like Birla Institute of Technology, (BIT, Mesra Ranchi), Xavier Labour Relation Institute (XLRI, Jamshedpur), Indian School of Mines (ISM, Dhanbad), National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology (NIFFT, Hatia, Ranchi), National Institute of Technology (NIT, Jamshedpur), Xavier Institute of Social Sciences (XISS, Ranchi) went to Jharkhand. Because of the lack of good technical, medical, research, and management institutions, Bihari students go to other states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka etc. The other reasons are the lack of opportunities in Bihar. Biharis are taking admission in large numbers in private engineering, medical colleges, and management institutes in South and West India.



While, we are on the need of temples of learning in Bihar, lets us see what has happened in India in the field of higher education and research after India got Independence in 1947 and then compare the statistics with Bihar. After India gained independence in 1947, her development in the field of higher education and research has increased drastically. At present (data of 2001) there are currently 268 universities, 50 deemed to be universities and 12 institutions of national importance and about 11,100 colleges established through Central and State legislation. Of the 268 universities, 18 are Central Universities and the rest State Universities.



In the field of nuclear power programme, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai and for the fundamental research in mathematics and physics the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), also at Mumbai are the autonomous institutes. These two institutes are the doing research in the frontier fields.



In Medical Sciences, to name a few, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, set up in 1956, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMR), Chandigarh, JIPMER, Pondicherry (1956), AFMC, Pune, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Tiruvananthapuram, Tata Memorial Hospital and the Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai etc are carrying out teaching and research work in all areas and has evolved both as a premier teaching and research institution with extensive medical facilities.



The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), a unique institution devoted to the research, teaching and application of statistics, natural sciences and social sciences. The Headquarters of ISI is located in the northern fringe of the metropolis of Kolkata. Additionally, there are two Centres located in Delhi and Bangalore. The institute gained the status of an Institution of National Importance by an act of the Indian Parliament in 1959.

In engineering, a group of seven institutes is collectively called IITs. They are-IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, and IIT Roorkee. Apart from IITs there are a large number of National Institute of Technology (formerly known as Regional Engineering Colleges) scattered throughout the country educating and training students to be future engineers.

The first Indian Institute of Technology was born in May 1950 in Hijli, Kharagpur, in the eastern part of India. No need to remind that all IITs and NITs are autonomous universities and draft their own curriculum.

In the area of modern biology, biotechnology, and plant molecular biology, lots of institutions have been setup in last one-two decade. These are, for example, The National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi, founded in 1981, promotes research in basic and applied immunology, research and development (R&D) of new vaccines and immunological reagents for communicable diseases and research into regulation of human reproduction. The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, established in 1977, has major R&D programmes in biomedicine and biotechnology, genetics and evolution, cell and developmental biology, molecular biology, biochemistry and biophysics. In plant molecular biology, the National Centre for Plant Genome Research (NCPGR), New Delhi has broad research areas in plant genomics and transgenic, while recently initiating new research projects in chickpea genomics. Some of the other research institutes working in the area of scientific research are the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore (in frontier areas of science and engineering); National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) also at Bangalore (in modern biology); National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), New Delhi (in neurosciences) and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Chandigarh (in pharmaceutical sciences).

Another world-class institution in the area of management is the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). The premier management schools of India are located in the cities of Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, and Kozhikode.

Recently, two new institutions of national importance have been created by the HRD ministry. These two institutions are collectively called as Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) and are located at Kolkata and Pune. The HRD ministry has reportedly been trying to push through the first batch of students for the two premier Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Kolkata and Pune by July 2006.

A cluster of the premier industrial R&D organization called as the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) was constituted in 1942 by a resolution of the then Central Legislative Assembly. It is an autonomous body registered under the Registration of Societies Act of 1860. CSIR aims to provide industrial competitiveness, social welfare, strong S&T base for strategic sectors and advancement of fundamental knowledge. Today CSIR is recognised as one of the worlds largest publicly funded R&D organisations having linkages to academia, R&D organisations and industry. CSIRs 40 laboratories and 80 field centers not only knit India into a giant network that impacts and add quality to the life of each and every Indian, but CSIR is also party to the prestigious Global Research Alliance with the objective of applying global knowledge pool for global good through global funding. CSIRs R&D portfolio embraces areas as diverse as Aerospace, Biotechnology, and Chemicals indeed, almost the ABC-Z of Indian Science!



In the area of Economics, Social Sciences etc lots of premier institutions (for example, Institute of Economic growth setup in New Delhi in 1958, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR) setup in Mumbai in 1987, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID) in New Delhi, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, setup in Mumbai in 1936, Centre for Development Studies affiliated to JNU was setup in 1971 at Trivandrum, Institute for Social and Economic Change established in 1972, at Bangalore) have been set up who are consistently engaged in interdisciplinary research and teaching in social development problems, agriculture, industry, poverty, health, economics etc.

Besides this, there are other institutes also like Delhi School of Economics, Madras School of Economics, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (Pune) who do teaching and research in the area of economics and social sciences.

Among well-known institutions catering to information technology is IIIT Bangalore, IIIT Allahabad, Atal Bihari Vajpayee IIITM Gwalior, IIITM Trivandrum. These are the institution of excellence in education, research, development, and training in basic and applied Information Technology and Management. Other noteworthy institutes in the field of information technology, computing and related field is the Centre for Development in Advance Computing (C-DAC) established in 1988. C-DAC, currently is engaged in various teaching and research programme which includes Software technologies, Enterprise System Management (ESM), Geomatics, VLSI designs, Digital Multimedia, and the Programme for Advancing Computer Education - PACE. C-DAC has centre spread all over the India namely at Pune, Bangalore, New Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Trivandrum and Chennai.

India has also witnessed setup and running institutions in the area of Astronomy, Astrophysics, Theoretical physics, Physical and Life Sciences, Material Sciences, Plasma Research, Laser and their application, Theoretical Computer Science, Experimental and Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics etc. These are, for example, Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore, Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bangalore, S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata, Centre for Advanced Technology (CAT), Indore, Harish-Chandra Research Institute (HRI), Allahabad, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, Institute of Physics (IOP), Bhubaneswar, Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP), Kolkata, The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Chennai,Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC), Kolkata, and Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bangalore. The dynamism and the research capabilities shown by these institutes and their laboratory in their respective fields are known to every one.

Since, independence the creation and setup of Central Universities has gained momentum. There are 18 Central Universities at present under the purview of the MHRD, which have been set up by Acts of Parliament. 4 out of 18 are in Delhi itself, 4 are in UP, 2 are in Hyderabad, North-Eastern (including Kolkata) region has 6 central universities and the two others are at Wardha and Pondicherry respectively.

India has also witness, Institutions and Universities in the area of Legal and Law coming up. Some of the law universities for example Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) Gandhinagar, NLU Jodhpur, NALSAR University Hyderabad, NLSUI Bangalore, National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata, Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, Chennai, Hidyatullah National Law University, Raipur, National University for Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi have done fairly well in terms of teaching and research in laws, cyber laws etc. Besides there are other important areas like dairy, agriculture, etc which needs special discussion.

India has witnessed an increasingly mediocre higher education system for decades. To compete successfully in the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century, India needs enough universities that not only produce bright graduates for export but can also support sophisticated research in a number of scientific and scholarly fields and produce at least some of the knowledge and technology needed for an expanding economy.

But the important questions is, where Bihar stands today in terms of higher education, research institutions etc. Lets look at some magical number of Bihar in terms of Universities, Technical Institutes, Research Institutions and Laboratory.

Number of Universities in Bihar: 11?Number of Law University: 0?Number of CSIR Lab: 0?Number of IITs: 0?Number of IIMs: 0?Number of Central University: 0?Number of Research Institutes for Physics, Astrophysics, Laser etc: 0?Number of IT and C-DAC Institutes: 0?Number of Life Sciences/Biotechnology Institutes and Centers: 0?Number of Institutes/ University/Research Institutes in Economics: 0?Number of Medical Universities: 0?Number of Mathematical and Statistical Institutes: 0

To add with, it is worthy to mention about the number of engineering colleges and medical colleges in Bihar. One can count it in finger, how many engineering and medical colleges Bihar is having. There are less that 20 medical and engineering college in Bihar, which is significantly lesser than those medical and engineering colleges of city like Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Nagpur etc.

To continue with, let me put some statistics related to Bihar

1. Even after Jharkhand was taken out of it, Bihar is Indias third most populated state with a total population of 85 million.

2. Bihar has Indias largest concentration in the below 25 years age cohort, with 58% in this category. It will retain this position till well into this century, which means that as India ages Bihar will remain young! And what the young need most are health, education, and jobs.

3. It accounts for one-seventh of Indias population below the poverty line i.e. nearly 40% of Bihars population lies below the poverty line, the highest in India.

4. The states performance lags seriously behind national trends. As opposed to an All-India per capita developmental expenditure (from 2000 to 2002) of Rs.6748.50, Bihars is less than half at Rs.3206.00. The annual real per capita income of Bihar of Rs. 3650 is about a third of the national average of Rs.11, 625. In terms of per capita expenditures on Medical and Public Health, Bihar falls well behind with Rs. 86.20 as against the national average of Rs. 157.20. Despite this, its infant mortality rate (62 per 1000) is better than the national average (66 per 1000).

5. Educational enrollment and literacy rates are far below the national average. Bihar is also the only Indian state where the majority of the population - 52.47% - is illiterate

6. There are large differences in educational outcomes across gender, social and economic groups.

7. 80% of the bottom quintile household heads have no education.

For a change, let us look at the bright side of Bihar and Biharis:

1. It has a strong political clout in the national affairs with 40 members in the lower house and a large presence in the council of ministers.

2. Of the 700 students who qualified for IAS and IPS in the last 10 years, 25 per cent belonged to Bihar. According to a recent estimate, every district of the nation will be having either DM or SP as Bihari. Biharis are backbone of administration of the nation. The trend continues. Also, in recent years, large numbers of students from Bihar have been topping entrance tests conducted by Indian Institutes of Technology, IIMs, NITs, CBSE medical etc. Talents of Bihar are going to different parts of the country and abroad to do research, higher studies etc.

3. The Patna model of taxation has earned much acclaim from United Nation (UN) and is now being copied by many countries. The states like Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh have now adopted the Patna Tax system that helps simplify an otherwise cryptic and cumbersome tax structure.

4. The Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation Ltd, founded in 1983, is Bihar's own cash cow. Its Sudha milk and milk products is already the flavor of the state. Now it is extending its reach to other neighboring states.

5. The state is self-dependent in grain production and is supplying rice to nearly some 13 states in the country. Begusarai district of Bihar is number one in maize production.

6. Bihar is ahead of many states in per capita deposits, getting Rs 7,000 crore annually.

7. NO one can defy that, Biharis are hardworking, intelligent, and sincere.

8. Bihar is a place of opportunity in terms of tourism, medical care, private investment, foreign and NRI investment, irrigation, infrastructure development, power sector, industrial sector and most importantly development of educational institutions that is the central theme of this article.

9. The infant mortality rate is 62 per 1000, which is below the national average of 66 per 1000. Even in terms of life expectancy, the average Bihari male lives a year longer (63.6 yrs.) than the average Indian male (62.4 yrs) and the states performance in increasing life spans has been better than most during the past three years. Bihar has 7.04 mn. Hectares under agriculture and its yield of 1679 kgs. per hectare, while less than the national average of 1739 kgs. per hectare is better than that of six other states, which include some big agricultural states like Karnataka and Maharashtra. Its per capita spending at Rs.484.10 on Education is as good as the best. AP spends Rs.493.90 and the national average is Rs. 586.80

Bihar has suffered a devastating loss of jobs, plight of central funds etc in the past few years. In addition, our state is burdened by high unemployment and lack of funds for good schools, universities, research institutions and 21st century technology and communications. Bihar is Indias poorest and most backward state is undeniable. The facts speak for themselves. Bihar is not only the worst off of all Indian states, but also the gap between it and the rest is widening. But there is another reality as well, that is, India cannot progress without Bihars advancement. It is much too big to be left behind. Thus, the development of Bihar is integral to Indias development. India cannot go forward leaving Bihar behind. If India intends to grow at 10 per cent of GDP over the next few years, then Bihar is at present so behind that it needs to grow at 15 per cent to catch up with the rest of India.

Our state is lagging behind in many areas and we must find new answers to meet the challenges of educating and training our people in new directions. I believe, strengthening our education system is the answer, from pre-school through our colleges, universities, and research institutions. Education is a basic right to which all children are entitled in the Bihar and India. There is a good reason for this: More than anything else, a solid education is the ticket to a better quality of life, including good jobs that pay decent wages and offer opportunities for advancement. And the benefits of education are more important today than they have ever been. Good academic institutions do not just lift educational standards of a state but also lift its morale, and lend it a status and an image that are imperative for the growth of a community. Providing this education to every young ones will go a long way toward fulfilling Bihar and Indias promise of equal opportunity for all. More education means more choices in work and in life.

The Bihar government is putting lot of efforts to attract business through give-away programs like - tax credits and grants for infrastructure etc. But even when Bihar give them sugar coated tax deals, business and investment is not going to this poorest state because businesses want a strong educational system (apart from sound administration and better infrastructure facilities) for their workers and managers.

To attract business, a state like Bihar needs a good transportation and communications system, a top-notch education system (in which Bihar is lagging manifold), a well-trained work force etc. The economic health of Bihar depends upon the investment in education system i.e. investment in temple of learnings. Bihar must support the public school fully and must make sure that every child should succeed. It must invest heavily in colleges and universities. Bihar must be competitive in terms of higher education and research based study. The data given above regarding the number of technical institutes, legal centres, research institutions etc reflects the current and pathetic situation of Bihar. There is so much being written about Biharis talent in the field technology, medicine, research, etc. However, little attention has been paid as to the Bihar education system and temples of learning. None of Bihar universities occupies a solid position at the top in India. Bihar colleges and universities have become large, under-funded, ungovernable institutions. At many of them, politics has intruded into campus life, influencing academic appointments and decisions across levels. Under-investment in libraries, information technology, laboratories, and classrooms makes it very difficult to provide top-quality instruction or engage in cutting-edge teaching and research. Few in Bihar are thinking creatively about higher education. There is no field of higher education research. Those in government as well as academic leaders seem content to do the "same old thing."

Now as Bihar strives to compete with other developing and developed states of India, in the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century it require highly trained professionals, enough universities, good technical and management institutions, research labs, economics and development institutes etc. The quality of higher education becomes increasingly important. In broader terms, Bihar needs more and more temples of learning. The ancient Nalanda and Vikaramshila University in Bihar was a centre of learning that drew students from across the world. If Bihar and India Government takes initiative in opening up of new temples of learning and providing sufficient funds backed with sound administration to the existing educational system then that day is no far when it will bring back students who migrate to other states in search of better opportunities, the day is no far when Bihar will be standing in the first row in every walks of life whether its research, or job opportunities, or top notch colleges and universities, the days is no far when we can witness investment happening in Bihar, and finally the days of academic glory will be back.

References?http://en.wikipedia.org; www.google.com; websites of different institutions;?New institutions in India, Nirupa Sen, Current Science, Vol. 81, No. 8, 25 October 2001.?Proud to be Bihari: Five good things about the much-maligned state, Kanhaih Bhelari, The Week, June 2003?Why Biharis are Discriminated, Prabhat Kumar Sinha, Readers Write, PatnaDaily.Com April 30, 2005.?The economic strangulation of Bihar, Mohan Guruswamy, Abhishek Kaul, Business Line, Saturday, Feb 07, 2004.

The author is a research scholar at IIT Madras.
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Tenant Screening USA Even with extensions to eviction moratoriums Landlords will still face significant challenges managing rental properties and working with a professional tenant screening agency can help.

With the changing of the guard at the highest level in the White House on January 21, 2021, the new administration set forth a series of executive orders, including one requesting an extension of the Covid related eviction moratorium. Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com states: This extension of the federal eviction moratorium until March 31, 2021 will certainly help renters and home owners but challenges will also remain for landlords and property managers; and a best practice is to continue to work with a third-party tenant screening agency, such as TenantScreeningUSA.com, in order to remain compliant with laws and guidance involving tenant screening.

One of the first actions the new administration took on Inauguration Day was to extend the moratorium on Covid-19 related evictions.

From Forbes.com on January 20, 2021:

Mere hours after Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th U.S. president, he signed a slew of executive orders in response to the continuing Covid-19 crisis.

Among them was an extension of the eviction moratorium for renters who have fallen behind on their bills due to unemployment or reduced wages during the pandemic.

The order asks the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to extend the federal eviction moratorium, which is set to expire on Jan. 31, through at least March 31. (1)

The new extension will provide relief to thousands of renters and home owners facing eviction due to failure to pay rent as related to job loss or income depletion related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Almeida adds: The level of potential eviction remains high as the pandemic lingers. Landlords and property managers will face significant challenges managing rental properties with potential loss of income. However, some relief could be on the way.

The new executive order provides federal funding for the states to manage as they see fit.

Again, from Forbes.com on January 20, 2021:

Once that takes place, it will be up to state and local agencies to then distribute the funds to eligible rentersor eligible landlords who apply on behalf of their tenants. That process could take a while, depending on how well-prepared government offices are to handle the influx of requests. (2)

However, no plan is perfect and detractors remain.

From MarketWatch.com on January 22, 2021:

Moreover, advocates have cautioned that the existing eviction moratorium is imperfect. Gaps in the way the ban was written mean that landlords can still pursue evictions against some tenants, and a lack of enforcement has meant that many people who should be protected have not been. As a result, thousands of households across the country have lost their homes, putting them at greater risk of catching and spreading the coronavirus(3)

Almeida concludes: Landlords and property managers will certainly continue to monitor the current situation but it should be noted that Congress may act quickly and aggressively to redo eviction laws. A best practice remains to work with a well-qualified third-party tenant screening agency in order to stay abreast with current law.

TenantScreeningUSA.com provides full-service tenant screening for landlords and property managers of any size and can greatly assist in remaining fully compliant with all existing law governing tenant screening. With a highly trained and experienced staff, TenantScreeningUSA.com can provide help to landlords and property managers with all their tenant screening needs.

Notes:

(1) forbes.com/advisor/personal-finance/biden-plan-eviction-moratorium-rent-relief/

(2) ibid

(3) marketwatch.com/story/biden-will-extend-nationwide-eviction-moratorium-in-executive-order-11611157155




TOKYO, Feb 9, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION (MMC) rolled its first produced all-new OUTLANDER off the assembly line at Okazaki Plant in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The company began its shipment to North America on February 8, and will make its global debut on February 17.With more than four years of development, the all-new OUTLANDER encompasses the latest MITSUBISHI MOTORS' design, high-quality interior and rally inspired driving performance. The SUV will be available first in North America (the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico) and sequentially in other markets."The all-new OUTLANDER not only represents a new phase of MITSUBISHI MOTORS design, but with its premium features, the vehicle is set to be a game-changer," said John Signoriello, executive officer, responsible for global marketing and sales, MMC. "As its name suggests, the OUTLANDER has brought drivers and their families across the world on great adventures. Going into its fourth generation, we believe the all-new OUTLANDER will take our customers to even broader horizons."The OUTLANDER is a crossover SUV which was also known as the AIRTREK launched in Japan in 2001. Since then, MMC has broadened its utility and performance. Globally, the total sales volume of the OUTLANDER series has reached 2.6 million units1.1. Total sales volume includes gasoline, diesel and PHEV variants, and is based on MITSUBISHI MOTORS' internal sales data from 2001 to 2020.World Premiere on Amazon LiveMITSUBISHI MOTORS and Amazon.com collaborate for the world premiere of the all-new OUTLANDER, and it will be unveiled on Amazon Live. The debut will take place on Tuesday, February 16 at 3pm PST/6pm EST (February 17 at 8am JST).Go to the world premiere of the all-new OUTLANDER. www.amazon.com/MitsubishiOutlanderAbout MITSUBISHI MOTORSMITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has a competitive edge in SUVs and pickup trucks, electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.Since the Mitsubishi group produced its first car more than a century ago, we have demonstrated an ambitious and often disruptive approach, developing new vehicle genres and pioneering cutting-edge technologies. Deeply rooted in MITSUBISHI MOTORS' DNA, our brand strategy will appeal to ambitious drivers, willing to challenge conventional wisdom and ready to embrace change. Consistent with this mindset, MITSUBISHI MOTORS introduced its new brand strategy in 2017, expressed in its "Drive your Ambition" tagline - a combination of personal drive and forward attitude, and a reflection of the constant dialogue between the brand and its customers. Today MITSUBISHI MOTORS is committed to continuous investment in innovative new technologies, attractive design and product development, bringing exciting and authentic new vehicles to customers around the world.Source: Mitsubishi MotorsCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
FILE-In this Jan. 29, 2005, file photo, Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., speaks during the panel "A Reality Check on the US Economy" at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Shelby, the Senate's fourth most senior member, has told confidantes that he does not intend to run for reelection next year _ prompting some Republicans to urge the powerful, establishment politician to reconsider, even as potential replacements prepare to run for his seat. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
Eastern Cape  Joe Gqabi District Municipality closed ET Thabane Primary School last year

About 2,000 learners at an Eastern Cape primary school may not be able to return to classes when schools reopen.

Joe Gqabi District Municipality closed ET Thabane Primary School last year for failure to meet Covid-19 regulations.

The school is in a dire condition and the department of education has not provided a solution.

With schools set to reopen in less than two weeks, close to 2,000 learners from ET Thabane Primary School in Ugie, Eastern Cape, may have to look elsewhere for a place to study.

Joe Gqabi District Municipality shut the school last year for not meeting Covid-19 regulations.

Parents and teachers say they are still waiting for the Eastern Cape Department of Education to inform them what arrangements have been made for the learners.

It is the only primary school in Ntokozweni location.

Vuyiseka Mboxela, spokesperson for MEC Fundile Gade, said the department is currently engaged in a program of rationalisation in which some schools may be merged "for purposes of using the little financial resources we have".

District municipality spokesperson Mandla Gceya said, "With the condition of the school, which includes poor infrastructure, the school cannot meet the Covid-19 regulations. We have advised the school to call the department [of education] for new mobile classrooms."

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The school was built by parents in 1986 using donated planks.

School governing body chairperson Sikoti Ceba said at one stage the department had promised to build a new school under the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative program, but that never happened. He said the department had been promising to send mobile classrooms for the past seven years.

According to the national minimum norms and standard set by the national education Minister Angie Motshekga in November 2013, all schools built out of wood, zinc, mud and asbestos should have been fixed or replaced by November 2016.

Ceba said there is not enough space for the number of learners.

"Honestly, this is not a school but a disaster waiting to happen. These [plank] classrooms can collapse any day. We are always in fear when it is windy that the wind might blow all classrooms away," he said.

"Last year we had 300 grade R learners ... The district told us to close the grade R class because we didn't have an alternative classroom," said Ceba.

After six teachers and a learner contracted Covid-19 in November last year, the municipality closed the school.

"That was during exam time. Our children almost didn't finish writing, but we had to beg the district to let us open until the exams were finished, and the department also promised to bring us more classrooms but that never happened," said Ceba.

Last week Friday, the provincial department's spokesperson, Malibongwe Mtima, promised to look into the matter and get back to us. At the time of publication, he had not yet done so.

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Tanzania has spent more than six months trying to convince the world it has been cured of the coronavirus through prayer, while refusing to take measures to curb its spread.

However, dissent is mounting, along with deaths attributed to "pneumonia", with even a politician in semi-autonomous Zanzibar admitting he has the virus.

"Covid-19 is killing people and we see a lot of cases but we cannot talk about the disease," said a doctor in a public hospital in Tanzania's biggest city Dar es Salaam, who like many asked not to be named for fear of reprisals.

Tanzanian President John Magufuli has continually played down the seriousness of the virus even as neighbouring countries shut borders and implemented curfews and lockdowns.

The country last gave case figures in April 2020, at the same time as Magufuli revealed he had secretly had a variety of items tested for the virus -- of which a papaya, a quail and a goat apparently tested positive.

He alleged "sabotage" at the national laboratory, even though the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said Tanzania's tests had been proven to be reliable.

By June, Magufuli claimed prayer had saved the country from Covid-19.

"That's why we are all not wearing face masks here. You think we don't fear dying? It's because there is no Covid-19," he said.

To crack down on information spreading about the virus, laws were passed to ban publication "on deadly or contagious diseases" without official permission.

- 'Taking care of my life' -

However, people can occasionally be spotted wearing masks and some speak openly about their fears.

Breaking with the government's code of silence, the Roman Catholic Church in Tanzania warned its followers to protect themselves /  AFP

"This thing is attacking and the government does not want to clearly come out and accept," said Kuluthum Hussein, 28, who was wearing a mask at a bus stop.

"There are four people I know who died of what we are told is severe pneumonia and all passed on during a similar period. I'm taking care of my life."

In January, Denmark's Statens Serum Institut (SSI) which works on infectious diseases, confirmed two cases of the new South African variant that is thought to be more contagious, in travellers returning from Tanzania.

One woman in Dar es Salaam told AFP her cousin had died after a business trip to South Africa.

"Two weeks after returning from South Africa, he felt unwell and later died after experiencing difficulties in breathing. A doctor told us that he had coronavirus."

Britain has banned all arrivals from Tanzania to stop the spread of the South Africa Covid-19 variant, while the United States warned in a travel advisory last week there were "very high levels" of Covid-19.

Breaking with the government's code of silence, the Roman Catholic Church in Tanzania warned its followers to protect themselves.

"Our country is not an island. We have every reason to take precautions and pray to God so that we can move unscathed in this pandemic," read the letter addressed to archbishops and retired bishops.

- Secret data -

In semi-autonomous Zanzibar, vice president Seif Sharif Hamad confirmed he had been hospitalised with the virus.

A doctor working at the coronavirus testing centre in Zanzibar said that more than 80 cases had been recorded on the island from mid-December to early January.

Tanzanian President John Magufuli has continually played down the seriousness of the virus /  AFP/File

"But we are not allowed to release the data," said the doctor. "We keep it for future use."

The rise in cases has led to mixed messaging from the government.

The Zanzibar health ministry last week issued a public announcement asking people to avoid gatherings and "rush to a nearby hospital for testing if you feel you have difficulties in breathing".

However a health ministry official, requesting anonymity, denied this was because of the coronavirus.

"No, just we want the people to take precautions because the number of people suffering breathing difficulties is increasing. We are not talking about Covid-19."

Health Minister Dorothy Gwajima has said the country has no plan to import vaccines, which Magufuli has slammed as "dangerous", contrary to guidelines by international health organisations.

Magufuli appeared last month to accept the virus may still be circulating.

He said some Tanzanians had travelled abroad to take the vaccine but "they ended up bringing us a strange coronavirus".

"We need to put God first in fighting against this dangerous disease, but at the same time take health precaution measures to protect ourselves," said Magufuli.

But health ministry official Mabula Mchembe visited hospitals in Dar es Salaam and stressed that there were no coronavirus patients, just "rumours which may cause unnecessary panic".

John Nkengasong, Africa CDC director, said last week that Tanzania's was "a stance that I hope they will review quickly".

"This is a dangerous virus, a virus that spreads very quickly, and a virus that knows no border. It doesnt know whether youre in Tanzania."

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A staff member of the Pongnam Noodle House, right, disinfects the hands of a woman coming into its restaurant in Pyongyang, Feb. 5. AP-Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



North Korea seems to be struggling with acquiring daily necessities due to its shutdown of borders with adjacent countries to guard against the spread of COVID-19, according to the diplomatic community there.



Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Matsegora said in a recent interview with Interfax that the prolonged border shutdown is leading to shortages of sugar and flour, among other basic items, according to the Korean website of Radio Free Asia, Monday.



Ambassador Matsegora explained that North Korea has kept its borders closed since January 2020 to prevent entry from China and Russia in order to keep COVID-19 out of the country. No foreigners have been allowed to enter since.



The North Korean authorities openly acknowledge that they are going all out to prevent the inflow of the coronavirus pandemic because they lack the medical infrastructure to cope with an outbreak. Many companies have been closed and many people have lost their jobs due to the border blockade and the suspension of imports. Children were also unable to go to school for all of last year, according to the ambassador.






Digital.com, a leading independent review website for small business online tools, products, and services, has announced the best web design firms in Philadelphia. The top companies were selected based on multiple services, size of the firm, and industry focus.

Experts at Digital.com examined companies with additional branding or marketing services that would enable businesses to scale up. Each firm was expected to demonstrate industry expertise in specific areas like manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and healthcare. The guide also features large and small firms to meet a variety of budgets and service needs.

Our experts spent hours reviewing many web design companies in Philadelphia that can offer a broad range of services and industry expertise, says Christelle Feniza, Communications Manager of Digital.com. This guide will help businesses narrow their search for top-rated firms.

Researchers at Digital.com conducted a 40-hour assessment of over 49 companies across the city. To access the complete list of best web design companies in Philadelphia, please visit https://digital.com/web-design-companies/philadelphia/.

15 Best Web Design Companies in Philadelphia



ABOUT DIGITAL.COM

Digital.com reviews and compares the best products, services, and software for running or growing a small business website or online shop. The platform collects twitter comments and uses sentiment analysis to score companies and their products. Digital.com was founded in 2015 and formerly known as Review Squirrel. To learn more, visit https://digital.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.
By Katie King

San Jose Spotlight

Calling it a "moral and economic duty," a South Bay lawmaker is urging Congress to support an emergency legislation package that would provide $160 billion for public health efforts to fight against COVID-19.

Among other provisions, the American Rescue Plan would direct $10 billion to expand the domestic manufacturing of personal protective equipment, $20 billion to ramp up vaccination supplies and testing sites, and $50 billion to increase lab capacities and research new variants of the disease. It would also establish a public health corps to address misinformation in local communities.

"The health benefits of this plan are abundantly clear, but these measures will also aid our economic recovery," Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, said last week at a virtual hearing of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Health.

Eshoo, who chairs the subcommittee, explained the White House Council of Economic Advisers estimated $10 billion is saved for every day the nation speeds up vaccinations. Meanwhile, Moody's Analytics, a financial services company that provides economic research, found the American Rescue Plan would create 7.5 million jobs and add eight points to the GDP in 2021.

"This subcommittee must move quickly and purposefully," Eshoo said. "We're in a race against death."

Four health experts testified at the hearing, which was held to discuss COVID-19 recovery efforts.

Dr. Luciana Borio told lawmakers she feared the worst days of the pandemic could still be ahead. Borio is the vice president of In-Q-Tel and a former director for medical and biodefense preparedness for the National Security Council.

The virus is evolving, she said, with variant strains from Brazil, South Africa and the United Kingdom now spreading globally.

"We must take urgent measures to reduce the spread of this virus to lessen the opportunities for the virus to further mutate and become even more dangerous," she said, adding COVID-19 continues to burn through the nation because many people refuse to follow public health guidelines.

She advised legislators to encourage telework when possible, and to redouble efforts to promote the importance of social distancing and the use of masks.

Eshoo asked how the new variants could affect the current vaccination rollout plan.

"We do need to begin to be prepared in case we do need to manufacture at large scale the new candidates if there is a significant erosion in protection and we need to re-vaccinate the population," Borio said. "We do not know right now if that will be necessary."

Dr. Julie Morita urged legislators to focus on vaccinating the most vulnerable populations, such as frontline workers and communities of color. Morita is the executive vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which is the largest public health philanthropy in the United States.

"The country is consumed with total allotments and weekly averages instead of whether shots are getting in the right arms," she said.

Low-income Americans who lack a vehicle or internet connection are also at a disadvantage, she explained, because they are unable to book an appointment online or drive to the vaccination site. But she said simplifying appointment systems and bringing vaccinations directly to at-risk populations could help.

During the H1N1 pandemic, Morita recalled how the foundation partnered with pharmacies and community health centers in Chicago that provided care in neighborhoods with less access to traditional health care providers. More than 1 million vaccines were ultimately distributed.

Eshoo thanked the witnesses for their input and said the subcommittee would consider all their advice.

"With a new administration and a new Congress and a new commitment, we can optimize a new beginning," she said.

In addition to providing $160 billion for public health efforts, the American Rescue Plan -- a $1.9 trillion package proposed by President Joe Biden last month -- would also allot billions for schools, small businesses, local and state governments, food and housing assistance and direct payments to individuals.

Republicans balked at the cost and proposed a $618 billion relief package instead. But the Democratic legislators are moving forward with a measure that will allow the plan to pass with a simple majority -- meaning Republican support wouldn't necessarily be required.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called the American Rescue Plan a "massive, partisan, poorly-targeted borrowing spree" and slammed the Democrats' decision to push forward without bipartisanship support.

"The new president talks a lot about unity but his White House staff and congressional leadership are working with a different playbook," he said.

More than 460,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

Contact Katie King at KatieKingSJS@gmail.com or follow @KatieKingCST on Twitter.

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.
More Tanzanians are now wearing face masks as the country comes to terms with the novel coronavirus.

analysis

As President John Magufuli downplays the severity of the coronavirus, Tanzanians are waking up to the reality that the virus is spreading. Health experts now fear Tanzania's attitude could endanger the rest of Africa.

Until recently, Tanzania gave the impression that the coronavirus pandemic -- which has brought the world to a standstill -- was under control.

President John Magufuli assured the 58 million inhabitants of the East African nation that they need not worry about observing COVID-19 preventative measures.

He also vowed last year that his country would never face curfews or lockdowns that had been introduced in neighboring Kenya and Uganda.

On March 16, 2020, Tanzania's health ministry announced the country's first confirmed case of the coronavirus.

"When the cases were being reported, President Magufuli was out questioning the standard of the lab equipment," Thabit Jacob, a political analyst at Roskilde University, told DW.

"He said the testing kits were made by western countries and were programmed to give many positive results."

However, the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said they had found no fault with Tanzania's testing procedure.

Magufuli claimed that he had secretly sent several samples to the national laboratory for testing. The results: A papaya fruit, quail, and a goat tested positive, the president said, as the crowd burst into laughter.

In May 2020, he declared that through prayer, Tanzania had defeated the coronavirus.

The East African nation quickly embraced herbal medicine -- particularly inhaling steam from a mixture of traditional herbs, as a therapy against the virus.

"Herbal medicine will be able to defeat the coronavirus," Obeid Maiko, a resident of Tanzania's commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, said.

"Since way back, African societies have used this kind of medicine, and we are still surviving," Maiko told DW.

The 25-year-old said the current vaccines in the market have not been able to suppress the virus, which led to a belief in herbal remedies.

'Is COVID in Tanzania or not?'

Since December 2020, Tanzanians have grown warier about the pandemic.

With rising deaths attributed to "acute pneumonia," many residents have abandoned carelessness and are taking the virus seriously.

Zanzibar's First Vice President Seif Sharif Hamad was taken ill by the virus, according to his party, ACT Wazalendo, at the end of January.

His wife and aides were also infected.

That rare admission sent shockwaves across the country, which last gave official statistics for COVID-19 in April 2020.

"The situation is not very good," Mussa Mussa, a resident of Arusha, said.

"The government is not saying directly about the corona situation in Tanzania. We are wondering whether we have the virus with us or not," Mussa told DW in an interview.

"Last week, the minister of health [Dorothy Gwajima] told us to use traditional ways to protect ourselves. A few weeks ago, the president told us that some people brought corona in this country, so we are wondering, is corona in Tanzania or not?"

In January, two cases of the new South African strain -- thought to be more contagious -- were discovered in air travelers returning from Tanzania by Denmark's Statens Serum Institut (SSI), which specializes in infectious diseases.

"The first thing I do is to avoid unnecessary crowds," Anna, who resides in Dar es Salaam, noted.

"If I have to go, I keep my distance to avoid direct contact with people," Anna told DW, adding that she washes her hands and sanitizes herself more often than before.

Tanzania's Roman Catholic Church took the courage and went against the government's code of silence by warning its adherents to protect themselves.

"Our country is not an island. We have every reason to take precautions and pray to God so that we can move unscathed in this pandemic," a letter addressed to archbishops and retired bishops stated.

Impact of Tanzania's non-cooperation

Tanzania's posture, its refusal to provide COVID-19 data and procure vaccines, could endanger the whole continent, according to Africa CDC.

"We don't truly understand how [the] COVID-19 pandemic will evolve. Not cooperating will make it dangerous. This virus has no borders," Africa CDC director, John Nkengasong, said during an online media briefing.

Nkengasong urged Magufuli's government to review their policy on dealing with COVID and join the African Union in fighting the pandemic.

"He [President Magufuli] denied the pandemic even before it got to Tanzania in the first place," analyst Thabit Jacob said. "With all the news about vaccines causing trouble in different corners of the world, this is going to fuel his skepticism even further."

South Africa on Sunday announced that they were halting their planned vaccination rollout of Oxford's-produced AstraZeneca vaccine after a study revealed that the shot was not strong enough to protect against the new variant found there.

For Jacob, the Southern Africa Development Cooperation (SADC) was the best-placed institution to pressure Magufuli.

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"But the secretary-general of SADC is Tanzanian and a staunch member of Tanzania's ruling CCM party, so you can't expect anything from SADC."

However, China could convince the president to change course since he seems to loathe everything western, Jacob added.

Tanzania, Burundi not part of Africa vaccine program

In February, the World Health Organization said it planned to start dispatching around 90 million COVID-19 vaccines to Africa. But two countries, Tanzania and Burundi, were excluded from the program.

Tanzania has been reluctant to accept vaccines.

Burundi said it focused on prevention measures and did not see the need yet to vaccinate its nearly 12 million citizens, according to local media.

Cape Verde, Rwanda, South, and Tunisia have been allocated around 320,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the WHO said in a statement.

The Africa CDC said 60% of Africans need to receive a form of vaccination for the continent to acquire herd immunity -- that is when enough people become immune to a virus making it less likely to be transmitted within the community.

As of Monday, more than 3.5 million people in Africa had contracted the virus. Nearly 89,000 had died from it, and 2.9 million had recovered.
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A rival described him as the most aggressive, single-minded, ambitious person I have ever met in my life. An ex-girlfriend observed that he just doesnt think about clothes... [hes] in this pure mind state. And when asked by a journalist for Fortune magazine whether he would ever step down, he demurred: This company is my life.

They could have been describing Mark Zuckerberg, the famously driven chief executive of Facebook. In fact all three were talking about Bill Gates, who ruled Microsoft with laser focus until surprising many by resigning in 2000 at the age of only 44. He stayed on as chairman, going part time in 2006 and quitting in 2014; finally, in 2020, he left the board to focus full time on philanthropy.

Onlookers dont expect Mark Zuckerberg to walk away from Facebook anytime soon. Credit:Bloomberg

On Tuesday, Amazons founder and chieftain Jeff Bezos, 57, began a similar journey after helming the online shopping giant for 27 years. While he will still have considerable power as executive chairman, his decision to step away from day-to-day command opens the door to a similar slow relinquishing of power and move towards his passions (such as space colonisation and The Washington Post).

But where does that leave Zuckerberg? Far younger than his erstwhile rivals and sometime mentors at 36, he is the only founder of the big five tech giants left in post.
Delhi Police has on Tuesday arrested actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu for his alleged involvement in 26 January violence in the capital.

"Deep Sidhu, an accused in 26th January violence case arrested," Delhi Police Special Cell said on Tuesday.

The investigation into the violence is being conducted at three levels - local police, Special Cell and Crime Branch.The names of Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu and gangster Lakka Sadana were included in the FIR registered in connection with the violence at Red Fort in Delhi on January 26, Delhi Police said earlier while adding that Sidhu was involved in the incident."On January 26 some people hoisted the flag at Red Fort. Some of them have been identified out of which Deep Sidhu is the prime accused," said Praveer Ranjan, Special Commissioner of Police (CP), Crime.

On Republic Day, protestors did not follow the prearranged route and broke barricades to enter Delhi, clashed with police and vandalised property in several parts of the capital during the farmers' tractor rally. They also entered the Red Fort and unfurled their flags from its ramparts.

Farmers have been protesting at the different borders of the 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.

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

Last week, the Free Thought Project reported on HR 127, the most tyrannical gun bill ever proposed. The bill would target the poor by forcing citizens to pay $800 per year to possess firearms that they are required to register. It also bans multiple legal guns and ammo types, turning tens of millions of Americans into felons over night. While this bill is, without a doubt, the worst gun bill in history, it didnt lay out any guidelines for violating a citizens Fourth Amendment right. Next month, however, the Supreme Court will be considering exactly that  can cops enter a home to seize guns without a warrant?

That escalated quickly.

In March, the Supreme Court will hear the case of Caniglia v. Strom, which asks the question of whether the community caretaking exception to the Fourth Amendments warrant requirement extends to the home.

The community caretaker exception, has already been recognized as an exception to the Fourth Amendment by the United States Supreme Court. In Cady v. Dombrowski, 413 U.S. 433 (1973), the United States Supreme Court held that police officers did not violate the Fourth Amendment when they searched the trunk of a car that had been towed after an accident.

The Court acknowledged that, except in certain carefully defined classes of cases, police cannot search private property without consent or a warrant. It emphasized, however, that there is a constitutional difference between houses and cars. Since Cady, there has been a whole host of cases that took this holding and created the doctrine of community caretaking. Cady defined community caretaking activities as those totally divorced from the detection, investigation, or acquisition of evidence relating to the violation of a criminal statute.

In other words, as long as an officer might reasonably think that a warrantless search will alleviate a danger to the community, the search is considered constitutional. This was in vehicles, not homes.

While the caretaker exception has long been applied to vehicles, the idea of applying it to homes and allowing cops to seize guns without a warrant is worrisome. In an article from Forbes, the case of Caniglia v. Strom, is explained:

Mr. Caniglia was arguing with his wife and melodramatically put an unloaded gun on the table and said shoot me now and get it over with. His wife called a non-emergency number for the police who arrived shortly thereafter. The police disagreed about whether Mr. Caniglia was acting normal or agitated but they convinced him to take an ambulance to the local hospital for evaluation. The police did not accompany him. While he was on his way to the hospital, Mrs. Caniglia told the police that her husband kept two handguns in the home. The police decided to search his home for the guns without obtaining a warrant. (Mrs. Caniglias consent to have the police search their home was legally negated because the police untruthfully told her that her husband had consented to the seizure of any guns.) The police located and seized the two guns. Mr. Caniglia sued for the violation of his 4th Amendment right to privacy and his 2nd Amendment right to keep handguns in the home for self-protection.

The case has been making its way through the courts, with the courts ruling in favor of warrantless searches. The federal court just below the Supreme Court, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that it is fine and dandy for cops to warrantlessly search your home and take your guns because they need elbow room to provide safety.

At its core, the community caretaking doctrine is designed to give police elbow room to take appropriate action when unforeseen circumstances present some transient hazard that requires immediate attention. Understanding the core purpose of the doctrine leads inexorably to the conclusion that it should not be limited to the motor vehicle context. Threats to individual and community safety are not confined to the highways, the court wrote.

As Forbes points out, unlike the exigent circumstances and emergency aid exceptions, the community caretaking exception is not limited to circumstances where there is no time to apply for a warrant. And the question of what sort of caretaking falls under this exception is extremely vague. Will the police be able to use it to, for example, conduct warrantless searches of political protesters homes to make sure they arent planning on violent behavior at their next political rally?

We have already seen tech giants like Facebook hand over the private messages of those who talked about the events of January 6. If this ruling is upheld, it could pave the way for cops to raid the home of those who engage in peaceful discourse based solely on the premise that violence might happen.

President Biden has already labeled tens of millions of Americans who supported the pro-Trump rally in DC as terrorists.

Just a few weeks later and a DHS terror alert was issued for beliefs held by tens of millions of Americans like those who oppose lockdowns or who were upset over the outcome of the election. With the slippery slope of this case, these views could easily be included in the elbow room granted to police to carry out their community caretaking and subsequently raid homes and seize guns with no warrant.

Hopefully SCOTUS knocks down this ruling and cooler heads prevail. However, at the rate this tyranny is unfolding in 2021, that is not very likely.
Some 180,000 teachers in Sao Paulo, Brazil began an indefinite strike Monday against the resumption of partial in-person education in the states public high schools. Teachers voted for the strike action by an 80 percent majority in a virtual assembly held last Friday, February 5.

Teachers striking against pension cuts march in Sao Paulo last year.

Teachers went into the schools on the first day of scheduled classes to speak to students and parents about the strike, and are due to stay out beginning today. At the beginning of last week, private schools in the state had already reopened for in-person classes with up to 35 percent of their of students in classrooms. But on Monday, only 5 percent of students attended classes in the public schools.

The reopening of schools in Sao Paulo came after right-wing Governor Joao Doria (PSDB) decreed education an essential service, allowing schools to reopen in the so-called red and orange phases of the states supposed pandemic containment plan, dubbed Plano Sao Paulo. Before, schools could reopen only in the yellow phase, with the pandemic supposedly under control. Now infections are escalating.

The secretary of education of Sao Paulo, Rossieli Soares, is working closely with the most significant layers of Brazils ruling elite to reopen the states schools. This includes Sao Paulos corporate and commercial sectors, associations of private school owners, a section of the Brazilian medical sector, the corporate media, pro-business educational think tanks and the states courts.

On January 28, Sao Paulo Judge Simone Gomes ruled in favor of a suit brought by the teachers unions against the reopening of the schools. Basing her decision on the protection of the right to life, she barred the reopening of schools in the orange and red phases of the Plano Sao Paulo. One day later, the decision was reversed by the State Court of Justice.

Speaking for Sao Paulos governor, the state secretary of education threatened Monday that appropriate judicial measures will be taken against the strike, and that teachers who do not return to the classroom will not be paid.

The reopening of schools in Sao PauloBrazils richest and most industrial state, as well as the countrys financial centerwill undoubtedly open the way for other states to do the same. Of Brazils 26 states, 20 have already planned to start in-person classes in the coming weeks.

The reopening of schools in Brazil, like all over the world, is being driven by the needs of the banks and corporations to reopen the economy. The dynamics of class struggle are increasingly pitting the profit interests of the capitalist class in reopening schools against the interests of the working class in saving lives and keeping schools closed.

The strike in Sao Paulo began after teachers in Rio de Janeiro decided to strike against the reopening of state and municipal public schools on January 30. Teachers in the southern state of Parana are scheduled to strike on February 18, when in-person classes begin in the state. On Wednesday, February 10, teachers from the municipal public school system of Sao Paulo will hold an assembly to decide on strike action against the beginning of in-person classes, scheduled for February 15.

The strike in Sao Paulo was approved despite the efforts of the pseudo-left organizations working in the APEOESP teachers union to postpone its start. The Morenoite PSTU had proposed postponing the start of the strike until next Friday, February 12, while Resistencia, one of the tendencies within PSOL (Party for Socialism and Liberty), had proposed holding another assembly, only on February 19, to consider action. Their main claim was that it was necessary to build support for the strike mobilization, even with the threat of more COVID-19 cases and deaths when schools reopened.

Expressing these tendencies middle-class pessimism and contempt for the lives of the Brazilian working class, Resistencias union leader, Joao Zafalao, argued at Fridays virtual assembly that: The ideal policy, that of dreams, would be to decree a strike [now]. ... The problem is that our will is not capable, at this moment, of overcoming reality. This means that, for him, the COVID-19 pandemic is not part of Brazils reality. Until Sunday, Resistencias website, Esquerda Online, had not published a word about the teachers strike in Sao Paulo.

The teachers who attended the virtual assembly reacted with a revolt against the proposal of the Morenoite union officials. They wrote in the chat of the virtual assembly: The difference in the calendar can mean more or less LIVES!!!; No more excuses. Build what? Graves?; The only need to strike immediately is a sense of reality! A year of Pandemic and you want to wait for more what??? STRIKE FOR LIFE, NOW!

The reopening of schools is taking place with the pandemic still out of control in Sao Paulo. In addition to the enormous under-counting of COVID-19 cases and deaths, the Doria government has made constant changes to the criteria of the Plano Sao Paulo to force the reopening of businesses and schools in the state. Writing in the daily Folha de S. Paulo at the beginning of the second wave in Brazil in November, three professors at the University of Sao Paulo denounced the criteria of the Plano Sao Paulo by stating, it was never a containment plan, but a plan for making economic activity more flexible despite the pandemic.

In late January, Professor Alexandre Naime of the state university UNESP told the UOL website that, because of the worsening situation of the pandemic and the detection in Sao Paulo of the new highly contagious strain of coronavirus identified in Manaus, the state would need something close to [a] lockdown. However, according to him, each time the problem worsens, they change the norm to make [the Plano Sao Paulo] classification more flexible. In addition to the new Manaus strain, at the end of December the more contagious British strain of the coronavirus was detected in Sao Paulo.

In the last update of the Plano Sao Paulo, released last Friday, the pandemic situation in 10 of the 17 regions of the state supposedly improved, according to the state government. Even so, seven regions of Sao Paulo are in the yellow phase, seven in the orange phase and three in the red phase. In the yellow phase, in addition to non-essential services being allowed to work for more hours, the limit on the number of students attending in-person classes rises from 35 percent to 70 percent.

The main pretext given by the state government for relaxing the Plano Sao Paulo was a small decrease from 71.6 percent to 67.2 percent in the average rate of occupation of the states ICU beds. However, besides hiding the fact that the number of ICU beds in the state has increased in recent weeks with the worsening of the pandemic, this ignores the high number of cases and deaths still being registered in Sao Paulo during the second wave of the pandemic.

In the last month, the average number of COVID-19 deaths remained above 200 per day, reaching 365 on February 2, the highest number since September 9. In January, the number of deaths in the state of Sao Paulo was 37 percent higher than in December. The average number of cases in the state remained above 10,000 per day over the last month, with January the month with the highest number of cases since the beginning of the pandemic in Sao Paulo. The state has recorded a total of more than 1.8 million cases and 55,000 deaths. By comparison, California, the US state with the most coronavirus cases, has 3.4 million cases and almost 43,000 deaths.

The partial reopening of private schools for in-person classes and of state public schools for teachers meetings since February 1 has already led to dozens of new coronavirus cases and outbreaks in schools. APEOSP has registered 147 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 79 state schools over the past week. In a private school in Campinas, in Sao Paulos countryside, 39 employees and eight students had tested positive by last Thursday, and one teacher had to be hospitalized.

APEOESP, whose president is the Workers Party (PT) state deputy Maria Izabel Noronha, known as Bebel, has insisted that the return to school should occur after teachers are vaccinated. This proposal, however, ignores the fact that the licensed vaccines in Brazil have not been certified for children and adolescents, who are a significant vector for coronavirus transmission and will continue to be infected and transmit the deadly virus to their families.

More importantly, this proposal blocks a unified fight with other sections of workers to implement measures that contain the spread of the virus in Sao Paulo and throughout Brazil. Faced with an out-of-control pandemic and the collapse of the vaccination campaigns, the only measure capable of curbing infections and saving lives is the closure of non-essential services and production, as well as schools, with financial compensation to all those affected, until the pandemic is eradicated.

This demand, however, has been ignored not only by Brazilian bourgeois parties, including the PT, but also the pseudo-left tendencies that orbit the PT and are today providing a left cover to a faction of the Brazilian ruling elite that has tactical differences with fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro.

Sao Paulo teachers are entering the same struggle as Chicago teachers in the US, who are now facing a bitter confrontation with the citys Democratic mayor, the Biden administration and the Chicago Teachers Union.

A genuine fight against the murderous reopening of schools requires the building of rank-and-file committees, independent of the unions. Committees like these have been formed in Chicago and in cities and states across the US, as well as in Europe and Australia, led by the national sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International. These committees must be built to coordinate teachers struggles with those of other sections of the working class in Sao Paulo, throughout Brazil and internationally to put human life above profits and save lives.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that she didn't think President Joe Biden would break tradition like former President Donald Trump - and snub his predecessor out of a portrait ceremony.

'I have no portrait revealings or portrait plans or portrait events to preview for you, but I have not been given any indication that we would break with tradition in that regard,' Psaki said, answering a reporter's question about the ceremony that - before Trump - had been a fixture of a president's first term for decades.

In May, NBC News reported that Trump decided against inviting former President Barack Obama to the White House for a portrait unveiling ceremony, citing people familiar with the matter.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki (left) said Tuesday that she had 'not been given any indication that we would break with tradition' as far as President Joe Biden (right) hosting President Donald Trump to the White House for an official portrait unveiling

President Donald Trump broke a decades-long tradition last year by not inviting President Barack Obama to the White House for a portrait unveiling ceremony. Sources told NBC News that Obama wasn't interested in seeing Trump face-to-face

The last portrait ceremony to happen at the White House was in May 2012 when President Barack Obama (left) and first lady Michelle Obama (right) invited President George W. Bush (center left) and Laura Bush (center right) to the White House

Sources told NBC that Obama also wasn't interested in seeing Trump face-to-face.

While Obama had invited Trump to the White House in the days following his surprise election victory in 2016, Trump continued to criticize the Democrat during the Republican's four-year term.

Psaki's answer indicated that both Obama and Trump could be invited to the Biden White House for their portraits to be hung.

The portrait unveiling ceremony tradition goes back decades.

It originated as a first ladies event - with first lady Lady Bird Johnson inviting Eleanor Roosevelt and Bess Truman to the White House, along with family and friends, for East Room ceremonies.

The Roosevelt ceremony took place in February 1966.

Former first lady Jackie Kennedy made her only return trip to the White House after President John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1971 to see her late husband's portrait hung.

President George W. Bush (right) and first lady Laura Bush (center right) invited President Bill Clinton (left) and Hillary Clinton (cente left) to the White House for a portrait unveiling in June 2004

President Bill Clinton (left) and Hillary Clinton (center left) brought in first lady Barbara Bush (center right) and President George H.W. Bush (right) to the Whtie House for a portrait unveiling ceremony in July 1995

First ladies Barbara Bush (left) and Nancy Reagan (center left) have a giggle as they observe President Ronald Reagan's (center right) portrait being unveiled during the tenure of President George H.W. Bush (right)

President Richard Nixon and first lady Pat Nixon invited her for a ceremony.

She agreed to come only for a private viewing.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter was the first president to play host, bringing President Gerald Ford and former first lady Betty Ford to the White House for an East Room ceremony.

He had defeated Ford in the 1976 presidential race.

The modern tradition started then - though with a caveat, Carter never has a ceremony at the Reagan White House four years later.

'It would probably be out of his character to want a big ceremony in Washington that soon,' Gerald Rafshoon, the Carter White House's communications director, told NBC News. 'I would imagine he opted not to have it.'

President George H.W. Bush, who served as Reagan's vice president, brought the Reagans back to the White House in November 1989.

President Bill Clinton, who defeated Bush in the 1992 election, held a ceremony for his predecessor in July 1995 that both Bush and first lady Barbara Bush attended.

With the White House swinging back to Republican rule after the 2000 election, President George W. Bush had the Clintons come visit in June 2004.

The final modern ceremony took place in 2012, with the Obamas invitation to George W. and Laura Bush.

'We may have our differences politically, but the presidency transcends those differences,' Obama said at the time.

Trump, however, hasn't shown any interest in joining the bi-partisan ex-presidents club - with the living officer holders Carter, Clinton, Bush 43 and Obama seemingly on good terms.

Trump broke tradition last month by refusing to attend Biden's inauguration, landing in West Palm Beach, Florida right before the Democrat was sworn-in.

Clinton, Bush 43 and Obama all attended and participated in a special ceremony at the Unknown Soldier in a show of bipartisan unity after the January 6 insurrection.

Carter didn't attend because at 96-years-old he's high risk if exposed to the coronavirus.
The Ondo State Security Agency Network, codenamed Amotekun Corps, yesterday, disclosed that it had arrested 15 suspected gold miners, for mining gold illegally from different locations in Owo council area of the state.

This came as the Amotekun Commander in Oyo State, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd), declared that Ibarapaland is safe and free of killer herdsmen and kidnappers.

Vanguard gathered that the suspects were arrested from no fewer than 50 locations in Owo community, after about four hours in the forest.

Those arrested include Shuaibu Yahaya, Habbi Usman, Kabiru Waheed, Mohammed Nurudeen, Mohammed Sulaman, Ali Mustapha, Ismaila Wahab, Musa Zeehed, Gabbar Musa, Sule Adamu Abba Suleman, Usman Kebiru, Yahaya Danladi and Usman Ali Zekeri.

The suspects, according to findings, were apprehended by the Amotekun personnel in collaboration with local hunters in the community following an intelligence report.

Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye said that the arrest was part of the crackdown to end criminality in the State.

Adeleye said: "The arrest took place at a Forest reserve in Owo, it was in the course of the exercise we discovered the illegal mining locations.

"We noticed that they have gone far in 50 different locations where they were mining.

"Nobody would have believed that Ondo State has this quality of gold until we got to the locations where the gold robbers were living and performing illegal mining.

"Beyond the arrest, the culprits will be prosecuted."

In an interview, one of the suspects, Kabiru Shuaib from Kebbi State, said he was invited to the state by his friend Yunisa.

Kabiru said: "I came looking for a job and I was introduced by one of our leaders. He brought me to Ondo State for this job because I wanted to make some money.

The suspect explained how they dig deep into the ground to get the gold and how they send the gold to their leader who sells and pay them token."

Amotekun parades 5 robbers

Similarly, five suspected armed robbers, said to have been terrorising travellers along the Benin-Owo road, were also paraded by the security outfit.

One of the robbers, who operate a syndicate in Akure, was apprehended in Warri.

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The Amotekun Commander, said: "We also arrested five armed robbery suspects who were operating along Benin-Akure road.

"They operate most times early in the morning. We worked on intelligence and sold a dummy to them and they were traced to Delta State where one of them was apprehended."

Ibarapaland now safe for farmers, villagers --Oyo Amotekun

Meanwhile, Amotekun Commander in Oyo State, in a statement, denounced some audio and video posts in the social media on the security situation in Ibarapa, saying that he has been moving in and out of the area for days now.

The statement reads: "Anyone desirous of finding out the truth about the security situation in Ibarapaland contrary to the video/audio being circulated in various forums can key into this opportunity.

"I will personally provide escorts to and from Ibadan to Igangan anytime this week.

"You can organise yourselves and inform me if you are interested in finding out the true position of things in Ibarapaland.

"I will be ready to move, just give me 10hrs heads start. I am in Aiyete and I've been moving around Ibarapaland freely, no one has reported any adverse security issue to me apart from an isolated case involving a Fulani man said to have been killed in his house in a remote village around Eruwa in Ibarapa East on Saturday, by yet to be identified assailants. No security challenges observed in Ibarapa Central and North contrary to rumours been peddled.

"We are fully on the trail of those responsible for the said murder in conjunction with other security agencies and we assure all that the attackers and their motives will soon be uncovered."

Vanguard News Nigeria
The World Trade Organization said on Tuesday that its top decision-making body, the General Council, will meet on February 15 to decide on the next director-general.

Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is widely expected to be chosen to fill a months-long leadership void at the global trade watchdog after Washington reversed its opposition last week. If confirmed by consensus, she will be the first woman and the first African to head it.

The 164-member body has been without a leader since Brazil's Roberto Azevedo left a year early in August. Supporters hope she can reinvigorate the institution, which is facing the biggest crisis in its 26-year-history, with members unable to agree on trade deals and a reform programme.

The U.S. administration of Donald Trump had criticised the WTO and paralysed some of its functions, including those of its top appeals body, which rules on trade disputes.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives has reportedly snubbed aggrieved staffers protesting for 17 months' pay arrears. Speaker Bhofal Chambers, who was in his office at the Capitol Building during the time of the protest reportedly refused to meet with the aggrieved staffers; instead, Sinoe County Representative Matthew Zarzar met with the aggrieved staffers.

The recent protest stalled movement of lawmakers, staffers and visitors at the Capitol Building. Speaker Chambers was heard on a local radio station saying, the leadership of the House of Representatives is not indebted to staffers, instead, central administration only.

The workforce of the Liberian Legislature is divided in two sections, central administration staffers hired by the Civil Service Agency while the rest are staffers hired by individual lawmakers to directly work at their will and pressure.

Meaning, after every election year if that lawmaker did not get reelection, those staffers are ultimately dismissed but they are paid by the Liberian government through the leadership either in the Liberian Senate or the House of Representatives.

Speaker Chambers, according to the workers have persistently shown cold shoulders to their quest, arguing that the House of Representatives is not indebted to any personal staffers, something that intensified tension among the workers.However, the leadership of the campus based Students Unification party promised to join the protest in coming days.

Meanwhile, the Press Bureau of the House of Representatives in a press release said after a day-long facts finding meeting of the House Plenary which constituted itself into a committee of whole, on Thursday January 4, 2021 with staff of that august body and stakeholders, it is finally established by the aggrieved staff of the Honorable House of Representatives that the 16% reduction of the Legislative budget from 29.8 Million to 25.7 million under the national harmonization program also affected basic salaries and general allowances of staff of the First Branch of Government.

The facts finding meeting, which brought together executives of the Civil Service Agency, (CSA), Finance Section of the House of Representatives, Central Administration, and leadership of the Personal Staff disclosed through the CSA that the harmonization program affected two separate and distinct budget lines including basic salary and general or special allowance of every government employee which budget lines were synchronized into one currency regime.

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According to the CSA, the Harmonization program affected both the Public and Civil Servants across the country with a minimum gradation based on reduction to unify and standardize salary structure for all Public and Civil Servants.

The Deputy Financial Comptroller of the House of Representatives, Emmanuel Zopi, for his part disclosed that out of the 16% reduction made on the Legislature Budget affecting salary and allowance, only 6% reduction was applied to some of the staff who fall within the threshold of US$500.00 or above after the combination of the basic salary and general allowance.

According to him, basic salary was converted at a rate of US$1.00 to LS$208 which was added to the allowance in determinant of the new salary and the gradation for the application of the 6% threshold.

As we embrace a dollarized economy, Mr. Zopi maintained that members of the staff who fall below the threshold of US$500.00 after the combination of their basic salaries and general allowances are left alone to receive the full amount growing out of the combination.

The synchronized budget line of salary is payable in United States Dollars with 20% payable in Liberian Dollars under the harmonization scheme of the national government.

The House plenary day-long facts finding comes in the wake of staff demand for alleged 17 months' pay cut by members of the House of Representatives, claiming that they were not harmonized by the Civil Service Agency; which claim they could not defend with evidential proof when provided a platform to make their case.
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The Rank-and-File Safety Committee at the Faurecia Gladstone plant was formed last August to fight the spread of the coronavirus and defend whistleblowers at the auto parts factory.

We have been fighting the coronavirus pandemic for the past year. Here at Faurecia and throughout the country, autoworkers have been forced to learn the hard way that the companies only pretend to operate safely. Their real concern is maximum production for maximum profit without a care for our safety. They cover up the infections and deaths, and the unions are nothing but their partners in crime.

Faurecia Gladstone Plant (Photo credit: Aaron Mayberry/Google Maps)

The same thing has been happening to teachers everywhere. President Biden says the schools can be opened safely, which is a bald-faced lie. When a school is open, the virus spreads among the students, the teachers and staff and throughout the community.

Now in Chicago the teachers have taken a stand against returning to contaminated classrooms. The want to teach remotely. Their basic demand is safety for themselves, their students and the community. They have taken a stand to protect human life before corporate profits.

In March, we watched the government hand over trillions of dollars to bail out the biggest corporations. Ever since the pandemic profiteers have been gorging themselves on Wall Street, where share values have shot up to record highs because the Fed has promised to buy whatever they have to sell.

If you want a glaring contrast, look at our factory. When we have to quarantine, whether we have COVID-19 or not, we get next to nothing, just short-term disability for a couple hundred dollars a week, if that. The company says its our problem and takes no responsibility for exposing us to this deadly disease.

During the pandemic, we had an explosion at our plant where a worker with decades of experience was almost burned to death. Many people on the shop floor on multiple occasions had warned the plant administrator, Ruth Means, that they smelled propane. Every time her response was the same, Ill send somebody to take a look at it. But nothing was done. Our co-worker Sheila Skaggs was maimed and almost killed.

The company is indifferent to our lives and welfare. And just like the spread of the pandemic, now they are covering it up. Immediately and before any investigation, Means called a contractor to remove all the evidence from the site. We demand a full investigation and public accounting of the causes of the explosion and of the perpetrators of the cover-up.

We have watched local businesses close down because they couldnt get any help from the government. We have friends that lost their jobs and then lost their homes that they worked all their lives to pay off. But the big finance companies are making a killing in foreclosures because of the pandemic. Unlimited relief for Wall Street profiteers and nothing for the working class.

How many more workers and their loved ones have to suffer and die? Isnt it time we said, Enough! That is why we support the Chicago teachers. The Democratic Party Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot and the head of the Chicago Public Schools Janice Jackson are working might and main with the Biden administration to force the teachers back to work. Biden and many members of his administration have made it very plain that the teachers and their students and communities are to be sacrificed to keep workers on the job and profits flowing to sustain the inflated values on the stock market.

We believe those funds should be put to use to protect the lives of the working class, not the billions accrued by the pandemic profiteers. Brothers and sisters, if you agree with us, please, reach out to us today and join the Gladstone Rank-and-File Safety Committee. If you have friends and co-workers at the Faurecia South Plant in Columbus or if you have contacts at our sister plants in Fort Wayne and Louisville, ask them to join as well.

We are part of a network of rank-and-file safety committees uniting educators, autoworkers, logistics workers and all sections of the working class from coast to coast to prepare a political general strike to repudiate the profiteers and put a stop to the pandemic. All schools and universities must be shut down, along with non-essential businesses, and all those who are financially impacted must be fully compensated. The fortunes hoarded by pandemic profiteers will have to be confiscated to guarantee workers livelihoods and full funding for first-rate online learning facilities for every student.
A robber whose crime against two tourists near the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin featured on the Joe Duffy radio show will be sentenced for his role in the offence next month.

Paul Heaney (37) and Gareth Mallon (39), who had a realistic imitation firearm, robbed an Italian student of 60 and attempted to rob his teacher before fleeing the scene.

The court heard the case attracted some media attention and featured on the Liveline show on RTE radio.

Heaney, who was not armed during the offence, attended voluntarily at a garda station a few days later. Mallon was sentenced to four year imprisonment for his role last December.

Heaney, of Michael Mallin House, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery and attempted robbery at Longs Place on October 21, 2019. He has 51 previous convictions.

Garda Cormac O'Donnell told Grainne O'Neill BL, prosecuting, that a group of 30 students in their late teens and their teachers had been in the Guinness Storehouse.

A student at the back of the group was approached by a man, Mallon, who pointed a gun at his legs and said softly money money money. The second man, Heaney, was unarmed and had a tissue over his face.

The student handed over 60 and the man then pointed the gun at one of the teachers who screamed. Another teacher came to her aid and the two robbers ran off.

A woman nearby videoed the robbery on her mobile phone. Heaney presented himself to gardai a few days later.

Gda O'Donnell agreed with Fiona Murphy SC, defending, that Heaney placed himself at the scene with the person who produced the gun. He agreed Heaney played a lesser role but said it had been a joint enterprise.

Heaney had told garda he had not been involved with planning the robbery.

Ms Murphy said Heaney had expressed remorse and regretted his involvement in the offence. She said he had been on his way to get tablets when he bumped into the other individual involved.

She said he had a difficult early life and had fallen into a cycle of going into custody, doing well, being released and falling 'off the wagon', then reoffending in a life marred by drug use. She said he is clean of drugs at present and anxious to engage with rehabilitation.

Judge Elma Sheahan ordered urine analysis to be carried out and adjourned sentencing until Match 8 when the case will be finalised by video link.
CoNNear is a fully convolutional encoderdecoder NN with strided convolutions and skip connections to map audio input to 201 BM vibration outputs of different cochlear sections (N CF ) in the time-domain. a,b, CoNNear architectures with (a) and without (b) context. The final CoNNear model has four encoder and decoder layers, uses context and includes a tanh activation function between the CNN layers. c, An overview of the model training and evaluation procedure. Whereas reference, analytical TL-model simulations to a speech corpus were used to train the CoNNear parameters, evaluation of the model was performed using simple acoustic stimuli commonly adopted in cochlear mechanics studies. Credit: Nature Machine Intelligence (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s42256-020-00286-8

A trio of researchers at Ghent University has combined a convolutional neural network with computational neuroscience to create a model that simulates human cochlear mechanics. In their paper published in Nature Machine Intelligence, Deepak Baby, Arthur Van Den Broucke and Sarah Verhulst describe how they built their model and the ways they believe it can be used.

Over the past several decades, great strides have been made in speech and voice recognition technology. Customers are routinely serviced by phone-based agents, for example. Also, voice recognition and response systems on smartphones have become ubiquitous. But one feature they all have in common is that in spite of how they seem, none of them operate in real time. Each is based on hardware and software that process what is heard. In this new effort, the researchers suggest that the problem with current devices is the complexity involved in the computations that must be done. To address this problem, they have created a model that simulates hearing in humans that is based on melding the best features of convolutional neural networks with computational neuroscience.

Hearing in humans comes courtesy of the various parts of the ear. Sound enters the ear canal and strikes the eardrum. The eardrum vibrates in response, sending signals to bones in the inner ear that create ripples in the liquid in the cochlea. That liquid stirs the hair cells that line the cochlea. The movement of the hair cells stimulates ion channels that in turn generate signals that are sent to the brain stem. The researchers in Belgium created an AI system that was taught to recognize sound and then to decode it in a similar way. They then connected their system to a model based on human anatomy. They named their system CoNNeara working model of the cochlea.

Testing showed the system is able to transform 20-kHz sampled acoustic waveforms to cochlear basilar-membrane waveforms in real-time, besting state-of-the-art traditional systems by a wide margin. CoNNear carried out cochlear functions 2,000 times faster than current hearing aid technology. The researchers suggest their findings could lay the groundwork for a new generation of human-like hearing, or augmented hearing and speech recognition devices.

More information: Deepak Baby et al. A convolutional neural-network model of human cochlear mechanics and filter tuning for real-time applications, Nature Machine Intelligence (2021). Journal information: Nature Machine Intelligence Deepak Baby et al. A convolutional neural-network model of human cochlear mechanics and filter tuning for real-time applications,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s42256-020-00286-8

 2021 Science X Network
~ Calls for Mingos immediate dismissal ~

The World Bank has no authority to dictate to the government or the airport holding board anything regarding personnel management at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) and its attempt to interfere ads to an ongoing scandal at PJIA. So says Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel, adding that if the World Bank feels so strongly about involving itself in these matters, then it should indeed keep its money and let the airport holding board do its job in securing funding for the reconstruction of the airport.

PJIA holding should be given the space to get the funding and would not have to put up with more threats over funding from the World Bank and, by extension, the Dutch, Emmanuel stated. Emmanuel was responding to the World Banks statement on Tuesday that warned that the funding for the airports reconstruction is in jeopardy if the government does not ensure adequate staffing of PJIAE.

First of all, the terms of all the agreements signed with the World Bank does not give it any authority to have any say about personnel matters. Secondly, we have to question if this letter that The Daily Herald claims it has specifically mentioned airport CEO Brian Mingo by name or that was just a headline by the Herald. If it did mention his name, are we to assume that money was granted because of an individual? Not for St. Maarten? Suppose Mingo drops dead tomorrow? It is a ludicrous statement for the World Bank to make, Emmanuel said.

He said it has come to his attention that the Council of Ministers (COM) had requested a postponement of the airport holding boards action to dismiss CEO Brian Mingo after Mingo refused to resign as per the request of the holding board. He said the COM wanted to receive full communication from the holding board that due process was followed. I have learned that the COM has received this information and they recommend to the holding board to move ahead and dismiss Mingo post-haste and the supervisory board should be next, Emmanuel said.

MP Emmanuel said that the World Bank statements were ironic considering the person they are allegedly defending, cant get a bidding exercise at the airport completed. He didnt mince any words and stated that the airport is an ongoing scandal deserving of the attention of the prosecutors office and run by a cartel-like PJIA Supervisory Board (PJIAE). He added that he also has questions regarding the Royal Schiphol Group (RSG) and airport bondholders. He said he hopes Parliament convenes an urgent meeting at the airport soon to discuss this latest development and some other pressing matters at PJIA.

MP Emmanuel further pointed out that the cooperation agreement signed between PJIAE, PJIAH, Schiphol Nederland B.V., and the State of the Netherlands is about to expire and some parties are eager to renew. Renew why? What has been accomplished in two years? We are in the same place we were two years ago with nothing happening at the airport with the same people from Schiphol on the board and a CFO from Schiphol as part of the managing team. Why should that agreement be renewed, Emmanuel questioned.

Ive said it a million times. St. Maarten has the money and it can fund this reconstruction. The government has to let Airport Holding do its job and make it happen. Stop bending over backward for the World Bank and the Dutch. We have seen APS recently loan US $16 million to the marine sector. We cut civil servants' salaries and benefits to save a measly $15 million. It means that the government never spoke to APS. And I have said it over and over again. Sit with your companies and get it done. That APS loan is a slap in the face to civil servants, Emmanuel said.

The only thing the current board, its Dutch members, and the CEO have secured is a complete fleecing of the airport, he said. To that end, the MP mentioned that the Dutch appointees at PJIA get paid luxury amounts in euros and allegedly do not pay taxes on St. Maarten. Mind you, they get paid with airport money, but pay no taxes? Lets not even get into the CEO and what he has gotten from the supervisory board in addition to his regular compensation. Lets not get into what the CEO requested from the holding board if the latter wanted him to resign. It has been a complete fleecing of PJIA while the same CEO tells the PJIA employees he has no money for them, MP Emmanuel said.

In this context, he disclosed that the total cost for the airport project external consultants reportedly amounts to over US $10 million per year, including US $237,000 for a Procurement Officer, US $234,000 for an Environmental Specialist, and US $345,000 for remediation supervision. Perks include round trip tickets, housing, car allowance, and other allowances. Where is the solidarity with our people who are taking cuts to salaries while these people travel up and down and live tax-free? This is just the tip of the iceberg. It is scandalous and I intend to question all of it, the MP said.

The MP also raised issues of what he termed blatant conflicts of interest at the airport with the Royal Schiphol Group (RSG) appointees, supported and empowered by the supervisory board. He explained that the RSG has an employee of RSG on the supervisory board. This same RSG employee votes and evaluates RSG contracts and evaluates other RSG employees or representatives at PJIA. Furthermore, the CFO of PJIA is also an RSG employee who evaluates RSG contracts with the supervisory board as well as RSG professionals and contractors attached to the airport. So who exactly holds who accountable and critiques contracts and processes in the best interest of St. Maarten? the MP asked.

He also pointed out that RSG has an employee and board member on the holding board of the airport who votes on the same RSG contracts mentioned before and has a say in the appointments of Managing Directors of PJIAE and supervisory board directors of PJIAE. These people are all evaluating and appointing themselves and colleagues from Holland and ensuring they are paid tax-free with all the perks of housing ect. The money is not from RSG, the money is from PJIA.
Premier Li Keqiang has stressed solid work on benefiting the people and constantly improving their living standards amid continuous development.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during his inspection tour in Yuncheng of north China's Shanxi Province on Sunday.

During his visit to a market for Lunar New Year goods shopping, Li learned about the supply conditions and prices of pork, beef, mutton and vegetables, stressing the need to ensure food quality and safety, and to produce more green organic agricultural products to benefit both businesses and consumers.

Li also visited Wu Village in Xia County, which has shaken off absolute poverty. He delivered goods and well wishes to villagers for the coming Lunar New Year.

Talking with the villagers about household incomes, the size of farmland, the number of people working and their expectations, Li said the country is promoting rural vitalization and will continue to assist the poor and consolidate poverty alleviation. People's lives will get better and better through hard work, he said.

Li appreciated the use of branches and straw for heating and cooking in the village. He stressed that the fuel for winter heating should be chosen based on local conditions and the government should bring more convenience to people's lives.

During his visit to a household in a rundown urban area, Li asked about the situations regarding employment, income, medicare reimbursement and kindergarten tuition.

Hearing about people's expectations on community renovation and the local government's efforts at introducing market forces to accelerate the renovation, Li said the country will continue to support the renovation of old urban residential communities to let more people move into convenient and comfortable new homes as early as possible.

While visiting a logistics center, Li said that the logistics and express-delivery sector is the main artery of economic circulation.

Knowing that the cost of express delivery has dropped sharply in the past two years, Li said this is conducive to boosting consumption, promoting the development of the industry and expanding employment, especially flexible employment.

He called for more efforts to perform solid work on epidemic prevention and control on a regular basis, continuously achieve new and greater results on economic development and the improvement of people's livelihoods, and promote high-quality development.
Apple Inc contract manufacturer Wistron said on Tuesday it was looking to restart operations at its factory in southern India which was shut late last year after workers went on a rampage at the site.

Wistron was working hard to raise standards and fix issues at the plant in Karnatakas Kolar district, the Taiwanese company said in a statement.

We are looking forward to restarting our operations and welcoming back team members and we thank them for their patience and support as we worked through corrective actions," Wistron said.
Saudi Arabia has recently overhauled the role of its central bank, for the first time ever, in a move that could mark an acceleration of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans massive plans to reinvest Saudi oil revenues into diversification projects.

In November 2020, Saudi Arabias King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud approved the new law for the central bank, under which the authority is now changing its name from the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority to the Saudi Central Bank, and will directly report to the King.

The Saudi Central Bank will continue to enjoy financial and administrative independence, the Kingdom said back then.

According to analysts who spoke to the Financial Times, the first major shake-up of the Saudi banking authority in its 70-year history could shift the balance of power for investing surpluses of petrodollars from the bank to the Kingdoms sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is chaired by the crown prince.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has grand plans for major investments into diversifying Saudi Arabias economy away from dependence on oil revenues. But in order to do so, the Kingdom will use the oil money it is generating, which have crumbled over the past year due to the low oil prices, the collapse in oil demand, and the large production cuts the Saudis are making under the OPEC+ deal.

Related Video: The Silver Squeeze Conspiracy

The crown prince wants to accelerate the countrys development away from oil, asap, a senior banker based in the Gulf told FT. He is in a hurry and needs supporters where he wants them to invest as fast as he can, the banker added.

PIFs program 2021  2025 targets to raise the funds assets under management to US$1.07 trillion, and invest 21 percent of its assets in new and growth sectors.

If the Saudi fund reaches the US$1.07 trillion assets by 2025, it would be one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. Currently, Norways Government Pension Fund Global, the so-called oil fund, is the biggest sovereign wealth fund in the world, with a total market value of US$1.22 trillion in 2020. PIF had assets under management of around US$400 billion as of the end of 2020.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

The New Mexico Public Education Department is pursuing a federal waiver for standardized testing this spring to make way for flexibility and to lower the stakes during the pandemic.

Last spring, all testing was waived after March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to PED.

Deputy Secretary Gwen Perea Warniment said the agency is now seeking permission to do testing without the usual consequences that are tied to the assessment outcomes, such as holding a student back or penalizing a school.

We are, right now, in the process of applying for a waiver, Perea Warniment said during an interview in late January.

We are submitting a letter to the Department of Education that would allow us what's called flexible testing options.

She said she expected the waiver application to go out this week.

Under the plan, Perea Warniment said, districts could use the summative assessments that would typically be required during this time  the New Mexico Measures of Student Success and Achievement and SAT  or schools could submit data from a different, uniform test they've done throughout the year. But, she said, a district wouldn't be allowed to skip testing altogether.

Families, however, could opt out under PED's proposal, she added.

This spring would be the first time that students take the New Mexico Measures of Student Success and Achievement that replaced PARCC and the first time 11th-grade students take the SAT as a standardized exam.

The education department would also give districts more time to get testing done.

The window starts in March and then it will expand into May. Typically, it's just a smaller window in March, Perea Warniment said.

The deputy secretary said the plan is to do that testing in-person with COVID-safe practices so that they can be supervised.

Students do federally required testing once a year in third through eighth grades and once in high school. In New Mexico, that equates to 167,773 students, according to PED.

Gauging students' knowledge is more high profile after a legislative report said spring 2020 school closures could have cost students between four months to more than a year of learning for the state's elementary and middle school students. That predicted learning loss could increase as remote learning continues.

While Perea Warniment said she doesn't think there will be wholesale learning loss, she said that the testing results will likely enforce concerns about academic achievement gaps for students who are at-risk and the PED will be eyeing data from these students to see where their skill level is.

Student assessment scores are no longer part of teacher evaluations.

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U.S. President Joe Biden is proposing to raise refugee admissions this year to 62,500 from the record-low 15,000 set by his predecessor Donald Trump.

U.S. State Department officials are expected to meet this week with key lawmakers in a formal consultation that is part of the process to set refugee levels, according to three people briefed on the meetings.

Here is Biden's plan, based on a proposal submitted to Congress and people familiar with it.

REGIONAL ALLOTMENTS

Biden will create spots for 22,000 refugees from Africa, 13,000 from South Asia, 6,000 from East Asia, 5,000 from Latin America and the Caribbean, and 4,000 from Europe and Central Asia, according to the plan. Another 12,500 unallocated spots will also be available.

In Biden's proposal to Congress, he argues the expansion this year is needed in part to resettle refugees from more than a dozen nations whose humanitarian situation is worsening. The president's stance contrasts sharply with Trump's depiction of refugees as a security threat and economic burden.

Biden said on Feb. 4 that he intends to raise annual refugee admissions to 125,000 in the coming fiscal year, which begins on Oct. 1, 2021.

Current refugee admissions slowed to a crawl amid Trump's restrictions and the coronavirus pandemic.

From Oct. 1 to Feb. 5, the United States resettled only 1,501 refugees, according to State Department data shared with refugee groups.

REFUGEE POPULATIONS

Biden's plan specifically mentions the plight of refugees from more than a dozen countries, including Syria, where it says "regime forces have forcibly displaced, raped, starved, and massacred civilians."

Nearly 12,600 Syrian refugees were allowed into the United States during fiscal year 2016, the last full year under former President Barack Obama. Syrian admissions plunged under Trump to roughly 500 in fiscal year 2020.

Other refugee populations mentioned in Biden's proposal are those in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, Uighur Muslims from China and residents of Hong Kong. In the Western Hemisphere, the plan cites refugees from Venezuela, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, among other nations.

More broadly, Biden's proposal says that increased admissions could provide safety to refugees facing an increased threat of gender-based violence due to confinement and economic struggles during the coronavirus pandemic.

PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP PILOT

Biden intends to launch a pilot refugee program that would allow private sponsors to fund costs associated with resettlement in the United States, according to his proposal to Congress.

The pilot program will focus on refugees reuniting with relatives in the United States and would not be limited by nationality, the proposal said.

Some refugee advocates see the effort as a step toward a broader economic sponsorship program that could also include businesses, universities and charity groups.

REFUGEES FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN

Biden issued an executive order on Feb. 4 that aims to speed up refugee processing and remove barriers that blocked some applicants.

The order called for a review of the Special Immigrant Visa program for refugees who aided U.S. interests in Iraq and Afghanistan to determine whether there have been "undue delays" for applicants.

The Trump administration carved out 4,000 spots for Iraqi refugees in its 2020 cap for admissions but only 537 were resettled in the fiscal year, which ended on Sept. 30, 2020.

CLIMATE CHANGE REFUGEES

Biden's order highlighted the role of climate change in the displacement of people around the world, calling on heads of several U.S. agencies to produce a report on the matter by early August.

ROLLBACK OF TRUMP POLICIES

Biden's executive order rescinded several restrictive Trump policies, including a 2019 order that required U.S. states and localities to consent to receive refugees.

The rollback of that Trump policy will be partly symbolic since a Maryland-based federal judge blocked it nationwide more than a year ago, a decision that was upheld in January by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Biden also rescinded a Trump order that called for "enhanced vetting" of refugees and specifically targeted 11 countries. Ten of the 11 affected countries were in the Middle East and Africa.

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New Delhi, Feb 9 : After the week-long impasse ended with the opposition participating in the regular proceedings on getting government assurance for a separate debate on three farm laws, the Lok Sabha decided to skip Question Hour on Tuesday to finish ongoing discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address.

When the Lower House will assemble at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, there will be no Question Hour. Besides, the House will take other business so that the fixed 15-hour debate on Motion of Thanks could be completed as soon as possible. This was decided on Monday thus ending the impasse.

Question Hour is generally the first hour of a sitting of the Lok Sabha which is devoted to questions asked by parliamentarians directly to the government and the Minister concerned replies to their queries. It has a special significance in the proceedings of Parliament. Asking a question is an inherent and unfettered parliamentary right of members.

During the first hour, the House is expected to finish laying of papers on the table by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology; Rural Development; Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying; Chemical and Fertilizers; Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises; Social Justice and Empowerment; Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution; Home Affairs; Social Justice and Environment; Food Processing Industries; an Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Later reports of Committee on Estimates, Public Accounts Committee, Committee on Government Assurance, and Committee on Water Resources will be tabled in the House.

Motion for election to committees will also be moved during the House proceedings. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs Sanjay Jaiswal and Girsh Bhalchandra Bapat will move the motion that "the members of this House do proceed to elect in the manner that 30 members from amongst themselves to serve as members of the Committee on Estimates for the term beginning on the May 1, 2021 and ending on the April 30, 2022." Motion regarding the report of joint committee on Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 will also be moved in the House for the extension of time granted to the committee on the Bill on September 23 last year for presentation of the report up to the second week of the Winter Session of Parliament, 2020, 'may be treated as extension up to last day of first week of the second part of the Budget Session, 2021 of Parliament'.

Later, members will continue the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address.

(Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in)
Rivers and lakes at high latitudes are considered to be major sources for greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere, but these losses are poorly constrained. In a study published in Nature Communications, Umea University researchers and collaborators quantify carbon emissions from rivers and lakes across Western Siberia, finding that emission are high and exceed carbon export to the Arctic Ocean.

High latitude regions play a key role in the global carbon cycle and climate system. An important question is the degree of mobilization and atmospheric release of vast soil carbon stocks, partly stored in permafrost, with amplified warming of these regions. A fraction of this carbon is exported to inland waters and emitted to the atmosphere, yet these losses are poorly constrained and seldom accounted for in assessments of high latitude carbon balances. This is particularly relevant for Western Siberia, with its extensive peatland carbon stocks that are expected to be affected by climate warming.

Now researchers at the Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC), Umea University, and collaborators from Russia and France have quantified the carbon emission from inland waters of Western Siberia. Due to the remoteness and large area (3.6 million km2 area) of the study region, sampling of lakes and rivers were carried out over several years.

"We collected data of representative lakes and rivers over 2,000 km distance, including the main channel of Arctic's largest watershed the Ob' River", explains lead author Jan Karlsson.

Based on these data and information on the distribution of inland waters of the region the research team show high carbon emission from Western Siberian inland waters and that these systems play an important role in the continental carbon cycle.

"Our results emphasize the important role of carbon emissions from inland waters in the regional carbon cycle. The carbon emission from the inland waters was almost an order of magnitude higher that carbon export to the Arctic Ocean and reached nearly half of the region's land carbon uptake."

The high significance of inland waters in the carbon cycle of Western Siberia is likely a result of the overall flat terrain, which lead to relatively high water coverage and long water transit times, and thus favorable conditions for decomposition and outgassing of land derived carbon in inland waters. The authors stress that further studies on the coupled land-water carbon cycle are needed in order to improve the understanding of regional differences in the contemporary carbon cycle and predictions of future conditions in these understudied and climate-sensitive areas.

"Ignoring carbon outgassing from inland waters will likely largely underestimate the impact of warming on these regions and overlook their weakening capacity to act as terrestrial carbon sinks."

###

Original article

Karlsson, J., S. Serikova, S. N. Vorobyev, G. Rocher-Ros, B. Denfeld, O. S. Pokrovsky. 2021. Carbon emission from Western Siberian inland waters. Nature communications, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21054-1

About the Climate Impacts Research Centre, CIRC:

CIRC conduct and facilitate research on the effects of climate change on Arctic and other northern ecosystems. The research range from detailed process-level studies to comprehensive landscape-level studies in both aquatic and terrestrial systems. The activity is located at Abisko Scientific Research Station in northern Sweden.

https:/ / www. arcticcirc. net/

Press photos:

https:/ / mediabank-umu. qbank-mediaportal. se/ selection/ 69d7d9e3b145f034f98af84d9f6cafb4

Example of inland waters studied in western Siberia.

Photo: Egor Istigechev

PhD students Ivan Krickov and Svetlana Serikova prepare sampling equipent for sampling lakes and rivers in Western Siberia.

Photo: Svetlana Serikova

For more information, please contact:

Jan Karlsson,

professor, Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC),

Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umea University, Sweden

Phone: +46(0)90-786 60 02

Email: jan.p.karlsson@umu.se

?
In early November, two boats washed ashore on the rocks just off the Safe Harbor Emeryville. Days of strong gales from the Pacific coast delivered the pair  one a white recreational sailboat with a sharp green stripe across its bow, the other an open-air fishing trawler with blotchy paint and fading block letters faintly spelling "AUDREY" across the hull  within 48 hours of each other. The mysterious appearance of captainless boats on the rocks has many baygoers intrigued.

The battered boats are not so mysterious, however, to Sejal Choksi-Chugh, executive director at SF Baykeeper, a nonprofit that patrols the bay monitoring for pollution and environmental threats. Speeding around in her patrol boat  SF Baykeeper emblazoned just above the water line  she says her team sees abandoned vessels, like the two marooned in Emeryville, almost every day; and the number has grown significantly since the pandemic began.

Choksi-Chugh says every time theres a recession, she sees an increase in abandoned vessels. Buying a boat can be surprisingly cheap, especially at salvage auctions, and many buyers misjudge the time, money and effort required for its maintenance. To complicate things, Choksi-Chugh adds that theres no real easy mechanism for anyone to return or sell their boats. This has created backwards incentives for unscrupulous boat owners whod rather abandon ship than resell or turn their boat in. When money gets tight, for many, the choice is easy.

Some errant boats, she says, are adopted by new owners and have even helped shelter some unhoused people. But the vast majority wash ashore or, worse, sink  taking gallons of oil, diesel fuel and other contaminants down with them. For the cities, counties and parks that dot San Francisco Bay's shores, dealing with the environmental brunt and economic cost of these wrecks is adding strain to budgets already cash-strapped by the pandemic.

Ditch your car on the side of the road and Californias Abandoned Vehicle Program (AVP), funded with annual vehicle registration fees, will pay to have it removed quickly  avoiding safety and environmental hazards, the DMV says. To recover its costs, the state can then place a lien against the car until any fees incurred by your vehicle disposal have been repaid.

Boaters, however, arent subject to such scrutiny from the state. Unlike with their vehicle, when boaters elect to abandon their vessels on Californias waterways, there isnt exactly a system like the AVP to remove them. Instead, getting rid of the dumped vessel falls under a patchwork of jurisdictions, including the Coast Guard, port authorities and park districts.

Ron Kent, at the California Department of Parks and Recreation's Division of Boating and Waterways, says all new, motorized vessels across the state are registered for two years with either the DMV or Coast Guard, depending on the size and nature of the boat. The DMV handles almost all recreational boats. The Coast Guard, commercial vessels. But, as he points out, after those two years elapse, tracking registrations can get a bit hazy. Some people dont renew or, as Kent says, in the course of various person-to-person sales, new owners sometimes fail to register the vessel in their own name. Its hard to say how many boats like this are out there, but the growing presence of abandoned vessels on the bay shows just how easy it is to slip by.

When the time comes that a boater finds their vessel too expensive or cumbersome, instead of removing it from the water, many set them adrift or simply walk away. These boats, deemed marine debris, can float for days and weeks. And unless they prove to be a navigational hazard, a difficult case to make for a boat once it's washed ashore, or pose an imminent environmental threat, leaking oil or gas for example, the Coast Guard has no legal need to remove the ship.

Thats where this patchwork system comes back into contact with our two windswept watercraft out on the rocks in Emeryville. The fishing vessel, Audrey, if registered at all, would be recorded with the Coast Guard as a documented vessel. The sailboat, seemingly registered with the DMV, has California license decals and updated 2021 stickers. But, according to Sheri Hartz, Emeryville city clerk, after requesting a search of registrations from the DMV, the Emeryville Police Department determined there was no owner of record for either boat. The DMV says the stickers, if valid, may have been lifted from another vessel.

Though the DMV says all boats registrations are updated with each sale or change of owner, just like a vehicles registration, the lived reality is that the lack of a comprehensive and adequate West Coast registration system is allowing many boats to easily slip through the cracks, as documented by a January 2020 report by the Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force, a consortium of state and local officials across California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Alaska and British Columbia. The report also notes that these states and territories need to empower local authorities to pre-emptively fund removal before boats drift away and sink.

Without a reliable system to track the unoccupied, abandoned ship to its owner, salvaging the wrecks now shifts to the city, county or park district where the boat happened to wind up. And cleanup isnt cheap. In the case of these two stranded vessels, Emeryville paid Lind Marine, a private salvage contractor, $26,500 to clean up the wrecks, haul them off, crush them and dump them in a landfill. For a small city like Emeryville, thats tens of thousands spent from an already tight budget.

Ben Derico

Speaking from her office in downtown Oakland, the lawyer turned environmental activist Choksi-Chugh says by this point, if you havent seen a wayward ship abandoned on the bay, its not because its not out there: Its probably because it's already sunk. Once you train your eye, she says, its easy to spot the tips of masts sticking out of the water in marinas all across the bay. And the skeletons of shipwrecks from San Francisco to Oakland, San Jose to the San Pablo Bay are piling up, she says, because there's no money to actually pull [them] out.

The issue of sinking ships has been a problem in the bay for so long that weve even built parts of the city on top of them. Most of todays Financial District is constructed above sunken ships from the Gold Rush buried between fill land used to extend the citys borders further into the bay.

Those relics will likely remain beneath passing tourists and trolleys along the Embarcadero above, but for future wrecks, as the Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force report suggests, authorities should develop programs to get derelict boats out of the water before they sink.

Here in California, SF Baykeeper teamed up with Ron Kents office at the Division of Boating and Waterways to establish the Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange, or SAVE, a grant reimbursement program that helps fund 90% of the removal costs local public agencies incur removing abandoned vessels. The programs grants are funded by a combination of money from the states legislatively appropriated Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund as well as from the sale of vessels received through the states Vessel Turn-In Program. Kent says between 2017 and 2019, the most recent period with available data, 140 boats were removed from the bay and 618 from waterways across California through SAVE and VTIP. Its substantial but not enough to keep up.

While both of these programs are making good progress, Choksi-Chugh says it likely is only addressing part of the issue. The rest of the solution, she says, comes down to setting up stricter statewide registration requirements like the strategy implemented in Washington state and modeled by the Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force report. In addition, requiring boat owners to carry insurance, just like car owners, could help alleviate the costs on localities. SF Baykeeper believes insurers would likely be willing to take on part of the cost of salvaging boats in return for the large number of premiums theyd collect. When asked for their plans for enacting similar proposals here, the California DMV did not comment.

About two weeks after they washed up in Emeryville, the mystery of where these errant boats came from remains. But the end of their story is much clearer. Emeryville did not receive a SAVE grant, saddling the city with the cost of cutting the boats into pieces, hoisting them into a barge and dragging them to be dumped in a landfill.
THE ROPE

A True Story of Murder, Heroism, and the Dawn of the NAACP

By Alex Tresniowski

In 1910, Asbury Park, N.J., was in its glory days as a seaside escape. The town was a candy-colored Victorian fantasy of wholesome amusements  an elaborate whirling carousel, the Crystal Maze fun house, baby parades. But, as Alex Tresniowski skillfully recalls in The Rope: A True Story of Murder, Heroism, and the Dawn of the NAACP, it was a fantasyland built for whites.

Granted, the segregation practiced on the Jersey Shore didnt have the hard brutality of the Jim Crow South, but nevertheless a softer color line prevailed that was just as real. The Black workers who waited on the whites who thronged the hotels were housed in a rough stretch of land across the railroad tracks that ferried well-heeled tourists from New York City. When, in 1885, complaints arose that local and vacationing Blacks had the temerity to stroll the boardwalk and enjoy the beaches, The New York Times reported that they were intruding themselves in places where common sense should tell them not to go. James Bradley, the founder of Asbury Park, solved the problem by designating a Black beach  next to the sewer pipe that spewed human waste into the ocean.

Given this uneasy coexistence, its not surprising that when Marie Smith, a 10-year-old white schoolgirl, was found sexually assaulted and murdered in a lonely patch of woods, suspicion turned to an itinerant Black man named Tom Williams, a former prizefighter who did odd jobs around town. The local police chief pronounced the murder a Negros crime. As Tresniowski reminds us, blaming a Black man when a white woman was assaulted wasnt limited to the South, which by the early 20th century was in the midst of an orgy of extrajudicial racial killings. Some 25 years earlier, in Eatontown, seven miles north of Asbury Park, a Black stable hand named Samuel Johnson had been beaten, shot and hanged by a mob on suspicion that he had raped a young white woman.
Puberty blockers stunt childrens bone growth, research finds

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New research has revealed what doctors critical of transgender medicine have been saying for years, that puberty-suppressing drugs given to gender dysphoric youth stunt their bone growth.



Published in PLOS One last week, the study, "Short-term outcomes of pubertal suppression in a selected cohort of 12 to 15 year old young people with persistent gender dysphoria in the UK," found that puberty blockers do not alleviate psychological distress regarding ones gender by any measurable benefit. The study does claim, however, that the overall experience of the patients on the blockers was positive. The study followed a cohort of 44 children who had undergone the experimental treatment in the United Kingdoms lone gender clinic with the National Health Service.

When the children completed chemical puberty blockade at age 16, the researchers found reduced growth in both height and bone strength. Additional research is necessary to say whether the weakened bones are irreversible, researchers said.



In both cases (height and bone strength) there was some growth but less than would be expected during those years without hormonal suppression, states the paper, which was published nine years after the research began.

Amid increasing visibility of gender identity policies and legislation, transgender activists and others have often asserted that such drugs are a mere pause button to allow children more time to decide whether to proceed with a full medicalized gender-transition, which includes cross-sex hormones and various cosmetic surgeries to appear more as the opposite sex.



Of the 44 children that the latest study followed, 43 went on to take cross-sex hormones.

Dr. Michael Biggs of Oxford University, who has criticized the studys methodology, said he found it striking that the youth who were tracked experienced no improvement in gender dysphoria.



We would have expected a large positive placebo response, as these kids and their parents were desperate to get the drugs, he said, as was reported in the UK Times.

In 2019, California endocrinologist Dr. Michael Laidlaw detailed in a Heritage Foundation panel the harms of gender identity medicine that Biggs had previously discovered through a freedom of information request. Biggs found that at the Tavistock gender clinic  which a U.K. high court ruled against in a recent judicial review  children that were treated at the facility reported greater self-harm with these particular medications, and girls exhibited greater emotional problems and dissatisfaction with their bodies.

In a Feb. 3 comment on the study on the PLOS One site, Biggs explained that it is hard to square this finding with the authors claim that pubertal suppression may be both a treatment in its own right and also an intermediate step in a longer treatment pathway.

Considered as a treatment in its own right, the suppression of puberty with GnRHa might be the only treatment provided by the NHS for which there is no objective evidence that the benefits outweigh the risks  as the authors themselves admitted in their statistical plan. The only justification for puberty suppression is to prepare a child for lifelong medicalization with cross-sex hormones and surgeries, with irreversible consequences for sexuality and fertility.



Still, the Tavistock director, Dr. Polly Carmichael, who was part of the study, maintains that the research shows that patient experience on the blocker is positive overall and there were no unexpected adverse events, but that more research is needed around this complex issue.



The studys acknowledgment of reduced bone strength dovetails with what doctors critical of the medicalization of gender have been saying for years about treating psychologically distressed youth with untested hormonal agents, children who are otherwise physically healthy.



In a 2018 interview about Lupron  a drug that is approved for and is routinely used to treat prostate cancer in men and endometriosis in women but is now being used to treat gender dysphoria in children despite lack of FDA approval for that purpose  Dr. Quentin Van Meter, a pediatric endocrinologist from Atlanta, told The Christian Post of the numerous repercussions of using high-powered drugs to suppress normal puberty.



Unlike when a hormone blocker is administered to a child who is dealing with precocious puberty, another medical condition for which the drug has been formally approved, when you give puberty blockers to a pubertal-aged child, what you're doing is sideswiping them out of the physiological development that puberty is intended to create and facilitate, Van Meter explained at the time.

You are taking calcium out of the bones of girls which cannot be introduced later; you're putting them at risk for osteoporosis. On top of that, you're taking the ovaries and testicles, which have not yet started to mature to the stage of fertility, and you're cutting them off at the knees, essentially making them sterile," he said.












The 16 bodies set up to run Queenslands hospitals are rapidly becoming laden with debt and do not have systems in place to effectively communicate with each other and the health department, a report has found.

The latest report from the Queensland Audit Office has found 11 of the states 16 Hospital and Health Services reported operating losses in the 2019-20 financial year, three more than in the year before.

The financial sustainability of Queenslands Hospital and Health Services continues to decline, a report has found. Credit:Jason South

The services are responsible for running public hospitals throughout the state, and receive funding through both self-generated revenue and the state government via Queensland Health.

The report found 11 of the services had an operating loss in 2019-20, despite only one having budgeted for one, while seven had made an overall loss since they were formed in 2012 under the Campbell Newman-led LNP government.
Tunis/Tunisia  The decision to shut down the Tabarka-Ain Draham airport was made as a result of the national and international health situation due to the COVID19, said Minister of Transport and Logistics Moez Chakchouk.

Speaking at a hearing session at the House of People's Representatives, Chakchouk denied the decision was motivated by political reasons.

He said that the airport of Tabarka, whose budget is 8 million dinars each year, did not receive any passengers in 2020, adding that it received nearly 600 tourists in 2019.

He said his department has asked Tunisair Express to schedule a line to Algiers or Constantine, as soon as flights with Algeria resume.

The minister also noted that his department is currently working on the implementation of a strategy to resolve the situation of Tunisair and Tunisair Express.

The strategy seeks to boost domestic airports by the summer of 2021, with the return of Tunisian expats.
Stacey Berghoff had a knack for giving trash  anything from junked chairs to tossed rugs  new life.

Roommate Randy Husmann called Berghoff a bonafide dumpster diver. Rummaging through trash, though, was what ignited the deadly clash Saturday in northwest Houston that left her dead and a motorist on the run.

Why someone would confront her for taking stuff out of the trash, I have no idea, said Husmann, whose daughter was Berghoffs best friend.

The pre-dawn shooting was among the years 44 deaths  at least five of which occurred over the weekend  that Mayor Sylvester Turner highlighted Monday at a news conference, condemning the violence and calling on residents to report information to police if they have it. Police said the number of murders is a 32 percent increase from the same period in 2020.

Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The mayor pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic contributing to stress in the community, but said it does not excuse the heightened violence.

It is a crime problem that we must all work together to confront, and that is what Im asking all of us to do, Turner said. This is an all-hands-on-deck situation. Its not just up to HPD. It is all of our responsibility to get on top of the crime situation that is going on in our city.

Turner directed $4.1 million in overtime payments last October to put more cops on the street, and the police department in December sent 20 more detectives to the homicide division. The mayor said police would have an increased presence in the citys hot spots for violence next weekend.

Turner asked crime witnesses to speak up and encouraged neighborhood groups and apartment managers to revisit their safety guidelines.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said he was hopeful those efforts will help clear cases and curb violence. He has instructed the police department to start cracking down again on lower-level offenses, which officers had pulled back on amid overcrowding at the Harris County Jail.

When we lose a Houstonian, its an affront to all Houstonians. It doesnt matter where you live, Acevedo said. Word to the wise, in terms of everybody that has been running around  Im happy to report the jail is open, its back to business, and were starting to make arrests for lower-level offenses.

As officials gathered at City Hall, the dumped desk and coffee table that likely caught Berghoffs eye over the weekend remained along the 8600 block of Rayson Road, waiting for a city junk waste collection truck.

Investigators said Berghoff, 35, and a friend, Kristi Marrone, were going through a trash pile around 4:45 a.m. when a man in a silver Ford F-150 pickup truck confronted the two in the road. Police said the encounter began in an argument over the womens parked car in the road.

Courtesy photo from family, Courtesy photo from family / Courtesy photo from family

This crazy guy in a silver pickup just started driving really fast up and down the street, Marrone recalled Monday.

Marrone said the man was driving erratically and nearly hit them and their parked car. An argument escalated to violence and Marrone said the man punched Berghoff in the face. After the struggle, Marrone said Berghoff told her that she had stabbed the man in self defense at least once during the fight. He also had threatened to shoot her, she said.

The two returned to the car and left the street. The man, however, followed them to the nearby 8500 block of Rannie Road, where he opened fire on Berghoffs vehicle. She was struck once and killed. She died at the scene.

He was looking for trouble from the start, Marrone said, adding that a bullet pierced her own jacket, but left her uninjured.

Husmann, 62, said he began to worry when Berghoff failed to come home that morning and her phone went unanswered.

He acknowledged Berghoffs lengthy criminal record but said none of that mattered. She had been his caretaker throughout the pandemic.

Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

She was helping me, Husmann said, noting that had she been there he would not be smoking the cigarette in his hand. She didnt deserve this and I hope like hell they get the guy who did it.

Police attributed the shooting to road rage, one of the worrisome pandemic trends that Acevedo warned of in December.

Police cataloged more than 400 murders last year even as the pandemic kept many residents at home. The killings placed the years murder rate  calculated by the number of known murders per 100,000 people  as one of the worst in three decades.

Aggravated assaults were behind a violent crime uptick in Houston during the pandemic months, records show.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
JACKSON, Miss., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Hope Enterprise Corporation, with a commitment from Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses of up to $130 million, has partnered with seven cities, and nine historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to launch the Deep South Economic Mobility Collaborative (DSEMC). Formed to stabilize and strengthen businesses and communities devastated by the economic crisis, DSEMC is an innovative collaborative that invests in the power of small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Deep South, particularly those from underserved and under-resourced communities.

DSEMC taps the expertise and capabilities of Hope Enterprise Corporation , Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses , institutions of higher learning and cities in a unique way to provide access to financing, business education classes, and business support services, leveraging support from the private, public and nonprofit sectors. This comprehensive support focuses on stabilizing and strengthening small businesses, and bolstering employment in a region characterized by deep, entrenched poverty and racial disparities.

"For centuries, racism and economic inequality has thwarted human and economic potential in the Deep South, but our story doesn't end there," said HOPE CEO Bill Bynum . "Equipped with opportunity and the right tools, people of this region can accomplish anything. Fueled by their resilience, and harnessing the collective resources of DSEMC, together we will knock down the barriers facing underserved businesses and communities in a way that has never been done before. The collaborative will help build a more inclusive economy that will yield benefits now and for future generations."

"Given the crucial role Black small businesses play in their communities, it is incredibly important that we act urgently to narrow capital gaps they face," said Goldman Sachs Managing Director and Head of the Urban Investment Group Margaret Anadu . "By expanding our long-standing partnership with Hope and working alongside such important institutions as our public sector and HBCU partners, we can collectively create stronger, more inclusive communities while creating a model that can be replicated across the country."

While the DSEMC is open to all small businesses, the impact of the pandemic and economic crisis has disproportionately harmed communities of color. Recent research shows that between February and mid-April of 2020, 41% of Black businesses had permanently closed due to the impact of COVID-19, compared to 17% of white-owned businesses. Furthermore, the value of Black businesses in the Deep South is lower than in any other part of the country, underscoring the urgent need for solutions in a region with the highest percentage of Black residents.

"The city of Jackson is grateful to Hope Credit Union and Goldman Sachs considering us as an anchor partner with their Deep South Economic Mobility Collaborative," said Jackson, MS Mayor Chokwe Lumumba . "Jackson's small and minority business community has shown recent signs of growth which is great for the city. Having intentional access to institutional capital and technical assistance is imperative for both the sustainability and scalability in order to prepare our businesses for regional competition which effectively creates more jobs and a stronger tax base. We would like to encourage all small and minority businesses to engage in this process, regardless of where you are in your entrepreneurial journey."

"Southern University and A&M College is excited for the opportunity to partner with national leaders to advance small business opportunities for Black entrepreneurs in our community," said Southern University and A&M College President-Chancellor, Dr. Ray L. Belton . "As an anchor institution, and with the support of HOPE and Goldman Sachs, we are poised to assist thousands of Black and women owned businesses."

Through the collaborative, each partner brings unique capabilities and years of experience, and all are passionate about promoting economic opportunity in their communities. Participating municipalities are Birmingham and Montgomery in Alabama; Little Rock, Arkansas; Baton Rouge and New Orleans in Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; Memphis, Tennessee. Participating HBCUs are Alabama State University, Miles College, Philander Smith College, Southern University and A&M College, Xavier University, Dillard University, Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, and LeMoyne-Owen College.

Projections call for the DSEMC to serve 4,000-5,000 businesses and support 30,000 employees and their family members while improving conditions in Deep South communities to further Black economic mobility.

To learn more about the Deep South Economic Mobility Collaborative, visit www.hopecu.org/mobility .

About HOPE

HOPE (Hope Enterprise Corporation, Hope Credit Union and Hope Policy Institute) provides financial services; aggregates resources; and engages in advocacy to mitigate the extent to which factors such as race, gender, birthplace and wealth limit one's ability to prosper. Since 1994, HOPE has generated more than $2.9 billion in financing that has benefitted more than 1.7 million people in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. https://hopecu.org/

About Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is an investment to help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing greater access to education, capital and business support services. To date, more than 10,000 business owners have graduated from the program across all 50 states in the US, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. The program also provides capital to small businesses through lending partnerships with Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFls) and other mission-driven lenders. To date, over $875mm in capital has been deployed to over 16,500 small businesses. https://www.goldmansachs.com/citizenship/10000-small-businesses/US/

SOURCE Hope Enterprise Corporation

Related Links

https://hopecu.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.

As new, more transmissible variants of the coronavirus spread, experts say it's time to consider using a medical-grade respirator, or wearing a surgical and cloth mask together.

Scientists have agreed for some time the main way the virus is spread is through the air, rather than surfaces, and there's growing evidence that small droplets from ordinary breathing and speech that can travel many meters (yards) are a common mode of transmission.

Added to this is the greater contagiousness of emerging variants, like B.1.1.7, which takes a smaller viral load to cause symptomatic Covid-19 compared to the more common strain.

- Fit and filtration -

Back when authorities first recommended people wear face coverings, proper masks were in extremely short supply and the public was encouraged to fashion makeshift solutions out of T-shirts or bandanas. But these are far from ideal.

Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech, who studies airborne disease transmission, told AFP: "How well a mask works depends on two things: filtration and fit.

"Good filtration removes as many particles as possible, and a good fit means that there are no leaks around the sides of your mask, where air -- and viruses -- can leak through," she said, adding even a small gap could lead to a 50 percent reduction in performance.

The best materials for blocking small particles include non-woven polypropylene, which is used to make N95s and many surgical-type masks, and the HEPA filters in planes. Among fabrics, tightly woven cotton works best, she added.

- Doubling up -

"If you wear a cloth mask, choose one that has multiple layers, ideally one with a pocket that you can slip a good filter material into," said Marr. "Or you can double mask by wearing a surgical-type mask with a tight-fitting cloth mask over it."

Surgical masks are made of material that filters things out well, but they tend to be loose, so adding a cloth mask on top holds down the edges and reduces leaks.

Story continues

Adding an additional layer improves filtration -- if one layer traps 50 percent of all particles, combining two gets to 75 percent.

But, she added: "We do not recommend wearing more than two masks. Adding more layers proves diminishing returns and can compromise breathability. It must remain easy to breathe through the layers; otherwise, air is more likely to leak in around the sides of the mask."

Masks that have a metal nose bridge help ensure a snug fit, as do straps that tighten around the head, not just the ears. Braces that improve the fit of surgical masks are now available on the market.

"You should feel the mask sucking inward when you breathe in, and if you hold your hands around the sides of the mask, you should not feel any air leaking out when you breathe out," said Marr.

- Medical-grade respirators -

Another option is getting hold of N95s, or their international equivalents such as KN95, FFP2 etc.

"They all provide a similar level of filtration, meaning protection of particles going in and out," Ranu Dhillon, a global health physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Dhillon, who has been advocating in favor of better masks since last spring, is frustrated by the lack of clear messaging to the public on the value of better masks.

What's more, "there's not been a concerted push to really mass produce and mass distribute these higher caliber masks."

Health care workers have their masks professionally fit-tested every year to ensure they're making the right seal, but Dhillon doesn't see this as a major obstacle.

"To teach people to fit a mask, even if not 100 percent perfectly, but more effectively, is something that's very doable."

- Masks in our future? -

The key to conceptualizing the threat is to think of cigarette smoke, said Donald Milton, a professor of environmental health at the University of Maryland.

Ventilation definitely helps, but if you're between a person who is breathing and an exhaust vent, the virus will still reach you -- which makes good masks so crucial, he said.

Milton and Dhillon are cautiously optimistic that their pleas could soon become policy under the administration of President Joe Biden, and CNN reported last week the US government was working on the first official mask standards.

Prior to the pandemic, Milton and other aerosol scientists studying the flu concluded it too is transmitted from tiny droplets from ordinary speaking and breathing, and that the role of sneezing, coughing and transmission from surfaces was smaller than thought.

Their findings stirred controversy at the time, but Covid-19 has renewed interest in the research -- meaning masks could be a common sight during tough flu seasons, long after the pandemic has receded.

ia/ec
Law Offices of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP If you would like to know more about the North FV LLC lawsuit, please contact Attorney Nicholas J. De Blouw today by calling (800) 568-8020.

The San Diego employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a complaint alleging that North FV LLC violated various California labor laws. The lawsuit against North FV LLC, Case No. 37-2021-00000397-CU-OE-CTL, is currently pending in the San Diego County Superior Court of the State of California. To read a copy of the Complaint, click here.

According to the lawsuit filed, North FV LLC allegedly required PLAINTIFFS and other CALIFORNIA CLASS Members to work while being clocked out. This allegedly resulted in a loss of both minimum and overtime wages. The applicable California Wage Order requires employers to provide employees with off-duty rest periods, which the California Supreme Court defined as time during which an employee is relieved from all work related duties and free from employer control.

Cal. Lab. Code  2808 expressly states that "an employer shall indemnify his or her employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties..." During employment, PLAINTIFFS and other CALIFORNIA CLASS Members were allegedly required to download and use an application, for scheduling purposes, on their personal cellular phones. As a result, they allegedly incurred unreimbursed business expenses.

If you would like to know more about the North FV LLC lawsuit, please contact Attorney Nicholas J. De Blouw today by calling (800) 568-8020.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today.

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It looks like we won't have to wait long to hear from some baffled Four Seasons Total Landscaping employees about that fateful day in November.

"Four Seasons Total Documentary" is coming.

CONVENIENCE STORE WARS: Buc-ee's might not be as beloved as we all thought

On Nov. 7, former President Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani hosted a press conference at Pennsylvania small business Four Seasons Total Landscaping, not the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. Between a sex shop and a crematorium, Giuliani hosted a bizarre press conference where he repeated Trump's baseless claims of election fraud in front of a garage door.

Salon's Ashlie D. Stevens reports that a team of filmmakers announced the inevitable coming existence of the Four Seasons Total Landscaping documentary on Monday.

According to the press release, "Four Seasons Total Documentary" (yes, that is the real title) is an apolitical "firsthand account of the rollercoaster journey that one well-meaning small business in Philadelphia went through when they agreed to host a political press conference in the midst of the most hard-fought American election in recent history."

The documentary doesn't have a distributor yet, but I'm holding out for Netflix to round out a collection of documentaries covering strange public blunders ("Fyre," "Tiger King").

THE BIG (COMMERCIAL) GAME: Ranking the best and worst Super Bowl commercials

Emmy-nominated director Christopher Stoudt and producers Glen Zipper and Sean Stuart made the upcoming documentary and are hoping it adds a little levity to a very weird and awful year.

Its an honor and privilege to be able to help tell a story that the world has been waiting months to hear," Stoudt said in a statement. "After such a hard year, everyone needed a moment to laugh. Little did we know it would come from a press conference that took place across the street from a crematorium (down the road from a sex shop). This film is a chance to wipe the slate clean, not just for Four Seasons Total Landscaping, but for the entire country.

This isn't even from Four Seasons Total Landscaping's second brush with fame. It made an appearance in a Super Bowl ad for freelance marketplace Fiverr.

I'm only wondering now when it will be added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Britain, with customary imperial arrogance, has again dismissed a United Nations court decision that it has no entitlement to the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean.

On January 27, the United Nations International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), in the latest round in a protracted legal battle, ruled that the UK has no sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, which includes Diego Garcia, home to one of the USs largest airbases.

Map of Chagos Islands

It follows a similar decision in 2019 when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in an advisory opinion, ruled that Britains separation of islands in 1965 from Mauritius before it became independent in 1968 and their incorporation into the specially created British Indian Ocean Territories (BIOT), violated 1960 UN resolution 1514 banning the breakup of colonies before independence.

The ICJ described the UKs method of gaining control over the islands as coercive and the removal of the residents to make way for the US base as shameful and urged the UK to end its administration of the Chagos Islands as rapidly as possible. The overwhelming majority of the UN General Assembly supported the ICJs ruling.

The maritime court confirmed the legitimacy of Mauritiuss claim to the Chagos Islands, calling Britains continuing administration of the islands unlawful and criticised its failure to hand the islands back.

The ruling implies that the UKs leasing of Diego Garcia to the US is also illegal. Britain recently extended the rent-free lease on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago, halfway between Tanzania and Indonesia, to 2036. The US uses the site as a launching pad for its criminal operations in the Middle East, with the CIA using Diego Garcia as a dark site, where it detained and tortured people and also refuelled extraordinary rendition flights.

Following Londons refusal to accept the 2019 ICJ and the UN opinions because they were advisory, Mauritius took the case to the international maritime court to press its claim to the islands. It asked the court to resolve its separate maritime dispute with the Maldives, the other nearest island to the waters around the archipelago, which tried to avoid negotiations with Mauritius by arguing that there was a valid live dispute over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands between the UK and Mauritius. The court ruled that the Maldives could not avoid negotiating its maritime boundaries with Mauritius on this basis.

With no powers of enforcement, the courts ruling is a dead letter and Britain knows this, declaring, The UK has no doubt as to our sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory, which has been under continuous British sovereignty since 1814. Mauritius has never held sovereignty over the BIOT and the UK does not recognise its claim.

The Foreign Office said that since it had not been a party to the maritime court case, it was not obligated to comply with the ruling. Nevertheless, it has previously stated that it would eventually hand the Chagos archipelago over to Mauritius when it is no longer needed for defence purposes.

The UKs rejection of the UN rulings is in line with a broader assault, led by the US, on the institutional arrangements established in the aftermath of World War II. It indicates that the imperialist powers, facing an ongoing decline in their economic position, will brook no constraint on their geostrategic interests and their plans for a new imperialist carve up of the world and new forms of colonial-style exploitation of the poorest nations on earth.

It is significant that apart from short articles in the Guardian and the BBC, Britains media has failed to report the UN maritime court decision, indicating their dismissal of the UN when it conflicts with Britains interests.

Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth called on Britain to end its unlawful occupation of the Chagos Islands and said that ITLOS would now determine the maritime boundary between Mauritius and Maldives on the basis that Mauritius held sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago.

Britain incorporated the Chagos archipelago into the newly created BIOT in 1965 for defence purposes and forcibly evicted and deported the Chagossians to Mauritius and the Seychelles, another former British colony, to make way for the leasing of Diego Garcia to the US Naval Support Facility. The UK rode roughshod of the 1,344 islanders rights, including denying them the right to return to their homeland, which international lawyer Professor Philippe Sands QC, who represented Mauritius, said was arguably a crime against humanity within the meaning of Article 7 of the [International Criminal Court] Statute.

Britains purpose in granting Washington the 50-year lease on Diego Garciakept secret from both Parliament and the US Congress--was to secure an $11 million discount on the US-made Polaris nuclear weapons system, which Labour had pledged to scrap when in opposition.

For more than five decades, Britain has acted like a colonial master, carrying out one crime after another against the Chagossians while lying, ignoring court decisions, invoking Royal Prerogative and then covering up its actions. The islanders have lived in impoverished conditions ever since, with just a few allowed into Britain.

None of the promises of support and compensation were kept. Many of the islanders were simply abandoned when they landed. The islanders, as a condition of accepting Britains derisory offer of compensation in the 1980s, which largely failed to materialise, were required to renounce their right to return. In 2016, the British Foreign Office set up a 40 million fund to compensate the islanders. Five years later, after it had distributed just 12,000 in direct support to them, Croydon Council, tasked with assessing how to allocate the money, abandoned the work.

Mauritius has sought the return of the archipelago in pursuit of its own interests, not those of the Chagossians. Sovereignty over the archipelago could bring significant benefits. Its size would increase dramatically. Included within the territory is the Great Chagos Bank, the largest coral reef structure in the world, much of it in pristine condition. Ownership would also allow Mauritius to charge the US for using Diego Garcia, potentially a large annual sum. Hosting the US base would expand and cement the US-Mauritian defence relationship and thus allow Port Louis to limit its dependence on India. Thus far at least, Washington appears to prefer to lease Diego Garcia from the UK than from Mauritius.

Britain is determined to hold onto its remaining 14 colonial possessions and to support the US, which has five, in pursuit of their predatory imperialist interests. It fears claims from the Mauritian government for compensation and the implications for other sovereignty disputes, including with Spain over Gibraltar and Argentina over the Falklands/Malvinas.

In the last weeks, Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Conservative government has lambasted China for its abuse of democratic rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab criticized Beijing for imposing wide ranging national security legislation that undermines Hong Kongs autonomy as set out in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. He specifically called out Beijing for violating its international legal obligations. Since then, Britain has suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong.

The UK is increasingly lining up with the US and its confrontational stance in the Indo-Pacific, both because of its dependency on US imperialismdressed up as its special relationship with Washingtonand the need to direct increasing class tensions outwards against an external enemy, China.

London is supporting US efforts to assemble a new coalition of the willing against Beijing with its tilt to the Indo-Pacific in which the Chagos Islands occupies a strategic position. It is hosting the G7 summit that will include India, South Korea and Australia. Having signed trade and security deals with Japan, it is now planning to join the US-led Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) aimed at economically isolating China. It is soon to publish its post-Brexit integrated Foreign, Defence, Security and Development policy review that focuses on China.


United Nation:

India has contributed an additional million dollars to a UN partnership fund launched to support sustainable development projects across the developing world.

The India-UN Development Partnership Fund was set up last month as a partnership between India and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).

India had made an initial contribution of a million dollars when the fund was created and the amount was allocated for the implementation of a project benefiting seven Small Island Developing States in the South Pacific.

India on Thursday enlarged its support to sustain able development through the multilateral system by making a supplemental contribution of one million dollars to the fund. "India's approach to cooperation can be summarised as Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or the whole word is one family,"India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said.

"With this approach we engage in South-South cooperation." UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) Administrator Achim Steiner said the India-UN Development Partnership Fund plays an important role in funding South-South cooperation for effective development, and "there by contributes to meeting both national development goals and the commitments of Agenda 2030."

Managed by UNOSSC, the fund will support Southern-owned and led, demand-driven, and transformational sustainable development projects across the developing world. Focusing on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States, United Nations agencies will implement the Funds projects in close collaboration with partnering governments, a statement by UNOSSC said.

"India is a champion of the Global South," Envoy of the Secretary-General on South-South Cooperation and Director of UNOSSC Jorge Chediek said. India is also a champion of multilateralism. Through its example, and with the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is becoming a leader of South-South cooperation.

The fund, launched by Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar during the Oceans Conference at the world body's headquarters, prioritises reducing poverty and hunger, improving health, education and equality, and expanding access to clean water and energy.

The first project under the fund was formulated by India and UNDP in consultation with the Governments of the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, the Solomon Islands and the Kingdom of Tonga. It will increase resilience to natural disasters in these seven Pacific island countries and contribute toward a Sustainable Development Goalof climate action.

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Police in Myanmar shot rubber bullets at protesters and fired gunshots into the air today as crowds defied a military ban on rallies and took to the streets to a fourth straight day to rage at last week's coup d'etat.

Witnesses described police firing warning shots into the sky before aiming at protesters with rubber bullets, with some people injured in the melee in the capital Naypyitaw where police also fired a barrage of water cannon.

The military has banned gatherings of more than five people in the commercial capital Yangon and other protest hotspots, as well as imposing a night-time curfew, but fresh protests erupted in various places on Tuesday.

It came after junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing made a televised speech on Monday night to justify last week's seizure of power - claiming that things would be 'different' from the army's previous 49-year reign.

Stand-off: Protesters waving flags and holding placards are kept behind barriers as they face off against a line of uniformed riot police wearing helmets and carrying shields in Yangon today

Huge crowds: Protesters took to the streets of Yangon for a fourth day today despite a military ban on gatherings of five people in more than parts of the city, as well as a curfew at protest hotspot sites

Water cannon: Myanmar police fire water at protesters from a truck (pictured far left) in the capital Naypyidaw as crowds continued to demonstrate against the February 1 military takeover

The general claimed that the seizure of power was justified because of 'voter fraud' at a November election in which Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), had won in a landslide.

Shortly after last Monday's coup, the military announced a one-year state of emergency and promised to then hold fresh elections.

'After the tasks of the emergency period are completed, free and fair multi-party general elections will be held according to the constitution,' the general claimed.

'The winning party will be transferred state duty according to democratic standards.'

But the military also issued threats, releasing a statement on state TV warning that opposition to the junta was unlawful.

'Action must be taken according to the law with effective steps against offences which disturb, prevent and destroy the state's stability, public safety and the rule of law,' said the statement read by an announcer on MRTV.

Symbol: Protesters in Mandalay, the country's second-largest city, make the three-finger salute which has become a trademark of the pro-democracy movement

Icon: A protester holds up a portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the democracy movement who was deposed and arrested in last Monday's military takeover - prompting international calls for her release

In formation: Lines of police stand guard in Naypyidaw today as watch a crowd of protesters wave placards behind a barrier

One of Tuesday's protests took place near the headquarters of the NLD, whose deposed leader Suu Kyi was detained on the first day of the coup.

The protesters carried anti-coup placards including 'We want our leader', in reference to Suu Kyi, and 'No dictatorship'.

In San Chaung township - where large gatherings were specifically banned - scores of teachers marched on the main road, waving a defiant three-finger salute that has become a trademark of the protesters.

'We are not worried about their warning. That's why we came out today. We cannot accept their excuse of vote fraud. We do not want any military dictatorship,' teacher Thein Win Soe said.

Neighbouring Kamayut township - another area where gatherings are banned - had hundreds of protesters amass in defiance, singing songs and waving posters.

No-man's land: Protesters hold up flags and placards across the road from a line of riot police and law enforcement vehicles

Battle: A police truck (right) fires water cannon at protesters who continued to rage at the military coup in Naypyidaw today

In Naypyidaw, police repeatedly fired water cannon against a small crowd of protesters, who withstood the barrage and refused to retreat.

'End the military dictatorship,' people in the crowd yelled as the water cannon was fired.

The United States has led global calls for the generals to relinquish power, and issued a fresh statement on Monday following the junta's warnings against the protesters.

'We stand with the people of Burma and support their right to assemble peacefully, including to protest peacefully in support of the democratically elected government,' US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Monday.

Price also said US requests to speak to Suu Kyi were denied.

Defiance: Protesters hold up their placards even as their position is sprayed with water by a truck escorted by riot police

From above: A satellite image shows the crowds along Kyuri Taw Road near a Yangon TV and radio station on Monday

New Zealand on Tuesday became the first foreign government to take concrete public action, announcing the suspension of high-level military and political contacts with Myanmar.

Pope Francis on Monday also called for the prompt release of imprisoned political leaders.

'The path to democracy undertaken in recent years was brusquely interrupted by last week's coup d'etat,' he told a gathering of diplomats.

'This has led to the imprisonment of different political leaders, who I hope will be promptly released as a sign of encouragement for a sincere dialogue.'

The UN Human Rights Council said it would hold a relatively rare special session on Friday to discuss the crisis.
Quentin Schulman, the 28-year-old head of a Santa Barbara pressure-washing business, had never invested much outside the stock market and it t
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Most of the world is yet to experience the benefits of a 5G network, but the geopolitical race for the next big thing in telecommunications technology is already heating up.

For companies and governments, the stakes couldn't be higher. The first to develop and patent 6G will be the biggest winners in what some call the next industrial revolution. Though still at least a decade away from becoming reality, 6Gwhich could be up to 100 times faster than the peak speed of 5Gcould deliver the kind of technology that's long been the stuff of science fiction, from real-time holograms to flying taxis and internet-connected human bodies and brains.

The scrum for 6G is already intensifying even as it remains a theoretical proposition, and underscores how geopolitics is fueling technological rivalries, particularly between the U.S. and China.

"This endeavor is so important that it's become an arms race to some extent," said Peter Vetter, head of access and devices at Nokia Oyj's research arm Bell Labs. "It will require an army of researchers on it to remain competitive."

Years of acrimony under the Trump administration have hit Chinese technology companies hard, but that hasn't stopped the country from emerging as the leader in 5G. It has the world's largest 5G footprint, anddespite multiple attempts by the U.S. to take it onHuawei Technologies Co. towers over rival 5G vendors globally, mostly by offering attractive prices.

The development of 6G could give the U.S. the opportunity to regain lost ground in wireless technology.

"Unlike 5G, North America will not let the opportunity for a generational leadership slide by so easily this time," said Vikrant Gandhi, senior industry director of information and communications technologies at consultancy firm Frost & Sullivan in the U.S. "It is likely that the competition for 6G leadership will be fiercer than that for 5G."

It's clear that 6G is already on the minds of policy makers in both Washington and Beijing. Former President Donald Trump tweeted in early 2019, for example, that he wanted 6G "as soon as possible."

China is already moving ahead. The country launched a satellite in November to test airwaves for potential 6G transmission, and Huawei has a 6G research center in Canada, according to Canadian media reports. Telecommunications equipment manufacturer ZTE Corp. has also teamed up with China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd. to develop the technology.

The U.S. has demonstrated that it has the ability to seriously handicap Chinese companies, as in the case of ZTE, which almost collapsed after the Commerce Department banned it for three months in 2018 from buying American technology. Similar moves could hamper Huawei's 6G ambitions.

Washington has already started to sketch out the 6G battle lines. The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions, a U.S. telecom standards developer known as ATIS, launched the Next G Alliance in October to "advance North American leadership in 6G." The alliance's members include technology giants like Apple Inc., AT&T Inc., Qualcomm Inc., Google and Samsung Electronics Co., but not Huawei.

The alliance mirrors the way that the world has been fractured into opposing camps as a result of 5G rivalry. Led by the U.S, which identified Huawei as an espionage riskan allegation the Chinese giant deniescountries including Japan, Australia, Sweden and the U.K. have shut the firm out of their 5G networks. However, Huawei is welcomed in Russia, the Philippines, Thailand, and other countries in Africa and the Middle East.

The European Union in December also unveiled a 6G wireless project led by Nokia, which includes companies like Ericsson AB and Telefonica SA, as well as universities.

The lack of trust in Chinese companies like Huawei is unlikely to abate with 6G. Democracies are growing increasingly worried about how 5G technology is being used by authoritarian regimes, with fears that 6G could enable technologies such as mass drone surveillance. China is already using surveillance cameras, AI, facial recognition and biometrics such as voice samples and DNA to track and control citizens.

"Currently China seems to be doing everything in terms of surveillance and suppression to make sure that they lose future markets in the U.S. and Europe," said Paul Timmers, a senior adviser at Brussels-based think tank European Policy Centre and former director of digital society and cybersecurity at the European Commission. "This indicates that the technical approach to 6G cannot be trusted to be decoupled from state ideological objectives."

While commercial 5G was introduced around 2019, countries are still rolling out networks and developing applications that could attract businesses and turn the technology profitable. Likewise, 6G may not reach its potential at least 15 years from now, said Gandhi of Frost & Sullivan. Only about 100 wireless carriers worldwide offer 5G services in limited areas right now.

But researchers have an ambitious vision for what the next-generation network could offer. At a potential rate of 1 terabyte per second, 6G is not only much faster, but also promises a latencywhich causes lagsof 0.1 millisecond, compared to 1 millisecond, or the minimum for 5G. To achieve that, scientists are focusing on the super high frequency terahertz waves that could meet those speed and latency requirements, though there is not yet a chip capable of transmitting so much data in a second.

It still remains too early to tell whether the envisioned futuristic world defined by 6G will eventually materialize. In that theoretical world, everything in our environment will be connected to the 6G networksnot only can people communicate with things like furniture and clothes, but those gadgets can also communicate among themselves.

Major scientific obstacles aboundfor example, researchers must solve the question of how airwaves traveling extremely short distances can easily penetrate materials such as water vapor or even a sheet of paper. Networks may need to be ultra-dense, with multiple base stations installed not only on every street, but also in each building or even each device people use to receive and transmit signals. That's set to raise serious questions over health, privacy and urban design.

"Technological advances, especially those as futuristic and complex such as 6G radio communication should be developed carefully," said Gandhi. "We believe that countries cannot start soon enough. The private sector cannot start soon enough. And that is why we already have initiatives such as the Next G Alliance.

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The Indian diaspora which celebrates its 176th Indian Arrival Day in Trinidad and Tobago is not an abstract entity, but one that flowers the socio-economic and cultural growth and development of our peoples.

It remains a proud moment for all of uspoliticians, sociologists, economists, civic, religious and cultural leadersin world history.
The only surprise about last weeks hacking of a water treatment plant in Florida is that this sort of thing doesnt happen more often. The intrusion was all too easy. The hacker entered the plants control system through a commonly used tool called TeamViewer, which lets engineers monitor the networks machinesand adjust their settingsremotely. The hacker boosted the level of lyean ingredient in drain cleanersfrom 100 parts per million, its normal level, to 11,100 parts per million, which would have poisoned anyone drinking the water.

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Hundreds of people in the small town of Oldsmar, near Tampa Bay, avoided illness, possibly death, only because a plant operator noticed the manipulation on the systems monitors and manually restored the settings to normal. If the operator had been reading or snoozing, letting the system run on autopilot, as sometimes happens at computer-controlled utilities, disaster would have struck.

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Industrial systems have been run by automatic controls since the 1970s, but as long as they were physically isolated, security wasnt a problem. When the internet came along in the 1990s, the companys managers adapted, and eagerly so, since applying automatic controls across broad networksfor instance, vast electrical grids, waterworks, pipelines, rail lines, and so forthwould make life much more efficient.

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Around the same time, senior government officials began learning that these public networks were vulnerable, but most of the firms running the networks were privately ownedand they fervently resisted regulations. Nor were they inclined to spend much money on the problem voluntarily. Doing so would be expensive, and the threat at the time seemed theoretical. (For more on this history, see my book, Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyber War.)

Things became a bit less theoretical in 2007, when the Department of Energy conducted an experiment called the Aurora Generator Test. By this time, officials had been probing the vulnerability of automatic controls for a decade, but Aurora was the first tangible test of whether a physical object could be destroyed in a remote cyberattack. A 2.25-megawatt power generator, weighing 27 tons, was installed inside a test chamber at the Idaho National Laboratory. On a signal from Washington, where officials were watching on a monitor, a technician typed a mere 21 lines of malicious code into a digital relay. The code opened a circuit breaker in the generators protection system, then closed it just before the system responded, throwing its operations out of sync. Almost instantly, the generator shook, and some parts flew off. A few seconds later, it shook again, then belched out a puff of white smoke and a huge cloud of black smoke. The machine was dead. You can watch a video of the test on YouTube.

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Earlier still, in 2000, a disgruntled former worker at an Australian water-treatment center hacked into its central computers and sent commands that disabled the pumps, allowing raw sewage to flow into the water. In 2001, hackers broke into the servers of a California company that transmitted electrical power throughout the state, then probed its network for two weeks before getting caught. These incidents, recounted in Kim Zetters 2014 book, Countdown to Zero Day, were ignored or dismissed as flukes until the Aurora Generator Testsponsored by the U.S. governmentrevealed that this was a systematic problem.

Was the hacker of the water treatment plant in Florida also a disgruntled former worker? Federal agents are tracking the forensics, but the culprit hasnt yet been found.

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The bigger danger is that governments have also been engaged in this sort of hacking, and for a very long time. Their intent isnt necessarily to do damage; often its to gather intelligence, to see how foreign countries design or protect their critical infrastructure networks. But some countriesincluding China, Russia, Israel, France, and, yes, the United Stateshave buried implants in these networks, implants that can be activated to wreak disabling damage in case, or in advance, of war.

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If the Florida hacker had been more sophisticated, if hed possessed the resources of a nation-state, he could have cloaked his actions, and the plant operator might never have noticed the manipulation.

For instance, in the 200910 Stuxnet operation, the elaborate U.S.-Israeli hacking of Irans Natanz nuclear reactor, the main targets were the reactors centrifugesthe spindles that enrich uraniumwhich the hackers sabotaged by slowing them down or speeding them up. A crucial side target was the array of sensors that monitored the reactors functions. The Stuxnet team implanted false data into these sensors, to trick the Iranian scientists into thinking that the centrifuges were spinning at the right speed. When the devices broke, the scientists blamed faulty supplies, and political authorities suspected inside saboteurs.

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A few years earlier, in 2007, four Israeli fighter jets attacked and destroyed a nascent nuclear reactor in Syria. The planes managed to elude Syrias air defense systeman advanced system, recently purchased from Russiabecause, ahead of time, Unit 8200, Israels secret cyberwar organization, hacked into the systems radar screens, implanting a false image, so the screens appeared blank; the operators never saw the planes coming.

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What if the Florida hacker had implanted false data into the sensors monitoring the water treatment gauges so the plants operator thought that everything was fine, that the level of lye was still 100 parts per million instead of 100 times that much? Hundreds of people would have been poisoned, and nobody would know why.

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Only a very sophisticated hacker, with access to lots of resources, could pull off such a feat. But private hackers are getting more sophisticatedand its not at all out of the question that some other nation-state could do this. Soon after Stuxnet was exposed, it became clear that the United States and Israel were far from the only countries with highly skilled cyberwarriors in their armies.

As far as it managed to go, the Florida hack probably could have been blocked. Bob Gourley, co-founder and chief technology officer of OODA LLC, a cybersecurity firm, told me that, while he hasnt seen any forensics on this incident, his educated guess, based on analyses of hacks like it, is this: The plant probably did not have two-factor authentication set up and maybe even left default passwords in place. So the bad guy just logged in to the cloud control panel for the account and was able to control things.

More than a decade after the Aurora Generator Test, more than two decades after the disgruntled Australian, more than three decades after the first U.S. government studies detailing the vulnerability of industrial networks, the companies that run our critical infrastructurethe mainsprings of our social and economic livesstill havent learned the lessons, havent made the necessary investments, and havent taken the obvious precautions, in part because the government hasnt made them. Its long past time to change that.
Today, the average American is unlikely to spend time worrying about malaria. Although the disease is commonly perceived to be restricted to other parts of the world, it played a significant role in shaping American history. It even helped turn the tide of the American Revolutionary War by infecting so many British soldiers that General Cornwallis was forced to surrender at Yorktown.

First-year students in a 2019 introductory seminar class led by Erin Mordecai, an assistant professor of biology in the School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S), delved into this and other historical examples of how vector-borne diseases - those caused by infectious pathogens spread by living organisms or "vectors" - influenced human history. Throughout the course, they collaborated on a paper highlighting various trends in which these illnesses impacted historical societies. Their findings have now been published in the latest issue of the journal Ecology Letters.

"The mechanisms and consequences of vector-borne diseases are multimodal and far more pervasive than we had previously thought," said Tejas Athni, a student in the seminar and first author of the paper.

As Athni and his fellow students conducted their research, they discovered recurring themes across societies throughout time. One theme was that diseases don't affect all populations equally - a simple fact that had major ramifications throughout history. In the case of the American Revolution, many Americans had grown up in the South and were exposed to malaria young, allowing them to develop immunity. This granted them a strategic advantage over the less immune British army, which ended up being decimated by the disease.

A more sobering trend unearthed by the group's investigations was that disease tended to prey on inequities in societies, leaving marginalized groups most at risk. Both intentionally and unintentionally, it was weaponized time and again to enforce unjust hierarchies of power. In the American South, for instance, enslaved Black people were often forced to work in conditions that left them exposed to mosquitoes and made them much more vulnerable to malaria. To make matters worse, this inequity was used by white people to encourage the racist belief at the time that Black Americans were morally inferior and to justify Jim Crow segregation laws in the South.

Racism and disease

When Mordecai first submitted her class's paper for journal publication, it was rejected, with one reviewer citing the paper's failure to explore the relationship between racism and disease. Taking a more interdisciplinary approach, Mordecai then invited the reviewer, Nita Bharti, the Huck Early Career Professor of Biology at Penn State University, and Steven O. Roberts, an assistant professor of psychology in H&S and a race scholar, to speak to her class about systems of inequality from psychological and historical standpoints.

"We were taken aback by the extent to which the impacts of vector-borne disease have historically splintered across racial and societal lines," said Athni.

Structural racism, including what neighborhoods people can live in and their access to intergenerational wealth, is linked to disparities in rates of diabetes, hypertension and other chronic diseases associated with stress, Mordecai explained. These disparities are also apparent in the COVID-19 pandemic, where the disease's outcomes are more serious for individuals suffering with these conditions. This disproportionate burden further amplifies the vulnerability of already disadvantaged communities.

"When you layer on an emerging pandemic with existing health disparities, it disproportionally affects Black and Hispanic communities," said Mordecai.

Racial disparities also put historically marginalized communities at greater risk of being exposed to the virus. These communities, for instance, are more likely to be essential workers, lacking the luxury to safely shelter in place or have their groceries delivered.

"It's easy to think that communities of color aren't social distancing enough or not practicing proper hygiene," said Roberts, who is a co-author on the paper. "But that thinking completely neglects the social conditions that have made those communities more vulnerable to begin with."

The relationship between COVID-19 and structural inequality is unfortunately not limited to just modern times or the U.S. This too is a pattern that has repeated throughout history and across the globe. Outbreaks of leishmaniasis, a vector-borne disease spread by phlebotomine sand flies, have impacted hundreds of thousands of Syrians within refugee camps, a result of overcrowding in areas with poor sanitation. And when the first few cases of the Ebola outbreak popped up in 2014 in Africa, scientists in the United States were slow in finding ways to combat it until it showed up closer to home.

The authors hope that this paper will motivate scientists to be more proactive in protecting people in historically disadvantaged communities from disease.

"The paper does a spectacular job documenting the problem," said Roberts. "Now it will be important to maintain an interdisciplinary focus that can dismantle it."

Centering equity

Mordecai believes the paper produced as a result of her class is unique in the ecological literature. As the work underwent the peer review process, editors originally commented that it didn't feel like an ecological study at all. However, since the Black Lives Matter protests in the spring of last year, she said she is seeing a growing number of epidemiologists recognizing the role of racism in infectious disease transmission.

Athni, now a junior working on his honors thesis on statistically modeling the effects of climate on global mosquito distributions, said that being involved in this project has influenced the way he conducts research as a growing biologist.

"Dr. Mordecai's freshman seminar shaped my entire Stanford journey through an interdisciplinary lens," Athni said. "Moving forward, it's imperative that research explicitly recognizes and combats the structural racism, classism and sexism that continue to perpetuate environmental and health inequities. Equity must be brought to the center of ecology and global health in order to make meaningful progress for all of humanity."

###

Additional Stanford co-authors include Giulio A. De Leo, professor of biology and senior fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment; Kathryn Olivarius, assistant professor of history; postdoctoral scholar Devin Kirk; former postdoctoral scholars Marta Shocket and Jamie Caldwell; graduate students Lisa I. Couper, Nicole Nova, Marissa Childs and David G. Pickel; and undergraduate and former undergraduate students Julian Cheng, Elizabeth A. Grant, Patrick M. Kurzner, Saw Kyaw, Bradford J. Lin, Ricardo C. Lopez, Diba S. Massihpour, Erica C. Olsen, Maggie Roache, Angie Ruiz, Emily A. Schultz, Muskan Shafat and Rebecca Spencer. Shocket is also affiliated with University of California, Los Angeles, Caldwell is also affiliated with University of Hawaii at Manoa and Kirk is also affiliated with the University of British Columbia. Researchers from James Cook University, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of California, Davis and Penn State University also contributed to the paper.

This research was supported by the Stanford Introductory Seminars Program, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, the Helman Scholarship, the Terman Fellowship, the King Center for Global Development, the Huck Institutes for the Life Sciences at Penn State University, the Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship program, the Stanford Data Science Scholars, the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, the Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies, Global Development and Poverty Initiative, the Stanford Graduate Fellowship, the Ric Weiland Graduate Fellowship in the Humanities and Sciences.
 Flash

Egypt's New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) signed an agreement on Monday with China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) to build five residential skyscrapers in New Alamein City at Egypt's Mediterranean northern coast.

The virtual signing ceremony was witnessed by Egyptian Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Essam el-Gazzar, Egyptian Ambassador to China Mohamed El Badry, and Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang, state-run Ahram daily reported.

The Egyptian minister said the project, located about 90 km from the northern coastal province of Alexandria, consists of five residential towers with services, overlooking an artificial lake, according to Ahram.

One of the towers is 250-meter high with a surface area of 465,000 square meters and will be constructed within 45 months, while the other four are 200-meter high with a surface area of 320,000 square meters each and are scheduled to be completed within 39 months, the minister said.

Meanwhile, Liao congratulated the CSCEC and the Egyptian ministry for the new project of cooperation.

"China and Egypt have worked hand in hand to continuously achieve new development results," the ambassador said, adding that China's Belt and Road Initiative is deeply integrated with Egypt's "Vision 2030".

The CSCEC is currently constructing the huge Central Business District project in Egypt's new administrative capital which embraces a number of skyscrapers, including the 385-meter-high Iconic Tower, expected to be the tallest in Africa upon completion.

The general manager of the CSCEC, Zheng Xuexuan, said the company has successively implemented a series of high-quality projects in Egypt.

He stressed that signing the contract is an important achievement for both sides to deepen cooperation and achieve a win-win situation, affirming that the CSCEC will implement this project with high standards, and contribute to the development of Egypt.

The contract value is about 1.92 billion U.S. dollars, according to the CSCEC.
UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- This time is different may be the most dangerous words in business: billions of dollars have been lost betting that history wont repeat itself. And yet now, in the oil world, it looks like this time really will be.For the first time in decades, oil companies arent rushing to increase production to chase rising oil prices as Brent crude approaches $70. Even in the Permian, the prolific shale basin at the center of the U.S. energy boom, drillers are resisting their traditional boom-and-bust cycle of spending.The oil industry is on the ropes, constrained by Wall Street investors demanding that companies spend less on drilling and instead return more money to shareholders, and climate change activists pushing against fossil fuels. Exxon Mobil Corp. is paradigmatic of the trend, after its humiliating defeat at the hands of a tiny activist elbowing itself onto the board.The dramatic events in the industry last week only add to what is emerging as an opportunity for the producers of OPEC+, giving the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and Russia more room for maneuver to bring back their own production. As non-OPEC output fails to rebound as fast as many expected -- or feared based on past experience -- the cartel is likely to continue adding more supply when it meets on June 1.CriminalizationShareholders are asking Exxon to drill less and focus on returning money to investors. They have been throwing money down the drill hole like crazy, Christopher Ailman, chief investment officer for CalSTRS. We really saw that company just heading down the hole, not surviving into the future, unless they change and adapt. And now they have to.Exxon is unlikely to be alone. Royal Dutch Shell Plc lost a landmark legal battle last week when a Dutch court told it to cut emissions significantly by 2030 -- something that would require less oil production. Many in the industry fear a wave of lawsuits elsewhere, with western oil majors more immediate targets than the state-owned oil companies that make up much of OPEC production.We see a shift from stigmatization toward criminalization of investing in higher oil production, said Bob McNally, president of consultant Rapidan Energy Group and a former White House official.While its true that non-OPEC+ output is creeping back from the crash of 2020 -- and the ultra-depressed levels of April and May last year -- its far from a full recovery. Overall, non-OPEC+ output will grow this year by 620,000 barrels a day, less than half the 1.3 million barrels a day it fell in 2020. The supply growth forecast through the rest of this year comes nowhere close to matching the expected increase in demand, according to the International Energy Agency.Beyond 2021, oil output is likely to rise in a handful of nations, including the U.S., Brazil, Canada and new oil-producer Guyana. But production will decline elsewhere, from the U.K. to Colombia, Malaysia and Argentina.As non-OPEC+ production increases less than global oil demand, the cartel will be in control of the market, executives and traders said. Its a major break with the past, when oil companies responded to higher prices by rushing to invest again, boosting non-OPEC output and leaving the ministers led by Saudi Arabias Abdulaziz bin Salman with a much more difficult balancing act.Drilling DownSo far, the lack of non-OPEC+ oil production growth isnt registering much in the market. After all, the coronavirus pandemic continues to constrain global oil demand. It may be more noticeable later this year and into 2022. By then, vaccination campaigns against Covid-19 are likely to be bearing fruit, and the world will need more oil. The expected return of Iran into the market will provide some of that, but there will likely be a need for more.When that happens, it will be largely up to OPEC to plug the gap. One signal of how the recovery will be different this time is the U.S. drilling count: It is gradually increasing, but the recovery is slower than it was after the last big oil price crash in 2008-09. Shale companies are sticking to their commitment to return more money to shareholders via dividends. While before the pandemic shale companies re-used 70-90% of their cash flow into further drilling, they are now keeping that metric at around 50%.The result is that U.S. crude production has flat-lined at around 11 million barrels a day since July 2020. Outside the U.S. and Canada, the outlook is even more somber: at the end of April, the ex-North America oil rig count stood at 523, lower than it was a year ago, and nearly 40% below the same month two years earlier, according to data from Baker Hughes Co.When Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz predicted earlier this year that drill, baby, drill is gone for ever, it sounded like a bold call. As ministers meet this week, they may dare to hope hes right.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.

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Britain wants to resolve issues with an agreement for post-Brexit trade with Northern Ireland as quickly as possible and will work "constructively" with the European Union, a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday

Britain has called on the EU for a reset in relations and a refinement of part of the Brexit divorce deal which covers trade with Northern Ireland, trying to seize the upper hand after the bloc was forced into U-turn in a row over COVID-19 vaccines.

After lawmakers in Northern Ireland complained about a shortage of goods since Britain completed its journey out of the EU's orbit this year, Michael Gove, in charge of implementing the Brexit deal, will meet European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic on Thursday to try to resolve the problems.

But relations are strained, not only by years of bruising Brexit talks but also after the EU threatened to draw a hard border for vaccines between Northern Ireland and Ireland - something it had long promised it wanted to avoid. The bloc quickly changed tack.

"We set out the issues we have currently ... We want to extend the existing measures but we are committed to working constructively and pragmatically with the EU to resolve the issues ... as quickly as possible," the spokesman told reporters.

Last week, Gove sent a letter to Sefcovic demanding some changes to the so-called Northern Ireland protocol of the Brexit deal, including an extension to grace periods for the transport of some chilled food from Britain to the province.

Earlier this week, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said Dublin was open to "modest" extensions of waivers on the movement of certain goods, but it is as yet unclear whether there would be agreement this week.

The spokesman declined to say whether Britain would agree to shorter extensions than those requested.

Short link:


Equine Guelph has created a set of downloadable infographics to aid in barn evacuation plans, thanks to generous sponsorship by Workplace Safety & Prevention Services.

It is well understood that investing in emergency preparedness is the best defence. It can mean the difference between panic or focused execution of a practiced plan during a chaotic situation.

In addition to reviewing the new evacuation infographics, Equine Guelph encourages horse care takers to visit their free interactive Barn Fire Prevention tool and check out upcoming online offerings:

 Fire and Emergency Preparedness short course on TheHorsePortal.ca March 8-15,

 and two 90-minute Zoom webinars introducing Large Animal Rescue March 4 and 11.

 Would you know what to do if you were the person in the barn when a disaster occurred?

 Does your barn have a posted and practiced Emergency Action Plan (EAP)?

 Are emergency numbers listed? Do you know who to call and the information to give them?

 Do you already have a relationship with your fire department, and have they paid a visit to help you identify all the resources and potential hazards on your farm?

 What evacuation plan makes the most sense for your facility?

Every facility is different, and the new evacuation infographics highlight four possible scenarios and stress the importance of making a plan, including alternate plans and routes  and practice! Your plan should be scalable depending on the number of people on hand to help.

Every horse owner can do something to make their horses space safer. Every horse owner/enthusiast can benefit from the information in this course, says Fire and Emergency Preparedness student, Cathy Vogelweid, DVM (Columbia, Mo.).

Returning expert guest speaker Rebecca Gimenez-Husted will be available all week during the March 8-15 Fire and Emergency Preparedness online course. Gimenez has travelled the world providing training in Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue techniques, and has published numerous critiques, techniques and journal articles on the topic. Rebecca edited the only textbook available to the fire service and veterinarians on technical rescue of large animals. As a volunteer firefighter in Gray, Ga., Rebecca is doing R&D work with University of Edinburgh (U.K.), EKU (Kentucky) and several veterinary schools. A past Logistics Officer for FEMAs Veterinary Medical Assistance Team (VMAT -2), decorated combat veteran and a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves (retired); Rebecca offers a wealth of information and is active in various organizations related to disaster preparedness.

Victor MacPherson will be presenting material along with Dr. Susan Raymond of Equine Guelph, during the two 90-minute Zoom webinars introducing Large Animal Rescue March 4 and 11. MacPherson became involved with the TLAER program in 2013, having completed several training seminars, and assisted in both training and facilitating courses with Equine Guelph and Dr. Rebecca Gimenez-Husted. During that time, Victor was involved with several operational rescues with the fire department. Victor is also a facilitator for fire services response for Farm and Food Care Ontario, having retired from the Adjala-Tosorontio Fire Department where he served for 25 years, 19 years as the District Fire Chief for Station 2. He is employed full-time with the City of Vaughan Fire as a Master Emergency Vehicle Technician for 19 years, and currently Acting Chief Mechanical Officer. He is a retired Master Corporal, having served in the Canadian Military attached to armoured units, having served with NATO in Europe.

All large animal incidents, regardless of cause or scope, present a risk of injury to responders. To learn more about prevention and what to do in the event of an emergency, sign up for: Fire and Emergency Preparedness short course on TheHorsePortal.ca March 8-15 and one of the two 90-minute Zoom webinars introducing Large Animal Rescue March 4 and 11.

(Equine Guelph)
PainChek, an Australian-based health startup, has built an app to help people with dementia assess and score their pain levels. People with dementia have communication difficulties. While it's easy for regular people to tell someone about their pain, it's never easy for those who can't report their sufferings.

As noted from CNN, the company believes that their AI program has a staggering 90% accuracy in detecting pain. Before rolling out the app, PainChek has done over 180,000 pain assessments on over 66,000 people worldwide.

The project started way back in 2012 when a team of scientists from Curtin University in Western Australia dreamed of a better alternative to subjective paper-based evaluations.

Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that over 50 million people have dementia with over 10 million new cases every year. A study from 2012 also echoed the statement, revealing that over 80% of dementia patients who live in nursing homes regularly experience pain.

Read also: Are You a Safe Driver? See If You Have These Safety Gadgets in Your Car.

Assessment Features

PainChek is mostly used in care homes or in households with the elderly suffering from such dementia. It's a safe and handy smartphone-based medical device that can be brought everywhere.

Instead of manual assessment, PainChek uses facial analysis to detect the pain. To accurately assess the pain, a caregiver can simply use a smartphone camera to record a short video of the person's face and then analyze the moving images using the app. The AI would then observes their facial expressions, muscle movements, and behaviors to translate them into the Abbey Pain standardized scale.

"The tool applies artificial intelligence and algorithms to decode the face based on decades of research," says Peter Shergill, PainChek's business development director, as noted from CNN.

In June 2017, both versions of the app for Android and iOS users were completed, and the company received the regulatory clearance a month later. Now, the patents have been granted all around the world, from the US, Japan, China, until Europe.

Worldwide Use

In its home country of Australia, the government rolled out $3,8 million for care homes to adopt the technology for two years since 2019.

Years after its launch, over 772 care homes globally are using PainChek now. When the company released the tech in the United Kingdom, 1,000 patients have signed up for the AI so far.

Although the AI product is primarily used among care homes, the company is eyeing to develop its product for much larger groups of age. So far, a Melbourne-based pediatric hospital helped identify pain in children under three-years-old, who, of course, aren't able to communicate properly yet.

"We have one lady who is very advanced in her dementia and was manifesting signs that would be interpreted by most people as physical pain," one user from the UK, Paul Rowley, interprets how important PainChek has been. Rowley has a 24-bed residential home, and 20 of them suffer from dementia. In this case, the lady was not manifesting any form of physical pain, but rather frustration and anxiety problems.

Related post: Pokemon Could Collaborate with McDonald's Happy Meal Once Again as Suggested by Leaks.
Tom Hallberg covers a little bit of everything, from skiing to long-form feature stories. A Teton Valley, Idaho, transplant by way of Portland and Bend, Oregon, he spends his time outside work writing fiction, splitboarding and climbing.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2021) - Pursuant to our news release of December 7, 2020, Canbud Distribution Corp. (CSE: CBDX) (FSE: CD0) ( "Canbud") is pleased to confirm commencement of psychedelics related activity in Jamaica.

The company is pleased to announce that the property is being prepared for Phase 1 in Westmoreland parish, Jamaica. Construction has started on the psilocybin facility which will allow for cultivation and extraction. The plan is to build modular facilities that enable cultivation of psychedelic mushrooms and extraction in the most cost-efficient manner.

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug compound produced by more than 200 species of fungus. As a prodrug, psilocybin is quickly converted by the body to psilocin, which has mind-altering effects. Psilocybin is considered to have extremely low toxicity and a favourable safety profile. As a result, considerable research, development and testing is taking place to enable targeted usage for individuals suffering from anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Steve Singh, CEO, comments on the importance of the work in Jamaica for local and international exports: "Jamaica provides a favourable regulatory and economic environment to support our endeavours. Psilocybin is showing considerable promise as a therapeutic intervention for neuropsychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, and addiction. Compelling evidence of the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic drugs appears in multiple scientific studies. It is intended that our Jamaican cultivation and extraction facilities will assist and support valuable research and development in this regard."

About Canbud Distribution Corp.

Canbud Distribution Corp. is a science and technology health and wellness company that encompasses plant based, psychedelic pharmaceutical and non-psychedelic nutraceutical, and hemp cannabinoids (CBD) verticals.

www.canbudcorp.com

https://www.instagram.com/empathyplantco/?hl=en

For further information, please contact:

ir@canbudcorp.com

or

Robert Tjandra, President and COO

Tel: 1 416 847 7312

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 Corporation, 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 information. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as otherwise may be required by applicable securities law.



NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73989
Fastmarkets calculated its daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe unchanged at 710 ($855.36) per tonne on Monday.The index was down by 3.33 per tonne week on week but up by 42.50 per tonne month on month.

The calculation of Mondays index was based on achievable prices heard at 700-720...
(Newser)  President Biden is the first president to be in office while his predecessor is on trial in the Senatebut he won't be watching the proceedings. Before an Oval Office meeting with business leaders on his coronavirus relief plan Tuesday, Biden told reporters he would not be watching Donald Trump's second impeachment trial. "I tell people that I have a job," Biden said, per the Hill. "We have already lost over 450,000 people and we could lose a whole lot more if we dont act and act decisively. A lot of people, as I have said before, children are going to bed hungry. A lot of families are food insecure. They are in trouble. Thats my job."

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Biden added: "The Senate has their job and they are about to begin it and I am sure they are going to conduct themselves well. That's all I am going to say about impeachment." Earlier Tuesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would not be watching or commenting on the trial, the AP reports. "Joe Biden is the president, he's not a pundit, hes not going to opine on back and forth arguments," she said. (Read more Trump impeachment stories.)

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have gained new insight into the biological processes of a chytrid fungus responsible for a deadly skin infection devastating frog populations worldwide.

Led by cell biologist Lillian Fritz-Laylin, the team describes in a paper published Feb. 8 in Current Biology how the actin networks of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) also serve as an "evolutionary Rosetta Stone," revealing the loss of cytoskeletal complexity in the fungal kingdom.

"Fungi and animals seem so different, but they are actually pretty closely related," says Fritz-Laylin, whose lab studies how cells move, which is a central activity in the progression and prevention of many human diseases. "This project, the work of Sarah Prostak in my lab, shows that during early fungal evolution, fungi probably had cells that looked something like our cells, and which could crawl around like our cells do."

Chytrids including Bd encompass more than 1,000 species of fungi deep on the phylogenetic, or evolutionary, tree. The researchers used chytrids, which share features of animal cells that have been lost in yeast and other fungi, to explore the evolution of actin cytoskeleton, which helps cells keep their shape and organization and carry out movement, division and other crucial functions.

Prostak, a research associate in Fritz-Laylin's lab, is the lead author of the paper, which she initially wrote as her undergraduate honors biology thesis, the expanded and finished the research after graduation. Other authors are Margaret Titus, professor of genetics, cell biology and development at the University of Minnesota, and Kristyn Robinson, a UMass Amherst Ph.D. candidate in Fritz-Laylin's lab.

Bd is more closely related to animal cells than more typically studied fungi so it can tell us a lot about the animal lineage and the fungal lineage and can also provide a lot of insight into human actin networks. We can use it to study animal-like regulation in a similar system rather than actually studying it in animal cells, which is very complicated because animal cells have so many actin regulators." Sarah Prostak, Research Associate, Lead Author

The research team used a combination of genomics and fluorescence microscopy to show that chytrids' actin cytoskeleton has features of both animal cells and yeast. "How these complex actin regulatory networks evolved and diversified remain key questions in both evolutionary and cell biology," the paper states.

The biologists explored the two developmental stages in Bd's life cycle. In the first stage, Bd zoospores swim with a flagellum and build actin structures similar to those of animal cells, including pseudopods that propel the organisms forward. In the reproductive stage, Bd sporangia assemble actin shells, as well as actin patches, which are similar to those of yeast.

The disease chytridiomycosis, caused by Bd, ravages the skin of frogs, toads and other amphibians, eventually leading to heart failure after throwing off fluid regulation. This disease has been attributed to huge losses of biodiversity, including dozens of presumed population declines and extinctions over the past 50 years, though exactly how many species have been affected by this disease has been subject to debate.

The UMass Amherst biologists say Bd's actin structures they observed likely play important roles in causing the disease. "This model suggests that actin networks underlie the motility and rapid growth that are key to the pathology and pathogenicity of Bd," the paper concludes.

Prostak, an animal lover drawn to Fritz-Laylin's lab because of its focus on pathogens, hopes their research advancing the knowledge about Bd will lead to measures that slow the deadly damage of chytridiomycosis.

"Figuring out the basic biology of Bd will hopefully give insight into disease mitigation in the future," Prostak says.
Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore is urging the government to reverse its decision not to build an underground railway station in the inner city suburb of Zetland as part of the $27 billion Metro West rail line, arguing it is critical given the areas soaring population.

Government documents marked sensitive and obtained by the Herald show that a station at Zetland was included in plans for Metro West until 2019, when the suburb was suddenly dropped.

Green Square in Sydneys inner south is dominated by apartment towers. Credit:Janie Barrett

Cr Moore said it was incredibly disappointing the government did not have a station at Zetland in its immediate plans, adding: we will not give up on one [because] it is essential.

Zetland forms part of the Green Square precinct which spans Beaconsfield and parts of Rosebery, Alexandria and Waterloo. The precincts population of about 33,000 has been forecast to grow to 74,200 by 2041.
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Three regions devastated by the horror Black Summer bushfires held by NSW Labor are yet to receive a cent of funding one year on.

The 2019-2020 bushfire season was one of the worst in Australian history, destroying about 18.6 million hectares and almost 6,000 buildings, and claiming 33 lives, including 25 in NSW.

A horror map shows the damage bill for each bushfire-ravaged region across NSW where the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and the Byron council areas are yet to receive any state or federal funding.

All three regions are held by state Labor MPs, and suffered more than $300million worth of damage.

Other affected areas held by the Greens and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party have also missed out.

The Blue Mountains is yet to receive a cent of funding despite the loss of more than 110 homes in the horror Black Summer bushfires. Pictured is the Gospers Mountain Fire at Bilpin in December 2019

This government map shows the bushfire damage caused in 2019-20. The red areas are held by Labor while the Liberal areas are blue, the Nationals green and other parties in other colours

The NSW Government defended its $177 million Bushfire Local Economic Recovery fund, claiming that more than 90 per cent of buildings damaged and destroyed by the fires were in Coalition-held seats, including on the NSW south coast.

It claims the Shoalhaven, Bega Valley and Snowy Valleys councils were among the worst hit areas, which suffered a $750 million loss.

The Central Coast is yet to receive any funding despite a $163 million economic impact, while the Byron council area in the state's far north suffered a $88 million economic loss.

More than 100 homes were damaged in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, which took a $65 million hit.

Blue Mountains Council has submitted 24 grant proposals for local projects worth $5.4 million, which have all been rejected.

'We lost the same number of homes as the Hawkesbury, we lost 70 per cent of our world heritage area,' mayor Mark Grenhill told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'Fire crews were out day after day, night after night and we were surrounded by fire from three sides leaving our communities traumatised so surely Blue Mountains deserved something.'

The Byron council area in the state's far north (in red) suffered a $88 million economic loss in the horror bushfires of last summer

The fire-ravaged NSW south coast has received state government funding. Pictured is a blaze burning out of control between Bateman's Bay and Ulladulla in December 2019

Greens MP and committee chair David Shoebridge is concerned the fund was another 'pork-barrelling scheme'.

'On the government's own analysis, the Greens' seat of Ballina and the ALP seats of Blue Mountains and Central Coast between them took a collective $317.5 million hit from the fires and they didn't receive one cent of bushfire relief funding,' he said.

'It's essential the Deputy Premier explain how hundreds of millions of dollars of public money have been allocated by his office with such an extraordinary bias towards Coalition seats.'

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro defended the government grant programs when he fronted the NSW parliament's public accountability committee on Monday.

The inquiry reopened for submissions last week after revelations that most of a $177million bushfire relief fund has been doled out to projects in coalition-held electorates.

Mr Barilaro argued there was still another $250 million to be allocated under the program, which is jointly funded by the federal and state governments.

The Central Coast is yet to receive any funding despite a $163 million economic impact from the devastating bushfires (pictured) of the 2019-20 Black Summer

He says areas which saw high-fire impact will receive priority under the next round of funding.

Criteria for the first round of funding were available to everyone and were focused on destroyed buildings, Mr Barilaro said.

He added that 90 per cent of buildings damaged in the bushfires were in coalition seats.

Any applications from the Blue Mountains for the first round were not eligible under the criteria, he said.

In a letter to the committee, Mr Barilaro said he felt a sense of 'utter disgust' that bushfire recovery had been politicised.

'You would never mark a student's work 25 minutes into an hour long exam, so how can you jump to conclusions when only 40 per cent of (grant) funding has been allocated,' he wrote.
Danny McBride's HBO comedy show "The Righteous Gemstones" is seeking extras in Charleston.

Tona B. Dahlquist Casting, the same company that has handled the Charleston-filmed show's casting calls before, posted on Feb. 8 on social media seeking Lowcountry extras for Season 2 filming.

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According to the post, requirements include living in Charleston or a surrounding area within a short driving distance.

Those interested must include a long list of pertinent information, including name, age, ethnicity, phone number, height, weight, clothing sizes, tattoos and piercing locations, vehicle information and previous or current work experience.

Those details and two current photos should be emailed to TRG2extras@gmail.com.

The HBO comedy show about a greedy and deviant televangelist family premiered in 2019 and was renewed for a second season just three weeks into its first.

Danny McBride, of the locally based Rough House Pictures production company, serves as executive producer, director, writer and actor of "The Righteous Gemstones," which is Rough House's third HBO series, following "Eastbound and Down" and "Vice Principals."

The first episode of the first season alone included a vivid array of Lowcountry scenes, including frames at Whirlin' Waters, the North Charleston Coliseum, the former Liberty Taproom in Mount Pleasant and Fenwick Hall on Johns Island.

Along with McBride, "The Righteous Gemstones" also stars John Goodman, Adam DeVine and Edi Patterson.

Understandably, the pandemic threw a wrench in filming plans for the second season, though the film crew for Netflix adventure series "Outer Banks" was spotted around the Charleston area in 2020. Last year, "Outer Banks" placed a casting call for extras and offered free COVID-19 testing along with a role on the show.

For a full list of requirements and information needed to be an extra on "The Righteous Gemstones," visit the Tona B. Dahlquist Casting page on Facebook.
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The Pentagon estimated Monday that it will cost American taxpayers $483 million to have National Guard troops protecting the Capitol through March 15.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby estimated the cost at $284 million for personnel and $199 million for operations.

The National Guard troops are staying in place through former President Donald Trump's Senate impeachment trial, which starts on Capitol Hill Tuesday.

The Pentagon estimated Monday that it will cost American taxpayers $483 million to have National Guard troops protecting the Capitol through March 15

Petagon spokesman John Kirby estimated Monday the cost for National Guard troops at the Capitol at $284 million for personnel and $199 million for operations

National Guard collect long guns from storage vehicles before beginning their shift protecting the U.S. Capitol on Monday. They're expected to stay on duty through former President Donald Trump's Senate impeachment trial

Less than five weeks after the deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol that sparked former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial, the complex is a fortress.

An 8-foot tall fence encircles the U.S. government's traditionally open heart topped with barbed wire.

National Guard troops can be seen guarding the perimeter.

Trump faces a Senate impeachment trial on a charge of inciting insurrection following a Jan. 6 speech, two weeks before leaving office, to thousands of supporters urging they 'fight like hell' against his election defeat.

Hundreds stormed the Capitol, fighting police and sending lawmakers running for safety. Five people died, one a police officer.

After that, the heavy security measures were put in place.

The U.S. Homeland Security Department warned the country could for weeks face a heightened threat of attacks by extremists angry at Trump's election defeat, possibly targeting federal or state government buildings.

Eva Malecki, spokeswoman for U.S. Capitol Police, said the heightened security would remain in place at least through Trump's trial, expected to last at least a week.

'The Department's current security posture continues to demand that we operate at a high-level of readiness for the upcoming Senate impeachment trial and the continued threats directed at the Congress and the Capitol,' she said.

A Capitol Police member died of injuries from the attack and a total of 125 officers of its 2,300-strong force were assaulted during the rampage, which took place after Trump for nearly two months repeatedly claimed, contrary to evidence, that President Joe Biden's November victory was the result of widespread fraud.

Multiple courts, as well as state and federal election officials, rejected Trump's claims.

The attack occurred while Congress met to formally certify Biden's victory.

Hundreds of lawmakers, Vice President Mike Pence, their staffs, families and journalists scrambled for safety, some hiding in rooms in the Capitol for hours as authorities struggled to gain control of the mob.

The attack shook the country, even as it further exposed the divisions laid bare under the Republican Trump.

'The insurrectionist attack on January 6 was not only an attack on the Capitol, but was a traumatic assault targeting Members,' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote in a Feb. 2 letter to lawmakers urging them to collect their recollections on video.

Some spoke out about their experience.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez streamed a nearly 90-minute video on social media platform Instagram on Feb. 1, and on Feb. 4 she led a group of lawmakers recounting the events.

A Democrat, Pelosi ordered metal detectors installed at the entrance to the House chamber, drawing swift criticism and challenges from Republican gun-rights activists in Congress.

She called for a commission to investigate the incident similar to one that examined the security failures leading up to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

It is far from clear when the Capitol will resemble more closely its former self.

Acting U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman urged the fencing around the Capitol be made permanent, a recommendation decried by lawmakers and officials.

'We certainly need to protect our Capitol,' said Peter Newsham, police chief of Prince William County, Virginia, and former police chief of Washington, D.C. 'But I'm not feeling like that's the way we want to look as the United States.'
A lot of our medicines and other bioactive drugs are based on chemical structures called "enantiomers"-- molecules that are mirror images of each other and are non-superimposable. Notable among them are chiral N,N-acetals contained in diuretic drugs like bendroflumethiazide and thiabutazide, used to treat high blood pressure and edema. Because an enantiomer and its mirror image version often have different biological activities, with only one of them having pharmacological utility, an "enantioselective" or asymmetric synthesis yielding the desired enantiomer in greater amounts is highly desirable.

In the case of N,N-acetals, several studies have demonstrated their enantioselective preparation from aldehydes, aldimines, or enamines. However, in all these cases, their reaction partner has been limited to aldehyde or imines. While ketones have been employed, with instances of successful enantioselective N,N-acetal synthesis, their use--in general--is not considered effective.

In a recent study published in Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis, scientists from Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech) and Osaka University in Japan explored this situation with an enantioselective synthesis of chiral N,N-acetals from -dicarbonyl compounds--compounds with two carbonyl (ketone) groups on the -carbon--in presence of chiral imidazoline phosphoric acid catalysts, and obtained yields as high as 99% with a maximum enantiopurity of 96%.

"Our study presents the first highly stereoselective formation of chiral N,N-acetals from -ketoesters using an original catalyst that can be used for other stereoselective synthetic reactions as well," says Prof. Shuichi Nakamura from NITech, who led the study.

The scientists began by examining the reaction of 2-aminobenzamide with various -ketoesters in presence of different catalysts. The -ketoesters differed from one another in the nature of the functional group attached to the -carbon, while the catalysts chosen were bis(imidazoline)-phosphoric acid with different substituents attached to the nitrogen in the imidazoline ring, mono-imidazoline-phosphoric acid, and two commercial chiral phosphoric acids. Among these various combinations, scientists found the best yield (99%) and enantiopurity (92%) in the case of -ketoester with benzhydryl group and a bis(imidazoline)-phosphoric acid catalyst with 1-naphthalenesulfonyl group.

Scientists next examined the reaction of various aminobenzamides (bearing either an electron-donating methyl group or electron-withdrawing fluoro, chloro, and bromo groups) with different -ketoesters (containing the same benzhydryl group but different functional groups in place of an earlier phenyl group) keeping the same bis(imidazoline)-phosphoric acid catalyst with 1-naphthalenesulfonyl group. All the combinations showed good yield (77-95%) along with high enantioselectivity (82-96%).

In addition, the team looked at the enantioselective synthesis of N,N-acetals via the reaction of N-benzyl isatin (a cyclic -ketoamide), benzil (an acyclic diketone), and benzaldehyde with 2-aminobenzamide for the same catalyst. All three reactions yielded products with high enantiopurity (91-93%).

The team also proposed a possible mechanism for the N,N-acetal formation reaction corresponding to the best yield (99%), involving a ketimine intermediate with an amide group that helps avoid steric repulsion between the phenyl group on imidazoline, enabling the formation of an (R)-isomer with high enantiopurity.

While the mechanism is still speculative and requires further investigation, scientists are excited about the potential implications of the experimental results. "Our new method will enable the synthesis of candidate pharmaceutical drugs that are currently difficult to synthesize, and can even potentially help create and provide people with new and better medicines in the future," concludes Prof. Nakamura.

Now, those are some promising consequences to look forward to!

###

This study was made available online in October 2020 ahead of final publication in issue on December 8, 2020.

About Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan

Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech) is a respected engineering institute located in Nagoya, Japan. Established in 1949, the university aims to create a better society by providing global education and conducting cutting-edge research in various fields of science and technology. To this end, NITech provides a nurturing environment for students, teachers, and academicians to help them convert scientific skills into practical applications. Having recently established new departments and the "Creative Engineering Program," a 6-year integrated undergraduate and graduate course, NITech strives to continually grow as a university. With a mission to "conduct education and research with pride and sincerity, in order to contribute to society," NITech actively undertakes a wide range of research from basic to applied science.

Website: https:/ / www. nitech. ac. jp/ eng/ index. html

About Dr. Shuichi Nakamura from Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan

Dr. Shuichi Nakamura is Professor at the Department of Life and Materials Chemistry at Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech), Japan. He studied organic chemistry at NITech, where he received his PhD in 2001 and joined as Assistant Professor in the same year. His current research interests include asymmetric reactions and asymmetric catalysts. He has received the Inoue Research Award for Young Scientists (2001) for his Ph. D. thesis and several others. He has 145 publications to his credit with over 6000 citations and has co-authored 7 books.
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How will the new border rules work? Matt Hancock has announced details of the tougher border measures to MPs. TEN YEARS IN PRISON Mr Hancock said that arrivals who lie on their passenger locator forms about visiting 'hot spot' countries, in order to avoid hotel quarantine, face up to a decade in prison. It affects British arrivals from 33 countries deemed high risk of new variants. Nationals of those countries will be refused entry to the UK and most direct flights have already been banned. The countries include all of South America, large parts of Africa - including South Africa - and the United Arab Emirates. HOTEL QUARANTINE Arrivals from Red List nations will have to quarantine at a Government-designated hotel for 10 days. It will cost the travellers 1,750 each, although the Government is paying the upfront cost and will bill them afterwards. Attempts to break out of the quarantine before the 10 days are up could result in a fine of up to 10,000. They are not eligible for the five-day 'test and release' scheme. None of the 16 hotels involved in Number 10's quarantine plan have been named for 'commercial reasons'. REPEATED COVID TESTS Red List arrivals will be required to test negative for coronavirus 72 hours before departure, using a kit that meets UK government standards. They will be tested again on day two and day eight of quarantine, with costs included in the wider charge of the hotel stay. NON-RED LIST ARRIVALS The same requirement for a negative test result 72 hours before departure applies. Once in the UK, they must isolate for 10 days at home or in private accommodation, with the authorities able to check that they are obeying the rules. Tests will be required on day two and day eight of isolation, and must be booked through a government portal in advance of travel. The portal will be launched on Thursday. The costs are not yet known but PCR tests typically cost around 120 a time. TEST AND RELEASE The test and release scheme - which allows non-'red list travellers' to leave isolation if they test negative after five days is staying in place. Many essential business travellers are likely to take this option. However, Mr Hancock suggested even though they will not be subject to quarantine after the five-day test, they will still be required to have tests on day two and days eight. That means they could be screened four times in total. Advertisement

Travellers who lie about whether they have been to mutant coronavirus hotspots face up to 10 years in prison, under a brutal crackdown unveiled by Matt Hancock today.

The Health Secretary said he made 'no apologies' for incredibly harsh measures, warning that protecting the UK from variant strains that can potentially evade vaccines is 'mission critical' - and hinting they might need to be in place until the Autumn.

He revealed the government is creating a new criminal offence of hiding from the authorities that you have visited one of the countries on the UK's 'red list'.

The draconian step came as he confirmed that from Monday all arrivals will have to take three gold-standard PCR coronavirus tests before being allowed to freely move around the UK.

One has to be completed abroad before departure and two during their 10-day isolation period in the UK. Those who fail to get the checks could be hit with thousands of pounds in fines.

Mr Hancock also declared that 4,600 rooms have now been secured by the government from 16 hotels so the 'quarantine hotel' system can get up and running as planned on Monday, although the Department of Health refused to name them.

All incomers from 'red list' countries must stay in the rooms for 10 days, costing 1,750 each - with a supplement for people sharing rooms - including food and drink and their testing bill.

Arrivals from dozens of high-risk countries on the 'red list' will have to test negative 72 hours before travelling, and then be screened again twice, on day two and day eight.

Failure to stick to the hotel quarantine will be punishable with a fine of up to 10,000, Mr Hancock said.

Meanwhile, all other travellers will also have to show a negative result before coming to the UK, and then face two more tests while isolating at home or in other private accommodation. The government has not said how much that will cost although typically it is around 120 per test.

The existing 'test and release' scheme will stay in place so people can escape restrictions five days after arrival - but they will still have to be tested on day two and day eight regardless.

Mr Hancock said failure to get the screening - which must be booked in advance through a government portal - will be punishable with a 1,000 fine on the first occasion, and 2,000 on the second.

And he said people who lie about whether they have been to 'red list' countries could be hit with a jail sentence of up to 10 years under a new law.

The maximum punishment puts the offence in a category with some of the most serious, alongside things such as carrying a firearm with intent. Sentences for rape can be shorter than 10 years, although the maximum for that level of crime is life.

The tests required are the PCR variety rather than the quicker and cheaper lateral flow.

Jet2 and Jet2Holidays said tonight they were extending their suspension of operations until April 14 because of the 'ongoing uncertainty and travel restrictions.'

The British budget travel company had hoped to be up and running by the end of March but Mr Hancock's announcement only served to underline how concerned the Government remains about the threat of Covid and its new variants.

Shortly after the Health Secretary's briefing, Scotland said it would go even further and require hotel quarantine for all arrivals.

Travellers from all countries are already obliged to prove they have tested negative in the previous 72 hours, and isolate for 10 days, but there are concerns about low compliance.

Travellers who lie about whether they have been to mutant coronavirus hotspots face up to ten years in prison, under a brutal crackdown unveiled by Matt Hancock today

All international arrivals into the UK will be forced to take two tests as the government is set to implement stricter measures to stop new strains of Covid arriving in the country

A deserted Terminal 5 as the aviation industry continues to be badly hit by the Covid crisis

A poll for MailOnline last week suggested the public is heavily in favour of a tough border crackdown amid fears over variant strains

Setting out the new health measures at the border - which will come into force on Monday - Mr Hancock said: 'The new measures build on the tough action that we've already taken.'

He added: 'Every passenger must demonstrate a negative test result 72 hours before they travel to the UK and every passenger must quarantine for 10 days.

'Arriving in this country involves a two-week process for all.'

On the 33 red list countries, Mr Hancock continued: 'But even with these tough measures in place we must strengthen our defences yet further.

'I appreciate what a significant challenge this is.'

In other twists and turns in the pandemic today:

The UK announced 12,364 more coronavirus cases and 1,052 deaths in the past 24 hours as the winter wave continues to shrink because of lockdown;

The NHS's performance during the coronavirus pandemic has been 'nothing special' and many countries without similar public healthcare have performed better, a think tank claimed;

Vaccinated Britons could get scannable QR codes as soon as next month, allowing them to travel abroad as part of controversial Covid 'vaccine passport' schemes funded by the taxpayer;

Britain could be trapped in lockdown cycles for 'several years' as it's forced to wrestle with new variants that could scupper vaccines, top scientists warned;

Fever and losing the sense of taste or smell are not the most common symptoms of people who test positive for coronavirus, a testing survey has found, with infected people in England more likely to feel fatigued or to develop head or muscle aches;

World Health Organization scientists sent on a coronavirus fact-finding mission to China have today thrown their weight behind Beijing - dismissing theories the virus leaked from a lab wile backing theories that the virus was imported on frozen meat.

Spelling out the extraordinary new system, Mr Hancock said he made 'no apologies' for how tough they are.

'People who flout these rules are putting us all at risk,' he said.

'Passenger carriers will have a duty in law to make sure that passengers have signed up for these new arrangements before they travel, and will be fined if they don't, and we will be putting in place tough fines for people who don't comply.

'This includes a 1,000 penalty for any international arrival who fails to take a mandatory test, a 2,000 penalty for any international arrival who fails to take the second mandatory test, as well as automatically extending their quarantine period to 14 days, and a 5,000 fixed penalty notice  rising to 10,000  for arrivals who fail to quarantine in a designated hotel.'

He added: 'Anyone who lies on the passenger locator form and tries to conceal that they've been in a country on the red list in the 10 days before arrival here will face a prison sentence of up to 10 years.'

Mr Hancock said the measures will be put into law this week and more resources will be available to enforce them, adding: 'I make no apologies for the strength of these measures because we're dealing with one of the strongest threats to our public health that we've faced as a nation.'

Mr Hancock said: 'From Monday, all international arrivals, whether under home quarantine or hotel quarantine, will be required by law to take further PCR tests on day two and day eight of that quarantine.

'Passengers will have to book these tests through our online booking portal before they travel. Anyone planning to travel to the UK from Monday needs to book these tests and the online portal will go live on Thursday.

'If either of these post-arrival tests comes back positive, they'll have to quarantine for a further 10 days from the date of the test and will of course be offered any NHS treatment that's necessary.

'Any positive test will automatically undergo genomic sequencing to confirm whether they have a variant of concern.'

Scotland brings in hotel quarantine for ALL arrivals in snub to Boris Scotland is to force all travellers landing at its airports to quarantine for 10 days at their own cost after complaining that Boris Johnson has not gone far enough. Holyrood Transport Secretary Michael Matheson told MSPs that six hotels have been block-booked in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, with up to 1,300 rooms available. The Scottish Government has previously said it would go further than UK Government proposals, announced in Westminster by UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Tuesday, which would only see travellers from 'red list' countries required to quarantine. 'We need a comprehensive approach to restricting international travel,' Mr Matheson said today. 'Unfortunately at the current moment, the UK Government continues to rely on a targeted, reactive approach.' Mr Matheson told MSPs this 'reactive' approach taken by the UK on international travel was 'no longer sufficient to provide the protection necessary'. Given the lack of investigation being done globally into new strains of the virus, Mr Matheson said it is 'very hard to say with confidence where the high-risk countries are'. 'That's why the Scottish Government wants a comprehensive approach to managed isolation,' he said. Advertisement

Mr Hancock said responding to new variants is 'mission critical'.

He told the Commons: 'Coronavirus, just like flu and all other viruses, mutates over time and so responding to new variants as soon as they arise is mission critical to protect ourselves for the long term.'

Outlining the Government's four-part strategy to do this, Mr Hancock said: 'First, the lower the case numbers here, the fewer new variants we get  so the work to lower case numbers domestically is crucial.

'Second, as I set out to the House last week, is enhanced contact tracing, surge testing and genomic sequencing.

'Third is the work on vaccines to tackle variants as set out yesterday by Professor Van-Tam.

'And fourth, health protection at the border to increase our security against new variants of concern arriving from abroad.'

Travel from 'red list' countries to the UK is already banned for everyone apart from Britons and a few other exceptions.

And Mr Hancock said that those arriving from those 33 countries - and potentially more in future if the roster expands - will now have to quarantine in an assigned hotel room.

He told the Commons: 'We're setting up a new system of hotel quarantine for UK and Irish residents who've been in red list countries in the last 10 days. In short, this means that any returning residents from these countries will have to quarantine in an assigned hotel room for 10 days from the time of arrival.

'Before they travel, they'll have to book through an online platform and pay for a quarantine package costing 1,750 for an individual travelling alone which includes the hotel, transport and testing. This booking system will go live on Thursday when we'll also publish the full detailed guidance.

'Passengers will only be able to enter the UK through a small number of ports that currently account for the vast majority of passenger arrivals. When they arrive, they'll be escorted to a designated hotel which will be closed to guests who aren't quarantining, for 10 days or for longer if they test positive for Covid-19 during their stay.

'We've contracted 16 hotels for an initial 4,600 rooms and we will secure more as they are needed. People will need to remain in their rooms and of course will not be allowed to mix with other guests and there will be visible security in place to ensure compliance alongside necessary support, so even as we protect public health we can look after the people in our care.'

None of the 16 hotels involved in Number 10's quarantine plan have been named for 'commercial reasons'.

Department of Health bosses said the chains were being kept secret and refused to explain why they needed to be tight-lipped about who was involved.

Rob Paterson, the UK chief executive of Best Western Hotels, last week said his company was being 'kept in the dark' by ministers about the scheme.

While the St Giles Hotels chain last week said rooms in its site near Heathrow Airport were ready to host travellers. Its sister site in the Philippines is already working in a similar role.

How rapid lateral flow tests are different to lab-based PCR swabs Lateral flow tests are an alternative to the gold standard PCR test - known scientifically as polymerase chain reaction testing - which is more expensive and more labour-intensive but more accurate. PCR tests also use a swab but this is then processed using high-tech laboratory equipment to analyse the genetic sequence of the sample to see if any of it matches the genes of coronavirus. This is a much more long-winded and expensive process, involving multiple types of trained staff, and the analysis process can take hours, with the whole process from swab to someone receiving their result taking days. It is significantly more accurate, however. In ideal conditions the tests are almost 100 per cent accurate at spotting the virus, although this may be more like 70 per cent in the real world. Advertisement

Travel experts and MPs welcomed the testing plans - but said it should replace hotel quarantine, and warned that there needs to be an end date.

Conservative Huw Merriman, chairman of the Transport Select Committee, questioned how long the new testing and quarantine measures will last, given the impact it could have on the summer travel industry.

Mr Merriman asked: 'Summer travel is so important to the aviation industry. Is this just to last until we've vaccinated 99% of the mortality risk, which should be by May, or is it until we tweak the vaccination  in which case this could really, really have an impact on the aviation industry?'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock replied in the Commons: 'We want to exit from this into a system of safe international travel as soon as practicable and as soon as is safe.'

Mr Hancock said work is ongoing to assess the current vaccines against variants of the virus, adding: 'If that isn't forthcoming then we will need to vaccinate with a further booster jab in the autumn, which we're working with the vaccine industry.

'These are the uncertainties within which we are operating and hence, for now, my judgment is the package we've announced today is the right one.'

Business chiefs called for extra help for the aviation sector.

The Confederation of British Industry's chief UK policy director Matthew Fell said: 'Business understands the priority is to protect the health of the population, and supports measures to reduce infections and hasten the return to a normal way of life.

'Yet these new quarantine rules and testing requirements are a further reminder of just how challenging the situation is for the international travel sector right now.

'Further, immediate support is now essential to protect companies and jobs in the aviation sector and its supply chains in the difficult months ahead. The Government should also be clear on a road map to relaxing restrictions when health data permits.

'The UK's world-class aviation sector  which underpins so much of our economic activity  must be supported so that it can play its full part in the country's recovery.'

Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultants The PC Agency, said: 'Mass traveller testing alone is to be welcomed as it enables Government to stay one step ahead of possible new variants, but adding several layers of complexity to travel will stall any economic recovery.

'The Government needs to signal that it is looking to loosen border restrictions again from April, when there will be much less pressure on the NHS and infection/mortality rates will be lower.

'What is the exit route out of this? Travel cannot work on the short-term whim of Government.'

He added: 'When infection and mortality rates are much lower and the NHS is not under pressure due to vaccines taking effect, then there is no reason for such measures to be in place.

'So, I would still expect travel to short-haul Europe to be likely from 1st May onwards and that's when consumers should be booking for.

'Some countries will still no doubt insist on negative test proof but travel should very much open up further. This will enable people to visit family again and travel on business, as well as for holidays.'

Mr Charles said the government needed to signal that restrictions will be diluted from the start of April, or the travel sector could go over a 'cliff-edge' with 'hundreds of thousands of job losses and business failures'.

Derek Jones, chief executive of luxury travel company Kuoni, welcomed the plan to test arriving travellers but called for it to coincide with an easing of mandatory self-isolation requirements.

What countries are on the 'red list' for hotel quarantine rules? Angola Argentina Bolivia Botswana Brazil Burundi Cape Verde Chile Colombia Democratic Republic of the Congo Ecuador Eswatini French Guiana Guyana Lesotho Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Panama Paraguay Peru Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores) Rwanda Seychelles South Africa Suriname Tanzania United Arab Emirates (UAE) Uruguay Venezuela Zambia Zimbabwe Advertisement

He said: 'A robust testing regime is the way to open up travel again but it has to replace or at least shorten quarantine.

'That's the way to get travel moving again.'

The testing changes follow the announcement last week that from February 15, UK nationals returning from high risk 'red list' destinations will have to quarantine in Government-approved hotels where they will have to take two tests.

A Department of Health spokesman said: 'Enhancing our testing regime to cover all arrivals while they isolate will provide a further level of protection and enable us to better track any new cases which might be brought into the country, and give us even more opportunities to detect new variants.'

Earlier, Environment Secretary George Eustice gave a grim indication that tough border measures will need to be in place until vaccines have been tweaked to deal with variant strains - which scientists say will take many months.

In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Eustice said: 'There is a case for doing some testing during quarantine, we already have a provision so they can test to release from quarantine earlier.

'We're obviously looking at this to see whether we can strengthen these measures further.'

The move comes as officials sought to reassure the public that vaccines should provide effective protection against people falling seriously ill from the new South African variant.

South Africa has suspended use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine after a preliminary trial suggested it offered a reduced level of protection against infection and mild illness from the variant.

However the deputy chief medical officer for England said that, unlike the variant which emerged last year in Kent, there was no evidence it enjoyed a 'transmissibility advantage' so was unlikely to become the dominant strain in the UK in the coming months.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said he believed it was 'likely' the AstraZeneca jab - like the other vaccines - would give 'substantial' protection against serious illness from the South Africa variant.

He said that it was possible people would need annual or biennial booster jabs as the vaccines were updated to deal with new variants, and that there were 'a lot of steps behind the scenes' to ensure that could happen.

Leading epidemiologist Professor David Heymann warned today that borders 'cannot stop infectious diseases'.

Appearing on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, he said: 'We know that borders cannot stop infectious diseases no matter how rigid your controls are, there will always be some that comes through.'

He said most nations believe the best strategy is to deal with infections in-country, and to ensure there is a flow of travel and trade.

Asked if he believed closing borders would have an immediate impact, Prof Heymann said: 'We've seen that countries that have closed their borders, such as New Zealand, have kept the virus out, but now their problem is what do they when they begin to open their borders?

'So I think the best way forward is to live understanding that viruses and bacteria, any infection, can cross borders and we have to have the defences in our own countries to deal with them.'

It came as airlines fear any lack of rooms under the quarantine hotels scheme could force them to leave travellers stuck abroad.

It is understood ministers are considering adding a section to passenger locator forms, which all must fill out before departure. It could ask them if they have booked into a quarantine hotel in the UK.

It is understood ministers are considering adding a section to passenger locator forms, which all must fill out before departure. It could ask them if they have booked into a quarantine hotel in the UK

Boris Johnson is urged to toughen border controls after traveller from South Africa reveals she walked through Heathrow in 10 minutes with NO checks Sharon Feinstein, from Islington, north London, claims she walked through Heathrow following a trip to Johannesburg The Prime Minister has been urged to toughen border controls after a passenger arriving from South Africa revealed she walked through Heathrow unchecked. Sharon Feinstein, who lives in Islington, north London, claims she walked through the terminal following a trip to Johannesburg, where the mutant strain is rife. Ms Feinstein landed yesterday after visiting her mother, and had documents to prove she'd had a negative test result - but claims she was ushered through passport control. This comes as it emerged travellers are going to be tested a few days after they land in the UK, or face a 500 fine. Ms Feinstein told the Daily Express: 'I was in tears. I just couldn't believe what happened. I could have had Covid, they don't know where I am staying, they didn't ask. As a country we're messing up.' Advertisement

But it is unclear whether carriers will be expected to bar travellers who answer no, leaving them stranded.

Ministers will unveil a booking system for travellers on Thursday this week.

But an aviation source said yesterday: 'We're completely in the dark. We don't know yet whether the Government will want us to deny boarding.'

Airlines are legally required to check passenger locator forms have been completed. They also have to check that a passenger has a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of travel.

Ministers have been accused of being too slow to bring in quarantine hotels.

The policy was announced in the Commons on January 27 but does not come into force until Monday.

Under the rules, hotels will have to provide three meals a day for guests for 11 nights. Travellers will be tested twice, on the second and eighth day of their stay.

Security guards will be stationed on each floor and by entrances and exits, with police on standby if passengers try to abscond.

However, Heathrow airport has raised concerns about how the new scheme will work at borders.

A spokesman said: 'Now that the Government has set a date, ministers need to work with industry to establish how this policy will actually be implemented at the border.

'Our offer to support remains, but time is ticking and this very complex initiative requires airports, airlines and the Government to work closely together for it to be workable.'

Lucy Moreton, professional officer at the Immigration Services Union, which represents border staff, said border guards were yet to receive any fresh guidance about how the policy will work.

She said: 'We've heard absolutely nothing yet. You can't rule out that the airlines would be asked to enforce it, but it would require a change to legislation and that isn't easy.

'From a Border Force perspective it would be magnificent if the airlines were responsible for that because it would reduce the checks we're having to do at the border.

'This is all likely to be honesty-based though. Short of us physically getting off the arrivals desks and phoning the hotels to check that those individuals have booked into them, we have no way of confirming.'

Some 10,000 extra coronavirus tests will be rolled out in Manchester from Tuesday, after four people from two unconnected households were found to be infected with the E484K mutation linked to the Kent variant, Manchester City Council said.

Britain faces a second summer write off: Travel firms, wedding venues, pubs, and event organisers warn uncertainty over when Covid rules will end - if EVER - means hundreds of thousands of jobs and businesses will go

Travel and hospitality bosses today warn the UK faces a second summer write off as uncertainty over when restrictions will end squashes demand for holidays and social venues.

Millions of Britons have already booked trips ahead of the Prime Minister's announcement of the country's plan for easing restrictions on February 22 and Matt Hancock has previously predicted a 'Great British Summer'.

But several government figures are hinting coronavirus restrictions could last well into summer - despite fears it will spell the death knell for businesses across the UK when the furlough scheme ends on April 30.

Mr Hancock indicated today tough border measures - including quarantine hotels - will need to be in place until vaccines have been tweaked to deal with variant strains in the Autumn.

It came after Jonathan Van Tam said yesterday the 'more elaborate your plans are for summer holidays, in terms of crossing borders, in terms of household mixing' the greater the risk they will be cancelled.

Meanwhile SAGE expert Professor Sir Ian Boyd predicted social distancing measures will be needed for a 'long time to come  perhaps several years.'

GDP tumbled by 2.6 per cent in November as the second coronavirus lockdown hammered the economy, official figures showed today. In this chart, 100 represents the size of the economy in 2018

Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy firm the PC Agency, said the government needs to signal restrictions will be diluted from the start of April so travel can recover.

He said 'The government needs to signal that these tougher restrictions will be diluted from the start of April, enabling travel to recover again.

'Otherwise, the huge drop in travellers and number of flights will push the sector over a cliff-edge, with the resulting hundreds of thousands of job losses and business failures.'

The beleaguered hospitality industry also has pressing questions about when trade can resume, calling on the government to give a 'strong signal' Britain will be open in the summer.

When is each sector expected to open up? Travel: Paul Charles suggests short-haul travel could begin again from May 1. Weddings: Weddings could open later this year. But experts such as wedding planner Holly Poulter suggested 2022 may be a better bet for people to get the dates they want and be able to invite more guests. Pubs: UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said the industry hopes to reopen from the start of April. Social events: Some events such as Wimbledon are hoping to go ahead in some capacity this summer. But others, like Glastonbury, have already cancelled. Advertisement

UK hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: 'We hope that the government will give a strong signal that Britain will be open this summer, so that businesses can begin to make preparations.

We can't downplay how serious this has been for our sector. Businesses are telling us that only one in five have enough cash flow to last past the end of this month.

'We have suffered over 600,000 job losses and we still have more than one million staff on furlough. Lots of businesses have gone under, but many have persevered doggedly throughout the crisis.

Meanwhile wedding experts are advising people to postpone their nuptials until next year so they can have the ceremony they want - free of tight restrictions.

And the festival industry - which saw most events called off or moved online last year - is trying to find ways to hold shows this year but has called for clarity from the government.

Fresh figures also show consumer confidence is plummeting, with retail sales in January falling at their fastest pace since May and only 40 per cent of Britons saying they are confident in their job security.

Matthew Fell, CBI Chief UK Policy Director, said: 'Business understands the priority is to protect the health of the population, and supports measures to reduce infections and hasten the return to a normal way of life.

'Yet these new quarantine rules and testing requirements are a further reminder of just how challenging the situation is for the international travel sector right now.

'Further, immediate support is now essential to protect companies and jobs in the aviation sector and its supply chains in the difficult months ahead.

'The government should also be clear on a roadmap to relaxing restrictions when health data permits.'

It comes as figures show Britain has turned the tide on the latest peak of the coronavirus as cases and deaths plummet.

Department of Health figures show another 333 Covid victims were recorded yesterday, the lowest 24-hour toll since December 27 and a drop of 18 per cent on the 406 the previous Monday.

Another 14,104 infections were also added to the official tally. The daily figure has dropped by a quarter week-on-week, with yesterday's number lower than at any time since December 8.

Analysis shows infection rates are lower than at any time since before Christmas in all four nations of the UK, with London cases now just a 10th of the post-Christmas peak.

Conservative former minister Mark Harper - part of the lockdown sceptic CRG group of MPs - questioned when the policy against the virus was going to end, noting if the virus keeps mutating there would have to be lockdowns forever.

Travel

Mr Charles, CEO of travel consultancy firm the PC Agency, said he expects even when travel is allowed countries will still block Britons without a negative Covid test.

He told MailOnline: 'The outlook may seem cloudy right now, as government tightens restrictions for those entering the UK.

'But, when infection and mortality rates are much lower and the NHS is not under pressure due to vaccines taking effect, then there is no reason for such measures to be in place.

'So, I would still expect travel to short-haul Europe to be likely from 1st May onwards and that's when consumers should be booking for.'

But doubts are growing after Mr Hancock today hinted new quarantine restrictions will stay in place under vaccines can deal with new variants.

Mr Charles continued: 'Some countries will still no doubt insist on negative test proof but travel should very much open up further.

'This will enable people to visit family again and travel on business, as well as for holidays.'

He added: 'The government needs to signal that these tougher restrictions will be diluted from the start of April, enabling travel to recover again.

'Otherwise, the huge drop in travellers and number of flights will push the sector over a cliff-edge, with the resulting hundreds of thousands of job losses and business failures.'

Millions of Britons have already booked holidays (pictured, Barcelona last year) ahead of the Prime Minister's announcement of the country's plan for easing restrictions on February 22 and Matt Hancock has previously predicted a 'Great British Summer'

Mr Kelvin, from Points Guy UK travel experts, said people may want to try their luck and book a holiday now due to reduced prices.

He said: 'You might want to save the stress of worrying whether you will be able to take your trip or not, but that doesn't mean it's a blanket no on making future bookings.

'One huge reason to book now is to take advantage of some of the incredible deals available. We may never see such great offers again.

'However there are a number of important things to consider. Aim to book much later in the year (a spring trip or even early summer trip might be unlikely to happen).

Which events are going ahead and which are cancelled this year? Planning to go ahead: Wimbledon Wimbledon has said it will still hold the championships but is expecting it to have to be with a reduced-capacity crowd. A statement said: 'Our aspiration is to stage the best Championships possible - a trusted, best practice, safe event - with the health and safety of all guests, staff and competitors remaining our highest priority. 'With five months remaining until the Championships, we are continuing to develop our detailed scenario planning and work closely with the relevant government and public health authorities to keep abreast of the latest developments in the fight against coronavirus. 'The majority of our planning focus is currently centred on the option of a reduced-capacity Championships and how that would affect each stakeholder group, but we are not yet in a position to rule out any of the other scenarios.' Notting Hill Carnival Notting Hill Carnival, which attracts throngs of people to the upmarket west London street, said there will be efforts to try to run Europe's biggest street party 'in some way' this year. Matthew Phillip, chief executive of Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, said social distancing would be 'devastating' for the event. Mr Phillip told MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which is looking at the cultural and economic impact on the UK's music festivals: 'For Carnival weekend specifically, it would pose a very big problem. 'It would be very difficult to hold Carnival in its traditional format on the streets with social distancing in place. It would be devastating for a second year in a row.' Asked if it would mean cancellation of the August event in west London, Mr Phillip said 'yes' - but added efforts would be made to try and run it in some way. He added: 'It would not take place in its traditional format. We would always hope to do something. 'Carnival means too much to too many people for us to simply ignore it so we would always try to find a way of celebrating Carnival for its artistry and what it means to the community.' Chelsea Flower Show Another event under threat is the Chelsea Flower Show, with its normally colourful delights of late spring, set to turn brown as it moves to the autumn months. For the first time in its 109-year history, the event will take place later in the year  meaning the vibrant displays of mid-May will be replaced by the more mellow tones of the fall. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) announced last month the show, in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, has been moved from May 18-23 to September 21-26. Last year the event had to be scrapped completely because of coronavirus, with a virtual show staged online. RHS director general Sue Biggs said: 'In these challenging times, we have always followed Government advice and made difficult, responsible decisions with the health and safety of people our key concern. 'Whilst we are sad to have had to delay RHS Chelsea, and are sorry for the disruption this will cause, we are excited that we are still planning to bring the world's best-loved gardening event to the nation.' Henley Royal Regatta The organiser of the Henley Royal Regatta and Henley Festival in Oxfordshire said she is planning for the popular five-day boat racing event at the end of June to be 'near normal' this year. Jo Bausor said they are due to revise their decision on the event at the end of February or start of March depending on government guidance. She told the Henley Standard: 'We definitely will have an event this year, no matter what. At the moment we're still planning for a near normal event, as much as we can. 'This does depend on the regatta and what they decide to do. We're working very closely with them and have a very good and productive relationship.' The event usually attracts about 6,000 people but may have to reduce capacity due to social distancing. She added: 'It wouldn't be the full festival but it would have all the artists and all the bits everybody knows and loves.' Pride in London Alison Camps, Co-Chair of Pride in London, said: 'We're aware there's still a lot of uncertainty around how far current restrictions will have been relaxed by the summer, which is why we'll be asking our communities for their thoughts about plans they want to see from us in 2021. The most important thing for us is that all attendees feel safe and reassured. 'Whatever Pride looks like this year, we're determined to continue bringing our communities together and providing a platform for all LGBT+ voices. We'll be sharing more information about our plans for 2021 in due course.' Cancelled: Glastonbury Glastonbury Festival will not take place for a second year in a row because of the coronavirus pandemic, the organisers announced last month. The music festival's co-organiser, Michael Eavis - who curates the lineup with his daughter Emily, said he was 'so sorry' to have to cancel the event for the second year in a row. Most live music events, including Glastonbury, were wiped out last summer by the pandemic and a recent study warned that without state support, Britain's 1.3billion live music industry is heading for another summer washout. Emily had previously teased there would be 'a hell of a lot of surprises' for the festival in 2021, telling reporters last year: 'We're rolling two festivals together for 2021. RideLondon RideLondon event director Hugh Brasher said: 'We know it is very disappointing news that the events planned for May cannot take place, especially for charities. 'However, I am sure everyone understands why this decision has been made and we look forward to welcoming participants and the professional peloton to ride the streets of London in 2022. 'We are currently working with the Mayor's office to deliver a virtual event in the summer designed to inspire as many people as possible to cycle more often, and also to engage some of the hundreds of thousands of new or lapsed cyclists to raise money for the many charities whose income has been so affected by Covid-19.' Advertisement

'Be sure to ensure all bookings are fully refundable or flexible and that you have adequate insurance.

'Finally, book with ATOL or ABTA protected companies (for packages) where relevant and make bookings on a credit card to ensure you a fully protected in case the company you have booked with goes bust.'

Matthew Fell, CBI Chief UK Policy Director, said: 'Business understands the priority is to protect the health of the population, and supports measures to reduce infections and hasten the return to a normal way of life.

'Yet these new quarantine rules and testing requirements are a further reminder of just how challenging the situation is for the international travel sector right now.

'Further, immediate support is now essential to protect companies and jobs in the aviation sector and its supply chains in the difficult months ahead.

'The government should also be clear on a roadmap to relaxing restrictions when health data permits.

'The UK's world-class aviation sector  which underpins so much of our economic activity  must be supported so that it can play its full part in the country's recovery.'

Meanwhile Mark Jit, a professor of vaccine epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told Wired: 'I don't anticipate getting on a plane or even a long distance train.'

And Clare Wenham, assistant professor of global health policy at London School of Economics, added: 'I think we will probably be considering UK holidays this summer again.'

She added: 'I imagine it will be more similar to last summer rather than a normal summer.'

Despite lockdown, 2.8million bookings have already been made with TUI for later in the year and the travel agent confirmed plans to operate at 80 per cent capacity.

Average daily bookings in January are up 70 per cent compared with December, although Tui said it expects a peak booking period is still on its way.

Holidaymakers are expected to wait to see if Covid-19 vaccination programmes are successful, leading to bookings for the summer - including amendments and voucher re-bookings, down 44 per cent compared with summer 2019.

The company added there will be 'significant upside anticipated' should restrictions lift in time for Easter.

A spokesman said: 'Our focus on the end-to-end delivery of safe holidays already resulted in the successful partial recommencement of operations during Summer 2020.

'Destinations have recognised this strength of Tui's, as the governments of Greece and the Balearics selected Tui to implement pilot programmes in summer 2020 aimed at restarting tourism in their regions.

'Our strong customer base and scale gives us an advantage in terms of brand awareness and distribution, securing attractive terms from suppliers, and in gaining greater insight into customer behaviour.

'In addition, selling into a range of source markets helps to diversify our customer base, meaning we are not reliant on a single market.'

But England's deputy chief medical officer put a spanner in the works yesterday by warning prospective holidaymakers not to book elaborate vacations.

Professor Van-Tam said he could not give a proper answer on holidays away from the UK as the data was not available.

Speaking at the No 10 news briefing, he said: 'The more elaborate your plans are for summer holidays, in terms of crossing borders, in terms of household mixing, given where we are now, I think we just have to say the more you are stepping into making guesses about the unknown.

'I can't give people a proper answer at this point because we don't yet have the data. It's just too early.'

Currently Britons are not allowed to leave the country unless they have a legally permitted reason.

Work trips are allowed, so you will have to show some proof that your flight or sea crossing is vital for your employment.

But there are a range of other reasons for 'essential travel', such as medical care, to escape harm, compassionate visits - for example a funeral - and weddings.

Meanwhile airlines fear any lack of rooms under the quarantine hotels scheme could force them to leave travellers stuck abroad.

It is understood ministers are considering adding a section to passenger locator forms, which all must fill out before departure.

It could ask them if they have booked into a quarantine hotel in the UK. But it is unclear if carriers will have to bar travellers who answer no, leaving them stranded.

Mr Hancock announced today arriving travellers put in quarantine hotels in England will be charged 1,750 for their stay.

Passengers face fines of up to 10,000 for failing to quarantine and those who lie on their passenger locator forms face up to 10 years in jail.

The Cabinet minister said the measures announced will need to be replaced to enable 'safe and free international travel' in the future.

He told the Commons that 16 hotels have been contracted to provide 4,600 rooms for the hotel quarantine programme which begins on Monday.

UK nationals or residents returning to England from 33 'red list' countries will be required to spend 10 days in a Government-designated hotel.

Anyone who attempts to conceal that they have been in one of those destinations in the 10 days before arrival faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years, Mr Hancock said.

He also confirmed the new 'enhanced testing' regime for all international travellers, with two tests required during the quarantine process from Monday.

Mr Hancock told the Commons: 'People who flout these rules are putting us all at risk.

'Passenger carriers will have a duty in law to make sure that passengers have signed up for these new arrangements before they travel, and will be fined if they don't, and we will be putting in place tough fines for people who don't comply.

'This includes a 1,000 penalty for any international arrival who fails to take a mandatory test, a 2,000 penalty for any international arrival who fails to take the second mandatory test, as well as automatically extending their quarantine period to 14 days, and a 5,000 fixed penalty notice - rising to 10,000 - for arrivals who fail to quarantine in a designated hotel.'

He added: 'I make no apologies for the strength of these measures, because we're dealing with one of the strongest threats to our public health that we've faced as a nation.'

Asked when the new rules will be relaxed, Mr Hancock replied: 'We want to exit from this into a system of safe international travel as soon as practicable and as soon as is safe.'

He said work is ongoing to assess the current vaccines against variants of the virus, adding: 'If that isn't forthcoming then we will need to vaccinate with a further booster jab in the autumn, which we're working with the vaccine industry.

'These are the uncertainties within which we are operating and hence, for now, my judgment is the package we've announced today is the right one.'

It comes after it was confirmed last week that UK nationals returning from 33 'red list' countries would be required to quarantine in closely monitored Government-designated hotels, where they would have to take two tests - although no contracts have yet been signed with accommodation providers.

Tory former minister Mr Harper told the Commons today: 'When is this policy going to end, if ever? Because if the virus continues to mutate, surely the risk is going to be there forever and so when can it be removed?'

Mr Hancock responded: 'The risk of mutations absolutely can and will be managed through the evolution of vaccines in the way that the annual flu jab changes each year and allows us to protect ourselves.

'Of course these measures, whilst necessary now, are not measures that can be in place permanently. We need to replace them over time with a system of safe and free international travel. That's where we need to get to.

'The first task is to vaccinate the population. If we get good news on the vaccination impact on hospitalisations and deaths from people who have new mutations, then we will be in a better place. If we do not get such good news, then we will need to use the updated vaccines to protect against the variants of concerns.

'The scientists inform and advise me that there are repeatedly independently around the world mutations of the same type in the E484K area of the virus, as mentioned by (Jonathan Ashworth). Now that gives the scientists a good start in where to target the new updated vaccine.'

The Financial Times reported ministers were said to be close to signing up a series of hotels near Heathrow, and were optimistic of agreeing deals with others around Manchester, Gatwick, Birmingham and London City airports.

The extra testing burden - with the cost expected to fall on travellers - has added to concerns in the travel industry.

Derek Jones, chief executive of luxury travel company Kuoni, welcomed the plan to test arriving travellers but called for it to coincide with an easing of mandatory self-isolation requirements.

He said: 'A robust testing regime is the way to open up travel again but it has to replace or at least shorten quarantine. That's the way to get travel moving again.'

But SAGE expert Professor Sir Ian has predicted social distancing measures will be needed for a 'long time to come  perhaps several years.'

The infectious disease expert at the St Andrews University, said the emergence of potentially jab-resistant strains means the UK could be stuck in a pattern of 'control and release for a long time to come'.

Evidence suggests the Oxford University vaccine  the main weapon in Britain's arsenal to combat the virus  does not stop people falling ill with the South African variant, which is feared to be spreading in the community already. But No10's top scientific advisers believe it still protects against severe illness and death.

Professor Sir Ian and several other prominent SAGE members warned reopening the shutdown too early could risk allowing new, equally concerning variants to spawn.

Mutations randomly happen as viruses spread but most changes never change the way it looks or behaves.

Very high transmission gives the virus more opportunity to mutate and, therefore, drives up the risk that one of the alterations could change the course of the disease.

Professor Sir Ian told The Times: 'It stands to reason that the more people there are in the population with infections  the prevalence  the more virus that is replicating and the more chance there is of even highly improbable mutations happening.'

He warned even if Britain gets on top of the South African strain, there will be more concerning ones down the line.

He added: 'My suspicion is that we will experience a damped oscillation of control-release for a long time to come  perhaps several years.'

Pubs

The threat of continued lockdown has also spurred fears pubs may not be open until late in the year.

UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said the industry hopes to reopen from the start of April but notes there are caveats with this.

She said: 'The rapid roll-out of the vaccine gives us good reason to be positive that we are on the road back to normality.

'We are hopeful that we can begin to see a gradual reopening of hospitality from the start of April.

'Obviously, this is likely to be heavily dependent on health metrics, such as the number of vaccinations and new cases, continuing their positive trends.'

She added: 'We will know more about what is going to be achievable on 22 February, but we are confident that people can begin to look at events and holidays this summer.

'We hope that the government will give a strong signal that Britain will be open this summer, so that businesses can begin to make preparations. We must remember that reopening after a shut-down like this takes a lot of time, effort and money.'

It is not yet clear when they will reopen, but the Prime Minister is due to unveil his long-awaited road map 'to unlock' Britain on February 22.

UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said the industry hopes to reopen from the start of April but notes there are caveats with this. Pictured: Borough Market in September

Ministers are expected to adopt a 'tentative' approach - with some sources claiming a 'booze ban' on pubs between April and May was being considered to stop social distancing slipping.

But a senior Government source told MailOnline an alcohol ban in pubs was not on the cards.

They said: 'We are not going to open pubs that can't sell booze. What would be the point of that?'

Labour's shadow minister for business and consumers, Lucy Powell, described the suggestion as 'ridiculous'.

She told BBC Breakfast: 'They (businesses) need to know the economic support that will sit alongside the public health measures. At the moment they diverge quite considerably.

'And we need to make sure for businesses that that route map to reopening allows businesses to open in a viable way.

'So we can't have ridiculous things that we've seen speculated about with pubs saying they can reopen but without serving alcohol, for example.'

Other measures being floated include axing the 10pm curfew - which has been given the go-ahead according to some reports, along with an end to the requirement for drinkers to order a 'substantial meal' with alcohol.

England could also emulate Scotland's indoor alcohol ban - where pubs are able to serve booze but only in outdoor areas - that was in effect during its November lockdown, and allow unlicensed cafes to reopen while keeping pubs closed.

One idea is for pubs to be permitted to sell takeaway pints from April before fully reopening in May, the Sun reported.

The PM also tasked officials with 'simplifying' the rules for pubs, paving the way for the 10pm curfew to be ditched along with the requirement to order a 'substantial meal' with food.

A Government source said: 'As the pandemic has changed in the past year we have always tried to adapt the rules to make them more effective and easier to understand. As we look to cautiously unlock, we will seek to do the same again.'

Another source added: 'There is a hope to not get bogged down in 'scotch egg-gate' again, by effectively simplifying the rules to avoid confusion.'

Limiting indoor mixing is expected to be central to the Government's strategy and venues will be encouraged to promote al fresco dining.

Landlords are desperate to welcome back customers after months shuttered during the crisis.

Pubs have had to throw away up to 87million pints of beer since the start of the pandemic, an industry body claimed.

The British Beer and Pub Association said the waste was equal to 331million in sales, and warned of job losses without more Government support.

Weddings

Meanwhile experts have reviewed advice for weddings for the summer, with some suggesting postponing them.

The Guides for Brides website suggests postponing your wedding this year, especially if you do not want to get married under tight restrictions.

It warns those looking to get hitched in the first few months of 2021 'are likely facing the reality that it will not be the day you have dreamed of'.

But the website said people should check all their options before they decide to cancel the event.

It adds: 'Many are also choosing to move their larger celebrations until they are safe to go ahead.

'This way they can properly celebrate their marriage with their wider friends and family. This approach is known as a sequel wedding.'

The UK Weddings Taskforce, which is negotiating with the government over ceremonies this year, called for clarity from ministers on when they can resume.

A newsletter from the body said a clear roadmap for the resumption of weddings was needed from Downing Street.

It is also lobbying the government to provide a financial support package for wedding businesses to help the industry survive the pandemic.

Wedding planner Holly Poulter also supported the idea of moving a 2021 wedding to 2022.

She told Hello: 'It's a really personal decision since, for many, waiting another two years to tie the knot is just too far off. But for those in no rush, it's worth considering.

'Pushing it all back to 2022 will open up more availability for your suppliers, your guests, and you get to spend all of 2021 chilling, because you'll be the most prepared couple ever.'

Many venues are asking their customers to pay more to move date, sometimes due to the new date being more popular - for example, summer and weekend dates.

Henrietta Dunkley, associate solicitor at Ellis Jones Solicitors, said: 'The venue may well be taking this approach because at the moment it is hoped that weddings will be able to take place in September 2021.

'This is based on the Prime Minister's recent comments to the wedding industry that couples should ''plan with confidence'' because we should be in ''different world'' by summer 2021.

'The coronavirus pandemic has not yet affected weddings in September 2021 and so the venue are entitled to treat your contract with them as such.

'It is generally normal for wedding venues to increase their prices slightly each year, but they cannot just hike up prices unreasonably.'

Experts have reviewed advice for weddings for the summer, with some suggesting postponing them. Pictured: A wedding in Northumberland last year

She added it is worth checking the contract in place with the venue to determine whether there is a contractual entitlement to increase the price of a wedding in certain circumstances.

Whether the new price is unreasonable will likely depend on the terms of the contract and how much the original price has increased by.

Adam French, consumer expert at Which?, added: 'You shouldn't have to pay more if the rescheduled wedding is a comparable date and service.

'If you can't agree on a new date, they are entitled to a refund providing the wedding can't go ahead as initially planned, according to the Competition and Markets Authority's guidance.'

The CMA has set up a taskforce to investigate harmful pricing practices during the pandemic and has created a form that consumers can complete if they feel a business has treated them unfairly.

It comes as consumer spending in the retail sector slid in January as the latest national lockdown hammered shops across the UK, according to new figures.

The BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor for the month showed a slump in total sales, while a separate report from Barclaycard has revealed the sharpest fall in consumer spending since May.

Prices soar in wealthy staycation hotspots Prices are soaring for staycation locations as rich Britons look to cash in on the best trip at home money can buy. One that might just catch their eye is a two-week break for a family of four  at a mere 600,000. Among the enviable holidays on offer is a tour of Scotland on board the privately chartered luxury train the Belmond Royal Scotsman, which comprises nine en suite carriages and a spa. The tour, offered by travel firm Abercrombie & Kent, includes excursions such as seats in the royal box at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in August (if it goes ahead); the chance to 'brush shoulders with the Queen' at the Braemar Gathering (again, if it is held) and VIP access to golf courses graced by celebrities, including Carnoustie and St Andrews' Old Course. The tour is followed by seven days on the Glamis Castle estate, home of the late Queen Mother and the setting for Macbeth. The stay comes with a programme of country pursuits, a tennis session with Sir Andy Murray and mini-versions of West End shows, performed by original cast members. The cost is 'from 600,000' for a family of four. Meanwhile, the Oetker Collection markets a range of 'the most fabulous private homes and castles', with hosts such as James Middleton, brother of the Duchess of Cambridge, who works at the Glen Affric estate in Inverness-shire. Oetker can put you and your party of up to 20 in all-inclusive luxury at Glen Affric for 35,000 a week. Activities include kayaking, shooting and a ceilidh. Mr Middleton, 33, is billed as 'a charming host who will delight in helping you make the most of these magical destinations'. But people with significant sums to spend on such vacations will have to book soon to avoid disappointment  some firms are warning that availability for some bespoke luxury holidays is 'very tight'. Advertisement

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) revealed that total retail sales fell by 1.3 per cent in January as rapid online growth failed to entirely offset the plunge in store sales.

Over the three months to January, sales of non-food items in stores dived by 36.5 per cent as retailers were heavily impacted by the January lockdown.

Total non-food sales were 5.6 per cent lower for the period as online clothing and homeware sales only partially offset closures.

Meanwhile, food sales jumped by 7.9 per cent for the three-month period as grocery stores remained open to shoppers.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: 'January saw retail sales growth decline to its lowest level since May of last year.

'The current lockdown has hit non-essential retailers harder than in November, with the new variant hampering consumer confidence and leading customers to hold back on spending - especially on clothing and footwear.

'Meanwhile, retailers have worked incredibly hard to expand their online delivery and click and collect offerings to ensure everyone can get the products they need during lockdown.

'This has led to record growth for online non-food sales and is a testament to the resilience and innovation of retail, which in the face of the pandemic, has rapidly adapted and invested in online platforms and delivery logistics.'

Paul Martin, UK head of retail at KPMG, said: 'Computing was the hot category and saw triple figure growth online as schools closed and parents rushed to purchase laptops and printers.

'Meanwhile, clothing retailers continued to struggle with physical sales down across all categories.'

A separate report by Barclaycard revealed that consumer spending slumped by 16.3 per cent in January, representing the sharpest decline since May in the face of the latest lockdown.

The analysis of credit and debit card spending showed that shoppers spent almost-a-quarter less on non-essential items against the same period last year amid store closures.

Not-essential spending in January fell by 24.2 per cent, with department store retailers witnessing a 36.8 per cent sales slump while clothing sales were 25 per cent lower.

Meanwhile, the report said that sales of essential items grew 3.9 per cent as high demand for home deliveries sparked a 126.8 per cent surge in online grocery spending.

Shoppers spent significantly less booking holidays in January, with a 87.2 per cent fall in travel agent sales with airlines reporting an 81.6 per cent fall amid travel restrictions.

Raheel Ahmed, head of consumer products at Barclaycard, said: 'As the impact of the latest lockdown start to take its toll, we've seen particular sectors struggle, as physical premises across the UK were forced to close.

'Last month's glimmer of hope for the travel sector also seems to have stalled as tougher border controls saw bookings drop.

'Yet, on a more positive note, we have seen a surge in many online categories as the demand for home deliveries continues to rise.'

Social events

Another industry to have been battered by the pandemic is that of events and festivals.

A swathe of popular events have already been cancelled this year - such as Glastonbury - and others are unsure of how or if they will go ahead.

For live shows such as festivals and sports, crowds play a large part - contributing to the atmosphere and bringing in cash for companies.

There are plans in motion by many organisations to keep their gatherings going in some form this year no matter the restrictions on movement.

Wimbledon has said it will still hold the championships but is expecting it to have to be with a reduced-capacity crowd.

A statement said: 'Our aspiration is to stage the best Championships possible - a trusted, best practice, safe event - with the health and safety of all guests, staff and competitors remaining our highest priority.

'With five months remaining until the Championships, we are continuing to develop our detailed scenario planning and work closely with the relevant government and public health authorities to keep abreast of the latest developments in the fight against coronavirus.

'The majority of our planning focus is currently centred on the option of a reduced-capacity Championships and how that would affect each stakeholder group, but we are not yet in a position to rule out any of the other scenarios.'

Another industry to have been battered by the pandemic is that of events and festivals. Pictured: The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012

Meanwhile Notting Hill Carnival, which attracts throngs of people to the upmarket west London street, said there will be efforts to try to run Europe's biggest street party 'in some way' this year.

Matthew Phillip, chief executive of Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, said social distancing would be 'devastating' for the event.

Mr Phillip told MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which is looking at the cultural and economic impact on the UK's music festivals: 'For Carnival weekend specifically, it would pose a very big problem.

'It would be very difficult to hold Carnival in its traditional format on the streets with social distancing in place. It would be devastating for a second year in a row.'

Asked if it would mean cancellation of the August event in west London, Mr Phillip said 'yes' - but added efforts would be made to try and run it in some way.

He added: 'It would not take place in its traditional format. We would always hope to do something.

'Carnival means too much to too many people for us to simply ignore it so we would always try to find a way of celebrating Carnival for its artistry and what it means to the community.'

Another event under threat is the Chelsea Flower Show, with its normally colourful delights of late spring, set to turn brown as it moves to the autumn months.

For the first time in its 109-year history, the event will take place later in the year  meaning the vibrant displays of mid-May will be replaced by the more mellow tones of the fall.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) announced last month the show, in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, has been moved from May 18-23 to September 21-26.

Last year the event had to be scrapped completely because of coronavirus, with a virtual show staged online.

RHS director general Sue Biggs said: 'In these challenging times, we have always followed Government advice and made difficult, responsible decisions with the health and safety of people our key concern.

'Whilst we are sad to have had to delay RHS Chelsea, and are sorry for the disruption this will cause, we are excited that we are still planning to bring the world's best-loved gardening event to the nation.'

And the organiser of the Henley Royal Regatta and Henley Festival in Oxfordshire said she is planning for the popular five-day boat racing event at the end of June to be 'near normal' this year.

Jo Bausor said they are due to revise their decision on the event at the end of February or start of March depending on government guidance.

She told the Henley Standard: 'We definitely will have an event this year, no matter what. At the moment we're still planning for a near normal event, as much as we can.

'This does depend on the regatta and what they decide to do. We're working very closely with them and have a very good and productive relationship.'

The event usually attracts about 6,000 people but may have to reduce capacity due to social distancing.

She added: 'It wouldn't be the full festival but it would have all the artists and all the bits everybody knows and loves.'

Industry insiders say a festival season is 'still possible' this year despite the cancellation of Glastonbury due to Covid.

The chief executive of the Association of Independent Festivals, Paul Reed, said the UK's largest festival was a 'different beast' and its cancellation did not mean other smaller events could not go ahead.

But he said there is only hope for smaller events if the Government ensures organisers of music events can access insurance to protect against losses as a result of Covid.

Last month, Glastonbury organisers announced the 2021 festival was cancelled because of the pandemic.

The music festival's co-organiser, Michael Eavis - who curates the lineup with his daughter Emily - said he was 'so sorry' to have to cancel the event for the second year in a row.

Most live music events, including Glastonbury, were wiped out last summer by the pandemic.

A recent study warned without state support, Britain's 1.3billion live music industry is heading for another summer washout.

But Mr Reed believed with the right help from ministers, smaller festivals could still go ahead.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast he said: 'I will say about Glastonbury that it is a different beast to most festivals and most likely ran out of time due to the size and complexity of the event.

'For most festivals the cut-off point is more likely the end of March.'

He said we are at a 'serious point in the pandemic and festivals only want to return when it is safe to do so'.

'This is devastating news about Glastonbury, not least for the amount of staff and freelancers and companies involved in delivering the event, but a festival season is still possible for this year if Government act now on insurance.'

He added festivals are currently struggling to get insurance for coronavirus-related cancellations.

'We do need Government to intervene in this issue,' he said.

Edinburgh's festivals face a similar threat, according to bosses who warned it is not a 'foregone conclusion' events will bounce back.

Director of umbrella body Festivals Edinburgh, Julia Amour, said companies which have done 'well out of the pandemic' should step in to help Edinburgh retain its leading culture claim.

Edinburgh's festivals have experienced huge growth in modern times, attracting a record 4.4 million overall attendance in 2019 and generating more than 300m.

Edinburgh's festivals have experienced huge growth in modern times, attracting a record 4.4 million overall attendance in 2019 and generating more than 300million

But heritage groups want a total rethink on how they are staged in the future to reduce their impact on the fabric of the city and cut their carbon footprint.

Ms Amour said new funding would need to be found if growing criticism about their impact on the city was to be tackled.

She said there was an 'economic conundrum' over how to ensure more people living in Edinburgh were able to attend the festivals as well as spread events out more around the city and across the calendar.

Speaking at an online conference hosted by the Cockburn Association heritage group, Ms Amour said: 'We must make sure our festivals continue to feel authentically of our city.

'But we are also an international city and a capital city. That dimension of what the festivals bring to our city is something we need to look carefully at this very perilous moment.

'It is not a foregone conclusion that Edinburgh will be able to hang on to what we most value about our festivals.

'We're proud as festivals to be deeply international in spirit, but first and foremost we want to belong to the city.

'We should not lose sight of the fact that two thirds of people in the city do take part and do see the festivals as belonging to them.

'Yet, at the same time, one third of the population don't access them.

'There is an economic conundrum at the moment and if we are to get what we want, we will have to solve that conundrum.

'People are taking their own risks and putting their own money up to come here.

'People ask why they are so concentrated in the city centre and why they are on at the same time in the year.

'It's because it is a big industry event as well as a big audience event. People need to be there when programmers from other festivals are there.

'That's one of the benefits. But at the same time it makes it very fragile and very difficult.'

A Government spokesman said: 'We are in regular dialogue with public health experts to agree a realistic return date for festivals and other large events.

'Once we are confident we have this, we will be working with organisers to unlock the barriers they face to restarting - including challenges getting insurance.

'Yesterday's decision by the festival organisers reflects the sad fact that the public health outlook did not make it likely 200,000 people could be together without social distancing measures in just a few months' time.

'We are continuing to help festivals with the 1.5 billion Culture Recovery Fund, with many already receiving this support.'

Mr Hancock yesterday claimed Britain is 'turning a corner in our battle against coronavirus' as daily deaths plunged to a six-week low and cases continued to fall.

Department of Health figures show another 333 Covid victims were recorded yesterday, the lowest 24-hour toll since December 27 and a drop of 18 per cent on the 406 last Monday.

Another 14,104 infections were also added to the official tally. The daily figure has dropped by a quarter week-on-week, with yesterday's number lower than at any time since December 8.

Analysis shows infection rates are lower than at any time since before Christmas in all four nations of the UK.

Despite revealing the second wave was shrinking, the Health Secretary warned the number of infected patients in hospital and daily deaths were both still 'far too high'.

Almost 30,000 NHS hospital beds are currently taken up by Covid patients  50 per cent higher than the worst days of the first wave last spring but down from 40,000 at the peak of the second wave in January.

Praising the success of lockdown in tonight's Downing Street press conference, he said: 'We are turning a corner in our battle against coronavirus, the vaccine rollout is going well, and if you are aged 70 or over and haven't been contacted yet please get in touch now.

'And all the time we must be vigilant and do what it takes to tackle any new variants that arise. For now, the most important thing that you can do is get the jab when the time comes, stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.'

While the big picture shows infections are falling in most parts of the country, the decline is slow and positive tests were still rising in 17 areas in the week ending February 3.

One of those areas was Rutland in the Midlands, where new infections more than doubled from 180 per 100,000 people to 386.

And in another glimmer of hope that Britain could be freed from lockdown restrictions within weeks, another 278,988 people got their first dose of a vaccine yesterday.

Despite being one of the slowest days of the rollout so far, it means 12.3million Britons have now been immunised.

It comes after Boris Johnson yesterday refused to rule out longer restrictions if the mutated strain  which Oxford University said could worsen how well its vaccine works  can't be kept under control in Britain. An alarming study found the British-made jab had 'minimal effect' in preventing mild disease caused by the strain.

Mr Hancock also said yesterday all over-70s in England who haven't yet had a Covid vaccine should book their own online.

He claimed take-up of the vaccines has so far been 'significantly better than we hoped for' but said No10 would do everything it could to ensure everyone gets jabbed.

As England's national lockdown enters its second month and the virus continues to fade, an analysis by the Press Association shows that infection rates in all four countries of the UK are now at pre-Christmas lows.

In England, the average infection rate was at 222 positive tests per 100,000 people for the week ending February 3, which was the lowest since 221 per 100,000 in the week to December 13.

Wales saw its rate drop to 122, lower than at any time since before November and a fraction of the 649 per 100,000 it saw at December's peak.

In Scotland the rate dropped to 123 per 100,000, down from 144 a week earlier and lowest since December 20, when it was 121.

Northern Ireland's infection rate fell to 178 per 100,000 which was its lowest positive test rate since 177 in the week up to December 15.
[February 09, 2021] Justo Announces USD $65 Million Investment Led by General Atlantic, Marking Largest Series A Raised in Latin America1

Justo (or "the Company"), a leading online grocer in Mexico, today announced it has raised a USD $65 million Series A investment led by General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm, with participation from existing investors including Foundation Capital and Mountain Nazca. The growth investment marks the largest Series A round raised in Latin America2 and will support Justo's future strategic initiatives, including the expansion of the Company's geographic footprint across Mexico and Latin America, the enhancement of its last-mile logistics infrastructure, marketing initiatives, and additional working capital needs. Justo was founded in 2019 by CEO Ricardo Weder as one of Mexico's first vertically-integrated, online grocery platforms with no physical store presence. Over the past 18 months, Justo has developed into an emerging leader in the transformation of the digitally-enabled online grocery experience, powered by its cutting-edge technology and seamless purchasing platform. The business experienced significant acceleration over the course of 2020, with 16x revenue growth and positive traction across user retention, frequency, and average order value. With this growth investment, Justo will focus on accelerating its next phase of growth as it aims to disrupt the existing grocery ecosystem in Latin America, a market that represents a USD $325 billion opportunity. Justo, which translates to "fair" in Spanish, is committed to providing high-quality products, fair practices, and new distribution avenues to suppliers, as well as competitive prices, lower transaction costs, and improved convenience to consumers by eliminating intermediaries in the supply chain. "Our mission at Justo is to become Latin America's favorite supermarket within the next decade. We strongly believe that this vision, combined with our expertise in technology, logistics, and customer service, will lead to an even more seamless, more affordable online shopping experience for our consumers," said Ricardo Weder, Founder & CEO, Justo. "We are beyond thrilled to take our vision to the next level alongside General Atlantic and look forward to harnessing the firm's global resources and expertise in consumer businesses and technological enablement to aid Justo in meeting the rapidly-growing demand for our services." Mr. Weder brings strategic and digital expertise, having previously served as President of Cabify, a leading ride-hailing platform in Spain and Latin America, where he led its operations and expansion efforts. Mr. Weder has prioritized fostering a socially and environmentally responsible culture t Justo, as demonstrated by the Company's efforts to develop fair trade agreements with its suppliers; leverage AI to forecast demand, create efficiencies, and reduce food waste at its micro-fulfillment centers; and reduce single-use plastic from packaging. Justo also contributes to its communities by offering a high-quality, broad offering of products from both large consumer products companies, as well as from smaller local producers - helping to strengthen the economic activity of rural and semi-rural communities - at competitive and fair prices.



"Mexico is at an inflection point in its transition to a digital economy, and we see Justo as leading the way in the high-growth online grocery space with its technology-centric, mission-driven approach," said Luis Cervantes, Managing Director and Head of Mexico City, General Atlantic. "Under Ricardo's leadership, we believe Justo is positioned for significant expansion as it disrupts and transforms the legacy grocery value chain." "In the time since its establishment, the Justo model has quickly resonated with consumers, who are looking for new ways to buy groceries digitally, as well as with suppliers, who are seeking more direct engagement within the ecosystem," added Martin Escobari, Co-President, Managing Director and Head of Latin America, General Atlantic. "We look forward to leveraging our deep expertise in helping businesses scale across Latin America in support of Justo's next chapter of growth."

As part of the transaction, Luis Cervantes and Zeev Thepris, Vice President at General Atlantic, will join Justo's Board of Directors. Justo marks General Atlantic's fifth investment in Mexico since 2014, when it first entered the country. Since then, General Atlantic has invested nearly USD $1 billion in high-growth Mexican companies. Since its inception in 2019, Justo has raised more than USD $100 million, including a $27 million Seed Round last year led by Foundation Capital, alongside Mountain Nazca and with participation from FEMSA Ventures, S7V, Elevar Equity, Bimbo Ventures, Quiet Capital, Sweet Capital, H2O Capital, and SV LatAm Capital, among others. Additional terms of the transaction were not disclosed. About Justo

Justo is working to improve the lives of Mexicans and Latin Americans by providing them with a new generation of supermarkets. Justo designs, develops, and deploys the technology to support different processes within the company, from assortment and inventory management, to operations and logistics. Justo's business model is fully online-without physical stores-and delivers directly to the customer's home. Justo saves its customers time and money. It also guarantees 100% fulfillment of orders, as well as a commitment to deliver the freshest fruits, vegetables, meats, and seafood. Justo offers a vast catalogue of products, both from top brands and local producers, all at competitive prices. Justo is building a more just and sustainable grocery model, empowering small and medium producers by giving them access to sell their products online. It also supports suppliers in establishing distribution processes and negotiating fair trade agreements for all parties. Learn more at www.justo.mx ( Facebook (News - Alert) & Instagram: @justomx). About General Atlantic

General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm providing capital and strategic support for growth companies. Established in 1980, General Atlantic combines a collaborative global approach, sector specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with great entrepreneurs and management teams to build market-leading businesses worldwide. General Atlantic has more than 175 investment professionals based in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Greenwich, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Munich, Palo Alto (News - Alert) , Sao Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore. For more information on General Atlantic, please visit the website: www.generalatlantic.com. _______________

1 Source (News - Alert) : Pitchbook. Includes Series A raised in Latin America in the past decade (January 2011 to January 2021) by a technology company.

2 Ibid View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005332/en/

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The National Elections Commission, (NEC) says it has received a notification from the Honorable House of Representatives for a vacancy in the 54th National Legislature. A release from the NEC today Monday, 8 February 2021 says the communication from the House of Representatives was received on Thursday, 4 February 2021.

According to the NEC, the communication from the House of Representative informs the Commission that the vacancy is created as the result of the Election to the Liberian Senate of Bong County district number two Representative Prince K. Moye.

The NEC release quotes the letter of the House of Representatives signed by Chief Clerk Mildred N. Sayon as authorizing the NEC to work out the necessary modalities and mechanisms for the holding of a by Election in Bong County.

Article 37 of the Liberian Constitution says, in the event of a vacancy in the legislature caused by death, resignation, expulsion or otherwise, the presiding officer shall within 30 days notify the NEC thereof. The NEC shall not later than 90 days thereafter cause a by-election to be held; provided where such vacancy occurs within 90 days prior to the holding of general elections, the filling of the vacancy shall await the holding of such elections.

According to the letter from the House of Representatives, the National Elections Commission is requested therefore to work out the necessary modalities and mechanisms for the holding of a by-election within 90 days to fill the vacancy.
THE country has yet again been plunged into mourning following the death of liberation war hero Lieutenant General (Retired) Douglas Nyikayaramba with President Mnangagwa saying the void he has left will be hard to fill.

Cde Nyikayaramba succumbed to Covid-19 related complications at a local hospital. He was 64.

At the time of his death, Lt Gen Nyikayaramba was Zimbabwes top envoy to Mozambique and his demise follows that of another diplomat  the late Cde Jethro Ndlovu  who was the countrys Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The death of the decorated military commander also comes a few weeks after the country lost several liberation war stalwarts in the mould of Dr Sibusiso Moyo, Cde Paradzai Zimondi, Engineer Joel Biggie Matiza, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba and Major General Collins Moyo in the month of January.

In his statement, the President said the country has lost a veteran of the armed liberation struggle and a revolutionary.

The news of the untimely death this morning (yesterday) of our Ambassador to Mozambique, Lieutenant General (Retired) Douglas Nyikayaramba, at St Annes Hospital in Harare, comes as a great shock to me. When we got to know that he had been admitted to hospital, our hopes and expectations were for his speedy recovery and return to station to Mozambique at the end of his vacation here at home. Regrettably, that was not to be as he succumbed to Covid-19 related complications.

In the passing on of Lieutenant General Nyikayaramba, Zimbabwe has lost a veteran of the armed liberation struggle, a strong revolutionary cadre who continued to serve his country after independence with utmost loyalty, dedication and commitment to promoting and safeguarding the countrys territorial and national interests.

His track record in the military speaks volumes about the strong leadership qualities he had which resulted in his meteoric rise to the rank of Lieutenant General, the position he held when he retired from the army in 2019. His military achievements are a matter of record and too numerous to mention. The honours, titles and decorations that were bestowed on him in the course of his military service crown it all, the President said.

As a soldier, the late Ambassador distinguished himself, receiving during the course of his illustrious military career numerous accolades such as the Zimbabwe Liberation Medal, Zimbabwe Independence Medal, Commander of the Most Meritorious Order of Mohlomi.

He also received a medal for Long and Exemplary Service, and for the Mozambique and Democratic Republic of Congo Campaign as well as the Grand Officer of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit.

During his service in the army he was appointed to several posts in the military that included being the chairman of the Promotions and Appointments of Lieutenant Colonels Board, chairman of Army Schools Welfare Time and Management Committee, chairman Tsenga Lodge Convalescent Centre Finance Committee, chairman ZNA Computer Steering Committee.

From 2012 to 2015 he was appointed to the chairmanship of the ZNA Dress Advisory Committee, Army Projects and from 2015 to 2017 he was the chairman of Promotions and Appointments of Colonels Board B, vice chairman Zimbabwe Defence Forces Benefit Fund (ZDFBF), and during the same time was a member of the ZNA Promotions and Appointments for Brigadier Generals Board.

Ambassador Nyikayarambas death has created a deep void which will be difficult to fill, notably, among his family foremost, our foreign services where he was a remarkable ambassador, in the military where he served with distinction and honour, and in civilian portfolios where he chaired several boards, the President added.

Apart from serving in the military, Cde Nyikayaramba was also appointed to civilian posts that included in 1995-1996 being the chairman of the Troika Strategy Planning Group (South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe) on the Lesotho crisis.

In 2000 he was appointed chairman of the Noczim logistics Committee Fuel Task Force and from 2002 to 2003 he was a member of the Sadc Election Commission Forum.

From 2002 to 2004 Cde Nyikayaramba was Chief Election Officer to the Electoral Supervisory Commission From 2005 to 2009, he was the chairman of the board of directors of the National Railways of Zimbabwe.

He was also instrumental in the food security cluster as the chairman of the Logistics Sub-Committee to the National Food Security Programme from 2008-2009.

Cde Nyikayaramba was also, from 2010-2013 the chairman of Board of Directors for Global Platinum Resources and in 2011 he was a member of the Thematic Constitution Parliamentary Committee (Copac) that authored the countrys Constitution.

On behalf of the party, Zanu-PF, Government, the people of Zimbabwe, my family and indeed on my behalf, I wish to convey my sincere condolences to the Nyikayaramba family, especially to his wife and children, who have lost a dear husband, father and mentor. May they take comfort from the knowledge that we are together with them during their darkest hour of grief, the President said.

Cde Nyikayaramba was appointed to become the countrys top envoy to Mozambique in July 2019 and prior to that he was a Major-General responsible for Administration in the Zimbabwe National Army.

During his spell as Ambassador to Mozambique, Cde Nyikayaramba played a key role in ensuring the smooth movement of grain imports from Mozambican ports into the country.

And in line with President Mnangagwas engagement and re-engagement thrust, Cde Nyikayaramba was also pursuing transactional diplomacy to boost the countrys economy.

He continued to source investors for Zimbabwe and sought opportunities for companies to explore opportunities in Mozambique, in line with the Second Republics demand for economic diplomacy to turn-around the countrys economic fortunes so as to create jobs and improve the peoples standards of living.

Ambassador Nyikayaramba, who hailed from Mutoko and left the comfort of his home at the age of 14 to join the liberation struggle distinguished himself as a military commander par-excellence and a patriot during his service to the nation in a period spanning over five decades. Herald
Police respond to reports of gunfire at the Essex Skyline complex in Santa Ana, Calif., on Sept. 2, 2020. (Jack Bradley/The Epoch Times)

Three Men Arrested in Connection with Suspected Gang Killing

Gang violence is continuing to take a toll on Santa Ana, where police are investigating the death of a 23-year-old man shot dead in his gray BMW.

Obviously we have a gang problem, said Santa Ana Police spokesman Sgt. Anthony Bertagna.

In any shooting, especially when people are driving down the road and people are shooting, [theres] a concern that innocent bystanders can get hit.

The latest killing happened Feb. 6, where police said Nick Torres was shot dead at Bear Street and MacArthur Boulevard about 9:12 p.m. A female passenger in his BMW was uninjured.

According to a police report, a witness saw a green SUV traveling eastbound on MacArthur Boulevard accelerate next to the gray BMW, and heard three to five gunshots before watching the green SUV drive away.

Another witness reported hearing five gunshots and seeing a green SUV speed southbound on Bear Street.

I dont know what led to this shooting, Bertagna said. I believe there was an altercation between these two individuals, so it wasnt a random target, but what led to that, I dont know.

Responding patrol officers spotted a green Chevy Trailblazer traveling northbound on Harbor Boulevard, and after pulling the SUV over, arrested the three men inside.

The witnesses who saw an SUV fleeing the scene confirmed the identity of the SUV as the one they witnessed.

Homicide detectives arrested and charged three men for murder, assault with firearm on person, and other gang-related charges.

The suspects22-year-old Alfredo Ivan Pulido, 21-year-old Leonel Diaz, and 21-year-old Jason Garciaare all from Santa Ana.

Police believe the shooting was gang related.

Gang violence is nothing new for Santa Ana, which has already seen three to four gang-related homicides this year, according to Bertagna.

Were always trying to control the problem, but the focus is through our directed control units; our metropolitan division is concentrating on the gang issue, and guns, Bertagna said. So, its something that were focused on and have been for a while.

This most recent gang shooting occurred shortly after the Orange County District Attorneys Office extradited a gang member from Guatemala who was convicted of attempted murder in a 1994 attack.

Scott Sittler, the victim, died from his injuries in 2009, about 15 years after the shooting, which led to years of a multi-agency collaboration to extradite Giovanny Edgar Sanchez, one of the gang members involved, back to the United States to face an upgraded murder charge.

Sanchez was escorted back to Orange County on Feb. 2 by the FBIs fugitive task force in Orange County. He is being held without bail at the Theo Lacy Facility in Santa Ana and is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 21.

The pursuit of justice never ends, Todd Spitzer, Orange County District Attorney said in a prepared statement. No matter how long it takes or how far we have to go, we will never give up on holding someone accountable for killing another human being. My investigators and prosecutors have worked tirelessly to bring this final suspect back to the United States to have his day in court and that day is finally here. The long arm of the law will always catch up with you.
On a recent weekend away from the partisan rancor in Congress, Rep. John Katko received a call from an unknown number while taking his dog for a walk in the woods.

To his surprise, the unexpected caller was Rep. Lou Correa, a California Democrat, whose party holds a slim majority in the House.

Correa, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, had a simple message not often heard from opposing party members in Washington: He wants to work with Katko, the committees top Republican, to get things done in the new Congress.

Katko, R-Camillus, said Correa is among a growing number of Democrats and Republicans who are poised to emerge as a bipartisan force in the 117th Congress, where neither party has a convincing majority.

A lot of moderate Democrats feel the same way I feel, Katko said. It shouldnt be party first. It should be about getting things done first.

Katko has spent six years in the House preaching bipartisanship, with little to show for it on a national stage. Now, as Republicans cede control of the Senate and the White House, GOP leaders need people like him who have demonstrated they can work across the aisle.

Even though he broke ranks to impeach a Republican president last month, House GOP leaders have promoted Katko to top leadership posts this year, hoping he can get something done in a Congress where moderates from both parties are likely to emerge as decisive votes.

Some say Katkos vote to impeach Donald Trump on Jan. 13 showed hes willing to do more than just talk about bucking his own party when it really matters.

The fact that (Katko) has voted to impeach the president means that people on the Democratic side will be looking to work with him, said Bruce Bond, co-founder and CEO of the Common Ground Committee, a group that promotes bipartisanship in Congress.

He has demonstrated that hes not afraid to take a position thats contrary to that of the party, Bond said. It means on some issues hell be voting on what he thinks is the right thing to do. I think he will be courted from both sides as someone they will want to work with.

In the new Congress, Katko will chair the 30-plus member Republican Governance Group, a caucus of moderate GOP House members who call themselves the governing wing of the Republican Party.

The caucus is a stark contrast to the larger and louder House Freedom Caucus, a group of about 45 conservative Republicans who have forced government shutdowns and blocked deals on key issues such as immigration reform.

Katko said his GOP caucus is ready to flex some new muscle this year as a voting bloc within the party and with Democrats.

Were not going to hold our party hostage, but were going to impress upon our party that the moderate wing of the Republican Party is the only way to get the majority back, Katko said.

We are a force that has to be listened to, Katko said. Were going to make our positions loud and clear to our party and the other side.

For now, Democrats hold a razor-thin 221-211 advantage in the House, which has three vacant seats. That means Democrats will have to reach out for Republican support on big, controversial votes if they cant hold their conference together.

When you have a narrow majority, the middle becomes far more important, Katko said. The majority can only afford to lose a few more votes. That makes our vote much more important.

Moderates from both parties are feeling emboldened after they broke a logjam in negotiations over the last coronavirus pandemic relief package passed by Congress on Dec. 22.

The framework for the $900 billion bill came from the Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of moderate lawmakers evenly split among Democrats and Republicans.

Katko is among 56 members (28 Democrats and 28 Republicans) in the Problem Solvers Caucus this year. The group added 16 new members in January, including Correa, the California Democrat who reached out to Katko.

Over the past two years, Katko often found himself aligned in the caucus with a Democrat from a neighboring district in Central New York, Anthony Brindisi of Utica.

Brindisi conceded the 22nd Congressional District election on Monday to Republican Claudia Tenney of New Hartford after a three-month battle over disputed absentee and affidavit ballots.

Brindisi said he believes the Problem Solvers Caucus and Katko are poised to play their biggest leadership roles yet in the House.

He said the caucus could help push through long-delayed deals to rebuild the nations infrastructure and pass sweeping immigration reforms.

Bipartisanship has a shot in the 117th Congress, Brindisi said. You have growing ranks in the House with the Problem Solvers. I think bipartisanship remains popular with people  maybe not in the Twitter world  but certainly in the real world.

Brindisi, who co-chaired the Blue Dog Caucus of fiscally conservative Democrats, said compromise also means that House members have to stand up to the extremes of their own parties.

You have the extremes on both sides, Brindisi said. I would argue the problem with politics today isnt Republicans versus Democrats. Its the extremes versus people in the middle. Sometimes I got more grief from people within my party than I did from anyone else.

Indeed, Katko is now trying to weather the biggest pushback yet from his own party after he was among only 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for inciting an insurrection Jan. 6 at the U.S Capitol in which five people died.

Republican Party leaders in Cayuga and Oswego counties have voiced disappointment with Katko over the vote.

Katkos vote also may endanger his support from the Conservative Party of New York, which endorsed him in his four previous elections.

There are some people who are real Trump followers who are upset with me, Katko said. Were not always going to agree on everything. I understand people are all over the map with this one.

So far, though, Republican leaders in Congress have stuck beside Katko. He was promoted this year to a leadership position as a deputy whip of the Republican conference.

In that post, he meets several times a week with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House GOP Whip Steve Scalise, the No. 2-ranking Republican.

For better or worse, they look at me as a reasonable person who wants to get things done, Katko said.

Katko also was rewarded for his work last month when the GOP leaders appointed him to a leadership role as the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee.

The appointment means Katko is poised to become committee chairman if Republicans gain control of the House in the 2022 mid-term election.

Bond, of the Common Ground Committee, said Katko could emerge as a power broker this year if he is able to successfully push through sweeping reforms in a closely divided House.

Katko already had the credentials to back up his rhetoric, Bond said. He tied for third out of 435 House members ranked by the Common Ground Scorecard last year for their bipartisan work. (Brindisi tied for No. 1 in the ranking.)

They are the ones who will be able to swing legislation one way or the other, Bond said. In the House and Senate, the numbers are so close they will have to work with the other side.

The degree to which Katko and moderate lawmakers increase their influence will depend on how willing they are to work together on big issues, said Dan Diller, policy director at The Lugar Center, a nonprofit in Washington that promotes bipartisan governance.

It depends on their own unity and the frequency that they can work together, Diller said. The problem wont be trying to find issues they can influence. I think once you have success people will recognize that.

The Lugar Center and Georgetown Universitys McCourt School of Public Policy teamed up for a study last year that ranked every member of Congress on their willingness to work across party lines. Katko ranked second in the nation.

Diller, a former deputy staff director on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the groups studies have found bipartisanship last peaked in the late 1990s during President Bill Clintons administration.

Key legislation overhauling family leave and campaign finance laws passed in the 1990s only because of bipartisan support.

The Problem Solvers Caucus sees a similar opportunity this year to broker big deals. The group has identified 11 key issues that it wants to solve over the next two years.

One early priority for the Problem Solvers and President Joe Biden is an infrastructure bill.

Biden and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., have promised to take up a $1 trillion bill to rebuild the nations roads, highways, bridges, and pipelines.

Katko is among those pushing for a bipartisan bill, especially since it would help pay for a $2 billion plan to tear down Interstate 81 in Syracuse and replace the elevated highway with a street-level boulevard.

Schumer has also proposed spending $10 billion specifically to help demolish urban highways like I-81 that adversely affected low-income minority communities.

The Problem Solvers Caucus says its other top priorities this year include a new Covid relief bill, immigration reforms, broadband expansion, help for small businesses, stabilizing health care costs, police reform and addressing climate change.

The list may look daunting. But Katko said solving those problems shouldnt be complicated.

Its not rocket science, Katko said. Its all about working together.

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Chennai, Feb 9 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E.K. Palaniswami on Tuesday said that DMK President M.K. Stalin will never open the box in which he is collecting petitions from the public as his dream of coming to power in the state will not come true.

Addressing a series of meetings in Ranipet district, he slammed the leader of opposition for criticising the AIADMK government and challenged him for an open debate on its performance.

Referring to Stalin receiving petitions/complaints from people during his public meetings, the Chief Minister said: "The DMK chief is collecting petitions. He says he has been keeping them in a sealed box and will open them after coming to power. He can never open the box because his dream of coming to power will remain only a dream." The AIADMK leader addressed a gathering of women's groups at Kainur in Arakkonam. He also addressed meetings of party cadres at Sholingur and a public meeting at Muthukadai Bus Stand.

The Chief Minister targeted Stalin over his allegation that the government has not delivered. "He is saying this because he is unaware of what we have delivered. We are advertising what we have done. It is meant to make Stalin and his party men know our achievements," he said, slamming the DMK leader for questioning the advertisements released by the state government.

Palaniswami once again threw a challenge at Stalin for an open debate on the government's performance. "Let him come forward for a debate on the performance of our government and the previous DMK government. I have already invited him but he is not ready for it," he said.

The Chief Minister said Stalin is not coming to the Assembly but making the allegations from a public platform. He said if the Leader of Opposition makes the allegations in the Assembly, the AIADMK will give a fitting reply.

He claimed that Tamil Nadu witnessed all-round development under AIADMK rule. Noting agreements were signed for investments worth Rs.3.5 lakh crore at the global investors meet in 2019, he claimed that works already started on 304 units and 27 of them became operational.

Palaniswami said these investments will create employment for 10.5 lakh people.

The Chief Minister also told the meetings that his government was taking all steps to safeguard the rights of minorities. He listed out measures taken for the welfare of minorities including financial assistance for Haj pilgrimage and rice for gruel making during holy month of Ramzan.

Palaniswami said AIADMK made Mohammed John a Rajya Sabha member so that voice of Muslims can be heard on the floor of the Parliament's upper house.

New York Times staff have clashed in a private Facebook group and on Twitter following the resignation of star reporter Donald McNeil Jr., pictured, over his use of the N-word

New York Times staff have started in-fighting in private and in public after veteran reporter Donald McNeil Jr. was ousted for using the N-word during a company-sponsored school trip to Peru in 2019.

The Times had allowed McNeil Jr. to keep his job after complaints regarding the racist slur surfaced - but he was forced out after 150 Times employees out of a global staff of 4,500 signed a letter slamming the decision.

Since then, writers and staff have been engaged in a battle in a private Facebook group and on Twitter with McNeil's supporters saying management were 'bullied by a vocal minority' and he should have been given the 'benefit of the doubt'.

Former Times labor correspondent Steven Greenhouse hit out at those 'far more willing to sympathize with these privileged 15- and 16-year-olds than with a long time colleague' while others said his career shouldn't have ended over 'one word'.

Times crossword columnist Deb Amlen hit back at Greenhouse in the Facebook group, writing: 'Why is it that the focus in discussions like this almost always [is] on ruining the perpetrator's life, and not those who were harmed by [his actions].'

1619 reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones, the journalist who The Daily Beast reported threatened to start her own investigation into McNeil Jr., posted a Free Beacon reporter's email and cell phone number on Twitter when she was asked about her use of the N-word in previous tweets.

The private Facebook group is made up of current and former Times employees and its content was first reported by The Free Beacon . DailyMail.com has contacted The New York Times for comment.

Greenhouse added: 'What ever happened to the notion of worker solidarity  to giving a fellow worker the benefit of the doubt?

'And why didn't the NewsGuild do far more to defend and protect the job of a long-time Times employee, one who at times did tireless, heroic work on behalf of the Guild to help improve pay and conditions for all NYT employees?'

The Daily Beast first reported last week that multiple students and parents had lodged complaints against McNeil Jr. back in 2019 after he allegedly used the N-word, said white privilege does not exist and made disparaging comments about black people during a company-sponsored school trip to Peru

The row between NYT staffers spilled onto Twitter after reporter Michael Powell tweeted a statement from free speech group PEN which read: 'For reporter Donald McNeil Jr. to end his long career as a result of a single word, risks sending a chilling message. That the paper apparently altered its course ... as a result of public pressure is a further worrying signal.'

Race reporter John Eligon replied: 'The paper didnt alter course cuz of public pressure. Legit concerns were raised by Black employees who worked alongside Don. Its disheartening that a colleague Ive worked with & respected would tweet this & speaks to how isolating it is to be Black at a mainstream news org.

'You often wonder what your white colleagues who are lovely to your face are actually thinking or saying about you  or people like you  behind your back.'

In a letter to staff Friday, Donald McNeil Jr. announced he was standing down from the paper after 45 years saying he 'originally thought the context in which I used this ugly word could be defended' but now realized 'it cannot.'

Top bosses had previously said he should be 'given another chance' saying McNeil Jr. hadn't used the word with 'malicious or hateful intent' during the Times-sponsored school trip.

The paper also changed tact Friday telling staff 'we do not tolerate racist language regardless of intent.'

Times finance reporter Lawrence De Maria said in the Facebook group: 'We do not tolerate racist language regardless of intent' might be the most racist statement I've ever read. It demeans ALL races.'

Former Times labor reporter Steven Greenhouse, left, hit out at those 'far more willing to sympathize with these privileged 15- and 16-year-olds than with a long time colleague who has done much great work for the Times over the years'. Times crossword columnist Deb Amlen, right, hit back at Greenhouse, writing: 'Why is it that the focus in discussions like this almost always [is] on ruining the perpetrator's life, and not those who were harmed by [his actions]'

Pulitzer Prize-winning colleague Nikole Hannah-Jones, pictured, had already threatened to launch her own investigation into McNeil Jr.. Times finance reporter Lawrence De Maria said that statement 'might be the most racist statement I've ever read, 'adding: 'It demeans ALL races'

After The Free Beacon reached out to 1619 reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones regarding her use of the N-word they say she posted the reporter's email and cell phone number to her followers. She later added: 'For the record, it is almost never appropriate for people other than those from whom the racist slur was created to ever used the slur. It simply is almost never necessary and the harms, intended or not, are too high.'

The row between NYT staffers also spilled onto Twitter after reporter Michael Powell tweeted a statement from free speech group PEN

Race reporter John Eligon replied to reporter Michael Powell

Times Magazine contributor Robert Worth said leadership at the paper 'make a decision' and are 'then are bullied by a vocal minority into changing their minds', adding: 'This is not the NYT I know.'

After The Free Beacon reached out to 1619 reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones regarding her use of the N-word they say she posted the reporter's email and cell phone number to her followers.

She later added: 'For the record, it is almost never appropriate for people other than those from whom the racist slur was created to ever used the slur. It simply is almost never necessary and the harms, intended or not, are too high.'

Executive Editor of New York Times Dean Baquet is pictured. Times finance reporter Lawrence De Maria said in the group: 'We do not tolerate racist language regardless of intent' might be the most racist statement I've ever read. It demeans ALL races'

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. Advertisement

The ousting of the man who was the paper's star COVID-19 reporter came after a group of 150 staffers sent a letter to the executive leadership Wednesday.

In it, they said they were 'deeply disturbed' by the paper's handling of the incident and demanded a full investigation into 'newly surfaced complaints' against McNeil Jr.

Pulitzer Prize-winning colleague Nikole Hannah-Jones had already threatened to launch her own investigation into him.

Hannah-Jones, the reporter behind the 1619 Project which aims to reframe America's history to put the impact of slavery at the center of the narrative

The Times has been rocked by a number of scandals of late. The same day McNeil Jr. resigned, audio producer Andy Mills also announced he had left the paper in the midst of sexual harassment claims and the Caliphate podcast embarrassment.

The week before the allegations surfaced against McNeil Jr., it emerged the Times had ended the contract of editor Lauren Wolfe following a tweet about Joe Biden's inauguration.

Wolfe, who joined the paper last May, had tweeted days earlier that she had 'chills' watching Biden's plane landing at Andrew Air Force Base shortly before his inauguration.

'Biden landing at Joint Base Andrews now. I have chills,' she posted.

McNeil Jr. broke his silence over the 2019 incident in an email to the Times staff Friday announcing his exit where he issued an apology to both his colleagues and the students on the trip.

'I should not have done that,' he said. 'Originally, I thought the context in which I used this ugly word could be defended. I now realize that it cannot.'

McNeil Jr. admitted his use of the racial slur was 'deeply offensive and hurtful' and that his initial thoughts he could defend his actions also showed 'extraordinarily bad judgement.'

The veteran journalist described the 2019 incident saying he said the N-word when asked by one of the students whether he believed a classmate should be suspended for using the racist slur.

'On a 2019 New York Times trip to Peru for high school students, I was asked at dinner by a student whether I thought a classmate of hers should have been suspended for a video she had made as a 12-year-old in which she used a racial slur,' he said, according to the Washington Post which obtained a copy of the note.

'To understand what was in the video, I asked if she had called someone else the slur or whether she was rapping or quoting a book title. In asking the question, I used the slur itself.'

He extended his 'sincerest apology' to the students on the trip as well as his colleagues who he said he 'let down.'

'For offending my colleagues - and for anything I've done to hurt The Times, which is an institution I love and whose mission I believe in and try to serve - I am sorry.

'I let you all down,' he wrote.

McNeil Jr.'s message to staff was included in an email sent from Executive Editor Dean Baquet and Managing Editor Joseph Kahn to staffers Friday where they vowed not to tolerate racist language and to better tackle issues of workplace misconduct.

'We do not tolerate racist language regardless of intent,' they wrote.

McNeil Jr.'s departure was a marked turnaround from last week when the Times responded to the Beast's expose to say it had conducted an investigation and decided not to fire him because they believed he showed 'poor judgment' but did not use the words with 'hateful or malicious' intent.

At least six students or their parents complained after the trip that McNeil Jr. used racially insensitive or racist language, the Daily Beast first reported.

Two students said he used the N-word and said he didn't believe white privilege exists while three others claimed he made racist remarks and stereotypical comments about black teens.
Tamam Financing Company, a top fintech, has announced the certification of its micro-finance app in light of Sharia principles by Shariyah Review Bureau. The Tamam app will extend a suite of Sharia compliant microfinance services in Saudi Arabia.



Tamam has also been officially licensed by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) to provide micro-financing services to consumers across the Kingdom.



Established in 2019, Tamam aims to increase financial inclusion in the Kingdom in line with the Financial Sector Development Plan of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. The platform provides individuals requiring financing the opportunity to immediately avail a Shari'a-compliant consumer micro-finance. The end to-end Shari'a approved process takes less than five minutes from downloading the app to receiving the financing amount based on the user credit profile.



To ensure Sharia compliance Shariyah Review Bureau (SRB) will supervise the trading and processing of commodities and Sharia audit services and processing operations of Tamams activities.



We see our assignment as an opportunity to serve the unbanked population in the Kingdom said Yasser S Dahlawi, Founder and CEO of SRB. We have an unwavering focus of maintaining Sharia compliance as we partner with Tamam Financing company to serve the financially underserved communities and business.



With an integrated approach to Sharia advisory comprising certification process, consultative advice and Sharia audit expertise, SRB can deliver higher-value services to help Tamam drive operational excellence and enable its team to stay focused on increasing inclusion in Saudi Arabia, said Dahlawi.  TradeArabia News Service
Construction crews work Tuesday on a home in 2020 at The Sands housing project northeast of Constitution Avenue and Marksheffel Road on the east edge of Colorado Springs. The Colorado Springs City Council discussed new zoning rules Monday that would apply to new and existing neighborhoods.
PRESIDENT Mnangagwas Vision to ensure Zimbabwe becomes an upper-middle class economy by 2030 will be achieved and the governing party Zanu PF should remove impediments, including land barons, that stand in the way of the goal, an inter-ministerial committee heard.

This comes as President Mnangagwa has directed relevant authorities, that include ministries, Government departments and agencies to leave no stone unturned in bringing sanity to the countrys local authorities that he said had failed Zimbabwe.

The President said corrective measures must be taken to bring order to the countrys growth points, towns and cities that have seen the mushrooming of new settlements, albeit without the requisite facilities such as water, sewer, electricity and roads around the country.

In the midst of the confusion are land barons, working in connivance with local councils, that have been fleecing desperate home-seekers by allocating them land on wetlands and other areas earmarked for other purposes.

The governing party directed its officials to weed out any party members dabbling in the illegal selling of residential land from the party as part of an exercise meant to rid Zanu PF of rotten apples.

According to a Government document, Zanu PF officials who attended the inter-ministerial meeting were told to make sure that in future people are elected to positions in local authorities on merit and not merely popularity.

The party, Zanu PF, should adequately explain what the President has directed, and which Government is about to do. The party must ensure none of its structures, office bearers, and/or officials stand in the way. Above all, the party should, from now onwards, revise and re-fashion its selection criteria for elective officials to ensure our public affairs are manned and managed by people with the key competencies. We have seen the costs of deploying characters who may be popular but wield no relevant skills required in running affairs of our municipalities.

Never again should we blindly select candidates who run on party tickets. Municipalities and rural councils are about service delivery to the electorate. This is only competently done by structures which have a well-balanced set of skills which interact harmoniously for the benefit of home seekers and ratepayers. We have to reinvent our local Government politics.

In his address to the nation last week the President slated urban councils, that are mostly run by opposition parties, for failing the nation.

The current wet spell exposed urban councils after houses in Harare, Chitungwiza, Gweru, Mutare, other towns and growth points were flooded.

Government is deeply concerned with the illegal expansive construction in wetlands and river basins as well as the construction of houses without the provision of requisite infrastructure such as roads, water, sewer and electricity. The current excellent rains received across the country have exposed and lay bare the extent of problems associated with unplanned settlements in our urban, peri-urban and growth points.

Henceforth, relevant ministries are being constituted into working groups that will focus on social service delivery as well as arresting the negative impact of the chaotic, unplanned illegal settlements in growth points, towns and cities.

Meanwhile, alternative spaces have to be urgently identified and developed for relocation of families with houses built in wetlands and other undesignated areas. The Ministry of Housing and Social Amenities, along with other ministries, departments and agencies must immediately identify such areas and ascertain the quantum of affected households.

The President is living up to his promise that there will be no sacred cows in the fight against corruption, with the anti-graft broom set to sweep away even those in the politburo who could be found on the wrong side of the law.

Zanu PF and this administration will never allow the party to be a haven of malcontents and criminals. I thus exhort party cadres and the citizenry at all levels in line with our national development agenda to be guarantors of a corruption-free

Zimbabwe. Report all cases of corruption to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), said President Mnangagwa.

However, some with links to the party are desperately trying to escape from the long arm of justice by throwing mud in the current exercise, notably sucking in ministers in their cases, something that the Special Anti-Corruption Unit has said it will guard against.

Wellington Peyama, one of the persons who is being investigated for dishing out residential stands in Chitungwiza, who also claims to be a member of Zanu PF has been trying to throw mud at the Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities Mr Garwe.

However, sources within the anti-corruption busters said Mr Peyama will have his day in court to answer charges of dishing out stands to desperate home-seekers in Chitungwiza.

Under President Mnangagwas watch, several ministers and top Government officials have been arrested on corruption charges with two former Cabinet ministers losing their jobs after being implicated in graft.

Going forward, President Mnangagwa said all members, across all party structures, must reflect on the partys unassailable revolutionary character upon which the Government continues to build the country towards Vision 2030 to be an upper middle class economy.

Meanwhile in order to bring back sanity to urban councils, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism working with EMA will the lead the way in mapping wetlands around the country so as to come up with a masterplan of all ecologically sensitive spaces which must not be disturbed by human settlements.

That having been carried out, the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities, and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works will step in to identify and quantify all places in flood-prone areas, on illegal spaces and other irregular places to jointly establish the magnitude of likely displacement from unavoidable demolitions.

Along with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, the Ministry of Land, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement should identify suitable alternative land on which to relocate families and households which will be affected by the impending programme.

Relevant ministries are also expected to draw, and redraw plans for orderly settlements both on new spaces and those reclaimed after demolitions with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development expected to mobilise funds for the construction of new planned settlements that should result in the development of the real estate sector, a sector which can contribute as much as 20 percent to the countrys GDP.

The Ministries of Energy and Power Development, Women Affairs, Community and Small Medium Enterprise Development will also be roped in to add the new settlements to the national grind and also bring sanity to cooperatives respectively. Herald
An application by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) seeking to compel government to provide a Covid-19 national vaccination plan has been struck off the urgent roll by the High Court.

High Court judge, Justice Felistus Chatukuta ruled Monday the matter is not urgent.

"Justice Chatukuta stated that the ZimRights application was not an urgent matter as government had first declared a national lockdown in March 2020 while the national budget was presented to Parliament in November 2020," said Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) in a statement.

Justice Chatukuta ruled ZimRights ought to have been aware and took action over the past two months after noticing the national budget had not made provision for the purchase of vaccines while other countries had started receiving batches of vaccines in December 2020 and early last month.

Through its lawyer Tendai Biti from the ZLHR, ZimRights on 3 February 2021 filed an urgent chamber application at the Harare High Court seeking an order to compel President Emmerson

Mnangagwa, Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga and Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube to promulgate regulations relating to the public policies and measures to deal with registration, acquisition and distribution of coronavirus vaccines.

Through the urgent chamber application, ZimRights, represented by Dzikamai Bere, its director, argued Mnangagwa, Chiwenga and Ncube had failed to put in place measures to ensure the roll out and availability of coronavirus vaccines to Zimbabweans.

Bere said the government's failure to acquire the vaccines had resulted in unnecessary loss of lives while Mnangagwa had failed to protect the citizens through acquiring, testing and providing a rollout plan.

Ncube, ZimRights said, had committed a serious breach of people's Constitutional rights by failing to provide financial resources in the 2021 national budget for the acquisition of the vaccines.

Through its application, ZimRights wanted Mnangagwa, Chiwenga and Ncube to be compelled to publish and lay before Parliament a detailed coronavirus rollout plan providing full details on acquisition of vaccines, storage and distribution of drugs, priority recipients of the vaccine and a detailed budget for procurement of the vaccines.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (February 9, 2021) held a virtual summit with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and stated that both India and Afghanistan want to see the region free of terrorism.

Prime Minister Modi also said that he's concerned about the rise of violence in Afghanistan. He said, "I am concerned about the rise of violence in Afghanistan. The targeting of the civilians, journalists and workers by the terrorists is a cowardice action. We support an immediate stop to the war. Both India and Afghanistan want to see the region free of terrorism."

PM Modi also commented on the friendship between the two countries and expressed, "India has always supported Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-supported initiatives. Unified Afghanistan can fight any calamities. Succes of Afghanistan is the all-around success of India."

Signing MoU on Shahtoot Dam with President @ashrafghani. https://t.co/Ltfbn8jk0J  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 9, 2021

India and Afghanistan also signed a Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] for the construction of the Lalandar [Shatoot] Dam in Afghanistan.

The MoU was signed by EAM S Jaishankar and Afghan Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar.

In the presence of PM @narendramodi and President @ashrafghani, India and Afghanistan signed an MoU on construction of Shahtoot dam near Kabul. The dam would help provide drinking water to residents of Kabul city. pic.twitter.com/EPZvIbyKjY  Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) February 9, 2021

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani thanked India and PM Modi for the gift of water through the signing of an agreement on Shahtoot dam, and 5,00,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine given by India.

Ghani expressed, "With Shahtoot reservoir, we will be able to implement our vision of restoring natural beauty that captivated the imagination of Babur. I thank India and Prime Minister Modi for offering this gift of water, in addition to the gift of vaccines."

He added, "Your attention to Afghanistan and your offers of the gift of life to Kabul and the people of Afghanistan symbolise the value of decency, democracy, humanity, mutual interest, mutual respect, mutual trust and our interdependent world."

"Your decision to provide us with 5,00,000 doses of the vaccine at this critical time when Indians themselves are looking for every single vaccine could not be a greater gift. These will be administered to our frontline health workers and our heroic security forces and vulnerable people. We cherish this act of exceptional generosity," Ghani said.

He also expressed, "This is the moment for regional consensus and international consensus. For a guarantee of a stable and prosperous Afghanistan. We must ask the world and all stakeholders to respect the rules of sovereignty and international relations. Stop giving sanctuaries and stop interfering in the affairs of their neighbours."

This is to be noted that this is the second major dam being built by India in Afghanistan, after the India- Afghanistan Friendship Dam [Salma Dam], which was inaugurated in 2016.

(With inputs from ANI)

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday described Myanmar as a key pillar of Indias Act East policy and expressed his firm commitment to strengthen the bilateral relationship in all areas.

He made the comments when Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Defence Services Sr Gen. U Min Aung Hliang called on him in New Delhi, a PMO statement said.

Hliang briefed the prime minister about bilateral defence and security cooperation, the statement said.

The prime minister appreciated the close cooperation between the armed forces of India and Myanmar, it added.

During the meeting, Myanmars military chief condemned the recent terrorist attack on pilgrims of Amarnath yatra in Kashmir and expressed his sincere condolences for the victims, the statement said.

Modi also conveyed his condolences at the loss of lives of Myanmar armed forces personnel and their families in the tragic air crash of June 7.

Sr. Gen. U Min Aung Hliang, Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Defence Services called on Prime Minister @narendramodi today. pic.twitter.com/Tl3nyo63dG  PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 14, 2017

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The ruling Jubilee Party has refuted claims that there are plans to impeach Deputy President William Ruto.

Jubilee Secretary-General Raphael Tuju said that at no time had the party held discussions to plan Rutos ouster. He was responding to reports that Lugari MP Ayub Savula planned to table an impeachment motion against the DP as soon as parliament resumes sittings on Tuesday.

Last week, Savula claimed that the impeachment motion has the support of President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

The ANC lawmaker said the motion is in the signature collection stage, with 126 Jubilee MPs appending signatures in support and another 107 from the NASA coalition being sought to append their signatures before parliament fully resumes session.

But according to Tuju, if such a motion existed, Jubilee members would have been notified.

So far those are just speculations. There is no such Motion. It has not been discussed within the party. If there was such a discussion it would have been communicated to all members, he said.

Savula had claimed that the impeachment motion is aimed at bringing sanity to President Uhuru Kenyattas administration.

It is laughable because they do not understand the number of MPs from across the political divide who are supporting this motion. Kenyans voted for both Uhuru and Ruto expecting them to deliver on the promises they made during campaigns. But while the President is busy working hard to implement what they promised, his deputy is frustrating and openly opposing him. Is this the way a government operates, the MP posed.

Savula further claimed there were ongoing talks involving Jubilee vice chair David Murathe and National Assembly Majority Whip Emmanuel Wangwe to convince MPs  who signed for the ouster of former Majority Leader Aden Duale  to support Rutos impeachment.

Savulas impeachment plan requires at least a third of the MPs (117) to have the motion tabled, and two-thirds (233) to have it passed.
SCHENECTADY  Stockade residents are seeing red after city police issued a flurry of parking tickets following last weeks snowfall.

Residents parked along Union Street awoke Thursday morning to find their vehicles papered with citations, an abrupt shift in enforcement following years of what many contend has been a lack of enforcement.

Resident Chris White said neighbors thought the worn-out alternative side signs were defunct because regulations havent been enforced in years and upset no warning was given for the tickets, which carry a $35 fine.

And yet the streets went uncleared anyway, he said.

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I know parking seems minor, but this decision really impacts a lot of lives, and we really want to work with the city on solutions, and not just be dictated to based on outdated signs, White told the City Council on Monday.

White also blasted the city for what he called poor communication.

The lack of consistent enforcement leads to cycles of apathy and the overcorrection, he said.

Within 48 hours, dozens of residents signed a petition asking the city to do away with the rarely enforced parking regulations, he said.

Stockade President Suzanne Unger also criticized the enforcement campaign.

This change in policy was enacted with no warning to the neighborhood, Unger said.

Enforcing alternate side parking will effectively remove half of parking spaces on Union Street and will exacerbate the crunch in the parking-strapped neighborhood, Unger said.

The city should simply enforce existing regulations, which include requiring motorists to move their cars from city-designated "priority streets" or risk being towed once 3 inches have fallen, Unger said.

Another resident said city police should simply return to driving around with bullhorns and telling residents to move their vehicles.

When we hear the speakers, were going to move our cars, she said.

Mayor Gary McCarthy acknowledged the city goofed  but placed blame squarely on city police.

That was the police department making a change on its own, and it really wasnt done in the best and most coordinated manner, McCarthy said.

Police Chief Eric Clifford said after the meeting he was unaware of the discussion.

Following major storms, the city has been blasted by residents for its response, which have included side streets going uncleared for days and residents plowed into their homes.

Lawmakers pledged to look into alternate side parking following a storm last December that dumped nearly 3 feet of snow on the city, and the mayor said studies are ongoing.

Many of the citys parking regulations are outdated, acknowledged McCarthy, who said he hoped discussions would eliminate situations where we act in a manner thats not logical and in the best interest of the neighborhoods.
Kangana Ranaut took to her official Twitter account on Tuesday and shared a few new pictures from her upcoming films Dhaakad and Thalaivi. The actress went on to flaunt her acting 'range' and 'brilliance of craft', and added that her hard work had garnered her the 'luxury of pride'.

Sharing the pictures of the drastically different looks from both films Kangana, showed off her major transformation and how she lost weight for her role in Dhaakad. Meanwhile, the other picture is a still from biopic Thalaivi, based on late Tamil Nadu ex-chief minister J Jayalalithaa's life.

Talking about her craft as an actor, she went on to compare herself with big Hollywood biggies like Meryl Streep and Gal Gadot. She wrote, "Massive transformation alert, The kind of range I display as a performer no other actress on this globe has that right now, I have raw talent like Meryl Streep for layered character depictions but I can also do skilled action and glamour like Gal Gadot #Thalaivi #Dhaakad."

Challenging her fans and haters, she promised to give up being 'arrogant' if someone is able to name a better actress than her. "I am open for debate if anyone can show me more range and brilliance of craft than me by any other actress on this planet. I promise to give up my arrogance, until then I can surely afford the luxury of pride #Thalaivi #Dhaakad," she wrote.

I am open for debate if anyone can show me more range and brilliance of craft than me by any other actress on this planet I promise to give up my arrogance, until then I can surely afford the luxury of pride #Thalaivi #Dhaakad pic.twitter.com/0RXB1FcM43  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) February 9, 2021

The thread garnered a unique reaction from netizens. One Twitter was quite amused by her claims and wrote, "My mother always told me. Jis ki tareef koi nai karta, wo apni tareef khud karta hai (One who never gets praised by anyone, resorts to praising themselves)."

"I pity the people who are constantly around her. God bless them," read another comment.

Kangana is currently busy shooting for the action flick Dhaakad. Talking about her role, she said Agni (her character) is like the goddess of death for her. Kangana will also be seen in Tejas and Manikarnika Returns: The Legend Of Didda.

ALSO READ: Swara Bhasker Slams Kangana Ranaut For Normalising Hatred & Bigotry

ALSO READ: Complaint Filed Against Kangana Ranaut For Her Comment In Response To Rihanna's Tweet On Farmers Protest
New Delhi: Urban Indians ate out less amid surging covid-19 cases, spent more time and money shopping online and preferred local grocery stores for essentials, research firm Ipsos said as part of its global survey on shifting consumer habits due to the pandemic.

Ipsos surveyed consumers in 28 markets covering 20,504 adults globally. The survey was conducted between 20 November and 4 December.

Also Read | India should worry about its public debt

The 'Shopping During the Pandemic survey captured shift in shopping behaviour globally.

Close to 50% of urban Indians said they ate out less in local and small restaurants after the covid-19 outbreak. In fact, 6 in 10 global citizens (63%) claimed to have stopped eating out at small and local restaurants. In fact, ordering-in too decreased by 41% for urban Indians.

For urban Indians it was a mix of multitude of factorsthe lockdown led to closure of most restaurants and when they reopened with all SOPs prescribed, people were still stricken with apprehension about hygiene and contact. Of course, now we see restaurants operating with social distancing and precautions and people have generally started to step out to eat out," said Amit Adarkar, CEO, Ipsos India.





Meanwhile, 4 in 10 Indians (43%) claim to have shopped more online than before, during the pandemic. This shift among Indian consumers was driven by need for safety, convenience and mood elevation; and of course, the altered macro forces of lockdown and constrained reopening, added Adarkar.

Interestingly, almost half of urban Indians polled (45%) said they were patronizing farmers and small manufacturers.

Japan (84%) and Sweden (77%) emerged at the top in displaying this behavior.

Being Vocal for Local became more heightened during the pandemic, especially to support the tiny businesses which were reeling under the severe impact of the pandemic," said Adarkar.

Local stores emerged as a favoured choice for consumers while shopping for essentials, especially as they avoided large stores fearing crowds.

Several FMCG companies, too, have reported strong growth among traditional trade channelsthat account for over 80% of sales for packaged consumer goods. Over 40% Indians claimed to have continued with the habit of visiting in-person local markets and kirana shops during the pandemic. 54% global citizens too showed a similar trend.

For essentials, grocery and of course some outing. After all, the lockdown was a new phenomenon for all and it was hard for everyone to be locked-in within the four walls of their homes," said Adarkar.

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The price and volume of have surged in the domestic market in the past 15 hours after Chief Executive Officer Elon Musks announcement of investment in the cryptocurrency, according to Indian exchanges.

has been on fire ever since Musk announced that had bought $1.5 billion of the cryptocurrency, and that his electric-vehicle company would accept from buyers. The announcement saw the international bitcoin price cross $48,000 from below $40,000 in just two days. In India, the price has surged from around Rs 28 lakh to about Rs 35 lakh in the last couple of days; it was about Rs 22 lakh on January 27.

However, there is much more happening in the Indian crypto industry after the government announced its intention to come up with a Bill to prohibit private cryptocurrencies. Initially retail investors sold private cryptocurrencies on this news, leading to the domestic market price of bitcoin trading at a discount of 6-7 per cent to its international price the day after Musks announcement. However, smart investors bought it back, pushing up the price to a marginal premium over the international price. Now, bitcoin in India is 1-2 per cent higher than its international price.

Information inconsistency due to the proposed government Bill (regulation) has provided a perfect opportunity for sophisticated investors and market makers to make money at the cost of gullible retail investors. They (retail investors) are liquidating crypto assets. Hence the sudden spike in trading volumes across Indian exchanges, said Gaurav Mehta, founder, National Digital Asset Exchange (NDAX).

ALSO READ: Explained: The rise and rise of Bitcoin; India investment rules

With rising volumes, there has been a constant supply of cryptocurrencies in the Indian market but there is hardly focus on who is providing this liquidity.

Industry officials say the supply is coming from overseas investors. They add that politicians across parties also have exposure to bitcoin and want the crypto to be regulated rather than banned. This gave comfort to investors to buy cryptos when retail investors sold them recently after the announcement of a proposed Bill a few days before the Union Budget.

Meanwhile, WazirX, one of Indias leading exchanges, has seen daily trading volumes in bitcoin double to 2,000-2,500 from 1,000-1,250 a fortnight ago. After the news of the chief buying bitcoin, Gaurav Daheke, chief executive officer of Bitbns, an Indian crypto-exchange, tweeted: The Tesla model-3 price in bitcoin is now less than one bitcoin, indicating the interest crypto-players have seen in India after the news.





ALSO READ: Can you buy a Tesla with bitcoin? How the crypto payments might work

The volume surge is also reflected in leading exchanges in India facing a huge response and pressure on their support functions.



Coindcx, another exchange, has seen a sharp spurt in volumes and an increase in new investors in the past 24 hours, leading to its support machinery slowing.

Another leading exchange has sent alerts through social media to its investors, stating that their support system has slowed after the increase in investor queries and advised such investors to calm down and gave comfort that their queries will be responded to.

Siddharth Sogani, managing director of CREBACO Global, a research and intelligence company for blockchain and crypto-currencies and providing rating to the industry, said: Visionary entrepreneurs like investing in crypto are among early adopters. I see Apple, Microsoft, and all the other blue-chip companies moving their funds to crypto as a reserve very soon. can also make huge profits if the industry is regulated, or else lose the opportunity.





ALSO READ: Bitcoin powers to new high as Elon Musk's Tesla takes it mainstream

He sees bitcoin at $100,000 by the end of 2021. He says globally too volumes surged three times after Musks announcement.

Now several campaigns are also being run to support bitcoin and other cryptos amid talk of foreign funding to fund these campaigns.

#IndiaWantsCrypto, among the oldest campaigns, was started by Nischal Shetty, founder and chief executive officer of WazirX, 831 days ago. Among the recent ones are #IndiaWantsBitcoin, while a website indiawantscrypto.net was floated to support the crypto industry.

Exchanges are telling investors to visit these campaign sites where contact details of all MPs are given and one can select the MP from ones region to impress upon the latter that cryptos should not be banned. Exchanges are providing templates to investors on what they should be writing to MPs.

Meanwhile, independent law firm Khaitan & Company, along with CREBACO, has proposed a draft Bill and detailed regulations for the Indian crypto industry to all government departments concerned. Copies of this paper have been sent to all MPs to educate them and bring the industry under regulation.

Sogani said, The government is considering our representation which we made with Khaitan & Company.

On Tuesday, Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur said in Parliament the government was considering the Bill and it would go to the cabinet soon.
China is ready to consider vaccine cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries, President said Tuesday in a meeting held by video link with European leaders.

Serbia has received 1 million doses of a Chinese-developed and Hungarian and Chinese vaccine developers are cooperating, Xi said, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

Beijing will actively consider such cooperation with other governments, he was quoted as saying at the Summit of China and Central and Eastern European Countries.

China has given conditional approval for two vaccines made by two state-owned developers, Sinopharm and Sinovac. They have struck deals to supply millions of doses to Turkey and at least nine other countries.

Beijing is trying to nurture relations with Central and Eastern European governments as part of efforts to expand markets for exports and for Chinese construction and other companies to operate abroad.

The focus on Eastern through the China-CEEC group, also known as 17 plus 1, has prompted unease among France, Germany and other Western European governments that Beijing is trying to make political inroads into the European Union.

Meanwhile, Xi said China intends to import farm and other goods worth more than USD 170 billion from Central and Eastern over the next five years, according to Xinhua.

Beijing is trying to develop new trade relationships and reduce reliance on the United States following a tariff war with Washington.

We need to deepen agricultural cooperation, Xi said, according to Xinhua.

Xi also expressed support for plans by Fudan University in Shanghai to establish a university in Hungary.
Kangana Ranaut has been an evergreen trend on social media lately for her bizarre and controversial tweets about anything and everything. Recently in another such jibe, the actor on Tuesday declared she has raw talent like Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep, and skilled action capabilities and glamour like actress Gal Gadot. Following Kangana's odd comparison, soon Gal Gadot and Meryl Streep started trending on desi Twitter.

She also stated that she is "open for debate if anyone can show me more range and brilliance of craft than me by any other actress on this planet".

Taking to Twitter, the actress made her assertion sharing several images from her upcoming films, Thalaivi and Dhaakad. The photographs show Kangana's physical transformation when she gained weight for her role in Thalaivi and shed the extra kilos for the action film Dhaakad.

"Massive transformation alert, The kind of range I display as a performer no other actress on this globe has that right now, I have raw talent like Meryl Streep for layered character depictions but I can also do skilled action and glamour like Gal Gadot #Thalaivi #Dhaakad," she wrote.

Taking to a subsequent tweet she even said, "I am open for debate if anyone can show me more range and brilliance of craft than me by any other actress on this planet I promise to give up my arrogance, until then I can surely afford the luxury of pride #Thalaivi #Dhaakad."

Massive transformation alert, The kind of range I display as a performer no other actress on this globe has that right now, I have raw talent like Meryl Streep for layered character depictions but I can also do skilled action and glamour like Gal Gadot #Thalaivi #Dhaakad pic.twitter.com/fnW3D20o6K Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) February 9, 2021

I am open for debate if anyone can show me more range and brilliance of craft than me by any other actress on this planet I promise to give up my arrogance, until then I can surely afford the luxury of pride #Thalaivi #Dhaakad pic.twitter.com/0RXB1FcM43 Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) February 9, 2021

However, her entire comparison with famed international actors soon drew mockery from desis, who were visibly shocked at her self-love.

In one tweet, when a person said, "Kangana and Meryl Streep in one breath? BLASPHEMY. Kangana is nowhere close to Meryl and can never be. Why is Kangana so pompous?", the actress wondered why many "worship white people," Kangana soon hit back at him saying, "I honestly want to know why do we worship white people? Forget their budgets and our age gap, tell me about just acting can she do Thalaivi and Dhaakad? Queen and Tanu? Fashion and Panga? Kaya and Datto? Answer is she cant, then why not emerge from the deep rooted complex?"

I honestly want to know why do we worship white people? Forget their budgets and our age gap, tell me about just acting can she do Thalaivi and Dhaakad? Queen and Tanu? Fashion and Panga? Kaya and Datto? Answer is she cant, then why not emerge from the deep rooted complex? https://t.co/59ir97DCw5 Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) February 9, 2021

Soon her post went viral with netizens trolling the actor for her unreasonable comparison with the two actresses, making Merul Streep and Gal Gaddot the top trend.

Pls prove my claims wrong or illogical, will accept my statements as gloating disorder, if you cant then you too have to accept, in this world of mediocre hyenas who will do anything to look through genuine talent Modesty is not good not at the cost of HONESTY. Snatch your due. https://t.co/MA6hT7Pdxh Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) February 9, 2021

Tell me a joke :- Kangna compared himself with gal gadot and Meryl Streep !!!#GalGadot pic.twitter.com/d4Vfx4Bdwb sammed (@naam_mein_kya_h) February 9, 2021

Kangana is comparing herself to Gal Gadot .....Meanwhile Gal : I don't even know her ..... pic.twitter.com/OH1C3PSm8f Rishabh Dadhich (@rish_dadhich) February 9, 2021

I am just glad she did not tag Meryl Streep and Gal Gadot. It would be way too embarrassing. And of course @taapsee is a better actress. But more importantly, she is a WAY WAY better human being. Arushi Pareek (@arushipareek) February 9, 2021

5 minute's silence for Gal Gadot and Meryl Streep's social media teams who'll be woken up in the middle of the night trying to figure out why they're trending in India... Tweeting Monkey (@Nitwit_Newton) February 9, 2021

Kangana Comparing herself with Meryl Streep or Gal Gadot.Le Everyone:- pic.twitter.com/8wpy3LAhLL ABjP News (Too much Hypocrisy) (@BaapKoRakheyage) February 9, 2021

Currently, Kangana has been reported shooting for her action flick Dhaakad, which is a spy thriller where Kangana will play the role of Agent Agni, while Arjun Rampal will be seen as the antagonist in the film. Arjun's character is named Rudraveer. The film is directed by Razneesh Razy Ghai, and slated to release on October 1, 2021.

(With inputs from IANS )
President Donald Trump greets the crowd at the "Stop The Steal" Rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Trump Impeachment Trial Kicks Off: Democrats Claim Grievous Constitutional Crime, Defense Says Political Theater

Former President Donald Trumps second impeachment trial kicked off in the Senate on Tuesday, with Democrat prosecutors alleging Trump incited an insurrection and committed the most grievous constitutional crime, while lawyers for the former president have dismissed the trial as political theater.

With senators gathered as the court of impeachment, the trial began Tuesday with a debate and vote on whether its constitutionally permissible to prosecute the former president.

Under an agreement between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Republican leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the opening arguments will begin at noon Wednesday, with up to 16 hours per side for presentations.

After that, there are hours for deliberations, witnesses, and closing arguments. No witnesses are expected to be called at the trial and Trump has declined a request to testify. The trial was set to break Friday evening for the Jewish Sabbath, but Trumps defense team withdrew the request, and now the trial can continue into the weekend and next week.

As the trial opens, Trumps lawyers insist in filings that Trump is not guilty on the sole charge of incitement of insurrection, calling his rhetoric in a speech on Jan. 6the day a crowd breached the Capitola mere figure of speech.

Trump used the word fight a little more than a handful of times and each time in the figurative sense that has long been accepted in public discourse when urging people to stand and use their voices to be heard on matters important to them; it was not and could not be construed to encourage acts of violence, they argued in the filing.

While Trump said in his Jan. 6 speech that we fight like hell and if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore, the former president called on supporters to peacefully and patriotically make their voices heard during the joint session of Congress and later denounced the days violence.

Trumps lawyers also contend that the incitement of insurrection charge against Trump is not rooted in fact.

An insurrectionunlike a riotis an organized movement acting for the express purpose to overthrow and take possession of a governments powers, they wrote, contending that Trumps speech was not an act encouraging an organized movement to overthrow the United States government.

Further, the lawyers argued that the trial is unconstitutional as Trump is no longer in office.

The Senate is being asked to do something patently ridiculous: try a private citizen in a process that is designed to remove him from an office that he no longer holds, the wrote.

House impeachment managers, in their own filings, argued that the trial is constitutional, claiming that Trump had betrayed the American people and there is no valid excuse or defense for his actions.

His incitement of insurrection against the United States governmentwhich disrupted the peaceful transfer of poweris the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president, the Democrats said.

The Democrat impeachment managers also pushed back against the argument that Trump was exercising his First Amendment rights.

The House did not impeach President Trump because he expressed an unpopular political opinion. It impeached him because he wilfully incited violent insurrection against the government, they argued.

Last month, the House voted 232197, including 10 Republicans, to impeach Trump on the sole charge of inciting an insurrection.

Trumps acquittal in the Senate, however, is near certain as 17 Republicans would have to join all Democrats in voting to convict.

According to a tally by The Epoch Times, 35 Republican senators have suggested or committed to voting to acquit Trump.

The trial is already over. They dont have the votes to convict, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told reporters on Feb. 4. This is just, I think, continuing to embitter the public. Its divisive, and it does nothing to promote unity. I think its a big mistake on the Democrats part.

If Trump were to be convicted, the Senate could hold a subsequent vote to bar him from ever holding office again. Unlike an impeachment conviction, which requires two-thirds of the Senate to be adopted, only a simple majority would be required to ban Trump from future office.
70 evangelical, orthodox Christians released from prison in Eritrea

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Seventy Christians from evangelical and orthodox backgrounds, including women, have been released from three prisons in Eritrea, some after being held without charge for more than a decade, according to the U.K.-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

In what could be an attempt to distract the attention of the international community from Eritreas role in the ongoing war in the Tigray region in neighboring Ethiopia, the Eritrean government last Monday released 21 female and 43 male prisoners from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons near the capital city of Asmara, CSW reported.

Some of the prisoners had been held without charge or trial for up to 12 years.

On Jan. 27, six female prisoners, who had been in detention since last September, in Dekemhare, which is southeast of Asmara, were also released. The women were arrested for worshiping in public, a video of which was shared by some on social media, CSW said.

CSW welcomes the release of these Christians in Eritrea, who were detained without charge or trial, and should never have been incarcerated, CSW President Mervyn Thomas said. However, this good news must not obscure the Eritrean regimes continued complicity in egregious violations of human rights, both within its own borders and now in Tigray.

Known as the Tigray War, the armed conflict has been ongoing since last November between the Tigray Regional Government (led by the Tigray Peoples 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 Tigray, a predominantly-Christian northernmost region of Ethiopia.

Last month, witnesses spoke with The Associated Press, detailing killings, looting and other abuses committed by Eritrean soldiers in Tigray.

They would kill you for trying, or even crying, a 48-year-old woman named Zenebu who works as a healthcare worker and lives in Colorado but was trapped in Tigray for weeks while visiting her mother, was quoted as saying. She added 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 saw trucks being 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.

Eritreas president, Isaias Afewerki, is a member of the Eritrean Orthodox Church in Asmara  belonging to the largest among the only three Christian denominations allowed to function in the country.

However, 75-year-old Afewerki, the leader of the ruling Peoples Front for Democracy and Justice Party, has the reputation of being an alcoholic and a ruthless autocrat. Afewerkis policy of restrictions is more about his fear that religion will mobilize people as a political force than religion per se.

Thomas called on the international community to press Eritrea for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained arbitrarily on account of their religion or belief.

We also call for urgent action to arrest the unfolding crisis in Tigray, including by imposing arms embargoes on the warring parties, and sanctions on the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea, who bear ultimate responsibility for human rights violations that are allegedly being committed with impunity by their respective forces.

On Dec. 4, the government released 24 Jehovahs Witnesses, including conscientious objectors Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, who had been held for 26 years.

International

Ties with US strong amid threats from China: Taiwan

Taipei, Feb 9 (AP) | Publish Date: 2/9/2021 12:19:22 PM IST

As the US Navy asserts its presence in the South China Sea, Taiwans leader says its ties with Washington remain solid over the transition from the Trump to the Biden administration. President Tsai Ing-wen said Tuesday that US military support remains firm even as China sends increasing numbers of military aircraft into Taiwans southwestern airspace. I would like to reiterate that Taiwan will not back down when receiving pressure and will not rashly advance when receiving support, Tsai said in a traditional Lunar New Year television address.

As long as the Beijing authorities are willing to resolve conflicts, we also want to have a dialogue with them under the conditions of equality and dignity, Tsai said. While China and the US have indicated a desire to curtail the raw animosity of the Trump years, both the Democratic and Republican parties maintain strong support for Taiwan and a tough approach toward China over trade, human rights and its increasingly assertive military and foreign policies.

Tsais remarks came as the US Pacific Fleet conducted exercises in the South China Sea combining ships and planes from the aircraft carriers Theodore Roosevelt and Nimitz. The exercises Tuesday were aimed at increasing interoperability between assets as well as command and control capabilities, the US 7th Fleet said in a statement.

The ships and aircraft of the two strike groups coordinated operations in a highly trafficked area to demonstrate the US Navys ability to operate in challenging environments. it said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the US exercises were not conducive to regional peace and stability.

China will continue to take necessary measures to firmly defend its national sovereignty and security and work with regional countries to firmly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, he said. China claims ownership over virtually the entire South China Sea and has built military installations on reefs and atolls by covering them with sand and concrete. Taiwan holds Taiping Island in the highly contested Spratly group, joining Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam in actively challenging Chinas ambition to exert control over the area, through which an estimated $5 trillion in international trade travels annually.

The waterway also has rich fish stocks and undersea oil and gas reserves.
REGINA - A newly released document shows prosecutors in Saskatchewan weighed backlash and remorse felt by people accused of posting hateful online messages after the high-profile shooting death of a young Cree man.

REGINA - A newly released document shows prosecutors in Saskatchewan weighed backlash and remorse felt by people accused of posting hateful online messages after the high-profile shooting death of a young Cree man.

Tuesday marks the three-year anniversary of the acquittal of Gerald Stanley in the death of 22-year-old Colten Boushie of Red Pheasant First Nation, after he and his friends drove onto Stanley's farm near Biggar, Sask., in 2016.

Debbie Baptiste, mother of Colten Boushie, holds a photo of her son during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Feb. 14, 2018. A newly released document show prosecutors in Saskatchewan weighed the backlash and remorse felt by those accused of posting hateful messages online after the high-profile death of the young Cree man. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Stanley's trial heard from Boushie's friends, whotestified they had been looking for help with a flat tire. Stanley told court he thought they were trying to steal an all-terrain vehicle and his gun accidentally went off, firing a bullet into the back of Boushie's head.

A jury found Stanley not guilty of second-degree murder.

Boushie's death caused racial tensions in the province to flare and sparked debate on systemic racism toward Indigenous people and rural crime.

A deluge of online comments made after the shooting was the subject of a recently revised briefing note prepared for incoming Saskatchewan Justice Minister Gord Wyant by the public prosecutions branch. The partially-redacted document, dated last November, was released to The Canadian Press under Freedom of Information legislation.

"Some people made comments online approving of the violence done to Mr. Boushie, and lamenting that more of his group had not been killed that day," it reads.

"A number of people who made comments like this were themselves subjected to an online shaming campaign, which included potentially threatening messages."

The prosecutions office says it reviewed RCMP investigations into the comments and didn't recommend charges because there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction.

"Public Prosecutions also considered the remorse of the suspects and the social media consequences they had already received in determining whether there was a public interest in pursuing charges," the document says.

Chris Murphy, a lawyer for Boushie's family, says he believes the comments fit the Criminal Code's definition of hate speech towards an identifiable group.

He says he finds the rationale by the prosecutions office troubling because of the message it sends.

"(It) suggests that you can say hateful things about Indigenous people in Saskatchewan and you dont have to fear reprisals from the police for those statements if youve been shamed online for saying them, which to me is frankly unbelievable."

I dont ask this lightly, but I ask whether or not the public would believe that Indigenous people who are the subjects of criminal investigations in Saskatchewan are granted the same sort of leniency."

Murphy also questions why neither Boushie's family nor legal counsel were informed that some people accused of making the posts had expressed remorse.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Rob King says about 85 online accounts were investigated for comments made about Boushie's death and the Stanley trial. Officers informed those who made reports about the outcomes of the investigations, King says, and Boushie's family didn't file complaints.

Kelly Sundberg, a criminologist at Calgary's Mount Royal University, says collecting evidence in online hate cases is complex and often crosses jurisdictions.

"There's so many challenges of just showing that, that computer was used by a certain person on this time and that we know it's the only person possibly behind that keyboard."

Another expert says hate speech is a tough crime to prosecute because it requires drawing a line between freedom of expression and words that normalize hate or violence toward members of a specific group.

At minimum, any expression of remorse would have to be publicly made and made to those who were the victims," says University of Windsor law professor Richard Moon, adding that could be to Boushie's family or the wider Indigenous community.

Saskatchewan's Ministry of Justice says it doesn't comment on the details of investigations where no charges are laid and the RCMP says it is bound by privacy laws.

"Prosecutions recommends charges where there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute. In these instances, neither of these two thresholds were met," says justice spokesman Noel Busse.

"Depending on the situation, prosecutors may also take publicly observable information into account."

Eleanore Sunchild, a lawyer based in North Battleford, Sask., who also represents Boushie's family, says the briefing documentfails to mention the problem of racism.

"It's like they feel if they don't acknowledge the racism that exists here  it's not an issue.

"The issue is far from over. We still see continued injustice occur everyday in Canada against Indigenous people."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2020.

Republic Day violence: Man who assaulted cop with spear among two arrested

Republic Day violence: Actor Deep Sidhu arrested over instigating farmers

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Feb 09: Actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu, an accused in the January 26 Republic Day violence case, has been arrested on Tuesday. He is accused of instigating the 'peaceful' farmers protest as they carried out the tractor rally on the day.

The arrest has been made by a team of Delhi Police's Special Cell, said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell).

"Deep Sidhu was in contact with a woman friend and actor who lives in California. He used to make videos and send it to her, and she used to upload them on his Facebook account," the police said.

#WATCH| Delhi Police Special Cell arrests Deep Sidhu, an accused in 26th Jan violence in Delhi pic.twitter.com/cb6tN5eR1u  ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

Earlier, Delhi police had announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information that can lead to the arrest of actors Deep Sidhu.



Thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with the police during the tractor parade called by farmer unions on January 26 to highlight their demand for repeal of the Centre's three farm laws.

Who is Deep Sidhu?

Ghulam Nabi Azad retires as MP, hopes for Pandits' return to Kashmir | Oneindia News

Many of the protesters, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort and entered the monument. Some protesters even hoisted religious flags on its domes and a flagstaff at the ramparts, where the national flag is unfurled by the prime minister on Independence Day.
This may be the biggest convocation in the Lower Mainland this year.

That, for the record, is what a large flock of eagles is called. And Dr. Christian Sasse spotted a big one this weekend.

"In all the years of following eagles across North America I have NEVER seen so many eagles in the sky - a very windy clear day," he writes on his YouTube post.

The video shows dozens, if not more, of bald eagles soaring over a beach in Delta on Sunday. They seem to be enjoying a stiff breeze coming off the saltchuck.

Sasse, an avid wildlife photographer, would know, too, having spent years shooting video and photos of bald eagles all around the continent.

"I came home frozen," he writes. "Was all worth it, enjoy!"

She keeps her legions of social media followers entertained with a variety of scantily clad snaps.

And Amber Turner set pulses racing as she posted a sizzling lingerie snap to Instagram on Tuesday.

The TOWIE star, 27, displayed her jaw-dropping physique in cream lace lingerie along with a pair of sheer stockings and suspenders.

Stunning: Amber Turner set pulses racing as she posted a sizzling lingerie snap to Instagram on Tuesday

Displaying her toned midriff, Amber fixed the camera with a sultry stare as she posed with a white rose.

The reality star wore a light pallet of makeup and wore her platinum blonde locks in a poker straight style.

Amber recently spoke of her plans to have a baby with her TOWIE beau Dan Edgar.

The reality stars confirmed she hopes to have a child with the 30-year-old and said their six month break-up in 2018 strengthened the relationship they are in today.

Broody: Amber recently spoke of her hopes of having a baby with her partner Dan Edgar, 30, and said their six month break-up in 2018 strengthened the relationship they are now in today

Amber told New! Magazine: 'Us breaking up for six months was the best thing thats ever happened, Dan and I are really happy, were living together now.

'Its one little happy relationship for sure.'

Of the future, she said: 'Dan and I are going to buy a place together. We definitely want to have a baby and get married.'

When the couple split in 2018, Amber was left heartbroken to learn the TOWIE star had a fling with Chloe Sims while the two were filming in Thailand.

But Dan didn't pursue a relationship with Chloe and instead rekindled his flame with Amber.

Jet-setting lifestyle: The reality star has recently returned to the UK after spending time away in Dubai on a work trip with Dan

Speaking about their time apart, Amber said: 'Sometimes relationships need that break for people to really realise whats important.'

Amber has recently returned to the UK after spending time away in Dubai on a work trip with Dan.

The couple returned before a travel corridor to the United Arab Emirates closed on January 29th.

Ministers are understood to have been increasingly concerned about social media 'influencers' and other celebrities turning up in exotic destinations while the rest of the country is in lockdown.

One government source told MailOnline that people appeared to have been exploiting grey areas about what counts as 'essential' work trips.

Backlash: Ministers are understood to have been increasingly concerned about social media 'influencers' and other celebrities turning up in exotic destinations while the rest of the country is in lockdown

'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.

And Home Secretary Priti Patel also 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.'
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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, to hold summit-level talks today. India and Afghanistan are likely to sign agreement on Shahtoot Dam, ANI reports. Shehtoot Dam will provide clean drinking water to two million citizens of Kabul and will also be used for irrigation.

Prime Minister Modi and Afghanistan President Ghani to hold summit-level talks today. India and Afghanistan likely to sign agreement on Shahtoot dam, which will provide clean drinking water to 2 million people of Kabul and will also be used for irrigation: Sources  ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

The Shehtoot Dam is to be constructed on the Kabul river basin. Along with the Shehtoot Dam, India has pledged to rebuild Afghanistan committing to USD 80 million worth of projects. Around 150 projects have been announced by India in the conflict-ridden country.

Also Read | India should worry about its public debt

Earlier in November 2020, Union Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar had announced at the Geneva Donors Conference that India will be constructing the Shahtoot Dam on the Kabul river in Afghanistan and that the Governments of the two nations have recently concluded an agreement for the same.

India has completed a large number of infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, including the construction of a 218-km road from Delaram to Zaranj along the Iranian border to provide alternative connectivity for Afghanistan through Iran, the Salma Dam and the Afghan parliament building, which was inaugurated in 2015.

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Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met with Lebanese President Michel Aoun and caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab during a visit to the country on Tuesday.

This is the foreign minister's second visit since the August 4 Beirut Port blast.

Lebanon has been mired in economic and political instability which was exacerbated by the massive explosion at Beirut's port caused by the detonation of thousands of tons of ammonium nitrates.

It killed nearly 200 people, injured thousands and caused losses worth billions of dollars.

The crisis has been compounded by the coronavirus pandemic.

Lebanon has yet to form a government.

Al Thani said on Tuesday Qatar is willing to help facilitate talks between parties.

Lebanon is in desperate need of financial assistance but France and other international powers have refused to provide aid before serious reforms are made.

The crisis is largely blamed on decades of systematic corruption and mismanagement by Lebanon's ruling class.

Al Thani said Qatar will provide "an integrated economic program to support Lebanon."

But "this program requires a government and requires an adherence to certain standards," he said.

Image credit: AP

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)

Newcomb Hearing Pushed to February 22

By West Kentucky Star Staff





PADUCAH - A Paducah man facing numerous sex and drug-related charges had a court date on Monday.However, according to the McCracken County Court Clerk, a suppression hearing for 19-year-old Joseph Newcomb was continued to February 22.Newcomb was arrested on September 30 after someone reported seeing two people in a vehicle smoking marijuana. He reportedly told police the girl with him was his 14-year-old cousin, but later admitted they were not related. The girl told police she was 12 years old.Officers said Newcomb exchanged marijuana for sexual contact with the girl. They also searched the vehicle and both people's cell phones.Newcomb was charged with 2nd degree sexual abuse, promoting a minor in a sexual performance, use of electronics to procure a minor for sex, 2nd degree sodomy, unlawful transaction with a minor, tampering with evidence, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, and failure to use a turn signal.
SECAUCUS, N.J., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, will host a virtual Investor Day for institutional investors and financial analysts on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

During the event, Steve Rusckowski, Chairman, CEO and President, Mark Guinan, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, and other senior executives will provide updated views of the U.S. laboratory market and the company's growth and capital deployment strategies.

To access the live webcast, including audio, video and presentation slides, register here. Securities analysts and institutional investors are advised to register in advance.

Investors and analysts will have an opportunity to ask questions in live Q&A sessions with speakers. Participants who would like to ask a question can dial 888-455-0391 within the U.S. and Canada, or (773) 756-0467 internationally, using the passcode "7895081."

Interested parties unable to watch the live webcast will be able to view and listen to an archived copy of the webcast, which will be available on the Quest Diagnostics Investor Relations website following the conclusion of the event.

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest Diagnostics annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our nearly 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

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(Corrects private placement size to $70 mln (not $60 mln) in

paragraph 4)

By Shadia Nasralla and Ron Bousso

LONDON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Tullow Oil has agreed to

sell stakes in some of its non-operated offshore oilfields in

Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to smaller Africa-focused rival

Panoro Energy for at least $140 million, Panoro said

on Tuesday.

The deal will help Tullow reduce its $2.4 billion debt pile,

around four times the size of its current market capitalisation

of $577 million.

Tullow is in talks with its lenders to restructure its debt

and has said it will narrow its focus to its flagship fields in

Ghana.

Oslo-listed Panoro plans to finance the deal with a $70

million equity private placement and $90 million in debt

underwritten by commodities trader Trafigura, which

will also market the oil, the company said.

Panoro's biggest shareholders Sundt AS and Kistefos AS have

committed to subscribe to the placement of shares, which is

expected to close on Feb. 10.

The deal would add 6,900 barrels per day (bpd) net

production to Panoro, quadrupling current production. It plans

to ramp that up to 12,000 bpd. The growing output should allow

Panoro to start paying a dividend in 2023, it said.

The deal covers a 14.25% stake in Block G offshore

Equatorial Guinea and 10% in Gabon's Dussafu Marin Permit, in

which Panoro already owns a stake.

Panoro will continue looking for acquisition opportunities

in Africa, CEO John Hamilton said.

"There are a number of companies, including the oil majors,

who are busy looking to rationalise their portfolios in some of

these countries and we do see growth opportunities in these

areas," Hamilton told Reuters.

(Reporting by Shadia Nasralla; editing by Barbara Lewis)
Early in the pandemic, many experts predicted that lockdowns and stay-at-home orders would lead to a surge in births.

In fact, the opposite happened. As it turns out, Americans have not been getting pregnant.

There are five U.S. states that have provided preliminary birth data for 2020: Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii and Ohio, all of which showed declines last year, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of state health department data.

In 2019, there were a total of 898,646 births in these states. The following year, there were 817,394 babies born.

This means, in these five states, there were more than 81,000 fewer births last year compared one year prior.

Meanwhile, New York University (NYU) Langone Health has seen a 33 percent increase in egg freezing as a record number of couples put off having children.

In five states - California, Arizona, Hawaii, Ohio and Florida, there were a total of 898,646 in 2019 compared to 817,394 babies born in 2020 - meaning there were 81,000 fewer births (above)

Florida has seen an 4.9% decrease (left) in births from 2019 to 2020 and California has seen a 13.7% decrease (right)

One of the biggest drops in births was seen in California, which saw 447,834 babies born in 2019.

But, in 2020, this number fell to 386,288, representing an 13.7 percent decrease.

'If the declines are as big as the ones we're seeing in the preliminary data, this is much more substantial than has been the historical tend.

'If those numbers turn out to be close to what happens more generally in the country in the next few months, this will a significant decline in fertility,' Dr Kenneth Johnson, a professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire, told DailyMail.com.

Johnson added that the data may be even more striking in the coming months and show even larger declines as more states report their figures.

However, demographers and public policy experts say one of the factors driving this is uncertainty over the economy.

The pandemic has plunged the US into a recession that will likely last for many months with an unemployment rate at 6.3 percent.

Similarly, the the Great Recession of 2008-09 already caused a drop in births.

In 2007, the birth rate was 69.1 births per 1,000 women. By 2012, the rate fell by nine percent to 63.births per 1,000, which means about 4,000 fewer births occurred.

'When the Great Recession hit, birth rates dropped quite significantly and those birth rates didn't ever recover from that,' Johnson said.

'There was a lot of expectation among demographers that the birth rates would start to turn up now because a lot of women in their 20s delayed having their children and so we thought it's been almost a decade now, they're now in their 30s, they'll probably want to have children if they're gonna have them - then COVID hits.'

Findings from a 2009 Guttmacher Institute survey examining how the 2008 recession affected women's choices to have children are similar to findings from a 2020 survey on this issue related to COVID-19.

In 2009, 31 percent of women surveyed said they wanted to have children later than previously planned due to the recession. Twenty-eight percent said they wanted future children than previously planned.

A decade later, in 2020, 36 percent of women said they wanted to have children later than previously planned and 27 percent said they wanted fewer children due to the pandemic.

Overall, the 2020 survey found that more than 40 percent of women reported that that the coronavirus crisis made them change their plans about when to have children or how many children to have.

A recent study found that 31% of women said they wanted to have children later than previously planned due to the 2009 recession. These are similar rates to 36% who said they wanted to wait due to the pandemic (above)

The findings make it clear that trends during the pandemic are mirroring the Great Recession.

For some women, there are economic concerns. For others, both couples and single women are likely experiencing fear and anxiety over the public health crisis and its uncertain end.

This has led many to freeze their eggs, which is a method used to save women's ability to get pregnant in the future

NYU Langone's Fertility Center in New York said it has seen a 33 percent increase egg freezing between June and November 2020, reported The Wall Street Journal.

NYU Langone's Fertility Center in New York said it has seen a 33% increase in egg freezing between June and November 2020. Among the women choosing to freeze their eggs are 34-year-old Kelli Wheeler (above)

Dr Brooke Hodes-Wertz, a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at NYU Langone, told the newspaper that some of the increase is due to demand that came after lockdowns in spring 2020.

'We thought we'd see a decrease in people coming to us as starting a cycle might not be a priority in a pandemic,' she said.

'A lot of women in New York City who have stable incomes have had time to reflect during the pandemic, and they've also had the physical time to start a cycle because they're not traveling.'

Among the women freezing their eggs is Kelli Wheeler, a 34-year-old from Los Angeles who began examining her fertility after her boyfriend broke up with her in April 2020.

'Even if I met a guy quite quickly, I was three or four years away from having kids because I'd want some time where it was just the two of us,' Wheeler told The Journal.

'I began looking into ways I could take control of my fertility, without a man.'

After a consultation at a fertility clinic, Wheeler said she has decided to freeze her eggs, and will have them thawed in three years if she is still single and fertilized with donor sperm.

'The fertility rates in the United States are already at record lows and now the pandemic has happened on top of it,' Johnson told DailyMail.com.

'And we have a lot of women who probably delayed having their children because of the economic recession and its aftermath and here they are in a dilemma where they're now older in their 30s and now we have COVID.'

Johnson said in some areas the U.S. has been seeing natural decrease, which occurs when more people die than are being born.

'That combination of even more deaths and fewer births is going to produce much more natural decrease in 2020 and 2021 as well,' he said.

'Looking beyond the diminished number of births to what its implications are for demographic change in the United States, combine the effect of COVID on births and what it's done to mortality in the foreseeable future, it's just a combination that's going to cause more widespread decrease than we've seen in the past.''
European and US companies looking for coding talent at affordable prices will find Africa to be fertile ground, though pricing and availability of programmers vary greatly from country to country, according to a recently issued report on the continent's software development sector.

In sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, Kenya and Mauritius are the front-runners attracting foreign companies looking to outsource software development, while Nigeria is an emerging powerhouse, according to the report, "African Software Developers: Best Countries for Sourcing in 2021," issued by tech-talent outsourcer Tunga.

In North Africa, Egypt's position is similar to that of Nigeria; it has a large talent pool and moderate salary levels, according to the Tunga report.

Tunga is what is known as an impact sourcer  an outsourcer that places people from low-employment or developing economies with remote-worker jobs for businesses internationally.

Though Tunga's business dipped when the pandemic first hit, it ended up with a 25% jump in revenue for 2020, according to founder and CEO Ernesto Spruyt.

"Digitalization is going on and the need for software developers is getting strong," Spruyt said. "Especially for the smaller companies who just cannot find talent on the local market, who find it difficult to find good quality resources at affordable prices, Africa is an attractive option many of them did not explore before."

Tunga has commercial offices in the Netherlands, and facilities in Kampala and Lagos to support developers. It has a pool of 450 developers from 24 African countries on its platform, though most of the programmers it works with are in Nigeria, Uganda, Egypt and Kenya. It pays developers 13.50 an hour.

African markets offer different pros and cons

"Africa is not one market. There are a lot of differences between countries  there are pros and cons" for different countries, Spruyt emphasises.

For example, while South Africa has the largest talent pool in terms of absolute number of developers, it is not particularly competitive on pricing, even compared with non-African markets like Ukraine and India, Spruyt says. But South Africa, along with Mauritius, Morocco, Tunisia and Kenya are particularly attractive for sourcing programmers due to a combination of factors such as tech business climate, number of developers per capita, and good language skills (English for the sub-Saharan countries, French for North African markets), according to the Tunga report.

These countries are attractive for sourcing software programmers in Africa for companies that are risk-averse, and are willing to pay prices that are higher than elsewhere in Africa, according to the report.

The technology sector and connectivity infrastructure, though, are evolving in other countries, where tech talent can be a bargain. For example, the number of tech hubs in Nigeria now is greater than in South Africa, even though the general business ecosystem is not as developed.

"One conclusion could be that Nigeria is a real power house; if you want move or do business there this would be the moment," Spruyt said.

Nigerian and Egypt are emerging powerhouses

While Tunga categorizes Nigeria and Egypt as "awakening giants" it lists a number of countries as "promising outsiders," including Ghana and Uganda, which have substantial developer populations, good English proficiency and moderate salary levels.

In general, developers throughout Africa have a grounding in the most popular programming languages and frameworks, though there are gaps in some of the more-specialised frameworks, Spruyt says. Tunga itself offers full-stack developers, able to work with popular modern frameworks such as Angular, React (Native), Node, Django/Python, .NET/C#, PHP/Laravel, Flutter and others.

For African youth who want to enter the software development job market, Spruyt advises learning one to three of the popular programming frameworks, and start building a portfolio  one way to do this, he notes, is to join some open source projects.

As more Western companies discover Africa as an outsourcing destination, there will be greater pressure on the continent to grow its talent pool. "In terms of market demand I think the bottleneck will be more on the sourcing side in Africa than on the demand side," Spruyt says.
Nairobi Deputy Governor Ann Kananu has called on counties to start prioritizing joint project implementation as a way of leveraging on the economies of scale.

This, she said, will see the 47 developed units in the country supplement each other as a way of improving the livelihoods of their people.

Speaking during a meeting of 10 county governments under the Central Region Economic Bloc (CEREB), Kananu said the bloc can take advantage of Nairobi's five million-plus population to build a strategic partnership for its products.

Cereb comprises 10 counties including Embu, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Meru, Murang'a, Nakuru, Nyandarua, Nyeri and Tharaka Nithi with a combined population of 10.7 million.

The region has a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Sh2.1 trillion ($20.5 billion), larger than Rwanda and Burundi's GDP and would be 113 out of 217 countries globally. Rwanda has a GDP of $10.4 billion while Burundi's GDP is $3 billion.

"There is need to leverage on economies of scale through the implementation of joint projects or activities, as and where necessary, to supplement what individual counties will do towards improving the livelihoods of the people of these counties," said Kananu.

"Nairobi has a day population of 8 million and a regular resident population of about 6 million with rural-urban migration continuing to be a key driver of the rapid population growth witnessed in the capital.

The population is a key component of markets globally, an advantage CEREB can take advantage of and build strategic partnerships for its products," she added.

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Kananu was among 10 County heads who hosted British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott to a Governor's VIP Lunch at the Aberdare Country Club in Nyeri County over the weekend.

The former Disaster Management and Coordination chief officer pointed out that Nairobi offers a fascinating window into a rapid and evolving economic landscape as well as gateway and access to a market of more than 300 million people as it is within four hours reach to any major African city and eight hours to any major world cities.

Nairobi plays host to the National Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary as well as 103 diplomatic missions, embassies, and consular stations.

"Nairobi has proven to be a place where men, women, children, entrepreneurs, employees, visitors, and tourists can fulfill their future promise and realize their goals.

On her part, Marriott encouraged the partnership which will lead to development agenda-setting between the 10 Cereb county government leadership and Nairobi County.
Im a 911 (emergency) call taker, and I am writing to the WSWS today as I recently read a news article reporting that an ambulance call centre in Toronto had a COVID-19 outbreak among its workers. Twelve employees in that dispatch centre tested positive for the virus. Upon further research, I discovered that there have been several other instances of outbreaks in emergency call centres, not just here in Canada but globally. These, of course, are merely examples where the spreading of the virus has been made publicly known and reported on by the media.

A member of the Canadian Armed Forces working at a Quebec nursing home. (Canadian Dept. of Defence)

I wanted to write to the WSWS because I believe there have been outbreaks within centres run by the company I work for that have not been made publicly known, and because I feel that the company is not protecting us workers properly.

The dispatch centre I work at has not officially had an employee test positive for the virus to date. The corporation that employs us, however, has larger facilities in other parts of the province in which we are situated. Despite the centres being located fair distances away from each other, an email notification is sent out to every employee, regardless of which building they work in, to notify us when a worker has tested positive for COVID-19.

Over the holiday season and into January, it seemed like I received an email once, sometimes twice a week stating that yet another worker had tested positive for the virus at the largest call centre.

The emails mostly consisted of long spiels laden with corporate jargon about how the company has our best interests at heart and that a professional cleaning team had been brought in to sanitize the operations floor (or at least the area the worker had primarily been stationed in). A brief note would be included about the date and time of the last shift that the employee worked, and then emphasis would be placed on the apparent fact that the infected worker wore their mask at all times when not sat at their desk or in a closed meeting.

There are several things that concern me, both about the companys inadequate preventive actions and the way cases of COVID-19 are being responded to.

Here I must explain: there are four rotating teams in our call centres that work year-round in a 2-day shift, 2-night shift, 4-off rotation. These shifts are always 12 hours in length. This is typical of many dispatch centres all over the country.

Theoretically, one infected worker can spread the virus to the employees of three or even all four shifts in a twenty-four hour period. One of the employees who tested positive for the virus did work in a time frame during which they came into contact with all four shifts while infected.

My call centre, the smallest of all of the call centres in our province, sees an average of about six call takers, five dispatchers and one member of management working on the operations floor per shift. At the bigger facilities, there can be as many if not more than forty people on the floor on every shift.

Working Monday to Friday are two cleaners, several members of management, one human resource worker, two IT technicians, two trainers and one secretary; these employees are in the building with any and all of the four shift rotations that pass through in a given week. Again, the bigger call centre locations have a much larger staff than this.

Finally, there are auxiliary employees who do not have a full-time contract and are not assigned to any team in particular. They do not receive benefits, yet they usually work more than forty hours a week.

These employees can make up the bulk of operational call takers on a day to day basis, filling in staffing needs at random throughout the month. They are often in contact with workers from every single shift over the course of a very short period of time.

Auxiliary workers and full-time workers alike are encouraged, sometimes outright pressured, to work overtime shifts as much as possible.

When a worker tests positive for COVID-19, the company does not attempt to determine who last worked with that person, and how recently other workers may have been exposed. No shift of workers is ever sent home to isolate for two weeks or, for that matter, for any amount of time at all.

All of us operations workers share desks, which is sometimes known as hot desking (with the exception of members of management, who have their own offices). When you show up to your shift, you pick a desk on the operations floor at random and sit there for the duration of your twelve hours at work, until an employee from the next shift relieves you.

Each desk has a tub of wet wipes, which workers use to quickly wipe their keyboard, mouse, desk surface and the arms of their chair before the next employee sits down. This must be done very hastily as the shift change is not staggered, meaning the next employee must log in to the software programs very quickly or else 911 calls will be kept waiting on hold. In all likelihood, this does not result in adequate sanitation standards needed to kill virus particles.

There are no open windows on the operations floor; the air we breathe is recycled constantly. Employees do not wear face masks at their desks, which is understandable as communicating with distressed callers over the phone is difficult at the best of times, and every advantage for a better audible connection between caller and call taker is needed. However, no steps have been taken to space out employees further on the floor or assign desks to specific workers, or even groups of workers, in any way at all.

Obviously, this makes our centres ripe for an outbreak of catastrophic proportions. Just because we take emergency calls does not mean we are magically exempt from the same high transmission rates of the virus as seen in call centres in other industries. The enclosed space, recycled air (potentially filled with virus particles spread by constant, unceasing chatter), hot desking and frequent inability to physically distance primes call centres for fast and easy virus transmission.

Workers are required to fill out and sign a symptom questionnaire every shift which states we are not to work if we have any symptoms. However, most people lie about exhibiting symptoms as we are given a very limited amount of sick days per year and cannot afford days off even in the name of being responsible for the health and well-being of our coworkers.

On several occasions, people have gone home ill mid-shift, at which point their desk is taped off and their keyboard removed. However, no cleaning above and beyond a basic wipedown with the standard wet wipe is actually performed, and within the shift the tape is removed, the keyboard returned and the desk free for a new employee to sit at none the wiser.

No temperature checks are ever carried out at our call centre. Employees who have gone home sick or who call in sick are advised to call the nurses hotline and get tested for the virus if a nurse advises, but are not told to isolate in any way in the meantime and are free to return to work as soon as possible.

The city where I live has a severe shortage of family doctors, and in order to get an appointment at a public clinic one must queue up with sick strangers for hours before the clinic opens. Usually, all of the days open spots with doctors are booked up within forty minutes of opening time. For people who must leave work sick halfway through the day, this usually means no doctor is ever seen, and the worker simply forces his/herself to get back to work as quickly as they can.

This is exacerbated by the fact that after two or more days off, most employers require a doctors note, which usually has to be paid for and requires of the sick person the same time-consuming process to obtain as an in-person appointment with a doctor.

Many people in my community use telehealth services such as Babylon in place of visiting an actual doctor, as they have no way of seeing a practitioner in person when sick. However, when it comes to physical symptoms, speaking over the phone simply does not sufficiently ensure that workers are cleared to go back into their place of work safely.

Whats more, parents I work with whose kids have gotten sick or been exposed to the virus at school have no additional sick days or time off to care for their children at home.

We have not received any additional emergency pay for the added risk of attending work throughout the pandemic, yet our union (CUPE, the Canadian Union of Public Employees) has not done anything to fight for that. Nor has CUPE done anything to have any further health measures put in place that would allow for a safer working environment.

I asked members of management why, when an employee tests positive for the virus, the company does not require even directly exposed coworkers to isolate, never mind those who may have been indirectly exposed. The feeble answer given is that we are part of the emergency response sector, and while we do not work on the front lines, we are absolutely essential and the call centres cannot afford to lose an entire shift of workers for two weeks.

This is infuriating to hear time and time again. The company could absolutely afford to send workers home to isolateor better yet, limit virus transmission in the first placewith just a few basic changes!

Firstly, they could staff shifts amply with full-time workers, instead of signing hundreds of employees onto auxiliary contracts out of a refusal to pay for their benefits. This way, potential exposures would be limited, as there would not be a large chunk of our workforce hopping between different teams. For these same reasons, they should immediately stop pressuring workers to take overtime shifts.

The company could space our desks apart further, and stagger our shift start times so we can adequately clean our equipment and avoid physical contact with the incoming shift without causing 911 calls to be kept on hold due to delays.

They could assign a limited number of employees to each desk, or better yet invest some of their $75 million annual budget in more space, desks and computers so that we could each have our own.

Most importantly, when a worker has tested positive for the virus, all potential exposures should be traced and those exposed forced to isolate for two weeks. Full pay during this time period should also be implemented, as well as ample paid sick days.

But even with 807,000 cases in Canada and more than 20,500 deaths, neither time nor money or effort will be spared by the company so that we might be better protected while doing our jobs.

Myself and my coworkers are tired of feeling scared about bringing the virus home to our families, tired of not being able to call in sick when we have symptoms, and tired of our union doing nothing to make things even marginally safer for us.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the WSWS for being the only publication that truly highlights the struggles of workers, gives us a voice and shines a light on the betrayals our unions continue to implement in corporatist collaboration with big business. Your support for workers who want to build rank-and-file safety committees in their workplaces is more critical now than ever before. The pandemic has shown so many more of us that the corporations we work for do not care if we die so long as they can rake in profits.

Sincerely,

An Anonymous 911 Call Taker from Canada
Refugees wait in front of the Norwegian Refugee Council's office in Um Rakuba refugee camp on 3 December 2020. The camp is 70 kilometres from the Ethiopian border inside eastern Sudan.

UN agencies have received approval from the Ethiopian Government for 25 international staff to provide humanitarian assistance inside the country's conflict-torn Tigray region, the UN Spokesperson said on Monday.

"This clearance is a first step towards ensuring that aid workers in Tigray can deliver and ramp up the response given the rapidly rising needs in the region", Stephane Dujarric told journalists at the daily press briefing.

He recalled a number of positive engagements between the Government and senior UN officials, including with Filippo Grandi, High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Gilles Michaud chief of UN Safety and Security and most recently, David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP).

"Mr. Beasley has just wrapped up a trip to Ethiopia and he says that WFP has accepted the Government's request to help authorities and aid partners transport aid into and within Tigray", informed Mr. Dujarric.

Moreover, WFP has also agreed to provide emergency food aid for up to one million people in Tigray.

The conflict between the Government and regional forces of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) began in early November, when the Prime Minister ordered a military offensive after rebels attacked a federal army base. Government forces reported that the region had been secured at the end of November, but TPLF resistance has continued amid accusations of extrajudicial killings and rights abuses.

Escalating humanitarian needs

Meanwhile, around 60 more humanitarian workers from the UN and non-governmental organizations are awaiting approval in the capital Addis Ababa for deployment to Tigray.

They also look forward to rapid authorizations for any further requests put forward.

"While we welcome these clearances, we remain deeply concerned about the significant escalation in humanitarian needs in Tigray, where people have endured more than three months of conflict with extremely limited assistance", said the UN spokesperson.

He also expressed unease over continued reports of grave violations against civilians.

"We reiterate our call for the full resumption of free and unconditional access for humanitarian supplies and personnel to the Tigray region", Mr. Dujarric said, adding that it should include "blanket clearances" for organizations operating in the area, "so that we can immediately reach all the people in need with all the assistance they urgently require".
When youre searching for a sweet deal on a gaming rig, its best to look for good parts at a solid priceeven if theyre not the most cutting-edge hardware. Thats the kind of deal we have for you today. Walmart is selling a version of the Lenovo Y540 15 gaming laptop with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 for $899Remove non-product link. Thats $400 off the sticker price, and not much more expensive than the price of what a desktop RTX 2060 graphics card is going for alone these days.

The 15.6-inch laptop features a blazing-fast 144Hz 1080p display perfect for gaming. Under the hood, youll find a 2.6GHz, six-core Coffee Lake Core i7-9750H processor with twelve threads and boost clock speeds up to 4.5GHz. Lenovos laptop also comes with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB NVMe SSD.

Thats a potent loadout overall, with the centerpiece being the Nvidias GeForce RTX 2060. The graphics chip should excel at the high-refresh rate 1080p gaming this laptop offers, and it supports real-time ray tracing, which allows in-game lighting to behave in a more naturalistic way for dramatically improved visuals. RTX cards also support other advanced gaming features for a more immersive experience.

Bottom line? The Lenovo Y540 15 looks to be an excellent laptop at a good price. It weighs in at just a smidge over 5 pounds, meaning its just barely in the totable category, but for a gaming laptop thats not very heavy at all.

[Todays deal: Lenovo Y540 15 for $900 at Walmart.Remove non-product link]
US president, Joe Biden has threatened to sanction countries that are yet to make laws to accommodate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) people.



The Democrat issued a presidential memorandum aimed at expanding the protection of the rights of LGBTQI people worldwide.



Bidens memo reads, When foreign governments move to restrict the rights of LGBTQI+ persons or fail to enforce legal protections in place, thereby contributing to a climate of intolerance, agencies engaged abroad shall consider appropriate responses, including using the full range of diplomatic and assistance tools and, as appropriate, financial sanctions, visa restrictions, and other actions.



All human beings should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or whom they love.



The United States belongs at the forefront of this struggle  speaking out and standing strong for our most dearly held values.



The memo directs US agencies working in foreign countries to work harder to combat the criminalisation by foreign governments of LGBTQ status or conduct and directs the State Department to include anti-LGBTQ violence, discrimination, and laws in its annual human rights report.



It also calls for increased efforts to ensure that LGBTQ asylum seekers have equal access to protection, expanded training for US federal personnel, and potential increased use of priority referrals to expedite resettlement of vulnerable people.



It also instructs agencies to consider appropriate responses, including the full range of diplomatic tools, and potentially financial sanctions and visa restrictions, when foreign governments restrict the rights of LGBTQ people.



Biden first announced the push during a recent speech at the State Department, vowing to rebuild US credibility worldwide.



To further repair our moral leadership, Im also issuing a presidential memo to agencies to reinvigorate our leadership on the LGBTQI issues and do it internationally, he said.



Nigeria is categorized as a homophobic country due to its anti-gay laws which have been heavily criticised by global rights groups.



The anti-gay laws in Nigeria, a leading ant-LGBTQI country in Africa, prescribes between 10 and 14 years in prison for anyone caught flouting the law either by cohabitation between same-sex sexual partners, public show of same-sex relationship, registration, operation or participation in gay clubs, societies and organisation, amongst others.



In January 2014, ex- Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan signed the Same-Sex-Marriage (Prohibition) Act despite pressure from former US President, Barrack Obama.



The anti-gay laws in Nigeria, a leading ant-LGBTQI country in Africa, prescribes between 10 and 14 years in prison for anyone caught flouting the law either by cohabitation between same-sex sexual partners, public show of same-sex relationship, registration, operation or participation in gay clubs, societies and organisation, amongst others.









Source: WhiteHouse.gov









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 21:01:45|Editor: huaxia

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Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 9, 2021. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) will convene its 26th session from Feb. 27 to 28 in Beijing.

The decision was made on Tuesday at a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee, which was presided over by Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.

An important task of the standing committee session is to make preparations for the upcoming fourth annual session of the 13th NPC, which will open on March 5.

According to the proposed agenda, lawmakers will review at the two-day standing committee session the work report of the NPC Standing Committee, which will be submitted to the annual assembly of the legislature in March.

Lawmakers will review the draft agenda for the NPC annual session, the draft name list of the session's presidium and secretary-general and the draft name list of members invited to sit in on the annual session as non-voting participants.

They will also deliberate a draft law on stamp duty, a law-enforcement report of the State Council, a Supreme People's Court report on its pilot reform project, a deputy qualification report and personnel-related bills. Enditem
In a joint statement, ten Western-funded non-governmental organizations insisted that such elections are the only way to overcome the current crisis of trust in the Armenian government.

They charged that Pashinian and his team place partisan interests above public ones and are therefore no different from the countrys former leadership toppled in the Velvet Revolution of April-May 2018.

A considerable part of the public has no confidence in the current authorities ability to not only cope with external and internal challenges brought about by the war [in Nagorno-Karabakh] but also guarantee Armenias peaceful development, said the NGOs that had strongly supported the Pashinian-led revolution.

Pashinian expressed readiness in late December to hold snap elections in the coming months following opposition protests sparked by Armenias defeat in the six-week war. Opposition forces have since continued to demand that the prime minister hand over power to a new and interim government that would hold the elections within a year.

In a weekend statement, Pashinian and his My Step bloc said they see no need for snap polls now because of the oppositions stance and what they described as a lack of popular demand.

A leading member of the bloc, Alen Simonian, defended the apparent U-turn and blamed the opposition for it on Tuesday.

My Step could not hold elections arbitrarily. When the opposition demands elections we will discuss that, Simonian told reporters.

The NGO statement dismissed that explanation. The claim that there is no broad-based public support for pre-term elections is as manipulative as the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary oppositions claim that elections organized by the current government will definitely be rigged, it said.

Nina Karapetiants, a civil rights activist, likewise said that Pashinian and his allies are using the opposition stance as an excuse not to dissolve the current parliament controlled by them.

They just realized that they would not get the votes that they got [in the last elections]  Im sure that the current authorities would not get even a quarter of those votes, Karapetiants told RFE/RLs Armenian Service.

Pashinians bloc garnered over 70 percent of the vote in the elections held in December 2018.
Between the Chinese New Year and Valentines Day, red is something of the color of the moment. A week ago, however, it began to take on an entirely different meaning, as a growing number of Russians began to post pictures of themselves on social media wearing clothes in all shades of crimson in support of Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Aleksei A. Navalny. Red is known to be Ms. Navalnayas favorite color, and she wore a bright red top to her husbands trial on Feb. 2.

As of Monday, there were 13,300 posts on Instagram of women (and a smattering of men) in red dresses, parkas, turtlenecks  pretty much any garment that could be enlisted for the cause  along with the hashtag # or dont be sad, everything will be OK, which is what Mr. Navalny is reported to have said to his wife after being sentenced to more than two years in prison for a parole violation.

In the wake of the yellow vests in France, the wall of moms in yellow at the social justice marches last summer, the pro-democracy activists in black in Hong Kong, the congresswomen in white at President Trumps 2019 State of the Union, and the womens rights marchers in their pink pussy hats, this is yet another example of the way visual statements have become a powerful  and growing  tool of protest in the age of social media.

The literal picture of an enormous united front is among the fastest, most efficient ways to demonstrate solidarity with a cause during a time when photographs have increasingly become the currency of global communication. And nothing conveys the idea of a united front more than a mosaic of individuals in one single, bright, impossible-to-miss color.

Newspapers and publishers have today united to urge MPs to investigate the Government's 'disgraceful' obstruction of legitimate Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.

Boris Johnson has said he supports press freedom in Britain but an investigation has revealed that his Government operates a secretive taxpayer-funded 'Clearing House' allegedly stifling disclosure of data.

Today civil servants have been accused of 'black listing' journalists, blocking their queries or delaying responses for months or even years when the law states they must be returned within 20 working days, according to an investigation by OpenDemocracy.

The editors of the Daily Mirror, The Guardian, The Times, the Daily Telegraph, the Financial Times and Paul Dacre, former editor of the Daily Mail, are among those who have signed a letter sent to William Wragg, The Tory Chair of the Public Administration Committee, and Julian Knight, the Tory chairman of the Media Committee.

'We believe that there are now strong grounds for a review of the UK government's treatment of and policies for dealing with Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and would urge the minister to address these concerns', it says.

Tory MP David Davis has said the Cabinet Office's Clearing House operation is 'certainly against the spirit' of the Freedom of Information Act, 'and probably the letter [of the law], too.'

Britain's newspapers and publishers, including former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre, have signed a letter sent to MPs demanding an investigation into the Government's treatment of FOI

The Cabinet Office (pictured in Lockdown) is alleged to have a team that black lists journalists and also advising departments on how to wriggle out of releasing information

FOI has led to thousands of news stories of national importance, including exposing MPs fiddling their expenses, proof that police are no longer pursuing all crimes and the heinous wasting of cash by local and national government on pet projects and bumper salaries.

Requests also revealed how the royal family were meddling in Government affairs when Prince Charles's 'black spider memos' were released, showing how the heir to the throne was lobbying of ministers on subjects from the Iraq war to alternative therapies.

FOIs have revealed countless other issues that would never have seen the light of day - and critics believe this is now under increasing threat because of Government obfuscation and delays.

OpenDemocracy has carried out an investigation into the secretive Cabinet Office FOI 'Clearing House', which is said to offer advice to all Whitehall departments on how to avoid releasing information.

Civil servants are alleged to have 'watch lists' of journalists and other persistent FOI Act users, including details about their work. There is also said to be a daily 'round robin' with details of the request, who sent it and how to deal with it.

A 'black list' of journalists believed to contain names of reporters from the majority of newspaper, news website, radio and TV news organisations also exists, it is alleged.

But FOI Act guidance says that requests, which can be made by any member of the public to any public body, should always be 'applicant blind' with now checks on who sent them.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said No10 very much welcomes press scrutiny, adding: The clearing house has been operating as part of the governments approach to FOIs since 2005 so it is not a new body within the Cabinet Office.

It acts to ensure that the advice and information we provide is consistent and compliant across government to ensure that freedom of information requests are handled in the proper and sensitive way.

We regularly and routinely disclose information, not just as part of the FOI process but as part of the regular transparency documents we publish on the Cabinet Office gov.uk website and will continue to do so.

The Clearing House has been accused of blocking the release of documents about the infected blood scandal in December, a scandal where thousands of people received contaminated transfusions.

Last month the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government told local authorities it was 'appropriate' to block the release of information about buildings that still have Grenfell-style cladding.

There was a decade-long battle to have Prince Charles' 'black spider' letters made public following a Freedom of Information request by the press

OpenDemocracy reporter Jenna Corderoy helped run the Clearing House investigation.

She learned that when she sent a Freedom of Information request to the Attorney General's Office, staff had written in internal emails: 'Just flagging that Jenna Corderoy is a journalist,' and: 'Once the response is confirmed, I'll just need [redacted] to sign off on this before it goes out, since Jenna Corderoy is a reporter'.

Former Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, the late Sir Jeremy Heywood  dubbed Sir Cover-Up  claimed in 2016 that the Freedom of Information Act was hampering the smooth running of government.

But his predecessor Lord Kerslake insisted this was wrong  if officials felt a 'chilling effect' it was 'largely in their heads'.

Michelle Stanistreet, General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said: 'In 2016 the government tried to clamp down on freedom of information and they failed, there was a public outcry at the time and the plans were dropped.

'Now it's clear they just changed their tactics. The intended outcome is the same.

'To obstruct and restrict FOI shows the government's disdain for open and transparent government and basic democratic scrutiny.

'Journalists from across the media industry are united on this issue, we all want to see FOI fully restored, to restrict FOI is to undermine public interest journalism.'


Tunis/Tunisia  The situation at the Tunisian-Libyan borders "is marking a change for the better," thanks to attempts at appeasement and dialogue between the various Libyan stakeholders, said Minister of National Defence Brahim Bartagi.

The security situation in Libya will gradually improve, which will have a positive impact on the situation at Tunisia's borders with Libya, he told reporters Monday after a closed session before the parliamentary Security and Defense Committee.

The session focused on the security situation on the Tunisian-Libyan borders.

MPs, members of the committee, underscored the need to ensure security along the borders between Tunisia and Libya, said Bartagi.

The Libyan Political Dialogue Forum elected, on Friday, February 5, in Geneva, Switzerland, the list led by Mohammed Younes Menfi, to the presidency of the Presidential Council. It therefore provided Libya with a new unified provisional executive responsible for overseeing the transition until the general elections on December 24.

The winning list received 39 votes out of 73. It is composed of: Mohammad Younes Menfi, President of the Presidency Council; Mossa Al-Koni and Abdallah Hussein Al-Lafi, members of the Presidency Council; and Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah, Prime Minister-designate.
Delhi Police today arrested actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu for his alleged involvement in Republic Day violence in the national capital. "Deep Sidhu, an accused in 26th January violence case arrested," Delhi Police Special Cell said on Tuesday.

Deep Sidhu, an accused in 26th January violence case arrested: Delhi Police Special Cell  ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

The police had announced a  1 lakh reward for leads on Deep Sidhu and three other accused.

Also Read | India should worry about its public debt

The investigation into the Republic Day violence is being conducted at three levels - local police, Special Cell and Crime Branch.

The names of Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu and gangster Lakka Sadana were included in the FIR registered in connection with the violence at Red Fort in Delhi on January 26.

On Republic Day, protestors did not follow the prearranged route and broke barricades to enter Delhi, clashed with police and vandalised property in several parts of the national capital during the farmers' tractor rally. They also entered the Red Fort and unfurled their flags from its ramparts.

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University of Massachusetts Amherst officials said Monday they will punish up to 354 students for COVID-19 rule-breaking.

This number includes up to 332 students housed on campus.

A recent spike of COVID-19 cases in the past week totaling 406  399 students and seven faculty and staff  prompted Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy on Sunday to cancel all in-person learning. He warned students to follow public health guidance, saying there would be punishments meted out to violators.

By acting aggressively now, we are confident we can contain this surge and more quickly return to normal operations, including a resumption of in-person classes, he said in a statement Sunday.

As of Monday night, the UMass Amherst website stated there were now 434 active COVID cases on campus.

Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Public Health Director Emma Dragon, in response to the UMass surge in cases, on Monday issued an emergency order extending the 9:30 p.m. curfew in the community, at least for the time being.

UMass officials attended Monday nights Amherst Town Council meeting, saying they are responding to the problem.

The university provided the town a 24-page document highlighting violations and consequences.

January 1 - February 5: 354 students referred to the conduct office; 332 were on campus residents, the document says.

Among the violations were back-to-campus quarantine rule-breaking, room capacity exceedances, failure to mask and social distance, along with noise complaints and other rowdiness.

The sanctions include suspension, removal from campus, removal from campus housing, probation and formal reprimands, the university said.

We really appreciate all the information, Town Council President Lynn Griesemer told the UMass officials following.

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Fitness Industry Council of Canada's (FIC) powerful stance to improve the lives of Canadians by asking the federal government to include fitness memberships and services as a medical cost on personal taxes.

EDMONTON, AB, Feb. 9, 2021 /CNW/ - Fitness Industry Council of Canada (FIC) has taken its most powerful stance to improve the lives of Canadians, asking the federal government to include fitness memberships and services as a medical cost on our personal taxes. This tax incentive would elevate Canada as a global leader by becoming a nation that supports and promotes health and wellness as part of a national health care strategy.

"We are at a critical point with our physical and mental health," says Sara Hodson, the CEO of LIVE WELL Exercise Clinic, and the co-chair of the British Columbia FIC coalition. "The cost of inactivity is simply too high. We have to inspire and encourage Canadians to get moving again today  not next week, next month, or next year. It would incentivize Canadians if they were able to write off their gym memberships."

Scott Wildeman, President of FIC, states that "fitness professionals from coast to coast are ready, willing and able to assist Canadians with creating lasting behaviour change as it relates to physical activity. We believe our industry is uniquely poised to help get people started, and keep them going with a new active lifestyle. It is well documented that this will save our health care system millions of dollars each year".

Fitness Industry Council of Canada presented the idea of a medical cost tax deduction to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland last week, providing hard facts to back up this proposal. Currently, more than 80 percent of Canadians do not get the recommended 150-minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise weekly; the financial cost of inactivity is estimated at more than 15 billion dollars. If the government were to implement this tax incentive, and if even only a small percentage of the population accessed the tax credit, this would provide a 500% Return on Investment.

"We know that Exercise is Medicine  we cannot refute the substantial research and data that proves exercise prevents and manages chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Knowing this, it is time for our country to stand behind the overwhelming data and empower Canadians to be more active," says Hodson. "Exercise is an effective prevention tool and treatment for mental health  which is a bigger concern for all of us, not simply in this pandemic but beyond. The impact on mental health after the Spanish Influenza of 1918 was felt for more than six years. The government has the opportunity to act, and it has to act now."

Fitness Industry Council of Canada represents more than 6000 facilities across the country, employing over 150,000 people. "The industry has been hit hard," says Hodson. "This move by the Canadian government would have an immediate upside for the Canadian economy, and it would create thousands of jobs  especially for the 18-25 year demographic that is drawn to work in our industry. This is a win-win for the Canadian people, for the economy, and above all for our health." Fitness Industry Council of Canada is poised to roll out the Prescription to Get Active program across Canada to align with this newly proposed tax incentive.

Sara Hodson and Scott Wildeman are available for interviews immediately.

SOURCE Fitness Industry Council of Canada

For further information: Please contact Erin Phelan, Communications Manager LIVE WELL Exercise Clinic [email protected] or 416-822-8621
Testament to Company's rapid adoption across the 13+ Billion cannabis industry

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 2021 / Green Check Verified (GCV), the leading regtech provider of compliant cannabis banking solutions and services, today announced it has closed its latest $2 million Convertible Note Financing and reports that it was oversubscribed bringing the total amount closed to $2.4 million. The round was led by Flatiron Venture Partners and included investments from Bravos Capital, Basecamp Fund and Senior Banking Lawyers & Executives, as well as returning investors Silverleaf Venture Partners and Fenway Summer.

Founded in 2017 by a team of regulatory, banking and technology experts, GCV delivers the technology and advisory services that enable financial institutions to develop compliant, efficient and profitable cannabis banking programs. Since going live in 2019 with its technology and advisory services, the company has seen rapid adoption and is currently operating in 24 states with over 400 cannabis-related businesses on its cloud-based compliance monitoring platform.

This current round of fundraising brings the total investment in GCV to over $5 million. With this new funding, GCV will focus on adding additional product features to its platform, driving awareness around cannabis banking in states with new programs and expanding its national team to support the growing number of FIs entering this space.

"As more states open the door to medical and adult-use cannabis programs - as highlighted by the success of several recent ballot initiatives - the need for access to safe and transparent banking services for this thriving industry is only growing," says Raj Date, Managing Partner at Fenway Summer. "Green Check Verified has a proven track record of successfully working with banks and credit unions from across the country, and their technology coupled with end-to-end advisory services truly sets them apart as the go-to partner for institutions wanting to build successful cannabis banking programs or improve upon existing ones."

The global cannabis market is expected to reach $42.7 billion by 2024, according to a January report from Arcview Market Research. With this ongoing momentum and the promising outlook of action out of Washington, GCV is poised to help financial institutions capitalize on this burgeoning industry.

"We at Green Check Verified recognize the massive and incredibly timely opportunity that exists for financial institutions interested in providing compliant banking services to this widely underserved market, "said Kevin Hart, CEO and Founder of Green Check Verified. "Compliance is at the core of what we do, so the banks and credit unions we work with know our focus is not only on helping them build a profitable cannabis banking program, but also one that exceeds regulatory expectations."

This announcement follows closely after GCV announced a partnership with Laika, an enterprise-ready compliance platform, to provide financial institutions with an extra layer of compliance oversight in the rapidly-growing cannabis banking space. GCV's rapid adoption is a testament to its focus on excellence and customer experience.

About Green Check Verified

Green Check Verified (GCV) offers a suite of compliant regulatory banking technology solutions and advisory services for financial institutions. Founded in 2017 by a team of technology, banking, and regulatory experts, we focus on the intersection between community banking and the emerging legal cannabis industry. Our goal is to provide the services and technology needed to connect these two industries in compliant and profitable ways. For more information about Green Check Verified, visit www.greencheckverified.com

Contact Information

Lauren Perry

Caliber Corporate Advisers

lauren@calibercorporate.com

952.221.4615

Investor Relations

Mukesh Kshatriya, CFO

Green Check Verified

mukesh@greencheckverified.com

SOURCE: Green Check Verified

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628572/Green-Check-Verified-Announces-New-Funding-as-It-Expands-Cannabis-Banking-Program-Operations-in-24-States
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

The Supreme Court on February 9 stayed the arrest of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor along with six journalists who were accused of putting out "misleading" tweets on the Republic Day violence in New Delhi.

A bench headed by the Chief Justice of India SA Bobde passed the order giving them protection from arrest, LiveLaw said in a report.

The order was passed along with a notice on several writ petitions filed by the accused. The Supreme Court has also sought a response from the Centre. The bench will hear the petitions after two weeks.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tharoor, requested protection from coercive action as well. While the Bench, also comprising of Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, was reluctant, Sibal argued that the accused could be arrested by police from different states.

"Mr Mehta, are you going to arrest these people? The matter is covered as far as we are concerned. Are you going to arrest them till we hear you?," CJI Bobde asked the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, LiveLaw reported.

Earlier, the Delhi Police had filed FIR against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and journalists Rajdeep Sardesai, Mrinal Pande, Zafar Agha, Paresh Nath, Vinod K Jose and Anant Nath for allegedly misleading the public over the death of a protestor during the Republic Day violence in New Delhi.

A case against Tharoor was also filed in Noida, and four FIRs were registered against him in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal, Hoshangabad, Multai and Betul, the report said.


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To achieve target delivery of drugs to cells and organs, scientists have to be able to transport the molecules of pharmaceutical substances to targets using a controllable carrier. The role of such a carrier can be played by special particles, such as lipid droplets or magnetic nanoparticles. Among the latter, the most popular are the ones based on iron oxides. Their sizes range from 1 to 100 nm, which is dozens of times smaller than animal cells, and they can be moved within a body using an external magnetic field.

However, in practice, it is quite difficult to control nanoparticles with magnets, as the magnetic field quickly becomes weaker when the distance from the magnet increases. This problem is usually solved by superconducting magnets with very high magnetic field intensity. However, they are extremely expensive and difficult to work with. A team of scientists from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University (Kaliningrad) and the University of Genoa (Italy) suggested a new approach to regular permanent magnets.

"To control magnetic nanoparticles, modern-day scientists often use either individual magnets or the so-called Halbach systems: classic magnet arrays that have a magnetic field only on one side. When choosing a magnet or a system, people usually pay attention only to magnetic field induction, not to its driving force. However, it's the driving force that determines the efficiency and speed of nanoparticle delivery. Our colleagues tasked us with developing more efficient magnets to secure the delivery of nanoparticles with drugs to target organs in lab mice. The magnets had to be very small, so we were limited in the weight and size of our materials. Still, we managed to achieve improved efficiency using an array of different magnets," said Alexander Omelyanchik, a co-author of the work, and a postgraduate student at the Laboratory of Nevel Magnetic Materials, IKBFU.

Instead of a single cylindrical magnet, the scientists suggested using a combination of permanent magnets with different shapes. To confirm the efficiency of this solution, the team used cylindrical and cubic neodymium magnets to build various symmetrical and non-symmetrical assemblies. The total surface area of magnets or their arrays did not exceed 2 cm2. After that, the team measured the values of the magnetic field and its gradient at 4 mm under the surface of the magnet. Approximately the same distance separates the surface of a mouse's skin and its internal organs. From all magnet combinations, the team chose the ones with the strongest magnetic driving force (a physical value that is proportional to the product of magnetic field induction and its gradient).

The strongest magnetic force at a given point was registered for a combination of four magnets with the same polarity, of which two were cubic and the other two consisted of three smaller cylindrical magnets each. However, a different method of measurement showed different results. The strongest magnetic force for the area of 1 cm2 was produced by a magnet with the same structure but different polarity of one of the cylindrical components. The magnetic force of such non-symmetrical combinations in a 1 cm2 area (the size of a liver or heart or a lab mouse) was almost ten times stronger than that of regular cylindrical magnets. The team believes that the new approach could potentially apply to humans too.

"We have been studying magnetic nanoparticles in close collaboration with our colleagues from Italy, Czech Republic, Spain, Sweden, and other European countries for quite some time now. Although we are physicists, we are in constant communication with chemists, biologists, and specialists in material studies. This complementary experience helps us develop unique solutions. The interdisciplinary nature of this topic is very appealing to me, as this field of study still has many unanswered questions," commented Alexander Omelyanchik.

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SIUEs Carolyn Butts-Wilmsmeyer, PhD, Director of the Center for Predictive Analytics. The overall goal of the ELIAS fellowship program is to produce students who can meet the need for an increasingly data-driven workforce, particularly in the life sciences.

There is a growing need for statisticians and data analysts across all sectors nationwide, as advancements in computational power have afforded researchers the ability to generate and analyze mass quantities of data. To meet the demand, employment opportunities for statisticians are expected to grow by 33% within the decade.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles Center for Predictive Analytics (C-PAN) is leading a statewide, multi-institutional fellowship program funded by the United States Department of Agricultures (USDA)s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through its Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates program, award number 2019-67032-31623.

Under the direction of C-PAN Director Carolyn Butts-Wilmsmeyer, PhD, the project entitled, Preparing Undergraduates for New Frontiers in Data Analysis: Experiential Learning in Applied Statistics (ELIAS) Fellows, is concurrently training undergraduate students in real-world data analysis and hands-on research in a greenhouse, laboratory or field setting.

Institutional collaborators include the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Illinois State University (ISU), Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) and Parkland Community College (PCC). Co-PIs are UIUCs Martin Bohn, Maria Villamil and Alexander Lipka, with support from NEIUs Pamela Geddes and ISUs Nicholas Heller.

The overall goal of the ELIAS fellowship program is to produce students who can meet the need for an increasingly data-driven workforce, particularly in the life sciences, Butts-Wilmsmeyer explained. Upon graduation, students in statistics and data science are placed in multidisciplinary teams consisting of chemists, biologists and business personnel.

However, current training in data science and statistics often does not occur in laboratory, greenhouse, field or other applied research settings, making it difficult for graduates to understand the limitations in these research environments and to communicate findings across disciplinary bounds. Through this program, students are placed in a two-year, dually immersive research experience in applied statistics/data science and a laboratory, greenhouse or field research environment, based on the students interests.

Fellow Sam Garcia, an environmental science major at NEIU, is in her second year of the program. I have been passionate about environmental science since I learned about climate change in elementary school, she recalled. I particularly became interested in data-driven research, because quantifying and analyzing data brings order and significance to the information that can be found through science.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Geddes, and in collaboration with Urban Rivers, Garcia is analyzing the effects of artificial floating wetlands on macroinvertebrate communities in the Chicago River.

The ELIAS program has provided me the opportunity to carry out my own independent research project which is preparing me for graduate school, Garcia said. After graduate school, I plan to pursue a research career in the marine or atmospheric science field at NOAA, NASA or a similar organization. My long-term intentions are to use science as a tool to incite change that will help preserve the environment.

Butts-Wilmsmeyer notes the USDAs recognition of the need for programs that support the recruitment and training of traditionally underrepresented groups in the food and agricultural sciences. As such, the ELIAS Fellows recruitment efforts emphasize women and minorities, as well as transfer students from community colleges.

While the fellowship program is open to all students in the agricultural and life sciences, and all fellows will be provided with unfailing support, we recognize that there may be some hurdles which female students, transfer students and underrepresented minorities may face at a higher frequency than their classmates, Butts-Wilmsmeyer explained. Our mentor team actively works with all of our fellows to identify ways to overcome any hurdles they may face during the completion of their degree and progression toward their desired careers.

Participating students receive full funding for their research, as well as a $7,250 stipend each year of the fellowship. They will present their findings at UIUC Agronomy Day, Undergraduate Research Symposiums at their respective institutions and at a scientific conference of their choosing.

By preparing the next generation of leaders in a knowledge-based economy, SIUEs Graduate School fulfills the regions demand for highly trained professionals. Graduate school offerings include arts and sciences, business, education, engineering, nursing, and interdisciplinary opportunities. SIUE professors provide students with a unique integration of theoretical education and hands-on research experiences. Students can obtain graduate certificates or pursue masters degrees, and be part of a supportive learning and rich intellectual environment that is tailored to the needs of adult learners. The Graduate School raises the visibility of research and creative activity at SIUE, which ranks highest among its Illinois Board of Higher Education peers in total research and development expenditures, according to the National Science Foundation. Doctoral programs are available in nursing practice and educational leadership. Cooperative PhD programs in history, environmental resources and policy, engineering science, and computer science are offered with SIU Carbondale.
The company is targeting privacy enthusiasts in the consumer and business sectors, as other applications for secure messaging fail to guarantee data privacy and security for their users

Ltd ( ) ( ) (FRA:A2PN34) announced Tuesday that it is on track to launch its Sekur secure communications solution to the US mass market.

The company said it is putting the final touches on its Sekur.com website to ensure a smooth launch in the US.

GlobeX is targeting all privacy enthusiasts in the consumer and business sectors, as other applications for secure messaging fail to guarantee data privacy and security for their users. The launch is expected by the end of March 2021, as the company is targeting several million consumers and business executives in search of a secure and private application for all their communications needs.

GlobeX said it plans to first perform several small digital marketing tests and increase the scope of the marketing program once it has fine-tuned the message to maximize its return on investment in the advertising budget. The first phase of the program has a budget of US$250,000, which is now available. As the campaign gains traction and success, the company will increase the budget.

Sekur, which includes SekurMessenger as part of a bundle of email, messaging, and file transfer into one app solutions, includes the company's latest SekurMail technology -- which includes proprietary anti-phishing and privacy feature called SekurSend.

SekurSend lets a user send an email to any other recipient, whether they have Sekur or not, in full privacy and security as the email never leaves Sekur's encrypted email servers based in Switzerland. The recipient can then click on the notification and reply in the same manner using SekurReply, without the recipient having to register for a Sekur account.

The sender can also decide to protect any email sent by adding a password to open it, a read-limit and a self-destruct timer as well. Sending an email with the SekurSend feature allows the senders and recipients to add limitless size attachments to the emails without crowding the recipients' email box. This also eliminates BEC attacks for businesses and email phishing attacks.

SekurMessenger eliminates many of the privacy and security risks by not only not requiring a phone number, which would divulge a user's phone device ID, but also by not social engineering a user's phone or computer contact list and infecting the contacts by default as well, eliminating a huge loophole in security and privacy.

SekurMessenger issues each user a username and an SM number. The SM number is the contact ID a user would disclose in order for other SM users to be added. The service comes with a self-destruct timer and other features as well, including GlobeX's proprietary VirtualVaults and HeliX technologies with all data stored in Swiss-hosted encrypted servers.

Plans to run a test

We plan to first do a small test via digital marketing and direct email marketing, and once we have fine-tuned the message and we see a greater conversion, we plan to accelerate the scope and size of the marketing, said CEO Alain Ghiai in a statement.

There is a vast market for consumers, privacy enthusiasts and businesses in the USA and we intend to capture a large part of this market. We have already identified at least 500,000 executives we plan to target, in addition to the millions of privacy and security enthusiast consumers.

Ghiai added: "As we are not connected, and never have been connected, to AWS, Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud platforms, commonly referred to as Big Tech, we can offer a truly independent, private and secure means of communications through secure messaging, secure voice record transfer, secure voice and video conferencing, and secure email through our proprietary technology and our secure servers based in Switzerland. With security and privacy becoming a global concern, and the new WhatsApp rules to share all users' data with Facebook, we have seen an increase in demand and inquiries for our secure and private communications solutions in particular, and we plan on capitalizing on this demand as much as possible."

Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham
Buchanan  The coordinator of the disabled community in Grand Bassa County has said the many challenges they are enduring are making their future bleak.

Jerry Laffa added that those of them seeking tertiary education are being denied access.

Laffa lamented, "It is difficult for us to attend the [community] college due to the distance, damaged bridge and the college loop structures are not disabled-friendly."

"I graduated from the Liberia Christian High School two years ago. I managed to make my way to the community college but I couldn't continue due to the challenges," Laffa added.

"I can be ashamed to enter class because I have to drag myself on the ground before entering the class with my dirty clothes," he further said, sadly.

Lamenting how he could not use his wheelchair on the school bus, which commutes students to the college's Paynesberry Campus, Laffa said he was constrained to discontinue classes.

"The college campus is very far from Buchanan; other students use the bus but we as disabled students do not have access to the bus due to our wheels," he explained.

"On one occasion, I nearly fell in the river with my wheel when the heavy rain damaged the bridge leading to the college."
A mother-of-two who was stalked by a former work colleague said she owes her life to gardai after he has caught on CCTV brandishing a crowbar outside her home after leaving a menacing letter threatening to rape her and her daughter.

Speaking on RTEs 'Claire Byrne Live this evening, Una Ring from Youghal, Co Cork, spoke of the terrifying ordeal she underwent last year at the hands of former colleague James Steele.

She described how he bombarded her with unwanted text messages after she agreed to meet him for what she thought was a work-related meeting after he changed jobs last spring.

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"We went into the conference room where we were meant to be setting up the stuff and there was nothing there. It was literally just a table. There was no chairs, no white boards and I was like 'I'm in trouble here'.

"So I turned around and said 'what's going on?' and next thing his arms were around me and he was trying to kiss me and I just kept moving. All I could do was move my head away because his arms were around my arms. I was just asking him to stop and I said 'I don't want this' and he kept saying 'You won't know until you try' and I kept pleading with him to stop."

After he apologised to her the following day, she told him to stop contacting her but he texted her again to say he would be calling to her home after she didnt respond to his texts, she said.

For the next few months, she lived in constant fear and went to see her GP over her increasing anxiety, she told the programme.

"Every time the phone beeped (I thought) was it going to be him? Is he going to call to the door? That fear was instilled at that stage.

She had a CCTV camera installed which recorded him leaving a letter on the windscreen of her car threatening to rape her and her daughter after her car tyres had been painted pink and her windows were daubed with black Xs and Os with the message I win.

"It was absolutely terrifying. The fact he mentioned my daughter brought it to a new new level. I was actually in a state of panic at that stage, she said.

Gardai, meanwhile, had been staking out her home and arrested Steele the following night when he could be seen on camera approaching her home with a crowbar in his hand.

Father-of-two James Steele (52) of Reavilleen, Roscarberry, Co Cork, was jailed for five years last week for a campaign of stalking and harassment against Ms Ring. He was arrested after a special surveillance operation was set up around Ms Rings home and he was found to be in possession of duct tape, rope and a crowbar.

Ms Ring said she was thankful to the gardai who helped end her nightmare.

She said: I owe them everything. They were very human about it. They were so kind. They went above and beyond and were still calling (after Steeles conviction) to see if I was okay.

The Australian-born salesman later told detectives the only explanation he could offer for his actions was that he had become totally obsessed with Ms Ring.

The Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard how she was so terrified, she considered getting her identification details tattooed onto her body so that if she was kidnapped and killed, it would assist gardai. Steele pleaded guilty to charges of harassment, attempted burglary with intent to rape, possession of articles with intent to cause a crime, and two counts of criminal damage.

He was sentenced to seven years in prison with two years suspended for time served while in custody.
Last year, Philadelphia lawyer Michael van der Veen filed a lawsuit against then-President Donald Trump accusing him of making "repeated claims" that mail voting is ripe with fraud "despite having no evidence in support of these claims."

This week, van der Veen is adopting a different posture as part of the team of attorneys defending Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election result in his Senate impeachment trial.

How a longtime personal-injury lawyer found himself at the center of that trial, which opened Tuesday, may say more about his client than his own legal career. Trump struggled to find lawyers to take on his case, parting ways with several who were unwilling to claim that the 2020 election was stolen, as the president is said to have wanted them to do.

Van der Veen's route to Trump's legal team began when the firm he founded - van der Veen, O'Neill, Hartshorn and Levin - hired Bruce Castor Jr. in December. Castor, a former prosecutor from suburban Philadelphia, in turn was recommended to Trump aides and hired last month.

Now, van der Veen's name and signature appear in Trump's impeachment filings alongside Castor's, as well as those of David Schoen, an Atlanta-based lawyer Trump brought on last week. In a 78-page defense brief filed Monday, the lawyers argued that Trump was entitled to express his belief that "voting irregularities" he attributed to illegal changes to election laws had tainted the election.

Van der Veen did not respond to repeated requests for comment made through his law firm.

It has been just a few months since his name was on a very different legal document - a lawsuit against Trump, the U.S. Postal Service and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy filed in federal court in August on behalf of Melvin Johnakin, an independent candidate who last year unsuccessfully sought to challenge Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Pa. Johnakin claimed in the suit that operational changes at the federal agency would make it harder for voters to cast ballots during the coronavirus pandemic, part of a wave of litigation against the Postal Service last year.

On his website, van der Veen touted the action thusly: "To exercise the fundamental right to vote, many voters have and will utilize all available means to vote by mail rather than in person at a polling place. Advanced planning and proactive measures will be necessary to ensure that voters have sufficient access to vote by mail to preserve and protect the essential right to vote and prevent large-scale disenfranchisement."

The suit described DeJoy as a "Republican Party and Trump campaign megadonor" and accused the Postal Service of "reducing staff hours, prohibiting overtime, removing hundreds of high-volume mail-processing machines from facilities across the country and removing mail boxes in urban areas with high concentrations of minority, low income and Democratic voters."

Those operational changes "led to delays in the delivery of mail," the suit said - and came at a time when Trump was making "repeated claims" without evidence that voting by mail is "ripe with fraud."

The suit was settled in late November, part of a broader effort in 19 states and the District of Columbia to block the Postal Service from making changes that could delay the mail.

Trump and his legal team at the time were attacking accommodations that state officials had made to help voters cast ballots amid the health crisis, falsely asserting that those changes led to widespread fraud.

On Nov. 25, the day the suit was dismissed, Trump spoke by telephone to a panel of Pennsylvania state senators who had assembled to examine allegations of fraud. He said he had "won by a lot" - and lamented that "all we need is to have some judge listen to it properly without having a political opinion or having another kind of a problem."

There is no prohibition against a lawyer representing a former adversary in a new matter when the previous client has no interest, said Stephen Gillers, a law professor at New York University, who noted that the practice is common.

In Philadelphia, van der Veen is best-known for his law firm's ubiquitous ads on local news radio station KYW-AM, which are reminiscent of East Coast electronics chain Crazy Eddie's high-octane TV pitches from the 1980s.

"Whether you're walking down Chestnut or Market, Frankurt or Aramingo, be careful and watch your step," the announcer nearly shouts in one of van der Veen's radio spots. "But if the walkway isn't clear, and you fall and get hurt due to snow and ice, call 215-546-1000 for van der Veen, O'Neill Hartshorn and Levin - trial lawyers excelling in the area of the law most critical to your family."

"The 'V,' " the announcer concludes, 'is for 'Victory.' "

The law firm's website offers personal-injury representation as well as "relentless, savvy defense" work for those accused of corporate embezzlement, Internet-based offenses or violent crime. And it claims massive results, including a $31.5 million judgment for a man paralyzed in a motorcycle accident and a $10 million settlement for a 9-year-old boy struck by a tractor-trailer.

Van der Veen is active in local and state trial lawyers' associations; last year, he donated $5,000 to the state group's political action committee, according to Pennsylvania campaign finance reports.

During the first two years of Trump's presidency, van der Veen donated to prominent Pennsylvania Democrats, including Sen. Robert Casey Jr., one of the former president's most vocal critics in the chamber. A spokesman for Casey's office declined to comment on van der Veen's representation of Trump.

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., who has received several political donations from van der Veen in recent years, said in an interview that she wondered whether Trump realizes he hired someone who recently went up against him in court.

"Given the former president's enemies list, he would likely not be happy to learn he'd been sued by his current lawyer, since he generally demands total loyalty," said Scanlon, who is also a lawyer. "It does seem a little out of character for the former president to embrace someone who so recently sued him."

A spokesman for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Van der Veen drew local media attention in 2018 for the elaborate renovation of his small firm's offices in Philadelphia's Center City neighborhood. The 25-employee firm occupies a 19th-century row house featuring a Delftware fireplace and ornate mantel carvings of Zeus and Apollo. The customized furniture he bought from Maine-based Thos. Moser was built from cherrywood harvested from family farms in Pennsylvania's Allegheny Plateau - "so there's no clear-cutting involved," according to a write-up in Philadelphia Business Journal.

For some in Pennsylvania, van der Veen's representation of Trump is a natural fit, given his career path as a personal-injury lawyer who broadcasts ads on local talk radio and touts glowing magazine cover stories on his law firm's website.

"It probably speaks more to the gadfly culture of Philadelphia trial attorneys than anything else," said one Democratic strategist from Pennsylvania who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly. "It's a showman's culture."
New Delhi, Feb 9 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Kerala-based activist Rehana Fathima not to use social media to hurt religious sentiments or feelings, however it stayed a direction issued by the Kerala High Court restricting her from using visual or electronic media to publish or share any material or comments.

Fathima had moved the top court challenging the November 23, 2020 order of the Kerala High Court, which imposed restrictions on her for uploading a video of a cookery show on social media where she had allegedly hurt religious sentiments.

A bench headed by Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman also issued notice on appeal filed by Fathima challenging this Kerala High Court order. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, representing Fathima, urged the top court to set aside a bail condition imposed by the High Court. According to the High Court order till the trial is over, she was restrained from sharing or transmitting any material or her comments through visual and electronic media, which is open to public.

Justice Nariman, staying this condition, said "It is a complete gag." However, the top court observed that another bail condition previously imposed in the same matter in November 2018, which restrained from her sharing or disseminating any comment hurting religious feelings or sentiments, should continue.

The High Court had observed that use of term having religious sentiments during a cookery show is prima facie likely to hurt Hindus' religious feelings who worship cow as a deity.

A single-judge bench of Justice Sunil Thomas observed that using the contentious term during the show she had violated the bail condition imposed by the High Court in 2018 in another case connected with the publication of derogatory materials about Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala. In this matter, the court while granting bail to Fathima had directed she should not share or forward any comment which hurts religious sentiments of any community.
By Pei Li and Brenda Goh HONG KONG/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Tencent Holdings Ltd may be the world's largest gaming company and a Chinese internet powerhouse worth more than $900 billion, but it's also spooked. Rapidly growing ByteDance, the owner of TikTok and the similar Chinese short video platform Douyin, has made sizeable inroads into business areas Tencent holds dear - including ads, gaming, livestreaming, social media and office software. That has forced Tencent over the past year to become less of absent parent and much more hands-on with some of the 800-plus ...
PARIS, Feb. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Constellium SE (NYSE: CSTM) ("Constellium") announced today the commencement of a proposed private offering of approximately $500 million of U.S. dollar denominated sustainability-linked senior unsecured notes due 2029 (the "Sustainability-Linked Notes"), subject to market and other conditions (the "Notes Offering").



Constellium, as part of its sustainability strategy, has established sustainability performance targets to (1) reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity to equal or lower than 0.615 of CO 2 equivalent per metric ton of sales for the full year of 2025 and (2) increase its recycled aluminium input to equal to or higher than 685 thousand metric tons for the full year of 2026.

Constellium intends to use the net proceeds of the Notes Offering, together with cash on hand, to repurchase pursuant to a tender offer (the "Tender Offer"), and/or redeem, in accordance with the governing indenture, all of its outstanding 6.625% Senior Notes due 2025 (the "2025 Notes"), and to pay related fees and expenses. Concurrently with the commencement of the Tender Offer, the Company called for redemption, subject to certain conditions, all of the outstanding Notes (the "Redemption"). There can be no assurance that Constellium will successfully complete the Notes Offering, the Tender Offer or the Redemption on the terms described herein or at all.

The Company expects the redemption date for the 2025 Notes to occur on March 11, 2021 (the "Redemption Date"). The redemption price for the 2025 Notes is 101.656% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 2025 Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date. The Tender Offer and the Redemption are conditioned on the consummation of the Notes Offering.

Important Additional Information

The Sustainability-Linked Notes will be offered and sold to qualified institutional buyers in the United States pursuant to Rule 144A and outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Sustainability-Linked Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell, shares of the Company, the Sustainability-Linked Notes, the 2025 Notes or any other securities, shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, and shall not constitute a notice of redemption of any of the 2025 Notes.

The Sustainability-Linked Notes are not intended to be offered, sold, transferred or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold, transferred or otherwise made available, as part of their initial distribution or at any time thereafter, directly or indirectly to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (the "EEA"). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "MiFID II"); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in the Regulation (EU) 2017/1129. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the "PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the Sustainability-Linked Notes or otherwise making available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Sustainability-Linked Notes to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

Solely for the purposes of each manufacturer's product approval process in MiFID II, the target market assessment in respect of the Sustainability-Linked Notes has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market of the Sustainability-Linked Notes is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (each as defined in MiFID II) and (ii) all channels for distribution of such Notes to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate.

The Sustainability-Linked Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom (the "UK"). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the "EUWA"); (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("FSMA") and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the Sustainability-Linked Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and, therefore, offering or selling the Sustainability-Linked Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

UK MiFIR product governance / Professional Investors and ECPs Target Market - Solely for the purposes of each manufacturer's product approval process made pursuant to UK MiFIR and UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules (as defined below), the target market assessment in respect of the Notes has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market for the Notes is only eligible counterparties, as defined in the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook ("COBS"), and professional clients, as defined in Regulation (EU) No. 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA ("UK MiFIR"); and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Notes to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Notes (a "distributor") should take into consideration the manufacturers' target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules") is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Notes (by either adopting or refining the manufacturers' target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels.

About Constellium

Constellium (NYSE: CSTM) is a global sector leader that develops innovative, value added aluminium products for a broad scope of markets and applications, including aerospace, automotive and packaging. Constellium generated 5.9 billion of revenue in 2019.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" with respect to our business, results of operations and financial condition, and our expectations or beliefs concerning future events and conditions. You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as, but not limited to, "believes," "expects," "may," "should," "approximately," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," likely," "will," "would," "could" and similar expressions (or the negative of these terminologies or expressions). All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Many risks and uncertainties are inherent in our industry and markets, while others are more specific to our business and operations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: market competition; economic downturn; disruption to business operations, including the length and magnitude of disruption resulting from the global COVID-19 pandemic; the inability to meet customer demand and quality requirements; the loss of key customers, suppliers or other business relationships; the capacity and effectiveness of our hedging policy activities; the loss of key employees; levels of indebtedness which could limit our operating flexibility and opportunities; and other risk factors set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F, and as described from time to time in subsequent reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The occurrence of the events described and the achievement of the expected results depend on many events, some or all of which are not predictable or within our control. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Jersey City may investigate whether a swath of Downtown land that includes the Sixth Street Embankment should be designated as an area in need of redevelopment.

The City Council will vote on a resolution Wednesday permitting the Planning Board to study the land after Conrail pulled out of a settlement that would have ended a 15-year long legal battle over the parcels.

Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said Conrail unexpectedly backed out of a proposed deal that would have brought the property under city control. The city aims to one day convert the Sixth Street Embankment  an abandoned elevated train line that stretches from Marin Boulevard to Brunswick Street  into a public park.

We were at the 1-yard line for a global settlement only to have Conrail abruptly walk away from what they had previously indicated was acceptable to them, Wallace-Scalcione said.

We continue to work in conjunction with the community group to secure this property for our residents, and despite Conrails unexplained withdrawal from the previously agreed upon settlement parameters, the city remains engaged with all involved parties as it pursues all land use options.

Conrail did not respond to a request for comment.

In addition to the six-block Embankment, the resolution lists numerous parcels to the west that could connect the future park to the Bergen Arches and Essex-Hudson Greenway. If designated an area in need of redevelopment, only a small portion of the land would be eligible to be seized through eminent domain, according to the resolution.

In 2005, Conrail sold the Embankment for $3 million to real-estate investors Victoria and Steve Hyman, who wanted to develop housing on the land. But Jersey City challenged the sale in court, beginning a 15-year legal battle over the site. The city has been working out the details of a settlement with Victoria Hyman since Steve Hyman died in 2019.

During a November meeting of the Embankment Preservation Coalition, Jersey City Mayor Fulop said that a settlement over the land was just weeks away. Under the proposed deal, New York City developer Albanese Organization would have foot the bill for the land in exchange for the right to build two residential high-rises on the easternmost segment of the Embankment. The rest of the property would have been city-owned and developed into an elevated park.

Victoria Hyman declined to comment. The Albanese Organization could not be reached for comment.

Stephen Gucciardo, president of the Embankment Preservation Coalition, said Monday the public should get an answer to why Conrail walked away from the settlement after working on it for two years.

I think they owe everyone an explanation, Gucciardo said. With Conrail leaving the settlement unexplained, the coalition and its allies will explore all options available to it including federal, local and remaining parties.

We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to connect the Embankment, through the Bergen Arches, out to Montclair via the Essex-Hudson Greenway, added Gregory Edgell, the president of the Bergen Arches Coalition.

In a post-COVID world, greenways can create safe and equitable transit options and essential outdoor green space. We hope that everyone involved is doing everything in their power to achieve the overall mission which is much bigger than any one organization.

Jersey Journal Reporter Peter DAuria contributed to this story
[February 09, 2021] Groove Wins Eight G2 2021 Best Software Awards

Groove, the leading sales engagement platform for enterprises using Salesforce, today announced that it has earned awards in eight categories of the G2 (News - Alert) Best Software Awards 2021. In addition to being listed as a Top 50 software provider for two consecutive years, Groove was also recently recognized as the top-rated sales engagement platform in G2's Winter 2021 Grid Reports. G2's Best Software Awards rank the world's best software companies and products based on authentic, timely reviews from real users. After evaluating more than 4 million data points across more than 100,000 software products, G2 ranked Groove in the top 50 of all software companies for the following eight categories: Best Products for Sales (#12 out of 50)

Best Products for Marketers (#19 out of 50)

Highest Satisfaction (#10 out of 100)

Top 50 Products for Enterprise (#23 out of 50)

Top 50 Products for Mid-Market (#37 out of 50)

Fastest Growing Products (#24 out of 100)

Top 100 Software (#49 out of 100)

Top 100 Global Vendors (#38 out of 100) G2 created their annual best of software lists based on data from more than one million authentic, verified customer reviews. These reviews were written and published between January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020. Enterprise-Grade Sales Engagement for Aligned Revenue Teams In additin to being a Top 50 Product for Enterprise, Groove has maintained its status as the only sales engagement platform to be ranked a Top 50 Product for both Sales and Marketing. This honor is a testament to Groove's ability to meet the needs of aligned revenue teams.



The vast majority of Groove's customers have multiple teams using the platform, including Account Executives, Account Management, Marketing, and other customer-facing teams. Groove's high cross-functional adoption rates are due to the flexibility and ease-of-use of the platform. Because Groove is native to Salesforce, it can be tailored to align with the specific needs of each team, while reducing administrative overhead by as much as 90%. G2 Best Software List Award Criteria

Winners were determined based on reviews left at G2.com between Jan. 1, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2020. All scores are calculated using G2's algorithms, including for Satisfaction and Market Presence, explained in detail here. Further information on methodology is available upon request. About G2 G2, the world's leading business solution review platform, leverages 1M+ user reviews to drive better purchasing decisions. Business professionals, buyers, investors, and analysts use the site to compare and select the best software and services based on peer reviews and synthesized social data. Every month, more than four million people visit G2's site to gain unique insights. About Groove Groove is the leading sales engagement platform for enterprises using Salesforce, specializing in ease-of-use, ease-of-administration, and cross-team collaboration. Built for the needs of full-cycle sellers, Groove automates non-sales activities so that pre- and post-sales reps can spend more time building relationships and generating revenue. On average, Groove gives revenue teams 20% of their time back to focus on higher-value activities. Groove's Salesforce-native architecture can be customized to align with industry-specific workflows while ensuring more accurate reporting and forecasting, lower compliance risk, and streamlined administration. Over 50,000 sales representatives use Groove at some of the world's largest and fastest-growing companies, including Google (News - Alert) , Uber, and Capital One. Groove has earned the highest customer satisfaction rating on G2 in the sales engagement category for over two years in a row. Groove was named one of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces 2020 and is one of the 2020 Inc. 5000 fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. Groove also ranks #16 on the San Francisco Business Times' "fastest-growing private companies in the Bay Area in 2020" and #191 on the Deloitte (News - Alert) 2020 Technology Fast 500 list. Founded in 2014, Groove is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in San Diego and Seattle. To learn more, visit groove.co. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005429/en/

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On June 15th 2006, a young, dynamic and vibrant lawyer came to my Office. He came to my office as a private practitioner to discuss a case in which he wanted to serve a subpoena on me, in my official capacity, to testify.



That case was Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings vrs. Ato Sam and Western Publications Limited (Publishers of the Daily Guide newspaper). He was counsel for defendants.



I violently refused. We had an argument. Indeed, it was quite a confrontation. At the end of it all I said to him; one day you will be the Attorney General. You will occupy this Office.



He said, you are speaking from the Deputy Attorney General's Office. I said, but I am the Attorney General-designate and you will occupy both positions. I had been vetted for Attorney General and approved by Parliament but had not been sworn in by President Kufour. As such, I was still in the Office of the Deputy Attorney General.



I subsequently gathered that, notwithstanding my refusal to testify on a subpoena, the defendants won the case. I met the young lawyer one day and I asked him whether he saw the wisdom in my refusal to testify. He admitted that he did.



That young lawyer was Godfred Dame, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice designate. Today, 5 Attorneys General since my tenure as Attorney General ended on January 6th, 2009, my prophecy has come to pass, and my heart is gladdened.



Godfred has been Deputy Attorney General for 4 years and it is my prayer that he will be Attorney General for at least 4 years. I was Deputy Attorney General for a year from 2005 to 2006 and then the Attorney General from 2006 to January 2009.



Like me, he has progressed from Deputy Attorney General to Attorney General and it holds immense advantages. I was sworn in on June 16th 2006. Godfred came to the Ministry of Justice on June 15th 2006.



I was the youngest Attorney General in the 4th Republic when I was appointed. He would be, not only the youngest of the 4th Republic but in the history of Ghana when sworn into office by the Grace of God.



Coincidentally, both of us trained at Akufo-Addo Prempeh & Co but he came thereafter I had left with my wife, Efua Ghartey to set up Ghartey & Ghartey. After our initial verbal battle in my Office, Godfred and I forged a very close friendship. I made him my Teaching Assistant when I was teaching company law at the Ghana School of Law. I also led him in the Supreme Court in one famous matter in the constitutional history of Ghana, Ransford France v. The Electoral Commission.



I wish him well and I have no doubt that he will succeed. I have no doubt that his temperament, disposition, industry and faith in God will spur him on to great heights. I am also exceptionally pleased that as the 19th Attorney General, what I prophesied on the 15th of June, 2006 has come to pass which would make him the 25th Attorney General of the Republic of Ghana. It reminds us of Habakkuk 2: 2-3 which says, ... Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets ... Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come ...









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Pius Kamau, M.D., general surgery, is president of the Aurora-based Africa America Higher Education Partnerships; co-founder of the Africa Enterprise Group and president of the Consortium of African Diasporas in the U.S.A. He has been a National Public Radio commentator and a blogger, and is author of The Doctors Date with Death.
Gold of the Caliphs: Medieval Islamic Coins from the Gary Leiser Collection of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art

February 18  August 14, 2021

Study Gallery

Due to COVID-19 exhibition dates may change

Gold of the Caliphs: Medieval Islamic Coins from the Gary Leiser Collection of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art offers a fascinating glimpse into Islamic art, history, politics, economics, and religious beliefs as reflected in coins minted in locations from Spain to Central Asia. Organized by guest curator Gary Leiser, the exhibition features more than 75 coins of the more than 500 coins that Leiser donated to the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in 2017. Leiser holds a PhD degree from the University of Pennsylvania in medieval Islamic history and is a retired Federal civil servant.



This exhibition includes sections on the development of Islamic coins, monetary denominations, coins as religious documents, coins as political documents, the iconography of Islamic coins, and the Lion and Sun coins of Ghiyath al-Din Kay Khusraw II. As a special feature, the exhibition includes the worlds oldest coin, minted in the 6th century BCE in ancient Lydia on the southwest coast of modern-day Turkey.

In addition to the coins on display, the exhibition will feature text panels, chat panels, annotated labels that provide interesting information on many of the coins in the exhibition, maps illustrating the major dynasties and mint cities represented in the exhibition, a large photo mural of Cairo based on a hand-colored lithograph by the Scottish artist and traveler David Roberts, and a full-color brochure.

Exhibition Brochure















The 16 page full color brochure Gold of the Caliphs: Medieval Islamic Coins from the Gary Leiser Collection of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art" exhibition is available at the museum or can be purchased online.
The Senate Republicans and Democrats have reached an agreement regarding the upcoming impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, for which he has expressed approval.

Former President Donald Trump and his legal team announced that they are pleased about the agreement made by Senate Republicans and Democrats in relation to the framework upon which the impeachment trial will occur.

According to The Epoch Times, the Trump legal team released a statement expressing their appreciation for the Senate Republican leadership that "stood strong for due process and secured a structure that is consistent with past precedent."

This impeachment trial structure ensures that the Trump legal team will be able to fully explain to Senators how it's "absurd and unconstitutional" to conduct an impeachment trial against Trump, who is now a "private citizen" following the end of his presidency on January 20.

On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that the upper chamber closed a bipartisan deal to allow the impeachment trial to commence one day before the proceedings are set to start. This agreement was reached by the Trump legal team, House Democratic impeachment managers, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Schumer said, "All parties have agreed to a structure that will ensure a fair and honest Senate impeachment trial of the former president."

In January, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) questioned the constitutionality of the impeachment trial of former President Trump. When asked to vote on the constitutionality of the proceedings, the result revealed a 55-45 vote for the proceedings to take place, but it also highlighted the fact that nearly 50% of the chamber believes that the impeachment proceedings are in fact unconstitutional.

The Epoch Times reported that the Trump legal team led by attorneys David Schoen, Bruce Castor, and Michael T. van der Veen said in a filing on Monday that the article of impeachment thrown at former President Trump was "problematic" as it combined several alleged offenses into a single article of impeachment. The lawyers added that trying Trump as a private citizen will cause the Senate to "[act] as judge and jury rather than a legislative body."

The Trump legal team also claims that the impeachment trial is a "selfish attempt by Democratic leadership" to take advantage of the horrified reaction of the entire country following the riot at Capitol Hill on January 6 - which clearly involved Leftists from Antifa, BLM, and more.

An impeachment trial such as the one in which the former President is accused of insurrection leading up to the attack on Capitol Hill will proceed with the House impeachment managers acting as the prosecution and the Trump legal team as the defense. NPR reported that House Speaker Nancy Pelosy (D-CA) appointed nine Democrats to serve as impeachment trial managers, who presented the article of impeachment to the senate on January 25.

On Tuesday, February 9 at 1 p.m., the Trump legal team and the prosecutors will be given a total of four hours to debate the constitutionality of the trial, after which it will be decided if the Senate has the power to try the former president. If the result is a yes vote, the trial will proceed on Wednesday, February 10, marking the beginning of 16 hours for each party to present their case.

Following the presentation by both the Trump legal team and the prosecution, senators are given four hours to question both parties followed by another four hours to accommodate arguments on whether the Senate will allow motions to call on witnesses and documents if the impeachment trial managers require it.

The impeachment managers are looking to prove that former President Trump is solely responsible for the attack at Capitol Hill (although some experts in the law say he isn't responsible for it). The impeachment managers, however, are hoping that the Senate decides to disqualify him from ever holding a federal office position again, NPR reported.

The Trump legal team, on the other hand, is committed to defending him, citing that his speech during the January 6 rally is within the limits of the First Amendment and that this entire impeachment trial is merely "political theater."
Goodyear Ventures has added TuSimple, a global autonomous trucking technology company, to its growing investment portfolio. TuSimple operates self-driving trucks out of their facilities in Arizona, Texas, China, Japan and Europe using an ecosystem made up of digital maps, strategic terminals and an autonomous fleet operations system.

TuSimple is developing a commercial-ready Level 4 autonomous driving solution to transform the logistics industry.

Last year, Goodyear announced a strategic partnership to provide tires and tire management solutions to TuSimples Autonomous Freight Network (AFN), the worlds first autonomous network. As an AFN partner, Goodyear will conduct wear studies to better predict maintenance, understand tire longevity and reduce the carbon impact of fleets.
Amelia Ressler, 30, was arrested on 19 counts of child molestation on Friday

A substitute teacher was arrested in Georgia on Friday on 19 charges of child molestation after she allegedly masturbated in front of a classroom of seven- and eight-year-old children.

According to the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, Amelia Ressler, 30, filmed herself while 'engaged in indecent and immoral acts while in the presence of school-aged children' at Mt. Zion Elementary School in Carroll County.

Authorities were alerted to the incident after Ressler herself allegedly disseminated the video and it was seen by a member of the school community.

Ressler is facing a child molestation charge for every student that was in the second-grade classroom at the time, but the sheriff's office has warned that the charges may be upgraded as the investigation continues.

Authorities believe the incident happened on January 28 at some point between 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The video allegedly starts by showing the students in the classroom. The 13-second clip was reportedly posted to Snapchat and police have obtained video and pictures.

'It appears she was masturbating while the classroom was full of kids,' Ashley Hulsey with the Carroll County Sheriff's Office told Fox 5 Atlanta.

'We obtained video evidence because she videoed it herself and disseminated it and we were able to get a hold of that evidence.'

It is not known how long Ressler had been working as a substitute teacher in the school or in the Carroll County school district.

'We appreciate the dedication Carroll County Schools has for the safety of their students as we were contacted immediately following the allegations and we will continue to work closely with them during the remainder of the investigation,' the Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

Investigators are now trying to determine what exactly the children may have seen, and will conduct forensic interviews which may take several weeks to complete.

'It's one of these things the kids are going through that they shouldn't,' said Hulsey.

'The mental anguish that it's causing these children and parents, that was our drive behind working this case, getting it down quickly, getting her put in jail as quickly as possible.

'It's disturbing. That's what it is,' Hulsey added.

'Where she was sitting, it wasn't like it was a closed desk and couldn't look up and visually see what she was doing at the time.'

Mt. Zion Elementary School in Carroll County where Ressler was working as a substitute

The Carroll County Sheriff's Office announced the charges on Friday

One parent told Fox 5 that her daughter had been full of praise for Ressler as a substitute.

'My daughter had been bragging about the substitute, said they were having lots of fun, they played a lot of games,' said Nicole.

Francis Burns also has a grandson at the school.

'She needs to pay dearly,' Burns told CBS 46.

'If I had a child in that class, I probably would be in jail tonight. Our kids are our future and when you have someone like that; they sure don't need to be around children.'

Ressler was booked in Carroll County jail. She was denied bond and remains in custody.

Child molestation is a felony charge in Georgia which holds a jail sentence of between five and 20 years.
New York state's highest court has rejected the Manhattan district attorney's effort to prosecute Paul Manafort, the onetime campaign chairman for former President Donald Trump.

The decision by the Court of Appeals ends Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance's attempt to pursue Manafort on 16 felony charges, including mortgage fraud, that were similar to crimes for which the 71-year-old had been convicted in federal court and pardoned by Trump.

Vance had been appealing a 4-0 ruling in October by an intermediate-level state appeals court which found that prosecuting Manafort violated state double jeopardy laws, or trying someone twice for the same conduct.

New York state's highest court has rejected the Manhattan district attorney's effort to prosecute Paul Manafort, the onetime campaign chairman for former President Donald Trump. Pictured: Manafort in court in June 2019

A spokesman for Vance on Monday declined to comment on the Court of Appeals' February 4 order, which let stand the indictment's dismissal.

Manafort's lawyer Todd Blanche said he was pleased with the ruling.

'This is a case that should never have been brought because the dismissed indictment is a clear violation of New York law,' Blanche said.

Manafort worked on Trump's White House campaign for five months in 2016.

The decision by the Court of Appeals ends Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance's attempt to pursue Manafort on 16 felony charges. Vance is pictured in 2019

Vance announced Manafort's indictment in March 2019, less than an hour after a judge sentenced Manafort to seven and a half years in prison on federal tax evasion and bank fraud charges.

The federal case stemmed from former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Manafort was accused in that case of misleading the US government about lucrative foreign lobbying work, hiding millions of dollars from tax authorities and encouraging witnesses to lie on his behalf.

Trump pardoned Manafort on December 23, seven months after he was released to home confinement.

Manafort's lawyers had said he faced health risks, including from possibly contracting the coronavirus, in prison.

Manafort (right) worked on Trump's White House campaign for five months in 2016

Vance's decision to charge Manafort was widely seen as an attempt to hedge against the possibility that Trump would pardon Manafort for federal crimes. US presidents cannot pardon people for state crimes.

The Manhattan case alleged Manafort gave false and misleading information in applying for residential mortgage loans from 2015 to 2017. He was also charged with falsifying business records and conspiracy.

Manafort's lawyer quickly raised the double jeopardy claim, saying the New York case was essentially a copy of the federal one.

Vance's office contended its case was exempt from state double jeopardy protections because the charges involved different aspects of some of the offenses covered in the federal case.

A trial court judge, and then an intermediate appeals court, disagreed.

Vance's office appealed to the state's highest court, the Court of Appeals, in November.

The state's chief judge, Janet DiFiore took on the matter herself and issued a one-page decision denying Vance's office an opportunity to pursue its appeal further, effectively ending the case.

Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser pardoned after being charged by federal prosecutors with defrauding donors in a border wall project, is being investigated by Vance over his role in that project, The New York Times reported this month.

Bannon had pleaded not guilty in the federal case, but double jeopardy may not apply because he was never tried.
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A drug dealer whose arrest at the Holiday Inn Hotel sparked the Crumlin and Drimnagh feud has been found dead in tragic circumstances.

Phillip Griffiths, the lifelong friend of Graham The Wig Whelan, was discovered at his home yesterday.

The tragedy is the second to hit Whelan in recent years after his partner also died in their home in Drimnagh.

Whelan and Griffiths were part of the original gang lead by Declan Gavin, which Fat Freddie Thompson took command of after Gavin was murdered by rivals.

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The pair were arrested after the infamous Holiday Inn Hotel raid on Dublins Pearse Street in March 2000 which has had major repercussions for the two decade since the seizure.

The pals had spent the night breaking up the large block of coke into individual one-gram deals when officers raided rooms at the hotel.

At the time the profits of the drugs were to be shared with more than 10 members of a teenage Crumlin and Drimnagh-based gang, including Gavin and Brian Rattigan.

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But when Gardai burst in to the two adjoining hotel rooms  24 hours into the preparation of the cocaine consignment  everything changed.

Whelan and Griffiths were literally caught red-handed with the drugs but Gavin was having a lie down and wasnt physically touching any of the gear when the raid went off meaning he had to be released after questioning.

Rattigan immediately pointed the finger at his business partner accusing him of being a Garda informant.

Gavin levelled the same accusations at Rattigan. In the days and weeks that followed the Crumlin and Drimnagh gang drew battle lines and clearly divided forever more.

Griffiths was jailed for 7 years for possession of the drugs.

In his defence Mr Barry White SC said that he was not in charge of the operation and only ranked at number two.

He said that he had been awarded 15,500 in compensation in 1998 and had drifted away from employment and began to abuse cocaine.

When I ran out of money he (unidentified dealer) put it on the slate and I was then approached by this person to bring drugs from one point to another as part payment for my debts and continuing addiction, he told the court.

Despite his protestations that he had been lured into the drug gang Griffiths was in fact firmly embedded in the group led by Thompson and was a close friend of David and Liam Byrne.

Whelan spent years in Birmingham where he worked along side Thomas Bomber Kavanagh after his release from prison.

He returned in recent years and has attempted to forge his own niche in the market after moving away from the organised crime group and seemingly falling out of favour.

His home was raided and he is now subject of a major investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau. Last year his partner died in tragic circumstances.
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Burma Deputy Bank Governors Location Unknown Since Military Detention: Wife

U Bo Bo Nge, deputy central banker, in 2018. / The Irrawaddy

The family of Dr. Bo Bo Nge, the detained deputy governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar, have asked about his health and whereabouts.

Dr. Bo Bo Nge, in his early 50s, who has heart problems and hypertension, was arrested by the military at his home in Naypyitaw at 7am on Feb. 1.

The arresting officer in military uniform told the technocrat that he had to speak to military commanders for a moment and his family has heard nothing since.

I have not received a word from him or the military. Even his whereabouts are unknown, said his wife Daw Hnin Wai Lwin.

She has called for help from the International Committee of the Red Cross and said on Facebook that the family is very concerned. She told Radio Free Asias Burmese service that she does not know what to say when their young son asks, When can I call Daddy? The boy used to talk to him by phone when he worked late.

Dr. Bo Bo Nge studied financial reform at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and was a member of the National League for Democracy (NLD)s economic committee before being appointed deputy governor in 2017.

Days after his arrest, the family of U Bo Bo Nge, the central bank management and NLD cabinet members had to evacuate their government homes. The other deputy governors, U Soe Min and U Soe Thein, were also detained on Feb. 1 but released a day later.

The reason for his arrest is unclear. U Bo Bo Nge took part in the 1988 uprising as a student activist and was jailed for several years for his pro-democracy activism under military rule in the 1990s.

After the coup, the military formed its governing body, the State Administrative Council, and appointed new central bank governors.

About 140 people have been detained since the Feb. 1 coup, including State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, union ministers, some deputy ministers, chief ministers and government critics.

U Min Ye Paing Hein and U Sett Aung, two deputy ministers for planning, finance and industry, were reportedly detained last week a few days after the coup.

Also arrested last week was Australian Dr. Sean Turnell, an economic adviser to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and his family is demanding his release.

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Two teenage boys have been arrested over a break-in at the unit belonging to Jennifer Board, who was killed when a car hit her motorbike in the north Queensland city of Townsville on Friday.

The break-in, two days after Ms Board died, occurred about 1am on Sunday at the unit on Corcoran Street in the suburb of Currajong.

A police body-worn camera captures the arrest of a teenager over the break-in at Jennifer Boards unit. Credit:QPS

The two alleged offenders ran from the unit when they disturbed a man who was staying there.

A 15-year-old local boy was charged with burglary and committing an indictable offence and three counts of stealing. He was denied police bail and was set to appear in Townsville Childrens Court.

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is an examination that records the electrical activity of the heart during the cardiac cycle. It is non-invasive and usually involves placing electrodes on the subject's skin. It is a most indicated type of examination when there is suspected heart disease and also in routine preventive health check-ups.

The cardiac cycle entails the emptying of blood from the atria to the ventricles ("P" wave, red in the image), the contraction of the ventricles to propel blood to the different tissues and organs of the body ("QRS" wave, green in the image), and the relaxation of the ventricles to get ready for the next heartbeat ("T" wave, magenta in the image).

The electrocardiographic signal is, however, underutilized from a technological point of view. "While many cardiologists and specialized health personnel have experience in interpreting an electrocardiogram and attempting diagnosis, much of this process is not automated", explains Guillermo Jimenez-Perez, first author of a paper published in Scientific Reports which presents an algorithm to delineate an electrocardiogram, that is, an analytical method to perform a separation/quantification of the different phases involved in the cardiac cycles.

The measurements of the different phases of the cardiac cycle must be made robustly, that is, they must be applicable to the broad variability of possible cases. In the first place, due to the many possible morphologies that may arise from patient to patient (the picture depicts a representation of different pathological and normal heartbeats, which may vary greatly between individuals), and also to promote their use for subsequent comparative analyses. "That is, being able to obtain the morphology of the different QRS of a particular patient may help identify which aspects of the QRS are abnormal in relation to the general population - or even with regard to the patient a few years earlier", Perez-Jimenez explains.

This work was published in Scientific Reports on 13 January, and was conducted by Guillermo Jimenez-Perez and Oscar Camara, members of the PhySense research group, within the BCN MedTech Research Unit, attached to the UPF Department of Information and Communication Technologies (DTIC), together with Alejandro Alcaide of San Jorge University in Zaragoza.

Imatge inicial

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is an examination that records the electrical activity of the heart during the cardiac cycle. It is non-invasive and usually involves placing electrodes on the subject's skin. It is a most indicated type of examination when there is suspected heart disease and also in routine preventive health check-ups.

The cardiac cycle entails the emptying of blood from the atria to the ventricles ("P" wave, red in the image), the contraction of the ventricles to propel blood to the different tissues and organs of the body ("QRS" wave, green in the image), and the relaxation of the ventricles to get ready for the next heartbeat ("T" wave, magenta in the image).

Delineating an electrocardiogram entails performing separation/quantification of the different phases involved in the cardiac cycles

The electrocardiographic signal is, however, underutilized from a technological point of view. "While many cardiologists and specialized health personnel have experience in interpreting an electrocardiogram and attempting diagnosis, much of this process is not automated", explains Guillermo Jimenez-Perez, first author of a paper published in Scientific Reports which presents an algorithm to delineate an electrocardiogram, that is, an analytical method to perform a separation/quantification of the different phases involved in the cardiac cycles.

The measurements of the different phases of the cardiac cycle must be made robustly, that is, they must be applicable to the broad variability of possible cases. In the first place, due to the many possible morphologies that may arise from patient to patient (the picture depicts a representation of different pathological and normal heartbeats, which may vary greatly between individuals), and also to promote their use for subsequent comparative analyses. "That is, being able to obtain the morphology of the different QRS of a particular patient may help identify which aspects of the QRS are abnormal in relation to the general population - or even with regard to the patient a few years earlier", Perez-Jimenez explains.

This work was published in Scientific Reports on 13 January, and was conducted by Guillermo Jimenez-Perez and Oscar Camara, members of the PhySense research group, within the BCN MedTech Research Unit, attached to the UPF Department of Information and Communication Technologies (DTIC), together with Alejandro Alcaide of San Jorge University in Zaragoza.

An algorithm for automating electrocardiograms For the study authors, the fact that the electrocardiography technique is not yet automated is surprising, considering that at present, many of the major trends related to technology are based on automation through the development of artificial intelligence algorithms.

It is in this context that the work published in Scientific Reports is framed. By using cutting-edge artificial intelligence techniques, an algorithm has been developed for the delineation of the electrocardiogram, improving performance over other algorithms available in the literature.

This kind of technologies should be used with caution and, especially, looking to the future

These algorithms are obtained by the capturing and processing of massive data and, once developed, they are able to process new data very quickly and robustly. This paradigm, of artificial intelligence, has many positive externalities, such as processing capacity and the use of increasingly larger amounts of data which, in turn, are useful for the annotation and processing of new data, thus creating positive feedback loops that eventually lead to benefits for the user.

"This kind of technologies should be used with caution and, especially, looking to the future", the study authors assert. It is of paramount importance to use artificial intelligence to process data so that the results obtained can be immediately interpreted; i.e., artificial intelligence aimed at obtaining measurements (quantification) of the objective reality that surrounds it.

"These measurements can be used in subsequent processes to perform more complex tasks such as, returning the original issue, simplifying the physician's workload or the accurate diagnosis of heart problems", Jimenez-Perez explains. In short, they are reliable technologies for performing many types of subsequent analyses that can be directly interpreted by health personnel, fulfilling all the requirements of ethics and confidentiality required in the field of biomedicine.

###
Members of the National Guard work outside the U.S Capitol building on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (/Andrew Harnik/AP Photo)

6 Republican Senators Join Democrats to Vote for Trump Impeachment Trial

Six Republicans voted to go ahead with the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, joining all members of the Democrats caucus in saying it is constitutional.

The final vote was 56-44 on Tuesday, with the trial starting on Wednesday at around 1 p.m.

Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Mitt Romney (Utah), Ben Sasse (Neb.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Pat Toomey (Pa.) declared that the trial was constitutional, rejecting arguments from Trumps lawyers. Other than Cassidy, the five aforementioned senators voted in favor of holding the trial last month.

Those six Republicans are sure to face blowback from their constituents as Trump remains an enormously popular figure among conservatives. And for Sasse, who is said to have presidential aspirations, it will likely haunt him should he cast his hat into the 2024 contest.

Sasse is facing growing pressure from within Nebraskas Republican Party. A local Republican Party in Sarpy County, Nebraskas most populous Republican-majority county, voted on Thursday to join Republicans in two other counties in their effort to condemn Sasse earlier this month, according to the Omaha World-Herald.

Meanwhile, the relative lack of GOP support suggests that the impeachment trial is doomed to fail. The upper chamber requires 67 votes to convict a president, meaning that at least 17 Republicans would have to split with their party to join Democrats.

Challenges against the six senators could even come from Trumps family. Donald Trump Jr., another popular figure among conservatives, said he would go to Wyoming to campaign against Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who voted along with Democrats to impeach Trump last month.

Its time to have a change at the top. Its time to have people that are going to start representing the people, not their own agendas, not their own nonsense, but their constituency, Trump Jr. said.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has already traveled to Wyoming to rally against Cheney.

The truth is that the establishment in both political parties have teamed up to screw our fellow Americans for generations, Gaetz said at an event in Cheyenne last month. Now in Washington, D.C., the private insider club of Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney, Nancy Pelosi, and Liz Cheney, they want to return our government to its default settingenriching them, making them more powerful at our expense. But we can stop em and it starts right here in Wyoming.

On Tuesday, House impeachment managers, led by Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), argued that conduct that would be a high crime and misdemeanor in your first year as president, in your second year as president, in your third year as president, and for the vast majority of your fourth year as president, you can suddenly do in your last few weeks in office without facing any constitutional accountability at all. This would create a brand new January exception to the Constitution of the United States of America.

Trump lawyer Bruce Castor said that if Trump committed a criminal offense  after hes out of office, you go and arrest him. Castor asserted that it is unconstitutional to impeach a former president.

GQ Pan contributed to this report.
The Bethlehem Area School District is convening a task force to study the best way to tackle extensive repairs needed at three elementary schools.

Just addressing the infrastructure problems at Fountain Hill, Thomas Jefferson and William Penn elementary schools, is estimated to cost almost $40 million, while replacing all three schools could cost up to $80.3 million.

The district was beginning to explore whether to renovate or repair the schools last school year when the coronavirus pandemic struck, said Mark Stein, district chief facilities and operations officer, during a Bethlehem Area School Board meeting Monday night.

Stein presented the school board with updated cost estimates for a facilities study from last year and outlined a plan to convene a facility study task force to weigh the best way to address the needs at each school. The task force will review current conditions of the three schools, school boundaries, attendance and enrollment projections and projected cost estimates, Stein said.

The district wants the task force members to brainstorm possible solutions and study them as a team. Eventually, the task force will present their work to the board and stakeholders.

There is no timetable for replacing the buildings or a funding strategy, Stein said.

Superintendent Joseph Roy said he wants the district to look at this more globally than the needs of one elementary school, looking at attendance boundaries and enrollment projects, so that when the district is ready to borrow once all of the plans are in place.

The facilities study estimates just repairing the three schools could cost $40 million, with Fountain Hill eating up almost half of that. Replacing the schools on urban lots presents logistical challenges but solves existing design challenges.

A major question is where students would attend school during construction.

Last year, the district said the first priority would be Fountain Hill Elementary School, which was a high school when it first opened in 1937 and was last renovated in 1994. The four-story school is the districts largest elementary in terms of physical size and enrollment with 568 students. It is ill suited for educating young children.

The district estimates it would cost $19.4 million to just address Fountain Hills infrastructure needs and $29.9 million to renovate and put on an addition to solve issues with the basement cafeteria, according to the districts capital plan. A new schools estimated at $36.2 million.

After Fountain Hill, the district would weigh its options with William Penn, 1002 Main St., and Thomas Jefferson, 404 E. North St., elementary schools, Roy said last year. Both built in 1972 with odd open-concept designs, the schools sit in a targeted city reinvestment zone - dubbed Northside 2027 -- and are only one mile apart. it is estimated it would cost $16.27 million to renovate and expand each building and $22 million to replace each school.

The schools have already been sitting on the districts capital list as to be determined projects for about eight years.

For years, the district focused upon replacing Nitschmann Middle School in West Bethlehem, a project put on a prolonged hold during the financial meltdown. Now that the $53 million school is open, Roy has said the districts looking to other neglected buildings.

The districts bond payments for the new Nitschmann just jumped after the citys tax increment financing district expired last year.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.
Revenue Grows 17%, with Health Segment Leading the Charge

OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 2021 / Calian Group Ltd. (TSX:CGY), deliverer of trusted solutions across advanced technologies, health, learning & information technology segments, today released its quarterly results for the three-month period ended December 31, 2020.

Calian Group Ltd. (the "Company") reported revenues for the quarter of $116 million, representing a 17% increase from the $99 million reported in the same quarter of the previous year.

First quarter 2021 highlights:

Quarterly revenue of $116 million an increase of 17%

Record level of adjusted EBITDA(1) at $10.4 million for the quarter, an increase of 24%

77th consecutive profitable quarter

New contract signings of $112 million in the quarter

Dividend of $0.28 per share

"I am pleased to report Calian's continued global expansion, and four consecutive quarters of revenue over $100 million. Investment and execution of our M&A agenda showed results with acquisitive growth of 15% in the quarter." said Kevin Ford, Calian CEO. "Our Health segment continued its growth with a 57% increase in revenue. We continue to see strong demand for our services across many health verticals."

Adjusted EBITDA(1) for the first quarter was $10.4 million, an increase of 24% from $8.4 million in the same quarter of the previous year. Adjusted net profit,(1) which excludes non-cash items related to recent acquisitions, was $6.8 million for the quarter; which increased by 28% from the $5.3 million in the same period of the previous year.

Net profit for the first quarter was $2.4 million, down from the $4.3 million from the same period of the previous year which is impacted by higher amortization of intangibles and deemed compensation expenses from recent acquisitions.

"We were able to maintain revenue growth this quarter while increasing gross margin and EBITDA margins significantly" stated Patrick Houston, Calian CFO. "Our investment in M&A has allowed us to enter new markets with differentiated assets that command higher margins and has allowed us to increase our consolidated levels."

Two new acquisitions were completed within the quarter. Cadence, located in the United Kingdom, will allow Calian to further expand the Learning footprint in Europe. InterTronic Solutions brings new assets in the satellite ground system market and entry into the North American space exploration and defence sector.

"Fiscal year guidance is updated to reflect the acquisition of InterTronic, continued momentum in our Health segment, and slower order intake in areas of our Advanced Technology segment. I believe our diversified segments with a mix of domestic and global customers continues to position us well for a strong year", continued Ford. "I want to thank the Calian team for once again rising to the challenge of operating within COVID restrictions and continuing to meet our customer needs".

GUIDANCE

Current Guidance Low High Revenue $ 460,000 $ 500,000 Adjusted EBITDA $ 42,250 $ 45,750 Adjusted net profit $ 27,450 $ 30,550 Anticipated weighted average shares outstanding 9,850,000



About Calian

Calian employs over 4,400 people in its delivery of diverse products and solutions for private sector, government and defence customers in North American and global markets. The Company's diverse capabilities are delivered through four divisions: Advanced Technologies, Health, Learning, and IT and Cyber Solutions. Advanced Technologies provides innovative products, technologies and manufacturing services and solutions for the space, communications, defence, nuclear, government and agriculture sectors. Health manages a network of more than 2,000 healthcare professionals delivering primary care and occupational health services to public and private sector clients across Canada. Learning is a trusted provider of emergency management, consulting and specialized training services and solutions for the Canadian Armed Forces and clients in the defence, health, energy and other sectors. IT and Cyber Solutions supports public- and private-sector customer requirements for subject matter expertise in the delivery of complex IT and cyber security solutions. Headquartered in Ottawa, the company's offices and projects span Canada and international markets. For further information, please visit our website at www.calian.com.

For further information, please visit our website at www.calian.com, or contact us at ir@calian.com.

Kevin Ford

President and Chief Executive Officer

613-599-8600

Patrick Houston

Chief Financial Officer

613-599-8600

Media Inquiries

613-599-8600 x 2298

DISCLAIMER:

Certain information included in this press release is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties. The results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Such statements are generally accompanied by words such as "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar statements. Factors which could cause results or events to differ from current expectations include, among other things: the impact of price competition; scarce number of qualified professionals; the impact of rapid technological and market change; loss of business or credit risk with major customers; technical risks on fixed price projects; general industry and market conditions and growth rates; international growth and global economic conditions, and including currency exchange rate fluctuations; and the impact of consolidations in the business services industry. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, please see the Company's most recent annual report and other reports filed by Calian with the Ontario Securities Commission. Calian disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No assurance can be given that actual results, performance or achievement expressed in, or implied by, forward-looking statements within this disclosure will occur, or if they do, that any benefits may be derived from them.

Calian  Head Office  770 Palladium Drive  Ottawa  Ontario  Canada  K2V 1C8

Tel: 613.599.8600  Fax: 613-592-3664 General Info email: info@calian.com



CALIAN GROUP LTD.

UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

As at December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020

(Canadian dollars in thousands, except per share data)

December 31, September 30, 2020 2020 ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 30,280 $ 24,235 Accounts receivable 87,953 81,109 Work in process 71,541 84,132 Inventory 6,820 6,095 Prepaid expenses 5,942 6,707 Derivative assets 129 358 Total current assets 202,665 202,636 NON-CURRENT ASSETS Capitalized research and development 3,765 3,924 Equipment 11,578 11,655 Application software 3,580 3,092 Right of use asset 16,866 17,595 Investment and loan receivable 670 670 Acquired intangible assets 35,192 36,191 Goodwill 57,211 55,290 Total non-current assets 128,862 128,417 TOTAL ASSETS $ 331,527 $ 331,053

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES Line of Credit $ - $ - Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 59,409 72,007 Contingent earn-out 5,101 3,251 Provisions 907 1,038 Unearned contract revenue 18,609 13,435 Derivative liabilities 163 152 Lease obligations 2,798 2,790.00 Total current liabilities 86,987 92,673 NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES Lease obligations 16,083 16,800 Contingent earn-out 13,475 11,913 Deferred tax liabilities 10,320 9,261 Total non-current liabilities 39,878 37,974 TOTAL LIABILITIES 126,865 130,647 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Issued capital 110,001 107,931 Contributed surplus 1,283 2,002 Retained earnings 91,770 92,030 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 1,608 (1,557) TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 204,662 200,406 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 331,527 $ 331,053 Number of common shares issued and outstanding 9,816,520 9,760,032

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.



CALIAN GROUP LTD.

UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET PROFIT

For the quarters ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

(Canadian dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Three months ended December 31, 2020 2019 Revenue Advanced Technologies $ 37,330 $ 40,043 Health 47,052 30,010 Learning 18,047 15,108 Information Technology 13,772 14,083 Total Revenue 116,201 99,244 Cost of revenues 89,979 78,989 Gross profit 26,222 20,255 Selling and marketing 3,364 2,777 General and administration 11,616 8,658 Research and development 837 414 Profit before under noted items 10,405 8,406 Depreciation of equipment, application software and research and development 1,000 572 Depreciation of right of use asset 729 671 Amortization of acquired intangible assets 2,118 889 Other changes in fair value - (101) Deemed compensation 1,847 - Changes in fair value related to contingent earn-out 384 207 Profit before interest income and income tax expense 4,327 6,168 Lease obligations interest expense 117 110 Interest expense (income) 12 63 Profit before income tax expense 4,198 5,995 Income tax expense - current 2,019 1,979 Income tax expense (recovery) - deferred (305) (317) Total income tax expense 1,714 1,662 NET PROFIT $ 2,484 $ 4,333 Net profit per share : Basic $ 0.25 $ 0.55 Diluted $ 0.25 $ 0.54

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.



CALIAN GROUP LTD.

UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the quarters ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

(Canadian dollars in thousands)

Three months ended December 31, 2020 2019 CASH FLOWS GENERATED FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net profit $ 2,484 $ 4,333 Items not affecting cash: Interest expense (income) 12 63 Changes in fair value related to contingent earn-out 384 207 Lease obligations interest expense 117 110 Income tax expense 1,714 1,662 Employee share purchase plan expense 146 - Share based compensation expense 449 273 Depreciation and amortization 3,847 2,132 Deemed compensation 1,847 - Other changes in fair value - (101) 11,000 8,679 Change in non-cash working capital Accounts receivable (7,008) (5,678) Work in process 12,636 (12,854) Prepaid expenses 766 288 Inventory (725) (544) Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (6,483) (974) Unearned contract revenue 5,174 (24) 15,360 (11,107) Interest received (paid) (129) (191) Income tax recovered (paid) (3,702) (1,281) 11,529 (12,579) CASH FLOWS GENERATED FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Issuance of common shares net of costs 848 717 Dividends (2,744) (2,232) Draw (repayment) on line of credit - 13,180 Share repurchase - - Payment of lease obligations (709) (614) (2,605) 11,051 CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES Investments and loan receivable - (100) Business acquisitions (1,628) - Capitalized research and development (119) (658) Equipment and application software (1,132) (454) (2,879) (1,212) NET CASH (OUTFLOW) INFLOW $ 6,045 $ (2,740) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD 24,235 17,135 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $ 30,280 $ 14,395

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.



Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to most comparable IFRS measures

These non-GAAP measures are mainly derived from the consolidated financial statements, but do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS; therefore, others using these terms may calculate them differently. The exclusion of certain items from non-GAAP performance measures does not imply that these are necessarily nonrecurring. From time to time, we may exclude additional items if we believe doing so would result in a more transparent and comparable disclosure. Other entities may define the above measures differently than we do. In those cases, it may be difficult to use similarly named non-GAAP measures of other entities to compare performance of those entities to the Company's performance.

Management believes that providing certain non-GAAP performance measures, in addition to IFRS measures, provides users of the Company's financial reports with enhanced understanding of the Company's results and related trends and increases transparency and clarity into the core results of the business. Adjusted EBITDA excludes items that do not reflect, in our opinion, the Company's core performance and helps users of our MD&A to better analyze our results, enabling comparability of our results from one period to another.

Adjusted EBITDA

Three months ended December 31, December 31, 2020 2019 Net profit $ 2,484 $ 4,333 Depreciation of equipment and application software 1,000 572 Depreciation of right of use asset 729 671 Amortization of acquired intangible assets 2,118 889 Lease interest expense 117 110 Changes in fair value related to contingent earn-out 384 207 Interest expense (income) 12 63 Deemed compensation related to acquisition earn-outs 1,847 - Other changes in fair value - (101) Income tax 1,714 1,662 Adjusted EBITDA $ 10,405 $ 8,406



Adjusted net profit and adjusted EPS

Three months ended December 31, December 31, 2020 2019 Net profit $ 2,484 $ 4,333 Other changes in fair value - (101) Changes in fair value related to contingent earn-out 384 207 Deemed Compensation 1,847 - Amortization of intangibles 2,118 889 Adjusted net profit $ 6,833 $ 5,328 Weighted average number of common shares basic 9,783,913 7,943,768 Adjusted EPS Basic 0.70 0.67 Adjusted EPS Diluted 0.69 0.67



The Company uses adjusted net profit and adjusted earnings per share, which remove the impact of our acquisition amortization and gains, resulting in accounting for acquisitions and changes in fair value to measure our performance. These measurements better align the reporting of our results and improve comparability against our peers. We believe that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-GAAP measures in the evaluation of issuers. Management also uses non-GAAP measures in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, prepare annual operating budgets and assess our ability to meet our capital expenditure and working capital requirements. Adjusted profit and adjusted earnings per share are not recognized, defined or standardized measures under the International Financial Reporting Standards. Our definition of adjusted profit and adjusted earnings per share will likely differ from that used by other companies (including our peers) and therefore comparability may be limited. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for or be considered in isolation from measures prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. Investors are encouraged to review our financial statements and disclosures in their entirety and are cautioned not to put undue reliance on non-GAAP measures and view them in conjunction with the most comparable International Financial Reporting Standards financial measures. The Company has reconciled adjusted profit to the most comparable International Financial Reporting Standards financial measure as shown above.

SOURCE: Calian Group Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628766/Calian-Reports-First-Quarter-Results
OTTAWA  The pandemic could be indirectly killing as many Manitobans as those listed among the official COVID-19 death toll, Statistics Canada data suggest.

OTTAWA  The pandemic could be indirectly killing as many Manitobans as those listed among the official COVID-19 death toll, Statistics Canada data suggest.

The agency says about 163 more Manitobans died in the first seven months of the pandemic, beyond the mortality estimated if the pandemic had not occurred.

It will take months to sort out what caused the added mortality. While these deaths are tragic, the Manitoba numbers dont stand out as much as the rise in Western Canada deaths, which appear driven by the opioid crisis.

Statistics Canada tracks vital statistics, and modelled how many deaths provinces could expect based on demographics and overall population health in recent years.

In a dataset updated Monday, the agency tabulated Manitoba deaths from January to October 2020. In that period, Manitoba reported 9,473 deaths, though only 9,310 had been projected.

That means an extra 163 deaths.

According to provincial data, 75 Manitobans had died with COVID-19, as of Oct. 31, 2020  meaning half the excess deaths were not directly related to reported COVID-19 infections.

The province reports causes of death, but it takes months to collate that data and send it to Statistics Canada, and so one-fifth of Manitoba deaths in that time period are not yet categorized.

That makes it impossible to tell whether there was a rise in deaths from suicide, postponed medical procedures, a side-effect of increased substance use, or from injuries incurred as people took up outdoor hobbies.

COVID-19 could also be preventing some deaths, particularly from influenza, though the data reported Monday precede flu season.

Dr. Tara Moriarty, an infectious-diseases expert, noted not everyone who has COVID-19 gets tested, and that there have been lags in reporting coronavirus deaths in personal care homes.

"It could be that COVID-19 deaths were under-detected or under-reported," the University of Toronto professor wrote in an email.

"Certainly, the very high (coronavirus) case fatality rate and sustained high positivity rate suggest that there were likely many cases missed, and likely some deaths, too."

Dr. Tyler Black, a psychiatrist at the B.C. Childrens Hospital who specializes in suicide, noted four provinces with updated data all show a decline in suicide, despite an uptick in calls to support lines.

"It looks like, overall, Canada saw a slight decrease, and I think it speaks to how everybody kind of came together and supported each other," noting the messaging around mental health and the economic supports.

"Crisis call centres are there to support people. So if people are calling more and dying less, thats actually probably a really good thing," he said in an interview.

"The story changes significantly if its heart attacks, and people who didnt go to the hospital because they were scared or something totally unrelated, that might not have anything to do with the pandemic."

In any case, Manitobas reported data ends on Halloween, just as Winnipeg prepared to go into code red ahead of a brutal wave of infections.

The number of Manitobans who have died from COVID-19 has multiplied tenfold since the reporting period.

Moriarty noted, starting in November, Manitoba led the country in hospitalization for a sustained amount of time.

"It is also possible that at least some of the excess death in Manitoba has been due to reduced access to hospital beds, emergency and ICU care among Manitobans who did not have (the virus), or avoidance of hospitals and medical care by Manitobans fearful of contracting COVID-19."

Nationally, there were an estimated 259,836 deaths between January and November 2020, representing an excess 12,067 deaths.

"The impact of the pandemic on mortality in Canada has evolved since the spring, affecting a broader array of populations, including younger age groups and those living in the western provinces," reads a Monday analysis from Statistics Canada.

Alberta and British Columbia logged a substantial increase in deaths among males under the age of 45, and officials in both provinces have linked this to increased opioid overdoses.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
DETROIT, Feb. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VDart, a global technology services company headquartered in Alpharetta, GA, is pleased to announce the hiring of Jeffrey Henel, a Metro Detroit native as Director Business Development - Digital Transformation.



Jeff is a seasoned executive, business leader and a trusted advisor with over 20 years of experience in business development, consultative selling, services delivery etc. within the automotive, manufacturing and financial services industries. Prior to joining VDart, Mr. Henel worked in a variety of senior leadership positions with NTT DATA, HCL Technologies, and Hewlett Packard (formerly Electronic Data Systems).

This position was created as part of our growth strategy  to grow and expand our automotive and manufacturing footprint in the Motor City, said Sidd Ahmed, Founder & CEO of VDart Group.

"VDarts digital key platform (vouch.io) developed using blockchain technology and the robust fleet management solution combined with other technology solutions and services would help global OEMs, tier1 suppliers, auto dealerships & fleet owners in building next generation solutions as well as connected platforms to support the growing need for mobility on-demand, said Jeff Henel.

Jeff is a great addition to the team. He has a well-rounded industry as well as technology background and understands the challenges with connected car, ADAS, mobility, infotainment, telematics etc. We are excited to welcome Jeff to our growing VDart family, said Mohamed Peeran, Managing Director of VDart.

About VDart

VDart (www.vdart.com) is a high-growth, global digital solutions, product development and professional services firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, with a presence in Canada, Mexico, Belgium, UK, Japan, Australia and India. VDart specializes in providing solutions to solve complex business problems in the automotive/mobility and financial services industries using artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), blockchain, internet of things (IoT), augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) and cloud technologies combined with our products and highly talented people.

The VDart team has developed cutting-edge mobility and vehicle telematics application solutions for clients including global auto manufacturers. Their expertise includes connected vehicle platforms and advanced mobility; development of vehicle to grid (VGI); driver behavior analysis using big data and AI; vehicle health and dashboards; infotainment and safety monitoring; secured over-the-air updates (OTA); mobile application development; HMI/UI design & development; fleet management; and digital keys.

For more information about VDart, visit http://www.vdart.com, or contact Avishek Ganguly at Avishek.g@vdartdigital.com or (678) 685-8650
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New Delhi: Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday called for efforts by key stakeholders such as corporates, engineering institutes, and NGOs to ensure that deaths due to road accidents drop by 50% by 2025.

Terming the situation as alarming, Gadkari said that India witnesses the maximum number of road accidents in the world, ahead of the US and China.

According to official data, as many as 1.5 lakh people die, and more than 4.5 lakh people are injured in road accidents every year in India. Out of this, more than two-third of the deaths are in the age group of 18 to 45.

The Detailed Project Reports (DPR) are major cause for road accidents and most of road accidents happen at traffic junctions mainly due to faulty DPR prepared by the various agencies.Engineering colleges and various road safety bodies can help by studying the DPR and rectifying faults in it," Gadkari said while inaugurating the webinar series launched by the International Road Federation, India Chapter, on the theme of Road Safety Challenges in India & Preparation of an Action Plan".

The road safety institutes like International Road Federation (IRF) along with engineering colleges and IITs can help the government in road safety auditsThird party road safety audits will help in finding engineering faults and correcting them," he added.

The minister further said that improved engineering, education, enforcement, emergency care services are some of the steps taken by the government to combat the problem. The ministry of road transport and highways is also working on correcting the more than 5,000 accident-prone black spots on the highway network. Besides, more than 40,000 km of roadways are being audited for safety.

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AFP

The natural disaster that struck Uttarakhand's Chamoli district has so far claimed as many as 30 lives, while more than 150 people are still missing. Read more

Here's more top news of the day:

1) Nearly 190 Students, 72 Teachers Test COVID Positive But Schools Still Remain Open In Kerala

Twitter

Around 190 students and 70 teachers of two government schools in Malappuram have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting health officials to ask school authorities in the district to keep extra vigil and strictly implement the COVID-19 protocol. Read more

2) Teenage Girl, Sold 7 Times In 7 Months In MP, UP, Died By Suicide In September; Police Arrest 8

Representational Image

An 18-year-old girl from Chhattisgarh was sold seven times in a duration of seven months to several people in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh last year. The girl died by suicide in September last year. Read more

3) Deep Sidhu, Republic Day Violence Accused, Arrested By Delhi Police

Twitter

Actor Deep Sidhu, who was wanted in connection with the Red Fort incident on Republic Day, has been arrested by the Delhi Police. Read more

4) Tharoor, Journalists Booked For Tweets On R-Day Violence In Delhi Won't Be Arrested, For Now

TOI

The Supreme Court issued a stay order on the arrest of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, journalists including Rajdeep Sardesai for cases they have been booked for allegedly sharing unconfirmed news on the death of one of the protestors during the tractor march on Republic Day in New Delhi. Read more

5) India May Be Sitting On A Bigger Disaster Than Uttarakhand Due To Its Ageing Dams

BCCL

Directed by UAE-based Indian businessman Sohan Roy, Dam 999 is a science fiction film based on award-winning short documentary DAMs - The Lethal Water Bombs, and the Banqiao dam disaster of 1975 that claimed the lives of 250,000 people in China. Read more

kathy ireland Home on Your Home SuperStore Homeowners save time and money, and home product manufacturers reach more people through online efficiencies. This solution works well for all parties, allowing business central to home projects or needs to thrive, during the pandemic and beyond." says Sean Stockell, CEO of Your Home Digital, LLC

Your Home Digital (YHD) and kathy ireland Worldwide (kiWW) have announced the launch of Your Home SuperStore, expanding their partnership in all-things-home formed in 2018. YHD and kiWW are attracting marketing alliance partners from all sectors of the trillion dollar home products and services industry. Their growing online home store already serves 30 home-interest verticals and provides home shoppers seeking deals with special offers and savings opportunities on hundreds of home products.

"We are delighted to debut Your Home SuperStore," says Kathy Ireland, Chair, CEO and Chief Designer of kathy ireland Worldwide, listed as the 26th most powerful brand in the world by License Global magazine. "This program was specifically designed to benefit both shoppers and brands alike, who have faced challenging times caused by the tragedy of this global pandemic. Your Home SuperStore offers everything for the home, from large appliances to doors and windows, cabinetry, paint, flooring and much, much more, all from leading brands, at great and needed value. We look forward to continuing to build this incredible program with our powerful and integral partner, Sean," adds Ms. Ireland.

"We're so grateful to our Chief Brand Strategist, Kathy Ireland and her wonderful team at kiWW for making our SuperStore possible. Your Home SuperStore offers convenience and value for everyone; home buyers, homeowners, and all participating home product brands. Homeowners save time and money, and home product manufacturers reach more people through online efficiencies. This solution works well for all parties, allowing business central to home projects or needs to thrive, during the pandemic and beyond." says Sean Stockell, CEO of Your Home Digital, LLC

About Your Home SuperStore https://www.yourhome1source.com/your-home-superstore/

Your Home SuperStore was developed by Your Home Digital, LLC, and features special offers and savings opportunities on a broad spectrum of home products and services, including a large selection of quality products available through kathy ireland HOME.

About kathy ireland Worldwide (kiWW) https://www.kathyireland.com/

kiWW is listed at #26 in the world by License Global Magazine. Kathy Ireland is one of the most influential business leaders in the world today and according to Fairchild Publications, Kathy is one of the 50 most influential people in fashion. Furniture Today also names Kathy one of the most influential leaders in the furniture industry. Kathy has graced the cover of Forbes Magazine twice (2012, 2016) and was featured on the cover of SUCCESS magazine in August 2019. kiWW is the recipient of many awards including several Good Housekeeping Seals.


Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal United (JDU) have set the caste equations right in Bihar, as Nitish Kumar expanded his cabinet on Tuesday after he became the Chief Minister again in November last year. Seventeen legislators were sworn in as Ministers by Governor Fagu Chauhan. The 17 ministers include 10 from the BJP, six from the JDU and one Independent candidate who has given support to the JDU. Both the BJP and the JDU have tried to appease the minorities by inducting Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and Jaman Khan into the cabinet, even as the BJP banked on "Kayastha" votes by including Nitin Naveen as one of the Ministers. Interestingly, the cabinet expansion also saw the inclusion of four Ministers from the Rajput community. Both the JDU and the BJP exuded confidence after the induction of leaders from the 'upper caste'. While the BJP has included Neeraj Kumar Babloo and Subhash Singh, the JDU inducted Leshi Singh and Independent candidate Sumit Singh as Ministers. Both the parties have appointed one leader each from the 'Brahmin caste'. While the BJP has inducted Alok Ranjan Jha, the JDU has reposed faith in Sanjay Kumar Jha. Banking on the 'Vaishya' vote bank, Pramod Kumar and Narayan Prasad from the BJP were also administered the oath. The JDU has reposed faith in the Koeri and Kurmi votebanks as they have appointed Nitish Kumar's confidant Shravan Kumar from Kurmi and Jayant Raj from Kushwaha castes, while Madan Sahni, who comes from the Mallah community, has also been inducted as a Minister. The BJP has included former MP from the Dalit community Janak Ram in the cabinet, while the JDU has also played the 'Dalit card' for the ministerial berths. Through the expansion of the cabinet, both the parties have tried to appease their vote banks in their own way, as well as to try new political equations. BJP MLA Gyanendra Singh Gyanu said that no experienced leaders have been included in the cabinet and an attempt has been made to reconcile the Nahe region.





The incidence of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ukraine continues to decline, and the number of hospitalizations is also decreasing, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said during a press briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"Last week, some 25,500 cases of COVID-19 incidence were detected, which is less than in the previous week (27,157 cases). If you look at the statistics, we see the situation is stabilized. For example, in the first week of December, some 89,000 cases were recorded. The number of hospitalized patients is also changing  in the first week of December there were about 28,000 people, and as of Monday 17,911 people in medical facilities," he said.

According to the minister, the number of antigen tests is increasing. "During the week, some 144,248 PCR tests were done. The number of tests with rapid antigen tests is also growing, some 52,222 studies were conducted, which is 20,000 more than the previous week. Ukraine is provided with test systems," he said.

(CNN)  Representatives of Jeffrey Epstein's estate are looking to sell his US Virgin Island properties to fund the Epstein Victims' Compensation Program, which paused all payouts last week, according to an attorney for the estate.

Epstein maintained a home on Little St. James, which he acquired in 1998, and purchased nearby Great St. James in 2016, according to a lawsuit filed last year.

Dan Weiner, an attorney for the estate, told CNN in a written statement the co-executors of the estate received "expressions of interest from numerous parties regarding the two USVI properties, and 2-3 bona fide offers to purchase them."

The proposed sale of the properties comes after program administrators for the victims' fund announced Friday they were pausing payouts because the estate was low on cash. Because of "uncertainty" over funding, the program said it is holding compensation determination offers until March 25 or later depending on when the estate can provide the necessary funds to finish payouts, according to a news release from the fund.

"The Estate has found its way to pay for lawyers, landscaping, and helicopter fees, but not the brave women who have stepped forward to participate in the compensation fund," said US Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise N. George. "It is, unconscionably, another promise made and broken by Epstein and now, his Estate."

The attorney general filed a lien against Epstein's estate in January 2020 after filing a lawsuit against the estate, court documents show.

George's office submitted an emergency motion Friday to freeze all of the estate's assets, which was granted by a judge the same day. The order states the co-executors cannot "make or approve any expenditure of funds or disposal of any asset(s)" of Epstein's estate without the court approving such transactions.

Besides the islands, the Epstein estate has a number of properties to sell, including a ranch in New Mexico, a mansion in Palm Beach and Epstein's seven-story, 10-bedroom mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

Described as the largest single-family home in New York City, the mansion was originally listed for $88 million but the price has since dropped to $65 million, according to a listing by the Modlin Group.

The Epstein Victims' Compensation Program was established in June 2020 after his attorneys requested to start a program to avoid litigation. It has received more than 150 claims and has paid out $55 million to claimants, according to program administrators. Weiner says the estate has funded the program with more than $87 million to pay claimants in addition to separate payments covering the fund's ongoing operations.

The registration date for new applicants closed February 8, and all claims must be filed by March 25. There haven't been discussions to extend those deadlines yet, but an extension is not off the table should the pause on pay outs continue past March 25, a spokesperson for the program told CNN.

Epstein is accused of transporting underage girls to his homes in the US Virgin Islands and forcing them into sex work from 2001 through 2018, according to a lawsuit filed by George's office.

The multimillionaire had already been charged in a federal criminal case alleging that he ran a sex trafficking enterprise at his homes in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida.

Epstein, 66, died by suicide in August 2019 while awaiting federal trial in New York City's Metropolitan Correction Center. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

This story was first published on CNN.com Jeffrey Epstein's US Virgin Island properties may be sold to help pay victims' fund
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BRUSSELS, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Soda announced today the launch of Soda SQL to bring data testing, monitoring and profiling to SQL accessible data. Soda SQL is the first part of Soda's strategy to provide freely available open source data management tools to engineers working in data-intensive environments where data quality is paramount. The launch follows the news that Soda has raised over 14M in Series A and Seed funding.

Businesses in online retail, biomedical, financial services and other fast-moving sectors are building more and more products using data as a core input, meaning that it is now critical to test and monitor the quality of data being used. Soda SQL helps data engineers easily identify, monitor and solve issues that might impact large datasets, data lakes and data warehouses, equipping them with means to screen data pipelines and monitor the data through a series of fully configurable tests that examine different characteristics of a dataset.

"Almost every company is now trying to automate processes and create innovative new data products and services using data, but the key challenge for teams across the Enterprise is having data that is reliable enough to make this happen," explains Tom Baeyens, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Soda. "By providing highly configurable and open source SQL data testing capabilities, Soda is taking the first step towards empowering data engineers with the right tools to meet these challenges."

The configuration options within Soda SQL enable data engineers to control the tests set to screen for bad data and the metrics that are used to evaluate the results. Soda SQL uses efficient SQL requests to extract data metrics and column profiles with full control over the queries provided through declarative YAML configuration files. The tests run by Soda SQL are performed across the data pipeline and trigger alerts when problematic or bad data is found. The results can be viewed directly and used to catch problems, quarantine bad data and send updates to the Soda Enterprise data monitoring. This enables individual testing by data engineers to be integrated with the enterprise-wide data testing strategy.

"In software engineering, we started testing to catch bugs more than 20 years ago and we have never looked back," explains Maarten Masschelein, CEO, Soda. "These software engineering principles are now making their way into the data engineering world, where the subject of testing is not code, but the data. By providing the tools for users to work collaboratively with data teams across the company, Soda helps data engineers to detect data quality issues early and involve wider team members to ensure quality is maintained and communicated. Soda SQL is an important first step towards becoming the de facto collaboration platform for Enterprises solving challenges arising with data products."

Soda is in the process of developing a comprehensive suite for open source data testing and monitoring that will include developer tools for data frames and streaming data and operate across all major data workloads, engines and environments including Kafka, Spark, AWS S3, Azure Blob Storage, Google Cloud Datastore, Presto, Snowflake, Azure Synapse, Google BigQuery, and AWS Redshift. Soda SQL is provided as open source software under the Apache License and offered for free on Github . The product executes either on the cloud or on the local systems of data engineers.

About Soda

Soda is the data monitoring platform that keeps your data fit for purpose, verifiable and trustworthy. We uncover data issues, alert the right teams, and trigger resolution workflows to identify causes that impede data quality. Our open source testing projects and monitoring platform brings together data engineers, operations and the business to create trusted data. Data-driven organisations choose Soda to realise the value of their data and secure its quality. For more information, visit www.soda.io

Contact: James Kennedy, [email protected], +44 (0)7809 495 759

SOURCE Soda
UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

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

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

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

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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"

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Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

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NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

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Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

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Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

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

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PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour (Ministry VSA) Collective Prevention Services (CPS), will organize a panel discussion about the COVID-19 Vaccine rollout plan on Sint Maarten on Thursday.

Various health experts will attend to provide information about the importance, safety, and procedures of the upcoming COVID-19 vaccination rollout plan.

The event will be live-streamed via the Government of Sint Maarten Facebook page, for everyone to view.

Everyone is invited to post the questions that they might have live via Facebook comments or in advance via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

With this public event, the Ministry of VSA & CPS aims to inform people and put a stop to the spread of misinformation.

The Facebook Livestream will take place on Thursday, February 11 at 7.00 pm via Facebook.com/SXMGOV and simultaneously on Government Radio 107.9FM. It will also be replayed on Cable TV Channel 115 Friday at 10.30 AM and 6.30 PM.

Nearly 65 UC Berkeley students slept overnight at Peoples Park to protest the universitys plans to develop student housing and supportive housing for the homeless at the park, protesters said Tuesday.

Their occupation comes after the university installed fences in some parts of the park for seismic testing as part of its plans to construct a dorm that could go up to 17 stories with 1,200 beds for students. While unclear how high the building for the homeless would be, it is expected to have 150 beds.

The protest began Monday night to support the nearly 30 homeless residents who live there. Those people would have to leave if the university moves forward with development plans, activists said.

Right now, the people of Peoples Park, they are fighting for this land, said student Aidan Hill. They are taking the space and making it their own. The people here care about the land of the unhoused residents of Peoples Park. Thats what drives this movement forward.

The students want the university to leave the park as it is  a space for homeless people to live in peace and to hold community events.

University officials say they have a massive housing shortage and need to build more apartments for the nearly 42,000 students who lived on campus before the pandemic and are expected to return when its over.

The 2.8-acre Peoples Park, between Haste Street and Dwight Way, has a complicated history. It has been the site of student protests for decades and is where deputies killed a man and blinded another on infamous Bloody Thursday in 1969  also in a dispute about the fate of the park. Now, its where homeless residents sleep. Food Not Bombs delivers food daily to the unsheltered people in the park.

Dan Mogulof, a university spokesman, said the school will develop the park. The campus is 6,900 beds short of its goal to house half of its undergraduates and a quarter of its graduate students. The university announced in 2018 that it would build student housing and supportive housing for the homeless, each building no higher than five stories. University officials also said they would construct a memorial to honor the parks history as a hub for student protests half a century ago.

The memorial is still a go. But now, the university wants to go far higher than five stories, and is doing an environmental impact review of up to 17 stories.

We will spare no effort to have people understand how urgent and dire the student housing crisis is and thus how urgent and dire the need is for student housing on property the university owns, including Peoples Park, Mogulof said.

Mogulof said if students want to sleep in the park, we are not going to stop them.

In January, the university closed parts of the park to test the soil. Crews built fences so a team of engineers and geologists could conduct seismic testing.

The tests were done to ensure the park was seismically safe for construction, said Kyle Gibson, a spokesman for the universitys capital strategies department, which oversees campus design, planning construction and real estate.

Students said they served the university with a cease and desist letter Tuesday to put a stop to drilling or testing at the park.

Mogulof said the campus will respond to the letter.

The project will build up to 1,200 beds for sophomores, juniors and seniors and up to 150 beds for the homeless on 2.8 acres of the park. The projects environmental impact report will look at a student dorm of up to 17 stories.

The university is expected to present the project plans to the UC Regents this summer for approval.

If approved, construction would begin in 2022, Gibson said.

On Feb. 2, a group of students removed the fencing and dropped it off at Sproul Hall in defiance of the universitys plans. The next day, crews restored the fences.

On Tuesday, students said they want the university to halt development.

If you want to do something with Peoples Park, make it a community land trust, Hill said. If you want to help the people of Peoples Park, do not destroy what we have built. Do not destroy this community that we have made. We belong here. This is our home.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
The government of Rwanda in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) will on Tuesday, deploy another set of robots, in a move that will strengthen the country's fight against the pandemic, officials have said.

Under the partnership, Rwanda will receive three 'THOR UVC' robots which are expected to play a crucial role in Infection Prevention Control.

This is the second time the country will be deploying robots to minimise the contact between healthcare workers and persons infected with the virus.

"The new robots are cutting-edge THOR UVC robots which will help in cleaning and disinfecting treatment centres, hospitals and places of mass gathering, such as markets, offices or borders as means to limit the spread of the Covid-19", a statement from the Ministry of Health reads in part.

THOR ultra-violet (UVC) is a high output UVC disinfection robot, which utilizes room mapping technology to deliver a fast and effective germicidal dose of continuous-wave UVC energy killing germs and pathogens.

Since March 14, when the first case of coronavirus was recorded in Rwanda, the country, just like many in the world, has been grappling with the pandemic.

The pandemic has so far claimed 223 lives, leaving 21 patients in critical condition.

Covid-19 preventive measures which mainly include physical distancing, washing hands and properly wearing masks have become part of everyday life.

To step up the measures, however, the country has rolled out various innovations to enable people to live with the virus as they go about their routine activities with relative safety.

According to experts, the virus has shown that disease does not respect geographic boundaries, but that emerging technology such as robotics will make it easier for prepared countries to combat both the Covid-19 pandemic and future pandemics.

The robots will be handed over on Tuesday, February 9 at the recently launched Nyarugenge District Hospital in Nyarugenge District.
BUGSY SIEGEL

The Dark Side of the American Dream

By Michael Shnayerson

The Hollywood gossip columnist Florabel Muir had him pegged as a storybook gangster. With his matinee-idol looks, expensive haberdashery and affable, honeyed manner, he was also likened to a sportsman, a playboy and an actor manque. Im referring, of course, to Benjamin Bugsy Siegel, the underworld figure who, calling himself an investment broker, abetted the postwar transformation of a once sleepy Nevada town into that American Gomorrah known as Las Vegas. The man made for good copy and, based on Michael Shnayersons fast-paced and absorbing biography in the Jewish Lives series, he still does.

This latest account , written in a rat-a-tat style where money jingles and the American dream is in reach of anyone with guts, good taste and a gun, follows the entrepreneurial neer-do-well as he made his way from the dreary tenements of New York City to the elegant redoubts of Los Angeles and then Las Vegas. After a potted history of Siegels adolescence on the Lower East Side, where, thanks to his quicksilver temper, the teenage tough acquired his nickname, the book picks up steam, recounting Siegels subsequent exploits during the interwar years as a bootlegger, bookmaker and occasional hit man. It culminates in his grand postwar plans for the Fabulous Flamingo, a swanky casino-cum-hotel in the Nevada desert. Designed to give Monte Carlo a run for its money, this ambitious venture proved to be his undoing.

Presciently, Siegel persuaded his underworld confreres to finance the Flamingo, pointing to a confluence of local factors  legalized gambling, air travel, the presence of large numbers of male factory workers with time on their hands and money to spend  likely to ensure a constant flow of paying customers. Not so wisely, he overspent by millions of dollars, giving them reason to suspect him of skimming off the top and rendering him a liability.

Shnayerson, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, makes good use of the gossipy published memoirs of the many people, from paramours to attorneys, who consorted with Siegel, as well as of heavily redacted F.B.I. files, their pages smudged with black ink. With a keen eye for the amusing, and humanizing, detail, he enlivens the traditional rise-and-fall narrative.
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EDWARDSVILLE  Being a parent or a teacher is tough enough under any circumstances, but a new book by an Edwardsville resident discusses the issues that make it even tougher in 2021.

Making It: What Todays Kids Need for Tomorrows World is the first book by Stephanie Malia Krauss and will hit bookshelves and mailboxes on March 3.

The book tackles COVID, the economic crisis, racial uprisings, and the many other complex challenges we have all been experiencing, paying special attention to what it means for our kids and their futures.

Im pleased that as a working mom I managed to finish a book during a pandemic, Krauss said. This will be one of the first books to come out on the market that talks about COVID. Its deeply researched, but its also personal because Im an educator and worried about my kids.

Ive had the opportunity to write for other outlets, but this is my first long-form book. I hope it wont be my last and I have plans for what book comes next.

More Information If You Shop The Book "Making It: What Today's Kids Need for Tomorrow's World" will be available locally at Afterwords Books, Seams for the Soul Boutique, and Books-A-Million. Krauss plans to sign any books that are delivered to local stores. It is also available at bookshop.org, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. An audiobook version will be available on March 9, for Audible and other platforms. For more information about Krauss and her book, go to https://www.stephaniemaliakrauss.com/ or @stephanie_malia on Twitter. See More Collapse

Krauss and her husband, Evan, are both from New Jersey and met at Washington University in St. Louis while in graduate school. Along with their two sons, ages 7 and 10, they have lived in Edwardsville for six years.

Krauss, who has a background in education and social work, serves as a senior advisor to Jobs for the Future and is a staff consultant to the Youth Transition Funders Group.

Evan, meanwhile, facilitates East Side Aligned, which is a collective impact effort in East St. Louis.

I never would have expected becoming a Midwesterner and raising my kids here, but we met and married in St. Louis, worked in the city and made this home, Krauss said.

Eight years ago, Krauss left working on the frontlines of education because she was worried that earning a diploma was not the same thing as being ready for college, work and life.

Her book explores what her research and work since then have shown to be the four currencies todays kids need to make it in tomorrows world: competencies, connections, credentials, and cash.

A former elementary school teacher in Phoenix, Arizona, Krauss also had the opportunity during the summers to provide professional development to teachers in East Africa.

At the time, the AIDS epidemic was raging in the area of East Africa where I was, so a lot of the professionally trained teachers were either sick or taking care of family members who were sick, Krauss said.

There was a wave of university students who were taking leaves to go home to teach in the rural communities where they had grown up. During the school year, I taught a mostly urban and migrant population, and then I would go to East Africa and see a different set of challenges for teachers and students.

The overall experience left a lasting impression on Krauss and made her question many aspects of traditional education.

The combination of my experience in the classroom in Arizona and what I was seeing internationally made it clear that there were so many other life factors that went into what was happening in kids lives and educational experience, Krauss said. While I loved teaching, I was conflicted about that reality.

For three years starting in 2010, Krauss ran Shearwater Education Foundation, a nonprofit that operated a high school for students who had dropped out, giving them a second chance at a diploma. The school was located on the campus of Ranken Technical College in St. Louis.

In May of 2013, Krauss announced the closure of the school at the end of the school year.

We were the only high school in the history of Missouri to electively close ourselves, Krauss said. The number of cumbersome compliance and content requirements on what it meant to be a Missouri public high school was in conflict with what we knew our students needed.

After Shearwater closed, Krauss had a toddler and a baby and was considering a career change.

Thats when she made a connection that set her on the path to writing a book.

At that time, a national organization located in Washington, D.C., reached out and asked me if graduating from high school wasnt fully preparing kids for life, then what does readiness require? They had been working to answer this question for years, Krauss said. I decided to join their team, which started my national work, research and writing. Eight years later, this is my love letter back to the frontlines, for educators, counselors, youth workers, administrators and parents.

Working nationally has given me the chance to work with everyone from governors to the White House to many national organizations and networks. I have been privy to so much information about what is happening with kids and what is happening in the world. I wanted to give that back to those who are still running schools, teaching in classrooms and raising kids.

The book discusses how todays kids are growing up during a time of rapid change, and how different things could look by the time they reach adulthood.

One of the things I talk about in the book is that this years high school graduating class is living through COVID and they started school in the middle of the Great Recession. Their entire K-12 experience is bookended by major crises, Krauss said.

This is a recession-resilient generation who want stability. In the absence of economic stability, which we cant promise them, we have to be able to offer them social stability.
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By Aditi Sebastian and Praveen Paramasivam

(Reuters) - Gucci lipstick maker Coty Inc will step up its investments in skin-care to offset a pandemic-driven fall in demand for its makeup products that led to a disappointing quarterly revenue, driving its shares down 13% on Tuesday.

The company's mass beauty segment posted a 21.6% decline in comparable sales in the second quarter. Sales fell 10.1% in the first quarter.

Cosmetics makers have been ramping up their presence in the skin-care category, as people have shunned foundation and lipsticks for serums and moisturizers amid a resurgence in coronavirus cases and ensuing lockdowns.

"People were buying a lot of skincare (in travel retail) and Coty is not exposed to this category for the moment," Chief Executive Officer Sue Nabi said in an interview with Reuters, adding Coty would look to reinforce its skin-care category.

The company is now working on making skin-care products for its Asian customers, while also preparing a Kim Kardashian West skin-care line for launch in fiscal 2022.

The Burberry fragrance maker also said a 30% growth in online sales in its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) market could not make up for pandemic-led store closures in certain European markets.

Sales in the EMEA region dropped 21.9% to $708.9 million.

Overall net revenue from continuing operations fell 16% to $1.42 billion, missing estimates of $1.43 billion.

To make up for the drop in sales and lower traffic at airport stores, Coty is now planning to open more stores in China's island province of Hainan, where affluent Chinese customers are known to splurge at duty-free malls.

Excluding items, Coty earned 10 cents per share from continuing operations, 3 cents above the Refinitiv IBES estimate, helped by its move to lay off workers and control certain expenses.

(Reporting by Aditi Sebastian and Praveen Paramasivam in Bengaluru; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi)
Russian anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny was jailed last week for nearly three years for breaching conditions of his parole.

His imprisonment is the latest chapter in a bizarre face-off between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Navalny. In recent months, the dissident has been poisoned on a flight to Siberia, hospitalised in Germany and arrested upon returning to Russia, leading to large-scale protests for his release.

Navalny, who the Kremlin has dismissed as an insignificant blogger despite his enormous international reach through sites such as Twitter and YouTube, has released thousands of documents exposing the inner workings of the Kremlin and even revealed the billion-dollar palace Putin apparently lives in while many Russian citizens remain impoverished.

During an impassioned speech in court last week, Navalny described Putin as Vladimir the underwear poisoner, planting the blame for his poisoning squarely at the Russian presidents feet.
The Syrian Democratic Forces have abducted a second member of the Arab Socialist Baath Party this month, reports The Syria Times.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia has abducted the secretary of the Arab Socialist Baath Partys (ASBP) branch in the Ras al-Ayn region, in the Hassakeh countryside, according to the Syrian News Agency (SANA).

The agency said that the SDF militia abducted the ASBPs branch secretary Mohammad Turki al-Khir and took him to al-Derbaseyeh city without saying why they did so.

At the beginning of this month, the militiamen abducted Rashi al-Kod, a member of the same party in Qameshli city.

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.


"Integrity is committed to innovating insurance by bringing together skillsets that complement our growing roster of platform partners," said Bryan W. Adams, Co-Founder and CEO of Integrity. "As we've gone through this global pandemic, Americans realize the importance of life, health and long-term care insurance coverage now more than ever. By adding Advisors Insurance Brokers to the Integrity platform, we are able to serve more Americans and help them with these planning needs."

AIB brings an exceptional reputation for customer service and expertise in its core products. The firm began in 1992 with a focus on long-term care insurance and planning in the New England region. The company has evolved to offer life insurance, fixed indexed annuities and a wide range of insurance products. AIB is now a recognized leader in life insurance and long-term care, providing insurance and retirement products to thousands of Americans.

"At our core, we are built on a foundation of unmatched customer service that we were not willing to compromise for any partnership opportunity," said Kevin Johnson. "Integrity values that legacy and offered a vision for our next phase of growth. We will retain the boutique-like feel our customers have always appreciated, while providing them with cutting-edge resources and technology we never could have provided on our own. We're excited to become part of such a legendary team."

"What attracted us to Integrity is their innovative spirit and the way they are innovating the industry," described Bob Vandy, President of AIB. "This partnership provides us with the effectiveness and new efficiencies that we can now bring to our existing broker, producer and consumer relationships. The scale and reach that Integrity possesses is going to complement and expand our capabilities more than we ever could have done on our own."

AIB's expertise in life insurance will dovetail with Integrity's partner network, which is made up of best-in-class agencies nationwide led by the most innovative leaders in the industry. As part of this network, AIB will gain access to Integrity's platform resources which include proprietary technology, such as quoting and enrollment tools, call center capabilities, research and development, data solutions and product development. As a partner, they can streamline business functions by accessing centralized services such as human resources, legal counsel, accounting, IT and a full-service advertising and marketing firm.

"Integrity is going to deliver tremendous support for our firm's infrastructure needs," explained Pete Kelly, COO of AIB. "By joining Integrity, we can focus our energy on what's ultimately most important  our brokers and clients."

AIB's employees will also qualify for the Integrity Employee Ownership Plan, which provides meaningful ownership to Integrity employees.

"Including our employees in ownership opportunities is what clinched the partnership for us," shared Johnson. "I didn't build this company alone; our success is the result of decades of dedication and hard work from our employees. This brings a different dimension to the firm and we're ecstatic about where our trajectory is headed."

For more information about AIB's partnership with Integrity, view a video at www.integritymarketing.com/AdvisorsInsuranceBrokers.

About Integrity Marketing Group

Integrity Marketing Group, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is the leading independent distributor of life and health insurance products focused on meeting Americans wherever they are  in person, over the phone and online. Integrity is innovating insurance by developing cutting-edge technology designed to simplify and streamline the healthcare experience for everyone. In addition, Integrity develops exclusive products with insurance carrier partners and markets these products through its distribution network that includes other large insurance agencies throughout the country. Integrity's almost 5,000 employees work with over 325,000 independent agents who service more than seven million clients annually. In 2021, Integrity expects to help insurance carriers place over $3.5 billion in new premium. For more information, visit www.integritymarketing.com.

About Advisors Insurance Brokers

Advisors Insurance Brokers, headquartered in Clifton Park, New York, is an independent and nationally recognized Brokerage General Agency (BGA) that specializes in life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance and fixed and indexed annuity consulting and sales. Founded in 1992, they have grown to serve thousands of Americans throughout the country with their insurance needs. For more information, visit www.advisorsib.com.

SOURCE Integrity Marketing Group, LLC

Related Links

http://www.integritymarketing.com


A death row inmate who was convicted in a 1994 capital murder case in Harris County died over the weekend, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Jorge Villanueva, 66, had tested positive for COVID and was battling other significant health challenges when he died 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Hospital Galveston, said TDCJ spokesman Jeremy Desel.

Desel said he could not confirm his exact cause of death because the agency had yet to receive a preliminary autopsy report. He also could not share more details on Villanuevas health issues.

Villanueva was being held at the Polunsky Unit in Livingston before he was taken to the hospital.

He had been convicted for the rape and strangulation in August 1994 of his 77-year-old neighbor, Jova Montiel. In a written confession to police, Villanueva said he entered the woman's home near downtown Houston, supposedly to fix her kitchen door, and decided to rape her after seeing her in a towel.

Authorities said Villanueva hit her on the head with a bottle, knocking her unconscious. He then carried her to the bed, raped her, and strangled her.

Villanueva insisted that police fabricated the confession during the 1996 trial. Investigators, however, traced DNA evidence from the womans body back to him, according to reports.

Villanueva also was serving a sentence for a separate conviction of injury to a child.

In total, 33,497 Texas prison inmates have tested positive for the virus with 1,663 active cases, according to TDCJ. Among inmate deaths, 101 are presumed to be caused by COVID, while 86 are confirmed COVID deaths. The cause of death for 56 other inmates has not been determined.

There are 90 active COVID cases at the Polunsky Unit.

Villanuevas death was first reported by Keri Blakinger of the Marshall Project.

julian.gill@chron.com
Kong Inc., the cloud connectivity company, today announced it has closed $100 million in Series D funding, led by Tiger Global Management with participation from existing investors Index Ventures, CRV, GGV Capital and Andreessen Horowitz as well as new investor Goldman Sachs. This latest round brings Kongs total funding to $171 million, tripling its valuation to $1.4 billion since the Series C round. Kong will use the capital to scale its go-to-market operations, grow world-class Engineering and Customer Experience teams, and accelerate cloud connectivity with its new SaaS-based Kong Konnect service connectivity platform.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005517/en/

Kong Co-Founders Augusto Marietti and Marco Palladino (Photo: Business Wire)

The shift to digital and cloud has been revolutionary across all fronts, quickly propelling developer-led organizations and API-first companies to the forefront, said John Curtius, partner at Tiger Global Management. With impressive momentum, happy customers and strong market share, Kong is primed to help organizations meet the growing demands of this new digital reality and succeed in todays cloud native world. We have been following the company closely for the past couple of years, and Kong is really starting to pull away from the rest of the pack.

The fundraise follows a record year for Kong, marked by a significant increase in adoption of its flagship open source software  Kong Gateway  now exceeding 220 million total downloads and 1.5 million monthly active instances. The company added key Global 2000 companies such as Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Papa Johns and Siemens to its growing enterprise customer base, as well as tripled its small business and mid-market enterprise customers. In addition, Kong was recognized as an Inc. 5000 company and a Deloitte Technology Fast 500 company with 1,908% revenue growth over a three-year period.

In 2020, we saw an explosion of data in motion and services as companies fast-tracked the release of new digital experiences in response to the pandemic, said Augusto Marietti, CEO and co-founder of Kong Inc. Software is truly becoming like a giant nervous system through millions of APIs and services. Kong is on a mission to become the spinal cord and backbone by building the cloud connectivity fabric of the future.

IDC predicts that worldwide data will reach 175 zettabytes by 2025, with 49% of the data residing in the cloud. According to Gartner, cloud native platforms will serve as the foundation for more than three-quarters of new digital workloads by 2024. Kong Konnect, a full-stack service connectivity platform designed for cloud native applications and delivered as a service, enables developers, architects and operators to seamlessly deliver connectivity at the edge, within their applications and between applications. It provides universal service connectivity and management that is reliable, observable and secure across any infrastructure.

Modern infrastructure is driven by open source technologies, and Kongs open source DNA has played a pivotal role in driving its adoption both in the community and in enterprise organizations, said Marco Palladino, CTO and co-founder of Kong Inc. Kong Konnect takes cloud connectivity to the next level by providing a full-stack service connectivity platform that goes from API gateways to services meshes via open technologies like Kong Gateway, CNCFs Kuma and Insomnia  running across every cloud and every platform, including on Kubernetes and VMs. Teams around the world can now abstract away their enterprise L4-L7 connectivity in one click to build secure, resilient and distributed applications like never before.

Additional Resources



About Kong Inc.

Kong creates software and managed services that connect APIs and microservices natively across and within clouds, Kubernetes, data centers and more using intelligent automation. Built on an open source core, Kongs service connectivity platform enables digital innovation by allowing organizations to reliably and securely manage the full lifecycle of APIs and services for modern architectures, including microservices, serverless and service mesh. By providing developer teams with unprecedented architectural freedom, Kong accelerates innovation cycles, increases productivity, and seamlessly bridges legacy and modern systems and applications. For more information about Kong, please visit https://konghq.com or follow @thekonginc on Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005517/en/
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: IAF) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund, today announced that it will pay on March 31, 2021, a stock distribution of US$0.15 per share to all shareholders of record as of February 19, 2021 (ex-dividend date February 18, 2021).

Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. At Aberdeen, asset management is our business. We only manage assets for clients, allowing us to focus solely on their needs and deliver independent, objective investment advice. We know global markets from the local level upwards, drawing on more than 1,900 staff, across 32 offices in 23 countries. Investment teams are based in the markets or regions where they invest, delivering local perspective in a global investment environment. (PRNewsFoto/Aberdeen Asset Management Inc.)

Your Fund's distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy") is to provide investors with a stable quarterly distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital. In March 2020, the Board determined the rolling distribution rate to be 10% for the 12-month period commencing with the distribution payable in June 2020. This policy will be subject to regular review by the Board.

This stock distribution will automatically be paid in newly issued shares of the Fund unless otherwise instructed by the shareholder. Shares of common stock will be issued at the lower of the net asset value ("NAV") per share or the market price per share with a floor for the NAV of not less than 95% of the market price. The valuation date for this stock distribution is March 22, 2021. Fractional shares will generally be settled in cash, except for registered shareholders with book entry accounts at Computershare Investor Services who will have whole and fractional shares added to their account.

Shareholders may request to be paid their quarterly distributions in cash instead of shares of common stock by providing advance notice to the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds their shares if the shares are in "street name" or by filling out in advance an election card received from Computershare Investor Services if the shares are in registered form. To receive the quarterly distribution payable in March 2021 in cash instead of shares of common stock, the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds the shares must advise the Depository Trust Company as to their full and fractional share requirements by March 19, 2021 and written notification for the election of cash by registered shareholders must be received by Computershare Investor Services prior to March 19, 2021.

Story continues

Under U.S. tax rules applicable to the Fund, the amount and character of distributable income for each fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related Rules, the Fund may be required to indicate to shareholders the source of certain distributions to shareholders.

The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distribution for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the Rules adopted thereunder. The table has been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The table includes estimated amounts and percentages for the distribution to be paid on March 31, 2021 as well as the estimated cumulative distributions declared fiscal year to date (11/01/2020 - 01/31/2021), from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated composition of the distributions may vary from quarter to quarter because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.



Estimated

Amounts of

Current

Quarterly

Distribution

per share ($) Estimated

Amounts of

Current Quarterly

Distribution per

share (%) Estimated

Amounts of Fiscal

Year to Date

Cumulative

Distributions per

share ($) Estimated

Amounts of Fiscal

Year to Date

Cumulative

Distributions per

share (%) Net Investment Income $0.0225 15% $0.0420 15% Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains* $0.0045 3% $0.0084 3% Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains $0.0450 30% $0.0840 30% Return of Capital $0.0780 52% $0.1456 52% Total (per common share) $0.1500 100% $0.2800 100% *includes currency gains









The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the Distribution Policy.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions in 2021 will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The following table provides the Fund's total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Fund's annualized and cumulative distribution rates.

Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 01/31/20211 11.73% Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV2 8.80% Fiscal Year to Date (11/01/2020 to 01/31/2021) Cumulative Total Return on NAV1 17.34% Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV2 2.20%

1 Return data is net of all fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. 2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of January 31, 2021.

While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.

Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2010, the Fund may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Fund during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Fund, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the terms of the distribution policy. The final determination of the source of all distributions will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report distributions for federal income tax purposes.

To the extent stockholders elect to receive cash under the Distribution Policy, there may be a resulting decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. Cash elections under the Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. The Fund's Board of Directors has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

In the United States, Aberdeen Standard Investments is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments Australia Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Ltd., Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Advisors LLC and Aberdeen Standard Alternative Funds Limited.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact Investor.Relations@aberdeenstandard.com

aberdeeniaf.com

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SOURCE Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc.
Nairobi  Kenya is among the 148 countries where more people are at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking, according to the latest report by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The increase in human trafficking is attributed to the vulnerability of victims reeling in the economic meltdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic which has brought the world almost to a halt since last year.

The UNODC Global report on trafficking in persons released on February 7, notes that 50,000 people were trafficked to different destinations between 2017 and 2018 with projections of an upsurge of victims made vulnerable due to massive job losses, increasing levels of poverty and the harsh economy necessitated by the pandemic.

"The sharp increase in unemployment rates brought about by the COVID-19

pandemic is likely to increase trafficking in persons, particularly from countries experiencing the fastest and most persistent drops in employment. Job seekers from these countries are likely to be more willing to take high risks in the hope of improving their opportunities," the report states.

Though, the increase doesn't show if it is an increase in human trafficking or due to increased detection and reporting of trafficking, the number of perpetrators charged for such offences considerably shot up.

According to the report, trafficking syndicates vary from organized groups to individual criminals with the later taking a lead based on the number of suspects charged for human trafficking which shows that 142 and 148 people were arrested for trafficking in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Out of the 142 suspects, 68 were convicted in 2017 and 61 in 2018.

Majority of those convicted for human trafficking were Ethiopians who had trafficked 227 victims followed by Nepalese taking responsibility for 21 victims, Libyans (13), Indians (9) and then South Sudan (7).

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Majority of victims of trafficking found in Kenya were Ethiopians which is also a destination country for victims from Uganda. The report further found that Kenyans are trafficked to the Maldives.

Saudi Arabia as a destination country has majority of victims from Yemen and high numbers from Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia with an indication that victims from East Africa form 41% of victims trafficked to the Middle East for forced labour and sexual exploitation.

In the report, UNODC cites increased vulnerability among children in low-income countries with estimates that they account for almost half (46%) of the victims of human trafficking. According to the report children are 'trafficked mainly for sexual exploitation, forced criminality or begging'.

Majority of the victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation (50%), while those trafficked for forced labour follow closely at 38% and others for criminal activity, begging, forced marriages and organ removal.

Women constitute the highest number of victims trafficked for labor exploitation and are exposed to 'multiple forms of exploitation and violence including sexual, physical, and psychological abuse.'

Last year, Kenyan Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) raised a red flag over new tactics employed by traffickers to lure victims during the coronavirus pandemic. Trace Kenya Executive Officer, Paul Adhoch, expressed concerns that the unfolding global economic recession that came with the pandemic would see an increase in the number of victims yearning for an escape from joblessness.

Judie Kaberia is a fellow of the Resilience Fund of the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime
North Korea continued its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes throughout 2020 in violation of international sanctions and funded them with 220m ($300m) stolen through cyber hacks, according to a confidential United Nations report.

Kim Jong-un's regime 'produced fissile material, maintained nuclear facilities and upgraded its ballistic missile infrastructure' while continuing to seek material and technology for those programs from aboard, independent sanction monitors said.

The annual report to the Security Council's North Korea sanctions committee comes just weeks after U.S. President Joe Biden took office.

A State Department spokesperson said on Monday the administration planned a new approach to North Korea, including a full review with allies 'on ongoing pressure options and the potential for any future diplomacy.'

All smiles: Kim Jong-un's regime continued its nuclear and ballistic missile programs throughout 2020 in violation of international sanctions, according to UN report. Pictured: Kim Jong-Un attends at a meeting of Central Committee of Worker's Party of Korea in Pyongyang on February 8 2021

The North Korean leader (pictured today) funded the programs with 220m ($300m) stolen through cyber hacks, says report

Kim Jong-un's regime 'produced fissile material, maintained nuclear facilities and upgraded its ballistic missile infrastructure' while continuing to seek material and technology for those programs from aboard, independent sanction monitors said

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former U.S. President Donald Trump met three times in 2018 and 2019, but failed to make progress on U.S. calls for Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons and North Korea's demands for an end to sanctions.

In the past year, North Korea displayed new short-range, medium-range, submarine-launched and intercontinental ballistic missile systems at military parades, the UN report said.

The UN report said an unnamed member state had assessed that, judging by the size of North Korea's missiles, 'it is highly likely that a nuclear device' could be mounted on to long-range, medium-range and short-range ballistic missiles.

'The Member State, however, stated it is uncertain whether the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] had developed ballistic missiles resistant to the heat generated during re-entry,' into the atmosphere, the report said.

In the past year, North Korea displayed new short-range, medium-range, submarine-launched and intercontinental ballistic missile systems at military parades, the U.N. report said. Pictured: Kim Jong-un today speaking to his cronies during a meeting for the Worker's Party of Korea

However, an unidentified member state told the UN monitors there were still personnel at the main nuclear test site, showing it had not been abandoned

While there were no nuclear or ballistic missile tests in 2020, Pyongyang 'announced preparation for testing and production of new ballistic missile war heads and development of tactical nuclear weapons.'

North Korea's UN mission in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.

North Korea blew up tunnels at its main nuclear test site, Punggye-ri, in 2018, saying it was proof of its commitment to end nuclear testing.

However, an unidentified member state told the UN monitors there were still personnel at the site, showing it had not been abandoned.

According to an unidentified country, North Korea and Iran have resumed cooperation on long-range missile development projects, including the transfer of critical parts, the monitors said. The most recent shipment was last year, they said.

Kim Jong-un holds up his fist during his plenary meeting of the Worker's Party of Korea today

According to an unidentified country, North Korea and Iran have resumed cooperation on long-range missile development projects, including the transfer of critical parts, the monitors said

North Korea has been subjected to U.N. sanctions since 2006. They have been strengthened by the 15-member Security Council over the years in a bid to cut off funding for the regime's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Pictured: Kim Jong-un speaks during the plenary meeting

In a letter in December to the U.N. sanctions monitors, annexed to the report, Iran's UN Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi said a preliminary review of the information given to it by the monitors indicated that 'false information and fabricated data' may have been used in their investigation.

North Korea has been subjected to U.N. sanctions since 2006. They have been strengthened by the 15-member Security Council over the years in a bid to cut off funding for the regime's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The UN monitors assessed that in 2020 North Korea-linked hackers 'continued to conduct operations against financial institutions and virtual currency exchange houses to generate revenue' to support its nuclear and missile programs.

'According to one member state, the DPRK total theft of virtual assets, from 2019 to November 2020, is valued at approximately $316.4 million,' the report said.

In 2019, the sanctions monitors reported that North Korea made at least $370 million by exporting coal, which is banned under U.N. sanctions. But last year, they said coal shipments appeared to have been largely suspended since July 2020.

The isolated Asian nation imposed a strict lockdown last year amid the coronavirus pandemic that has slashed its trade, hurting an economy already burdened by international sanctions.
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People who have dementia are more than twice as likely to contract COVID-19 and face four times higher risks of dying of the infection, compared to those without degenerative memory loss, a massive new study of 62 million medical records finds.

And black people with dementia face even higher risks, researchers at Case Western University, who analyzed the medical records of millions of Americans.

People with dementia face a host of simple but profound risk factors: they are less likely to remember to wear a mask properly, or at all, commonly live in covid-prone nursing homes and rely heavily on caretakers in close contact.

The scientists are also worried that Alzheimer's patients may be particularly at risk of dying if they catch COVID-19 because both the memory loss disease and the viral infection trigger dangerous inflammation.

People with dementia are 2.6 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 - and risks are even higher for black dementia patients (blue), the study found

Mortality risks were a stunning 4.4 times higher for dementia patients of any race, compared to those who don't have dementia. Risks were comparable for black (blue) and white (orange) patients

Among the health records of nearly 62 million people 18 and older who were seen by doctors between February 1 and August 21 of last year, the researchers found 15,770 cases of COVID-19.

Among those, 810 had also been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or some other form of dementia.

Compared to the general population, COVID-19 was more than three times more common among those with dementia.

However, their risks were more complicated than those posed by the disease alone.

About half of people in the US who have dementia live in nursing homes, which are hotbeds for COVID-19 outbreaks.

Despite making up one percent of the US population, nursing home residents account for 36 percent of COVID-19 deaths.

Even after accounting for this risk factor, the Case Western scientists found that dementia doubles the risk of catching COVID-19.

And people with dementia and coronavirus were 2.6 times more likely to need to be hospitalized for the infection, compared to those who were spared the memory loss condition.

With older age being a primary risk factor for both COVID-19 fatality and dementia, experts suspected that the coronavirus death rate would be higher among people with the cognitive disease.

The researchers found they were an astounding 4.4 times more likely to die of the virus, compared to people without dementia.

Although there was only a small number of black patients for whom they had records, they were three times more likely to catch coronavirus than white people, and significantly more likely to be hospitalized for the infection.

The difference in mortality rates of black and white patients were not statistically significant, but the researchers suspect this may be due to the small sample size.

'This study highlights the need to protect patients with dementia, especially those who are black,' the authors wrote in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia.

Because they are both elderly and commonly live in nursing homes, a significant proportion of the population that has dementia has likely been vaccinated now - although the underlying condition itself did not put them in the highest priority groups.

The study highlights the importance of quickly vaccinating this group who may die at very high rates if they catch COVID-19 - and may be less able to abide by measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

'Folks with dementia are more dependent on those around them to do the safety stuff, to remember to wear a mask, to keep people away through social distancing,' Dr Kenneth Langa, a professor of medicine at the University of Michigan, who was not involved in the study, told Dnyuz.com.

'There is the cognitive impairment and the fact that they are more socially at risk,' he said.
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Donald Trumps historic second impeachment trial in the Senate is an undertaking like no other in U.S. history, the defeated former president charged by the House with inciting the violent mob attack on the U.S. Capitol to overturn the election in what prosecutors argue is the most grievous constitutional crime 

Trump's lawyers insist as the trial opens Tuesday that he is not guilty on the sole charge of incitement of insurrection, his fiery words just a figure of speech, even as he encouraged a rally crowd to fight like hell for his presidency. The Capitol siege on Jan. 6 stunned the world as rioters stormed the building to try to stop the certification of President-elect Joe Bidens victory.

No witnesses are expected to be called, in part because the senators sworn as jurors, forced to flee for safety, will be presented with graphic videos recorded that day. Holed up at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump has declined a request to testify.

The first president to face charges after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors while in office, Trump continues to challenge the nations civic norms and traditions even in defeat. Security remains extremely tight at the Capitol. While acquittal is likely, the trial will test the nations attitude toward his brand of presidential power, the Democrats resolve in pursuing him, and the loyalty of Trumps Republican allies defending him.

In trying to make sense of a second Trump trial, the public should keep in mind that Donald Trump was the first president ever to refuse to accept his defeat, said Timothy Naftali, a clinical associate professor at New York University and an expert on Richard Nixons impeachment saga, which ended with Nixon's resignation rather than his impeachment.

This trial is one way of having that difficult national conversation about the difference between dissent and insurrection, Naftali said.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that Biden will be busy with the business of the presidency and won't spend much time watching the televised proceedings. Hell leave it to his former colleagues in the Senate, she said.

In filings, lawyers for the former president lobbed a wide-ranging attack against the House case, dismissing the trial as political theater" on the same Senate floor invaded by the mob.

Trump's defenders are preparing to challenge both the constitutionality of the trial and any suggestion that he was to blame for the insurrection. They suggest that Trump was simply exercising his First Amendment rights when he encouraged his supporters to protest at the Capitol, and they argue the Senate is not entitled to try Trump now that he has left office.

House impeachment managers, in their own filings, asserted that Trump had betrayed the American people and there is no valid excuse or defense.

His incitement of insurrection against the United States government  which disrupted the peaceful transfer of power  is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president," the Democrats said.

With senators gathered as the court of impeachment, the trial will begin Tuesday with a debate and vote on whether it's constitutionally permissible to prosecute the former president, an argument that could resonate with Republicans keen on voting to acquit Trump without being seen as condoning his behavior.

Under an agreement between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the opening arguments would begin at noon Wednesday, with up to 16 hours per side for presentations.

After that there are hours for deliberations, witnesses and closing arguments. The trial was set to break Friday evening for the Jewish Sabbath, but Trump's defense team withdrew the request, concerned about the delay, and now the trial can continue into the weekend and next week.

A presidential impeachment trial is among the most serious of Senate proceedings, conducted only three times before, leading to acquittals for Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and then Trump last year.

Typically senators sit at their desks for such occasions, but the COVID-19 crisis has upended even this tradition. Instead, senators will be allowed to spread out, in the marble room just off the Senate floor, where proceedings will be shown on TV, and in the public galleries above the chamber, to accommodate social distancing, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

Trump's second impeachment trial is expected to diverge from the lengthy, complicated affair of a year ago. In that case, Trump was charged with having privately pressured Ukraine to dig up dirt on Biden, then a Democratic rival for the presidency.

This time, Trump's stop the steal rally rhetoric and the storming of the Capitol played out for the world to see. The trial could be over in half the time.

The Democratic-led House impeached the president swiftly, one week after the most violent attack on Congress in more than 200 years. Five people died, including a woman shot by police inside the building and a police officer who died the next day of his injuries.

House prosecutors are expected to rely on videos from the siege, along with Trump's incendiary rhetoric refusing to concede the election, to make their case. His new defense team has said it plans to counter with its own cache of videos of Democratic politicians making fiery speeches.

Initially repulsed by the graphic images of the attack, a number of Republican senators have cooled their criticism as the intervening weeks have provided some distance.

Senators were sworn in as jurors late last month, shortly after Biden was inaugurated, but the trial was delayed as Democrats focused on confirming the new president's initial Cabinet picks and Republicans sought to stall.

At the time, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky forced a vote to set aside the trial as unconstitutional because Trump is no longer in office. The 45 Republican votes in favor of Paul's measure suggest the near impossibility of reaching a conviction in a Senate where Democrats hold 50 seats but a two-thirds vote  or 67 senators  would be needed to convict Trump.

Only five Republicans joined with Democrats to reject Pauls motion: Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

___

Associated Press writer Hope Yen contributed to this report.
LONG ISLAND CITY, N,Y., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SyncWords, the leader in cloud-based video captioning and subtitling, is now integrated into PheedLoop's cloud-based end-to-end event management and automation platform. Now virtual event production companies can schedule and utilize SyncWords' media localization technology for translating and captioning in over 100 languages.

SyncWords Captioning and Translation for Live Virtual Events

Localization of live meetings through real-time translation and subtitles is key for inclusion and accessibility of a global audience that join virtual conferences remotely. Delivering live translations for any live streaming session is very simple with SyncWords and PheedLoop. When setting up a live session, users will have the option to include SyncWords Live captioning and translation. Once this is set up, all viewers of the live virtual conference session will be able to show or hide the subtitles and switch languages. The result is an elegant and custom subtitling option that is optimized for user experience which captures the same look and feel of the PheedLoop interface.

"We've seen virtual events flourish over the last several months in unprecedented ways. They've certainly increased the reach an event can have as attendance numbers are 32% higher for virtual events than strictly in-person ones. These new attendees are often coming to virtual events from all around the world, attendees who would have otherwise been unable to attend the event in-person. Our partnership and integration with SyncWords have helped events allow their larger, more global audiences, to attend events powered by PheedLoop," says Rahul Goel, CEO, PheedLoop.

SyncWords captioning solution is agile and supports both live and pre-recorded videos for conference sessions. In addition, SyncWords can caption events of any size from short one-off events to multiple concurrent sessions over several days. Captioners are available 24/7. SyncWords also provides live technical support and monitoring of live event captioning and translation.

"SyncWords Live solutions make captioning and translation of virtual conferences simple with our PheedLoop integration," said Giovanni Galvez, SyncWords Vice President of Business Development. "I encourage all event production companies to take advantage of this scalable and affordable translation solution for their upcoming virtual events," adds Giovanni.

About SyncWords:

SyncWords is the leading provider of captioning and subtitling technologies and services for both live virtual events and on-demand media. Established in 2013, SyncWords' automation and tools are used by thousands of businesses and major broadcast networks to generate closed captions and subtitles. SyncWords' Live offerings include real time captioning of online meetings and LanguageSync for translating captions to subtitles in 100+ languages for virtual conferences, live web streams, and broadcast. Our on-demand professional captioning platform leverages AI based automation, best-of-breed ASR, and includes our cloud-based Pro Caption Editor and Sync Editor. Learn more at https://www.syncwords.com/solutions/live-captions-live-events

About PheedLoop

PheedLoop, a Toronto based event management technology company, specializes in building tools to enable event management through automation. PheedLoop offers an end-to-end platform featuring registration, apps, badges, speaker/exhibitor management, websites, call for abstracts, live streaming, etc. The company's platform powers meetings, conferences, summits, and trade shows worldwide.

Media Contact

Giovanni Galvez

202-823-1696

[email protected]

SOURCE SyncWords
The REDISSE grant from the NCDC helped improve community testing exercises across the 27 local governments of Imo State.

The federal government has sealed an Abuja-based laboratory for issuing fake COVID-19 results to international travellers.

The Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed this at the weekly press briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

He said the development followed an investigation conducted by the government after a media report last year revealed underhand dealings of some laboratories issuing fake results.

The Cable had in an undercover story in December 2020 reported that for N25,000, travellers were getting fake COVID-19 test results.

Ihekweazu said based on that report, an investigation was conducted and the affected laboratory was sealed with the assistance of the Federal Capital Territory Authority.
Good morning, North State. Here's what you need to know to start your day on Feb. 9.

Butte County Supervisors consider long term housing solutions

The Butte County Board of Supervisors will consider sending a letter to Cal OES and FEMA, requesting permission for the county to sell those trailers to Camp Fire survivors. The deadline for survivors to leave those trailers is in three months. Nearly 170 families currently live at the Chico and Gridley FEMA sites.

Chico, Paradise sewer project unanimously reaches second phase

Butte County board members will also learn more about the proposed sewer project that would link Paradise to Chico's wastewater system. So far, Chico City Council members committed to participate in a $300,000 study for this project. Paradise town leaders say a new system is crucial to rebuilding efforts after the Camp Fire.

Paradise Town Council to discuss housing development grant

The Paradise Town Council is set to meet tonight. On the agenda  a discussion of a housing development grant and changes to municipal code that could allow for street vendors. Click here to view the live stream for the meeting tonight. It will be held on YouTube and the public can make a comment by e-mailing the council at dvolenski@townofparadise.com. The meeting starts at 6 p.m.

Corning PD release video showing persons of interest in homicide investigation

Local enforcement is asking for the publics help in identifying persons of interest in an ongoing homicide investigation. Corning police say the people in a black BMW are persons of interest in the shooting death of Angelo Spears. It happened at the Motel 6 on Solano St. August 2020. If you have any information - or know these people - call Corning police.

COVID variant discovered in U.K. now confirmed in Sacramento region

Sacramento health experts warn that a case of the U.K. coronavirus variant has been detected in the Sacramento region. The genome center at U.C. Davis announced the discovery Monday. The Yolo County Public Health officer says the person recently traveled outside of the community. The Center for Disease Control reports 690 cases of that U.K. variant now in 33 states.

WHO team: Coronavirus unlikely to have leaked from China lab

The World Health Organization (WHO) is squashing a conspiracy theory about the origins of the coronavirus. World Health Organization investigators say its unlikely the coronavirus leaked from a Chinese research lab. Instead, experts say the coronavirus likely came to humans through interactions with another species.

Trump's second impeachment trial begins today

Former President Donald Trump faces a second impeachment trial today. The trial begins in Washington at 9 a.m. PT. Trump is charged with "incitement of insurrection." First thing on the agenda, is to pass an organizing resolution determining the structure of the trial. Then both sides will have up to four hours to debate the constitutionality of the trial.
The initiative is aimed to further protect the national interests, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, MP Friz says.

A draft resolution is being developed in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, to suspend access to government bodies for the journalists employed by a number of pro-Russian TV channels that were effectively sanctioned in early February.

"Following the ban on the aggressor state's media and social networks, the Kremlin over the past two years has massively intensified other channels of its information influence ... The will to hold teleconferences with the main propaganda mouthpiece Rossiya 1, Russian narratives in broadcasts, desecration of Ukrainian military, yes indeed, frankly, anti-Ukrainian rhetoric, once again underline who the recently sanctioned media work for," MP Iryna Friz wrote on Facebook.

Read alsoMore TV channels could be sanctioned, NSDC saysTo protect the national interests, sovereignty and territorial integrity, MP said "we are initiating a draft resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on suspending the accreditation with the state authorities of journalists and technical crews who are part of the media sanctioned by Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 43/2021."

Sanctions on pro-Russian media outlets

President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 2 enacted a package of sanctions put forward by the National Security and Defense Council, effectively blocking a number of media assets, including 112 Ukraine, ZIK, and NewsOne TV channels that had been multiple times accused of preaching pro-Russian rhetoric, formally owned by Taras Kozak  an MP and ally of Vladimir Putin's crony Viktor Medvedchuk.

Read alsoMedia freedom gives no right to spread "malicious propaganda"  U.S. envoy to OSCECommenting on own move, President Zelensky said he strongly supports freedom of speech, but not "propaganda financed by the aggressor country."

SBU security service chief Ivan Bakanov said, "There is a big difference between freedom of speech and outright anti-Ukrainian rhetoric. Freedom of speech ends where signs appear of encroachment on territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine."

U.S. diplomats in Ukraine have supported the move and called for joint efforts "to prevent disinformation from being deployed as a weapon in an information war against sovereign states."

On February 4, two unnamed individuals have filed lawsuits with the Supreme Court of Ukraine contesting the Presidential Decree enacting a package of sanctions imposed on a number of TV channels.

Reporting by UNIAN
Rice farmers at Fumbisi and Tono in the Builsa South District and the Kassena-Nankana Municipality of the Upper East Region have attributed heavy losses on the farm to delay in harvesting due to the lack of combine harvesters.



The farmers said they could not harvest their produce on time, leading to the drying up of the rice in the valleys while some were destroyed by a bush fire.



Most of the farmers have packed the dried harvest in their houses as buyers prefer rice that still has some moisture in them and so want to take advantage of the situation to buy the rice at cheaper prices.



Rice processors prefer that which still has some moisture as the result looks nicer than when it is dried and brittle.



Mr James Adawina, a Commercial Farmer at Uwasi in the Builsa South District, who showed the Ghana News Agency (GNA) around his house where he packed several bags of dried rice, said he could not get buyers for the produce.



I have to pack this rice at my house because I had no place to keep them. I have to even evict some tenants to keep the rice. This is a challenge to us the farmers, he said.



Mr Adawina indicated that the 170-kilogram bag of rice was sold at Gh300.00 at Tono while the same bag went for Gh250.00 at Fumbisi.



He emphasized that the lack of combine harvesters was a major challenge they faced as farmers and the longer the ripe rice stayed on the fields the more it was exposed to the annual harmattan bush fires.



Fire razed some peoples farms at Uwasi and the other challenge is that there is no warehouse here to store our produce.



For now the women are not willing to buy unless I keep the rice until the rainy season when I can get a good price. The lack of combine harvesters is a big challenge to us farmers.



Mr Adawina, who is also the Chairman of the Tono Irrigation Cooperative Farmers Union, appealed to government to support them with combine harvesters, saying If my rice was harvested in time, I would have easily sold it at the Gh250.00 price for the 170kg per bag.



He lauded the former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, now Minister-designate for the sector, for his concerns for the plight of farmers.



Mr Richard Akoka, a Rice Farmer at the Fumbisi rice valleys, who shared the same experience, said Farmers could not get combine harvesters to harvest their produce so the rice over dried on the fields. Fire even burnt some.



He said there was market for their produce this year unlike previous years, provided the ripe rice was harvested early when it still had some moisture in it.



When the GNA contacted Mr Sylvan Dauda Danaa, the Builsa South District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), he confirmed that some farms were burnt, but some of the farmers were able to harvest their rice early and got good market.



He said some farmers were not willing to sell their rice, but stored them in anticipation of future high prices.



We gave them inputs and what I am foreseeing is that they dont want to pay back but we have to recover those monies from them.



Those whose farms were affected by the fire, we are yet to meet them to see how we can help them. We may still give them some time to pay back.



At Tono, Mr Robert Kwame Abokah, a farmer, told the GNA that land preparation, harvesting equipment, and market for their rice were major challenges to farmers in the area.



For now, we cant negotiate for our own price, what the market gives us is what we take. Some years ago, we met some buyers, negotiated prices with them and they came and bought, but after that they didnt come again.



We even met Avnash Industries Ghana Limited and they also came in, but their problem is that they offer low prices which are not good for our quality rice, he said.

Source: GNA









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Librarians in particular ... they are the lowest department for cases, honestly, Arwady said. Only city public safety workers, teachers and transit workers are among the latest group of those eligible to get vaccinated, with other city workers still waiting their turn.
Alexa is one of the most popular virtual assistants on the planet. It powers smart speakers, smart home devices and even the wearables. Users interact with Amazons smart assistant in a million ways every day. Some ask her to crack jokes, others ask her to mimic Bollywood celebrities, yet others ask her for help with the routine stuff such as bill payments, playing music and product searches.

On Alexas third anniversary in India, Amazon shared some interesting insights as to how Amazon users in India interacted with Alexa in the past year. The company said that Indians expressed their love for Alexa by saying Alexa, I love you around 19,000 times a day and asking Alexa, marry me around 6,000 times a day. Amazon said that Indians requested for over 17 lakh songs every day in 2020 with Shaitan Ka Saala, Muqabla, and Aankh Marey being the most requested Bollywood songs in the past year.

If you think that was weird, wait until you read what comes next.

Amazon said that Alexas quirky answer to Alexa, rasodey mein kaun tha? was the most popular request in 2020. Alexa users asked her this question more than 14,000 times a day.

Amazon Alexa in India. (Amazon India)

As far as the smart devices are concerned, Amazon said that on its shopping app, Alexa addressed over 5.8 lakh requests every day by helping customers search for products, best deals, make bill payments, and even listen to music. The company also revealed that smart home appliances were also immensely popular among Alexa users. Customers used voice to control their smart lights, fans, ACs, security cameras, air purifiers and TVs, and asked Alexa to control a smart device whopping 8.6 lakh times every day!

Coming to jokes and mimicry, Alexa made customers laugh close to 9,000 times every day by cracking a joke. She also makes for a good laugh-along buddy, as customers asked Alexa to laugh along around 12,000 times every day. Alexa was also popular among poets and people who love poetry. Amazon revealed that customers asked Alexa for Kavita over 1000 times a day. Customers also asked Alexa to recite Shayari at least 3,000 times a day.

Apart from this, Alexa also recited a conventional form of shayari, that is, Bhajans. Amazon said that Alexa donned the role of a Purohit/Pandit. Alexa answered more than 4,000 requests per day during Durga Pooja, Dussehra and Navratri festivals.

Apart from this, the company said that Bollywood buffs asked Alexa to mimic a celeb every day and asked her around 3,000 times every day. Overall, Amazons virtual assistant answered more than 86,000 factual questions every day.
The race to distribute vaccines and the emergence of more contagious variants of the coronavirus have put a renewed spotlight on the plight of grocery workers in the United States.

The industry has boomed in the past year as Americans have stayed home and avoided restaurants. But in most cases, that has not translated into extra pay for its workers, Sapna Maheshwari and Michael Corkery report for The New York Times. After Long Beach, Calif., mandated hazard pay for grocery workers, the grocery giant Kroger responded last week by saying it would close two locations.

And now, even as experts warn people to minimize time spent in grocery stores because of new coronavirus variants, The Times found only 13 states that had started specifically vaccinating those workers.

Kroger is sending a message, more than anything else, said Andrea Zinder, president of Local 324 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, which represents about 160 employees at the two stores. They are trying to intimidate workers and communities: If you pass these types of ordinances, there will be consequences.

In 2018, a faulty electric transmission line ignited the Camp Fire in Northern California, ultimately consuming 239 square miles and several communities, including the town of Paradise, which was 95 percent destroyed. At least 85 people died.

Structures have been rebuilt, but some things are worse. In a paper published February 2, 2021 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, scientists at University of California San Diego, with colleagues elsewhere, describe chronic mental health problems among some residents who experienced the Camp Fire in varying degrees.

Direct exposure to large-scale fires significantly increased the risk for mental health disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, the scientists wrote.

"We looked for symptoms of these particular disorders because emotionally traumatic events in one's lifetime are known to trigger them," said senior author Jyoti Mishra, PhD, professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine and co-director of the Neural Engineering and Translation Labs at UC San Diego. Pre-existing childhood trauma or sleep disturbances were found to exacerbate mental health problems, but factors like personal resilience and mindfulness appeared to reduce them.

"We show climate change as a chronic mental health stressor. It is not like the pandemic, in that it is here for a period of time and can be mitigated with vaccines and other measures. Climate change is our future, and we need immediate action to slow down the changes being wreaked upon the planet, and on our own wellbeing."

Mishra, with collaborators at California State University, Chico and University of South Carolina, conducted a variety of mental health assessments on residents who had been exposed to the Camp Fire six months after the wildfire and those much farther away. Roughly two-thirds of those tested were residents who lived in or around Chico, a Northern California city located approximately 10 to 15 miles of the center of the Camp Fire. The remaining third were San Diego residents living approximately 600 miles from the wildfire and presumably unimpacted.

The researchers found that the Northern California residents experienced measurable increases in PTSD, depression and anxiety disorders, which were worsened by proximity and exposure to the Camp Fire or by previous adverse experiences involving childhood trauma, such as abuse and neglect.

Chronic mental health problems fanned by the wild fire were ameliorated, however, by physical exercise, mindfulness and emotional support, all of which may contribute to personal resilience and the ability to bounce back after stressful life events.

The worrisome thing is that stressful life events like the Camp Fire are becoming more frequent, due to climate change, said study co-author Veerabhadaran Ramanathan, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric and Climate Sciences at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.

"Since the 1970s, fire extent in California has increased by 400 percent," said Ramanathan. "While a faulty transmission line may have lit the Camp Fire in 2018, it is part of an overall disastrous multi-decadal trend fueled by human-caused climate warming. Through evaporative drying of the air, the soil and the trees, warming acts as a force multiplier. By 2030, the warming is likely to amplify by 50 percent. This surprising, if not shocking, study identifies mental illness as a grave risk for the coming decades."

Not just in California, but the world, write the authors.

"Unchecked climate change projected for the latter half of this century may severely impact the mental wellbeing of the global population. We must find ways to foster individual resiliency," wrote the study authors.

###

Co-authors include: Saria Silveira and Gillian Grennan, UC San Diego; Mariah Kornbluh, University of South Carolina; and Mathew C. Withers, California State University, Chico.
NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, prominent investor rights law firm Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP ("BLB&G") filed a class action lawsuit for violations of the federal securities laws in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas against SolarWinds Corporation ("SolarWinds" or the "Company") and certain of the Company's current and former senior executives (collectively, "Defendants"). The complaint expands the class period that was asserted in a previously-filed related securities class action pending against SolarWinds captioned Bremer v. SolarWinds Corporation, No. 1:21-cv-00002 (W.D. Tex.), and is brought on behalf of investors in SolarWinds common stock between October 18, 2018 and December 17, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period").

BLB&G filed this action on behalf of its client, the New York City District Council of Carpenters Pension Fund, and the case is captioned New York City District Council of Carpenters Pension Fund v. SolarWinds Corporation, No. 1:21-cv-00138 (W.D. Tex.). The complaint is based on an extensive investigation and a careful evaluation of the merits of this case. A copy of the complaint is available on BLB&G's website by clicking here.

SolarWinds' Alleged Fraud

Based in Austin, Texas, SolarWinds provides infrastructure management software used to monitor and manage networks, systems, and applications. The Company's flagship product is its Orion platform. Orion provides a suite of software products widely used by government agencies and Fortune 500 companies to monitor the health and performance of their information technology networks. The Orion platform accounts for nearly half of the Company's annual revenue.

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants falsely touted the Company's robust security controls and commitment to prioritizing customers' security and privacy concerns. The Company also represented that it faced purported risks with regard to its cybersecurity measures. In reality, however, the Company failed to employ adequate cybersecurity safeguards and did not maintain effective monitoring systems to detect and neutralize security breaches. As a result of vulnerabilities in the Company's cybersecurity protections, SolarWinds and its customers were particularly susceptible to cyber-attacks. As a result of Defendants' misrepresentations, shares of SolarWinds common stock traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period.

The truth began to emerge on December 13, 2020, when Reuters reported that hackers believed to be working for the Russian government had been spying on internal email communications at the U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments. The report further revealed that the hackers were believed to have gained access to the agencies' networks through software updates released by SolarWinds.

The next day, SolarWinds disclosed that hackers had breached its network and inserted malware into its Orion monitoring products, which existed in software updates released to SolarWinds customers between March and June 2020. The Company further revealed that the networks of as many as 18,000 customers may have been compromised by the Orion updates that contained the malicious code.

On December 15, 2020, Reuters reported that, in 2019, a security researcher had warned SolarWinds that anyone could access the Company's update server by simply using the password "solarwinds123." Thus, according to the researcher, the SolarWinds breach "could have been done by any attacker, easily." Additionally, according to another cybersecurity expert, the malicious Orion updates were still available for download days after the Company realized that its software had been compromised.

Then, on December 17, 2020, Bloomberg News reported that at least three state governments had been hacked as part of the SolarWinds breach. Moreover, it was reported that the hackers used the SolarWinds intrusion to infiltrate government networks that implicated national security concerns, including the U.S. Department of Energy and its National Nuclear Security Administration, which maintains the country's arsenal of nuclear weapons. As a result of these disclosures, the price of SolarWinds common stock declined precipitously.

The filing of this action does not alter the previously established deadline to seek appointment as Lead Plaintiff. Pursuant to the January 4, 2021 notice published in connection with the Bremer action, under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, investors who purchased or otherwise acquired SolarWinds securities during the Class Period may, no later than March 5, 2021, seek to be appointed as Lead Plaintiff for the Class. Any member of the proposed Class may seek to serve as Lead Plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain a member of the proposed Class.

If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please contact Scott Foglietta of BLB&G at 212-554-1903, or via e-mail at [email protected].

About BLB&G

BLB&G is widely recognized worldwide as a leading law firm advising institutional investors on issues related to corporate governance, shareholder rights, and securities litigation. Since its founding in 1983, BLB&G has built an international reputation for excellence and integrity and pioneered the use of the litigation process to achieve precedent-setting governance reforms. Unique among its peers, BLB&G has obtained several of the largest and most significant securities recoveries in history, recovering over $33 billion on behalf of defrauded investors. More information about the firm can be found online at www.blbglaw.com.

Contact

Scott R. Foglietta

Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP

1251 Avenue of the Americas, 44th Floor

New York, New York 10020

(212) 554-1903

[email protected]

SOURCE Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP

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Patna, Feb 9 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to expand his Cabinet on Tuesday afternoon as 17 new inductees are likely to take oath -- nine from the BJP and eight from Janata Dal-United.

It will be the first Cabinet expansion after Nitish became the Chief Minister for another term in November 2020.

Bihar Governor Fagu Chauhan will administer the oath to the new Ministers at 12.30 pm here.

Allies BJP and JD-U were earlier stuck on Cabinet expansion for a long time, but finally came to an agreement on Monday evening. BJP sources said that the party wanted to give opportunity to the youth whereas the JD-U was likely to give preference to both experienced and young persons.

Recently elected Legislative Council member Shahnawaz Hussain, Samrat Chaudhary, Subhash Singh, Alok Ranjan, Pramod Kumar, Janaram, Narayan Prasad, Nitin Naveen, and Neeraj Singh Bagu are front runners for ministerial berths from the BJP quota.

Former Minister Shravan Kumar can once again be made a Minister by the JD-U, apart from Lacey Singh, Sanjay Jha, and Madan Sahni. Former Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Jama Khan, Independent Sumit Kumar Singh, Jayant Raj and Sunil Kumar are also likely inductees.

Nitish Kumar took oath as Chief Minister on November 16 last year along with 14 Ministers. Then Education Minister Mewalal Chaudhary resigned three days later due to controversy over alleged irregularities in appointments during his tenure as Vice Chancellor of Bihar Agriculture University.

Ever since, there was speculation about the Cabinet expansion even as the BJP and JD-U were involved in a tug of war over the issue.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.  Police have released the names of a Scottsdale man and Phoenix woman who died after the car they were in crashed into a building in Flagstaff.

They said a vehicle was found inside a lobby early Saturday and two people had been ejected.

Police said 23-year-old Jeffrey Kassir was believed to be the driver of the vehicle and he was pronounced dead at the scene while 22-year-old Amanda Mosqueira was transported to a Flagstaff hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The vehicle left the roadway and crossed the center median before crashing into the building around 3 a.m., according to police.

Investigators are trying to determine if speed and-or impairment contributed to the cause of the fatal crash.

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A witness says the victims were burnt beyond recognition after a commercial bus somersaulted and caught fire.

About 10 persons were feared dead on Monday in a road accident along Okigwe-Afikpo Highway, Ebonyi State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted a witness, Jeremiah Aja, as saying that a bus belonging to Abia Line Network travelling from Umuahia to Afikpo was involved in the accident.

Mr Aja, who said he witnessed the accident while working on his farm, said the bus was trying to pull through a bend when it veered off the road and somersaulted multiple times before it caught fire.

The witness said he counted 10 bodies that were burnt beyond recognition.

"Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu, the Ivo Local Government Area chairman, brought water tankers and put out the fire.

"Also, the police and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) teams quickly moved the two persons alive to a nearby hospital where they are now receiving medical treatment," he said.

The police spokesperson in the state, Loveth Odah, confirmed the accident but said she was yet to be briefed on the cause of the accident and the number of casualties.

"We have received information about the fatal accident which happened today along the Ishiagu axis of Okigwe-Afikpo highway, the divisional police officer is at the scene of the crash.

"He will give us a clear picture of the incident," the spokesperson said.

(NAN)
Authorities on Monday said a 17-year-old boy was in custody after being charged last week in a Middlesex County shooting that killed a man and left another teen wounded.

The teen is the second juvenile accused in the slaying of 18-year-old Mark Atkins, according to the county prosecutors office. The pair of North Brunswick boys, both 17, face juvenile offenses that prosecutors said would constitute murder, conspiracy and weapons possession stemming from the attack in North Brunswick. Authorities have not released the names of the teens because they are juveniles.

Police were called last Wednesday around 7:30 p.m. to an apartment complex on Marc Drive in the township and found a 17-year-old shot, according to authorities. Officers also discovered Atkins, of Plainfield, shot multiple times, they said. He died at an area hospital, officials said.

It was not yet clear if prosecutors would seek to have the case heard in adult court. Authorities declined to release more information.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
Hyde follows family tradition, takes home PIAA gold in shot put

"It's awesome," Hyde said. "It really feels like a tradition, now. It will be cool to see our names next to each other in the record books."


The Kentucky State Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 120, the Historical Horse Racing bill, by a margin of 22-15 on Tuesday (Feb. 9).

The bill will now go to the House Chambers for a vote.

The Kentucky Harness Horsemen's Association advises horsepeople to reach out to Kentucky State Representatives and let them know to vote 'yes' on Senate bill 120 for final passage to be sent and signed by Governor Beshear.

SB 120 has been assigned to the KY House Standing Committee on Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations and posted for consideration on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. The public may watch the committee meeting live on Kentucky Educational Televsion (KET) at this link.

(Kentucky Harness Horsemen's Association)



Kerala: Seaweed farming project yet to take off

by Tiki Rajwi

February 09,2021 | Source: The Hindu

A pilot project on seaweed farming, mooted by the Fisheries Department, is yet to take off on account of constraints imposed by the dynamics of the coastal waters off Kerala and questions regarding its feasibility. Seaweed farming was in the discussion recently when Modadugu Vijay Gupta, fisheries scientist and winner of the 2005 World Food prize, urged Kerala to explore this industry at the just-concluded Kerala Looks Ahead conclave, organised by the State Planning Board.



Though the Fisheries Department submitted a Rs.20 lakh pilot project to the State government last year, studies undertaken for preparing a detailed DPR raised certain doubts regarding the feasibility of this industry along the Kerala coast, Director of Fisheries C.A. Latha said. The pilot project involved establishing 250 units in the nine coastal districts at a cost of Rs.8,000 per unit. The department had also formed a panel for conducting the feasibility study headed by the Fisheries Director that included representatives of the Fisheries Department, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation (KSCADC), and the Agency for Development of Aquaculture Kerala (ADAK).



ADAK expressed some concerns regarding the scope of the project. We have deeper waters along the Kerala coast when compared to places suited for seaweed farming like Mandapam in Tamil Nadu. We lack protected bays, and the coast here experience rough sea conditions through the year. Some pockets along the Kerala coast may be suitable. We are looking into what the constraints are and then trying to move forward, the Fisheries Director said. Equally importantly, the economic and social impact of the industry on the coastal communities also needed to be taken into account, she said. Dr. Vijay Gupta, while speaking on the theme of new challenges and opportunities in fisheries, had wanted the State to explore the potential of this multi-billion dollar global industry. The Central government too was encouraging coastal states to take up seaweed farming. The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) places thrust on it as a means of job creation. In the 2021-22 budget, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced a Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu calling seaweed farming an emerging sector with potential to transform the lives of coastal communities.

 2021, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Bellway Plc (BWY.L) issued trading update for the six months ended January 31, 2021, and reported first half volume output, with the completion of 5,656 new homes, an increase of 6.3%, compared to 5,321 homes in 2020. For the first half, housing revenue rose by over 12% to around 1,715 million from 1,524.8 million last year, in part driven by strong growth in the number of homes sold. Further, the company noted that it has benefitted from a strong balance sheet and notwithstanding the investment in land, net cash rose to 346 million from 4.6 million a year ago, reflecting the elevated level of completions and the reduction in work-in-progress. Looking ahead, the company now expects housing completions for the full year to July 31, 2021 to increase to around 9,800 homes versus 7,522 last year, and expects the underlying operating margin for the full year to improve by at least 200 basis points versus 14.5% reported in the previous year. Jason Honeyman, Chief Executive, said, '...Looking forward, we have a sizeable forward order book, which provides a solid platform for the second half of the financial year and beyond. In addition, our balance sheet is strong, with significant cash resource and this provides the Group with the necessary resilience and flexibility to respond positively to the evolving economic environment.' 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.
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed Spains primary healthcare workers to the breaking point. When describing their situation, the words they use are overwhelmed, disheartened and exhausted. In the first wave of the pandemic, primary healthcare workers were the protective wall against the epidemic. In the second, they were the guards looking out for the spread of virus on the street and in senior residences. Now, in the third wave, they are leading the charge, overseeing both the Covid vaccination campaign and assisting patients whose care has been delayed by the pandemic.

Spains primary healthcare system was already under strain before the pandemic hit, but this has intensified in the last year, leaving it in a state where it is under constant pressure. There is increasingly more work and with the same amount of resources, says Jose Polo, the spokesperson for the Spanish Society of General Practitioners (Semergen). And this is taking a toll on both healthcare professionals, whose mental health is suffering as a result, and on patients, who are more likely to fall off the radar, delay getting care and arrive in a worse condition to their appointment.

We are not an elastic band. Health workers are human and if you continue stretching us, one day we are going to break Maria Justicia, head of primary healthcare at Madrids doctor union Amyt

In the waiting room of the Creu Alta medical center in Sabadell, in Catalonia, 76-year-old Josefa Cerezo and her daughter Marga are killing time looking into space. It took a lot for me to come, says Josefa. Its difficult to contact the medical center because the telephone is always busy. I had sciatica that was killing me and I ended up going to the emergency ward. Today I am here to monitor my blood pressure. There are just two other patients waiting in the corridor. To prevent contagion and optimize resources, primary healthcare centers have prioritized phone consultations over in-person appointments.

There is not much happening in the waiting room of the medical center, but inside the doctors offices, its a different story. Access has changed, but we continue to provide service for acute but not life-threatening cases like a urine infection, patients with chronic illness and end-of-life treatment with home visits, says Angeles Zamora, a nurse at Creu Alta medical center.

The ground floor of the facility houses an area for suspected Covid-19 patients. In the first wave, we saw more serious cases. Now there are more family contagions, but they are more minor cases. People continue to be afraid of the virus and they are scared and anxious when they come in, says Laura Estirado, a nurse on the floor, who wears a personal protective suit and two face masks.

A coronvirus test is carried out in Barcelona. MASSIMILIANO MINOCRI / EL PAIS

Primary healthcare is the entry point to the health system, but the pandemic has created a bottleneck that cannot easily be relieved. The workload of doctors and nurses has multiplied: as well as being responsible for detecting and tracking Covid cases, they also see their regular patients, as well as those who the pandemic may have left behind, make home visits, assist palliative care patients, coordinate care in the residences of their area and oversee the flu and coronavirus vaccination campaign. All of this, they warn, with practically the same resources they had before the pandemic. The way things are now, its almost impossible to do everything, says Salvador Tranche, president of the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine. Nursing does 130 million appointments a year and the coronavirus vaccination drive of the general population will involve 50 million more. In other words, it means 50% more activity. You need resources for that.

The pandemic has not created these shortfalls, which are the result of 10 years of decimating budget cuts, but it has exacerbated them. Before the pandemic, we estimated that we needed 15,500 more nurses in primary healthcare. Now, just the shortage in nursing is massive. Increasing human resources is crucial, says Maria Jose Garcia, the spokesperson of the nursing union Satse. According to a report from the Spanish Medical Colleges Organization (OMC), spending on the public health system  which falls to the regional governments  was cut by 8.64 billion between 2009 and 2014, a drop of 12.24%. But the cuts were even deeper in the primary healthcare system, where spending fell by 16.17%, a fall of 1.74 billion. Our schedules are overwhelmed and people are already taking leave due to psychological problems, says Maria Justicia, the head of primary healthcare at Madrids doctor union Amyts. The precarious conditions are worsening. If it continues this way, primary healthcare will not be able to endure.

According to a report from the Spanish Medical Colleges Organization, spending on the primary healthcare system was cut by 16% between 2009 and 2014

The spike in coronavirus cases in the third wave has pushed already strained healthcare centers to their limit. While staff have more experience, more diagnostic tools (unlike in the first wave, they can test for Covid now) and personal protective equipment, there is still a shortage of workers. We are completely overwhelmed and overstretched, says Rosa Magallon, the president of the Spanish Primary Healthcare Network of the Spanish Public Health Society (Sespas).

This pressure is being felt above all by the patients who dont have Covid-19, who arrive in a worse condition to their appointments, if they make it at all. The diagnosis delays we have are tremendous, warns Tranche. Hospital tests are being delayed and we are finding very advanced tumors or important changes in quality of life due to some disease. The number of operations fell by 36% in the first six months of 2020 with respect to the same period in 2019, and surgery waiting times have skyrocketed  patients wait on average 183 days for a knee replacement, for example. We are hearing a lot of complaints from patients about test and surgery delays. A cataract is not considered an urgent disease, yet the patient cant see, says Polo.

These problems are exacerbated by the precariousness of the healthcare system, which means personnel are often moving from one position to another. You have to do double shifts, you see patients you dont know due to the discontinuity of care, and this creates delays. Because we dont have time to see patients properly, says Magallon. Other delays also happen because the patients dont want to come to the medical center.

During the first wave of the pandemic, when Spain was under a strict lockdown, people across the country applauded at 8pm every day to show their appreciation for health workers and other essential workers. But now the feelings have changed, says Tranche. People are furious, he says. They scold us because they dont feel like they are getting proper treatment. Polo agrees: They are sullen, angry and upset. Zamora, however, believes this attitude is not discontent, but rather fear: they are afraid, they are afraid of losing access [to primary healthcare].

Strain on health professionals

Working under constant pressure is not good either for health professionals. We arrive early to work and leave when we can, says Candido Pequeno, the head of a medical center in Cee in A Coruna province. No one asks us to, and no one compensates us for it, but we do it. And thats what leaves you burned out. We are overloaded. Professionals are despondent and arrive at work suffering.

Two studies by researchers at Hospital del Mar in Barcelona show that nearly half of health workers are at high risk of mental illness as a result of the pandemic. There is an increasingly high percentage of health workers who are taking anxiety medication and antidepressants, and people who are on leave for post-traumatic stress, says Maria Justicia, who warns: We are not an elastic band. Health workers are human and if you continue stretching us, one day we are going to break.

English version by Melissa Kitson.




(Natural News) The Biden regime is deploying more than 1,000 active-duty troops across the country to help medical workers plunge Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) needles into Americans arms at a faster pace.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin gave the military the green light to begin vaccinating people starting on Feb. 15 in California. After that, troops will be sent to other states to work the jabs elsewhere.

The militarys critical role in supporting sites will help vaccinate thousands of people per day and ensure that every American who wants a vaccine will receive them, said Biden Covid-19 response team senior advisor Andy Slavitt to reporters.

China Joe and his lackeys remain critical of President Donald Trumps response to the Chinese virus. According to them, Trump and his team did not roll out the vaccines quickly enough, and also did not issue a national mask mandate.

According to CNBC, Big Pharma, operating under Trumps Operation Warp Speed program, has distributed some 57.4 million vaccine doses. Only about 35.2 million doses, or roughly 61 percent of the total available supply, have been jabbed into peoples bodies.

The 1,110 active-duty service members will compose five teams and involve units from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, according to the Department of Defense, writes CNBCs Berkeley Lovelace Jr.

The troops will include nurses and medical staff who will help administer Pfizers and Modernas two-dose vaccines, according to the agency.

The Defense Production Act has also been executed to help Pfizer meet the manufacturing targets for its vaccine. The company recently announced plans to deliver 200 million doses of its jab to the U.S. by May, two months earlier than its earlier forecast of July.

I think the use of the Defense Production Act is one of the things that is allowing Pfizer to meet the targets, Slavitt stated.

They announced an acceleration of their targets of when theyll be able to deliver vaccines. And I think our partnership with them is one of those reasons. Im not going to say its the entire reason, but its certainly a critical factor.

Biden regime upset that some medical providers are delaying second shot due to deadly side effects

The Pentagon is reportedly conspiring with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to send another 9,000 troops, for a total of around 10,000, throughout the nation to really get the process going at warp speed.

FEMA and the Department of Defense (DoD) will together determine the point at which active-duty members are no longer required to push China virus vaccines on American soil.

Slavitt expressed further upset with the medical providers across the country that have held back in delivering the second round of Pfizer jabs due to widespread reports of deadly side effects.

In Slavitts view, this is completely unnecessary. Both the government and health care systems should immediately resume injecting Chinese virus syringes into people because failure to do so is bad.

We want to be clear that we understand why health care providers have done that, but that it does not need to happen and should not happen, he told reporters, adding that government officials knew that shipments of Covid-19 vaccines back in December were erratic.

We completely understand that this has been a direct result of the lack of predictability many states and providers have had regarding how many doses that they would receive. Thats one reason why last week we announced that the federal government will be providing a continual three-week window in the vaccines that will be shipped.

More of the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) and the militarization of America can be found at Terrorism.news.

Sources for this article include:

CNBC.com

NaturalNews.com




Youn Yuh-jung

South Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung has been awarded her 21st best supporting actress award from a U.S. film critics association for her performance in the immigration drama "Minari."



The Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) said Monday (U.S. time) that the annual WAFCA Award's best supporting actress title went to Youn, who took the role of an eccentric grandmother in Lee Isaac Chung's semi-autobiographical film.



"Minari" depicts first-generation immigrants from Korea pursuing their own American dream on an Arkansas farm from the point of view of a 7-year-old boy named David (Alan Kim) and his parents, Jacob (Steven Yeun) and Monica (Han Yeri). The family's life faces changes after the boy's grandmother, Soon-ja (Youn), arrives in the United States from Korea.



It is the 73-year old actress' 21st title in the ongoing award season in the run-up to the Oscars, with other titles including one from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.






THE Construction Industry Federation (CIF) say that cancelling or restricting the Coonagh/Knockalisheen Road will put Limerick on the wrong track.

Conor OConnell, the southern director of the building lobby, says not building the link in its entirety will deny the possibility of more living spaces along its wayfare.

The Coonagh to Knocklisheen road is vital for communities on the northside of Limerick City. It is part of a matrix of projects in the region that will facilitate sustainable levels of housing in the area to meet population demands. This road is part of the National Development Plan, the Limerick Regeneration initiative and is part of a very important pipeline of projects for the industry, he said.

Mr OConnell said the project is also critical for an inclusive and sustainable community in Moyross.

Cancelling projects, previously considered critical and agreed within the National Development Plan, undermines investment in this important region, particularly without any prior consultation with these communities, the group said.

The cancellation or alteration of this project will result in delays of several years due to the duration of redesign and procurement processes in Ireland. This will inevitably lead to job losses in Limerick companies that are part of this project and the wider supply chain. It is vital to the construction sector and indeed the wider Limerick economy that the project proceeds without any further delay. We urgently request that the Minister and local politicians reconsider this project in the context of a Better Quality of Life for All and the Limerick Regeneration initiative and the wider objectives of the NDP and NPF, Mr OConnell concluded.

The Coonagh-Knockalisheen Road has enjoyed cross-party support.

Fine Gaels party members in Limerick and Clare met Wednesday to formally support the project, while local Fianna Fail TDs Willie ODea and Cathal Crowe have also supported it.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald held meetings with Moyross Partners last week with local TD Maurice Quinlivan.

She has called on Taoiseach Micheal Martin to intervene.

Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong (R) hands over a box of China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines to Lao Vice President Phankham Viphavanh during a hand-over ceremony held in Vientiane, Laos, Feb. 8, 2021. A batch of China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the Lao capital Vientiane early on Monday. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)

VIENTIANE, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A handover ceremony of the China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine was held here Monday in the Lao health ministry.

Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong officially handed over the vaccine to Phankham Viphavanh, a member of the Political Bureau of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and vice president of Laos.

The batch of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine carried by the Chinese YTO Express cargo plane arrived at the Lao capital Vientiane early on Monday.

Addressing the ceremony, Phankham spoke highly of China's achievements against COVID-19, noting the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, while advancing COVID-19 prevention and control efforts at home, have delivered strong support to Laos' fight against the virus with sending medical expert teams and providing a large number of anti-epidemic supplies.

China's assistance has helped improve Laos' capability to combat COVID-19 and demonstrated the long-standing and stable comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership as well as the spirit of good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners between the two countries, Phankham said.

China has been providing vaccine assistance to many countries including Laos, which fully demonstrates China as a responsible major country and its commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Phankham added that the Lao side has found the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to be safe and effective in the earlier emergency use in certain high-risk personnel in Laos.

Speaking on the occasion, Jiang thanked the support from the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, government and people to China's efforts to fight COVID-19.

He said, "We will continue to support Laos in fighting the epidemic, continue to deepen the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future" as well as to enrich the content of joint construction of a community with a shared future for mankind and a global community of health for all.

[ Editor: WPY ]
The voluntary vaccines were administered free-of-charge to associates at the plant's onsite Wellness Center. Perdue operates onsite Wellness Centers at its processing facilities, which are staffed by local healthcare providers and available free-of-charge to associates and their families. As more vaccines become available in the other states in which Perdue operates, the company is ready to provide the vaccines as quickly and widely as supply allows.

"Essential frontline meat and poultry associates have worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the continuity of America's food supply. The health of our people has been  and remains  our top priority throughout this uncharted situation. Today, we're pleased to take another step in protecting our associates, their families, and our communities through this first round of vaccine distribution," said Randy Day, Chief Executive Officer, Perdue Farms. "We're grateful for our partnership with local leaders at the Virginia Department of Public Health and to Governor Northam as we maintain the safety of our associates as our primary focus."

Since it became clear last fall that COVID-19 vaccines would soon be available, Perdue immediately began to develop plans to distribute vaccines as quickly and efficiently as possible to its frontline associates. Among other steps, this included preparing educational materials in multiple languages about the importance of the vaccines, advocating for poultry processing workers to receive priority in state and national distribution efforts, and training facility Wellness Center staff according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

In early December, Perdue called on the CDC and governors of 15 states where it operates to prioritize essential meat and poultry industry workers, and their families and co-habitants, for vaccine distribution. Perdue also offered resources to assist the CDC and states in this effort, recognizing that the success of our country's vaccination requires education and community outreach efforts. Later in December, the CDC recommended that states include meat and poultry processing workers in phase 1B.

Perdue echoes the guidance of federal, state, and local health officials that vaccination does not eliminate the need to continue strict COVID-19 mitigation techniques such as wearing a mask, frequent hand washing, and practicing social distancing, and continues to enforce these guidelines in all of its locations.

More information about Perdue's response to COVID-19, including measures taken to protect the safety of our employees, can be found here.

About Perdue Farms

We're a fourth-generation, family owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers, and farmers through trusted choices in products and services.

The premium protein portfolio within our Perdue Foods business, including our flagship PERDUE brand, Niman Ranch, Panorama Grass Fed Beef, and Coleman Natural, as well as our pet brands, Spot Farms and Full Moon, is available through retail, foodservice, and our new direct-to-consumer website, PerdueFarms.com.

Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company.

Now in our company's second century, our path forward is about getting better, not just bigger. We never use drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and we are actively advancing our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever chicken, turkey, pork, beef and lamb, and in USDA-certified organic chicken and beef. Learn more at corporate.perduefarms.com.

SOURCE Perdue Farms

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Factories again cut quotes for prime cattle this week  they are now back 15c in a fortnight

Another shock 10c/kg cut to base beef quotes has been described as unjustified and an attempt by beef processors to talk down beef prices.

Factories again cut quotes for prime cattle this week  they are now back 15c in a fortnight, with 3.70/kg being quoted for bullocks and 3.80/kg for heifers.

This comes after UK retailer demand drove strong prices January.

IFA president Tim Cullinan called for the Beef Task Force to be convened immediately and said attempts by the meat factories to talk down the trade are not justified based on the latest market reports.

He pointed to Bord Bias Prime Export Benchmark, where prices in our key markets increased by 5c/kg in late January, with the Irish price only increasing by 2c/kg.

Cullinan also said the supermarket price for beef in the UK has strengthened in the past week and sales remain strong.

Farmer anger is likely to be further fuelled by official reports estimating that UK beef production could fall by as much 5pc this year, boosting imports by 4pc.

Beef prices in the UK are strong and steady, according to the IFA, rising over 7p/kg since the beginning of January  and with sterling strengthening by 3pc over the same period to 87.5p/ it says market conditions for Irish meat factories remain favourable.

Speaking to the Farming Independent, Des Morrison, the ICMSAs livestock chair, questioned whether this no notice decision to pull prices is connected to the need for feedlots to restock.

Having emptied their feedlots, are they going into the marts in the hope of buying cheaply the kind of numbers that enable them to push down the prices they pay to finishers? he asked.

The factory price cuts have also seen beef prices hammered at the marts, with the overall average price of bullocks over 500kg back by 23-29c/kg or 115-174/hd.

And mart managers said bigger finishers and feedlot buyers were less active, particularly when it came to buying Angus or Hereford stock.
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February 09, 2021

U.S. Oil & Gas Plc.

("US Oil" or the "Company")

Regulatory Update

U.S. Oil & Gas Plc, ("USOIL" or the "Company"), the oil and gas exploration company with assets in Nevada, makes the following announcement:

Following further statements by the Biden Administration regarding the January 20, 2021 temporary suspension of the issuing of new drilling permits on Federal lands, and the consensus industry view, the Company believes that the potential impact on its exploration plans and prospects are not material. Most importantly, permitting of wells on the Company's existing leases is expected to continue as normal after the announced 60 day moratorium on permit approvals has run its course.

The Company will shortly be submitting Notices of Staking (NoS) for planned wells on its Hot Creek Valley leases and expects these will be processed normally.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The statements in this communication reflect the current thinking of the Board and the Company's present plans. The Company reserves the right to alter plans in the light of developing knowledge and circumstances. Shareholders' attention is drawn to the note below concerning Forward-looking Statements.

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information". Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: business plans and strategies of US Oil and Gas; operating or technical difficulties in connection with drilling or development activities; availability and costs associated with inputs and labour; drilling and exploration costs; the speculative nature of oil exploration and development; diminishing quantities or quality of reserves; synergies and financial impact of completed acquisitions; the benefits of the acquisitions and the development potential of properties of US Oil and Gas; the future price of oil; supply and demand for oil; the estimation of reserves; the realization of reserve estimates; costs of production and projections of costs; success of exploration activities; capital expenditure programs and the timing and method of financing thereof; the ability of US Oil and Gas to achieve drilling success consistent with management's expectations; net present values of future net revenues from reserves; expected levels of royalty rates, operating costs, general and administrative costs, costs of services and other costs and expenses; expectations regarding the ability to raise capital and to add to reserves through acquisitions, assessments of the value of acquisitions and exploration and development programs; geological, technical, drilling and processing problems; treatment under governmental regulatory regimes and tax laws.

All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements

THE DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENTS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

Neither this announcement nor the information contained herein constitutes an offer or solicitation by U.S. Oil and Gas Plc for the purchase or sale of any securities nor does it constitute a solicitation to any person in any jurisdiction where solicitation would be unlawful.

For further information contact:

Brian McDonnell, Chief Executive Officer +353 (1) 631 9022

About U.S. Oil & Gas:

U.S. Oil & Gas plc is an oil and gas exploration company with a strategy to identify and acquire oil and gas assets in the early phase of the upstream life-cycle and mature them. The Company's

main asset is in Nye County, Nevada where it holds the entire share capital of US-based company, Major Oil International LLC ("Major Oil"). Major Oil has acquired rights to exploration and development acreage in Hot Creek Valley, Nye County, adjacent to the oil and gas rich Railroad Valley area of Nevada, both of which are part of the Sevier Thrust of central Nevada and western Utah, USA.

For further information please refer to our website at: www.usoilandgas.us
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The Deputy Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Zhao Yong, said the trade volume between Nigeria and China has increased by 1,900 times, within 50 years of diplomatic relations.

Zhao, disclosed this on Monday while briefing newsmen on the 50th Anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Zhao said, over the years, Nigeria -china economic and trade relations had enjoyed a robust development.

He said, in 2019, the trade volume between both countries had reached 19.27 billion US dollars, which was "1,900 times" that of 1971 when the diplomatic relation was established.

Zhao noted that the bilateral trade growth rate was ranked first among the 40 trading partners of China across the world.

He explained that, despite the adverse effects of the COVID-19, the bilateral trade volume between both countries from January to October, 2020 had increased by 0.7% year on year, which was 14 percent higher than the trade growth rate between China and Africa as a whole.

"Nigeria surpasses Angola and South Africa to respectively to become China's second-largest trade partner and largest export market in Africa.

"At the same time, Nigeria is the China's major investment destination in Africa, the Ogun-Guangdong and Lekki Free Trade Zones have attracted a large number of Chinese companies to invest and operate their businesses, such as roads, ports and airport terminals. can be seen everywhere in Nigeria," he said.

While appreciating the dynamic exchange of culture, health, and security between both countries, Yong said, " In 2019, the number of Nigerian students studying in China rose to 6,800, which stands first in all African countries."

On the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, China provided timely medical aid to Nigeria in three batches and shared its experiences on epidemic prevention and control with the Nigerian government.

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He expressed the readiness of China to make joint efforts with Nigeria to further strengthen the anti-pandemic cooperation to completely defeat the COVID-19.

Zhao, however, said this year would be vital for China-Nigeria relations following the recent visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi in January to Nigeria.

He said, during the visit, both countries jointly formulated a blueprint to boost bilateral cooperation for the next 50 years.

He added that China was committed to support Nigeria's development, security and safeguard its national sovereignty.

"China is ready to deepen the Belt and Road Cooperation; speed up the construction of key projects so as to help Nigeria accelerate the process of industrialisation.

"Explore the cooperation in the areas of digital economy and green economy; expand military and security cooperation with a view to enhancing Nigeria's capacity of safeguarding national security.

"And closely coordinate with each other on regional and international affairs to safeguard the common interests of developing countries," he added.
Chamoli: Even as the rescue operation is underway at Tapovan tunnel, Joshimath in Uttarakhand, where the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) team is deployed to take out debris and try to find survivors from the tunnel, as many as 26 bodies have been recovered from different areas that were affected by the glacier burst in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat visits ITBP hospital in Joshimath, Chamoli where injured people are admitted. On Monday, he told ANI, "Tomorrow I plan to visit the affected areas and will also meet people. Our relief and rescue operations are continuing in full swing and we are doing our best to save lives."

Rawat also held a meeting with officials of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), state Police, and other agencies in Joshimath to review the rescue efforts in Tapovan.

Rescue operation continues at Tapovan tunnel

#WATCH | Rescue operation continues at Tapovan tunnel in Chamoli, Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/eIeAkndKY9  ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

Earlier, the Chief Minister directed the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to release Rs 20 crore funds to carry out rescue and relief operations in the state.

According to State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), people who were reported missing after the glacier burst and have survived the tragedy are coming forward to report their presence to the administration. "So far 5 people have come forward and reported their presence to administration. Around 35 more people are stuck in a tunnel and efforts are on to rescue them," said SDRF.

#WATCH: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat conducts aerial survey of areas affected due to glacier disaster in Chamoli. pic.twitter.com/Ych084CVpV  ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

The rescue operation, however, is underway at Tapovan tunnel, Joshimath in Uttarakhand, where Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) team will work overnight to take out debris and try to find survivors from the tunnel.

ITBP personnel of the 8th Battalion of the force carried nearly 100 bags of ration and utility items from Lata village base (Temporary Helipad) and control station to villages of Jugaju and Juwagwar on Monday. These villages got cut-off from connectivity due to floods in Dhauliganga in the state.

Two helipad activation teams of Indian Air Force Air Traffic Control and Meteorological personnel are at Joshimath and Gaucher for coordination of high availability disaster recovery (HADR) operations. Rescue operations continued throughout the day even on the second day of the disaster in Chamoli district on Monday.

"In Tapovan, had a meeting with IG, DIG, DM, SP, Army, ITBP, senior officials BRO and project in-charge officers of NTPC to review the relief and rescue operations. At the same time, the DM was instructed to brief the media from time to time so that misleading and false news is not spread," tweeted the Chief Minister after the meeting.

SDRF on Monday said that 26 bodies have been recovered from different areas that were affected by the glacier burst in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand, while 197 people are still missing.

A glacial broke in the Tapovan-Reni area of Chamoli District of Uttarakhand on Sunday, which led to massive flooding in Dhauliganga and Alaknanda rivers and damaged houses and the nearby Rishiganga power project.

(With Agency Inputs)
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Morogoro  Rice farmers have exuded confidence that they will sell enough rice to Zanzibar after the latter decided to stop imports from Asia.

Morogoro Region, which is among the top rice producers in the country, will benefit from supplying their produce to the semi-autonomous Indian Ocean archipelago.

Zanzibar's rice demand currently stands at 80,000 tonnes per year, but the country only produces about 23,000 tonnes.

The gap is currently filled by imports from Tanzania mainland and partly from Asia.

Rice is the main staple food in Zanzibar where the current demand stands at 61.3 kilogrammes per person annually.

But gracing a three-day workshop of rice processors here, the Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Mr Loata Ole Sanare, said he had held talks with Zanzibar's Second Vice President Hemed Suleiman Abdallah over the possibility of Morogoro farmers supplying rice to the Isles.

"The Second Vice President assured me that he will ask rice importers to visit Morogoro Region and meet with rice processors to seal the business deal," he told 50 participants of the workshop.

The participants were taken from Malinyi, Kilombero, Ifakara, Kilosa, Ulanga and Mvomero districts.

Repoa and Rice Council of Tanzania organised the workshop.

Mr Sanare said the government was working hard to ensure that smallholder rice farmers, millers and processors were making profits out of the produce so that they can contribute to the economic growth through paying taxes.

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He told rice the processors to list down the challenges that they were facing in their daily undertakings so that the government could work on them.

The Ifakara District commissioner, Mr Ismail Mlawa, told participants to take such workshops seriously and that they should be willing to share the knowledge with their counterparts in their respective farming communities.

According to Repoa's senior communications specialist Godfrey Kalagho, the training was part of the organisation's research programme, which aimed at building the capacity of policy makers, producers and processors.

"Ultimately, this should contribute towards achieving competitiveness of local products within and outside the country," he said.

The programme is funded by the European Union under the Secretariat of the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (OACPS).

It is implemented by Repoa and the University of Erasmus, Rotterdam, in The Hague (ISS).

Recently, the government convened the Task Force for the National Rice Development Strategy II (NRDS II) in Morogoro, which aimed at scaling up the rice production to meet the growing regional and international demand.

The region is also putting in much effort to double the production from two tonnes to four tonnes per hectare.
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[Even with the restart of middle schools, most students will still be learning from home.]

The context

In the fall, Mr. de Blasio vowed to close schools when the city hit a seven-day average positive test rate of 3 percent. Schools were fully open for only six weeks before the mayor announced a shutdown in late November.

Less than three weeks later, elementary school students and children with advanced disabilities were allowed to return, but plans for middle and high school students were left unclear.

The vast majority of city students  roughly 70 percent  had already decided to stick with remote learning through the rest of the school year.

The precedent

When some schools reopened in December, more stringent health precautions were added. Those measures  including random weekly testing and requiring buildings to close temporarily if at least two unrelated positive cases were detected  have frustrated parents and led to frequent closures.

As of Sunday evening, 144 of roughly 1,000 open school buildings were under 10-day closure orders, while another 46 buildings were shuttered for at least 24 hours. The average positivity rate in schools was 0.54 percent as of last week, my colleague Eliza Shapiro reported. The citys average positivity rate is now hovering around 8 percent.

The prospect

On Monday, Richard A. Carranza, the citys school chancellor, said that about half of the 471 middle schools reopening will be able to offer in-person learning five days a week, and that other schools are preparing to do the same in the coming months.

Mr. de Blasio said that it is his goal to reopen high schools this spring. High schools are a complex situation, he said.
Wad Madani  Autopsy and re-autopsy of 168 unidentified bodies of unknown persons in a civilian mortuary at Wad Madani Teaching Hospital are over halfway, according to Osama Abdelrahman, Assistant Director General of the Ministry of Health in El Gezira.

The Forensic Medicine Consultant Committee is undertaking investigations under the guidance of the Federal and State Ministry of Health, the Public Prosecution and the Missing Persons Investigation Committee in accordance with international health protocols.

The Missing Persons Investigation Committee was set up by Sudan's Attorney General to investigate people missing since the start of the December Revolution, following the discovery of a mass grave in Khartoum three months ago. The mass grave may contain bodies of some of the people who are still considered as 'missing' after what is known as the Ramadan 29/June 3 massacre in front of the army command in Khartoum in 2019, which caused the death of at least 127 people.

Abdelrahman confirmed on Friday that "these bodies were not discovered by chance," as was reported on many social media sites, as they were known by the Ministry of Health and were preserved "based on a decision issued by the investigation committee prohibiting burying any unidentified bodies."

He explained that the Forensic Medicine Consultant Committee is creating files on all the deceased, including allocating serial numbers and taking DNA samples and pictures. According to his statement, 100 bodies have been prepared for burial so far. Fractures and other injuries are "easily identifiable" on some of the bodies.

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Yesterday was planned to be the last day of autopsy and re-autopsy, after which a report will be submitted to the relevant authorities. The Missing Persons Investigation Committee will compare any new data with existing data they have, according to a statement on Thursday.

Morgue 'negligence'

Abdelrahman also called for investigations into the persons or agencies that brought the bodies to the morgue.

In the process of sorting the bodies, 11 identity cards and other papers were discovered in clothing. According to the statement, this suggests negligence when categorising these bodies as unidentified.

The statement also called into question the claim by authorities that the bodies had decomposed when the cooling unit broke down earlier this month. The condition of the bodies suggests that the bodies have been decomposing much longer.

He criticized the lack of disclosure of any details of the date of arrival of the bodies in the morgue's records, as it was not possible to obtain any data or instigative record containing pictures of the bodies at the moment of their arrival, only the morgue management reported that they were received between 2019 and 2020.

On October 9, 2019, the Sudanese Doctors Central Committee accused several hospital morgues of providing misleading information to the families of missing protestors. The doctors accuse the mortuaries of denying that bodies were present at the morgues while in fact they were.
The United Arab Emirates Mars probe reached the planets orbit on Tuesday, the state-run Emirates News Agency reported.

The Emirates Mars Missions Hope Probe has traveled more than 480 million kilometers (nearly 300 million miles), according to the tracker on the UAE Space Agency website.

Hope Probe constitutes the first Mars mission conducted by an Arab country. It launched in July and will study the Martian atmosphere. The probe's leader, Dubai Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum, said he wants the expedition to provide hope for Arabs regarding scientific achievement.

Hope Probe reached Mars orbit during its target month of February. It will spend more than a year circling the planet.

The Mars mission is a major public relations endeavor for the UAE. The Gulf state made Hope Probes progress available online in October.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

The top physicians at Albuquerque-area hospitals said there are plans to open additional large-scale vaccination sites in the city, and they are optimistic that the states vaccine supply could increase in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Health says its data reporting system, which shows vaccinations in each of New Mexicos 33 counties, is being revised to more accurately reflect the number of residents receiving vaccines.

Dr. David Pitcher, executive physician at the University of New Mexico Health System, said that the vaccination clinic at the Pit arena will be open this week and health officials expect to administer about 1,600 doses per day.

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He said clinic operations had been scaled back last week because of a shortage of supplies. But hes optimistic that the clinic will continue to increase its daily capacity in the coming weeks.

Every day we learn something new, and we learn how to be more efficient and how to move more patients through, Pitcher said. I expect the number were able to do per day to continue to increase over time as both the supply and our learning take hold.

Dr. Denise Gonzales, chief medical officer at Presbyterian Healthcare Services, said Presbyterian is prepared to open a vaccination clinic at Aloft Plaza, 9201 San Mateo NE, where thousands could be vaccinated daily.

Such a clinic would allow for additional drive-through sites or smaller clinics for folks with mobility problems, she said.

But Gonzales said those plans are contingent on the supply of the vaccine.

Were just waiting for vaccine, she said. But we have everything set up.

The state expects to receive more than 59,500 vaccine doses this week. But how that supply is distributed continues to raise questions.

The New Mexico Department of Health on Monday announced a change in the way COVID-19 vaccination data is reported to the public on its website.

Beginning Tuesday, the number of residents vaccinated will be reported on the DOH online map by county of residence, not county of vaccination.

The DOH vaccination map provides county-by-county totals, including vaccines per 100 residents and the number of people who have been partly or fully vaccinated.

The totals led to questions about inequities.

For example, the data shows Santa Fe has distributed nearly 27 doses per 100 residents; Sandoval County, meanwhile, has given about seven shots per 100 residents, according to the dashboard. And Bernalillo County stands at 17.7 doses per 100 residents, according to the map.

How much the county data might change with the new DOH reporting is unclear.

All vaccinations in the state are reported to the New Mexico State Immunization Information System, which is supported by a third-party vendor.

New Mexicos vaccination program is committed to rapid  and equitable  distribution. So far, were doing very well on both fronts  and todays announcement will ensure that New Mexicans have even more accurate information about where vaccinations are taking place around our state, Health Secretary-designate Dr. Tracie Collins said in the press release Monday.

The state is exploring ways to increase allocations for counties with low vaccination rates  including supporting new vaccine providers as they join the distribution system, the DOH said.

Under the states centralized vaccination system, people are asked to preregister online at cvvaccine.nmhealth.org, and are notified by the DOH when and where they can get an appointment to be vaccinated.

As of Monday, the DOH website said that 252,880 people out of about 800,000 who are currently estimated by the state to be eligible for vaccination have received their primary dose of the vaccine. About 89,000 had also received the second dose, which health officials say is needed for maximum immunity.

Meanwhile, more than half of the 13 people whose deaths were reported Monday were from northwestern New Mexico, an area of the state that has been hit especially hard by the pandemic.

But the overall number of confirmed cases continued a downward trend  315 new cases were reported, including 120 from Bernalillo County.

The 13 deaths reported Monday pushed the states total toll to 3,412 deaths related to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

Those whose deaths were reported include three men from McKinley County in their 50s or 60s and four people from San Juan County, including a man in his 30s.
A government report says action should be taken against officials who approved the transfer of state funds - meant for suppliers - to be paid into the personal bank accounts of staff members at the Ministry of Justice.

This is contained in an October 2020 draft investigation report by auditors at the Ministry of Finance.

The probe was triggered by a report in The Namibian in 2019, which revealed that around N$1,3 million was allegedly paid into civil servants' personal accounts as if they supplied goods or provided services to the government.

The report, implicating seven officials, warned that the current government payment system, the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS), was vulnerable to abuse.

The report shows N$3,8 million was paid to the seven individuals in recent years.

According to the report "action must be taken" against the officials who approved the payments in question.

It stated that the employees' personal bank accounts were used to receive state money on behalf of suppliers.

"It is illegal to pay state funds meant for suppliers into the employees' personal bank accounts," the report reads.

Most of the alleged beneficiaries denied any wrongdoing.

Among others, N$11 200 was allegedly transferred to the Standard Bank account of Gladice Pickering, executive director of justice, between June 2018 and March 2020.

There was no explanation for this amount as it had no supporting documents.

Pickering yesterday said the N$11 200 was a refund paid to her by the government. She said she paid for "plane tickets" and asked the government for a refund. This refund method is used by all government agencies, Pickering said.

"Many government officials are loaded on the system as suppliers for such refunds," she said.

Some officials were paid more.

This includes the ministry's chief human resources officer, Elifas Nghifihapo, who was paid N$467 000 in 2019.

According to the report, part of that amount was then distributed as follows: N$257 600 was transferred from Nghifihapo's account to Balanced Scorecard Solution (BSS), an international company from which the ministry allegedly purchased a management performance system.

Around N$100 700 of the amount financed a training course in Johannesburg, which took place from 24 to 28 June 2018.

Marian Groenemeyer, the ministry's director of administration, allegedly received N$313 600 in her bank account.

Around N$258 900 of this amount was also transferred to BSS.

"No explanation was provided as to why the funds were paid into her bank account," the report states.

MORE PAYMENTS

The investigation found that the former senior chief accountant at the justice ministry, Jeremiah Baisako, created a supplier code on 31 March 2012 under 'Walvis Bay municipality', linking it to his personal First National Bank bank account into which he paid N$2 million.

Baisako resigned from the ministry following his arrest in 2019.

He later appeared in court over N$300 000 he allegedly channelled to his personal bank account.

Baisako registered a company called Habasen Enterprises CC on 13 September 2012, which subsequently received N$795 500 from the same scheme.

Around N$583 000 was transferred to two bank accounts belonging to Danny van Rooyen, the ministry's former chief training officer.

The transactions were made between October 2012 and March 2019. He resigned from the ministry in early 2019.

The investigation report also singled out a N$434 000 payment to a company called Queen Mwetako Investment CC.

The company is owned by an employee of the ministry identified as 'Ms Mwetako'.

"No supporting documents were provided to determine the authenticity of the payments," the report said.

Minister of justice Yvonne Dausab when contacted, said: "The Ministry of Justice confirms that one of the staff members who worked in the finance division exploited a loophole in the IFMS system to create suppliers and make fictitious payments to these suppliers.

"This fraudulent activity was picked up as part of a syndicate operating not only in the Ministry of Justice, but also at other government offices."

Nghifihapo referred questions to Pickering.

Van Rooyen and Baisako did not respond to questions sent to them.

The justice ministry said it is aware of the investigation conducted by the Ministry of Finance and had numerous consultations with the treasury on the probe.

Several mistakes and misrepresentations were identified during these consultations, Pickering said.

"It was generally accepted that the report would be corrected and modified to reflect the true state of affairs in respect of the alleged findings in the report, some of which was grossly unfair towards some members of staff at the ministry," she said.

The ministry said Groenemeyer, Van Rooyen (retired) and Elifas Simon (currently employed elsewhere) did not create codes for suppliers, but were loaded on the system as suppliers to effect approved payments to a supplier.

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These payments were investigated previously and the Anti-Corruption Commission also reported on the matter, the ministry said.

"No fraudulent activity was found to have been committed and confirmation of receipt of payments in exchange for software bought for the ministry was confirmed. The staff members did not personally benefit," Pickering said.

Finance ministry spokesperson Tonateni Shidhudhu said the matter would be finalised early this year.

"We can confirm that the investigation is ongoing. Further, we can confirm that the Ministry of Justice was issued with the management letter to respond to the internal audit findings," Shidhudhu said late last year.

He said the outcome of the investigation would be shared with the public.

The ministry was given until the end of January 2021 to respond to the investigation report.

In July 2019, former finance minister Calle Schlettwein stressed why the Anti-Corruption Commission was not taking action against officials, terming the move 'uncalled for'.

"[T]his means anyone can provide their personal bank accounts so that whatever is being purchased by the government can be paid into their accounts," he said.


Image

Where The African Lookbook concentrates on fashion and style on one continent, Dress Codes focuses an even wider lens on what we wear, and on what influences those choices. Taking readers around the world from the 1200s to today, Ford embarks on an ambitious and comprehensive exploration of how fashion has been used by people both with and without money and power.

To help readers understand why we dress the way we do, Ford chronicles the fashion crimes of various eras, illustrating the rigidity and cruelty of social norms as enforced through sartorial laws. Joan of Arc, Ford reminds us, was tried and burned for heresy, in part because she violated religious morality by wearing mens clothing. And in 1416, a Jewish woman named Allegra was arrested in Ferrara, Italy, for not wearing earrings. The symbolism could not have been clearer, Ford writes. In an era when superfluous adornment was condemned as a sign of sin, Jews were required by law to wear conspicuous jewelry. The distinctive attire reinforced the idea that Jews were a physically distinct and deviant people.

Moving closer to the present, a chapter on resistance provides an in-depth analysis of the clothes worn during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Respectable appearance was a mandatory part of the civil rights struggle, he writes. But as the racial justice struggle evolved, an activism premised on such respectability became both practically and ideologically untenable. The clothes worn by the Black Panthers, by the activists of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and more all tell us of the time and the fight for equality in their own way. Fords legal background makes him particularly qualified to explain fashion-related lawsuits throughout history (about miniskirts, makeup, cornrows) clearly and with ease. His insight into the treatment of rule followers and breakers alike makes Dress Codes essential reading whether you dress to the nines or prefer sweats, because everything we have worn  whaleboned corsets, cotillion gowns, dashikis, tutus, hoop earrings, baggy pants and lab coats  has something to tell us about sociopolitical status, sexual morality and identity.

Fords writing is steeped in extensive research and makes what could be a dull history lesson about fashion a deeply informative and entertaining study of why we dress the way we do, and what that tells us about class, sexuality and power.

FILE - In this April 12, 2019 file photo, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker answers questions after a bill signing in the governor's office at the Illinois State Capitol, in Springfield, Ill.
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today unveiled the 2021 Best Cars for the Money awards. Covering 11 automotive categories, the awards put a spotlight on cars, SUVs and minivans that represent the best combination of long-term value and excellent ownership experience.

"When it comes to car buying, value is about more than a low price tag," said Jamie Page Deaton, executive editor of U.S. News Best Cars. "Buying the least expensive car on the lot can mean buyers end up with high ownership costs and a vehicle that doesn't necessarily fit their needs. The Best Cars for the Money award winners have strong value propositions at the dealership and down the road. They are all also a pleasure to own, with the performance, comfort and features buyers appreciate."

Toyota won the most awards this year with four. Kia and Honda each earned three, and Hyundai earned one. The Kia Forte, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Toyota Corolla Hybrid each won their award for the second year in a row, while the Kia Soul and Sorento have now won for five consecutive years. The Honda CR-V has also won for five consecutive years, and the Toyota Corolla has a four-year winning streak. The Honda Passport and Hyundai Accent are both first-time winners.

Methodology

Within each class, the award winner has the best combination of quality and value. We measured quality using a car's overall score in the U.S. News Best Car Rankings. The overall score is based on safety and reliability data, as well as the collective opinion of the automotive press on a given model's performance and interior and how strongly each reviewer recommends the car. We measured value by looking at each model's real-time transaction prices, provided by TrueCar, and five-year total cost of ownership data, calculated by Vincentric.

About U.S. News Best Cars

Since 2007, U.S. News Best Cars, the automotive channel of U.S. News & World Report, has published rankings of the majority of new vehicles sold in America. Each year, U.S. News also publishes the Best Cars awards, including Best Vehicle Brands, Best Cars for the Money and Best Cars for Families. U.S. News Best Cars supports car shoppers throughout the entire car buying journey, offering advice for researching cars, finding cars for sale near you and getting the best rate on car insurance. U.S. News Best Cars had more than 73 million visitors over the past year, with the majority actively shopping for a car. More than 70% of active shoppers reported that U.S. News influenced their car-purchasing decision, saying that they trust our advice to be unbiased and that they would recommend our site to others.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A digital news and information company focused on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars and News, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

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At least one person has died and multiple others were injured in a car crash Tuesday morning in East Boston, police said.

Officers responded to the report of a crash at 1:03 a.m. in the area of 500 Chelsea Street on Tuesday, police said. Video from the scene by WHDH shows an SUV with heavy damage to the drivers side of the vehicle. The images show a utility pole protruding the drivers side door.

Police said investigators are on scene and continue to gather details on the crash.

Police didnt release any more information regarding the crash.
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Carlos Nobre to receive Science Diplomacy Award for Amazon climate efforts

Carlos Nobre, a Brazilian climate scientist specializing in the effects of climate change in the Amazon and a leader in science policy for a sustainable Amazon, will receive the 2021 AAAS Award for Science Diplomacy.

The award, established in 2013 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, recognizes an individual or small group working together in the science, engineering or foreign affairs communities to make an outstanding contribution to the field of science diplomacy.

Nobre is honored for "his career-spanning work to understand and protect the biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon," according to the award committee.

Most recently, Nobre is serving as the chair of the Science Panel for the Amazon, an effort convened by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN) as the first-ever comprehensive scientific assessment of the Amazon Basin. Nobre is leading more than 160 scientists from Amazonian countries and beyond - including indigenous experts - to develop a scientific assessment of the region and present data-informed solutions to guide the protection, conservation and sustainable development of the rainforest. The panel's report is expected to be released in early 2021.

Nobre's "life-long scientific career in understanding the biological complexity of the Amazon coupled with decades of involvement in science policy" equips him to lead such an effort, said Emma Torres in her letter nominating Nobre for the award. Torres, who nominated Nobre for the award, is the UN SDSN secretariat vice president of the Americas and head of the New York office.

Nobre, who currently serves as senior scientist at the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Sao Paulo, is best-known for his work on the "savannization" of the Amazon due to climate change and deforestation. He also leads the Amazonia 4.0 initiative, which seeks to develop a sustainable "bio-economy" for the region.

"Dr. Nobre has contributed to the scientific understanding of the Amazon rainforest as a globally important ecosystem and as part of the irreplaceable ecological and cultural heritage for all of humanity," said Torres.

He has applied this work in the science policy realm in a number of roles. He served as a member of the International Panel on Climate Change, which was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. In 2013, he was named a member of the UN Secretary-General's Scientific Advisory Board for Global Sustainability.

Nobre has also brought his leadership to building scientific capacity in Brazil and forging international scientific cooperation, having served as the national secretary for research and development policies at the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation; president of Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education; and first program scientist for the Large-Scale Biosphere Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia.

"Carlos's leadership inspires action and encourages multilateralism, providing a framework to allow us to move towards a more sustainable and equitable future, together," said Torres.

###

Nobre will be honored at an awards ceremony at the virtual AAAS Annual Meeting on Feb. 10 at 4 p.m. EST. He will also moderate a session at the meeting, "Amazon Development Pathways: Fostering Conservation and Prosperity," to be held Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. To attend the Annual Meeting, register today.

If you know someone that should be recognized for the Award for Science Diplomacy, please consider nominating them in our next upcoming cycle - which opens April 15, 2021. More information on eligibility requirements and the awards ahead of April 15 can be found here.

This story has been published on: 2021-02-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Campaigners are calling for hundreds of 'love locks' to be cut from a Bristol bridge named in memory of a slave.

They say there is a 'major issue' with making such displays of couples' affection on a landmark commemorating a victim of atrocity.

Opened in 1999, Pero Bridge was named in honour of Pero Jones, an enslaved African who lived in the city in the 18th Century.

Bristol's history is steeped in the slave trade and the bridge crosses the harbour where protesters memorably threw the statue of Edward Colston last summer.

Campaigners are calling for hundreds of 'love locks' to be cut from a Bristol bridge named in memory of a slave

They say there is a 'major issue' with making such displays of couples' affection on a landmark commemorating a victim of atrocity

Opened in 1999, Pero Bridge was named in honour of Pero Jones, an enslaved African who lived in the city in the 18th Century

Pero Jones: The African slave honoured in Bristol Pero Jones was an African slave who lived in Bristol in the late 18th Century. He was bought from Joanna Jones in Nevis, West Indies, as a 12-year-old by plantation owner John Pinney, who gave him his name. In 1783 Pinney brought Pero back to Bristol with him to work. He lived at Pinney's house, at 7, Great George Street. National Archives records show that Pinney also bought Pero's younger sisters Nancy, eight, and Sheeba, six. He died of illness in 1798. No visual representation of Pero has ever been found, but documents chronicle his life, and have been used to commemorate him. Source: National Archives Advertisement

Now a drive called 'Respect Pero's memory' to remove the padlocks from the crossing has been launched along with a publicity blitz to raise awareness of the city's past.

Alex Hartley, the Lib Dem candidate for Hotwells and Harbourside ward said: 'While a declaration of love like this is admirable, there is a major issue with it. For me, the issue is the choice of bridge itself.

'Putting aside the fact that it is a working bridge and the weight of the locks may begin to interfere with its proper working, it is the name of the bridge that is the biggest issue.

'When it was built in 1999, the bridge was named after Pero Jones - an enslaved West Indian who lived in Bristol in the late 18th century - as a memorial to those affected by the slave trade.

'A small memorial stone, dedicating the bridge to Pero, is hidden behind some bike racks on the Millennium Square side of the bridge and is almost invisible to passers-by.

'The fact that this is the only memorial in Bristol to the victims of the transatlantic slave trade (barring a small plaque on the side of M Shed) is frankly insulting.'

Mr Hartley hopes the recent toppling of the Colston statue in June will embolden the campaign.

The monument to the 17th Century slave trader was torn from its plinth and later replaced with a likeness of one of the BLM activists.

He added: 'Since the Colston statue was dragged into the docks just metres from Pero's Bridge, Bristol residents have become more reflective of our colonial past,' he added.

'So we must take this opportunity to respect Pero's memory.

'We are campaigning for the lovelocks to be removed from the bridge, and an information board to be put up, that highlights the story of Pero Jones, the wider slave trade in Bristol and the recent history of the Colston statue to educate the public on a trade that built Bristol using the profits of slavery.'
A 12-year-old girl who was relentlessly abused by a school bully said the moment she was punched repeatedly in the head in an attack that left her concussed 'sounded like a gunshot'.

Shocking footage shows the Year 7 student at a school in the Blue Mountains being beaten by two girls on Monday afternoon - one of whom she says has been targeting her for three years.

'I could just hear "bang, bang, bang" and it was hurting and traumatic and it sounded like a gun,' Sienna-Belle Cross told Daily Mail Australia.

Others later told her they could hear the blows from across the schoolyard in the surprise ambush.

Sienna-Belle Cross (pictured) was ambushed by two students on Monday afternoon as she walked between classes

'I was coming back from gym class with a couple of my friends and she walked up to me and said "do you still want to fight me?" and she pushed me, she grabbed me and pulled me down,' Sienna-Belle said.

Her peers watched from the sidelines, either too scared or shocked to intervene.

'Stop pulling her hair,' one girl yelled.

As the youngster received repeated blows to the head, the attacker's girlfriend tore the pair apart and teachers intervened.

Sienna-Belle did not have lasting damage, but her mother Rhonda Cross - whose voice was hoarse after spending the day in tears - fears for her daughter's life.

'I lost my brother to a one-punch attack,' the 49-year-old said. 'It can't happen to my daughter too.'

Pictured: Sienna-Bell on the ground while another girl punches her repeatedly in the head

Sienna-Belle (pictured on the ground, left and right) had a concussion after the beating on Monday

Picutred: Sienna-Belle after the attack. She said the attacks have been happening for three years

The mother-of-two explained her youngest child was a 'miracle baby' and she thought she would never be able to have another child after the birth of her oldest daughter Skye 30 years ago.

She struggles to watch the news at night because it reminds her of the abuse 'her baby' has dealt with since she was in primary school.

Mrs Cross and her daughter explained that the long-running conflict started when she turned down a date from her attacker.

'The two girls used to be good friends when they were younger, until the other girl wanted to date Sienna,' Mrs Cross said.

Sienna-Belle didn't want a relationship with a girl and, though her ex-friend seemed to accept the situation, she started making a series of 'narky' comments.

Pictured: Rhonda Cross, 49, with Sienna, 12, and her father Warren, who is a bricklayer

Pictured: An abusive message sent to Rhonda Cross by the girl who is attacking Sienna-Belle

The situation reached boiling point when Sienna-Belle and the girl were having an argument and the girl told her to 'go off and cry to your mum'.

Without thinking, Sienna-Belle - who was nine years' old at the time - said 'at least I've got one'.

Mrs Cross said the attacker's mother left the family a few years ago.

Sienna-Belle said she immediately regretted her words and tried to take them back, but the situation spiralled out of control.

'She's uncontrollable, in my opinion,' Sienna-Belle said.

'I don't fight back - I'm not a fighter like her and I don't fight back. She keeps targeting me and nothing will stop her.'

Sienna-Belle (pictured with a younger relative) has become withdrawn since the attacks started

The victim has beaten before, including an incident last year when she tried to choke Sienna-Belle, but the attack on Monday was the worst yet.

While Sienna-Belle has the girl and her friends blocked on social media, she said they still threaten her on Snapchat and through other people.

Mrs Cross received a series of messages from the girl, who threatened to beat her daughter up.

'I'm sick of your s**t hope you know Sienna gunna cop it harder than last time,' one message read.

Another read: 'Don't be shocked when sienna comes home with no teeth.'

Following the brawl on Monday, the girl was suspended for 20 days, along with her girlfriend and another boy who watched.

When Sienna-Belle (pictured) was being beaten on Monday, Mrs Cross was on the phone to the principal begging him to check on her daughter

She has been on the phone to the school principal trying to get the situation taken more seriously.

Mrs Cross said all the teachers know the pair can't be in a room together, but claimed the girl is prepared to miss classes to try and find her daughter.

'They said she's safe, but I asked 'what about between classes?' and they assured me she would be fine.'

When Sienna-Belle was being beaten on Monday, Mrs Cross was on the phone to the principal begging him to check on her daughter.

The mother also said there is a room called 'The Hub' where students can seek refuge if they feel threatened, but the attacker has a card for the room.

Sienna-Belle is now terrified to go to school, and her mother said her brain is scrambled 'like eggs, from being beaten so much'.

'How much is this going to scar her now?' she asked.

'She's not the same kid as she was before - she's become a very quiet kid and it's hard to get a conversation out of her.

Sienna-Belle (pictured with her mother as a baby) was her parents 'miracle baby' after Rhonda was told she could not have any more children

'She sleeps in bed with me so I can jeep an eye on her. I work - I wait outside the school.'

When asked why Sienna-Belle didn't just move schools, Mrs Cross said her daughter has friends at the school who she has known since pre-school.

She fears her daughter, who does not want to move, would spiral into a depression if she was forced to enter a new school environment where she doesn't know anyone.

An Education Department spokesman told The Daily Telegraph that the school had a zero tolerance approach to violence and bullying.

'The altercation yesterday was unacceptable and against [the school's] values,' he said.

'A teacher intervened promptly and the school immediately initiated an investigation and disciplinary action continues. The student who was assaulted was fully supported. The school reported the incident to police.'

Local police were called to the school after the attack and are investigating the incident.

'Police were called to the school grounds after reports of an assault between two female students. The matter remains under investigation.'
Kerrville, TX (78028)

Today

Overcast with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the morning. High near 80F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph.
Posted Monday, February 8, 2021 4:42 pm

All three of Washingtons Republican U.S. House members reaffirmed their support for hydropower last week.

U.S. Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Dan Newhouse were joined by Rep. Russ Fulcher, of Idaho, in a resolution stating that hydropower is an essential source of energy in the United States.

The United States should protect existing hydropower resources and increase substantially the capacity and generation of clean, renewable hydropower resources to address a changing climate and improve environmental quality in the United States, the resolution reads.

The representatives statements came amid environmental concerns around dams, and just days before one Idaho Republican congressman announced his proposal to breach four Snake River hydroelectric dams in the name of salmon recovery.

The clean, renewable power generated by the dams along the Columbia and Snake Rivers supplies half of the Pacific Northwests energy and is critical for a reliable power grid, the representatives wrote. Without it, life as we know it in our region would cease to exist.

The Republicans also called hydropower a crucial part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy that places the U.S. on the global stage in terms of energy independence and leadership.

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office is doing No Shave February to raise money for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for children.

Sheriff Nick Welden explained the idea comes from a meeting a few months ago between the group and the Sheriff's Office.

"At the time, Lt. Jeff Bain, Capt. Brad Edmondson and myself decided we would attempt to put a fundraiser together to help CASA. We continued to move forward with this much needed assistance even after the tragic passing of Lt. Bain. We know he would want the same, for he had a huge heart for helping children, just as we do," said Sheriff Welden.

Monday, the Sheriff's Office presented a check to CASA in memory of Bain and "Operation Growing Together DeKalb."

If you'd like to donate click HERE.

MINNEAPOLIS - A gunman opened fire at a health-care clinic in rural Minnesota on Tuesday morning, killing one person and wounding four others in what police believe was a targeted incident.

The shooting was reported shortly before 11 a.m. at the Allina Health Clinic in Buffalo, about 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis. State and federal law enforcement officials from throughout the region rushed to what the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension described as a "shooting event with multiple victims."

Officials said they arrested Gregory Paul Ulrich, 67, of Buffalo, who turned himself in at the scene. Authorities described Ulrich as someone who was known to local law enforcement and had a long history of "conflict" and run-ins with police dating to 2003. Though police said they did not know of a specific motive, they said Ulrich acted alone and they believe he targeted the clinic for personal reasons, not terrorism.

"This history we have as a department with this individual makes it most likely that this incident was targeted at the facility or at someone within that facility," Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke said at an afternoon news conference.

Budke said prior contacts with Ulrich suggested he had been unhappy with his health care. Budke declined to elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation.

Richard Ulrich said his brother Gregory had worked in construction and became addicted to opioids a few years ago after he had back surgery for an old injury he had suffered on the job.

"He started taking these opioid-type pain medications and he would call and tell me they should be giving him more; he said he was in pain," said Richard Ulrich, a retired NASA engineer who lives in Florida.

"He would call, and he seemed to be upset with the doctors and frustrated that they wouldn't give him any medication. That's probably what set him off. That's my guess."

Richard Ulrich wasn't sure if his brother was suffering physically or just addicted - and noted that his brother didn't mention his addiction the last time they spoke, about two months ago. "I didn't sense he was in a lot of pain. He just liked taking that stuff," he said.

He said he had never known his brother to be violent. "I don't think he was some sort of terrorist or anything; he just had an opioid problem. It just got to him, I guess," Richard Ulrich said.

But Gregory Ulrich had reportedly been accused of threatening medical staff, including at the clinic in Buffalo. The Minneapolis Star Tribune, citing a 2018 police report, reported that Ulrich was harassing his former doctor and threatened an attack that was "big and sensational so that it makes an impact."

According to the paper, Allina staff filed a restraining order against Ulrich barring him from the property - which he was accused of violating in November 2018. But the case was later dismissed by a judge, who said Ulrich was mentally unfit to stand trial, according to the Star Tribune.

An Allina Health spokesman declined to comment; prosecutors could not be reached.

According to an emergency audio dispatch of the incident, Ulrich was found face down with his hands up in the front lobby of the building, where he willingly surrendered to officers. He alerted them to at least four homemade explosive devices - including one in a suitcase placed near the clinic's front desk - but it was not immediately clear if any exploded.

Budke and other law enforcement officials described a horrific scene with officers trying to tend to the critically wounded while being on guard amid threats of explosions.

An eyewitness named Tiffany told Fox 9 she had driven to the clinic to drop off her mother for a routine appointment when two nurses ran out of the building and jumped into her car. They told her someone was inside shooting.

"They said they heard about 11 shots within a minute. They were very scared and just wanted to get out of the place," she said. "About two minutes later, we saw the front windows shot out . . . and we got out of there."

Among law enforcement responding to the scene was the Minneapolis Police bomb squad, which arrived with what appeared to be a remote-controlled bomb-disposal robot. Officials said they were investigating potential devices at several locations, including at a Super 8 hotel about a mile from the clinic where they believed Ulrich was staying. Police had cordoned off the building and evacuated staff and guests.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI also were at the scene. ATF agents were seen setting up a perimeter in a residential neighborhood near the Buffalo hospital, where some victims were initially taken before being flown to larger trauma centers in the Twin Cities.

One victim, who was flown to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, later died, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Four other victims - including a woman who was said to have been shot three times, according to emergency audio dispatch - were flown to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, a Level 1 trauma center. A hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday night three patients were in critical but stable condition while another had been released.

Minnesota court records show Ulrich has had several run-ins with the criminal justice system, mostly for traffic and alcohol-related offenses. In 2004, according to court records, Ulrich was convicted of driving while intoxicated. He was again charged with driving while intoxicated in 2005 and 2006. In 2008 he was charged with violating an open bottle law. In 2014, records show he was charged with possessing a small amount of marijuana.

Both Budke and Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer implied there had been more recent run-ins with Ulrich but did not offer specifics.

Ulrich is expected to make a court appearance Thursday.The shooting shocked the city of roughly 16,000 people - a rapidly growing community where some residents commute into the Twin Cities for work. Area schools were put on lockdown while some businesses, already limited in hours and capacity because of coronavirus safety measures, closed out of precaution.

Budke and other public officials were visibly shaken during the news conference, with Budke pausing several times to regain his composure while talking about what he described as a heartbreaking day "that no community ever wants to go through."

"This doesn't happen in Buffalo, Minn., right?" Mayor Teri Lachermeier said. But she urged residents to come together. "We've got to get through this," she said.

- - -

The Washington Post's Mark Berman and Julie Tate contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON - Senior House Democrats on Monday night proposed sending $1,400 stimulus payments to Americans with up to $75,000 in annual income, rejecting an earlier plan under consideration to sharply curtail the benefits.

House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., released legislation that would send the full stimulus payment to individuals earning $75,000 per year and couples earning $150,000 per year. Congressional Democrats had explored curtailing that benefit to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for married couples, a position embraced by Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a conservative Democrat.

The broadening of stimulus check eligibility among middle class households is the latest sign that Democrats are moving ahead without Republican support on President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion economic relief package, which would also extend unemployment benefits, send hundreds billions to schools and local governments as well as strengthen vaccine delivery and health care. Even as the Senate proceeds this week with former president Donald Trump's impeachment trial, the House Ways and Means Committee and other panels will be working to finalize and vote on the coronavirus legislation. The final bill would need to be passed by both chambers of Congress to become law, but that could happen within weeks.

Compared with previous plans, Democrats are accelerating the rate at which the stimulus payments decline for higher-income earners, a move intended to prevent wealthy Americans from receiving the benefit. Under the new plan, singles earning $100,000 a year and couples earning $200,000 would receive no stimulus payments.

The stimulus checks would be based on taxpayers' 2019 or 2020 income returns, according to a summary of the proposal. The plan would aim to give full payments to those who qualify based on their 2020 returns, even if those are not processed for months.

The proposal comes amid days of internal disagreements among Democrats over how to structure the next round of stimulus payments, a core component of Biden's stimulus plan. The legislation still must be passed through the House and Senate, and it is unclear whether Manchin or other conservative Senate Democrats will object to the proposal.

Washington Post photo by Salwan Georges

Along with the stimulus payments, the House Ways and Means Committee released details Monday of other significant parts of the aid package, including a new child income tax credit for millions of American households. That benefit would offer $3,600-per-child over the course of a year for each child younger than six years of age, as well as $3,000-per-child for each child ages six to 17. Those child tax benefits would diminish for singles earning more than $75,000 a year and couples earning over $150,000.

The measure would also extend federal unemployment benefits, now set to expire in mid-March, through the end of August and increase the benefit amount from its current level of $300 a week to $400. Biden's initial plan called for funding additional unemployment benefits through September.

Additionally, Democrats included a $15-per-hour minimum wage in the package, although Biden has said that provision faces long odds in the Senate. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a report on Monday that estimates the minimum wage hike would cost 1.4 million jobs but lift 900,000 people out of poverty, intensifying the debate over that controversial provision.

"Our nation is struggling, the virus is still not contained, and the American people are counting on Congress to meet this moment with bold, immediate action," Neal said in a statement.

The bill would also "dramatically" increase premium subsidies for Americans receiving their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act for two years, said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy for the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit group.

The design of the checks have emerged as one of the most hotly debated provisions in the rescue package. Centrist lawmakers such as Manchin have called for narrowing the payments to prevent them from going to higher-income Americans, arguing that those who have not lost their jobs do not need help. That idea was met with increasing resistance from other members of the party, including Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senate Budget Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as well as House lawmakers in the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Asked about the new thresholds after Neal's plan was released, Manchin did not immediately attack them and said he was "just trying to make sure that people [receiving them] are truly in need."

Wyden said in a statement Monday that he would push for the unemployment benefits to be restored for the duration they were originally. "[I] am going to work to find a resolution that preserves both relief payments and jobless," Wyden said. "We can do both."

Manchin has influence over the issue, because the Senate is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, so Democrats need his vote as they aim to push the legislation forward without GOP support.

Wyden and Sanders have publicly criticized the proposals to lower the income thresholds to $50,000, saying middle-class families have suffered pay cuts and other economic shocks and need relief, too. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., whose election victory in January helped seal Democrats' Senate majority, also opposes lowering the threshold on the checks, according to a spokeswoman.

The White House has repeatedly said it is willing to compromise on the thresholds, with White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki saying the administration is open to negotiations with Congress on the matter. On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen suggested that the administration was not on board with Democrats' plans for lower income thresholds.

"The exact details of how it should be targeted are to be determined, but struggling middle-class families need help, too," Yellen said on CNN.

Biden gave similar remarks in an interview with CBS Evening News, saying he was "wide open" on the precise levels of the income threshold.

The debate about the check thresholds represents one of many disputes Democrats may face as they try to pass Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus package through Congress. There is a wide ideological gulf between the party's moderate and liberal wings, which is likely to produce numerous policy fights - over the $15-an-hour minimum wage; the scale of unemployment assistance; and the overall cost of the bill, among other things - on the way to passing their first major piece of legislation under Biden.

The split within the party appeared to intensify over the weekend. Manchin told WV News last week that he supported the next round of payments not going to individuals earning more than $50,000 or couples earning more than $100,00.

"An individual of $40,000 income or $50,000 income would receive it.  And a family who is making $80,000 or $100,000, not to exceed $100,000, would receive it," Manchin said. "Anything over that would not be eligible, because they are the people who really are hurting right now and need the help the most."

But on Twitter and on CNN this weekend, Sanders slammed Democrats for embracing a plan that would cut out individuals earning $52,000. He also pointed out the potential political downside for the new Democratic administration of sending fewer payments than Trump had. Wyden has also said in a statement that families that had received the first two payments would expect a third.

"Unbelievable  working class people who got checks from Trump would not get them from Biden. Brilliant!," Sanders said on Twitter.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said Monday she is in "nonstop" conversations with White House officials about "why this makes no sense, politically or policy-wise."

While passing a budget resolution through Congress earlier this month that set the stage for approval of the broader relief bill, Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Manchin co-sponsored an amendment to exclude affluent families from the stimulus checks. The plan did not define an income amount, leaving that open to interpretation. Sanders and all Democrats voted for the proposal.

A very eminent professor of economics at Cambridge, of Indian origin, with whom I conversed once or twice, tweeted to an absolute excess on the disproportionate focus on Covid-19, quoting the number of deaths from other causes to make his point. So, I engaged him one day. It was not its capacity to kill, but the anxiety on account of instant contagion, that has brought down this world.

When you are in sound mental health, you are never hounded by the idea that someday you may commit suicide, even though a very high number of people do it every day. If you sit in a car, you never for a moment think that you may die in a crash because the lives of an unconscionably large number of people - much greater than Covid-19 - are lost in accidents.

Despite the higher probability of these, you do not plan for these contingencies. But today, when you step out of your house, if you get into the Metro, occupy a seat at the airport, go to the park - you wonder if the virus released by the sneeze or cough of an active or an asymptomatic patient is still suspended in mid-air, or if the doorknob has been infected. Have my hands been properly washed?

The anxiety is ubiquitous, the danger all pervasive. People have been driven to commit suicide at the merest apprehension that they may catch the contagion. Of course, the anxiety is unreal, insubstantial and disproportionate to the lethal potential, yet it has shut down the world.

But he would not give up. He said a mosquito bites you and you wonder if you have caught malaria, but here a starlet holds a party and Lucknow is locked down.

I was not prepared to give up: Forgive me for being persistent, I said, a mosquito bite may give me malaria but I cant pass it off to my wife even if I bite her, a Covid-19 infected man can cause havoc in concentric circles of people whom he meets by just being himself. Once you are delivered to an anxiety, you are beyond help.

Admittedly, the Wuhan virus is nothing in terms of lethal potential compared to SARS, in the very recent past. SARS came, occupied a slice of global concern for a while, and caused some loss of lives. So did the Avian Flu and Nipah, and quickly receded into history. In India, it was heard rather like a distant rumour. But the Wuhan virus has shaken the world and India. The devastation that it has caused to each one of us in our personal lives, to us as social creatures and to us as economic beings would be unimaginable - if it were not true. We cannot even begin to estimate the damage.

Paul Tillich, existentialist Christian theologian of culture, makes the distinction between fear and anxiety, in his book "The Courage to Be" as follows:

"Fear has a definite object which can be faced and attacked, endured or conquered, whereas anxiety has no object. Without an object or a tactic to defeat it, anxiety surfaces as the pain of impotence, negation and disempowerment... He who is in anxiety is, insofar as it is mere anxiety, delivered to it without help."

This anxiety on account of Covid-19 is not a naturally occurring germ or virus; it is anthropogenically created information (or deliberate disinformation) riding on the Chinese propaganda juggernaut. Once brought into being, it has mutated and multiplied of its own to create anxieties, inadequacies, and paranoia on an apocalyptic scale. The images of people dropping dead in the streets of Wuhan, the stores of thousands of cremations - true, false and apocryphal - helped build up the Wuhan Virus as the Horseman of Apocalypse, and lockdown as the only protection against it.

China was economical with the relevant data, and when the invasion of the virus took place, the world locked itself down in response to the propaganda, reminding me of the immunologic response of a Horseshoe crab, a marine animal which lives around coastal areas. In response to invasion by a certain bacterium, the crab deploys a complete array of battle responses - everything that it has at its disposal. The outcome is widespread tissue destruction, as in the generalized Schwartzman reaction, or outright failure of the circulation of blood, as in endotoxin shock. That is what it looks like.

An objective scientific assessment of the lockdown is yet to be made, but not only the Indian economy but the entire system is in a state of shock, and we are struggling to get back to our feet. The poor, as always, are the worst victim of bad planning, and the fate of masses of loitering migrant labours will someday, when the great Plague Novel is written about our crisis, occupy the centre stage of the writer's concern.

Meanwhile, now it seems we are resigned to coexist with Covid-19. In some quarters, herd immunity, natures way of doing things, is already being talked about. We will think about economic growth another day. Survival occupies the centre stage of our concerns. Is that how China wanted to reorder the world nearer to its hearts desire?

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Pataliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
Machakos  A Machakos man has been sentenced to 30 years in jail for attempted murder over a 2016 incident when he chopped off his wife's hands.

Stephen Ngila, 39, was given the sentence after he was found guilty of chopping off Jackline Mwende's hands in 2016.

He was however granted 14 years to appeal the ruling.

In her judgment, Machakos Law Court Justice Brenda Bartoo said the court had taken note the accused was not remorseful for the offense he was convicted of.

"The court notes that the offense committed was grave, and the victim in the statement does not wish for any restitution," she outlined while giving factors that informed the term.

"Therefore I proceed and sentence you for the offense of attempted murder contrary to section 220(A) of penal code," she added in her judgement.

The offense was committed at Mwala in Machakos County on July 25, 2016.

Mwende told the court her husband chopped off her hands with a machete because she could not bear him children.

EINST4INE (the European Training Network for InduStry Digital Transformation across Innovation Ecosystems) is a 4M research initiative addressing some of the gaps and challenges faced by industries adapting to the digital revolution.

In a virtual event on 8 and 10 February 2021, the consortium of European and Australian partners officially launched EINST4INE's 48-month programme.

With world-leading expertise in the areas of Open Innovation, Industry 4.0, digital transformation, and innovation ecosystems, the EINST4INE team will develop new methods, skills, concepts and roadmaps to guide businesses towards digital transformation.

The project's comprehensive research agenda and multi-disciplinary approach will lead to tangible outputs and outcomes relevant to start-ups, large firms, low- to high-tech industries, as well as enterprises with service or product-service offerings.

Worldwide, companies have committed trillions of dollars to the digital technologies transforming our everyday lives - from how we do business and purchase products to how we manage our personal finances - though not necessarily successfully.

That is because the challenge lies not only within the implementation of digital transformation, but in the complementary shift and innovation in business planning and strategy required for the new technologies to deliver their full potential.

EINST4INE's forthcoming recruitment campaign will see the appointment of 15 high-performing, early-stage researchers ready to tackle the real-world challenges faced by industry by expanding their expertise in innovation and technology management.

The project's programme of research training and development will build the cohort's ability to navigate an evolving business landscape increasingly shaped by innovations such as artificial intelligence, 3D printing and big data.

Through project-based research, their investigations will span the human side of digital transformation, management, new technologies, and innovation ecosystems.

EINST4INE's doctoral researchers will become future leaders, experts, and strategists of business and digital transformation - equipped with the hybrid tech-digital behavioural skills and cutting-edge knowledge to enable companies to benefit from digital innovation.

The consortium:

EINST4INE is coordinated by RMIT Europe (Spain). RMIT Europe is the European hub of RMIT University (Australia), a global university of technology, design and enterprise.

The EINST4INE consortium comprises RMIT Europe (Spain), Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT (Finland), Aarhus University (Denmark), University of Cambridge (UK), Universitat Stuttgart (Germany), Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (Italy) and Libera Universita Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli (Italy), as well as 15 industry and two academic partnering organisations: RMIT University (Australia) and the Garwood Center for Corporate Innovation, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley (USA).

###

For further information:

Pauline Rasera

EINST4INE Project Manager

RMIT Europe

Email: einst4ine@rmit.edu.au

For project updates:

https:/ / www. einst4ine. eu/

https:/ / twitter. com/ einst4ine | @einst4ine | #einst4ine

https:/ / www. linkedin. com/ company/ einst4ine/

Funding acknowledgment:

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 956745.

Disclaimer:

Results reflect the author's view only. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
editorial

Dominic Ongwen, a commander of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) that for two decades roamed northern Uganda, leaving mayhem and grief in its wake, awaits sentencing after his conviction last week, for war crimes and crimes against humanity by International Criminal Court.

The court returned a guilty verdict on 61 of the 70 counts that Ongwen was accused of. The catalogue of offences is long but its gory details include murder and attempted murder, enslavement, outrages upon personal dignity, rape, enslavement, forced marriage and forced pregnancy, to mention just a few.

As would be expected, the verdict has elicited mixed reactions even within the rights community. Uganda which first sought the indications against the LRA is yet to show its hand.

To the victims and survivors of the LRA's wanton acts and advocates of justice, Ongwen's conviction is a blow for accountability by those who visit terror on fellow humans.

Fatou Bensouda, whose tour of duty as ICC Chief prosecutor is winding up, described the verdict as "an important milestone in bringing justice to the people of Uganda. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said the judgement was "a signpost of accountability against impunity."

To Ongwen's family and the liberal left, the conviction was underserved. He was as much victim as perpetrator, they reasoned.

The numbers in this case are staggering. It was based on the complaints of 4,095 victims of LRA anarchy, 179 witnesses and experts. The strategy of Ongwen's defence team was not to rebut the staggering body of evidence, but to try to persuade the court in the Hague and public opinion, that he like his victims, was not fully responsible for his actions having been robbed of his own childhood by the LRA. He did not join the LRA willingly, having been abducted alongside other children on his way to school during the 1990s.

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At this point, there is no indication of where the ICC's ball will settle along the 30-year to life imprisonment gradient that this conviction can attract. At best those grounds can only be a mitigating factor in sentencing.

What really is at stake here, are basic human values. Ongwen was a child when he was abducted. But he was not too young to have picked what his community considered decent. If he was forced to act against his conscience, as a commander he had numerous opportunities to break with the LRA. He did not.

When he eventually surrendered to the Ugandan contingent of an international force in the Central African Republic sometime in 2015, it was probably only because he had run out of options. The court did not convict Ongwen for being a member of the LRA. He was found guilty for the conscious decisions he made as an adult.

His conviction may be justice delayed for his and the LRA's unknown victims but the verdict should be welcomed for the message it sends. Ongwen was only one of five top LRA commanders that were indicted by the ICC in 2005. Unless there is a supranational mechanism that can bring perpetrators of violence such as Ongwen to justice, there will be no deterrent to stop the cycle of impunity that characterises armed conflict around the world today.
Nay Pyi Taw, Feb 9 : Despite a ban on gatherings in Myanmar, protests against last week's military coup continued across the South Asian country for a fourth consecutive day on Tuesday.

An order issued earlier in the day by the Military True News Information Team, gatherings of five or more than five persons at public areas have been banned in some townships of regions and states under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code, Xinhua news agency reported.

At the same time, a night-time curfew from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., has also been imposed in all townships excluding the Cocokyun township in Yangon, in some townships of Nay Pyi Taw, and Mandalay, according to the order.

"The curfew and ban on gatherings will be imposed in the places where crowds are most likely to occur," an official from Myanmar Police Force told Xinhua.

The protesters are also demanding the release of former de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained along with other senior government leaders on February 1 shortly before the military took control of the country over the disputed results of the 2020 parliamentary elections.

Besides the coup, the military also declared a year-long state of emergency and handed over the state power to Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Protests have been reported in major cities, including Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay and Yangon.

On Sunday, Myanmar witnessed its largest protest in over a decade when thousands of people from all walks of life gathered in the the capital city.

Suu Kyi, former President U Win Myint, and other senior members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party are currently under house arrest.

In the November 8, 2020, elections, the former de facto leader's NLD party obtained more than 80 per cent of the seats and increased its parliamentary majority.

The military or the Tatmadaw had called for an investigation into voting lists, alleging fraud and discrepancies.

But the Union Election Commission rejected the allegations of election fraud on January 29.

Photo: The Canadian Press Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister

The Manitoba government is easing some of its COVID-19 restrictions as case numbers continue to decline.

"These changes, once again, are cautious changes to ensure we continue to protect and safeguard Manitobans' lives," Premier Brian Pallister said Tuesday.

Starting Friday, restaurants will be allowed to open for in-person dining for the first time since November, at 25 per cent capacity. Customers will only be allowed to sit with members of their household.

Gyms, indoor rinks, museums, libraries, tattoo parlours will also be free to open at 25 per cent capacity.

Indoor religious services will be allowed to resume at 10 per cent capacity or 50 people, which ever is lower.

Chief public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, said while case numbers have been dropping, the province has recorded its first case of the United Kingdom variant of COVID-19.

He said the case was linked directly to travel and there is no evidence of it spreading.

"We certainly can't let our guard down," Roussin said.

There was a rapid increase in infections and deaths in Manitoba in the fall. The province brought in significant restrictions at the time to reduce spread of the novel coronavirus in communities and to ease pressures on health care.

"The hard work of Manitobans has brought us back to a level of community transmission where we can once again get back to these things we enjoy," Roussin said.

The Centre on Tuesday said frontline workers who do not get inoculated against COVID-19 in the scheduled or mop-up rounds of the vaccination drive will have to be relegated to the age-specific batches as it advised the states and Union territories to conclude the first-dose administration of all frontline workers by March 6.

It has asked all states and Union territories to schedule vaccination for all the healthcare workers listed on the CoWIN mobile application by March 1.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said all frontline workers must be given the opportunity of getting vaccinated in the mop-up rounds by March 6.

"Those frontline workers who do not get vaccinated in the scheduled vaccination rounds or in the mop-up rounds will have to be relegated to the age-specific vaccination rounds," he said at a press conference.

The COVID-19 inoculation process for people aged above 50 is scheduled to start in March.

Speaking about the pandemic situation in the country, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, Dr VK Paul said protecting the healthcare system, the frontline workers and also the larger population from not being a candidate for mortality even if they get infected with COVID-19 is the priority. He also said it might be a few months before vaccines become available through emergency use authorisation.

"The country is fortunate to have two made in India vaccines and as many as six-seven in the pipeline," Paul said. "First and foremost, the comprehensive goal is to achieve the public health objective of vaccinating 30 crore people. That is where the vaccine stockpile will be channelled on priority. If the availability is over and above that requirementwe still have to wait for a few months before any of these (other) vaccines becomes available through emergency use authorisation," he said.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 2021 / Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXV:CCE)(FSE:D7H0) (the "Company" or "Commerce") is pleased to announce that planning is underway for a diamond drill program at the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit, located in northern Quebec.

A total of 15 to 20 NQ-size drill holes, for approximately 2,500 m, are planned as part of a resource definition drill program focused along the northern, southern, and central portions of the of the Ashram Deposit. The drilling will further delineate the deposit's geometry and extent of mineralization, as well as target an increase in resource confidence to the measured category in the core area of the deposit where the neodymium-praseodymium ("NdPr") distribution is highest.

As the Ashram Deposit outcrops in several areas, it is only covered by a thin veil of overburden with the strongest NdPr grades and distributions present from surface. As such, drill holes are expected to range from 100 to 250 m in total vertical depth, which corresponds to set depths below the planned pit shell for the Project.

The Ashram Deposit is characterized by a single, large mineralized body, with monazite-bastnaesite-xenotime mineralization extending from surface to depths of over 600 m, with the final sample of drill hole EC11-050 assaying 4.13% REO (599.9 to 600.5 m). The deposit's surface footprint is at least 600 m long and 350 m wide and remains open to the north, south, and at depth. The Ashram Deposit hosts a measured resource of 1.6 million tonnes (Mt) at 1.77% rare earth oxide (REO) and 3.8% F (7.7 CaF2), an indicated resource of 28 Mt at 1.90% REO and 2.9% F (5.9 CaF2), and an inferred resource of 220 Mt at 1.88% REO and 2.2% F (4.5 CaF2), at a cut-off grade of 1.25% REO. The mineral resource estimate was completed in 2012 and includes results to the end of the 2011 drilling only. Note, mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. The fluorite (CaF2) content is calculated from the mineral resource's fluorine (F) grade, using a conversion factor of 2.055 based on deposit mineralogy.

In addition to the diamond drill program, the Company intends to carry-out the remaining environmental work at site required to support the Ashram Project's ongoing Pre-feasibility Study. Several other related and remaining Pre-feasibility components are also planned to be advanced in parallel.

The Company expects to carry-out its 2021 field program concurrently with the drill program being planned by Saville Resources Inc. on the adjacent Niobium Claim Group Property. Saville Resources holds the Niobium Claim Group Property under Earn-in Agreement from the Company where they may acquire up to a 75% interest (see news release dated January 11th, 2018). The overlap of the two programs is expected to result in significant cost savings through shared mobilization, camp operation, and other mutual program support costs.

The Company notes that it will carry-out its field programs while adhering to all federal, provincial, and regional restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company is engaged in the process to obtain formal authorization to enter the Nunavik Territory for the purposes of mineral exploration and is confident that it will succeed. Mineral exploration has been recognized as an essential service in Canada and the Province of Quebec.

NI 43-101 Disclosure

Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geo., Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a Permit holder with the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

About Commerce Resources Corp.

Commerce Resources Corp. is a junior mineral resource company focused on the development of the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit located in Quebec, Canada. The Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth producers globally, with a specific focus on being a long-term supplier of mixed rare earth carbonate and/or NdPr oxide to the global market. The Ashram Deposit is characterized by simple rare earth (monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime) and gangue (carbonates) mineralogy, a large tonnage resource at favourable grade, and has demonstrated the production of high-grade (>45% REO) mineral concentrates at high recovery (>70%) in line with active global producers. In addition to being one of the largest rare earth deposits globally, Ashram is also one of the largest fluorspar deposits globally and has the potential to be a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets.

For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.commerceresources.com or email info@commerceresources.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

COMMERCE RESOURCES CORP.

"Chris Grove"

Chris Grove

President and Director

Tel: 604.484.2700

Email: cgrove@commerceresources.com

Web: http://www.commerceresources.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements in this press release include our plans to drill at the Ashram project, the expected results allowing us to delineate the mineralization, and plans for environmental work; and that we could become a long term supplier of mixed rare earth carbonate and/or NdPr oxide. These forward-looking statements 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 information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include that the methods proposed don't work as well as expected, the drilling may not go as planned or start when expected, we may experience difficulties in drilling and carrying out environmental work; changing costs for mining and processing; increased capital costs; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumption based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that with further test work may not be comparable; testing of our process may not prove successful and even it tests are successful, the economic and other outcomes may not be as expected; the availability of labour, equipment and markets for the products produced; and despite the current expected viability of the project, conditions changing such that the minerals on our property cannot be economically mined, or that the required permits to build and operate the envisaged mine can be obtained. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Commerce Resources Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628433/Commerce-Resources-Corp-Announces-Plans-for-Summer-Drill-Program-at-the-Ashram-Rare-Earth-and-Fluorspar-Deposit
The Digital Economy



Mission (KDEM) will create ten lakh jobs by 2025 in the state as it will attract more investments in the information technology sector, Deputy Chief Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan said on Tuesday.

"The KDEM will create ten lakh jobs by 2025 and will help to reach the goal of USD 150 Billion in IT exports and also to become a USD 300 Billion Economy by 2025," Narayan, who holds the electronic and the IT-BT portfolio, said.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the office of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission which has the objective of increasing digital economy contribution to GSDP to 30 per cent and launch of the 'Beyond Bengaluru' report which facilitates achieving this target.

He added that the government would focus on improving connectivity even to remote parts of the state, providing round the clock electricity, and reduce rural-urban divide by establishing needed infrastructure in order to strengthen the digital economy.

He sought a bigger role for KDEM in improving the economy of the state.

"The government wanted KDEM to be more industry friendly and keeping this in mind it has allowed for 51 per cent stake to Industry associations while retaining a minority holding of 49 per cent for itself.The government wants to act rather as a facilitator than an authority," Narayan pointed out.

According to the Additional Chief Secretary in the department of electronics, IT/BT, E V Ramana Reddy, the contributes 25 per cent of GSDP of which 98 per cent accounts for Bengaluru alone.

In order to increase the share of other regions of the state as well, the 'Beyond Bengaluru' project has been initiated, he said.

According to officials, the KDEM has been set up on a public-private partnership model, where Industry associations



NASSCOM, The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), India Electronics & Semiconductor Association (IESA), and Vision Group on Startups- contribute 51 per cent stake.

(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.)



In 1985, actor Hal Holbrook told an interviewer in Kalamazoo, Michigan, that American humorist-writer Mark Twain has become integrated into my whole life  no matter what the subject, hes always a tremendously amusing wise old bird. By that time, Holbrook had been performing his one-man show, Mark Twain Tonight for 31 consecutive yearsjust about the midpoint of its run. The actor went on, I think it would be a pretty good idea to keep doing this every year until I drop dead.

Hal Holbrook in 2007 (Wikimedia Commons/lukeford)

Holbrook died at his home in southern California on January 23 (it was not made public until February 2). He was 95. Three years earlier, he had officially retired Mark Twain Tonight when he canceled the first performance of a 2017 tour, after having performed the show for 63 years. Significantly, by the time of Samuel Clemens death in April 1910, 61 years had passed since he had taken on the pen name Mark Twain in a submission to the Territorial Enterprise of Virginia City, Nevada. So, Holbrook, as it turned out, inhabited the persona of Mark Twain longer than Mark Twain himself.

Holbrook gave an extensive interview in July 2017 in which he recounted how he had come to create the one-man show. (An excerpt appears here.) He explained that he started by reading Twains books, including Huckleberry Finn (1885)A hell of a book! About racism in Americaour greatest trial by fire. Then and now!

Holbrook explicated Twain: We are religious people! CRAP! Its called hypocrisy! That is the spear that is driven straight through the heart of America. Hypocrisy! And that was the clue that was the theme I could see in Mark Twains work that would connect me to today. And it has ever since. And it has carried me forward because  I dont know if anybody has been able to identify the lack of courage, the lack of honesty in our society and in our country and our world as well as Mark Twain has.

Born in Cleveland in 1925, Holbrook started acting in the early 1940s during his senior year at Culver Military Academy in Indiana. The choice to take dramatics because he considered it likely to be an easy credit became one of the pivotal moments of his life. Holbrook had a rough childhood, losing both his mother, a vaudeville dancer who ran away to be a star in Hollywood when he was too young to remember, and his father, who was committed to an insane asylum during his boyhood. Holbrook later found great solace in an audience listening to him and, when he was lucky or good, bestowing its applause.

Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain (promotional still)

His talent was recognized by the head of the drama program at Dennison University east of Columbus, Ohio, which led Holbrook to switch from the University of Michigan, where he had been accepted. The decision also led to paying roles in local productions at $15 a week.

Holbrook eventually became an acclaimed performer, with a career on stage, in movies and on television that lasted more than 60 years and with roles too numerous to mention. A few highlights include appearances in films such as The Group (Sidney Lumet, 1966), The Great White Hope (Martin Ritt, 1970), Magnum Force (Ted Post, 1973one of the Dirty Harry films with Clint Eastwood), All the Presidents Men (Alan Pakula, 1976), Julia (Fred Zinnemann, 1977), The Star Chamber (Peter Hyams, 1983), Wall Street (1987, Oliver Stone) and The Firm (1993, Sydney Pollack), along with parts in innumerable television series.

Holbrook also excelled as Abraham Lincoln in two mini-series, George Schaefers Lincoln (based on Carl Sandburg, 1974-76) and Richard Heffrons North & South (1985), as well as John Adams in Buzz Kuliks George Washington (1984). He appeared too in Steven Spielbergs Lincoln (2012) as journalist Preston Blair, one of the co-founders of the Republican Party. With his distinguishedand, when occasion called for it, sinistervoice and bearing, Holbrook was often cast as presidents, cabinet members, senators, generals, admirals, judges, bishops and the like.

However, Holbrooks most enduring role was the one he assigned himself in Mark Twain Tonight, which he began performing on stage at what was then the State Teachers College in Lock Haven (Pennsylvania) in 1954, when he was less than 30.

There is little question but that Holbrook will be remembered above all for those brilliant portrayals of Twain. In his 62 years of performing Mark Twain Tonight, he gave close to 2,500 performances. Holbrook explained early on that if it looked like he was going to go through a year without doing the act, he would hastily set up performances to keep it alive. Each performance would use Twains words almost exclusively, including excerpts from around 10 different sources. Holbrook estimated that perhaps 5 percent of the show was written by himself to provide punch or to tie the citations together.

An example of Twains expertise in regard to humanitys tendency to lie can be seen in the YouTube clip On Lies and Slavery. Twains words delivered by Holbrook are deeply authentic and profoundly true. Twain was a true American treasure. In Ken Burns documentary Mark Twain (2001), Holbrook spoke about Twains 1883 decision to resume writing Huckleberry Finn. Twain had returned to the Mississippi River and his hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, for inspiration: What do you think he was looking at? He was looking at the horrible failure of the freeing of the slave!

Holbrook gave his Twain show on many occasions in the South. He described in one interview how he was performing on the edge of Little Rock [Arkansas]  right after the riots [prompted by racial desegregation] at Central High School and I had this lynching number from Huckleberry and  I was moved by what was going on there. I decided I would do this number with an intent in my mind to make a comment on mob violence.

Suddenly I realized that I had some method of expressing myself about things that are going on in the world.  Theres material here where I can make statements.

Id been through many situations like this and Id always been astonished  surprised  at the responses of the audiences in the South. It was like they wanted to say something and couldnt. But in responding to what I was bringing out, they were able to approve and express their feelings.

By George, they were great. Two hundred people came backstage.

Mark Twain in 1909

Of all the performances that Holbrook did of Mark Twain Tonight, it was broadcast on television only once. That was in 1967 and it was in prime time. CBS producer David Susskind was determined to put it on the air. But the network almost didnt. In the middle of rehearsals, Susskind approached Holbrook with the demand for cuts from the network bigwigs. They wanted the word nigger to be excised and the reference to war be removed, as it would be shown at the height of the Vietnam War.

Holbrook flatly refused: Listen. Go back to them now and tell them that its over. Im leaving. Were going to stop rehearsal. And this show is over. Were not going to do it.

Holbrook found the racial epithet disturbing as well. He had long before determined that Twains repeated use of the word was to make the reader feel disgusted at the racism in society. Due to Holbrooks determination to present Twain as he was, CBS backed down. The show went on and was viewed by 30 million people. Critics praised it. The Chicago Tribune called it the best 90 minutes ever on television.

This was discussed in a wonderful interview with Holbrook on NPRs Bill Moyers NOW program in 2004. Holbrook was in his late 70s. During the conversation between Holbrook and Moyers, it emerged that NPR had wanted to broadcast Mark Twain Tonight, but insisted Twain be edited, so it had never happened.

Holbrook further explained his feelings: You see, I got a feeling about political correctness. I hate it. You know the Silent Lie that hes [Twain] talking about that you played here earlier on this show? Thats what political correctness does. It causes us to lie silently instead of saying what we think.

We live in a democracy. We have this extraordinary opportunity to use our mind and say what we think, to speak as we think. Sometimes what we say is objectionable to other people. Sometimes words we use are objectionable to other people. But that is part of a free society.

And in order to communicate with each other, weve got to get mad at each other sometimes.

A documentary, Holbrook/Twain: An American Odyssey, was released in 2019 (directed by Scott Teems). In one of the first sequences, Holbrook is driving away after a performance and remarks on how well it had gone. They were thinking, he said. You always hope, maybe you can make people think a little bit. This hope was why he set himself such a grueling schedule of performances. In the film, Holbrook explains that the best way to hold an audiences attention is to scare them by speaking about something they are afraid to hear about, like patriotism.

Through all his years of performing him, Holbrook embraced the part of Mark Twain that many would like us to forgethis subversiveness. The Mark Twain who was in his 70s had learned a few things about Americans, and man in general. This was was the person that Holbrook brought to life for 63 yearsas a young actor as well as one who was close to two decades older than his subjectthe Mark Twain who dissected religion, patriotism and imperialism to reveal the hypocrisy employed to justify monstrous crimes.

In the Burns biography-documentary, Holbrook answers those who claimed that Twain lost his bearings in his later life: He refused to lie down.  He was a life force, a forward moving life force, a powerful life force.  He wasnt a quitter.
A Hong Kong court has denied bail for government critic and newspaper publisher Jimmy Lai who is facing charges under a sweeping new national security law.

The ruling by the Court of Final Appeal comes amid heavy pressure from the Chinese government and state media to keep Mr Lai in custody, arguing that Mr Lais crimes against the state are particularly egregious and that he possesses the means to flee the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

Mr Lai was arrested in a December sweep against pro-democracy activists accused over their involvement in 2019 anti-government protests. First refused bail, Mr Lai was later released on appeal, leading to editorials attacking Hong Kongs judiciary in the pages of the ruling Communist Party newspaper Peoples Daily. He was returned to jail on New Years Eve ahead of a new hearing.

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Mr Lai, an outspoken advocate for democracy in Hong Kong, had been charged with fraud on December 3 for allegedly violating the lease terms for office space for his media company, Next Digital. He was later charged again on December 12 under the national security law, on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces and endangering national security.

The law states that a defendant will not get bail unless the judge is sure the suspected crime will not be committed again, a break with Hong Kongs common law system inherited from Britain.

As at his previous hearings, Mr Lai stepped from the prison van into an inflatable tunnel connecting with the court entrance, in an apparent attempt to minimise his exposure to the numerous journalists waiting outside.

The move keeps Mr Lai in custody at least until the beginning of his trial scheduled for April and underscores his status as one of the most high-profile critics of Chinas growing intolerance for political opposition in Hong Kong.

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Participation in anti-government protests has become a focus of law enforcement in the city and the basis on which several pro-democracy activists have been jailed in recent months, including student protest leaders Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow.

The national security law was imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing after the citys local legislature was unable to overcome local opposition to its enactment. Backers say it has returned calm to the citys streets while opponents consider it a betrayal of Chinas pledge to maintain the citys legal, civil and human rights for 50 years after its handover from British colonial rule in 1997.

The law effectively curbs most opposition political activity by giving authorities broad powers to prosecute critics on loosely defined charges of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers while subjecting private speech and social media postings to possible criminal punishment. Serious offenders could face up to life imprisonment.

Mr Lai, 72, made his fortune in the retail clothing trade before branching out into media. He stepped down as publisher of the Apple Daily newspaper but the publication remains a popular forum for opposition views in a media landscape dominated by Beijing-backed outlets.

At Vanderbilt University in Nashville, students returning after winter break were required to be tested upon arrival, and then asked to avoid social interactions while awaiting results. But some had other ideas.

We identified a cluster of positive Covid-19 cases linked to students who did not follow the arrival shelter-in-place rules, a campuswide email reported on Jan. 23, blaming two student organizations for violating protocols. More than 100 students are now in quarantine.

Tulane University in New Orleans, which is testing students at least twice a week, said it had placed 18 students and six Greek organizations on interim suspension after they violated social distancing rules in the first weeks of classes.

The foundation of most university plans for the spring semester is built on ramped-up testing to quickly identify infected students before they display symptoms, then place them in isolation to prevent the virus from spreading. The testing push has grown since July, when a study by researchers including A. David Paltiel, a professor of public health policy and management at the Yale School of Medicine, recommended that college students be tested twice a week to better detect asymptomatic infections.

The American College Health Association later embraced the idea, issuing guidelines in December. For the spring, we specifically recommend that all students are tested on arrival and twice a week thereafter if possible, said Gerri Taylor, a student health expert who serves as co-chair of the organizations Covid-19 task force.

Ms. Taylor said her organization did not know what percentage of schools had adopted the recommendations, and a survey of colleges across the country revealed a variety of requirements, ranging from only voluntary testing to mandatory testing twice a week.
The Central Sahel countries of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali are confronting unprecedented levels of conflict, displacement, and humanitarian needs exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. This complex humanitarian crisis has severely impacted education (file photo).

LOCKDOWN restrictions aimed at fighting the Covid-19 pandemic in Lesotho have had an unintended adverse negative impact of undermining women's customary land rights, a regional human rights body has found.

The organisation, Advancing Rights in Southern Africa (ARISA), said its research on the impact of Covid-19 on women's customary land rights and livelihoods in southern Africa found that lockdown restrictions had worsened violations of women's customary land rights in the region.

In Lesotho, this had been done through the scaling down of court operations had denied women access to whenever they were dispossessed of their land and unjustly evicted by their male counterparts, ARISA found.

In addition, ARISA found that limitations placed on the movement of citizens meant that many could not travel to the courts or other administrative and quasi-judicial institutions to have their legal issues addressed.

The human rights body therefore called on Lesotho and other regional governments to revisit the lockdown measures to ensure that the women's land rights are not undermined by the Covid-19 pandemic and other disasters.

During Lesotho's hard lockdown from 30 March to 5 May 2020, the country's borders with South Africa were shut down and cross-border travel was banned. Inter district movements were also banned except for exceptional cases like those of people travelling for medical services. Most economic activities were also banned during the lockdown.

The courts also announced a scaling down of operations which saw the magistrates' court only attending to what it considered as urgent cases, bail hearings and remands for suspects facing criminal charges.

This-according to ARISA- has had an adverse impact on women's access to the justice system to protect their customary land rights. The report is titled: "Impact of COVID-19 on Women's Customary Land Rights and Livelihoods in Southern Africa".

"In a reported case, a Mosotho woman was disinherited of customary land that belonged to her deceased father in favour of a man who claimed to be the male heir of the land," ARISA states in its report.

"The woman was unable to bring witnesses before the elders to support and defend her claim that she was the biological daughter of the deceased and was therefore the rightful heir to the customary land.

"This was because her witnesses were resident in South Africa and were unable to travel to Lesotho as a result of the border closures in response to COVID-19. Her witnesses were also unable to appear before the elders virtually because there were no appropriate means of facilitating the connection between rural Lesotho and the witnesses. The woman in question was therefore denied her right to inherit and access customary land during the lockdown as the available justice mechanism could not provide the needed facilities for her case to be heard," ARISA said.

The human rights body said in Lesotho, although the legalisation of the growing of medical cannabis in 2017 had provided women with an opportunity to earn money through renting their land to large scale cannabis farmers, their rights to the land had been affected by male relatives who used customary laws to lay claim to the land after realising that it was now lucrative.

"When government started the cannabis programme, women's rights organisations in the country engaged government to ensure that lease opportunities were given to land holders based on equality between men and women, with a focus on widows. The organisations agreed with government that widows would be allowed to engage the cannabis growers to negotiate leases on the customary land that they held, and that no male relatives would be involved.

"This followed a realisation that because women could not be heirs to customary land, families were appointing male figures to be the leads in land lease negotiations with the cannabis producers, with the rentals accruing to the male figureheads. The lucrative nature of the project meant that male relatives had become overly interested in the land and the projects, even in situations where they had not shown any interest before.

"Customary law was therefore being invoked to remind women that they could not enter into the lease agreements over customary land with the cannabis production companies, without the consent of the male members of their extended families.

"The intervention of women's rights organisations in Lesotho to protect the customary lands rights of women in the country was therefore an important initiative in ensuring that long held prejudicial customs about women and their rights to customary land would not be used to disadvantage them in light of the lucrative cannabis land leases.

"This was particularly important given that for most of the women, such land is their only source of livelihood, even though customary law does not give them control over such land. It was also one of the few times that the women in the country were able to benefit commercially from customary land," ARISA notes.

Although women's rights organisations in Lesotho had begun efforts to fight for women's rights, such efforts were affected by the restrictions imposed to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The case study from Lesotho illustrates that the pandemic had the impact of reversing gains achieved in that country in the promotion and protection of women's customary land rights...

"Lesotho was the last country in Africa to record a Covid-19 case (on 13 May 2020).

"It however put in place stringent Covid-19 regulations well before recording any case, including being one of the first countries in Africa to close its borders for fear of importing the disease from South Africa.

"A state of emergency was declared on 18 March 2020 and various regulations and legal notices were subsequently promulgated over time. The notice of the state of emergency which was published on 27 March 2020 outlined the closure of many businesses except those providing essential goods and services. The notice specifically stated that supermarkets and grocery shops would remain open but mentioned no other places such as open markets and vending sites that normally sell food and food products.

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"The initial legal notice missed, neglected or deliberately left out specific provisions that would protect rural women farmers and agricultural produce traders in the context of Covid-19. Efforts by the small-scale farmers and informal food traders to continue with their business would therefore have been a violation of the lockdown regulations. The conclusion that can be drawn from all these regulations is that they failed to protect rural women's customary land-based livelihoods, hence the need for the regulations to be reviewed to ensure protection of these rights," ARISA states in its report.

The human rights body therefore urged Lesotho and other regional governments to "balance the public health interventions for Covid-19 with the need to protect citizens' socio-economic rights".

"Governments must protect citizens' rights to access to justice particularly in the context of Covid-19 and other emergencies, where rights violations are likely to escalate and governments must protect women's customary land rights by ensuring protection from land dispossessions and evictions in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and other disasters," ARISA said.
Analyzing half a million coronavirus tests and hundreds of genomes, researchers have predicted that within a month, the UK variant, known as B.1.1.7, could become predominant in the US, potentially bringing a surge of new cases and increased risk of death, reports Xinhua news agency.

Washington, Feb 9 (IANS) A new study has suggested that the coronavirus variant first detected in the UK late last year is spreading rapidly across the US, raising concerns over another resurgence in the hardest-hit country.

The study, posted on the preprint server MedRxiv on Sunday, echoed a forecast issued last month by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which warned that the B.1.1.7 could become predominant by March if it behaved the way it did in Britain.

According to the study, detection of the variant increased at a logistic rate similar to those observed elsewhere, with a doubling rate of a little over a week and an increased transmission rate of 35 to 45 per cent.

Currently there are three dominant coronavirus variants spreading in the US, according to CDC data.

A total of 699 infection cases of the variants have been reported in at least 34 states.

The vast majority of these cases, 690, were caused by B.1.1.7, while there were six cases of a new strain initially discovered in South Africa, called B.1.351, and three cases of the P.1 strain first discovered in Brazil.

New Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations are declining in the country from recent surges, but health experts have warned that the new contagious strains may threaten to undo progress and lead to a resurgence.

The US still accounts for the highest number of cases and deaths in the world, making it the hardest-hit country globally.

In its latest update on Tuesday morning, the JHU revealed that the country's overall caseload and death toll stood at 27,088,044 and 464,845, respectively.

--IANS

ksk/
Youth justice advocates and lawyers have criticised the Queensland governments sweeping youth justice changes for missing the mark, saying the focus should instead be on diversion programs and the child protection system, which a majority of young offenders were also involved with.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a number of new measures to curb youth crime in the state on Tuesday, after several high-profile incidents pulled the issue into focus in recent weeks and sparked calls for change from the police union and both sides of government.

Among the changes, to be introduced to Parliament this month, are a trial of GPS tracking devices for some repeat offenders, and a reversal of the presumption of bail, which will require the accused to prove why they should not be held on remand for serious offences committed while on bail.

But University of Queensland law professor Tamara Walsh said the small cohort at the centre of the governments plan  about 400 repeat offenders responsible for almost half of all youth crime, which is declining as a whole  were also some of the states most vulnerable.
If you'd asked me to identify which major European country was seeing powerful intellectual and political forces attacking woke racial ideology and the American campuses pushing it, I would have guessed Poland or Russia. Nope, it's a country American conservatives generally mock and resent: France. The very same France that conservatives regularly deride as "cheese-eating surrender monkeys," picking up a line from The Simpsons that was popularized by Jonah Goldberg (who has since gone full NeverTrump).

But Norimitsu Ohnishi of The New York Times reports:

The threat is said to be existential. It fuels secessionism. Gnaws at national unity. Abets Islamism. Attacks France's intellectual and cultural heritage. The threat? "Certain social science theories entirely imported from the United States," said President Emmanuel Macron. French politicians, high-profile intellectuals and journalists are warning that progressive American ideas  specifically on race, gender, post-colonialism  are undermining their society. "There's a battle to wage against an intellectual matrix from American universities,'' warned Mr. Macron's education minister. (snip) Mr. Macron's education minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer, accused universities, under American influence, of being complicit with terrorists by providing the intellectual justification behind their acts. A group of 100 prominent scholars wrote an open letter supporting the minister and decrying theories "transferred from North American campuses" in Le Monde.

If you have access to material behind the Times' paywall, by all means, read and savor the unexpected alliance that France's movers and shakers are implicitly forging with American conservatives. The article does include critics of the move, but it leaves the definite impression that the ideas that we loathe are facing greater pushback in France than anywhere else in the advanced economies.

Why on Earth would a country that in the past has been held out as an example of progressive social policies turn against wokism? Onishi supplies part of the answer:

France has long laid claim to a national identity, based on a common culture, fundamental rights and core values like equality and liberty, rejecting diversity and multiculturalism. The French often see the United States as a fractious society at war with itself.

France's power elite (and in France, intellectuals have far more influence than in the United States  one reason why lefties here tend to adore it), struggling to maintain the fiction that French culture is a global peer of the Anglosphere, do tend to reject anything American (even as the popular culture embraces American phenomena from McDonald's to rock 'n' roll). And since the leftist takeover of American campuses outdistances their victories in other advanced countries, wokism is identified as a Yankee import and thus raises nationalist hackles. The protective fervor that French people feel for their culture is now being directed against a foreign (American) ideology that threatens French identity.

But I think that the tangible, violent threat of Islamism, a clear and present danger in France, is a more important factor in rejecting identity politics. France has the largest Muslim population in Europe and is more threatened by Islamists than others. There are many "no go" zones in heavily Muslim areas, especially in the suburbs, where police effectively are not in control. It also, since the French Revolution, has embraced secularism, originally directed against the Catholic Church but now finding more to fear and oppose in radical Islam. France has actually banned wearing face coverings like the niqab and hijab in public for more than a decade.



Not in France, at least in public (photo credit: Muminah billah CC BY-SA 3.0 license).

By insisting that French culture holds everything together, including the many Francophone former colonies that bolster France's claim to standing as a global peer of the Anglosphere, France does impose a kind of anti-racial consciousness doctrine that it strives to uphold.

The French state does not compile racial statistics, which is illegal, describing it as part of its commitment to universalism and treating all citizens equally under the law. To many scholars on race, however, the reluctance is part of a long history of denying racism in France and the country's slave-trading and colonial past.

The history of the French Empire is hardly a tale of brotherhood and racial equality, to be sure. But because French culture has been under constant threat of submersion under the weight of Les Anglais since at least 1759, when Briton General Wolfe defeated the French Marquis de Montcalm in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, thereby losing control of Canada and ultimately the rest of North America to the Brits, and eventually making English the language of global business, culture, and diplomacy, the one foreign language people around the world think it most necessary to learn to participate in global affairs.

This is the second time in recent days that President Macron has taken a startling view that pleases conservatives.

The AP has the story of the president of the French Republic's upset at the muzzling of Trump:

French President Emmanuel Macron says he was "very upset" by the way social networks muzzled Donald Trump at the tail end of his U.S. presidency. Speaking in a recorded video chat with scholars, Macron cited Trump's example in arguing for more government regulation of social media platforms. The comments, which Macron made in English, were released Thursday by the Atlantic Council think tank.

I've been coming around from my former suspicions and resentment of France for a couple of decades now. Yes, they have a tendency  at least among their elites  to be haughty and look down on us. But then again, so do our own elites. They also know how to do some things really well, including eating, making their cities beautiful and livable, and defending their traditional culture from deranged modernism.
Phantom Screens, North Americas leading provider of retractable screens, announces collaboration with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) on the 2021 New American Home (TNAH) and The New American Remodel (TNAR). Both homes, located in Winter Park, Florida are featured at this years virtually held International Builders Show which runs from February 912, 2021.

Builders for both homes have partnered with industry home technology leaders to develop state-of-the-art residences, showcasing the latest in sustainable and innovative home solutions.

Since the start of the pandemic weve seen clients transform their homes into multi-functional spaces  its now their residence, office, and retreat sanctuary all rolled into one, said C. Esther De Wolde, Chief Executive Officer of Phantom Screens. Were very pleased to see the NAHB show homes demonstrate how our motorized screens help deliver energy efficient daylighting, comfortable temperature control, and fresh indoor air without compromising the homes design.

TNAH 2021, designed by the Phil Kean Group, integrates Phantoms cable guide retractable screens on all sun-facing windows of the home to reduce solar heat gain. The screens can be recessed into cavities to preserve the look of the home, while the dark screen color absorbs light without blocking views to the outdoors. The homes top terrace also includes Phantoms motorized screens which work in tandem with the smart pergola roof louvers, allowing the homeowners to fully open, partially close or fully enclose the outdoor space at the touch of a button. Somfy operates these systems, enabling them to respond automatically to various weather conditions through sun and rain sensors.

This years TNAR, designed by E2 Homes, integrates the latest in sustainable and energy efficient design. The remodel integrates Phantoms motorized insect screens on the upper balconies promoting fresh air flow and passive cooling throughout the second level of the home. The mesh used maintains the homes lake views and connection to the outdoors. On the ground level, Phantoms motorized screens enclose the lanais outdoor kitchen and dining areas when needed, keeping pests out and creating a functional and comfortable outdoor space for year-round use.

Phantoms screen products work in both homes to promote fresh air access, ventilation and shading, significantly reducing the need for air conditioning to make the homes more energy efficient and cost effective. For more information on how Phantom supports the homes energy efficiency and other products involved, please visit http://www.tnah.com/ and http://www.tnarh.com/.

About Phantom Screens

Founded in 1992, Phantom Screens offers homeowners and design/build professionals a variety of retractable screen solutions for doors, windows, multi-panel systems and outdoor spaces. Phantom Screens products provide customers with insect protection, solar shading, temperature control and enhanced privacy in living spaces. With the largest installing distributor network in North America, every screen is professionally installed to provide quality and a full turn-key solution. For more information, visit http://www.phantomscreens.com.
Tucker Carlson ripped into President Joe Biden's administration for allegedly releasing thousands of illegal immigrants into the US without testing them for coronavirus in a scathing monologue.

The Fox News host opened his show on Monday night with the rant, in which he accused Biden of 'punishing' and endangering the lives of Americans by releasing the migrants without tests.

Carlson then invited the sheriff of Jackson County, Texas, A.J. Louderback, on to the show to explain why Biden's immigration policies are hurting communities along America's border with Mexico.

The host started his monologue by mentioning how the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is requiring international air travelers to obtain a COVID-19 test before they can enter the US. Then he shifted to immigration, saying that migrants entering the US illegally are not being held to the same safety standards.

'Tonight we learned that the Joe Biden administration is releasing thousands of foreign nationals living here illegally into American neighborhoods without bothering to test them for the coronavirus,' he said.

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Tucker Carlson ripped into President Joe Biden's administration for allegedly releasing thousands of illegal immigrants into the US without testing them for coronavirus in a scathing monologue on Monday night

In his first three weeks in office, Biden has taken several steps to roll back strict immigration policies under former President Donald Trump

Carlson then played a clip from a White House news conference on Friday, where Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked about the policy.

In the clip Fox News correspondent Kristin Fisher asks: 'What could be done to provide COVID testing to migrants at the border? Because right now the US Customs and Border Protection is saying they're having to catch and release some migrants without giving them any kind of COVID test before they're entering the community. So what is being done? What could be done?'

Psaki appeared confused by the question. 'Are you suggesting they're letting people in across the border without testing them? Or - tell me a little bit more about -' she said before Fisher cut her off.

'They're being released, they're having to [release them] because of the executive order that the president signed earlier this week,' Fisher said.

'Which executive [order]? Which one?' Psaki replied before Carlson came back on screen.

'Yeah, which one?' Carlson asked. 'Covid-infected illegal aliens released into the United States. Whatever. It's not like there's a pandemic. The press secretary didn't care enough to answer the question.'

Carlson then cited two law enforcement officials who confirmed that 'illegal aliens' were being released without tests.

'So we're releasing people without knowing [if they're infected], which puts the public at risk,' Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, told the show, along with Leon Wilmos, the sheriff of Yuma County, Arizona.

Customs and Border Protection announced that some migrants were being released into the United States to await immigration hearings last week, but did not specify how many. The agency cited overflowing detainment facilities as the reason for the releases.

The New York Times reported that about 1,000 migrants had been released in Texas, and hundreds more in California.

CPB did not say anything about whether the migrants released were tested for coronavirus beforehand, but at least one facility in Laredo, Texas, reported being unable to administer tests because they had run out.

Customs and Border Protection announced that some migrants were being released into the United States to await immigration hearings last week, but did not specify how many. Pictured: Migrants cross into Southern California from Mexico in a 2018 file photo

A Central American woman and her son cross the Rio Grande to surrender to the Border Patrol at the Texas/Mexico crossing

Migrants cross the Rio Grande moments before another family crossed with the intention of asking for political asylum

Carlson invited the sheriff of Jackson County, Texas, A.J. Louderback (right), onto the show to explain why Biden's policies are hurting communities along America's border with Mexico

Carlson insisted that the migrants were in fact not being tested as he blasted the government for 'punishing' legal Americans.

'When we release people that break our laws without bothering to test them for the virus - the same virus we've used as a pretext for wrecking your life - what we're saying in the clearest possible terms [is]: "We don't like you,"' he said.

'This isn't a policy. It's an act of aggression. It's designed to humiliate you and demoralize you. Reckless, nondestructive immigration policy is the penalty or paying for your white supremacy.'

Carlson then welcomed Louderback, the Jackson County sheriff, to weigh in.

'Is it true in the state of Texas that people who have been detained because they're not here legally, they're foreign nationals, are being released without a coronavirus test?' he asked.

'It's absolutely true. Absolutely true,' Louderback said. 'The memo that I received this last week - it's basically "defund ICE" by memo, by memorandum.

'This is a particularly devastating document for Texans and Americans. The message has been sent. It's a message to the world that you can come here illegally, commit crimes here and remain here illegally.'

Asked why he thinks migrants are not being tested, Louderback said: 'I'm sure it wasn't a forgotten item' and attacked Biden's administration for their 'haste' in rolling back former President Donald Trump's immigration policies.

'The covid issue is conveniently overlooked during this time,' he said, predicting that the policy will create 'irreparable harm'.

'Every peace officer in the United States should be extremely concerned about the attitude, the lawlessness, the complete, abject removal of law.

'We have a nullification of the law going on here. We're not going to enforce anything.'
Johannesburg  8th JANUARY 2021, -/ Centre for African Journalists (CAJ News) - ECONOMISTS and experts agree that entrepreneurship has the potential to stimulate economic growth and generate much-needed economic opportunities. The increasing digitisation of the economy has opened up unprecedented opportunities for aspiring micro-businesses to leverage the ubiquity of online platforms to market their businesses beyond their geographical confines.

As one of the leading beauty and personal care company, Avon Justine has been at the forefront of harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit of millions of women around the world and giving them the earnings opportunity for 135 years. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to stall economic growth, Avon Justine is once again allowing South Africans to find additional earning opportunities.

Many aspiring entrepreneurs are dissuaded from starting their business by the capital outlay required or the hassle that comes with starting a business. Avon Justine is aware of these challenges hence it makes it very easy for micro entrepreneurs to realise their own ambitions.

Mafahle Mareletse, Managing Director for Avon Turkey, Middle East & Africa, explains: "Avon Justine offers aspiring micro-entrepreneurs a compelling value proposition. Prospective micro-entrepreneurs can leverage off our strong, global brand and harness the company's ubiquitous digital platforms to market their business.

"Avon Justine has introduced a number of digital platforms to improve the earnings potential of its micro-entrepreneurs, such as the Avon and/or Justine ON app, the online digital stores, digital brochures and an ordering system using popular instant messaging services. In addition, we provide our brand ambassadors with the technical support and the tools to enable them to use the use these platforms optimally to market and seamlessly run their businesses," says Mareletse.

He points out that the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic impacted negatively on the economy's ability to generate much-needed growth and job opportunities.

"The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a severe blow to the South African economy, which was already in a technical recession even before the introduction of the nationwide lockdown in March last year.

"This pandemic has served to illustrate how vulnerable many South Africans are and amplified the importance of having multiple income streams. The direct selling industry offers a viable alternative to those who have been laid off and it has the potential to cushion the blow to employees whose salaries have been reduced," says Mareletse.

He adds: "Those who are fortunate enough to still be employed can use this earnings opportunity to supplement their income and their colleagues and co-workers can be their customers.

Mareletse adds that there is room for prospective Reps and Consultants to take advantage of an earnings opportunity presented by Avon Justine. The Direct Selling Association agrees and points out that the industry generates more than R9 billion in annual sales in South Africa.

"The likelihood of the high unemployment continuing is real, meaning that the prospects of employment for millions of people is very slim, particularly now with the advent of the new strain of Covid-19 which has been classified as more transmissible.

"Personal care products will always be in demand regardless of the economic environment. Aspiring micro-entrepreneurs can take comfort that they are part of an international brand that has 135 years of experience in the beauty industry," says Mareletse.

Avon was one of the first cosmetics companies to end animal testing nearly 30 years ago and has continued to push for positive change around the globe for three decades.

"By being part of the Avon Justine Family, our Reps can be confident that they are selling world-class products that offer immense value.

"Over and above this, they can also be proud that they are part of a global movement that harnesses the power of beauty and its brand to champion causes against gender-based violence and breast cancer across the countries it operates in," Mareletse concludes.

Distributed by Centre for African Journalists (CAJ News) on behalf of Avon

ABOUT AVON

We are the company that has been doing beauty differently for over 130 years. Whether it's putting mascara on lashes and food on tables or fighting wrinkles with one hand and breast cancer with the other - our brand is built to empower you through beauty. So, whether you're a beauty queen or beauty boss, you have the power to carve out your place in the world and make them notice you.

ABOUT JUSTINE

In 1973 Justine was born with the launch of iconic Tissue Oil; formulated with a combination of efficacious natural oils to deliver superior skincare results. The success of this formula became the blueprint for Justine to expand its product line into products, the combination of science and nature to meet your unique skincare needs. We are proud to be in the business of beauty with our network of micro-entrepreneurs. Visit www.justine.co.za [1] for more information.

Avon WATCH ME NOW is a movement created to celebrate your rise. We are here to help you transform into the person you're meant to be. When you beat the odds, defy expectations, and fulfil your potential, we'll be right beside you cheering you on.

AVON GAVE WOMEN THE RIGHT TO EARN, BEFORE THEY HAD THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

We're the company that not only brings beauty to doors, but also opens them. The company that supports over 6 million independent micro-entrepreneurs in over 100 countries and over 50 million Beauty Representatives across 50 countries.

WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR WOMEN BEFORE IT WAS POPULAR.

We make job equality a priority with women making up 70% of our Global Research and Development roles and 60% of our local Distribution Centre team. Our employer value proposition has once again been affirmed after the Top Employers Institute conferred the company with the much-sought after Top Employer 2020 award.

WE DON'T CUT QUALITY. WE CUT OUT THE MIDDLE MAN.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Company Sustainable Development By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

We're able to sell quality products at affordable prices, because we don't use retail space. Instead our Beauty Representatives bring you your favourite beauty items. So every time you buy an Avon product, you shop to empower a Beauty Representative and in turn impact lives.

WE WALK THE TALK.

As the biggest global supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness, we've donated over R20 million to raise breast cancer awareness. Our commitment is to reach 100 million women every year to ensure every woman knows the risks, signs and how and when to take action. We are also the organiser of the iThemba Walkathon - one of the world's largest breast cancer awareness walks.

WE COVER BLEMISHES. NOT BRUISES.

Avon has been supporting women for 130 years, it is part of our DNA, which is why we are committed to putting an end to domestic violence against women.

R29 million raised to educate women on domestic violence.

R7 million to stop gender based violence.

About Direct Selling

Direct selling is the marketing and selling of products directly to customers away from a fixed retail location. Direct selling can be conducted one-on-one, in a group or party format or online. At Avon Justine, the "direct" part of direct selling also refers to the personal component of this sales channel; it's about building relationships with people and offering them a high level of service and personal attention.
A 40-year-old mystery and the search for answers that only deepened one Flyers affection for UD.

Donna Fournier Nock 83 enjoyed psychology class but, that morning in the fall of 1978 at Shenendehowa High School in New York, she skipped class and instead headed to the senior lounge to meet with college admission representatives.

I didnt have any particular school in mind, she said. I just didnt feel like being in class.

An admission counselor caught her eye. He had dark hair and, as she said, the most beautiful blue eyes.

Im a sucker for blue eyes, she said. I dont recall what he said, but I took his paperwork  he was from UD. I had been receiving mail from them but I remember thinking, Why would anyone want to go to school there?

Im a sucker for blue eyes.

When she learned her family would be moving from upstate New York to Iowa later that school year, the prospect of an Ohio college became a little more plausible.

I did not want to go to school in Iowa, she said. Ohio was in the middle.

She was accepted to UD that winter and almost made a campus visit when her family was moving to Iowa from New York that March  almost.

It was gray and ugly and when I was asked if I wanted to stop, I said, No way. I went home and threw away all my acceptance paperwork.

Nock later reconsidered and decided that she would go to Dayton for a year, maybe two at the most.

But then I fell in love with the University, I stayed and I was super involved. I couldnt imagine being anywhere else.

The 1983 graduate  who now makes her home in Nashville, Tennessee, and is the local alumni community chair  maintains her Flyer connection, attending alumni events, connecting with current and prospective students, and proudly wearing her UD mask whenever shes out and about. And it all began with blue eyes, who left an impression that has lasted a lifetime  or at least four decades and counting.

Anytime Id meet with someone from the University, Id always ask if they could find out who was responsible for me coming to the University of Dayton, she said. No one seemed to know who he was.

Anytime Id meet with someone from the University, Id always ask if they could find out who was responsible for me coming to the University of Dayton.

Nock upped the ante last year, offering an additional $1,000 donation  above her annual gift  if someone could solve the mystery of blue eyes. Rob Durkle 78, who was associate vice president and dean of admission at the time, was at a prospective student event in Nashville with Nock shortly after she made the offer. Durkle had an inkling he knew who the admission counselor in question was, a Flyer for whom Durkle had been the best man in his wedding years earlier.

I came out of the ladies room and Rob handed me the phone, Nock said. He had called his friend Brian Lowry and told me he thought this is the guy.

A few quick questions later and the mystery was solved. Lowry  who was in Rome on business at the time as deputy chief counsel for Bayer Crop Science  was blue eyes.

I wanted to be able to thank him, Nock said. Im a very proud alum, and UD has made me who I am today.

Lowry was stunned by the unexpected call.

Its very nice to know that what you did had such a positive impact on someones life, he said. That, to me, was very heartwarming.

Its very nice to know that what you did had such a positive impact on someones life.

Lowry  a 1979 graduate  worked as an admission counselor from 1977-80 and went on to law school at Washington University in St. Louis. Lowry said he still remembers fondly his many high school visits and college fairs on the East Coast promoting the University of Dayton.

Its not the kind of job where the results can be recognized immediately, he said. Its many years later when you discover you made a real impact.

Forty-plus years definitely qualifies as long-term impact. And Lowry still cant help but smile when he thinks that it all came down to his eyes: I wouldnt be one to talk about my eyes, but they are blue although a bit older now.

Nock did write the check and, on the memo line, not surprisingly, were two words  blue eyes.

(Bloomberg) -- One year after the first glimmers of the catastrophe awaiting global oil markets -- from deserted Chinese cities to grounded jets -- crude is staging a remarkable turnaround.

The crisis triggered by the deadly coronavirus was the worst the petroleum industry has ever seen. Fuel demand crashed by a fifth, prices slumped below zero, producers fought viciously over customers, and more than a billion surplus barrels poured into storage tanks around the world.

Yet oils emergence from the calamity has been stark.

Futures rallied to a one-year high above $60 a barrel in London on Monday as Chinese consumption surpasses pre-virus levels, the vaccine rollout restores confidence, and the OPEC cartel and its allies keep a tight leash on supply.

With western economies still pounded by a high death toll and lockdowns, demand for transport fuels -- particularly in aviation -- remains depressed. But its roaring for the petroleum products that cater to a society working and consuming at home -- ones that power ships, make plastics, and fire up space heaters.

The recovery is proceeding at a faster rate than people perceived, said Ed Morse, head of commodities research at Citigroup Inc. The demand recovery is going to look stellar. The inventory draw is significantly greater than what many people thought.

The sudden reversal is a salve for an array of producers. Its offering supermajors like Exxon Mobil Corp. and BP Plc a glimmer of hope after a grueling year. For countries like Iraq and Angola, which have sought aid from the International Monetary Fund to quell economic crises, its a lifeline. Even wealthier exporters like Saudi Arabia consider the extra revenue crucial.

Plunging Stockpiles

The strongest sign of the recovery is one of the most esoteric -- a price structure known as backwardation. Near-term futures contracts have built up a sizable premium relative to later months, indicating immediate supplies are tightening fast.

One gauge watched closely by crude traders -- the difference between contracts based on North Sea Brent crude settling in December versus those a year later -- has surged to a two-year high of $2.84 a barrel.

Thats a signal for refiners to dig into the huge stockpiles that built up during the worst of last years demand slump. These inventories are plunging everywhere, from major depots in the U.S., China and the United Arab Emirates to the tanker fleet once commandeered to house spare barrels at sea.

Global inventories have declined by about 300 million barrels since the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners made deep production cuts in May, the International Energy Agency estimates.

The cartel projects that it will deplete another 82 million barrels this quarter, pushing stockpiles in industrialized nations down to their five-year average by August. Bloated inventories weigh on oil prices, so eliminating the overhang could pave the way for a further recovery.

We are drawing stocks, said Ben Luckock, co-head of oil trading at Trafigura Group in Geneva. Prices have recovered well and can seriously perform come summer both in crude and in products.

Asian Recovery

One of the forces driving this rapid turnaround is the rebound in oil consumption, particularly in Asia.

Not only did China have a V-shaped recovery but theyre actually back into significant growth mode, Royal Dutch Shell Plc Chief Executive Officer Ben van Beurden said in a Bloomberg television interview last week. We are quite optimistic about what it is that we are seeing in China.

The worlds biggest crude importers success at containing the coronavirus has allowed a rapid resumption of economic activity. Government data showed a record stockpile decline in December as processing volumes increased.

In India, fuel consumption has inched back toward normal levels as the spread of the coronavirus prompted the use of more cooking fuel and gasoline. Overall, the nations oil-product demand in December was 1.4% lower than year-ago levels, provisional data from its oil ministry showed.

Big Boxes

Asias resilience is only part of oils comeback. Its being amplified by less obvious sources of strength that can be summed up as freight, chemicals, and cold.

Consumers are diverting spending from holidays and restaurant meals toward deliveries of physical goods. That entails shipping box-loads of stuff across the planet, which is spurring demand for diesel to power ships, trucks and freight trains.

United Parcel Service Inc., the courier whose biggest customer is Amazon.com Inc., said it observed a seasonal peak almost without parallel. Profits from making diesel in the U.S. are at a nine-month high of about $15 a barrel.

Diesel has been the standout, said Citigroups Morse. In a lot of parts of the world, trucking demand went up -- and thats part and parcel of the pandemic, where people stop shopping at retail stores and start shopping at home.

The e-commerce boom is lifting other hydrocarbons as well. The packaging needed for all those deliveries is boosting demand for naphtha, used in plastics. Typically trading at a discount to Brent crude, the oil product is at a rare premium of 30 cents a barrel -- the strongest in seasonal terms in at least five years, according to DV Trading.

Chemicals giants like Dow Inc. and BASF SE have reported bumper earnings amid the plastic bonanza, while refiners such as Austrias OMV AG also observed robust demand.

Big Freeze

Then theres exceptionally cold weather this winter, which inflicted freezing temperatures on Asia and one of the worst snow storms to ever hit New York City.

The chill boosted global oil demand by 1 million barrels a day, as soaring prices of natural gas prompted the switch to diesel generators for power, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. It also stirred purchases of propane, used in the heaters that became ubiquitous outside bars and restaurants in parts of the U.S. where indoor dining was discouraged.

In many ways the market is healing, but its not fully recovered.

Global oil consumption is still down about 5% to 7% from a year ago, Shells van Beurden said. Most of that is due to the ongoing loss in jet fuel demand, with air passenger traffic 70% below year-ago levels as of December, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Even Chinese consumption faces headwinds, as resurgent infections force new lockdowns, and the government discourages the travel usually seen during the Lunar New Year. Glitches with the worldwide roll-out of vaccines, and the risk of more dangerous virus mutations, is compounding fears of another market relapse.

There are a plethora of demand uncertainties, said Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at consultants Energy Aspects Ltd.

OPEC+ Accelerator

Yet those concerns have largely been offset by the other big factor in the markets rehabilitation: massive reductions in supply undertaken by the 23-nation alliance of producers known as OPEC+.

The cartels initial response to the coronavirus made the oil-market crisis worse. In March last year, Saudi Arabia and Russia had a bitter disagreement and for several weeks waged a brutal price war. But when the toll on demand became clear, they reunited and slashed production by an unprecedented 10 million barrels a day, or about 10% of global supplies.

OPEC+ returned a portion of that oil to the market in August, but right now its clearly focused on speeding up the elimination of the stockpile surplus. The group will continue to idle about 7 million barrels a day for another two months, before considering whether to gradually ease the cuts. Meanwhile, the Saudis are making an extra 1 million-barrel-a-day reduction in February and March to spur the recovery.

We see the market still balancing between Covid-driven demand destruction and OPECs ability to manage supply cuts, said Torbjorn Tornqvist, chairman and CEO of Gunvor Group Ltd. in Geneva.

2021 Bloomberg L.P.
[February 09, 2021] Ryan Hires Greg Rottjakob as Principal and National Leader of the State Income and Franchise Tax Practice

Ryan, a leading global tax services and software provider, announced that Greg Rottjakob has joined the Firm as Principal and National Leader of the State Income and Franchise Tax (SIFT) practice. Mr. Rottjakob brings more than 30 years of proven experience in multistate tax services, specializing in state and local tax focused on increasing shareholder value through creative, qualitative solutions. His demonstrated leadership experience includes serving as National Partner-in-Charge and National Growth Leader of Multistate Tax Services and office managing partner at a Big Four public accounting firm. At Ryan, Mr. Rottjakob will be responsible for leading the SIFT practice and managing its team of tax professionals across the nation. He will be focused on enhancing Ryan's service offering to better assist clients with state income and franchise tax liabilities and expanding technological capabilities to provide more efficient client service. "We are thrilled to have Greg join our team," said Ryan President of U.S. Operations Damon Chronis. "His decades of proven leadership will help further elevate our industry-leading SIFT practice. Greg's focus on the professional development of his team ensures that our tax professionals receive best-in-class training to continue providing exceptional results and client service."



Mr. Rottjakob is a frequent lecturer on various tax topics and has presented to the Council On State Taxation and the Tax Executives Institute. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his Juris Doctor degree from St. Louis University School of Law. He is a certified public accountant in Missouri and is a licensed attorney in Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri. About Ryan

Ryan, an award-winning global tax services and software provider, is the largest Firm in the world dedicated exclusively to business taxes. With global headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the Firm provides an integrated suite of federal, state, local, and international tax services on a multijurisdictional basis, including tax recovery, consulting, advocacy, compliance, and technology services. Ryan is a nine-time recipient of the International Service Excellence Award from the Customer Service Institute of America (CSIA) for its commitment to world-class client service. Empowered by the dynamic myRyan work environment, which is widely recognized as the most innovative in the tax services industry, Ryan's multidisciplinary team of more than 2,800 professionals and associates serves over 17,000 clients in more than 60 countries, including many of the world's most prominent Global 5000 companies. More information about Ryan can be found at ryan.com. "Ryan" and "Firm" refer to the global organizational network and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ryan International, each of which is a separate legal entity. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005133/en/

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SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks during a conversation with legendary game designer Todd Howard at the E3 gaming convention in Los Angeles, June 13, 2019. / Reuters-Yonhap









By Anna J. Park







Since Tesla made an announcement in an SEC filing on Monday that the global electric vehicle (EV) maker not only bought $1.5 billion worth of bitcoin but also will accept the cryptocurrency as payment for its vehicle purchases, bitcoin's price jumped by more than 10 percent a few hours after the filing. Bitcoin continued to soar to its record-high level, at one point topping $47,000 on Tuesday.







With bitcoin solidifying its presence through acknowledgements by moguls like Elon Musk, more and more companies are expected to take a similar path as Tesla, having the crypto token be part of their diversified asset portfolios or using it in their business expansion models.







As more institutional or corporate entities attempt to purchase a massive amount of crypto assets, local financial firms  probably one of the most traditional and conservative sectors in terms of corporate culture  have been moving fast to gain a foothold in the cryptocurrency markets.







KB Bank was the first among local lenders that made an investment into a digital custody business that mainly deals with bitcoin purchases and deposits. KB Kookmin Bank and blockchain-focused crypto asset fund Hashed joined hands to establish Korea Digital Asset (KODA) late last year. KB Bank said it plans to expand its services beyond the current crypto deposit role.






NEW YORK, Feb. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On January 1, 2021, Port. Prerogative Club, a Delaware Corporation (Port.), acquired the license of technology developed by Blackbird Logical Applications, LLC (Blackbird.io). The license includes a royalty and a cash payment of up to $50 million in the event Port. chooses to purchase the technology. The license terminates in the event of non-use of the technology with an agreed upon period of time. Ilya Podolyako, the founder of Blackbird.io, released the underlying source code to the public under a GNU General Public License 3.0 license at bbio.fogbugz.com.



Mr. Podolyako founded Blackbird.io in 2014. The company went on to release a fund administration and portfolio monitoring platform tailored to private market investors. Blackbird.io successfully piloted its software with over a dozen institutions and won paying enterprise clients on both coasts.

Blackbird.io pioneered the use of AI to solve the hardest problem in finance: interpreting unstructured data. The company built an expert system and object library that mapped spreadsheets to concepts. Blackbird.io then wrapped the technology in a SaaS interface tailored to the needs of investment professionals in credit and PE. Mr. Podolyako and Co-Founder Peter Hua hired engineers from MIT, Harvard, and University of Chicago to support the technology as Blackbird.io grew.

Mr. Podolyako started his investing career as an analyst at Colbeck Capital Management, an early special situations fund. At Colbeck, Mr. Podolyako participated in sourcing, pricing, and diligence for credit and private equity deals. He later became Managing Director and Head of North American Operations for the family of Matthew Bronfman, heir to the Seagram fortune. While at Bronfman, Mr. Podolyako built a PE business across 3 cities on 2 continents in 6 months. Mr. Podolyako holds a J.D. from Yale Law School, where has was President and co-founder of the Yale Law & Business Society and member of the Domestic Violence clinic, and a B.A. from the University of Michigan, where he earned a merit scholarship, joined Phi Beta Kappa as a junior, and earned a triple major in Linguistics, Psychology and Economics, with Highest Honors. Mr. Podolyako is a member of the bar. The Working Group makes investments in debt and equity.

Port. operates an online platform that tracks news about private companies.

The Senate begins Donald Trumps second impeachment trial on Tuesday with a fight over whether the proceeding is constitutional, as a number of conservative lawyers reject the defense teams claim that a former president cant be convicted of a crime by Congress. Republican senators have advanced the constitutional question as the main justification for acquittal.

Most of them have avoided directly defending Trumps actions leading up to and on the day his supporters stormed the US Capitol. The Senate will face the issue head on as the first step in the process, with four hours of debate scheduled Tuesday on the constitutional question, followed by a simple majority vote, under rules negotiated between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell. Assuming the constitutional question will fail if all 50 Democrats vote that it is appropriate to try Trump, then House impeachment managers and Trumps defense team each will begin up to 16 hours of presentations on their cases on Wednesday.
press release

Western Cape Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz has commended the community of Khayelitsha and the department's numerous stakeholders for their efforts in flattening the curve of COVID-19.

"As a province, we continue to face a pandemic which has taken many lives and destabilised our economy, resulting in many becoming unemployed. However, the outcome could have been far more severe had we not had the support of Khayelitsha's residents, NGOs and healthcare workers," Fritz said on Monday.

Fritz particularly recognised the Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF), as the department's main partner in working to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in the area.

He also acknowledged the role played by departmental and the City of Cape Town officials, who worked hard to stop the spread of COVID-19, often sacrificing their personal time for the wellbeing of Khayelitsha as a whole.

At the start of COVID-19 pandemic, the MEC said the provincial government assembled the COVID-19 hotspot plan whereby each provincial department was allocated a "COVID-19 hotspot", identified by data which indicated that the virus was spreading rapidly in that community.

"Each department was charged with managing the activities and interventions necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Department of Community Safety was charged with overseeing the Khayelitsha and Eastern hotspot.

"There were numerous interventions in Khayelitsha, aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, which were supported by stakeholders across the community. I believe that these interventions have played a significant role in lowering the transmission of COVID-19," Fritz said.

The KDF was among the key partners in supporting the department's response to the virus, where the MEC met with its executive leadership early last year to establish an integrated COVID-19 steering committee.

The committee met every Sunday evening with the Community Safety and Health Departments, and relevant stakeholders.

"The strength in these engagements was that the KDF brought us into direct contact with the 'movers and shakers' of Khayelitsha, to ensure that our projects were implemented, and that messaging was received.

"We equally included members of the KDF into the department's Whole of Society Approach (WoSA) meetings, giving the KDF a platform to raise concerns related to COVID-19 in Khayelitsha to an inter-governmental platform who could take action."

Interventions

Among the interventions and programmes driven in Khayelitsha to lower the transmission of COVID-19, included the deployment of 60 Chrysalis graduates to assist in COVID-19 compliance at malls and other places of gathering from June 2020.

Prior to their deployment, they received training on COVID-19 from Doctors Without Borders.

The department also launched the Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) Safety Improvement Volunteers Project with COVID-19 relief measures. This was marked by the handover of 15 starter kits to NHW structures.

The deployment of the NHWs aimed to provide health advocacy through the promotion of social distancing and utilising personal protective equipment.

During the first wave, Fritz noted that Khayelitsha was among the hardest hit communities in the city and the province, with infections reaching a high of 168 cases on 24 May, based on a seven-day moving average.

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However, during the second peak the city saw a considerably lower number of cases per day recorded, with a high of 74 on 16 December 2020.

"While the second peak shows a more positive outcome, it did not come without tremendous loss for many families in Khayelitsha. I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to all who lost loved ones to the virus. We cherish and honour the memory of those who have passed."

Fritz warned that there is still a lot more work to be done and "we cannot let our guard down just yet as we are still facing a pandemic and need to rebuild our economy."

"I urge the residents of Khayelitsha to continue getting tested should they have any symptoms and to go to hospital should they experience shortness of breath. At the same, let us continue washing our hands, wearing our masks correctly and avoiding gatherings of any kind as we are still amid a pandemic," Fritz said.
James Packer needs to fire CEO Kenneth Barton to save his $2.2billion Crown Casino after a bombshell report found it's unfit to be given a gaming license, an inquiry commissioner has found.

Crown facilitated money laundering through subsidiaries' bank accounts then failed to act when it was drawn to their attention in public media reporting, the report revealed.

Commissioner Patricia Bergin, a former judge of the NSW Supreme Court, told the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority the money laundering alone rendered Crown unfit to hold the licence for its casino in Sydney's Barangaroo.

It also put its staff in China in danger of being detained and dealt with junket operators it was told were involved in organised crime, Ms Bergin concluded.

The report indicated a slew of serious changes need to be made to save the embattled casino, starting with sacking Mr Barton as CEO.

James Packer needs to fire CEO Kenneth Barton to save his $2.2billion Crown Casino, an inquiry commissioner has found

Crown facilitated money laundering through subsidiaries' bank accounts then failed to act when it was drawn to their attention in public media reporting, the report found

The report indicated a slew of serious changes need to be made to save the embattled casino, starting with sacking Kenneth Barton as CEO

'[Mr Barton] demonstrated that he is no match for what is needed at the helm of a casino Licensee,' the report states.

'The Authority would be justified in concluding that it cannot have any confidence in dealing with Mr Barton as a director of the Licensee or Crown.'

It suggested Crown chairwoman Helen Coonan could step into the role, saying: 'her character, honesty and integrity has not been, and could not be, called into question'.

What changes Crown needs to make Step down CEO Kenneth Barton and director Andrew Demetriou Create a 'written remediation action plan' and adopt procedures for 'governance, independent review and accountability' No longer deal with junket operators Follow directions from any future Independent Casino Commission Advertisement

The report also said keeping Michael Johnston and Andrew Demetriou as directors would greatly hinder Crown's efforts to hold a casino licence.

On Wednesday morning, Crown accepted the resignations of directors Michael Johnston and Guy Jalland.

'Consolidated Press Holdings is considering the report by the Hon PA Bergin SC that was made public yesterday. CPH welcomes the finding that the Melco transaction did not constitute a breach of the Barangaroo restricted gaming licence or any other regulatory agreement,' CPH said in a statement.

'CPH and Mr Packer now believe it is crucial that Crown chairman Helen Coonan and the Crown Board have the opportunity to meet with ILGA to progress Crown's announced reform agenda.'

Philip Crawford, the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority chairman, welcomed the resignation development.

'Its great news, that means somebody is listening to us,' Mr Crawford said. 'It is a big message to me.'

It's understood Crown is willing to make the changes, which also include no longer dealing with junket operators, The Daily Telegraph reports.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday said 'all bets are off' for the casino if the company doesn't make serious changes.

'Clearly on this occasion things have to change for anything to progress,' she told Ben Fordham on 2GB.

'The report was damning in terms of potentially unlawful action in terms of allegations of failure to comply with various requirements.

'If a party doesn't do the right thing  then all bets are off.'

The ILGA will now consider the report, which it received on February 1 and which was published on Tuesday.

Chair of the authority Philip Crawford is expected to front media to answer questions about the Bergin inquiry.

Ms Bergin left it to IGLA to decide whether it should cancel, suspend or impose conditions on the licence.

But she suggested sweeping cultural change was needed, as well as specific measures like the removal of certain board directors, a thorough audit of Crown accounts for money laundering, and measures to stop the sharing of confidential information with Mr Packer.

The casino has vowed to work with ILGA in relation to the report's findings and recommendations.

'Crown will work with the NSW independent Liquor and Gaming Authority in relation to the findings and recommendations of the Inquiry Report as contemplated by the regulatory agreements between Crown, ILGA and the State,' a Crown statement read.

The casino has vowed to work with ILGA in relation to the report's findings and recommendations

It's understood Crown is willing to make the changes, which also include no longer dealing with junket operators

Crown also runs casinos in Victoria and Western Australia, and there are now calls for those jurisdictions to respond to the damning findings.

Independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie says Ms Bergin's finding mean Crown is unfit to operate any casino in Australia.

He is calling upon the Victorian and WA premiers to suspend Crown's casino licences and establish their own commissions of inquiry.

The Victorian Greens want Premier Daniel Andrews to take Crown's licence away for good ahead of a review later this year.

'Victoria shouldn't need another review to tell us what we've known all along. Crown should be stripped of its Victorian licence immediately,' Victorian Greens Leader Samantha Ratman said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 15:46:19|Editor: huaxia

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The "China Post" CR Express 1st block train is unloading in Vilnius, Lithuania, April 14, 2020. (Lithuania Post/Handout via Xinhua)

Challenges and opportunities oftentimes go hand in hand when crises hit. The exuberant China-CEEC cooperation has proved that the two sides share the will and have the ability to seize opportunities in a moment of volatility and peril.

by Xinhua writer Chen Chen

BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Amid the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic and a reeling global economy, trade and economic ties between China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) have demonstrated an unusually strong resilience, setting an example of transregional practical cooperation for the deeply challenged world community.

Fresh data from China's Ministry of Commerce showed that in 2020, China's total trade volume with the 17 CEECs hit 103.45 billion U.S. dollars, registering an 8.4-percent spike, and crossing the 100-billion-dollar mark for the first time.

The robust trade relations reflect a high-level economic complementarity of the two sides, and show that the flourishing cooperation mechanism between China and CEECs meets their respective needs to grow and prosper.

On Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping will host a China-CEEC summit via video link, during which the leaders are expected to inject more momentum into their practical cooperation within the mechanism.

Visitors taste Moldovan wine during China-Central & Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 8, 2019. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)

The China-CEEC cooperation mechanism was born in 2012 against the backdrop of the European debt crisis. Over the years, their cooperation in sectors like energy, infrastructure, logistics and automobile parts has brought substantial benefits to each side. Their people-to-people and cultural exchanges have also brought the hearts of their people ever closer.

For CEECs, their rich and diverse resources in tourism and agriculture are uniquely attractive to Chinese travellers and customers, while China's knowhow and capacity in manufacturing and infrastructure help with the modernization drive in CEECs.

China's cooperation with CEECs within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is also a highlight, having attracted a majority of rising direct investments from both sides.

Currently, all 17 CEECs under the cooperation framework have signed cooperation documents with China on the joint construction of the Belt and Road, witnessing greater connectivity between them as a result of their collaboration.

A China-Europe freight train carrying anti-epidemic supplies prepares to depart for Belgrade of Serbia from Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province, May 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Last year, a record number of 12,400 freight train trips were made between China and Europe, ferrying goods, particularly personal protective equipment, to the European continent, which was one of the hardest-hit places in the pandemic.

The New Eurasian Land Bridge, an international passageway linking the Pacific and the Atlantic, has also brought unprecedented economic opportunities for the CEECs.

In recent years, China and its Central and Eastern European partners have begun to pay more attention to rendering their BRI cooperation greener.

Take Hungary's Kaposvar photovoltaic power plant, which is being constructed by China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation, for example. The plant, once completed, will be the country's largest solar power station expected to produce 130 million kWh of electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 120,000 tons each year.

Photo taken on Oct. 30, 2020 shows the Kaposvar 100MW Photovoltaic Power Plant under construction in Kaposvar, Hungary. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Some skeptics in European countries tend to question whether China is trying to stoke divisions in the continent in its cooperation with CEECs. Their fear is simply groundless and unnecessary.

Cooperation between China and the CEECs is open, inclusive, transparent and mutually beneficial. Also, it has been Beijing's consistent policy to support Europe's integration.

The legitimate demands for development of those CEECs working with China should be respected. In fact, the rest of Europe can also benefit from increasingly prosperous CEECs.

In a world grappling with a fleet of formidable challenges, the steadily growing China-CEEC cooperation also bears global significance. By working together and with the rest of the world, China and CEECs can jointly battle the pandemic, promote free and open trade, and support multilateralism.

Workers unload personal protection equipment (PPE) from China to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Riga, Latvia on April 10, 2020. (Photo by Edijs Palens/Xinhua)

Challenges and opportunities oftentimes go hand in hand when crises hit. The exuberant China-CEEC cooperation has proved that the two sides share the will and have the ability to seize opportunities in a moment of volatility and peril.

As the world is undergoing transformations rarely seen in a century, the challenges facing both China and CEECs in the future will be great, yet opportunities awaiting them will be even greater. As long as they can press ahead with practical cooperation of mutual benefit, the rewards will be unimaginable for China, CEECs, the whole of Europe and the wider world. 
The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment is working to roll out new labour codes, where it proposes flexibility to companies to reduce the number of working days to four days a week and provide free medical check-ups to workers through state insurance. However, the cap on working hours of 48 hours per week will remain sacrosanct.

Companies will have to give three days of paid leaves and 12 hours of work per day to their employees with the consent of the workers, said Labour and Employment Secretary Apurva Chandra said on Monday.

We are not forcing employees or employers. It gives flexibility. Its an enabling provision in sync with the changing work culture. We have tried to make some changes. We have tried to give flexibility in working days, he said. The draft rules under the labour codes are in the final stage and most states were in the process of framing their rules and some, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh, would be ready with their drafts this week, Chandra added.

It (working days) could come down below five. If it is four, then you have to provide three paid holidaysso if it has to be a seven day week, then it has to be divided into 4 or 5 or 6 working days. Under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 draft rules, the limit of working hours for a week was 48 hours. This limit was sacrosanct and that employers and workers would have to agree to a change in working days. It cannot be forced, he said.

RELATED NEWS 1988 Batch IAS Officer Apurva Chandra Takes Over as Labour Secretary

Besides, the Labour Ministry is working on a web portal by June 2021 for registration and other facilities of workers in the unorganised sector, including gig and platform workers and migrant workers.

Rule making process is already underway and likely to complete in the coming week. All stakeholders are also consulted in framing of rules. This ministry would soon be in a position to bring into force the four Codes, viz., Code on Wages, Industrial Relations, Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) and Social Security Codes, Chandra said in a media briefing.

To implement the new codes, the Labour Bureau has embarked on the humongous task of conducting four surveys for Migrant workers, Domestic workers, Employment generated by Professionals and Transport Sector. It will also commission All India Establishment based Employment Survey .

The Ministry will provide an incentive of free coverage for a period of one year for accidental and disability cover under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bhima Yojana to the enrolled workers on the portal.

To summarise, the new labour codes will offer weekly 48-hour work limit, but employers can deploy people on four, 12-hour workdays per week; or five, around 10-hour days; or six, eight-hour days, Chandra said.

Once the new codes come into force, employers wont need the governments permission to shift to a four or a five-day working week if their employees approve the arrangement.

Employers will have to ensure that if they choose a four-day work week, there has to be a three-day break, and if it is a five-day week, two days of break before starting a new work week has to be implemented, Chandra said.
His comments also assume significance amidst the backdrop of the on-going border tensions due to which around 1 lakh Indian and Chinese troops are deployed in eastern Ladakh, and both sides are showing indications of having dug in for the long haul

China has picked up on Union Minister VK Singh's comments that India has "transgressed more frequently across Line of Actual Control than the People's Liberation Army" to counter India's position on the situation along the LAC.

"With China our border has never been demarcated. Over a period of time, there have been transgressions where China says this is my perception of the LAC. Similarly, none of you come to know how many times we have transgressed as per our perception. We don't announce it. Chinese media doesn't cover it. But let me assure you, if China has transgressed 10 times, we must have done it at least 50 times, as per our perception," Singh told reporters on Sunday.

China lost no time in latching on to Singh's statement, as it reacted merely a day later calling the Minister of State's words an "unwitting confession by the Indian side."

If China has transgressed 10 times, we must have done it at least 50 times. V. K. Singh, an Indian Union Minister of State, also former Army General, accidentally told truth of China-India border situation. Its India that breaks border status quo, China has to respond to it. pic.twitter.com/SzIdVEqtnM  Hu Xijin  (@HuXijin_GT) February 7, 2021

Singh's assertion has especially been hard to ignore or waive off as overzealous posturing by a politician as he also happens to be the former Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army and the former junior minister for External Affairs. With Singh's credentials behind his recent statement, it will be difficult for the government to clarify whether he was mistaken, untruthful or ignorant about the subject at hand.

His comments also assume significance amidst the backdrop of the on-going border tensions due to which around 1 lakh Indian and Chinese troops are deployed in eastern Ladakh, and both sides are showing indications of having dug in for the long haul.

India's response to Chinese accusation of transgressions

Although there has been no official comments from the Ministry of External Affairs on Singh's assertions and the subsequent comments from China, India has always categorically rejected the allegations of transgressions and maintained that it has never taken any action across LAC. India has also blamed China for the recent deterioration in ties.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan told the Rajya Sabha last week that it was the Chinese military's attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo along the LAC that have seriously disturbed peace and tranquility in the eastern Ladakh region.

"Since April/May 2020 the Chinese side undertook several attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo along the LAC in the western sector. These attempts have been responded to appropriately by our armed forces," Muraleedharan said. "It has also been made clear to the Chinese side that such unilateral attempts are unacceptable. These actions have seriously disturbed the peace and tranquillity along the LAC in the western sector," he added.

Indian Army has also categorically rejected PLA's claims.

In September 2020, India had strongly rejected PLA claims that Indian soldiers had illegally crossed the Line of Actual Control and entered the south bank of Pangong Lake and the Shenpao mountain area. "At no stage has the Indian Army transgressed across the LAC or resorted to use of any aggressive means, including firing," the Indian Army had stated post Chinese allegations.

"In the instant case on 07 September, it was China's PLA troops who were attempting to close-in with one of our forward positions along the LAC & when dissuaded by own troops, PLA troops fired a few rounds in the air in an attempt to intimidate own troops. It is the PLA that has been blatantly violating agreements and carrying out aggressive manoeuvres, while engagement at military, diplomatic and political level is in progress," the Indian Army had said as per news reports from the time.

Earlier in June 2020 after the Galwan Valley incident, Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had said, "Indian troops are fully familiar with the alignment of the LAC in all sectors of the India-China border areas and abide scrupulously by it. They have been patrolling all along the LAC, including in the Galwan Valley, for a long time. All infrastructure built by the Indian side has always been on its own side of the LAC. The Indian side has never undertaken any actions across the LAC and has never attempted to unilaterally change the status quo."

India has also denied similar claims in the past but Singh's assertions changes things around.

Indian response to Chinese aggression has historically been a combination of its diplomatic and military prowess. With China's gigantic military budgets and PLA's advanced weaponry, India has had to rely on global support to negotiate from a position of strength.

According to an article in The Indian Express, regional strategic groupings like the QUAD and alliances with other powers could be the central fulcrum in India's China strategy.

Russia has also quietly supported Indian cause in the past despite enjoying strategic relations with China. According to a report in The Print, Russia turned down the Chinese request not to sell arms to India even though Russia depends quite a bit on arms sales to China to shore up its own GDP.

India has also received support from US both under Trump and Joe Biden administration. PTI quoted Emily J Horne, spokesperson, National Security Council (NSC) of the White House as saying, "The United States is concerned by Beijing's pattern of ongoing attempts to intimidate its neighbours. We stand with our friends, allies and partners to advance our shared prosperity, security and values in the Indo-Pacific region."

Trump too has, in the past, slammed "Chinas aggressive stance along the India-China border" which he said, " fits in with a larger pattern of Chinese aggression in other parts of the world"

But the global cooperation has been a response to China's history of aggressive expansionist policies and territorial disputes with almost all of its neighbours. India, on the other hand, has stoically maintained its policy of not starting unprovoked altercations. Any dilution of India's strategic position of a peace-loving responsible democracy may have repercussions in the longer run.

The second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump begins on Tuesday, about a month after he was charged by the House with incitement of insurrection for his role in egging on a violent mob that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Heres what you need to know.

How will the trial unfold?

Senate Democrats and Republicans, joined by the House impeachment managers and Trumps legal team, reached a bipartisan agreement on Monday that would pave the way for an especially quick and efficient proceeding that could be over by early next week.

The rules allow each side up to 16 hours to lay out its case. The Senate is poised to vote to approve the rules and formally begin the trial at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

Up to four hours will be devoted to debating the constitutionality of impeaching a president who is no longer in office. If a simple majority of senators agree to move forward, as expected, the main part of the trial begins.

Starting Wednesday, the prosecution and the defense will have 16 hours each to present their cases to the senators, who are serving as a jury. The oral arguments will continue at least through Friday, but could extend into next week.

Tradition dictates that senators are then allowed at least one day to ask questions. This time, senators may give House managers the option to force a debate and vote on calling witnesses, but it is unclear if they will choose to do so. The trial is expected to conclude with closing arguments and a final vote on whether to convict Trump.

What are the arguments on both sides?

In a fast-paced and cinematic case, the House managers will argue before the Senate that Trump is guilty of inciting a deadly mob of his supporters to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6.

The prosecution plans to show videos captured by the mob, Trumps unvarnished words and criminal pleas from rioters who said they acted at the former presidents behest. In trying to rekindle the outrage around the assault, which sent lawmakers into hiding as they met to certify President Joe Bidens victory, House managers are aiming for a conviction and to bar Trump from holding office again.

We think that every American should be aware of what happened, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md. and the lead prosecutor, said in an interview. That the reason he was impeached by the House and the reason he should be convicted and disqualified from holding future federal office is to make sure that such an attack on our democracy and Constitution never happens again.

In a 78-page brief filed Monday, Trumps lawyers argued that the impeachment proceedings were unconstitutional because Congress has no basis for judging a former president. No former president has ever been impeached, but the trial is not without precedent: The Senate tried a war secretary in the 1870s after he had left office.

On Friday, more than 140 constitutional lawyers took aim at the argument put forth by Trumps lawyers, calling it legally frivolous. However, it could still give Republican senators political cover to reject the charges on a technical issue without being forced to focus on Trumps behavior.

Is Trump likely to be convicted?

Whatever unfolds in arguments throughout the week, few expect that enough Senate Republicans will vote differently than they did in Trumps first impeachment trial.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said as much on Sunday, suggesting on the CBS program Face the Nation that the outcome of the trial was really not in doubt.

When the Senate voted to acquit Trump last year, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah was the only Republican to join Democrats in voting to convict.

This time, he may not be alone.

Several other Republicans, including Sens. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania and Susan Collins of Maine, indicated that they had serious concerns about Trumps role in inciting violence.

But less than two weeks ago, 45 Republicans voted to dismiss the entire impeachment proceeding as unconstitutional, strongly indicating that the threshold of 67 votes  or two-thirds of the chamber  needed to convict might be out of reach.

How can I follow the trial?

The New York Times congressional team will be following the developments on Capitol Hill. Visit nytimes.com for coverage throughout the week.

The proceedings will also be streamed online by C-SPAN and televised by major networks, including CNN and PBS.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Blindsided, Tenney rounded on her, branding her a base girl, a deceiver, a liar, and letters began flying, questioning her Christian character. Behind it all lay the unspoken threat of Ye Olde revenge porn: public disclosure of intimacies they may have shared (lost to history, alas). A self-righteous bully, Tenney, Heyrman writes, had a religious duty to keep a woman so spiritually unfit from serving, of all places, in the Holy Land, and was aided by the treacherous testimony of Jenney, another of Marthas rejected suitors. Bennet Tyler, then president of Dartmouth, eagerly took Tenneys part, triggering an investigation in which the board grilled poor Martha like a trout. Some declared that she would be committing adultery if she married Gridley.

Under pressure, she broke off her second engagement, and Gridley resentfully took himself abroad alone, soon to die of a nameless disease in Turkey. Marthas sister and brother-in-law, in Beirut, exploded with defensive rage, declaring Tenney detestable. But back home, Martha buckled, married Tenney and was silenced forthwith, one of countless devout women whose romance with evangelicalism  filled them with dreams but then doomed their full realization.

Mining missionary records, Heyrman unearths some astonishing revelations. Even as church leaders were turning the screws on women, they were tolerant (given what would come later) of same-sex relationships. She quotes male partners in the mission at Beirut, Pliny Fisk and Levi Parsons, who had pledged to give ourselves to each other, our hearts knit together as the heart of one man. A pair of Virginia Methodists went further, with one covenant brother telling the other that he dreamed of kissing you with the kisses of my Mouth. She finds revenge too: The Tenneys eldest daughter, Mary Eliza, grew up to join the ranks of foreign missionaries with her aunt Anns help, fulfilling her mothers ambition. She became a popular writer, and Heyrman catches her, in her fiction, dissing the very prototype of her unprepossessing father.

Doomed Romance uncovers a boiling anthill of evangelical hypocrisy, seething with the same divisions that plague it today, including the debate over whether women should be allowed to preach, which rages on in the Southern Baptist Convention even as hundreds of its leaders have been accused of sexual misconduct. In the crowded annals of such scandal, the Baptists are hardly alone: Justin Biebers hip former pastor, Carl Lentz, of the megachurch Hillsong, was recently fired for lying and extramarital boffing. Since the Puritans, American zealots have excelled, as Heyrman puts it, in character assassination with anonymous letters and gossip, threats and blackmail, the promise of punishment in this life and the next. Elegantly written and hilariously astute, this gloriously indelicate history suggests that womens infatuation with evangelicalism has been a bad romance indeed.
When she brought up the subject in an online question-and-answer session, Arwady struck a sterner tone than two weeks ago when she said the Chicago Department of Public Health canceled an unspecified number of vaccine appointments for teachers who inadvertently used a code meant for home health care workers at its mass vaccination sites. Back then, she did not assign blame because she said people were honest in indicating they were not health care workers but urged people to keep the codes to themselves.


Three other cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the UK version, have been registered in Romania.

"The Health Ministry was informed today by the National Institute of Public Health - National Center for Communicable Disease Monitoring and Control (CNSCBT) that three new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the new UK variant - genetic line B.1.1.7 have been reported," states the Health Ministry in a release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday.

According to the quoted source, it is about a 35-year-old woman from Bucharest, who returned to the country from the UK at the end of January, a 25-year-old woman from Cluj County, who has no history of traveling in the UK and an 80-year-old man from Covasna County, who also did not travel to that country.

To date, the CNSCBT has confirmed 59 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the new UK variant - genetic line B.1.1.7.
-- The New Eurasian Land Bridge is an international passageway linking the Pacific and the Atlantic. The bridge runs from China's coastal cities of Lianyungang and Rizhao to Rotterdam of the Netherlands and Belgium's Antwerp, passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany. It serves more than 30 countries and regions.

-- Over the past 28 years, the land bridge has undergone various changes, including the trains running over the route and the commodities the trains transport.

-- The land bridge has helped bring closer economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe.

NANJING/BERLIN -- At the port of Lianyungang in east China's Jiangsu Province, several cranes are seen slowly lifting colorful containers and arranging them in a line, ready to be transported by China-Europe freight trains.

The commodities, including face masks, elevators and construction materials, will be shipped to Asian and European destinations before the Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 12 this year.

The city of Lianyungang is the eastern terminal of the 10,900-km-long New Eurasian Land Bridge (NELB), an international passageway linking the Pacific and the Atlantic. The bridge runs from China's coastal cities of Lianyungang and Rizhao to Rotterdam of the Netherlands and Belgium's Antwerp, passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany. It serves more than 30 countries and regions.

In the past five years, international freight trains made about 4,000 trips from Lianyungang's port.

"In January alone, 32 China-Europe freight trains went through the port of Lianyungang, and 23 freight trains are slated for departure in February," said Zuo Xuemei, vice general manager of Lianyungang China-Kazakhstan International Logistics Co., Ltd.

YEARS OF CHANGE

On Dec. 1, 1992, a locomotive pulled the first international freight train to Central Asia and Europe from Lianyungang, marking the official opening of the NELB. The locomotive has been preserved to this day in the port of Lianyungang, bearing testimony to the transformation of economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe.

Shen Gang, with Sinotrans Land Bridge Transportation Co., Ltd., said the company is the pioneer in providing transportation services on the NELB.

"The first international train was loaded with 30 containers and 15 carriages of bulk cargo," said Shen. "At first, it was an internal-combustion locomotive with an average speed of 40 km per hour. Today, the railway has been electrified, with an average speed of 80 to 120 km per hour."

Last year, 554 China-Europe freight trains departed from and arrived in Lianyungang.

Recalling the old days, Shen said earlier workers had to go with the trains to ensure the safe arrival of commodities. "However, now we can obtain logistics information through the internet at any time, making the whole process more convenient and effective," Shen added.

Bruce Wei, the general manager of World Jaguar Logistics Inc., Lianyungang Branch, started engaging in railway transportation services along the NELB in 2012. Products delivered through this route have undergone significant changes over the years, he said.

"In the past, the main goods were second-hand automobiles and construction materials. But, today elevators, electronic products and solar panels are also shipped, which reflects improvements in people's living standards along the NELB," Wei said.

The NELB is not just a mere transport corridor, it also links the inland Chinese provinces with Europe and connects all the inland countries between them, said Li Yuan, a professor at the Institute of East Asian Studies, the University of Duisburg-Essen.

When the pandemic hit hard global maritime logistics, made-in-China medical supplies were consistently sent to Europe through the Eurasian continental bridge. This signifies the importance of the land-based transportation corridor, Li said.

Last year, China-Europe freight trains transported 5,580 tonnes of anti-epidemic supplies to European countries including Germany, Serbia, Poland and Austria from the central Chinese city of Wuhan alone, authorities said in December.

CLOSER COOPERATION

China has become the biggest trade partner of the EU while the EU is now China's second-largest trade partner. The EU is also China's third-largest source and destination of investment.

On Dec. 30, it was announced that China and the European Union completed investment agreement negotiations as scheduled after 35 rounds of negotiations, a milestone in the development of China-EU relations. The agreement will provide greater market access, higher level of the business environment, stronger institutional guarantees and brighter cooperation prospects for mutual investment.

"The strengthening of economic ties, especially the elimination of investment and trade barriers between China and Europe, will lead to the steady recovery and growth of the global economy in the post-pandemic era," Li said.

Over the years, the land bridge has helped bring closer economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe.

In the German inland port city of Duisburg, containers specifically made for China-Europe freight trains are often seen in various transfer hubs. They are used to export clothes, electronic products and domestic appliances from China to Europe. Meanwhile, more and more cars, machinery and food continue to enter China from Europe via the land bridge.

Xavier Wanderpepen, who is responsible for China-Europe rail freight activities at Forwardis, a subsidiary of France's national railway company SNCF Logistics, was impressed by the surge of freight train operations between China and Europe during the first half of 2020.

"In my company, since April 2020, demand for trains has increased sharply. The increase is more than 20 percent compared to 2019," Wanderpepen said.

According to official figures, a record 12,400 China-Europe freight train trips were made in 2020, up 50 percent from the previous year. This is also the first time freight train trips between China and Europe have exceeded 10,000 per year.

Riding on the success of booming cooperation, Chinese and European companies are also seeing an increase in exchanges. In Duisburg, for example, more than 100 Chinese companies have started doing business, compared to just 40 in 2014, according to official figures. An investment center and a commercial association have also been established there.

Even during the COVID-19 outbreak, China and Europe saw growth in bilateral trade, with the import and export between China and 27 European Union member nations rising about 2.6 percent year on year during the first seven months of 2020.

"The China-Europe freight trains have played a big role in the economic development along the New Eurasian Land Bridge and in the growth of China-Europe bilateral trade in 2020," said Chen Fengying, a researcher with the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

Strengthening bilateral economic relations between the two sides would generate more business opportunities, create new jobs, and increase confidence in the economic recovery of China, Europe and the rest of the world, said Li Yuan.

Chinese and European firms have huge opportunities for cooperation to build new economic corridors along the NELB, Li added.

Logistics diversification is an advantage, and good land-based connections, such as the NELB, will make connections "broader and more robust," said Dr. Michael Borchmann, former ministerial director of the State of Hesse, Germany, and senior adviser of the China International Investment Promotion Agency.
The trial over the Barcenas papers, which were first published by EL PAIS in January 2013, began on Monday in Spains High Court, the Audiencia Nacional, after a six-year investigation.

Although there are only five people on the dock and the penalties sought by prosecutors are far lower than those seen at other high-profile corruption trials, Spains political parties are keenly aware of the significance of these legal proceedings, which are taking place with an election campaign underway in the northeastern region of Catalonia.

The main defendant, former Popular Party (PP) treasurer Luis Barcenas, sent a letter to prosecutors a few days ago promising to cooperate with new revelations about the workings of an alleged illegal funding operation that went on for years. His lawyer insisted on Monday that senior party officials were fully aware of this parallel bookkeeping, which became known as the Barcenas papers, including former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who will be called as a witness at the trial. But the attorney representing the PP, which is itself being held accountable for subsidiary civil liability, says that the partys honor is being violated with a deliberate media circus.

The current president of the conservative party, Pablo Casado, on Monday said he would not hesitate to take action if the court finds any current party member responsible in any way for the events on trial. We want the whole truth to come out now. If Barcenas has any proof, let him lay it out on the table, he said in an interview on the radio station Onda Cero, adding that the ex-treasurer has caused the PP tremendous damage. Casado said that Barcenas has no credibility and that he has been lying for 10 years.

The leftist party Unidas Podemos, which is the junior partner in Spains governing coalition led by the Socialist Party (PSOE), said that there are no more excuses against investigating former Prime Minister Rajoy over the PPs alleged illegal funding.

Which activities are on trial?

Investigating Judge Jose De la Mata has prepared a list of irregularities for the High Court to examine, chiefly the existence of secret parallel accounts allegedly kept by the PP and used for a variety of purposes. The issue already came up during the main trial of the Gurtel case, a sweeping kickbacks-for-contracts scheme affecting scores of local and regional PP officials who awarded no-bid contracts to a business network led by a well-connected entrepreneur named Francisco Correa. In October 2020, the Supreme Court confirmed 29 convictions handed down in 2018 against leading members of Gurtel.

In their 2018 ruling, judges also said that there was sufficient evidence to indicate that the PP kept off-book accounts, but the matter has just now reached the trial stage. According to the investigation, the conservatives had a financing system outside the legal economic circuit between 1990 and 2008. But former party treasurer Luis Barcenas  who was convicted to a long prison term at the Gurtel trial and is now back on the stand again  recently said that the side accounts began as early as 1982, according to a letter sent in late January to the prosecutors office in charge of corruption cases.

Former PP Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who is accused by Barcenas of receiving cash bonuses. JUAN MEDINA / REUTERS

The investigation indicates that this hard-to-track funding came from donations  including from donors with ties to large companies that received important government contracts, according to Barcenas. The funds were later used for a variety of purposes, such as paying cash bonuses to senior party officials. The ex-treasurer has mentioned former PP prime minister Mariano Rajoy as one of the beneficiaries.

Part of the money allegedly went to help out party members who had been targeted by the now-defunct Basque terrorist organization ETA. And funds were also used to pay for extensive renovation work at the PPs main headquarters on Madrids Genova street. Finally, De la Matas investigation suggests that Barcenas and his predecessor Alvaro Lapuerta (who died in 2018), pocketed some of the money for themselves. Ahead of the Gurtel trial, Barcenas was found to have a fortune hidden away in foreign bank accounts.

Another key issue that attorneys will address at the trial is whether the PP is guilty of tax evasion in connection with the years of undeclared donations that show up in the handwritten ledgers kept by Lapuerta and Barcenas.

This trial will not deal with the possible bribery of public officials in connection with donations in exchange for public works contracts. This issue is part of a separate investigation that is looking into 600 million worth of contracts awarded under former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and other contracts awarded by the regional government of Madrid.

The accused

Only five people are accused of crimes. The best-known defendant is Barcenas, who served as PP treasurer from 1990 to 2009 and who is already serving a 29-year sentence in connection with the main Gurtel trial. But there is also Cristobal Paez, who was once the deputy national manager of the party and who allegedly accepted 12,000 in 500 bills as an undeclared salary bonus. The other three are architects Gonzalo Urquijo and Belen Garcia, who were in charge of the company that did the renovation work at PP headquarters, and Laura Montero, project director for the company, named Unifica.

The charges include criminal association, false accounting, document forgery, influence peddling, money laundering and tax crimes, among others. Prosecutors are seeking prison terms ranging from 18 months to five years. The parties conducting the private prosecution want up to 35 years for Barcenas and Paez.

The judges

A panel of three judges will oversee the case: Fernando Andreu, Jose Antonio Moral Alarcon and Maria Fernanda Garcia.

The hearings

There are 46 planned hearings, the first of which took place on Monday with a discussion of preliminary points. The defendants will take the stand next, followed by dozens of witnesses, including former prime ministers Jose Maria Aznar and Mariano Rajoy, as well as other senior party officials who served as ministers and deputy prime ministers, such as Javier Arenas, Francisco Alvarez Cascos, Angel Acebes, Maria Dolores de Cospedal, Rodrigo Rato, Federico Trillo and others. Several of them are suspected of taking cash bonuses. Several business leaders from the construction industry have also been called in to testify, including Luis del Rivero, former chairman of Sacyr Vallehermoso, Jose Maria Villar Mir, ex-chairman of OHL, and Alfonso Garcia Pozuelo, owner of Constructora Hispanica, who was himself sentenced to two years in the main Gurtel trial.

English version by Susana Urra.
ST. LOUIS  Despite unprecedented challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, public transit remains an essential component of the St. Louis regions transportation system.

In honor of Rosa Parks Transit Equity Day, which commemorated Parks birthday Feb. 4 and declared that equal access to public transit is a right for all, Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) hosted a virtual Talking Transit event via Zoom. The event highlighted how work continues to positively influence public transit in the bi-state area.

Key learnings from presenters included details of the MetroLink expansion in Illinois, the Northside-Southside transit corridor study, current shift in focus to Community Mobility Hubs, funding strategies and more. To view the event, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EMr2khhwk8&feature=youtu.be .

As part of Gov. J.B. Pritzkers Rebuild Illinois Plan, a $96 million, 5.5-mile light rail expansion project, running from the Shiloh-Scott Transit Center at Scott Air Force Base to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, continues to move forward and was highlighted during the event. The MetroLink extension will provide transportation services to airport passengers and the various tenants on the airports property, including the Illinois State Police, Boeings St. Clair, Aviation Materials and Technical Support (AVMATS), the Army National Guard, North Bay Produce and others.

Gonzalez Companies Patrick Judge, managing partner, who is overseeing the design and construction of the project, said that an access roadway connecting to Rieder Road to the airport also will be constructed adjacent to the extension. Additionally, if funding allows, a new bike and pedestrian trail will be included as part of the expansive project.

Transportation Policy Planner, Planning & Urban Design Agencys Scott Ogilvie discussed a Technological Alternative Analysis within the planned Northside-Southside transit corridor in the city of St. Louis. This is the first expenditure from the transit component of the Economic Development Sales Tax authorized in 2017, and work on the project is expected to get underway this spring.

Following extensive technical analysis and community outreach, a recommended first phase of Northside-Southside light rail investment was identified where a proposed 8.3-mile light rail segment would operate between Grand Boulevard on the Northside, along 9th and 10th streets downtown, to Chippewa Street on the Southside. A Freight Transport Association New Starts Program funding assessment of the Northside-Southside corridor unveiled a capital funding gap ranging between 15.9% and 22.2% of the total project costs. While this highly desirable transit corridor would serve the needs of existing residents for enhanced high-frequency, high-amenity transit, eligibility for federal funding is marginal. which reinforces the critical need for state, local and private transit funding. The upcoming Alternatives Analysis will serve to answer remaining questions and position the region to make a decision to move transit forward in the Northside-Southside corridor.

Metro Transits Jessica Gershman, assistant executive director with its planning and system development, then discussed how Metro Transit is moving forward with Community Mobility Hubs. These are designed to enhance major on-street transfer points to improve safety and accessibility and create more welcoming experiences.

These hubs would be smaller in scale compared to Transit Centers, but larger than a bus stop and feature amenities such as seating, shelter, lighting wayfinding/community information and green infrastructure. Other key components of these projects are to include working with neighbors, local leaders and transit users to tailor to each locations needs.

The big thing is going to be creativity and cooperation, said Executive Director Jim Wild, of East-West Gateway Council of Governments, when asked what would be necessary to move any project forward in the St. Louis region.

We need to be able to think outside the box we normally work in, he said. If we sit back and think a little more creatively and dont just say we can only use bill funds or we can only use New Starts funding, I think that will help us go a long way.

He noted that it would be helpful to set some priorities and that entities need to be willing to share with one another more than what has been done in the past.

Transit is just as an important piece of the transportation system as the roads and bridges are, he said. If we start to break down those silos and start blending money a bit more, were able to do much more collectively as a region.

Gershman concurred.

Transit is essential, she said. Even amidst this pandemic, when people were asked to shelter in place, we still had millions of boardings last year  with 50 percent of our riders needing transit to get where they needed to go.

Making sure that were focused on goals that enhance equity and access for everybody is something for all of us to coalesce around, as none of this gets done without regional support.

Metro Transits Kevin Scott, general manager of field security, rounded out the panel discussion with an update on transit security. He discussed how in 2019, MetroLink had 13 million riders. Throughout the course of 2020 during COVID-19, ridership was 6.7 million, which was down 48%. Even with 6.7 million riders, they only handled 66 part-one offenses and only 424 part-two offenses.

For a total of 490 offenses out of 6.7 million riders, that is far less than 1% overall.

CMT hosts quarterly Talking Transit events like this one to keep members, elected officials, stakeholders, transit riders and others in the loop on issues and efforts influencing the local transit system. These educational gatherings feature guest speakers and panel discussions addressing a wide range of topics, including transit-oriented development, safety and security, best practices, service changes and more.

To learn more about these events and how Citizens for Modern Transit is working to further transit access in the St. Louis region, call 314-231-7272, find the organization on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @cmt_stl.

CMT is the regions transit advocacy organization. It was established in 1985 to help bring light rail to St. Louis and it works to develop, support and enhance programming and initiatives to ensure safe, convenient and affordable access to the regions integrated public transportation system. CMT champions, challenges, encourages and advocates for public transit in an effort to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life in the St. Louis region.

To learn more, visit www.cmt-stl.org.
The only Four Grain Vodka on the general market at an everyday price

WATERLOO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 2021 / SponsorsOne Inc., (CSE:SPO)(Frankfurt:5SO)(OTC Pink:SPONF), a company that utilizes its proprietary platform that combines digital marketing, wholesale and retail distribution, branding, and operational & funding capital, giving it a competitive first-mover advantage in rapidly selling proprietary brands focused in the Alcohol, Functional Beverage and Hemp Sectors, announced today a preview into the making of our premium Vodka branded under the name "4 Corners Vodka".

Myles Bartholomew, CEO of SponsorsOne, said: "4 Corners is an ultra-premium vodka appreciated by every sophisticated Vodka and Bourbon drinker. Texas corn, winter wheat, two-row barley, and Hazlet rye offer the smoothest and cleanest mouthfeel in the vodka category". This is the first Vodka utilizing four grains.

The distillery takes pride in producing a limited volume of an undiluted vodka formula based solely on the purest spirit. Vodka made with the highest quality is only made in small batches. However, our smallest batch is larger than 99% of all distilleries in the country. 5,000-gallon batches guarantee both quality and consistency under the strictest supervision.

The quality of the water is a significant influence on the character of our Vodka. It's fairly well-known that Texas has extremely pure waters thanks to the limestone bedrock and large aquifers cleaning and purifying.

Production of 4 Corners Vodka will be completed in Q1 2021 and made available to retailers and distributors through Premier Beverage Consortium, SponsorsOne's wholly-owned subsidiary. We expect volume shipments in Q2 2021.

For more information, the following link is provided:

https://www.premierbeverageconsortium.com/4-corners

About SponsorsOne Inc.

SponsorsOne is the leader in the next evolution of brand creation and digital marketing through influencer marketing, storytelling, and digital-commerce with the SponsorCoin platform and its highly scalable - smart contract-based digital-currency. Combined, this allows the brands to build and manage exclusive and highly engaged communities of influencers (from pro to micro-influencers) within the social realm. The SponsorCoin platform provides for data-driven marketing campaigns that will change the way brands connect with their customers. SponsorCoin is a tool for brands to inspire real movements around their products and services. Their most valuable customers become their best salespeople, producing far higher ROI than current social media advertising methods. SponsorsOne, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, SponsorsOne Media Inc., provides full creative and Brand building/management services to all our Brands and manages the influencer communities for each Brand. For making the Brand big, our wholly-owned subsidiary S1 Brands Inc. builds wholesale/retail distribution channels for the Brand, acting as a master distributor. S1 Brands provides sales and marketing on behalf of the Brand to its vast network of national wholesalers and retailers and provides purchase order financing to assist the Brand in fulfilling every order. Premier Beverage Consortium LLC, is a wholly-owned subsidiary and is brand building for the global spirits market with its flagship "Ready to Drink" product called Doc Wylders. Ownership of the Brand combined with distribution, digital marketing innovation, and capital is the winning formula to build the next billion-dollar Brand. To learn more, please visit www.sponsorsone.com

Contact: info@sponsorsone.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Gary Bartholomew, Executive Chairman

The Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this Press Release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Company's current expectations. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology, are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company with respect to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks:

 risks associated with marketing and sale of securities

 the need for additional financing requirements and access to capital, reliance on key personnel

 the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers or directors with certain other projects

 the volatility of the volume and price of the Common Shares, the failure of the business strategy, the integrity of the Company's patents and proprietary intellectual property and competition.

The Company cautions that the foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors, and other uncertainties and potential events, including the risk factors, set out in the Company's Listing Statement. The Company has assumed a certain progression, which may not be realized. It has also assumed that the material factors referred to above will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS NEWS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE SECURITIES LEGISLATION.

SOURCE: SponsorsOne Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628606/SponsorsOne-Profiles-4-Corners-Vodka
's ( ) (FRA:8EE) Geraint Harris presents their latest 'exciting results' from their Punta Corna Project in northern Italy. With a 'beautiful suite of metals', high-grade cobalt, nickel, copper and silver from a recent grab sampling program at the mine. He says 'what's really exciting is, we're not just seeing these in one or two places but we're seeing a very similar high grade across at least two kilometres'. Harris explains that because these results are situated in the middle of Europe (as opposed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in the middle of strong future demand, with advantages in terms of supply, all of which could make for a 'very significant project'.

Venezuelan mother Annie Gonzales and her daughter Leannie Romero (9) at the Integrated Assistance Centre in Maicao, Colombia.  UNHCR/Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo

BOGOTA/GENEVA  UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and IOM, the International Organization for Migration, today praised Colombias initiative to provide ten-year temporary protection status to Venezuelans in the country.

Colombia is host to 1.7 million Venezuelans, which represent more than 37 per cent of the estimated 4.6 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean. More than half of the Venezuelan population in Colombia lack regular status, affecting their ability to access essential services, protection and assistance.

This bold humanitarian gesture serves as an example for the region and the rest of the world. It is a life-changing gesture for the 1.7 million displaced Venezuelans who will now benefit from added protection, security and stability while they are away from home, said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi who is currently in Colombia, assessing humanitarian needs.

We applaud Colombia for its extraordinary generosity and its commitment to ensure protection for displaced Venezuelans. This decision serves as a model of pragmatism and humanity.

With the COVID-19 pandemic compounding needs throughout the region, many Venezuelan refugees and migrants, as well as local communities, struggle to survive as they face worsening poverty, job losses, evictions, hunger, and a lack of food and access to medical treatment.

The Temporary Protection Status will also provide access to basic services including the national health system and COVID-19 vaccination plans. Regularization is also key to long-term solutions, including access to the job market, which in turn serves to lessen the dependency of people on humanitarian assistance while also contributing to the countrys post COVID-19 socio-economic recovery.

The regularization of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Colombia through the provision of a generous temporary protection status is a key to facilitating their socio-economic integration and access to the national health system and COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, said IOM Director General Antonio Vitorino.

The Government of Colombia has once again shown both great solidarity and leadership. Its decision serves as an example to the world.

The implementation of such a large-scale initiative will require a significant investment in time, logistics and resources. IOM and UNHCR, as co-leaders of the Regional Inter-agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V), and in coordination with their 159 partners, stand ready to contribute with their technical expertise, field presence, logistical capacity and resources to support the roll-out of this important initiative.

Reiterating the need for solidarity and support to Colombia and other refugee and migrant-hosting countries, IOM and UNHCR call on the international community to keep providing adequate and timely funding to ensure the success of this breakthrough commitment.

For more information, please contact:

In Panama,

In Geneva,

Shabia Mantoo, UNHCR ( [email protected] ) +41 79 337 7650

) +41 79 337 7650 Paul Dillon, IOM ( [email protected] ) +41 79 636 9874

) +41 79 636 9874 Angela Wells, IOM ( [email protected] ) +41 79 403 5365

In Colombia,

The family of a London firefighter who killed himself said he was being racially discriminated against at his station, an inquest has heard.

Jaden Francois-Esprit was found hanged at his home Wapping, east London, on August 26, 2020, three weeks after his 21st birthday despite no previous history of mental health issues.

He had been training as a firefighter with the London Fire Brigade (LFB) and was based at Wembley station.

An inquest at Poplar Coroner's Court today heard from Jaden's mother, Linda Francois, who said he had accused his crew manager of bullying him and that he wanted to move to another station but had to wait eight months to complete his workbook training before this could happen.

The family of London firefighter Jaden Francois-Esprit, 21, (pictured) who was found hanged at his home Wapping, east London, on August 26, 2020, have said that he was being racially discriminated against at his station, an inquest has heard

In a statement read out in court, Ms Francois said: 'I felt he was being unfavourably singled out because he's an ethnic minority.'

She said her son was concerned about not receiving learning support from LFB with his dyslexia, and that he felt 'isolated, bored and unfulfilled' at work.

Ms Francois said she felt he was being 'singled out' for being young and 'the only person of colour' at Wembley station, and described one occasion where he did not want his mother bringing him home-cooked Caribbean food as he 'felt uncomfortable' talking about it to colleagues.

She added: 'This was not the only issue of race and micro aggressions which left Jaden feeling uncomfortable as it highlighted his race negatively.

'He accused the crew manager of bullying him. He previously publicly berated him.'

An inquest at Poplar Coroner's Court today heard from Jaden's mother, Linda Francois, who said he had accused his crew manager of bullying him and that he wanted to move to another station but had to wait eight months to complete his workbook training before this could happen

Ms Francois said her son would talk about being treated unfairly and being made to carry out tasks that were not assigned to him.

'He hated working at Wembley and accused his crew manager of bullying him,' Ms Francois said.

'As a family we believe Jaden had every intention to go to work on August 26, he prepared his uniform.

'Perhaps the thought of sticking it out for another eight months was unbearable.

'I don't think he knew calling in sick was an option.

'The anxiety got too much and he couldn't face going back, even for one more day.'

She described her son as 'practical and confident' and that he 'wanted to feel worthy'.

She said Mr Francois-Esprit (pictured left with his brother Kairo) relayed an occasion at work where one of his crew members talked about getting robbed by five black men, and that he questioned why they had to mention race

The inquest heard Mr Francois-Esprit, who was part of the 'Wembley green watch', raised issues to his family of going to work and sleeping through most of his shifts due to there being nothing to do.

His sister Kelela Francois-Esprit arranged to meet him for dinner on August 20 2020, six days before he died, the inquest heard.

In her statement, which was read out in court, she said Mr Francois-Esprit was not enjoying work for the Wembley green watch and being the 'only black person there', and that he described how colleagues 'make comments about me'.

She said Mr Francois-Esprit relayed an occasion at work where one of his crew members talked about getting robbed by five black men, and that he questioned why they had to mention race.

'When I left Jaden, I was aware he was not happy at work, but I had no idea he was depressed,' she said.

Some firefighters told of supporting Jaden in his training at Wembley fire station and helping him to settle in, denying any knowledge of bullying and describing him as part of the team.

A toxicologist report found no drugs or alcohol in his system indicating its use, and his death was treated as non suspicious. A post mortem recorded Mr Francois-Esprit's cause of death as suspension. Pictured: Jaden as a child

While Jaden's family said he felt unsupported and that he was singled out in tasks, the inquest heard.

While reading through the family statements, senior coroner Mary Hassell said: 'I feel very strongly the sense of isolation he felt.'

Ms Francois told the inquest Jaden's family believe he had every intention of going to work on the day of his death, having prepared his uniform the night before.

She added: 'We believe his decision to take his own life could possibly have been made when he could not being himself to return to the station and face any more discrimination.

'Perhaps the prospect of having to stay for another eight months was simply unbearable.'

A toxicologist report found no drugs or alcohol in his system indicating its use, and his death was treated as non suspicious.

A post mortem recorded Mr Francois-Esprit's cause of death as suspension.

The inquest continues.

Jaden's older brother Kairo has started raising funds to set up a charitable foundation named The Jaden Project, which will aim to reduce suicide and depression in humans worldwide.

Since he started fundraising, Kairo has raised 3,550 of his 25,000 target.

The conclusion of the University of Georgia football season is usually the most lucrative time period for Athens businesses. However, the economic hardships from the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an inevitable decrease in sales and continued worries for the future.
The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) confirmed on Tuesday morning that two more employees at Tan Son Nhat International Airport had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

One of the two individuals is an employee of Vietnam Airport Ground Services Company Limited (VIAGS), whose five other staff members have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and confirmed as patients No. 1,979, 2,002, 2,003, 2,004, and 2,005.

The other works for the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and came into close contact with patient No. 1,979 during cargo supervision on January 30 and 31.

As of 10:00 am on Tuesday, seven staff members of Tan Son Nhat International Airport had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, of whom five were previously confirmed as COVID-19 patients by the Ministry of Health.

They were members of a team in charge of unloading, arranging, and supervising luggage and cargos at the airdome.

Twenty-five other patients have also been confirmed in Ho Chi Minh City after having direct contact with the airport employees.

The municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control previously ordered the COVID-19 testing for all staff members at Tan Son Nhat Airport following the detection of a cluster at Van Don International Airport in northern Quang Ninh Province.

A total of 8,130 samples have been collected and tested so far.

Competent authorities are conducting the second tests for all employees of VIAGS Company.

Airport staff who work directly with passengers are also tested for COVID-19 on a daily basis.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9)  At least 37 congressmen filed a resolution calling for a House probe to look into almost half of the 140-billion funds that remain unreleased under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2.

Lawmakers filed House Resolution 1558 on Monday calling on the House Committee on Public Accounts to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the "unreleased and unutilized appropriations" on Bayanihan 2 by the Department of Budget and Management. Its copy was made available to the media on Tuesday.

"The economy cannot afford slow implementation of government relief programs that have already been approved and authorized, especially as the World Bank and other international institutions warn that the country will recover more slowly than its peers in the East Asia and the Pacific Region," the resolution read.

Bayanihan 2 authorized a total of 165.5 billion in emergency relief and spending to finance the country's pandemic response and recovery, with 140 billion falling under regular appropriations and 25.5 billion serving as standby funds.

AAMBIS-OWA Party-list Representative Sharon Garin, a member of the bicameral conference committee on Bayanihan 2, raised concern on the delayed disbursement of the funds.

With 4.5 million working Filipinos at risk of losing their jobs, the inquiry would shed light on possible solutions to address this danger and the countrys dismal economic performance, she said in a statement.

Citing the report of the Office of the President issued last November 2020, the lawmaker said only 76.2 billion of the 140-billion fund has been released.

The pandemic is now only a month shy from reaching its first year and the country still reeling from the impact of an economic nosedive. If we dont act on this, the economic revival we all hope for will not materialize, she added.

Earlier this year, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11519, an act extending the validity of appropriations under the Bayanihan 2 until June 30, 2021.

READ: Duterte extends validity of 2020 budget, Bayanihan 2

In his government briefing on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson said that he "appreciates" the filing of Bayanihan 3 or the Bayanihan to Arise as One Act, a measure recently filed by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to boost the economy amid the pandemic. However, he said the full implementation of Bayanihan 2 and other stimulus measures in place should be prioritized first.
A Smooth Operation

It was an emotional day for Margot Schmolka. It began with a morning drive from New Hampshire to deliver her daughter Corey back to campus, under circumstances that could scarcely be more different from the start of the spring semester last year. The whole process went very smoothly, she said.

Corey Schmolka 23 was one of around 1,100 students welcomed back to campus on Friday and Saturday. The operation was run with impressive precision and coordination thanks to the efforts of Bowdoin staff, many of whom were volunteers. First stop for returning Polar Bears was Farley Field House, where Melissa Quinby and Michael Pulju from the Office of the Dean of Students were among those on parking lot duty Friday afternoon. As well as welcoming students back, we make sure theyre wearing a mask and that theyve completed their Campus Clear symptoms checker to confirm theyre in good health, said Quinby. We also check they have all their belongings and anything else they might need, because theyre in the bubble now, added Pulju.

More volunteers and health service workers from Bowdoin and Mid Coast Hospital were on hand inside Farley, where new arrivals were given the first of two tests. Its an antigen test, which detects viral proteins, explained Director of Health Services Dr. Jeffrey Maher. If that test is positive, then the likelihood the student has active infectious COVID-19 is high, and we take them out of the testing pool and put them into isolation. Health workers were also standing by to administer flu shots to students who had not had them. Once the antigen test is complete, students head next door to the Sidney J. Watson Arena to await results. Once given the all-clear, which typically only took a few minutes, they were given a wristband and allowed to leave the building and head to Morrell Gymnasium to receive a second test, a self-administered nasal swab known as a PCR. Sophomore Grace Kirkpatrick had just gotten her antigen results and was going to collect her wristband. Like most of the returning students, this was her first time on campus in nearly a year. It definitely feels weird to come back amid such strange circumstances, she said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has hailed the contribution of digital technologies to Kenyas transformation saying ICTs are helping the country to create employment opportunities for its youth and enhance the delivery of public services.

On the African continent, the President observed that digital technologies have enabled both Governments and the private sector to continue operating optimally despite the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the face of containment measures necessitated by the pandemic (Covid-19), technology has kept governments and businesses running; and enabled international cooperation and engagements, such as we are involved in today to be sustained, the President said.

In order to accelerate the creation of a common market, the President said African economies need to harmonize their ICT standards so as to achieve inter-operability of their digital infrastructure.

The Head of State spoke Monday at State House, Nairobi during the 2021 Africa Business Forum held virtually on the sidelines of the 34th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

President Kenyatta said Kenya had made progress in the delivery of public services digitally adding that the country is hinging on technology to transform its economy.

Currently, the Kenya Government has over 200 digitized services offered through Huduma Centres countrywide as well as an online self-service E-Citizen platform.

Both platforms, which are widely utilized, offer one-stop access to essential services such as applying for Passports or National Identification Cards; and registering businesses, births, or deaths.

Kenya is also progressively digitizing core government services such as filing of tax returns, land registries, court procedures and rulings, and public service records, the President said.

He said the cost-effective nature of digital technologies is helping African nations to solve the challenge of scarce finances needed to provide infrastructure, institutions and human resources to power economic growth.

While highlighting the transformative nature of digital technologies, President Kenyatta pointed out that 40 percent of private enterprises in Kenya are engaged in e-commerce and 70 percent of all e-commerce payments in the country are settled through various mobile money payment platforms.

The President said his Government is working on ensuring that digital technologies are not abused by investing in training and capacity building of service providers and technology users.

To ensure technology is embraced, holistically by all business sectors we must contain misuse/abuse of technology. We, therefore, in our training pay particular attention on ethics and values as it is key to sustainable adoption of technology, the President said.

To support digital entrepreneurship in the country, the President said the Kenyan Government is working with partners to lower entry barriers for ICT entrepreneurs.

To strengthen our digital technology footprint, we have established several strategic partnerships. The Smart Africa Initiative is a network of some 30 African countries seeking to leverage technology to create a single digital market on the continent.

Similarly, the UNDP-led SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Accelerator Lab provides a vehicle for partnerships, investments, and business linkages to accelerate local innovations and ideas; including twinning Silicon Valley with the Kenyan tech community, the President said.

Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa Vera Songwe who also spoke at the virtual meeting commended President Kenyatta for championing usage of ICT in service delivery and called on other African nations to emulate Kenya.

PSCU
LLILAS Benson Summer Academy

The inaugural LLILAS Benson Summer Academy for pre-college students will take place online during the week of June 2125, 2021. The academy, which is tuition-free, is open to high school students, with preference for sophomores and juniors. All events are organized and hosted by LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections.

Apply for the Latin American Studies Summer Academy

Application Deadline: Wednesday, May 5, 2021

During the Summer Academy, you will participate in interactive workshops and events to introduce you to Latin American Studies (LAS) at UT Austin. Youll meet other high school students from around Texas, as well as LAS majors, faculty, and alumni of our program who are making a difference in the world.

View our Summer Academy Week-at-a-Glance

Latin American Studies is an interdisciplinary major at The University of Texas at Austin, offering courses in history, government, Black diaspora studies, literature, Spanish and Portuguese, geography, journalism, and more. Many people double major in LAS and another subject they love.

Questions? Contact us at LLILASadmissions@utexas.edu

The Summer Academy is sponsored in part by HEB, and by the Hispanic Faculty Staff Association at UT Austin.

Learn More About Latin American Studies at UT Austin

Summer Academy Week-at-a-Glance

The 2021 Summer Academy will be held on Zoom from 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday, June 21, through Friday, June 25. Activities will include:

Monday

 Welcome to Latin American Studies

 Presentations from UT Financial Aid and UT Admissions staff (in English and Spanish; parents welcome!)

 Information about Liberal Arts at UT Austin

 Latin America Trivia Session

Tuesday

 Latin American History talk

 Study Abroad presentation by director of Texas Global

 Foreign Language and Area Studies info session

 Portuguese Flagship info session

Wednesday

 Intro to Latin American Politics

 Intro to the Benson Latin American Collection

 Intro to Brazilian Portuguese

 Group Activity: Latin American Loteria

Thursday

 UT student presentation

 Team-building activity

 Special project work

 Virtual study abroad: Capoeira (a Brazilian martial art)

Friday

 LLILAS undergraduate internships

 Why Latin American Studies? Q&A with current students

 Presentations of group projects

What Can I Do with a Latin American Studies Major?

Ana Vidina Hernandez

Meet Ana Vidina Hernandez, a former LLILAS major who combines Latin American Studies with Social Work in her job as Program Coordinator at Girasol Texas. Ana graduated from UT Austin with her bachelors in Latin American Studies and History in 2015, and earned her MA in Latin American Studies and MS in Social Work in 2018, also at UT Austin.

The LLILAS undergraduate degree gave me the opportunity to learn about the history and contemporary contexts of Latin American countries, understand the perspectives of different disciplinessuch as history, sociology, and anthropologyand explore my own heritage. Without the support of LLILAS, I would not have had the opportunity to study abroad in Nicaragua. Connecting with faculty and students throughout campus who were affiliated with LLILAS made me feel that I was part of a larger academic community and helped me explore future career options. As a result, I was able to start Girasol Texas, a program that focuses on immigrant justice and mental health. Using my background in Latin American Studies, I am able to approach my work with an understanding of diversity within and beyond Latin America, and with a deep appreciation of the contexts of Latinx immigrants in the United States.
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Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349

Progress Made On Unity Water Tower Mural

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MCCRACKEN COUNTY - McCracken County officials made more progress on the United We Stand water tower project during Monday's Fiscal Court meeting.McCracken County NAACP President J.W. Cleary joined the meeting to share that he was able to raise about $11,000 to go toward the project. Cleary said he was able to secure donations from Paducah Bank, Mercy Health, Murray State University, WKCTC, P&L Railway, BFW Engineering, CSI, and others.Judge Executive Craig Clymer discussed hiring Eric Henn Murals of Franklin, Ohio, to paint the mural on the water tower, for a total of $18,500.The commission voted to pay a 25 percent deposit toward the cost of the mural, totaling $4,625.00. In that same motion, commissioners approved another 25 percent payment to Henn once painting begins.Deputy Judge Executive Steve Doolittle said the project is expected to kick off in July.Additionally, commissioners voted unanimously to authorize the creation of a GoFundMe page to make it easier for members of the community to donate to the project.The project was prompted by the flags that fly in Confederate Park along I-24 in Reidland. Clymer believes that people driving along I-24 might not realize the confederate flags are on private property, and perceive the county as divisive or racist. According to Clymer, the water tower could be recognized as government property, and a unity message displayed on the tower would show drivers that the city and county are indeed racially inclusive."The message we want to overcome is one of the perception of racial bias out here where tens of thousands of people pass by up and down the interstate daily. Some repeatedly, some only once in their lifetime." Clymer continued, "They'll see the confederate flags on one side, they'll see our rendition on the other, and if nothing else, maybe it will get them thinking. Hopefully it will discourage any thoughts that our community supports any racial discord or divisiveness."You can see the full discussion below.On the Net:
A 3-year-old who died in a crash Friday night has been identified as Jason Otero Jr., Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek said. The boy died from multiple blunt force trauma, Lysek said.

The child, from Manlius, New York, died Friday night after he and two other people were thrown from a 2004 Mercury Mountaineer during a two-vehicle crash on Route 33 South at the Interstate 78 interchange in Lower Saucon Township, Pennsylvania State Police report.

The SUV, driven by a 35-year-old woman from the same city not far from Syracuse, was traveling south, as was a 2017 Kia Sportage driven by a 54-year-old woman from Wind Gap, Pa., police said. The Mercury tried to head onto the eastbound ramp to Interstate 78 while the Kia was heading westbound on the interstate, police said.

The vehicles crashed about 7:55 p.m., and the Mountaineer hit the concrete median and rolled, police said.

The driver of the Mercury, a 7-year-old girl and the 3-year-old were all ejected from the vehicle, police said. None was wearing a seat belt, police said.

The 3-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene by the Northampton County Coroners Office, police said.

A 1-year-old girl, who was restrained by a seat belt, and a 16-year-old girl were also in the vehicle, police said. They and the driver and 7-year-old were injured.

The driver of the Kia was not hurt, police said.

The crash remains under investigation.

It is a traffic offense for children and drivers not to be wearing seat belts, police said.

Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com.

More:

Officer had been at Fraternal Order of Police lounge before crashing into Philadelphia house: court docs

Perry County man gets state prison term for hit and run crash that killed commissioners son

[February 09, 2021] CareLinx Announces Growth Strategy to Reach 1 Million Skilled Clinical and Non-medical Care Providers in 2022

CareLinx Inc., the nation's leading digital on-demand platform of tech-enabled care providers, today announced a long-term growth strategy to double its nationwide network of 500,000 skilled clinical and non-medical care providers to a total size of 1,000,000 professionals by the end of 2022. The company's recently launched multi-state on-demand clinical nurse dispatch business-line, Nurse OnDemand, will also stretch its geographic footprint to be in every U.S. state. "As COVID-19 has pushed our nation's healthcare system and our front-line nurses to their limits, we've received countless emphatic requests for additional skilled nursing staff to help support patients in critical need of care from healthcare partners across the country. In 2020, CareLinx received more than 300,000 hours of backup nurse and clinical staffing requests. We are proud to have answered that call by innovating and leveraging our established nationwide platform to provide on-demand nurse dispatch to facilities in many of the geographies hardest hit by COVID," said Sherwin Sheik, CEO of CareLinx. Through Nurse OnDemand, CareLinx is helping its enterprise partners efficiently book high-quality and skilled nurses, wherever they need support, including nursing homes, hospitals, surgical centers, home health agencies, physician offices and even patients' homes. While Nurse OnDemand is currently assisting healthcare partners in California, Texas and Illinois, the company reports rapid new business acquisition, adding to its current roster of more than 275 enterprise clients by a rate of 40 per month. "From my perspective as a veteran of the skilled nursing industry, the differentiators and value propositions for CareLinx are clear. When compred to traditional nurse staffing agencies and registries, CareLinx stands out for its comprehensive next generation technology platform that effectively serves the needs of both healthcare partners and professional nurses," said Chad Miller, Vice President of Operations and Strategic Partnerships for CareLinx. "For example, our program far surpasses the traditional industry standard for turnaround times by dispatching nurses to fill shifts within 24 hours while ensuring nurses are paid within 48 hours of completing work at 25%+ higher compensation rates."



"I have worked with the CareLinx team and have found them to be very responsive, professional and personable. I am very big on communication, and so far, they have kept me in the loop on all my requests despite the outcome," said Kevin Thomas, Regional Director of Operations for client Chancellor Health Care. "Of all the staffing agencies and registries I've worked with, I've found CareLinx to be among the best. I would highly recommend this team." The existing CareLinx network of 500,000 skilled medical and experienced non-medical care providers includes Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), Medical Assistants (MAs), Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Registered Nurses (RNs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and non-medical in-home care providers, including community health workers.

"Our vision is to leverage our tremendous network of experienced professional care providers to fill every single hour requested by our clients nationwide, essentially becoming an extension of their clinical teams and their go-to partner for medical staffing on-demand," said Miller. All CareLinx care providers leverage technology that facilitates on-demand dispatch, patient health data capture, population health analytics, and the enabling of real-time care coordination with remote clinical teams. "For the last decade, CareLinx has been known for supporting families, large health plans and providers as a trusted and scalable nationwide non-medical in-home care partner. However, as healthcare continues to transition into the home and community setting, the need for tech-enabled care providers who can be successfully dispatched on-demand to support patients across the entire continuum of care is vital. CareLinx is positioned to be the preeminent digital care platform serving patients across the entire spectrum of care - from basic light companionship care, to heavy dependency personal care (ADLs), all the way up to now include skilled nursing care able to be dispatched on-demand nationwide to any location," said Sheik. About CareLinx CareLinx is the nation's leading technology platform of tech-enabled care providers, both clinical and non-medical, who can be dispatched on-demand to any location. The innovative CareLinx platform, including its Nurse OnDemand business, facilitates real-time care coordination driven by actionable data analytics across the care continuum in the post-acute care environment, leading to increased quality of care, better health outcomes, and significantly reduced total cost of care. Amplifying the efficacy of remote clinical care management teams, care providers dispatched through CareLinx serve as clinicians' eyes, ears and arms, caring for patients in the home and in community-based settings across the U.S. To date, CareLinx has built a nationwide network of 500,000 tech-enabled, skilled and non-medical care providers, and the company works with several of the largest health plans and providers across the country as their trusted and scalable partner. CareLinx was acquired in 2017 by Generali, a Global Fortune 50 Company and one of the largest global insurance and asset management providers. Established in 1831, Generali is present in 50 countries around the world with nearly 72,000 employees serving 61 million customers. Visit us at https://www.carelinx.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005008/en/

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The 16 bodies set up to run Queenslands hospitals are rapidly becoming laden with debt and do not have systems in place to effectively communicate with each other and the health department, a report has found.

The latest report from the Queensland Audit Office has found 11 of the states 16 Hospital and Health Services reported operating losses in the 2019-20 financial year, three more than in the year before.

The financial sustainability of Queenslands Hospital and Health Services continues to decline, a report has found. Credit:Jason South

The services are responsible for running public hospitals throughout the state, and receive funding through both self-generated revenue and the state government via Queensland Health.

The report found 11 of the services had an operating loss in 2019-20, despite only one having budgeted for one, while seven had made an overall loss since they were formed in 2012 under the Campbell Newman-led LNP government.
[February 09, 2021] Nation's Top Orthopedic Hospital Launches the First FDA Approved Digital Pathology Platform

NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), the world's leading academic medical center specializing in orthopedics, rheumatology, and related disciplines, has become the first facility in the country to launch a cutting-edge technology for the digitization of pathology slides allowing pathologists to use digital images as primary means of diagnosis. The system, called the Sectra Digital Pathology Solution, lets HSS pathologists scan and upload slides into a single repository where others in the care team  from orthopedic surgeons and radiologists to rheumatologists and endocrinologists  can view them, along with radiologic images that also are housed in the system. This facilitates access for specialists from across HSS to share and discuss tissue samples in real time, making care more efficient and improving clinicians' ability to diagnose and treat their patients. Additionally, HSS clinicians and others in the care team can review the digital slides individually, simultaneously or slides shared by other hospitals to consult on complex cases. "HSS is the first hospital in the United States to have successfully integrated a high-resolution digital scanner [Leica] with the pathology Laboratory Information System [Epic/Beaker] and the enterprise-wide PACS [Sectra] in a way that allows pathologists to use digital images for primary diagnosis," said Thomas W. Bauer, MD, PhD, pathologist-in-chief at HSS, who led the digital pathology initiative. Allowing surgeons, radiologists, and other physicians to view high-resolution digital images of scanned microscope slides can significantly improve patient care, Dr. Bauer said. "Access to digital pathology images, side by side with radiology images on the same enterprise-wide PACS, enables correlation between different types of studies and promotes efficient discussion about complicated cases." In addition, instantly viewing digital images from previous procedures will be much easier than retrieving old microscope slides from long-term storage for re-review, he added. "The implications of the move to digital pathology are significant for patients everywhere," Dr. Bauer said. For example, because HSS pathologists are experts in musculoskeletal pathology, they frequently receive cases for consultation from other hopitals.



"Receiving digital images electronically from hospitals with their own scanners will facilitate consultative review, and has the potential to greatly reduce turnaround time," he added. "Digital pathology is the natural next step in the digital transformation of healthcare," said Douglas N. Mintz, MD, a radiologist at HSS who specializes in musculoskeletal imaging and who was instrumental in developing the platform with Dr. Bauer. "We can compare what we see on an image with what was seen on biopsy. It also facilitates the correlation between radiology and pathology, which is particularly important in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal neoplasms."

Array of High-Tech Tools "The scanned images are extremely high quality and, when used in combination with the Leica scanner and Sectra viewer, are considered by the FDA to be equivalent to conventional microscopy for making a primary diagnosis," explained Dr. Bauer. HSS, ranked #1 in the world for Orthopedics by Newsweek and has been ranked #1 in the United States for orthopedics for 11 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report, began its digital pathology initiative in 2017, and started working with Sectra technology in 2018, when it was still in the development phase. Initially, the goal was to use the system in a limited fashion, for particularly challenging cases in which clinicians had questions about pathology reports. But the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the FDA to grant the company emergency use authorization for its imaging platform, allowing HSS to speed up its transition to digital pathology. "It is gratifying to see our vision of Integrated Diagnostics come to fruition after a long software development and integration journey," said Inderpal Kohli, assistant vice president, IT Clinical Applications at HSS. In addition to other benefits, the solution offers HSS clinicians a familiar user interface and workflows, enabling ease of use and broader adoption across the enterprise. Beyond patient care, digital pathology will also have an immediate impact on student and resident education, both at HSS, where the technology already is being used to help trainees, and elsewhere. "We and other hospitals anticipate incorporating digital pathology into a variety of educational conferences available online, in which residents and fellows learn from more senior faculty by reviewing digital images," Dr. Bauer said. "As other hospitals convert their systems to digital imaging, they will be able to better take advantage of the expertise of the faculty at HSS and other centers of excellence, thereby promoting physician education and improving the care of patients around the world." About HSS

HSS is the world's leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 11th consecutive year), No. 4 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2020-2021), and named a leader in pediatric orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report "Best Children's Hospitals" list (2020-2021). HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics by Newsweek (2020-2021). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest complication and readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center four consecutive times. The global standard total knee replacement was developed at HSS in 1969. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. The HSS Global Innovation Institute was formed in 2016 to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 130 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. www.hss.edu. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nations-top-orthopedic-hospital-launches-the-first-fda-approved-digital-pathology-platform-301224846.html SOURCE Hospital for Special Surgery

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(TNS)  The 2019 ransomware attack on the city's servers is now potentially affecting criminal cases after it was revealed that the city police department lost all digital copies of its 2018 internal affairs files.The Albany County District Attorney's office sent letters to several local defense attorneys last month letting them know about loss of the files. District Attorney David Soares wrote that his office didn't learn the files were lost until Jan. 11, 2021, more than 18 months after the attack.A police department spokesman denied that, saying the department had previous conversations with the district attorney's office regarding the data loss.On Sunday, after this story appeared in print and online, the city disputed the extent of the file loss. Rachel McEneny, the city's commissioner of administrative services, said the internal affairs file loss went from November 2018 until the first two weeks of March 2019.But beyond the information lost in the ransomware attack, the pace of police personnel files being turned over from the city police department for discovery in criminal cases is sluggish, putting cases in jeopardy, according to Soares' office.On Jan. 21, Soares office sent Chief Eric Hawkins a letter urging him to send prosecutors the files they needed, adding that multiple cases were at risk of being dismissed, including some that prosecutors had previously told judges that they were in compliance with the state's discovery laws."I fear that your department has simply not invested the resources required to comply with our obligations and protect all of us from the dismissal of many important cases," Soares wrote to Hawkins.Under the law, any evidence or information the police have is assumed to be in the prosecutors' hands as well. That means despite any delays on the part of the department, the prosecution faces potential consequences, including case dismissal, if they do not meet the state's new discovery guidelines.In a statement to the, Hawkins said the department was in communication with Soares' office when it came to discovery issues."Some digital data entries were lost due to the ransomware attack," he said. "However, all physical files and documents are completely backed up and there was never a permanent loss. We remain committed to working with the district attorney's office to enhance public safety and ensure that offenders are brought to justice."It's unclear how many criminal cases are impacted by the attack or if past cases will need to be revisited.Albany County Public Defender Stephen Herrick said he believed they would be."It's going to be a huge issue and something that's going to impact disposition in cases, past and present," he said.In his Jan. 11 letter, Soares said the police department's internal affairs unit still maintains the paper files that contain the information prosecutors need. However, prosecutors have only reviewed officers' personnel files and have not gone through the investigations into any allegations from that year themselves.In an interview, Chief Assistant District Attorney David Rossi said that based on court rulings, if the district attorney's office isn't able to review those records, prosecutors won't be able to fulfill their obligations under the state's discovery law."And then eventually cases will be dismissed," he said.The lost files came to light after a prosecutor was preparing a file to turn over to a defense attorney and realized previously known allegations that should be in an officer's file were missing.The state's new discovery rules that went into effect Jan. 1, 2020, require prosecutors to certify they've done their due diligence in examining 21 categories of information that may need to be turned over to defense attorneys. Among those categories are police personnel files for officers who might become prosecution witnesses, such as officers who make an arrest.Prosecutors and police departments have said that the new discovery law is an unfunded state mandate that place a huge technological and time burden on them to turn over massive amounts of information in short periods of time.Defense attorneys argue that the new law levels the playing field, allowing defendants crucial access to information about their case sooner and that police and prosecutors had over a year to prepare for its implementation.In most cases, judges have required prosecutors to provide defense attorneys with information from personnel files that is only directly to the case at hand.However, in a November decision in an Albany homicide case, Albany County Supreme Court Judge William Carter ruled that the district attorney's office had to provide information on police officers who might be possible prosecution witnesses that was unrelated the current case. Carter also said Soares' office's use of asking police to essentially self-report "impeachable" information was not in line with the intent of the state's discovery laws.Soares' office has said they disagreed with the ruling, pointing to the fact that other judges across the state were not putting the same burden on other prosecutors.Previously prosecutors in Soares' office were asking police officers who might be potential witnesses to self-report possible impeachment information and relied on departments to review their own files and turn over any relevant information while the district attorney's office finished building its own database for police personnel files.Judges have criticized Soares' office before for their compliance practices before Carter's recent decision. Last year, State Supreme Court Justice Peter Lynch dismissed two convictions because prosecutors failed to disclose that a star State Police witness had been censured three times. Soares office has said they became aware of disciplinary history after using the trooper as a witness.The full impact of ransomware attack on the city has never been fully explained.The city paid out roughly $300,000 to recover from the ransomware attack that hit Albany on March 30, 2019.The costs covered destroyed servers, upgrading user security software, purchasing firewall insurance and other improvements to firm up the city's systems following the attack.The hackers demanded payment in cryptocurrency to recover files they had encrypted.The city said it did not end up having to pay the ransom because critical servers, such as human resources and treasury, were backed up. It has never said how much the hackers demanded. It's unclear who or what entity might have been behind the attack. It took the city several months to restore all its systems that could be recovered.In a ransomware attack, a hacker cuts off the victim's access to a system or personal files and demands payment  typically via credit card or cryptocurrency  in order to make it available again.On Friday, the FBI said the investigation into the ransomware attack was on-going.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump begins in the Senate on Tuesday after Republicans and Democrats, as well as the House managers and Trump's legal team agreed to a rapid trial timetable.



The trial will kick off with a debate on the constitutionality of the proceeding, in which both sides will get four-hours each to make their case. At the end of the debate, the Senate will vote on whether to proceed with the trial, which is expected to pass with a majority vote. Both sides are tied with 50 Senators each in the Upper House, but on crucial matters, Vice President can cast her vote to break the tie.



Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Monday that the structure of the trial rules commonly agreed to by all sides is 'eminently fair,' and will 'allow for the trial to achieve its purpose: truth and accountability.'



If the constitutional vote passes, the impeachment managers will begin their presentation at noon, Wednesday. Both sides are allowed up to 16 hours each for arguments.



The nine impeachment managers, who are Democrats from the House of Representatives, have charged that Trump is responsible for the deadly riot at the Capitol on January 6 by 'inciting insurrection' in a speech to supporters hours before the Congressional meeting to certify Biden's presidential election win.



Trump followers' failed violent attempt to block the Congress from certifying Biden's victory resulted in the death of five people.



Trump's attorneys argue that the trial is unconstitutional because he is no more the President but a private citizen.



A resolution charging Trump with 'incitement of insurrection' was passed with a 232 to 197 vote in the House of Representatives on January 13.



10 Republican Representatives voted against Trump, who thus became the first president in US history to be impeached twice. He was impeached by the House in December 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.



Although the impeachment move was passed in The House, it will not be an easy task in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority would be needed to convict Trump.



The Democrats need the support of at least 17 Republican senators to reach that target in the 100 member Upper House, but chances are less for enough Republicans to join them.



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From classic glazed, to fruity filled, to crammed with cannoli filling or cookie dough, national Food & Wine Magazine says Paulas Donuts in Tonawanda, NY are the best in the state. Writer David Landsel said pretty much everything they make is worth fawning over.

The award may come as no surprise for an Upstate New York doughnut shop that has been on several of our must try and best of lists. In 2018, two reporters went to Paulas Donuts in West Seneca on the hunt for the best doughnut in Upstate New York. With over 30 different varieties to choose from, they tried Paulas sour cream old fashioned cake donut which TV stars Alton Brown said was among the best donuts he ever had.

Paula's Donuts in West Seneca, NY. Best donuts in Upstate New York search in 2018.Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com

They also tried Paulas famous Texas Donuts which is a single pastry so large that its intended to feed six to eight people. Just one Texas Donut fills a box meant to hold a dozen doughnuts.

Food & Wine singled out Paulas 2019 creation of the cannoli doughnut. What was intended to be a one-off charity fundraiser turned into a smash hit of powdered bismarcks stuffed with cannoli-style filling that have become one of their most popular flavors.

Paula's Donuts in West Seneca, NY. Best donuts in Upstate New York search in 2018.Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com

Paula's Donuts in West Seneca, NY. Best donuts in Upstate New York search in 2018.Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com

Paula's Donuts in West Seneca, NY. Best donuts in Upstate New York search in 2018.Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com

Paulas is also no stranger to creating sweet viral treats. Their Star Wars themed doughnuts were meant to be for a one day May the fourth be with you celebration, but staff ended up making frosted Yodas, cute Chewbacca sticks, and stuffed stormtroopers all weekend long to keep up with customer demand.

Paula's Donuts in West Seneca, NY. Best donuts in Upstate New York search in 2018.Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com

The Western NY doughnut shop was featured alongside New York Citys Doughnut Plant. Paulas Donuts has two other locations in Clarence and West Seneca, though Tonawanda is the original spot. WGRZ reports that Paulas first location within Buffalos city limits will open in 2021 at 822 Seneca Street in Larkinville.

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A reptile park is calling for residents of Sydney and surrounds to catch funnel web spiders found in their homes to be milked for their precious antivenom amid a donation shortage.

The Australian Reptile Park at Somersby, on the Central Coast, has experienced a lower number of spider donations for its antivenom program this summer.

The Australian Reptile Park is asking people to safely catch spiders for its antivenom program. Credit:Peter Rae

A spokesperson for the park said the shortage could be due to a number of factors, including the northern beaches lockdown as this is an area where a number of donations usually come from each year.

Last summers bushfires also probably affected numbers. However, recent rain and warm weather has created the perfect conditions for the eight-legged housemates to move in across Greater Sydney.

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.

Children from Croatian Catholic families attend class in the right side of the building. On the left, the students are predominantly Muslim. Credit: Laura Boushnak

According to the Education Act, schools in the ethnically divided Bosnia and Herzegovina must teach students "democratic ideals in a multicultural society." But according to new research from the University of Copenhagen, the opposite happens: Segregated schools perpetuate ethnic divisions between Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks, making reconciliation after the 1992-1995 wars extremely difficult.

25 years ago, the warring factions in the war in former Yugoslavia signed a peace agreement. Bosnia and Herzegovina, where 100,000 people lost their lives during the war, is now an independent state comprising the Bosnian-Croatian Federation and the Republika Srpska. It is a division that reflects the three groups in the country: The Muslim Bosniaks, the Catholic Croats and the Orthodox Serbs.

The ethnic division of the country is also seen in the education system, where no less than thirteen ministries of education are responsible for teaching in local Serbian, Croatian and Bosniak counties.

"The education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina is an example of how even the best intentions can lead to bad results: In the Education Act, which was drafted on the initiative of the international community, emphasis is placed on promoting students' democratic education in a multicultural society. In principle, this is what all parties have agreed on, says Ph.D. Selma Bukovica Gundersen, who has just defended her Ph.D. dissertation on the history classes in Bosnia and Herzegovina's schools," she continues:

"In practice, this is just not what happens because when the new constitution was written in 1995, the international community also wanted to ensure that children could be taught in their own language. This had the unintended consequence that the previous nationwide education system was replaced with an ethnically segregated system with curricula and textbooks in the now three official languageswhich is basically one and the same language. This means, for example, that the pupils are presented with three fundamentally different versions of the war 1992-1995 in their history classes, depending on whether they attend a Croatian, Serbian or Bosniak school. In this way, the schools perpetuate ethnic and religious differences rather than prepare the ground for dialogue about the difficult and sensitive past."

The children are left alone with difficult thoughts

In connection with her dissertation, Selma Bukovica Gundersen interviewed history teachers and the other key actors in school governance, observed history classes and read a large number of documents such as curricula, history books and educational legislation. Finally, she collected and analyzed 103 essays written by schoolchildren who were trying to come to grips with their identity and their knowledge of the war 1992-1995:

"The structure of the education system and the teaching materials, which are tailored to suit specific ethnic groups, mean that children primarily identify themselves with their own group, because there is no shared identity they can choose, even if they wanted to. The schools thus sustain a 'discourse of impossibility'- that is, the notion that co-existence across ethnic and religious divides is impossible. And it is clear from the essays that many children are very alone with difficult thoughts about war, grief, identity and belonging, and these are either addressed in a very one-sided fashion at school or not at all," says Selma Bukovica Gundersen and elaborates:

"The newly elected mayor in Banja Luka, which is the capital of the Serbian part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a young man who is perceived as the man of the future, a man with the potential to create change. He is only 27 years old and belongs to the generation I have written about in my dissertationthe generation that has no personal recollection of the war 1992-1995 but has grown up in a divided country. He does not recognize the genocide in Srebrenica or The Hague trials, and he can therefore be said to be a product of the segregated schools that reproduce the ethnonational narratives of the past. The same separation policy that was practiced in the late 1980's and early 1990's, when World War II was the contentious subject."

History teachers are under pressure

According to Selma Bukovica Gundersen, the lack of political will in local school districts to handle the memory of the war 1992-1995 in constructive ways challenges teachers when communicating the controversial topic in their classrooms.

"Many teachers try to avoid dealing with the topic in their classes, but also acknowledge that this is hardly a viable or future-proof solution. Other teachers try to navigate between the local demands for rigorous ethnonational communication of history and the national and international demands for diversity and democratic dialogue. This is obviously not easy, and they feel under a lot of pressure," explains Selma Bukovica Gundersen and concludes, "In my view, it is absolutely crucial that the education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina is capable of introducing future generations to the causes and consequences of the war 1992-1995, but without becoming a tool for narrow religious and ethnic identities, which, unfortunately, is the case now. If the idea is that future generations should be able to unite the divided country, you need to agree on a common language for the past across ethnic boundaries and establish a narrative that subsequent generations can be taught. We must ask ourselves how long a state can survive on the basis of a purely formal and administrative link between the state and its citizens, but without a common understanding of or interpretation of history?"

According to Selma Bukovica Gundersen, the theme of the dissertation is, however, in no way unique to Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is not only important in a post-war society, but in all societies, which must deal with ethnic and religious diversityin other words, challenges of creating a democracy that includes more cultures, and where more ethnic groups and cultures must be able to coexist peacefully.

Explore further Disorder during language lessons at ethnically diverse schools
By Joseph S. Nye, Jr.





CAMBRIDGE  How Joe Biden handles China will be one of the defining issues of his presidency. He inherits a Sino-American relationship that is at its lowest point in 50 years. Some people blame this on his predecessor, Donald Trump. But Trump merits blame for pouring gasoline on a fire. It was China's leaders who lit and kindled the flames.



Over the past decade, Chinese leaders abandoned Deng Xiaoping's moderate policy of "Hide your strength, bide your time." They became more assertive in many ways; building and militarizing artificial islands in the South China Sea, intruding into waters near Japan and Taiwan, launching incursions into India along the countries' Himalayan border, and coercing Australia economically when it dared to criticize China.



On trade, China tilted the playing field by subsidizing state-owned enterprises and forcing foreign companies to transfer intellectual property to Chinese partners. Trump responded clumsily with tariffs on allies as well as on China, but he had strong bipartisan support when he excluded companies like Huawei, whose plans to build 5G networks posed a security threat.



At the same time, however, the United States and China remain interdependent, both economically and on ecological issues that transcend the bilateral relationship. The U.S. cannot decouple its economy completely from China without enormous costs.



During the Cold War, the U.S. and the Soviet Union had almost no economic or other interdependence. In contrast, U.S.-China trade amounts to some $500 billion annually, and the two sides engage in extensive exchanges of students and visitors. Even more important, China has learned to harness the power of markets to authoritarian control in ways the Soviets never mastered, and China is more countries' trading partner than the U.S. is.



Given China's population size and rapid economic growth, some pessimists believe that shaping Chinese behavior is impossible. But this is not true if one thinks in terms of alliances. The combined wealth of the developed democracies  the U.S., Japan, and Europe  far exceeds that of China. This reinforces the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance for the stability and prosperity of East Asia and the world economy. At the end of the Cold War, many on both sides considered the alliance a relic of the past; in fact, it is vital for the future.



U.S. administrations once hoped that China would become a "responsible stakeholder" in the international order. But President Xi Jinping has led his country in a more confrontational direction. A generation ago, the U.S. supported China's membership in the World Trade Organization, but there was little reciprocity; on the contrary, China tilted the playing field.



Critics in the U.S. often accuse Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush of naivete in thinking that a policy of engagement could accommodate China. But history is not that simple. Clinton's China policy did offer engagement, but it also hedged that bet by reaffirming its security relationship with Japan as the key to managing China's geopolitical rise. There were three major powers in East Asia, and if the U.S. remained aligned with Japan (now the world's third-largest national economy), the two countries could shape the environment in which China's power grew.



Moreover, if China tried to push the U.S. beyond the first island chain as part of a military strategy to expel it from the region, Japan, which constitutes the most important part of that chain, remained willing to contribute generous host-country support for the 50,000 U.S. troops based there. Today, Kurt Campbell, a thoughtful and skilled implementer of Clinton's policy, is the key coordinator for the Indo-Pacific on Biden's National Security Council.



The alliance with Japan enjoys strong support in the U.S. Since 2000, former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and I have issued a series of bipartisan reports on the strategic relationship. In our fifth report, released on Dec. 7, 2020 by the non-partisan Center for Strategic and International Studies, we argue that Japan, like many other Asian countries, does not want to be dominated by China. It is now taking a leading role in the alliance: setting the regional agenda, championing free-trade agreements and multilateral cooperation, and implementing new strategies to shape a regional order.



Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spearheaded a reinterpretation of Article 9 of Japan's post-war constitution, to strengthen the country's defense capabilities under the United Nations Charter, and, after Trump withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, he preserved the regional trade pact as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TPP. Abe also led quadrilateral consultations with India and Australia regarding stability in the Indo-Pacific.



Fortunately, this regional leadership is likely to continue under Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who was Abe's chief cabinet secretary and is likely to continue his policies. Common interests and shared democratic values continue to form the bedrock of the alliance with America, and public opinion polls in Japan show that trust in the U.S. has never been higher. It is not surprising that one of Biden's first calls to foreign leaders after his inauguration was to Suga, to assure him of America's continued commitment to strategic partnership with Japan.



The Japan-U.S. alliance remains popular in both countries, which need each other more than ever. Together, they can balance China's power and cooperate with China in areas like climate change, biodiversity, and pandemics, as well as on working toward a rules-based international economic order. For these reasons, as the Biden administration develops its strategy to cope with China's continued rise, the alliance with Japan will remain a top priority.





Joseph S. Nye, Jr. is a former dean at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and the author of "Do Morals Matter? Presidents and Foreign Policy from FDR to Trump." His article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).







Professor Tanja Stadler, Head of Computational Evolution at ETH Zurich, Switzerland. Credit: ETH Zurich /Giulia Marthaler

Scientific and public health experts have been raising the alarm for decades, imploring public officials to prepare for the inevitability of a viral pandemic. Infectious epidemics seemingly as benign as "the flu" and as deadly as the Ebola virus provided ample warning, yet government officials seemed caught off guard and ill prepared for dealing with COVID-19. Three future-oriented researchers and policy experts map out an "Epidemiological Blueprint for Understanding the Dynamics of a Pandemic."

COVID Detectives

Researchers around the world have become forensic, Sherlock Holmes-like "consulting detectives" for government officials and public health organizations. Handling tens of thousands of samples, epidemiologists, like ETH Zurich Professor Tanja Stadler, can now reconstruct the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in areas where contact tracing is otherwise unavailable. Unlike the fictional Holmes, today's researchers benefit from real-time statistical tools to decipher the genetic code of various viral strains. Stadler, who serves on the Swiss National COVID Science Task Force says, "Just like in humans, the genetic code of pathogens reveals a blueprint with information about the virus' evolution and its origins. The blueprint enables us to understand the type and possible origin of the virus strains circulating within a country; identify new variants with novel characteristics; and determine its reproductive ratethe average number of secondary infections perpetuated by an infected person."

Stadler's team monitors the spread of new variants within Switzerland and places the sequences in an international context. Prior to the discovery of the new B 1.1.7 variant in the United Kingdom, scientists used Stadler's genomic data to identify another variant that spread rapidly throughout Europe over the summer of 2020. It was first detected in an agricultural region of Spain and some possible super-spreading events led to the rapid expansion of this variant. Compared to B 1.1.7, the variant of the virus from Spain showed no transmission advantage over the original virus strain. The timing of the outbreak of this strain occurred in a summer vacation period and, according to Stadler, likely spread when foreign visitors returned home to Switzerland, the UK, and to other countries.

Like many other viruses, SARS-CoV-2 mutates every two-weeks. Scientists are unable to determine at this point, how fast the virus adapts to the human immune system and whether or not annual vaccinations will be necessary in the future. Currently patient meta-data and genomic sequencing are not connected. Disconnected data represents one of the many missing links for fully understanding the dynamics of the pandemic. Stadler proposes that if scientists were able to connect this information while, of course, ensuring patient privacy, they would be better able to respond to important questions about new variants and their rates of transmission.

The Hunt for Animal X

Over the past quarter of a century, bats have transmitted some of the world's deadliest outbreaks of Zoonotic viruses. Since bats live in high-density colonies and are the only mammals that fly, they often serve as an intermediary viral host between animals (horses, pigs, and even camels) or transmit viruses directly to humans. Professor Linfa Wang from the Duke-NUS Medical School explains that one of the concerning aspects of SARS-CoV-2 is the fact that humans can also transmit the virus to other species, as we have seen reported with minks and other animals. Animals can then re-transmit mutated strains of the virus back to humans in a process known as "spillback."

Mitigating future viral pandemics has prompted international experts and scientists to hunt down "Animal X" to determine the origin of SARS-Cov-2. While the hunt may start in Wuhan, China, the high number of bat colonies in parts of South-East Asia and Southern China leave experts suspecting that similar viruses may have been circulating in the human population of these regions for many years. Recent findings have confirmed such hypotheses. To the best of Professor Wang's knowledge, bat colonies in North America currently do not carry any SARS-like viruses, but given the potential for spillback, Wang recommends a Serological survey. Monitoring changes in bat populations could serve as an advance warning system for potential future public health threats.

In May 2020, just 70 days after Wang conceived the idea, he and his team developed and patented the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved neutralizing antibody detection test for SARS-CoV-2. Known as the "cPass," the test measures neutralizing antibodies that may prove valuable in developing a future "immunity passport." Working with the World Health Organization (WHO), Wang is now creating a global surveillance protocol, an international standard measurement unit, and neutralizing antibody testing. These heroic feats in the face of a pandemic are, perhaps, what prompted his unofficial title as "The Batman of Singapore."

Facing Existential Threat

Microbes existed long before the human species and they will likely be around long after we cease to exist. While it may not seem so in the midst of a pandemic, "In the modern world of medicine, we have (for the most part) won the battle against the microbes," says Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. Osterholm also served on the Biden Transition Team's COVID-19 Advisory Board. He has spent much of his career in a chess-like match anticipating microbial evolution's next move and strategizing public health policies to address unimaginable threats.

A blueprint for understanding the dynamics of a pandemic requires a "creative imaginationan ability to anticipate the unthinkable and create a plausible public response," says Osterholm. Referencing the death rate of U.S. soldiers during World War I, Osterholm indicates that nearly seven out of eight American soldiers died not from combat, but from the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. With an historical knowledge of pandemics and outbreaks such as SARS, MERS, and Ebola, he asks, "Why did COVID-19 catch the world off guard, unprepared, and seemingly unable to fathom the sheer scale of the pandemic's impact?" The current pandemic is most likely "not even the big one," he suggests. "Another influenza pandemic, like the Spanish flu, could prove even more devastating than COVID-19."

Infectious disease exposes the weaknesses in global societies from the world's food systems to demographic inequalities. Osterholm explained that in order to feed the nearly 8 billion people on earth, we raise about 23 billion chickens, and, as of 2020, 678 million pigs. While avian flu viruses generally do not infect humans, when chickens live in close proximity to pigs, transmission occurs. Pigs can contract both human and bird viruses creating genetic exchanges and new mutations transmissible to humans with potentially deadly outcomes. Osterholm emphasized that ethnic groups and indigenous societies are suffering a disproportionate impact for a myriad of reasonsmany of which stem from societal discrimination, inequality, and poverty.

Tanja Stadler, Linfa Wang, and Michael Osterholm agree and advocate for an internationally coordinated response to COVID-19. Osterholm expressed a need for understanding how public health practices interface with everyday life in various countries around the world. He says, "The greatest vaccines and the best tools in the world will be rendered ineffective unless we achieve public support and acceptance."

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

More information: Vibol Hul et al. A novel SARS-CoV-2 related coronavirus in bats from Cambodia, (2021). Vibol Hul et al. A novel SARS-CoV-2 related coronavirus in bats from Cambodia,(2021). DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.26.428212 Aaron T. Irving et al. Lessons from the host defences of bats, a unique viral reservoir, Nature (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-03128-0 Journal information: Nature
Dr Ronan Glynn hopes we have passed the worst for 2021, but cautioned that the drive to reduce transmission rates must remain steadfast. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The threat of the South African Covid-19 variant, which has already been detected in 11 people who travelled here, is among the unknowns which could leave the country facing restrictions and quarantine measures in the coming months, it emerged last night.

Deputy chief medical officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, said that while the country is likely to have passed the worst of the disease this year, there will be a need to keep virus levels low.

He could not confirm whether or not the construction industry will reopen early next month.

Dr Glynn said priorities are the reopening of education and non-Covid healthcare.

Once case numbers go down, he stated that we must keep the virus actively suppressed.

If they go back up, we have seen what will happen, he added.

The dominant strain here is the more infectious UK variant.

I would hope we will move in a steady, more positive frame over the coming months, he said, referring to more people being outdoors, which is lower risk. But case numbers must be kept down, he insisted.

Dr Glynn was speaking as a preliminary study found the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine  which is being rolled out to healthcare workers here this week  offered only limited protection against mild-to-moderate disease in vaccinated people who caught the South African variant, although it may still prevent severe illness.

That variant has been contained here and has not spread into the community.

Dr Cillian de Gascun, head of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, said it is essential that we reduce the viruss need to replicate or reproduce, because that is when mutations happen.

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Variants will continue to emerge. We focused on three but it is likely there will be more in the coming months or years, he said.

It is likely people will need booster shots of vaccine in the coming years. With the aid of technology, jabs can be adapted to deal with new variants in a short time.

Earlier, Prof Kingston Mills, of the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin, said that if the study findings are confirmed, it highlighted the need for the Government to step up measures around mandatory quarantine for airline passengers.

Asked about reports that some nursing-home staff have had to be offered prizes by management to take the vaccine, Dr Glynn said nobody should be unduly pressurised to take the vaccine.

He hoped healthcare workers would get vaccinated, but if they have legitimate concerns around side effects, they should consult their doctor. There is no proposal to make vaccination mandatory.

Questioned on claims that some doctors are charging patients for Covid-19 assessments, he said these are free and if that is the case, people should go to another medic.

Prof Philip Nolan, of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet), said there were six additional Covid-19 deaths yesterday and 829 new cases.

The reintroduction of testing of close contacts will add to the daily toll for some time before they fall, he added.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is now going to resume offering close contacts two tests, he said.

He said steady progress is being made and the hope was that daily cases could be reduced to between 200 and 400 a day by the end of February.

He said mortality remains high and it will take some time to come down.

Meanwhile, new vaccination figures showed that, up to last Friday, 230,766 doses of Covid-19 vaccines had been administered, including 84,220 to residents and staff in long-term care.
A former National Defense commander has allowed gambling to proliferate in Harasta, writes Sowt Al-Asima.

Gambling houses have appeared in the city of Harasta in eastern Ghouta recently, all of which were opened under the supervision of a National Defense Militia commander in central Damascus.

The Sowt Al-Asima correspondent said that the commander of the National Defense militia and the former responsible for the security file for the city of Harasta, Colonel Nabil Suleiman, had established gambling spots in houses that were under the militias control in various neighborhoods of the city.

The correspondent added that the most prominent gambling house is the one that was established in the Al-Baidar neighborhood, in a house owned by a close associate of Colonel Suleimans, noting that Suleiman frequents the house, accompanied by a number of regime army officers from the Dahiyat al-Assad area, in the company of Reconciliation Committee members, Abou Abdo Muhanna and Abou Ahmad Al-Jojo.

Another house was established near the checkpoint of the Fourth Division, which is located at the main entrance to Harasta, in a complex that the National Defense militia had taken ownership of after the area fell under the regimes control.

According to the correspondent, Colonel Suleiman, who hails from the Syrian coast, used to live in Harasta before the outbreak of the Syrian revolution. He left the city for Damascus in late 2011, only to return to it as a fighter after the formation of the National Defense militia. Suleiman handled the administration of the Harasta file between 2012 and 2019, and he was one of those who contributed to concluding the armistice agreement in the Barzeh neighborhood of Damascus in 2014.

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.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

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REGINA - A newly released document shows prosecutors in Saskatchewan weighed backlash and remorse felt by people accused of posting hateful online messages after the high-profile shooting death of a young Cree man.

REGINA - A newly released document shows prosecutors in Saskatchewan weighed backlash and remorse felt by people accused of posting hateful online messages after the high-profile shooting death of a young Cree man.

Tuesday marks the three-year anniversary of the acquittal of Gerald Stanley in the death of 22-year-old Colten Boushie of Red Pheasant First Nation, after he and his friends drove onto Stanley's farm near Biggar, Sask., in 2016.

Debbie Baptiste, mother of Colten Boushie, holds a photo of her son during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Feb. 14, 2018. A newly released document show prosecutors in Saskatchewan weighed the backlash and remorse felt by those accused of posting hateful messages online after the high-profile death of the young Cree man. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Stanley's trial heard from Boushie's friends, whotestified they had been looking for help with a flat tire. Stanley told court he thought they were trying to steal an all-terrain vehicle and his gun accidentally went off, firing a bullet into the back of Boushie's head.

A jury found Stanley not guilty of second-degree murder.

Boushie's death caused racial tensions in the province to flare and sparked debate on systemic racism toward Indigenous people and rural crime.

A deluge of online comments made after the shooting was the subject of a recently revised briefing note prepared for incoming Saskatchewan Justice Minister Gord Wyant by the public prosecutions branch. The partially-redacted document, dated last November, was released to The Canadian Press under Freedom of Information legislation.

"Some people made comments online approving of the violence done to Mr. Boushie, and lamenting that more of his group had not been killed that day," it reads.

"A number of people who made comments like this were themselves subjected to an online shaming campaign, which included potentially threatening messages."

The prosecutions office says it reviewed RCMP investigations into the comments and didn't recommend charges because there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction.

"Public Prosecutions also considered the remorse of the suspects and the social media consequences they had already received in determining whether there was a public interest in pursuing charges," the document says.

Chris Murphy, a lawyer for Boushie's family, says he believes the comments fit the Criminal Code's definition of hate speech towards an identifiable group.

He says he finds the rationale by the prosecutions office troubling because of the message it sends.

"(It) suggests that you can say hateful things about Indigenous people in Saskatchewan and you dont have to fear reprisals from the police for those statements if youve been shamed online for saying them, which to me is frankly unbelievable."

I dont ask this lightly, but I ask whether or not the public would believe that Indigenous people who are the subjects of criminal investigations in Saskatchewan are granted the same sort of leniency."

Murphy also questions why neither Boushie's family nor legal counsel were informed that some people accused of making the posts had expressed remorse.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Rob King says about 85 online accounts were investigated for comments made about Boushie's death and the Stanley trial. Officers informed those who made reports about the outcomes of the investigations, King says, and Boushie's family didn't file complaints.

Kelly Sundberg, a criminologist at Calgary's Mount Royal University, says collecting evidence in online hate cases is complex and often crosses jurisdictions.

"There's so many challenges of just showing that, that computer was used by a certain person on this time and that we know it's the only person possibly behind that keyboard."

Another expert says hate speech is a tough crime to prosecute because it requires drawing a line between freedom of expression and words that normalize hate or violence toward members of a specific group.

At minimum, any expression of remorse would have to be publicly made and made to those who were the victims," says University of Windsor law professor Richard Moon, adding that could be to Boushie's family or the wider Indigenous community.

Saskatchewan's Ministry of Justice says it doesn't comment on the details of investigations where no charges are laid and the RCMP says it is bound by privacy laws.

"Prosecutions recommends charges where there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute. In these instances, neither of these two thresholds were met," says justice spokesman Noel Busse.

"Depending on the situation, prosecutors may also take publicly observable information into account."

Eleanore Sunchild, a lawyer based in North Battleford, Sask., who also represents Boushie's family, says the briefing documentfails to mention the problem of racism.

"It's like they feel if they don't acknowledge the racism that exists here  it's not an issue.

"The issue is far from over. We still see continued injustice occur everyday in Canada against Indigenous people."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2020.
Mumbai, Feb 9 : Evicted contestant Jasmin Bhasin has opened up about her relationship with Bigg Boss 14 housemate Aly Goni. She hopes that her blossoming romance with him grows into something more beautiful and great things happen.

Aly entered the ongoing season of Bigg Boss a few weeks after the show began to lend support to his 'lady love' Jasmin. Soon, the two grew close.

"It is all about this beautiful feeling that there was, this realisation that it means more than friendship. When I got evicted it became such an emotional moment for us. That whole thing was very heart-touching for me and also something that is every girl's dream -- to be loved like this. It is a beautiful thing that both of us feel -- feeling in love is a beautiful feeling," Jasmin told IANS.

She added: "Lets see how it goes once he comes out we will discuss it, because for us also it's very new. Both of us are also like, 'how do we sink this in?'. It feels great." Does she see this feeling blossoming into something more? "I hope that it blossoms into something more beautiful and great things happen to me. I am hoping for that, and even Aly is. Let's see how things are once he is also out." She added: "He has always had his life and I have led my life. We've been friends but this realisation is a very new feeling for us, so once he is out we'll explore it," she said.

Latest updates on Bigg Boss Season 14

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump, which begins today, arises out of an event without precedent in the history of the United States: an attempted coup detat by the president of the United States, aimed at overturning the result of an election, violently suppressing Congress and establishing a one-man dictatorship. In the course of this attempted coup, the lives of senators, representatives and even the vice president were threatened. Several people were killed.

On the eve of the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., center right, the lead Democratic House impeachment manager, walks through the Rotunda to the Senate to prepare for the case, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

There is no question that Donald Trump is guilty of not only high crimes and misdemeanors. He has committed felonies of the most serious character. His impeachment should be followed by his indictment on criminal charges, trial, conviction and lifelong imprisonment. His many co-conspirators should be identified, subjected to criminal proceedings and thrown into high-security prisons along with him.

But this is unlikely to be the result of the Senate trial. While the 80-page Democratic House managers brief released last week lays out a detailed factual case documenting that Trump led a months-long campaign to prepare a coup detat, the Democrats who control the Senatenot to mention President Bidenhave no stomach for this fight. Although Trumps conspiracy was either directly supported or facilitated by the Senate Republicans, the Democrats continue to bow politely before this right-wing riffraff and address them as colleagues.

To the extent that the Democrats trial strategy is directed to the Republican senatorsi.e., persuading them to convict Trumpthe proceedings will evade what should be its central purpose: to expose before the entire country the criminal conspiracy led by Trump and involving sections of the state, including the military-police apparatus and powerful sections of the corporate-financial elite.

There are a number of obvious questions that relate to the operation of the conspiracy that must be answered, including:

How was it possible that the Capitol Police, the DC National Guard, the FBI and other federal security forces were so completely unprepared for what was known in advance to be a violent attack?





Why was there a virtual stand-down of Capitol security forces despite well documented plans for violence, involving fascistic militias like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers?





With whom were the leaders of the mob in contact during the assault? Who visited the Trump White House in the days leading up to the attempted coup? How did the fascists know the layout of the Capitol building?

But there are more fundamental questions that no one is asking, let alone answering. First and foremost: If the coup succeeded, what was the plan?

The Democrats own indictment lays out in extensive detail the months-long conspiracy to overturn the results of the election that culminated on January 6. Trump organized a mob to storm the Capitol and stop the congressional certification of the results of the election. This is precisely true. But if they succeeded in seizing hostages, what were they going to do?

And what were the forces within the state involved in this operation? In the months before the coup, Trump made critical changes to the military aimed at facilitating it. The military has just initiated a stand-down supposedly aimed at addressing the proliferation of domestic extremism within its ranks. Who within the military supported the operation, and what were their roles?

Who, moreover, was providing the financial backing? As is well known, in order to uncover the roots of a criminal conspiracy, it is necessary to follow the money. Trumps own cabinet was stocked with billionaires, including individuals like his former education secretary, Betsy DeVos, the sister of Blackwater founder Erik Prince. The DeVos family is known to have provided funding for right-wing demonstrations in Michigan to demand an end to restrictions on the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. What is the connection between the fascistic mob on January 6 and high-level support within the ruling class?

Finally, who were the Republican politicians and officials, at both the federal and state levels, who worked with members and leaders of the various fascist militia and vigilante organizations?

Many of the senators sitting as jurors in the trial either facilitated or directly participated in the events underlying it. This includes Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, who led the drive to reject the Electoral College vote on January 6. It also includes all those, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who helped Trump promote the lie of a rigged election by refusing for weeks to acknowledge Bidens victory.

The New York Times published a report yesterday, Its Own Domestic Army: How the GOP Allied Itself With Militants, reporting on the political alignment of the Republican Party with fascistic militias involved not only in the January 6 insurrection, but also the plot to kidnap and assassinate the Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, prior to the election.

The Times notes:

Following signals from President Donald J. Trumpwho had tweeted LIBERATE MICHIGAN! after an earlier show of force in LansingMichigans Republican Party last year welcomed the support of newly emboldened paramilitary groups and other vigilantes. Prominent party members formed bonds with militias or gave tacit approval to armed activists using intimidation in a series of rallies and confrontations around the state. That intrusion into the Statehouse now looks like a portent of the assault halfway across the country months later at the United States Capitol.

What was the involvement of Republican Party officials throughout the country, along with local sheriffs and police departments, in facilitating and supporting the January 6 insurrection?

The Democrats oppose the full exposure of the conspiracy. Biden is seeking to distance himself completely from the Senate trial. Bidens strategy for Trumps impeachment: Sit back and STFU, noted a headline in Politico yesterday. The Biden team, Politico wrote, has shut down question after question about where Biden stands on this weeks trial, even with its massive historical, constitutional and political ramifications. On Monday, press secretary Jen Psaki wouldnt even say whether the president would receive daily updates on the trials progress. It continued:

The last thing Americans want to see right now is that conversation from the podium, Karen Finney, a former Hillary Clinton campaign adviser and Democratic strategist, said of the White House talking about impeachment. Part of what theyre trying to do here is say its a new day its a new administration. Theyre not going to use the White House and the tools of the presidency to engage in politics.

In other words, it is necessary to move on. In particular, the Democrats want to cover up the complicity of its colleagues in the Republican Party, which has become an incubator for fascist forces and their integration into the political establishment.

What Trump expresses is the deep-rooted, anti-democratic and fascistic tendencies embedded in the state and the entire ruling class. The Democrats have no desire to expose the extent of the conspiracy, because this would involve an exposure of the underlying political and social conditions of which the Trump administration is an expression.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi speaks at a news conference with the president of Colombia, Ivan Duque, in Bogota, Colombia, 8 February 2021.  UNHCR/Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo

Thank you very much Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen.

Mr. President, both you and the Secretary General used the term historical. I truly believe that here and today we are witnessing a gesture that is historic.

Latin America, as you know, has a significant history, also a painful one of exile and displacement. With this history, a document was born: the Cartagena Declaration, marking the before and after of asylum, solidarity and fraternity throughout the world. Mr. President, I believe that what you have announced today is one of the most important humanitarian gestures made on this continent since 1984, when the Cartagena Declaration was signed. I have just completed 5 years as High Commissioner for Refugees and I cannot think of another event of this magnitude or a precedent as critical as providing temporary protection for Venezuelans during my mandate.

On behalf of the United Nations, the Secretary-General and our partner the International Organization for Migration, working together with the local and national Government, on behalf of all, thank you Mr. President.

Dear President,

Colombias offer to provide temporary protection to Venezuelans on its territory for a ten-year period is a humanitarian gesture of an unprecedented scale in the region - and the entire world. This initiative is an extraordinary example of humanity, commitment towards human rights, and pragmatism.

Colombia hosts more than 37% of the approximately 4.6 million of Venezuelans who live across Latin America and the Caribbean after being forced to leave their country.

The temporary protection measure will address one of the biggest challenges facing the Colombian State and Venezuelans on its territory alike: the lack of any sort of regular status which affects close to one million Venezuelans currently living in the country.

This population works largely in the informal sector of the economy and is often confronted with abuse, exploitation and discrimination; this is particularly acute among women and children. The temporary protection status will make a significant difference in their lives, allowing them to contribute fully to Colombian society.

Latin America has been, as we know, one of the regions at the epicentre of the pandemic. All countries have faced enormous challenges at various levels, with impacts on their health systems, economies and employment rates. For most Venezuelan refugees and migrants, the impact has been devastating. Despite the efforts made by States in the region to ensure inclusion in national programmes, many Venezuelans have lost their livelihoods.

We all hope a comprehensive solution that addresses the political, socioeconomic and humanitarian challenges of Venezuela can be advanced. As such, in the current context, the decision to regularize hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans has even greater relevance. In addition to the legal protection for the Venezuelan population, registration will allow for a wider coverage of the COVID-19 vaccination.

As the President stated, documentation is critical for socio-economic inclusion. The Temporary Protection Status will allow Venezuelans to contribute actively to the national economy and the well-being of the communities that host them.

It goes without saying that the implementation of such a large-scale initiative will require significant investment in terms of time, logistics and resources.

Over the last several years, important efforts have been made by the international community to support States in responding to this crisis. Within the framework of the Refugee and Migrant Response Plan, we managed to double the funding between 2019 and 2020. Out of more than USD 700 million funds received for the region, nearly 46% was allocated for humanitarian assistance and support to communities in Colombia.

These efforts were boosted by the successful donors conference organized by Spain and the European Union last year to enhance the visibility of the crisis, mobilize humanitarian contributions and more importantly to engage development actors. Out of the USD 2.7 billion pledged during the Conference, approximately USD 2.1 billion comprised concessional loans from development banks. We are very confident that this process of cooperation and solidarity will continue - it has to continue and increase - with the organization of the next international donors conference co-convened by Canada next June.

I have assured President Duque of UNHCRs commitment, together with the 70 partners of the inter-agency platform co-led by IOM in Colombia. Through this mechanism, we are ready to contribute with technical expertise, field presence, logistical capacity and resources to support the implementation of this critical initiative.

I will end by thanking our partners, as well as my team in Colombia, for their long-standing commitment to alleviating the suffering of the forcibly displaced. I also sincerely extend my deep appreciation to the President, the Government of Colombia and the people of Colombia for their generosity and enduring solidarity with refugees and migrants in this country.
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Cold and snow.

Repeat.

Flesh-numbing temperatures and a steady schedule of precipitation will bring some of the coldest temperatures and snow accumulations in the region in some time through the weekend.

Monday was a preview from a temperature standpoint, with highs expected in the teens and lows in the single digits until Saturday.

A cold blast will keep the weekend highs about 12 degrees, with overnight lows dropping to a frigid minus 15 degrees Saturday and minus 5 on Sunday. Wind chills are expected to be about minus 27 on Saturday and minus 8 on Sunday. Such temperatures can bring the potential for frostbite in under 15 minutes.

The uncertain part of this series of winter storms is how much snow it will drop in west-central Illinois. So far this winter, the region has fared well as snowstorms shifted to the north.

Thats not likely to happen this time around.

AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dave Samuhel said a sharp temperature gradient is likely to trigger the development of this next storm later this week and pose threats for a large swath of the nation.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook extending into the weekend and is calling for a chance every day through Thursday. The agency rarely makes snowfall predictions any further out.

AccuWeather forecasters, though, said Jacksonville could see about 2 inches of snow tonight into Wednesday, from a coating to an inch of snow Thursday afternoon, and 1-3 inches Friday afternoon into Saturday. A little more is expected in Beardstown and other parts north of Jacksonville.

Unlike the quick-moving storm earlier in the week, Fridays could be a longer-duration event, Samuhel said, allowing areas of snow and ice to build up over more than 24 hours.

The Illinois Department of Public Health cautions that such low temperatures can cause dangers other than frostbite, chief among them hypothermia  in which the body temperature drops low enough it can be fatal if not treated quickly. Infants and the elderly are especially susceptible and should watch for signs such as shivering, exhaustion, confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech.

There are dangerous health conditions that can occur specifically in severe winter weather, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike said. Its important to watch for signs of extreme cold. Knowing the warning signs of dangerously cold weather and the health conditions they can cause can help you stay safe and healthy.

Those who do have to venture outside should be sure to wear several layers of lightweight clothes rather than one or two layers of heavy garments, wear mittens rather than fingered gloves, and cover their head, ears and face.

If driving, its important to stay alert to changing road conditions and make sure to carry an emergency kit, Illinois Emergency Management Agency Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau said.

Preparing well in advance of winter weather is really the best way to cope with dangerous winter weather. Now is the time to prepare your vehicle and house for winter conditions. Make sure you have blankets, non-perishable food, boots, extra clothing and other items in your car in case you are stranded or waiting for a tow. At home, make sure you have enough essential items to ride out a storm or should you lose power, she said.

.

Updated Feb. 9, 2021, to reflect updated forecast.
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The driver was killed in the incident, while the passenger sustained non-life-threatening wounds.

Ukrainian military servicemen were forced to open fire at a checkpoint in Donetsk region after a defiant driver tried to skip controls and penetrate the line of contact toward the temporarily occupied territory.

"Yesterday, February 8, at about 12:00, a civilian VAZ 2105 vehicle carrying two individuals arrived at the checkpoint manned by the mechanized battalion near the village of Viktorivka, Donetsk region. The driver did not follow the instruction to halt and, on the contrary, accelerated. A Ukrainian serviceman fired a warning shot upwards, but the vehicle was still heading toward the Russian Federation's armed formations. Having weighed in on all circumstances, the serviceman opened targeted fire. Two civilians  the driver and the passenger  were injured as several shots were fired," the press center of the Joint Forces Operation Command wrote on Facebook.

Read alsoDonbas war update: Ukraine records seven ceasefire violations on Feb 8At the same time, military medics scrambled to provide first aid to the civilians in question and rushed them to a hospital. "Unfortunately, the driver died on the way to the clinic," the report says.

The motive behind the driver's move is yet to be cleared up.

"Military law enforcers are working on the scene to clarify all circumstances," the press center said.

Reporting by UNIAN
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RTHK: 'Trump committed most grievous constitutional crime'

Donald Trump committed the "most grievous constitutional crime" of any US president when he incited supporters to storm the Capitol last month, Democratic prosecutors said on Monday on the eve of his Senate impeachment trial.

In their final filing before the Senate's 100 members sit in judgement of Trump, the nine House impeachment managers prosecuting the Republican leader also insisted the case should not be dismissed.

Trump's lawyers pushed for a dismissal in a document released hours earlier, saying the Senate "lacks jurisdiction" to try Trump, who left office on January 20, because he is no longer a sitting president.

The Democratic managers directly rejected the argument and said there is "overwhelming" evidence of impeachable high crimes and misdemeanours.

"His incitement of insurrection against the United States government - which disrupted the peaceful transfer of power - is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president," they said.

"The article of impeachment properly alleges an impeachable offence under the Constitution, is not subject to a motion to dismiss (and) is within the jurisdiction of the Senate sitting as a Court of Impeachment," they wrote.

The five-page filing came as Republicans prepare to circle the wagons around the former president and ensure he is acquitted of the single article of impeachment for "incitement of insurrection."

There is also mounting pressure for a rapid conclusion to the trial so that the Senate can turn to legislative priorities including President Joe Biden's massive coronavirus relief package. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-02-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
(@FahadShabbir)

Melbourne, Feb 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Feb, 2021 ) :A red-hot Ashleigh Barty won the first 16 points en route to crushing Danka Kovinic on Tuesday without losing a game, as the top seed sent a warning at the Australian Open.

It was a masterclass from the 24-year-old Australian, who barely raised a sweat in the 6-0, 6-0 first-round romp in 44 minutes.

"It felt great to be here," she said. "I tried to stick to my process and routine but I just wanted to have fun." Barty, hoping to break her country's 43-year singles title curse at the Australian Open, never gave her opponent a chance, rolling through a lopsided first set in just 19 minutes.

She continued to hit the lines and overwhelm the errant Montenegrin, who had 28 unforced errors and won just 10 points in total.

Barty entered her home Slam having won the warm-up Yarra Valley Classic in her first tournament in 11 months, after she opted to remain home during the pandemic -- even deciding against defending her French Open crown.

Expectations are high for Barty to end her country's jinx after falling short in the semi-finals to eventual champion Sofia Kenin at last year's Australian Open, her best performance at Melbourne Park.

She plays Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo or compatriot Daria Gavrilova in the second round.
Russia has voiced its readiness to reconsider its decision to pull out from an international pact allowing surveillance flights over military facilities if the United States reverses its exit. As Caspian News reports, Konstantin Gavrilov, the head of Moscow's delegation to arms control talks in Vienna, said Moscow was waiting for a signal from Washington either through public or trusted channels.

"The main thing is that Washington should clearly define its position, whether they are ready to return to the "open skies" regime or not," Gavrilov said in an interview with the Kommersant newspaper on Friday.

The Open Skies Treaty, which came into force in 2002, allows observing flights over the entire territory of its participants to collect data related to military forces and activities. The major post-Cold War defense pact was supposed to build trust between Russia and the West allowing the accords 34 countries that are party to the agreement, including NATO members, to carry out reconnaissance flights over each others territories to monitor military activities.

Last year, U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out the United States from the Open Skies Treaty, accusing Russia of treaty violations. Moscow denied the accusation and then voiced concerns with how allies who remain states-parties will handle information obtained under the treaty, fearing Washington will still have access to information collected during the treaty activities. Europe, however, refused to reassure its commitment to the treaty, prompting Moscow to leave the treaty.

Meanwhile, Gavrilov revealed that Moscow will continue carrying out observation flights under the accord until the withdrawal takes effect - even although the country has already begun the relevant exit procedure.

"Russia always fully and thoroughly fulfills its obligations under international treaties, so that obligations under the OST (Open Skies Treaty) will be fulfilled until Russia leaves it," Gavrilov said.

More than 1,500 flights have been conducted under the treaty between 2002 and 2019 to foster transparency of defense activities among member states and reduce the risk of military miscalculations that could lead to war.

Relations between the former Cold War foes have hit rock bottom following the Ukrainian crisis in 2014 and caused the demise of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), after both the US and Russia left it in 2019.

Signed in 1987 under the Ronald Regan administration, the INF treaty was a part of a series of arms control accords that defined the post-Cold War Euro-Atlantic security architecture. The treaty banned the United States and the Soviet Union from possessing, producing, or test-flying ground-launched nuclear cruise and ballistic missiles having a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers or roughly 300 to 3,400 miles.

With the suspension of the INF treaty, the "New START" has become the last major arms control agreement keeping the two countries from launching a new arms race. Earlier this month, the document was extended for five more years, to 2026.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 22:08:20|Editor: huaxia

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JUBA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Tuesday that continued delays in implementation of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement may jeopardize elections planned at the end of the transitional period.

David Shearer, head of UNMISS said delays in implementing critical tasks in the peace deal may affect elections scheduled for 2023 in the youngest nation.

"I think we all agree the pace of peace implementation has been far too slow and that has heightened doubt and frustration. It could put in jeopardy the plan to hold elections at the end of the transitional period and it has opened opportunities for peace spoilers to exploit local tensions and fuel conflict," Shearer told journalists in Juba.

The UN envoy also expressed concern over the recent increase in sub-national violence in the northern areas of Maban, Warrap, Jonglei and Akoko, adding that it is bad for the stability of the country.

Between January to July 2020, UNMISS documented 575 incidents of sub-national violence which include the killing of 600 people in Jonglei state and kidnapping of women and children.

"We are following up on the Jonglei conference that the government hosted to look at the root causes of the conflict, particularly by bringing local youth and church leaders together," he said.

He disclosed that UNMISS has also increased patrols to potential hotspots and this week it plans to deploy peacekeepers to seven temporary operating bases across the country.

"If we can deploy early in the dry season, we have better success to prevent violence before it happens. However, some places have been difficult to reach. Our efforts to reach Romich in Warrap for example, have been continually blocked," said Shearer.

The Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) formed in February last year, is yet to complete the training and graduation of the unified forces to take charge of security during the three-year transitional period.

According to the 2018 revitalized peace deal, the nation is supposed to train and graduate a unified force of 83,000 personnel.

The unification of the army has been delayed amid missed deadlines.

The process has also been hampered by the economic hardship in the country which has left the government with a limited resource envelope caused by the more than six years of conflict which broke out in December 2013.

Some soldiers have in the past been abandoning the training centers due to lack of food, medicines, and safe clean water.

The parties in the coalition government have also not established the legislature, despite recently agreeing to start the process of establishing the Hybrid Court and other transitional justice institutions to try war crimes committed during the more than six years of conflict. Enditem

COLUMBIA  South Carolina legislators are trying to find a way to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to teachers and get their students back inside classrooms without cutting the line ahead of seniors who have already reserved their shots.

Efforts to save the last two months of the school year are at a critical juncture. If legislation that ties vaccination access to mandated in-person instruction does not win support in coming days, the school year could be essentially over before classroom doors fully open.

Options amid limited vaccine supplies include opening eligibility only to teachers 50 and older  as West Virginia has done  or concentrating on vaccinating staff in the younger grades where virtual learning is most problematic.

"There is a way to accomplish both things, if we're creative," Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, said Feb. 8 about getting classrooms reopened without bumping seniors from their vaccination appointment slots.

Key to finding a middle ground at the Statehouse could be diverting nearly 38,000 extra doses from long-term care facilities to teachers.

As of last week, the federal government still held those vials. And the state's public health agency, which had overestimated the doses needed for long-term care, was unsure about potential federal rules on redistributing them.

But they could go a long way in vaccinating educators willing to get a shot. An estimated 71,300 people who work in K-12 public schools statewide, less than 60 percent of the total, are currently willing to roll up their sleeve, according to a survey by the state Department of Education.

The Senate will resume debate Feb. 9 on a measure requiring all K-12 employees who want a shot to be fully vaccinated within 30 days  a herculean feat considering the two doses needed for full immunization must be given three to four weeks apart. Then by March 22, all schools would have to offer full weeks of in-classroom learning.

While difficult, that six-week timeline is absolutely doable, said the bill's sponsor, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield.

"We're in danger of losing a generation of children," he said. "I don't know how we recover from that."

The problem, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, is that making it happen would require putting seniors on hold and diverting all doses toward the K-12 effort for two weeks.

"If someone's been waiting six or eight or 10 weeks, you can easily add a couple of weeks onto that current wait time" for an appointment, Nick Davidson, DHEC's senior deputy for public health, told senators Feb. 4. "We would have to do rescheduling, yes. It's simply because there's not enough vaccine."

The next available slot for someone tossed from their reservation may be much further than two weeks out. Also, people who've already received their first shots may not be able to get their second one in the recommended timeframe, depending on where they got it, Davidson said.

Those scenarios explain why Gov. Henry McMaster adamantly opposes the idea  a stance applauded by the AARP.

"There should be no confusion" on prioritizing seniors, AARP state Director Teresa Arnold said.

The Republican governor continues to push districts to offer a full week of face-to-face learning, as he has since last summer, but calls it unconscionable to put teachers ahead of seniors who are far more susceptible to getting seriously ill and dying of COVID-19.

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An additional 309,000 seniors ages 65 to 69 became eligible for vaccination Feb. 8, adding to the 630,000 seniors 70 and older who have been able to sign up since Jan. 13.

In all, 1.3 million South Carolinians are on the eligibility list, which also includes long-term care residents and health care workers eligible since the vaccines began arriving in mid-December. As of Monday, nearly 471,000 people had received at least a first shot, according to DHEC.

Some providers are already making appointments for seniors more than a month out, Davidson said.

"Nobody disagrees with teachers being vaccinated," said House Majority Leader Gary Simrill, R-Rock Hill. "But the question is the ability to do it, and are you supplanting teachers with those with much higher morbidity rates?"

The Rock Hill Republican agrees with McMaster. If the Senate sends the House a bill that vaccinates teachers by "pushing the most vulnerable in our society down the list," Simrill will argue to defeat it.

Of the 7,690 South Carolinians to die of COVID-19, 82 percent of them were 65 and older, according to DHEC.

But the proposal could split the House's GOP majority. Whether the idea goes anywhere in that chamber will come down to the details.

"Teachers are essential workers. I'd support moving them up," said Rep. Raye Felder, R-Fort Mill, chairwoman of the House K-12 education panel. "But we have to honor those who have appointments."

Rep. Russell Ott, D-St. Matthews, is working on his own proposal that would add educators to the eligibility list without any mandates on how quickly they can get both shots. Regardless, districts would be required to open all classrooms within a month.

"I recognize there are no good answers here. We're trying to come up with the least worst answer," he said. "We're doing more damage with kids not being in the classroom than the potential threat of them going back."

A Calhoun County Democrat, Ott represents one of two rural school districts where students haven't returned since schools closed statewide last March.

But that will change soon, following pushes by state Superintendent Molly Spearman. Calhoun County plans to bring elementary students back four days a week, starting next week. Lee County is starting to offer one day weekly of in-person learning.

McMaster and Spearman both point to a growing body of research that shows classrooms can operate safely without teachers being vaccinated. The data shows cases that are found in schools overwhelmingly aren't contracted there, and when they are, students aren't the ones spreading the virus.

Also newly aiding McMaster's months-old arguments are Democratic voices across the nation.

Amid spats over resuming in-person learning in some of the nation's largest school systems, including Chicago and San Francisco, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Feb. 3 that vaccinating teachers "is not a prerequisite for safe reopening of schools."
Embry-Riddle alumna helps unravel key mysteries of rare stars

Within the constellation Cygnus, an elderly star and its massive companion are having one last hurrah, flinging off mass at an incredible rate before they explode as supernovae and collapse into a black hole.

Now, researchers including recent Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University graduate Laura M. Lee have mapped the elderly star's orbit around its oversized and equally ancient partner. In a scientific first, they have also determined the dynamical mass of both stars that make up a binary system called Wolf-Rayet 133.

The team's findings, published Feb. 9, 2021 by Astrophysical Journal Letters, mark the first-ever visually observed orbit of a rare type of star called a Nitrogen-rich Wolf-Rayet (WN) star. The WN star in question is half of the starry dance duo in the WR 133 binary.

The WN star pirouettes around its partner star, an O9 supergiant, every 112.8 days - a relatively brief orbit, indicating that the two stars are close together, researchers reported. The WN star has 9.3 times more mass than our Sun, while the O9 supergiant is a whopping 22.6 times more massive, the team found.

Imagining the Early Universe

The research opens a new window to the distant past when stars and planets were first beginning to form.

Wolf-Rayet type stars, so named for the astronomers who discovered them in 1867, are massive stars near the end of their lives, said Lee's faculty mentor Dr. Noel Richardson, assistant professor of Physics and Astronomy at Embry-Riddle. They're very hot, a million times more luminous than the Sun, and stellar winds have stripped off their hydrogen envelopes. That has made it difficult to measure their mass - a vital step toward modeling the evolution of stars - until now.

Because the pair of stars in the WR 133 binary are tightly coupled, they've likely exchanged mass, Richardson noted. "In the early universe, we think most stars were very, very massive and they probably exploded early on," he said.

"When these types of binary stars are close enough, they can transfer mass to each other, possibly kicking up space dust, which is necessary for the formation of stars and planets. If they're not close enough to transfer mass, they're still whipping up a huge wind that shoots material into the cosmos, and that can also allow stars and planets to form. This is why we want to know more about this rare type of star."

Lee was still an undergraduate at Embry-Riddle when Richardson invited her to help solve an intriguing astronomy riddle, as part of her senior capstone project. Richardson had been analyzing data from the CHARA Array, a collection of six telescopes positioned across California's Mount Wilson. The array, operated by Georgia State University's Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy, could pluck out celestial details smaller than the angular size of a dime in New York City from the telescopes near Los Angeles, California.

Lee's specific task was to make sense of about 100 spectra - barcode-like graphs that reveal how much light a star is giving off. To better understand WR 133's spectra, provided by Grant M. Hill of the Keck Observatory in Hawaii, Lee used computer code that allowed the team to measure how the two stars were moving. "These measurements are a necessary step because they tell us how the stars move back and forth from us, while the CHARA measurements told us how they move across the sky," Richardson explained. "The combination gives us the ability to see a three-dimensional orbit, which then tells us the masses."

At the time, Lee was laser-focused on earning her Embry-Riddle degree. "I didn't really realize how big of an impact we were making in this field," said Lee, a member of the Sigma Pi Sigma physics honors society who now holds an Astronomy degree with a Mathematics minor. "It was pretty exciting to be a part of the project, especially as an undergraduate student."

`A Blue Marble in Space'

At the Armagh Observatory & Planetarium in Northern Ireland, one of the many institutions involved in the project, Andreas A.C. Sander said the team's findings were somewhat surprising and will prompt researchers to rethink key assumptions. "The results are very interesting as they yield a lower mass than expected for such a star," Sander noted.

"While this might sound like a detail, it will change our perception of the Black Holes resulting from collapsing Wolf-Rayet stars, a crucial ingredient in the astrophysical context of gravitational wave events."

Gail Schaefer of the CHARA Array noted that Richardson's observations using the Georgia State University (GSU) telescopes on Mount Wilson - made possible through an open-access program at the facility - "will help improve our understanding of how binary interactions impact the evolution of these massive stars."

Astronomer Jason Aufdenberg of Embry-Riddle, who has also used the CHARA Array, said that "the kind of work Noel is doing, establishing orbits, is very important because they can get the masses of these things. Knowing about these very hot stars, how many there were and their luminosities is all part of understanding what happened in our universe after the Big Bang."

Now at the beginning of her career, Lee said she hopes to keep learning and being amazed by our universe. "We are on a blue marble floating in space," she said. "It's important to learn more about the complexities of the universe around us. Humans are born to learn. Any knowledge we can gain is a gift."

###

The research project included collaborators from many parts of the world and multiple institutions. In addition to Embry-Riddle, GSU's Chara Array, the Armagh Observatory and the Keck Observatory, the work involved Michigan State University, the University of Arizona, the University of Denver, the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, the Institute of Astronomy in Belgium and the Institute of Planetology and Astrophysics in France.

The Astrophysical Journal Letters paper is entitled "The First Dynamical Mass Determination of a Nitrogen-rich Wolf-Rayet Visual and Spectroscopic Orbit." Journalists, please request the full paper if you cannot access it:

https:/ / iopscience. iop. org/ article/ 10. 3847/ 2041-8213/ abd722 .

(DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/abd722.)

A preprint version of the paper is online here: https:/ / arxiv. org/ abs/ 2101. 04232

About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Reporters worldwide contact Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for content experts in all aspects of aviation, aviation business, aerospace, engineering and STEM-related fields. Our faculty experts specialize in unmanned and autonomous systems, security and intelligence, air traffic and airport management, astronomy, human factors psychology, meteorology, spaceflight operations, urban air mobility and much more. Visit the Embry-Riddle Newsroom for story ideas.

Embry-Riddle educates 33,500+ students at its residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida and Prescott, Arizona, at approximately 125 Worldwide Campus locations and through online degree programs. In 2021, U.S. News & World Report named Embry-Riddle Worldwide the nation's No. 1 provider of online bachelor's degree programs.

This story has been published on: 2021-02-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.

New grants program provides opportunities for innovative partnerships between university researchers and the private, public and not-for-profit sectors

OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 3, 2021 /CNW/ - As the Government of Canada continues to fight COVID-19, it also remains committed to supporting science and research more generally across disciplines. By making investments in innovative research and collaborations now, the government is helping to support the discoveries and new applications that will benefit Canadians in the future.

Today, the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced close to $118 million in funding for 414 projects across the country through Alliance grants, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada's (NSERC) new research partnership program. Alliance grants encourage greater collaboration in research and development by supporting projects between university researchers and partner organizations from the private, public or not-for-profit sectors.

These research projects are led by collaborative teams with different perspectives and skills. They will generate new knowledge and accelerate the application of research results to create benefits for Canadians. Areas of research range from manufacturing and aerospace to energy, the environment and agriculture.

For example, funding awarded to Professor William Quinton at Wilfrid Laurier University helped develop a research project in the Northwest Territories involving four universities, three territorial government departments, and a regional First Nations government and educational council. These research partners are all working together to improve understanding of permafrost and the ability to predict and mitigate the impacts of permafrost thaw on their shared water resources. This research alliance will co-produce new knowledge, science-based predictive tools and user-driven mitigation and adaptation strategies needed by northern communities and governments to manage and minimize the impacts of unprecedented permafrost thaw. This will help ensure the development and application of environmental management approaches needed for conditions of widespread permafrost thaw, and will help generate positive outcomes for environmental and community health.

Quotes

"Our Government remains committed to supporting Canada's researchers as part of our vision for science. With the Alliance grants program, our government is helping to bring together the full range of Canada's expertise across sectors and enabling the development of new opportunities that will help turn promising research into real benefits for Canadians."

- The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

"Congratulations to all Alliance grant recipients. The overwhelming response has shown that Alliance's responsive and flexible design is just what researchers and their partners are looking for. The ability to build unique collaborations with a broader range of partners is allowing these teams to better address key challenges that are a priority for Canada."

- Marc Fortin, Vice-President, Research Partnerships, NSERC

"The Northwest Territories is one of the most rapidly warming regions on Earth and as a result the southern margin of permafrost is experiencing unprecedented rates of thaw and landcover change. This Alliance grant has allowed Indigenous communities, educators, government agencies and researchers to collaborate on improving the understanding of and ability to predict and adapt to permafrost thaw."

- Professor William Quinton, Wilfrid Laurier University

Quick facts

Alliance grants are awarded throughout the year. Today's announcement includes funding since the program was launched in April 2019 through December 31, 2020 .

through . In August 2020 , NSERC provided an additional $15.7 million in support through the Alliance grants for 317 projects to stimulate collaborations between university academic researchers and the public and not-for-profit sectors, and industry to address pandemic-related research and technical challenges.

Associated links

Follow NSERC on Twitter: @NSERC_CRSNG

For Canadian science news, follow @CDNScience on social media: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA

SOURCE Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

For further information: Christine Seguin, Media and Public Affairs Officer, NSERC, [email protected]; John Power, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, [email protected]

Related Links

https://www.canada.ca


On Joe Bidens first full day as president, five House Democrats wrote him to urge that he work with Congress to retire the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force, or AUMFs. Working with Congress would be ideal, but if it proves impossible, the president should show real leadership by doing something his predecessors have been far too reluctant to do: give up some of his powers voluntarily.

Why is this so urgent? In two decades, at least 41 military operations in 19 countries have been launched under the cover of these two authorizations, which have been interpreted so broadly that they offer seemingly unlimited presidential war power. This contradicts not only the Constitution, which vests in Congress the power to declare war, but also the more detailed parameters of the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a law passed in the wake of the (undeclared) Vietnam War specifically to close the gap exploited in the absence of a war declaration. While it still provides some wiggle room, the War Powers Resolution clearly requires that any combat operations lasting longer than 60 days must be approved by Congress, either through a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization. The 2001 AUMF authorizes the president specifically to use force against those who committed or aided in the commission of the 9/11 terrorist attacks or harbored those who did. The 2002 AUMF authorizes use of force against the threat posed by Iraq specifically. Most of the operations subsequently pursued under these two AUMFs have at best tangential connections to their original purposes.

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The 2001 AUMF, passed just days after the 9/11 attacks, has been given a particularly expansive application. In addition to being the grounds for our long-standing war in Afghanistan, it has been used to justify foreign military training, advising, and assisting in the Philippines; foreign military training and equipping in Georgia; military deployment to Djibouti to enhance counterterrorism capabilities in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Eritrea; a variety of activities including a steady supply of strikes against al-Shabab in Somalia; direct military action in Yemen; military activities of U.S. special operations forces in Iraq, Syria, and Libya; deployments in Niger and Cameroon to provide intelligence and reconnaissance support to African partners conducting counterterrorism operations; and deployments to enhance counterterrorism capabilities of friends and allies in areas around the globe.

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Several of the operations launched under the 2001 AUMF target the Islamic State, a terrorist organization that did not even exist in 2001. Nearly all have resulted in civilian casualties and high financial costs, and most have incurred U.S. troop casualties as well. None was subjected to the congressional oversight that our Constitution envisioned would raise the bar for lethal action and keep us out of wars of choice.

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The danger of the steady expansion of executive war-making authority was on full display a year ago with the Trump administrations strike against Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Congress called foul, passing a law requiring congressional authorization for any further military action against Iran, but that effort provided cold comfort in the wake of the provocative attack. Congress attempt to enforce its oversight failed even to reach the threshold necessary to escape a veto. Biden has the power to insulate America from future risks of an unpredictable executive wielding war power independently, but only if he chooses to do so.

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The 2020 Democratic Party platform commits to delivering on this front with sweeping statements about Ending Forever Wars, and the Biden administration is already delivering on its promise to end support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. This section of the platform is promising, specifying that Democratic leadership will work with Congress to repeal the two AUMFs and replace them with a narrow and specific framework, as a buffer against the slippery slope of mission creep. The platform document assures the American people that force will only be used when necessary to protect national security and when the objective is clear and achievablewith the informed consent of the American people, but then comes the caveat: and where warranted, the approval of Congress.

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With so much promise comes so much hedging. It begs the question: How would an administration secure the informed consent of the American people if Congress is left out of the approval process? Who is to conduct the oversight that ensures the force used is necessary to protect national security and that the objective is clear and achievable? It is no coincidence that two decades of Congress passing the buck and the power to the executive to pursue military force of its own choosing has left us mired in small but numerous new lethal engagements with questionable connections to clear U.S. national security interests.

Biden could end the use of the existing AUMFs even without assistance from Congress, but he has to be willing to curb his own authority over military force in order to do so. Todays broad executive war authorities have not been bestowed by law but by practice, through shifting norms and the complicity of a Congress willing to shirk its duties. Biden could reverse this trend quite easily. After all, the authorizations at issue are merely permissions for the executive branch to take military action. Biden could decide and announce that his administration is sunsetting the use of the two AUMFs at the end of this year, based on their age and unclear application to ongoing conflicts. He could inform the Pentagon and the American public that ongoing operations not separately authorized by Congress this year would be concluded in 2022.

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken has indicated that the president generally supports revamping the AUMFs, but is concerned the administration wont be able to reach consensus with Congress on what replaces them. Seeking a clear consensus as a precondition, however, is letting the perfect be the enemy of the good and, in the current political climate, likely unachievable. It also isnt necessary. Fashioning a replacement is Congress job, if it chooses to do so. Ending the use of the AUMFs as described above would force an accounting of wide-ranging military activity ongoing across many countries. Under the War Powers Resolution, Congress would have 60 days from the date when the AUMFs are deemed expired to provide new authorizations, after which time any use of U.S. armed forces not specifically authorized would be terminated. Congress could buy time by extending this period by an additional 60-day period, but even delaying, for example, a withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan would require congressional action. The default in the absence of congressional action would be bringing our troops home. Congress would need to decide which operations independently merit reauthorization, enhancing accountability and transparency over our military activities abroad. This is as our Constitution intended. When our country makes decisions to use military force in new places and new ways, those decisions should be as closely tied to the American people and their interests as possible.

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Bidens most consequential authority at this stage lies in his ability to press Congress to again take up the debate over where we use force, a discussion that has been absent from far too many conflicts of choice in recent years. The challenge for the Biden administration is to accept that the president cannot control the outcomeCongress may disagree with the president on how to fight those conflicts going forwardbut the president was never intended to fully control our use of force anyway. Critics of this approach might surmise that Congress could reach agreement on an even broader and indefinite authorization to replace these two. Congress might find that more palatable than authorizing specific war acts anew in some of the locations where they are ongoing. That could happen, leaving Biden in a similar situation to where he is today. But that would be on Congress, not the president. If Congress is able to secure such an authorization, paying no cost for doing so from its constituents, Biden would have at least done his part.

Congress will shirk its war powers responsibilities as long as it is allowed to do so. The people might ultimately permit it again, but that doesnt mean the president must continue to do so too. As even recent history has shown, sometimes real leadership involves walking away from power.

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. The prices of petroleum and diesel fuel in Armenia have declined 9.5% and 20.2% respectively in January 2021 compared to January 2020, the Statistical Committee told Armenpress.

In January 2021 compared to December 2020 the prices of petroleum and diesel fuel have increased 3.1% and 3.8% respectively.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan






To help accelerate this initiative, GRC has established a UK subsidiary and will launch a Centre of Excellence in a London data centre

GRC (Green Revolution Cooling), the leader in single-phase immersion cooling for data centres, today announced that it has been awarded a place on the Essentia Trading Limited (ETL) Zero Carbon Delivery Framework, enabling any UK public sector entity the ability to acquire low and zero carbon infrastructure investments. GRC worked closely with its London-based European Agent Total Data Centre Solutions to be included in the Framework.

ETL's Zero Carbon Delivery Framework provides a one stop shop allowing public sector entities such as hospitals, military, education, police/fire an expedited and compliant avenue for low and zero carbon infrastructure investments. And excitingly, UK Private and Listed companies are also able to utilise the ZCF to ensure best value. The Framework is no cost to access for public sector organisations and users can run mini competitions or directly award Trusted Suppliers. ETL is a subsidiary wholly owned by Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and profits are invested back into the NHS. In 2018, ETL supported over 25 NHS Trusts with NHS Energy Efficiency Fund (NEEF) applications and the delivery of successful projects.

According to recent studies, data centres produce as much carbon as the shipping industry and unchecked, these emissions are projected to rapidly grow to 10% of the world's global carbon emissions by 2030. Moreover, data centre energy usage has been compounded due to the greater reliance on data centre activity from increased teleworking and other virtual activities brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"ETL's Zero Carbon Delivery framework helps remove complexity and provides a faster route to market for technologies that will help meet sustainability goals," said Alexandra Hammond, Sustainability Director at ETL. "We are delighted to work with companies like GRC who can enable data centre managers to move towards net zero carbon emissions."

The UK has had its eye on carbon reduction for some time and to drive nation-wide carbon reduction, in June 2019, parliament passed legislation requiring organisations to reduce the UK's net emissions of greenhouse gases by 100% relative to 1990 levels by 2050. ETL's Zero Carbon Delivery Framework will provide access to the technology necessary to help meet this requirement.

"GRC is honoured to be part of ETL's Framework to reduce the carbon footprint of public sector entities, while also contributing to their bottom line," said Peter Poulin, CEO, GRC. "GRC's participation in this initiative will allow data centre operators across the UK to increase energy efficiency, while also cutting their operating costs; it's a win-win."

To facilitate its relationship with ETL, GRC worked closely with its European Agent Total Data Centre Solutions (TDCS), a provider of mission critical infrastructure solutions with a focus on reducing the carbon footprint of data centres. TDCS will promote and sell GRC Immersion Cooling Systems. As part of the sales programme, TDCS will oversee product demonstrations and installations for organisations procuring GRC's data centre immersion cooling through the Framework's programme. "It was a challenge to introduce the concept of immersion cooling to the ETL team and then very rewarding when they agreed to let GRC bid for a place as a Trusted Supplier on the Framework. It was then a fantastic team achievement to attain Trusted Supplier status. We look forward to many successes with the ZCF in the years to come,'' said Brian Clavin, Director of TDCS. "Providing liquid immersion cooling for data centre IT equipment reduces an organisation's carbon footprint, and significantly reduces IT operating expenses, while increasing IT capacity."

GRC is the only Framework supplier offering Immersion Cooling for Data Centre IT equipment. To support this initiative and ensure that GRC's workforce and partners in the UK have the necessary resources, GRC has established a UK subsidiary, Green Revolution Cooling UK. Additionally, in the coming months GRC will be opening a Centre of Excellence in one of London's leading data centres. GRC's UK Centre of Excellence will provide physical demonstrations of GRC's liquid immersion cooling for data centre IT equipment and enable public sector data centre operators and other prospective clients to test drive GRC's suite of products and assist Total Data Centre Solutions in familiarising its clients with this solution.

About GRC

Austin, TX-based GRC is The Immersion Cooling Authority. The company's patented immersion-cooling technology radically simplifies deployment of data centre cooling infrastructure. By eliminating the need for chillers, CRACs, air handlers, humidity controls, and other conventional cooling components, enterprises reduce their data centre design, build, energy, and maintenance costs. GRC's solutions are deployed in eighteen countries and are ideal for next-gen applications platforms, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, HPC, 5G, and other edge computing and core applications. Their systems are environmentally resilient, sustainable, and space saving, making it possible to deploy them in virtually any location with minimal lead time. Visit http://grcooling.com for more information.

About Total Data Centre Solutions

TDCS are a team of data centre and media business professionals. Their suite of products and services help their clients reduce their carbon footprints while saving money. TDCS was created with the mission of assisting data centre developers but has extended its remit to offer to a wide range of solutions and services to companies and organisations in Europe and the Nordics. GRC's Immersion Cooling is now one of the TDCS key solutions for carbon reduction and cost savings. www.totaldatacentresolutions.co.uk

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210209005475/en/

Contacts:

Adam Waitkunas

Milldam Public Relations

adam.waitkunas@milldampr.com

(978) 828-8304
She became a top lifestyle guru after the release of her bestselling Cravings cookbooks.

And now Chrissy Teigen has expanded her home empire with the relaunch of her Cravings website on Monday.

The 35-year-old model and social media star shared her big news on Instagram while rocking a lovely retro look featuring a multicolored robe in an eye-catching floral pattern that's sold on her site.

New venture: Chrissy Teigen, 35, gushed about the relaunch of her Cravings website Monday on Instagram while showing off a colorful floral-print robe that she now sells

Chrissy added a matching headband to cover her wavy locks, and she sported large gleaming hoop earrings.

'Welcome to Cravings, the new Cravings, oh my gosh, 2.0,' the Chrissy's Court star gushed at the start of her short video.

'Look at my office. we have a real office, we're very official. we have a store. we have robes, finally!' she explained while sharing photos of some of what her website has to offer.

'We've been working on it for a while, but now you get to see it,' she said proudly, before noting that 'This is the first time I've actually seen myself in my own robe.'

Excited: 'Welcome to Cravings, the new Cravings, oh my gosh, 2.0,' the Chrissy's Court star gushed at the start of her short video

New offerings: 'Look at my office. we have a real office, we're very official. we have a store. we have robes, finally!' she explained while sharing photos of some of what her website has to offer

Yum! She included some inserts of the results of her recipes, including a delicious roast chicken adorned with tiny tomatoes and lemons

Cameo: Her husband John Legend, 42, made a brief appearance at the end, though he only stopped to stay hello

Chrissy included a photo of herself having a blast on the phone while wearing a pink satin robe, as well as some inserts of the results of her recipes, including a delicious roast chicken adorned with tiny tomatoes and lemons.

Her husband John Legend, 42, made a brief appearance at the end, though he only stopped to stay hello.

The Bring The Funny judge couldn't contain her joy about the new site in her Instagram caption.

'The all new CRAVINGS site is live!!! Its so so so beautiful!' she enthused. 'The recipes, the articles, the SHOP, everything makes me so proud. I already see orders, I could cry!! CRAVINGSBYCHRISSYTEIGEN.COM HAPPY REBORN DAY!'

BTS: In a follow-up post, Chrissy shared some behind-the-scenes images from her Cravings photoshoot with photographer Yu Tsai

Chowing down: She and John beamed while enjoying a meal in a booth at home

Legs for days: The 5ft9in beauty put on a leggy display in another snap of herself sitting alone in the booth

Down time: A final photo showed her her lying on the sofa to play her Nintendo Switch between shots

In a follow-up post, Chrissy shared some behind-the-scenes images from her Cravings photoshoot with photographer Yu Tsai.

Chrissy showed off the same robe as the previous post, which had a black design enlivened with bursts of deep red and blue floral patterns and fuzzy black sleeves.

John was a good sport and posed standing behind her in the same robe.

She sells the item, the 'Ultimate Fur-Lined Floral Robe, in two other patterns for $88 dollars on her new Cravings site.

Other photos from the same set showed her and John beaming in a booth as they enjoyed a dinner with a roast chicken.

The 5ft9in beauty put on a leggy display in another snap of herself sitting alone in the booth, and a final photo showed her her lying on the sofa to play her Nintendo Switch between shots.

Family time: Her Cravings website featured other images from the photoshoot, including a fun picture of her family plus her mother Vilailuck all wearing white robes as they looked awestruck at someone on television

Motherdaughter duo: Chrissy had a bonding moment with her mother in another snap of herself tasting some of her mother's cooking

Sweet: And John spent some quality time with their daughter Luna, four, as she ate some food he had cooked up while sitting on top of the kitchen island in her Disney princess pajamas

Her Cravings website featured other images from the photoshoot, including a fun picture of her family plus her mother Vilailuck all wearing white robes as they looked awestruck at someone on television.

Chrissy had a bonding moment with her mother in another snap of herself tasting some of her mother's cooking.

And John spent some quality time with their daughter Luna, four, as she ate some food he had cooked up while sitting on top of the kitchen island in her Disney princess pajamas.

All her interests: Her website features plenty of free recipes while also selling branded kitchen items and casual clothing like her signature robes

Her new website features a section full of free recipes ranging from snacks like a Chex mix featuring white cheddar and Cholula hot sauce to hearty dinners like a chickpea soup with smoky shrimp or a barley risotto with wild mushrooms.

Her new shop featured branded items for the kitchen, including an enameled cast-iron braiser and other pots and pans bearing her Cravings logo.

In addition to the robes she favors around the house, she sold other low-key clothing accessories like 'Basic B***h Terry Scrunchies' and towel hair wraps for a lazy afternoon at home.

'I spend the majority of my life in the kitchen  usually in a robe  and the only thing I love more than cooking, eating, and being horizontal on the couch is watching other people get inspired and find joy through food,' Chrissy wrote on her website.

'I've always been full of ideas, but it wasn't until I started Cravings that I was able to make them REAL,' she continued. 'I love, love, love to problem-solve and create things (whether recipes or products) that make life easier, tastier, cozier, and a little more chill.'

Over the weekend, Chrissy had shared that she was having surgery to repair damage from endometriosis, but she seemed to be recovering well and in high spirits as she introduced her newest project.
The Port of Rotterdam is set to host a 100 MW electrolyzer from 2025, with a feasibility study expected this summer. The project will produce green hydrogen and will eventually be expanded to 500 MW.From pv magazine Germany Germany-based Uniper and the Port of Rotterdam Authority plan to produce green hydrogen on the Maasvlakte, which is an artificial extension of the Europoort industrial facility. A feasibility study is already underway and is set for completion by the summer. The aim is to build a 100 MW plant to produce green hydrogen on the Uniper site in 2025. The capacity will eventually ...

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.
CHESSA will look to the new Judges to capture the spirit of equity within the VCEA by holding the industry accountable to policies that lower barriers and deliver reliable, low-cost renewable energy to all Virginians, says Karla Loeb, Chief Policy and Development Officer at Sigora Solar.

The Chesapeake Solar and Storage Association (formerly MDV-SEIA) congratulates Judges Jehmal T. Hudson and Angela Navarro as the General Assembly voted last night to confirm their appointments as the new Commissioners of the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

Judge Hudson and Judge Navarro have the opportunity to facilitate Virginias clean energy transition by ushering in a new era of regulatory policy guided by environmental justice and equity, economic development, and technological innovation, said Rachel Smucker, CHESSAs Virginia Policy & Development Manager.

Passed in 2020, the Virginia Clean Economy Act lays out one of the most ambitious renewable energy plans in the country, mandating that Virginia transition to 100% carbon-free energy production by the middle of the century, deploy over 16,000 MW of renewable energy, and develop over 3,000 MW of cutting-edge energy storage technology. The VCEA increases the accessibility of solar energy for residential customers by expanding distributed generation and prioritizes the needs of low-income individuals and communities of color.

Attaining the goals of the VCEA is dependent upon proactive, transparent, and efficient regulatory policy.

CHESSA will look to the new Judges to capture the spirit of equity within the VCEA by holding the industry accountable to policies that lower barriers and deliver reliable, low-cost renewable energy to all Virginians, says Karla Loeb, Chief Policy and Development Officer at Sigora Solar, a member of CHESSA.

Judge Hudson and Judge Navarros commitment to supporting forward-thinking housing, economic development, and energy policy proves that they will make Virginia a destination for clean energy leaders and economic opportunity, added Smucker.

As the former Director of Government Affairs for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and former Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Hydropower Association, Judge Hudson is primed to navigate the complex energy policy set out in the VCEA.

Judge Navarro joins the SCC after serving as Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade under Governor Ralph Northam. Prior to that role, she served as Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources under both Governor Terry McAuliffe and Governor Northam, where she advised on land conservation, energy, and environmental policies. As a lead negotiator on the VCEA itself, Judge Navarros unique insight will aid in the materialization of this ambitious policy.

Based on each Judges background, CHESSA hopes both will ensure the inclusion and recognition of the needs of Virginias frontline communities, especially in making clean energy more equal, affordable, and accessible to all.

CHESSAs Executive Director David Murray said, The confirmation of Judges Hudson and Navarro will support the realization of the goals of the VCEA: lower the cost of electricity for all ratepayers, create a resilient and reliable electric grid, generate local jobs, attract economic investment, and allow all Virginians to take advantage of clean energy, and we look forward to working with the Commissioners in the future.

CHESSA provides an expert voice as an active participant in multiple SCC proceedings concerning the implementation of the VCEA, including both Dominion and Appalachian Power Companys RPS, energy storage, shared solar, and multifamily shared solar cases.

The invention of Covid-19 vaccines will be remembered as a milestone in the history of medicine, creating in a matter of months what had before taken up to a decade. But Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, the director of Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Md., isnt satisfied.

Thats not fast enough, he said. More than 2.3 million people around the world have died, and many countries will not have full access to the vaccines for another year or two: Fast  truly fast  is having it there on day one.

There will be more coronavirus outbreaks in the future. Bats and other mammals are rife with strains and species of this abundant family of viruses. Some of these pathogens will inevitably spill over the species barrier and cause new pandemics. Its only a matter of time.

Dr. Modjarrad is one of many scientists who for years have been calling for a different kind of vaccine: one that could work against all coronaviruses. Those calls went largely ignored until Covid-19 demonstrated just how disastrous coronaviruses can be.
A 66-year-old Virginia man accused of being a leader of a paramilitary group that stormed the Capitol last month is a decorated Navy veteran and former FBI section chief who's had 'top secret security clearance' since 1979, his lawyers said Monday.

Thomas Caldwell, who federal prosecutors said holds a leadership role in the Oath Keepers, worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2009 to 2010 after retiring as a lieutenant commander from the Navy, his lawyer, Thomas Plofchan, wrote in a motion filed Monday.

The motion urged the judge to release Caldwell from jail while he awaits trial on federal charges of conspiracy to obstruct Congress, among other charges.

Caldwell's lawyer didn't say in the motion where his client worked as an FBI section chief and didn't answer questions. The FBI also didn't comment.

An arrest affidavit filed on the same day as Caldwell's arrest on Jan. 19 describes the Clarke County, Virginia, resident as being 'believed to have a leadership role within the Oath Keepers,' but his lawyers said he's not involved with the group.

The Oath Keepers is one of the largest antigovernment groups in the U.S., according to experts on extremism. Its members say they are committed to defending the Constitution, but are said to peddle conspiracy theories about the federal government working to 'destroy liberty.'

Thomas Caldwell, who authorities believes holds a leadership role in the extremist group, worked as a section chief for the FBI from 2009 to 2010 after retiring from the Navy, his lawyers wrote in a motion. The FBI didn't comment and his lawyer didn't answer questions as to the statement that Caldwell worked for the FBI. Caldwell (pictured in 2019 at a conference of the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC,) was arrested on Jan. 19 for his role in the insurrection

But according to recently filed documents by Caldwell's legal team, not only is their client an upstanding citizen, they claim that the man has not been involved with the Oath Keepers

According to the arrest affidavit: 'Caldwell planned with Donovan Crowl, Jessica Watkins, and others known and unknown, to forcibly storm the U.S. Capitol.'

Watkins, 38, and Crowl, 50, both of Champaign County, Ohio, also are affiliated with the Oath Keepers, according to the Department of Justice, and also have been indicted on federal charges.

Lawyers for Caldwell described him as a devoted husband who works on his farm, tending his livestock with his wife. They said he wasn't involved with the Oath Keepers.

Caldwell was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy, his lawyers said, and is '100% disabled,' which his lawyers argue show how impractical it would be for their client to storm the Capitol.

Caldwell suffered from complications related to a 'service-connected injury,' including shoulder, back and knee issues, the attorney said. In 2010, Caldwell had spinal surgery, which later failed and led to chronic spinal issues and a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the filing from his attorney.

'Caldwell planned with Donovan Crowl, Jessica Watkins, (pictured) and others known and unknown, to forcibly storm the U.S. Capitol,' an arrest affidavit says

The defense said Caldwell has held a top-secret security clearance since 1979, which required multiple special background investigations, according to Plofchan. Caldwell also ran a consulting firm that did classified work for the U.S. government agencies including the DEA, HUD, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army personnel, the lawyer said.

'He has been vetted and found numerous times as a person worthy of the trust and confidence of the United States government, as indicated by granting him Top Secret clearances,' Plofchan wrote.

Most section chiefs within the FBI rise through the ranks of the bureau and it is unclear whether Caldwell would've been directly hired for that position or whether he held any other positions with the bureau. The FBI did not immediately comment Monday evening and Caldwell's lawyer didn't immediately answer questions about his client's work.

Caldwell has been locked up since his arrest at his home in Berryville, Virginia, on Jan. 19.

Crowl, 50, a former Marine, was arrested in Ohio on Jan. 18, as was Watkins, a 38-year-old Army veteran and bartender.

Jessica Watkins, 38, a bartender from Ohio, participated in the mob that stormed the Capitol, federal prosecutors say

Watkins (left) and Crowl (right) are pictured inside the Capitol during the January 6 riot

Jessica Watkins (left) and Donavan Crowl, both military veterans, are in custody in Ohio

The trio were all charged with conspiracy and other federal counts.

The details in the case included communications between the defendants and others.

'All members are in the tunnels under the capital,' the FBI quoted a message sent to Caldwell during the Capitol attack.

'Seal them in turn on gas.'

Other messages referred to the legislators as 'traitors' and called for 'night hunting.'

The FBI collected social media messages, photos and video to identify them as part of the Oath Keepers, which FBI agents describe as a 'large but loosely organized collection of the militia who believe the federal government has been corrupted by a shadowy conspiracy that is trying to strip American citizens of their rights.'

Messages included in FBI charging documents had quotes with the three suspects exulting over breaching the Capitol, and Caldwell telling an Oath Keepers leader he was ready to attack Ohio's capital of Columbus.

Watkins (right) is pictured with others at the Capitol and was an organizer of militia groups, prosecutors say

'We need to do this at the local level,' he allegedly messaged. 'Lets (sic) storm the capitol in Ohio. Tell me when!'

Details of the documents made public offer some insight to planning and coordination behind the extraordinary attack, which apparently took law enforcement by surprise despite various warnings online.

The Oath Keepers group often recruits current and former military, police or other first responders - like Watkins and Crowl, extremist group researchers say.

It wasn't clear immediately whether Caldwell has military or law enforcement experience.

The FBI said some Oath Keepers members were wearing helmets, protective vests and items with the group's name and motto: 'Not On Our Watch.'

The FBI also said that they seemed to 'move in an organized and practiced fashion and force their way to the front of the crowd gathered around a door to the U.S. Capitol.'

An affidavit filed against Caldwell states that he was involved in the planning and coordinating of the Capitol breach with Watkins and Crowl.

Watkins, who allegedly called herself the commanding officer, and Crowl allegedly belong to the Ohio State Regular Militia, and are dues-paying members of the Oath Keepers.

In one social media post, the FBI said, Watkins pictured Crowl and called him 'one of my guys.'

Charging documents show messages between Caldwell and the others about arranging hotel rooms in the Washington area in the days before the siege.

In one Facebook message from Crowl to Caldwell, Crowl states: 'Will probably call you tomorrow  mainly because  I like to know wtf plan is. You are the man COMMANDER.'

The FBI wrote that Caldwell is believed to have referenced the leader of the Oath Keepers, Elmer Stewart Rhodes, in a Facebook message to group members in the days before the riot.

'I don't know if Stewie has even gotten out his call to arms but it's a little friggin late,' Caldwell wrote, according to the FBI.

'This is one we are doing on our own. We will link up with the north carolina (sic) crew.'

The complaint reports one male voice is heard on an audio recording near Watkins exhorting: 'Get it, Jess,' and that the Capitol breach is what they had trained for.

'Yeah. We stormed the Capitol today. Teargassed, the whole, 9. Pushed our way into the Rotunda. Made it into the Senate even. The news is lying (even Fox) about the Historical Events we created today,' she allegedly wrote.

Watkins also posted that entry was forced through the back door of the Capitol.

The mob overran the Capitol Police shortly after Trump urged them to 'fight' on his behalf

Trump supporters, egged on by the president himself, stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6

Prosecutors have charged more than 200 people so far

The mostly maskless crowd flooded the halls of the Capitol with little resistance from Capitol Police

Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress

Federal authorities say that Caldwell also sent Facebook messages following the attack.

'Proud boys scuffled with cops and drove them inside to hide,' Caldwell's message said, according to court documents.

'Breached the doors. One guy made it all the way to the house floor, another to Pelosi's office. A good time.'

Authorities said Watkins and Crowl returned to Ohio, then went back to Virginia to stay with Caldwell at his Berryville home for three days through January 16.

The FBI complaint said Crowl and Watkins told police in Urbana, Ohio, they drove back to Ohio after hearing the FBI was looking for them.

All three are charged with federal counts including conspiracy, conspiracy to hurt an officer, violent entry, obstruction of official business and destruction of government property.

Watkins and Crowl were being held at a county jail in Dayton.

Asked if she understood the charges against her, the Daily News reported, Watkins replied: 'I understand them but I don't understand how I got them.'

The FBI said a search of Watkins' home found personal protection equipment and communication devices, along with instructions for making plastic explosives.
The EU is looking into plans to make big tech companies such as Google and Facebook pay for news in a push similar to reforms in Australia.

MEPs are working on two draft European digital regulations that could be amended to include proposals akin to those in Australia, the Financial Times reported.

The plans could require big tech companies to pay for news content as well as inform publishers about changes to how they rank news stories on their sites.

The EU is looking into plans to make big tech companies such as Google and Facebook pay for news in a push similar to reforms in Australia

According to the publication, MEPs are divided over how best to introduce such reforms, and whether it is better to wait for the impact of the EU's 2019 copyright overhaul to become clear.

Google and Facebook have stepped up their efforts to reach licensing deals for news in the bloc, since the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market came into force in June 2019.

The Copyright in the Digital Single Market is intended to ensure 'a well-functioning marketplace for copyright' and protect press publications by reducing the 'value gap' between the profits made by internet platforms and by content creators.

EU member states have two years to pass appropriate legislation to meet the Directive's requirements.

It comes as Canberra is pursuing world-first laws that would require digital giants including Google and Facebook to compensate Australian news organisations, or pay millions of dollars in fines.

The move to check the tech giants' power in Australia has prompted blowback from the US firms, with Facebook warning Australians could be blocked from sharing articles on its 'News Feed', while Google has been experimenting with hiding local news in searches.

Google has threatened to remove its search function in Australia and Facebook warned it would pull news content if a new law requiring the tech giants to compensate media organisations is passed.

In a hostile public hearing before Australian senators last month, Mel Silva, the Managing Director of Google Australia and New Zealand, said the company may be forced to pull its search function out of Australia if the code goes ahead.

Mel Silva, the Managing Director of Google Australia and New Zealand, said the company may be forced to pull its search function out of Australia if the code goes ahead

'The principle of unrestricted linking between web sites is fundamental to search and, coupled with the unmanageable financial and operational risk, if this version of the code were to become law, it would give us no real choice but to stop making Google Search available in Australia,' she said.

'That would be a bad outcome for us but also for the Australian people, media diversity and the small businesses who use our products every day.'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison hit back, saying Google will have to respect the law.

Canberra's initiative has been closely watched around the globe, as news media worldwide suffer in an increasingly digital economy where big tech firms overwhelmingly capture advertising revenue.

World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee criticised the plans, saying in a submission to an Australian Senate inquiry he is 'concerned that the code risks breaching a fundamental principle of the web by requiring payment for linking between certain content online'.

'The ability to link freely - meaning without limitations regarding the content of the linked site and without monetary fees - is fundamental to how the web operates, how it has flourished till present, and how it will continue to grow in decades to come,' he wrote.

The EU is looking into plans to make big tech companies such as Google and Facebook pay for news in a push similar to reforms in Australia

In the submission dated January 18, Berners-Lee said he supports the need for publishers to be 'properly rewarded' for their work but 'constraints on the use of hypertext links are not the correct way to achieve this goal'.

'If this precedent were followed elsewhere it could make the web unworkable around the world,' he wrote.

'I therefore respectfully urge the committee to remove this mechanism from the code.'

The Office of the US Trade Representative has also urged Australia to abandon its 'burdensome' plan, saying there could be 'long-lasting negative consequences' for consumers and companies.

The planned legislation has received widespread support from Australian media organisations, many of which have been hit hard by a drop in revenue during the coronavirus pandemic.
China in Focus (Feb. 8): Blinken: US Will Hold China Accountable

The U.S. secretary of state says hell stand up for human rights and democratic values to face the Chinese Communist Party.

President Bidens son is back in the spotlight over his business dealings in China. Heres the White Houses latest response.

A 20-year-old in China faces 14 years in jail for ties to a forum that posted personal details about a top communist leaders family.

And reports of dirty bedding and tainted food come out of a Chinese quarantine facility.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China.

For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter.
SKANES FAGERHULT, Sweden, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nomination Committee proposes that the Board shall be composed of seven directors elected at the AGM, with no alternates, for the period until the next AGM.

The Nomination Committee proposes re-election of Karin Gunnarsson, Anders Nielsen, Susanna Schneeberger, Martin Skold and Claes Magnus Akesson as Directors and proposes Petra Sundstrom and Joachim Rosenberg as new Directors. Kenth Eriksson, Martin Lundstedt and Marianne Brismar have decided not to stand for re-election as Directors. It is proposed that Anders Nielsen be elected Chairman of the Board.

Petra Sundstrom has a PhD in Human Computer Interaction from Stockholm University and a Master of Computer Science from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. She is currently Vice President and Head of Digital Offering at Sandvik Rock Processing. She has previously worked at Husqvarna Group. Petra is a regularly appointed speaker on the topics of Digital transformation, innovation and Internet of Things.

Joachim Rosenberg holds an MSc in Industrial Engineering and Management, an MSc in Financial Economics and an Msc in Business and Economics. Joachim has been working at Volvo Group since 2005 and since 2012 he is part of the company's Executive Board. He currently holds the positions of Executive Vice President Volvo Group since 2012, Executive Chairman of UD Trucks since 2016 and President of Volvo Energy since 2021. Prior to joining Volvo, Joachim spent eight years with McKinsey & Company in Europe and the US.

"First of all, the Nomination Committee would like to thank Kenth, Marianne and Martin for their commendable efforts through the years as Directors of Concentric's Board. At the same time, the Nomination Committee is pleased to be able to nominate Petra Sundstrom and Joachim Rosenberg as new members of the Board. Together they contribute with knowledge and experience not only about Concentric's markets, but also in areas such as digitalization, electrification and the Asian market, all of which are key issues for the company going forward. As the new Chairman, we propose the current board Member Anders Nielsen, who, with his long experience from Scania, MAN and Traton, has the industry knowledge and operational experience required to lead the work on the Board. ", says Goran Espelund, Chair of the Nomination Committee, in a statement.

The Nomination Committee for the AGM 2021 comprises the following members: Goran Espelund, Chairman (Lannebo Fonder), Erik Durhan (Nordea Fonder), Malin Bjorkmo (Handelsbanken Fonder) and Per Trygg (SEB Fonder) and Kenth Eriksson, Chairman of the Board of Concentric.

The Nomination Committee's other proposals for the AGM on April 22, 2021 and the statement on the proposed Board will be available on the company's website www.concentricab.com in connection with the publishing of the notice convening the AGM.

For more information, please contact:

Goran Espelund, Chairman of the Nomination Committee, phone +46 8 5622 52 00

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/concentric-ab/r/the-nomination-committee-s-proposal-regarding-the-board-for-the-2021-annual-general-meeting,c3282901

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE Concentric AB
"We envision a North Carolina enriched by the humanities and equipped with empathy, understanding and respect," says Executive Director Sherry Paula Watkins.

"People nationwide still are grappling with the effects of a global pandemic and how to confront the realities of racism and discrimination," Watkins says. "North Carolina Humanities can be a unifying force by providing meaningful cultural experiences at a time when we need connections more than ever."

The rebranding includes a redesign of North Carolina Humanities' website and a new, quilt-inspired logo that represents the stitching together of North Carolinians' shared stories. A new tagline  "All together, amazing."  reminds people we are together in our humanity.

A catalyst for the process was the "Can We Talk?" community forum North Carolina Humanities presented with Queens University of Charlotte in 2019 that helped participants talk to one another gracefully despite different political views or cultural perspectives. That led staff and trustees to think about how North Carolina Humanities could be more actively engaged in bringing empathy to the forefront of their work.

"With the rebranding, we transform ourselves as an organization to meet the challenging environment in which we live," says Nancy A. Gutierrez, chair of North Carolina Humanities Board of Trustees and dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

About North Carolina Humanities:

North Carolina Humanities is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Through public humanities programs and grant-making, NC Humanities serves to connect North Carolinians with cultural experiences that spur dialogue, deepen human connections, and inspire community. Learn more at www.nchumanities.org.

Public Relations Contact:

Sonja N. Barisic, APR

[email protected]

(757) 412-7071

SOURCE North Carolina Humanities Council

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www.nchumanities.org


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Aveva, a global leader in engineering and industrial software, convened leaders from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Schneider Electric, Petronas and Verdantix in a virtual press panel session recently, to discuss how digitisation is driving the sustainability business agenda for industrial organisations.

Participants highlighted how in the past year, the world had faced a challenge that is unique in history, in its scale and scope, and industries have been adversely affected in many ways. The key takeaway from the session was that 2021 is set to be a year of resiliency and renewed rebuilding, and Industry 4.0 will enable employees and communities to optimise sustainable processes to reduce carbon footprints.

Industrial Organisations - Proactively Aligning to the UNs Sustainable Development Goals

Session moderator Robert Opp, Chief Digital Officer at the UNDP, outlined the importance of organisations setting clear objectives for leveraging new technologies to align with the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Sustainable Development Goals are 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. The convergence of new technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud and Big Data & Analytics, is disrupting and creating opportunities across every industry. Opp highlighted how technological progress is key to finding lasting solutions to both economic and environmental challenges, from creating new employment opportunities to promoting energy efficiency.

Promoting sustainable industries, and investing in scientific research and innovation, are all important ways to facilitate sustainable development, said Opp. Over the last few years there has been a major shift toward sustainability, and our mission at the UNDP is actively championed by technology organisations like Aveva, who recognise the urgency to prioritise sustainable practices and also measure the multi-faceted benefits that reducing a companys carbon footprint and being more efficient through technology, affords.

Industrial Technology Providers - At the Forefront of the Race to Become More Sustainable

Avevas software has been driving sustainable outcomes for customers for years. The companys goal is to provide customers with the real data they need to run their businesses efficiently, with the myriad of technological solutions it provides. Once the data is available, the process of being able to cohesively understand where the disconnects are and start doing something to remedy them begins.

Craig Hayman, CEO Aveva, commented: While Aveva is still at the beginning of its environmental journey, we have long aligned our business to the UNs Sustainability Development Goals. It is no surprise, therefore, that we announced that we have partnered with the United Nations Global Compact Network, a voluntary platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible business practices. The digitalisation of traditional manufacturing businesses has enabled Aceva to provide its customers with software solutions that not only increase ROI, but also streamline their business models, in order to start to frame their environmental plans. By providing customers with real-time data and supporting improved operational efficiency, Aveva has the potential to help thousands of customers  some of whom have very sizeable carbon footprints  to significantly cut their energy consumption and emissions.

Schneider Electric Takes Sustainability to the Next level

According to Schneider Electric, there are only 10 years left to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees and ever-increasing expectations for a better life and resilient business, good is not enough anymore. In January 2021, the company was ranked the worlds most sustainable corporation, in a prestigious annual list, announcing at the same time the acceleration of its own sustainability strategy and the launch of its climate change advisory services.

Schneider Electrics Olivier Blum, Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, pointed out the importance of supporting the wave of net zero commitments from corporates with end-to-end solutions. The momentum is huge. However only 4% of sustainability programs will make it over time without a robust strategy and a concrete plan to digitise, measure, implement and iterate. We have been on this journey ourselves for over 15 years saving million tons of CO2 for our customers along the way. With unique perspective and expertise, we are ready to go further and faster to help others succeed and sustain their digital transformation for efficiency and sustainability thanks to our best in class consulting teams.

Financial Leaders See Sustainability as a Vital Component of Businesses Today

David Metcalfe, CEO of Verdantix, an Independent research and advisory firm with expertise in digital strategies for Environment, Health & Safety, ESG & Sustainability, Operational Excellence and Smart Buildings focused on the impact of sustainability on financial leaders. Metcalfe highlighted how todays challenging environment for businesses has impacted on how they are approaching and prioritising sustainability, noting how this has shifted to equal importance as other business focused initiatives. If we compare what happened during the financial crisis in 2008, where climate change and sustainability were pushed very far down in the agenda, its amazing just how rapidly these topics have risen back up the agenda in just a matter of months, Metcalfe commented. This is the difference between the passive sustainability of yesterday compared to the shift in thinking that has occurred more recently.

Net Zero Carbon Emissions is the Goal for the Way Forward

Prakash Kumar Karunakaran, Head of NervCentre, Petronas, indicated how Petronas has reaffirmed its sustainability proposition by defining a new Statement of Purpose which defines Petronas as "A progressive energy and solutions partner, enriching lives for a sustainable future". He said, "This Statement of Purpose really galvanised the company, and provided clarity as to the company's position on sustainability. Last year, this direction was given a significant boost when Petronas set an ambitious target of Net Zero Carbon Emissions (or NZCE) by the year 2050. This demanding target requires a radical rethinking of engineering to ensure both our current and future facilities are able to deliver on the target of NZCE."

The panel was united in its observations that a principled approach to business and profits must go hand in hand with an organisations sustainability journey. The very essence of a sustainable future for the industrial sector lies in embracing common objectives such as those outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals and using a public-private sector collaborative approach to drive and create new opportunities for a greener world today.

Hayman concluded: Adopting a universal approach to drive sustainable outcomes will enable the industrial sector to develop sustainability goals in line with other sectors, including on carbon neutrality. At Aveva, were proud to be working with our customers, alliances and partners to embrace the digital tools that will allow them to manage and measure their footprint. We are focused on where our contribution can be greatest - affordable and clean energy, industry innovation and infrastructure, sustainable cities and communities and clean water and sanitation.--TradeArabia News Service


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SAN RAMON, Calif., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Five Star Professional and The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors, are pleased to announce Marilyn Suey has been chosen as a Five Star Wealth Manager for 2020. This is their highest award for Wealth Managers and is based on ten criteria including credentials, education, regulatory and complaint history, number of client households served and other criteria. The list was published in the November issue of the Diablo Magazine.

2020 Five Star Wealth Manager Marilyn Suey

"The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors team and I are honored to be named among such a prominent list of well-respected wealth managers," said Marilyn Suey. "It is our purpose and passion to support our clients to design their ideal lifestyles on their journey to reach financial independence. Our clients have come to expect long-term relationships based on excellence in service and the highest levels of trust, as they make informed decisions about their money, so that it's working harder for them."

The Five Star Wealth Manager award program is the largest and most widely published award program in the financial services industry. The award is based on a rigorous, multifaceted research methodology, which incorporates input from peers and firm leaders along with client retention rates, industry experience and a thorough regulatory history review.

"We congratulate Marilyn Suey and her team at The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors for being named a Five Star Wealth Manager," said Daxs Stadjuhar, Managing Partner and CCO, for The Financial Services Network. "We look forward to our continued success working together in support of our clients and our community."

About the research process:

Now entering its 15th year, Five Star Professional conducts in-depth, market-specific research in more than 45 markets across the United States and Canada to identify premium service professionals.

Wealth manager award candidates are identified through firm nominations, peer nominations and industry qualifications, and then evaluated on 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria including; client retention rates, client assets administered, firm review and a favorable regulatory and compliant history.

Self-nominations are not accepted and wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or awarded. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager's future investment performance. For detailed information on the Five Star Wealth Manager research methodology visit http://www.fivestarprofessional.com.

About The Financial Services Network

When you look at your financial advisor and their local office, what you don't see are the myriads of people and organizations that they have partnered with in order to provide you with the personalized financial advice that you are seeking. Behind the scenes, your advisor has aligned with a broker-dealer, a branch office, investment companies, technology firms, insurance agencies, research teams, and a wealth of other professionals in order to ensure that they have the support needed to help you plan for your financial future.

One of those key relationships is The Financial Services Network (The Network). The Network was founded over three decades ago with a singular purpose of supporting independent financial advisors. The Network's diverse team includes a highly experienced group of business, investment and compliance professionals serving the needs of a select group of financial advisors who share a common bond of excellence and desire to elevate their practices. The Network's mission is to bring experience, expertise, and passion into partnerships so that advisors can focus on helping clients navigate their path to achieving financial security. The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors has been a partner office of The Financial Services Network since 2016.

About The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors

The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors is an independent wealth management firm that empowers its clients to design and define their ideal lifestyles starting today, for tomorrow and for life. We follow a disciplined planning process that enables our clients to build their customized Prosperity Blueprint that guides them as they travel on their path toward financial independence. Our clients understand that their wealth is more than their money. Working with us, using our Prosperity Blue Print process, we help guide our clients to take care of their families, and the people and causes they care about deeply. www.diamondgroupwealthadvisors.com

Marilyn Suey is a registered representative with, and securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Strategic Wealth Advisors Group, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Strategic Wealth Advisors Group, LLC. and The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors are separate entities from LPL Financial. CA Insurance License #0E01981.

The LPL Financial Registered Representative associated with this website may discuss and/or transact securities business only with residents of the following states: California, Colorado, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and Nevada. For information on how we can become registered in your state, please contact our office.

Contact;

Contact: Marilyn Suey

925-219-0080

[email protected]

Lorna Stegall

817-807-2257

[email protected]

SOURCE The Diamond Group

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Rebecca Belou

Rebecca Belou, senior data scientist in the Office of Planning and Analysis, has won the 2021 President's Commission on the Status of University Women Award. The award has an honorarium of $2,000.

Belou was hired as a research analyst in 2012 with part of her time dedicated as an equity analyst with MSUs ADVANCE Project TRACS grant. Since then, Belou has developed, maintained and grown MSUs analysis around issues related to gender and racial equity, diversity, and inclusion for students, staff and faculty. Her nominators say that by celebrating women and making information both accessible and useful, Belou has made gender equity issues more visible and shown effective policy and strategy solutions for addressing them.

Belou was pivotal to the institutions influential NSF ADVANCE Institutional Transformation grant, as both co-author on peer-reviewed, published research and as a data scientist assessing institutional strategies to support women in STEM fields and beyond. Her work on developing a Faculty Diversity Interactive Dashboard drew praise from NSF ADVANCE review teams. The dashboard is now a baseline for how other institutions track their data.

Belou co-chaired the Presidents Commission on the Status of University Women and oversaw the 2017 celebration of 125 Extraordinary Ordinary Women of MSU. She developed and managed the review of departmental equity self-studies, first for ADVANCE and later for PCOSUW. She was the methodological and reporting point person on the universitys 2018 Climate Survey, giving dozens of presentations and leading difficult conversations, which continue to inform diversity efforts across campus. She developed academic department dashboards that highlight gender and race diversity, which were used in program reviews for the first time this year. Belou also regularly publishes MSUs diversity indicators for students, faculty and staff, making MSUs data transparent and accessible to all.

Effective analysis, assessment and reporting are necessary to understand our needs and develop solutions, but they are not sufficient, wrote a nominator. Rebeccas leadership brings that analytical work to fruitful result, guiding us to data-informed policy decisions that improve issues related to gender, equity and diversity at Montana State.
The family of a Black man who was killed by San Antonio police in September said they were left "with more questions than answers" after seeing body camera video of the incident for the first time last week.

On Sunday, the family of Darrell Zemault Sr. said they were only allowed to see limited footage of the incident, according to a news release. They were not allowed to see body cam footage from all five officers present or from the police vehicles and were barred from having legal representation with them, the news release said.

Police shot and killed Zemault on Sept. 15. According to SAPD, officers showed up at Zemault's bungalow in the 100 block of Willee Drive on the West Side to serve two family violence warrants but a struggled ensued when officers attempted to arrest the 55-year-old.

Police Chief William McManus said Zemault allegedly reached for an officer's gun and that is when another officer shot him in the back.

The family said they requested the video in September but were not allowed to view it. City officials, however, said the footage has been available all along but denied the request for the footage because an open records request was submitted by someone who was not a legal next of kin, the Express-News reported.

RELATED: Family of Black man killed by police receives support after viewing footage of incident

According to the news release, the family was only shown two 3-minute video clips, one of which was edited and played in slow motion. SAPD chose those two clips because "in their opinion showed why the shooting occurred," the family said. It is unclear what part of the incident the family was able to see.

The family has said the police department's account of the incident doesn't add up. After the shooting, McManus said Zemault was shot in the back by a detective after he allegedly hit an officer with a can of wood stain and then pulled the officers gun from its holster.

The day after the shooting, the department issued a revised statement, saying the officer wasnt sure exactly how he was injured, and he wasnt sure if the actor intentionally hit him with the can or if the contact was incidental to the arrest.

Family members also said the accounts from the officers didn't align with what witnesses have told them.

"The San Antonio Police Department continues to withhold vital information from our family and the public," the statement from the family said. "We are disappointed by the lack of transparency from the City, our Mayor, and the Police Department."

After viewing the body cam footage, the family joined a group of about 40 supporters Friday near Main Plaza in downtown for a vigil but did not disclose at that time what they saw.

You guys probably didnt know my father from Adam, and this is whats beautiful, said Melissa Zemault Wicker, Zemaults older daughter told the crowd Friday. Todays a hard day, OK? And its going to keep getting harder. But with yalls prayers and yalls love, I really appreciate it and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

SAPD has not responded to requests for comment.

Jacob Beltran contributed to this story.
Suspected Islamic State (IS) fighters in eastern Syria killed more than two dozen fighters aligned with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in an ambush on Monday, according to the United Kingdom-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

Some 26 pro-regime soldiers and members of the Al-Quds Brigade militia were killed after a skirmish in Syrias eastern desert near the city of al-Mayadeen.

The deadly firefight is the latest in Syrias eastern Deir ez-Zor province, which Syrian pro-regime forces backed by Russia have struggled to secure after retaking the region in a 2017 offensive.

Earlier this week, Russian airstrikes in the Badia (the Syrian desert) killed 18 IS fighters, the SOHR reported. The claims could not be independently verified.

Mondays ambush is the deadliest since IS claimed an attack that left 39 pro-regime fighters dead in December.

Another suspected IS attack today killed four fighters of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) at a checkpoint in the Abu Khashab desert, on the east side of the Euphrates northwest of Deir ez-Zor, according to the SOHR.

The Euphrates River, which runs through Deir ez-Zor province, divides territorial control of eastern Syria. The US-backed SDF controls the east side of the river, while the Russia-backed Syrian regime controls the west side.

At its peak, IS so-called caliphate ruled over some 8 million people between eastern Syria and northwest Iraq. The US-led multinational coalition against IS and the SDF captured IS final territory at Baghuz in eastern Syria in March 2019.

But the group maintains fragmented networks of sleeper cells across Iraq and Syria, and sporadic attacks on local security forces, as well as assassinations of tribal and political figures, continue.

A United Nations report last year estimated some 10,000 IS fighters remain at large.

Yesterday, the commander of US forces in the Middle East said the terror group has gone to ground, but noted that isolated cells are constantly seeking to reconnect, posing a continued threat that has yet to be completely defeated.

Syrias Badia remains a hotspot of IS attacks. Last year, a Russian major general was killed by a roadside bomb in the desert outside the city of Deir ez-Zor.
Political Editor

MDC-Alliance's violence and terror tendencies that have now found space on social media platforms have yet again hogged the limelight after a party activist with close links to the party leader Mr Nelson Chamisa was arrested in the United Kingdom on a litany of terrorism charges.

A surge in cyber terrorism, that includes social media propaganda and extremism last year saw SADC member states calling for the establishment of robust mechanisms that counter the spread of terrorism on social media platforms.

In Zimbabwe, several MDC-A activists have been abusing social media platforms such as Twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook to spread hate speech, incitement to violence and general rabid anti-government messages with little repercussions, prompting analysts to call for the enactment of laws that deter reckless behaviour that target impressionable minds.

However, lucky ran out for UK based activist William Chinyanga, who was arrested and arraigned before the courts in that country on four charges of terrorism that could send him to jail if found guilty.

In a video shared in early December 2019 titled "The Roadmap to Zimbabwean Freedom", Chinyanga called upon his listeners in Zimbabwe to burn buses, petrol stations, fuel tankers, attack police officers and burn buildings to exert political pressure on the government and install regime change.

Zimbabwean authorities in the UK lodged a complaint to the police resulting in the arrest of Chinyanga who now awaits trial on terrorism charges. A perusal of Chinyanga's social media accounts showed that he had deleted most of his contentious videos inciting insurrection in Zimbabwe.

Political analyst Obert Gutu said the word peaceful and lawful political activism is non-existent in the MDC-A, a party that has been associated with violence since its formation in 1999.

"This isn't surprising to some of us who know these hooligans extremely well. Many MDC activists easily and stupidly confuse political activism with the promotion of violence and terrorism. To them, destruction of both publicly and privately owned property is a symbol of resistance to the Government of the day. These people simply don't appreciate what peaceful and lawful political activism means and entails.

"They are harbingers of hate, violence and intolerance. They are just misguided and violent thugs and hooligans who possess neither a solid ideological grounding nor a viable alternative to governance. They belong in jail," said Mr Gutu.

Analysts said hardly surprising as this may be, it is yet another lesson of how merchants of violence have been exported by the country's opposition to operate as keyboard warriors on social media platforms such as Facebook to push their terrorist agendas across the globe and the agents vary in composition from outright thugs to academics.

Director of Information in Zanu PF Cde Tafadzwa Mugwadi said there was need for legislators to come up with laws that protect Zimbabweans from acts of terror replete on social media platforms.

"Zimbabwe should be reminded that the same Chinyanga was the MDC-A and Chamisa's supposed authority on their unsubstantiated elections rigging claims prior to the 2018 elections. Now that the man has been arraigned before the courts on cyber-terrorism charges, the MDC-A and Mr Chamisa must reflect on this embarrassment. The inescapable lesson for Zimbabwe as a country is to take non-traditional threats to national security seriously by way of enactment of a contemporary deterrent legislation to suppress this emerging threat".

Another political analyst Mr Goodwin Mureiwa said time had now come for an international collective effort to tackle terrorism.

"On this one the British justice system is commended for prosecuting an advocate of terror and destruction masquerading as a champion of democracy and freedom. Alongside others outside and inside Zimbabwe, they abused social media to fuel the anarchy of August 1 2018 in futile effort to undermine a legitimate electoral outcome, and still continue to threaten state security, peace and unity in pursuit of illegal regime change. Now that similar efforts by Trump in the US have brought global shame, it is more compelling for States to cooperate against perpetrators of global terror," he said.

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Weighing in, political analyst Mr Rogers Pote said the MDC-A is far from being a democratic party but rather a terror organisation.

"The name democratic in the party's name should be removed and rename the party to movement for change alliance because of the non-existence of democracy in that organisation. Such acts are bad for the reputation of the country; look, we are on a mission to re-engage yet some are on the mission to soil the image of the country."
The FBI is asking Massachusetts residents to swipe left on potential romance scams this year after residents lost more than $8 million last year.

Scammers use online dating apps & sites to build trusting relationships with victims & persuade them to send money or share personal and financial information, FBI Boston said on Twitter. Never send money to someone you have only met online.

Across the U.S., victims lost about $605 million due to romance scams. In New England, victims lost about $11.7 million, with Massachusetts residents losing the most. There were 361 victims in the commonwealth.

Nationwide, in 2020, victims lost approx. $605 million due to romance scams. Here in the #FBI Boston Division, victims lost $11.7 million.

 57 people in ME lost $1,514,636

 361 people in MA lost $8,006,260

71 people in NH lost $820,326

80 people in RI lost $1,381,336 pic.twitter.com/96vR4OrulO  FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) February 9, 2021

In this type of fraud, scammers take advantage of people looking for companionship or romantic partners on dating websites, apps, chat rooms, and social networking sites with the sole goal of obtaining access to their financial or personal identifying information, The FBI Boston Division said in a statement. Romance scams are prevalent, especially during this time of year. Increased isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has also resulted in more people looking for love online.

Last year, Auburn Police Department detective Keith Chipman helped get a 78-year-old woman $65,000 back after she fell victim to the scam.

I just felt, what if that was my grandmother or my mom? I think any officer would have done the same thing and acted the same way, Chipman said. You want to give them some encouraging news. It is very rare that we are able to recover that money.

The woman met what she thought was a good-looking man wearing an Army shirt before she was scammed out of about $160,000.

I was divorced at one time and I thought well, maybe with him being divorced, maybe I can talk to him and help him or something. Im that kind of person, she continued to say.

Many others have similar stories.

To stay safe, the FBI asks that people consider the options below:

Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you.

Research the persons photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or details have been used elsewhere.

Go slowly and ask lots of questions.

Beware if the individual seems too perfect, or quickly asks you to communicate offline.

Beware if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family.

Beware if the individual claims to be working and living far away, whether its on the other side of the country or overseas.

Beware if the individual promises to meet in person, but then always cancels because of some emergency.

Beware if youre asked to send inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you.

Never send money to anyone you dont know personally.

Never help anyone move money through your own account or someone elses. You could become an unwitting money mule for the perpetrator helping to carry out other theft and fraud schemes.

If someone believes they are part of a scam, stop all contact immediately, the FBI said. If they have already sent money, report any transfer of funds to your financial institution and file a complaint with the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

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After the fiasco of January 6 and the semi-fiasco of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), some people like Jackie Gingrich Cushman are calling for moderation. Even Robert Stacy McCain is wondering Why is tribalism in America now asserting itself in such toxic and ferocious ways?

Do I have to spell it out? Politics is tribalism, always has been and always will be. The only question is whether my tribe beats your tribe.

What do you think the notion of Allyism is about? There is the tribe of helpless oppressed peoples, then there the tribe of noble woke allies, and together they will cancel the hated tribe of white oppressors who are Literally Nazis.

Who came up with this fake Ally idea? Doesnt matter. All politics is fake tribalism.

For instance, Americas Blacks -- once "black" and then "African American" -- are descended from a whole bunch of tribes in western Africa. Each individual Black got enslaved by some inter-tribal incident of conquest slavery and only then sold to a white European slave trader. Yet now, we are told by our betters, all Blacks belong to one race -- except that race is a social construct. Anyway, if you disagree with any American liberal on race you are a "racist." Barack Obama, son of a white mother and a well-born East African, raised by his white grandparents, is America's First Black President. So there, racist.

Do you get it? This whole race-gender-identity thing is nothing but fake tribalism, the cunning creation of political activists who want power.

Its worse than that. According to anthropologist C.R. Hallpike in How We Got Here tribalism has always been fake. It started when humans started living in large villages exceeding 2,500 inhabitants, and formed into tribes to protect themselves from the other tribes -- in the village!

Just as Rep. Sandy O, daughter of an architect, protects the tribe of Puerto Ricans in New York City from the white supremacists, and Rep. Ilhan Omar, scion of a lighthouse bureaucrat , protects the tribe of Somalis in Minneapolis from Minnesota nice.

You know what? I bet that if Ocasio-Cortez and her tribe were back in Puerto Rico, her loyal voters would sneer at her as a privileged aristocrat. But in the U.S. we immigrants gotta stick together, like the Irish and the Italians once did.

Say after me: all tribalism is fake tribalism. But if you want to play politics, you have to master the martial art of fake tribalism. Boy, do our liberal friends lust after the black belt in fake tribalism.

And we can play at that game. We just had a lesson from Professor Donald Trump and his MAGA 101 course. Lets up our game by adaptation of the Ally Three Layer concept:

I say: America consists of Americans, Emerging Americans, and Anti-Americans.

Todays America is the greatest country in the world, and the American people are the best people in the world. Most of us are straight-up Americans: we go to work, we obey the law, we follow the rules. And we thrive in the best country in the world. Go Muricans!

But some Americans, the Emerging Americans, are not so sure about America. They have heard tell that the suburbs of America are teeming with racists and sexists, human werewolves and the like, that wish them harm. But we Americans say to the Emerging Americans: come on in: the waters fine and the membership is open to all that came here legally.

Then there are the Anti-Americans. Hoo boy. They hate America; they despise ordinary Americans -- on a good day -- as bitter-clingers and deplorables. On an average day they are inventing corrupt Jobs for Gentry programs like climate change, the great reset, critical race theory and 1619 Projects. On a bad day they hate ordinary Americans as racist-sexist-homophobes. And they lie to Emerging Americans, telling them that they are doomed unless they hunker down in their identity-politics enclaves. So there you have it: the Anti-American politics of Hate and The Big Lie. Why, that is Literally Hitler!

Of course, the three tribes I have made up out of thin air -- Americans, Emerging Americans, and Anti-Americans -- are totally fake. Just like the oppressed peoples, allies, and white oppressors of Allyism. Just like the idea that the various peoples from West Africa are Blacks. Just like Marxs three tribes of bourgeois, proletarians, and Communists. Fake, Fake, Fake!

But that is how politics is played. That is how our liberal friends play it; that is how Donald Trump was teaching us to play it; and that is how we must play it.

Do you see how liberating this fake tribalism idea is? It is all rubbish. But humans demand a Story, a Narrative. So step right and get yer Narrative right here!

Dont like it? I dont either. But, as Thomas Paine said: Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class.

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The Justices Brock-Cooper Chapter of the American Inns of Court raised $14,650 for the Ronald McDonald House through a charity auction hosted and attended by Inn Members and through private donations.

"The donation is especially appreciated this year, says Jane Kaylor, CEO of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga. The pandemic has caused us to cancel many of our 2020 fundraising events. Over the last year, our event revenue was cut nearly in half and our dedicated volunteer force has been limited. But the need for our services has not stopped. The donation will help us continue to provide critical services to children and families in the Chattanooga area.

Chattanoogas Ronald McDonald House opened Nov.18, 1990. Every year, RMHC provides housing and meals for more than 500 families who have critically ill or injured children undergoing inpatient and outpatient treatment at nearby Chattanooga hospitals, including childhood cancer patients treated in the Hematology/Oncology Clinic at Childrens Hospital.

RMHC serves families from 21 surrounding counties in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina, with families staying at the RMHC an average of 15 nights.

It generally costs $75 per night to house a single family at our 28-bedroom facility," said Ms. Kaylor. "The donation from the Inns of Court will go a long way to providing vital support to local families when they need it most."

RMHC also staffs and supplies the Ronald McDonald Family Room located on the third floor of Childrens Hospital at Erlanger. The Family Room offers families a place to rest, eat, wash clothes, take a shower, and relax while being just steps away from their loved ones bedside.



In addition to monetary donations, the auction items at the Inns of Court event were donated by local judges and attorneys, as well as area shops, restaurants, and artists. We appreciate that so many in our legal and business communities were willing to contribute, even in this most challenging of years. says Chancery Court Judge Pamela Fleenor, president of the local Inn. And special thanks to Samantha Lunn and Kara West for co-chairing the auction under the difficult circumstances the pandemic presented.

More than 100 lawyers and judges belong to the Chattanooga chapter of the Inns of Court. The organization aims to improve the skills, professionalism, ethics, and civility of the bench and bar.

To learn more about the local Inn and its programs, contact Chancellor Fleenor at 209-7380.












Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-09 22:30:28|Editor: huaxia

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A rescue worker makes an announcement during rescue near the Dhauliganga hydro power project after a glacier bursts in Chamoli district in India's northern hilly state of Uttarakhand on Feb. 9, 2021. The number of dead bodies recovered so far from the affected areas has risen to 32, out of which only seven could be identified yet, confirmed a senior state police official. (Str/Xinhua)

by Pankaj Yadav

NEW DELHI, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Relief and rescue work continued on a war footing in India's northern hilly state of Uttarakhand, which was hit by a glacier burst on Sunday morning.

However, the greatest difficulty that's coming in the way is the identification of the dead bodies being retrieved from under the slush and rubble.

The number of dead bodies recovered so far from the affected areas has risen to 32, out of which only seven could be identified yet, confirmed a senior state police official to Xinhua.

As many as 174 people are still missing. Most of them are laborers from different states, including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and a few from Nepal too.

These laborers were working at two hydropower projects when the natural tragedy suddenly struck the area. The dead bodies can be identified only when their near and dear ones reach the site, which is located in difficult and remote terrain in the hills.

"The dead bodies being retrieved are really in a bad shape," said one of the officials at the local disaster management office.

The dead bodies are being recovered between the upper reaches of the state where the glacier burst took place and downstream till Srinagar area, added the officials.

It is believed that some of the missing persons are stuck in one of the tunnels which is over 1800-meter long. Efforts are being made to rescue them, though nearly 58 hours have passed since the tragedy hit them.

Meanwhile, during the day the country's Home (Internal Security) Minister Amit Shah said the parliament that the glacier burst had affected an area of approximately 14 square kilometres.

"A large-scale operation is underway to rescue those missing," Shah said, and added that it is observed from the satellite data of Feb. 7 in the catchment of Rishi Ganga river at the terminus of the glacier at an altitude of 5,600 meters a landslide triggered a snow avalanche covering approximately 14 square km area.

Members of the parliament also observed a two-minute silence in the memory of the victims. Enditem
The new drill program will begin in mid-February, with the objective of testing the down-dip extensions of high-grade gold-silver mineralization intersected in the previous round of drilling

Arizona Silver Exploration said the new drill program will consist of a minimum of 4000 feet of core drilling in at least 12 holes

Arizona Silver Exploration Inc ( ) (OTCMTS:AZASF) said it has signed a new contract for a minimum of 4000 feet of core drilling in at least 12 holes at the companys Philadelphia gold-silver project in Arizona.

The new drill program will begin in mid-February, with the objective of testing the down-dip extensions of high-grade gold-silver mineralization intersected in the previous round of drilling announced on October 5, 2020.

We continue to believe we are on the trail of the continuation of the high-grade vein, even though we were interrupted by a fault going down dip. The vein remains open along strike of the high-grade intercept in hole PC20-39A, which intersected 10.76 metres containing 9.26 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, 79.8 g/t silver, and 344 g/t beryllium beginning at a depth of 27.96 metres on section 400N, and which we intend to pursue in the next round of drilling on sections 500N thru 800N, Arizona Silver vice president of Exploration Greg Hahn said in a statement.

He added: We will also test the silicified and veined exposures to the west of our previous drilling to see if we can intersect the faulted extension of the down-dip continuation of the main vein. The significantly higher gold grades in core hole -21T then were intersected in RC hole -20 indicate we have to drill core where we encounter high groundwater flows that hamper good sampling protocols with Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling methods.

Arizona Silver also noted results from its fall 2020 drill program at the Philadelphia project. RC and core holes PC-20-40A/B, PC20-42A/B, PC20-43A/B, PC20-44A/B were all drilled to intersect the down-dip projection of the high-grade mineralization encountered in previous core drilling on the property, but all four holes failed to intersect any vein mineralization.

The company said it interpreted these results to indicate the vein has been faulted off at depth, and it is currently evaluating where the offset portion of the high-grade vein lies.

It noted that the evidence collected to date suggest the fault is possibly a reverse fault and the continuation of the vein lies to the west beneath the cliffs of silicified and veined rhyolite and granite that has not yet been tested by drilling.

The Philadelphia property, located in Mohave County, Arizona, was discovered in the late 1800s and operated intermittently, mainly between 1917 and 1935, as a 50-tonne-per-day underground mine. Past production ranged from 10 to 27 g/t gold with historic silver grades in the production shaft averaging 420 g/t silver.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
The European Union on February 8 said that it will hold talks with the allies of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, which will be presided by envoys from the US, UK Canada, and Ukraine. This comes after Russia expelled EU diplomats, last week, which was condemned by EU Vice-President Josep Borrell, who rejected Kremlins allegations that EU diplomats conducted ''activities incompatible with their status as foreign diplomats. EU foreign policy chief, in an online post, said that he learned about envoys dismissal via social media, after he concluded meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.

My visit to Moscow highlighted that Russia does not want to seize the opportunity to have a more constructive dialogue with the EU. This is regrettable and we will have to draw the consequences.



Read my blog post:https://t.co/S3QP2uSsNO pic.twitter.com/q8pUDbEFAF  Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) February 7, 2021

Furthermore, mentioning his controversial trip to Moscow, which he described, was aimed at principled diplomacy between Moscow and the EU, Borrell said, The reaction I received points visibly in a different direction. He then stated that the EU and the international community will have to reflect on the broader implications and chart a way forward, as he announced that the EU will hold a video chat with Navalnys ally. As EU-Russia relations fraught over recent developments linked to the poisoning, arrest, and sentencing of Alexei Navalny, EU, US, UK, envoys will convene a meeting at 1200 GMT for a joint response on diplomats expulsion, and detention of Navalny. "The Russian authorities did not want to seize this opportunity to have a more constructive dialogue with the EU. This is regrettable and we will have to draw the consequences, Borrell said, adding that the EU was set to convene forthcoming European Council discussions on EU-Russia relations.

Read: 'Unjustified': Merkel Condemns Russia For Expelling EU Envoys Seeking Navalny's Release

Read: Moscow's Jails Overwhelmed With Detained Navalny Protesters

"I strongly condemned this decision and rejected the allegations that they conducted activities incompatible with their status as foreign diplomats." Read the statement by @JosepBorrellF on the expulsion of European Diplomats in Russia: https://t.co/wHWNIp3voH  European External Action Service - EEAS  (@eu_eeas) February 5, 2021

"Russia is progressively disconnecting itself from Europe and looking at democratic values as an existential threat," wrote Borrell, in an online statement. "It will be for member states to decide the next steps, and yes, these could include sanctions, he added.

3 Russian diplomats expelled

EU foreign policy chiefs remarks come amid a stringent push from Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, and the Czech Republic to impose fresh sanctions on Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, justifying the EU diplomats expulsion, said in state-run press that the European diplomats had participated in Moscows protests against the jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and were declared "persona non grata, that stripped them off the diplomatic immunity. In retaliation to this, Germany, Poland, and Sweden expelled at least three Russian diplomats, with Germanys Foreign Office condemning Moscows actions against a German diplomat who, it said, was only reporting on developments on the spot in a legal fashion. Poland, meanwhile, dismissed Russian envoy from Russias consulate in the city of Poznan, citing its action "in accordance with the principle of reciprocity. Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde, similarly, told local press that the country ejected a diplomat in return for Moscows unacceptable behaviour.

"At times the discussion with my Russian counterpart reached high levels of tension, as I called for Mr. Navalnys immediate and unconditional release, as well as for a full and impartial investigation into his assassination attempt," Borrell said in a statement.

Read: Kremlin On 'aggressive' US Request To Free Navalny

Read: EU Diplomat: Navalny Case A 'low Point' In Ties With Russia

(Image Credit: AP)
China's central bank has reiterated that it will prioritize stability in its monetary policy and avoid making sudden shifts.

The prudent monetary policy will be more flexible, precise, reasonable and moderate, and will strike a balance between economic recovery and risk prevention, according to the 2020 Q4 monetary policy report released by the People's Bank of China (PBOC) on Monday.

It aimed to maintain liquidity at a reasonably ample level, with the growth of broad money supply and social financing basically matching nominal economic growth, the report said.

The PBOC will also keep the macro leverage ratio basically stable and flexibly adjust the intensity, pace and focus of the policy in light of changes in the situation.

It will give full play to the "drip irrigation" function of the structural monetary policy tools, while providing more financial support to technological innovation, small and micro-sized businesses, and green development, according to the report.
WESTPORT  The school board has adopted its nearly $127 million budget, backing off from some of the cuts members considered for the superintendents proposal.

The adopted budget is 4.1 percent, or about $5 million, more than the current budget, though about $1 million less than Superintendent Thomas Scarices proposal.

The school board previously discussed reducing the budget to $125 million, which would have been 3 percent more than the current year.

However, several members decided they could keep more items in the budget than originally thought based on possible health insurance savings.

I dont think we need to be as drastic as we might have been, Vice Chairwoman Karen Kleine said.

The board is considering switching from the states health insurance plan to its own plan through Anthem, which officials project could save the district about $3 million next fiscal year. But because school officials will now discuss the option with employees, the original larger estimate is still in the budget.

Benefits and salaries are the largest part of the districts budget.

Unfunded positions from the previous fiscal year, loss of the cafeteria fund, coverage for custodial services due to COVID, and funds previously used from the carryover account all contributed to the 4.98 increase in Scarices proposed budget.

However, the board was split on whether those potential savings should be factored into their decision to cut from the request. Some argued there are items on the list that would only be considered in a recession and others saying some of those positions that were removed based on enrollment could be added back if needed in the future.

In my mind, this shifts to preserving our resources, Chairwoman Candice Savin said, adding she doesnt view the items as a wish list.

The board decided to remove a support supervisor communications specialist, an elementary assistant principal, as well as two regular education teachers and two paraprofessionals at Staples.

The board also cut money for furniture, equipment and materials, including $200,000 for smart boards, leaving about $73,000 to cover replacements, needed repairs and the ability to pilot a few different smart board technologies.

The bulk of the line items were decided in split votes with three or four board members for or against.

The overall budget was adopted 6-1 with Kleine opposing.

kkoerting@newstimes.com




Three businessmen were Monday charged at the Milimani Law Courts for selling counterfeit and expired HIV test kits.

Jones Olouch, Robert Njoya and Eric Mwangi are said to have sold the kits to unsuspecting customers locally and abroad. The public prosecutor also told the court that the suspects stole HIV test kits and exported them to Guyana in South America.

They were charged with selling counterfeit Uni-Gold HIV test kits on diverse dates between September 24, 2019, and December 21, 2020, within Nairobi County.

Mwangi was charged separately with exporting 400 packets of the same kits valued at Sh800,000 to Guyana on December 30, 2019, through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

He was additionally accused of handling and exporting the 400 packets of HIV test kits in contravention of the medical law.

Mwangis co-accused Robert Njoya was accused of being in possession of five packets of the HIV test kits that had already expired on December 5, 2020. He was found with the packets on December 22, 2020.

Njoya is said to have committed the offense on account of being the proprietor of Intercare Agencies located at Donholm Shopping Center on Duruma Road in Nairobi.

The accused denied all the charges leveled against them and pleaded for lenient bond terms saying that they are law-abiding citizens.

Milimani Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku released them on a cash bail of Sh100,000 each. The case will be mentioned on February 22.
3 1 of 3 Joan Marcus Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer Show More Show Less 3 of 3





Theater lovers will once again be able to get their dose of drama and music in the Alamo city starting this September, when big name Broadway shows will begin their return to the Majestic Theater in San Antonio, as first reported by Deborah Martin of the Express-News.

The insanely popular "Hamilton" is just one of the big names announced, as well as longer running classics like "The Lion King" and "Rent."
Actors who played the Von Trapp children in The Sound of Music revealed what it was like filming with the late Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews.

Debbie Turner, 64, who was seven when she played Marta in the film, Angela Cartwright, 68, who played Brigitta at 13, and Nicholas Hammond, 70, who was 14 when he portrayed Friedrich appeared on This Morning today.

They paid tribute to Christopher, who died aged 91 on Friday and was best known for his role as Captain Von Trapp in the 1965 musical film, praising the star's 'concentration and commitment' on set.

Nicholas, from New South Wales, revealed how the star would intentionally distance himself from the children on set, so they would instantly gravitate on screen to 'fun and joyous' Andrews, who played Maria Von Trapp in the film.

Actors who played the Von Trapp children in The Sound of Music revealed what it was like filming with the late Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews. Pictured, Christopher and Julie as Captain Von Trapp and Maria in the 1965 film

Pictured, (L-R) Charmian Carr, Nicholas Hammond, Heather Menzies, Duane Chase, Angela Cartwright, Debbie Turner, Kym Karath, Christopher Plummer as the Von Trapp family in the film

He showed me what it is to be an actor, with his concentration and commitment,' he said. 'It was true he was more serious on the set, certainly than Julie who was delightful and fun, full of light and joy for all of us.

'But Christopher came there to do a job and knew that as children, we shouldn't be as comfortable with him as our father, than Maria. So it was actually a very calculated move.

'She was hugely friendly and warm and taught us jokes and songs and Christopher kept his distance from us and I think that was absolutely the right call and I had huge admiration for him.'

But Christopher did have a softer side, with Debbie, from Minnesota, recalling a famous scene from the film where he was secretly making faces at her to make her laugh.

Debbie Turner, 64, who was seven when she played Marta in the film, Angela Cartwright, 68, who played Brigitta at 13, and Nicholas Hammond, 70, who was 14 when he portrayed Friedrich appeared on This Morning today

Nicholas revealed how the star would intentionally distance himself from the children on set, so they would instantly gravitate to 'fun and joyous' Andrews on screen. Pictured, the Von Trapp family in The Sound of Music

She said: 'We were doing the scene after we came back from berry picking and he was facing me and saying "Marta, where were you really?".

'The camera was on his back and I just remember him making faces at me making me laugh...It was just kind of fun to remember that he did have a soft side to him.'

Julie, now 85, was 27 while the movie was being filmed, before 1964 movie Mary Poppins had come out in the US, and Angela recalled how the star would teach the young actors words to songs from the iconic musical on set.

'Mary Poppins hadnt come out yet, so nobody in America knew who she was', said Nicolas. 'Most of the people in LA didnt know who she was.

Julie, now 85, was 27 while The Sound of music was being filmed Pictured, Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins in 1964

'She was 27 and the studio was facing bankruptcy and all of that was on the shoulders of a 27-year-old girl and if you think of what she did in that film, its an astonishing accomplishment.'

Angela added: 'Oh did she teach us the songs from Mary Poppins, absolutely! I can still say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious backwards. She was lovely to be around and a great energy and we had such a great time on the film.'

Christopher had been famously quoted saying he regretted his choice to star in the film, but Angela says that his view on the film 'changed' as he got older, and that his serious attitude brought an 'edge' to the role.

'I think that that changed as he got older and he realised how it made his career spring forward, a lot quicker than it might have', she said.

'I think he kind of regretted saying that, but I think he brought a real edge to the part which made it not as sickly sweet and I loved working with Chris, a very talented guy very sad to lose him.

Christopher, pictured with Julie in 2015, was an accomplished Shakespearean actor honoured for his varied stage, television and film work in a career that spanned more than six decades

Christopher was an accomplished Shakespearean actor honoured for his varied stage, television and film work in a career that spanned more than six decades.

The artist became the oldest actor to win an Academy Award at 82, for his supporting performance in 'Beginners' as an elderly man who comes out of the closet as gay after his wife's death.

He was best known for his role in 'The Sound Of Music,' which at the time eclipsed 'Gone With the Wind' (1939) as the top-earning movie ever and won the Academy Award for best picture in 1965.
An overview of the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine's spina bifida (SB) special issue, which features an open access collection of key updates to the "Guidelines for the Care of People with Spina Bifida" and several innovative original research studies. Credit: Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine

Globally, nearly 300,000 babies are born with neural tube defects including spina bifida (SB) each year. This openly available special issue of the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine (JPRM) provides 20 important evidence- and consensus-based updates to key sections of the 2018 "Guidelines for the Care of People with Spina Bifida" issued by the Spina Bifida Association (SBA). These reflect current recommendations for the care of patients with SB across the entire lifespan, from prenatal counseling to adult care.

As a result of research advancements and improved team-based patient care, approximately 80%-90% of children with SB now live to adulthood in the United States. The Guidelines were written with this idea in mind and present the best evidence for what care should be delivered, regardless of the model or types of practitioners available.

"Medical evidence and clinical practice continue to change, and so it was time to update the most recent set of Guidelines to provide the best, most up-to-date recommendations, focusing not only on pediatric care, but also on safely transitioning young adults with SB from pediatric to adult healthcare services," explained co-Guest Editors Jonathan Castillo, MD, MPH, and Heidi A. Castillo, MD, both from Developmental Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Meyer Center, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. "Guidelines needed to be included and/or revised to reflect the needs of adults with SB. The goal was to provide a more holistic approach to care. It is not just a condition that affects health but affects life."

Judy Thibadeau, RN, MN, Director of Research and Services, Spina Bifida Association, Arlington, VA, added, "Pediatric and adult providers need to embrace the fact that adult providers will be needed and important to the lives of people with SB."

The updated and expanded sections of the Guidelines presented in this issue move beyond more traditional issues of neurosurgical, urologic and orthopedic care, emphasize the continuum of care, health, wellbeing and quality of life, and include more background information about key topics and why they are important in the care of individuals with SB. They cover:

Bowel function and care

Central precocious puberty

Coordination of care

Family functioning in families with a child with SB

Health promotion and preventive healthcare service guidelines

Latex allergy

Mental health

Mobility

Neuropsychological care

Neurosurgical guidelines

Nutrition, metabolic syndrome, and obesity

Orthopedic guidelines

Prenatal counseling

Quality of life

Self-management and independence

Sexual health and education

Short stature and the effect of human growth hormone

Skin-related issues

Urologic guidelines

Women's health

"These Guidelines stress other issues that are important to successfully transition to adulthood including (but not limited to) family functioning, mental health, women's and men's health, and self-management skills in the broader societal and participation context," noted co-Guest Editor and SBA Medical Director Timothy John Brei, MD, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children's Hospital and the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. "These Guidelines acknowledge that one can have good medical health and still struggle in terms of independence and across the lifespan. So, they are not just about medical care across the lifespan, but 'life care.'"

In addition, neural tube defects like SB have widespread global significance. Some countries manage the care of patients with SB better than others, particularly when it relates to the care of adults with SB. Therefore, global accessibility to the Guidelines and their updates is vital, as healthcare professionals embedded in local communities will seek to use this guidance to provide high-quality care with a view towards reducing healthcare disparities. Language differences, immigration, cultural beliefs, acculturation, local resources, and social determinants of health must be taken into account when these Guidelines are implemented throughout the world.

SBA's Collaborative Care Network, through a cooperative agreement with the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), supported the production of the "Guidelines for the Care of People with Spina Bifida." These Guidelines were the culmination of three years of planning and work involving over 100 international experts using evidence-based research and consensus methodologies. The text of the Guidelines is openly available on the SBA website and the position papers in this special issue have been published open access through the support of the SBA.

"It is the hope of SBA that these and future Guidelines will promote and standardize best practice regardless of the characteristics of individuals with SB or where their care is received. It is through providing better care that we will ultimately achieve a better future for all those living with SB," remarked Brad E. Dicianno, Associate Medical Director, SBA, and Director, UPMC Adult Spina Bifida Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA.

"These open access Guidelines are paramount towards educating individuals with SB and their medical providers," commented Editor-in-Chief of JPRM Elaine L. Pico, MD, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, CA. "With better health and these Guidelines distributed worldwide we are looking at a robust aging population of those with SB that must be attended to by knowledgeable medical providers."

"We are so thankful to the journal for its continued focus on SB. Truly, it is a gift to our community, and we are grateful and excited to be part of what has happened thus far. We can't wait to see where this takes all of us," commented Sara Struwe, MPA, President & CEO, Spina Bifida Association, Arlington, VA. "From our community to yours, thank you!"

Explore further International Spina Bifida experts shapes future research, shares insights for practical care
Gardai have issued a fresh appeal for witnesses to an alleged fatal assault after a woman died as a result of her injuries in the attack.

Urantsetseg Tserendorj (48) was walking on the pedestrian walkway between Georges Dock and Custom House Quay, IFSC in Dublin 1 on Wednesday, January 20, when she was attacked.

She received serious injuries and was taken to the Mater Hospital where she died on February 3.

A male juvenile who was arrested following the incident is currently charged and before the Courts.

Read More

Gardai are again appealing to any witnesses to come forward.

In particular, they have asked the driver of a silver Toyota Prius Taxi which was driving from Georges Dock towards Harbourmaster Place shortly before the incident to contact them.

Gardai are also asking anyone who was in the vicinity of Custom House Quay, Georges Dock, Harbourmaster Place, Connolly Train Station, Amiens Street and Buckingham Street Lower on the evening of Wednesday, January 20 between 9.15pm and 10pm to make contact.

And any road users including motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who were in the area at the time and who may have camera footage, including dash cam, are asked to make it available.

Anyone who has any information or who can assist Gardai, should contact Store Street Garda Station on 01 666 8000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.